Company hawking Nat's shoes goes belly up

Te Casan, the pricey New York shoe company that included Natalie Portman's vegan shoe line, has become a casualty of the economy:

http://nymag.com/daily/fashion/2008/12/t_casan_closed_company_folds.html

This makes me sad because I missed getting a great deal on a pair of cute yellow flats that was part of her Fall '08 line. Oh well. If Natalie wants to stay in the shoe biz she'd better get a move-on because I've heard singer Leona Lewis wants to do her own vegan shoe line for the much cheaper British chain Topshop.

E-Mails From The Clone Wars

From: dtyranus@sith.org
Sent: Tuesday, Elevenmonth 25, 25,006 8:32 A.M.
To: dsidious@sith.org
Subject: General Grievous

Master:

I must report to you that yet another ship under General Grievous's command, this time the Titanitania, has been destroyed. 18,000 battle droids and support staff have been lost, but Grievous as per usual escaped without a scratch. He must have more lives than a nexu.

However, my Lord, the cost of the Titanitania, the Malevolence with its experimental new weapon, and the base on Ruusan, must number in the quintillions. The ends we are striving for are important but with the Republic blowing up vessel after vessel from under Grievous's feet, they are getting to be quite expensive. What good would it be to rule the galaxy if we're too poor to even buy a pack of gum?

I like Grievous as much as the next fellow, but do you think it's a good idea to keep him in command of the Separatist fleet? Either he has some competency issues or he's one jinxed bastard.

Please advise,
Dooku


From: queenjamillia@theedpalace.gov
Sent: Friday, Twelfthmonth 01, 25,006 1:12 P.M.
To: padmeamidala@galacticsenate.gov
CC: Nass, Boss

Dear Senator Amidala:

It has come to my attention that the royal yacht you piloted to Rodia was destroyed in what Representative Binks claimed was a sudden earthquake that caused a giant magnet to fall on it. Certainly much of the vessel can be used for spare parts and otherwise recycled, but it will still cost the royal coffers--and Naboo's taxpayers--175 million credits. This is on top of the royal skiff destroyed on the Malevolence three weeks ago, another 175 million credits down the drain.

Senator, I recognize this is a time of war and calamities are bound to happen. Your reputation as a doer, not a benchwarmer, precedes you. However, in difficult economic times, we need to be a little more careful with tax-funded royal property.

Sincerely,
Queen Jamillia