Question.
 

This conversation is amazing to me. I buy stuff all the time that is pretty fucking cool that costs more than something of equal function, because it's cool. Is all your silverware the absolute cheapest shit that you can buy without it rusting? How about your shoes? Do you buy solely for comfort and price or do you prefer something you think looks good? Your sunglasses?

You people are all full of shit.

Sounds like slave's got a side business going.

TM

The Sporting News (is not abbreviated STP)
 

Word 'em up.

That always pisses me off. Happened to Dungy in Tampa Bay and happened to Buck Showalter twice. Once with the Yankees (he and Gene Michael deserve so much more credit for the late 90s run than they'll ever get) and once with the Angels.

TM

Question.
 

Whew. I'm glad someone else answered this. I wasn't at all sure if it A) Was rhetorical, or B) I was understanding it differently than everyone else because I am kind of tired today. But, if it's the best you can buy and it's inexpensive, why wouldn't you buy it?

I've tried a number of bottling devices, and I'm still partial to the Captain's knife. Very simple and rather inexpensive. I think it goes back to my days behind the bar.

http://www.westsky.com/bopenr6a.jpg

I kind of disagree. I think sometimes it's nice to get gifts for people that they ordinarily wouldn't think of getting for themselves, perhaps because they are viewed as being a bit on the extravagant side. I won't buy something just because it's merely expensive, though.

And as far as your example goes, while I understand what you're saying, I sent something like this to an Uncle of mine last year. Basically because I figured he'd enjoy it, and because Chinese Apple-pears are damn good, and I knew it was something he probably wouldn't buy for himself.

Question.
 

Now now.

I am a snob and a former waitress who used to open wine, so honestly, secretly (I guess it is not so secret anymore) I look down on those who use fancy corkscrews because I think everyone should be able to open wine with a waiter's corkscrew.

This snobbery re: corkscrews does not extend to pepper mills however. I have a funky electronic one that lights up. I bought that because it looked cool.

Question.
 

I admire your spartan and highly-practical approach to life. You should tell your broker to shove his passionfruit/kumquat medley up his ass and then use his super-fancy Thurgreed-esque corkscrew if he wants to get them out.

I can just picture Christmas morning at the Burger house. The kids run down to stockings, all stuffed full of goodies! Oooh, an orange! Yay, a pencil sharpener! Hurrah, mine has dental floss! Oh look, I got some Q-tips! What a joy to be in a household free of the frivolous baubles and decadent doo-dads often associated with this sadly over-commercialized holiday.

DS takes a public sector job?
 

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/01/ny...?oref=login&hp

Rules of Conduct set forth rules of etiquette into the realm of mass transit, specifying proper conduct with a degree of precision that may surprise many passengers.

TM

Question.
 

I've got nothing against luxury goods, and sending them as gifts (I love the screwpull I received).

Perhaps it's one of those "know it when I see it" assessments, but I've seen far too many gifts that are bought simply because they're expensive, not because they offer any additional value for the expense.

Another example: Tiffany. Tiffany makes really nice stuff; so do other companies, often of equivalent quality, luxury, and value (crystal vases, silverware, jewelry). Yet people will buy Tiffany because the blue box means you can say as a giver "hey, I wasn't cheap". Now, there's some Tiffany stuff that's quite nice and unique--no problems there; but getting it to appear not cheap troubles me.

Question.
 

Now if that's not a sentiment brimming with griffwiff cheer, I don't know what is.

Question.
 

I load 'em up with Mojitos first thing in the a.m. No one cares after that.

Question.
 

When I was last in England a few years ago, my husband and I passed this shop - the sign out front read "High Class Fruiterer". We had to take a picture. No one else (brits) thought it was funny. Those wacky Brits.

Question.
 

Head down to 29th Street for some laughter in the meantime. Not high class, though. Say hi to Slave for me.

Houston is there a problem?
 

Some of the Rockets were at the Texans game on Sunday, and they ended up on the jumbotron. The reception was not exactly overwhelmingly positive. There was some muttering about maybe if they win some games. I'm not sure where the blame is being levied.

I used to be a Rockets fan, from about 1978 until maybe 1997 or so. I'm one of the disgruntled NBA fans who mutters about the good old days and shakes my head at the state of the game today.

Question.
 

If we're going to start drawing "know it when I see standards" for gifts, let me just say that I know that all those basket gifts suck. Sometimes they pick good stuff, but the basket is never filled. They insert that stuffing to make it look like it's overflowing, but there's always only one layer (those crafty bastards).

TM

Question.
 

2. Shows you know your way around a bottle of wine.

TM, I think the opener you originally displayed looked fancy and all, but it made me think of people who drive automatics not because they prefer them, but because straightdrives make them nervous.

Question.
 

Those are fine if the cork is "juicy" enough, but when it's too dry (alas, I have no cave in my dry-as-the-Sahara apartment), the cork gets crumbly and breaks. Ick.

In fact, it was after many a broken cork that I finally bought myself the Anna.

(Isn't she purty?):

http://store1.yimg.com/I/designstore_1807_242359


I worked at "A Wine Bar Cafe" in college, and had to open many-a-bottle; it's not that I don't know how; I just like the freaking $79 corkscrew. IS THAT OK WITH YOU ALL?!?!?