Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Sunday Morning

BP Extends Test of Gulf of Mexico Oil Well; Athletes Begin New York Triathlon at Hudson River; Dessert Lovers Mark National Ice Cream Day

Aired July 18, 2010 - 06:00   ET

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

T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: Hey there, everybody. Good morning. From the CNN Center in Atlanta, Georgia, this is CNN SUNDAY MORNING for this July the 18th. Hello to you all. I'm T.J. Holmes.

And a special hello to all of our military men and women watching us right now on the Armed Forces Network around the world. Glad you all could be here with us.

It's 6 a.m. here in Atlanta; 5 a.m. in New Orleans; 2:30 in the afternoon in Afghanistan. We have news coming out of all of those places.

Afghanistan in particular, where we are watching this story after a prison break happened there that the Taliban now taking credit for. The prison escape - we have 19 inmates that got out, but 11 are still on the run. Meanwhile, in the aftermath of it, one police officer is dead. We'll give you details of that coming up in a report.

Also, we're on Day 90 of the oil spill. So far, so good. The cap still holding, the pressure still rising, no oil coming out. But now the government wants to continue with a bit of testing. We'll have an update live from New Orleans here in just a moment.

But let me give you a look at some of the stories we're keeping an eye on from overnight, including a story out of - out of the state of Washington, where two people have been killed and another four wounded after a shooting at Washington state park, a popular park there in the state. It's called Lake Sammamish State Park. Now, two people are arrested - are under arrest right now, several others were held, while the investigation was going on. But two people at least arrested, including the suspected gunman here.

Several guns were recovered. But again, a popular state park. A lot of people were enjoying their night out. Some of the park visitors in the aftermath had to actually run and hide in bathrooms to escape the shooting. Right now, police don't have a motive.

Also, in China, 28 people dead in a coal-mine accident there. This was in the northwest part of that country. This report coming to us from state-run media. There was a fire that started in this coal mine. This was an underground cable that started the fire, according to the investigators.

Now, the Chinese government ordering inspections at other mines in the area. And this is not the first time we've seen something like this. It seems like we've seen story after story out of China with coal-mine accidents. But the industry there has been notoriously accident-prone. Just last year, some 2,600 miners were killed.

Also, actress Zsa Zsa Gabor is in the hospital this morning with a broken hip. According to her husband, she fell out of her bed last night. She was actually just reaching for the phone and fell out of the bed. She was actually watching "Jeopardy!" at the time, one of her favorite shows.

Her husband says she will, in fact, need surgery. Now, she's 93 years old and hasn't been very mobile since 2002, when she had a car accident. She's pretty much been in a wheelchair since.

But Zsa Zsa Gabor in the hospital, 93 years old. We wish her well.

And we turn back now to Day 90 of this oil disaster. Still some good news, and that is the fact that no oil is gushing into the Gulf right now. But some testing of the pressure is going to continue. Here is that live picture; again, different from what we have seen over the past several weeks. No oil is coming out.

Meanwhile, BP did originally want to test the pressure of that well for 48 hours. So that deadline came and went. But now they have extended a bit. So they're going to continue testing.

You'll remember they put that new seal on last week to try cap that well. It was successful. They're watching the pressure. It is continuing to rise, which is a good thing. But it's rising pretty slowly.

The pressure is at 6,700 psi. Now, they'd like to get it up a little closer to 7,500, maybe 8,000 or even higher, so they know that the oil is actually holding and there are no leaks anywhere else in that well.

Now, the containment process is going to resume sometime soon, we're told. As of right now, no oil is coming out, and also no oil is being siphoned up to the surface of the water. But that process could continue. They're going to reopen the valves at some point; they're going to release more oil, and those surface ships can then start collecting once again.

Meanwhile, the first lady, Michelle Obama, going to be heading back to the region on Friday. She's going to be down there to christen a new Coast Guard cutter.

Meanwhile, our Reynolds Wolf has been in the Gulf for us for quite some time, since the beginning of this oil disaster. He is there for us again in New Orleans.

Reynolds, again, still so far, so good. But why do they want to continue with the testing just for now?

REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Well, just plain and simple, they want to be safe. They want to make sure they get this thing absolutely right. I mean, the next step they're thinking about doing is, instead of keeping that containment cap on top of the - the - the - the well itself, is they're thinking about putting on some of those - those hoses, of course, that go some 5,000 feet up to the surface.

Now, for our viewers that are tuning in, say, on CNN Radio, you're not able to see what we're talking about, just to give you an idea, think of almost like some boats way up at the surface, almost like a giant mosquito actually pulling in blood. But instead of blood, it's going to be pulling in some of that oil from that containment cap. But before they even go to that step, they have to make that that containment cap is going to be sound.

You know, one thing you mentioned, T.J., just a few moments ago, you were talking about the psi, the pounds per square inch, which is a measurement of the pressure that is being exerted against that cap. It has been going up, but slowly.

That's OK. As long as those arrows are going upward, that's a good sign. If it starts dropping precipitously, that would indicate there's some kind of a rupture or a leak possibly well below the well itself, and maybe even below the ocean floor, and that's something that we just do not want to deal with.

I will tell you though, they're watching this very carefully, (INAUDIBLE) with seismographs to see if there's any kind of - of rumble on the ocean floor. They're also watching with, of course, the cameras that many people have been seeing. Perhaps you might be seeing them at home right now.

But they're also using those robots, which are just kind of moving, flying around underwater, just taking - taking quick shots at - at the cap itself. The idea though, T.J, of them actually attaching those hoses to the containment dome and then pulling it up to the surface, means that you will have a resumption of some seepage back into the ocean. So we've been over 48 hours without any oil getting back into the water. But even just the process of - of attaching those hoses and pulling it up the surface means that there will be some spillage, there will be some seepage. So there will be the oil coming back into the Gulf. But they say it's a temporary fix before they have it pulled it up to the - to the surface.

But even that, in itself, everything dealing - dealing with the containment dome is a temporary fix. We're still waiting on those relief wells.

I just got word just a few moments ago from the "Times-Picayune" that they've - they've resumed some of the drilling procedures. I can tell you that they are, as of yesterday, about five feet away from actually ending them, one of the - the drilling procedures in one of the relief wells. But after that, they have to free up that intersection. And then after they have the intersection of the well going down meeting (ph) up with the source of the oil, it could take anywhere from a few days to possibly even several - even several weeks to put the cement and the mud down there to stop this issue altogether. But that's just the issue with the well. Then you have to deal with the cleanup, and, of course, that could take possibly years - years to come.

HOLMES: Reynolds, one more thing to you here about the - that - that pressure. It's been going up slowly but surely, as we know. Are they extending the testing? Are they really going to wait to try to get it up to that optimal 7,500 or 8,000 psi? Or have they given us any indication if that's what they're waiting for?

WOLF: It's just kind of a wait-and-see manner that they're going to be handling this.

I mean, there's no way that they can actually force that pressure to go up. It's basically nature working on its own.

And you know, the idea that it's been going up slower than they expected is - is a kind of a mystery within itself, and they're wondering if perhaps the reason why it's not going up so high is because initially, there was such an output of the oil, that it just hasn't been able to catch up, that it's actually slowing down the initial flow and the - the oil that we're getting now, the pressure that's coming out, just can't reach that 75 psi. So - or, 7,500 psi.

So, again, it's just something that they're going to watch. There's no way they can force it to come up. It may just stay around 6,700. We - you know, you'll never know.

HOLMES: All right. Reynolds for us in New Orleans. Buddy, we appreciate you, as always. We'll check in with you plenty throughout the morning.

Meanwhile, we know that tourism has been affected down there in the Gulf Coast, and a group of pilots now in Alabama trying to help out. They're trying to fly, literally, to the rescue of the shops and restaurants in the region.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: As Alabamians, we decided we would go down there and - and help support in any way we can. And this is our state, and that's our beach. We need to support it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: And what they're doing to support it, trying to support all those businesses impacted - about 25 planes flying tourists from Birmingham, Alabama, to Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. They're doing it this weekend.

Organizers said he was thinking about making the trip monthly to keep helping the struggling region. But he is literally - sometimes you hear about people being bused in. These people are being flown in just so they can spend money in the Gulf region.

Well, it's about eight minutes past the hour here now. What would you think about me dragging you out of bed to tell you to go swim a mile, maybe go bike several miles and then go run about a marathon? Well, some people are actually kind of doing that this morning.

The New York Triathlon going on. We'll live as people are getting ready to start their day again.

It's eight minutes past the hour here on this CNN SUNDAY MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: You going to start with it?

All right. Ten minutes past the hour here. Take a look at this new video we are getting. This is out of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez. There was a tornado in the town there. It took the scaffold (ph) - look at - oh, OK. There we go.

This is some of the newest video. Again, I'm watching this along with you. This is how new some of this video is. We're just getting it in here.

But the tornado there - three people hurt, had to go to the hospital. Large areas were without electricity. But just some of the new video we are getting in. Severe weather there in Puerto Rico.

(WEATHER REPORT)

HOLMES: I want to pass along now some pictures we are just getting out of Pakistan. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arriving in Pakistan, Islamabad in particular. These are just some of the photos coming in to us.

She's there on a trip that's going to take her to Afghanistan, Pakistan, South Korea, Vietnam - just a South Asia trip. Of course, Pakistan and Afghanistan very important strategic partners in the - the still war against - war on terror that was declared certainly back several years (sic) after - after 9/11.

But in Pakistan now, going to be heading over for an international conference that happens in Kabul on - on Tuesday. But she's just arrived in Pakistan. Meetings on Monday - meetings tomorrow with leaders there in Pakistan, including the President Zardari in Pakistan. But then she moves on.

But again, just some of the first pictures we are getting after the secretary of state landing in Pakistan on what will be a trip that will take her to several countries, important countries - including, of course, Afghanistan on Tuesday.

Well, a quarter past the hour here on this CNN SUNDAY MORNING.

Like I mentioned to you a moment ago, if we dragged you out of bed to swim a couple miles, run a couple miles and bike a couple miles - well, a lot of people are doing just that right now. Some of them even worked at CNN. We'll check in with them in just a moment.

Stay here (ph).

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: All right. Seventeen minutes past the hour.

In just a few minutes, people are going to be jumping into the Hudson River. And I can't understand for the life of me why.

Our Dr. Sanjay Gupta is one of them who's going to be jumping into the river here in a moment for a triathlon. But it's part of the journey for our "Fit Nation" crew.

Sanjay, good morning to you, kind sir. There he is, ready to go.

How you feeling? You loose?

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: I feel good. I woke up around 3:00 this morning.

HOLMES: Yes, so did I.

GUPTA: I got my gear on. My wetsuit, my trisuit - can - you can see over here - I don't know if you guys can see, but the swimmers have already started. They started about 30 minutes ago. They're going in waves. They'll be doing this over the next hour or so.

This is the first event in the triathlon. You got to swim first, about a mile. The - the bike is about 25 miles. The run about six miles. All in metric distance, so that's why get the - the rough estimates there.

But yes, it's a lot of fun. Beautiful day. It's the Hudson River. Surprisingly clean. A lot of people were worried about that, but it actually looked pretty good this morning. Seventy-four point eight degrees is the temperature...

HOLMES: But you have a crew...

GUPTA: ...in the water.

HOLMES: ...with you today, right, Sanjay? You got a whole crew of you guys who are going to be swimming?

GUPTA: We do. And - and they're already lined up there. You can't probably see them now, but they're in the white caps. They're getting ready to go in.

We got six viewers from around the nation, T.J., as you - as you know. We started this several months ago, and we put out a call for people to join us for this triathlon, and we got lots of - lots of interest. We picked six viewers; they've all kept it - kept up with it, the entire training. They're here. They're all going to jump in here shortly. We're all going to go together.

HOLMES: Now, Sanjay, have you done one of these before? GUPTA: I've never done a triathlon before. I - I've done - I've done running races, marathons and half-marathons. But the first time I've done a triathlon.

I've really got to focus on the swimming for me. But the Hudson River - a lot of people may know this - but it has a pretty swift current. So people really can - can - can go pretty fast down that river, even if they're just sort of OK swimmers, like I am.

HOLMES: Now, the rest of the - the crew that you're with, the viewers and whatnot - I mean, how are they feeling this morning? This has been a long journey for you guys to get ready for this, and now it's finally here.

Is everybody just ready to get it over with? Are they excited to compete, or are they a little nervous as well, to see if they can make it?

GUPTA: You know, I - I was surprised, actually. I thought that there was going to be more jitters this morning. I was down in the lobby right around 3:45 with my little flip-cam - flip-camming all those participants as they came off the elevator. And every one of them felt pretty good.

They all woke up on time. They had - it's - it's a real process to get all your gear ready. They had all their gear ready. They were hydrating. They had already eaten breakfast. So everyone felt and looked pretty good.

So - you know, we're expecting a lot from them. I think they're going to have some great times.

HOLMES: Well, Sanjay, good luck to you, buddy. We are pulling for you. We're praying for you. And if anything happens, I guess you can just treat yourself. You're a doctor.

So good luck out there, buddy.

(LAUGHTER)

GUPTA: Right. Dual role, that's right.

(LAUGTHER)

GUPTA: Thanks, T.J. We'll see you at the finish line.

HOLMES: All right. See you, man. Good luck. Our Dr. Sanjay Gupta about to hop in the water. I think he was just 20 minutes from - from his group starting out. But just checking in with him as we gets going.

All the talk about "Fit Nation" and being in shape and taking care of yourself and your body, all of this on National Ice Cream Day. There is a such thing, and today is it.

Everything you ever wanted to know about this so-called holiday, and how it got started.

It's 20 minutes past the hour. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: Well, 23 minutes past the hour here on this CNN SUNDAY MORNING.

And you can chalk this one up to something you really did know. There really is a day for just about everything out there.

It is National Ice Cream Day, folks. Today, officially.

Josh, what are we supposed to do?

JOSH LEVS, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Well, you know, this is real. I mean, this was actually by President Reagan back in 1984. And ever since then, it's been the third sense of every July. I never knew this either, that this is officially National Ice Cream Day.

So given that it was proclaimed by a president, how appropriate is it that the No. 1 ice-cream photo op in the world right now is the current president.

Take a look at this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: I went with coconut.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Coconut. All right.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEVS: President Obama on vacation with his family in Maine. They all stopped. They get ice cream. The world is snapping pictures, and everyone is seeing them enjoying that.

Also, we've got some great shots. This is just a great opportunity to pull up some pictures of people all over the world eating their ice cream.

Let me tell you a little bit about the ice-cream industry.

This is interesting to me: The U.S. ice-cream industry generates more than $22 billion every year. About nine percent of all the milk produced by U.S. dairy farmers is used to produce ice cream. So that's what's going on businesswise.

Now take a look at what I have behind here. The facts you never knew about ice cream. Of course, (INAUDIBLE) we were giving you facts about ice cream.

So it's the third Sunday of every July, this holiday, as I said. Now take a look at this. Look at how much ice cream we eat in this country: Forty-eight pints per person per year is by far the most of anywhere in the world. Now, of course, that has its downside, too, because, obviously, you know, we don't want to eat too much of it, and we do have an obesity crisis. Not to make light of that.

But you can still enjoy ice cream. Just don't go overboard.

It takes 12 pounds of milk to make one gallon of ice cream. All this from icecream.com.

And it takes an average of 50 licks - I love this - for a single- scoop cone.

Now, amid all this, there's actually a little news in the ice- cream world. To coordinate along with this, Baskin-Robbins, which I used to go all the time - still do sometimes - pretty big news there. We all know, 32 flavors, right? Well get this: They are retiring five of their flavors in coordination with this holiday this year. Caramel- praline cheesecake, campfire s'mores, apple-pie a la mode, superfudge truffle and - the one that really surprises me - they're actually retiring french vanilla. Who gives up french vanilla? There's nothing like french vanilla. That's what ice cream's all about.

Anyway, we'd love to hear your thoughts on ice cream and the universe and everything else involving that. It's all up at my page right now. Go ahead. Weigh in. Tell us about ice cream. And be here - oh, there you see it, joshlevscnn.

By the way, be here with us in the 8 a.m. hour, when we will have some ice cream right here. And you will learn a little bit more about what you never knew about what some people call the world's greatest dessert.

So T.J., what do you think? Are you grateful to President Reagan for this?

HOLMES: I don't know. It scared me that 48 pints per person, per year?

LEVS: It's kind of freaky, isn't it? Yes.

HOLMES: That means each of us eats four pints a month?

LEVS: On average, yes.

HOLMES: On average...

LEVS: I know (ph).

HOLMES: ...we're eating four pints a month of ice cream...

LEVS: Yes, that's when I said, we have to watch out for the obesity crisis, too.

HOLMES: ...per person. LEVS: I know.

HOLMES: Yes.

LEVS: We got to watch out.

HOLMES: All right.

LEVS: Yes.

HOLMES: Happy Ice Cream Day, folks.

LEVS: Happy ice cream though.

HOLMES: Josh, thank you.

LEVS: You got it.

HOLMES: All right. Well, U.S. troops in Iraq. Many times, we've been those story over years - over the years about them having to be extended on their tours of duty. Well, now, the opposite is happening for some. Some are returning home ahead of schedule, because right now, of course, that drawback going on in Iraq.

We're going to be talking to some soldiers who are awaiting right now, after - who are waiting now, the long journey home.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: Hello there, everybody. From the CNN Center, welcome back to this CNN SUNDAY MORNING. I am T.J. Holmes on this July 18.

And once again, a special hello and good morning to all of our military men and women watching us on the Armed Forces Network around the world. Thank you for what you do, and thank you for being here with us. It's 6:30 a.m. where I sit, here, in Atlanta, 3:30 in Islamabad, Pakistan.

There you are seeing the pictures we are just getting of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, she has arrived there. She's there on a mission in Asia, in particular to Pakistan, to help improve relations between these two strategic and vital partners, Pakistan and the United States. She's going to head over to Afghanistan for an international conference on Tuesday as well; but Secretary of State Hillary Clinton just now arriving in Pakistan.

We'll give you a look at some of the stories we are keeping an eye on from overnight.

Including out of Indianapolis , 10 people shot in three shootings in downtown Indianapolis . The victims here, aged between 10 and 18 years old. Now none of these injuries are believed to be life- threatening. Police say all of the shootings happened within blocks of each other, these were three separate incidents; 10 people now were shot. This was all going on around the Indiana Black Expo. This was happening yesterday an annual event that happens there in downtown Indianapolis , a concert had just gotten out at Conseco Field House, we're told. And all of these shootings and all of these injuries happened outside of that concert.

Also going to head over to China, where 28 people are dead after a coal mine accident there from the northwest part of the country. A fire was started in one of the mines by an underground cable, we're told, even though the investigation continues. The Chinese government has now ordered inspections at other mines in that same region. This is not a first, unfortunately, for the Chinese coal industry. It has been notoriously accident-prone over the years and just last year, 2,600 miners were killed.

Also actor Zsa Zsa Gabor is at a UCLA Medical Center this morning. She has a broken hip. Her husband says she might be looking at some surgery now, could come sometime later today. She's 93 years old.

She was actually watching the game show "Jeopardy!" at the time, the phone rang, she reached over to answer the phone, and that is when she fell out of bed. Again, she is 93 years old.

She has enjoyed a long and storied television career, but also a career quite frankly just as a celebrity. And also a career that was known for being married eight times. She has, though, been in a wheelchair since 2002, when she had a car accident, but again she's 93 years old.

We turn now to the Gulf oil disaster on day 90, we are now. And experts with both BP and the government say they are encouraged with the latest news we are getting out of the Gulf, encouraged, many people, by that picture you are seeing. That live picture which shows something very important, nothing, no oil coming out. That is a big deal. The pressure testing continues, going to continue throughout the day going past that deadline they had set for yesterday afternoon when the tests will continue.

Now they want to continue to test as they search for any possible leaks in the pipeline. So far no evidence of any leaks, but the results are not definitive just yet. The testing once it does end, BP says they'll resume siphoning oil up to vessels on the surface of the water. No significant amounts of oil have escaped since Thursday, that is when that new tighter seal, that tighter cap was placed on. So, so far so good.

Our Reynolds Wolf, who has been in New Orleans for us, been to the Gulf Region covering this story really since day one of the disaster. He is in New Orleans for us this morning.

Reynolds, good morning to you once again. It's oh, so key, we try not to get too technical but it's so important to watch the pressure on this well.

REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN METEOROLOGIST: That's really the scale. And the thing with the pressure, more than anything else we want to know, if you get caught up with the numbers, you get caught up with PSI. Just know that the scientists are following a number and they want that number to slowly rise, not go up dramatically, but certainly not drop. Because any sign of the PSI number, which now is over 6,700, if it were to drop that could be bad news, it would indicate an underwater rupture, perhaps a leak below the sea floor.

You think about that, you think about the number rising has been rising and that the cap has been in place, the idea that this is actually happened, they've been successful with this, T.J., is in itself a technological miracle. Think about this for a moment from the point of the surface all the way down to where this meets the ocean floor is nearly a mile down. And then from the well all the way to the source of the oil is roughly another five and a half miles. So from the water's edge all they way down to where the oil source is located this actually is deeper than Mt. Everest is tall.

We're talking about just an amazing thing they were able to cap this and they did. It was a gusher, obviously the issues up and down the Gulf, you know the impact on the environment and certainly the economy. If you look at this animation right here and let me tell you folks if you are tuning in on CNN Radio, you're not able to see this. Let me tell you it is very, very deep. What they plan on doing today is they are going to watch that cap very, very carefully.

What the next step will be, after this, T.J., is Admiral Thad Allen said they will fasten several of the hoses, or rather the pipes, to the top of the containment dome and it will go up to vessels high above, again, about a mile up right along the surface of the Gulf of Mexico. And they will load the oil up onto ships and it will sent back to the coast. So far so good, keeping our fingers crossed, obviously, for the time being.

HOLMES: Reynolds, the important part here as well is that they can now, if weather does come that way, with this new cap on now. They can actually, they talked about attaching some of the hoses and siphoning up the oil again.

They can detach quickly and still even if they have to get out of there, because of a storm, they can still cap it and know it can hold now. I don't know how closely you've been keeping up with the weather. You're a weather guy, so I know you're never too far away from it. Weather is holding right now for them as well?

WOLF: It really is. What you're talking about how they're able to uncap very quickly is essential. It's kind of like a quick nozzle on a fire hose. Basically a quick grip and a pull that is essentially what they are going to have on these nozzles, on top of the containment dome.

Right now the weather is holding. But as Karen Maginnis, our friend, will also tell you we're getting to the heavy time of the tropical season in the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Basin. We are going to have stronger storms ahead. We have already had one, Alex, which passed well to the south, but you saw what the heavy wave action did to the containment process. Anything else that comes through could be a temporary disruption. But If they're able to knock this thing out, they're able to control it, it certainly won't be catastrophic. HOLMES: Reynolds Wolf for us there, in New Orleans. Reynolds we appreciate you as always. We'll talk to you again here shortly.

The man in charge of BP's compensation fund, he certainly got an earful from Gulf residents. Ken Feinberg, is his name, he recently met with about 200 Louisiana residents, whose livelihoods have been impacted by the oil disaster. He says, yes, the company will pay for their losses, but still being firm, that before he cuts a check he needs to see their proof.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They know we had a record year, this year it was here. Them boys going 30, 35 boxes of shrimp in 24 hours. I think BP ought to look at that. We have a record year, we lost, very important. I've got the tickets to prove it. We got the tickets to prove it.

KEN FEINBERG, BP CLAIMS FUND ADMINISTRATOR: Here's the incident, this is very important. This gentleman says it was going to be a record year, prove it. Come in, demonstrate that it was going to be a record year, and get paid for it, but don't speculate. I can't be paying speculative claims. You got to come in and show me, not that you're a good fisherman, and, you know, life treats you fairly. I want to know, it's not speculation, Feinberg. We can show you what we lost because of this spill that is damaging. And I'll pay it, but you got to show me now.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: BP told me I can no longer get paid my $5,000 a month, because we're working for DRC.

FEINBERG: Are you making $5,000 a month for DRC?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, sir.

FEINBERG: They're right.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK, that's what I wanted to clear up.

FEINBERG: Look, if you lost $5,000 a month because of the spill, but you're making $5,000 a month in replacement business, your wage loss is zero. You're not going to get double.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: BP says it has paid more than $200 million in claims to 32,000 Gulf Coast residents.

I'm going to turn to a story we're happy to report this morning, some U.S. troops serving in Iraq get to come home early. And one of them is going to make it just in the nick of time. That's coming up on this CNN SUNDAY MORNING. It is 39 minutes past the hour.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: And take a look at this, I think I just heard them over the loud speaker mention our guy, who is there, Doctor Sanjay Gupta. What you are looking at here, the New York City Triathlon getting under way. People are going in waves right now. You can see, obviously, they're starting with a swim, but that's the starting line. These folks are going to swim a mile, then these crazy folks will hop out and they are going to bike 25 miles. And then if they're still walking, they will get up and they are going to run another six miles. I don't know what's wrong with these folks.

No, but this is a great thing. And what we have is a "Fit Nation" crew of people at CNN led by Doctor Sanjay Gupta and also some viewers who submitted, and they were submitted and applied, and we picked them. And they were going to hop in and be a part of this, our group actually has white caps. And they'll be up there in a second. If you see white caps that's the CNN crew. You see a lot of pink hats in there, but the white ones you see in there is part of our CNN crew. Some of our viewers, who wanted to take this challenge have been training for months and months and are getting started.

Sanjay should be in that group somewhere. I don't see any swimmer with a lab coat on. He's in there somewhere. Good luck to him, and the rest of our viewers, and everyone a part of the "Fit Nation" challenge this morning getting underway.

Now we want to turn to Minnesota some severe weather. You were talking about this, Karen Maginnis, who is standing next to me now, our meteorologist. A possible tornado, you said there was a chance of some tough weather coming-but it came, the hail was coming down, some of those things you saw. Some people reported, this sounds crazy to me, grapefruit-sized hail?

KAREN MAGINNIS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Grapefruit, that's a rare one. Baseball-sized hail is --

HOLMES: We get that every now and again.

MAGINNIS: We do.

HOLMES: Do we confirm, know if there was a tornado? We certainly saw the hail.

MAGINNIS: I think they did have a tornado watch that was issued, so it wouldn't be unlikely. They have to go out and do the surveys and see what kind of damage has been done there, but wow, that will really ruin your day right there, your car, your house, your roof.

HOLMES: Those are the reports we are getting, right now, a lot of cars and a lot of homes damaged. No reports of injuries, I don't see here. That's the good news. Is this done doing what it's going to do, this storm?

MAGINNIS: Minnesota, yesterday was ground zero, they were in the thick of everything bad that was supposed to happen yesterday. We did see some reports surrounding it, Wisconsin, some of the Dakotas. The system is now moving on, there's some cooler air behind it. But Denver yesterday was a record 102 degrees.

HOLMES: In Denver?

MAGINNIS: In Denver, in Denver. Supposed to be a little bit cooler today.

(WEATHER REPORT)

MAGINNIS: CNN SUNDAY MORNING will continue after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: Welcome back to this CNN SUNDAY MORNING. About a quarter to the top of the hour. Some of the stories making headlines now.

First stop here, six people shot last night, two of them killed, this was at a state park, a popular state park in Washington State. Police have arrested at least two people, including the alleged gunman in this case. Some of the park visitors in the aftermath of this, a lot of chaos, apparently a lot of gunfire, some people actually had to run and hide in bathrooms. Police right now don't have a motive in this shooting.

Also, Florida turnpike the site of a fatal accident involving a church van last night; one person killed, 14 other people injured. And of those, nine are described as having critical injuries. Seeing some of the video here, the van is completely turned upside down. Authorities not exactly sure what caused this crash, and the van was on its way back from Universal Studios.

Also, Vice President Joe Biden getting a bill from the Federal Elections Commission to the tune of $219,000; according to the FTC, the vice president, who was of course you may remember running for president at a time. Well, during that run he accepted contributions over the legal limit. Also failed to pay for some rides he took on private jets. The campaign audited because he took federal funds. So looking into the finances and now he is being hit with a $219,000 fine. The vice president's spokesperson says they will comply.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: The White House goal is to reduce troop levels in Iraq to 50,000 by the end of August. A lot of soldiers can't wait to get home. A lot have a lot to come back to. Some of them have been waiting quite some time, and not many have as top get home to as Staff Sergeant Brandon Childs. He'll be home just in the nick of time for the birth of his first child, they'll be leaving behind the soldiers in Iraq with an uncertain future, but as CNN's Arwa Damon tells us, for these troops, the job is done.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ARWA DAMON, CNN INT'L. CORRESPONDENT (voice over): They've survived Iraq, and at midnight they start their journey home, 105 men and women of the 10th Mountain Division.

(On camera): These troops have all been waiting for hours and there's quite a few more left to go before they get on the plane. It's hot out but no one here is complaining and that is because all of these soldiers are going home.

In fact they're going home early, as part of the ongoing drawdown to reach that White House goal of having troop levels in Iraq down to 50,000 by the end of August.

STAFF SGT. BRANDON CHILDS, U.S. ARMY: My wife, called my wife first, told her I was coming home, she's very happy. And we're ecstatic I'm getting home.

DAMON (on camera): You guys are having a baby?

CHILDS: Yes, we're having a baby, very first one, very excited to be a father.

DAMON: And you didn't know that you were going to be home for the birth, did you?

CHILDS: No, ma'am, I did not. I thought I'd be here, stuck in Iraq, but you know, it turns out things are looking very good to coming home. So, I'm very happy.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Jorgenson, Juarez.

DAMON: They've been here since November. After years of American troops learning their tours would be extended, these soldiers had their 12-month tour cut short. The number of U.S. boots on the ground is decreasing by the day. And commanders say that not even Iraq's inability to form a government will stop them from meeting their deadline. These soldiers leave behind an Iraq with an uncertain future, but for them, the job is done. Arwa Damon, CNN, Baghdad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: The Senate going to be returning to full strength this week and is expected to tackle an issue facing millions of Americans, that is next, in your political week ahead. Stay here.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: Coming up on the top of the hour here now.

An extension of unemployment benefits creating jobs and a decision on the next Supreme Court justice shaping up to be a pretty busy week ahead in politics. CNN Deputy Political Director Paul Steinhauser has our preview.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Good morning, T.J. The Senate gets back to full strength this week as Cart Goodwin is sworn in Tuesday as senator from West Virginia. The 36-year-old was named Friday to fill the seat of fellow Democrat Robert Byrd, who died last month at age 92. Soon after Goodwin is sworn in, expect the Democrats to once again try and pass unemployment benefits extension, which has been blocked by Senate Republicans. Talking about jobs it will once again be issue number one this week when congressional leaders from both parties are expected to meet with President Barack Obama at the White House.

Also this week, on Tuesday, the Senate Judiciary Committee is expected to vote on Elena Kagan's nomination to the Supreme Court. The committee is expected to confirm Kagan, whose nomination would then move on to the full Senate.

The same day, voters in Georgia head to the polls, as that state's primaries; among the hot races, the battle for governor. Wednesday, four-term Senator John McCain of Arizona faces off against his two Republican primary challengers, they are former congressmen and conservative radio talk show host J.D. Hayworth and Tea Party activist Jim Deakin. Friday's first debate was a bitter battle with lots of jabs.

Also, Wednesday the president signs Wall Street reform, that bill into law, the measure along with health care reform is the second major legislative victory for Mr. Obama this year, T.J.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: Thanks to our Paul Steinhauser. Top of the hour now, let's get the next hour of CNN SUNDAY MORNING started.

And I'm coming to you from the CNN Center in Atlanta, Georgia on this July 18th. Good morning to you all. I'm T.J. Holmes, glad you could be here. 7:00 a.m. where I sit, 6:00 a.m. in New Orleans, wherever you may be, thank you for being here.

It's still so far, so good, in the Gulf. No oil is leaking at this point, but still now, the government and BP want to continue testing a little longer than they had anticipated. We'll get a live update.

Also right now this morning, what are you doing with yourself today? Are you swimming a mile, running six miles, biking 25 miles? That's what these crazy folks are doing this morning in New York, and among them our Doctor Sanjay Gupta. We'll tell you what's happening in the New York Triathlon that is underway.

Let me give you a look at some of the stories making headlines from overnight. Including this shocking story out of Indianapolis, downtown Indianapolis where 10 people were wounded in three separate shootings. So, they had 10 people shot, all of the victims between the ages of 10 and 18 years old. This happened, all of these shootings, three separate ones, but all within blocks of each other. These people were leaving the annual Indiana Black Expo. Even though we have 10 people shot, none of the injuries are considered to be life-threatening.

Meanwhile, 55 people were detained for curfew violations. A lot of these folks, young people, had just gotten out of what they called a Teen Bling (ph) Concert, that happened at Conseco Field House last night as a part of the Annual Black Expo.

Also, to Afghanistan now where there's been a huge prison break. At least 11 people still on the run, but in all, 19 inmates escaped from this prison after a bomb exploded outside of it. Again, 19 inmates initially got out, eight more were then arrested. So, again you only have 11 still on the run. A police officer was killed in the melee. One inmate was killed as well.

Also, actress Zsa Zsa Gabor, she's at the UCLA Medical Center this morning with the broken hip. She fell out of her bed last night. She was sitting up watching "Jeopardy!" Phone rings, she goes for the phone and falls out of her bed. According to her husband, she could need surgery.

She is, of course, now 93 years old. She has had a series of health problems, including had a stroke back in 2005 and pretty much been in a wheelchair since a car accident back in 2002.

Here we are, day 90 of the Gulf oil disaster. The pressure testing continues on the well today. Still, you can call it, so far, so good. No oil has been detected leaking since they put the new cap on and had it up and running on Thursday.

Here are some of the pictures. And again, the key to all these pictures now is that you don't see any oil gushing out. Now, the government and BP encouraged -- the government encouraged BP, they are both encouraged by these pressure tests that are going on. They have the tests up. It's about 6,500 or 6,700 psi. Now, what that means is they want to get it up to about 8,000 or 9,000, we're told, but still it's holding and still rising above that 6,700. The higher it goes, it lets them know the well has good integrity and that, in fact, no oil is leaking out anywhere.

Now, the admiral in charge, Thad Allen, says once testing has stopped, they're going to continue with the containment. So, they're going to start siphoning up oil once again on to two vessels that are on the surface. So far, sonar ship has been brought in to monitor the sea floor as well around the well.

Our Reynolds Wolf has been monitoring this disaster for us from the very beginning. He's back live for us today in New Orleans.

Reynolds, good morning to you once again. And still, the more days we go without seeing oil seep, without seeing that pressure go down, it really is that "so far, so good" mentality right now.

REYNOLDS WOLF, AMS METEOROLOGIST: It really is, T.J. You know, we at CNN happen to be a visual medium. And, you know, there's nothing more compelling or better for us than to show you a great shot underwater of this wellhead, of showing you the containment dome with actually nothing coming out it of it. We like boring pictures. And that's the boring picture that we wanted for today.

Actually, for months and months, we've been seeing, again, the oil coming out. It's now -- it's been quieted down for, I guess, what is it, over 48 hours, T.J. And as you mentioned, the next step is to actually just test it. The testing will continue through the rest of the day and then what they're going to do is attach those hoses, those pipes, if you will, to go up to 5,000 feet to the container ship at the surface and then it will be transferred back to shoreline.

But, you know, I'll tell you, they're still watching this very carefully. You mentioned the numbers, how we're watching that psi number, the pounds per square inch of pressure that's being forced against that containment dome. It's not as high as we expected. Scientists were thinking it would go to at least 7,500, perhaps even closer to 8,000 or even 9,000, but it has just leveled off for just a bit.

Now, we may get a new update coming up this morning around 8:30 local time here. But it may tell us that the numbers have gone up a bit more. But as of yesterday, it was roughly an average of two to 10 psi per hour. As long as the arrows are pointing up, that's good news. If we were to see the opposite, things going down, well, then, that could indicate that you have some kind of a rupture or leakage far below the ocean floor and trying to fix that would be very difficult, no question.

HOLMES: Reynolds, you still talking to folks around, what's the sense? I know you're not down there -- I know you're working, but I know you get to get out and you see the local folks and talk to everybody. I know this is on everybody's mind in New Orleans still. But what are their attitudes now, the more hours and days go by, the more days that go by and we don't see oil leaking, what are their attitudes like?

WOLF: You know what's funny about that. I was actually walking through the hotel just last night, and there at the hotel right near the front, you've got a big flat screen TV and there was actually some people standing out there taking a look at it. And they're watching it very, very quietly, as if they were to drop something or cough or sneeze and the oil is going to come out.

I think that's pretty much a lot of the attitude that people have here. I mean, they're very -- it's a great feeling of trepidation. They're happy with what they're seeing, but there's the fear that something's going to go wrong. You're going to see it leak once again. You're going to see the strength of the cap erode, you're going to see leakage, and that's the big fear.

But keep in mind though, when they do attach these hoses to bring the oil back up to the surface, that will mean that there will be more seepage, there will be a bit, but it should be temporary -- at least temporary until the oil -- until the hoses are attached properly or until, of course, until those relief wells are finally finished. One of them is supposedly five feet away from coming to that junction, that intersection.

There you see the video right there showing you the animation of how the relief wells are dug. Again, at about five feet away from joining those two, and then they put in, of course, the mud -- the combination of mud and concrete to seal it off, and that should be the final solution. That is what we're looking right there.

But, you know, even when we finish the relief wells, T.J., that's just the beginning of the story.

HOLMES: Yes.

WOLF: Then we have the issues with the economy. We have the issues with the tourism, with the fishing industry. So, a lot of bad things there. One other last side note to tell you is that although many of the federal waters remain closed, a lot of the recreational waters here off the coast of Louisiana are now open. So, people are fishing once again not quite as they used to, but still, every little step they take back to normalcy is certainly a welcome one.

HOLMES: Steps back to normalcy and that was a huge one, just to not see oil coming out into the Gulf, that huge gusher.

Reynolds, we appreciate you as always and thanks for soldiering through that train that, I know, goes right by the live shot location there on the shores of the Mississippi. Thanks so much, Reynolds.

A huge part of this whole Gulf oil disaster is going to be the recovery efforts happening in the Gulf and a big part of that, you've got to get people back down there, fishing, visiting, spending money in the hotels, the restaurants, you've got to get tourists back in the area. And a group of pilots in Alabama is flying to the rescue of some of those shops and restaurants on the Gulf Coast.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: As Alabamians, we decided we would go down there and help support it in any way we can. And this is our state, you know, that's our beach, we need to support it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: About 25 planes are just flying tourists from Birmingham, Alabama, to Gulf Shores as well as Orange Beach this weekend. Organizers say he was thinking about making the trip monthly trying to help keep things going, just trying to help the region out by literally bringing tourists, bringing visitors to the area.

Well, a happy birthday today to Nelson Mandela. He is 92 years old now, a treasure in South Africa. We're taking a look back at some of his amazing accomplishments and some things you actually may not know about him, including his real name.

It's seven minutes past the hour.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(MUSIC)

HOLMES: Nelson Mandela, happy birthday to you. The South African national treasure and global icon is celebrating his 92nd birthday today. Festivities, though, this year are going to be pretty low-key. Instead, Madiba is urging to celebrate the milestone helping others.

Here now, CNN's Robyn Curnow.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ROBYN CURNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): From the joy of the World Cup where he met the South African football team -- to the sadness of burying his great granddaughter after a fatal car crash, this has been a month filled with highs and lows for Nelson Mandela. And now, he celebrates his 92nd birthday. It will be a quiet family affair, nothing like the public parties we saw for his 90th birthday.

NELSON MANDELA, GLOBAL ICON: It is in your hands to make of our world a better world for all.

CURNOW: Instead, July 18th is becoming less about celebrating Mandela's birthday and more of a public service call to action, championed by human rights group called the Elders. People are being urged to devote more than an hour of their day to community service.

ARCHBISHOP DESMOND TUTU, NOBEL LAUREATE: Give only 67 minutes of your time to change the world.

MARY ROBINSON, FMR. IRISH PRESIDENT: Maybe it's talking to a grandmother who is a bit lonely. Maybe it's helping somebody whom we know is in difficulty. Maybe it's just in small ways reaching out to the other. It's not about him, he says. It's about us.

CURNOW: Committed to spreading the message of Mandela day is this group who are biking from Johannesburg to Cape Town, stopping along the way to help out rural communities. On the team is actor Morgan Freeman, who recently played Mandela on the big screen.

MORGAN FREEMAN, ACTOR: Madiba doesn't want a day of celebration as such, fireworks, day off from work and all of that. He spent six to seven years in service to humanity, and he asks that we spend 67 minutes on that day in service to humanity.

CROWD (singing): Happy birthday dear --

CURNOW: So, for Mandela, the only gift he wants for his 92nd birthday is for people to give a little bit of their time to help others.

Robyn Curnow, CNN, Johannesburg, South Africa.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: It seems like we know so much about the man and his life. But there are so much more you don't know about this world famous elder statesman.

I want to introduce to you CNN's Nadia Bilchik who we love having out here with us. She spent years as a news anchor in South Africa and got to know Nelson Mandela a bit. Good morning to you, Nadia. Thank you for being here with us. And you know, one of the most fascinating things to me that people don't realize is just what his real name is.

NADIA BILCHIK, CNN EDITORIAL PRODUCER: He's called Rolihlahla.

HOLMES: Rolihlahla.

BILCHIK: What does Rolihlahla mean? It means: "one who shakes the tree" or "takes the branches off the tree." And the idea was that he always shook things up, Rolihlahla. So, Nelson, the English name he was given. Rolihlahla Mandela.

HOLMES: And, you know, a lot of people don't realize, it was a school teacher that gave him the name he has and everybody knows now.

BILCHIK: That's right, Nelson. And other things, T.J., you may not know. At 16, he has a ritual circumcision, no anesthetic. And he talks about this incredible book, "Long Walk to Freedom," which is a must-read.

It is a such an inspiring story and he speaks about having this ritual circumcision and then going, "I am a man," and then being told by the chief as he feels he's entered this manhood that, in fact, you're not a man because you are in a country that is oppressed and that whites are oppressing blacks. So, he undergoes all of this, only to be told, well, actually, you're not free in your own country because the Africans are discriminated against.

HOLMES: How big of a role that that played? I mean, we talked about this circumcision, this ceremonial circumcision, but that -- I mean, how big of a deal was that in shaping what became the cause and the mission of his life?

BILCHIK: Well, what one understands is he was being groomed to be a leader, an adviser to the king. His father died when he was 9 and then he goes to the king, who treats him like a son, King Jongintaba (ph). And so, he's really an adviser and those kind of stories formed him. His whole youth forms him.

And then he runs away to escape an arranged marriage. So, already then, you see the rebel, you see the feisty Mandela fighting for his rights. And he runs away to Johannesburg and there joins the ANC.

And fascinating, his first job, he works at a law firm, a Jewish law firm, Mr. Sidelsky, and at the Jewish law firm, he studies part- time and he has so little money that he has to save money by walking to the township to get candles so he can study.

So, you understand the background that forms the man that is Nelson Mandela and, then, of course, gets involved in the ANC. In 1962, he is arrested, and in 1964, he is sentenced to life in prison.

And remember, 1964 is the year that Martin Luther King gets the Nobel Peace Prize. This is the year that the Civil Rights Act is passed in America. And in '63, of course, Martin Luther King gives that astounding speech.

HOLMES: Now, you have met him on several occasions.

BILCHIK: Yes.

HOLMES: Even had the occasion to --

BILCHIK: Introduce him, yes.

HOLMES: -- him at a couple of events. Now, I met, a friend from South Africa, who's also run into him a time or two, when you're around him, he exudes this aura, and you feel like you're definitely in the presence of royalty. You agree with that?

BILCHIK: Absolutely. The first time I actually introduced Mandela was at the SOS Children's Villages that was an opening, and there he was. And people cry when they see him. You know, if you think of 27 years in prison, can you imagine 46 years old, couple of years to go for you, going to prison for 27 years. So, in fact, the 67 minutes to have Mandela day of giving service and community service is the 67 years that he's given service to the country.

HOLMES: And it sounds like this is definitely -- and again things are going to be more low-key but -- I mean, this sounds like quintessential Mandela. Don't celebrate, don't throw a party. Don't celebrate. Go out there and serve.

BILCHIK: At Mandela day. And looking at a man who has really turned a nightmare into a dream, a dream into a vision, and a vision into a reality. I mean, look at the World Cup, and a man who has suffered. He's had two sons die. The first son died while he was in prison in 1965, the second son dies of AIDS, his 9-month-old daughter died very early on. And, of course, he has this great granddaughter, this beautiful child who I have met die.

And, you know, suffering and yet we hope in his twilight years he can look at South Africa, look at the World Cup and say, look what I have achieved. One hope there's a sense of peace at this point, 92 years old.

HOLMES: It was so great to see him at the World Cup participating there, the first to have it on African soil, happen there in South Africa.

Nadia Bilchik, good to -- you got some good perspective.

BILCHIK: And, T.J. Holmes, I have a coin for you, which is a Nelson Mandela 90th birthday coin that is my gift to you.

HOLMES: Well, I will take it. I didn't know you came with treats this morning. I didn't know you came with gifts.

BILCHIK: I have a birthday coins, Mandela birthday coins.

HOLMES: I will absolutely appreciate it.

BILCHIK: One day may be very valuable.

HOLMES: It's valuable right now to me at least. Thank you so much, Nadia. We appreciate you coming up and spending some time, sharing your experiences as well with Nelson Mandela.

BILCHIK: Madiba.

HOLMES: Madiba Rolih -- .

HOLMES: Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, Madiba.

HOLMES: All right. Nineteen minutes past the hour. Quick break, we'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: Twenty-one minutes past the hour.

Giving you a look at some of the stories that made headlines from overnight -- including this one: a shooting at a popular state park in Washington State left two people dead, another four wounded. This park, Sammamish State Park, police arrested at least two people here, a lot of gunfire we're told reported. People were sent running, some had to hide in park bathrooms. Right now, police do not have a motive in that shooting.

Also, the Florida turnpike turned deadly today, an accident there. One person killed, 14 injured -- among the injured are at least nine critical injuries. This was a church van that flipped over. You see from the video that's it on the right side that white van. It's completely turned upside down. Police now is investigating what exactly caused this crash.

Also, the vice president, Joe Biden, hit with a hefty fine, $219,000 -- hit with this fine from the Federal Election Commission. This all comes from his run for president, the FEC says he accepted contributions that went over the legal limit, also he failed to pay for some rides in some private jets. The campaign had to be audited because he took federal funds. The fine, that $219,000, is due in 30 days.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(MUSIC)

HOLMES: Well, welcome to the lounge. We're setting the mood apparently that I didn't know about here on this CNN SUNDAY MORNING. What was that music?

Josh, what was that?

JOSH LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I have no idea.

HOLMES: OK. We don't know where that came from. Maybe it goes along with the story we are talking about. And Josh Levs is showing this to us. We got some new stars on the Internet and people are really in love with this couple pause they seem to be so in love right now, 72 years --- do I have that right?

LEVS: They've been married for 72 years. Yes, and this couple just especially over the past week, when they're featured on CNN.com, they've really taken off. But they already have thousands of fans.

I mean, you see them in action, you can immediately see why they're getting such a following. Here they are, take a look.

(VIDEO CLIP)

LEVS: Barbara and Harry Cooper, she's 93, he's 98. This is his post-breakfast dance, she likes to do sometimes. They just celebrated their 72nd wedding anniversary.

They're living in California and they have a blog. They're bloggers. It's called "The OGs," which is short for the original grandparents. Their granddaughters post their videos and they have these thousands of fans on Facebook.

Barbara even tweets now and another of their recent videos, they shared songs that Harry learned in Hawaii when he served in the military.

(VIDEO CLIP)

LEVS: People are loving these videos. I tried asking some questions by remote and they had a little trouble hearing me, so their granddaughter asked one of their questions for me. Listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What are the keys to making a marriage last and filled with the kind of love that you two display for each other?

BARBARA COOPER, THE-OGS.COM: Tolerance, patience, and time.

HARRY COOPER, THE-OGS.COM: It's a give or take situation. She takes and I give.

B. COOPER: He thinks.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEVS: So cute. By the way, you can see all this yourself. This is the OGs.com.

And just to show you how hip they are -- Barbara does reviews. She even recently reviewed Lady Gaga and the video "Alejandro" people going wild about this.

And check this out. Can we get close-up on this? This is who they are now and this is a younger picture of them from decades ago. How close can you them? There you go. There they are in the younger days.

I posted links to all of the videos, everything you just saw, it's all up at Facebook and Twitter, JoshLevsCNN -- take a look and see what you think.

And now, we got some other music going on. All right. Good day here in the newsroom.

So, T.J., you feel inspired?

HOLMES: I don't know. I'm just -- I want to talk to our deejay. We're having some issues this morning.

Marvin Gaye, Tammi Terrell, that's a good take.

I'll need to get by 72 years. Only got 71 years and eight months to go to catch up with those folks.

All right. Josh, we're pretty shaky this morning. By all means let's keep Marvin and Tammi Terrell going into the break. All right?

Twenty-seven minutes past the hour on this CNN SUNDAY MORNING. Quick break. Be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: If you smoke, do not bother applying for a job at the Gwinnet Medical Center in Atlanta. This Georgia hospital is the latest employer nationwide to refuse to hire smokers. Hospitals in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee have done the same thing. Gwinnet Medical says they're doing it to promote better health. Existing employees -- very important to note here -- are not going to be fired if they do smoke. Critics say this policy is an invasion of privacy and could keep some qualified people away.

Well, this morning, we were showing you Dr. Sanjay Gupta, talked to him here live before he hopped in the water. We have video of him hopping in the water -- there is he in the wet suit. That's what you need on your Sunday morning -- Sanjay in a wet suit.

He is part of a crew of our "Fit Nation" crew participating in the New York City triathlon. They're going to swim a mile. They're going to bike 25 miles, I think I have that right. And then they're going to swim six miles excuse me run six miles as well.

But our crew of viewers and also other people here who work at CNN being a part of our "Fit Nation" challenge taking on the New York triathlon.

Before Sanjay hopped in the water, he recorded his show "SANJAY GUPTA, M.D." starts right now.