town. >> apparently though, hoda -- >> what. >> -- everybody went crazy yesterday for this cover that i have on my iphone. it's my favorite thing but it's really your favorite thing. it's a great color. here's a great thing. you can put your credit cards your cash even lip gloss in here. >> or a key. >> you shut it. it's light as a feather. >> yep. >> and everyone kept saying where do we get it. here it is again. eynproducts.com. $29.99. >> people don't know it's ian rand either, even though she wrote the books. >> blind auditions continued last night. >> oh, my god. >> i'm loving the show this year. >> i'm so weepy. here's the thing, the kid sings, the chairs are turned with their backs. the parents are in the room, the family members. all i care about is chair turning, boom -- i don't care about the reaction of the singers. i went right to the parents. you see the parents in the room just sobbing. >> that's because you love your family. >> well, what -- >> what if you didn't love your family? i don't know that you'd be as moved. >> i'm into reactions. >> you'd be jealous if there's a family affair that actually cares about somebody. >> let's take a look at some of the auditions. ♪ ♪ begging you for mercy >> dude! >> cee lo! [ cheers and applause ] >> yeah! ♪ >> sing it! ♪ >> yes! >> i told you, me and cee lo, we think a lot -- >> adam! >> wow! >> yes. ♪ ♪ you you and i >> yes! yes! ♪ >> girl power! [ cheers and applause ] >> thank you. >> by the way, that young lady is the sister of kaley cuoco. >> cuoco, from "big bang theory." >> she was so excited because that girl worked as her sister's assistant. her sister who's the tv star is in the waiting room and it's her sister's turn. >> i think it's going to roll this year. with football, "the voice" and also "the black list." >> did you watch it last night? >> i tivoed it. >> it's so juicy. if you haven't watched "the black list." you're missing. >> it's extraordinary. >> yes, it's crazy. we need a sitcom starring me and you -- perfect! >> speaking of music, i had a little fun with bethenny frankel. >> yes, that's what i hear. >> she put you to work for a week, hoda. >> we decided it's a good opportunity to shoot a music video. i know you haven't seen this video. it's a song called "thrift shop" by macklemore. we decided it was going to be very appropriate. we decided it was very appropriate to reenact the video. you have to picture thrift shop, fake fur, crazy insane. take a look. ♪ ♪ [ cheers and applause ] ♪ ♪ got 20 dollars in my pocket ♪ i wear your grandest clothes ♪ ♪ i look incredible i'm in this big as cold ♪ [ laughter ] ♪ come that thrift shop down the road ♪ >> anyway, going to be on our show today. it's funny and ridiculous. sorry about that. sorry. >> okay. >> is that a no-no? >> happens. >> is that a pay money words? oh, i'm sorry. i feel terrible. >> take it out of her salary. is it time to say good-bye to all time, to robocalls -- i think everybody would say yes. [ ringing ] >> oh, my god, i thought that was your phone. you had that old-fashioned road. >> i used to have barbara streisand singing. ♪ papa you can hear me? ♪ >> this is the thing about robocalls. you get the ones from candidates and you go hello? >> they wait until you're having dinner. >> you hear nothing. you go hello? on the second hello, they go hello, this is so-and-so. and then -- there's a solution now called nomorobo. >> dirty bit. all you have to do is sign up for the service. if the computer tags an incoming call a robocall, it hangs up before the second ring can even go through. >> how does that know? >> it was created by monies by the federal trade commission. you wanted to know where your tax dollars was going. finally, something we can use. the website nomorobo.com. goes live tonight. >> tara our director has never written anything down. she's writing something down. >> she's actually writing something down. >> for a good time, you can call her -- >> come on, tara. >> come on, tara. >> who was overserved the other night? >> you were! >> see what happens, we're sorry. there's a new study out that shows that kids who date younger end up in more trouble in life later. so when did you have your first boyfriend? think back. a new study from the journal of adolescents, age 13, in the middle of puberty to me. >> seems early. 55% of kids begin start dating at age 13. >> what does that mean? >> dating is completely different than it used to be. a date is when a boy asked you out. girls never did unless you were a -- and getting paid -- >> you have to get paid. it's a bad word. >> it's a bad word. >> no, no -- >> okay. go on. go on. >> girls just didn't do it. nice girls did not do that. you waited for a boy to ask you out. the boy actually came to your house. knocked on the door. had to spend some time with your father before you could actually go to the movies or something like that. now who knows they go to the mall like wild coyotes. they all go in groups. and you never know. and hooking up is very different than what it was when we were -- i was a kid. >> yes. exactly. >> they say 11 to 12 year olds who start dating are twice as likely to have behavorial problems in their school than their peers. if you're dating at 11, what is that, fourth grade? >> that's weird. fifth grade. it's way too soon. half the parents in our country wouldn't know they're kids are dating because they're not home to supervise them to begin with. you don't know what your kids are doing unless you're actively involved in their lives. >> dating only seemed like the only time you dated to me is when you went to a high school dance. >> a prom or something like that. >> at our house there was no dating it was forbidden. >> thank you. >> thaing for coming. but you have a little story to tell us? >> no, i don't. >> about john sackerman. >> i wasn't going to say his name. everybody has a crush. i remember it clearly when i was a kid. fifth grade or sixth, riding my bike. he lived four houses up and over. his back porch you could see it. i would ride my banana seat bike, orange. and circle around and wait for him to come out and sometimes just park like a stalker. >> stalker. >> like a sixth grade stalker waiting for him. >> it was so weird. >> and then what did you do? alls we did, everyone did the whole thing, we had the whole makeout thing that was so exciting. oh, my, i'm holding hands. he would say will you go with me? i was like go with me? >> did you ask where? >> no, not where, go with me. john zachman asked me to go with him. everyone said, he asked you to go with him? it was so thrilling. >> oh, you know what -- you know what -- that was uncalled for. you know, you just ruined a great moment. i didn't know i was looking out of those eyes. >> okay. >> those glasses. >> love is blind. >> i love that necklace. >> hoda shows up -- >> we have to move on. speaking of that picture, we have a top dog winner. >> that was rude! >> oh! >> a little doggy humor. last week we teemed up -- >> >> i'm not even continuing. enjoy. >> yes, you are. you never had so much fun in your life. teamed up with nbc's "chicago fire" to find the top fire house dog. we had three great dogs. this is the winner. this is based on your votes. this doing received 68,000 votes, smokey. a labrador retriever from jacksonville, illinois. she became a firefighter after found in a home engulfed in flames. now smokie helps kids to stop, drop and roll. >> which is what you were doing with john zachman. >> she gets a cameo appearance -- this is so sick -- on "chicago fire." congratulations. >> we also want to congratulate our -- >> -- living room makeover winner! >> we finally have a winner. remember? >> we're getting a drumroll. >> we had thousands of entries and the winner is the deutsche family. they live in new york. the furniture about 15 years ago. her family has been begging her to do the living room for the past ten years. their home is where the friends and family live together so they wanted to redo it. you can tell there was a lot of love there. it was a long time ago. >> we're going to take you throughout the house next monday. >> duchi, is what we said. >> we said duchi. written phonetically but we say deutsche. congratulations to that family. all right. kids we have a big show. jack from "will & grace" the emmy winning actor sean hayes is here. >> oh, yes! he's here. >> i love all references. keep them up. >> we got a kazoo for you. >> bye! ♪ oh. for eight seasons sean hayes kept studio audiences in stitches as the outrageously flamboyant jack mcfarland. i loved "will & grace." >> the man has moved on, do it. they don't want to be reminded. he's now emmy award winning -- >> the few viewers you have left -- >> it's called "sean saves the world." a single gay dad trying to deal with an over bearing mother. >> is it still monday, because i've been out here since monday! [ laughter ] >> please, come in. [ laughter ] >> your voice got here ten minutes ago and it's been looking for you. [ laughter ] >> how's my baby? >> i don't know, mom, honestly going from a fun weekend dad to a full-time responsible dad -- >> you think i'm talking about you? that's funny. i'm talking about ellie. poor kid. 14 years and her mother abandons her. now she has no one. no one. >> and, go. >> linda lavin. let's talk about her for just a second. >> let's talk about her for a while, rather than just a second. >> she's amazing. >> tony award winner. linda loven, not linda lavin. >> she's so much fun. >> yeah, she really is. we really connected very deeply. she's warm, wonderful, grounded real person and we have a great on-camera chemistry if i do say so myself. >> yeah, do you. >> she's very -- we have a mutual respect for each other. i love her. >> i can't believe all you do for this network, it's called "sean saves the world." but it's sean saving the network. tell us how many shows you're responsible for. you played a part in -- >> i have a company that works with amazing people to make this happen. >> you make a lot of money basically? >> no, not yet. not as much as you two sitting here drinking. sends a great message to kids the home. >> they're at school. >> okay. "grimm" which premieres october 26th. "hot in cleveland." >> so funny. love that. >> and "the soul man" and then my show and then "hollywood game night" which goes into its second season. >> yeah, that's been picked up. >> and in development, as they say. about the game show, the genesis of that, you actually played games in your house. and you decided hey, wouldn't this make for good tv? >> yeah, yeah, that's the story. thanks, hoda. >> maybe a follow-up, do you have any time to -- do you have time to still play them? >> yeah, there's games that we played in my house. we did for many years, we played all these games. a bunch of friends came over, we would play. then a couple executives that worked at nbc and said i think this is the show. i said i don't want to produce a game show. then here we are. it's actually a blast. it's turned out amazing. people have turned out in great numbers to be on it. and now that they've seen it, we're getting more calls. >> back to the sitcom. it's such a breakthrough with a sitcom. a lot of people are trying. with your pedigree. >> sequel. >> well, your sitcom is amazing. >> yeah. new i'm guesting on your sitcom. >> only fair. >> yeah, what was the question now? >> continue. >> no, bringing sitcoms back on tv. i mean they're working on cbs great now we're getting them on nbc. >> you don't have a laugh track. that's real laughter that you hear. >> a lot of people say, well, laugh track -- since the '20s, television, they've having live audiences. >> an audience will really tell you the truth. >> yes. >> so they tell you immediately if the joke works if it seems like it's working or not working. you fix it as you go that's the great thing about the genre of multi-cams sitcoms as opposed to single cam. like "the office." which is ultimate and immediate. >> why do we have kazoos? >> i've been asking myself the same question. >> we were going to play a game with them. do we have time for spin the bottle? >> oh, not very nice. >> or play the kazoos? >> oh, god, this is exhausting. >> "sean saves the world." airs thursdays at 9:00 right here on nbc. >> thank you so much. >> congratulations. >> thank you. you know who else has us in stitches? -- jill martin, stitches of a different kind. see what you're getting the boot for -- handbags, baby. ♪ ♪ [ coughs, sneezes ] i have a big meeting when we land, but i am so stuffed up, i can't rest. [ male announcer ] nyquil cold and flu liquid gels don't unstuff your nose. they don't? alka seltzer plus night fights your worst cold symptoms, plus has a decongestant. [ inhales deeply ] oh. what a relief it is. and can cost thousands of dollars to repair... thankfully, the powerful dual action formula of rid-x has enzymes to break down waste and time released bacteria to reduce tank build up. rid-x. #1 in septic maintenance. could save you fifteen percent or more on car insurance everybody knows that. well, did you know that when a tree falls in the forest and no one's around, it does make a sound? ohhh...ohhh...oh boy! i'm falling. everybody look out! ahhhhh...ugh. little help here. geico. fifteen minutes could save you...well, you know. anybody? and nobody's watching? >> nobody. >> it would be like a viewer magnet. >> would you do your cher impression real quick? >> no, what am i -- >> please. please. >> oh, my lord. >> i don't know how to do it. ♪ can you believe in love after love ♪ >> i think she just did it. >> we want you. >> using time. jill martin has this season's hottest handbags. >> hoda and i are the hottest bags in town. >> your local news and weather. ♪ we're back with more today on this booze day tuesday. time to check out jill's must-haves. today is about the perfect pairings. >> yeah, we're not talking about wine for once. >> the hottest handbags who better to keep you up on trends on contributor from people's "stylewatch" and author jill martin. >> hi, doll. >> you're looking festive today. >> i think it's shock when you go open these magazines and you see all of these bags and they're so expensive. and you say which ones should i buy. >> if i can only have one -- >> only have one. many of these are in your closet. i'm going to show you the five that are hot right now under $50. >> okay. >> that's nice. >> let's start with the first one which is this quilted bag which is is traditional stitching. >> which chanel's been doing forever. >> you can wear these day or night. it has a fancy edge to if. let's show how it works. >> can you carry a ziploc bag. >> right. you put this in your bigger bag during the day and at night you can wear that. >> there you go. >> that's adorable. >> she doesn't have a bigger bag. just a bigger ziploc bag. >> yes, i do. >> that big bag. that works. >> so excited. >> satchel. this is the next bag which you may already have in your closet. you can wear all different bags. it's with the handle. it's with a structured bag. normally it's with this. you can wear it either way. which is removable. i often don't wear it with that. this is the real structured bag from work. this is from jcpenney from hand bag heaven. if you see the picture with kathie lee. >> oh, too much cleavage for a woman my age. >> if you're going out at night, from work during the day to night this is another great option. >> how much does it cost? >> all under $100. on our website, all under $100. >> okay. >> now we're moving over here. colorblocking. huge trend. >> don't wear it were a colorblocked dress, though. like i've got on. >> yes. this is another trend. this will take you throughout next year as well. look at all the different kinds. this you want to wear with a solid dress. this is one of the clutches here. let's check in with hoda. >> look at hoda woman. >> that's a strange photo. >> it slants it a little on the monitor. this goes well. >> very cute. >> with solid outfit or solid pants or sweater. portfolio clutches. these are the big clutches of the season. you're going to get an oversized clutch. >> like an ipad in that. >> this is a portfolio clutch, bigger than the traditional ones. i'm going to try this one. check in with kathie lee throughout. >> i like this picture because it's been -- you know, airbrushed out the wazoo. >> yes. >> that's nice, too. >> now, cobalt blue. >> this is the new hot color for the season. >> it is. >> 2014, blue is a pantone color. you can take it from here all the way through next year. >> really? >> yeah. this is from kohl's. you can wear it with brown, blue, pink. it's kind of a neutral to me. this is this strap that looks great. >> very cute. >> and then we love the fanny pack. if we can transition with another photo that we love. >> it's right behind you, i think. >> oh, my gosh! >> this is an alternative to the fanny pack to get it on trend and carry everything. >> and also put on a practice. that would be awesome, too. >> we will do the bra segment -- >> good idea. >> jill, love you so much, sweetheart. >> thank you. before you throw that bag of pretzels in that ziploc bag. madeline will give you a few things to chew over. we're playing "beat it or eat it!" i love this game with your favorite snacks. >> we have mallets. >> cookies or granola. come on madeline. get in there. >> yes! >> with hotwire's low prices, i can cross even more places off my travel wish list. this year alone, i hit new york and texas. see, hotwire checks the competition's rates every day so they can guarantee their low hotel prices. >> men: ♪ h-o-t-w-i-r-e, hotwire.com. ♪ hey, have you guys heard about probiotics? for digestive health? yes and did you know that trubiotics is a daily probiotic that helps in two ways? it supports digestive and immune health by working in your gut where 70% of your immune system lives. try trubiotics today. by working in your gut where 70% of your immune system lives. have hail damage to both their cars. ted ted is trying to get a hold of his insurance agent. maxwell is not. he's on geico.com setting up an appointment with an adjuster. ted is now on hold with his insurance company. maxwell is not and just confirmed a 5:30 time for tuesday. ted, is still waiting. yes! maxwell is out and about... with ted's now ex-girlfriend. wheeeee! whoo! later ted! online claims appointments. just a click away on geico.com. time to play "beat it or eat it." this time it's about snack foods between meals. >> we're going to beat the foods that are not so good for us and eat the ones that are healthy for us, guiding us through this is health editor madeline harris. >> snack time. who doesn't like to snack? we're going to be talk about crunchy/salty snacks. i want you to beat the one that has the most fat is it honey mustard pretzels or tortilla chips. >> that is wrong. don't be fooled by pretzels when you have add-ins that are high in fats. these are baked chips. >> so good. >> they are good. >> next from prepackaging. the chocolate chip cookies and a two-back of granola bars which one should you beat because it has more calories. >> don't beat the cookies. >> okay. >> you are right. kathie lee beat 2 it first. they're healthier you're going to get 50 calories less in those three chocolate chip cookies. heart healthy portions do count. which one should you beat because more calories per serving. 22 almonds or 38 pistachios in the shell. you want to beat the almonds because they've got another 50, 60 calories. >> i was right! >> you have to work at these pistachios. fresh fruit, how can you go wrong, right? grapes and cheddar cheese and apples and -- which one has more calories. >> i'm going to gently beat this. >> and you are -- >> i still got hit. >> i'm going to gently beat this. >> the apples and dip have 230 calori calories. >> which ones are we beating? >> you are beating this one. >> i know, this game is no fun name because we're worried about -- >> don't give up. >> oh, keep moving. frozen treats. you want a better calorie-controlled choice. two regular chocolate pops or a cup of fat-free vanilla. which one should you beat because it has more calories. >> i want to go -- >> you are right, hoda. a cup of yogurt is 260 calories. these are just 60 each. good choice. >> let's get to dip. who doesn't love dip? hummus. both are healthy. you want to eat the one with the calorie savings beat the ones that are higher. >> which one again? >> say it again. this is salsa and this is hummus >> you want to beat the one with higher calories. you are right, you're going to beat the hummus. >> i'm sorry. >> let's end up with some candy. you want to tame your sweet tooth. one of these candies has fewer calories with the same saving size. >> looks like rabbit droppings. >> you want to beat the one that has more calories you want to beat the one with mini chocolate chips and yogurt-covered peanuts. beat the one that has more calories. >> more. >> and you are right -- the yogurt peanuts. you are right. not a health food. >> who won -- >> i got five? i couldn't have gotten five. i did? >> what is the prize? >> yea! popcorn. >> your girls will love that when they come visit. >> exactly. madeline. thank you. >> italian -- >> we're making napoleons with seasonal veggies. and why you want to collect all the slinkies from your kids' toy bins. we've got tips and tricks for all the problems around the house coming up next. fall is finally here. >> and for every season there's a reason to watch. "wake up with al" weekday mornings on the weather channel. >> it's just right. >> all your local weather, travel updates and the day's top stories. >> the front will move through. >> you just can't beat this kind of weather. >> everything you need to know first thing. >> here's the big picture. >> we're sort of like a killer app in the morning. >> tap into us. >> announcer: "wake up with al" with stephanie abrams and al roker weekday mornings until 10:00. only on "the weather channel." was a really bad speller? your word is...cow. cow. cow. c...o...w... ...e...i...e...i...o. [buzzer] dangnabbit. geico. fifteen minutes could save you...well, you know. prove it. enough is enough. d-con baits are specially formulated to kill in one feeding. guaranteed. d-con. get out. i've got a big date, but my sinuses are acting up. it's time for advil cold and sinus. [ male announcer ] truth is that won't relieve all your symptoms. new alka seltzer plus-d relieves more sinus symptoms than any other behind the counter liquid gel. oh what a relief it is. the kids are back in sports. the leaves are changing, falling, tailgating is in full swing but enough about hoda's sex life. fall is a great time of year when it comes to annoying everyday habits. >> annoying, great word. from raking the leaves to keeping your kid's lunch box fresh. author of "who knew." has some tips and tricks. >> that's great with hoda's sex life. >> hey. >> let's talk about getting rid of leaves. we love fall. we hate the leaves. we hate them in the gutter. take an old school slinky. >> you got an slinky there. >> of course, we do an old school slinky. and attach it like this. >> if one of you will stretch that out. >> and that's so attractive on the roof, you know? >> who's looking into your gutters? about this far. attach this here. okay? >> okay. >> like -- come on bruce. like this. >> done this allot, bruce? now what happens, these leaves will not get -- >> >> they can't get in there to begin with. >> there's no overflowing into your leaves. you can also put them in the spouts if you like. but nobody is really looking in your gutter. >> you there go. >> exactly, another thing with leaves is raking okay. what happens, the bag falls in. if one you have would sort of hold that for me. >> we're going to bungee cord it? >> we're going to bungee cord it like this. hold the garbage can. >> i've got it. >> and now look what you can do. now all your leaves can go in. what's nice here, they're all fake. >> and they're not wet. >> they're not wet. this is the way to do it. this will not fall. how about that? >> good at this point. >> back-to-school tip. you're sick of making your kids' lunch already a month into it and you know they're not eating their fraught. which they don't. you want to take a rubber band, cut it up, it's bite size, it's not brown and the kids will the key it because they don't eat the full thing. >> kids are picky. >> kids are picky. >> that's smart. >> also by this time, the thermoses are disgusting because they get dch >> icky. >> right. >> you want to use eggshells and vinegar. shake it up. and then when you're done, you can put sugar cubes in either, seal these up and there are no more smells. >> sugar cubes will -- >> exactly right. they'll eliminate all the smells. >> be sure to throw those out befo you use it. >> indeed. indeed. let's talk about tailgating, we want to show you how never to lose your spot in a tailgate, how to get your kids clean because they roll around in the grass like disgusting animals. and most importantly how to keep your beer cold. what you want at that do with your beer, you want to take a bottle, a little bit of shampoo, fill it with water, now freeze this. stick it in here >> why? >> because this is now an ice block to keep your beer cold. more than that, before the game now, this will have unfrozen, the kids are rolling around like little beasts. >> it's like purell. >> you can clean up the little nose pickers. speaking about cleaning up the little nose pickers. and if they get a stain on their jersey. >> which they will. >> yes, they will. >> there's a little mustard. you get rid of that, the excess. and then a little shaving cream. like this in about five minutes the alcohols in this will raise -- raise the stain out. by the time you get home, the stain should be gone. if it is not gone, what you're going to do is spray -- pardon my finger here -- >> is this vinaigrette? >> this is detergent and peroxide. >> okay. >> all right? you're going to do this. >> thank you, honey. >> the stain is gone. >> thank you, sweet ji. >> there you go. how about that for the fall? >> thank you very much. do you need a simple solution for dinner tonight, everybody? >> how about italian. delicious meals great from a new york chef but first this is "today" on nbc. >> let's eat! >> all right. ♪ it's time to take you into today's kitchen and show you what's cookin'. on the menu, an italian-style vegetable main course. >> then who knows italian cooking better than sal! from his italian restaurant right here in new york city. >> we're so excited to have you. >> glad to have you back. >> thank you. i made this 20 years ago for people, vegetarians but it gives you a main course. what we've done, any kind of vegetables, staples with zuchinni and eggplant. i sliced them up. i left the skin on. a little flour and egg. >> egg after that. >> yes. olive oil. >> uh-huh, uh-huh. >> very simple. >> so far, we can do it. >> you can do it. >> how long do you cook those babies for? >> a minute or two minutes on each side. >> here we have spinach that we steamed already. i have olive oil and some garlic. i love the smell of that. >> we'll dump that in. >> okay. >> the idea is to try to keep this dry. the big part about this dish is to keep it as dry as you can so i wouldn't add any more water. salt and pepper. as always. >> that smells good. >> smells good, tastes good. i'll show you. we move over here where we start to assemble. this is a baking pan. you put the butter and bread crumbs so when you unmold it, it's easy to do. it could be whatever you want. i already put a layer of egg plant there. >> i love eggplant. >> you can hand me those? >> yep. >> going to make it like a little lasagna? >> a little sauce. not too much. you want to keep it wet. not too much. a layer of vegetables. now i have the zucchini. >> oh, gosh. awesome! >> i can't even fake it. >> plop down that tomato sauce. hoda woman. >> a little more tomato sauce, a little cheese. >> and on and on. >> what happens to the layer of spinach now? >> oh. >> nice and dry. pat it down. come around this side. come around this side here. we bake this in the oven at 400 degrees for about -- >> oh, look at it. >> it's called napoleon because it looks like a napoleon with the cheese on top. >> it sure does. how long do you cook this? >> about 35 to 45 minutes. you put it here in a dish, flip it over. >> beautiful. >> then we put some tomato sauce. parmesan cheese. >> no cheese for me. >> no cheese for the one for me. >> give it a shot. >> tomorrow from the show "iron side" the very handsome blair underwood. >> we wanted to do a reveal. >> and you see that. look what happened with the mustard. gonzo! >> david arquette will be with us. we'll have an awesome booze day tuesday. >> and tomorrow is wine day wednesday. see you then. >> i'm here to help. you and i will get through this together. [applause] >> how are you folks doing? how are
small furry animal. his reaction today, friday, october 4th, 2013. >> announcer: from nbc news, this is "today" with matt lauer and savannah guthrie. live from studio 1-a in rockefeller plaza. and good morning. welcome to "today" on a friday morning. i'm savannah guthrie. >> i'm willie geist along with al roker and natalie morales. matt has the morning off. al has a busy morning, severe weather across the country and a lot of people asking why would the woman killed outside the capitol do what she did yesterday. >> a lot of questions being asked. that's the top story this morning. the investigation into what caused a woman to ram a barrier and speed off toward the capitol before being killed by police in front of hundreds of bystanders and tourists and her little girl. pete williams is on capitol hill with new details on the investigation. pete, good morning to you. >> savannah, good morning. police say the woman at the center of all of this was well knife known in connecticut with a history of mental illness. they discovered indications that she believed she was being stalked by president obama. >> reporter: police and federal agents began their search for answers at the stamford, connecticut home of the woman driving the car. 34-year-old miriam carey, a dental hygienist. she drove into a security barrier at the white house and then took off after striking a secret service officer with her car. >> there was a guy in front of her that did stop it and she hit him and he flew over the hood. >> reporter: from there she sped up pennsylvania avenue toward the u.s. capitol about a mile and a half away doing 80 miles per hour at one point. police and secret service officers stopped her car at the foot of the capitol but she jammed it into reverse and took off again as they opened fire. she again led them on a chase around the perimeter of the grounds. police put the capitol on lock down and rushed to get visitors safely away as the chaos swirls around them. >> i hear boom, boom, boom as the gunfire is unloaded. >> reporter: a few minutes later carey crashed her car outside the u.s. capitol center. she died a short time later. a u.s. capitol police officer was hurt as he was speeding to confront her and hit a barrier in the street. afterward they discovered her very young daughter was in the car. >> there was a 1-year-old child in the car. one of our officers initially rescued the child and took the child to medical care in the vicinity here. >> reporter: police and members of congress defended the use of deadly force given she ignored repeated commands to stop. she had delusions. >> there was some sort of mental health issue. >> all of the police officers and secret service officers who responded were exempt from the government shutdown and required to be on duty, including the two that were injured but because of the shutdown, they're not being paid. >> pete, before i let you go, do you know the whereabouts or the condition of the little girl that was in the car? >> she was taken to, initially, some medical treatment center here and then to a local hospital and examined. they say she was not injured and now she is in social service protection and i assume at some point will go back to the family. >> pete williams at the capitol this morning. thank you. we're joined now by two eyewitnesses of the chase. jennifer and tim arnold. you both from louisville, kentucky. good morning to you. >> good morning. >> thank you. >> so much was shutdown. you went to the capitol. the one place that was open. what did you see? what did you hear? jennifer, i'll start with you. >> we just gotten off the pedi-cab and we were paying the gentleman and that's when we saw the black car speeding down pennsylvania avenue and the chase. shortly thereafter we heard the gunfire and could smell the smoke from it. >> and tim, you had your two little girls with you. did you immediately -- just by instinct, go to the ground or did you hear police telling people to get down? >> well, when i heard the gunshots i knew what it was, obviously, it's pretty distinct and i said get on the ground. get on the ground and they jumped over a barrier that was there and got in the bushes and i got down on the stairs there. >> we see a picture of you actually once you were down trying to capture it on your camera. did you capture anything? >> you know, i caught the aftermath. you know, funny thing was i had my camera out on the pedi-cab and i put it away just seconds before all of this happened. >> well, jennifer, it must have been absolutely terrifying, especially because you had your two little ones with you. >> absolutely. they were crying and shaking and we didn't know if there was a shooter. the police did the shooting. but at some point we were told to get up and run south by various agents. they were about two blocks ahead of us and i was calling my daughter on her cell phone to make sure she had her little sister and we finally did get reunited. >> we're so glad it turned out okay for you jennifer and tim arnold and sorry your trip to washington didn't turn out too well this week. we wish our best to you. >> thank you. >> as pete williams reported a moment ago, federal agents searched the connecticut home of the woman killed outside the capitol. katy tur is in stamford with more on what we're learning about her this morning. will willie, good morning. there are still some police here, but the major presence is gone. this after 16 hours where this entire area was taped off. one of the buildings was on complete lockdown as federal investigators were inside miriam carey's apartment trying to figure out what was going on with the mother of a 1-year-old girl. >> reporter: this sprawling 200 unit apartment complex in stamford, connecticut became the focus of a federal investigation. at about 3:30 thursday afternoon 50 residents were evacuated as the fbi's bomb squad and haz-mat teams descended on miriam car carey's home but as of 11:00 p.m., they still hadn't entered the apartment waiting on a search warrant from d.c. >> it was the fbi bomb squad, you have ten minutes to get yourself and get out because you probably won't be able to get in for the next nine hours. >> reporter: neighbors, many that say they didn't know her well describe the mother as normal. someone you'd see in the laundry room. employed for a year as a dental hygienist. her former boss said she was an average employee but notice she seemed increasingly stressed over what he calls her unplanned pregnancy. >> we had a lot of complaints about her from her patients. that she's a dental hygienist and rough. we needed to make a change and let her go. >> reporter: relatives say carey fell a few years ago and began to suffer mental problems. other relatives also described postpartum depression after her baby girl was born. according to law enforcement sources, some of the relatives live in brooklyn. carey's sister is a retired nypd sergeant. >> we're told her relatives are cooperating with investigators. they expect to release a statement sometime later today. >> katy, thanks. she mentioned a 1-year-old involved in all of this. we'll talk about the possibility that postpartum depression may have played a role in the case. that's in the next half hour. a busy day in the weather. several storm systems you're tracking this morning. >> that's right. four big storms to talk about. it's crazy out here. in our today's top weather, we have winter storm, tropical storm karen, severe weather in the midwest and crazy heat in the east with santa ana winds in the west. we'll go to wyoming where mike seidel has been in the middle of all of this. >> in casper, they had 10 inches of snow. they usually get 7.5 in october. they had five last week. it does snow this early in the season. they have plowed and treated the roads. the boulevard is in good shape, but you have to slow down because it is snowing at a good clip. the temperatures are staying below freezing all day long. the emergency management office has issued a code red because of the risk of power outages. trees down on power lines. a heavy and wet snow will cause more power outages. part of i-90 and i-25 are shutdown because of wind and wind-driven snow. the snow wraps up tonight. sunshine and back to 60 on monday. >> thank you. we are covering tropical storm karen. you can see in pensacola, florida, not much going on. we have good news about karen. it is starting to weaken. let's go back to the big winter storm out west as we go back to the maps and the weather computer. we can show you we are looking at the storm system getting itself together and pushing east. it will intensify. the heavy snow banked around the black hills. ahead of the system, we will look at severe weather. as far as today is concerned, we have winter storm watches and winter storm warnings and blizzard warnings from casper to alliance. snowfall amounts from 18 to 24 inches of snow right around the black hills. we are also talking about karen. the good news is karen is starting to weaken. we are getting dry air that's being pulled in to karen. what that means is it is 295 miles south of the mouth of the mississippi, 60-mile-an-hour winds and moving northwest at 10. it will move toward the coast and we will see some weakening. right now, we don't see it becoming a hurricane. that is going to be good news. we will continue to track that. we have two other stories. the crazy heat and severe weather in the midwest. guys? >> you are busy this morning. it is hot in washington and there is the government shutdown. lots to report on that. the president is saying he will stay in washington instead of traveling to asia next week. president obama canceled the trip because of the partial shutdown that furloughed 800,000 federal workers. we have nbc's chuck todd with the latest this morning. >> good morning, natalie. third time in three years that caused the president to cancel the trip to indonesia. when indonesia is on the itinerary, expect the president to cancel. he did not want to be out of the country while the government is shutdown. using government resources overseas is not a smart move political. never mind house republicans are meeting today, perhaps they will come up with a new strategy or tactics to try to end this now or focus on what to do with the debt ceiling. we will see yesterday after the shooting and after prayers were said and congratulations to the capitol police were said, both political parties went back to the critique and strategies. it looks like today, day four of the shutdown with no end in sight. we will see. >> thank you, chuck todd. this sunday on "meet the press" jack lew and savannah is filling in for david gregory. a jam packed sunday on "meet the press." we are getting a look at dash cam video of police shootout on the oregon highway. the august incident left the father of three dead and the officer injured. this video is disturbing. we have nbc's miguel almaguer with the story. >> reporter: it started as a routine traffic stop in oregon, but in seconds -- >> sir, get back in the car for me. >> reporter: the exchange became deadly. investigators say john allen ii opened fire on the state trooper for no apparent reason. >> sir! >> there were words exchanged on the side of the freeway. it happened very quickly. >> reporter: dressed in fatigues, said to be in the army, allen appears to empty his clip. the state trooper, who survived, was amazingly just shot once. allen took a bullet to the chest, but stayed on his feet. >> 5326, shots fired. i have been hit in the side. i'm okay. suspect left. >> reporter: allen was found slumped over his car a half mile away. also in the vehicle, allen's children, 10, 13 and 15, who were not injured. >> it is upsetting because he was trying to take his children on a road trip. >> reporter: the case in the dramatic shooting is now closed, but what triggered the gunman may never been known. for "today," miguel almaguer, nbc news, los angeles. we have mary thompson with the latest on the news. >> twitter is yet to turn a profit, but it has over 200 million users who send over 500 million tweets a day. the longer you wait, you have to wait longer for thanksgiving reservations. you will pay an extra $5 a day. if you wait until the end of the m month, budget an an extra $140 for the reservation. back to you. >> mary thompson, thanks so much. things got a little squirrely at a golf event in ohio on thursday as the competition was winding down at the presidents cup. lindsey vonn borrowed a squirrel from davis love iii. she put the critter on the back of tiger woods shoulder. he did not seem too amused. he wasn't playing clearly. he did not look too happy. later, tiger looked more relaxed as the squirrel hung out there right on his shoulder. became a little friendly with the squirrel. >> al as a series of questions. >> what are you doing with a spare squirrel? >> borrowed the squirrel? >> the squirrel became friendly with davis love iii during a rain delay? >> maybe he will repay her on the ski slopes. payback. >> okay. >> totally bizarre. >> al, let's get the check of the forecast. we have severe weather and some of the weather is very severe in the midwest. we are talking tornadoes. you can see from omaha to des moines up into minneapolis, the activity firing up. in fact, we have winter -- i should say tornado watches going up later today. in the meantime, we have a strong risk of storms in central iowa, minneapolis and oklahoma city. this extends into tomorrow where we will be looking at more of the same kind of weather in chicago and st. louis and indianapolis and paducah. we are talking about the crazy heat that is happening later today in the east in texas. we will cover that coming up in the next 30 minutes. in fact, in the next 30 seconds, we will have your local forecast. u didn't know that posting your travel plans online may attract burglars? 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[prospector] ahh! what if you didn't know that kitty litter can help you out of a slippery situation? the more you know, the better you can plan for what's ahead. talk to farmers and get smarter about your insurance. ♪ we are farmers bum - pa - dum, bum - bum - bum - bum♪ >>. >> a friday morning, good morning. i want to show you this live picture of san francisco. you can see a little bit of a smoke layer off in the distance. there is a fire burning near lake berryessa up in napa county. keep that in mind if you are smelling the smoke. that could be it if you see a wild fire break out on the side of the road report it. 83 in fremont for today. red flag warning expires tomorrow morning. and that's your latest weather. >> all right, al, thanks a lot. >> let's see what carson is doing in the orange room. any squirrels over there? >> no squirrels here. sorry to say. happy friday everybody. the big stories are the shooting on the hill yesterday and day four of the government shutdown. it seemed to be everywhere yesterday and was how bizarre the events were. it was taken by a photographer for the new york times. doug mills. this was everywhere. this capitol hill worker either walking by checking his e-mail while the events are going on or using his phone to get the latest information maybe on where to go to get to safety. people online were talking about it. ed wrote, this is d.c. in a nut shell. dear congress is still out there for you to write. day four of the shutdown. when we showed you day one of the shutdown. this lets you know by the size of the words how much these words were being tweeted. larger themes, paycheck, government, employee, compromise was big. as the compromise has gone on people are starting to pass blame. there's boehner, there's obama and compromise down here is even smaller. we're continuing to track that. keep your thoughts coming into dear congress and we'll have more later in the show. >> thank you so much. coming up, more on the frantic scene in washington and the possible connection some are talking about to postpartum depression. could that have something to do with it? >> and -- >> oh, gosh. this is it. >> elizabeth smart takes meredith vieira to the place she was held during her kidnapping ordeal and reveals details about what happened and her strategy to survive. we'll sit down with meredith but first, this is "today" on nbc. e. we'll sit down with meredith but first, this is "today" on nbc. coming up, where do you go after quitting your job with a little dance routine? the orange room, of course. little dance routine? the [ lane ] do you ever feel like you're growing old waiting for your wrinkle cream to work? clinically proven neutrogena® rapid wrinkle repair. it targets fine lines and wrinkles with the fastest retinol formula available. you'll see younger looking skin in just one week. one week? that's just my speed. rapid wrinkle repair. and for dark spots rapid tone repair. from neutrogena®. ♪ i'm watching you. ♪ you're knocking me out tonight. ♪ ♪ tonight. ♪ oooooooo. ♪ my turn daddy, my turn! hold it steady now. i know daddy. 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[ water crashing ] ...it fills you with energy... and it gives you what you are looking for to live a more natural life. in a convenient two bar pack. this is nature valley... delicious granola bars made with the best ingredients in nature. nature valley. nature at its most delicious. 7:30 now on this friday morning. it is the 4th of october, 2013 and the sun is coming up over pensacola beach, florida. pretty shot there. good morning everyone. i'm savannah guthrie along side willie geist who is in for matt this morning, al roker and natalie morales. >> here's what's making news today. >> a blast of winter weather in the rockies. it's producing blizzard conditions from wyoming to south dakota. >> folks are gearing up for karen along the gulf coast. that in the gulf of mexico as we speak. >> and we're following a break in the disappearance of mat lynn mccann -- madeline mccann six years ago. scotland yards analyzing cell phone records. that's coming up. >> and meredith vieira is here with a candid interview with elizabeth smart. what smart is revealing for the first time about her kidnapping ordeal and how she turned tragedy into triumph. let's begin with more on thursday's chaotic scene at the nation's capitol and the connecticut mother behind it. katy tur is with us from stamford once again. good morning. >> good morning. details are trickling out about her mental state. we can tell you that she suffered a fall years ago. one that precipitated her mental issues. others relatives, including her mother added that she suffered from postpartum depression after the birth of her 1-year-old girl. police say that 1-year-old was found in the back of her car after the melee in d.c. also her former employer said she became increasingly stressed out over what he calls her unplanned pregnancy, willie. >> katie, thanks. >> we want to get more on all of this with psychologist jennifer hartstien. jennifer, good morning to you. >> good morning. >> first of all, these are just reports. we don't know what caused this young mother to act this way. >> her mother is quoted as saying she was suffering postpartum depression which raises the question would it ever lead to something like this. >> we know it's all speculation. we're trying to put pieces together and it could -- in some cases postpartum depression led mothers to kill their children and do really difficult cull challenging awful things so it does challenge their judgment. he owe in some people. so we have to be aware that that could be an explanation but we don't know. the other report out there, relatives saying she suffered a fall a couple of years ago and started changing after that. what do you make of that? >> head trauma does cause brain damage. especially if it's never been treated. we don't know. did it damage the functioning part, the front part of her brain that might have caused her to have less judgment, more impulsiveness. have a difficult time making decisions. did it create other psychological problems. it also could be a reason. speculation. >> she was in her early 30s. we're used to seeing situations of young males in their early 20s start to grapple with mental illness. is it possible that there's a kind of mental illness that could come on at this particular age. >> generally we see signs of it earlier based on conversations had with the family members. that hasn't been the case. again, who knows? they'll have to do a psychological autopsy into her past and think about what might have led to this and what signs might have been there. >> before i let you go i think everybody's heart is with this 1-year-old child. what can be done for her now? what kind of trauma must she have suffered? >> she'll have the trauma of the chase and losing her mother. she'll need to be surrounded by family and people and rebuild attachment to those people. she has the benefit of age. she's so young, hopefully that will help her down the road. >> jennifer, always good to get your perspective. thank you. >> as you both point out we're in the early stages of this investigation. we don't know what went wrong. thank you, jennifer. >> let's get a check of the weather from al and the weekend outlook. >> guys, let's start it off -- the other story we're following is this record breaking heat here in the east. big area of high pressure dominating that return clockwise flow of air. look at the temperatures, new york city today going to be 13 degrees above normal. it's going to be near 90 in d.c. columbia, south carolina 90 degrees. 85 in cincinnati and as you slide to the west, tulsa, oklahoma, up to 91 as the cold air comes in. that's why we'll see the severe weather. st. louis at 87, 13 degrees above normal. as we head out to the west, big area of high pressure. this is going to set up santa -- santa ana winds. wind gusts of 80 miles per hour. very high fire danger. relative humidity only at 5 to 10%. we have wind advisories, high wind warnings and we have red flag warnings throughout california. that's what's going on around the country. here's what's happening in your çsw7:34. happy friday morning to you. i'm meteorologist christina loren. high winds, low humidity and a red flag warning in place. for most of the bay area above 1,000 feet you see crystal clear conditions from san bruno across the bay area. no fog to report. it's blustery and will continue to be breezy throughout the morning hours. temperatures today look warm, 86 76 in san francisco. we head through the overnight hours a warmer day for saturday. anything until sunday night football night in america. candlestick park, the houston texans come in to try to blowout the 49ers in candlestick. can they do it? it's clear, it's cool, it's 55 to 60 degrees. it all happens on the best night of the week. sunday night, football night in america. no shutdown. >> some day you're going to put effort into these teases and i look forward to it. >> any time. >> we have texans fans right here. >> we do. >> they're ready for sunday night. >> looking good, al. thank you so much. coming up next, we have an nbc news exclusive. elizabeth smart revealing new details of her kidnapping ordeal and how she turned that terror into triumph. it's an inspiring story. >> then at 8:17, an uplifting story to start your day. how a homeless man that returned $40,000 in cash after he found it is now being rewarded for his good deeds. but first, these messages. if yand you're talking toevere rheuyour rheumatologistike me, about trying or adding a biologic. this is humira, adalimumab. this is humira working to help relieve my pain. this is humira helping me through the twists and turns. this is humira helping to protect my joints from further damage. doctors have been prescribing humira for over ten years. humira works by targeting and helping to block a specific source of inflammation that contributes to ra symptoms. for many adults, humira is proven to help relieve pain and stop further joint damage. humira can lower your ability to fight infections, including tuberculosis. serious, sometimes fatal events, such as infections, lymphoma, or other types of cancer, have happened. blood, liver and nervous system problems, serious allergic reactions, and new or worsening heart failure have occurred. before starting humira , your doctor should test you for tb. ask your doctor if you live in or have been to a region where certain fungal infections are common. tell your doctor if you have had tb, hepatitis b, are prone to infections, or have symptoms such as fever, fatigue, cough, or sores. you should not start humira if you have any kind of infection. ask your doctor if humira can work for you. this is humira at work. windows touch laptops withers intel inside on layaway. here's what they say. i do love the touchscreen. i find it much easier to use. this is so much faster than my old computer. i like that you can personalize it - that you can have the things that you like. it's an awesome price for what i am getting. i love the price and i love the layaway plan. free layaway is amazing! i want to take it home! (laughing) walmart has top brands of windows touchscreen computers powered by intel -- and you can put them on layaway today free with no opening fee. back now at 7:40, elizabeth smart's kidnapping ordeal captivated the country more than a decade ago and now she is opening up about the experience and just how she survived. her new book is called my story. meredith vieira talked to her exclusively. nice to see you. >> you too, willie. elizabeth smart was 14 years old when she was taken at knife point from her bedroom in utah. her kidnapper forced her to climb up the mountainside behind her home for hours before leading her into a remote camp and tent. what happened next would shatter a young girl's innocent world. >> oh my gosh. this is it. >> this is it. >> what was here when you got here? >> right where we're standing there were tarps laid out on the ground and then right here would have been where the tent was set up. >> what was this place? elizabeth's first chilling clue came from behind the trees. >> and out of this area walked a woman. she had on long linen robes. >> reporter: then the strange woman lead her into a tent ordering her to undress. >> i'm begging and crying and just so scared. >> reporter: elizabeth knew something awful was about to happen. >> and then he came into the tent. >> yes. >> reporter: as elizabeth sobbed her kidnapper began performing some kind of marriage ceremony. >> i remember thinking i know what comes after a wedding and that cannot happen to me. that cannot happen. >> reporter: it didn't seem real. just a few hours earlier she had been home, safe in her bed. now, after a climb at knife point, she was trapped somewhere high on a mountain. >> i remember him forcing me on to the ground, fighting the whole way. and when he was finished, he stood up and i was left alone feeling absolutely broken, absolutely shattered. i was broken beyond repair. >> you were worthless. >> i was going to be thrown away. >> reporter: later he chained her to a tree like a wild animal. days, weeks, then months of abuse followed. >> was there a point, elizabeth, where you shutdown your emotions. >> there was a point that i stopped crying and it's not because i didn't feel pain anymore. not because i didn't feel sorrow. it was just to keep going. it was just to survive. to live. >> reporter: she was only 14. but somehow, she summoned a remarkable determination to survive turning terror into triumph and even finding the courage to outwit her captors. >> you learn to be maybe at the feet of those masters, devious. >> it was a means to an end. i felt that that was my greatest chance i had at getting home, at being rescued. >> and as you'll see in the special, she figured out the one way to outwit this man by appealing to his ego. >> which struck watching her about her strength and poise, even as she returns to this place of horror. i know it was difficult for you to be up there. how does she keep it together. >> once you go up there you see how remote it is and the underbrush is so thick. there's not a chance she could have escaped from that camp site but i was getting emotional. i said does this give you the creeps being back here? she said it doesn't because this place didn't hurt me, brian david mitchell hurt me. and i don't think she wants to show emotion -- particularly crying at this point because it was just -- it would make him feel that he still has some control over her. she never sheds a tear at all. the only time she gets agitated is if you ask her you had the opportunities to escape, why didn't you? >> and you went up there and you now you understand why that wasn't a possibility. >> totally understand. she say remarkable young woman. >> great to see you. you can see elizabeth's story here on nbc and elizabeth smart will be with us for a live interview on monday. >> thank you, willie. >> what will she do next? the woman that quit her job in spectacular style is with carson in the orange room, right after this. as a working mom of two young boys life could be hectic. angie's list saves me a lot of time. after reading all the reviews i know i'm making the right choice. online or on the phone, we help you hire right the first time. with honest reviews on over 720 local services. keeping up with these two is more than a full time job, and i don't have time for unreliable companies. angie's list definitely saves me time and money. for over 18 years we've helped people take care of the things that matter most. join today. the intense ache made it hard to do the things that i wanted. my doctor diagnosed it as fibromyalgia -- thought to be the result of over-active nerves that cause chronic, widespread pain. lyrica is believed to calm these nerves. i learned lyrica can provide significant relief from fibromyalgia pain. so now, i can do more of the things i enjoy. lyrica is not for everyone. it may cause serious allergic reactions or suicidal thoughts or actions. tell your doctor right away if you have these, new or worsening depression, or unusual changes in mood or behavior. or swelling, trouble breathing, rash, hives, blisters, changes in eyesight including blurry vision, muscle pain with fever, or tired feeling. common side effects are dizziness, sleepiness, weight gain and swelling of hands, legs and feet. don't drink alcohol while taking lyrica. don't drive or use machinery until you know how lyrica affects you. those who have had a drug or alcohol problem may be more likely to misuse lyrica. with less pain, i'm feeling better with lyrica. ask your doctor if lyrica is right for your fibromyalgia pain. and better is so easy withrning you cabenefiber.o something better for yourself. fiber that's taste-free, grit-free and dissolves completely. so you can feel free to add it to anything. and feel better about doing it. better it with benefiber. the instantly slimming dress. it shapes you up and shows you off in an instant. wear what works. the instantly slimming dress. only from white house -- black market. 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[ male announcer ] that's great, big world friendly. ♪ that is about as beautiful as it gets. the sunrising over a beautiful part of the country. pensacola beach, florida. >> that's a beautiful shot and great crowd outside on a beautiful day here in new york city. she has become an instant hit with working people everywhere after using this creative video to quit her job. she is hanging with carson in the orange room this morning. >> is this weird for you? she was working in taiwan four or five days ago. you quit in dramatic style. if you don't know the story, we played the video on tuesday. 4 million views. it's almost doubled now. it's 11 million views. let's show you this young lady's video that everybody seems to be talking about. there it is. [ music playing ] >> reporter: skip the two weeks notice, she quit her job dancing to kanye west. her video struck a cord with people that only dreamed of a dramatic office exit. imitation i quit videos followed. one from some moms threatening to quit their day job. her former employer even got in on the action. >> well, there you go. how does it feel? everybody makes videos these days hoping to have this spotlight. what has this week been like? >> i don't know. i'm still processing it all. i'm still sleeping. >> what has been the weirdest reaction you have gotten? random people? your friends, your family? >> my family definitely. my parents have been taking all the twitter proposals very seriously. >> proposals? >> how many proposals do you have? >> well, i have 9 uh-uh read e-mails not because i don't want to read them but because i have been trying to read through all of them but there's marriage proposals. >> you work overnight in taiwan at this video making company. have you been romanticizing the idea of quitting your job this way? did you have any idea it would be this viral here. >> yeah, i worked the overnight shift for a month and when i started it i was going to try and power through it and two weeks in someone said i worked an overnight shift and you lose connection with reality and that's kind of what happens. so i made the video for fun and to tell my parents i decided. >> where did you learn your dance moves? >> from my father. >> yes. >> fair enough. your unemployed, still looking for a job. >> i am. i was offered a job by the queen latifa show so i'm still deciding on that. >> good luck. back to you. >> good luck. back when you have diabetes like i do, getting the right nutrition isn't always easy. first, i want a way to help minimize my blood sugar spikes. then, a way to support heart health. ♪ and let's not forget immune support. ♪ but now i have new glucerna advance with three benefits in one. including carbsteady ultra to help minimize blood sugar spikes. it's the best from glucerna. 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[ whistle blows ] ♪ [ female announcer ] with mccafé, every season is full of delicious surprises. for a limited time, fall for the latest flavor -- the brand-new mccafé pumpkin spice latte, smooth, sweet, a hint of spice and made with 100% rainforest alliance certified espresso. settle in with pumpkin spice latte, something new to love from mccafé. good morning to you. 7:55. i'm laura garcia-cannon. the alleged mastermind of a massive online drug marketplace is expected to be in a san francisco courtroom today. 29-year-old ross william ulbricht is facing drug and computer hacking charges, also accused of trying to hire a ; hitman. according to documents he used a hidden website, the silk road, to sell everything from high quality heroin to marijuana. a high school teacher accused of having sex with a student is set to enter a plea in court. police say 32-year-old hugo guzman admitted to having sex with a 17-year-old female student on four separate occasions. according to court docum%wr a janitor became suspicious when he saw the teacher and student watching a movie. i want to check the forecast with meteorologist christina loren. a windy start to the day. >> it is, laura. good morning. happy friday. i want to start with this live picture of san francisco, not a cloud in the sky. definitely shaking bouncing around due to the fierce wind. i do want to point out what the wind is doing to your temperatures. really comfortable, mid-60s across the board. gilroy at 43 where the wind isn't that strong. basically slice the the bay area in half. the double digit wind speeds in the north. highs will be comfortable, 80s headed our way. and then as we head through the weekend the 90s. first let's check your drive. >> good morning. the point where she made the slice we have the oakland camera. keep that in mind crossing the bay bridges. north 880 away from us bogging down past the coliseum. on the maps, we have a slower drive around the maze and the approach, north 880 jams up toward hagenberger. the southbound side has tire debris. better news for 580, the earlier crash cleared. back to you. >> thank you. i'll have another local update in a half hour. it's 8:00 on today, coming up, that wild scene in the nation's capitol and the troubled young mother killed by police after a high speed chase. plus, oh snap, happy third birthday instagram. 55 million pictures posted on the app every day. we'll meet the 29-year-old bill nary behind the sensation and the new skinny jeans that could make you skinny thanks to spanx, friday, october 4th, 2013. >> happy birthday, mom. >> we're here celebrating our honeymoon. >> yeah. >> hi, it's girl's weekend from florida. >> hi everyone in seattle. >> hi, knoxville tennessee. >> go texans. we'll go out side and say hello to some of those folks on what is a beautiful morning here in new york city. there's a lot of celebration around this table when you mentioned spanx. >> we have our manx. >> i know. they're improving on the technology apparently. we'll hear about that in a moment. good morning. i'm savannah guthrie along side willie geist, natalie morales and al roker. we want to start with the overnight developments on the chaos in the nation's capitol. a woman killed by police after leading them on a high speed chase with her little child in the car. kelly o'donnell was at the capitol as this unfolded. good morning to you. >> good morning, savannah, the political tension has been thick for days here. as we begin now day four of this standoff. there's no sign that it won't be just as frustrating and ugly going forward but for a brief time everyone here took a serious jolt that halted when this u.s. complex became a crime scene. >> drawn weapons and a frantic foot race away from the danger. >> we heard the pop, pop, just four or five real quick ones. >> chaos swept over the capitol grounds where tourists usually roam. >> four or five gunshots and then the whole swarm of police officer cars came. >> reporter: blaring like an indoor siren, an emergency order to lock down the capitol and shelter in place. >> there's an ambulance that has now responded. >> reporter: senators not giving speeches but firsthand accounts. >> they said get down. get behind this car. >> reporter: later the lockdown lifted and so did the political mood. >> i know all of us want to extend that thanks and just to let them know we really appreciate it. >> reporter: lawmakers that had been ripping each other over the shutdown joined together to thank law enforcement. with lengthy applause instead of routine bitterness. >> i know that round of applause was heart felt and deeply meant. >> reporter: and shared concern for the veteran capitol police officer injured during the crisis. >> our thoughts are with him for a speedy recovery and, again, my admiration goes to all federal law enforcement, but especially our capitol police. and the u.s. capitol police that are on the job are not being paid because of the shutdown but because of their emergency nature they'll get paid when it is over. today congress will look at how to deal with other kinds of federal workers who are not being paid to see if there is a way to make up for that when the shutdown ends. >> kelly o'donnell on the hill for us. thank you. >> natalie has more on the impact of the government shutdown. >> the president now cancelled his trip to asia to focus on the situation. he singled out john boehner and said boehner won't call a vote because he doesn't want to anger extremist in his party demanding changes to obama care and boehner called obama care a train wreck. new developments in the 6-year-old disappear in madeleine mccann and what could be a break in the case. michelle kosinski is in london with more. good morning. >> good morning. her parents will make a public appeal on television october 14th. this year british police were able to launch their own comprehensive investigation into what might have happened and they are making progress. >> reporter: what happened to madeline who disappeared from her bed in her family's vacation apartment in portugal while her parents were briefly down the street? new british investigators on the case aren't certain but they do have new leads saying there is new information not previously presented. fresh substantive material on which to make an appeal. it's substantially different. it's not just a bland can you help us appeal, there's some different material and different understanding. and making that public appeal for more information would be the mccanns themselves who made the first appeal six years ago. >> come forward, particularly if you have photographs which has people in the background, people you don't recognize. >> reporter: investigators now also identified more people of interest. 41 of them in several countries including britain. they have a team of investigators in portugal and have gone through more than half of nearly 40,000 pages of documents. run down thousands of leads with thousands more to go. and now are examining every single cell phone number that was present in that area of maddie's disappearance during that time. police know what calls were made to what other numbers and where those cell phones travelled and say anyone who was in that area may just be getting a call from police. you can look at this in different ways. wow, it's great they have new information. then again, what they're doing is asking the public for help. but police say they are looking for specific information based on specific information that they have and that is better than just saying hey, does anybody out there know anything. natalie. >> all right. michelle, thank you so much. pope francis made a special pilgrimage today to honor a saint and send a message to his church. nbc's ann thompson is in italy with more. good morning. >> reporter: good morning, natalie. pope francis at this hour is just finishing up lunch at a soup kitchen, as once again he uses this visit to try to refocus the catholic church's attention on the poor and those that society often forgets. today the pope is literally walking in the footsteps of his namesake. st. francis of assisi. st. francis was a rich young man who 800 years ago renounced his worldly possessions and catholics believe responded to god's call to rebuild his church. today, pope francis is trying to do that very same thing with the modern church warning it today that it must strip away it's worldliness, it's greatest threat. now, pope francis this week met with a group of 8 cardinals and decided that he is going to overhaul the vatican to try and make it more responsive to the 1.2 million catholics as opposed to being so vatican centric as he calls it. those cardinals are with him on this trip to assisi, the pope's first, and they include boston's cardinal sean o'malley, a franc franc franciscanfriar himself. >> thank you so much. an ohio high school cheerleader went head over heels to claim the world record for the most consecutive black flips. she completed 40 back hand springs to shatter the mark of 36. she said she almost passed out but loved the way the crowd was reacting and kept on going. i'm dizzy and almost passing out watching her. >> i just burned 700 calories watching that. amazing. >> let's get a check of the weather. including an update on tropical storm karen with al. >> guys, we have all these nice folks here. the b oa lady is here. you're skipping school instead of -- you're skipping school. where do you go to school? you've been gone so long you can't even remember. my gosh. all right. >> mom of the year. i love it. let her get out of school. let's get the latest on tropical storm karen and show you what's going on. it's 275 miles south, southwest mouth of the mississippi. 60-mile-per-hour winds. moving north, northwest at 10. the path of the storm looks like the european model wants to take it to the left of this path and as that's happening drier air is getting into it so even though this is the path we're seeing it may not take this now because it may start breaking up as drier air makes its way in. rest of the country, strong risk of storms today from oklahoma all the way into minnesota and parts of wisconsin. santa anna winds, southern california, another beautiful day in the northeast. stationary front may bring showers into the northeast later today. that's what's going on around th guys. >> thanks a lot. >> coming up, from comedy to .. steven colbert is performing weddings. >> plus, spanx gets into the denim business. have they created the perfect pair of jeans? or jeggings? i say they look great. >> what would you have done? a touching gesture for a homeless man that found $40,000 in cash and then returned it. more on that. first, these messages. [ female announcer ] it's time for the annual shareholders meeting. ♪ there'll be the usual presentations on research. and development. some new members of the team will be introduced. the chairman emeritus will distribute his usual wisdom. and you? well, you're the chief life officer. you just need the right professional to help you take charge. ♪ [ male announcer ] with new smucker's natural fruit spreads, every day can be truly extraordinary. ♪ spread a little sunshine with naturally delicious smucker's natural. when your allergies start, doctors recommend taking one non-drowsy claritin every day during your allergy season for continuous relief. 18 days! 17 days! 22 days of continuous relief. live claritin clear. every day. start using olay fresh effects. a fresh collection of skin care. cleanse and remove make up with s'wipe out wetcloths... hydrate for up to 24 hours with long live moisture... perfect with bb cream. ♪ for skin so fresh, it needs no filter. ♪ get fresh effects by olay and start showing off your #nofilter look. @fresheffects. and start showing off your #♪ofilter look. protmilk vs. omelet (ding!) winner: m-m-m-m-milk! has protein and travels. got protein. served on a toasted pretzel roll, our new bacon avocado chicken sandwich comes with fries and your choice of soup or salad. it's just one of chili's delicious lunch break combos. more life happens here. ♪ ♪ we are back at 8:13. what is trending today, trending on youtube, beware of the hot night episode story we know so well. it's 'the blame game in washington over the government shutdown. there's now new video and audio of rich mcconnell and rand paul caught on open mic. >> i don't think they poll steaded we won't negotiate. i think it's awful for them to say that over and over again. >> i do too. >> i keep if we keep saying we wanted to defunded but we compromise, but now you're willing to compromise, we might win this. >> and right before that, he's -- >> one was and one wasn't. >> he warped them and -- >> maybe they wanted that to get out. >> i don't talk to anybody in the morning. i know i have a mic on. >> famous last words, carson. >> and doing this, doesn't work. >> it doesn't? >> no. >> this is hardly the first politician to be caught on open mic. we thought we would put together some of our favorites. >> thank you. >> my last election and after my election i have more flexibility. >> there's an -- >> god what is that hair? >> okay. it's just a walk down memory lane. >> well, trendy on twitter, if you think the battle between the republicans annual democrats seem childish check out the feud between miley cyrus and shi nads o'connor. earlier she wrote a letter to miley saying not to let the music business make a trosty tut out of you. miley posted a tweet during a time and sinead posted and said that was a time she was unwell and. >> sinead wrote on facebook, remove your tweets or you'll be hearing from my lawyer. we might have a break through. last night miley sweeted to sinead, she said, quote, if you would let me meet up and talk, let me know in your next letter. >> and i'll broker peace between the two of them, they can do it ear in the orange room. >> i've got a theory on this. miley is doing snl and i smell a cam yoe from sinead o'connor. >> and what if they had a picture of sinead? >> that might not help. >> did we mention that miley is going to be on plaza? >> be sure to check out snl this weekend and she'll sit down for an interview as well. >> and on wednesday we introduce you to micahsell and myolin lee. they hope to marry this weekend at the jefferson memorial. >> then by the power vest understand me, by the state of new york and the entire viacom family of entertainment netwo networks. i now pronounce you man and wife. you may kiss the bride [ cheers and applause ] >> yeah. keep going, man. >> get encouraged by colbert. groom said he was wicked excited to get married on late night it of. >> if you think that's legal. >> i think so. >> that's binding. the investments and everything. >> speaking of investments, j jeggi jeggings. spanx, leggings, they're supposed to fit like skinny jeans and make you look skinnier. it's genius. the first pair of leggings. bobby thomas is here. this is not the first time they thought about shapewear in jeans. >> it's not new technology but spanx launched their denim legging collection last week. women do love the brand. this has been a big trend online to be talking about. and i have to say, this woman has tried on so many pairs of denim, you made the joke that they were maternitiesque on the top. >> can you lift the top. >> it's got the panel. >> so moms everywhere like, it's nothing new. but it's a great comfortable option. >> they're really comfortable. >> you don't feel like your legs are suffocated right now? >> no. these hug, everything, it curves. >> they look great in both. let's be honest. but those are really nice. >> that would be great -- do they make those for men? >> there are a lot of other brands. >> there are. tons of other brands. i'm actually wearing something that's more of like an actual jean. these are hello skinny. they were an investment, but i love them. levi's, i was really excited about rebel. this is a new liquid fabric technology. what's great about the new technology, wear after wear they won't sag out. >> finally. >> and it will keep your booty looking good. you can check everything out online. >> and you get the twitter too. >> thanks, guys. >> all right. that's what's trending today. come up, a freeby for fall. how you can get something for the great price of nothing. >> but first an up liftingtory to tell you about. >> now his good deed is being rewarded. kerry sanders has more. >> glenn james went from being homeless to being a hometown hero for being an honest guy. when one good deed leads to another. glenn jaims mes is homeless. but three weeks ago, glenn spotted an abandoned backpack. >> looked towards there. >> he peeked inside and discovered a passport and more than $40,000 in cash and traveler's checks. to any homeless man, a fortune. >> i noticed a lot of $100 bills. and i said, oh, my goodness, this has to get back to the rightful opener. >> he handed the bag over to the boston police and they along with this town, celebrated his selflessness. more than 500 miles away in midlothian, virginia, this man saw the story about the good samaritan online. he said he deserved more than a plaque. so far people from around the world have donated more than $140,000. thursday, the two men met for the first time at whdh, our nbc station in boston. >> glenn. >> hi, ethan. >> glad to see you. >> thank you. thank you. >> you're the one that deserves the thank you for sure. >> glenn who doesn't like to speak because of his stutter, wrote his feelings on the back of a desk calendar. >> real, clear and slow. >> the worst thing about stuttering is also the best thing about it. people assume you're not too bright and so they let their guard down. and then you outshine them. >> passer buys listened, moved by glenn's words and actions. >> thank you. you're a good person. you're a very kind-hearted person to return all of that money. >> did you think in the big picture here you would wind up teaching us something? >> no. this is a total surprise and shock to me that it has gone this far. >> one man's good deed inspiring another. >> what did you learn about yourself helping him? >> the biggest thing is if you get enough people to come together and try and reach a specific goal, that it can be accomplished. and i never expected it to be the way it was and to change my life the way it has. >> did you hear that. how it changed his life. but this was to change your life. >> it's going to change my life in a positive and good way. everything is good. >> let me give you a hug. >> okay. >> now, $140,000 is a lot of money. to make sure it doesn't go to drugs or alcohol and make sure it's not a burden with tax issues, a lawyer has set up the trust to require that the money will be used to help glenn. first on the agenda, finding a place to live near his sister. >> great thing on both ends. >> this crowd sourcing thing really works. >> let's go outside to savannah. >> and now today when consumer when you're shopping. nothing beats a great bargain. lifestyle expert is here. >> good morning. >> free is better than cheap, right? >> exactly. we've got four categories to start with beauty. take it away. >> you can get a free mini facial with origins. stop by any one of their retail stores. your face will look beautiful. and they'll send you with samples home, of course. but it is a facial. next up with j.c. penny, this do free accent highlights of your hair. you have to be scheduled to be getting some salon color. but it's a $25 value and it's through the month of november. all in november, go in and get your $25 value highlight. next, p & g beauty has teamed up with allure, they're giving away 5,000 of each of these a free full size of whatever they are. the next one is on wednesday. you need to go on in the morning, it will be gone early. allure pop shop.com. >> fitness. >>ness. gold gym discovered that october was the slowest month of the gym. to kickoff the holiday season, you can go every weekend in october for free. you can show up at gold's gym and you can look like these dogs. >> she's doing a downward dog. >> lou lou lemon does free classes. look for store events. free yoga classes. hopefully you can look just like her. >> i'm going to get tips from her. >> family fun -- it sends december 23rd. make your reservation now. there's a block update around thanksgiving. >> this looks like the rainbow room. >> adrian and elicit is a showing you the crazy loom craze. you can go from toys r us and you can bring your kids in and make these for free. they get to take the bracelets home. >> we get the borrow the loom. >> yes. but take the bracelet with you. next up, food. if you want to feed your family you can head to olive garden. and then when you leave, they come and ask you would you like one to go. they give a full size to go for free. and you can eat it the next day. you can get your >> good morning to you. 8:26. nasa turns 55 as the government shutdown on capitol hill keeps that program grounded. nasa more than 1,000 people have been furloughed without pay. today employees will meet at a hotel across the street to receive union dues refunds to help them meet essential needs during the shutdown. they say they celebrated the birthday with a cake and are calling today the worst birthday ever. hopefully it's not the worst commute ever on this friday morning. let's check in now with mike. >> it's not the beths win. probably not. very slow northbound past the coliseum. look at how tightly these cars are packed. you still are in the 20s and 30s as you come through this area. the map shows you the same situation for 580 and for 880. they're starting to thin out already because a friday commute is typically more compressed and later builds. the east shore freeway, the top of your screen not so bad. 680, slowing on the right of your screen. here coming off the y, also more congestion off of 238. we had earlier issues, including some debris up by hagenberger that caused slowing. here on the peninsula, southbound 101, very slow suddenly from menlo park. back to you. >> another local news update coming up in half hour. have a great friday. it's 8:30 now on this friday morning. it is the 4th of october, 2013. check out a live picture of the empire state building here in new york city. a great wind down to the work week here on rockefeller plaza and we have a fun loving, exuberant and happy crowd. we'll say good morning to them. i'm savannah guthrie along side willie geist, al roker, natalie morales, and carson daly. >> you're not getting off so easy. we have a young lady here that's had a crush on carson since high school. >> i'm not that old. >> what is it about this guy? >> he's just so handsome. >> stop it. thank you, nice to see you. >> this is not the first time carson has been called handsome out here this week. >> i try to come out here for that. >> see my space spinning there? it's trl all over again. coming up, al is going to take his turn to test your truth meter. fact or fiction will end today. al has a couple of stories that are apparently both unbelievable. >> i can't wait to see that. hopefully i'll redeem myself from yesterday. >> coming up, how would you like to spend time here? take a look. this is a stunning vacation compound built together by two big stars. one of them by the name george clooney. >> yes. >> yes we would like to see it. if he's there. >> you've been busy. >> that's right. a lot going on. first of all, starting with today, we're looking at tropical storm karen off the coast and then saturday it's threatening the coast. risk of strong storms in the mid and upper mississippi river valley. santa anna winds out to the west. gorgeous in the pacific northwest. continues that way sunday. that risk of strong storms still hanging out in the upper ohio river valley. karen is on shore. we'll watch to see how intense that is and the western 2-thirds of the c have dropped off quite a bit over the last couple of hours. temperatures are going to climb to the mid 80s later saturday into sunday and then showers. and that's your latest weather. savannah. >> well action they say a picture is worth a thousand words but in the case of instagram it's more like a billion dollars. that's how much facebook paid for the popular photo sharing app in 2012. kevin systrom is the ceo and owner. good to have you here. they pioneered the use of filter. i thought i'd ask the control room to change the filter. >> it's good. it's a start. >> maybe black and white. >> i look good in that one. >> you do. should we just continue with the interview. >> absolutely. >> let me throw numbers at you. 150 million. do you know what that refers to? >> 150 million people use instagram every month around the world. >> very good. 55 million photos uploaded daily. 1.2 billion. >> likes every single day. >> 3. >> 3? >> age of instagram. 29 age of you. do you ever sit back and say i can't believe this happened? >> every single day. it's really inspiring because we set out to create an app that would make people love sharing their photos with other people and it turned into something much larger than we could have expected. >> there's a graveyard of start ups that fizzled and died. why do you think it worked? >> what we wanted to focus on solving people's problems. they wanted to share their photos quickly and they wanted them to be beautiful and we focused on those things and it went well. >> a lot of people talk about mark zuckerberg when they talk about you. it's a good comparison. is he a mentor or friend? do you look at how he handled this success at a young age? >> well, the best friends are mentors. we get along very well and the relationship is very much cofounders of different companies and we give each other a lot of advice and it's good to have someone that's been through this as well. >> i wondered what the most commonly photographed thing was. i had some guesses, sunset, animals -- >> dogs. >> in your case? >> definitely food. >> food. >> my personality is something like a balance of art and science and i think that food tends to be the blend of those two and that's why i love documenting it where ever i go on my business travel. >> we have also seen with instagram it become part of the news. documenting the news. sometimes making news. we saw syria's president joined instagram in the heat of everything going on there. a couple of weeks ago rihanna took a picture with exotic animals. two people ended up getting arrested. was it your hope and ambition that it would shape world events and become part of world events? >> the first day we launched instagram 25,000 people signed up and i said i think we've created something bigger than we think and it's been amazing to watch the ride because, like you said, these things start happening and you realize it has a lot more impact. >> do you have in your mind what the next big thing is. >> the next big thing for instagram is discovering exploration. we have 55 million photos added daily and i want to make sure you can discover the photos most relevant to you and your interests. >> you have accomplished so much. the ultimate status symbol is to just have your name, @kevin on your instagram page. >> it helps to be the first one to sign up. >> there's someone that has a name, @dolly. >> she is still with her brothers and sisters but we're excited. >> she must know somebody. he's got the @dolly name. >> thank you so much. >> coming up next, your powers of observation put to the test. our final round of fact or fiction. but, first, this is "today" on nbc. thank you. thank you for that. all right everybody. we are back with our final addition of, say it with me everybody -- >> fact or fiction. >> nice job. it's our way of testing your judgment in today's age of information overload. on thursday matt and al guessed correctly that the cube man was fiction while the high flying balloon guy was real. you're here with two stories. what have you got? >> here we go. this comes to us all the way from south korea where an unconventional kind of daycare maybe the norm here. >> reporter: like many working moms juggling a million and one things. she was ready to throw a tantrum of her own. >> every day i was exhausted and it was very difficult to perform all the duties of a good mother. >> reporter: she desperately needed a helping hand but a helping hand that looks like this? meet nanny and yes, this say robot which soon could be an overwhelmed parents best friend. once the stuff of science fiction they're in the beta testing phases in korea where the cost of daycare is third highest in the world. it plays, reads and can warn parents with a text if the kids are up to no good. it's the creation of an engineerer who believes it may one day eliminate the need for traditional daycare. >> it can be used for supervising multiple children for younger periods of time. >> i don't know that you'll get american parents to trust your kids to him. >> on a recent city to pitch investors he showed how his invention works. >> try to grab it. >> how does it know? >> everything is programmed. it's complex but it knows how to recognize dangerous objects and situations. >> he already received orders for over 3500 in asia and even received inquiries from as far away as iceland and brazil. >> we already use robots in every day life and this is the next thing. >> is it far fetched? al's story number one. savannah, what do you think? quick thoughts? >> i feel this one is real. >> i want one. i'm saying it's real. >> i'm talking to matt who is watching and we have our decision. >> all right. we'll keep that in mind. >> al, story number two. >> it's a look at an unusual company started by three women who wanted to deal with the art of grieving. >> reporter: robert burch has been creating glass sculptors for years. >> we're incorporating ash of people and or pets into pieces. >> reporter: they call it art from ashes. a thoughtful business created by three friends that make a living honoring the dead. >> so we'll go up and take up the new orders. >> reporter: with their individualized glass art pieces. >> now, we're really 50/50. 50% human, 50% pets, dogs, cats, chimpanzees. >> reporter: instead of merely storing remains, a loved one can reflect the sun and hold a martini or dangle in a tasteful piece of jewelry. >> every other bead has a little bit of my mom and dad together. >> people will come up to me and ask me who am i wearing? >> reporter: selling the idea was a challenge. >> our kids would laugh. >> i have it in writing that in the event of my demise my mom is only allowed to turn me into one piece rather than a bunch. >> clients embraced it immediately. >> when my dog died my heart was broken and i wanted something i could have to carey with me or hold on to. >> reporter: she had two pieces made from the remains of her dog molly. first a blue paperweight. >> it was beautiful and clear. >> reporter: then a purple one. >> i talked to an animal communiqcommun communicator who said her favorite color was purple. >> turning grief into beauty. >> we're all stuck. >> voting right now? >> i think i might change my vote. >> we're changing votes. >> i found the testimonials very convincing. >> either amazing actresses or that's real. >> all right. let's turn to the plaza. you saw both stories. i want you to hold up the sign you think is the story of fiction. which one do you not believe? the robot nanny? nobody believes that's a real story. >> wow. >> okay. let's lock it in. savannah you're in the lead with three points. >> i think robot nanny is fake because i don't think we would have done a fake story about people grieving. >> yeah. >> i'm sorry. >> nat? >> i'm going to same. >> willie, if you go against the grain on savannah, you and matt could tie meaning some money would go to your charity as well. we just conferred and we're going with art from ashes. >> you're going the other way. >> so it's either savannah's victory or a split. tweet us what you think is the fake story using #robotnanny or art ashes. we'll reveal the answer. >> what is it al? >> stop laughing. this is "today" on nbc. all right. it all comes down to this. suspense is in the air. we're back with fact or fiction. the game that challenges us to start the fake story. so is it yoo-mo the robot nanny or turning your loved ones remains into art? our plaza audience thought robot nanny was the fake story but now at home, 69% of you also think that robot nanny is a work of fiction. before we get to it votes are split here. the battle is really between savannah and matt or willie. if it is robot nanny is the fake story savannah will win this thing and $5,000 for her charity. if art from ashes is a fake story there will be a tie. you'll split the proceeds. al, what is the fake story. >> the fake story is robot nanny. >> robot nanny. >> savannah wins. >> yea. >> congratulations, savannah. >> $5,000 for your charity. >> i'm so excited. >> what's your charity. >> the national down syndrome society. >> wonderful. >> it was a close one willie/matt. >> i blamed matt for the information. >> he is devastated but he is going to contribute money as well. >> that's nice. >> and what were the clues? the give aways? you don't know? whatever. >> thank you very much. >> up next, a look at one of george clooney's many getaways and the super model he shares it with. but first, this is "today" on nbc. congratulations to savannah. really special. it's like you want to tell the world. shout it from the rooftops. show it off. you just know when you find the real thing. and some designer deals are so sweet you just can't say no. see the real deal. check out all the designers maxxinistas are scoring. t.j.maxx. back now at 8:50 with today's home. an inside look at a mexican getaway for the stars. it's shared by george clooney and george gerber and cindy crawford. good morning. good to see you. >> good morning. >> explain this to me a little bit. they're the best of friends and have been for many years and they built a compound together, essentially. >> they did. they decided at first to build one house and then decided that maybe they needed two houses but they're two sister houses. very similar, not exactly alike. >> let's take a look first at george clooney's side of the compound. what's the vibe of the place? >> it's very clubby and masculine. the lanterns are magical when lit. each of the two houses has a courtyard and beautiful terrace opening on to a pool overlooking the sea. >> we're looking at a shot that many people have dreamed of seeing, george clooney's bedroom. the one right before that. what were we seeing there? >> that is george clooney's bedroom with an amazing view of the ocean. it's very masculine and warm and very sophisticated. >> this is essentially -- this say party house as you said? he's a guys guy. he can have his friends come over and stay with him for weeks. >> he can. they're all about family and friends and fun. they go down there to entertain, to bring their friends down. it's a real sanctuary. >> and randy gerber is the design genius behind it. >> he is. he likes design and did a terrific job with the houses. >> let's look at the randy and cindy side of the place. they talk about feeling in harmony with the setting. i think i know what they're talking about. >> it's a marvelous room. it opens to the outside. almost every room in the house opens to the outside. there's a courtyard and more color and more family friendly. white fabrics. built in furniture. >> there's outdoor dining there. you've got the pool. >> you have a beautiful pool and then all you see is ocean. ocean and palm trees. it's really beautiful. >> now, what are the differences, then, if you had to point out a couple between the two sides? do they have different taste and design. >> they do. each house has it's own personality. they were designed by a phenomenal mexican architect and it was important to them that they were architecturally important but that the design was different. so george's has a more masculine vibe. there's a more family vibe in the two atriums. there's more color in cindy and randy's house. >> a lot of people fantasizing about a weekend at that compound. >> i had a weekend at that compound and it was fun. >> you got to go. >> was george there. >> george was not there but cindy and randy were there. >> cool photographs. nice to see you. >> nice to see you willie. >> let's go over to savannah. >> thanks. that's fun looking at those. >> amazing. >> why be in the movie theater when you have that view. >> yeah sometimes it rains. >> you have a busy weekend in the weather. >> that's right. we'll keep an eye on the storms. meantime, friday, we love friday. we want to give you a look at how it all unfolded this week right here on today. have a great weekend. >> the shutdown showdown is our top story. >> it looks at this point to be almost certain that the government will shutdown beginning at midnight tonight. >> here we are. much of the federal government shut down. >> this could go on for days and weeks. >> the supreme court upheld obama care as constitutional. do you think the republicans should move on? >> no, it's a bad deal for the folks. >> suspicious packages that lead to tense moments at the jacksonville international airport. >> two men were arrested here overnight. their actions caused the airport to close here for five hours. >> everybody started running. a lot of people that works at the commerce started ducking behind where the packages go. >> i feel fantastic. people keep asking me that question, i have been declared cancer free. >> what i love about this job that i have is that i see so much hope. i see that you just need to give kids a little bit of love. >> former russian spy anna chapman is back in the headlines this morning. >> she remains very secretive but certainly not camera shy. >> you recently tweeted a marriage proposal -- >> i'm not going to discuss it. >> was it serious. >> richard. >> good morning oscar winner sandra bullock in the studio. >> orlando bloom. >> sean hayes won an emmy for his role as jack mcfarland. >> that was easy. that's your latest weather. >> everybody say it with me, called -- >> fact or fiction. >> is that fact or fiction? >> look who's here, blair underwood. >> anthony mackey. >> oh, no. >> how did you get out here this fast. at 8:56. i'm laura garcia-canon, and breaking news. a couple of stories we're following here in the bay area. let's start in menlo park where a pregnant mother driving with her four children in a pickup truck hit a parked car. our chopper is locating the scene right now. it happened at first avenue near middlefield road. the children range in age from 1 1/2 years to 14 years old. we understand the mother and children were taken to the hospital with unknown injuries. now to the east bay where crews are battling a fire in the livermore area. as of last check, flames have scorched between 50 and 60 acres sending smoke into the sky that can be seen from miles away. we have a crew at the scene. we'll bring you more informations we get it. another local news update in half hour. from nbc news, this is today's take with al roker, natalie morales, and willie geist. live from studio 1-a in rockefeller plaza. welcome to today on this friday morning, october 4th, 2013. i'm willie geist along with al roker, natalie morales, and brooke shields back with us again. >> brooke has many hair things going on. >> i've got some fishtail. >> oh, i like that. >> they're little fishtail braids. >> but it's like a ponytail. >> it's a ponytail with other things. i'm edgy. >> got creative today. >> i really am. >> she's living on the edge. >> this is it for me. >> living on the edge. >> i like it. >> it's exciting. >> j. crew shirt. >> nice. >> breast cancer awareness. >> yes. >> our colorful ladies here. >> us not too much. >> so the shutdown is exhausting a lot of people on many levels. >> yeah. >> day four now, we're into it. there was a funny moment yesterday when a republican congressman from north carolina was caught taking a bit of a snooze as he presided over a house session for the affordable care act. >> it's about trying to do what's right for the whole country and if your heart doesn't break when you read these stories and when you -- it's about trying to do what's right for the whole country. >> camera work there. >> it's like an snl skit. >> oh. >> where am i? wait a minute, i'm in the house of representatives. >> and i'm in the big chair up at the top here. >> his fellow congressman there giving a passionate speech. >> let's do what's right for the country. >> i'm asleep right now. >> you're asleep. >> good. that's good. >> yeah, huh. maybe -- i mean, i've -- listen, i've -- >> where's the weirdest place you fell asleep? >> just recently i went to the opening of the met and there were two intermissions and i found myself going -- >> oh, please. >> i've had some of my best naps. >> my mother fell asleep once in church. must have been after a long night and the funny thing is she woke up and she went -- >> broke into applause? >> yea, god. >> what's your's natalie? >> well, i was doing an interview this week. >> during the interview. >> i was definitely drowsy. >> could you be more specific? >> no, it's coming up. >> were you sitting across from the person? >> yes. >> that's got to be great. how good do you have to feel? you're giving an answer and you notice natalie dozing off during your interview. >> i did not fall asleep but let's say i was like -- >> did you start to drool. >> no. >> you've got kids too. you were probably up all night. >> we're not letting it go. now we have to watch. watch the "today" show next week and guess which interview it was. >> wow. >> no, no, no. >> that was the day that changed my life. >> natalie. >> news with nat has become narcolepsy with nat. >> it's snooze with natalie. >> so sometimes, you know, there's a little lull in the room and it's a little quite. >> like the guy paused during the interview? >> just to tell our audience, when you do one of those interviews there's two giant lights shining. it's really hard to fall asleep. >> no, it's easier because it's so warm. >> it's cozy. >> we should give you a blankie next time. >> did you crawl into the guy's lap? start sucking your thumb? >> it was a guy. >> no. it's not. >> it's a woman. >> i'm not saying anything. >> was it a robot. >> no. >> you were just snoring. >> hey, our hours are grueling. >> okay. >> let's not start -- oh, come on. a lot of people work these hours. >> i know. what about you all? >> i had one yesterday. i was at the dentist yesterday, in natalie's dense you find these moments, not necessarily during an interview but you find moments to catch a few minutes and -- >> drilling? >> there was something going on. i had the orange goggles on and i just kind of. >> i've done that. >> it was like 30 seconds but i was out. >> in the dental chair. >> i went to a dinner where you fell asleep when your wife deborah was mcing. >> that's right. >> darn right. >> i'm outing you mr. roker. >> happens all the time. >> i look up and al's like. >> i'm dozing off. it's warm. i had a meal. it's 9:00 at night. i'm gone. here's the deal -- see, i don't apologize for it. that's the difference. >> up front. >> you know what, i'm going. this happens in our household. by friday night i'm literally dozing off during dinner and our 14-year-old is like, well, so, gee, dad, can't you stay awake and they all mouth the words i'm about to say which is do you have any idea what time i get up -- it's become a joke. it's become a joke in our house. >> boy, we are a fun group. >> yeah. >> you want to party with this crowd. >> that's right. >> we're asleep. >> the blue light -- the early bird special is late for us. we are there sitting there at denny's. >> so much fun. hang out with us a little bit longer, brooke, and you'll see. >> thank you. >> it's fun. i love this story. did you hear about the pinterest wedding? he surprised his girlfriend with her dream pinterest wedding. he snuck on to the site and used his girlfriend's dream wedding pin board to create the big day. it started when rye i don't know overheard amanda telling a friend -- >> they look like models. >> amazing couple. >> that's a handsome couple. he overheard she wanted to get engaged and married on the same day. he plans the wedding. uses 200 or so imagines to put it together. chose the flowers, the decorations, even her dress. >> that's gutsy. >> for a year. >> but if it's on her pinterest. >> and there's that wanting to get in shape for your wedding too. >> yeah, she looks really out of shape. the two of them are really slackers. >> okay. so part of what -- i've gotten to two it twice so i had fun planning two weddings. but -- >> you digress. >> i digress. >> your husband is sitting at home going, okay. >> part of the fun is the planning of it but because it was all on her pinterest i think it's amazing. >> she planned it. >> how confident he must be. >> well, they seem very happy. >> i could never pull that off. >> in june they flew from dallas to miami. he told her they were helping a friend move. >> didn't you stop that in college? >> but that sets up the moment anymore. moving a friend to getting married. >> amazing. >> well done, we're impressed. >> tiger woods was less impressed by his girlfriend lindsey vonn. why he has a squirrel in his pocket we may never know. >> hey, look at my squirrel. >> oh -- >> she pulls the squirrel out of the pocket. >> watch how mad he gets. >> tiger doesn't love that. >> look at the focus, though, he hardly even looks at it. >> get the rat off me. >> i love how mad he gets at her and then he realizes later he's on camera and he's like oh, cute. it's a squirrel. >> oh, we're so playful. >> i love it. >> could you find a lemur. >> i love that there's a squirrel on the golf course. >> in his panlts. >> there were moments before. there was cuddling going on. >> with the squirrel? >> we'll have to find out what's happening on the pga. >> that's crazy. >> in new york -- that's good. but in new york they're all like rabid squirrels. that seems like a nice little -- >> they're aggressive here too. >> i had one pull a gun on me. come on. >> give me your nuts. >> and you gave it to them which was the sad part. >> mr. roker, you have a lot going on in the weather department. >> all right. let's show you what we've got. this is tropical storm karen. 275 miles south southwest mouth of the mississippi. we're looking at dry air starting to get into this thing so it may not be the big problem that we see but we're going to continue to watch this make land fall sunday morning and makes it's way into the southeast. but this path could be changing so check of course at the weather channel, weather.com. you can see rainfall amounts could be up to 8 inch of rain and then we've got a big, big winter storm to talk about that's pushing in ahead of it. we've got a risk of severe weather later today. behind the system, we're talking about anywhere from 12 to 18 inches of snow and the black hills 9:10 on the nose. good morning. i'm meteorologist christina loren. want to show you live pictures from our chopper. right now you can see crystal clear conditions along the east shore. part of the reason why it's so clear is because it is so windy out there. we've had wind gusts in excess of 54 miles an hour, so some of the higher elevations, 64 miles an hour strongest gust. that was in richmond. 84 in san jose. winds will continue to drop off through the afternoon and into the overnight hours. warmer tomorrow with less wind. you're going to want to stick around for these. >> really? 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[ male announcer ] don't be like the burns. just one pepcid® complete works fast and lasts. i need you. i feel so alone. but you're not alone. i knew you'd come. like i could stay away. you know i can't do this without you. you'll never have to. you're always there for me. shh! i'll get you a rental car. i could also use an umbrella. fall in love with progressive's claims service. we've been talking about miley cyrus lately, how about britney spears. >> okay. >> just a change of tune. >> she claims she had to tone down her latest video because people around the shoot wanted her to be too sexy and she said no way. this is toned down, i guess. >> that's really toned down. >> it aired on thursday on boston's 103.3. britney admits while the final version of the video is sexy she demanded that some of the early footage be cut out. that's what she said. >> we showed way more skin and did way more stuff for the video than what is actually there. i cut out half the video because i am a mother and i have children and it's hard to play sexy mom while you're being a pop star as well. >> so in some sense are they pushing you further than you want to go and you sit in the editing room and you say that has to go. that's how it's all lined up. >> yes. yes. >> okay. >> i think part of what she is saying there is now that she's a mom she feels differently about video shoots. >> instant mom. did a little stork drop a baby? >> she also did in this interview which i appreciated, i'm glad she said it, she said she does wish for the way it used to be when you wore one outfit and you danced the whole video and there's was some kind of -- for britney to then want to go to a pure time, you know what i mean -- i think to a certain extent also that everything has become so overproduced and pushed, the envelope keeps getting pushed. i mean -- >> sounds like she wants it both ways. >> she's a young mom. i mean, those babies are so young. >> we do have a statement, britney's father and her manager said britney is never pressured into anything. she reviews all creative and for her work b word video. >> i like that there. >> video -- she is being a mom. >> she says there's a lot of sex put into what we do in music videos. >> it's not like the finished product is not sexy. there's a lot going on there. >> don't you feel like nowadays, as we see with miley cyrus and the wrecking ball stuff, this generation of kids they feel they have to push that envelope in order to be relevant or to appeal to this generation? i don't know. >> no. >> everybody is always trying to keep up. >> think of madonna with all of her videos in the past. they were pretty out there. >> i think there is -- you know, they're just able to go farther and farther and it's -- i mean, i get it. it's been going on for a long time. >> yesterday we said there's going to be a day where right around the corner somebody is going to be naked in their video. it's happening already. >> and asleep. >> everybody kind of hungry like the wolf was a big deal. >> so long ago. >> all right. why do we have these bizarre you s utensil in front of us. >> they're tin. >> this is desk cutlery because a lot of people eat at the desks at work. >> why can't you have a pen and a fork? >> if you're done with the fork -- we're hungry. >> it's a salad here. >> but if you're done with the fork and you want to clean it, you don't have a cap for your pen. >> are they throw away. >> did you have a salad. >> i'm going to go with this. >> not the fish, the squash. so when i have this stuck in my teeth will somebody tell me. >> how do these work? >> i'm using a spoon. >> i eat my lunch and then what -- >> if you want to clean it, you don't have a cap for your pen. >> they cost $8.49 for the set. >> seems a little high. >> well, it's handy. >> it's called pen cap cutlery for the cube cal captive. >> nobody can walk and get the plastic you sutensils. >> right. >> i feel weird licking my pen this way. >> that's the miley cyrus video. >> i feel weird with you licking your pen. >> are you uncomfortable? >> this is not a good work environment. >> how's the salad. >> do you want it? >> how is the chicken. >> it looks fantastic. doesn't it look more appetizing with a pen laying on it. look at that. oh, man. >> wow. >> now when you're done with this, is it the right way to cross it like that. right over left. >> and your man servant comes takes it away. >> they started with pencils but people would get lead poisoning. >> all right. >> moving on. >> coming up next, all the news you need before you leave the house. >> and we've got your ticket to hollywood including the feud between miley and sinead. let's put britney in there too. plus what i remember the day my doctor said i had diabetes. there's a lot i had to do... ... watch my diet. stay active. start insulin... today, i learned there's something i don't have to do anymore. my doctor said that with novolog® flexpen, i don't have to use a syringe and a vial... or carry a cooler. flexpen® comes prefilled with fast-acting insulin used to help control high blood sugar when you eat. dial the exact does. inject by pushing a button. no drawing from a vial. you should eat a meal within 5 to 10 minutes after injecting novolog® (insulin aspart [rdna origin] injection). do not use if your blood sugar is too low, or if you are allergic to any of its ingredients. the most common side effect is low blood sugar, which may cause symptoms such as sweating, shakiness, confusion, and headache. severe low blood sugar can be serious and life-threatening. ask your health care provider about alcohol use, operating machinery, or driving. other possible side effects include injection site reactions and low potassium in your blood. tell your health care provider about all medicines you take and all of your medical conditions. get medical help right away if you experience serious allergic reactions such as body rash, trouble with breathing, fast heartbeat, or sweating. flexpen® is insulin delivery my way. covered by most insurance plans, including medicare. find your co-pay cost at myflexpen.com. ask your health care provider about novolog® flexpen today. another viva dare. our fans think there's a rule that a paper towel can't handle this. fans? 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[ male announcer ] try campbell's homestyle soup. about yoplait's fall favorites. so we brought pumpkin pie and apple crisp back for a limited time. see? you really do call the shots. ♪ yoplait. it is so good. >> 9:26. i'm laura garcia-canon. breaking news going on in the east bay where crews are battle aing fire in the livermore area. as of last check, flames have scorched between 50 and 60 acres. it ise& sending smoke into the y that can be seen from miles away. we have a crew at the scene. we'll bring you more information as soon as we get it. we also have home video of an overnight fire in south san jose. it's turned in about 2:30 this morning. the family of six made it out safely. fire crews say it started in the attic, and right now they say it appears to be accidental. strong winds fueling a fire in napa county. flames have scorched around 375 acres near lake bariessa. crews have it 75% contained. no structures are threatened. the battle to san jose heads to federal court today. this is video just in to our newsroom of lawyers walking into court. marriage league baseball is trying to get san jose's anti-trust lawsuit dismissed. the suit claims the league and anti-trust lawsuit dismissed. the suit claims the league and commissioner bud selig are-( illegally impeding a possible move by the team. we're going to take a quick break, and we'll have a look at the forecast. all that wind and a look at the morning commute right after this. >> welcome back. happy friday to you. i'm meteorologist christina loren. this is what we're watching reason. the wind still very fierce, and you can slice the bay area in half. we're getting single digits below the golden gate bridge, double digits above that bridge. the north bay right now certainly the gustiest. want to show you your futurecast. this is searching for the highest wind gusts. ool notice here you look to the key, 10-mile-per-hour, 20-mile-per-hour. these numbers really dropping off as we head into the second half of the day. into tonight we'll see calm conditions once again. there is needed relief4f the way when it comes to a gusty wind. temperatures today in the 80s. we'll have your seven-day in just a moment. let's check your drive with mike. >> right where you drew that halfway mark, oakland, the camera is shaking quite a bit. at times we do have gusts the north to the oakland hills. hold on tight there. especially the big trucks here. jammed wards the coliseum. look at the map. that's the last for 880 through oakland. 580 continues to recover after early morning crashes there, and there's an overview of the mayhem. the city, no big surprise. smooth drive along the area towards the peninsula, and palo alto -- hope you enjoy your friday morning. another local news update is coming up in half hour. have a great weekend as well. well, you've found delicious! ♪ ♪ if you wanna go and fly with me ♪ ♪ it's buzz the bee on your tv ♪ ♪ oh how did i get this way? ♪ hey! must be the honey! ♪ it is so honey swagalish ♪ so much crunch, can you handle this? ♪ ♪ the party in the bowl don't stop! ♪ ♪ hey! must be the honey! ♪ ♪ hey! must be the honey! ♪ must be the honey! hi, ladies. >> welcome back to today on this friday morning, october 4th, 2013. some people having lunch just across the way. i'm willie geist with al roker, natalie morales and brooke shields with us this week. listening to little secrets by passion pit. great band. >> love. >> you and i can speak to this one. once you become a dad you become a cliche in some ways. >> absolutely. >> our friends at buzz feed pointed out the ways we become cliches. the online list, things dads like. cell phone holsters. >> i don't use that. >> barrack obama. >> president of the united states enjoys a cell phone holder. >> there it is. >> you do wear the mom jeans so well. >> yes i do. >> do you rock a mom jean? >> that's what my kids call them. >> how's the smile on the jean. there's an area called the smile. >> the things we talk about during our commercial break. >> being superstitious about sports. >> yeah. i've got one of these. >> i went to vanderbilt. >> yeah. >> the vastly improved and getting better every day there headed by james franklin. so i'll slip this on for the last decade on a saturday. because if i wear my shirt that helps them win. >> absolutely. >> clearly. >> they've had a few slips along the way. >> but that was your fault. >> i blame myself. >> my college, our mascot was the great laker. he looked like the fwgordon's fisherman. hard to get behind that. let me get fish sticks. >> speaking of grilling. are you a griller? >> my husband is a passive griller. >> does he wear an a problpron. >> no but he makes his own dry rub. >> that's not a cliche. that's a skill. >> that's a skill. that's what you strive to be. >> absolutely. >> what's wrong with that? >> taking a really long time in the bathroom -- >> i wasn't sure where you were going with that. >> you men are notorious for that. >> there's a lot of reading to be done. >> my mother used to call it the library. you've been in there 20 minutes and my dad would yell out who died and made you time keeper. >> wow. a look behind the curtain. al, how about a check of the weather. >> let's see what we've got for you. all right. the weekend, we've got a couple of things going on. first of all, we've got tropical storm karen. we're hoping it's not going to be as bad. there's a lot of dry air getting into it. not a problem there. there is a risk for strong storms stretching from wisconsin all the way down into just northeastern part of arkansas. santa anna winds. gorgeous weather along the eastern seaboard and for sunday, sunday, look for more rain stretching from new england all the way down to the gulf as we watch karen come on shore. western two third of the country going to be spectacular. again, risk of strong storms in 9:33. good friday morning to you. talking about some wind out there this morning. it's pretty gusty, and that will continue to be the case for most of the day. winds should drop off as we head through tonight. 85 degrees on the way to redwood city. 83 in oakland where the a's have their first playoff game tonight. they're taking on the tigers. game time, 6:37. catch all the action on our sister station comcast sports net bay area. otherwise, less wind. keeping that warmth for the weekend. that's your latest weather. why does natalie have these signs? we're going to find out in just a little bit. >> i'm a buy, though. >> that's a tease, al. thanks. >> this morning in your ticket to hollywood, the war of words deepens between miley cyrus and sinead o'connor. a.j. calloway has the scoop for us. >> how are you? >> how's the baby? first thing is first. >> we saw pictures. she is beautiful. >> it's that face but in the bahia algondones form. >> she rolled over. >> that's a big moment. >> that's a big moment. usher checking kids the abc's on sesame street. let's take a peek. >> get up and dance with me. [ music playing ] >> i love when stars do this. we grew up watching these videos with my kids on youtube. chris brown had one me did with them. >> he is incredible. he could sing with dictionary and get away with it. he is basically doing that right now. >> he is. >> he's so good. >> i love these. >> remember these growing. >> i loved them when i was little too. >> brooke is very excited because we're hearing about a second ted movie. >> i love this movie. >> ted 2. it is happening. >> yea. >> 2015. ted 2 is happening. last year they came out. it was a blockbuster. grossed $540 million worldwide. so why not do a 2? >> of course. >> you have to. >> mark walhberg -- you love this movie? maybe seth will write you in. >> i would love it. it's so wrong, it's so right. i love it. when they're yelling at thunder and they've got that little song. >> how many times have you seen it? >> i have seen it so many times. >> i've seen it three. >> for an r rated comedy starring a teddy bear to make half a billion dollars is outrageous. >> it's incredible. >> when he's running through the names of all the white trash girls. how they're going to top it, i don't know. >> we're going to see brooke shields in ted 2. that's going to happen after this segment. >> i think we should date. i think i should date ted. >> they're saying summer of 2015. summer of 2015. >> we'll wait for that one. let's get to our photo of the week. gwyneth paltrow joined instag m instagram. >> she has a picture of her and jason wu. over 6,000 followers already. people love to see her. she's a beautiful woman and she loves social media. >> she doesn't tweet as much but maybe she'll instagram. >> she'll probably instagram a lot more. >> do you do a lot of selfies? >> no, i'm not a selfie. >> no selfie? >> no. some privately maybe. my husband. but i'm not going to put them on twitter. >> really? wow. >> we broke through something. this is new territory. >> there's so much you don't know about me. >> do you have instagram? >> i don't. i have twitter. well, i have them all but i'm nervous about getting called out on twitter. i keep it monitored. >> nice on twitter? >> not nice. just careful. >> we got to get an instagram. >> we'll talk later. moving on. >> let's get to this miley sinead back and forth. she says don't let the music business prostitute you. those are her words and miley tweets back and says let's talk. >> is that what she said? >> well, she tweets back. miley responded to sinead saying she is busy hosting snl and then she tweeted again and said i don't have time to write you an open -- miley basically said that she is busy doing snl and then she wrote another tweet saying if you'd like to sit down and talk, let me know in another open letter. kind of jabbing at her even though she did a video kind of giving -- paying respect to sinead o'connor. nobody was talking about her before but now she is getting in a few but i think sinead is just saying a lot of what everybody is feeling. they want her to tone down. they want miley to calm down a little bit. everybody is tired of it. >> you wonder why she has taken an interest in this to write open letters about it. >> it's that thing. if you really do want to have an impact on someone personally just call them yourself. >> if it's a letter, send it to them. >> exactly. >> but put her into the limelight and i think miley is aware of that so she is jabbing at her a little bit. >> and she's going to be on snl so now she can mess with her on snl. >> miley is on snl saturday and here monday and interview with a concert with us. >> thank you a.j. >> great to see you. we need to break so we can check out the photos she is talking about. >> what's the number one rule in buying a home? is it location, some make believe. 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[ female announcer ] only with abreva. that's why there's new duracell quantum. only duracell quantum has a hi-density core. and that means more fuel, more power, more performance than the next leading brand. new duracell quantum. trusted everywhere. do you mind grabbing my phone and opening the capital one purchase eraser? i need to redeem some venture miles before my demise. okay. it's easy to erase any recent travel expense i want. just pick that flight right there. mmm hmmm. give it a few taps, and...it's taken care of. this is pretty easy, and i see it works on hotels too. you bet. now if you like that, press the red button on top. ♪ how did he not see that coming? what's in your wallet? but press them flat, add sauce... and some pepperoni and cheese... and school nights turn into grands mini pizza nights. pillsbury grands biscuits. make dinner pop! if you're in the market for a new home there's a lot of myths and misconceptions when it comes to buying. we called in the experts to help you out. she's the personal finance contributor for the street.com and jay is a real estate agent. >> you'll read a statement and we'll guess if it's a buy meaning it's fact or bust because it's fiction. go ahead. >> the first we have, your credit score is the single most important factor when applying for a mortgage. >> i'm staying there on bust. >> i'm saying buy. >> oh, good. well, so it's actually a bust. there are lots of different factors that go into determining whether or not you get a mortgage. your credit score is important but so is how much cash in the bank, what your income is. the type of property you're buying. it is true that your credit score is the biggest factor when it comes to your interest rate. >> that makes sense. >> okay. >> there's a highlight that our american heros, our vets can get 100% financing with a 620 credit score. >> oh, okay. >> who's next. when buying a house, the number one rule is location, location, location? buy or bust? >> i'm saying that's an old myth. >> i'm saying that's a buy. >> i'm sticking here. >> right and wrong. >> come on. more right. yes it's a buy. you lost willie. >> you lost willie. >> so here's the real life scenario. i have a house for sell, 10.7 million. beautiful architect and builder built the thing right but you take the house in alpine and put it anywhere else in new jersey it's not 10.7 million anymore. location, location, location drives up the premium. >> all right. >> i guess you're going to sell that house then now. >> i hope so. >> all right. >> okay, you should never make an offer below more than 10% of asking price. >> i'm keeping this guy right here on the bust. >> bust. you're right. when you're making an offer, take two things into consideration. the fair market value of the home and what you can afford. the seller might have priced the home high emotionally because they might be attached to the house. you can come in low but be prepared to justify your price. you don't want to offend the seller. >> the best time to shop for a house is during the winter months. >> buy or bust. >> bust. >> i just don't want to move my thing. >> so, willie, the theory behind that is that 365, any day of the year say great time to buy a house if it's your dream home. never be the person trying to play the market wanting to move in the summer months and you miss out on what could have been. >> don't you get better deals during the winter months? >> you may. because there's less activity. it say little true but never pass up on your dream home. >> not that i'm keeping score but i think i won. >> i think you win. >> i'm okay with that. >> i'm not done yet. >> we're out of time. sorry. so willie wins. lauren and jay, thank you. >> thank you. >> coming up next, if you have more questions you're going to stick around and you'll be tweeting with some of our viewers as well. the hashtag is buy or bust all one word. they'll answer your question. >> coming up next, tacos and at they'[ male announcer ]stion. this one goes out to all the allergy muddlers. you know who you are. you can part a crowd, without saying a word... if you have yet to master the quiet sneeze... you stash tissues like a squirrel stashes nuts... well muddlers, muddle no more. try zyrtec®. it gives you powerful allergy relief. and zyrtec® is different than claritin® because zyrtec® starts working at hour one on the first day you take it. claritin® doesn't start working until hour three. zyrtec®. love the air. it fills you with energy... and it gives you what you are looking for to live a more natural life. in a convenient two bar pack. this is nature valley. nature at its most delicious. this is nature valley. tabrilliant...sparkling...n like a jewel. that's superior preference by l'oreal. preference's light-reflecting color is never opaque. always brilliant. it shines and sparkles for weeks and weeks. l'oreal superior preference. that nasty odor coming from your washer. say farewell to the smell with tide washing machine cleaner. it goes straight to the source of the stink to lift odor-causing residues off your washer's drum. tide washing machine cleaner. and better is so easy withrning you cabenefiber.o something better for yourself. to lift odor-causing residues off your washer's drum. fiber that's taste-free, grit-free and dissolves completely. so you can feel free to add it to anything. and feel better about doing it. better it with benefiber. in case it snuck up on you, today is national taco day and there's a reason to celebrate. last year americans ate 4.5 billion tacos? how do you know that? >> who better to celebrate than bobby flay, the host of the tacos and tequila event. >> it's all about tacos today. i am hosting the tacos and tequila event. it's a great event. i invite 31 different chefs. a taco is something you can put anything in. we have pulled pork. so i'll start with the pork shoulder and some spices, some red chilis and onions and garlic. >> and you braise it. >> let it go for 90 minutes covered in the oven. okay. actually there's dressing right there. you can dress this. we have cabbage and cilantro. contrast of texture is important. brooke has the taco shell. we're not going to use a tortilla for this. you can use a boston lettuce leaf. >> it's healthier. >> and gluten free. >> put barbecue sauce on the pork. your favorite barbecue sauce and take some of the slaw. >> they're tart and sweet and have a little punch. give this a taste. >> in the meantime -- >> what's next. >> let's get to the chicken. so we have chicken tacos, obviously very popular. i flavored mine with flavors of spain. so i blazed some chicken. >> chicken thighs. >> yes, they get nice and tender and you pull the chicken off of the bone and try not to shred it too much. i like it to be in bigger pieces and i take cheese which is a spanish cheese and mix it with the chicken and then i put the chicken on top of a corn tortilla and this is a pepper relish. you could use roasted red peppers if you want to put they're spanish. i'm trying to keep the spanish theme. and also we talked about crunch and contrast of texture. i used pickles onions here that i pickled in a little bit of saffron. >> finish that off. >> now, you have taco night? >> we do. >> who cooks? >> my husband is such a good cook. you know that. it's a really fun thing. >> i met brooke's husband on a plane, the first time we met and all we talked about for six hours was food. and i wasn't talking. >> all right. fantastic. >> she is going in. >> come to the food and wine festival. tacos and tequila everybody. >> information about it and the recipes on our website today.com. we're back in a moment. but first, this is "today" on nbc. 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[ laughs ] ♪ [ female announcer ] hey ladies. you love it. you've got to have it. cinnamon toast crunch, 'cause that cinnamon and sugar is so irresistible. everybody craves those crazy squares.® or how to find big savings on the things you need. just make a straight line to safeway. your club card gets you deals you can't find anywhere else. this week, folgers is $6.88 for the large size. that's a lot of coffee. skip the warehouse. charmin is $13.99 for 24 double rolls. and lean cuisine entrees are just a buck 99. real big deals this week and every week. only at safeway. ingredients for life. natalie is not letting the fact that she wasn't in the last segment stop her from enjoying the food from the last segment. >> never. >> lester holt is here with a preview of weekend today. >> this weekend, what are we talking about? the unlikely pairing in the classrooms. retired seniors mentoring elementary students but they're not just helping them with their scho work. they're also teaching them respect. we'll ask the question are young people lacking social graces because of today's technology. more on this weekend on today. >> they can teach them more. just basic respect. >> we have lost a lot of that. it's good to bring it back. >> absolutely. >> actually we're becoming a meaner culture with social networking sometimes. >> we can get away with a lot. >> sinead o'connor and miley >> it is 9:56 wrush the alleged mastermind of a massive on-line drug marketplace is expected to be in a san francisco courtroom today. 29-year-old ross william gilbrect is fatesing drug and computer hacking charges wresh is also accused of trying to hire a hitman. according to court documents, he used a hidden website called the silk robe, which is a black market site to sell everything from high quality heroin to marijuana. in a south bay a santa clara high school student accused of having sex with a student is set to enter a plea in court today. police say 32-year-old hugo cortez guzman admitted to having sex with a 17-year-old female student on four separate occasions. according to dort documents, a janitor became suspicious when he saw the teacher and student watching a movie together. we are talking about some strong winds on this friday. let's get a look at that forecast with meteorologist christina loren. >> thanks, marla. happy friday to you. temperatures are going to be warm today. the wind will continue to be a factor. at least until lunchtime. then between noon and about 7:00 p.m. we're going to start to see those winds relax. nonetheless, it's still going to be dry out there, and that red flag warning will not expire until 6:00 a.m. tomorrow morning at the earliest. 76 degrees in san francisco today. we're talking about the mid 80s in places like livermore. by tomorrow we warm you up, but we lose that wind. >> we'll take a look over here. the wind will still affect you crossing the bay and over to the peninsula on the san mateo bridge. we're looking at a slower drive still. look at the 101. still gummed up and there the speeds are down in the 40s and 50s both directions in through palo alto. a nice improvement northbound with a new crash now. south 1101,and the northbound side there des racketed as well. the traffic was starting to thin out, but getting more congested again, and the wind is shaking the camera, and north 808 and 23rd. back to you. >> can you get dizzy looking at the camera, mike. >> we'll be back at 10:26 with the next local news update. hey lena, what ya looking for? well, you've found delicious! ♪ ♪ if you wanna go and fly with me ♪ ♪ it's buzz the bee on your tv ♪ ♪ oh how did i get this way? ♪ hey! must be the honey! ♪ it is so honey swagalish ♪ so much crunch, can you handle this? ♪ ♪ the party in the bowl don't stop! ♪ ♪ hey! must be the honey! ♪ ♪ hey! must be the honey! ♪ must be the honey! from nbc news this is "today" with kathie lee gifford and hoda kotb. from studio 1a in rockefeller plaza. >> you made it, everybody. congratulations to you. it is friday. friday, october 4th, 2013. >> yes, it is. >> still gorgeous glorious weather here in new york. we've been blessed. >> yes, it is, and a nice weekend too. >> i'm going to the cayman islands. >> i know, hoda. >> it's a breast cancer event which is great, but it is nice to go -- >> it is nice to go to the caymans. >> what are you doing this weekend? >> i don't know yet. waiting to hear from two people. regis and joy, if they're around, we like to hang with them a little bit. we'll see. >> okay. >> otherwise, it's me and frank. couple of old gnarly farts looking at each other and putting the dog. that's what it's all about. keep tweeting, we like that. so where did you meet your spouse? >> i met my spouse at a competitive show to this one across town. >> you were both working? >> we were both working. >> the premise is couples who meet at work are more likely to stay together because -- >> and more likely to marry. >> yeah. you met frank at -- >> across the street. >> yeah, yeah, yeah. >> okay. so you met and because you spent so much time together? >> you know, it's kind of fun. when i was first in new york, 31 years ago, frank was already, of course, a big deal and all of that. he used to hang out with don meredith a lot, his best friend. and when don was in town, they'd get together. and he called me one day, we were only colleagues a little bit. he goes, the cowboy's in town and wants to have lunch. and i said, okay. and i go to lunch with them. they sit across from me and i'm feeling -- you know, those pinch me moments. i'm sitting across the table from frank gifford and don meredith, where's waldo, why am i here? and all of a sudden i was telling him about this guy i was dating and it was rough and not going to great. and don looked at me and goes, kathie, darling, i'm going to tell you what i'm going to do. i'm going to take a tour of you from the tip of your toes to the top of your head with lots of intermittent stops. >> and i went -- help me. i said i am out of my league here. but i just -- >> wait. >> frank was sitting there like -- >> uh-huh. >> we just became great friends for four years. >> and then you started -- >> and i was going with another guy and frank didn't like him because he didn't think he was right for me. he said you're not going to marry him, are you? and i said, i might. no, you're going to hang out with me until you're over this guy. and i'm still hanging out with him. that's really it. how about you? have you ever had an office romance other than that one? >> no, that's all there was. >> who shall remain nameless. okay. let's move on to the benefits. there are benefits if you enj enjoy -- >> a morning delight. >> a morning delight. >> if you like to go to poughkeepsie in the morning. >> there are benefits for doing it in the morning. i guess opposed to at night. they say that morning sex is very healthy. >> well, of course, why wouldn't it be? >> because you get -- >> who do you think? ♪ >> yes. okay. >> so they say it's good for your heart, it's like exercise. >> but any time of the day it's good for you and your heart. >> no, but you're starting your day -- you're leaving the bed and going out into the world. otherwise you're -- >> wherever it happens. i'm saying at night you just fall asleep and the endorphins go away and you wake up. >> in other words, you can change your mood for the time. >> yeah. >> for the day. the biggest problem is most people have very little time in the morning. >> it has to be weekend mornings. >> unless you have a different kind of a schedule. i don't know why. we just tried to get your attention talking about morning sex. that's it. there's really nothing we intended to teach you and nothing for you to learn. >> but -- look. >> are you about to tell us when you like it? >> no, i'm saying when you go out for a nice dinner, you're full, come home, no one wants to be rolling around. >> a lot of people do, hoda. >> no, they're full. >> no, that's why they eat the rigitoni. energy, baby. >> there are a hundred things guys never ever want to hear. this comes from our friend who always has some funny bits. let's hear what he's got to say. >> i still live with my ex. >> do you have any hot friends? >> the bachelor's on. can you help me move next saturday. do you want to watch the notebook? do you want to go shopping with me? you're not listening to me. what did i just say? i think we should make a joint facebook account. do you want to meet my parents tonight? she's pretty. is she prettier than me? i don't like watching football. are we official? i think i love you. what do you like about me? we should go on a diet together. i don't want to do this anymore. did you ever have abs? you look a lot like my ex-boyfriend. maybe we should date other people. oh, you're so cute. like what are we? i'm thinking of cutting my hair really short. is your brother single. do i look fat? be honest. we need to talk. >> he's so clever. we should have him live here some time. he's a delight. >> he's funny. >> he's cute. >> all right, we have a prop as we tend to have on friday. >> and we have a props person. it is called tryday friday. >> looking swell. >> this is not your ordinary clip-on. >> it's not. >> this has a purpose. >> show us what it is. >> so there's -- >> drinking again. >> is there liquid in the tie? >> yes, there is. enough to get you through what? church? >> maybe out the front door. >> gerard, you are adorable. >> we love you. $24.95. >> who's better than gerard? everybody? nobody! >> on classtie.com. very nice. >> oh, cute. scientists have discovered we don't have the light, we have our laser, that a laser aimed at a certain part of your brain can control your hunger. >> they did something with rats or mice or something and had mice in a room with a big pile of cheese. so they took this laser and pointed it at the mouse's -- one of the mice -- one of the -- one of the -- >> meece. >> wait a second, let's regroup. >> one of the mouse's brains. the part of a mouse's brain. >> read whatever anyone writes. is it mice? one of the mouse's -- one of the mice. >> that's what they wrote, hoda. >> mice is plural. >> i know. one of the group of mice. >> one mouse -- it was part of the mice. >> the point is -- >> what are the furry creatures? they pointed a laser at the brain and that particular mouse didn't go for the cheese. he walked away. >> did he walk away toward a pile of hot dogs? >> no. he was out. so if they can figure out how to make that work. >> oh. it was a big old mess. whoo! . >> you know what -- >> i don't think so. >> let's give you -- let's do something really cute. okay. so if you wondered what the world's tiniest puppy looked like. >> i thought it was bambino, but it isn't, it's angel the terrier. >> he weighs 1/3 of a pound. >> look at him. >> look how cute. >> he was born in england. >> he's the weight of a banana. >> look at him eating out of a spoon. >> a vet says angel could be on track to claim the world's smallest dog title. have to see how big he grows by one year. but a banana, that's how heavy. >> oh, my gosh. >> that's about the size bambino was when i first saw him. yep, he was already living with us for six months by then. but, yeah, but 7 pounds, 2 ounces, my big, big boy. you know what i call him nowadays? >> what? >> bambo. >> oh, god. look who's sitting in our green room. gina greshom. we watched your movie, we're going to talk about "house of versace." all we could talk about was your body. it's insane. it's sick. acting was good too, but let's talk about the body. >> yes. >> will you give us your secrets when you come over? >> yeah, i have a laser point in timed at my head. >> good, good. >> if i looked like her, i'd point a laser -- >> me too. >> you know what it's time for? friday funnies. >> one morning a man came into work with both of his ears bandaged up. everyone's wondering what could've possibly happened to him. his boss asked, what did you do to your ears, the man replied, yesterday it was my turn to do the ironing and i was ironing a shirt, the phone rang, i accidentally answered the iron instead of the phone. wow, the boss said, that may explain one of your ears. what did you possibly do to the other? the man goes they called back. >> good for you. i like it. it's time for okay or not okay. >> okay. is it okay or not okay to -- >> to -- >> i'll tell you. to refuse to be a role model. here's what we had to say. you may think you're not a role model but you are. kids will model their behavior after yours whether it's good or bad. >> good point. here's mine. it is not a choice if you are in the public eye, you should consider it your responsibility and a privilege. >> go, girl. >> excellent. >> baby of the week announcement. let's hear some music it's time for our baby announcements when we celebrate new moms and the adorable new additions to their families. our first johnson's baby is hayden piper tober. born in minnesota on july 27th, weighing 7 pounds, 10 ounces. her mom says her new daughter is a giggler and if you talk to her, she'll talk back. >> our next one is eliot douglas sammons, born on august 4th. the first child for damon and julia and say their son is very expressive and loves to make faces when he sees the camera. >> next up is nia kayleen walters. her mother offers this advice to new parents. there is a thing as too much information. just relax, let parenthood come natural. and our final baby of the week is zachary marc greaux born in ridgewood, new jersey, on august 28th, weighed 9 pounds, 7 ounces. the first baby for mom denise and the youngest of 14 children. so the little boy is the 43rd grandchild in their family. >> crazy. >> congratulations to everybody. >> all right. and if you want a chance to be in our johnson baby of the week, go to klgandhoda.com. gina greshon takes on the style icon in "house of versace" telling us about that after this. ♪ because an empty pan is a blank canvas. ♪ [ woman #2 ] to share a moment. ♪ [ man #1 ] to remember my grandmother. 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oh, you're kidding! i definitely would shop at walmart now. fine, fresh, crisp apples and all your quality produce backed by our 100% moneyback guarantee. tv, film and broadway star gina gershon is getting buzz for her transformation into one of the world's most powerful designers. critics saying she's the perfect fit. >> she plays versace in "house of versace." a role filled with a lot of drama. take a look. >> that sleeve took two days to figure out. >> but i love it. perfect. >> you two deserve each other. >> we give away more couture gowns than we sell. do you have any idea what it costs? >> do you have any idea how much free publicity we get when they wear versace? >> oh. >> and that's just the beginning. >> hello. >> it is so nice to have you with us. >> thank you. >> and you bite into this role and you don't let go with those. >> the ones behind us, how did you capture her? because she has such a distinctive look, the lips, all of it. >> you know, her face, you know -- it's movie magic. almost like taking a painting and you just see where the lights go and the darks go. >> you're fine featured in person -- did you use a little something, cotton under the lip to get that? >> i kind of pulled my face back and you change the plains. my cheekbones are different than hers. at some point i was using stuff under my mouth. sometimes she doesn't use her lip and i'm like -- >> she's always sucking on something. >> a cigarette. >> you're killing me. >> or a glass of wine. >> did you have to get in character with the cigarettes and the whole -- >> i'm not a real smoker. i'm one of those annoying smokers with a te kequila or something. i was up to two packs a day. you can't do it -- >> i've been to the versace mansion where johnny was killed and it's -- >> incredible. >> it's incredible how that all. you don't dwell on that. you dwell on how much the death of johnny who you had a love/hate relationship, real sibling rivalry at its most shakespearean, almost. and you add all of the empire on your beautiful shoulders. >> it's so tragic. i think we think about donatello at and mya doing her on snl. she's had this look as long as we've known her. but the thing that was so interesting when i read the book and the script, there was so much about this woman that i really didn't know and i didn't understand how the family worked. >> what family -- >> what did you learn about her you didn't expect to learn? >> well, you have to -- i didn't quite realize. you know, she really comes from that strong southern italian family. they're tight. they might as well have been married if they were brother and sister. and it was the three of them that created the empire. the mother was a seamstress and made beautiful dresses. it was a close knit family. and she was kind of her own person and johnny basically pulled her in and then when he went, everyone's looking at her. and she never really ran the company. she certainly had her ideas and had her style ideas. which is slightly different. >> have you heard from her since this movie's come out? >> no, i've never met her, never heard from that. >> it was supposedly not with her blessing. >> it's tough on her with her addictions and stuff. >> she's an open person about everything. she's so funny. i can only imagine watching. every time i'd be doing something, i'd hear her in my head going, oh, are you kidding me? look at those arms. i'm like, i'm trying. >> the accent -- >> you were great. >> it was fun to see raquel welch too. >> oh, my gosh. she looked so hot. and she walks in and you're like, oh, my gosh. she's amazing. i love her. >> it's such a terrific movie. a lot of fun. >> it premieres tomorrow night on lifetime. >> tune in. >> that's right. you know who else is getting a lot of buzz? >> who? >> our girl bobbie. she's got items that will make you look good and help you do some good, as well. ♪ cats are smart. so they deserve new fresh step scoopable litter. it eliminates odors with carbon and natural plant extracts. it's the smart litter for smart cats. 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[ female announcer ] you may not be the best at new trends but you know what's best for your kids. so we listened when you said gogurt should have only natural colors and flavors and no high fructose corn syrup. thanks, mom. it is time for bobbie's buzz. great items that will make you look and feel great. >> october is breast cancer awareness month and "today's" style editor bobbie thomas has stylish finds that will have you giving back to a good cause. hi. >> it is pinktober and i just thought this would be a great time to kick off the month with products that will do good. >> okay. >> i just want to say it's really important if you can to make a direct donation, most of the money, all of the money will be, you know, going to the charity versus -- >> sure. >> but if you do want to shop, there are some great products. everything i'm featuring gives 100% of the net proceeds. at least for this month or not. but the first thing i want to give somebody a kudos. bethany is a survivor who said she got this free wig and thought how do people find out about all these cool things? there's so many people giving away beautiful free scarves et cetera to patients. she creates breastcancerfreebies.com. we can go to the website and donate back to the charities and you'll see estee lauder this perfume, it's a solid perfume compact. and one of my favorites, kohl's has this great gear line. it's inexpensive from $7 to $20. >> wow. >> such a great way to get yourself active and avon has great crusade watches to fight for the cause. go to our website, these are great products because they give all the proceeds back. >> love it. >> love you. >> all right. thank you. >> okay, hoda -- >> i don't know what you're talking about. >> i don't either. >> apparently we're going to find out. but you have to wait a little bit. >> how long? >> right after your local news. we lowered her fever. you raise her spirits. we tackled your shoulder pain. you make him rookie of the year. we took care of your cold symptoms. you take him on an adventure. tylenol® has been the number 1 doctor recommended brand of pain reliever for over 20 years. but for everything we do, we know you do so much more. tylenol®. ugh! actually progresso's soup has pretty bold flavor. i love bold flavors! i'd love it if you'd open the chute! [ male announcer ] progresso. surprisingly bold flavor for a heart healthy soup. surprisingly bold flavor it's an opportunitye to stop and savor, the unmistakable taste that reminds us that life is delicious. wake it up with olay regenerist. formulated with a skin energizing complex, it penetrates 10 layers of the skin's surface, because energized skin is younger looking skin. ♪ is younger looking skin. imr. rollback.. ready for the october savings event? soapy rollbacks for only $6. hot rotisserie rollback. on rollback, day and night... gesundheit. don't forget dessert. get more for your money at the walmart october savings event. good morning to you. it is 10:26. i'm marla tellez. we have overnight video of a house fire in san jose. this started about 2:30 this morning. the family of six inside made it out safely. fire crews say it started in the attic, and right now they say it appears to be accidental. flames have scorched about 375 acres near the lake. crews have it 75% contained. this morning month structures are threatened. the battle top of move the a's to san jose heads to federal court today. this is video in the lawyers walking into court. major league baseball trying to get san jose's anti-trust lawsuit dismissed. the suit claims the league and commissioner bud selig are illegally impede aing possible move by the team to the south bay. we'll have a look at weather and traffic after the break. pepper jack cheese, mushrooms, jalapeños, bacon, tomato and avocado. i call it, "the avocado da vinci". create your om'lart with denny's build your own omelette menu. >> welcome back. happy friday to you. what a beautiful day here on the golden gate bridge, but the american flag tells the story. yeah. just waving here violently. as we head throughout the morning hours, we're going to continue to see that really windy condition all across the bay area. especially at the coast. getting into tonight the winds drop off. we have a good-looking weekend shaping up. mid 80s for most of the bay area. at 11:00 let's check your drive with mike. >> looking to the peninsula. 101. there was a crash reported in front of the camera. i never actually saw any lanes blocked, but as we take it to full screen well, see the traffic flows smoothly here. a little slowing. the earlier crash looks like it's not an issue for the peninsula. at times things are calming down. a live look still gummed at the colorado seechl, and a few windy gusts. >> we'll have much more local news coming up in a half hourkút 11:00. we hope to see you then. welcome back to this "today" on friday. no matter our age, we need mentors to keep us on the straight and narrow. >> when you're a kid, that person's usually a parent or teacher. what about when you're an adult. here to talk about the importance of a mentor is jennifer hartstein a psychologist and author of "strings attached: one tough teacher and the gift of expectations." welcome. >> thanks. great to be here. >> we don't think of mentors -- i guess we get to a point in our lives where we know our job -- >> so we don't seek out somebody else to help us along the way. we know it all. >> you don't know it all. there's always someone who is a few steps ahead of you. even as adults, it's important to take a step back and say what do i want to do next in this trajectory? who might be able to provide guidance with a firm hand and figure out my next step to where i want to go. >> is that not called a friend, joanne? >> not necessarily. so our book "strings attached" is about the toughest teacher in the world, essentially. the guy we did not appreciate at the time. definitely not our friend. and yet, many years later when this man passed away, hundreds, thousands students rallied and said this was the guy that really taught us things like resilience and perseverance. >> i think women watch, do i seek someone out and say, hey, can you help me. >> you can do both, i think. there are organizations out there where you can actually go put up a profile of what you're lookg for for a mentor. my father's involved in something like this where he mentored young people starting businesses as he was an established business person and they kind of pair them up on this website so you can ask around, ask people you know, go seek someone. the reason a friend might not always be the best, they're so emotionally invested in you they might not give you an honest opinion. whereas a mentor, you want to build a relationship of respect. >> is this a commercial venture? do you have to pay for this? is this all free on the internet somewhere? >> it's both. all the different levels. you can do both. you do have ways if you don't have them. >> that's a tough love person you would try to avoid at all costs. you don't learn about it until later. sometimes the best mentors are the ones tough on you. >> it's about tough love. what a great mentor is not the person who coddles you and pats you on the head and says you're so great. they're the person who is really honest with you who says, you know, work harder, who says, you know, the best teachers and end being. and if you think about your own best teachers, it's probably not the one who let you get away with everything. it was probably the one who kicked your butt. >> i had one in sixth grade. no, tenth grade, no 11th grade said she was going to fail me if i didn't enter a certain pageant and it was a scholarship pageant kind of thing. i don't know if she would've but she scared me enough i did it. >> it's finding the balance between being able to say you have to do this. you can do better. and i'm telling you that because i know you can do better. and they're pulling the best out of you. it's finding that fine line balance between driving you so hard it demoralizes you but driving you hard enough it lifts you. >> it could be anything. you might not know -- >> for me, it was a teacher in sixth grade who i loved. she had us doing all kinds of things and i never forgot it. but i think you get to a point in your life where you think, oh that person knows how to do it better than me. should i ask for help or do my own thing? >> it's so true. it could be in the workplace, might be someone you really admire. >> yeah. >> say something. >> who is a bunch of levels ahead of you. but they've been where you've been and they can share with you that experience. >> most are willing to also. they're flattered. >> they are flattered. >> and if we can learn from an intern. sometimes an intern will say something like, oh, my god, that's genius, but you have to take a second and pay attention and realize you don't have to learn from people who are higher than you. >> the key is to learn something from everybody. you can ask to get to where you want to go. >> the person in the room nobody wants to be around is the person that thinks they know everything. >> that's right. and i think the best leaders are the ones that do say they want to pay it forward. they want to talk to the young people. >> thanks. they call themselves a hoda and kathie lee. who do they think they are? of late night. so who are we? >> maybe we're the mentors. i don't think so. >> that's really sad. it's eb. want to give your family the very best in taste, freshness, and nutrition? 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>> what the hell? oh, my god. >> yeah. i'm kesha. >> we bleeped out the cursing that happened later. >> you guys are acting like you're 12 years old. >> yeah, it's pretty embarrassing. >> it was so amazing. he's so lovely and it was nice that he did that and our crew set that up for us. >> it was. >> we didn't have to think. >> if we would've known we were going to meet -- it would have been -- >> what did you ask him? >> he interviewed us. they gave him questions. i get choked up thinking about it. he knew stuff about us. >> he did. >> he did. yeah. >> he just asked us about all the bits we've done involving him. and we had to explain our comedy to him. it was awesome. >> oh, my gosh. >> you're still on a high from it. >> i love it. >> who would be your dream guests? >> kathie lee and hoda. kathie lee and hoda. >> all right. let's talk about some pop culture topics. >> sandra bullock in gravity. >> this movie, hot people in space is what i'm calling it. >> i'm already stressed out. it's stressful. >> because they're too hot. >> no -- >> they're floating. >> the trailer gave me such anxiety. that's your worst nightmare. >> to be separated from george clooney. >> yeah. >> just disappear. >> look what's going on. >> yeah. all right. >> snl this weekend is going to be huge. >> yeah. it's a big deal. miley cyrus -- and this is her -- this is her first post twerking. >> what are you smiling? >> i can't wait to see what they do with -- are they going to do a parody of the vma thing? i hope they do something like somebody comes out dressed up like a foam finger or -- i just want -- >> like gumby. what about -- do you think robin thicke might come by? >> cameo. >> that's going to happen. >> i should produce -- >> you're basically writing it for them. >> what about britney spears. she's got a new music video out. >> it's called work -- >> she tells you to work a lot in it. >> she looks amazing. >> she's back. she's never looked this good since -- it's been a few years. and -- >> i don't know the message, though. i like the words, you know, she's like if you want a lamborghini, you've got to work. she's doing that, but then she's wearing nothing. >> what does she mean? >> it's mixed messaging. >> if you want this you've got to -- >> i'm like britney, stop calling me. >> yelling at you. >> what about work, darling. >> wouldn't be the same. >> we love when you come to see us. >> we like when you do your show. >> guess what. >> what? >> apparently old is the new fat. >> great. one more thing to obsess about. >> that's right. why we women are our worst critics. walmart talked to customers about buying the latest windows touch laptops with intel inside on layaway. here's what they say. i do love the touchscreen. i find it much easier to use. this is so much faster than my old computer. i like that you can personalize it - that you can have the things that you like. it's an awesome price for what i am getting. i love the price and i love the layaway plan. free layaway is amazing! i want to take it home! 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[ female announcer ] dove. this is care. ♪ all right. it seems women have moved on from obsessing over their weight and now we all complain about getting old like someone i know. take a look. >> i'm too old for this. >> please don't say six decades. honestly. six decades. you want to throw me into a bus. >> decades. >> say decades. >> i'm an old-timer. >> i'm the oldest person at the "today" show. live strong and well, willard. >> i want my own smuckers jar. >> all right. i would say that's probably my way of using humor to battle what's obvious. has old become the new fat? here to help us stop focusing on the negative is the editor in chief of "self" magazine. and co-author with lucy of the nine rooms of happiness. welcome, ladies. >> thank you for having us. >> we make jokes about our age, we do it a lot and do it for fun and for laughs. but you guys say there's a line between doing it for the laugh and being -- >> exactly. well, you're not old, you're awesome. and when we complain about our wrinkles and, you know, our gray hair, maybe it's also a way of saying i wish i felt better but when you feel great, old is an attitude. i'm just saying it's all about how you feel and maybe it's a signal if you're feeling old or you need to take a little better care of yourself. not you, but some people. >> everybody could take a little bit better care. look at betty white, she's made old sexy. 91 years old. >> she has. >> and we've had people -- we had cher just on who looks awesome. there's something different, i think, now that comes. there's not such a stigma with age, is there? >> i think we're taking better care of ourselves, living healthier, living longer and it shows. i think that's why you can be older and look younger. >> sometimes i think when we put ourselves down, i don't think it's because we hate ourselves. i think it's because we're like, oh, you too, i feel fat. it's like a bonding fun thing. >> that commiserating happens at every age. we saw jennifer lawrence and selena gomes doing it. and all these young people. you can only compare back, you can't compare forward. >> i think there was a line in a musical that said i don't want to be older, i want to be the old me. it's sort of like that. i want to be that girl -- >> what i want to point out. the opposite of old isn't new or young it's healthy and energetic and your best self at every age and stage. that's what i'm trying to promote. >> right. >> i do think it's funny when young, beautiful people complain about their weight or age, it gets annoying. oh, i'm turning 27. >> smack them. >> don't you? is that a newer thing that's happening? >> you're hearing it at younger ages, you know. and i think it is a problem if it's too much. but i think a little bit motivates us to look our best and feel our best. but when you're doing it all the time and that's all you're hearing about, preoccupied with how you look, it's not so good. >> what's the take away, guys? what do you want -- >> i want people to understand you can't necessarily get a new vehicle, but you can take really good care of the one you've got. >> get a lube job. >> careful. >> get exercising. this is permission to take better care of yourself, you know, like high octane fuel. >> it's going to benefit everybody around you. >> you're right. >> shiny new isn't real. let's be the best we can be. >> and be kind to yourself. when we talk like this to ourselves, it's not nice. >> and our kids are listening. >> some people say it behind people's backs, hoda. >> why are you looking at me? >> i know you don't. >> yes, they do. >> i don't think old should be bad, i think unhealthy's the opposite. the opposite is not feeling healthy. let's make healthy. >> all right, lucy. we got it. we got it! . >> thank you, ladies. >> we love you. thanks, guys. >> i feel so healthy. >> me too. >> and young. listen up, new moms, want to see some things that will make your life easier? check this out. any idea what this thing can do? is that a birth control device? >> oh, please. that's sick. >> first, this is "today" on nbc. to those who've waited... worried... poked and prodded... taken risks... and lived in a state of "what if?"... welcome to a new state... of health. welcome to covered california. the place to find quality, affordable coverage. financial help for those in need. and nobody can be denied because of a pre-existing condition. enroll now at coveredca.com or call 1-800-752-6631. it seems as if there's new baby products on the market every day all promising to make life easier for mom and dad. >> we found some that really do. and here to show us those baby must haves is mindy walker, the executive editor of "american baby." >> what a fun job you have. >> it's perfect. >> it's perfect. >> this is a baby tub. that's what i showed you earlier. >> oh, that's what it is? >> exactly. it folds into your sink, cradles your baby. a lot less jarring that a big tub. >> and you're not trying to protect your baby from the harsh corners. >> perfect for the newborn babies. you have a new baby and put her diapers in here and her nursery will smell as new as she does. >> what's happening with this down here? oh, my gosh. >> this is a brand new toy out by infantino grows with your baby. mat here can have tummy time. >> oh. >> he's doing great. >> beautiful. >> and then we have elsie over here sitting in one of our favorite highchairs. 50,000 readers said this was their favorite highchair. it has this great new trend where once she outgrows the highchair it becomes a booster seat at your table. you can look at this pattern for three years. you'll love it. >> you buy it once. >> buy it once. very slim and trim. >> she's doing so well. and we have our dr. brown bottles. less air and the milk is always better regardless if your baby has colic or not. >> timing is everything. >> exactly. >> and speaking of timing, new moms don't have a lot of time. if you want to take a shower, this is where you put your baby. peaceful spot you can carry around the house with you. by fisher price. >> don't put it on a counter, you guys, learned that the hard way. >> yes, always the floor. car seats, chairs. >> what's going on here? >> oh, my goodness. >> claire's -- >> this is our graco travel system. >> and she's making good use of that. this, we love this stroller because it has one wheel in the front it's very easy to maneuver. you're not going to make as big of a footprint and when claire needs to hop in the car, we have a terrific -- >> you go girl. >> she's a go kind of girl. >> absolutely precious. thank you. and thanks to all of our babies. >> listen, we want you to have a great weekend. but join us this coming week, orlando bloom with us, kenny rogers. >> and elizabeth smart talking about her fascinating new book. plus a performance by "the voice" winner cassidy pulp. >> we've got a busy week. if you have one thing to do, it's have an awesome weekend. have fun in the cayman islands. >> thank you, sweetie. >> bye, everybody. >> that was awesome. right now at 11:00 whipping winds hitting the bay area hard and fueling flames on an east bay hill side. good morning. thanks for being with us. i'm marla tellez. jon has the day off. we have team coverage on the strong winds. christina loren is tracking them from our weather center, but we want to start with nbc bay area's chase cain live in livermore where crews have been busy this morning battling those flames. this fire out there picked up quickly. >> it sure did. the good news is the fire is completely contained now. the fire crews have been leaving the hellside behind me, but it took crew from six different agencies to get to that point, and this is the stuff that's
performing will need to be stopped. no work. no pay. no clear end in sight. >> we wouldn't be able to get along without pay for, you know, a month or two. it would effect us dramatically. >> reporter: near boston, fred is packing his bags for a dream vacation with his girlfriend. a retirement trip he has been mapping out for years. five national monuments. from the grand canyon to zion. all are now closed. >> i'm 63 years old and i'm going to see it for the first time but now i'll get there and can't see it. >> reporter: like plenty of others, he is angry at washington. republicans and democrats alike. get it together. work together and do something because we the people are being hurt. >> that's just two of the stories with hundreds of thousands of others like it. we are been speaking to people here on the national mall all morning. there's consensus on frustration, irritation, and this morning, confusion. >> all right. peter alexander in washington this morning. thank you so much. jim cramer is host of mad money on cnbc. good morning to you. >> good morning, matt. >> start on main street. you're the average joe or jane and you're waking up this morning and hearing the government shutdown. you're worried about your job, your economy, the 401(k). what's the immediate impact. >> people are worried about their paycheck. maybe my business is going to get hurt. so it's more than just convenience and inconvenience. this is about people thinking if they're paychecks aren't coming, maybe mine won't come. >> a lot of analysts have been reacting to this for the last couple of weeks. we had the record highs on september 18th and it's been going downhill since then. what are you expecting today? >> i think it's going to be up. >> why? >> business as usual. every time we have sold through one of these, 2011, 2012, sequester, it doesn't go down. you end up missing a great opportunity. >> so investors have reacted over two weeks. in some ways were they also anticipating not the threat of a government shutdown but the next battle, the fight over the debt ceiling. >> that's where people are too complacent. the first punch we absorbed. the second is surprising. people are concerned that the government might default. i don't think they will. >> when we talk about the potential impact of a shutdown on the economy are we talking about it impacting it fundamentally or emotionally? >> i think just emotional for the shutdown because we have been there before. there's been a ton of them. they usually don't hurt earnings but when it comes to the debt ceiling that's about bonds. you don't mess with bonds. >> real quickly, you have been talking to a lot of ceos. these are the people running the companies that are going to deal with the new healthcare law. are they saying to you that they think it was worth shutting down the government over this healthcare. >> no, they have all pretty much gotten used to it. they figured out how to have the paychecks adjusted. they figure if it doesn't do well they'll readjust. i don't know any ceo that thinks this is right. >> i want to mention, congratulations, 2,000th episode of mad money tonight on cnbc. >> thank you so much. the finger pointing on this began long before the shutdown. which side of the political aisle will get most of the blame this morning? chris matthews is host of hard ball and author of tip and the giper action when politics work. good to see you. >> good to be here. >> do you think this will go on for a few weeks? >> i think ted cruz brilliantly set this up. the timing no appropriations bill sign sod the government had to completely shut down. he said budget committee shouldn't meet. it's going into the debt ceiling issue. it's a one-two punch. politicians used to make deals. they don't want to make a deal this time. >> isn't the issue who ends up feeling most of the heat? which party feels most of the blame and that will ultimately lead to a resolution here. >> our system set this up in a way, 230 congressional districts are republican. they voted against this president and for republican congressmen. they can't be defeated on this issue. they can fight to the death on this. the president was reelected again. he won the fight over healthcare but he can't stop those people because they're unbeatable in their district. so boehner is the one that's going to take the heat. >> in other words, these republicans that shut down the government are not going to pay a price for it in their own fortunes, but what about the republican party as a larger issue. >> that's the question. that's why wall street is worried and people like cramer are worried. it's the business party. they are looked out for wall street and big business. in this case big business is scared to death of what's coming in two weeks. if this debt isn't paid the united states is a dead beat. >> what part does democrats own of this. people said the president did not negotiate. >> when you go for somebody's baby they don't negotiate over the baby. king solomon said you don't cut the baby in half if you're the mother and the president will not give up his baby. they know that. that's why this is a scary fight. they're going to ask obama to give them something he can't give them which is his healthcare plan. >> always great to get your perceptive. thank you so much. we'll see you on hard ball tonight. coming up in our next half hour, we'll have the answers to what people have when it comes to the new healthcare law. for now we'll move on and we have the story of a tragedy in colorado to tell you about. >> horrifying situation in colorado. a rescue operation for a group of hikers now turned into a recovery mission after a deadly landslide on a popular hiking trial. gabe gutierrez is there with the latest. good morning. >> good morning, the sheriff here says the five hikers are buried under tons of rock. the only survivor, a teenager, who this morning is recovering in a children's hospital in denver. and we are hearing more about how her father may have sacrificed his own life to save hers. >> reporter: the urgent rescue operation followed a terrifying rock slide. >> there was a cliff bank above the falls and it looks like it slid off. >> reporter: five hikers are presumed dead. the lone survivor 13-year-old tracy johnson who they lifted to safety. >> looking underneath and everything of looking for anybody that survived it and i heard a small girl cry out. and i could only see her hand coming out through the boulders. i immediately went over there and started tossing off the boulders. >> reporter: he says the girl's father threw himself in harms way to shield his daughter. >> i'm glad that she survived and her dad is a real hero. really saved her life. >> reporter: around 11:00 a.m. monday the group was hiking about 120 miles southwest of denver on a popular trail to the agnes vaille falls in the san isabelle national forest. it's a 14,000 foot peak. the slide was several football fields wide. some boulders bigger than cars. >> there are rocks in there that the engineers estimated weigh over 100 tons. >> the sheriff says recent rains and freezing temperatures may have made the terrain unstable. >> we are at a bit of a loss right now just exactly how we're going to move the boulders. >> the recovery effort could resume later today once engineers determine that the ground is safe. meanwhile, authorities have not publicly identified the five hikers who died. natalie. >> such a add story there. gabe gutierrez, thanks. at least two people were killed when a fuel tanker crashed and exploded into a ball of flames in australia. it was loaded with 5,000 gallons of fuel when it rolled and burst into flames. this was north of sidney. flames shot 100 feet into the air. at least five people were taken to the hospital and buildings in the area were evacuated. at least five people were taken to the hospital. more proof that the show must go on no matter what goes on. this is the lake travis high school band from texas performing at a halftime football game. watch as one of the saxophone players falls down and then a domino effect creating a chain reaction. five of the other guys fall down tumbling on top of each other on the pile. all of them pop back up and everybody kept on playing. >> and nobody got hurt. >> can we call them a marching band after that? >> i have eyes in the back? mr. roker is back with a check on the weather. >> yesterday we were telling you about the severe weather in washington state. we have proof of it. we had a tornado touchdown about 7:20 a.m. yesterday in frederic frederickstown, washington. one tornado knocking trains off their tracks and causing a lot of damage. the good news stois today, we h a gorgeous day. beautiful weather. take a look at the sunrise in boston. you can see sunny skies. the charles river, a gorgeous day there. a big area of high pressure that's dominating in the east. that's good news. we'll see sunshine there but this cold front is coming in. that's going to make for a big change in our weather. temperatures are going to be dropping ahead of this system. look at these temperatures. chicago 82 degrees. 76 in st. paul. st. louis 76. 85 degrees, behind the front, temperatures really drop. into the 50s. there's another big storm that's going to be coming across out of the pacific northwest. that will bring winter early this fall. [fans cheering] ♪ ♪ take back the night! ♪ come on, use me up until there's nothing left. ♪ ♪ take back the night! ♪ dizzy, spinning, sweating, ♪ you can't catch your... >> good morning. this warm and dry weather pattern will continue through the end of the week. a mix of clouds and we got your october outlook coming up in the next half hour. guys, back to you. >> al, thank you very much. outspoken billionaire and nba owner mark cuban will be in court today as he fights insider trading charges. >> good to see you. opening statements in the civil case that's turned into a knockdown drag out fight between federal regulators and the billionaire turned reality tv star. >> worst presentation ever. i'm out. >> reporter: often larger than life, billionaire mark cuban crushed contestants on shark tank, busted moves on "dancing with the stars" and paraded referees as the owner of the dallas mavericks. but now, cuban is walking into a different court in texas as he faces federal insider trading charges. >> i'm excited about this, to finally come to court. i won't be bullied. >> reporter: the securities and exchange commission says cuban committed fraud in 2004 after investing in a small internet search company called mamma.com. the sec says cuban sold his entire stake in the company, 600,000 shares after learning the company's ceo was planning an offering of new stock. by selling when he did, cuban avoided losses in excess of $750,000. cuban says he did nothing wrong and any information he had was not confidential. the sec's lead counsel says we look forward to the start of the trial and cuban says he's not backing down. >> the thing i'm really looking forward to is shedding some sun right on how the sec works. >> reporter: he could face a penalty of $2 million. a tiny fraction of his estimated network of $2.5 billion. >> he has to be spending millions of dollars. he could have settled but he clearly believes there's more at stake here. he is out to prove a point. >> seven women, three men were chosen as jurors. the trial is likely to last about three weeks and cuban is expected to testify. something he says he's excited to do. that $2 million fine, he's paid $1.5 million to the nba in crimes for criticizing officials. it's a drop in the bucket. >> interesting to follow that. >> here it is. all right, willie. let's check in with carson daly. he made his way out to the plaza. good morning. >> good morning. we have been asking you to send us your thoughts on the government shutdown and we have gotten great responses. let's read a couple now. dear congress, thanks for the shut down and lack of pay, we the public, your bosses, will return the favor at the polls. rebecca says i took a vow to stefsh public and i'm sitting at home without a job today. who are you getting paid to serve? good thoughts there. >> you're very handsome. >> thank you, judy. >> i think all of this amounts to is the republicans are against president obama. they don't want the president to be successful. i think he is the best president we have had in a very long time. i think they need to work together. they knew for a long time it was coming to this. how about they don't receive any paychecks just like everyone else. >> good thoughts. thank you, judy. mike has a big gig here tonight in new york. keep sendsiing us your thoughts >> if you call carson handsome, he will read them on the air. >> all right, carson. coming up, moments of terror for a young family that were chased down. the dad beaten by a group of bikers. what a good samaritan did that could help lead to some arrests in this case. >> why sandra bullock says her new role scared her on every level. the oscar winner will be here in our studio live. but first, on a tuesday morning, this is "today" on nbc. but first, on a tuesday morning, this is "today" on nbc. pumpkin's back at dunkin'? now you tell me. try the new pumpkin pie donut or any of our other many pumpkin treats today. america runs on dunkin'. back now with a pretty sunrise in orlando, florida. coming up on trending, you won't believe what hospitals are saying you need to be asking your doctor. >> you might think this already ♪ ♪ pop goes the world ♪ it goes something like this ♪ everybody here is a friend of mine ♪ ♪ everybody, tell me, have you heard? ♪ [ female announcer ] pop in a whole new kind of clean with tide pods... a powerful 3 in 1 detergent that cleans, brightens, and fights stains. three chambers. three times the stain removal power. pop in. stand out. ♪ pop in. stand out. help the gulf when we made recover and learn the gulf, bp from what happened so we could be a better, safer energy company. i can tell you - safety is at the heart of everything we do. we've added cutting-edge technology, like a new deepwater well cap and a state-of-the-art monitoring center, where experts watch over all drilling activity twenty-four-seven. and we're sharing what we've learned, so we can all produce energy more safely. our commitment has never been stronger. with new roc® multi correxion® 5 in 1. proven to hydrate dryness, illuminate dullness lift sagging high performance skincare™ only from roc®. i got this. [thinking] is it that time? the son picks up the check? [thinking] i'm still working. he's retired. i hope he's saving. i hope he saved enough. who matters most to you says the most about you. at massmutual we're owned by our policyowners, and they matter most to us. whether you're just starting your 401(k) or you are ready for retirement, we'll help you get there. at the corner of "a little flu shot" and "a world of difference." now through october 14th, when you get any immunization at walgreens, we'll help provide a lifesaving vaccine to a child in a developing country through the u.n. foundation's shot at life campaign. together, we can supply up to three million vaccines. it's easy to make a difference at walgreens. simply get a shot. and give a shot. at the corner of happy and healthy. >> this is wbal tv 11 news today in baltimore. >> good morning. i am stan stovall. hand-held cell phone use is now a primary offense, meaning you will be pulled over by police if they see you doing it. a first offense means you will pay $75, a second offense, 125 dollars, and if you try three of more times, you will have 175 fewer bucks in your wallet, plus court costs. a true that passengers are buckled up because drivers and customers will pay fae are not. wearing a for not seatbelt. here is sarah caldwell and traffic pulse 11. >> we are tracking an accident in glen burnie. it is at eight avenue. otherwise, let's look at those delays in the area. when the six miles per hour from .he beltway to the 895 split southbound 83, slow from york road to the parkton region. this is the northeast corner at harford road. that back up begins on 95 and continues towards the dulaney valley road exit. this is what looks like an old court. filling up on the west side outer loop. over to you, tony. >> once again, the weather is quiet. a few high, thin clouds to start the day. no rain expected. 57 at the airport, 56 at sykesville. 56 degrees and jerod so. -- in jarrettsville. alito mostly sunny skies. high temperatures in the upper 70s to low 80s. average high is 72. 84 on wednesday, 83 on thursday. still near 80 on friday. cooler over the weekend with a chance for some rain on sunday and monday. by early next week, high it is 7:30 now on a tuesday morning. first day of october, 2013. welcome october and just a look at some of the beautiful sunrises sent in by our viewers. if you've got one to share use the #todaysunrise. i'm matt lauer with savannah guthrie, al roker and natalie morales. >> first government shuttown in 17 years is now happening. congress failed to agree on a bill to fund the federal government. >> the campus of the university of california berkeley had to be evacuated overnight after a power failure linked to the theft of a copper wire. 20 people were trapped in elevators during the initial outage. >> and obamacare begins today giving millions of americans a chance to sign up for health insurance coverage. >> coming up, we'll walk you through the five things you need to know and do as the next phase takes effect. >> and then oscar winner sandra bullock will be here. her new thriller set in space and we'll talk to her about it. >> we'll begin this half hour with the search for dozens of bikers who terrorized a family on a highway here in new york city. it's a startling case of road rage and it was all caught on tape. kristen, good morning. >> good morning. it all ended right here on this block. a group of motorcycle riders dragging a man from his suv and beating him in front of his wife and child. now police are asking for the public's help. overnight they released photos and they're asking you to take a closer look at this video that's now gone viral. >> reporter: the video was captured on a motorcyclist helmet cam and posted on youtube. police say what it shows is that group of bikers terrorizing a 33-year-old driver with his wife and 2-year-old daughter in the car. the motorcycles surround the black range rover. one of the bikers is bumped as they go out of frame. ray kelly says other bikers lashed out at the suv. >> he is surrounded by 20 to 30 bicycles or motorcycles i should say. they take their helmets and they start to dent his car and apparently his tires are slash there with a knife. >> the biker group is known to police. according to commissioner kelly they were in town for the hollywood stunts rally. a event that took over times square last year and had police on high alert this time. they received 200 complaints. lee an was one of those that called 911 in the moments before the bikers stopped in front of them. his suv surrounded and leann sped away running over a motorcycle. one of the bikers was struck breaking both of the motorcyclists legs. that sets off a wild high speed chase that lasts more than 50 blocks. they stop briefly. one of the bikers pulling open the door as she steps on the gas. the suv is forced to slow and then stop in traffic and that's when the bikers attack again. one using a helmet to smash the driver's window. another goes toward the backseat as the tape ends. but police say what is not shown is him being dragged out and beaten and his face cut within view of his wife and daughter before police arrived. now he was treated and released. he got stitches. i spoke with someone here for the motorcycle rally. he did admit it was anarchy and traffic laws were broken. there was a good samaritan that came in at the end and that group tracked the group to a nearby gas station. police are now looking at the surveillance video to try to get more information, savannah. >> all right, kristen, thank you so much. >> horrifying. >> i'm not sure anarchy and fun belong in the same sentence. if there were 200 come planlts they were out and causing trouble. >> police are continue to follow that. >> surveillance camera on the west side highway as well. so you know they'll be caught. >> let's get a check of the weather right now from mr. roker. >> announcer: today's weather is brought to you by white house black market. wear that works. >> and we're watching the tropics. there's an area right now, the national hurricane center gives a 50% chance of development right here and it's going to be making it's way through the yucatan and somewhere into the gulf. we'll watch what happens because we could be looking at something by friday effecting the gulf coast. october outlook is out. much above normal temperatures around the great lakes and above normal temperatures into the southwest. precipitation-wise, dry in the rockies. the western third of the country above normal temperatures, same in the northeast and then as we move into precipitation most of the country looking normal and mountain >> good morning. we're off to a quiet start on this tuesday. we will wind up in the low 80's this afternoon. any time you need your weather, make sure you check out the weather channel on cable or weather.com online 24/7, guys. >> thank you so much. the affordable care act goes into effect today. coming up next, we'll answer some common questions such as will you be charged more if you have a pre-existing condition? five things you need to know as the next phase of the law takes effect. >> at 7:48 get ready to be jealous. we will introduce you to the woman that quit her job in a rather spectacular fashion. but first, these messages. la's known definitely for its traffic, congestion, for the smog. but there are a lot people that do ride the bus. and now that the buses are running on natural gas, they don't throw out as much pollution into the air. so i feel good. i feel like i'm doing my part to help out the environment. the perfect form pant. it keeps its shape, flatters yours, and behaves in the wash. wear what works. the perfect form pant. only from white house -- black market. and then a 3:15 with my guilt. [ female announcer ] special k cracker chips. 27 crispy chips. 110 delicious calories. same time tomorrow? [ female announcer ] find them in the cracker aisle. ♪ ♪ i see you made yourself breakfast. how'd you know? ♪ ♪ dry hair needs a daily dose of effective moisture. new dove daily moisture with our most effective conditioner ever. it gives you up to 5 times smoother hair in one wash. new dove daily moisture. it gives you up to 5 times smoother hair in one wash. if yand you're talking toevere rheuyour rheumatologistike me, about trying or adding a biologic. this is humira, adalimumab. this is humira working to help relieve my pain. this is humira helping me through the twists and turns. this is humira helping to protect my joints from further damage. doctors have been prescribing humira for over ten years. humira works by targeting and helping to block a specific source of inflammation that contributes to ra symptoms. for many adults, humira is proven to help relieve pain and stop further joint damage. humira can lower your ability to fight infections, including tuberculosis. serious, sometimes fatal events, such as infections, lymphoma, or other types of cancer, have happened. blood, liver and nervous system problems, serious allergic reactions, and new or worsening heart failure have occurred. before starting humira , your doctor should test you for tb. ask your doctor if you live in or have been to a region where certain fungal infections are common. tell your doctor if you have had tb, hepatitis b, are prone to infections, or have symptoms such as fever, fatigue, cough, or sores. you should not start humira if you have any kind of infection. ask your doctor if humira can work for you. this is humira at work. ghirardelli squares chocolate... ♪ a little rendezvous savor our luscious filling combined with our slow melting chocolate. ♪ that little reward for all the things you do. ♪ only from ghirardelli. nothing wrong with taupe.l. but nope. let's open up a can of this. and match this. let's validate, navigate, and then, let's get after it. paint, no. let's do... pow. let's do this. more saving. more doing. that's the power of the home depot. behr ultra. starting at just $31.98 a gallon. we are back now at 7:40. as we have been reporting, major portions of the affordable healthcare law kick in today and a lot of people have questions. all this week across the platforms of nbc news we'll help you sort through the information with a special series called ready or not. dr. nancy snyderman is the medical editor and jean chatzky. but who has to buy into these exchanges. >> if you get your healthcare through your employer you don't have to borrow about it. if you buy it individually you want to shop on the exchanges because it's the only way to tax into tax breaks and if you don't have healthcare for you at all this is for you. >> if you're on cobra right now you'll find out it's cheaper to be on these exchanges. >> how long do i have? >> registration starts today. it goes through may of next year but signing up this fall is smart because the benefits kick in january 1st of 2014. >> you have to sign up by december 15th to get those benefits. >> let's talk about the classes of coverage. we have bronze, silver, gold and platinum. what's the big difference in the exchanges? >> the big difference is with the cheaper ones, the bronze and the silver plans you pay less up front but you pay more out of pocket in the back. when you go platinum you're going to pay more up front and less on the back end. >> okay. >> we have been hearing a lot about penalties. how do they bill me and penalize me if i don't sign up? >> $95 is the penalty this year. it can go up to $240 for a family. they'll get you when you file your 2014 taxes. >> incrementally it's going to go up every year. for a lot of young people that have to come into this to make it an economically viable model, i hope a lot of young people are going to say why waste $95 and get nothing versus $150 of insurance. >> that makes sense. >> exactly. >> let's talk about one of the big criticisms of existing health insurance. if you have a pre-existing condition you either get shut out and it's hard to buy insurance or you pay exorbitant fees. what happens under the new plans? >> the pre-existing conditions will be covered. there will be no more lifetime caps on coverage which is another big issue and you won't pay more. >> does it make it illegal for a company to try to charge you more if you have a pre-existing condition. >> you cannot do it. >> absolutely. >> so women have been paid more for healthcare than men. illegal. we have been denied healthcare for pre-existing conditions, illegal. mental healthcare coverage now covered and you can keep your children on your insurance until the age of 26. i should say these thing versus been in place since the law into place. >> what about another hot topic. that's preventive care. does this plan help you avoid those conditions by getting preventive care? >> it covers preventive care even at the bronze level. that's not something you'll have to come out of pocket for. >> what's the down side here? >> well, the down side is going to be will i be paying more for what i have in the past? and the middle class is sort of saying i don't understand where the numbers are going to come. will i maybe have 4 to $6,000 out of pocket and even they have said yes, you may which means you have to go shopping. everybody should be on the computer looking at these exchanges. >> what we have been saying for years is that bankruptcies, more bankruptcies are caused by health emergencies than any other factor. you get in there, you might have $6,000 out of pocket but it's not going to break you. >> yeah. >> i think i said march, it's may of next spring. but between october and december do your homework. this is the magic window. >> all right. thanks ladies. still ahead, are you tired of getting annoying automatic phone calls? the new way to block them once in for all. carson is in the orange room with a woman that used an unforgettable video to quit her job. but first, these messages. 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[ female announcer ] with nice 'n easy, get the most natural shade of you. and better is so easy withrning you cabenefiber.o something better for yourself. fiber that's taste-free, grit-free and dissolves completely. so you can feel free to add it to anything. and feel better about doing it. better it with benefiber. we're back at 7:49. carson is back at his post. >> you're handsome. >> thank you very much. say it again. >> you're handsome. >> appreciate that. if you're on your way to work and you're not happy with your job, you probably fantasized about quitting in style. that's what she did. she works at a video company and went in at 4:30 in the morning to make a video of herself quitting to a kanye west song. [ music playing ] a little dance break there. there she is. what do you guys think? that's going down in style. she makes her own video to say so long boss. i'll see you next time. >> do you think that's going to make it easier or harder to find her next job. >> she's a producer of viral videos and that video has gone viral. >> she may get the interviews but certainly i think a lot of employers will be thinking attitude and maybe a little attitude. >> that might be a good one to ask our viewers. >> yeah, we should. i would like to know how people if they were going to go out in style what they would do. her boss, despite her quitting just volunteered to pay her for the month of october. so he's a good sport. >> they are nice. she has a future in dancing if nothing else. she's got some moves. you know i know good dancing. >> yeah. carson, thank you. >> thanks guys. >> also ahead on trending, the one thing every patient needs to ask their doctor and some nurses as well. all right. then at 8:18 could it be her most grueling role ever? sandra bullock is here and will open up about her new movie called gravity. you have to hold on to your seats for this one. >> and get ready to put your judgment to the test. >> first ♪ i'm watching you. ♪ i'm watching you. ♪ you're knocking me out tonight. ♪ ♪ tonight. ♪ oooooooo. ♪ [ laughs ] [ smooch ] [ male announcer ] french the rainbow! taste the rainbow! ♪ ♪ ♪ [ male announcer ] build anything with the new toyota tundra. toyota. let's go places. tough on grease yet gentle. dawn helps open something even bigger. [ all ] 3, 2, 1! this year, dawn is also donating $1 million. learn more at dawnsaveswildlife.com. this year, dawn is also donating $1 million. milk wins!!! ding! protein. on the go. got protein. behaves like the surface of your skin. now watch what soap does to it. ♪ soap strips your skin. dove is different. with 1/4 moisturizing cream, dove doesn't strip your skin like soap. it's not a candy bar. 130 calories 7 grams of protein the fiber one caramel nut protein bar. ♪ i'm watching you. ♪ you're knocking me out tonight. ♪ ♪ tonight. ♪ oooooooo. ♪ as your life changes, fidelity is there for your personal economy, helping you readjust along the way, refocus as careers change and kids head off to college, and revisit your investments as retirement gets closer. wherever you are today, fidelity's guidance can help you fine-tune your personal economy. start today with a free one-on-one review of your retirement plan. >> this is wbal-tv 11 news today in baltimore. >> time for a check of the morning commute. here is sarah caldwell. >> getting word of an accident on eastbound 175. piecuch caton avenue, crash clearing from the scene there. joppa road in trumbull road, vehicle fire. another problem of note, route seven and philadelphia road shut down a jones road to to down wires. eastern avenue and kane street, accident to avoid. another problem at orleans street caroline street. }) heavyin break, 2 traffic from 95 towards the towson region. 21 minutes on the west side from 795 down. sonic there as well. that is playing a role in the delays this morning. this is what it looks like at harford road. that backup stretches to 95. heavy traffic in both directions on the northwest corner of the beltway. tony, over to you. >> a few high, thin clouds to start the day. the weather pattern is not going to change much over the next few days. the winds will shift to the west. it will be another warm day today. light jacket to start the day. by the afternoon we will make it into the low 80s. 54 at the top of the hour in rising sun. but with a mostly sunny skies. warmer than yesterday. high temperatures in the upper 70s and low 80s. it will get warmer tomorrow. 84 on wednesday. 83 on thursday. your 80 on friday. -- near 80 on friday. the chance for rain goes up and th it's 8:00 on today, coming up, a massive government sh shutdown. how will it impact your lives? plus the one question patients should ask their doctor. >> plus sandra bullock talks gravity, g-forces and george clooney. >> i'm from the south and i'm from the north. >> we love you. >> hi memphis, tennessee. >> good morning. >> we want to say hi to our five granddaughters. >> hi, granddaughters. >> good morning, everyone. welcome back to "today" on a bright cheerily tuesday morning. i'm savannah guthrie along side matt lauer, al roker, and carson daly. i have to say we have more exciting people in our crowd. >> yes. >> orlando bloom and ian are here with the new trailer for the next hobbit movie. >> that's going to be huge. >> oh yeah. >> oh man. >> what was it over a billion. >> 1.1 -- >> okay, you're calling me a liar for .1 billion? i'm just kidding. also a reminder, next month we have miley cyrus on the show. she is going to perform outside for us and she'll sit down and talk about some of the controversy that seems to have formed around her in the past months. so we'll talk to miley cyrus as she performs live on the plaza. that's monday here on today. >> you may be wondering about our surroundings here. this is for a series called fact or fiction. are you a good consumer of the information you see on the internet or television. can you tell when something is a hoax? we have seen a lot of internet hoaxes. later on this morning we'll start this thing where we do a real story and fake story and carson will help us figure out if we can tell the difference. >> it's cool. it's fun. matt is going to start today. you have two stories. >> which one is the real one? >> i can't tell you. >> let's get a check of the weather forecast from mr. roker. >> first, gnnatalie with the re news. >> americans are beginning to feel the impact of the government shutdown that began overnight. congress failed to pass the spending bill because of a dispute over obamacare. peter alexander is outside one washington attraction that's now closed. peter, good morning. >> good morning to you. you said it, we're outside the national air and space museum. here's what happens. the doors are closed. closed today due to the government shutdown. we apologize for the inconvenience. how did we get here? congress is bitterly divided stuck in a stalemate with republicans looking for ways to delay the implementation of the president's healthcare law. 800,000 federal workers furloughed. national parks and museums closed. services suspended from small business loans to payments for low income women and children and veterans could see their benefits effected. you have to pay your taxes but your tax refunds could be delayed and consider the plight of the 24 couples that made plans to get married here on the national mall, at the lincoln memorial and some of the other monuments over the course of this month. the national park service says even though they made the plans and got their permits one year out, if the government is shutdown, those events will be cancelled. >> a lot of disappointed people around there. peter alexander, thank you so much. although house republicans insist that spending can be linked to a change or delay in obamacare, the president said monday he will not trade healthcare reform for a budget. house speaker john boehner says the best path forward is for both chambers of congress to convene a committee for their differences. >> it's time for the senate to listen to the american people just like the house has listened to the american people and pass a one year delay of obamacare and a permanent repeal of the medical device tax. >> and house speaker john boehner says the best path forward is for both chambers of commerce to convene a committee to resolve their differences. >> in a frank interview, pope francis says too many leaders of the catholic church let themselves be sickeningly flattered by aids. he called the vatican court the lepracy and said he considered turning down the nomination. his comments came as he prepared to meet with cardinals to discuss vatican reform. a 13-year-old girl was the only survivor of a rock slide that killed 5 hikers monday in central colorado. rescuers say the girl's father sacrificed his own life by using his body to shield his daughter. efforts are underway to recover the bodies of the victims. an explosion and power outage forced a campus evacuation. it took place at an underground electrical vault where they were fixing damage caused by the theft of copper wire. one person was hospitalized for burns and fire crews had to rescue 20 people trapped in a elevator. >> lolo jones is bulking up for winter. the winter olympics. he is vying for a spot on the american bobsled team and she packed on 27 pounds of muscle since running in london last year. she is reportedly eating about 9,000 calories a day with a diet that includes, get this, four double bacon cheeseburgers. and she wants to add a few more, apparently, to give her enough power to push a 400 pound sled. she still looks good, though. 8:06. let's go back outside to matt, savannah, and carson, guys. >> thank you so much. >> now, let's get the forecast from al. >> what a great idea. glad i thought of it. twins celebrating your birthday. >> yes. >> what's your names. >> katina. >> jen. >> where are you from? >> tampa florida. >> happy birthday. >> thank you. >> good to see you guys. seeing double. pick city of the day, orlando, florida. we're seeing beautiful, universal -- of course universal theme park. the greatest theme park in the country. thursday, a threat of storms. 86 degrees. as you look, you can see we've got a gorgeous mid-section of the country. show you -- right now let's go to our earth cam and new orleans, louisiana. gorgeous day there. no problems. we're looking at more showers and thunderstorms later today. plenty of wet weather in the pacific northwest. sunny skies. gorgeous weather here in the northeast. windy conditions here in the plains. >> good morning.rees today ineg this warm and dry weather pattern will continue through the end of the week. a mix of clouds and and that's your latest weather. >> thanks so much. coming up next, is the debbie downer at your job -- and we've all got one -- bringing down the entire office? >> then at 8:16, we've got oscar winner sandra bullock in the studio. she will be talking about her brand new movie gravity. it is a good one. >> and at 8:31, the man that just became the first-person to drive 3 million miles in the same car. there it is. more on that. but first, these messages. 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[ female announcer ] special k cracker chips. 27 crispy chips. 110 delicious calories. same time tomorrow? [ female announcer ] find them in the cracker aisle. ♪ the instantly slimming dress. it shapes you up and shows you off in an instant. wear what works. the instantly slimming dress. only from white house -- black market. so ally bank really has no hidden fno hidden fees.accounts? it's just that i'm worried about you know "hidden things." ok, why's that? well uhhh... hey daddy, what's your job? daddy's a uhh florist. are you really a florist? dad, why are there shovels in the trunk? there's no shovels in my trunk. i see shovels... you don't see no shovels. just am. well, it's true. at ally there are no hidden fees. not one. that's nice. no hidden fees, no worries. ally bank. your money needs an ally. we are back at 8:11. savannah had to run off and do a shoot we'll see thursday. we may finally be able to eat in peace. that's because of a new website that promises to block those annoying and often illegal robocall. the site is called nomorobo. >> love it. >> it's free to sign up and the service aims to hang up on robocall before they invade your home. >> signing upright now. >> i like saying it. >> nomorobo. >> can't forget that one. >> we'll put it on the website. >> trending at the wall street journal, a simple but provocative question and one you probably don't think you need to ask but have you washed your hands? hospitals are urging patients to ask their doctors and nurses because strict hand washing is the best way to reduce infection but hospital staff only follow the rules about 50% of the time. >> you're the patient and you have to ask the doctor. >> did you clean up? did you scrub up today? >> al stands outside the men's room at nbc and says did you wash your hands. >> it's crazy you're in a hospital. germs, people are sick. doctors and nurses are only washing their hands 50% of the time. that's not good. >> all right. he's going to be breaking out in a sweat over that one. >> trending on twitter, is this the best gift you'll ever give somebody that just had a baby. j. crew launching a baby line. among the adorable dresses, bibs and shoes, a onsie costing 178 dolla. it's perfect for babies with sensitive skin or pocketbooks but you can also get a cotton one for $25. >> government shutdown, that's the money you're spending for a onsie? trending on google. do you know someone like this. >> oh, hey. >> hey, pluto, hi. must be fun to work here. although the biggest job after working in a theme park is that you must live under constant fear of deadly terrorist attacks. >> that is rachel playing the famous debbie downer character on snl but a lot of us actually know someone like that and it's having an effect on our work. a new study finds that negativity tops gossip, laziness and passive-aggressiveness as the worst in a coworker. 50% say they confront their coworker. >> i'll be the one that's annoying and smiling in their face hoping that turns it around. >> she's a happy person. >> that gets on your nerves. >> exactly. that's the idea. >> all right. that is what is trending today. let's move on to a movie that has a lot of people talking. the new thriller is called gravity. sandra bullock plays an astronaut stranded in space. some are already calling this a game changer. take a look. i'm detached. >> grab ahold. hey, sandra, welcome back. >> thank you. >> this is not my first movie. >> really? >> i went to the screening yesterday and i sat there thinking how did they do this. >> yeah. >> you were weightless through the entire movie, basically. you're floating. there are objects floating not just past you -- i can understand how the computer could do that but then they're bumping into you and then spinning -- how did they do this? >> many, many different ways. we had the light box. we had hanging from wire riggs. we had a tank where you were submerged about 20 feet. >> this light box, nine by nine feet. you spent huge amounts of time in there. talk about how it works. >> you are clamped in from the waste down. there were led lights all around you. there was a whole camera on an arm that used to make the cars for detroit that would come hurling at you and you in slow motion did the upper half of your body. >> was this ridiculously time consuming to shoot? >> yes and no. ridiculously time consuming in the best way in that you have to adhere to all the things they needed you to do. start in a certain place and end in a certain place so it would cut together. >> several things jumped out at me. first of all, you're in every frame of this movie basically but not only are you in it but often times you're alone. you're acting opposite nothing and the camera is right there on your face. how tough was that? >> it kind of reminds me of being at home, you know. >> no one to talk to. >> at home, just a camera, act out things. you know, it was -- it was lonely but every time i say that i say it was the perfect set up for feeling lonely, feeling lost. feeling frustrated because it was such an unnatural experience. you had nothing you were used to. in the end once you started using it instead of fighting it all the time it made it what it was. >> also with your breathing. can we talk about your breathing in this movie. give me a sample. >> no, because i prefer not to pass out. it was a series of hyperventilation moments because you had to get to a certain level and because we shot a lot of things out of sequence i would start listening back to what we shot before and get the breath to that place so it was authentic. >> see i closed my eyes a couple of times in the theater and i kept imagining we were in a lamase class. >> i did give birth twice. >> twice during the movie? >> yes. >> congratulations. >> thank you. >> oh, you took off the glasses. this is big. >> by the way, the 3-d glasses were fantastic. i don't want to sound lecherous here. >> that's hard for you. try it. >> because you know me. you are in incredible shape in this movie. >> that's all cgi. it is. >> i don't think so. >> yeah. >> i don't think so. you must have worked out like crazy. we did. it was definitely a group effort. two great australian trainers that had the system down. they were dancers and they knew what i needed to do to get in shape so i wouldn't get hurt so i could do the wire work and everything they needed me to do. so i wanted her to look a certain way. it was just every day. but nice job to have. >> not bad and just explain to me why this was so scary for you. the quote that's going around here is it was scary for you on every level to shoot this, why? >> because i had no idea how to do it. >> after all the movies you made. >> no one in that room making this movie had any idea of what each day would be and if it would work. i had no one to help me that was a human being except when george was there. >> george clooney. i don't know if we mentioned that yet. >> george clooney and even then they were separated a lot and only had each others voices. it took you out of your comfort zone. >> i don't think you have to be a fan of outer space and space exploration to love this movie. as a kid i remember being at summer camp and watching man land on the moon, 1969. you were. >> 4. >> i was 12. when the apollo missions would go my dad had a contact at nasa and he would get me the medals for all the missions. >> you had a good dad. are they gold? >> they're gold but don't walk away with them. this was right up my alley. >> these are amazing. it plays into these fantasies we've all had about space. not the future but futuristic things that are completely unfamiliar and the director puts such an emotional story to it. so it's not just sci-fi. it is a sci-fi that just has a really strong emotional story to it. >> speaking of emotional stories, i watched you the other day, congratulations you were immortalized in the hollywood walk of fame. was it a thrill? >> it was a thrill because my son was there. i always wave these things off and i go it's no big deal and you try not to make a lot out of it but having him there made -- he's made everything sweet. >> but it surprised me because you have been very private. you don't put him in situations where there's going to be a lot of cameras and there was a situation where there was going to be a thousand cameras. >> it was a really conscious decision. we had one made for him at home. whoen he came home he did his own hand and footprint and wrote his name and we're going to put it at the front of the house. this is something that later on when he hates me and i'm an embarrassment i'll say let me show you what we did when you were younger and how much you liked me at that time. he was okay with being there. >> it seemed to me a few years ago you went into a vault. after a tough time in your life. are you coming out of that? >> oh, totally. >> a little better to talk about things. he looks adorable. >> he is. he's delicious. >> and this movie grabbed me by the throat. you're fantastic. good to see you as always. >> thank you. >> gravity opens on friday. let's go to natalie. >> all right. thank you, matt. well, from science fiction to fantasy, this is a big day for fans of the hobbit film. >> that's right. the new trailer. two of the cars are with us now. good morning to both of you guys. >> good morning. >> orlando, last time we saw you, ten years ago, lord of the rings and you're stepping back in character. what was that like? >> it was a joy, actually. i had such a wonderful time playing the character to begin with and to have had the call to come back and get to wear the blonde wig and pointy ears was wonderful. he's a great fun character. he's the action elf. >> it doesn't seem ten years older does he. >> no. >> spry and young as ever. >> he has been telling us during this interview to touch the scarf. >> yes. >> i wore it in the movie. i wasn't allowed to do any magic with it. >> what is it about this movie. the first installment came out last year. 1.1 billion. at the end of the day for movie goers why do they strike such a cord? >> the hobbit movie is based on the book that's been a best seller for 50 years. it's one of the greatest stories ever written and peter magic has turned it into three films and very true to the book and very true to the spirit of lord of the rings. that's what people will see this in this movie. lots of action. legolis is back and gandolf has a bit of a go. >> let's not keep the fans waiting any longer. let's look at the newest trailer for the hobbit. here it is. >> it will not end here. with every victory. >> he's grown very fond of you. do not give him hope where there is none. >> you had no right to go into that mountain. >> we've been blind. in your blindness our enemy has turned. >> i found something. >> what did you find. >> my courage. >> good, you'll need it. >> all right. >> there we go. >> talking low, i like that. >> i had a beard on. >> yeah. >> and a wig. >> yeah. >> a pointy hat. you got the pointy hat. you had pointy ears. i had pointy hat. >> how is the tone from the second different? >> action packed. >> well, the thing is we made these three hobbit movies at the same time. so we don't know where one begins and where one ends. >> it must be confusing. >> it's really a bit of a treat because you shoot the movie and you go this could be kind of great. you have these moments i was hanging upside down with wires on a green screen and spent hours stabbing at things in the air and you say this is going to look great at the movie and you say it looks better than i thought. with peter jackson. that's the good news. with peter these movies work so well for him because he takes the story from his brain, this crazy imaginative brain he has. >> he has a fabulous cast of actors. too long to mention but lead by martin freeman that plays bilbo. stupendous actors and that's going to lift this movie up and peter told me this was his favorite of all the movies he made so far. >> can't wait. >> orlando, ian, thank you. >> good to have you guys here. >> nice to see you. >> straight >> this is the wbal tv 11 news in baltimore. >> good morning. i am mindy basara. here is sarah caldwell. >> still trying to wrap the rush-hour up. will start on southbound 95, the one having the biggest impact. before the fort mchenry, down to 11 miles per hour. this is a live look at it. it is impacting traffic. coming towards us is southbound traffic. left wing closed, maybe more than that right now. fayette street, we have a crash. at 29 and st. john's lane. route one,75 and tracking a crash. philadelphia road shutdown. orleans street, watch for a modern main break -- what -- watch for a water main break. 28 minutes on the outer loop. 21 on the west side outer loop. as you travel here on the northwest corner, this is what it looks like to delays in both directions on the northwest corner. over to you, tony. >> weather is nice and quiet. a few high, thin clouds this morning. plenty of sunshine during the day. temperatures are getting a little bit warmer. started out in the low to mid 50s. unseasonably mild. partly to mostly sunny. high temperatures in the upper 70s and low 80s. all most 10 degrees below average this time of year. at thursday. it will cool down over the weekend. chance for rain will go up by sunday. back with another updated 8:56. we're back now. it's 8:30 on a tuesday morning, the first day of october 2013. the weather says late summer we're going up to 80 degrees today. that's nice news for the crowd gathered in rockefeller plaza. nice to have them here. i'm matt lauer with natalie morales, carson daly, and al roker. savannah had to take off for a shoot a little early this morning. >> we're straight ahead putting ourselves, our audience and you to the test in a game we like to call fact or fiction. >> that's right. sean hayes is going to join us for that too. we're constantly bombarded by information on television or online and it's hard to tell what's real anymore. >> sean is real. >> there's sean. he's going to help us out. one story is legit and one is bogus and you at home and those of you in the plaza are going to help us. >> speaking of information we have been bombarded with we're talking about the government shuttown took pla shutdown took place at midnight. you asked people to share their thoughts. >> number one trending topic. >> keep them coming. >> #dearcongress. >> also, eat pray love with a run away seller and hit movie and now she is out with her first novel in 13 years. it's a beautifully written story. >> we have a lot to get to but can we say hello to herb gordon. he was the first-person ever to drive one car 3 million miles. nice to see you. >> you too. >> you were here in 2002. you had written this volvo 2 million miles. tell me about every one of the last million. how did it go? >> went along just fine. >> how does it feel to break that milestone? >> pardon me? >> how did it feel to break that milestone? just terrific. i'm getting used to it. it's the third time around. >> you have been all over the country, 49 states. >> 49 states. >> just haven't been to hawaii. >> countries in europe. >> exactly. so this car has a lot of soul for you. >> a lot of memories. it's been terrific. >> how do you keep a car running at 3 million miles? >> well, you buy a quality car to begin with and then quality owners manual. people that wrote the book and the people that built the car. >> how many engines? >> same engine that came with the car. >> how much for it right now. >> take it home today. >> 4 million miles. >> congratulations. >> 1966 volvo. beautiful car. >> very cool. mr. roker. >> let's see if you got nice driving weather for you. starting off with today, gorgeous weather up and down the east coast. rain through the lower gulf. rain in the pacific northwest. nice and toasty in the southwest. tomorrow, more gorgeous weather up and down the east coast. a few hit or miss showers with thunderstorms down through southern florida. more rain, cooler weather through the pacific northwest. sunny and hot from texas into the southwest. >> good morning. we're off to a quiet start on this tuesday. we will wind up in the low 80's this afternoon. >> did you know you can get your weather any time you need it on the weather channel or weather.com online? did you know that? very good. is that fact or fiction? matt. >> all right. al, thank you very much. you like that? sean hayes won an emmy for his role as jack mcfarland. >> you take it. >> on will and grace and now he's back with sean saves the world while raising his teenage daughter. sot. >> sot. >> i just got a new and very weird boss. there are all sorts of things we could be exploring together. sharing our feelings about. oh, there it is. >> okay. there is something i want to know. >> great. is it how i'm coping with my new boss. >> if you're gay then how did you and mom have sex? >> what was that? >> hey, sean, welcome back. how are you. >> what happened to katie? >> katie? >> it's been awhile since you've been here. >> how many years. >> when was the last time you were here, 7 years ago? >> look at you with the hard hitting questions. yes, seven years ago. >> will and grace has been off the air seven years. i'm sure you had people say do a sitcom for us. why now? >> i had a lot of friends and fans say when are you coming back to tv and i thought what an opportunity to make those four people happy. but why now because i just waited for the right thing and the right time and, you know, you have to go away long enough for people to miss you. if you just did show after show after show it would get annoying. not you. you do it every day and people can't get enough of matthew lauer. >> will and grace -- wait one second, i have sandra bullocks questions and i would like the same questions. >> your body looked amazing in what i saw. seriously, when you took the astronaut suit off. >> yeah. >> and you were just in the underwear, it's unreal. >> you have that on repeat. me in my underwear. >> you worry people are always going to compare this sitcom to what you did on will and grace? >> well, i don't live my life worrying about it but certainly it's been discussed but i mean, you're always going to get compared to the last thing you did and you're only as good as the last job you did. but i know, who knows, this is completely different. it's a completely different character. >> he's also gay. >> yeah. >> but you call this series post-gay. >> yeah. because it's the fifth most interesting thing about the character. just like it always should be. it's not about your sexual orientation or the color of your skin or whatever. there's many aspects to the character. it's a more grounded real person than the other character in will and grace. >> we're happy to have you back. >> it would be great if you came on like you did in will and grace. >> one of my favorite moments. >> that's great. it would be crazy if we have a clip right now. >> no, we can do that at another -- >> oh, wait, what -- >> that was the live show. >> that was one of your live shows. >> look at that. >> by the way, where in the world are matt lauers -- >> anyway. >> welcome back to nbc and in new sitcom. good to have you here. >> thank you, pleasure. >> you can catch the series premiere of sean saves the world this thursday at 9:00, 8:00 central on nbc. sean is sticking around because we're going to play fact or fiction. >> i didn't have a choice. >> no, you did but you made the wrong choice. how smart are you at deciding if how smart are you at deciding if ♪ it's a new day health coverage gives us piece of mind. it means i can get the healthcare i need. narrator: shop, compare, and select your health coverage at marylandhealthconnection.gov from october through march and you'll choose from more than 80 medical and dental plans, or find out if you now qualify for medicaid. ♪ gotta have it, gonna get it ♪ ♪ at maryandhealthconnection.gov. ♪ narrator: visit marylandhealthconnection.gov or call 1-855-642-8572. in this digital age with the constant flood of information it can be hard to know what's real and what's not. we're taking part in a challenge with our studio audience and all of you at home in a game -- everybody say it with me -- called -- >> fact or fiction. >> well done everybody. here's how it goes down. each day this week one of our anchors will bring you two stories. one is a true story and the other is total fiction. everybody here, of course all of you at home will try and figure out which one you think is fake. we have al roker, sean hayes. natalie morales. matt is here first to present two stories. matt, give us your first story and if matt appears in the video tape you're about to see that doesn't necessarily mean that story is real. >> that's a good point. you have to watch these stories carefully. grocho marks never wanted to be a part of a club that would have him as a member. well, after hanging out with two guys from upstate new york, i know exactly what he meant. the iron man competition takes grit, stamina and the will of a champion but a new sport heating up in america makes the iron man look like child's play. >> it's an extreme sport. there's risks to it. >> forget the ironman, this is extreme ironing. anyone can go hiking but not anyone can go through and actually hike and then iron. it's very unique. >> iron is heavy. so you want to make sure it's not going to come up and hit you. >> founded in england in 1992, attorney mike kelsey formed the sports first american chapter. the goal, iron in extreme places. they even hold try outs. >> we prefer that the people realize themselves that this is not for them rather than us. usually it's clear. >> a bunch of people with irons and ironing boards. >> always game for a new challenge, i accompanying the ironers on an outing in new york central park and try to keep an open mind. >> the idea that this is a sport. >> it's a sport and art and a fine line between the two. >> but somehow within minutes i'm speaking their language. >> you're short on time. you can always put a sports jacket over the rest of the shirt. >> and the cuffs. >> the collar first and then the cuffs. >> the board balance is important. >> i quickly master my first solo attempt and dominate syncoironing. >> do you get severely burned? >> a couple of close calls. >> and realize why they wear all that head gear. >> careful. careful. >> oh. >> don't worry. i got a helmet. >> as the day unfolds it becomes clear that my new friends have big plans for their pressed shirts. >> you can see any one of the current olympic sports with an iron in the hand but right now we have to focus more on the county fairs. >> are you going to try this again after today. >> yes, as soon as you guys leave i'll be back at this. >> all right. there's extreme ironing. the first of two stories matt brings us today on fact or fiction. quick thoughts from our contestants. al, give me a thought. >> i noticed that matt didn't like to do pleats. >> sean. >> two quick things, one is that was -- this is a long very game show. the second thing is i know matt and that seems like a long thing to do just for a bit. >> so could be real is what you're saying. >> all right. >> the irons weren't plugged in. it's not very effective. >> oh, attention to detail. >> details, details. >> matt. story number two. >> here we go. it's about a man that found true inspiration after his world was turned upside down. take a look. >> this actually has diamonds on it. >> beautiful idea. >> most busy executives don't have time to just hang around. >> beautiful. >> but at new york's upstart academy being bottoms up tops the agenda. >> it took two months to get the team in but our board room brainstorming was going nowhere. >> called inverted yoga the practice was the brain child of the psychologist turned yogi. >> i founded my own practice but did my best thinking when i was inverted. >> now his upstart academy is taking corporate america by storm giving dozens of companies new perspective on their business. >> teams here come up with everything from deli meats to smartphone data plans. >> he runs the most buttoned up studio on the planet but it's by design. >> they associate the suit with big ideas and take that back to the office with them. >> barbara heads up marketing for the credit card division of her bank. >> there are hundreds of cards out there and we have to differentiate ourselves. >> exhale through the nose. >> my feet are starting to tingle. >> these corporate acrobats spend the day inverted though they are allowed short breaks every six minutes. he guides them through. >> well, they're upside down but the logic is right side up. >> there's science to back it up. according to a 1996 study researchers at johns hopkins found that subjects with spinal pain treated with inversion therapy were more adept at problem solving than their upright counter parts. >> a lot of people get a huge kick out of it. >> how long is this class? >> it's a whole new way to innovate as long as they can find their way back up again. >> that is a story of upstart academy. or extreme ironing. your two choices. one is fact. one is fiction. again, thoughts, al. >> well, you know what, i have seen the upside down stuff and it was a study. so it must be true. >> sean. >> yeah, i'm going to -- i saw questionable acting in that. >> you're not sure. >> i have done inversion yoga myself so i think that's true. >> okay. we'll give you guys a second to think about it. >> everyone in the audience hold up the sign of the story you thought was fiction. the one you think is fiction. the one you do not believe. >> a lot of people changing their minds. people don't think the extreme ironing is a real story. we'll see and if you're at home right now we want you to weigh in as well. you can log on and vote today.com, tweet us #extremeironing or upstartacademy. the one you think is fiction. we'll find out how our contestants voted right after this. but first, this is "today" on nbc. all right. back now with the results of fact or fiction, the game where we have to spot the fake story. is it either extreme ironing, the wackiest of hobbies or the other. 70% thinks extreme ironing is the fiction story. 30% think it's the upstart academy. let's go down the line. al, extreme ironing. >> upstart academy, sean. >> that's the fake one. >> and nat, you're saying the ironing. all right, matt. >> just a reminder, most of the people here thought extreme ironing was fake. >> al said but the upstart academy there was a study. there was a study from johns hopkins university. we put the picture of johns hopkins upright on the screen. there was a picture of the university with a palm tree. john hopkins is located in maryland. there are no palm trees. it was a marketing director who talked about it. her name was eslaf spelled backward. the false story was the upstart academy. extreme ironing is real. it is a real thing. it happens. >> that's unbelievable. >> unbelievable. >> order in the game show. >> come on. >> and the yoga thing. >> man, you should do this in hollywood at somebody's house. >> we're going to have two more stories tomorrow. >> what? >> can you come back sean? >> we should mention the end of the week the host with the most points gets $5,000 for his or her favorite charity. sean, way to go. you're the leader so far. >> up next, the woman behind the book eat, pray, love releases her first novel in more than a decade. what took her so long? she is back with eat, pray, love that was made into a hit movie in 2010. well, now, gilbert is out with her first novel in 13 years. it's called the signature of all things. elizabeth gilbert, good to have you back. >> thank you. thanks for having me back. >> first novel in 13 years. were you nervous about diving into this? there's a lot of research that went into this book. >> it's a big book. i wanted to write the novel i love to read. a big sweeping multigeneration epic that takes place with many family members involved. so i did a ton of research on 19th century to write the book. it was fun. i'm a geek. so i geeked out on that. >> you could see the geekiness in the description of the mosque. >> my character is a bold independentexplorer. so i did learn a lot about it and as a passionate gardener it was exciting to dive into that. >> you called what happened after eat, pray, love a tsunami. does that intimidate you? the reaction you'll get with the book? because it is different for you? >> yeah, in some ways it's the same. it's a woman's story and asks what is her purpose, how do we find our journey in life? how do we answer our prayers through travel. but it's a novel so it's different so the hardest thing for me was to write the book that came after eat, pray, love, committed but once i broke the smell with that i felt really expansive and free and i thought i want to go back to where i started off as a writer, writing big imaginative fiction. >> you still tackle love, marriage, relationships. she gets divorced and sets off on these world travels looking for samples of moss. >> yeah and answers about her own personal life as well. >> how do you feel. >> how do you feel about the institution of marriage. >> i like my marriage but famously i'm married to a man who says a woman's place is in the kitchen with her feet up and glass of wine in the kitchen watching her husband cook dinner. >> is that who you are. >> i'm the one with my feet up and glass of wine watching my husband cook dinner. we have a very different relationship. he's a great champion of me. it's wonderful. it's rare to this day that women have somebody behind them that says you go back in the world and make a name for yourself and i'll be home supporting you. that's the relationship we have. it's been wonderful. >> how do you think this book is going to be received after all the tsunami of eat, pray, love? >> i don't know how it will be received but i know how it is offered. it comes from my heart for my readers. i wrote it for them with a lot of love. >> it's beautifully written. it's a gorgeous epic. thank you very much. elizabeth gilbert. it's called signature of all things. we're back with much more on this tue >> this is wbal tv 11 news in baltimore. >> good morning. i am mindy basara. there may be a government shutdown but the affordable health care act is in place. 400,000 marylanders eligible to participate can begin signing up for coverage. benefits begin january 1. health officials say that things could get tricky if the shutdown could get tricky if the shutdown continues oh, please don't call me "pumpkin." no, white chocolate and pumpkin. oh! pumpkin. ha-ha! pumpkin is back at dunkin' donuts. hurry in for delicious pumpkin coffees and lattes today. america runs on dunkin'. >> another dry and mild day today. partly to mostly sunny skies. sunset at 6:49. warmer tomorrow. 84 on wednesday. 83 on thursday. it will turn cooler and a little went over the weekend. >> announcer: from nbc news, this is today's take with al roker, natalie morales and willie geist. live from studio 1-a in rockefeller plaza. >> welcome to today on this tuesday morning. it is the first day of october, 2013. >> hard to believe. >> it's october. >> it's october. >> doesn't feel like october, though. >> it's nice out there. >> do something about this. >> how great has he been? >> he's been amazing. >> it's been all me. >> he has a lot to do with it. >> my 6-year-old daughter fully believes that al roker controls the weather. >> my 10-year-old was like are you going to meet al. >> my daughter uses his full name. al roker. >> i'm brooke shields. it's one word. >> i'm willie with al, natalie, brooke's back. we don't need to introduce ourselves. the government shutdown as many expected at 12:01 this morning. the first government shut down in 17 years after democrats and republicans in congress made the new budget, the republicans did on whether obamacare remained funded. the deadline was missed so the shutdown is in effect. no solution in sight. >> correct me if i'm wrong but even with the shutdown it still goes into effect. >> yeah enrollment today. >> that money was already set aside for obamacare. >> but they were trying to defund -- the republicans in the house wanted to defund obamacare in exchange for a new bundget fr this fiscal year. >> but now 8,000 people furloughed. some things closed national park services, officers of the department of housing, labor, energy, commerce, the smithsonian. >> but congress still gets paid, right? >> they get paid. >> and military. >> well, that makes sense. >> special measure was put into effect to ensure that the military continues to get paid. >> air traffic control. >> social security, medicaid, private museums like the places like that. >> what are people not getting paid, though, that work for the government. >> right, we talk about this in the abstract but these are real people effected by the decisions made in congress. this is one woman that works for the epa. here's her reaction. >> congress needs to be turned over somebody's knee and spanked read hard because they're acting like small children. they are in a sand box. and they are kicking sand into the american people's eyes. and it hurts. >> and that's a sentiment -- >> well said. >> well said. >> it does seem childish in a way. i don't know. i feel so bad when i see so many people affected by it. day in and day out, you know and that's what i feel terrible about. >> they have to come to a solution and they have to come to a solution quickly and this game can't continue. it's not about politics. it's about people's lives. >> it's going to fan out and effect everything and everybody and soon that's not going to be maintained. >> congress is at a 10% approval rating. >> i'm surprised it's that high. i'm actually surprised it's that high right now. >> 10%. >> speaking of maybe some people should quit. >> yeah. >> i'm anxious to hear what you say about this video. a 25-year-old woman quits her job over interpretive dance to kanye west's song "gone." this has gone viral. take a look. [ music playing ]
>> okay. >> is that a no-no? >> happens. >> is that a pay money words? oh, i'm sorry. i feel terrible. >> take it out of her salary. is it time to say good-bye to all time, to robocalls -- i think everybody would say yes. [ ringing ] >> oh, my god, i thought that was your phone. you had that old-fashioned road. >> i used to have barbara streisand singing. ♪ papa you can hear me? ♪ >> this is the thing about robocalls. you get the ones from candidates and you go hello? >> they wait until you're having dinner. >> you hear nothing. you go hello? on the second hello, they go hello, this is so-and-so. and then -- there's a solution now called nomorobo. >> dirty bit. all you have to do is sign up for the service. if the computer tags an incoming call a robocall, it hangs up before the second ring can even go through. >> how does that know? >> it was created by monies by the federal trade commission. you wanted to know where your tax dollars was going. finally, something we can use. the website nomorobo.com. goes live tonight. >> tara our director has never written anything down. she's writing something down. >> she's actually writing something down. >> for a good time, you can call her -- >> come on, tara. >> come on, tara. >> who was overserved the other night? >> you were! >> see what happens, we're sorry. there's a new study out that shows that kids who date younger end up in more trouble in life later. so when did you have your first boyfriend? think back. a new study from the journal of adolescents, age 13, in the middle of puberty to me. >> seems early. 55% of kids begin start dating at age 13. >> what does that mean? >> dating is completely different than it used to be. a date is when a boy asked you out. girls never did unless you were a -- and getting paid -- >> you have to get paid. it's a bad word. >> it's a bad word. >> no, no -- >> okay. go on. go on. >> girls just didn't do it. nice girls did not do that. you waited for a boy to ask you out. the boy actually came to your house. knocked on the door. had to spend some time with your father before you could actually go to the movies or something like that. now who knows they go to the mall like wild coyotes. they all go in groups. and you never know. and hooking up is very different than what it was when we were -- i was a kid. >> yes. exactly. >> they say 11 to 12 year olds who start dating are twice as likely to have behavorial problems in their school than their peers. if you're dating at 11, what is that, fourth grade? >> that's weird. fifth grade. it's way too soon. half the parents in our country wouldn't know they're kids are dating because they're not home to supervise them to begin with. you don't know what your kids are doing unless you're actively involved in their lives. >> dating only seemed like the only time you dated to me is when you went to a high school dance. >> a prom or something like that. >> at our house there was no dating it was forbidden. >> thank you. >> thaing for coming. but you have a little story to tell us? >> no, i don't. >> about john sackerman. >> i wasn't going to say his name. everybody has a crush. i remember it clearly when i was a kid. fifth grade or sixth, riding my bike. he lived four houses up and over. his back porch you could see it. i would ride my banana seat bike, orange. and circle around and wait for him to come out and sometimes just park like a stalker. >> stalker. >> like a sixth grade stalker waiting for him. >> it was so weird. >> and then what did you do? alls we did, everyone did the whole thing, we had the whole makeout thing that was so exciting. oh, my, i'm holding hands. he would say will you go with me? i was like go with me? >> did you ask where? >> no, not where, go with me. john zachman asked me to go with him. everyone said, he asked you to go with him? it was so thrilling. >> oh, you know what -- you know what -- that was uncalled for. you know, you just ruined a great moment. i didn't know i was looking out of those eyes. >> okay. >> those glasses. >> love is blind. >> i love that necklace. >> hoda shows up -- >> we have to move on. speaking of that picture, we have a top dog winner. >> that was rude! >> oh! >> a little doggy humor. last week we teemed up -- >> >> i'm not even continuing. enjoy. >> yes, you are. you never had so much fun in your life. teamed up with nbc's "chicago fire" to find the top fire house dog. we had three great dogs. this is the winner. this is based on your votes. this doing received 68,000 votes, smokey. a labrador retriever from jacksonville, illinois. she became a firefighter after found in a home engulfed in flames. now smokie helps kids to stop, drop and roll. >> which is what you were doing with john zachman. >> she gets a cameo appearance -- this is so sick -- on "chicago fire." congratulations. >> we also want to congratulate our -- >> -- living room makeover winner! >> we finally have a winner. remember? >> we're getting a drumroll. >> we had thousands of entries and the winner is the deutsche family. they live in new york. the furniture about 15 years ago. her family has been begging her to do the living room for the past ten years. their home is where the friends and family live together so they wanted to redo it. you can tell there was a lot of love there. it was a long time ago. >> we're going to take you throughout the house next monday. >> duchi, is what we said. >> we said duchi. written phonetically but we say deutsche. congratulations to that family. all right. kids we have a big show. jack from "will & grace" the emmy winning actor sean hayes is here. >> oh, yes! he's here. >> i love all references. keep them up. >> we got a kazoo for you. >> bye! ♪ oh. for eight seasons sean hayes kept studio audiences in stitches as the outrageously flamboyant jack mcfarland. i loved "will & grace." >> the man has moved on, do it. they don't want to be reminded. he's now emmy award winning -- >> the few viewers you have left -- >> it's called "sean saves the world." a single gay dad trying to deal with an over bearing mother. >> is it still monday, because i've been out here since monday! [ laughter ] >> please, come in. [ laughter ] >> your voice got here ten minutes ago and it's been looking for you. [ laughter ] >> how's my baby? >> i don't know, mom, honestly going from a fun weekend dad to a full-time responsible dad -- >> you think i'm talking about you? that's funny. i'm talking about ellie. poor kid. 14 years and her mother abandons her. now she has no one. no one. >> and, go. >> linda lavin. let's talk about her for just a second. >> let's talk about her for a while, rather than just a second. >> she's amazing. >> tony award winner. linda loven, not linda lavin. >> she's so much fun. >> yeah, she really is. we really connected very deeply. she's warm, wonderful, grounded real person and we have a great on-camera chemistry if i do say so myself. >> yeah, do you. >> she's very -- we have a mutual respect for each other. i love her. >> i can't believe all you do for this network, it's called "sean saves the world." but it's sean saving the network. tell us how many shows you're responsible for. you played a part in -- >> i have a company that works with amazing people to make this happen. >> you make a lot of money basically? >> no, not yet. not as much as you two sitting here drinking. sends a great message to kids the home. >> they're at school. >> okay. "grimm" which premieres october 26th. "hot in cleveland." >> so funny. love that. >> and "the soul man" and then my show and then "hollywood game night" which goes into its second season. >> yeah, that's been picked up. >> and in development, as they say. about the game show, the genesis of that, you actually played games in your house. and you decided hey, wouldn't this make for good tv? >> yeah, yeah, that's the story. thanks, hoda. >> maybe a follow-up, do you have any time to -- do you have time to still play them? >> yeah, there's games that we played in my house. we did for many years, we played all these games. a bunch of friends came over, we would play. then a couple executives that worked at nbc and said i think this is the show. i said i don't want to produce a game show. then here we are. it's actually a blast. it's turned out amazing. people have turned out in great numbers to be on it. and now that they've seen it, we're getting more calls. >> back to the sitcom. it's such a breakthrough with a sitcom. a lot of people are trying. with your pedigree. >> sequel. >> well, your sitcom is amazing. >> yeah. new i'm guesting on your sitcom. >> only fair. >> yeah, what was the question now? >> continue. >> no, bringing sitcoms back on tv. i mean they're working on cbs great now we're getting them on nbc. >> you don't have a laugh track. that's real laughter that you hear. >> a lot of people say, well, laugh track -- since the '20s, television, they've having live audiences. >> an audience will really tell you the truth. >> yes. >> so they tell you immediately if the joke works if it seems like it's working or not working. you fix it as you go that's the great thing about the genre of multi-cams sitcoms as opposed to single cam. like "the office." which is ultimate and immediate. >> why do we have kazoos? >> i've been asking myself the same question. >> we were going to play a game with them. do we have time for spin the bottle? >> oh, not very nice. >> or play the kazoos? >> oh, god, this is exhausting. >> "sean saves the world." airs thursdays at 9:00 right here on nbc. >> thank you so much. >> congratulations. >> thank you. you know who else has us in stitches? -- jill martin, stitches of a different kind. see what you're getting the boot for -- handbags, baby. ♪ ♪ [ coughs, sneezes ] i have a big meeting when we land, but i am so stuffed up, i can't rest. [ male announcer ] nyquil cold and flu liquid gels don't unstuff your nose. they don't? alka seltzer plus night fights your worst cold symptoms, plus has a decongestant. [ inhales deeply ] oh. what a relief it is. and can cost thousands of dollars to repair... thankfully, the powerful dual action formula of rid-x has enzymes to break down waste and time released bacteria to reduce tank build up. rid-x. #1 in septic maintenance. could save you fifteen percent or more on car insurance. everybody knows that. well, did you know that when a tree falls in the forest and no one's around, it does make a sound? ohhh...ohhh...oh boy! i'm falling. everybody look out! ahhhhh...ugh. little help here. geico. fifteen minutes could save you...well, you know. anybody? and nobody's watching? >> nobody. >> it would be like a viewer magnet. >> would you do your cher impression real quick? >> no, what am i -- >> please. please. >> oh, my lord. >> i don't know how to do it. ♪ can you believe in love after love ♪ >> i think she just did it. >> we want you. >> using time. jill martin has this season's hottest handbags. >> hoda and i are the hottest bags in town. >> your local news and weather. ♪ we're back with more today on this booze day tuesday. time to check out jill's must-haves. today is about the perfect pairings. >> yeah, we're not talking about wine for once. >> the hottest handbags who better to keep you up on trends on contributor from people's "stylewatch" and author jill martin. >> hi, doll. >> you're looking festive today. >> i think it's shock when you go open these magazines and you see all of these bags and they're so expensive. and you say which ones should i buy. >> if i can only have one -- >> only have one. many of these are in your closet. i'm going to show you the five that are hot right now under $50. >> okay. >> that's nice. >> let's start with the first one which is this quilted bag which is is traditional stitching. >> which chanel's been doing forever. >> you can wear these day or night. it has a fancy edge to if. let's show how it works. >> can you carry a ziploc bag. >> right. you put this in your bigger bag during the day and at night you can wear that. >> there you go. >> that's adorable. >> she doesn't have a bigger bag. just a bigger ziploc bag. >> yes, i do. >> that big bag. that works. >> so excited. >> satchel. this is the next bag which you may already have in your closet. you can wear all different bags. it's with the handle. it's with a structured bag. normally it's with this. you can wear it either way. which is removable. i often don't wear it with that. this is the real structured bag from work. this is from jcpenney from hand bag heaven. if you see the picture with kathie lee. >> oh, too much cleavage for a woman my age. >> if you're going out at night, from work during the day to night this is another great option. >> how much does it cost? >> all under $100. on our website, all under $100. >> okay. >> now we're moving over here. colorblocking. huge trend. >> don't wear it were a colorblocked dress, though. like i've got on. >> yes. this is another trend. this will take you throughout next year as well. look at all the different kinds. this you want to wear with a solid dress. this is one of the clutches here. let's check in with hoda. >> look at hoda woman. >> that's a strange photo. >> it slants it a little on the monitor. this goes well. >> very cute. >> with solid outfit or solid pants or sweater. portfolio clutches. these are the big clutches of the season. you're going to get an oversized clutch. >> like an ipad in that. >> this is a portfolio clutch, bigger than the traditional ones. i'm going to try this one. check in with kathie lee throughout. >> i like this picture because it's been -- you know, airbrushed out the wazoo. >> yes. >> that's nice, too. >> now, cobalt blue. >> this is the new hot color for the season. >> it is. >> 2014, blue is a pantone color. you can take it from here all the way through next year. >> really? >> yeah. this is from kohl's. you can wear it with brown, blue, pink. it's kind of a neutral to me. this is this strap that looks great. >> very cute. >> and then we love the fanny pack. if we can transition with another photo that we love. >> it's right behind you, i think. >> oh, my gosh! >> this is an alternative to the fanny pack to get it on trend and carry everything. >> and also put on a practice. that would be awesome, too. >> we will do the bra segment -- >> good idea. >> jill, love you so much, sweetheart. >> thank you. before you throw that bag of pretzels in that ziploc bag. madeline will give you a few things to chew over. we're playing "beat it or eat it!" i love this game with your favorite snacks. >> we have mallets. >> cookies or granola. come on madeline. get in there. >> yes! >> with hotwire's low prices, i can cross even more places off my travel wish list. this year alone, i hit new york and texas. see, hotwire checks the competition's rates every day so they can guarantee their low hotel prices. >> men: ♪ h-o-t-w-i-r-e, hotwire.com. ♪ hey, have you guys heard about probiotics? for digestive health? yes and did you know that trubiotics is a daily probiotic that helps in two ways? it supports digestive and immune health by working in your gut where 70% of your immune system lives. try trubiotics today. by working in your gut where 70% of your immune system lives. have hail damage to both their cars. ted ted is trying to get a hold of his insurance agent. maxwell is not. he's on geico.com setting up an appointment with an adjuster. ted is now on hold with his insurance company. maxwell is not and just confirmed a 5:30 time for tuesday. ted, is still waiting. yes! maxwell is out and about... with ted's now ex-girlfriend. wheeeee! whoo! later ted! online claims appointments. just a click away on geico.com. time to play "beat it or eat it." this time it's about snack foods between meals. >> we're going to beat the foods that are not so good for us and eat the ones that are healthy for us, guiding us through this is health editor madeline harris. >> snack time. who doesn't like to snack? we're going to be talk about crunchy/salty snacks. i want you to beat the one that has the most fat is it honey mustard pretzels or tortilla chips. >> that is wrong. don't be fooled by pretzels when you have add-ins that are high in fats. these are baked chips. >> so good. >> they are good. >> next from prepackaging. the chocolate chip cookies and a two-back of granola bars which one should you beat because it has more calories. >> don't beat the cookies. >> okay. >> you are right. kathie lee beat 2 it first. they're healthier you're going to get 50 calories less in those three chocolate chip cookies. heart healthy portions do count. which one should you beat because more calories per serving. 22 almonds or 38 pistachios in the shell. you want to beat the almonds because they've got another 50, 60 calories. >> i was right! >> you have to work at these pistachios. fresh fruit, how can you go wrong, right? grapes and cheddar cheese and apples and -- which one has more calories. >> i'm going to gently beat this. >> and you are -- >> i still got hit. >> i'm going to gently beat this. >> the apples and dip have 230 calori calories. >> which ones are we beating? >> you are beating this one. >> i know, this game is no fun name because we're worried about -- >> don't give up. >> oh, keep moving. frozen treats. you want a better calorie-controlled choice. two regular chocolate pops or a cup of fat-free vanilla. which one should you beat because it has more calories. >> i want to go -- >> you are right, hoda. a cup of yogurt is 260 calories. these are just 60 each. good choice. >> let's get to dip. who doesn't love dip? hummus. both are healthy. you want to eat the one with the calorie savings beat the ones that are higher. >> which one again? >> say it again. this is salsa and this is hummus >> you want to beat the one with higher calories. you are right, you're going to beat the hummus. >> i'm sorry. >> let's end up with some candy. you want to tame your sweet tooth. one of these candies has fewer calories with the same saving size. >> looks like rabbit droppings. >> you want to beat the one that has more calories you want to beat the one with mini chocolate chips and yogurt-covered peanuts. beat the one that has more calories. >> more. >> and you are right -- the yogurt peanuts. you are right. not a health food. >> who won -- >> i got five? i couldn't have gotten five. i did? >> what is the prize? >> yea! popcorn. >> your girls will love that when they come visit. >> exactly. madeline. thank you. >> italian -- >> we're making napoleons with seasonal veggies. and why you want to collect all the slinkies from your kids' toy bins. we've got tips and tricks for all the problems around the house coming up next. fall is finally here. >> and for every season there's a reason to watch. "wake up with al" weekday mornings on the weather channel. >> it's just right. >> all your local weather, travel updates and the day's top stories. >> the front will move through. >> you just can't beat this kind of weather. >> everything you need to know first thing. >> here's the big picture. >> we're sort of like a killer app in the morning. >> tap into us. >> announcer: "wake up with al" with stephanie abrams and al roker weekday mornings until 10:00. only on "the weather channel." was a really bad speller? your word is...cow. cow. cow. c...o...w... ...e...i...e...i...o. [buzzer] dangnabbit. geico. fifteen minutes could save you...well, you know. prove it. enough is enough. d-con baits are specially formulated to kill in one feeding. guaranteed. d-con. get out. i've got a big date, but my sinuses are acting up. it's time for advil cold and sinus. [ male announcer ] truth is that won't relieve all your symptoms. new alka seltzer plus-d relieves more sinus symptoms than any other behind the counter liquid gel. oh what a relief it is. the kids are back in sports. the leaves are changing, falling, tailgating is in full swing but enough about hoda's sex life. fall is a great time of year when it comes to annoying everyday habits. >> annoying, great word. from raking the leaves to keeping your kid's lunch box fresh. author of "who knew." has some tips and tricks. >> that's great with hoda's sex life. >> hey. >> let's talk about getting rid of leaves. we love fall. we hate the leaves. we hate them in the gutter. take an old school slinky. >> you got an slinky there. >> of course, we do an old school slinky. and attach it like this. >> if one of you will stretch that out. >> and that's so attractive on the roof, you know? >> who's looking into your gutters? about this far. attach this here. okay? >> okay. >> like -- come on bruce. like this. >> done this allot, bruce? now what happens, these leaves will not get -- >> >> they can't get in there to begin with. >> there's no overflowing into your leaves. you can also put them in the spouts if you like. but nobody is really looking in your gutter. >> you there go. >> exactly, another thing with leaves is raking okay. what happens, the bag falls in. if one you have would sort of hold that for me. >> we're going to bungee cord it? >> we're going to bungee cord it like this. hold the garbage can. >> i've got it. >> and now look what you can do. now all your leaves can go in. what's nice here, they're all fake. >> and they're not wet. >> they're not wet. this is the way to do it. this will not fall. how about that? >> good at this point. >> back-to-school tip. you're sick of making your kids' lunch already a month into it and you know they're not eating their fraught. which they don't. you want to take a rubber band, cut it up, it's bite size, it's not brown and the kids will the key it because they don't eat the full thing. >> kids are picky. >> kids are picky. >> that's smart. >> also by this time, the thermoses are disgusting because they get dch >> icky. >> right. >> you want to use eggshells and vinegar. shake it up. and then when you're done, you can put sugar cubes in either, seal these up and there are no more smells. >> sugar cubes will -- >> exactly right. they'll eliminate all the smells. >> be sure to throw those out before you use it. >> indeed. indeed. let's talk about tailgating, we want to show you how never to lose your spot in a tailgate, how to get your kids clean because they roll around in the grass like disgusting animals. and most importantly how to keep your beer cold. what you want at that do with your beer, you want to take a bottle, a little bit of shampoo, fill it with water, now freeze this. stick it in here >> why? >> because this is now an ice block to keep your beer cold. more than that, before the game now, this will have unfrozen, the kids are rolling around like little beasts. >> it's like purell. >> you can clean up the little nose pickers. speaking about cleaning up the little nose pickers. and if they get a stain on their jersey. >> which they will. >> yes, they will. >> there's a little mustard. you get rid of that, the excess. and then a little shaving cream. like this in about five minutes the alcohols in this will raise -- raise the stain out. by the time you get home, the stain should be gone. if it is not gone, what you're going to do is spray -- pardon my finger here -- >> is this vinaigrette? >> this is detergent and peroxide. >> okay. >> all right? you're going to do this. >> thank you, honey. >> the stain is gone. >> thank you, sweet ji. >> there you go. how about that for the fall? >> thank you very much. do you need a simple solution for dinner tonight, everybody? >> how about italian. delicious meals great from a new york chef but first this is "today" on nbc. >> let's eat! >> all right. ♪ it's time to take you into today's kitchen and show you what's cookin'. on the menu, an italian-style vegetable main course. >> then who knows italian cooking better than sal! from his italian restaurant right here in new york city. >> we're so excited to have you. >> glad to have you back. >> thank you. i made this 20 years ago for people, vegetarians but it gives you a main course. what we've done, any kind of vegetables, staples with zuchinni and eggplant. i sliced them up. i left the skin on. a little flour and egg. >> egg after that. >> yes. olive oil. >> uh-huh, uh-huh. >> very simple. >> so far, we can do it. >> you can do it. >> how long do you cook those babies for? >> a minute or two minutes on each side. >> here we have spinach that we steamed already. i have olive oil and some garlic. i love the smell of that. >> we'll dump that in. >> okay. >> the idea is to try to keep this dry. the big part about this dish is to keep it as dry as you can so i wouldn't add any more water. salt and pepper. as always. >> that smells good. >> smells good, tastes good. i'll show you. we move over here where we start to assemble. this is a baking pan. you put the butter and bread crumbs so when you unmold it, it's easy to do. it could be whatever you want. i already put a layer of egg plant there. >> i love eggplant. >> you can hand me those? >> yep. >> going to make it like a little lasagna? >> a little sauce. not too much. you want to keep it wet. not too much. a layer of vegetables. now i have the zucchini. >> oh, gosh. awesome! >> i can't even fake it. >> plop down that tomato sauce. hoda woman. >> a little more tomato sauce, a little cheese. >> and on and on. >> what happens to the layer of spinach now? >> oh. >> nice and dry. pat it down. come around this side. come around this side here. we bake this in the oven at 400 degrees for about -- >> oh, look at it. >> it's called napoleon because it looks like a napoleon with the cheese on top. >> it sure does. how long do you cook this? >> about 35 to 45 minutes. you put it here in a dish, flip it over. >> beautiful. >> then we put some tomato sauce. parmesan cheese. >> no cheese for me. >> no cheese for the one for me. >> give it a shot. >> tomorrow from the show "iron side" the very handsome blair underwood. >> we wanted to do a reveal. >> and you see that. look what happened with the mustard. gonzo! >> david arquette will be with us. we'll have an awesome booze day tuesday. >> and tomorrow is wine day wednesday. see you then. >> i'm here to help. you and i will get through this together. [applause] >> how are you folks doing? how are you folks doing? how are you folks doing today? thank you for coming. yeah. well, folks, you picked a good one to come to. i'll tell you, look. i always say we got a good show but today, a whole other level, folks. we've got the most perfect man in america in the house today. [applause] the new york daily news, they did this. recently named this guy mr. perfect. they did a survey of 9,000 women and he's got all of the qualities that ladies say they want physically and professionally. so here's what i did. i invited mr. perfect here to chicago so he could have a date with 10 of my single viewers out there. you know, you always say you can't find a good man. well, we did better than that. we found mr. perfect. [applause] plus later on, i got a big surprise for you. a few weeks ago i had a woman here who wanted her husband to stop playing video games in their bedroom. she wanted him down in the basement. the problem was, the basement was a disaster. so i transformed their basement into a man cave fit for a king, folks. we even used things that you can do at home. first it's time for "ask steve." [applause] >> let's start with niva who liked me better the way i was? what does that mean hi, niva. destroy miss your hair. i loved it. >> you miss my hair? >> i do. i do. what made you decide to cut it, anyway? >> could you take the disgusted look off your face? >> i'm sorry. i'm sorry. >> what made you -- you know, i mean, keeping my hair that way was gruelling. the only way to get your hair that even, you have to scissor cut it and i got tired of that. so when i turned 50, i said i was going to change my life. you know, i said i'm going to change my hair, lost me a little bit of weight and i -- [applause] let me tell you something, though. that's a funny cat right there. that boy right there, i'm stunned at the suit that i had on. gee. >> will we have get to see it again? >> get to see what again? >> your hair. >> no. we ain't dating, no. will i ever get to see it again like we're kicking it somewhere? no. my wife likes it just like this. >> that's all that matters. [applause] >> a happy wife is a happy life. >> happy wife, happy life. you ain't never died about that. thank you, darling. next up is tamara. she doesn't know how people got around before the internet.
measure. >> but as many as 800,000 federal workers will be furloughed without pay. >> that's right. we have it all covered this morning, the politics of it and the economic impact beginning with nbc's kelly o'donnell. she is on capitol hill. kelly, how did it all go down? >> matt, what a night. congress will be back to work today to try to fix this mess but aids in both parties, sources high up, say right now they think this could go on for days, maybe even weeks. and that's because that prediction is because they're not dealing with money where they could just meet in the middle. they're fighting over differences about the future of the health care law. >> reporter: gridlock in the middle of the night. >> should the public be prepared for this to go on for days? >> let's hope not. >> reporter: no solution in site. john boehner left the capitol unable to strike a deal. >> the house made it's decision known quickly. we believe we should fund the government and there should be basic fairness for all americans under obamacare. >> reporter: senate democrats would not budge on obamacare. >> it is embarrassing that these people who are elected to represent the country are representing the tea party, the anarcists of the country. >> reporter: they suggest it will linked to a delay to the president's healthcare law. >> this is an effort to save the country from a healthcare law that's not working. >> reporter: but in a rare moment of genuine cooperation congress did agree to keep pay checks coming for the military. president obama releasing this late night video messages for troops. >> you and your families deserve better than the dysfunction we're seeing in congress. >> so the house is saying let's put together a committee to negotiate with a small group of members from the house and the senate. the senate is saying no, won't do that. the only thing they will accept is to extend funding with nothing else attached. no impact on the healthcare law. >> all right. kelly o'donnell. thank you very much. >> as we mentioned, the shutdown is impacting services nationwide leaving hundreds of thousands of americans without pay checks. peter alexander is on the national mall in washington and has that part of the story. peter, good morning to you. >> good morning to you. that includes the 4200 workers at the smithsonian museum and national zoo. they have been furloughed as a result of the government shut down. we're in front of the national air and space museum. last week they had 88,000 visitors come here. today it will be zero. the door is locked and there's a simple message that reads we apologize for the inconvenience. >> reporter: in virginia, the shock is still hitting thomas fuller. a single father, he's an i.t. consultant and con track worker for the department of labor, among tens of thousands of federal contractors impacted. >> the frustration is because it seems like something that could be avoided. >> reporter: the message delivered in a short e-mail. the tasks that you are performing will need to be stopped. no work. no pay. no clear end in sight. >> we wouldn't be able to get along without pay for, you know, a month or two. it would effect us dramatically. >> reporter: near boston, fred is packing his bags for a dream vacation with his girlfriend. a retirement trip he has been mapping out for years. five national monuments. from the grand canyon to zion. all are now closed. >> i'm 63 years old and i'm going to see it for the first time but now i'll get there and can't see it. >> reporter: like plenty of others, he is angry at washington. republicans and democrats alike. get it together. work together and do something because we the people are being hurt. >> that's just two of the stories with hundreds of thousands of others like it. we are been speaking to people here on the national mall all morning. there's consensus on frustration, irritation, and this morning, confusion. >> all right. peter alexander in washington this morning. thank you so much. jim cramer is host of mad mon on cnbc. good morning to you. >> good morning, matt. >> start on main street. you're the average joe or jane and you're waking up this morning and hearing the government shutdown. you're worried about your job, your economy, the 401(k). what's the immediate impact. >> people are worried about their paycheck. maybe my business is going to get hurt. so it's more than just convenience and inconvenience. this is about people thinking if they're paychecks aren't coming, maybe mine won't come. >> a lot of analysts have been reacting to this for the last couple of weeks. we had the record highs on september 18th and it's been going downhill since then. what are you expecting today? >> i think it's going to be up. >> why? >> business as usual. every time we have sold through one of these, 2011, 2012, sequester, it doesn't go down. you end up missing a great opportunity. >> so investors have reacted over two weeks. in some ways were they also anticipating not the threat of a government shutdown but the next battle, the fight over the debt ceiling. >> that's where people are too complacent. the first punch we absorbed. the second is surprising. people are concerned that the government might default. i don't think they will. >> when we talk about the potential impact of a shutdown on the economy are we talking about it impacting it fundamentally or emotionally? >> i think just emotional for the shutdown because we have been there before. there's been a ton of them. they usually don't hurt earnings but when it comes to the debt ceiling that's about bonds. you don't mess with bonds. >> real quickly, you have been talking to a lot of ceos. these are the people running the companies that are going to deal with the new healthcare law. are they saying to you that they think it was worth shutting down the government over this healthcare. >> no, they have all pretty much gotten used to it. they figured out how to have the paychecks adjusted. they figure if it doesn't do well they'll readjust. i don't know any ceo that thinks this is right. >> i want to mention, congratulations, 2,000th episode of mad money tonight on cnbc. >> thank you so much. the finger pointing on this began long before the shutdown. which side of the political aisle will get most of the blame this morning? chris matthews is host of hard ball and author of tip and the giper action when politics work. good to see you. >> good to be here. >> do you think this will go on for a few weeks? >> i think ted cruz brilliantly set this up. the timing no appropriations bill sign sod the government had to completely shut down. he said budget committee shouldn't meet. it's going into the debt ceiling issue. it's a one-two punch. politicians used to make deals. they don't want to make a deal this time. >> isn't the issue who ends up feeling most of the heat? which party feels most of the blame and that will ultimately lead to a resolution here. >> our system set this up in a way, 230 congressional districts are republican. they voted against this president and for republican congressmen. they can't be defeated on this issue. they can fight to the death on this. the president was reelected again. he won the fight over healthcare but he can't stop those people because they're unbeatable in their district. so boehner is the one that's going to take the heat. >> in other words, these republicans that shut down the government are not going to pay a price for it in their own fortunes, but what about the republican party as a larger issue. >> that's the question. that's why wall street is worried and people like cramer are worried. it's the business party. they are looked out for wall street and big business. in this case big business is scared to death of what's coming in two weeks. if this debt isn't paid the united states is a dead beat. >> what part does democrats own of this. people said the president did not negotiate. >> when you go for somebody's baby they don't negotiate over the baby. king solomon said you don't cut the baby in half if you're the mother and the president will not give up his baby. they know that. that's why this is a scary fight. they're going to ask obama to give them something he can't give them which is his healthcare plan. >> always great to get your perceptive. thank you so much. we'll see you on hard ball tonight. coming up in our next half hour, we'll have the answers to what people have when it comes to the new healthcare law. for now we'll move on and we have the story of a tragedy in colorado to tell you about. >> horrifying situation in colorado. a rescue operation for a group of hikers now turned into a recovery mission after a deadly landslide on a popular hiking trial. gabe gutierrez is there with the latest. good morning. >> good morning, the sheriff here says the five hikers are buried under tons of rock. the only survivor, a teenager, who this morning is recovering in a children's hospital in denver. and we are hearing more about how her father may have sacrificed his own life to save hers. >> reporter: the urgent rescue operation followed a terrifying rock slide. >> there was a cliff bank above the falls and it looks like it slid off. >> reporter: five hikers are presumed dead. the lone survivor 13-year-old tracy johnson who they lifted to safety. >> looking underneath and everything of looking for anybody that survived it and i heard a small girl cry out. and i could only see her hand coming out through the boulders. i immediately went over there and started tossing off the boulders. >> reporter: he says the girl's father threw himself in harms way to shield his daughter. >> i'm glad that she survived and her dad is a real hero. really saved her life. >> reporter: around 11:00 a.m. monday the group was hiking about 120 miles southwest of denver on a popular trail to the agnes vaille falls in the san isabelle national forest. it's a 14,000 foot peak. the slide was several football fields wide. some boulders bigger than cars. >> there are rocks in there that the engineers estimated weigh over 100 tons. >> the sheriff says recent rains and freezing temperatures may have made the terrain unstable. >> we are at a bit of a loss right now just exactly how we're going to move the boulders. >> the recovery effort could resume later today once engineers determine that the ground is safe. meanwhile, authorities have not publicly identified the five hikers who died. natalie. >> such a add story there. gabe gutierrez, thanks. at least two people were killed when a fuel tanker crashed and exploded into a ball of flames in australia. it was loaded with 5,000 gallons of fuel when it rolled and burst into flames. this was north of sidney. flames shot 100 feet into the air. at least five people were taken to the hospital and buildings in the area were evacuated. at least five people were taken to the hospital. more proof that the show must go on no matter what goes on. this is the lake travis high school band from texas performing at a halftime football game. watch as one of the saxophone players falls down and then a domino effect creating a chain reaction. five of the other guys fall down tumbling on top of each other on the pile. all of them pop back up and everybody kept on playing. >> and nobody got hurt. >> can we call them a marching band after that? >> i have eyes in the back? mr. roker is back with a check on the weather. >> yesterday we were telling you about the severe weather in washington state. we have proof of it. we had a tornado touchdown about 7:20 a.m. yesterday in frederic frederickstown, washington. one tornado knocking trains off their tracks and causing a lot of damage. the good news stois today, we h a gorgeous day. beautiful weather. take a look at the sunrise in boston. you can see sunny skies. the charles river, a gorgeous day there. a big area of high pressure that's dominating in the east. that's good news. we'll see sunshine there but this cold front is coming in. that's going to make for a big change in our weather. temperatures are going to be dropping ahead of this system. look at these temperatures. chicago 82 degrees. 76 in st. paul. st. louis 76. 85 degrees, behind the front, temperatures really drop. into the 50s. there's another big storm that's going to be coming across out of the pacific northwest. that will bring winter early this fall. [fans cheering] ♪ ♪ take back the night! ♪ come on, use me up until there's nothing left. ♪ ♪ take back the night! ♪ dizzy, spinning, sweating, ♪ you can't catch your... good morning. cloudy and cool on this tuesday morning. most locations are in the 50s, and we'll have the cloud cover that's over the region now moving off to the east, and we should get some sunshine here later this morning. then by noontime into the 70s, and by mid-afternoon, should be peaking in the low 80s, and a bit warmer on wednesday. highs reaching mid-80s tomorrow afternoon. we'll be into the low and mid-80s again on thursday, friday and we got your october outlook coming up in the next half hour. guys, back to you. >> al, thank you very much. outspoken billionaire and nba owner mark cuban will be in court today as he fights insider trading charges. >> good to see you. opening statements in the civil case that's turned into a knockdown drag out fight between federal regulators and the billionaire turned reality tv star. >> worst presentation ever. i'm out. >> reporter: often larger than life, billionaire mark cuban crushed contestants on shark tank, busted moves on "dancing with the stars" and paraded referees as the owner of the dallas mavericks. but now, cuban is walking into a different court in texas as he faces federal insider trading charges. >> i'm excited about this, to finally come to court. i won't be bullied. >> reporter: the securities and exchange commission says cuban committed fraud in 2004 after investing in a small internet search company called mamma.com. the sec says cuban sold his entire stake in the company, 600,000 shares after learning the company's ceo was planning an offering of new stock. by selling when he did, cuban avoided losses in excess of $750,000. cuban says he did nothing wrong and any information he had was not confidential. the sec's lead counsel says we look forward to the start of the trial and cuban says he's not backing down. >> the thing i'm really looking forward to is shedding some sun right on how the sec works. >> reporter: he could face a penalty of $2 million. a tiny fraction of his estimated network of $2.5 billion. >> he has to be spending millions of dollars. he could have settled but he clearly believes there's more at stake here. he is out to prove a point. >> seven women, three men were chosen as jurors. the trial is likely to last about three weeks and cuban is expected to testify. something he says he's excited to do. that $2 million fine, he's paid $1.5 million to the nba in crimes for criticizing officials. it's a drop in the bucket. >> interesting to follow that. >> here it is. all right, willie. let's check in with carson daly. he made his way out to the plaza. good morning. >> good morning. we have been asking you to send us your thoughts on the government shutdown and we have gotten great responses. let's read a couple now. dear congress, thanks for the shut down and lack of pay, we the public, your bosses, will return the favor at the polls. rebecca says i took a vow to stefsh public and i'm sitting at home without a job today. who are you getting paid to serve? good thoughts there. >> you're very handsome. >> thank you, judy. >> i think all of this amounts to is the republicans are against president obama. they don't want the president to be successful. i think he is the best president we have had in a very long time. i think they need to work together. they knew for a long time it was coming to this. how about they don't receive any paychecks just like everyone else. >> good thoughts. thank you, judy. mike has a big gig here tonight in new york. keep sendsiing us your thoughts >> if you call carson handsome, he will read them on the air. >> all right, carson. coming up, moments of terror for a young family that were chased down. the dad beaten by a group of bikers. what a good samaritan did that could help lead to some arrests in this case. >> why sandra bullock says her new role scared her on every level. the oscar winner will be here in our studio live. the oscar winner will be here in our studio live. but first, on a tuesday "i'm terry mcauliffe, candidate for governor, and i sponsored this ad." these are birth control pills. more than half of american women use them at some point in their lives but ken cuccinelli sponsored a bill that could have made common forms of birth control illegal, including the pill. cuccinelli was one of only five senators to support this "potentially radical intrusion into domestic, family and individual decision-making" why is ken cuccinelli interfering in our private lives? he's focused on his own agenda. not us. back now with a pretty sunrise in orlando, florida. coming up on trending, you won't believe what hospitals are saying you need to be asking your doctor. >> you might think this already ♪ ♪ pop goes the world ♪ it goes something like this ♪ everybody here is a friend of mine ♪ ♪ everybody, tell me, have you heard? ♪ [ female announcer ] pop in a whole new kind of clean with tide pods... a powerful 3 in 1 detergent that cleans, brightens, and fights stains. three chambers. three times the stain removal power. pop in. stand out. ♪ pop in. stand out. help the gulf when we made recover and learn the gulf, bp from what happened so we could be a better, safer energy company. i can tell you - safety is at the heart of everything we do. we've added cutting-edge technology, like a new deepwater well cap and a state-of-the-art monitoring center, where experts watch over all drilling activity twenty-four-seven. and we're sharing what we've learned, so we can all produce energy more safely. our commitment has never been stronger. with new roc® multi correxion® 5 in 1. proven to hydrate dryness, illuminate dullness lift sagging high performance skincare™ only from roc®. i got this. [thinking] is it that time? the son picks up the check? [thinking] i'm still working. he's retired. i hope he's saving. i hope he saved enough. who matters most to you says the most about you. at massmutual we're owned by our policyowners, and they matter most to us. whether you're just starting your 401(k) or you are ready for retirement, we'll help you get there. at the corner of "a little flu shot" and "a world of difference." now through october 14th, when you get any immunization at walgreens, we'll help provide a lifesaving vaccine to a child in a developing country through the u.n. foundation's shot at life campaign. together, we can supply up to three million vaccines. it's easy to make a difference at walgreens. simply get a shot. and give a shot. at the corner of happy and healthy. good morning. it's 7:26 on this tuesday, october 1st. i'm aaron gilchrist. in our headlines, you'll begin to notice a lot of changes in the district this morning as the federal government shutdown takes effect. all the monuments on the national mall will be blocked off today. the fountains are being turned off. restrooms locked and trash cans won't be emptied. park rangers not around either. the zoo temporarily closed as well as all the smithsonian's museums. the u.s. capitol will also be closed to visitors, and if you ride m.a.r.c., train 875 on the brunswick line is cancelled. a special midday train will leave union station at 2:00 this afternoon. train 850 on the camden line and a special train will leave union station at 2:15. the penn line will run on a normal schedule and vre trains will normally operate today there. may be additional trains this afternoon. let's go to danella sealock to see if the shutdown is impacting the commute this morning. >> here's what we're tracking. delays for folks traveling along i-95 in maryland as well as route 29. from the icc slow heading southbound to the beltway. no accidents there. we'll head over to i-95 in the hov lanes at prince william parkway, that earlier crash has cleared, but you're still seeing delays northbound in good morning. cloudy and cool. we're in the 50s now, and the morning clouds should break up. sunshine back this afternoon. highs reaching low 80s and then warmer on wednesday, and this warmer pattern continues all the way into the weekend. our next chance of rain may come late on sunday into monday when it will be a bit cooler. that's the way it looks, aaron. >> thank you, tom. it is 7:30 now on a tuesday morning. first day of october, 2013. welcome october and just a look at some of the beautiful sunrises sent in by our viewers. if you've got one to share use the #todaysunrise. i'm matt lauer with savannah guthrie, al roker and natalie morales. >> first government shuttown in 17 years is now happening. congress failed to agree on a bill to fund the federal government. >> the campus of the university of california berkeley had to be evacuated overnight after a power failure linked to the theft of a copper wire. 20 people were trapped in elevators during the initial outage. >> and obamacare begins today giving millions of americans a chance to sign up for health insurance coverage. >> coming up, we'll walk you through the five things you need to know and do as the next phase takes effect. >> and then oscar winner sandra bullock will be here. her new thriller set in space and we'll talk to her about it. >> we'll begin this half hour with the search for dozens of bikers who terrorized a family on a highway here in new york city. it's a startling case of road rage and it was all caught on tape. kristen, good morning. >> good morning. it all ended right here on this block. a group of motorcycle riders dragging a man from his suv and beating him in front of his wife and child. now police are asking for the public's help. overnight they released photos and they're asking you to take a closer look at this video that's now gone viral. >> reporter: the video was captured on a motorcyclist helmet cam and posted on youtube. police say what it shows is that group of bikers terrorizing a 33-year-old driver with his wife and 2-year-old daughter in the car. the motorcycles surround the black range rover. one of the bikers is bumped as they go out of frame. ray kelly says other bikers lashed out at the suv. >> he is surrounded by 20 to 30 bicycles or motorcycles i should say. they take their helmets and they start to dent his car and apparently his tires are slash there with a knife. >> the biker group is known to police. according to commissioner kelly they were in town for the hollywood stunts rally. a event that took over times square last year and had police on high alert this time. they received 200 complaints. lee an was one of those that called 911 in the moments before the bikers stopped in front of them. his suv surrounded and leann sped away running over a motorcycle. one of the bikers was struck breaking both of the motorcyclists legs. that sets off a wild high speed chase that lasts more than 50 blocks. they stop briefly. one of the bikers pulling open the door as she steps on the gas. the suv is forced to slow and then stop in traffic and that's when the bikers attack again. one using a helmet to smash the driver's window. another goes toward the backseat as the tape ends. but police say what is not shown is him being dragged out and beaten and his face cut within view of his wife and daughter before police arrived. now he was treated and released. he got stitches. i spoke with someone here for the motorcycle rally. he did admit it was anarchy and traffic laws were broken. there was a good samaritan that came in at the end and that group tracked the group to a nearby gas station. police are now looking at the surveillance video to try to get more information, savannah. >> all right, kristen, thank you so much. >> horrifying. >> i'm not sure anarchy and fun belong in the same sentence. if there were 200 come planlts they were out and causing trouble. >> police are continue to follow that. >> surveillance camera on the west side highway as well. so you know they'll be caught. >> let's get a check of the weather right now from mr. roker. >> announcer: today's weather is brought to you by white house black market. wear that works. >> and we're watching the tropics. there's an area right tropics. there's an area right now, the national hurricane center gives about a 0% chance of development right here, and it's going to be making its way the way it looks right now, making its way through the yucatan and eventually by this weekend somewhere into the gulf so we're going to keep an eye on this area and watch what happens pause we could be looking at something by friday affecting the gulf coast. october outlook is out, much above normal temperatures around the great lakes and northeast. above normal temperatures into the southwest. precipitation-wise, dryer than normal in the rockies and wetter in the gulf coast and pacific northwest. outlook for fall is out. the western third of the country above normal temperatures and same in the northeast and then as we move into precipitation much of the country looking normal. a few more mountain snows and rain up into the northern plains. that's what's going on around the country. here's what's happening in your neck of the woods. >> it is a cool morning, a lot of clouds around the metro area. right now temperatures are in the 50s much of the region, but later this morning the cloud cover should drift east, and we should get some sunshine breaking out and then a mostly sunny afternoon. highs climbing up into the low 80s around the metro area and 70s in the rural area. highs reaching mid-80s on wednesday and the warm pattern any time you need your weather, make sure you check out the weather channel on cable or weather.com online 24/7, guys. >> thank you so much. the affordable care act goes into effect today. coming up next, we'll answer some common questions such as will you be charged more if you have a pre-existing condition? five things you need to know as the next phase of the law takes effect. >> at 7:48 get ready to be jealous. we will introduce you to the woman that quit her job in a rather spectacular fashion. but first, these messages. la's known definitely for its traffic, congestion, for the smog. but there are a lot people that do ride the bus. and now that the buses are running on natural gas, they don't throw out as much pollution into the air. so i feel good. i feel like i'm doing my part to help out the environment. the perfect form pant. it keeps its shape, flatters yours, and behaves in the wash. wear what works. the perfect form pant. only from white house -- black market. and then a 3:15 with my guilt. 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[ female announcer ] find them in the cracker aisle. ♪ ♪ i see you made yourself breakfast. how'd you know? ♪ ♪ dry hair needs a daily dose of effective moisture. new dove daily moisture with our most effective conditioner ever. it gives you up to 5 times smoother hair in one wash. new dove daily moisture. it gives you up to 5 times smoother hair in one wash. if yand you're talking toevere rheuyour rheumatologistike me, about trying or adding a biologic. this is humira, adalimumab. this is humira working to help relieve my pain. this is humira helping me through the twists and turns. this is humira helping to protect my joints from further damage. doctors have been prescribing humira for over ten years. humira works by targeting and helping to block a specific source of inflammation that contributes to ra symptoms. for many adults, humira is proven to help relieve pain and stop further joint damage. humira can lower your ability to fight infections, including tuberculosis. serious, sometimes fatal events, such as infections, lymphoma, or other types of cancer, have happened. blood, liver and nervous system problems, serious allergic reactions, and new or worsening heart failure have occurred. before starting humira , your doctor should test you for tb. ask your doctor if you live in or have been to a region where certain fungal infections are common. tell your doctor if you have had tb, hepatitis b, are prone to infections, or have symptoms such as fever, fatigue, cough, or sores. you should not start humira if you have any kind of infection. ask your doctor if humira can work for you. this is humira at work. ghirardelli squares chocolate... ♪ a little rendezvous savor our luscious filling combined with our slow melting chocolate. ♪ that little reward for all the things you do. ♪ only from ghirardelli. nothing wrong with taupe.l. but nope. let's open up a can of this. and match this. let's validate, navigate, and then, let's get after it. paint, no. let's do... pow. let's do this. more saving. more doing. that's the power of the home depot. behr ultra. starting at just $31.98 a gallon. we are back now at 7:40. as we have been reporting, major portions of the affordable healthcare law kick in today and a lot of people have questions. all this week across the platforms of nbc news we'll help you sort through the information with a special series called ready or not. dr. nancy snyderman is the medical editor and jean chatzky. but who has to buy into these exchanges. >> if you get your healthcare through your employer you don't have to borrow about it. if you buy it individually you want to shop on the exchanges because it's the only way to tax into tax breaks and if you don't have healthcare for you at all this is for you. >> if you're on cobra right now you'll find out it's cheaper to be on these exchanges. >> how long do i have? >> registration starts today. it goes through may of next year but signing up this fall is smart because the benefits kick in january 1st of 2014. >> you have to sign up by december 15th to get those benefits. >> let's talk about the classes of coverage. we have bronze, silver, gold and platinum. what's the big difference in the exchanges? >> the big difference is with the cheaper ones, the bronze and the silver plans you pay less up front but you pay more out of pocket in the back. when you go platinum you're going to pay more up front and less on the back end. >> okay. >> we have been hearing a lot about penalties. how do they bill me and penalize me if i don't sign up? >> $95 is the penalty this year. it can go up to $240 for a family. they'll t you when you file your 2014 taxes. >> incrementally it's going to go up every year. for a lot of young people that have to come into this to make it an economically viable model, i hope a lot of young people are going to say why waste $95 and get nothing versus $150 of insurance. >> that makes sense. >> exactly. >> let's talk about one of the big criticisms of existing health insurance. if you have a pre-existing condition you either get shut out and it's hard to buy insurance or you pay exorbitant fees. what happens under the new plans? >> the pre-existing conditions will be covered. there will be no more lifetime caps on coverage which is another big issue and you won't pay more. >> does it make it illegal for a company to try to charge you more if you have a pre-existing condition. >> you cannot do it. >> absolutely. >> so women have been paid more for healthcare than men. illegal. we have been denied healthcare for pre-existing conditions, illegal. mental healthcare coverage now covered and you can keep your children on your insurance until the age of 26. i should say these thing versus been in place since the law into place. >> what about another hot topic. that's preventive care. does this plan help you avoid those conditions by getting preventive care? >> it covers preventive care even at the bronze level. that's not something you'll have to come out of pocket for. >> what's the down side here? >> well, the down side is going to be will i be paying more for what i have in the past? and the middle class is sort of saying i don't understand where the numbers are going to come. will i maybe have 4 to $6,000 out of pocket and even they have said yes, you may which means you have to go shopping. everybody should be on the computer looking at these exchanges. >> what we have been saying for years is that bankruptcies, more bankruptcies are caused by health emergencies than any other factor. you get in there, you might have $6,000 out of pocket but it's not going to break you. >> yeah. >> i think i said march, it's may of next spring. but between october and december do your homework. this is the magic window. >> all right. thanks ladies. still ahead, are you tired of getting annoying automatic phone calls? the new way to block them once in for all. carson is in the orange room with a woman that used an unforgettable video to quit her job. but first, these messages. 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[ female announcer ] with nice 'n easy, get the most natural shade of you. and better is so easy withrning you cabenefiber.o something better for yourself. fiber that's taste-free, grit-free and dissolves completely. so you can feel free to add it to anything. and feel better about doing it. better it with benefiber. we're back at 7:49. carson is back at his post. >> you're handsome. >> thank you very much. say it again. >> you're handsome. >> appreciate that. if you're on your way to work and you're not happy with your job, you probably fantasized about quitting in style. that's what she did. she works at a video company and went in at 4:30 in the morning to make a video of herself quitting to a kanye west song. [ music playing ] a little dance break there. there she is. what do you guys think? that's going down in style. she makes her own video to say so long boss. i'll see you next time. >> do you think that's going to make it easier or harder to find her next job. >> she's a producer of viral videos and that video has gone viral. >> she may get the interviews but certainly i think a lot of employers will be thinking attitude and maybe a little attitude. >> that might be a good one to ask our viewers. >> yeah, we should. i would like to know how people if they were going to go out in style what they would do. her boss, despite her quitting just volunteered to pay her for the month of october. so he's a good sport. >> they are nice. she has a future in dancing if nothing else. she's got some moves. you know i know good dancing. >> yeah. carson, thank you. >> thanks guys. >> also ahead on trending, the one thing every patient needs to ask their doctor and some nurses as well. all right. then at 8:18 could it be her most grueling role ever? sandra bullock is here and will open up about her new movie called gravity. you have to hold on to your seats for this one. >> and get ready to put your judgment to the test. >> first ♪ i'm watching you. ♪ i'm watching you. ♪ you're knocking me out tonight. ♪ ♪ tonight. ♪ oooooooo. ♪ [ laughs ] [ smooch ] [ male announcer ] french the rainbow! taste the rainbow! ♪ ♪ ♪ [ male announcer ] build anything with the new toyota tundra. toyota. let's go places. tough on grease yet gentle. dawn helps open something even bigger. 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now you tell me. try the new pumpkin pie donut or any of our other many pumpkin treats today. america runs on dunkin'. good morning. from the first 4 traffic center here ewhat we're tracking, red line delays because of a signal problem at grove. expect delays in both directions. slow in livingston and delays continue as you head northbound to the beltway. now over to tom. >> a few breaks in the clouds over the metro area. temperatures upper 50s and low 60s. later today with increasing sunshine into the low 80s and then warmer on wednesday. the warm dry pattern continues into saturday. it's 8:00 on today, coming up, a massive government sh shutdown. how will it impact your lives? plus the one question patients should ask their doctor. >> plus sandra bullock talks gravity, g-forces and george clooney. >> i'm from the south and i'm from the north. >> we love you. >> hi memphis, tennessee. >> good morning. >> we want to say hi to our five granddaughters. >> hi, granddaughters. >> good morning, everyone. welcome back to "today" on a bright cheerily tuesday morning. i'm savannah guthrie along side matt lauer, al roker, and carson daly. i have to say we have more exciting people in our crowd. >> yes. >> orlando bloom and ian are here with the new trailer for the next hobbit movie. >> that's going to be huge. >> oh yeah. >> oh man. >> what was it over a billion. >> 1.1 -- >> okay, you're calling me a liar for .1 billion? i'm just kidding. also a reminder, next month we have miley cyrus on the show. she is going to perform outside for us and she'll sit down and talk about some of the controversy that seems to have formed around her in the past months. so we'll talk to miley cyrus as she performs live on the plaza. that's monday here on today. >> you may be wondering about our surroundings here. this is for a series called fact or fiction. are you a good consumer of the information you see on the internet or television. can you tell when something is a hoax? we have seen a lot of internet hoaxes. later on this morning we'll start this thing where we do a real story and fake story and carson will help us figure out if we can tell the difference. >> it's cool. it's fun. matt is going to start today. you have two stories. >> which one is the real one? >> i can't tell you. >> let's get a check of the weather forecast from mr. roker. >> first, gnnatalie with the re news. >> americans are beginning to feel the impact of the government shutdown that began overnight. congress failed to pass the spending bill because of a dispute over obamacare. peter alexander is outside one washington attraction that's now closed. peter, good morning. >> good morning to you. you said it, we're outside the national air and space museum. here's what happens. the doors are closed. closed today due to the government shutdown. we apologize for the inconvenience. how did we get here? congress is bitterly divided stuck in a stalemate with republicans looking for ways to delay the implementation of the president's healthcare law. 800,000 federal workers furloughed. national parks and museums closed. services suspended from small business loans to payments for low income women and children and veterans could see their benefits effected. you have to pay your taxes but your tax refunds could be delayed and consider the plight of the 24 couples that made plans to get married here on the national mall, at the lincoln memorial and some of the other monuments over the course of this month. the national park service says even though they made the plans and got their permits one year out, if the government is shutdown, those events will be cancelled. >> a lot of disappointed people around there. peter alexander, thank you so much. although house republicans insist that spending can be linked to a change or delay in obamacare, the president said monday he will not trade healthcare reform for a budget. house speaker john boehner says the best path forward is for both chambers of congress to convene a committee for their differences. >> it's time for the senate to listen to the american people just like the house has listened to the american people and pass a one year delay of obamacare and a permanent repeal of the medical device tax. >> and house speaker john boehner says the best path forward is for both chambers of commerce to convene a committee to resolve their differences. >> in a frank interview, pope francis says too many leaders of the catholic church let themselves be sickeningly flattered by aids. he called the vatican court the lepracy and said he considered turning down the nomination. his comments came as he prepared to meet with cardinals to discuss vatican reform. a 13-year-old girl was the only survivor of a rock slide that killed 5 hikers monday in central colorado. rescuers say the girl's father sacrificed his own life by using his body to shield his daughter. efforts are underway to recover the bodies of the victims. an explosion and power outage forced a campus evacuation. it took place at an underground electrical vault where they were fixing damage caused by the theft of copper wire. one person was hospitalized for burns and fire crews had to rescue 20 people trapped in a elevator. >> lolo jones is bulking up for winter. the winter olympics. he is vying for a spot on the american bobsled team and she packed on 27 pounds of muscle since running in london last year. she is reportedly eating about 9,000 calories a day with a diet that includes, get this, four double bacon cheeseburgers. and she wants to add a few more, apparently, to give her enough power to push a 400 pound sled. she still looks good, though. 8:06. let's go back outside to matt, savannah, and carson, guys. >> thank you so much. >> now, let's get the forecast from al. >> what a great idea. glad i thought of it. twins celebrating your birthday. >> yes. >> what's your names. >> katina. >> jen. >> where are you from? >> tampa florida. >> happy birthday. >> thank you. >> good to see you that. >> yes. >> let's check out your weather and see what we've got for you. pick city today, orlando, florida, and we're seeing some beautiful universal -- universal theme park, the greatest theme park in the country. thursday, a threat of some storms and 86 degrees. as you look, you can see we've got a gorgeous mid-section of the country. let's show you right now. let's go to our earth cam and new orleans, louisiana, no problems. more showers and thunderstorms later today. plenty of wet weather in the pacific northwest. sunny skies, gorgeous weather here in the northeast. we're looking at windy conditions in the plains and sunny and 90 degrees today in dallas-fort worth. that's what's going on around the country. here's what's happening in your neck of the woods. >> storm team 4 view looking from montgomery county maryland. you can see breaks in the clouds and a little blue showing through and sunshine breaking out throughout much of the region where it has been cloudy this morning. as the day progresses, increasing sun and afternoon highs reaching the low 80s. right now it's just upper 50s near 60 and then tomorrow, warmer. afternoon highs reaching mid-80s. highs low to mid-80s each day and that's your latest weather. >> thanks so much. coming up next, is the debbie downer at your job -- and we've all got one -- bringing down the entire office? >> then at 8:16, we've got oscar winner sandra bullock in the studio. she will be talking about her brand new movie gravity. it is a good one. >> and at 8:31, the man that just became the first-person to drive 3 million miles in the same car. there it is. more on that. but first, these messages. 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[ female announcer ] special k cracker chips. 27 crispy chips. 110 delicious calories. same time tomorrow? [ female announcer ] find them in the cracker aisle. ♪ the instantly slimming dress. it shapes you up and shows you off in an instant. wear what works. the instantly slimming dress. only from white house -- black market. so ally bank really has no hidden fno hidden fees.accounts? it's just that i'm worried about you know "hidden things." ok, why's that? well uhhh... hey daddy, what's your job? daddy's a uhh florist. are you really a florist? dad, why are there shovels in the trunk? there's no shovels in my trunk. i see shovels... you don't see no shovels. just am. well, it's true. at ally there are no hidden fees. not one. that's nice. no hidden fees, no worries. ally bank. your money needs an ally. we are back at 8:11. savannah had to run off and do a shoot we'll see thursday. we may finally be able to eat in peace. that's because of a new website that promises to block those annoying and often illegal robocall. the site is called nomorobo. >> love it. >> it's free to sign up and the service aims to hang up on robocall before they invade your home. >> signing upright now. >> i like saying it. >> nomorobo. >> can't forget that one. >> we'll put it on the website. >> trending at the wall street journal, a simple but provocative question and one you probably don't think you need to ask but have you washed your hands? hospitals are urging patients to ask their doctors and nurses because strict hand washing is the best way to reduce infection but hospital staff only follow the rules about 50% of the time. >> you're the patient and you have to ask the doctor. >> did you clean up? did you scrub up today? >> al stands outside the men's room at nbc and says did you wash your hands. >> it's crazy you're in a hospital. germs, people are sick. doctors and nurses are only washing their hands 50% of the time. that's not good. >> all right. he's going to be breaking out in a sweat over that one. >> trending on twitter, is this the best gift you'll ever give somebody that just had a baby. j. crew launching a baby line. among the adorable dresses, bibs and shoes, a onsie costing 178 dolla. it's perfect for babies with sensitive skin or pocketbooks but you can also get a cotton one for $25. >> government shutdown, that's the money you're spending for a onsie? trending on google. do you know someone like this. >> oh, hey. >> hey, pluto, hi. must be fun to work here. although the biggest job after working in a theme park is that you must live under constant fear of deadly terrorist attacks. >> that is rachel playing the famous debbie downer character on snl but a lot of us actually know someone like that and it's having an effect on our work. a new study finds that negativity tops gossip, laziness and passive-aggressiveness as the worst in a coworker. 50% say they confront their coworker. >> i'll be the one that's annoying and smiling in their face hoping that turns it around. >> she's a happy person. >> that gets on your nerves. >> exactly. that's the idea. >> all right. that is what is trending today. let's move on to a movie that has a lot of people talking. the new thriller is called gravity. sandra bullock plays an astronaut stranded in space. some are already calling this a game changer. take a look. i'm detached. >> grab ahold. hey, sandra, welcome back. >> thank you. >> this is not my first movie. >> really? >> i went to the screening yesterday and i sat there thinking how did they do this. >> yeah. >> you were weightless through the entire movie, basically. you're floating. there are objects floating not just past you -- i can understand how the computer could do that but then they're bumping into you and then spinning -- how did they do this? >> many, many different ways. we had the light box. we had hanging from wire riggs. we had a tank where you were submerged about 20 feet. >> this light box, nine by nine feet. you spent huge amounts of time in there. talk about how it works. >> you are clamped in from the waste down. there were led lights all around you. there was a whole camera on an arm that used to make the cars for detroit that would come hurling at you and you in slow motion did the upper half of your body. >> was this ridiculously time consuming to shoot? >> yes and no. ridiculously time consuming in the best way in that you have to adhere to all the things they needed you to do. start in a certain place and end in a certain place so it would cut together. >> several things jumped out at me. first of all, you're in every frame of this movie basically but not only are you in it but often times you're alone. you're acting opposite nothing and the camera is right there on your face. how tough was that? >> it kind of reminds me of being at home, you know. >> no one to talk to. >> at home, just a camera, act out things. you know, it was -- it was lonely but every time i say that i say it was the perfect set up for feeling lonely, feeling lost. feeling frustrated because it was such an unnatural experience. you had nothing you were used to. in the end once you started using it instead of fighting it all the time it made it what it was. >> also with your breathing. can we talk about your breathing in this movie. give me a sample. >> no, because i prefer not to pass out. it was a series of hyperventilation moments because you had to get to a certain level and because we shot a lot of things out of sequence i would start listening back to what we shot before and get the breath to that place so it was authentic. >> see i closed my eyes a couple of times in the theater and i kept imagining we were in a lamase class. >> i did give birth twice. >> twice during the movie? >> yes. >> congratulations. >> thank you. >> oh, you took off the glasses. this is big. >> by the way, the 3-d glasses were fantastic. i don't want to sound lecherous here. >> that's hard for you. try it. >> because you know me. you are in incredible shape in this movie. >> that's all cgi. it is. >> i don't think so. >> yeah. >> i don't think so. you must have worked out like crazy. we did. it was definitely a group effort. two great australian trainers that had the system down. they were dancers and they knew what i needed to do to get in shape so i wouldn't get hurt so i could do the wire work and everything they needed me to do. so i wanted her to look a certain way. it was just every day. but nice job to have. >> not bad and just explain to me why this was so scary for you. the quote that's going around here is it was scary for you on every level to shoot this, why? >> because i had no idea how to do it. >> after all the movies you made. >> no one in that room making this movie had any idea of what each day would be and if it would work. i had no one to help me that was a human being except when george was there. >> george clooney. i don't know if we mentioned that yet. >> george cloone and even then they were separated a lot and only had each others voices. it took you out of your comfort zone. >> i don't think you have to be a fan of outer space and space exploration to love this movie. as a kid i remember being at summer camp and watching man land on the moon, 1969. you were. >> 4. >> i was 12. when the apollo missions would go my dad had a contact at nasa and he would get me the medals for all the missions. >> you had a good dad. are they gold? >> they're gold but don't walk away with them. this was right up my alley. >> these are amazing. it plays into these fantasies we've all had about space. not the future but futuristic things that are completely unfamiliar and the director puts such an emotional story to it. so it's not just sci-fi. it is a sci-fi that just has a really strong emotional story to it. >> speaking of emotional stories, i watched you the other day, congratulations you were immortalized in the hollywood walk of fame. was it a thrill? >> it was a thrill because my son was there. i always wave these things off and i go it's no big deal and you try not to make a lot out of it but having him there made -- he's made everything sweet. >> but it surprised me because you have been very private. you don't put him in situations where there's going to be a lot of cameras and there was a situation where there was going to be a thousand cameras. >> it was a really conscious decision. we had one made for him at home. whoen he came home he did his own hand and footprint and wrote his name and we're going to put it at the front of the house. this is something that later on when he hates me and i'm an embarrassment i'll say let me show you what we did when you were younger and how much you liked me at that time. he was okay with being there. >> it seemed to me a few years ago you went into a vault. after a tough time in your life. are you coming out of that? >> oh, totally. >> a little better to talk about things. he looks adorable. >> he is. he's delicious. >> and this movie grabbed me by the throat. you're fantastic. good to see you as always. >> thank you. >> gravity opens on friday. let's go to natalie. >> all right. thank you, matt. well, from science fiction to fantasy, this is a big day for fans of the hobbit film. >> that's right. the new trailer. two of the cars are with us now. good morning to both of you guys. >> good morning. >> orlando, last time we saw you, ten years ago, lord of the rings and you're stepping back in character. what was that like? >> it was a joy, actually. i had such a wonderful time playing the character to begin with and to have had the call to come back and get to wear the blonde wig and pointy ears was wonderful. he's a great fun character. he's the action elf. >> it doesn't seem ten years older does he. >> no. >> spry and young as ever. >> he has been telling us during this interview to touch the scarf. >> yes. >> i wore it in the movie. i wasn't allowed to do any magic with it. >> what is it about this movie. the first installment came out last year. 1.1 billion. at the end of the day for movie goers why do they strike such a cord? >> the hobbit movie is based on the book that's been a best seller for 50 years. it's one of the greatest stories ever written and peter magic has turned it into three films and very true to the book and very true to the spirit of lord of the rings. that's what people will see this in this movie. lots of action. legolis is back and gandolf has a bit of a go. >> let's not keep the fans waiting any longer. let's look at the newest trailer for the hobbit. here it is. >> it will not end here. with every victory. >> he's grown very fond of you. do not give him hope where there is none. >> you had no right to go into that mountain. >> we've been blind. in your blindness our enemy has turned. >> i found something. >> what did you find. >> my courage. >> good, you'll need it. >> all right. >> there we go. >> talking low, i like that. >> i had a beard on. >> yeah. >> and a wig. >> yeah. >> a pointy hat. you got the pointy hat. you had pointy ears. i had pointy hat. >> how is the tone from the second different? >> action packed. >> well, the thing is we made these three hobbit movies at the same time. so we don't know where one begins and where one ends. >> it must be confusing. >> it's really a bit of a treat because you shoot the movie and you go this could be kind of great. you have these moments i was hanging upside down with wires on a green screen and spent hours stabbing at things in the air and you say this is going to look great at the movie and you say it looks better than i thought. with peter jackson. that's the good news. with peter these movies work so well for him because he takes the story from his brain, this crazy imaginative brain he has. >> he has a fabulous cast of actors. too long to mention but lead by martin freeman that plays bilbo. stupendous actors and that's going to lift this movie up and peter told me this was his favorite of all the movies he made so far. >> can't wait. >> orlando, ian, thank you. >> good to have you guys here. >> nice to see you. >> straight good morning. it's 8:26 on this tuesday, october 1st. i'm aaron gilchrist. in our headlines right now, federal workers are headed to the office for just a couple of hours to close up shop as the government shuts down. d.c. employees will work a normal day. mayor vincent gray declared owl city workers essential personnel and monuments, memorials and museums all over town is close as is the national zoo which for a few moments shut down its very popular panda cam. a look at traffic and weathe ♪ for a store near you go to benjaminmoore.com/dcmetro. "i'm terry mcauliffe, candidate for governor, and i sponsored this ad." these are birth control pills. more than half of american women use them at some point in their lives but ken cuccinelli sponsored a bill that could have made common forms of birth control illegal, including the pill. cuccinelli was one of only five senators to support this "potentially radical intrusion into domestic, family and individual decision-making" why is ken cuccinelli interfering in our private lives? he's focused on his own agenda. not us. ♪ for a store near you go to benjaminmoore.com/dcmetro. good morning. partly cloudy now around the metro area. temperatures into the low 60s later today. should hit the low 80s with increasing sunshine and warmer weather moves in on wednesday. highs mid-80s. highs low to mid-80s each day thursday, friday and saturday. showers late on sunday and sunday night and perhaps into part of monday. danella, how is traffic? >> pretty slow in our area. we'll head out i-66. an earlier crash still slowing things down eastbound at cambridge road. out of the roadway but involved multi-vehicles. fairfax county parkway, your drivetime now to the beltway will take 27 minutes and bac we're back now. it's 8:30 on a tuesday morning, the first day of october 2013. the weather says late summer we're going up to 80 degrees today. that's nice news for the crowd gathered in rockefeller plaza. nice to have them here. i'm matt lauer with natalie morales, carson daly, and al roker. savannah had to take off for a shoot a little early this morning. >> we're straight ahead putting ourselves, our audience and you to the test in a game we like to call fact or fiction. >> that's right. sean hayes is going to join us for that too. we're constantly bombarded by information on television or online and it's hard to tell what's real anymore. >> sean is real. >> there's sean. he's going to help us out. one story is legit and one is bogus and you at home and those of you in the plaza are going to help us. >> speaking of information we have been bombarded with we're talking about the government shuttown took pla shutdown took place at midnight. you asked people to share their thoughts. >> number one trending topic. >> keep them coming. >> #dearcongress. >> also, eat pray love with a run away seller and hit movie and now she is out with her first novel in 13 years. it's a beautifully written story. >> we have a lot to get to but can we say hello to herb gordon. he was the first-person ever to drive one car 3 million miles. nice to see you. >> you too. >> you were here in 2002. you had written this volvo 2 million miles. tell me about every one of the last million. how did it go? >> went along just fine. >> how does it feel to break that milestone? >> pardon me? >> how did it feel to break that milestone? just terrific. i'm getting used to it. it's the third time around. >> you have been all over the country, 49 states. >> 49 states. >> just haven't been to hawaii. >> countries in europe. >> exactly. so this car has a lot of soul for you. >> a lot of memories. it's been terrific. >> how do you keep a car running at 3 million miles? >> well, you buy a quality car to begin with and then quality owners manual. people that wrote the book and the people that built the car. >> how many engines? >> same engine that came with the car. >> how much for it right now. >> take it home today. >> 4 million miles. >> congratulations. >> 1966 volvo. beautiful car. >> very cool. mr. roker. >> let's see if you got nice driving weather forroker, let's you've got nice driving weather. starting off with today, looking at gorgeous weather up and down the east coast. rain down through the lower golf and rain in the pacific northwest and mountain snows there, nice and toasty in the southwest. tomorrow more gorgeous weather up and down the east coast, a few hit or miss showers with thunderstorms down through southern florida, cool weather making its way into the pacific northwest. sunny and hot from texas into the southwest. nice and mild in the northern plains. that's what's going on around the country. here's what's happening in your neck of the woods. good morning. blue skies showing up over the town center. live view from the fairfax county camera on this tuesday morning. increasing sunshine. right now temperatures climbing into the 60s. tomorrow even warmer, hitting the mid-80s by mid-afternoon. thursday, friday, saturday, each day highs low 80s and partly cloudy >> did you know you can get your weather any time you need it on the weather channel or weather.com online? did you know that? very good. is that fact or fiction? matt. >> all right. al, thank you very much. you like that? sean hayes won an emmy for his role as jack mcfarland. >> you take it. >> on will and grace and now he's back with sean saves the world while raising his teenage daughter. sot. >> sot. >> i just got a new and very weird boss. there are all sorts of things we could be exploring together. sharing our feelings about. oh, there it is. >> okay. there is something i want to know. >> great. is it how i'm coping with my new boss. >> if you're gay then how did you and mom have sex? >> what was that? >> hey, sean, welcome back. how are you. >> what happened to katie? >> katie? >> it's been awhile since you've been here. >> how many years. >> when was the last time you were here, 7 years ago? >> look at you with the hard hitting questions. yes, seven years ago. >> will and grace has been off the air seven years. i'm sure you had people say do a sitcom for us. why now? >> i had a lot of friends and fans say when are you coming back to tv and i thought what an opportunity to make those four people happy. but why now because i just waited for the right thing and the right time and, you know, you have to go away long enough for people to miss you. if you just did show after show after show it would get annoying. not you. you do it every day and people can't get enough of matthew lauer. >> will and grace -- wait one second, i have sandra bullocks questions and i would like the same questions. >> your body looked amazing in what i saw. seriously, when you took the astronaut suit off. >> yeah. >> and you were just in the underwear, it's unreal. >> you have that on repeat. me in my underwear. >> you worry people are always going to compare this sitcom to what you did on will and grace? >> well, i don't live my life worrying about it but certainly it's been discussed but i mean, you're always going to get compared to the last thing you did and you're only as good as the last job you did. but i know, who knows, this is completely different. it's a completely different character. >> he's also gay. >> yeah. >> but you call this series post-gay. >> yeah. because it's the fifth most interesting thing about the character. just like it always should be. it's not about your sexual orientation or the color of your skin or whatever. there's many aspects to the character. it's a more grounded real person than the other character in will and grace. >> we're happy to have you back. >> it would be great if you came on like you did in will and grace. >> one of my favorite moments. >> that's great. it would be crazy if we have a clip right now. >> no, we can do that at another -- >> oh, wait, what -- >> that was the live show. >> that was one of your live shows. >> look at that. >> by the way, where in the world are matt lauers -- >> anyway. >> welcome back to nbc and in new sitcom. good to have you here. >> thank you, pleasure. >> you can catch the series premiere of sean saves the world this thursday at 9:00, 8:00 central on nbc. sean is sticking around because we're going to play fact or fiction. >> i didn't have a choice. >> no, you did but you made the wrong choice. how smart are in this digital age with the constant flood of information it can be hard to know what's real and what's not. we're taking part in a challenge with our studio audience and all of you at home in a game -- everybody say it with me -- called -- >> fact or fiction. >> well done everybody. here's how it goes down. each day this week one of our anchors will bring you two stories. one is a true story and the other is total fiction. everybody here, of course all of you at home will try and figure out which one you think is fake. we have al roker, sean hayes. natalie morales. matt is here first to present two stories. matt, give us your first story and if matt appears in the video tape you're about to see that doesn't necessarily mean that story is real. >> that's a good point. you have to watch these stories carefully. grocho marks never wanted to be a part of a club that would have him as a member. well, after hanging out with two guys from upstate new york, i know exactly what he meant. the iron man competition takes grit, stamina and the will of a champion but a new sport heating up in america makes the iron man look like child's play. >> it's an extreme sport. there's risks to it. >> forget the ironman, this is extreme ironing. anyone can go hiking but not anyone can go through and actually hike and then iron. it's very unique. >> iron is heavy. so you want to make sure it's not going to come up and hit you. >> founded in england in 1992, attorney mike kelsey formed the sports first american chapter. the goal, iron in extreme places. they even hold try outs. >> we prefer that the people realize themselves that this is not for them rather than us. usually it's clear. >> a bunch of people with irons and ironing boards. >> always game for a new challenge, i accompanying the ironers on an outing in new york central park and try to keep an open mind. >> the idea that this is a sport. >> it's a sport and art and a fine line between the two. >> but somehow within minutes i'm speaking their language. >> you're short on time. you can always put a sports jacket over the rest of the shirt. >> and the cuffs. >> the collar first and then the cuffs. >> the board balance is important. >> i quickly master my first solo attempt and dominate syncoironing. >> do you get severely burned? >> a couple of close calls. >> and realize why they wear all that head gear. >> careful. careful. >> oh. >> don't worry. i got a helmet. >> as the day unfolds it becomes clear that my new friends have big plans for their pressed shirts. >> you can see any one of the current olympic sports with an iron in the hand but right now we have to focus more on the county fairs. >> are you going to try this again after today. >> yes, as soon as you guys leave i'll be back at this. >> all right. there's extreme ironing. the first of two stories matt brings us today on fact or fiction. quick thoughts from our contestants. al, give me a thought. >> i noticed that matt didn't like to do pleats. >> sean. >> two quick things, one is that was -- this is a long very game show. the second thing is i know matt and that seems like a long thing to do just for a bit. >> so could be real is what you're saying. >> all right. >> the irons weren't plugged in. it's not very effective. >> oh, attention to detail. >> details, details. >> matt. story number two. >> here we go. it's about a man that found true inspiration after his world was turned upside down. take a look. >> this actually has diamonds on it. >> beautiful idea. >> most busy executives don't have time to just hang around. >> beautiful. >> but at new york's upstart academy being bottoms up tops the agenda. >> it took two months to get the team in but our board room brainstorming was going nowhere. >> called inverted yoga the practice was the brain child of the psychologist turned yogi. >> i founded my own practice but did my best thinking when i was inverted. >> now his upstart academy is taking corporate america by storm giving dozens of companies new perspective on their business. >> teams here come up with everything from deli meats to smartphone data plans. >> he runs the most buttoned up studio on the planet but it's by design. >> they associate the suit with big ideas and take that back to the office with them. >> barbara heads up marketing for the credit card division of her bank. >> there are hundreds of cards out there and we have to differentiate ourselves. >> exhale through the nose. >> my feet are starting to tingle. >> these corporate acrobats spend the day inverted though they are allowed short breaks every six minutes. he guides them through. >> well, they're upside down but the logic is right side up. >> there's science to back it up. according to a 1996 study researchers at johns hopkins found that subjects with spinal pain treated with inversion therapy were more adept at problem solving than their upright counter parts. >> a lot of people get a huge kick out of it. >> how long is this class? >> it's a whole new way to innovate as long as they can find their way back up again. >> that is a story of upstart academy. or extreme ironing. your two choices. one is fact. one is fiction. again, thoughts, al. >> well, you know what, i have seen the upside down stuff and it was a study. so it must be true. >> sean. >> yeah, i'm going to -- i saw questionable acting in that. >> you're not sure. >> i have done inversion yoga myself so i think that's true. >> okay. we'll give you guys a second to think about it. >> everyone in the audience hold up the sign of the story you thought was fiction. the one you think is fiction. the one you do not believe. >> a lot of people changing their minds. people don't think the extreme ironing is a real story. we'll see and if you're at home right now we want you to weigh in as well. you can log on and vote today.com, tweet us #extremeironing or upstartacademy. the one you think is fiction. we'll find out how our contestants voted right after this. but first, this is "today" on nbc. all right. back now with the results of fact or fiction, the game where we have to spot the fake story. is it either extreme ironing, the wackiest of hobbies or the other. 70% thinks extreme ironing is the fiction story. 30% think it's the upstart academy. let's go down the line. al, extreme ironing. >> upstart academy, sean. >> that's the fake one. >> and nat, you're saying the ironing. all right, matt. >> just a reminder, most of the people here thought extreme ironing was fake. >> al said but the upstart academy there was a study. there was a study from johns hopkins university. we put the picture of johns hopkins upright on the screen. there was a picture of the university with a palm tree. john hopkins is located in maryland. there are no palm trees. it was a marketing director who talked about it. her name was eslaf spelled backward. the false story was the upstart academy. extreme ironing is real. it is a real thing. it happens. >> that's unbelievable. >> unbelievable. >> order in the game show. >> come on. >> and the yoga thing. >> man, you should do this in hollywood at somebody's house. >> we're going to have two more stories tomorrow. >> what? >> can you come back sean? >> we should mention the end of the week the host with the most points gets $5,000 for his or her favorite charity. sean, way to go. you're the leader so far. >> up next, the woman behind the book eat, pray, love releases her first novel in more than a decade. her first novel in more than a decade. i was honored to serve as governor of virginia. we brought folks together in richmond to focus on creating jobs and getting results. that's the virginia way. and that's why i'm backing terry mcauliffe for governor. terry won't let ideological battles get in the way of making progress. terry will work with democrats, republicans, and independents to create jobs and move virginia forward. it's important for virginia that we elect terry mcauliffe as our governor. i'm terry mcauliffe, candidate for governor, and i sponsored this ad. she is back with eat, pray, love that was made into a hit movie in 2010. well, now, gilbert is out with her first novel in 13 years. it's called the signature of all things. elizabeth gilbert, good to have you back. >> thank you. thanks for having me back. >> first novel in 13 years. were you nervous about diving into this? there's a lot of research that went into this book. >> it's a big book. i wanted to write the novel i love to read. a big sweeping multigeneration epic that takes place with many family members involved. so i did a ton of research on 19th century to write the book. it was fun. i'm a geek. so i geeked out on that. >> you could see the geekiness in the description of the mosque. >> my character is a bold independentexplorer. so i did learn a lot about it and as a passionate gardener it was exciting to dive into that. >> you called what happened after eat, pray, love a tsunami. does that intimidate you? the reaction you'll get with the book? because it is different for you? >> yeah, in some ways it's the same. it's a woman's story and asks what is her purpose, how do we find our journey in life? how do we answer our prayers through travel. but it's a novel so it's different so the hardest thing for me was to write the book that came after eat, pray, love, committed but once i broke the smell with that i felt really expansive and free and i thought i want to go back to where i started off as a writer, writing big imaginative fiction. >> you still tackle love, marriage, relationships. she gets divorced and sets off on these world travels looking for samples of moss. >> yeah and answers about her own personal life as well. >> how do you feel. >> how do you feel about the institution of marriage. >> i like my marriage but famously i'm married to a man who says a woman's place is in the kitchen with her feet up and glass of wine in the kitchen watching her husband cook dinner. >> is that who you are. >> i'm the one with my feet up and glass of wine watching my husband cook dinner. we have a very different relationship. he's a great champion of me. it's wonderful. it's rare to this day that women have somebody behind them that says you go back in the world and make a name for yourself and i'll be home supporting you. that's the relationship we have. it's been wonderful. >> how do you think this book is going to be received after all the tsunami of eat, pray, love? >> i don't know how it will be received but i know how it is offered. it comes from my heart for my readers. i wrote it for them with a lot of love. >> it's beautifully written. it's a gorgeous epic. thank you very much. elizabeth gilbert. it's called signature of all things. we're back with much more on this tue first, lou local news. 8:56 is your time now on this tuesday, october 1st, 2013. i'm eun yang. mousse yumts on the national mall are closed right now because of the government shutdown, but other dc attractions are staying you, the museum and the corcoran gallery of art, the international spy museum, national geographic museum and the crime museum are a few of the museums you can visit today. there are also more than 40 free there are also more than 40 free tours of d[ laughter ] he loves me. he loves me not. he loves me. he loves me not. ♪ he loves me! that's right. [ mom ] warm and flaky in 15, everyone loves pillsbury grands! [ girl ] make dinner pop! so i should probably get the last roll... yeah but i practiced my bassoon. [ mom ] and i listened. [ brother ] i can do this. [ imitates robot ] everyone deserves ooey, gooey, pillsbury cinnamon rolls. make the weekend pop. oh, please don't call me "pumpkin." no, white chocolate and pumpkin. oh! pumpkin. ha-ha! pumpkin is back at dunkin' donuts. hurry in for delicious pumpkin coffees and lattes today. america runs on dunkin'. good morning. right now the clouds cloud cover we've had in the metro area is beginning to break up. a little sunshine breaking out later today. increasing sun and highs reaching low 80s and the warm trend continues the rest of the week into the weekend. next chance of rain maybe late sunday into monday. danella, how is traffic? >> good morning, tom. pretty slow in our area. if you're about to head out of house expect delays. traveling qb parkway, slow southbound from 133 as you head to 395. 395 normal delays here and they start >> announcer: from nbc news, this is today's take with al roker, natalie morales and willie geist. live from studio 1-a in rockefeller plaza. >> welcome to today on this tuesday morning. it is the first day of october, 2013. >> hard to believe. >> it's october. >> it's october. >> doesn't feel like october, though. >> it's nice out there. >> do something about this. >> how great has he been? >> he's been amazing. >> it's been all me. >> he has a lot to do with it. >> my 6-year-old daughter fully believes that al roker controls the weather. >> my 10-year-old was like are you going to meet al. >> my daughter uses his full name. al roker. >> i'm brooke shields. it's one word. >> i'm willie with al, natalie, brooke's back. we don't need to introduce ourselves. the government shutdown as many expected at 12:01 this morning. the first government shut down in 17 years after democrats and republicans in congress made the new budget, the republicans did on whether obamacare remained funded. the deadline was missed so the shutdown is in effect. no solution in sight. >> correct me if i'm wrong but even with the shutdown it still goes into effect. >> yeah enrollment today. >> that money was already set aside for obamacare. >> but they were trying to defund -- the republicans in the house wanted to defund obamacare in exchange for a new bundget fr this fiscal year. >> but now 8,000 people furloughed. some things closed national park services, officers of the department of housing, labor, energy, commerce, the smithsonian. >> but congress still gets paid, right? >> they get paid. >> and military. >> well, that makes sense. >> special measure was put into effect to ensure that the military continues to get paid. >> air traffic control. >> social security, medicaid, private museums like the places like that. >> what are people not getting paid, though, that work for the government. >> right, we talk about this in the abstract but these are real people effected by the decisions made in congress. this is one woman that works for the epa. here's her reaction. >> congress needs to be turned over somebody's knee and spanked read hard because they're acting like small children. they are in a sand box. and they are kicking sand into the american people's eyes. and it hurts. >> and that's a sentiment -- >> well said. >> well said. >> it does seem childish in a way. i don't know. i feel so bad when i see so many people affected by it. day in and day out, you know and that's what i feel terrible about. >> they have to come to a solution and they have to come to a solution quickly and this game can't continue. it's not about politics. it's about people's lives. >> it's going to fan out and effect everything and everybody and soon that's not going to be maintained. >> congress is at a 10% approval rating. >> i'm surprised it's that high. i'm actually surprised it's that high right now. >> 10%. >> speaking of maybe some people should quit. >> yeah. >> i'm anxious to hear what you say about this video. a 25-year-old woman quits her job over interpretive dance to kanye west's song "gone." this has gone viral. take a look. [ music playing ] first thing is first. that's a good song. >> i love that song. >> that's a good dance. >> i love that song. >> it's very well produced. her good-bye. >> that's her job. she makes viral videos. >> and that video, of course, has gone viral as you would expect. we did hear from her employer, next media animation. they're based in -- her job was in taiwan and they wrote we do not have many disgruntled employee issues so something like this took folks aback here. i knew she was not happy the last couple of months. taiwan is not easy for a young woman who doesn't speak mandarine but he says she makes $3,000 a month which is a pie paying job and was afforded a lot of opportunities to travel as well. not just taiwan, thailand, l.a., new york. >> i wonder if she did anything prior to express that she was disgruntled. was this the final straw or was this just she couldn't be heard? >> one said she knew she was not happy but this took everybody as surprise. >> going viral. >> there you go. >> you know she's going to get a job. >> do you think she gets hired. >> i think so. >> i think in particular because, you know she's got flair. >> she mentioned something about a comedy career too. she may have been thinking forward. >> all planned. >> because it was very orchestrated. >> yeah. >> she knows what she is doing. >> i've never quit anything. >> really? >> i've never -- i've never just decided no. i will go down in a ball of flames. >> i quit a landscaping job once but it wasn't theatrical at all. no video. nothing. >> i have quit to move on to other jobs of course. >> no, third grade, violin, i didn't want to play the violin. >> okay. >> and the teacher went let me quit. i said i really didn't want to play the violin. i'd rather play the flute or recorder and she said i can't let you, you're my best student so i went back in class the next day and i said, oh, do you hate the violin as much as i do and she said miss shields, out. she wouldn't let me quit so guilty or innocent fired. >> got yourself fired. >> i got myself fired in third grade from violin. >> that is impressive. >> it's haunted you ever since. >> here i am now. >> really hurt you too, didn't it. >> it did. i just never recovered. >> you can't play the small violin anymore? >> only when i'm complaining. >> al i was on the internet and come across on a piece of video of you more violent than i've ever seen you before. >> wow. >> we're officially equipped to bring you the weather every morning and here to bring you your first up to the minute weather report is jason. thank you -- >> thank you. let me just make sure -- so looks like we've got a big high pressure system moving from this area over to that area -- that's -- >> no, no, roker, does weather, roker does weather. that's it. that's it. >> roker does weather. >> i want that on a t-shirt. >> they started chanting my name. >> roker, roker. >> i know the folk there is at the big morning buzz, vh-1 asked me to come in. they had a new studio. not quite as nice as this. but very nice. in fact, carson daly's old trl studio. >> really? >> exactly. how good does it feel to smash a monitor? >> it's pretty satisfying. it was pretty fun. >> then they plugged your book on the back end. >> they just happened to have a copy. >> works out nicely. i cracked the bat. >> wow, that's not easy to do. >> i had a little aggression to get out. >> roker does weather. >> how about roker doing the weather right now? >> roker does the weather. >> roker does weather. >> how about roker=z607 the weather right now? >> what day4r5'?an? >> agh! >> you scare easily. today89 >> in norbert.(40i1 gorgeous day. plenty of sunshine. here's what's happening in your neck of the woods. >> clouds are breaking up over the metro area. a little sunshine breaking up. right now just pat 9:00. we're into the 60s much of the region. later today 70s by noontime and low 80s mid-afternoon with increasing snipe. then tomorrow mostly sunny and a bit warmer. afternoon highs in the mid-80s. this warm pattern continues through the end of the week, into the weekend. our next chance of rain may not come until perhaps late on sunday into sunday night. also may get some lingering showers your kids are going to use this against you. >> don't think that i don't know that now because my one daughter did take violin and i was like no, it's good. you must stick with it. >> oh. >> she was pretty good but switched to piano. >> do as i say not if i do. >> she's got an out forever. >> what? >> wow. >> coming up next, we got more of our take. she is already an oscar winner, so is adele the next big film star? she'll join the ranks of other singers turned [ male announcer ] pepcid® presents: the burns family dinner. why would i take one pepcid® when i could take tums® throughout the day when my heartburn comes back? 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>> he was in a pack of them and hit one when trying to get out and he accelerated to get away from them. then they surrounded him. >> you've got your kid in the car. a 2-year-old child. >> i would gun it. >> i would too. >> he guns it right there. >> what's not normal necessarily or regular is that usually not when you're on the west side highway surrounded by that. >> yeah, so it's a three lane highway and, you know, i've been in those situations and it's nerve racking, you know? >> yeah. tensions are running high. >> and a lot of these guys ride right up on you or cut through the lanes. it's very easy to accidentally bump somebody. >> scary situation we were at a hockey event once and hockey has a reputation, the parents can get a little overheated and my husband just slightly dinged the door of the car next to us the guy proceeded to get out of the car. my three-year-old was strapped in the back and wanted to get in a fistfight with joe and i was like joe just drive and then the guy jumps in front of our car and i'm like just keep driving. we did not run the guy over but it's a scary situation. >> yeah. >> yeah. >> what must his wife have thought? you don't know what the guy's intentions are. you have a 2-year-old in the backseat. >> just seeing that video makes me panic. >> i would have jumped in the backseat. >> the man in the car got stitches and was released from the hospital. so he's okay. >> yeah. >> so more details on this today. >> let's move on to a little bit happier topic. adele, the great singer, rumored to star in an upcoming bio pick about dusty springfield. film project would tell the story of the celebrated english soul singer inducted into grammy hall of fame. >> she has the hair going. >> son of a preacher man. >> adele can do no wrong. she is going to nail it. she'll be great. >> the bone structure. >> she can sing it. >> dusty had an unbelievable range. and so does adele and most great singers have an acting in there. >> look at jennifer hudson. >> yes, we were thinking about those that didn't workout so well. >> some recovered we were saying. >> mariah carey. >> i've been in plenty of them. i didn't mean to. >> it's about the role. >> and the film maker and she went on to do precious and the butler. >> how about justin timberlake. >> we just saw runner, runner yesterday. he is a phenomenal actor. >> bet midler. >> madonna. >> madonna was sort of mixed. i liked her. >> i think it's a matter of the character that you're playing. >> how about from justin to kelly. kelly clarkson. now that's a movie. >> no one has any idea what i'm talking about. >> not a clue. i'm just going to nod my head and smile. >> you'll enjoy yourself. all the headlines you need before you walk out the door. >> and walking through our doors today, your favorite l libertarian. he could be a good librarian -- the man, the myth, the mustache. he is going to tell us all about it. good to see you. 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[ powers down ] uh-oh, flobot is broken. the "name your price" tool, only from progressive. call or click today. behaves like the surface of your skin. now watch what soap does to it. ♪ soap strips your skin. dove is different. with 1/4 moisturizing cream, dove doesn't strip your skin like soap. it's eb. want to give your family the very best in taste, freshness, and nutrition? it's eb. want to give them more vitamins, omega 3s, and less saturated fat? it's eb. eggland's best eggs. eb's. the only eggs that make better taste and better nutrition... easy. eggland's best eggs. better taste. better nutrition. better eggs. it's eb. it's a milestone day for the affordable care act. for the first time americans will be able to sign up for coverage. people that don't have access to job-based health insurance can start shopping right away for private policies at healthcare.gov or sign up as late as december 15th and get coverage by january 1st. staying physically active may help maintain healthy blood pressure. a study found those that exercised at least four hours a week were 19% less likely to have high blood pressure than those logging under an hour of activity per week. even one to three hours of exercise a week lowered the risk of hypertension by 11%. >> free checking is getting even harder to come by. bank rate.com reports only 38% of banks offer free noninterest checking accounts to all customers. four years ago, more than three quarters of banks offered the service but that's not where the fee increases end. atm surcharges for using another bank's machine are up as well as are overdraft fees. fast food is slowing down according to an annual survey from qsr magazine. drive-thru times increased this past year at all fast food restaurants except for one and that was burger king but bk is not the fastest. that honor belongs to wendy's where the average wait time is over two minutes. mcdonald's is second at 3:10. and the band played on. check out this video of lake travis high school band from texas performing at the halftime show of the football game. watch as one of the players there falls down and then creates a chain reaction and they all go down. five other players -- say that three times fast, tumbling over as well. the show did go on, though, they popped right back up and the band kept on playing, as they say. back to willie, brooke, and al. >> that's team spirit. >> the end of animal house. >> yes. >> boom, boom, boom. >> yeah. >> at what point do they stop walking backwards? when everyone behind you has fallen. >> who's the one that's like this needs to end. >> somebody in the horn section. stop the madness. >> thank you. 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[ ding ] ♪ but finally, it happened. perfection. at progresso, we've got a passion for quality, because you've got a passion for taste. >> why your toaster or lamp could be a problem. good morning. it's 9:26 on this tuesday, october 1st. i'm aaron gilchrist and federal employees at work for a couple of hours to close up shop as the government shuts down. d.c. employees will all work a normal day. mayor vincent gray declared all city workers essential personnel and as we speak commute next. good morning. storm team 4 four-day forecast. cool mornings and warm afternoons all the way into the weekend. a chance of rain late sunday and perhaps into monday and afternoon highs above 80 degrees each day all the way into saturday. highs maybe near 80 on sunday. danella, how is traffic? >> good morning, tom. tracking an accident on 395. traveling northbound, near washington boulevard. a accident there, multi-vehicle, it was blocking the right lane and now it's moved to the right shoulder lane. seeing delays already. so from the beltway to the 14 welcome back to today on this tuesday morning, it's the 1st day of october 2013. i'm willie with al, natalie, and brooke shields with us. we're getting into canoes. >> i have to get from the weather map -- >> how does that feel? >> to getting in that canoe. >> of all the bad ideas. >> how does that feel? >> it's perfectly comfortable. >> he looks very comfortable. >> that's high praise. >> and perhaps one of the funniest villains in the police squad movies. >> yes he was. >> i found out about that. >> al and i were getting in the cano for a few minutes. these glasses in japan, you put them on and they translate what you're reading from the foreign language you don't understand. they want to have them ready for the tokyo 2020 games but who is going to walk around with that device with a cord hanging out? >> don't they have it at the restaurant? >> why don't they just translate the menus? >> because the world doesn't resolve around americans. that's why. >> they're expecting a lot of people to come for the olympics. >> i'd rather look silly but be on it language-wise. >> waiting for the day. >> there will be an app for that. >> of course. >> yes and by 2020 you take any menu and translate simultaneous. >> by 2020 we're not even going to be speaking to each other. no talking. >> what do you mean? >> stop. okay. >> al is going to do the weather while i go get in the canoe. >> good luck with that. >> that'sfun. >> want to come? >> yes, of course. >> how about some lights over here. hey, now. and they appeared just like that. you can see a gorgeous day up and down the eastern seaboard. some rain in the pacific northwest. gulf coast looking a little on the wet side. as you can see we'll have a gorgeous day throughout much of the eastern seaboard. finally dried out down in florida. tomorrow more rain in the pacific northwest. nowhere near as bad as what they have had, but those showers and thunderstorms make their way up into the mississippi river valley. why? because we're basically going to be looking at a frontal system. that's going to be drawn coming right along the midwest and pushing east, and that's going to cause some big problems. that's what's going on around the country. here's what's happening in your neck of the woods. >> sunshine breaking out. live view from the storm team 4 fairfax county camera. clouds over the metro areas and points east, but they will continue to drift east. increasing sunshine. right now into the mid and upper 60s around much of the region, and by noontime upper 70s. mid-afternoon should be in the low 80s. storm team 4 seven-day outlook, warm afshs and cool mornings. each day into the weekend. could get some rain okay. thanks guys. that was easy. >> and that's natural. >> that's your latest weather. >> this is really good. i'm fine. no, it's all right. i'm good. >> a couple of outdoors men at work here. >> okay. well. >> why don't you just stay right there. i'll cuddle you. well, the government shut down so that means nonessential employee is off today. he is the libertarian on parks and recreation. >> we brought out the canoes because we have a new book paddle your own canoe. one man's fundamental for delicious living. good to see you. >> good to see you al. >> is this happening? is this on the air. >> life is more romantic in a canoe. >> you are a man that enjoys a canoe. what is it about it? >> well when you make a canoe yourself as well as the paddle there's something very powerful about the defeat of mother nature using our opposable thumbs and cognitive thought. >> a lot of people don't know you're a woodworker. you really build canoes. what is it about woodworking that's so satisfying. >> don't ask a serious question like that. go ahead. >> well, especially in this day and age when everybody lives so much inside of tiny little screens, actually making and doing something with your hands is such a tangible feeling of success and and can add a very delicious tone to your day where instead of getting a high score on some sort of crushing candy game, you can look at a table that you've built that will keep your beer from falling to the floor. >> nice. >> which is more noble. >> wow. >> could you make a larger canoe for us by any chance. >> i could, yeah. you should have called me. >> the eats moved around like that. >> listening to you talk, nick, and reading about you, it strikes me that you're a lot like ron swanson. is it fair to say that? >> in some ways. our team of comedy writers takes my personality and writes it much larger. >> you're known for your mustache but you're ambivalent in real life about the mustache. >> sure, i'm a character actor so all of the tools in my folicular tool box are valued. one of which is my mustache. i just happen to be using that tool when my role became popular so everyone thinks i just have a hammer but i'm actually really skilled in the socket set and the saw. >> wow. >> how long does it take to get that. to full fruition. >> five weeks to grow from the very top tier whisker down to the lip. that's the full swanson. >> the full swanson. >> i feel like i'm doing the full swanson right now. >> this is something. how does your wife feel about the stash? >> she is generous. even when i have a huge beard she likes it. it's a novelty for her. she likes to nestle her face into my bracken. >> wasn't that in the third pirates of the caribbean. >> no, it's number 17. >> speaking of your wife, i'm reading in the book, is it true you botched the proposal? the wedding proposal? >> not exactly. we had a gag going where i was pretending to propose a few times and i kept dropping these fake engagement rings down sewer grates and it sounds possibly mean or foolish, which i would certainly be accused of being foolish in other ways, but there was a sense of humor about it. she was in on the gag. so she would go along with it and say honey what was that that you just dropped. and i would say nothing, it was a 5 frank piece. and of course once i pulled the joke a few times, then i was on the hook if i didn't propose. then i would have been a jerk. >> well, thank you so much for being with us. we appreciate it. >> thank you for climbing into a canoe. >> climbing in is sort of a relative term. up next, one mother's super power to spread hope to hundreds of tiny heros after these messages. i remember the day my doctor said i had diabetes. there's a lot i had to do... ... watch my diet. stay active. start insulin... today, i learned there's something i don't have to do anymore. my doctor said that with novolog® flexpen, i don't have to use a syringe and a vial... or carry a cooler. flexpen® comes prefilled with fast-acting insulin used to help control high blood sugar when you eat. dial the exact does. inject by pushing a button. no drawing from a vial. you should eat a meal within 5 to 10 minutes after injecting novolog® (insulin aspart [rdna origin] injection). do not use if your blood sugar is too low, or if you are allergic to any of its ingredients. the most common side effect is low blood sugar, which may cause symptoms such as sweating, shakiness, confusion, and headache. severe low blood sugar can be serious and life-threatening. ask your health care provider about alcohol use, operating machinery, or driving. other possible side effects include injection site reactions and low potassium in your blood. tell your health care provider about all medicines you take and all of your medical conditions. get medical help right away if you experience serious allergic reactions such as body rash, trouble with breathing, fast heartbeat, or sweating. flexpen® is insulin delivery my way. covered by most insurance plans, including medicare. find your co-pay cost at myflexpen.com. ask your health care provider about novolog® flexpen today. 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[ morty ] i'm listening! i want you to know. morty are you listening? morty? wout of landfills each year? plastic waste to cover mt. rainier by using one less trash bag each month, we can. and glad forceflex bags stretch until they're full.* so you can take them out less often. and better is so easy withrning you cabenefiber.o something better for yourself. fiber that's taste-free, grit-free and dissolves completely. so you can feel free to add it to anything. and feel better about doing it. better it with benefiber. we're gonna stop beating ourselves up about our weight. we're not gonna give up what we love. it's not gonna happen. and when the pounds still come off... we'll be like, "whoa!" one night we'll even eat a cupcake like it's our job. just not the entire cake. that's part of the weight watchers plan. we're gonna feel happy... healthy... and good. really good. weight watchers. because we understand. because we've been there. because it works. join for free. offer ends october 19th. this morning in our series hope to it, how one mother's craft project is giving young kids the boost they need. >> she turned a needle and thread into inspiration for children battling illnesses. >> her work created an army of tiny super heros. >> it's not unusual for a 3 1/2-year-old girl to jump into a world of fantasy. >> you flew right out of that tree. >> reporter: what makes her truly extraordinary is her reality. >> listen on your tummy. >> reporter: much of her young life is spent inside a children's hospital. receiving treatment for the rare brain tumor discovered earlier this year. >> she is a fighter. she is feisty too. >> reporter: the cancer forced remedy and her family to move 2,000 miles from their house in alaska to the ronald mcdonald house in seattle. >> i want to play in the big house. >> reporter: chemotherapy weakened the power in her legs yet the purple cape with the bright pink r will tell you she is fighting with comic book strength. >> she is super remedy. my favorite part is when i call her super remedy she calls me super momma. i like that. >> reporter: the cape was a gift from a stranger who quickly became so much more. >> hi. it's so wonderful to see you. how are you? >> super skills. >> you have super skills? because of you cape? >> robin made the colorful wrap by hand. a product of her mortal skills and a super human drive that soars far above just one cape. >> three weeks ago we had 400 kids waiting. right now we're down to 100 but we're getting about 10 nominations every day. >> at first she stitched a few capes for relatives and then learned about a girl born with a severe skin disorder. >> it was a moment that she needed a cape. my son looked cute but she needed one. >> reporter: to date robin has cloaked more than 1700 kids battling illnesses and living with disabilities, building an army of super heros. >> they're going to the hospital in their cape and wearing them to their first day of school because kids make fun of them. >> with new requests coming in each day robin quit her job and opened a one room workshop where she and her volunteers can keep the sewing going. >> she doesn't just deliver capes. she bolsters children and robin turns them into super heros. >> reporter: kids like remedy are incredibly grateful. >> thank you robin for my cape and for being my friend love remedy. >> reporter: they realize a cape alone can't cure cancer but never underestimate the power of a girl who dreams that she can fly. >> she already has a super hero name. >> super remedy. >> if you have a tiny super hero in your home or would like to nominate another family's super hero find out more about robin's capes and how to get one at today.com. >> what an amazing woman. >> so cool. >> coming up, the hidden hazards you can find at any home. amy matthews is going to show us you can find at any home. amy m[ male announcer ]o show us there's a story behind the silver of philadelphia cream cheese. it always begins with fresh local milk blended with real, wholesome cream. going fresh from the farm, to our fridge, in just six days. because we believe in fresh taste. that's the way we set the standard for intensely rich, luscious flavor. so our story of fresh taste always ends, deliciously. when it comes to taste, philadelphia sets the standard. you've got to try this sweet & sour chicken helper. i didn't know they made chicken. crunchy taco or four cheese lasagna? can i get another one of those actually? 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[ female announcer ] tide, bounce and downy together save your coffee from the artificial stuff. switch to truvia. great tasting, zero-calorie sweetness from the stevia leaf. you raise her spirits. we tackled your shoulder pain. you make him rookie of the year. we took care of your cold symptoms. you take him on an adventure. tylenol® has been the number 1 doctor recommended brand of pain reliever for over 20 years. but for everything we do, we know you do so much more. tylenol®. but for everything we do, we know you do so much more. so my only makeup?story betrue match.n. with 33 shades, l'oreal's technology matches your skin's tone and undertone. there's only one true match for me. true match from l'oreal. ♪ nothing says, "i'm happy to see you too," like a milk-bone biscuit. ♪ say it with milk-bone. he loves me. he loves me not. he loves me. he loves me not. ♪ he loves me! that's right. [ mom ] warm and flaky in 15, everyone loves pillsbury grands! [ girl ] make dinner pop! when was the last time you cleaned out your dryer vent? >> yesterday. >> what about the correct wattage in your light bulb? >> maybe never. well these every day things around your house could be dangerous to you and your family. here to point out these hazards are amy matthews. good morning amy. >> good morning. thanks for having me. >> grease fires first. >> most common cause of household fire is cooking. never put water on it. it needs to be put out by a fire suppressant. suffocate it. you want to cutoff the oxygen to the fire. if you don't have any of these you can use a pan lid or cookie sheet or anything but -- >> anything on it. >> anything on it. >> except water. >> except water. >> no sugar, flour, no salt. >> those things will blow up. >> over here, let's talk about hazardous cords. a lot of us think we can get by another couple of years with that. >> check your cords, especially to your toaster because it uses more wattage than anything in the kitchen. make sure there's not something that looks like that. it should be plugged into an outlet by itself and no paper towe or cook books around it. >> you don't have to unplug it every day. >> when you go away for awhile. >> perfect idea. who wants to vacuum. >> our dryer, the back of the dryer, a lot of people don't look behind the dryer. >> they do and all of this lint really packs up. so pull the dryer away, take a look back here and vacuum this out. there will be a ton of lint build up. >> you hear about dryer fires all the time. >> it will cause a fire. look at all of the stuff. look at that, your jeans. >> how long do you have to do this? >> once a year. all of these things are easy to do once a year. make sure you check out the outside exhaust as well. >> it has to be four inches from the wall. >> actually the water because of the kinking in the lines back there. most of them sit a little ways away because of the vents. >> speaking of water, water damage -- i just fixed a whole wall because of water damage. >> did you need this. >> where were you? oh, you were busy with your little show. >> i was renovating ten other houses. take a look at the line behind your washing machine. turn the water off. if any of these are old or frayed replace them. upgrade to one of these. this is a steel braided line which is stronger and warrantied for longer. turn on a faucet on something nearby so the water drains so you don't cause your own water damage while you're fixing it. >> that would not be good. >> this is the over wattage situation. >> your lights don't have the wattage situations for fun. they want you to do that so you're safe. your regular bulb is really inefficient number one. you have your cfls and leds and halogen lamps. how much energy it uses has nothing to do with the brightness. let's say you have 100 watts for this and for this and this equals 22 watts from cfl but they both give the same light so you can get more light with less wattage. >> yeah. >> more environmentally. >> and they last longer and they -- it's just much smarter. >> big huge problem at my house. >> quickly. >> always check them once a year to make sure all of your fire and smoke alarms have batteries in them. pick the same day like new years every year and make sure you have another fire extinguisher for the whole house. one day, peace of mind. do them one time and you're done. >> great information. thank you. my to do list has grown by a lot. >> we can come over for you. >> we'll be back in a moment. this is "today" on nbc. al and i are still nuzzling. >> it's good. my favorite canoe ride of all time. >> kathie lee and hoda welcome sean hayes. >> kathie lee and hoda welcome sean hayes. >> around the sk yeah, oh. no, i gotta go. oh, can you make that to go? these days, nobody has time to get sick. but minute clinic makes it easy to get well. our nurse practitioners can diagnose and write prescriptions for everything from strep throat to sinus infections with no appointment necessary, so you can feel better in no time. you guys wanna go to the park? yeah! yeah! minute clinic. the walk-in medical clinic in cvs/pharmacy. now offering a medically based weight loss program. find a clinic near you at minuteclinic.com. 9:57 is your time now ton this tuesday, october 1st. 2013. i'm eun yang. let's check your forecast with storm team 4 meteorologist tom kierein. tom, looking good out there. >> yeah. sunshine now breaking out. temperatures are warming. now near 70 degrees around much of the region. approaching 10:00 on this tuesday morning. later today we'll likely climb into the low 80s by mid-afternoon, and mostly sunny. sunny again tomorrow. a bit warmer and highs low to mid-80s each day. thursday, friday, saturday and then on sunday highs near 80. could get some showers late sunday, sunday afternoon into sunday evening and perhaps into monday. how is late morning traffic? >> unfortunately still seeing red on the beltway because of an earlier accident involving a tractor trailer. still there. so if you're traveling the inner looep loop of the beltway heading towards route 7, only the left lane will get you by the tractor trailer accident. delays start prior to route 5 and that's where you're heavy on the brakes. i'd 95, the ramp to lordon has just reopened. back over to you. >> thanks. midday live around the region with team coverage of the "i'm terry mcauliffe, candidate for governor, and i sponsored this ad." these are birth control pills. more than half of american women use them at some point in their lives but ken cuccinelli sponsored a bill that could have made common forms of birth control illegal, including the pill. cuccinelli was one of only five senators to support this "potentially radical intrusion into domestic, family and individual decision-making" why is ken cuccinelli interfering in our private lives? he's focused on his own agenda. not us. ♪ >> announcer: from nbc news, this is "today" with kathie lee gifford and hoda kotb. live from studio 1a in rockefeller plaza. hey, everybody! there's good news and bad news sfp. >> what is the good news? >> the good news it's booze day tuesday. >> bat news, it's october 1st. all right, what is going onny. >> i do know on the east coast new york and the west coast it's going to be gorgeous. 80 degrees. we're having summertime weather. >> i know, but you're leaving town. >> you're right. i picked the wrong time to leave town. >> apparently though, hoda -- >> what. >> -- everybody went crazy yesterday for this cover that i have on my iphone. it's my favorite thing but it's really your favorite thing. it's a great color. here's a great thing. you can put your credit cards your cash even lip gloss in here. >> or a key. >> you shut it. it's light as a feather. >> yep. >> and everyone kept saying where do we get it. here it is again. eynproducts.com. $29.99. >> people don't know it's ian rand either, even though she wrote the books. >> i'm so weepy. here's the thing, the kid sings, the chairs are turned with their backs. the parents are in the room, the family members. all i care about is chair turning, boom -- i don't care about the reaction of the singers. i went right to the parents. you see the parents in the room just sobbing. >> that's because you love your family. >> well, what -- >> what if you didn't love your family? you'd be jealous if there's a family affair that actually cares about somebody. >> let's take a look at some of the auditions. ♪ ♪ begging you for mercy >> dude! >> cee lo! [ cheers and applause ] >> yeah! ♪ >> sing it! ♪ >> yes! >> i told you, me and cee lo, we think a lot -- >> adam! >> wow! >> yes. ♪ ♪ you you and i >> yes! yes! ♪ >> girl power! [ cheers and applause ] >> thank you. >> by the way, that young lady is the sister of kaley cuoco. >> cuoco, from "big bang theory." >> she was so excited because that girl worked as her sister's assistant. her sister is is in the waiting room and it's her sister's turn. >> i think it's going to roll this year. with football, "the voice" and also the black list. >> did you watch it last night? >> i tivoed it. >> it's so juicy. if you haven't watched "the black list." >> yes, it's crazy. we need a sitcom starring me and you -- perfect! >> speaking of music, i had a little fun with bethenny frankel. >> yes, that's what i hear. >> we decided it's a good opportunity to shoot a music video. i know you haven't seen this video. it's a song called "thrift shop" by macklemore. to re-enact the video. you have to picture thrift shop, fake fur, crazy insane. take a look. ♪ ♪ [ cheers and applause ] ♪ ♪ got 20 dollars in my pocket ♪ i wear your grandest clothes ♪ ♪ i look incredible i'm in this big as cold ♪ [ laughter ] ♪ come that thrift shop down the road ♪ >> anyway, going to be on our show today. it's funny and ridiculous. sorry about that. sorry. >> okay. >> is that a no-no? is that a pay money words -- oh, i'm sorry. i feel terrible. >> take it out of her salary. is it time to say good-bye to all time, to robocalls -- i think everybody would say yes. [ ringing ] >> i used to have barbara streisand singing. ♪ papa you can hear me? ♪ >> this is the thing about robocalls. you get the ones from candidates and you go hello? you hear nothing. you go hello? on the second hello, they go hello, this is so-and-so. and then -- there's a solution now called no-no robo. >> dirty bit. all you have to do is sign up for the service. if the computer tags an incoming call a robocall, it hangs up before the second song can go through. >> how does that know? >> it was created by monies by the federal trade commission. the website nomorobo.com. >> tara our director has never written anything down. she's righting something down. >> for a good time, you can call her -- >> come on tara. >> come on, tara. >> who was overserved the other night? >> you were! >> see what happens, we're sorry. there's a new study out that shows that kids who date younger end up in more trouble in life later. so when did you have your first boyfriend? think back. a new study from the journal of adollescents, age 13, in the middle of puberty to me. >> they start dating at age 13. >> dating is completely different than it used to be. a date is when a boy asked you out. girls never did unless you were a -- and getting paid -- >> it's a bad word. >> no, no -- >> okay. go on. go on. >> girls just didn't do it. nice girls did not do that. you waited for a boy to ask you out. the boy actually came to your house. knocked on the door. had to spent some time with your father before you could go out. now who knows they go to the mall like wild coyotes. they all go in groups. and hooking up is very different than what it was when we were -- i was a kid. >> yes. exactly. >> they say 11 to 12 year olds who start dating are twice as likely to have behavorial problems than their peers. if you're dating at 11, what is that, fourth grade? >> that's weird. fifth grade. it's way too soon. half the parents in our country wouldn't know they're kids are dating because they're not home to supervise them in the first place. >> dating only seemed like the only time you dated to me is when you went to a high school dance. >> a prom or something like that. >> at our house there was no dating it was forbidden. >> thank you. do you have a story to tell us? >> no -- >> about john -- >> i wasn't going to say his name. 79. everybody has a crush. i remember it clearly when i was a kid. fifth grade or sixth, riding my bike. he lived four houses up and over. his back porch you could see it. i would ride my banana seat bike, orange. and circle around and wait for him to come out and sometimes just park like a stalker. >> stalker. >> like a sixth grade stalker waiting for him. >> it was so weird. >> and then what did you do? >> we always had the whole makeout thing that was so exciting. oh, my, i'm holding hands. he would say will you go with me? i was like go with me? >> did you ask where? >> no, not where, go with me. john zachman asked me to go with him. he asked you -- it was so thrilling. >> oh, you know what -- you know what -- that was uncalled for. you know, you just ruined a great moment. i didn't know i was looking out of those eyes. >> okay. i love that necklace. >> hoda shows up -- >> we have to move on. speaking of that picture, we have a top dog winner. >> that was rude! >> oh! >> a little doggy humor. >> i'm not even continuing. enjoy. >> yes, you are. you never had so much fun in your life. teamed up with nbc's "chicago fire" to find the top dog. we had three great dogs. this is the winner. this is based on your votes. this dog received $68,000. smokie. a labrador retriever from jacksonville, illinois. she became a firefighter after found in a home engulfed in flames. now smokie helps kids to stop, drop and roll. >> which is what you were doing with john zachman. >> she gets a cameo appearance on "chicago fire. congratulations. >> we also want to congratulate our -- >> -- living room makeover winner! >> we finally have a winner. we're getting a drum roll. the winner is the deutsche family. they live in new york. the furniture about 15 years ago. her family has been begging her to do the living room for the past ten years. their home is where the friends and family live together so they wanted to redo it. we're going to take you throughout next monday -- >> deutsche -- it's duchi. written phonetically but we say deutsche. congratulations to that family. all right. kids we have a big show. jack from "will & grace" the emmy winning actor sean hayes is here. >> oh, yes! he's here. >> we got a kazoo save them. woolite detergents clean your jeans and won't torture your tanks. so clothes look like new even after 20 washes. walabout its free layaway.moms here's what they said. paying no opening fee would help my family greatly. free layaway to me is like a piggy bank. i can do that, i can afford free. get this vizio tv and put it on walmart's free layaway with no opening fee. walmart. the bibig-eye glam new falsies big eyes mascara from maybelline new york... with our first eye-opening brush duo. upper brush volumizes. unique lower micro- brush magnifies. for 360 big-eye glam! new big eyes ♪ maybe it's maybelline one square inch of deliciously smooth chocolate in creamy milk... or rich dark. incredible indulgence. one square inch of bliss. hershey's bliss. too small. too soft. too tasty. 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( ♪ ) for those nights when it's more than a bad dream, be ready. for the days when you get a sudden call from the school, be ready. for the times you need to double-check the temperature on the thermometer, be ready. when you have children's motrin on hand, you're ready. for high fever, nothing works faster or lasts longer than children's motrin. be ready with children's motrin. sure wish you guys would bring layaway back. actually... that way i could split my payments up into like little bite-size chunks! ahhh, you feel me, right? yeah... ah, sir... oh... get this vizio tv and put it on walmart's free layaway with no opening fee. walmart. ♪ oh. for eight seasons sean hayes kept studio audiences in stitches as the outrageously flamboyant jack mcfarland. i loved "will & grace." >> the man has moved on, do it. >> the few viewers you have left -- >> it's called "sean saves the world." a single gay dad trying to deal with an overbearing mother. >> is it still monday, because i've been out here since monday! [ laughter ] >> please, come in. [ laughter ] >> your voice got here ten minutes ago and it's been looking for you. [ laughter ] >> how's my baby? >> i don't know, mom, honestly going from a fun weekend dad to a full-time responsible dad -- >> you think i'm talking about you? that's funny. i'm talking about ellie. poor kid. 14 years and her mother abandons her. now she has no one. no one. >> linda lavin. let's talk about her for just a second. >> let's talk about her for a while, rather than just a second. >> she's amazing. >> she's totally -- linda loven -- not linda lavin. >> she's so much fun. >> yeah, she really is. we really connected very deeply. she's warm, wonderful, grounded real person and we have a great on-camera chemistry if i do say so myself. >> yeah, do you. >> she's very -- we have a mutual respect for her. i love her. >> i can't believe all you do for this network, it's called "sean saving the world." but it's sean saving the network. tell us how many shows you're responsible for. you played a part in -- >> i have a company that works with amazing people to make this happen. >> you make a lot of money basically? >> no, not yet. not as much as you two sitting here drinking. sends a great message to kids the home. >> they're at school. >> okay. "grim" which premieres october 26th. "hot in cleveland." >> so funny. >> and "the soulman" and then my show and game land going into its second season. >> yeah, that's been picked up. >> and in development, as they say. about the game show, the genesis of that, you actually played games in your house. and you decided hey, wouldn't this make for good tv? >> yeah, yeah, that's the story. thanks hoda. >> maybe a follow-up, do you have any time to -- >> yeah, there's games that we played in my house. we did for many years, we played all these games. a bunch of friends came over, we would play. then a couple executives that worked at nbc and said i think this is the show. i said i don't want to produce a game show. then here we are. it's a blast. it's amazing. people have turned not great numbers to be on it. and now that they've seen it, we're getting more calls. >> back to the sitcom. it's such a breakthrough with a sitcom. a lot of people are trying. with your pedigree. >> sequel. >> well, your sitcom is amazing. >> yeah. >> only fair. >> yeah, what was the question now? >> continue. >> no, bringing sitcoms back on tv. i mean they're working on cbs great now we're getting them on nbc. >> you don't have a laugh track. that's real laughter that you hear. >> well, laughter since the '20s, they began having live audiences. >> an audience will really tell you the truth. >> yes. >> so they tell you immediately if the joke works if it seems like it's working or not working. you fix it as you go that's the great thing about the genre of sitcoms as opposed to the single-cam. like "the office." >> why do we have kazoos? >> i've been asking myself the same question. >> we were going to play a game with them. do we have time for spin the bottle? >> oh, god, this is exhausting. >> "sean saves the world." airs thursdays at 9:00 right here on nbc. >> congratulations. >> thank you. you know who else has us in stitches? -- jill martin, stitches of a different kind. 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[ dog barks ] it's just being a kid again. with aetna, we have the tools to find the right specialist, save money on our hospital bills, even call a nurse anytime. no matter what your healthy is, aetna can help you get there. what's your healthy? oh, no, i got to go. oh, can you make that to go? these days, nobody has time to get sick. but minuteclinic makes it easy to get well. our nurse practitioners can diagnose and write prescriptions for everything from strep throat to sinus infections with no appointment necessary, so you can feel better in no time. you guys want to go to the park? children: yeah! minuteclinic, the medical clinic in cvs pharmacy, now offering flu shots every day, no appointment necessary. find a clinic near you at minuteclinic.com. ♪ we're back with more today on this booze day tuesday. time to check out jill's must-haves. today is about the perfect pairings. >> yeah, we're not talking about wine for once. >> the hottest handbags who better to keep you up on trends on contributor from people's "stylewatch" and author jill martin. >> i think it's shock when you go open these magazines and you see all of these bags and they're so expensive. and you say which ones should i buy. >> if i can only have one -- >> only have one. many of these are in your closet. i'm going to show you the five that are hot right now under $50. >> okay. >> let's start with the first one which is this quilted bag which is is traditional stitching. >> which chanel's been doing forever. >> you can have it day or night. it has a fancy show to it. let's show how it works. >> can you carry a ziploc bag. >> right. you put this in your bigger bag during the day and at night you can wear that. >> there you go. >> that's adorable. >> she doesn't have a bigger bag. just a bigger ziploc bag. >> yes, i do. >> that big bag. that works. >> so excited. >> satchel. this is the next bag which you may already have in your closet. you can wear all different bags. it's with the handle. it's with a structured bag. normally it's with this. which is removable. i often don't wear it with that. this is the real structured bag from work. this is from jcpenney from structured heaven. if you see the picture with kathie lee. >> oh, too much cleavage for a woman my age. >> if you're going out at night, from work during the day to night this is another great option. >> how much does it cost? >> all on our website. all under $100. >> okay. >> now we're moving over here. colorblocking. huge trend. >> don't wear it were a colorblocked dress, though. like i've got on. >> yes. this is another trend. this will take you throughout next year as well. look at all the different kinds. this you want to wear with a solid dress. this is one of the clutches here. let's check in with hoda. >> look at hoda woman. >> that's a strange photo. >> it slants it a little on the monitor. this goes well. >> very cute. >> with solid outfit or solid pants or sweater. portfolio clutches. this is the clutch of the season. you're going to get an oversized clutch. >> like an ipad in that. >> this is a portfolio clutch, bigger than the traditional ones. checking with kathie lee throughout. >> i like this picture because it's been -- you know, airbrushed out the wazoo. >> yes. >> that's nice, too. >> now, cobalt blue. >> this is the new hot color for the season. >> it is. >> 2014, blue is a pantone color. this is from kohl's. you can wear it with brown, blue, pink. it's kind of a neutral to me. this is this strap that looks great. >> very cute. >> and then we love the fanny pack. if we can transition with another photo that we love. >> oh, my gosh! >> this is an alternative to the fanny pack to get it on trend and carry everything. >> and also put on a practice. that would be awesome, too. >> we will do the bra segment -- >> good idea. >> jill, love you so much, sweetheart. >> thank you. before you throw that bag of pretzels in that ziploc bag. madeline will give you a few things to chew over. we're playing "beat it or eat things to chew over. we're playing "beat it or eat it sure wish you guys would bring layaway back. actually... that way i could split my payments up into like little bite-size chunks! ahhh, you feel me, right? yeah... ah, sir... oh... get this vizio tv and put it on walmart's free layaway with no opening fee. walmart. it's an opportunitye to stop and savor, the unmistakable taste that reminds us that life is delicious. behaves like the surface of your skin. now watch what soap does to it. ♪ soap strips your skin. dove is different. with 1/4 moisturizing cream, dove doesn't strip your skin like soap. [ male announcer ] you say tomato. ♪ old el paso says diced tomato stand 'n stuff chicken tacos. ♪ you say what's for dinner? old el paso says start somewhere fresh. i remember thinking there's a lot i have to do... check my blood sugar, eat better. start insulin. today i learned there's something i don't have to do anymore. my doctor said with levemir® flexpen... i don't have to use a syringe and a vial. levemir® flexpen comes prefilled with long-acting insulin taken once daily for type 2 diabetes to help control high blood sugar. dial the exact dose. inject by pushing a button. no drawing from a vial. no refrigeration for up to 42 days. levemir® (insulin detemir [rdna origin] injection) is not recommended to treat diabetic ketoacidosis. do not use levemir® if you are allergic to any of its ingredients. the most common side effect is low blood sugar, which may cause symptoms such as sweating, shakiness, confusion, and headache. severe low blood sugar can be serious and life threatening. ask your health care provider about alcohol use, operating machinery, or driving. other possible side effects include injection site reactions. tell your health care provider about all medicines you take and all of your medical conditions. get medical help right away if you experience serious allergic reactions such as body rash, trouble with breathing, fast heartbeat, or sweating. flexpen® is insulin delivery my way. covered by most insurance plans, including medicare. ask your health care provider about levemir® flexpen today. here's what they said. of moms about its free layaway. paying no opening fee would help my family greatly. free layaway to me is like a piggy bank. i can do that, i can afford free. (laughs) get this leappad ultra and put it on walmart's free layaway with no opening fee. walmart. time to play "beat it or eat it." this time it's about snack foods between meals. >> we're going to beat the foods that are not so good for us and eat the ones that are healthy for us, guiding us through this is health editor madeline harris. >> snack time. we're going to be talk about crunchy/salty snacks. i want you to beat the one that has the most fat is it honey mustard pretzels or tortilla chips. >> that is wrong. don't be fooled by pretzels when you have add-ins that are high in fats. these are baked chips. >> so good. >> next from prepackaging. the chocolate chip cookies and a two-back of granola bars which one should you beat because it has more calories. >> don't beat the cookies. >> okay. >> you are right. they're healthier you're going to get 50 calories less in those three chocolate chip cookies. heart healthy portions do count. which one should you beat because more calories per serving. 22 almonds or 38 pistachios in the shell. you want to beat the almonds because they've got another 50, 60 calories. you have to work at these pistachios. fresh fruit, how can you go wrong, right? grapes and cheddar cheese and apples and -- which one has more calories. >> i'm going to gently beat this. >> and you are -- >> i still got hit. >> apples and dip have 230 calories. >> which ones are we beating? >> you are beating this one. >> i know, this game is no fun name because we're worried about -- >> don't give up. >> oh, no. frozen treats. you want a better calorie-controlled choice. two regular chocolate pops or a cup of fat-free vanilla. which one should you beat because it has more calories. >> i want to go -- >> you are right, hoda. a cup of yogurt is 260 calories. these are just 60 each. >> who doesn't love dip. hummus. both are healthy. you want to eat the one with the calorie savings beat the ones that are higher. >> which one again? >> this is salsa -- >> you want to beat the one with higher calories. you are right, you're going to beat the hummus. let's end with candy. you want to tame your sweet tooth. one of these candies has fewer calories with the same saving size. you want to beat the one with mini chocolate chips and yogurt-conferred peanuts. beat the one that has more calories. >> more. >> and you are right -- the yogurt peanuts. you are right. not a health food. >> who won -- >> i got five? i couldn't have gotten five. i did? >> yea! popcorn. >> your girls will love that when they come visit. >> exactly. madeline. thank you. >> italian -- >> we're making napoleons with seasonal veggies. and why you want to collect seasonal veggies. >>[ male announcer ] a new test with pluggable febreze. we rented this resort, hid smelly objects all over each villa and plugged in febreze. then real people were asked to stay for a long weekend. would they smell anything? the room itself was like [sniffs] ahhh. feels like someone has pumped fresh oxygen into the room. 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[ laughing ] [ male announcer ] pluggable febreze eliminates odors and keeps your home continuously fresh for up to 30 days, so you can breathe happy. and keeps your home continuously fresh sure wish you guys would bring layaway back. actually... that way i could split my payments up into like little bite-size chunks! ahhh, you feel me, right? yeah... ah, sir... oh... get this vizio tv and put it on walmart's free layaway with no opening fee. walmart. color that's vibrant. the one and only feria by l'oreal. multi-faceted color that transforms you. triple highlights that shimmer from every angle. never dull, never flat. feria. by l'oreal paris. say "yes". waiting for your wrinkle cream to work? clinically proven neutrogena® rapid wrinkle repair. it targets fine lines and wrinkles with the fastest retinol formula available. you'll see younger looking skin in just one week. one week? that's just my speed. rapid wrinkle repair. and for dark spots rapid tone repair. from neutrogena®. and for dark spots rapid tone repair. walabout its free layaway.moms here's what they said. paying no opening fee would help my family greatly. free layaway to me is like a piggy bank. i can do that, i can afford free. get this vizio tv and put it on walmart's free layaway with no opening fee. walmart. i was honored to serve as governor of virginia. we brought folks together in richmond to focus on creating jobs and getting results. that's the virginia way. and that's why i'm backing terry mcauliffe for governor. terry won't let ideological battles get in the way of making progress. terry will work with democrats, republicans, and independents to create jobs and move virginia forward. it's important for virginia that we elect terry mcauliffe as our governor. i'm terry mcauliffe, candidate for governor, and i sponsored this ad. the kids are back in sports. the leaves are changing, falling, tailgating is in full swing but enough about hoda's sex life. fall is a great time of year when it comes to annoying everyday habits. >> annoying, great word. from raking the leaves to keeping your kid's lunch box fresh. we have tips to helping you out. >> that's great with hoda's sex life. >> hey. >> let's talk about getting rid of leaves. we love fall. we hate the leaves. we hate them in the gutter. take an old school slinky. >> you got an slinky there. >> of course, we do an old school slinky. and attach it like this. >> and hook it. >> who's looking into your gutters? about this far. attach this here. okay? >> okay. >> like -- come on bruce. like this. now what happens, and these leaves will not -- >> they can't get in there to begin with. >> there's no overflowing into your leaves. you can also put them in the spouts if you like. but nobody is really looking in your gutter. >> you there go. >> but really -- >> exactly, another thing with leaves is raking okay. what happens, the bag falls in. if one you have would sort of hold that for me. >> we're going to bungee cord it? >> we're going to bungee cord it like this. hold the garbage can. now look what you can do. now all your leaves can go in. what's nice here, they're all fake. >> and they're not wet. >> they're not wet. this is the way to do it. this will not fall. back-to-school tips you're sick of making your kids' lunch already a month into it and you know they're not eating their fruit. which they don't. you want to take a rubber band, cut it up, it's bite size, it's not brown and the kids will the key it because they don't eat the full thing. >> kids are picky. >> kids are picky. also, the thermoses are probably disgusting because they get -- >> icky. >> right. >> you want to use eggshells and vinegar. shake it up. and then when you're done, you can put sugar cubes in either, seal these up and there are no more smells. >> sugar cubes will -- >> exactly right. >> be sure to throw those out before you use it. >> indeed. indeed. let's talk about tailgating, we want to show you how never to lose your spot in a tailgate, how to get your kids clean because they roll around in the grass like disgusting animals. and most importantly how to keep your beer cold. take a little shampoo. fill it with water. freeze this. >> why? >> because this is now an ice block to keep your beer cold. more than that, before the game now, this will have unfrozen, the kids are rolling around like little beasts. >> it's like purell. >> you can clean up the little nose pickers. and if they get a stain on their jersey. >> yes, they did. >> there's a little mustard. you get rid of that, the excess. and then a little shaving cream. like this in about five minutes the alcohols in this will raise -- raise the stain out. by the time you get home, the stain should be gone. if it is not gone, what you're going to do is spray -- pardon my finger here -- >> is this vinaigrette? >> this is detergent and peroxide. >> okay. >> stain is gone. you there go. how about that for the fall. >> thank you very much. do you need a simple solution for dinner tonight, everybody? >> how about italian. delicious meals great from ♪ it's time to take you into today's kitchen and show you what's cookin'. on the menu, an italian-style vegetable main course. >> then who knows italian cooking better than sal! from his italian restaurant right here in new york city. >> glad to have you back. >> thank you. i made this 20 years ago for people, vegetarians but it gives you a main course. staples with zucchini and eggplant. i sliced them up. i left the skin on. a little flour and egg. >> egg after that. >> yes. olive oil. >> uh-huh, uh-huh. >> very simple. >> so far, we can do it. >> you can do it. >> how long do you cook those babies for? >> a minute or two minutes on each side. >> here we have spinach that we steamed already. i have olive oil and some garlic. i love the smell of that. >> the idea is to try to keep this dry. the big part about this dish is to keep it as dry as you can so i wouldn't add any more water. salt and pepper. >> that smells good. >> smells good, tastes good. we move over here where we start to assemble. this is a baking pan. you put the butter and bread crumbs so when you unmold it, it's easy to do. >> i already put the layer of eggplant. >> i love eggplant. >> you can hand me those? >> yep. >> going to make it like a little lasagna? >> a little sauce. not too much. you want to keep it wet. not too much. a layer of vegetables. now i have the zucchini. >> oh, gosh. awesome! >> i can't even fake it. >> plop down that tomato sauce. >> cheese. and on on. the layer of spinach now. >> oh. >> nice and dry. pat it down. come around this side. come around this side here. . we bake this in the oven at 400 degrees for about -- >> oh, look at it. >> it's napoleon because it looks like a napoleon. >> it sure does. how long do you cook this? >> about 35 to 45 minutes. you put it here in a dish, flip it over. >> beautiful. >> then we put some tomato sauce. parmesan cheese. >> no cheese for me. >> give it a shot. >> tomorrow from the show "iron side" the very handsome blair underwood. >> and you see that. look what happened with the mustard. gonzo! >> david arquette will be with us. we'll have gridlock on capitol hill. right now a government shutdown reaches its 11th hour, leaving d.c. hundreds of thousands of federal workers and much of the country very nervous. good morning and welcome to "news 4 midday." i'm barbara harrison. it's tuesday, october 1st, 2013. and right now we're closely watching developments on capitol hill. now 11 hours after a budget impasse forced the government to shut down. we have team coverage this morning for you. news4's angie goff stars us off from the live desk with a look at what's happening on capitol hill right now. angie? >> good morning, barbara. 11 hours into the government shutdown and more gridlock on capitol hill. live to the house floor now where they're in session just shortly after the senate rejected the latest house republican request for formal talks about a budget deal. they voted
i don't know that you'd be as moved. >> i'm into reactions. >> you'd be jealous if there's a family affair that actually cares about somebody. >> let's take a look at some of the auditions. ♪ ♪ begging you for mercy >> dude! >> cee lo! [ cheers and applause ] >> yeah! ♪ >> sing it! ♪ >> yes! >> i told you, me and cee lo, we think a lot -- >> adam! >> wow! >> yes. ♪ ♪ you you and i >> yes! yes! ♪ >> girl power! [ cheers and applause ] >> thank you. >> by the way, that young lady is the sister of kaley cuoco. >> cuoco, from "big bang theory." >> she was so excited because that girl worked as her sister's assistant. her sister who's the tv star is in the waiting room and it's her sister's turn. >> i think it's going to roll this year. with football, "the voice" and also "the black list." >> did you watch it last night? >> i tivoed it. >> it's so juicy. if you haven't watched "the black list." you're missing. >> it's extraordinary. >> yes, it's crazy. we need a sitcom starring me and you -- perfect! >> speaking of music, i had a little fun with bethenny frankel. >> yes, that's what i hear. >> she put you to work for a week, hoda. >> we decided it's a good opportunity to shoot a music video. i know you haven't seen this video. it's a song called "thrift shop" by macklemore. we decided it was going to be very appropriate. we decided it was very appropriate to reenact the video. you have to picture thrift shop, fake fur, crazy insane. take a look. ♪ ♪ [ cheers and applause ] ♪ ♪ got 20 dollars in my pocket ♪ i wear your grandest clothes ♪ ♪ i look incredible i'm in this big as cold ♪ [ laughter ] ♪ come that thrift shop down the road ♪ >> anyway, going to be on our show today. it's funny and ridiculous. sorry about that. sorry. >> okay. >> is that a no-no? >> happens. >> is that a pay money words? oh, i'm sorry. i feel terrible. >> take it out of her salary. is it time to say good-bye to all time, to robocalls -- i think everybody would say yes. [ ringing ] >> oh, my god, i thought that was your phone. you had that old-fashioned road. >> i used to have barbara streisand singing. ♪ papa you can hear me? ♪ >> this is the thing about robocalls. you get the ones from candidates and you go hello? >> they wait until you're having dinner. >> you hear nothing. you go hello? on the second hello, they go hello, this is so-and-so. and then -- there's a solution now called nomorobo. >> dirty bit. all you have to do is sign up for the service. if the computer tags an incoming call a robocall, it hangs up before the second ring can even go through. >> how does that know? >> it was created by monies by the federal trade commission. you wanted to know where your tax dollars was going. finally, something we can use. the website nomorobo.com. goes live tonight. >> tara our director has never written anything down. she's writing something down. >> she's actually writing something down. >> for a good time, you can call her -- >> come on, tara. >> come on, tara. >> who was overserved the other night? >> you were! >> see what happens, we're sorry. there's a new study out that shows that kids who date younger end up in more trouble in life later. so when did you have your first boyfriend? think back. a new study from the journal of adolescents, age 13, in the middle of puberty to me. >> seems early. 55% of kids begin start dating at age 13. >> what does that mean? >> dating is completely different than it used to be. a date is when a boy asked you out. girls never did unless you were a -- and getting paid -- >> you have to get paid. it's a bad word. >> it's a bad word. >> no, no -- >> okay. go on. go on. >> girls just didn't do it. nice girls did not do that. you waited for a boy to ask you out. the boy actually came to your house. knocked on the door. had to spend some time with your father before you could actually go to the movies or something like that. now who knows they go to the mall like wild coyotes. they all go in groups. and you never know. and hooking up is very different than what it was when we were -- i was a kid. >> yes. exactly. >> they say 11 to 12 year olds who start dating are twice as likely to have behavorial problems in their school than their peers. if you're dating at 11, what is that, fourth grade? >> that's weird. fifth grade. it's way too soon. half the parents in our country wouldn't know they're kids are dating because they're not home to supervise them to begin with. you don't know what your kids are doing unless you're actively involved in their lives. >> dating only seemed like the only time you dated to me is when you went to a high school dance. >> a prom or something like that. >> at our house there was no dating it was forbidden. >> thank you. >> thaing for coming. but you have a little story to tell us? >> no, i don't. >> about john sackerman. >> i wasn't going to say his name. everybody has a crush. i remember it clearly when i was a kid. fifth grade or sixth, riding my bike. he lived four houses up and over. his back porch you could see it. i would ride my banana seat bike, orange. and circle around and wait for him to come out and sometimes just park like a stalker. >> stalker. >> like a sixth grade stalker waiting for him. >> it was so weird. >> and then what did you do? alls we did, everyone did the whole thing, we had the whole makeout thing that was so exciting. oh, my, i'm holding hands. he would say will you go with me? i was like go with me? >> did you ask where? >> no, not where, go with me. john zachman asked me to go with him. everyone said, he asked you to go with him? it was so thrilling. >> oh, you know what -- you know what -- that was uncalled for. you know, you just ruined a great moment. i didn't know i was looking out of those eyes. >> okay. >> those glasses. >> love is blind. >> i love that necklace. >> hoda shows up -- >> we have to move on. speaking of that picture, we have a top dog winner. >> that was rude! >> oh! >> a little doggy humor. last week we teemed up -- >> >> i'm not even continuing. enjoy. >> yes, you are. you never had so much fun in your life. teamed up with nbc's "chicago fire" to find the top fire house dog. we had three great dogs. this is the winner. this is based on your votes. this doing received 68,000 votes, smokey. a labrador retriever from jacksonville, illinois. she became a firefighter after found in a home engulfed in flames. now smokie helps kids to stop, drop and roll. >> which is what you were doing with john zachman. >> she gets a cameo appearance -- this is so sick -- on "chicago fire." congratulations. >> we also want to congratulate our -- >> -- living room makeover winner! >> we finally have a winner. remember? >> we're getting a drumroll. >> we had thousands of entries and the winner is the deutsche family. they live in new york. the furniture about 15 years ago. her family has been begging her to do the living room for the past ten years. their home is where the friends and family live together so they wanted to redo it. you can tell there was a lot of love there. it was a long time ago. >> we're going to take you throughout the house next monday. >> duchi, is what we said. >> we said duchi. written phonetically but we say deutsche. congratulations to that family. all right. kids we have a big show. jack from "will & grace" the emmy winning actor sean hayes is here. >> oh, yes! he's here. >> i love all references. keep them up. >> we got a kazoo for you. >> bye! ♪ oh. for eight seasons sean hayes kept studio audiences in stitches as the outrageously flamboyant jack mcfarland. i loved "will & grace." >> the man has moved on, do it. they don't want to be reminded. he's now emmy award winning -- >> the few viewers you have left -- >> it's called "sean saves the world." a single gay dad trying to deal with an over bearing mother. >> is it still monday, because i've been out here since monday! [ laughter ] >> please, come in. [ laughter ] >> your voice got here ten minutes ago and it's been looking for you. [ laughter ] >> how's my baby? >> i don't know, mom, honestly going from a fun weekend dad to a full-time responsible dad -- >> you think i'm talking about you? that's funny. i'm talking about ellie. poor kid. 14 years and her mother abandons her. now she has no one. no one. >> and, go. >> linda lavin. let's talk about her for just a second. >> let's talk about her for a while, rather than just a second. >> she's amazing. >> tony award winner. linda loven, not linda lavin. >> she's so much fun. >> yeah, she really is. we really connected very deeply. she's warm, wonderful, grounded real person and we have a great on-camera chemistry if i do say so myself. >> yeah, do you. >> she's very -- we have a mutual respect for each other. i love her. >> i can't believe all you do for this network, it's called "sean saves the world." but it's sean saving the network. tell us how many shows you're responsible for. you played a part in -- >> i have a company that works with amazing people to make this happen. >> you make a lot of money basically? >> no, not yet. not as much as you two sitting here drinking. sends a great message to kids the home. >> they're at school. >> okay. "grimm" which premieres october 26th. "hot in cleveland." >> so funny. love that. >> and "the soul man" and then my show and then "hollywood game night" which goes into its second season. >> yeah, that's been picked up. >> and in development, as they say. about the game show, the genesis of that, you actually played games in your house. and you decided hey, wouldn't this make for good tv? >> yeah, yeah, that's the story. thanks, hoda. >> maybe a follow-up, do you have any time to -- do you have time to still play them? >> yeah, there's games that we played in my house. we did for many years, we played all these games. a bunch of friends came over, we would play. then a couple executives that worked at nbc and said i think this is the show. i said i don't want to produce a game show. then here we are. it's actually a blast. it's turned out amazing. people have turned out in great numbers to be on it. and now that they've seen it, we're getting more calls. >> back to the sitcom. it's such a breakthrough with a sitcom. a lot of people are trying. with your pedigree. >> sequel. >> well, your sitcom is amazing. >> yeah. new i'm guesting on your sitcom. >> only fair. >> yeah, what was the question now? >> continue. >> no, bringing sitcoms back on tv. i mean they're working on cbs great now we're getting them on nbc. >> you don't have a laugh track. that's real laughter that you hear. >> a lot of people say, well, laugh track -- since the '20s, television, they've having live audiences. >> an audience will really tell you the truth. >> yes. >> so they tell you immediately if the joke works if it seems like it's working or not working. you fix it as you go that's the great thing about the genre of multi-cams sitcoms as opposed to single cam. like "the office." which is ultimate and immediate. >> why do we have kazoos? >> i've been asking myself the same question. >> we were going to play a game with them. do we have time for spin the bottle? >> oh, not very nice. >> or play the kazoos? >> oh, god, this is exhausting. >> "sean saves the world." airs thursdays at 9:00 right here on nbc. >> thank you so much. >> congratulations. >> thank you. you know who else has us in stitches? -- jill martin, stitches of a different kind. see what you're getting the boot for -- handbags, baby. ♪ ♪ [ coughs, sneezes ] i have a big meeting when we land, but i am so stuffed up, i can't rest. [ male announcer ] nyquil cold and flu liquid gels don't unstuff your nose. they don't? alka seltzer plus night fights your worst cold symptoms, plus has a decongestant. [ inhales deeply ] oh. what a relief it is. and can cost thousands of dollars to repair... thankfully, the powerful dual action formula of rid-x has enzymes to break down waste and time released bacteria to reduce tank build up. rid-x. #1 in septic maintenance. could save you fifteen percent or more on car insurance. everybody knows that. well, did you know that when a tree falls in the forest and no one's around, it does make a sound? ohhh...ohhh...oh boy! i'm falling. everybody look out! ahhhhh...ugh. little help here. geico. fifteen minutes could save you...well, you know. anybody? and nobody's watching? >> nobody. >> it would be like a viewer magnet. >> would you do your cher impression real quick? >> no, what am i -- >> please. please. >> oh, my lord. >> i don't know how to do it. ♪ can you believe in love after love ♪ >> i think she just did it. >> we want you. >> using time. jill martin has this season's hottest handbags. >> hoda and i are the hottest bags in town. >> your local news and weather. ♪ we're back with more today on this booze day tuesday. time to check out jill's must-haves. today is about the perfect pairings. >> yeah, we're not talking about wine for once. >> the hottest handbags who better to keep you up on trends on contributor from people's "stylewatch" and author jill martin. >> hi, doll. >> you're looking festive today. >> i think it's shock when you go open these magazines and you see all of these bags and they're so expensive. and you say which ones should i buy. >> if i can only have one -- >> only have one. many of these are in your closet. i'm going to show you the five that are hot right now under $50. >> okay. >> that's nice. >> let's start with the first one which is this quilted bag which is is traditional stitching. >> which chanel's been doing forever. >> you can wear these daor night. it has a fancy edge to if. let's show how it works. >> can you carry a ziploc bag. >> right. you put this in your bigger bag during the day and at night you can wear that. >> there you go. >> that's adorable. >> she doesn't have a bigger bag. just a bigger ziploc bag. >> yes, i do. >> that big bag. that works. >> so excited. >> satchel. this is the next bag which you may already have in your closet. you can wear all different bags. it's with the handle. it's with a structured bag. normally it's with this. you can wear it either way. which is removable. i often don't wear it with that. this is the real structured bag from work. this is from jcpenney from hand bag heaven. if you see the picture with kathie lee. >> oh, too much cleavage for a woman my age. >> if you're going out at night, from work during the day to night this is another great option. >> how much does it cost? >> all under $100. on our website, all under $100. >> okay. >> now we're moving over here. colorblocking. huge trend. >> don't wear it were a colorblocked dress, though. like i've got on. >> yes. this is another trend. this will take you throughout next year as well. look at all the different kinds. this you want to wear with a solid dress. this is one of the clutches here. let's check in with hoda. >> look at hoda woman. >> that's a strange photo. >> it slants it a little on the monitor. this goes well. >> very cute. >> with solid outfit or solid pants or sweater. portfolio clutches. these are the big clutches of the season. you're going to get an oversized clutch. >> like an ipad in that. >> this is a portfolio clutch, bigger than the traditional ones. i'm going to try this one. check in with kathie lee throughout. >> i like this picture because it's been -- you know, airbrushed out the wazoo. >> yes. >> that's nice, too. >> now, cobalt blue. >> this is the new hot color for the season. >> it is. >> 2014, blue is a pantone color. you can take it from here all the way through next year. >> really? >> yeah. this is from kohl's. you can wear it with brown, blue, pink. it's kind of a neutral to me. this is this strap that looks great. >> very cute. >> and then we love the fanny pack. if we can transition with another photo that we love. >> it's right behind you, i think. >> oh, my gosh! >> this is an alternative to the fanny pack to get it on trend and carry everything. >> and also put on a practice. that would be awesome, too. >> we will do the bra segment -- >> good idea. >> jill, love you so much, sweetheart. >> thank you. before you throw that bag of pretzels in that ziploc bag. madeline will give you a few things to chew over. we're playing "beat it or eat it!" i love this game with your favorite snacks. >> we have mallets. >> cookies or granola. come on madeline. get in there. >> yes! >> with hotwire's low prices, i can cross even more places off my travel wish list. this year alone, i hit new york and texas. see, hotwire checks the competition's rates every day so they can guarantee their low hotel prices. >> men: ♪ h-o-t-w-i-r-e, hotwire.com. ♪ hey, have you guys heard about probiotics? for digestive health? yes and did you know that trubiotics is a daily probiotic that helps in two ways? it supports digestive and immune health by working in your gut where 70% of your immune system lives. try trubiotics today. by working in your gut where 70% of your immune system lives. have hail damage to both their cars. ted ted is trying to get a hold of his insurance agent. maxwell is not. he's on geico.com setting up an appointment with an adjuster. ted is now on hold with his insurance company. maxwell is not and just confirmed a 5:30 time for tuesday. ted, is still waiting. yes! maxwell is out and about... with ted's now ex-girlfriend. wheeeee! whoo! later ted! online claims appointments. just a click away on geico.com. time to play "beat it or eat it." this time it's about snack foods between meals. >> we're going to beat the foods that are not so good for us and eat the ones that are healthy for us, guiding us through this is health editor madeline harris. >> snack time. who doesn't like to snack? we're going to be talk about crunchy/salty snacks. i want you to beat the one that has the most fat is it honey mustard pretzels or tortilla chips. >> that is wrong. don't be fooled by pretzels when you have add-ins that are high in fats. these are baked chips. >> so good. >> they are good. >> next from prepackaging. the chocolate chip cookies and a two-back of granola bars which one should you beat because it has more calories. >> don't beat the cookies. >> okay. >> you are right. kathie lee beat 2 it first. they're healthier you're going to get 50 calories less in those three chocolate chip cookies. heart healthy portions do count. which one should you beat because more calories per serving. 22 almonds or 38 pistachios in the shell. you want to beat the almonds because they've got another 50, 60 calories. >> i was right! >> you have to work at these pistachios. fresh fruit, how can you go wrong, right? grapes and cheddar cheese and apples and -- which one has more calories. >> i'm going to gently beat this. >> and you are -- >> i still got hit. >> i'm going to gently beat this. >> the apples and dip have 230 calori calories. >> which ones are we beating? >> you are beating this one. >> i know, this game is no fun name because we're worried about -- >> don't give up. >> oh, keep moving. frozen treats. you want a better calorie-controlled choice. two regular chocolate pops or a cup of fat-free vanilla. which one should you beat because it has more calories. >> i want to go -- >> you are right, hoda. a cup of yogurt is 260 calories. these are just 60 each. good choice. >> let's get to dip. who doesn't love dip? hummus. both are healthy. you want to eat the one with the calorie savings beat the ones that are higher. >> which one again? >> say it again. this is salsa and this is hummus >> you want to beat the one with higher calories. you are right, you're going to beat the hummus. >> i'm sorry. >> let's end up with some candy. you want to tame your sweet tooth. one of these candies has fewer calories with the same saving size. >> looks like rabbit droppings. >> you want to beat the one that has more calories you want to beat the one with mini chocolate chips and yogurt-covered peanuts. beat the one that has more calories. >> more. >> and you are right -- the yogurt peanuts. you are right. not a health food. >> who won -- >> i got five? i couldn't have gotten five. i did? >> what is the prize? >> yea! popcorn. >> your girls will love that when they come visit. >> exactly. madeline. thank you. >> italian -- >> we're making napoleons with seasonal veggies. and why you want to collect all the slinkies from your kids' toy bins. we've got tips and tricks for all the problems around the house coming up next. fall is finally here. >> and for every season there's a reason to watch. "wake up with al" weekday mornings on the weather channel. >> it's just right. >> all your local weather, travel updates and the day's top stories. >> the front will move through. >> you just can't beat this kind of weather. >> everything you need to know first thing. >> here's the big picture. >> we're sort of like a killer app in the morning. >> tap into us. >> announcer: "wake up with al" with stephanie abrams and al roker weekday mornings until 10:00. only on "the weather channel." was a really bad speller? your word is...cow. cow. cow. c...o...w... ...e...i...e...i...o. [buzzer] dangnabbit. geico. fifteen minutes could save you...well, you know. prove it. enough is enough. d-con baits are specially formulated to kill in one feeding. guaranteed. d-con. get out. i've got a big date, but my sinuses are acting up. it's time for advil cold and sinus. [ male announcer ] truth is that won't relieve all your symptoms. new alka seltzer plus-d relieves more sinus symptoms than any other behind the counter liquid gel. oh what a relief it is. the kids are back in sports. the leaves are changing, falling, tailgating is in full swing but enough about hoda's sex life. fall is a great time of year when it comes to annoying everyday habits. >> annoying, great word. from raking the leaves to keeping your kid's lunch box fresh. author of "who knew." has some tips and tricks. >> that's great with hoda's sex life. >> hey. >> let's talk about getting rid of leaves. we love fall. we hate the leaves. we hate them in the gutter. take an old school slinky. >> you got an slinky there. >> of course, we do an old school slinky. and attach it like this. >> if one of you will stretch that out. >> and that's so attractive on the roof, you know? >> who's looking into your gutters? about this far. attach this here. okay? >> okay. >> like -- come on bruce. like this. >> done this allot, bruce? now what happens, these leaves will not get -- >> >> they can't get in there to begin with. >> there's no overflowing into your leaves. you can also put them in the spouts if you like. but nobody is really looking in your gutter. >> you there go. >> exactly, another thing with leaves is raking okay. what happens, the bag falls in. if one you have would sort of hold that for me. >> we're going to bungee cord it? >> we're going to bungee cord it like this. hold the garbage can. >> i've got it. >> and now look what you can do. now all your leaves can go in. what's nice here, they're all fake. >> and they're not wet. >> they're not wet. this is the way to do it. this will not fall. how about that? >> good at this point. >> back-to-school tip. you're sick of making your kids' lunch already a month into it and you know they're not eating their fraught. which they don't. you want to take a rubber band, cut it up, it's bite size, it's not brown and the kids will the key it because they don't eat the full thing. >> kids are picky. >> kids are picky. >> that's smart. >> also by this time, the thermoses are disgusting because they get dch >> icky. >> right. >> you want to use eggshells and vinegar. shake it up. and then when you're done, you can put sugar cubes in either, seal these up and there are no more smells. >> sugar cubes will -- >> exactly right. they'll eliminate all the smells. >> be sure to throw those out before you use it. >> indeed. indeed. let's talk about tailgating, we want to show you how never to lose your spot in a tailgate, how to get your kids clean because they roll around in the grass like disgusting animals. and most importantly how to keep your beer cold. what you want at that do with your beer, you want to take a bottle, a little bit of shampoo, fill it with water, now freeze this. stick it in here >> why? >> because this is now an ice block to keep your beer cold. more than that, before the game now, this will have unfrozen, the kids are rolling around like little beasts. >> it's like purell. >> you can clean up the little nose pickers. speaking about cleaning up the little nose pickers. and if they get a stain on their jersey. >> which they will. >> yes, they will. >> there's a little mustard. you get rid of that, the excess. and then a little shaving cream. like this in about five minutes the alcohols in this will raise -- raise the stain out. by the time you get home, the stain should be gone. if it is not gone, what you're going to do is spray -- pardon my finger here -- >> is this vinaigrette? >> this is detergent and peroxide. >> okay. >> all right? you're going to do this. >> thank you, honey. >> the stain is gone. >> thank you, sweet ji. >> there you go. how about that for the fall? >> thank you very much. do you need a simple solution for dinner tonight, everybody? >> how about italian. delicious meals great from a new york chef but first this is "today" on nbc. >> let's eat! >> all right. ♪ it's time to take you into today's kitchen and show you what's cookin'. on the menu, an italian-style vegetable main course. >> then who knows italian cooking better than sal! from his italian restaurant right here in new york city. >> we're so excited to have you. >> glad to have you back. >> thank you. i made this 20 years ago for people, vegetarians but it gives you a main course. what we've done, any kind of vegetables, staples with zuchinni and eggplant. i sliced them up. i left the skin on. a little flour and egg. >> egg after that. >> yes. olive oil. >> uh-huh, uh-huh. >> very simple. >> so far, we can do it. >> you can do it. >> how long do you cook those babies for? >> a minute or two minutes on each side. >> here we have spinach that we steamed already. i have olive oil and some garlic. i love the smell of that. >> we'll dump that in. >> okay. >> the idea is to try to keep this dry. the big part about this dish is to keep it as dry as you can so i wouldn't add any more water. salt and pepper. as always. >> that smells good. >> smells good, tastes good. i'll show you. we move over here where we start to assemble. this is a baking pan. you put the butter and bread crumbs so when you unmold it, it's easy to do. it could be whatever you want. i already put a layer of egg plant there. >> i love eggplant. >> you can hand me those? >> yep. >> going to make it like a little lasagna? >> a little sauce. not too much. you want to keep it wet. not too much. a layer of vegetables. now i have the zucchini. >> oh, gosh. awesome! >> i can't even fake it. >> plop down that tomato sauce. hoda woman. >> a little more tomato sauce, a little cheese. >> and on and on. >> what happens to the layer of spinach now? >> oh. >> nice and dry. pat it down. come around this side. come around this side here. we bake this in the oven at 400 degrees for about -- >> oh, look at it. >> it's called napoleon because it looks like a napoleon with the cheese on top. >> it sure does. how long do you cook this? >> about 35 to 45 minutes. you put it here in a dish, flip it over. >> beautiful. >> then we put some tomato sauce. parmesan cheese. >> no cheese for me. >> no cheese for the one for me. >> give it a shot. >> tomorrow from the show "iron side" the very handsome blair underwood. >> we wanted to do a reveal. >> and you see that. look what happened with the mustard. gonzo! >> david arquette will be with us. we'll have an awesome booze day tuesday. >> and tomorrow is wine day wednesday. see you then. >> i'm here to help. you and i will get through this together. [applause] >> how are you folks doing? how are you folks doing? how are you folks doing today? thank you for coming.
police say the woman at the center of all of this was well-known with a history of mental issues. they discovered indications that she believed she was being stalked by president obama. >> reporter: police and federal agents began their search for answers at the stamford, connecticut home of the woman driving the car. miriam carey. she drove into a security barrier at the white house and then took off after striking a secret service officer with her car. >> there was a guy in front of her that did stop it and she hit him and he flew over the hood. >> reporter: from there she sped up pennsylvania avenue toward the u.s. capitol about a mile and a half away doing 80 miles per hour at one point. police and secret service officers stopped her car at the foot of the capitol but she jammed it into revere and took off again as they opened fire. she again lead them on a chase around the perimeter of the grounds. police put the capitol on lock down and rushed to get visitors safely away as the chaos swirls around them. >> i hear boom, boom, boom as the gunfire is unloaded. >> reporter: a few minutes later carey crashed her car as they fired at her. a u.s. capitol police officer was hurt as he was speeding to confront her and hit a barrier in the street. afterward they discovered her very young daughter was in the car. >> there was a 1-year-old child in the car. one of our officers initially rescued the child and took the child to medical care in the vicinity here. >> reporter: police and members of congress defended the use of deadly force given she ignored repe repeated asking to stop. she had delusions. >> there was some sort of mental health issue. >> all of the police officers and secret service officers that responded were exempt from the government shutdown and required to be on duty, including the two that were injured but because of the shutdown, they're not being paid. >> pete, before i let you go, do you know the whereabouts or the condition of the little girl that was in the car? >> she was taken to, initially, some medical treatment center here and then to a local hospital and examined. they say she was not injured and now she is in social service protection and i assume at some point will go back to the family. >> pete williams at the capitol this morning. thank you. we're joined now by two eyewitnesses of the chase. jennif jennifer and lou arnold. thank you. >> thank you. >> so much was shutdown. you went to the capitol. the one place that was open. what did you see? what did you hear? i'll start with you. >> we had just gotten off of the cab and we were paying the gentleman and that's when we saw the black car speeding down pennsylvania avenue and the chase. shortly there after we heard the gunfire and could smell the smoke from it. >> and tim, you had your two little girl with you. did you immediately -- just by instinct, go to the ground or did you hear police telling people to get down? >> well, when i heard the gunshots i knew what it was, obviously, it's pretty distinct and i said get on the ground. get on the ground and they jumped over a barrier that was there and got in the bushes and i got down on the stairs there. >> we see a picture of you actually once you were down trying to capture it on your camera. did you capture anything? >> you know, i caught the aftermath. you know, funny thing was i had my camera out and i put it away just seconds before all of this happened. >> well, jennifer, it must have been absolutely terrifying, especially because you had your two little one with you. >> absolutely. they were crying and shaking and we didn't know if there was a shooter. the police did the shooting. but at some point we were told to get up and run south by various agents. they were about two blocks ahead of us and i was calling my daughter on her cell phone to make sure she had her little sister and we finally did get reunited. >> we're so glad it turned out okay for you jennifer and tim arnold and sorry your trip to washington didn't turn out too well this week. we wish our best to you. thank you. >> as pete williams reported a moment ago, federal agents searched the connecticut home of the woman killed outside the capitol. katie is in stamford with more on what we're learning about her this morning. >> there are still some police here but the major presence is gone. this after 16 hours where this entire area was taped off. one of the buildings was on complete lockdown as federal investigators were inside miriam carey's apartment trying to figure out what was going on with the mother of a 1-year-old girl. >> reporter: this sprawling 200 unit apartment complex in stamford, connecticut became the focus of a federal investigation. at about 3:30 thursday afternoon 50 residence den 50 residents were evacuated as they descended on miriam carey's home but as of 11:00 p.m. they still hadn't entered the apartment waiting on a search warrant from d.c. >> it was the fbi bomb squad, you have ten minutes to get yourself and get out because you probably won't be able to get in for the next nine hours. >> reporter: neighbors, many that say they didn't know her well describe the mother as normal. someone you'd see in the laundry room. employed for a year as a dental hygienist. her former boss said she was an average employee but notice she seemed increasingly stressed over what he calls her unplanned pregnancy. >> we had a lot of come planlts about her from patients. that she's a dental hygienist and rough. we needed to make a change and let her go. >> reporter: relatives say carey fell a few years ago and began to suffer mental problems. other relatives also described postpartum depression after her baby girl was born. some of those relatives live in brooklyn. carey's sister is a retired nypd sergeant. we're told her relatives are cooperating with investigator. they expect to release a statement sometime later today. >> katie, thanks. she mentioned a 1-year-old involved in all of this. we'll talk about the possibility that postpartum depression may have played a role in the case. that's in the next half hour. a busy day in the weather. several storm systems you're tracking this morning. >> that's right. four big stories to talk about. it's crazy out here. in our today's top weather, we have winter storm, tropical storm karen, severe weather in the midwest and crazy heat in the east with santa anna winds in the west. we'll go to wyoming where mike seidell has been in the middle of all of this. >> they're no stranger to snow in october. last week on the 27th of september they had 5 inches over 12,000 homes in the state without power. so far we've had 9 inches of snow. that's more than they typically see in the entire month of october. it's a heavy, wet snow. they're snowpacked and snow covered. also we're going to pick up the winds across the state. we have blizzard warnings east of here. rapid city, south dakota could see winds of 70 miles per hour. we have wind, heavy, wet snow. more power outages. the snow will wind down this evening and continue through tomorrow midday and then we are back to typical weather here next week which is a high of 65. it's 30 right now with the snow. >> all right. mike, thank you so much. we are also covering, of course, tropical storm karen and you can see in pensacola, florida not much going on. good news about karen. it's starting to weaken. we'll get to that in a second. let's go back to the big winter storm out west as we go back to our maps and the weather computer we'll show you we're going to be looking at this storm system getting itself together and pushing it's way to the north and the east. as it does it's going to intensify. the heavy snow around the black hills. ahead of the system, we'll be looking at very severe weather. as far as today is concerned we do have winter storm watches. winter storm warnings and blizzard warnings from rapid city to casper to alliance. as far as snowfall amounts we're talking about anywhere from 18 to 24 inches of snow right around the black hills. we're also talking about karen. the good news is, karen is starting to weaken. we're getting some dry air that's being pulled into karen and so what that means is even though it's 295 south of the mouth of the mississippi, 60 miles per hour winds. it's moving northwest as 10. as it makes it's way toward the coast we'll see some weakening. right now we don't even see it becoming a hurricane. so that's going to be good news. we're going to continue to track that and we have two other stories, the crazy heat and really severe weather in the midwest, guys. >> you're busy this morning. it's hot in washington and there's also the government shutdown. >> in fact, the president is saying he's going to stay in washington instead of traveling to asia next week. president obama cancelled his trip because of the partial government shutdown that furloughed thousands of workers. chuck todd is at the white house with the latest on this. good morning. >> good morning. third time in three years that something political has caused the president to cancel a trip to indonesia so when indonesia is on the itinerary expect political problems back home, apparently. they thought the look and feel of the president being out of the country while the government is shutdown. he using goovrnment resources overseas wasn't a smart move politically. never mind that house republicans are meeting today. perhaps they'll come up with a new strategy or tactic to decide whether they try to end this now. focus on what to do with the debt ceiling. we'll see yesterday after the shooting, after prayers were said, after congratulations to the capitol police were said both political parties went back to their corners and decrstrate. it looks like today end with no end in sight. but we'll see. a programming note for you. on meet the press, jack lew with the latest on the shutdown and savannah filling in for david grego gregory. we're getting our first look at dramatic dash cam video on police shoot out on an oregon highway. it left a father of three dead and officer injured. we should warn you the video is disturbing. miguel almaguer has the story. >> reporter: it started as a routine traffic stop outside portland oregon. >> please get back in the car for me. >> reporter: but in seconds. >> sir, get back in the car for me. >> the exchange became deadly. he opened fire on a state trooper for no apparent reason. >> there were words exchanged there on the side of the freeway but it happened very quickly. >> reporter: dressed in fatigues said to be in the army allen appears to empty his clip. the state trooper, who survived, was amazingly just shot once. allen took a bullet to the chest but stayed on his feet. >> 5326 shots fired. i've been hit in the side. i'm okay. suspect left. >> reporter: allen was found slumped over in his car a half mile away. also in the vehicle, allen's three children, 10, 13, and 15 that were not injured. >> it's upsetting because he was trying to take his children on a road trip. >> reporter: the case into the dramatic shooting is now closed but what triggered the gunman may never be known. for today, miguel almaguer, nbc news, los angeles. and now cnbc's mary thompson joins us. good morning. >> good morning. twitter is filing to go public in a $1 billion offering. it has yet to turn a profit but has over 200 million users that tweet more than 500 million times a day. the longer you wait the more you pay for airfare. if you wait until the end of the month to make your reservations, budget an extra $140. it's day four of the shutdown and on day three the markets tumbling with the dow at a month low. thank you so much. things got squirrely at a golf event in ohio thursday as the day's competition at the president's cup was winding down. lindsey vonn borrowed a wild squirrel. aapparently the squirrel defriended him and she put the little critter on the back of tiger woods who didn't seem too amused right there. wasn't playing clearly but at first didn't look too happy about that but then later tiger looked like he was much more relaxed as the squirrel hung out there on his shoulder. became a little friendly. >> al has a serious question. >> what's the squirrel doing there? >> what do you mean borrowed the squirrel. >> the squirrel was friendly with him during a rain delay. >> when you say friendly, what do you mean? >> maybe it was perched on his shoulder and that's where she got the idea. >> okay. maybe he'll repay her when she's going down the ski slope. >> distraction. >> pay back. >> a fast run on the slopes for sure. >> thank you. let's get a look at the rest of the forecast from al. >> yeah, two more stories. first of all, severe weather and some of this weather is very severe. we're talking tornado. you can see from omaha to des moines and minneapolis we're seeing the activity already fire up. we have tornado watches possibly going up later today but in the meantime we have a strong risk of storms in central iowa. minneapolis, kansas city, on into oklahoma city and this extends into tomorrow where we're also going to be looking at more of the same kind of weather from chicago, st. louis, indianapolis and we're also talking about this crazy heat that's going to be happening later today in the east into texas. we're going to cover that coming up in the next 30 minutes. and, in fact, in the next 30 up in the next 30 minutes. and, in fact, in the next 30 out insurance. because what you don't know, can hurt you. what if you didn't know that posting your travel plans online may attract burglars? [woman] off to hawaii! what if you didn't know that as the price of gold rises, so should the coverage on your jewelry? [prospector] ahh! what if you didn't know that kitty litter can help you out of a slippery situation? the more you know, the better you can plan for what's ahead. talk to farmers and get smarter about your insurance. ♪ we are farmers bum - pa - dum, bum - bum - bum - bum♪ forecast. good morning. a flaming orange sunrise over the potomac. our live view from our nbc 4 city camera. early on this friday morning, sunrise was at 7:07. 67 reagan national. rather steamy. humidity, fairly high, patchy dense fog in some rural areas which should dissipate over the next couple of hours. it will feel like summer today, tomorrow, and sunday with highs in the 80 and that's your latest weather. >> all right, al, thanks a lot. >> let's see what carson is doing in the orange room. any squirrels over there? >> no squirrels here. happy friday everybody. the big stories are the shooting on the hill yesterday and day four of the government shutdown. it seemed to be everywhere yesterday and was how bizarre the events were. it was taken by a photographer for the new york times. this was everywhere. this capitol hill worker either walking by checking his e-mail while the events are going on or using his phone to get the latest information maybe on where to go to get to safety. people online were talking about it. ed wrote, this is d.c. in a shut shell. dear congress is still out there for you to write. day four of the shutdown. when we showed you day one of the shutdown. this lets you know by the size of the words how much these words were being treated. larger themes, paycheck, government, employee, compromise was big. as the compromise has gone on people are starting to pass blame. there's boehner, there's obama and compromise down here is even smaller. we're continuing to track that. keep your thoughts coming into dear congress and we'll have more later in the show. >> thank you so much. coming up, more on the frantic scene in washington and the possible connection some are talking about to postpartum depression. could that have something to do with it? >> and -- >> oh, gosh. it is this. >> this is it. >> elizabeth smart takes meredith vieira to the place she was held during her kidnapping ordeal and reveals details about what happened and her strategy to survive. we'll sit down with meredith but first, this is "today" on nbc. february, 2013. a landmark transportation bill is up for consideration. even though it's backed by republican governor mcdonnell... ken cuccinelli joins tea party republicans to block the plan. but terry mcauliffe believes it's time to break through the gridlock in richmond. mcauliffe presses democrats to support the bill. and the bill passes. terry mcauliffe. putting virginia first. "i'm terry mcauliffe, candidate for governor, and i sponsored this ad." pumpkin's back at dunkin'? now you tell me. try the new pumpkin pie donut or any of our other many pumpkin treats today. america runs on dunkin'. coming up, where do you go after quitting your job with a little dance routine? the orange room, of course. little dance routine? the [ lane ] do you ever feel like you're growing old waiting for your wrinkle cream to work? clinically proven neutrogena® rapid wrinkle repair. it targets fine lines and wrinkles with the fastest retinol formula available. you'll see younger looking skin in just one week. one week? that's just my speed. rapid wrinkle repair. and for dark spots rapid tone repair. from neutrogena®. ♪ i'm watching you. ♪ you're knocking me out tonight. ♪ ♪ tonight. ♪ oooooooo. ♪ my turn daddy, my turn! hold it steady now. i know daddy. [ dad ] oh boy, fasten your seatbelts everybody. 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"i'm terry mcauliffe, candidate for governor, and i sponsored this ad." these are birth control pills. more than half of american women use them at some point in their lives but ken cuccinelli sponsored a bill that could have made common forms of birth control illegal, including the pill. cuccinelli was one of only five senators to support this "potentially radical intrusion into domestic, family and individual decision-making" why is ken cuccinelli interfering in our private lives? he's focused on his own agenda. not us. 7:30 now on this friday morning. it is the 4th of october, 2013 and the sun is coming up over pensacola beach, florida. pretty shot there. i'm savannah guthrie along side willie geist who is in for matt this morning, al roker and natalie morales. >> a blast of winter weather in the rockies. >> and also the gulf coast gearing up for karen. that in the gulf of mexico as we speak. >> and we're following a break in the disappearance of madeleine mccann six years ago. scotland yards analyzing cell phone records. that's coming up. >> and meredith vieira is here with a candid interview with elizabeth smart. how she turned tragedy into triumph. >> more on the chaotic scene at the nation's capitol and the mother behind it. katie is with us from stamford once again. good morning. >> good morning. details are trickling out about her mental state. we can tell you that she suffered a fall years ago. one that precipitated her issues. others including her mother added that she suffered from postpartum depression after the birth of her 1-year-old girl. that 1-year-old was found in the back of her car in d.c. also her former employer said she became increasingly stressed out over what he calls her unplanned pregnancy, willie. >> katie, thanks. >> we want to get more on all of this with psychologist jennifer hartstien. >> good morning. >> her mother is quoted as saying she was suffering postpartum depression which raises the question would it ever lead to something like this. >> it's all speculation. we're trying to put pieces together and it could -- in some cases postpartum depression lead mothers to kill their children and do really difficult cull challenging awful things so it does challenge their judgment. it does make them more impulsive and create bigger problems in some people. we have to be ware that that could be an explanation but we don't know. >> she offered a fall acouple c of years ago and started after that. >> head trauma does cause brain damage. did it damage the functioning part, the front part of her brain that might have caused her to have less judgment, more impul impulsiveness. >> she was in her early 30s. we're used to seeing situations of young males in their early 20s start to grapple with mental illness. sit possible that there's a kind of mental illness that could come on at this particular age. generally we seen it earlier. who knows. they'll have to do a psychological autopsy into her past and think about what might have lead to this and what signs might have been there. >> before i let you go i think everybody's heart is with this 1-year-old child. what can be done for her now? what kind of trauma must she have suffered? >> she'll have the trauma of the chase and losing her mother. she'll be surrounded by family and people and rebuild attachment to those people. she has the benefit of age. she's so young, hopefully that will help her down the road. >> always good to get your perspective. >> as you both point out we're in the early stages of this investigation. we don't know what went wrong. >> let's get a check of the weather from al and the weekend outlook. >> the other story we're following is this record breaking heat here in the east. big area of high pressure dominating that return clockwise flow of air. look at thedominating that retue flow of air. look at these temperatures. new york city going to be 13 degrees above normal. it's going to be near 90 in d.c., columbia, south carolina, 90 degrees. 85 in cincinnati. as you slide to the west, tulsa, oklahoma, up to 91 as that cold air comes in. that's why we're going to see all that severe weather. st. louis, 87, 13 degrees above normal. as we head out to the west and our friends out there, big area of high pressure, this is going to set up santa ana winds, wind gusts of 80 miles per hour. very high fire dangers, relative humidity. only 5-10%. we have wind advisories, high wind watches and high wind warnings and red flag warnings throughout california. that's what's going on around the country. here is what's happening in your neck of the woods you will notice it is more humid when you step out the door on this friday morning. good morning. i'm storm team 4 meteorologist, tom kierein. we have some patchy fog near 60. later today, most of the region will be into the 80s. right in the cities, it you sh be in the upper 80s by mid afternoon. the summer in october pattern continues through the government shutdown, crazy weather, squirrels on tiger woods, but it doesn't mean anything until sunday night football night in america. candlestick park, the houston texans come in to try to blowout the 49ers in candlestick. can they do it? it's clear, it's cool, it's 55 to 60 degrees. it all happens on the best night of the week. sunday night, football night in america. no shutdown. >> some day you're going to put effort into these teases and i look forward to it. >> we have texans fans right here. >> we do. >> they're ready for sunday night. >> looking good, al. coming up next, we have an nbc news exclusive. elizabeth smart revealing new details of her kidnapping ordeal and how she turned that terror into triumph. >> then at 8:17, an uplifting story to start your day. how a homeless man that returned $30,000 in cash is now being rewarded for his good deeds. but first, these messages. if yand you're talking toevere rheuyour rheumatologistike me, about trying or adding a biologic. this is humira, adalimumab. this is humira working to help relieve my pain. this is humira helping me through the twists and turns. this is humira helping to protect my joints from further damage. doctors have been prescribing humira for over ten years. humira works by targeting and helping to block a specific source of inflammation that contributes to ra symptoms. for many adults, humira is proven to help relieve pain and stop further joint damage. humira can lower your ability to fight infections, including tuberculosis. serious, sometimes fatal events, such as infections, lymphoma, or other types of cancer, have happened. blood, liver and nervous system problems, serious allergic reactions, and new or worsening heart failure have occurred. before starting humira , your doctor should test you for tb. ask your doctor if you live in or have been to a region where certain fungal infections are common. tell your doctor if you have had tb, hepatitis b, are prone to infections, or have symptoms such as fever, fatigue, cough, or sores. you should not start humira if you have any kind of infection. ask your doctor if humira can work for you. this is humira at work. windows touch laptops withers intel inside on layaway. here's what they say. i do love the touchscreen. i find it much easier to use. this is so much faster than my old computer. i like that you can personalize it - that you can have the things that you like. it's an awesome price for what i am getting. i love the price and i love the layaway plan. free layaway is amazing! i want to take it home! (laughing) walmart has top brands of windows touchscreen computers powered by intel -- and you can put them on layaway today free with no opening fee. back now at 7:40, elizabeth smart's kidnapping ordeal captivated the country more than a decade ago and now she is opening up about the experience and just how she survived. her new book is called my story. meredith vieira talked to her exclusively. nice to see you. >> you too, willie. elizabeth smart was 14 years old when she was taken at knife point from her bedroom in utah. her kidnapper forced her to climb up the mountainside behind her home for hours before leading her into a remote camp and tent. what happened next would shatter a young girl's innocent world. >> oh my gosh. this is it. >> this is it. >> what was here when you got here? >> right where we're standing there were tarps laid out on the ground and then right here would have been where the tent was set up. >> what was this place? elizabeth's first chilling clue came from behind the trees. >> and out of this area walked a woman. she had on long linen robes. >> reporter: then the strange woman lead her into a tent ordering her to undress. >> i'm begging and crying and just so scared. >> reporter: elizabeth knew something awful was about to happen. >> and then he came into the tent. >> yes. >> reporter: as elizabeth sobbed her kidnapper began performing some kind of marriage ceremony. >> i remember thinking i know what comes after a wedding and that cannot happen to me. that cannot happen. >> reporter: it didn't seem real. just a few hours earlier she had been home, safe in her bed. now, after a climb at knife point, she was trapped somewhere high on a mountain. >> i remember him forcing me on to the ground, fighting the whole way. and when he was finished, he stood up and i was left alone feeling absolutely broken, absolutely shattered. i was broken beyond repair. >> you were worthless. >> i was going to be thrown away. >> reporter: later he chained her to a tree like a wild animal. days, weeks, then months of abuse followed. >> was there a point, elizabeth, where you shutdown your emotions. >> there was a point that i stopped crying and it's not because i didn't feel pain anymore. not because i didn't feel sorrow. it was just to keep going. it was just to survive. to live. >> reporter: she was only 14. but somehow, she summoned a remarkable determination to survive turning terror into triumph and even finding the courage to outwit her captors. >> you learn to be maybe at the feet of those masters, devious. >> it was a means to an end. i felt that that was my greatest chance i had at getting home, at being rescued. >> and as you'll see in the special, she figured out the one way to outwit this man by appealing to his ego. >> which struck watching her about her strength and poise, even as she returns to this place of horror. i know it was difficult for you to be up there. how does she keep it together. >> once you go up there you see how remote it is and the underbrush is so thick. there's not a chance she could have escaped from that camp site but i was getting emotional. i said does this give you the creeps being back here? she said it doesn't because this place didn't hurt me, brian david mitchell hurt me. and i don't think she wants to show emotion -- particularly crying at this point because it was just -- it would make him feel that he still has some control over her. she never sheds a tear at all. the only time she gets agitated is if you ask her you had the opportunities to escape, why didn't you? >> and you went up there and you now you understand why that wasn't a possibility. >> totally understand. she say remarkable young woman. >> great to see you. you can see elizabeth's story here on nbc and elizabeth smart will be with us for a live interview on monday. >> thank you, willie. >> what will she do next? the woman that quit her job in spectacular style is with carson in the orange room, right after this. as a working mom of two young boys life could be hectic. angie's list saves me a lot of time. after reading all the reviews i know i'm making the right choice. online or on the phone, we help you hire right the first time. with honest reviews on over 720 local services. keeping up with these two is more than a full time job, and i don't have time for unreliable companies. angie's list definitely saves me time and money. for over 18 years we've helped people take care of the things that matter most. join today. the intense ache made it hard to do the things that i wanted. my doctor diagnosed it as fibromyalgia -- thought to be the result of over-active nerves that cause chronic, widespread pain. lyrica is believed to calm these nerves. i learned lyrica can provide significant relief from fibromyalgia pain. so now, i can do more of the things i enjoy. lyrica is not for everyone. it may cause serious allergic reactions or suicidal thoughts or actions. tell your doctor right away if you have these, new or worsening depression, or unusual changes in mood or behavior. or swelling, trouble breathing, rash, hives, blisters, changes in eyesight including blurry vision, muscle pain with fever, or tired feeling. common side effects are dizziness, sleepiness, weight gain and swelling of hands, legs and feet. don't drink alcohol while taking lyrica. don't drive or use machinery until you know how lyrica affects you. those who have had a drug or alcohol problem may be more likely to misuse lyrica. with less pain, i'm feeling better with lyrica. ask your doctor if lyrica is right for your fibromyalgia pain. and better is so easy withrning you cabenefiber.o something better for yourself. fiber that's taste-free, grit-free and dissolves completely. so you can feel free to add it to anything. and feel better about doing it. better it with benefiber. the instantly slimming dress. it shapes you up and shows you off in an instant. wear what works. the instantly slimming dress. only from white house -- black market. 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[ male announcer ] that's great, big world friendly. ♪ that is about as beautiful as it gets. the sunrising over a beautiful part of the country. pensacola beach, florida. >> that's a beautiful shot and great crowd outside on a beautiful day here in new york city. she has become an instant hit with working people everywhere after using this creative video to quit her job. she is hanging with carson in the orange room this morning. >> is this weird for you? she was working in taiwan four or five days ago. you quit in dramatic style. if you don't know the story, we played the video on tuesday. 4 million views. it's almost doubled now. it's 11 million views. let's show you this young lady's video that everybody seems to be talking about. there it is. [ music playing ] >> reporter: skip the two weeks notice, she quit her job dancing to kanye west. her video struck a cord with people that only dreamed of a dramatic office exit. imitation i quit videos followed. one from some moms threatening to quit their day job. her former employer even got in on the action. >> well, there you go. how does it feel? everybody makes videos these days hoping to have this spotlight. what has this week been like? >> i don't know. i'm still processing it all. i'm still sleeping. >> what has been the weirdest reaction you have gotten? random people? your friends, your family? >> my family definitely. my parents have been taking all the twitter proposals very seriously. >> proposals? >> how many proposals do you have? >> well, i have 9 uh-uh read e-mails not because i don't want to read them but because i have been trying to read through all of them but there's marriage proposals. >> you work overnight in taiwan at this video making company. have you been romanticizing the idea of quitting your job this way? did you have any idea it would be this viral here. >> yeah, i worked the overnight shift for a month and when i started it i was going to try and power through it and two weeks in someone said i worked an overnight shift and you lose connection with reality and that's kind of what happens. so i made the video for fun and to tell my parents i decided. >> where did you learn your dance moves? >> from my father. >> yes. >> fair enough. your unemployed, still looking for a job. >> i am. i was offered a job by the queen latifa show so i'm still deciding on that. >> good luck. back to you. >> good luck. back when you have diabetes like i do, getting the right nutrition isn't always easy. first, i want a way to help minimize my blood sugar spikes. then, a way to support heart health. ♪ and let's not forget immune support. ♪ but now i have new glucerna advance with three benefits in one. including carbsteady ultra to help minimize blood sugar spikes. it's the best from glucerna. 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[ whistle blows ] ♪ [ female announcer ] with mccafé, every season is full of delicious surprises. for a limited time, fall for the latest flavor -- the brand-new mccafé pumpkin spice latte, smooth, sweet, a hint of spice and made with 100% rainforest alliance certified espresso. settle in with pumpkin spice latte, something new to love from mccafé. 7:56 is your time now. i'm eun yang. the naval academy, a change in the classroom because of the government shutdown. more than half of the faculties are furloughed, because they are civilians. more than 900 professors and other staff members. the academy is trying to get military to i got you white chocolate pumpkin. oh, please don't call me "pumpkin." no, white chocolate and pumpkin. oh! pumpkin. ha-ha! pumpkin is back at dunkin' donuts. hurry in for delicious pumpkin coffees and lattes today. america runs on dunkin'. mild and rather humid. patchy fog around much of the reasonable yun. watch out for that. it should be dissipating over the next hour. temperatures, low to mid-60s around the metro area. later today, into the 80s. much of the region, partly cloudy and a warm weekend to follow. a big change commences monday. could get some rain. highs in the 70s. high near 70 on tuesday, wednesday, thursday. danella, how is sflafk seeing an accident. this involving a school bus f you are traveling in virginia, franconia, on lewis street at windsor avenue -- excuse me, beulah street. crash involves a student. luckily, no students were on board. delays on 95, it's 8:00 on today, coming up, that wild scene in the nation's capitol and the troubled young mother killed by police after a high speed chase. plus, oh snap, happy third birthday instagram. 55 million pictures posted on the app every day. we'll meet the 29-year-old bill nary behind the sensation and the new skinny jeans that could make you skinny thanks to spanx, friday, october 4th, 2013. >> happy birthday, mom. >> we're here celebrating our honeymoon. >> yeah. >> hi, it's girl's weekend from florida. >> hi everyone in seattle. >> hi, knoxville tennessee. >> go texans. we'll go out side and say hello to some of those folks on what is a beautiful morning here in new york city. there's a lot of celebration around this table when you mentioned spanx. >> we have our manx. >> i know. they're improving on the technology apparently. we'll hear about that in a moment. good morning. i'm savannah guthrie along side willie geist, natalie morales and al roker. we want to start with the overnight developments on the chaos in the nation's capitol. a woman killed by police after leading them on a high speed chase with her little child in the car. kelly o'donnell was at the capitol as this unfolded. good morning to you. >> good morning, savannah, the political tension has been thick for days here. as we begin now day four of this standoff. there's no sign that it won't be just as frustrating and ugly going forward but for a brief time everyone here took a serious jolt that halted when this u.s. complex became a crime scene. >> drawn weapons and a frantic foot race away from the danger. >> we heard the pop, pop, just four or five real quick ones. >> chaos swept over the capitol grounds where tourists usually roam. >> four or five gunshots and then the whole swarm of police officer cars came. >> reporter: blaring like an indoor siren, an emergency order to lock down the capitol and shelter in place. >> there's an ambulance that has now responded. >> reporter: senators not giving speeches but firsthand accounts. >> they said get down. get behind this car. >> reporter: later the lockdown lifted and so did the political mood. >> i know all of us want to extend that thanks and just to let them know we really appreciate it. >> reporter: lawmakers that had been ripping each other over the shutdown joined together to thank law enforcement. with lengthy applause instead of routine bitterness. >> i know that round of applause was heart felt and deeply meant. >> reporter: and shared concern for the veteran capitol police officer injured during the crisis. >> our thoughts are with him for a speedy recovery and, again, my admiration goes to all federal law enforcement, but especially our capitol police. and the u.s. capitol police that are on the job are not being paid because of the shutdown but because of their emergency nature they'll get paid when it is over. today congress will look at how to deal with other kinds of federal workers who are not being paid to see if there is a way to make up for that when the shutdown ends. >> kelly o'donnell on the hill for us. thank you. >> natalie has more on the impact of the government shutdown. >> the president now cancelled his trip to asia to focus on the situation. he singled out john boehner and said boehner won't call a vote because he doesn't want to anger extremist in his party demanding changes to obama care and boehner called obama care a train wreck. new developments in the 6-year-old disappear in madeleine mccann and what could be a break in the case. michelle kosinski is in london with more. good morning. >> good morning. her parents will make a public appeal on television october 14th. this year british police were able to launch their own comprehensive investigation into what might have happened to then 3-year-old madeline back in 2007 and they are making progress. >> reporter: what happened to madeline who disappeared from her bed in her family's vacation apartment in portugal while her parents were down the street? new british investigators on the case aren't certain but they do have new leads saying there is new information not previously presented. fresh substantive material on which to make an appeal. it's substantially different. it's not just a bland can you help us appeal, there's some different material and different understanding. and making that public appeal for more information would be the mccanns themselves who made the first appeal years ago. >> come forward, photographs which had people you don't recognize. >> reporter: investigators now also identified more people of interest. 41 of them in several countries including britain. they have a team of investigators in portugal and have gone through more than half of nearly 40,000 pages of documents. run down thousands of lead with thousands more to go. and now are examining every single cell phone number that was present in that area of maddie's disappearance during that time. police know what calls were made to what other numbers and where those cell phones travelled and say anyone that was in that area may just be getting a call from police. you can look at this in different ways. wow, it's great they have new information. then again, what they're doing is asking the public for help. but police say they are looking for specific information based on specific information that they have and that is better than just saying hey, does anybody out there know anything. natalie. >> all right. michelle, thank you so much. pope francis made a special pilgrimage today to honor a saint and send a message to his church. ann thompson is in italy with more. good morning. >> good morning, natalie. pope francis is just finishing up lunch at a soup kitchen as once again he useds this visit to try to refocus the catholic church's attention on the poor and those that society often forgets. today the pope is literally walking in the footsteps of his name sake. st. francis was a rich young man who 800 years ago renounced his worldly possessions and catholics believe responded to god's call to rebuild his church. today, pope francis is trying to do that very same thing with the modern church warning it today that it must strip away it's worldliness, it's greatest threat. now, pope francis this week met with a group of 8 cardinals and decided that he is going to overhaul the vatican to try and make it more responsive to the 1.2 million catholics as opposed to being so vatican centric as he calls it. they are with him on this trip and they include sean o'malley who is a friar himself. >> thank you so much. an ohio high school cheerleader went head over heels to claim the world record for the most consecutive black flips. she completed 40 back hand springs to shatter the mark of 36. she said she almost passed out but loved the way the crowd was reacting and kept on going. i'm dizzy and almost passing out watching her. >> i burned 700 cal risk watching that. >> amazing. >> let's get a check of the weather. including an update on tropical storm karen with al. >> all of these nice folks here. you're skipping school instead of -- you're skipping school. where do you go to school? you've been gone so long you can't even remember. >> mom of the year. i love it. let her get out of school. let's get the latestit. let it go and get out of school. >> the latest on tropical storm karen. right now, 275 miles south/southwest, mouth of the mississippi moving north/northwest at 10. it looks like the european model wants to take it to the left. as that's happening, dryer air is getting into it. even though this is the path we're seeing, it may not take this, because it may start breaking up as dryer air makes its way in. rest of the country, strong risk of storms from oklahoma to minnesota and parts of wisconsin. santa anna winds, southern california. another beautiful day in the northeast. that's what's going on around the country. here is what's happening in your neck of the woods it has turned more humid overnight. you will notice that when you step out the door. as a result, we have patchy fog that still lingers in many of the rural areas this morning. it should be breaking up over the next hour. temperatures right now are mild and mellow. we're in the low to mid-60s around the metro area, later today. most of the region will be in the 80s by mid afternoon. this warm pattern continues through the weekend as well. finally, it will be acting lik guys. >> thanks a lot. >> coming up, from comedy to cerimonies, why steven colbert is performing weddings. >> plus, spanx gets into the denim business. have they created the perfect pair of jeans? or jeggings? i say they look great. >> what would you have done? a touching gesture for a homeless man that found $40,000 in cash and then returned it. more on that. first, these messages. 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>> no, sounds like you speak from experience. >> well, this is hardly the first politician to be caught on an open mic. we thought we'd put together some of our favorites. >> this is a big deal. >> this is my last election. after my election i have more flexibility. >> good times. >> god, what is that hair? >> okay. that's a walk down memory lane. >> good stuff. >> well, trending on twitter if you think the battle between republicans and democrats is childish, check out the feud between miley cyrus and sinead o'connor. she wrote a letter to miley cyrus saying don't let the music business make a prostitute of you. she then responded to messages sinead posted two years ago when she was unwell and seeking help. >> i wanted to make sure she'll be here on monday. a little advertising on that. she now fired back on facebook saying remove your tweets immediately or you'll be hearing from my lawyer and it also contains other choice words not fit for morning television. but last night miley tweeted to sinead if you'd like to meet up and talk let me know if your next letter. another great feud in music. >> maybe they should come here to the orange room and i'll broker peace between the two of them. i did with it jay-z and naz. i can do it with these two. >> miley is doing snl tomorrow night. i smell an snl camio from sinead o'connor. >> that might not help so much. >> did we mention miley is going to be on the plaza. >> monday here on today. but check out snl this weekend. >> she'll sit down for an interview as well. >> also on wednesday, we introduce you to a couple that hope to marry this weekend at the jefferson memorial but like a lot of other couples their plans were dashed by the government shutdown and then steven colbert steps in. >> and by the power vested in me by the state of new york and the entire viacom family of entertainment networks, i now pronounce you man and wife. you may kiss the bride. yeah. no, keep going, man. >> groom said he was wicked excited to get married on late night tv. >> that's pretty cool. >> do you think that's legal? >> i think so. >> that's binding. >> they have the contract? >> yeah, speaking of, jeggings. this is a trend worth trying this morning. spanxs leggings that are supposed to fit like skinny jeans. okay. this is not the first time they thought about shapewear jeans. >> they launched their collection last week to major hype. women do love the brand. this has been a big trend online to be talking about and have to say, she actually interns for me, she has tried on so many pairs of denim and because they are more of a legging you made the joke that they were maternity-like on the top. >> can you lift the top? >> it has a panel. >> so moms everywhere are like this is nothing new but it's a great comfortable option. >> what did you think? >> they're really comfortable. >> you feel like your legs are suffocated right now. >> it's hard for me to find denim but they hug everything and it's comfortable. >> they look good. we saw the before and after. you look great in both but those are nice. >> do they make them for men. >> there's a lot of other brands on the market. >> for spanx fans these are great. i'm wearing something that's more like an actual jean. these are hello skinny. i've had them for five years. they were an investment but i love them. and levi, they have this fantastic new liquid fabric technology and what's great is that wear after wear they won't sag out and for, you know, when you sit down it will keep your booty looking good. check everything out on today.com. >> who knew there was jeans technology? >> yeah. >> liquid jeans. >> okay. >> very good. >> that's what's trending today. coming up, a freebie for fall. from facials to fitness, how you can get something for nothing. >> an uplifting story to tell you about. a homeless man in boston found a backpack full of cash and did the right thing turning the money over to the police and now his good deed is being rewarded. kerry sanders has more. >> good morning. he went from being homeless to being a hometown hero for being an honest guy. it's the story about the human spirit when one good deed leads to another. glenn james is homeless. to most in his hometown in boston just another nameless panhandler but three weeks ago as he sat at the south bay mall he spotted an abandoned backpack. he peeked inside and discovered a passport and more than $40,000 in cash and travelers checks. to any homeless man, a fortune, which is why what he did next was remarkable. >> i noticed a lot of $100 bills. and i said, oh my goodness. this has to get back to it's rightful owner. >> reporter: glenn handed the bag of money over to boston police. they along with this town celebrated his selflessness. more than 500 miles away in virginia, ethan wittington saw the story about the good samaritan online and said glenn deserved more than a plaque. ethan started an online campaign. so far people from around the world have donated more than $140,000. thursday, the two men met for the first time at whdh. our nbc station in boston. >> how are you doing? >> so glad to see you. >> good to see you. >> thank you. >> thank you. you're the one that deserves the thank you, for sure. >> glenn that doesn't like to speak because of his stutter wrote his feelings on the back of a desk calendar. >> real clear and slow. >> ethan read his words of wisdom. >> the worst thing about stuttering is also the best thing about it. people assume you're not too bright and so they let their guard down and then you outshine them. >> passers by listened moved by glenn's words and actions. >> thank you, you're a good person and a very kind hearted person to return all that money. >> did you think in the big picture here you'd wind up teaching us something. >> oh, no, this is a total surprise and shock to me that it has gone this far. >> reporter: one man's good deed inspiring another. >> what did you learn about yourself helping him? >> the biggest thing is that if you get enough people to come together and try to reach a specific goal that it can be accomplished. i never expected it to be the way it has and to change my life the way it has. >> did you hear that? how he said it changed his life but this was to change your life. >> well, it is definitely going to change my life in a positive and big way. everything is good. >> i'll give you a hug. >> okay. >> now $140,000 is a lot of money. so to make sure that it doesn't go to drugs or alcohol and to make sure it's not a burden with tax issues, a lawyer has set up a trust that requires the money will be used to help glenn. first on the agenda, finding a place for him to live near his sister. >> a great story on both ends. he did the right thing with the money and then somebody else does the right thing for him. >> this crowd sourcing thing really works. >> it does. amazing. >> that's a great story. let's go outside to savannah. >> thanks. now when you're shopping nothing beats a great bargain. get ready. we'll do you one better. a whole plaza worth of free stuff. elizabeth is here. >> good morning. >> my favorite price. >> free is better than cheap, right? >> yeah, we have four categories that start with beauty. let's take it away. >> you can get a free minifacial. all you need to do is stop by any department store or any one of their retail stores. we have michelle giving jennifer the facial and your facial will look beautiful and refreshed and it is a facial. >> cool. >> next up from jcpenney, we have the creative director from jcpenney here. they do free accent highlights on your hair. you have to be scheduled to be getting some salon color but it's a $25 value and it's through the month of november. so all of november go in and get your free highlights. >> all right. >> next, p and g beauty teamed up with allure, they're giving away 5,000 of each of these, a free full, like full sized whatever they are. so the next one is on wednesday, you need to go on in the morning because it will be gone quickly. you can get a free razor, you can get free deyooderant. >> fitness is our next one. >> october is the slowest month at the gym so you can go every weekend in october for free. you can show up to gold's gym and we have like nikki here working sean out. you can look like these guys. >> this is lulu lemon. free classes. all you have to do is find the store near you. look for store events. free yoga classes. kate is one of the instructors so you can hopefully look just like her. >> i'm going to get tips from her. >> family fun. they have great resorts across the world but for mexico and the caribbean they're offering free trips for your kids. so if you are two paying adults you can go to one of the properti properties. restrictions do apply so make your reservation now. >> all right. this is like the rainbow loom. >> we have adrian and alyssa showing the craze. you can go to toys "r" us. they have free from 10 to noon, they can make these for free and get to take the bracelets home. >> you get to borrow the loom. >> you get to borrow the loom but take the bracelet with you. >> next up, if you want to feed your family, head to olive garden. you can order one of these five entrees and when you leave they come and ask you would you like one to go. they give you a whole size to go for free and you can eat it the next day and they even compaqed with instructions. >> last up, you can get your car auto brakes, everything, sears auto foro go. you can get your cars, auto, brakes, everything checked at sears auto for free. good morning. it is 8:26 now on this friday, october 4th. i'm rare ron gilcrest. summer sticking around. tom is here with your forecast. more like august 4th. good morning. temperatures now in the 60s. it is rather humid as well. still have some fog in some of the rural areas. that will be dissipated over the next hours. later today, partly cloudy. highs reaching upper 80s. the warm pattern will continue. morning low, 60s. partly cloudy. then, on monday, it is over. we'll have highs in the 70s and likely some passing showers. maybe a lingering shower on tuesday. highs near 70, tuesday, chef, you seem less tense since you got spark unlimited business checking from capital one bank. my stress has vanished. my old business checking account really pushed my buttons. transaction limits? 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[ male announcer ] switch to spark unlimited business checking from capital one bank and get unlimited transactions. limit the stress, unlimit your business. red's my color. what's in your wallet? we will check your commute next. traveling in our area, a few slow spots. route 50, heads up once you get by land over, slow inbound. outer loop feeling more like a monday than a friday in montgomery county. you can still see delays here. let's talk about your drive time. 18 minutes from i 95 to georgia avenue. that travel speed, 18 miles per hour. no accidents on the outer loop no accidents on the outer loop of the beltway in february, 2013. a landmark transportation bill is up for consideration. even though it's backed by republican governor mcdonnell... ken cuccinelli joins tea party republicans to block the plan. but terry mcauliffe believes it's time to break through the gridlock in richmond. mcauliffe presses democrats to support the bill. and the bill passes. terry mcauliffe. putting virginia first. "i'm terry mcauliffe, candidate for governor, and i sponsored this ad." it's 8:30 now on this friday morning. it is the 4th of october, 2013. check out a live picture of the empire state building here in new york city. a great wind down to the work week here on rockefeller plaza and we have a fun loving, exuberant and happy crowd. we'll say good morning to them. i'm savannah guthrie along side willie geist, al roker, natalie morales, and carson daly. >> you're not getting off so easy. we have a young lady here that's had a crush on carson since high school. >> i'm not that old. >> what is it about this guy? >> he's just so handsome. >> stop it. thank you, nice to see you. >> this is not the first time carson has been called handsome out here this week. >> i try to come out here for that. >> see my space spinning there? it's trl all over again. coming up, al is going to take his turn to test your truth meter. fact or fiction will end today. al has a couple of stories that are apparently both unbelievable. >> i can't wait to see that. hopefully i'll redeem myself from yesterday. >> coming up, how would you like to spend time here? take a look. this is a stunning vacation compound built together by two big stars. one of them by the name george clooney. >> yes. >> yes we would like to see it. if he's there. >> you've been busy. >> that's right. a lot going on. first of all, starting with today, we're looking at tropical storm karen off the coast and then saturday it's threatening the coast. risk of strong storms in the mid and upper mississippi river valley. santa anna winds out to the west. gorgeous in the pacific northwest. continues that way sunday. that risk of strong storms still hanging out in the upper ohio river valley. karen is on shore. upper ohio river valley. karen is on shore. we'll watch to see how intense that is an the western two-thirds of the country looking spectacular. that's what's going on around the u.s. here is whaegs happening t's har neck of the woods. >> it is feeling more like august than october. good morning. we have a little patchy fog some of the rural areas. later today, it will feel like summer with highs soaring to the upper 80s by mid afternoon. we'll repeat this on saturday. a little bit cooler sunday as clouds increase ahead of a cool front. bringing us some showers and a small chance of tropical moisture from the remnants of karen giving and that's your latest weather. savannah. >> well action they say a picture is worth a thousand words but in the case of instagram it's more like a billion dollars. that's how much facebook paid for the popular photo sharing app in 2012. kevin systrom is the ceo and owner. good to have you here. they pioneered the use of filter. i thought i'd ask the control room to change the filter. >> it's good. it's a start. >> maybe black and white. >> i look good in that one. >> you do. should we just continue with the interview. >> absolutely. >> let me throw numbers at you. 150 million. do you know what that refers to? >> 150 million people use instagram every month around the world. >> very good. 55 million photos uploaded daily. 1.2 billion. >> likes every single day. >> 3. >> 3? >> age of instagram. 29 age of you. do you ever sit back and say i can't believe this happened? >> every single day. it's really inspiring because we set out to create an app that would make people love sharing their photos with other people and it turned into something much larger than we could have expected. >> there's a graveyard of start ups that fizzled and died. why do you think it worked? >> what we wanted to focus on solving people's problems. they wanted to share their photos quickly and they wanted them to be beautiful and we focused on those things and it went well. >> a lot of people talk about mark zuckerberg when they talk about you. it's a good comparison. is he a mentor or friend? do you look at how he handled this success at a young age? >> well, the best friends are mentors. we get along very well and the relationship is very much cofounders of different companies and we give each other a lot of advice and it's good to have someone that's been through this as well. >> i wondered what the most commonly photographed thing was. i had some guesses, sunset, animals -- >> dogs. >> in your case? >> definitely food. >> food. >> my personality is something like a balance of art and science and i think that food tends to be the blend of those two and that's why i love documenting it where ever i go on my business travel. >> we have also seen with instagram it become part of the news. documenting the news. sometimes making news. we saw syria's president joined instagram in the heat of everything going on there. a couple of weeks ago rihanna took a picture with exotic animals. two people ended up getting arrested. was it your hope and ambition that it would shape world events and become part of world events? >> the first day we launched instagram 25,000 people signed up and i said i think we've created something bigger than we think and it's been amazing to watch the ride because, like you said, these things start happening and you realize it has a lot more impact. >> do you have in your mind what the next big thing is. >> the next big thing for instagram is discovering exploration. we have 55 million photos added daily and i want to make sure you can discover the photos most relevant to you and your interests. >> you have accomplished so much. the ultimate status symbol is to just have your name, @kevin on your instagram page. >> it helps to be the first one to sign up. >> there's someone that has a name, @dolly. >> she is still with her brothers and sisters but we're excited. >> she must know somebody. he's got the @dolly name. >> thank you so much. >> coming up next, your powers of observation put to the test. our final round of fact or fiction. but, first, this is "today" on nbc. thank you. thank you for that. all right everybody. we are back with our final addition of, say it with me everybody -- >> fact or fiction. >> nice job. it's our way of testing your judgment in today's age of information overload. on thursday matt and al guessed correctly that the cube man was fiction while the high flying balloon guy was real. you're here with two stories. what have you got? >> here we go. this comes to us all the way from south korea where an unconventional kind of daycare maybe the norm here. >> reporter: like many working moms juggling a million and one things. she was ready to throw a tantrum of her own. >> every day i was exhausted and it was very difficult to perform all the duties of a good mother. >> reporter: she desperately needed a helping hand but a helping hand that looks like this? meet nanny and yes, this say robot which soon could be an overwhelmed parents best friend. once the stuff of science fiction they're in the beta testing phases in korea where the cost of daycare is third highest in the world. it plays, reads and can warn parents with a text if the kids are up to no good. it's the creation of an engineerer who believes it may one day eliminate the need for traditional daycare. >> it can be used for supervising multiple children for younger periods of time. >> i don't know that you'll get american parents to trust your kids to him. >> on a recent city to pitch investors he showed how his invention works. >> try to grab it. >> how does it know? >> everything is programmed. it's complex but it knows how to recognize dangerous objects and situations. >> he already received orders for over 3500 in asia and even received inquiries from as far away as iceland and brazil. >> we already use robots in every day life and this is the next thing. >> is it far fetched? al's story number one. savannah, what do you think? quick thoughts? >> i feel this one is real. >> i want one. i'm saying it's real. >> i'm talking to matt who is watching and we have our decision. >> all right. we'll keep that in mind. >> al, story number two. >> it's a look at an unusual company started by three women who wanted to deal with the art of grieving. >> reporter: robert burch has been creating glass sculptors for years. >> we're incorporating ash of people and or pets into pieces. >> reporter: they call it art from ashes. a thoughtful business created by three friends that make a living honoring the dead. >> so we'll go up and take up the new orders. >> reporter: with their individualized glass art pieces. >> now, we're really 50/50. 50% human, 50% pets, dogs, cats, chimpanzees. >> reporter: instead of merely storing remains, a loved one can reflect the sun and hold a martini or dangle in a tasteful piece of jewelry. >> every other bead has a little bit of my mom and dad together. >> people will come up to me and ask me who am i wearing? >> reporter: selling the idea was a challenge. >> our kids would laugh. >> i have it in writing that in the event of my demise my mom is only allowed to turn me into one piece rather than a bunch. >> clients embraced it immediately. >> when my dog died my heart was broken and i wanted something i could have to carey with me or hold on to. >> reporter: she had two pieces made from the remains of her dog molly. first a blue paperweight. >> it was beautiful and clear. >> reporter: then a purple one. >> i talked to an animal communiqcommun communicator who said her favorite color was purple. >> turning grief into beauty. >> we're all stuck. >> voting right now? >> i think i might change my vote. >> we're changing votes. >> i found the testimonials very convincing. >> either amazing actresses or that's real. >> all right. let's turn to the plaza. you saw both stories. i want you to hold up the sign you think is the story of fiction. which one do you not believe? the robot nanny? nobody believes that's a real story. >> wow. >> okay. let's lock it in. savannah you're in the lead with three points. >> i think robot nanny is fake because i don't think we would have done a fake story about people grieving. >> yeah. >> i'm sorry. >> nat? >> i'm going to same. >> willie, if you go against the grain on savannah, you and matt could tie meaning some money would go to your charity as well. we just conferred and we're going with art from ashes. >> you're going the other way. >> so it's either savannah's victory or a split. tweet us what you think is the fake story using #robotnanny or art ashes. we'll reveal the answer. >> what is it al? >> stop laughing. this is "today" on nbc. all right. it all comes down to this. suspense is in the air. we're back with fact or fiction. the game that challenges us to start the fake story. so is it yoo-mo the robot nanny or turning your loved ones remains into art? our plaza audience thought robot nanny was the fake story but now at home, 69% of you also think that robot nanny is a work of fiction. before we get to it votes are split here. the battle is really between savannah and matt or willie. if it is robot nanny is the fake story savannah will win this thing and $5,000 for her charity. if art from ashes is a fake story there will be a tie. you'll split the proceeds. al, what is the fake story. >> the fake story is robot nanny. >> robot nanny. >> savannah wins. >> yea. >> congratulations, savannah. >> $5,000 for your charity. >> i'm so excited. >> what's your charity. >> the national down syndrome society. >> wonderful. >> it was a close one willie/matt. >> i blamed matt for the information. >> he is devastated but he is going to contribute money as well. >> that's nice. >> and what were the clues? the give aways? you don't know? whatever. >> thank you very much. >> up next, a look at one of george clooney's many getaways and the super model he shares it with. but first, this is "today" on nbc. congratulations to savannah. [ phone ringing ] [ daughter ] hi mom. hey honey, the trip's great, very relaxing. are you sure you can't make it? but you come every year! you could be playing bingo right now! woooo! and there's movie night -- you love movies! [ laughs ] sorry honey, can't hear you -- bad connection. love you! [ laughs ] ♪ [ male announcer ] bold flavors for the bold hearted -- progresso heart healthy soup. back now at 8:50 with today's home. an inside look at a mexican getaway for the stars. it's shared by george clooney and george gerber and cindy crawford. good morning. good to see you. >> good morning. >> explain this to me a little bit. they're the best of friends and have been for many years and they built a compound together, essentially. >> they did. they decided at first to build one house and then decided that maybe they needed two houses but they're two sister houses. very similar, not exactly alike. >> let's take a look first at george clooney's side of the compound. what's the vibe of the place? >> it's very clubby and masculine. the lanterns are magical when lit. each of the two houses has a courtyard and beautiful terrace opening on to a pool overlooking the sea. >> we're looking at a shot that many people have dreamed of seeing, george clooney's bedroom. the one right before that. what were we seeing there? >> that is george clooney's bedroom with an amazing view of the ocean. it's very masculine and warm and very sophisticated. >> this is essentially -- this say party house as you said? he's a guys guy. he can have his friends come over and stay with him for weeks. >> he can. they're all about family and friends and fun. they go down there to entertain, to bring their friends down. it's a real sanctuary. >> and randy gerber is the design genius behind it. >> he is. he likes design and did a terrific job with the houses. >> let's look at the randy and cindy side of the place. they talk about feeling in harmony with the setting. i think i know what they're talking about. >> it's a marvelous room. it opens to the outside. almost every room in the house opens to the outside. there's a courtyard and more color and more family friendly. white fabrics. built in furniture. >> there's outdoor dining there. you've got the pool. >> you have a beautiful pool and then all you see is ocean. ocean and palm trees. it's really beautiful. >> now, what are the differences, then, if you had to point out a couple between the two sides? do they have different taste and design. >> they do. each house has it's own personality. they were designed by a phenomenal mexican architect and it was important to them that they were architecturally important but that the design was different. so george's has a more masculine vibe. there's a more family vibe in the two atriums. there's more color in cindy and randy's house. >> a lot of people fantasizing about a weekend at that compound. >> i had a weekend at that compound and it was fun. >> you got to go. >> was george there. >> george was not there but cindy and randy were there. >> cool photographs. nice to see you. >> nice to see you willie. >> let's go over to savannah. >> thanks. that's fun looking at those. >> amazing. >> why be in the movie theater when you have that view. >> yeah sometimes it rains. >> you have a busy weekend in the weather. >> that's right. we'll keep an eye on the storms. meantime, friday, we love friday. we want to give you a look at how it all unfolded this week right here on today. have a great weekend. >> the shutdown showdown is our top story. >> it looks at this point to be almost certain that the government will shutdown beginning at midnight tonight. >> here we are. much of the federal government shut down. >> this could go on for days and weeks. >> the supreme court upheld obama care as constitutional. do you think the republicans should move on? >> no, it's a bad deal for the folks. >> suspicious packages that lead to tense moments at the jacksonville international airport. >> two men were arrested here overnight. their actions caused the airport to close here for five hours. >> everybody started running. a lot of people that works at the commerce started ducking behind where the packages go. >> i feel ntastic. people keep asking me that question, i have been declared cancer free. >> what i love about this job that i have is that i see so much hope. i see that you just need to give kids a little bit of love. >> former russian spy anna chapman is back in the headlines this morning. >> she remains very secretive but certainly not camera shy. >> you recently tweeted a marriage proposal -- >> i'm not going to discuss it. >> was it serious. >> richard. >> good morning oscar winner sandra bullock in the studio. >> orlando bloom. >> sean hayes won an emmy for his role as jack mcfarland. >> that was easy. that's your latest weather. >> everybody say it with me, called -- >> fact or fiction. >> is that fact or fiction? >> look who's here, blair underwood. >> anthony mackey. >> oh, no. >> how did you get out here this fast. monday, on "today." miley cyrus from tv sweetheart to pop star. good morning. 8:56. friday, october 4th. i'm aaron gilcrest. a heads up for all you med tro riders. a big station in d.c. is about to close. along the red line, union station, judiciary square will clothes at 10:00. gallery place will only serve the yellow and green lines. metro center will only serve metro center will only serve blue and orange line trains "i'm terry mcauliffe, candidate for governor, and i sponsored this ad." these are birth control pills. more than half of american women use them at some point in their lives but ken cuccinelli sponsored a bill that could have made common forms of birth control illegal, including the pill. cuccinelli was one of only five senators to support this "potentially radical intrusion into domestic, family and individual decision-making" why is ken cuccinelli interfering in our private lives? he's focused on his own agenda. not us. pumpkin's back at dunkin'? now you tell me. try the new pumpkin pie donut or any of our other many pumpkin treats today. america runs on dunkin'. we'll take a look at weather and traffic next. good morning. our summer in october weather continues. right now, temperatures, 60s to near 70 later today into the 80s. then, we'll continue through the weekend. then, cooler monday with possible showers, likely showers later on monday, perhaps a lingering shower tuesday. cooler next week. how is traffic, danella? >> in northwest, a report at an accident, georgia avenue at fairmont street. the inner loop, take the exit for georgia avenue, crash there. they just moved it out of the from nbc news, this is today's take with al roker, natalie morales, and willie geist. live from studio 1-a in rockefeller plaza. welcome to today on this friday morning, october 4th, 2013. i'm willie geist along with al roker, natalie morales, and brooke shields back with us again. >> brooke has many hair things going on. >> i've got some fishtail. >> oh, i like that. >> they're little fishtail braids. >> but it's like a ponytail. >> it's a ponytail with other things. i'm edgy. >> got creative today. >> i really am. >> she's living on the edge. >> this is it for me. >> living on the edge. >> i like it. >> it's exciting. >> j. crew shirt. >> nice. >> breast cancer awareness. >> yes. >> our colorful ladies here. >> us not too much. >> so the shutdown is exhausting a lot of people on many levels. >> yeah. >> day four now, we're into it. there was a funny moment yesterday when a republican congressman from north carolina was caught taking a bit of a snooze as he presided over a house session for the affordable care act. >> it's about trying to do what's right for the whole country and if your heart doesn't break when you read these stories and when you -- it's about trying to do what's right for the whole country. >> camera work there. >> it's like an snl skit. >> oh. >> where am i? wait a minute, i'm in the house of representatives. >> and i'm in the big chair up at the top here. >> his fellow congressman there giving a passionate speech. >> let's do what's right for the country. >> i'm asleep right now. >> you're asleep. >> good. that's good. >> yeah, huh. maybe -- i mean, i've -- listen, i've -- >> where's the weirdest place you fell asleep? >> just recently i went to the opening of the met and there were two intermissions and i found myself going -- >> oh, please. >> i've had some of my best naps. >> my mother fell asleep once in church. must have been after a long night and the funny thing is she woke up and she went -- >> broke into applause? >> yea, god. >> what's your's natalie? >> well, i was doing an interview this week. >> during the interview. >> i was definitely drowsy. >> could you be more specific? >> no, it's coming up. >> were you sitting across from the person? >> yes. >> that's got to be great. how good do you have to feel? you're giving an answer and you notice natalie dozing off during your interview. >> i did not fall asleep but let's say i was like -- >> did you start to drool. >> no. >> you've got kids too. you were probably up all night. >> we're not letting it go. now we have to watch. watch the "today" show next week and guess which interview it was. >> wow. >> no, no, no. >> that was the day that changed my life. >> natalie. >> news with nat has become narcolepsy with nat. >> it's snooze with natalie. >> so sometimes, you know, there's a little lull in the room and it's a little quite. >> like the guy paused during the interview? >> just to tell our audience, when you do one of those interviews there's two giant lights shining. it's really hard to fall asleep. >> no, it's easier because it's so warm. >> it's cozy. >> we should give you a blankie next time. >> did you crawl into the guy's lap? start sucking your thumb? >> it was a guy. >> no. it's not. >> it's a woman. >> i'm not saying anything. >> was it a robot. >> no. >> you were just snoring. >> hey, our hours are grueling. >> okay. >> let's not start -- oh, come on. a lot of people work these hours. >> i know. what about you all? >> i had one yesterday. i was at the dentist yesterday, in natalie's dense you find these moments, not necessarily during an interview but you find moments to catch a few minutes and -- >> drilling? >> there was something going on. i had the orange goggles on and i just kind of. >> i've done that. >> it was like 30 seconds but i was out. >> in the dental chair. >> i went to a dinner where you fell asleep when your wife deborah was mcing. >> that's right. >> darn right. >> i'm outing you mr. roker. >> happens all the time. >> i look up and al's like. >> i'm dozing off. it's warm. i had a meal. it's 9:00 at night. i'm gone. here's the deal -- see, i don't apologize for it. that's the difference. >> up front. >> you know what, i'm going. this happens in our household. by friday night i'm literally dozing off during dinner and our 14-year-old is like, well, so, gee, dad, can't you stay awake and they all mouth the words i'm about to say which is do you have any idea what time i get up -- it's become a joke. it's become a joke in our house. >> boy, we are a fun group. >> yeah. >> you want to party with this crowd. >> that's right. >> we're asleep. >> the blue light -- the early bird special is late for us. we are there sitting there at denny's. >> so much fun. hang out with us a little bit longer, brooke, and you'll see. >> thank you. >> it's fun. i love this story. did you hear about the pinterest wedding? he surprised his girlfriend with her dream pinterest wedding. he snuck on to the site and used his girlfriend's dream wedding pin board to create the big day. it started when rye i don't know overheard amanda telling a friend -- >> they look like models. >> amazing couple. >> that's a handsome couple. he overheard she wanted to get engaged and married on the same day. he plans the wedding. uses 200 or so imagines to put it together. chose the flowers, the decorations, even her dress. >> that's gutsy. >> for a year. >> but if it's on her pinterest. >> and there's that wanting to get in shape for your wedding too. >> yeah, she looks really out of shape. the two of them are really slackers. >> okay. so part of what -- i've gotten to two it twice so i had fun planning two weddings. but -- >> you digress. >> i digress. >> your husband is sitting at home going, okay. >> part of the fun is the planning of it but because it was all on her pinterest i think it's amazing. >> she planned it. >> how confident he must be. >> well, they seem very happy. >> i could never pull that off. >> in june they flew from dallas to miami. he told her they were helping a friend move. >> didn't you stop that in college? >> but that sets up the moment anymore. moving a friend to getting married. >> amazing. >> well done, we're impressed. >> tiger woods was less impressed by his girlfriend lindsey vonn. why he has a squirrel in his pocket we may never know. >> hey, look at my squirrel. >> oh -- >> she pulls the squirrel out of the pocket. >> watch how mad he gets. >> tiger doesn't love that. >> look at the focus, though, he hardly even looks at it. >> get the rat off me. >> i love how mad he gets at her and then he realizes later he's on camera and he's like oh, cute. it's a squirrel. >> oh, we're so playful. >> i love it. >> could you find a lemur. >> i love that there's a squirrel on the golf course. >> in his panlts. >> there were moments before. there was cuddling going on. >> with the squirrel? >> we'll have to find out what's happening on the pga. >> that's crazy. >> in new york -- that's good. but in new york they're all like rabid squirrels. that seems like a nice little -- >> they're aggressive here too. >> i had one pull a gun on me. come on. >> give me your nuts. >> and you gave it to them which was the sad part. >> mr. roker, you have a lot going on in the weather department. >> all right. let's the weather department. >> they stole my car. >> we'll show you what we've got. this is tropical storm karen, 275 miles south/southwest, mouth of the mississippi, 60-mile-per-hour winds moving north/northwest. dry air starting to get into this thing. it may not be the big problem that we see it is. we are going to continue to watch this. it makes landfall sometime early sunday morning and makes its way into the southeast. this path could be changing. check with the weather channel, weather.com. rainfall amounts could be up to 8 inches of rain. we have a big, big winter storm to talk about pushing ahead of it. severe weather. behind the system, anywhere from 12-18 inches of snow and the black hills could be up to three feet. that's what's going on around the country. here is what's happening in your neck of the woods good morning. it is still rather humid and the fog is gradually dissipating we have had earlier this morning. looking off to the west, live view. showing some clouds roll ng from t the west. temperatures are near 70. 60s elsewhere. month are clouds sunday. then, rain likely on monday you're going to want to stick around for these. >> really? i don't know. >> it's not your average utensil. >> yeah, i mean, you need two of them. >> if you eat at your desk, you want to know about these. we'll tell you about it right after this. 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[ male announcer ] don't be like the burns. just one pepcid® complete works fast and lasts. i need you. i feel so alone. but you're not alone. i knew you'd come. like i could stay away. you know i can't do this without you. you'll never have to. you're always there for me. shh! i'll get you a rental car. i could also use an umbrella. fall in love with progressive's claims service. we've been talking about miley cyrus lately, how about britney spears. >> okay. >> just a change of tune. >> she claims she had to tone down her latest video because people around the shoot wanted her to be too sexy and she said no way. this is toned down, i guess. >> that's really toned down. >> it aired on thursday on boston's 103.3. britney admits while the final version of the video is sexy she demanded that some of the early footage be cut out. that's what she said. >> we showed way more skin and did way more stuff for the video than what is actually there. i cut out half the video because i am a mother and i have children and it's hard to play sexy mom while you're being a pop star as well. >> so in some sense are they pushing you further than you want to go and you sit in the editing room and you say that has to go. that's how it's all lined up. >> yes. yes. >> okay. >> i think part of what she is saying there is now that she's a mom she feels differently about video shoots. >> instant mom. did a little stork drop a baby? >> she also did in this interview which i appreciated, i'm glad she said it, she said she does wish for the way it used to be when you wore one outfit and you danced the whole video and there's was some kind of -- for britney to then want to go to a pure time, you know what i mean -- i think to a certain extent also that everything has become so overproduced and pushed, the envelope keeps getting pushed. i mean -- >> sounds like she wants it both ways. >> she's a young mom. i mean, those babies are so young. >> we do have a statement, britney's father and her manager said britney is never pressured into anything. she reviews all creative and for her work b word video. >> i like that there. >> video -- she is being a mom. >> she says there's a lot of sex put into what we do in music videos. >> it's not like the finished product is not sexy. there's a lot going on there. >> don't you feel like nowadays, as we see with miley cyrus and the wrecking ball stuff, this generation of kids they feel they have to push that envelope in order to be relevant or to appeal to this generation? i don't know. >> no. >> everybody is always trying to keep up. >> think of madonna with all of her videos in the past. they were pretty out there. >> i think there is -- you know, they're just able to go farther and farther and it's -- i mean, i get it. it's been going on for a long time. >> yesterday we said there's going to be a day where right around the corner somebody is going to be naked in their video. it's happening already. >> and asleep. >> everybody kind of hungry like the wolf was a big deal. >> so long ago. >> all right. why do we have these bizarre you s utensil in front of us. >> they're tin. >> this is desk cutlery because a lot of people eat at the desks at work. >> why can't you have a pen and a fork? >> if you're done with the fork -- we're hungry. >> it's a salad here. >> but if you're done with the fork and you want to clean it, you don't have a cap for your pen. >> are they throw away. >> did you have a salad. >> i'm going to go with this. >> not the fish, the squash. so when i have this stuck in my teeth will somebody tell me. >> how do these work? >> i'm using a spoon. >> i eat my lunch and then what -- >> if you want to clean it, you don't have a cap for your pen. >> they cost $8.49 for the set. >> seems a little high. >> well, it's handy. >> it's called pen cap cutlery for the cube cal captive. >> nobody can walk and get the plastic you sutensils. >> right. >> i feel weird licking my pen this way. >> that's the miley cyrus video. >> i feel weird with you licking your pen. >> are you uncomfortable? >> this is not a good work environment. >> how's the salad. >> do you want it? >> how is the chicken. >> it looks fantastic. doesn't it look more appetizing with a pen laying on it. look at that. oh, man. >> wow. >> now when you're done with this, is it the right way to cross it like that. right over left. >> and your man servant comes takes it away. >> they started with pencils but people would get lead poisoning. >> all right. >> moving on. >> coming up next, all the news you need before you leave the house. >> and we've got your ticket to hollywood including the feud between miley and sinead. let's put britney in there too. plus what i remember the day my doctor said i had diabetes. there's a lot i had to do... ... watch my diet. stay active. start insulin... today, i learned there's something i don't have to do anymore. my doctor said that with novolog® flexpen, i don't have to use a syringe and a vial... or carry a cooler. flexpen® comes prefilled with fast-acting insulin used to help control high blood sugar when you eat. dial the exact does. inject by pushing a button. no drawing from a vial. you should eat a meal within 5 to 10 minutes after injecting novolog® (insulin aspart [rdna origin] injection). do not use if your blood sugar is too low, or if you are allergic to any of its ingredients. the most common side effect is low blood sugar, which may cause symptoms such as sweating, shakiness, confusion, and headache. severe low blood sugar can be serious and life-threatening. ask your health care provider about alcohol use, operating machinery, or driving. other possible side effects include injection site reactions and low potassium in your blood. tell your health care provider about all medicines you take and all of your medical conditions. get medical help right away if you experience serious allergic reactions such as body rash, trouble with breathing, fast heartbeat, or sweating. flexpen® is insulin delivery my way. covered by most insurance plans, including medicare. find your co-pay cost at myflexpen.com. ask your health care provider about novolog® flexpen today. another viva dare. our fans think there's a rule that a paper towel can't handle this. fans? 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'your life is a game of chance. chronic migraine, also available in delicious peanut butter. but what if the odds could be in your favor? botox® is an fda-approved treatment that significantly reduces headache days for adults with chronic migraine, 15 or more headache days a month, each lasting 4 hours or more. it's proven to actually prevent headache days. and it's injected by a doctor once every 3 months. the effects of botox® (onabotulinumtoxina) may spread hours to weeks after injection causing serious symptoms. alert your doctor right away, as difficulty swallowing, speaking, breathing, eye problems, or muscle weakness can be a sign of a life-threatening condition. side effects may include allergic reactions, neck and injection site pain, fatigue, and headache. don't take botox® if you have a skin infection. tell your doctor about your medical history, muscle or nerve conditions, and medications, including botulinum toxins, as these may increase the risk of serious side effects. the dose of botox® is not the same as other botulinum toxins. put the odds on your side. visit botoxchronicmigraine.com and talk to a headache specialist. . taking a look at the headlines, a warning from adobe systems, a cyberattack exposed the credit card information of nearly 3 million customers. the attacker is said to have accessed customer names as well as credit card numbers. customers are notified and passwords are being reset. >> for investors it was one of the most anticipated days of the year. twitter made it's ipo filing thursday. it's working to raise $1 billion with the offering. if the sale is successful it will create a windfall for owners and investors alike. it will be available for purchase as early as november. >> we have two good reasons to upgrade your home's energy efficiency over the weekend. the $500 tax saving for energy upgrades expires at the end of the year. it's only available to improvements to your primary residence. >> a new study finds going for a walk could lower a woman's risk for breast cancer. researchers looked at data collected from 70,000 women over a 17 year period. they found those that vigorously exercised for an hour a day had a 25% reduced risk for breast cancer. >> an australian may have jumped his way into the record books. jay phoenix broke the world record for the most bungee jumps in 24 hours. he completed 150 jumps performed from a platform 131 feet high. the previous record was south africa in 2011 with 105 jumps. it's not clear if the guinness world record has certified the jumps. >> speaking of being exhausted. nap time. come on, wake up. >> i was bored to tears. >> in the market for a house? we'll share up home buying myths. we'll share up home buying myths. go! it's back. olive garden's buy one take one. go for dinner tonight and take home a second entrée for later. all for just $12.99. choose one of five favorites like smoked mozzarella chicken. then choose another favorite to take home. like new mezzaluna ravioli. go for dinner tonight, and take home a second entree. buy one, take one, just $12.99. go olive garden. and try our unlimited homemade soup, crisp salad, and warm breadsticks lunch just $6.99. [ male announcer ] campbell's homestyle soup with farm grown veggies. just like yours. huh. [ male announcer ] and roasted white meat chicken. just like yours. [ male announcer ] you'll think it's homemade. i love this show. [ male announcer ] try campbell's homestyle soup. about yoplait's fall favorites. so we brought pumpkin pie and apple crisp back for a limited time. see? you really do call the shots. ♪ yoplait. it is so good. wake up. >> i was bored to tears. to today's local news and weather. good morning. 9:26 on this friday, october 4th. i'm aaron gilcrest. our headlines, mid-shipment at the naval academy, seeing a change in the classroom because of the government shutdown. more than half of the faculty is furloughed because they are civilians. month are than 900 professors an other staff members 6789 they are try tog get military faculty to we will get a look at your forecast and the commute next. good morning. around our region, temperatures around 70 degrees. later today, temperatures should easily be making it into the mid and upper 80s again. summer and october weather will continue into the weekend. then, a break comes on monday. some showers likely. highs in the 70s to be followed by highs only near 70 on tuesday, wednesday, thursday, which is about the average for that time of year. next week, drying out. now, danella, how is traffic? >> we are going to start with metro. delays on the orange line, signal problems at west falls church metro station. still causing delays in both directions on the o hi, ladies. >> welcome back to today on this friday morning, october 4th, 2013. some people having lunch just across the way. i'm willie geist with al roker, natalie morales and brooke shields with us this week. listening to little secrets by passion pit. great band. >> love. >> you and i can speak to this one. once you become a dad you become a cliche in some ways. >> absolutely. >> our friends at buzz feed pointed out the ways we become cliches. the online list, things dads like. cell phone holsters. >> i don't use that. >> barrack obama. >> president of the united states enjoys a cell phone holder. >> there it is. >> you do wear the mom jeans so well. >> yes i do. >> do you rock a mom jean? >> that's what my kids call them. >> how's the smile on the je. there's an area called the smile. >> the things we talk about during our commercial break. >> being superstitious about sports. >> yeah. i've got one of these. >> i went to vanderbilt. >> yeah. >> the vastly improved and getting better every day there headed by james franklin. so i'll slip this on for the last decade on a saturday. because if i wear my shirt that helps them win. >> absolutely. >> clearly. >> they've had a few slips along the way. >> but that was your fault. >> i blame myself. >> my college, our mascot was the great laker. he looked like the fwgordon's fisherman. hard to get behind that. let me get fish sticks. >> speaking of grilling. are you a griller? >> my husband is a passive griller. >> does he wear an a problpron. >> no but he makes his own dry rub. >> that's not a cliche. that's a skill. >> that's a skill. that's what you strive to be. >> absolutely. >> what's wrong with that? >> taking a really long time in the bathroom -- >> i wasn't sure where you were going with that. >> you men are notorious for that. >> there's a lot of reading to be done. >> my mother used to call it the library. you've been in there 20 minutes and my dad would yell out who died and made you time keeper. >> wow. a look behind the nbc.com. al, how about a check of the weather? >> let's see what we've got for you. >> the weekend. we have a couple of things going on. tropical storm karen. we're hoping it is not going to be as bad. a lot of dry air getting into it. not a problem there. there is a risk for strong storms stretching from wisconsin down into the northeastern part of arkansas. santa ana winds. gorgeous weather ang lo the eastern seaboard. for sunday, sunday, look for more rain stretching from new england down to the gulf as we watch karen come onshore. western two-thirds of the country going to be spectacular. risk of strong storms in the upper ohio river valley. that's what's going on around the country. here is what's happening in your neck of the woods. >> a summerlike haze in the air now that the fog has dissipated. hazy sunshine around the metro area. temperatures up around 70 degrees. much of the region and it will continue to climb. it will feel like summer later today, highs reaching mid to upper 80s and again on saturday. partly cloudy both afternoons. increasing clouds on sunday, highs, mid-80s. then, we'll that's your latest weather. why does natalie have these signs? we're going to find out in just a little bit. >> i'm a buy, though. >> that's a tease, al. thanks. >> this morning in your ticket to hollywood, the war of words deepens between miley cyrus and sinead o'connor. a.j. calloway has the scoop for us. >> how are you? >> how's the baby? first thing is first. >> we saw pictures. she is beautiful. >> it's that face but in the bahia algondones form. >> she rolled over. >> that's a big moment. >> that's a big moment. usher checking kids the abc's on sesame street. let's take a peek. >> get up and dance with me. [ music playing ] >> i love when stars do this. we grew up watching these videos with my kids on youtube. chris brown had one me did with them. >> he is incredible. he could sing with dictionary and get away with it. he is basically doing that right now. >> he is. >> he's so good. >> i love these. >> remember these growing. >> i loved them when i was little too. >> brooke is very excited because we're hearing about a second ted movie. >> i love this movie. >> ted 2. it is happening. >> yea. >> 2015. ted 2 is happening. last year they came out. it was a blockbuster. grossed $540 million worldwide. so why not do a 2? >> of course. >> you have to. >> mark walhberg -- you love this movie? maybe seth will write you in. >> i would love it. it's so wrong, it's so right. i love it. when they're yelling at thunder and they've got that little song. >> how many times have you seen it? >> i have seen it so many times. >> i've seen it three. >> for an r rated comedy starring a teddy bear to make half a billion dollars is outrageous. >> it's incredible. >> when he's running through the names of all the white trash girls. how they're going to top it, i don't know. >> we're going to see brooke shields in ted 2. that's going to happen after this segment. >> i think we should date. i think i should date ted. >> they're saying summer of 2015. summer of 2015. >> we'll wait for that one. let's get to our photo of the week. gwyneth paltrow joined instag m instagram. >> she has a picture of her and jason wu. over 6,000 followers already. people love to see her. she's a beautiful woman and she loves social media. >> she doesn't tweet as much but maybe she'll instagram. >> she'll probably instagram a lot more. >> do you do a lot of selfies? >> no, i'm not a selfie. >> no selfie? >> no. some privately maybe. my husband. but i'm not going to put them on twitter. >> really? wow. >> we broke through something. this is new territory. >> there's so much you don't know about me. >> do you have instagram? >> i don't. i have twitter. well, i have them all but i'm nervous about getting called out on twitter. i keep it monitored. >> nice on twitter? >> not nice. just careful. >> we got to get an instagram. >> we'll talk later. moving on. >> let's get to this miley sinead back and forth. she says don't let the music business prostitute you. those are her words and miley tweets back and says let's talk. >> is that what she said? >> well, she tweets back. miley responded to sinead saying she is busy hosting snl and then she tweeted again and said i don't have time to write you an open -- miley basically said that she is busy doing snl and then she wrote another tweet saying if you'd like to sit down and talk, let me know in another open letter. kind of jabbing at her even though she did a video kind of giving -- paying respect to sinead o'connor. nobody was talking about her before but now she is getting in a few but i think sinead is just saying a lot of what everybody is feeling. they want her to tone down. they want miley to calm down a little bit. everybody is tired of it. >> you wonder why she has taken an interest in this to write open letters about it. >> it's that thing. if you really do want to have an impact on someone personally just call them yourself. >> if it's a letter, send it to them. >> exactly. >> but put her into the limelight and i think miley is aware of that so she is jabbing at her a little bit. >> and she's going to be on snl so now she can mess with her on snl. >> miley is on snl saturday and here monday and interview with a concert with us. >> thank you a.j. >> great to see you. we need to break so we can check out the photos she is talking about. >> what's the number one rule in buying a home? is it location, some make believe. 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[ female announcer ] only with abreva. that's why there's new duracell quantum. only duracell quantum has a hi-density core. and that means more fuel, more power, more performance than the next leading brand. new duracell quantum. trusted everywhere. do you mind grabbing my phone and opening the capital one purchase eraser? i need to redeem some venture miles before my demise. okay. it's easy to erase any recent travel expense i want. just pick that flight right there. mmm hmmm. give it a few taps, and...it's taken care of. this is pretty easy, and i see it works on hotels too. you bet. now if you like that, press the red button on top. ♪ how did he not see that coming? what's in your wallet? but press them flat, add sauce... and some pepperoni and cheese... and school nights turn into grands mini pizza nights. pillsbury grands biscuits. make dinner pop! if you're in the market for a new home there's a lot of myths and misconceptions when it comes to buying. we called in the experts to help you out. she's the personal finance contributor for the street.com and jay is a real estate agent. >> you'll read a statement and we'll guess if it's a buy meaning it's fact or bust because it's fiction. go ahead. >> the first we have, your credit score is the single most important factor when applying for a mortgage. >> i'm staying there on bust. >> i'm saying buy. >> oh, good. well, so it's actually a bust. there are lots of different factors that go into determining whether or not you get a mortgage. your credit score is important but so is how much cash in the bank, what your income is. the type of property you're buying. it is true that your credit score is the biggest factor when it comes to your interest rate. >> that makes sense. >> okay. >> there's a highlight that our american heros, our vets can get 100% financing with a 620 credit score. >> oh, okay. >> who's next. when buying a house, the number one rule is location, location, location? buy or bust? >> i'm saying that's an old myth. >> i'm saying that's a buy. >> i'm sticking here. >> right and wrong. >> come on. more right. yes it's a buy. you lost willie. >> you lost willie. >> so here's the real life scenario. i have a house for sell, 10.7 million. beautiful architect and builder built the thing right but you take the house in alpine and put it anywhere else in new jersey it's not 10.7 million anymore. location, location, location drives up the premium. >> all right. >> i guess you're going to sell that house then now. >> i hope so. >> all right. >> okay, you should never make an offer below more than 10% of asking price. >> i'm keeping this guy right here on the bust. >> bust. you're right. when you're making an offer, take two things into consideration. the fair market value of the home and what you can afford. the seller might have priced the home high emotionally because they might be attached to the house. you can come in low but be prepared to justify your price. you don't want to offend the seller. >> the best time to shop for a house is during the winter months. >> buy or bust. >> bust. >> i just don't want to move my thing. >> so, willie, the theory behind that is that 365, any day of the year say great time to buy a house if it's your dream home. never be the person trying to play the market wanting to move in the summer months and you miss out on what could have been. >> don't you get better deals during the winter months? >> you may. because there's less activity. it say little true but never pass up on your dream home. >> not that i'm keeping score but i think i won. >> i think you win. >> i'm okay with that. >> i'm not done yet. >> we're out of time. sorry. so willie wins. lauren and jay, thank you. >> thank you. >> coming up next, if you have more questions you're going to stick around and you'll be tweeting with some of our viewers as well. the hashtag is buy or bust all one word. they'll answer your question. >> coming up next, tacos and at they'[ male announcer ]stion. this one goes out to all the allergy muddlers. you know who you are. you can part a crowd, without saying a word... if you have yet to master the quiet sneeze... you stash tissues like a squirrel stashes nuts... well muddlers, muddle no more. try zyrtec®. it gives you powerful allergy relief. and zyrtec® is different than claritin® because zyrtec® starts working at hour one on the first day you take it. claritin® doesn't start working until hour three. zyrtec®. love the air. it fills you with energy... and it gives you what you are looking for to live a more natural life. in a convenient two bar pack. this is nature valley. nature at its most delicious. this is nature valley. tabrilliant...sparkling...n like a jewel. that's superior preference by l'oreal. preference's light-reflecting color is never opaque. always brilliant. it shines and sparkles for weeks and weeks. l'oreal superior preference. that nasty odor coming from your washer. say farewell to the smell with tide washing machine cleaner. it goes straight to the source of the stink to lift odor-causing residues off your washer's drum. tide washing machine cleaner. and better is so easy withrning you cabenefiber.o something better for yourself. to lift odor-causing residues off your washer's drum. fiber that's taste-free, grit-free and dissolves completely. so you can feel free to add it to anything. and feel better about doing it. better it with benefiber. in case it snuck up on you, today is national taco day and there's a reason to celebrate. last year americans ate 4.5 billion tacos? how do you know that? >> who better to celebrate than bobby flay, the host of the tacos and tequila event. >> it's all about tacos today. i am hosting the tacos and tequila event. it's a great event. i invite 31 different chefs. a taco is something you can put anything in. we have pulled pork. so i'll start with the pork shoulder and some spices, some red chilis and onions and garlic. >> and you braise it. >> let it go for 90 minutes covered in the oven. okay. actually there's dressing right there. you can dress this. we have cabbage and cilantro. contrast of texture is important. brooke has the taco shell. we're not going to use a tortilla for this. you can use a boston lettuce leaf. >> it's healthier. >> and gluten free. >> put barbecue sauce on the pork. your favorite barbecue sauce and take some of the slaw. >> they're tart and sweet and have a little punch. give this a taste. >> in the meantime -- >> what's next. >> let's get to the chicken. so we have chicken tacos, obviously very popular. i flavored mine with flavors of spain. so i blazed some chicken. >> chicken thighs. >> yes, they get nice and tender and you pull the chicken off of the bone and try not to shred it too much. i like it to be in bigger pieces and i take cheese which is a spanish cheese and mix it with the chicken and then i put the chicken on top of a corn tortilla and this is a pepper relish. you could use roasted red peppers if you want to put they're spanish. i'm trying to keep the spanish theme. and also we talked about crunch and contrast of texture. i used pickles onions here that i pickled in a little bit of saffron. >> finish that off. >> now, you have taco night? >> we do. >> who cooks? >> my husband is such a good cook. you know that. it's a really fun thing. >> i met brooke's husband on a plane, the first time we met and all we talked about for six hours was food. and i wasn't talking. >> all right. fantastic. >> she is going in. >> come to the food and wine festival. tacos and tequila everybody. >> information about it and the recipes on our website today.com. we're back in a moment. but first, this is "today" on nbc. natalie is not letting the fact that she wasn't in the last segment stop her from enjoying the food from the last segment. >> never. >> lester holt is here with a preview of weekend today. >> this weekend, what are we talking about? the unlikely pairing in the classrooms. retired seniors mentoring elementary students but they're not just helping them with their school work. they're also teaching them respect. we'll ask the question are young people lacking social graces because of today's technology. more on this weekend on today. >> they can teach them more. just basic respect. >> we have lost a lot of that. it's good to bring it back. >> absolutely. >> actually we're becoming a meaner culture with social networking sometimes. >> we can get away with a lot. >> sinead o'connor and miley >> we can get away with a lot. >> sinead o'connor and miley cyrus. oh, no, i got to go. oh, can you make that to go? these days, nobody has time to get sick. but minuteclinic makes it easy to get well. our nurse practitioners can diagnose and write prescriptions for everything from strep throat to sinus infections with no appointment necessary, so you can feel better in no time. you guys want to go to the park? children: yeah! minuteclinic, the medical clinic in cvs pharmacy, now offering flu shots every day, no appointment necessary. find a clinic near you at minuteclinic.com. february, 2013. a landmark transportation bill is up for consideration. even though it's backed by republican governor mcdonnell... ken cuccinelli joins tea party republicans to block the plan. but terry mcauliffe believes it's time to break through the gridlock in richmond. mcauliffe presses democrats to support the bill. and the bill passes. terry mcauliffe. putting virginia first. "i'm terry mcauliffe, candidate for governor, and i sponsored this ad." from nbc news this is "today" with kathie lee gifford and hoda kotb. from studio 1a in rockefeller plaza. >> you made it, everybody. congratulations to you. it is friday. friday, october 4th, 2013. >> yes, it is. >> still gorgeous glorious weather here in new york. we've been blessed. >> yes, it is, and a nice weekend too. >> i'm going to the cayman islands. >> i know, hoda. >> it's a breast cancer event which is great, but it is nice to go -- >> it is nice to go to the caymans. >> what are you doing this weekend? >> i don't know yet. waiting to hear from two people. regis and joy, if they're around, we like to hang with them a little bit. we'll see. >> okay. >> otherwise, it's me and frank. couple of old gnarly farts looking at each other and putting the dog. that's what it's all about. keep tweeting, we like that. so where did you meet your spouse? >> i met my spouse at a competitive show to this one across town. >> you were both working? >> we were both working. >> the premise is couples who meet at work are more likely to stay together because -- >> and more likely to marry. >> yeah. you met frank at -- >> across the street. >> yeah, yeah, yeah. >> okay. so you met and because you spent so much time together? >> you know, it's kind of fun. when i was first in new york, 31 years ago, frank was already, of course, a big deal and all of that. he used to hang out with don meredith a lot, his best friend. and when don was in town, they'd get together. and he called me one day, we were only colleagues a little bit. he goes, the cowboy's in town and wants to have lunch. and i said, okay. and i go to lunch with them. they sit across from me and i'm feeling -- you know, those pinch me moments. i'm sitting across the table from frank gifford and don meredith, where's waldo, why am i here? and all of a sudden i was telling him about this guy i was dating and it was rough and not going to great. and don looked at me and goes, kathie, darling, i'm going to tell you what i'm going to do. i'm going to take a tour of you from the tip of your toes to the top of your head with lots of intermittent stops. >> and i went -- help me. i said i am out of my league here. but i just -- >> wait. >> frank was sitting there like -- >> uh-huh. >> we just became great friends for four years. >> and then you started -- >> and i was going with another guy and frank didn't like him because he didn't think he was right for me. he said you're not going to marry him, are you? and i said, i might. no, you're going to hang out with me until you're over this guy. and i'm still hanging out with him. that's really it. how about you? have you ever had an office romance other than that one? >> no, that's all there was. >> who shall remain nameless. okay. let's move on to the benefits. there are benefits if you enj enjoy -- >> a morning delight. >> a morning delight. >> if you like to go to poughkeepsie in the morning. >> there are benefits for doing it in the morning. i guess opposed to at night. they say that morning sex is very healthy. >> well, of course, why wouldn't it be? >> because you get -- >> who do you think? ♪ >> yes. okay. >> so they say it's good for your heart, it's like exercise. >> but any time of the day it's good for you and your heart. >> no, but you're starting your day -- you're leaving the bed and going out into the world. otherwise you're -- >> wherever it happens. i'm saying at night you just fall asleep and the endorphins go away and you wake up. >> in other words, you can change your mood for the time. >> yeah. >> for the day. the biggest problem is most people have very little time in the morning. >> it has to be weekend mornings. >> unless you have a different kind of a schedule. i don't know why. we just tried to get your attention talking about morning sex. that's it. there's really nothing we intended to teach you and nothing for you to learn. >> but -- look. >> are you about to tell us when you like it? >> no, i'm saying when you go out for a nice dinner, you're full, come home, no one wants to be rolling around. >> a lot of people do, hoda. >> no, they're full. >> no, that's why they eat the rigitoni. energy, baby. >> there are a hundred things guys never ever want to hear. this comes from our friend who always has some funny bits. let's hear what he's got to say. >> i still live with my ex. >> do you have any hot friends? >> the bachelor's on. can you help me move next saturday. do you want to watch the notebook? do you want to go shopping with me? you're not listening to me. what did i just say? i think we should make a joint facebook account. do you want to meet my parents tonight? she's pretty. is she prettier than me? i don't like watching football. are we official? i think i love you. what do you like about me? we should go on a diet together. i don't want to do this anymore. did you ever have abs? you look a lot like my ex-boyfriend. maybe we should date other people. oh, you're so cute. like what are we? i'm thinking of cutting my hair really short. is your brother single. do i look fat? be honest. we need to talk. >> he's so clever. we should have him live here some time. he's a delight. >> he's funny. >> he's cute. >> all right, we have a prop as we tend to have on friday. >> and we have a props person. it is called tryday friday. >> looking swell. >> this is not your ordinary clip-on. >> it's not. >> this has a purpose. >> show us what it is. >> so there's -- >> drinking again. >> is there liquid in the tie? >> yes, there is. enough to get you through what? church? >> maybe out the front door. >> gerard, you are adorable. >> we love you. $24.95. >> who's better than gerard? everybody? nobody! >> on classtie.com. very nice. >> oh, cute. scientists have discovered we don't have the light, we have our laser, that a laser aimed at a certain part of your brain can control your hunger. >> they did something with rats or mice or something and had mice in a room with a big pile of cheese. so they took this laser and pointed it at the mouse's -- one of the mice -- one of the -- one of the -- >> meece. >> wait a second, let's regroup. >> one of the mouse's brains. the part of a mouse's brain. >> read whatever anyone writes. is it mice? one of the mouse's -- one of the mice. >> that's what they wrote, hoda. >> mice is plural. >> i know. one of the group of mice. >> one mouse -- it was part of the mice. >> the point is -- >> what are the furry creatures? they pointed a laser at the brain and that particular mouse didn't go for the cheese. he walked away. >> did he walk away toward a pile of hot dogs? >> no. he was out. so if they can figure out how to make that work. >> oh. it was a big old mess. whoo! . >> you know what -- >> i don't think so. >> let's give you -- let's do something really cute. okay. so if you wondered what the world's tiniest puppy looked like. >> i thought it was bambino, but it isn't, it's angel the terrier. >> he weighs 1/3 of a pound. >> look at him. >> look how cute. >> he was born in england. >> he's the weight of a banana. >> look at him eating out of a spoon. >> a vet says angel could be on track to claim the world's smallest dog title. have to see how big he grows by one year. but a banana, that's how heavy. >> oh, my gosh. >> that's about the size bambino was when i first saw him. yep, he was already living with us for six months by then. but, yeah, but 7 pounds, 2 ounces, my big, big boy. you know what i call him nowadays? >> what? >> bambo. >> oh, god. look who's sitting in our green room. gina greshom. we watched your movie, we're going to talk about "house of versace." all we could talk about was your body. it's insane. it's sick. acting was good too, but let's talk about the body. >> yes. >> will you give us your secrets when you come over? >> yeah, i have a laser point in timed at my head. >> good, good. >> if i looked like her, i'd point a laser -- >> me too. >> you know what it's time for? friday funnies. >> one morning a man came into work with both of his ears bandaged up. everyone's wondering what could've possibly happened to him. his boss asked, what did you do to your ears, the man replied, yesterday it was my turn to do the ironing and i was ironing a shirt, the phone rang, i accidentally answered the iron instead of the phone. wow, the boss said, that may explain one of your ears. what did you possibly do to the other? the man goes they called back. >> good for you. i like it. it's time for okay or not okay. >> okay. is it okay or not okay to -- >> to -- >> i'll tell you. to refuse to be a role model. here's what we had to say. you may think you're not a role model but you are. kids will model their behavior after yours whether it's good or bad. >> good point. here's mine. it is not a choice if you are in the public eye, you should consider it your responsibility and a privilege. >> go, girl. >> excellent. >> baby of the week announcement. let's hear some music it's time for our baby announcements when we celebrate new moms and the adorable new additions to their families. our first johnson's baby is hayden piper tober. born in minnesota on july 27th, weighing 7 pounds, 10 ounces. her mom says her new daughter is a giggler and if you talk to her, she'll talk back. >> our next one is eliot douglas sammons, born on august 4th. the first child for damon and julia and say their son is very expressive and loves to make faces when he sees the camera. >> next up is nia kayleen walters. her mother offers this advice to new parents. there is a thing as too much information. just relax, let parenthood come natural. and our final baby of the week is zachary marc greaux born in ridgewood, new jersey, on august 28th, weighed 9 pounds, 7 ounces. the first baby for mom denise and the youngest of 14 children. so the little boy is the 43rd grandchild in their family. >> crazy. >> congratulations to everybody. >> all right. and if you want a chance to be in our johnson baby of the week, go to klgandhoda.com. gina greshon takes on the style icon in "house of versace" telling us about that after this. ♪ because an empty pan is a blank canvas. ♪ [ woman #2 ] to share a moment. ♪ [ man #1 ] to remember my grandmother. 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oh, you're kidding! i definitely would shop at walmart now. fine, fresh, crisp apples and all your quality produce backed by our 100% moneyback guarantee. tv, film and broadway star gina gershon is getting buzz for her transformation into one of the world's most powerful designers. critics saying she's the perfect fit. >> she plays versace in "house of versace." a role filled with a lot of drama. take a look. >> that sleeve took two days to figure out. >> but i love it. perfect. >> you two deserve each other. >> we give away more couture gowns than we sell. do you have any idea what it costs? >> do you have any idea how much free publicity we get when they wear versace? >> oh. >> and that's just the beginning. >> hello. >> it is so nice to have you with us. >> thank you. >> and you bite into this role and you don't let go with those. >> the ones behind us, how did you capture her? because she has such a distinctive look, the lips, all of it. >> you know, her face, you know -- it's movie magic. almost like taking a painting and you just see where the lights go and the darks go. >> you're fine featured in person -- did you use a little something, cotton under the lip to get that? >> i kind of pulled my face back and you change the plains. my cheekbones are different than hers. at some point i was using stuff under my mouth. sometimes she doesn't use her lip and i'm like -- >> she's always sucking on something. >> a cigarette. >> you're killing me. >> or a glass of wine. >> did you have to get in character with the cigarettes and the whole -- >> i'm not a real smoker. i'm one of those annoying smokers with a te kequila or something. i was up to two packs a day. you can't do it -- >> i've been to the versace mansion where johnny was killed and it's -- >> incredible. >> it's incredible how that all. you don't dwell on that. you dwell on how much the death of johnny who you had a love/hate relationship, real sibling rivalry at its most shakespearean, almost. and you add all of the empire on your beautiful shoulders. >> it's so tragic. i think we think about donatello at and mya doing her on snl. she's had this look as long as we've known her. but the thing that was so interesting when i read the book and the script, there was so much about this woman that i really didn't know and i didn't understand how the family worked. >> what family -- >> what did you learn about her you didn't expect to learn? >> well, you have to -- i didn't quite realize. you know, she really comes from that strong southern italian family. they're tight. they might as well have been married if they were brother and sister. and it was the three of them that created the empire. the mother was a seamstress and made beautiful dresses. it was a close knit family. and she was kind of her own person and johnny basically pulled her in and then when he went, everyone's looking at her. and she never really ran the company. she certainly had her ideas and had her style ideas. which is slightly different. >> have you heard from her since this movie's come out? >> no, i've never met her, never heard from that. >> it was supposedly not with her blessing. >> it's tough on her with her addictions and stuff. >> she's an open person about everything. she's so funny. i can only imagine watching. every time i'd be doing something, i'd hear her in my head going, oh, are you kidding me? look at those arms. i'm like, i'm trying. >> the accent -- >> you were great. >> it was fun to see raquel welch too. >> oh, my gosh. she looked so hot. and she walks in and you're like, oh, my gosh. she's amazing. i love her. >> it's such a terrific movie. a lot of fun. >> it premieres tomorrow night on lifetime. >> tune in. >> that's right. you know who else is getting a lot of buzz? >> who? >> our girl bobbie. she's got items that will make you look good and help you do some good, as well. ♪ cats are smart. so they deserve new fresh step scoopable litter. it eliminates odors with carbon and natural plant extracts. it's the smart litter for smart cats. 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[ female announcer ] you may not be the best at new trends but you know what's best for your kids. so we listened when you said gogurt should have only natural colors and flavors and no high fructose corn syrup. thanks, mom. it is time for bobbie's buzz. great items that will make you look and feel great. >> october is breast cancer awareness month and "today's" style editor bobbie thomas has stylish finds that will have you giving back to a good cause. hi. >> it is pinktober and i just thought this would be a great time to kick off the month with products that will do good. >> okay. >> i just want to say it's really important if you can to make a direct donation, most of the money, all of the money will be, you know, going to the charity versus -- >> sure. >> but if you do want to shop, there are some great products. everything i'm featuring gives 100% of the net proceeds. at least for this month or not. but the first thing i want to give somebody a kudos. bethany is a survivor who said she got this free wig and thought how do people find out about all these cool things? there's so many people giving away beautiful free scarves et cetera to patients. she creates breastcancerfreebies.com. we can go to the website and donate back to the charities and you'll see estee lauder this perfume, it's a solid perfume compact. and one of my favorites, kohl's has this great gear line. it's inexpensive from $7 to $20. >> wow. >> such a great way to get yourself active and avon has great crusade watches to fight for the cause. go to our website, these are great products because they give all the proceeds back. >> love it. >> love you. >> all right. thank you. >> okay, hoda -- >> i don't know what you're talking about. >> i don't either. >> apparently we're going to find out. but you have to wait a little bit. >> how long? >> right after your local news. we lowered her fever. you raise her spirits. we tackled your shoulder pain. you make him rookie of the year. we took care of your cold symptoms. you take him on an adventure. tylenol® has been the number 1 doctor recommended brand of pain reliever for over 20 years. but for everything we do, we know you do so much more. tylenol®. ugh! actually progresso's soup has pretty bold flavor. i love bold flavors! i'd love it if you'd open the chute! 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[ laughs ] ♪ [ female announcer ] hey ladies. you love it. you've got to have it. cinnamon toast crunch, 'cause that cinnamon and sugar is so irresistible. everybody craves those crazy squares.® welcome back to this "today" on friday. no matter our age, we need mentors to keep us on the straight and narrow. >> when you're a kid, that person's usually a parent or teacher. what about when you're an adult. here to talk about the importance of a mentor is jennifer hartstein a psychologist and author of "strings attached: one tough teacher and the gift of expectations." welcome. >> thanks. great to be here. >> we don't think of mentors -- i guess we get to a point in our lives where we know our job -- >> so we don't seek out somebody else to help us along the way. we know it all. >> you don't know it all. there's always someone who is a few steps ahead of you. even as adults, it's important to take a step back and say what do i want to do next in this trajectory? who might be able to provide guidance with a firm hand and figure out my next step to where i want to go. >> is that not called a friend, joanne? >> not necessarily. so our book "strings attached" is about the toughest teacher in the world, essentially. the guy we did not appreciate at the time. definitely not our friend. and yet, many years later when this man passed away, hundreds, thousands students rallied and said this was the guy that really taught us things like resilience and perseverance. >> i think women watch, do i seek someone out and say, hey, can you help me. >> you can do both, i think. there are organizations out there where you can actually go put up a profile of what you're looking for for a mentor. my father's involved in something like this where he mentored young people starting businesses as he was an established business person and they kind of pair them up on this website so you can ask around, ask people you know, go seek someone. the reason a friend might not always be the best, they're so emotionally invested in you they might not give you an honest opinion. whereas a mentor, you want to build a relationship of respect. >> is this a commercial venture? do you have to pay for this? is this all free on the internet somewhere? >> it's both. all the different levels. you can do both. you do have ways if you don't have them. >> that's a tough love person you would try to avoid at all costs. you don't learn about it until later. sometimes the best mentors are the ones tough on you. >> it's about tough love. what a great mentor is not the person who coddles you and pats you on the head and says you're so great. they're the person who is really honest with you who says, you know, work harder, who says, you know, the best teachers and end being. and if you think about your own best teachers, it's probably not the one who let you get away with everything. it was probably the one who kicked your butt. >> i had one in sixth grade. no, tenth grade, no 11th grade said she was going to fail me if i didn't enter a certain pageant and it was a scholarship pageant kind of thing. i don't know if she would've but she scared me enough i did it. >> it's finding the balance between being able to say you have to do this. you can do better. and i'm telling you that because i know you can do better. and they're pulling the best out of you. it's finding that fine line balance between driving you so hard it demoralizes you but driving you hard enough it lifts you. >> it could be anything. you might not know -- >> for me, it was a teacher in sixth grade who i loved. she had us doing all kinds of things and i never forgot it. but i think you get to a point in your life where you think, oh that person knows how to do it better than me. should i ask for help or do my own thing? >> it's so true. it could be in the workplace, might be someone you really admire. >> yeah. >> say something. >> who is a bunch of levels ahead of you. but they've been where you've been and they can share with you that experience. >> most are willing to also. they're flattered. >> they are flattered. >> and if we can learn from an intern. sometimes an intern will say something like, oh, my god, that's genius, but you have to take a second and pay attention and realize you don't have to learn from people who are higher than you. >> the key is to learn something from everybody. you can ask to get to where you want to go. >> the person in the room nobody wants to be around is the person that thinks they know everything. >> that's right. and i think the best leaders are the ones that do say they want to pay it forward. they want to talk to the young people. >> thanks. they call themselves a hoda and kathie lee. who do they think they are? of late night. so who are we? >> maybe we're the mentors. i don't think so. >> that's really sad. it's eb. want to give your family the very best in taste, freshness, and nutrition? 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>> what the hell? oh, my god. >> yeah. i'm kesha. >> we bleeped out the cursing that happened later. >> you guys are acting like you're 12 years old. >> yeah, it's pretty embarrassing. >> it was so amazing. he's so lovely and it was nice that he did that and our crew set that up for us. >> it was. >> we didn't have to think. >> if we would've known we were going to meet -- it would have been -- >> what did you ask him? >> he interviewed us. they gave him questions. i get choked up thinking about it. he knew stuff about us. >> he did. >> he did. yeah. >> he just asked us about all the bits we've done involving him. and we had to explain our comedy to him. it was awesome. >> oh, my gosh. >> you're still on a high from it. >> i love it. >> who would be your dream guests? >> kathie lee and hoda. kathie lee and hoda. >> all right. let's talk about some pop culture topics. >> sandra bullock in gravity. >> this movie, hot people in space is what i'm calling it. >> i'm already stressed out. it's stressful. >> because they're too hot. >> no -- >> they're floating. >> the trailer gave me such anxiety. that's your worst nightmare. >> to be separated from george clooney. >> yeah. >> just disappear. >> look what's going on. >> yeah. all right. >> snl this weekend is going to be huge. >> yeah. it's a big deal. miley cyrus -- and this is her -- this is her first post twerking. >> what are you smiling? >> i can't wait to see what they do with -- are they going to do a parody of the vma thing? i hope they do something like somebody comes out dressed up like a foam finger or -- i just want -- >> like gumby. what about -- do you think robin thicke might come by? >> cameo. >> that's going to happen. >> i should produce -- >> you're basically writing it for them. >> what about britney spears. she's got a new music video out. >> it's called work -- >> she tells you to work a lot in it. >> she looks amazing. >> she's back. she's never looked this good since -- it's been a few years. and -- >> i don't know the message, though. i like the words, you know, she's like if you want a lamborghini, you've got to work. she's doing that, but then she's wearing nothing. >> what does she mean? >> it's mixed messaging. >> if you want this you've got to -- >> i'm like britney, stop calling me. >> yelling at you. >> what about work, darling. >> wouldn't be the same. >> we love when you come to see us. >> we like when you do your show. >> guess what. >> what? >> apparently old is the new fat. >> great. one more thing to obsess about. >> that's right. why we women are our worst critics. walmart talked to customers about buying the latest windows touch laptops with intel inside on layaway. here's what they say. i do love the touchscreen. i find it much easier to use. this is so much faster than my old computer. i like that you can personalize it - that you can have the things that you like. it's an awesome price for what i am getting. i love the price and i love the layaway plan. free layaway is amazing! i want to take it home! 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"i'm terry mcauliffe, candidate for governor, and i sponsored this ad." these are birth control pills. more than half of american women use them at some point in their lives but ken cuccinelli sponsored a bill that could have made common forms of birth control illegal, including the pill. cuccinelli was one of only five senators to support this "potentially radical intrusion into domestic, family and individual decision-making" why is ken cuccinelli interfering in our private lives? he's focused on his own agenda. not us. all right. it seems women have moved on from obsessing over their weight and now we all complain about getting old like someone i know. take a look. >> i'm too old for this. >> please don't say six decades. honestly. six decades. you want to throw me into a bus. >> decades. >> say decades. >> i'm an old-timer. >> i'm the oldest person at the "today" show. live strong and well, willard. >> i want my own smuckers jar. >> all right. i would say that's probably my way of using humor to battle what's obvious. has old become the new fat? here to help us stop focusing on the negative is the editor in chief of "self" magazine. and co-author with lucy of the nine rooms of happiness. welcome, ladies. >> thank you for having us. >> we make jokes about our age, we do it a lot and do it for fun and for laughs. but you guys say there's a line between doing it for the laugh and being -- >> exactly. well, you're not old, you're awesome. and when we complain about our wrinkles and, you know, our gray hair, maybe it's also a way of saying i wish i felt better but when you feel great, old is an attitude. i'm just saying it's all about how you feel and maybe it's a signal if you're feeling old or you need to take a little better care of yourself. not you, but some people. >> everybody could take a little bit better care. look at betty white, she's made old sexy. 91 years old. >> she has. >> and we've had people -- we had cher just on who looks awesome. there's something different, i think, now that comes. there's not such a stigma with age, is there? >> i think we're taking better care of ourselves, living healthier, living longer and it shows. i think that's why you can be older and look younger. >> sometimes i think when we put ourselves down, i don't think it's because we hate ourselves. i think it's because we're like, oh, you too, i feel fat. it's like a bonding fun thing. >> that commiserating happens at every age. we saw jennifer lawrence and selena gomes doing it. and all these young people. you can only compare back, you can't compare forward. >> i think there was a line in a musical that said i don't want to be older, i want to be the old me. it's sort of like that. i want to be that girl -- >> what i want to point out. the opposite of old isn't new or young it's healthy and energetic and your best self at every age and stage. that's what i'm trying to promote. >> right. >> i do think it's funny when young, beautiful people complain about their weight or age, it gets annoying. oh, i'm turning 27. >> smack them. >> don't you? is that a newer thing that's happening? >> you're hearing it at younger ages, you know. and i think it is a problem if it's too much. but i think a little bit motivates us to look our best and feel our best. but when you're doing it all the time and that's all you're hearing about, preoccupied with how you look, it's not so good. >> what's the take away, guys? what do you want -- >> i want people to understand you can't necessarily get a new vehicle, but you can take really good care of the one you've got. >> get a lube job. >> careful. >> get exercising. this is permission to take better care of yourself, you know, like high octane fuel. >> it's going to benefit everybody around you. >> you're right. >> shiny new isn't real. let's be the best we can be. >> and be kind to yourself. when we talk like this to ourselves, it's not nice. >> and our kids are listening. >> some people say it behind people's backs, hoda. >> why are you looking at me? >> i know you don't. >> yes, they do. >> i don't think old should be bad, i think unhealthy's the opposite. the opposite is not feeling healthy. let's make healthy. >> all right, lucy. we got it. we got it! . >> thank you, ladies. >> we love you. thanks, guys. >> i feel so healthy. >> me too. >> and young. listen up, new moms, want to see some things that will make your life easier? check this out. any idea what this thing can do? is that a birth control device? >> oh, please. that's sick. >> first, this is "today" on nbc. [ superfan ] we're hitting the road to help america discover the new helper. you've got to try this sweet & sour chicken helper. i didn't know they made chicken. crunchy taco or four cheese lasagna? can i get another one of those actually? [ superfan ] hey, america, we're here to help. ♪ [ male announcer ] you say tomato. ♪ old el paso says diced tomato stand 'n stuff chicken tacos. ♪ you say what's for dinner? old el paso says start somewhere fresh. it seems as if there's new baby products on the market every day all promising to make life easier for mom and dad. >> we found some that really do. and here to show us those baby must haves is mindy walker, the executive editor of "american baby." >> what a fun job you have. >> it's perfect. >> it's perfect. >> this is a baby tub. that's what i showed you earlier. >> oh, that's what it is? >> exactly. it folds into your sink, cradles your baby. a lot less jarring that a big tub. >> and you're not trying to protect your baby from the harsh corners. >> perfect for the newborn babies. you have a new baby and put her diapers in here and her nursery will smell as new as she does. >> what's happening with this down here? oh, my gosh. >> this is a brand new toy out by infantino grows with your baby. mat here can have tummy time. >> oh. >> he's doing great. >> beautiful. >> and then we have elsie over here sitting in one of our favorite highchairs. 50,000 readers said this was their favorite highchair. it has this great new trend where once she outgrows the highchair it becomes a booster seat at your table. you can look at this pattern for three years. you'll love it. >> you buy it once. >> buy it once. very slim and trim. >> she's doing so well. and we have our dr. brown bottles. less air and the milk is always better regardless if your baby has colic or not. >> timing is everything. >> exactly. >> and speaking of timing, new moms don't have a lot of time. if you want to take a shower, this is where you put your baby. peaceful spot you can carry around the house with you. by fisher price. >> don't put it on a counter, you guys, learned that the hard way. >> yes, always the floor. car seats, chairs. >> what's going on here? >> oh, my goodness. >> claire's -- >> this is our graco travel system. >> and she's making good use of that. this, we love this stroller because it has one wheel in the front it's very easy to maneuver. you're not going to make as big of a footprint and when claire needs to hop in the car, we have a terrific -- >> you go girl. >> she's a go kind of girl. >> absolutely precious. thank you. and thanks to all of our babies. >> listen, we want you to have a great weekend. but join us this coming week, orlando bloom with us, kenny rogers. >> and elizabeth smart talking about her fascinating new book. plus a performance by "the voice" winner cassidy pulp. >> we've got a busy week. if you have one thing to do, it's have an awesome weekend. have fun in the cayman islands. >> thank you, sweetie. >> bye, everybody. >> that was awesome. . we are following three developing stories. new information on the possible motive of a woman who crashed into a white house barrier with her baby daughter in the car before police shot her. veterans are again at the world war ii memorial, but this time they are voicing concerns. what they say the government shut down is doing to their benefit. and tropical storm karen is expected to make landfall this weekend. storm team 4 has the latest on the storm and how it could impact our weather. good morning, everyone and welcome to news 4 midday on this friday. it's october 4th, 2013. there many unanswered questions about the woman whose came to a violent end on
differences, what we read for today is it's clearly not the case. what we see is in the 1790s, many of the divisions, many of the concerns that people who viewed the constitution in -- these folks came to see this still as a problem in the 1790s. the ratification of the constitution did not do away with these divisions. instead they continued to manifest themselves. . and we can see them manifest themselves in a variety of ways. we're going to talk about three ways today that are two clear examples. examples that highlight the ways in which certain individuals, american citizens decided that they were going to rebel against the constitution and the federal government. in the 1790s we see two examples where rebels decided -- perhaps they decide to try to form their own more perfect union, their own country. one of these events takes place, or both of them take place in 1794. the first of them that we're going to discuss is the whiskey rebellion, which takes place in 1794 in pennsylvania. as we'll discuss, it's a far larger protest. not exclusively to pennsylvania. the second incident that we see in which the -- a group of citizens decide to rebel. they decide to oppose the federal government. this occurs in georgia. it's called the transconey republican. now these two examples highlight the divisions that were emerging, especially among groups in the west. the western parts of the states towards the federal government. these two examples, as i said, highlight continued opposition to the federal government. they said portions of the american public were not happy with the way power had been centralized in the hands of the whiskey rebels and the trans-ocone, rebels. on the one hand, it was about an excise tax, a tax they felt that was imposed upon them unfairly. for the trans-oconee republicans, what they viewed as the key problem to try to spur them to leave the united states is they didn't agree with the federal government's ability to conduct diplomacy with the indians. in particular what they wanted to see was the federal government remove all of the indians of the southeast and expel them, push them west of the mississippi river. many of these rebels in the trans-oconee had fought in the revolutionary war and fought against the indian tribes that neighbored georgia, the creek and cherokee. during the war there had been brutal instances of combat, of warfare between the settlers in georgia and what we see as the indian tribe surrounding. after the war, after the pa patriots emerged victorious, what many of the republicans thought they should be pushed west and allow for white expansion, for american expansi expansion. so these two examples highlight, as i said, the wo fact that there are these divisions to centralize power in the hands of the federal government. though they are different, they both demonstrate the precarousness of the american experiment. both of them demonstrate. we from our vantage point we look back and we know that america is going to be this great power. it's inevitable. they didn't know that at the time. in the 1790s this was just an experiment by a group of people who are on the other side away from europe on the over side of the atlantic. much of europe looks on thinking this is going to fall horribly wrong. it's going to go horribly wrong. this new experiment they weren't sure how it would turn. as the 1790s unfolded, what we see is them trying to uncover, trying to shake the events. now to give us a sense, i want to start off just to give us a sense of what kind of division we're talking about and how they manifest themselves. we're going to see a map here. we're going to talk about the whiskey rebels first in kentucky. the whiskey rebellion in kentucky. it takes place in the summer of 1794 but it grew out of a disagreement that went back to 1791 and emerged as a full-blown crisis in the summer of 1794 but the origins of the disagreement that would lead to this blowup, this flare of the whiskey rebels emerges in 1791 and connected to the excise tax, the excise tax. in 1791 alexander hamilton helped to push through what was, as the secretary of the treasury, he convinced congress to impose an excise tax on distillers. he convinced them to impose an excise tax on distillers of whiskey. he thought this would be one of the best means, one of the best means of keeping the nation together. he devised this plan as a mean to keep the nation united. he believed that we had talked about how the states had gotten deeply in debt over the course of the revolution in an attempt to try to pay for the war. we talked about the inflationary spiral. we talked about how the currency had become virtually worthless. that the continental congress issued currency and it had fallen apart. in an attempt to try to ensure that the nation that the experiment continued, what alexander hamilton believed is if the federal government purchased the debt, it would help the federal government and also help the states by relieving them of their debts. but it would also make sure that people outside of the government would have a stake in the government. part of the way he managed alexander hamilton managed to not ensure but devised a plan he would be able to get support from many of the people he believed were necessary to keep the nation alive, to keep it going, what he devised was a plan in which the currency would be paid back in its full credit. the value of much of the -- if you were a merchant or trader, you could go out and buy this currency for cheap. for pennies on the dollar. that's how much it was worth at this time. when alexander hamilton implemented his new policy that would have the states sell back their debt to the federal government, we see much of the currency increased in value tremendously. if you were smart enough to purchase this currency at a low rate to pennies on the dollar and the federal government wasç% going to give you full face value, it meant an increase in what you were going to get. you were going to get a dollar for the dollar that you made 70 cents on that purchase. what we see is that many of the people with money who were necessary to help fund the government would buy in, hamilton believed. he expected the creation of a new national debt would give creditors a stake in the economic stability of the nation. hamilton's program proved to be a boom to specklators, merchants and men from port cities. they accumulated large amounts of currency and much was purchase purchased at depressed prices, which meant that the policy would bring them considerable wealth. now the whiskey tax, we can see how there is a shift in the people who are actually going to have to pay it off. it's the financiers who are going to make money off this deal. but the government as it pays it out, where are they going to get the funds to pay back this money? they decided they would get it from an excise tax on whiskey. that meant that certain parts of the country would bare a disp disproportionate tax to pay for the government's investment, to pay for the government's debts. i brought this map up here to give us a sense of the kinds of, enlarge it, what we can see herp that indicates where there's majority -- federalists and anti-federalists majority and evenly split areas. what we can see is that there are certain patterns that develop. we see certain patterns. look to pennsylvania, one of the places we'll see this playout with the concern of the excise tax plays out, we can see that it's very mixed. there are strongholds of federal support and strongholds of anti-federal supports and large areas divided. what we get a sense of from this map has we have been discussing, there was no unanimity surrounding the constitution and this would continue to play out. people who had been opposed to the constitution once it passed they were not necessarily on board with the powers that would then be granted to the federal government. now, as i said, what we see is this new excise tax that is going to be imposed -- and this is really the spark that pushes the whiskey rebels to action. at first what we see is after the enactment of the law in march of 1791, we see that protests break out throughout the appalachian region, really from pennsylvania all the way down to georgia in the western section, the appalachians and west of the appalachians what we see are residents in these areas protesting. they're up in arms, many of these western farmers. the reason is that many of the folks that lived there relied upon whiskey production. whiskey production was a core part of what they did. now, many of these folks were grain farmers. whether it was wheat or corn, they grew different kinds of grain. and what they did with the surplus grain after they had use what had they needed, they would make it into liquor and you would make it into liquor because it made sense. think about grain, grain is bulky and different to travel. it's difficult to transport. if you wanted to bring it to market, it entailed quite a bit of cost to put it on a wagon and bring it across. but you could distill down your grains into liquor very quickly and make it much easier to move. right? you could also drink it, as well. so there are these benefits that we see that come from distilling excess grains down into liquor. now, what the excise tax would have done would have charged these people, would have charged them, it would have imposed a tax on what they were doing. now, before many of these farmers had sup limited their incomes relying upon distilling liquor but now they found they faced a tax. and the tax was equal to about 25% of the retail value of the liquor, about 25% of the retail value of the liquor. which meant that the profit that would go to the farmers pretty much evaporated once the tax was imposed. now, as i said, throughout the western sections of pennsylvania, maryland, virginia, north carolina, south carolina, georgia, all the way through these appalachian areas, what we see is there are unrest. expands into western part of kentucky and virginia. but of all the places where we see it really take hold the strongest, where we see the protests reach its most radical stage was in western pennsylvania. it was most radical in western pennsylvania. the opposition there was centered in the western section of the state and the counties of allegheny, washington, fayette and westmore land counties. you have to know that it's western. western areas. we can see that in the western section of pennsylvania, what do we see in terms of the support for the constitution? it's mixed, right? pretty significant portion of western pennsylvania once we get to the other side of the mauntss is actually opposed to it. this is before the imposition of the ratification of constitution. so, this is prior but what we can see is that these long-standing grieve answers. they continue to fester and manifest themselves. imagine you didn't support the constitution, now you have a new federal government which now is taxing you. what does that seem a whole lot like? >> who? >> it seems a whole lot like the british, which is what many of the western protesters said. what they complained about was taxation without local representation in this instance. they didn't believe their local interests were being properly represented. they had no say in the passage of this tax. so, what we see is throughout 1791 and 1792 we see residents of appalachian who are opposed to the tax, they are protesting in a range of different way, many of the ways they were protesting was reminiscent of the revolution. we think about the various ways -- what are some of the ways we saw protests conducted during the revolutionary era? >> riots. >> urban, riots, land riots, urban riots, proud politics as they were also known. we can think about the ways in which they sometimes expressed their intimidation. think about what holton saw? what did ann holton see in such graphic detail? tar and feathering, right? we can think about the tar and feathering which was not something like we saw on loonny toons. this was a brutal, brutal treatment, a brutal punishment. so what we start to see are similar actions that had been conducted in the 1770s and 1780s, think of shea's rebels. we can see the similar kind of activity being mounted, slowly but surely in western pennsylvania. now, many of the folks who are engaging in this sort of dissent, this opposition, they were revolutionary veterans. these are men who had gone off and fought in the war, either served in the militia or the continental army and now they had come back home hoping to establish themselves, hoping to live life in the new republic they had helped to create. many of them now felt as though their sacrifice in some ways was being ignored as this tax was imposed. one of the militant factions, there are various factions within western pennsylvania, one of the more militant groups was named the mingo creek association. the mingo creek association. they led much of the organized resistance to the collection of taxes. now, at first what i said, what you see are the protesters followed the same basic script that had been provided by the revolution. they even used the same kind of rhetoric in their demands and complaints. they organized two conventions shortly after the passage of the excise tax. and they did this in pittsburgh. they did it to make their demands clear. they wanted to articulate their demands. after organizing these conventions they petitioned the state government in philadelphia. they also sent a petition to the u.s. house of representatives. and for all of their efforts what they saw is that the federal government decided that they could work with the people. congress could work but they dropped down the tax by a penny, which was negligible by most of the opponents in their view. this meant nothing. it didn't change the outcome. what they needed was a serious revision. so, imagine we have these men in western pennsylvania who are up in arms, up in arms that their treatment to the federal government from this new tax that has been imposed from far away with the federal government. so many of them, it smacked of the same sort of issues they had fought against. the same sort of issues seemed to be coming back. when the conventions in other kinds of protests failed to bring about the response they had hoped for, the resistance grew more intense and violent in western pennsylvania. the protesters at this point, they began to evolve into rebels. but august of 1792, what we see is that local leaders of the movement decided to block federal agents, federal officials from conducting their business that is from enforcing the laws. they made it impossible for federal officials to conduct their official duties in western pennsylvania, which included, among other things, collecting taxes. they made it so hostile, the environment, that the tax collectors were fearful of traveling in this area because it was known that their presence was not accepted. local residents also organized themselves into committees of correspondence, like the kmees of safety during the revolution. and they targeted those who favored or disobeyed the law. if you obeyed the law. excuse me. if you were a propoen innocent of the law, you could find yourself like being a loyalist, tarred and feathered for supporting the wrong side. usually they were agents of the federal government, but you could still face intimidation if you didn't belief it was that bad a thing or obeyed the law. these efforts, as i said, included tar and feathering and tax collectors and authority. with little to stop them, they became increasingly brazen in their actions. the official in charge of collecting the tax in western pennsylvania, a man named john neble. he admitted that he could not go into washington county, which was the center of the opposition. he could not go there just to see what was going on for fear of his life. he thought he would get killed by these whiskey rebels that were growing in power, they were growing in numbers and they were growing in their assertiveness. the conflict came to a head in 1794, in the summer of 1794, when u.s. marbles traveled to western pennsylvania to serve ritz to 60 distillers who had refused to pay the tax. these are men who said, no, we're not going to do it. so these agents of the federal government, these marshals went to deliver ritz telling them not only would they have to, if convicted, pay a penalty, they would also have to -- this punishment inflicted upon them but they would also have to travel all the way from western pennsylvania, they would have to travel, of course, over land all the way to philadelphia where the federal court was. this was not only -- this was insult to injury in many ways. it was one thing to have to pay the tax and be forced into it, but then to have to travel overland from western pennsylvania to the coast, meant an imposition, a hardship on these men. not only would they have to stop working but they would have to pay for themselves to get out there. now, when the agents arrived, word quickly spread within these communities and very quickly what we see is a 500 man, 500 man local militia formed under the leadership of a former veteran, a former revolutionary veteran a man named jack mcfarland. jack mcfarland. so, imagine what we see here, the situation. we have these marshals who are trying to hand out these ritz to these distillers, people find out about it and they start mobilizing. and they mobilize to confront these tax agents. that's exactly what they did. led by mcfarland, they went to neble's house and they attacked his house. this is a representative of the federal government. and they attacked his house and a melee ensued. it in midst of this me lay, jack mcfarland was killed. to many folks who were living there he becomes s a martyr to t movement. in the weeks that followed, support for these rebels grew among the distillers and among poor people, among people who were landless and had anger towards the wealthy. people were coming together for a variety of different reasons because they viewed federal power as something that was growing too strong and proved positive was the excise tax. but it tapped into deep hostility that was there just simmering beneath the surface in western pennsylvania as society went through these changes. it wasn't only distillers by the end, it was also small farmers who didn't own stills. it was poor landless men, men who had grievances for one reason or another. at its peak, act 7,000 men formed this group of rebels. they were the core of this group of rebels. now, not long after they attacked the rebels attacked john neble's house, word reached washington. word reached president washington and he responded cautiously. he responded cautiously. he sent representatives to meet with the rebels while at the same time prepared to move militarily against them. on august 7th, 1794, washington announced with quote his deepest regret the beginning of a military action against the rebels, a military action now against other americans. at the lead of a 13,000 man army composed of militia men provided by virginia, maryland, new jersey and eastern pennsylvania, washington moved to subdue the rebels. the first and only time an acting president has actually commanded the u.s. military from the front. we think about the president being the commander in chief. well, in this instance he was literally the commander in chief at the head of this army that was moving to the interior of and many in his cabinet and many others in his administration believed was an insurrection. it was an insurrection. in fact, some of the people who were part of this rebel group, they were speaking act it in those sort of terms. they were thinking about leaving the union, leaving the united states. contemplating radical actions. they created their own flag even just to give us a sense of their seriousness. they had their own flag, which they hoped to begin a new country, six counties, five counties from pennsylvania and one county from virginia would form this new unit. but this is among the most radical of the rebels, not everyone agreed with this. there were some who were more moderate. they were radical rebels who were calling for a break. now, after mobilizing the army, washington led the forces to the center of the state, as i said. by the time the army reached western pennsylvania in october of 1794, however, the insur recollection had disintegrated as words of washington's forces reached the rebels. this gigantic force of 13,000 men who was larger than the army that washington actually commanded for most parts of the american revolution for the war of independence. this was a larger army that he had under his command at this point than he had had during the war of independence. when the rebels heard about this overwhelming force they fled. they left. it didn't make sense to engage washington and the federalized militia. in the end, about 10 men were sent to philadelphia for this and put on trial. and two were convicted and sentenced to death but they were later pardoned by washington. so, the whiskey rebellion, what's the significance and importance of this rebellion? well, it set severe limits or at least the response of the federal government. it set severe limits on public opposition to federal policies. in the early 1790s, many americans still assumed it was legitimate to protest unpopular laws using the same tactics which they blocked the parliamentary measures like the stamp act in 1765. by firmly suppressing this challenge to national authority, washington served notice that citizens who resorted to violent or other extralegal means of political action would feel the full force of the federal authority. what we see is a change. right? that may have worked in the 1760s. but the same sort of actions that they had acted upon in the 1760s would no longer be allowed in the united states. what we see is a change. now i would like to talk a bit about the trans-oconee republic and the trans-oconee republic is something dear to my heart. this is something i ran across when i was writing my book on georgia. it was this episode i had never heard of. it involved a revolution hero much like we heard with mcfarland who decided he had enough of his country and was going to start his own country shortly after the nation had just begun and this startled me. this left me scratching my head. i had to dig deeper. what i uncovered was this amazing story. like the whiskey rebellion, the disagreement that led to the creation of the trans-oconee republic in 1794, the disagreement predated its actual emergence. it wasn't suddenfully 1794 the men decided we had enough and that's it, we're going to do something about it. instead, the origins of this disagreement between the federal government and these men from western georgia -- what's interesting here. i want you to see the map now. so, what do we see with georgia in terms of their support or lack of support? >> very unorganized. >> very un -- >> unorganized. >> this here is indian land. this is native american land. i'll show a map. we think of this all being georgia. look what georgia claims. georgia claims all the way to the mississippi. they clearly can't do that. what they'll end up with is about this much. but in 1790, this was the extent of georgia. i have more maps to actually show many. but what do we see with the blue? what does the blue cig niffy? >> huge support for the federalists. in fact, what we know is that georgiaens very much supported -- they very much supported the constitution. they very much supported the constitution. yet they found that their support eventually proved to be misplaced in the eyes of many of the georgens. so, as i said, in 1787, 1788 the georgens ratify the constitution once it arrived and seasoned it back and do so for a variety of reasons. one key reason is that they have native americans that are surrounding them. they're also the weakest link. they're at the very bottom of the nation. they're vulnerable to attacks from spanish florida or attacks from the water and they also have large numbers of slaves. they're very vulnerable in georgia. georgia was one of the last states actually to participate in the continental congress. they weren't sure if they were going to join the party, but once they had joined, they were the first ones, one of the first states to say we want in when it came to the constitution. and it had to do with protection or the need for security. so, they were quite surprised when they found that in 1790 president washington signed a treaty with the creek indians, the same creek indians with which the western farmers of the georgia had been fighting for decades. in 1790, washington, president washington, reached an negotiated settlement, a treaty with the creek indians. and he could do this because he had been newly entrusted with powers by the recently ratified constitution. and with these powers, he negotiated this peace treaty with the delegation of chiefs that represented some of the creek indians. this treaty would be contested later on, but it was viewed as legitimate by the president and his administration. now, the creek indians were the most powerful indian tribes of the southeast with a group of over 10,000 warriors. for decades the creek indians had managed to successfully play the various european powers off against one another and to resist defeat. and the creek held the balance of power in the region up until the revolutionary war. president washington understood that the united states having just fought a war of independence was in no shape to take them on. president washington and members of his administration then, the treaty with the creek, this treaty of 1790 represented a major achievement. it freed the united states up from continued conflict in the southeast so that the nations army could instead focus its energies on subduing the indian tribes of the ohio river, north of the ohio river in an effort to expand the nations borders further west. now, this treaty that was negotiated in 1790, the treaty of new york, it was celebrated by many, many americans, most americans thought this was a very good idea. but there were some who didn't. and many of those who did not agree with it were georgiaens. particularly those men who lived in this area in the appalachians. now, you remember we talked about the proclamation of 1763 which had drawn the line down the appalachian mountains and mandated that settlers could not move to the western side of the appalachians. well, some of the folks who were most in favor of creating a new nation so they could push west of the appalachians were indeed these same farmers from georgia. now, in exchange for peace, president washington had given up claims to land that were included in georgia's charter. so, when we signed the treaty in 1790, what he did was give away this land that georgiaens believed that was actually their's. even though they didn't control any of it, they felt it was their's. many white georgiaens felt betrayed by the president's actions. some called into question his right to do it in the first place. in the 1780s prior to the ratification of constitution, georgia state government completed several treaties with the creek and cherokee indians in the 1780s in which they made all sorts of land sessions. many of these treaties were done under fraudulent terms around fraudulent conditions. what happened with the ratification of the congress is that the federal government took over the power to negotiate with indians. so those treaties that had been made between georgia and the creek and georgia and the cherokee were nullified. they meant nothing. so the georgiaens found that this federal government now, not only was it siding with the indians in their mind, it was also nullifying land sessions that they had received, which, of course, made them angry. they were incensed that the president validated these agreements and restricted their settlement to the earlier boundaries east of the oconee river. now, this is a picture of what georgia looked like in 1790. all this land that we usually think of as being georgia was actually in the hands of the native americans. and what we see is that there was a line. and this line that you see represented the border. what the rebels wanted to do was cross over the border. it's actually a river, the oconee river. they wanted to cross over the river and take possession of land that was -- that general washington or president washington excuse me had ensured would remain in the hands of the creek indians as a result of the treaty of 1790. now, the georgiaens had intended to use this land that was presently labelled as indian land. they wanted to provide war bounties that had served during the state militia during the war. without access to this land they were unable to fulfill its obligations and soldiers were forced to wait. their state, as i said, had been one of the first to ratify the constitution. they supported it specifically because they thought it would benefit themselves. now, instead of benefitting themselves they found that their participation with the constitution was coming back to haunt them. instead of protecting them against the indians it was enabling the federal governments to prechbtd them from coming on to indian lands. they were quite alarmed at what had taken place. of all the georgiaens it was the residents of the back country who were most upset at the treaty of new york and the federal government's actions. they lashed out at the decision and even began to question whether they wanted to remain citizens of a nation that they felt had abandoned them in their time of need. thousands of settlers chose to ignore the terms of treaty and poured across the boundary, across the oconee river to the creek indians land. this prompted creek warriors to attack. and the result was frequent bloodshed and violence as the two groups launched raid after raid after counterraid. as growing numbers of settlers suffered at the hands of creek warriors, the settlers looked to the federal government for protection but none was forthcoming. in fact, the secretary of war at the time, a man named henry knox, what he believed, he viewed the settlers, in fact, the white settlers as the biggest impediment to peace. they didn't view the indians as being the problem. the settlers who kept treszing, pushing the boundary. they were the ones to worry about. as a result, the settlers in georgia grew disillusioned with president washington and the federal authorities. now, in georgia, the leader of this movement, the resistance, the leader of this resistance was a man named elijah clark. he was a revolutionary veteran, a hero during the american war of independence. and after he had returned home, but he had continued to engage in the defense of his beloved georgia. he became a militia leader. a brigadier general in the militia and he called for troops and expected some support from the federal government. but he, like others, grew disillusioned with what was taking place. and eventually in early 1793 he gave up his commission in the georgia militia. he said he didn't want to be part of it. instead, what he did was join the french government. he became part of the french army. he resigned for a commission in the french army. now, there was a french official traveling through the back country of south carolina and georgia trying to drum up support among these alienated back country settlers who were so angry at washington and the federal government. they tried to drum up support to get them to go travel back down from fla florida -- from georgia but they wanted to do was travel back down from georgia. they were going to travel from georgia to -- let's go back one more. -- they were going to travel along the line of georgia and they were going to go to florida where they were going to launch an expedition to take over florida with the support of the french. this is like a pie in the sky kind of raid. but this was enough for general elijah clark, who was this leader, this hero within the revolutionary -- with the revolutionary war. he was a hero in the aftermath as they fought against the indians, but here he was willing to leave his state and leave his country to take a chance on invading france in the summer of 1794, the spring of 1794 he along with french support was going to invade, excuse me, florida and take over spanish florida. well, when he and all the men he had mansiaged to mobilize, they worked their way through to get to florida. but when they got there, they realized that the french were no longer participating. changes had taken place and the french were no longer going to support this enterprise. so he had hundreds of men with him there waiting to engage in this attack and they didn't know they were mad as hell and so what they decided to do was just travel back, travel back to where they came from. way further up in the northern counties. but they stayed on the indian side of the river. they stayed on the western side of the oconee. not coming into the american side. when they got up far enough across from where many of them lived in places like green county and washington county, what they did was just set up shop and they began to build fortifications. they decided that they were going to create something new. they had had enough of the united states and they decided at this point to build a new republic. the trans-oconee republic. they built up fortifications. they started luring other men across the border. and hundreds came to join them. he had a lot of support from the back country. lot of back country residents were quite pleased with what he was doing, even if they did not join him. but ultimately his venture failed. now, as he set to work, clark was the leader and he began building, as i said, this trans-oconee republic. in addition to the fortifications, they also began work on a constitution so this little fledgling entity had a constitution, it created a committee of safety and it started planning elections. now, we laugh at this. we think what a crazy affair. what are you thinking, you little tiny fledgling colony, what are you going to do? but we have to remember at this time, america was this radical experiment and it was unclear that america was going to survive, that the united states was going to make it. this was another fledgling experiment. for people like elijah clark or mcfarland, what they thought was this is legitimate. i have had enough problems with the government i helped to create. i'm therefore going to leave and take myself elsewhere where i can create something new and tap into those same revolutionary impulses that led to the revolution but seemed to have been dill luted by the conservative backlash that followed after the revolution. now, in 1794 in the may of 1794 is when it began and lasted until september of 1794. over the course of this period of time, what we see is that president washington found out about what was taking place and immediately tried to deal with it. he sent orders to the governor in georgia. but the governor didn't act right away. he wasn't sure he had the power to actually do it because there was so much support for these back country rebels. instead he waited and waited and eventually he had to act because washington pushed him so hard. eventually he sent troops into the back country. these are militia men from the state and the soldiers managed to convince the men who had joined the trans-oconee republic to give up and come back across the oconee river and go home. none of the men were ever charged or convicted of any sort of crime. these are men who created -- they committed a treesen, but everything was smoothed over. they came back over and they pretended it didn't happen. the militia men destroyed all the fortifications, they burnt it all up and they just proceeded as though nothing had ever happened. now, these two rebellions the whiskey rebellion and the trans-oconee republic, they were both part of a wave of opposition to the federalist party and its rule that took root in the mid 1790s. both represented efforts by americans to secure their own visions of an american revolution. which they believed had been undermined by the federal government. in addition to conflicts over the limits of federal authority, americans also sharply divided over diplomacy. now, one key division to emerge over this period of time was over the french revolution. the french revolution broke out in 1789 and americans for the most part were thrilled. it proved, it vindicated their notion they created something superior a new political system. and they could point to france where it seemed to take root and spread. so they felt very good about themselves. most americans, there was a consensus on it. but in the early 1790s what happened in france is that the revolution became far more violent and became more politically radical. now, what accompanied this was the executions of thousands of aristocrats and other opponents of the french revolution. this included king louis the xvi and his wife. they killed thousands of aristocrats and opponents of the revolution but they also killed significant numbers of just folks who were opposed to it and the king and queen. we see reactions in the united states splinter. for some folks, especially the federalists, these men who were part of the administration, washington's administration, men like alexander hamilton, they were horrified by what they saw. absolutely horrified by what they saw in france. it proved that revolution, republics needed to be minded. you couldn't just let people take hold of the political system. they had to be monitored. the republic, the federalists argued needed to be in charge. the best men needed to be in charge of the republic. they saw this as democracy run amok. but on the other hand, you had a whole different group of people, many not federalists, many were opponents of the federalists but were also in favor of the french revolution. they didn't focus on the violence, they didn't focus on the negative aspects, they saw the political possibilities. people had previously had no control were having a much greater say in the political process and that's what they focussed in on. they thought about their own american revolution and extent to which it had been compromised in their mind. we think about the men who had played such a role in calling for a radical overhaul of the political process and system and yet it seemed like in many ways it had returned to the status quo before the war. so, they looked at the war in a very different -- the revolution in a very different way. many of these folks were farmers, small farmers. so a very different group. and these folks tended to hang out and would meet in democratic republican societies. and these are groups that emerged over the course of the french revolution largely as a result of the controversy. what we see is that these groups would continue to grow. now, initially americans had believed there was no place for politics, no place for parties in american politics. they didn't believe in factions. they believed it would corrupt the system. the constitution framers believed it would corrupt the system. they didn't plan for it. but by the 1790s what had emerged were ideological differences over what the revolution meant and the future of the revolution. and these ideal logical divisions deepened into the creation of the party system, the first party system, which emerges at this time. on the one hand, you had the federalists who were backed by george washington, but then you had the emergence of the another group, the republican party, not the republican party of today but the republican party that was backed in large part by thomas jefferson, who called for a very different vision of what society should be like. one that took into consideration the work of the small men, whether it was yeoman agriculturalist or artisans. but what you see emerges in the 1790s are distinct differences over what the revolution should look like. this political unrest, which began before the revolution continued during the revolution and would continue to manifest itself in the 1790s and after world. what is essential to remember, however, is that this unrest, these divisions were a part of the process from the get-go. all right, folks. good luck on your exams. and i will see you next monday. more now from our lectures in history series with university of california profession sor, alan taylor. he talks about the amount of alcohol consumed by americans and how the tem presence movement came about in the 1830s when alcohol consumption was at its highest level in the nation's history. this is 50 minutes. okay. now, we've been talking in this class about the american republic, which is a radical experiment for its time. there were very few republics in the world. and so this is a risky venture because it expects a lot of people. in a monarchy, the duty of the people is essentially to obey. but in a republic, the citizens must participate. they need to vote. they should follow issues. they should be involved in campaigns. and so a republic asks much more of people. and this is the foundational generation for this american republic. and yet this is also the peak period for alcoholic consumption in america. so there is this paradox in that this is a period where the political thinking, the political ie deology said that we need an eelectorate with virtue. an elek rat where the people are committed to the well being, to the common good of the country. and should be willing to set aside their self interest to advance that common good. that's the concept of virtue. and yet this is a period when people are also drinking as never before. and you can see the statistics here that historians have come up with. that in 1790 the per capita alcohol consumption in the united states in the equivalent of gallons of 90 proof alcohol -- now, what does 90 proof mean? everybody knows the answer to that. don't they? i ask you about alexander hamilton's fiscal policy and there are crickets in here. but i ask what 90 proof is and half the class knows the answer to that, 45% alcohol. so, per capita, that's also a term, what does per capita mean? yeah. >> per person. >> okay. so in the u.s. population, if we say per capita, that includes women and children including newborn infants. so we're taking the whole quantity of alcohol apparently consumed in 1790 and dividing it by the total population and we get 3.5 gallons per person. now, i think we can conclude that men were drinking most of this, were drinking more than the infants. and were probably drinking much more than the women were. so, we can assume that men's consumption was probably on the order of 16 gallons per year of the equivalent of the 90 proof alcohol. now, that is higher than it was previously during the colonial era, and yet it will go up. you see, by 1830, it's up to 4 gallons per capita in u.s. so, this is a period of peak consumption of alcohol in american history. now, you're wondering how you measure up. well, the last statistics that i have is for the year 2007 and it shows that alcohol consumption in this country is half of what it used to be. and yet there's ple
introduction that my wife and i are coming out with a book called founder's advice. i know this has been done before. secretary bennett did a number of years ago. the way he did it was considerably different than what we're trying to do. i have a background was a historian but i'm married to a woman who was in business. she was in washington d.c. working for a defense contractor and had the opportunity to go to seattle to work for a small start up company that had not yet gone public, microsoft. when she started with mike cros, when she started it was such a small company they could have employee meetings that small auditorium. a lunch time. she had an opportunity to listen to this man time and time again named bill gates who didn't talk about making good products or capturing market share but he talked about changing the world. i think for her that was such a heady experience and the experience of being in a company like that at that point in time was so remarkable that she began to really take an interest in the whole idea of success. what is success? how does it happen? what is successful people perhaps have in common that people some of the rest of us don't have in equal measures. so with her background and mine, we reasoned that maybe, you know, we might be like reeceis peanut butter and find a way to merge our interests but perhaps it's even more important than that. some of this stuff is just down right timeless. when you see some of the advice that these founders are giving. it's most poignant usually when it's to a child or a grandchild. you realize that these are the kind of insights that they probably didn't go around sharing with the rest of the world. that's why we used the word secret. one of the definitions of secret is something shared by the initiated. in a sense, these are initiated insights. these are the prime things that the older generation found useful in their lives either because they did them or because they failed to do them and that they wanted to give to their off spring and children's offspring in the hopes it will give them an opportunity in life to be successful. they gave advice on every topic you can imagine. how many of you believe in giving advice by the way? how many of you are dead set against the whole idea of advice? what's the old saying, a person convinced against his or her will is of the same opinion still. they thought advice was important. they sought it in no uncertain terms. we're like the founders in a lot of ways. we share a lot of things in common. one thing about them that was incredibly different from us as a people not you as a group in this particular room, they thought you could learn a lot more about live from the ancients than you could by reading modern things. a huge part of their education was determined by how well they knew various ancient writers. a good education in the time of someone like thomas jefferson consisted of learning ancient languages, latin and greek, you're better off if you can learn hebrew along the way and you read ancient texts. you read them as the original authors wrote them. the more you mastered the eed t ancient texts, the more educated you were assumed to be. i had the opportunity a number of years ago to be at the boston public library and to hold john adam's copy of his book in my hand which is a really, really neat thing. every time adams read that book it was a lifelong favorite of his, every time he read it, he wrote his name in it. his name was written six times in the book. all that he did throughout his life, all that he read and his library is massive, he went back again and again to this original text that meant so much to him. the founders learned enormously from the ancients. not just about war and politics -- by the way have any of you ever read or dabbled in plutarks lives. how many of you know about it? quite a number of you do. that was sort of the poor man's classicati education. if you didn't have the opportunity to read them in the oormg lanni original languages, you could sit down and read the biographies of these incredibly successful people throughout ancient times. he is very good at giving you things that worked that made their lives particularly -- particularly successful and also occasionally showing that you could ruin your live by doing something that wouldn't be useful or constructive at all. the thing that's amazing is that these lessons stuck. they were incredibly important. general george washington said goodbye to his senior officers here. he was calling during the revolutionary war, the american fabiast. do you any of know who he was? well go to plutargs lives and read about fabias maximus. he was a roex an general who was considered successful because he ultimately avoided fighting major battles against alexander the great because he knew if he did that he'd be defeated. he would always kind of avoid a major encounter until he got an opportunity to strike perhaps not decisively but to strike meaningfully. that was the model that george washington used during our american revolution. we did not have an army that was sufficiently strong to be able to fight the british. so we only did it -- actually, washington broke his rule a time or two. it was nearly disastrous when he did. but primarily, that was the rule of thumb to behave as fabius to avoid major encounters. keep his army intact. when the opportunity presented itself to strike. of course, he did that decisively with the help of the french. with the incredibly strength of the french navy and army down at yorktown. absolutely amazinamazing. a military strategy in the 1700s being guided by a roman who lived well, well, in the ancient past. the founders were incredibly important -- to the founders the ancients were incredibly important. that's one way we're different. i think you can read ancient writers to your benefit. how many of you have been forced during your education to read plato or sasero or any number of people? did you find that there was benefit in there? >> yes. >> i think to the degree that we're open and that we believe perhaps that certain sort of things are natural laws and that they recur -- anyway. so that degree, i think we can find great benefit in the past. in any case, the founders did. a lot of their advice really sounds like the advice of ancients but not all of it. a lot of it is incredibly personal. one of my favorite, absolutely favorite letters is a sort one written by john j. so his son in which he sends him a few seeds and tells him to plant these seeds at his uncle's estimate. he says whenever i walk around my place i'm sensible of the fact that i'm walking around trees that my father planted and i derive a wonderful feeling from that. something as simple as planting trees. that's the degree to which their advice extended. the founders are extraordinary. you've got one of these hand outs hopefully. if you don't raise your hand. i think we can get one to you. you know, it's hard to talk about a book that isn't finished yet but one of the wonderful things that kocomes from living where i do about an hour and a half from richmond virginia is that i get to go over and visit the house of chief justice john martial fairly often who was an extraordinary american not as well known as he ought to be. how many of you know something about chief justice marshall? i think a lot of what worked in our judiciary system was really brought into something at this point in time and without him we'd be in a terrible state. he's really the one that initiated the whole idea of judicial review. i don't want to get into a political discussion but judicial review has kept us more cognizant of first amendment rights than anything else that would have happened. anyway, chief justice marshall writes this incredibly beautiful letter to his grandson. i don't know -- how many of you have had a chance to read it yet? while you were sitting here, interesting. of course he makes the plea for reading the ancients that you might expect him to make given what i have just said to you but perhaps even more importantly he has this wonderful section on how to become a good writer. how many of you have been school teachers in your life any of you? a few of you. and you've read this as well? isn't that great advice? how do you become a good writer? do you have to have 30 students in a class and a teacher in front? no, he's saying you can do this yourself of you sit down with a page of a book written by an author that you find to be a good writer and he actually named someone that he thinks might be read to his grandson's benefit. sit down with it and then read it, digest it, read it until you've digested it and go try it in your own words. if you've written it in your own words compare it with the original. if it doesn't measure up, do it again. a great, great platform for self-learning. it's an amazing thing. it strikes me as timeless. i'm not a teacher but it strikes me as a timeless thing that one could still learn to be a good writer using this particular formula. marshall was an incredible man. as was said in the little introduction written here that he had such a calmness about him. he never intimidated people. i should say accept for one. there was one that called him the gloomy maliingnity. that was his second cousin thomas jefferson. marshall got back at his cusses -- cousin by calling him the llama of the mountain. in any case he was extraordinary at not giving offense. he's so common, they tell this little story about him. he's at a farmer's market in richmond, a woman has just bought a chicken that has just been killed. she offers him a quarter to take it home. he does it. he takes the quarter. takes the chicken. follows her to her house. presents it and then goes back. chief justice of the united states supreme court. he was a very common man but an extraordinarily gifted human being. this letter to his grandson when you know about marshall is an extraordinary look at how a successful man built his own successful life even though he nevertheless developed himself. that of course is what a lot of the soecrets of the founders ar built around, developing themselves. one of the ways the founders differ from us enormously though is that they loved to use guilt. they loved guilt. how many of you were raised with guilt? hate guilt. how many of you raise guilt? you're in good company. the founders absolutely loved guilt. i'm going to read a couple of things. i will have to put on my glasses here. a couple of wonderful things they said about guilt or a couple of wonderful examples of guilt that they used. dr. benjamin rush, the philadelphia physician, an extraordinary man was considered in some circles to be the one responsible for saving philadelphia from yellow fever during one of the outbreaks. benjamin rush was a great advice giver and letter writer. he had a son who was away at school studying medicine and expected his son to be regularly in touch with him. well, it appears after asking for a pair of boots, his son somehow fell out of communication with his parents. when the boots arrived, they arrived with this note. my dear son, hear with you will receive your boots. they will serve, i hope, two purposes. first to keep your feet and legs warm during the winter and secondly, to remind you that you have a father and mother in philadelphia who have never forgotten you for a whole week since you came into the world. i never knew an instance of a man becoming eminent, respectable or even wealthy in the profession of medicine who was deficient in punctuality in letter writing. you have parents who have never forgotten about you for a whole week during your whole life. but i think in the guilt school, nobody beats abagail adams. she mastered it. in a letter written to her son john quincy when he was in europe with his father in 1780, she said that you need to attend constantly and stead fastly to the precepts and instructions of your father. both parents, she said, this is quoting, will i hope have a due influence upon your conflict. for dear as you are to me, i had much rather that you should have found your grave in the ocean you have crossed or any untimely death crop you and your infant years rather than see you an immoral person or a graceless child. whoa. she had high expectations. of course both parents did. we've got a couple of letters from her in our book. we also have a couple that john quincy wrote in reply so you can see the affect of all of that guilt on a child. of course, john quincy is an incredible over achiever. at 14 he goes to russia as the secretary of our delegation. he serves in congress for sometime. serves as a cabinet member and of course becomes president of the united states. the most extraordinary thing about him is what happens after he serves a term as president. he becomes a member of the house of representatives and serves 30 years in the house. what an extraordinary thin fg f a president to do. i don't think it would have been quite as profitable then as perhaps it is now but he didn't seek fame and fortune. what he sought was to serve the people of the united states of america. he does it extraordinarily well. he does things that he deserves our eternal tafrhanks for. he defends the would be slaves that were accused of rioting. that had the temerity to riot when they were being taken to this country against their will. he successfully manages their defense. he is an extraordinary human being and dies pretty much in the saddle as a member of congress. he learned his parent's lessons well. actually one of the things we have in this book is advice that he gave to his children. it's kind of collected. it it's pretty detailed about what sort of education they need and what sort of people they need to become. we've used the word secret. i'd just like to ask any of you if you could think of one secret that the founding fathers might have believed was absolutely essential. what would be a secret piece of advice that you might give someone that you loved? any ideas? industriousness. that's big with him. actually, i think what i'll do right now is i think i'll share ben franklin's list of virtues with you. george washington, of course carried a list of 110 virtues with him when he was a young man. franklin came up with a list of 13 virtues -- it was actually 12 virtues. he determined each and every week he would practice one of them evident and of course keep a record when he was successfully doing it. 12 virtues initially. let me name them for you. would you like to hear his virtues? >> okay. the first is temperance. eat not to dullness, drink not to pñóelevation. silence. speak not but what may benefit others or yourself. avoidç trifling conversation. order. let all of your things have their places. let each part of your business have its name. resolution. resolve to perform what you ought. perform without fail what you resolve. frugality. make no expense but to do good to others or yourself. that is waste nothing. industry. lose no time. be all employed in something useful. cut off all necessary actions. sincerity. use no hurtful deceit. think innocently and justly. if you speak, speak accordingly. justice. wrong none by doing injuries or omitting the benefits that are your duty. moderation. avoid extremes. forbear recesenting injuries so much as you think they deserve. >> cleanliness. tolerate no uncleanliness in body, clothes or habitation. tranquility. be not disturbed at trifles, accidents unavoidable. chastity. ev only use it for health or offspring. he worked at these so regularly and so well that he went and was talking to one of his friends one day, a quaker and he told him how extraordinarily able he was able to practice these 12 virtues. his friend said, benjamin, you need another one. humility. imitate jesus and socrates. that's what he said. franklin was probably the most extraordinary of the people who worked at self-improvement. i think many of the founders embodies that as a principal. they knew we needed to make progress in live. they knew if we wanted to be successful, it wasn't enough to have a dream but we also needed to have a plan and we needed to work at that plan in order for it to come about. do some work all of the time. frankly, i think all of them did it. if they all had one secret what do you think it might be? what did they aim at perhaps more than anything else in their own lives as you think about them as a group. probably not giving you enough hints. >> apply yourself to your studies. >> apply yourself to your studies. absolutely. that's incredibly important, ma'am. what do you think would they claim is the chief reason for being here. >> serving others. if you read the little piece on the back stage there when i think if you all look at that as well. just a small quote. how many of you know about him. he was from elizabethtown right across the river. elizabeth today. he was an extraordinarily capable human being. he was one of the founders. he was a trustee of princeton even though he hadn't attended it and later became one of the founders of princeton theological seminary. he was part of that remarkable congregation in elizabeth that had so many revolutionaries, people who made great contributions to this country and this was written to the son of one of those people. it's really wonderful. you read through what he says we're supposed to do. be a citizen of the world he's telling us. the more you do that, the mr or you will realize even as you go about doing your regular business that the great obligation we have is to those who were in distress and the happiness of man kind at large. there goes that word happiness. it really is a recurring word in that period of time. of course thomas jefferson uses it in the declaration of independence. live, liberty and the pursuit of happiness which is really a twist on john loch who uses life, liberty and property when he's writing his thesis. happiness. happiness. what the heck is happiness? how many of you have pursued it somewhat in your life. how many of you know when you don't have it. i think happiness is huge for us but we aren't always aware of what it ought to look like. here again, a wonderful letter that i'm going to share a part of with you is by someone named philip skyler. is that a familiar name to some of you. it was to you. several of you. one of his descend ants is sitting in the back there anyway, skyler writes this incredible letter to his son to whom he has just given estate aw things are going to be shared and what will happen when something happens to him and to his wife. what he has to say in here is pretty interesting. happiness ought to be the aim and end of the exertions of every rational creature. spiritual happiness should take the lead. in fact temporal happiness without the former does not really exist except in name. the whole idea of happiness was an incredibly powerful fi philosophical strain that runs through this generation. they had so many different ways to address it. so many different ways to work at it. but they all believed that that was really the chief aim of h m human beings that we need to be happy people. i think they really needed that happiness is best achieved by working on yourself. by working on your relationships to other people and doing everything you can to benefit those who are in need of assistance. many of them do it in a very consciously religion way. others do it in ways that aren't particularly religious at all but are philosophically gleaned. happiness is our chief end in the minds of the founders in all that we do for ourselves and for others is designed to achieve it. let's suppose you're within a year of your death and someone asks you for a letter of advice. for a child who has yet to be born or has just been born, what would your letter look like? let me share with you what thomas jefferson wrote under those circumstances. this is one of the most amazing letters i think he wrote. he was an incredible letter writer. this is written to someone named thomas jefferson smith. this letter will to you be as one from the dead. the writer will be in the grave before you can weigh itszm$çfvs something to you which might have a favorable influence on the course of life you have to run. and i, too, as a name sake, feel an interest in that course. few words will be necessary adore god, reference and cherish your parents, love your neighbor as yourself and your country more than yourself. be just, be true, murmur not at the ways of providence. so shall the life which you have entered be the portal to so shall the life you enter be one to eternal and bliss. this every action of your life will r beeg under my regard. fair well. extraordinary as that is, fferso jefferson includes canons for k observation in practical life meaning there are ten of them. number one, never put off till tomorrow what you can do today.t two, never trouble another for what you can do yourself.y. number three, never spend your money before you have it. number four, never buy what you do not want because it is cheap. it will be dear to you. number five, pride costs us more than hunger, thirst, and cold. number six, we never repent over having eaten too little. number seven, nothing is roubl troublesome that we do willingly. number eight, how many pain havs cost us the evils which have never happened? number nine, take things always. by their smooth handle. great image. number ten, when angry, count ten before you speak. if very angry cover it. a letter to someone just born. i think the founders -- of course they realize a lot of what they said and did would be roared by posterity but i letter like that i don't think jefferson had any real knowledge that it might be the light of day or that it might continue to be an influence to people but they believed that advice was a benefit. they all gave advice certainly and a number of them -- a number of them really thought advice was worth taking.was one of the reasons that ns alexander hamilton doesn't ms w didn't like john adams was that he wouldn't take advice. in the mind of hamilton was he said, you know, the wisest of men may profit from it, lesser minds certainly need it. advice, one of the things hamilton thought was so great about general washington was that he would seek the advice of those around him. then he would think about what needed to be done.then t he would then resolve slowly as hamilton put it but resolve surely. they believed that advice was absolutely essential to the world as they knew it.as we we live in a time today that's s conflicted on the subject of advice. have any of you ever heard the d saying advice is a form of abuse? ever heard had a one? heard that one t came to me not too lg ago. i don't think i was giving any advice at the time but i think for some people, the idea of learning that way from others is an incredibly unuseful thing. i think hamilton is probably closer to being right.being who among us can't benefit from advice. part of hamilton's genius when he was a young person studying a at kings college not far away was that he would listen to peo other people. there was an little group that they had for self-improvement. it was their opwn little privat group. this little group wouldt presenl papers to one another. thereth would be bits of advicet to how to make them more acceptable, better. hamilton wrote some of the most incredible political pamphlets s of the time using that group getting more ideas, being told, well, maybe that doesn't work hamilton. it was absolutely essential. this little group for self-improvement. what do we knowho in our time. how many of you are in business. how many of you participate in master mind groups. master really successful people gather together to share advice and oge information withr one another. i think highly functional people and the founders were among the most highly functional people in the world realize that the beste advice you can get will only make whatever decisions you neen to make better than they would o have been otherwise. so i encourage all of you to re rethink the whole subject of advice if you think it might bem a form of abuse.real guilt. might not be out of the realm of possibility. jefferson once said to his daughter martha, i will love you if you learn to read livy in thi original language. in you mean you won't love me if it don't? it was the world in which they loved but advice was critical to their world view and a lot of their advice was absolutely les. typeless. how many of youyou would not t a letter like john marshall hasa a place in front of young people who have their lives ahead of them? a lot of he's saying is date e absolutelyd wonderful or useful if you've never looked through plutarg's lives. get ahold of you and use some of the pseudonyms that hamilton used when he was writing politically. look them up and see the peoplem hamilton is referencing. see who theyxñd3pp3ñi]r and wha did in the society in which thea lived and you will understand our political climate in this ve country perhaps you would have l otherwise. absolutely essential in the world of the founders. optional in our own world but i think i'm trying to make a case that advice is not a bad thing particularly when you think it'd the truth and you think it will be beneficial to the people witt whom you share it.whom i think as i look back on my own live, i rue having had to learn so many of these wonderful things so late in life. if i would have learned them later on wouldn't that have made al lot of difference? anyway i'm going to keep talking right now. i'd be happy to answer questions right now.ing to i've got a lot mor qe letters te i canrs share with you.k me a i think you understand the whole thing is about happiness. ask me anything you want. thank you. [ applause ] any questions, yes, sir. >> can you talk about the t society of cincinnati and how it was formed and what it meant back to the romans. >> washington was also considered -- it was about the society of cincinnati which of course is the organization formed after the revolutionary r war ofev officers who had serve in the continental army. it's a who hehereditary society. there's only one hamilton, right? they have a successor member soh there's two.t? there's kind ofind like a back plan with the older one. >> i think the church has an arrangement like that with bisho bishops. it's a hereditary society. it's been going on all of this time. it was considered a really dangerous thing by certain people after the war. of course thomas jefferson was really fearful of the society.lt he was fearful of any organization. he didn't like the military but he was fearful of any organization that seemed to him to be elitist and might become an instrument which would undermine the liberties of the american he was this great roman general. he was the only one in history with having put together had bi army and won this major campaig, left it and went home and became a farmer again. we of course washington is often considered to be like since innatus. a lot of parallels made to him more than fabius in fact. he did exactly what he had done. he probably could have taken over this country if that would have been something he wanted to do. he was, of course, off limits politically. one of theas reasons hamilton w hammered so much during the washington injury when he was secretary of treasury because you couldn't attack george he w washington. he was off limits even if you didn't particularly like him you couldn't see anything negative about him because he was the ca symbol ofhe america. the noble virtuous person who does what's best for all of the people. the society of cincinnati. is one of those examples. here again there's a nice long biography of him in plutargs lives. the society of cincinnati there's like three missions in there. one is to keep s the relationshs together but the second one was to never let the people forget what they fought. so it's kind of like the lessons learned from the war to promotee those arthings. war the third thing was to take care of the widows an the children that were there. >> yeah. there's a great guest book entry as some of you walked in past the guest gubook. there's a wonderful entry that someone had written about having and said by remembering what was and what happened, we will be better in the future. we will preserve our liberties.b you know, that's a great way t look at it. i think ignorance about our own history has cost us many things throughout the course of this country. sin sinceinnatus. >> when i was in high school or college, i read a great deal of latin authors. though your talk was the first time i really understood why. i don't think our teachers knew latin well. that was not the problem but i don't think they understood thet significance of these writings. for the first time hearing you talk now, i do understand the na significance. >> nc i dabsolutely. they were reading -- they were ekwichi equipping you to read the same things our founders read and read to such benefit. here again, i don't think john adams sat down six times with that book just because he liked the sound of it in latin or like the way the textway flowed. he was refreshing himself with the themes of liberty and independence. transcendence. all of these things for them are so incredibly important.tably in we're in a time where our time educational w system believes tb if it isn't looking ahead, if i isn't forward thinking it's wasting time and energy. and energy and of course, we do that i think at some peril because not only are we inclined to forget lessons that shouldn't be forgotten, but we're consciously ignoring a huge part of the curriculum that shaped the very people that created this country. we, you know, i hear people all the time when dressed up as hamilton talking about well, they were such great men and where are great people like that. why do we live in a time when people are just not so smart and strong and motivated? we're educated differently and we need to be. we need all of the technical sorts of thins that can help us compete. they lived in a three mile per hour world. they wrote with quills. read by candle light. it was a different world, but i think we may have lost something by breaking so completely with that past. and i'd like to think that's part of what you're saying. but you're right, we should explain why we're asking them to read latin. >> we often talk of the need for technological education and this is true, but what you can wind up with is a slave society. they know their own jobs very, very well. they don't know much else and they're ruled by a tiny elite who does not something else, but is not necessarily ben ef lens. >> thank you, give you a hand. i couldn't agree more. you're absolutely right. >> i have two questions. did john and abigail adams ever send conflicting advice to their children? zpl. >> not that i know of. they were of one mind in terms of how their children should be raised. she of course did a lot of it on her own and you know, they actually had the, they had the terrible burden of having a son that didn't turn out well. if you saw the paul giamat giamatta mini series, you get the sense of that where john turns his back on his son and never wants to see him. i don't think abigail did that. are you contributing to this or have different question? >> different question. >> just a second then. so, you had question number two. >> i don't mean to be funny, but ben franklin, his chassty, had an illegitimate son. >> we're asking to believe that these founders actually pract e practiced what they preached. brilliant man if -- clay jenkinsson does it brilliant, but we were going through this one night in the program and suddenly, he came to that one as jefferson. never ask another to do something which you can dpo yourself and he just erupted in laughter. jefr owned slaves. the only reason he was able to do what he did is because everyone else doing the other stuff. it's great advice. a story that's closer to home in new york, there was an imminent theologian named knaver. broke the serenity prayer. suffered a stroke. his later years were difficult and onerous and he confessed to his doctor he was just getting tired of all these happy letters from people telling them about how the serenity prayer changed their lives. he said, you know, i just, i'm glad they're feeling that way, but i can't feel it. his doctor said don't worry about it. everybody knows that doctors and preachers don't practice what they preach. >> read the letter from abigail to john quincy. she comes across in that letter as somewhat traditionalistic as opposed to the image presented of her today as the first women's liberation advocate. was there any element of advice she gave to her children that could be views add more modernistic than traditional? >> not really. >> keep your nose to the grindstone, work hard, give it everything you've got and you know, remember god, be respectful and you'll turn out just fine. pretty traditional. didn't want us to remember the ladies. she wanted congress to remember the ladies when they were deliberating over independent ens from great britain. i think what she intended probably was that they gain some rights under law. they had none. they were property. i don't think she was saying we want the vote. i think she was sayi ining we'de not to be property. we'd like to have laws that would treat us with with dignity and respect. by and large, the constitution went along way to improving a lot of women i think. yes, sir. somebody in the back there? >> yes. >> read the note to the grandson yet, but the last page, not really the last page, you mentioned that when he started the army, his feelings about patriotism, that's what i call, he's different from the virgi a virginians. i'm looking at the world patriotism, in your book with the letter, anything even in last paragraph, you had massive devotion to his country was m mirrored in care of his family, however, his devotion to his country, any wording that really cater to say this is a country. you know, how to serve. i'm saying -- that clear? >> i think you read a lot of his judicial decisions and you see how much he loved his country. within a year or two of the new government after the constitution, it was clear we had two political factions. you had the federalists, trying to put together a new government under the constitution that would knit these 13 littinging states, knit them together and provide for the commonwealth, the preamble of the institution. it would provide for the common defense, the general welfare. it had the power to tax, a year before that had ond before reserved for states. it was doing something con pleatly different and we have thomas jefferson who's read the ancients so much and he knows that almost in any republic, there's somebody hungering for power, somebody who wants to be he's suspicious of everything. james madison, something of a federalist. i think interested in the entire union over perhaps the interest of their own particular state. madison joins him and they become absolutely masterful political opponents and i think the federalists never really recover from their efforts, well, they don't recover from them, but they just become incredibly ab instructionistic. we think of the political system toews at obstructionistic, but read about the democratic republican party and federalists and all the terrible things they said about one another. it's incredible. i think we've been there before. and i think we were there in a way that was profound. the thing that made marshall extraordinary in virginia was that there weren't many federalists there. by and large, they were democratic republicans. jefferson people. and he paid no small price with his political views. he was really helpful to madison in the ratification convention getting virginia to ratify the constitution, but i think he became lonelier in the years past with views that were federal as opposed to the jefferson point of view. he speaks magnificently of it. i've only quoted a little bit there. he never wrote an autobiography of himself, but justice story, who was a contemporary of his on the court, delivered this wonderful essay about him after marshal died and incorporated a lot of what he had been given earlier by marshal. i think the part that i quoted really gets it why marshal was different and why a lot of the federalists were different from democratic republicans. it was what they had done during the war. it was what they experienced. marshal was a virginian. he was a bit of a backwoods virginian, but he fought in a number of the battles in new jersey. but he became part of something that was a lot bigger than virginia. and he got to know people from many different states, many different backgrounds, and it changed, it changed him and he began to think of the united states as his country. not virginia. and he became to think of the government as the government of the united states, not the government of virginia. and of course, this gets revisited in the american civil war. this is exactly what's happening. the secession begins. these states are asserting the rights that they retained when they voluntarily became a part of the federal union. the view of lincoln was that's not true. you can't leave. you're in it, you stay in it. but it's primarily over the belief of the southern states that they were the primary unit. they had given certain things to the federal government, but they hadn't absolutely given up their right to be virginians or south carolinians or whatever. i don't know if i'm answering your question well. marshal talked about it in a lot of different decisions. i can get a biography. >> you're -- let me just say this. not in any of his letters of advice to get the sort of answers you're looking for. >> came out of the church with the american flag and a woman said patriotic. i have two flags. but i thought about it because i look up the word fascism. and i believe, this is me, i believe that americans born, americans and immigrants -- first let's talk about born americans. it's the lack of love for the nation. i don't feel there's a love. it's like i have this flag, it's like people look at me like what do i have a flag for. and as a teacher i bought the little flags. there's no r more. this is sad. but that's me. >> thank you for being who you are, really. yes, sir? >> did these letters touch on slavery and attitudes on slavery? i shouldn't say that. i think george mason in one of his letters discussed slavery a bit. but i think for most of the southerners, slavery was a fact. they didn't see it ending. it would have been neat if i could have gotten letters from somebody like robert king carter who freed all his slaves or edward kohls. he comes along a little later. jefferson writes him and coles says i want to free my slaves. jefferson says it wouldn't be a good idea to do that. for a lot of different reasons. and coles gets the idea he needs to leave. he actually moves to what was then the west. he becomes an early governor of illinois. but frees his slaves as they are crossing the ohio river from slave territory to free territory. there were people that did it. here again, i think that letter of edward coles is beautiful. i think he really understands that slaves are human beings. they are entitled to every right that a human being has. every natural right, which here again in the declaration of independence is well specified. during the revolution, he said the people that yelped most about liberty are the ones that are have a whip in the other hand and beat the slaves. something to that. >> last question. >> last question, okay. >> what was your thought process of collecting these advice letters? and also getting the letters. >> there are a lot of letters that should be in this. and in fact, this could be several volumes. if the the first one is perceived to have value, maybe we'll do another one. we have the letters. we have lots and lots and lots of letters. reasons for selecting what we selected i think comes down to personal preference in many cases. making points that we think might be of interest to people. and dare i state the commercial motive. we include a lot of people who have homes that are still standing because they have booksto bookstores and it's an outlet for selling books that are not being published through traditional channels. and i think that's just recognizing what is. i would love to have some letters who followed oliver wolcott, followed hamilton and the secretary of treasury office. other people, there are a lot of interesting founders that would be fun to include some of their letters. thank you very much. it's been a real pleasure to be with you. [ applause ] on the next washington journal, our guests include bob cusack, editor in chief of the hill newspaper. also karl smid from the aids institute to discuss federal funding and his group's role. washington journal is live on c-span every day at 7:00 a.m. eastern. with live coverage of the u.s. house on c-span and the senate on c-span 2, here on c-span 3 we compliment that coverage by showing you the most relevant congressional hearings and public affairs events. then on weekends, c-span 3 is the home to "american history tv" with programs that tell our nation's story including six unique series. the civil war's anniversary visiting battlefields and key events. touring museums to discover what artifacts reveal about america's past. history book shelf with the best known history writers, the presidency looking at the policies and commanders in chief. lextures in history with top college professors delving into america's past. and our new series featuring our government and educational films from the 1930s through the '70s. c-span 3, created by the cable tv industry and funded -- watch us and like us on facebook and follow us on twitter. next history in american studies professor joanne freeman talks about the concept of honor and led to his death in a dual with aaron burr. the awareness society hosted this event. it's 40 minutes. >> i have the pleasure to have introducing joanne freeman. she's got a long history with the museum and an even longer one with alexander hamilton. now 25 years ago, john hersag approached a young woman working at the library of congress where the papers are lodged. this woman not even a grad student had already cure rated an exhibit. that became one of our earliest exhibits and that was joanne freeman. her history with hamilton is extensive. we have many here in the audience, but how many of you have read all 27 volumes of the papers several times? joanne has, she started early reading them as a teenager. her research to the hamilton in scotland as well as in saint kroi. she immersed herself in the culture by living there for several weeks. she has so much experience that she went and fired -- she did this at a gun range calling this oddly satisfying, not much of a kick, but a nice full pop and a dramatic smoke of puff soon after. joanne, we have a historian trying to capture the mood and moment of what it was like several hundred years ago, and this actually extends through her ph.d. work that was done at the university of virginia, of all places. so a hamiltonen in jefferson country. that's immersing yourself in a different culture. joanne pulled that trigger in research of her book, which won the best book award from the society of historians of the early american republic. it also received high praise from her peers. joseph ellis called that book, quote, unquote, a landmark work. and writings appeared atlantic monthly was published and ranked as one of the best books of the year. that's just a sampling of her work. she has numerous articles in peer review journals, op-ed pieces in "the new york times," appeared in a host of documentaries on the history channel, a number of radio programs including the bbc and npr, lectures at the smithsonian library of congress, the treasury department and colonial williamsburg. so it's no wonder that joanne was ranked as one of the top young historians. in conclusion, i quote words from 212 years ago. it's my duty to exhibit things as they are, not as they ought to be. that's very good advice for a historian and joanne freeman explains history not as it ought to be, but as it was. and who said those words? of course, alexander hamilton. it's my pleasure to introduce our keynote speaker, joanne freeman. [ applause ] >> thank you. thank you very much for that very gracious introduction. i have to say i'm really pleased and honored to be here speaking to you today particularly at the end of what was an event-filled weekend celebrating and commemorating alexander hamilton's life and accomplishments and to be speaking here at the church where hamilton was raid to rest 210 years ago today. now my subject today is alexander hamilton as a man of honor. and i suppose rather i'm going to start by telling you what i'm not going to be talking about today before i launch off on what i am going to be talking about. i'm not going to be talking about what an honorable man hamilton was, although he certainly was an honorable man. but instead what i want to talk about is what honor as it was understood in the 18th century meant to hamilton in a concrete way and how it shaped his thoughts and actions over the course of his life. and i want to do that in three parts. first, i'll talk about how the concept of honor shaped his sense of himself, particularly as a young man. then i'll talk about how the concept of honor shaped his politics and policies. and finally, i'll talk about how the concept of honor led him to the dualing ground and the dual that ultimately ended his life. now at this point, i'm very tempted to say that in today's world, we really don't understand or appreciate honor all that much. i see a lot of people nodding yes. it's not quite true, somewhat true, but it is true.gfñ that don't understand honor today as someone like hamilton did in the 18th century. to an 18th century gentleman, his honor, his character was like a concrete possession. his most valued possession worth fighting for, worth dying for. it really represented the essence of who a man was. for politicians honor was even more important. in the 18th century before being a politician was seen as a job with job skills, men gamed political office space on their reputation on what people thought of their character, not based on job skills. so clearly a man's personal honor was even more important to someone who held or was hoping to hold political office. men who were viewed as honorable were trusted with power. now hamilton clearly em vibed this concept already as a very young man, even as a boy, as an early letter that he wrote shows very well. and i have to say, as a historian, i sometimes thank the history gods when i find a particularly wonderful piece of evidence. i'm going to mention a few of them today in the course of my talk. and this letter i'm going to quote from is one of those pieces of evidence you thank the heavens for because it's the kind of evidence that brings a person or an idea to life in literally a sentence. and the letter is the first letter that we know of that hamilton wrote. it was written when he was a teenager, a child living in the west indys and yearning to get out into the world to make something of himself. writing to his best friend edward stevens, hamilton wrote, to confess my weakness, my ambition is prevalent that i condemn a clerk or the likes to which my fortune condemns me and willingly risk my life though not my character to exalt my station. think about that last phrase for a minute. hamilton is saying he would willingly risk his life but not his character to assault his station, to better himself in the world. what he's talking about there is essentially honor. he would risk his life, but not his honor to better himself. that's something quite remarkable for a teenager to say. and it pretty much sums up a basic attribute of hamilton's life and personality. he was eager to make something of himself. he was willing to work hard, even to risk his life to do it, but he would quite literally guard his honor, his character, his reputation with his life. now that remarkable letter ends with an interesting sentence. at the end of the letter hamilton writes, i shall conclude saying, i wish there was a war. and as odd as that sentence may seenl, it makes perfect sense in the context of hamilton's letter. for someone without connections or money, fighting as an officer in a war was a fine way to earn reputation and honor. it's hamilton's good fortune to come just as the revolution was getting off the ground and he became engaged with the struggle at an early point, a believer in the cause of the colonies who was well aware of the fact that he might very well be walking into the war that would enable him to make his name. and he assumed that the best way to make that name for himself was through an act of glory on the battlefield. now in the end, the most valuable boost to hamilton's reputation during his wartime career was not on the battlefield but at general george washington headquarters because working beside washington who even at the time was known as the nation's leading man, or as some people called him, the first man, working by his side was invaluable in countless ways as hamilton's later career would show. even so he was bound and determined for his moment of battle field glory to really prove his reputation and, in a sense, to come away from the war with a concrete something in hand. so throughout the war whenever an opportunity for a field command came into view, hamilton put himself forward as the man for the job, but not until the battle of yorktown at the end of the war did e he finally get his moment of battlefield glory, persuading washington to let him lead a battalion to capture and supposedly when washington told hamilton he was going to have this opportunity, one anecdote has it that he rushed back to his friend, his second in command, yelling, we have it, we have it, which i love because it's one of those wonderfully human moments that show you people being people even in the middle of history unfolding. so hamilton was on his way but with the launching, honor took on an entirely new meaning for him. for the rest of his life in addition to concerning himself with the preservation of his personal honor, hamilton would be focused on the new nation honor, on national honor, the reputation of the young united states in the eyes of the world. now as a brand new nation, the united states didn't have stability behind it. it had to prove its worth and status on the world stage. in the context of the late 18th century, there was no easy task. think about the world that the united states was trying to impress. the american constitution created a republic in a world of empires, monarchies and monarchs. the united states was something new on the world stage. although the fond e founders looked back for guidance, in essence, they were creating something new in the modern world. something untried, untested, and fragile. and i think it's really easy to forget how new and experimental the young nation was during its founding years. you can certainly hear it in the comments in a lot of people at the time. so for example, here's james madison at the launching of the new government in 1789. he said, quote, we are in a wilderness without a single footstep to guide us. here's george washington that same year, i walk on untrodenned ground. and here's a senator from that period, william mcclay of pennsylvania, who had the same exact feelings in 1789. he wrote, the whole world is a shell and we tread on hollow ground every step. now if you think about it, those are three remarkably similar statements. it's like these three people woke up and conferred. the shaky ground, that's what it's like to be founding a country. all three men are describing the exact same feeling. a fear that the ground is going to break beneath your feet at any moment. the new nation had a constitutional framework, but no one knew what kind of nation was going to emerge from it. the stakes of this political experiment seemed extremely high to the people involved in it because they truly assumed they were deciding for all time whether a republic was feasible in the modern world. and i think alexander hamilton puts it best in the first paragraph in his essay, and i'll confess to you i read this photograph in some way in almost every class ateach at yale because it captures the mood and spirit so well. these are hamilton's words: it seems to have been reserved by the conduct and example to decide the important question whether societies of men are really capable or not of establishing good government from reflection and choice, or whether they are forever destined to depend for their political constitutions on accident and force. the crisis at which we are arrived may with propriety be rega regarded as the era in which that decision is to be made and the wrong election of the part we shall act may deserve to be considered as the general misfortune of mankind. now think about the sense of responsibility that goes along with that statement. they believe they are deciding for all time if you can put a bunch of men in a room, have them calmly create a just form of government and put it in motion in a calm and deliberate process of ratification. could this new experimental nation hold its own? and if so, how? who were its friends? who were its enemies? what were the implications of making friends and enemies of different countries? americans assumed that world empires nations were hovering over the new republic nearing and licking its chops. the the best example of american fears about what the world thought of them in these early years is summed up in a hamilton document that is little known, but i think it's a really fascinating one. and it's a draft. it never left his desk and that's probably a good thing in the end as you'll hear as i describe what it is. in 1796 with the french revolution raging, hamilton deci decided he would try to decide a national field for the united states. and as i said, i think it's a memo. he drew it up for himself and he did nothing with it. it's fascinating it's like a glimpse into the mind of hamilton and a lot of people. . this is the image he suggests for the new united states. he wanted a globe with europe on one side and america on the other and he wanted a giant with one foot standing in europe and the other hovering over north america. in north america he wanted a figure in armor with a shield and a spear basically doing this. so a national, he's creating this image of america fending off this frightening, threatening europe that's looming over it. it's a remarkable image. not the most graphically wonderful image, so i will also say that maybe graphic arts is not hamilton's forte. when i went back to look at this again before i came to give this talk again, i found something i hadn't noticed before. it's a very complicated image and he talks about armor and shields and then he says at the end of it, if it's not too complicated, we should add nep tune in the ocean. he really was enthusiastic. but clearly what that's bringing to life is the idea that the the united states was well aware of the watchful and even threatening attention of the world. so given that context, you can see how the new nation's reputation, its national honor in the eyes of the world would have mattered. not only to hamilton, but to the founding generation. you can see hamilton worrying about national honor right after the war. in a letter that he wrote in 1783, he urged new york governor george clinton to treat loyalists fairly as the war came to a close. not to penalize them because it was a matter of national honor. american treatment of loyalists after the war would say a lot about the character of the new nation and hamilton wanted the nation to start off on the right foot. so hamilton was thinking about national honor almost from the launching of the new nations, but he really concerned himself with the preservation of national honor when he became the nation's first secretary of the treasury in 1789. hamilton was the man responsible for dealing with the new nation's enormous disorganized gift, so he was responsible for establishing national credit. now hamilton's concern makes sense if you think about the meaning of the word credit. credit is essentially honor in another form. credit, a person with credit is trust worthy, a person with credit has a reliable and upstanding character. a nation's credit represents all of those things as well as its standing in the eyes of the world, a nation's reputation. so credit and national honor are very much bound together. that's precisely how hamilton understood the idea of national credit. e he assumed that it was fundamentally bound up with national honor. to hamilton a nation with bad credit was a nation without honor. as he put it in an unfinished report that he wrote, defending his financial person after he stepped down, bad credit, quote, process pated the national honor. now given hamilton's utter conviction that bad credit meant national dishonor and given how firm firmly he believed his policies were best for the nation, and given how much he tied his own reputation to the founding of the nation, imagine how he felt when his policies were tampered with. so for example, in 1795 when congress didn't follow his suggestions concerning the nation's unsubscribed debt, hamilton went wild. as he put it in a letter to his friend, the unnecessary capricious and abominable assassination of the national honor by the rejection of the proposition in the house of representatives haunts me every step i take and effects me more than i can express. to see the character of the government and the country so exposed puts my heart to the torture. how listen to where he goes from there. he goes on to say, am i then more of an american than those who drew first breath on american ground? what is it that torments me? am i a fool or is there a constitutional defect in the american mind? now that's a remarkable statement and it really shows you how national honor was an intensely personal issue for hamilton. a deeply felt personal issue that he bound up his identity with. in fact, hamilton took the defense of national honor so seriously that he chose a really interesting word to describe the sacrifice of national honor. he called it suicide. at least twice, hamilton insisted that not defending national honor was suicidal. as he put it in the defense of his funding system in 1795, not attending properly to the national debt at the launching humiliated the united states before the eyes of the world, or as he put it, quote, it would have been an act of suicide in the government as a very commencement of its existence. not defending national honor was an act of political suicide. it's an idea that he used more than once when discussing national policy. now that idea that sacrificing honor is suicidal brings us to the topic of the third part of my talks this afternoon. hamilton's defense of his honor in the dual that led to his death in 1804 and the logic behind it. over time people have suggested that he was suicidal and if you combine that idea with an understanding of how the code of honor and work in the period you find that his duel was not that -- before we turn to hamilton's duel, i want to turn for just a moment to the code of honor and duelling. now i have already said for an herbal national politician, honor was more than just a vague sense of self-worth. it was proving he was a leader. among men who were touchy about their reputation and had to be, rules of behavior became very -- where the wrong word might lead you to the duelling ground, there have to be clearly defined rules and standards so accidental insults can be avoided. the code of honor set out clear standards of conduct. words you were supposed to avoid, actions you were supposed to avoid, and when a line was crossed and honor was offended, the code of honor offensed a regulated woi of settling the dispute hopefully with negotiations but sometimes with gun play on a duelling ground. for example, there were a number of what i suppose i call alarm bell words that you could never use in reference to another gentleman. words like liar, coward, rascal, scoundrel and pup pi. which is really lost all of its zing in the 21st century. everyone knew insulting a man with one of those words was as good as challenging him to a duel. it was a dare that demanded a response. to i guegnore it would be to dishonor yourself. by hamilton's logic, to commit political suicide. once a man felt dishonored, steps were followed. the man who would include five basic statements. first it would say i have been told that you insulted me. second, it would repeat the insult precisely. third it would ask is this account true or false. fourth, it would ask do you have an explanation. fifth, it would demand an immediate response typically by denieding the respect due to a man of honor. now that kind of letter really almost a form letter was an alarm bell signaling that honor had been offended and the person writing the letter was willing to fight. as soon as you receive that kind of a letter, you were engaged in an affair of honor and your every word and action could result in a duel. this is typically the point where each man would appoint a second to represent him. a person who acted as a kind of lawyer, negotiating terms for his client, hopefully finding a way to forge an apology without humiliating the other party. these negotiations allowed honor to be satisfied without any violence. the point of an affair of honor was to demonstrate your willingness to die for your honor. not necessarily to engage in gun play and not necessarily to kill your opponent, and it's counterintuitive, but true. the point of the duel is to prove you're willing to die for your honor. you don't need to have a gun in your hand to prove that. you need to prove you're willing to duel. you're not trying to kill your opponent, you're trying to prove you're brave enough to be there and take part in that it duel. willing to die for your honor. now once you understand political duelling in this way and recognize all of the letter sending and negotiations as an affair of honor, you discover there were many more affairs of honor in early america than most people think. for example, hamilton was involved in at least ten of these affairs of honor, which are in a sense, duels without gunfire before his duel with burr. in new york city alone in the 12 years surround iing the duel, there were at least 17 other political duels, many of them interrelated. in other words, duelling was a larger trend. when you look at these political duels together, you notice some interesting patterns. most of them took place shortly after an election and they were deliberately provoked and a common ploy was one would call a self-interested politician. there's only one response to that sort of an insult, which was you're a liar. in most cases the loser of an election or one of his friends would provoke the winner or one of his friends into a duel. so what we're talking about here when we're looking at these political duels are not impulsive, irrational events, not guided by suicidal impulses or murderous rage, they were deliberately provoked and strategically timed. in other words, many early political duels were like counterelections. someone who was dishonored by an election by losing an election tried to redeem his reputation with a contest of honor, a duel. so in essence, american political duels were deliberate attempts to prove one self-eligible for future. leadership. to protect one's honor and prove one's self a proven leader. remember that idea as we turn now to the hamilton duel. the year was 1804. burr was vice president of the united states, but his national political career was looking grim. president thomas jefferson didn't trust him and cut him out of his administration aware he wouldn't have a second chance at the vice presidency and ambitious for a pgs of leadership, he turned to state politics and decided to run for governor of new york. now hamilton at this point was a practicing lawyer in new york city. he was not particularly politically active, but he became more active when he learned the man he most distrusted in the world was running for governor of his own state. by 1804 they had been political rivals for 15 years. both men were intense individuals, they were ambitious, they moved in the same social circle, they had many of the same friends. sometimes they even argued legal cases together as joint counsel. but according to hamilton, there was one central way in which two men were extremely different. hamilton was exceedingly ambitious so there was no de denying that and i don't think hamilton himself would have denied that. he felt he was guided by his search for honor and fame as it was understood in the 18th century. a desire to win glory in the eyes of posterity by serving the public good. so in a sense that man was self-interested because he wanted fame and glory, but he felt the best way to earn those things was through great acts of public service. he made no such claims. to me at the time, he didn't seem to be bound by any grand political. he seemed to feed on the politics of the moment to get things done. many politic tigss were shocked at this. he didn't seem to have pesky political principles tying him down. he seemed to be an incredible useful person to have around during political battles for elections. now this is terrifying to hamilton. burr was talented, charming, just as ambitious, but in hamilton's view with seemingly no political restraint. no guiding star holding him back. to hamilton, that made burr a dangerous man. someone who had to be stopped. so hamilton focused on destroying the campaign. they were at a dinner party in new york. hamilton was there as well as another federalist who described the party in a letter. i'm going to give you a bad paraphrase of the letter. you should have heard talk about. he says burr was a dangerous man who ought not to pull the reigns of government and i can detail to you a still more despicable opinion, which general hamilton expressed, but i won't because letters these days tend to get stolen from the mail by political enemies. it's stolen by political enemies so that happens in public. burr loses the election not necessarily due to hamilton's opposition, but he was humiliated by the loss. he began to feel desperate to prove he was still a deserving leader, especially to his supporters who were beginning to doubt him. why cling to burr as a leader if he couldn't offer influence? some supporters said this quite literally, burr had to fight back. if he sat down in silence, what must have been the feelings of his friends? they must have considered him as a man to defend and unworthy of their support. so to prove himself a political leader, he to redeem his reputation. so he sent hamilton a letter on june 18th that included the five key phrases i mentioned. he said something still more despicable amount me. is this true or false? do you have an explanation? and reply promptly as i deserve as a man of honor. so this was a threat. and immediately hamilton would have known that he was now involved in an affair of honor and that there was the possibility that a duel might result. but hamilton was puzzled because he was accused of saying something despicable but there was no specific insult for him to deny or explain. toham l tompb his insult seemed too vague and how do you apologize for something that vague? hamilton's response shows how torn hamilton was between his need to face burr's challenge and defend his honor as a gentleman and his natural desire to avoid a duel. trying to find his way out, he began his letter by debating the meaning of the word despicable, which burr took as an insulting grammar lesson and concluded by showing he wasn't afraid to duel if he had to. he wrote he would not be responsible for hearsay and would always face consequences for his actions. burr did not respond well to hamilton's letter. it revealed nothing of that sincerity and delicacy which you profess to value. in other words, hamilton was not acting like a gentleman. it was a highly offensive insult that hamilton could not ignore. now hamilton couldn't back down. burr felt insulted. but before the duel, hamilton had one final decision to make. he wasn't sure if he would shoot at burr. to hamilton shooting at a man meant to do and for days he agonized about the decision and the night before the duel he made his choice. he would not fire at burr. as he explained, his decision resulted from what he called religious scruples and could not be altared. and hamilton was aware that this was a difficult decision for people to understand. for example, they might think he was being suicidal. so he decided to explain himself and defend his reputation one last time in a statement addressed to posterity to be made public only in the event of his death. this is another one of those documents that as a historian you thank the heavens for. it's a remarkable explanation of his feelings at this moment of climax, of such a decision in his life. in his final statement, hamilton acknowledged all the reasons he didn't want to duel. his family, his debts, his religious and moral scruples and his desire u to live. he also explained why he felt compelled to fight. he had seriously insulted burr and he believed what he had said so he couldn't apologize particularly since burr had insulted him during the negotiations. but most fundamental of all, hamilton felt that as he put it, quote, all the considerations which constitute which men of the world denominate honor impressed on me i thought a peculiar necessity not to decline the call. the ability to be in future in the public affairs which seem likely to happen would probably be inseparatable with public prejudice in this particular. which is a long way of saying hamilton expected a future political crisis of some kind and in his mind, if he did not satisfy public expectations of leadership, if he did not defend his honor, he would be dishonored, cast off and useless at the moment of crisis. not defending his honor would be self-destructive. you could say in a sense, suicidal. to be in future useful, he had to defend his honor. so on july 11th, 1804, hamilton in new jersey, hamilton was fatality wounded and died the next day. 210 years ago today, he was laid doors. it was a tragic end to a remarkable life. a product of choices that made sense to him, although they might not make sense to us. that point, the fact that hamilton and actually every other founder made some choices that might seem flawed to us is where i want to close my comments today. because to really understand the founding generally, we need to understand and remember that they were people. sometimes flawed, sometimes selfish, sometimes selfless and farseeing. to deny that is to deny the meaning, and i suppose you could even say america's founding moment, these men weren't dem gods. they were real people, not sure what they were doing, sometimes on their best behavior, sometimes not. the human story of trial and error is the real story of our nation's founding. if these very human people could accomplish great things, perhaps future generations could do so as well. it's the logic that inspired their greatest hopes for the future, the ultimate message that they hoped to impart. thank you very much. [ applause ] "american history tv" in prime time continues tuesday night with a look at jewish history. first the holocaust survivors of living in poland during world war ii followed by a passengers on the st. louis when leaving germany in an attempt to seek refuge from the nazis. and the lives of the american jews. all that tuesday night beginning at 8:00 p.m. eastern here on c-span 3. here are some of the highlights for this weekend. friday looking at the civil war. saturday at 6:30 p.m. eastern, the communique tors visiting a technology fair on capitol hill. sunday on q&a, political commentator, author and former presidential candidate pat buck nan. then books on hillary clinton, barack obama and edward snow den. and sunday morning at 10:30 we tour the literary sights of wyoming. on c-span 3, the kansas city nonarks. saturday at 6:00 p.m. and sunday on real america at 4:00 p.m. an interview with president herbert hoover. let us know about the programs you're tching. call us or leave your comments online. join the conversation. "like" us on facebook, follow us on twitter. each week "american history tv" brings you lectures from colleges around the country. next hus ri professor watson jen son on the significance of local uprisings against the federalist-led u.s. government in in 1790s and how the unrest led to the accomplishment of political parties. from greensboro, this is a little less than an hour. >> so today's class is the political unrest of the 1790s. we have the notion that everything was fine. but there was far more than what met the eye. there was continued conflict. continued divisions within america that pit different citizens over the fate of the revolution, over what the revolution should look like. there were different motivations for joining the battle against the british. people were opposed to the britt irk, but they could come together through that. what the revolution actually meant, this is where we see the divisions. dividing what had been not a united block, but one in which the divisions were not as clear. the discussion on the ratification, the drafting of the constitution. what is most important about our discussion of the institution. what did we learn from that. what are two clear sides that emerged as a result of -- yes? >> you have the federalists who support a strong central government. >> great. so what we saw on the eve of the ratification and the eve of the vote for the constitution, people were discussing the document itself. there were deep divisions. if you're an american, you believe in the constitution. everybody believes in the constitution. but at this time in the 1780s as we saw not every american believed in the constitution. indeed some americans saw it as a centralization of power. e we saw that some of these folks were what was the name of the group that opposed the constitution? the anti-federalists tried to mobilize forces to try to ensure that it wasn't passed. we do see that the constitution was passed and ratified, but it was in large part due to mullification that was undertake on the part of the folks who were in favor of the constitution. to placate the concerns of those people who saw the constitution as being something that would grow in size and take over power and centralize power. what the anti-federalists required was some sort of amendments. and these amendments were added on to the constitution and eventually the first ten became the bill of rights and they were ratified in 1791. so what we saw was conflict. conflict that eventually led to the passage and ratification of the constitution. but it wasn't as though everyone was on board. we get a sense of the divisions based on the ratification vote alone. which states did not vote to ratify? north carolina. we remember north carolina and rhode island, two states that said we're not sure we're in favor of this. now eventually nine states did ratify and e eventually the constitution would become the law of the land, would become official, through there were struggles. struggles over its radification. not everyone agreed. now if we think about the constitution somehow the ratification of the constitution somehow smoothing out all the differences, what we read for today is it's clearly not the case. what we see is in the 1790s, many of the divisions, many of the concerns that people who viewed the constitution in -- these folks came to see this still as a problem in the 1790s. the ratification of the constitution did not do away with these divisions. instead they continued to manifest themselves. . and we can see them manifest themselves in a variety of ways. we're going to talk about three ways today that are two clear examples. examples that highlight the ways in which certain individuals, american citizens decided that they were going to rebel against the constitution and the federal government. in the 1790s we see two examples where rebels decided -- perhaps they decide to try to form their own more perfect union, their own country. one of these events takes place, or both of them take place in 1794. the first of them that we're going to discuss is the whiskey rebellion, which takes place in 1794 in pennsylvania. as we'll discuss, it's a far larger protest. not exclusively to pennsylvania. the second incident that we see in which the -- a group of citizens decide to rebel. they decide to oppose the federal government. this occurs in georgia. it's called the transconey republican. now these two examples highlight the divisions that were emerging, especially among groups in the west. the western parts of the states towards the federal government. these two examples, as i said, highlight continued opposition to the federal government. they said portions of the american public were not happy with the way power had been centralized in the hands of the whiskey rebels and the trans-ocone, rebels. on the one hand, it was about an excise tax, a tax they felt that was imposed upon them unfairly. for the trans-oconee republicans, what they viewed as the key problem to try to spur them to leave the united states is they didn't agree with the federal government's ability to conduct diplomacy with the indians. in particular what they wanted to see was the federal government remove all of the indians of the southeast and expel them, push them west of the mississippi river. many of these rebels in the trans-oconee had fought in the revolutionary war and fought against the indian tribes that neighbored georgia, the creek and cherokee. during the war there had been brutal instances of combat, of warfare between the settlers in georgia and what we see as the indian tribe surrounding. after the war, after the pa patriots emerged victorious, what many of the republicans thought they should be pushed west and allow for white expansion, for american expansi expansion. so these two examples highlight, as i said, the wo fact that there are these divisions to centralize power in the hands of the federal government. though they are different, they both demonstrate the precarousness of the american experiment. both of them demonstrate. we from our vantage point we look back and we know that america is going to be this great power. it's inevitable. they didn't know that at the time. in the 1790s this was just an experiment by a group of people who are on the other side away from europe on the over side of the atlantic. much of europe looks on thinking this is going to fall horribly wrong. it's going to go horribly wrong. this new experiment they weren't sure how it would turn. as the 1790s unfolded, what we see is them trying to uncover, trying to shake the events. now to give us a sense, i want to start off just to give us a sense of what kind of division we're talking about and how they manifest themselves. we're going to see a map here. we're going to talk about the whiskey rebels first in kentucky. the whiskey rebellion in kentucky. it takes place in the summer of 1794 but it grew out of a disagreement that went back to 1791 and emerged as a full-blown crisis in the summer of 1794 but the origins of the disagreement that would lead to this blowup, this flare of the whiskey rebels emerges in 1791 and connected to the excise tax, the excise tax. in 1791 alexander hamilton helped to push through what was, as the secretary of the treasury, he convinced congress to impose an excise tax on distillers. he convinced them to impose an excise tax on distillers of whiskey. he thought this would be one of the best means, one of the best means of keeping the nation together. he devised this plan as a mean to keep the nation united. he believed that we had talked about how the states had gotten deeply in debt over the course of the revolution in an attempt to try to pay for the war. we talked about the inflationary spiral. we talked about how the currency had become virtually worthless. that the continental congress issued currency and it had fallen apart. in an attempt to try to ensure that the nation that the experiment continued, what alexander hamilton believed is if the federal government purchased the debt, it would help the federal government and also help the states by relieving them of their debts. but it would also make sure that people outside of the government would have a stake in the government. part of the way he managed alexander hamilton managed to not ensure but devised a plan he would be able to get support from many of the people he believed were necessary to keep the nation alive, to keep it going, what he devised was a plan in which the currency would be paid back in its full credit. the value of much of the -- if you were a merchant or trader, you could go out and buy this currency for cheap. for pennies on the dollar. that's how much it was worth at this time. when alexander hamilton implemented his new policy that would have the states sell back their debt to the federal government, we see much of the currency increased in value tremendously. if you were smart enough to purchase this currency at a low rate to pennies on the dollar and the federal government wasç% going to give you full face value, it meant an increase in what you were going to get. you were going to get a dollar for the dollar that you made 70 cents on that purchase. what we see is that many of the people with money who were necessary to help fund the government would buy in, hamilton believed. he expected the creation of a new national debt would give creditors a stake in the economic stability of the nation. hamilton's program proved to be a boom to specklators, merchants and men from port cities. they accumulated large amounts of currency and much was purchase purchased at depressed prices, which meant that the policy would bring them considerable wealth. now the whiskey tax, we can see how there is a shift in the people who are actually going to have to pay it off. it's the financiers who are going to make money off this deal. but the government as it pays it out, where are they going to get the funds to pay back this money? they decided they would get it from an excise tax on whiskey. that meant that certain parts of the country would bare a disp disproportionate tax to pay for the government's investment, to pay for the government's debts. i brought this map up here to give us a sense of the kinds of, enlarge it, what we can see herp that indicates where there's majority -- federalists and anti-federalists majority and evenly split areas. what we can see is that there are certain patterns that develop. we see certain patterns. look to pennsylvania, one of the places we'll see this playout with the concern of the excise tax plays out, we can see that it's very mixed. there are strongholds of federal support and strongholds of anti-federal supports and large areas divided. what we get a sense of from this map has we have been discussing, there was no unanimity surrounding the constitution and this would continue to play out. people who had been opposed to the constitution once it passed they were not necessarily on board with the powers that would then be granted to the federal government. now, as i said, what we see is this new excise tax that is going to be imposed -- and this is really the spark that pushes the whiskey rebels to action. at first what we see is after the enactment of the law in march of 1791, we see that protests break out throughout the appalachian region, really from pennsylvania all the way down to georgia in the western section, the appalachians and west of the appalachians what we see are residents in these areas protesting. they're up in arms, many of these western farmers. the reason is that many of the folks that lived there relied upon whiskey production. whiskey production was a core part of what they did. now, many of these folks were grain farmers. whether it was wheat or corn, they grew different kinds of grain. and what they did with the surplus grain after they had use what had they needed, they would make it into liquor and you would make it into liquor because it made sense. think about grain, grain is bulky and different to travel. it's difficult to transport. if you wanted to bring it to market, it entailed quite a bit of cost to put it on a wagon and bring it across. but you could distill down your grains into liquor very quickly and make it much easier to move. right? you could also drink it, as well. so there are these benefits that we see that come from distilling excess grains down into liquor. now, what the excise tax would have done would have charged these people, would have charged them, it would have imposed a tax on what they were doing. now, before many of these farmers had sup limited their incomes relying upon distilling liquor but now they found they faced a tax. and the tax was equal to about 25% of the retail value of the liquor, about 25% of the retail value of the liquor. which meant that the profit that would go to the farmers pretty much evaporated once the tax was imposed. now, as i said, throughout the western sections of pennsylvania, maryland, virginia, north carolina, south carolina, georgia, all the way through these appalachian areas, what we see is there are unrest. expands into western part of kentucky and virginia. but of all the places where we see it really take hold the strongest, where we see the protests reach its most radical stage was in western pennsylvania. it was most radical in western pennsylvania. the opposition there was centered in the western section of the state and the counties of allegheny, washington, fayette and westmore land counties. you have to know that it's western. western areas. we can see that in the western section of pennsylvania, what do we see in terms of the support for the constitution? it's mixed, right? pretty significant portion of western pennsylvania once we get to the other side of the mauntss is actually opposed to it. this is before the imposition of the ratification of constitution. so, this is prior but what we can see is that these long-standing grieve answers. they continue to fester and manifest themselves. imagine you didn't support the constitution, now you have a new federal government which now is taxing you. what does that seem a whole lot like? >> who? >> it seems a whole lot like the british, which is what many of the western protesters said. what they complained about was taxation without local representation in this instance. they didn't believe their local interests were being properly represented. they had no say in the passage of this tax. so, what we see is throughout 1791 and 1792 we see residents of appalachian who are opposed to the tax, they are protesting in a range of different way, many of the ways they were protesting was reminiscent of the revolution. we think about the various ways -- what are some of the ways we saw protests conducted during the revolutionary era? >> riots. >> urban, riots, land riots, urban riots, proud politics as they were also known. we can think about the ways in which they sometimes expressed their intimidation. think about what holton saw? what did ann holton see in such graphic detail? tar and feathering, right? we can think about the tar and feathering which was not something like we saw on loonny toons. this was a brutal, brutal treatment, a brutal punishment. so what we start to see are similar actions that had been conducted in the 1770s and 1780s, think of shea's rebels. we can see the similar kind of activity being mounted, slowly but surely in western pennsylvania. now, many of the folks who are engaging in this sort of dissent, this opposition, they were revolutionary veterans. these are men who had gone off and fought in the war, either served in the militia or the continental army and now they had come back home hoping to establish themselves, hoping to live life in the new republic they had helped to create. many of them now felt as though their sacrifice in some ways was being ignored as this tax was imposed. one of the militant factions, there are various factions within western pennsylvania, one of the more militant groups was named the mingo creek association. the mingo creek association. they led much of the organized resistance to the collection of taxes. now, at first what i said, what you see are the protesters followed the same basic script that had been provided by the revolution. they even used the same kind of rhetoric in their demands and complaints. they organized two conventions shortly after the passage of the excise tax. and they did this in pittsburgh. they did it to make their demands clear. they wanted to articulate their demands. after organizing these conventions they petitioned the state government in philadelphia. they also sent a petition to the u.s. house of representatives. and for all of their efforts what they saw is that the federal government decided that they could work with the people. congress could work but they dropped down the tax by a penny, which was negligible by most of the opponents in their view. this meant nothing. it didn't change the outcome. what they needed was a serious revision. so, imagine we have these men in western pennsylvania who are up in arms, up in arms that their treatment to the federal government from this new tax that has been imposed from far away with the federal government. so many of them, it smacked of the same sort of issues they had fought against. the same sort of issues seemed to be coming back. when the conventions in other kinds of protests failed to bring about the response they had hoped for, the resistance grew more intense and violent in western pennsylvania. the protesters at this point, they began to evolve into rebels. but august of 1792, what we see is that local leaders of the movement decided to block federal agents, federal officials from conducting their business that is from enforcing the laws. they made it impossible for federal officials to conduct their official duties in western pennsylvania, which included, among other things, collecting taxes. they made it so hostile, the environment, that the tax collectors were fearful of traveling in this area because it was known that their presence was not accepted. local residents also organized themselves into committees of correspondence, like the kmees of safety during the revolution. and they targeted those who favored or disobeyed the law. if you obeyed the law. excuse me. if you were a propoen innocent of the law, you could find yourself like being a loyalist, tarred and feathered for supporting the wrong side. usually they were agents of the federal government, but you could still face intimidation if you didn't belief it was that bad a thing or obeyed the law. these efforts, as i said, included tar and feathering and tax collectors and authority. with little to stop them, they became increasingly brazen in their actions. the official in charge of collecting the tax in western pennsylvania, a man named john neble. he admitted that he could not go into washington county, which was the center of the opposition. he could not go there just to see what was going on for fear of his life. he thought he would get killed by these whiskey rebels that were growing in power, they were growing in numbers and they were growing in their assertiveness. the conflict came to a head in 1794, in the summer of 1794, when u.s. marbles traveled to western pennsylvania to serve ritz to 60 distillers who had refused to pay the tax. these are men who said, no, we're not going to do it. so these agents of the federal government, these marshals went to deliver ritz telling them not only would they have to, if convicted, pay a penalty, they would also have to -- this punishment inflicted upon them but they would also have to travel all the way from western pennsylvania, they would have to travel, of course, over land all the way to philadelphia where the federal court was. this was not only -- this was insult to injury in many ways. it was one thing to have to pay the tax and be forced into it, but then to have to travel overland from western pennsylvania to the coast, meant an imposition, a hardship on these men. not only would they have to stop working but they would have to pay for themselves to get out there. now, when the agents arrived, word quickly spread within these communities and very quickly what we see is a 500 man, 500 man local militia formed under the leadership of a former veteran, a former revolutionary veteran a man named jack mcfarland. jack mcfarland. so, imagine what we see here, the situation. we have these marshals who are trying to hand out these ritz to these distillers, people find out about it and they start mobilizing. and they mobilize to confront these tax agents. that's exactly what they did. led by mcfarland, they went to neble's house and they attacked his house. this is a representative of the federal government. and they attacked his house and a melee ensued. it in midst of this me lay, jack mcfarland was killed. to many folks who were living there he becomes s a martyr to t movement. in the weeks that followed, support for these rebels grew among the distillers and among poor people, among people who were landless and had anger towards the wealthy. people were coming together for a variety of different reasons because they viewed federal power as something that was growing too strong and proved positive was the excise tax. but it tapped into deep hostility that was there just simmering beneath the surface in western pennsylvania as society went through these changes. it wasn't only distillers by the end, it was also small farmers who didn't own stills. it was poor landless men, men who had grievances for one reason or another. at its peak, act 7,000 men formed this group of rebels. they were the core of this group of rebels. now, not long after they attacked the rebels attacked john neble's house, word reached washington. word reached president washington and he responded cautiously. he responded cautiously. he sent representatives to meet with the rebels while at the same time prepared to move militarily against them. on august 7th, 1794, washington announced with quote his deepest regret the beginning of a military action against the rebels, a military action now against other americans. at the lead of a 13,000 man army composed of militia men provided by virginia, maryland, new jersey and eastern pennsylvania, washington moved to subdue the rebels. the first and only time an acting president has actually commanded the u.s. military from the front. we think about the president being the commander in chief. well, in this instance he was literally the commander in chief at the head of this army that was moving to the interior of and many in his cabinet and many others in his administration believed was an insurrection. it was an insurrection. in fact, some of the people who were part of this rebel group, they were speaking act it in those sort of terms. they were thinking about leaving the union, leaving the united states. contemplating radical actions. they created their own flag even just to give us a sense of their seriousness. they had their own flag, which they hoped to begin a new country, six counties, five counties from pennsylvania and one county from virginia would form this new unit. but this is among the most radical of the rebels, not everyone agreed with this. there were some who were more moderate. they were radical rebels who were calling for a break. now, after mobilizing the army, washington led the forces to the center of the state, as i said. by the time the army reached western pennsylvania in october of 1794, however, the insur recollection had disintegrated as words of washington's forces reached the rebels. this gigantic force of 13,000 men who was larger than the army that washington actually commanded for most parts of the american revolution for the war of independence. this was a larger army that he had under his command at this point than he had had during the war of independence. when the rebels heard about this overwhelming force they fled. they left. it didn't make sense to engage washington and the federalized militia. in the end, about 10 men were sent to philadelphia for this and put on trial. and two were convicted and sentenced to death but they were later pardoned by washington. so, the whiskey rebellion, what's the significance and importance of this rebellion? well, it set severe limits or at least the response of the federal government. it set severe limits on public opposition to federal policies. in the early 1790s, many americans still assumed it was legitimate to protest unpopular laws using the same tactics which they blocked the parliamentary measures like the stamp act in 1765. by firmly suppressing this challenge to national authority, washington served notice that citizens who resorted to violent or other extralegal means of political action would feel the full force of the federal authority. what we see is a change. right? that may have worked in the 1760s. but the same sort of actions that they had acted upon in the 1760s would no longer be allowed in the united states. what we see is a change. now i would like to talk a bit about the trans-oconee republic and the trans-oconee republic is something dear to my heart. this is something i ran across when i was writing my book on georgia. it was this episode i had never heard of. it involved a revolution hero much like we heard with mcfarland who decided he had enough of his country and was going to start his own country shortly after the nation had just begun and this startled me. this left me scratching my head. i had to dig deeper. what i uncovered was this amazing story. like the whiskey rebellion, the disagreement that led to the creation of the trans-oconee republic in 1794, the disagreement predated its actual emergence. it wasn't suddenfully 1794 the men decided we had enough and that's it, we're going to do something about it. instead, the origins of this disagreement between the federal government and these men from western georgia -- what's interesting here. i want you to see the map now. so, what do we see with georgia in terms of their support or lack of support? >> very unorganized. >> very un -- >> unorganized. >> this here is indian land. this is native american land. i'll show a map. we think of this all being georgia. look what georgia claims. georgia claims all the way to the mississippi. they clearly can't do that. what they'll end up with is about this much. but in 1790, this was the extent of georgia. i have more maps to actually show many. but what do we see with the blue? what does the blue cig niffy? >> huge support for the federalists. in fact, what we know is that georgiaens very much supported -- they very much supported the constitution. they very much supported the constitution. yet they found that their support eventually proved to be misplaced in the eyes of many of the georgens. so, as i said, in 1787, 1788 the georgens ratify the constitution once it arrived and seasoned it back and do so for a variety of reasons. one key reason is that they have native americans that are surrounding them. they're also the weakest link. they're at the very bottom of the nation. they're vulnerable to attacks from spanish florida or attacks from the water and they also have large numbers of slaves. they're very vulnerable in georgia. georgia was one of the last states actually to participate in the continental congress. they weren't sure if they were going to join the party, but once they had joined, they were the first ones, one of the first states to say we want in when it came to the constitution. and it had to do with protection or the need for security. so, they were quite surprised when they found that in 1790 president washington signed a treaty with the creek indians, the same creek indians with which the western farmers of the georgia had been fighting for decades. in 1790, washington, president washington, reached an negotiated settlement, a treaty with the creek indians. and he could do this because he had been newly entrusted with powers by the recently ratified constitution. and with these powers, he negotiated this peace treaty with the delegation of chiefs that represented some of the creek indians. this treaty would be contested later on, but it was viewed as legitimate by the president and his administration. now, the creek indians were the most powerful indian tribes of the southeast with a group of over 10,000 warriors. for decades the creek indians had managed to successfully play the various european powers off against one another and to resist defeat. and the creek held the balance of power in the region up until the revolutionary war. president washington understood that the united states having just fought a war of independence was in no shape to take them on. president washington and members of his administration then, the treaty with the creek, this treaty of 1790 represented a major achien
the war. it was what they experienced. marshal was a virginian. he was a bit of a backwoods virginian, but he fought in a number of the battles in new jersey. but he became part of something that was a lot bigger than virginia. and he got to know people from many different states, many different backgrounds, and it changed, it changed him and he began to think of the united states as his country. not virginia. and he became to think of the government as the government of the united states, not the government of virginia. and of course, this gets revisited in the american civil war. this is exactly what's happening. the secession begins. these states are asserting the rights that they retained when they voluntarily became a part of the federal union. the view of lincoln was that's not true. you can't leave. you're in it, you stay in it. but it's primarily over the belief of the southern states that they were the primary unit. they had given certain things to the federal government, but they hadn't absolutely given up their right to be virginians or south carolinians or whatever. i don't know if i'm answering your question well. marshal talked about it in a lot of different decisions. i can get a biography. >> you're -- let me just say this. not in any of his letters of advice to get the sort of answers you're looking for. >> came out of the church with the american flag and a woman said patriotic. i have two flags. but i thought about it because i look up the word fascism. and i believe, this is me, i believe that americans born, americans and immigrants -- first let's talk about born americans. it's the lack of love for the nation. i don't feel there's a love. it's like i have this flag, it's like people look at me like what do i have a flag for. and as a teacher i bought the little flags. there's no r more. this is sad. but that's me. >> thank you for being who you are, really. yes, sir? >> did these letters touch on slavery and attitudes on slavery? i shouldn't say that. i think george mason in one of his letters discussed slavery a bit. but i think for most of the southerners, slavery was a fact. they didn't see it ending. it would have been neat if i could have gotten letters from somebody like robert king carter who freed all his slaves or edward kohls. he comes along a little later. jefferson writes him and coles says i want to free my slaves. jefferson says it wouldn't be a good idea to do that. for a lot of different reasons. and coles gets the idea he needs to leave. he actually moves to what was then the west. he becomes an early governor of illinois. but frees his slaves as they are crossing the ohio river from slave territory to free territory. there were people that did it. here again, i think that letter of edward coles is beautiful. i think he really understands that slaves are human beings. they are entitled to every right that a human being has. every natural right, which here again in the declaration of independence is well specified. during the revolution, he said the people that yelped most about liberty are the ones that are have a whip in the other hand and beat the slaves. something to that. >> last question. >> last question, okay. >> what was your thought process of collecting these advice letters? and also getting the letters. >> there are a lot of letters that should be in this. and in fact, this could be several volumes. if the the first one is perceived to have value, maybe we'll do another one. we have the letters. we have lots and lots and lots of letters. reasons for selecting what we selected i think comes down to personal preference in many cases. making points that we think might be of interest to people. and dare i state the commercial motive. we include a lot of people who have homes that are still standing because they have booksto bookstores and it's an outlet for selling books that are not being published through traditional channels. and i think that's just recognizing what is. i would love to have some letters who followed oliver wolcott, followed hamilton and the secretary of treasury office. other people, there are a lot of interesting founders that would be fun to include some of their letters. thank you very much. it's been a real pleasure to be with you. [ applause ] on the next washington journal, our guests include bob cusack, editor in chief of the hill newspaper. also karl smid from the aids institute to discuss federal funding and his group's role. washington journal is live on c-span every day at 7:00 a.m. eastern. with live coverage of the u.s. house on c-span and the senate on c-span 2, here on c-span 3 we compliment that coverage by showing you the most relevant congressional hearings and public affairs events. then on weekends, c-span 3 is the home to "american history tv" with programs that tell our nation's story including six unique series. the civil war's anniversary visiting battlefields and key events. touring museums to discover what artifacts reveal about america's past. history book shelf with the best known history writers, the presidency looking at the policies and commanders in chief. lextures in history with top college professors delving into america's past. and our new series featuring our government and educational films from the 1930s through the '70s. c-span 3, created by the cable tv industry and funded -- watch us and like us on facebook and follow us on twitter. next history in american studies professor joanne freeman talks about the concept of honor and led to his death in a dual with aaron burr. the awareness society hosted this event. it's 40 minutes. >> i have the pleasure to have introducing joanne freeman. she's got a long history with the museum and an even longer one with alexander hamilton. now 25 years ago, john hersag approached a young woman working at the library of congress where the papers are lodged. this woman not even a grad student had already cure rated an exhibit. that became one of our earliest exhibits and that was joanne freeman. her history with hamilton is extensive. we have many here in the audience, but how many of you have read all 27 volumes of the papers several times? joanne has, she started early reading them as a teenager. her research to the hamilton in scotland as well as in saint kroi. she immersed herself in the culture by living there for several weeks. she has so much experience that she went and fired -- she did this at a gun range calling this oddly satisfying, not much of a kick, but a nice full pop and a dramatic smoke of puff soon after. joanne, we have a historian trying to capture the mood and moment of what it was like several hundred years ago, and this actually extends through her ph.d. work that was done at the university of virginia, of all places. so a hamiltonen in jefferson country. that's immersing yourself in a different culture. joanne pulled that trigger in research of her book, which won the best book award from the society of historians of the early american republic. it also received high praise from her peers. joseph ellis called that book, quote, unquote, a landmark work. and writings appeared atlantic monthly was published and ranked as one of the best books of the year. that's just a sampling of her work. she has numerous articles in peer review journals, op-ed pieces in "the new york times," appeared in a host of documentaries on the history channel, a number of radio programs including the bbc and npr, lectures at the smithsonian library of congress, the treasury department and colonial williamsburg. so it's no wonder that joanne was ranked as one of the top young historians. in conclusion, i quote words from 212 years ago. it's my duty to exhibit things as they are, not as they ought to be. that's very good advice for a historian and joanne freeman explains history not as it ought to be, but as it was. and who said those words? of course, alexander hamilton. it's my pleasure to introduce our keynote speaker, joanne freeman. [ applause ] >> thank you. thank you very much for that very gracious introduction. i have to say i'm really pleased and honored to be here speaking to you today particularly at the end of what was an event-filled weekend celebrating and commemorating alexander hamilton's life and accomplishments and to be speaking here at the church where hamilton was raid to rest 210 years ago today. now my subject today is alexander hamilton as a man of honor. and i suppose rather i'm going to start by telling you what i'm not going to be talking about today before i launch off on what i am going to be talking about. i'm not going to be talking about what an honorable man hamilton was, although he certainly was an honorable man. but instead what i want to talk about is what honor as it was understood in the 18th century meant to hamilton in a concrete way and how it shaped his thoughts and actions over the course of his life. and i want to do that in three parts. first, i'll talk about how the concept of honor shaped his sense of himself, particularly as a young man. then i'll talk about how the concept of honor shaped his politics and policies. and finally, i'll talk about how the concept of honor led him to the dualing ground and the dual that ultimately ended his life. now at this point, i'm very tempted to say that in today's world, we really don't understand or appreciate honor all that much. i see a lot of people nodding yes. it's not quite true, somewhat true, but it is true.gfñ that don't understand honor today as someone like hamilton did in the 18th century. to an 18th century gentleman, his honor, his character was like a concrete possession. his most valued possession worth fighting for, worth dying for. it really represented the essence of who a man was. for politicians honor was even more important. in the 18th century before being a politician was seen as a job with job skills, men gamed political office space on their reputation on what people thought of their character, not based on job skills. so clearly a man's personal honor was even more important to someone who held or was hoping to hold political office. men who were viewed as honorable were trusted with power. now hamilton clearly em vibed this concept already as a very young man, even as a boy, as an early letter that he wrote shows very well. and i have to say, as a historian, i sometimes thank the history gods when i find a particularly wonderful piece of evidence. i'm going to mention a few of them today in the course of my talk. and this letter i'm going to quote from is one of those pieces of evidence you thank the heavens for because it's the kind of evidence that brings a person or an idea to life in literally a sentence. and the letter is the first letter that we know of that hamilton wrote. it was written when he was a teenager, a child living in the west indys and yearning to get out into the world to make something of himself. writing to his best friend edward stevens, hamilton wrote, to confess my weakness, my ambition is prevalent that i condemn a clerk or the likes to which my fortune condemns me and willingly risk my life though not my character to exalt my station. think about that last phrase for a minute. hamilton is saying he would willingly risk his life but not his character to assault his station, to better himself in the world. what he's talking about there is essentially honor. he would risk his life, but not his honor to better himself. that's something quite remarkable for a teenager to say. and it pretty much sums up a basic attribute of hamilton's life and personality. he was eager to make something of himself. he was willing to work hard, even to risk his life to do it, but he would quite literally guard his honor, his character, his reputation with his life. now that remarkable letter ends with an interesting sentence. at the end of the letter hamilton writes, i shall conclude saying, i wish there was a war. and as odd as that sentence may seenl, it makes perfect sense in the context of hamilton's letter. for someone without connections or money, fighting as an officer in a war was a fine way to earn reputation and honor. it's hamilton's good fortune to come just as the revolution was getting off the ground and he became engaged with the struggle at an early point, a believer in the cause of the colonies who was well aware of the fact that he might very well be walking into the war that would enable him to make his name. and he assumed that the best way to make that name for himself was through an act of glory on the battlefield. now in the end, the most valuable boost to hamilton's reputation during his wartime career was not on the battlefield but at general george washington headquarters because working beside washington who even at the time was known as the nation's leading man, or as some people called him, the first man, working by his side was invaluable in countless ways as hamilton's later career would show. even so he was bound and determined for his moment of battle field glory to really prove his reputation and, in a sense, to come away from the war with a concrete something in hand. so throughout the war whenever an opportunity for a field command came into view, hamilton put himself forward as the man for the job, but not until the battle of yorktown at the end of the war did e he finally get his moment of battlefield glory, persuading washington to let him lead a battalion to capture and supposedly when washington told hamilton he was going to have this opportunity, one anecdote has it that he rushed back to his friend, his second in command, yelling, we have it, we have it, which i love because it's one of those wonderfully human moments that show you people being people even in the middle of history unfolding. so hamilton was on his way but with the launching, honor took on an entirely new meaning for him. for the rest of his life in addition to concerning himself with the preservation of his personal honor, hamilton would be focused on the new nation honor, on national honor, the reputation of the young united states in the eyes of the world. now as a brand new nation, the united states didn't have stability behind it. it had to prove its worth and status on the world stage. in the context of the late 18th century, there was no easy task. think about the world that the united states was trying to impress. the american constitution created a republic in a world of empires, monarchies and monarchs. the united states was something new on the world stage. although the fond e founders looked back for guidance, in essence, they were creating something new in the modern world. something untried, untested, and fragile. and i think it's really easy to forget how new and experimental the young nation was during its founding years. you can certainly hear it in the comments in a lot of people at the time. so for example, here's james madison at the launching of the new government in 1789. he said, quote, we are in a wilderness without a single footstep to guide us. here's george washington that same year, i walk on untrodenned ground. and here's a senator from that period, william mcclay of pennsylvania, who had the same exact feelings in 1789. he wrote, the whole world is a shell and we tread on hollow ground every step. now if you think about it, those are three remarkably similar statements. it's like these three people woke up and conferred. the shaky ground, that's what it's like to be founding a country. all three men are describing the exact same feeling. a fear that the ground is going to break beneath your feet at any moment. the new nation had a constitutional framework, but no one knew what kind of nation was going to emerge from it. the stakes of this political experiment seemed extremely high to the people involved in it because they truly assumed they were deciding for all time whether a republic was feasible in the modern world. and i think alexander hamilton puts it best in the first paragraph in his essay, and i'll confess to you i read this photograph in some way in almost every class ateach at yale because it captures the mood and spirit so well. these are hamilton's words: it seems to have been reserved by the conduct and example to decide the important question whether societies of men are really capable or not of establishing good government from reflection and choice, or whether they are forever destined to depend for their political constitutions on accident and force. the crisis at which we are arrived may with propriety be rega regarded as the era in which that decision is to be made and the wrong election of the part we shall act may deserve to be considered as the general misfortune of mankind. now think about the sense of responsibility that goes along with that statement. they believe they are deciding for all time if you can put a bunch of men in a room, have them calmly create a just form of government and put it in motion in a calm and deliberate process of ratification. could this new experimental nation hold its own? and if so, how? who were its friends? who were its enemies? what were the implications of making friends and enemies of different countries? americans assumed that world empires nations were hovering over the new republic nearing and licking its chops. the the best example of american fears about what the world thought of them in these early years is summed up in a hamilton document that is little known, but i think it's a really fascinating one. and it's a draft. it never left his desk and that's probably a good thing in the end as you'll hear as i describe what it is. in 1796 with the french revolution raging, hamilton deci decided he would try to decide a national field for the united states. and as i said, i think it's a memo. he drew it up for himself and he did nothing with it. it's fascinating it's like a glimpse into the mind of hamilton and a lot of people. . this is the image he suggests for the new united states. he wanted a globe with europe on one side and america on the other and he wanted a giant with one foot standing in europe and the other hovering over north america. in north america he wanted a figure in armor with a shield and a spear basically doing this. so a national, he's creating this image of america fending off this frightening, threatening europe that's looming over it. it's a remarkable image. not the most graphically wonderful image, so i will also say that maybe graphic arts is not hamilton's forte. when i went back to look at this again before i came to give this talk again, i found something i hadn't noticed before. it's a very complicated image and he talks about armor and shields and then he says at the end of it, if it's not too complicated, we should add nep tune in the ocean. he really was enthusiastic. but clearly what that's bringing to life is the idea that the the united states was well aware of the watchful and even threatening attention of the world. so given that context, you can see how the new nation's reputation, its national honor in the eyes of the world would have mattered. not only to hamilton, but to the founding generation. you can see hamilton worrying about national honor right after the war. in a letter that he wrote in 1783, he urged new york governor george clinton to treat loyalists fairly as the war came to a close. not to penalize them because it was a matter of national honor. american treatment of loyalists after the war would say a lot about the character of the new nation and hamilton wanted the nation to start off on the right foot. so hamilton was thinking about national honor almost from the launching of the new nations, but he really concerned himself with the preservation of national honor when he became the nation's first secretary of the treasury in 1789. hamilton was the man responsible for dealing with the new nation's enormous disorganized gift, so he was responsible for establishing national credit. now hamilton's concern makes sense if you think about the meaning of the word credit. credit is essentially honor in another form. credit, a person with credit is trust worthy, a person with credit has a reliable and upstanding character. a nation's credit represents all of those things as well as its standing in the eyes of the world, a nation's reputation. so credit and national honor are very much bound together. that's precisely how hamilton understood the idea of national credit. e he assumed that it was fundamentally bound up with national honor. to hamilton a nation with bad credit was a nation without honor. as he put it in an unfinished report that he wrote, defending his financial person after he stepped down, bad credit, quote, process pated the national honor. now given hamilton's utter conviction that bad credit meant national dishonor and given how firm firmly he believed his policies were best for the nation, and given how much he tied his own reputation to the founding of the nation, imagine how he felt when his policies were tampered with. so for example, in 1795 when congress didn't follow his suggestions concerning the nation's unsubscribed debt, hamilton went wild. as he put it in a letter to his friend, the unnecessary capricious and abominable assassination of the national honor by the rejection of the proposition in the house of representatives haunts me every step i take and effects me more than i can express. to see the character of the government and the country so exposed puts my heart to the torture. how listen to where he goes from there. he goes on to say, am i then more of an american than those who drew first breath on american ground? what is it that torments me? am i a fool or is there a constitutional defect in the american mind? now that's a remarkable statement and it really shows you how national honor was an intensely personal issue for hamilton. a deeply felt personal issue that he bound up his identity with. in fact, hamilton took the defense of national honor so seriously that he chose a really interesting word to describe the sacrifice of national honor. he called it suicide. at least twice, hamilton insisted that not defending national honor was suicidal. as he put it in the defense of his funding system in 1795, not attending properly to the national debt at the launching humiliated the united states before the eyes of the world, or as he put it, quote, it would have been an act of suicide in the government as a very commencement of its existence. not defending national honor was an act of political suicide. it's an idea that he used more than once when discussing national policy. now that idea that sacrificing honor is suicidal brings us to the topic of the third part of my talks this afternoon. hamilton's defense of his honor in the dual that led to his death in 1804 and the logic behind it. over time people have suggested that he was suicidal and if you combine that idea with an understanding of how the code of honor and work in the period you find that his duel was not that -- before we turn to hamilton's duel, i want to turn for just a moment to the code of honor and duelling. now i have already said for an herbal national politician, honor was more than just a vague sense of self-worth. it was proving he was a leader. among men who were touchy about their reputation and had to be, rules of behavior became very -- where the wrong word might lead you to the duelling ground, there have to be clearly defined rules and standards so accidental insults can be avoided. the code of honor set out clear standards of conduct. words you were supposed to avoid, actions you were supposed to avoid, and when a line was crossed and honor was offended, the code of honor offensed a regulated woi of settling the dispute hopefully with negotiations but sometimes with gun play on a duelling ground. for example, there were a number of what i suppose i call alarm bell words that you could never use in reference to another gentleman. words like liar, coward, rascal, scoundrel and pup pi. which is really lost all of its zing in the 21st century. everyone knew insulting a man with one of those words was as good as challenging him to a duel. it was a dare that demanded a response. to i guegnore it would be to dishonor yourself. by hamilton's logic, to commit political suicide. once a man felt dishonored, steps were followed. the man who would include five basic statements. first it would say i have been told that you insulted me. second, it would repeat the insult precisely. third it would ask is this account true or false. fourth, it would ask do you have an explanation. fifth, it would demand an immediate response typically by denieding the respect due to a man of honor. now that kind of letter really almost a form letter was an alarm bell signaling that honor had been offended and the person writing the letter was willing to fight. as soon as you receive that kind of a letter, you were engaged in an affair of honor and your every word and action could result in a duel. this is typically the point where each man would appoint a second to represent him. a person who acted as a kind of lawyer, negotiating terms for his client, hopefully finding a way to forge an apology without humiliating the other party. these negotiations allowed honor to be satisfied without any violence. the point of an affair of honor was to demonstrate your willingness to die for your honor. not necessarily to engage in gun play and not necessarily to kill your opponent, and it's counterintuitive, but true. the point of the duel is to prove you're willing to die for your honor. you don't need to have a gun in your hand to prove that. you need to prove you're willing to duel. you're not trying to kill your opponent, you're trying to prove you're brave enough to be there and take part in that it duel. willing to die for your honor. now once you understand political duelling in this way and recognize all of the letter sending and negotiations as an affair of honor, you discover there were many more affairs of honor in early america than most people think. for example, hamilton was involved in at least ten of these affairs of honor, which are in a sense, duels without gunfire before his duel with burr. in new york city alone in the 12 years surround iing the duel, there were at least 17 other political duels, many of them interrelated. in other words, duelling was a larger trend. when you look at these political duels together, you notice some interesting patterns. most of them took place shortly after an election and they were deliberately provoked and a common ploy was one would call a self-interested politician. there's only one response to that sort of an insult, which was you're a liar. in most cases the loser of an election or one of his friends would provoke the winner or one of his friends into a duel. so what we're talking about here when we're looking at these political duels are not impulsive, irrational events, not guided by suicidal impulses or murderous rage, they were deliberately provoked and strategically timed. in other words, many early political duels were like counterelections. someone who was dishonored by an election by losing an election tried to redeem his reputation with a contest of honor, a duel. so in essence, american political duels were deliberate attempts to prove one self-eligible for future. leadership. to protect one's honor and prove one's self a proven leader. remember that idea as we turn now to the hamilton duel. the year was 1804. burr was vice president of the united states, but his national political career was looking grim. president thomas jefferson didn't trust him and cut him out of his administration aware he wouldn't have a second chance at the vice presidency and ambitious for a pgs of leadership, he turned to state politics and decided to run for governor of new york. now hamilton at this point was a practicing lawyer in new york city. he was not particularly politically active, but he became more active when he learned the man he most distrusted in the world was running for governor of his own state. by 1804 they had been political rivals for 15 years. both men were intense individuals, they were ambitious, they moved in the same social circle, they had many of the same friends. sometimes they even argued legal cases together as joint counsel. but according to hamilton, there was one central way in which two men were extremely different. hamilton was exceedingly ambitious so there was no de denying that and i don't think hamilton himself would have denied that. he felt he was guided by his search for honor and fame as it was understood in the 18th century. a desire to win glory in the eyes of posterity by serving the public good. so in a sense that man was self-interested because he wanted fame and glory, but he felt the best way to earn those things was through great acts of public service. he made no such claims. to me at the time, he didn't seem to be bound by any grand political. he seemed to feed on the politics of the moment to get things done. many politic tigss were shocked at this. he didn't seem to have pesky political principles tying him down. he seemed to be an incredible useful person to have around during political battles for elections. now this is terrifying to hamilton. burr was talented, charming, just as ambitious, but in hamilton's view with seemingly no political restraint. no guiding star holding him back. to hamilton, that made burr a dangerous man. someone who had to be stopped. so hamilton focused on destroying the campaign. they were at a dinner party in new york. hamilton was there as well as another federalist who described the party in a letter. i'm going to give you a bad paraphrase of the letter. you should have heard talk about. he says burr was a dangerous man who ought not to pull the reigns of government and i can detail to you a still more despicable opinion, which general hamilton expressed, but i won't because letters these days tend to get stolen from the mail by political enemies. it's stolen by political enemies so that happens in public. burr loses the election not necessarily due to hamilton's opposition, but he was humiliated by the loss. he began to feel desperate to prove he was still a deserving leader, especially to his supporters who were beginning to doubt him. why cling to burr as a leader if he couldn't offer influence? some supporters said this quite literally, burr had to fight back. if he sat down in silence, what must have been the feelings of his friends? they must have considered him as a man to defend and unworthy of their support. so to prove himself a political leader, he to redeem his reputation. so he sent hamilton a letter on june 18th that included the five key phrases i mentioned. he said something still more despicable amount me. is this true or false? do you have an explanation? and reply promptly as i deserve as a man of honor. so this was a threat. and immediately hamilton would have known that he was now involved in an affair of honor and that there was the possibility that a duel might result. but hamilton was puzzled because he was accused of saying something despicable but there was no specific insult for him to deny or explain. toham l tompb his insult seemed too vague and how do you apologize for something that vague? hamilton's response shows how torn hamilton was between his need to face burr's challenge and defend his honor as a gentleman and his natural desire to avoid a duel. trying to find his way out, he began his letter by debating the meaning of the word despicable, which burr took as an insulting grammar lesson and concluded by showing he wasn't afraid to duel if he had to. he wrote he would not be responsible for hearsay and would always face consequences for his actions. burr did not respond well to hamilton's letter. it revealed nothing of that sincerity and delicacy which you profess to value. in other words, hamilton was not acting like a gentleman. it was a highly offensive insult that hamilton could not ignore. now hamilton couldn't back down. burr felt insulted. but before the duel, hamilton had one final decision to make. he wasn't sure if he would shoot at burr. to hamilton shooting at a man meant to do and for days he agonized about the decision and the night before the duel he made his choice. he would not fire at burr. as he explained, his decision resulted from what he called religious scruples and could not be altared. and hamilton was aware that this was a difficult decision for people to understand. for example, they might think he was being suicidal. so he decided to explain himself and defend his reputation one last time in a statement addressed to posterity to be made public only in the event of his death. this is another one of those documents that as a historian you thank the heavens for. it's a remarkable explanation of his feelings at this moment of climax, of such a decision in his life. in his final statement, hamilton acknowledged all the reasons he didn't want to duel. his family, his debts, his religious and moral scruples and his desire u to live. he also explained why he felt compelled to fight. he had seriously insulted burr and he believed what he had said so he couldn't apologize particularly since burr had insulted him during the negotiations. but most fundamental of all, hamilton felt that as he put it, quote, all the considerations which constitute which men of the world denominate honor impressed on me i thought a peculiar necessity not to decline the call. the ability to be in future in the public affairs which seem likely to happen would probably be inseparatable with public prejudice in this particular. which is a long way of saying hamilton expected a future political crisis of some kind and in his mind, if he did not satisfy public expectations of leadership, if he did not defend his honor, he would be dishonored, cast off and useless at the moment of crisis. not defending his honor would be self-destructive. you could say in a sense, suicidal. to be in future useful, he had to defend his honor. so on july 11th, 1804, hamilton in new jersey, hamilton was fatality wounded and died the next day. 210 years ago today, he was laid doors. it was a tragic end to a remarkable life. a product of choices that made sense to him, although they might not make sense to us. that point, the fact that hamilton and actually every other founder made some choices that might seem flawed to us is where i want to close my comments today. because to really understand the founding generally, we need to understand and remember that they were people. sometimes flawed, sometimes selfish, sometimes selfless and farseeing. to deny that is to deny the meaning, and i suppose you could even say america's founding moment, these men weren't dem gods. they were real people, not sure what they were doing, sometimes on their best behavior, sometimes not. the human story of trial and error is the real story of our nation's founding. if these very human people could accomplish great things, perhaps future generations could do so as well. it's the logic that inspired their greatest hopes for the future, the ultimate message that they hoped to impart. thank you very much. [ applause ] "american history tv" in prime time continues tuesday night with a look at jewish history. first the holocaust survivors of living in poland during world war ii followed by a passengers on the st. louis when leaving germany in an attempt to seek refuge from the nazis. and the lives of the american jews. all that tuesday night beginning at 8:00 p.m. eastern here on c-span 3. here are some of the highlights for this weekend. friday looking at the civil war. saturday at 6:30 p.m. eastern, the communique tors visiting a technology fair on capitol hill. sunday on q&a, political commentator, author and former presidential candidate pat buck nan. then books on hillary clinton, barack obama and edward snow den. and sunday morning at 10:30 we tour the literary sights of wyoming. on c-span 3, the kansas city nonarks. saturday at 6:00 p.m. and sunday on real america at 4:00 p.m. an interview with president herbert hoover. let us know about the programs you're hing. call us or leave your comments online. join the conversation. "like" us on facebook, follow us on twitter. each week "american history tv" brings you lectures from colleges around the country. next hus ri professor watson jen son on the significance of local uprisings against the federalist-led u.s. government in in 1790s and how the unrest led to the accomplishment of political parties. from greensboro, this is a little less than an hour. >> so today's class is the political unrest of the 1790s. we have the notion that everything was fine. but there was far more than what met the eye. there was continued conflict. continued divisions within america that pit different citizens over the fate of the revolution, over what the revolution should look like. there were different motivations for joining the battle against the british. people were opposed to the britt irk, but they could come together through that. what the revolution actually meant, this is where we see the divisions. dividing what had been not a united block, but one in which the divisions were not as clear. the discussion on the ratification, the drafting of the constitution. what is most important about our discussion of the institution. what did we learn from that. what are two clear sides that emerged as a result of -- yes? >> you have the federalists who support a strong central government. >> great. so what we saw on the eve of the ratification and the eve of the vote for the constitution, people were discussing the document itself. there were deep divisions. if you're an american, you believe in the constitution. everybody believes in the constitution. but at this time in the 1780s as we saw not every american believed in the constitution. indeed some americans saw it as a centralization of power. e we saw that some of these folks were what was the name of the group that opposed the constitution? the anti-federalists tried to mobilize forces to try to ensure that it wasn't passed. we do see that the constitution was passed and ratified, but it was in large part due to mullification that was undertake on the part of the folks who were in favor of the constitution. to placate the concerns of those people who saw the constitution as being something that would grow in size and take over power and centralize power. what the anti-federalists required was some sort of amendments. and these amendments were added on to the constitution and eventually the first ten became the bill of rights and they were ratified in 1791. so what we saw was conflict. conflict that eventually led to the passage and ratification of the constitution. but it wasn't as though everyone was on board. we get a sense of the divisions based on the ratification vote alone. which states did not vote to ratify? north carolina. we remember north carolina and rhode island, two states that said we're not sure we're in favor of this. now eventually nine states did ratify and e eventually the constitution would become the law of the land, would become official, through there were struggles. struggles over its radification. not everyone agreed. now if we think about the constitution somehow the ratification of the constitution somehow smoothing out all the differences, what we read for today is it's clearly not the case. what we see is in the 1790s, many of the divisions, many of the concerns that people who viewed the constitution in -- these folks came to see this still as a problem in the 1790s. the ratification of the constitution did not do away with these divisions. instead they continued to manifest themselves. . and we can see them manifest themselves in a variety of ways. we're going to talk about three ways today that are two clear examples. examples that highlight the ways in which certain individuals, american citizens decided that they were going to rebel against the constitution and the federal government. in the 1790s we see two examples where rebels decided -- perhaps they decide to try to form their own more perfect union, their own country. one of these events takes place, or both of them take place in 1794. the first of them that we're going to discuss is the whiskey rebellion, which takes place in 1794 in pennsylvania. as we'll discuss, it's a far larger protest. not exclusively to pennsylvania. the second incident that we see in which the -- a group of citizens decide to rebel. they decide to oppose the federal government. this occurs in georgia. it's called the transconey republican. now these two examples highlight the divisions that were emerging, especially among groups in the west. the western parts of the states towards the federal government. these two examples, as i said, highlight continued opposition to the federal government. they said portions of the american public were not happy with the way power had been centralized in the hands of the whiskey rebels and the trans-ocone, rebels. on the one hand, it was about an excise tax, a tax they felt that was imposed upon them unfairly. for the trans-oconee republicans, what they viewed as the key problem to try to spur them to leave the united states is they didn't agree with the federal government's ability to conduct diplomacy with the indians. in particular what they wanted to see was the federal government remove all of the indians of the southeast and expel them, push them west of the mississippi river. many of these rebels in the trans-oconee had fought in the revolutionary war and fought against the indian tribes that neighbored georgia, the creek and cherokee. during the war there had been brutal instances of combat, of warfare between the settlers in georgia and what we see as the indian tribe surrounding. after the war, after the pa patriots emerged victorious, what many of the republicans thought they should be pushed west and allow for white expansion, for american expansi expansion. so these two examples highlight, as i said, the wo fact that there are these divisions to centralize power in the hands of the federal government. though they are different, they both demonstrate the precarousness of the american experiment. both of them demonstrate. we from our vantage point we look back and we know that america is going to be this great power. it's inevitable. they didn't know that at the time. in the 1790s this was just an experiment by a group of people who are on the other side away from europe on the over side of the atlantic. much of europe looks on thinking this is going to fall horribly wrong. it's going to go horribly wrong. this new experiment they weren't sure how it would turn. as the 1790s unfolded, what we see is them trying to uncover, trying to shake the events. now to give us a sense, i want to start off just to give us a sense of what kind of division we're talking about and how they manifest themselves. we're going to see a map here. we're going to talk about the whiskey rebels first in kentucky. the whiskey rebellion in kentucky. it takes place in the summer of 1794 but it grew out of a disagreement that went back to 1791 and emerged as a full-blown crisis in the summer of 1794 but the origins of the disagreement that would lead to this blowup, this flare of the whiskey rebels emerges in 1791 and connected to the excise tax, the excise tax. in 1791 alexander hamilton helped to push through what was, as the secretary of the treasury, he convinced congress to impose an excise tax on distillers. he convinced them to impose an excise tax on distillers of whiskey. he thought this would be one of the best means, one of the best means of keeping the nation together. he devised this plan as a mean to keep the nation united. he believed that we had talked about how the states had gotten deeply in debt over the course of the revolution in an attempt to try to pay for the war. we talked about the inflationary spiral. we talked about how the currency had become virtually worthless. that the continental congress issued currency and it had fallen apart. in an attempt to try to ensure that the nation that the experiment continued, what alexander hamilton believed is if the federal government purchased the debt, it would help the federal government and also help the states by relieving them of their debts. but it would also make sure that people outside of the government would have a stake in the government. part of the way he managed alexander hamilton managed to not ensure but devised a plan he would be able to get support from many of the people he believed were necessary to keep the nation alive, to keep it going, what he devised was a plan in which the currency would be paid back in its full credit. the value of much of the -- if you were a merchant or trader, you could go out and buy this currency for cheap. for pennies on the dollar. that's how much it was worth at this time. when alexander hamilton implemented his new policy that would have the states sell back their debt to the federal goveof the currency increased in value tremendously. if you were smart enough to purchase this currency at a low rate to pennies on the dollar and the federal government wasç% going to give you full face value, it meant an increase in what you were going to get. you were going to get a dollar for the dollar that you made 70 cents on that purchase. what we see is that many of the people with money who were necessary to help fund the government would buy in, hamilton believed. he expected the creation of a new national debt would give creditors a stake in the economic stability of the nation. hamilton's program proved to be a boom to specklators, merchants and men from port cities. they accumulated large amounts of currency and much was purchase purchased at depressed prices, which meant that the policy would bring them considerable wealth. now the whiskey tax, we can see how there is a shift in the people who are actually going to have to pay it off. it's the financiers who are going to make money off this deal. but the government as it pays it out, where are they going to get the funds to pay back this money? they decided they would get it from an excise tax on whiskey. that meant that certain parts of the country would bare a disp disproportionate tax to pay for the government's investment, to pay for the government's debts. i brought this map up here to give us a sense of the kinds of, enlarge it, what we can see herp that indicates where there's majority -- federalists and anti-federalists majority and evenly split areas. what we can see is that there are certain patterns that develop. we see certain patterns. look to pennsylvania, one of the places we'll see this playout with the concern of the excise tax plays out, we can see that it's very mixed. there are strongholds of federal support and strongholds of anti-federal supports and large areas divided. what we get a sense of from this map has we have been discussing, there was no unanimity surrounding the constitution and this would continue to play out. people who had been opposed to the constitution once it passed they were not necessarily on board with the powers that would then be granted to the federal government. now, as i said, what we see is this new excise tax that is going to be imposed -- and this is really the spark that pushes the whiskey rebels to action. at first what we see is after the enactment of the law in march of 1791, we see that protests break out throughout the appalachian region, really from pennsylvania all the way down to georgia in the western section, the appalachians and west of the appalachians what we see are residents in these areas protesting. they're up in arms, many of these western farmers. the reason is that many of the folks that lived there relied upon whiskey production. whiskey production was a core part of what they did. now, many of these folks were grain farmers. whether it was wheat or corn, they grew different kinds of grain. and what they did with the surplus grain after they had use what had they needed, they would make it into liquor and you would make it into liquor because it made sense. think about grain, grain is bulky and different to travel. it's difficult to transport. if you wanted to bring it to market, it entailed quite a bit of cost to put it on a wagon and bring it across. but you could distill down your grains into liquor very quickly and make it much easier to move. right? you could also drink it, as well. so there are these benefits that we see that come from distilling excess grains down into liquor. now, what the excise tax would have done would have charged these people, would have charged them, it would have imposed a tax on what they were doing. now, before many of these farmers had sup limited their incomes relying upon distilling liquor but now they found they faced a tax. and the tax was equal to about 25% of the retail value of the liquor, about 25% of the retail value of the liquor. which meant that the profit that would go to the farmers pretty much evaporated once the tax was imposed. now, as i said, throughout the western sections of pennsylvania, maryland, virginia, north carolina, south carolina, georgia, all the way through these appalachian areas, what we see is there are unrest. expands into western part of kentucky and virginia. but of all the places where we see it really take hold the strongest, where we see the protests reach its most radical stage was in western pennsylvania. it was most radical in western pennsylvania. the opposition there was centered in the western section of the state and the counties of allegheny, washington, fayette and westmore land counties. you have to know that it's western. western areas. we can see that in the western section of pennsylvania, what do we see in terms of the support for the constitution? it's mixed, right? pretty significant portion of western pennsylvania once we get to the other side of the mauntss is actually opposed to it. this is before the imposition of the ratification of constitution. so, this is prior but what we can see is that these long-standing grieve answers. they continue to fester and manifest themselves. imagine you didn't support the constitution, now you have a new federal government which now is taxing you. what does that seem a whole lot like? >> who? >> it seems a whole lot like the british, which is what many of the western protesters said. what they complained about was taxation without local representation in this instance. they didn't believe their local interests were being properly represented. they had no say in the passage of this tax. so, what we see is throughout 1791 and 1792 we see residents of appalachian who are opposed to the tax, they are protesting in a range of different way, many of the ways they were protesting was reminiscent of the revolution. we think about the various ways -- what are some of the ways we saw protests conducted during the revolutionary era? >> riots. >> urban, riots, land riots, urban riots, proud politics as they were also known. we can think about the ways in which they sometimes expressed their intimidation. think about what holton saw? what did ann holton see in such graphic detail? tar and feathering, right? we can think about the tar and feathering which was not something like we saw on loonny toons. this was a brutal, brutal treatment, a brutal punishment. so what we start to see are similar actions that had been conducted in the 1770s and 1780s, think of shea's rebels. we can see the similar kind of activity being mounted, slowly but surely in western pennsylvania. now, many of the folks who are engaging in this sort of dissent, this opposition, they were revolutionary veterans. these are men who had gone off and fought in the war, either served in the militia or the continental army and now they had come back home hoping to establish themselves, hoping to live life in the new republic they had helped to create. many of them now felt as though their sacrifice in some ways was being ignored as this tax was imposed. one of the militant factions, there are various factions within western pennsylvania, one of the more militant groups was named the mingo creek association. the mingo creek association. they led much of the organized resistance to the collection of taxes. now, at first what i said, what you see are the protesters followed the same basic script that had been provided by the revolution. they even used the same kind of rhetoric in their demands and complaints. they organized two conventions shortly after the passage of the excise tax. and they did this in pittsburgh. they did it to make their demands clear. they wanted to articulate their demands. after organizing these conventions they petitioned the state government in philadelphia. they also sent a petition to the u.s. house of representatives. and for all of their efforts what they saw is that the federal government decided that they could work with the people. congress could work but they dropped down the tax by a penny, which was negligible by most of the opponents in their view. this meant nothing. it didn't change the outcome. what they needed was a serious revision. so, imagine we have these men in western pennsylvania who are up in arms, up in arms that their treatment to the federal government from this new tax that has been imposed from far away with the federal government. so many of them, it smacked of the same sort of issues they had fought against. the same sort of issues seemed to be coming back. when the conventions in other kinds of protests failed to bring about the response they had hoped for, the resistance grew more intense and violent in western pennsylvania. the protesters at this point, they began to evolve into rebels. but august of 1792, what we see is that local leaders of the movement decided to block federal agents, federal officials from conducting their business that is from enforcing the laws. they made it impossible for federal officials to conduct their official duties in western pennsylvania, which included, among other things, collecting taxes. they made it so hostile, the environment, that the tax collectors were fearful of traveling in this area because it was known that their presence was not accepted. local residents also organized themselves into committees of correspondence, like the kmees of safety during the revolution. and they targeted those who favored or disobeyed the law. if you obeyed the law. excuse me. if you were a propoen innocent of the law, you could find yourself like being a loyalist, tarred and feathered for supporting the wrong side. usually they were agents of the federal government, but you could still face intimidation if you didn't belief it was that bad a thing or obeyed the law. these efforts, as i said, included tar and feathering and tax collectors and authority. with little to stop them, they became increasingly brazen in their actions. the official in charge of collecting the tax in western pennsylvania, a man named john neble. he admitted that he could not go into washington county, which was the center of the opposition. he could not go there just to see what was going on for fear of his life. he thought he would get killed by these whiskey rebels that were growing in power, they were growing in numbers and they were growing in their assertiveness. the conflict came to a head in 1794, in the summer of 1794, when u.s. marbles traveled to western pennsylvania to serve ritz to 60 distillers who had refused to pay the tax. these are men who said, no, we're not going to do it. so these agents of the federal government, these marshals went to deliver ritz telling them not only would they have to, if convicted, pay a penalty, they would also have to -- this punishment inflicted upon them but they would also have to travel all the way from western pennsylvania, they would have to travel, of course, over land all the way to philadelphia where the federal court was. this was not only -- this was insult to injury in many ways. it was one thing to have to pay the tax and be forced into it, but then to have to travel overland from western pennsylvania to the coast, meant an imposition, a hardship on these men. not only would they have to stop working but they would have to pay for themselves to get out there. now, when the agents arrived, word quickly spread within these communities and very quickly what we see is a 500 man, 500 man local militia formed under the leadership of a former veteran, a former revolutionary veteran a man named jack mcfarland. jack mcfarland. so, imagine what we see here, the situation. we have these marshals who are trying to hand out these ritz to these distillers, people find out about it and they start mobilizing. and they mobilize to confront these tax agents. that's exactly what they did. led by mcfarland, they went to neble's house and they attacked his house. this is a representative of the federal government. and they attacked his house and a melee ensued. it in midst of this me lay, jack mcfarland was killed. to many folks who were living there he becomes s a martyr to t movement. in the weeks that followed, support for these rebels grew among the distillers and among poor people, among people who were landless and had anger towards the wealthy. people were coming together for a variety of different reasons because they viewed federal power as something that was growing too strong and proved positive was the excise tax. but it tapped into deep hostility that was there just simmering beneath the surface in western pennsylvania as society went through these changes. it wasn't only distillers by the end, it was also small farmers who didn't own stills. it was poor landless men, men who had grievances for one reason or another. at its peak, act 7,000 men formed this group of rebels. they were the core of this group of rebels. now, not long after they attacked the rebels attacked john neble's house, word reached washington. word reached president washington and he responded cautiously. he responded cautiously. he sent representatives to meet with the rebels while at the same time prepared to move militarily against them. on august 7th, 1794, washington announced with quote his deepest regret the beginning of a military action against the rebels, a military action now against other americans. at the lead of a 13,000 man army composed of militia men provided by virginia, maryland, new jersey and eastern pennsylvania, washington moved to subdue the rebels. the first and only time an acting president has actually commanded the u.s. military from the front. we think about the president being the commander in chief. well, in this instance he was literally the commander in chief at the head of this army that was moving to the interior of and many in his cabinet and many others in his administration believed was an insurrection. it was an insurrection. in fact, some of the people who were part of this rebel group, they were speaking act it in those sort of terms. they were thinking about leaving the union, leaving the united states. contemplating radical actions. they created their own flag even just to give us a sense of their seriousness. they had their own flag, which they hoped to begin a new country, six counties, five counties from pennsylvania and one county from virginia would form this new unit. but this is among the most radical of the rebels, not everyone agreed with this. there were some who were more moderate. they were radical rebels who were calling for a break. now, after mobilizing the army, washington led the forces to the center of the state, as i said. by the time the army reached western pennsylvania in october of 1794, however, the insur recollection had disintegrated as words of washington's forces reached the rebels. this gigantic force of 13,000 men who was larger than the army that washington actually commanded for most parts of the american revolution for the war of independence. this was a larger army that he had under his command at this point than he had had during the war of independence. when the rebels heard about this overwhelming force they fled. they left. it didn't make sense to engage washington and the federalized militia. in the end, about 10 men were sent to philadelphia for this and put on trial. and two were convicted and sentenced to death but they were later pardoned by washington. so, the whiskey rebellion, what's the significance and importance of this rebellion? well, it set severe limits or at least the response of the federal government. it set severe limits on public opposition to federal policies. in the early 1790s, many americans still assumed it was legitimate to protest unpopular laws using the same tactics which they blocked the parliamentary measures like the stamp act in 1765. by firmly suppressing this challenge to national authority, washington served notice that citizens who resorted to violent or other extralegal means of political action would feel the full force of the federal authority. what we see is a change. right? that may have worked in the 1760s. but the same sort of actions that they had acted upon in the 1760s would no longer be allowed in the united states. what we see is a change. now i would like to talk a bit about the trans-oconee republic and the trans-oconee republic is something dear to my heart. this is something i ran across when i was writing my book on georgia. it was this episode i had never heard of. it involved a revolution hero much like we heard with mcfarland who decided he had enough of his country and was going to start his own country shortly after the nation had just begun and this startled me. this left me scratching my head. i had to dig deeper. what i uncovered was this amazing story. like the whiskey rebellion, the disagreement that led to the creation of the trans-oconee republic in 1794, the disagreement predated its actual emergence. it wasn't suddenfully 1794 the men decided we had enough and that's it, we're going to do something about it. instead, the origins of this disagreement between the federal government and these men from western georgia -- what's interesting here. i want you to see the map now. so, what do we see with georgia in terms of their support or lack of support? >> very unorganized. >> very un -- >> unorganized. >> this here is indian land. this is native american land. i'll show a map. we think of this all being georgia. look what georgia claims. georgia claims all the way to the mississippi. they clearly can't do that. what they'll end up with is about this much. but in 1790, this was the extent of georgia. i have more maps to actually show many. but what do we see with the blue? what does the blue cig niffy? >> huge support for the federalists. in fact, what we know is that georgiaens very much supported -- they very much supported the constitution. they very much supported the constitution. yet they found that their support eventually proved to be misplaced in the eyes of many of the georgens. so, as i said, in 1787, 1788 the georgens ratify the constitution once it arrived and seasoned it back and do so for a variety of reasons. one key reason is that they have native americans that are surrounding them. they're also the weakest link. they're at the very bottom of the nation. they're vulnerable to attacks from spanish florida or attacks from the water and they also have large numbers of slaves. they're very vulnerable in georgia. georgia was one of the last states actually to participate in the continental congress. they weren't sure if they were going to join the party, but once they had joined, they were the first ones, one of the first states to say we want in when it came to the constitution. and it had to do with protection or the need for security. so, they were quite surprised when they found that in 1790 president washington signed a treaty with the creek indians, the same creek indians with which the western farmers of the georgia had been fighting for decades. in 1790, washington, president washington, reached an negotiated settlement, a treaty with the creek indians. and he could do this because he had been newly entrusted with powers by the recently ratified constitution. and with these powers, he negotiated this peace treaty with the delegation of chiefs that represented some of the creek indians. this treaty would be contested later on, but it was viewed as legitimate by the president and his administration. now, the creek indians were the most powerful indian tribes of the southeast with a group of over 10,000 warriors. for decades the creek indians had managed to successfully play the various european powers off against one another and to resist defeat. and the creek held the balance of power in the region up until the revolutionary war. president washington understood that the united states having just fought a war of independence was in no shape to take them on. president washington and members of his administration then, the treaty with the creek, this treaty of 1790 represented a major achievement. it freed the united states up from continued conflict in the southeast so that the nations army could instead focus its energies on subduing the indian tribes of the ohio river, north of the ohio river in an effort to expand the nations borders further west. now, this treaty that was negotiated in 1790, the treaty of new york, it was celebrated by many, many americans, most americans thought this was a very good idea. but there were some who didn't. and many of those who did not agree with it were georgiaens. particularly those men who lived in this area in the appalachians. now, you remember we talked about the proclamation of 1763 which had drawn the line down the appalachian mountains and mandated that settlers could not move to the western side of the appalachians. well, some of the folks who were most in favor of creating a new nation so they could push west of the appalachians were indeed these same farmers from georgia. now, in exchange for peace, president washington had given up claims to land that were included in georgia's charter. so, when we signed the treaty in 1790, what he did was give away this land that georgiaens believed that was actually their's. even though they didn't control any of it, they felt it was their's. many white georgiaens felt betrayed by the president's actions. some called into question his right to do it in the first place. in the 1780s prior to the ratification of constitution, georgia state government completed several treaties with the creek and cherokee indians in the 1780s in which they made all sorts of land sessions. many of these treaties were done under fraudulent terms around fraudulent conditions. what happened with the ratification of the congress is that the federal government took over the power to negotiate with indians. so those treaties that had been made between georgia and the creek and georgia and the cherokee were nullified. they meant nothing. so the georgiaens found that this federal government now, not only was it siding with the indians in their mind, it was also nullifying land sessions that they had received, which, of course, made them angry. they were incensed that the president validated these agreements and restricted their settlement to the earlier boundaries east of the oconee river. now, this is a picture of what georgia looked like in 1790. all this land that we usually think of as being georgia was actually in the hands of the native americans. and what we see is that there was a line. and this line that you see represented the border. what the rebels wanted to do was cross over the border. it's actually a river, the oconee river. they wanted to cross over the river and take possession of land that was -- that general washington or president washington excuse me had ensured would remain in the hands of the creek indians as a result of the treaty of 1790. now, the georgiaens had intended to use this land that was presently labelled as indian land. they wanted to provide war bounties that had served during the state militia during the war. without access to this land they were unable to fulfill its obligations and soldiers were forced to wait. their state, as i said, had been one of the first to ratify the constitution. they supported it specifically because they thought it would benefit themselves. now, instead of benefitting themselves they found that their participation with the constitution was coming back to haunt them. instead of protecting them against the indians it was enabling the federal governments to prechbtd them from coming on to indian lands. they were quite alarmed at what had taken place. of all the georgiaens it was the residents of the back country who were most upset at the treaty of new york and the federal government's actions. they lashed out at the decision and even began to question whether they wanted to remain citizens of a nation that they felt had abandoned them in their time of need. thousands of settlers chose to ignore the terms of treaty and poured across the boundary, across the oconee river to the creek indians land. this prompted creek warriors to attack. and the result was frequent bloodshed and violence as the two groups launched raid after raid after counterraid. as growing numbers of settlers suffered at the hands of creek warriors, the settlers looked to the federal government for protection but none was forthcoming. in fact, the secretary of war at the time, a man named henry knox, what he believed, he viewed the settlers, in fact, the white settlers as the biggest impediment to peace. they didn't view the indians as being the problem. the settlers who kept treszing, pushing the boundary. they were the ones to worry about. as a result, the settlers in georgia grew disillusioned with president washington and the federal authorities. now, in georgia, the leader of this movement, the resistance, the leader of this resistance was a man named elijah clark. he was a revolutionary veteran, a hero during the american war of independence. and after he had returned home, but he had continued to engage in the defense of his beloved georgia. he became a militia leader. a brigadier general in the militia and he called for troops and expected some support from the federal government. but he, like others, grew disillusioned with what was taking place. and eventually in early 1793 he gave up his commission in the georgia militia. he said he didn't want to be part of it. instead, what he did was join the french government. he became part of the french army. he resigned for a commission in the french army. now, there was a french official traveling through the back country of south carolina and georgia trying to drum up support among these alienated back country settlers who were so angry at washington and the federal government. they tried to drum up support to get them to go travel back down from fla florida -- from georgia but they wanted to do was travel back down from georgia. they were going to travel from georgia to -- let's go back one more. -- they were going to travel along the line of georgia and they were going to go to florida where they were going to launch an expedition to take over florida with the support of the french. this is like a pie in the sky kind of raid. but this was enough for general elijah clark, who was this leader, this hero within the revolutionary -- with the revolutionary war. he was a hero in the aftermath as they fought against the indians, but here he was willing to leave his state and leave his country to take a chance on invading france in the summer of 1794, the spring of 1794 he along with french support was going to invade, excuse me, florida and take over spanish florida. well, when he and all the men he had mansiaged to mobilize, they worked their way through to get to florida. but when they got there, they realized that the french were no longer participating. changes had taken place and the french were no longer going to support this enterprise. so he had hundreds of men with him there waiting to engage in this attack and they didn't know they were mad as hell and so what they decided to do was just travel back, travel back to where they came from. way further up in the northern counties. but they stayed on the indian side of the river. they stayed on the western side of the oconee. not coming into the american side. when they got up far enough across from where many of them lived in places like green county and washington county, what they did was just set up shop and they began to build fortifications. they decided that they were going to create something new. they had had enough of the united states and they decided at this point to build a new republic. the trans-oconee republic. they built up fortifications. they started luring other men across the border. and hundreds came to join them. he had a lot of support from the back country. lot of back country residents were quite pleased with what he was doing, even if they did not join him. but ultimately his venture failed. now, as he set to work, clark was the leader and he began building, as i said, this trans-oconee republic. in addition to the fortifications, they also began work on a constitution so this little fledgling entity had a constitution, it created a committee of safety and it started planning elections. now, we laugh at this. we think what a crazy affair. what are you thinking, you little tiny fledgling colony, what are you going to do? but we have to remember at this time, america was this radical experiment and it was unclear that america was going to survive, that the united states was going to make it. this was another fledgling experiment. for people like elijah clark or mcfarland, what they thought was this is legitimate. i have had enough problems with the government i helped to create. i'm therefore going to leave and take myself elsewhere where i can create something new and tap into those same revolutionary impulses that led to the revolution but seemed to have been dill luted by the conservative backlash that followed after the revolution. now, in 1794 in the may of 1794 is when it began and lasted until september of 1794. over the course of this period of time, what we see is that president washington found out about what was taking place and immediately tried to deal with it. he sent orders to the governor in georgia. but the governor didn't act right away. he wasn't sure he had the power to actually do it because there was so much support for these back country rebels. instead he waited and waited and eventually he had to act because washington pushed him so hard. eventually he sent troops into the back country. these are militia men from the state and the soldiers managed to convince the men who had joined the trans-oconee republic to give up and come back across the oconee river and go home. none of the men were ever charged or convicted of any sort of crime. these are men who created -- they committed a treesen, but everything was smoothed over. they came back over and they pretended it didn't happen. the militia men destroyed all the fortifications, they burnt it all up and they just proceeded as though nothing had ever happened. now, these two rebellions the whiskey rebellion and the trans-oconee republic, they were both part of a wave of opposition to the federalist party and its rule that took root in the mid 1790s. both represented efforts by americans to secure their own visions of an american revolution. which they believed had been undermined by the federal government. in addition to conflicts over the limits of federal authority, americans also sharply divided over diplomacy. now, one key division to emerge over this period of time was over the french revolution. the french revolution broke out in 1789 and americans for the most part were thrilled. ille it proved, it vindicated their notion they created something superior a new political system. and they could point to france where it seemed to take root and spread. so they felt very good about themselves. most americans, there was a consensus on it. but in the early 1790s what happened in france is that the revolution became far more violent and became more politically radical. now, what accompanied this was the executions of thousands of aristocrats and other opponents of the french revolution. this included king louis the xvi and his wife. they killed thousands of aristocrats and opponents of the revolution but they also killed significant numbers of just folks who were opposed to it and the king and queen. we see reactions in the united states splinter. for some folks, especially the federalists, these men who were part of the administration, washington's administration, men like alexander hamilton, they were horrified by what they saw. absolutely horrified by what they saw in france. it proved that revolution, republics needed to be minded. you couldn't just let people take hold of the political system. they had to be monitored. the republic, the federalists argued needed to be in charge. the best men needed to be in charge of the republic. they saw this as democracy run amok. but on the other hand, you had a whole different group of people, many not federalists, many were opponents of the federalists but were also in favor of the french revolution. they didn't focus on the violence, they didn't focus on the negative aspects, they saw the political possibilities. people had previously had no control were having a much greater say in the political process and that's what they focussed in on. they thought about their own american revolution and extent to which it had been compromised in their mind. we think about the men who had played such a role in calling for a radical overhaul of the political process and system and yet it seemed like in many ways it had returned to the status quo before the war. so, they looked at the war in a very different -- the revolution in a very different way. many of these folks were farmers, small farmers. so a very different group. and these folks tended to hang out and would meet in democratic republican societies. and these are groups that emerged over the course of the french revolution largely as a result of the controversy. what we see is that these groups would continue to grow. now, initially americans had believed there was no place for politics, no place for parties in american politics. they didn't believe in factions. they believed it would corrupt the system. the constitution framers believed it would corrupt the system. they didn't plan for it. but by the 1790s what had emerged were ideological differences over what the revolution meant and the future of the revolution. and these ideal logical divisions deepened into the creation of the party system, the first party system, which emerges at this time. on the one hand, you had the federalists who were backed by george washington, but then you had the emergence of the another group, the republican party, not the republican party of today but the republican party that was backed in large part by thomas jefferson, who called for a very different vision of what society should be like. one that took into consideration the work of the small men, whether it was yeoman agriculturalist or artisans. but what you see emerges in the 1790s are distinct differences over what the revolution should look like. this political unrest, which began before the revolution continued during the revolution and would continue to manifest itself in the 1790s and after world. what is essential to remember, however, is that this unrest, these divisions were a part of the process from the get-go. all right, folks. good luck on your exams. and i will see you next monday. more now from our lectures in history series with university of california profession sor, alan taylor. he talks about the amount of alcohol consumed by americans and how the tem presence movement came about in the 1830s when alcohol consumption was at its highest level in the nation's history. this is 50 minutes. okay. now, we've been talking in this class about the american republic, which is a radical experiment for its time. there were very few republics in the world. and so this is a risky venture because it expects a lot of people. in a monarchy, the duty of the people is essentially to obey. but in a republic, the citizens must participate. they need to vote. they should follow issues. they should be involved in campaigns. and so a republic asks much more of people. and this is the foundational generation for this american republic. and yet this is also the peak period for alcoholic consumption in america. so there is this paradox in that this is a period where the political thinking, the political ie deology said that we need an eelectorate with virtue. an elek rat where the people are committed to the well being, to the common good of the country. and should be willing to set aside their self interest to advance that common good. that's the concept of virtue. and yet this is a period when people are also drinking as never before. and you can see the statistics here that historians have come up with. that in 1790 the per capita alcohol consumption in the united states in the equivalent of gallons of 90 proof alcohol -- now, what does 90 proof mean? everybody knows the answer to that. don't they? i ask you about alexander hamilton's fiscal policy and there are crickets in here. but i ask what 90 proof is and half the class knows the answer to that, 45% alcohol. so, per capita, that's also a term, what does per capita mean? yeah. >> per person. >> okay. so in the u.s. population, if we say per capita, that includes women and children including newborn infants. so we're taking the whole quantity of alcohol apparently consumed in 1790 and dividing it by the total population and we get 3.5 gallons per person. now, i think we can conclude that men were drinking most of this, were drinking more than the infants. and were probably drinking much more than the women were. so, we can assume that men's consumption was probably on the order of 16 gallons per year of the equivalent of the 90 proof alcohol. now, that is higher than it was previously during the colonial era, and yet it will go up. you see, by 1830, it's up to 4 gallons per capita in u.s. so, this is a period of peak consumption of alcohol in american history. now, you're wondering how you measure up. well, the last statistics that i have is for the year 2007 and it shows that alcohol consumption in this country is half of what it used to be. and yet there's plenty of evidence that alcohol can be for much of the american population still a problem. okay. so, we've talked about the extent of drinking. we need to talk about what it was that early americans were drinking. so here are the options. you have to think about what were gentlemen drinking and what were common people drinking. of these options up here, what did gentlemen of the early republic prefer? gentlemen like john marshall? >> madiro, which is that strong, imported wine. it's pretty expensive, has a punch but not nearly as powerful as what common people preferred. of the options there, what did common people prefer? you're thinking beer because you're thinking in your own time. what do you think of those choices would be the most popular for common men in america of 1830? >> whiskey. >> whiskey, far and away. remember we talked about the whiskey rebellion, how people were upset about the federal government putting a tax on whiskey because that really hit home. that was a preferred item of consumption. now, that's a good question, why did they drink so much whiskey and very little beer? well, lot of it has to do with technology. go ahead [ inaudible question ] >> it has a warming effect, more so than beer. that's important because lots of people working out doors. [ inaudible question ] >> it doesn't spoil as easily. now, there is no refrigeration in the early republic. you can't go to your refrigerator and get a nice, cold beer. you're going to drink a beer, it has to be freshly made and you have to drink it prettily quickly before it goes bad. now, people are moving around a lot, so they like something that's portable, something they can put in a flask and stick in their pocket. and whiskey is perfect for that. and it will keep for a very long time. so people drank a lot of whiskey and very little beer. and wine they mostly drank these very strong wines like madeira but wine drinking was a femme none of gentlemen rather than of common people. so, foreigners comments on the very great extent of drinking in thedidididów early republic. one english visitor said that americans were, quote, certainly not as sober as the french or germans but perhaps about on the level with the irish. and americans recognize their own heavy drinking. john adams found it, quote, mortifying that we americans should exceed all over people in the world in this degrading, beastly vice of intemperance, end quote. intemperance meant drunkenness in the language of the time. george washington thought that alcohol was, quote, the reign of half the workmen in this country, end quote. but it's not just workmen. it's also gentlemen. for example, in 1790, the governor of new york gave a public dinner attended by fellow gentlemen. there was 120 gentlemen attending and they consumed 135 bottles of madeira. 36 bottles of port. 60 bottles of beer. these would be bottles the same size as a wine bottle. so the rung total for those of you keeping score, 135 bottles of madeira, 36 of port, 60 bottles of rum and this was at one public dinner. partly the drinking is so heavy at these political banquets because they're offering toasts to almost everything. there would be a toast to the united states. a toast to the constitution. a toast to the heroes of the revolution. a toast to the president. a toast to the vice president. a toast to the american fair, by which they meant the women who were not attending the banquet. there would also be a toast often for every single state in the union. now, that's quite a challenge when you're just at 13 states, but they keep adding stating to the union. indeed, i think this is one of their prime incentives for adding states to the union. let's let in kentucky. that will be another toast at the next banquet. and people are drinking everywhere and on all occasions. they drank at home and they drank at work. they drank at taverns. they drank at play. they drank for pleasure. and they drank to numb pain. they drank from the crack of dawn to the crack of dawn. it was standard for many men to begin the day with what was called an eye opener, which was a shot of whiskey. and then to continue through the rest of the day. a traveler declared, quote, americans can do nothing without a drink. if you make acquaintance, you drink. if you close a bargain, you drink. they kwaurl in their drink and they make it up with a drink. they drink because it is hot. they drink because it is cold. if successful in elections, they drink and rejoice. if not, they drink and swear. end quote. so, now we've got a pattern. so we've got something that we need to explain. we have to address the why question. why is it that americans are drinking so much in this period of american history? what explanations would you want to put on the table for this? yes. >> maybe the water quality wasn't so good. >> water quality, poor water quality and that's certainly true. there was almost nothing in the way of public purified water. which we take for granted today. how did you get your water in the early republic? you went to the well and got it. even in the cities. and in the cities you can imagine just how filthy the well water would get or if you're drawing water out of a river or out of a stream because they also double as se we ares. so drinking the water was not a popular option. what else would you put for an explanation? yes. >> is it because the cost of alcohol during that time is not very expensive? >> to say the least it's very cheap. it's the cheapest in all the world. now, why do you suppose alcohol would be so cheap in the united states? yes. >> production methods or importing is a lot cheaper. >> okay. you think they're mostly importing their alcohol or consuming domestically produced alcohol? mostly. madeira is imported but what about whiskey. what is whiskey made from? grain. and what do americans grow a ton of, grain. they're the number one grain producing country in the world. it's an agricultural country. they have a lot of surplus grain. and often the grain growers are at a distance from market. say they're in western pennsylvania and they have got to get their produce over the mountains to market in philadelphia. you want something that's more portable and higher value per volume. and so distilling your corn crop into whiskey makes it much more marketable in the east. so, there is more whiskey being produced in the united states than in any other country in the world. when you've got a big supply, it means the price is going to be low. another factor is that governments didn't tax whiskey. you remember what happened when the federal government tried to tax whiskey. it didn't go well. now, if any of you want to rush out and buy a bottle of whiskey right after this lecture, you're going to find it's pretty expensive. and you're going to find that most of the cost of that whiskey comes in the form of federal and state taxes. so, in the 20th century, governments got in the habit of levying taxes on whiskey and got away with it. but that wasn't the case in the early 19th century. so you had a very common product with virtually no taxation on it and that meant it was cheap and it was cheaper to get drunk in america than in any other country in the world. and many americans thought that was their primary liberty. so, we have bad water, what about drinking other things? what about drinking soda? or drinking juices, were those options? >> sell zer did not exist. >> rare. >> fruit juices again, you have the refrigeration problem. so people might drink some juice right away during harvest season, but there's no way to store it except to turn it into alcohol. so you would turn apple juice into a hard cider or you would turn pear juice into a pear brandy. but there's very little to drink in america that's not alcoholic other than water and the water was bad. when they asked one new yorker what he thought about the local water, he said, quote, it's very good for navigation. in other words, you can sail on it but you don't want to drink it. okay. so we have the bad water. we have the fact that whiskey is quite cheap. any other explanations that you can think of for why people drink so much in this period of time? yes. >> being drunk makes you feel better about whatever is happening in your life. >> certainly it does. okay. in the short term. so, there are stresses in this society. it's a very competitive society in terms of people seeking to make money and not everybody is going to succeed. there will be a fair share of failures. and so just the stress of this more competitive society is going to lead a lot of people to drink to console themselves or to drink to celebrate that they're successful. any other things that you can think of? yes. >> going back to the domestic production, the cost of transportation between out west and the cities of the east was a lot cheaper. >> okay. transportations costs are going down and transportations is being improved, particularly in this period of time with the steamboat. but also early canals, such as the eerie canal which was completed in 1825. so that's helping to lower the cost of whiskey in the east when that whiskey is being brought from the west. now, let me also suggest to you that the high geographic mobility of americans contributes to this. that americans are moving around in pursuit of economic opportunity, not always finding it. and when they do move around, they're trying to form new social bonds with people. and they often found it easier to share a drink with some new acquaintance, to try to get to know them. and so almost every social occasion featured drinking. every corn husking, barn raising, funeral, marriage, birth called for alcohol. one farmer remembered a country funeral in maine. quote, the minister could not stand to preach without holding on by the side of the door. the bearers could not walk straight or the mourners keep in line of procession. yet it was not noticed in those times, end quote. now, the same man recalled the local wedding. quote, we all took so freely of the good cheer that the minister forgot his verses. so after trying several kinds of poetry and ditties, he gave it up and said to the couple, you may consider yourselves married and i will come out some other day and finish the ceremony. now, these were stories that were told during the 1830s looking back on this earlier time, of very heavy drinking. now, another factor is what americans ate. what do you suppose the diet was very heavy on in this period of time? lot of health food? no. what do you suppose people ate massive quantities of? meat. now, we come to the refrigeration issue. could you go to the refrigerator and pull out a steak? no. were there any grocery stores to go to? no. so, how did you preserve meat at that time? you salt it or you smoke it. in either case, if you eat a lot of that, you're going to be very thirsty. and then you're going to face the choice, water or whiskey and most americans will choose the whiskey. there was a belief that after you've had a heavy meal, heavy and salted or smoked meat that you need alcohol to settle your stomach. now, americans were notorious for eating massive quantities of food. and eating it as quickly as possible. european visitors were just astonished. they would bring stopwatches to time american meals and they would just marvel to see these huge quantities of hams and beefsteak and bacon being bolted down in five minutes and then of course they have to settle their stomachs and it's with whiskey. one visitor noted, quote, as soon as food is set on the table, they fall upon it like wolves in an unguarded heard. yes. >> do they get a lot of alcohol poisoning? >> we're going to come to problems. i promise that. we're going to come down to those because none of this is going to be without problems. and we're going to talk about social consequences. but in terms of causes, i also want to talk about the nature of work. there was the belief that alcohol helped people work outdoors. it helped them deal with extremes of temperature, either very hot or very cold. helped them cope with it raining or snowing. now, did most americans work outdoors or indoors at that time? >> outdoors. >> outdoors because what sorts of jobs did they have? they're farmers overwhelmingly. that's the number one occupation in america. 80%. then other common -- relatively few americans worked indoors at desk jobs. and so if you believe that this helps you cope with the weather outside, you're going to be drinking on the job. and even people who worked in shops, let's say as black smiths or shoe makers, they also drank during the job. and the belief was that it helped people do their daily work. and so it was a common practice, it was almost universal that employers would provide alcohol. if you were a farmer and you hired farm laborers, those la r laborers expected that in addition to the pay you were going to give them that you were going to feed them a meal and provide them with alcohol so they could keep working. if you went into a shoe maker's shop, it would be the same story. the master would provide alcohol. it would be a bond between the master and the journeyman or the apprentice and it would keep the work going on. question? t -6 slaves? >> no. the slaves are the exception to this. with the exception during harvest season. so it's a special bonus to get slaves to work harder during say the cotton harvest or the tobacco harvest by providing them alcohol at that season. but otherwise, masters are trying to deny alcohol to their slaves. but slaves can see the free people all around them drinking very heavily. so it becomes a goal to try to steal alcohol and share it with your friends in the slave quarters as an act of defiance. as a way to say, we're just as good as free people and we ought to be able to drink, too. now, in the military, the army and the navy had to provide alcohol. george washington's army often ran out of food for long stretches of time. his army never ran out of alcohol. and washington understood, as did all other commanders, that if you wanted to keep men in the ranks, the number one thing you could do, even better than paying them, was to provide alcohol everyday. same thing in the navy. now we're going to see that this is going to start to change during the 1830s and it's going to produce a great deal of strain in social relationships between employers and the employees when employers try to cut off the providing of alcohol. alcohol. elections promoted alcoholic consumption. we might like to think that people would be sober when they are making their very important political decisions but in the early republic, most voters were not sober when this happened. indeed, the friends of different candidates would be at the polling places and they would have flasks of whiskey with them and they would be up slapping people on the back and offering free whiskey and encouraging them to cast their