“The alcohol costs the bar the same no matter who drinks it, so lowering the price based on who or what a person is is -- well, what it is.”

Bartenders almost always use less liquor in the drinks they make for women. I read an article about it last year (in the NY Times I think) and it turns out it’s a pretty standard practice. And you think women would be mad about it – but most of us (and I’m remembering the reader comments from this article) are happy to get a ‘lighter’ drink so we don’t get completely trashed trying to keep up with the boys.

Those drink specials aren’t designed to attract only ladies – they’re designed to attract ladies who will in turn attract men looking for ladies. Guys looking to meet women at bars generally seek out places with drink specials for women because they can be assured the bar is going to have a fair amount of women in it.

The gym is a little sketchier – I’ll be interested to see how that’s decided.

Because that was OBVIOUSLY a joke on Janice’s part – she’s just looking for some buzz and to get a rise out of those who are taking this all way, way to seriously. She’s just teasing.

And if the friend you’re buying for is really green they don’t either. And I’m not a scrooge! I love the holidays. But if you know a friend is really trying to reduce their consumption why on earth would you get them junk they don’t really want or need?

I suggest a bottle of wine, a bouquet of flowers and some holiday cheer. Forget the junk – it’s just going to end up re-gifted anyway.

I’ve heard of companies that have ‘no fraternization’ clauses – but if they don’t have that kind of thing written in the employee manual for all to read you and your hubby were fired unfairly. And really – that strikes me as very old-fashioned and overly intrusive. I’d never accept a job that had so many rules (and I suspect that’s why we don’t see them so much anymore).

Right now we’ve got a married couple working for my company. My boss is living with a VP from a client’s office and another co-worker is dating a vendor. In the past I’ve worked at the same company with my husband. I even once worked for a start-up where the two partners were involved (we kept that one on the down low so we’d get funding more easily). And I could gossip about various workplace affairs all day.

Something that I do deal with a lot that is always upsetting is stalkers. You’d be shocked how many women have them. Just about every job I’ve ever had some woman has knocked on my door with a photo of some guy and a copy of her restraining order. I’ve got an especially scary story about one of those guys trying to bust in to our office. When faced with dangers like that a little kissy-face is nothing to concern your self with.

and despite all the horror stories I’ve heard (the older folks who trained me had lots and lots of them) I’ve never seen any real trouble come from an office romance. Sure – there has been gossip and sure I’ve had to have a couple of closed door meetings (mostly reminding people to be discrete and professional) but it’s never turned into anything major – unless the resulting marriage is considered major. It’s hard for me to appreciate what the big fuss is about.

I’ve been fascinated with this story since Jezebel brought it to my attention a few weeks ago. Once you know all the details this story it’s really hard not to get all worked up over – you’d have to be a saint not to want to throw a flaming bag of poo on the Drew’s doorstep.

But I don’t think its part of a larger parenting trend – that is taking it a bit too far.

There is a series of these photos of JLH and the one TMZ is pushing is of her back side. And, like most of us ladies, of course she’s got a little cellulite. And there is this myth out there among men that thin girls don’t get that. Of course every time I hear a guy say that it’s pretty clear he has no idea.

Not at all – I go to an inexpensive salon (cheaper then the ones we’re talking about) and there are lots of attractive men and women all over the place. And I’m sure lots of the guys I see there do come back to see the same pretty, friendly woman over and over – but they don’t get off on seeing that girl in an icky uniform, in a cookie cutter Disney Land-ish environment, getting hit on over and over all day. Because that shit IS tacky and common AND you pay a premium for it.

The thing I hate about these sorts of establishments is they’re so tacky and gross. I always feel sorry for the girls who have to be in that environment all day. If I knew a guy went to one my opinion of him world plummet. And it’s not that I begrudge him being pampered by pretty ladies – I would just expect him to not be so TGI Friday’s/strip club about it.

BTW – if I knew a woman who went a salon staffed by ‘hunky’ guys who wore a ridiculous uniform I’d think she was pretty low rent too.