Nothing is final till you're dead, and even then I'm sure God negotiates.

Angelica Houston, Ever After.

Having dinner with Jen last night, she explained to me how at the McKinsey women's conference one of the presenters said that everything is negotiable - from televisions at Best Buy to discounts at Express. She also said that while men tend to see everything as negotiable, women tend to see things as more concrete. She said that to be a successful woman, you have to learn to negotiate. "It's easier to ask for forgiveness than to get permission." So basically, it's better to piss people off and sometimes get more than always assume that you have as much as you can get. Or something like that.

I think this is an interesting idea. I wonder if this theory would apply to areas of life other than consumer interactions. Like, if I go to my TF and say, "So, about this B-. How about we make it an A?" And then if he/she says no, then I go, "Okay, I understand your position. So let's say B+." Would that work? I think maybe I will put that to the test this semester.

I arrived back from NYC at 5 this morning. Fun fun fun. Back to the hallowed halls of Harvard and free food and no Greyhound buses for a VERY long time. Phew.

So, COMMON CASTING WEEK HAS BEGUN! The Ex is decked out in usual, though unsurprisingly the theme is creepily obscure and post-dramatic. Who is our Campus Liaison again...??

Rachel celebrates the kookiness of the Common Casting theme

(note the Oh Dad, Poor Dad paintings on the balcony)

Dan P. is grumpy when he is hungry. He is also annoying when he has been complimented by Artistic Directors. I just thought I would share, as I am sitting next to him for the next hour.

However, he provides amazing fodder for Matt B.'s Dan impressions. Example (Matt, as Dan, talking about himself): "Who is this person sitting in this chair? He's just amazing."