Some cool celebrity clothing images:
MICHELLE.........LIVIN LARGE
Image by SS&SS
Queen-like staff support for First Lady
Ethel C. Fenig
As noted by C. Edmund Wright Michelle Obama requires far more staff than previous first ladies. A few examples of salaries for her bloated staff:
2,2000 - Sher, Susan (CHIEF OF STAFF)
0,000 - Frye, Jocelyn C. (DEPUTY ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT AND DIRECTOR OF POLICY AND PROJECTS FOR THE FIRST LADY)
3,000 - Rogers, Desiree G. (SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT AND WHITE HOUSE SOCIAL SECRETARY)
2,000 - Johnston, Camille Y. (SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT AND DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS FOR THE FIRST LADY)
Winter, Melissa E. (SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT AND DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF TO THE FIRST LADY)
,000 - Medina, David S. (DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF TO THE FIRST LADY)
,000 - Lelyveld, Catherine M. (DIRECTOR AND PRESS SECRETARY TO THE FIRST LADY)
,000 - Starkey, Frances M. (DIRECTOR OF SCHEDULING AND ADVANCE FOR THE FIRST LADY)
,000 - Sanders, Trooper (DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF POLICY AND PROJECTS FOR THE FIRST LADY)
,000 - Burnough, Erinn J. (DEPUTY DIRECTOR AND DEPUTY SOCIAL SECRETARY)
Reinstein, Joseph B. (DEPUTY DIRECTOR AND DEPUTY SOCIAL SECRETARY)
,000 - Goodman, Jennifer R. (DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF SCHEDULING AND EVENTS COORDINATOR FOR THE FIRST LADY)
(There's more but this will do for now)
By comparison
Mary Lincoln was taken to task for purchasing china for the White House during the Civil War. And Mamie Eisenhower had to shell out the salary for her personal secretary.
Because of the increasing demands on presidents' wives in recent years, partially because of the obsessive celebrity culture, resulting in an expanded public role, I don't begrudge tax dollars for Michelle Obama's social secretary, a few chefs, maybe another employee or two or even listing some nice clothes as a legitimate business expense.
But given President Barack Obama's (D) very public scolding to companies who received bailout money not to host lavish business conventions and such, the Congressional grilling of auto executives who flew to Washington on private planes instead of commercial or even using their own cars and similar public put downs, this lavish retinue of numerous (mostly) ladies in waiting reeks of a certain je ne sais quoi, let them eat cake mentality.
Perhaps Ms. Obama's staff should follow the example set by her husband's staff and blame--or in this instance, learn--everything on the situation she inherited. As Ralph Alter pointed out yesterday
For purposes of comparison, please consult Dan Froomkin's 2004 White House Staff List-By Salary published in the Washington Post on June 13, 2004. Tallying Laura Bush's staff from the list provided by Froomkin totals 1,325 in annual salaries for the former First Lady's staff.
In other words, even accounting for inflation, Laura Bush's expenses were less than half of Ms. Obama's--and this was in those flush times derided by Obama fans. If Michelle Obama wants to be involved in more projects than those required by her husband's job, that is her personal choice. And it should be her personal expense.
Captain James Cook
Image by Eva Rinaldi Celebrity and Live Music Photographer
Madame Tussauds Sydney, Australia: Captain Cook sails into Darling Harbour to track the Transit of Venus
Captain Cook sails into Darling Harbour to track the Transit of Venus...
Madame Tussauds Sydney enjoyed having Captain Cook get waxed at Sydney's Madame Tussauds in Darling Harbour early this morning.
Captain Cook is one of many Australian icons to be announced as attractions to appear in the museum, which will eventually feature more than 70 wax figures.
He joins a large contingent of Australian sportspeople, politicians and stars in the million tourist attraction.
Merlin Entertainment Australia director Edward Fuller isn't revealing which other Australian stars have been selected for the local exhibition, but he has said extensive research has been done to ensure the right mix of the famous and infamous.
"The key thing is that there will be a really strong line-up of local stars," Mr Fuller said.
A team of artists is working furiously to have the sculptures ready in time for the opening. Each wax model requires about 20 artists, from sculptors to painters, and can take up to six months to complete.
"The hair is all individually inserted into the head," Mr Fuller said, adding that capturing the "character and atmosphere" of the subject was the artists' goal.
To assist in this, many of the celebrities immortalised by Madam Tussauds' artists donate their own clothes to help create a sense of authenticity.
"That's the icing on the cake," Mr Fuller said.
"Not only can you get up close and personal to your favourite star but they're actually wearing the clothes they might have turned up to the Oscars in."
Promo...
The Transit of Venus – when the planet Venus transits across the face of the sun – is a very rare occurrence that Captain James Cook tracked from Tahiti in 1769, leading him to eventually map the whole East coast of Australia.
Since the phenomena was first recognized, there have only been six transits of Venus with the most recent one occurring in 2004 and the one following June 6th 2012 to occur on 11th December 2117.
WHAT: Relive the adventure with Captain James Cook who is returning to Sydney Harbour in a Red
Rocket for another viewing of the Transit of Venus, and the last for 105 years.
Madame Tussauds Sydney promo...
Step into the world of celebrity with over 70 of the world's best known personalities, our very own Aussie stars and a range of fun interactive experiences at Madame Tussauds Sydney. You can get on stage with pop stars, rub shoulders with the most powerful politicians, and even test your sporting skills against the greats. With a whole host of stars, legends and interactive experiences, Madame Tussauds Sydney really does add up to a red hot outing where the whole family can meet, greet, chat up, debate, hug and sing with their favourite celebrity.
Websites
Madame Tussauds
www.madametussauds.com
Captain Cook Cruises
www.captaincook.com.au
Darling Harbour official website
www.darlingharbour.com
Eva Rinaldi Photography Flickr
www.flickr.com/evarinaldiphotography
Eva Rinaldi Photography
www.evarinaldi.com
Leonardo Di Caprio
Image by Eva Rinaldi Celebrity and Live Music Photographer
Madame Tussauds Sydney, Australia: Captain Cook sails into Darling Harbour to track the Transit of Venus
Captain Cook sails into Darling Harbour to track the Transit of Venus...
Madame Tussauds Sydney enjoyed having Captain Cook get waxed at Sydney's Madame Tussauds in Darling Harbour early this morning.
Captain Cook is one of many Australian icons to be announced as attractions to appear in the museum, which will eventually feature more than 70 wax figures.
He joins a large contingent of Australian sportspeople, politicians and stars in the million tourist attraction.
Merlin Entertainment Australia director Edward Fuller isn't revealing which other Australian stars have been selected for the local exhibition, but he has said extensive research has been done to ensure the right mix of the famous and infamous.
"The key thing is that there will be a really strong line-up of local stars," Mr Fuller said.
A team of artists is working furiously to have the sculptures ready in time for the opening. Each wax model requires about 20 artists, from sculptors to painters, and can take up to six months to complete.
"The hair is all individually inserted into the head," Mr Fuller said, adding that capturing the "character and atmosphere" of the subject was the artists' goal.
To assist in this, many of the celebrities immortalised by Madam Tussauds' artists donate their own clothes to help create a sense of authenticity.
"That's the icing on the cake," Mr Fuller said.
"Not only can you get up close and personal to your favourite star but they're actually wearing the clothes they might have turned up to the Oscars in."
Promo...
The Transit of Venus – when the planet Venus transits across the face of the sun – is a very rare occurrence that Captain James Cook tracked from Tahiti in 1769, leading him to eventually map the whole East coast of Australia.
Since the phenomena was first recognized, there have only been six transits of Venus with the most recent one occurring in 2004 and the one following June 6th 2012 to occur on 11th December 2117.
WHAT: Relive the adventure with Captain James Cook who is returning to Sydney Harbour in a Red
Rocket for another viewing of the Transit of Venus, and the last for 105 years.
Madame Tussauds Sydney promo...
Step into the world of celebrity with over 70 of the world's best known personalities, our very own Aussie stars and a range of fun interactive experiences at Madame Tussauds Sydney. You can get on stage with pop stars, rub shoulders with the most powerful politicians, and even test your sporting skills against the greats. With a whole host of stars, legends and interactive experiences, Madame Tussauds Sydney really does add up to a red hot outing where the whole family can meet, greet, chat up, debate, hug and sing with their favourite celebrity.
Websites
Madame Tussauds
www.madametussauds.com
Captain Cook Cruises
www.captaincook.com.au
Darling Harbour official website
www.darlingharbour.com
Eva Rinaldi Photography Flickr
www.flickr.com/evarinaldiphotography
Eva Rinaldi Photography
www.evarinaldi.com
