Notes on today's comic (19 May 2010):

This is based, in part, on real life - I had a couple of friends who were proud of the fact that they didn't tip the wait staff in restaurants. Frankly, I was disgusted. It was actually author Robert Asprin, in one of his "Phule's Company" books, that opened my eyes to the situation that people face when they're dependent on tips... I'm not sure about outside the USA, but certainly here, those service people get a MUCH lower minimum wage (federal law allows for just $2.13 an hour in 2009, compared to $7.85 per hour for other workers), in the expectation that they'll be able to pick up tips; employers are required to make up employees' wages to just $5.85 per hour (as of 2009) if the tips fall short.

Now, I'm not telling you what you should or shouldn't do; that's not my place. But in my experience, tip earners generally do deserve the tips they receive. In my case, if I'm planning to eat or drink somewhere, but I can't afford to both pay for my order and give at least the minimum 15% tip, then I'll eat somewhere else, pure and simple. I'll let your conscience determine what you should do :)

News, Views and Just Plain Schmooze...

Monday 17 May 2010

A few items, this time: First of all, a resident of Barbados has been to visit the site, bringing the total up to 80! Word is certainly getting around - even though it seems that most visits are single ones... though I do know that there are people who come back! A special thanks to those people!

Speaking of which, Google Analytics gives clues as to how often people come back (subject to shifting IP addresses): the "new visit percentage". For example, the USA is presently logged (from 22 Dec 08 to 15 May 2010) as 2,756 visits, but 81.60% new visits, though this can be misleading, because many Internet providers assign users a different "location" each time you visit. However, Norway (#4 on the list with 128 visits) has only a 3.91% new visit rate, of which the city of Trondheim has a 1.61% rate! As far as I can tell, I seem to have quite a fan in Trondheim! Thank you! (Please remember that I don't know who this person is, nor where they live, other than the city itself!)

Last but not least, Canada (#3) has gone over 200 visits, so thanks also to the Canadian readers!

Wednesday 12 May 2010

Yet another country, which makes 79... The latest is Switzerland! Oh, in case anyone is worried about Google Analytics (which I'm using to get information about visitors to the site), I would just like to point out that the closest anyone can get with the service is down to the city, town or village; it's not like I can track down anyone's address with the thing! Besides, I'm too damned lazy to be a stalker in any case :)

Monday 10 May 2010

First of all, yet another country in very short order: Ethiopia! I'd been hoping to get more countries in Africa, but couldn't figure out how to do it. But I seem to be managing it without any effort!

Update on my computer: I've had the wretched thing apart completely, but couldn't see anything wrong with it :( I decided that, under the circumstances, that it wasn't worth pursuing the matter (though my friend John Karpich was on-hand via email with advice). So until I can get a replacement motherboard or computer, I'll just have to be very careful...

Wednesday 5 May 2010

A few announcements this time, some good, and another is not-so-good... First of all, Paper or Plastic? has now reached FIVE THOUSAND VISITS! Thanks to everyone who stops by to take a look at the comic!

Speaking of which, there is now only one state of the USA left which hasn't sent a visitor to the site: New Mexico! Further afield, another country from the African continent has paid PoP a visit: Ghana! So the total number of countries has crept up again, to 77!

Now for the not-so-good news... my beloved computer is unwell :( Hopefully, a friend of mine is going to take a look at it if he can (I asked nicely and everything). Since I don't make any money from this comic, and I'm not getting many hours at work (gotta love retail...), it's possible that if the PC dies, the comic will be going on a LONG hiatus. I'll keep you posted as I know more... but keep your fingers crossed (at least mentally)!