Comments on: Paul Hastings Helps Out Haitians

By: guest

guest — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 01:06:23 +0000

I do privately hope, though, that some day I will win an award for my writing but that no one will know it was me. That I will have preserved my privacy so perfectly that only a handful of people who knew me in person will say, "Holy shit. That's the SCREENWRITER." Except if I did ever win an award, I wouldn't actually go to the award ceremony just like Katharine Hepburn: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNQAFm2OYXQ For two reasons. First, I always give my awards away. To anyone of you who has one of my deal toys, you know what I'm talking about. But, second, I kind of hate the Academy. "Why do you hate the Academy, K?" Because they've nominated best screenplay to people who've written films like Rosemary's Baby. Look it up if you have a generational gap. The Mia Farrow character should've grabbed the inverted cross and stabbed the shit out of that baby as the denouement. Thankfully, sometimes some stories are banned with good reason.

By: guest

guest — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 00:18:22 +0000

And, ATL, this one is highly self-indulgent so I actually encourage you to redact it but Jewel happens to be my most favorite artist. I have lived through "Girl, Interrupted" meets the Real World but I've also had some really cool experiences in BigLaw. In particular, there was this one time at band camp (wait, no, that was another time), it was this other time when I was working for Cravath London and I was drinking alone at the bar in Claridge's Hotel in London and this British couple saw me sitting alone at the bar with my cosmo and my iPod and they approached me and said to me, "What are you listening to?" And I said, "Um, Jewel." And they said, "That's so weird because we were just remarking that you look like Jewel." (This is not entirely uncanny. The music in the bar was another Jewel song, I just tuned it out to listen to my own iPod playlist.) And then they said, "We're getting married here in the hotel tomorrow. Would you like to come to our wedding?" Unbelievable true story. I didn't go. But it was nice of them. So, meanwhile, I'm busy writing my other stories and they are like John Forbes Nash Jr.'s "original idea" except there's no revenge in them and I hope you will come see them when I eventually publish them and produce them under my unknown penname. But, in the meantime, here is Jewel, who I really, really adore and I hope you do to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCr1M5_THms&feature=related

By: guest

guest — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 00:02:26 +0000

Do you know what? Heck, I'll take it. Maybe I am a guardian. What do I know? I'm a merely mortal girl hanging in there too in this very short, sweet life of ours: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsFQcQKWgTQ Never forget that. I could tell you scary nightmare stories about One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. Instead I'm going to tell you to keep the faith and sleep well.

By: guest

guest — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 21:13:06 +0000

102, kiss-kiss, but can you PLEASE stay off the computer for my sake. Not helpful. And I am not a guardian. I was merely making a few observations, thank you very much.

By: guest

guest — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 21:03:10 +0000

101: ever seen the film the devil’s advocate? that’s probably what drove her mad. sorry screenwriter. i’ll generously add the caveat “for nine days.” corporate finance needs to happen. it’s a necessary evil. but what those in power do with that power is likely what prompted this mini-tirade, which is kind of angelic in its own way. we wish you well, screenwriter. no need to be a guardian anymore. we’ll take it from here.

By: guest

guest — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 20:39:50 +0000

The robbing Peter to pay Paul reference is creepy. “How should God approve that you rob Peter, and give this robbery to Paul in the name of Christ.” Because Peter is being robbed to pay Uncle Paul. Uncle Paul is being reimbursed by the government.

By: guest

guest — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 22:14:52 +0000

One more thing, because I know the ranting and raving and nay-saying and witch-hunting will commence in the morning. As was partially apparent on the Cerberus board, I see metaphors in the poetry of music lyrics, the subtext of film and theater, and Biblical symbolism that surrounds me. That coupled with inhumane sleep deprivation and work demands, and certain romantic mind games, I lost my mind for 9 days. They fired me for it. ATL feel free to delete these posts.

By: guest

guest — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 22:07:38 +0000

They fired me because I have "A Beautiful Mind": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aS_d0Ayjw4o Go ahead, Paul Hastings, obscure the truth some more. You'll only make the story even more legendary. But, selflessly, here as before, there is a more important topic. Haiti. If you can afford to do so, please send them your alms if you can and try not to begrudge PHJW potentially doing so on your behalf, no matter what their intentions. Thank you.

By: guest

guest — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 21:57:04 +0000

And number 80, I have a very high IQ and abnormally astute deductive skills.
(Lawyers don’t judge me here…)
And that is why they had to hospitalize me due to a stress induced paranoid episode, which my outpatient psychiatrist likened to being a soldier in World War II who was under so much stress and who was watching his back so vigilantly that he started to see messages in everything around him. This particular doctor, who’s appeared on Oprah, said that the stress I was under was so profound that any healthy mind can break down beneath its weight. And that is why even the healthiest minds used to break for about two weeks and then recover back to normal in WWII. They wrote a book about in 1945. It was called “Men Under Stress.” And so, 80, with those astute deductive skills, I’m pretty sure I know who you are. Would you like me to bring your name into the discourse? I didn’t think so.
But everyone else who’s listening, yes, indeed, the “book” is very, very interesting. If you remain employed at PHJW, you might convince your superiors that it do the right thing (for once) so the publication of such book becomes moot.

By: guest

guest — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 21:33:25 +0000

I even implored these people directly to confront the problem head on. I suggested that they say, in essence, “There’s been some rumors circulating about a former PH associate here in the New York office. We’ve thought about what she had to say and we made some modifications to the severance package that some of you will be receiving. You can either take your severance as a lump sum now or you can remain an ‘inactive employee’ on our website and receive the severance over the span of three months. There are pros and cons associated with either course of action… We would also like to extend a free PLI membership for up to three months as well… We value your work here at Paul Hastings just as we valued that particular associate’s work. We hope to stay in contact with you and would like to support you in all of your future endeavors. We are always here to provide career counseling, put you in touch with people we know, provide outstanding references, answer any questions you have about unemployment benefits, pro bono resources, 401(k) matters, etc., etc. We hope that as the market turns around, we will be able to invite many of you back to our office as the nation’s economic health improves…” I told them to consider hosting an onsite (or offsite) career fair as well. I told them to explore health care coverage for everyone and extend the employee assistance program at least three months following dismissal because some people really should file for Chapter 7 and they’re not necessarily going to know how to get an affordable lawyer and what to do.
I asked them to treat the staff and the admin with the same level of respect because they are equally important to Paul Hastings’ success. I told them that they should highly consider having an inexpensive (and remorseful) happy hour for these people to makeup for their missing the holiday party. I told them that if there’s a career fair or a happy hour or anything to lift these people’s spirits, get someone to send them a real invitation and not an email and say that the event was generously (or even solely) sponsored by a particular partner who wants to pitch in and get some karma back. I suggested particularly wealthy partners, who could afford to buy a damn drink for a secretary, should do so. I told them not to kick everyone off the system overnight because they seriously needed to start being the good guy and not pick unnecessary fights. I told them they might even take a bold PR step (as many of the banks did) and say that a larger percentage of our partners are foregoing bonuses this year. I told them that, THAT is how they’re going to save their firm and if the rainmakers don’t understand that, then they can take their business with them and see how they fare and what the fate of their beloved firm is. I told them to remind those rainmakers that it’s a team effort and sometimes the brokest but smartest and most unlikely adversaries (me) can bring Goliath to its knees. I told them to them that the hardworking hopeful (and sometimes rebellious) students need to believe in this system because, really, the system itself is in jeopardy.
What did they do? Pulled this Haiti stunt. Like I said, Paul Hastings, if you want to keep at it, let’s go. It’s only gonna get worse.