Power outage
 

They did this, originally, to get out of federal (FERC etc.) jurisdiction since almost all their grid is intrastate. But I agree that Texas rules. Not as much as Oklahoma rules, but texas rules. Especially the hot chicks there with the tight low-rise jeans and really big hair---and TITS!

Diamonds (big ones)
 

So what? That is probably the only place that won't totally rape you when you buy a ring b/c the salespeople don't work on commission and their merchandise is not marked up so much.

Do you think that Hasidic guy in the diamond district is going to give you a better deal? Unless it's your brother in law, think again.

Besides, I wouldn't want to buy my future fiance a diamond b/c they are conflict diamonds from Sierra Leone. My brothers' college roommates' sister's boyfriend's mom got proposed to with a diamond ring that still had an african finger attached to it. I mean he got a great price on the thing, but it was so obvious that it came from the civil war zone. Make sure they give you a certificate to make sure it's not a conflict diamond. And make sure there are no fingers or toes in the box--that is a dead giveaway.

Power outage
 

And the three of you are my socks, because, as everyone knows, all of the socks on the politics board are mine. Or Thottam's.

Totally Unfashionable
 

My old firm had a similar rule that you couldn't bill for travel time, unless you were actually working on the plane. Number of times I have followed that rule---ZERO. If the reason I am on that plane is b/c of you, then YOU are paying for it.

Book rec?
 

Never heard of it. Try "the Armchair Economist". It is informative and sometimes even very funny--although a book on econ can only be so funny.

Synthetic Diamonds
 

Sounds like my old firm. What is their billable requirement and how much is their bonus?

Synthetic Diamonds
 

Two points: first, I hate it when people characterize consumer goods which depreciate as an "investment." If they're really an investment, they're really, really bad investments. Just admit that you splurged on something you wanted; don't try to characterize it as a wise financial decision.

Second, I don't think that anyone who knows anything about electronics would claim that you don't get additional quality when you go up two, five or ten times in price. But I think that many would say that most people's utility in electronics stops going up enough to justify the additional cost after things get to prices way below what the true nuts will pay for the stuff. The guys I know who have $10,000 amps are among the most fucked-up people out there; they should spend one tenth as much money and time getting the rest of their lives as sorted as their home theaters.

Power outage
 

Well give me some pointers so we don't look so silly when we're arguing with ourselves.

Craigslist poll
 

Back where I used to live, people would see me, say "hey, you're white!", and then, after a second or two, ask me if I knew Frank Sinatra.

The FB: All Texas, All the Time
 

My dad had an obnoxious bumper sticker in the late 70s early 80s that read "If you dont' have an oil well, get one." That was pretty much the mentality back then.

Power outage
 

You done took my shit out on the street, bitch.

'n without askin'.


(Edited to add: and my bedroom song was the theme song to Eight Is Enough. So there.)

Travel billing, blackout, curfew, etc.
 

I've never had a client who forbids billing for travel time, but I have heard that there are a few my firm has. Why the hell do partners agree to these sorts of restrictions. I think that, if I did not know ahead of time and agree to personally eat the time, I would just bill it and let the billing partner decide. It's not like I'm not getting fucked in this situation; it's hard enough to work on a plane as it is, and I certainly don't have a lot of freedom of mobility. Occasionally, along with all the shitty parts of billing hours, there are some nice parts about it. In almost all other industries, you're not getting a bonus based on something as calculable as hours spent traveling.

What are the implications, Mister Ebola, of having to bill the time to "office?" In my firm, it would mean that it would apply to my minimum hours but not be considered the kind of hours that would be considered when calculating my (hopefully) phat bonus. That's unacceptable. Why the fuck do they think you're on the plane?

On a related note, does anyone have any good information about what's going on in Manhattan right now? I hear that the markets will be operating normally, and I've talked to some people there. But I can't raise a couple of the parties to my closing on landline, cell phone or e-mail, and we're going to need those guys to close this fucker. Somebody was talking about a dawn to dusk curfew. Given normal NY working hours, that only leaves about a four hour overlap of daylight with the workday!

Synthetic Diamonds
 

I figured it was a play on the line from the Blues Brothers.

Power outage
 

You're shit still says 60000+ posts, so unless you have been incredibly prolific, I don't think I took it on the street all that much ;)

Travel billing, blackout
 

What I think it means is that Ebola's partner doesn't want to take the hit on his realization rate and would rather have it look as if Ebola didn't work as much. That sucks.

Asking an associate to bill "office" time for being stuck in a plane on client business is BS. I would put it down as client time and let the partner write it off. If the partner can't make the client understand why it should pay that time, then the partner should take the realization rate hit.

I understand why clients don't want to pay for it -- they have to watch expenses -- but lawyers who bill by the hour (rather than by the job) have only their time and experience to sell. If the client is using up time that an attorney could be billing to another client if the attorney wasn't flying on client business, the client should pay.

On the blackout note, I am waiting to hear the tales of adventure from the NYC GAs. I want to hear where you were and what happened. How you got home, what it was like. Etc.

Diamonds (big ones)
 

My answer to the diamond dilemma was easy - estate pieces.

Craigslist poll
 

France?

Travel billing, blackout
 

Since I am incapable of grabbing a picture to post, I direct your attention to the paper of record for a picture of people sleeping on the steps of the post office.

Power is still out in many parts of the city though land lines are working. We still haven't heard from my brother or his SO, so I am afraid they are stuck somewhere on a location.

Diamonds (big ones)
 

Yeah, but you have to kill somebody first. I would rather pay retail than risk getting caught. Maybe on something like a house it would be worth it, but for a diamond, maybe not so much.

Diamonds (big ones)
 

No. A lot of jewelry stores will sell items from estates on consignment. The rock I bought was about 40% less than what an equivalent rock was being priced for at the factory stores - Mervis and the like.

Travel billing, blackout
 

I get the feeling that the "bill 8 hours" represents what would be billed to the client on a normal day. I will point out that I did maybe one hour's worth of work on the flight - drafting a two page memo on an issue. Other than that, I spent most of the flight drinking port, snoozing, and being hit on by the one young, attractive flight attendant on the plane.

"Fast Times" Research Results
 

Per our discussion yesterday, I broke out my Fast Times DVD last night for a little research:

It turns out that Rule 5 of Damone's dating rules is to play SIDE 1 of Led Zeppelin IV. Of course, Rat then goes on to play Kashmir in the car on his date with Stacy. Last time I checked, Kashmir was on Physical Graffiti, so he not only had the wrong side, he had the wrong album...

Of course, being a red-blooded American guy, since I had the DVD going I had to review the crucial "Phoebe Cates gets out of the pool scene" again. Any time I happen to hear the Cars' "Moving in Stereo" (the song playing in the scene), I can't help but think of it. On the Dan Patrick Show the other day, they were talking to Judge Reinhold and he quashed the rumor that Ms. Cates (now Mrs. Kevin Kline) used a body double for the scene...

So its confirmed, they're real and they're spectacular.

Diamonds (big ones)
 

A friend of mine is an art collector, and he's been getting some amazing pieces for much less than they're worth lately because of e-bay. There are a lot of people out there with newly acquired valuables due to death of relatives who would rather have the cash, so they put the stuff on E-bay instead of having it sold by a professional who can sell it for its true value. Half the time, these people have absolutely no idea what the piece is worth and set the reserves ridiculously low.

Travel billing, blackout
 

Asking anyone who is billing to actually be working, however, isn't BS at all. There is always something to do. I agree that the time working should be put down, and if that includes an hour of boarding and booking time, so be it. But no one said you can't work on the plane.

But my custom is that unless it is a premium arrangement or some other special circumstance, I only bill time I'm actually doing something, which doesn't include sleeping (but may in the right circumstances include drinking or eating). On a 16 hour flight, I'd probably bill 10 to 12 hours, less if seated by someone, um, interesting.

G(alot of fun at closings)3

Branching Out
 

I've got one hand in my pocket

And the other one is giving the peace sign

Travel billing, blackout
 

I am often on a plane in situations where there just isn't that much to do. A lot of what I do is talking on the phone, which can't really be done on a plance (My firm expressly forbids using the airfone, which is absurdly expensive, unless specifically authorized as part of the fee agreement with the client. Since I got my Blackberry (which is really great, by the way), I have e-mailed extensively on the one flight I was on (FCC be damned), but there just isn't always that much to do.

I don't really see anything wrong with billing from the second I leave the office or my home to the second I arrive in the hotel. That is time that I can't work normally. If they don't want to pay me, they can get someone else and some other law firm to fly all over the country without being compensated for the time.

Also, I am really glad that my firm assumes 100% realization for associate compensation purposes. Unless I am doing something fraudulent, why should I be penalized for non-standard relationship partners I work under may have with their clients.

Branching Out
 

Too bad it isn't playing a piano.

One note
 

Really. Instead of a computer keyboard.

One note
 

Don't get all sassy just because you smell of butterscotch and have 8 perky nipples.

Actually, if I could play piano, I might join becky at the Viper Room on the 19th.

http://www.beckyband.com/

The FB: All Texas, All the Time
 

Scary enough, but they are all true (including the stupid dry city thing that pops up in random places). My personal favorite was a street construction sign on a highway site that read "Construction fixin' to start July 15."

The FB: All Texas, All the Time
 

Strip clubs, friendly people in restaurants and cows are scary? I am tempted to say "go back from whence you came" but people here don't talk like that.

The FB: All Texas, All the Time
 

What I love about Texas is that pretty much everything is within the realm of possibility. Why sure, Mr. European inquisitor, I know J.R. Ewing. Goes by the name Clayton Willams though, and he drilled an oil well on my daddy's ranch. You know, we've had the ranch for generations, and last year one of our steers came in near the top at the livestock show. I'm on one of the rodeo committees, don't you know. Everyone wants to be on those committees. I rode a horse to school when I was a kid, and I teased my hair big. I drove a suburban and knew astronauts. I forgot my hat and boots and gun at the hotel, but generally I don't go anywhere without them. My deb ball was one of the nicest you've ever seen, and I wore the purest, whitest dress in all of Texas to show how pure and innocent I really was. My blood runs Maroon and White (insert Burnt Orange if so inclined), and I never dreamed of leaving the state to go to school. Why sure, my accent's like this awll the time. etc.

In the old days, whenever I traveled abroad, I made sure to say that I was a Texan instead of just an American. The treatment I'd get was so much better. These days, I'm not quite as sure. I may just claim to be from across the river.

Synthetic Diamonds
 

Three points: First, Bite me.
Second: I didn't characterize anything as an "investment." You did. Investment is a "capital outlay" and if you're spending a few thou on anything, that's a capital outlay. Depreciation, schmeciation.
Third: Your second point missed the point. I was merely responding to what's-his-name when he said that there was no difference between a $2000 system and a $10000 system and if person wants to spend $10000 on an amp and it doesn't mean waiving child-support payments, then what the fuck do you care? People spend money on dumber shit than that (homerun baseballs, ugly art). Get off your horse and maybe sit a listen to a $10000 amp - or maybe you're just not a music lover - then that's ok - spend your money on bonds and shut up.

The FB: All Texas, All the Time
 

Ok, scary is not the right word. Different perhaps? I think the pickups and friendly people are a bit scary, but the other stuff is just plain different.

I think the phrase you are looking for is "I might could be fixin' to whoop y'alls butt son."

The FB: All Texas, All the Time
 

Where on earth are you from that friendly people are scary (even if "just a bit")? Poor thing. You're like an abused child who is frightened by people who try to feed, clothe and love it. It'll be better soon.

The FB: All Texas, All the Time
 

How about crisp. clear winter air on a snowy mountain? A fantastic chef running a truly authentic provincial French restaurant in an old barn in the hills or on a little island off the coast? Italian street festivals on the Saints' days? The smell of a sugar shack when the sap is running?

Not to knock Texas, it's got plenty of possibilities, but some of them just happen to lie elsewhere.

The FB: All Texas, All the Time
 

Did you read the rest of her post? Why I do believe she was saying that bizarre-ass things are possible, not that it contains all aspects of geography, climate, and ethnicity. Relax. It's Friday!

Synthetic Diamonds
 

I find interesting that a lot of the folks that get the pricey systems (maybe the people mmm3587 is referring to) pay a lot of money and still end up with crap. Picking up the super-hyped sounding components that end up making your ears bleed. Kind of like the audio equivalent of a camaro.

Clearly anyone who thinks the Duettas are harsh sounding is not in that group though :)

The FB: All Texas, All the Time
 

Didn't you know most of the state of Colorado and half of northern New Mexico was annexed years ago? Look at the plates in any of the parking lots at the slopes, and half of them will be from Texas. Hell, the Buckaroo Ball, a major Dallas social event, takes place in Santa Fe every year. My roommate from Colorado my freshman year of college found out I was from Texas and bitched about the invaders and bet that I drove a Suburban (years before people were bitching about SUVs)...:)

We're perfectly happy to go to other locales if it serves our purposes. And we're perfectly happy to try and recreate what we see elsewhere.

The FB: All Texas, All the Time
 

You could have saved me a lot of co-pays.