Freedom of Meat

"It's not food, its violence!" was the chant used by a group of protesters inside a grocery store in the beautiful island of New Zealand to protest eating meat. Meat, a staple in the diet of millions of people world wide and the stuff of nightmares for some vegans. I eat meat. I was raised by a family who introduced me to a wide selection of animal products such as alligator, rabbit, deer, goat and sheep. While my diet consist of meat, it does not mean I'm going to protest against vegans in front of the produce section. I have a friend who chose a vegan lifestyle and does not judge me or others when I eat a hamburger or a steak. This is the respect she has because she chose such diet for her own well being. It works for her and it should work for the rest of vegans. People who choose a diet of meat do not want to be told not to eat animal products by a group of angry protesters because no one wants to be told what to do. We already have the government to do that for us and they are smart enough to allow their citizens the freedom to eat whatever we want. Vegans should understand not everyone wants to go full vegan. It is an unreasonable expectation like wishing for world peace. Yes, we know how meat in developed countries is processed and shipped to the meat counter. We don't need to be reminded. All we want is to eat whatever we want without any form of confrontation in the grocery store except by the butcher and the cashier. If a vegan tells you meat is murder, then remind them how their shoes, clothes, backpack and their precious smartphone were made. I almost guarantee if you tell a vegan to break their smartphone in protest of the cheap and cruel labor of human beings, they'll think twice about it. Now if there is a vegan out there wearing clothes from a thrift shop, no jewelry, rides a bike and the bus, grows their own food, no smartphone or any electronic devices, works for a non-profit organization, and cleans the environment telling me not to eat meat, maybe I would consider it. For now, we should not have to argue that meat is not food because it is. It has been for thousands of years and taking it away completely will definitely lead to chaos.

The Bad Tipper

I have been working in the restaurant industry for over ten years. I am currently a bartender and server at a restaurant in Anaheim, California. Throughout my years in the industry, I have had some really awesome tips and some crappy ones. I have been the best server in the world and received a tip barely worth the cost of two items at the 99 Cent store. I have been the worst server ever and received an awesome tip to make me feel like crap. People are different. They have their own expectations of restaurant service and tip accordingly. Nevertheless, there are trends we servers have picked up regarding the type of person or party and can foresee a good or bad tip (remember, this is my personal opinion and this is what I have seen in my years as a server and bartender):

-American Express Platinum card holders tend to tip like they can't afford the annual maintenance fee.

-People who ask for the price of every single item tend to tip about ten percent of less.

-Those who check every single item in their receipt and call you out for any irregularities usually will not leave a good tip.

-People who make you work like they are the only table in the restaurant and ask for things every two minutes tend to leave a low tip (sometimes but rarely they reward the effort generously).

-Young couples usually tip like they have a limited allowance.

-People from Australia and New Zealand are either really good tippers or don't tip at all. This is because the tip is included in their own restaurants. Many will ask if the tip is included and how much its customary.

-People from the UK tip five percent or less. Almost like they don't like Americans.

-Certain Christians (those who show their religion like wearing a multicolor coat) tend to tip the same percentage of their tithe. There was a server in Missouri who received a note from a pastor which said, "I give God ten percent why should you get 18?"

-Those who get mad for not having a particular item but stay anyway and order something else...well, you know what the outcome will be.

-There are those who don't tip at all. Those people could be anybody and are difficult to predict. Every server has had the zero tipper before one time or another. You are not a server until you experience the zero tipper.
-Just for fun: https://onethirdchapter.blogspot.com/2019/04/room-for-7-of-tips-and-men.html

      This is just what my coworkers and myself have experienced in the past. We share every complement and complaint with one another. We see the frustration when another server or bartender has experienced a difficult customer or someone who has tipped enough to make us shed tears and curses in the walk-in refrigerator. Remember, we get taxed by the government. Our checks do not reflect our hours worked because of the additional taxes the federal and state governments take. We make up the rest in tips. If you don't believe in tipping, please don't put a note or an excuse to justify your action because quite frankly, we don't care. Also, please don't write a big-fat zero for the tip because it just gets us angrier like we just been punched in the face. Us servers and bartenders know when we provided poor service and a low tip is expected because we are people too. We don't get offended when this happens and know we deserve it. I remember the time I was so busy, I was not able to give good service to one of my tables and expected a low tip or no tip at all. Thankfully I was wrong and they made my day.

     

Room for 7: kiss

NATHAN: My parents think we're dating.

KATIE: Mine think the same.

NATHAN: They even suggested the use of birth control. At least from my part.

KATIE: My mom said, "No babies until you graduate and get married and thirty." She was louder and angrier. I told her just because we're best friends and live close, literally, doesn't mean we are having sex or something.

NATHAN: I'm not used to hear the word "sex" in our conversations. The only time I used that word with you is when I asked you to fill my roommate application. What do you mean by "or something?"

KATIE: You know stuff like kissing, holding hands, touching places. Stuff couples do.

NATHAN: Oh. It's weird thinking about us moving forward in that particular direction.

KATIE: Do you think our friendship would be ruined if we move in that direction?

NATHAN: I don't know. I do have pondered what would feel to be in a close relationship with you. (long pause) Katie, Do you want to kiss?

KATIE: Yes. (they kiss)Do you want to go out on a date with me?

NATHAN: Absolutely.

I Don't Blame Video Games

I was a teenager when Play Station first came to the market. The idea of having a videogame console in the form of a CD was extraordinary. I had asked for a Super Nintendo for my birthday. When my parents took me to Best Buy and get one, the Play Station was also on display and it drew the attention of my tech-loving dad. He was persuaded by the salesman by using the advanced attributes the system had such as three-dimensional graphics, memory capability and lack of annoying cartridges which I notoriously "cleaned" like a wolf blowing down a pig's house. We took home the system and the free demo CD which I played over and over until I got my first game--Tomb Raider. I played it and passed it several times. I also had Tomb Raider 2 and 3 and passed them like an expert. Then I had Marvel Versus Capcom, Crash Bandicoot, Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver, Machine Hunter, and Metal Gear Solid. I was never a fan of sports games even though I played soccer and baseball. In my late teens I finally switched consoles and bought an Xbox with Max Payne as my first game for the system. Some of these videogames were rated "T" of "M" for teen and mature respectively. These were games I played over and over and my violent mentality never appeared. To this day I still prefer to avoid any violent confrontation. I didn't have a girlfriend until I was 18. I was an above-average student. And most important, I had a rather strict childhood. I had to do countless chores around the house. I had to wash the cars on weekends. I had to play a sport. I had to maintain passing grades in order to go out with my friends or play videogames. I had to help my mom take care of my younger sisters. All these chores were centered around my videogames. These extra additions were important for maintaining responsible video game playing habits. There is no argument that video games are violent because they are. I've played them. Even Mortal Kombat at my friend's house. What I don't agree is video games being the responsible factor of violence in this country. It can be if the parents allow video games to be above everything else. It is important for the parents to implement chores, extracurricular activities, mandatory good grades, community service and countless other activities which tips the balance to good behavior. Parents, please help keep videogames from becoming the center of a child's life. If Japan can do it, so can we.