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Early Nightly is up

Brian anchors the broadcast tonight from New York, where the top story is likely to be the late-breaking lead from last night -- British Prime Minister Tony Blair's decision to pull 1,600 troops out of Basra, Iraq.

The vlog also features a pair of special guests -- two students from Riverside Elementary in Riverside, Conn., who are at 30 Rock to interview Brian.

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Advice on caring for your parents

NBC Nightly News approached me to participate in their evening broadcast, as part of their series on caring for one's parents. The topic is very timely, given the graying of America. It will be even more pressing for the children of Boomers, as we will be the largest number of individuals 65 and older even seen in this country. Many times, when one gets well beyond the age of 75, there is a need for additional assistance. This need is often recognized by adult children prior to the individual recognizing the need.

As an adult child of an aged individual, the following tips may be helpful:

1) While your parents are healthy, talk about preferences for advanced directives, durable power of attorney for health affairs, and other end-of-life care issues. As part of this conversation, talk with your parents regarding their wishes should they develop a prolonged illness with associated frailty, or a disability; do they wish to live with you or another sibling? Would they prefer to live in an assisted living facility? Are the finances in place to allow transition into assisted living, or to provide in-home care? What are the preferences regarding nursing home placement?

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Fat Tuesday

The above headline reflects both our news load tonight and this day New Orleanians (and a whole lot of other folks) know so well -- of partying, celebration, marching, music, beads, doubloons and occasional acts of general debauchery. I've been watching the coverage all day and I wish I could be there. It's as great an American spectacle as there is. Originally, our plan was to broadcast a night or two from New Orleans this week, as Harry Connick, Jr. was kind enough to extend an invitation to my wife and me to ride on his float (a huge Mardi Gras honor), but because of scheduling I had to turn it down. To mark Fat Tuesday in absentia, tonight we'll ask Wynton Marsalis, from here in New York, to "play us off the air" with his glorious horn -- as a musical tribute to his hometown and the struggle they are still facing.

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Early Nightly is up

Brian anchors the broadcast tonight from New York, but Chief White House Correspondent David Gregory delivers the vlog.

Among the stories he previews -- Sen. McCain's trashing of former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, closing arguments in the I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby trial, and another installment in our "Trading Places" series.

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THE HOLIDAY EDITION

Looking out my window, there are no cars on 49th Street at this very moment. That is something you don't often see. Most of the city is off -- we, however, are here and on the job and will bring you some mixture of the following stories tonight.

How did the airline billed as quirky, friendly, agile and understanding... become Aeroflot? The JetBlue CEO will announce his new business plan tomorrow morning on TODAY -- and tonight he will again appear on our broadcast to repeat how ashamed he is of his company's performance. Today they canceled fully 25% of their flights... now comes word that whatever approaches "normal" in the flying business may not happen until Wednesday at JetBlue.

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talking with richard

Many of you may have seen NBC's Richard Engel this morning on Meet the Press.  He was in our newsroom this afternoon and I was able to spend some time talking with him about the war in Iraq.  Richard has been covering this story now for the past 4 years... a remarkable feat.  He is one of the few people in the world who has had an up-close view of the war.  Tonight, we will continue our conversation with Richard on NBC Nightly News... as he provides some context to the latest developments.

Today in Iraq... as the U.S. implements its new security plan... there was more violence in Baghdad.  NBC's Jane Arraf is in Baghdad.

Also... NBC's John Yang will have more on the expected fight in Congress over funding the war.

We are covering a new study on autism that suggests there are genetic causes for the developmental disorder.  NBC's Jennifer London reports.

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YEAR OF THE GOLDEN PIG BABY BOOM

Editor's note: NBC's Ian Williams will report from Beijing on the Sunday edition of NBC Nightly News.

BEIJING -- Compared with their usual bustle, the streets here are largely deserted. The city is quiet, except for the occasional explosive thud, a whoosh of a rocket, or series of small bangs.

No, this isn't a blog from war-torn Baghdad, but from Beijing on Chinese New Year's Eve. People have left in droves to celebrate New Year with their families elsewhere in the country, and those who remain are priming their fireworks, ready to see in the Year of the Pig, which begins on Sunday.

Nationwide, China's railways are expecting to carry more than 155m people over the New Year period - a record.

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