Well, it's really crappy today. Actually had to cancel an interview with a waiter. And for those of you out there waiting tables this Monday night, I know the shitty weather means just fewer customers and less tips. My condolences.

I want to move to a topic, we all hold dear. Tips. 'Cause without tips, none of us would eat. Okay, we would still eat, and I guess a few stolen shift drinks means we would still drink, but you get my drift. Life sucks without tips.

Two weeks ago, I was riding a cab down in the WTC area and started talking to the cabbie about tips. He was an Israeli guy and I wasn't really shocked by an important observation he made: rich people often tip the least. According to this guy, his worst customers can sometimes be the Upper East Side woman who has the gall to sometimes even seem indignant that cabs aren't free.

Which got me thinking about that scene from Midnight Cowboy where the pimp played by John Voight has a roll in the hay with some wealthy wench, who then begs his ass for some cab fair.

I may not believe in God, but I do believe in Hell. Specifically, a very deep, dark section of hell with a large "Reserved" sign hanging over it. This place is saved for waiters and wealthy people who do not tip.

I have no idea if this story sent to me is true or not (Lord knows, I don't trust the ethics of most other journalists), but I do think this article on Kerry is a bit interesting, even if it is just election year trash.

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With Carl Limbacher and NewsMax.com Staff For the story behind the story...

Sunday, April 25, 2004 11:39 p.m. EDT

Kerry a Cheapskate, Senate Waiter Says

When it comes to his Senate dining room tipping habits, you'd hardly know Sen. John Kerry married his way into a half-billion-dollar fortune.

Independent researcher Tom Kuiper called our attention last week to a passage from Ron Kessler's 1997 best seller, "Inside Congress: The Shocking Scandals, Corruption, and Abuse of Power Behind the Scenes on Capitol Hill."

Kessler's account includes a few choice quotes from one of the Senate dining room waiters, who used to regularly serve the Senate's wealthiest member.

Kerry is "real cheap," the waiter told Kessler. "He tips, but it is ten percent and below."

The waiter noted that the Massachusetts Democrat isn't alone. Some of Kerry's less-gold-plated colleagues "either do not tip or tip very little. ... They might go out without signing their check or they might sign the check w/ no tip."

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