the speech became known as the iron curtain speech because of churchill's condemnation of the soviet union's cold war policy. westminster college commemorated the anniversary of the speech by inviting author alan wotton -- alan watson to discuss his book, two speeches to save the world. ♪ >> as marshall of the college, it is my privilege to welcome one and all. jim, marchtoric 1946, prime minister churchill, president truman and other dignitaries were escorted to the stage and to this lectern by westminster's first marshall. in the spirit of that occasion, watson toyou, lord westminster's hallowed halls. i declare this convocation open. i am pleased to welcome the grand marshall. thank you, dr. jones. on behalf of a future alumni of ourminster college, -- of guest, -- alumni, winston churchill who was granted an honorary degree, tonight. before we begin, i would like to inform you that this occasion is being recorded by c-span. a short question-and-answer session will take place after remarks from our guest. i asked that all cell phones be turned off at this time. i am honored to rec

[applause] >> if he gave a second iron curtain speech today, would it be similar?, the of soviet union has gone. the soviet empire in eastern europe has broken up, and one of the more hopeful things that has happened since the berlin wall came down, most of the countries of eastern and central europe, those that had fallen behind the iron curtain, have become members of the european union are candidate members of the european union. that is a very helpful thing. recognize should that, but behind your question really is the question of if he was talking today, what would he say about putin, mr. vladimir putin. well winston churchill was very wise. wrote, i only prophesies after events. [laughter] lord watson: i think that's where i have to take my -- [applause] ♪ [applause] >> and now my friends i invite you to join me again and i word of prayer. now as we go into this night, we petition you, holy one, of providential love, bless us with light as we passed through darkens and ensure us in times of uncertainty. and may we all share in the divine call that in all thin

but you do have to take the curtain down. >> the curtain ain't coming down. >> it's got to come down,r. harrison. if you can't take it down, i can get someone to help you take it down. >> that's what you do. you go get somebody to help me, then. >> i'll be back. >> my style, if i have an offender that doesn't want to follow my orders, then i'll give them a warning. because i understand, you know, these guys are locked in most of the day. they don't have a chance to, you know, communicate with their friends or brothers, their family, whatever it is. so i'll give them a little bit of slack. >> i'm trying. that [ bleep ] wrote me up, man. i got destruction of property. i don't [ bleep ] know. she probably wants me to destruct her ass. >> he's refusing to take his curtain down. >> who's refusing -- >> harrison. >> you want somebody to [ bleep ]. >> i ain't doing that, sarge. man, i want my privacy. >> come here. now, if i see that curtain -- >> it's going back up as soon as -- get my cable fixed! >> i will come in here, shake you down, and take you up and have you strip-searched and write

now one photographer has recorded what happened after the final curtain. welcome to our viewers on public television in america and around the globe hit international leaders are trying tonight to figure out how to get hundreds of sick and badly injured people out of rebel-held aleppo. they cap under daily bombardment in the east of the city. the united nations is considering a russian proposal to create humanitarian corridor is. in return, syria and russia want a pause in the fighting. our correspondent lyse doucet is in government-held aleppo and has this report. lyse: no one can truly see where this brutal war is taking aleppo now, but all too clear are the scars left behind. we drove into west aleppo today. kedits edges, a wrec wednesday. skeletal buildings on streets once full of life. and in the rebel-held east of the city, a destructive conflict intensifies. the syrian military, backed by iranian and russian allies, are pushing deeper into the enclave. rebel forces have have now regrouped, vowing to fight back. the worst battles of this six-year war

. >> hey, i'm like wizard of oz behind the curtain.eason i'm here we will be behind a sound roof curtain, kind of. that is zane, he owns these two trucks we will feature, monster muddies what you are looking at. it is now running. that is 100 trucks of dirt, and come on over here. i know, you cannot see anything but if our viewers can hear you what are we doing here today. >> we're getting ready to tear a lot of stuff up here at sun that the bank center. monster busies doing a time event right now. we have wheely competent to tition, monster truck free style, we have eight of the biggest trucks, monster jam has and we're excited. >> we're moving back further in the concourse, he shut off his engines, is he waiting for to you signal to drive. i love live television especially these feature things where i can make a goof out of myself. is he waiting for a hand signal. >> he went, did his thing. >> we have seen the whole show for the morning show. >> well that makes it easy so now everybody can hear us for sure. >> that truck is yours. gr

the kids were locked, the curtain had pulled. traffic was diverted away. is taking correspondence. remember, we are in the age when there was no internet, no fax, people wrote letters back and forth between departments. all of this correspondence come in and nobody is doing with it. what started to happen was the pile of nonessential letters grew. there were tons of letters never opened. saying i will deal with this. i will do with this. the with this but not this. it was really access. she would go to the president and ask him what you think of this. if he could respond, he would respond and give an opinion. but she did start. she would meet with the cabinet members. she would conduct business there. upon the type to be made. bills had to be acted on or not. in the book, it is a hodgepodge of things that she was trying to do as best she could. >> you can watch the entire program on sunday on midnight eastern on the presidency. american history tv, only on c-span3. >> military force is one of the things i think the american public very often gets impatient

an iron curtain has descended across the continent.ehind the line lie all of the capitals in central and eastern europe. belgrade, bucharest. all of these famous cities and the populations around them why in the soviet sphere and are subject in one form or another not only to save it influence but to a high increasing measure of control from moscow. everybody talks about how great that speech was, how famous, but no one mentions it was a massive disaster at the time. churchill wrapped in there a lot of pleas for a special american-british relationship. it was met with protests. don't be a ninny, winny. even the nationalists accused the british leader of being unable to free his thinking from the flags of empire. so he makes this iron curtain speech which truman helps craft as a child -- trial balloon. after that, they said we have to back off from this. the american public is not ready for these approaches yet. in february, 1947, i came to comscore says we can no longer maintain our mediterranean commitments to people like greece and t

a curtain of silence. much everyone she knew felt resentful about to undergo amount of international attention and then take his spot right on her little town and agreed undercurrent of the attorney general sentiment that the whole procedure was unfair. after outcome of the murder took place on the floor, not tallahatchie county. the river between the two counties. bill pearson, davies has stayed, uncle was the editor of the semiweekly. betty was so intrigued and aghast at what was going on. she got a trespass to the trial for herself and a good college friend named florence mars. she had never attended a trial. in 1955 the courtroom as an all-male domain. white women could vote. but by law they were excluded from jury duty. although 4.3% of the population was registered to vote. as the two women were about to enter the back door, the courthouse committee entrance for the press can they press can hear it does does in an old century country friend stopped at ease. you shouldn't be going to do this. you will

. >> welcome to the 9:25 session entitled the iron curtain, dissent and western response. up till now, we've been foregrounding you might say detailed behavior of various individuals and groups. what we need to do, and it's a good time to do this in our conference now is to talk about the deep background. the big issues that were at stake. the context in which actors and decisionmakers were carrying out their activities. and so we have two extremely dignified speakers and colleagues of mine on the podium today. alexandra richie first on my immediate right is a professor at the collegium civitas in warsaw, poland. she's lectured all over the world. her two books are absolutely fantastic. the two i've read. "a history of berlin." and "warsaw 1944 -- hitler, himler and the warsaw uprising" is perhaps even better which was impossible for me to believe when it came out. alex is a member of the museum's presidential council's advisory board dispensing good advice to the museum now for a while. and we're extremely lucky to have her. now to alex's right, conrad crane spent 26 year

. >> i just wanted to see her, so i just ran past everybody and, you know, throw open the curtain, and she was there. >> reporter: when "20/20" continues. the inspiration for this ring goes back almost 100 years. it's based on an art deco design. over 50 diamonds, all hand-set. you know the saying, "they don't make 'em like they used to?" i still do. neil lane bridal. at kay... ...the number-one jewelry store for... yes. ? every kiss begins with kay. ? re. here we go. congrats! i hear you're having a baby. here we go. just breathe. here we go. you better start saving for college tuition. and you'll probably need a bigger house at some point. but new york life can help you manage your family's financial future. so you can relax, and enjoy life's special moments. like this moment. (guttural yelling) that's what being good at life is all about, right? (vo) be good at life. >>> "20/20" continues. once again, here's matt gutman. >> reporter: keith papini begins his thanksgiving at 3:30 a.m., li northern california cold and the white-hot anguish of the 22nd day without his beloved sherri. a

. >> i just wanted to see her, so i just ran past everybody and, you know, throw open the curtain, and she was there. >> reporter: when "20/20" co the inspiration for this ring goes back almost 100 years. it's based on an art deco design. over 50 diamonds, all hand-set. you know the saying, "they don't make 'em like they used to?" i still do. neil lane bridal. at kay... ...the number-one jewelry store for... yes. ? every kiss begins with kay. ? (pained groans) just gonna need one big push. (groaning continues) you got one more. here we go. you better start saving for college tuition. and you'll probably need a bigger house at some point. but new york life can help you manage your family's financial future. so you can relax, and enjoy life's special moments. like this moment. (guttural yelling) that's what being good at life is all about, right? (vo) be good at life. 26% more likely to develop an irregular heartbeat. i have a 65% higher chance of developing diabetes. no matter who we are, these diseases can be managed or prevented when caught early on. because with better research, the

a curtain of silence fell. most everyone she knew felt resentful about the incredible amount of international attention and fin ticked if spotlight on her little town and they undercurrent arose from the general sentiment that the whole procedure was untrue. it took place and the river between the two counties. bill pearson, betty's husband, uncle, was the editor of the sumner weekly and betty was so intrigued and aghast at what was going on she got a press pass to the trial for herself and a good friend, a good college friend named florence mars. she had never been or attended a trial. in 1955 the courtroom was an all-male domain as joe was saying. white women could vote but by law they were not in jury duty. nowak served on juries but 4.3% of the population was registered to vote. as the two women were about to enter the backdoor of the courthouse the entrance for the press an old family friend and ex-sheriff of tallahatchie county stop them. he said that he shouldn't be going to do this, child. you will be h

parson weems is holding back the curtain on his own invented myth. compare it with charles wilson peal's self portrait, artist in his museum from 1822. in case you don't get the spoof, wood literally frames his composition around the imagery of charles wilson peal's famous 1822 portrait. peal is drawing the curtain bcke on history. like weems' story, it's an artificial fabrication. his specimens are a reality frozen in time. grant wood's washington is static and unchanging like the stuff birds on display. he's the same at 8 as he was at 64. grant wood's other famous image, daughters of revolution, not even daughters of the revolution, he wanted to show how stodgy blue-haired ladies like this can serve as the establishment against the kind of movement that gave birth to the united states in the first place. they are supposed to be the daughters of the american revolution, the dar. grant wanted to show by 1932 how much they had betrayed that legacy by becoming in turn an establishment against which people like grant wood would be happy to revolt. it's

weems, and early biographer who propagated the story from his childhood is holding back the curtain, on his own invented myth. compare that to charles wilson peale's portrait. in case you don't get the spoof, wood literally framed this composition around the famous portrait. peale is drawing the curtain back on a package reality with specimens are neatly packed in cubicles. this is the natural history museum in philadelphia. peale's famous natural history collection like weems' story is a fabrication. his specimens are a reality frozen in time like the stuffed birds on display. washington is static and unchanging. the same at eight as he was at 64. other famous image, daughters of the revolution, not even daughters of the revolution but daughters of revolution wanted to show how blue haired ladies like this can actually serve as the establishment against the kind of movement that gave birth to united states in the first place. it is supposed to be daughters of the american revolution who are the standard bearers the legacy of the american revolution and he wanted to show by 1932 how

the third act curtain is just about to go up. when it does, it is the beginning of the end. point of no return. it can start in many ways. at a party. in the secrecy of a dirty room. at the top of the crummy staircase on the second floor of the sleazy apartment building. a new character enters your tragedy. his name is eric. you want to his place. you do not like him. mike had insisted. he welded you to his code of secrecy. one,ser learns to trust no not even his best girl. you sat, talking up. it did not give you the kk used to. ick used to. it he introduces you to heroin. it is an easy step from marijuana to heroin. hypodermic needle. even now you are afraid. what will it be like? first you will get a feeling of warmth. you will become nauseated and get sick. you will have a sustained feeling of sexual excitement a state oflapse into well-being. you will come down into a depth of depression consumed by the cancer of guilt. for just one second, you see the needle inserted, and the deathdealing liquid slipping in. you want to say no. resist is gone. temptation is ever presen

germany, and unbeknownst to any of this slips into east germany to meet the family behind the iron curtain. an amazing story i won't follow for you. in the 1980s the soviet union has a reform minded leader, mikhail gorbachev. we have ronald reagan and the two work to improve relations. by the time i arrived in berlin in the early 1980s as an army intelligence officer the red army has 20 divisions facing the west. is the height of the cold war and berlin is a hotbed of intelligence activity and the spy capital of the world, all sorts of intelligence activity from both sides of the berlin wall are being employed and i was given the job of leading intelligence collection into east berlin where we went into the east in teams of two to spy on the soviets. in the book i share a little bit about the teens that did this work, the risk and dangers that came with the job including car chase, detentions, and the soviets in east germany, targeting us constantly, stasi archive researchers come up with photos of operations surveilling me in my teens and pictures are also in the book. while i was working

when that curtain opened and i saw him and the other players on the court turn around, that was probablyhe greatest moment of my life. [ applause ] >> reporter: all part of a top-secret homecoming deception, that only a few, including grandma, were in on. >> that week was the longest week of my life. i had to keep, not only everything away from him, but i had to keep everything away from my family. >> reporter: matt could not control his emotions. >> my teammates know about this guy, he's all i talk about. >> reporter: back home in new jersey today, kids again, in a pickup game in the driveway, reunited for the holidays before bo ships out again. >> everybody's so excited to see him. we're going to have a great christmas. >> reporter: and that's a slam dunk. kevin tibbles, nbc news, chicago. >>> and that's going to do it for us on a tuesday night. i'm lester holt. for all of us at nbc news, thank you for watching and good night. right now at 6: we begin with breaking news. gunfire inside a pawn shop in the east bay. ==jess/2-shot== the news at 6 starts now. good evening and thanks for jo

and they had the iron curtain to keep people from finding out about other things. you can't have any of the liberti liberties, to a system with are you own the property or the right to use the property. inles it conflicts with others, the government should protect those rights. >> why do you call it a manifesto? >> this is why markets are beneficial to the poor, this is why markets are the only way that you can have individual freedom. this is why we're so wealthy this has not been discussed much. certainly in the k-12 education system and it's not even discussed that much in the political arena. how does it really work? i mean, for example, suppose i was running for president and i said, gee, i want to make it so that no one who-- that no one could get a job in america unless they can produce $15 an hour worth of product. if you can only produce $10 a product. you can't work in america. i want to shir that that's what happened. frankly, agree, i want a $15 hour minimum wage, well, that sounds good. well, that's-- i tell my students, look, this isn't rocket surgery

. >> getting ready to peek behind the curtain for a big christmas surprise. rishgts donnadorable?rous donors like you and your corporate sponsors. find out who's behind the red curtain, drum roll, please. >> national sales director gloria mayfield banks! >> hey. >> how are you, beautiful? >> thank you. >> you look beautiful. >> you do. >> thank you so much. i'm excited to be here. >> what are you donating today? >> well, we're donating over $3 million worth of product and the thing that's so exciting. >> wait. did you >> all: $3 million? >> okay. it's so exciting. the total amount over $50 million in the 12 years that we've consecutively given to the drive, and so we're very excited. very excited. >> why do you do it as a company? >> it's so important, because we're 54 years old and built a business of enriching women's lives. that's exciting, because these gifts, the skin care and color cosmetics are going to the children at the domestic violence shelters and they will be able to give gifts to their mothers. >> that's beautiful. we love you. >> and it's been a major experience. >

. >>> for some students, the curtain is ready to fall on their high school theater career. >> beforeke their final bow, they want to give back to people who come after them. >> the unique mentoring program for middle students that's trying to make their transition to high school easier. >>> new school desks helping fifth graders focus on their studies. >> don't forget, nbc10 is your official station of the philadelphia eagles. after nbc10 news at 11:00, we'll have complete highlights from the games the bengals on eagles game day finals. hello, peco. hi. can you help me save on my energy bill? old appliances. like a hot water heater? it's around here somewhere. nope. nope. what is this thing? sir, have you looked in the basement? huh. oh, yeah. no wonder. it was hidden behind all of my free weights. if you're not an expert, peco can help. we have lots of ways to help you save energy and money. peco. the future is on. >>> a recall involves all baby bath seats. they were sold on several sites is online from january 2013 through last august. consumers should stop using the product and ca

. >> find out what they're getting behind the curtain. >>> our 23rd annual toy drive continues as we celebrate the generosity of our wonderful donors this holiday season. >> let's meet today's generous donors. it is executive vice president of product development chris wilson. >> yeah. >> hi, chris. >> how are you? >> what do you have? >> well, i have pet toys from pet mate. we have a launcher. part of our chuck it line of throw it. this one is shaped like a lacrosse stick so you and i can play together. >> how many of those are you giving away? >> there's a lot. and >>t, did? you say wow. thk yo>i#r. . >>> there's been a lot of fires in the green mountain area over the past move. investigators consider those fires suspicious. the most recent dozens of evaluations. it burned 96 acres sending a plume into the air. west fire officials say other four fires last month were less than an acre each. a multi-agency team is gathering evidence about the fires to look at who may have started these fires. no one has been injured. firefighters say conditions are cause for concern, especially if t

. >> let's pull back the curtain on old car parts. this guy is not a mechanic, and it's not looking for vintage car parts. he is looking for something that has been spotted, darting in and around this shop, spending rodents running. if you look at his first, you notice she from the sunshine coast snake >> it could be a viper. >> or a shelbycobra. >> it's in the panel of the door? >> yeah. it is a big red belly they identify it as, it will be tricky but they're specialists. going to take the door off of he gets out his stick. it's always a stick. >> a stick and no gloves. they do it bare handed. he pulls it right out. the guy that owns the property may see a very sharp deline in rodents -- >> or an increase now. >> we're going to find swampy area for him. >> they wipe the snake down and then released it. >> it is a giant knit blanket. see how the girls do it. plus, abandoned boxes catch people's attention. >> they called authorities who blocked off the area thinks potentially dangerous. >> find out what is in the box, next. some help.

it is a particular kind of fiction that you enjoy, the sort of parting the lace curtains and having ak. yes, i suppose you could call it social comedy. social fiction, looking at the lives of people, looking their quirks, their little ways and having fun with them, and i enjoy that very much indeed. because we are all absurd to a greater or lesser extent, aren't we? yes. we can make terrific mountains out of molehills and i like looking at that. you made a big mountain out of all these molehills. you are extraordinary prolific. the scotland street series has been running and running. of course the no. i ladies detective agency is now in its 17th volume. you also have the isabel dalhousie novels. now, she's very interesting because i always think there's a lot of you in there because she is mad about auden, as you are. yes. ifind it extraordinary, but i agree with isabel dalhousie on so many matters. in fact, we were in 100% agreement. i also agree with mma ramotswe. i agree with most of my characters. of course you don't have to scratch very hard to see where they get their ideas from

. >> i pulled the curtain back over there, and i seen the flames. so i jumped up and put a pair of shorts on and here >>> a seeing flames coming from mobile home are trying to figure out what exactly started this fire. >>> paying respect to a soldier overdue. daniel hunt died rest. his funeral will be friday at 1:00 at the national memorial cemetery of arizona in phoenix. >>> an arizona hiker lost for three days is talking about the ordeal for he had some a lighter, water, and some experience. eventually all of those failed. >> you don't think about the past, mistakes that i made to get me there, or the very real possibility that i might not make it out of this situation. >> he says his will to survive gave him the strength to set out on a gruelling hike thursday morning. he kept moving for ten help him. >> we have had cold days around southeastern arizona. chilly temperatures, freeze warnings issued across areas of tucson, mt. lemon, the catalina foothills until 10:00 tomorrow morning. temperatures below freezing in a lot of locations, even in the

i was wondering if you would be so kind, can you open the curtain, open the curtain right now? yes, now what i would look to do -- what i would look to do, is there a woman in i melten the audience who claims to be a very big fan of yours. right here. would you come up here for a second? >> jimmy: would you mind joining us over here. >> hi. >> tell jen your name. i forgot your name. >> hasmik. >> i just met a, how often do you meet that name? i'm sorry. >> jimmy: hasmik mentioned she would. if you would sit on the couch. where is hasmik's husband? husband hasn't shot her christmas card photo yet. would you be so kind as to, yes, yes, yes. what is your name? >> ma unuel. >> jimmy: sit on the couch. i will shoot it for you guys. >> should we dress up. >> spiderman, get in there too. spiderman. >> jimmy: jen, you are very nice to do this. >> should they put some sweaters. wait, wait. >> jimmy: somebody should put something on. >> all right, hasmik. >> hi, guillermo. how are you doing? >> great. >> you too, you look beautiful. >> should we sit? >> jimmy: sit, do whatever you think.

stunned when east germans are told they are free to go. 60,000,000 people emerged from behind the iron curtain, including my mothers family, and we reunite after 40 years apart. in the book i detail how that fall came about, possibly by accident actually, and i take you through the reunion. so i am sometimes asked what is this book really about, what's the take away, or what does it all mean? despite living under oppression and that he would struggle and loss, "forty autumns" is a story of courage, resilience and the power of the human spirit. it's also about never giving up and never losing hope. an.and finally, it's about the value of, it's about understanding the value of freedom. pixar like to end with this. when i was in my research for the book i asked uncle reinhardt who didn't join the commonest party why he didn't join the communist party when he knew he could get ahead if he did. and he said i knew the system was wrong. i wasn't going to trade my integrity for material benefits. and then he said from it wasn't about material things, wasn't about wanting better products or even food w

by the way, a big surprise is waiting just beyond the red curtain. >> we mean big this time. >> we'll, hoda. >> first, this is "today" on nbc. this is violet. she's been waiting for this moment for awhile. a moment other kids wouldn't think twice about. her first bowl of cheerios. because now that cheerios are gluten free, violet, and many others are enjoying their first bowl today. >>> our 23rd annual toy drive has brought joy to millions of children and families would will have a very special christmas this year because of their generosity and we thank all of you for that. >> and a little elf told us there was somebody very special behind the curtain today. can we have a drum roll please? >> it's america's got talent winner grace vander wal. >> hi, grace. >> hi. nice to see you again. >> hi, look at you. >> how was vegas? >> vegas was great. i mean, didn't really leave the hotel a lot. unless it was, like, for a show. because vegas is not meant for someone my age. >> you're a little young for vegas. can we talk about how much money? >> how much? >> you know how much? i'll tell you h

dlivd millions across the country. >> which g the curtain today?did she say -- >> both: $350,000? >> worth of books. >> we love to do that. >> 15,000 books for kids who clearly will be able to benefit from having access -- >> your books are works of art. really are. >> brought classics. "'twas the night before christmas," "polar express" thrilled to do it every year. >> how many years? >> about four years, for me, and it's before me. >> thank you so much. >> thank you for being here. >> awesome. >> you have until friday to donate. stop by the ploz sa, do it online at today.com/today. our website has details. >> right. tomorrow, kevin costner pays us a visit. >> what? >> yes. we love him. plus >> and the scottos are >>> they call it their home away from home. this yacht club in southeast d.c. destroyed by an early-morning fire. a look at what may have delayed the call to firefighters. >>> a state capitals across the country, the electoral country is set to pick donald trump as the next president of the united states. despite an opposition movement,

find out who's behind the red curtain.llo! >> okay. we're so -- we're so happy you're both here. camilla, you kind of surprised us. >> so happy i did. >> is this part of your company? >> yes. >> tell us. >> it's a frozen organic baby food. >> uh-huh. >> without preservatives, no additives. cook the food just like you make at home. so today we're here. >> yes. >> all together. >> the main reason we're here today is to donate 250,000 meals to babies and toddlers around the country. >> that's awesome. >> awesome. >> that's a priceless gift. >> kath was saying often we forget that people need food during the holidays. it's not stuff. >> not only toys. they need food. >> right. it's so important, because, i mean, babies, adults, they need food. it's the most basic thing. it nourishes them. >> uh-huh. >> gosh, this is exciting. this is beautifully packaged stuff. thank you. >> we love you both. camilla, oh, my gosh. >> i'm happy to be here. >> and happy to move forward my cause. >> happy to meet you, agatha. merry christmas. >>

color of the curtains. you got the opportunity to make for really great drinks. you got low ball glasses etched with the signature. you even got these cute little toothpicks shaped in the form of of polar mountain. >> what is this will send me back? >> $4000. >> i want to talk about that. >> glad you pointed this out. >> what is this? >> this is the montclair beverly ski jacket. it is $2000. >> what is this fur on the hood? >> it is rabbit fur. >> this is super warm. >> you want to try it on? >> i want to try it on. even double the pryce. i'm more excited about this. >> trying on that montclair ski jacket got me think being our reporter drake bennett. drake tradeed in his snow boards for a pair of skis. >> i wanted to ski. increasingly i never approached the age of 40 and have a have a son fell like snow boarding was little less age appropriate. it's h how to ski when you live in new york and you only go a couple times a year. i found a place really good ski program. that's north star in lake tahoe. spent three days with him all day learning how to ski. after thr

sherri released weeks after curtain, and she was there. her poor face. and i just hugged her, and i just held her. i felt like i hugged her for 20 minutes. >> reporter: smith and the family never got their thanksgiving day miracle. >> brought back a lot of the memory of those initial days. >> reporter: unlike the papini's, smith believes he knows what pp daughter. >> we knew since the first night. >> reporter: while there was no suspect in ta ra's disappearanc, they suspected a local man. he sought out his advice grappling with the disappearance. >> he wanted to know just how they got by day-to-day, and then also dealing with law enforcement. abc news, los angeles. >> mystery deepens with that story. you think you heard everything that connection, just really haunting. >> so many questions. >> yeah. >>> coming up, call him a kinder, gentler glenn beck. that goes together? >> i don't know. seems contradictory, why the hard hitting conservative talk show host is pulling back on his criticism of donald trump. you're watching "world news now." now." >>> "wor

. >> wind out what awaits behind the red curtain. >> but first, this is "today" on nbc.more children all over the country. >> so let's find out who our generous toy drive doan sir behind the red curtain. drum roll, please. >> and hi, bob! playmaster. santa's here. what are you donating today, sir? >> over 150,000 dollars worth of toys and games. not just for kids but for all ages as well. >> where are you from? >> scotland. i'm his only scottish elf. >> you do wonderful work. thank you for everything that you do. a big thank you to santa. santa, come here. don't leave us. come, come here, santa. [ applause ] and a big, huge thank you to jane kerlikowske, awesome human being, great host, wonderful mom and everything else. >> oh, keep going. >> and you have until december 23rd to donate, donate online or come to the plaza. next week, tony bennett is coming. hello. kevin costner. very busy and important. >> happy holidays, everybody. >> merry christmas! just fifteen minutes and a little imagination are all you need to make holiday magic. chex party mix. it's what the holida

with curtains. and people lived in there, like spaces, i guess, art space, and there's like a staircase in the middle, just made out of no -- no structure whatsoever. it's just like just piles of stuff up to reach to the top floor. >> reporter: that woman describing one of the structures inside that building just a few days ago before this fire. neighbors here have been in shock for much of the day, especially as they started learning that some of the victims may have been minors. and right now this is an operation that we are told is going to continue for at least the next couple of days as they meticulously go through the building and continue their recovery of any bodies inside. reporting live in oakland, abc7 news. >> all right. thank you. a tremendous job out there tonight. dan noise is uncovering more about the warehouse and the investigation that was already open because of ongoing issues there. >> he has the story from the abc7 news room. >> at the time of the fire the planning and building

charlie: you are telling me that you can sit on the side of the curtain and on the other side of theurtain is a supercomputer having the qualities of artificial intelligence, and by text messages it says you cannot tell whether it is a human brain are artificial intelligence? andrew: that is the turing test, to do this. at the moment, it has not been a convincing victory for any computer. but it's not one of the hardest things to imagine. charlie: interesting point. no one has ever had a successful test to pass the turing test. will they? andrew: i think so. it's very hard. i'm really confident that within 20 years, convincingly we will pass the turing test. but by the time it happens it will just be like chess or calculating multiplication tables. people will say, it's just a computer doing that. it's not real intelligence. charlie: continuing my list of chores and things machines may be able to do. household chores. andrew: that one is harder, actually. i much prefer to begin when the task of doing original works of art than household chores. as i mentioned earlier, picking stuff u