Feel free to scream at the top of your lungs.

My condolences.

(By the way, I forgot Brad Drazen and Garett Argianas. Sorry, boys.)

We have a wonderfully diverse crew here at NBC 30.





Take heart, Kev...buck up, Sean, Michael, Danny and Keith.

There was certainly nothing "special" about the special session of the legislature Wednesday in Hartford.

I didn't realize what a part of my daily routine this has become.

What a creature of habit.

Two things happened Monday that added to my constant amazement at how quickly the world has changed...and how much smaller it is than it used to be.

73-thousand members of the United Auto Workers went on strike against General Motors. The first UAW strike against G.M. in 37 years. And it was the THIRD story on NBC Nightly News.

My how times have changed since Charles Wilson uttered the immortal words, "What's good for the country is good for General Motors, and vice versa."
Wilson was President of G.M. at the time, and went on to become Secretary of Defense.

It seems like yesterday that you drove a car from the "Big 3" (G.M., Ford or Chrysler), or you took the bus. Everyone knew who UAW president Walter Reuther was, and he cracked a big whip.
Anyone know who the UAW president is now? Ron Gettelfinger. That's who.

Another sign of the changing times: they're not on strike over wages and benefits. All they want is job security, and G.M. can't promise that.

Volkswagen cracked the import market open, but Toyota drove through it with the Corona (in '66, I believe), and the Big 3 and the UAW haven't been the same since.
And mostly, it's their fault.

And on the subject of cars, earlier Monday I got a phone call from a man interested in buying my wife's car.
We were chatting, and in the course of conversation, he mentioned that he was in Malaysia.

"You're calling from Malaysia?"
"Yes, I'm here on business."
"You're calling from Malaysia?"
"Well, this is the first chance I've had to call."
"You're calling from Malaysia?"

This gentleman is interested in purchasing a car from us, and all I can say is, "You're calling from Malaysia?"
It sounded as if he were calling from around the corner.
Did I mention he was calling from Malaysia?
Someone called ME from Malaysia!

I think he may buy it, too, despite the fact he probably thought he was talking to a complete idiot.

It seemed like such a good idea at the time.

Jared Carullo and Dana Paravati are getting married Saturday on Long Island.

Do I really want to drive to Long Island?

Well....

But they're worth the trip. And they have the good taste to read this blog every day, and have requested a wedding post.

Happy to oblige.

Jared and Dana are former producers at NBC 30.

I didn't work directly with Dana much, but I enjoyed her company, and I know she'll make a beautiful bride.

Jared, I worked with. He's about 7-foot-6, from South Carolina. When he started, my first question to him (so he says) was, "What are you...like 12?" (He has that forever-young look about him.)

Jared developed into one of the finest producers and writers I've ever worked with, and has deservedly moved up the NBC News ladder.

I know they'll have a wonderful life together, though there may be a glitch.

She's a New Yorker, a die-hard Yankee fan.

Matter of fact, here's her picture after the 2004 World Series, paying off a bet to two Red Sox fans.

Jared adopted the Red Sox long ago.

And, what do you know, the Sox and Yanks will be playing a key game DURING their wedding reception.

So kids, you asked me to write a post dedicated to you, and now you can do something for Uncle Gerry and the NBC 30 gang coming to the party.

Make sure there's a TV somewhere in the reception hall.

Please. (And thank you.)

They started coming in to the station late Wednesday morning, and they didn't stop.

Dozens of form e-mails...all the same except for the names.

Here it is.

------------------------------------

Sincerely, (fill in the blank)

------------------------------------

Obviously, it's an organized campaign to get these commercials off the air. And that's fine. If you see something you don't like, you should question it or complain about it.

The problem is...there are no Hardees or Carl's Jr. restaurants in Connecticut, or anywhere in New England.

The commercials don't air here.

But this campaign calls attention to them, and specifically, to those two commercials.

Now, people who would never have seen them WANT to see them...if only out of curiosity.

Naturally, we went to You Tube and searched "Patty Melt" and "Flat Buns."

The commercials are there, and they're what you might think, judging by their titles...eye-poppers that stretch the boundaries of good taste to their outer limits. Certainly nothing you'd want to watch with your kids.

While I'm not "highly offended," I fully appreciate and understand the e-mail campaign.

I'm told some kind of rule prohibits me from offering a link, but you can go see for yourself.

And that's what makes this campaign so self-defeating.

Because now we know. And we didn't have to.

But let's make an exception, shall we?

The world was treated to one of the worst "performances" ever by Ms. Spears (or anyone else) at MTV's Video Music Awards Sunday night.

It was all over the place on Monday, including a report on our 5:30 news.

Coming out of the report, I volunteered the observation that "I'm sure she could find work at one of the establishments along I-91 in North Hartford."

I was, of course, referring to the several strip joints in that area. (Not that I would know anything about them.)

The BF (Britney Faithful) were not pleased.

As always, in the interest of equal time, here are the 3 emails we received. (Spelling, punctuation, and grammar NOT corrected.)

I am appalled by Gerry's comment about there being certain places for Britney Spears, after watching her devestating performance on the VMA's. I'm not a Britney fan, but she's human too and degrading her with a comment like that on public television is disgusting and Gerry should know better. She has been through a lot and she obviously was upset about the performance herself. There's no reason to beat a dead horse. I no longer care to listen to a word Gerry says.

I watched the news at 5:30 and the report was on the performance, or lack of one by Britney Spears. I thought the comment made by Gerry Brooks was uncalled for! Commenting he new of a place on a street in West Hartford she could perform. That was unnecessary, and in poor taste. His views need not be made. I feel bad for the girl, and hopefully she will get her act together.

Actually, I thought I was kind, considering most of the other coverage. And I thought she looked pretty good, unlike most others.

But having read and considered the emails...and having THOROUGHLY reviewed the tape of Ms. Spears performance (hey, it's my job), I would like to issue a profound apology.

So much will be said and written about the September 11th attacks today.

Six years.

So here's my very small contribution.

Forget. Just for a moment. Forget all the politics and the "War on Terror."

Remember. Remember how you felt. Remember the victims. Those who died, and those who didn't. Remember those vivid images.

In this era of disposable news and information, we should remember.

We shouldn't need the columnists and commentators.

We should remember, each of us, in our own way.

Actually, there were 26-thousand people there, but it didn't seem like it.

I was in Arizona last week, and went to a Diamondbacks-Padres game at Chase Field.

What a strange experience.

September baseball...first place on the line...and I felt as if I were at some sort of garden party.

The "fans" cheered when the signs said "Cheer!!!" They made noise when the signs said "Make some noise!"

It was comfy.

We had a "table for 4" at the TGI Friday's restaurant over the left field wall. $65 a head, half of that credited for food and drink. WOW. Some parking at Fenway will run you most of $65.

And the roof was closed. Thank God. It got up to 105-degrees that day.

But the atmosphere was SO different...until I met our waiter. Paulie.

He's a Yankee fan from Jersey. We really got into it, and finally, it felt like a big league ballgame.

Thanks, Paulie.