dusseldorf we go to god for steingart he's an international bestselling author and the editor in chief of handel's blood and in boston we go to lawrence call to love he's professor at boston university and another member of our cross talk team on the hunger are a gentleman cross talk rules in effect means you can jump in anytime you want well i've done many cross talk programs gentlemen but i've never come across a topic that is so last loved in the world especially in the western world and that is the welfare state so gentlemen the welfare state once the pride and glory of western democracies has it become a curse peter in canterbury could i go to you first. no i wouldn't say that the welfare state is actually extremely probably lower in the u. the problem is that the government doesn't believe that we can afford it well peter can you afford it. i don't see why not it's simply a decision about how you spread public if people are prepared to pay for public services there's no problem about providing a bit just recently heard the government the current government in britain is going to cut one hund

they sing the hallelujah chorus from handel's messiah. it is unbelievable.o hear it. >> it's a better song than "i g a feeling." >> how about bruno mars on the plaza? >> he's cute. >> he's adorable. he's out there singing. he's kind of a new singer so if you don't know him, you will get to know him. ♪ ♪ >> i think it's great that that many people came out to the plaza today. it is a monday, for god's sake. >> i know. and the weather is getting a little chilly. people come out. there's always something happening around here. >> it is. and thanksgiving's knocking on the door but nordstrom's is saying -- >> no, no, no. >> they will not go to christmas until after thanksgiving. >> appreciate that. we were watching football last night and all of a sudden a commercial came on. i won't say who it w. sears. and it was all about christmas and i went, i don't want that yet. i love sears, it is a great store, but not yet. please, not yet. >> yeah. i want to do thanksgiving first. i want to do thanksgiving first. don't you? we'll do our favorite things but i have two fa

as you can see, they're singing the "hallelujah chorus" from handel's "messiah." >> s spping gets stressfulcepeaceful break for them. very cool. very funny here from "the vancouver sun." most people find babies on planes extraordinarily annoying. i'm one of those people. they evidently cry. i love kids but not on a plane, it gets kind of crazy. anyway. this couple, they were on their way home last thanksgiving, from vegas back to edmonton. they had their 8-month-old son levi. we've all been in that situation. they rush to get to the gate, they pass through security, 20 minutes to spare. before the flight takes off. as they approach the boarding gate the little boy soils himself so badly they had to take the kid to the bathroom to clean himself, to replace his diaper. it was a mess. anyway. the airline found out about it and said, you've got to get on a new flight, pay $1,000 to change the flight because you missed the plane. the airline felt bad, they got a call saying we'll reimburse you the grand to get the new plane tickets because your kid was in the bathroom. yeah, little levi, had som