No clothes, but in the picture the cart is obscured by the tank top draped over the fence. I guess that doesn't really count.

Wow. You can tell AIG wasn't a PR firm.

Less than a week after the federal government committed $85 billion to bail out AIG, executives of the giant AIG insurance company headed for a week-long retreat at a luxury resort and spa, the St. Regis Resort in Monarch Beach, California, Congressional investigators revealed today. [..] AIG documents obtained by Waxman's investigators show the company paid more than $440,000 for the retreat, including nearly $200,000 for rooms, $150,000 for meals and $23,000 in spa charges.

[link]

Failing in such an epic manner isn't easy work. These guys need a little relaxation.

Attempts to scare away voters starting up: [link]

Not for nothing but all that AIG stuff would have been booked months and months ago, so while the timing is awful and the cost is ridiculous by most standards - that type of retreat was probably normal for them and it's not like they planned it while the bailout money came through.

Not for nothing but all that AIG stuff would have been booked months and months ago, so while the timing is awful and the cost is ridiculous by most standards - that type of retreat was probably normal for them and it's not like they planned it while the bailout money came through.

Yeah, this. Plus, they wouldn't have gotten any money back.

On the other hand (puts on my PR hat), I would have strongly advised them not to go on such a trip.

I bet they would have gotten some money back. With a week's cancellation notice and the promise of a future retreat, I bet they could have negotiated 10-25% back and yes, it would be a PR win then.

A guy from Spain who was in Japan took off his clothes and jumped into the Imperial Palace moat. Boing Boing described it:

Tokyo Times reports that a man took off his clothes and jumped into the Imperial Palace moat to retrieve a bag, and ended up getting into a tragicomic tussle with the police.

Tokyo Imperial Palace pandemonium

More or less worksafe, although one photo you can see his naked butt from the side. I haven't watched the videos so I don't know if they're worksafe....

Both of my parents are heading off on vacations this week. My dad and his wife are going to Vegas tomorrow to hang out on the Strip and see my sis and BIL who live in the outskirts of town. And my mom is taking a cruise in the Greek islands with a few days in Venice first.

I'm jealous and want my vacation now! (Even though I really shouldn't complain--I'll be in Vegas in five weeks myself.) I took a half-day PTO yesterday so I could catch up on my sleep, and just want some more time off.

Not for nothing but all that AIG stuff would have been booked months and months ago, so while the timing is awful and the cost is ridiculous by most standards - that type of retreat was probably normal for them and it's not like they planned it while the bailout money came through.

Yeah, this. Plus, they wouldn't have gotten any money back

I dunno, they're pretty hooked-up guys. The St. Regis would probably be far more flexible with them than they would with any of us. "I'm sorry, Mr. Gates, a deposit is a deposit" or "You were 20 minutes late, Mr. Trump, so we gave away your table." Just aren't things that happen.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Gates, a deposit is a deposit" or "You were 20 minutes late, Mr. Trump, so we gave away your table."

"I'm sorry, Mr. Bush, you wrecked the economy, so we can't serve you until you clean our toilets."