Change in the Air at CNN

Zain Verjee Named CNN’s State Department Correspondent

New York Correspondent Carol Costello Becomes Contributor to The Situation Room

CNN’s Zain Verjee becomes the network’s new State Department correspondent effective immediately, it was announced today by CNN/U.S. President Jon Klein. Verjee, who covered Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice’s trip through Russia and Asia last month and secured an extensive sit-down interview with her, will provide regular updates on the State Department as well as broader reporting on global affairs that touch the United States.

Verjee, who was born and raised in Kenya and educated in Canada, has reported on international affairs for CNN/U.S., most recently as a contributor to The Situation Room and previously as co-anchor for CNN’s Your World Today, the networks international newscast simulcast globally at noon (ET).

Carol Costello, most recently a New York-based correspondent, will become a new contributor to The Situation Room, providing updates from CNN’s New York headquarters.

“Zain has always impressed everyone with whom she’s worked as a quick study and a natural at the art of getting to know the people at the heart of any assignment,” Klein said. “Assigning her this role reflects the continuing priority that CNN places upon ensuring that international affairs make sense to U.S. citizens, who since 9/11 and the Iraq War have had a deeper appreciation for the way events around the world impact us here at home.”

Over the past year, Verjee interviewed Laura Bush at the White House on the eve of the first lady’s visit to Liberia for the inauguration of Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, the country’s new president and the first woman to be elected in Africa democratically. She traveled to South Korea and the Demilitarization Zone after the North Korea missile incident. In September, she interviewed Mohammad Khatami, a former president of Iran.

While at CNN International, Verjee covered numerous breaking news and world events, such as the India-Pakistan Agra Summit, the conflict in the Middle East, the trial of former Yugoslav leader Slobodan Milosevic, the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the Hajj, the London bombing incidents and the war in Iraq.

Previously, Verjee anchored the prime-time news bulletin and compiled, produced and presented documentaries for the Kenyan Television Network. She also hosted The Third Opinion, a political talk show, and freelanced for the BBC, producing several programs including African Perspectives, a documentary on the de-registration of non-governmental organizations after the U.S. Embassy bombings in East Africa in 1998.

Verjee’s journalistic efforts extend beyond the broadcast realm. She recently published Live and On the Air, a children's book exploring the experiences of a young girl who moves from rural Kenya to Nairobi to work as a broadcaster. Verjee also has produced successful radio campaigns spreading awareness of HIV/AIDS, road safety and violence against women. Her community efforts include work with Street Children and with Operation Smile.

Politics by Anderson Cooper

From 8/14/04 edition of USA Weekend

Why the conventions matter.
What unfolds onstage can have tremedous impact -- and intrigue.

I know, I know, in terms of drama, political conventions sure ain't
what they used to be. The bare-knuckle brawling and backroom deals
have given way to choreographed photo ops and tightly scripted
remarks.

But we should hardly dismiss the national conventions as banal
celebrations of the respective parties' primary campaign results.
Very human, and compelling, performaces are still played out, and
what unfolds onstage often has tremendous impact on the ultimate
outcome. That's why conventions still matter.

The first convention year I really remember is 1976, when the nation
met a former naval officer, Georgia governor and peanut farmer named
Jimmy Carter. He was able to convey such a sense of warm, genuine
humanity that we won over America and won the election. Next came
Ronald Reagan. The 1980 convention that paved the way for his
presidency electrified audiences with pageantry, and his personality
seemed to really come through.

We often see our presidents "grow up" under the convention
spotlight. Remember the 1988 Democratic convention, when a young
Arkansas governor named Bill Clinton stumbled through a tedious 32-
minute speech praising the nominee, Massachusetts Gov. Michael
Dukakis -- a much-criticized performance that damaged Clinton's
nation standing? (He had been allotted 15 minutes.) He quickly
recovered, going on The Tonight Show to make fun of himself. "I
wanted so badly to make Dukakis look great," Clinton confessed to
host Johnny Carson, "and I succeeded beyond my wildest dreams." He
rebounded in his effort to get the White House. And for years
later, at the convention where he nailed the nomination, he proved
he had learned his lesson with an eloquent, soulful speech, defining
himself as a compassionate Everyman. "I still believe in a place
called Hope..." he said, ambiguously referencing the place of his
birth, Hope, Ark.

Clinton's vice president, Al Gore, took note. At the 1996
convention in Chicago, he tried to define himself in very human
terms. He spoke poignantly about a sister who had died. Then, at
the 2000 convention in Los Angeles where he was nominated for
president, Gore had his old roomie from Harvard, Oscar-winning
Fugitive actor Tommy Lee Jones, come onstage to talk up the
candidate as a guy he'd take "chasing through the woods with coon
dogs in the middle of the night." (It sounded better on TV.)

This year, the drama and intrigue continue. Who is chosen to
speak? Who's snubbed? Who gets prime time? Who fumbles reading
the teleprompter? At the GOP convention, party moderators are
expected to take the stage, national heroes such as former New York
mayor Rudy Giuliani and U.S. Sen. John McCain.

Plenty of issues can unite voters or futher deepen the divide --
Iraq, terrorism, the economy and gay marriage, for starters. Will
the convention stars lay them out and let the chips fall? Or will
they play down the issues and hit human notes instead? I hate to be
a tease, but really, the only way to find out is to tune in.

-Anderson Cooper is host of Anderson Cooper 360, which airs at 7pm
ET. He'll cover the Republican National Convention later this month.

Side note: There is a pic included with the article, but I
unfortunately do not have the capability to scan. The caption
reads, "Plenty of issues can unite voters or further divide us --
the economy, gay marriage, Iraq. Don't miss the action, says CNN's
Anderson Cooper"

Article credit: USA Weekend

Generation Debt

For those of you who don't know, I work at the public library. One of the perks of doing so is being able to see all the new books that come in before the patrons do. ;-)

Wednesday I was able to pick up a book that I think a lot of people my age (mid to late 20s) could relate to--I certainly can. It's called Generation Debt: Why Now is a Terrible Time to be Young and it's by Anya Kamenetz.

Here's a blurb from the jacket:

"The nature of youth is to question.

So when 24-year-old Anya Kamenetz started out as a freelance journalist, she began asking hard questions about her generation, for which no one seemed to have good answers. Why were college students nationwide graduating with an average of more than $20,000 in student loans? Why were her friends thousands of dollars in credit card debt? Why did so many jobs for people under 35 involve a plastic name badge, last only short-term, and include no benefits? With record deficits and threats to Social Security, what kind of future was shaping up for our nation's youth?

In Generation Debt, Kamenetz talks to experts in economics, labor markets, the health care industry, and education, and amasses a startling array of evidence that building a secure life, let alone surviving, is harder for young people today than it was thirty years ago. She meets young people from all over the country and all walks of life who are struggling to achieve their dreams despite layoffs, grinding low-wage jobs, and 25.99 percent APRs."
*****

When I graduated from college four years ago, I thought I could find a good paying job, have a decent place to live, maybe buy a car, and start being an adult. I was already living on my own, but hoped the degree would make things a bit easier for myself.

It didn't quite turn out that way.

Kamenetz found while researching her book that the main cause behind this trend is economic. What do you think? What are the reasons behind this generation's difficulty in finding their niche and getting their lives together? Is it economic? Societal? Or just plain laziness? Have you experienced this for yourself, or do you know anyone who is going through this?

I'd like to hear your thoughts.

Anderson Cooper The Shot

As always, thanks to Marie!

Goodbye!

Tomorrow will be the last day of one of my favorite places over the internet: Anderholics. It was the first online community about AC I ever participated and "A Fan From Ohio" always went to great length to keep it within her established rules.

She had to endure a lot of things, personal attacks and trolls - things I can relate to - and it is understandable that she wants to move on.

Some of you might have visited or partipated actively in it and were witness of the great achives she compiled through the years. Images, articles, links... it all there.

So Trinaye, thanks for everything! and I hope to see you around.

Christiane

A Toast to Anderson Cooper 360

Springfield, MO--(FSP)--Betty Sue Dixon was surprised while making breakfast for her five children Thursday morning. Dixon, 30, had just sat down to butter her toast when her 7-year-old daughter Betty Jo pointed out the strange design on the bread.

“She hollered, ‘Mama, look at your toast,’ and I looked, and dropped the butter on the floor,” Dixon recounts, a smile lighting up her round face. “I couldn’t believe my eyes, but there it was, Anderson Cooper’s face in my morning toast!”

Dixon says she believes the toast to be a “sign from God” because she is such a loyal fan of the intrepid CNN reporter. “I think he’s dreamy,” she coos, after handing her toddler son Billy Ray a cookie. “He’s got such lovely blue eyes! I think God is tryin’ to tell me somethin’. At my church, they don’t take stock in such nonsense, but I do.”

Dixon says her husband Bobby Joe, 33, good-naturedly accepts her crush on Cooper but makes his smitten wife watch Cooper’s show Anderson Cooper 360 on the television upstairs. “That’s all right by me,” Dixon replies, “‘cause then I can keep a closer eye on the baby while I watch.”

When asked about her plans for the toast, she chuckles. “Oh, I’ve got a special place for it.” After being pressed further, she whispers, “It’s safe at the bank. And to all those Anderfans out there—it’s not for sale!”

On the campaign trail with Michael J. Fox by Anderson Cooper

I just got finished talking with Michael J. Fox. The actor-turned-activist is in Virginia tonight campaigning for Democratic Senate candidate Jim Webb.

Fox has drawn criticism from some who are saying he's being used to spread a misleading message. I talked about that with him a lot this afternoon, and we'll air the full interview tonight on "360."

I've never met Fox before, but he clearly is committed to the issue of embryonic stem cell research. He arrived about half an hour before the interview was to begin and took a short nap in a hotel room we'd rented.

He's been crossing the country as he campaigns for different candidates, and it has clearly taken a lot out of him. Stress makes his uncontrollable movements worse, and as you can imagine, it's been a pretty stressful couple of weeks for him.

He's not complaining, however. If anything, he seems energized by the feeling that he is making a difference.

We got a call earlier today from Rush Limbaugh's chief of staff. I thought only candidates have chiefs of staff, but apparently not. Anyway, he expressed concern that in our promo for tonight's interview we were mischaracterizing what Limbaugh said about Michael J. Fox.

In the promo, we said, "Rush Limbaugh accused him of 'faking' Parkinson's symptoms...." The chief of staff seemed to think we'd said that Limbaugh said he was faking Parkinson's. We did not say that.

Limbaugh initially said Fox was either acting or intentionally hadn't taken his medication in one of the commercials he shot for a candidate in Missouri. Limbaugh has since apologized for that, but continues to say Fox is misleading voters. (Watch Fox's ad for the Missouri candidate)

Does Michael J. Fox accept Rush Limbaugh's apology? Find out tonight at 10 p.m.

Tonight on Anderson Cooper 360...

Alex P. Keaton and Anderson H. Cooper go head to head, in a battle of wits for the coveted title of best "Young Republican Tie." Don't miss the action! Oh yeah...there will be more political banter, Rush-bashing (my favorite!) and debate over stem cell research. All this talk might lead one to believe that it's 5 days before an election...

Anderson Cooper in a Trash Can

The Grouch Anthem
sung by Oscar the Grouch (Carroll Spinney)
and The Grouch Chorus

Announcer: Please rise for the Grouch Anthem.

Oscar: No, no, no. For the Grouch Anthem, you stay sitting down.
Down in front there! Now brace yourself, I'm gonna sing:

Grouches of the world unite!
Stand up for your grouchly rights!
Don't let the sunshine spoil the rain
Just stand up and complain (heheheh)

Let this be the grouches' cause:
Point out everybody's flaws!
Something is wrong with everything
Except the way I sing!

(Cue Grouch Choir ooing in the background)

Spoken:
You know what's right with this world? Nuttin!
You know what gets me hot under the collar? You name it!
And the next time some goody-two-shoes smiles and tells you to have a nice day, just remember:

Sung:
Don't let the sunshine spoil the rain,
Just stand up and complain!
Just stand up and complain!
____________

But thinking about the blue shirt, this just comes to mind!

Exclusive: Rare Photos of Anderson Cooper

These are some rarely if never before seen photos from photojournalist Radhika Calasani who was with Anderson and the crew of "360" during Niger and Katrina in 2005.

® Radhika Chalasani

Kiss and Make Up

Democratic Sen. John Kerry listens to testimony during a committee hearing on Capitol Hill in July 2006. Kerry said he is pulling back from campaigning ahead of next week's midterm elections to avoid the continued distraction created by his remarks that Americans who neglect their education would "get stuck in Iraq."(AFP/Getty Images/File/Chip Somodevilla)

BREAKING NEWS
MSNBC News Services

Updated: 16 minutes ago
WASHINGTON - Thrust into the midst of the midterm election campaign, Sen. John Kerry apologized Wednesday to “any service member, family member or American who was offended” by remarks deemed by Republicans and Democrats alike to be insulting to U.S. forces in Iraq.

Six days before the election, the 2004 Democratic presidential nominee said he sincerely regretted his words were “misinterpreted to imply anything negative about those in uniform.”

In a brief statement, Kerry attacked President Bush for a “failed security policy.” Yet his apology, issued after prominent Democrats had urged him to cancel public appearances, was designed to quell a controversy that party leaders feared would stall their drive for big gains on Nov. 7.

White House Secretary Tony Snow, in response to Kerry’s apology, said, “He did the right thing, and the important thing is that servicemen and women understand that America is behind them and want them to complete their mission successfully.”

Kerry beat a gradual retreat in his return to the national campaign spotlight. Earlier in the day, appearing on MSNBC TV's “Imus in the Morning,” the Massachusetts senator said he was “sorry about a botched joke” about President Bush. He heaped praise on the troops, adamantly accused Republicans of twisting his words and said it was the commander in chief and his aides who “owe America an apology for this disaster in Iraq.”

Read the rest of the article here

Saying you're sorry isn't all that difficult, is it?

I'd like to call on all bloggers to stop the nonsense. Let's put the past behind us and move on. Apologies all around and go back to blogging about our favorite things, whether that be politics, news, or Anderson. But the quarreling amongst ourselves should end. We don't have to be friends or even like each other, but let's at least try to cooperate.

Please?

You know, fandom is beyond my comprehension at times. I even wonder if it should be labeled as a "fandom" when you're talking about another human being--but that's a whole other can of worms for another post. (Hey...)

I've been a fan of U2 for years, and have met many different U2 fans from all over the world. Some of them are the nicest people I've ever had the pleasure to meet and some are the biggest jerks I've ever known. Some of them have a healthy attitude towards the band, and some of them feel like the band owes them something.

I guess what I'm trying to say is I get a similar vibe from people who claim to be fans of Anderson Cooper. Some have a healthy appreciation for him and others are combative, competitive, and driven by something other than respect and admiration. I'm not trying to point fingers or call names; I'm just making a statement. I find the topic of fandom and fan relationships so interesting, I'd love to run a discussion just on those topics alone. I know, I'm kinda nerdy...

What I'm trying to say (rather poorly, I'll admit) is that we are a diverse group with many outlooks and ideas. I wish we could work together and grow a community instead of working against each other. That's all.

Anderson Cooper 360º: Another Round of Emmys

NEW YORK -- CBS News cleaned up among nominees for the fourth annual Emmy Awards for Business & Financial Reporting, with three times the nominations as the next nearest competitor.

CBS News had 15 nominations, including nine for "60 Minutes," five for "Sunday Morning" and one for the "CBS Evening News Weekend Edition." NBC had five, three for the "NBC Nightly News With Brian Williams" and two for "Dateline NBC." CNBC followed with four nominations, three for "On the Money" and one for "Closing Bell." CNN had three nominations, two for "Anderson Cooper 360" and one for "CNN Presents." PBS also had three, two for "Now" and one for "Frontline." One each went to "ABC World News," Biography and an ABC News Prods./Discovery Times Channel show titled "Wall Street" that ran on the Discovery Times Channel.

The nine noms for "60 Minutes" were the most for any show. This year's Business/Financial Emmys ceremony will be held Dec. 7 at the Rainbow Room in New York. Wall Street Journal managing editor Paul Steiger will receive a lifetime achievement award.

Anderson Cooper's Time Machine

Thanks to our resident FreakVideographer Marie!

Happy Halloween!

Last night on Anderson Cooper 360: The Shot music video of Apache by The Shadows.

It's an Anderson Cooper Halloween!

Thanks to our friend Jennifer, over at Cooper Watch 360, who was nice enough to let us borrow her very cool graphic so that we could wish all of our readers a HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Have a spooktacular day!

Anderson, Please, not a Hummer!

Not only it is an ode to oil dependency, but a dubious charitable promotion.

CNN to Donate Proceeds of 'Overhauled' Hummer Auction to Fisher House TLC's Overhaulin' Unveiled Restored Iraq War Vehicle Today in Front of CNN Center in Atlanta
Following the unveiling of an overhauled CNN Hummer that saw action during the war in Iraq, the network plans to put the vehicle on the auction block and donate the proceeds to the Fisher House Foundation, an organization that builds "comfort homes" for families of hospitalized military personnel.
Nicknamed "Warrior One," the Hummer will be the subject of an upcoming episode of Overhaulin', a highly rated program on The Learning Channel. The program's co-hosts Chris Jacobs and Adrienne "A.J." Janic and hot rod designer Chip Foose presented the refurbished Hummer to CNN employees this morning.
After Warrior One's tour of military bases and other sites across the country, the Barrett-Jackson Auction Co., a premiere classic car auction house, will auction the vehicle on Jan. 20, 2007, at the auction company's headquarters in Scottsdale, Ariz.
"The crew from Overhaulin' has created a memorable tribute to military personnel who serve during times of war and the journalists who cover them," said Jim Walton, president of CNN Worldwide. "We feel the Fisher House - with its mission to support military families during times of medical need - is an ideal recipient for the proceeds raised by the auction."
The Fisher House provides temporary residence for families of patients receiving major medical care at military and Veterans Administration centers. Since its founding in 1990, the Fisher House has offered more than 2 million days of lodging to more than 100,000. Presently, the organization operates 35 houses in 16 states and one in Europe.
CNN purchased the Hummer in 2002 from the King Hummer dealership in Kuwait. Network producers, video journalists and correspondents used the vehicle when they were embedded with the First Battalion, 7th Marines in the war in Iraq in 2003. The vehicle came under heavy fire near Baghdad in April 2003 as Iraqis celebrated the arrival of coalition forces in Baghdad.
This summer, Overhaulin' took the Hummer to the show's workshop in Irvine, Calif. Crews overhauled the Hummer's engine and body and installed an extensive entertainment system that includes a DVD player, four LCD monitors and a state-of-the-art sound system. Airbrush artists Dru Blaier, Mickey Harris and Mike Lavallee painted images of journalists and military men and women onto the vehicle as a tribute to those who served during the war in Iraq or covered the war.
The Overhaulin' program featuring the Hummer will premiere on TLC on Tuesday, Nov. 14, at 9 p.m. (ET/PT).
CNN Worldwide, a division of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner Company, is one of the world's most respected and trusted sources for news and information. Its reach extends to nine cable and satellite television networks; one private place-based network; two radio networks; wireless devices around the world; four Web sites, including CNN.com, the first major news and information Web site; CNN Pipeline, an on-demand broadband video service; CNN Newsource, the world's most extensively syndicated news service; and partnerships for four television networks and one Web site.

For more pics HERE

Anderson Cooper at the Quill Awards

Did you miss Anderson on the Quill Awards? Thanks to our dear friends at "All Things Anderson" we can share with you some great screencaps, courtesy of Sheryn. And no, we didn't steal them ;)

The Ugly Face of the Internet Community

We have all seen them in action. Their profiles are usually the same. Bullies, trolls and flamers--Their only intention is to destroy online communities. They thrive in the pain they inflict on others. At Freakspeaker.com we are commited to improving our online community. So here we are publishing some resources we think might be helpful.

Conflict in Cyberspace: How to Resolve Conflict Online by Kali Munro, M.Ed., Psychotherapist

The Paradox of Online Communication
Handling conflict constructively is hard at the best times, and it can be even harder online. It can take a great deal of effort, care, and thoughtfulness to address differences, tensions, and conflicts online. Paradoxically, some of the same things that contribute to heightened conflict online can contribute to peaceful resolutions as well. The internet is an ideal place to practice communication and conflict resolution skills. Just as the absence of visual and auditory cues, the anonymity, invisibility, delayed reactions, and neutralizing of status free us to say what ever negative thing we want, they can also free us to try new, and more positive communication styles and to take all the time we need to do that. As with any new technology, the internet can be used to enhance our personal growth and relationships, or to alienate us from each other. It’s our choice.

Tips for Resolving Conflict Online

1. Don’t respond right away
2. Read the post again later
3. Discuss the situation with someone who knows you
4. Choose whether or not you want to respond
5. Assume that people mean well, unless they have a history or pattern of aggression
6. Clarify what was meant
7. Think about what you want to accomplish by your communication
8. Verbalize what you want to accomplish
9. Use “I” statements when sharing your feelings or thoughts
10. Use strictly feeling statements
11. Choose your words carefully and thoughtfully, particularly when you’re upset
12. Place yourself in the other person’s shoes
13. Use emoticons to express your tone
14. Start and end your post with positive, affirming, and validating statements

Online Forums And How Board Owners Can Avoid Verbal Abuse by Milana Nastetskaya

"The Internet is an ideal environment for the bully and the self-righteous - you can attack personally without being personally in front of the victim. The flame is an unavoidable result of one-to-one communication that isn't face-to-face..."

Why do people attack on forums? Many times it is because they have a strong opinion about a subject, and want it to be heard. But it only takes one such post to have others jump in and turn an innocent question into an ugly war that is very difficult to stop.

Sadly, people want "blood". Someone even created a discussion group called alt.flame. It is a forum for every bully that you ever met in your school and if you decide to join, you are certainly not going to be called a "friend". Prepare to be crushed and humiliated. This group has been specifically created for flame wars and does not claim to be intellectual or informative. Many people will find a forum boring if everyone agrees. Controversial forums are much more fun and attractive to inquisitive minds of the online users.

Are There Solutions?

1. You may report an attack to the ISP (Internet Service Provider) of the attacker which you can identify by their e-mail address.
2. One way to minimize the number of such attacks is to ask users to register.
3. If forum owners are too busy to keep an eye on their forums, a good moderator is a solution.
4. Do you know if you are a "forum bully?" There is a good chance that you don't realize that your posts might make others feel angry and upset. The fact is, you don't really feel that a message sounds harsh until it is directed toward you. So before you press "Send", read what you wrote. Use a lot of smiley faces (:-). Be careful how you phrase things and capitalize your words. Try to sound helpful rather than critisizing. State facts rather than emotions.
5. It is hard to draw the line between an attack and a strongly opinionated message. Who should decide? Moderators. The fairness of moderators, though, is totally subjective.
6. Some users expressed their willingness to pay an annual fee to be a member of a well-moderated board.
7. Another way to control a forum is to have strict banning rules.

If you are interested in more information about this topic, you might visit our website www.freakspeaker.com for the complete articles.

The Faces of Anderson Cooper

Anderson Cooper... what's his ultimate price for a story?

Friday's deadly violence began when gunmen tried to remove a street blockade in a rough neighborhood. Journalist Bradley Roland Will, 36, of New York, was hit in the abdomen and died later at a Red Cross hospital.

OAXACA, Mexico (Reuters) - Riot police, bulldozers and army helicopters were poised to storm the Mexican tourist city of Oaxaca on Sunday, but after talks with leaders of a long-running protest, officials said an offensive was on hold.

You may recall, this is the colonial city where Anderson was last October, trying to to deal with issues that surfaced during Hurricane Katrina. Do you worry about Anderson and his safety? Do you worry more about his personal safety now, since his celebrity status has risen, or do you only worry when is out on assignment?

Curious to hear your thoughts on the subject!