The Inside Scoop

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(CBS)  QUOTE OF THE DAY
Americans detest all lies except lies spoken in public or printed lies.
Edward Watson Howe

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DID YOU KNOW?
Our eyes are always the same size from birth.

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BRAIN TEASER
Robert and David were preparing to have a water balloon fight. "No fair" cried Robert, "You have 3 times as many as I do!" David said "Fine!" and gave Robert 10 more balloons. "Still not fair!" argued Robert, "You still have twice as many as I do." How many more balloons must David give Robert for them to have the same number?

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Look for the Solution in Monday's Scoop. Have fun!

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Last updated at 5:45pm on Friday, November 20, 2009


TONIGHT ON THE CBS EVENING NEWS

Here's a look at what we are working on for tonight's broadcast of The CBS Evening News from Anchor and Managing Editor, Katie Couric:

Hi everyone.

For the second time this week, there are new recommendations for screening millions of women for cancer. A doctor’s group today recommended that women put off getting a pap smear, which detects cervical cancer, until age 21. Earlier this week, a government panel recommended fewer mammograms, which detect breast cancer. All this news about changing guidelines is raising concern that insurance companies may provide less coverage. We'll have complete coverage tonight with reports from CBS News Medical Correspondents Dr. Jennifer Ashton and Dr. Jon LaPook. For more on this story, Click Here

In this economy, states are trying to attract and retain businesses and the taxes they generate to replenish depleted coffers. Now an increasingly nasty border battle is raging between California and Nevada as they try to poach jobs and tax revenue from each other. CBS News Correspondent Ben Tracy reports on this border smackdown.

This week’s American Spirit is about getting a second chance. A young man, accused of assault in a case that drew national headlines, has a new opportunity, thanks to a lawyer who didn’t think he was a bad kid, just a kid in a bad situation. Harold Dow of 48 Hours tells this remarkable story.

See you tonight. Katie

Here's an early look at one of the stories we are working on for Monday night's broadcast of The CBS Evening News: Concerned about health care reform and what the key issues of cost, the public option and Medicare will mean for you? We'll have a reality check Monday night, only on The CBS Evening News.

THIS WEEKEND ON THE CBS EVENING NEWS

SATURDAY ON THE CBS EVENING NEWS

Jeff Glor anchors will anchor a West Coast Broadcast from New York.

In addition to the latest news, here are some of the stories we are working on:

Health Care Reform -- It’s the Senate’s turn to work the weekend tomorrow. They’ll be in Saturday for a crucial test vote on health care. Kimberly Dozier reports.

College Tuition Hikes -- Ben Tracy examines the outrage behind the decision by the University of California system to raise tuition costs by over 30% - and how college costs continue to rise despite the bad economy.

Church Poaching? -- In Rome on Saturday, Pope Benedict will be holding talks with the Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams. This will be their first meeting since the Vatican
announced on Oct 20th an initiative that makes it easier for disaffected Anglicans to convert to Catholicism. Sheila Macvicar will look behind the scenes of the Anglican community in the UK and tell us if and how this invitation from the Vatican will affect them.

Bees -- From the rooftops of a luxury hotel, to urban cities like Chicago and NYC, beekeeping is all the buzz. Beekeepers say it’s relaxing, good for the environment, and cross-pollination is good for the food supply. Wyatt Andrews tells us about this is growing trend and how it’s catching on nationwide.

SUNDAY ON THE CBS EVENING NEWS

Nancy Cordes anchors will anchor a West Coast Broadcast from New York.

In addition to the latest news, here are some of the stories we are working on:

College Meals -- Michelle Miller reports on a new trend in college cafeterias -- “stealth health.” Some colleges are quietly introducing healthier food choices and smaller portions to fight what is known as the “Freshman Fifteen” -- those extra pounds that first year students supposedly pile on by eating high-calorie foods when they first get to college. Miller visited two schools - the all-women’s college at Wellesley and the nearby co-ed business college Babson to see how the new meal plans are working.

Radical Imam -- Who is Anwar Awlaki? The Yemeni-American cleric was in extended correspondence with Army Major Nidal Hasan before Hasan unloaded his weapons on unsuspecting Fort Hood colleagues, killing 13 and wounded many more, earlier this month. Awlaki, who praised Hasan’s attack, seems to have gone underground. But this isn’t the first time he’s been linked to terrorists plotters -- from Fort Dix, to Toronto, not to mention his links to the 9/11 hijackers. Hari Sreenivasan has the inside look at this influential cleric.

Hermits -- Deep in the North Carolina woods, a couple is working to bring together those who choose to live apart: they publish a newsletter for hermits. They have over 1,200 subscribers nationwide. Dean Reynolds takes a look at the newsletter and interviews a hermit.

If you would like more information on any of these stories or the broadcast, please click on the following address and e-mail us: [e-mail]

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TONIGHT ON DAVID LETTERMAN
Tonight, actor Viggo Mortensen joins Dave along with stand-up comedian Paula Poundstone and a performance from musical guest Lyle Lovett.

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SATURDAY MORNING ON THE EARLY SHOW

Chris Wragge, Erica Hill, and WCBS-TV anchor Kate Sullivan will anchor from New York. Lonnie Quinn reports the weather.

Along with the top news of the day, we are also working on these stories

Best Tech Deals for the Holidays -- We're helping you shop for the techies on your list. Black Friday promises to be a prime day for buying the hottest gadgets at discounted prices -- if you know where to shop, and where to find the deals. Chicago Sun-Times Tech Journalist Andy Ihnatko will show you the very best of the least expensive tech gadgets on the market.

Inside the Amazing Race -- Just four teams remain! In episode 8, 47-year-old construction manager Gary Tomljenovich and his 22-year-old son, Matt, a college student, fell short. They came in last in a non-elimination round and were penalized with a speed bump, before finally blowing it in Estonia, where they couldn't catch the other teams. Get a first-hand account of how it felt to get so close to the finals, and who they hope takes the top prize in the end.

Healthwatch: Secret Calorie Cutting -- Let's face it, your family is looking for the real deal around the holidays, not a low-fat version of anything. No doubt your Thanksgiving table will be filled with full-fat, full-flavor deliciousness. Which is fun on the day, but tough on your waistline. But there are sneaky adjustments you can make to your family's favorite holiday recipes that will save you calories without sacrificing flavor. Diane Henderik, known as the Dietitian in the Kitchen will have full-fat and low-fat options you are sure to want to know about.

Get Anything out of Anything -- The holidays mean entertaining, and while it is nice to have a house-full of company, the stains, spills and scuffs that come along with it can be real wear and tear on your home. But don't panic -- we've got great tips on getting anything out of anything. From the red wine on the carpet, to lipstick on linen -- even that glass ring on your wooden table -- Home & Lifestyle Expert Laura Dellutri will show you how to erase the bad stuff!

Dealing with In-Laws -- The holidays mean plenty of family time. And the truth is, not everyone has a Norman Rockwell kind of family situation. In fact, the holidays can be a super-stressful time as you deal with the in-laws and others who are difficult to be around. Thanksgiving is considered the most difficult, since there is a lot of time spent around the table.Etiquette expert Thomas Farley will share valuable tips on how you can manage the family interaction, and come out on the other end with your relationships intact!

Second Cup Cafe -- We're welcoming the multi-Grammy winning Country-Rockers, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, to our 2nd Cup Cafe. The legendary band has just released their new album, Speed of Life. It's their first in 5 years, and they'll not only be performing their new single, Tulsa Sounds Like Trouble to Me for an ad additional treat they'll perform the classic hit, Mr. Bojangles.

Chef on a Shoestring -- Brothers Matt & Ted Lee are preparing our Thanksgiving feast this year. They're the authors of the new cookbook Simple Fresh Southern, and they made a name for themselves with their mail-order catalog The Lee Bros. Boiled Peanuts Catalogue. It features southern pantry staples like stone-ground grits, fig preserves and of course, boiled peanuts. For our Big Show Thanksgiving, the Lee Brothers will prepare a feast for eight on our holiday budget of 70 bucks. The feast includes: Cheese with Smoked Paprika and Toasted Georgia Pecans, followed by Herb-Salted Turkey with Red-Eye Gravy, Cornbread and Oyster Dressing, and Cranberry Sauce. For side dishes they have Skillet Green Beans, Baked Sweet Potatoes with Lime Sour Cream and Pimento Cheese Potato Gratin. And for dessert, Pecan Pie. To get the recipe Click Here

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SATURDAY ON 48 HOURS MYSTERY, 10pmET/9CT

Here's an early preview of what's coming up on 48 HOURS MYSTERY: Diary of a Show Girl from Correspondent, Peter Van Sant:

It’s a murder mystery that has it all… sex, lies, greed… a savage crime and a beautiful showgirl. Marjorie Orbin was young and beautiful… living in Las Vegas and searching for her prince charming. But Majorie’s fairytale took an x-rated detour when she became a stripper...she loved men and wanted a glamorous life. By the time Majorie was 35, she had gone through seven marriages. But her life began to settle when she started dating Jay Orbin - a former strip club regular who she had known for ten years. He was gregarious, big-hearted and was completely head over heels for her. Jay chased Majorie around for years and gave her everything she ever wanted. They finally got hitched in Las Vegas and settled into their home in Phoenix, with a newborn baby boy. They seemed like a perfect family for nearly ten years… but then everything changed. Jay vanished…and was missing for 6 weeks

Until police made a gruesome discovery…Jay’s torso, a wad of cash and a single spent bullet, were found all neatly packed inside a Rubbermaid coffin…just miles from the Orbin’s home. Although Majorie’s DNA was not found near the body, detectives believe that her actions following his disappearance were suspicious. Majorie spent nearly $45,000 from his business account, was spending time with another man, and was caught on a surveillance video buying two large Rubbermaid containers at Lowe’s hardware store. She was arrested for murder and has been behind bars for nearly 5 years…charged with a crime that she claims she didn’t commit. We got unprecedented access to the months of video diaries that she's been keeping for years. Although the prosecution believes they have an iron-clad case, Marjorie reveals a secret that she has kept for five years. It’s a secret she hopes will turn the case in her favor. But will it be enough to prove her innocence? I hope you'll join us for this gripping murder mystery.

Peter

If you would like more information, please click on the following address and e-mail us at: [e-mail]

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HERE'S WHAT WE HAVE PLANNED FOR SUNDAY MORNING

CHARLES OSGOOD ANCHORS FROM NEW YORK

The Wonder of Food Banks -- Thanksgiving is a time to celebrate good food, family, and community -- and with our economy struggling, millions of volunteers across the country are pulling together this holiday season to make sure that every American has a seat at the table. We’ve all heard of “food banks”, but few people know the concept is fairly new. The idea began with one man, John Van Hengel, who in 1967 convinced supermarkets in Phoenix, Arizona, to donate excess or slightly damaged food to feed the hungry. Today food banks help feed more than 25 million Americans. “Feeding America” is the largest food bank organization in the country, with 205 distribution centers nationwide providing food to an astonishing 63,000 agencies-churches, soup kitchens, after-school programs- who in turn feed the hungry. Feeding America has become big business, because the demand is big, and they’ve enlisted some big-name help. Rock star Sheryl Crow has written a song, “All We Need”, which will soon be available exclusively on iTunes, and all the proceeds will go to Feeding America. Sheryl talks with Sunday Morning about why she wrote the song, and why she feels so passionate about volunteering to help those less fortunate.

Comfort Food -- It’s one of the all-time great comfort foods…macaroni and cheese. Creamy, crispy, with breadcrumbs or without…and all that cheese…everyone has their own way of making it. This Sunday Morning, correspondent Serena Altschul looks at the history of macaroni and cheese and how the famous blue boxed Kraft version changed dinnertime during the Great Depression. The all-American classic has also become one of the hottest trends in food. Altschul visits Macbar in New York City, which has nothing on its menu but different variations of mac and cheese, along with the Waverly Inn, which serves its high-end clients possibly the most opulent take on this simple dish…topped with white truffles and priced at nearly $100.

Catholic Priest's Cooking Show -- A Catholic priest with a cooking show? Pretty unexpected. But Father Leo Patalinghug is preaching a tasty but serious message with his show and cookbook "Grace Before Meals." He wants families to eat dinner, and to enjoy food together more often. He's teaching bite sized theology along with his more epicurean recipes. Rita Braver cooks along with this dynamic young priest.

Recipe for Success -- There’s something cooking in the culinary arts program at Frankford High School in Philadelphia, and it’s not just the omelets and cakes. Teacher Wilma Stephenson is giving new futures to the inner-city students who come to her classes. As seen in the documentary “Pressure Cooker,” Stephenson sees that her students not only know their way around the kitchen, she also prepares them for life after high school. They routinely earn tens of thousand of dollars in a city-wide scholarship program. Correspondent Jim Axelrod spent a day in Stephenson’s classroom, finding that she doesn’t pull her punches as she pushes her students to be their best. And we catch up with one of her former students, who are now working in an upscale Manhattan restaurant.

Moonshine -- Moonshine...corn liquor...white lightning...regardless of the name, it’s no longer made only in the still of the night. Distilleries around the country are now turning out hand crafted batches of the stuff, and it's as authentic as what you'd find in the hills...except that it's legal. Correspondent Tracy Smith goes on a voyage to Greensboro, North Carolina to find out where this killer drink is still being churned.

Knife Maker -- Jerry Bowen introduces our viewers to knife maker Bob Kramer…one of only 114 Master Bladesmiths in the world, certified by the American Bladesmith Society. Kramer is so good his handmade knives sell for $300.00…an inch, and there is 14-month wait for them.

Pies for Life -- Royer’s Café in Round Top, Texas, is a small café with a big idea. Bud “the pie man” Royer has announced a new program called “Pie For Life.” That’s right, “Pie For Life.” You can have a pie delivered to you every month for the rest of your life, but it doesn’t come cheap. The price varies according to the customer’s life expectancy -- $10,000.00 for a fifty year old (more if you don’t live in Texas) -- and no one has figured out the effect eating all of those pies will have on your lifespan. Royer’s Café has become famous for pies, which Bud started making back in 1987, and this Sunday Morning Bill Geist travels to Round Top to taste for himself, and find out what it will cost him to have pie forever.

If you would like more information on any of these stories or the broadcast, please click on the following address and e-mail us: [e-mail]

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SUNDAY ON FACE THE NATION

BOB SCHIEFFER MODERATES FROM OUR STUDIOS IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

The big health care vote is Saturday night in the Senate. This vote will determine if the bill will be debated in the Senate in the coming weeks. Yet even if that happens there are a number of sticking points: Tax increases, abortion funding and the public option. We’ll have a debate on health care reform featuring Senators Chuck Schumer, Democrat of New York, and Minority Whip Jon Kyl of Arizona. We’ll talk about the new mammogram guidelines and what women should do with CBS Medical Consultant Dr. Jennifer Ashton. There will be, as always, a final word. That’s all on Face the Nation with Bob Schieffer, this Sunday.

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SUNDAY ON 60 MINUTES, 7:00PM/6:00PM CT

WITNESS -- Recently freed after four months of interrogation and torture at the hands of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, Newsweek reporter Maziar Bahari tells his story to Bob Simon and writes about his ordeal in the next issue of Newsweek.

THE COST OF DYING -- Many Americans spend their last days in an intensive care unit, subjected to uncomfortable machines or surgeries to prolong their lives at enormous cost. Steve Kroft reports. The press release follows below.


WHAT’S WRONG WITH HEALTH CARE?

TOO MANY AMERICANS ARE “DYING BADLY,” SAYS A
PROMINENT END-OF-LIFE DOCTOR. THEY END UP IN THE UNCOMFORTABLE, EXPENSIVE ICU, WHERE UP TO
20 PERCENT OF AMERICANS DIE -- 60 MINUTES SUNDAY

Patients’ Last Two Months of Life Cost Medicare $50 Billion Last Year

One of the biggest problems in health care is that many Americans are "dying badly," says Dr. Ira Byock. He says many Americans spend their last days in an intensive care unit, relying on uncomfortable machines or surgeries to prolong their lives a few more days or weeks at enormous cost. Byock is interviewed in a Steve Kroft story about the cost of dying in America to be broadcast on 60 MINUTES Sunday, Nov. 22 (7:00-8:00PM, ET/PT) on the CBS television Network.

Eighteen to 20 percent of Americans spend their last days in an ICU, says Byock, who heads the palliative care program at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H. He says many people are not aware there are alternatives to such expensive and prolonged death.

"Families cannot imagine there could be anything worse than their loved one dying. But in fact, there are things worse," Byock tells Kroft. "Most generally, it's having someone you love die badly -- dying, suffering, dying connected to machines." He takes Kroft through the Intensive Care Unit at Dartmouth-Hitchcock. "This is the way so many Americans die," he says. "It’s extremely expensive. It’s uncomfortable. Many times they have to be sedated so they won’t reflexively pull out a tube or sometimes their hands are restrained."

Last year, Medicare paid $50 billion just for doctor and hospital bills during the last two months of patients' lives. That's more than the budget of the Department of Homeland Security or the Department of Education. And it has been estimated that 20 to 30 percent of these medical expenditures may have had no meaningful impact.

The vast majority of people say they want to die at home, but 75 percent die in a hospital or nursing home. Dr. Elliott Fisher of the Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy tells Kroft his research suggests that 30 percent of hospital stays in America are unnecessary. He says hospitals have become the "path of least resistance," because it's easiest for doctors to manage patients there. Fisher points out that most doctors get paid based on the number of patients they see, and most hospitals get paid for the patients they admit. Add to this the fact that the government or private insurers are footing about 85 percent of all health care bills and it's easy to see why end-of-life care is so costly.

Says David Walker, former head of the Government Accountability Office, "We have a system where everybody wants as much as they can get, and they don't understand the true cost of what they are getting. The one thing that could bankrupt America is out-of-control health costs." Walker is now the head of the Peter G. Peterson Foundation, which advocates reducing the U.S. government’s debt.

Byock believes that if more doctors were trained to speak honestly to patients and their families about end-of-life alternatives, such as hospice care, patients would be more comfortable and costs could be contained.

According to Fisher, many of the patients being aggressively treated would prefer to die at home or in hospice. "If they were given a choice, but we don’t adequately give them choice," he tells Kroft.. For more on this story, Click Here


CAMERON’S AVATAR -- Morley Safer gets the first look at how "Titanic" Director James Cameron created his $400 million 3-D fantasy "Avatar." The press release follows below.


3-D "AVATAR" FANTASY FILM A DREAM COME TRUE, SAYS ITS DIRECTOR JAMES CAMERON, AS HE GIVES 60 MINUTES THE FIRST LOOK AT HOW HE CREATED IT -- SUNDAY ON CBS

Director James Cameron has been waiting for this film his whole life. “Avatar,” his upcoming 3-D science fiction fantasy, embodies his childhood love of imaginary creatures and his obsession with pushing the envelope. And, he tells Morley Safer, it may help 3-D finally catch on, changing film, perhaps all video, forever. Cameron gives Safer and 60 MINUTES cameras the first look at how he created “Avatar” for a segment to be broadcast Sunday Nov. 22 (7:00-8:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.

“I’ve been working up to this for a long time. This is the film that I always thought I wanted to make…,” Cameron tells Safer. “I’ve loved fantasy and science fiction since I was a kid…I’ve been drawing creatures and characters and robots and spaceships since I was in high school.” 60 MINUTES stopped in while he was shooting a scene himself on a camera he helped develop to better shoot his 3-D vision of “Avatar,” a film about a paradise in outer space that is in danger of being despoiled by earthlings. For more on this story, Click Here

He also took Safer to his office where he keeps a special film prop, the ship’s wheel from “Titanic,” the film that won eleven Oscars and anointed him a super-director. “I keep this in my office because I know what it feels like to be at the helm of a sinking ship,” he jokes, alluding to the panic he can feel while trying to make a film as ambitious as “Avatar.”

“I’m not in this to phone it in or do mediocre work,” he tells Safer. He has been working on “Avatar” for years, a painstaking process of marrying real actors to computerized images in a process that enlists more computer geeks than traditional film crews. The film is estimated to be one the most expensive ever, as much as $400 million, including promotion costs. He says he also told his staff to be prepared for a total commitment. “You got to be ready…‘Don’t get on the boat if you’re not ready to go all the way.’”

Cameron thinks “Avatar” will go all the way and forever change Hollywood, which has had several flings with 3-D going back the 1950s. It could go beyond that, too. “Maybe [3-D] becomes the standard for newsgathering. Maybe…for sports,” says Cameron.

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MONDAY MORNING ON THE EARLY SHOW

Harry Smith, Maggie Rodriguez and Russ Mitchell anchor from New York. Dave Price reports the weather. Julie Chen is on maternity leave.

In addition to the day’s top news, here's a look at some of the stories we are working on for Monday morning's broadcast:

Inspired by her 4-year-old daughter's weekend stay at the hospital, Amy Pankratz found a special way to give comfort to hundreds of sick children. It all began when her daughter, Isabella, asked her to make a "Superhero Princess Cape" a few months back. Isabella loved the cape so much that when she became sick with a virus and had to be hospitalized, she took the cape with her. When Isabella began feeling better, she started running up and down the hospital hallways. Other children saw the cape and felt comfort when they wore it as a result, Amy started getting requests for "comfort capes." You won’t want to miss this heartwarming and unique way of bringing comfort to sick children.

After their highly-publicized breakup, Jon and Kate Gosselin’s hit TLC reality show “Jon and Kate Plus 8” will come to an end Monday night. The separation and divorce battle between Jon and Kate, as well as intense media scrutiny over the filming of their children, is reportedly the reason that TLC to pull the plug. If you are a fan or just plain curious, you won't want to miss a preview of the highly-anticipated series finale.

Plus, the always charming Claire Danes and Hollywood heartthrob Zac Efron stop by with a preview of their new coming of age film “Me and Orson Welles.” Set to hit theatres Wednesday, November 25, the film tells the story of a teenage actor (Efron) who lands the role of a lifetime as “Julius Caesar” in an Orson Welles production and ends up falling for a career-driven production assistant (Danes). Tune in to see a sneak peek of the movie and then hear the inside scoop from Danes and Effron about what it was like to work together and what's next on their "hit parade."

If you would like more information on any of these stories or the broadcast, please click on the following address and e-mail us: [e-mail]

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