Thursday, January 31, 2008
WHAT HILLARY HAD TO SAY
I got to interview Hillary Clinton Wednesday. We caught up with her for a satellite interview on the campaign trail. 5 Minutes only- what would you ask of this woman- running for president?
I talked to her a lot about Arizona and asked which state was her priority for Super Tuesday. "All of them," she expectedly answered. I asked her about her husband coming to town to campaign for her- how some say he's hurting her campaign. She said "If anyone was in any way offended by anything that's been said anywhere, then obviously, I am very sorry." She talked about how tough it can be for campaigning spouses- coming from experience.
Since Arizona's Governor Janet Napolitano's already backing Barak Obama (you've no doubt by now seen the commercials) I asked Hillary what she thinks of her chances here for the primary. "I think they're good, it's a hard- fought contest and we're not taking anything for granted," she said. She said she's worked hard to cover the West coast and hopes Arizona voters will see the things she's made important to her campaign, are common goals that will unify and build a better future for America.
What about John Edwards dropping out of the race? There's been a lot of speculation about who will get his voters and ultimately his delegates, since he hasn't come forward to officially endorse any of the remaining democratic candidates just yet. She said she's going to reach out to his supporters and hopes to bring them over to her backing.
And I couldn't let her get away without asking about her NY Giants in the Super Bowl. "There's Super Bowl Sunday, then there's the Super Bowl of politics, and I hope the team from New York wins them both." Still amazes me how polished politicians are so quick to speak off the cuff without skipping a beat.
I haven't had the chance to personally interview any of the other candidates in this election thus far. I did get to interview George W. Bush on the campaign trail when I was reporting in Spokane, Wash. before he became president. He was just as confident and collected.
We now have 5 days to Super Tuesday and it will be interesting to see what happens to the vote here, now that the race is whittled- down to a field of fewer candidates. Someone still standing, will be our next president. Who are you hoping is the last one standing? Email me, ncrites@kpho.com
I talked to her a lot about Arizona and asked which state was her priority for Super Tuesday. "All of them," she expectedly answered. I asked her about her husband coming to town to campaign for her- how some say he's hurting her campaign. She said "If anyone was in any way offended by anything that's been said anywhere, then obviously, I am very sorry." She talked about how tough it can be for campaigning spouses- coming from experience.
Since Arizona's Governor Janet Napolitano's already backing Barak Obama (you've no doubt by now seen the commercials) I asked Hillary what she thinks of her chances here for the primary. "I think they're good, it's a hard- fought contest and we're not taking anything for granted," she said. She said she's worked hard to cover the West coast and hopes Arizona voters will see the things she's made important to her campaign, are common goals that will unify and build a better future for America.
What about John Edwards dropping out of the race? There's been a lot of speculation about who will get his voters and ultimately his delegates, since he hasn't come forward to officially endorse any of the remaining democratic candidates just yet. She said she's going to reach out to his supporters and hopes to bring them over to her backing.
And I couldn't let her get away without asking about her NY Giants in the Super Bowl. "There's Super Bowl Sunday, then there's the Super Bowl of politics, and I hope the team from New York wins them both." Still amazes me how polished politicians are so quick to speak off the cuff without skipping a beat.
I haven't had the chance to personally interview any of the other candidates in this election thus far. I did get to interview George W. Bush on the campaign trail when I was reporting in Spokane, Wash. before he became president. He was just as confident and collected.
We now have 5 days to Super Tuesday and it will be interesting to see what happens to the vote here, now that the race is whittled- down to a field of fewer candidates. Someone still standing, will be our next president. Who are you hoping is the last one standing? Email me, ncrites@kpho.com
Posted at 2:44 AM by Nicole
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
HOW DO YOU SAY HELLO?
Are you a hand shaker, a hugger, a head- nodder? Maybe you're a "HEY! How are you," with a warm smile or wave. I think your greeting, says a lot about who you are.
Just yesterday, our meteorologist Paul Horton was out all morning, giving free hugs for National Hugging Day. Some embraced him with open arms, one woman actually jumped on him, while others kept their heads down and kept on walking. Yes, he was a stranger, but it was interesting to watch the interactions. Paul is an extremely friendly and harmless guy whose friendliness is completely infectious.
I was at the doctor's office a while back and commented on all the sniffling & sneezing people in the lobby. Busy with the flu? I was surprised with the response. All that hand shaking when saying hello, can almost be hazardous to your health. We got to talking about all the antibacterial washes and wipes people carry around. The doc told me it's become almost a necessity, that for so many people, it's customary to shake hands, even when you come in to work despite feeling ill (some wear this as a badge of honor, he, on the other hand, advised against it). He wondered if someday all the bugs and viruses and sicknesses would change our cultural custom of hand shaking. Think of other cultures, bowing, a quick nod.
I had a professor in college who was German and told us once how baffled he was how Americans always say, "How are you doing," as a greeting, without genuinely caring to hear the answer. He said after telling a woman what a bad morning his wife had after having to take out the garbage and how his car was having trouble starting up, only to find himself into an explanation that got several minutes long as the woman's eyes glazed over, he said, "I don't understand you Americans. Why ask how I am doing if you really don't want to know?"
Back to the germ factor. Germs, germs, everywhere a germ! In the last week Marya Piani told us about a new study where germs can live on dollar bills for up to 2 weeks! Yuck! Just think how many people you see leaving the restroom without washing their hands in a given day.
Watch the politicians. I've been told before, it's pretty customary to find a strong, firm handshake with the second hand reaching up and grabbing the other person's shoulder. A subliminal imposition of subservience. That's not my opinion, just what I've heard, but watch and it's interesting to see who greets others this way.
Do you have a pet peeve about greetings, people invading your private space, or is it to heck with the hand shake, I want a hug! ?
Email me, I'd love t hear from you ncrites@kpho.com
Just yesterday, our meteorologist Paul Horton was out all morning, giving free hugs for National Hugging Day. Some embraced him with open arms, one woman actually jumped on him, while others kept their heads down and kept on walking. Yes, he was a stranger, but it was interesting to watch the interactions. Paul is an extremely friendly and harmless guy whose friendliness is completely infectious.
I was at the doctor's office a while back and commented on all the sniffling & sneezing people in the lobby. Busy with the flu? I was surprised with the response. All that hand shaking when saying hello, can almost be hazardous to your health. We got to talking about all the antibacterial washes and wipes people carry around. The doc told me it's become almost a necessity, that for so many people, it's customary to shake hands, even when you come in to work despite feeling ill (some wear this as a badge of honor, he, on the other hand, advised against it). He wondered if someday all the bugs and viruses and sicknesses would change our cultural custom of hand shaking. Think of other cultures, bowing, a quick nod.
I had a professor in college who was German and told us once how baffled he was how Americans always say, "How are you doing," as a greeting, without genuinely caring to hear the answer. He said after telling a woman what a bad morning his wife had after having to take out the garbage and how his car was having trouble starting up, only to find himself into an explanation that got several minutes long as the woman's eyes glazed over, he said, "I don't understand you Americans. Why ask how I am doing if you really don't want to know?"
Back to the germ factor. Germs, germs, everywhere a germ! In the last week Marya Piani told us about a new study where germs can live on dollar bills for up to 2 weeks! Yuck! Just think how many people you see leaving the restroom without washing their hands in a given day.
Watch the politicians. I've been told before, it's pretty customary to find a strong, firm handshake with the second hand reaching up and grabbing the other person's shoulder. A subliminal imposition of subservience. That's not my opinion, just what I've heard, but watch and it's interesting to see who greets others this way.
Do you have a pet peeve about greetings, people invading your private space, or is it to heck with the hand shake, I want a hug! ?
Email me, I'd love t hear from you ncrites@kpho.com
Posted at 2:36 AM by Nicole
Monday, January 7, 2008
IT'S REALLY NOT THAT GLAMOROUS
Last week we ran a story on network reporters braving the bitter cold to cover the Iowa Caucus and it was funny to see behind the scenes how truly un-glamorous this job can really be.
That's usually one of the first questions I get when I talk at schools or get questions at other speaking engagements. Does someone do your makeup? What's it like behind the scenes? I promise to someday take a picture of what our green room is like 15 minutes to the newscast. And I use the term loosely because our makeup room is really a small bathroom for the newsroom. It has a counter and sink with the row of big bulbs you'd find backstage for any makeup room. If you were here 15 minutes before the top of the show, you'd see Marya and I putting the final touches on our own makeup and me working to tease some sense into my hair. Yes, we do our own makeup and hair.
As for being live out in the field reporting, there are the many stories of being out in freezing temperatures, in a storm just to show viewers at home how cold and dangerous it really is. I spent four years in Spokane, Washington. But moving to Phoenix to report more than 3 years ago, presented new un-glamorous challenges, or at least brought me back to my days of reporting in the summer swelter in Tucson. Sweaty heat. There's nothing like shopping for work clothes and having to assess if a blouse will withstand the sweat challenge for a 5 pm live shot in 115 degrees with the sun bearing down on you. Of course, everyone reminds you to hydrate and drink plenty of water in the heat. But what about those police standoffs or barricades where you and your photographer are sent out to a scene for hours and hours. There never are port-a- potties at those locations. Or the wildfire you get sent hours away to cover and are then asked to stay and report on for days without a change of clothes.
I can't complain really, it's the job I signed up for and the exciting people you meet and stories you cover along the way well outweigh any of the perhaps less glamorous aspects of the job.
That's usually one of the first questions I get when I talk at schools or get questions at other speaking engagements. Does someone do your makeup? What's it like behind the scenes? I promise to someday take a picture of what our green room is like 15 minutes to the newscast. And I use the term loosely because our makeup room is really a small bathroom for the newsroom. It has a counter and sink with the row of big bulbs you'd find backstage for any makeup room. If you were here 15 minutes before the top of the show, you'd see Marya and I putting the final touches on our own makeup and me working to tease some sense into my hair. Yes, we do our own makeup and hair.
As for being live out in the field reporting, there are the many stories of being out in freezing temperatures, in a storm just to show viewers at home how cold and dangerous it really is. I spent four years in Spokane, Washington. But moving to Phoenix to report more than 3 years ago, presented new un-glamorous challenges, or at least brought me back to my days of reporting in the summer swelter in Tucson. Sweaty heat. There's nothing like shopping for work clothes and having to assess if a blouse will withstand the sweat challenge for a 5 pm live shot in 115 degrees with the sun bearing down on you. Of course, everyone reminds you to hydrate and drink plenty of water in the heat. But what about those police standoffs or barricades where you and your photographer are sent out to a scene for hours and hours. There never are port-a- potties at those locations. Or the wildfire you get sent hours away to cover and are then asked to stay and report on for days without a change of clothes.
I can't complain really, it's the job I signed up for and the exciting people you meet and stories you cover along the way well outweigh any of the perhaps less glamorous aspects of the job.
Posted at 2:49 AM by Nicole