good morning. will a killer go free? nbc news has learned scottish officials are weighing whether to free the only man ever convicted in the bombing of pan am flight 103. 270 people, including 180 americans, died in that attack. this morning the mother of one of the victims speaks out, and she has a lot to say. happy days here again? the feds now say the economy is leveling out. but with the federal deficit soaring to an all-time high, how long will the good times last? and "today" exclusive, brad pitt speaks out about life, love, and calls for him to run

for mayor of new orleans. ann's exclusive interview "today," thursday, august 13th, ann's exclusive interview "today," thursday, august 13th, 2009. captions paid for by nbc-universal television and welcome to "today" on this thursday morning, i'm meredith vieira. >> and i'm matt lauer. this morning, family members and friends of the victims of pan am flight 103 are angry. they're expressing their shock over the possible early release of 57-year-old abdel basset ali al meg raw 4i. >> he is serving a life sentence for the bombing over the scottish town of lockerbie in december of 1988. all 259 people who were on the plane, and 11 others on the ground died. al megrahi is terminally ill with cancer and he wants to live out his remaining days in libya. we're going to get reaction from susan cohen who lost her 20-year-old daughter in that attack. >> also ahead the latest on a

bizarre story. this one comes from brazil where a crime-based reality tv host is accused of arranging murders in an effort to boost his shows aratings. investigators say they became suspicious after he showed up at crime scene after crime scene before the police. we're going to get into that story a little later. >> and the man who captivated the country just a few months ago captain richard phillips was held hostage aboard a raft by somali pirates for five days before he was freed in a dramatic rescue by navy snipers. the captain and his wife are live in our studio to talk about how their lives have changed since that very frightening experience. >> and we all remember living through that one. obviously their family more than anyone. let's begin with scottish authorities considering early release for the only convicted bomber of pan am flight 103. nbc's stephanie gosk is outside the libyan embassy in london. stephanie, good morning to you. >> reporter: good morning, matt. the defense team for abdel basset ali al megrahi submitted

the request for his release in may after a similar request was denied last october. his defense team says he is dying of cancer and letting him go home to libya is the only humane thing to do. >> the plane was a fireball passing over the village -- >> reporter: it was the worst terrorist attack ever on british soil. 270 people were killed. including 11 residents from the small scottish town of lockerbie. and 180 americans. pan am flight 103 went down more than two decades ago after a bomb blew up inside the cargo hold, representing the 747 apart in midair. the only suspect convicted of the crime was this men, libyan abdel basset ali al megrahi. megrahi wasn't convicted until 2001. a scottish court found the father of five guilty of murder and sentenced him to life in prison. but british reports say the convicted terrorist may soon be released on compassionate grounds, or transferred back to a libyan jail. megrahi suffers from terminal

prostate cancer that has spread throughout his body. scottish authorities say they are still considering the application for release and that the justice secretary hopes to make a decision this month. at the g-8 summit in italy, libyan president moammar gadhafi met with prime minister gordon brown and lobbied in person for megrahi's release. the libyan government has agreed to pay $1.5 billion to the families of the victims, but their pain even 20 years later is still there. >> the awful rawness of the tragedy tends to recede a bit. >> reporter: in lockerbie today, the ground where the plane hit has been rebuilt. but as abdel basset al megrahi faces a possible release it is a reminder that the painful memories are just below the surface. seems to be a split in opinion amongst the family members of the victims. here in the uk many support the potential release, while a majority of americans are outraged at the prospect of the only convicted suspect being set free. matt? >> all right, stephanie gosk in

london for us this morning. stephanie, thank you very much susan cohen's daughter was among the 180 americans killed in the pan am bombing. susan is with us exclusively. good morning to you. >> good morning. >> this idea that megrahi may be released under a provision that is known as compassionate release, i would imagine those words have to be hard for you and other family members of the victims to even hear. >> oh, i would say it's the best argument for capital punishment i've ever heard. we were told he would at least serve his term in scotland. and i think he should die in scotland. he gets treatment for his disease there. what is this compassion, compassion for him? my heart is broken. my daughter's birthday is soon. she would have 41. it's just been living in hell. but don't kid yourself. this whole thing is not just about megrahi. it is about appeasing moammar

gadhafi and it is the oil interests with the governments in tow which are really behind this. >> wait, wait, let me make sure i understand you -- >> that's what it is. >> you're saying that there may be some sort of a deal here, if it ever happens, simply because libya is an oil-rich country? and other countries want to curry favor with that country? >> oh, that is absolutely true. i've watched this play out, compassionate release. another appeal. the possibility of a prisoner exchange when there are no british prisoners in libya. look at what george bush and cheney did. complimenting gadhafi. it -- it -- >> but this would happen under a democratic administration, if it happens. and i have to ask, do you think that the american government, does the u.s. administration, have any real say in this? or is this going to be between the uk and libya? >> well, i assure you, that the u.s. government has a lot of power. i am very much on obama's side,

and he is a definite improvement over bush, but i have asked to meet with him. he shook gadhafi's hand. he hasn't shaken my hand. we, the families, would like to have had the chance to meet with obama. we asked for condolences on the 20th anniversary of december 21st last year. after all, he'd already been elected. my impression is that nobody cares very much, and that everyone is happy to go on with this, because the amounts of money are so great. >> in the 30 seconds i have left, susan, i know you've referred to the families of these victims as the stepchildren of terrorism. can you briefly, briefly explain that for me? >> yes. because we were the worst crime of this sort before 9/11. but nobody seems to care. nobody seems to mind that, you know, that megrahi did this crime. nobody seems to care if gadhafi comes to new york to be at the

u.n. at the end of september. we once had a police taking us through the streets when we went to the pan am building, and from there to the u.n. they were on our side. am i going to have to watch now police escort for moammar gadhafi? we are the victims. we are tossed aside. and i can only tell you that megrahi is guilty and he should serve his time, and that there should be a strong position on libya, whose human rights record is the worst in the world. and instead i see appeasement, appeasement, cohen, thank you much for your time this morning. eight minutes after the hour. here's meredith. >> thank you. now to the economy, and a big question, are we really out of the woods when it comes to the struggling economy. on wednesday the feds delivered confidence saying things appear to be leveling out. but what does that really mean for millions of cash scrapped americans. here to help us sort it out are

cn cnbc's erin burnett and jim cramer, the host of cnbc's "mad money." understand there's no hard and fast rules to determine when we are coming out of the recession. but the fed said yesterday, information suggests that economic activity is leveling out. that word suggests has a little wiggle room to it. chat what exactly are they saying? >> i think that what they're saying is the recession is over. but most americans still feel, and don't believe, that there's any recovery. and they're not going to tighten anything until more jobs are created. >> and there's always a lag between the end of a recession and job growth, right, erin? >> there is. last time we came out of this, everyone talked about the jobless recovery. if you look at historical patterns, it could take up to 2 1/2 more years before you really start to see an improvement in unemployment. and to jim's point, fine, maybe technically the economy is growing, but if people aren't getting jobs, can we really say? >> let's talk a little bit about growth. the last five months we've seen tremendous growth in the stock market. dow up about 45%.

how much of that is real growth, and how much is just cost cutting, and job elimination? >> wall street is demonical in some ways. the more people fired, the higher the profit, the higher stocks go. the stock market is not reflecting the average pain of americans. it's reflecting exactly what you don't want to see. the more people who are fired, the more we cheer. it's terrible, but it's true. >> if the recession is over, if the fed is saying everything suggests that it is over, we have pumped about $1 today billion of thats 870 billion stimulus package into the economy. should we just stop dumping money at this point? >> that is a big question. it's been approved. i think that that's off the table. people can have that argument, intellectually, should we pull it back. but they're going to keep spending it. and the white house has said they're going to be spending about $100 billion each quarter for the next five quarters. >> how can we afford to do that? our deficit is at a record high. >> we'll afford to do it. we can afford it because we need to do it. we can't create jobs without it. we can't create jobs, the

economy can't really be in a sustained growth path. there are such benefits to creating more jobs. including perhaps not as high taxes, and definitely a sense that, well, once you start hiring, there's a psychological impact. >> you're saying why are we borrowing it now as well? >> we have a national debt of over $11 trillion. at some point you've got to pay the piper. >> at some point you do. >> the chinese are paying the piper. >> put it off a little bit further, in the hopes the government spending will turn into real demand. if it creates jobs and people buy things, that becomes self-sustaining. taxes are going to go up at some point, that's a reality, and that money will be used to pay that debt. they will go up, but not still. >> he's doing an unbelievable job, that's really important. he turned from someone who was slow to someone who is fast. i just can't say enough great about what this man is doing. >> when you see the sales they've gone up slightly, and the jobless number has gone down slightly, how significant is that? >> i think housing is really important. jim's point about why we still

need the stimulus or some sort of stimulus, you know, we keep talking about slight improvements in housing, they're there. but housing prices are likely going to fall another 10% to 15%. up to half of americans with mortgages could be under water where the mortgage is worth more than the home. you can argue over the magnitude of it, but -- >> california, florida, and nevada have all turned. once it goes down 40% or 50% we get a dramatic increase in sales. >> yes, a bottom is formed. between now and when you actually start to see an improvement, most people think their homes are worth more money could take a long time. until you get there, that's the biggest thing most americans own, it's hard to take this thing off the table. but a turn is not a recovery. >> somebody sitting at home having their cereal right now, does not have a job, it could be another two years before they get one? >> i don't want to say that, no. i think the recovery is happening. i think it could be a shorter period of time. you've got to hang in there. things are getting better. >> things are getting better. but historically it takes about 2 1/2 years until employment situation fully recovers.

>> this economy is turning. >> but it could take awhile. >> thank you very much. it is 7:12. >> all right, meredith, now to the fiery debate over health care reform. as tempers flare at town hall forums all across the country, some are starting to ask if all that hostility is even about health care anymore. nbc's chief white house correspondent chuck todd has more on that. hi, chuck. >> good morning, matt. well, look, as you said, what is really being debated at these town halls? the intricacy of health care policy or something else? clearly what we're seeing is an exposure of a familiar, but deep, partisan divide. >> the supreme court of the united states -- >> reporter: the president took a break from selling health care to host a celebration at the white house wednesday for his supreme court pick, sonia sotomayor. >> this moment is not just about her. about every child who will grow up thinking that him or herself that sonia sotomayor can make it, then maybe i can, too. >> reporter: he praised her achievement as the nation's

first hispanic justice and only the third woman to sit on the court. >> it is this nation's fate, in a more perfect union, that allows a puerto rican girl from the bronx to stand here now. >> reporter: but outside of washington, that face of a perfect union seems to be facing a test of sorts. >> this is not health reform, this is control! >> reporter: the angry outbursts at these town halls appear to show a nation divided on more than just the issue being debated. >> hey, hey, hey! >> reporter: is it health care policy they're really upset about, or is it something else? >> for a lot of people coming to the town hall meetings this is a debate about america's role in the economy, and how actively the federal government should get involved. >> reporter: the white house isn't buying the hype. even blaming the media for ginning up this story. >> i doubt we're seeing a representative sample of any series of town hall meetings, despite the food fight on cable every day. >> reporter: but with cable hosts calling him racists and questioning president obama's

citizenship, and demonstrators portraying him as a nazi with a socialist agenda, is this going down a dangerous road for the gop? >> republicans run the risk of overplaying their hand and they themselves being associated with very extreme charges and extreme rhetoric, and that can backfire. >> reporter: and white house aides even believe that the angry pictures might stiffen the spines of some wavering congressional democrats and get health care passed more quickly. another unintended consequence could be a more united gop going into the 2010 election year. >> it's the most unified republicans have been since president obama won the election. >> reporter: now, matt, don't expect a change in the president's tone tomorrow at his town hall in montana. more importantly, they like to see congressional democrats learn from senator claire mccaskill, who we saw here on the "today" show yesterday. >> chalk todd at the white house. as always, thank you very much. >> and let's get a check of the rest of the top stories. ann is on assignment so hoda kotb is filling in at the news desk. >> good morning, everybody. a wildfire in northern

california has forced hundreds of people from their homes in santa cruz county. that fire has burned more than 1,000 acres and is threatening some 250 homes. in afghanistan, the taliban is being blamed today for roadside bombings that killed at least 14 civilians, including three children. meantime, it is the second day of a major marine operation against the taliban. today marines helped a family flee to safety after their home was caught in the cross fire. u.s. troops are trying to break the taliban's grip on the area in advance of next week's presidential election. former vice president dick cheney reportedly believes former president bush stopped taking his advice during his second term in the white house. according to "the washington post," cheney, in informal talks about his upcoming memoirs, said the statute of limitations has expired on many of his secrets. his memoir is out in 20:. in detroit this morning, a fiery end to a police chase, as they were pursuing a suspect. the suspect's car crashed and burst into flames.

an important recall this morning, little taikes is recalling more than 1,000 little toys and trucks. there has been one report of one child needing to be hospitalized. you can go to our website at todayshow.com. louisville basketball coach rick pitino apologized wednesday for what he called an indiscretion. the married father of five admitted to a woman six years ago and giving her money for an abortion. the woman is facing charges that she tried to extort $10 million from pitino. and the bear in southern california apparently thought this backyard pool was just right on wednesday. he took a dip, and then wandered off after beating the unbearable heat. >> oh. it is 17 minutes past the hour, let's go back to meredith and al. >> what was that little laugh there? >> going

>> you are going to see variably cloudy conditions today, slight chance of showers and thunderstorms, and some of those could be heavy. flash flood watch for the eastern shore until this evening.

that's your latest weather. meredith? >> al, thank you. a public wake is being held on cape cod today for eunice kennedy shriver. the 88-year-old founder of special olympics and sister of john f. kennedy died on tuesday after suffering a series of strokes. nbc's andrea mitchell is at the church with more, including a look at the next generation of kennedies set to take over the family's legacy. andrea, good morning. >> reporter: good morning, meredith. in a family that has suffered more than its share of losses, jfk, bobby, jackie, and john jr., eunice kennedy shriver will be celebrated and mourned today for her extraordinary contributions outside the world of politics. in the small parish church where kennedys have long celebrated life's joy, like caroline kennedy's wedding, and its tragedies, like the 1998 funeral of bobby and ethel kennedy's son michael, after a skiing accident in colorado, the family and surrounding community will

gather today to honor eunice kennedy shriver. it is a passage made all the more poignant by her young brother teddy's valiant battle against brain cancer. president obama, awarded the veteran senator the medal of freedom at the white house wednesday. >> the life of senator edward m. kennedy has made a difference for us all. >> reporter: on honor accepted by his daughter. even in the kennedy family eunice was a star. familiarry patriarch joseph kennedy sr. once said she would have been the first catholic president had she been a man. in fact her achievement, including empowering the mentally challenged, will stand the test of time alongside those of her more famous brothers. >> even though the history books will be filled with jack kennedy and bobby kennedy running for president, when you change attitudes in a country and in a people, that may be an even greater lasting legacy than simply being in politics for a certain period of time. >> reporter: with eunice's death and her brother's illness, carrying on the family legacy rests more heavily on the next

generation of kennedys and shrivers. among them daughter maria, journalist and first lady of california, who has taken on the cause of alzheimer's research, the result of her father sargent shriver's affliction with the disease. >> when i walk in the door i just try to go, even though i'm 52 years old, hi, daddy. >> reporter: from tim shriver carrying on special olympics. mark shriver helps run save the children. caroline kennedy, who failed to catch on as a senate candidate in new york, remains a champion for public education. bobby kennedy jr. is an environmentalist. his sister kerry kennedy a human rights activist and kathleen kennedy townsend, former lieutenant governor of maryland. >> eunice proved that you don't have to run for office to have an enormous impact. i think some of them will do that. i would not be surprised to see some of these folks run at some point. but this third generation will make, i believe, a big contribution to the country, and already is. >> reporter: but the younger generation has its share of troubles, as well.

teddy's son patrick, a rhode island congressman, recently re-entered a treatment center for alcoholism and prescription drug abuse. today's wake will be open to the public and then the family will reconvene tomorrow at another church in nearby hyannis for a private funeral. meredith? >> andrea mitchell, thank you. and coming up, one of the biggest stars on the planet. ann's exclusive interview with brad pitt. first::.

still to come, the host of a reality tv crime show suspected of ordering murders to boost his ratings. we'll get the latest on that. >> plus, what is next for the sea captain held hostage by somali pirates. captain richard phillips is in the studio along with his wife.

>> live, local, latebreaking. this is wbal-tv 11 news today in baltimore. >> good morning. i am stan stovall. a community activist and a 5- year-old girl both struck by the same gunfire -- stray gunfire in the same neighborhood. 11 news sat down with a former fbi agent who grew up on the streets of west baltimore. he says that people are not numb to the senselessness of the

violence. rather, they feel they have no way to escape. he says communities have to get outraged about the culture of violence even when it does not directly impact them. let's check on the morning commute with sarah caldwell. >> several accidents to get to bid on southbound 29 and old frederick road, we have an accident there. possible delays at belvedere and northern. another crash wrapping up at north point and quad in the area of a dundalk. doing quite well as far as delays this morning. not a bad ride around the area. still in the summertime traffic pattern for a few more weeks. we have some delays there. that is normal. southbound 295 from the beltway to west nursery road. that is the latest on traffic pulse 11. >> temperature-wise, we are in the 70's.

a 70 downtown, 68 at the airport. 70's on the eastern shore. a kind of a moist air mass over us. a little patchy fog this morning. fog will burn off. a little bit of sunshine this morning. we will stay very bleak cloudy. 80 to 84, cooler-than-normal temperature range. chance of scattered showers and storms, some of which could be strong. there is a flash flood watch in effect for the evening. they have strong, heavy downpours. >> next

7:30 now on a thursday morning. it's the 13th day of august, 2009. cloudy, gray here in new york city. doesn't seem to bother the people out on the plaza. and hopefully, they'll be here for flo rida tomorrow as he performs out on the plaza in our 8:30 half hour. if you're in the area come on by. i'm matt lauer alongside meredith vieira. coming up in this half hour, captain richard phillips. the man held hostage by a band of somali pirates. navy s.e.a.l.s came to his

rescue in dramatic fashion after a long, five-day ordeal. this morning, captain phillips and his wife andrea are with us exclusively. they'll talk about the ordeal and really how it's changed their lives, and what the future holds. >> also ahead, brad pitt. the actor speaks out in an exclusive interview with ann about his passion, his definition of true love, and if he'd ever consider running for mayor of new orleans. you're going to hear what he has to say about that. >> but we'd like to begin this half hour with the host of a crime-based reality show in brazil, who's accused of ordering killings to boost his ratings. nbc's peter alexander has the latest on this. peter, good morning to you. >> reporter: matt, good morning to you. these days reality tv shows will go to great lengths to try to get your attention. but murder? the lead brazilian investigator tells nbc news the host claimed his popular program was essentially investigative journalism. that he was helping police crack down on violence, a crusader against crime. but police now say he was actually the one orchestrating many of those crimes.

for nearly 20 years, host wallace souza's crime-fighting reality show was brazil's version of must-see tv. led by his vigilante front man the show's crews were famously first on the scene, often before police, capturing exclusive and graphic video of violent crime. sometimes, as they happened. brazilian authorities now say souza's constant team of scoops wasn't the product of good reporting, or good luck. it was something far more sinister. souza went as far as creating facts, this police chief explains, and ordering the crimes be committed to generate news for the show brazilian investigators suspect souza, and his son commissioned at least five murderers, allegedly to knock off drug trafficking rivals in the dangerous amazon region. this week investigators seized illegal guns and ammunition as

well as $575,000 worth of cash from a safe in souza's home. now prosecutors and the judge are getting their own police protection. after receiving threats. wallace souza became a media personality after his career as a police officer ended in disgraced. fired for his alleged involvement in theft and fraud scams. but souza's television career pat consulted him to success as a politician, getting elected three times. twice with more votes than any other legislator in the state. souza's lawyer says the latest accusations are false, blaming a conspiracy devised by his political enemies. a once popular brazilian crime show, now redefining a tv hit. souza's show went off the air late last year as the police investigation began to heat up. for now he remains free with legislative immunity that prevents him from being arrested as long as he is a lawmaker. it is reality tv brazilian style. >> peter, thank you very much.

let's get a check of the weather now from al roker.

>> we have to first contend with showers and storms possible this afternoon. 83 is the forecast high. a slight chance of showers and storms. pop up when it comes t where you guys from? >> massachusetts. >> good to see you all. thanks for coming. meredith? >> al, thank you. now to ann curry's exclusive interview with brad pitt. this month marks the fourth anniversary of hurricane

katrina, and the hollywood superstar has dedicated himself to rebuilding his adopted hometown. he recently sat down with ann to talk about that work, his political aspirations, and his definition of true love. >> we are sitting in the house of a woman who just, after four years, moved back in this house because it was made available, thanks to your organization. >> and it's nice to see. it's homey. now it's somebody claims it. she's claimed it and made it her own. >> a home they can finally call their own. >> they couldn't apply for a full house. >> it's where we caught up with brad pit in the lower ninth ward of new orleans. for the last four years, brad pitt's charity, make it right, has been rebuilding the area hardest-hit by hurricane katrina. his goal, 150 homes by the end of 2010. and now world famous architects like frank gherry are pitching in to make it right. how excited were you when you heard that frank gerry, the man who designed the gugen him

guggenheim in bilbao spain was going to be designing homes for displaced people? >> it's architecture at its best, solving problems for an area and coming up with solutions for how we live. >> what has he come up with? >> it was designed for sue plexes. >> two-family homes? >> uh-huh. we are the greenest neighborhood in the united states already. and that's only recipient houses. that's really sad. we will be 150 houses next year. and you know, it's an extraordinary success. at the same time, i'm irritated because there's 4,000 homes that were lost in this neighborhood. we're just scratching the surface. now let me tell you the good news. we got families here that have moved in and they're coming home with $20 utility bills. $12 electric bills. >> thinking back to when i first talked to you about this, there was so much excitement when you first announced what you were going to try to do in the lower

ninth ward. and then you started to see houses rise from the wreckage of katrina. the pink landscape that you created. but what is your message to people who have money, who are not spending it on charities? >> really, i don't know what people's personal situations are, so i'm hesitant even to speak. >> i know you don't want to talk to people about what they can donate -- >> make it right new orleans dot org. >> get it right. >> i don't want to discourage anyone. >> a lot of people, though, have turned their attention to other things and not to new orleans. but yet you got on a plane last night to be here for today because you want to pay attention to this. >> well, i want to see this through. it means something to me. so it's not -- it's not a big act. i'm actually i get antsy when i can't get down here. >> you talked about i care about this, have you seen the t-shirts? >> yeah, i've seen the t-shirts. >> i'm looking at this here and it's pretty good. it's got a -- there's a -- there's a nice rendering of you,

i think. right? it's chosen, would you run? >> yes. >> would you serve? >> yes. i'm running on the guy marriage, no religion, legalization and taxation of marijuana platform. >> okay. >> i don't have a chance. >> would you want to be the guy? would you take it -- >> didn't i just answer it? >> no, you didn't. you didn't answer it. >> that's my answer. >> your answer is, no way. because you're not the guy? >> i don't have a chance. no. it's not what i do best. >> what brad pitt does best is focus on family, film, and fanning the media frenzy. pitt usually avoids talking about his personal life, in a recent cover story for "parade" magazine he spoke candidly about his idea of true love. if i could ask you about this, you said something really actually wonderful to "parade" magazine recently. you said, do you know how to tell real love? it's when somebody else's interest -- >> this is where we get -- >> no, don't. it's when somebody else -- this is good, no, because i'll tell you why, it affected me.

it's when somebody else's interests trumps your own. love of someone else, a family, of your kids, becomes the most important, most worthwhile thing in your life. >> yeah, i stand by that. some day it won't always be there. so i don't look forward to that day. so. >> so you think about that possibility. >> well, it comes with it, now know. the greater the love, the greater the loss, as the saying goes. >> and for more on brad pitt's make it right program logon to our website, todayshow.com. want to hear more from brad next week when his new film is released. up next the man who was captured by somali pirates and held for five days on the high seas. we're going to catch up with captain richard phillips.

this morning on "today's update" one of the year's most captivating and compelling stories. back in april, everyone was talking about captain richard phillips. he was taken hostage by somali pirates and held for five crueling days aboard a life boat. captain phillips and his wife

andrea are with us exclusively this morning and we'll talk to them in just a couple of minutes. but first, his story of bravery and determination against seemingly insurmountable odds. the return home safely to a hero's welcome, richard phillips, the captain of the "maersk alabama." in his humility and appreciation, captured american's hearts. >> i am just a bit part in this story. i'm a seaman doing the best he can. >> reporter: after days of tension a happy ending. phillips was at the helm when somali pirates boarded his ship april 8th. the ensuing five-day hostage drama ended easter sunday when navy sharpshooters shot and killed three pirates, taking another into custody. >> from start to fin, how long did that final operation take? >> for me it felt like five minutes. it was probably seven, eight seconds. i had no idea. time was fractured for me. >> you hear the shots and then complete silence? >> complete silence.

and then an american voice. >> when you heard the american voice, you realized, no, i've just been rescued. >> yeah. i thought that. yeah. >> was that just a moment of pure elation? >> no, still surreal. i wasn't elation until i was in the rim boat, away from the life boat. coming up next to the navy ship with some military people in the boat. it took that long, which was probably 15 seconds, but it took that long. i was still trying to get over what happened. >> reporter: since phillips' return home, life has been filled with flash bulbs and honors, with a visit to the white house, a first pitch at fenway, a key to new york city, and perhaps no surprise, he signed a book deal, and has a movie in the works. it's a new kind of life for a ship's captain turned american hero. and captain richard phillips and his wife andrea are with us exclusively this morning. it's great to see you guys

again. >> good to see you, matt. >> i think the last time we spoke it was just a couple of days after you got back, and after the way this ordeal ended, rich, i mean it was clear to me at the time you were still a bit numb. how long did it take you to get, figuratively speaking, your feet back on the ground, and kind of put into perspective what happened? >> it actually took a few weeks. and as one person said to me, give it a month before you make a decision, or change anything. and i would say a few weeks for it actually to back to normal, and started calming down. >> you had some amazing experiences in the time since then. and i'm wondering, andrea, if you'll chime in on this, also, was it emotional to be in the oval office with the president, considering the fact that here's the most powerful man, arguably, in the world, commander in chief, and he's the guy who personally said it would be okay to use deadly force. he gave the orders to say, it's okay to save your husband's life. >> it was for me. i think actually the phone call that i got sunday evening, after

richard got rescued, i think i was a little more emotionally, justifiably so. but sitting in the white house was just -- just never thought i would ever find myself there. and it was just overwhelming to, you know, have met somebody who actually was involved, and you know, you could say a powerful man. >> saving your husband's life. >> saving my husband's life. >> did you talk to the president, ritchie, about the future in terms of merchant marines and how you might be able, if he might be able to make some changes to prevent other crews from finding themselves in your situation? >> we basically just talked about the current situation that's still ongoing, even today. there's still ships taken, still seamen taken. albeit, not a united states seaman. but there are still people over there being held captive and still being attacked today. >> you know, you would favor a little bit more pro-active steps? you were left there on the deck of the "maersk alabama" with firearms. that's basically what you had to defend yourselves.

you would like to see more aggressive steps taken by other ships? >> i would like to see more reinforcement of the path of aggressive which is the industry standard. and giving us the tools and the assets to keep the incident from going any further. >> we're talking about incidents happening like this in the future it raises a very simple question. are you going back out? >> i'm due to go back on my normal rotation in late september. >> you're due to go back. let me ask the question again, are you going out? >> i really haven't made my mind up. i am looking at other options of things that have come with the incident. but i'm due to go back late september. >> i talked to you after this and i said is he going back out and that was months ago, and you said, we're going to see. >> yes. >> do you have a say in this or are you just tired of having him around the house? >> i got to -- i told richard whatever decision he made i would stand by him. >> are you worried, though? >> not really. i always said richard is a smart guy and whatever he encounters or does when he's out at sea, he

does it right. >> with what you've been through over the last several months since you got back with the white house and the first pitch at the red sox game and the book deal and the movie deal, and honors at the maritime academy where you graduated, it's almost impossible for that not to change a person. have it changed you? >> i don't think it changed me basically. there are definitely a bit more opportunities, more doors opened to me. actually, more decisions i have to have make with the book and a possible movie. and i'm speaking with the walker agency. so there's many opportunities, there's more decisions which -- >> a little more complicated? >> a little more complicated than was previously in my life. >> the big question if the movie goes forward, who do you want to play andrea and who do you want to play you? >> i'd like to play myself. >> a big break. who should play ritchie? >> oh, gosh, i thought of a few people. he jokingly said danny devito. but i'm all for maybe george clooney.

>> and she wants to play herself. >> harrison ford. >> also george clooney plays him, you want to play yourself. >> or harrison ford. >> i get it. >> it's great to see you again. good luck. we'll keep posted. >> we will. >> we're back right after this.

still ahead a troubling phenomenon among teens that many parents know nothing about. >> plus new evidence that a healthy sex life at home translates into success at the workplace. tell you about that after your local news.

>> live, local, latebreaking. this is wbal-tv 11 news today in baltimore. >> good morning. i am stan stovall. let us get a check of the morning commute with sarah caldwell and traffic pulse 11. >> let's check on several accidents. southbound 29 and old frederick road, we have one there. you can see all the red on southbound 95, and volume- related delays in the beltway

today 895 split. and that accident to report at north point road and wight avenue on a dundalk region. 26 miles per hour as you make your way to providence. let us give you a live view of traffic. at the bw parkway, other delays. we will switch over to a live view of 95 just south of the beltway. a bit of a delay their as well. >> we are going to have a chance of showers and storms again this afternoon. 83's the forecast high, a little below normal. 82 in ocean city. also because we saw intense showers and heavy downpours on the eastern shore. there is a flash flood watch in effect for this evening, including the delmarva eastern shore. the ground there is already saturated with heavy downpours.

more showers and storms later on this afternoon. high pressure will build in, giving us a little more sunshine. by next monday and tuesday and wednesday, up into the upper 80s. >>

8:00 on this thursday morning, august 13th, 2009. right now our crowd is flowing to the music of rapper flo rida, who will take over our summer concert series tomorrow. tomorrow on "today." i'm meredith vieira outside with matt lauer and al roker. >> we have to pass along some other news. mariah carey was going to be here on friday august 28th for a concert on the plaza. unfortunately that concert has to be postponed a little bit. we'll have a future date.

but on friday september -- august 2th, we've got miley cyrus. >> oh, wow. >> she's going to stop by and perform on our plaza. so we should have a huge crowd for that and we are very happy to report it. we'll get you information on the mariah carey concert as soon as we have it. >> that's very exciting. we love her. meanwhile, ahead in this half hour, a disturbing trend among teens that a lot of parents have never heard of. it's generally known as cutting and it's hurting yourself on purpose. one teen will share her emotional story and advice on how to deal with it for both parents and teens. >> also ahead, here's an interesting question for you, does a healthy sex life at home increase the chances that you would have a more successful career at work? >> oh, yes. >> i think so. >> if you can get out of bed and go to work, sure. >> we're going to take a look at the results of an interesting study on that subject that really contain none of meredith's findings.

>> there you go. and the competition on nbc's "america's got talent" is heating up. >> absolutely. >> last night five more acts will go to the semifinals. voices of glory, detective tenors, paradiso dance, the fab five and tony ward. and rory. they'll eventually join 15 other acts vying for a chance to win a million bucks and headlining performance in a las vegas show. >> the guy's name is tony ward? >> that's "america's got talent," tuesday/wednesday nights at 9:00, 8:00 central here on nbc. >> speaking of top stories, ann curry is on assignment today. hoda kotb is standing by at the news desk. >> good morning, guys. good morning, everybody. the man serving a life seine ten for the bombing of pan am flight 103. abdel basset ali al megrahi was

the only person convicted in the terror attack over lockerbie scotland that killed 270 people. a scottish judge is considering an early release because al megrahi is reportedly dying from cancer. a decision is expected by the end of the month. a fast-growing wildfire is burning in northern california threatening at least 250 structures. the fire is just north of santa cruz, and is moving closer to property of lockheed martin. hundreds of people have been evacuated. rescuers in taiwan are having a hard time yetting to areas hit hard by this week's typhoon. hundreds of people are still stranded in remote mountain villages. more americans are on the verge of losing their homes. realty track said the number of houses that received a foreclosure notice in july was up 7% from the month before. that is the highest monthly level in four years. today jetblue is offering a new one-month unlimited flying pass that will allow travelers to fly as many times as they

want, anywhere the airline flies for $599. the pass would be valid for travel between september 8th and october 8th. researchers say the number of people dying from cancer has declined over the past 30 years. they say younger adults, age 35 to 45 years old, showed the steepest decline. researchers linked the improvements to advances in cancer screenings, and treatment. family and friends are gathering on cape cod later today to mark the passing and honor of a legacy of eunice kennedy shriver, who died tuesday at the age of 88. a public wake is being held in a small church in massachusetts. her funeral will follow tomorrow. and a 5-year-old new york boy is being hailed as a hero this morning. quick thinking, he called ni ee after his pregnant mom blacked out in their home last week. he gave his home address, and worked with the operator to try and wake her up. the boy was honored wednesday as a junior paramedic by new york

fire commissioner. the mother, who is just fine, says she told him what to do in case of emergency when he was just 2 years old. the little boy wants to be a firefighter or a police officer now. it is now four minutes past 8:00. >> little boy is off to a good start, too.

>> we are looking at temperatures, 70 downtown, 68 at the airport. 70's on the eastern shore. there is a flash flood watch through this evening. a chance of scattered showers and storms today.

that's your latest weather. now let's head back to matt. >> all right, al, thank you very much. these ladies ditched their students just to be on the "today" show. there's something very wrong about that. nice to have you here. when we come back we're going to talk about some teens who hurt themselves on purpose. one brave young lady will share go college and need a laptop. what do you got? you, in the top corner. our next class laptops could be perfect for you. we got student feedback and designed them specifically for college. are they legit brands, though? boom! we partnered with hp, toshiba, sony and dell. okay. uh, what's the square root of 841? 29. announcer: laptops designed for college and thousands of people eager to help. nothing. you don't enjoy things the way you used to.

you're sad, restless, you can't focus. maybe you feel guilty or worthless. changes in weight, sleep, appetite and fatigue. cymbalta can help. cymbalta is a prescription medication that treats 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. severe liver problems, some fatal, were reported. signs include abdominal pain and yellowing of the skin or eyes. talk with your doctor about your medicines, including those for migraine, or if you have high fever, confusion and stiff muscles, to address a possible life-threatening condition. tell your doctor about alcohol use, liver disease, and before you reduce or stop taking cymbalta. dizziness or fainting may occur upon standing. side effects include nausea, dry mouth, and constipation.

ask your doctor about cymbalta. depression hurts. cymbalta can help. summer days were not good to my skin. (announcer) new neutrogena total skin renewal. it's clinically tested to help undo the look of a year's worth of skin aging in just one week. do-overs do exist. (announcer) total skin renewal neutrogena. how about beer-battered shrimp and chips... or one of our coastal soup and grilled shrimp salad combinations? eight dishes that fit into your lunch hour... starting at just $6.99. at red lobster. on tuesday i go in even earlier than usual. thank goodness for eggo, a nutri-grain waffle... with a quick smudge of cream cheese. at least that part's easy. there's only one way to eat an eggo... your way. l'eggo my eggo.

we are back at 8:10. this morning on "today's health," a disturbing condition increasingly seen in young people. it involves cutting, burning and biting one's body. 19-year-old katie stewart had a very happy childhood. but when she was 13 she started feeling depressed, and that's when it started. i want to warn you that katie's story is disturbing. >> on the outside i was happy. i was smart. and i had a lot of friends. and as far as everyone knew, everything was fine. it was just that i was falling apart inside. i used to go in my bathroom and i had a drawer full of razor blades and band-aids and things and i would cut myself. i cut myself whenever i felt really bad about myself. i spent most of my time trying to keep it a secret from my parents and my friends. i always wore long sleeves. i started looking for other ways to hurt myself, and i began to chemically burn myself on my shoulders and on my thighs.

i wanted to die everything in me. i wanted to kill myself. my cuts got deeper. really, my entire arms are scarred. i cut my hips, i cut my legs. i cut the word stupid, filthy, worthless, fat, inadequate. all into my body. kind of as a constant reminder just of what i thought of myself. the worst thing i did probably is i tattooed the word worthless on my chest. when i was 17 i poured boiling water down my legs. and i think that was really the breaking point for me. because after i had done it, i was in immense pain, my legs were covered in second degree burns. they were swollen and blisters, and as i was laying there in the hospital they pulled up my sleeve to put in the iv and they saw all the cuts. pretty much that it wasn't normal. that i wasn't going to exist much longer if i continued to do this.

i got into treatment on my 1th wirth day in january 2008. it's been over a year. i still want to cut myself a lot. but, i learned that i can't be perfect all of the time, and that i'm loved, even if i'm flawed. >> katie's story will be featured in the september issue of "seventeen" magazine. the editor in chief is with us along with nbc's chief medical editor dr. nancy synderman. good morning to you both. katie's story is disturbing. even more so because you realize that it is not unique. and your magazine polled its readers, asked young girls, have you ever harmed yourself, inflicted wounds on yourself, and the results were shocking to me. >> 51% of "seventeen" readers say that they have intentionally hurt themselves. so the skashiest part about katie's story is that this is the new normal. these are pretty, popular girls who feel this incredible pressure, and they're taking it out on themselves.

>> why do they do that, though? >> you heard a word that katie said, perfect. they strive to look perfect. the outside of these kids, they seem to have everything. most of them are affluent. they're doing well. they come from marriages that seem to be intact, they're on their way to college. but this need to be something. when i talk to adolescent girls over the years, i think why? because i needed to feel something. i'm so numb. i just don't feel anything. so whether it's pleasure or pain or that weird combination -- >> with katie it seemed to be a combination. she wanted to let the pain out, she wanted to punish herself and she also wanted to finally feel. >> a weird exhilaration the girls will talk about. >> is it a syndrome in and of itself or is it part of something much bigger? >> i think the root of it is depression. and i think we underdiagnose and we do not legit mass depression in our preteens and teens. there's no doubt to me that it's a psychiatric illness. there's something else going on in these young girl's lives and you absolutely need professional

help. >> and why are we seeing it more in girls than in boys? >> i mean, the same reason we see annex yeah more in girls. a lot of, where do i fit in the universe? boys will barrel through it more. and they get contact sports. >> girls internalize their angst. they say they feel ugly, they feel worthless. they never live up to anybody's expectations. just as you said, it's a form of punishment. a very private form of punishment. >> is it a cry for help or a sign that in the future, the tendencies will get more suicidal? >> i don't think there's a risk of necessarily being suicidal, because the real link to self-loathing, we teach young girls in this society not to like their bodies. i mean, look -- i have to, girls in women's magazines, everything is photoshopped. nothing is normal. so when you're naked or in your cotton underwear and you're looking in the mirror and you think this is my normal but it sure isn't ver good. madison avenue is the normal. we know as adults that it's not

true. but you can't say that to a 13-year-old. >> but to go from that to cutting? >> not really. and when the pressure is being the best on your lacrosse team, going to the school, and everything starts in fifth grade, what do you want to be when you grow up, if not earlier, we, whether we see it or not, see a disconnect. these kids do not see a disconnect. >> let me ask you, because a lot of these kids wear long sleeve shirts or bangles or the whole thing to hide the fact that they are harming themselves. what's the parent to look for? what are the warning signs? >> i would never go into somebody's room or snoop unless i thought there were drugs or self-mutilation or a real problem at school. the kids get smart. bangles, long sleeves, and hot weather, if they aren't wearing tank tops but long sleeve shirts, roll up those sleeves. and don't forget which hand your kid is. a left-handed kid will cut on the right arm. so don't just pull up the arm that you think makes sense. watch for changes in eating

disorders. watch for changes in friends. things at school. >> and is there a treatment for it? >> well, so often our girls are saying that this is a very private thing and they don't want to be caught. you know, this is the sort of -- it is a cry for help but it's a very private ritual that they're going through. and it's very hard to spot. absolutely, with 51% of these girls cutting themselves, it's impossible that they're not being caught, but they are. they're keeping it to themselves. >> did you put this article in the magazine in hopes of reaching other kids out there that may be doing this to let them know there is help out there if they need it? >> it's so important for girls not to feel alone. to know that somebody cares about them, that they are paying attention. and just -- >> the shame is unbelievable. >> we're going to have to stop at that point. i know nancy, you're going to be talking about this on your show. >> on msnbc on dr. nancy. >> also talk a little bit about what kind of help is out there if girls need it. as always, thank you very much. the september issue of "seventeen" featuring katie's story is on newsstands now. dangerous plaque that can build up

in arteries. it's called atherosclerosis--or athero. and high cholesterol is a major factor. but crestor can help slow the buildup of plaque in arteries. go to arterytour.com and take an interactive tour to learn how plaque builds up. and then ask your doctor if crestor is right for you. along with diet, crestor does more than lower bad cholesterol and raise good. crestor is proven to slow the buildup of plaque in arteries. crestor isn't for everyone, like people with liver disease, or women who are nursing, pregnant, or may become pregnant. simple blood tests will check for liver problems. you should tell your doctor about other medicines you're taking or if you have muscle pain or weakness. that could be a sign of serious side effects. learn more about plaque buildup at arterytour.com. then ask your doctor if it's time for crestor. if you can't afford your medication, asazeneca may be able to help. mom vo: my job is to give him mom everything he needs totory reposucceed.im.

mom: that's why i go to walmart. vo: find all the brands those other stores have but for low walmart prices. vo: like dell, hp and toshiba. save money. live better. walmart. gathering dust, as pollen floats through the air. but with the strength of zyrtec ® , the fastest, 24-hour allergy relief, i promise not to wait as long to go for our ride. with zyrtec ® i can love the air ™ . as much calcium and vitamin d as milk, and so creamy smooth and bold, they'll love getting calcium and vitamin d to help bones grow. ♪ bigger (look at me) ♪ ♪ better (see me go) ♪ ♪ stronger(let it show) ♪ (announcer) new smoothies from sunny d! what do you say to a spin around the color wheel?

- to paint with primer already mixed in? - ♪ yeah yeah yeah... - test samples instead of can commitments? - ♪ whoo! - what do you say we dip into our wallets less... - ♪ are you feeling it? - ...and grab ahold of the latest tools out there... - ♪ oh! ...so we can quit all that messing around with extra steps - and get busy turning our doing dials up a notch? - ♪ whoo! ♪ oh! more saving. more doing. - that's the power of the home depot. - ♪ yeah yeah yeah.

we're back now at 8:21. this morning on "today's relationships," can a healthy sex life at home give you the upper hand at work? a new study suggests that men and women find more success at the office when they have a healthy sex life at home. here's nbc's mara schiavo campo. >> reporter: she's always been a type-a employee. but lately, she's been an a-plus. >> i have really been hustling a lot at work in the past month. >> reporter: what's changed? >> i've been seeing somebody recently. and it's been great. >> reporter: several weeks ago,

she started seeing someone she's compatible with, mentally and physically. she says it's the physical intimacy that's been helping at work. >> i've been feeling really productive, and really focused when i'm at work. when the physical part of any relationship is there, and going well, it helps you balance out your sensitivity, and your drive, and anxiety. >> reporter: could a healthy sex life make you more productive at the office? hollywood seems to think so. and biological anthropologist dr. helen fisher says it can in real life, too. she analyzed 40,000 personality tests from the dating site chemistry.com and found that those with higher levels of the brain chemical dope minimum and testosterone reported earning more money. so what does that have to do with intimacy? well, dope minimum and

testosterone are driven up by a fulfilling sex life. dr. fisher's theory, happiness in the bedroom can lead to success in the workplace. >> amin is associated with success, and creativity. walk into the office with those kind of feelings and you're going to be better as a team player. >> a little more self-confident. >> i usually feel very relaxed, but quite creative. >> more energy. >> more energy. >> reporter: but for all the benefits there could be an unexpected downside. for employers, that is. >> sometimes i want to get out of work earlier wp >> reporter: for "today," mar are schiavo-campo, nbc news, new york. >> ian turner is a clinical sex therapist and the author of "love in the time of colic" robi ludwig is a psychotherapist and a contributing editor for cookie magazine. this is one of those studies that's going to get a lot of headlines but take those out for a second. is there something to the study? >> oh, absolutely.

i think when you have a healthy sex life, you tend to be more confident. you have more self-esteem. you feel loved. you feel valued. and all of those feelings play a really -- >> but that's attitude. you're talking about attitude. and this study talks more about chemistry. >> right. but when you have a good sex life it does affect the chemistry in your brain. it helps with the endorphins which is the feel-good chemical. >> after all these people talked about feeling relaxed. oxytocin is a hormone that's released during sex and that does contribute to the a sense of feeling good, relaxed, connected. so i think that helen is right. that those brain chemicals do have an impact. >> robi, didn't this deal basically, though, with married couples? >> yes. >> not dating couples. >> and that's right. when you think of that, in order to have a good sex life when you're married you have to have good communication. because sex really is a form of communication in marriage. so if you're communicating well with your partner, and they're getting you to feel loved unconditionally, you probably have good skills in that area, which translates to your work

life. >> i have one of these weird logical minds, so i'm always looking is there another study out there that has studied the people who have an unhealthy sex life at home and are they then less successful at work? >> i think you could say that is true. i counsel a lot of couples who are stuck in sex ruts. and i could say that these folks, they are more depressed. they are more frustrated. they tend to be more distracted and anxious at work, and yes, they are vulnerable to workplace flirtation. infidelity. when you don't have a happy sex life at home, when you're not happy in the bedroom, it affects everything else. >> i think people want to feel loved and they're in the right relationship. when people have a healthy sex life in a marriage they tend to think, you know what, i'm really with the right partner. that does get you to interact with your environment in a very different way. >> and solving the problem in the 23 seconds i have left, the way to get healthier sex life goes right back to that word communication. >> communication, and just do it. kind of set that as a priority to have within your relationship. >> robi and ian, thank you very much.

still to come on a thursday morning, eating right when your family is traveling. it's sometimes a very difficult thing. we'll get some tips on that. >> live, local, latebreaking. this is wbal-tv 11 news today in baltimore. >> good morning. i am mindy basara. baltimore city leaders have approved a deal could lead to a casino being built on city-owned land near m&t bank stadium. it would be built on a stretch of land near russell street that had previously been approved for a sports complex. the baltimore and a to a group has plans to build a small casino in a less visible location. let's get a final check on the morning commute with sarah caldwell. >> a couple of accidents have been cleared, but we have replaced them with new ones.

another one in upperco and trenton road, trenton mill road, off with plain blockages in that area. southbound 95 is in the red from white marsh to the beltway. 27 miles per hour is the out of the speed sensor in providence. it slows but on the outer loop at 40 on the west side. the beltway of the bw parkway, still dealing with southbound delays from past the beltway to west nursery road. we are almost at a standstill moving from white marsh down to the beltway northeast. santer has a look at the forecast. >> we will see clouds rolling in by this afternoon as well. right now we are in the low seventies across the board. with showers and thunderstorms potentially developing, we will only be in the low 80s today. at b.w.i. marshall, a high of 82.

for tomorrow, mid-80's, more sunshine in store for us. slightest chance for a pop-up thunderstorm as high pressure builds in. >> thank you for joining us. you have another update at 8:55.

we are back,:30 now on a thursday morning. 13th day of august, 2009. not the nicest morning we've had here all week. but not the worst. and we've got a nice crowd, we can always say that. and these people, here's a birthday. with these people stick around for a couple of more hours. actually 24 of them, they will get to check out one of the

hottest rappers around. what are we doing? okay one of the hottest rappers around, flo rida out here on the plaza tomorrow morning. he's going to light it up. everybody got their apple bottom jeans? >> absolutely. >> i just asked hoda the same question. >> it's the bottom. they're a type of jeans. >> if you've got a little junk in the trunk. and we like that. >> apple bottom. >> not bottom down here. >> thank you for filling us in. >> that's what we're here for. >> speaking of concerts, take a

>> variably cloudy, showers and storms potentially, 80 to 84. we have a flash flood watch in effect for the eastern shore because we had heavy downpours last night. that's your latest weather. now let's head down to washington, d.c. and say hello

to big willie scott! how are you, sir? >> oh. good to see you big guy. you're beautiful as ever. thank you. wish the people at home could hear that song he sings in the morning. >> yes, i do. >> one day we're going to get that and play it back. the last day. that will be the last day. happy birthday. take a look as our jar spins around. the jar of life that i get the cue card. okay. we got francis deibel of dayton, ohio. home of more inventions than any city in america. did you know that? 101 years old. has over 100 friends that always big fan love him. computer has been his friend for 85 years. and he's a priest for 83 years. we wish him a very happy birthday. edna reynolds, brooklyn, new york. 107. began dressmaking in her early

20s and is now retired. we love her. she likes to do yoga. we have rose heiman, philadelphia, pennsylvania, 100 years old today. tasty cakes. remember those? they still make those, don't they? former bookkeeper, enjoys going out to lunch with friends and loves to talk about living in russia as a young girl. probably there when the czar was there. they've got a bunch of them in town here. dancing with the tsars. that's his best line. arthur grewe, keeps busy testing out different tools. he's kind of an inventor. improves on things. loves to do the lawn. josephine grillo of culver city, california. 100 years old. graduated from college at 81. how about that? never too late. enjoys going to the casinos for

a little shot at poker. crazy about poker. and significant zi dugal, andover, mass, 100 years old. builds cradles. meredith is back in little new york. we've got bugs down here, meredith. >> all right, willie. i've got barbie next to me. the real barbie. 50 years old. happy birthday to you. in her pink. up next how to eat right on your next family road trip. you going away? >> yeah. >> there you go. >> i am. >> i hope you're eating right.

"today's travel" on the road is brought to you by goodyear. get there on new fuel max tires. >> and this morning on "today's travel" on the road we're talking about eating right. if the healthy guidelines you live by at home go right out the

window on a family road trip, you're not alone. elizabeth ward is a ledgestered dietitian who also works for "usa today." hi, elizabeth. >> good to see you. >> this is hard. you're on the go. you're eating at roadside restaurants, at convenience stores, airport restaurants. sometimes it's hard to stay healthy. >> it's definitely hard to stay healthy. once the key goes in the ignition the diet goes right out the window. we're here with some great meals and snacks. >> the goal is to keep people below 2,000 calories a day. you did research. did you find that easy or hard? >> i didn't find it as hard as i thought i would. we could cobble together meals at fast food places, mini marts and convenience stores that put people on the right track. >> let's start with breakfast. this may surprise people. you want people to eat eggs. >> i definitely want people to eat eggs. protein at breakfast and i want them to eat breakfast. because breakfast sets the tone for the day. >> your choice is here starting with mcdonald's. >> two scrambled eggs and an english muffin and some orange juice, very satisfying because

of the eggs and because of the protein level. >> moving on to burger king. >> orange juice. what is that? >> that's an egg and ham omelette sandwich. again the ham adds a little more protein. >> let's keep in mind, this is inexpensive eating, as well. then you went to a convenience store and you thought this was a good selection. >> right the cheerios have the whole grain and i love that in a meal. a little bit of extra protein with the egg and we've got the milk and the banana. very filling. >> this is all right in the 400 calorie to 500 calorie range? >> all the meals are under 550 calories. >> okay. let's move on to lunch. a lot of people say i'm going to have a very light lunch, middle of the day, they're on the road. you think they should actually bulk up at lunch. >> you should load up at lunch within reason. and that's because you don't want to have the hungry horrors at 2:00 and be pulling off the road and looking for your next doughnut. we've got some nice selections. mandarin chicken salad from wendy's. very filling. actually the lettuce has water in it. >> 540 calories. >> and we've got the bean

burrito from taco bell with the rice. beans are very satisfying. very high in fiber. they keep you fuller for longer. >> and that's got 460. and these are some snacks that you like, right? this is a lunch. >> this one was a surprise to us, because this is a roast beef and cheddar wrap that we found in a convenience store. you probably should eat only about half of the sandwich and save the rest for dinner. but if you take it and combine it with fruit and milk, you've got a meal. >> okay. and again, any time you can stop off and get fresh fruit whether it's a banana or the cut up fruit, that's obviously the best way to go. >> that's always the best way. it's not always the easiest. >> for a snack, fig newtons, i love those, for an apple. you're trying to keep yourself, bridge the gap between lunch and dinner. >> snack smart. snacks should be mini meals, not meals. especially when it comes to the kids. this is something i give to my children. it's got fiber from the apple and the fig newtons. >> baked potato chips along with

a little bean deep? >> this is a shocker. i had no idea we could get away with under 250 calories and get some fiber in with this snack. this is great. >> popcorn and a slice of sharp cheddar cheese. >> some dairy. and this is a whole grain. >> only 30, 40 seconds left. go through dinner. >> eat light at night because you want to stay alert, especially if you're traveling and you're on the road. we've got burger king burgers here. the two small ones, a side salad and we've got some milk from kentucky fried chicken, again, what a great place, you can get grilled chicken. you can get lots of sides, vegetables. we got two servings of vegetables in this meal, which is really hard to do. >> and finally you've got a little late-night snack. >> this is from a convenience store. >> in combination if you pick one of these lunches, breakfast, lunch, snack and dinner you can stay below the 2,000 calorie mark? >> and you can have one or two snacks even. >> fresh fruit, fresh fruit elizabeth, thank you very much. to learn more about eating right on your next road trip check out today's edition of "usa today."

up next a mother determines her walk to her son stationed in iraq. we'll explain how she did it, not once but twice.

we are back at 8:44 and now to "today's american story with bob dotson." this morning a tale of two mothers, their friendship forged by war, and one remarkable quest. ♪ >> reporter: determination is a better road map. better than google ever made. vivian white is only 5'1". no taller than a corn stalk. but she is determined to jog nearly 6,500 miles. that's the distance from her

home in illinois to her son's frontline army post in iraq. >> every mile that i run every day in my mind brings him that much closer to being home. >> reporter: so far, more than 1,000 miles since brian went to war last january. 5,500 to go. neighbors quickly realized that she would need help covering that distance. word got around. soon, others who had kids in harm's way started walking or running, and adding their miles to bring her closer to brian. >> this is the 32nd running of the boilmaker road race. >> reporter: sandy utley knows the pain of a life put on hold. >> 10k. >> reporter: her own son nick went to fight in afghanistan. >> that was tough. not knowing, am i going to see him again?

>> the rocket pr-propelled gren hit the right side of my truck. two of them at one time. >> you walk and you walk and you walk. >> reporter: until her feet bled. because no words could convey the fear she felt. >> you can't reach out and give him a hug when you know it's been a bad day, or times are tough over there. >> reporter: so she hugged vivian, instead. >> it's nice to meet you. >> thank you so much for coming. >> reporter: then added the 140 miles she had walked to vivian's total. why do you feel compelled to get in a car and drive half a day just to see her? >> she's a military mom. i know what she's feeling. >> reporter: both moms raised small-town sons who had never lived away from home.

brian grew up in charleston, illinois. nick, in gwanda, new york. both boys turned 20 in harm's way. >> this is nick. coming home. >> wow. >> but that was the first we'd seen him and it was a long journey home, as you can tell. >> reporter: nick's national guard unit came back from afghanistan just as brian's army division was shipping him to iraq. >> my hope is every mother's story is going to end with their sons all come home, their daughters come home. but reality, that's not always the case. >> reporter: so she keeps marching. nick had a mission and now you do, too. >> i feel i need to still keep walking and walk until we bring all of the men and women home. >> there are days when you just don't feel like running. those are the days when i think

about brian and think, you don't get days off in iraq. ♪ for every 300 miles we get to add new feet. >> reporter: then tell brian in kirkuk. >> can you hear me now? >> reporter: that's where vivian and her army of moms are now. >> we're at 14,867. >> whoa. >> yeah, pretty cool. >> reporter: i'm already home. >> yes, you're home. >> reporter: thanks to 300 people, in 42 states, jogging and walking, and donating their miles so one mom can feel closer to her son. >> i think that's the power of a mother's love. >> reporter: not just the ones with kids in harm's way. even those whose kids have come home. >> put your hands up. >> reporter: for "today," bob dotson, nbc news, with an "american story" in utica, new york.

>> and up next, an iconic picture that became the cover of the original woodstock album. that couple there, where are they 40 years later? you'll find out.

this weekend marks the 40th anniversary of woodstock, and there's one image in particular that kind of captures the spirit of that legendary event. meredith and a friend wrapped in a blanket. this is not meredith. but this photo was featured in the original woodstock album cover. so where is that couple now? here's nbc's brian williams. >> liftoff. >> reporter: there was a lot going on in the summer of '69, and so three days in the country in upstate new york seemed like a good idea to a lot of people. ♪ somewhere in the crowd was photographer burke, and early that sunday morning, as jefferson airplane took the stage. >> good morning to you all. >> reporter: he took a picture. >> it was a very gentle thing. you could see people still asleep, and people just beginning to come to.

and they just stood up and gave each other a big hug, and sort of, you know, held onto each other for a little bit. and then it was over. >> reporter: it wasn't over. the photo made the cover of the hugely popular woodstock soundtrack album, and became an instant icon. but who were those two people? well, she was 20-year-old bobbie kelly who worked at a local bank. he was nick eurkeline, also 20, a college kid with two jobs. both were from upstate new york. they started dating just two months earlier, and married two years after woodstock. these days bobbie is a school nurse, nick is a retired carpenter. and the best news might just be that they are still married. we asked t ed them to return to site of the woodstock festival and share their memories 40 years later. >> it just sounded like something spectacular was going on and we needed to see it. >> this was something so close to us, why would we miss it?

>> reporter: the draw of woodstock was the music, a marathon concert by some of the '60s' biggest stars. but the real star of the show turned out to be the crowd itself. half a million strong, far bigger than anyone expected. >> there was singing, there was crying, there was shouting, there was laughing. there were so many people. there was so much going on. >> they were from all over the country. they came from all over the world, as a matter of fact. but we were all kind of alike and we all wanted to get along. >> it was about peace and love, and the generosity and the sharing, and the togetherness. ♪ freedom >> our music reflected a lot of things growing up, civil rights, the women's movement, anti-war protests. that was the main draw that was here. this is our music, this is us, this is our time. >> reporter: this countryside fell silent long ago, and in all these years, they never met the

man who took that famous picture until just this spring. >> it's a pleasure. it's a great honor. >> the honor was mine. >> welcome to our home. >> reporter: the moment was captured by a documentary film crew as burke photographed nick and bobbie once again. this time for smithsonian magazine. >> with all that they've symbolized in this photograph, now they're still living it, how beautiful is that? >> reporter: this is the picture that matters most to the eurkeline's these days, it's about family. but that photo taken so long ago will always be part of their lives, and ours. >> yeah, it's me and bobbie. but it's more of a couple of kids caught in a moment. that's how i look at it. it's really awesome to sit back and say, wow, that's really reflective of my generation. >> our kids have grown up with it. it's part of who we are. it's part of who they are. and it's a wonderful thing to share with somebody that you love.

>> what a great love story. >> it's so sweet. >> wonderful. >> our lights are doing a little woodstock thing back there. >> yeah. >> wow, look at the colors. look at all the colors. >> now i remember the '60s. >> wow. >> maybe shouldn't have had those mushrooms up in the commissary. wow. >> i'm happy. >> i'm happy for them. >> of course i'm very happy for them. that's wonderful. you were 12? >> i was 12. in woodstock but at camp kennybrook. down the road. down the road. summer camp. saw a lot of helicopters, that's all i knew. >> my parents would have never let me go. >> no. >> i was a sophomore in high school. >> me, too. >> i was 8. >> oh. >> live, local, latebreaking. this is wbal-tv 11 news today in baltimore.

>> good morning. i am mindy basara. it was a case of deja vu for senator ben cardin as he took the health care meeting -- town hall meeting on health care reform to hagerstown. angry voters raised many the same objections that were brought up at monday's meeting. >> how are you boy to put my children in the eyes and tell them they will have a better future with a $99 trillion -- >> similar anchor was despite across the country this month as members of cars used to the august recess to meet wi

>> now let's take a look at the forecast with sandra shaw. >>-83 degrees in central

maryland. invariably cloudy. piquancy strong thunderstorms develop. -- we could see strong thunderstorms develop. only 82 on the beaches of ocean city. tomorrow, the little front that is causing disturbances with clouds and storms is going to wash out, dissipate. high pressure will build in. partly cloudy, high of 85. slightest chance at 10, 15, 20% of the public thunderstorm. >> we will have another update at 9:25. authentic iced lattes from dunkin' donuts. made with real espresso, milk, and whipped cream, to help you take a break from reality. treat yourself for just $1.99 today.