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American Morning
'House Call'; '90-Second Pop'
Aired November 17, 2004 - 09:31 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: It will be a nice day, according to Chad. 60 degrees he predicted for us.
Welcome back, everybody. Just about half past the hour on this AMERICAN MORNING.
The situation in Iraq becoming increasingly dangerous for aide workers. They're trying to help others, but they are also a target themselves for terrorist. This morning we talk about what can be done with the head of one international group, and he himself was abducted in Iraq at one point. We'll talk about that.
HEMMER: Also, medical news in a moment here. How important is your sleep? Pretty important around here, I can tell you that. Turns out if you don't get your z's, there could be a lot more of you watching TV in the middle of the night. Sanjay explains the link between...
O'BRIEN: A lot more of you?
HEMMER: Yes, could be. Overweight and sleepless nights.
O'BRIEN: Also, in just a few minutes, we're going to eat. Speaking of overweight and sleepless nights, eat a $1,000 omelet. Yes, that is a big wad old of caviar sitting on the top of that omelet. It's going to make its way into Guinness Book of World Records soon.
HEMMER: That is one good chicken, for a grand.
O'BRIEN: I like that.
HEMMER: First, though, top stories, let's check in with Heidi Collins. She's at our news desk.
Good morning.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: I didn't think it looked very good at all.
COLLINS: Really? Not a caviar person.
COLLINS: Not on my omelets, no.
All right, want to get to that news, though, this morning, a top military commander says U.S.-led forces have gained control of the Iraqi city of Mosul. Hundreds of troops have been searching the city for insurgents, but there are still isolated troops of some fighting. Earlier insurgents fired mortar rounds at a police station. Military officials say they are assessing the damage now.
Here in the United States, Pennsylvania senator Arlen Specter may be moving closer to securing the top spot on the Judiciary Committee. Specter angered many conservatives who say he's too liberal on abortion rights, but outgoing committee chairman Orrin Hatch says Specter is still a good choice. Specter is set to meet today with the entire Senate caucus to make his case.
Some concerned Californians want Arnold Schwarzenegger to have an official home. A nonprofit group is raising funds to pay for a new governor's mansion in the Sacramento area. California has not had an official governor's residence since Ronald Reagan moved out in 1967.
And finally, big news now, President Bush set to pardon the national Thanksgiving turkey. It's an annual event, and these are pictures from last year when it happened. It's the 57th anniversary of the event, in fact. President Harry Truman first did the honors. This year's ceremony is set to take place at the Rose Garden in just about a half hour. Now, we will have live coverage of that event.
Soledad, that's one lucky turkey.
O'BRIEN: Yes, he is. All right, Heidi, thanks,
A much more serious story now. The apparent killing of Iraq's CARE International director Margaret Hassan is the latest kidnapping and murder of a humanitarian worker in Iraq.
Our next guest was abducted, in fact, in Iraq before the fall of Baghdad. Dominic MacSorley is the operations director of Concern Worldwide U.S. The organization works in 27 countries, providing emergency relief and long-term assistance. The question now, will the continued violence inhibit aide efforts.
Nice to see you, Mr. MacSorley. Thanks for being with us.
Let's begin a little bit about what happened to you in Iraq before the fall of Baghdad?
DOMINIC MACSORLEY, CONCERN WORLDWIDE U.S.: My circumstances were certainly different to Margaret Hassan. Let me first place start by saying it certainly is a tragedy, this news of Margaret Hassan, and she's a huge loss to the humanitarian developing world. She was a remarkable, compassionate woman.
O'BRIEN: And devoted a great portion of her life to helping others.
MACSORLEY: Devoted her life to helping the Iraqi people.
But I think this has highlighted a disturbing trend now in terms of the targeting of international aide workers.
O'BRIEN: When you were taken at gunpoint, did you say to the gunmen, I'm here to help, I'm not a part of this conflict, I have no, you know, dog in this fight, so to speak.
MACSORLEY: Well, my circumstances were a little bit different. I mean, it was in the first weeks of the war, and we were conducting assessments just south of Basra, and there were pockets of resistance, as we know as there continue to be in Iraq. And we were captured and held for 24 hours.
Now, you know, when the guns are out and you have a gun facing at you, you have very limited time to explain the distinction between what a humanitarian aide organization is doing versus the coalition forces are doing. And that is quite a frightening scenario to be in. And I think what we're seeing now, though, is a deliberate strategy of hostage taking and executions that involve our aide workers.
O'BRIEN: What are the implications then to aide workers, not only in Iraq and Afghanistan, but elsewhere, with this news of Margaret Hassan?
MACSORLEY: Well, I think the implications are huge. Because the reality is, we have to be more cautious. It's very difficult to recruit staff to go into these situations. And ultimately, when an aide worker is lost, the organization pulls out, and impact that that has on the communities that they're serving is huge.
O'BRIEN: We certainly have seen CARE suspending its operations, Doctors Without Borders, International Rescue have all pulled out of Iraq. Concern Worldwide, your organization, are you considering pulling out of Iraq? Or what are you doing to keep your employees safe?
MACSORLEY: We stayed six months. I think our decision to leave was partly based on security, but was also based on the need to focus on Africa.
But we're in Afghanistan. Afghanistan also, as we know, is experiencing similar problems in relation to hostages of U.N. and international aide workers.
O'BRIEN: So what do you do to protect your people?
MACSORLEY: I think you have to be a lot more cautious, but I think what we need to do is reinforce the distinction of -- among the populations that we are there to alleviate suffering based on need, not on a political agenda, not on a military agenda.
O'BRIEN: We'll see if that can work and hopefully save some lives. Dominic MacSorely, from Concern Worldwide, it's nice to have you. Thanks for coming in to talk to us -- Bill.
MACSORLEY: Thank you.
(WEATHER REPORT)
HEMMER: Lack of sleep could drag you through your day. It could also be making you a bit heavy, too.
Dr. Gupta Sanjay is at the CNN Center with more on this now.
Make the connection here, Sanjay.
Good morning again.
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill.
Yes, about a third of the nation actually has insomnia on a fairly consistent basis. Now a new study actually pointing out that those people who aren't sleeping enough also more likely to be fatter as well. It's a new study. About 9,000 people were surveyed. Looking at their sleep habits, looking at their weight as well, what they did was they compared people who didn't get enough sleep to those who got about seven to nine hours of sleep.
Take a look at some of the results here. Very interesting. First of all, those people who are getting less sleep, two to five hours, 73 percent more likely to be obese. If you're sleeping about six hours a night, you were still 27 percent more likely to be obese. If you hit the sweet spot, seven to nine hours, you came out to be about average, Bill.
Now one simple reason might simply be that if you're sleeping, you can't eat as much, and that's one of the reasons the researchers pointed to anyway -- Bill.
HEMMER: So then, what did the doctors say the explanation is for this then?
GUPTA: Well, I mean, you know, one this is people who tend to stay up, who are insomniacs, a lot of times they are raiding the refrigerator and eating a lot during the night, when otherwise they would be sleeping. That's a simple explanation.
A little bit more complicated one is that there is a hormone that you and I have talked about before on this show called leptin (ph). Think of that as the hunger hormone. If you are sleeping, that leptin is produced in greater quantities and tells your body that it is full. If you're awake, you don't produce enough of the leptin, you tend to be more hungry and you eat more. That could be a more complicated explanation. Researchers looking into that as well -- Bill.
HEMMER: So if you're trying to help somebody get better nights of sleep, what are you saying now?
GUPTA: Well, I mean, that could help you. Morning anchors, for example, have a difficult time getting enough sleep, I'm sure, but you know, for everybody, sleep is important, making the time to get enough sleep being the most important thing. You got to make that -- you know, get adequate sleep. Set regular bedtimes and wakeup times. Avoid stimulants before bedtime, caffeine, things like that. Also, get regular exercise, just don't do it close to your bedtime as well. Those things. might help.
Bill, there are medications as well, but those should be reserved for people who have failed just normal sleep hygiene techniques -- Bill.
HEMMER: All right, well, You sleep well, my friend. We'll talk tomorrow.
GUPTA: You, too.
HEMMER: Thank you, Sanjay.
GUPTA: See you.
O'BRIEN: Still to come this morning, you've got to break some eggs to make an omelet. But how about an omelet to make you go broke. We're going to tell you what went into this record-setter, take a little taste, too.
HEMMER: Also, Hollywood tries to cast a bestselling book. It may have cracked the code, though, with Tom Hanks. We'll explain that in a moment as well. Back after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN: Well, isn't that music appropriate for what we're talking about this morning? Good morning. It is time for our Wednesday edition of"90-Second Pop." It's time to round up the usual suspects.
Andy Borowitz, he is the king of comedy over at BorowitzReport.com.
Good morning to you.
ANDY BOROWITZ, BOROWITZREPORT.COM: Good morning.
O'BRIEN: Sara Bernard, contributing editor for "New York" magazine.
Hello.
SARAH BERNARD, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR, "NEW YORK" MAGAZINE: Hell.
O'BRIEN: B.J. Sigesmund, staff editor for "US Weekly."
Good morning.
B.J. SIGESMUND, STAFF EDITOR, "US WEEKLY": Good morning.
O'BRIEN: Well, that was the Who. Guess what?
BERNARD: It's the first time classic rock has ever been on "90- Second Pop."
O'BRIEN: You know, because our producers have missed classic rock by about 20 years. You know, they're getting back together. BERNARD: I know! We just heard on the Web site that Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey, for the first time in 20 years are going to go back to the recording studio and make some original songs together.
O'BRIEN: Yes, they've actually played together. I mean, they've done little get-together concerts, right?
BERNARD: They have.
O'BRIEN: So is this a big deal or not such a big deal?
BERNARD: Well, what they've never done before is actually get into the room, and Pete is the writer, and come up with something entirely new. And the reason why this is interesting is the question: Are they still relevant? Are they still going to have an audience when this mysterious album comes out, which is not supposed to be in the "Tommy" vein? It's going to be, like, individual songs that are unrelated.
And I think that what's interesting is look at Rod Stewart. I mean, this guy is still on the charts. And record companies are so glad that there are people of his generation still making music, because those fans are the ones...
O'BRIEN: That's a nice way to say old people, by the way. We noticed that and we appreciate that.
BERNARD: But those are that people that actually buy CDs. I mean, the younger people, you know, it's iTunes. That's it. And so you don't even have to sell that many records to be on the charts. So I think it's going to be great.
BOROWITZ: I think they're capitalizing on the fact that their audience do not know how to download music for free.
BERNARD: Exactly.
O'BRIEN: They actually have to go to the store...
BERNARD: And buy it, right.
O'BRIEN: ... and buy it.
BERNARD: And buy a CD player.
BOROWITZ: Can I have one of those CD contraptions? You know, I've got to vote. I'm a huge Who fan. But I've got to vote for not a big deal, because actually they have been in the studio. I hate to break that. But they did two new songs this year. They did a greatest hits package and they put out two new songs.
O'BRIEN: Then God bless their PR machine...
BOROWITZ: I know.
O'BRIEN: ... making them relevant all over again.
BOROWITZ: I know. I mean, it's always my big question, is like to have a comeback, don't you really have to go away first? I mean, because...
O'BRIEN: Cher proved not necessary.
BOROWITZ: I guess not. I mean, I'm just...
BERNARD: It's just saying you're going to go away.
O'BRIEN: Threaten to go away.
BOROWITZ: I'm just saying this is like my big comeback to "90- Second Pop," because I was not here Monday.
O'BRIEN: I was out Monday and Tuesday.
BERNARD: Welcome back!
O'BRIEN: I'm having a comeback today.
BOROWITZ: There's a lot (UNINTELLIGIBLE). And you know what? I'm still relevant. I still count.
O'BRIEN: Yes, you are. Let's move on and talk a little bit about "The Da Vinci Code." Tom Hanks, it looks like, will be tapped to play the lead character, Robert Langdon.
SIGESMUND: Right.
O'BRIEN: Good choice, do you think?
SIGESMUND: A great choice. When this movie comes out in late 2005 or 2006, there is going to be a lot of expectations on it, both box office-wise and with Oscar nominations. After all, when was the last time a book hit it this big with adults? You know, they've -- it's been on the best-seller list for 86 weeks, eight million people have bought it. And Tom...
BOROWITZ: It's like "The Godfather." You have to (UNINTELLIGIBLE) "The Godfather."
SIGESMUND: Yes, exactly. But Tom Hanks has two things going for him. No. 1, he's an audience...
O'BRIEN: He can act?
SIGESMUND: Yes, he can act.
O'BRIEN: A big plus.
SIGESMUND: He's an audience favorite. And he also has the clout in Hollywood to be able to handle all of the serious expectations on this film, which is -- although technically a thriller, it's not exactly Harrison Ford, run-down-the-street sort of thriller. It's much smarter.
BERNARD: But I sort of disagree. I really...
SIGESMUND: OK.
O'BRIEN: Tell us.
BERNARD: I really think that Robert Langdon, he is supposed to have this kind of sophisticated sexiness that Harrison Ford had. You know, he was in -- what's that movie when he was the...
O'BRIEN: We know which one you mean.
SIGESMUND: Yes, yes.
(CROSSTALK)
BERNARD: He was a professor. He was an archaeological professor.
SIGESMUND: Yes.
BOROWITZ: "Indiana Jones."
O'BRIEN: "Indiana Jones."
BERNARD: The one with the digs.
SIGESMUND: Yes.
BERNARD: And that's the Robert Landon figure. You know, he is supposed to be this kind of older, sexy art historian. I don't think Tom Hanks can do that.
BOROWITZ: I'm with B.J. I just think anything to keep Tom Hanks from explaining how "The Polar Express" was made.
O'BRIEN: Yes.
BOROWITZ: I don't want to see him in that little cap.
O'BRIEN: I second that. I second that.
You guys, as always, thank you very much. Bill, back to you.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HEMMER: All right, Soledad, thanks for that.
Thirteen minutes now before the hour. I want to bring you some breaking news we're getting just to us here CNN now, CNN confirming out of Argentina, the capital city, Buenos Aires, two explosions taking place a short time ago, one at a Citibank branch, the other at a to Galicia Bank (ph) branch there in Buenes Aires. We are told that one person has been killed as a result. News just coming to us now. When we get more, we'll bring it to you. That story out of Argentina. Also, want to get a break here. In a moment, big business news today in a different vein. K-mart went shopping, bought itself one of the biggest names in retail. Andy gets to that when we continue, after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Another note to pass along to you out of D.C. We're getting word at 11:05 a.m. Eastern time, an hour and 15 minutes from now, the education secretary will be announced by the president at the White House, we'll bring that to you when it happens. Also there is big news today, this merger between Kmart and Sears. I want to get to Andy Serwer back with us and a check of the markets as well.
Where do you want to start, man, you've got a lot?
ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE": Well, yes. Let's talk about the big merger. I mean, Sears used to be known as the big store. I guess this is big store on steroids because Kmart and Sears are merging, an $11 billion deal. And here are some of the details.
And it creates the No. 3 U.S. retailer after Wal-Mart and Target. Market response interesting, Kmart, as you might expect, is up, Sears is up. Both of them are up. Here is the market overall, the Dow is up 52 points. Sears is up 23 percent, $10.55. Kmart is up 15 percent.
Martha Stewart is also up this morning. It's at a two-year high, up $1.80. Interesting because people are speculating this might be increased distribution for her because now that she'll be in Sears as well as Kmart, perhaps.
There was a press conference this morning at 9:30 announcing a deal, but we weren't allowed to bring our cameras in? Why is that? Because the man who has orchestrated the deal was a Wall Street financier named Eddie Lampert. And Eddie Lampert is security conscious, and he has a good reason to be security conscious.
Back in early 2003 Mr. Lampert was kidnapped. He was bound and gagged and blindfolded and put in a bathtub in a cheap hotel outside of new haven and held for ransom. That ransom was never paid and Mr. Lampert was freed after the kidnappers used his cell phone to order a pizza.
Think, think, not very smart. But a very, very traumatic event for Eddie Lampert. And really horrible stuff. So you can maybe understand why he is a little security conscious.
HEMMER: Thank you, Andy. And the news we broke out of Argentina, too, Citibank, we'll follow that.
SERWER: A couple of Citibank branches apparently bombed and it hasn't really affected the market or that stock but we will be watching that.
HEMMER: Thank you, Andy. SERWER: You're welcome.
HEMMER: All right.
O'BRIEN: Jack, a final look at the "Question of the Day"?
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: Which is whether or not, Soledad, television cameras ought to follow combat troops during wartime. We've gotten an awful lot of e-mail.
Ken in Stockbridge, Georgia, writes: "Yes, journalists and their cameras should accompany soldiers in battle. The warfare is conducted in our names with our tax dollars. We must see what the war entails."
Mike in Alabama said there should be no cameras allowed: "If you want to see war, join the military. News seems to take things and a make them more than they are."
And a mother who didn't want her name used: "I write as the mother of Marine who was sent to Vietnam and came home scarred mentally and emotionally for the rest of his life. How dare anyone pass judgment on our servicemen for how they do their jobs."
Thank you all for your interest in the topic.
O'BRIEN: Lot's of feedback today.
CAFFERTY: A worthy subject this morning.
HEMMER: Thank you, Jack.
O'BRIEN: Thank you, Jack.
HEMMER: All right. Next hour here on CNN, we just mentioned the president's 11:05 announcement of the education secretary. We'll get that to you. Also, he will pardon the turkey. It is turkey time in D.C. 10:10 a.m. on CNN "LIVE TODAY" with Daryn and Rick. We're back in a moment here on AMERICAN MORNING right after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
O'BRIEN: Just about breakfast time. If you're thinking about breakfast we might have the perfect meal for you if you can afford it. One New York City restaurant is now serving what it calls the "Zillion Dollar Fritatta," it's only a little bit of an overstatement. Later today, Guinness World Records is going to name it the most expensive.
Stuart Claxton is a researcher for Guinness World Records, joining us all.
O'BRIEN: Good morning. You bought the fritatta. And it's not a zillion dollars but it's a thousand bucks. It will go into the category of what in the in the Guinness Book of World Records?
STUART CLAXTON, GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS RESEARCHER: The Guinness Book of World Records actually contains over a hundred different categories, but this particular item will be in the food and drink category.
O'BRIEN: And it's the most expensive fritatta, omelet?
CLAXTON: Yes. The most expensive fritatta coming in at $1,000. When we were first approached by (UNINTELLIGIBLE) we checked around the globe and actually could not find an omelet that was more expensive. So this, I think, takes the title.
(CROSSTALK)
COLLINS: Didn't they have the lobster one?
O'BRIEN: Yes, there is lobster, right there.
COLLINS: OK. And now they added the caviar.
O'BRIEN: Now if someone comes up with the $1,001 fritatta, does that blow out...
` CLAXTON: Yes.
O'BRIEN: .. the (UNINTELLIGIBLE)?
CLAXTON: Well, that's all what Guinness Book of Records is all about. You never know when records are going to be broken. So yes, if anything tops $1,000...
HEMMER: Does that thing feed six?
O'BRIEN: Sure.
COLLINS: And the name of the place is Norma's (ph), right?
CLAXTON: That's right. And the reason we're actually celebrating that, in fact, because last night, we're celebrating the 50th anniversary of Guinness World Records. And we thought it would be very appropriate to set it in a record-breaking location, (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
O'BRIEN: Is this fresh?
CLAXTON: Yes, it is.
O'BRIEN: I mean, I don't want to eat -- OK.
SERWER: You go.
COLLINS: It has been there for a couple of days.
O'BRIEN: Let's dig in, it looks really good.
(CROSSTALK)
HEMMER: It's a great job.
CAFFERTY: You can tell Soledad came from a large family. (CROSSTALK)
CLAXTON: Well, I've always been a big fan of Guinness World Records so...
HEMMER: How did you get the job?
O'BRIEN: It's warm.
CLAXTON: Quite literally, just contacted the ad in the paper.
SERWER: Oh, you wimp, she's going for the lobster.
HEMMER: That's great.
COLLINS: Oh yes, I'm going for the lobster.
O'BRIEN: What does the ceremony involve?
CLAXTON: The recognition?
O'BRIEN: Yes.
CLAXTON: Well, essentially once we verify that this is, indeed, the most expensive omelet, as it is...
(CROSSTALK)
... with a Guinness World Record certificate recognizing it as the most expensive omelet in the world.
O'BRIEN: Are they selling any of these?
CLAXTON: They are. And I've been told they have sold seven of them, already. So you never know who is going to be the eighth.
O'BRIEN: You never know who is going to be the eighth. Well, not us here at CNN. But thanks for bringing our free version of it. We certainly appreciate it. Stuart Claxton, congratulations on the anniversary. And good luck with the ceremony today.
While you guys continue to scarf down breakfast, I'm going to head it back over to Daryn and Rick for us at the CNN Center. They're going to take it for the next few hours on CNN "LIVE TODAY."
O'BRIEN: The lobster is really yummy.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Don't feel bad that they get $1,000 omelets. I can get you some saltines in the cafeteria downstairs.
O'BRIEN: Yes, it's hard to be us.
RICK SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR: I was there the other day and they had mashed potato soda.
(LAUGHTER) SERWER: You're welcome, Rick!
SANCHEZ: Thanks, Andy.
COLLINS: It was good, wasn't it?
KAGAN: You guys enjoy.
O'BRIEN: Thanks.
SANCHEZ: Not too much.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired November 17, 2004 - 09:31 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: It will be a nice day, according to Chad. 60 degrees he predicted for us.
Welcome back, everybody. Just about half past the hour on this AMERICAN MORNING.
The situation in Iraq becoming increasingly dangerous for aide workers. They're trying to help others, but they are also a target themselves for terrorist. This morning we talk about what can be done with the head of one international group, and he himself was abducted in Iraq at one point. We'll talk about that.
HEMMER: Also, medical news in a moment here. How important is your sleep? Pretty important around here, I can tell you that. Turns out if you don't get your z's, there could be a lot more of you watching TV in the middle of the night. Sanjay explains the link between...
O'BRIEN: A lot more of you?
HEMMER: Yes, could be. Overweight and sleepless nights.
O'BRIEN: Also, in just a few minutes, we're going to eat. Speaking of overweight and sleepless nights, eat a $1,000 omelet. Yes, that is a big wad old of caviar sitting on the top of that omelet. It's going to make its way into Guinness Book of World Records soon.
HEMMER: That is one good chicken, for a grand.
O'BRIEN: I like that.
HEMMER: First, though, top stories, let's check in with Heidi Collins. She's at our news desk.
Good morning.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: I didn't think it looked very good at all.
COLLINS: Really? Not a caviar person.
COLLINS: Not on my omelets, no.
All right, want to get to that news, though, this morning, a top military commander says U.S.-led forces have gained control of the Iraqi city of Mosul. Hundreds of troops have been searching the city for insurgents, but there are still isolated troops of some fighting. Earlier insurgents fired mortar rounds at a police station. Military officials say they are assessing the damage now.
Here in the United States, Pennsylvania senator Arlen Specter may be moving closer to securing the top spot on the Judiciary Committee. Specter angered many conservatives who say he's too liberal on abortion rights, but outgoing committee chairman Orrin Hatch says Specter is still a good choice. Specter is set to meet today with the entire Senate caucus to make his case.
Some concerned Californians want Arnold Schwarzenegger to have an official home. A nonprofit group is raising funds to pay for a new governor's mansion in the Sacramento area. California has not had an official governor's residence since Ronald Reagan moved out in 1967.
And finally, big news now, President Bush set to pardon the national Thanksgiving turkey. It's an annual event, and these are pictures from last year when it happened. It's the 57th anniversary of the event, in fact. President Harry Truman first did the honors. This year's ceremony is set to take place at the Rose Garden in just about a half hour. Now, we will have live coverage of that event.
Soledad, that's one lucky turkey.
O'BRIEN: Yes, he is. All right, Heidi, thanks,
A much more serious story now. The apparent killing of Iraq's CARE International director Margaret Hassan is the latest kidnapping and murder of a humanitarian worker in Iraq.
Our next guest was abducted, in fact, in Iraq before the fall of Baghdad. Dominic MacSorley is the operations director of Concern Worldwide U.S. The organization works in 27 countries, providing emergency relief and long-term assistance. The question now, will the continued violence inhibit aide efforts.
Nice to see you, Mr. MacSorley. Thanks for being with us.
Let's begin a little bit about what happened to you in Iraq before the fall of Baghdad?
DOMINIC MACSORLEY, CONCERN WORLDWIDE U.S.: My circumstances were certainly different to Margaret Hassan. Let me first place start by saying it certainly is a tragedy, this news of Margaret Hassan, and she's a huge loss to the humanitarian developing world. She was a remarkable, compassionate woman.
O'BRIEN: And devoted a great portion of her life to helping others.
MACSORLEY: Devoted her life to helping the Iraqi people.
But I think this has highlighted a disturbing trend now in terms of the targeting of international aide workers.
O'BRIEN: When you were taken at gunpoint, did you say to the gunmen, I'm here to help, I'm not a part of this conflict, I have no, you know, dog in this fight, so to speak.
MACSORLEY: Well, my circumstances were a little bit different. I mean, it was in the first weeks of the war, and we were conducting assessments just south of Basra, and there were pockets of resistance, as we know as there continue to be in Iraq. And we were captured and held for 24 hours.
Now, you know, when the guns are out and you have a gun facing at you, you have very limited time to explain the distinction between what a humanitarian aide organization is doing versus the coalition forces are doing. And that is quite a frightening scenario to be in. And I think what we're seeing now, though, is a deliberate strategy of hostage taking and executions that involve our aide workers.
O'BRIEN: What are the implications then to aide workers, not only in Iraq and Afghanistan, but elsewhere, with this news of Margaret Hassan?
MACSORLEY: Well, I think the implications are huge. Because the reality is, we have to be more cautious. It's very difficult to recruit staff to go into these situations. And ultimately, when an aide worker is lost, the organization pulls out, and impact that that has on the communities that they're serving is huge.
O'BRIEN: We certainly have seen CARE suspending its operations, Doctors Without Borders, International Rescue have all pulled out of Iraq. Concern Worldwide, your organization, are you considering pulling out of Iraq? Or what are you doing to keep your employees safe?
MACSORLEY: We stayed six months. I think our decision to leave was partly based on security, but was also based on the need to focus on Africa.
But we're in Afghanistan. Afghanistan also, as we know, is experiencing similar problems in relation to hostages of U.N. and international aide workers.
O'BRIEN: So what do you do to protect your people?
MACSORLEY: I think you have to be a lot more cautious, but I think what we need to do is reinforce the distinction of -- among the populations that we are there to alleviate suffering based on need, not on a political agenda, not on a military agenda.
O'BRIEN: We'll see if that can work and hopefully save some lives. Dominic MacSorely, from Concern Worldwide, it's nice to have you. Thanks for coming in to talk to us -- Bill.
MACSORLEY: Thank you.
(WEATHER REPORT)
HEMMER: Lack of sleep could drag you through your day. It could also be making you a bit heavy, too.
Dr. Gupta Sanjay is at the CNN Center with more on this now.
Make the connection here, Sanjay.
Good morning again.
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill.
Yes, about a third of the nation actually has insomnia on a fairly consistent basis. Now a new study actually pointing out that those people who aren't sleeping enough also more likely to be fatter as well. It's a new study. About 9,000 people were surveyed. Looking at their sleep habits, looking at their weight as well, what they did was they compared people who didn't get enough sleep to those who got about seven to nine hours of sleep.
Take a look at some of the results here. Very interesting. First of all, those people who are getting less sleep, two to five hours, 73 percent more likely to be obese. If you're sleeping about six hours a night, you were still 27 percent more likely to be obese. If you hit the sweet spot, seven to nine hours, you came out to be about average, Bill.
Now one simple reason might simply be that if you're sleeping, you can't eat as much, and that's one of the reasons the researchers pointed to anyway -- Bill.
HEMMER: So then, what did the doctors say the explanation is for this then?
GUPTA: Well, I mean, you know, one this is people who tend to stay up, who are insomniacs, a lot of times they are raiding the refrigerator and eating a lot during the night, when otherwise they would be sleeping. That's a simple explanation.
A little bit more complicated one is that there is a hormone that you and I have talked about before on this show called leptin (ph). Think of that as the hunger hormone. If you are sleeping, that leptin is produced in greater quantities and tells your body that it is full. If you're awake, you don't produce enough of the leptin, you tend to be more hungry and you eat more. That could be a more complicated explanation. Researchers looking into that as well -- Bill.
HEMMER: So if you're trying to help somebody get better nights of sleep, what are you saying now?
GUPTA: Well, I mean, that could help you. Morning anchors, for example, have a difficult time getting enough sleep, I'm sure, but you know, for everybody, sleep is important, making the time to get enough sleep being the most important thing. You got to make that -- you know, get adequate sleep. Set regular bedtimes and wakeup times. Avoid stimulants before bedtime, caffeine, things like that. Also, get regular exercise, just don't do it close to your bedtime as well. Those things. might help.
Bill, there are medications as well, but those should be reserved for people who have failed just normal sleep hygiene techniques -- Bill.
HEMMER: All right, well, You sleep well, my friend. We'll talk tomorrow.
GUPTA: You, too.
HEMMER: Thank you, Sanjay.
GUPTA: See you.
O'BRIEN: Still to come this morning, you've got to break some eggs to make an omelet. But how about an omelet to make you go broke. We're going to tell you what went into this record-setter, take a little taste, too.
HEMMER: Also, Hollywood tries to cast a bestselling book. It may have cracked the code, though, with Tom Hanks. We'll explain that in a moment as well. Back after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN: Well, isn't that music appropriate for what we're talking about this morning? Good morning. It is time for our Wednesday edition of"90-Second Pop." It's time to round up the usual suspects.
Andy Borowitz, he is the king of comedy over at BorowitzReport.com.
Good morning to you.
ANDY BOROWITZ, BOROWITZREPORT.COM: Good morning.
O'BRIEN: Sara Bernard, contributing editor for "New York" magazine.
Hello.
SARAH BERNARD, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR, "NEW YORK" MAGAZINE: Hell.
O'BRIEN: B.J. Sigesmund, staff editor for "US Weekly."
Good morning.
B.J. SIGESMUND, STAFF EDITOR, "US WEEKLY": Good morning.
O'BRIEN: Well, that was the Who. Guess what?
BERNARD: It's the first time classic rock has ever been on "90- Second Pop."
O'BRIEN: You know, because our producers have missed classic rock by about 20 years. You know, they're getting back together. BERNARD: I know! We just heard on the Web site that Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey, for the first time in 20 years are going to go back to the recording studio and make some original songs together.
O'BRIEN: Yes, they've actually played together. I mean, they've done little get-together concerts, right?
BERNARD: They have.
O'BRIEN: So is this a big deal or not such a big deal?
BERNARD: Well, what they've never done before is actually get into the room, and Pete is the writer, and come up with something entirely new. And the reason why this is interesting is the question: Are they still relevant? Are they still going to have an audience when this mysterious album comes out, which is not supposed to be in the "Tommy" vein? It's going to be, like, individual songs that are unrelated.
And I think that what's interesting is look at Rod Stewart. I mean, this guy is still on the charts. And record companies are so glad that there are people of his generation still making music, because those fans are the ones...
O'BRIEN: That's a nice way to say old people, by the way. We noticed that and we appreciate that.
BERNARD: But those are that people that actually buy CDs. I mean, the younger people, you know, it's iTunes. That's it. And so you don't even have to sell that many records to be on the charts. So I think it's going to be great.
BOROWITZ: I think they're capitalizing on the fact that their audience do not know how to download music for free.
BERNARD: Exactly.
O'BRIEN: They actually have to go to the store...
BERNARD: And buy it, right.
O'BRIEN: ... and buy it.
BERNARD: And buy a CD player.
BOROWITZ: Can I have one of those CD contraptions? You know, I've got to vote. I'm a huge Who fan. But I've got to vote for not a big deal, because actually they have been in the studio. I hate to break that. But they did two new songs this year. They did a greatest hits package and they put out two new songs.
O'BRIEN: Then God bless their PR machine...
BOROWITZ: I know.
O'BRIEN: ... making them relevant all over again.
BOROWITZ: I know. I mean, it's always my big question, is like to have a comeback, don't you really have to go away first? I mean, because...
O'BRIEN: Cher proved not necessary.
BOROWITZ: I guess not. I mean, I'm just...
BERNARD: It's just saying you're going to go away.
O'BRIEN: Threaten to go away.
BOROWITZ: I'm just saying this is like my big comeback to "90- Second Pop," because I was not here Monday.
O'BRIEN: I was out Monday and Tuesday.
BERNARD: Welcome back!
O'BRIEN: I'm having a comeback today.
BOROWITZ: There's a lot (UNINTELLIGIBLE). And you know what? I'm still relevant. I still count.
O'BRIEN: Yes, you are. Let's move on and talk a little bit about "The Da Vinci Code." Tom Hanks, it looks like, will be tapped to play the lead character, Robert Langdon.
SIGESMUND: Right.
O'BRIEN: Good choice, do you think?
SIGESMUND: A great choice. When this movie comes out in late 2005 or 2006, there is going to be a lot of expectations on it, both box office-wise and with Oscar nominations. After all, when was the last time a book hit it this big with adults? You know, they've -- it's been on the best-seller list for 86 weeks, eight million people have bought it. And Tom...
BOROWITZ: It's like "The Godfather." You have to (UNINTELLIGIBLE) "The Godfather."
SIGESMUND: Yes, exactly. But Tom Hanks has two things going for him. No. 1, he's an audience...
O'BRIEN: He can act?
SIGESMUND: Yes, he can act.
O'BRIEN: A big plus.
SIGESMUND: He's an audience favorite. And he also has the clout in Hollywood to be able to handle all of the serious expectations on this film, which is -- although technically a thriller, it's not exactly Harrison Ford, run-down-the-street sort of thriller. It's much smarter.
BERNARD: But I sort of disagree. I really...
SIGESMUND: OK.
O'BRIEN: Tell us.
BERNARD: I really think that Robert Langdon, he is supposed to have this kind of sophisticated sexiness that Harrison Ford had. You know, he was in -- what's that movie when he was the...
O'BRIEN: We know which one you mean.
SIGESMUND: Yes, yes.
(CROSSTALK)
BERNARD: He was a professor. He was an archaeological professor.
SIGESMUND: Yes.
BOROWITZ: "Indiana Jones."
O'BRIEN: "Indiana Jones."
BERNARD: The one with the digs.
SIGESMUND: Yes.
BERNARD: And that's the Robert Landon figure. You know, he is supposed to be this kind of older, sexy art historian. I don't think Tom Hanks can do that.
BOROWITZ: I'm with B.J. I just think anything to keep Tom Hanks from explaining how "The Polar Express" was made.
O'BRIEN: Yes.
BOROWITZ: I don't want to see him in that little cap.
O'BRIEN: I second that. I second that.
You guys, as always, thank you very much. Bill, back to you.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HEMMER: All right, Soledad, thanks for that.
Thirteen minutes now before the hour. I want to bring you some breaking news we're getting just to us here CNN now, CNN confirming out of Argentina, the capital city, Buenos Aires, two explosions taking place a short time ago, one at a Citibank branch, the other at a to Galicia Bank (ph) branch there in Buenes Aires. We are told that one person has been killed as a result. News just coming to us now. When we get more, we'll bring it to you. That story out of Argentina. Also, want to get a break here. In a moment, big business news today in a different vein. K-mart went shopping, bought itself one of the biggest names in retail. Andy gets to that when we continue, after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Another note to pass along to you out of D.C. We're getting word at 11:05 a.m. Eastern time, an hour and 15 minutes from now, the education secretary will be announced by the president at the White House, we'll bring that to you when it happens. Also there is big news today, this merger between Kmart and Sears. I want to get to Andy Serwer back with us and a check of the markets as well.
Where do you want to start, man, you've got a lot?
ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE": Well, yes. Let's talk about the big merger. I mean, Sears used to be known as the big store. I guess this is big store on steroids because Kmart and Sears are merging, an $11 billion deal. And here are some of the details.
And it creates the No. 3 U.S. retailer after Wal-Mart and Target. Market response interesting, Kmart, as you might expect, is up, Sears is up. Both of them are up. Here is the market overall, the Dow is up 52 points. Sears is up 23 percent, $10.55. Kmart is up 15 percent.
Martha Stewart is also up this morning. It's at a two-year high, up $1.80. Interesting because people are speculating this might be increased distribution for her because now that she'll be in Sears as well as Kmart, perhaps.
There was a press conference this morning at 9:30 announcing a deal, but we weren't allowed to bring our cameras in? Why is that? Because the man who has orchestrated the deal was a Wall Street financier named Eddie Lampert. And Eddie Lampert is security conscious, and he has a good reason to be security conscious.
Back in early 2003 Mr. Lampert was kidnapped. He was bound and gagged and blindfolded and put in a bathtub in a cheap hotel outside of new haven and held for ransom. That ransom was never paid and Mr. Lampert was freed after the kidnappers used his cell phone to order a pizza.
Think, think, not very smart. But a very, very traumatic event for Eddie Lampert. And really horrible stuff. So you can maybe understand why he is a little security conscious.
HEMMER: Thank you, Andy. And the news we broke out of Argentina, too, Citibank, we'll follow that.
SERWER: A couple of Citibank branches apparently bombed and it hasn't really affected the market or that stock but we will be watching that.
HEMMER: Thank you, Andy. SERWER: You're welcome.
HEMMER: All right.
O'BRIEN: Jack, a final look at the "Question of the Day"?
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: Which is whether or not, Soledad, television cameras ought to follow combat troops during wartime. We've gotten an awful lot of e-mail.
Ken in Stockbridge, Georgia, writes: "Yes, journalists and their cameras should accompany soldiers in battle. The warfare is conducted in our names with our tax dollars. We must see what the war entails."
Mike in Alabama said there should be no cameras allowed: "If you want to see war, join the military. News seems to take things and a make them more than they are."
And a mother who didn't want her name used: "I write as the mother of Marine who was sent to Vietnam and came home scarred mentally and emotionally for the rest of his life. How dare anyone pass judgment on our servicemen for how they do their jobs."
Thank you all for your interest in the topic.
O'BRIEN: Lot's of feedback today.
CAFFERTY: A worthy subject this morning.
HEMMER: Thank you, Jack.
O'BRIEN: Thank you, Jack.
HEMMER: All right. Next hour here on CNN, we just mentioned the president's 11:05 announcement of the education secretary. We'll get that to you. Also, he will pardon the turkey. It is turkey time in D.C. 10:10 a.m. on CNN "LIVE TODAY" with Daryn and Rick. We're back in a moment here on AMERICAN MORNING right after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
O'BRIEN: Just about breakfast time. If you're thinking about breakfast we might have the perfect meal for you if you can afford it. One New York City restaurant is now serving what it calls the "Zillion Dollar Fritatta," it's only a little bit of an overstatement. Later today, Guinness World Records is going to name it the most expensive.
Stuart Claxton is a researcher for Guinness World Records, joining us all.
O'BRIEN: Good morning. You bought the fritatta. And it's not a zillion dollars but it's a thousand bucks. It will go into the category of what in the in the Guinness Book of World Records?
STUART CLAXTON, GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS RESEARCHER: The Guinness Book of World Records actually contains over a hundred different categories, but this particular item will be in the food and drink category.
O'BRIEN: And it's the most expensive fritatta, omelet?
CLAXTON: Yes. The most expensive fritatta coming in at $1,000. When we were first approached by (UNINTELLIGIBLE) we checked around the globe and actually could not find an omelet that was more expensive. So this, I think, takes the title.
(CROSSTALK)
COLLINS: Didn't they have the lobster one?
O'BRIEN: Yes, there is lobster, right there.
COLLINS: OK. And now they added the caviar.
O'BRIEN: Now if someone comes up with the $1,001 fritatta, does that blow out...
` CLAXTON: Yes.
O'BRIEN: .. the (UNINTELLIGIBLE)?
CLAXTON: Well, that's all what Guinness Book of Records is all about. You never know when records are going to be broken. So yes, if anything tops $1,000...
HEMMER: Does that thing feed six?
O'BRIEN: Sure.
COLLINS: And the name of the place is Norma's (ph), right?
CLAXTON: That's right. And the reason we're actually celebrating that, in fact, because last night, we're celebrating the 50th anniversary of Guinness World Records. And we thought it would be very appropriate to set it in a record-breaking location, (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
O'BRIEN: Is this fresh?
CLAXTON: Yes, it is.
O'BRIEN: I mean, I don't want to eat -- OK.
SERWER: You go.
COLLINS: It has been there for a couple of days.
O'BRIEN: Let's dig in, it looks really good.
(CROSSTALK)
HEMMER: It's a great job.
CAFFERTY: You can tell Soledad came from a large family. (CROSSTALK)
CLAXTON: Well, I've always been a big fan of Guinness World Records so...
HEMMER: How did you get the job?
O'BRIEN: It's warm.
CLAXTON: Quite literally, just contacted the ad in the paper.
SERWER: Oh, you wimp, she's going for the lobster.
HEMMER: That's great.
COLLINS: Oh yes, I'm going for the lobster.
O'BRIEN: What does the ceremony involve?
CLAXTON: The recognition?
O'BRIEN: Yes.
CLAXTON: Well, essentially once we verify that this is, indeed, the most expensive omelet, as it is...
(CROSSTALK)
... with a Guinness World Record certificate recognizing it as the most expensive omelet in the world.
O'BRIEN: Are they selling any of these?
CLAXTON: They are. And I've been told they have sold seven of them, already. So you never know who is going to be the eighth.
O'BRIEN: You never know who is going to be the eighth. Well, not us here at CNN. But thanks for bringing our free version of it. We certainly appreciate it. Stuart Claxton, congratulations on the anniversary. And good luck with the ceremony today.
While you guys continue to scarf down breakfast, I'm going to head it back over to Daryn and Rick for us at the CNN Center. They're going to take it for the next few hours on CNN "LIVE TODAY."
O'BRIEN: The lobster is really yummy.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Don't feel bad that they get $1,000 omelets. I can get you some saltines in the cafeteria downstairs.
O'BRIEN: Yes, it's hard to be us.
RICK SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR: I was there the other day and they had mashed potato soda.
(LAUGHTER) SERWER: You're welcome, Rick!
SANCHEZ: Thanks, Andy.
COLLINS: It was good, wasn't it?
KAGAN: You guys enjoy.
O'BRIEN: Thanks.
SANCHEZ: Not too much.
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