Actually, I’ll start with the cacti problem. I suppose it’s just the one cactus, but ‘Cacti Problem’ sounds cooler (also, it could be the name of a band…). Anyway, I can’t seem to get this silly cactus to stand up straight or keep its limbs/branches intact and not falling off. It’s growing quite well, but the arms keep falling off, unable to support themselves. I just transplanted it to a bigger pot, though, so hopefully that’ll help.
Alrighty, moving on to the Read World.
News first, the topmost of that being the G-20 summit in London today. The PM announced that they’ve allotted about $1 trillion in worldwide stimulus packages, “But the funds he announced are well short of a direct injection of stimulus into the world’s economic bloodstream — the result of a continuing division between continental Europe and much of the rest of the world over whether to act now or wait see how current spending measures take effect.” NYT.
Ok, group picture, everyone!
(Gordon Brown – PM – talks to President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil).
…and now a fun one! Haha.
Hmm, next up: those wacky French are up to it again, executive-kidnapping and 24-hour-hostage-detaining and… pizza-ordering? Sure, why not. But seriously: unions in France have taken to keeping their top execs locked up in the buildings for about 24 hours (against their – the execs’ – wills, of course). However, it’s ok because – as Stewart, Jon pointed out – “For every 24 hours in the office, they get 6 months of vacation.” (Either Colbert or Jon, I can’t remember…) At any rate, they were protesting over reconstruction of Catepillar’s French company. From the Times: “
The company executives, including Nicolas Polutnik, the chief executive of Caterpillar France, were subjected to a night of pounding revolutionary rock music and shouted threats, said Eric Amstutz, a spokesman in Geneva for Caterpillar’s European operations. “It was a rough situation,” Mr. Amstutz said.
The workers let one executive leave because he was sick, and they allowed security guards to deliver pizza. But the remaining four, disoriented and unable to sleep because of harassment, including threatening calls to their cellphones, endured 24 hours of confinement. Their ordeal ended only after President Nicolas Sarkozy promised Wednesday morning in a radio interview that he would meet with union members and “save the site.””
Sounds really rough. Haha. But hey, it gets the point across. (Full article here).
More protests, this time in London: against globalization (and the G-20 summit meeting). They didn’t employ traditional protest tactics; for the most part, they seemed to stick to a “hey, let’s get our pictures taken and attract attention to our cause!” sort of thing. Just how did they accomplish this?
Dressing up as a hot pink Darth Vader and Jesus in a police helmet. And you can’t protest without a symbolic “not ‘just resting’” canary.
(See the pictures & article here).
Another protest, anti-capitalism: this one employed a large Monopoly board.
AFP.
Et enfin, ex-governor of Illinois has (finally!) been indicted and, if found guilty, will be fined $4 million… and faces over 300 years in prison. Good luck with that one, Blagojevich. (By the way, he claims he’s innocent and “the victim of a political witch hunt”. Suuure. It had nothing whatsoever to do with your attempts to sell Obama’s senate seat or any of the other 15-odd charges…)
“A federal grand jury indicted the 52-year-old Democrat on 16 felony counts, including racketeering conspiracy, wire fraud, extortion conspiracy, attempted extortion and making false statements to federal agents.
Blagojevich, who claims he did nothing wrong and is a victim of a political witch-hunt, has promised to fight the charges in court and has a book contract to tell his side.
He faces more than 300 years in prison if convicted and at least $4 million (2.7 million pound) in fines, plus restitution, according to the indictment.
Blagojevich was in his second term when the state legislature kicked him out of office nine weeks ago, after his arrest in December.
He was accused of seeking cash, campaign contributions and jobs for himself and others in exchange for state appointments, state business, legislation and pension fund investments.
Among those actions were attempts to leverage his authority to appoint a U.S. senator to take over Obama’s seat after his election as president in November, U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald said.” - NYT
That’ll be an uphill battle and an interesting book…
Ok, fashion time, starting out in a good way with these amazing Chanel grater booties:
Via JAK&JIL.
Adeline Rapon rocks tee + shorts + black tights, a favourite spring look of mine… (and hey, she’s 5’4″, same as me! Woo!)
Love that tee too. And the shoes.
I love this photo from Easy Fashion (en Paris):
TopShop opened in New York today. Here’s a video.
I think I just died and went to heaven. Please take me there.
And for the (fashionable) bf: TopMan.
But damn it, Crocs got a loan extension. Stupid Union Bank of California. (WWD)
Between designing and… everything else, Chloe Sevigny’s acted in a short film. Here.
Need a Special Occasion dress or just something designer? Rent it at Wear Today Gone Tomorrow. Genius.
Bravo TV has a new show… The Fashion Show. Yep, it looks as though Project Runway is officially done. Here.
Cool TopShop ad:
Love her shoes. From Lookbook.
Hair!
Vest!
O_O !!!!!!!!!!!!!
Almost too Olsen for me.
Love the vest + tights (yay no pants!)
pants.
bon nuit 
~ r
