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Turmoil in North Africa and the Middle East Shosw No Signs of Ceasing; Reaching Midlife Can Be a Problem or an Accomplishment; Cool Cars at the New York Auto Show; "Happy Days" Actors Sue CBS; St. Louis Airport ReOpens; More Severe Weather Threat; Pursuing Your Dream Job

Aired April 24, 2011 - 16:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome to CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Fredricka Whitfield at the CNN World headquarters in Atlanta.

Flights are taking off and landing again in St. Louis two days after a tornado shut down the city's international airport. About 60 percent of flights are expected to operate on this Easter Sunday. The twister, as you see on the left-hand side, damaged mostly the main terminal. You can see how strong the wind was in the video from surveillance camera.

Some airline operations are being moved to other concourses to keep those flights, to be able to land and take off. So the tornado also slammed into neighborhoods near the airport, damaging at least 750 homes. But no deaths or life-threatening injuries are reported. The winds also blew the steeple off the Holy Spirit Catholic Church, but today as you saw earlier, Easter services went on as planned.

The tornado cut a path of almost total destruction in parts of Bridgeton, a St. Louis suburb. CNN's Dan Simon is there. So Dan, they are just simply heartbreaking images. How are the people coping with what has happened?

DAN SIMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's a difficult day indeed, Fredricka. We are in the community of Bridgeton, and home after home in this one subdivision known as Harmon Estates is destroyed. We're going to flip the camera around and you can see that this home right here, this belongs to Dave Koenig. You can see it's standing, but it's going to have to come down. Because I want to show you what it looks like inside.

First of all, when you walk through the garage, you can see that the roof is off. And then as we walk inside, you can se e all the devastation. And the homeowner, Dave Koenig, we're going to talk to him in a second. He said all this destruction that you see here took place in a span of 30 seconds. That's the dining room. This is the kitchen. You can see all the ceiling came down. As we walk through the living room here, see all this glass on the ground. Different pieces of artwork destroyed.

And we're going to talk to Dave Koenig. He was here with his wife. They were in their master bedroom. You can see the sky exposed here. They were watching television. Television right there in the corner. Dave was sitting on a chair, and they heard the sirens. They were watching the local news. And that's when Dave said to his wife that they probably need to take cover. This is Dave Koenig. We're going to talk to him about what he did next. So you're in there with your wife, huh?

DAVE KOENIG, HOMEOWNER: Correct. We were watching the news, the weather. Sirens went off, the lights went out. She said, let's go downstairs. I said, we'd better hit this bathroom here. We went in there and got on the floor. We heard whistling sound. The air was coming out underneath the door, being sucked out of the house, then the house just broke loose. It was rattling, shaking, jumping, bouncing. And then in 30 seconds it was over.

SIMON: So let's be clear here. Your wife wanted you to go to the basement. You said, let's go to the bathroom.

KOENIG: Bathroom.

SIMON: This is the bathroom right here. Why did you decide on the bathroom?

KOENIG: Small room, lots of two by four's, walls, we were safe. It's the only room in the house that didn't get tore up.

SIMON: And you know, as the ceiling is coming down. The side of the house is kind of exposed. Tell me what happened.

KOENIG: We're trying to get out of here. I mean, we're jumping over furniture and crawling out of the house to see how bad it was. We couldn't believe it once we walked out.

SIMON: Let's go ahead back here to the living room, Fred. This is also worth pointing out. Look at the - look at the foliage behind here. One of the reasons why Dave and his wife love living here so much is because they have this beautiful scenery of trees, and now take a look at it. I mean, it's just unbelievable.

So we'll go and toss it back to you. But you have so many stories just like this one throughout the subdivision. Fred?

WHITFIELD: Boy, the Koenigs extremely lucky there. And boy, the instincts were really right spot on by getting in that small bathroom, since that was the one room that was most protected.

Dan Simon, thanks so much in Bridgeton, Missouri. All the best to the people trying to pick up the pieces and rebuild.

Meantime, the FBI just identified the suspect that they have been looking for in the Colorado pipe bomb case. He is 65-year-old Earl Albert Moore, and he has an extensive criminal record. Someone found the bomb at a Littleton Mall on the same day as the 12th anniversary of the Columbine School the shooing.

CNN's Jim Spellman has been following this for us in Denver. He's joining us right now on the phone. So, Jim, how did investigators come across the suspect? How did they arrest him? JIM SPELLMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (ON THE PHONE): No arrest yet. They're still searching for him. In fact, they said they expanded the search from the greater Denver area to what they're now calling a nationwide man hunt for Earl Albert Moore.

You know, Fredricka, one of the things that was shocking about this is the device was so similar to the devices used in Columbine, and the Columbine High School is so close to this mall. So but we still don't have any idea, any kind of motive. He had an extensive criminal record, Earl Albert Moore, dating back to at least 1984 here in Colorado. Mostly it seems like theft and larceny and some drug offenses, but nothing that would seem to indicate any type of domestic terrorism or any reason to be just setting up, trying to set off a bomb in a shopping mall.

The FBI, along with local law enforcement here, have been searching around the clock. You know they've been questioning people in the middle of the night trying to get to this guy and releasing photos and video clips as they've been able to verify this was their suspect. And now they have this photo, obviously it's from the criminal justice system. They don't know how they got this photo and linked it to his name. They did send the device to the FBI crime lab in Quantico, Virginia, to do a complete forensics search. So perhaps that was helpful in their search, Fred.

WHITFIELD: All right. So still on the lookout for Earl Albert Moore. Thanks so much, Jim. Appreciate that update.

All right. Now to Libya, where four people were killed today in Misrata. Witnesses report heavy shelling in the port city just hours after Moammar Gadhafi's forces said they were withdrawing. A rebel spokesman accuses Gadhafi of playing dirty games. Also today, NATO confirms a second unmanned predator drone strike, this one targeting a Libyan anti-aircraft system in Tripoli.

So we're hearing a lot today from lawmakers who want the U.S. to put more pressure on Tripoli. Let's bring in Sandra Endo in Washington. So Sandra, the Sunday talk shows were full of lawmakers calling for the U.S. to get tougher on Libya, on Gadhafi, in particular.

SANDRA ENDO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely, Fred. And despite NATO controlling the mission surrounding the conflict in Libya, key lawmakers say the United States, as you mentioned, needs to take a lead so the coalition can produce a decisive outcome in the conflict.

Senator Joe Lieberman today, who chairs the Senate Committee on Homeland Security, is applauding the use of predator drones to enhance the mission.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. JOE LIEBERMAN (I), CONNECTICUT: You can't get into a fight with one foot. You've got to get into it. And therefore, I think the use of our predator drones, which have extraordinary capabilities, was the right thing to do, and I thank President Obama's commander in chief for authorizing that to happen. (END VIDEO CLIP)

ENDO: The issue is finding and ousting Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, who is right now in hiding with no end in sight to this conflict, Fred. Senator John McCain says the situation could be an opportunity for terrorists to sweep in.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), ARIZONA: Now, if you have a stalemate, I think it's very possible that Al Qaeda could come in and take advantage of a stalemated situation. But right now it's not Al Qaeda that motivated this, and it's not Al Qaeda that's running it.

ENDO: Both lawmakers speaking to CNN's Candy Crowley on the "State of the Union" this morning say the United States should help and support the will of Libyan civilians and ensure what they've been fighting for, Fred, this whole time. They just want freedom and democracy.

WHITFIELD: All right. Sandra in Washington, thanks so much.

Well, elsewhere in this very area that those lawmakers are talking about, there were more protest in Yemen. Despite reports that President Ali Abdullah Saleh has agreed to step down within 30 days. Other Persian Gulf nations help broker the deal but protesters say Saleh should leave right now. They also object to a provision giving Saleh immunity from prosecution.

And on to Syria now where more funerals, more protests and more violence are playing out. Witnesses say at least 10 people died when Syrian forces opened fire on mourners in two cities yesterday. They also say security forces fired on a pro-democracy demonstrator group on Syria's western coast today, killing at least two of them.

Pope Benedict says he hopes peace will triumph over division, hate, and violence in the Middle East. The Pope celebrated Easter mass at St. Peter's Square in Vatican City before crowd numbering in the tens of thousands. Take a look there. He prayed for the survivors of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan and ended by offering his Easter blessing in more than 60 languages.

All right. From Easter to the royal wedding now, bookies in London will take bets on almost anything. And Prince William's wedding is no exception. Believe it or not, a favorite topic for the royal bet, what color will Kate's wedding dress be? You may be surprised, but white is not the top choice for odds makers. Also, what do you think is the 100:1 long shot color? Those answers, plus we're taking you live to Westminster Abbey in two minutes.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: So before the break, we told you London bookies are taking bets on the royal wedding, a favorite topic. What color will Kate's wedding dress be? The bookie's favorite at four-six odds is ivory. White is second at five-two. And the long shot - I mean really long shot - is a red dress at 100-one. Of course, that might cause a lot of commotion, just as much commotion as that see-through number that first caught William's eye back in their college days.

So the royal wedding is just five days away. It's, of course, crunch time. When all those last-minute details have to be checked off. Our Max Foster is at Westminster Abbey in London, where Kate Middleton and Prince William will be exchanging their vows. We're not going to hear anything more about what color the dress is going to be or maybe even the designer, right, from you, but what else needs to be checked off the to do list?

MAX FOSTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, we're not actually going to hear anything from them either. There was a royal family public appearance today. They didn't show. They're having a private weekend, we're told, and no more public appearances until the wedding here on Friday. Lots to do. Kate involved in every detail of this wedding. I know that the flowers are arriving this week. She's going to want to make sure they look good in there.

Some controversy, Fredricka, today about the guest list though. That was revealed yesterday. Already the Bahraini crown prince has withdrawn his acceptance of that offer. He's not going to come anymore because the British media has been so vociferous against him. Basically accusing him of handling the uprising in his country not very well. He's been put off by that, so he said he's not coming now.

WHITFIELD: Oh, boy. OK. But there are many others who are on the list, including an awful lot of celebrities. Elton John will be there. Any idea whether he is scheduled to even perform. Or do we know anything more about kind of the schedule of events during that wedding?

FOSTER: Well, certainly, we've got this lunchtime reception the queen is hosting at Buckingham Palace. We know some details about that. 600 dignitaries will be going there. Then Prince Charles has a private dinner and dance afterwards. We're not being given any details about that, but we have been told that there will be some sort of live event there of the two musicians invited, Joss Stone and Elton John. So I wonder if we can read anything into that.

Other controversies, in terms of former prime ministers, the two conservative ones have been invited. The two labor ones haven't. So there's some sort of conspiracy theories there. But Clarence House is playing that all down. They say that's just how it is.

WHITFIELD: Interesting. So then this weekend, how were William and Kate enjoying their weekend? We know that on Friday she did a bit of shopping. How embarrassing, everyone got to see her purchases from bikinis to lingerie. But was their weekend as public?

FOSTER: Well, all that Clarence House has said is they're spending it privately. It's their last weekend. They want to get everything ready. I think, you know, they're going to have so much pressure on Friday. But you know, the world's media really have descended on London this week. If any week people want them to appear, it would be this one. They're under a lot of pressure, but they're not going to.

WHITFIELD: Yes, the understatement of the year, under a lot of pressure. OK. Thanks so much, Max Foster, appreciate that from Westminster Abbey.

So CNN is counting down to the most anticipated wedding in decades. Tonight at 8:00 Eastern, we'll take you behind the scenes when CNN presents "The Women who Would be Queen." Then on Friday, April 29th, tune in for CNN's "Royal Wedding Experience." Or, of course, you can always DVR it if you don't want to wake up at 4:00 a.m. Eastern time.

All right. So do you remember what you wanted to be before life got in the way? Well, that's just one question that can help you get back on track in pursuit of your dream job. The other questions that can lead to answers in two minutes.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: OK. Who isn't always in pursuit of their dream job? Many people start their careers with pretty sizable ambitions, and then they find that there are obstacles that they didn't expect, and so they get a little side tracked.

Valerie Burton, the author of "How Did I Get So Busy" is here with this week's "Reclaim your Career" segment. She's joining me right now with four questions that you need to ask yourself to try and get yourself on track. If you feel like you're not on the path that you always dreamed of, starting with a simple one. What is it that I always wanted to be?

VALERIE BURTON, AUTHOR "HOW DID I GET SO BUSY?": That's right. You know, a lot of times life just gets in the way, and people end up pursuing whatever came along. But there was some dream you had way back when.

WHITFIELD: Sometimes you forget.

BURTON: Sometimes you forget what that is, but often you need to tap back into that and ask yourself, what was my vision at that point in my life?

WHITFIELD: When do you ask yourself that question, when you're feeling like you're in a rut? When you're feeling like I'm not happy but I'm not really sure why?

BURTON: If you find yourself really not enjoying the career field that you're in. If you really feel like you're not living on purpose, that your work isn't really tapping into your strength and your passion, you know there's something more, that's when you need to be asking that question.

WHITFIELD: OK. So ask the question, who did I want to be before life got in the way? All right. And then you're going to ask them, who do you want to be now? Or who do I want to be now?

BURTON: So the reason you ask questions, I always say, if you ask the right questions, you get the right answers. But it takes slowing down a bit and being a little bit self-reflective. So when you ask that question, it means, you know what maybe you had a dream a long time ago. Things have changed. You may have changed. So you want to make sure that you adjust that question and say, where is it that I want to go from here right now? Who am I, and where is it that I want to go?

WHITFIELD: OK. And then what is the most significant change that would turn you in the direction of your dreams?

BURTON: Yes. So this is what's the next step? For some people it's a complete career change. What kinds of things are you going to need in order to be able to do that? You need to find an action step.

WHITFIELD: It may mean training, it may mean relocating, those kinds of things?

BURTON: Absolutely.

WHITFIELD: And then who can help me? Trying to speak like the one who wants to ask these questions. OK. So who can help you, who can help me?

BURTON: Who can help you? You're not reinventing the wheel. And I think a lot of times we feel like I've got to figure this out all by myself. That's why it's good to have a mentor, it's good to have a coach, it's good to have people around you that already know the answer. So make sure that you tap into that, who are the role models that you can talk to that can give you some of those steps you need to be taking now so that you can move towards your dream job in the future?

WHITFIELD: But so often people, once they realize, OK, I'm in this place, this isn't the place that I envisioned. Then it seems really overwhelming to figure out, how do I start over, if at all? So if you ask yourself these questions, maybe some real clarity will come into view.

BURTON: And it's not all or nothing. What's the first step you can take? Maybe you're not going to transition for another three years, but if you start taking those steps now, you can make a smooth transition.

WHITFIELD: So in other words, have a lot of patience.

BURTON: That's right. It's worth it though.

WHITFIELD: Valerie Burton, thanks so much for always helping us every week to reclaim our careers. Thanks so much.

BURTON: Thanks, Fred.

WHITFIELD: So this week our CNN Money team will be watching news on company profits, help our air travelers, and dough being made off the royal wedding. Here's our money team starting with Felicia Taylor.

FELICIA TAYLOR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Fredricka.

Well, Apple's quarterly earnings has blew past expectations. The tech giant raked in $25 billion in revenues with profits nearly doubling. Apple sold more than 18 million iPhones in the period. Another thing gaining traction this season, the number of Americans filing fraudulent tax returns. It's nearly tripled. The Treasury inspector general says people tried to claim nearly $2 billion in refunds of which they weren't entitled. Claims include falsely lowering incomes and even claiming children that don't exist. Stephanie.

STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN BUSINESS NEWS CORRESPONDENT: Thanks, Felicia. The Department of Transportation has released its passenger bill of rights part two. The new rules are designed to make airline travel more comfortable and pricing more transparent. Among the proposed changes, airlines must post all fees and taxes clearly on their web sites, not just in the small print. And they must increase compensation for passenger who are involuntarily bumped.

Subway is cutting the amount of salt in its sandwiches by 15 percent. It's Fresh Fit line will get a nearly 30 percent cut. The reductions will come mainly from the type of bread used. Poppy?

POPPY HARLOW, CNNMONEY.COM: Thanks a lot, Steph. Well, coming up this week, the New York International Auto Show boasts more brand new models and concept cars than ever before, and kids will be able to pose with their favorite cars. Two characters there.

Hopping across the royal pond, the royal wedding is expected to pay off big time in the UK. A retail trade group predicts the event could produce $260 million in food and drink sales alone, and tourists are, of course, pretty likely to stock up on the hottest William and Kate memorabilia.

As far as here in the U.S., the big news on Wall street will be Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke's first ever news conference. He's set to hold that on Wednesday Central Bankers wrap up their two- day policy meeting.

Of course, we'll track it all for you all week on CNN Money. Fred, back to you.

WHITFIELD: All right. Thanks so much, ladies.

Also this week, they will continue to pick up the pieces in St. Louis after that Good Friday tornado. We'll tell you what else is being done.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right. Planes are flying in and out of the main airport in St. Louis again, but only on a limited basis. There's still a whole lot of cleaning up to do from that fierce tornado that hit on Friday night. Take a look at the surveillance video, the moment that it all happened. You can see people are running for cover. The winds up to 165 miles per hour swept through after breaking a lot of the glass there at the main terminal.

Right now, each air carrier, by the way, is deciding which flights to take off and land. So they are not completely up and running, but for the most part, they're trying to get back to normal.

So the National Weather Service experts confirm that, yes, it was an EF-4 tornado. You can see how it blew apart homes in one neighborhood after another right near that airport. Missouri's governor says it's astounding that no one was killed or seriously hurt. The suburb with the most destruction appears to be Bridgeton.

One woman looking at where her house used to be tolls CNN's Dan Simon that she feels lucky that she can salvage even just a few things.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARY ELLEN NORTON HAYES, HOME DESTROYED BY TORNADO: All my baking pans. I love to bake, love to cook. So I bought some pans. I have some silverware. Most of my irreplaceable mementos from my parents and grandparents are gone. I have plates, some clothing if we can salvage it. I can only find one shoe in each pair.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Well she and so many are very lucky especially since there were no reported deaths or serious injuries. But you know what, they may not be completely out of the woods just yet. Alexandra Steele with us now in the weather center. More systems on the way, potentially.

ALEXANDRA STEELE, CNN METEOROLOGIST: It's unbelievable, absolutely. You know, in April so far we've seen more severe weather reports and more tornadoes, double the normal average. And this last week of April, we're going to see even more. So it's really unfortunate the same quadrant of the country continues to be impacted. So a most imminent concern, of course, is what's happening right now. Here's the big picture, kind of the breadth and depth of this. We got this front and really these clash of air masses. The jet stream is strong, incredibly warm temperatures here in the southeast. They've got severe thunderstorm watches denoted here in yellow. Of course, tornado watches, meaning the potential for tornadoes. We've certainly seen that.

Even a couple of tornado warnings, we've got those today, Arkansas, Kentucky, and even into Washington, D.C., and just north and west of that. Here and around Washington, if you know Washington, D.C., north and west of the city in Loudon and Montgomery County, the potential for tornadic activity is there and also some strong gusty winds. So the big picture, that's what's happening right now. But what about today and tomorrow in terms of where we'll see the severe weather.

Here's the forecast. This is the quadrant of concern once again. Severe storms firing off today and tonight. But as we head towards tomorrow, you're going to notice the same area will be impacted. So a long Easter weekend maybe for many of you heading back to work and back to school.

In Little Rock, Dallas, St. Louis, Louisville, and once again tomorrow, even Washington, Baltimore and Philadelphia in the fire lines for tornadoes, large hail, and strong gusty winds. So airports impacted. You can see all the way here in the southeast to the mid- Atlantic. So Fredricka, Washington, D.C., BWI, Philadelphia. Yes, the quadrant of concern, the same places we've seen over and over. But now moving into the mid-Atlantic tonight and tomorrow.

WHITFIELD: Oh my gosh that's where my family is. I know they are watching and they've got your advice now. They'll be taking cover. Thanks so much, Alexandra, appreciate that.

And still in the bull's eye of another big problem, Texas. They could see more flare-ups in the coming days as a dry weather system moves across the state. The state forest service reports 17 new wildfires erupted yesterday. The crews managed to contain one of those fires that is burning from border to border.

And now to North Africa and the Middle East, where political violence and turmoil show no signs of ceasing. There are reports of heavy shelling in Misrata, Libya, just hours after Moammar Gadhafi's forces announced that they were withdrawing. A rebel spokesman accuses Gadhafi of playing dirty games.

And elsewhere in the region, more funerals and more protests in Syria and more violence. Witnesses say at least ten people died when Syrian forces opened fire on mourners in two cities yesterday. They also say security forces fired on a pro-democracy protester group on Syrians western coast today killing at least two of them.

And moving on to Yemen, there were more protests there today despite reports that President Ali Abdullah Saleh has agreed to step down within 30 days. Other Persian Gulf nations helped broker the deal. But protesters say Saleh should leave right now. They also object to a provision given Saleh immunity from prosecution.

No husband, no kids, and you're 40? What was once shunned is now part of the new normal. A new book talks about women living without strings attached.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: OK. So reaching midlife can be a problem or an accomplishment. It's all about how you look at life. That's the focus of the new book "Fortytude" by Sarah Brokaw and she joins me right now from New York. Sarah you know what was the impudence behind this? Why did you say "You know what, what's needed is a book to help women embrace 40 and beyond."

SARAH BROKAW, AUTHOR, "FORTYTUDE:" I think it really became when I was 38 years old, and it was my high school 20th year reunion, and I chose not to go because I knew that I was going to show up empty handed, that I was not married and I didn't have kids. And everyone in the class was married, and mostly everyone had a child.

WHITFIELD: And you felt like that would be a big demerit?

BROKAW: I just thought I was going to walk in like the biggest loser. So the very next day, I got a number of calls from my fellow classmates who said, asked me why I didn't show up, and I was too embarrassed to tell them. And right at that moment, I thought, well, one, that's so not like me. I'm the biggest hypocrite because I'm here telling my clients to sally forth and to face life with confidence and curiosity, and I was doing exactly the opposite of that. So that moment, I thought someone needs to write a book to inspire not just people like myself, but other women out there across the nation to embrace life with confidence and curiosity.

WHITFIELD: You're a licensed therapist which you practice in Beverly Hills. When we talk about your clients that is what you're talking about. You are telling them all these self-esteem building things and then you felt like you were being hypocritical about it all. So in your book "Fortytude," I love the title. That is so clever.

BROKAW: Thank you.

WHITFIELD: You talk about really embracing five core values, beginning with grace.

BROKAW: Yes.

WHITFIELD: What do you mean by that?

BROKAW: Yes, grace really for me -- and I define it in my own words. I feel like it's a value that the definition will vary greatly depending on where you're from. For me, I define it as capitalizing on my own strengths while admiring other women's strengths. It's very easy I think for women when they age to become that much more competitive and threatened by younger women. And I say but that's not gracious. That's not grateful. Or that's not graceful. I think it is most important for us women to walk in a room with our heads up high noticing that we have gained wisdom, that we have intelligence that we have something that these younger women don't have.

WHITFIELD: So that kind of underscores the whole connectedness too, another value, you say that women must embrace.

BROKAW: Absolutely. That's the second value that I do talk about in the book. Doesn't mean that grace is more important than connectedness, but connectedness does come below grace in my book. How I define connectedness is the ability to really relate to others. And that women, because we are relational beings, really need to nurture our friendships because that is what we are really good at doing. And we need to teach the opposite sex that the power of friendships is what keeps us going in life and also in the workplace as well. I think that women need to really -- older women really need to teach the younger women in the workplace how to relate to one another.

WHITFIELD: And then you talk about accomplishment, and that's where it gets tricky because everyone defines accomplishment differently.

BROKAW: That's right.

WHITFIELD: You talked about going to the school reunion, and you were not feeling that sense of accomplishment because of what you thought was criteria you needed to have at that age. BROKAW: That's right. Accomplishment to me is even just gaining insight is an accomplishment. However, in a society like where we are today, there are certain milestones that women feel like they have to reach. That is, in their 20s, they start dating. In their early 30s, they should be married. And in their mid-30s they should have two kids and/or they have reached a certain point in the workplace. They've gotten at the top of the ladder.

Unfortunately, though, there are many women such as myself who didn't reach those traditional milestones. So I felt less accomplished. And that is also why I felt like it was so necessary for me in my personal life to redefine what it meant to be accomplished and then encourage women out there to redefine what accomplishment means to them so that they feel like they are accomplished, even if they have not reached those traditional milestones.

WHITFIELD: Why was it important for you to include adventure and spirituality to round it all out?

BROKAW: Yes, adventure and spirituality. Adventure really is kind of going beyond your comfort zone. But it doesn't necessarily mean that you are reckless, like how we were when we were in our teens and early 20s. It just means doing something that's slightly different because I think when you incorporate adventure, it keeps you curious. When you're curious, then you continue to be alive, you're thriving in life.

Spirituality to me is just a moment where -- well, it's a value where you experience moments of absolute peace and absolute equanimity. And it doesn't necessarily mean that you have to choose a religion to have spirituality it could be anything. For me, it's about getting on my surf board and being in the ocean.

WHITFIELD: All right. Sarah Brokaw author of "Fortytude." Thanks so much and a big shout out to your dad Tom. Of course, folks are recognizing the last name Brokaw. But you are simply from a family of communicators and writers through and through, both mom and dad. Good to see you.

BROKAW: Thank you so much. I really appreciate it.

WHITFIELD: Fantastic.

All right. Philippe Cousteau, another descendant of a very famous family, wants you to know how you can help in the Gulf. His special report is right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right. If you're in the market for a new fuel efficient vehicle. Perhaps you need to be at the International Auto Show in New York. That's where we find our Susan Candiotti with the Nissan Leaf. Behind the wheel earlier, now today at this hour it's spinning behind you. It's a hot seller, isn't it?

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: And that's not the only thing spinning. Isn't it a beautiful blue color?

WHITFIELD: It is.

CANDIOTTI: It makes your head spin just walking around the car show because there's so much to see. Of course a huge focus is on fuel efficient cars. In some cases, zero gas cars. That's what this Nissan Leaf, award-winning, is all about? It's a 100 percent electric car. We talked about it the last time; it goes 100 miles on a single charge. The price tag about $32,000, but you get a $7,500 electric car tax credit. So that brings it down to $25,000. This is not the only car getting a lot of buzz here at the show.

For those of you who remember the 1960s and the VW Bug, this is the new version of it. It's called the Bully. Now this one is 100 percent electric, and it has all kinds of pluses. It goes 186 miles on a single six-hour charge. It goes up to speeds of 86 miles per hour, and look at the inside. Seats four people by the way. It comes with an ipad, and this will be fully integrated to all the car systems. It can tell you speeds, navigation, where your charging stations are, that kind of thing.

But I will tell you this. It's not available yet. It's still a concept car. So we can't even tell you the price yet. Now back here at the New York Auto Show, the president of this exhibit this year is Mark Schienberg. Thanks for joining us. You know are gas prices the only thing driving all of these fuel efficient cars and all electric cars? What else is involved?

MARK SCHIENBERG, PRESIDENT, NY AUTO SHOW: Well gas prices are a big issue obviously as we're seeing it rise again. But it is just not it. Federal government has pinned standards, the standards they wants to see manufacturers achieve in their vehicles. It is going to go up considerably by 2016 to 35, almost 40 miles per hour. So manufacturers clearly are trying to achieve those kinds of goals, and that's why a lot of development.

CANDIOTTI: Will these cars be available down the road?

SCHIENBERG: Oh yes. These are actually -- these are cars that are in production now and will be available to the consumers real soon. BMW's going to be having theirs coming out real soon. But the thing, if you think about it, so much talk about China. China is looking at 20 to 30 million vehicles really shortly. That's going to be a big change for everything.

CANDIOTTI: Thank you very much. Mark Schienberg. Fred, also a lot of people obviously are also worried about safety. I can tell you in the case of the Nissan Leaf and the Chevy Volt, I know that some new rankings are coming out from the insurance institute, rankings coming out on Tuesday and we can tell you according to a source that those two particular models will do very well. To find out exactly how well, we'll have to listen and find out on Tuesday.

Fred.

WHITFIELD: OK. We will indeed. Thanks so much, Susan Candiotti, for bringing us those hot cars, and environmentally friendly hot cars.

All right. Speaking of the environment, environmentalist Philippe Cousteau says there's a lot of uncertainty a year after the Gulf oil spill. He's asking people to help in this "Impact your World" report.

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PHILIPPE COUSTEAU, ENVIRONMENTALIST: Hi, I'm Philippe Cousteau, and we can make an impact on the environment and the people affected by the Gulf oil spill. I've spent countless hours and days here in the Gulf working to remind people of the tremendous crisis that that oil spill caused, and we really don't know what the long term consequences of the oil spill will be.

The economy here along the Gulf has not recovered, the tourism, the fishing industries. This is as much a human disaster as it is an environmental disaster. When we destroy the environment, we are ultimately destroying ourselves.

Join the movement and impact your world, CNN.com/impact.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: All right. CNN's "Impact your World" is challenging you to pledge at least 11 volunteer hours in 2011. Go to CNN.com/impact to make your pledge today.

Straight ahead, one law maker says it's time to cut the head of the snake off. See what that could mean for NATO's military action in Libya.

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WHITFIELD: All right. Time for a CNN equals politics update. We are keeping an eye on all the latest headlines on the CNN politics.com desk. Here's what's crossing right now.

Former Senator Rick Santorum says he made a mistake when he voted to create the Medicare prescription drug benefit in 2003. The possible Republican presidential candidate says the bill created a new unfunded entitlement program, and he says that was wrong.

Donald Trump is feuding with political strategist Karl Rove. Trump says Rove did a terrible job advising George W. Bush and ended up running Bush's presidency into the ground. Trump was responding to Rove's recent criticism that Rove said Trump should not be considered a serious presidential candidate.

And another potential Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee is feuding with conservative pundit Glenn Beck. Beck called Huckabee, quote, a progressive. Huckabee responded by saying Beck should stick to conspiracy theories. For the latest political news, you know exactly where to go, CNNpolitics.com.

The deadly gun battles between rebels and government forces in Libya. And America's national debt all big topics on the Sunday talk shows today. Take a look.

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SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM, (R) SOUTH CAROLINA: Right now there's not enough momentum by the rebels even if they're better armed, to break through to Tripoli. There's not deep support for Gadhafi. So my recommendation to NATO and the administration is to cut the head of the snake off. Go to Tripoli, start bombing Gadhafi's inner circle, their compounds, their military headquarters in Tripoli. The way to get Gadhafi to leave is to have his inner circle break and turn on him.

SEN. JOHN MCCAIN, (R) ARIZONA: Gadhafi's a great survivor. We don't know exactly where he is. We do have to worry about civilian casualties. That could turn the Libyan people against us. I certainly think that we ought to make Gadhafi aware that his very life is in danger, but I think we just have to be a little careful how we do that.

CANDY CROWLEY, CNN SR. POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: So you want the U.S. to step back up into a leadership role in NATO instead of this sort of support role that the president envisioned? Do you have any sign from the president that he is willing to do that?

MCCAIN: I don't know. I never wanted us to step down, as you know, because the United States is NATO. That's the reality. But, Candy, the worst -- one of the very bad results here could be a stalemate. A stalemate between both sides that's divided someplace in the middle of Libya, and then you would open the door to al Qaeda to come in and hijack this very legitimate government and people that are seeking freedom.

SEN. TOM COBURN, (R) OKLAHOMA: To lean on this issue and to create a false predicate that says we can solve our problems without addressing our entitlements. It hurts the country. It doesn't help the country. It hurts the country. We ought to be honest with the American people. Medicare cannot continue the way it is if we're going to survive. Medicaid cannot continue the way it is if we're going to survive. To put those off limits is erroneous, wrong, and hurtful.

SEN. KENT CONRAD, (D) NORTH DAKOTA: This is a defying moment, and we've got to decide as a nation, are we going to do some things that all of us would prefer not to have to do? Or do we wait for the roof to cave in?

BARACK OBOMA, PRESIDENT OF THE U.S: Thank you.

MAYOR MICHAEL BLOOMBERG, (I) NEW YORK: The president's got to start inviting people over for dinner. He's got to play golf with them. He's got to pick up the phone and call and say, hey, I know we disagree on this, but I just wanted to say I heard it's your wife's birthday or your kid just got into college. He has to go build friendships. That's what an executive's job is.

UNIDENTIFED FEMALE: President Obama has come to you and your father. You've all prayed together. How would you say he's doing? REV. FRANKLIN GRAHAM, EVANGELIST: I think he's a very nice man. I think he's a very gracious person. But I think our country is in big trouble.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Meantime, members of the cast of "Happy Days" are not amused. Find out why they are reuniting for a big showdown against CBS. That's next.

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WHITFIELD: So they were happy back in the day, but now some cast members from one of America's most beloved sitcom "Happy Days," are livid. They're suing the shows owners saying they are owed millions from merchandise with their images or voices. This really got the legal guys talking.

RICHARD HERMAN, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: It was prompted by the slot machine "Happy Days," and apparently CBS has acknowledged they do owe them a lot of money. There may be a partial statute of limitations issue, but they are clearly owed a lot of money. If the Fonz would chime in.

WHITFIELD: Not millions of the cast members say they want, but CBS is saying maybe thousands?

HERMAN: Right. Yes, that's going to be the discrepancy. But obviously, it's a lot of money.

AVERY FRIEDMAN, CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY: The bottom line, there's a lot of money involved here. I think, based on those revenue reports which is what they wanted from CBS and for some reason, CBS hasn't turned them over.

WHITFIELD: Interesting. So then CBS says you know it is open to mediation. To me that sound like, Richard there's a lot of wiggle room that maybe that $9,000 could indeed become millions?

HERMAN: Hey Fred just like the segment before. We talked about contracts. There's a contract that says they're entitled to 5 percent of the merchandising revenue. It says it, it's in the contract. They're entitled to money. The only question is how much? But they're absolutely going to win this case.

WHITFIELD: All right. Our legal guys, Richard and Avery, catch them every Saturday at noon Eastern right here in the "CNN News room."