My last massage therapist was anti-tip. She said she felt she was a professional running a business and charging what her services were worth. I don't know how wide-spread this point of view is, though.

When I tip a massage therapist, the reaction seems to be, "Oh, you want to tip me? Cool!"

The last time I had a massage, I tipped because it was a truly great massage. I don't necessarily feel obligated to tip for that. As for hairstylists, if I really like the cut or they made space for me at the last minute or I was running late and they still got me out on time (which happens embarassingly often), I tip. I go in for a trim or a touch up, not so much.

From the link on the milk/mucus thing:

Q: Do dairy products help produce excessive amounts of mucus?

A: No, that is a myth. Dairy products to not enhance mucus formation, but your saliva might be slightly thicker after drinking milk. This is natural and not related to mucus.

So, its not technically more mucus it just makes your spit feel like mucus? Seems more like misunderstanding than a proper "myth" -- singer skipping it is probably a good idea.

I always tip my hairstyist. 20% to be shared between him and the hair washing person.

I tip: servers, bartenders, taxi drivers, people who do my nails, food delivery folks, hair stylist, hotel housekeeping, and masseuse.

I always read that for service employees who aren't the owner, a tip is customary (like hairstylists, massage therapists, etc.), because what the cut costs isn't what the stylist actually earns.

But that could be a scam perpetrated by the hairstylists of the world.

I tip my hairstylist huge because my cut is $17.99 but I feel like a million bucks when she's done.

I got a hug from Nichelle Nichols last night. You may all now be jealous.

I am astounded and frightened by P-C's uncle. I hope he has never gone to a prostitute, and I hope if he did, she kicked him out. Because DAMN.

That said, car-buying is one of the more fucked up experiences in american culture, I think.

What's a good corset buying site(s)? I can't remember recommendations.

If you do ebay, Meschantes used to often have "sales" there where you could buy a particular style, but still have it custom made, a little cheaper than just plain off their website. That said, if you want an UNDERBUST, you may not need custom, and I *hugely* recommend Timeless Trends, which is HELLA CHEAP for an underbust corset, and really decently made (I have two). For underbust, the "custom" is not so necessary, often, since you're not fitting the boobies, which are the big difference, on many women.

I have only had a cleaner once, and it was a friend of mine, who did it on the side. I figured she was charging what she wanted, but I also was a little paranoid I should tip her. It seemed weird. I would definitely tip a service, though--but probably in cash, figuring if I added it to the bill, they might not see it.

I always tip hairstylists/massage people/etc, though if they're the owner (I've been a few times when it's someone running their own business) I feel a little more weird about it. If it's someone working out of a salon/group thing, I figure they probably aren't as much setting their own rates, and the tip is more of what they're getting, if that makes sense.

I found out yesterday I'm getting a little bonus (though sadly, not a raise, but I knew that--it's company wide). So I got a massage. Question--how much feedback is appropriate to give the massage-person (masseuse? masseur? what's the word?). I don't want to be "that girl who was all weird and moany" or "that girl who was all "NO, TOUCH ME THERE"", and frankly, I prefer to kinda zone out and not HAVE to talk, but I also don't want to be "zombie girl who gave no feedback at all" (and that doesn't really lead to a great massage, either". Sigh--where is the massager who can selectively read my mind? THAT would be helpful...