for the love of God

[Alpha Strike]

That's actually true. Even if you don't actually care about whatever petty shit they're moaning about, pretending to care has a way of getting all but the most determined whiners out your face without actually giving them what they want.

I took a customer-service "seminar" through my work a few years ago and they had some interesting suggestions for dealing with difficult customers. That included trying to avoid saying "no" or, if one had to use the word, try and provide some other options to soften the blow. They also mentioned trying to empathize (NOT sympathize - they were very clear on that) with a customer. They even talked about how we shouldn't use the term "bear with me a minute" - apparently that has negative connotations for customers.

I would also kill for some no shit for real pork cracklings from 21st street farm fresh's meat department. they used to repackage ones from smithfield ham company. the unseasoned ones =(

I'm a Northern boy, born and bred, so I apparently don't know much of anything about BBQ. And I've never even heard of "pork cracklings." Could someone tell me what they are?

[EricKei]

I'm a Northern boy, born and bred, so I apparently don't know much of anything about BBQ. And I've never even heard of "pork cracklings." Could someone tell me what they are?

Cracklins are basically salted, fried pork skin. Not good for you by any stretch of the imagination, but better than it sounds.

[Geek King]

Cracklins are basically salted, fried pork skin. Not good for you by any stretch of the imagination, but better than it sounds.

Very tasty, but not an often snack for sure. Yoder's Dairy up here in Dayton/Cincinnati stocks some good ones in most Krogers. Not sure about other places pickings.

[Imogene]

reminded me of my desire to try this stuff

*watches link*
Even worse, I've heard of deep fried BUTTER! Ick! I hear it tastes like dough.

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

Thank you and go to hell.

"I'm already here and talking to you. I fear nothing."

[AccountingDrone]

Got it, Pierces Pit BBQ - been there, and there's another one in Toano, a bit further up 60 - Hog Wild....their stuff is AWESOME! Hoping to get some while I'm down there!

oh damn, they *ship* bbq ...

Cracklins are basically salted, fried pork skin. Not good for you by any stretch of the imagination, but better than it sounds.

for the love of god, never buy the pork fluff in a bag that is commonly sold, that is NOT cracklins ... real cracklins have a nugget of fat that gets rendered out and has an almost creamy crunch to it, along with the rendered skin that provides some crunch.

I was horrified at the commercial pork rinds in the north

[Ironclad Alibi]

Guest: Dave, I am renting there and need to know of somewhere that has good local BBQ

Me: the nearest place is about 15 miles.

For good BBQ I will go to just about any Ruby Tuesday (several within a few miles), but for the best BBQ I have to go 60+ miles. (Corner Stable on York Rd. in Baltimore, MD.)

[WageSlaveofDoom]

Guest: well Dave, you are going to have to do better than that

Hey kids! What's the best way to lose any sympathy you may have received from me?

Overuse my first name like yer asking me to the prom!


Seriously. WTF? We have someone like that at my theater who invokes the first name like he's our best buddy. And we hate him. White, hot, blinding rage. No exceptions, and no sympathy for the douchebags.

[trailerparkmedic]

Oh no, I didn't know that Corner Stable shipped! My boyfriend thought I was weird for ordering Utz--he's going to think I've lost it when he sees this.

[Tito]

Thank you and go to hell.

All these people keep saying that to you! Don't they realize you're already there?

[Ironclad Alibi]

Oh no, I didn't know that Corner Stable shipped! My boyfriend thought I was weird for ordering Utz--he's going to think I've lost it when he sees this.

I'm glad I was able to give you a happy day. I hope you and your boyfriend enjoy the BBQ ribs.

[Seshat]

How to make perfect pork crackling:

Get roasting pork with the skin still on. Score the skin with a knife, being sure to cut through all the skin layers and part (but not all) of the fat layer.

Rub salt generously over the skin. As desired, also add pepper or other seasonings.
Treat the meat part as desired (whatever seasonings you want in that).

Cook on a high setting for the first fifteen to thirty minutes (depending on the size of the roast, fan-forced or not, etc), then at a normal roasting setting until the roast is done. The high setting crisps the skin and makes it crackle properly.

Serve hot, with yummy roasted veggies. To make it even better, serve with roasted apples instead of applesauce!

[SpyOne]

I saw a show on PBS that really helped explain folks like this.

See, the Roman philosopher Seneca reasoned that what makes people angry is when the world fails to meet their expectations. thus, he reasoned, the path to happiness was to expect nothing from life.

This might apply to us: the reason we get angry at people like her is that we expect people to not behave like spoiled children. If we remove that expectation, we have no reason to be angry.

But the really relevant bit is that Seneca said that the rich are even angrier than they common man. The reason for this is that they expect that their money will insulate them from all of life's little inconveniences, and when it doesn't the world has failed to meet their expectations, and they become angry.

Applying Seneca's wisdom to this situation we see a woman who does not see all people as equal. She expects that her wealth brings with it privileges, and one of those is not having to schlep 15 miles to get decent take-out of the cuisine of her fancy. The World is supposed to provide her with decent take-out barbecue within a comfortable walk of wherever she should choose to be.
And when her vacation property fails to measure up to that standard, she is offered two choices:
1) Her wealth does not provide her that privilege. Wanting good barbecue nearby is somehow unusual, making it her job to find out if the rental property features it. Or,
2) The property you rented her is obviously defective, as it lacks this basic amenity. It isn't that everyone on earth should have good barbecue close by, but anyone as rich as her certainly should, and if there isn't such a place near the place you rented her, then you clearly renter her a place more suited to the proletariat than to a woman of her standing.

If offered the choice between "this is my fault" and "this is your fault[/]", most people pick "your fault" every time. And this woman probably has a consistent rationale supporting that idea (that she is rich enough that she is entitled to relief from certain everyday problems).
Getting such people to change is extraordinarily difficult, because it is not just their behavior but their entire worldview that needs to be changed. But, if Seneca is to be believed, shedding that worldview will actually make her happier.

[jackfaire]

See, the Roman philosopher Seneca reasoned that what makes people angry is when the world fails to meet their expectations. thus, he reasoned, the path to happiness was to expect nothing from life.

When I was a kid I was a huge clutz so if I had something not go how I wanted, spilled, tripped, dropped, I would curse out physics and accuse said object of not following the laws of physics.

[PepperElf]

what did he want you to do....
go out and build a bbq restaurant for him?