Nick-
It's purely part of the tradition. We understand that certain situations require leaving a tip, therefore we do it. As a long-time tip-reliant worker, we are often seen as independent contractors for the restaurant owner. Especially in places like bars, with floating servers, the management treats it as "you get paid as hard as you work." It's true. If I hang out in the back and fiddle with my blackberry all night, I deserve what I get. However, if I'm working the floor and making sure my customers' glasses are full, I deserve what I get.

Furthermore, tipping well isn't the only way to get better service on a night out. Simply saying your please's and thank you's will go over great too. As we say, "A jerk that tips well is still a jerk."

My grandfather was in negotiations to buy the original McD's building in Des Plaines and turn it into a hardware store.

I wonder if Pepsi's spokesman Joe Jacuzzi is also responsible for putting the bubbles in the water. Bad joke...

@Holly: This already was the case. It just so happens that my birthday is the same as the owner's wife. Don't think that lunchtime birthday cake sing-a-long wasn't made any less awkward.

Never be the youngest in the office. You will never hear the last of the "I could have been changing your diapers when I started here" comments.

Steve Martin wrote a chapter in his book "Total Drivel" spoofing these type of experiments. It's actually pretty funny and well-thought.

So it goes...