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Investments for Uncertain Times; Oil Spill Developments; Gulf Birds Stressed by Oil; Stranded Teen Sailor Rescued; Arkansas Toll Climbs to 17; Van Der Sloot in Peruvian Prison; USA Versus England In World Cup Today
Aired June 12, 2010 - 14:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: After a bumpy ride on the stock market, there's still no clear path ahead. We share desperate strategies for uncertain times.
And coming up at 3:00 Eastern time, how a kitten's begging move has gotten people clicking like crazy. It's just one of this week's viral videos then at4:00 Eastern time, find out what a 7-year-old is doing about the gulf coast oil spill.
You're in the CNN NEWSROOM where the news unfolds live this Saturday, June 12th. I'm Fredricka Whitfield.
Well, it is day 54 of the gulf oil disaster. We have several new developments to tell you about.
First, the U.S. government sent a letter to BP giving the oil giant until tomorrow to explain how it is going to contain more of the oil gushing into the gulf. Earlier in the week, the government gave BP a 72-hour deadline, but says the plans BP delivered fall short of what is actually needed.
Also, today demonstrators gathered worldwide to protest BP in what is being billed as Worldwide BP Protest Day. The call went out on the internet and rallies are expected in more than 50 cities across five continents. A flyer posted on the group's Facebook page translates BP's initials to stand for "British Predator" and shows an oily tear falling from an eye that reflects BP's yellow and green sun logo.
So Louisiana's marshlands are now ground zero in this oil spill. It's where millions of birds migrate to each year, whether be in the summer or even in the fall. CNN's Chris Lawrence is in Grand Isle, Louisiana, where it's more like a hospital emergency room in some parts than a wildlife preserve -- Chris.
CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Yes, that's right, Fredricka. Here is what's new today. For the first time we were allowed into one of these triage centers. I think you described it perfectly. It's like an ER and here is basically what happens.
We saw where the birds are brought in from the water. Some of the ones that have been collected by some of those rescue crews out there. That's one struggle these birds are wild animals. A lot don't want to be caught. They are not easily caught. But the ones that are brought in, we didn't saw them brought into this triage area where they are wiped down, trying to wipe some of that oil off. They give them fluids to try to get some of their fluids back into their bodies. It's a stressful process. It takes up to an hour just to wipe some of that oil away.
It may take several days to get some of the waterproofing back. But this oil does such incredible damage. We were able to see that in the triage room, you know, how just that coating of oil robs the birds of their ability to regulate their body temperature and even the ones that are saved still may have problems.
They could have reproductive problems. They could be slowly poisoned by what the oil is doing to their food supply and in really even more ominously, even from what we saw, these birds being brought in and treated, from what we saw, we are just skimming the surface because most of the oil birds out there die alone and unaccounted for.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TERRY ADELSBACK, SENIOR BIOLOGIST, FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE: There's probably a lot more out there that we are not seeing. Typically and it varies with each spill, it varies with species. But typically it's a relatively small fraction that we are actually are able to catch and detect.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LAWRENCE: So at this location where we were, they brought in a little over 300 birds, all told. Maybe say they captured or have been able to bring in, you know, a total of maybe over 1,000.
One official told me, you normally get about 10 percent of the birds that have actually been oiled. So, you know, you think about those numbers. That gives you 1,000 times 10, gives you some idea of just how big this problem is.
WHITFIELD: So Chris, I wonder, the Fish and Wildlife Services, are they predominantly the ones who are doing the bird cleanup? The cleanup of wild life or are there other organizations or volunteers that are part of this effort, as well?
LAWRENCE: Yes, Fish and Wildlife is in charge. They've got volunteers. The thing is you can't just walk off the street. It's not like Katrina where you could just come in with a hammer and they could get you right to work on building a house or clearing debris.
Some of these areas, you know, they have to put the hazardous -- hazmat suits on, which you saw in the video we just showed you. It takes about a week of training to get people trained. Otherwise, the way you handle the birds, you could do more harm than good and possibly injure yourself in the process.
WHITFIELD: All right, Chris Lawrence. Thanks so much from Grand Isle, Louisiana, appreciate that update. In the meantime, some rather good news coming from the Indian Ocean today, a stranded California teen sailor is safe and with her rescuers, a French fishing boat pulled up along Abby Sunderland's disabled yacht, actually took her aboard.
The 16-year-old's hopes of becoming the youngest person to sail around the world were dashed when rough seas damaged her boat. Her California father is praising her rescuers.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LAURENCE SUNDERLAND, FATHER OF ABIGAIL SUNDERLAND: These guys are trained for. This is what they - and their expertise and professionalism was so impressive to witness and be a part of. They left nothing undone. They got out there very quickly to Abigail.
This was a huge, a huge demonstration of their expertise. I was very impressed and right from the onset with the French being contacted and the Australians with the emergency beacons going off and how quickly they mobilized all their resources to rescue Abigail.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: Sunderland's mother says it was difficult for the teen to actually leave her boat while being rescued.
Well, onto a tragedy now in western Arkansas where another death has been confirmed today. That means at least 17 people died in the flash flood that hit the Albert Pike campground and that number could climb even higher.
Crews are using all-terrain vehicles and canoes to search for more survivors. CNN's Sandra Endo is at the command center in Langley, Arkansas -- Sandra.
SANDRA ENDO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Fred, this is just a local gas station. It's been converted into a command center. You could see officials are here, first responders, Arkansas State Police has put up mobile vehicles to try to improve the communication, which is one of the trying factors here for search and respond people.
You can see also it's very difficult and it's hot. So they've set up these hydration stations where first responders can come to get rehydrated, regrouped and then go back out there for this massive search effort.
This is a very tight community. We've seen a lot of survivors come by here to this command center, share their stories of panic, how they survived and escaped the flood. Also, first responders coming back.
A lot of tears, Fred, we've seen and also on site is the Red Cross. We are joined by Brigitte Williams who is in charge of this effort. What have you seen so far in terms of the emotional toll to this community?
BRIGETTE WILLIAMS, AMERICAN RED CROSS: As you can imagine, the emotional toll is wearing on everyone. For the families, obviously, first and foremost, they are just emotionally drawn. They have been for the last two days either notified of the loss of life of someone that they love or they are waiting to hear about the status of someone.
ENDO: So what is the Red Cross doing in terms of helping these families, but also the conditions these first responders are facing out there in the field?
WILLIAMS: With the families, we have them at a family center. We want to make sure that they are as rested as rested as we can get them to be, making sure that they are getting something to eat. Because we are actually having people who are becoming ill just from the lack of drinking and eating because they are just so emotionally distraught.
We also have mental health workers on site to actually pull them aside, get them to a quiet place, and talk to them and just be a support mechanism for them. Several of them have had additional family members come up and they are also a great support also.
Our mobile units are going out into the communities. We are providing water and Gatorade to our first responders because they are out in the sun and the heat, which is stifling and they too are on emotion.
A lot of them do the search-and-rescue a lot, but it is especially stressful with the mass number of people and the fact there have been children.
ENDO: Yes, very difficult times for everyone here in this community. Brigitte Williams, thank you so much. And very quickly, we have Joe Chaney here who is a first responder, a volunteer in this community. Why did you decide to go out there and describe some of the conditions you're seeing?
JOE CHANEY, FIRST RESPONDER: Well, the conditions we see out there was a sudden rise in water. We are looking at a channel that normally is 30 feet wide maybe and two feet deep. We suddenly had up to 20, 23 feet of water and 200 feet wide. Campers camp along that were washed down. It's just a horrible sight to see. Debris, 15 feet in trees and such and we are searching for survivors now.
ENDO: And that search definitely will continue. Thanks so much. Fred, let's send it back to you.
WHITFIELD: All right, Sandra Endo, thanks so much from Langley, Arkansas.
In the meantime, the governor of Arkansas is scheduled to hold a news conference in about an hour from now. Of course, we'll cover that and bring that to you and any information that is gleaned from that. Much more straight ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: OK, Wall Street ended the week on a high note. The Dow gained 39 points closing at 10,211 points. That's its first weekly increase in a month. Experts say investors were encouraged by a report that found consumers gaining confidence in the economy. Some pretty good news there.
Bright spot so managing your hard-earned money wisely, how do you that? It's critical, especially in these economically uncertain times. So here with some important dos and don'ts, financial adviser, Ron Hart. So get your notepad out because you are about to get some free financial advice.
Good to see you, Ron.
RON HART, FINANCIAL ADVISOR, MORGAN STANLEY SMITH BARNEY: Good to see you.
WHITFIELD: So let's begin with what we always hear, diversify, diversify, you know, why you shouldn't put all your eggs in one basket, what do you mean?
HART: You can get wealthy with one stock, one a Home Depot, for example and write it all the way up. You stay wealthy by diversifying. You must diversify no more than 5 percent in one position. Do asset allocation. Most studies say, the (inaudible) studies, the main one that 90 percent of your return is derived from the fact you do asset allocation well. So it's very important.
WHITFIELD: And so -- are we talking about hundreds? If you've got some disposable income or at least you got some income that you want to grow, we're talking about hundreds of dollars, we're talking thousands of dollars, what?
HART: The less money you have, the more you need to diversify because you can't afford to lose it. The wealthy can take a better chance with big the positions. They can take more risks with hedge funds and be more aggressive, but the average investor needs to be careful and watch pieces well.
WHITFIELD: All right, you need to be thinking long term, you say. Big picture?
HART: Be long-term greedy, we say. Take the long term view, that's the best way to do it. People -- you have to research your stocks. You have to pay attention to what you're doing. A lot of people would spend more time researching their refrigerator or computer than they will a stock purchase. So it's a very important thing to look at, know and pay attention.
WHITFIELD: So kind of become intimately involved in that company, in that stock, you want to know and perhaps if it's something that a real tangible product or service, something you're actually going to use. You like it for some reason, maybe others do, too.
HART: I tell people look at your American Express bill, your Visa bill, and if you are buying products from that company, you're buying them for a reason and they're probably doing pretty well.
WHITFIELD: OK, but then that means you're also saying don't get emotionally attached to your investment. Sometimes you want to go with something you really, really like, but cannot part because of your personal loyalty.
HART: Exactly - human nature is you have to fight your own natural inclinations to invest well. There's a tendency that you have a herd mentality to buy what someone told you at the cocktail party.
WHITFIELD: Everybody else is doing it.
HART: Exactly. When everyone is buying, I'm always wondering who is selling. So that it happened in '99 with hot tech stocks, internet stocks. You could go public back then with a web site, you could public. So real estate 2007, everybody's in, very pedestrian investment, people start to do it and that's when you get out.
WHITFIELD: All right then you say, you know, review your investment strategy fairly regularly. How regularly? Because you would drive yourself nuts if you're doing this every day, when is regularly?
HART: It depends on your tolerance and your risk parameters. Most people feel like twice a year would be enough to do it. Sit down with a professional and go over it. You should definitely take a stock in your change of circumstances. Your kids going to college, you're getting ready to retire, things like that that are very important to let you financial adviser know.
WHITFIELD: Some folks are still thinking about what took place about a month ago, the Greek debt crisis. Could it happen here? What do we need to learn from that that people are experiencing in Europe? Might it impact us, too?
HART: It might. We are spending money at a rate that's parallel to Europe. It's unsustainable over a long period of time. I had a friend of mine who said we are spending money like a drunken sailor.
He went on to say, I was a sailor once and at some point the bartender cuts you off. So he says with America we keep spending money and we keep put our country in debt. It's going to be our kids' problems. It's a very selfish endeavor and I hope hopefully Greece will be a warning for everybody.
WHITFIELD: OK, we are not done with you yet because we've got a lot of questions that have come from viewers in so many different forms and fashion. We're going to pose those questions to you. So that means you're getting some free advice momentarily.
Also some free advice on what your favorite stocks are for those who are ready to take the plunge. Much more with Ron Hart right after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: All right, welcome back to the "Newsroom." A look at our top stories right now. Rescue crews are searching for survivors in southwestern Arkansas after flash flooding killed 17 people. The raging waters swept through a campground in the early morning yesterday catching campers off guard up to 300 people may have been camping at that time. Arkansas' governor is holding a press conference at 3:00 Eastern time and we'll bring that to you alive.
Joran Van Der Sloot is in a segregated prison cell today in Lima, Peru facing murder charges in the death of a Peruvian woman. He requested isolation out of fear that the other inmates will kill him. Van Der Sloot says that he knows the location of American teen Natalee Holloway's body, but he is only telling Aruban authorities about that.
And clashes in the Iran today marking the first anniversary of last year's contested presidential elections. Witnesses say, Iranian security forces and riot police chased protesters off sidewalks and struck several people with batons. At least three people were arrested.
All right, we are back now with financial advisor Ron Hart, as well as our Josh Levs who has been taking a lot of your questions and those questions are soon going to be now posed to Ron Hart with free financial advice.
But before we get to that, Ron, I promised that we would allow you to tell people the best stocks in which you're telling your clients to invest in.
HART: We're like the big cap growth stocks. Right now, you can get Wal-Mart at 12 times earnings. You probably never be able to buy Wal- Mart, a sustainable business model, great franchise. It can't be replicated. Big cash position.
We like that Disney, we like, as well (inaudible) franchise. A lot of asset value there. Strong value sheet, as well and Dell, we like Dell Computer. It's relatively cheap, very low multiple cash flow and they have a good distribution process.
WHITFIELD: Awesome. All right, Josh, lots of questions.
JOSH LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Are you writing that down? Everyone get that?
WHITFIELD: I can hear the ink.
LEVS: Those are big names. We get a lot of viewer questions every week and we try to get as many as we can to you this week our expert. Let's start off with this first one, OK.
There is someone asking for the basics. Hanna is saying, give me the basics. They don't teach this stuff in high school. You know, and we're getting a lot of post like this. So if you were to boil down investment 101 into just a few steps, two or three steps, what would you say?
HART: Listen to your grandmother. I mean, the older people who have been through cycles, who have seen the depression and who have seen bad times. I would listen to them. At school they do not teach economics and business like they should. It's counterintuitive to them. So listen to the Warren Buffets, people willing to tell you at this stage in their career what to do because they have a genuine regard for investing.
They want people to know. I don't think our country would be in as bad shape as it is today financially if more people understood economics and business.
LEVS: Well, let's see if the second to get really specific on this. Let's go to the second one where you can just give some specific examples. This is Tatiana, "if I have around $5,000. What should I do with it?" We're talking about a starting investor, now in this economy. Where do you go? What do you do with that money?
HART: Yes, I would think you probably need to buy ETF or no-load type of mutual fund. Something very inexpensive because fees can eat you up at that level, but watch from it.
Learn from it. Read the "Wall Street Journal," read the papers and CNN online and pay attention to what you own and pull for it. So that $5,000 that's what I would do. It's the best way. Unfortunately, you have to have a reasonable good size of money to get good advice these days.
LEVS: Yes, I mean - so you're saying don't spend the money on the advice, just read up and go do it yourself.
HART: Yes, at that level, yes. And also experiment to see if your employer has a 401(k). If it matches that, it's very powerful.
WHITFIELD: If your employer does and if that isn't where you can take advantage of that, where are you going? Are you going to your bank? I mean, if you - you know, just starting out? Are you taking advantage of like this e-trade.com? Any type of location or where would you go?
HART: You got to watch your expenses. So, yes, first try your employer because that's tax deferred. It's away from you. You can't get your hands on it, which is good sometimes. They'll often match it.
If you can't do that, go to a very inexpensive vendor and get started, but learn. Pay attention to it. I mean, know what you own, why you own it and pay attention to it.
LEVS: This actually plays right into our third question and this one's about 401(k). Let me see, we have it here. "What is the best way to research choices for my 401(k) investments? Should I adjust more often than twice a year? In this economy, should you be relooking at your 401(k) choices all the time?
HART: Not all the time. I mean, people worry too much about their investments. If you worry about your investments at some level, sell it down to a point where you can sleep. Some people worry an awful lot. Investing can be emotional. I mean, men get bull headed about their investments the same reason we won't ask directions sometimes. We'll stick with something for a long, long time.
WHITFIELD: That's still happening?
HART: They can be emotional about their investments. So you got to watch human nature, the inclinations and try to be detached and cool and calm about your investments. That's the best way to be.
LEVS: Thank you for that. Here is where you can post your questions each and every week. You got the blog CNN.com/Fredricka, CNN.com/josh. We've also got Facebook and Twitter pages. I do the Facebook thing, josh/CNN. You did too. We're both up there.
WHITFIELD: Awesome. You got free advice from financial advisor Ron Hart. Thanks so much. Good to see you.
HART: Thanks a lot. I appreciate it.
WHITFIELD: Thanks, Josh.
LEVS: Thanks.
WHITFIELD: All right, well, the U.S. taking on a bitter rival of England in the World Cup. Kind of hard to believe because it's been like what, 60 years something to that effect so we're checking in with the fans on both sides of the pond.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: All right, now the quest for the cup, the World Cup, that is. For the U.S. team it starts with a game against England that is just getting under way. It's going to get loud for our correspondents watching along with the fans in so many different locations.
There's Alex Thomas at the stadium in South Africa. Richard Roth is in Washington for an outdoor World Cup watching party of sorts. Kay Giles is watching with fans in London. So let's get started with Alex in South Africa.
ALEX THOMAS: Well, there are around 1,000 or 2,000 fans here in the official fever fans fest park here in Rustenburg. A small mining and farming town just about an hour's drive away from Johannesburg is enjoying its moments in the world's limelight.
Because two of the biggest names in world football, England and the United States are going head-to-head. Just kicking off in their Group C encounter. Some interesting selection choices by the England boss Fabio Capello who's without Gareth Fari (ph), a key midfield player injured.
Let's not forget, they've already lost two captains, one former captain in David Beckham and another in Rijo Ferdinand who were injured before this tournament get underway and James Milner, for me, is a slightly surprise choice in mid field. Up against plenty of familiar faces with the American team, many of their players, including the likes of Tim Howard, Landon Donovan and Clint Dempsey have English Premier League experience. although England, on paper, is slightly stronger, there is no telling which way this one will go.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is amazing, the best party of the year!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There were some negative comments about the country in advance of the tournament. Did you take any notice of those?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, of course we did, because I was concerned, my son, and myself, of what-it is just fun and cheers (ph). There are no concerns. They're awesome.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I went to Germany for the World Cup four years ago. This is way better, way better.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So far we didn't have any trouble. I'm not worried about that. Just worried if we run out of beer, you know what I mean?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
THOMAS: Those are thoughts of some English and American supporters I spoke to 24 hours ago when there were 20,000 people here cheering on South Africa in their opening game of the tournament. The locals, well, you cannot expect them to turn out on a cold night like this. I'm wearing gloves and a scarf. It's freezing. Still a pretty good turnout for a match that is certainly one of the more interesting ones for the neutrals.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR, CNN NEWSROOM: Something tells me nothing will stop the fans there. Thanks so much, Alex. Appreciate that.
Meantime, let's go to Washington where it is sunny and people have come out in huge droves there. We find our Richard Roth somewhere in the crowd where folks are watching the game, or at least they are planning to watching the game. Kind of an outdoor picnic, summer fest thing.
RICHARD ROTH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: In the heart of Washington, D.C., in the nation's capital, waiting now with great anticipation for the big match, USA versus England. They have had to wait months for this after the draw was over.
With us is an English fan and American fan, and they live together- well, they room together, let's not get too presumptuous. Who knows, maybe it will be a tie. This is Matt. Why do you think England will win? And you are one of the few English people here, I would be very guarded with your answer.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let me tell you, we are fairly well represented today. We are overdue a victory since 1966. We are coming back for number two this year. I think 3-nil today. Wayne Rooney with a hat trick.
ROTH: Three-nothing in American terms there. What about it, Philip?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm just happy to be here in the nation's capital watching my team represent the country in the World Cup.
ROTH: What is the final score, he says three-nothing.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We beat them in the 1970s, beat them in 1950 and will beat them again today.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Absolutely no chance.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My favorite player with two goals today, let's see it.
ROTH: Yeah, he scored only two 25 goals while playing in England. Your favorite player Wayne Rooney has scored over 25. Do you think Rooney can shred the American defense?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think he can. I think he's the all-around player. Unfortunately no player United represented this year, but-
ROTH: What is the atmosphere here like? Briefly.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Absolutely electric, to be honest with you.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If you could see right here, it is unbelievable. Just thousands of American fans have come out to root for our country.
ROTH: Do you think that these are the only soccer fans in America here? The way you always hear this every four years, will this game, the USA match England, turn it around in America?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think this is the start of a very long trend of large attendances at these kinds of pitches (ph).
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think England is in line with the rough history. I think this is a good start for America.
ROTH: You know, President Obama and the new British prime minister have made a bet. Of course, it's a bet on beers, regarding the outcome of this match.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think we have something similar going on between the two of us.
ROTH: That's it, a beer? Not about entitlement to a bed in the apartment?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's been going on, as well.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think the prime minister might have to pony up some cash to the president.
ROTH: Matt and Philip, thank you very much. You are going to plunge back into the crowd?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Go England!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: USA!
(CHEERING)
ROTH: Fredericka, back to you. We are seconds away from the match.
WHITFIELD: Of course, go USA, go Great Britain. Who knew? U.N. Correspondent Richard Roth, sports reporter, as well. All things soccer.
That's the story from the American side of it. At least on American soil. Let's go to England soil now where we find Kate Giles, who there is with a lot of Brits who are, of course, rooting for the Brits.
What's the mood?
KATE GILES, CNN INT'L. CORRESPONDENT: That's right. Believe it or not, it has actually quieted down here. We have a packed venue in here, about 700 people. That's what they were expecting. We've seen chanting, singing, all the guys here with their faces painted. It's absolutely packed.
A lot, a lot of England fans are very, very buoyant, very, very confident about how well England can do here against America. Of course, it's very, very important to them. We saw them singing with the national anthem all getting up to their feet. I have, in fact, believe it or not, managed to find you -
(CROWD CHEERING, ANNOUNCER INDISTINCT SHOUTING)
WHITFIELD: We don't even have to hear Kate. We know what just happened. We know this means either England just scored, or came close to it. There she is in London. She can't hear us and we can barely hear her. That's because the fans are excited about this World Cup soccer. The U.S. taking on Great Britain right now. We'll keep you posted on what's taking place.
All right, kids spending more than seven hours a day on their cell phones, their iPads, computers, you named it. Yes, you heard right, seven hours. Hard to believe. But guess what it is also hurting their health. We'll explain how, right after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Day 54 of the Gulf oil disaster, and the U.S. government has told BP it wants a viable containment plan by tomorrow. After so many weeks there's growing concern about the company's ability to recover and clean up all of the oil. The president of the United States heads back to the Gulf Coast on Monday.
Other top stories: Spirit Airlines is dealing with a lot of frustrated passengers today. All flights were canceled after the pilots went on strike over wages. The Florida-based discount airline is promising full credit for today's flights, plus a $100 credit for a future flight.
A military parade and a royal troop inspection, all part of Queen Elizabeth II's official birthday festivities. The British monarch turned 84 in April, but the national celebration is always in June when the weather is warmer.
Of course, she just received a post birthday present from the English soccer team in the World Cup. Remember, you were hearing Kate Giles live shot coming out of London, a moment ago, and there was a huge uproar? Well, yeah, England scored one point so it's 1-0, England over the U.S. for now.
Apple unveiled a new iPhone this week. The latest version goes on sale June 24th. You're looking at one of iPhone 4's newest features, right there, called face time.
It lets you chat face-to-face with another iPhone 4 user. This is ridiculous. It gets more and more brilliant by the second. It is also 24 percent thinner than the current model.
So texting, surfing the net, chatting on social media, all that stuff. Most of us spend part of the play plugged in. Did you know it could lead to a lifetime of pain from neck problems to headaches, even asthma? And children? Guess what, they are at the greatest risk. Research shows they spend more than seven hours a day using some form of entertainment media.
Joining us right now is chiropractor Austin Cohen to give us a better idea how in the world this happened. What's the problem? We look down, we are looking up at a screen and somewhere we are throwing our body out of whack?
AUSTIN COHEN, CHIROPRACTOR: And the problem is in order to understand the problem, it's essential we understand what the spine even looks like. That's the first thing.
WHITFIELD: OK.
COHEN: When we look at the spine, on the front view, it should be completely straight. There shouldn't be bends, there shouldn't be curves or it shouldn't be tilted. What is essential, though, on the side view, this is where most people are confused, there should be three curves, a forward curve in the neck, a back curve in the mid back, then other forward curves in the low back. When it comes to the neck, when we are texting, it begins to shift our neck forward just like this.
WHITFIELD: Oh, yeah. So compromising those muscles, all the time, by looking down.
COHEN: All these muscles back here, and the brain sits up here. The spinal cord goes through this batiro (ph) column so it puts a lot of pressure-
WHITFIELD: Oh, gosh. Now, I don't want to look down.
COHEN: Yes.
WHITFIELD: Trying to make up for all that time of looking down.
COHEN: So, it puts a lot of pressure on this and when we're doing it for seven hours a day, like you said, it causes a multitude of health problems that could happen.
WHITFIELD: Unbelievable. So we have, actually some X-rays that you supplied to us, to give us an idea, another view of what happens. Now, I guess I would look at this and think, OK, to the left that, it's normal one, maybe to the right abnormal? You tell me. That is my uneducated guess.
COHEN: That is a great guess. Because actually the one on the left is normal one, correct. You can see how there is a smooth, flowing C- curve in that neck. And when you look at the one on the right that curve is actually reversed. It puts a significant amount of pressure on the neck, the spinal cord, the brain, and can lead to a lot of health problems.
WHITFIELD: So, how much time are we talking? Like we've been doing, your X-ray becomes abnormal after what, a few months, after years?
COHEN: That is a great question. That X-ray you saw, that person was in their 30s. The one you saw that was completely abnormal was a 20- year-old spine. The amount of hours that we are putting in front of computers and texting is putting a significant amount of pressure on the spinal cord.
WHITFIELD: How do we avoid that? Because we are going to continue to text. We are going to continue to look at our computer screens. Kids are going to look at video games. What are we going to do to make sure we are not compromising these muscles and the spine?
COHEN: Absolutely. First thing we can do is when we are sitting in front of a computer, we want to make sure that computer is at eye level with us. That would be the first thing to do, so we are not straining the muscles on our back.
Another thing we could do, which is very essential, is just get checked by a chiropractor. Let them see what you look like. Just like you wouldn't wait until you are in pain to see a dentist. You would not want to wait until you are in pain to see a chiropractor, otherwise it may be too late. And the other thing with texting, is you want to keep the cell phone right in front of you so your ears are on top of your shoulders.
WHITFIELD: Really? Wow. Are there exercises we can do? Say you have not been doing all of these beautiful things you just described. You have been looking down. Now you want to self-correct it if possible. Exercises?
COHEN: There is a great exercise. A lot of people when they think of core exercises we think of the low back, we think of the abs. We really need to focus on the core of our neck. A great exercise that people can do, it they are sitting in their car, you want to have your seat upright, tilted back slightly. Put your head against the head rest and you can just bring your head back, and hold a few seconds. And it will strengthen these muscles right here.
WHITFIELD: At the traffic light, huh?
COHEN: Exactly. At the traffic light and now we can't text while we drive, at least, we can bring our head back and exercise in this position so it will strengthen these muscles.
WHITFIELD: Our kids are not going to do that. No matter how much we try to get them to do that. What can we do to make sure that next generation, those kids growing up on texting, all this stuff, it's an extension of their body. What can we teach them? What can we impress so they're not jacking up their system before their 20th birthday?
COHEN: It's all about role modeling. Role modeling is key. If a child sees a parent keep text messaging just like this, the child will eventually lead into this. It's all about education, as well. Education is crucial, because it is more than just neck and back pain. When the head goes forward like this it reduces lung capacity by 30 percent.
WHITFIELD: Oh, gosh.
COHEN: Which depletes a vital nutrient, oxygen. So it is more than just a neck and back-it is about educating.
WHITFIELD: We thought all this technology might impair our attention span. It has reduced our patience with one another because we want instantaneous messaging. Who knew that all this, our bodies are being affected in so many different ways.
COHEN: Absolutely.
WHITFIELD: Austin Cohen, thanks so much.
COHEN: Thank you so much, Fredericka.
WHITFIELD: Now I'll be like this all day to make sure. Appreciate it.
COHEN: Thank you for having me.
WHITFIELD: You may have seen eye scanners in sci-fi movies and airports, all that. But you may not expect them to eliminate errors in health care. Gary Tuchman takes a long look at this edge of discovery.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GARY TUCHMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): This health clinic in New York City is serving a community in need.
DR. SAMUEL DE LEON, URBAN HEALTH PLAN: The South Bronx is one of the poorest congressional districts in the country.
TUCHMAN: Urban Health Plan is trying to meet those needs with the help of cutting-edge technology. When patients first visit the clinic, technicians take a picture of their iris and get other information like name and birth date.
ALISON CONNELLY, URBAN HEALTH PLAN: No two irises have the same pattern that is why it makes it such an accurate method of identification.
TUCHMAN: When patients return they get another quick scan and all their records pop-up immediately.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So, I'm going scan your eye.
TUCHMAN: The clinic sees over 37,000 patients a year. Some of them speak limited English. They can have more than 50 patients at a time with the same first and last names.
DE LEON: Humans tend to make mistakes. It's only natural. This technology prevents that.
TUCHMAN: Doctor De Leon partnered with a company called Eye Controls to develop a system over three years. When the cameras go smaller and the system more affordable, Urban Health Plan bought it with grants, including one from the New York Department of Health.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So, we're all done, OK?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That's it? It pretty cool.
TUCHMAN: Gary Tuchman, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: All right, he is a critter with a nose for the news. A Minnesota television newsroom gets an unexpected visitor. Yes, that one right there. Find out what happens next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: You're going to love what is circulating around our water cooler. Take a good look at this picture here.
Young girl and her brother in a photo on a visit to Disney World 20 years ago. You see this father pushing the stroller with his son? They didn't know each other at the time. They lived thousands of miles apart. Now, fast forward two decades and take a look. Here they are again, uh-huh, husband and wife. The little girl, the little boy in that other picture 20 years ago, now they are married and their parents of three. The couple had no idea of their earlier day at Disney until one day going through old family photos for video, and said, oh, my gosh, that was me. Oh, my gosh, no, that was me. Can you believe it?
OK, so a local morning news can get a little wild. For one Michigan television station it was a wayward raccoon that got his 15 minutes of fame earlier this week. The animal startled the anchors as he strolled across the news set. He became the story of the morning. The crew at WEYI Television thinks that little critter got into the studios by an open garage door, or something. The raccoon made it out through that same door, safely. No one was harmed. Just a little startled, you know, it added to some new breaking news on the set there.
(LAUGHTER)
Hi, Bonnie.
BONNIE SCHNEIDER, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Always something in that local news, you know.
WHITFIELD: Yes, something strange has happened to everybody in a local news market.
SCHNEIDER: Everybody.
And I love that Disney story.
WHITFIELD: I did too.
SCHNEIDER: That is so romantic.
WHITFIELD: I looked at it over and over again because I was a nonbeliever. Because, you know, I don't believe anything. It just seemed like what? How in the world, but it's cute.
SCHNEIDER: It's fate and destiny. There you go. Go through your family photos.
WHITFIELD: I think that is it. It's a beautiful love story. I'm hearing the theme music from "Love Story" right now.
(LAUGHTER)
SCHNEIDER: Well, Fredricka, we're talking about the heat down south.
WHITFIELD: Yes, a lot of it.
SCHNEIDER: Yes, it is hot in Atlanta, but all the people that are in Mississippi and Alabama, especially Louisiana, are dealing with it. The ones on the coast working to clean up the oil spill are not only facing extreme height, but high indexes, as well. The temperature climbs to 90 to 95. The heat index is at 110. It's not just for areas into Louisiana. We are also tracking the heat further north.
This advisory was just issued. We have a heat advisory that goes all the way to Monday. So we are talking about Memphis, Tennessee, feeling like it's 105. That holds true for a good portion of Arkansas and Tennessee.
Let's head back down to the Gulf. We are tracking the beaches. There are swimming advisories. I want to note the beaches are open. Just because there is a swimming advisory doesn't mean you can't go there and support local businesses, or even just sit out on the sand in a lot of places.
That holds true for some of the beaches in Louisiana. You can see which ones are open here. Some have swimming advisories. Finally I want to check out Mississippi. Because Mississippi, the Gulf Coast is under that heat advisory. It will feel like it's 105 along Gulfport and Biloxi. But luckily, as you can see the beaches are open. We don't have swimming advisories posted.
Finally, I want to head to Florida; the wind pattern has been favorable for Florida beaches because we've seen a more southerly flow. Eventually we will see more of a southeasterly flow in the Gulf, that is kind of steering the oil spill away from Florida. Right now it looks good. . Pensacola, Fort Walton, Destin, Panama City and Carrabelle, all open. But I want to stress that even on a beach that has a swimming advisory, once again, Fredricka, you can still go and sit out on the sand and support local businesses, just because you can't swim.
WHITFIELD: Of course. And those businesses would like the help. They'd like to see you.
SCHNEIDER: Yes.
WHITFIELD: All right. Thanks so much, Bonnie, appreciate that.
SCHNEIDER: Sure.
WHITFIELD: Coming up, a look at a radical idea for stopping the Gulf oil spill; a nuclear blast.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: CNN is committed to bringing you solutions to the oil disaster. We are offering five ideas a day. Today, the nuclear option. It's a plan used successfully by the Soviet Union. CNN's Deborah Feyerick takes a look.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Three, two, one -
(EXPLOSION)
DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): It's crazy, last- resort kind of idea. But what if it works? What if nuking the well finally stops the oil from surging into the Gulf?
(On camera): Do you remember where you were standing when this nuclear device was detonated?
MILO NORDYKE, FMR. PROJECT DIRECTOR, PROJECT PLOWSHARES: Oh, yes. I was standing at the control point. It was exciting to know it went well and everything worked about as we expected. FEYERICK: 80-year-old Milo Nordyke is one of the few people you will likely meet who saw not one but nine nuclear explosions. He helped run Project Plowshare, a program in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s to find peaceful, practical uses for low radiation nuclear devices.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: With the tremendous energy of the peaceful atom.
FEYERICK: When you see what's going on in the Gulf, did it come into your mind this is a perfect use for some sort of small nuclear device?
NORDYKE: Oh, it certainly did. And of course, knowing that the Russians have done it a number of times brought it to the top of my attention.
FEYERICK: That's right, the Russians, who successfully shut down four out of five runaway gas wells by nuking them.
(On camera): The red and white is the device?
(voice over): As seen on YouTube this Russian well had been burning well non-stop for three years.
NORDYKE: They said the gas flame was so high that it could be seen 50 miles away.
FEYERICK: Watch as the nuclear device detonates. A shock wave rattles the earth. Moments later the flame extinguishes and the well is finally sealed.
NORDYKE: The shock wave would initially melt the rock, and then it would crush the rock then it would compress the rock. So that it would be crushed completely shut.
NATHAN HULTMAN, ASST. PROF. OF PUBLIC POLICY, UNIV. OF MARYLAND: There really isn't any certainty doing this kind of detonation under the water, and in this particular geologic situation, would work.
FEYERICK: A nuclear option to plug the well is down-right laughable says Nathan Hultman, who has studied civilian nuclear power.
HULTMAN: There are certainly questions about radiation leakages. There are questions about damage to ecosystems. There are questions about the impact of a shockwave.
FEYERICK: But because of where the nuclear device would be placed, Nordyke disputes concerns about radiation release or damage to wildlife. The blast would take place more than a mile below the ocean floor near the ruptured well. The nuclear device would be lowered down a secondary tunnel similar to the relief well now being built.
NORDYKE: The explosion tends to seal all the rock around it so that radiation doesn't escape.
FEYERICK: The force of the shock wave is the great unknown. Could it destabilize more oil wells miles away? Even Milo Nordyke admits that threat remains unclear. But says in a worst-case scenario it is a last resort worth considering.
The public debate on this would be huge, especially with so many countries moving towards nuclear disarmament. The agency in charge of nuclear security for the United States says exploding a nuclear device in the Gulf of Mexico is not an option. However, the scope of the ecological disaster is so great, some people say it's time to consider this seriously.
Deborah Feyerick, CNN, New York.
