aliza sherman rants and raves

I Feel Like My Vote Counted

Finally, I feel like I'm part of an amazing country again...

 

Interview: John Matthew Smith

Ever wonder about the those celebrity photographs you see in your favorite magazines? Who are those photographers, and how did they get their jobs? Celebrity photographer John Matthew Smith, talks about how he got started, his work, and how he got those celebrity shots. And, he insists, he is NOT part of the paparazzi.

How I began as a photographer

I have been taking celebrity photos since June 1 1990. It was on that day that I traveled to Washington D.C. on an errand. While I was there I learned that Mikhail Gorbachev was there..and given his propensity to jump from his limo and greet the crowds (as he had done days earlier in NYC ) I thought well perhaps I may be able to get a pic of him. Well to do this I needed a camera. I bought my first 35 mm camera at Ritz Camera on 15th st. The gentleman said this pocket size camera from Nikon had a zoom lens...so I thought great....and sent out to photograph Mikhail !

08 reasons Barack Obama will win next Tuesday | Change of Subject

08 reasons Barack Obama will win next Tuesday | Change of Subject.

Eric Zorn at the Chicago Tribune has pretty much nailed it. That is, if Obama is elected.

I especially related to the following (see my previous post that coincidentally covers similar points):

4. McCain has lost his brand

Yes, he’s a volatile man running in sensitive times under the banner of troubled party. But he started off with the image of a bi-partisan straight-shooter with a clear, selfless sense of proportion.

Yet he’s campaigned like a crank.

His scattershot, over-the-top assaults on Obama’s character (or, rather, the character of Obama’s associates) have seemed like an effort to change the subject from important issues. And now that McCain’s finally settled on conservative tax policy as his theme down the stretch, his campaign is so desperate for traction that it’s going schoolyard – channeling Joe McCarthy and calling Obama a socialist, a Marxist and even a communist.

5. Sarah Palin is turning out to be the disasta’ from Alaska.

I’m confident historians will rank McCain’s decision to choose a rookie governor from a low-population state to be his running mate as his biggest miscalculation.

Palin’s youth, spunkiness and conservative bona fides fired up the Republican base, sure.

But her ignorance, on display in early TV interviews, mortified the rest of us, and polls now show her as a distinct drag on the ticket.

McCain’s appalling judgment in selecting Palin has been cited by Colin Powell, several high-profile conservative intellectuals and scores of newspaper editorial boards as a reason to support Obama.

How John McCain Could Win Back My Vote

Image by Getty Images via DaylifeI've said it before, and I'll say it again. I was actually really liking John McCain a few years ago. Back then, "Maverick" wouldn't have been too far off. Back then, he was really saying it like it is and shooting from the hip.

But today, he is a sad, desperate man who is probably realizing that selling his soul was the worst thing he could have ever done for his country.

I would reconsider my position on John McCain, even in this very late hour, if he said the following on national television and then walked the talk:

My friends, my fellow Americans.

I've made a mistake. A huge mistake. And I'm going off script to tell you about this and to apologize to you from the bottom of my heart.

I did vote with Bush 90% of the time like I said on the news clips you see all over the Internet. But I had to. It was part of this big game we call POLITICS. If I had my druthers, I would have planted my boot in the President's backside many times over the last 8 years. But I was weak. I gave in to political pressures and special interests with deep pockets.

And I admit it. I made a very big mistake choosing Sarah Palin as my running mate. In fact, I didn't actually choose her. You Americans think that I have control over what is happening in this campaign, but the truth is I've been nothing more than a puppet for the party. But no more. I can see that my advisors were wrong, wrong, wrong about how well-received Palin would be. And none of us could have anticipated the venom she would stir up against Barack Obama, a good man, a decent citizen. Sure politics get dirty, but the campaign put forth under my name has gone too far. I am saddened and disgusted by what we have been saying and doing. It isn't right, and you, my friends, deserve better.

That is why I have asked Governor Palin to step down as my Vice-Presidential running mate and have invited my good friend Joe Lieberman to run by my side instead. I know it is late in the game to be doing this, but he should have been my running mate all along - someone who is a seasoned politician with respect from both sides of the aisle. Someone who is positioned where I have been during my political career - somewhere down the middle - not too left, not too right. He's a smart guy with a wealth of experience, and I know you love him. I'm sorry I didn't go with my gut sooner.

To hell with you Evangelicals! Okay, that was a bad joke - I didn't really mean that. You Evangelicals are people, too, like our good friends, the Muslims. Enough of the Muslim bashing! How can you call yourselves Christians and then bash another person because of their religion. Which I must clarify yet again that Barack Obama is not a Muslim, but if he were, he'd still be my friend. Just like my good Jewish friend, Joe Lieberman.

America needs a president who isn't only a maverick but one who can actually stand up in front of the American people and be honest for a change. The last 8 years have been run on a whole lot of deceit and hubris. You need someone like me, John McCain, who can look you in the eye and tell you the truth. If I could, I'd take back all the time I wasted in the last months bashing Barack Obama because looking back at the tapes of my speeches, it only made me look like a bitter old man. I may be old, but I am not bitter.

I am hopeful that our country can get back on its feet - economically and globally. America is reviled around the world because of our current leadership, but I intend to change that. If I am elected your president, forget about everything I said before. I want to start fresh. So here goes...

I don't know anything about the economy. I've admitted that before. So I will bring in the best advisors for the job. And if I win the election, that means bringing some of Obama's financial advisors on board because they know their stuff.

I stand here now saying that I denounce all corporate and special interests. Gone will be the days of greed and wanton spending. Gone will be the back scratching and cronyism that I've witnessed all these years in the Senate - and by the way, Barack Obama has tried to stay apart from that fray, and I commend him for that.

I do believe we need to do things differently overseas. I, too, am sick of this chest thumping that our current administration has been doing. We can't win friends that way. We need to become a catalyst for world peace, use our power for good, not evil. That means no more invasions of countries for oil. That means stepping in when there is horrific genocide and championing the disenfranchised. That means we sure as heck better get on the stick with renewable energy solutions like our good friends in Europe who are so far ahead of us that even I'm embarrassed by it.

I am grateful for the chance to speak the truth to you today, to truly take charge and make room for change. If you vote for me, John McCain, for president, I pledge to bring my opponent Barack Obama into the fold as well because we need a visionary like him. And who knows, maybe he'll be running again in 2012 and will have 4 years of real experience under his belt. At that point, I'll be ready to retire and live out my days with my lovely and supportive wife and family in one of my many houses.

God Bless America.

Colin Powell for President

Just saw the movie "W" last night and was reminded of how screwed Colin Powell was in his position in Bush's administration. Sad, really. Because Colin Powell is a phenomenal statesman and human being. His endorsement of Barack Obama proves that Powell would have made an even better president than anyone we've had in recent years or anyone running today.

That said, Colin Powell eloquently articulated exactly why Obama is the right candidate for president at this time. He hit all the right points and delivered them with thoughtfulness and diplomacy.

Colin Powell for President!!!

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Tina Fey Nails Sarah Palin AGAIN

This one needs no introduction other than to say Tina Fey deserves an Emmy, Academy Award and a nice tall cold one! She has my vote!

Hey Sarah Palin: How About Supreme Court Cases & Rulings Affecting Alaska?

Image by bobster1985 via FlickrHey Sarah Palin:

My husband reminded me that there was a major Supreme Court case and ruling that had a major effect on Alaska, some for better, some for worse, depending on which side of the issues you sit. This was a major part of Alaska's recent history (the last 20 years).

Talk about low hanging fruit for the picking when Katie Couric asked you to name a Supreme Court ruling you disagreed with. You could have named this ruling and talked about how it was a major blow to the good people of Alaska.

The Supreme Court Exxon Valdez Ruling

I guess my husband wasn't the only one who thought of this ruling.

Oh wait, before I close, just wanted to remind you, Sarah Palin, of something you said on television just a few months ago:

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Don't Say Anything Mean About Sarah Palin Day

I will let her words speak for themselves...

Watch CBS Videos Online

Keeping Up With the Palin with Couric.

Keeping up with the Palin. Still trying to make heads or tails out of what Sarah Palin is saying/not saying in her interviews with Katie Couris. Llistening more closely each time, hoping that I can decode her...babble.

She must be saying something intelligent, right? I mean, she is possibly going to be our VP so she must have some redeeming qualities, right?

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Sarah Palin & Katie Couric aka Tina Fey & Amy Pohler

Tina Fey is the consumate Sarah Palin. She does Sarah Palin even BETTER than Sarah Palin herself:

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Debates proved twinkle trumps facts: Comment | adn.com

Debates proved twinkle trumps facts: Comment | adn.com.

Andrew Halcro has pinpointed Palin's edge for the upcoming debates. She can overcome her lack of experience; her lack of knowledge or facts; and her complete lack of coherence by using what Halcro sums up as this:

"She's a master, not of facts, figures or insightful policy recommendations, but at the fine art of the non-answer, the glittering generality."

And on those rare occasions when she does answer a question directly, according to Halcro, Palin has "the canny ability to connect with the audience on a personal level."

Halcro has this advice for Biden:

"...Biden needs to simply ignore Palin on stage and answer the questions as if he were the only one there. Any attempt to flex policy knowledge to show Palin is not ready for prime time will inevitably cast him in the role as the bully."

I agree with Halcro's assessment and advice.

Before I had read his op-ed, I was thinking about the way Obama kept deferring to McCain, saying McCain was "right" about certain things before launching into his points. That was a risky thing to do because some people watching the debate alongside me at the Sea-Tac airport commented "If Obama keeps saying McCain is right, he'll start convincing people to vote McCain."

But my take on it was that it was very diplomatic of Obama to give credit where credit was due and then talk about the facts and make his points.

Then as I thought about Biden and Palin debating, I thought that with that same kind of approach, Biden could avoid looking like a bully. However, because Palin is rarely able to articulate a point so we can figure out if she is right or wrong, Biden could end up coming across as condescending.

The one thing Biden has to be careful of is not to smirk, roll his eyes, or make a gun with his fingers and pretend to shoot himself in the head as he listens to his opponent.

Now that might be tempting but would probably be bad form.

Daily Kos: Alaskans for Truth Rally in Anchorage, Alaska

Image via WikipediaDaily Kos: Alaskans for Truth Rally in Anchorage, Alaska.

Attended the Alaskans for Truth Rally in Anchorage, Alaska today calling Sarah Palin to task for appearing to have abandoned her duties as Governor of Alaska as well as suddenly refusing to cooperate with the Troopergate investigation.

Documented the on video and through photographs. Also did a few audio interviews. I'm in the process of uploading everything but have posted stories on:

Daily Kos

CNN iReport

and photos/videos will be housed on my Flickr Page.

Were you at the rally? What are your thoughts about Sarah Palin, Governor of Alaska?

Scary Conversations...

yes, someone really said these things to me...from someone who lives in Wasilla and loves Sarah Palin.

"I love Sarah Palin. She is a person of integrity. I feel like I can trust her."

"I'm afraid of Obama because even though he says he isn't a Muslim, he did go to Muslim schools as a small child. And maybe it is true that once a Muslim, always a Muslim."

"And the Muslims are taking over the world. I mean I'm not worried about ALL Muslims. Just the extremists, the terrorists, the Muslim Extremists."

ME: I don't think you mean Muslim Extremists. Muslim is a religion. I think you mean Islamic extremists, don't you?

"Oh, yes, right. Not Muslim. But the Muslims are taking over Europe."

ME: Really? How?

"Oh, you know, those Muslim move to Europe and then unlike Christian families who have 2 or 3 kids, those Muslims have 6 or 7 kids so eventually they will be the majority and take over everything."

ME: In Europe? What countries are you thinking of?

"France...Germany."

ME: And where are they coming from?

"Oh, I don't know what the countries are. The Middle East."

------------

The security person at the airport in Spokane is looking over my I.D. and boarding pass.

"I just want to say that I REALLY like your governor. I really really like her."

-------------

"I just LOVE Sarah Palin. I'm from Wasilla, and it's just, like, seeing her on TV, and you go 'That's OUR Sarah up there!' And I've seen her speak before, and she's just so smart. She was really smarter than anyone else that was speaking. I admire her so much."

-------------

I am not making any of this up...I wish I were.

Sarah Palin Speaks Out Video - CBSNews.com

Image by bobster1985 via FlickrSarah Palin Speaks Out Video - CBSNews.com.

Is it me, or is Sarah Palin digging a bigger and bigger hole for herself each time she speaks?

They were right to keep her away from the media. I am absolutely flabbergasted at her lack of coherence in her recent interview with Katie Couric.

I can't believe that anyone could watch that interview and:

a) understand what the heck she was trying to say;

b) come away thinking she is even remotely suited to hold any national office;

c) think that we should give her another chance with the media because with enough practice, she may finally make sense.

McCain should just admit he made a big mistake and pick someone who at least has a firm grasp of the English language. Foreign policy experience is clearly optional.

Watch CBS Videos Online

Where The Hell Is Matt?

Where The Hell Is Matt?.

This is THE tool to bring Peace on Earth.

Matt is the harbinger of World Peace.

You must pass his video along to everyone. That is an imperitive. I kid you not.

And can you believe I've never heard of Stride Gum before? Guess the "ad campaign" is working.

Thought Theater: Anna Nicole Smith Dead at 39

Link: Thought Theater: Anna Nicole Smith Dead at 39.

I'm not quite sure why the world is fascinated with Anna Nicole Smith. Just yesterday, I happened upon "Entertainment Tonight" and saw yet another segment of the ongoing saga of Anna Nicole's latest controversy. I even said to my husband, "How could a news show - albeit an entertainment news show - devote (waste) so much time to a woman who clearly is very troubled AND drugged out in every interview.

As a new mom, I was especially saddened to see Anna Nicole's little baby in the middle of a paternity controversy at such a young age. And having an addict for a mother - not newsworthy, just incredibly sad.

Then my husband - the guy who never watches TV unless I "force" him to watch one of my favorite shows, the guy who knows nothing about celebrity gossip - sends me an email titled "Mortality" and asking me if the woman we saw on TV last night who seemed so drugged out was actually dead or if it was a rumor.

I did a quick search on Google to find that yes, indeed, Anna Nicole Smith was dead.

Why are people so obsessed/fascinated with her? I think she perpetuated the "unwanted" attention from media, fed off of it, and in some convoluted way, her death is just part of her overall view of herself and her life (ala Marilyn Monroe).

I really don't want to devote any more time to this. I just thought it was ironic after the post I wrote yesterday. Here's a woman with celebrity, money, a new family, and she threw it all away. Deep down inside, she was a wounded person, hurting and alone.

Suicide

A woman I know killed herself.

I don't know all the details, and I didn't even know she had died until someone told me last week by email and then I didn't find out about the visitation until the following week.

I didn't know her very well - I couldn't say we were friends. We were colleagues. She and I worked together on the Anchorage Film Festival in 2005.

She also worked for one of my clients so during the last months of my pregnancy, as I waddled through the halls of their offices, she'd stop me as I passed her desk, put her hand on my belly, and talk to me about her pregnancies years ago and ask me about mine.

She was a no-nonsense person who seemed ever more serious. Very matter of fact, pull no punches, you know the cliches and the type. I really liked her because I knew exactly where she was coming from, and I knew if she said she was going to do something, she would do it. She was the kind of person that could come into a mess and roll up her sleeves to get things cleaned up with the minimum of emotion.

But she was a tender and caring person beneath the tough, crusty exterior. Her eyes would well up when we'd talk about pregnancy and babies. I thought we connected on several levels. Then we lost touch when I stopped working before giving birth. I hadn't seen her in the months following as I struggled with new motherhood and post partum depression.

I've heard rumors that something bad happened that may have been the final catalyst for her suicide. But I've also heard that even a month earlier she was giving things away, tying up loose ends, doing the things that people do when they are contemplating killing themselves. Little signs, little gestures, that actually looking back seem huge and telling.

I can't help wondering if I would have noticed the signs if I had stayed in touch with her. If I had emailed her when I thought of her recently, could we have reconnected and would anything be different? We always take for granted the people in our lives and the impact we have or could have. We fail to do the small things, the contact and connection.

And then someone kills themself.

And you can't help wondering if you could have done something, anything, to change their mind.

Fly the Friendly Skies

I don't know why this news story about a company called AirTroductions caught my eye, but I felt compelled to blog about it.

An excerpt:

The idea is to connect like-minded fliers — either in the personal or professional realms — who are traveling on the same flights. Here's how it works: Travelers join AirTroductions (airtroductions.com) for free and post personal and/or business profiles. Then, before taking a flight, they enter their itineraries and are notified of other members booked on the same flight. They're given the option of sending anonymous e-mail through the site (at which point a $5 fee kicks in) to determine whether they want to meet at the airport, and, if mutually acceptable, get reassigned to adjoining seats.

Well, being able to be matched up with a compatible airplane seatmate is a good thing. Much better, I'm sure, than being seated next to a killer.

Still, I can't help thinking that we'd all be sitting next to great people if the airlines were like they were back when I was a child. Was it just the wide eyes of a little girl on a big plane or were those stewardesses (yes, that is what they called themselves back then) really, really pretty and nice?

I seem to also remember airplane food that didn't taste bad and was actually food and not a tiny bad of three peanuts. All the male stewardesses (I'm sure they were called stewards but back then, what did I know?) were gay and flamboyant (of course, back then, I didn't know what gay was. I just thought they were HAPPY.)

There was plenty of room on planes (okay, might have been the fact that I was four feet tall) and everyone watched the movie and it was always a good one, and they'd bring snacks out in addition to meals and glasses of orange juice - and this wasn't even first class.

Everyone was smiling and chatting to their neighbors and curling up with fluffy pillows and soft blankets. I really do believe that when I was a little girl, air travel was cushy and luxurious, even in coach.

Today, you are lucky if a flight attendant doesn't snarl at you and glare at you sideways as he/she rolls the beverage tray like a bat out of hell down the aisle because God Forbid you ask for a drink or a second bag of three peanuts.

Today, all the people who sit next to you are obese and sweating profusely, often with a body odor problem and a hacking cough.

Today, the headsets for inflight "entertainment" cost a lot of money - I'd rather save for an iPod.

I'm sure today they still give out those little wing pins but probably plastic instead of metal and only if you are a child traveling alone so grownups are shit out of luck.

Whatever happened to the days of sparkly, happy air travel? Maybe Air-Troductions will bring back just a little bit of that friendly sky romance. Or at least increase the number of couples having sex on planes.