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Burmese Political Activist And Nobel Peace Prize Winner Released From House Arrest; Financial Experts Give Advice; Hip Hop Mogul Russell Simmons Interviewed About Success And Spirituality; Port-Au-Prince Ridden With Waste And Disease; Groups Urging Airline Passengers To Decline Full Body Scan; President Winds Up Asian Trip
Aired November 13, 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: Hip-hop legend and business mogul Russell Simmons on yoga, life, and why money isn't what makes him rich. Then at 3:00 Eastern Time, a full hour devoted to our veterans focusing on their service and the struggles they face.
And at 4:00 Eastern, more parents are getting the troubling news that their child has ADHD. We bring an expert in to help you understand what that means and what you can do to help your child succeed.
You're in the CNN Newsroom where the news unfolds live this Saturday, November 13. I'm Fredricka Whitfield.
After 21 years under house arrest, the release of a major activist for democracy in Myanmar. Former Nobel Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi is now free. Early this morning the military junta ruling the country once known at Burma allowed her release to a cheering throng of supporters, as you see there.
Myanmar's rulers have not allowed CNN and other foreign news organizations into the country to cover last week's election and its aftermath, but we have been talking to a journalist in Myanmar about today's release and what may be next. We can't identify the journalist for his own safety.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Many people believe now she's able to get out, she going to be free and take the reins of this opposition party again and try to unite the opposition and make it a strong force again. No one's here believed change will come very quickly, but a lot of key people place a lot of hope in this figure, in Suu Kyi, that she can get a movement going and possibly even some sort of change going.
However, this is going to be a very, very difficult task, as I said. This regime is very oppressive. In the past crushed uprisings that have tried to start some sort of democracy or change here in this country, crushed them very, very brutally. So it's very dangerous for her, also.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: Upon her release, Suu Kyi told the crowd she'll make a major address about her future tomorrow. Let's bring in attorney Jared Genser, one of her lawyers based in the U.S. Suu Kyi has said she wouldn't accept any conditions on her release. Was her release one that did not mean any sort of conditions attached to it?
JARED GENSER, INTERNATIONAL COUNSEL FOR AUNG SAN SUU KYI: That is correct. In fact, ultimately, while they tried to impose some conditions on her she rejected all of those conditions and she has been freed unconditionally.
But of course one must remember we'll dealing with a brutal military dictatorship, and ultimately they have the authority to detain her, arrest her, or imprison her at any time. And that is the fundamental reality in which she lives.
WHITFIELD: Why do you suppose she was released? Do you believe this was a genuine gesture by the junta or do you believe this is some trap?
GENSER: Well, I probably would say that it's worth remembering she's been released on three occasions previously in the mid-1990s and early 2000s, and that has not led to any substantial changes taking place in the country.
In fact, beyond her at a political prisoner, there are 2,200 other political prisoners in Burma who continue to languish in Burmese prisons. We also have seen the junta last Sunday hold an election that was anything but free and fair. It was patently fraudulent based on military rule in the country in perpetuity.
At best her release is a step forward on the proverbial 1,000 mile journey.
WHITFIELD: Do you worry about her safety?
GENSER: I absolutely do. In fact last time she was in prison in May of 2003, it happened after she had been traveling outside the capital of Rangoon and had been speaking to supporter, and her convoy attacked by government-sponsored thugs. More than 70 of her supporters killed in the Taipian massacre. She was injured and escaped barely with her life.
We have to remain vigilant in the international community to pay close attention to what's happening and see it as a moment in time to not decrease pressure on the regime but in fact increase pressure to get it to the negotiating table so that the dialogue she so often called for can actually take place.
WHITFIELD: Have you spoken to her or any of the U.S. lawyer team spoken to her?
GENSER: Not directly. She wasn't taking phone calls other than speaking to her family, and she immediately went into meetings with her closest political advisers to discuss the major address she'll give tomorrow at 12:00 noon outside her headquarters.
WHITFIELD: And what do you suppose will be in that address? Will she talk about her political future? Will she talk about any promises she's making to continue to be active?
GENSER: Well, I think, you know, she'll speak for herself. And I have to say it is a wonderful moment for me personally having represented her to let her have that moment to speak for herself.
I will say that I expect, and this is my own personal opinion, but I expect she will reinforce the messages that have been delivered through other lawyer, able to see her occasionally, domestic lawyer, that she believes the way forward is process of national reconciliation between her, her political party, ethnic groups, and the military junta in the country.
And she would like to see a restoration of democracy in Burma like took place in South Africa in the 1990s. But this is not unfortunately a Nelson Mandela moment when he emerged from prison and the then apartheid government was on its last legs and had decided it was ultimately going to need to enter into some kind of power-sharing agreement.
On the contrary, the military regime in the last couple of years in Burma has done everything to consolidate its power, not to provide any inclination to the international community that it intended to compromise in any way. So really this is the beginning of a new day, but one where there is a very, very tough journey ahead.
WHITFIELD: Jerry Genser, an attorney representing the American team of legal counsel for Aung San Suu Kyi. Thank you very much.
GENSER: Thank you.
WHITFIELD: Suu Kyi's release from house arrest comes as President Obama touring Asia. The president says this, quote, "She is a hero of mine and a source of inspiration for all who work to advance basic human rights in Burma and around the world. The United States welcomes her long overdue release." That statement from President Obama while he's overseas.
So right now he is in Japan taking part in an economic summit. The key issue is trade. But while in Japan the president will seek to warm relations that had cooled when he visited Tokyo last year. The cause of that friction a dispute over moving U.S. military bases.
But this year, the Japanese are taking to the streets protesting China's growing naval presence, and this could be a game changer on how Japan views U.S. bases on its soil. The president mentioned this relationship in his speech in Tokyo earlier today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, (D) PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: The commitment of the United States that the defense of Japan is unshakable. Our alliances, bases, and forward presence are essential not only to Japan's security, but at the prime minister noted, they help us ensure stability and address regional challenges across northeast Asia. For this reason, the prime minister and I agreed to keep moving forward on our roadmap on realignment so that we can meet Japan's defense needs and also address the needs of Japanese communities that host our bases. And I'm confident that we can continue to work together to ensure both.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: Meantime, big changes are expected when the new Congress convenes in January in this country. Is it time to change your financial strategy? We'll ask our personal finance experts the Dolans. Yes, they are back, joining us right after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Yes. Isn't it nice to see their names again? "Ask the Dolans." We'll talk about this new Congress and your money, how the two may be coming together.
A new Congress comes to Washington come January with a new Republican majority in the House and more Republicans in the Senate. They are promising collectively changes that just might impact your finances.
So let's find out how much so. Joining us right now are personal finance experts Ken and Daria Dolan. I've missed saying your names. Welcome back.
KEN DOLAN, FINANCIAL EXPERT: Hello.
WHITFIELD: How exciting! You look fantastic after your hiatus.
KEN DOLAN: Thank you. You look wonderful, too. I used to have is a dress like that, Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: Very good. Black is always in, right?
DARIA DOLAN, FINANCIAL EXPERT: Exactly.
(LAUGHTER)
WHITFIELD: OK. So let's talk about how -- what just took place during midterm election, the promises we're hearing from most of the Republicans, how your money might be impacted as it pertains to your investment, health care, et cetera. So in the grand scheme of things, might our wallets be impacted in a very big way?
KEN DOLAN: You know, there's no doubt about it, Fredricka, and I want to start saying it's important to us because we do not have a political bone in our body. We're very apolitical. I think most of the people in Washington frankly are knuckleheads and can't get out of their way.
So we look at it as financial experts and as consumers, so our perspective is really from the street, because we talk to America constantly. KEN DOLAN: But the fact of the matter is unless we can get some concerted working together in D.C. with the new Congress in place, it's not going to be an impact for the better on anybody's pocketbook. I mean, I'm sitting here right now watching the Republicans argue over whether to cut earmarks or not.
It's like, guys, come on. Just humor us. It doesn't matter whether some of you think it doesn't cost much and the rest of you think it doesn't cost much, just humor us. The American electorate was furious. They want something done. That's a great symbolic way to start.
KEN DOLAN: We've got to cut spending, Fredricka. Let's start right there. We'll talk about how it affects the pocketbook. We've got to cut spending in a major, major way.
WHITFIELD: You know, one of those ways in which to cut spending, or at least to try to reduce the deficit, we've been hearing a lot about taxes. And so as it pertains to taxes, you know, which corner of, you know, the American public will it most impact? What are your predictions on what you're going to see in terms of taxes cut or taxes raised?
KEN DOLAN: Very important, Fredricka.
DARIA DOLAN: If you're in the "middle class," in other words, in their estimation anybody earning $250,000 a year or less.
KEN DOLAN: Oh, yes, right.
DARIA DOLAN: You're going to get a tax reversion back to the Bush cuts of ten years ago. That's -- everybody agrees on that.
Where it gets sticky and where we could end up with no tax changes, which would then really impact the middle class, is if we're going to get into this argument as to whether we give the wealthy people -- of course, wealthy is all subjective, isn't it -- the wealthy people a two-year extension on the Bush tax cuts or no extension on the Bush tax cuts. Either way, we need some permanency in tax changes.
KEN DOLAN: Let me give a scoop, tax lady -- 50 percent of the people -- 50 percent of taxpayers making over $250,000 are small business people. Oh, good. Let's really tax them even harder, because you know what they do? They only add 95 percent. They only are responsible for 95 percent of the jobs that are created. Everybody must get an extended tax cut. Will it happen?
DARIA DOLAN: And the fact of the matter is, without that security of more than two years or at least two years, the job creators in this country, the small business people, aren't going to risk their neck to bring on more people not knowing what the regulations are going to be what their tax status will be in a year or two. I mean, there's so up reasons why it's just bad.
KEN DOLAN: How many federal employees have ever run a business? WHITFIELD: Well, let's talk about other ways of investing -- other ways of investing when we talk about bonds. We talk about the currency value of the U.S. dollar. We talk about the stock market. What do you see in your crystal ball, and how is that connected to what just took place in midterm elections?
KEN DOLAN: Can I talk?
DARIA DOLAN: You start, because I totally disagree with you. So go for it.
KEN DOLAN: OK. Thank you. We're of the opinion of people like China, our biggest debtor. I think about 20 percent of our debt if not more is owned by China. If in fact China starts goes to hard assets, I don't want to get funky here, but it affects all of us.
That is, if all of a sudden China says we may go someplace else to adjust, hard assets. America, you're going to have to up the interest rates on your treasury securities or we ain't going to play. What does that happen? It means many of the bonds and the bond funds that are currently existing, interest rates go up, their prices go down. I think it's a very, very bad sign.
KEN DOLAN: Well, and the bonds we're already seeing, an auction this week and it was not well attended at all. There were more people were selling bonds. If you look at the ten-year bond, the ten-year note, which is what we peg our mortgages to, mortgage interest rates went up this week. That's not a good sign, and we can thank quantitative easing for this.
KEN DOLAN: Easy with those terms.
WHITFIELD: When you talk about the mortgage, one of the items that might be impacted. Say you are deducting your mortgage interest. That may change if it involve as second home. Usually people can kind of itemize all of their property. A lot of people have lots of property. You know what I mean? That is a tax break and that may potentially be in jeopardy, correct?
KEN DOLAN: If they drop the rates. One of the things about dropping rates lower one of the proposals from the debt commission, is that rates would be lower but the deductions would be wiped out.
DARIA DOLAN: But the fact of the matter is, the last statistic I saw, and I have a hunch it's different now, fully 70 percent of homeowners never use the tax deduction. This is a real --
WHITFIELD: What? I thought that was one of greatest incentives of home ownership.
KEN DOLAN: People don't use it.
DARIA DOLAN: The fact of the matter is, if you want to look at incentives for home ownership, Canada, which has a higher rate of home ownership per capita than we do, has no interest rate deduction, has never had an interest rate deduction. So this is just -- I mean, the deficit commission, I think, are not making hard enough choices, but at least making some choices --
KEN DOLAN: Not going to work.
DARIA DOLAN: -- that seriously need to be considered in Washington if you and I and the average consumer watching this right now are to survive at all.
WHITFIELD: Interesting. OK, I digressed with the real estate. Move on to something else.
KEN DOLAN: Fred --
WHITFIELD: Yes?
KEN DOLAN: Can I say one thing on real estate?
WHITFIELD: Yes.
KEN DOLAN: We're of the opinion interest rates will trend up. We are saying we just refinanced this week. So to put it really into the pocketbook, if you're looking to refinance and refinancing may make sense, do it now.
WHITFIELD: Now may be the time.
KEN DOLAN: Now is the time.
DARIA DOLAN: Do it now.
WHITFIELD: Real estate, home ownership, all of this is incredibly important to a lot of folks as they look ahead.
Let's talk about health care, because while Congress spent so much time on passing health care reform, now Republicans are saying they want to repeal health care, that health care reform measure. So how might that impact your dollar if indeed that ends up being one of the first items a new Congress tackles when sworn in come January?
DARIA DOLAN: Well, it's not going to be in effect at all, in my opinion, for the next two years, because the fact of the matter is, I can just see the administration sitting there saying, go ahead, Congress. Make my day.
The fact of the matter is they can posture all they want about throwing out the legislation on health care, but as long as Obama is sitting in the White House with a veto pen, it's not going to happen, not going to happen.
KEN DOLAN: It's never been more important to check your health insurance coverage and shop around.
DARIA DOLAN: Your rates are going up without a doubt.
WHITFIELD: It's time for a lot of companies, if you're fortunate to have a job, take advantage of that benefit. Read the fine print.
KEN DOLAN: I had breakfast yesterday with a good friend of mine, our doctor and friend Dr. Michael Kalter (ph). We were talking about health care. We're talking either doctors are going to have to spend less time with people and make it a mill to get people through their office or they're going to spend the time they need with a patient and lose money.
It stinks. It's a rotten program, and health care's going to be affected.
WHITFIELD: The fact of the matter, the crowning of this whole health care was for anyone with a preexisting condition would never, ever be excluded from health care now, and Health and Human Services and individual states set up policies specifically for this.
KEN DOLAN: Not working.
DARIA DOLAN: They went online in July with this. To date 8,011 Americans signed up for this.
KEN DOLAN: They estimated 175,000. Nice work!
WHITFIELD: We are going to hear from some other thoughts of what our viewers have in mind, because they're excited that you're back. The Dolans back after what, four, five months. It feels like an eternity, but you're back and badder than ever. And we're going to entertain you with a lot of their questions right after this short break. You'll ask them. Free advice from the Dolans, award winning radio talk show -- boy, just everything -- financial analysts, all of that.
Anyway, send your questions to my Facebook page or to my blog. CNN.com/Fredricka. We'll get your questions to the Dolans right after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Our financial advisers Ken and Daria Dolan are here to answer your money questions right after I give you these top stories.
Multiple senior Democratic sources tell CNN Nancy Pelosi struck a deal that ends the leadership fight between Steny Hoyer and James Clyburn for the number two seat in the house. The deal allows Hoyer to become second in command while Clyburn would be number three in a newly created position.
And in Maryland a top executive in Prince Georges County and his wife have been arrested in connection with a kickback scheme. The FBI arrested Jack Johnson and his wife yesterday. Agents found nearly $80,000 stuffed in Leslie Johnson's undergarments. After searching the Johnsons' home, agents left with at least ten boxes of evidence.
The Johnsons are charged with tampering with evidence and destruction of records.
And a huge loss for the U.S. Postal Service. The agency was $8.5 billion in the red for the last fiscal year. Part of the loss blamed on the growth on e-mail and online bill paying.
Back to your money. Our financial experts ken and Daria Dolan are back. And guess what, while you were away from our airwaves for five months now, named the talk show host of all-time by "Talkers" magazine. We knew you were super, super great, and --
DARIA DOLAN: We sort of like outlive them.
(LAUGHTER)
WHITFIELD: That's fantastic. We love you get that staying power.
KEN DOLAN: Thank you.
WHITFIELD: Our Josh Levs is here as well. We've got lots of viewers questions.
JOSH LEVS, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Sure do.
KEN DOLAN: As promised, Ken and Daria, people couldn't wait for you to get back.
LEVS: The Dolans are back!
(APPLAUSE)
I have a welcome back present for you guys. Are you ready to see it? As the world knows I call you the Dynamic Dolan Duo, so check out what our graphic folks put together. Look ought two there. The Dynamic Dolan Duo saving you money. You guys proud?
DARIA DOLAN: That's cute.
KEN DOLAN: Oh.
(CROSSTALK)
LEVS: The first question -- good to have you back. Glad you like it. The first question I'm going to bring you, "Given these economic times, how many months' worth of emergency cash should we keep on hand these days?" Guys?
KEN DOLAN: We always said -- Josh, what was the name? Josh, the person?
LEVS: Kieth.
KEN DOLAN: We always said three to six months, Keith, three to six, minimum of three, six if you could. I'll tell you now, I don't think you can have too much.
DARIA DOLAN: You really can't. You can't.
KEN DOLAN: The answer is three six months.
DARIA DOLAN: It used to, and I don't even know if this holds anymore because of the unemployment situation is so still god awful.
KEN DOLAN: it still stinks.
DARIA DOLAN: It used to be for every $10,000 annual you needed a month. So if you had $80,000, expect to be unemployed 88 months. We have people going on two years now.
KEN DOLAN: There are 1.2 million Americans, josh that have stopped looking for work. The answer is cash is king. Cash is king.
LEVS: Let me go to the next one. Kevin asks this. He says he's fixing up his credit report. A lot of people working on their credit now.
KEN DOLAN: Sure.
LEVS: "One big charge from a car I couldn't afford, $11,000. I will never be able to pay that off. Should I take a settlement offer on this?" A lot of questions like this. So they be taking settlement offers and trying to clean up their credit?
DARIA DOLAN: That's a great question. And the fact of the matter is, if you can't afford to pay it off, by all means, you need closure on the credit report. Better that you say settled for less than the amount --
KEN DOLAN: Less than the balance.
DARIA DOLAN: -- or charged off on there than leave it hanging open forever. Hanging open, it stays on the credit report. It will always be there as an impediment to are borrowing more money. At least if you get the charge off, it will eventually fall off the credit report.
KEN DOLAN: A lot of people don't know and don't want people to know this. If a credit company forgives more than $600 they must submit to the IRS a form 1099c. The bad news is you may have to pay income tax on it. But I tell you, talk with your tax adviser before you do anything. I'd rather fight the credit card company than the IRS.
(LAUGHTER)
LEVS: Tell what you, ten seconds left. You guys can always send questions for the Dolans. WE love having you here with us. Facebook, Twitter, our blog, brings you to the same page for the Dolans. Send us questions. Dolans, now that you're back stateside, we're expecting you to be here all the time.
WHITFIELD: Super heroes, love the graphic. Show that one more time. Have to show Daria and Ken kind of side-by-side as equals on the same plain, superheroes. I love that. Fantastic.
(CROSSTALK)
LEVS: We're so glad you all are back.
WHITFIELD: We appreciate that.
One more money note -- House Democrats are pushing for a one- time payment of $250 to Social Security recipients. The lawmakers say it would help make up for another year without a boost in benefits. A similar measure was defeated earlier this year.
And on to Haiti now, where garbage is piling up. The streets are literally becoming a landfill. Details are straight ahead.
But first, a quick quiz. Some of Bernie Madoff's personal possessions are up for auction. Can you guess what's the high bid on this 10.5 carat engagement ring? Is it, a $325,000, b, $150,000, c, or $445,000? The answer after the break on the highest bid so far.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Before the break we reminded you that the jailed financier Bernie Madoff auction is under way, and some of the convicted swindler's personal property is being sold off to benefit his investors. This 10.5 carat diamond engagement ring is one of the pricier items, and we asked you what might be the highest bid?
If you answered c, $445,000, then you're right. That is the current highest bid for that nice little rock right there.
Health care workers are fighting an uphill battle in Haiti. They are fighting against the spread of cholera. More than 800 people have died from the preventable disease, and thousands more are sick. Deplorable living conditions and a lack of clean water are major factors in the spread.
CNN's Paula Newton has more from the capital of Port-au-Prince.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PAULA NEWTON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: There is no delicate way to put this. Port-au-Prince looks and smells like a dump because it is.
Ten months after the earthquake, the city has degenerated into a filthy cauldron of water, garbage, and human waste. The garbage situation has always been a problem here, but now no one pays any attention to where they dump it, and the government makes virtually no effort to pick it up.
NEWTON (on camera): Don't you think Haitians deserve better than this? It's --
JUNIOR RIDORE, PORT-AU-PRINCE RESIDENT: We got used to it. We got used to it. Everybody grow up in this country. You get used to it.
NEWTON (voice-over): But the stakes are higher now. As cholera stocks the city, these are the conditions that are sobering health experts. Patients desperate for water collected from a pipe right next to a pile of burning waste.
NEWTON (on camera): This city is like an open garbage. This is the central canal cuts through the middle of the city, and garbage of all descriptions flows right through it. And this is where it ends up, right down the canal and piled up, tons of garbage just laying waste here in the canal that no one ever seems capable of collecting.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: That was Paula Newton.
And CNN spoke with Haiti's environment minister as the garbage problem and he says the government is working on it and plans to partner with the private sector to deal with that issue.
Russell Simmons, a business mogul with everything money can buy, right? But he says the path to true happiness doesn't have anything to do with financial success. Hear his philosophy face to face.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Coming up, the many interests of hip hop mogul Russell Simmons. But first a check of the top stories.
Free democracy advocate Aung San Suu Kyi plans a major address about her future tomorrow. Myanmar's ruling Marxist regime freed the Nobel Peace laureate this morning. She has spent the better part of the past 20 years under house arrest was freed.
It's a weekend of adjustment for former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's family. He was temporarily moved from a hospital to his home yesterday. Sharon may eventually be transferred there permanently. He has been in a coma since suffering a massive stroke in 2006.
And a backlash against those full-body scans could mean long lines when you travel this Thanksgiving. Grassroots organizations hope travelers will say no to it and instead undergo the more time- consuming pat-downs. Security has been increased in the wake of recent terror plots.
Russell Simmons may be best known for cofounding "Def Jam Recordings," a label that helped bring huge popularity to hip-hop music. But he's had multimillion dollar success through fashion and philanthropy.
His latest ventures is a newly launched reality show, "Running Russell Simmons," plus a new book called "Super Rich" due out in January. In a candid discussion, Russell Simmons told me being rich has nothing to do with finances.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: It's not about money rich, because people see the word "rich" and think, OK, I want to be a billionaire like Russell Simmons. You're saying that's not what this is about.
RUSSELL SIMMONS, DEF JAM CO-FOUNDER: It's the guide to having it all. The first chapter is "Redefining Rich." It is a tricky chapter, because I don't want people to throw the book out. It talks answer rich being -- WHITFIELD: Tricky chapter?
SIMMONS: I'm telling the truth. I want people to be more productive, be greater givers. Good getters are greater givers, that's OK.
But the state of being nothing -- the Christian refers as to Christ consciousness. Buddhists call a nirvana. I couldn't write a book about nirvana or heaven on earth or Christ consciousness. I called it "Super Rich" as the state of needing nothing. The book is about that kind of conscious.
Different people are giving different messages with the same aspirations, the same hopes and desires, and they all have different ways of going about it and different voices. This is just another voice.
WHITFIELD: I know you're accessible and you're very approachable, but people do see Russell Simmons and they think, he's a mega guy. He's huge. How can you tell me I can operate with nothing?
SIMMONS: If you read the book it will stick. It's written in such a way that people can digest this idea of operating from abundance with the greatest -- that work itself is the prayer and there's no payment. That sounds like a lot, but so many rich friends are suffering, rich, in terms of world fame and so many people who don't have a lot who are happy. And we're only here to be happy.
WHITFIELD: What should be at the root of someone's happiness?
SIMMONS: A peaceful state. You know, there's a lot of discussions and meditation in there. And the mind is still, everything surrenders.
WHITFIELD: How did you get there?
SIMMONS: It's a practice, to have faith in the practice. I went to a yoga class and came out just for a minute I was at ease. I thought if I kept doing that I'd lose all my money.
(LAUGHTER)
That was funny, because right then I sold my company and that's why I started to make money and create new companies.
WHITFIELD: Why did you say that?
SIMMONS: It was because I thought that anxiety drove me. But it's the opposite. That I take my half an hour in the morning, my hour and a half in the afternoon, morning meditation, practice afternoon and 30 minutes at night. I take that time out of my day and I'm so much more productive and healthy, because of it.
WHITFIELD: Kind of at peace?
SIMMONS: Well, you know, struggling with that, but more than I have been. WHITFIELD: Really? Struggling, why?
SIMMONS: Being at peace?
WHITFIELD: Meaning you're at the center because you're using that collectively about two hours to just concentrate on you.
SIMMONS: It changed my life dramatically. In the physical practice of yoga you'll told to smile and breathe in every pose, no matter how difficult.
WHITFIELD: The person who is one of the millions who's unemployed, down on their luck, can't pay their bills, and they're looking for some inspiration. They're looking for, how do I reclaim some of my happiness because it seems like everything else is crumbling around me.
SIMMONS: If you make work your prayer and if you're present as a giver, then the results not only are they more fruitful, but they become less valuable, but they just keep coming and the cycle of giving speeds up which is what people want to do. The cycle of giving speeding up caused them the result, the cycle of getting speeds up.
So you want people to be present and awake and focused. That's what the book is about, the basic practices that promote happiness. Money doesn't make you happy, but happy makes you money.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: All right, Simmons built his multimillion dollar empire without ever making a business plan. That's what he revealed face to face. He tells me his secret to success in the third part of "Face to Face." That is coming up at 4:00 eastern. You do not want to miss that.
Do you think classical music is boring? Wait until you see it conducted by a three-year-old. That's just one of the stories waiting for you at the water cooler.
And researchers at the University of Southern California are testing a robot that could be the next big thing in education. CNN's Rob Marciano has details on how these pint-sized teachers aides work.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ROB MARCIANO, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Could this face inspire learning? Researchers at USC think so. Designed with kid-friendly features like big eyes and the ability to blow bubbles, this robot named Bandit is a magnet for children.
MAJA MATARIC, USC: Kids get really excited and very motivated. We can use it for motivating exercise, for motivating doing homework, motivating studying, learning social behavior. We think of robots at social integrators. You can put a robe but in the playground a lot of kids will flock to it and play with it. MARCIANO: This robot is guided by art terrible intelligence software, like motion tracking and speech recognition. Researchers believe fully autonomous robots make good teachers one day, especially for subjects that require more memory like languages.
MATARIC: They can teach them school material and also get them to do jumping jacks.
MARCIANO: While that may be years away in the U.S., Bandit's special talent for patience and repetition is already helping rehab stroke patients and providing a resource for children with autism.
MATARIC: There are a lot of people, children, adults, who need one on one care and attention, and there are just not enough other people to provide that care. Robots can step in and provide the care for which we don't have human care.
MARCIANO: Rob Marciano, CNN.
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WHITFIELD: OK. Let's see what's bubbling around the water cooler. This takes the score of music.
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(MUSIC)
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WHITFIELD: I say he's into it. The fan of the old masters Beethoven's fifth symphony. This make-believe maestro is a YouTube sensation. He's just thee in the video. The notes say his interest in classical music goes back to when he was the ripe young age of 8 months old. He is only conducting to recordings right now, but in another 20 years who knows?
Another example of the power of music. You can really work up a sweat wrestling a cranky baby into the car seat. Ooh, boy, did I remember that, literally working up a sweat. This dad found the magic cure. Take look and listen.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Behold, the power of reggae.
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(LAUGHTER)
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WHITFIELD: Oh, that Bob Marley does it to everybody all the time. Isn't that cute, that soothing sounds of the reggae legend Bob Marley? It just kind of lulls the little man into nirvana state.
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WHITFIELD: Sarah Palin's popularity may be taking a hit. We'll find out what the American people are saying about the vocal Republican leader in the CNN political update, next.
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WHITFIELD: All right, time for a CNN = Politics update. We're keeping an eye on all the latest headlines at the CNNpolitics.com desk. And the count in the Alaska Senate race could finish up as early as this weekend.
Election officials are counting write-in ballots in the race between Republican Joe Miller and write-in Republican Lisa Murkowski. Miller has already launched a legal challenge to the write-in count.
And a new Gallup poll says Sarah Palin isn't as popular as she once was. The survey says 52 percent of people hold a negative view of Palin. It's her worst showing since the organization started tracking Palin's popularity.
And President Obama is on the final leg of his four-country Asian tour. He's in Japan this weekend for an economic summit. As CNN's Dan Lothian reports, this has been a difficult trip for the president.
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DAN LOTHIAN, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, President Obama has been pushing the trade agenda, making the case to these world leaders that everyone can benefit from expanded trade. Mr. Obama pointing out that seven of the top trading partners with the U.S. are part of APEC, also pointing out that 60 percent of U.S. exports come to this region.
The case that Mr. Obama has been making on this Asia tour is that the global markets as they open up, there's more opportunity for U.S. goods creating jobs back at home. But some here are worried that the United States is coming with its hands out looking for jobs back at home, and they wonder, what are they getting in return?
Mr. Obama addressed that issue speaking to business leaders today.
BARACK OBAMA, (D) PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: I make no apologies for doing whatever I can to bring the jobs and industries to America.
But what I've also said throughout this trip is that in the 21st century, there is no need to view trade, commerce, or economic growth as zero sum games, where one country always has to prosper at the expense of another. If we work together and act together, strengthening our economic ties can be a win-win for all of our nations.
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LOTHIAN: The headlines have not been favorable for the Obama administration. Words like "disappointment," "setback," because the U.S. was not able to make any real progress on the China currency issue, were not able to lock up a trading deal with South Korea.
One top administration official pointing out that these deals take time, that there are incremental steps before you finally get a victory. And this official pointing out that this negative talk about the US not being able to accomplish what it came here to do, is nothing but exaggeration.
Dan Lothian, CNN, Yokohama, Japan.
WHITFIELD: All right, next, VETERANS IN FOCUS. And we'll see you back here in the NEWSROOM at 4 o'clock Eastern Time.
