With my friends, watching.  Completely horrified.
Received overload of text from pals.
It was the buzz on Y100, this morning, our local hip radio station.
Am I allowed to say this???
Kanye is a DOUCHEBAG.
I feel it is necessary for me to apologize to the world and to those offended.
SO SORRY.  
Allow me to explain.
Kanye’s ego is bigger than his music.
I am completely embarrassed.

Hi Brian:

Great blog today.  Thank you for the link to the letter that was from Jackie Kennedy to Ethel Kennedy.  Very interesting reading.  I know that most of this stuff ends up in the Presidential Library but I truly think this personal note should remain with Ethel Kennedy, after all it was meant for her at time she was going through so much.  

How great is it that Vera Lynn at age 92 is #1 on the charts.  I had never heard of her or actually heard any of her songs but may have to check out a download.  From the article you can tell how much she cared for the soldiers back in WWII and still cares for those fighting now.  

I watched only part of the Music Video Awards last night and I thought the outburt from Kanye was awful and I was very shocked at Lady GaGa.  Music awards are not what they used to be.

I am sure your broadcast tonight will be as terrifc as all the others and I'll be watching as usual.

What happened to the coverage of the thousans of people that voiced their opinions in Washington DC Saturday...afraid to report the truth of a rising voice of the people? Obama didn't give his permission to report on it...you media make me sick...so one sided...shame on you...am done with NBC, CBS and ABC...

Man, I wish Taylor Swift would have said "Kanye, get your big butt off this stage. Go sing some of your anti-women, foul-mouthed garbage in the alley ... with the rats as your audience."

But Swift is too nice ... way too nice to be left standing there in a daze.

Great that security threw the bum out of the entire building.

I am very disappointed in the removal of the 5:00 PM news with Sue Simmons.  Where is David?  This is the 2nd time you have tried a show at the 5:00 PM hour.  The first one failed. No one wants to see that type of program at 5:00 PM while the other major networks have the news on.  

Our government in action, or is it?

When Bush and Obama bailed out Wall Street the investors cheered while the public moaned.

When Obama bailed out the auto industry Detroit cheered while the public moaned again.

When Obama bailed out the banks the bankers cheered while the public groaned.

Now Obama wants to change the way health insurance in conducted in this country.  Instead of bailing out insurance Obama was to limit their income and the public is outraged.

Looking at all the signs the outraged citizens hold up at rallies to maintain the status quo I see some organization behind the effort.  The hand of the insurance industry?

With the recent arguments of Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission - corporations, union, interested groups would be given free reign to spend what they want during an election cycle - is our government now being controlled by big business?

Wall street, auto industry, banks were given loans by the government and the public kept silent.  Try to limit the income of insurance and the people are organized into mob rallies.  If the insurance industry can do this much disruption to town hall meetings in a few months what will happen if all the big businesses in the country have free reign in the election process year-round?

It's time to shut down the lies and dis-information campaigns by insurance and their lobbyists with undue influence on Congress and bring back civility to the process of government.  If we don't we are handing over the reins of government over to a few corporate CEOs and their ad agencies who know how to manipulate the populist.

As a resident of the greater New Haven area, I am aghast at the horrific news from the Yale Medical School campus.  My deepest sympathies to Annie's , fiance, family and friends.  This is the fourth murder of a Yale student since 1974.  I know it pales in comparison to some of the mass murders on other campuses, but the fact it occurred in the middle of the day in a secure building makes it all the more chilling.

Civility is slowly disappearing, as Kanye West's behavior can now be described as pulling a "Joe Wilson."

So I watch every night since I was born in '71 and just now I noticed as Mr. Williams is telling me of the damage cell phones may or may not do, I notice a young lady in a "Wife Beater" t-shirt and a base-ball hat. Is it casual day at the office? I have always thought of you guys as always looking sharp even when you wake up.

Very interesting concerning your story about the Cid's and there son that got hit with those overdrafts.  The same thing just happened to our daughter, and we're trying to resolve the matter. Will that story be placed on the web, and if not how did the Cid family handle it.

Brian,
Fantastic broadcast tonight. You managed to find time for the foulmouth comments from Serena Williams at the US Open and dogs from Chicago. It is 5 days with 3 videos released, 4 people fired and not one word from you concerning ACORN. As time passes, your news reporting is going the way of your last segment, TO THE DOGS!!!!!!

It was a terrific broadcast as usual.  The
story about the female Yale student made
me sick to my stomach too.  Her family will
be in my prayers.

Good Evening Mr.Wiliams, A terrific broadcast as always Thank you for the web links in your posting tonight. Very Interesting! First of all the report by Mr. Quintanilla from the New York Stock Exchange speaking about President Obama's speech today on Wall Street. It is true that Americans should not have to pay the price because these large financial firm fail. The firms should be more responsible and cannot continue to take risks thinking the taxpayers will pay the bill. Consumers really decide on how healthy these financial institutions and it has been a  terribly rough economy with so many job losses. One hopes things will change for the better.

On another note the report by Mr.Rossen about the murder of the Yale Graduate Student Annie Le and the gruesome discovery of her body is just horrifying. It makes one sick to think it was someone on campus that could have caused this crime. My thoughts and prayers go out to her family and her fiance's family. So very tragic and sad.
The report by Mr.Bazell concerning the use of cellphones and the possible danger of getting cancer due to the radiation appears not to be totally proven just yet. With the 270million people using cellphones one hopes if there is any evidence to make the connection to cancer that preventive measures can be taken by people.

The "Making A Difference" segment by Mr.Tibbles about shelter dogs was really nice. Keeping these dogs from being put down and finding good, loving homes for them is great. I like the title of the program, "Life's Ruff" and seeing the dogs with their owners is wonderful because it brings so much joy to the people. The dogs deserve loving homes and always give unconditional love to their owners. It was a very nice piece!

Thank You for the broadcast Mr.Williams. 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!
XOXO
 

Good evening, Brian!

Indeed I did watch the VMAs last night, and I had a feeling you would too. “What a night” is what I was saying. I couldn't believe what Kanye did to the young Taylor Swift last night, but...with all due respect to Kanye...I wasn't all that surprised with him. It was really sweet and classy what Beyonce did for her. I wasn't surprised to see that from Beyonce, she's always appeared to be a sweet person.

That's wonderful about Vera Lynn! I have a huge weakness for her style of music. Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin...you get the idea. Bobby Darin's “Beyond the Sea”, which was one of President Kennedy's favorite songs (as anyone could guess), is also a huge favorite of mine. There's just nothing out there anymore that can compare to the music written in songs such as the ones Frank Sinatra recorded. With his voice, and all of the music tied in together, I just melt! And am overcome with goosebumps. Vera Lynn's title, “We'll Meet Again”, is very appropriate, especially now that she's taken the No.1 record spot in Britain. Almost like she planned it...congratulations to her!

Speaking of the Kennedys, thank you  for sharing the story involving the Kennedy family. I don't know if you remember, but I too am a huge “fan” of the family. What an unbelievable story. It's very interesting, and horrible that such a precious item as this poignant letter took so long for it to get to the family. I wonder how in the world you find stories like these. Thanks for “linking” us to this story. I love the stories you share with us, thank you! Anything you come across about the Kennedys, I would love to hear!

Onto the broadcast:

Your right that it was a terrific broadcast! By the end, I knew it was that heartwarming last story you were referring to. It was great story to end us on at the start of the week. I've already made it a promise that whenever I adopt my own dog I will definitely adopt from a rescue shelter. Most people in my family have, and there's no denying that they really are the greatest.

On a completely different note: It was so deeply sad and disturbing hearing this morning on Today about the young woman from Yale in New Haven, Connecticut. My thoughts and prayers go out to her family and friends, and the New Haven police department. This is such a tragic investigation they've all been working on, and I hope they find the evil person responsible soon.

If I'm not mistaken, I've been hearing that YOU will be a regular on Jay Leno's new show? I hope it isn't just a rumor. I've been hoping to hear you would host SNL a second time, but being on Jay Leno's show is the next best thing! He and Al Roker are taking over NBC! They must have some plans up their sleeves.

I hope you had a great weekend. Glad to have you back for a brand new week.
Take care, and have a good night!
-Cary

(Gosh, I write too much...if only it were that easy for an English writing assignment...)

Kanye West says he will continue to "push the envelope." Does that allow him to be a complete boor with no capacity for anyone else's feelings?  Where did he ever get that ego?    Hooray for Beyonce who has class in spades!  West is a complete jerk.

About the Cid family and their son. With all the technology now there is now reason for a person to not know what their checking account balance is. He was doing transactions without money in his account and using the bank's money. Therefore the bank was charging him for the use of their money. I think it was irresponsible on their son's part to keep doing transactions when he did not have the money in his account and continue to do it. Any account can be checked online every second to see their transactions are. Also there is over draft protection that can be tied to any other account to help in these cases.  

great story about overdraft fees.happenned to me i think it is a disgrace to do this to their customers

I’m a twenty-year-old college student and did not watch the MTV Video Music Awards for the reasons you listed above (and there are many, many more).  This event honestly makes me embarrassed to be a human being.  The VMAs celebrate and encourage the obnoxious behaviors of pop musicians who are more concerned with projecting an image than any artistic integrity.  For every Lady Gaga in the music industry, there are a hundred singers and bands who would use that fame to create music that transcends the saccharine pop dribble the VMAs celebrate.  

A little over a year ago my wife and I forgot to make a deposit from our savings account into our checking (two different banks, checking is with BofA-and we'll never use BofA for anything else). 10 'debits' less than $10.00 each racked up $350.oo in fees! Preditory indeed! I strongly urge you to play the piece on debit cards again!!!!!

Hi Bian

A great broadcast again tonight.  

It was very sad to hear of the death of Patrick Swayze.  He was so young.  He had a terrifc career.  His battle against cancer was a tough one but now he is at rest and may be doing a little "dancing".

Why do banks like Bank of America believe it is right to hand out bonues to CEO's and thoseat Merrill Lynch when so many of their employees receive pink slips each day.  How do they justify this?  It just does not make sense that they can keep doing this again and again.  Those bonuses could mean jobs not being lost.  Even if they had only given out 1/2 the amounts there would have been so many people that could have kept their jobs with the rest of that money.  I am sure the people that received those bonuses like the ones that will receive the next round of bonueses, really don't need it. Thank you Judge for your decision.

The debit card overdraft fees are outrageous and are forced on us.  Like Bank of America's practice of insisting on us having over draft protection, it is unfair.  Yes, we all need to be responsible for our finances and our actions and yes fees should apply, but not to these extremes.  We should have the option to having overdraft protection or not and if we bounce a check then it is our problem and we have to deal with the consequences.  Having a bank just pay the overdraft and then tack on fees of $35 or more to each transaction is horrible.  This does not aleviate the problem it only compounds it.  Because of the job loss that continues it is making it harder and harder to make ends meet and people are bouncing checks more and more but to impute these high fees is not the solution.  As your web only report indicated there are other options and we need to check into them and do what is necessary to stop paying these fees.  If and when our economy does rebound most people will still be in debt up to their eyeballs because of the exorbitant fees they are paying banks for overdrafts and the like with no end in site.  Most people do not want the overdraft protection and should not be forced into it.

It was very tragic to hear of Annie Le's body being found on the day her wedding was to take place.  Our prayers go out to her family and friends.  It is so hard to believe that her death may have been caused by a student or faculty memeber on that campus but as they said, only those on the campus would be able to access those buildings.  I hope this person is caught soon and the reason for this senseless killing is known.

What a fantastic "Making A Difference" report tonight.  I know your love of dogs so this story must have touched your heart emensely.  What a loving thing it is to save one of these dogs life by training them to be the most loving of pets.  Giving them a chance to love and be loved.  The love they give back to their owners for saving their lives is such a tremendous gift.  It's a win, win situation for all.  Such a great and happy story to end the broadcast tonight.

Thanks for the great broadcast.  Hope the rest of your evening is a good one.  I will look for your blog and your broadcast tomorrow.

Last Wednesday, Pete Williams reported that the Supreme Court convened for an early session to hear arguments in a campaign finance case.  We heard an audio portion of Justice Scalia's comments in which he said, "I don't know any small business in this country that isn't incorporated."  But the printed transcript that Nightly News put up on the screen used the phrase "in the country" instead of "in this country".  Apparently, the Nightly News producers think it's perfectly acceptable to change the words of a Supreme Court Justice.  They're probably thinking, "It's only one word.  No big deal."  Well, it's a huge deal.  The words of Supreme Court Justices govern the lives of every American.  What they say matters.  One word can make a big difference.  Entire books have been written about the meaning of a single comma in the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.  So I think that properly transcribing the words of a U.S. Supreme Court Justice is pretty important.

Brian Williams began his July 13 Daily Nightly blog by crowing, "I'm a Supreme Court buff...."  If the managing editor of a network newscast is a Supreme Court buff, you'd think that he would be alarmed if his producers improperly transcribe the words of a Justice.  Maybe Brian needs to be downgraded from buff to quasi-buff.  He just doesn't seem very concerned with this situation.  Or the situation.  Whatever.

It's not just BoA that charges exorbitant overdraft fees. Some even charge interest on them. We have all fallen victim to this scam. And I do believe it is a scam, but what can we do to stop it.  That is what you should investigate. Why is this allowed. Our government wants to control everything else why are they not stopping these practices? Hopefully, you will do more than just report the story. Hopefully, you will investigate this and find out what can be done to stop this practice. Where does the Federal Regulatory Commission stand on these practices? Lobbyist control our government and that causes our government to just let banks and insurance companies to run-a-muck! Fox News would grab a story like this and not let go. That's what network news should do. You report a story but that's it (here today, forgotten tomorrow).

Thank you so much for reporting on how Bank of America is robbing people on a daily basis as a result of their debit fees. They are one of the worst banks out there when it comes to cheating people. I wish something could be done about their predatory practices.

Brian -

I am a Yale University staff retiree.  This horrible incident at the Med School is only a reminder to me that the murder of another young woman near the Yale Divinity school in 1998 is still unsolved.

The New England offices of the FBI are in New Haven just a block or two off the Green, so I can only hope that soon both of these heinous crimes will be solved and justice done for these young women.  There has been enormous co-operation from all police agencies involved.

I'm a New Haven native, graduate of Albertus Magnus and love the city.  I was pleased and proud to work at Yale and always felt safe on the campus and in town.

Joan

The health effects of cell phone use are being argued by many.  Does the low level radiation cause tumors?
Regarding “What’s your number?”, to those who have mine, I say, call me.
It seems that everything in life is a risk.  
However, did some research…need to change habits.

Being an animal lover, I immediately connected with “Life’s Ruff.”
My three cats, Lilac, Jazz, and Pepsi are all strays.  I am moved by those who care for shelter animals.
So sad, so many are euthanized. Heartbreaking.

Patrick Swayze.
“Ghost.”
One can only wish for the love Molly and Sam shares.
Molly: “I love you.”
Sam:   “Ditto.”
Sweet.
Brian, terrific blog.  I wait anxiously, each day, for them.

Here is a sad footnote to add to our too plentiful list of obits this year - The real Norma Rae died of cancer this week, partly due to a delay in treatment caused by her insurer refusing to cover needed medication.

Sadly, this is a typical thing that happens to so many of us "insured" people.

Article excerpt below, and link:

Real "Norma Rae" Dies of Cancer After Insurer Delayed Treatment

Sue Sturgis, Facing South: "The North Carolina union organizer who was the inspiration for the movie "Norma Rae" died on Friday of brain cancer after a battle with her insurance company, which delayed her treatment. She was 68. Crystal Lee Sutton, formerly Crystal Lee Jordan, was fired from her job folding towels at the J.P. Stevens textile plant in her hometown of Roanoke Rapids, N.C. for trying to organize a union in the early 1970s. Her last action at the plant -- writing the word 'UNION' on a piece of cardboard and standing on her work table, leading her co-workers to turn off their machines in solidarity -- was memorialized in the 1979 film by actress Sally Field."
http://www.southernstudies.org/2009/09/real-norma-rae-dies-of-cancer-after-insurer-delayed-treatment.html

Hi Brian,

I have volunteerily watched you on the Nightly News over all of the other stations news anchors faithfully on a regular basis. I have always trusted your reporting  to be the most unbiased, believeable, fair and accurate reporting on the air waves.  This is the primary reason I tune into you each night at 6:30 p.m.  

Last night I watched intently to see your reporting of the Freedom March in Washington DC last Saturday.  To my amazement your broadcast was total silent to this remarkable event.  An event that America's people were speaking out from all across the country on their dissatisfaction by our President and Congress handling important issues adversely affecting the majority of Americans and thier families and children.  

As you know, there were over 2 million Americans in Washington demonstrating their voicing their concerns and dissatisfaction of the actions of President and Congress.  These issues range from health care and to excessive spending including several other issues attempting to add more government control.  

This peaceful protest last weekend made a strong stand or freedom and the people's strong voice of disatisfaction and lack of listening and caring by the President and Congress.  The silent majority of  the people emphasizing that they are against the United States of America moving to larger government control and  moving towards a more socialist society.  

Brian, I have always trusted your reporting and I would like to hear from you personally on an explanation why Nightly News avoided and failed to  reporton such a significant event like Freedom March in Washington last Saturday?  

America was established "Of the people, by the people and for the people".  It is what made the United States of America great and the best place on this planet to live. Watching the lack of media reporting on this event on Saturady further supports  recent surveys of the American people losing a huge amount of trust for the daily media reporting.  
 
Brian, I just want to know the real truth as to why this Freedom March did not make your Nightly News cast?  I am sure those +2 million Americans visiting Washington this weekend have the same questions for you as well.  I anxiously await your response.

Sincerely,

Nick Chapman
Worthington, Ohio

You have devoted great attention to the recent death of a Yale student.  While it is a great tragedy for the family and Yale community, does this really deserve coverage on the evening national news?  On the other hand, ACORN, an organization that had close ties to President Obama and the Democratic Party, has been caught several times in recent undercover investigations to be involved in fraudulent behavior, and you don’t even mention it!  The most recent investigation showed ACORN advising a pimp and prostitute how to launder money, avoid reporting it to taxing authorities, and how to lie on mortgage applications.  If I hadn’t accidentally seen an article about the ACORN investigation on the Internet, I never would have known that it happened.  Do you want to be People magazine or a national evening news broadcast?  

While I am not a fan of Bank of America, I do not do business with them now and will not in the future, I feel that they have a right to charge fees on overdrafts.  That policy has been going on forever and while $35 per transaction is very steep, they are correct when they say it is the customers responsibility to make sure money is in their account.

The Cid's story as far as I am concerned is their own fault.  Shame on the boy for incurring overdrafts the first time but he is 17 years old and has a lot to learn.  Shame on the parents for not taking the card away after the second time he incures the fees.  Apparently it is easier to blame the bank than teach the kid a lesson by making him pay the fees.  

After listening to all of the consumer advocates who then agree with them...I have to ask the question, do you beleive that people should be able to spend money they don't have.  That is what I got out of that show last night, everyone should be able to use their debit cards to their hearts content and if there is no money in their account there should be no penalty.  Jordan Cid accumulated $1785.00 over 5 months. I ask his parents the question, "why did you continue to allow him to use a debit card that clearly he proved he was not responsible enough to have?"  All banks charge those fees and the reason they are so steep is so people will learn quickly that they need to watch their accounts closely.  

I love watching your news show but your report on this matter took the side of the irresponsible over the responsible folks out there. I hope that BoA took the kids card away and put the incident on his credit report and his parents if they were the cosigners.  I wonder what the next jam little Jordan Cid is going to get himself in and have Mommy and Daddy go to the news media to get him out of it.  I can only hope that you will be more responsible with your reporting of the next story about them than you were with this one.

I find it astounding that there was no mention on last night's Brian Williams news program about the Acorn corruption or the march on Washington. This is why NBC news is going downhill fast--

Why haven't you covered the news about the Washington D.C. protesters that marched on the Capitol City on Saturday September 12, 2009?

Yes, the "Making A Difference" report last nite was heartwarming and encouraging.  However, as a hobby breeder of purebred whippets (averaging less than a pup a year over the last twenty years), I was offended at the subliminal message suggesting that purebred dogs are pampered and mixed breds are not. I love my scruffy, little mixed bred, which I literally plucked off the street five years ago to rescue him from certain death, just as much as my purebreds.   The content also smacks of the growing trend in the media to vilify purebred breeders as being the cause of the animal shelter situation.  For years now we have been fighting in our houses of legislature across the nation against the attempts (backed by HSUS and PeTA) to create mandatory spay/neuter laws, which ultimate goal is to cause the extinction of the pet culture in America.  Wherever adoped, mandatory spay/neuter laws have created an increase in shelter euthanasias, as compared to the average of surrounding municipalities where spay/neuter remains voluntary, and low-cost spay/nueter surgeries are offered to low income dog owners.  Who in the news community will be the first to have the courage to do an indepth investigation into the machinations of HSUS and PeTA, and their social engineering that has far-reaching consequences beyond the pet culture. Brian, the content of the "Making A Difference" story could have stood very nicely without the dig against purbreds.  I can only hope that the insertion of that comment was unwitting, and not calculated.      

Bank of America's overdraft fees is sickening. I bank at Chase. They too have overdraft fees that our killing me. My story is a little different. I have my child support deposited into my account. Chase has taken so much from me that their have been times I couldn't feed my kids! I also have a loan with them and in what I've paid in fees, I've paid this loan back several times! After the Wall Street mess, the banks got more money from all of us and they should now be told that they can't charge us these fees because WE bailed them out! I'm to the point that I take my money OUT of the bank as soon as I know my money has been deposited. I will never trust my money to a bank, ever again. I would rather bury my money in the back yard before I let another bank rob me of my hard earned money!

Where is the real reporting here? Nothing on Acorn!You guys put that pile of #%*& on your website about some MTV awards. I'm going to go back to the super market rags at the checkout! At least they can find Elvis, Bigfoot and crop circles. You and all the main networks are horrible. I'd be ashamed of my performance if I was you guys!  

Come on Brian we want real news. The VMA's can stay on MTV. How about something everyone needs to read about like Acorn and what they've been doing illegally. Journalism is dead here.

overdraft fee that was me all the way as of late  but mine are more to hitting me right after the first and get this i check my balance by phone  and i was right on the amount that i should have had  per each transaction yet i still got a over draft so i called and now this is the funny part  they ( B.o.A ) told me that the phone is not right as it does not update hmmm also i seem to be getting overdfrated on stuff that should not have gone though  allso one 2 out of the past 3 ( well all of them ) i had received  well over the 10 day limite that they now awllow before they B.o.A give you a $35.oo charge for being over drafted but in that 10 day time frame  you have a $10.00 overdraft fee allready thou's u are getting a $45.00 overdraft fee and not a $35.00 and as being a disabled vet and on a limited income i cannt afford to have that happened to me pls excuse me if i am confussing or jumping around as i have a hard time getting what i want out or getting my meaning across  thats do to my disability

HELLO!?! - The ACORN Story is HUGE and millions of Americans know it. The cover-up by most of the media IS the real story. You, Brian Williams, are an accomplice. Oh... I'm sorry.  Was that not civil enough?

Brian

I guess you already know that Imus will be on FOX Business Channel daily starting October 5th.

MSNBC will consider this the fish that got away.
Sharpton and the PC police got their way.

Dear Brian,

You have a responsibility to air stories that warrant serious discussion and investigation.  What happened to airing the Acorn and SEIU scandal?  These criminals have taken millions of dollars from taxpayers.  Where is the story?  What about the Freedom March in Washington this past weekend?  Millions of people including Democrats, Republicans, Independents and Libertarians from all walks of life representing different parts of the country were there.  Where was the story?  A story is not just simply mentioning something for the sake of it but rather investigating and scrutinizing it bit by bit.  Your ratings have tanked.  Bring back the art of investigative Journalism.  Until you do, we will get our news from other media outlets.

I am holding out hope that you and your network will one day go back to reporting the news. Not one mention of the Acorn situation. This has all ingredients for a top news story. My concern is by not even mentioning it it makes NBC look like they are clearly avoiding an issue that might be detrimental to the White House and the administration.
Please report today's top stories-- be what we all want you to be- good and trusted reporters.

wow...great diccussion...

Dear Brian,

It's always good to see Richard Engel safe and sound, back in the States!  Happy 36th birthday to Richard on Wednesday, September 16th, and best of luck to him and to NBC at the News and Documentary Emmys on Monday the 21st!  I hope all of you sweep your categories!

@ Peaches:  Thanks so much for updating us on your mom's travels.  We love hearing from her, and we've been kind of worried.  Send her our love.

@ Anna:  Yes, I did watch the AC360 reports from Afghanistan.  And I can't imagine having THAT kind of duty in the blazing heat!  Ugh.  In any case, they are definitely our best and brightest.

Laurel

You no longer report the news, you have totally avoided Obama's favorite group "Acorn", a group of disgusting people breaking the laws of the land, the group that put Obama in power and that he defendent so fiercefully and learned from.

I have a real problem concerning the article on the Cids and overdraft fees.  What wasn't covered is that as a military member he is subject to the UCMJ and can be punished for bouncing checks.  How do I know? I'm retired military and had troops working for me.  If Private Cids bank not covered his fees he would have been subject to the fees charged by the vendor.  If he had written checks, and they bounced regardless of amount, he could have been arrested.  Shame on him for his own actions and using his uniform as a crutch.

HAPPY 36TH BIRTHDAY TO RICHARD ON WEDNESDAY!! I am SO HAPPY YOU ARE IN THE STATES FOR YOUR BIRTHDAY!! WOO! HOO! I am sure you will do great at the Emmy Awards on Monday September 21st!! NBC is going to win all kinds of Emmys!!! You will win all the categories!!!
Best of Luck Richard!!! And NBC!!
So Happy You are Safe and Sound in the States!!
Lisa

I'd like to update a comment I made last night. I had forgotten another Yale student homicide - a woman in 1977.  That's five since the early 70s that I know of. Some, but not all, have been street crimes.  

Hi Brian,
I teach high school students about financial matters and I also sit on the board of a credit union. I think the consumer groups gave some bad advice last night when commenting on overdraft protection. They recommended that consumers opt out of overdraft protection.   Overdraft protection is intended to help customers avoid overdraft fees.  If you sign up for overdraft protection, you are applying for a line of credit.  Once  approved, your bank will float you a loan to cover an NSF check.  The interest charge you pay for the loan to cover the check is typically way less than the flat NSF fee that banks charge. If you repay the line of credit in a timely manor, you're paying a few bucks rather than the sizable NSF charge.  I would recommend that all consumers with checking accounts take advantage of overdraft protection in order to avoid NSF fees.

Brian,
Regarding overdraft fees. I have noticed that Wells Fargo will selectively post debits on an account before posting credits, even if the credits are received before the debit at the 12am processing time, as with direct deposit. If they both come in at the same time the credit is held after debits are processed.
That selective process increases their revenue. Just some inside info from the Rosemead Ca. Processing Center.

Hi Brian,
I just wanted to add a comment re; the OD fees bank's charge.  Yes, the fees are expensive and a money maker for the banks-however I dont feel that they are "predatory" at all.  
A checking acct is not a loan--it is intended to have deposits put in and bills paid out, and the only time a fee is billed is if someone has paid out money that they dont have.
I have asked many people over the years and not very many of them actually keep a check register or even pay much attention to their balances.
This seems to be another symptom of our changing lifestyles.  People prefer to have the convenience of their debit cards which make spending money very easy--but they dont want to have to keep track of their own balances (and they seem to expect the banks to police them and tell them "stop, you've run out of money-dont buy that latte").
The very simple solution is to make sure that you have the money in the account before you spend it--voila--no OD fees.

 Imust add that outrageous fees apply to checks as well. Banks should not approve a debit card transaction if it overdraws an account.  They also charge all debits from an account before they enter any deposits, again resulting in huge overdraft fees.  I have been the victim of this far too many times form Wells Fargo.

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