Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Newsroom

Financial Expert Advises Investing in Stocks; New Book Details Pope's Opinions on Condom Use; NATO Announces Handover of Most Security Tasks to Afghan Forces in 2014

Aired November 20, 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: This hour, we'll explain why 2011 might just be the year to get back into the stocks. And at 3:00 eastern, more than $1 billion could be on the way to black farmers in a discrimination suit. I'll ask the head of the Black Farmers' Association how this money will be dispensed.

Then at 4:00 eastern time, want to avoid the usual seasonal illnesses this year? We have a checklist of the dos and don'ts to help keep you and your family healthy. You're in the "CNN Newsroom" where the news unfolds live this Saturday November 20th. I'm Fredricka Whitfield.

An interesting look at the Pope and the Catholic Church, all in a new book called "Light of the World -- the Pope, the Church and the Signs of the Times" written by a German journalist who interviewed the Pope extensively.

And in it, it includes comments the pontiff made on condom use. Joining us now by phone from Detroit, CNN's senior Vatican analyst John Allen. So John, what is so eyebrow-raising about the pontiff's comments about condoms? Why now and why in the form of this book?

JOHN ALLEN, CNN SENIOR VATICAN ANALYST (via telephone): Hey, Fredricka. The eyebrow raising component is that Pope Benedict XVI has signaled some flexibility in the Church's position. Most people regard the Catholic Church's position on birth control and condoms as being a blanket no.

But in this interview, what the Pope said in a limited number of cases where the purpose of condoms is to prevent disease and in particular to prevent the transmission of HIV-AIDS, that they could be morally acceptable.

It should be said that this is an informal interview with a journalist, not a formal church teaching document. It doesn't make it a binding catholic teaching but suggests the Pope is open to it, and that is interesting indeed.

WHITFIELD: When you talk about limited use, specifically in this book it points out the pontiff is saying it is OK for condom use when it pertains to men having sex with men, especially as it pertains to helping to slow down or make some sort of impact on the transfer of HIV and AIDS virus.

Now, is the Pope confirming that he did, indeed, say these things as being quoted by this journalist in this book?

ALLEN: Oh, sure. A writer, retired now, but was for many years a writer for the "Munich Daily," is an old friend of Benedict XVI. He did two interviews with the Pope before his election. He was given a full meeting with the Pope for an hour every day. The book is the result of this. The Pope reviewed the comments before published and he reviewed the book in various languages. There's no doubt this does reflect what the Pope actually said and what he actually thinks.

WHITFIELD: What would be a considered a step forward and not necessarily backward when you talk about the conditions in which condom uses would be able to be made limited to men having sex with men?

ALLEN: To the clear, the Pope said, he used the example of a male prostitute. But he said more generally, if the intention is to reduce infection that could be morally acceptable, which could, although the Pope doesn't say this explicitly, it could also apply to the situation of a heterosexual couple, a married couple in which one partner is HIV positive and the other isn't.

A number of Catholic theologians and even a Vatican commission back in 2006 recommended in that set of circumstances condoms might be justifiable. The significance here is not that the Pope has yet officially changed catholic teaching but that he is at least open to it in those circumstances where the point is not so much to prevent pregnancy but to prevent disease.

WHITFIELD: So having that been said, should this pontiff, should the Catholic Church be perceived hypocritical, nonetheless, certain exceptions made for men, male prostitutes, and not necessarily for all communities that would engage in sex and that condoms would be allowable then?

ALLEN: Well, I mean, the Pope simply gave the example of a male prostitute, but I think the point he was trying to make is that when somebody is using a condom not so much to prevent new life, which has always been the Catholic Church's concern, but to prevent transmission of disease, it would be OK.

I don't think he meant to suggest only male prostitutes who might be able to use it. The point is there are certainly be some who will say that the Catholic Church ought to be more tolerant of birth control across the board, even if the point is to limit population. And that's obviously a bridge the Catholic Church is not going to cross.

WHITFIELD: OK, CNN senior Vatican analyst John Allen, thanks so much for your insight on these comments reportedly made in this new book "Light of the World: the Pope, the Church, and the Signs of the Times." Thanks, John, appreciate that. We'll have much more on the story as we get more information.

Meantime, let's talk about something that is impacting a lot of people near this country, holiday travel. The season is fast approaching. In fact, it's right here. That means many of you infrequent travelers may soon have to face airport security for the first time in a long while.

Procedural changes are causing quite the stir for some. People are even filing lawsuits over advanced screenings and pat-downs they say are too invasive and demeaning.

In a Congressional hearing this week, the TSA's top man, John Pistole, admitted that he was uncomfortable when patted down just recently, but he says it's necessary to make sure the planes are safe.

So what is really necessary for safety's sake is what some are questioning now. Especially in the case of one flight attendant in charlotte, North Carolina. Molly Grampum of affiliate WB-TV has that story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CATHI BOSSI, FLIGHT ATTENDANT: That's no reason to have somebody's hands touching your body parts.

MOLLY GRAMPUM, WB-TV: In early August, Cathi Bossi was asked to go through a body scanner on her way to work. They were just being rolled out in Charlotte. From there she was told to go into a private room with two female TSA agents.

When one of them started touching her, Kathy asked why she, a U.S. Airways flight attendant just trying to get to work, was being given such treatment.

BOSSI: They had told me that they had gotten a memo from the TSA saying that flight crew members were the most obvious potential terrorists out there.

GRAMPUM: Thursday night, Kathy told her story to WBTV. She says when the agent got her right breast, the one where she'd had breast cancer surgery, she was told to show it to them.

BOSSI: So that's when I had to pull it out and show her the prosthesis, which was very embarrassing and very degrading.

GRAMPUM: Network news outlets and newspapers across the nation call Kathy all day Friday, and comments on WBTV.com blew up. Here's a couple of them. "As a breast cancer survivor who wore a prosthetic many years before reconstruction surgery, my heart goes out to this woman. One of the reasons some women elect to wear prosthetic breasts is to be able to feel normal again. To have someone demand you show it to them could be for some women very traumatic and degrading," writes one viewer. "Where does it end," asks another. "The terrorists have indeed won. Our life is upside-down and now this."

Cathi agrees.

BOSSI: Just because you choose to travel by airplane doesn't mean that you, you're putting yourself up, you know, for people to abuse you.

GRAMPUM: The TSA continues to say since we brought this to their attention, they are investigating this specific incident.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: And CNN also reached out to the TSA for comment on this story. They say, quote, "We will review the matter and take appropriate action if necessary." And we should also point out that this incident happened in August. That's three months before the new more thorough pat-down procedures actually went into effect.

There have also been a lot of complaints about the full body scanners as well. Despite the many complaints you've heard, a new CBS poll says Americans overwhelmingly agree with using the equipment. Take a look at this, 81 percent of those polled say airports should use the x-ray machines. Only 15 percent disagree.

There have been rumors and misinformation flying around all over the place about the tougher airport security measures, like whether you and everyone else will get a pat-down. Well, we're getting to the bottom of all this next hour and separating the truth from the myths. And the head the TSA, John Pistole will join Candy Crowley on CNN's "STATE OF THE UNION" tomorrow right here on CNN at 9:00 a.m. and again at noon eastern.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: NATO is making a major commitment to Afghanistan, vowing to keep troops in the country even after a planned military transition in 2014. That promise came today during a NATO summit in Portugal. President Obama talked about the plan at a news conference in Lisbon, and CNN Pentagon correspondent Chris Lawrence joins us now live from Lisbon.

So what did the president and the other NATO leaders say about the role of NATO troops after 2014 in Afghanistan?

CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, Fredricka, what this really -- what happened at this conference made official what the Obama administration has been trying to push for months. Remember, earlier this year all the talk we heard was about 2011. Troops would start coming home in 2011.

Now from everything we've been able to see, any troops that come home by July 2011, it's going to be more of a symbolic rather than a large number. Now the Obama administration and NATO are pushing everyone to the date 2014, saying that's the date when they would like combat operations to end and hand over security to the afghan.

But a senior U.S. official admitted that the U.S. is not committing to that date as the end, that the president has not made a decision yet in order to change the combat mission on that day. In other words it could take even longer than that.

In a very blunt and frank conversation that the president had with President Hamid Karzai, the two talked about corruption. President Obama raised the issue that taxpayer money can't be funding a bad Afghan government, and waste. And they also got to the idea of civilian casualties, and President Obama and President Karzai shared some frank words on that subject.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, (D) PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: In the heat of battle, despite everything we do to avoid it, may occasionally cause civilian casualties, and that is understandably upsetting. I don't fault President Karzai for raising those issues.

On the other hand, now, he's got to understand that I've got a bunch of young men and women from, you know, small downs and make cities all across America who are in a foreign country being shot at and having to traverse terrain filled with IEDs, and they need to protect themselves.

And so if we're setting things up where they're just sitting ducks for the Taliban, that's not an acceptable answer either.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LAWRENCE: No doubt that civilian casualties in Afghanistan are soaring. In fact, through the first six months this year, 55 percent more children have been killed. But if you look at numbers and how these victims were killed, independent United Nations analysis shows insurgents were responsible for about 75 percent of those civilian deaths. ISEF forces were responsible for about 25 percent.

WHITFIELD: Chris Lawrence in Lisbon. Thanks so much for that update.

Meantime, it's time for everyone to think about their investment plans for the next. One expert thinks it's time to get back into stocks, and she'll explain why.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Making money in the new year. We'll talk about your investment options straight ahead. But first a look at the top stories.

The Air Force says it does not think a missing F22 pilot survived when his plane went down Tuesday in Alaska. It says there is conclusive evidence that Captain Jeffrey Hanny did not eject before the crash.

And a federal judge in California is tentatively allowing a class action case against Toyota to proceed. Plaintiffs are suing the automaker over recent acceleration and brake problems. The lawsuit is the first major civil action in the U.S. since the automaker recalled millions of vehicles.

And in Chicago a strange way to play a football game. Illinois and Northwestern are meeting today at a baseball stadium, Wrigley Field, to be exact. Only one end zone will be used for offensive plays, because of concerns that the other end zone is too close to the stadiums right field wall. All right, it may seem lard to believe, but 2011 is just over a month away and it may be time to jump back into the stock market. So says Manisha Thakor, a personal finance expert and the co-author of the book "Own my own two feet." She joins us from Houston. Good to see you.

MANISHA THAKOR, PERSONAL FINANCE EXPERT: Hi, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Let's begin with your first tip, and you say it's time to start thinking about stocks again. Go ahead and indulge in those stocks.

THAKOR: Absolutely. So, Fredricka, I think stocks are an essential part of a healthy financial diet. They provide growth. They help offset inflation. But many people are stock deficient in their portfolios now because they got scared off over the last couple of years.

So a great rule of thumb to use is John Bogle's -- 100 minus your age is a rough rule of thumb for what percent of your portfolio should be in stocks if you're a man. If you're a women, because we live longer, I like to use the equation 110 minus your age of your portfolio to be in stock.

WHITFIELD: That's very encouraging, because a lot of times people say 50/50, but definitely no more. You say indulge, indulge depending on your age. OK, let's move on to the next. You say next go big. What do you mean by that?

THAKOR: This is interesting, Fredricka. The early stages of an economic recovery typically it's small and mid-cap companies that do the best. Then you move into the really glamorous part, where we are right now, this grinding it out for a couple of years until things settle.

But in this kind of environment, oftentimes it's the big companies that do the best for three reasons. Their balance sheets are cleaned up. We know that, because we can see how many people they've laid off, so any uptick in revenues drops to the bottom line. They have lots of exposure overseas. And my favorite reason, Fredricka they pay dividends. You get a little cash in hand while you're waiting for the underlying stock to appreciate.

WHITFIELD: And you're looking at the big companies mostly domestic. But you say stretch out, start investing overseas. To what extent?

THAKOR: Absolutely. It's that old adage. Why rob a bank? Because that's where the money is. Why go overseas? That's where the growth is.

And to put some numbers around that, there are 6.8 billion of us on the planet. Only 310 million of us live in the U.S. There are about 4 billion people right now bumping up against the threshold entering into a place economically where they have enough disposable income to start spending on discretionary items. The companies particularly in India, China, Brazil, that are serving that marketplace that growing middle class, that's a great place to be looking to invest in 2011.

WHITFIELD: Then you say, stay short. What do you mean by that?

THAKOR: This is interesting. We've been talking about stocks up until now, but part of a healthy portfolio also would include bonds or fixed income. And the Fed has been performing financial CPR on the economy, keeping interest rates very low. And that affects bonds because when interest rates go up, bond prices go down.

So if you think about bonds as a seesaw, since rates are so low, there's only one way to go -- up. You want to be on the shortest seesaw possible so you don't get whip-sawed. You want to own bonds with mature in duration, have one to three years out in this kind of environment.

WHITFIELD: And overall, just be calculated with your risk?

THAKOR: Absolutely. A lot of people, especially baby boomers, are looking at their portfolios. The number is smaller than they wanted, and there's a voice in their head that says, why don't I just go for the big home run?

My point is the math of losing money is painful. If you invest in a can't-miss investment that misses and goes down 50 percent, you now have to earn 100 percent just to break even. If you have the risk to go big, be calculated. I recommend keeping it no five percent or less of your portfolio.

WHITFIELD: Thinking about the new year. Thanks so much. Before we can get to happy Thanksgiving, but Happy Thanksgiving, since I won't see before you then.

THAKOR: Happy thanksgiving to you.

WHITFIELD: Thanks. Appreciate it.

All right, here's something else you may want to think about -- checking your medicine cabinet for painkillers the FDA actually wants them off the market. That's straight ahead.

But first, man's best friend is going biotic. A British veterinarian is giving a pet prosthetic limbs with technology that rivals what's used on humans. CNN's Rob Marciano explains in today's "Edge of Discovery."

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ROB MARCIANO, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Mitzi is walking again. After being trampled by a horse in June, her owner was left with a tough decision.

VIV DAVIS, MITZI'S OWNER: The options were euthanate (sic) her or give hear chance to walk, and we decided to give her the chance to walk. MARCIANO: Mitzi is one of the few dogs in the world labeled bionic. On this day, this doctor is taking off Mitzi's leg brace and replacing it with a sleek, permanent prosthetic foot. He did this using a revolutionary device called an I-Tap, A custom built metal rod placed inside Mitzi's leg.

I-Tap technology has also been tested on humans. Fitzpatrick says traditional prosthetic devices for humans can sometimes be painful and difficult to use. He says I-Tap could be a remarkable alternative for people and their pets.

DR. NOEL FITZPATRICK, FITZPATRICK REFERRALS: If what I do by helping my patients in their needs, help other patients that are animals or human, excellent. I think it is the future, yes.

MARCIANO: Rob Marciano, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: We have some pretty intriguing stuff for you on tap this afternoon.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(SINGING)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Like that. Coming up in the next hour, Josh Levs is here with the week's craziest viral video. And no, you're not looking at the latest "Harry Potter" movie. A flying lawn mower, called the "Sky Cutter," the latest must-have for people who fly model planes.

And more of my face-to-face interview with hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons. Next hour we talk about why he got involved in the fashion business. And at 4:00 eastern time, I find out how the multi- millionaire is giving back to the community.

Right now a look at top stories. President Obama calls the NATO summit in Lisbon "very productive." Afghanistan took center stage. The heads of NATO member states agreed to transfer security control there to the Afghan government by the end of 2014. But they added that allied forces would remain in the war-scarred country long after that date in a support role.

And the FDA has ordered that two longtime painkillers be pulled off the market. It says Darvan and Darvoset are linked to heart problems. Patients are warned not to go cold turkey without talking to their doctors first.

I'm Fredricka Whitfield. Here now is standup comedian and radio talk show host Pete Dominick with "What the Week." We'll see you at the top of the hour.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: ID, sir.

PETE DOMINICK, CNN HOST: Right here, man.

I'm Pete Dominick, the host of "What the Week." I didn't --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Give me your --

DOMINICK: You got to be kidding me? "What the week" starts in five seconds.

ALI VELSHI, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Ali. What? Pete Dominick? Dominick? Full cavity search.

DOMINICK: Velshi!

It's been five days since we heard a random guy tell the TSA not to grab his "junk," three days since Republican Lisa Murkowski -- how do you spell that -- declared victory in that contention Alaska Senate race, and one day since another TV anchor got suspended for making a political donation, and only 30 seconds since I got violated by a security guard.

Welcome to "What the Week."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: A modern day Cinderella marrying into Britain's royal family.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Prince William finally pops the question. He and Kate Middleton will marry next year.

PRINCE WILLIAM: My mother's engagement ring is my way of making sure my mother didn't miss out on today.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Just fantastic, and everybody talking about very romantic.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DOMINICK: Whoa. Wait, wait. What was that? A lot more happened this week than just the royal wedding. Who put this together. Ed? Are you in the control room? Ed? What --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, Pete, what's up?

DOMINICK: What are you doing? Everyone is freaking out over the royal engagement. This is ridiculous. Roll the highlights of what people really need to know about this week or I swear to god I'll come over take that crown of your head and feed it to you.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. OK. I got something. It will be smashing governor.

DOMINICK: Very funny. Go ahead.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The lame duck Congress is now under way.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: New members of Congress reporting in like new students at college.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A growing grass roots movement is calling on passengers to refuse body scans.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A confrontation at airport security going viral.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I turned to him looked him in the eye and said "If you touch my junk I'll have you arrested.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: New York Congressman Charlie Rangel convicted of breaking House ethics rules. Rangel said the verdict was unfair. He walked out of his own hearing yesterday.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: President Obama presented the Medal of Honor to Army Staff sergeant Giunta for heroism in Afghanistan.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: An obviously thinner Dick Cheney all the talk after his first public appearance with George Bush.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: A federal jury in New York finding Ahmed Ghailani not guilty on 284 terror-related charges, including murder.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If you ran for president, would you beat Barack Obama?

SARAH PALIN, (R) FORMER ALASKA GOVERNOR: I believe so.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The IPO from General Motors one of the biggest Wall Street has ever seen.

BARACK OBAMA, (D) PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: It is a national security imperative that the United States ratify the new START treaty.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Republican have chosen John Boehner to be speaker of the House. Outgoing speaker Nancy Pelosi will lead the Democrats.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: President Obama in Lisbon, Portugal meeting with NATO allies.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DOMINICK: So that was the news. But all my producers wanted to talk about this whole week was the royal engagement. In fact, it's all a lot of people wanted to talk about.

So what? Our forefathers fight and die in the revolutionary war to overthrow the tyrannical reign of the throne just so 200 years later we can all go nuts over Prince William's dreamy blue eyes? This week I crashed your lunch to find out what America's lingering obsession with royalty is all about. Take a look. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DOMINICK: What did you hear, sir?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I just heard that junior, is that his name?

DOMINICK: Junior?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's getting married.

DOMINICK: Dating her a while. Why do you know this?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So Prince William got engaged to his longtime girlfriend.

DOMINICK: Yes. You know a lot. That's quite a bit. Did you know?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, I do.

DOMINICK: Are you excited?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: When I was six Prince Charles and Diana got married and William was born and I was sad because he was going to be younger and wouldn't be my prince.

DOMINICK: Am I being sexist?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I don't care.

DOMINICK: Am I being sexist when I say women care more about men about this royal family story. Am I wrong?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No, I don't think you're wrong. I think the younger brother is cuter. So I don't feel bad about it at all.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think Harry's cuter.

DOMINICK: Are you single?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm single.

DOMINICK: Say hi to Harry. He's watching.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hi, Harry.

DOMINICK: Since Prince Charles has so embarrassed the royal family, prince William can become king.

DOMINICK: Can we agree you shouldn't hang out with him any longer?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let's go.

DOMINICK: Do you wish had you a royal family here?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The Obamas.

DOMINICK: You think the Obamas are royalty? Are Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt are royalty?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't know.

DOMINICK: And you pay a lot of attention to this? I'm the host of the show. Back to you, Pete.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DOMINICK: Thank you, Pete.

So coming up next, I'll tell you the five things from this past week you absolutely need to know about.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

DOMINICK: Well, sometimes the news just gushes at you like a five- year-old's lunch after ten minutes on the merry go round. You know what I mean. You may have missed the five things you need to know.

One, the anti-piracy bill gets a committee thumbs up and a full Senate vote soon. The law gives the Department of Justice the power to shut down foreign websites that offer pirated songs television song, movie, software, all that stuff. Yes, you may have to pay for the black market Justin Bieber ring tone. You know who you are.

Number two, President Barack Obama is pressuring the Senate to quickly ratify START, the new arms control treaty, with Russia. 2 approved the treaty restarts mutual inspections amend limits the U.S. and Russia to 1,550 warheads a piece. Is that all? I feel so naked.

Three, scientists at MIT are developing the technology to allow special cameras to see around corners. That could, for example, find hidden people in burning buildings or see around corners to prevent car accidents or catch my producer Ed manhandling my prize tabby.

Number four, Afghanistan President Karzai and General Petraeus did a little fence mending Friday. Earlier in the week Karzai did some bellyaching calling the U.S. military in this country intrusive. Vice president Joe Biden responded, saying daddy is going to start taking the training whales off. A metaphor will America is daddy and making Afghanistan my five-year-old's bicycle.

Five, a first, ad electric car named car of the year. The Chevy Volt earned that title from both motor trend and automobile magazine. This is amazing. This is amazing -- an electric car is named car of the year, and that is a subject of our segment "You are here."

So how do we get here? By here, I mean a point in time where almost every major automaker has an electric or plug-in hybrid in the works. Check out some of the other electric rides from this week's Los Angeles auto show.

The Chevy Volt will be out next month. It's a beautiful looking car. The Nissan Leaf that will be launched by the year's end. And the Honda, of course, has a car. It's an electric car called the fit and it's going to be out by 2012.

Now, this is not the first time we've championed the electric car, not by a long shot. In fact, look at this baby -- very arrow dynamic. This is the first commercial EV. It hit the road in 1890. But in 1908, that's when it came off the assembly line, cheaper, faster, and, of course, could go farther. Americans need that.

This makes Henry Ford's Tin Lizzy with its internal combustion engine a much more practical option. Of course, there was a flurry of attempts to get the EVs back on the road. But with the exception of the Toyota Prius, one of the first ones, electric hybrid unveiled in Japan in 1997, none became very popular.

This movie, this came out in 2006, it's called "Who Killed the Electric Car." It's about an electric car and offers a myriad of accusations as to why electric cars never caught on. I'm telling you it is PG. Get it. Did I just say myriad.

Anyway, a star-studded cast blamed everyone from the oil industry you to the U.S. government and consumers themselves for not buying into EV technology. So conspiracy or propaganda? Rent it, read up on it, and make your own decision about it.

The fact is, EVs have never been cheap, but next month Chevy releases the Volt. After tax rebates, there it is. Plug it in. The price is $33,000 depending on what state you live in. Not cheap, but if you're worried about gas, what could kill the electric car this time?

Electric vehicles can go up to 25 and a 100 miles on a full tank whereas a gas car can of course go 300 or more. Is the present EV type already running on empty? J.D. Power and Associates is claiming that by 2020 only 14 percent of Americans will be driving hybrids. That is where we are at.

And up next, the royal engagement, fascinating, flabbergasted or completely flummoxed. What do you think of that? That's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

DOMINICK: Americans are caffeine junkies. It's in our coffee, soda and lately in our booze. Heard about the energy drinks laced with alcohol with names like Four Loko and Juice? Consumers get the jolt of two cups of coffee combined with the equivalent of four or five beers in a single can of this. So they're huge with college students, who aren't exactly known with having the most responsible drinking habits.

In nine university students in October hospitalized after getting sick on Four Loko. This week, the FDA warned four companies their booze infused energy drinks were unsafe, and could be seized under federal law. Four Loko since promised to remove the caffeine from their concoction.

So I went out to ask some college students what they think about mixing a buzz with their booze.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DOMINICK: It seems like on college campuses a lot of kids are doing the drinking alcohol caffeine drink, like these Sparks or Four Loko. How many have had those? You're on one right now.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No!

DOMINICK: Ever mixed alcohol with caffeine? One of those drinks.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I have.

DOMINICK: Was the result?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I didn't jump off a roof or do anything crazy.

DOMINICK: Just sat there and played X-Box?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Pretty much.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You don't want to drink more than one of those. But it's a good way to start off your evening if you're settling into a lot of drinking.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When you're 21 years old, that just was going on in your atmosphere at the time. So I don't mind it.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Never mix stimulants and depressants, it's a chemical lobotomizer.

DOMINICK: Keeping you awake to keep on drinking. Isn't that a great thing?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Maybe to some.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I miss. I wish they weren't banning it.

DOMINICK: You think you're addicted? We're doing an intervention, by the way.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Awesome.

DOMINICK: I care about you. I don't want you staying awake drinking all night.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

DOMINICK: Joining me now are two good friends of mine, Julie Gold, a comedian and actress, and comedian Dean Obeidallah, co-creator of the Arab-American comedy festival. Which one of you had Four Loko before coming on the air. Be honest.

JULIE GOLD, COMEDIAN: I did.

DOMINICK: Yes. What is your caffeine, energy drink of choice? GOLD: What do you mean? I feel great. I don't know what you're talking about. You know what? I'm a big coffee drinker but I really, I don't want to combine the alcohol and the -- it's so unhealthy. Who the hell thought of this?

DOMINICK: Probably young people when they pitch to a venture capitalist.

Dean, do you think banning these things will stop kids? You perform chugging espresso. You've heard of vodka and Red Bull. That's a popular drink, right?

DEAN OBEIDALLAH, COMEDIAN: It is. Not for me, but it is. You're not going to stop them from doing it. Ban it for college students. Let adults have this. It must be the attraction of being drunk and functional to do those mundane things, cutting the lawn, cleaning out the gutter, doing taxes when you're drunk. That's what I want to do.

Ban it for college kids, keep it for adults. Send me a test sample. I want to test it out.

GOLD: Isn't the whole point of getting drunk passing out on your friend's couch? Isn't that the point?

DOMINICK: No. It's apparently staying up, getting as drunk as you possibly can, if you drink these two drinks. I don't know. I never really did that in college. I never understood it.

Let me ask you guys about the TSA. Everybody's talking about the TSA pat-downs. I'm getting a plane in a couple hours and I feel like I'm about to go on a hot date. I'm hoping somebody touches me. What do you think of the new security measures that they're using, TSA? Judy, is this too much for you, the touching, the deep petting?

GOLD: It's really a lot. I mean, it's -- look, I can pay for someone to do that to me, and have them do what I want, but this is ridiculous. It's such an invasion of your privacy and your personal space. You know, we should do what Israel does. Have information about all the passengers --

DOMINICK: But they have only 30 flights a day in Israel. How do you do that here? Are you afraid of someone touching you, or as they say, your "junk" apparently?

OBEIDALLAH: No. I tried to solicit that at the airport, and no one will touch my junk. I'm Arab-American. Welcome to our world. White people, deal with it. You told us, deal with it. That's our response. We all want to be safe. I just went through the naked scanner in Amsterdam and I felt self-conscience. They didn't laugh at me.

GOLD: What did they say? Did anyone say anything?

OBEIDALLAH: They just said -- no. You look back you can see the other people naked. I recommend position yourself next to the people you want to see naked because you can see through the screen. DOMINICK: I went through the naked scanner and the TSA guy goes, excuse me, ma'am, could you come back here I go, really? Really, you're talking to me?

GOLD: That's so funny, because I went through and they said, sir we need have you walk through again.

DOMINICK: You are a tall, tall, large lady.

GOLD: Yes, I am and apparently I have a large penis as well.

DOMINICK: Apparently.

OBEIDALLAH: They were so impressed with me I actually posed for pictures with families.

(LAUGHTER)

DOMINICK: Listen, guys, one more story. Prince Charming got engaged with what's her name this week. What's with America's obsession.

GOLD: Prince charming?

DOMINICK: The kid, the royal, the British. What's with all the obsession with the royal family in the United Kingdom? Call me a sexist. I see a definite gender split. Judy, your reaction? Women care more than men? Yes or no.

GOLD: I have to agree. I really can't stand this kind of stuff, and I find myself sort of looking at the ring and looking at them together, and -- I definitely think it's more of a female-centric kind of -- and it's exciting, kind of.

DOMINICK: Is it exciting? Dean, what's her name, the woman he's -- what's his name? I don't know. I can't follow this stuff.

OBEIDALLAH: Prince Harry Potter and --

GOLD: He's William.

DOMINICK: I think it's Harry.

OBEIDALLAH: It's great they're getting together, finally. No. I mean, I'll tell you, never been excited this much since "Sex and the City 2" came out. Americans are obsessed with it. We like royalty. We can't help it. They pump $1 million into U.K. tourism through this. If things are tough enough, Obama might have to marry off some of his daughters to help the economy.

DOMINICK: Is this the royal wedding or Sarah Palin's new reality show. Quickly, Judy?

GOLD: The wedding. Please, god almighty, the wedding.

DOMINICK: What will you be watching the Sarah Palin show or -- OBEIDALLAH: I'll be watching -- I only watch Sarah Palin if she's manager of Bed, Bath & Beyond, otherwise I'm not watching her show. She'd be a great manager.

DOMINICK: Judy Gold, Dean Obeidallah. Where can our viewers find you, Judy?

GOLD: Judegold.com.

DOMINICK: Thanks for joining me and covering some of the week's events.

Coming up next, I'll tell you about a man who got shot twice but decided to each lunch before going to the hospital. Hungry, fellow? We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

DOMINICK: Welcome back to "What the Week." I am Pete Dominick.

Each week people do great things. Sometimes it makes the news, sometimes it doesn't. I would like to give a shout-out to people doing things that make them better than me.

This is Michelle King and Seth Reames. This couple founded, "We've got time to help, matching unemployment people who want to lend a hand to community improvement projects." They founded the group after Michelle told Seth to do community service after he lost his job. My wife just tells knee get out. You are way better than me. Congratulations to you.

Dave Talley is a homeless man, but returned a student's backpack. Amazing part, the bag was filled with $3,300 in cash and a laptop computer. You know, I once found a wallet in my best friend's pants and actually bought a pizza with it. Dave, you are way more honest than I am and way better than me.

Speaking of me, that is a great shot from my days as male model. Moving on, this next guy, he was shot twice, shot twice near the groin, and headed home to polish of a here open sandwich before going to the hospital. I hope he asked for extra napkins. This I guess Miguel's better than me, the sandwich -- anyway.

Lastly, you know this guy. This is Army Staff Sergeant Salvatore Giunta. You may have seen this guy in the news. He's a 25-year-old staff sergeant becoming the first living recipient of the Medal of Honor. President Obama says he leaves you convinced this is what America's all about.

You know what? I actually once got hit by a paintball and I cried, cried for a while. Staff sergeant, you are way better than me. Congratulations on your Medal of Honor.

Using my beautiful bald head as magic eight ball, here's what I see coming down the pike as the next big thing. You know, it's the holidays. "What the Week" is taken a hiatus until 2011. But it's that time of year for family reunions. Overcooked birds, parades on TV, arguments with your drunk uncle, and full body pat-downs, hopefully not all at the same time.

We're looking forward to seeing you guys soon. Thank you so much for tuning in. Remember, keep checking the facts and thinking for yourself. I'm Pete Dominick and we will see you in 2011.