Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Newsroom

U.S. Soldier Killed in Iraq; Protests Held Near Ground Zero; Prison Camp Artifacts Found; President's Working Vacation; A Question of Faith; Summer's Coolest Gadgets; Getting Aid to Pakistan Flood Victims; Muslims Worshipping in Cuba

Aired August 22, 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: Rallying cries on the streets of New York both for and against an Islamic center near Ground Zero. A live report from those intense protests in just moments.

And creating income by turning your hobby into a career. Well, it sounds good, but don't take the leap until you look at our report on the pros and cons of hobbypreneurships. That's at 4:00 Eastern Time.

Then at 5:00, highly addictive prescription meds available to anyone any time with the click of a mouse. CNN investigate an alleged online drug ring.

You're in the CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Fredricka Whitfield.

As thousands of U.S. combat troops head home from Iraq today and throughout the week, President Obama is preparing to talk to the American people about the mission there. A senior administration source tells CNN the president will deliver a speech on Iraq after returning from vacation next week.

The last U.S. combat brigade left Iraq this week. By September 1st, only 50,000 troops will be there.

Today, the top U.S. military commander in Iraq elaborated on the role of those remaining forces.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEN. RAY ODIERNO, COMMANDER, MULTINATIONAL CORPS, IRAQ: What it means is our units that were organized to conduct combat operations has left. We now have units left behind that are organized to do advised train and assist, but they certainly have the ability to protect themselves, and if necessary, to conduct combat operations if it was required.

I think there is a progression that you go through. Obviously, as you said, we're not at the levels we were at the highest levels, we're significantly below that. I think the certainty is suppressed.

There's still terrorism that is occurring here. But I will tell you that the country is moving forward.

It's moving forward along every line. It's moving forward a little bit economically, its security forces are improving, its diplomatic efforts are improving, its governmental functions are improving. So they're heading in the right direction.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Meantime, Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone has come under attack. Police say two mortal shells hit inside the area, and there are no reports of injuries.

Earlier today, an American soldier was killed in southern Iraq.

CNN's Arwa Damon reports from Baghdad.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ARWA DAMON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: As the U.S. military draws closer to reaching that White House goal of having troop levels down to 50,000, it also announced that a soldier was killed in the southern province of Basra. This is the first U.S. death following the Americans pulling out their last combat brigade.

And although the mission come September 1st is going to see the U.S. military in what is officially being designated a non-combat role, this does not mean that the war in Iraq has come to an end, nor does it mean that the U.S. military is going to be able to cast aside its weapons and flak jackets. This still means a very dangerous and unpredictable government.

In Baghdad, on Sunday, at least four roadside bombs went off, wounding eight people. And a gunman managed to stop a truck carrying the salary of local government employees. No shots were fired, but they did make off with $600,000.

Many Iraqis are increasingly anxious and fearful, especially since this U.S. drawdown comes against the backdrop of an ongoing political stalemate. We had elections here back in March. They were inconclusive, and since then, a new government has yet to be seated. And the political instability could lend itself to more violence as Iraqi politicians continue to jockey for power.

Arwa Damon, CNN, Baghdad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Meantime, back in this country, a heated controversy over an Islamic center and mosque near Ground Zero is now boiling over into the streets of New York. Supporters and opponents of the project are both staging rallies today.

CNN's national correspondent Susan Candiotti is there -- Susan.

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Fredricka.

In fact, both the protest and rally broke up just a little while ago. Clearly, there are strong feelings on both sides of this controversial issue. First, there was a rally staged against building an Islamic center and mosque just a couple of blocks away from Ground Zero. That's a place where, in fact, prayer services have already been going on since last fall.

The group that is protesting this said that they don't think it should be built mainly because it is so close to Ground Zero and the feelings are far too hurtful at this time. Then there was that rally staged. It had about 450 people estimated in attendance.

There was also a rally in favor of the Islamic center a couple blocks away from the protest, and there were about half as many people there. Mainly, the message from that group was that there should be religious freedom in this country no matter how controversial the issue may be.

Now, earlier this day, the wife of the imam who is connected with the proposed Islamic center and mosque made an appearance on ABC's "This Week." She was asked where there was any possible room for compromise, and she said it is possible, but she tempered her remarks.

Here's what she said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, "THIS WEEK": Do you think that you will decide to move it?

DAISY KHAN, AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR MUSLIM ADVANCEMENT: We first want to meet with all the stakeholders who matter, who are the New Yorkers. The community board has overwhelmingly supported this, so have all the politicians -- Scott Stringer, Mayor Bloomberg. And we have to be cognizant that we also have a constitutional right.

We have the Muslim community around the nation that we have to be concerned about. And we have to worry about the extremists as well, because they are seizing this moment. And so we have to be very careful and deliberate when we make any major decision.

AMANPOUR: I'll pursue that in a second, but is moving on the table, still?

KHAN: Right now it's not until we consult with all our stakeholders.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CANDIOTTI: It would seem that the people who were here this day, both protesting and in favor of the Islamic center, have really dug in their heels into their positions.

Fredricka, back to you.

WHITFIELD: All right. Susan Candiotti, thanks so much for that update coming from lower Manhattan there.

All right. Well, now to the ever-expanding egg recall. State and federal health officials are trying to pinpoint the source of the salmonella outbreak that has made more than 1,000 people sick. Up to a half-billion eggs have been recalled in at least 17 states, mainly in the Midwest and the western parts of this nation. Investigators know the eggs originated in Iowa, and "The Washington Post" reports one of the companies involved in the recall has a long record of violations.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ALEC MACGILLIS, STAFF WRITER, "THE WASHINGTON POST": I mean, that's really kind of at the center of this. The De Costa Family Farm has a very, very long record of violations with its egg farming operations. Not so much with food safety issues, really, but a lot of -- a whole string of violations with workplace issues, workplace safety, employing illegal immigrants, animal cruelty accusations, really all the way down the list, just a whole bevy of allegations of their operations.

This is quite a legendary company. They're one of the 10 biggest egg farming companies in the country founded by the patriarch, who as a 15-year-old boy was left fatherless to take care of his family.

He had only 150 chicken to his name at the time growing up in a small town in Maine. He's grown that company now to the point where it's got about 15 million chickens in several states.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Wow. So far, the De Costa (ph) family, however, is not answering any questions about that company's record.

And some reminders from the Food & Drug Administration. If you have recalled eggs in your refrigerator, throw them away or take them back to the store for a refund. And if you think you might have gotten sick from eating eggs, consult your doctor. And if you're not sure whether your eggs are tainted, just simply don't eat them. Throw them away.

For more information on the egg recall, including packaging numbers, go to CNN.com/health.

All right. Healthy people who get salmonella often have fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and stomach pain. Young children are at risk of serious or even fatal infections. So are frail or elderly people and those with weakened immune systems.

An amazing find, pieces of history pulled from the ground dating back to the Civil War. Coming up next, unearthing rare artifacts.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right. Archeologists dig up an amazing find at a Civil War prison camp in Georgia. The more than 200 undisturbed artifacts were unearthed by a team from Georgia Southern University. Graduate student Kevin Chapman and anthropology professor Dr. Sue Moore led that dig, and they are here in the studio to talk about this historic find and what we learn and glean from all of this.

So, Doctor, this find actually took place in early spring, but just now you're able to talk about it and kind of show and tell what was located.

DR. SUE MOORE, GEORGIA SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY: Right. We actually started the project in January, and we started finding things in February. But because we were finding really special and unusual things, we had to really make sure that the security was up and that the site was protected before we could announce it to the public, so it's just been announced to the public.

WHITFIELD: And what was located? We're talking about the place -- this was a prison, correct?

MOORE: Right.

WHITFIELD: And you believe that not only did you find everything from buttons from the uniform, to pipes, et cetera, but perhaps even imprints of teeth that really is evident of who was there, how they were held, and what may have transpired along the way 150 years ago.

MOORE: That's right. In fact, Kevin has the pipe with him that has the teeth marks on it.

And one of the things that, when you start finding artifacts like this, you start getting down to the level of the person. Ad it starts to tell you stories about the people who left the artifacts behind. And that's really what's important about what we do, is to be able to tell those stories.

WHITFIELD: So, Kevin, what can we all learn based on that pipe that was unearthed? What do we know about that person who last had that pipe, or handled it, et cetera?

KEVIN CHAPMAN, GRADUATE STUDENT, GEORGIA SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY: We just learn a lot about the resilience of the prisoners who were there, the union soldiers who were at the stockade. And we learn how they dealt with the adversities that they were faced with.

This particular soldier took just a scrap of a piece of black (ph) clay pipe and melted down bullets, mini balls, and cast those into a new bowl on this pipe. So he made his own tobacco pipe. And the really interesting thing is, as you can see, you can still see the teeth marks --

WHITFIELD: You're kidding?

CHAPMAN: -- where his teeth actually wore down the pipe stem.

WHITFIELD: Is there any way that you can determine based on those imprints perhaps how long this prisoner may have been held in this camp? Is that the kind of information that you're hoping to learn from evidence like this, artifacts like this?

CHAPMAN: What we hope to learn is a little about how they lived in the camp. The pipe probably wouldn't tell us how long he was there, but how he dealt with the situation that he was in.

WHITFIELD: What else did we learn based on the artifacts that you unearthed there? I mean, we're looking at some of the still photographs. This is a pretty large span of both a state park and even National Fish and Wildlife hatchery location.

What else did you pull from the ground?

MOORE: Well, there was a prisoner of war stockade there, and that enclosed 42 acres. So it's quite a large complex. And then around the outside, there should be lots of buildings.

We haven't started to look at any of that yet. All we've tried to do is locate the stockade walls, and then we went over and started testing in an area we thought maybe we might find some evidence of the prisoners. And lo and behold, we did. And it's the personal nature of the artifacts that we found that have really made it such a great find.

WHITFIELD: And this really is the biggest find of this kind, is it not, this slice of history?

MOORE: It's different and unique because there is nothing else like this really that we know of. Kevin has a really good way of putting it in perspective in terms of how rare this site is.

You want to give them your narrowed-down --

CHAPMAN: The way I try to explain it to people is, during the Civil War, there were tens of thousands of encampments, campsites, both union and confederate. Ad beyond that, there were thousands of battlefields.

In the entire confederacy, there were only 36 major interment facilities. Of those 36, only 18 were stockades like Andersonville, Florence, and Millen, Georgia's Camp Lawton. And of those, most of them lost the history.

Florence has a national cemetery on top of it. The one that was in Macon, Georgia, is now under a railroad complex. So they're not able to be studied. As far as we know, this is the only one that's left to be studied.

WHITFIELD: You have something in your hand there, Doctor.

MOORE: I do.

WHITFIELD: What's that?

MOORE: It's a folded up Daguerreotype frame. If you can imagine photographs around the time of the Civil War, they were on glass plates. And a lot of people have seen these at antique stores and stuff.

Probably what happened in the case of this one was that the photograph actually broke. And the soldier who had been carrying this around as a memento of home, you know, rather than throwing the whole thing away and having nothing left, very carefully folded up the frame and carried it with him.

WHITFIELD: Oh my goodness.

MOORE: And when they very quickly had to abandon the camp --we know that they abandoned it in the middle of the night -- this was left behind for the archeologist to find 150 years later.

WHITFIELD: Extraordinary.

MOORE: It is.

WHITFIELD: So this is still a protected site.

MOORE: It is.

WHITFIELD: There is yet more digging to do, evaluating, et cetera.

CHAPMAN: Oh, yes.

WHITFIELD: But the general public, folks hear this, they're intrigued. They want to see something.

Is there any way in which folks can witness any more of this dig, or perhaps look up close and personal at some of the artifacts?

CHAPMAN: On October the 10th of this year at Georgia Southern University, we will be displaying a collection of the artifacts at our museum. The future plan is for the artifacts to be transported back to Magnolia Springs State Park when they have facilities to house them, but for now, Georgia Southern University is going to be proud to display them for the public.

WHITFIELD: What a project. You're a graduate student, and you get to be part of this find.

What does this do for you and your -- I guess and your thoughts or your journey now in the world of archeology? How do you top this one? What a way to start.

(LAUGHTER)

CHAPMAN: Yes, I don't think you do. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

There are archeologists who work their entire careers who would give their eye, teeth to be in my position. And honestly, I can't think beyond the project now to figure out where the future is. So that just remains to be seen.

WHITFIELD: Well, just live in the moment, because this is a wonderful moment. Isn't it?

Kevin Chapman, graduate student, and anthropology professor, Dr. Sue Moore, thanks so much, of Georgia Southern University. MOORE: Thank you.

CHAPMAN: Thank you now.

WHITFIELD: Congratulations. And we look forward to learning and hearing more, because, as we say, this is just really the tip of the iceberg.

CHAPMAN: Yes, ma'am.

WHITFIELD: There' more to come.

CHAPMAN: Absolutely.

WHITFIELD: Fantastic.

MOORE: Thanks.

WHITFIELD: Congratulations.

All right. Let's get a look at our top stories now.

Today is the day in that new rules go into effect which protects credit card users. They are designed to stop those huge late payment fees and to stop you from being penalized if you don't use your credit card. Experts say the changes may result in consumers seeing lower interest rates.

And Shirley Sherrod is expected to meet with Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack this week about a new job. Sherrod was forced to resign from the Agriculture Department last month after misleading video footage of a speech that she gave was posted on a blogger's Web site.

Well, she later received an apology from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and now this will be the first face-to-face meeting with the secretary of Agriculture, Vilsack, since stepping down. They will be talking about a job offer.

All right. Overseas now.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was on hand as a new unmanned combat drone was unveiled today. It is the first long-range military drone made in Iran. The country's state-run media reports that the drone is capable of carrying bombing missions across long distances at high speeds. Drones for reconnaissance in combat are considered staples of modern warfare.

And coming up at the 4:00 Eastern hour today, we'll talk with MIT's Jim Walsh about the international security implications of this new drone being built and unveiled in Iran. Walsh is an expert on Iran and he will be joining us.

All right. First, we're going to be talking with Jacqui Jeras coming up. She's going to be talking about a new tropical depression right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(WEATHER REPORT)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right. A question of faith these days. With a growing number of Americans uncertain about whether the president is Muslim or Christian, we'll hear from a reporter who asked Barack Obama directly about his beliefs before he was president.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right, President Obama and the first family are vacationing in Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, but not everyone is rolling out the welcome mat. Our White House correspondent, Dan Lothian explains what's happening.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DAN LOTHIAN, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): When President Obama and the first daughters paid a surprise visit to a vineyard haven bookshop, the public swarmed to catch a glimpse.

And a lucky few, like Brandon Murphy who happened to be inside, got a handshake and an autograph.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I was shaking most of the time. I was really nervous.

LOTHIAN: The rare public appearance caused the stir and locked up traffic on the island's narrow streets.

NANCY BERMUDA, MARTHA'S VINEYARD RESIDENT: I'm glad he's here. It's good for business. I don't like being stuck in traffic.

LOTHIAN: But her minor displeasure paled in comparison to the backlash caused by the sign of a local hotel that thanks the president for his accomplishments.

SUSAN GOLDSTEIN, MANSION HOUSE OWNER: I was totally shocked. You know, for that kind of hatred to come in on your computer screen.

LOTHIAN: Susan Goldstein who owns the Mansion House in Vineyard Haven says ugly e-mails and blog posting started after a picture of her patriotic sign was posted on line.

GOLDSTEIN: Bold up together whether, you know, the comment that was sort of anti-Semitic, anti-black, anti-elitist, anti-everything, it's hard not to read it and how did this filth get onto my computer screen?

LOTHIAN: One posting read, quote, "for a black man, he sure does crave the approval of the richest and the whitest of the rich."

One town over at (inaudible) ice cream shop, most people seem to appreciate this sign welcoming the president, but not everyone. JENNIFER COMBRA, OWNER, CAROUSEL ICE CREAM FACTORY: One of our workers was saying that she was getting different dirty looks, almost, towards the sign.

LOTHIAN: So the sign was moved. Politics aside, business owners say the presidential vacation has one big upside.

ALEX MCCLUSKEY, OWNER, THE LOCKER ROOM: It's good nor for the economy, at least for down here.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: All right, Dan Lothian joining us now from yet another very picturesque Vineyard Haven. What's up today?

LOTHIAN: Well, of course, it's picturesque, but as you kind of see behind me here, the wind is blowing, rain is coming down. It's been a quiet day for the first family at least from our perspective.

We haven't had a chance to see them doing anything, but we do know that the president was out on the golf course for some four hours. He wrapped up before the hard rain started coming down, but I can tell you now, after this rest and relaxation here on Martha's Vineyard, the president has a busy week ahead of him.

Next week, we do know that on the 29th, he goes to New Orleans where he'll be remembering the fifth anniversary of Katrina, also those high-level mid-east peace talks will be taking place in Washington, September 1st and 2nd.

And then the White House confirming today that the president will be making a speech in Iraq, this comes in the wake of the August 31 deadline. It's the end of the combat mission in Iraq, although 50,000 troops will still be on the ground there, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right, in so far that the president or at least the White House is saying they're pleased with how thus far the U.S. combat troop pullout is going?

LOTHIAN: They are, in fact, you know, time and time again when the subject comes up the White House will say that everything is on schedule.

There've been a lot of concerns raised that, you know, if the U.S. troops do pull out or when they do pull out that the Iraqi troops, the Iraqi security forces will not be up to speed, will not be able to handle the situation on the ground there, and that the security situation will deteriorate.

But the 50,000 troops will still be on the ground, really assisting the Iraqi forces, and again, the administration officials believing that not only everything is on track, but will work well there.

WHITFIELD: All right, Dan Lothian, thanks so much. Keep your umbrella handy while you're there in the now raining Vineyard Haven.

LOTHIAN: OK, will do that.

WHITFIELD: But I'm still not feeling sorry for you because it's still so beautiful there, rain, shine whatever.

LOTHIAN: That's right. It would be better tomorrow.

WHITFIELD: Yes, all right. Talk to you soon. Thanks so much.

All right, well, as the president gets a little r and r, the White House is dealing with questions about his faith. Despite repeated assertions that he is a Christian, a recent poll shows one in five Americans believe the president is a Muslim.

Religion columnist, Cathleen Falsani writes about the president's faith in her book "The God Factor Inside the Spiritual Lives of Public People."

Well, I talked to her earlier about her interview back in 2004 with Barack Obama when he filled the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate seat.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Back in 2004, Cathleen, you sat down with then about to be Senator Barack Obama, and you talked to him about his faith, and you asked him right off the top about his faith, and he said this after you asked, what do you believe?

He said, quote, "I am a Christian so I have a deep faith. So I draw from the Christian faith. On the other hand, I was born in Hawaii where obviously there are a lot of eastern influences.

I lived in Indonesia, the largest Muslim country in the world between the ages of six and ten. My father was from Kenya, and although he was probably most accurately labeled as Agnostic, his father was Muslim.

And I'd say, probably, intellectually I've drawn much from Judaism as any other faith." He goes on to say, "so I'm rooted in the Christian tradition. I believe that there are many paths to the same place and that is a belief that there is a higher power, a belief that we are connected as people, that there are values that transcend race, culture, that move us forward, that there is an obligation for all of us individually as well as collectively to take responsibility to make those values live." It's a very long quote, but right from the very top of the bat, you believe he offered some real clarity on his position on religion?

CATHLEEN FALSANI, RELIGION COLUMNIST: Well, he was very genuine and authentic and didn't hesitate in answering any of the questions I asked him back then. He came alone to the interview, he didn't have any notes with him, he didn't have any handlers with him, and he gave me as much clarity as I think somebody whose mind and spirit worked the way his do could.

He didn't give easy answers, he didn't give label-related answers, and he even went back to clarify a few things that, if left alone, might have made his spiritual biography, if you will, easier for some people to understand and get their minds around, but that's not how he actually is. So to me, it was a marvelous portrait of this man of really humble faith.

WHITFIELD: Why do you suppose he was so willing, if not eager, to do that?

FALSANI: I don't know if he was eager, but at the time I was doing a series of these official profiles of politicians, and I was interviewing him and Jack Ryan, who was then running against him in the Senate race, and our sitting senator from Illinois, Dick Durban, and then later Alan Keyes who came in after Jack dropped out.

And I remember asking all of them and there was a lot of hesitancy among some of them and Barack was the first one to say yes and seemed to have no problem talking about it and knew what he wanted to believe and knew what he wanted to say and how he wanted to say it.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: All right, so there's more to this interview with Cathleen Falsani there. You can see more of that interview today at 4:00 Eastern time or you can perhaps watch the entire interview without interruptions at cnn.com.

All right, are you ready for this summer's coolest new gadgets? This man right here always gets a tip to the latest, newest and the brightest and they're joining us right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Some sad news to report. A veteran broadcast journalist Harold Dow has died at the age of 62. Dow, who worked for CBS News, had been a correspondent for "48 hours" since 1990, among his honors, five Emmy Awards and a Pea Body Award.

And U.S. authorities sealed off a section of El Paso, Texas after a major gun battle in Juarez, Mexico. Last night's shootout between Mexican police and drug traffickers happened just 30 yards from the U.S. border.

Mexican authorities say three police officers were injured and one suspect was killed. No word of any injuries on the American side of the border.

It's the weekend of R and R for President Obama and his family. They're on a ten-day vacation on Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts. It started Friday, and the White House says the president will also get a lot of work done while he's there.

And right now let's call this tech time. I f the dog days of summer are keeping you indoors to escape the heat, well, we've got some very cool ideas to keep you very busy.

Our tech guru, Marc Saltzman joins us now from Toronto with some of season's hottest, latest, coolest gadgets. So mark, let's begin with Samsung's galaxy vibrant phone. This is very competitive with the iPhone. How similar or different are we talking?

MARC SALTZMAN, SYNDICATED TECHNOLOGY WRITER: Yes, you're absolutely right. The 2010 summer was the summer of the smart phone, and there's no shortage of great picks. You mentioned the iPhone 4, there's the Blackberry Torch, the 9800 and this guy here, this is probably the closest thing to an iPhone killer that I've seen.

It is the Samsung Galaxy S vibrant. It a T-mobile exclusive, an android power phone, so it's got Google's operating system. So it's got, you know, those familiar applications you're used to like search and G-mail.

It's got the ability to download 100,000 apps from the Android market, a gorgeous 4-inch touch screen, absolutely stunning. I hope your viewers get an idea of how stunning it is.

WHITFIELD: So why would I want that instead of the iPhone?

SALTZMAN: And finally, it's got something called VLNA. I can shoot a high definition video on this, press the button and it shows up immediately on a compatible television, wirelessly. So it's really cool stuff. It's $200 with a two-year T-mobile plan.

WHITFIELD: Wow, interesting so that means it's going to push the, you know, Apple or the creators of iPhone to take it to the next level in a very short turn around, right?

SALTZMAN: That's right. They can rest on their (inaudible), Apple is enjoying a great success, of course, with the iPad as well. That's my second sort of hot gadget up this summer.

The Ipad as most of your viewers know, it's an e-book reader, it's a gaming device, music, video, you name it. It's a great companion to travelers and even road trips by handing something like this to the kids in the backseat.

So these start at $500, but for those who can't touch the screen very easily. Maybe they've got long finger nails, or in the winter months if you use gloves, here's a cool solution for you.

It's called the pogo sketch. It's the first stylus pen for the iPad, so instead of using your fingertips, you're actually using this little stylus pen to draw and type on it.

So for example, I just did this while I was waiting to do our interviews, look at that. Just draw that with the little stylus pen, and it's great for students also.

WHITFIELD: So Kelly with the long fingernails, does she like it?

SALTZMAN: She does, $15 for this and it's available in four different colors. WHITFIELD: Wow, OK, that's very good. All right, in the meantime, let's talk about Lady Gaga and what in the world does she have to do with all this tech stuff?

SALTZMAN: Yes, well, interestingly, artists -- musical artists are now getting into the text base more and more. You're probably familiar with (Deedee) beats, headphones, Dr. Dre's line with Monster Cable and now we've got Lady Gaga with her own line.

So it's the idea that you're confusing fashion with function, you can tell they're sort of blinged-out ear buds, which I think a lot of women would prefer to wear over those little white ear buds that come with the iPhone or iPad.

WHITFIELD: Did they stay in better?

SALTZMAN: Yes, the sound is great. They're very comfortable. They have these little gel tips, different sizes, you get a little case with it. So it's not just for looks, it's not just for fashion, but again, it's sort of style meets substance.

Much better sounding ear buds than what comes with your iPhone. They range from $99 to $129. They're not cheap, but certainly if you want to get more out of your smart phone or iPod, that would be the product for you.

WHITFIELD: Cool, and you know what, Marc? Guess the last time you talked to us about a waterproof camera. You convinced me it was a waterproof video camera and I went out and bought it, I test drove it on vacation. I loved it, and now you've got yet another waterproof camera for us.

SALTZMAN: Yes. The best thing to happen to cameras in 2010 is waterproof and/or adventure proof. As Sony calls it with this TX5, this is a $340 camera that can take a beating.

You can drop it. In winner months it can freeze. For purposes of our shots for the summer, it is waterproof so I'm dunking in a glass full of water. It works, no problem.

It does shoot high-definition video as well. I think the last time we talked, Fredricka, it was the Kodak Place 4. It was a pocket camera to shoot video. This is a 10-megapixel still camera that also shoots photos.

You can see here even despite it being wet, it works just fine. But it's more for snorkeling than scuba diving. It's only good about 10 feet underwater.

WHITFIELD: OK, same at that video camera, but that's fine by me. You know, because you know what, the scuba camera is a little bit too complicated for me to got the casing, you have to get it in the water for so long. This was great for casual swimming and snorkeling, and now I guess I have to try the still camera, too per your recommendation.

SALTZMAN: You got it.

WHITFIELD: OK, there's one more, right?

SALTZMAN: Yes -

WHITFIELD: No need for a charger because? You've got this.

SALTZMAN: That's right. These are the first rechargeable batteries that don't require a charger at all. They're called USB cell and as the name suggest, you just pull off that hinged cap, and voila, it has a USB connector.

So you simply plug these into a computer or the back seat of an airplane or a video game console, and it charges it up these were rechargeable batteries because underneath that hinged cap is a USB connector, so you do not need to plug a charger into the wall or carry one with you when you travel.

It's a very clever idea. Especially for parents whose kids have battery-operated toys. You know how many batteries you can go through. These are better for the environment because they're rechargeable and again, now less stuff to carry with you because they charge out on a regular laptop or netbook or what have you.

WHITFIELD: Yes, that was me on the plane with my little one when his DVD player stopped working because we needed more battery juice. Gosh, how are we're going to get through this plane without it. I needed that. So I'm running out to the store one more time.

SALTZMAN: We all can relate.

WHITFIELD: All right, Mark Saltzman, thanks so much. Always good to see you, appreciate it.

OK, well for many, these days is a very desperate dash. How survivors are getting the relief supplies into Pakistan.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right, dire new worries today about the flood survivors in Pakistan. Nearly 1 million people are suffering from diarrhea, skin diseases, respiratory infections and other communicable diseases.

And the death toll keeps rising, it has surpassed 1500. World health experts say clean water and help with sanitation problems are urgently needed. Monsoon flooding has inundated one-fifth of the country.

And relief is slowly getting into some harder hit areas, but for many it's simply not enough. The military is trying to repair access routes and even neighbors are stepping in to feed the survivors. Here now is Sarah Sidner.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SARAH SIDNER, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A desperate dash for food. Stranded villagers grab what's offered as the Pakistan Army helicopter arrives. But there are too many people and too few bags of wheat.

Three weeks after initial flooding affected a fifth of Pakistan, they are still cutoff, but at least getting a bit of aid. They made the decision to stay and protect what was left.

In another part of southern Punjab, what looks like a massive set of Lego blocks, final pieces, each require several soldiers to keep it into place.

(on camera): You can see how powerful the flood waters were here that used to be a general store. Now, the flooding has receded some, allowing the army to rebuild an important bridge that links two districts in southern Punjab.

CAPTAIN SHAZIM ALI: My people have been working the last 36 hours without a break. They have their food and water on the site and they're just working.

SIDNER (voice-over): This is an important project because it will allow oil from a major refinery down the road to be finally be trucked into the rest of the country. From military might to the soft hands of a minor, help is being supplied now from several sources. Khadija Zubair is preparing the evening meal for flood victims.

KHADIJA ZUBAIR, MOTHER: We're given this opportunity to share our things with these people.

SIDNER: This isn't a camp. The Zubair's have opened their home to two families.

ALLAH BITTA SAWER, FLOOD VICTIM: Everything, including medicine is supplied by the families. Efforts alone of the government have done nothing for us. What we're getting is divided by them.

SIDNER: Their homes are still cutoff by floodwater, but at least they don't have to spent for themselves unlike these families who have to wait for the next mercy military mission. Sarah Sidner, CNN, Punjab Province, Pakistan.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: And almost a world away, Muslims without a mosque find a home in an unexpected place.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: While people in this country debate a mosque and Islamic community center near New York's Ground Zero, a small group of Muslims is finding a home in what seems to be an unlikely place, Cuba. Here's CNN's Shasta Darlington.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SHASTA DARLINGTON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A solitary voice calls out in the midday heat. There isn't a single mosque in Cuba, but neighbors in this potholed Havana suburb always know when it's time for Muslim prayers.

Imam Yahiya born Pedro Laso receives the faithful in his second storey apartment.

(on camera): During the rest of the week, this is the room the Imam Yahiya shares with his wife and two kids. It's their living room. But on Fridays, they move out the furniture and roll out the carpets so that much of Havana's Muslim community can come here to pray.

(voice-over): There are about 1,500 Muslims in Cuba, but most of them are international college students from countries like Pakistan and even Guiyana. Cuba is traditionally mostly Catholic, but many don't actively practice the religion.

Imam Yahiya embraced Islam more than a decade ago. He says Cubans are generally very tolerant of religions, but they sometimes encounter some of the same prejudices found in other countries.

What I ask - terrorist. Muslims in Cuba also face some unique challenges. Fork has the problem that it's very attractive, he says, just like all things that are bad.

The faithful here say they have to be flexible. For instance, at Imam Yahiya's home, ritual ablution cleansing the body are performed in the tiny bathroom. Few can pray at work and many find it hard to adopt certain Muslim customs here in the touchy, feely tropics.

(on camera): In Cuba, the way men and women traditionally greet each other is with a kiss. How do you we'll with that?

IBRAHIM KINSAN: It's not easy to tell her, don't kiss me, don't kiss me because I'm Muslim.

DARLINGTON (voice-over): Many Muslim countries have offered to donate the money for a mosque, but Imam Yahiya wants the gesture to come from Cuba, something he says could happen in the near future. Shasta Darlington, CNN, Havana.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: And I'll see you again in an hour from now in the 4:00 Eastern hour with some fun money-making advice. How to turn your favorite hobby into a business.

Then, at 5:00, as the feds track down the source of the nationwide salmonella outbreak, we'll take you to a chicken farm to show you exactly what's being done to help keep your eggs clean and safe.

Meantime, "YOUR MONEY" starts right now.