• The first thing to watch for is the S&P 500 to trade flat for three months. While it continues to move down, investors are expecting two or three more quarters of bad earnings.
• The next signal that the situation is not worsening is car sales.
• From a global perspective, the trading in bonds for developing countries that might default on their debt, nations such as Ireland and Ukraine, need to stop changing hands at distressed levels.
• China's GDP has to stop falling and hold at a level of 6% growth.
• The stimulus package has to begin to pay off.
• Finally, when the government investment in banks and insurance companies drops below a rate of $100 billion a month and begins to slow to much more modest levels as the number of firms that need big bailouts decreases.

via time.com

2. The usual line-up of stars will be missing from the pre-show red-carpet gawking.

3. ABC put commercials on the for-sale rack, cutting rates for a 30-second spot to 1.4 million this year from 1.8 million charged in 2008. Apparently, keeping star power sequestered wasn’t enough.

4. Even with reduced rates, some long-time advertisers have pulled out completely, including L’Oreal, Dove, American Express and General Motors.

5. The post-Oscar Vanity Fair party – one of the most celebrated bashes on the after-awards circuit – says it’s going green by using recycled décor from previous years.

6. The film studios cut back on their own advertising campaigns to give their nominees a better chance at winning.

7. The favoured best-picture winner for tonight, Slum Dog Millionaire, is in a unique position that may not come again soon for independent films. F

8. There will be endless chatter from commentators on the role of extreme fashion in a time of extreme hardship.

9. However, there is one exception.

via firedfornow

1. Digg.com moves their server over to Dreamhost
2. Jeff Bezos delivers his TED talk with a GoldenPalace.com tattoo across his naked chest
3. i can affordz cheezburger?
4. Drew Curtis switches to Pabst Blue Ribbon
5. For $20, Rick Astley will show up to do it in person.

full list via commandlineidiot

1. You put your family on eBay.

2. You have your gold fillings removed and not by your dentist.

3. You enjoy the Four Seasons at lunch: Summer, winter, spring, and fall, with your new friend, Pete. A pigeon.

4. Your child's birthday party features the very reasonably priced Clarence the Once-Convicted Clown.

5. When you send your friends an e-mail it usually begins, "FROM THE DESK OF MR. ZONGO."

6. Your hostess gift is actually made by Hostess.

7. Your country club finds you steaming broccoli in the sauna.

8. Your bus to the Hamptons leaves from Chinatown.

9. Your Gucci bag is spelled with an extra "c."

10. You give your son summer Spanish lessons by having him work in lawn care. (Actually, not a bad idea.)

full list via nysun