MSNBC: Bring It.

It seems I missed a quality poster yesterday as I was taking blurry pictures of the MSNBC set:

So, Olbermann and Matthews are running on a joint ticket now?

UPDATE: Looks like Olbermann had better things to do this week than campaign for the MSNBC presidency.

The CNN Grill Episode 2: Blitzer Strikes Back

Well, they shipped the CNN Grill and all their fancy neon signs over to St. Paul. Don't ask me how they did it. I'm too tired to care.


I took this shot is from the inside of the security zone, thus making the Grill look like even more of a fortress.



MSNBC just can't compete. They've got a tent in a park somewhere and a couple of cameras:



Fight on Chris Matthews. Fight on.

I Get Around

The GOP had a truncated schedule yesterday due to Gustav, and I finished work early. I have zero VIP connections, but a friend does. So, we made our way over to Minneapolis to check out a fancy Republican party and a fancy Republican concert.

The party had fresh-baked cookies and a flag in my Diet Coke. Conservatives: God love em'.

Then, it was on to the concert. Can you guess who was playing?

Yep. I have video proof. Brian Wilson was there, John Stamos was not. But that didn't keep the (largely white, male and older) crowd from partying like it was 1969. The first concert I ever went to was a Beach Boys concert. As I was ten at the time, I don't remember much about it, but I'm guessing the set list hasn't changed much over the years. They rocked it out.

I heard a story about a party at the DNC Convention that ended with an impromptu duet of "Gold Digger" starring Kanye West and Jamie Foxx. Poor Republicans - The Beach Boys are about as hip as they get.

America: F*ck Yeah!

Before all the drama yesterday involving my laptop and a hurricane, I had a chance to check out our our nation's capital: The Mall of America.

At one time, this was the biggest mall in the US. I'm not sure if it still is, but according to their website: "Mall of America is big enough to hold 32 Boeing 747s." Sweet.


I also have distinct childhood memories of watching a travel documentary (showcase?) about the mall. A mecca of capitalism. And, it has an amusement park! Inside!!


It really is massive. And kind of your worst nightmare -screaming children, large Midwestern tourists, pre-teen girls -all swarming through the shops and restaurants.

The mall shops span the perimeter of the amusement park. I think it's a mile walk to get around the whole thing.

Unfortunately, I won't be here for "Scrapfest'08."

My store! Surprisingly, I didn't see a "Short Girl" shop.

A Perfect Storm

Sunday, August 31, 2008

2:30pm: At the workspace.

2:45pm: My computer won't start.

3:00pm: GOP Briefing on convention schedule changes due to Hurricane Gustav.

3:15pm: It's official: my hard drive has crashed.

3:20pm: It's official: the GOP will have a limited convention schedule Monday with no speakers.

4:00pm: Bureau Chief and additional correspondents arrive in Minneapolis.

4:30pm: At Best Buy. They'll fix it by 7:00pm. For $400.

5:00pm: Pick up correspondent at the workspace.

5:30pm: Back at the hotel.

6:00pm: All correspondents go to workspace. I go to Best Buy.

6:15pm: At Best Buy. Not fixed yet.

7:00pm: Best Buy is closing. Must come back in the morning.

7:45pm: At the workspace.

8:00pm: Leaving the workspace with correspondents to get dinner.

8:30pm: Correspondents order sake.

8:31pm: I'm the designated driver for the night.

11:00pm: Correspondents are on their fourth sake.

11:30pm: Restaurant stops serving alcohol. Bureau Chief is heartbroken.

12:10pm: In bed at the hotel. Watching VHI reality TV show on celebrity stylist contest.

12:15pm: Show is a bad version of Project Runway. Turn off TV. Sleep.

Monday, September 1, 2008

9:00am: Alarm goes off.

9:20am: Get out of bed. Turn on CNN. Gustav expected to hit land within hours.

9:45am: Leave hotel for Best Buy.

10:00am: Computer is ready. It's fixed!

10:15am: Coffee.

10:45am: Back at the workspace.

10:50am: Check email. Japanese PM Fukuda has resigned. CNN has no coverage; Gustav 24/7.

11:18am: "Sarah and Todd Palin issued the following statement regarding today's Reuters story"

11:19am: What Reuters story?

11:20am: Oh. That one.

11:30am: Coworker in DC says Palin's daughter "pulled a Juno."

1:00pm: Buy a $7.00 vegetarian wrap.

1:10pm: Pass Chuck Todd in the hallway. He is flanked by five or six assistants.

2:00pm: CNN forces its correspondents in Louisiana to report outside in the storm.

2:09pm: Anderson Cooper nearly hit by piece of flying cardboard. Ratings must be through the roof.

Swag

Well, we've moved all our stuff into our workspace in St. Paul. We also broke the rules and successfully smuggled in water and snacks. The GOP wants us to spend $3.50 on a bottle of water from their catering company. Um, do we look like we're made of money?

After we organized our workspace we picked up our convention credentials. Along with the credentials, they gave us these bags full of free stuff. The Democrats had one too. Let's see what's inside, shall we?


Lots of papers, advertisements, coupons...

...and a free condom!?? From the GOP?!? Actually, it's a sugar packet. I don't get it either.

The always popular "NWA World Traveler Magazine" with John McCain and two other random guys.* I don't even read this magazine when I'm flying with NWA and they have a captive audience. By the way - how great is Northwest Airlines' acronym "NWA"? Gives the cover a whole new meaning.


And finally: possibly the best free macaroni and cheese I've ever received. They're in the shape of elephants!

*It's Sen. Norm Coleman (up against comedian Al Franken this year) and Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty (he was on McCain's VP shortlist).

On a Jet Plane

I'm unlikely to be blogging for the next day or two. We are headed to even more glamorous Minneapolis/St. Paul for the GOP Convention, where I have to set up our workspace/credentials/access to coffee all over again.

I'm looking forward to working in a place with indoor plumbing.

Smell ya later Democrats!