aljazerra.com/considerthis where we asks people what their eye goal of beauty is. the show may be over but the conversation continues on our website or facebook or google plus pages, you can also find us on twitter at ajconsiderthis, we'll see i next time. >> >> >> we'll have 125 separate pieces of snow equipment including snowplows. >> deja vu down south, two weeks after weather nightmare crippled the region, drastic measures taken ahead of the worst storm in decades. >> live to tehran - it's 10:30 in the morning. marking 35 years since the revolution that toppled the shah

of iran. >> president obama considering a drone strike on an american citizen overseas. why the president's hands may be tied by new policies he created. >> and subpoenas for chris christie - why records of his chopper flights have been requested. [ ♪ music ] [ ♪ music ] >> hi, there. welcome to al jazeera america. i'm thomas drayton. here we go again. another storm across the country. there are warnings of mass power outages because of ice and snow. in the south-east they are getting ready for the second winter storm of the year. several states were paralyzed two weeks ago when snow and ice blanketed the region. atlanta, which was hit hard, says it will not make the same

mistakes. >> we'll be in a constant state of readiness over 72 to 100 hours. >> the georgian government says he's taking pre-emptive measures to avoid pitt falls from the last form. they are issuing early school closings. the governor declared a state of emergency for 45 counties. kevin corriveau has more on the impact of the storm >> as we go to tuesday things will disintegrate across the south-east. look at the satellite and the radar. it's mostly rain for many locations except for out towards louisville. as we bring the cold air in, that's when we will see the problems, especially atlanta and also into south carolina. you can see on tuesday afternoon, there'll be a high. rain turning to snow, and then

it will be ice. we are expecting to see half on inch of ice. as we go through the next couple of days towards saturday, things improve rapidly. across the north-west it was a weekend with a bit of snow and rain. we saw flooding, mudslides, rain slides. it will be raining across the addle. take a look at the temperature. 49 with lots of rain in the forecast. five days of rain. temperatures don't move too much and the lows stay down into the 40s. southern california, it will be dry. no rain in sight over the next couple of days. san francisco - 59 degrees. los angeles 76. that is warming up towards friday. saturday with a bit more, the low 70s. across texas, we saw rain earlier. take a look at the temperatures. low for a high. about 35 degrees there.

the 5-day forecast looks like this. a mix of snow in the forecast. things will get better with a temperature on saturday of 73. >> the u.k. is also dealing with its own weather calamity. weeks of rain pushed parts of the thames river over its banks, causing flooding in southern and western england. the british military has been helping thousands of residents evacuate. england is dealing with its wettest winter in 250 years. in london there are no reports of flooding because of a stretch of the thames river is protected by gates that can be closed during tidal searches. there's more questions than answers in west virginia, a month after a chemical spill contaminated the water. a rare congressional hearing was held in the field. the company behind the spill is not talking. >> this is freedom industry, one month ago it allowed an oily

toxic chemical to leak into a nearby river, contaminating the water supply. 300,000 people were affected. gary southern is a part owner, he lives in florida but flue to west virginia, but he had lit the time for questions about how such an accident happened. >> thanks for coming. >> reporter: we have more questions. we are not done. >> the co-owner of the firm is carl kennedy. his record is checkered as that of freedom. he was convicted of conspireing to sell cocaine and spent time in gaol for syphoning off more than a million doors from employees paychecks. this man is familiar with the owners and doesn't like them.

>> i think the renegades are corporate thugs. i have no sympathy. >> freedom industries filed for bankruptcy for example within days of the spill, making it almost impossible for victims to sue for damages. at a public hearing in charleston members of congress from furious that they failed to show to answer to their accident. >> the one empty seat belongs to the epicentre of this. there is an odour emanating from freedom industries. >> the regulation of chemicals is left to the state. west virginia prides itself on being industry friendly, meaning it doesn't require inspections of storage tanks containing potentially dangerous chemicals. it's a frustration of locals who accused freedom industries of downplaying the nature of the spill. >> an official, dennis farrell

of freedom industries, president, we asked him how much material leaked and he stated, "not much" >> tens of thousands of litres of crude mchn leaked. the state is it pursuing tougher laws so companies like freedom are better regulate in the future. it will not change things for the residents who are angry with freedom's executives who will never be held accountable. >> when college football star michael sam announced he was gay. he put himself in a position to be a pioneer. former player kris kluwe. we spoke to him about why he came forward. >> you were part of a team. agents and athletes who helped michael sam with the

announcement. what led you all to believe that the n.f.l. was ready for a gay player? >> it was strides made, helping people become aware that there were gay players, setting the stage for someone like michael who feels comfortable enough in himself and his abilities to say, "hey, i'm a football player who happens to be gay." >> some is about to go through the most important job interview process. why was it better for him to reveal his sexual orientation before he entered the league as opposed to after? >> this way it gives the story a chance to be beaten to death and hopefully it won't be a story once the season starts. i know people will talk about it during the draft obviously, during the combine and preseason. once we get through the season, hopefully it's played out enough

to where michael can focus on the football. and it let's team know that michael is gay, he's a football player and deal with it. this is something that the n.f.l. is going to have to learn to live with. there'll be more and more people like michael. and you shouldn't discriminate based on sexuality just like you shouldn't discriminate against someone because of race. >> some players will not like showering next to a gay player. they came back trying to clarify comments. how prevalent do you think the septemberment is throughout the league? >> some guys don't understand what it's like to be around a gay person, and have a mistaken assumption that they are so irresistible that, of course, a gay man will jump on top of them the instant they are in a shower

together, which is facetious. i've known players that played with gay players, there's never been a problem. there's a work environment. it's a business environment much we are there to play football. a fear that having to shower with a gay person means the gay will rub off on you or he'll molest you is unfounded. a gay person is a human being like everyone else. we take showers together all the time. there's nothing that happens, it's treated like a job, because that's what it is. >> you believe your career was adversely affected by your stance in favour of same-sex marriage and other gay right issues. do you think sam's announcement will affect his draft status? >> i hope it doesn't. i think it will because there are a lot of older generation people in the n.f.l., in terms of front office administration, and coaching staff that they

don't want to have a gay person on the team for whatever reason. it's unfortunate, but that's the reality of the world we live in. it's something we have to deal with and point out, and if michael sam falls in the draft, sliding to rounds five, six or seven, we need to call people to account and say, "hey, what is the deal. the guy established his bona fides, he's ban a great college player, why is he undraftable." >> that was michael eaves. >> iran is marking the 35th anniversary of the revolution driving the shah from power. we take you to tehran, it is 10:41 in the morning. we are expecting iran's president hassan rouhani to speak at the rally in a moment. the 1971 revolution brought the ayatollah khomeini out of exile where he went on to become the supreme leader until his death.

in an interview aired on iranian television president hassan rouhani said, "iran is serious about the upcoming negotiations. ". one of the iconic iranian revolutions came when protesters stormed the u.s. embassy in iran. it led to hostage situation, shattering diplomatic situations. al jazeera has been granted a tour of the compound where it started. we are taken inside. >> stuck in time. the former u.s. embassy in tehran stands - mostly unchanged since 1979. the same old equipment, curtains and green paint, telex machines and phones - even paper shredders, relics of a time when enemies were friends.

this man was a revolutionary and a student in 1979. now he is a leading voice for reform. >> people don't believe in conflict. we don't live in the past any more. >> in november 1979, he was one of the men who took over the embassy, and held 52 americans hostage. he says he was motivated by the belief that the u.s. tried to sabotage the revolution. the attack led the u.s. to cut diplomatic ties with iran. >> i don't agree with those who say that occupying the american embassy is an obstacle to relations. at times there has been good conditions. we, the leftist, believe that iran had to leave the american influence and become independent. >> the revolution succeeded, coming at a cost.

>> animosity, blood shed - iran facing the challenge of putting 35 years of hate behind them. >> the relationship between iran and the u.s. is complicated. as long as the u.s. supports the israel regime, does not recognise the rights of palestinians, will interr with the middle east and -- interacts with the middle east , the relationship could be a good one. >> last year a phone call between the u.s. and iranian president broke 35 years of silence. >> whatever comes. softening of the relationship between the united states and iran, some will never be convinced the enemies should put the past to rest. one of the reasons is what happens in the building, the old embassy - what it was, what it is, and two different experiences that it represents. still ahead - a mass exodus

from a city under siege. the u.n. mission to save civilians from the war in syria. did new jersey governor chris christie use his chopper to watch the blidge-gate mess. that's what authorities want to know. >> if you are in agriculture, if you don't have water, you won't be in agriculture. you don't have to live in california to be affected by the draught. why the lack of water is thiping the heard in the -- thinning the herd in the heard land of america's dairy farms.

>> welcome back. another live look at a massive rally in tehran, marking 35 years since the revolution toppling the shah of iran. we are expecting the iranian president to speak to that crowd. welcome back.

the obama administration is considering a drone strike against an american citizens, a suspected al qaeda member in pakistan. making the decision is apparently complicated. under the drone strike policies only the pentagon can kill an american suspected of terrorism, not the c.i.a. the target's identity is not released, but the c.i.a. has been watching the suspect with a fleet of spy drones. unmanned airplanes killed four u.s. citizens since 2009. syria's government and opposition return to the negotiating table. each side will have separate meetings with the chief negotiator hassan rouhani. hundreds of syrians are leaving homs as part of the a fragile ceasefire. stefanie dekker reports on the evacuations and humanitarian aid entering the region >> reporter: we had an official statement from the united nations saying over the past four days 800 people have been

evacuated from the old city of homes, which has been besieged for a year and a half. they have said that this ceasefire which was supposed to last three days, ending on sunday will be extended for three. 300 people have been evacuated. we spoke to the governor of homs, and he said the evacuation on sunday was so successful they got out around 600 people. it gives people the confidence to come out. very uncertain, no one knows what is going on, who to trust. the people don't know what will happen to them once they come out. people are talking about hunger, difficult times. so the united nations determined to get everyone out, who wants to. >> a delicate situation. >> stefanie dekker reporting from beirut lebanon. new jersey lawmakers want to know if governor chris christie took a helicopter ride over fort

lee at the time traffic was snared over the george washington bridge. a subpoena has been issued. chris christie said he didn't know about the lane closures until long after they were over. >> state democrats believe they were ordered by his office as a form of payback against the mayor of fort lee. california is struggling with what could be the worst drought in a century. there's little relief. without water the grass will not grow. that means there's not enough food for the cattle. ranchers are forced to make tough choices. >> reporter: sunrise over this ranch. the cattle assembled, waiting for their feed. they are hungry. the landscape, brown and dry, makes for a scant forage. >> it's as bad as i have seen. it's definitely that. none of the other smaller

droughts compare at all. >> winter rains normally produce green pastures. now the family must haul hay to feed the livestock. hay only grows when water flows, and with the drought that meant a small supply for a big demand. >> well we are at the point where we are out of feed. it will be an expensive year for us with all the additional feed we had to purchase. >> what the local ranchers tell us is hay has gone up from $5,000 to $5,700, and as the situation continues it the get worse. the next step for paul icord to cut losses will be at the auction yard. it's calf season and they are being sold off early, at half of

the weight, rather than spending money on feed. 2,000-3,000 calves have been sold every week. it sees 500 head come through. some come from as far as texas and the midwest. dairy farmers have tough decisions to make. despite record-high milk price, the cost of feed and shortage of water means heifers have gone to auction. >> nothing works without water. i don't care what business you are in. if you are in agriculture, if you don't have water, you'll not be in agriculture. >> reporter: paul says he's up against it and will have to sell cattle soon. >> i have three sons that have been brought up in the cattle business. that's what they want to do. if we have to sell cows, yes, it will bother me. >> the family has worked this land for three generations.

they tell us the drought's impact will be felt in the beef industry for years to come. he's latino, undocumented and gay. he is set to break through a barrier. a vote that could make him a role model in the fight for america. >> you can form a bond with any number of animals. the readiness that dogs form a bond with people is exceptional. they began as wolves, today they are members of our family. inside the bond between man and man's best friends.

>> welcome back. another live look at a crowd gathering in tehran this morning. it is 10:55 in the morning. they are expecting president hassan rouhani to address the crowd, coming up in a moment.

we'll take you there live once again. >> welcome back to al jazeera america. elections for the student body president are taking place at the university of north carolina in chappell hill. they are drawing national attention. one of the top contenders is a minority three times over. he is latino, gay and undocumented. he says these elections give him an opportunity to break stereotypes. >> some see it as curesious. this gives me a chance, a platform to show other people that i'm just like them. >> he has been a strong advocate for undocumented immigrants, pushing for the public colleges to give them in-state tuition rates. he has been a strong advocate for undocumented immigrants. more on his story at

aljazeera.com. it is the super bowl of dog shows. westminster is taking new york city by storm. dogs were not always man's best friend. they used to be an enemy. jacob ward takes a look at the evolution in a special series "deciphering dogs" >> reporter: let's be frank - who else in our lives has permission to do this? who else, besides our infant children can receive this service? what makes dogs so special? dogs and humans have been partnered up for 10,000 years. at this point we treat them as members of our family. they sleep in our beds and we pick up after them. what do we know about dogs. how do they see the world, see us. >> at emery university researchers taught dogs to lie

motionless inside an m.r.i., providing a look inside the brains of fully awake dogs. researchers at duke characterise them as intellectual type, and another has a program devoted to dog cognition. >> there are 18 million dogs in people's hotel. gepp et sifts tell us that the toing is no different -- dog is no different to a wolf, so if there's 80 million wolves in homes, we should find out what they are up to. >> this expertise is what dogs are thinking. they have a special gift. >> you can form a bond an animal. the readiness with which dogs form the bond is exceptional. that canine gift explains the prehistoric origin of our relationship. >> we have a characteristic

trait. we create trash. so you get cockroaches and rats. among other things, you get wolves. over time the wolves let them get close to the food, and that turned them into dogs. >> would there be dogs if there weren't humans? >> no. >> we made the species possible? >> yes. before people there was no dogs. >> research indicates that food remains the dominant force in the relationship. >> we did experiments showing that given a straight-forward choice between contact with the owner and food, the dog will choose food. >> although other animals can be trained to understand human gestures, dogs are born hard-wired for us. >> what does that tell us about the relationship between the dog and human? >> it shows the dog is sensitive to the reactions of people. >> that was jacob ward

reporting. >> a journal science study from november says the first dommest kated dogs were in europe. that'll do it for this issue of al jazeera america. we leave you in iran, a rally taking shape. you are in the stream. joe arpaio has been dubbed hi, i'm lisa fletcher, you are in the extreme. this is the toughest sheriff. when is is being tough on crime crossing the line. he joins us to break down some controversial policies. our digital producer wajahat