The open container laws of most states prohibit drivers and passengers from possessing an open container of alcohol in a vehicle. Generally, a person can be in violation of the law whether the vehicle is in motion or parked.

exception: Typically, open containers can lawfully be kept in the trunk or an area of the vehicle not readily accessible to the driver or passengers.

Many store owners have a fine-grained control over return policy.

I remember ctown@Bayonne. I think the owner has a policy that any returned merchandize must be absolutely good enough for resale. If an ice cream is opened but apparently untouched, then he needs to judge the customer’s integrity. He once put my returned ice cream back on the shelf, right in front of me, as a silent but /stark reminder/ to me “Hey, if you are dishonest then another buyer will eat your leftovers.”

In contrast, many shops esp. big shops like Walmart accept returns without hesitation. Most of the items would be sent back to producer for refurbishment/recycling, automatically, but some returned items would be discarded, such as food.

I often feel guilty about the waste. So I often return the item unopened, in original packaging, either in SG or U.S.

I think these shops have a bigger profit margin to absorb this kinda “marketing cost”. The generous return i.e. try-buy is a marketing policy.

See also

• color-copy sub-A4 documents

==== my birth cert (by 方圆公证处)
— Moisture .. a real risk. Over 30Y the paper has stayed dry so far.

Sugg: keep it in airtight ziplock.

— color copies… Most places can’t tell — the “original” I received could be a copy of something physically locked in an archive.

— travel .. I have carried this single paper copy during my dozens of home moves including flights. I often kept it in office for a few “busy” days.

Sugg: avoid carrying original. Just carry color copies during travel.

==== deed poll..
— lamination .. doesn’t prevent loss, but does prevent severe damage including moisture.

The cover page (unsigned) .. “naked” original can be reproduced easily.. no signature 🙂 If I declare that the deed poll has only one page, would anyone question or suspect me? I doubt it as the cover page has no real information whatsoever. Therefore, it could be better to discard the cover page completely… travel light.

— Q2: how do we keep for 80Y?

List of alternative documents if the naked original paper unavailable:

• electronic copy
• laminated copy
• certified copy

Q1: What if original is lost or completely damaged? What if lamination is unacceptable?
A: in SG we can try ApexLaw. I believe it is much easier ( to deal with ) in Singapore.
A: in other countries, we have to ask local authorities what evidence they accept to link the birth cert to whatever document bearing TKX. In that country, we don’t if local authority would accept any proof including the original deed poll.

Loss is a much worse event than damage. Generally, birth cert is easier to reproduce and verify. Often the birth hospital has some record. I’m generally relaxed about birth certs.

I now prefer fried rice ..

• easier to keep. Next day doesn’t become ruined, so I am significantly more likely to “spread it out” to 2 – 5 meals.
• I was able to keep vegetable fried rice for 4 days in fridge and it was still ok ! In contrast, many dishes from Bayonne Chinese restaurants would go bad in 4 days
• bread + vegetable fried rice is now a tested combination
• if no white rice or bread, the fried rice can be taken as a meal all by itself.
• I can also add some raw carrot!
• I can also add some pickles or meat to go with white rice + fried rice

The gravy idea was almost never really achieved at these economical Chinese restaurants.

Fried tofu is always more tasty than soft tofu. 麻婆豆腐 is almost never authentic.