sirdook: point taken. It is definitely interesting, watching and reading. I know I don't feel like a sucker, and I'm damn sure not lazy. On the other side, I don't place a pricetag on my personal time. If I did, I would never ever take a vacation or be able to relax...or spend a few extra minutes visiting three grocery stores in order to take advantage of their specific specials.
*shrugs*

Oh, yes - I did forget to clarify something in one of the earliest posts. PHICANCRI - The author of the article didn't mean that people assume you can only use one coupon for an entire transaction, period. They meant that most assume you can only use one coupon per TYPE of item, which is incorrect yet widely taken as fact. Obviously, retailers are in no hurry to disabuse their customers of that.

Wow! Who would have thought an article about someone who is very, very good about managing coupons, would create such a free-wheeling and riotous comment section? I do coupons when they apply to the things I actually purchase regularly, which alas, is not much of the time. I do save money by making large purchases in bulk of those things we use every day or very regularly (pet food, charcoal, non-perishables) from Smart-n-Final or Costco, and I also take full advantage of the 'weekly saver' pullouts that arrive in the mail, which alert one to that week's specials at the local stores.

You might not have actual clip-coupons for produce, but the weekly specials always have reduced prices on specific meats, dairy and produce that's as good as a coupon. I get the feeling this lady does it because she ENJOYS it, as opposed to necessarily needing to. It's a game to her, and if so, she's clearly winning. It doesn't really matter if she spends more time at it than most of us would, because this is her game, and that's part of her "rules." We play differently, which does not make her time a waste, nor us somehow being taken advantage of if we decide we'd prefer to spend more rather than devote the same time.

I wouldn't do it, but that's me. I have enough on my plate as it is (no pun intended).

chelskatra - I fled the region when I was 16. I am now 44. Yeah, it's been a while.

*sigh*
Great. My old hometown. I swear - not everyone who lives there is a loon. That said, I am very glad I moved away to the Los Angeles area where people are considerably less weird. 8 months or more of rain throughout the year does interesting things to people, I'm afraid.

That is hilarious. I'd love to know which vendor did the mechanicals for that, as the templates clearly show all areas that cannot be overprinted. It wasn't like nobody knew this blinker was there when they built the mechanical...unless the client, thinking they were saving fifteen hundred bucks, 'picked up' a templated mechanical for a different type of bus rather than have a new one built.

Er, yeah. Not even sure what to say, other than mumbling the obvious about REALLY crappy photoshop work. Maybe the bad 'chops are part of the fetish?

How terribly unfortunate and sobering. Once upon a time I used to hitchhike. I would not be able to bring myself to do it now, though I can and do occasionally offer rides to persons in need of them. I guess I just don't believe in my own immortality any longer, as I did when I was 16.

As far as the 'talent' argument, all I can bring to it is my own personal experience. I was adopted at 6 months old. Neither of my adoptive parents is artistic in any way. At the age of 2, I did my first wall mural of cats...in crayon, on my bedroom wall. Yeah, I got my butt tanned by Mom for that. However, my cats were recognizably CATS. My Dad didn't punish me, but went out and bought a blackboard and chalk for me to draw upon. By age four I was drawing all sorts of proper animals, and judging by the few surviving pieces that my Dad saved, for a four year old who had zero influence or technique from parents, it was obvious that I indeed had a "talent" for being able to draw forth from my mind's eye, and recreate that which I imagined, as I imagined it.

Personally, I would indeed call that a talent. One that others share, yes...but still uncommon. Uncommon enough that those who share a creative instinct and ability are referred to as artists.

You cannot take a person who does not have this ability, and make them an exceptional, spontaneous artist. The talent for making real what is only imagined, must be there to begin with.

Perhaps the word Ability is more accurate than Talent.

Robbins is a true gentleman. I shot him a quick 'thank you' email after watching 'Tarzan and the Rocky Gorge', and we have been speaking ever since. He's witty, self-deprecating, and just plain fun. His films are wonderful.

Mmmmmm...elote, and about 6 carne asada tacos. A yummier lunch (imho) cannot be found. Wasn't long ago that the city went after the bacon-dog vendors, too. That used to be an after-event institution outside the Staples Center and the Hollywood Bowl.

I just want to see someone walking around wearing this.

I like it, quite a bit actually. Reminds me of novelty/movie soundtrack music from the forties-fifties...well, at least until the 'rap' portion starts, then it reminds me of the musically experimental and interesting eighties.

Good heavens. I've seen and heard an awful lot of goofy urban myth over the years, and even now I still wonder how it is that otherwise intelligent people (for the most part) cling to the most patently ridiculous, specious crap as though admitting that it doesn't work, can't work and never did work would somehow spoil their lives. Then they pass the same silly crap down to their offspring.
*sigh*

Got brains?

The only way I could ever see this book actually selling more than 10 copies (to the author himself), is if a bunch of websites link to it, giving it worldwide publicity and - oh. Hmmm. Maybe he'll give Boing Boing a shout-out in his sequel "Who's Your Daddy?"

Every year I stay at the Candlewood Suites in Tempe Arizona while visiting friends. They have an honor system for the exceedingly well-stocked guest convenience store, which has just about anything one could want from fresh fruit, candy and sodas to actual meal-preparation ingredients and detergents (the suites have kitchens and refrigerators). It seems to work quite well, as for the past four years that convenience store has only gotten better-stocked. As a resident of the Los Angeles area, I was admittedly surprised my first time seeing this. I've certainly never seen the like anywhere in southern California. Kudos to Candlewood for showing that yes - it is indeed possible to have people live UP to expectations instead of down.

Oh, wow. Fabulously, spectacularly corny.

@ #85. Choking oneself is hardly 'new.' I am 44 years old - when I was in elementary school (5th grade, to be exact), I was shown how to do this while in class. There was a group of us kids sitting by the movie screen, as we had just finished watching one of those silly school-sponsored filmstrips...and they were taking turns leaning back, and cutting off the blood flow to the brain via placing one's hands about one's neck (thumbs touching larynx) and squeezing. I myself tried it a few times. Makes you dizzy, makes your hearing start to fade into a "rushing" sound, your vision starts to fade around the edges and your heart beat seems very, very loud.

In short...new? Not remotely. The difference is back then, nobody found it remarkable that I ever saw or heard of, and it certainly never rated coverage in any sort of media outlet. Our teacher certainly didn't say a thing, though we were not hiding and she saw what we were doing. Kids will try anything, provided they see another kid doing it first and it looks interesting. Wondering what the consequences might be, is not usually even a second, let alone first thought.

In regards to the whole Emo thing, I have no answer. I can't imagine having so much dislike for another group of fellow humans, based off nothing that affects me personally in any way, shape or form. Oh, wait...that kinda covers most of humanity's negative history, doesn't it? Irrational hatred, blind condemnation, physical attacks. It can be dangerous to be seen as both "Other" and especially in conjunction with appearing weak. It brings forth the worst in human nature, alas.

I have had personal experience with child molestation. In my case, it was a parent and my older brother. Not to go on and on in detail, but suffice to say that YES...an adult survivor of molestation does indeed have a whole barrel of issues they will either have to deal with, or be dealt with by. Only after years of therapy did I finally reach a place where suicide wasn't a near-daily thought/desire, and I stopped blaming myself. I mean, as dear old Mum made it perfectly clear, anything bad that happened to a child, was completely the child's fault.

I don't know how common this is, as I find it hard to participate in groups to find out, but for me there was never any desire for 'revenge.' It would not displease me if my molesters simply ceased to exist, but I have no want, need or desire to lay hands on either of them. That would change nothing, solve nothing, and I would lose respect for myself to boot. However, show me a child being abused, and the rage comes forth like water overrunning a dam. I don't know if that is sad or not - that I can feel pure anger on the part of others, but lack it on behalf of myself. I have yet to find the answer to that particular equation. I suspect it is beyond my ken.

As far as the man in the article, a good part of me thinks "well, he ought to be thrilled the sign doesn't list his offenses." Another part thinks sporting the sign is only fair if he's a repeat offender (which it seems he is). Another part - granted, a very, very small part - thinks perhaps it is a wee bit harsh. That part is the extreme minority, and the voice tiny indeed. Wait, no - now it's gone. Another part would like to know why this man was able to rack up another conviction...and also is aware that for the two times actually being caught, tried and convicted, there is very likely a string of others where the victim was too frightened or ashamed to say anything. They simply don't quit, you know. Once a pedophile has crossed the line from "thinking/fantasizing about it" to actually laying hands upon, they don't stop unless prevented by others. The human will has never been strong enough to overcome compulsion indulged, even when (IF) the person so compelled truly hates themselves for it. Once the line is crossed, there's no stepping back.

So...I live my life, at peace with myself finally. What was done cannot be undone, but it also need not dictate my life forever after. I spent 35 years thinking I was crazy; that there was a deep flaw within me, and that I deserved nothing better than contempt and abuse. I was wrong. I am better than they were. I am stronger. I am, simply...me. I would rather die than lay hands on a child in lust or fury, because I KNOW what it does to them. I KNOW just how much it will twist their brains and stain their souls. I have no sympathy in me for those who choose to indulge their twisted desires, and lay hands upon a child. None. Better you put a bullet through your own skull.

That was utterly disgusting, and utterly fascinating.

That is an interesting question. If ownership of a house cannot be verified, does it automatically...what? Revert to previous ownership? Wouldn't that be amusing, if so. I would laugh myself sick if the former owner who sold to Lents came back and had him thrown out.

Of course, I'm pretty sure that could not happen. Be that as it may, since he doesn't own the house either and can't produce title, shouldn't the city then claim it? It's not vacant, but if the person residing there is in effect a squatter...hilarity could ensue.

The Sound of Music soundtrack isn't there? No Disney tunes? Amateurs.

As always, hilarious.

Officer Hotti Hot-Pants. "We wear short-shorts...if you dare wear short-shorts, Nair for short-shorts!"

#44, that is true. However, they are terribly silly looking, as is the clown car he joysticks around.

Just sayin'.

"Wonder Twin powers, activate! Form of a statue!"

"Aw, nuts."

@ #35...now you've done it. You placed it in writing; inevitably it will become a pitch.

I've only known one woman who was an avid doll collector, and yeah - it was utterly creepy to sit anywhere in her house. Not a single room (including bathrooms) was devoid of porcelain, rubber or plastic dolls. I only went to her house the one time with my husband, and we both blurted out "what's up with the dolls?" to each other upon leaving. Worst of all, she had a live-in boyfriend who was not allowed to display any of his own possessions, nor move "her babies." I didn't waste all that much sympathy on him - after all, he picked her, and decided he was fine with playing second fiddle to a vast collection of artificial humans.

Says a lot, though. And yes, she was a rather pitiable person; low self-esteem and very artificial in appearance and manner, controlling, uncomfortable around other people - well, real people that is. I don't pretend to understand the psychology of "extreme doll collecting." I did find it terribly uncomfortable to be around, and thought it a manifestation of a deeper personality problem in her case. Since I have never met another woman like that, I cannot claim any expertise or accuracy in my assumptions.