Reason #47 To Love Alec Baldwin

According to Lorne Michaels, the exeuctive producer of "Saturday Night Live" and an executive producer of "30 Rock," Baldwin "guards against enjoyment." (Michaels is a friend of Baldwin's and was a model for the Donaghy character.) "I'll say, 'Alec, you have one of hte best writers in television'" - Tina Fey - "'writing this part for you. It's shot in New York, where you chose to live. You work three days a week, you get paid a lot of money, you're getting awards. It's a great time in your life. It's an all-good thing. And, if you were capable of enjoying it, it would be even better.'"

-- New Yorker profile of Baldwin, "Why Me?"

From The Huffington Post, September 14, 2008

This week's campaign sleazefest brought to mind G. K. Chesterton's remark: "If there is one thing worse than the modern weakening of major morals, it is the modern strengthening of minor morals." So the media burns up hours of airtime arguing about "lipstick on a pig," while spending little or no time discussing suicide bombings in Iraq killing and wounding hundreds, the unemployment rate surpassing six percent for the first time in five years, another Wall Street institution teetering on collapse, the lack of political progress in Iraq reflected in the imminent postponement of the planned provincial elections, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff declaring we're "running out of time" to get the war in Afghanistan right, etc, etc, etc. In this topsy-turvy media world, it's only fitting that the week's hardest-hitting political interview was conducted by the ladies on The View. -- Arianna Huffington

Bromance!

Others grunt; he glides. Others sweat; he's always suave. Others said he was through, that he might not ever win another major; today Roger Federer defeated Andy Murray, 6-2, 7-5, 6-2, to become the first player to win five titles in a row at the Open and Wimbledon.

It was Federer’s 13th major championship, one short of Pete Sampras's record. In a post-match interview Federer was asked about that unlucky number. "One thing’s for sure,” he said. “I’m not going to stop at 13. That would be terrible.”

Running Mates

"Who knew John McCain and I would have something in common? We both chose female running mates."

Ellen Degeneres

Dats Right!

"We still don’t know a lot about Palin except that she’s better at delivering a speech than McCain and that she defends her own pregnant daughter’s right to privacy even as she would have the government intrude to police the reproductive choices of all other women."

"Apparently when McCain said in June that his vice presidential vetting process was basically “a Google,” he wasn’t joking."

"She didn’t say “no thanks” to the “Bridge to Nowhere” until after Congress had already abandoned it but given Alaska a blank check for $223 million in taxpayers’ money anyway. Far from rejecting federal pork, she hired lobbyists to secure her town a disproportionate share of earmarks ($1,000 per resident in 2002, 20 times the per capita average in other states). Though McCain claimed “she has had national security as one of her primary responsibilities,” she has never issued a single command as head of the Alaska National Guard. As for her “executive experience” as mayor, she told her hometown paper in Wasilla, Alaska, in 1996, the year of her election: “It’s not rocket science. It’s $6 million and 53 employees.” Her much-advertised crusade against officials abusing their office is now compromised by a bipartisan ethics investigation into charges that she did the same."

"How long before we learn she never shot a moose?"

Frank Rich, NY Times
"Palin and McCain's Shotgun Marriage"

Coming Soon

In stores on October 14, 2008. Pre-order now. Or come over to the house and I'll tell you the best parts.

Pretty Cover!

Creating Myself is raw and inspirational, the tale of a hell-and-back journey from the depths of depression and addiction to triumphant self-discovery.

You Must Be 'Mad'!

Picture courtesy of Mad magazine.

I Like This Painting

It's by Taos painter Jim Wagner. I bought it after a recent collaboration, Valerie Bertinelli's memoir "Losing It," hit No. 1 on the NY Times bestseller list. It took my mind off the reality of having a number one - it's all downhill afterward.

Laugh Till You Cry

Last Wednesday's 'Daily Show' was Jon Stewart at his best. He was entertaining, funny, pointed, and provocative, and he made me wonder why the mainstream media can't equal his ability to uncover the garbage spewed by Karl Rove, 'Papa Bear' O'Reilly and others. What's most troubling is that it's thought of as comedy and not journalism. Then again, it made me laugh till I cried. See for yourself by clicking here.