Alex Geana

The state of our money

In my moment of temp hiatus, I'm still reading tons of blogs. The news that our currency's starting to falter is understandably concerning and the fact that the chairmen of Bear, who's one of many, who's caused this mess, is actually getting a pay out, this get's a massive WTF. There seems to be no wrong doing, but it's still insane, to make $61 Million when everything is collapsing.

American tourists with dollars turned away from currency exchanges in Amsterdam 

The U.S. dollar's value is dropping so fast against the euro that small currency outlets in Amsterdam are turning away tourists seeking to sell their dollars for local money while on vacation in the Netherlands....

That's because the smaller currency exchanges -- despite buy/sell spreads that make it easier for them to make money by exchanging small amounts of currency -- don't want to be caught holding dollars that could be worth less by the time they can sell them.

[Link from Reuters via America Blog]

Bear Stearns Chairman sells everything - pockets $61 million 

Bear Stearns Cos. Chairman James Cayne on Thursday dumped his entire stake in the embattled investment bank for $61 million as it appears closer to a takeover by JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Cayne sold 5.66 million shares for exactly $10.84 a share on March 25, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. His stake was once valued at about $1 billion when the stock was trading at $171.50 per share.

[Link from MsNBC via AmericaBlog]

The Dollar Collapse

Boing Boing had this great video from YouTube, featuring an economist that I've read before in the New Yorker. He's talking about the perfect storm brewing that could cause the dollar to collapse. Tragically, the sub-prime mortgage insanity could be it. Since the US gov has no real money for a true bailout. There can be many band-aid solutions but when you look at the whole Savings and Loan cost. I think it's over 3% of our GDP. America doesn't have the cash. Also, Asia is financing our debt. So when ... if ... they are unwilling to enact this bail out, then well. That's when the dollar starts to skid. I give it five years. Pending on the next President we select.

A large part of me, really really feels like stocking up on Euros in my nightstand. Now I understand why Warren Buffet has diversified his cash holdings. 

[Link via Boing Boing]

GLAAD makes the hetros scared

Our ubiquitous correspondent and intrepid reporter Terry Maloney, was on the front lines for the GLAAD Media awards this past Monday night.  Here's the write up.

_________________________________

This fotog/scribe wasn't disappointed at all about not seeing Baba Wawa...Actually, none of the celebs who refused to walk the carpet were gay! (Walters, R Jackson, K Bacon, K Sedgwick)...Bad heteros!...Only one female fotog seemed upset about the no-shows, the rest of us were like "whatever" and were off to the next event (or home)...Alec Mapa was fun, first posing with a "lookalike" fotog (short & Asian)... Alec was so much cuter and way better dressed... Then, while being interviewed for Logo (the gay cable network) he noticed a stray thread at the hem of his jacket and after joking, "That's what I get for buying off the rack in Singapore," he called over style maven Tim Gunn who obtained a pair of scissors from a fotog and proceded to trim the errant thread. Alec thanked Tim with a kiss on the cheek as we fotogs chuckled obediently....Cutie Anthony Rapp was chatty while walking the carpet, while hunky Cheyenne Jackson and master of ceremonies Graham Norton were robotic and silent (and not a bit of green on Irishman Norton on St Patrick's Night!)...Unlike past years the red carpet was not held in the same room as the reception so fotogs were unable to beg or bribe drinks from the paying guests or attempt to blend in with them (damn; I wore a suit for nothing!)...However, for the first year, GLAAD actually provided a water cooler (filled with water, not vodka) and glasses for the thirsty.

More pics after the jump.

Blog Silence Redux

If it doesn't make a noise, does it blog. Okay, I still have to do some quite important things, I'll be blogging from the fashion show. Crossing my fingers that I'll be back to blogging next week or so. In the mean time, Side Step Me is turning into something quite beautiful. 

The Fashion Show

Brooklyn Royalty invites you to their fashion show. Check out the details and their site.

This is from the Press Release "Brooklyn Royalty’s Fall 2008 collection marks an expansion of our distinctly ornate approach to tees, hoodies and accessories into the categories of denim, leather and wovens for both men and ladies. As always, our design process begins with finding the best quality materials, and constructing them in historically proven methods to stand the test of time. We add a gilded touch through signature graphics, hardware and fabric treatments that provide an edge to classic silhouettes. This season, we have moved our entire production local, to call attention to the value of an American-made product and the benefits of working together with the local community. As the brand continues to grow, we hope to continue supporting other Brooklyn-based manufacturers and designers, while exploring all the possibilities of an authentic luxury streetwear brand. "

[Previously Brooklyn Rules]
[Link to their site Brooklyn Royalty]

Touch of Silence

Okay, I have to give up the blog a bit longer, because I've found that blogging is bad when working on certain projects and dealing with my day job.

So that said, hopefully, I''ll be back, by the end of the week with very exciting news and new blog fervor. Please subscribe to the RSS feed to keep in touch.

I've finely checked our this work.

The internet was a buzz about this piece, completely thought provoking and insane. Totaly amazing in person.  AES+F tondo from the series "last riot". It's sort of breathtaking and caused much conversation around it. (yes the syntax is off on this, but i'm so hung over).

A touch of depression

I've been depressed the past few days, enough to not really blog or do anything, I'm trying to stave off a cold and sort things out. I promise to post in the next few days.

Again, I want to bury my head in the sand

So yet again, I want to hide, I'm going to be working on my book all day. At least trying to get that out. As every blog in the world seems to be covering Prince Henry and his shirtless pics and the new Justin Justin Timberlake promo shots that have surfaced.

All the politico blogs are covering the race for tomorrow and no one is really covering the fact that we bombed Somalia. Oh well, such is the day. While both the blogs for Hillary and the blogs for Obama are taking a stance, with the Obama blogs mentioning that Hillary should leave the race, while the blogs for Hillary are saying she'll win it all. I'm worried about the party and the fact that McCain is amping up for a bloody fight.

I slept a lot over the weekend. Thank goodness.

Go now, go check this out now.

This very minute, go to Master Photographer Steven Klein's site and check out the super amazing montage that features Brad Pitt and Jolie, with pictures of a dead Chad White.

Link to site.

found at Towleroad