good morning. breaking news. they're in. rescue crews have entered that west virginia coal mine to resume their search for four missing miners and it could be just hours before we know what happened to them. we're live at the scene. air scare. a major security incident on a united airlines flight from washington to denver. fighter jets scrambled, other airlines alerted of a possible terror attack. turns out it was all apparently caused by a passenger smoking in the bathroom. and one big step. president obama and his russian counterpart sign a landmark treaty overnight to slash both countries' nuclear arsenal. a key move toward the president's goal of ridding the world of nuclear weapons "today," thursday, april 8th, 2010.

captions paid for by nbc-universal television and welcome to "today" on this thursday morning. i'm meredith vieira. >> i'm matt lauer. this morning there has been a major break-through at that west virginia coal mine where at least 25 workers were killed in monday's explosion. >> that's right. after spending more than a day drilling ventilation holes overnight, officials determined the air was safe enough for rescuers to enter that mine. they are now in there searching for those four missing miners. we'll get the latest from the scene in just a moment. also ahead, the latest on that situation aboard united airlines flight 663. it happened last night and led to some extremely tense moments. the flight was about 30 minutes outside of denver when a flight attendant smelled smoke as a passenger left the bathroom, when the man was confronted, he apparently made a joke about setting his shoes on fire. that's when authorities were put on high alert.

fighter jets were raced to intercept the flight. we'll have more on what was a tense situation coming up in a couple of minutes. plus, today is the day tiger woods makes his return to competitive golf this afternoon at the masters. we'll go live to augusta and also take a closer look at the controversial new nike ad featuring tiger woods and the voice of his late father. we want to begin with the drama that's unfolding right now in west virginia. nbc's tom costello is in naoma with the very latest. tom, good morning. >> reporter: matt, good morning. at 4:55 east coast time this morning, these 32 rescuers entered the mine. before they went in, they had to shave very, very closely to their skin because the rescue mask, the breathing apparatus, has to fit very tightly against their mouth. the concern is they are going into an area that's had very poisonous gases. they believe those poisonous gases have now dropped enough that these rescuers can venture five miles deep into the mine.

for days now the drilling operations have been going round the clock. 1,100 feet above the mine to vent lethal levels of methane, hydrogen and carbon monoxide, all with the goal of clearing away for four eight-man rescue teams now going in to search for the four missing miners. >> we're still in a full rescue mode. >> reporter: experts say the miners would likely have only survived if they made it to 1 of 2 rescue shelters inside the mine where there should be enough oxygen to last at least four days which would take them to friday from monday's blast. >> if things would go right, naturally the rescue team would be able to advance up to that refuge chamber. >> reporter: overnight the people of this small mountain town gathered together praying for loved ones missing and those deceased yet still inside the mountain. >> i have some dear buddies that are still in there. >> reporter: stanley stewart works in the mine. early in the day wednesday he was still waiting for word on who's missing and who's confirmed dead. >> i went to sleep and i can't

get tired. i just sit up at night and my eyes are just wide open. >> reporter: meanwhile, some veteran miners who still work for the mine operator, massey energy, say they believe the company's approach to safety led to this tragedy. yet they fear retribution if they show their faces. >> it's like safety's put to the side just to get more coal. who can outrun who. it don't matter what you do or how you try, you just got to keep running coal. there's no excuses. >> reporter: ray worked in the mine for 28 years and says federal inspectors need the authority to permanently shut down unsafe mines. >> the law's got to change. in this country, unfortunately, every law that's ever been written for a coal miner's been by blood. >> reporter: back here live at the scene. each rescuer that is now in the

mine is carrying 30 pounds of gear. again, they have to travel five miles in to the mine. they are hoping that they will reach the site where these men, if they're alive, would be by noon. and if these men have not survived, they would then switch to a full recovery mode for everybody who's in that mine and who is deceased. matt, back to you. >> tom costello in west virginia for us this morning, he's been covering this story since it started as well. another man working around the clock since monday's explosion is joe manchin, he is the governor of west virginia. he's just been included in that briefing. governor, thank you very much for joining us this morning. >> thank you, matt. >> take me through the details here, governor. we've got these rescue crews now headed -- they're in the mine. they're traveling in a vehicle at this stage? is that correct? >> man trips. they're on rails and a man trip. they'll go back as far as that will take them. then they have to do the rest by hand. tom said by foot and by hand carrying everything in.

at 4:55 they made a decision to go in. we got four teams, 32 people. up until then we had to make sure that we had air safe enough. that determination was made late last night after the final testing was done and the rescue workers have been chomping at the bits to go for a long time. they made the decision, and at five until 5:00, they advanced up to about the 82 grade. we'll know something this morning, maybe before noon, if they're able to get back to the 22 section. that's where they were able to get before when they were pulled out because of lethal gases. that's where we know we have three unaccounted for. that's where we know we have a chamber we haven't check. there is that sliver of hope it would be a miracle of all miracles. the families know that. i've spoken to the families this morning before we did the briefing and i can tell you, the families' desires are this, matt -- they understand we're in a full rescue mode. that means that we go in strictly with the purpose of finding these four unaccounted for miners. if, for some reason, we're

impeded and can't go back for the gases are still too strong, they'll do a temporary block, to temporarily seal that area but not -- not seal it but just keep the gases there so they can start working and hopefully, with the family's wishes, go into a recovery and a rescue mode at the same time. their desire is to bring their loved ones, their family members, out as quickly as possible. we will try to grant that. but the main thing is safety for our rescue operators. >> i just want to make sure we're clear here. because in the early days of this tragedy, it was reported that 1 of 2 safety chambers had been checked. that's correct. so there's really only one left that has not been looked in. >> there might be two left that they're telling us. they check i think two or three chambers as they were working themselves then, and they had been shown not to be breached or there was no reason for those to be deployed. that means no one was there.

the drama of this whole thing and the anxiety that we have is that where four people -- we know long person, where there is a nine-member team, they accounted for eight. one's missing there. and there were again nine people back in section 22. six have been accounted for but three's unaccounted for. and that's the chamber they could o not get and check. if someone was able to get -- or all three, then we feel they're going to be fine. if -- that's a miracle and it is a very slim, and our hopes are still a hope, but we understand the odds are long against us. >> just to clear something up, so as these rescue crews go in to look for the missing miners, will their path take them past the location where the deceased miners' bodies are, and would some of those rescuers then immediately start to extricate those bodies? >> first, yes, it will take them

by where they had located the bodies of our miners. they will go into a rescue mode, they will not stop at that time and the families understand. we've spoken about that. they will be totally rescue mode trying to locate the four that have not been located. if for any reason we're impeded in doing that, we will rotate right back, keep a crew working for rescuing and finding those, and the rest of the crews will start in to that. that's what we intend to do. >> you can only imagine the emotions of the families of the missing miners right now. governor manchin, are there counselors with these people? now that the crews are in the mine, they must just be on pins and needles, waiting for any news, good or bad. >> you're right. the emotions are very -- but these are such wonderful people, they're such god-fearing people and they believe in their god and they believe in their families. and the family units are so

strong, we've had people, matt, there for four days straight that will not leave the staging area we have. we're protecting the families and nurturing them and loving them, but it is tough. right now, they want this to be concluded. we're going to do everything we can to do it as quickly as possible. they're making the decisions. i'm asking them, what are their wishes? i go back and i convey that to all of our rescuers, all of the people making these decisions. but they know safety is the first and foremost thing. but also, they say it is time to bring our loved ones -- our brothers, our fathers, our dads, home. bring them home. >> governor joe manchin of west virginia, just such a difficult time. governor, thank you for your time this morning. once again, our thoughts are with everyone down there. thanks. >> let me tell you, we feel the prayers and we appreciate them so much. >> governor manchin, thanks. ten after the hour. here's meredith. now to the security scare caused by a suspicious passenger aboard a united airlines flight from washington to denver.

nbc's chief justice correspondent pete williams is in washington. pete, good morning to you. >> good morning. a very strange episode started with something illegal but far less sinister -- sneak a cigarette on-board a flight. but with the smell of smoke and a flippant remarks, it turned into something more worrisome. it happened as the flight was in its final half-hour on the way to land in denver, flight 663 from washington to las vegas with a denver stopover carrying 157 passengers and six crew members. a passenger in the first class section spent a long time in the bathroom. when he came out, a flight attendant smelled smoke and notified a federal air marshal. the federal agent confronted the man who said he was putting out a cigarette on the sole of his shoe, but then he also made a sarcastic remark, something to do with a shoe bomb. the pilot notified air traffic controllers, fighter jet escorts were scrambled, two f-16s, the faa notified other pilots in the air of a possible terrorist

incident. the man was restrained on the plane and searched. he was actually wearing sandals, not regular shoes, not even a trace of explosives was found on him. the plane landed and taxied to a remote part of the runway and bomb-sniffing dogs made another check of the plane and found no explosives. federal authorities say the man at the center of all this is a diplomat from the persian gulf country of qatar, identified as 27-year-old mohammed al madadi, assigned to qatar's embassy in washington and seen in what we thought was a photo of him. because he'd normally have diplomatic immunity, one thing to work out today is whether charges will be filed and if so, what his disposition will be. >> pete williams, thank you. dave was sitting just a few rows behind the man who caused all the commotion and joins us now from denver. good morning to you, dave. at what point during this flight did you realize that something was wrong. you were sitting a couple rows behind this diplomat. >> right. so i was about two rows behind

and we saw the guy that ended up being the air marshal up in the front of the cabin, up in the front galley with the individual and at first, i mean they were up there for quite a while with him. at first, several of us thought that they were just guys kind of -- pre-9/11. remember, they used to hang out in the galley and chat with the flight attendants and tried to get some free drinks. we thought it might be that for some time. then there was a lot of activity where one of the air marshals was moving back and forth and he traded places with the woman sitting next to the person of concern, as they called it. and once that happened, i was able to see the air marshal's weapon. it was clear that -- through his shirt and it was clear that there was something really serious going on. they then sat the individual down, put one air marshal next to him and one air marshal about two rows ahead of him. at that point we dropped a lot of altitude and we were pretty close to the ground, which i'm not sure what that procedure's

about, to cut off the cockpit communications that you can ordinarily listen to on the headphones. we knew something really serious was going on. we didn't know if it was a device or a bad guy. either case is really ugly. right? >> i understand you actually poke to the woman who was sitting next to this person of interest. what did she tell you? >> what she had said is that the man got up and went to the bathroom several times. the last time that he went to the bathroom he was in there for quite a while. 15 minutes. when he came back he smelled of smoke and just as she was putting two and two together, the flight attendant put two and two together as well and confronted the man, said were you smoking? were you smoking? were you smoking? he apparently made a gesture like he was trying to strike a match on his shoe. i mean how ridiculous can you be? so, at any rate, that's when the flight attendant then notified the air marshals and they got involved. i have to say that both the air marshals and the united crew were unbelievable. the air marshals did so much to

keep the situation really low key. if you weren't right there within two or three rows you wouldn't have had any idea what was going on because they did such a great job of keeping it low key. there was no grabbing the man or restraining him or handcuffing thim or things like that. it was really remarkable. and more to the point, the united flight attendants and cabin crew were just fantastic. you can't imagine -- i certainly can't -- the kind of pressure that they were under. it was just remarkable. from thank goodness it ended the way that it did. thank you so much. >> you're welcome. thanks for talking to me. >> 7:15. here's matt. now to a big step toward nuclear arms reduction. president obama arrived in prague, czech republic, overnight where he just signed a new treaty with russia. it is a major move in his push for a nuclear-free world. nbc's chief white house correspondent chuck todd is actually there. chuck, good morning to you. >> reporter: good morning, matt. well, look, this nuclear arms reduction treaty is nicknamed ask the start."

for president obama he hopes it is just that, a start to even more reductions in both countries' nuclear arsenals. receiving a red carpet welcome in prague, president obama returns to the czech capital, the site of his major address on nuclear policy a year ago. >> the existence of thousands of nuclear weapons is the most dangerous legacy of the cold war. >> reporter: to sign a new nuclear arms reduction treaty with the world's only other nuclear super power -- russia. hosted by the czech president, the russian president and president obama, they posed for photos and put pen to paper. >> while the new start treaty is an important first step forward, it is just one step on a longer journey. as i said last year in prague, this treaty will set the stage for further cuts. >> reporter: the treaty limits deployed nuclear warheads to 1,550 total for each country, a cut of 30% from the last treaty in 2002. long-range nuclear weapons are

limited to 700 for each country. combined, the two countries account for 90% of the world's nuclear weapons with seven or countries accounting for the other 10%. experts say this treaty are only be a success if it leads to the russians agreeing to even more cuts. >> this treaty was really thought of as a stepping stone to the next significant reduction. >> reporter: today's historic agreement is another series of nuclear reductions between the former cold war adversaries dating back decades. of course, nuclear weapons isn't the only issue between the two countries. what to do about iran's nuclear ambitions was also on the agenda. >> the united states and russia are part of a coalition of nations insisting that the islamic republic of iran face consequences because they have continually failed to meet their obligations. >> reporter: now both presidents are participating in a joint news conference here in prague. in fact, the first question was about the biggest sticking point

in these negotiations -- missile defense. it looks like both presidents agreed that they would continue those negotiations. where would the u.s. build missile defense shields and whether that would lead to further reductions in tactical nuclear weapons on the russian side which is of course what places like here and the czech republic fear, matt. >> chuck todd for us in prague this morning, thank you very much. now let's get a check of the morning's top stories. natalie morales is filling in for ann at the news desk. good morning, everyone. just days before toyota announced that big recall in january, one executive urged the company to come clean about safety problems. he warned colleagues in a newly surfaced e-mail, kwtd we are not protecting our customers by keeping this quiet. the time to hide on this one is over. we need to come clean." five days later, toyota recalled millions of vehicles with gas pedal problems. the executive later retired. two big airlines, united and us airways are in merger talks

this morning. cnbc's trish regan joins us with more. why the talks and why now? >> natalie, good morning. it is a very tough business model these days, the airline industry. the hope is that these two major airlines, if they were to combine, then they would be able to better compete in the global marketplace. specifically with delta northwest which of course merged. so it is kind of a hope that they would have that edge that they would gain from being such a big operation. but natalie, they've been down this road before in 2008. they tried to merge with continental. both of them did. they got a lot of opposition from the unions. once again that's going to be in the cards here. they'll have to get the unions on-board. >> trish regan at the new york stock exchange, thank you. police in afghanistan say they have arrested five would-be suicide bombers. it was the biggest suicide team ever caught in kabul. the taliban has released a new video of a man it says is an american soldier. he was captured last june in

afghanistan. it is not clear when the video was made. if you've been suffering from seasonal allergies, you aren't alone. expert say record levels of pollen are popping up due to the unusually cold, wet winter we had. the pollen is so sick, it's creating a haze over some cities. that explains a lot of the sneezes and sniffles around here. 7:20. back over to matt, and al. look at all the eye-rubbing. >> the good news is the cold front will be moving into much of the east bringing thunderstorms but it will wash a lot of the pollen out of the air. boy, here in the northeast and into the mid-atlantic states, record highs yesterday. boston, 90. providence, 92. allentown, 92. washington, d.c., 91. temperatures a little bit more moderate today with temperatures upper 70s, low 80s. then that front moves through tomorrow and those temperatures really take a tumble. 62 in new york city. only 61 in washington. boston with a high of 57. scranton, 54 degrees.

rest of the country looking at plenty of sunshine, from the plain states down into texas with a big beneficial area of high pressure. new big low pressure areas move into the pacific northwest bringing big storms into there with lots ofs of >> and that's your latest weather. matt? >> al, thanks very much. just ahead, is it brilliant or offensive? the controversy surrounding the new tiger woods ad as he begins play at the masters. but first, this is "today"

on nbc. ]

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it's 7:26 on the 8th day of april. in the news for today, an early morning fire forced 21 people and two children out of their homes. the fire is at a complex on jacobs road. it started in an end unit and spread up the back of the building and jumped across to other homes. investigators say no indication the fire was intentionally set. we will come back and look at the weather and traffic.

temperatures in the upper 60s and the forecast for today with increasing clouds and the risk of showers and potentially strong thunderstorms arriving 6:00 this evening and after that. jer he? >> a live look along 95 and 395. very heavy into the intense sunshine. no accidents into downtown. one more stop. jam up along 270. germantown down to the split. >> life in the district in the eyes of the first lady. she talks about her time in

washington, d.c. and the importance of reaching out to the community. tune in for a on one interview

7:30 on a thursday morning, the 8th of april, 2010. as we check out everyone in rockefeller plaza. the heat the last couple of days has been above average. we'll step outside and say hi to them in just a little while. inside the studio, i'm matt lauer along with meredith vieira. also coming up, the new tiger woods ad that has a lot of people talking. >> very controversial. the golfer likes straight into the camera as the voice of his late father asks, "did you learn anything?" much more about that and the verbal dressdown woods received yesterday from the chairman of augusta national. scientists think they may

have found a way to tell which smokers are at the highest risk of developing lung cancer, a discovery that could lead to a relatively easy way to reduce that risk. obviously that would be huge news. just ahead, the latest on this research. plus, you'll meet a dog who will bring a smile to your face because he actually smiles when he's happy. this morning, riley is here to share his grin with us. i don't know if he's quite doing it yet. we'll begin this half-hour with tiger woods' return to competitive golf and his first new ad since the sex scandal broke. nbc's peter alexander is in augusta with more. peter, good morning to you. >> reporter: meredith, good morning to you from augusta. for tiger woods, this day couldn't come soon enough as he hopes to finally change the topic from the mistresses to the masters. even before his first drive here this morning, tiger woods is now out with a new ad from his most loyal sponsor, nike. an introspective look.

take a look for yourself. >> tiger, i am more prone to be inquisitive, to promote discussion. >> reporter: on the eve of his return to the game, tiger woods made his return to the airways. staring directly into the camera for this new nike commercial. his late father's voice in the background seemingly lecturing his son about responsibility. >> i want to find out what your thinking was, i want to find out what your feelings are, and did you learn anything. >> reporter: spotted signing autographs at augusta national wednesday, tiger also received an unprecedented dressing-down by the chairman of the exclusive club where women still aren't allowed as members. >> it is not simply the degree of his conduct that is so egregious here, it is the fact that he disappointed all of us, and more importantly, our kids and our grandkids.

>> reporter: before the tournament has even teed off, it's already a masters unlike any other. c cbssports.com, a reporter asked a woman, "ma'am, are you the stripper?" we've just got to be extra careful. the "new york post" also reports to escape the paparazzi, tiger rented two mansions in an exclusive gated community here. the smaller one for his entourage, the larger one for himself. still, on the course, tiger's ever move will be scrutinized, including this easily confused moment tuesday when he appeared to be texting. but a friend said tiger was merely taking video of a playing partner. his wife, elin, won't be here pursuing what some observers are now calling the elin strategy -- not standing by herman but not ditching him either. >> elin's approach is

revolutionary. she's not quite leaving him but she's not quite staying with him. that creates kind of an air of mystery around her and also a fear of priorcy around her family that most other women county up in these tabloid scandals have not been able to have. >> reporter: elin is getting help at home from her father in from sweden. seen here taking his 2-year-old granddaughter sam to an orlando area park. but in augusta, after 144 days away from competitive golf, tiger finally returns, hoping once again to master his sport. >> he's a guy that can walk on to a golf course and his opponents would kind of be weak in the knees. now we aren't sure whether tiger still has that aura of invincibility he had every day he played golf. >> reporter: tiger woods has won four times in the past here at augusta at the masters, but not since the year after the first time he put on the ceremonial green jacket, meredith, have sports writers said that tiger woods is not the clear favorite. >> peter alexander, thank you very much.

he will be the one everyone's talking about. for more on tiger woods and his unusual new commercial, we turn to advertising expert donny deutsch, the chairman of deutsche, ink. this commercial shows tiger in black and white staring straight into the camera while his late father's voice says i want to hear what your thinking was. when you first saw the ad, what did you think of it? >> i think it ad is stunningly brilliant. >> really. >> brilliant. one of the marked strokes of genius. it would be so easy for nike to kind of not advertise now, in six months show him playing golf. it walks right into it and it takes his father who is the conscience, the voice of god, and it just basically walks right in and says, this guy, tiger, is transformed himself, he's reflective. obviously what he did was terribly wrong. but to have his father's voice as the conscience i just think is brilliant. i have to tell you, it is brave,

it is a stroke of genius. >> you see brilliant. others see this and think it is absolutely creepy, that nike and tiger woods are using his infidelity, using his father's voice to sell sneakers. >> look, this is their brand. they have to protect their brand. to not acknowledge it would be safe but i think would be wrong. what they're doing is basically -- he screwed up, and basically probably the most important influence in his life, his father, would be saying to him, what were you doing? why did you do this? if anything, they're kind of giving him one more spanking. >> but tiger woods said in the past his father was unfaithful to his mom. >> but his father was still his guiding force. this is not about who's perfect and who's not. it is about at the end of the day as this guy is about to play golf, his conscience, his guide is saying to him, what were you doing? it is almost saying all is not okay just because i'm playing golf and with every moment i go, this is what i'm thinking about. i think it is an administration that this thing is not over. i think it is such a creative bravery to it.

i salute nike. >> wouldn't it have been braver for him to look into the camera and address -- >> he's done that already. he did that for a half-hour in his mea culpa. this is an ad. nike has to do what's best for nike and their shareholder. i look at that brand and say that's a brave brand. they are acknowledging a controversial spokesperson. >> so they had another choice? >> no. they could have done the safe, easy move, no ads, let him become a golfer again, he wins the masters, then his brand is back to what it was. not exactly. but then in six months, he's playing golf, hitting golf balls. most advertisers wouldn't have hit it head-on, though i think it is a brilliantly stunning move. i give it a 10-plus-plus. folks at nike -- bravo. i'd love to take people down but my mouth dropped. just, wow! somebody's really thinking. >> i suppose no matter what side you come down on, people are talking about it.

>> you can like tiger woods or you can hate tiger woods. as a marketer, it is a brilliant stroke of genius though. >> okay. let's get a check of the weather from al. hey, we're on! hello. shaking hands with friends. this is a huge choir. they were just singing a moment ago. they're from washington state. very nice. all right. let's check your weather, see what's g

good thursday morning. i'm chuck bell. temperatures in the upper 60s to near 70 right now with plenty of sunshine this morning. clouds on the increase and rain showers and thunderstorms are likely by this evening and the heaviest arriving after 8:00 p.m. highs will be in the low to mid 80s before the cool air returns finally for tomorrow. tomorrow's high only 59 and the weekend is looking beautiful with highs near 70 both days. >> and we got some snow back in appleton, wisconsin. these hockey moms, the appleton wizards. don't forget, check your weather, whether you're in appleton or anywhere across the country, on weather channel on cable or weather.com online. we're going back to -- meredith. >> thank you, al. up next, promising new research on a simple way to detect and possibly prevent lung cancer. that's right after this. (announcer) the sinus triple threat.

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we are back now at 7:42. this morning on "today's health," lung cancer. researchers believe they've now found a way to identify people who are most at risk. and a possible treatment for the disease. here's nbc's chief science correspondent robert bazell. >> reporter: despite the enormous risk, only 10% to 20% of current and former smokers develop lung cancer. now scientists are learning why. >> there are significant alterations --

>> reporter: the doctor and his colleagues have identified a set of genes shown in this pattern on a computer chip. >> we specifically found that this high level of activity of these genes precedes the development of lung cancer. >> reporter: before the cancer develops, people with this gene pattern usually get display shah, abnormal cells that often become cancer. >> we can actually reverse the activity using a drug that inhibits this pathway. >> reporter: the drug is a plant product with few side effects, inos. tichlt ol. it is already sold in health food stores. in a small initial experiment, they found in 6 of 10 people the drug returned the gene pattern to normal and their abnormal cells also appeared healthy again. the national cancer institute already is testing inositol in smokers to see if it reduces the rate of lung cancer. with this latest research, it shows treatment could be more targeted. what would you think if somebody took your work to be an excuse

to continue smoking? i think that would be a mistake. lung cancer's only one of many diseases that are associated with cigarette smoke exposure. >> reporter: still, this early work holds the promise of reducing deaths from what is still the biggest cancer killer. for "today," robert bazell, nbc news, boston. >> dr. nancy snyderman is nbc's chief medical editor. nancy, good morning to you. >> hey, matt. >> long way to go here. this is a very tiny study. >> ten people. but cool stuff at the most basic level. this is sort of i think this big take-home message. when you smoke, all those thousands of cancer-causing compounds bathe the airway in the carcinogens that cause early cancers. what these doctors did was put a little brush down into the lung and they got little cells and they looked microscopically at these cells and tried to figure out in which smokers were those cells starting to be abnormal and could they stop a cancer from developing. that's where this is a big

break-through on a genetic basis. >> it is exciting in two areas. one, that they've identified these cells. and, two, that they may have come up with a drug that can reverse the activity in these cells. >> and a drug that's already on the market, and this inositol, found in fruits, beans and grains which sort of tells you, yes, there is a compound on the market, but perhaps what we eat can also have some anti-cancer protection. >> when we talk about 10% to 20% of people who smoke getting lung cancer, i want to make sure i get this right. are those only the people who have activity or excess activity in these cells? >> let me turn that number upside down because i don't like that number. it is only 10% to 20% of smokers get cancer. they die of emphysema, heart disease, colon cancer -- >> they're dying of other things. that's why they don't develop lung cancer. >> yeah. 90% of lung cancer patients are smokers. that's the important thing i want to drive home. so cigarettes are still the number one cause in this country

for everything, including lung cancer. >> i'm glad you said it that way. because you know what happens? people have this mindset where they say, wait a minute, if they can develop a pill that i can take that can reduce my risk of getting lung cancer -- >> i'll start puffing away. >> i'll smoke a couple of extra cigarettes. >> this is not a go-ahead to say, well, if only 10% of smokers get cancer, and after all, if there is something on the market, it can't be a big deal. this is years and one pathway of cancer production. what if there are other pathways that these abnormal cells grew up to be cancer? cool break-through but really, really still in the lab. >> you expect larger studies based on this? >> yes. we already know there is an ongoing study. increasingly, we're going to find cancers at the molecular and genetic level. surgeons like me in 50 years are going to be out of business. that's the way to go. but, man, this is not a free ticket to say i can smoke.

>> nancy snyderman, doc, thanks so much. coming up -- talk about changing subjects dramatically -- we'll meet riley, a dog that smiles. but will he do it here? we'll find out right after this. it's super stylish. oh, and the available dual-view entertainment center? awesome. hold on. i just finished episode 8. oh, boy, if i wasn't married. [ laughs ] i tell my husband the more time i spend in it, the less stressed i feel... and the fewer headaches i get. honey, mommy's having a timeout, ok? [ male announcer ] meet the family and the new sienna on youtube. toyota. and the new sienna on youtube. to talk about our new blueberry juice drinks. they're made with my tasty, ripe blueberries, packed with those antioxidants. let's whip up a sample. or just try this. [ chuckles ]

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made with real fruit and now with more... of the whole grains your body needs. nutri-grain can help you eat better all day. to smile. this is riley, a dog that smiles. he's here along with his owner, maureen. good morning to both of you. that picture was taken on riley's first birthday. that's the first time you actually saw him smile? >> he's definitely made -- he has a wide variety of facial expressions. that's the first time it's ever been caught on camera. >> so have you -- i would imagine you've tried numerous times after that to get him to continue to smile. >> definitely. >> is it easy? does it happen by chance? is there a command you can use? >> i wish there was a command you can use. no, it happens by chance. that picture was just pure luck to get that. >> it wasn't the cake that

provoked it or something like that. >> no. just to be clear, there's nothing in the cake. >> we hadn't thought about that! >> maybe it's gas. >> why did you go there? >> i'm just trying to get to the bottom of this. >> as it were. >> you mentioned other facial expressions. what other kinds of expressions does he offer? >> he sleeps a lot. whenever you pet him he gives you this look that kind of says, can't you see i'm sleeping, leave me alone. and things like that. >> were you surprised he became such an overnight sensation when you put this on the internet. >> i posted it first on my facebook thinking that two give my friends a good laugh. my friend actually -- his name is john -- he's the one that saw the picture on my facebook. he said that he was actually in a night class when he saw it and he laughed outloud in his lecture hall.

he posted it and that's when it started to go viral. >> you going to smile for us, riley? come on! he's like, okay, i like that. >> i've been told that his picture is now a screen saver on a library in iowa or something? >> there you go. >> he's trying. >> thank you, riley. >> it's a mona lisa smile. alright kid, let's get ready for this morning's quiz. christopher columbus sailed the ocean blue... in 14 hundred and 92. nice! follow me, the missouri river is this way! lewis and clark expedition of 1804. oh, he'll never get this. magellan, 1520. awww, my 8 layers must've given it away. help keep your kid full and focused with 8 filling layers... of whole grain fiber found in kellogg's frosted mini-wheats cereal.

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>> the time is 7:56, beautiful blue skies and it's going to be a warm one. i'm joe krebs. in the news today, a smoke and a joke is wa caused a terror scare in a flight that departed from reagan headed for denver. a passenger lit a cigarette and jokingly said he lit his shoe on fire. emergency crews met the flight on ground bound to denver and they questioned and released the passengers and crew. it all appears to be a misunderstanding and do not plan to file any charges. we will take a break

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good morning. i'm chuck bell. temperatures in the upper 60s to near 70. the line of showers with embedded thunderstorms in west virginia will be arriving here with the heaviest showers after 8:00 p.m. >> new york avenue jammed up on the left of the screen. earlier accident on south dakota accident has cleared. over in college park, the beltway is heavy and slow in both directions and the travel lane is open. >> life in the district in the eyes of the first lady. she talks about the importance of

8:00 now on this thursday morning, april 8th, 2010. our summer like weather to about to come to an end but our friends on the plaza are enjoying it while they can. we have stepped outside to join them. i'm meredith vieira along with matt lauer and al roker. great crowd this morning. just ahead, a murder case from california. a man admitted to shooting and killing his former neighbor but the community including the victim's own family, have thrown their support behind the gunman after he claimed his victim had molested him for years.

we'll talk to a sister in a moment. on a much lighter note, have you heard of tom shoes? you know the story behind it? jenna bush hager, our national contributing correspondent will tell us that story. let's just put it this way -- those shoes are good for your soul. that's more than just a play on words. a little bit later on, we'll show you some spectacular photos of sleeping babies. and the babies are just days old. we'll meet the sisters behind these pictures. if these don't bring a smile to your face, nothing will. look at that! >> that photo right there actually brought a smile to the dog's face. >> they are so sweet. but first, let's get a check of the top stories from natalie morales filling in for ann. rescue teams this morning are finally back inside that west virginia coal mine searching for the four miners missing since the monday

explosion that claimed at least 5 lives. west virginia's governor said this morning, the men might have survived if they had reached a secure chamber. he said the miners' families and friends hope for a final answer today on the fate of their loved ones. search teams could not enter the mine until the holes had been drilled to prevent dangerous gases. president obama joined his russian counterpart this morning in the czech republic signing the most significant nuclear arms treaty in nearly two decades committing both nations to reduce nuclear arsenals by nearly a third. the president is confident they'll ratify the treaty. no charges will be filed against that diplomat from qatar blamed for a mid-air bomb scare over denver last night. the passenger apparently joked about setting his shoe on fire when he was asked about smoking in the bathroom. the flight from washington to denver landed safely with a military jet escort. some heavy lifting today for the shuttle "discovery" astronauts.

they made a 13-ton delivery to the international space station, including science experiments, living supplies, and a walk-in closet. of course in space, that would and float-in closet. now here's brian williams with a look at what's coming up tonight on "nbc nightly news." >> natalie, thanks. coming up tonight on "nightly news," if you are a suffererer, i don't have to tell you -- allergy season is awful this year. this season promises to be a heavy one. we'll explore the reasons why tonight on "nightly news." natalie, we'll look for you tonight. for now, back to you. >> thank you, brian. 8:03. let's go back outside again to matt and meredith. >> we're over he

>> per good thursday morning. i'm chuck bell. plenty ever sunshine first thing, but the showers are now moving into far western west virginia. temperatures in the upper 60s to around 70. it will be a mild day with

temperatures into the low and mid 80s. a chance of rain with stronger thunderstorms possible after 6:00 this evening. rain showers should be gone and the weekend looks dry. >> we've got an official teenager. what's your name? >> nadine. >> happy birthday. >> thank you. >> now back over to matt. when we come back, a serious story. a man who shot and killed another man he says abused him as a child. so is he a murderer or a hero? we'll get into that right after this. [ female announcer ] with 45 published clinical studies,

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back now at 8:09 with the murder case that's shaken a california community to its core. a man accused of gunning down his former neighbor who he says abused him for years. now the town is rallying around the shooter. we'll talk to his sister in a moment, but first nbc's lee cowan has the details. >> reporter: it's picture postcard perfect. how could anything go wrong here? but behind the picket fences of ft. bragg, california, lay one town's dark secret. >> i had no yesterday that our neighbor was the kind of guy that would rape kids. >> reporter: mindy used to live next door to a boy scout leader named darryl mcneal. she trusted mcneal, just like her brother, aaron vargas, trusted him. but last february, aaron, now an adult, drove to this remote trailer and shot mcneal

point-blank with a pistol. was there ever a time that you looked at your brother as a murderer? >> no. when i look at aaron, i see a sad little boy that needs help. >> reporter: the crime was shocking for his family. not as shocking as his motive. aaron alleged mcneal had molested him for years, starting when he was just 11 and continued stalking him even after he became a parent. >> i think aaron thought that his child was going to be next and i think he just snapped. >> reporter: suddenly, aaron didn't seem the monster. and the community felt betrayed. >> i'm full of grief, and anger, and guilt. >> reporter: because you thought you should have seen it? >> yeah, somehow. >> reporter: as the story started spreading around town, so, too, did the rumors that aaron might not be mcneal's only victim. at least 12 other boys, now men,

came forward with similar accusations but there was no one left to prosecute. there were no tears either. in fact, there were almost cheers. demonstrations, yard signs started sprouting up. there were bumper stickers, even t-shirts, all supporting aaron. you think it was justified? >> definitely. >> reporter: richard says his brother, james, told him that he was stalked by mcneal, too. it so damaged him that he committed suicide. in richard's eyes, aaron is a hero. >> i think he ought to get an award. i'm sorry. >> reporter: letters started pouring in to the district attorney's office begging for leniency. most surprising -- even mcneal's own family didn't want aaron punished too severely. although mcneal was never charged with child molestation, his wife, liz, told the d.a., "i believe my husband had a secret life," and continued that "i do not believe that a state prison

sentence would be appropriate." if it all sounds a bit like vigilante justice, his attorney makes no apology. >> if it is vigilante justice, it is. but it is a murder. >> reporter: he entered a plea this week to involuntary manslaughter. aaron could nsentseuld b could more than time served. a man still shackled by his past. nbc news, lee cowan. >> mindy is aaron's sister. good morning. there was a point where the d.a. wanted a 50-year sentence for your brother and wanted a murder trial. as lee just pointed out, he may get out with time served. you don't want him to serve one more day in jail though. why is that? >> it just doesn't make sense to punish someone who's been put through hell for 20 years. he's the victim and he's not a danger to the community, he's a very kind and caring person. why torture him anymore?

why continue the abuse and put him in jail is continuing the abuse. >> he says the abuse began when he was 11 years old. you didn't know at the time what had happened to him except that he changed. >> right. i saw drastic changes in aaron when we were children. i didn't know what was wrong but i knew something was really wrong with him. he was in so much pain. >> he went from a happy kid to a very troubled, very troubled adult. >> yeah. he withdrew from his friends, from his family. he was just sad and angry. he could just see it in his eyes. he was in pain. >> you say that you think that he snapped and that's what led him to mcneal's home with a gun. tell me more of what you belief happened. >> i believe that mcneal had mental control over aaron. it was like he was holding him mentally captive for 20 years. aaron could not escape him. he was that scared little boy

around mcneill. i think aaron became a parent and it put into perspective what was done to him and how horrible it was and then i think he felt that his child was in danger and that his child was going to be next and i think as a parent, the instinct to protect your child -- >> do you think he went there that day with the intent of killing him? >> i think he went there with the intention to scare him to leave him and his family alone. >> but he did fire that gun. >> whether or not the gun went off accidentally, that will be discussed at the next hearing. >> would it matter to you if he made the decision in the moment to kill the man, if it was vigilante justice? >> i still wouldn't put that label on it. because aaron wasn't seeking revenge. he's not a vengeful person at all. it's really not a case of

vigilanteism. the post traumatic stress disorder that he has and the harassment and the stalking and the risk of his child being abused. that's not vigilanteism to me. that's just a desperate man who's trying to protect his daughter and himself. >> i know you've spoken to him. he's in jail currently. what message does he want to get out about why he did what he did? >> i know he would be very hurt to be labeled as a vigilante. i think he just wants people to know that he's been through hell and that he hit his breaking point and he feels for all the other victims. he feels for the mcneills and he just wants help. he's crying out for help. >> and the fact that the suspected molester's own family, including the widow, has pleaded with the judge for leniency, what does that say to you? what does that mean to you? >> it says to me that they understand the situation and that they know aaron to be a very kind and gentle person and that he doesn't deserve to be locked up. >> since his arrest, we've

discovered at least 12 other people have come forward and say they, too, were molested. some said that they reported this to the police years ago and nothing was done. do you think if something had been done, maybe your brother would have been spared the torment he went through? >> yes. he probably would have never been abused in the first place if something would have been done when it was first reported and other victims would have been spared also. >> mindy, we appreciate you being here. thank you very much. >> thank you. >> up next, jenna bush hager on one businessman making a difference one shoe at a time. but first, these message.

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♪ [ sniffs ] morning. you got in pretty late last night. dad, i'm not sixteen anymore. still, it was late. well... you're not gonna have to worry about that anymore. yeah, why's that? ♪ todd's a lucky man. ♪ the best part of wakin' up... ♪ that's what i told him when we talked last week. ♪ ...is folgers in your cup >> announcer: "today's good news" is brought to you by folgers. the best part of waking up. this morning on "today's good news," a successful and stylish shoe company on a mission to give something back. "today" contributing correspondent jenna bush hager is here with details. i like this story.

good morning. >> good morning. i bet you've seen these around town. maybe you haven't. but they are the most popular selling brand at stores like nordstrom's. when you hear the story behind the company and its founder, blake mckowski, you understand why buying a pair is good for your soul. the faces of these children tell a story of hope and promise thanks to the simple gift of new shoes. for many, the first and only pair they call their own. but four years, blake mckowski saw a different story in these faces while vacationing in argentina. >> they weren't allowed to go to school because they didn't have the proper footwear which was part of the uniform. you know, i grew up in texas. never had to worry about shoes or food or clothing or any of the bare necessities. i wanted to do something to help. >> reporter: he's had a brain for business since he was a kid. >> he's sit on the golf course and as golfers came by he'd sell

cookies and kool-aid. >> he started this college laundry and delivery pick-up business. there were a million ideas. >> reporter: now, all grown up, blake wanted to make a kimpb difference. he sold his other companies and with a small investment started tom's shoes. >> if we start a pair of shoes today, we can get rid of them tomorrow. i shorted it to "tom." >> reporter: not a charity but a for-profit company based on what he calls one-for-one. >> every time we sell a pair we give a pair to a clihild in nee. i want our customers to feel they make an impact when they buy that pair of shoes. there is a kid in argentina or new orleans that was getting maybe their first pair of shoes. >> reporter: his one-bedroom california apartment became home base. go back to that day. >> it was just me and three interns in the beginning and we didn't know anything about shoes. we didn't know anything about

retail. for the first year or two years it was a grind. i had to beg people to buy shoes. >> reporter: blake refused to give up. less than a year later he returned to argentina with the inter interns, his family and college buddies to make good on his promise to help. >> we had no idea what we were going to do except give away 10,000 pair of shoes. it is awesome because we hand-placed those shoes on those kids' feet. it literally was then at that moment that i knew that tom's just wasn't an idea, that it could really help a lot more than 10,000 kids. >> reporter: since that first shoe drop, tom's has distributed more than 600,000 pairs of shoes in 28 countries, proving that blake's initial, and only, investment made for a viable and charitable business model. >> i could have taken that money and i could have bought 40,000 pairs of shoes. now that would have helped a lot of kids. but then all my resources would have been depleted. but instead i took that same amount of money, not a penny more that's been invested in

tom's. now we've give them almost 15 times what i would have done had i just given it wall away in the beginning. that's what sustainability is more about. >> would you say you're more of an entrepreneur or a social activist? >> it used to be it was very mutually exclusive like going if the peace corps and being in corporate america. you couldn't really do both. with tom's, i feel like we've combined the two. >> what is a typical day like here in the office? >> man, there's no typical day. >> his tiny tom's team has grown to almost 100 employees. it . >> it is amazing to see the strong work ethic everyone has. >> keeps an old guy young, on your toes every day. >> young people are a big part of tom's foundation on campuses nationwide. >> like you feel connected to something, it's -- it doesn't feel distant. >> reporter: these days, blake lives on a sailboat with few

personal belongings and dreams of a community inspired by tom's shoes. >> this next generation of young people, we're going to change the world. we need them to. we need young people who really care about these things to get excited and come up with the next business model and to be on chens c conscience consumers. we're really on a mission. >> today is tom's annual one day without shoes where people across the country will pledge to go barefoot to know better what it feels like to go without shoes, something we all take for granted. >> we shall put on the shoes that you brought us. you didn't bring us any shoes? >> does anybody have those back there? >> by the way, while we were watching the piece, both natalie and jenna both mentioned how cute blake is. >> nice to see you were focused on the right thing there. >> he has a good heart. >> he's a very smart guy, a very

good entrepreneur. he's making money but giving back. >> and what he wants is other people to use his business model to do different things to help others. >> that's amazing. >> but 600,000 pair he's given away. that's incredible. >> he told this story about one mother who walked up and said, my kids haven't been able to go to school. they'll have to switch off days to split shoes. now because tom's, they can go to school every day. >> thanks very much, jenna. for more "good news," check our website, todayshow.com. a programming note, next week on "today." kate gosselin, will be with us to talk about everything that's going to in her life. tuesday right here on "today."

8:26 and bright sunshine overhead. changes in the forecast are coming. in the news this morning, an early morning fire forced 21 people out of their homes in prince george's county including two children. it's on jacobs road. firefighters say is started in an end unit and spread up the back. it made it to the roof and jumped to other homes. there was no indication the fire is suspicious and no one was hurt. we will have the weather and

temperatures in the low 70s and will be arriving this evening and overnight. today's high is mild and in the mid 80s and upper 50s tomorrow. the weekend is looking beautiful. >> let's take a look at the 270. moving at a decent pace. germantown down and jammed up with a lost traffic. the loop is crawl for example springfield to 66. >> thank you, jerry. life in the district through the eyes of the first lady. she talks about her time in washington, d.c. and the

importance of reaching out to the community. tune in at 6:00 and 11:00 for an interview with jim vance.

8:30 now on a thursday morning, the 8th day of april, 2010. while you're looking at the nice people that gathered here on the plaza, some of us are looking to the skies and saying, man, it is another beautiful day here in the northeast with blue skies, a light wind, already around 67 degrees. little cooler than yesterday. >> we have change coming tonight, into tomorrow.

>> okay. out on the plaza, i'm matt lauer along with meredith vieira, al roker and natalie morales. coming up, we'll talk about the five mistakes that a lot of investors tend to make. these are mistakes that can cost you a lot of money. susie susie ormond's here to walk us through the mistakes people have made in the past. >> i want to get an "aw" from all of you. we'll have two sisters who photograph babies into an art form. they only have shots of newborns less than 2 weeks old. >> i did that with both josh and luke. they weren't quite that young. they were like four weeks old. i look at those pictures and remember how tiny they were. >> you can't get them to do that now. >> no, not at all. also, switching gears to a much more difficult subject to talk about, we'll bring you up

to date on the latest of the rescue and recovery efforts on the miners. matt had a really emotional interview with one of the family members who has lost his son, brother >> good thursday morning. i'm chuck bell. the sun is shining and it's a beautiful thursday here in the nation's capital so far. rain showers are way out on the western side of west virginia and that band is heading in our direction and will be arriving

late this afternoon for folks out in the blue ridge and shenandoah valley. the temperatures in the high 60s to near 70. increasing clouds and showers and thunderstorms likely. the heaviest will be here after 8:00 p.m. >> these folks from suffolk, virginia. who knew it was the home of mr. peanut? by golly. that's his grandson right there. all right. let's check in down in ft. meyers, florida and say hello to mr. willard scott. hello, uncle willie. >> the greatest team in new york city. how nice it is to be a part of a wonderful group of winners. happy birthday from smucker's, speaking of winners. try their strawberry ice cream topping some time. happy birthday. elsie thompson from clearwater, florida, right up the road. 11 yea

111 years old. lovenia posey of pearland, texas. 110. retired sunday schoolteacher and proud to have built the furniture that she sits on in her home. did it all herself. florence smith of peotone in . 100 years old today, happily engaged to an 88-year-old guy and is looking forward to getting married. how about that? throw a little rice. attributes her longevity to taking vitamins. honeymoon. look at joseph, handsome delve. joseph bouley, grafton, ohio. 100 years old. enjoys buying and selling items at auctions. and goes to mcdonald's every single day.

helen johnson, prospect, kentucky, 102. retired teacher, proud grandmother and get this -- to new york knicks player allan houston. robert grundy, panama, new york. 100 years old today. served as a medic in the navy. god bless the navy. enjoys planting fruits and veggies in his garden. worked for a local church until he was 97. you're a navy man or woman, you're always tops. that's it for now. now back to the greatest city in the world. >> thank you very much, willard. up next, susie ormond reveals the five

back now at 8:37. this morning on "today's money," we're talking about investment

mistakes you do not want to make. investing is always risky knowing what to avoid can save you thousands of bucks. suze orman is the host of the suze orman show on cnbc. nice to see you. you think with all that investors have been through over the past couple years they're a little more cautious looking for these mistakes more? >> they're a little more cautious but i have to tell you, their bad habits are starting to come back in the bad times. it's like nothing happened, i can't even believe it. so we have to warn them again. >> let's talk about common mistakes. you have five of them. the first mistake you want to talk about is investing before you're ready. when are you not ready? >> you're not ready when you are nervous. you're not ready when you don't know what you're doing. here's the rule of thumb -- it is better to do nothing than to do something you don't understand. a lot of times people get a call from a financial advisor and say, matt, if you don't make this investment by tomorrow, you are going to miss out on this opportunity. the interest rate is going away. you might not be ready.

so it's better to do nothing. so until your gut tells you, yeah, i understand that i want to do it, just don't do it. >> you think people who got up in those troubled mortgages years ago made those decisions before they were ready, didn't take the time to really read into it? >> they were ready, they just didn't have the knowledge. they were doing something that they did not understand the ramifications if it went the other way. >> the next one is something i think you'll find happening in a lot of households around the country, and this is using a financial advisor who's willing to see just one person of a couple. why is this such a big mistake? >> for years i sat behind the desk and i actually saw people. and sometimes the wife or the husband would say, you know, i don't have time, i'm not good with money, i don't want to come in. however, how can i plan for you, matt, for your future, if i don't know -- say you're aggressive. you want to risk the money but your wife is conservative. she's scared. she doesn't want to risk anything. how can i make a plan for one person unless i meet both of you

and understand both of your emotional needs as well as both of your financial needs. >> but do you expect a financial advisor who meets a couple and the one person in the couple don't want to be a part of it to turn that couple down? how does that work? >> actually, i had a rule. if both of you didn't care enough about your money to make time to come in and see me together, i didn't have time to see you. >> all right. both need to get involved. >> that's right. >> third mistake, being afraid to invest when the stock market is going down. lot of people -- isn't it a valid fear though? >> it's valid, but if you have time on your side, you don't need your money for at least ten years or longer -- i can't tell you how many times i sat here and said this with you -- as the market goes down, if you invest every single month in a good quality stock, exchange traded fund or mutual fund -- not a bad investment, but it is going down because the markets are going down, it goes down, you buy more shares. when the price is less, you have more shares. in the long run you will make more money. so don't stop investing. month in and month out is the way to go.

if you just stop you would have missed the 65% rise since last march. >> this next one is being an all-or-nothing investor. this is a personality type, isn't it? >> yeah, it is. so many times people either take all of their money and they invest and they buy one thing, or they get afraid and they sell it all at one time. listen, if you don't know what to do, sell half. put a little money in. you don't have to do everything. >> because the risk is a lot less also. if you buy everything or sell everything and you're wrong, you have lost everything. >> you have lost everything. so stage into it. you don't have to do everything all at once. >> this next one i think takes a little explanation. buy i a loaded mutual fund versus a no-load mutual fund. explain the difference. >> yes, a mutual fund obviously is a pool of money where you invest and you buy little shares of stocks that's managed by somebody known as a mutual fund portfolio manager -- to buy one through a financial advisor,

they charge you what's called a load. a commission. a loaded mutual fund has about a 5% commission built in to it. you -- >> you're paying that commission to someone who has no impact on the overall success of the fund. that's just a service fee. >> that's a service fee. and somehow people think if they buy a loaded mutual fund, they pay that service fee to a financial sales person -- i'm sorry -- advisor. that fund will perform better. they have nothing to do with the performance of that fund. that's done with the portfolio manager. so a loaded fund that gives you a 5% commission, if you invest $10,000, it is immediately worth $9,500. >> you're behind the eight-ball right after the back. >> you have to go above 5% in value just to break even. >> the advice is when you can, always buy a no-load mutual fund. and a reputable financial advisor should tell you that you have that option. >> forever again i told you, for years i sat behind the desk. i would say to people, if you buy this, i make this much

money. however, if you just want to do this on your own, here are three or four mutual funds that will accomplish the same things that you could pay for no fee whatsoever. oh, that's a brainer, huh? just go and buy the no-loaded one. that's what you should do. >> five common mistakes, five pieces of good advice. as always, thanks very much. 8:43. catch suze's show 9:00 on cnbc. this is "today" on nbc.

>> announcer: "today's moms" is brought to you by walmart. save money, live better. walmart. back at 8:45. this morning on "today's moms," sleeping beauties. there is nothing quite as beautiful as a newborn. we found two sisters who have made an art out of capturing a

child's very first days of life. like a present that suddenly arrived, we come into this world. we come into this world in miniature. a moment in life that for the lucky few is captured by photographers kelly and tracy. the star of today's foe show shoot, evan wiley, seven days old and just under 7 pounds. his mom jenna wants to remember every moment with her first child. >> he's always got this eyebrow little look that he does. pretty adorable! >> reporter: which is why she's driven 30 miles outside her home in omaha to let kelly and tracy work their magic. the 39-year-old twin sisters grew up in montana, but family and the lure of country living drew them to blair, nebraska. today they work in tandem from a small studio in kelly's

backyard. tracy poses the infants while kelly handling the camera. >> we do things and we don't even have to communicate. we just know it. >> reporter: they only photograph babies under 2 weeks old. little models with huge demand. >> people will look at the images and say, that's a pretty baby that's sleeping. but that's the hardest part. each baby is a little bit different. some are really, really curly. some those like their toes touched. they let you know what they don't like and what they do like. >> reporter: the room must be kept at a constant 90 degrees. a noise machine mimicking sounds from the womb runs at all times and every session starts with a full belly. >> get a good burp out of them. that little bit of gas in their tummy, boy, it rocks their world, big-time. >> reporter: and at the end of the day -- >> isn't that cute? >> oh, my gosh! >> reporter: the extra effort is priceless. tracy and kelly have put some of

their best photos in the new book "sleeping beauties new bornes in dreamland." ladi ladies, good morning to you. they are just marvelous pictures. you can't look at them and just smile from ear to ear. what do you love about photographing babies? >> we've done all ages but there's something that draws us to the newborns. i think it is the most difficult because people look at the images and say it is just a sleepy baby, but that's the hardest part. >> why is that the hardest part? >> you really have to know babies and be able to comfort them and it makes it a challenge. naturally they are very, very sleepy at that age. we're just really capturing them at what they do best. 90% of the day they're sleeping. >> why is it important that all of these babies are two weeks or younger. >> as soon as they start getting a little weight on, they have more alert time. but if you get them between days five through ten, they'll be the sleepiest. >> you put them to sleep with that warm temperature and sound machine, then once they are asleep you manipulate them.

>> right on. perfect posing is what we're all about. what we focus on is the face of the baby. because when the mommy first saw that baby they looked at that face. that's what we try to focus on when we do our photography. >> how do you find what to put them in? we have this little baby in i guess that's a blanket in a basket. in others you had little caps on their head. >> we have a closet like you would not believe. we try to do something a little different each session. we're constantly on the lookout for new props. that's the fun part of this type of photography is that you can do something new, each and every session. we're always trying new stuff. >> you are both moms yourself. >> absolutely. >> does that make a difference? does it make you bring something to this work that you wouldn't otherwise? >> i don't think it is a requirement. we've spent the last 2 1/2 years, 3 years every week with a newborn in the studio. just that constant practice with newborns has made it really

easy. one thing that has helped us, we're great with newborns. >> for people out there who wouldn't come to your studio but would love to try this on their own, what tips would you give them? >> i think it is easier for us as photographers because the mommy has that smell to them which makes it harder. a newborn will do different things for us than they will for their mommy. >> really! >> absolutely. they're more alert. there is the constant desire to feed. they're all the same. i think it is easier for us. but i think to have that nice common sort of energy is very important with newborns. a lot of time with first-time mommies, they get very nervous. a newborn can sense that nervousness. so to keep your energy calm yet assertive is very important. >> any difference in photographing boys versus girls in terms of which is easier? >> in our experience, boys are easier. >> boys are much easier. >> they just like to lie around. >> they're a little more laid back. girls are divas. >> little tiny girls are the f

tiniest. six, seven points, they're tough. they make you work harder, for sure. >> i don't know how you'd ever pick a favorite. >> it is always our most current session. >> it's last week's session. >> well the book is fantastic. thank you very much. >> thanks. >> book is called "sleeping beauties." check out more photos on our website, todayshow.com. back in a moment. this is "today" on nbc.

the movie "date night" starring tina fey and steve carell opens tomorrow but our gene shalit thinks this may not be the right choice for your date night. >> good morning and welcome "the critic's corner." "date night" is so lightweight that it floats up to no good, beyond the reach of even tina fey and steve carell to save it. luckily, steve and tina are riding such a crest of tv popularity, that not even this stupefying movie can damage them. >> this is just a big misunderstanding. >> the fault lies not in our stars, but in sean levy and josh clostner, the director and writer, disrespectfully. >> they had no idea who they were dealing with. >> we are going to die! >> they have reduced tina fey to

mugging and yelling, and running in heels in this wasted 87 minutes of uncomedy. >> this is the nypd. >> oh, my god, that's them! >> just when i thought car chases were obsolete, they shovel in a screech of wingnuts and lugnuts that drove me nuts! it is a suburban couple out on a rare evening in new york. they are many bushed in a ritzy restaurant who force the couple into a case of mistaken identity. >> we didn't have a reservation so we took yours. now they think that we're you. >> you just took our reservation? >> what kind of people are you? >> there are a few amusing gags. >> excuse me, mr. and mrs. triple horn? >> get up now. >> but the rest should have been gagged. >> honey, get up now.

>> according to latest reports, miss fey and mr. carell are in stable condition resting comfortably and likely to recover. >> wow. i just wasted half my life. >> and that's the "critic's corner" for "today." oy, fey. >> ouch! >> we love them though. >> i have a feeling people are going to go see it anyway. >> he said they're riding the high because they're great. >> exactly. hopefully. >> you're not chiming in here. >> clearly had he a strong opinion about that. just ahead, we'll talk about staying chic during spring showers. i guess we're talking about umbrellas? is that it? the hottest looks for the season? plus the controversy over new tiger woods ad as he returns to competitive golf at the masters. after your local news and weather.

>>. >> 8:56 is the timement one more day ever summer-like weather and changes are in the forecast. in the news, a smoke and then a joke is what caused a terror scare on a flight that departed from reagan headed to denver. a passenger lit a cigarette in the bathroom and jokingly said he lit his shoe on fire. he is a foreign diplomat from qatar. they met him on the ground in denver. they questioned the passengers and the crew and it all appears to be a misunderstanding and do not plan to file charges. we will take a break and have the weather and traffic together when we come back. stay with us.

good morning. i'm chuck bell. temperatures climbing out of the 60s and into the 70s with bright sunshine overhead. that won't last too much longer as clouds are on the increase. showers and thunderstorms, the

heaviest of which will arrive between 8:00 and midnight. cooler weather tomorrow and dry for the weekend. >> let's take a live look along 395. loaded up all the way to the 14th street bridge. one more stop and see how we are doing through southeast, south capitol street jammed. good news, lanes are open. >> in the district through the eyes of the first lady. she talks about the importance of reaching out to the

we're back now with more of "today" on a thursday morning, the 8th day of april, 2010. it is another beautiful morning here in the northeast where we hate to gloat, but we're hoping it is nice where you're waking up as well. we thank these nice people for stopping by and sharing a little of their time this morning. out on the plaza, i'm matt lauer, along with al roker and natalie morales who is inside standing in for ann. coming up this half-hour, much more from west virginia. as you know now, rescuers have gotten into that mine after toxic gas levels have diminished. they are looking for those four missing miners after that explosion earlier in the week.

we're going to have the latest from the scene and we'll have an interview for you in this half-hour with a man and his wife. this is a miner who escaped injury in that explosion. however, we should tell you he lost his son, his brother, and his nephew in that disaster. it is a very emotional interview. we'll be playing it for you in a couple of minutes. >> our thoughts and prayers are with those people there. also, tiger woods makes it officials today at the masters, teeing off for the first competitive golf tournament since the sex scandal broke in november. there's also a lot of buzz around -- i know you've both seen this new nike ad, a stoic picture of tiger with his late father, earl's voice, in the background. people talking about whether fans will like this ad or whether it is in bad taste. >> donny deutsch called it really brilliant. >> are you a big baker? you know, in the kitchen? i guess you already answered that one. wow! >> if you don't know what the word means, you probably --

>> good news, we've got gadgets that will help you make some fantastic desserts. they're inexpensive and easy to use. >> i'll be baking this weekend. >> i bet. yeah. natalie's at the news desk inside with the headlines. good morning, everyone. today in west virginia, rescue teams entered the site of the worst u.s. mining disaster in a quarter century. they are determined to learn the fate of four coal miners missing since the monday explosion that killed at least 25 others. rescuers had to wait until dangerous gases had been vented. we'll have more on this story coming up. today the u.s. and russia signed a new nuclear arms deal. in prague, president obama and russian pred medvedev signed the preety that commits their nations to cut warheads by a third and to cut the number of missiles by more than half. mr. obama called it an important milestone for nuclear security and for u.s.-russia relations.

they also talked about new sanctions against iran over its nuclear program. the two leaders also talked about violence in kyrgyzstan where protesters claim to have overthrown the government on wednesday. the unrest left at least 68 people dead. u.s. military confirms that a video released by the taliban does show american soldier private 1st class bowe bergdahl captured last year in afghanistan. f vehicles with gas pedal problems. the executive later retired. federal officials say no criminal charges will be filed against a persian gulf diplomat

blamed for the good thursday morning.

i'm chuck bell. temperatures on the way out of the 60s and into the low and mid 70s. still no rain around the immediate vicinity, but in western west virginia, they will be on track to get here late this afternoon and into the evening hours. most of the daytime plans will be dry. if you are going to do anything after 8:00, that's when it will be. cooler weather tomorrow, but dry for the weekend. >> we got a daughter of an oswego graduate here. very nice. what year? >> '73. >> very nice. back inside now to matt. more now on the tragedy in montcoal, west virginia. tommy davis is a coal miner who survived monday's explosion. but his son cory, brother timmy, and nephew joshua were all killed. earlier i spoke to tommy and his wife cindy and i began by asking what he remembers from that day, what he saw and what he felt.

>> i just -- really, words can't explain what i saw or how i felt. it was just a horrific -- it was just terrible. terrible. >> i understand you were close to getting out of that mine. you felt a strong gust of wind which would be abnormal in that circumstance and then blowing dust. did you immediately suspect an explosion? >> no. no, i didn't. >> when did you first hear that there had been an explosion? >> i never heard much of anything. i kind of just sat outside and waited to see if my boy was coming out, my brother or my nephew. just kind of hung out with my other nephew in the parking lot and waited. >> cory, your son, had been working in the mine a little bit longer than you. he was getting close to be certified, getting his black hat, as they say. did he enjoy the profession?

did he like mining? >> he loved his job. he loved the mines. he loved what he done. he loved all the men that he work with. >> you actually had some time with cory on that day as he went in to the mine. can you talk to me about what you two talked about? >> he was trying to get his lunch in his bucket that his grandma had fixed him. that's where he picked my nephew up. we just talked, just a few moments. we always try to every morning before we go to mines. i kind of turned around and walked away from him, hey, bubba. he's like what, dad? i said love you, bubba. he said love you, too, old man. i said go and cut me some coal. that's the last words i heard from him. >> "i love you, old man." >> that's what he called me all the time. "old man."

>> he was an affectionate young man, i know. he loved the outdoors. he loved baseball. tell me more about him. >> cory was a great kid. kind. big-hearted. kind of soft-hearted sometimes. he'd get stern when he'd want to be. but he had tons and tons of friends. >> tommy, i mentioned you also lost your brother, timmy and your nephew, joshua, on that day in that mine. did you have a chance to see either of them as they were heading to work that day? >> i'd always try to make a point to see them all. on that morning i did. i went upstairs to the office where my brother stayed at and where they'd all discuss things and talk. i went upstairs and i was like, hey, tim. what's going on, buddy? nothing. he said i got something for you, man. he tossed me an application. said, fill that out. get it back quick. >> your family is an example of just how mining runs through entire communities in states like west virginia.

and because of that, when there is a disaster, the pain runs very, very deep. but there's also a lot of support in those communities, isn't there? >> a lot of support. we all got together the other evening and went out on top of the mountain. they all gathered around. i asked all the kids to please do me a favor. take a moment of their time and tell me something about my son that maybe i didn't know. and the stories started. two hours. you know? two hours went by. the fire was dwindling down and the stories started getting softer and all the kids went home and it was a good evening. >> tommy and cindy davis, again, i don't know that we can adequately express our condolences, but we are so sorry for your loss and we thank you for spending a little time with us this morning and sharing some thoughts on your relatives. >> i appreciate it. thank you all. >> thank you. >> just want everybody to know

that -- >> go ahead. >> i just want everybody to know that cory was a great kid and he loved his job and he loved everybody around him. and he's going to be sadly missed big time. i miss him. >> tommy and cindy, thank you. our condolences. >> thank you. >> it was tommy and cindy davis a little bit earlier. we're back right after this. welcome to progressive. nice calculator. i'm just trying to save money on my car insurance. you know, with progressive, you get the option to name your price. is that even possible? uh, absolutely. trade? and i still get great service?

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it's tee day for tiger woods, his return to competitive golf officially begins this afternoon when he hits the green at the masters in augusta. this as his sponsor nike airs a controversial new commercial. nbc's peter alexander is at augusta national with more. peter, good morning. >> reporter: tamron, good morning. for tiger woods this day really couldn't come soon enough. he's trying to change the topic from the mistresses to the masters. but even before his first drive here today, he's out through his loyal sponsor nike with a new introspective tiger woods ad. take a look for yourself. >> tiger? i am more prone to be inquisitive, to promote discussion. >> reporter: on the eve of his return to the game, tiger woods made his return to the airwaves. staring directly into the camera

for this new nike commercial, his late father's voice in the background, seemingly lecturing his son about responsibility. >> i want to find out what your thinking was, i want to find out what your feelings are, and did you learn anything. >> good luck, tiger. >> reporter: spotted signing autographs at augusta national wednesday wednesday, tiger also received an unprecedented dressing-down by the chairman of the exclusive club where women still aren't allowed as members. >> it is not simply the degree of his conduct that's disappointing here, it is the fact that he disappointed all of us and our kids and grandkids. >> reporter: before the tournament has even teed off, it is already a masters unlike any other. cbs sports.com reports while woods was practicing monday, one of his security guards approached a woman in the crowd, "ma'am, are you the stripper, he

asked?" stunning the fan before pulling out a sheet of colored photos. "we just have to be extra careful." to escape the paparazzi, tiger rented two mansions in an exclusive gated community here. the smaller one for his entourage, the larger one for himself. still, on the course, tiger's every move will be scrutinized, including this easily confused moment tuesday when he appeared to be texting. but a friend said tiger was merely taking video of a playing partner. elin won't be here observing what some observers are calling the elin strategy, not standing by herman but not ditching him either. >> elin's approach is revolutionary. she's not quite leaving him but she's not quite staying with him. that creates kind of an air of mystery around her and also a veil of privacy around her family that most women county up in these tabloid scandals that been able to have. >> reporter: elin is getting

help at home from her father from sweden seen taking her 2-year-old sam to a park. but tiger woods finally returns, hoping once again to master his sport. >> this guy could walk on to a golf course and his opponents would be weak in the knees. now we're not sure if tiger still has that aura of invincibility he had every day he plays golf. >> reporter: tiger woods has won the masters four times in the past here at augusta but not after that first win when he got that ceremonial green jacket is he not the leading contender. he's hardly the favorite this time around. >> peter, za alexander, thank y. bonnie, start off with tiger trying to come back now but a day before yesterday new revolution, a next-door neighbor, a new mess tress.

>> yes. the alleged 17th mystery comes from his own community. he apparently knew her since she was 14. the incident took place -- the incidents -- was on may 29th of last year. she's a grad from college, university of alabama. apparently she's furious with him. she thought she was special. she thought she was the only one. >> but is this an example, another one of which no matter how hard tiger tries to control this, so much of it is out of his control, including the interpretation of the picture of him using his cell phone and what he was doing with his cell phone. >> exactly. now if i was one of his handlers, i would have told him, you cannot carry a cell phone. you can't be photographed with one because who knows what people will say. in fact, it looked like he was texting. >> you took offense to that picture. >> well, we did. we just thought it was just unbelievable that he would be doing that. he was sitting there grinning and with everything that's happened and in fact in the latest revelation about this young woman, he approached her through texting, too. >> let's talk again about this

ad. peter played some of it. i want to show another clip of this new nike ad. >> tiger? i am more prone to be inquisitive, to promote discussion. i want to find out what your thinking was. i want to find out what your feelings are. and did you learn anything. >> bonnie, what are your thoughts? this is on fire, this topic on the blogs right now. >> i don't think that it is a solid home run at all. i think that the people who love him, they want him to come back to golf, they are his fans and supporters, they'll think it's terrific. they'll think it's brilliant. however, i think it has somewhat backfired in light of the new revelations. it was actually filmed on this golf course where he picked up

this alleged 17th mistress. i think once people know that, i mean it just goes to show again that this man was not who he seemed and has he changed. >> what about the updates on elin? again, this one person said it's revolutionary, her strategy, half in, half out. >> i don't see it as revolutionary. i see it as a woman torn, someone who i think genuinely loved her husband, has two children, is concerned about their future, but is horrified, humiliated, embarrassed, angry and is trying to do the right thing, trying to see if she can make this marriage work for the sake of her family. >> bonnie fuller, thank you very much. appreciate it. coming up, waterproofing your style for all of those spring showers. but first these messages. [ sneezing ]

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who would you turn to if your spouse decided to become a ghost hunter? one interesting couple with this exact dilemma will put their problem in the hands of "the marriage ref." >> celebrity panelist tracy morgan, kathy griffin and nathan lane host tom papa tonight where they'll help couple settle their marital tiffs and declare a winner. still to come, best gadgets for making dessert all under $30.

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>>:time 26 is the time. changes in the forecast. chuck bell will have more after the news. in the news this morning, police are investigating a rash of robberyings in northwest d.c. 11 robberies since march 29th. most between u street and du pont circle neighborhood and along massachusetts and c connecticut avenues. three men attacked a pedestrian even though there were several witnesses in the area. police believe one of the suspects may be the same this several. we will take a break and have the weather and traffic whether we come back.

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>>. >> good morning. i'm chuck bell. rain showers moving bo west virginia and the tip of the common wealth of virginia as well. we will keep an eye on those. they are about or 10 hours away. temperatures in the low to mid 70s. increasing clouds and showers and thunderstorms by this evening. the heaviest will be after 8:00. tomorrow's high in the 50s. >> let's take a look along south capitol street to the douglas bridge. 10:00 this morning, authorities will close south capitol street. test the swing span and that will be closed. on 395 we are heavy and slow to downtown. all indications are that the lanes are open at the bridge. >> thankings. in the district through the eyes

of the first lady. she talks about her time in washington, d.c. and the importance of reaching out to

♪ ♪ it's not too late to catch a song from the huge which popular band new republic performing live in our studio a little later on on "today." coming up in this half-hour, getting ready for a rainy day in style. >> you're talking about a change in our forecast later on today. we'll get big rain showers. this is the perfect segment to get you geared up for it.

some of the trendiest looks from umbrellas, to trenches, to cool footwear. these will keep you dry during all those spring showers. actually showers or shiny sun, you want to wear those. they are adorable. it says "unlike me," -- that's what the script says. >> when we asked you earlier, are you a baker -- >> i didn't know what you meant. you know your way around the kitchen, we'll make it a lot easier for us. we're all in this together. we have must-have tools for making delicious desserts like the one i'm going to prepare for natalie and al. it will save you time and money and all of the gadgets are under $30. >> nice! >> you know what i saw the other day at the grocery store? who gets this? the banana slicer. you put the thing over the banana. like why would you need to get one of those to slice a banana? how hard is it to slice a banana? >> crazy. >> somebody's making money. >> that's right. this next young lady is

married to one of the funniest guys around. but she's here to talk about something serious -- volunteering. it's become her passion and she's sharing ideas on how you can get started volunteering in your own community. you only have a few hours left to vote for today's top dog. we need to whittle down the first patch of semi-finalists. first up, jami, the black lab. our next is 5-year-old chip, a jack russell terrier from orland orlando. finally, semi-finalist, bandit from wisconsin. there are two ways to vote, todayshow.com or text 622639, press 1 for

>> temperatures in the le to mid-7s, but on the radar, showers are movering to far western virginia and western west virginia. moving in our direction and we have rain showers in the forecast. not for the day, but this evening and the overnight hours. showers with some stronger thunderstorms are a possibility. afternoon high is 85 and

tomorrow's high is 59. the weekend looks great. >> that's your latest weather. up next, how to look good splashing through the rain. but first, these messages.

this morning on "today's style," soggy chic. rainy day shouldn't drench your style. we've come up with the most fashionable gear for april showers. we've gone beyond galoshes here. >> we've gone way beyond the galoshes. it is always your feet that get soaking wet. when i trudge in to the daily candy, i'm like, oh, soaking feet! we found this stuff to make you feel good about the rain. when al says it is going to rain, get excited! these boots are a great brazilian shoe company, melissa. these are designed by the famous

vivian westwood. $130. you can find them at sachs. these you want to wear all day. they're very well made, very comfortable. you can wear them just like a normal shoe with your little spring dress. you can like jump in the puddles on purpose! >> not so much but that's fine. >> you could. you could. >> then what do we have here? >> one of our secrets at daily candy is look to the classics, the old experts. who knows rain better than l.l. bean? these classic skimmers are just $69. in bright, cheery colors. very charming linings. when you run around the car pool, they're called coastal skimmers. >> i love that rain gear has gotten to be so fashionable. >> it used to be your mom bundled you up in a slicker and you had to trudge. what if you're going to a formal event and you certainly aren't going to wear galoshes.

these are a neat design collaboration with a portland, oregon based shop. shop standing up u.s. they thought what can we make that's artful and waterproof. they are $100. they look just as glamorous as pumps. they're like nylon so they wick away the moisture. if you're going to a wedding in the rain, you're looking great. >> trench coats. >> the classic trench. why mess with perfection? this is from the good old gap. it is about $80. it is sturdy, well made. cotton. this is one of those things, you throw on, you maybe feel a little bit like a detective and you just -- it doesn't matter what you are wearing underneath. you just go for it. >> if you're going to splurge. >> this is a little bit pricier. it has the very trendy polka dots and this victoria lace-up in the back. that's a look that's so

romantic. it is almost like wearing a dress instead of a rain coat. that's the goal to want to get you out of bed when it is raining cats and dogs. >> jewelry? >> do you want to take rain to the extreme, natalie? i do! waterproof jewelry. it is always hard to accessorize on a rainy day. this really neat designer was inspired by california surfers. these are made from recycled bicycle tubes. they're a little edgy, they're a little -- kind of dark and mad max, but they're super cool and they are entirely rubber. if you want to wear a necklace that's not going to get soggy around your next. or if you want to go scuba diving the next time you're in paris? >> neopreen berets? >> these have the very cute "yes

officer" type look. you look chic, you tuck your hair up there. you're staying dry. on a sunny day, it keeps the sun out of your eyes, too. >> now you got to have the trendy and just beautiful umbrellas. you're not going to forget it at home. >> this may not be the best moisture -- but i don't want anyone to steal my umbrella. sport sack branches into umbrellas. you can get one to match your tote. and it will make you smile when you open it up, you're like, okay, here we go. >> fantastic design, great colors. thanks so much, danielle. coming up next, making a difference in your community with help from chris rock's wife. we'll talk with her right after this.

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we get double miles with every purchase. so we earned a tropical vacation in half the time. we earn double miles every time we use our card. ( shouts ) double miles add up fast so we can bring the whole gang. ( grunting ) awesome! it's hard to beat double miles. everyone knows two is better than one. introducing the venture card from capital one... with double miles on every purchase every day. go to capitalone.com. ( gasps ) what's in your wallet? wait up! go to capitalone.com. have you tried honey bunches of oats yet? every spoonful is a little different. mmm. they got three kinds of flakes. this is delicious. it's the perfect combination of sweet and crispy. i love it. this is so good. this is great. the magic's in the mix. the saying "it takes a village accounts to raise a child was popularized by hillary clinton but it's been the well going to communities for

generations. if you've always wanted to get involved but just don't know where to start, ma lack compton rock is the wife of chris rock and has a new book out, "if it takes a village, build one." malaak, the forward in your book, you talk about the values of volunteerism and how it's changed your life. how has it changed your life? >> you know, people don't realize it when you serve and when you give, you get back so much in return. it is enriched my life in ways that are so numerous i couldn't really tell you here today. but the people that i've met, the people that i've served with have just filled me up in just extraordinary ways. >> you've got three beautiful daughters. you've got a great husband in chris. >> yes. >> a lot of people look at you, say of course, you can volunteer. you've got everything. but a lot of people don't realize that no matter who they are, they can contribute. >> there's something that everybody can do.

whether you're a donor. a lot of people don't realize that the average american donates $4.25 a day. that's a cup of coffee and a scone in the morning. no, truly. and those are the type of donations that make nonprofits go around, whether you are a volunteer, whether you volunteer once a week, once a month, for a special event. everybody can do something. >> it doesn't have to be global. it can be local. you astasay start off by a part your neighborhood. >> get friends together, have hors d'oeuvres and drinks, have everybody bring an envelope. as a group you decide what charity in your community to give the money to. >> bowling for dollars. >> everybody loves to bowl. again, invite your friends to bowl. have them write down charity ideas, have them again write a check. i always say, no one has to know how much it is, whether it is $5 or $10 or $20. whoever wins the game gets to choose the charity to the money goes to. >> one of these that i think is great, it not only does

something for community but makes you feel good. arrange a spring cleaning block party. >> oh, yeah. it brings your community together, your neighbors. you get to purge all your stuff and you all sell everything together on your block an again, donate it to a community-based grassroots organization. >> knit and crochet for good. >> people love to knit. there's really great knitting circles and crochet circles all over the country. so you can crochet, say, for homeless center or for babies at a hospital. hats, scarves for the winter drive and do it together. it really brings the community together. >> you started a nonprofit organization, journey for change. tell us about it. >> journey for change is a program for at-risk youth in brooklyn, new york. we do four main things. a, we travel with them. we traveled to south africa. i believe when you travel it opens up your world and you start to believe you aren't part of your neighborhood or even your city but the world. once you believe you are a part of the world, you start to dream big. it is a service trip so it is a

volunteer trip in some of the worst shanty towns in south africa. so kids who are on the receiving end of aid are now on the giving end of service. they also realize that even if their neighborhood is kind of bad, their school is bad, they have so many more blessings in the u.s. >> how important is it to instill this in our kids? >> so important. it should be dinner time conversation. all the time. the other day lola and i and zara went to their playroom. they had to pick toys and we dropped it off at a homeless shelter. we also serve in the soup kitchen today. it is things can you do with your family and children on a daily basis really. >> malaak compton rock, the book is called "if it fatakes a village, build one." thanks so much. next, diving into dessert with the best kitchen

thmplts. this morning in "today's

kitchen," tools that help you make the best part of any meal -- dessert. chris kimball has brought along pretty cool gadgets. they're top picks. good morning, chris. i've already seen a sneak peek of the list. but all of them are very, very cool, including this apple slicer? >> we test hundreds of products a year. these are some of the ones we really like. most of them fail. this is from williams-sonoma, $20. it has this -- you can do 16 slices or if you adjust it, it does eight slices. >> makes making an apple pie easier. >> it has a serrated blade. the push down. the problem with most of these when you do it, they're still attached. may not seem like a big thing, but you put this on this little carrier and push down and they come out. >> also if you're making lunch for the kids, a nice way to have a uniform slice. the next gadget here? >> we have these baking racks in

professional kitchens. with wheels. they hold 12 baking sheets. this is about $22. it's called the linden swedish baking rack. the great thing is it holds a few so you don't have to put them all over your counter. the other thing, this is collapsible. so it is easy to store. >> are you limited to thee size though of the pan you can place? >> 9 1/2 inch is minimum. >> the pressure is on to explain why this is cool. >> what do you mean! you just look at it. it is a tapered rolling pin. most people buy the big rolling pins. you want a tapered pin. here's a little tip about rolling. when you roll out pie dough, roll like this, quarter turn, turn it again quarter turn, turn it so it doesn't stick. also since it is lighter, you can feel the dough a little bit better. $7. cheap. this is really interesting.

this is called the sideswipe. $25. the problem is when you do dough, the recipes always say constantly take a spatula and clean the sides. >> i thought your finger was supposed to clean the sides. >> that's true. you can see in here that actually it cleans the sides. it's got the silicone on the side here which squishes up against the side of the pan. does a great job. >> i like that. >> this is a product we got from "the godfather" movie. remember in the first scene where the guy sat in the front seat of the car -- >> you're scaring me, chris. >> the guy had the fancy cheese slicer. you can use this on cheesecake, too. >> but it is normally used to slice cheese. in this case, slice cheesecake and you get a nice slice. >> normally you'd have to use a

knife, run it under hot water and that works okay. but that's a mess. this is only 3 bucks. >> you can't go wrong. what's this? >> this is your favorite gadget of all time. >> it is. >> this is called a pie gate. not water gate, super gate, monica gate. we have a pie gate. it is only 7 bucks. if we kind of pie, especially a loose pie of some warm, it is warm afterwards, simply do this and you can store this like this. >> i'm a freak about my pies and juices running out. >> what do you think about the pie gate? >> this is awesome! >> we got cupcakes. bring them to school, they're smushed. so we have the progressive international portable pie carrier, 30 bucks. what it does that's nice, it actually has two levels! >> that's so cool!

>> magic! >> chris, thank you. this is a great list of things. i love it. still to come, hoda and kathie lee.

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:tiny:56 is the time here. check will have the weather after the news. in the news, two people are dead and a third is injured after an suv collided with a truck in anne arundel 9eu+wzcounty. the suv caught on fire after the crash. the victims were pronounced dead-on the scene. word on the third victim's condition. police are trying to find out what happened. time for the traffic. let's do the weather first with chuck bell. >> yet indeed. bright and sunny and temperatures are on the way up. it will be another string of very warm days and temperatures into the low and mid 80s. on dopular radar, the showers into far southwestern virginia. current temperatures into the mid 70s. it will be a very warm day with

temperatures in the low to mid 80s. jerry, over to you. >> a live look into town. south capitol blocked off for the next couple of hours. use pennsylvania avenue to the 11 as alternate routes. a quick check of 270 looking better and clearing out nicely. >> thank you, jerry. life in the district through the eyes of the first lady. she talks about her time and the importance of reaching out to the community

captions paid for by nbc-universal television hi, everybody. it is thursday. >> yes, it is. >> it is april 8th here in new york city and where you are as well. >> another beautiful day. >> supposed to rain, but it's coming. >> look at all this stuff we have. >> we're going to tell you about it. first, i don't want to forget to say, my dear friends, the jocelynes, are about to open a

huge titanic exhibit in pigeon forge, tennessee, today. that would be awesome. >> we had some fun yesterday, you guys. if, okay. here's the problem with broadway. a lot of people like to go and their husbands and boyfriends don't. >> they'd rather go to a baseball game. >> we have solved your problem. it is called million dollar quartet. there were more men in the audience that women. >> it was fun to watch. at one point, i pulled myself away long enough to look at the audience. everybody was having the best time. my friend, eric schafer, who has directed two of my shows, is the director. >> this show has four incredible musicians. johnny cash, elvis, carl perkins

and jerry lee lewis. it takes place in one day in a tiny recording studio. it's a true story. they sing their hearts out. >> he is unbelievable. ♪ he had to wear band-aids on his fingers because they were bleeding. >> it's crazy. it's like a concert. >> levi. >> it hasn't opened yet. >> sunday. we wish them all the best. i'm telling you, it's only 90 minutes, there's no intermission. you're out at 3:30. >> okay, how should we describe this qatari diplomat on this plane. you guy, what were you thinking. >> and we can't even charge the

guy because he has diplomatic immunity. >> there was one story in new york, drunk driver and they don't pay. this guy's on a plane from d.c. to denver. he goes into the bathroom. he wants to light a cigarette, i guess, have a cigarette. the flight attendant smells smoke. she tells the air marshal. he cracks a joke about being a shoe bomber. >> so funny. >> and then, they set the -- >> the f-14s. >> alongside. it's a huge incident. in fact, on my blackberry, it was buzzing, terrorist incident. it turned out the whole thing was a big old nothing. it was this guy who was smoking a cigarette. >> here's the thing. i know we can't do anything about him in terms of having him pay for the crime because it is a federal crime. but how about we send a bill to

kutar for the cost of the incident. >> i think that's fair. i want someone to explain the whole diplomatic immunity thing. there was an incident, i don't remember when, but a diplomat hit somebody, a drunk driver, and there were no charges. >> i think we need to relook at that. i think the united nations shouldn't be here in new york unless they're going the pay their bills. we've been footing the bills for them, too. come on. this is ridiculous. we are not a charity. we are a member of the same organization they are. so quit breaking our laws and pay your bills. when in rome, do as the romans do and when in america, treat us with respect. >> most do. >> we have an issue today we have to talk about and we do not want to because you never want these things to happen in our own family, but it has happened.

our colleague, tiki barber is in the papers. >> he reportedly left his wife who's pregnant. eight months pregnant. she's pregnant with twins and they have two children. he left her and there's an incident with infidelity. his camp is saying these things didn't happen, calling it ludicrous and what not. the other side is saying the opposite. but he does not live with her. >> i never saw any of that. we always talked about how much, adore tiki, smelled so good. apparently, smells really good. >> no one smells better than tiki barber. >> well, frank does. >> they keep saying that tiki broke every single record. >> that is not true. frank gifford still has the record for the most touchdowns. and frank, when he started playing, played only 12 games in

the season. i just wish tiki and his family the best. i just wish that you guys would start thinking about what you're doing before you do it for once. >> there's a lot of these falling out of the trees. tiger woods, by the way, there's a new ad with tiger woods. this is interesting. it's filmed in black and white. we're going to show it to you. tiger's looking into the camera and you hear the voice of his father. they don't identify it as his dad. we want to hear what you think. let's listen. >> tiger, i am more prone to be inquisitive, to promote discussion. i want to find out what your thinking was. i want to find out what your feelings are. and did you learn anything.

>> expected to do, what are we supposed to do with that? for me, it creeps me out. i don't like it at all. >> donny deutsch said it was a home run. now, it looks like his father kind of wagging his finger at tiger. >> we all know that his father has been deceased for several years. >> what's weird is, if you're tiger and he's listening to it at the same time. >> we don't know how it came to be made. >> from his perspective, it must be wrenching. as a viewer peaking in, it's weird. >> doesn't make me want to buy anything nike. >> we've got to talk about the things on this table. there are people out there who are spending lots and lots of money on food. >> i don't know anybody personally that is, but with everybody complaining so much about the economy now and so many people struggling, it's bizarre to me this stuff is out

there. >> this is a hamburger that costs $175. >> about six of these a week, i hear. it's a wall street burger. made of that special beef. the wall street burger shop. >> who eats gold? >> it's edible gold. truffled mayonnaise and shaved black truffles. >> this is $175. it's got gold item ins it and some ice cream. >> this one is $25,000. you get to keep the tray and the spoon. and the little dish. >> okay. this is a pizza and the -- this is a tiny slice of it. it's $1,000. >> you want me to dip into this $25,000 one? >> thank you. >> this is a -- is it worth? >> i mean, it's okay.

like, i'm a dairy queen girl. that doesn't ring my bell. i'm just saying. >> fratada. this is caviar, lobster meat and a couple of eggs. >> from norma's. and where's the pizza from? we should talk about, okay or not okay? >> really delicious, but $1,000, i don't know. >> okay. we did our okay or not okay. the question this week, is it okay to flash your abs? kathie lee says, if you look like giselle, absolutely, if you look like me, absolutely not. i say not if your abs are flabs.

and they have people are great abs flashing them. >> i think they've got to be in awfully good shape. keep america beautiful and keep your clothes on if you're not in shape. >> tammy is pregnant and looking good. sarah, what's happening, baby? >> hi, guys. we're talking about the tiger ad. buddy said it's brilliant. kristen said it's one of the stupidist things i've seen. and brenda, a fan, says thank you for taking pictures yesterday on the plaza. it was the highlight of my daughter's first trip to new york city. >> it was so nice. >> absolutely gorgeous. we'd love to know how you feel. >> about that tiger ad. >> and about the tiki thing. up next, why you never know someone until you know their fico score. suze says you should never have

sex with somebody unless you know their score. suze will spank you and you know she can and you know she wants to. right after this. oh yeah yeah...she always keeps them in the house. no no no, i've actually lost weight... i just have a high metabolism or something... ...lucky. [ wife ] babe... ♪ umm, i gotta go. [ female announcer ] 28 delicious flavors at around 100 calories each. yoplait, it is so good. indulge in new blueberry pie and new red velvet cake. yoplait light. it is so good. indulge in new blueberry pie and new red velvet cake. try clearblue easy digital. no pregnancy test is more accurate, with totally clear results in words. ♪ fresh butter taste ♪ yes, that's here ♪ no hydrogenated oils ♪ so there's no trans fats here ♪ ♪ whoa... ♪ turn the tub around ♪ talking about nutrition

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nutri-grain -- one good decision... can lead to another. ♪ made with real fruit and now with more... of the whole grains your body needs. nutri-grain can help you eat better all day. time for "today's money" and the meaning of your fico score. >> this number reflects your payment history and whether or

not you are a good credit risk. and, our favorite, suze orman says before you exchange vows, you could consider swapping scores. >> she means before you do the horizontal, right? >> the easiest way to say it is fico first, then sex. no, seriously. you really -- you really need to get -- listen. once you get involved with somebody and are you really into them, all of a sudden, the lust factor takes over. you're in lust, nothing matters and now, before you know it, you're married. m just doesn't stand for marriage, it sounds for money as well. if you're marrying a financial loser, you're going to be the one to pick up the tab. you suffer. the number one reason for divorce is arguments over money. >> i don't know even know my own fico score is. do you know? >> no.

>> how do you know what your score is? >> you're joking, right, ladies? >> no. >> i pay my bills in full. it should be perfect. >> it should be. but you need to check your credit report every year. listen, don't give me that. there are three credit bureaus. >> how do they know? >> i'm going to tell you. every move you make, when you pay your bill, that company reports into one of the credit bureaus and says, kathie lee pays on time. hoda is 30 days late. >> why do you do that, suze? why? >> you say that you're not. every move you two and all of you out there make -- >> this big brother thing is really, really starting -- i don't like it one bit. >> but then, here's what happens. it goes on to these credit reports. then, fico gets access to these

credit reports and they tabulate your behavior and give you a three-digit score. anything below 500, you are ficoed. you're out. 500 to 850. you want a score of 720 or above. >> here's my problem. they're gathering that information. i can find out what it is if i call and prove who i am. how come a potential employer can get it if it's supposed to be private? >> when you apply for a job, you will give them the permission to do so because it is the belief of many employers now, that if you are not good with money, you are not going to be an employee. also, there's something called an insurance risk score. if you aren't good with money, you are paying more for your car

insurance premiums. >> it has nothing to do with driving. >> you're saying it has nothing to do with driving. then i'm all against it. >> so, you're point is, you should ask your significant other, whoever that is, about their fico score. >> yes. you want to know if they have credit card debt, are they behind. do they have liens on them. nothing more important. >> i agree with you. you need to know somebody. >> before your little hormones start leading the way and you don't care what he or she has going on, find out, is this a good person, a responsible person. otherwise, forget it and find somebody you do. >> ditch the dork. >> listen to her. okay. thanks, suze. >> tune in to suze's terrific

show. you learn a lot. up next, how to put your mother-in-law in her place. oh, this is going to be fun. >> juicy. after this. itching his eyes and sneezing. but now i found zyrtec®. it's #1 allergist recommended. with children's zyrtec® he can get 24-hour allergy relief indoors and outdoors. ♪ now he can run wild... with the rest of the pack. with children's zyrtec®, he can love the air®. and now try children's zyrtec® perfect measure®. a premeasured spoon. just twist squeeze and go™. that lets you eat six times a day? yeah, baby! introducing the new slim-fast 3-2-1 plan. 3 snacks, 2 shakes or meal bars, and 1 balanced meal. slim fast. who has time to slim slowly? [ bottle two ] i'm pretty sure there's not much we can do about it. ugh. he's not even trying. he is actual magic. not impressed. [ gasps ] no! can we even clean a leather shoe?

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the pizza way to snack. life is filled with awkward situations, whether it's an out of stepmother in law or boyfriend none of the girls in the group can stand. >> dealing with each is an art, which is why we turn to

ludwig as well as phillip galanes. >> these questions are juicy. here's the first one -- >> whoa. >> that was so mean. >> easter bunny's got a passive aggressive streak. >> just a holiday one, right. a control issue. >> this is a controlling mother-in-law and clearly, granny deserves a spanking for stealing easter from the parents of these kids, but i think the

questions here are who should talk to her, maybe, and how should it happen. personally, i'm voting for the husband to talk to her. >> i agree. that's the first -- it's his mom and also, you want to protect yourself as much as you can. it's really the job of the husband to say to his mother, what you did is wrong. it's outrageous. >> you weren't considering our feelings. >> and how would you feel if this was done to you. >> somebody that would do that doesn't care about their feelings. >> but they might care about their son being angry with them. and then you may need to consider not inviting something like this or setting the alarm so you can protect yourself when around a woman who will take charge. >> and life is long and with any luck, this wife is going to have a lot of years with this mother-in-law. >> but the husband may take the

mother's -- they'll make excuses. oh, she just wanted special time with her. >> number two -- can you guys? >> i say no. because you know, it's very normal for a tight group to not want outsiders, so you might be anti this new person because they're a new person and you don't know them that well. that's right. >> if she seems a little desperate to fit in it's probably because she is. >> she's sensing it. life is not "american idol." we don't get to vote on everything. >> if he's not asking you, don't offer advice. >> number three --

a lot of people have this issue. what should this person do? >> i think it's important to be honest. yes, you want to be part of the group, but why not say, listen, i really want to be a part of going out with you. i have a budget. i can go to some things, not others. everything i will go to, i can be there because i love being with all of you. >> sometimes, we, as employees, can get a little oversensitive about our bosses. they're human beings. they get that everyone's got to live inside a budget and has a limited period of time to see their kids and husband. >> and maybe even recommend a place that's affordable for more people rather than less. >> real quick -- just quickly. >> take the painting back. >> she gave it away.

>> now that it's worth a lot of money, okay. >> we got to go. one republic is going to sing for us after your local news. [ female announcer ] to do well, kids need to eat well. and eating well means getting enough whole grain and calcium. general mills big g is the only leading line of kid cereals with at least 8 grams of whole grain and a good source of calcium. help your kids get more of what they need, with general mills kid cereals. help your kids get more of what they need, [ thunder and cracks of lightning ] but now there's align with bifantis.

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we're back with "eat smart today." and myths that shouldn't keep you from eating foods you love. >> ten common nutrition myths are debunked, so you can feel safe to eat your favorite foods again. hello, kathryn. >> we love to do bunk stuff. >> first, we're talking about eggs and cholesterol. we always think of eggs as being high in cholesterol. >> that is the myth, but the truth is that eggs are very helpful. they have over 13 vitamins and

minerals and the cholesterol in eggs has little to do with the cholesterol circulating in your body. >> why such a bad wrap? >> for a long time, it was thought it was relating to a high level of circulating cholesterol, but it's really saturated fat that's the main driver. for healthy people, eggs are fine. there is a caveat. for people with heart disease issues, check with your doctor, but for most people, eggs are fair game. >> the next is, we're talking about red wine. and they say it is the only heart-friendly wine. >> that's a myth. >> this is my favorite. >> i'm sure it is. >> we all like to think we can drink lots of alcohol. actually, the ethanol in the alcohol. it's in beer, liquor. that's what's giving the heart health benefits. >> but not the more the better. >> right.

moderation is key. >> i don't like that word. >> i know, but that's my favorite word. moderation for women is one drink per day and for men, two. >> you always hear about red wine because of the grapes. >> there's a lot of antioxidants, but they're not conferring the heart health benefit. we can have our beer. >> next, organic foods are more nutritional than regular foods. >> this is a myth. certainly an area of controversy because there's many good reasons to actually have organic food. whether it's supporting local farmers -- >> no pesticides. >> better treatment of livestock. these are good reasons to have organics, but the vitamin and mineral content is no better.

>> another myth is that fried foods are always fatty. >> yes. >> now, how is that -- >> well, the keyword here, always. at cooking light, we've put our test kitchens to work and have found that when you lightly fry food at about 375 degrees fahrenheit, it doesn't absorb that much fat and calories. it imparts great flavor when you have crispy food. >> does it matter what you fry it in? >> of course. you want to stick with your heart healthy foods like canola. and of course, in moderation. it's really doing it at home and controlling it and preparing it very well. >> fiber. >> moderation again. >> i know. >> the more fiber you eat, the better. now that seems to be true.

you want stuff moving through the system. >> depends on whether you'd like to have a life as well and not be stuck at home close to a facility. >> well, there are many benefits of fiber and people should aim for 20 to 35 grams per day. it's become a buzz word in the marketing world and a lot of manufacturers of processed foods are adding fiber that are not necessarily beneficial. they can help reduce cholesterol, move food along. however, you want to make sure these added fibers are giving you a nutritional benefit. >> you see a lot of those with 25% fiber in it. >> madonna has like a 60% fiber diet. >> that's her secret. >> adding sugar. that is always bad for you. >> right. this is another tricky one. it is actually a myth.

a little bit of added sugar is okay and again, moderation. not more than 10% of your total calories, but it can be a great way to get rid of the tartness of certain foods, so a little honey on grapefruit. >> would you prefer that over the sweeteners that are chemically based? >> i am a fan of natural sweeters. honey, table sugar. for some people, artificial sweeteners can have a role. >> thank you. and the rest, we didn't get to every one, but in "cooking light." up next, inside the mind of a guy for everything. what is that supposed to mean? i think we're talking about donny deutsch. it's going to be twisted. >> nice tease. here ♪ ♪ whoa... ♪ turn the tub around ♪ talking about nutrition [ female announcer ] "i can't believe it's not butter" has 70% less saturated fat

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our party pizzas have just passed toy robots. awkward. kids love totino's party pizzas. awkward. you look beautiful tonight. allow me. it's tough to reach that five servings a day if you don't always like the taste of vegetables. i'll be right back, okay? okay. good thing v8 v-fusion juice gives you a serving of vegetables hidden by a serving of fruit. v8. what's your number? now try refreshing new cranberry blackberry v8 v-fusion juice. should we order panda blossom, panda moon... how about chinese at home with new wanchai ferry?

you can make it in just 14 minutes mmmh, orange chicken. great. i didn't feel like going out anyway (announcer) wanchai ferry. restaurant quality chinese in your grocer's freezer how many time haves you wondered what men really think?

why he's not romantic or how to get him to say i love you more often. >> we called in donny deutsch to share his opinion, which is usually always wrong. what's going on, baby? >> first of all, i want to talk about the tiger woods today. not only the ad, billy payne of the masters came out, the head of the masters and spanked him that he let everybody down. the masters has done more to hurt women, does not let women in. i think tiger couldn't have played there as a man of color ten years ago. how dare this white guy sit there -- >> two add jekttives. >> i'm so tired of these flawed people. >> let's roll a tiny bit of the ad. you love it. we can't stand it. >> hate it. >> so much we don't -- >> tiger, i am more prone to be

inquisitive, to promote discussion. i want to find out what your thinking was. i want to find out what your feelings are. and did you learn anything. >> you think that's a home run. >> because what it allows, instead of him looking as oh, he's not playing golf. you say to himself, he's got his father's conscience in his head. i think it's brilliant. >> how does that make you buy nike? >> it shows you he's flawed. that he's answered to a conscience now. >> i'd be interested in knowing if he was actually listening to the tape of his father at that time, what was going on. >> let's let the market tell. >> and how it's going to deal with the nike thing. made me want to say, i don't

want to touch anything -- >> let's get questions from the women. ellen wants to know, do men like it when we take control in the bedroom. >> there's a word men use, we like strange. i don't mean strange -- listen to me. why do men cheat? if a man is usually in control, what will turn him on, if you say, honey, i got the tie, i'm taking it over here. the point is, it's different. we want different. that's why they stray. it's not a matter of control. stop with the tie. it's not a matter of -- >> they stray because they're selfish. >> if you don't take control, take control. >> i want to take that tie and put it around your neck. >> another one. >> jasmine wants to know, why are men so attracted to sexual freaks. why don't they love finding a wife who can manage a household and raise kids.

>> it's not an either/or. we don't just want a woman running our home and kids. we want both. the important thing is to really give them both. >> and are they willing in return to give up some things as well? >> hopefully, but don't make the mistake that you're ever going to keep your man happy by being a great housewife and mother. you've got to give them both. >> unfortunately, the list is endless. we're tired of men behaving badly. not that women don't. >> guess what? there's a partner in there. >> i'm the first to say that. he does not -- >> and the ones who are so scarred, they come out in the media and talk about how their lives have been ruined. >> we're going to see you soon. >> what you don't understand is on a commercial, they go, donny,

tells. >> we don't say that. >> yes, they do. >> donny, tell us. you're so helpful. >> thank you. coming up next, say hello to one republic, a terrific band. nutri-grain -- one good decision... can lead to another. ♪ made with real fruit and now with more... of the whole grains your body needs. nutri-grain can help you eat better all day. [ speaking spanish ] ♪ [ male announcer ] old el paso stand 'n stuff taco shells. old el paso. feed your fiesta. to talk about our new blueberry juice drinks.

they're made with my tasty, ripe blueberries, packed with those antioxidants. let's whip up a sample. or just try this. [ chuckles ] [ female announcer ] trying to be smart with the family budget? here goes the good old steam. [ pfffft! ] whooa!!!! [ female announcer ] let bounty help... because it cleans the mess with less than the bargain brands. it's thick and absorbent... and really durable. in lab tests bounty absorbs twice as much as the bargain brand. [ steam hisses ] why use more when you can use less? bring it. with bounty. the thick quicker picker-upper. want huge value? try new bounty huge roll. that, on the list of things kids love,

our party pizzas have just passed toy robots. awkward. kids lovtotino's party pizzas. i'm getting treatment but sometimes i still

have a hard time focusing and paying attention. distractions can make my day even more challenging, especially the mornings when i really need to be organized. now there's an action guide just for adults with adhd that may help. call the number on your screen or visit the website for your free copy. the guide has tips that may help reduce distractions so i can focus. with adhd i sometimes have trouble meeting deadlines. the guide showed me how to be better organized which may help me finish projects on time. having adhd, i often spend a lot of time looking for things. the guide offered me tips on reducing clutter which helps me find important items. adhd affects each of us differently. this guide has tips and tools that you can personalize to fit your needs which may help you organize so you can focus on what's important throughout the day. for a free copy, call the number on your screen or visit adhdactionguide.com.

from the rocky mountains of colorado to new york city, one republic is here. i went to school with ryan's dad. it's unbelievable. >> these guys came out with their second album just a few months ago and ryan is the lead singer and song writer. >> the whole band is here with us today. >> you guys have written a lot

of songs for other artists, but this is really your real gig. >> me and zack went to high school together. we're from colorado. it's been a long journey. >> you started out with gospel music. i grew up listening to a lot of gospel music and you know, grew up singing in the church, then listening to pop music. one republic, we don't really fit in one genre. >> what are you playing for us today? >> today, you're opening for us, baby. >> kathie lee and hoda. >> today, we're going to do our current single, "all the right moves." >> it better be good. >> it doesn't suck.

♪ ♪ i know we've got it good they've got it made ♪ ♪ all the right friends in all the wrong places ♪ ♪ so yeah we're going down ♪ yeah we're going down

♪ do you think i'm special do you think i'm nice ♪ ♪ it can be possible that rain can fall only when it's over our heads ♪ ♪ the sun shines every day but it's far away ♪ ♪ all the right friends in all the wrong places ♪ ♪ so yeah we're doing down ♪ everybody knows every knows where we're going ♪

♪ don't matter what you see i know i could never be someone that will look like you ♪ ♪ all the right friends in all the right places ♪ ♪ all the right friends in all the right places ♪ ♪ so yeah we're going down ♪ everybody knows everybody knows where we're going ♪

♪ yeah we're going down >> all right! you're right. it was good. >> so good. excellent. great job. >> have a great time on tour. we'll be back with more of "today," but first, this is "today" on nbc. >> you like that?

>> ...berber carpet. it was a whole bowl of stew. nooo. why? i could have saved this one. i could have saved this one. ♪ call 1-800-steemer

been a busy day, what's going on? >> we are getting a signed cd as we speak from one republic, so

we want our fans to go on our wall and right. tomorrow, chef curtis stone has a special announcement. >> we'll see you then. -- captions by vitac -- www.vitac.com

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