This is probably one of the funniest things I've ever read. This are ACTUAL rules for a sci-fi convention happening in Romulus.
Rules (Yes, we do have some)
Social Interactions
* If you must argue, please do so in your room. People deemed confrontational in any way that interferes with the enjoyment of other convention goers will be referred to Secretary of Violence Sheryl Bradakis to schedule an appointment in the lists. Perform Nerf combat, then let it go.
* Often at conventions, many of various genders wear scanty costumes. Please be respectful by not touching them without a clear invitation, and by keeping in mind that "No Means No." Actually, these are good things to remember no matter what a person may be wearing.
* If someone tells you to leave them alone, do so. Please report persistent "physical-presence spam" to Ops, and ask them to fetch the Conchair for you.
Sexuality
* The display of bondage gear or fetish clothing in public is controversial, but acceptable at the convention. We would recommend that it is most appropriate in the evenings. However please keep BD/SM scenes or play in your room to avoid non-consensual experiences for others.
* Please keep your public displays of affection rated PG-13.
Physical Activities
* If you disassemble or displace things which are not yours, please return them to their original condition and placement expediently.
* Even if you want to conduct a study of physics, don't cause objects to be propelled through the air. Also, please don't release objects such that they fall a greater distance than to the floor on which you are standing. If you can cause an object to remain suspended in midair without conventional means of support, go right ahead.
* Weapons, real or simulated, should remain secured and not be brandished about. Check out next section for what's allowed at the con. (Hint: "Slice" is bad. "Boom" is worse.)
* Most importantly, do not run while carrying scissors.
Costume Weapons
* Bladed weapons and replica firearms are allowed at Penguicon, either as parts of costumes or as part of dealer displays or pre-arranged martial arts displays. Blades that are part of costumes must be peace-bonded, and can only be displayed openly when worn as part of the entire costume. Blades and/or firearms should never be carried openly by themselves in the hotel.
* Replica and toy firearms are allowed, but not weapons which can actually fire any potentially damaging projectiles (or which could ever have). This means that actual pistols and rifles, bb guns, crossbows, and any similar weaponry, are all not allowed, even if they have been altered so that they can not now be fired convention staff cannot take responsibility for making an error in evaluating the weapon.
* Also, no weapon, whether it be a replica, toy, or anything else, can be brought to the convention if it contains gunpowder or any other explosive in any quantity. This means that caps for cap guns, blanks for starter pistols, bullets, or anything else with potential for explosion or fire will not be permitted. Also, costume items that contain or use an open flame or heating element are not allowed. (Note: to clarify for those bringing firearms for the "Geeks with Guns" event at the offsite range, the above items pertain to public display and costumes. Please be safe, sane and discreet.)
Alcoholic Beverages
* As part of con hospitality, Penguicon will be serving beer during evening and late night hours in the ConSuite. There may also be other events that will include beer, wine, or other alcoholic beverages. In the interest of avoiding those awkward confrontations with the hotel, or those even more awkward late night meetings with the police, we ask that everyone please observe some common sense rules about alcoholic beverages at the con.
* Penguicon volunteers will be checking IDs before serving any alcoholic beverages. You must be 21 or over in order to drink.
* Proof of age will be required at the point of service, not during registration. In other words, you must bring your ID to the ConSuite in order to drink. Con badges will NOT indicate age, or be accepted as proof of age. Acceptable forms of ID are drivers' licenses, state issued picture IDs, military IDs, and passports.
* Anyone seen to be violating state drinking laws (for instance, by providing alcohol to someone under 21) will not be allowed into the ConSuite. Repeated or major violations may result in removal of the violators from the hotel.
* Open alcoholic beverages should not be brought into convention function rooms, or consumed in the public spaces of the hotel. Open beverages can be carried with you as you move from room to room, however.
* Room parties in guest rooms are welcome to provide hospitality (potentially including serving alcohol). Each party will need to decide how to handle appropriate alcohol management, Penguicon asks only that everyone comply with the hotel's requirements about not having alcohol in the function spaces and common areas, and that all parties follow state drinking laws. Have fun sensibly!
Other Mind Altering Behaviors
* Sleep deprivation and various states of -glycemia are too often overlooked when considering mind altering behaviors. Be good to yourself by getting some sleep in each 24-hour period, as well as at least one non-junk-food meal in the same time frame. You'll save yourself the trouble of feeling physically exhausted and unendurably moody. The 5-2-1 rule is a good recommendation: 5 hours of sleep, two meals and one shower per day.
* Do not take open alcoholic beverages out of the ConSuites or private rooms where they are served. Caffeine, however, may be consumed in any location.
* Please confine the use of any illegal drugs to another venue.
Smoking
Please, no smoking except in smoking guest rooms, the bar, and outdoors.
Parental Concerns
* Although we don't forbid children, we aren't claiming to be intended for them either. Parents bring their children at their own risk. For instance, there are some panel topics inappropriate for children. Some evening and night convention functions may involve attendee costume and activities possibly inappropriate for children. You don't want your child eating a lot of the free caffeinated mints in the consuite as if they were candy.
* We don't provide anything specifically intended for them to do. We don't charge for children age 12 or under to attend, we don't allow them to register as an attendee, and we don't kick them out. The one issue we have had, is that we do ask that parents not use the Chaos Machine or the board games room as babysitting. Those are popular with kids. But we then seek out the missing parent and make them accompany their child.
* If you bring your child, do not complain at the feedback session. If you are going to complain at the feedback session about the availability of caffeinated mints in the Consuite, or the distribution of condoms, or the supervisors in the game room or Chaos Machine kicking out your child for disruption, then do not bring your child to Penguicon.
Swimming Pool
* Pool hours will be posted, please pay attention to them!
* If you have children, please supervise them.
* Don't drink and swim.
* Be courteous to other users of the area.
* Be safe.
Checkout Time
The hotel's normal check-out time is 12:00 noon.
Get A Room! No Sleeping in the Lobby
Even if you are local to the convention, we encourage you to rent a room, for two big reasons. First, odds are good that you're going to want to hang out and do fun things until the wee small hours of morning. It's much easier to max out the fun potential of the convention if you don't have to worry about driving home. The second is for the sake of the convention. If enough convention members rent rooms, we don't have to pay for function space. Which means we can run the convention more cheaply, and afford to do it again next year. 'Nuff said, right? And anyone who volunteers at the convention is allowed and welcome to sleep in the volunteer suite (the "Penguin Pit"), providing there are a few square inches of unclaimed space.
Game Room Rules
* NO SMOKING. For the comfort of everyone, all of the gaming function spaces are non-smoking areas. Anyone caught smoking will be treated as though they are on fire.
* NO PETS. For the safety and comfort of everyone, only medically necessary service animals will be allowed in the gaming areas. Gaming staff will ask the owners of all other animals to leave.
* BE CAREFUL WITH FOOD & DRINKS. Eating and drinking are allowed in gaming, but please take extra care not to spill, and please properly dispose of all empty containers and waste materials.
* GAMING IS NOT A DAY CARE SERVICE. Anyone under the age of 13 must purchase a membership badge at the youth rate or be tethered to a parent or legal guardian at all times. Additionally, anyone under the age of 18 must carry contact information for a parent or legal guardian at all times. Gaming staff will ask anyone who is unwilling to comply to leave.
* RESPECT OTHER PEOPLE. The people who run games at Penguicon are unpaid volunteers. Likewise, other gamers paid for the privilege to play games at Penguicon. Gaming staff will ask anyone caught mistreating others to leave.
* RESPECT OTHERS' PROPERTY. Penguicon has a small gaming library, but most of the games are the private property of the gaming staff and other volunteers. Gaming staff will ask anyone caught mistreating any games to leave.
* NO TANTRUMS. Games have winners and losers. If you won, congratulations! But please don't rub it in. If you lost, please don't whine about it. Better luck next time! Gaming staff will ask anyone who causes or participates in any disturbance to leave.
* Above all -- PLAY FAIR, & HAVE FUN!
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Best ClevChat Ever
8:24 AM Lauren: You've been invited to this chat room!
MICHELE has joined
Lauren: yesss
group chat
MICHELE: what up, laydies
Lauren: i have my coffee
MICHELE: jealous
Lauren: it's all good
8:25 AM kona, baby
MICHELE: i have no umbrella!
Lauren: it is beautiful here
MICHELE: biiitch
Lauren: i want to go to the botanical garden
because it is free today
MICHELE: do you have the day off?
Lauren: yess
MICHELE: excellent!
Lauren: unfortunately then I have to work Wed-Sat
8:26 AM MICHELE: ohhhh
well, at least you'll probably get our rain for the rest of the week
:)
Lauren: yay
MICHELE: you won't be missing anything!
Lauren: the kitten is in the window watching birds
MICHELE: hahah!
Precious and upstairs cat have been doing taht
8:27 AM Lauren: there are a million birds in our backyard, it is weird
Mandy is coming to visit!
MICHELE: they're taunting your cats
i heard!
that's so exciting!
Lauren: i know
because i think i have those days off
MICHELE: that is so cool!
8:28 AM brunch it up
8:29 AM me: what's up
i'm tweeting
hahahahha
MICHELE: hahah!
i'm gonna check your tweets
Lauren: teet
MICHELE: dirrrty
me: so, i told michele already
Lauren: damn you and your twittering.
MICHELE: remember christina aguilera?
me: but lauren, youhave to hear
i applied for a job here and its working from home
8:30 AM Lauren: yes!
me: and making like almost 60,000 a year
so i'd be like a RICH person
MICHELE: daaaaamn!
me: i know!
Lauren: niiice
me: so...i had a phone call this morning
and the chick who has the job now has been totally talking me up
Lauren: excellent
me: and told me: basically, don't blow the interview and the job is yours
yessssssssssssss.
MICHELE: AHHHHHHHHHH!
Lauren: see, your karma has paid off
me: and i was like: i'll show up drunk and offer everyone weed
Lauren: commuting karma
me: do you think that will go over well?
8:31 AM MICHELE: you'll totally get the job that way
me: my commuting karma!
i love that!
i need to tweet that
MICHELE: hahah!
whoaaaaa
me: tweeted.
MICHELE: just read your twitter
8:32 AM me: i know!
i had a sex dream about NKOTB
and it was with joey.....
MICHELE: with all of them?
me: ewwwwww...he wasn't even my fav
MICHELE: oh, ok
me: well, it was sort of all of them
MICHELE: yeah, joey was kind of feminine
me: but joey was the one i remember, on some couch in bar while he watched sports
Lauren: didn't someone have a zombie dream? because this morning I had a zombie dream. Thanks
me: dude!
michele, tell lauren
my theory...
MICHELE: hahahah!
8:33 AM me: and she's in NYC -- she's screwed!
Lauren: um, the swine flu epidemic is like 7 miles from where i live
MICHELE: Mandy is convinced everytime a new flu strain pops up, people will become zombies
me: swine flu
Lauren: st. francis prep is very close
me: its the beginning of zombism
zombieism?
MICHELE: haaa, zombism
me: zombalism?
MICHELE: i like zombism
Lauren: zombiism
8:34 AM me: hahahha
MICHELE: double i, i like it
me: michele...gross email
i nearly gagged
Lauren: i think the cure in my dream was like a bath of pineapple juice or something
me: write that down!
MICHELE: i will gladly take a pineapple bath
me: because it could be a sign
8:35 AM Lauren: hahaha
yes
me: just remember: go somewhere with no windows like the Winchester
Lauren: I dreamt of the cure for zombiism
love that movie
me: best ever.
MICHELE: heee, me too
Lauren: I made my parents watch it and they were like "um, Lauren?"
me: my sister hasn't seen it
hahahah!
its beyond clever
its clever redefined
MICHELE: seriously?
8:36 AM it's so awesome
Lauren: they just couldn't relate to the generational hilarity
me: i could see my mom watching it and going: i don't get it.
and i'd keep looking over at her and saying: isn't that funny?
MICHELE: my mom was kind of meh about it, too
Lauren: i know
me: and she'd give me a fake laugh and i'd get really disappointed
Lauren: i know!!!
me: like mom, i thought better of you.
Lauren: i was like this is the best movie violence and comedy and love!
MICHELE: i felt the same way!
8:37 AM me: i know!
MICHELE: my mom has a great sense of humor
but wasn't feeling it
me: its a romantic viocom
Lauren: haha
MICHELE: romzomcom
me: awesome!
god, we are on fucking point today ladies
MICHELE: sadly, i did not make that up
Lauren: lolz
me: i'm going to have to blog this chat
MICHELE: the dudes who made it did
me: damn it!
MICHELE: i know
8:38 AM me: michele, don't ruin my moment!
Lauren: originality
MICHELE: i was so on yesterday, too
me: you were!
michele was f'ing funny yestserday
like everything she said was comedic gold
Lauren: we're funny gals
MICHELE: haha
me: even the reference to patrick swayze
MICHELE: probably because of the pms
hahah
me: i got my period last night
Lauren: mmm excess hormones create art
MICHELE: ew
me: well...FYI
MICHELE: mines not until next freaking week
me: maybe i shouldn't share that...
Lauren: it is like all artists being bipolar
MICHELE: and i'm already retardedly bloated
8:39 AM Lauren: i love my bc
MICHELE: no, if you can't share it here, where can you share it?
me: do you take seasonale?
Lauren: i am on YAZ
me: i tried that no period stuff...
i got wicked bad headaches
Lauren: so it supposedly takes care of my PMDD
whatever that is
me: oooooh...lucky
MICHELE: my mom totally had pmdd
me: is it like ADHD?
Lauren: it makes me not want to kill, but I also have no sex drive
so it is double effective
me: hahahha
8:40 AM MICHELE: my bc makes me waaay less moody
Lauren: indeed
MICHELE: but i still have acne
and bloat
and spotting
i think i'm only half woman
Lauren: YAZ is supposed to fix acne and crazy mood swings
MICHELE: i'm going to talk to my doc about it next week
Lauren: I can't eally tell if the no sex drive thing is the birth control or just personal preference
me: whatever i take has to have low estrogen
i'm so superiorily female i don't need anymore.
ha.
8:41 AM MICHELE: hahaha
i'm loling
me: loling
i'm loling like i'm watching a romzomcom
Lauren: i hate saying "lol" but enjoy "lolz" i am not sure why
8:42 AM MICHELE: lolz is slightly better than lol
i always just write out haha
Lauren: yes, i go with heh
MICHELE: that is my lol equivalent
me: i'm more obnoxious
like hahahahhahahahhaha
soemtimes i do haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhaaaaaaaaa
depending on my mood.
Lauren: yes
MICHELE: hhahahah!
8:43 AM your fingers know what to do
me: my laugh is horrible, so i'm trying to simluate via the keyboard
its tough to do
sometimes i laugh like Mutley, from the cartoon
where i just make like no noise
MICHELE: ha, that's mine
me: tough to type that out
MICHELE: a rasp
me: yeah!
i also do some weird french thing
and jeff always laughs and asked me if i want a croissant
8:44 AM Lauren: lozl
mmm. lozl
a new variant
it is like hebrew
8:45 AM i have invented the hasidic equivalent of lolz
me: thank god
8:46 AM the jews are severely lacking in good chat abbreviations
Lauren: I saw grey gardens
8:47 AM me: was it any good?
i avoided it since i want drew barrymore to die
Lauren: yeah
I was disappointed in Jessica Lange
I thought she would be better
me: how can you be disappointed?
its jessica lange
she sucks
Lauren: I expected Barrymore to suck
me: and you want to know why jessica lange sucks?
Lauren: uh, yes?
me: because i'm loyal, and my mom hates her for no good reason.
MICHELE: why?
hahah!
8:48 AM will you hate james woods for me?
me: my mom also hates susan sarandon and linda rondstat
so, i hate them too
james woods is kind of douchey
MICHELE: HAHAHAAH!
i hate him!@!!!
Lauren: maybe your mom just hates people that look like they have kewpie doll/fetal alcohol syndrome
8:49 AM MICHELE: BWHAHAHAHAHA!
oh my god
8:50 AM it took me a minute to calm down
Lauren: :)
me: maybe she does!
she should hate leondardo dicaprio too then
MICHELE: yes
me: i cant' even spell his name
8:51 AM MICHELE: he's gotten weirder looking as he's gotten older
like, he's a boy in a man's body
Lauren: speaking of which
benjamin buttons was stupid
8:52 AM MICHELE: hahah!@
haven't seen it
me: i had a feeling it would be
i heard its also very long.
MICHELE: i saw forgetting sarah marshall though
me: i saw the wrestler
MICHELE: i want to see that!
me: you totally forget its mickey rourke
you think you're watchign a documentary about that guy
MICHELE: damn
me: and i saw the day the earth stood still
and keanu reeves sucks
MICHELE: my dad is pissed about that movie
8:53 AM me: which one?
Lauren: the wrestler was awesome
MICHELE: earth stood still
he LOVES the original
me: because its beyond dumb?
MICHELE: it's his favorite movie
Lauren: you need to get 9 and a 1/2 weeks and the wrestler and have a movie marathon
me: its a great movie, the original
lauren: that would be depressing
its like hot MR then what the fuck happened to your face MR
MICHELE: DO NOT SEE ZACK AND MIRI MAKE A PORNO
me: hahahah.
8:54 AM okay.
MICHELE: worst movie
Lauren: too late
MICHELE: god
did you hate it?
i was so bored i forgot i was watching it at one point
me: that's amazing.
MICHELE: i picked up a magazine and was like, oh yeah, i'm watching a movie...
me: i want you to tweet that.
hahahha.
i'm dying.
8:55 AM MICHELE: hahah, ok
me: my coworkers hate me
sooo funny
MICHELE: hahahaha!
me: everything you guys are saying is making me so happy
i want to tell everyoen and no one here gives a shit
Lauren: haha
me: so, i'm just giggling at my desk like a moron
and now i have a meeting...
Lauren: that has been my lifelong struggle
aw
8:56 AM me: i have like FIVE today
Lauren: i don't have to work!!!!
but I do have to clean out my closet
I wish you could virtually be here to help me with that
MICHELE: i would make you throw everything out
i'm notorious for that
8:57 AM Lauren: that is what i need
i have to be brutal
there is serious overflow
me: i'm off ladies
Lauren: bye
me: but i'm saving this chat forever.
Lauren: :(
me: i don't know how...
but i'll figure it out.
8:58 AM MICHELE: click on chats!
it will be there!
have fun at your meeting!
Lauren: should i notify my lesbian friend that i will set her up with your cousin?
8:59 AM MICHELE: matchmaking!
Lauren: the unification of two crazy lesbians
9:00 AM MICHELE: hah!
MICHELE has joined
Lauren: yesss
group chat
MICHELE: what up, laydies
Lauren: i have my coffee
MICHELE: jealous
Lauren: it's all good
8:25 AM kona, baby
MICHELE: i have no umbrella!
Lauren: it is beautiful here
MICHELE: biiitch
Lauren: i want to go to the botanical garden
because it is free today
MICHELE: do you have the day off?
Lauren: yess
MICHELE: excellent!
Lauren: unfortunately then I have to work Wed-Sat
8:26 AM MICHELE: ohhhh
well, at least you'll probably get our rain for the rest of the week
:)
Lauren: yay
MICHELE: you won't be missing anything!
Lauren: the kitten is in the window watching birds
MICHELE: hahah!
Precious and upstairs cat have been doing taht
8:27 AM Lauren: there are a million birds in our backyard, it is weird
Mandy is coming to visit!
MICHELE: they're taunting your cats
i heard!
that's so exciting!
Lauren: i know
because i think i have those days off
MICHELE: that is so cool!
8:28 AM brunch it up
8:29 AM me: what's up
i'm tweeting
hahahahha
MICHELE: hahah!
i'm gonna check your tweets
Lauren: teet
MICHELE: dirrrty
me: so, i told michele already
Lauren: damn you and your twittering.
MICHELE: remember christina aguilera?
me: but lauren, youhave to hear
i applied for a job here and its working from home
8:30 AM Lauren: yes!
me: and making like almost 60,000 a year
so i'd be like a RICH person
MICHELE: daaaaamn!
me: i know!
Lauren: niiice
me: so...i had a phone call this morning
and the chick who has the job now has been totally talking me up
Lauren: excellent
me: and told me: basically, don't blow the interview and the job is yours
yessssssssssssss.
MICHELE: AHHHHHHHHHH!
Lauren: see, your karma has paid off
me: and i was like: i'll show up drunk and offer everyone weed
Lauren: commuting karma
me: do you think that will go over well?
8:31 AM MICHELE: you'll totally get the job that way
me: my commuting karma!
i love that!
i need to tweet that
MICHELE: hahah!
whoaaaaa
me: tweeted.
MICHELE: just read your twitter
8:32 AM me: i know!
i had a sex dream about NKOTB
and it was with joey.....
MICHELE: with all of them?
me: ewwwwww...he wasn't even my fav
MICHELE: oh, ok
me: well, it was sort of all of them
MICHELE: yeah, joey was kind of feminine
me: but joey was the one i remember, on some couch in bar while he watched sports
Lauren: didn't someone have a zombie dream? because this morning I had a zombie dream. Thanks
me: dude!
michele, tell lauren
my theory...
MICHELE: hahahah!
8:33 AM me: and she's in NYC -- she's screwed!
Lauren: um, the swine flu epidemic is like 7 miles from where i live
MICHELE: Mandy is convinced everytime a new flu strain pops up, people will become zombies
me: swine flu
Lauren: st. francis prep is very close
me: its the beginning of zombism
zombieism?
MICHELE: haaa, zombism
me: zombalism?
MICHELE: i like zombism
Lauren: zombiism
8:34 AM me: hahahha
MICHELE: double i, i like it
me: michele...gross email
i nearly gagged
Lauren: i think the cure in my dream was like a bath of pineapple juice or something
me: write that down!
MICHELE: i will gladly take a pineapple bath
me: because it could be a sign
8:35 AM Lauren: hahaha
yes
me: just remember: go somewhere with no windows like the Winchester
Lauren: I dreamt of the cure for zombiism
love that movie
me: best ever.
MICHELE: heee, me too
Lauren: I made my parents watch it and they were like "um, Lauren?"
me: my sister hasn't seen it
hahahah!
its beyond clever
its clever redefined
MICHELE: seriously?
8:36 AM it's so awesome
Lauren: they just couldn't relate to the generational hilarity
me: i could see my mom watching it and going: i don't get it.
and i'd keep looking over at her and saying: isn't that funny?
MICHELE: my mom was kind of meh about it, too
Lauren: i know
me: and she'd give me a fake laugh and i'd get really disappointed
Lauren: i know!!!
me: like mom, i thought better of you.
Lauren: i was like this is the best movie violence and comedy and love!
MICHELE: i felt the same way!
8:37 AM me: i know!
MICHELE: my mom has a great sense of humor
but wasn't feeling it
me: its a romantic viocom
Lauren: haha
MICHELE: romzomcom
me: awesome!
god, we are on fucking point today ladies
MICHELE: sadly, i did not make that up
Lauren: lolz
me: i'm going to have to blog this chat
MICHELE: the dudes who made it did
me: damn it!
MICHELE: i know
8:38 AM me: michele, don't ruin my moment!
Lauren: originality
MICHELE: i was so on yesterday, too
me: you were!
michele was f'ing funny yestserday
like everything she said was comedic gold
Lauren: we're funny gals
MICHELE: haha
me: even the reference to patrick swayze
MICHELE: probably because of the pms
hahah
me: i got my period last night
Lauren: mmm excess hormones create art
MICHELE: ew
me: well...FYI
MICHELE: mines not until next freaking week
me: maybe i shouldn't share that...
Lauren: it is like all artists being bipolar
MICHELE: and i'm already retardedly bloated
8:39 AM Lauren: i love my bc
MICHELE: no, if you can't share it here, where can you share it?
me: do you take seasonale?
Lauren: i am on YAZ
me: i tried that no period stuff...
i got wicked bad headaches
Lauren: so it supposedly takes care of my PMDD
whatever that is
me: oooooh...lucky
MICHELE: my mom totally had pmdd
me: is it like ADHD?
Lauren: it makes me not want to kill, but I also have no sex drive
so it is double effective
me: hahahha
8:40 AM MICHELE: my bc makes me waaay less moody
Lauren: indeed
MICHELE: but i still have acne
and bloat
and spotting
i think i'm only half woman
Lauren: YAZ is supposed to fix acne and crazy mood swings
MICHELE: i'm going to talk to my doc about it next week
Lauren: I can't eally tell if the no sex drive thing is the birth control or just personal preference
me: whatever i take has to have low estrogen
i'm so superiorily female i don't need anymore.
ha.
8:41 AM MICHELE: hahaha
i'm loling
me: loling
i'm loling like i'm watching a romzomcom
Lauren: i hate saying "lol" but enjoy "lolz" i am not sure why
8:42 AM MICHELE: lolz is slightly better than lol
i always just write out haha
Lauren: yes, i go with heh
MICHELE: that is my lol equivalent
me: i'm more obnoxious
like hahahahhahahahhaha
soemtimes i do haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhaaaaaaaaa
depending on my mood.
Lauren: yes
MICHELE: hhahahah!
8:43 AM your fingers know what to do
me: my laugh is horrible, so i'm trying to simluate via the keyboard
its tough to do
sometimes i laugh like Mutley, from the cartoon
where i just make like no noise
MICHELE: ha, that's mine
me: tough to type that out
MICHELE: a rasp
me: yeah!
i also do some weird french thing
and jeff always laughs and asked me if i want a croissant
8:44 AM Lauren: lozl
mmm. lozl
a new variant
it is like hebrew
8:45 AM i have invented the hasidic equivalent of lolz
me: thank god
8:46 AM the jews are severely lacking in good chat abbreviations
Lauren: I saw grey gardens
8:47 AM me: was it any good?
i avoided it since i want drew barrymore to die
Lauren: yeah
I was disappointed in Jessica Lange
I thought she would be better
me: how can you be disappointed?
its jessica lange
she sucks
Lauren: I expected Barrymore to suck
me: and you want to know why jessica lange sucks?
Lauren: uh, yes?
me: because i'm loyal, and my mom hates her for no good reason.
MICHELE: why?
hahah!
8:48 AM will you hate james woods for me?
me: my mom also hates susan sarandon and linda rondstat
so, i hate them too
james woods is kind of douchey
MICHELE: HAHAHAAH!
i hate him!@!!!
Lauren: maybe your mom just hates people that look like they have kewpie doll/fetal alcohol syndrome
8:49 AM MICHELE: BWHAHAHAHAHA!
oh my god
8:50 AM it took me a minute to calm down
Lauren: :)
me: maybe she does!
she should hate leondardo dicaprio too then
MICHELE: yes
me: i cant' even spell his name
8:51 AM MICHELE: he's gotten weirder looking as he's gotten older
like, he's a boy in a man's body
Lauren: speaking of which
benjamin buttons was stupid
8:52 AM MICHELE: hahah!@
haven't seen it
me: i had a feeling it would be
i heard its also very long.
MICHELE: i saw forgetting sarah marshall though
me: i saw the wrestler
MICHELE: i want to see that!
me: you totally forget its mickey rourke
you think you're watchign a documentary about that guy
MICHELE: damn
me: and i saw the day the earth stood still
and keanu reeves sucks
MICHELE: my dad is pissed about that movie
8:53 AM me: which one?
Lauren: the wrestler was awesome
MICHELE: earth stood still
he LOVES the original
me: because its beyond dumb?
MICHELE: it's his favorite movie
Lauren: you need to get 9 and a 1/2 weeks and the wrestler and have a movie marathon
me: its a great movie, the original
lauren: that would be depressing
its like hot MR then what the fuck happened to your face MR
MICHELE: DO NOT SEE ZACK AND MIRI MAKE A PORNO
me: hahahah.
8:54 AM okay.
MICHELE: worst movie
Lauren: too late
MICHELE: god
did you hate it?
i was so bored i forgot i was watching it at one point
me: that's amazing.
MICHELE: i picked up a magazine and was like, oh yeah, i'm watching a movie...
me: i want you to tweet that.
hahahha.
i'm dying.
8:55 AM MICHELE: hahah, ok
me: my coworkers hate me
sooo funny
MICHELE: hahahaha!
me: everything you guys are saying is making me so happy
i want to tell everyoen and no one here gives a shit
Lauren: haha
me: so, i'm just giggling at my desk like a moron
and now i have a meeting...
Lauren: that has been my lifelong struggle
aw
8:56 AM me: i have like FIVE today
Lauren: i don't have to work!!!!
but I do have to clean out my closet
I wish you could virtually be here to help me with that
MICHELE: i would make you throw everything out
i'm notorious for that
8:57 AM Lauren: that is what i need
i have to be brutal
there is serious overflow
me: i'm off ladies
Lauren: bye
me: but i'm saving this chat forever.
Lauren: :(
me: i don't know how...
but i'll figure it out.
8:58 AM MICHELE: click on chats!
it will be there!
have fun at your meeting!
Lauren: should i notify my lesbian friend that i will set her up with your cousin?
8:59 AM MICHELE: matchmaking!
Lauren: the unification of two crazy lesbians
9:00 AM MICHELE: hah!
Monday, April 27, 2009
Way to Go Iowa!
First same-sex marriage license issued in Iowa
DES MOINES — Melisa Keeton and Shelley Wolfe are the first same-sex couple with a license in hand at the Polk County administration building, now that an Iowa Supreme Court ruling legalizing gay marriage has taken effect.
Judge Karen Romano granted a waiting-period waiver shortly after 8:30, and the couple, with a pastor in tow, plan to have a ceremony within the hour. Ordinarily there is a three-day waiting period in Iowa.
Wolfe, 38, and Keeton, 31, had a commitment ceremony about two years ago.
They were among about a dozen people gathered at the Polk County recorde's office by 7:30 this morning in anticipation of the Iowa Supreme Court's gay marriage decision going into effect. The court had issued an order early in the day confirming that the appeals process in the case had officially concluded.
The group, which stood in a drizzling rain, included at least three same-sex couples filling out papers on clipboards so they can apply for marriage licenses. Three women walked into the county administration building with T-shirts that read, "Engayged." Two men with tuxedos walked into the recorder's office shortly before 7:30 a.m.
Polk County Recorder Julie Haggerty has said she will not begin issuing licenses until she receives the formal go-ahead from the Polk County attorney's office. The formal order is expected to come down between 8 a.m. and 8:30 a.m., said Assistant Polk County Attorney Michael O'Meara.
A group of same-sex-marriage opponents is also expected to arrive this morning to deliver a petition urging the recorder's office not to issue the licenses. Polk County sheriff's deputies are on hand to maintain the peace.
Two plaintiffs in the original Iowa court case got to the Polk County administration building before 7 a.m.
Standing with son Jameson, 2, were Ingrid Olson and Reva Evans.
"Just walking up, I got tears in my eyes," Olson said. "Seeing this building today was more powerful than the first time we walked up in 2005. Back then we knew we'd get turned away. Today I got a pit in my stomach."
They'll get married on June 15, which is Jameson's birthday.
"We feel like this is the state's birthday present for him," Olson said.
For Alicia Zacher, 24, and Jessica Roach, 22, both of Des Moines, it was deja vu. They had applied for a license in August 2007, after a Polk County judge's ruling briefly made gay marriage legal. Only one couple was married before the ruling was put on hold. Now, Zacher and Roach must go through the process again.
Today, they were the fourth couple in line. They planned to ask for a waiver from a judge so they could skip the three-day waiting period. They have a tentative appointment with a judge for 4 p.m. today to get married.
"I'm nervous," Zacher said. "I just want to go in and get the bureaucratic part over with."
Last night, they celebrated with family at P.F. Chang's restaurant in West Des Moines, Iowa. They'll celebrate tonight with friends.
"I just would like to have the protections in place as soon as possible," Roach said. "Like if tomorrow she got in a car accident, I'd have to call her mom in Nebraska."
No protesters were at the county administration building this morning.
When Chuck Hurley, leader of the Iowa Family Policy Center, arrived about 7:40 a.m., about 20 reporters and photographers surrounded him. Hurley has become the lead Iowa spokesman for anti-gay marriage protests. He believes that marriage should be only be between a man and a woman.
Elsewhere in Iowa, Emmet County Recorder Sue Snyder said no marriage licenses had been issued this morning, as of about 8:15 a.m. There was one protester of the marriage licenses to same-sex couples, a friend of Snyder's, who brought in a petition for Snyder to have, Snyder said.
"They're asking that we refuse to issue these licenses," Snyder said. "My response is that I'm governed by the state of Iowa to follow the laws and serve the people and that's what I will do. We just agreed that it would not cause any friction between our friendship, then we left it at that."
Contributing: The Associated Press.
DES MOINES — Melisa Keeton and Shelley Wolfe are the first same-sex couple with a license in hand at the Polk County administration building, now that an Iowa Supreme Court ruling legalizing gay marriage has taken effect.
Judge Karen Romano granted a waiting-period waiver shortly after 8:30, and the couple, with a pastor in tow, plan to have a ceremony within the hour. Ordinarily there is a three-day waiting period in Iowa.
Wolfe, 38, and Keeton, 31, had a commitment ceremony about two years ago.
They were among about a dozen people gathered at the Polk County recorde's office by 7:30 this morning in anticipation of the Iowa Supreme Court's gay marriage decision going into effect. The court had issued an order early in the day confirming that the appeals process in the case had officially concluded.
The group, which stood in a drizzling rain, included at least three same-sex couples filling out papers on clipboards so they can apply for marriage licenses. Three women walked into the county administration building with T-shirts that read, "Engayged." Two men with tuxedos walked into the recorder's office shortly before 7:30 a.m.
Polk County Recorder Julie Haggerty has said she will not begin issuing licenses until she receives the formal go-ahead from the Polk County attorney's office. The formal order is expected to come down between 8 a.m. and 8:30 a.m., said Assistant Polk County Attorney Michael O'Meara.
A group of same-sex-marriage opponents is also expected to arrive this morning to deliver a petition urging the recorder's office not to issue the licenses. Polk County sheriff's deputies are on hand to maintain the peace.
Two plaintiffs in the original Iowa court case got to the Polk County administration building before 7 a.m.
Standing with son Jameson, 2, were Ingrid Olson and Reva Evans.
"Just walking up, I got tears in my eyes," Olson said. "Seeing this building today was more powerful than the first time we walked up in 2005. Back then we knew we'd get turned away. Today I got a pit in my stomach."
They'll get married on June 15, which is Jameson's birthday.
"We feel like this is the state's birthday present for him," Olson said.
For Alicia Zacher, 24, and Jessica Roach, 22, both of Des Moines, it was deja vu. They had applied for a license in August 2007, after a Polk County judge's ruling briefly made gay marriage legal. Only one couple was married before the ruling was put on hold. Now, Zacher and Roach must go through the process again.
Today, they were the fourth couple in line. They planned to ask for a waiver from a judge so they could skip the three-day waiting period. They have a tentative appointment with a judge for 4 p.m. today to get married.
"I'm nervous," Zacher said. "I just want to go in and get the bureaucratic part over with."
Last night, they celebrated with family at P.F. Chang's restaurant in West Des Moines, Iowa. They'll celebrate tonight with friends.
"I just would like to have the protections in place as soon as possible," Roach said. "Like if tomorrow she got in a car accident, I'd have to call her mom in Nebraska."
No protesters were at the county administration building this morning.
When Chuck Hurley, leader of the Iowa Family Policy Center, arrived about 7:40 a.m., about 20 reporters and photographers surrounded him. Hurley has become the lead Iowa spokesman for anti-gay marriage protests. He believes that marriage should be only be between a man and a woman.
Elsewhere in Iowa, Emmet County Recorder Sue Snyder said no marriage licenses had been issued this morning, as of about 8:15 a.m. There was one protester of the marriage licenses to same-sex couples, a friend of Snyder's, who brought in a petition for Snyder to have, Snyder said.
"They're asking that we refuse to issue these licenses," Snyder said. "My response is that I'm governed by the state of Iowa to follow the laws and serve the people and that's what I will do. We just agreed that it would not cause any friction between our friendship, then we left it at that."
Contributing: The Associated Press.
Bye Bye Pontiac
GM to cut 23,000 jobs by 2011
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- General Motors announced plans to cut 23,000 U.S. jobs by 2011, drop its storied Pontiac brand and slash 40% of its dealer network in its latest bid to stay out of bankruptcy.
GM also announced an offer to its bondholders to swap $27 billion of the company's unsecured debt for stock. GM is offering bondholders 225 shares of its stock for every $1,000 it owes the bondholders in principal.
The moves are GM's latest efforts to cut costs and stem losses that have dogged its North American auto operations since 2005. But Monday's restructuring announcement goes much further than the viability plan GM unveiled to President Obama's auto industry task force in February.
The company had announced many of the job cuts in February, but Monday's news that GM would have about 38,000 hourly U.S. employees by 2011 represents an additional reduction of 7,000 to 8,000 jobs beyond what GM disclosed in its previous viability plan.
GM also confirmed reports that surfaced Friday and officially announced plans to drop its Pontiac brand altogether. In its earlier restructuring plan, GM had signaled that Pontiac would survive, albeit as a niche offering.
The company also said it would make more cuts to its dealership network than it announced in February, and at a much faster pace. GM said Monday it will cut the number of its dealers by 42% to 3,605 by 2010, up from its original plan to reduce its network to 4,100 dealers by 2014.
The Obama administration's task force, which found that GM's February turnaround plan was not viable, said Monday that the new plan "reflects the work GM has done since March 30 to chart a new path to financial viability." But the task force added that it "has made no final decision regarding the treatment of its current loan to GM or with respect to any future investments in the company."
The administration has given GM only until the end of May to reach deals with creditors and unions to cut costs or be forced into bankruptcy. But the Treasury Department did extended GM an additional $2 billion in loans last week, bringing its total federal assistance to $15.4 billion.
The United Auto Workers union and the ad hoc committee of bondholders were not available for immediate comment on Monday's announcements.
GM will still need to convince bondholders to take the deal and win further labor concessions from the union if it is to stay out of bankruptcy. The union announced a tentative deal with Chrysler LLC late Sunday in an effort to help that company meet an April 30 deadline to avoid its own bankruptcy filing.
If the GM bondholders take the offer, they will end up owning about 10% of GM. But they will be accepting stock worth only $380, based on Friday's closing price, for every $1,000 they are now owed on the bonds.
By accepting the offer, bondholders would be betting that the company's stock would rise in the future, and that the alternative of bankruptcy could result in them getting even a smaller percentage of what they are owed.
But taking the deal will still be risky. Even unsecured bondholders can hope to be paid something back on their bonds if the company is forced into bankruptcy at some point in the future, while stockholders are likely to be wiped out altogether.
If all parties agree to the new restructuring plan, the union controlled trust funds and the Treasury Department are likely to have even larger stakes in the new GM. The move could dilute the value of GM shares held by current stockholders to less than a 10% stake.
Still, shares of GM (GM, Fortune 500), a component of the Dow Jones industrial average, gained nearly 11% in early morning trading due to hopes that the company may now be able to avoid bankruptcy.
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- General Motors announced plans to cut 23,000 U.S. jobs by 2011, drop its storied Pontiac brand and slash 40% of its dealer network in its latest bid to stay out of bankruptcy.
GM also announced an offer to its bondholders to swap $27 billion of the company's unsecured debt for stock. GM is offering bondholders 225 shares of its stock for every $1,000 it owes the bondholders in principal.
The moves are GM's latest efforts to cut costs and stem losses that have dogged its North American auto operations since 2005. But Monday's restructuring announcement goes much further than the viability plan GM unveiled to President Obama's auto industry task force in February.
The company had announced many of the job cuts in February, but Monday's news that GM would have about 38,000 hourly U.S. employees by 2011 represents an additional reduction of 7,000 to 8,000 jobs beyond what GM disclosed in its previous viability plan.
GM also confirmed reports that surfaced Friday and officially announced plans to drop its Pontiac brand altogether. In its earlier restructuring plan, GM had signaled that Pontiac would survive, albeit as a niche offering.
The company also said it would make more cuts to its dealership network than it announced in February, and at a much faster pace. GM said Monday it will cut the number of its dealers by 42% to 3,605 by 2010, up from its original plan to reduce its network to 4,100 dealers by 2014.
The Obama administration's task force, which found that GM's February turnaround plan was not viable, said Monday that the new plan "reflects the work GM has done since March 30 to chart a new path to financial viability." But the task force added that it "has made no final decision regarding the treatment of its current loan to GM or with respect to any future investments in the company."
The administration has given GM only until the end of May to reach deals with creditors and unions to cut costs or be forced into bankruptcy. But the Treasury Department did extended GM an additional $2 billion in loans last week, bringing its total federal assistance to $15.4 billion.
The United Auto Workers union and the ad hoc committee of bondholders were not available for immediate comment on Monday's announcements.
GM will still need to convince bondholders to take the deal and win further labor concessions from the union if it is to stay out of bankruptcy. The union announced a tentative deal with Chrysler LLC late Sunday in an effort to help that company meet an April 30 deadline to avoid its own bankruptcy filing.
If the GM bondholders take the offer, they will end up owning about 10% of GM. But they will be accepting stock worth only $380, based on Friday's closing price, for every $1,000 they are now owed on the bonds.
By accepting the offer, bondholders would be betting that the company's stock would rise in the future, and that the alternative of bankruptcy could result in them getting even a smaller percentage of what they are owed.
But taking the deal will still be risky. Even unsecured bondholders can hope to be paid something back on their bonds if the company is forced into bankruptcy at some point in the future, while stockholders are likely to be wiped out altogether.
If all parties agree to the new restructuring plan, the union controlled trust funds and the Treasury Department are likely to have even larger stakes in the new GM. The move could dilute the value of GM shares held by current stockholders to less than a 10% stake.
Still, shares of GM (GM, Fortune 500), a component of the Dow Jones industrial average, gained nearly 11% in early morning trading due to hopes that the company may now be able to avoid bankruptcy.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Meghan McCain, you dumb twat.
Meghan McCain: 'I Have Lots of Gay Friends'
Oh, Meghan. We're very proud of you for having the courage to speak before the Log Cabin Republicans, as a woman running for pundit.
You can read Meghan's full remarks to the gay Republican group here, in case you are interested in learning about how highly Meghan thinks of herself for being so young and progressive and young. Whee. The politics of failure have failed, Meghan announces, and Republicans can't just join Twitter and expect to win young voters! They have to join Twitter and have kicky gay hairstylists and read Pitchfork!
This is her explanation of "what it means to be a new, progressive Republican."
So tonight, I am proud to join you in challenging the mold and the notions of what being a Republican means. I am concerned about the environment. I love to wear black. I think government is best when it stays out of people's lives and business as much as possible. I love punk rock. I believe in a strong national defense. I have a tattoo. I believe government should always be efficient and accountable. I have lots of gay friends. And yes, I am a Republican.
Has Meghan ever examined why she is a Republican? No, whatever, she doesn't think about politics outside of these purely stylistic tribe-based frames. "I love punk rock. I have a tattoo." Good for you, those facts have nothing to with anything.
Does Meghan know that "Progressive Republican" actually refers to a specific set of issues beyond "I love giving lip service to my gay friends and think recycling is pretty cool"? Does she know that back in 1912, the year her dad lost his virginity to a stripper in Guam or something, a group of Republicans actually started a "Progressive Party" and that this party was not about "a strong national defense" and the government staying out of everyone's fucking business but, in fact, the opposite of those things?
The platform called for women's suffrage, recall of judicial decisions, easier amendment of the U.S. Constitution, social welfare legislation for women and children, workers' compensation, limited injunctions in strikes, farm relief, revision of banking to assure an elastic currency, required health insurance in industry, new inheritance taxes and income taxes, improvement of inland waterways, and limitation of naval armaments.
And yes this party was mostly actually about Teddy Roosevelt's tremendous ego but, you know, universal health care, higher taxes, and social welfare: what do you think about those things, Meghan? We know you have a tattoo and listen to Franz Ferdinand, but what can you tell us about Robert La Follette? He was this guy who probably would've pointed out that your mindless repetition of the meaningless buzz-phrase "a strong national defense" actually just means "arming the fuck out the nation while people starve."
Oh, Meghan. We're very proud of you for having the courage to speak before the Log Cabin Republicans, as a woman running for pundit.
You can read Meghan's full remarks to the gay Republican group here, in case you are interested in learning about how highly Meghan thinks of herself for being so young and progressive and young. Whee. The politics of failure have failed, Meghan announces, and Republicans can't just join Twitter and expect to win young voters! They have to join Twitter and have kicky gay hairstylists and read Pitchfork!
This is her explanation of "what it means to be a new, progressive Republican."
So tonight, I am proud to join you in challenging the mold and the notions of what being a Republican means. I am concerned about the environment. I love to wear black. I think government is best when it stays out of people's lives and business as much as possible. I love punk rock. I believe in a strong national defense. I have a tattoo. I believe government should always be efficient and accountable. I have lots of gay friends. And yes, I am a Republican.
Has Meghan ever examined why she is a Republican? No, whatever, she doesn't think about politics outside of these purely stylistic tribe-based frames. "I love punk rock. I have a tattoo." Good for you, those facts have nothing to with anything.
Does Meghan know that "Progressive Republican" actually refers to a specific set of issues beyond "I love giving lip service to my gay friends and think recycling is pretty cool"? Does she know that back in 1912, the year her dad lost his virginity to a stripper in Guam or something, a group of Republicans actually started a "Progressive Party" and that this party was not about "a strong national defense" and the government staying out of everyone's fucking business but, in fact, the opposite of those things?
The platform called for women's suffrage, recall of judicial decisions, easier amendment of the U.S. Constitution, social welfare legislation for women and children, workers' compensation, limited injunctions in strikes, farm relief, revision of banking to assure an elastic currency, required health insurance in industry, new inheritance taxes and income taxes, improvement of inland waterways, and limitation of naval armaments.
And yes this party was mostly actually about Teddy Roosevelt's tremendous ego but, you know, universal health care, higher taxes, and social welfare: what do you think about those things, Meghan? We know you have a tattoo and listen to Franz Ferdinand, but what can you tell us about Robert La Follette? He was this guy who probably would've pointed out that your mindless repetition of the meaningless buzz-phrase "a strong national defense" actually just means "arming the fuck out the nation while people starve."
Ridiculous...
Chrysler finance unit rejects aid
Detroit -- Chrysler Financial executives rejected a new $750 million loan from the Treasury Department after the company was unable to obtain waivers from top executives agreeing to strict pay limits, according to a government report to be released today.
The report from the Treasury Department's Special Inspector General overseeing the $700 billion Troubled Asset Relief Program, known as TARP, also confirms the government plans to give General Motors Corp. up to $5 billion in short-term assistance and $500 million to Chrysler LLC.
And it reveals that Treasury plans to offer as much as $1.25 billion to underwrite Chrysler and GM vehicle warranties if either automaker files for bankruptcy.
According to the 250-page report, the government on April 7 asked Chrysler Financial, as a condition of getting an additional $750 million, "to obtain waivers from the top 25 Chrysler Financial executives that would have waived legal claims against Treasury and Chrysler Financial resulting from the recent changes in executive compensation requirements for TARP recipients."
But the government claimed Chrysler Financial's management "informed Treasury that it was unable to obtain waivers from all 25 executives, therefore the request for additional funding was denied."
Chrysler Financial, however, said Monday that negotiations with the government never got to the point that executives were asked to sign compensation waivers.
"Chrysler Financial has determined that it has adequate private capital funding to cover the short-term needs of our dealers and customers and as such, no additional TARP funding is necessary at this time," it said Monday in a statement to The Detroit News.
"As such, executives have not been presented with any new demands with regard to executive compensation."
Although they are separate companies, Cerberus Capital Management, a New York private equity firm, controls both the automaker and Chrysler Financial.
The rejection of government money could increase Chrysler Financial's borrowing costs and hamper its ability to make loans for Chrysler vehicles. Chrysler's sales were off 46 percent in the first three months of this year.
After Chrysler LLC complained that lending fell dramatically in December without federal support, Chrysler Financial received a $1.5 billion loan in January. That allowed Chrysler Financial to relax credit standards and increase incentives. The government report disclosed Chrysler Financial had used $1.125 billion of that loan by March 31.
June 1 deadline looms
A government official said the White House task force may authorize this week $2 billion of the $5 billion in additional aid that today's Treasury report says will be coming to GM. CEO Fritz Henderson said Friday GM needs $5 billion to get through June.
GM faces a June 1 deadline, set by the government, to complete a tougher restructuring and cut the amount of its unsecured debt by at least two-thirds.
On March 30, deciding that GM's initial restructuring was inadequate, the Obama administration rejected the company's request for $16.6 billion in additional aid and forced out CEO Rick Wagoner.
GM is likely to unveil its bond exchange offer to the holders of its $28 billion in bonds next week. It is said to be preparing a tough offer that could be as little as 20 percent equity in a new company.
Chrysler, according to the Treasury report, will get $500 million while it attempts to "complete its restructuring plan." The Obama administration has agreed to provide up to $6 billion to a joint venture with Fiat SpA, if Chrysler can win concessions from its first-lien debtholders and the United Auto Workers and convince the government that it has a viable business plan.
The government says Chrysler isn't viable as a standalone company and vows not to provide it with any more aid after April 30 if it doesn't complete the tie-up with Fiat.
Counteroffer expected
Chrysler has offered the holders of its $6.8 billion in secured debt 15 cents on the dollar. The banks are expected to make a counteroffer this week.
The Obama auto task force on Monday met with Chrysler, UAW and Fiat officials as the deadline looms.
The task force "is continuing to work with all of the stakeholders involved to find a solution we hope that continues the Chrysler brand and strengthens the auto industry," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said Monday. "We believe that was possible 20 days ago, and we certainly believe that is possible ... with about 10 days to go in this process."
If GM or Chrysler can't complete restructuring in the coming weeks, they could be forced into bankruptcy. The Obama task force has said that may be the "best option" to quickly seek court protection to restructure.
Other items in the Treasury report:
• Auto suppliers taking part in a $5 billion TARP program -- the Supplier Support Program -- to provide them with credit insurance or immediate payments for parts already shipped are not bound by the TARP compensation limits.
• The Treasury Department has used up $24.8 billion of the initial $25 billion set aside for its auto industry support program, including $13.4 billion in loans for GM and $4 billion for Chrysler LLC.
The auto programs account for 3.5 percent of the $700 billion allocated for TARP, the report said.
• The Government Accountability Office is investigating the loans made to automakers, asking, "What mechanisms did Treasury establish to protect the taxpayers' interests in providing federal assistance to the automakers?"
Detroit -- Chrysler Financial executives rejected a new $750 million loan from the Treasury Department after the company was unable to obtain waivers from top executives agreeing to strict pay limits, according to a government report to be released today.
The report from the Treasury Department's Special Inspector General overseeing the $700 billion Troubled Asset Relief Program, known as TARP, also confirms the government plans to give General Motors Corp. up to $5 billion in short-term assistance and $500 million to Chrysler LLC.
And it reveals that Treasury plans to offer as much as $1.25 billion to underwrite Chrysler and GM vehicle warranties if either automaker files for bankruptcy.
According to the 250-page report, the government on April 7 asked Chrysler Financial, as a condition of getting an additional $750 million, "to obtain waivers from the top 25 Chrysler Financial executives that would have waived legal claims against Treasury and Chrysler Financial resulting from the recent changes in executive compensation requirements for TARP recipients."
But the government claimed Chrysler Financial's management "informed Treasury that it was unable to obtain waivers from all 25 executives, therefore the request for additional funding was denied."
Chrysler Financial, however, said Monday that negotiations with the government never got to the point that executives were asked to sign compensation waivers.
"Chrysler Financial has determined that it has adequate private capital funding to cover the short-term needs of our dealers and customers and as such, no additional TARP funding is necessary at this time," it said Monday in a statement to The Detroit News.
"As such, executives have not been presented with any new demands with regard to executive compensation."
Although they are separate companies, Cerberus Capital Management, a New York private equity firm, controls both the automaker and Chrysler Financial.
The rejection of government money could increase Chrysler Financial's borrowing costs and hamper its ability to make loans for Chrysler vehicles. Chrysler's sales were off 46 percent in the first three months of this year.
After Chrysler LLC complained that lending fell dramatically in December without federal support, Chrysler Financial received a $1.5 billion loan in January. That allowed Chrysler Financial to relax credit standards and increase incentives. The government report disclosed Chrysler Financial had used $1.125 billion of that loan by March 31.
June 1 deadline looms
A government official said the White House task force may authorize this week $2 billion of the $5 billion in additional aid that today's Treasury report says will be coming to GM. CEO Fritz Henderson said Friday GM needs $5 billion to get through June.
GM faces a June 1 deadline, set by the government, to complete a tougher restructuring and cut the amount of its unsecured debt by at least two-thirds.
On March 30, deciding that GM's initial restructuring was inadequate, the Obama administration rejected the company's request for $16.6 billion in additional aid and forced out CEO Rick Wagoner.
GM is likely to unveil its bond exchange offer to the holders of its $28 billion in bonds next week. It is said to be preparing a tough offer that could be as little as 20 percent equity in a new company.
Chrysler, according to the Treasury report, will get $500 million while it attempts to "complete its restructuring plan." The Obama administration has agreed to provide up to $6 billion to a joint venture with Fiat SpA, if Chrysler can win concessions from its first-lien debtholders and the United Auto Workers and convince the government that it has a viable business plan.
The government says Chrysler isn't viable as a standalone company and vows not to provide it with any more aid after April 30 if it doesn't complete the tie-up with Fiat.
Counteroffer expected
Chrysler has offered the holders of its $6.8 billion in secured debt 15 cents on the dollar. The banks are expected to make a counteroffer this week.
The Obama auto task force on Monday met with Chrysler, UAW and Fiat officials as the deadline looms.
The task force "is continuing to work with all of the stakeholders involved to find a solution we hope that continues the Chrysler brand and strengthens the auto industry," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said Monday. "We believe that was possible 20 days ago, and we certainly believe that is possible ... with about 10 days to go in this process."
If GM or Chrysler can't complete restructuring in the coming weeks, they could be forced into bankruptcy. The Obama task force has said that may be the "best option" to quickly seek court protection to restructure.
Other items in the Treasury report:
• Auto suppliers taking part in a $5 billion TARP program -- the Supplier Support Program -- to provide them with credit insurance or immediate payments for parts already shipped are not bound by the TARP compensation limits.
• The Treasury Department has used up $24.8 billion of the initial $25 billion set aside for its auto industry support program, including $13.4 billion in loans for GM and $4 billion for Chrysler LLC.
The auto programs account for 3.5 percent of the $700 billion allocated for TARP, the report said.
• The Government Accountability Office is investigating the loans made to automakers, asking, "What mechanisms did Treasury establish to protect the taxpayers' interests in providing federal assistance to the automakers?"
oooooooooh.......you're in trooooouuuuubbbbbbbbblllllllllleeeeeeee....
TARP cop: 20 criminal probes
Watchdog overseeing $700 billion bailout reveals his progress reviewing how money has been spent and calls for changes to prevent fraud.
By Jennifer Liberto, CNNMoney.com senior writer
Last Updated: April 21, 2009: 5:10 AM ET
WASHINGTON (CNNMoney.com) -- The top cop tracking the government's $700 billion bailout program said Tuesday that he has opened 20 criminal investigations and six audits into whether tax dollars are being pilfered or wasted.
Neil Barofsky, the special inspector general overseeing the Troubled Asset Relief Program, released a 250-page report detailing a long list of concerns about government efforts to prop up hundreds of banks, Wall Street firms and auto companies.
Barofsky, whose investigations could lead to criminal charges, told CNNMoney.com in an interview that he wants taxpayers to understand where their money is going. At the same time, he wants to alert officials to weaknesses in TARP that could invite corruption or fraud.
"Our recommendations are forward looking and there are no vulnerabilities that can't be addressed," Barofsky said. "The balance of what we're trying to do is to inform, bring transparency and make appropriate recommendations."
The report reveals that Barofsky is looking into whether bailout decisions were influenced by those who stood to benefit from them and whether companies receiving bailout dollars are adhering to caps on executive pay.
Barofsky's report also makes several recommendations to Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner and other officials charged with implementing the bailout. Among them: Require all TARP recipients to detail how they use bailout dollars and safeguard a new mortgage rescue effort against scams.
The backdrop: Bailout rage
The report comes as public outcry over government bailouts is mounting. The Treasury Department is under increasing pressure to protect tax dollars even as it attempts to repair the financial markets - agendas that are often at odds with each other.
Geithner is set to appear Tuesday before a separate congressional watchdog group, the five-member Congressional Oversight Panel, which released its own oversight report two weeks ago.
The overall bailout scrutiny is wearing on the financial sector and, one expert said, has caused confusion over the government's unprecedented entanglement with the private sector.
"It's become chic to demand more oversight of how the government is spending money to stabilize the financial system, yet we already have so many oversight entities in place, that it's hard to say who's responsible for ensuring how the money is spent," said Jaret Seiberg, policy analyst at Concept Capital's Washington Research Group.
Barofsky, in the interview, insisted his goal is to inform the public that someone is minding the store and that bailout programs are not a "black hole."
"It's not trillions of dollars going out the door without anyone keeping tabs on it," said Barofsky, who will testify before Congress on Thursday about his findings.
As an inspector general, Barofsky has legal firepower. He can use subpoenas to compel disclosure and is tasked by federal law to track the details of how banks are spending taxpayer dollars.
Barofsky, appointed by then-President Bush last November, has so far hired 35 members of a staff he expects to grow to 150. Currently working out of the main Treasury compound next to the White House, Barofsky and his staff are securing their own offices in the same building in downtown Washington that houses the Treasury staffers that administer TARP.
Barofsky, 38, is a former federal prosecutor from New York who spent years chasing after white-collar criminals, organized crime figures and drug traffickers. In one recent high-profile case, he prosecuted a trading firm that filed for bankruptcy a few months after raising millions in its initial public offering. The chief financial officer of that company, Refco, pled guilty to fraud and money laundering last year.
Red flags and recommendations
Barofsky told CNNMoney.com that he believes one of his report's most urgent recommendations is that Treasury develop a system to better figure out the value of the different types of shares it now owns in financial institutions.
The Treasury has invested hundreds of billions in companies in exchange for shares of preferred stock.
He said the need to better understand the value of the government shares is even more important now that the administration is considering a plan to convert preferred shares into common shares, which is the kind of stock that consumers usually hold.
"There needs to be asset valuation strategy so the Treasury can make the most informed decisions," Barofsky said. "I don't think anything bad has happened, but it's time for them to do that."
The report also warns federal officials, in great detail, against expanding a Federal Reserve-run program to allow investors to use cheap government financing to purchase questionable mortgage-backed securities. The program poses "significant fraud risks," according to the report.
In addition, Barofsky also warns federal officials to create safeguards barring conflicts of interest among banks and investors participating in the new Public- Private Investment Program to prevent "collusion between participants, and vulnerabilities to money laundering."
Finally, he said he is concerned about the Obama administration's nascent mortgage rescue program, which aims to help millions of homeowners get affordable loans. He's worried that the program could spur a wave of real estate fraud and suggests officials take steps to confirm the identities of participants and make sure homeowners know that they aren't required to pay fees to take part.
Barofsky's report did not detail the 20 criminal investigations, which it said "vary widely" and include securities fraud, tax, insider trading and public corruption matters. He has previously reported working with New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo to investigate how bonuses were given to high-ranking employees of American International Group (AIG, Fortune 500).
The report also says that the $182 billion AIG bailout is the subject of two separate audits. One is looking at federal oversight of the bonuses. The other is probing bailout disbursements to AIG counterparties who had purchased insurance-like products from AIG.
First Published: April 21, 2009: 3:39 AM ET
Watchdog overseeing $700 billion bailout reveals his progress reviewing how money has been spent and calls for changes to prevent fraud.
By Jennifer Liberto, CNNMoney.com senior writer
Last Updated: April 21, 2009: 5:10 AM ET
WASHINGTON (CNNMoney.com) -- The top cop tracking the government's $700 billion bailout program said Tuesday that he has opened 20 criminal investigations and six audits into whether tax dollars are being pilfered or wasted.
Neil Barofsky, the special inspector general overseeing the Troubled Asset Relief Program, released a 250-page report detailing a long list of concerns about government efforts to prop up hundreds of banks, Wall Street firms and auto companies.
Barofsky, whose investigations could lead to criminal charges, told CNNMoney.com in an interview that he wants taxpayers to understand where their money is going. At the same time, he wants to alert officials to weaknesses in TARP that could invite corruption or fraud.
"Our recommendations are forward looking and there are no vulnerabilities that can't be addressed," Barofsky said. "The balance of what we're trying to do is to inform, bring transparency and make appropriate recommendations."
The report reveals that Barofsky is looking into whether bailout decisions were influenced by those who stood to benefit from them and whether companies receiving bailout dollars are adhering to caps on executive pay.
Barofsky's report also makes several recommendations to Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner and other officials charged with implementing the bailout. Among them: Require all TARP recipients to detail how they use bailout dollars and safeguard a new mortgage rescue effort against scams.
The backdrop: Bailout rage
The report comes as public outcry over government bailouts is mounting. The Treasury Department is under increasing pressure to protect tax dollars even as it attempts to repair the financial markets - agendas that are often at odds with each other.
Geithner is set to appear Tuesday before a separate congressional watchdog group, the five-member Congressional Oversight Panel, which released its own oversight report two weeks ago.
The overall bailout scrutiny is wearing on the financial sector and, one expert said, has caused confusion over the government's unprecedented entanglement with the private sector.
"It's become chic to demand more oversight of how the government is spending money to stabilize the financial system, yet we already have so many oversight entities in place, that it's hard to say who's responsible for ensuring how the money is spent," said Jaret Seiberg, policy analyst at Concept Capital's Washington Research Group.
Barofsky, in the interview, insisted his goal is to inform the public that someone is minding the store and that bailout programs are not a "black hole."
"It's not trillions of dollars going out the door without anyone keeping tabs on it," said Barofsky, who will testify before Congress on Thursday about his findings.
As an inspector general, Barofsky has legal firepower. He can use subpoenas to compel disclosure and is tasked by federal law to track the details of how banks are spending taxpayer dollars.
Barofsky, appointed by then-President Bush last November, has so far hired 35 members of a staff he expects to grow to 150. Currently working out of the main Treasury compound next to the White House, Barofsky and his staff are securing their own offices in the same building in downtown Washington that houses the Treasury staffers that administer TARP.
Barofsky, 38, is a former federal prosecutor from New York who spent years chasing after white-collar criminals, organized crime figures and drug traffickers. In one recent high-profile case, he prosecuted a trading firm that filed for bankruptcy a few months after raising millions in its initial public offering. The chief financial officer of that company, Refco, pled guilty to fraud and money laundering last year.
Red flags and recommendations
Barofsky told CNNMoney.com that he believes one of his report's most urgent recommendations is that Treasury develop a system to better figure out the value of the different types of shares it now owns in financial institutions.
The Treasury has invested hundreds of billions in companies in exchange for shares of preferred stock.
He said the need to better understand the value of the government shares is even more important now that the administration is considering a plan to convert preferred shares into common shares, which is the kind of stock that consumers usually hold.
"There needs to be asset valuation strategy so the Treasury can make the most informed decisions," Barofsky said. "I don't think anything bad has happened, but it's time for them to do that."
The report also warns federal officials, in great detail, against expanding a Federal Reserve-run program to allow investors to use cheap government financing to purchase questionable mortgage-backed securities. The program poses "significant fraud risks," according to the report.
In addition, Barofsky also warns federal officials to create safeguards barring conflicts of interest among banks and investors participating in the new Public- Private Investment Program to prevent "collusion between participants, and vulnerabilities to money laundering."
Finally, he said he is concerned about the Obama administration's nascent mortgage rescue program, which aims to help millions of homeowners get affordable loans. He's worried that the program could spur a wave of real estate fraud and suggests officials take steps to confirm the identities of participants and make sure homeowners know that they aren't required to pay fees to take part.
Barofsky's report did not detail the 20 criminal investigations, which it said "vary widely" and include securities fraud, tax, insider trading and public corruption matters. He has previously reported working with New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo to investigate how bonuses were given to high-ranking employees of American International Group (AIG, Fortune 500).
The report also says that the $182 billion AIG bailout is the subject of two separate audits. One is looking at federal oversight of the bonuses. The other is probing bailout disbursements to AIG counterparties who had purchased insurance-like products from AIG.
First Published: April 21, 2009: 3:39 AM ET
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
One of My Fav Poems, by Robert Frost
The Road Not Taken
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same;
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same;
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Boo Hoo Bitch.
Palin replaced as headliner for Republican dinner
WASHINGTON (CNN) – Sarah Palin will no longer headline a major Republican dinner in June, a Republican official told CNN Tuesday.
Former House speaker Newt Gingrich will replace Palin as the keynote speaker at a joint fundraising dinner held by the campaign committees of Senate and House Republicans.
The scheduling change follows a communications breakdown between Palin's political staff and her aides in Alaska that left the dinner's organizers unsure the Alaska governor would actually attend the Washington event.
Congressional Republicans announced earlier this month that Palin would deliver the keynote speech at the dinner, but the governor's staff in Alaska said the next day that the governor knew nothing about the speaking slot.
"I communicated with the governor directly and she did not know anything about it," a Palin aide told the Anchorage Daily News after the speech was announced. "I pointed out the [National Republican Senatorial Committee] press release and she was like, 'No.'"
The NRSC said at the time that aides at Palin's political action committee — SarahPAC — had agreed to attend the dinner, but that the governor's staff in Alaska had not been made aware.
Two weeks ago, a spokesman for Palin, Bill McAllister, told CNN the "the governor herself had not confirmed" the appearance and that the matter was "still under review." Aides to Palin did not respond to multiple e-mails sent over the last week asking if Palin would make the trip to Washington this summer.
"After initially confirming her attendance, Governor Palin's team informed the Committees that her gubernatorial responsibilities in Alaska prevented her from committing until the end of the legislative session," he said.
"We completely understand and respect Governor Palin's focus on her official state business; however, there is obviously an enormous amount of planning that goes into this annual event. For that reason, we invited and are honored to have former Speaker Newt Gingrich join us as our speaker at the 2009 Senate-House Dinner. As one of our Party's brightest minds and most energetic speakers, we are looking forward to having former Speaker Gingrich provide the keynote address on June 8."
UPDATE II: Ken Spain, a spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee, said the committee decided to "go in another direction."
“Speaker Gingrich is a leader and an influential voice within the Republican Party and we are thrilled to have him," he said.
UPDATE III: Palin's staff continued to deny that she had ever been scheduled to attend. "The Governor never confirmed her attendance at the event," said SarahPAC spokeswoman Meghan Stapleton. "She was honored to receive the invitation and asked to confirm her attendance at the end of the legislative session. Governor Palin is thrilled to hear that Newt Gingrich will address the audience as the Governor continues to focus on Alaska."
WASHINGTON (CNN) – Sarah Palin will no longer headline a major Republican dinner in June, a Republican official told CNN Tuesday.
Former House speaker Newt Gingrich will replace Palin as the keynote speaker at a joint fundraising dinner held by the campaign committees of Senate and House Republicans.
The scheduling change follows a communications breakdown between Palin's political staff and her aides in Alaska that left the dinner's organizers unsure the Alaska governor would actually attend the Washington event.
Congressional Republicans announced earlier this month that Palin would deliver the keynote speech at the dinner, but the governor's staff in Alaska said the next day that the governor knew nothing about the speaking slot.
"I communicated with the governor directly and she did not know anything about it," a Palin aide told the Anchorage Daily News after the speech was announced. "I pointed out the [National Republican Senatorial Committee] press release and she was like, 'No.'"
The NRSC said at the time that aides at Palin's political action committee — SarahPAC — had agreed to attend the dinner, but that the governor's staff in Alaska had not been made aware.
Two weeks ago, a spokesman for Palin, Bill McAllister, told CNN the "the governor herself had not confirmed" the appearance and that the matter was "still under review." Aides to Palin did not respond to multiple e-mails sent over the last week asking if Palin would make the trip to Washington this summer.
"After initially confirming her attendance, Governor Palin's team informed the Committees that her gubernatorial responsibilities in Alaska prevented her from committing until the end of the legislative session," he said.
"We completely understand and respect Governor Palin's focus on her official state business; however, there is obviously an enormous amount of planning that goes into this annual event. For that reason, we invited and are honored to have former Speaker Newt Gingrich join us as our speaker at the 2009 Senate-House Dinner. As one of our Party's brightest minds and most energetic speakers, we are looking forward to having former Speaker Gingrich provide the keynote address on June 8."
UPDATE II: Ken Spain, a spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee, said the committee decided to "go in another direction."
“Speaker Gingrich is a leader and an influential voice within the Republican Party and we are thrilled to have him," he said.
UPDATE III: Palin's staff continued to deny that she had ever been scheduled to attend. "The Governor never confirmed her attendance at the event," said SarahPAC spokeswoman Meghan Stapleton. "She was honored to receive the invitation and asked to confirm her attendance at the end of the legislative session. Governor Palin is thrilled to hear that Newt Gingrich will address the audience as the Governor continues to focus on Alaska."
What Opening Day Means to Me...
First of all, don't go to the game. its a total buzzkill. the beer prices are too high and the bathroom lines are too long.
Schedule:
9 am: get up. eat cereal, to soak up the beer.
9:30 am: head downtown. find a place to park. write down where your car is because there's no way you'll remember later on.
10 am: State theater. beers. run into guys i used to date. get them to buy us beers.
11 am: Elwood. beer. run into guys i used to date. get them to buy us more beer.
12 pm: Hockeytown. beer. run into other guys i used to date. get them to guy us more beer.
1 pm: find a place with chili dogs. laugh obnoxoiusly.
2 pm: rally. more beer. we walk to greektown, hit up some of those bars, for a change of scenery.
4 pm: party at my friend's house. more FREE beer.
7 pm: head home (how? not sure...)
8 pm: bed.
wake up at 8 am the next day.
This should full explain why its my favorite day of the year.
Schedule:
9 am: get up. eat cereal, to soak up the beer.
9:30 am: head downtown. find a place to park. write down where your car is because there's no way you'll remember later on.
10 am: State theater. beers. run into guys i used to date. get them to buy us beers.
11 am: Elwood. beer. run into guys i used to date. get them to buy us more beer.
12 pm: Hockeytown. beer. run into other guys i used to date. get them to guy us more beer.
1 pm: find a place with chili dogs. laugh obnoxoiusly.
2 pm: rally. more beer. we walk to greektown, hit up some of those bars, for a change of scenery.
4 pm: party at my friend's house. more FREE beer.
7 pm: head home (how? not sure...)
8 pm: bed.
wake up at 8 am the next day.
This should full explain why its my favorite day of the year.
90210 Dissection
So, its back. Not that nasty case of chlymadia I picked up in my 20's (ha.ha.), I mean 90210.
And I'm noticing a few things...
1. Naomi could be very attractive. but she's one of those girls that if you saw her on a street, you'd like: she sort of resembles a trout. but on TV, we're supposed to think she's drop dead gorg. I don't think I'm buying it.
2. the new guy, Liam (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1782667/) keeps getting compared to Dylan. He AIN'T Dylan, and if he was, he'd be dating Annie, since she's the Brenda character. Which brings me to what this blog is really about...
THIS 90210 Ain't the OLD 90210. So stop comparing them. Stop it. Just stop it.
Why?
1. they have zip in common besides the fact that two students moved to beverly hills. I'm guessing, and this is just a hunch, that this probably happens from time and time and we don't need to keep trying to draw comparisons.
2. I'm pretty sure there wasn't a main character that went crazy and tried to kill her teacher and film her and her boyfriend having sex.
3. naveed = steve? really? steve was hideous. really, seriously. why did we do NOTHING about his hair for an entire decade?
4. THIS 90210 has made the mistake of putting WAY too much into season 1. like, what the hell are you going to do after this:
-- main character has drug problem, goes to rehab, gets boys who has loved her forever, gets pregnant with another guy's kid, reconciles with mom. this took YEARS to evolve on the old show.
-- another main character doesn't believe in love, falls in love, goes crazy, loses virginity, goes crazier, tries to kills someone
-- another main character pines for boy, gets boy, boy "cheats", breaks up with boy. It took 2 2/12 seasons for this to happen for Brenda and Dylan
-- dad finds out he has a kid with high school girlfriend, find kid, he steals from them, family in turmoil, hottie kid leaves...
okay, I know that times have changed and kids today need faster excitement...but this is f'ing ridiculous. where the heck do we go from here?!?!?
I'll have some predictions tomorrow...stay tuned!
And I'm noticing a few things...
1. Naomi could be very attractive. but she's one of those girls that if you saw her on a street, you'd like: she sort of resembles a trout. but on TV, we're supposed to think she's drop dead gorg. I don't think I'm buying it.
2. the new guy, Liam (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1782667/) keeps getting compared to Dylan. He AIN'T Dylan, and if he was, he'd be dating Annie, since she's the Brenda character. Which brings me to what this blog is really about...
THIS 90210 Ain't the OLD 90210. So stop comparing them. Stop it. Just stop it.
Why?
1. they have zip in common besides the fact that two students moved to beverly hills. I'm guessing, and this is just a hunch, that this probably happens from time and time and we don't need to keep trying to draw comparisons.
2. I'm pretty sure there wasn't a main character that went crazy and tried to kill her teacher and film her and her boyfriend having sex.
3. naveed = steve? really? steve was hideous. really, seriously. why did we do NOTHING about his hair for an entire decade?
4. THIS 90210 has made the mistake of putting WAY too much into season 1. like, what the hell are you going to do after this:
-- main character has drug problem, goes to rehab, gets boys who has loved her forever, gets pregnant with another guy's kid, reconciles with mom. this took YEARS to evolve on the old show.
-- another main character doesn't believe in love, falls in love, goes crazy, loses virginity, goes crazier, tries to kills someone
-- another main character pines for boy, gets boy, boy "cheats", breaks up with boy. It took 2 2/12 seasons for this to happen for Brenda and Dylan
-- dad finds out he has a kid with high school girlfriend, find kid, he steals from them, family in turmoil, hottie kid leaves...
okay, I know that times have changed and kids today need faster excitement...but this is f'ing ridiculous. where the heck do we go from here?!?!?
I'll have some predictions tomorrow...stay tuned!
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