Dec 22 2008  The problem of tipping  (As is my custom this time
of year, I am taking some time off from writing new posts and
instead reposting some old favorites (often edited and updated)
for the benefit of those who missed them the first time around
or have forgotten them. The POST SCRIPTS will be new. New posts
will start again on Monday, January 5, 2009. Today’s post
originally appeared in November 2005.)        But there are some
situations, such as with porters and hotel doorpersons and
bellhops, where the tip cannot be so disguised. I try as much as
possible to avoid those situations by doing things myself as
much as possible and if I cannot do so, tip as unobtrusively as
I can.     POST SCRIPT: Sand sculpture  I have always been
impressed with the time and effort that some people put into
such temporary things as sand sculptures. Here is one in Italy
where tons of sand was used to create a huge nativity scene
which includes approximately 200 figures and 100 animals.     1.
1      The problem of cours