>> i'm reading a new book by this guy stephen johnson on the history of innovation and what really makes it work. getting,ing forward to you know, through that. i am reading nate silver's wonderful book -- he is the guy who did all the political predictions, but he started out trying to predict which college and minor league baseball players could make it in the big leagues. it is fascinating about the challenges of prediction and how much is statistics and how much is instinct and what do you look for? those are the two things i'm reading now. >> do you read more than one book at a time? >> sometimes. i started at the year -- when hillary was convalescing, i read nothing but cheap thrills mysteries. newad janet evanovich's book, which is just hilarious. i read one funny book that came out several years ago -- 2005 or 2006 -- by jonas johnson, a swedish writer, called "the hundred year old man who jumped out of a widow and disappeared." it is one of the most interesting books i have ever seen. i cannot figure out how you could afford to make a movie out of it, but it is hilarious. i reco

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host: your thoughts about what stephen johnson of u.s. airways have to say about the merger.uest: he was clearly articulating what he felt the benefits were. the two carriers, there would be benefits for the shareholders, customers, and employees. it might be good to mention that before the merger was announced, there have been discussions between the two airlines and various labor groups, pilots, flight attendants, to set agreements that would govern how the various work forces are integrated following the merger. as part of those discussions, there have already been some agreements reached with unions that stipulate once the merger is complete, those groups will see pay raises. that shows how it will potentially benefit the employees. for consumers, they will have more choices. keep in mind the american -- that american's strength is on the east coast, dallas-fort worth where is based, it also has other hubs in chicago and los angeles. u.s. airways has strength of the u.s. east coast. it has major operations in philadelphia, a charlotte, north carolina, as well as washingto

stephen weiss has a question for you. >> disclosure i'm short but even if they get rid of ron johnson they bring in a new ceo, haven't youmpletely alienated your current store -- your current customers, your old customers and really have no hook for new customers while competitors continue to feast on the troubles, so isn't it actually the story at this point of when it goes bad, rare than if it goes bad? skw well, look, i'm not entirely sure that jcpenney could be saved. i would suggest they're in a window of opportunity in which prompt and vigorous and appropriate action can be taken that could begin to bring their legacy customer back into their stores. they are going to require tremendous cooperation from the financial community, and the vendor community who will have to support them in an extraordinary way if they are going to make some kind of successful transition into a different strategy. but the one they're operating under today has no forward viability in my view. >> let me ask you before we move on, sir, about sears. i mean used to be the boss at sears canada. i was thinking when you said you're not entirely