Peter Jennings' Death

I was saddened today to read of Peter Jennings' death from lung cancer today at age 67. Although I've lived outside of the U.S. most of the time since 1988, Jennings was still my favorite of the "Big 3" nightly news broadcasters (Jennings, Dan Rather, and Tom Brokaw). His experience living and reporting news from outside of the U.S. gave him a perspective on many stories that I respected and appreciated. I'll miss seeing him on the news in future U.S. trips.

It is interesting that he never completed high school or college. This shows that a motivated person can learn and be more knowledgable than those with degrees and diplomas, but are intellectually lazy. Sadly, he should have realized that his smoking habit was destroying his lungs.

My most recent memory of him was during the Presidential election day and night coverage last November. By the early morning hours, he was getting a little giddy from having had to be on for so much of the day.

We are very faithful followers of the TF1 news broadcast at 8:00 p.m. in France. We feel somewhat of a connection with broadcasters Patrick Poivre d'Arvor, Claire Chazal, Thomas Hughes, Laurence Ferrari, etc.

Speaking of news, the current crises in the Middle East have brought the cost of gasoline up to record highs. Today it cost me 40 euros (around $55) to fill up our car's small gas tank for our Holland trip. Ouch!