New Orleans prepares for worst ... Vermont tourism upset by cheap Quebecers

Boy, you gotta feel for the folks down in The Big Easy. I mean, how crazy is it that Tropical Storm Isaac is bearing down on New Orleans and could hit on the anniversary of Katrina?

So far, it doesn't look like Isaac is that bad. But that's the thing about hurricanes; they change. It was thought the storm would hit Tampa. It stayed out to sea and instead is hurtling towards Louisiana.

Google, for its part, is helping out with a crisis map that shows where the storm might make landfall. Again, the operative word is might.

U.S. President Barack Obama today said he has declared a disaster for Louisiana as the storm gets closer. He also called on Gulf coast residents to take official warnings "seriously."

Katrina slammed into an unprepared New Orleans in 2005 on Aug. 29.

It appears virtually all flights are cancelled today into Louis Armstrong MSY airport, so stay tuned to the news for more information. And keep your fingers crossed for New Orleans and Louisiana....

CHEAP QUEBECERS LEAVE VERMONT SEEING RED

Pretty funny (and not so funny at the same time) situation in Burlington, Vermont, where restaurants are again crying over folks from Canada who don't leave enough - or any - tips.

Lesley Taylor in today's Star tells the story of how restaurateurs are at odds about how to handle the situation. Some business people have instituted an extra "tax" to make up for visiting cheapskates. Others say it's discriminatory in the extreme and bad business.

Ken’s Pizza in Burlington, Vt., takes the unambiguous approach to prodding stingy Quebec customers to tip: “Tipping is not just something you do in a canoe,” the menu reads.

A tricky situation, for sure. I'm all for encouraging folks to leave good tips in hotels and restaurants. I wrote a column about it a year or so ago and chastised folks who don't leave a couple bucks for the hotel maid.

I got quite a lot of mail on that one. Most folks agreed, but a few people out there still get angry about tipping and feel there are too many folks hanging around with their hands out. Which is certainly the case.

I think the maid at a hotel deserves a tip, but not so much the bellman who runs to the door to open it for me as I walk out in the morning....

There's a story on The Star's website today about tipping so have a look and let me know what you think: jbyers@thestar.ca

 

 

 

Comments

[Jack Martin]

There is a thing about natural disasters that nothing can be done about them except escaping them. And that’s what the president is doing, a tleast making the people aware.