Remember when we asked about how much you tip in non-service restaurants and cafes?  A lot of you weighed in on the issue.  Our poll indicated that about 70% of you don’t tip in these situations.  We had an interesting discussion about the obligation of the customer in situations like this to which Dan from Eppie’s added:

I can’t speak for other quick service/counter service joints, but here’s what’s going on at Eppie’s. We started out without a tip line on the cc receipt. We added it after we’d been open several months b/c a lot of folks were asking how they could leave tips on their credit cards. However, by no means should YOU feel obliged to tip just b/c there’s a line on the receipt. It’s not on there to pressure folks into tipping. Nor does the staff take umbrage if you scratch through the tip line or put a zero in there. Does the staff enjoy getting the tips? Of course. It’s a nice bonus at the end of a busy shift. But we certainly don’t expect everyone to tip.

To my enjoyment, I found a fantastic New York Times article by Paul Wachter, relevantly titled “Why Tip?” In the article, you learn some very interesting things behind the relatively recent phenomenon of tipping.

Here are the interesting facts (i.e. things like laws against tipping), straight up, for you to share with your non-cVillain friends:

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We learned from our commenters about a shooting that happened over the weekend. We didn’t know details until Chalottesville put out the official release which explained that one person had been shot and killed and three injured on Saturday at midnight outside of Pacino’s Deli on the Corner.  Today, we learn that Darryl Andre Johnson (pictured above), who had previously been a fugitive, has voluntarily turned himself into police.

[via NBC 29]

Here is the press release:

On Saturday Morning, October 12, 2008, at approximately 0020 hours, Charlottesville Police officers responded to a report of a shooting at 1329 West Main Street in Charlottesville. Upon their arrival, they discovered the body of 22 year old Phillip E. Adams, Jr., of Charlottesville, lying on the sidewalk adjacent to that location with an apparent gun shot wound to the chest area. Mr. Adams was transported to the UVA Medical Center where he died a short time later.

Preliminary investigation has revealed that Mr. Adams was attending a private party on the second floor of Pacino’s Deli, located at 1329 West Main Street, when he became involved in a confrontation with a subject later identified as Darryl Andre Johnson. During the course of the confrontation, Johnson is reported to have shot Adams and then subsequently fled the scene.

Johnson is described as black male, medium complexion, 20 years of age, 5-8, and 140 pounds.

Three other persons who were attending the party were also injured, but their injuries are not life threatening. Detectives are not releasing the names of those individuals at this point in their investigation.

Warrants have been obtained charging Johnson with Murder, Use of a Firearm in the commission of a Murder, Malicious Wounding, and Use of a Firearm in the commission of a Malicious Wounding.

Click to Download the Wanted Poster with Picture of Johnson

Anyone having ANY information regarding this incident or the whereabouts of Johnson is urged to contact CRIMESTOPPERS at 434-977-4000, or Detective James Mooney at 434-970-3374.

1PM… More updates from Charlottesville police chief Tim Longo after the break…

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We’ve got two reports of shooting incidents for this weekend.  Stanley explains:

Gunshots; Bolling, between 6th and Avon. And a shit-ton of ‘em.

And, another question, from a new commenter,  Norbit:

Was there a shooting at Boylen Heights last night?

There were no police reports of shootings in today’s police bulletin.  I couldn’t find any reports in the “real” news.  Anyone have more details on either of these incidents?

[picture from badjonni]

It’s gonna be a niiiiiice weekend: sunny and about 75 degrees. No need to pack up the flip flops yet.

PREVIEW:

Echo will get trashed by 7:00 on Friday.

And here’s your horoscope for all the signs except Gemini:

You will die one day.

And for Gemini:

You will die twice as much.

Ok, J/K. Here’s some crap to do. Check out MUSE for what to listen to and STYLE for what to buy or wear:

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UVA’s budget has been cut by about 7% which accounts for about $10 million of the $160 million state budget allocation.  While the state only accounts for about 8% of UVA’s budget [ref], this still means that UVA won’t fill 11 open positions.  Additionally, this will delay the State’s planned 2% salary increases.

Layoffs aren’t going to happen, but this cut shoudn’t be thought of as the end to that fear.

The UVA budget cut is part of a much larger plan from Virginia Governer Tim Kaine.  In 2009, Virginia expects budget shortfalls of nearly $1 billion.  In order to combat the shortfall, Kaine plans 578 job cuts, a salary freeze on all state employees, across the board education cuts and more.  A detailed list is after the break: (more…)

Thanks to Outskirts Guy, we’ve been notified that the power on the downtown mall and possibly the Belmont area went out this morning and is still out.  Let us know where you’ve seen the blackout.

Picture is from Tom Daly and a post from last year.

It’s a sad day when a Charlottesville’s little gem, Lauren Brie Harding got cut from the show.  Commenter juicyfruit said it best:

I can’t believe they cut her. For not having enough “personality”. WTF? Since when is modeling about personality? I thought it was about looking gorgeous. Which she did! Tyra Banks is a crazy bitch. She only picks ethnic or weird looking girls. And do they ever become top models? Nope. Probalby since she sent all the really beautiful girls home. We still love you Lauren Brie!

Tyra, you stupid producer influenced crazy bitch, you suck.   If you want to watch the critique of Lauren’s last photo shoot, watch this video and go to minute 7:11.

This second video shows Lauren being eliminated and crying. I cried. Fast forward to minute 5. It’s after the break.

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