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Subscribe to RSSMy thanks to Lester Holt and David Gregory for holding down the fort and affording me some time last week to travel with my family to Ireland, where we had a wonderful time together. Sadly, the oil spill has only gotten worse in the few days I've been gone. We'll be back down in the Gulf before too long, and until then we have the best team in the business on the ground and out on the water. I hope you can join us for tonight's broadcast.
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Gee Brian-
Ireland.
I have seen her beauty in so many films and you and the family were there.
Glad you are back home with your family and back with the NBC family.
OIL still haunts.
We were once again disappointed with the BP exec, Tony Hayward.
How insensitive can one be?
While the Gulf region suffers, Mr. Hayward, clearly trying to be a shadow, is sailing, hiding
behind dark shades, a cap drawn to his nose and a jacket pulled up to the ears.
Sorry to say, BP does not care!
Looking forward to "being healthy" week. We have changed our eating habits all because of NBC and
stories about living healthy.
Many thanks.
A public thank you to Anna (a blogger) for sharing her lovely "Renewal" poem.
Yours, Anna?
Welcome back Brian,
Yes, Hayward was yachting at the same time President Barack "the buck stops here" Obama was playing golf with Biden, one of several times he has done so during the crisis. How insensitive can one be? While the Gulf regions suffers, Mr. Obama, clearly trying to be a shadow, is golfing, hiding behind dark shades.
GUS
I believe I have been critical of our President by openly stating that "until the Gulf heals, made whole, Mr. Obama should set aside golf."
Sunday's blog.
But, let's be fair.
This is not the time to inject bias.
BP, out of GREED, cut corners, chose profit over safety.
Last time I checked with the Media, it was not our President who insulted the folks of Louisiana with-
"I want my life back."
Why does the media crucify President Obama for playing golf or going to the ballgame with his family? Our previous "commander in chief" spent more time out of the White House shirking his responsibilities than he did on the job! The President may not be in the chair of the Oval Office but I guarantee you he is doing the job and is aware of the issues. If he didn't care about the American people and their wellbeing, he certainly never would have taken the thankless job.
Mr. Williams - welcome back. Question - you've got a great studio, but how come when you're away, including weekends is a sub-par green screen is used? I ask because it seems that when your not around your flagship show becomes a cheap experience.
Brian - Nice to see ya back where you belong! . . . kinda envious of your trip to Ireland, I think it's one of the most scenic places on the planet.
Sorry you weren't here last week, was so looking forward to your thoughts on the "boat girl" incident, but should've known you were gonna be out because, if memory serves me correctly, you were on vacation last year during the "balloon boy" incident as well . . . how the heck did you manage to sched your vacations way in advance and miss two similar stories, I guess the planets were aligned in your favor or something !!
Haha, you're so right! How did he manage to miss both of those (possibly) similar stories? (Re: balloon boy, boat girl.) And ditto on the Ireland point. I can't imagine a more beautiful place.
hola, rojo mimi, i put my response on the 'fresh start' blog. if you were here, i would share homegrown tomatoes, zukes, nectarines, peaches. i will be sharing with my poor neighbors:-) the green chilis are for moi. wish there was a way to share with afghanistan villagers . . . . .
Good Evening Mr.Williams, Welcome Back! Great to see you back for the broadcast! I hope you had a restful vacation with your family. Mr.Holt and Mr.Gregory did a great job filling in for you!
Now on to the broadcast. First of all the reports on the terrible oil spill disaster which keeps getting bigger each day. The report by Anne Thompson showed how helicopters are dropping several sandbags a piece on the islands to prevent the oil from reaching the marshes. The best defense in a never ending fight against the spewing oil.
The report by Mr.Sanders showed how the oil is being burned on the surface of the water to keep it from reaching the marshes. Some progress is being made on the burning, but they have a long tough road ahead with so much oil in the Gulf.
The report by Mr.Alexander from Destin showed how vacationers are not deterred from the beach, yet keeping a lookout for all the tar balls along the sand. Many have already appeared on the nice white sand with more to come. It is a day to day fight for everyone along the Gulf Coast and one hopes there will be more progress in the coming days.
On another note it is awful news to learn of nine troops killes in Afghanistan today. Two Americans among the fallen soldiers. So very deadly a place and ones thoughts and prayers go out to all the soldiers and their families. God Bless All of Them.
The piece by Rehema Ellis about the pianos being placed in different locations in New York for anyone to play was very nice! What a great idea and it can attract some really great talent! A fun idea which brings some joy to peoples day!
Thank You for the broadcast Mr.Williams! Great to have you back! Peace to You and to All!
Lots of Love to All the "'regulars"
Stay Extra,Extra Safe and Well Richard!
Take Extra Good Care Richard and Crew!
XOXO
Lisa
Welcome back Brian. My uncle went to Ireland and ended up meeting our long lost relatives. :) Lester did a great job. Great quote from Obama today about being "a parent is like having your heart walk around outside your body." Any idea who he was quoting?
Good evening, Brian! It's so great to have you back again! You don't know how much you were missed! Thanks to Lester and David for keeping your chair warm, and doing a great job filling in. I'm glad to hear you and your family had a wonderful time spent in Ireland! Of all the places to go in the UK and in all of Europe, I've always wanted to go to Ireland, and believe it has to be one of the most heavenly places on earth. I really wish I could take my Papa to Ireland for his 80th Birthday in March for him to see the Breckinridge family castle, and to hear that beautiful music. My best friend is actually leaving this Friday with her grandmother on a three week trip all over the UK as a graduation present. I'm guessing this trip with your family may partly have been for your daughter's graduation. On that note, I hope you had a great Father's Day as well. I also heard about the Nantucket Film Festival (Lori told me about it.) It sounds like such a fun event!
Very sad news to hear about the death toll of British troops in Afghanistan hitting 300. My thoughts and prayers go out to the families of our fallen allies in battle, and always with our own.
Keeping my focus on updates on the disaster in the Gulf, and its affect on the lives living in the Gulf coast. It was heartbreaking last week to see the longtime workers in Louisiana having to say goodbye to their work. Just tore me up watching them. I'm praying for a miracle in this disaster, and that it will be fixed soon so everyone can just go about their beloved way of life again. They don't deserve any bit of what's been happening to them in the Gulf.
Tom Costello's report tonight was very interesting. I wasn't expecting this report to be from him, but it was really interesting to see how the plate has grown over the years. Dinner plates in restuarants are insanely huge nowadays. We're all just going to have to start bringing our own small plates when going out to dinner!
A great report about music on the streets of New York. I love that a city like that with so many people can find the time and space for music to live on its streets for all to hear. I may have mentioned in this space before that my friend and I were coming up to visit New York this Summer, (and I was planning on meeting a friend interning at 30 Rock this Summer) but unfortunately things didn't work out the way planned. I'm a little heartbroken over it, but have my hopes set on making that first visit this Winter break during the greatest time of the year. It'd be the absolute greatest place to be at the greatest time of the year. The images you shared one beautiful New York Winter night last year keep playing through my mind. I hope I'll have the chance to see all of it myself this year, and to pay you all a visit at NBC News! That would be a dream come true.
Next weekend my friend and I are going up to D.C. to visit my friend and to attend the screening and Q&A for the film "Restrepo". I've been looking forward to this film ever since I first heard about it. Anyone reading, if you haven't heard of it go look it up; and if you have heard of it, go see it! It's going to be a wonderful event and a very moving experience.
Again, wonderful to have you back Brian! I greatly appreciated Lester and David sitting in for you, but I can't tell you how much you were missed! Welcome back home!
To Richard in Kabul, Afghanistan: Take care of yourself, and you and your crew stay safe!
To everyone reporting in the Gulf: Thank you! You guys have truly blown me away with your commitment to that region, in such a desperate situation. Your work (in front and behind the cameras) is appreciated and doesn't go unnoticed.
Lots of love to the blog family.
Take care,
-Cary
hola, cary, it's not ireland, it's scotland, but one of my favorite pieces of music is mendolsohn's 'the hebrides'. which he wrote after visiting Fingal's cave, "which was named for Finn MacCool, a great warrior giant in Celtic mythology". the Inner Hebrides are off of Scotland's west coast. i first heard the piece on the boston pop's 'the celtic album' with keith lockhart directing. i absolutely love it:-) on that same album, 'magh seola' (the level plain) by gerard fahy is also wonderful. it 'was inspired by a long ago mythic battle in the western irish province of connacht. take good care, blessings, anna martina
Cary - It is weird that he was out for both of those "bizarre" stories. Bet you're truly heartbroken that you won't be able to visit 30 Rock this summer, I've worked either across the street or just a block or two away from the building for the 30 years I've been working so, I rarely give it a second thought, but I'm sure you were dreaming of touring the bldg, and happend to find yourself on the 3rd floor, and running into your favorite newsguy. Oh well, one day your wish just might come true !!
Thanks Anna and Shirley! (by the way, Shirley is the name of one of my favorite people, my Nana). I try not to complain, or sound like I'm complaining, but yes I am heartbroken that we can't make it up to NY this Summer. As for finding myself on the 3rd floor and running into my favorite newsguy, if that happened I'd have to play the lottery that day! How lucky would that be! Thanks, I appreciate your encouragement! One day I will be up there, and hopefully it'll be for an internship one of these days! Wish me luck on this Winter!
Dear Mr. Williams,
I commented to you a little while ago. Since then I heard thunder outside. When I looked out the front windows there was crime scene tape everywhere around the front of my house. When I looked towards the street I saw a police car. I called a lady that used to live with the man that across from me. She knew nothing. One of the police officers came out. I asked what was going on and he said did you know him. He was a little older than I am and had just lost his job. He killed himself. As I sit here near tears I cannot stress how bad things are getting. Please start helping instead of ignoring.
Hi Anna
Funny thing, we became suddenly ill after eating a garden salad. Seriously. We all did. Nausea.
Feeling better. Reading all blogs and they are telling. I love this new blog page; it allows the "family" to interact.
Anna, I read your poem all about "self discovery." So beautiful. Did I mention my love of poetry?
Well, I do. Actually we, (the sistas and I) occasionally go to "signature night" in Miami where books of poetry are read to the masses.
You are made up of beautiful thoughts. To create something so lovely and it is about self awareness- this is always good for the mind and the soul.
Asking. Have you or Cary seen "PS, I Love You?" Well, it is a sweet movie all about love and lost but what makes us cry are the scenes where "they"
met in Ireland. Grass so green. Majestic hills. Crisp, soft body of water. All this and Brian and his family was there.
I love the UK. The ancient brick buildings, sheep grazing, the pubs, the countryside, and my fave-
THE TUBE (London.)
I hope those who have read your poems are touched the way I was. My pal reads Brian's blog daily. She is a fan. We both are. The blogs are all so
colorful. (My pal asks: where is Cary? -re last week)
Pal blogs elsewhere. Says she hates censorship.
Gov. Charlie Crist is leading in the Senate polls here in S. Florida. It seems, the Gulf crisis is highlighting Crist's executive power.
"Good for him," Ma says. I trust Crist and will vote for him.
Here is something funny.---- Keep in mind - I am a bit biased.
-Republicans believe MORALS are paintings on walls. And SCRUPLES are Russian money.
Hey, yes I will have to see "PS, I Love You". The green of Ireland, the cliffs, and the music--I will have to visit someday! And regarding some of my absence last week- Summer always gets a little busy. A lot of family togetherness around the evenings took up much of the time I usually write to the blog. But I didn't miss any NN or reading on the blog. (I did miss Mr. Williams though!) ha ha ;)
hola, rojo mimi, i have seen maybe 7 movies in the last 8 years or so. one of my friends did round me up to go see 'avatar' on the big screen. i will have to look for "PS, I Love You." my attention span wanders badly, it's hard to sit still for a full movie. and i have such terrible over-active imagination. one trip to portland, i saw an episode of 'stargate' with my son and his wife that stayed with me for weeks, egads! i watched 'vanity fair' at their house and was furious at what becky sharp did to her husband for months. i was wondering where cary was last week as well and when you and phyllis and jackie and lisa take awhile to post, i start looking for everybody. blessings
Add on to earlier blog. Trying to eat healthy, so we had a homemade salad.
Discovered the culprit that made us ill.
The date of the salad dressing expired.
Thank you NBC and "Today" for healthy eating tips.
"Latte and banana cake- huge calories"-says Today guest.
Gave up sodium. Pepper, more difficult.
Mr.Williams,
I just wanted to say I am so very happy you had a wonderful vacation with your family in Ireland. It sounds like a lovely trip and a great way to spend Father's Day! I hope you had a terrific Father's Day!
Welcome Back Mr.Williams! You were missed! Peace to You and to All!
Lisa
Welcome back Brian nothings changed since you've been gone.
Belated happy Father's day!!
Obama took time off which really made people mad. Some feel he should never have a day off. Few remember the 879 days Bush took during every crisis the US had but that was fine. One person said Obama shouldn't be using taxpayers money flying AirForce One and should pay for flight. Brian the nuts are really out there. Oh Mr. Hayward is no longer in charge of the Oil spill and he was sent back to England. But yes the nuts complained that he was vacationing on a Yacht. In three weeks our Law Makers will leave for this summer vacation while we still have an Oil crisis but people don't mine our Law Makers taking time off to vacation. Brian so many Law Makers had their foot in the mout this pass week. With no inside reporters few bothered to read the White House website that told of how BP offered 20 billion for starters to start paying the victims of the Oil spill. Everyone is playing President with all the answers but no power or information. The Oil Executives got to see just how stupid the US Law Makers are.
Have a great evening all
hola, brian, 1995 was a bonkers year for me, after my hiatus to california during their flood, i left for texas. i was a missing person for about 5 weeks. i finally ended up in the san antonio state hospital for 2 months. in austin, when i was sitting across the street from the newspaper offices, i started seeing irish castles hanging overhead in the clouds. egads. and then all along the river walk in san antonio. near the end of my stay in the hospital, i wrote this song. the melodies would come quickly and then the words would comes just as fast for the songs. one of the psych techs rounded up a recorder for me so that i could tape it and wouldn't lose it by forgetting it. it is sung with an irish lilt. it has no name.
somewhere the sky is golden-hued and purple in it's gleaming.
the clouds are hanging overhead and raindrops fall on me.
today the jonquils and the faces of the flowers of springtime
welcomed me home to land that is the place where i was born.
go then to the far pasture and you'll find the horses tethered.
take you the one you fancy for your journey when you go.
i know the sky is falling in this world that we've been keeping.
but you and me, forever, is the promise was foretold.
tomorrow in the morning when you wake up on my pillow,
your eyes will tell me all the things i never thought i'd hear.
hold me to heartbeats that are sounding as we rise together.
you go your way, i go with you, i stand with you this time.
heaven only knows what i was channeling . . . . . something very irish, that's for sure!
i hope you had a wonderful father's day and i'm glad you had a great family escape. i have to keep my little place very green or i go down the tubes very fast. i had to plant some things that stay green all year long. the irish author, james joyce, based many of his writings on odysseus. some of us have more of an odyssey than others. thank goodness my bipolar has been very quiet since my last manic of 1997. it's a great relief! my guardian angels worked overtime for many years . . . . . . welcome back, i wish there was good news somewhere on the horizon, but it looks like it's serious hunker-down time. take good care, anna martina
Good Tuesday Morning Brian
Rush wants Obama to fail.
Orszag's resignation and Rahm rumored leaving - are these signs of weakness
in the structure of the Obama administration? Are the links coming loose?
Back to Rush. He annoys me. He labels "MSNBC" as "MESS-NBC."
Saw the soccer game, finally. The US Team was cheated.
*****Anna your song is PRECIOUS!
Welcome back, Brian! You've done a lot of traveling the past week! Ben Stiller gave you away on his twitter feed as also being at the Nantucket Film Festival this past weekend. -It's always the weekend around my birthday. I hope to make it there as an awesome birthday trip one year. (Hope my husband reads this!) I'm expecting to see your bit with Zach Galifianakis "Between two Ferns" on Funny or Die soon.
In an interesting coincidence, I saw the story last night on the pianos in NYC, and then read a news article this morning that pianos are coming to downtown Cincinnati. My husband works downtown, so we're there pretty frequently. I can't wait to see them in our city. http://www.wcpo.com/dpp/news/local_news/pianos-will-line-cincinnati-streets-later-this-summer
Bri Wi - who said you could take vacation?!? I didn't watch the news the entire time you were gone and thank goodness missed seeing Tony Hayward's mug every day. You're the one guy I trust with the news, so keep up the hard work. My husband and teenagers know to remind me that it's 6:30 and time for "Bri Wi" when you start the news. Thanks for making it fun!