Your Good Morning Indiana crew is definitely ready for the weekend.  Perhaps it’s because our previous weekend was pretty busy.

Paul and Tom were in a canoe race in Brookville, Indiana last Saturday.  If you haven’t seen the video, you really need to check it out in their Off the Cuff segment.  You can find a link on our website.  When the guys first told me about the competition, I kind of got that sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach.  It’s not that I don’t have confidence in my friends.  It’s just that rowing looks like a really tough sport.  Well, I think Paul and Tom would agree with me.  Sadly, they came in dead last.  Oh, well.  I’ll bet Paul and Tom were by far the best sports out there!

Sunday we participated in the parade, which was a blast.  I’m surprised it made us a little tired, though.  After all, how much energy does it take to sit on a car and wave to people?  I guess I’m truly getting old.

It’s also been a busy week.  We’ve all had a lot on our plate.  So, by this morning, we were pretty tired.  Speaking of plates… Dan and Paul had a hoot with one of our stories.  It seems a snack food called Veggie Booty is on the recall list.  Well, I guess boys will be boys, because they just couldn’t stop joking about the name of this tasty, yet colorfully named snack.  Then again, maybe it’s me.  Maybe I need to lighten up.  Perhaps when I lost my baby weight, I also lost a few inches of funny bone.  It is a pretty funny name for a snack.

Oh, well.  Hopefully, we’ll all have a nice restful weekend and be ready to hit the ground running on Monday.  I plan to spend lots of time with the kids outdoors.  Maybe I’ll even stop by the market and see if I can find some Fruit Booty snacks.

Please forgive me.  I know you’re not supposed to “toot your own horn.”  My parents tried very hard to instill humility and modesty in their three girls.  Therefore, I’ll make my comments brief.  Then again, I’m not just talking about myself.  I have praises for the entire Good Morning Indiana family.

We found out yesterday we’ve been nominated for an Emmy for Best Morning Newscast.  We’ll find out September 8th if we won.  As they say in Hollywood, it’s an honor just to be nominated.  Yeah, right.  If you believe that, there’s some swamp land we’ve been trying to  sell………

Seriously, we’re very proud of our nomination.  Everyone… from the director to the producers to the editors… works very hard and ridiculous hours to make Good Morning Indiana happen.  We’re constantly bouncing ideas off one another in an effort to bring you the best product possible.  To be recognized for our hard work is icing on the cake.  (Well, considering our hours, perhaps I should say it’s icing on the donut.)  In any event, we are just thrilled to be recognized.

Good Morning Indiana wasn’t alone in the nominations.  Our 6 p.m. newscast was also nominated.  Way to go, evening crew!  Our sports director, Dave Furst, was nominated in a couple of categories.  He’s won several Emmy Awards, so I have no doubt he’ll have to buy a new shelf.  Dave is so creative and talented.  We’re lucky to have this sports guy on our team.  And last but not least, my co-anchor and friend Dan was nominated in the general assignment reporting category.  I’m so proud of him.  Hopefully, we’ll be reporting his win in September. 

Unlike the Hollywood Emmy Award show, our award’s show won’t be seen on television.  It’s too bad.  I think Paul and Tom would be a hoot on the red carpet.

Google wants to give charities and other non-profit groups a hand. The Google Earth Outreach Program is allowing the groups to use maps and satellite images to raise awareness, recruit volunteers and encourage donations.

The US Holocaust Memorial Museum is using Google earth to call attention to atrocities in the Darfur region of Sudan.

When users scan over Darfur, they see icons of flames representing destroyed villages and of tents for refugee camps.

Clicking on one opens a window with details and links on how to help.
you can download the map at Earth.Google.com.

Image: Associated Press

You can now read the reports the CIA kept secret for decades. The spy agency has released hundreds of pages of internal reports that triggered a scandal in the mid-1970s.

The documents cover secret drug testing and spying on Americans. There are also details on assassination plots against foreign leaders like Fidel Castro.

You can see testing info of mind-and behavior-altering drugs like LSD on unwitting citizens. Visitors can also read about the wiretapping of US journalists.

The 700 page report can be seen at www.foia.cia.gov.

Image: Reuters

The stock of socialite Paris Hilton continues to rise with her release from jail. Just for an empty can of her dog food, you have to fork over more than $300!

That is the current price of the can on a website that is hosting an online auction of Hilton’s trash. A used red toothbrush found in her garbage is topping $172.

Bids are also being taken on her fan mail, an invitation to her birthday party last February and two envelopes sent to Hilton in jail.

You can see the items and bid on them at HollywoodStarTrash.com. The auction runs until Sunday.

Image: Reuters