Hi Brian -
TGIF and you've had one of your 'normal' weeks, so is the weekend the Correspondents' Dinner or Taladega or both??

Whatever - Enjoy the time off -

Dear Brian,

Deborah Norville recently interviewed another of our Iraq veterans.  He is Army Corporal J.R. Martinez, and he was burned over 40% of his body, when his Humvee hit a land mine.  He now spends his time giving motivational speeches, and supporting veterans' charities.  One of the organizations he supports is Building Homes for Heroes.  They do just what their name implies - they build accessible homes for our wounded veterans.  (As the child of a disabled parent, I can appreciate the need.)  How truly wonderful.  Their website is as follows:

www.buildinghomesforheroes.com

Thank you to Cpl. Martinez, to Lt. Fernandez, and to all our veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.  (And, Jackie, that goes out to your family, too.)

For those who are interested, Richard Engel's new book is already listed for pre-order on Amazon.com.  It's being released June 3rd.  

Thank you, Anna, for the David Gregory link.  He takes a lot of ribbing for his dancing, but he is a true MJB fan, to be sure.  That's all that really matters - expressing one's joy.  And, btw, your wine shop story was HYSTERICAL.

Many X's and O's go out to my friends Lisa and Jackie and Stephanie.  You all are my rays of sunshine!  Happy Friday!

Brian,

Can't wait to watch the interview with Lt. John Fernandez (Ret.). Injured or killed due to enemy action vs. friendly fire = no difference in my book.  Heroes all.

The Wounded Warriors is an outstanding organization and anyone that wants help out our injured vets as they return with honor should consider contributing to this worthy cause.

Brian: Last night it was the victims of Lasik, rice shortage, radioactivity, and who knows what else...move on from your post-Katrina mode...or soon, you will be the victim...of obsolescence...

After seeing your brief report on the stimulus checks tonight, I wanted to send along a story idea.

While preparing my taxes a few weeks ago, I started researching whether I would receive a stimulus check. Turns out that there appears to be a negative loophole for college students and their families. I graduated college class of 2007 and will apparently not receive a check:

- If you're a dependent, you're not eligible. Since I graduated last May and lived with my parents for part of the summer, I was a dependent for more than six months of the year and are therefore counted as a dependent.

- Now, for children, this doesn't matter. Parents get an extra $300 for each child in their household. But in order to be counted as a child, you need to qualify for a *child tax credit*. Thus, to get the $300/each for children, your child must be under 18.

Therefore, members of the class of 2007 (and students who were in college in lower classes in 2007) do not get a stimulus check; nor are they compensated for on their parents' check.

While I disagree with the concept of the checks in general -- after all, people my age will be the ones paying them off someday -- I was surprised that some of us seem to be left out. If the purpose of the stimulus check is spending, I can guarantee that most fresh-out-of-college 22-year-olds would definitely spend it!

Good Evening Mr.Williams, Another great broadcast Mr.Williams. Lt.John Fernandez is a true hero and certainly served his country with bravery and dedication. The Wounded Warrior Project sounds like a very good cause. I look forward to the interview soon. Now on to the broadcast. The report by Mr.Colt from Baghdad concerning the release of prisoners was quite disturbing. Some may have changed while in the prison, but many will probably return to causing the same problems they were charged with in the first place. If many of the men being released are from political miltias that is not something good for the region. Many could be terrorists ready to cause more violence in the country. I am not surprised at all the process of releasing these prisoners went terribly wrong. Things need to work in a positive direction in that country if peace is ever going to be the outcome for the people. On another note the report by Mika concerning the texting on cellphones by teenagers was very enlightening and somewhat humorous. All those symbols representing words may be great sending messages on the cellphone, but it does not teach them to spell words correctly. It is disturbing the symbols are found in formal writing assignments for school. Times have certainly changed since I was in school. Things of this nature would never have been thought amongst the children or the parents. By the way I believe the woman and her husband featured in the piece have a cooking show on PBS. I have seen her show a few times and it is fun to watch. Finally, I really enjoyed the "Making a Difference" segment this evening. The man who flies the World War II veterans to see the World War II Memorial in Washington is doing a wonderful thing for these men. It is very sad some will never have the opportunity to go and see it, but for those veterans who do it is a really great and honorable thing. They all served their country bravely and with much dedication. They should be always honored as the Greatest Generation. Great Piece!! Thank you for the broadcast Mr.Williams. Have a wonderful weekend!! Peace to you and to all!

Happy Friday to Laurel,Jackie and Stephanie!
Be Well Always!
Laurel- I already ordered Richard's book! I can't wait to delivery day!!

Mr. Williams,

I thought it was hilarious seeing Ian Williams come up to surface as he ended his segment last night. I also wanted to say I really liked the detailed explanation on nightly.msnbc.com about the North Korea/Syria nuclear facility. I hope most/if not all of it was accurate, one way or the other. I thinks it hard for people, including myself, to completely trust news organizations on something on that grand of a scale. I'm glad there is a nightly.msnbc.com because I was at school all day till 9pm and caught my nightly news in a computer lab on campus. I think the computer screen agrees with you more so than my 20+ year old big screen TV. I saw that Shia LaBeouf is set to host SNL again, so soon after his last appearance. I guess you must have been out of the office when they called you for the gig. Look forward to tonight.

Brian,

I found myself tearful after the report on Honor Flight. I immediately went to their website in hopes of donating but found their website down. Perhaps a large portion of your viewers had the same idea...

Thanks for the info. lnp - very helpful!I have to say I am so excited about the Democratic primaries, it is so exciting to hear about the SuperDelegates and all the power they have in the palm of their hand~ on another note, OMG - I can't believe that in Iraq if you are gay they can lock you up with the murderers, rapists...the hardened criminals. That is awful!  No wonder that guy recently said there are no gays in Iraq, or was it Iran?  I remember thinking he was pretty dumb if he bought into that.  Now I see the reason behind his statement. That's a good enough reason alone to finish off this war - free the gays in Iraq :-)  LOL!  just kidding - it's Friday Night - beer and pizza nite out on the deck!  

Rob: I hadn't thought of it this way.  That means my college-studying cousin may not get one, either, even though he didn't study during fall semester.  I suspect mine will be heading promptly to the vet's office; I've spent PLENTY of money and time there over the past few months.  Aging cats are expensive and cause nail-biting by their mama!

Your favorite story is also mine, Brian.  I loathe AT&T Wireless.  I only have a pre-paid phone because my entire family is with AT&T - because my Michigan sister can then call us for free.  I had a horrific experience with AT&T when they bought out my local carrier in 2000  and in order to fix my billing problem I had to wait on the phone for over an hour.  No one in the local office would or could assist me.  I was so furious I canceled my service and vowed not to go back.  In this day and age of identify theft, I don't blame some people for wanting to pay in person.  If gas prices don't kill you, fees for service will!

I was on the highway traveling home from the state capital when the news was on; I was able to listen to it in the car, but lost the signal before the interview  with Lt. Fernandez.  I'm glad he survived.  It is heartwarming to hear how he's using his circumstance to help others who may be worse off than he.  Always a gentlemen and officer: thinking of others.  I agree with you, Ben: no matter how or where they are injured or killed, all soldiers & veterans deserve our honor and respect.  Just yesterday Maine buried a native son who was killed stateside in a training exercise.

I am part of an online Christian chat ministry and use a lot of text lingo there.  I can't get into texting, though.  I also didn't recognize all the lingo that was used in Mika's report.  I need to print the list and show it to my mom to remind her that she should be grateful for the language I did speak as a teenager; even then she couldn't understand me!  LOL

Have a grand weekend everyone; I've got stuff planned for both days!

Brian, Thank you for tonight's Making a Difference. Those of us who are babyboomers grew up hearing the war stories around the dinner table, sometimes told so vividly you thought you were there too. It is sad to think of that generation passing away so quickly.

Yet one more note on food. Went shopping this afternoon and saw a sign that now bananas are in short supply.  5 small bags of groceries, 58.00. Gas, in the town that is in the middle of one of the richest gas and oil fields on earth, went to 3.51 for regular today. I'm telling ya, it's the 70's revisted. I'm not sure I like being old enough to see history repeat it's self!

Lisa, I enjoyed that little essay on rice, did you see the follow up the next night? And to who ever posted that clip of David Gregory many thanks, it just made my day! However, I don't think that they will be asking him to join Dancing with the Stars anytime soon, Mario is still safe.

Hi Brian,
I haven't written for awhile but rest assured, I always read your blog every day and enjoy all the comments. I had meant to write last weekend when you had commented on the 2 mile stretch of road from the Lincoln Tunnel to the New Jersey turnpike in Hoboken being the worst stretch of road around. As you may recall, my husband is from New Jersey. He said that Route 9, into north Jersey, is really bad or was really bad when he left New Jersey to begin his new life in "Win-ter-peg, Mani-snow-ba 10 years ago. It is funny how important that turnpike is to New Jersey folk. Someone came into where he works here in Winnipeg and said that they were from New Jersey.  "What exit are you" the person asked. Everyone found that kind of funny. When asked "Why are you in Winnipeg", my husband always says "witness protection".....watching too much Sopranos. He misses New Jersey sometimes, especially Joe's Pizza in Bayonne at 46th and Broadway, Goya Rice, Mounds chocolate bars, White Castle and going to Mets games.
I enjoyed seeing you on MSNBC on Tuesday night....bringing common sense to all discussions.I always watch Countdown every night. It is so very different from your style but Keith is passionate in his beliefs. He must be a fun guy to be around eh? I mean that in a nice way.
Have a wonderful week!

Laurel-- Thanks for the RE book info.

Good weekend to all--

How could NBC air such a report and not tell the viewing public how to help.  I cried in front of my television tonight. Where can I contribute to this cause????????

Thank you so much for tonight's "Making A Difference" segment about the 103-year-old circus clown who rescues stray puppies from the streets of Chicago's South Side (or whatever tonight's MAD segment was--they're pretty much all the same).  I was also thrilled with your nearly-three-minute story on texting.  Meanwhile, 24 innocent people were killed in Sri Lanka when the Tamil Tiger rebels blew up a bus.  You didn't even mention this, but at least now I know all about texting.  Thanks.  And congratulations for devoting a full 20 seconds to the monumental announcement that China has agreed to meet with representatives of the Dalai Lama to discuss the future of Tibet.  This is a huge story--on BBC World News it was the lead story--but you buried it at the 22-minute mark.  Meanwhile, your story about the shark attack in Southern California was given 30 seconds and aired at the 11-minute mark.  I guess that tells us where your priorities are.  Well done.

Your omission of the Sri Lanka story is also very telling.  Obviously, the market research geeks at NBC News have informed your producers that the target audience you so desperately covet (affluent whites) really aren't very interested in stories from places inhabited by people with dark skin, like Africa or South Asia (you haven't reported on the disputed election in Zimbabwe for weeks).  Funny thing--when Brian Williams hosted his superfantabulous special on (cue the trumpet fanfare) "Race In America", I didn't hear him discuss the racial bias that exists in NBC News coverage.  Well--that's okay.  Maybe he can talk about it when he accepts the Peabody award for NBC's continuing coverage of Knut the polar bear.

The Reform Party has been making the same case ever since then.  It was true then and its TRUE TODAY.

"The Giant Sucking Sound?" American jobs are being lost to offshore outsourcing.  Unfair trade is hurting American small businesses.  Fraud, Waste, and Abuse of your tax dollars are going to pet projects, agencies, and contributors. Commonly known as pork; These public works or corporate welfare are for pet industries of BOTH political parties. They BOTH do it because they are unaccountable. The Democrats rely on it for their power and the Republicans rely on it for THEIR power, and YOU get the bill.  They serve their contributors; not you. They tax you in an incomprehensible tax system, then waste your money.  Meanwhile, they ignore the National DEBT and Deficit ; Currently approaching $7 trillion up from $4 trillion in 1992. Small Business is the engine of this country; Government should not hurt them by oppressive arbitrary regulation. Social Security MUST change or it will die of bankruptcy.Medicare too.  Huge expenses of Government are hidden off-budget. The Democrats and Republicans offer only gimmicks not solutions.  And they both tax you unmercifully. Elections are too long and cost too much.  The citizens can make them stop, but, they must be heard; not driven away from the process by personal attacks, sloganeering politics, balloons, and bumper stickers instead of addressing people's daily concerns. Government at the City, County, State, and Federal level  all need a wake up call.

They are sucking out your livelihood for their patrons the Lobbyists.

Only YOU can wake them up!

Brian:

Can you put me in touch with the people who offer the flights to war veterans? I can offer a donation of $250.00 to send one to Washington, D.C.

Dear Brian:
Can you put me in touch with Mr. Morris organization for a WWII "Tanker" who landed at Omaha and had2 tanks shot out from him and now 85 yrs old and 70% Disablity. Can pay toe $250 or th trip.  
Tony Miglionico , Phoeniz. Az

i heard that people such as women and older americans are voting for hillary, i also heard women are voting or hre because shes a women. i wonder if thay have looled at the other candidates to see what thay stand for . to me you have to read up on who can do the best of amsrica also i think our vets from the war should go to manitory pchotheapy so thay get the help thay need the goverment should pay for this help instead of the fleesing of america we spen millions as you knoe on things that are not needed. i think how we could hekp medicare the forgotton people in this countryand social surcurityand save the children in schools and give them a better life and better chances for life

Hi Bloggers:

Breaking News.....I think we all missed one of the biggest events of the week on this blog!  

Happy Birthday Matt!   He snuck one in on us!    Congratulations on your 20th or your mistype!  

My Dad was in the Phillipines and Okinawa. He was my hero and a true member of the GREATEST GENERATION. He didn't live long enough to see his memorial, but after seeing your Honor Flight segment, I immediately went to their website and donated. Thank you Dad and all in your GREATEST GENERATION.

Hi Everyone:

Sorry for the double post in one weekend but I think you may forgive for me this one.

I went to the Amazon site to pre-order Richard's new book and then I got to thinking.   I then reviewed the information at Amazon and learned his published is Simon and Schuester.    Authors are always out promoting their new books in the first 3 to 6 months and then again when it comes out in paperback.  

On the www.simonsays.com website you can track Richard's appearances as he is out promoting his new title.  You can also see the cover picture on the site. You never know where the authors will end up.  

Just thinking you know Brian may get autographed copies for all of us on the blog.   Magical thinking of course.

U.S. Army Lieutenant John Fernandez is a brave man to be sure. His efforts to help the wounded are admirable and heroic. However, he is also a victim. President Bush victimized him and the thousands of other US military personnel who have been killed or wounded in Iraq (as well as thousands of Iraqi citizens). If President Bush cannot understand or take responsibility for the obvious indicators that our economy is in the pit--mainly due to "his" war and economic policies, how can he begin to take responsibility for the many victims such as Lieutenant Fernandez? The count has to be at least ten times greater than the number of 9-11 victims. It is outrageous, and I marvel why so many of his military victims are not outraged at him.

brian john story was realy interesting to me ilost my left leg in viet nane in 1968 while serving with the usmc it touched me very much thanks for the story viet-nam vet usmc

I am so glad you spotlighted the Wounded Warrior Project tonight.  I wish you could keep that link on your website all the time.....there is no better charity that we could all be donating to.  

     Dear Brian,
as every night I watch your broadcast to see the events of the day here and around the world.  The story of Lt. Fernandez really hit our home that evening, my son Erik just happened to be watching with me, his brother and sister this evening.  He quickly sat up in surprise when he excitedly said aloud, "Dad thats my Lt. from my MLRS Unit".  We were all taken by John's story, and when you briefly showed the video that we had seen for the first time.  My family had come to begin to understand a little of what my son had gone through that night, he and members of his unit lost a number of close friends that night.  One of which was my sons best friend and SGT., it was the hardest part of the story for my son to watch.  By the look on his face, it was like it just happened yesterday.  The hardest part for me, is that it was friendly fire that took the lives of these brave boys and left many others with the life long effects of war.  My Son wares a tattoo on his forearm that he got upon his return to the states, it bares three names of his brothers that were lost that evening.  It is an upside down rifle stuck in the ground between a pair of soldiers boots, helmet on the butt of the rifle, three ribbons rapping down and around the rifle with the names of his fallen brothers.  At the end of your story I could see the Pride and relief on Erik's face, even with eyes welled up, that John was alive and well and doing good things with his life.  I agree with John, we need to see more stories about our New Veterans of this war.  People need to see the every day struggles and the lack of services that are being or not being provided to these young warriors.  I too was proud to see that John is alive and well, brothers for life my son says.  He still stays in touch with other members of his unit, I understand that they are the only ones who can understand what he is going through even to this day.  It is my hope and prayer that our government will step up to the plate, and do right by these young men and women who have gone above and beyond to answer the call of this great nation.  Keep up the good work, we need a little light to shine through these hard times in america.  

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