Hi David:

We are all following this story!  You have to love a boy with insight and drive and a father who builds a balloon with him.    What a tragic tale.   His love of life will live on forever and ever.  God bless his parents and his siblings.

You must have typed your blog from your BB. Goodness you need some capitals in your post.  Sam, NN Editor, are you home there?  

Peace and love to all!  

Dear David,

It will be good to see you in the anchor chair tonight.  You always do such a fine job filling in for Brian and Lester.  

The story of the boy and the balloon is absolutely unbelievable!  I, too, hope for a happy ending.

Your post tonight seems in the style of e.e. cummings!  Ha,ha.  I see Anna noticed, too.  She's your biggest fan.

@ For those of you who missed Richard Engel's appearance on "The Martha Stewart Show" Friday, here's the link to the video:

http://www.marthastewart.com/article/richard-engel

Thanks, Lisa, for letting me know!

Have a good evening.  Keep warm and dry, East Coast!

Laurel

Good evening, David.

I spent most of my day in Barnes and Noble with a friend after class, and have been following the awful news of the 6-year old boy allegedly taken up by the balloon, through text messages to my phone (via Twitter), and came home to see the unbelievable images on TV. As a Father, I know this must be such a tough story for you to follow, as I'm sure it is for all parents watching this unfolding story. I am praying that this young boy will come home safe to his family. He is in our thoughts and prayers.

I'm looking forward to joining you tonight, David. You're one of my favorite journalists – and it's always great seeing you fill in the “big seat” for Brian Williams, who I hope has been enjoying his time off.

I'll sit in with you soon.

Take care,
-Cary

How many times have we seen these stories of a parent that leaves their experimental aircraft and children unattended?

Congress will probably see this a call to action to push for tighter regulation of Mylar balloon industry.

Ok... this kiddo was hiding in a box in the attic.  I don't live too far from Ft. Collins, so I am going to drive up there myself and GROUND THIS KID FOR A YEAR!!  He scared us to death!  I am so relieved he's OK, but yep, he's not going to see the blue sky for a long time now!!!

David,

What a harrowing story about the
six-year-old boy.  Thanks goodness
it had a happy ending.

It is always good to see you, Lester,
and Ann fill in for Brian who must
be hiding from Madonna as Mothers
have been warned to hide their sons
from her. (Info from AOL)

A riveting broadcast!!!

Good Evening Mr.Gregory, Nice to see you this evening filling in for Mr.Williams. Another fine broadcast this evening. First of all the report by Mr.Cowan from Colorado concerning the 6yr old boy and the balloon that drifted high into the air. It is certainly nice the boy and his father built a balloon together, but seeing the balloon get loose and drift so high in the air with the possiblity of the boy inside was scary. Seeing the balloon at 7000feet really looked frightening while thinking the young boy was inside the basket, but it did eventually come down softly in a field. At first learning the boy wasn't inside was quite scary. Thankfully, he was found at home hiding in a box in the attic. One does wonder what happened and with more questions answered one will learn more. The most important thing is the boy is safe and sound! A Happy Ending!

On another note the report by Andrea Mitchell about the deadly attacks in Pakistan show how tumultuous the region with the conflict between the Pakistan military and the taliban. It is terrible four attacks happened killing around 41 people. The taliban are a major force in Pakistan and Afghanistan controlling much of the region of Afghanistan. Maybe someday the taliban won't be so prevalent. Only time will tell.

The report by Rehema Ellis on the series, " A Women's Nation" certainly showed how womens roles have changed making up half the workforce. With many mothers being the breadwinners their role in balancing business and family effects everyone. It is extremely difficult to handle family needs when both parents work. Yet,women still earn less than men. Redefining everything in life.

The report by Mr.Bazell concerning the swine flu outbreak showed many hospitals may not be prepared for any surge in patients with the swine flu. This machine that helps in breathing needs to be in more Intensive Care Units, yet not every hospital has them. All hospitals need to be prepared early before any surge in patients happens.
The report by Mr.Costello about the airlines raising fares shows how to compensate for fewer passengers airlines are finding every way possible to charge those who do fly. One needs to book a flight as early and possible since many prices go up very quickly. Travelling during the holidays will be expensive for many people.

Thank You for the broadcast Mr.Gregory. Great job on the broadcast! 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

This sounds totally fishy to me, sounds like maybe the parents wanted more reality time on tv. If this turns out to be a hoax then they should have to pay for all the expenses involved trying to locate the boy.

This was not a lead story. Who's in charge, Charlie Gibson?
What a B-Team call

It is a mark of how the craft of journalism has deteriorated over the past decades that absolutely no one seems to have thought to question the basic assumption that this boy was on the craft in the first place.

I didn't follow this story that closely, save to make note of it when a friend reported it on Facebook early in the day. Later when the balloon landed, she followed up with the news of it's empty status.

My first question then was - "Did anyone actually see him get into the craft?" When the response was, essentially, "Well, we assume..." I predicted he was hiding in the house.

I'm glad someone at least asked the obvious "Is this a publicity stunt?" question; my guess is Colbert of TDS will ask the somewhat more pointed, but equally rhetorical - "So, are you just an attention whore, or are you an attention whore that loves his media trained son?"

I'm amazed more with each passing day by what the unemployed must be watching on what passes for news TV in this nation.

This was a complete deflated balloon of a story, and yet it apparently floated on CNN for hours.  I am so glad there's nothing important going on that they could have recorded, like an effort to improve health care, or 2 wars, or global warming, etc - sorry News Media in General but this = FAIL.

On the plus side, despite my TV setup still not being remedied, I am now able to watch online, thanks to an NBC employee responding to my recent blog post here seeking assistance on just finding the link to the As Broadcast show videos.  Tired old eyes and brain at the end of a day; no excuses but that. =)

I turn to Nightly News for information about the pertinent key happenings of the day and find that I am generally very well-pleased with the quality and range of content presented. Tonight, however, was a rare and disappointing exception. I was irritated to find that the first 6 min. 31 sec. of the broadcast tonight was devoted to the Denver balloon situation. Now I can completely understand why NBC would run it, and I can even see why it might make 'top story'. What I can't understand is why it took 6 minutes and necessitated TWO reporters to tell the tale. I mean no disrespect to David, but I'm looking forward to Brian's return.

This morning I learned that the boy suddenly took sick while the father was talking.  Instantly I thought that someone drugged the child so he remained in hiding, and the aftermath, the little boy is sick from the said drugs.  Sounds awful, but this would be the only way a child would remain at such a lengthly time in a box in the attic.  I would check into this.

I realize Brian Williams is away but surely there was some producer or journalist around who said "Surely, this should not make tonight's newscast at all."  To put it as the lead story and give it 6 minutes is the reason cable news is derided and why usually the NBC Nightly News is so much better.  Please give us news that is significant.  You all blew it on this one (pun intended).    

The focus on "Balloon Boy" turned out to be much ado about nothing, or a distraction, in other words, to divert attention from the vote on the amendment to the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, initiated by Senator Al Franken, which would "prohibit the use of funds for any Federal contract with Halliburton Company, KBR, Inc., any of their subsidiaries or affiliates, or any other contracting party if such contractor or a subcontractor at any tier under such contract requires that employees or independent contractors sign mandatory arbitration clauses regarding certain claims". This would specifically keep contractors like Halliburton from forcing their employees to sign statements that would prevent them from suing the company in the event they're raped by their fellow employees while in the field. Incredibly, 30 Republican Senators voted AGAINST the amendment (no Democrats did), and sided with the company against employees. Fortunately, the amendment passed despite the efforts of these repugnant people. You can see the roll call at this site:
<<<http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=111&session=1&vote=00308>>>
Shame on NBC (and most MSM outlets) for ignoring this in favor of "Balloon Boy".

Hi David:

What a treat this is having you in for Brian last night.  Hope he is enjoying his time off.  

What a dramatic story unfolded to day in Colorado.  I am so glad this little boy is safe.  I truly hope that this was not a planned stunt as the boy eluded to last night.  It will be interesting to find out what the true story is.  All in all the little boy being safe is all that really matters.

The bonuses that the banks are still paying out are sinful.  It's just not fair to the middle class and poor people out here that are loosing everything and CEO's are getting richer at their expense.  Can't the government do something about this?

I know that seniors are upset over no cost of living increase that they so desperately need but the $250 that the President is proposing is better than nothing at all.  

Yes, the President should have made his trip to New Orleans longer so he could have visited all the areas hit by Kartina and hopefully he will make another trip to the area soon.  His promise to rebuild the area must be kept.  These people have been suffering for four years now waiting for the burreaucracy and red tape of government to end so they can rebuild and recover from this devestating hurricane.  It's time to show them that we do care.  

The situation in Pakistan is getting worse each day.  More killings due to terror attacks are on the rise.  I hope the President's decisions are being thought through with Afghanistan in those thoughts and something is done soon to finalize this mess.

I am so looking forward to the "A Woman's Nation" segments next week.  We as working mothers do make a difference in our families but at what cost and what benefit.  We do take on a lot each day and it does take its toll on our family life but our families are so worth it.  We are a driving force in the workplace right now with so many of our husbands out of work.  I am sure this is going to be a great segment.

Thanks for a great broadcast David.  It was great having you with us.  

iam more concerned about the boy  that got shot 5 times at school in conway s.c. my grand son has autism and i can not imagine him getting shot 5 times at school  this was a c-h-i-l-d

If anyone every watched "Wife Swap" with this so called dad and mom they would think THIS MAN IS CRAZY" Why don't they talk to the woman who did the Wife Swap show?  She can tell you how disturbed this family was.  The family had wires laying all over the house, let their kids sleep in their clothes in case there was a storm they had to chase.  Get real he is a control freak (wife and childern) who is going to get away with putting his kids in danger.

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