Calling Maui

Jo — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 01:53:12 GMT

Brian...I must say I am so disillusioned with all the press time the media is giving to the John Edwards affair. I don't condone what happened, but there are so many other issues to focus on. It should be a private situation between him and his wife. It's bad enough to deal with something like that privately, but when it's out for the world to see, the pain must be unbearable. Who are we to judge?? The rest of the world must think we are a joke. I hate to say it,but most people in power think they are beyond reproach and have and will continue to have affairs. In the future, it's going to be harder and harder to find qualified people to run for office as who among us doesn't have a skeleton in their closet?? With the internet, investigative reporting, and cell phone taking pictures...there isn't going to be anything that gets by. If someone has an affair, is it truly going to affect the way they do their job? (like I said I don't condone it, but it is going to happen). I believe in the future when someone runs for office they need to come out and reveal all their "misdeeds" upfront so those who like to "dig dirt" won't have anything to find.

I respect you and I know sometimes you have to choice but to report some of this stuff when it becomes mainstream, but maybe you could start a new trend and avoid reporting personal matters between a husband and wife. I believe that most Americans don't care!!

Calling Maui

s.t.c., Ottawa, Canada — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 02:13:24 GMT

Brian,

I wish I had found NBC Nightly News earlier. While my family is away in Beijing for the summer, I listen to your program from podcast audio every single day, as I am not a TV person.

Thank you for all the broadcasting on China and the Olympic Games. I liked your every report about China, be dark side or bright side, be Tian'anmen Square '89 or Tian'anmen Square '08.

Look forward to tomorrow's podcast.

Calling Maui

Anna — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 02:42:37 GMT

"Charm offensive" isn't it remarkable at best? So Time magazine and others are readily available for the show.

Next time you are in Beijing chat with Americans living there working for US companies. They will tell you that their internet is censored. Time magazine and The Economist are readily available with many articles ripped out from the publication or blacked out. Local telephone calls and cell phone calls are recorded. Even CNN's ticker feed is blacked out to edit news from America. People should know these facts and know that China's 1.3 billion people are living and breathing Communism each and every day.

Bests to all!

Calling Maui

Bill Kelly — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 03:17:35 GMT

Mr. Williams,
You and your team still have the best newscast of any network; I thought the reports tonight were especially great and I look forward to learning more about the country from you and your crew. As far as the mistake, don't sweat it. You get the big things right and your heart is in the right place-that's what really matters. Bill Kelly

Calling Maui

John Manning, Somers, CT — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 07:27:46 GMT

Brian,

Even your apoplogies are enjoyable reading and yours was the first "FULL" evening news broadcast from Tiananmen Square.

John Manning

Calling Maui

Patrick Spears, Jupiter Florida — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 10:34:06 GMT

With the amount of travel you have put in lately, I would not beat myself up on a simple error of memory.. You are doing important work, Brian. Informative and entertaining. Take care of yourself.. you look tired and a little thin.. Remember that when Tim Russert passed away, everyone in "News" was saying they needed to take better care of themselves. I hope you have some R&R scheduled prior to the Conventions

Calling Maui

Bruce Grill, Hong Kong — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 12:32:28 GMT

Hello Brian. Please stop pronouncing the central square in Beijing as
"Tee ahn en muhn Square" . My Chinese is good but not great and I do sympathize. But you all should know better. Add the "t" sound to the word "yen" then "ahn" then "Muhn". Three syllables. Don't feel obliged to learn the tones.

Calling Maui

Steve Doff, Ellicott City, Maryland — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 12:39:09 GMT

Brian,

So, how was the Forbidden City? Awesome??!! I hope so.

You've been doing a fantastic job from over there. I can't imagine how much work it takes to put something together like what you've all been doing.

I eagerly await the broadcast later this evening...to see what kind of interesting reports you've got coming up.

Enjoy and keep up the great work!

Calling Maui

Jeremy, Marlboro, NJ — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 13:30:10 GMT

This is what I love about you guys, Brian and the whole team -- if you make an error you fess up and take away from what's presumably your time to go out, explore, and film more pieces to clean up the versions of the broadcast going west.

Keep on Rockin' All Over the World, to quote one of those covers our favorite rocker Mr. Springsteen has played a bunch of times over the years.

Calling Maui

Raymond Hong, San Francisco (outside of Chinatown) CA — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 17:21:08 GMT

During the "Charm Offensive" segment, I just rolled over laughing when I heard "the custom of wearing pajamas in the daytime". You'll find many of those in San Francisco Chinatown and they'll have "bed head" too.

Calling Maui

Al Torres, Long Beach, CA — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 19:01:37 GMT

Mr. Williams,if nothing else, please learn the proper pronunciation of the capital of China. I cringe every time you and others I've heard, pronounce Beijing with a hard "J". Check with Tom Brokaw!