Playboy called again. I need to find someplace to go so I can chat for 20 minutes, since I can't exactly do that in my office.

Sheesh, Teppy.

I once had that problem about 10 years ago in a bank trying to convert dollars to pounds--the banker was using the exchange rate backwards. If I'd let him do it, I would've been much richer--as in, something like 1800 quid instead of 500. I was so angry after half an hour of trying to explain exchange rates and the relative value of the pound and dollar that I just stalked out and went to a different branch. I was really, really tempted to take the extra money. By the end it wasn't my conscience that kept me honest, just the hunch that SOMEONE higher on the totem pole would find the error and expect the money back eventually, and I didn't want that hassle.

and they last for ~3 years.

The plastic bottles, or the fountain itself?

and they last for ~3 years.

The plastic bottles, or the fountain itself?

The plastic bottles. After 3 years, the pressure of being carbonated could make them go kerplooey. The fountain had better last indefinitely.

The fountain had better last indefinitely.

Yeah, I was gonna say.

I'd be happier with glass or stainless steel bottles (some of the glass bottles my seltzer is currently delivered in are probably older than me and in perfect working order), but still - seltzer on demand is a very good thing.

Which makes the per-book cost 40 cents. Which co-worker still flatly refutes.

Maybe your co-worker should audit a math class. A 2nd grade math class.

I am glad my middle school science teacher drilled making sure you ended up with the right units into my head. $/book, dude. Get the units right, then plug the numbers in, see that Teppy's right. Eta: this is what happens when you abandon the metric system.

I have a glass soda charger, and I love it, but having only one (that holds only a quart) makes me use it less than I'd like to. I am intrigued by the soda machine. Esp. the penguin, of course, but ooh pricey!

How much are new CO2 cartridges?

How much are new CO2 cartridges?

They refill them for $20, which I think (though I'm not sure) includes shipping.

Their CO2 cartridges are a weird proprietary design, so that you can't get them refilled some other (cheaper) place -- that's the only thing that gave me reservations about buying it.

I finally decided in favor of it just because of all the plastic bottles I buy every week. Even though I recycle them (usually), it would be better if they didn't have to be made in the first place.

I don't understand the brain that can't follow this:

I tried, very patiently, to explain that with 1,000 books, an extra charge of (to make it easy) ONE GODDAMN DOLLAR per book would equal $1,000. So therefore $2.50 per book would be $2,500. NOT $400.