Fashionistas you have arrived 3-25-03 - 10-3-03

[MisterEbola]

Originally posted by Fugee
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.

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.

[Aloha Mr. Learned Hand]

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.

[Replaced_Texan]

Originally posted by MisterEbola
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.

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.

[Greedy,Greedy,Greedy]

Originally posted by Fugee

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.

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

[Shape Shifter]

I've got one hand in my pocket

And the other one is giving the peace sign

[mmm3587]

Originally posted by Greedy,Greedy,Greedy
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

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.

[notcasesensitive]

Originally posted by Shape Shifter
I've got one hand in my pocket

And the other one is giving the peace sign

Too bad it isn't playing a piano.

[robustpuppy]

Originally posted by notcasesensitive
Too bad it isn't playing a piano.

Really. Instead of a computer keyboard.

[Shape Shifter]

Originally posted by robustpuppy
Really. Instead of a computer keyboard.

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/

[Mr. Man]

Originally posted by Aloha Mr. Learned Hand
I've been to Texas quite a bit on business in the past few years (mostly Austin and vicinity), and some of the more unusual images I've come away with are:

1. Tons of pickup trucks, often driven by people who don't look like they need them;
2. Nasty T-storms and heat in summer;
3. "Check your gun at the reception desk" signs on the front doors of businesses;
4. Industrial parks along the interstate with, for some reason, Longhorn steers in a fenced-off field out front;
5. Having to buy a license to buy a beer at a restaurant;
6. Strip clubs galore... NTTAWWT
and 7. being told "Ya'll come back now" by the hostess at an Italian restaurant (what an ambiance killer)...

I love Texas, but it's truly a whole different world down there.

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."

[ltl/fb]

Originally posted by Mr. Man
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."

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.

[Replaced_Texan]

Originally posted by Mr. Man
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."

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.

[NotFromHere]

Originally posted by mmm3587
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.

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.

[Mr. Man]

Originally posted by ltl/fb
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.

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."

[ltl/fb]

Originally posted by Mr. Man
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."

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.