American Morning
Wal-Mart making its debut in India
In the Holy City of the Golden Temple an American retail giant is hoping to strike gold.
Walmart has finally made its way to India, in a joint venture with one of the country's best-known companies: Bharti Enterprises. But not everyone can shop here. This is a wholesale store aptly named "Best Price Modern Wholesale." Here only licensed business people, hotels or institutions are allowed in.
India's strict business rules forbid foreign companies from direct retail for fear multinational corporations will wipe out the little guy. For some businesses…it can mean visiting up to 25 different places everyday just to stock the shelves. The store also appeals to Sundar Singh, who owns a small store in a nearby village. He says, "I travel 40 kilometers, but I save a lot of money and get good quality of products. I visit this place four to five times a week."
But not everyone is excited about the new store in the Punjab's Amritsar. Small distributor Pawan Sharma is worried. He says his business has dropped by 15-percent in the month Wal-Mart has been open. But the Bharti-Walmart partnership says with more than one-billion people to serve, there's room for everyone to do good business here.
Bharti-Walmart is planning to open 15 stores across India within the next few years.
Food rehab: Why we can't eat just one
All of us crave certain foods, chewy chocolate chip cookies, pizza, or a comfort food like mac and cheese. Or in my case all of the above. But why do we crave them? Why are they so irresistible? Even addictive?
Remember the Lay’s potato chip commercial, “Betcha can’t eat just one”? Turns out there’s scientific evidence our brains are being hijacked by food and we may be helpless. But there’s hope. Dr. David Kessler, Former FDA Commissioner, has written a book, “The End of Overeating”, detailing why we are so addicted to food.and how to overcome this addiction, a sort of Food Rehabilitation.
Dr. Kessler told me food makers stimulate our desire to eat even when we’re full by combining fat,sugar, and salt in all kinds of different ways. He says, “add flavor, add texture, add temperature, add color and what do we end up with? One of the great public health epidemics of our time.” And there are other factors that go into why we can’t resist.
He goes on, “back 20 years ago, the average bite had about 20 chews. Today food goes down in one or two chews.It’s a wash. We get stimulated and we reach for more and more.”
In other words we just can’t help ourselves. Just ask four star chef Daniel Boulud, chef and owner of “Daniel” restaurant in New York City. He treated us to a tasting menu—a bite sized symphony of sweet, salty and fatty foods:
What's on Tap – Wednesday July 8th, 2009
Here are the big stories on the agenda today:
- A shocking new report just out shows major security lapses at federal buildings across the country. Undercover agents get through security with all they need to make a bomb, and put them together, in the bathroom.
- Stimulus “Blood in the Water.” With the president overseas, and his vice president putting his foot in his mouth again, Republicans are on the attack, asking: “where are the jobs?” They say President Obama's stimulus isn't working. And now the president may want another one. The debate over your money and your future, live from Washington.
- It’s the day you’ve been waiting for, ladies, at least some of you. Men may have just been made obsolete. A group of British scientists claim they've made human sperm from embryonic stem cells. They say it will help doctors better understand fertility. Is it a medical breakthrough, or just science fiction? Our Doctor Sanjay Gupta is here to make sense of it all.
- Track marks on his arms, and, "dangerous medicines" in his mansion. A source gives us new shocking details from the Michael Jackson investigation, after a memorable and heart-wrenching goodbye in front of thousands.
We Listen – Your comments 7/7/09
Editor's Note: With the all day Michael Jackson Memorial coverage, Some were very pleased to see the coverage and asked that CNN stay away from the “negativity” during the day. Others offered memories of the singer and what he meant to them.
- Linda T: We as fans do not want to hear all the negativity today. Pay some RESPECT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! In one minute you say something good about him, the next 20 minutes you degrade him. Shame on you CNN. Al Sharpton is so right!
- Joshua: Through out the years of time the world has lost many great talented artistes. It is sad to say Michael Jackson is now a part of that group. Michael's spirit will live on for ever in the hearts and minds of his loyal fans across the world. We must always remember the example Michael set by starting with the man in the mirror; and that's just what he did. We to need to take a look in our mirrors and do every day the best we can to make this ever changing world a better place for the people of today and to marrow. With Gods Help and the example Michael has left we all can help to make this world a better place...THANK YOU MICHAEL!
- Earnestine: Thank you CNN for broadcasting good things about the Late Michael Jackson. I know that his family knows that many around the world is praying for them right now. I just wish Michael could have felt the love for him and his work by his fans. If I could just get one message to the family, I would like to say "God sees all and knows all.” Let not your hearts be troubled. Everything will be alright now. Michael is at home, at peace, and resting. We loved him but God loved him best. He did so much for humanity, his reward is in heaven now. I will miss him – the man and I'll always keep the family in my prayers. My tears are just temporary, but the love will be remembered though all times.
- Linda R : With all due respect to Michael Jackson, he was a genuine gift to the arts. Talented, philanthropic, kind and gentle, terribly misunderstood and abused by hangers-on, and even by some of those he trusted. Rep. Peter King, the Republican congressman from N.Y., is an ignorant, crude individual, the personification of the "base", that tiny portion (thank God it's "tiny) of the population that still admires Bush and Palin. I read that Michael's fans are now trying to raise lots if money to defeat this moron in the next election, and I hope they succeed. His horrid insults and slanderous remarks against Michael are being largely ignored. However, having said that, I hope that after today, The 24/7 coverage will finally end, and we can get back to reporting the "real news", the stuff that concerns our survival. Also, I must add that I will really feel sorry for Larry King, who it appears has been adopted by the Jackson family. He may have to resort to "retro" stuff, like covering Elvis and John Lennon again. Seriously though, please, go back to the news.
- David: I graduated from the Boston Conservatory of Music in 1969. I appreciate the quality of music that Michael Jackson brought into this world. I am a band, strings, and guitar teacher in public school. I am also studying to be a pastor. It is a real pity that Michael and so many other gifted people have fallen pray to drugs in our society. He was brilliant to say the least! But only one thing can give you that peace that Michael was lacking, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Peace be with you all!
- Yvonne: Michael Jackson will live on in my memories, I have not gone to bed one night since, without having dreams of his death. I watched him in concert in Florida 1985, he left a lasting impression on me. He is such a talent. I mourn his loss and wish his family all the best. For those who has nothing good to say about Michael Jackson, I suggest you search your selves, something is radically wrong with your mind and the way you think about people, you obviously have racial issues.
Share your memories of Michael Jackson
Governor Palin was less a focus, while some still believed she was a “quitter.”
- Richard: Maybe it's just me, Gov Palin. Abdicating your DUTIES to the folks that elected you sure sounds like a quitter, not a fighter. Shame, shame.
After seeing the interview of Governor Palin with Drew Griffin, has your opinion of her changed? What do you think her next step will be? Would you like to see her in political office at the presidential level?
The latest on the Jackson investigation
The investigation into the death of the pop icon is ongoing. There are still many unanswered questions. CNN's Ted Rowlands has the latest.
Palin: 'I am not a quitter; I am a fighter'
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (CNN) - Sarah Palin's not a quitter, she wants the public to know.
[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/07/07/art.palin.interview.cnn.jpg caption="Sarah Palin's attorney said there is no legal reason that compelled her to resign as governor."]
"I am not a quitter. I am a fighter," Palin told CNN on Monday while on a family fishing trip, on the heels of her Friday bombshell announcement that she was resigning as Alaska's governor.
Palin did her interview standing on the shores of Dillingham, Alaska, wearing hip waders. She granted 10-minute interviews to CNN and three other news networks Monday.
She resigned because of the tremendous pressure, time and financial burden of a litany of ethics complaints in the past several months, she said. The complaints were without merit and took away from the job she wanted to do for Alaskans, Palin said.
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