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American Morning
Marines Investigating for Killing Unarmed Iraqis; Al Gore Provides Details on Live Earth Concerts; Thousands Line up to Get Married in Vegas on 7/7/07; Consumers Warned of Energy-Saving CFL Bulbs
Aired July 06, 2007 - 08:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BETTY NGUYEN, CO-HOST: and the next hour of AMERICAN MORNING starts right now.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN ROBERTS, CO-HOST (voice-over): Summer sizzler. Triple digit temperatures from Arizona to Washington state. The push to keep people inside and power systems online.
Plus, new storms on the move in Texas. A flooding threat not seen in 50 years on this AMERICAN MORNING.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: And good morning to you. It's Friday, the 6th of July. I'm John Roberts.
Good morning to you.
NGUYEN: Good morning, John. And good morning, everybody. I'm Betty Nguyen, in for Kiran Chetry today.
ROBERTS: Thanks very much for coming in. And you came in on a very special day, as well, because in just about ten or 15 minutes' time, Al Gore, former vice president of the United States...
NGUYEN: Can't wait.
ROBERTS: ... will be here to talk about Live Earth, that big series of concerts coming up tomorrow.
NGUYEN: Your old buddy.
ROBERTS: And this is going to be the first time that I've spoken to him since the year 2000. I took -- I spent 18 months of my life following him on the campaign trail, so it will be good to catch up.
NGUYEN: Going to be a nice reunion. Looking forward to that.
ROBERTS: All right. So just about ten or 15 minutes. Stay with us.
Texas under a storm watch this morning. Another heavy round of thunderstorms is expected to dump up three inches of rain across Texas with flash flood warnings issued overnight.
Right now, all of the state's major river basins are at flood stage. That's the first time that that has happened in 50 years.
Forecasters are predicting another day of triple-digit temperatures up and down the West Coast. A hundred and seven expected in Boise, Idaho, a record. It hit 100 in Spokane, Washington, on Thursday. Heat advisories and watches remain in effect today.
The FBI is said to be investigating anonymous threats against the Goldman Sachs investment firm. According to the "New Jersey Star- Ledger" newspaper, handwritten letters were mailed warning that hundreds will die. They were mailed from Queens and signed A.Q. One of the letters was postmarked June 27. Goldman Sachs is based in New York. Company officials are not discussing the threat or a response to it.
NGUYEN: Well, in Pakistan this morning, reports that a plane carrying President Pervez Musharraf was fired on while landing. Authorities seized two machine guns that were installed on the roof of a house near that airport. The president was not hurt.
And that standoff at a school and mosque in Islamabad is growing more tense by the hour. Up to a thousand students may be inside, held by a radical cleric. Now, food, water and electricity are cut off as government troops surrounding the compound try to force the cleric and his armed followers to give up. The cleric says he'd rather die than surrender.
Pentagon officials confirm that several Marines are under investigation for the killing of unarmed Iraqis. It allegedly happened during the siege of Fallujah back in 2004.
CNN senior Pentagon correspondent Jamie McIntyre has the latest on this investigation.
What do you know, Jamie?
JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Betty, the allegations are just coming to life, but they involved alleged war crimes that might have occurred during some of the most intense urban combat of the Iraq war, the second siege of Fallujah in November of 2004.
A Pentagon official tells CNN the allegations appear credible in that they came from a former Marine who was taking a lie detector test as he was applying for a job with the U.S. Secret Service.
Now, most of what we know about what the naval criminal investigative services looking into comes from a web site that broke the news, DefendOurMarines.com, which includes an account from a former Marine who says that eight captured Iraqis were gunned down after they were found hiding after a firefight as Marines were moving onto their next objective.
Now, the item was posted by Nathaniel Helms. He's a military journalist who also wrote a book about the Marines in Fallujah. The unit involved, by the way, is the same one accused of the wrongful killing of 24 civilians in Haditha one year later, but it's not the same Marines.
The -- this investigation is just getting under way. No one has been charged or formally accused of any wrongdoing. But killing unarmed captured civilians, if that turns out to be what happened, would be a clear violation of the law of armed conflict -- Betty.
NGUYEN: No doubt. CNN senior correspondent Jamie McIntyre joining us live today. Thank you, Jamie.
ROBERTS: Four minutes now after the hour and time to check on some of the other big stories making news this morning with our AMERICAN MORNING team of correspondents.
It is going to be a hot one today in the west. Rob Marciano down there in Atlanta following all of the extreme heat.
A lot of red behind you this morning, Rob.
(WEATHER REPORT)
ROBERTS: Rob, thanks very much.
One sixteen, an important number in Las Vegas, because it was tying a record high. But it's the No. 7 that's got crowds coming for this weekend.
AMERICAN MORNING's Chris Lawrence is live in Las Vegas for us this morning.
What's it all about, Chris?
CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, John, let me see if these numbers make sense to you.
Hundreds of people waiting outside for hours in that sweltering 116-degree heat that Rob mentioned, all so they can get a marriage license in time to get married on the seventh day of the seventh month of the seventh year.
I'll tell you why a lot of people say not only was it worth it; it's something they've been waiting a long time for.
ROBERTS: All right. Maybe they're hoping it's lucky. Chris Lawrence there in Las Vegas for us. Thanks.
Miss New Jersey facing a blackmail threat this morning. Our Internet reporter, Jacki Schechner, has been looking into this for us.
Jacki, what's this all about?
JACKI SCHECHNER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, John, if Amy Polumbo had any photos online they are not there anymore, at least in the social networking site, Facebook.com. Allegedly someone is trying to blackmail her, saying that photographs that she put online were going to be made public if she didn't give up her crown today.
We did a search on the social networking site. Did find Wagner College, where Amy Polumbo is, in fact, a senior. And there are some 3,000 members of this social networking group. But it's blocked off, made private. You can't get into it unless you go to Wagner College.
A search for Amy on the site only pulled up her participation in a nonprofit arts and entertainment group.
So there are no incriminating photos on the site. It's not likely that there are going to be any. Facebook is not a place where people put stuff that's necessarily all that incriminating. It's usually just photos you want to share with your friends.
Now, it's interesting to note that her platform for the Miss New Jersey crown, John, was Internet safety. So she is staying strong, saying she is not going to be blackmailed.
ROBERTS: Certainly finding out firsthand about the cause that she's championing. Jacki, thanks very much.
SCHECHNER: Sure.
ROBERTS: Betty.
NGUYEN: John, "Scooter" Libby settles up. That tops our "Quick Hits" today.
Libby has paid the $250,000 fine that was part of his sentence in the CIA leak case. President Bush commuted the 30-month prison portion of that sentence. A judge now hears arguments next week about whether Libby needs to serve probation.
And some suspected kiddy kidnappers are busted in Enid, Oklahoma. Police say two sisters, just 10 and 12 years old, broke into a neighbor's house, took a 1-year-old baby and then left a ransom note asking for $200,000. The girls' mother recognized the baby. He was returned to his mother. And the girls, well, they were arrested.
The Live Earth concerts will span seven continents and 24 hours this weekend. Next, the man behind the big show joins us live in our studio. Al Gore coming up after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: Ten minutes after the hour now. Tomorrow he hosts Live Earth, a 24-hour concert series with performances on all seven continents, all designed to fight global warming. Former Vice President Al Gore is the chairman of Live Earth, and he joins me now.
It's good to see you, Mr. Vice President. A long time.
AL GORE, FORMER VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Thank you, John. Thank you. It has been.
ROBERTS: Eighteen months of my life went by covering the 2000 campaign. It's good to get a chance to sit down and talk with you.
Want to talk about Live Earth in a second. But -- and I know that you're treating this as a private family matter. But as a father, I'm a father of a son who's just a couple of years younger than yours. You've got to be pretty concerned about what happened the other day?
GORE: Well, we're very happy that he's getting treatment and that nobody has hurt and that he's in the right place and has asked for the right kind of treatment. And beyond that, we are treating it as a private family matter.
ROBERTS: Is this a full rehab type of thing? Or...
GORE: As I say, we're following the medical advice, and we're keeping it private.
ROBERTS: Well, our best to you on that.
GORE: Thank you. Thank you very much. We love him very much.
ROBERTS: On Live Aid -- on Live Earth, Live Aid, Live Eight this time around. You were promising on "LARRY KING" last night some surprises. One of them is supposed to come out today.
GORE: Yes.
ROBERTS: What are you announcing?
GORE: Well, I'm happy to announce here on CNN that a surprise new concert venue is going to be the Mall in our nation's capitol.
ROBERTS: Fantastic.
GORE: You may remember earlier in the year, there was an effort to have one of the major concerts there, and a couple of global warming naysayers used parliamentary tricks in the Congress to block that.
Well, instead of the cavalry riding to the rescue, the American Indians came to the rescue. The Museum of the American Indian, the National Museum of the American Indian has a concert venue permitted. They invited me to come, and a couple of great friends of mine, fantastic superstars, Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood, are going to come as a favor, perform a song. "Blues Nation", one of the greatest Native American groups ever.
And people are invited to come out to that location on the mall at 10 a.m. Tomorrow.
But you know, this is only one of 10,000 events around the world. Eight major concerts. Special performances now from the Mall, leading off the concerts in North America. Special performance from Antarctica for the first time ever, rounding out the seven...
ROBERTS: Nunatak, is that the name of the group?
GORE: Yes.
ROBERTS: I heard this is their first performance?
GORE: You're going to love them. They're British scientists, and they've been practicing for six months on this. And they're actually extremely good.
But, of course, the 150 greatest musical performance -- performers in the world are going to be at the Meadowlands, Giants Stadium in New York, in London.
ROBERTS: Tokyo.
GORE: Tokyo, Rio de Janeiro, Johannesburg, Sydney, Shanghai, Tokyo. It's very exciting. But it's all focused on a very serious message.
ROBERTS: Right.
GORE: And that is to solve the climate crisis. It's the launch of a three-year campaign, John, and we're asking everybody to sign up for the seven-point pledge. You can go to LiveEarth.org or AlGore.com and find the pledge.
And we hope that all two billion people who are estimated to be in this audience will sign up. I know that's expecting too much. But that's why we're launching a three-year campaign, because we've got to cross a political tipping point worldwide in order to solve this climate crisis.
ROBERTS: Back in 1992 in the campaign, George Bush Sr. referred to you as Ozone Man. And there are still a lot of critics out there of you, saying that you're too alarmist about the environment. Are you ever going to be able to win those people over?
GORE: I hope so. It's not a political issue. It really is a moral issue.
And it is hard to think about this, because nothing in our prior history prepares us for the fact that we have this new relationship to the earth. We have quadrupled human population in less than a century. We're using these very powerful technologies to exploit the earth now.
We're putting 70 million tons of global warming pollution every day into the earth's atmosphere, as if it's an open sewer. And, of course, it's having the effect that the scientists have long told us it would.
The North Pole is melting! It could be gone in 35 years unless we act. There's an area of snow the size of California in Antarctica near the South Pole that's been melting. These and many other. Well, look...
ROBERTS: Although there are some who say that the snow pack is actually increasing.
GORE: Well, no, actually, it was long predicted in Antarctica that the increased evaporation from a warmer ocean would cause more snowfall in the interior, but there's now new evidence showing that it's been negative balance, even then.
ROBERTS: Let me look ahead to '08. Which of the candidates out there champions the environmental causes that you do, who you would feel comfortable voting for?
GORE: Well, it's 500 days away. And I think it's too early. If I do my job right, all them will make it their No. 1 issue. It's still being treated as a side issue now.
ROBERTS: Seems that the person who's more on the same page as you than anyone else is Michael Bloomberg. He wants to change the entire fleet of taxis here in New York City to hybrids by the year 2010. He's got some other environmental issues.
Is he the sort of person you could vote for, even as an independent?
GORE: Well, Mike has said some good things and has done some good things on this issue.
An independent's never won a race for president. I don't even know if he will be a candidate.
Again, I'm focused on trying to change opinion at the grassroots level so that all of the candidates will incorporate this message.
We've got a full-blown planetary emergency on our hands. And even though it's hard to realize and absorb and recognize that, that is exactly what it is.
And our kids, John -- you were talking about your kids and mine. Not too many decades from now, they're going to ask one of two questions of us here at the beginning of the 21st century. Either what were they thinking? Didn't they care about us? How could they do this to us?
Or they'll ask another question, the one I prefer that they ask. How did they get their act together and find the moral courage to rise to this challenge?
That's what Live Earth is all about, the beginning of -- it's an SOS call, the beginning of a three-year campaign to get us across that tipping point. And let's solve this thing.
ROBERTS: Well, we wish you a lot of luck tomorrow and thank you for sharing the news this morning about this concert on the Mall.
GORE: Thank you. ROBERTS: That will be exciting.
GORE: Thank you.
ROBERTS: Al Gore, thanks very much, Al Gore. Good to see you again.
GORE: Good to see you.
ROBERTS: Betty.
NGUYEN: Well, there is a lots of buzz about Las Vegas this week, and it's not just the record temperatures. Why thousands are heading to Sin City tomorrow for 7/7/07. That is next on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: Well, lots of couples are planning to walk down the aisle tomorrow, casting their bets on a string of 7's.
AMERICAN MORNING's Chris Lawrence is live in Las Vegas, where thousands are looking to get lucky in love.
Chris, are you going to be one of those?
LAWRENCE: Let's see, lifelong commitment with a total stranger. No!
But I got to tell you, you know, people are so excited about this day. They were waiting outside for hours in that sweltering 116- degree heat just to get their marriage license.
This is a day that only comes around once every hundred years, and by all accounts, it could be one of the busiest days ever for weddings in Las Vegas.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LAWRENCE (voice-over): The line to get a marriage license came down the block, up the steps, wrapped around the corner, and went inside.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Show of hands: who's here for the 7-7-7!
LAWRENCE: Some experts predict 70,000 couples could get hitched on the seventh day of the seventh month in '07.
NIA HAMILTON, BRIDE: Been planning it for a year now. So we're the trend-setters.
LAWRENCE: Nia Hamilton says she's paying a premium to marry Miles Ware (ph).
HAMILTON: Well, you're going (ph) to add a little more money because you're on a special day. For your dinner, they add a little bit more money, because you're on your special day. So it's tax upon tax because you're on 7-7-7 with everyone else.
LAWRENCE: Chapels are all booked up, and the competition over superstition is fierce.
JUDY BOWE, OWNER, CUPID'S CHAPEL: We actually had one couple that booked quite a ways out, tried to sell their package on eBay. So it's been crazy.
LAWRENCE: The significance of 7 can be traced back to Egyptian culture. The number shows up throughout the Bible. It's a positive card in tarot card readings. And yes, it means you hit the jackpot.
VINCENT PILON, EXECUTIVE CHEF, MANDALAY BAY: The sevens are all chocolate with blue cocoa butter on it.
LAWRENCE: Mandalay Baby's world renowned pastry chef is making plans for a mass wedding outside. The Venetian will conduct 77 ceremonies on Saturday.
And the Bellagio's flower factory is in full bloom.
Across the Atlantic, Eva Longoria and Tony Parker tied the knot in France, and celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck takes the plunge.
As for Miles and Nia.
MILES WARE (ph), GROOM: Official.
HAMILTON: Yes.
WARE: Nothing you can do now but walk on out!
LAWRENCE: Marriage can be a bit of a gamble. So any couple counting on those lucky 7's should take note: next week is Friday the 13th!
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LAWRENCE: A few couples told me their marriage is going to need all the luck it can get. And a few of the grooms felt like, at the very least, it will make their anniversaries easier to remember -- Betty.
NGUYEN: Well, hey. If you decide that you're going to do it after all, there's always those drive-thru divorce facilities. So you're good to go either way, Chris.
LAWRENCE: And there's also direct flights from New York to Las Vegas for you.
NGUYEN: Get out of there quickly! Oh, for me! All right. Thank you, Chris.
ROBERTS: It's one case where what happens in Las Vegas may not necessarily stay there.
NGUYEN: Stay there. Yes.
ROBERTS: Hey, you may be thinking of swapping out your traditional light bulbs for something a little bit greener, but there is something that you should know about compact fluorescent lights, or CFLs, as they're called.
CNN's Gerri Willis has got this consumer alert for you.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GERRI WILLIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Compact fluorescent light bulbs save energy, and a lot of it, but a downside. CFLs actually contain a small amount of mercury, a toxic heavy metal that's hazardous to humans and highly regulated.
If you didn't know this, it's probably because the media, environmental groups and retailers promoting the bulbs often don't bring it up, and it's not always clearly marked on the packaging.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't see anything about mercury on here.
Oh, OK. Right there. Contains mercury. It's not very -- I mean, it's not very obvious at all.
WILLIS: CFLs use at least 60 percent less power than incandescents. By conserving energy, they reduce greenhouse gas emissions and lower your electric bills.
The catch? If CFLs break, the bulb's mercury is released, and you're exposed. Luckily, EPA experts point out that there's not enough mercury in one bulb to be harmful.
MARIA VARGAS, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY: It's the amount of mercury that would, say, cover the tip of a pin. CFLs pose a very, very small, very low risk to individuals.
WILLIS: But multiply that by the nearly 60 million CFL bulbs sold this year in the U.S. alone. Clearly, used CFLs need to be disposed of responsibly to prevent mercury from millions of lamps entering the environment. Ideally, they should be recycled.
IKEA is one of the first major retailers to collect used CFLs for recycling. The furniture giant now has a take-back bin in every store.
Gerri Willis, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROBERTS: Gerri has got much more coming up on "Open House" this weekend, including remodeling without wrecking your relationship. And you'll never believe just how dirty your cell phone can actually be.
"Open House" tomorrow morning, 9:30 a.m. Eastern right here on CNN. NGUYEN: Up next, we have the latest scientific -- yes, scientific -- research which will either settle an argument or maybe even start one. Who talks more? Men or women? That's next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: Oh, Vegas, baby. Look at that. There's a shot of the Mirage this morning for you. It's a little bit warm out there but a bit of a cooling trend today. It's only going to be 113 degrees today.
NGUYEN: Oh, yes. That's a regular cold front for those folks.
ROBERTS: Not 116 as it was yesterday.
Hey, welcome back. It's Friday, the 6th of July. I'm John Roberts.
NGUYEN: Yes, good morning, everybody.
Good morning, John.
I'm Betty Nguyen, in for Kiran Chetry today.
ROBERTS: Let's get you caught up on the latest news.
We're getting a little bit more information on that Goldman Sachs threat. The FBI is said to be investigating threatening letters sent to newspapers around the country.
The handwritten notes carry a vague warning. It says, quote, "Goldman Sachs, hundreds will die. We are inside. You cannot stop us."
"New Jersey Star-Ledger" newspaper says it received one of the letters, postmarked June 27. It was signed "A.Q. USA." The letters were mailed from Queens in New York.
Goldman Sachs is not discussing the threat at this point.
This just in to CNN: new video of a casino shooting in Las Vegas. Police say a man walked into the New York, New York, casino early this morning and opened fire. Here's the video of the aftermath there and ambulances outside.
Off-duty military personnel wrestled the man down. No word on what set him off.
NGUYEN: Record heat expected today across the west. Forecasters are predicting another day of triple digit temperatures like 107 in Boise, Idaho. Yes, a new record there. It hit 100 in Spokane, Washington, on Thursday. Heat advisories and watches do remain in effect.
And another round of heavy thunderstorms is expected to dump up to three inches of rain across Texas. Flash flood warnings issued overnight. Right now, all of the state's major river basins are at flood stage and the first time that has happened since 50 years.
ROBERTS: And former vice president, Al Gore, made some news just a few minutes ago here on AMERICAN MORNING. He announced that Washington has been added to the list of cities hosting Live Earth concerts this weekend.
Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood and Blues Nation among those expected to perform. The concert will held at the Smithsonian Institution's Museum of the American Indian at 10 a.m. tomorrow morning. That's right there on the Mall at Fourth and Independence.
NGUYEN: Well, the Essence Festival comes home to New Orleans this weekend, and the leading Democrats for president will be there, too. Joining me now to discuss this, CNN contributor Roland Martin. I'm going to let you know that this interview is being simulcast on Roland's radio show in Chicago.
Good morning, Roland.
ROLAND MARTIN, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Glad to be here, WVON is happy to have you, Betty.
NGUYEN: Well, I'm glad to be talking with you this morning. We've got a lot on the plate here. We'll get to the candidates in just a moment. But the fact that the Essence Festival is back in New Orleans, it was in Houston last year because the Superdome was in disrepair. How important is it for this festival to be back in the city of New Orleans?
MARTIN: Two hundred thousand people are going to be in New Orleans dropping about $125 millions to the city. That is huge. Keep in mind that New Orleans has lost 60 percent of their population so that means with the people from Essence coming in, this will be the first time you have more than 400,000 people actually in the city of New Orleans.
It's important to the psyche of the city as well, because this is the largest non-native event. What I mean by that is, Mardi Gras, that is home-grown event. The New Orleans Jazz Festival, that is also a home-grown event. So to have this event come in is a huge boost to the morale of that city.
NGUYEN: OK. But, yes, it's providing a jolt to the city but when you look at the state of affairs, has New Orleans been forgotten?
MARTIN: Of course it has. And a few moments ago I asked Susan Taylor, the editorial director of Essence, and she talked about the reality that you still have 70 schools closed in New Orleans. You still have kids who are in essence orphaned because there are no homes. People are -- 200,000 people still living in FEMA trailers.
And so also by bringing Essence there, you focus the attention on that city. You know, you have Live Earth going on all across the world, but you have all of these entertainers who are coming in there, many of them probably who haven't been to New Orleans. You also have journalists who are coming in, people who are seeing the city for the first time since Hurricane Katrina.
And so it's a way to also galvanize people. Susan Taylor had an event at her home where she brought together major media leaders and said, guys, you cannot ignore this, you cannot just say, hey, it's an old story.
And, Betty, the most important thing is this. This is an American city. We have been building Iraq. We send money to other countries as well. How can we, as a nation, dare to ignore one of our own? But not just New Orleans. The entire Gulf Coast region. Go to Mississippi, go to Alabama, go to parts of Florida, go to other towns in Louisiana, they still have not been rebuilt.
This is America and we should never ignore our own. You take care of home first.
NGUYEN: Well, which is why we're seeing many presidential candidates head down for this festival. Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton. What are they going to see once they get there?
MARTIN: Well, first of all, they are going to see a city still devastated. You go to the Lower Ninth Ward, folks says that it looks like it hasn't been repaired. I will be in Essence later today. I host a panel tomorrow featuring Hill Harper from "CSI" and Chuck D.
And we are also going to take a tour of the city as well to see firsthand what it's like. And so you still have you a place in ruin. And of course, we talk about the crime, the fact that the city has already had its 100th death of the year per capita, the deadliest city in America.
But again, it's the infrastructure. That is what is most important, trying to rebuild that. This was the city that frankly had the busiest port in the country, so it's not like it's immaterial. Plus, New Orleans is the biggest city in the state. They need that city to be on its feet because if New Orleans has a problem, the state of Louisiana has an economic problem and that causes bigger issues.
NGUYEN: Well, and they need people to come back, Roland, which is another reason why these free seminars are taking place during the festival.
MARTIN: Yes.
NGUYEN: These empowerment seminars. You are going to be talking about what makes a man. Talk to me about the importance of this and what that is going to do to the psyche of the people in New Orleans.
MARTIN: Well, again, it's a matter of encouraging them, because they have been so frustrated about what has taken place. And so that's one of the things. Now the empowerment seminar is taking place at the convention center. They are free and open to the public.
You don't have to pay to get in. And so they expect 5,000 to 7,000 people to attend and they begin at 11:00 in the morning, go until about 5:00 or 6:00. And so it is going to be great to be -- to share with them.
But most importantly is what happens on Monday after the festival is gone. We cannot ignore one of our own cities, Betty, simple as that.
NGUYEN: And you're going down there to make that point exactly. We thank you so much for spending a little time with us today. Roland Martin, have a good trip.
MARTIN: I appreciate it. Thanks a lot.
ROBERTS: Coming up now to 35 minutes after the hour, when it comes to talking, research shows that men and women are just about even. But we've done our own research and our medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen joins us now with more.
So who did more talking in your research, Elizabeth?
ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Oh, well, our research was very interesting. I don't know if you've ever heard of the phrase "chatty Kathy," John, but perhaps the phrase ought to be "chatty Betty."
NGUYEN: What?
COHEN: And I'll show you exactly what I mean!
NGUYEN: Wait a second!
(LAUGHTER)
NGUYEN: I told you I talk more than you, John.
COHEN: And you were right, Betty. We took a look at how many words each of you said in yesterday's show. You'll notice our source is a CNN intern who spent the day counting your words. John, you had 1,598. Betty, you had 1,891.
NGUYEN: Uh oh.
COHEN: And what is interesting about that is that actually matches up with the real research, because we're not real researchers. What the real research showed is that women do talk more than men but not that much more.
So in the research, they found women, 16,215 words per day, men slightly under at 15,669. So apparently the two of you are somewhat typical.
NGUYEN: Yes, we're normal, which is good to know.
ROBERTS: I'll tell you, I'm glad that we have tasked our interns to such an important job.
NGUYEN: Yes, don't they have other work to do, Elizabeth?
COHEN: No, that was it yesterday.
ROBERTS: Hey, biologically, Elizabeth, would it make more sense for one gender to talk more than the other? I mean, I'm thinking that if men are trying to mate, they would probably want to talk more because they are trying to attract a woman.
NGUYEN: Oh, those sweet nothings?
COHEN: I don't know, John. Does mating really require words?
NGUYEN: A lot of talk.
(LAUGHTER)
COHEN: I don't know. I don't know.
NGUYEN: I knew that was coming.
COHEN: Yes, I'm not sure about that one. But actually, men and women's brains are different. Researchers know that for sure. And women have more brain cells devoted to communication and devoted to emotions. So researchers say when women get chat-chat-chatting, they actually sort of get a chemical rush from talking that men don't seem to get.
ROBERTS: Wait a minute, ladies. They get like an endorphin release from talking?
COHEN: There you go.
NGUYEN: We love it.
COHEN: We love it. I could do it all day.
NGUYEN: All day long.
COHEN: Yes, Betty and I could probably just chat-chat-chat.
NGUYEN: And we...
COHEN: That explains so much.
(LAUGHTER)
NGUYEN: But this too, just -- again, just reiterate what you said. Women have more brain cells, is that what you said?
COHEN: Well, I'm not saying more brain cells in general.
NGUYEN: No, don't qualify it. Just make the plain statement.
ROBERTS: Nice try, Betty.
(LAUGHTER)
COHEN: OK. Women have more brain cells. Women have more brain cells devoted to communication and emotion.
NGUYEN: Gotcha.
ROBERTS: Wow, that explains an awful lot.
NGUYEN: Doesn't it?
ROBERTS: You know, you get an endorphin rush from exercising heavily, some people get it from drugs.
NGUYEN: Like, we have a rush right now just talking to you, John. That happens on a daily basis.
COHEN: And I do have to say that if you go into -- like, if I go into my daughter's pre-kindergarten class, I notice that the 4-year- old girls are sitting there chatting with each other and the boys are knocking each other over and fighting with each other and wrestling. So you can see that at a relatively young age.
ROBERTS: What does that say about society? Elizabeth, that is fascinating stuff. Thanks very much.
COHEN: Thanks.
NGUYEN: We'll talk later, Elizabeth.
COHEN: OK. Sounds good, Betty.
ROBERTS: I'm sure you will.
NGUYEN: In the meantime, a pre-teen from Florida leads police in Alabama on a drunken high-speed chase. You've got to check this out. The whole thing was caught on tape. Police say the suspect, an 11- year-old girl, was going over a hundred miles an hour. She sideswiped another vehicle and flipped and crashed. She was charged with driving under the influence. Again, 11 years old. She was also charged with speeding and reckless endangerment.
ROBERTS: An effort to save kidnapped contractors in Iraq tops your quick hits now. Family and friends of the five private contractors say they are trying to raise $150,000 to pay the ransom. One man has even volunteered to go to Iraq and negotiate. The men were taken captive last November.
And a flood -- a hurricane fraud. Investigators say they have a backlog of 10,000 cases related to the 2005 season on the Gulf Coast. Investigators are worried that they won't be able to get to them all before they run up against the statute of limitations and that doesn't happen for two more years.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ROBERTS (voice-over): Coming up on AMERICAN MORNING, miracle at 20,000 feet.
CHRIS FOGG, SUCKED OUT OF AIRPLANE: I was immediately sucked out the window to my right.
ROBERTS: A plane window bursts, forcing a man's head and arm to dangle nearly 4,000 miles high in the sky. How did he survive? We ask him live next on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: Take a look at Phoenix. Oh, what a beautiful morning with the mountains in the background. You can see the sun coming up right now. It is a whopping 96 degrees and thinking of that sun later today? Going to be 111. So stay inside if you can.
In the meantime, those who went outside, well, you can say take me out to the brawl game. Yes, that is our quick hit today. It was an independent league game, but a major league bench-clearing fight between the Reno Silver Sox and the Chico Outlaws. Now it started after an Outlaws player was hit by a pitch. The outlaws retaliated in the next inning by hitting a Reno player and then, well, you see everything broke loose there.
A bold burglary caught on tape in Palm Bay, Florida. Surveillance video shows masked men using a stolen car and towing chain to pull the bars off the front of a jewelry store. Did you see that? Police say in less than three minutes, the suspects made off with thousands of dollars worth of jewelry.
And more than a hundred kids, some as young as 12 years old, had to be rescued from the Irish Sea. Surging waves and strong winds overturned dozens of boats during a junior regatta. The coast guard says everyone made it out OK.
ROBERTS: It all began as a routine day of work for our next guest. As a critical care nurse with an air ambulance company, he is accustomed to transporting patients. But on this day, as they were cruising at 20,000 feet, disaster struck. The window next to him exploded causing a drastic change in pressure. That sucked him out of the window head-first.
With half of his body outside the aircraft, he fought desperately to break free from the intense suction. Chris Fogg joins me now to tell his remarkable story. It's amazing, Chris, that you're here to tell us about this story.
FOGG: It is amazing, truly a miracle.
ROBERTS: You were on a routine flight from Twin Falls, Idaho to Seattle, as we said, cruising at 20,000 feet. You got up to get a bottle of water, sat back down again. What happened?
FOGG: Sat back down again. I was just chitchatting with the pilot. And the window immediately to my right just exploded. And...
ROBERTS: Just for no reason?
FOGG: No reason, nothing.
ROBERTS: You didn't touch it?
FOGG: Just sitting there, just blew up. And I was immediately sucked out of the plane to my right and my head and my right arm went right out the window.
ROBERTS: So the only thing left in were your legs, I guess your lower part of your torso, your left arm.
FOGG: Yes.
ROBERTS: Did you even realize what had happened at that point?
FOGG: No. It was so fast. I mean, it just really pulled me right out. I didn't even -- you know, you didn't know anything until I was outside. But I do -- and it shook me up quite a bit.
ROBERTS: I would expect it would!
FOGG: Yes.
ROBERTS: Did you have any sense of where you were?
FOGG: Well, when I -- I did -- my head was forced down to my chest and I did see the tail of the plane pretty clearly and then my headset that I was wearing was hitting the side of the plane.
ROBERTS: What was the plane going, about 240, 250 miles an hour at this time?
FOGG: About 200 miles an hour. We were still in the climb, we were climbing from 20,000 to 22,000. So about 200 miles an hour.
ROBERTS: So not only was it the explosive decompression that had pulled you out of the plane, but then the forward motion of the aircraft as well was jamming you against the side of the window. How did you manage to get back in?
FOGG: You know, it was like the struggle of my life. You know, I was working as hard as I possibly could. And I was lucky that my left hand, as a reflex went up to the ceiling to hold the wall and my knees went against the wall and I was pulling for all of my might. And I guess it just wasn't my day to die.
ROBERTS: So how did you manage to work you way back inside the plane?
FOGG: Well, I was just pulling and pulling and pulling, and finally my chest came away from the wall of the plane enough that more wind went by me and it broke the suction that was pulling me out. And I just -- and with all of the energy, I just fell right back into the plane.
ROBERTS: So you popped back inside the plane. The patient that you were transporting was a Vietnam vet.
FOGG: Yes. ROBERTS: And he said he had some flashbacks of being shot out of the sky?
FOGG: Yes, he thought he was being shot down. You know, there was just paper and stuff flying around in the plane. You know? And it was really loud. I mean, really loud.
ROBERTS: You see this stuff in movies, and you think, oh, well, that is just for dramatic effect, but that's what it's really like?
FOGG: Exactly, just like that. It was really just like you would think, you know, like the big airlines. I mean, everything was going -- anything that was near the plane or not tied down was going outside.
ROBERTS: So when you came back in as well, you were injured. You have got a bandage on your arm there. But you took 13 stitches in the head?
FOGG: Yes. Thirteen staples in my head, yes.
ROBERTS: Unbelievable. The patient helped you out as well?
FOGG: How did he help -- no, he didn't help me out at all.
ROBERTS: Oh, I thought that he put his pillow on your head to stop the bleeding.
FOGG: No -- well, he was laying on two pillows and so I took one of his pillows -- so I guess he did.
ROBERTS: Oh, I see. OK.
FOGG: Yes. I took one of his pillows and pulled it over the top of my head to stop the bleeding. And then I took his pillow and wrapped it around his ears because it was so deafening. And then I kind of put my body over the top of his a little bit to kind of shield all of the debris that was flying around in the plane.
ROBERTS: And then you didn't miss a beat. You were back in an airplane when?
FOGG: Well, I didn't have to fly for medical until I flew out here to New York.
ROBERTS: Right.
FOGG: But I was back in the office on the ambulance service the very next day.
ROBERTS: How was it taking your first flight since then?
FOGG: You know, it was OK. I mean, I'm a flight nurse, that's what I do. And it's just like -- you know, if someone drove a car every day, it's like getting back in the car again.
ROBERTS: Well, it's just amazing, when you look at the size of the windows on that aircraft...
FOGG: They're huge, aren't they?
ROBERTS: ... it's amazing that you're here today, yes.
FOGG: Yes. I think that if I -- I was wearing a headset and if I wasn't wearing that headset, probably would have been knocked out and I wouldn't have -- not have been able to grab on to the side of the plane.
ROBERTS: You were fortunate. Chris, thanks for coming in today.
FOGG: Thank you.
ROBERTS: Thanks for braving another flight in the air to be with us this morning. What an incredible story.
FOGG: Thanks for having me.
ROBERTS: Betty.
NGUYEN: That is amazing. Well, "CNN NEWSROOM" just minutes away. Tony Harris is at the CNN Center in Atlanta with a look at what is ahead.
Hi, there, Tony.
TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: And good Friday to you, Betty.
NGUYEN: Yes.
HARRIS: We are on thermometer watch here in the "NEWSROOM." Water about the only way to cool off in the West. Temps fall back a smidgen today, but still 110 and beyond in Phoenix and Las Vegas.
The military launching a third investigation into civilian deaths in Falluja. A Marine reportedly admitting the crime during a polygraph for a Secret Service job.
And a 100-mile-an-hour high-speed chase. Police say the driver was 11 years old and drunk. Fredricka Whitfield back from South Africa, with us in the NEWSROOM for Heidi Collins today. We get started in just minutes at the top of the hour right here on CNN.
Have a great weekend, Betty.
NGUYEN: I will. I can't wait to watch. I'll see you there very soon in Atlanta.
HARRIS: Absolutely. OK, Betty.
NGUYEN: Well, Americans love to dine out. We all know that. But those huge restaurant portions only add to the nation's obesity epidemic. Now, though, some restaurants are stepping up to help. Dr. Sanjay Gupta tells us about that in our "Fit Nation" report.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): When you eat out at a restaurant, portions seem out of control.
MARISA MOORE, REGISTERED DIETICIAN: Studies have shown that the more food that we have in front of us, the more we tend to eat.
GUPTA: Most people only need between 1,800 and 2,800 calories a day, which can easily be achieved in one sitting by eating a burger containing 1900 calories. So is it the restaurant's fault for offering giant portions or the customer's for ordering it?
COLLEEN MCSHANE, ILLINOIS RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION: Restaurants are on board to help fight obesity. But don't come in and tell them what to cook and what not to cook.
GUPTA: But some places are trying to make their menus leaner. The Seasons 52 chain doesn't have an entree over 500 calories and uses all fresh ingredients.
CLIFFORD PLEAU, SEASONS 52: Feels like the right thing to do. I feel a responsibility as a chef to be putting the right types of ingredients in the dishes that I create.
GUPTA: Applebee's restaurant has partnered with Weight Watchers to provide meals with calories, fat and fiber all listed on the menu. Even the Cheesecake Factory, known for its gut-busting deserts and portions, is trying to get skinnier, still big portions, just less calories.
JIM ZAZZARO, CHEESECAKE FACTORY: Successful restaurants have a responsibility to really offer the guests what they're going to enjoy, what they're looking for.
GUPTA: And according to the restaurant managers we spoke with, customers are still looking for size.
Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN, reporting.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROBERTS: Quick hits start with a presidential birthday wish. The commander-in-chief turns 61 today. He celebrated a little bit early last night with a trip to the ballpark watching the Washington Nationals take on the Chicago Cubs.
Some new pictures just in for you this morning of a brand new baby Panda at the research base for giant panda breeding in China. Here is the mother licking the cub. And here is the baby panda, just one day old. It's red, not the traditional black and white, that happens as it gets a little bit older.
NGUYEN: Yes, the skin is awfully red there. Will grow into his colors.
ROBERTS: Soon enough. Vice President Al Gore making some news here in AMERICAN MORNING. And that is just part of the story. Lola Ogunnaike caught up with him backstage, those details coming up next on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: Fifty-four minutes after the hour. Just a few minutes ago you saw Al Gore right here answering some of my serious questions about this weekend's big Live Earth concert, and breaking some news.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AL GORE, FMR. VICE PRESIDENT: Well, I'm happy to announce here on CNN that a surprise new concert venue is going to be the Mall in our nation's capital.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: There you go. Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood and Blues Nation going to be performing there. Our own Lola Ogunnaike caught up with Al Gore back in the green room afterwards and has some new details about what is going on with Live Earth tomorrow.
LOLA OGUNNAIKE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, well, you know, he is taking the Amtrak up from D.C., up to New York to Giants Stadium to watch the concert as well. And he was talking to me about some of the acts. They created original material for the concert tomorrow. Madonna, she is performing in London. She created a song called "Hey You." He told me the song is, "very cool." So I'm going to be checking that one out.
Also will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas, I don't know if you know him, he's a rapper, got dreadlocks, really cute guy. He's a hot producer. He...
(LAUGHTER)
OGUNNAIKE: Your homeboy, will.i.am. He created a song also. He told Al Gore he would have the song to him in seven days and he had it to him. He met his deadline to the minute, said Al Gore.
ROBERTS: I'm a lot cooler than this suit would suggest, Lola.
(LAUGHTER)
OGUNNAIKE: I know, I know. It's our little secret though, John. I know.
ROBERTS: I heard the faint strains of laughter coming from back there. What was going on?
OGUNNAIKE: I asked him what is on his iPod. He said, Melissa Etheridge, Bon Jovi, but then he also said, Mos Def, which shocked me. I can't believe he is really into the rapper. And he loved the song "Umi Says." And he started dancing and moving, so of course I had to dance with Al Gore. My one moment.
ROBERTS: Wait a minute, wait a minute...
OGUNNAIKE: And he had a rhythm! Shocker of all shockers.
ROBERTS: Hold it. That is almost like a "Saturday Night Live" skit.
OGUNNAIKE: Yes, it was great.
ROBERTS: Thinking of Al dancing to Mos Def.
OGUNNAIKE: We needed a video camera back there. It would have been YouTube in two seconds. But he has got rhythm. He invited me out to a club with him and Mos Def, so .
ROBERTS: Really, are you going to take him up on it?
OGUNNAIKE: Yes! Are you kidding me? I'll be there.
ROBERTS: Did he invite you to any of the concert venues tomorrow?
OGUNNAIKE: I'm going to be out of town. But I would be there.
ROBERTS: Lola, fascinating stuff. Al dancing to Mos Def. What a great image to take...
OGUNNAIKE: Only here.
ROBERTS: ... with you into the weekend.
OGUNNAIKE: Only here at CNN.
ROBERTS: Lola, thanks very much. Here is a quick look what "CNN NEWSROOM" is working on now for the top of the hour.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS (voice-over): See these stories in the "CNN NEWSROOM." No break in the western heat wave, 110 and beyond for Phoenix and Las Vegas. Parts of East Texas under flash flood warnings again this morning.
U.S. troops under investigation for more civilian deaths in Iraq. Who talks more, men or women? Researchers count words and come up with an answer. "NEWSROOM" just minutes away, top of the hour on CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: Just before the top of the hour now. Typically we do this by long distance. But what's coming up on your show this weekend?
NGUYEN: Yes, I'm here in person. Well, John, we've got a lot. And I hope you're watching, because we're going to be covering Live Earth all day tomorrow. You saw John speak with Al Gore just minutes ago. But we are going to take you to London, South Africa, and Australia. And of course, we'll be live from the Meadowlands for the U.S. show and hopefully we'll get a shot out of Washington, since that was a surprise addition today. So be sure to join me and T.J. Holmes for "CNN SATURDAY" and "SUNDAY MORNING," beginning at 7:00 Eastern.
ROBERTS: Thanks very much for joining us today. Thanks very much for joining us all week. And thank you very much for helping us this week.
NGUYEN: It is such a pleasure, especially to work with you in person, instead of through the television.
ROBERTS: I know it means you gave up your weekend, so we really appreciate it.
NGUYEN: And my Fourth of July. But that's OK, you're worth it, John.
ROBERTS: All right.
NGUYEN: Kiran Chetry will be back on Monday. "CNN NEWSROOM" begins right now.
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