Good Evening Mr.Williams, I thought you might not have a post this evening so I left one on the Saturday post. Anyway, I am so very happy you had the chance to attend the swimming events and watch Michael Phelps win his first gold medal while breaking the world record. It was really exciting to see! I am also happy you attended the USA versus China basketball game. Great the United States won! Go USA!
Now to the broadcast the conflict in Georgia with Russia is becoming an extremely serious situation. I feel so badly for the innocent victims in the region who are trying to flee the conflict. The scenes are terrible with all the fires and smoke billowing in the air. Upon hearing from Mr.Maceda reporting on the conflict I hope he stays safe while covering from the area. Stay Safe Mr.Maceda!
President Bush is really enjoying the events and cheering on Michael Phelps and the United States Basketball Team! Go USA!
The piece by Mr.Alexander about Yao Ming showed how popular with the Chinese people this man has become. He is certainly a superstar. I am happy he started the foundation to help rebuild schools that were damaged by the earthquake. It was moving and touching to see that young boy who survived the earthquake and saved two of his classmates walking with Yao Ming during the Opening Ceremonies. Thank you for the broadcast Mr.Williams.
Get that button sewn on tight onto your blazer! And I'm glad you got some IPOD speakers at the Apple store in Beijing! Good Job Mr.Williams!
See You tomorrow evening from Tiananmen Square!
Peace to you and to all!

Lots of Love to Laurel,Jackie,Stephanie,Claudia,Celine,Anna and Matt!
Be Well Always!
Stay Safe and Well Richard! Hope to see more of your reports from Beijing!
XOXO
   

Dear Brian,

So, I received a text message forward from my sister last night, which read, "Today in 1974, after impeachment hearings, Richard Nixon became the first U.S. President to resign."  What?!  I'm surprised you didn't mention it!  My excuse for not remembering is that I was only three years old at the time, but there you are....in China.  You know – China, Nixon, Chairman Mao, that whole thing?  What a great tie-in that would have been!  Besides, it's as good a time as any to reflect on the fact that Woodward, Bernstein, Downie, Bradlee, and Graham literally shaped history, while simply doing their jobs.  They'll always be rock stars in my book.  I wish they could have "shaped history" when it came to our current administration, as corrupt as it is – especially the Department of Justice – but I digress.

On a trivial note, I see that Sesame Street begins its new season on Monday, August 11th, but there's an episode slated for Monday, August 18th that features you, Tina Fey, and Chris Brown.  I'm wondering if it is a repeat.  But, didn't you make a more recent appearance, which is supposed to run in the new season?  Didn't you say you would let us know when it's due to air?  Please do remind us.

Catching up with the regulars....

To Jackie:  I participated in Hillary's web chat, too, but I don't think my message ever posted.  I wanted her to tell me why I should vote for Barack Obama, instead of for the Green Party.

To Celine:  Thank you for the summary of the forum featuring Nancy Pelosi.  I still have mixed feelings about her.  I have seen her recently on The View, and on The Daily Show, promoting her book.  She came off as fairly sensible in those interviews, but I really loathed how she and Harry Reid and Howard Dean handled the whole Clinton v. Obama primary race.  I also wish the House had made more substantive progress, under her leadership.  She will be a guest on Tavis Smiley, on Monday, August 11th.

To Anna:  Not keeping notes, I just remember when you posted a link to David Gregory dancing to Mary J. Blige.  Of course, there's always the classic – David and Al doing step aerobics, on the plaza!

In general:  Speaking as I was, earlier, of Richard Nixon, Book TV on C-SPAN2 aired an Encore Booknotes interview from 1996, with Monica Crowley, author of "Nixon Off the Record."  I really must get my hands on that book; it sounds terrific!

And speaking of Book TV on C-SPAN2, this weekend they are airing an After Words interview with Patrick Cockburn, author of "Muqtada:  Muqtada al-Sadr, the Shia Revival, and the Struggle for Iraq."  I've not read the book, but it came out in April, and the topic sounds fascinating.  The interview airs at 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. tonight, and at 12:00 midnight and 3:00 a.m. Monday.

Lastly, Charlie Rose conducted a very interesting interview on August 6th with Imran Khan, chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Party.  One thing he said that really stood out to me was, "...the root of terrorism is political.  It's not religious."  While that idea certainly is not an original one, it has given me food for thought.  I am ruminating on it through the lens of past terrorist-group-tied-to-political-party scenarios, i.e. the Irish Republican Army and Sinn Fein.  It will be interesting to see how these themes play out in the myriad conflicts of the Middle East, if an emphasis is ever actually put on political reconciliation.  I struggle with the justness of bestowing political legitimacy on any group that brutalizes, maims, and kills innocent civilians, in order to advance its cause.  It's a sticky wicket, to be sure.  In any case, you can watch the interview online.

To the ladies:  Here's an RE nugget from back in June, when he was on his book tour.  You can also watch a video clip on YouTube.

http://www.itsyourworld.org/assnfe/ev.asp?ID=2242&SnID=1222723672

Good night, and happy Sunday to all the regular posters.  XOXO

To the moderator:  Thanks for indulging me these last few nights.  I've been particularly wordy, and wildly off topic.

laurel

RIP Isaac Hayes. Hayes was a great singer on its own, a voice-over artist as "Chef" on South Park. But as a side note, he was also a brain-washed Scientologist, a fact that brought him out of South Park because of the episode "Trapped in the Closet" where Scientology was heavily joked about. A later episode killed him finally from show with the "Super Adventure Club". May he Rest in Peace.

A question where I want to have an answer. Why do show no medal count on the broadcast as you did it during the 2006 Summer Olympics because you've cut out the Olympic news in the video podcast. At least still pictures are allowed in a Olympic broadcast which is broadcasted also on the net. The last night's broadcast was only 15 minutes long. Normal broadcasts are 20 to 22 minutes long.

It's great that Mr. Williams got tickets for an event. At least he can see some events live without tape-delay. I've heard controversy all over the internet. Also German commentators from my country joked about, that NBC didn't broadcast live the Opening Ceremony, edited the nations entry so the USA was edited to a later place so viewer stuck longer to the broadcast. NBC has obviously hijacked the Olympic Games for commercialization and ad revenue.

P.S. - I loved Ian Williams's report on the Muslim minority in China.  I never stopped to think about how diverse China actually is.  The report was fascinating.  Thanks.  And, Brian, if you can sew on a button, you're light years ahead of me.  Enjoy your iPod out loud!  Cheers.

Mr Williams,
You will broadcast from Tiananmen Square on Monday. When the media mention the square, they routinely suggest hundreds or even thousands of students were killed on June 4, 1989, on Tiananmen Square. I was a student in Beijing 19 years ago and stayed the whole June 3-4 night with other students on the square. The soldiers did not shoot the students, and no one died on the square. Sporadic shots were fired at loudspeakers mounted on the Monument to the People’s Heroes at the center of the square, and aimed at sky to push the crowd back, but not aimed at the students.

People were killed around Beijing before and after the army forced itself into the square, but not on the square.

I witnessed the student demonstrations in May and June 1989 in the Chinese capital, and was on the square when the Chinese army cleared the Tiananmen Square on the dawn of June 4, 1989. Since then, I came to the U.S., received a Ph.D. and became a professor of communication in Utah. I hope the media can set the history right.

Jing

How very fortunate you were to get to be a spectator at the basketball and swim events. Enjoy!
Terribly troubling events unfolding in Georgia! I pray that Russian leader Mr. Putin will end this swiftly and respect Georgian sovereignty. Dangerous situation. Just what the world does not need right now!

Mr Williams,
You will broadcast from Tiananmen Square on Monday. When the media mention the square, they routinely suggest hundreds or even thousands of students were killed on June 4, 1989, on Tiananmen Square. I was a student in Beijing 19 years ago and stayed the whole June 3-4 night with other students on the square. The soldiers did not shoot the students, and no one died on the square. Sporadic shots were fired at loudspeakers mounted on the Monument to the People’s Heroes at the center of the square, and aimed at sky to push the crowd back, but not aimed at the students.

People were killed around Beijing before and after the army forced itself into the square, but not on the square.

I witnessed the student demonstrations in May and June 1989 in the Chinese capital, and was on the square when the Chinese army cleared the Tiananmen Square on the dawn of June 4, 1989. Since then, I came to the U.S., received a Ph.D. and became a professor of communication in Utah. I hope to provide some background information to you, and the media can set history right.

Jing

Brian,

I was fascinated by Ian Williams' piece on the Muslims of Western China, earlier this evening.  Just fascinating.  What's truly amazing, is that for a country that people typically associate with a particuliar religious background, it was a real eye opener to see devout Muslims praying in a mosque...in China.  A perfect education for this foreign language teacher.  

How about that tractor trailer accident crossing the Bay Bridge from 4 AM this morning?  I just heard on the radio, that Maryland DOT just opened up one of the lanes...after 8 or 9 hours of a dead standstill.  My thoughts go out to the driver's family...and all of the poor souls stuck in that mess all day long.  Ah, summers in Maryland!

Congrats on getting that home grown feeling in your hotel room...nothing like an iPod to make everything better again.  You seem as if you're enjoying yourself in Beijing.  Good luck tomorrow with the broadcast from Tiananmen Square.  What a rare event.  And to think you were part of another one several weeks ago...the Presidential Compound in Tehran.  Man, you've got it good.  Allow me with all the respect in the world, to quote Tim Russert on this one..."Can you believe they pay us for doing this?"  You're very lucky.  Enjoy the benefits.

Enjoy the week.  I hope it stops raining for you.  Speak to you soon.

I'm sorry, but the politicization of the 2008 Olympics by NBC  is jaw-dropingly appalling! The games are supposed to be NON-POLITICIZED.  Then tell me why was our "President" given a political interview on Sunday during the games on national television? He had time to talk about Christianity, fighting between Georgia and Russia, and even mentioned Darfur... Never was the word "TIBET" mentioned.  How can we as a collective people sharing a world stage be so ignorant and blind to this issue?!  It's happening in the backyard of the Olympic games as we speak people! HUMANITY... OPEN YOUR EYES!!!  If the president won't say it, I will.

FREE TIBET!!!

Why did the President keep on using words like "engage" in his political speech during the Olympics on Sunday?  It seemed as if he was speaking in a "military" style.  He also mentioned North Korea and Iran.  Could this be a "Warning" on what's to come in the near future militarily speaking?  If it's going to be politicized, why wasn't Tibet mentioned?  Are we so ignorant that we forgot what was happening behind the scenes in Beijing? Why would NBC even politicize the games in the first place?  Keep the Olympics the Olympics.

Our multi-talented anchor! He sews! (Just teasing--couldn't pass that one up!) Why don't you just ditch the blazer? It's too hot and insufferably humid--I know, I've been there this time of year. Glad to hear you are having some fun, after having to broadcast at 6:30 AM. But it IS nice to see you on a weekend.  

Laurel--well put yesterday, as was yours on the Edwards subject on Fri., Jackie.

Hello to all the regulars and take care--

Note to Joan from Cheshire:

If you have cable, you could have watched Nightly on the NBC station in NYC.  

I've been away over the weekend - not seen any Olympics yet.  I'm not a big fan of summer time sports, but I would like the opportunity of attending the Games, one day.  That in itself must be incredible to be with people from everywhere in a very festive atmosphere. Glad you got to be an ordinary spectator!

I have also not seen any photos from the new war in the world.  I will be spending Monday catching up on news... as I eagerly await the broadcast from Tiananmen Square.

Ugh, buttons.  My dad's dad was a tailer, and my mom's mom a seamstress.  Do you think I can handle a needle?  That's too dangerous!  I can do buttons, as long as my cats aren't chasing them!  I don't suppose you had cats helping you sew buttons, Brian?  

I can't stop running your video on the 4x100m with Lezak, Phelps, Jones and Weber-Gale.  

I am watching everything on Phelps; a powerful athlete.

However, the relay was incredible.  Lezak looked as though he was jet propelled in the last few seconds.

What a swim; what a race.  Those guys made me proud.

During Brian Williams's coverage of the Olympics, he interviewed President Bush. I was disappointed that he allowed him to mention the inappropriate use of force in Georgia without pointing what to me is an obvious lack of moral authority in this area due to Bush's role in the Iraq war. For some reason, news reporters are unwilling to bring contradictions to Bush's attention - an unfortunate oversight for the American people and the news profession.

I know you have to cover the Olympics Brian, but this is one American who's not watching. It's wrong to be spending billions of dollars on sporting events when people in the host country (and many other countries) are living on pennies a day;  when thousands of children die every day for lack of clean drinking water. I'll bet the cost of just one of those fireworks displays could have saved countless lives.  China is an oppressive regime with a terrible human-rights record.  I also resent the presence of multi-millionaire athletes like LeBron James.  The Olympic spirit and competition of 'amateur' athletes has been lost for a long time. Am I supposed to swell with pride while I cheer on Kobe Bryant, a unbelievably wealthy and media-spoiled adulterer?  And to add to this is the murder of Todd Bachman, a well known name here in the Twin Cities.  I'll be very glad when this spectacle is over.

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