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Jury in Scott Peterson Trial Trying to Decide Penalty; 'Daily Dose'

Aired December 10, 2004 - 11:30   ET

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

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


RICK SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR: Thirty minutes it is, right now, after the hour. And we welcome you all back. I'm Rick Sanchez.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Carol Lin, in for Daryn Kagan. We've got a live events to cover today and some live events, but here's what's happening right now in the news.

A story about the International Red Cross, which is saying that it is going into Falluja to try to restore the water and sewage system there. There has, obviously, been widespread damage following the U.S. and Iraqi offensive last month against insurgents, and they're still fighting today.

Two American soldiers were killed in a helicopter accident at an airfield in Mosul Iraq last night. Four soldiers were also wounded in that incident.

And Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon hopes to form a coalition government that would include the opposing Labor Party and avert the need for early elections. The move would strengthen support for Sharon's plan to withdraw troops and thousands of Jewish settlers from Gaza and the West Bank.

And the search for six missing shipmates resumes at dawn in the icy waters off Alaska's Aleutian Islands. The men plunged into the ocean Wednesday when the Coast Guard helicopter attempting to rescue them crashed. Twenty other crew members were successfully transported off their stranded cargo ship, which is spilling fuel oil.

Keeping you informed, CNN, the most trusted name in news.

SANCHEZ: Well, according to the information we have, they should have been in there for about 30 minutes now, a half hour. That's how long the jury in the Scott Peterson murder trial has been trying to decide so far on the penalty for him. And here's their choice -- life in prison without parole, or death. Extensive breaking news coverage as soon as we get word of a decision, which again, could come down at any moment.

For now, let's go over to Kendall Coffey. He's a former U.S. attorney, a frequent CNN contributor on all legal matters, and a friend of Rick Sanchez as well. He's joining us this morning.

Kendall, good to see you.

KENDALL COFFEY, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Hey, thanks for the introduction, especially the part of being a friend of Rick Sanchez.

SANCHEZ: Appreciate it.

Kendall, what do you think of Mark Geragos making a reappearance and saying these words to the jury, "I feel like I let my client down, essentially standing in front of them saying, I blew it, it was my fault, blame me, don't blame him."

COFFEY: I think they're desperate. I think they're just really letting it all hang out, and Geragos basically humbling himself in front of the jury saying, look, if there's anything about me you don't like, please don't hold it against my client. If there's anything we've done wrong, please don't allow that to weigh into your decision to grant life or death to Scott Peterson. They're very uphill in what they're trying to do with this jury.

SANCHEZ: What do you think also, he said to the jury something like, it's bad enough he'll spend the rest of his life in prison, and when he's in there, he's going to be a marked man. What's that all about? What kind of technique or strategy is that?

COFFEY: Some of that was pretty compelling, because what they're saying is, look, life in prison in the state of California is a miserable, bleak existence. You don't have to do anything more to punish this man. And the unstated premises that I keep referring to, Rick, is if you put this man to death, you may be killing his mother or his father, too. Even though the judge said, jury, don't have sympathy for the parents, that's not part of the process, there is no question that both sides realize that jury could be concerned about what's going to become of Scott Peterson's family.

SANCHEZ: Is he going to be a marked man, simply because his case has been on television, or everyone in the prison system will for some reason think he's worse than they are?

COFFEY: Well, you know, it's bizarre what happens with famous killers when they're in prison. Sometimes they enjoy a very weird celebrity status. He's certainly not going to be ignored, whether he's in prison or whether he's on death row.

SANCHEZ: Now let's talk about the other side, the prosecutors, because I think this is interesting, and I want to get your take on it. You've been in this role. One of the prosecutors stood in front of the jury and said this, "The person responsible is right there, and pointed at Scott Peterson." As a prosecutor, don't you have to be careful, especially if you're dealing with a jury that already doesn't like the client, this person on trial, not to be a little too heavy- handed, almost to seem like, bloodthirsty?

COFFEY: Well, there's always that concern. But, Rick, what he's saying is that he is concerned about the sympathy factor for Jackie and Lee Peterson, the parents of Scott Peterson. So he wanted to take it head on and say, look, you know the judge has said sympathy for the family of Scott Peterson shouldn't be a factor. But the prosecutor would beyond that. He said, if there is a problem, remember, Jackie Peterson is on talking, in tears talking as she's breathing through an oxygen tank. That problem isn't a problem, the prosecution, it's not anything Laci Peterson did; it's all the doing of Scott Peterson. Could be heavy-handed, but it may be effective.

SANCHEZ: How can you tell a jury -- how can I tell you, or Carol or anyone the following -- don't feel sorry for that person as you're watching them cry. It's like I'm ringing a bell. It seems like that instruction is nonsensical to me, and maybe to other people watching.

COFFEY: That's the law, but the jury has 12 human beings on it. And whether they're watching the tears of Jackie Peterson, or even perhaps more powerfully, the explosion anguish from Sharon Rocha, the mother of Laci Peterson, no one is going to ignore that kind of emotional impact.

SANCHEZ: One more thing, explain to us what Delucha (ph) can do, and if Delucha can take whatever the jury comes back with and come up with something different, then why is a jury even involved in this process?

COFFEY: Well, in theory, if the jury comes back with a life sentence, that's the end of it. If the jury comes back with death, the judge under California law has to make his own independent consideration of the factors militating toward death and the factors militating toward life.

But let's be realistic, Rick, if this jury comes back with a death sentence, that's the end of the line for Scott Peterson, at least as far as this part of the trial is going. It could be another 20 years, as we know, in appeals and other processes before the case comes to an ultimate and final conclusion.

SANCHEZ: Kendall, stay close, my friend, we might be calling on you if this thing happens any time soon, all right.

COFFEY: Hey, thanks, Rick.

SANCHEZ: Appreciate it.

Of course, you can get the latest decision on Peterson's penalty in your e-mail as well with CNN.com breaking news alerts. And there's also plenty of background reading on the case on our Web site. Check in any time, 24/7. And once again, as soon as it happens, we will bring it to you.

By the way, here's some news making news overseas, I should say. This morning's world wrap. Outgoing Secretary of State Colin Powell is meeting with representatives of the European Union today in the Hague. Mr. Powell brought up the issue of closer U.S.-European talks. The talks also touched on troubled spots such as the Middle East, Ukraine and North Korea.

LIN: Also, Kenyan environmentalists Wangari Maathai (ph) picked up her Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo today. She was the one who warned of disaster unless the world changes the way it treats Earth's environment, and she called for democratic reforms, and to an end to corporate greed. A big stage she had there. Also there, high in Paris, well, kind of. It's over the Eiffel Tower's elevated skating rink. It sits 187 feet above the ground, giving chilly gliders a bird's eye view of the city of lights. The rink is going to be open until late January. That's pretty cool.

LIN: A natural high, you might say.

SANCHEZ: Of course.

LIN: Of course a natural high.

The holidays are pretty tough when you're half a world away from your family. But coming up, one soldier is reunited with his wife and two young children. A holiday homefront, straight ahead.

SANCHEZ: Also, holiday risks. This is the time of year more old people, older people, are likely to fall. In today's -- the elderly. Is that better?

LIN: Or the young men, a lot young men actually.

SANCHEZ: Don't get on top of a ladder, in other words. Elizabeth Cohen is going to join us with some simple steps that can prevent an injury.

LIN: Nice pun.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LIN: "Daily Dose" -- let's get on with it.

SANCHEZ: Yes, as a matter of fact, this is the story that we were telling about just moments ago. It's a health news story. The Godfather of Soul reveals that he will undergo surgery next week for prostate cancer. James Brown tells the Associated Press he expects that it will not affect his upcoming tour of Asia or Australia. Brown, who is 71, by the way, just finished a Canadian tour.

LIN: We wish him well. The story that I was talking about is the story that we were talking about during the break. The holiday season apparently can also be fall season for elderly Americans, and also others, depending on who is decorating the house and climbing up on those ladders.

Medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen is here to tell us why in today's segment of "Daily Dose." We're talking about this, because it's all about the holidays and decorating.

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: That's right, it happens.

Who would have thought. I mean, during the holidays you're thinking of all sorts of things, cooking and shopping and all of that. But the CDC is now telling people, you also should be careful about falling while decorating. No, we're not kidding. Apparently this has become something of an issue. You can picture it -- you're up there, you're trying to put the star on top of the nine-foot tall Christmas tree, and you say, who needs a ladder, I'll just stand on this chair. Well, here's a guy who's doing it right, but some people do it wrong. They decide to stand on a chair, and they think, oh, I think I'll just stretch a little more. Oh, I can't quite reach it, but that's OK, and all of a sudden, boom, you have fallen down.

And so the CDC has put out statistics, actually. What they found in a study that they just did, published in this week's morbidity and mortality weekly report, is that two to three Americans are treated in the emergency room every hour for holiday decorating injuries.

LIN: That's not funny.

COHEN: It's not funny, but who knew. And that 43 percent of the falls are from ladders, as compared to other places. And men are twice as likely to fall from ladders as women.

SANCHEZ: What?

LIN: Because the smart ones to say, honey, can you get up there and put the star on the tree?

COHEN: Exactly.

LIN: Or light the Menorah.

COHEN: That's right.

LIN: Put the lights up.

COHEN: That's right, you're turn to do it.

Now it's interesting, we have -- there are all sorts of wrong ways to do it, and there are right ways to do it as well.

SANCHEZ: Yes, one of them is don't have any holiday cheer before you climb the ladder, right?

COHEN: That's right, that would be the first thing, try not to be drunk. But actually we asked someone who does this for a living, not holiday decorating, but who does home repairs and that sort of thing for a living, spends his life on the ladder. We asked him to show us the right way to do it.

Here he is.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DANIEL GARDNER, LADDER SAFETY EXPERT: You want it to be on level ground, and you can kind of stomp it in. Rule of thumb would be for every four feet high, one foot away from the wall. I think most ladder accidents happen how far away you have it from the wall. Either people set it up too close and fall back or too far and slide right down the wall.

(END VIDEO CLIP) COHEN: So in other words, you don't want the ladder to be too close to what you're climbing to, but you don't want it to be too far away either.

And another thing that's important when climbing the ladder, don't climb on the upper one or two rungs. Leave those alone. If you need more ladder, get back down, make it longer.

LIN: I laughed earlier -- and forgive me audience. I laughed earlier, only because I'm just imagining the conversation that take place in the emergency room with the doctor. Doctor, I was minding my own business when I climbed up the ladder, and...

COHEN: Right, and the doctors say to each other, here comes another idiot.

LIN: All right, practical advice.

SANCHEZ: Hire a professional.

LIN: Yes, if you can.

SANCHEZ: Yes, or if you can afford it, I suppose.

Thanks so much. Remember, health news online, you can log on to our Web site to get more information. You will find the latest medical news, a health library and information on diet and fitness. Also, you'll learn how not to fall down when you're putting up those lights around your house, especially if you've got a big house. The address is CNN.com/health.

LIN: All right. Holiday news, Dancer, Prancer, Blitzen, right?

SANCHEZ: Know them very well.

LIN OK, what about Bucky?

SANCHEZ: Never heard of him.

LIN: Well, Bucky had to have some plastic surgery for the holidays. We're going to bring you Bucky's story, a famous reindeer up in New York.

SANCHEZ: Really?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(STOCK MARKET REPORT)

LIN: They're getting into the Christmas spirit on Capitol Hill. There's a picture. But we want to bring you another picture from Capitol Hill. Take a look at this.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Two, three.

(MUSIC) LIN: That is so beautiful. There it is, our National Christmas Tree. The lights were lit on the U.S. Capitol Tree last night. The U.S. Air Force band helping to get the crowd there in the holiday mood. And by the way, the tree, is from a national forest in Virginia.

SANCHEZ: There you go. You handled that very well by the way.

LIN: Well, thank you.

SANCHEZ: Meanwhile, President and Mrs. Bush hosted the National Menorah Lighting at the White House. Three candles were lit to signify the third night of Hanukkah last night. The candles were lit by the three eldest children of a Jewish chaplain who happens to be serving in Iraq.

LIN: That's nice.

SANCHEZ: Now to our "Holiday Home Front" segment. CNN is reuniting some military families who were separated this holiday season. First Lieutenant Derrick Loveland is serving in Iraq. Earlier our beloved Jack Cafferty asked Derrick's wife Jodi how she is dealing with being apart at this time.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JODI LOVELAND, HUSBAND SERVING IN IRAQ: It's a lot of work. But we're managing, yes. I have...

JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: If Derek was home, how would you celebrate the holidays? What would you guys be doing?

J. LOVELAND: Well, we'd be putting up our Christmas tree and putting up our decorations. Probably be getting ready to go home to be with our families.

CAFFERTY: Derek Loveland is a first lieutenant. He's with us by satellite from Mosul. We started this with your wife Jodi and the boys. And the boys are just -- they're just terrific. I'm not sure if they look like you or like Jodi, but they're good looking kids, both of them.

1ST LT. DEREK LOVELAND, U.S. ARMY: If they look good they look like Jodi.

(LAUGHTER)

CAFFERTY: That sounds like my house. What would you be doing if you were home and had say a few days off over Christmas? Kinds of things you might like to do if you had a few hours to yourself?

D. LOVELAND: Probably what I'd be doing is I would be Christmas shopping. I'd be trying to find something that my wife would like. I really enjoy actually wrapping the presents so I am kind of meticulous in doing that. My wife she kind of teases me some times and gives me all the presents to wrap but I'd be trying to get the presents ready, make things nice for everybody.

CAFFERTY: That sounds pretty good. My wife won't let me near our Christmas presents. She said I'm too sloppy and don't do a very job with the wrapping paper. Tell you what, we've got the satellite up. I'm going to just step out of this things. Exchange your greetings, catch up with whatever news you might want to and just enjoy.

D. LOVELAND: You there, honey?

J. LOVELAND: Yes, I'm here. Can you hear me?

D. LOVELAND: How's it going?

J. LOVELAND: It's good. Maybe Andrew will talk for you.

D. LOVELAND: So is...

J. LOVELAND: Yes.

D. LOVELAND: Hey, buddy, how you doing?

J. LOVELAND: Hey, hey. Can you say Da-da-da?

D. LOVELAND: It's been a long time. Is that Andrew?

CAFFERTY: Let me just thank all of the four of you for letting us kind of poke our nose into your lives here for a few minutes at Christmastime.

Lieutenant, great job over there. Our congratulations to all of you, your colleagues for just doing yeoman's work. And it is much appreciated by us here Stateside. And all the best to you and your family for a happy holiday season. Thanks again for letting us be a part of it.

D. LOVELAND: Thank you very much for the time to talk with my family.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SANCHEZ: Wasn't that the great? You have got to love the kids. Unbelievable. We're happy to be able to do that for you. And by the way, we're going to keep doing this, next Thursday and Friday, more reunions. And you'll see it play out right here on your station, CNN. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LIN: You know Dasher and Dancer, Donner, Vixen, sound familiar? But have you heard of Bucky the reindeer? Up in New York he had the misfortune of a little accident just days before Christmas.

All right, so Jeanne Moos picks up the story here.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This isn't Rudolf, it's Bucky, and it's his antler, not his nose that's the problem.

(on camera): He basically snapped off his antler, see? This is his antler.

(voice-over): But since Bucky is the star reindeer at the Bronx Zoo, losing half his rack won't do.

CHILDREN (singing): Bucky the Bronx Zoo reindeer played too much and broke his rack. And if you ever saw it, you would really want it back.

MOOS: And back he got it.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Beautiful.

MOOS: Don't worry, it doesn't hurt. Antlers are like fingernails. They drilled a hole, put in threads for a screw and bone glue, then twisted on the antler.

(on camera): After all, the female reindeer like a male with a big rack?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They go like this, uh-huh.

MOOS: Nice rack.

(voice-over): Which brings us to Bucky's harem, seven female reindeer.

(on camera): Did the other reindeer used to laugh and call him names?

(voice-over): Nope. And a prosthetic antler sort of reminds us of trying to cover up Rudolf's nose.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You'll like it and wear it.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, but daddy, it's not very comfortable.

MOOS: True, Bucky is not as agile with his antler, as say, Captain Hook, but he's better off than the dog the Grinch turned into a reindeer.

UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: Does Bucky have any kids?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Bucky is a gelding.

UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: What's a gelding?

MOOS (on camera): That means he's... UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Been castrated.

MOOS: So a lot of good his rack will do him.

(voice-over): And even with his reconstituted rack, Bucky's harem didn't quite live up to the lyrics.

Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SANCHEZ: And there you have the story of Bucky.

LIN: Yes.

SANCHEZ: As told by only Jeanne Moos -- as only Jeanne Moos can.

LIN: As only Jeanne Moos can. That's right. Make sure you don't lose your rack, especially during the holidays.

SANCHEZ: I'm not touching that.

(WEATHER REPORT)

LIN: I'm Carol Lin.

SANCHEZ: And I'm Rick Sanchez, time to turn things over to Wolf Blitzer and the news and find out what's going on.

Wolf, what have you got on tap for us today?

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Thanks very much, Carol, thanks very much, Rick.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com


Aired December 10, 2004 - 11:30   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
RICK SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR: Thirty minutes it is, right now, after the hour. And we welcome you all back. I'm Rick Sanchez.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Carol Lin, in for Daryn Kagan. We've got a live events to cover today and some live events, but here's what's happening right now in the news.

A story about the International Red Cross, which is saying that it is going into Falluja to try to restore the water and sewage system there. There has, obviously, been widespread damage following the U.S. and Iraqi offensive last month against insurgents, and they're still fighting today.

Two American soldiers were killed in a helicopter accident at an airfield in Mosul Iraq last night. Four soldiers were also wounded in that incident.

And Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon hopes to form a coalition government that would include the opposing Labor Party and avert the need for early elections. The move would strengthen support for Sharon's plan to withdraw troops and thousands of Jewish settlers from Gaza and the West Bank.

And the search for six missing shipmates resumes at dawn in the icy waters off Alaska's Aleutian Islands. The men plunged into the ocean Wednesday when the Coast Guard helicopter attempting to rescue them crashed. Twenty other crew members were successfully transported off their stranded cargo ship, which is spilling fuel oil.

Keeping you informed, CNN, the most trusted name in news.

SANCHEZ: Well, according to the information we have, they should have been in there for about 30 minutes now, a half hour. That's how long the jury in the Scott Peterson murder trial has been trying to decide so far on the penalty for him. And here's their choice -- life in prison without parole, or death. Extensive breaking news coverage as soon as we get word of a decision, which again, could come down at any moment.

For now, let's go over to Kendall Coffey. He's a former U.S. attorney, a frequent CNN contributor on all legal matters, and a friend of Rick Sanchez as well. He's joining us this morning.

Kendall, good to see you.

KENDALL COFFEY, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Hey, thanks for the introduction, especially the part of being a friend of Rick Sanchez.

SANCHEZ: Appreciate it.

Kendall, what do you think of Mark Geragos making a reappearance and saying these words to the jury, "I feel like I let my client down, essentially standing in front of them saying, I blew it, it was my fault, blame me, don't blame him."

COFFEY: I think they're desperate. I think they're just really letting it all hang out, and Geragos basically humbling himself in front of the jury saying, look, if there's anything about me you don't like, please don't hold it against my client. If there's anything we've done wrong, please don't allow that to weigh into your decision to grant life or death to Scott Peterson. They're very uphill in what they're trying to do with this jury.

SANCHEZ: What do you think also, he said to the jury something like, it's bad enough he'll spend the rest of his life in prison, and when he's in there, he's going to be a marked man. What's that all about? What kind of technique or strategy is that?

COFFEY: Some of that was pretty compelling, because what they're saying is, look, life in prison in the state of California is a miserable, bleak existence. You don't have to do anything more to punish this man. And the unstated premises that I keep referring to, Rick, is if you put this man to death, you may be killing his mother or his father, too. Even though the judge said, jury, don't have sympathy for the parents, that's not part of the process, there is no question that both sides realize that jury could be concerned about what's going to become of Scott Peterson's family.

SANCHEZ: Is he going to be a marked man, simply because his case has been on television, or everyone in the prison system will for some reason think he's worse than they are?

COFFEY: Well, you know, it's bizarre what happens with famous killers when they're in prison. Sometimes they enjoy a very weird celebrity status. He's certainly not going to be ignored, whether he's in prison or whether he's on death row.

SANCHEZ: Now let's talk about the other side, the prosecutors, because I think this is interesting, and I want to get your take on it. You've been in this role. One of the prosecutors stood in front of the jury and said this, "The person responsible is right there, and pointed at Scott Peterson." As a prosecutor, don't you have to be careful, especially if you're dealing with a jury that already doesn't like the client, this person on trial, not to be a little too heavy- handed, almost to seem like, bloodthirsty?

COFFEY: Well, there's always that concern. But, Rick, what he's saying is that he is concerned about the sympathy factor for Jackie and Lee Peterson, the parents of Scott Peterson. So he wanted to take it head on and say, look, you know the judge has said sympathy for the family of Scott Peterson shouldn't be a factor. But the prosecutor would beyond that. He said, if there is a problem, remember, Jackie Peterson is on talking, in tears talking as she's breathing through an oxygen tank. That problem isn't a problem, the prosecution, it's not anything Laci Peterson did; it's all the doing of Scott Peterson. Could be heavy-handed, but it may be effective.

SANCHEZ: How can you tell a jury -- how can I tell you, or Carol or anyone the following -- don't feel sorry for that person as you're watching them cry. It's like I'm ringing a bell. It seems like that instruction is nonsensical to me, and maybe to other people watching.

COFFEY: That's the law, but the jury has 12 human beings on it. And whether they're watching the tears of Jackie Peterson, or even perhaps more powerfully, the explosion anguish from Sharon Rocha, the mother of Laci Peterson, no one is going to ignore that kind of emotional impact.

SANCHEZ: One more thing, explain to us what Delucha (ph) can do, and if Delucha can take whatever the jury comes back with and come up with something different, then why is a jury even involved in this process?

COFFEY: Well, in theory, if the jury comes back with a life sentence, that's the end of it. If the jury comes back with death, the judge under California law has to make his own independent consideration of the factors militating toward death and the factors militating toward life.

But let's be realistic, Rick, if this jury comes back with a death sentence, that's the end of the line for Scott Peterson, at least as far as this part of the trial is going. It could be another 20 years, as we know, in appeals and other processes before the case comes to an ultimate and final conclusion.

SANCHEZ: Kendall, stay close, my friend, we might be calling on you if this thing happens any time soon, all right.

COFFEY: Hey, thanks, Rick.

SANCHEZ: Appreciate it.

Of course, you can get the latest decision on Peterson's penalty in your e-mail as well with CNN.com breaking news alerts. And there's also plenty of background reading on the case on our Web site. Check in any time, 24/7. And once again, as soon as it happens, we will bring it to you.

By the way, here's some news making news overseas, I should say. This morning's world wrap. Outgoing Secretary of State Colin Powell is meeting with representatives of the European Union today in the Hague. Mr. Powell brought up the issue of closer U.S.-European talks. The talks also touched on troubled spots such as the Middle East, Ukraine and North Korea.

LIN: Also, Kenyan environmentalists Wangari Maathai (ph) picked up her Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo today. She was the one who warned of disaster unless the world changes the way it treats Earth's environment, and she called for democratic reforms, and to an end to corporate greed. A big stage she had there. Also there, high in Paris, well, kind of. It's over the Eiffel Tower's elevated skating rink. It sits 187 feet above the ground, giving chilly gliders a bird's eye view of the city of lights. The rink is going to be open until late January. That's pretty cool.

LIN: A natural high, you might say.

SANCHEZ: Of course.

LIN: Of course a natural high.

The holidays are pretty tough when you're half a world away from your family. But coming up, one soldier is reunited with his wife and two young children. A holiday homefront, straight ahead.

SANCHEZ: Also, holiday risks. This is the time of year more old people, older people, are likely to fall. In today's -- the elderly. Is that better?

LIN: Or the young men, a lot young men actually.

SANCHEZ: Don't get on top of a ladder, in other words. Elizabeth Cohen is going to join us with some simple steps that can prevent an injury.

LIN: Nice pun.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LIN: "Daily Dose" -- let's get on with it.

SANCHEZ: Yes, as a matter of fact, this is the story that we were telling about just moments ago. It's a health news story. The Godfather of Soul reveals that he will undergo surgery next week for prostate cancer. James Brown tells the Associated Press he expects that it will not affect his upcoming tour of Asia or Australia. Brown, who is 71, by the way, just finished a Canadian tour.

LIN: We wish him well. The story that I was talking about is the story that we were talking about during the break. The holiday season apparently can also be fall season for elderly Americans, and also others, depending on who is decorating the house and climbing up on those ladders.

Medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen is here to tell us why in today's segment of "Daily Dose." We're talking about this, because it's all about the holidays and decorating.

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: That's right, it happens.

Who would have thought. I mean, during the holidays you're thinking of all sorts of things, cooking and shopping and all of that. But the CDC is now telling people, you also should be careful about falling while decorating. No, we're not kidding. Apparently this has become something of an issue. You can picture it -- you're up there, you're trying to put the star on top of the nine-foot tall Christmas tree, and you say, who needs a ladder, I'll just stand on this chair. Well, here's a guy who's doing it right, but some people do it wrong. They decide to stand on a chair, and they think, oh, I think I'll just stretch a little more. Oh, I can't quite reach it, but that's OK, and all of a sudden, boom, you have fallen down.

And so the CDC has put out statistics, actually. What they found in a study that they just did, published in this week's morbidity and mortality weekly report, is that two to three Americans are treated in the emergency room every hour for holiday decorating injuries.

LIN: That's not funny.

COHEN: It's not funny, but who knew. And that 43 percent of the falls are from ladders, as compared to other places. And men are twice as likely to fall from ladders as women.

SANCHEZ: What?

LIN: Because the smart ones to say, honey, can you get up there and put the star on the tree?

COHEN: Exactly.

LIN: Or light the Menorah.

COHEN: That's right.

LIN: Put the lights up.

COHEN: That's right, you're turn to do it.

Now it's interesting, we have -- there are all sorts of wrong ways to do it, and there are right ways to do it as well.

SANCHEZ: Yes, one of them is don't have any holiday cheer before you climb the ladder, right?

COHEN: That's right, that would be the first thing, try not to be drunk. But actually we asked someone who does this for a living, not holiday decorating, but who does home repairs and that sort of thing for a living, spends his life on the ladder. We asked him to show us the right way to do it.

Here he is.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DANIEL GARDNER, LADDER SAFETY EXPERT: You want it to be on level ground, and you can kind of stomp it in. Rule of thumb would be for every four feet high, one foot away from the wall. I think most ladder accidents happen how far away you have it from the wall. Either people set it up too close and fall back or too far and slide right down the wall.

(END VIDEO CLIP) COHEN: So in other words, you don't want the ladder to be too close to what you're climbing to, but you don't want it to be too far away either.

And another thing that's important when climbing the ladder, don't climb on the upper one or two rungs. Leave those alone. If you need more ladder, get back down, make it longer.

LIN: I laughed earlier -- and forgive me audience. I laughed earlier, only because I'm just imagining the conversation that take place in the emergency room with the doctor. Doctor, I was minding my own business when I climbed up the ladder, and...

COHEN: Right, and the doctors say to each other, here comes another idiot.

LIN: All right, practical advice.

SANCHEZ: Hire a professional.

LIN: Yes, if you can.

SANCHEZ: Yes, or if you can afford it, I suppose.

Thanks so much. Remember, health news online, you can log on to our Web site to get more information. You will find the latest medical news, a health library and information on diet and fitness. Also, you'll learn how not to fall down when you're putting up those lights around your house, especially if you've got a big house. The address is CNN.com/health.

LIN: All right. Holiday news, Dancer, Prancer, Blitzen, right?

SANCHEZ: Know them very well.

LIN OK, what about Bucky?

SANCHEZ: Never heard of him.

LIN: Well, Bucky had to have some plastic surgery for the holidays. We're going to bring you Bucky's story, a famous reindeer up in New York.

SANCHEZ: Really?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(STOCK MARKET REPORT)

LIN: They're getting into the Christmas spirit on Capitol Hill. There's a picture. But we want to bring you another picture from Capitol Hill. Take a look at this.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Two, three.

(MUSIC) LIN: That is so beautiful. There it is, our National Christmas Tree. The lights were lit on the U.S. Capitol Tree last night. The U.S. Air Force band helping to get the crowd there in the holiday mood. And by the way, the tree, is from a national forest in Virginia.

SANCHEZ: There you go. You handled that very well by the way.

LIN: Well, thank you.

SANCHEZ: Meanwhile, President and Mrs. Bush hosted the National Menorah Lighting at the White House. Three candles were lit to signify the third night of Hanukkah last night. The candles were lit by the three eldest children of a Jewish chaplain who happens to be serving in Iraq.

LIN: That's nice.

SANCHEZ: Now to our "Holiday Home Front" segment. CNN is reuniting some military families who were separated this holiday season. First Lieutenant Derrick Loveland is serving in Iraq. Earlier our beloved Jack Cafferty asked Derrick's wife Jodi how she is dealing with being apart at this time.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JODI LOVELAND, HUSBAND SERVING IN IRAQ: It's a lot of work. But we're managing, yes. I have...

JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: If Derek was home, how would you celebrate the holidays? What would you guys be doing?

J. LOVELAND: Well, we'd be putting up our Christmas tree and putting up our decorations. Probably be getting ready to go home to be with our families.

CAFFERTY: Derek Loveland is a first lieutenant. He's with us by satellite from Mosul. We started this with your wife Jodi and the boys. And the boys are just -- they're just terrific. I'm not sure if they look like you or like Jodi, but they're good looking kids, both of them.

1ST LT. DEREK LOVELAND, U.S. ARMY: If they look good they look like Jodi.

(LAUGHTER)

CAFFERTY: That sounds like my house. What would you be doing if you were home and had say a few days off over Christmas? Kinds of things you might like to do if you had a few hours to yourself?

D. LOVELAND: Probably what I'd be doing is I would be Christmas shopping. I'd be trying to find something that my wife would like. I really enjoy actually wrapping the presents so I am kind of meticulous in doing that. My wife she kind of teases me some times and gives me all the presents to wrap but I'd be trying to get the presents ready, make things nice for everybody.

CAFFERTY: That sounds pretty good. My wife won't let me near our Christmas presents. She said I'm too sloppy and don't do a very job with the wrapping paper. Tell you what, we've got the satellite up. I'm going to just step out of this things. Exchange your greetings, catch up with whatever news you might want to and just enjoy.

D. LOVELAND: You there, honey?

J. LOVELAND: Yes, I'm here. Can you hear me?

D. LOVELAND: How's it going?

J. LOVELAND: It's good. Maybe Andrew will talk for you.

D. LOVELAND: So is...

J. LOVELAND: Yes.

D. LOVELAND: Hey, buddy, how you doing?

J. LOVELAND: Hey, hey. Can you say Da-da-da?

D. LOVELAND: It's been a long time. Is that Andrew?

CAFFERTY: Let me just thank all of the four of you for letting us kind of poke our nose into your lives here for a few minutes at Christmastime.

Lieutenant, great job over there. Our congratulations to all of you, your colleagues for just doing yeoman's work. And it is much appreciated by us here Stateside. And all the best to you and your family for a happy holiday season. Thanks again for letting us be a part of it.

D. LOVELAND: Thank you very much for the time to talk with my family.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SANCHEZ: Wasn't that the great? You have got to love the kids. Unbelievable. We're happy to be able to do that for you. And by the way, we're going to keep doing this, next Thursday and Friday, more reunions. And you'll see it play out right here on your station, CNN. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LIN: You know Dasher and Dancer, Donner, Vixen, sound familiar? But have you heard of Bucky the reindeer? Up in New York he had the misfortune of a little accident just days before Christmas.

All right, so Jeanne Moos picks up the story here.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This isn't Rudolf, it's Bucky, and it's his antler, not his nose that's the problem.

(on camera): He basically snapped off his antler, see? This is his antler.

(voice-over): But since Bucky is the star reindeer at the Bronx Zoo, losing half his rack won't do.

CHILDREN (singing): Bucky the Bronx Zoo reindeer played too much and broke his rack. And if you ever saw it, you would really want it back.

MOOS: And back he got it.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Beautiful.

MOOS: Don't worry, it doesn't hurt. Antlers are like fingernails. They drilled a hole, put in threads for a screw and bone glue, then twisted on the antler.

(on camera): After all, the female reindeer like a male with a big rack?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They go like this, uh-huh.

MOOS: Nice rack.

(voice-over): Which brings us to Bucky's harem, seven female reindeer.

(on camera): Did the other reindeer used to laugh and call him names?

(voice-over): Nope. And a prosthetic antler sort of reminds us of trying to cover up Rudolf's nose.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You'll like it and wear it.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, but daddy, it's not very comfortable.

MOOS: True, Bucky is not as agile with his antler, as say, Captain Hook, but he's better off than the dog the Grinch turned into a reindeer.

UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: Does Bucky have any kids?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Bucky is a gelding.

UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: What's a gelding?

MOOS (on camera): That means he's... UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Been castrated.

MOOS: So a lot of good his rack will do him.

(voice-over): And even with his reconstituted rack, Bucky's harem didn't quite live up to the lyrics.

Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SANCHEZ: And there you have the story of Bucky.

LIN: Yes.

SANCHEZ: As told by only Jeanne Moos -- as only Jeanne Moos can.

LIN: As only Jeanne Moos can. That's right. Make sure you don't lose your rack, especially during the holidays.

SANCHEZ: I'm not touching that.

(WEATHER REPORT)

LIN: I'm Carol Lin.

SANCHEZ: And I'm Rick Sanchez, time to turn things over to Wolf Blitzer and the news and find out what's going on.

Wolf, what have you got on tap for us today?

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Thanks very much, Carol, thanks very much, Rick.

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