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With the heat index in Manhattan at 100 degrees, I declared an ice cream break this afternoon. A group of us bugged out of the newsroom a little while ago to hit the Mister Softee truck at the corner of 49th Street and 6th Avenue. It not only satisfied our collective craving for something cool, but hopefully also provided a shot to the local economy.
There was an item in the New York Times reporting that sales of Mister Softee ice cream are actually down this summer. In case you're not familiar with them, Mister Softee trucks are a ubiquitous part of the Manhattan landscape, and operate primarily in the Northeast. However the prolonged heat wave may have gotten the best of them this year. According to the man who manages Mister Softee distribution, it's been too hot this summer for New Yorkers to venture out. Can you believe it, too hot for ice cream? He speculates folks are either holed-up in their air conditioned homes or at the pool. Apparently other ice cream companies are also reporting a slump in sales. On behalf of the Weekend Nightly News staff let me simply say we stand ready to do our part to help the ice cream industry stay afloat (did somebody say ice cream float?).
The weather, on several fronts is our big story today. First, former Tropical Storm Bonnie has weakened, allowing containment vessels and personnel to start returning to the oil operation in the Gulf. The storm may have fizzled but it still cost them valuable time in their efforts to "kill" the well. Then there is the oppressive heat gripping not just the Northeast, but parts of the South and Midwest. On top of that the Midwest has been clobbered by violent storms that dumped more than seven inches of rain in the Chicago area and triggered severe flooding.
We've also got a update to a story we first reported here last Saturday about the surge in pets being turned into Louisiana animal shelters by owners who have landed on hard times because of the oil disaster. I think you'll like how this is turning out.
I hope where ever you are you are staying cool today. Thanks for checking in and we'll see you tonight on NBC Nightly News.
Leave a Comment:
Aside from the mention of ice cream grabbing my complete attention, Lester, two words triggered my brain cells and dragged me into your story.
"Oppressive Heat."
Oh..so..hot!!
"Unbearably hot," complains a shopper at Target, today. Reading about cold, delicious ice cream on any hot day is certainly cooling and delightful.
Being an animal lover, I am eager for this evening's broadcast .
Glad it will be good news.
Thank you for the report on the animals that have found homes. It is wonderful. But what of the people that had to give them up? Woderful does not happen for them. Is it possible to be happy and sad at the same time?
Lester,
Our daughter had a pool-above-ground installed this week because of the weather, and like most,
I am holed up in a house with air-conditioning with a big bowl of ice cream. The endless summer
of 2010. Good news about the weakening of Bonnie, but bad news about the delay. One woman,
though, was glad BP played it safe. That's good. David Gregory is right: It's all about jobs. President
Obama says, "Keep fighting" and he's right because in the November election it will be playing for keeps.
I want to back up: I do not blame the wierd weather on Global Warming. John Updike (an author
Brian admires) in his novel "In the Beauty of the Lillies" says through a character, "It's all in Revelation"
and I agree with this world view but there is a happy ending to this Book in the New Testament. I love
happy endings too. The alternative sucks! I liked the story on the upcoming wedding of Chelsea, who
is a lovely young woman. I can only guess about the secrecy. It must be political.
I am glad Lucky is coming to Kentucky. So is Nancy Pelosi and Jeb Bush on Monday in Louisville. About
the movie review on the TODAY Show, very fascinating which leads to "It's all in your head". But what
if it is not.
Have a nice evening!!
Phyllis
hola, phyllis, when i first moved back to s.v., i joined the book club at the library, the first book was good, but then we had to read 'rabbit is rich'. i read the first few chapters, closed the book and quit the book club. i couldn't read that trash. i know john updike is 'a name', but i just couldn't go there. i keep hoping that i have some energy to get back to work on the 'tree of life' quilt, my design, but no luck, yet. i would love to send you a pix, i think you would like it. it's a giant tree growing in the rocky sand that goes all the way up to the sky, with the sea in the background, and there is a solar system that isn't ours big square on the top left it's all done in mosaic. the green of the tree looks like a giant planetary nebula:-) black elk, lakota sioux indian, had the dream of the tree of life and it became a big thing among the native americans. my nephew was born on 12/15, black elk's birthday. my niece nicknamed her grandmother 'maka', there is cherokee in that line, i have the lakota sweat lodge cards and that's where i learned that 'maka' means 'earth mother' in lakota sioux . . . . . how my niece came up with 'maka', i'll never know. she was 2 or 3 when she did that. the education system sure does a poor job of getting out of our heads the most fascinating things in it. and they wonder where innovation is and why new engineers aren't creative . . . . . . i bet your grandson has fun with you:-) stay cool!
Please... allow one more blog.
Summer weddings are the best. Golden day: immaculate white gown, lace, pearls, champagne, lovely flowers, the first dance, the jitters, laughter and hopefully some Tony Bennett.
The Clintons deserve happiness...
Hoping they are given the privacy they deserve on their special day.
O. Where's my invite?
Marley and all the others are so sweet. Lester's smile says it all.. Happy ending.
For those who are disappointed in failing to adopt the "Gulf Pets"..there are many adorable-soon to be pets-at your local shelter.
Please adopt.
I was a HSN and QVC addict, so looking forward to "Today."
Thanks Les.
Good Evening Mr.Holt, Glad you and the Weekend Nightly News team were able to partake of Mister Softee ice cream. A great and tasty way to keep cool in the extremely hot weather.
Now on to the broadcast. First of the report by Mr.Hadlock from Venice,LA concerning the oil spill. It was good news that Trpoical Storm Bonnie fizzleed out and did not cause any major damage to the Gulf Coast now allowing the ships to return to the leak site. Also, the cap is holding on the well keeping more oil from leaking into the Gulf. Workers returning the equipment and boom to the Gulf waters will help continue the effort to clean up all the oil. One hopes more progress will be made this week and the coming weeks.
The report by Rehema Ellis about thew extreme weather showed how much to the East Coast is baking in hot temperatures while the Mid-Section of the country is flooded by torrential rain storms. It has been a very hot summer and the warmest July on record as stated in the report. Our local weather person told of how our State has experienced around 36 days of temperatures in the 90's. One hopes everyone will have some relief soon.
On another note the report by Mr.Viqeuira told of how deadly the fight in Afghanistan with five US Troops killed and two missing with one possibly captured by the taliban. The regions are major strongholds for the taliban and so very dangerous for US Troops. Ones thoughts and prayers go out to all the soldiers and their families. God Bless All Our Military!
The piece by Michelle Kosinski about the animal shelter was very heartwarming. The dogs and puppies having to be given up by their owners who couldn't afford to keep them now are finding new loving homes with very happy new owners. It is wonderful so many people reached out and called the shelter to adopt the pets because they all need nice homes. One hopes they will have happy lives!
Thank You for the broadcast Mr.Holt! Keep Cool! See You on Sunday for Weekend Today and Nightly News! Peace to You and to All!
Lots of Love to Laurel,Jackie,Stephanie,Claudia,Celine,Anna,Lori,Cary and Matt!
Be Well Always!
Stay Extra,Extra Safe and Well Richard!
Take Extra Good Care Richard and Crew!
XOXO
Lisa
Anna, a friend of mine, who was an English Major, thought Updike was tacky. That he made the cover of
Time magazine did not impress her at all. What I liked about Esther, an actress in the novel, was that all
her payers were answered. It does not get any better than that. COUPLES by John Updike was considered
by some to be a dirty book, but I consider him a Christian writer in spite of the profanity. Yeah, my
gandson and I are tight. In the O.T. regarding Ruth and Namoi, I am confused about the two at the moment,
the grandmother was blessed with her grandson. In Revelation a blessing is promised to one who reads
this book, and I have my blessing and it is Kyle who does not want me to wear granny grunge He is a
fountain of youth. When he goes to college he wants to live with my husband and me and attend the
University of Louisville. Of course he may change his mind a dozen times before that time.l Whatever,
I am tremendously flattered that he thinks that much of us. Who knows he may want to attend University
of Kentucky or another college. I adore him but as Tina Turner says "Don't call me Granny". ON the
telephone I told my daughter I wanted to speak to my grandson and she said "His name is Kyle" so
does that mean Kyle and I are on a first-name basis:O) iF so, he can call me Anny; middle name is Ann.
Have a nice weekend.
Phyllis
hola, again, phyllis, back when it looked there was going to be massive starvation in asia due to the rice shortage and the villagers in afghanistan were climbing all over each other, from the pictures, to get their ration of bread, so, a wheat shortage, i took some concrete blocks and put them on, 2-wide and 3 high to make a small column that i could put my giant tamale pot on with a fountain pump in it. i put a french blue glass plate on top of the bricks i put inside to put the pump on and i put a flipping fish ornament that is really a hose sprinkler on top of that. i did that a couple of weeks before the hunger stories broke. when i read the stories i looked at my little fountain on it's column of concrete blocks and wondered if i had put up the 'pillar of boaz' that is on the jewish temple, boaz, being the rich farmer whose field ruth gleaned in when she and naomi were hungry. it made me wonder if the pillar of boaz on the jewish temple wasn't a protection against hunger for the jewish people. the lord works through us in ways we can't even begin to fathom and i can see these weird coincidences because i am analytical as heck, ergo, my finance degree, and i have been early retired and live in a very quiet world where i can see such things. it's interesting to see where you are hopping around in the good book. i think there are many aspects to the stories, they're not just literal. there are many archetypes in the readings. i thought putting the fish in there meant, literally, 'a fish in every pot', even though we do have a world fish shortage, but maybe that was the prayer. God must not speak english and i have to 'show Him' what i mean. yes, it may all be in my head, but i'm the only one in my little world on a daily basis, so it keeps me entertained. when i sent you the email about an asteroid hitting iraq and iran, the next day, one of the large tomato cages whose tomato plant has totally outgrown it and the branches are all hanging over the side now, bent way over, like it had been hit with something. go figure. maybe that's why the aboriginals of australia and new zealand do their 'walkabouts'. our little world talks to us so that we don't have to go to the mall to look for russian spies:-) take good care, anna martina ps, stan mcchrystal's wife is an annie, she's a pretty lady.
Anna / Phyllis
May I enter the conversation? Just catching up with the blogs.
I am at the Magnolia Movie Theater..pacing..and reading DN blogs.
This is one of the few love stories of the Bible..love of a husband..love of a mother-in-law and love of God. Ruth and the Book of Ruth!
My Grandma loves this story and she shared it..among others.. with me.. when I was a child. "Famine" illustrated dire days in those days and God used famine at times as punishment or to send a message. Case in point..Joseph was thrown in the pit by his brothers due to jealousy and God used a famine to fulfill His plan. I wonder if these days are God's famine.
(Anna, 2x3 column.. You did good.)
I wonder..is this a global famine..every country I am told suffers a recession.
President Obama is given so much to bear.
So, if this is a famine..what is God's intent?!
So, if this is a famine..what is God's intent?!
NO, flip the coin
“Lest we forget at least an over-the-shoulder acknowledgment to the very first radical: from all our legends, mythology, and history (and who is to know where mythology leaves off and history begins — or which is which), the first radical known to man who rebelled against the establishment and did it so effectively that he at least won his own kingdom — Lucifer
Saul Alinsky’s dedication to his book Rules for Radicals.
Did you know you can Velcro an egg to the wall? cool huh :-)
So Dave
You know the Bible..the bar has been raised..let it be known..
Yea..Lucifer is a fallen angel..how dare anyone question its maker.
Arrogant, pompous ..and God was not gonna have it.
Myth? I can't and won't argue. ...the way..I don't accept Rastafarians' views on JAH or Jehovah Witness' religious beliefs..nor do I respect the institution of the Catholic faith or church.
You are indeed smart and at times a smart ***
But that makes you special..according to a friend, a fan of yours..she says you are an escape from all the idolatry.
Mr. Dave..are you a Clinton basher? Read a terrific story about the man..the genius (my god..he is very educated..OXFORD!!)
Having new respect for Prez Clinton.
PS, Anna
I would love to see the picture and appreciate your thinking of me. Sounds beautiful.
Phyllis
Hi Lester,
I watch NBC news every night. Well, except last night. For some reason my computer had a digital hiccup and didn't record the broadcast.
I think you are one of the consummate professionals in broadcasting today. As a broadcaster, I lament what has happened to our business. NBC news is a bright spot on the TV dial.
Just one more thing. I love the shots of New York City that end the broadcast most nights. I do a screen cap and send it to everybody on my Facebook page each night.
Keep up the terrific work.
Shawn Rosvold
Brooklyn, NY
Lester, great to see you're staying cool. Good news! The oil spill operation is again underway. It's going to take some time before the relief well can resume operations to kill the well, so barring any unforseen situations, we are drawing closer to killing the well. I enjoyed the feature last night about the homeless pets. Everybody from all over the country jumped right in there and gave these pets a good home. Those are the kind of stories I love to see. Continue the good job on the weekend news and check to see if that ice cream truck is still out there.
Chelsea's wedding has been arranged with such secrecy worthy of a military invasion.
Good luck to the happy couple.
Lucifer won his own kingdom, but Diana Lucifera eventually took it from him and hence
the spiritual resurrection.