The view out my window five minutes ago. This is why a tree branch fell from forty feet up and landed next to my car. Plus which it got up to a whopping 23 degrees today. If this doesn't clear off by Friday afternoon in time for my flight to New York, well, I'll probably pout.

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ita's co-workers are the best ever. They may have all decided to say things to you and then just walk off without reaching a conclusion - BRILLIANT!

I will laugh it up like the rest of the normally sized people with normal sized hands thankyouverymuch.

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I'm going to say something terrible.

I'm all tsunami'd out. I'm not giving any tsunami money. I wouldn't give the red cross a dime, anyway.

I think what's likely to happen is that billions of dollars will flow into the arms of the government while the poor die of cholera and children are sold to brothels. Billions will be "lost" to "administrative" costs or "rebuilding efforts" and people will starve and die while governments get fat.

And then we'll see it all on 20/20 in a year in some fucking Diane Sawyer exclusive.

So. I'll continue giving a few bucks to Heiffer.org when I can, places like that. Local charities, too. I'm just tsunami'd out.

I feel like I did when Mariah Carey was in an evening dress singing god bless america with Willie Nelson.

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Co-worker #2 was defending himself. I told him the last thing he'd said to me wasn't funny enough. He started with the pig thing, and I told him he still needed more work. But I wonder if he had the cojones to be bluffing...

The other guy is a big old meanie who's attacked me. You like him.

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True, that scenario would be a pretty good fad to start Hollywood on.

Yes. Since we had to suffer through Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, I think it's only right. They're always ostentatious in one way, or another. Let it be where it matters. Don't spend a lot of money on your own birthday party, feed the hungry, house the homeless, get medical care and medicine to the sick, water to the thirsty.

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later all -

ita, go kiss your co-workers - that'll show them.

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msbelle! Wait! Did you know that Laura Prepon goes out with Chris Masterson in real life??

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Non-exempt employees receive hourly wages; they are subject to wage and hour laws, i.e. overtime pay; usually applies to non-professional employees.

That is somewhat right, and somewhat wrong, ita. I am a salaried employee, but I am also non-exempt, so that I do get overtime. In California epecially, most people are considered non-exempt under the laws and regs.

I will see if I can dig up a synopis, but it might not be until tonight.

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I'm all tsunami'd out. I'm not giving any tsunami money. I wouldn't give the red cross a dime, anyway.

I'm not tsunami'd out, but only because I stopped reading/watching the coverage, almost immediately. Every couple of days, I peek at a headline and that's it.

The following is not me saying you should give anything. You're a very generous person, and my whole previous conversation was about celebrities. I'm tired of hearing seeing them sing (or whatever) to raise money from common suckers like us. Write the big check yourselves, I say. That said, if you wanted to give, there are a ton of organizations other than the Red Cross, and many with really good track records of getting what's needed to those in need.

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Since we had to suffer through Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous

Dude. Aaron Spelling didn't break your remote control finger.

We have only ourselves to blame. It's our money they're spending.

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