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CNN Saturday Morning News
President Obama Blames Al Qaeda for Bombing Attempt on Northwest Airlines; Time Warner Cable and Fox Networks Work Out a Deal; Volleyball Game Bombing Kills At Least 88 in Pakistan; Attempted Break-In at Kurt Westergaard's Home
Aired January 02, 2010 - 08:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: Well, hello there. From the CNN Center, this is CNN Saturday morning. It is January 2nd. Happy new year everybody. Good morning, thanks for being here. I'm Betty Nguyen.
RICHARD LUI, CNN ANCHOR: And in 2010, you say hello like that every single morning.
NGUYEN: Hello there.
LUI: I'm Richard Lui in for T.J. Holmes.
NGUYEN: Hello to you.
LUI: That's right. Thank you Betty for starting your day with us by the way. Let's start with the president who is pointing fingers in the attempted Christmas day terror attack on Northwest flight 253. He's saying al Qaeda is responsible. We'll hear from the president. His web address, we'll have that for you straight ahead.
NGUYEN: Conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh, he is out of the hospital this morning and talking to reporters. Doctors say they found nothing wrong, after he was admit for chest pains. Limbaugh did hold a news conference and we're going to hear what he had to say.
First up, here's some of our top stories for you this morning. Time Warner cable and Fox networks have struck a deal last-minute one, that is and that means programming like "American Idol" "The Simpsons" will not be interrupted. I know you were really worried but it's all good now.
Fox had threatened though to pull its lineup unless it received a dollar per subscriber each month. The exact details of the deal, well, that is not being released but a Time Warner cable executive says the terms are reasonable. Time Warner cable is not a part of our parent company, Time Warner. It was spun off last year.
LUI: Police in Denmark who shot and wounded a 27-year-old Somali man outside of the home of controversial political cartoonist Kurt Westergaard. Police say the man is believed to have ties to terrorist groups. They say he tried to break into Westergaard's home with an ax and a knife. Westergaard, as you might remember here, is the artist whose caricature of the prophet Mohammed wearing a bomb as turban angered Muslims back in 2006. NGUYEN: Take you now to northwest Pakistan. At least 88 people, they are dead. 37 people hospitalized, after a suicide car bomb just exploded during a crowded volleyball game. Most of the victims are teenagers. Officials say the blast was felt up to 11 miles away. Several homes nearby collapsed from the force.
LUI: OK. New this morning for you the strongest statement yet connecting al Qaeda to the botched attack on Northwest flight 253 on Christmas day.
NGUYEN: In his weekly address, President Obama links the terrorist network to the Nigerian suspect, Umar Farouk Abdul Mutallab.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We know that he traveled to Yemen, a country grappling with crushing poverty and deadly insurgencies. It appears that he joined an affiliate of al Qaeda and that this group, al Qaeda and the Arabian peninsula, trained him, equipped with those explosives and directed him to attack that plane headed for America.
This is not the first time this group has targeted us. In recent years, they've bombed Yemeni government facilities and western hotels, restaurants and embassies, including our embassy in 2008, killing one American.
So as president, I've made it a priority to strengthen our partnership with the Yemeni government, training and quipping their security forces, sharing intelligence and working with them to strike al Qaeda terrorists.
Even before Christmas day, we had seen the results. Training camps have been struck. Leaders eliminated. Plots disrupted. All of those involved in the attempted act of terrorism on Christmas must know, you, too, will be held to account. These efforts are only part of a wider cause.
It's been nearly a year since I stood on the steps of the U.S. capitol and took the oath of office as your president. With that oath came the solemn responsibility that I carry with me every moment of every day, the responsibility to protect the safety and security of the American people.
On that day I also made it very clear, our nation is at war against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred and that we will do whatever it takes to defeat them and defend our country.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LUI: President Obama has ordered a top to bottom investigation in this case and he's calling in his homeland security team for a meeting on Tuesday. Meanwhile, a counterterrorism official tells CNN that Abdul Mutallab may have had direct contact with a radical Muslim cleric. Anwar Awalaki has also been linked here to the alleged Ft. Hood shooter and two 9/11 hijackers. Now embassy alerts must say whether suspicious travelers have visas to get into the United States or not. Abdul Mutallab, by the way, did have one, but that information was not passed on. So the State Department is changing the rules there.
NGUYEN: Something people are investigating how the day's suicide bomber get past security onto a U.S. base in eastern Afghanistan. That is one question facing intelligence officials in the wake of this week's deadly attack. Seven CIA officers were killed in that blast.
CNN's Atia Abawi joins me now love from Kabul, Afghanistan. And Atia, is anyone claiming responsibility for the attack?
ATIA ABAWI, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yeah, it's the Taliban. Right now it's the Afghan Taliban who sent a message on their website stating that they actually had an Afghan soldier perform that attack, an Afghan soldier that they say used to fight alongside the U.S. forces but they had him switch allegiances, saying that he saw the light, saying that the soldiers are seeing the U.S. forces aren't there to help them.
They're also stating that he was able to make it into a base, an American base, a very heavily fortified base. He was able to get into the gymnasium where he then detonated his suicide vest. The question that remains is just how he was able to get on to base.
Right now there are reports that maybe, maybe the suicide bomber was, by some means, informant for the CIA that may have switched allegiances, you could say a double agent for that matter.
But the Taliban on their website also stated that, this isn't a one-time attack. They're going to continue to infiltrate the Afghan forces. The day before this attack on Wednesday they had another Afghan soldier in western Afghanistan shoot and kill another U.S. soldier -- Betty?
NGUYEN: So the Taliban saying they're claiming responsibility, providing some information. But what do you know about the suspect? What have we determined?
ABAWI: Very, very little information coming out about who this man actually was. The only information that we're getting is from the Taliban. They're calling him a man (INAUDIBLE) that was with the Afghan army. When we spoke to the defense ministry here, they say that he couldn't have been part of the Afghan army because Afghan soldiers go through thorough checks before they enter any American base.
But the question that remains is the Taliban, they have made the threat that they will continue to infiltrate these Afghan forces and when we look at the Afghan forces right now, they're in the process of building up.
With a push from President Barack Obama, President Hamid Karzi of Afghanistan and with the other NATO-led countries, they want the Afghan forces to be at a number where they can eventually start protecting their own land and the Taliban say that they will take advantage of that.
I'll tell you right now, Betty, just a couple of weeks ago I went out with these Afghan national army recruiters and I'll tell you that it really looked more to be about quantity rather than quality. Betty?
NGUYEN: Atia Abawi joining us live from Kabul, Afghanistan, Atia, thank you so much for that. Richard.
LUI: Meteorologist Reynolds Wolf is tracking the cold temperatures. Looking at northeast, we got the Midwest.
NGUYEN: Severe cold temperatures.
LUI: Arctic stuff, is it?
(WEATHER REPORT)
NGUYEN: What were your favorite moments this year on CNN Saturday and Sunday morning? Reynolds weigh in, I weigh in, so does T.J.. Stay with us as we run the best of coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LUI: What is a morning without John Legend?
NGUYEN: I'm digging the music. It was a little stormy outside. Are you all right?
REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN METEOROLOGIST: I hope so. Ice on the desk.
NGUYEN: Lay off the caffeine, my friend. Check this out. This video, folks have been dealing with a lot on the roadways. We're going to give you a closer look right here. Driver losses control on an icy street. Fortunately there are no other vehicles nearby. How frightening is that? And they fall out of the car. How does that happen?
Maybe that's part of the problem. There's no one behind the wheel. But we understand that after it does a 360-degrees spin, it continues to go on and reverse. The building though unfortunately did block some of the view so we really don't know what happened after that. Again, might as well show it. They're trying ...
WOLF: There's a lesson.
NGUYEN: Should you really get out of a car that's spinning out of control? That's the lesson, don't do that.
WOLF: To me it would be no, resounding no. The result is not good. At least if you're inside the car, you're encapsulated by this thing of metal and plastic.
NGUYEN: And you have somewhat control, right?
WOLF: And if you're on the ground then there's the possibility of having a -- several thousand pound vehicle slide over your head which can be an issue. That can ruin your new year.
NGUYEN: A great story.
WOLF: It is a great story, great video. What more do you actually need to ring in this great new year. We've got some great stories to share with you.
NGUYEN: How about heat? It is cold out there.
(WEATHER REPORT)
NGUYEN: So listen to this, a reunion that has been 20 years in the making. It was their idea, the teacher's idea to meet back up on new year's day in 2010.
LUI: So, who lived up to that pledge? We'll take you to the reunion in two.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: Meeting them halfway. We'll see how many did. A class reunion 20 years in the making. No it's not a high school reunion, even college.
LUI: That's pretty typical, right? Folks will do that. Instead it's a bunch of third graders who made a pact with their teacher way back when. We've got more from Tonya Moseley, rather Tanya Moseley of affiliate KING in Seattle.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You know, I really didn't know exactly what to expect.
TONYA MOSELEY, KING CORRESPONDENT: The pledge was simple, meet at the Armanjar (ph) elementary school flagpole at noon on January 1, 2010.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I just put it out there to the universe.
MOSELEY: Twenty third graders and one forward-thinking teacher who has been waiting 20 years for this day.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh my gosh!
MOSELEY: Nine minutes until noon and the students start flooding in. So did the memories.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hi, sweetie. This one is actually just a bigger version of what she was.
MOSELEY: Retired third grade teacher Richard Lewis remembers just about all of his students. Even remembers the day he made the pact to meet here. What surprises him most is that they remember too.
STEPHEN MOSHAY, FORMER STUDENT: A lot of us remembered for years and brought it up and joked with each other, I mean, I'm going to have get on some people who aren't even here right now.
JENNA MATHEWS, FORMER STUDENT: Living in a time of people reconnecting on Facebook and MySpace and that sort of thing but actually coming together physically for something that was really a special memory.
MOSELEY: The students were part of the Bremerton school district's gifted program. Mr. Lewis' lessons resonating well beyond the classroom.
MARIT BOCKELIE, FORMER STUDENT: I thought I would start crying when I saw Mr. Lewis, and I did.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I was really emotional.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That's the best part of all of this is that I mean, to me, they look exactly the same just with beards and gel in their hair and stuff and kids in tow.
MOSELEY: Bright-eyed third graders now mothers, fathers and professionals.
MOSHAY: I think I could envision doing something really great and probably having kids which I do, so I was right.
MOSELEY: Seeing their faces, hearing their stories and knowing that he made a difference. Mr. Lewis says, this is what teaching is all about.
RICHARD LEWIS, RETIRED TEACHER: And it's like, it's like I finally get to get the ball and I get to go in the end zone and I get to spike it and go, I did it!
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: That is such a cool story. I can only imagine just waiting there to see which ones show up and how much they've changed obviously. They were just in third grade when he last saw them.
LUI: The satisfaction you saw on his face after so many years what they've become. It's great to actually see the before and afters too.
NGUYEN: Of each student.
LUI: He said, she's just a bigger version of what she was in third grade.
NGUYEN: Great story out there.
LUI: Absolutely.
Out with the old, in with the new. What should you do with those old gadgets you got locked away somewhere.
NGUYEN: We all have plenty of them. LUI: We got lots of them, recycle them and make some money maybe?
NGUYEN: Our tech guru Mario Armstrong shows us where to go to get rid of the outdated technology and make some cash.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LUI: OK, checking top stories right now, CNN has learned that the suspect in the Christmas day airliner bombing attempt has something in common with the Ft. Hood shooting spree suspect. A U.S. official says both made contact with a radical Muslim cleric in Yemen. Meanwhile, President Obama is reviewing the security breakdowns that allowed the suspect on board that Northwest plane last week. Security has been increased at airports around the world.
NGUYEN: Tests show nothing is wrong with Rush Limbaugh's heart. The 58-year-old conservative radio host is out of the hospital in Honolulu. He checked in on Wednesday complaining of chest pains but an angiogram showed no trace of heart problems. He had nothing but praise for the care he received.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RUSH LIMBAUGH, HOST, "THE RUSH LIMBAUGH SHOW": Based on what happened to me here, I don't think there's one thing wrong with the American health care system. It is working just fine, just dandy and I got nothing special. I got no special treatment.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: Well, doctors haven't found whatever caused Limbaugh's pain.
LUI: And the FAA is taking a closer look at American Airlines, after a string of runway mishaps. The airline had three problem landings this month alone including the in Jamaica where a plane slid off the end of the runway and broke apart you see here. Now the other two incidents were not as serious but the FAA says so many incidents in such a short amount of time prompts closer scrutiny of this airline.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LUI: That goes back.
NGUYEN: Love that song. Our producer, it's her favorite song of all time.
LUI: She's only 25.
NGUYEN: Exactly. What was she doing in 1999?
OK, so you've got a brand-new iPod or a cell phone for Christmas and want to get rid of that gadget from 1999, the bag phone. Is that when they had them?
LUI: I think so, yeah.
NGUYEN: Somewhere around there. But you don't know what to do with it, so we've got an answer for you today.
LUI: That's right. Go to our tech guru, Mario Armstrong (INAUDIBLE). He's found a way to trade in your used tech gear for some cold, hard cash.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MARIO ARMSTRONG, TECHTECHBOOM.COM: Hey, guys, here's the deal, right? You have all of your electronics that you received from the holidays. Now you're trying to figure out what do I do with all this old gadgetry that I have around. I'm going to introduce you to a new site. It's called gazelle.com, g-a-z-e-l-l-e.com and essentially they give you cash for your gadgets.
So here's how it works. You log on to the website, let's say for this example I'm looking to get rid of one of my iPods. So I can scroll through, see the iPod that I actually own and then actually fill out the form of whether or not it powers on, whether or not it works correctly, does it still play, what type of condition is the actual gadget in, whether it's in good or fair condition.
And then after I fill out that information, they'll actually give me an indication of what they'll offer me in terms of my check or my fate. So in this in case I'd get $38 for this particular iPod.
I did a few other things. I did a game, I did an older iPhone and a few other items. My total check is going to be $180 for all of the items. The way this works is that they actually will send you their own prepaid shipping and they'll also send you a box so you can put all of your gadgets right into the prepaid box, stuff it in, send it to them and then in about three to five days, you'll receive a check.
Now they only accept products from about 15 different categories everything from computers to cameras to cell phones to mp3 players, even video games and movies. But what they won't accept are things like this, big old printer. Unfortunately they don't accept printers, monitors, those CRT monitors they can do LCDs, but not CRT monitors and no fax machines because they really are being responsible as to how they recycle these products.
And so printers and CRT monitors, they haven't really worked out those relationships with good partners just yet. I've got to tell you something. If you're really feeling old school like me, you want to give away something really old, try giving away an old school Motorola flip phone. This probably goes way back. You guys remember this?
Now, look, lastly. You don't always have to just receive a check for you personally. You could receive it as an Amazon or a Wal-Mart or a Costco gift card, but even more importantly, you could give it to your favorite charity. You could actually set up your own charity website maybe for your church, your school or kid's little league soccer team. If you want to fundraise, all you got to do is have your own website set up in a couple of minutes for free on gazelle.com. People put in their electronics for recycling and the foundation or the nonprofit or the recreational entity gets the money. So it's really great for that as well. So that's gazelle.com. Recycle all those products, don't leave them around your house.
I'm Mario Armstrong. Back over to you guys.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: Sounds good. We're going to check in with Mario next Saturday around this time. Right now we want to get you a look at what we're working on for the rest the morning.
LUI: That's right Betty. The investigation continues into how a suicide bomber got on a base in Afghanistan and killed seven CIA officers.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: Hello everybody, welcome back on this new year. We've entered a new decade, not just a new year, but a new decade. Welcome to 2010. I'm Betty Nguyen.
LUI: or 2010 depending on how you want to say it. I'm Richard Lui in for T.J. Holmes on the first Saturday of the new year. Thanks for starting your day with us.
NGUYEN: So let's get right to it, some of our top stories for you this morning.
First up, Time Warner Cable and Fox Networks they have struck a deal. And that means programming like "American Idol", "The Simpsons" will not be interrupted. I know you can breathe a sigh of relief now.
Fox had threatened to pull its lineup unless it received a dollar per subscriber each month. Well, the exact details of the deal not released but a Time Warner Cable executive says the terms are quote "reasonable". Time Warner Cable is not though, a part of our parent company Time Warner; it was spun-off last year.
LUI: A 4-year-old boy hit by a stray bullet while he was in church has died. This incident happened around midnight during a New Year's Eve watch service in Georgia.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NATHALEE PETERS, SON KILLED BY STRAY BULLET: I want to say to those people who did this to my son, please come forward and say something. We need justice.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LUI: All right, the bullet came through the roof of that church and struck the child in the head. NGUYEN: Afghanistan's parliament is deciding on the country's cabinet today and they're choosing which of President Karzai's nominees will be part of the new government. Several were members of the last administration, which was hampered by allegations of widespread corruption. Now, the nominees include just one woman to the post of Minister of Women's Affairs.
LUI: All right now to the need for counterterrorism intelligence that may be behind a deadly bomb attack in eastern Afghanistan.
NGUYEN: Yes there has been a couple of claims now of who is responsible for the attack that killed seven CIA officers earlier this week. It happened at a forward operating base near the border with Pakistan.
And CNN Pentagon correspondent, Chris Lawrence has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A U.S. intelligence official tell CNN the main purpose of a CIA base like this is to recruit potential informants in planned covert operations like unmanned drones. And that may have made it a target for retaliation.
One of the prime suspects in the suicide bombing is the Haqqani Network based across the border in Pakistan where the U.S. has dramatically increased its drone attacks. The Haqqani's led by Sarraj Haqqani are aligned with the Afghan Taliban and al Qaeda and have a strong presence in Khost.
Some reports say the bomber was being recruited as a potential informant but that doesn't explain the security failure.
KEN ROBINSON, FORMER INTELLIGENCE OFFICER: There should be multiple rings of security in multiple locations and a separation between those who are working in the clandestine service and those who are being brought on to be interviewed.
LAWRENCE: Ken Robinson is a former Special Forces and CIA officer. He says a potential informant coming on the base is normally checked head to toe and someone would supervise them the entire time.
ROBINSON: These are the questions that will be answered in the next 24 to 48 hours as to what specifically broke down or whether this person had already been vetted and was already trusted and was already a member of the Afghan National Army.
LAWRENCE: The Afghan Defense Ministry says none of its forces were involved in the attack. But one Taliban group claims it convinced an Afghan Army soldier to wear the vest and blow himself up. Other reports say a different Taliban group in Pakistan is claiming responsibility saying it used a turncoat local CIA operative as a double agent.
(on camera): So why bring in potential contacts at all? Well, these are remote areas of Afghanistan, smaller villages with eyes everywhere. An American base is often the only place to have a private meeting where officers are trying to build trust with potential informants.
Chris Lawrence, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LUI: We heard a little bit from former intelligence official, Ken Robinson in Chris' report as you just saw. But I had the chance to talk more with Ken Robinson about this incident and about the first questions that have to be answered in this investigation.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROBINSON: The process by which you vet that person and secure that person and bring them through security, that's the big question as to what happened in this incident. In normal incidences they are checked from top to bottom, head to toe.
And we don't know where the breakdown was in this specific case but unfortunately, these members of the Central Intelligence Agency have to swim amongst the most surly (ph) people within the region and there are no cities out there, there's no outside place to meet.
This terrain out there is very mountainous, it's very Spartan. Anyone on the outside is going to be noticed. So the only safe place to bring somebody is inside one of those compounds.
LUI: Right.
So, Ken, what you're describing is a very nebulous situation, a very -- a lot of gray spaces. What can be done to prevent such an attack from happening again such as this?
ROBINSON: Well, these bases are supposed to have multiple rings of security. There's not supposed to be one simple gate that you walk through and then you're good to go. There should be multiple rings of security in multiple locations and a separation between those who are working in the clandestine service and those who are being brought on to be interviewed.
There shouldn't be a simple maneuver to be able to wander over to a gymnasium. There should always be someone supervising and walking with anyone that's been brought on to the base.
These are the questions that'll be answered in the next 24 to 48 hours as to what specifically broke down or whether this person had already been vetted and was already trusted and was already a member of the Afghan National Army.
It's alleged. It's not certain yet whether he was wearing a uniform or he actually was and had some form of credential and maybe had been on the base before.
(END VIDEO CLIP) LUI: Now besides CIA officers there are also employees from the State Department, the agency for International Development and the Department of Agriculture that are at that base, too, Betty.
NGUYEN: All right and you know, it is a big travel weekend. A lot of people headed home after the holidays.
And Reynolds Wolf, he is tracking it all; busy guy today. Hey there, Reynolds.
WOLF: Hey guys. And we are following some rough weather that's going to unfold in parts of New England; some heavy snowfall in store for England.
And take a look at some of these temperatures: the high today in Minneapolis, two degrees; Kansas City, 14 and Chicago, 12.
Coming up, we're going to talk more about the weather situation. Plus, what better way to ring in the New Year than by removing most of your clothing and then hopping into water that's slightly above freezing. I can't think of anything. I'm sure you can't either.
More of this celebratory madness coming up in a few moments right here on CNN SATURDAY MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LUI: I'm glad you're the one doing it because if I had to dance it would be much worse. You're making me look good here.
WOLF: I'm a dancing machine, that's what they call me.
LUI: That's what they call you...
WOLF: Yes.
LUI: ... dancing machine Reynolds Wolf.
Hey, let's take a look at some video. This is -- it's a little bit cold right? You have been telling us how cold it's been around the country. And folks are jumping into that. Evidently, they're not afraid of this cold weather. Hundreds of swimmers taking part in the Polar Bear Plunge in the chilly waters off the Tybee Island in Georgia.
There are colder places I know too.
WOLF: Yes and in fact, I think their doing it in Tybee Island, also up in Coney Island New York, they're jumping in there. Santa has joined, I don't know about the elves but I know Santa's there. No sign of Rudolph. And you know, I think sometimes that wardrobe is a very important choice when you do something like this.
You probably go for the Santa costume, leave the Speedo at home and just probably the more clothes, the better, I'm thinking. LUI: More clothes. And I'd stay away from it altogether this is just too much for me. I do not -- do not like this cold weather. But if you want to be a polar bear you've got to do it.
WOLF: Yes, I mean, everyone's got their own flavor. Some people like to jump in the water in freezing conditions others like to sit on the couch and eat a bag of Cheetohs. I'm a Cheetoh guy. That's definitely the route I would go.
LUI: On that note.
WOLF: Yes, we've got a lot to share with you. The cold weather is going to be just brutal in parts of the upper plains, Richard, I mean, this is going to be just unreal. Some places are well below zero. We're going to get to that in a few moments.
And we can't -- let's take a tower camera shot from around the nation that's going to give you a good idea of what we have. We've got New York is looking good and Atlanta look straight.
Here's a shot that will have for you in New York at Central Park, frigid winter temperatures. That's what the sign says. And certainly it's cold in New York where the highs today going up to 30 degrees. But when you get back into the Central Plains and upper Midwest, it is ghastly.
I mean, if you're a fan of cold weather, I've got you. But I mean, this is unreal. I mean, look at this, 33 degrees below zero; Bismarck, 22 below; Pierre, South Dakota at 11 below; Sioux Falls at minus 24. It gets a little better and I mean, if you want to consider better being 12 below in Des Moines.
But things are going to improve in terms of your high temperatures going up to about 12 degrees in Chicago; two to 12 in Minneapolis; 42 in Denver and 33 in Salt Lake City. But on the coast, pretty mild both in Los Angeles so when you get back out to the east, same deal for you in Miami, 65 degrees; New York and Boston mainly into the 30s.
Now, in terms of your travel weather, the rough spot is going to right up here in parts of New England, where you have this area of low pressure that's sitting up off the coast. It's going to be a very snowy time for you especially in upstate Maine. Up to a foot of snow, 34-mile-per-hour wind gusts, it could give you a whiteout conditions along parts of I-95. Keep that in mind.
For much of the Great Lakes, look for some precipitation; certainly not too heavy until you get to western Michigan. Lake effect snowfall could be a problem there. Heavy snow possible for the Central Plains into the central Rockies but then, back into Texas it's a mix of sunshine and clouds; same story for the southeast but still very cold on this January 2nd.
All right, you're up to speed, let's sent it back to you guys.
NGUYEN: Very cold is putting it mildly. WOLF: Absolutely.
NGUYEN: We're talking below, what, 32, below?
WOLF: 32 below for International Falls. Shout out.
NGUYEN: Yes, hopefully they're inside watching this...
LUI: Oh yes.
NGUYEN: ... and not going out anywhere.
All right. Thank you, Reynolds.
WOLF: Yes.
LUI: Our check on the top stories right now, we go to Denmark, where Danish police shot and wounded a 27-year-old Somali man outside the home of controversial political cartoonist Kurt Westergaard (ph). Police say the man is believed to have ties to terrorist groups.
They say they he tried to break into Westergaard's home with an ax and a knife. Westergaard, as you might remember here, is the artist whose caricature of the prophet Mohammed wearing a bomb as a turban angered Muslims back in 2006.
NGUYEN: At Seattle's Sea-Tac International Airport, officials have reopened the security gates and ticket counters that were shut down yesterday because of a stand-off. Police say this man as you're about to see -- that one right there without a shirt barricaded himself inside a concourse bathroom because he wanted to fly somewhere but didn't have money for a ticket.
He voluntarily surrendered after two and a half hours. The incident did not cause any flight delays.
LUI: And now to a security concern that forces the United Airlines express flight headed for Chicago to return to St. Louis. A company official says a computer glitch made them check in passengers manually. But when the computer started working mid flight again they then realized a passenger's name matched one on the TSA's restricted list.
Well, after an hour and a half the plane took off again after they determined the passenger was not the same person on that list.
All right, chances are, you're going to watch a ball game today, at least one.
NGUYEN: Yes, today and then of course you've got to watch the national championship with my Longhorns on Thursday.
LUI: Are they playing?
NGUYEN: Oh get out of here. But which ball game are you going to be tuning into today? We're going to find out. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LUI: Starting you up at 8:44 Eastern time.
We want to start with some college bowl season information. It's in full swing, as you know. And this weekend, two games stand out, not just because of the players, but because of the very different coaches who got them to the championships.
The Texas Tech Red Raiders playing the Alamo Bowl tonight but without just-fired Coach Mike Leach. And then there's Florida Gators' Urban Meyer. He starts his indefinite lead after trouncing Cincinnati in last night's Sugar Bowl.
Rich Horrow is a sports business analyst and visiting sports expert at Harvard Law School and he joins us live with more on that.
Happy New Year, my friend.
RICK HORROW, CNN SPORTS BUSINESS ANALYST: Happy New Year to you my friend. We have a lot of bowls -- we have 34 bowls culminating next Thursday. Alabama plays somebody. Oh yes, Texas Tech.
LUI: She just walked away.
HORROW: I know she just walked away. I understand.
LUI: Let's start with the story that's bubbling in the last week. Mike Leach, very public, he got fired, he capped a week of controversy about the way he treated one of his stars, Adam James, as to whether he was confined after suffering from a concussion. What's ahead for us on that? Because they go to this game without a coach basically.
HORROW: Well, facts are in dispute, that's what lawyers love, that's what they say. It will go to mediation. The bottom line from a business perspective is Mike Leach just signed an extension. He would have gotten an $800,000 bonus had he coached the game. Not coaching the game. They have an interim coach.
Clearly on the sidelines. A lot of the players say they'd rather have that interim guy. They'll look for another coach already. There are some that have expressed interest. But it's all about the dollars.
And obviously, is he fired for cause for how he treated that athlete or is it retribution against a very adversary negotiation with Texas Tech. It depends on who you believe.
LUI: Let's move to Urban Meyer. Urban Meyer, of course, the coach of Gators and they did so well last night. He's going to be on an indefinite leave. Without their top man there, what is this going to mean for the business of the Gators?
HORROW: Well, the business of the Gators is pretty significant. They hit me for this Gator Snuggie that set me back a few dollars, by the way. But it's also $110 million business and Urban Meyer is $4 million a year allowed them to give money back to the program.
So is his taking a small hiatus, a big hiatus? People don't know. Most people expect him to come back quickly so they don't jeopardize the recruits. Tim Tebow's gone. The rest of it is a well- oiled machine. The Gators are doing just fine.
LUI: All right. You're saying Meyer $4 million; $110 million business they have going on there. That begs the question about the business of college coaches and how much they earn. We've had a lot of interesting, shall we say, contracts that have been penned in last two years.
HORROW: Yes, well, let's talk about that penning right? You have 25 coaches making more than $2 million a year. That's double from the previous year.
Look at Mack Brown (ph) at Texas -- are you listening Betty -- $5.1 million, 10-year deal. It's outrageous. You're freezing teachers' salaries, 4 percent increase in tuition. But $111 million of revenue, they're making $9 million a year of surplus, you wouldn't do that but for Mack Brown. He's fighting for the national championship. Most people say he's worth every penny. Not just as a teacher but the head of a midsized corporation.
LUI: These are schools. How do they pay for high salaries? $5.1 million.
HORROW: Well, a lot of these coaches are saying very quickly that they're generating the dollars themselves. The television shows, the radio shows, the endorsements and obviously there are other ways to measure; the increase in enrollment, the awareness and the publicity that's generated.
So it's a debate, by the way, Richard, that will not end. I wish I had a little bit of those dollars.
LUI: Well we all have hope.
Rick Horrow, you're not going to go anywhere because you're going to tell us which stories you expect to be watching this coming year. We'll continue our conversation with the man right now in about two minutes.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LUI: All right.
The year is young and the best is yet to come, certainly because we're starting 2010. We're back with our resident expert who always knows sports and what the stories are that we need to watch in 2010.
Rick Horrow, back with us for a second part of the segment; of course, he's visiting professor at Harvard Law School.
Rick, 2010, the first thing we've got going on is the Super Bowl, but the Super Bowl organizers, they're trying to help another game. HORROW: Well, it's an NFL decision to try to generate $500 million of economic impact in south Florida, have the Pro Bowl first, Super Bowl second, first time that's ever happened on the mainland and event back-to-back. We're not sure how it's going to work; we'll check the ratings afterward.
We know the Super Bowl's a big deal and we know the Pro Bowl's a big lead-in. We'll just have to see as a big story.
LUI: Hawaii was a nice place. That's kind of interesting there where the Pro Bowl was before.
Let's move on to Danica Patrick who joins the Nascar circuit. Can she translate that success? And there's certainly difference in culture.
HORROW: Well, yes. But the bigger story is Nascar as it survives and thrives. This time last year we're talking about whether Nascar's going to survive the cut in all their sponsorships and bank sponsorships.
The did -- viewership on the decline a little bit. Jimmie Johnson won four straight. Now Danica starting with the nationwide series and will run on the Nascar series starting in February. Should have some great ratings. Should have some diversity. She certainly does draw, and it couldn't come at a better time for Nascar.
LUI: So as the weather is cold outside, you may not be doing so many Nascar races because it is kind of chilly. Folks will be watching the winter Olympics; staying inside, watching what's happening in Vancouver.
But this stuff is expensive. One of the year's most costliest -- that's redundant there -- one of the year's costliest sporting events that's out there right?
HORROW: Wow, Richard and the most costliest trends -- transcendental into meteorology. It's cold.
$2 billion of cost, 5,000 athletes, 80 countries right after the Super Bowl and we're ready for the winter Olympics. By the end of February we're going to talk about Shaun White (ph) and Apollo Antonono (ph) and all of those winter guys most of us put away for 4 years. We're bringing them back in Vancouver.
LUI: I can't wait for that.
Let's move to the most biggest sports -- I'm using all those redundant words there -- and talk about soccer. It's hitting Africa for the first time.
HORROW: Yes. Well, listen the World Cup is clearly the preeminent sporting event on the planet. $425 million in prize money distributed to all of these countries that are in the top x number of positions. But more important is South Africa ready for the biggest games in their history? Will it be a monumental flop or will it open Africa up into mega-events? That is very important for worldwide sponsorship; $750 billion sports business. This event next summer defines that business in many ways.
LUI: A lot of people watching that. And finally you were sitting on the set when the Tiger story broke. Boy, what does that mean for the PGA?
HORROW: Well, what it means for the PGA is they have to start crisis management every day. What it means to Tiger is that -- he still EA Sports, he's got Nike. Let's not hold a bake sale for a guy that make $100 million a year.
But let's understand that this is bigger issue than just Tiger. It's image. Remember Agassi's issues, Phelps' issues, A-Rod, Manny Ortiz. For corporations contracts are shorter, smaller, and easier to terminate. And the whole image issue generally seems to me to be the biggest story of 2010 looking into this whole crystal ball.
LUI: Rick Horrow, thank you so much.
HORROW: All right. See you guys next week.
LUI: Have a great new year. Bye.
NGUYEN: In the 9:00 half hour of CNN SATURDAY MORNING, we focus on health care and how Americans are struggling to get covered.
LUI: And we'll have the story of one doctor who has his own way of making house calls to a tiny island. He flies and takes a car to the only clinic there.
NGUYEN: And what were your favorite moments this year on CNN SATURDAY and SUNDAY MORNING? Well, we are running the best of with me, Reynolds and T.J. You don't want to miss this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: So it's not New Year's Day, it's the day after but still, we're in a new decade, looking forward to that.
This morning though we had a special treat for you at 6:00 a.m. As we began the New Year we wanted to reflect on some of the best interviews and memories of 2009. Reynolds you got in on the act.
WOLF: Absolutely. Sure did. What a year.
NGUYEN: We had a lot of fun at that as we reported on really some remarkable stories around the world last year. Take a look at a little bit of our special.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: We're going to take a look back at the year in review some of the big of the stories of the year; also some of the stories that we enjoy covering.
T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: Some of the biggest, I get the biggest, no doubt about it President Obama our first black president of the U.S. inaugurated in January. A lot of coverage dedicated to that.
But we covered the big stories. But there were a lot of stories, big and small, that we just enjoyed. We're going to be sharing those during this hour.
NGUYEN: We went across the nation and the different countries that you're covering stories.
WOLF: Like Mexico.
NGUYEN: Like Mexico. Weather-related stories.
WOLF: Yes, I mean there's a really quiet hurricane season but you had the opportunity to go to Mexico and cover Hurricane Jimena.
And you know while you're on assignment there I was actually in Southern California covering the station fire...
NGUYEN: The wild fire.
WOLF: Yes. One of the most damaging fires in Southern California history; I mean wide spread damage and we're going to take you back to the scene.
NGUYEN: But another big story that we cannot forget about this year, of course, is Michael Jackson, the death of Michael Jackson.
HOLMES: Another one of the biggest stories in the country. The network, certainly all of us, in some way, form or fashion, were part of the coverage. I got the opportunity to go to Harlem, New York. The Apollo Theater, this historic place is actually where Michael Jackson got his start.
The Jackson Five, just a wee little guy was out there singing on stage where the world first got to see Michael Jackson's talent.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: That's just a little taste of our year in review special. It's a really great show, guys. If you missed it, please take a chance to catch it tomorrow morning 6:00 to 7:00 a.m. Eastern time. If you've got Tivo, you won't have to complain about getting up so early although we don't mind getting up early, right?
WOLF: Not at all.
LUI: We had a busy year, when you guys look back at that stuff.
NGUYEN: You know we should -- we never added it up but we should all of the miles we traveled last year to cover these stories.
WOLF: Yes, you think so. I mean One end of the continent to the other, some of us have been around the planet dealing with stories.
NGUYEN: Yes. Good stuff. It was A great year.
This morning we've been asking you, what's your new year's resolution as we have entered into 2010? Let's take a quick look at what some of you are saying. Let's go to my Facebook page.
I like this from Mark&Laura, he says my resolution is strive to be the person my little dogs think I am; to practice compassion for others.
I don't know about Kianna, she says to brush my teeth at least twice daily. It's easy for me to forget sometimes. On my Twitter side Dongrasso (ph) says I resolve to try to get a life in 2010.
But Nico42 says, "What's my favorite resolution? Don't make one. Live life to the fullest; no short cuts allowed." I like that, no shortcuts allowed. One shot at it, folks. Have a good time with it. I enjoy those resolutions that you've sent in this morning. Keep them coming. We'll be reading them on the air. Have you guys made resolutions?
LUI: I don't make them.
WOLF: I don't make them. Always.
NGUYEN: What is it?
WOLF: To tell you the truth, to celebrate family. We've lost a family member this year. My dad is battling cancer, just to enjoy those people you love the most.
NGUYEN: Absolutely.
WOLF: Take advantage of every single second. Absolutely.
LUI: Well said.
NGUYEN: It might sound kind of lame because I was just going to eat healthier. But I think I like yours. All right, guys. Well, keep them coming. We'll be reading them on the air. From the CNN Center, this is CNN SATURDAY MORNING.
Hello, everybody. And welcome back, it's January 2nd. Happy new year. Good morning, thanks for being with us. I'm Betty Nguyen.
LUI: Yes. Very good Saturday to you. I'm Richard Lui, in for T.J. Holmes. on this weekend. Thanks for starting your day with us. It's 9:00 in the east, 6:00 for everyone waking up in the west coast. A lot of things happening.
NGUYEN: Absolutely. This half hour, our attention to health care as we do every Saturday at 9:00 a.m.. And this morning, we're going to look at fitness, why? Well, most of you begin the year thinking OK, I'm either going to lose weight, I'm going to be healthy. I'm going to do this, that, the other. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My 2010 resolution is to weigh 179 pounds, sell 50 houses, and improve my relationship with my lovely wife.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: My goodness. That is quite a few resolutions wrapped all up in one.
LUI: That last two are a little heavy.
NGUYEN: Yes, they all seem kind of tough. But hey, you know what, it's the beginning of a new year. We can get through it. We can make them happen.
LUI: Absolutely.
NGUYEN: So if your new year's resolution is to shed a few pounds specifically, we're going to show you how you can keep your goal in a practical way. And that is so key. Because we're all going to think I'm going to do this and then when real life sets in, it's like I think I cheated on that resolution.
LUI: Yes. In theory, resolutions are nice, but how do you do it?
NGUYEN: Make it happen.
LUI: Also, this half hour, the number of H1N1 cases. They are going down. We'll take a look at which states where this strain of flu is also on the decline here.
NGUYEN: Yes, but first, let's get you a quick look at your top stories that we are following for you this morning. Brazil's president is sending in the military to help people trapped by heavy rains and deadly mudslides. Just look at that there. These are pictures of the devastation at a popular tourist resort not far from Rio de Janeiro. At least 45 people have died as a result of the flooding and hundreds are homeless.
LUI: A four-year-old boy hit by a stray bullet while he was in church has died. The incident happen around midnight during new year's eve watch service in Georgia.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PETERS: I want to say to those people who did this to my son, please come forward and say something. We need justice.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LUI: All right. Well that bullet came through the roof of the church and struck the child in the head. NGUYEN: What a tragic story there. We are getting some compelling pictures from inside a hospital in Pakistan where the victims of a deadly suicide blast are being treated. At least 93 people are dead, 34 others hospitalized after a car bomb exploded at a crowded volleyball game. This happened at an area near the Afghan border that used to be a hub for militants. Police believe the organizers are of a Taliban crackdown may have been the target.
LUI: And President Obama, he's ready to get back to work, not that he really had a lot of downtime during his Hawaiian vacation.
NGUYEN: Yes, scare.
LUI: When he gets back to Washington next week, it's back to the grind on health care.
NGUYEN: Yes, the president vowed to start working on a compromised bill before Congress even gets back to their break. Health care is just one of the big issues that shaped the year.
And CNN White House correspondent Ed Henry has more.
ED HENRY, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Betty and Richard, this working vacation has been more work and less vacation. A reminder of the 24/7 nature of the presidency. But one of Mr. Obama's good friend is urging him to slow down in 2010.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HENRY (voice-over): As the president rests up for his second year in office, one of his closest allies here in Hawaii is expressing concern about the pace of year one.
SEN. DANIEL INOUYE (D), HAWAII: I think he's done exceedingly well, although as one who has been there for 50 years now, he is pushing himself too hard.
HENRY: The charge, he has too much on his plate, usually comes from Republicans. This time it's Democrat Daniel Inouye who speaks with authority after serving in the Senate with 10 presidents now.
Five months ago, we're at some very informal gathering and the president looked at me and says, well, Dan, how am I doing? And I had to tell him, Mr. President, the campaign is over. I've yet to find any presidential candidate who carries out every political promise.
HENRY: In some ways the first year has resembled the campaign. The president barnstorming the country to sell the largest economic recovery and health care plans in history. All the while scoffing at notion he's taking on too much after inheriting two wars and the financial crisis.
OBAMA: I'd love if these problems were coming at us one at a time instead of five or six at a time. It's more than most Congresses and most presidents have to deal with in a lifetime. But we have been called to govern in extraordinary times. HENRY: Besides he promised major change. And after a historic victory and a big Democratic majorities, there's something to be said for striking while the iron is hot.
MARK PRESTON, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL EDITOR: He came in with sky- high approval ratings and if he was going to get anything done it was going to happen this year.
HENRY: Those approval ratings have come back down to earth. And on this Hawaiian vacation, the president has been trying to get some down time. But the Christmas day terror incident intervened and now the president has added an overhaul of the intelligence community to his already full agenda.
OBAMA: It's becoming clear that the system that has been placed for years now is not sufficiently up to date.
HENRY: This is why the old pro Daniel Inouye says 2010 will be all about resetting priorities.
INOUYE: The second year will be one where the first year will have to be clarified.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HENRY: White House aides said the president will zero in on jobs in 2010. Perhaps a sign that he's heard the concern of some Democrats who want him to sharpen the focus on the economy while still tackling other challenges. Betty, Richard.
NGUYEN: All right. Well, U.S. health officials are hoping to grab football fans and their loved ones with a new message about H1N1 prevention. The Department of Health and Human Services is running an ad during four bowl games. The ad encourages all Americans to get vaccinated against the H1N1 flu.
LUI: And perhaps a bit of good news. We're seeing a definite lull in H1N1 activity right now. The CDC reporting that the H1N1 flu is widespread in only four states. New Jersey, Delaware, Virginia, and Maine. That's down from seven states in the previous week. And a high of 48 states earlier this fall.
But the CDC still says it's important to get vaccinated because we could still see another spike in flu activity along the way. A little bit of good news there, Betty.
NGUYEN: Yes, especially considering the temperatures outside, the last thing you want to do is be stuck inside with someone who has the flu.
Meteorologist Reynolds Wolf is tracking the cold, very cold temperatures, downright freezing and below in some parts. Right, Reynolds?
WOLF: Absolutely. Having the cooties and at the same time dealing with frigid conditions not a great combination. But that's what people are going to be dealing with, not cooties, but cold air. In parts of the upper plains, looking at 33 degrees below zero in Fargo right now. 12 below in Minneapolis. And 24 in Sioux Falls. I'm going to let you know when it's going warm up and what you can expect around the nation in just a few moments. See you soon.
LUI: Breaking out the third grade sort of term there.
NGUYEN: The cooties.
WOLF: The cooties, you got to watch out for them.
NGUYEN: Reynolds, tell us what your new year's resolution?
WOLF: Again, just enjoying family. You know, because you never know how long you're going to have with them, make it the most every single day. That and be the best weather guy I can possibly be.
NGUYEN: I love it. OK. So that's what we're asking our viewers this morning. Tell us what is their new year's resolution. That number one thing that they hope to do this year and hopefully you haven't already broken it. We'll continue to read some of those on the air. So hit me up on my Facebook and Twitter page. And we're going to look into health care in just a few minutes.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: Hey, for some of you, I don't have to tell you this, because you already know it, waking up to some cold temperatures. So let's check in with meteorologist Reynolds Wolf in the severe weather center. It's called severe for a reason, especially today.
WOLF: Yes, exactly. I mean, it's one of those things that you step outside, it feels like your face is about to freeze off your skull.
NGUYEN: That's why you don't step outside.
WOLF: Oh, yes. Exactly. This is the reason why you have heaters and insulation and all that kind of stuff. 26 degrees for the neighbors in the north in Winnipeg. And as you go farther south and Fargo and Bismarck, and even to Pierre, South Dakota and even Sioux Falls, the story is the same. We're looking at just a brutal onslaught of cold air that continues to drive into the center part of the nation.
In Des Moines, not much better. We are going to see things moderate later on today, going up to two degrees in Minneapolis. 12 for Chicago. And 14 in Kansas City. Now, when you get towards Boston, New York, we're seeing temperatures warming along the coast, mainly in the 30s. But that really isn't a big story in that part of the country.
The big story we have for you in that part of the country is some heavy snowfall that is going to fall in places like Maine. We got video to prove it. Take a look at this shot that we have. This is not far from i-95. And you see the salt trucks out there, the spreaders, getting ready to make an onslaught on the roads, trying to keep the snow at bay.
They could see a foot of snow before tomorrow afternoon and with a lot of people using that major conduit, that i-95 corridor, trying to go from place to place. It may be very tough out there but when you couple that heavy snowfall with wind gusts that may top 30, 40 miles per hour, you might have whiteout conditions which is not really a big deal if you're a skier or a sledder like these families but you're trying to drive in maybe a tough time.
That should probably be your best source of transportation right there on a sled. Safely away from cars, in open fields, that's the way to do it. We'll have more on your forecast coming up very soon. Let's send it back to you guys.
NGUYEN: All right. Reynolds, we will be here. See you a little bit later.
Well, as one of your new year's resolutions to get fit this year or maybe to work out more?
LUI: Yes, yes.
NGUYEN: Well, you are in luck because former Mr. Natural Olympia. Yes, Mr. Natural Olympia, is here with some tips on how to track your progress. Don't go away.
LUI: Natural Olympia?
NGUYEN: Yes. We'll explain.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(MUSIC PLAYING)
LUI: On Cheryl's note there, what do you want to change in the new year? We asked people in the Atlanta area if they had any new year's resolutions. This is what they said ...
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My 2010 resolution is to weigh 179 pounds, sell 50 houses, and improve my relationship with my lovely wife.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I made a resolution this year not to make one.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Always be positive, be happy. Don't let anybody or anything bother you and then step in your way, just keep going forward and never look back.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: To lose weight, to go on a diet.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My new year's resolution is to learn Mandarin Chinese. I'm headed to China, to study abroad three, four months.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: To eat healthier and be happier, no matter what happens. Life's always good.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I want to stop smoking. I've been smoking for 20 years and to help other people that's in need that's unfortunate than I.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: All right. So save more, spend less, eat less, work out more, you know the drill. New year means new year's resolutions. But according to a prominent survey, 40 percent of us will fall off the wagon before the end of this month. Really? All right.
Fitness guru Jerry Anderson wrote the book "The Joy of Fitness for Women" and this morning, his goal is keeping all of us women and men on track with our fitness goals for the new year. Hey there, Jerry.
JERRY ANDERSON, AUTHOR, "THE JOY OF FITNESS FOR WOMEN": What's up, Betty?
NGUYEN: I had to put this out there. 50 years old, look at this guy. I mean, he's kept his new year's resolution.
ANDERSON: 51.
NGUYEN: Apparently. And I will tell you, my resolution was to eat, you know, healthier. You know, be a new me in the new year. I kind of fell off of that. I ate a whole bag of chips and a candy bar on the plane yesterday. So for people like me, how do we keep it practical when our new year's resolution is to get healthy?
ANDERSON: Betty, the first thing you've got to do, you got to focus on fiber. Those chips, that's not what you want to do. You got to have more fiber.
NGUYEN: I know.
ANDERSON: Most Americans consume only 10 grams of fiber a day. You should have 25 to 35 grams of fiber every day, Betty. It is amazing. If you get your fiber up, the fat will go down. You'll be in great shape. It's real easy to do. And the fiber is the main part. It will help you fill up without filling out. You know, when I was reading a story the other day about Ruben Studdard of "American Idol." You remember him, right?
NGUYEN: Yes. I remember him.
ANDERSON: He was saying that after "American Idol" he gained 100 pounds, Betty.
NGUYEN: Oh my goodness. He didn't have much fiber in his diet apparently.
ANDERSON: Right. Exactly. There you go. And he started eating fruit, vegetables, and grains, and in one year, he lost 100 pounds.
NGUYEN: That is amazing. OK. what does this mean, shoot for 500? What is that all about?
ANDERSON: This is a biggie. Shoot for 500. The key that is that it takes 3500 calories in reduction for you to lose one pound of fat. Because most people are trying to lose three or four founds. You only need to lose a pound of fat a week, for every week. And 500 is going to reduce your daily calorie intake 500 calories. Every single day. So every seven days, you lose one pound of fat. Then in five weeks, that's five pounds. In 10 weeks, that's 10 pounds. A really easy thing to do.
Excuse me, Betty. And this is what five pounds of fat looks like.
NGUYEN: Let me see. Let me see. Hold that up higher.
ANDERSON: Boom, boom, boom, boom. This is what five pounds of fat looks like.
NGUYEN: That is disgusting.
ANDERSON: In five weeks, it's gone.
NGUYEN: Yes. Throw it away.
ANDERSON: So you have to burn it off like butter. Yes, release the grease.
NGUYEN: Just throw it. Chunk it. We don't want to see that. Chunk it. We're trying to get rid of the fat here. So, OK -
ANDERSON: Here's the easy way to do it. Here's the thing. Reduce your calorie intake by 300.
NGUYEN: Got you.
ANDERSON: Then burn extra 200 calories. There's your 500 calories.
NGUYEN: Got you. Very good.
ANDERSON: That's the way to do it.
NGUYEN: You were saying something else here. And I want to know exactly how do you do this, exercise while watching television.
ANDERSON: Very important.
NGUYEN: Besides staying on a treadmill, how do you do that? From your couch, that's where I like to sit and watch TV.
ANDERSON: You know, you get up. March in place.
NGUYEN: OK.
ANDERSON: Between commercials, do jumping jacks.
NGUYEN: There's no excuse, right?
ANDERSON: Do exercises. Yes, you have to get up every time you grab the remote and turn the television, jump on the treadmill or life cycle (INAUDIBLE), and burn those calories off. It's very important. Because the bottom line is 70 percent of Americans are overweight, obese. And they're going to keep it going. So it's going to be a problem.
You figure, I mean, 2010, we've got 70 percent, what's going to be at 15? We have to shut it off and reverse this problem. So you have to exercise and watch television and you'll burn an amazing amount of calories. Do it. If you don't do it, you're going to get bigger, bigger.
NGUYEN: I hear you. And number four on the list is ...
ANDERSON: Yes.
NGUYEN: Hit the weights. Number five, visualize yourself succeeding. That's a really key part of it all. You succeeded. You were, what, Mr. Natural? It's not Olympia, Mr. Natural Universe.
ANDERSON: Yes.
NGUYEN: Explain to us what that means?
ANDERSON: Well, Mr. Natural Universe means in those competition there's no drugs. You can't use no steroids, everybody's drug tested. You got to take a urinalysis and there is no drugs. This is all natural.
NGUYEN: So you're the real deal.
ANDERSON: The real deal. This is not given like a fake fur or a glass diamond. This is the real thing. But Betty, what you've got to do is another big part is you got to hit the weights.
NGUYEN: Yes.
ANDERSON: A lot of people don't realize that the weight training is the part that burns. You need muscle mass. Because the muscle burns the calories. Think about this. If you increase five pounds of muscle in weight training. You'll burn extra 20 pounds of fat in one year. It's unbelievable.
NGUYEN: Yes. It really is.
ANDERSON: That's the way to do it.
NGUYEN: Not only hit the weights but like is said, you have to visualize yourself succeeding. Wish we have more time to talk. But hey, happy new year to you.
ANDERSON: Happy new year to you, Betty. NGUYEN: And we appreciate you helping us getting fit in 2010.
ANDERSON: OK. And visualize your success.
NGUYEN: As you visualize your guns. OK. Talk to you soon.
ANDERSON: All right.
NGUYEN: What is your new year's resolution? That is the topic on my Facebook page this morning. E-mail me at Facebook.com or you can go to my Twitter site as well. We're going to read some of your resolutions in just three minutes.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LUI: We've got your top stories this hour.
CNN has learned that the suspect in the Christmas day airliner bombing attempt has something in common with the Ft. Hood shooting spree suspect. A U.S. official says both made contact with a radical Muslim cleric in Yemen. Meanwhile President Obama is reviewing the security breakdowns that allowed the suspect on board the Northwest plane last week. Security has been increased at airports around the world.
NGUYEN: Well, tests show nothing is wrong with Rush Limbaugh's heart. The 58-year-old conservative radio host is out of the hospital in Honolulu. He checked in on Wednesday complaining of chest pains but an angiogram showed no trace of heart problems. He had nothing but praise for the medical staff.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LIMBAUGH: I feel very, very fortunate. I've been treated to the best health care the world has to offer and that is right here in the United States of America.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LUI: All right. And another sigh of relief, Time Warner Cable and Fox Networks have struck a deal. That means that programming like "American Idol," "The Simpsons" will not be interrupted on your TV. Fox, as you might know, had threatened to pull its lineup unless it received a dollar per subscriber each and every month, that can add up to a lot of money.
Well, the exact details of this final deal have not been released as of yet but a Time Warner Cable executive saying that terms are reasonable. Time Warner Cable, by the way, is not a part of our parent company Time Warner. That was spun off earlier last year.
NGUYEN: So our focus this half hour on health care continues with a story of one doctor who has his own way of making house calls to a tiny island. He flies, then takes a car to the only clinic there. You have to see this story.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: You know, in an age when doctors no longer make house calls, Dr. David Nichols does that and so much more.
LUI: Yes. And he makes chopper calls to a small Chesapeake Bay island, and he's also involved in building a legacy to last long after his final run here. We got reporter Oren Lieberman of affiliate WAVY. He has that story for us.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We're just a close-knit community.
OREN LIEBERMAN, WAVY REPORTER (voice-over): The Chesapeake Bay defines Tangier Island.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's like one big family.
LIEBERMANN: A small patch of sand 12 miles away from the mainland. The town relies on the surrounding water for its commerce, its communication, and its culture.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There's nothing phony and there's no secrets.
LIEBERMANN: But if the bay brings life to Tangier, Dr. David Nichols brings health.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They don't have a lot of money here.
LIEBERMANN: Every Thursday for the last 30 years ...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: But you know, they're not poor in spirit.
LIEBERMANN: ...Dr. Copter has donated his time flying the 15 minutes to the island's deserted airstrip.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The only way to go.
LIEBERMANN: Taking one of the island's only cars to its only clinic.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let's take a look at what's going on in that ear.
LIEBERMANN: An expertise in medicine.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There's a little bit of sweet potato in that one.
LIEBERMANN: First brought him here to practice ...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Deep breath.
LIEBERMANN: A passion for its people kept him coming back.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. That's good. LIEBERMANN: Everyone doubted the doc when he promised he'd be a regular. After all, the clinic need as much help as some of the patients.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I want to listen to your heart for a minute.
LIEBERMANN: But two things, no one imagined all those years ago, how important he'd become to these people.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: All right. Dr. Nichols.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do you like Dr. Nichols?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: High five. High give.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Take some deep breaths for me.
LIEBERMANN: And how important they'd become to him.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Come on.
LIEBERMANN: In a place too tight-knit for strangers and too small for crime they have a far bigger problem.
For Bonnie Landon, it's her knees. Many others it's heart disease or diabetes, medical problems that go unchecked or untreated.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. Good enough.
LIEBERMANN: Today, Bonnie waits for Dr. Nichols.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Good to see you.
LIEBERMANN: Bonnie suffered 15 years from arthritis in her knees until she got Medicare, treatment was too expensive.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm proud as a peacock.
(LAUGHTER)
LIEBERMANN: But sometimes wealth isn't found if a wallet.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I can really walk without it.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: let's see. Don't be falling down now.
LIEBERMANN: It thrives in the spirit.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is great.
LIEBERMANN: And it's always been payment enough for Dr. Nichols.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You're a good woman. LIEBERMANN: Despite the title, David Nichols is no longer a doctor on the island. He's a father, an advocate. On a shrinking island in the Chesapeake Bay, in a dwindling town at its center.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Inez, come on over here.
LIEBERMANN: Dr. David Nichols made it his mission ...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's a lot of wood.
LIEBERMANN: ...to build something that would last.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's been a long time. A long time coming.
LIEBERMANN: The concrete foundation for Tangier's new clinic is a result of years of fundraising.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: But it's well worth it.
LIEBERMANN: An insurance policy for people who have no insurance.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He's just always been there. He's always been there for the people when they needed him the most.
LIEBERMANN: With a heart as big as the Chesapeake Bay is blue.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think I've gotten an awful lot from the island.
LIEBERMANN: Dr. David Nichols found a way to care for a island.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Much more than the island than probably I've given.
LIEBERMANN: Long after he leaves the people he's grown to love -
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's a blessing.
LIEBERMANN: For the last time.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: David Nichols is a whole much better person because of this. He has been blessed. Truly.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: What a man there. Great story. OK. We're going to be back in 30 minutes though when CNN SATURDAY MORNING continues.
LUI: A lot more. But first "YOUR BOTTOM LINE" with CNN personal finance editor Gerri Willis. That starts right now for you.
