Transcripts For WRC Today 20100421

"today," wednesday, april 21st, 2010. captions paid for by nbc-universal television good morning. welcome to "today" on a wednesday morning. i'm matt lauer. >> i'm meredith vieira. here is a welcome sight for thousands of stranded airline passengers, planes moving on the tarmac this morning at london's heathrow airport. >> the first time we've seen an image like that in nearly a week since that volcanic ash cloud brought air travel to a screeching halt. it's not all good news though with more than 95,000 canceled flights to deal with in total, it could take days, some say even weeks, to get everyone to their final destinations. we'll have the latest, plus our first look inside the volcano's crater coming up in just a couple of minutes. also ahead, did the son of mi of michael douglas get off easy? cameron douglas was sentenced to five years in prison on tuesday for selling drugs, less than half of what he was facing. did the letters written by his famous family influence the judge? also a 13-year-old from california has set out to become the youngest person ever to reach the summit of mount everest. he is at base camp this morning getting ready for his ascent. we'll check in with him in just a couple of minutes. let's begin with the skies reopening in europe nearly a week after a volcano brought air traffic to a halt. we have two reports this morning, beginning with nbc's chris jansing in iceland. good morning to you, chris. >> reporter: good morning, meredith. the signs here this morning are all good. the volcano is definitely a lot quieter but scientists do warn it is still an active volcano and could remain active for a year or more. and with dozens of volcanos on this island, the president of iceland is now telling the u.s. and the world they need to get their act together before the next paralyzing eruption. for the sixth straight day, a team of scientists flew over eyjafjallajoekul on tuesday and got an amazing view, circling around the still-explosive plume 8,000 to 10,000 feet high and for the first time glimpsing with an infrared camera into the south side of the crater to see how explosive it still is. the key finding -- eruptions are less intense and producing much less ash than in the first few days when the plume reached an ominous 30,000 feet and the mountain was belching out tons of molten rock in a devastating display of power. all the data has been coming back here, to the mission control of volcano eruptions in reykjavik. experts monitor everything and the information is now pointing to what travelers around the world have wanted to hear. >> the fate that troubled aviation is mostly over. for now. >> it is not major. it is -- the eruption film is not very strong and there is not up ice being produced. >> reporter: but even before there was a chance to breathe a sigh of relief, a lava-hot controversy stirred up by the president of iceland. >> unfortunately, the scientific evidence points towards larger eruptions in the coming years, even in the near future. >> reporter: he issued a warning about another volcano, the enormous katma just eight miles from eyjafjallajoekul. critics and tourism officials were up in arms, but he thinks we better be prepared for the chaos future eruptions will cause. >> look at reorganization, technological changes. maybe using different planes as well. on the basis of these kinds of things are going to happen again. >> reporter: and when they do, he argues, the world should have a contingency plan for dealing with the unpredictable aweme forces of nature. there are no scientific signs right now katma is about to blow. but given the number of planes in the air every day, the number of geological threats and what we've seen over the last week, a lot of people this morning agree with the president of iceland that a contingency plan might not be a bad idea. >> chris jansing in iceland this morning, thanks very much. london's heathrow airport, london's busiest, is finally open this morning but it will take days to get through the backlog of 95,000 canceled flights all across europe. nbc's dawna friesen is at heathrow. good morning. >> reporter: yes, there is a huge mess to clear up. the good news is that 75% of europe's airspace is now open. that means airports are gradually reopening to heathrow. all of london's airports open in fact for the first time in a week. but there is a mess to clean up. about 95,000 flights were canceled. imagine having to re-arrange all of those. so there is still hundreds of thousands of people stuck in far-flung places where they're so anxious to get home. and it's not just people who are in the wrong places. it's planes. a lot of planes that flew in, and then the band came in place. they weren't able to make their return flights. now we're seeing the strange phenomenon of planes taking off without any passengers to try to get them repositioned. we're told 29% of global aviation was disrupted by this volcano and that it impacted about 7 million people in one way or another. so massive operation to get all this back in place. and i think the watch word for the day today is patience. the airlines are warning that it could take weeks, perhaps longer, to get this all sorted out. and, matt, i think perhaps the worst job to have right now might be working in an airline call center. >> that's going to be a little bit troubling this morning. dawna, thank you very much. we appreciate it. six minutes after the hour. here at home there is heated debate in washington over how to prevent another financial collapse. a new plan to clamp down on wall street banks. nbc's kelly o'donnell is on capitol hill with more for us. kelly, good morning. >> reporter: morning, meredith. that is the issue dominating things here. how to fix a system that fell off a cliff a couple of years ago with catastrophic failures still being felt right now. there is an intense debate underway and new examples of the public's anger over wall street excess. his failed company is a catalyst behind financial reform. lehman brothers was the biggest bankruptcy in u.s. history in 2008. >> a lot of people got hurt by that. and i have to left with that. >> the former chairman told congress had he no personal knowledge of lehman using a specific type of investment to hide some of its financial trouble. >> i have absolutely no recollection whatsoever. >> reporter: but an official testified there is evidence he knew. >> i wasn't involved in the transactions with the restructuring. >> you're the ceo, aren't you, sir? sgli was very much the ceo, sir. >> reporter: to avoid another collapse, treasury secretary tim geithner wants expanded government authority. >> we need a system in which regulators can act reemtively to protect, not left to simply come in after the fact to clean up the mess. >> reporter: the term wall street has esolved frvolved fro industry to a political flash point. people are asked about the need if you nfor regulation of banks three points separate those in favor of opposed. but use the term "wall street" and the spread widens to 14 points. democrats have grabbed wall street as their buzzword to describe an adversary. >> on one side there are those who want to make sure there is never a situation like we had before. on the other side we have wall street bankers. >> reporter: a theme repeated in this democratic party ad. republicans insist they support reform but want changes to the democrats' bill. and all 41 senate republicans took a stand to slow things down and say that effort re-opened negotiations between the parties. >> i'm convinced now that there's a new element of seriousness attached to this rather than just trying to score political points. >> reporter: democratic majority leader harry reid declined to answer reporters' questions when they asked him about his attendance at a new york fund-raiser hosted by a top executive of the wall street giant goldman sachs. reid's office says he was there. it was a private event. and that he does plan to keep and use the campaign funds that were raised at that event. meredith? >> kelly o'donnell, thank you very much. let us get a check of the rest of the morning's top stories. ann is at the news desk. good morning, everybody. in a dramatic turnaround today for the first time, pope benedict spoke publicly about the priest sex abuse scandal. nbc's anne thompson is in washington with this story. this is significant. >> reporter: it certainly is, ann. as you know, the vatican has been under tremendous pressure in the past month as that sex abuse crisis swept through europe. but today, pope benedict xvi for the first time promised the church would take action to stop abusive priests. he did not detail what that action would be, but what he did say is that he met with abuse victims in malta over the weekend. it was a very emotional meeting, and he promised them that the church would address this issue. now many critics and many victims have urged the broader church to adopt the zero tolerance policy that the u.s. bishops put in place in this country in 2002 when it comes to abusive priests. we don't know what the vatican will do, but it does appear that the pope is taking the first steps to live up to the promise he made to those men over the weekend. ann? >> anne thompson this morning, thanks for your reporting on this story that's still developing. today is a national day of mourning in china to remember the more than 2,000 people who died in the earthquake there a week ago. an explosion rocked an oil drilling platform off louisiana during the night. workers were evacuated but some are still unaccounted for. violent weather tuesday in texas where two tornadoes were reported, including this one. windows were blown out of homes but there were no reports of any serious injuries and there is a risk, however, of more severe weather there today. and when a virginia woman made a $425 deposit to her bank account this week she was shocked to learn that the bank teller entered her 10-digit account number as the amount she was depositing. the bank has since fixed the $40 million mistake. just for a few moments she was a millionaire. 7:11. back to matt, meredith and al. >> ann, thank you very much. mr. >> that's your latest weather. matt? >> al, thank you very much. if airline passengers like it or not, we've grown accustomed to it but passengers now pay $3 to $9 for a mid-flight treat. $15 on air tran for a checked bag. $25 for a second checked bag on alaska air. if you want to snuggle up with a pillow on american, that will cost $8. but when spirit airlines announced its plan to charge up to $45 for carry-on bags, a lot of travelers were outraged and are now saying enough is enough. ben baldanza is spirit's president and ceo, he joins us exclusively with new york senator chuck schumer who is leading the charge against the fee. gentlemen, good morning to both of you. i googled you last night. you are a good businessman. you know the aviation industry. you're a smart guy. you had to know this was going to go over like a fart in church, pardon the expression, when you announced this. why do you think this is a good idea? >> well, certainly when you look at just the fee, matt, on its own it can cause some outrage. but when you think about the fact that planes are really overcrowded today and people are bringing a lot on-board, we decided to take a unique approach, to lower our fares significantly and a fee that's less than the amount we lower our fares, allow people with carry-on bags to board the plane first so they find space for their bags. so it is a great combination. >> you're telling me it is good for passengers, that passengers are going to save money despite this fee? >> absolutely. in fact, we don't see who loses. because if you pay for a bag now on spirit, your total ticket price is going to be the same or a little less than before. if you don't carry a bag and help us get our planes out faster by not clogging up the airplane, you'll save $40 or more on your ticket. >> senator schumer, is this guy crazy, or is he crazy like a fox? >> well, he's a very nice guy and he's from rome, new york, upstate as well which counts certainly in his favor. here's the problem. mr. boldanza's trying to do a good thing here, but in the real world it is just not going to work, and here's why. if we allow carry-on bags to be charged for, it will spread to every airline. they won't lower their fees like spirit, they'll just increase them. and a passenger who doesn't really get competition because you only have a few flights to choose from when you fly from one place to the other is just stuck. this isn't just idle speculation. it was spirit that first decided to charge for checked luggage. they did it first, they may have lowered their price. he may have made the same arguments then. either way -- but then, matt, it spreads to every airline. >> on this one so far -- so far, spirit's out on a limb on this one. there hasn't been a lot of other airlines -- matter of fact, there have been some airlines coming out saying they're not going to do this. you really think this is going to happen? >> well, if there weren't an outcry, it probably would have happened quietly over a period of time. but because myself and a bunch of my colleagues may now cry and threaten legislation, i also called immediately before anything could happen the heads of the six big airlines and asked them to commit to not doing this, and five did. but you know, we're still going to try to pass our legislation because six months from now, who knows what would happen. >> this threat of legislation, mr. boldanza, if air travelers don't like this idea, think it is stupid, they can punish you by going to another airline. what do you think about the government perhaps getting involved in levying a tax against an airline that charges for carry-on bags? >> you know, taxes raise consumer prices and that's not a good thing especially in the economy where we're trying to get things moving. but our view of this is that we've taken a business risk of course, but a risk we think, on balance, our customers will understand is going to be good for them. our sales are doing exceedingly well. >> since the announcement? better sales than prior? >> specifically post-august 1 which is when the fee becomes effective. so customers buying tickets on spirit are seeing the exceedingly low fare, comparing it with the fact that they can pay for the options they want but not pay for what they don't want, and they're seeing it as a really good thing. our view is let's let customers decide this. i don't see why the government should be involved. >> we tawant to mention, senato you two got together and met about this last night. were any compromises struck or have you agreed to disagree? >> well, so far we've agreed to disagree. but if we could find a way to allow a small little airline to do this but not have it spread to all the majors where there is very little competition, you'd pay more for the bag but the ticket price wouldn't go down, i told him i would be welcome to hear a proposal in that regard. >> real quickly, we have a piece of video of the announcement in a rather unusual location. look at you. you were actually in the overhead compartment doing this. i just think i speak for the room -- i don't want to see the video where you decide to charge people for going to the bathroom. >> that will never happen, matt. >> it is already happening on one airline in europe, matt. >> but it won't happen at spirit. >> senator, thank you. mr. baldanza, thank you very much as well. the family of the murdered wife of a reality television producer has now traveled to mexico to speak with investigators about that case. nbc's miguel almaguer is in cancun with the very latest. miguel, good morning to you. >> reporter: meredith, good morning. monica's family had spoken to investigators before but only from afar. now face to face, they were able to press those same investigators for a quick response. they walked into the state attorney general's office in cancun hoping to leave with answers about a murder now more than two weeks old. >> we of love my sister and we want justice so we want to make sure that this is going to be accomplished. >> reporter: monica beresford-redman's mother and sister sat with investigators for four hours, offering their own information to aid detectives, including documents and e-mails sent between monica and her husband, bruce. there were allegations of his affair, the family offering insight into what it says was a troubled marriage between a wife and the only suspect in her murder. a former producer for cbs's hit show "survivor," bruce beresford-redman has been questioned by detectives just once. but as officials wait for forensic results from monica's body and the couple's hotel room, they're confident they have an ironclad case. >> translator: we believe that when we get the results we will have a very solid case. >> reporter: but with each passing day and no sign of an arrest, monica's family's frustration has grown as her husband remains free in mexico. still, the victim's family has faith in the legal system here. are you confident you'll get justice here in mexico? >> yes, i am. >> reporter: the question now is when. police say the forensic results they need could come back at any time and they insist it will be no longer than ten days. meredith? >> miguel ago ma gar, thalmague very much. a look at the emotional letter written by phoebe prince shortly before she committed suicide after being bullied michael douglas' son, sentenced to five years in prison. did he get off light? spl we'll talk about that story after your local news and weather. ♪ >we'll talk about that story after your local news and weather. >we'll talk about that after your local news and weather. ♪ oh, do it ♪ ♪ express yourself ♪ hey [ female announcer ] coffee is like life. it's better when you add your flavor. coffee-mate. from nestle. cer: trying tos better when you add your flavor. be good to your heart? so is campbell's healthy request soup. low in fat and cholesterol, heart healthy levels of sodium, and taste you'll love. guy: mmmm! chef: we're kind of excited about it. announcer: campbell's healthy request. i have missed you. pollen in the air kept hunter cooped up itching his eyes and sneezing. but now i found zyrtec®. it's #1 allergist recommended. with children's zyrtec® he can get 24-hour allergy relief indoors and outdoors. ♪ now he can run wild... with the rest of the pack. with children's zyrtec®, he can love the air®. and now try children's zyrtec® perfect measure®. a premeasured spoon. just twist squeeze and go™. honda accord and toyota camry stand behind their powertrain for up to 60,000 miles. chevy malibu stands behind theirs for up to 100,000 miles. which makes it pretty clear whose standing out front. a consumers digest "best buy" two years running. chevy malibu. compare it to anyone and may the best car win. during the spring event, qualified lessees can get a low mileage lease on this new malibu ls for around $199 a month. call for details. see your local chevy dealer. entree plus an appetizer pairings for $9.99. pick one of our 16 entrees, like baby-back ribs or honey chipotle chicken crispers. then choose an appetizer -- all just $9.99, for a limited time. chili's. it's all in the "pepperation." ♪ mmm... hot fudge sundae. ♪ ooh! frosted blueberry?!? ♪ over 25 flavors of kellogg's pop-tarts®. and they're all for fun and fun for all. pop-tarts®. made for fun. (announcer) regular kool-aid. goes almost three times further than soda. kool aid. delivering more smiles per gallon. >>. >> the time is 7:26, the 21st day of april. in the news for today, tonight there will be a public viewing for a beloved principal murdered in his owner home in silver spring. brian bits was the principal at shaw middle school in northwest washington. tonight's visitation is from 6:00 to 9:00 at the pierce funeral home in me nass i guess. we will come become and look at i'm a fashion stylist. my secret? t.j.maxx. they buy directly from designers and you see the savings! i dress fashionistas. but i'm a maxxinista. t.j.maxx. ♪ everywhere i go... ♪ i'll pass it on, ♪ and on...and on...and on... edible arrangements. happiness is always in season. visit, call or go to ediblearrangements.com. we have scattered showers in maryland and west virginia heading off to the north and east. temperatures in the 40s and 50s and highs into the low 60s. >> time to take a live look. moving along well, but the roads may be slick. be very cautious. one more stop. we will check out from 270 from the north. the lanes are open. no major hang uppings. be careful because the roads get slick. >> you are getting up earlier and we are as well. wake up with us for your latest 7:30 now on this wednesday morning, the 21st of april, 2010. we are glad to have a big crowd standing with us in rockefeller plaza. i'm meredith vieira, alongside matt lauer. just ahead, a remarkable 13-year-old from california on a quest to become youngest person ever to climb mount everest. jordan ramiro is with his family at base camp right now. plus how much sugar -- you're a good eater. how much sugar would you say average people in this country eat? >> a day? >> how about a month? >> ten pounds. >> ten pounds of sugar a month? >> is that a lot? >> actually not. 12 pounds a month! coming up, the places that sugar is hidden and what it's all doing to your body. >> disgusting when you think about it. plus the search for an ohio mother who's been missing for four days. 31-year-old tiffany tehan disappeared on saturday and all police have to go on is recent surveillance video of her talking to a man her family does not recognize. we'll talk to that woman's husband and her parents just ahead. let us begin with the tragic fall of cameron douglas, the 31-year-old son of actor michael douglas. on tuesday he was sentenced to five years in prison on drug charges. nbc's amy robach has details. >> reporter: good morning. cameron douglas has struggled with drugs most of his life. his a-list family rallied around him asking the judge for leniency, a campaign that seemed to work but not before a stern warning from the judge who called this sentence a last chance. in a manhattan federal courtroom tuesday, cameron douglas heard his fate -- five years in prison for drug trafficking, followed by five years of supervised release. >> this is a big win for cameron douglas and his defense team. some people may say, five years? that's a lot of time. for this amount of drugs and these kind of crimes? this is a very lenient sentence. >> reporter: the son and grandson of hollywood royalty, cameron pled guilty in january to distributing large amounts of meth and cocaine over a three-year period, following a bust in a swanky downtown hotel. defense material suggests the hopeful actor and part-time deejay turned to drugs at age 13, a way of coping with his absentee parents and the expectations of growing up in a famous family. in a letter to judge richard burman, can ron's mother writes, "i must admit that my immediate reaction when i learned my son's crime was one of guilt." cam ro, who served as best man at his father's 2000 wedding to kathericatherine zeta-jones rec words of support from his stepmother as well. when he refused treatment in 2006, michael douglas cut his son off from the family fortune. it was then that cameron turned from user to dealer, supporting a debilitating habit reportedly shooting heroin six times a day. michael douglas was in court on tuesday to support his son. in his own handwritten letter to the judge, he says, "i have some idea of the pressure of finding your own identity with a famous father. i do believe out of this adversity he will be a positive citizens. i don't want to see him break." but experts say this prison sentence is only the beginning of a long road to reform. >> if this young man doesn't get involved in recovery, over the course of whatever period of time he's incarcerated, he'll return to drug use when he gets back out. you can imagine he'll not have much else to live for when you gets out. >> before the sentencing cameron told the court he was now sober for the first time in his adult life and he admits he has squandered a lot of past opportunities to now turn his life around. meredith? >> amy robach, thank you very much. now let's get a check of the weather from al. >> announcer: "today's weather" is brought to you by subway straumts. subway now has breakfast. it is cloudy and cool and the radar showing light rain falling in montgomery county and prince william, loud on and sprinkles in the warn part, but this is steadier rain. that's now continuing to march off to the north and east into the metro area in another couple of hours. temperatures in the 40s and low and mid 50s. high today, lo >> you said your brother was on two years ago so now you're on. there you go. back to matt. now exclusive new details on the life of phoebe prince, the massachusetts teen who committed suicide after being bullied at her school. nbc's jeff rossen has the latest on this story. jeff, good morning to you. >> good morning. we'll never know exactly what phoebe prince was thinking at the moment she kill herself, but these essays may help. she wrote them for school just before her death. this morning for the first time, phoebe prince in her own words. if these high school hallways could talk, perhaps we'd understand the pain that drove 15-year-old phoebe prince to suicide. her alleged bullies, two boys she dated and four of the so-called mean girls who reportedly saw phoebe as a romantic rival, are charged with felonies. is there anything you want to say to phoebe's family? they've all pled not guilty and will tell their story in court. but phoebe can't, silenced forever. now with her own words painting a vivid new picture of her emotional anguish and dark final days. in essays phoebe wrote for english glass she discussed a book called "cutting" about people who harm themselves. in her essay, phoebe writes, "this book i really connected with as i found there was truth in every word. it helped me comprehend what people close to me have gone through." phoebe says, "self-mutilation is about trying to transfer the pain from emotional to physical." in another essay, phoebe titled "mind over matter," she says, "where have today's values gone? we live in an impersonal electronic society. now that we have twitter and facebook." about her ipod, phoebe writes, "i have a song for every moment and mood of my day." "and let them wash away any emotion i'm feeling." the essays were obtained for an irish newspaper. >> it is a warning sign for any person dealing with kids when they write about self-mutilation and in whatever context it is serving. >> reporter: and there was pain in her past, too. phoebe grew up in this quaint irish village, but was suddenly uprooted and moved to massachusetts last year. you spoke with many of phoebe's friends in ireland. what did they tell you about her? >> they told she she'd grown up as a very happy girl but recently she moved, she had been bullied in the first school. her parents had separated and her mom had decided to take her to south hadley. she missed her father very much. she was not that happy at that point. she had her own baggage, emotional baggage. >> reporter: then came the torment from her new american classmates. prosecutors say the bullies called her an irish whore, a slut and a stupid "expletive." >> they were mean to her, even in death. >> reporter: in fact, just days after phoebe hanged herself, the alleged bullies attended a school dancing with laughing and having fun. one wrote this on facebook -- it was her own fault. >> and who is addressing the security of the innocent children? >> reporter: now parents are angry, where they ask were school officials and how did they miss the warnings signs? a recent school board meeting got so heated -- one parent was hauled out by police. >> it is wrong! and what you're doing is wrong! >> reporter: now, phoebe prince is the national example, how dangerous bullying can be. this morning, prosecutors in massachusetts tell nbc news they have at least one of those essays we showed you from phoebe and they're interested in reading all of them as part of this ongoing investigation. there are other developments in this case. one of her alleged bullies is in trouble again. just days ago, police arrested austin renaud for drunk driving in massachusetts. he's pled not guilty in court on tuesday. we should mention, all of the alleged bullies are out of jail as they await trial. matt? >> jeff rossen, jeff, thank you very much. coming up next on a much lighter note, a 13-year-old from california trying to become the youngest climber ever to conquer mount everest. he's there right now. we'll talk to him after this. with egg whites. all on english muffins... or flat bread... however... you want it!! [ male announcer ] spread the word -- subway now has breakfast! get the deliciousness, just the way you want it, like the subway western egg white muffin melt. build your better breakfast at subway. while you build your better breakfast, grab a subway $5 footlong sub to go... for great value, all day, every day. subway. eat fresh. would we eat better? [ rewinding ] at hellmann's, we search for the best sources to make our mayonnaise. we use eggs, vinegar and oil rich in omega 3. ♪ for the quality that could only be hellmann's. hellmann's. it's time for real. and, now introducing hellmann's light. it's made with 100% cage free eggs. we are back at 7:41. climbing mount everest is one of the to havest challenges in the world, and this morning a california boy who is just 13 is embarking on his quest to become the youngest person to ever reach the summit. we'll t we'll talk to him from mount everest in just a moment, but first, here's nbc's george lewis. >> reporter: so, if you're a parent, here's the question -- would you let your kid climb this? mount everest, 29,035 feet high. >> three, two, one -- >> reporter: 13-year-old jordan romero is confident he can do it, having climbed the highest peaks on five our continents. >> we have officially tackled mount carson, the tallest mountain in indonesia. >> reporter: he was just 11 when he made it to the tallest peak in north america, alaska's mount mckinley, answer treatmently tricky climb. he's aiming to climb the highest mountains on all seven continents. when he's not climbing mountains, jordan lives with his mom in big bear lake, california. >> for jordan, our life has always been outdoors, skiing, biking and an outdoor lifestyle so climbing a mountain down the seek as shocking to our family as it maybe would for another. >> reporter: but everest with its high all theitudtitude and treacherous weather provides its own challenges. a highly experienced climber and guide who knows everest well is the president of alpine's scents in seattle. >> i hope he has a good time, have fun but be safe. conditions aren't good, if he doesn't feel good, anything seems wrong, turn around. >> reporter: jordan will take on everest with his father, his father's girlfriend, and a group of shirpsa. if they succeed, six down, one to go, mount vincent in antarctica. for "today," george lewis, nbc news, los angeles. >> 13-year-old jordan romero is with the from the north side of mount everest along with his father and his father's girlfriend. good morning to all of you. >> good morning, meredith. thank you for letting us be here. thank you. >> it's a real pleasure to have you here. jordan, let me start with you. when someone is asked why they want to climb a mountain, the old standard cliched answer is "because it's there." why do you feel compelled to climb mount everest, particularly at such a young age? >> well, i'm just climbing mount everest basically for the experience. i mean i just happen to be this age but this is something i've been looking at since i was just a little kid. i was 9 years old when i started to -- when i first set out to climb these summits. i saw a mural in my school hallway in the fourth grade. it was of these seven summits. then my dad picked me up from school. i said, dad, you know what? i want to climb the seven summits. he just said yes. >> from a technical stain poind because you have already climbed 5 of the 7, what are the particular difficulties of climbing mount everest compared to the other mountains? >> well, mount everest is the highest mountain in the world. altitude is definitely a big difficulty. very technical and definitely very physical. i can feel it already. both in altitude. we've just been working with it and so far, everything's gone really, really smooth for us. >> paul, you are a helicopter paramedic in the sarn bern dardo area in california. you are concerned a child's lungs may not be mature enough to handle the air, he may not have the mental maturity to handle this challenge. are those things you have talked about with jordan? >> those are things i've researched night and day. i've researched every bit of published information that's ever been done on children and altitude. there's nothing negative about children and altitude. those are just nay sayers. those are people that think a 13-year-old shouldn't be on a mountain. >> has there ever been a case where a child has climbed to that at tuld? >> well, no, there's never been a case where the child has been at the height of mount everest, no. up at 22,000, 23,000 feet, there's been other youth up there. fact of the matter is what research does say is their heart and lungs are very healthy. as long as they have a good support system around them, guides, shirpas, knowing when to turn back. >> knowing how to turn back if you have to. if you were to make it to the top, jordan -- or if and when you make it to the top, is there anything you want to do when you reach that point? sometimes climbers plant their country's flag there or they'll fly a kite. that's been done. >> i just really want to celebrate and just pull out the summit flag and give some dedications to some people and, yes, just shown some of my good luck charms up there and just celebrate. >> what kind of good luck charms do you have? >> well, do i have the rabbit's foot, as all. i do have tibetan necklace. man, i got a bunch of things. yeah, i mean -- can i say that? okay. so my friend who's only 8 years old, who's battling a brain tumor, he gave me a good luck charm of his own, and those were kangaroo testicles. >> from australia. >> from australia. that's a good luck charm. >> so he's carrying that to the summit for nigel. >> just leave them there, jordan. that would be a good idea. thank you guys so much for joining us this morning. we're going to be following you in the days and weeks ahead and hopefully can check in with you again as you attempt to summit mount everest. jordan an paul romero, karen lundegren, best of luck. >> thank you so much. it's a pleasure of being with you. >> a quick shout out to network innovations so that we can connect with you while we're here. just ahead, the jaw-dropping amount of sugar and salt you consume every day. startling new research. but first these messages. cooked black beans, in a zesty "south of the border" chipotle sauce with red and green peppers, onion, and crisp corn. a bold new taste. i know. but i want people to think i'm a great cook. so hide. delicious! can i have your recipe? your secret is safe with me. hello... new bush's black bean fiesta. and try new texas ranchero, along with our other grillin' beanslavors. this morning on "today's health," sugar and salt. two new studies suggest americans are getting far too much of both and it is having a big impact on your well being. dr. raj is a "today" show contributor and medical health editor for "health" magazine. these numbers, it sounds impossible that some americans are consuming as much as 46 teaspoons a day of salt. >> some of it is hidden salt. sometimes we can tell there is salt there but there is salt in food we don't realize, spaghetti sauce, breads. >> it is not that americans are sitting there with a shaker. most of this is in processed foods and we don't take the time to read the labels. >> absolutely. >> when we were in elementary school, we realized this could be terrible for us. what are exactly the health problems associated with too much? >> the main problem with salt is the risk of high blood pressure. that can of course lead to heart disease or stroke. these are the number one killers of americans. this is a real public health issue. >> talk about sugar now. we all know that we're getting too much sugar as well. this again, is this a processed food problem? >> exactly. we're talking about added sugar. the fruits that we eat have sugar but they also have nutrition. added sugar, no nutrition, just calories. >> the government is talking about going to food companies and asking them to cut back the amount of salt and sugar in food, but especially salt. can food companies do that without it dramatically affecting the taste that we've so come to expect? >> well, that's their concern. but the point is that we can do it gradually. it will definitely improve our health but we won't notice it as much. fy cut out all your salt tomorrow you would hate the way your food tastes but if we do it gradually, step by step, food companies will be happier and we'll be much happier. >> a lot of people are concerned when we talk about salt and sugar in food, then we look at what children are being fed at schools. while a lot of schools are trying to make strides here, they get a lot of this salt and sugar right at school. >> absolutely. from the vending machines to added sugar in fruit juices, schools are where we need to focus because we are teaching nutritious habits early on. again, it will save us money down the road if people have less disease. >> dr. raj was as always, thanks very much. much more ahead after your local news and weather. [ wheezing ] i have asthma. and that's what it sounded like when my symptoms came back. i'd get this tightness in my chest. like i was breathing through a straw. so i went back to my doctor again. we talked about choices in controller medicines. we chose symbicort to help control my asthma. [ man ] while it's not a rescue inhaler, symbicort improves my lung function, starting within 15 minutes. it helps give me the control to... [ inhales, exhales ] symbicort is a combination of two medicines. it will not replace a rescue inhaler for sudden symptoms and should not be taken more than twice a day. symbicort contains formoterol. medicines like formoterol may increase the chance of asthma-related death, so it is not for people whose asthma is well controlled on other asthma medicines. see your doctor if your asthma does not improve or gets worse. with symbicort, my lung function starts to improve within 15 minutes, helping me... all day. symbicort is a good choice to help control my asthma. [ inhales ] [ exhales ] ask your doctor if it's a good choice for you. i got my first prescription free. call or click to learn more. [ male announcer ] if you can't afford your medication, astrazeneca may be able to help. is. 7 type type 55 issed the timeout and clouds above us. blue as well. i'm joe krebs and in the news 4 today, congress will tackle issuing of metro. they will focus on the transit agency's recent accidents and efforts to improve safety. they will look at the budget problems and the search for the general manager. the cavs take on the montreal conad yens in game four. they took a 2-1 edge on monday and if they win tonight, they can finish out the series here in washington. the puck drops this evening at 7:00. we will take a break and come back with weather and traffic after this. here's to the believers. the risk-takers. the visionaries. the entrepreneurs... who put it all on the line to build and run their own businesses. at at&t, we know something about that. our company started out in a small lab, with not much more than a dream. and today, we know it's small businesses that can create the jobs america needs. that's why at&t is investing billions to upgrade and build out our wired and wireless networks. making them faster, smarter, and more secure. connecting small businesses to markets across the country, and around the world. we invest now, because we know it will pay off... with new jobs, new growth, from a new generation, putting their belief in the future on the line. now is the time for investment and innovation. the future is waiting. and the future has always the future is waiting. and the future has always been our business. at&t. good morning. cloudy and cool and scattered showers across maryland and west virginia, advancing to the north and east. temperatures in the 40s and 50s and climb into the low 60s with shower ending tonight. warmure now. >> time to take a live look. capitol street tolt douglas bridge where we had an earlier problem. very heavy i through the southeast. very heavy to telegraph road. lanes are open. >> you are getting up earlier and we are as well. the news starts to the we're back now, 8:00 on a wednesday morning, it is the 21st day of april, 2010. we're supposed to get some showers later today. but right now it is just gorgeous here on the plaza. we got a big crowd joining us. out on the plaza, i'm matt lauer, along with meredith vieira and al roker. up next, the strange circumstances of the disappearance of an ohio mom. >> tiffany tehan went shopping and never came home. now police have identified a person of interest in this case. her husband an her parents speak out. also ahead on a lighter note, does your sofa have a little irritating stain on it or is there a scratch on a wooden chair or table that you really like? well, a lot of people would say that's it, that's done for that piece of furniture. we'll show you how to actually fix those things so you can save money and not go out and buy new stuff. i'm sure people who sell furniture aren't going to like that, but that's all right. and then three friends connected by one anonymous donor share their incredible journey. it is a journey, but the way things turned out is not exactly what you would expect. a lot to get to. first, ann's standing by at the news desk inside with a look at all the headlines. morning, ann. good morning. after a six-day shutdown airlines are struggling to catch up this morning now that european airports are reopening. more than half of today's scheduled flights in europe an the uk are expected to take off but there will be delays because of huge backlogs caused by the grounding of 95,000 flights during the crisis. the air travel disruption has cost airlines at least $1.7 billion. pope benedict promised this morning the church will investigate abuse but clergy members but neither he nor the vatican gave any details. the former president of the olympic committee died in barcelona. he was ioc president from 1980 to 2001, the second-longest serving president in ioc history. he was 89 years old. police say they are making progress in solving last week's murder of a respected washington, d.c. school principal. the victim's sister is speaking out about the impact of this crime. nbc's norah o'donnell joins with us more on this story. norah, good morning. >> reporter: good morning. brian betts was a hero to his students and a role model as a principal. his sister tells me her family is devastated. she said her brother had lots of friends and it is unfathomable that anyone would want to kill him. >> do they understand what they've taken away from not just my family but from the community. >> reporter: jennifer lost her older brother, but she says his students lost much more. >> they took him away from hundreds of children, not just his nieces. >> reporter: brian betts was hand-picked by d.c. public school chief michelle reed to transform shaw middle school. and it was working. >> he knows the kids needed a firm hand or a hug. >> reporter: police tell nbc news they are now looking closely at his computer and cell phone records. >> we have a protocol and this is the process we're going forward with. we're getting closer. >> what's your worst fear? >> my worst fear's already happened. there's nothing that could be worse than that. >> reporter: investigators are also searching for two men seen abandoning betts' suv in southeast washington. >> we need to find them, talk with them and determine what their relation is to the crime. >> reporter: we're learning a new deal tail abotail about bet hours alive. according to a faith book ceboo wednesday night, he was looking forward to an evening and grilling out with a cocktail, he told a friend it had been a tough week with the students. >> norah o'donnell, thank you. a tough spot tuesday for a san diego toddler. a 1-year-old got his foot stuck in a drain pipe. firefighters eventually freed his foot but the boy was so worn out, he fell asleep and missed all of the excitement over his rescue. 8:04. back outside to matt. >> they love your shoes is what they're saying. not mine, yours. let's get a check of the weather from mr. roker. north providence. >> let's check your weather, see what's shaking. detroit, michigan, local 4, good morning. cloudy and cool and radar with scattered sprinkles, montgomery, prince georges and fairfax. coming up towards the metro area and advancing to the north and east and later throughout the reej yen, showers throughout the rest of the day and highs in the low 60s. rain activity should end by mid-evening. sun should should be warmer and upper 40s and highs near >> that's your latest weather. when we come back, the strange story -- what happened to a mother from ohio who vanished on saturday? we'll talk to her parents and her husband try and find out what they know right after these messages. llow me, the missouri river is this way! lewis and clark expedition of 1804. oh, he'll never get this. magellan, 1520. awww, my 8 layers must've given it away. help keep your kid full and focused with 8 filling layers... of whole grain fiber found in kellogg's frosted mini-wheats cereal. this is one giant leap for mini-kind. keeps 'em full. keeps 'em focused. hoo hooo! keeps 'em full. keeps 'em focused. it's tough to reach that five servings a day if you don't always like the taste of vegetables. good thing v8 v-fusion juice gives you a serving of vegetables hidden by a serving of fruit. v8. what's your number? twizzlers. the twist you can't resist. and yes to a safe and naturally effective way to clean. for over twenty years we've poured our hearts into this movement and we're happy to see it's starting to catch on. seventh generation. protecting planet home. soak our yards in color. get our hands a little busier. our dollars a little stronger. and our thinking a little greener. let's grab all the bags and all the plants and all the latest tools out there. so we can turn all these savings into more colorful shades of doing. more saving. more doing. that's the power of the home depot. right now at the home depot, buy one packet seeds get one free. blend it. sprinkle it. sweet! [ female announcer ] just about anywhere you use sugar you can use splenda® no calorie sweetener. [ male announcer ] savory. fluffy. yummy. sweet! [ female announcer ] splenda®. america's favorite no calorie sweetener. [ female announcer ] splenda®. and transforming it an impossible dream? with olay, challenge what's possible. challenge skin creams costing up to $700. olay regenerist outperformed them. challenge the leading prescription wrinkle regimen with olay pro-x. clinically proven as effective at reducing the look of wrinkles. and challenge 7 signs of aging with all-in-one olay total effects. love how you see and feel about yourself more than you dreamed possible. olay, challenge what's possible. police in ohio have identified a person of interest in the unusual disappearance of an ohio mother. 31-year-old tiffany tehan disappeared over the weekend and has not been seen or heard from in four days. we'll talk to her husband and parents in a moment, but first here's kevin tibbles. >> reporter: the young mother left home saturday morning to go shopping and has not been heard from since. police say 31-year-old tiffany tehan from xenia, ohio near dayton apparently spent the morning at a nearby mall before calling her husband to say she was planning to stop off at a local rummage sale. >> she was shopping for a quilt for our daughter. didn't hear from her. >> reporter: when she didn't return home, police were notified. within hours her ford explorer was located in a local park, keys in the ignition, doors locked, flat tire. >> for the car to be abandoned, we're very concerned. >> reporter: police released this photo showing tiffany, the mother of a 1-year-old girl, using a local bank monachine saturday. her family has circulated 4,000 flyers hoping someone may have seen her. >> she's daddy's little girl. can't say enough about that. >> reporter: then tuesday police released more surveillance photos showing tiffany with a man, visiting a convenience store on several occasions over the last two months. late tuesday, police identified the man as tre hutcherson, calling him a person of interest. hutcherson, they say, is unknown to tiffany's family. police say tiffany and hutcherson may be together traveling in a 1999 volkswagen beatle similar to this one. >> tiffany is still missing, it is still unusual for her and still out of her character to be gone since saturday. >> reporter: for now, tiffany's family is looking for answers in the case of this missing mother. for "today," kevin tibbles, nbc news, chicago. >> david tehan is tiffany's husband, lexie is her daughter. chuck and susie taber are her parents. and chuck is from the xenia, ohio police department. good morning. captain, if i can start with you, what's the latest you can tell us regarding the disappearance of tiffany? >> yesterday we developed some leads further and we have an identity of a person of interest that we'd like to locate to find tiffany. we believe he has information or could possibly be in her presence and we need to talk to this individual as soon as possible. >> this is the man that you've identified as tre b. hutcherson? is that right, the man in the surveillance tapes that were taken over the past couple of months? >> yes, it is. >> have you done a background check on him, do you know anything about him at all? >> he's 42 years old and we have done a background check. there's nothing remarkable about his background as far as criminal history or anything of that type. >> we've seen in the tapes she was with him on several occasions again, as i said, over the past two months. do you suspect foul play or do you think possibly she ran off with this guy? >> at this point we're exploring all different possibilities. obviously it is our hope that if we can find this individual that we could find tiffany and bring her home safely. obviously this is our best lead yet. >> david, you say the last time that you spoke with your wife, tiffany, was on saturday, she said she was on her way to a rummage sale at that point. how did she seem to you over the phone? >> tiffany seemed completely normal on saturday. you know, it was a routine conversation. she was checking in in the middle of the day and shopping. we had every anticipation of seeing each other later that night. we had plans. you know. it was a completely normal saturday. and completely normal phone call. >> have you ever heard of this man, tre hutcherson? >> no, i've never heard the name. i've never seen him before. >> well, let me ask you kind of a tough question. do you have any reason to believe that she would have run off with another man? were you having any problems in your marriage at all? >> no. there really wasn't anything to indicate that to me. it is a complete mystery to me. it is a completely new development and i'm as surprised as everybody else. >> well, chuck and susie, this is a horrible situation that you are in as well, not knowing where your daughter is, what's happened to her. can you make any sense out of this at all? >> it is really difficult to understand how tiffany -- or how this could happen to her. and one of the things we're just constantly asking people to do is to keep a lookout for her, get the word out about her. there's a website, tiffanytehan.com. there is also a $5,000 reward that is being offered for information leading to the safe return of tiffany. yeah, we're shocked and we're hoping we find her very soon. >> david, tiffany is not just your wife, she's also the mother of your little girl, lexie, who we see there, beautiful little daughter. do you believe she would just leave her daughter like that? >> i can't believe it, no. she loves being a mom. there's no way that she would ever give that up. i don't see that as being even remotely possible. >> if she is listening, david, is there anything you would want to say to her? >> tiffany, we love you. i don't know what's going on with all of this. it's a complete mystery to us and we're terrified. i'm sure that you're scared as well and we just miss you so much and we really want you to come home. >> please know that our thoughts are with you and your family, david. we hope that she does come home very soon. david and lexie tehan, thank you for joining us. chuck and susie tabe rechr, cap scott, thanks for joining us. if you have any information in the case you are asked to contact the xenia, ohio police department at 937-376-7211. we're back right after this. [ children shouting ] come on, kiddo, let's go. [ laughs ] hold on a second... come on up here where your brothers sit. [ birds chirping ] wow! did i ever tell you what it was like growing up with four sisters? that sounds fun. yeah...fun for them! [ male announcer ] chevy traverse. a consumers digest best buy. with a 100,000 mile powertrain warranty. it seats eight comfortably -- not that it always has to. love to see kids' spirits shine. superstar and mom, martina mcbride and sunny d ♪ sunny taste. sunny spirit. sunny d. brings out the best in kids. ♪ sunny d ♪ [ female announcer ] when is it okay to lose the cover-up? ♪ when you can. take the special k challenge... and lose an inch from your waist in two weeks. so lose your cover-up, and show off your confidence. design your plan at specialk.com. we get double miles on every purchase. so we earned a ski trip twice as fast. we get double miles every time we use our card. ( thuds ) i'll take this. ( crashing ) double miles add up quick. and all of those. so we brought the whole gang. one adult, one goat please. it's hard to beat double miles. everyone knows two is better than one. introducing the venture card from capital one... with double miles on every purchase every day. go to capitalone.com. what's in your wallet? oh, poor baby. go to capitalone.com. get flawless skin even in harsh, unflattering light. new revlon photoready makeup. our exclusive formula bends and reflects light to help diffuse every flaw for a poreless, airbrushed look. revlon photoready makeup. find your perfect light. and yes to a safe and naturally effective way to clean. for over twenty years we've poured our hearts into this movement and we're happy to see it's starting to catch on. seventh generation. protecting planet home. to finish what you started today. for the aches and sleeplessness in between, there's new motrin pm. no other medicine, not even advil pm, is more effective for pain and sleeplessness. new motrin pm. and we're saving on packaging by using less cardboard. when we save, you save. that means thousands of rollbacks. it's rollback time. ♪ back now at 8:20 with more of our special series "today's tricks of the trade." today we are talking about furniture. "reader's digest" contributor janet lieberman discovered what the pros do to keep their furniture looking good. >> buying furniture can cost you thousands of dollars and fixing scratches and spots can get pricey as well. we asked a miami designer to spill the beans and share his secrets. >> welcome! >> reporter: lisa finn has beautiful furniture and hopes to keep it that way for a long time. >> i usually buy good furniture and want to make sure that it lasts. >> reporter: what about the economy? is it something of concern? >> i definitely think that trying to hold back a little bit and use what we have. and often i'll go to a professional if i do need to fix something. >> it gets expensive. >> and it gets expensive. >> reporter: so what do the pros know that we don't? we asked designer jeff wey to spill. >> my golda is to show you some ways of fixing some minor problems you may have would without spending any money and in very little time. >> that would be great. >> reporter: first on her list -- a spot on her sofa. >> i ruined the whole couch. >> i have a product that's called nature's miracle. it's used to remove pet stains. you simply dab it on with a wet cloth, rub until it goes away. i would suggest then drying it with a hair dryer. >> i can't believe that's out! i have tried to get that out and it's never come out! >> reporter: next job, repairing wooden chairs. >> they just got scuffed up and dented. >> after using this, believe it or not, would be black shoe polish. >> really? >> reporter: an even coating of liquid shoe polish and some hot air did the trick. >> great! >> if you take the chairs now, polish them, wax them, however you maintain it, it will feel even better. >> reporter: he applied the same technique to her wooden table and floors. >> every time i step on this it bothers me because it doesn't match the rest of the floor. >> to redo the floor would cost thousands of dollars. >> this will really stay and stick? >> this will stay. allow this to just dry naturally. once it's dried, take some wax to give it a layer of sheen that will work with your polyurethane that's currently on your floor. >> reporter: got a drawer that sticks? jeff offers up a solution. >> take a bar of soap here. soap is like a wax. there is a lot of oil in it. let's stick this back in and see how easily we can pull it out. want to give it a try? >> sure. look at that! now i can use this. >> reporter: for the scuffs on your wall? no need to repaint. >> only thing i could suggest for this, the thing called magic eraser. it is basically a sponge with chemicals ton it. it is used for scuffs. just a little rubbing. what is happening? >> doesn't take the paint off? >> doesn't even touch the paint. >> wow. >> reporter: i've been walking around the house. i love it. what do you think. >> i am so happy. i'm thrilled because i was prepared to spend a lot of money on professionals. now i can do it. and save money. >> those are all really good tips. we've gout the must-haves for any home. you love this magic eraser. >> i have a 2-year-old who draws all over the walls. it takes everything right off. it's also good for glass countertops. cleans off stove tops beautifully. >> you've got the shoe polish here, shoep soap for the drawers. nature's miracle. another thing to protect the floors so you don't get scuff marks on the floor. >> put felt on the bottom of everything. a lot of times they come in precut circles and they stick out. just make your own, cut them on two sides, put them on everything and you can slide chairs in and out and save your wood floors. use a glue gun if it doesn't have a self-adhesive on the back. repairing picture frames, especially antique ones can get chipped. a lot of people would throw that out. >> jeff took the putty with his finger. over that he'll take just a gold pen and fill it in. they all can be filled in and if it looks too gold, he says take a little bit of the shoe polish and rub it over, then take a wash cloth and go over that again and it will come back to new. >> we all remember at our grandparents' house, they had plastic over the furniture. >> if you have kids and they're always spilling things, watch this. just wipe it right off. what this is is laminated fabric. can you take any fabric that you went, send it to a laminator, $200 for 20 or 30 yards. they'll laminate the whole thing. >> janet, appreciate it. back after your local news and weather. >> 8:26 is the time. we could be getting rain today. in the news for today, a public visitation will be held for a principal murdered in his own home. brian bets was shot in silver spring. he was the principal at the middle school in northwest. tonight's visitation runs from 6:00 to 9:00 on center street in menassis. we will have a break and have weather and traffic when we come back. we have scattered showers around the metro area and virginia. a batch of steadier rain advancing towards it is metro region. a few passing showers tonight. sun back tomorrow and near 70 friday. how is the traffic now? >> time to take a look and up to the 14th street bring. should you find the travel lanes open. an incident on the southbound side. authorities are checking on that. on 270 no accidents. had an incident at shady grove drawing southbound attention. >> we are waking up earlier these days. the 8:30 now on this wednesday morning, the 21st day of april, 2010. right now our energetic crowd is sharing their enthusiasm with members of the 2010 winter olympic team who are heading to washington to meet the president and first lady today. we'll catch up with them in a bit. also ahead, the woman who found a donor. you see where we're going with this. also ahead, mark bittman is here. he'll make homemade salad dressing. apropos of nothing. you know french dressing? what do you think is in it? >> mayonnaise and ketchup. >> and french people. >> olive oil, red wine vinegar, tomato paste, dijon mustard and garlic. >> ah! >> mark has great recipes for homemade dressing. also, we'll talk about some inexpensive and stylish ways to make up your children's bedroom. but first, let's say hello to our olympic athletes. team usa won 37 medals in vancouver. the most by any team in a long winter games. >> on their way to the white house to meet the first family. good morning to all of you. last time we saw you, you were getting that silver medal. it was your first medal. >> man, it still hasn't hit me yet. i'm having such a wonderful time going to all these amazing events. it means a lot to me. >> do you think of competing some more? obviously we're now into warm weather but what are your plans for the near future? >> i'm going to take it a day at a time. i do want to go back to competing and see how it goes one more time. but that's so far away right now. >> taylor, you were part of the gold medal winning paralympic team. what was it like the moment you guys won? >> just an amazing moment. we set small goals along the way. four years is a long journey. when you finally put it all together and are able to accomplish something like that with your teammates and more so your friends, it's just a great feeling to represent your country and represent the paralympic athletes. >> have you taken that medal off since you got it? >> this is your first olympics. you finished fourth. now you'll go and see the white house and the president and first lady. what's going on? >> it is so exciting! i mean this whole thing is just such an amazing opportunity. to compete for our country, now we get to go to the white house and meet the president. what greater opportunities could there be? we're just thrilled. >> are you thinking about what am i going to say to him? what am i going to do? >> a little bit. i think there are 230 athletes which will be there to meet him which is really an incredible opportunity for all of us. >> the old olympic committee decided the old usa logo wasn't good enough. you are now sporting the new one. >> it really shows why we're doing this. we're here to represent our country and give the best we can for everybody. >> it's cool when they change the logo, that means they got to give you new clothes. >> you made us all very proud. >> thank you. >> have fun at the white house. >> thank >> good morning. in storm center 4, we have light rain on radar. the radar is showing it advancing out of virginia towards the district. we have scattered showers across maryland and later temperatures now 40s and 50s will climb into the low 60s. a few more pass being showers into mid-evening this evening. sun back and warmer. >> don't forget, check your weather any time of the day or night either on the weather channel on cable or weather.com online. now let's head on down to ft. meyers, florida and say hello to uncle willard scott. hey, uncle. >> i'm telling you, central park, spring time in new york, i don't think anybody ever wrote a song. but they should because it is beautiful. daffodils popping up. happy birthday. how sweet. let's check our smucker's jar and see who appears. otto morgensen. 105 years old. keterring, ohio. pretty mkie nichols. orlando, florida. right up the road. 100. performed on broadway in the '30s in a duo called the wheeler twins. she worked with phil harris and mickey rooney and lots of others. i bet that was fun. those days, little depression of course, but they made a few bucks. ann mckeeby of union city, georgia. 102. third time she's tried to get on. i'm glad we got her. retired teacher. loves writing and playing skip lou. don't know that one. she does that with her friends and keeps up with current events. i keep up with current events. don't know about skip lou. miles nelson. sounds like an old radio announcer, kansas city, missouri. bet he eats some good ribs. 101. works two jobs, delivering meals on wheels and delivering clothes to the needy. no computer, no nothing. mary thomas of duxbury, mass. 100 years old. her faith in the good lord and loving her family, enjoys drinking a little tea with her friends. paul petri, haslett, michigan, 102. loves his tomato garden. nicknamed "happy." that's it. that's all now from this beautiful, beautiful city of ft. meyers. we love it. now back to new york. >> willard, thank you very much. when we come back, three women forever connected by their journey to motherhood. but first, this is "today" on nbc. for three women, each over the age of 35, the desire to become a mother began to outweigh their professional goals and search for love. but on the journey toward single motherhood, they each ended up with exactly what they wanted, and more. now they are sharing their stories in the new book "three wishes." good morning to all of you. this is really -- you were joking about it. i fine it is an amazing story. you say, it is just our story. but it really is quite something. terry, start with you. you were a professional success but you also say you were a romantic failure. you made a decision, a promise to yourself when you reached the age of 39. what was that? >> right. that was the deadline i had set for myself that if i weren't married by then i would become a single mother. i never thought it would happen, but there i was, the clock was ringing. i said, okay, i have to go ahead with it. >> you went to a sperm bank and you chose donor 8282, tall, spli slim, well-built blonde man who wanted to be a scientist. that's all you knew. was it daunting to pick a father in that way? >> it was completely surreal. it was like all of our mating mechanisms get disabled and all you get is a list of categories about this person. >> you go home with eight vials of this person's sperm. right? the plans are you're going to be inseminated. suddenly you meet this guy and you have sort of an unand down relationship. you are inseminated it one of the vials, it doesn't takes and eventually he becomes the father of your first child and your second child. that's where you come in, beth. because you were married, then divorced and trying to rediscover yourself. in the process realized i want a kid. >> yeah. >> i want a baby. >> yeah. >> so pam, your friend -- this gets complicated, pam your friend introduces you to carrie, her friend, next thing you've got the vials. >> that's exactly what happened. >> you're planning to go through with this. >> yes. >> but then? >> then miraculously the same thing that happened to carrie happened to me. i had come out of this unpleasant divorce, my ex-husband had left me and i got these vials from carrie. soon thereafter, i met the man who -- i met phil who became my husband and the father of my child. >> again with him, too, were you a little nervous to talk to him about this whole notion of having a baby. >> yeah. he was sort of a certified bachelor. it wasn't his intention to have children necessarily at all and i already had that intention. i had already decided i was going to have a child. we had to have these discussions fairly early on because i was already moving in that direction. >> eventually he did agree and have you a child now as well. >> yes, we do. >> which leads us to you, pam. you are the hopeless romantic. >> i am. they mock me. >> you always thought you'd have the whole package and it just wasn't happening for you as well. so you inherit -- >> i did. >> the seven vials. >> i did. >> and then you meet mark. it is a little complicated because when you met mark, he was married at the time and you said, no way. >> he was. >> i'm dating him in this situation. then he leaves his wife, he gets a divorce and you two become an item. but he's also reluctant about everything. >> he was. after having been married, he wanted a little time out, time just for us but he realized that i had this deadline and he also wanted children. so pretty quickly we were able to figure things out and knew that we would be together and wanted a family. >> did you even come close to using the vials or was it -- >> by the time i would have taken them officially from beth and they've been in my custody, i was pretty much settled with mark. so we were ready to pass it on again. >> this story seems almost too good to be true. is there any exaggerations in any of this? >> there's really not. i mean in a way, it would be -- we almost wish there were. but we're three journalists and basically what we are also trained to do is be very straight in the way that we present a story. it is just that unexpected and remarkable thing happened to us. >> we actually ended up taking things out. it was simply too much. >> beth and i made pam tune down some of it. >> basically, figure out what it is you really want and need and go for it. you may find that things change as you do. >> we do feel like there was some magic in the moment in which we decided to pursue what we truly desired. for us that was children. for other women it may be other things. >> what happened to those seven vials? >> those actually went to a friend of mine and she did use them and it turned out that she had some reproductive issues that weren't recognized when she started the process. so she didn't end up having any children. >> well, they absolutely worked their magic on the three of you. >> and the friendship. >> that's also what the book is about, about real friendship. >> we were very lucky to have each other to go through all this with. >> ladies, thank you so much. up next, mark bittman takes the mystery out of making homemade salad dressing. but first, this is "today" on nbc. here's to the believers. the risk-takers. the visionaries. the entrepreneurs... who put it all on the line to build and run their own businesses. at at&t, we know something about that. our company started out in a small lab, with not much more than a dream. and today, we know it's small businesses that can create the jobs america needs. that's why at&t is investing billions to upgrade and build out our wired and wireless networks. making them faster, smarter, and more secure. connecting small businesses to markets across the country, and around the world. we invest now, because we know it will pay off... with new jobs, new growth, from a new generation, putting their belief in the future on the line. now is the time for investment and innovation. the future is waiting. and the future has always the future is waiting. and the future has always been our business. at&t. back at 8:47. this morning on "how to cook everything today," homemade salad dressing that may take a little longer than opening a bottle, but mark bittman says it is delicious, healthy and cost effecti effective. is he a "new york times" columnist and the author of "how to cook everything," which is also a brand-new app for the iphone. you are very hip, mark. welcome back. so you do this, you really basically need some ingredients, you keep in your pantry, those are the basics for any salad dressing. >> yeah, almost all salad dressings are forms of vinaigrette which means some kind of oil, an acidic ingredient like vinegar and seasonenings. we'll do four here right now. >> first is a standard vinaigrette. >> olive oil, i use sherry vinegar, but wine vinegar. chopped shallot. thyme. but again, any herb. this is the simplest technique which is just shake in a jar. >> how long does this stay good? >> at least a week. >> salad dressing you buy from the store, you can have for months. >> but salad dressing you buy from the store, you have no idea what's in it. look at that. >> the next one is a creamy green godess. you are using similar ingredients, just not the sail. >> olive oil, lighter vinegar, rice wine vinegar. yogurt for creaminess. >> consistency wise, can you alter proportions if you want it thinner or thicker? >> yes. a little bit of garlic. again, use any -- here we're using a pile of herbs. you can use parsley, we have basil here, dill. you want a nice, tender herb. you'll get this beautiful -- we hope -- creamy green dressing. >> this one you would not save as long. use that one time -- >> a few days. >> this next one? >> any of these tools, you can use. olive oil, red wine vinegar, a little bit of tomato taste which will give great sweetness and color, and you see we're using real ingredients here. they're common. again, a little bit of garlic. here ff ffy -- >> is this in all french dressing? >> i don't know what's in bottled salad dressings. they've been so bad for us. but this is a classic french dressing in the sense that it was made in france, there's tomato in it. you get this beautiful lovely red color. >> let's go for number four. this is a soy salad dressing. >> we're using a neutral oil here. not using -- >> canola? grapeseed? >> grapeseed, canola, something like that. a little bit of honey. sesame oil, soy sauce. and here rigce vinegar. here i'm just going to whisk. >> why do you only whisk? >> i'm showing you, any of these can be made with any of these techniques. >> you mind if i dip a finger in there? >> no, but i'm going to let you do something even better if you come around here. >> sorry, guys. >> cameramen love that. >> this is my life. welcome to it. okay. >> here you go. you don't want it with the stuff on top, you want to dip it in there. standard vinaigrette. this is the green goddess, no double-dipping. you can. i can't double dip. beautiful french dressing with some romaine. roasted vegetables. >> mark bittman, thanks very much. up next, candice bergen is set to save the earth. she'll explain. but first, this is "today" >> announcer: "today goes green" is brought to you by walmart. save money. live better. walmart. this morning, "today goes green," honoring tomorrow's 40th anniversary of earth day. nbc network is teaming up with christie's to host a very special auction. >> candice bergen is on the auction committee. good morning to both of you. nice to see you. this is green in every way. this is a really big deal. explain more about it. >> it is very important for the company to get engaged in this sort of thing. it was fantastic as an idea, but it sort of emerged in 2007 through the facilities department, we thought the can be should take a stance, engage with our clients and the staff in a completely different way. with that in mind, we really went for it this year. i think the issue's become more and more important every day. >> candice, he walks the walk. you're also a member of the park conservancy here in new york. you're donating a package, right? >> yes. a tour of the park for four people and lunch at the boathouse afterwards. but there's fantastic things being donated. there's golf with bill clinton. there's tennis with john mcenroe. there's a day on the set with hugh jackman. >> you can have georgio armani outfit you for the next "vanity fair" post-oscar party. the packages are really entertaining. it is nice to combine this great with a cause and doing good for the environment with things that are just fun. >> they're doing it without any profit, christie's, which is outstanding. >> it automatically goes back into helping save the planet. >> that's the idea. the four key environmental charities that are being the beneficiaries of this auction. the matt lauer tour of the nbc studio is the key to it. >> you had that a couple of times. right? you don't want people to just view this as a one-day event. you want this to be the impetus to really think about these issues for the future. >> that's right. we as a company have made a three-year commitment to the charities we are engaging with to do our best to keep the issues as high profile as we possibly can. >> very quickly, can you walk us through some of these other items that will be on auction? >> we have great things here at various price points. we have three key ways to give money. >> ten seconds. >> this watch has a green new york on it, 8:55 is the time undery skies. in the news for today, congress tackles the many issues of metro. the committee will focus on the recent beings and efforts to improve safety. it will look at metro's looming probleming and search to find a new general manager. the cats will hope to win a third straight game and take on the canadienes. they won game to take a 2-1 edge f. they win, they can finish out the series here in washington. the puck drops this evening at 7:00 p.m. we will good morning. now raining across northern virginia and panhandle of west virginia. temperatures are cool and in the low to mid 50s and highs in the 60s with a few more showers. sunny and warmer tomorrow. how is the traffic? >> 395 northbound not bad. authorities clearing an accident and all the travel lanes should be open before too long. checking the american legion bridge. heavy and slow and couldn't find anything in the roadway. appears to be volume. >> we are waking up earlier these days. it starts at 4 time 30 and back now with more of "today" on a wednesday morning, the 21st day of april, 2010. we've got a nice crowd, a lot of these people are sticking around because we have a special guest appearance in this hour by the one and only meredith vieira to answer questions. how long have you worked here? >> four years in september. >> we've been partners for almost four years. >> every day. >> so when you refer to me in the segment like this a second ago, what's behind this? >> matt talks the talks, but you walk the walk. you're a member of the central park conservancy in morning. >> that was that boston thing. >> you're also a member of the central park conservancy here in new york. >> i meant to call you a jerk. but it came out mark. >> coming up in this half-hour, iceland. that volcano finally, it seems, calming down. air traffic -- air travel -- in and out of europe -- seems to be getting back to normal. a lot of people need time get to their destination. we'll bring you up to date. >> welcome to brunch with the bickersons. then on "today's "money 911,"" help for your money emergencies from supplementing your retirement income with real estate investments, to risks and benefits in roth i.r.a.s, to paying for ivf treatment. a lot of this is not covered by insurance. we'll have advice for all your questions from our panel of experts. then once you have those kids you've been trying for, it is time to start talking about decorating their rooms and cutting down on the war of clashing tastes between you and your children, whether they're elementary or high school. we'll show you some good design options. >> let's go inside to nancy to -- nancy? >> thanks a lot, lisa. let's get to the news. serious subjects, including airports are now open in europe. most of them are. for the first time it is happening in a week because of that volcano in iceland but it will be a while before air travel is back to normal and to find out more about this, nbc's dawna friesen is at london's heathrow airport with more. good morning. >> reporter: good morning, ann. the good news is that 75% of flights in europe are expected to operate today. bad news is there is a huge mess to clear up. all the flights at london's airports are all operating. we saw the first flights land last night here's heathrow. lucky people on-board relieved to get back. there are still hundreds of thousands of people stranded in far-flung places. remember, 95,000 flights were canceled in the last six days. imagine trying to re-arrange all of those. it's not just people in the wrong places, it's planes, too, that need to be repositioned. we're seeing planes take off with know passengers just so they can get to a place where they can pick people up. 29% of global aviation is believed to be have been affected by this. and for travelers now, they're being advised to be patient, to contact their airlines because the airlines say it could take weeks, perhaps longer to clear up the backlog of passengers. as for the volcano, it seems to be getting quieter spewing less ash. fingers crossed it will stay that way. >> dawna friesen, thanks. pope benedict today spoke publicly for the first time about the priest sex abuse scandal. he promised the church will take action to prevent abuse by members of the clergy. an explosion rocked an oil drilling platform off louisiana last night. 11 workers are still missing. today is a national day of mourning in china to remember the more than 2,000 people who died in the devastating earthquake that hit that country one week ago. today the ceo of spirit airlines defended his company's plan to charge passengers $45 for each carry-on bag. ben baldanza spoke with matt earlier on this broadcast and claimed the move is good for those who fly. >> absolutely. in fact, we don't see who loses because if you pay for a bag now on spirit, your total ticket price is going to be the same or a little less than before. if you don't carry a bag, and help us get our planes out faster by not clogging up the airplane, you'll save $40 or more on your ticket. >> senator chuck schumer expressed the fear that if one airline is allowed to charge for carry-on bags, other airlines may eventually do so. today president obama meets to members of the senate judiciary committee to hear if they have any suggestions for the successor to supreme court justice john paul stevens. the colorado patient behind last year's balloon boy hoax have agreed to pay $36,000 in restitution. they trigger an expensive rescue effort when they falsely reported their 6-year-old son had floated away in a homemade balloon while richard is also serving a 90-day sentence and his wife is performing community service. violent weather tuesday in texas where two tornadoes were reported, including this one near bushland. windows were blown out in homes but no reports of any serious injuries. there is the threat of more severe weather today. five minutes past the hour. let's get another >> good morning. light sprinkles on radar in washington and prince georges and fairfax. most of virginia getting rain and slowly advancing north and into the district and maryland. continuing off and on into the afternoon. highs reaching low 60s and sun back tomorrow and warmer near 70. near 70 on friday. the weekend could get showers on saturday and mainly midday and light rain and moderate rain into sunday, monday, and tuesday. time now for today's "money 911" where our expert panel takes the whole half-hour to answer your financial emergencies jean chatzky, sharon epperson, and melissa lee. natalie has questions from the folks out on the plaza today. good morning. everybody ready? >> good morning. >> all right. skype first, lexington, kentucky. this is laura. she has a question. good morning, laura. >> good morning. >> what's your question? >> i recently changed my 401(k) contributions from traditional to roth. my concern is considering the volatility of the stock market, if something should happen in my investments didn't perform the way i hope they do, could i be paying taxes on money that i never even see? >> jean, interesting question. >> it is an interesting question. i actually think that's not the right way to think about it. a roth offers you in the 401(k) -- i assume you are talking about a roth 401(k) -- right? >> yes. >> a lot more plans are offering the roth option these days so it's good we're talking about it. when you put money into a roth 401(k) instead of a regular 401(k), you do pay the taxes in advance. it's not like you're putting in tax-free dollars. that actually enables you to save more because you have already paid the taxes on that money and you won't have to pay it in the end. it's like you are able to save another $4,000 a year if you're maxing out. that's a really good thing. the other question to ask yourself though is, will your tax bracket actually be lower or higher when you get to retirement. you want to pay as little in taxes as absolutely possible. so if you think your tax bracket is actually going to be lower when you get to retirement, then a regular 401(k) actually may be good for you. here's the suggestion. it's not an either/or. you could split the difference and can you sort of play both sides of the fence, because most people aren't exactly sure where their tax bracket's going to be. >> the great thing about that money in the roth 401(k), if you don't need it for retirement and want to pass it on to someone, that's tax-free money that they can then have. it is a great estate planning tool. >> now across the street to natalie. >> i have suzanne here in rochester, new york. >> my question is with president obama has included in his health care reform bill student loans, how will that affect the present student loan system? >> everyone is focused on these student loans and what's the new plan going to be. keep in mind, some of these provisions aren't going into effect for a few years. right now the main thing to think about is the way the student loans are administered will be directly from the federal government. the private bank won't be involved anymore. that's one thing to think about. in terms of the loans that your kids are going to be taking out, one of the great ones, income-based repayment plan starting in july 2014. 10% of their income if they aren't making a lot of money, they only have to pay 10% of their income towards the loans and they have a forgiveness period reduced down to just 20 years. still a great program with the current terms but that's something to think about. also the terms for pell grants may be changed as well. >> now lao from maryland, good morning. what's your question for the crowd? >> good morning. lately we hear a lot about buying properties for rental income. i was wondering if this is really profitable, and if this is something that might be considered to augment retirement income. >> melissa? >> lael, you have to ask yourself the number one question, do you have enough income right now for retirement. if you have enough funds right now, because rental income should be supplementary. if it is not supplementary, do you want to risk possibly draining that retirement fund in order to buy that property, and then the rent doesn't go so well and are you stuck there, you're close to retirement age, your spouse is already retired and it is very difficult at that point in the game to actually replenish that retirement fund. with that said, if it is in fact supplementary and it is maybe a good option for you, you have to really crunch numbers and make sure you've got enough money to cover more than just that mortgage. you've got the insurance on the property, i'm guessing the last thing you want to do is pick up the phone from your tenant and answer the phone with the tenant complaining about a leaky faucet. >> that's the question. you have to ask yourself do you have the disposition to actually become a landlord. her husband is retired, so maybe he could do this, but maybe not. >> if you have explored all the other retirement vehicles, have you already contributed the max to an i.r.a. and done things where you can just have a financial advisor help you pick mutual funds and sit back and watch that money grow as opposed to managing a rental property. >> the consensus here is go slow on this one. now we've got a question on video. here's the video. >> good morning. my husband and i have three young daughters with traditional savings accounts. how can we maximize their savings to make more money for their college funds. >> jean? >> take a look at 529 college savings plans. every state has a college savings plan. especially in many states you can take the money out of the savings account, tut it into a 529, until they go to college, you canull the money out. but i'd also say get grabbed parents on-board, gets aunts and uncles on board. when people open these accounts for your kids, tell everybody that when they want to give a birthday present it would be really nice to just write a check. right? college is so expensive. tuition has gone up three times the rate of inflation and showing no signs of slowing down. this has to be a family project. >> teach the girls to share and also whatever toys they don't get, put that money toward the 529 plan for college savings. >> when you look at 529 plans, they aren't all created equal. just because you are in a state doesn't mean you have to go into that state's 529 plan. each state has different performances because they have different allocations of stocks and bonds. >> now an e-mail from maria in hot springs, arkansas. i just found out i've been paying every month for a payment protection plan for my credit card. i've been out of work since april 2008, can barely make the payment. called the company to let them know i need help to make my $900 balance. i'm still paying for the benefit. sounds like a predatory practice on the people who can least afford it. >> exactly. it has become that way. you have to look at the fine print and know what you are paying for. have an emergency savings plan. then you don't need this payment protection. what you are paying for is 1% to 2% of a fee on your monthly balance. if you put that money into an emergency fund, you wouldn't need this kind of plan. there are a lot of stipulations with it as well and these why she's in this trouble. >> guys, stand by. more answers to your questions ahead in just a moment. also, she will always be known as wonder woman. nothing wrong with that. the symbol of beauty and strength for a generation of women. linda carter will be here to tell us what she's up to right after these messages. ♪ ♪ ♪ can you believe how fast kids grow these days? that's why there's new danonino. new danonino has twice the calcium of milk, ounce per ounce, with vitamin d. so it's power packed for healthy growth. yummy! new danonino from dannon. power packed to help kids grow. rheumatoid arthritis going? they're discovering the first self-injectable ra medicine you take just once a month. it's simponi™, and taken with methotrexate, it helps relieve the pain, stiffness, and swelling of ra with one dose a month. visit 4simponi.com to see if you qualify for a full year of cost support. simponi™ can lower your ability to fight infections, including tuberculosis. serious and sometimes fatal events can occur, such as infections, cancer in children and adults, heart failure, nervous system disorders, liver or blood problems, and allergic reactions. before starting simponi™, your doctor should test you for tb and assess your risk of infections, including fungal infections and hepatitis b. ask your doctor if you've been to a region where certain fungal infections are common. tell your doctor if you're prone to infections, or develop symptoms such as fever, fatigue, cough, or sores. you should not start simponi™ if you have an infection. [ female announcer ] ask your rheumatologist about simponi™. just one dose, once a month. back with today's "money 911," we're answering all your financial questions. natalie is across the street. let's get back to skype. this is from quaker town, pennsylvania. carrie's on the line. what a cutie! >> good morning. >> what's your question? >> i have a two-part question. a few years ago i co-signed a loan for somebody, a school loan. i'm getting married in september. the loan defaulted and they just started making current payments on it. it is probably about a little over $10,000. my foe iance is worried that on we get married he will take on the burden of that loan. also, is there anything i can do to get that off my credit since it is not really my loan? >> okay. >> when you get married, for richer or poorer and for debts. and for in-laws. exactly. unfortunately, when you default on a student loan and because you co-sign, it is just as good as yours. that default stays on your credit report for up to seven years so it is there. the way your fiance will probably feel it first and foremost is because your credit score has taken a hit. when you go out and buy your first home together which is something i guess you probably want to do at some point. >> we already did. >> is there anything she can do? >> the best thing is make sure that the person she's co-signed a loan for is paying on time at this point. if carrie's really concerned, if you're really worried, take control of the situation and can you make those payments or if you have the where with all, pay down that loan. if you're concerned that the person you co-signed for may not keep timely on those payments. it's your credit score, your credit score, carrie, that's on the line here. >> let's go across the street, natalie has another question from the crowd. >> we have ellen with her beautiful daughters from wellesley, massachusetts. what's your question. >> my question is, my husband and i have been saving for our girls' college and we are wondering now that they're in sixth and eighth grade how can we get them more involved in the process. >> get them working! >> after-school jobs. >> i find what works in my house -- my kids are just a little bit older than yours. we've done a home-grown 401(k) in high house at times where they save, then we match the money. for whatever sort of goal is at the end of the road. it works a little bit better when they have an incentive rather than you just saying this is the way it is going to be. so help them save for the things they want as well as the things that you want. >> i encourage my baby-sitters that i know i'm giving you this money, but how much are you putting away and actually challenge them to let you know and keep you informed. that encourages you to want to perhaps pay them more. >> great advice, jean chatzky, sharon epperson, melissa lee, thanks so much for helping us out. if you have financial questions, go to todayshow.com. we'll try to answer as many as we can in the coming weeks. up next, who will enjoy this elite group of fine looking dogs? we will show you the contenders. finally, what you love is what your skin needs. experience new positively nourishing body washes from aveeno, the naturals brand dermatologists trust most. delightfully fragrant, truly moisturizing. that's positively nourishing. only from aveeno. that's positively nourishing. can you believe how fast kids grow these days? and since 90% of bone strength is developed before adulthood... it's so important that they get enough calcium every day. that's why there's new danonino. danonino! unlike leading kids yogurts, danonino has twice the calcium of milk, ounce per ounce, with vitamin d. so it's power packed for healthy growth. and its rich creamy taste is... yummy! so they can start building strong bones today... for stronger bodies tomorrow. new danonino from dannon. power packed to help kids grow. air wick i-motion. the only continuous air freshener that detects movement, releasing a burst of fresh scent inspired by nature. so day, after day, your home always feels welcoming. and freshmatc compact with i-motion makes even the tough spaces welcoming. try the full i-motion range. air wick. release the freshness of nature. welcome to progressive. nice calculator. i'm just trying to save money on my car insurance. you know, with progressive, you get the option to name your price. is that even possible? uh, absolutely. trade? and i still get great service? more like super great. oh, you have a message. "hello." calculator humor. i'll be here all week. i will -- that was my schedule. the freedom to name your price. now, that's progressive. call or click today. we need to know which lovable pooch you think deserves to be a finalist in "today's top dog." first up, brandee from bedford, texas. she dives in this nine-foot-deep pool to retrieve a stick. next, picasso from middle village, new york who loves singing and knows how to hit those notes. favorite song is "amazing grace." finally, our third semi-finalist, 9-year-old emma, a shepherd-rottweiler mix from pennsylvania. she works for treats but still has a lot of tricks up her sleeve. >> it is up to you to decide which of these three will make it to the final round of "today's top dog." voting ends at noon eastern time thursday. for all who still want to enter, we'll take submissions until this friday, april 23rd. speaking of treats, we've got charlie palmer in the kitchen. what we can do with baked goods when they've been hanging around the kitchen. is way overdue. i just can't wait to see all those crunchy flakes in action. i hope i get a chance to put two scoops!™ of raisins in some boxes. you know what will really get us in the spirit? ♪ 99 boxes of raisin bran crunch ♪ ♪ if you're nice to me i'll share some with you ♪ ♪ you take one down ( and pass it around ) ♪ ♪ 98 boxes of raisin bran crunch ♪ three tasty ingredients, one great combination. ♪ raisin bran crunch! from kellogg! we get double miles with every purchase. so we earned a tropical vacation in half the time. we earn double miles every time we use our card. ( shouts ) double miles add up fast so we can bring the whole gang. ( grunting ) awesome! it's hard to beat double miles. everyone knows two is better than one. introducing the venture card from capital one... with double miles on every purchase every day. go to capitalone.com. ( gasps ) what's in your wallet? wait up! >>. >> 9:26 is the time. the airport urn cloud skies. this wednesday, april 21st, 2010. there will be a public visitation for a beloved principal murdered in his home on columbia boulevard on silver spring. brian bets's suv was found abandoned in washington. he was a principal at shaw middle school and the visitation rins at the pierce funeral home in menassis. stay with us. we have rain across much of virginia and in maryland across the potomac, rain in the district of columbia off to the north and east. it's a cool morning in the low and mid 50s around the region. high around 60 with showers later today and ending this evening and sunny and warmer tomorrow as well as friday. how is the traffic now? >> time to take a live look. a few light rain showers and everybody has their headlights on. springfield towards 66. american legion bridge the same story there. the outer and inner loop steady and presently available. >> thank you. we are waking up earlier these days. start your day at 4:30 for news 4 today for the latest news, weather, and trachk. weather, and trachk. for now back to the " i'm lucy sykes. i'm a fashion stylist. what i do is dress people for magazines and tv. my job is to hunt down the best fashion and stay on budget. my secret? t.j.maxx. their buyers have their finger on the pulse of what's on trend. they buy directly from designers and you see the savings! i dress fashionistas. but i'm a maxxinista. t.j.maxx. let us make a maxxinista out of you! i'm nervous about her going away, but i know that she wants to be able to do things on her own. (sunny) the bayer meter helps me become more independent. (announcer) only bayer's contour meter has programmable personal high low settings. (sunny) the hi/lo settings gives you a good idea of where your blood sugars' at and what you need to do to control it. the bayer meter will give me peace of mind. i want you to be happy. don't cry. my name is sunny and independence is my simple win. (announcer) the contour meter, only from bayer. ever since i was born, daddy has been the best father you could ever imagine. >> they broke millions of hearts at their dad's funeral last summer. but now as the first anniversary of his death approaches, how are michael jackson's children doing? we'll talk to michael's sister reba tomorrow on "today." >> such a heart-breaking moment. >> such a tough moment to watch. coming up in this half-hour, help to help you get your kids' rooms redone if you have to do redecorating. >> let us help you. we're talking about basically whether your kids are 5 or 15, it is sometimes hard to figure out what they really want. especially if you're the parent. this morning we've got some tips on furniture and decorating touches that might actually be something you might agree with for your child. at least leave something left over for the college fund right now. also ahead, tomorrow is earth day. we have stunning new perspectives of earth from a new almanac that weighs in at 63 pounds. pretty incredible. >> those images are fantastic. you said this book has a wingspan of six feet. >> there are a couple fold-outs. >> we'll see stunning images in that book in a little bit. plus, charlie palmer is here with delicious ideas for what to do with all those leftover bakery breads that you may have stocked up on for brunch but don't throw them out the next day. we can make that into english french toast. >> i notice they take a day-old cake, cake that's really dried out and they pour cream on it or a nice milk on it and let it soak up and it is just -- really, it's -- okay. >> they've done that from bread they found in the pyramids. unbelievable! >> talk about good morning. it's a wet wednesday around the region. light rain falling with the blues and greens and the yellows are harder here. this is coming up to the northeast out of the southwest. from time to time with highs near 60 and the rain activity should end by this evening. sun returns and warmer with highs near 70. friday near 70. over the weekend with more rain and light rain saturday and more moderate sunday. >> and that's your latest weather. next, new ideas for decorating your kids' rooms. right after this. [ male announcer ] if we knew more about our food, would we eat better? at hellmann's, we make our mayonnaise with eggs, vinegar and oil rich in omega 3. for the quality that could only be hellmann's. hellmann's. it's time for real. twizzlers. the twist you can't resist. make that first step easier, with the nicoderm cq patch. nicoderm steps you down from nicotine gradually. doubling your chance for success. nicoderm cq. three steps, ten weeks and you're free. ♪ [ female announcer ] these cookies aren't magic, but they make magic happen. that's because glad has partnered with cookies for kids' cancer. it's small bake sales like these that help raise big money for pediatric cancer research. together, we can make a difference... one container at a time. because with glad, the care that goes in is the care that comes out. ♪ the care that goes in is the care that comes out. can you believe how fast kids grow these days? that's why there's new danonino. new danonino has twice the calcium of milk, ounce per ounce, with vitamin d. so it's power packed for healthy growth. yummy! new danonino from dannon. power packed to help kids grow. "today's moms" is brought to you by walmart. save money. live better. walmart. this morning on "today's moms," designing a room that both you and your child will love. whether it's for a newborn or a teen, you don't have to sacrifice style when it comes to creating a space for your children to sleep or play. we've got room for children, a new book full of great decorating ideas from ivillage contributor suzanna sauk. you know maybe some tips on how to really have this negotiation with our children, make sure they're happy and we're happy. what's your best advice. >> rooms need to grow with your child. it is tempting to buy all this stuff and you think it will be that way forever. they grow out of their nursery, they grow out of their toddler room, teens, tweens. we want to invest in pieces that can last the whole way. there's never been a better time to find great children's designs. it is no longer choo choo trains and barbies. it can be grown up and sophisticatedfunks functional, too. a lot of us have very small spaces. >> maximize. i love this one, a big trend right now are these great wall decals you can zip on to your wall. this is a fun mural of a beach. it doesn't impact the wall and it can really expand the who are done of your child's room, give it a fun, whimsical element. you peel it right on, and it comes right off. >> they can change their mind. >> whenever they want. look how that really expands the space. i love this gnome end table. functional for homework or magazines. i love this you are gan outfurb nursery. you put it in a baby room, it can last into teenage years for play dates, doing homework on. not as a bed but as a lounging area for mom or child. it has grown-up lines, pop of color, it adds whimsy but it is functional and colorful. >> another idea, go for something that's unexpected. i think we have good examples. >> i think a rug is a great area. in the book you'll see this fabulous polka dotted rug. you peel this up, put it down. >> does it move? >> it doesn't. these sections you can have fun and create any design you want. fun have to your child participate in that. a rug is a fun area to create fun. >> you are also encouraging your children to think about good art. >> for $29, you can go on art.com and get a reproduction of this fabulous -- i love the pop art, just the way it pops. have your child pick something out, frame it. not a lot of money. they can pick the campbell's soup can. art, start your child early. a really fun, easy way. >> now move to the nursery. your ideas about that are? >> it doesn't have to be all boy or all girl. i love this one in the book because -- i've tried to capture it here because it could be for either. i love this modern look of this crib from land of nuts. best thing about it, a big tren right now, it converts to a toddler bed. don't ask me to do it now, but trust me. >> i know, this is probably the headboard. >> exactly. what a great investment. i love the shape of it. this bedding from jcpenney home is only $149. it all comes in one. look how cozy and pretty. >> does this come up? when your child is old enough to want to leave the bed? when they're about 2 they want to jump out of the bed. >> i'm not sure. but it is a nice step for a baby, then it will accommodate a 6-year-old. another wall decal. easy on, easy off. the child gets older, this seems a little young, put on something like we just saw with the fantasy island. again, adopt to the child, always. >> the next idea is to talk about something more exotic. >> moroccan. basically outside the box. >> i think it is so fun to take a theme like this. these are $80. >> i can say, i love these. >> i love them, too. >> i love them. >> get a bunch of them. for play dates or you are sitting and doing homework, scatter them around the room. i love this miniature bureau. it is so chic. i love the small scale of it. but it is sophisticated. turtens are e curtains are a really cheap way to add continuous theme. this is beautiful. >> can you put a little dab here, a little dab there. >> you don't have to go overboard. curtains, easy accessory. >> you also like to think about -- you said several times the word sophisticated. especially as children get a little older. how old would you say? >> i done think there is a limit. right now you should definitely invest in pieces that would go in a grown-up room. this side table has sophistication to it. it is important to pepper in grown-up elements. look at this fun jcpenney quilt that's reversible. a big trend right now. again get as much out of your money as possible when you invest in these pieces. mix in the juvenile, the fun, with the grown-up sophistication of a lamp or table and have it combine. that just have to be just one age or just one gender. >> what's the biggest mistake parents often make? >> they worry too much about that it has to be a certain way, it has to be for a boy, it has to be for this age. it should be as open as the child's imagination and i had this with my son all the time. he wants something. i wish it was more my style and it is finding a compromise and bringing in their imagination and their taste into the picture, too. there's so much option right now, you don't have to limit yourself. >> okay. next segment, we ant to have you come teach us how to keep our kids' rooms clean. a several multi-part series. thank you so much. the book is "room for children," for more great decorating ideas, go to todayshow.com and visit the ivillage community. coming up next, new uses for old baked goods. don't throw them out after brunch. we have an expert to show us how to make them really yummy after this. granola nut clusters from nature valley. 100% natural nuts and granola in bite sized clusters. it's a little bit of nature... a little bit better. and nature approves. granola nut clusters from nature valley. and nature approves. can you believe how fast kids grow these days? and since 90% of bone strength is developed before adulthood... it's so important that they get enough calcium every day. that's why there's new danonino. danonino! unlike leading kids yogurts, danonino has twice the calcium of milk, ounce per ounce, with vitamin d. so it's power packed for healthy growth. and its rich creamy taste is... yummy! so they can start building strong bones today... for stronger bodies tomorrow. new danonino from dannon. power packed to help kids grow. begins with a balanced breakfast. country crock has 70% less saturated fat than butter, and 30% fewer calories. add multigrain toast, fresh fruit and low fat milk, and they're off to a good start. country crock. we all do it. but you don't have to. thanks to secret flawless renewal... with odor-absorbing micro capsules that capture... odor and release a fresh scent. it's still working, so you can stop checking. against pollutants and damaging environmental factors. new eucerin daily skin balance body lotion with ph buffer strengthens your skin's protective barrier. new daily skin balance only from eucerin. time to face the pollen that used to make me sneeze... my eyes water. but now zyrtec®, the fastest 24-hour allergy relief, comes in a new liquid gel. new zyrtec® liquid gels work fast, so i can love the air®. to get more of the fiber you need every day, try fiberchoice. with the natural fiber found in fruits and vegetables and 33% more fiber per serving than benefiber. go to fiberchoice.com to get savings and rewards. this morning in "today's kitchen," fresh bread from the bakery is fantastic but what do you do with those baked goodies after a few days? charlie palmer is the chef owner of a restaurant here in new york and also in las vegas. he's got recipes that are anything but steaale. good to see you. in my house in general, we don't have any leftover. but in case you did, you say you can use these leftover goodies. >> take your day old bread of any kind. brioche over here. if you don't have any left, get to know the baker. >> or just buy extra. >> we just cut them in half, a little cinnamon, little bit of brandy. or bourbon. or some other kind of whiskey. of course you don't have to do that. >> just in time for the derby. >> we'll just mix that up a little bit. then dip our day-old croissants in there. just let them soak for a second. not too much. just get a coating. all right? then we got a nice hot griddle over here. then we'll get them right on there. that's a non-stick. use a little bit of butter maybe or something. put a couple on there. get it started. then we got a couple seared over here. then we'll just flip those over. nice and golden brown. anything. >> you got brioche. >> this is another idea. bread pudding. everybody loves bread pudding. could be breakfast, lunch or dinner. we've taken brioche we've cut in chunks and toasted so it is nice and dry. we got our custard mix. just get it all in there, try to get it in the bowl. then butter a casserole over here. one thing i tell people, when you get the bread in there, get the custard mixed up, let it rest for about ten minutes before it goes into the oven. you want the bread to be able to take on the custard mix. so we got our butter dish here. >> when you say you want it to rest, you mean you take this, put it -- >> once it's in the custard, you can get it in here, right? this is a big old bowl. then we can just dump it right in there. then you want to rest that. okay? just like that. >> throw some raisins in there? >> yeah, on top. sprinkle around. >> once you put this in the oven for how long? >> it takes about 35 minutes. of course, the recipe's on the website. depends how big, how thick the casserole is. come around this way and we'll assemble our french toast. what we have here, we have our croissant on the bottom. fre berries. we pureed the fresh berries. berries, you can't beat them. the early time berries, you got to add a little bit of stuff to them. that's why we puree them. a little whipped cream right on top. don't be cheap. >> right. >> there we go. then we put our top on, of course. we drizzle a little bit of maple. >> we have to. >> do you that before or after. then a little powdered sugar. what do we have there? a little slice of heaven. >> we got one coming out of the oven here, still nice and warm. we'll just cut it there, show everybody what it looks like. that brioche has taken on all the custard, raisins are nice and caramelized. >> look at that. >> a little vanilla whipped cream on top of there. again, don't want to be too cheap. >> no, no, please. you can do this with almost any kind of bread. >> yeah. try it. see what you think. >> look at that. >> that's fantastic. >> if you live near a bakery, bakeries always have leftover stuff. >> you can get a deal on it. >> can you get it for nothing! >> please! charlie palmer, it is fantastic. it is almost too beautiful to eat. trust me, somebody will take care of that when this is over. charlie palmer, thanks so much. the recipes are on our website. coming up next, in honor of mother earth and earth day, a breathtaking look at planet earth. but first, this is "toda now on "today goes green," with earth day tomorrow, what better time to learn about our planet. >> we're not just talking about any book. we're looking at one of the world's largest atlases -- the earth atlas. >> it's only 2,000 of these will ever be made. with $5,800 as the price tag -- we wanted to -- many of us will never own one but we want to show you what this book is about. it is such a stunning thing. we just showed still pictures a moment ago. but this is one of the images. this is made with a lot of cameras. thousands of cameras and they put the pictures together to make that happen. >> gorgeous. >> amazing images. it took five years to put together. apparently 100 photographers, oceanographers, all put their images into this. you can't obviously order this through amazon.com or any other book sources but it is available through map links. >> we'll show you more of these stunning images. but before we do, wonder woman, lynda carter, is going to be stopping by to chat with hoda and kathie lee. >> that's cool. also? let's look at images inside the earth atlas book. that's followed by your local news. take a look, everybody. i'm a fashion stylist. my secret? t.j.maxx. they buy directly from designers and you see the savings! i dress fashionistas. but i'm a maxxinista. t.j.maxx. >>. >> 9:56. are we in for a rainy day? in the news for today, congress tackles the many issues metro faces. a house committee meets to talk about the recent accidents and efforts to improve safety. it will look at metro's looming problems and the search to find a general manager. let's get a check of the forecast in the storm center. good morning to you. >> yes, we have been seeing the rain moving towards washington. it's raining in washington and in prince georges, montgomery and fairfax. more rain across virginia crossing the potomac into maryland and off to the north and east. it will be with us throughout the day and passes showers and temperatures to around 60. we are in the low and mid 50s. the rain will end and sun returns and warmer weather on the way and highs near 70. it does appear we will get more rain over the weekend and light rain on saturday and moderate on sunday and into the first part of next week. how is the traffic? >> a live look at wet pavement. we are heavy and slow leaving springfield through the interchange up towards i-66. no accidents. the american legion bridge is heavy and slow, but have a good windshield wiper this morning. >> thank you. we are waking up earlier these days. the news starts at you did it. you made it halfway through the workweek already. it is winesday, april 21st. we're so happy you're with us today. hey, hoda woman. >> hi, honey. how are you? >> you had dinner with bethany frankle last night. did you have a good time. >> we went to dinner. she's going to pop that baby out. >> she doesn't even look like she's pregnant. >> what did you do last night? >> recuperated. the week before when i was doing my little book tour, my hairdresser was out of tan, my manicurist -- everybody was out of town. mama needed some grooming. >> how is party animals doing? >> you find out today, basically, if you made any of the lists. i make one prediction. oprah sold a whole bunch more than party animals. i can just bet you that. >> i have to say, there's something about the way party animals is written. kids fall in love with the rhyming. >> it's out there. it's available for anyone who wants a little blessing. >> so last night "dancing with the stars" had an elimination. everyone was wondering, who's it going to be. the woman who was voted off was kate gosselin. i have to say -- >> she lasted for four sessions. >> we're going to play the portion of when she gets eliminated, listen to what she says. i have to say, it is so poignant and it is so moving. >> it feels real, huh? >> it feels real. >> i love everyone that i met. it was a good experience and i'm sorry i'm crying. i'm a cry baby. >> that's okay. how does it feel knowing that it was the people at home that voted to keep you in this competition even though the judges' scores weren't the greatest for you? is there anything you want to say to everyone at home? >> wow. thank you for believing in me probably more than i believed in myself. >> what we can't understand is how unbelievably grueling that is. she was going back and forth, i guess, to her children and all the emotional -- you know, it's not easy to have judgment passed on you every time you do something. >> she was saying every time she stepped out there on the dance floor, she was so afraid. the idea that -- she knows everyone's looking at her, regardless. i have to say, although we watched her dancing and you thought she probably should be eliminated if you're really judged just on the dancing, but you really loved her when you heard her. if you watch it in its entirety when she's speaking and how her dancing partner steps in, it's really, really poignant. >> not everybody's good at everything. this is obviously not one of her skills. she's got another tv show ready to go. she's going to land on her feet just fine. >> she made some coin. >> she made some major coin. >> this is what the reports are. but the base salary for the folks on that show is $200,000. >> whether you get eliminated the first week or not. maybe i will do it. >> if you stay on -- there you go. >> hey, for one week? pretty darn good coin. >> if you stay on for additional weeks you get between $5,000 and $10,000 bonus. so she may have made, if these reports are true, about a quarter million dollars. that's not -- that's great. >> how long will that feed that many children? >> i don't know what the median salary is in the country. >> nowhere near that. >> probably near $40,000 or less. she's doing well. >> there's an article -- we really are stunned by this. i think -- i don't know. it's on the -- it's pretty gross. it really is. "in touch", the magazine has -- don't look. we had this thing here. we keep covering up one of the pictures because it's disturbing. it just is. on too many levels. this is called -- it's about larry king. and his marriage, which we know is in trouble and going through a lot. this interview is with the alleged -- although he's not alleging. he's saying he flatout did. >> his name is hector. he claims he had an affair with shawn. this is what he told entertainment tonight. this is a quote from this magazine. this is what shawn apparently told him. >> this is what hector is alleging. >> we love alleging. don't worry. he's going to die soon. i can't read that. he said he started sleeping with shawn in 2007. >> 2 1/2 weeks after they met. >> this is the quote in "in touch." this is disturbing. he said, we had sex in larry's bed a lot. i felt like it was my house. she paid my rent. she bought me clothes and a bmw 7 series. she wanted to have a little girl with me. she was trying to fertilize her eggs to do that. i really think she had the affair with me because of him and her sister. >> shawn has denied the affair. the sister has denied the affair with larry. and there's a picture. >> should we show it? >> i know they're married and everything. there's something about it. >> that's not the one. >> this is the one. bring it in. be careful. >> that is a -- >> look closer. >> i don't know if you can see it. it's sloppy on a level you don't want -- it's a major -- >> let's put the thing back. >> i was born in paris. i like a little french kissing. but come on. we're putting the tomato on it. it's earth week. that's why we have these little pouches that go in these -- all of that goes in a little pouch. you, too, can have these at home. let's cover up another picture with this one. i don't know. it's just disturbing. apparently they were at a "vanity fair" party and started making out like, you know, like -- i don't know. it just disturbs me. if my husband ever did that to me in public, you know -- >> there's something about -- >> i love larry, but stop it. >> the photographer caught it at just the moment that you wish he wouldn't have caught it. that's what we're saying. >> thank goodness it's winesday. all right. >> these are the other things we had. this is called juice beauty. it's a green apple peel. and it smells like -- >> green apples. which i love. granny smiths. >> not really. no, it doesn't. >> not a granny smith you'd want to bite into. larry king might. i don't know. >> anyway, these are good products. they're all -- >> we want you to know that we are pulling for larry and shawn. i hate these kinds of stories, we have to cover them. he's a good guy. and she's a nice lady. and i just really hope it's woed out. >> you never know. but this is an unfortunate picture of larry next to -- >> you want to show this, too? >> might as well. this is the boyfriend, allegedly. and this is larry. he's doing a bupull-up, too. >> i'm been in this position a thousand times. there's photographers around. that would be a good picture. for a moment, it is. everyone laughs. you're a good start. >> then it pops up. so there is an article in the "wall street journal" that talks about how little things, not big things wreck marriages, but small things. how he chews. how he leaves his socks around. how -- >> how the wives champ on their gum or park the car crooked in the driveway. >> they say you've got to -- if you cannot convince your husband or wife not to chew so loudly, you have to think of an alternative. what this one woman did was she turned on the fan in the house. >> every time he'd eat? >> it was white noise. drowned him out. she just ate calmly. >> most of the time if you're making that sound you're also -- you know? >> maybe music. >> just eat at different times. just don't dine together. >> they tried that. it didn't work. >> sleep in separate bedrooms. eat away from one another. and go on separate vacations. and your marriage will last forever. you were married once? what drove you the craziest, let's be honest. >> the windexing of everything. >> the windexing in the nude. >> every time you picked up a glass, it was already wiped before you put it back. in the beginning it was nice, because it was clean. but then after a while if you can't have any -- everything was getting stacked and thrown away and, you know, like that. >> well, i'm still married after 23 years. and i'm sorry, that's a miracle. >> it is. >> anybody that can last in marriage. we still like each other a lot. how about you, sara. you're breaking up every other day with somebody? >> i know. it's that time in my life i'm a little indecisive. our kentucky derby homemade hat contest. get crazy. make a hat. take a picture of yourself. >> it takes a long time to make something like that. can we get a shot, please, everybody? lindsay silver went to a lot of trouble. send it in. you and a guest will go to the kentucky derby. >> it's a big deal. >> this ends this sunday. it's the last time you can enter. it's on our website. coming up next, it is a family affair. >> actress and r & b star brandy is here with -- >> the whole kit and kaboodle. with delicate blooms of beautiful flowers. and i just love how my jaclyn smith oversize patio set turned our yard into my favorite place to be -- [ laughs ] not to mention everyone else's. you know -- it's amazing, that a little addition like these soft and colorful cannon towels can make such a splash. top brands, uncommon style, and surprising details all at a kmart price. [ mr. bluelight ] there's smart, and there's kmart smart. love to see kids' spirits shine. superstar and mom, martina mcbride and sunnyd shine on sunny taste. sunny spirit. sunny d. sfx: car crashing ♪ ♪ this is onstar. i've received a signal you've been in a crash. i'll contact emergency services. kids are hungry after school. that's why i always have totino's pizza rolls. big pizza taste. in a bite size roll. kids can't resist their delicious pizza flavor. totino's pizza rolls. the pizza way to snack. ♪ [ female announcer ] when is it okay to lose the cover-up? ♪ when you can. take the special k challenge... and lose an inch from your waist in two weeks. so lose your cover-up, and show off your confidence. design your plan at specialk.com. listen. it's time for you and brandy to get serious, downright serious. and when i call, call back. when i send you an e-mail, respond. you and brandy can no longer just be an artist. but i want you to be the entrepreneurs. >> i got you. >> i'm on board. >> you're looking at a scene from the new vh1 reality show "family business." >> we're about to get deep into the business of the norwood family. the show stars r & b singers brandy and her brother ray j as well as the people responsible for putting them on the planet, sonja and willie norwood. look at the whole family. >> what a beautiful family. brandy, forever. it's so nice -- see how you turned out. >> sonja, from the clip it looks like you drive the bus. is that pretty much the way it works. >> from the business side, yes. >> willie, you're the spiritual influence on the family, right? >> i guess. >> are you a minister by trade? >> i'm a minister of music. i'm not a minister like -- >> you're the music minister. >> brandy, why did you think or why did you and ray j think this was a good idea to put your family out there? ray j, you had your own reality show. we know. everyone's dated ray j. >> pretty much everyone has if you know what i mean. i'm just saying. >> take it easy. actually, ray j created the show. it was an idea that he's had for a long time. he just wanted to bring our family back together as a unit so we could build our business together again. i think it was a great idea because our family is inspirational. of course, we're dramatic like every other family. it's a great show and i think everyone can relate. >> it's such a different view -- ray, you did the dating show. you started to become i guess not you in that show. this is the real you. >> how can we be sure? >> mama says. i got my mom, i got my dad, i got my sister. i got family supporting. >> they're not going to let you get away with that. >> exactly. this is family, you know. >> what's going to surprise people about this show and how you guys interact, do you think? >> i think it's going to surprise people that we are very, very real. when you grow up in fame, people feel like they can't relate to you. i think with your family people are going to realize that we're just the same family as everyone else. it's just that we have different circumstances and different environments. but it's all the same. >> what's it like having the ever present cameras in your home? you know, in your face, pretty much, all the time? >> crazy. >> yeah. >> it took a little time to get used to it. once you're real as we are every day in our real life, it's not really hard for the cameras to be there. because then it becomes a part of what you do every day. >> do you forget that they're there sometimes? >> you do. you do. >> and that's the scary part. that's how you can get all those moments. >> you've been on with us before. >> of course. >> we talked a little bit about -- i know there was a car accident in which someone -- it was such a difficult time in your life. i know. >> yeah. >> how are you now after all that? >> i'm doing -- i'm doing okay. yeah. i am. my daughter keeps me smiling. and i have a great support system. >> you got me. >> and we're all going to go through tough times in our lives. you better have a family and some faith to fall back on, or you're in trouble. >> i think that's the essence of our show. no mat whater what you go throuo obs sta kls, hurdles, struggles, it's about family. >> are you guys getter closer? >> we are. >> it's drawing us closer. kind of get to know each other more. >> as adults. >> you can't leave. you're on a contract. >> we've never worked with them as adults. since they've been adults. this whole show has really brought us back closer. >> the hardest part -- excuse me. what was the biggest thing you had to deal with with brandy and the biggest thing you had to deal with with ray j as parents? >> oh, my goodness. brandy being emotional. she's a very emotional person. >> yes. >> and ray j is, you know, he's an explorer. and so -- >> he sure is. >> we've heard about ray j. >> i'm okay with that. i'm okay with that. >> you were going to ask a question. >> you guys, it sounds like a great, great show. we're so happy for you. we hope it does really well. >> beautiful smiles. coming up next, we serve up some healthy competition. the two of us go head to head. this is on portion control. >> do we have to? >> yes. it's a contest. there's a prize. so we're playing. (child laughing) where is it? where is the bacon? tv anchor: bacon popular, story at 11. yummy. crunchy. bacon. bacon. there, in that bag! mom: who wants a beggin' strip? me! i'd get it myself but i don't have thumbs! yum, yum, yum, yum, yum... it's beggin'! hm...i love you! i love bacon! beggin' strips! there's no time like beggin' time! toss 'em, fling 'em, zing 'em. have fun, with beggin' canadian cuts. would we eat better? at hellmann's, we make our mayonnaise with eggs, vinegar and oil rich in omega 3. for the quality that could only be hellmann's. hellmann's. it's time for real. it feels like a liner, but protects like a pad. because it absorbs 10 times more. there's nothing quite like it. carefree® ultra protection™. feels like a liner, protects like a pad™. [ thunder and cracks of lightning ] whatever i did, my digestive upsets came back. but then came align with bifantis. it helps build and maintain a healthy digestive system to restore my natural digestive balance ....and protect against occasional digestive upsets. align brings peace to my digestive system... and the money back guarantee brings peace to me. sure, you can make healthy meal choices. you know what they say about too much of a thing. >> eating healthy doesn't matter if you're eating more. m madelyn fernstrom is here. always good to see you. that always means there's some sort of a contest. >> yes, it does. >> this is something i think we're all going to really enjoy. there's not bad foods. there's just bad portions. that's what we're going to look at today. >> i think that's important. sometimes when you look in those calorie books it'll tell you whatever the food is has x calorie. you don't realize you can get a little or a big one. oranges, grapefruits, apples. >> that's where we're going to have some fun. let's start out with something we all like. apples. apple aday keeps the doctor away. a medium apple. 75 calories. sounds good. is a medium apple the size of a baseball or a softball. >> baseball. definitely. >> baseball. you're right. this is a medium apple. >> how many is in that? >> that's going to be about 150. if you have an apple, one of these giant apples -- >> they're still so good for you. >> they are. >> do those kind of calories add up the same way as if you were eating twinkies? >> they add up the same way but you get more nutrients from the apple. people say all i have are fruits and vegetables and i'm struggling with my weight. take a look at the size of things. nowadays we know bagels can be the size of your head. is this bagel two, three, or four servings. >> i'm going four. >> i'm going three. >> kathie lee is right with three. look at this. say, wow, these look so puny. this is a serving. you get two halves. this is going to be three servings. because it's one bagel doesn't make it one. >> some people hollow those out. >> slather the cream cheese. >> cereals, we know, can be a healthy grain. here we have some cheerios. a cup and a half. granola. sounds good. now, for this bowl of cheerios is it the same calories as a quarter, half, or one cup -- >> a quarter. >> you're right. these two are both 120 calories. you're going to get a lot more cheerios. >> these are good for your cholesterol. >> a really good boost for heart health. we have all these estimates. we don't walk around with food scales. what's four ounces of protein? here we have four different representations. three of them are about a serving of protein, about four ounces. which one is not? we have a computer mouse, a deck of cards, a checkbook and then we have seven cds. >> the weight of it? >> the size and weight of what represents -- if you were going to be choosing what would my me meat look like on a plate, three of these are four ounces. one is more. >> that's way too big. >> you're right. one cd is about a slice of deli meat. seven is going to be seven ounces. the rest are four. that's still pretty puny. use smaller plates. >> what if you get something in the restaurant that looks that little. you feel like you're getting -- >> who doesn't love a bowl of pasta. in america, whole wheat pasta and regular pasta have the same calories. whole wheat has more fiber. calorie per calorie, one serving has 200 calories. is a serving one cup, two cups or three cups. >> i hope it's not this. please say it's not that. >> i'm going to say it is this. one cup. it seems tinier than it is. it's about the size of a lightbulb. if you're at a restaurant and you don't have your handy scale around, take a look at this. this is a bowl of pasta. >> that is so not filling. >> it can be. >> really? >> you have to have the mindset that it's filling enough and eat some other things. have a salad and ground out your meals. this is what most people are going to get in most restaurants and are going to eat the whole thing. cheese is really tough. let's say what's one serving of cheese? it's an ounce. how many dice. each of you take your own plate. what do you think is a one ounce serving. probably nothing. that. >> kathie lee is right. >> three? >> three. >> all right, we got to go. >> who won? >> kathie lee won this one. >> i'll share it with everybody. mmm... hot fudge sundae. ♪ ooh! frosted blueberry?!? ♪ over 25 flavors of kellogg's pop-tarts®. and they're all for fun and fun for all. pop-tarts®. made for fun. and they're all for fun and fun for all. ♪ call 1-800-steemer is one. my daughter--obsessed with fashion. she never met a label she didn't love. then, my best friend took me to t.j.maxx. i thought it was knock offs, but i came home with all the brands we both love. t.j.maxx has buyers that deal directly with designers. so i save big! two diehard fashionistas are now proud maxxinistas! t.j.maxx. let us make a maxxinista out of you! 100% fruit & veggie juice with no added sugar. just one glass equals two servings of fruits and vegetables. with tasty flavors like cranberry, strawberry, banana, it's like a farm stand in every bottle. the fruits you love mixed with the veggies you need. just, you know... demonstrating how we, uh, mix the fruits and the vegetables. ocean spray. grower owned since 1930. we're back on this wednesday with more of "today" and our "who knew?" quiz game. in celebration of earth day tomorrow we're testing your knowledge of all things green. dale brick is here to help me out. she's the air and energy -- kathie lee is across the street at dean & deluca. she's ready to hand out $100 to those who answer the question correctly. you know what happens to those who don't. they get kathie lee's cd. >> "party animals." >> that's a good one. how do you think they'll do? >> i think they're going to do pretty well. >> you do. let's find out if they're right. >> lovely family visiting from rochester, new york. true or false. washing dishes by hand saves more water than using a dish washing machine. check this myself. >> i want to say false. >> you're a very smart mommy. >> there you go. >> so it's better to use the dishwasher. >> that's absolutely right. some of us are very efficient when we're washing in the sink. a lot of us leave the water running. when your mother trains us like mine did we wash the dishes before we put them in the dishwasher. dishwashers are so much more efficient today if you get an energy star dish wisher. you can use as little as three gallons. >> a family from boston. signed into law the clean air act, the endangers species act and the safe drinking act. jimmy carter, richard nixon or john f. kennedy. >> richard nixon. >> she didn't hesitate. >> it was richard nixon, all of those acts. >> absolutely. politics is so partisan today. sometimes people think everything is partisan. actually, we've had tremendous environmental leaders with republican presidents and senators and governors over many years. right here in new york, george pataki was a great environmental leader for many years. people are familiar with governor schwarzenegger in california, what he's been doing. >> there's no party lines when it comes to this issue. >> everybody wants clean water, clean air. everybody wants america to be a leader in clean energy. we're actually going to see an unveiling of bipartisan clean energy legislation next week. that'll include senator graham from south carolina. a republican. >> let's go back across to kath. >> these four beautiful ladies from missouri -- seven. have 30 children between them. no wonder they want to get away. recycling a single 12 ounce aluminum soda can could provide enough energy to power a standard laptop for how long. 20 minutes, one hour, four hours or more than five hours. who's the spokesperson for this group? >> four hours. >> you're going to have to fight over the "party animals." there you go. >> you know they will. actually, the correct answer is five hours. how does a can translate into that? >> right. because i think people are familiar that if you recycle, you're saving trees. you're not destroys new virgin resources. but people are not aware that there's also a huge energy savings. it's much less energy intensive to recycle than to go out and harvest those virgin materials to make them into all the things we use every day. >> back across to kath. >> these are some of my neighbors from connecticut. what percentage of household energy use is caused by appliances in standby mode. 5%, 8%, 10% or 15%? >> 15%. >> almost. 10%, i think the answer is. look at this. oh, this fantastic, sentimental album. here you go. >> all right. the correct answer there is 10%, which is still a lot of energy being used on things you're not using. >> yeah. this is what we call vampire loads. we've got so many gadgets in our house. they're all plugged in. some of them use as much energy when they're off as when they're on. people with get those power strips. just plug everything in there and turn it off when you go to bed, when you leave the house. you can save 10% on your energy bill over the year. that really adds up. >> back across to kath. >> this family is visiting from massachusetts. all right. true or false. every 20 minutes a distinct species of plant or animal becomes extinct. is that true or false? >> true. >> you're a genius. there you go. >> she is a genius. >> yeah. >> oh, my gosh. every 20 minutes? >> i know. >> that seems almost impossible to believe. >> we have a huge impact on our environment. and people are maybe familiar, they've heard actually the polar bears on the extinction list now, threatened species list because of global warming pollution. there's a huge problem in the great lakes because of invasive species of the asian carp. these things, of course, are harming all these animals and plants. they also have a huge impact on people. because, you know, we survive on all those things. we could lose in the northeast with global warming, we could lose our maple syrup industry, tourism. it has a huge impact throughout society. >> everybody, what do you want to say everyone? happy earth day! >> we are wrapping up. thank you so, so much for playing. >> thank you. >> great information. coming up next, the telltale signs of signs to toss your old mak make-up. you don't want to miss this. you might have some in your purse now. right after this. k. look what sometimes happens with the ordinary bag. it slips, oh, bingo, it falls in. mom was mad. mom should have used glad forceflex with the new stretchable drawstring that grips the can and stays in place. plus, it has the stretchable strength of forceflex. that's all today for glad tv. both: don't get mad-- get glad! and eating well means getting enough whole grain and calcium. and general mills big g kid cereals can help. did you know it's the only leading line of kid cereals with at least 8 grams of whole grain and a good source of calcium? cereals they already love, like lucky charms and cinnamon toast crunch. give your kids more of what they need to be their best. grow up strong. with big g kid cereals. ♪ from driving more fuel-efficient trucks... to using less packaging... and even using renewable energy at our stores. when we save, you save. that means thousands of rollbacks all over the store. my name is rickey, and i save people money so they can live better. with thousands of rollbacks, it's rollback time at walmart. ♪ with thousands of rollbacks, it's rollback time at walmart. and you'll dump your old mop. but don't worry. he'll find someone else. ♪ who's that lady? ♪ who's that lady? ♪ sexy lady ♪ who's that lady? [ female announcer ] used mops can grow bacteria. swiffer wetjet starts with a clean pad every time. and its antibacterial cleaner kills bacteria mops can spread around. swiffer gives cleaning a whole new meaning. ♪ lovely lady but there's one that makes your skin look better even after you take it off. 98% of women who tried neutrogena healthy skin makeup thought so. does your makeup do that? neutrogena cosmetics. so kate you were stressed, a lot of junk food on the go and you were... a little irregular, sluggish. my daughter needed activia! so i gave it a try and wow. it works. now she has a spring on her step. i'm loving it, every morning. mmmm. avo: help get your system back on track. activia with bifidus regularis helps regulate your digestive system would you recommend activia? i already have. she recommends it. what are you waiting for? singer: activia. it is tile for "today's beauty" and the true shelf loif of your make-up. >> there are signs that signal you've had your lipstick way too long and your foundation might be very foul. do you know what those are? >> if not, you're in luck. five time award winning make-up artist and author of "plastic surgery without the surgery," eve pearl. we like this segment because we have all have things in bottom of our purses we should probably toss. let's start with foundations and creams. >> usually liquids have a shelf life of about six months to one year. you know it's time to go when you start seeing a separation. coagulating. you don't want to use anything that's come meetly separated from the color or the actual oil from the product. >> okay. >> sometimes you spent so much money on that product that you're tempted to keep it. >> we're going to get to that as well. the creams have a longer shelf life. creams with a lot f o oil will last for about a year. the creams that don't have the heavy oils, those kind of have a smaller shelf life. to preserve your creams, use a little spatula. you're not putting your fingers in all the time. and putting in bacteria. scoop it out. same thing with creams and facial creams. things that are organic will usual have a sell by date. they have natural plant extracts and don't last and stay very long. keep an eye on that. >> let's move on to powders. we all have things that resemble this. >> yes. powders have a longer shelf life. they have a two to three-year shelf life. the biggest mistake women make is keep things around for way too long. or keep things that really when are you going to use this? >> because someone told you it would look good on you at the sto store. they tell you and you think you should get it. >> something cracks, you love it so much. i'll hold on to it. what are you going to do wit. it's going to ruin your bag. >> i would keep that and keep using it. >> until it's all over yourself. i don't know what this is. i don't know what this was used for. >> eye shadows? >> it's time for it to go. you love this eye shadow. get another one. give it up. >> the trouble is sometimes they discontinue what you love. >> which we don't like that. mascara. this one, how do you know? i like this one. >> mascara is three to six months, tops. you know that it's time to go when it looks something like this. >> what's wrong with that? >> there's nothing on here but dry speckle flakes. one of the biggest mistakes women do when they're using the mascara, they're not actually -- you should not pump it. you shouldn't pump mascara. you should take it and swirl it. swirling mascara doesn't let air in. many of the things, if you close things tightly and hear a little click, close them tightly, make sure air doesn't get it. a much longer shelf life. >> lipstick? >> lipstick. with lipsticks they'll last you about two years. lip glosses between two and three years. >> how do you know when they're bad? >> very good question. take a smell of this. >> smells like a crayon. >> very good. once it starts smelling like a crayon, throw it out. >> oh, okay. >> lipstick should not have a smell. >> we just have about a minute. >> i just want to show you, brushes, women don't always wash their brushes. when you have a brush you have to wash them. natural hair brushes wash them with regular shampoo and conditioner. or take a baby wipe and clean it with that. >> let's get to jackie. jackie is one of the wonderful people that works at nbc. she had a bag full of old stuff. >> bad jackie! >> jackie actually represents every single one of us. come on, ladies. you know you have it. i have it. every single woman i know has at least a drawer full. >> this is all your stuff? >> i have more at home. >> you take a whiff of one of these items here. open it up. >> that, toss it. toss it. >> jackie's intervention. some of these things she's never going to wear. she's never going to use this. we love chanel. you don't need these colors. >> jackie, there's other stuff. >> she's got to get -- >> oh! >> oh, my gosh! >> all she needs to have her make-up is a little bag that has five to seven things you really are going to use. this is a gift for you. >> she's not thrilled. >> i'm not. we'll be right back. so how long does it take a fresh vegetable to start losing essential nutrients? not long. in fact, green beans lose half their vitamin c in a week. that's why green giant freezes them within 8 hours to lock in nutrients. ho ho ho green giant begins with a balanced breakfast. country crock has 70% less saturated fat than butter, and 30% fewer calories. add multigrain toast, fresh fruit and low fat milk, and they're off to a good start. country crock. - knock, knock. - who's there? interrupting cheese. interrupt-- - cheese! - i should have seen that one coming. you should've, 'cause that was-- i even told you i was gonna be interrupting you. ( snickering, laughing ) morning sir. beautiful day, isn't it? we take the time for our cheese to mature... before we bake it into every delicious cracker. because at cheez-it, real cheese matters. in 1975 lynda carter gave little girls a super woman to look up to as wonder woman. >> she was the signal of strength and beauty back then and still is today. lynda carter, welcome. >> you still have that body, lynda! >> you guys, i look at that sweet little face and i think, god, was i young. >> what was your waist? were you like a 20? >> it was a really small waist. >> i look on your website. you write on there i bet you didn't know that i could sing. >> right. >> you've been singing since you were a little girl. since you were 14 years old. >> professionally since i was 14. >> i wonder why people don't know that part about you. >> because she became wonder woman and we like to put labels on people and say that's what they do and that's what they are. >> actually, when i was becoming an actress they told me, don't tell anyone you sing. >> why? >> because they didn't want a singer that wanted to act. they wanted an actress. so then -- >> people do lots of things quite well. >> i know. >> i think "at last." right listens. ♪ at last, my love, has come along ♪ >> keep it going. ♪ my lonely days are over >> you got that smoky thing happening. ♪ life is like a song >> you were performing right around here pretty soon. >> jazz at lincoln center at columbus circle on friday and saturday. >> are you excited? >> yes. >> by the way, my album can be down loaded on itunes or amazon. >> what's a album? >> it's called "at last." >> is that a song everyone goes for? is that a favorite. >> it seems to be one of the favorites. >> my favorite is "the secret of life." ♪ life is enjoying the passage of time ♪ >> they're all classics. do you ever feel any kind of pressure, oh, i've got etta james "at last," beyonce did "at last." forget about it. >> i really approach all songs as if they were just written. and then i try to do an interpretation of my own with what the words are saying. whether it's irreverent or whether it's about -- look, all the parts and pieces of us, whatever that is, is what i'm trying to accomplish. and connection. that's really -- >> especially -- there you are shaking it up. your pattern must be an interesting part of your whole show, too, right? >> yes. i tell them about wonder woman. >> you do? >> absolutely. i may even do a spin now and then. >> weapon people in the studio doing the spin. >> i know. >> all the best for this. you're a really class act. always, always have been. so happy for you. >> it's on itunes. >> or amazon. >> yes. all right. we'll be back with donny deutsche. if i had to sit on a bench during the middle of a game due to diabetes it would frustrate me. in a basketball game a couple minutes could mean a big momentum shift. my bayer meter is very important. (announcer) only bayer's contour meter has programmable personal high low settings. it allows me to be able to look at my highs and lows to make sure that my diabetes is being controlled as tightly as possible. with my bayer meter i don't miss valuable game time. i'm alana burns and staying in the game is my simple win. (announcer) the contour meter, only from bayer. all right, ladies. stop what you're doing and listen up. >> our resident guys guy donny deutsche is back to offer his advice about what men are really thinking. >> he knows everything. >> not really. at least i'm going to know more than most of the ladies out there. what the men are thinking that we can talk about. >> shawn wants to know, what does it mean when a man stops dating you but still sends you a good morning text. is it not that into you? >> he wants to keep his foot in the door. he's like, don't forget about me but i'm going to go. good-bye. don't take the text. >> all right. >> crystal wants to know, my current boyfriend is a mama's boy. is he looking for someone to take care of him or someone to share his life with? >> the reality is, if he's a mama's boy and you have an issue with that, don't be with him. some of the letters we're getting from women, my husband's this, my boyfriend's this. that's who he is. if that's not going to be the right kind of guy for you, move on. you ain't going to change him after all these years. >> people don't change. >> chris wrote why would someone who's admittedly happy and sexually satisfied still be viewing pornography. >> that's a great question. it's very important. forget where you come out on pornography. men watch it. doesn't mean they don't -- every happily married, they love their wives, they watch it. this has nothing to do with how much you love your wife, how attracted you are. it's different. all i'm saying, women, don't get upset if they do. every man in the world, at some point, every man in the studio, raise your hands, guys. thank you. i'm only saying it's not whether you like it or not. don't be worried. too much of anything is bad thing. doesn't mean your husband's not attracted to you, doesn't love you. >> it makes you feel bad. >> tell your husband that. if it's an issue, tell. don't go crazy. it doesn't mean, oh, my god, he's not attracted to me. it's not. >> doesn't that raise the game in the bedroom, the things you have to do. >> no. that's like going to movies. people have this amazing romance. all i'm saying, if you like it, don't like it, if it's a big issue talk to your husband. don't get scared, oh, my god, this means he doesn't love me or is not attracted to me. it's a different kind of thing. >> he's not necessarily a pervert. >> no. maybe. >> mallory wants to know, my boyfriend is dating another girl but she's one of my friends. what should i do? >> my boyfriend or ex? >> maybe that's a problem. >> let's call it the ex-boyfriend? >> get rid of the friend. particularly if the boyfriend broke up with you and hurt you. that's the difference. if you left the boyfriend. that's not a good friend if you were hurt by a guy. guess who's here tomorrow. not you but eric estrada. >> i used to have his poster up on my wall. >> it's going to be hot. have a great day, everybody. i'm lucy sykes. i'm a fashion stylist. what i do is dress people for magazines and tv. my job is to hunt down the best fashion and stay on budget. my secret? t.j.maxx. their buyers have their finger on the pulse of what's on trend. they buy directly from designers and you see the savings! i dress fashionistas. but i'm a maxxinista. t.j.maxx. let us make a maxxinista out of you!

Related Keywords

Arkansas ,United States ,Louisiana ,Australia ,Springfield ,Maryland ,Heathrow ,Hillingdon ,United Kingdom ,Alaska ,Vancouver ,British Columbia ,Canada ,Turkey ,Antarctica ,China ,California ,Bern ,Switzerland ,San Diego ,Washington ,District Of Columbia ,Connecticut ,West Virginia ,Mexico ,Prince William ,New Brunswick ,Iceland ,South Carolina ,South Hadley ,Massachusetts ,Morocco ,Hollywood ,Ireland ,Poland ,Chicago ,Illinois ,Montgomery County ,Ohio ,Rochester ,New York ,Miami ,Florida ,Malta ,Dayton ,Missouri ,Texas ,Kentucky ,Laos ,Boston ,Virginia ,Georgia ,Indonesia ,Michigan ,Jordan ,London ,City Of ,Barcelona ,Comunidad Autonoma De Cataluna ,Spain ,Mount Mckinley ,Colorado ,Montreal ,Quebec ,Reykjavik ,C10 ,Bedford ,Pennsylvania ,Orlando ,Capitol Hill ,Paris ,Rhôalpes ,France ,Americans ,America ,French ,American ,Polish ,Canadian ,Moroccan ,Lao ,Irish ,John Mcenroe ,Kate Gosselin ,Martina Mcbride ,Michelle Reed ,Cameron Douglas ,Paul Romero Karen ,Jeff Rossen ,Donny Deutsche ,Anne Thompson ,Lynda Carter ,Matt Meredith ,Suzanna Sauk ,Charlie Palmer ,Phil Harris ,Michael Douglas ,Joe Krebs ,Larry King ,Mickey Rooney ,Choo ,Lucy Sykes ,Mount Carson ,Meredith Vieira ,Sharon Epperson Melissa Lee ,Eric Estrada ,Matt Lauer ,Chuck Schumer ,Janet Lieberman ,Mount Vincent ,Europe Matt ,Jimmy Carter Richard Nixon ,Sharon Epperson ,Lisa Finn ,George Pataki ,Kathie Lee ,Los Angeles ,Al Roker ,Richard Burman ,Tim Geithner ,Willie Norwood ,John Paul Stevens ,Michael Jackson ,Harry Reid ,Linda Carter ,Brian Betts ,Las Vegas ,Amy Robach ,Candice Bergen ,Willard Scott ,Hugh Jackman ,Richard Nixon ,Rockefeller Plaza ,Jaclyn Smith ,Mount Everest ,Melissa Lee ,Susie Taber ,Mary Thomas ,Georges Montgomery ,Austin Renaud ,