Currently, around one in five Americans live in a residential area with a Homeowner’s Association (HOA), and it's not a popular choice. A YouGov poll found that 14% of Americans prefer living in a neighborhood with an HOA, while 61% do not. A big reason Americans don't like HOAs is that they don’t enjoy being regulated over the choices they make for their homes. They want noise and garbage regulations, but most people don’t want the HOA interfering with their landscaping, fences, or home renovations—a great example of HOAs being a burden on homeowners comes from a story out of Florida.This Florida HOA was way out of boundsA Redditor whose parents live in an HOA-controlled community hit hard by two hurricanes posted their amazing revenge against an overzealous HOA in a viral Reddit post. The homeowners had roof damage and wanted to repair it by installing a metal roof. “My folks looked through roofing options and determined that a metal roof would be a great option to reduce damage/maintenance on their home. Plus, it would serve as a more energy-efficient option with passive solar collection and fewer thermal losses in the summer/winter,” the poster wrote. A man installing a metal roof.via Canva/PhotosThe couple even tried to do things by the book, but after sending in their plans, they didn't hear back from the HOA. After two months of waiting for a response, they went ahead and installed their metal roof. The HOA then fined them $25,000 for installing a roof in violation of HOA rules and demanded that they tear it down and build a new one. The HOA cited a rule prohibiting metal roofs in the neighborhood from 1989, when metal roofs weren't as advanced as they are today. The father, a former Navy officer and contract negotiator, wasn’t going to back down.Why did the HOA need that money so badly?The poster believed that the HOA was trying to squeeze money out of the family because it had run out of cash after an expensive “Welcome to...” sign on the property was damaged in a hurricane.A few weeks later, there was a meeting at the HOA where the parents could plead their case. “So my mom (because she’s more social/has a better temper than dad) comes up to speak, and lets the HOA know that they can’t do this. HOA smirks and says that they sure can, they have a 40-year-old statute saying that they can,” the poster wrote. “You do. But I have state law on my side, which supersedes your statute,” the mom said, showing the ace she had up her sleeve. A Chevy driving through the rain.via Canva/PhotosIn their research, the couple learned that the state of Florida has a law that supersedes HOAs and prohibits HOAs from preventing eco-friendly improvements on anyone’s property. A metal roof is an eco-friendly improvement. Admitting defeat, the HOA asked, “Is that all?” and the mom had more to say.“I see in the bylaws that we can vote to impeach board members at any HOA meeting and to elect their replacements. I move to impeach all of you. I nominate my husband, and...” she then rattled off a list of names, and HOA was stunned. The parents had asked their friends in the neighborhood to attend the meeting, and they voted to impeach the board. The parents, along with friends they nominated, took their seats as the new heads of the HOA, and metal roofs are now allowed in the neighborhood.

Shopping at Costco is all about getting the most bang for your buck. Buying in bulk is one frugal strategy to cut down on expenses for groceries and more. Plus, a Costco membership comes with tons of benefits besides deals on food and gas. And if you've ever shopped at the retailer, you might have noticed that Costco price tags have a number of symbols and codes on them.Curious shoppers are right to investigate—because the price tags hold a lot of information about products besides just pricing. Costco devotees on Reddit decoded what Costco price tags truly mean—and when the price reflects a major deal. @rossen.reports Costco price tag SECRETS — find the hidden deals! Price endings meaningWhen shopping at Costco, the last two digits of the price spill a lot of information..99Items that end in .99 at Costco are full-priced. This doesn't necessarily mean you're not getting a good deal on the item—but it doesn't indicate a further discount..97If you see items priced ending in .97, this indicates the item is on clearance.".97 is the indicator for a corporate markdown. Sometimes these are warehouse specific, or can affect multiple warehouses or even all warehouses in one region, but just because an item is marked down at one warehouse, does not necessarily mean it will be marked down at another warehouse," the moderator commented. ".97 pricing can also vary by warehouse - example: you may see one warehouse that has a $299.99 item marked down to $249.97, while another warehouse may have it marked down to $199.97. Asterisk PLUS the .97 pricing may mean that they’re trying to make room for a new model or that warehouse is trying to get rid of that product.".00 and .88If you see items priced ending in .00, this indicates it has been marked down by the store manager."Price ending in .00 (sometimes but rarely .88 depending on the warehouse) usually means that specific warehouse really wants that item gone and .00 is often the lowest possible price. But sometimes .00 is used for discounted display models or unopened returns)," the moderator added. ".88 is also used for pricing on certain Asian goods usually around Lunar New Year since the number eight is considered a lucky number in certain cultures. .00 tend to more rare finds and deeper discounts. You may see a price tag with an asterisk that has NOT and may NOT be marked down. They’re not mutually exclusive. And you may sometimes see .97 or .00 pricing WITHOUT the asterisk (until inventory is lower).".X9Items that end in .X9, like .49 or .79 for example, indicate a promotion by the manufacturer. This usually indicates that the product is having a trial run in your Costco. Costco price tag decoder.Image via Reddit/OlshanskWhat symbols meanThere are three important symbols that have specific meanings on Costco price tags:AsteriskThe asterisk indicates a few key things about the item you're about to purchase."Asterisk (also sometimes called 'Death Star' or 'Star of Death' signifies that the item is pending deletion and that specific item number will usually not be restocked in the near future at that specific warehouse, other warehouses may vary," they wrote. Depending on the item, a product with an asterisk MAY still come back at a later date."They also explain that "this is commonly seen on seasonal items or food items that rotate on varying schedules. Items may also come back in a different iteration (different packaging, size change, or quantity), or for electronics - an updated model number. But if it’s a packaging, quantity, size change, or updated model number - it will usually get a new SKU / item number. So technically the original item number is pending deletion. An asterisk alone does NOT indicate a discount." - YouTube www.youtube.com Date on the BottomIf you notice a date on the bottom of a price tag at Costco, it indicates the last time a price was changed. Green TagThe green tag on items in Costco typically indicate the item is organic. However, many people noted it may not be a consistent thing within Costco' in different regions."I work in the Midwest region and I haven’t seen them being used (from merch pics or email communications). I think at one point we highlighted by hand (my location) but it looked tacky and stopped doing so," one commented. Another added, "The majority of the organic items in my warehouses do not have green price tags, and there are no consistent reasons where it appears to be used." But another shared, "In Texas I see the green tag pretty consistently for organic."

We probably all agree that the "there are two kinds of people in this world" trope is overdone, but sometimes it just fits. And according to the responses to a man's video about texting, there does seem to be two kinds—those who respond immediately to friends' texts and those who will do anything for their friends except respond to their texts in a timely manner. "I just need my friends to know I would do absolutely anything for them, except reply to their messages," says @bkharthun. "You need a ride? I'm there. You need me to pick you up from the airport, great, I'm coming. You need advice in person? I'll give you that advice. But if you text me, give me five to six business days. I might not be getting back to you in a while." @bkharthun I can’t help it okay I responded in my head already #myfriends #messages #reply "I see the message, I read it," he continued. "I respond mentally, I prepare a conversation that we had, but I'm not gonna respond. There's just something about it, but I just can't respond. I just can't do it. So just know that I"ll do anything for you, but I'm probably not going to reply to your text for a while."Apparently, he hit a nerve because the video has been viewed over 21 million times with over 3 million likes and thousands of comments, most of which are people feeling seen. A sampling:"It hurts how much I relate to this.""I either respond freakishly quick or not at all ?""We’re the generation that figured out 24/7 communication was a mistake ?" Text Me GIF by OKCrealtor Giphy "Heavy on the 'I respond mentally' ?""I'm not replying but just know that it haunts me constantly.""I’ll reply in 7-10 business weeks.""No honestly you could call me for the first time in 3 months crying having an emergency at 3am and I’m there but texting you back everyday??? I’m sorry it’s not happening.""This 100% is my worst quality and I can’t stop??""I’m a reliable friend. But not a responsive friend. Lol"Many people shared screenshots of how many unread message notifications they have on their message icons, with some in the hundreds and some even in the thousands. GIF by mrjonjon Giphy However, not everyone was as enthusiastic about it. Some people shared that they didn't understand why people wouldn't just respond, and some went so far as to drop friends over it. "I don’t comprehend how people operate this way.""I never understood this I always reply.""Yeah i just stop texting people like this.""This shouldn’t be normalized. Communicate with the people you care about. Instant replies aren’t expected but ignoring completely is rude.""We can’t be friends. I’m SICK of everyone being like this.""Insane. Just reply? What are we talking about here? ?" Hold On No GIF by Originals Giphy It's an interesting debate, isn't it? We've never in the history of humankind had the kind of instant access to one another that we have now, and the social expectations of texting are perhaps not designed for all of us. "We are not meant to be responding to everyone we’ve ever met all hours of the day forever," wrote one person. "It’s truly an insane concept. We are all living vastly over complicated and over worked lives. It’s too much."Another pointed out that if we all respond immediately to every text, we'd have no time for anything else:"It's because we know they're gonna respond back the second we do, and the cycle starts again. Like who do they think I am with all this free time, I've got doomscrolling and procrastinating about the laundry to worry about over here."Is this really just a "two kinds of people" situation? It appears it may be. Is there a right way to be? Like most everything, there are shades of nuance and context that mean it depends. Threw it on the ground GIF Giphy "We need to get over our reaction that everyone needs to respond immediately," Erica Dhawan, author of Digital Body Language: How to Build Trust and Connection, No Matter the Distance, told NPR. After all, the person you're messaging might be dealing "with a screaming toddler, on the toilet, [or] on a Zoom call." People have to sort of triage their responses, she says, so "don't feel ghosted if someone doesn't respond immediately to you."Being honest about your texting habits with friends might be a good way to fend off any bad feelings. Something like: "Hey, just so you know, if I don't text you back right away (or at all), don't take it personally—I often respond in my head and think I've done it in real life," can go a long way. That might not satisfy everyone, but at least it lets your friends know that you're not trying to be rude. We're all trying to manage digital overload, so balancing consideration and grace on all sides seems like the best approach.

Screenwriter Ken Nolan was playing Wordle when he heard the news that one of his all-time favorite directors/writers, Quentin Tarantino, had dropped a two-part list of his 20 favorite films of the 21st century.I know this because we've been on a Wordle thread for five years. "Take your turns," he urged us, when our other pal said, "Hey Ken? Did you know Tarantino just named Black Hawk Down the number one film of the 21st century?"The thing is? Nolan wrote that film. At first he thought it was a gag. "No, really," our friend reiterated. "Here!" He then dropped in a Deadline article, followed by the news in Variety. Too many great sources to deny. Once Nolan truly believed it, he texted us, "God that feels good and almost unreal." Original trailer for the film Black Hawk Down. www.youtube.com, Scott Free Productions, Jerry Bruckheimer Films According to Jordan Ruimy's piece on World of Reel, Tarantino had been "inspired by The Big Picture Podcast’s 25 best films of the century list." Tarantino decided to "guest on The Bret Easton Ellis Podcast and make his own list. The filmmaker 'grabbed a pen,' and 'started writing titles.' He's come up with his own 20 best films of the 21st century; only one film allowed per director."The movies he selected are diverse, to say the least. While there are quite a few gory horror films (because of course) like Cabin Fever and the adorably cheeky Shaun of the Dead, Tarantino included some surprising picks as well. Steven Spielberg's West Side Story came in at number 20, Richard Linklater's School of Rock at 14. Yes, of course Jackass: The Movie grabbed a slot, as did Toy Story 3.But number one was unequivocally Black Hawk Down, based on the book by Mark Bowden and directed by Ridley Scott. Of that, Tarantino said in part, "I think it’s a masterwork, and one of the things I love so much about it is […] this is the only movie that actually goes completely for an 'Apocalypse Now’ sense of purpose and visual effect and feeling, and I think it achieves it. It keeps up the intensity for 2 hours 45 minutes, or whatever it is, and I watched it again recently, my heart was going through the entire runtime of the movie; it had me and never let me go, and I hadn’t seen it in a while. The feat of direction is beyond extraordinary."Watching Nolan learn of this extraordinary compliment was fun to witness in real time, since Nolan is so incredibly talented and deserving. So we asked him to share what it was like to write that screenplay and his thoughts on having such high honor accolades from a legend. Writer Ken Nolan poses with actor William Fichtner. Ken poses on set.Photo Credit: Ken NolanUpworthy: How did you land this project?Nolan: "It's a long story, but I had sold a few spec scripts by 1998, and the executives at Bruckheimer, Chad Oman and Mike Stenson, were aware of me. They asked if I would read Mark Bowden's galleys for his upcoming book Black Hawk Down.I didn’t know what those three words meant, 'Black Hawk Down.' It might as well have been 'Moose Donkey Teacup.' They didn’t go together. I sat on my couch at home and started reading. Hours later, I got up, all sweaty, to go get a drink of water. I realized I hadn’t moved in four hours. I had simply been inhaling Mark Bowden’s book, and couldn't put it down. I think I finished it that night or the next day. I knew I had to get this job. I would wash Jerry Bruckheimer’s car to get it. Whatever! I was born to write this movie."Have you kept in touch with any of the cast and crew?"I've kept in touch with cast members Eric Bana, Kim Coates, Bill Fichtner and Orlando Bloom on and off through the years (to name a few). Executives Chad Oman, Mike Stenson, and of course Mr. Jerry Bruckheimer (who hired me again!). I said 'hi' once after a Broadway show to Jeremy Piven, who I think didn't remember me. And then at another Broadway show I tried to remind Ewan McGregor that I was the writer he kept asking for cigarettes (I don't smoke) and he looked at me as if I had just arrived from a distant and vaguely annoying galaxy.Mark Bowden has been my mentor ever since, always telling me when I complain about this or that to 'Be a professional.' Very calm and sage advice. Ridley Scott and I worked together again on The Company, which he was going to direct as a feature, but it fell apart and instead became a mini-series. I learned more in the four months on set with Ridley than the previous 34 years of my life (at that time) watching and studying movies." Ken Nolan poses with writer Mark Bowden. Ken and Ridley Scott on set.Photo Credit: Ken NolanWhat were your first thoughts upon hearing Tarantino say the movie was his favorite of this century?"Well, it blew me away. It was a better feeling (how would I know, but I'm guessing), than winning an Academy Award. For a few reasons. One, he is one of my heroes, and two, this is his opinion. You can't take that away and say things like, 'Oh, they gave the film that award because they overlooked the director's last three movies and the Academy wanted to honor him or her.' It's his opinion. And what made me feel amazing was — this isn't just some guy off the street, or even a critic. Quentin Tarantino is a walking film encyclopedia. And not just of Criterion Collection movies or AFI movies — he's a walking video store of crap and junk and B movies and Z movies and everything there is. He loves them all. Loves movies. So this felt especially amazing to me. This man knows movies as well as Scorsese does. He may even know movies Scorsese has never heard of. He may know more movies than Spielberg.The feeling of being recognized is as gratifying as it gets. Also because I distinctly remember Ridley saying of the Best Picture nominees that year at the Oscars (Mark Bowden took me as his guest to the Oscars that year), 'We should be up there, mate.' Meaning we should be nominated. We weren't. It confused me at the time. I knew the movie was great. Wasn't it? Was I wrong? No. I wasn't wrong, it turns out. Quentin Tarantino says so. So there."What are your favorite QT movies?"His best movie to me is Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. But I have to give you my Quentin Tarantino background. In 1992, I was trying to make it as a screenwriter, but scraping by check to check as an assistant. I had read a review of this film called Reservoir Dogs. It was a rave review from someone, I can't remember. I saw it was going to play at ONE THEATER in Los Angeles. Way across town. I think it was the Vista. I got in my Honda Civic right after work on that Friday and went alone to the theater, running up knowing it would be sold out and I'd be out of luck. I was an hour early. 'Was there a long line for the last show?' I said in a breathless hiss to the guy behind the ticket counter. 'No,' he said. I realized I was the only person 'in line.' It stayed that way. I'm pretty sure I saw the movie with about ten other people. Quentin Tarantino at the Oscars. Giphy Deal With It GIF by The Academy Awards The movie was great. But it wasn't until two years later when my girlfriend at the time said, 'Hey, my friend Bumble Ward is the publicist for that director you like, Quentin. She says you can help work a screening and then we can see the movie for free. Wanna pass out flyers before?' They might have been audience cards to fill out or something. Anyway, I said, 'Hell yes!' We saw the movie, and something in my life shifted on its axis. This was a young filmmaker who made something no one had ever seen before. And I knew someone who knew his publicist! That meant I could do what he was doing. I could write scripts.So I sold my first script in 1994. And then, nothing.No one wanted my second script — a disaster script called San Andreas. I was almost out of money from that first script sale, and I remember I would go to 3rd Street Promenade from my bachelor apartment (no bedroom, no kitchen), and read magazines and books and drink coffee, then go home and write. I read an interview with Tarantino that day and he said, 'I consider myself a court reporter, just writing down what my characters say.' I stood up and said, 'That's what I'm going to do, right now.' I pedaled my bike home (my Honda Civic had been stolen a few weeks earlier), and I wrote a script in 11 days. It sold and I was on my way to being a professional writer. All because of that article."Any other films on his list with which you agree?"I agree with all of them, but especially Zodiac and Mad Max: Fury Road. Zodiac, like Black Hawk Down, needs a few decades to age and be revisited. The script by Jamie Vanderbilt was really inspiring to me as a writer, too. The great thing about Tarantino is he'll put Unstoppable on the list, which I never would have thought of. I saw it recently and was practically laughing at the incredible amount of extras, cars, stunts, and money spent on this movie. I said to myself, 'This is the very last of these kinds of movies. No one will spend money like this on a non super-hero movie.' I felt the same way about Munich. I said, 'This is the last of one of these Day of the Jackal-esque or Black Sunday kind of action, hop-around-Europe-locations, multi-ethnic, multi-cultural cast movies there will ever be. You cannot make these movies anymore. There will not be a Bridge Too Far again."

If you've lived your whole life with a dog, a home has to feel pretty empty without one. Your heart has to feel like there's something missing as well. When Jack McCrossan, originally from Scotland, moved to Bristol, England with his three friends, they were bummed out to learn that their landlord didn't allow dogs.So when they saw a beautiful black Sheprador (a German Sheppard Lab mix) in their neighbor's window, they knew that had to become buddies with her. They wrote the dog's owner, Sarah Tolman, a letter asking to arrange a play date with the dog. "If you ever need someone to walk him/her, we will gladly do so," they wrote."If you ever get bored (we know you never will, but we can dream), we are more than happy to look after him/her. If you want to come over and bring him/her to brighten our day, you are more than welcome. If you want to walk past our balcony windows so we can see him/her, please do," the letter continued.Been saying we’d love a dog about the house but our landlord doesn’t allow pets, so my housemate posted a letter to our neighbours asking if we could walk their dog every once and a while and the response was better than we could have ever hoped for pic.twitter.com/dcMOfPk5UH— Jack McCrossan (@Jack_McCrossan) December 10, 2019 "We hope this doesn't come too strong, but our landlord won't allow pets, and we've all grown up with animals. The adult life is a struggle without one," they wrote. "Yours sincerely, The boys from number 23," the letter concluded.Soon after, the boys in 23 received a response from the dog herself, Stevie Ticks, accepting the offer. However, it may have been written by her human, Sarah Tolman. In the letter, Stevie shares a bit about herself, saying she's two years and four months old, was adopted in Cyprus, and that she's "very friendly and full of beans." (The boys shouldn't worry about a gassy hound, in England, "full of beans" means lively.)"I love meeting new people and it would be great if we can be friends. I must warn you that the price of my friendship is 5 x ball throws a day and belly scratches whenever I demand them," the letter continued. A few days later, the boys got to meet Stevie. See on Instagram "Meeting Stevie was great!" McCrossan told Buzzfeed. "She was definitely as energetic as described. We got to take her for a walk and she wouldn't stop running!"Tolman thought the boys' letter was a fantastic gesture in an era where, quote often, neighbors are strangers. "In a day and age where people don't really know or speak to their neighbors, it was really nice for them to break down that barrier," she said. After the story went viral, she saw it as an opportunity for people to share their love of dogs with the world. "My mother and I are amazed at all the love we've received from around the world these past few days," Tolman wrote as Stevie. "If you have a doggo in your life, share that love with those around you."A lot has changed since this story first warmed hearts around the globe. The boys have since moved away, but as of September 2024, Stevie is around 8 years old and still living her best life. Recently, she even made it to the doggie wall of fame at her local coffee shop. See on Instagram In the years since this story first went viral, pet-sharing and neighbor dog borrowing have actually become more common, especially in cities where landlords restrict pets. Several platforms (like BorrowMyDoggy) and community groups now exist to pair dog owners with trusted neighbors who want occasional playtime, walks, or dog-sitting without having to own a pet. It’s a small but growing trend that reflects how deeply animal companionship is needed—even for people who can’t adopt a dog full-time. In many apartment buildings, these kinds of informal arrangements help reduce loneliness, build community, and give non-owners the emotional benefits of living with pets.Just goes to show the power of a dog's love…even if that dog isn't your own. This article originally appeared six years ago.

Universally beloved... The post The one guitarist David Gilmour and Jimmy Page agree was a level above first appeared on Far Out Magazine.

"Oh, no. You can't do that." The post The song Paul McCartney was convinced people would hate first appeared on Far Out Magazine.

The 1986 coming-of-age film starred Feldman, Wil Wheaton, Jerry O’Connell, and the late River Phoenix.

"No Tax on Tips" impacts how service workers track their earnings, but will it change how much your restaurant bill will be? This is what you should know.

Avenged Sevenfold and Good Charolette will launch a joint summer tour in July. Promoted by Live Nation, the 16-city tour kicks off July 25th in Ridgedale, MO and concludes August 27th at Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre in Phoenix, AZ. Avenged Sevenfold have released eight studio albums, one live album/DVD, two compilation albums and eighteen singles and have sold over 8 million albums worldwide, and their records have received numerous certification awards, including five platinum album awards from the Recording Industry of America (RIAA). “We play music for the sake of music, not so that we can be labeled a Metal band,” offered Avenged Sevenfold vocalist M. Shadows. Avenged Sevenfold Like Avenged Sevenfold, Good Charolette have released eight studio albums including two multi-platinum efforts: ’02’s “The Young And The Hopless” and ’04’s “Lifestyle Of The Rich And Famous.” “Music is supposed to be an escape,” stated Good Charolette’s Joel Madden. “It’s supposed to be somewhere you can go, where you can be yourself, or be whoever you wanna be.” Tour Dates: Ticket Information Jul. 25 – Ridgedale, MO – Thunder Ridge Nature ArenaJul. 27 – Shakopee, MN – Mystic Lake AmphitheaterJul. 30 – Tinley Park, IL – Credit Union 1 AmphitheatreAug. 01 – St. Louis, MO – Hollywood Casino AmphitheaterAug. 04 – Clarkston, MI – Pine Knob Music TheatreAug. 06 – Toronto, ON – RBC AmphitheatreAug. 08 – Montreal, QC – Bell CentreAug. 10 – Belmont Park, NY – UBS ArenaAug. 12 – Mansfield, MA – Xfinity CenterAug. 14 – Camden, NJ – Freedom Mortgage PavilionAug. 16 – Charlotte, NC – PNC Music PavilionAug. 18 – Tampa, FL – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union AmphitheatreAug. 21 – Dallas, TX – Dos Equis PavilionAug. 23 – Denver, CO – Ball ArenaAug. 25 – Salt Lake City, UT – Utah First Credit Union AmphitheatreAug. 27 – Phoenix, AZ – Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre Avenged Sevenfold recently released the single, “Magic.” Dropping last August, “Motel Du Cap” was Good Charolette’s first new album in seven years. ### The post Avenged Sevenfold/Good Charolette Announce Summer Trek appeared first on RockinTown.