good morning. moammar gadhafi troops launch a major counteroffensive. is it time for the u.s. to consider arming the opposition? dangerous dyes -- does the coloring in foods we eat every day have a negative impact on a child's mood and behavior? this morning, the new search for a link and what some parents are already doing just in case. and the polar prince on his trek through the arctic. prince harry opens up to us about his most important duty at the royal wedding. >> are you thinking about what

you will say? think about what you'll say when i'm stuck in a tent. our conversation with prince harry today, wednesday 30th, 2011. . good morning, welcome to "today" on a wednesday, i'm matt laur. >> rebels were making a rapid advance toward tripoli. >> those rebels retreated some 100 miles we'll get the late echt in a live report from libya straight ahead. and we'll talk to republican congresswoman michelle bachmann, who has been critical of president obama's involvement of troops in libya. >> a bizarre case in florida, an honor student who has been

offered scholarships to ivy league schoolses a k s s is acc pistol whipping and threatening her mom so she would buy her a car. >> a much different note, when babies babble, do they actually understand each other? take a look at these twin brothers just a year and a half old. >> da, da, da, da -- >> well, they appear to be carrying on a full blown conversation and it goes on for several minutes. >> the question is, what exactly are they talking about? >> no idea. >> we'll take our best guess. >> all right. we want to change the subject, begin with serious news, latest on the fighting in libya. nbc's chief foreign correspondent richard engel is in benghazi. when we spoke 24 hours ago you talked about how thanks to nato air strikes the rebels advanced hundreds of miles with relative ease. that's now come to an abrupt

halt. >> reporter: it certainly has. and what's been clear is that without that air support, the rebels can't take territory and they can't hold territory either. gadhafi's forces launched a very effective counter assault, driving back rebels from the east and we're also learning that gadhafi's troops are changing their tactics, not using as many tanks as in the past because those tanks were so easy to identify and destroy from the air, instead gadhafi's forces are using smaller units and driving in jeeps and civilian vehicles. vehicles that are very similar to the ones used by the rebels themselves. so, seen from the air it's hard to distinguish who's who. >> you have seen these forces, the rebel force in particular up close and i know, i don't want to put words in your mouth but you're not particularly impressed by their capabilities. has it got tonight point where they're going to have to be

armed by countries like the united states and then be trained to use more sophisticated weapons in they're to stand a chance? >> reporter: the problem with their capabilities so far is that they have no training and no discipline. when gadhafi's forces started advancing in small units yesterday the rebels got in their cars and beat a very hasty retreat. dethoent have sophisticated weapons. what the rebels would like is apache helicopters flying closely over their heads and firing rockets into gadhafi's troops as the rebels advance. they're not going to get that. instead, they would like longer-range weapons, sophisticated rocket launchers, artillery but no indications that the rebels have any idea how to use these weapons and it's relly anyone's guess whose hands the weapons might end up in they were transferred to this country. >> richard engel from benghazi,

thank you. here's mer death. chuck todd is the white house correspondent. good morning to you. >> reporter: good morning. the obama administration continued on two fronts, continuing to sell policy to the american people and participating and inching with the international community and figuring out some way to assist those rebels in the hopes that they will oust gadhafi. president obama, using the dedication of a new u.s. mission-building at the united nations to press the case for military intervention in libya. >> today, in libya, we are showing what's possible when we find our courage. when we fulfill our responsibilities. and when we come together as an international community to defend our common interests and our common values. >> reporter: the international community meeting in london for a second day is ratcheting up diplomatic pressure on libya. >> all of us have to continue the pressure on and deepen the

isolation of the gadhafi regime. >> the leads are couldn't agree whether to arm libyan rebels. in an interview with nb, president obama said it's still an open question. >> are you ruling out u.s. military hardware assistance? >> i'm not ruling it out but i'm also not ruling it in. we're still making an assessment, partly about what gadhafi's forces will be doing but we're not taking anything off the table at this point. our primary military goal is to protect civilian populations and to set up the no-fly zone. our primary strategic goal is for gadhafi to step down so the libyan people va opportunity to live a decent life. >> on capitol hill, house speaker john boehner while supportive so far said hoping gadhafi will leave is not a plan. >> i just don't think that that is a strategy and when you listen to all of what is going on and all of the words, it is nothing more than hope.

>> and senator john mccain says he wants a clearer mandate on the issue of regime change. >> if our strategy does not succeed in forcing gadhafi to leave power sooner rather than later, we run the risk of prolonged and bloody stalemate. >> the president said noose is tightening around the dictator. >> we've put gadhafi on his heels, he's been weakened, he does not have control over most libya at this point. >> reporter: later today, congressional lawmakers get a question to question the administration including gates of defense, clinton at state and mullen in a closed eclosed-doog on libya. >> chuck, thank you. republican congresswoman michelle bachmann has been critical of a u.s. involvement in libya calling it quote, president obama's war. good morning to you. >> good morning. >> i want to take you back to march 17, a thursday, the day that moammar gadhafi told the

people of libya and benghazi that his troops were on the way, they would show no mercy and find them in their closets. if you had been president of the united states on that day what would you have done, specifically? >> i don't think that at that point that we had seen the threat to the united states, either from gadhafi or seen a vital american national interest at risk , that needs to be our first line of defense. unfortunately there are atrocities that do happen in different countries in the world. we just saw this weekend slaughter in syria, so based on that criteria, of hue man carian intervention which is the new obama doctrine that is the -- entering into one country after another. i don't think that is the american interest to enter in one country after another. >> going back to my question, had you been president on that day, march 17 what would you have done? would you have done nothing? >> i would not have gone in. >> would you have called the

other leaders of nato countries and said we support you but we're not coming? >> well, i think that what presidents do is they stay involved and they try to get the very best intelligence they that can because i think one thing that the american people need know is that we did not know, nor did the intelligence community know, who the opposition is. if we're going in, because remember, there was just testimony yesterday that there are flickers of al qaeda. we don't know how much al qaeda is involved in the opposition forces, why would we want to strengthen al qaeda's hand in north africa? that certainly wouldn't be in the interests of the united states. >> let me flip that coin on its other side. if there are flickers, as you say, of al qaeda among the rebels, would it not be a sign to them or showing them that the united states has compassion and we're willing to use our military might to help all people? >> compassion for al qaeda? >> compassion for civilians in

benghazi. >> well, of course we have compassion for people. that is not the point. there is no more compassie paspe nation in the world, we offer hue mmanitarian aid but under t obama doctrine the president is using the united states military for the purpose of humanitarian aid. this is a marked difference from the way that the united states military has been used before. the obama doctrine is very, very different from any interventions that we've done in the past. >> let me ask you one more ye question, again, placing you in the united states, if you were the president of the united states, given what you know now what you make a decision to arm the rebels? >> i would not. because, again, we do not know enough about who they are and we also have not identified an american vital national interest, that must be done before the united states can

intervene in another nation's affairs. >> as i ask you a couple of questions what would do you if you are president, are you running? >> no, i haven't made a decision to run. i'm going into the early primaryiprimary i states and speaking to primary voters. i won't make that decision i don't think until some time this summer. >> congresswoman, thank you for your time. i appreciate it. >> good to see you, matt. and now let's get a check of the top stories from nbc's savannah guthrie at the news de desk. >> good morning. radiation is at its highest level yet in the seawater surrounding the quake-ravaged nuclear facility in japan. nbc's lee cowan has more from tokyo. good morning. >> reporter: good morning. those levels were more than 3,000 times the normal level but experts say that is not a threat to human safety but as you say, it's the highest level that's been read so far since the crisis started and engineers

still don't know where that leak is coming from. new aerial pictures of the stricken plant are offering some of the best glimpses yet of the extent of the damage. through a hole blasted in the roof by a hydrogen explosion experts say they can tell that crucial pipes are missing. and the experts believe it is damaged plumbing that is likely the source of leaking radioactive water a development that's kept workers from making any real progress in getting the crisis under control. radiation in nearby seawater had nearly doubled and they're worried more contaminated water may seep intoed ocean if they can't the source of the leak. so stressful is this situation, that it was announced today the president of the utility that owns that plant was takens to the hospital, suffering from hypertension and dizziness. the scope of the disaster is staggering. 30,000 people are either dead or missing. there is little that can be

salvaged. buts that man put it, questi"we dwell in the past or we won't move forward" and moving forward is what this elementary school is trying to do but holding its graduation. a piano pulled from the rubble offered some of the first muse thick battered landscape had heard in weeks as the tsunami's youngest survivors look to a future uncertain at best. now, back to those numbers for a bit, estimated that this disaster will cost well over $300 billion, still a conservative estimate. if that's the case, that's the costliest natural disaster on record. >> lee, thank you. zbll. >> several supreme court justices are expressing doubt over what could become the biggest job discrimination lawsuit ever. they're questioning whether a class action with up to 1.5 million female employees suing walmart is too big. a ruling on that case expected in early summer. a wisconsin judge has once

again blocked implement is of a hotly contested law that would limit collective bargaining rights of public unions. wisconsin republicans attemptsed to work around the judge's previous ruling, trying to put the law into effect by publishing it online but the judge declared that move invalid. nine patients have died, ten have been sickened in alabama hospitals after being infected with bacteria from contaminated intravenous solution, according to state health officials there. that outbreak is under investigation and the product has since been recalled. to wall street, cnbc, melissa, good morning. nikkei up, the highest level since the post quake selloff. two important pieces of jobs data ahead of the big jobs report that's coming on friday. and the bank bailout program ta t.a.r.p. trurning a profit, $7 billion repaid, bringing total repaid to $251 billion, 245 was

originally lent out so that profit comes from interest payments. i'll wait for my mailbox to have that for taxpayers. 40-year-old trainer dawn brancheau died after the whale pulled her under water by her pony tail. the video was shot just moments before that attack. the largest killer whale in captivity, this whale was involved in two earlier deaths but sea world says new safety precautions are in place. back to matt, meredith and maria. >> all right, thank you very much. maria is in for matt and she used a four-letter word this morning. >> what is that? >> snow. >> i have another one. rain in the southeast and more severe weatherossible. a tornado watch in the panhandle of southern alabama until 10:00 central time. two, three inches of rain not

out of the question. we could see floodi >> good morning to you. high pressure continues to build in. we also have low pressure to our north, and a few clouds are spilling in to the bay area. but hey, we're looking forward mostly sunny conditions. a little breezy today. our temperatures right now are in the 50s, but they will climb into the mid to upper 60s and 70s by noon. and take a look at what we're going to round out the day with. temperatures in the 80s in some cities. 84 the forecasted high in santa rosa. 80 in concord, warmer tomorrow. meredith, back to you. >> thank you. today the fda will reconsider a link between the artificial dyes found in foods and adhd in kids. tom costello has details. good morning, tom. >> reporter: hi, meredith. we are at whole foods because it doesn't have any products in which there are colors, dyes, additives, sweeteners.

the debate over whether the dyes may be linked to adhd is new but there are signs the fda may change its opinion. at the van family home in washington, d.c., the morning rush is on. for 11-year-old riley and 9-year-old jackson, breakfast is in the blender, bananas, strawberries and orange juice with a muffin. for lunch, pbj with organic jelly. three years ago when 8-year-old riley was showing signs of adhd, mom threw out every food containing artificial dyes and flavors. >> in two weeks i could tell a difference in my children in their handwriting, their focus, doing homework. >> reporter: jackie said this is an example of his homework before the new diet and several weeks after. now the fda is looking at blue 1 and 2, green 3, orange b, yellow 5 and 6, red 40 and red 3 found in everything from drinks to candy, baked goods, chips,

pickles and mac & cheese. many consumer advocates have said there is a link between the dyes and hyperer activity. >> something genetic is going on. but then along comes food dyes and they can trigger it in at least some kids. >> reporter: the fda has said there is no evidence of an adhd link but now say it is condition may be exacerbated by exposure to a number of substances in food, including but not limited to artificial food colors. the grocery manufacturers of america insist there is no dmemn strabl link. a dietitian says we all need more color in food but the natural kind. >> we should put half our plate with fruits and vegetables. 70% of americans don't meet their fruit and veggie needs. the best thing we can do is get real color whole foods on the

plate. >> reporter: going organic can be expensive but riley's mom is convinced it's worth it. >> he seems a little bit more focus, more calmed down. that's what made us believers. >> reporter: the fda begins two days of hearings to look at whether there is a link between adhd and the colors, whether there should be warning labels, whether they should ban the dyes or study it longer. back to you. >> thank you very much. it is now 7:19. once again, here's matt. >> thank you. now our conversation with prince harry. he may be in the arctic but the wedding is never far from his mind. ben fogle is on the trip with him. good morning to you. >> reporter: good morning, matt. well, prince harry spent his first day here getting to know his new teammates and his new environment. after a brief planning meeting the new teammates hit the snow, preparing for the freezing trek

to the north pole in their quest to raise millions of dollars for wounded soldiers. prince harry's no stranger to charity work, but this is a far cry from the heat of africa where he and prince william spent a great deal of time. how is he finding the temperatures? >> it will be minus 40 up there. spirits are high. morale is high and guys are very happy at the moment. >> reporter: despite the temperatures, the team seemed relaxed with the third in line to the throne, even sharing a laugh after a tough training session. i asked harry whether he's regretting the decision after his first day on the snow and ice. >> it's a treat to join them. there will be times when i will be regretting it and other times i won't. >> reporter: prince harry will be best man at prince william's wedding to kate middleton next month. so will he spend time on the ice writing his best man speech or

even thinking about the royal nuptials? >> i might give it some thought. i think pen to paper will be saved for back home. >> reporter: i asked private jacko van gast who lost his arm in afghanistan, how prince harry has settled in. >> he's looking comfortable. >> reporter: for the soldiers it's important that harry has been to the theater of war itself. >> we know what it's like in a confined environment. >> reporter: the team are heavily armed to protect themselves from polar bears. for the team it's what's below the ice that's a danger. one of the last preparations, testing their survival suits in the freezing ocean where exposure to result in serious trouble for an arctic team. >> there is always a chance the team won't have time to get into an immersion suit. if that happens they will go in like this and i volunteered to demonstrate just how cold it is.

it's minus 1 in there. i wish i hadn't volunteered to do this now. this is for you boys walking with the wounded. oh! okay. one, two, three. [ cheers ] >> reporter: that's pretty cold. whoa! that's cold. i can tell you that was absolutely freezing. below freezing, in fact, because of course this is sea water. let's hope when prince harry and the soldiers head out on the ice they don't fall in the water. there are no hot showers waiting where they're going. matt? >> our signal froze for a second. ben, that's absurd what you did. thank you for the report. we appreciate it.

>> is there altitude up there or something? what's the matter with him? crazy. >> coming up, we'll switch gears on a more serious note. an ivy league-bound honor student arrested for allegedly pulling a gun on her own motherer to force her to cosign a car loan. the latest on the case. first this is "today" on nbc. i love america,

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i wear what i love, because expression means everything. ♪ too hot to trot some say i'm one-of-a-kind. i say i'm so chico's. >> good morning to you. 7:26 now. i'm laura garcia-cannon. the governor is expected to announce the end of the state's drought emergency today. he'll make that announcement after the final sierra snow pack report of the season. even though the drought emergency is being lifted, the state says people need to continue to conserve water. in the meantime, a neighborhood is cut off this morning after a mudslide. the slide took out the only drivable road into a small neighborhood on croix road west of downtown in morgan hill. huge trees and mud of blocking the path. people can use a 4 mile long

fire trail on top of the ridge. let's check the forecast. >> good morning to you. we're looking toward a gorgeous day. temperatures well above average for today, we have a system of low pressure off to our north that's going to bring the clouds back like yesterday, filtered sunshine at times. this system to the north t two create breezy conditions so that breeze will feel nice later on when our temperatures climb into the 80s. right now we're in the 50s by noon talking about the mid-60s in the south bay. and the upper 70s in the north bay, it's going to be really warm. temperatures maxing out at 84 degrees in santa rosa, 76 in oakland and 80 degrees in livermore. warmer tomorrow if you can believe it. 82 degrees and then a little cooler for friday. let's check your drive. mike's been busy. something in the south bay. >> yes. they reopened the on ramp from el camino. the stalled rig has been moved and also got free of that dirt. slowing in the northbound directions pretty typical.

actually lighter than we might expect for a wednesday. slow through livermore. an accident at north livermore avenue involving a motorcycle. that will slow things as you come through the slowest part. pretty light as well as the bay bridge toll plaza. even though it looks bad for normal citizens it's not bad for the bay bridge. >> sitting here i feel bad for those people. another local update in half an hour. ♪ [ male announcer ] when sean was looking at mba programs, he wanted a curriculum designed to meet market needs, with faculty who brought real-world perspective on where the business world was headed and the practical experience to help him make an impact. my name is sean blankenship,

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♪ 7:30 on this wednesday morning, march 30, 2011. you are looking at a view of the new york skyline from the top of the rock. down below we have a terrific crowd spending their morning with us in rockefeller plaza. chilly outside. meanwhile inside studio 1a i'm meredith vieira alongside matt lauer. just ahead in this half hour, what does actor george clooney have to do with the sex and corruption trial of italian prime minister silvio berlusconi? straight ahead, why his name is included as a potential witness for the defense.

and ahead, dating is nothing new on college campuses but there is a controversial website at some schools making it easier for students to hook up for casual sex. a lot of people think this is not a good idea, saying it's just not safe. we'll have details on that. >> plus, the twin toddlers who appear to be carrying on a conversation. we may not understand them, but do they understand each other? we're going to talk about that. we're going to begin in florida where an honors student is accused of using a stolen gun to pistol whip and threaten her mother in order to get a car. kerry sanders is in ft. myers, florida, with details. good morning. bizarre story. >> reporter: yeah, good morning, meredith. the 17-year-old is being held here at juvenile detention. we can't talk to her to get her version of the story but deputies say she was so desperate to buy a used car she grabbed a gun and turned it on her own mother.

17-year-old rachel was an honor student at the private and prestigious canterbury school in ft. myers, florida. but monday, deputies say she so wanted a black nissan convertible on the lot at this dealership she pistol-whipped her mother. according to the police report she then pointed it at her mother's head and stomach to force her mother to cosign the loan for the car. sean banigan was the car salesman. >> what was she like? >> i think she was an educated young lady that came in, did her research. she seemed older than she really was. >> reporter: did she seem anxious? >> no, not at all. >> reporter: sean said rachel first came to the lot by herself. when she found out she was too young to buy the car alone she returned with her mother on board to cosign for the car. when you hear what you now hear can you connect any dots looking back? >> not at all. looked like a normal car deal.

>> reporter: rachel, seen in this picture taken from her facebook page, is an athlete who's won model u.n. competitions. her mother told detectives she was reluctant to press charges because her daughter is an honor student who has been accepted to several ivy league colleges on scholarships. the gun was a sig sauer similar to this one. the weapon was stolen eight months ago. who owned it? a police officer at the southwest regional airport. >> raising questions as to what people she's hanging out with, how did this gun get in her possession and why did she threaten to kill her mother? >> reporter: 17-year-old rachel is now charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill. deputies say when they recovered the weapon from her purse they also found some illegal drugs,

and we reached out to her attorney. he said he had no comment. meredith, her mother said she didn't want to comment either. >> kerry sanders, thank you very much. it's 7:33. here's matt. >> thank you. oscar-winning actor george clooney could be called to testify at the upcoming sex and corruption trial of italian prime minister silvio berlusconi. nbc's michelle kosinski is in milan with details on that. good morning to you. >> reporter: hi, matt. the case is so sordid it's almost embarrassing to explain in detail. this is the prime minister of italy we're talking about. he will stand trial april 6 and his lawyer says among the dozens of witnesses they'll call for his defense, george clooney and his girlfriend. for a while there it seemed to be all women and more young women embroiled in the r-rated case starring the italian prime minister who, at 74 years old,

is accused of throwing wild soirees he supposedly called bunga-bunga parties, described by police as orgies including a girl who was at most 17 years old. and accused of trying to cover it up. pictures merged suppose lid showing the parties. he supposedly had one his one-time dental hiygienisthygie recruited girls. now apparently it's time for the male heartthrobs to be dragged into the italian soap opera which you almost wouldn't believe if it were scripted. george clooney whose characters we are used to seeing find their way out of creepy situations is reportedly on the list of witnesses for the defense. as is his girlfriend who used to be one of the dancers on italian tv. another potential witness,

portuguese soccer superstar cristiano renaldo. why would they be subjected to this endless tragicomedy? it all goes back to ruby. she told investigators that cloony and his girlfriend attended one of the dinners. he has a house on lake como, not far from the prime minister's now-notorious home and in a statement, said of being on the witness list, it seems odd since i have only met berlusconi once and that was in an attempt to get aid into darfur. >> someone of george clooney's stature, fame, looks, comes in and says she's lying, berlusconi is hoping that will have great sway. >> reporter: berlusconi, who currently is on trial in a separate corruption case, denying wrongdo iing, calling it a political plot against him. stay tuned while the plot thickens and could get messier. the thing is even if a judge

does approve them to be called as legitimate witnesses to the case it's not as if anyone is going to force them to come here and testify. matt? >> michelle kosinski in italy for us this morning. thank you very much. let us get the latest forecast now. the weather channel's maria la rosa in for al. >> you mentioned earlier that we have to talk about snow. let's look at what's potentially an april fool's storm. tomorrow morning starting at -- tomorrow evening starting at 8:00 p.m. we have a wave bringing snow to the interior. the second wave has the wind and rain along the coast. potentially moderate to heavy snowfall, >> good morning to you. well, the seven-day forecast really tells our story. we are going to be warm today. 76 degrees, even warmer tomorrow. 82 degrees. some bay area cities topping out tomorrow near 90 degrees.

in fact, i'm forecasting 90 for santa rosa, as we head through your thursday. 80 by friday. then we drop off in time for the weekend. lots of sunshine into next week. matt, meredith, savannah, back to you. >> thank you very much. ever wonder what babies are trying to say? there is a viral video that shows 17-month-old twin boys from brooklyn chatting up a storm. take a look. [ babies babbling ]

>> i don't know what they are saying but the one on the right reminds me of you. >> oh, no, no. >> that reminds me of you two talking during commercials. >> they are saying how do they get to one of the parties. >> my take is kids mimic each other and one finds it funny and makes the same noises or as close as he can. >> i think they are talking to one another. i do. >> i think they are talking about the budget resolution. it can get heated. >> one says no, the other says yes. >> you think this is a form of language? >> yeah. have you listened to yourself? you point at me. have you listened to wrours? -- yourself? >> i have one who was a toddler not that long ago. i think he was just making noise. >> i think they're saying let's switch the channel. >> up next, what does virtual reality have to do with retirement, how the future you can help save you mone t after this

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♪ ♪ stay inside? nah. not when you have a five-star overall vehicle score for safety. one more reason chevy traverse delivers more. this morning on "today's money" can virtual reality help you save? according to new research, 51% of households are at risk of being unable to maintain their standard of living in retirement. the wall street journal took a look at new and different ways to save. jean chatzky is here to help explain. good morning to you.

>> good morning. >> all the efforts by employers and policy makers to get us to save money in voluntary savings plans and yet we don't do it. there are serious repercussions when we don't. >> absolutely. the average shortfall is expected to be $120,000 per household. the problem is it's hard for somebody in their 20s, 30s, 40s to think about the future. >> now there is a new field popping up called behavioral finance where psychological tricks are used to get people to save and it works. >> this is things like visualization. we know if you have a picture of something to save for it helps inspire you to do it. just like the picture of the girl in the bikini inspires you to stop eating. >> now they use pictures of us. they age us. i believe it was stanford university where they bring in a 21-year-old and he or she can see what they look like at 60.

the idea being, that's you, save for that person. >> when you see yourself in the 60, 65-year-old state and you're more frail than you are now, you start to empathize with that person and worry about that person and that inspires you to put away more money. >> i can see when you first see the image going, okay, i'm going to save, but do they keep it up? >> we don't know at this point. >> it's so new. >> the jury is out. the hope is in that moment you will make a good decision. you will decide to contribute more auto t t matcally to your retirement account or savings plans or sign up for automatic escalation where every year automatically the amount going into your 401 k goes up a percentage or two. >> what else besides automatic escalation that you can do now? >> you can set a retirement date. it helps to know when you're going to retire because then you have something to reach for.

you can also watch your savings. when you have a savings plan, if you can get yourself to go there every couple of weeks and watch the money add up, it does help you. >> all psychological. >> all psychological tricks. you know what you're doing. you are playing mind games with yourself, getting yourself to buy into this and make good decisions now to help yourself laterer. >> do you think you will go to the financial planner at some point and they will show you this? >> there is a large financial institution reported in the wall street journal looking at how to make this technology cheaper to make it available not only to plannerers but to employers so they can put a picture of you older on your benefits page to encourage you to do the right thing. >> i don't need any pictures older at this point. thank you very much. i get it. up next, the growing cult following new york's newest icon, the missing cobra at the bronx zoo.

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>> reporter: good morning, matt. it's day six, believe it or not, of the cobra hunt. while they can grow to be eight feet long, this one is just 20 inches. it would probably be balled up about half the size of my fist. perhaps why it's tough to find. from morning tv to late night the snake story is now growing feet. >> the bronx zoo is holding a cobra hunt. so bring the kids! >> you would have to really love the zoo to go when a cobra is on the loose. >> reporter: when it comes to the fanged fugitive the late night comics have weighed in. >> just like everyone else he's enjoying his time free in the city. >> reporter: perhaps no one has better material than the egyptian cobra herself. while zookeepers insist the potentially deadly snake is hiding in the reptile house

warning it could be days or weeks before she's found, twitter users know exactly where to find her. someone calling herself bronx zoo cobra, a mystery has attracted tens of thousands of followers overnight tweeting every move out on the town. i should take in a broadway show, she tweeted. anyone heard anything about the spider-man musical? i want to thank the animals from the movie "madagascar." they were an inspiration. and taking the "sex and the city" tour. i'm totally a samantha. >> do you see us, manhattan? we have it all! >> reporter: turns out she watches "today," too. the one thing americans fear most are snakes. just after our story tweeting me, don't turn around, i'm right behind you. just kidding. laugh out loud. the slit ehering tale is still

evolving. the snake is a real charmer. one woman tweeted back to the snake saying while you're out on the town stop by my ex-boyfriend's apartment. >> all right. thank you very much. jeff corwin is nbc's science and environmental expert. nice to see you. taking the punch lines out of this, how dangerous is the snake if someone comes upon it? >> make no mistake, this is a very venomous snake. it belongs to one of the most poisonous groups on the planet and she packs a punch. that's the bad news, but it really only uses its venom as a last defense. >> it won't botherer you if you don't bother it. >> exactly. this animal wants nothing to do with people. right now it's focused on quiet, warmth and safety. it can live for a long time without food or water. >> they are trying to find it and one of the ways it shall my mind is reeling here. i'm picturing someone tying a

string to the tail of a mouse here. no, i hear they may try to lure the snake out. is that possible? >> i don't think they are releasing mice in there. they have probably set up a pit trap. basically the animal will try to find food through the sense of smell and maybe tickling its way with the tongue along the boa borders of the enclosure. if they have a mouse there in theory they could catch it. it's very small, eating things like small mice, frogs and lizards. >> would it survive in the cold? >> it would not. it would go quickly from this incredible attention-grabbing cobra to a snakecicle overnight. >> we are hearing from peter alexander they are not releasing -- not using mice to lure it, apparently. >> i think i found that snake, matt. it's right there.

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>> good morning. it's 7:56. i'm scott mcgrew. right now a land slide is threatening homes in south san jose. the owner of the home on almaden road says she's going to stay in a hotel while workers continue to determine if they will be able to shore up the hillside. neighbors are concerned the landslide could also prompt gas line problems, but pg&e and the fire department have both checked out the area. they said so far no threat of a gas leak. meantime, in san francisco, several people were forced from their homes after an overnight fire at a three-story apartment building on 19th avenue near lawton. someone left a pot on the stove in a unit on the first floor that caused the fire. one person taken to the hospital with smoke inhalation. two others had minor injuries. let's check out the weather.

it continues to be glorious. >> let's get to the good news. good morning to you. low pressure sits off to our north that's driving in cloud cover but we're looking toward mostly sunny and breezy conditions. our temps in the 50s, we're going to end up in the mid-60s, even the upper 70s by noon. 78 degrees in napa, 77 in fairfield. rounding out the day around 81 degrees. in places like los gatos and gilroy. it gets warmer as we head through tomorrow. mild over the weekend and next week. the sunshine continues. let's see if we're doing as well in the traffic department now. mike inouye. >> we are. very pleasant drive. a lighter volume. it's a wednesday but we're seeing slowing building up through hayward and union city so 880 past 92 to newark slow. also san mateo slow but nothing out of the ordinary. a little lighter for that san mateo commute. toward the bay bridge a smooth flow, easy down the east shore freeway. in the 30s.

and a steamy look at oakland. 880 up in the area, look at that. haze in the air but we'll take that over what we had. >> it's been extraordinary. we've been able to dry out and get rid of some of the mudslides. we have more local news in a half hour. the today show returns in less than a minute.

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8:00 now on a wednesday morning, the 30th day of march 2011. man, it's beautiful here in the northeast. blue skies, but chilly temperatures. only 37 degrees. you know what? maria la rosa says we could be in for spring snow in the next 24 to 48 hours. we'll find out more about that in a couple of minutes. out on the plaza, i'm matt lauer along with meredith vieira saying hi to the nice people up here. meanwhile, coming up in this half hour there is a new website at the university of chicago. someone posted this website or

created it. it mes it easier for students there to get together for casual sexual encounters. >> hmm. >> that obviously is not pleasing some people. we'll find out more about that. apparently the website is spreading to other colleges as well. >> i'm not surprised. plus, russell brand having a busy spring. two movies about to open, "hop" and the remake of "arthur." always enjoy having him here. >> he's a fun guy. also, the tension is so thick you can cut it with a knife. the two finalists from "top chef all-stars" are in the kitchen and we'll give them a cooking challenge before the big finale. >> let's take a look at the latest headlines with savannah guthrie in for ann at the news desk. >> good morning. in the news, libyan rebels said they were preparing to retreat from the key oil port as forces loyal to moammar gadhafi closed

in. they have slowed the rebel advance made possible by u.s. air strikes. radiation readings on sea water near the damaged nuclear plant in japan have reached the highest level yet. officials say the radiation doesn't pose an immediate threat to human health but fishing has been banned. engineers are struggling to find the source of the leaking radiation in the plant. a hostage siege in iraq was the worst attack in months. gunmen from al qaeda in iraq seized a government office building and executed workers and politicians. iraqi forces were so overwhelmed they called in american troops for support. in washington, democrats signalled tuesday they may go along with republican demands for curbs on the environmental protection agency as part of an overall deal on spending cuts. the latest short-term spending bill expires april 8.

house majority leader eric cantor said there will be no more stop-gap measures without the larger budget agreement with cuts republicans are seeking. three people were killed tuesday afternoon when a plane crashed into a city park in michigan. no one was on the ground was injured when the single-engine plane went down there. finally, tell it to the judge. judge scalia was slapped with a $90 traffic fine on tuesday. he was following too closely, police say, and he rear-ended a car stopped in traffic causing a four-car fender-bender. no one was injured but the bmw had to be towed. now back to matt and meredith. he did make toyota court on time. >> things happen. we're happy everyone's okay. thank you very much. >> maria is here to tell us about the weather. she's dressed like spring though it feels like winter. >> i'm willing it to spring. we have proper attire here but i

didn't know tiaras were required dress. tell me what you're dressed up for. >> we are putting on a prom dress drive in the city. we are donating dresses to girls who can't afford them. >> it is almost prom season. our pick city this morning is-clais o eau claire, wisconsin. storms could be severe across the panhandle of florida. tornadoes possible and flooding rains in western washington. across the rest of the country, sunshine hanging out in the northeast and the so good morning to you. now that the sun is up, our temperatures are already climbing. 57 degrees now in nevada. we are on our way to a very warm afternoon, especially considering our lows and our highs are typically much cooler than this this time of year. 66 in oakland at noon, 77 in

sant dwra rosa. 81 in los galos. and even warmer into your thursday. k to you. >> thank you very much. up next, a controversial new website that makes it easy for college students to hook up for casual sex, right after this. when you've lost interest in everything. when you've had one too many days feeling sad or anxious... aches and pains, fatigue. when it becomes hard to ignore that you need help. that's the day you do something. depression hurts. cymbalta can help with many symptoms of depression. tell your doctor right away if your depression worsens, you have unusual changes in behavior or thoughts of suicide. antidepressants can increase these in children, teens, and young adults. cymbalta is not approved for children under 18. people taking maois or thioridazine or with uncontrolled glaucoma should not take cymbalta. taking it with nsaid pain relievers, aspirin, or blood thinners may increase bleeding risk.

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new mccafé shakes. the simple joy of love at first sight. back now with the latest entry into the world of online dating raising eyebrows especially among parents of college students. nbc's kevin tibbles has more on the controversy surrounding eduhookups.com. >> reporter: the hallowed ground of the university of chicago, renowned for higher learning and nobel prize winners but also stuck with a stodgy moniker. >> where fun goes to die. >> reporter: until now perhaps. eduhooku is a website started by students and not affiliated with thele school. undergrads can go there to find relationships of the casual sex variety. >> you hear it's one of the

nerdiest universities in the world. people probably don't have much of a sex life. so they create a website. >> we're not known for intermingling with other people which may be part of the problem. >> my parents asked me about it. their worried. >> reporter: the website boasts chastity is curable if detected early and has more than 800 members. >> if you're missing out on getting to know someone, finding out if you're a good match. what you get is sex. if that's what you're after, it's great for that. >> reporter: eduhookups declined an interview but one said the website is run from a dorm room on campus. he just doesn't want the school to know who he is. eduhookups did say there are obviously dangers involved as there are with any social network type of site. we provide members safe sex kits and instructions about how to meet people safely and in

public. >> must be nice for some people, especially here. >> reporter: like other popular social sites eduhookups is expanding. students can log on at northwestern university and chicago's columbia college. it's rolling out soon on five other campuses. >> i think people are getting lonely and desperate. >> reporter: none of the colleges will comment on the site which is only open to those with e-mail addresses from each school. for leno, it's, well, a head scratcher. >> we already have a place where college places can meet up for sex. it's called college. >> reporter: these days it's an online course. for "today," kevin tibbles, nbc news, chicago. >> robby ludwig is a psychiatrist. chastity is curable if detected early. it's eye catching, light hearted. serious consequences? >> well, we don't know the short-term or long-term effects of a site like this.

it concerns me. it's not that hard to lose your virginity. it's not that hard to have sex. i don't think we need a site like this to help college kids have sex with each other. >> jeff? >> whatever happened to having a relationship first before jumping into sex? whatever happened to having a loving relationship? i think when you go to college it's about not just learning academics but the social skills and not taking the quick and easy ways to jump into bed. >> this isn't for everybody at the colleges. this is a group of people looking for these hookups. >> here's the problem. when kids are in college, their identities are still forming. they don't necessarily know what they want. they may go here thinking they want casual sex and they want something more. >> they can go online and there are dozens of sites. we have done stories the past -- >> that's right. >> you can go to craigslist. don't get me wrong, but if you

are looking for casual sex there are lots of places to find it online. that was russell brand yelling off stage. >> come join us. >> it is a head scratcher. i don't think it's an ashlymadison.com which promotes adultery. i'm not crazy about the site for my kids but it's the next step of the evolution of where we are. >> i talked to a young female staff member, i believe in her early 20s, do you know how she described it? a little sad. i thought that was pretty healthy. >> it is sad to think one would find this fulfilling and kids might go into the site for all different kinds of reasons. in some cases it might be to be impulsive which could have negative consequences. >> they may also use the site and we have seen it fore, just to get to know other people. they may not log on just for the sex, but do it just to, you

know, see if they can find a relationship or whatever is missing in their lives. >> i may be wrong but my feeling is that will get a lot of attention and people will find out it's not fun and they miss getting to know someone. >> exactly. >> let's hope so. >> all right. thank you very much. >> thank you, russell. >> yeah, for the little contribution. up next, actor russell brand on his two new movies. we'll catch up with him after is [ female announcer ] treat yourself to something special for lunch at red lobster.

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you gotta try honey bunches of oats with almonds! it's got real, sliced california almonds with a third less sugar per serving than honey nut cheerios. wow! delicious! try honey bunches of oats with almonds! back now with british actor and comedian russell brand. he made his first slash in the u.s. with his role in "forgetting sarah marshall." now he has two new movies coming out. first is "hop" blending animation with live action. russell voices e.b., the next rabbit in line for the easter bunny. then he takes on the title role in the remake of at arthur" playing the billionaire who refuses to grow up. good morning to you. >> good morning. >> two films in a row. when you think that just a few years ago nobody in the states knew you. >> no. it's extraordinary. >> what happened? >> i have had a series of good

opportunities and i have behaved well, learned how to shave and brush my hair. >> now you are a doll literally. this is your character, e.b. from "hop". >> this is an icon representing me in a way but i only do the voice. if the movie is in spanish-speaking countries it won't be me. they will get a latin person and then it will be them. i'm going to learn every language of the earth. >> did you have a say in this doll? >> no say in it. otherwise there would have been distinctions in this region. >> stop it. this is for children, for pete's sake. tell us about "hop." >> i play a cheeky easterer bunny. >> e.b. >> if you are like the easter bunny's son you are obliged to become the easter bunny. >> and you don't want it. you want to be a drummer. >> precisely correct, meredith. your understanding of the

plot -- i ink you should be some sort of critic or analyst. that's exaly what happens. >> i love that your costar james marsden. he thinks he'll give it a go when you're reluctant to be the easter bunny. let's take a look at a clip. there, there, there. >> a human easter bunny? that doesn't make sense. a bunny doesn't make sense. you deliver eggs. want to get logical? you should be an easter chicken. >> you don't want the job. the pressure is ungodly. it did a number on me. there was a period of roughly nine months where the sight of a colored egg made me want to vomit and rabbits aren't able to vomit. it was hours of -- [ retching ] -- with nothing coming out. >> could you give us more? >> retching sounds? it seems ungainly. it's early morning.

>> you were in "despicable me." >> yes. i did voice work in there. a lot of the time you're isolated in a booth. >> you like that? >> no. it's lonely. there i am in the booth. you have to amuse yourself. in that scene like the rabbit i'm wearing no trousers or undeants. >> you keep going back to the same theme. >> why is that when i see you? i saw a suspicious item in your dressing room. >> oh? >> it's leather but it's just a key chain. i left it in meredith's dressing room. it's just a key chain but meredith went, what is this? >> it seemed like an s & m thing. really. >> it's interesting that that's where your mind went when it's an innocent key chain. >> speaking of innocent, the other movie you're in "hop" and

of course at or temperatu"arthu" your a hare in "hop" and an heir in "arthur". >> brilliant. >> you're a sweet guy but a drunk. >> yes. i was a huge fan of dudley moore. i loved "arthur" and the idea of pretending to be a billionaire. there is a lot of wish fulfillment. i had to kiss jennifer garner. >> and helen mirren is here as well playing the butler. >> he won an oscar. >> we have a clip of you together. >> i have a rapport with women. >> yes, you do. let's take a look at the clip. i'm nervous now. >> at 3:00 you're asking bert johnson for his daughter's hand in marriage. >> i will not. i will remain here and box.

then i shall have my music lesson with kanye west as planned. >> out, now. >> make me. >> after you're married you have to stop this obsession with random women, you know. >> she's not a random woman. she understands me. she laughs at my jokes like you but with a more appropriate potential for sex. >> you deserved that. >> meredith! >> what was it like working with her? she's great. >> an angelic woman with awe thor ti and sensitivity. she's lovely, kind. she's a real generous, sweet person and also sexy. >> very sexy. people who know the plot know arthur was an alcoholic. >> yes. >> they really don't -- it's really not addressed in the original but it is in this one. you go to a.a. and meetings. in some ways it parallels your personal life. you have talked a lot about your addiction.

>> it does actually. that's why i'm happy with the part. in 1981 alcoholism wasn't regarded with the same severity as it is these days. the film is about arthur whose life is changed by falling in love. i know the potential of that. when i fell in love i changed from being a rascal to this gentleman. >> how is katy perry? >> she's gorgeous! >> i know that. how has she changed you? >> before i met her i was sky larking around. this didn't used to be a key chain then. >> i'm covering the bunny's ears. is marriage -- >> i'm enjoying it. it's like having a good friend -- if you talk about something on wednesday, on thursday it's the same person you're telling, not a new person who doesn't know about wednesday. >> what are the challenges? >> the challenges are if you're married to someone you have to do what they ask you to all the time. women change the rules every

day. you have to just apologize a lot. oh, i'm sorry. i was wrong. so i'm apologizing for things i don't know i'm apologizing for. >> you're officially a husband. >> it's tricky, but i love it. >> it's so good to have you here. are you going to do a duet? >> i'm only pretending to be a singer. i can't take myself seriously in that light. i prefer playing lovable comedy drunkle billionaire or so easter bunnies. that's my area of expertise. i want you to keep this. >> should i clean it? >> don't clean it. it will lose its allure. >> thank i don't. i will carry it with pride. >> don't look disgusted. >> i'm not. "hop" opens friday. we're back after your local news.

. mmm. ahh. yeah. bacon. come celebrate baconalia! ly at denny's. america's diner is always open. good morning to you. great news. another warm day. 5 to 10 degrees warmer this afternoon than where we ended up yesterday. in the 50s in oakland, hayward. nova i novato, 57 degrees. temperatures will climb to the mid to upper 60s and upper 70s by noon. take a look at our daytime highs for today. 81 in gilroy. 81 in santa rosa. believe it or not, we'll warm up even more so for your thursday.

that will be the warmest day of the week. let's check your drive with mike inouye. heading toward the bay bridge toll plaza, let me show you first 880 bottom of your screen. accident reported northbound side at oak, just clearing off the freeway, causing a backup up into downtown oakland and the bay bridge toll plaza. these folks held up here. no major issues off the east shore freeway. >> much better on the morning commute there. we'll have another local news updateabn out half an hour. the "today" show returns in less than a minute. t

8:30 on wednesday morning, the 30th of march 2011. say hello to the fine folks who packed into rockefeller plaza. it's not a bad place to start your day. outside on the plaza i'm meredith vieira along with matt lauer and savannah guthrie. nice to see you.

just ahead, when to invest in a warrantee. >> as you go to buy an appliance, the salesman always asked if you would like the extended warrantee. also, when you should try to fix an appliance yourself or when you have to call a pro. >> i never know about warrantees actually. also we'll visit a high school in florida where kids are producing and directing at their very own motion picture studio. you might recognize one of the teachers from "welcome back, kotter." >> and a winner will be crowned in the "top chef all stars" finale. one of my favorite shows. i went up to meet richard blais and mike isabella. the challenge is spring vegetable lasagna. >> can we say hello to the w

girls trying to get people to donate prom dresses for those who need them? they have been freezing their tiaras off all morning. let's get a check -- >> he said to me, never go with the warrantee. i go with their odds. >> come do the segment with us. maria is in for al with a check of the weather. >> good morning, guys. a lot of spring breakers here and a lovely daughter. where's mom? >> laingsburg. >> she loves you a lot. i love that. let's get a check on the weatherer. it's chilly. highs in the 40s in michigan. we have stormy weather across northern florida and wet and flooding rains possible in western washington, sunny california for today and tomorrow. tomorrow, watching the east coast with the storm system working its way up with rain and interior snow across the northeast. watching that one closely.

get your local forecast 24/7 at weather.com. meredith? >> maria, thank you very much. when it comes to household appliances, is it worth paying for an extended warrantee? first this is "today" on nbc. hey marcel, watch this!

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in the network there are no hard choices. we're back at 8:35. this morning on "today's

consumer" what should you do when your warrantee expires? it can be tempting to spend extra on an extended warrantee but when is it worth it? lou manferini is here from house smarts. you go to the store, buy the washer and dryer and the guy or lady says, for an extra $100 would you like an extended warrantee. is it a good idea? >> my advice is no. >> why? >> i think the expectation for appliances whether it's a washer, dryer, refrigerator or electronics is these things will run problem-free for at least five years. the way the warrantees work is most of them, it's a four-year additional. so it gets you to the five years. their expectation is the same. >> so it's money in their pocket. they play the odds. >> it's a numbers game. there are easy ways to extend the warrantee on an appliance or purchase without buying the extended warrantee. >> right. what happens a lot of times is

if you buy an appliance and don't get the extended warrantee usually at the end of the year if you have registered a product an e-mail will appear asking if you would like to buy the extended warrantee. in that case maybe you have said, oh, the dishwasher hasn't been working correctly. if you have no signs of things going wrong, save your money. >> all right. let's talk about do it yourself projects. you love these. >> right. >> let's talk about major appliances and common complaints. you have a dishwasher not getting dishes as clean as it used to. can you fix it yourself? >> yes. for about $40. 90% of the time, the reason this isn't working is there is a fill valve where water goes into the base. down at the bottom there is a kick plate. you will see the water line that goes into it. there is a brass fitting. that little valve is not opening properly and not allowing enough water in. buy that part for $40. you unscrew a couple of screws,

put it back in. here's the thing, matt. something like that, if you are willing to try it for $40 and if you fail, you didn't cause more damage. >> that's the rule of thumb. you say the decision of whether to try it yourself or cause a pro, can you hurt yourself or cause more damage. >> if you're careful, shut off the power, watch the water. oh, honey, i tried and i couldn't do it, call somebody back. >> your clothes washing machine. common complaint, it smells. >> front loaders, 90% of what's being sold because they are more efficient, use less water, spin faster. but in the old days with the top loaders we could leave the door open on top. now we keep them closed because it looks nicer. there are nooks and crannies that hold the water. that's where the musty smell. simple fix, keep the door open. occasionally wash the rubber

gasket around the opening with bleach, water and a scrub brush. >> dryer stopped spinning. i know it's a belt. but it sounds like something more than i'm going to handle. >> it's pretty easy. the top lifts off. the instructions come with the dryerer and there are online resources. you can buy a belt for $20 and you just slip it on. it's like putting a chain on a bicycle. >> by the way, if you need parts for appliances, what information -- you get these online, right? >> there are plenty of appliance stores in metropolitan areas. >> you need make, model and serial number. >> that's your road map to success. >> your fridge isn'tle cold anymore. can i fix it? >> yeah. it's dirty. it's the hardest working aplieps in the house. at the base underneath are coils that are constantly sucking up dust. if you take a little brush and a vacuum cleaner hose and clean it

wun once a year you will be amazed at how cold everything is. >> and the vacuum stops working. >> right. >> is that something the average person can mix? >> last year there was a cash for clunkers program with vacuums. a lot of manufacturers wanted to buy new ones. there are internal filters behind the bag that get clogged. those folks cleaned them out, sold them as reconditioned. you clean out the filter behind the bag or behind the self-contained unit and it will suck like the day you bought it. [ laughter ] >> that's a positive, i think. trust me on this. >> is your show still on the air? >> maybe today's the last day. >> thanks so much. up next, what "welcome back kotter"'s horseshack is doing now. first this is "today" on nbc.

♪ back at 8:42. this morning on "education nation today" a ground-breaking public high school in florida not only offers excellent academics, it is the only one in the world with a working motion picture studio on campus. "today" national correspondent jamie gangel has a look behind the scenes. good morning. >> reporter: good morning, meredith. wait until you see this place. every kid will want to go to school here. it's a charter high school in west palm beach, florida. you have never seen anything quite like it before. >> roll camera. >> three, two, one. action. >> reporter: what if this were your high school. in between history, science and math -- >> open to page 732. >> reporter: -- you were making commercials, movies or working with rock stars.

to the thousand kids at this high school in west palm beach it happens every day. >> quiet, please! >> move the yellow one. you have to get out, you know. you can be smooth, adjust the collar. >> reporter: it's the largest acting, film and production school in the country. >> we have set construction. we can blow up stunt cars, we would them together and blow them up again. >> reporter: all inspired by the unlikely founder, greg hopner. did you like high school? >> i loved it. >> reporter: hair dresser turned movie producer turned businessman who saw an opportunity. >> someone said you should start a charter school. i said, what's a charter school? i guess i can do this. i have nothing else to do. so i filled out the paperwork and darn if they didn't give it to me. >> reporter: with a lot of passion but no experience in education, a decade ago he started building g-star with state of the art facilities.

>> it's not only the newest sound stage in the world but the most technologically advanced stage in the world. you can to full burns in here, shoot any underwater scene in the world here. >> reporter: how much did it cost to build? >> $5 million. >> reporter: where did the money come from? >> the school district. it's the same money we get for being a charter school. by watching our pennies, nickels and dimes we put enough money away to have it built. >> reporter: then he pitched hollywood. the deal? production companies could use the school's studios for free the if they used the students as interns. the result? real world, hands-on experience. >> i got to direct a commercial today. >> i love to film, edit. the school gave me what i wanted to do. >> reporter: why is that good to be doing in high school? >> because there is no real

practice you can get with this anywhere else. i'm so lucky to be here. >> reporter: the students have worked on more than 50 motion pictures along with dozens of commercials, videos and productions like this one by digital domain, the eight-time academy award winning visual effects company known for movies like "titanic" and "tron". commercial director anika killen said it is a valuable partnership and gives students a competitive edge. >> i was very impressed by the students. >> reporter: would you hire any of the kids? >> absolutely i would. >> reporter: perhaps most remarkable is what's going on beyond the lights, camera, action. >> number seven. >> reporter: at a time when so many schools are failing, this is an a-rated school. 99% of its students graduate. 97% go on to college. and there is a unique

atmosphere. >> everyone gets along. there is no fighting, no drama or anything like that. everyone comes here happy and wanting to learnme. >> everyone here is very loving. >> reporter: one teacher you may recognize, ron paelilo who teaches acting. most of us know you from another classroom. >> out of the frying pan, into the fire. >> reporter: once better known for his own classroom antics as arnold horseshack in "welcome back, kotter." >> ooh, me! >> reporter: he credits the school with giving students a critical ingredient most schools have cut. >> you need science, math, reading, of course. but without the creative spark you're got nothing but drones. you have semi intelligent drones

walking around. >> reporter: students say it teaches them responsibility and cooperation. >> you really have to depend on other people. >> i learned to be more professional. how to work as a group instead of an individual. teachers treat us like adults like we are going to do what we aspire to do. >> reporter: high expectations? >> yes. >> beyond high. >> reporter: when you walk around now, what do you think? >> i amaze myself. completely. i look at this and go, where did this come from? i have no idea. >> reporter: i'm going to want to go to school there. for the record the students don't have to audition or be straight-a students. it's first come, first served. the only requirement is they have to want to be there and they have to follow the rules. it is an extraordinary place. >> as you said, who wouldn't want to be there? jamie gangel, thank you very much. really wonderful story. up next, a cookoff between the

finalists from "top all-stars."

♪ have a good daisy ♪ eat well, live long ♪ have a good daisy, work out, get strong ♪ ♪ when you need a lift, just sing a song ♪ ♪ and have a good daisy ♪ have a good daisy with a natural treat ♪ ♪ have a good daisy, healthy foods to eat ♪ ♪ when you want some joy, dance to the beat ♪ ♪ and have a good daisy [ female announcer ] enjoy the fresh, 100% natural choice in cottage cheese. ♪ have a good daisy ♪ have a good daisy ♪ it's if the final countdown >> this morning in today's kitchen, back to basics. the finalists from "top chef all-stars." two left standing for tonight's finale. >> i know what i'm capable of. when i win it's something that no one expected and it's more

gratifying. >> everyone's expecting me to blow it. that probably will happen. >> probably going to get nervous and choke at the end. >> people think i'm the favorite, no way. i don't want the pressure. i choked once before. i'll say it. i feel like i choked a little bit. let me be the underdog. it's better that way. >> you can't both be the underdog. mike isabella and richard blais are with us. who's the underdog? >> i am. >> yeah? >> he likes to tell himself that. >> we're going to find out more tonight. we have a cooking challenge for you this morning to make vegetable lasagna. mike and meredith to the back deck. richard, you and me. this is new school versus old school. >> it is. mike's making pasta. i'm doing what i call impasta. >> got it. you're using zucchini. >> yes. this is a japanese sheeter and i ran a piece of zuchinni.

>> does that hold up after you cook it? >> it does. this is cooked in olive oil and white line. then i have a ricotta bechamel. >> when it comes to vegetables you cook them sous vide style. what is that? >> it means under pressure or under vacuum. that's beautiful. >> is it trouble? >> no. just put your vegetables in the vacuum pouch and they cook away. they really can't break down. they get cooked perfectly and retain their shape, flavor and nutrition. >> you make a pork ragoux that takes hours to cook. >> it's a vegetable themed dish but a little bit of meat for the umami flavor. >> i will let you assemble that. let's see how mike and meredith are doing it. >> that was good but you have a

more traditional recipe. maybe a little bit easier. >> i'm italian and grew up cooking classic dishes. >> you have cherry tomatoes. >> they're sweeter. i cook them slow in garlic, thyme and olive oil and let it get the flavors. i know richard is doing his impasta -- >> ooh, a little -- >> i'm doing a classic pasta but i rolled out two sheets. >> you make it from scratch. >> i did. i have my dough right here. we put the sheets on top of each other. >> you have an herb. >> this is chervil. you can use parsley, chive, whatever. roll it and you can see the herb inside. >> that's beautiful. that's a work of art. the trick is the spring vegetables. >> i have baby carrots, zuchinnis, squash that are like flying sauce rs. i roasted them in thyme, garlic and sherry vinegar. >> how long? >> four to five minutes.

it's not bad. then we have ricotta, parmesan on top and baby basil, fresh herbs. >> how many layers? >> one layer. we'll clean it up, make it light and springy. >> i think richard has met his match. >> richard has assembled that one but we have two assembled already. this isn't a contest. this doesn't determine the winner. we just want to find out how good it is. >> see what happens. mm. that's good. switch with me for a second. >> that's great! >> she said great to you. michael, she threw you under the bus. >> that's interesting. >> interesting isn't a good thing to hear at this point. >> brilliant. >> beautiful. >> i want to be honest here. this has nothing to do with who wins the competition. okay.

i think they're both delicious. >> you said let's be honest. so be honest. >> i like the texture of this. i think this has a stronger flavor though. but the texture of this is nice. >> the flavor of this is fantastic. oh, gosh. welcome to breakfast with the bickersons. >> they're fantastic. >> who wins tonight? >> we can't say. >> i heard you need a tie-breaker. >> yes! >> oh, the pressure. >> before you take a bite remember, bikini season, vegetables. >> what are you saying? my gosh. i won't let it affect my judg g judging. >> that's michael's. >> make sure you get all the layers of it here. >> don't worry about bikini season? >> especially all the beautiful cheese in the bottom layer. >> oh, i have an opinion. should i say it? i like that one best. >> oh, please.

>> i'm sorry. >> oh, please. >> i'm sorry. >> richard, congratulations. paul ? oh, hey, charlene. what are you doing ? this is to help me with my online investing. i'm so overwhelmed by jargon and trading tools and data that i need to get as much blood to my brain as possible, just to make sense of it all. touch the ball. whoa ! get sharebuilder from ing direct. hey, my headache's gone. good morning, everyone. i'm scott mcgrew. a settle announcement after a federal trade commission, google says to make sure to check with you before sharing your data, part of an agreement to settle a

lawsuit over google buzz. president obama running a new energy policy, hoping to cut u.s. oil consumption by on one-third in ten years. is he live right now on cnbc. with us is christina. good morning, christina. >> good morning. before you switch that channel, make sure you get this forecast. we have beautiful weather anticipated for today. low pressure to the north will drive more cloud cover than we had yesterday. our temperatures will round out in the upper 70s in many cities, even the low 80s. that is a pretty good forecast. what do you think, scott? >> looks good. back in half an hour. meanwhile, the "today" show continues next. [ ryan ] i got this new citi thankyou card and started earning loads of points. you got a weather balloon with points?

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back with more of "today" on a wednesday morning, the 30th day of march, 2011. it's warming up a little bit. starting to get up toward 40 degrees on a beautiful sny day in nhattan. thanks to these people for coming by. out on the plaza, i'm matt lauer along with tamron hall. al and natalie are off today. we have advice coming up in the money 411. for example, how to balance your 401-k investments. also, what to do if you sell

your home at a significant loss, what's the best way to handle that. and other pressing money matters. also ahead from time to time we have great travel deals. from mid april to mid june you can score a lot of bargains at popular destinations that are just shy of their busier and pricier travel seasons. we'll fill you in coming up. that looks good. >> i got a peek at the deals. impressive. >> taking advantage of any? >> we'll see. also ahead, these adorable twins. the question is -- i don't know what they're saying but i think the other twin does. people are saying they are carrying on a conversation. are they talking about what's in the fridge, politics? only they know. and if you need retail therapy but can't afford to indulge we have some great finds, all for

under $25. also, we are in the kitchen with a very special guest. i know she probably doesn't want to be called sandra bullock's sister, but christina bullock is here cooking up something special on this chilly day. >> looking forward to that. meanwhile, inside to savannah guthrie at the news desk while ann is off today. take it away. >> good morning. in the news this morning, libyan rebels retreated after a counter attack from moammar gadhafi's forces overnight fleeing the city's of bare near tripoli. u.s. cruise missiles bombarded targets overnight into this morning. president obama announced monday night that the u.s. would hand off control to nato today a delay in the transition is now expected. officials in japan say radiation readings on sea water near the damaged nuclear plant hit their highest levels yet. officials say it doesn't pose an immediate threat to human health

but fishing has been banned. engineers are struggling to find the source of leaking radiation at the plant. a wisconsin judge has once again blocked implementation of a hotly contested law that would limit collective bargaining rights of public unions. wisconsin republicans had attempted to work around the judge's previous rules and tried to put the law into effect by publishing it online. the judge declared that move invalid. in his first address since deadly protests started this month the syrian president said today that conspirators are trying to destroy the country. he did acknowledge that some of the demands for government reform are legitimate. a new study ranks health of people county by county in all 50 states. the survey shows that where you live, work and play makes a tremendous difference in your health. paige edwards is 14 years old and learning to tie her own shoes. born without fingers on her

right hand she's now the recipient of a bionic hand. her mother discovered the technology while watching another teenage recipient on "today." now paige can get back to normal teenage tasks and even used her hand to give an at-home manicure. finally, why did the baby seal cross the road? he was lost! a family called animal control who came to usher the baby seals right back to the sea. it is 9:04. back to matt and tamron. >> it all finished up well. thank you very much. let's go to maria filling in while al is taking time off. >> good morning. we have lovely ladies here. nothing beats chilling with the "today" show. what brings you here? >> we came to new york from florida. >> you know, florida could be under the gun for stormy weather.

enjoy the sunshine here. one area we are look at for strong thunderstorms and you can see a risk from mississowpi dn to florida. that means gusty damaging winds and heavy d rainfall. we have it under way in a tornado watch that continues including panama city. we could see it extended to the east. we could see wet snow later today in parts of the midatlantic. the chance increases thursday into friday. meanwhile, sunny and warmer in texas and california. flooding rains possibly in the good morning to you. just after 9:00 now and our temperatures are already sky rocketing. 63 in novato. temperatures will be on the climb the next few hours. we usually hit our daytime highs around 3:00 pm, 4:00 pm with the time change. 80 in san jose. 80 in gilroy. 90 in santa rosa tomorrow.

savannah, back to you. >> on today's money 911 our financial experts are here to answer your questions from. the best way to balance your 401-k to what to do on taxes if you sell your house at a loss. our panel today is jean chatzky who is also the author of "money 911." sharon epperson from cnbc and we welcome a newcomer today alexa von tobel from a personal wednesday for women. good morning. >> good morning. >> we have the first question from bob who is in texas. he's on skype. bob, good morning. what's your question for the panel? >> hey, good morning. boy, do i need good news from you guys. i lost $186,000 on the sale of my house in the detroit area when i retired and moved to texas in 2009. this wasn't an appreciated

value. it was real dollars from what i paid for the house to what we were able to sell it for finally after 18 months. my question is, is there a way to deduct the loss like you do loss on a stock? or some other way to recoup this? >> all right. jean, no pressure but a lot of people have this question. >> i have this question. my house isn't worth what i paid for it, but, bob, i can't help you out unless you were using the house for business purposes. were you? >> no. it was our primary residence. >> yeah. no. unfortunately, this is just one of those instances where there is no help in the tax code for you. you need to just press the reset button and make sure you are going forward, saving as much as you need for your future. sorry. >> sorry, bob. >> it's the irs's fault, not jean's. our next viewer is baron from pittsburgh. good morning. >> good morning. i have been contributing to my

401-k for seven years. i was wondering if i should be investing in stocks versus bonds as an extra security for my retirement. >> great question. sharon? >> i'm glad to answer the question to a fellow pittsburgher. i'm happy he's already contributing to the 401-k and i hope you are contributing the max. the question is stocks versus bonds. basically you want stocks for growth and bonds for fixed income or guaranteed income stream. in your case, i would say you probably have a long, long time until you need to retire. you need to look at something that will give you a balanced fund a mix of stocks and bonds or a target day that sets the time you want to retire and will allocate stocks versus bond closer to retirement. >> good on baron for thinking about these matters. >> exactly. >> the next question on skype. this is nicky from st. louis. what's your question? >> hi, good morning. i have two major credit cards in and a number of store credit cards i don't use. i want to know if i close those

if it would affect my credit. >> this is a great question and one that millions of people have. closing a credit card is not inherently bad. in fact, you can only close up to one credit card a year. for you to make the decision think about how credit scores are made. about 30% of your credit score is made up of the credit to debt ratio. so if you close a credit of any kind you will see a temporary dip in your score. don't close anything before you apply for a loan or mortgage of any kind. next, about 15% of the credit score is made up of how long you have had credit. so be careful about closing the oldest card. you can close up to one a year. be careful about the oldest credit card or anything before you apply for a loan or mortgage of any kind. >> thank you for that. our next question is from julie in dallas, texas. what's your question? >> i'm a graduate student who has just received $10,000 in a

car accident settlement. i have no debt, no credit cards or student loans. i'm not planning for a large purchase in the near future, although i will be graduating in two years. i am able to live on my monthly stipend. what should i do with this money in order to have a financially secure future? >> are we so proud of these responsible viewers today? >> i know! >> i would be at the mall. don't do that. >> do you have any other savings? >> i have a little bit just left over from college. >> okay. make sure you have at least a few thousand dollars set away in emergency savings. beyond that since you are already living on what your making, i would make two roth ira contributions, one for 2010 which you can do all the way up to april 15 and one for next year. the reason i would put the money in a roth as opposed to a traditional ira is you can get

at those contributions if you need the money. try to keep it in there to allow it to grow. it gives you flexibility just in case. >> we're proud of you. our next question says we were able to short sale our home and have worked since then to pay off debt and save a down payment. we were told it would be two years before we could even approach a lender. is there anything we can do now to get ready? explain the short sale. >> a lot of people are in this situation. they had a foreclosure on the home and it was due to a short sale. they were under water on the mortgage. they weren't able to pay it and now the situation is will they be able to get a new loan in two years. really, the law says three years for an fha loan for a freddie mac or fannie mae loan up to four years. they will probably not be able to do it in less than two years. they can try with a private lender but the rate will go up. pay your bills on time, get your credit straight and you can

apply for the loan when you're able to. >> great questions and answers. thank you all. for viewers on the east coast, alexa will be here for a live web chat. head to today.com. that's next. speaking of money, how to save cash on spring vacations. and prince harry's excellent adventure. what's he doing in the arctic circle weeks ise brother's wedding? we'll find out after this. a pr. really? no. it comes with a hat. you see, airline credit cards promise flights for 25,000 miles, but... [ man ] there's never any seats for 25,000 miles. frustrating, isn't it? but that won't happen with the capital one venture card. you can book any airline anytime. hey, i just said that. after all, isn't traveling hard enough? ow. [ male announcer ] to get the flights you want, sign up for a venture card at capitalone.com. what's in your wallet? uh, it's okay. i've played a pilot before. what's in your wallet? hey! hey! hey! that's our snack machine. you should try something new. activia parfait crunch!

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this morning on "today's travel" from mid april to mid june there are great hotel deals you can take advantage of before the high summer rates lock in. the director for travel & leisure magazine is here. good morning. >> good morning. >> on this topic it's really great to see you. shoulder season. i told you i had never heard of this until last night. >> i'm the pied piper of

shoulder season. it's the time between high season and low where you can get low airfares and low to he wiho rates, get the place to yours and get the weatherer you want to have. not pouring rain or no snow when you want to ski. >> you start with skiing. vail, colorado. >> it's a bavarian type resort. the family is from ba vary i can't, so you get the feeling you're from europe. if you book a room on april 3 it cost $245 a night. april 2 would have cost you $425 a night. you save $200 by booking one day different. youle still get to ski in vail, colorado, all the way through the end of april. >> that's the ski season through april. >> exactly. spring skiing. you have great weather and you get to take advantage of the resort things including the great spa. >> that's a good deal.

>> one day's difference. >> let's go to the outer banks in north carolina. >> i love north carolina. >> pretty. >> it has southern charm. there is a hotel called the sanderling resort on the beautiful dunes. you get to access the ocean and the sound. they are close to an audubon nature preserve. they have kayaking trips you can do with your kids to see lots of nature. osprey, e grets and other animals. >> high season? >> it can go up to $550 in july. it's $225 if you go until may 27. >> i want a sweet tea and travel there. now to nantucket and the white elephant. >> it's been called the number one resort in massachusetts. you assume it will be expensive.

60% off the peak rate ifs you book in april and may. it's a gorgeous time of the year for nantucket. you can take advantage of the outdoor stuff but they have an indoor pool and i love their breakfast on the deck with the harbor view. can't be beat. >> that's beautiful. 60% off is ridiculous. now to montauk, the yacht club on long island. very popular. >> montauk is newly chic. a fishingle village that's a hip destination for new yorkers and beyond. it sounds fancy. >> sounds expensive. >> under $200 a night. it goes up to $600 a night in high season. get it for under $200 a night. in this perfect weather, the indoor pool, they have surfing lessons if you're brave. paddle boarding les sons and if you love to fish some of the best fishing in the country. >> if the weather is so perfect, it's beautiful. why discount it?

>> summer time is really their high season. they're just trying to entice people to come. they have rooms to fill and why not? >> last of all strawberry hill in jamaica. it's beautiful. >> i'm head there had in two weeks. this is my secret i'm sharing. every year in april is my birthday and i go to jamaica. april 20 is strawberry hill you can stay for $195 a night which is a hundred dollars off the normal rate. it's a magical place in the blue mountains. you get ultimate serenity. not the chaos from the beach places in jamaica. it's $195 a night. >> the movie "how stella got her gr groove back" was filmed there. thank you. coming up, a great little indulgence from your accessory to makeup to kitchen that won't break the bank. plus, look who's talking and

talking. what are they saying? only they know, but they are deep in conversation. we'll see more of the video thatvi ge onral.ra it's adorable. right after these messages. the art of italian cooking.udy we learn from master chefs. we visit the local markets. we talk to the artisans. we learn all the little secrets of italian cooking and bring them back to share with you. inspired by italy, our new handmade puff pastries. generously filled with italian cheeses and herbs. try them with sauteed chicken breasts in a creamy garlic sauce or with braised beef in a balsamic demi-glaze. tonight at your olive garden. go-gurt is specially made to freeze and thaw by lunch time? so kids can have their favorite yogurt in their lunch box go-gurt. freeze it. thaw it. eat it up. surprise. [ noisemaker honks ] [ goat bleats ] [ male announcer ] of all the things that happen on your wooden surfaces,

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ever wonder what babies are trying to say? a new viral video features 17-month-old twin boys chatting up a storm. >> that's what we think. let's listen in to see if we can decipher the baby talk. [ babies babbling ]

>> i mean, exactly. don't you feel the same way? >> i heard matt say earlier he didn't think they were having a conversation. but they clearly are. >> not only a conversation. i think the one baby is leading a yoga or pilates class. >> he was bending down. >> he attempts to prop his leg up like a ballet barre and the other brother says, don't do it, mom's going to get you. >> downward facing dog or something. their parents randy and abby put it online for other families to see. it went viral. >> that's why we all love it so much. still to come, prince harry's arctic adventure and fun finds for under $25 from jill martin. >> and we'll meet christina

bullock. she's sandra's sister and will whip up sweet sugary treats. yum, yum. it's a macarone, not a macaroon. i want someone to bring the make-up counter to me. i want to be the first to discover the latest. and get a little advice from my avon representative whenever i ask. this is beauty that delivers from avon. see how avon can deliver extra income for you. go to avon.com or call 800 for avon to become a representative. hey! hey! hey! that's our snack machine. you should try something new. activia parfait crunch! crunchy granola you mix right in to creamy and delicious activia yogurt. mmm! crunchy! and creamy! watch your toes! new activia parfait crunch. ["stir it up" playing]

stir up a smile with hershey's syrup. good wednesday morning to you. i'm laura garcia canon. fined ten times this october for leaking odor into the air. too early in an investigation to link the company's problem with his yesterday's fire, which injured one employee. fi firefighters do know what caused that fire. equipment failure. flammable hydro carbon. equipment problems are to blame for two bart car that is derailed two weeks ago.

two major problems that led to the derailment are uneven wear in a traction section and poor maintenance on a wheel car. bringing service to a halt for hours a hours and sending some to the hospital. we'll take a quick break. nd9:28

in the upper 50s and low 60s across the bay area. filtered sunshine again today. high, cirrus clouds coming in, pushing to the south through a big strong ridge of high pressure that will get stronger as we head through tomorrow. temperatures today are downright warm and will be even warmer on your thursday. 81 in los galos today. 81 in gilroy. warmest location is 84 in santa rosa, possibly 90 degrees as we head into tomorrow. overall, warm conditions come to a close on friday.

milder over the weekend. hey, mike, how is it looking on the roads? >> not so bad. a few issues to point out. slow coming into berkeley. no accident there, just slow approaching university avenue. involving a school bus, no one was injured. 880 still smooth past the coliseum. past high street, still bogged down to the right past the coliseum into downtown. that along the east shore freeway. lights are still on. folks have to head over to the area. almost none to speak of. >> nice and light on a wednesday. see you in half an hour.

you're not my boyfriend. you're some kid i took home because i felt sorry for you. you're 17. all you know about is book reports and dances at the gym and some stupid movies i did 30 years ago. that's fantasy. this is reality. >> wow. pretty tough, kim cattrallin her new comedy. >> that wasn't that funny. we know her best as the saucy and sassy samantha jones from "sex and the city." she'll be here to talk about it tomorrow on "today." interesting role. i'm tamron hall along with savannah guthrie. coming up, prince harry's great adventure. >> what's he doing now? >> he's taking a break from his best man duties for prince

william and he's teaming up with wounded british soldiers to train above the arctic circle for the trek to the north pole. we'll go inside the arctic circle life. that's a heck of a way to knock off stress for the wedding. >> spare to the heir. i'm sure he loves it when people call him that. trouble, trouble. also we like to indulge in fun gadgets or accessories. can't always afford them. jill martin will be along with fun finds. less than $25. as a matter of fact her entire outfit, looking good, less than $25 for the whole thing. >> she was bragging earlier. earrings, $14. >> she's going to leave the price tag on she's so proud. >> i love it. and move over, cupcake. there is a new sweet in town. the macarone. i don't even know what a macarone is. is that similar to a macaroon? we'll find out. sandra bullock's sister gesine is here with her new cookbook.

she will explain a macarone. macaroon controversy. that will be settled today. >> first a check of the weather from maria. hi. >> good morning. ready for more snow? >> no. >> we have it in the forecast. take a look. we are watching what could be a sizable april fool's day storm. the first wave thursday into friday. the bigger low will continue to deepen producing sizable snow, especially for interior new england. take a look at that. we are talking heavy, on the order of a fo or more in spots. we will keep a close eye on this one. meanwhile looking at sunshine in the northeast today. also across parts of texas but stormy weather in the southeast. that's a look at the weather around the country. good morning to you. another beautiful day is shaping up for us here in the bay area with high pressure firmly in control of our weather pattern. it's actually amplifying through the next 24 hours.

high pressure at its maximum strength. that means tomorrow will be even warmer than where we're headed today. 55 in hayward. 57 in santa rosa. 64, novato. 80s and upper 70s and warmer as we head toward the weekend. next we go live to the arctic circle for an update on prince harry's fund-raising trek near the north pole. and sandra bullock is making a sweet dessert in today's kitchen right after this. pole. and sandra bullock is making a sweet dessert in today's kitchen right after this. now the healing power of touch just got more powerful. introducing precise from the makers of tylenol. precise pain relieving cream works quickly to activate sensory receptors. it helps block pain signals fast for relief you can feel precisely where you need it most. precise. only from the makers of tylenol.

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the royal wedding is less than 30 days away and the bachelor party throwing best man has gone on an arctic trek for a good cause. ben fogle is with prince harry. ben, good morning. >> reporter: good morning, savannah. prince harry spent his first day here in svalbard getting to know his new teammates and his new environment.

after a brief planning meeting the new teammates hit the snow, preparing for the freezing trek to the north pole in their quest to raise millions of dollars for wounded soldiers. prince harry's no stranger to charity work, but this is a far cry from the heat of africa where he and prince william spent a great deal of time. how is he finding the temperatures? >> it will be minus 40 up there. we have goggles and everything. this is the last time you will see us like this. spirits are high. morale is high and guys are very happy at the moment. >> reporter: despite the temperatures, the team seemed relaxed with the third in line to the throne, even shari a lah after a tough training session. i asked harry whether he's regretting the decision after his first day on the snow and ice. >> it's a treat to join them. there will be times when i will be regretting it and other times i won't. >> reporter: prince harry will be best man at prince william's wedding to kate middleton next

month. so will he spend time on the ice writing his best man speech or even thinking about the royal nuptials? >> i might give it some thought. i think pen to paper will be saved for back home. >> reporter: i asked private jacko van gast who lost his arm after a rocket propelled grenade attack in afghanistan, how prince harry settled in. >> he's looking comfortable. >> reporter: for the soldiers it's important that harry has been to the theater of war himself. >> all of us have been to afghanistan. we know what it's like to live in a confined environment. >> reporter: polar bears remain a real threat. the team protect themselves from the predators. for the team it's what's below the ice that's a danger. one of the last preparations, testing their survival suits in the freezing ocean where exposure can result in serious trouble for antarctic team. >> there is always a chance the team won't have time to get into an immersion suit. if that happens they will go in

like this and i volunteered to demonstrate just how cold it is. it's minus 1 in there. i wish i hadn't volunteered to do this now. this is for you boys walking with the wounded. oh! okay. one, two, three. [ cheers ] >> reporter: that's pretty cold. whoa! that's cold. i can tell you that was absolutely freezing. below freezing, in fact, because of course that's salt water. let's hope when prince harry and the injured soldiers head out onto the ice they don't fall through it. there are no hot showers waiting where they're going. savannah? >> all right. ben, thank you. still looks cold. up next, fun finds that you will love, especially when you look at the price tags. that's still to come. and something sweet from sandra

bullock's stepsister gesine bullock prado.taft's thteeae r r thaafter s e break. sister gesi bullock prado. that's after the break. 's really. ooh! wow! jamie lee curtis! it's activia! it's delicious. i am shocked. it's hard to believe it's that good for you. it's so good. try the fabulous taste of activia today. taste it, love it, or it's free! and now discover activia dessert. in rich indulgent flavors like strawberry cheesecake. try activia dessert today. ♪ activia

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other choices...not so much. [ pbht! ] capri sun roarin' waters. ♪ ♪ this morning on jill's fun finds, for $25 or less. we all need retail therapy now and then. why not get into it without breaking the bank? from the kitchen to the bedroom we have it covered. jill martin is a "today" and "us weekly" contributor. good morning. >> good morning. >> i want to get started. there is so much and we're tackling it all. this jacket on the end, you're serious? this is under $25? >> we all stand in front of the closet and say, i have nothing to wear. we can all relate to it. why break the bank when you can get a simple black blazer for

$17.49? this is from kmart. >> wow! >> how great is that blazer. it has an edge. i like it is not just the classic black blazer. i like that it has a tie. you can wear it day or night. it's really going to search and shop. that's how i did the segment. i went out, went shopping physically and looked around to see where you can get buys. >> the jacket is great because you can dress it up for work. you have it with jeans. you can go high or low. and the nautical look? >> everyone should t in on the theme. it's always in for spring and summer. this is from h&m, $3.95 to $25. i am wearing head to toe h & m. this beige jumpsuit is $19.99. the earrings are $4.95. just to show that you can mix and match high and low. that's key. >> i love the detail. usually when things are less expensive you don't get the little finishes but you have.

now to accessories. >> everyone needs a great piece of statement jewelry for spring and summer. from kohl's, $10.99 to $24.99. earrings, bracelet, necklaces. kit make any outfit pop. >> the statement necklace still in for the spring and summer? >> very and an easy way to give the wardrobe a lift. >> these are just hanging so -- >> obviously go with one accessory. my mom does it all. don't go crazy. >> tackling the kitchen. >> this is a room i don't use much. but this is -- this entire set of silverware is 99 cents each. for a family of four, six pieces you can get all of it including steak knives for $24.99. look at the dessert plates. it says "big mistake."

>> xwh is what people say after i cook. >> me, too. everything here is under $25. if you're a tea fan this makes a statement in the kitchen. >> they are great gifts as well. nice gifts to give. >> i'm over wine or cake when you go to a home. this is a great alternative. >> this is for the bathroom. >> right. you can smell it here. i wish we had smell-o-vision. $3.99 to $25. something for everyone. you see the soaps and something to really spruce up the bathroom. that's a room i think a lot of people can relate to. this is just an inexpensive way to do it. >> i love the loofah. a foot scrubber shaped like a foot. and to cosmetics, my favorite. >> this is fresh.com. lip treatment with spf in it. for spring and summer this is great. and a big fan of the exfoliator. look at this from sephora.com.

they are selling it for $25. $11 -- $150 value. 50 eye shadow, ten lip colors and five blushes. each pallet comes out and it's portable. >> that should last you years. >> your life. >> now for a little under garment. >> let's head to the bedroom. marygreen.com. $19 each. it is really fun by itself to get dressed up to go to bed. it is important to take pride in yourself and wear something fun. and alternative. sexy lingerie. something fun. >> pretty and soft. i'm surprised you could find something in electronics under $25, but you did. >> i have to get the men and beach involved here. these work on four aa batteries. also available at walmart. $19.99. >> speakers? >> speakers for the ipod and they are loud. plug it in and it plays on a beach towel. picnic. >> small enough to put many the tote.

>> right. when you go on vacation. >> what is this? >> this is a charging valet from brookstone to organize your phones and everything. this is to limit the wires and make it all neat. $15. >> these t-shirts are cool. >> marvel comic superhero inspired line for teens. of course i work with the knicks so we have to show that one. $19.99 to $23.99. polos for the family. $10 from old navy. >> wow. >> then we head to furniture. >> quickly. >> all the furniture from target. table, ottoman and bookshelf all under $25. >> you did go from the kitchen to the bedroom. >> for under $25. >> great stuff, jill. thank you very much. up next, how to make the cookie that's the new cup cake with sandra bullock's sister gesine bullock-prado. first this is "today" on nbc. s

>> announcer: "today's kitchen" is brought to you by capri sun roaring waters, a fun way to hydrate. ♪ sugar >> this morning, a step by step guide to making parisian macaroons. this jewel of a cookie is the new cupcake. gesine bullock prado joins us. she is the author of "sugar babies." good morning. >> good morning. >> before we get into all of this, let's settle controversy now. there are macaroons and macarones. what's the difference? it is obvious when you put them side-by-side. >> a macaroon has coconut and a macarone has almond flour instead. they are both gluten-free. >> fancy. >> this is a complicated recipe. >> yes. >> i know the first key is hot sugar water. >> it is sugar and water.

i add a little bit of lemon juice to make sure it doesn't crystallize. we make sure our eggs are light and fluffy. then you pour the sugar in carefully because it will splatter. turn it down just a little bit and pour the sugar down the sides of the bowl or you will get scrambled eggs. >> okay. then keep adding the rest of the sugar. >> okay. how long do you let it go? >> until it gets to this. >> okay. >> you want it light and fluffy. >> this is what the french cal bird's beak. >> [ speaking french ] >> you're showing me up today. >> you don't want it to stiff that it stands on its own. you want a little give. everything should have a little give. shouldn't it? you want it like that. bird's beak doesn't go straight, it bends a little. >> next is what?

>> we have almond flour, confectioner's sugar and powdered egg white. to this we add a quarter cup of water, first. >> this is to continue with the shell. >> this is all the shell first. you want everything as close as possible timingwise because it can dry out. you want the peaks of the egg whites to remain the same. >> bird beaky. >> you want everything perfect. >> and coloring. they are known for color. >> today we're making pink. i add exactly two drops of food coloring. i will also add a little bit of extract sometimes. you just don't want to add an extract with oil in it or you deflate all your hard work. >> i'm stressed out. this is a complicated recipe. >> it's a process, yeah. so we take half of the meringue. most bakers know that you fold egg whites into something. we are just going to smush this. technical term.

>> you don't want to get too much air into it? >> you don't want to the get too much air in it? >> this has air in it. you don't want to deflate it so much that it goes -- [ blows raspberry ] -- but we are stirring to make sure we are lightening the batter and we can fold in th rest. >> once you have the batter you make little hearts and the traditional circle. how did you make the hearts? >> it's the same tip. so we'll use a large open tip. and clearly a pastry bag. >> even i thought that was a pastry bag. >> for the round, be gentle. don't press too hard or you can get a lopsided macaron. for the heart, just drag it a little. oh, look who's here. matt lauer, tamron hall. >> your sister is someone we may know. sandra bullock.

>> she's a famous makeup artist. > she is. >> without throwing her under the bus she's on premises. we have macaroons, macarons and sandra and i like to do the macarena. >> it's a sexy dance you can do while eating the macaron. >> and the filling? >> this is a buttercream in "sugar baby." >> we're out of time.

good morning, everyone. it's 9:56. i'm scott mcgrew.

a 14-year-old girl said she was kidnapped and sexually assaulted. the attack happened midnight monday night near bancroft and church near the eastmont shopping center. they said they were driving a blue lexus, a $10,000 reward is being offered for information leading to an arrest. in livermore neighborhood, police are investigating the circumstances of a discovery of a woman's body on kingsbury drive found yesterday afternoon. police are treating this as a suspicious death. no arrests have been made. let's check in with christina and a fabulous week ahead. >> good morning to you. just before 10:00 am now. temperatures are in the 60s, even along the peninsula. 59 in san francisco. 64 in novato, well on our way to breaking temperature records today. temperatures will end up in the 80s today. 81 in gilroy and 80 for san

rafael. possible 90 in santa rosa. definitely the warmest weather we've had in over a month. we'll break numerous records tomorrow. find out if you broke a record with your chief meteorologist jeff ranieri. how is it looking on the roadways, mike? >> not too bad. we saw some of the highs from last week this morning. eastshore freeway. looks okay at the curve. coming out of richmond, heading down toward golden gate steel, last run of the toll plaza. live look shows you, they're not there yet. very easy drive. some folks are waiting. don't do that or there will be a lot more people doing that. we'll see a burst again today. 12:45 pm midday game.

more local news in half an hour. the "today" show returns in about one minute. impressive resume. thank you.

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we're back with web cast, a special series to put you ahead of the curve on the next big internet video. do you remember getting asked to your prom? maybe the proposal wasn't as original as the one jason pits gave. >> jason singing prom proposal is getting a lot of attention right now. check it out. >> everyone, can i have a couple minutes of your time?

there is a question on my mind. ♪ see this pretty girl standing beside me ♪ ♪ i'd like to get to dance in front of all of you ♪ ♪ i said yeah ♪ you're so beautiful i'd like to ask you to a place where we can dance ♪ >> that is so cute. jason is 18 years old. he decided he wanted to make her feel special. it is actually a friend he's attracted to but they're not in a relationship. but he said he has a passion for music and the fact he wanted her to feel different. he said it was easy. >> that is a giddy moment. >> how flattered would you be in this is high school. people don't do anything in high school. they don't dance at dances. >> we didn't see the answer. did she say yes?

>> they're going to prom. >> i love that kid. >> and he asked permission from the teacher in advance. he said it wouldn't be a problem at all. she had no idea. look at how cute this is. oh, my gosh. let's get an update from them and see how the prom was. i think that is adorable. don't you think? >> yes, i do. >> thank you, sweetheart. >> coming up, an april fool's scene. the best pranksters around. be careful of them. and this is no joke. moms are making millions off their own kids. maybe you'll learn to do that, too. [ male announcer ] undeniably colorful, seriously smooth, and in excellent condition. those are your lips with new covergirl lip perfection. it doesn't just give you beautiful color now, it gives you more beautiful lips in 7 days. in a single stroke, rich color rocks your lips. in a single week, silk therapy moisturizers

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good morning, everyone. at 10:26, i'm scott mcgrew. they red tagged a home, meaning no one could live inside after making their 14th and 15th drug arrest in that home in the last month and a half. deputies say they arrest aid man and a woman on a felony warrant and charges of dealing meth. it looks like a special election, won that would have asked voters to keep taxes higher will not happen. governor jerry brown says he won't negotiate with republican

s any longer. he has taken the issue to youtube, issuing a statement there. what the state government will do now is not clear, but it's possible the efforts to keep taxes where they are will go grassroots. a signature drive to prevent enormous budget cuts. baseball trying to make a comeback at u.c. berkeley. cal's athletic director says she's hopeful the program will be reinstated. former players have been meeting with the chance lettellorchance $9 million private donations have been raised. five sports were eliminated to save the university millions annual annually. the time is now 10:27. weather and traffic is coming up after this. ♪ have a good daisy

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good morning to you. welcome back. the time now is 10:29. we are still on pace to see 80-degree temperatures across the bay area today. right now, we've got the 60s and 50s leftover. breezy conditions will make it feel more comfortable this afternoon when our daytime highs hit the 80s and upper 70s. 62 in san ma today oe. 65 in santa rosa. 56, more mild the closer you are to the bodies of water, that will be cooler areas today. 79 in redwood city. 84 for santa rosa, forecast high today. tomorrow, closer to 90. 80 in livermore and 81 in gilroy. seven-day outlook tells the

story. warm-up continues, staying in the 80s all through friday. milder for the weekend. back to you, scott mcgrew. >> thank you, christina. thank you for joining us. the "today" show continues next. we are back on this wooin winesday ready to play "who knew?" we're talking april fools' day. kathie lee is across the street at the nbc experience store ready to hand out 100 bucks to those who get the questions right. to those who don't, you know what, they get a copy of her cd! here to help me out, editor of "college humor media." before we move on to the quiz, real quick, we want to tell you the kind of jokesters these guys are. real quick. it was halftime at a basketball game. okay? you were blindfolded. you were going to shoot a basket. look at this. he had the whole crowd all

whipped up to make you believe that you actually won a half million bucks. >> right. >> because you're evil. it was the biggest prank of all time. he thought he'd hit the winning basket but in reality it was a 40-foot air ball. >> and a nice big check. >> these guys are always joking with one another. we're so glad we have them here in studio. across the street to kathie lee. >> i like those guys. a family or some students, i can't tell, but they're from orlando. the tradition of playing tricks on april fools' day originated in which country? england, france, canada or spain? >> spain. >> sorry. >> she's ong. >> happy for you. >> everybody wins. okay. so the winning country is? >> france. >> france. >> okay. tell us. inform us, smart ones. >> sure. >> basically, the first april fools' joke was the eiffel tower itself. it was meant to be a giant

middle finger pointing to space by the architect. >> not a -- >> are you making up answers? or is this true? >> april fools' edition. none of them are actually real. >> where are you from? zan dr what is another name for april fools' day? >> first one. >> so smart. >> so it's natural she'd be smart. all fools' day. >> solid work. >> you guessed trick or treat. >> i guessed trick or treat. i thought trick or treat made a little more sense. >> there's no reason at all. >> you never know at this game. >> that was really informative. back to kathie lee. >> i'm trying to find out which winchester she's from. it's kentucky, right? all righty. on april fools' day in 1996, what did taco bell announce that it was purchasing? the liberty bell, the statue of

liberty, the white house or the golden gate bridge? >> the liberty bell? >> yeah. >> genius. i don't even understand. taco bell, liberty bell? that's the story. >> yeah. i think that's the story. really when you eat at taco bell, every time you eat there, it's as if taco bell is pranking your body anyway. they're natural jokesters. >> every day is april fools' when you eat at taco bell. >> next question. let's go to kathie lee. >> i just said it's hot in here. this kid back here goes, because you're here. i love him! i don't even want to play the game anymore. where you from? >> spencer, ohio. >> who said the following quote. the first of april is the day we remember what we are the other 364 days of the year. dr. seuss, jim carrie, mark twain or benjamin franklin.

>> mark twain. >> he's genius! mark twain? is that true. are you going to tell us another joke? >> every time there's a trivia question about a quote the answer is usually mark twain. >> always guess mark twain? >> always guess mark twain. >> time for one more. >> another friend from ohio. april fools' day in 2010 google said it was renaming itself after which of the following u.s. cities. wichita, columbus, topeka or denver? >> topektopeka. >> is everybody ? >> the kid gave him the answer. is it topeka? >> i think the best april fools' joke google could do was say they're releasing everyone's search history. that would be a good one. >>ncluding their private stuff. >> yeah, yeah. >> you guys are a lot of fun. what's your website again? >> collegehumor.com. >> you guys are fun. up next, things get a little salty around here as kathie lee and i go head to head in the

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hawaiian aloha and new zealand springs scent. according to the usda americans consume 34 teaspoons of sugar every day and more than double the amount of salt recommended. >> here to test our nutritional knowledge of these things, "today's" diet and nutrition editor and ivillage contributor, madeleine fernstrom.

>> another game. >> a little sugar, a little salt. >> we do have a requirement for salt. that's about 2,400 milligrams. is that a lot? i want you to answer, is it a teaspoon or a tablespoon -- >> tablespoon. >> no. it's a teaspoon. >> a day? >> a day. >> that's all? >> that's all you have a little bit of requirement. most of it comes from packaged foods. if you cut that out you're going to be doing pretty well. >> when you go out you don't know how much salt they're putting in your food. >> and how. let's start with condiments. we all like to wake up the sleeping flavor of our foods. which one of these has the lowest amount of sodium per tablespoon. ketchup, soy sauce or -- >> you're right. even the low sodium soy.

>> hoda has her ketchup with about six pounds of french fries. and they already have salt on them. >> beware of that. when something says less sodium, doesn't always mean that's low. you guys are smart. we all know canned foods are a sodium nightmare. tons of salt. what if you're in a restaurant. here we have hot and sour soup. about eight ounces. does this have 250 milligrams, 500 milligrams or 1,000 milligrams? >> i'll say 500. >> nope. >> i'll say -- >> high. >> the big one. >> 1,000 milligrams. >> hoda is on a roll. >> this bowl has half the salt you need in a day. we know a pickle can be a salty choice. are you girls pickle eaters? >> i love pickles. >> this dill pickle, does this have more or less than 500 milligrams of salt. >> how many teaspoons? >> i don't even care anymore. i don't give a royal rip how

much this stinky little pickle's got. i don't care. >> 2,400 milligrams. >> the big one. >> it has 900. >> let's take a look at the juice. 100% juice. ten ounces of organic apple juice. >> don't ever drink apple juice. >> does this have two, five, or eight teaspoons of sugar. >> eight. >> you are right. in this little glass of juice. >> this is my favorite game so far. because i've gotten them all right. >> if you swap out this fruit juice and drink vegetable juice, multiple vegetable juice like v-8 do you drop the sugar content by 30%, 60% or 90%. >> you drop the sugar content? >> the middle one. >> now you have a chance. >> it would be the top one. >> it would be the top one. >> the most or the least? the first one is the top one. >> 90%. >> sorry. she's winning by five and she

still cheats. have you notice that? give her the daggone bag ksket let's get on with it. i don't care! there sorry. >> we have factory and we have regular. is the sugar content more, less or the same. >> the sugar content is the same. >> it is. okay. hoda, you win big today. >> what did i get? >> here's your prize. something sweet and something salty. dessert wine. and nuts. >> she doesn't want any of it. she's going to give it to me. up next, a couple of moms who turned their needs into million dollar businesses. that's right. after this. a surprise for you. [ rattling ] wanna see what's in it? yeah! whoagasp! whoagasp! whoagasp! you wanna make these? you put it in here? yeah, put it in there. ok, just press. i'm gonna give you some m&m's to put in there.

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i'm >> sara just told me on facebook somebody started some sort of thing. apparently i'm touching my bangs a lot today. every time i do it they're all doing shots. >> do it again. okay. good. do it. >> all righty. time for "today's" working mom and a couple sbentrepreneurs. everyone knows we're the ultimate multitasks. we're about to meet two moms who managed to take care of their families and still find time to build million dollar companies. >> the creator and founder of cozies cuts for kids and the authors of cozies complete guide to girls' hair. and josie moran is the creator of josie moran cosmetics which we u here and love. we'll start with you. getting started, this is interesting. you have an interesting story. why did you decide to go into this business? >> i always listen to what people need. one day a friend of mine was telling me how she brought her nephew to her adult salon to get

his hair cut. when the little boy started to cry, they asked him to leave. >> oh. >> i said, why didn't you take him to a place for children? she said that there wasn't one. so, for me, that's what i describe as my lightning bolt moment. >> having an idea and turning it into an actual salon, a lot of us have great ideas that never go anywhere. how did yours go from the idea to the -- >> i had this great idea. i started to research it. i realized that i was on to something. i actually quit my job, which was very risky because i had a great job. i went to barber school. i worked in all different children's businesses. >> you did your homework. >> i did. i wrote a business plan. i raelealized the next thing i needed to do was find a location. >> people like kelly ripa started bringing their children in. >> everybody. >> josie, the face of maybelline. you had a baby. you wanted to make cosmetics

that were just sort of environmentally friendly and just good for people. >> yeah. when i was pregnant i really started doing my research on ingredients and what was -- you know, what i was going to bring into my household and on to my skin. i realized that there was nothing out there that was good for you and high performing. so i decided to do it. >> wow. you're not a scientist. >> i'm not a scientist. so i had great advisers and mentors. i found some labs. i said i want these products, but without the bad stuff. so i made a list of my no-no ingredient list. >> animal by product? >> and toxic ingredients. things that can cause cancer and illnesses. >> a lot of people don't have the money to start a business. that's the idea. they don't have the money. how did you guys do it? did you have a nest egg? did you have money? did you have investors? how do you do it? >> i was lucky enough, i had a great modeling career with the face of maybelline for ten

years. but i invested everything i had. every penny. i got to see what it was like to invest everything. >> sure. >> i scraped together my savings. i had always been saving for when i wanted to start my own business. but i borrowed some money. i took out a loan. i scraped it together. >> and when did it all explode for you? at what point? how many years? >> now you're in multimillions. >> after about six months, i was in my shop one day, and it was really busy. and this woman came in and said, how long is the wait? and i said, you know, it's 45 minutes. she said, okay, we'll wait. she put her name down. i go, oh, my god. that's meg ryan. meg ryan is waiting. >> yeah. >> we should talk briefly. the products, we use some of the josie moran products here. >> is it --

>> i like it because the foundation you just -- there are only a couple of colors and it works for all kinds of skin types. >> i love to make products easy for busy moms and easy for people to use. everything's multitasking and very simple to give you your glow back. >> you're wearing it all right now. does maybelline know that? >> don't tell anybody. >> and your it's so cozy we created because we couldn't find a line of products to use in the salon that's were also natural and good for you. so, again, i listen to what people wanted and created both of them. >> congratulations to both of you. >> there are people out there thinking, i can do that, too. >> up next, three healthy meals you can make in under 30 minutes. but first, this is "today" on nbc. ♪

>> time to take you into the kitchen. if you're strapped for time but want a healthy dinner. we have the recipes. nice to see you. >> good morning. >> good morning. >> looks so good. >> balsamic chicken with pears. under 350 calories. minutes. >> wow. good. >> beautiful pounded chicken breasts. i bounded these out. we're going to season them with salt and pepper. >> how much salt? >> yeah. >> under 4400 milligrams. don't worry. >> just rip it. >> she's a hell of a chef. >> oh, my goodness. >> here we go. come on. >> a little salt. just a little. >> all right. now you're all paranoid. >> a little bit of salt. a little bit of pepper. hot pan, olive oil. we're going to season these up nice. >> how long?

>> these take four or five minutes. don't overcook them. they get dry. >> we'll make a little saucement corn starch, low sodium chicken stock. >> how much salt is in that? >> this dish actually has under 700 milligrams of sodium. >> that is a teaspoon. >> anyway, nobody knows. >> we're trying. >> i'm unsure. >> so are we. >> i do care. i do care. balsamic vinegar, honey. but these, just so you know, these are all really, real why gr now. >> honey is fantastic for you. >> and so flavorful. what it is, you think you're not using a lot of flavor. it has really great flavor. so this is mixed. i have the pears that we've already sauteed. garlic, sauteed in what? >> olive oil again. >> and in goes the mixture. >> wow. >> and what happens is --

we're going to let this cook a little bit. actually, we can do that. you can put these in while they're -- while our sauce thickens up. >> come around here. >> come on around. we'll bring these over. >> we're bringing in our good friend whose last day is here. jarrod is coming back. >> yep. jarrod is going to help us cook at the end. this is a great dish i know you're going to love. this is a chili chicken salad. tenderloins. cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, garlic pepper. romaine. whatever you want to amp up the fiber. a dressing, green chili salsa. this is a light ranch. so this is really easy. and cilantro. mix that all in. >> you know what, having you here is always good. it's healthy and delicious. we're going to start eating because we have to.

jarrod, we'll miss you. thank you for coming back. >> see you tomorrow, guys. kim catrell will be with us and she'll bring workout wear that will make you want to exercise. i'll believe that when i see