text:
(CNN) -- Rick Warren, founder and pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California, is one of America's most influential authors and religious leaders. In August, he moderated a discussion on key issues between presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain.

Rick Warren says no matter what problem you have, there's a purpose behind it.

His latest book is "The Purpose of Christmas." He was interviewed by Kiran Chetry on "American Morning" on Friday. Here is an edited version of the exchange:

Chetry: We always say we don't want Christmas to be commercialized. It seems that at the end of the year, we end up in the same position, worried about buying presents, worried about spending money, worried about holiday cards, and how do you get back to the real meaning?

Rick Warren: A lot of people are really hurting because of the economy and because of the fears about what's going to happen, and really those same problems are the problems that Mary and Joseph went through. Housing, no room at the inn, travel, economic unrest, things like that.

So I wrote this book really to focus us on what is the true meaning of Christmas. It's a book of hope, and the big idea behind it is that no matter what problem you're going through, there's a purpose behind it. God has a purpose, and that purpose can help you make it through even the stressful times when we decide to write a note to everybody, buy a gift for everybody, redecorate our house, have five or six meals and go to eight or nine parties.  Rick Warren: Shop more or pray more? Â»

Chetry: Exactly, because that's usually what ends up happening, and sometimes the spirit of giving and fellowship is lost in that. You also write in the book, remember that God loves you, but for somebody who is facing foreclosure -- let's say you lost a loved one or your job or dealing with an illness -- it can sound pat in a way. What do you say to people who say, pastor, I don't feel that God loves me or I wouldn't be going through this

Warren: Actually, sometimes what we think is a problem is actually a protection. For instance, last month my daughter-in-law, who is 25 years old, went through a brain tumor. She had her first child premature, about six weeks early, and when she had that baby early, it was breech. The cord was wrapped around its neck and it stopped breathing and they actually had to do an emergency C-section and resuscitate the child and save the baby's life and save her life.

We looked at that and we thought, boy, that's a pretty tough problem, but we now know that she had a three-inch brain tumor at the base of her brainstem, and if she had pushed, it would have killed her. And so actually, seven weeks later, when she should have been delivering the baby, we discovered the brain tumor, and she would have been trying to have brain surgery, three surgeries, one was 20 hours long, at the same time as having a baby.

So what we thought was a problem was actually a protection saving her life.

And sometimes, we look at a tapestry, and from the top down, you can see the picture. From the bottom up, it's all of these different colors of threads. It makes no sense. It's all jumbled. When God looks down, he sees what he's doing. When we look up, we just see the jumble.

Chetry: And she's OK?

Warren: She's OK.

Chetry: Thank goodness. I want to turn to politics now and ask you about the summit you hosted for both of the candidates. Great provocative questions and interesting answers we weren't hearing on the campaign trail. Now that the campaign is over, what is your reaction to the outcome and to President-elect Barack Obama?

Warren: Well, there's no doubt about it, we need to be praying for our president. I don't think any president has come into a crisis so quickly as President-elect Obama has, and no president has come in with probably as high expectations as President-elect Obama. So we need to pray for him. We need to support him where we can, and we need -- we want the best for America.

Chetry: Religion factored heavily into some of the back-and-forth in the campaign season. Many people believed [incorrectly] that Barack Obama wasn't really Christian, that he was Muslim, and, of course, the Jeremiah Wright thing. Religion ended up, unfortunately, being a divisive issue at times as opposed to one that was a uniting issue. How do you change that?

Warren: Part of it is we have to end the caricaturization of the candidates. I know all of the candidates on both sides, and none of them were exactly as they were portrayed. We tend to overportray them whether it's Sarah Palin or Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama or John McCain. They're not anything like the caricaturization that we often hear. We tend to push to extremes.

They are a lot more practical and pragmatic, I think, than we want to give them credit for, and every president, when he becomes president, has to let go of some ideology and become more of a pragmatist because there's so many issues that you don't probably understand until you actually hold the office.

text: CNN

text: Rick

text: Warren

text: founder

text: and

text: pastor

text: of

text: Saddleback

text: Church

text: in

text: Lake

text: Forest

text: California

text: is

text: one

text: of

text: America

text: 's

text: most

text: influential

text: authors

text: and

text: religious

text: leaders

text: In

text: August

text: he

text: moderated

text: a

text: discussion

text: on

text: key

text: issues

text: between

text: presidential

text: candidates

text: Barack

text: Obama

text: and

text: John

text: McCain

text: Rick

text: Warren

text: says

text: no

text: matter

text: what

text: problem

text: you

text: have

text: there

text: 's

text: a

text: purpose

text: behind

text: it

text: His

text: latest

text: book

text: is

text: The

text: Purpose

text: of

text: Christmas

text: He

text: was

text: interviewed

text: by

text: Kiran

text: Chetry

text: on

text: American

text: Morning

text: on

text: Friday

text: Here

text: is

text: an

text: edited

text: version

text: of

text: the

text: exchange

text: Chetry

text: We

text: always

text: say

text: we

text: do

text: n't

text: want

text: Christmas

text: to

text: be

text: commercialized

text: It

text: seems

text: that

text: at

text: the

text: end

text: of

text: the

text: year

text: we

text: end

text: up

text: in

text: the

text: same

text: position

text: worried

text: about

text: buying

text: presents

text: worried

text: about

text: spending

text: money

text: worried

text: about

text: holiday

text: cards

text: and

text: how

text: do

text: you

text: get

text: back

text: to

text: the

text: real

text: meaning

text: Rick

text: Warren

text: A

text: lot

text: of

text: people

text: are

text: really

text: hurting

text: because

text: of

text: the

text: economy

text: and

text: because

text: of

text: the

text: fears

text: about

text: what

text: 's

text: going

text: to

text: happen

text: and

text: really

text: those

text: same

text: problems

text: are

text: the

text: problems

text: that

text: Mary

text: and

text: Joseph

text: went

text: through

text: Housing

text: no

text: room

text: at

text: the

text: inn

text: travel

text: economic

text: unrest

text: things

text: like

text: that

text: So

text: I

text: wrote

text: this

text: book

text: really

text: to

text: focus

text: us

text: on

text: what

text: is

text: the

text: true

text: meaning

text: of

text: Christmas

text: It

text: 's

text: a

text: book

text: of

text: hope

text: and

text: the

text: big

text: idea

text: behind

text: it

text: is

text: that

text: no

text: matter

text: what

text: problem

text: you

text: 're

text: going

text: through

text: there

text: 's

text: a

text: purpose

text: behind

text: it

text: God

text: has

text: a

text: purpose

text: and

text: that

text: purpose

text: can

text: help

text: you

text: make

text: it

text: through

text: even

text: the

text: stressful

text: times

text: when

text: we

text: decide

text: to

text: write

text: a

text: note

text: to

text: everybody

text: buy

text: a

text: gift

text: for

text: everybody

text: redecorate

text: our

text: house

text: have

text: five

text: or

text: six

text: meals

text: and

text: go

text: to

text: eight

text: or

text: nine

text: parties

text: Rick

text: Warren

text: Shop

text: more

text: or

text: pray

text: more

text: Â

text: Chetry

text: Exactly

text: because

text: that

text: 's

text: usually

text: what

text: ends

text: up

text: happening

text: and

text: sometimes

text: the

text: spirit

text: of

text: giving

text: and

text: fellowship

text: is

text: lost

text: in

text: that

text: You

text: also

text: write

text: in

text: the

text: book

text: remember

text: that

text: God

text: loves

text: you

text: but

text: for

text: somebody

text: who

text: is

text: facing

text: foreclosure

text: let

text: 's

text: say

text: you

text: lost

text: a

text: loved

text: one

text: or

text: your

text: job

text: or

text: dealing

text: with

text: an

text: illness

text: it

text: can

text: sound

text: pat

text: in

text: a

text: way

text: What

text: do

text: you

text: say

text: to

text: people

text: who

text: say

text: pastor

text: I

text: do

text: n't

text: feel

text: that

text: God

text: loves

text: me

text: or

text: I

text: would

text: n't

text: be

text: going

text: through

text: this

text: Warren

text: Actually

text: sometimes

text: what

text: we

text: think

text: is

text: a

text: problem

text: is

text: actually

text: a

text: protection

text: For

text: instance

text: last

text: month

text: my

text: daughter

text: in

text: law

text: who

text: is

text: years

text: old

text: went

text: through

text: a

text: brain

text: tumor

text: She

text: had

text: her

text: first

text: child

text: premature

text: about

text: six

text: weeks

text: early

text: and

text: when

text: she

text: had

text: that

text: baby

text: early

text: it

text: was

text: breech

text: The

text: cord

text: was

text: wrapped

text: around

text: its

text: neck

text: and

text: it

text: stopped

text: breathing

text: and

text: they

text: actually

text: had

text: to

text: do

text: an

text: emergency

text: C

text: section

text: and

text: resuscitate

text: the

text: child

text: and

text: save

text: the

text: baby

text: 's

text: life

text: and

text: save

text: her

text: life

text: We

text: looked

text: at

text: that

text: and

text: we

text: thought

text: boy

text: that

text: 's

text: a

text: pretty

text: tough

text: problem

text: but

text: we

text: now

text: know

text: that

text: she

text: had

text: a

text: three

text: inch

text: brain

text: tumor

text: at

text: the

text: base

text: of

text: her

text: brainstem

text: and

text: if

text: she

text: had

text: pushed

text: it

text: would

text: have

text: killed

text: her

text: And

text: so

text: actually

text: seven

text: weeks

text: later

text: when

text: she

text: should

text: have

text: been

text: delivering

text: the

text: baby

text: we

text: discovered

text: the

text: brain

text: tumor

text: and

text: she

text: would

text: have

text: been

text: trying

text: to

text: have

text: brain

text: surgery

text: three

text: surgeries

text: one

text: was

text: hours

text: long

text: at

text: the

text: same

text: time

text: as

text: having

text: a

text: baby

text: So

text: what

text: we

text: thought

text: was

text: a

text: problem

text: was

text: actually

text: a

text: protection

text: saving

text: her

text: life

text: And

text: sometimes

text: we

text: look

text: at

text: a

text: tapestry

text: and

text: from

text: the

text: top

text: down

text: you

text: can

text: see

text: the

text: picture

text: From

text: the

text: bottom

text: up

text: it

text: 's

text: all

text: of

text: these

text: different

text: colors

text: of

text: threads

text: It

text: makes

text: no

text: sense

text: It

text: 's

text: all

text: jumbled

text: When

text: God

text: looks

text: down

text: he

text: sees

text: what

text: he

text: 's

text: doing

text: When

text: we

text: look

text: up

text: we

text: just

text: see

text: the

text: jumble

text: Chetry

text: And

text: she

text: 's

text: OK

text: Warren

text: She

text: 's

text: OK

text: Chetry

text: Thank

text: goodness

text: I

text: want

text: to

text: turn

text: to

text: politics

text: now

text: and

text: ask

text: you

text: about

text: the

text: summit

text: you

text: hosted

text: for

text: both

text: of

text: the

text: candidates

text: Great

text: provocative

text: questions

text: and

text: interesting

text: answers

text: we

text: were

text: n't

text: hearing

text: on

text: the

text: campaign

text: trail

text: Now

text: that

text: the

text: campaign

text: is

text: over

text: what

text: is

text: your

text: reaction

text: to

text: the

text: outcome

text: and

text: to

text: President

text: elect

text: Barack

text: Obama

text: Warren

text: Well

text: there

text: 's

text: no

text: doubt

text: about

text: it

text: we

text: need

text: to

text: be

text: praying

text: for

text: our

text: president

text: I

text: do

text: n't

text: think

text: any

text: president

text: has

text: come

text: into

text: a

text: crisis

text: so

text: quickly

text: as

text: President

text: elect

text: Obama

text: has

text: and

text: no

text: president

text: has

text: come

text: in

text: with

text: probably

text: as

text: high

text: expectations

text: as

text: President

text: elect

text: Obama

text: So

text: we

text: need

text: to

text: pray

text: for

text: him

text: We

text: need

text: to

text: support

text: him

text: where

text: we

text: can

text: and

text: we

text: need

text: we

text: want

text: the

text: best

text: for

text: America

text: Chetry

text: Religion

text: factored

text: heavily

text: into

text: some

text: of

text: the

text: back

text: and

text: forth

text: in

text: the

text: campaign

text: season

text: Many

text: people

text: believed

text: incorrectly

text: that

text: Barack

text: Obama

text: was

text: n't

text: really

text: Christian

text: that

text: he

text: was

text: Muslim

text: and

text: of

text: course

text: the

text: Jeremiah

text: Wright

text: thing

text: Religion

text: ended

text: up

text: unfortunately

text: being

text: a

text: divisive

text: issue

text: at

text: times

text: as

text: opposed

text: to

text: one

text: that

text: was

text: a

text: uniting

text: issue

text: How

text: do

text: you

text: change

text: that

text: Warren

text: Part

text: of

text: it

text: is

text: we

text: have

text: to

text: end

text: the

text: caricaturization

text: of

text: the

text: candidates

text: I

text: know

text: all

text: of

text: the

text: candidates

text: on

text: both

text: sides

text: and

text: of

text: them

text: were

text: exactly

text: as

text: they

text: were

text: portrayed

text: We

text: tend

text: to

text: overportray

text: them

text: whether

text: it

text: 's

text: Sarah

text: Palin

text: or

text: Hillary

text: Clinton

text: Barack

text: Obama

text: or

text: John

text: McCain

text: They

text: 're

text: not

text: anything

text: like

text: the

text: caricaturization

text: that

text: we

text: often

text: hear

text: We

text: tend

text: to

text: push

text: to

text: extremes

text: They

text: are

text: a

text: lot

text: more

text: practical

text: and

text: pragmatic

text: I

text: think

text: than

text: we

text: want

text: to

text: give

text: them

text: credit

text: for

text: and

text: every

text: president

text: when

text: he

text: becomes

text: president

text: has

text: to

text: let

text: go

text: of

text: some

text: ideology

text: and

text: become

text: more

text: of

text: a

text: pragmatist

text: because

text: there

text: 's

text: so

text: many

text: issues

text: that

text: you

text: do

text: n't

text: probably

text: understand

text: until

text: you

text: actually

text: hold

text: the

text: office

question: what did Pastor Rick Warren say

answer: problem you have, there's a purpose behind it.

text: problem you have, there's a purpose behind it.

question: did warren say something

answer: no matter what problem you have, there's a purpose behind it.

text: no matter what problem you have, there's a purpose behind it.

question: Who do Warren say that we need to pray for?

answer: our president.

text: our president.

question: Who says that the problems we face are similar to Mary and Joseph?

answer: Rick Warren:

text: Rick Warren:

question: What does the president need?

answer: support

text: support


text:
(CNN) --   He performed to a watching audience of millions at the closing ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games, but conducting the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra has been the most nerve-wracking thing the American-Chinese pop star Wang Leehom has undertaken for some time.

From the Olympics to holding the baton himself, Leehom has tackled a variety of projects.

"I think I always throw myself in these impossible situations and then see if I can scramble out of them and gain something from these experiences," he told CNN during rehearsals for the December performances.

"Standing in front of the orchestra was intimidating at times, but I think we got through it, and I think we made some exciting waves in town. We definitely got the crowd excited about it."

Leehom has certainly made waves with his Mandarin-language pop music, having sold around 15 million records, but as his recent foray in classical music confirms, he's more than just another voice with an interesting haircut.

Growing up in the U.S. to a family of doctors, he excelled at school but decided to take a different path to his parents.

After shunning the opportunity to study at an Ivy League university, he spent some time at Williams College of liberal arts before getting his big break in pop in Taiwan in 1995. At that time he admits he knew nothing about Chinese music and didn't speak Mandarin.

Learning Mandarin was just another challenge Leehom rose to meet and he believes that having Chinese as a second language has been to his advantage, and his interest in the linguistics of the language has led to some of his more innovative work.

"I always think for artists to take their shortcomings and turn them around and make them into what define them as an artist is a real trick," he told CNN.

"I think it's a wonderful thing for people to understand how language can be transformed and mutilated for musical reasons and actually bring out something special orally," he said.

Musically he's often been put in the same box as Mando-pop sensation Jay Chou, and has similarly has been the subject of rumor about ever aspect of his life, from his school grades to his sexuality.  Watch Wang Leehom talk about his rivalry with Jay Chou Â».

Adding his face to a number of endorsements, the pressures of being in the public eye have made him become increasingly protective of his privacy.

"It's definitely changed me. It's like some defense mechanism I guess, to just be private, to keep things to myself, to protect myself or my loved ones. I am the same person, but just a different way of life," he said.

However it hasn't stopped him from branching out and taking on an acting career. He made his big screen debut in 2000 in the Hong Kong action flick "China Strike", but it was his role in Ang Lee's international success "Lust, Caution" that brought him wider international attention.

As for taking on new projects in the future, be they film, singing or even holding the baton once again, Leehom will stay true to his policy of challenging himself with different ventures.

"Sometimes it gives me a lot of trouble, sometimes it ends up launching a career which has been very good for me," he said.

text: CNN

text: He

text: performed

text: to

text: a

text: watching

text: audience

text: of

text: millions

text: at

text: the

text: closing

text: ceremony

text: of

text: the

text: Beijing

text: Olympic

text: Games

text: but

text: conducting

text: the

text: Hong

text: Kong

text: Philharmonic

text: Orchestra

text: has

text: been

text: the

text: most

text: nerve

text: wracking

text: thing

text: the

text: American

text: Chinese

text: pop

text: star

text: Wang

text: Leehom

text: has

text: undertaken

text: for

text: some

text: time

text: From

text: the

text: Olympics

text: to

text: holding

text: the

text: baton

text: himself

text: Leehom

text: has

text: tackled

text: a

text: variety

text: of

text: projects

text: I

text: think

text: I

text: always

text: throw

text: myself

text: in

text: these

text: impossible

text: situations

text: and

text: then

text: see

text: if

text: I

text: can

text: scramble

text: out

text: of

text: them

text: and

text: gain

text: something

text: from

text: these

text: experiences

text: he

text: told

text: CNN

text: during

text: rehearsals

text: for

text: the

text: December

text: performances

text: Standing

text: in

text: front

text: of

text: the

text: orchestra

text: was

text: intimidating

text: at

text: times

text: but

text: I

text: think

text: we

text: got

text: through

text: it

text: and

text: I

text: think

text: we

text: made

text: some

text: exciting

text: waves

text: in

text: town

text: We

text: definitely

text: got

text: the

text: crowd

text: excited

text: about

text: it

text: Leehom

text: has

text: certainly

text: made

text: waves

text: with

text: his

text: Mandarin

text: language

text: pop

text: music

text: having

text: sold

text: around

text: million

text: records

text: but

text: as

text: his

text: recent

text: foray

text: in

text: classical

text: music

text: confirms

text: he

text: 's

text: more

text: than

text: just

text: another

text: voice

text: with

text: an

text: interesting

text: haircut

text: Growing

text: up

text: in

text: the

text: U.S.

text: to

text: a

text: family

text: of

text: doctors

text: he

text: excelled

text: at

text: school

text: but

text: decided

text: to

text: take

text: a

text: different

text: path

text: to

text: his

text: parents

text: After

text: shunning

text: the

text: opportunity

text: to

text: study

text: at

text: an

text: Ivy

text: League

text: university

text: he

text: spent

text: some

text: time

text: at

text: Williams

text: College

text: of

text: liberal

text: arts

text: before

text: getting

text: his

text: big

text: break

text: in

text: pop

text: in

text: Taiwan

text: in

text: At

text: that

text: time

text: he

text: admits

text: he

text: knew

text: nothing

text: about

text: Chinese

text: music

text: and

text: did

text: n't

text: speak

text: Mandarin

text: Learning

text: Mandarin

text: was

text: just

text: another

text: challenge

text: Leehom

text: rose

text: to

text: meet

text: and

text: he

text: believes

text: that

text: having

text: Chinese

text: as

text: a

text: second

text: language

text: has

text: been

text: to

text: his

text: advantage

text: and

text: his

text: interest

text: in

text: the

text: linguistics

text: of

text: the

text: language

text: has

text: led

text: to

text: some

text: of

text: his

text: more

text: innovative

text: work

text: I

text: always

text: think

text: for

text: artists

text: to

text: take

text: their

text: shortcomings

text: and

text: turn

text: them

text: around

text: and

text: make

text: them

text: into

text: what

text: define

text: them

text: as

text: an

text: artist

text: is

text: a

text: real

text: trick

text: he

text: told

text: CNN

text: I

text: think

text: it

text: 's

text: a

text: wonderful

text: thing

text: for

text: people

text: to

text: understand

text: how

text: language

text: can

text: be

text: transformed

text: and

text: mutilated

text: for

text: musical

text: reasons

text: and

text: actually

text: bring

text: out

text: something

text: special

text: orally

text: he

text: said

text: Musically

text: he

text: 's

text: often

text: been

text: put

text: in

text: the

text: same

text: box

text: as

text: Mando

text: pop

text: sensation

text: Jay

text: Chou

text: and

text: has

text: similarly

text: has

text: been

text: the

text: subject

text: of

text: rumor

text: about

text: ever

text: aspect

text: of

text: his

text: life

text: from

text: his

text: school

text: grades

text: to

text: his

text: sexuality

text: Watch

text: Wang

text: Leehom

text: talk

text: about

text: his

text: rivalry

text: with

text: Jay

text: Chou

text: Â

text: Adding

text: his

text: face

text: to

text: a

text: number

text: of

text: endorsements

text: the

text: pressures

text: of

text: being

text: in

text: the

text: public

text: eye

text: have

text: made

text: him

text: become

text: increasingly

text: protective

text: of

text: his

text: privacy

text: It

text: 's

text: definitely

text: changed

text: me

text: It

text: 's

text: like

text: some

text: defense

text: mechanism

text: I

text: guess

text: to

text: just

text: be

text: private

text: to

text: keep

text: things

text: to

text: myself

text: to

text: protect

text: myself

text: or

text: my

text: loved

text: ones

text: I

text: am

text: the

text: same

text: person

text: but

text: just

text: a

text: different

text: way

text: of

text: life

text: he

text: said

text: However

text: it

text: has

text: n't

text: stopped

text: him

text: from

text: branching

text: out

text: and

text: taking

text: on

text: an

text: acting

text: career

text: He

text: made

text: his

text: big

text: screen

text: debut

text: in

text: in

text: the

text: Hong

text: Kong

text: action

text: flick

text: China

text: Strike

text: but

text: it

text: was

text: his

text: role

text: in

text: Ang

text: Lee

text: 's

text: international

text: success

text: Lust

text: Caution

text: that

text: brought

text: him

text: wider

text: international

text: attention

text: As

text: for

text: taking

text: on

text: new

text: projects

text: in

text: the

text: future

text: be

text: they

text: film

text: singing

text: or

text: even

text: holding

text: the

text: baton

text: once

text: again

text: Leehom

text: will

text: stay

text: true

text: to

text: his

text: policy

text: of

text: challenging

text: himself

text: with

text: different

text: ventures

text: Sometimes

text: it

text: gives

text: me

text: a

text: lot

text: of

text: trouble

text: sometimes

text: it

text: ends

text: up

text: launching

text: a

text: career

text: which

text: has

text: been

text: very

text: good

text: for

text: me

text: he

text: said

question: What heritage is Wang Leehom?

answer: American-Chinese

text: American-Chinese

question: What language does he sing in?

answer: Mandarin-language

text: Mandarin-language

question: who talks about rivalry with Jay Chou?

answer: Wang Leehom

text: Wang Leehom

question: Who does he have a rivalry with?

answer: Jay Chou

text: Jay Chou

question: Who is the pop star?

answer: Wang Leehom

text: Wang Leehom

question: What language does he sing?

answer: Mandarin-language

text: Mandarin-language

question: Who is his rival?

answer: Jay Chou

text: Jay Chou


text:
(CNN) -- Joran van der Sloot is meeting with investigators Thursday in the Netherlands in response to the recently released videotape in the Natalee Holloway case, his U.S.-based attorney said.

Joran van der Sloot awaits transfer from the Netherlands to Aruba in November. He later was released.

The exact location of that meeting was not  disclosed, but van der Sloot's attorney, Joe Tacopina, said his client has "agreed to answer any questions."

In the video that aired Sunday on Dutch television, van der Sloot, a suspect in the 2005 disappearance of Holloway, told a man he was with the Alabama teen on an Aruban beach when she apparently died and that a friend of his with a boat disposed of Holloway's body.

Van der Sloot later said the statements were lies, and on Monday, Tacopina said the video contains "no admission of a crime."

The lawyer said facts in the case contradict two assertions van der Sloot made in the video, including that the boat-owner friend mentioned wasn't in Aruba in May 2005.  Watch how video has brought new interest in case ÃÂ»

Meanwhile, prosecutors are still awaiting a decision from a three-judge appellate panel on the nearby Caribbean island of Curacao as to whether van der Sloot can be arrested in reaction to the video.

The chief prosecutor in Aruba, Hans Mos, was denied an initial attempt to arrest van der Sloot by the investigating judge last Sunday.

The judge determined that numerous pretrial detentions of van der Sloot in the past have created a "high bar" that current circumstances do not meet.

The prosecutor appealed the judge's decision on Tuesday, and the appellate panel will have eight days to respond.

Holloway disappeared while visiting Aruba with about 100 classmates celebrating their graduation from Mountain Brook High School in suburban Birmingham, Alabama, and was last seen leaving a nightclub with van der Sloot and brothers Deepak and Satish Kalpoe.

Mos dropped charges against the three men in December, saying he couldn't be sure of a conviction.  E-mail to a friend

CNN Tracy Sabo contributed to this report.

text: CNN

text: Joran

text: van

text: der

text: Sloot

text: is

text: meeting

text: with

text: investigators

text: Thursday

text: in

text: the

text: Netherlands

text: in

text: response

text: to

text: the

text: recently

text: released

text: videotape

text: in

text: the

text: Natalee

text: Holloway

text: case

text: his

text: U.S

text: based

text: attorney

text: said

text: Joran

text: van

text: der

text: Sloot

text: awaits

text: transfer

text: from

text: the

text: Netherlands

text: to

text: Aruba

text: in

text: November

text: He

text: later

text: was

text: released

text: The

text: exact

text: location

text: of

text: that

text: meeting

text: was

text: not

text: disclosed

text: but

text: van

text: der

text: Sloot

text: 's

text: attorney

text: Joe

text: Tacopina

text: said

text: his

text: client

text: has

text: agreed

text: to

text: answer

text: any

text: questions

text: In

text: the

text: video

text: that

text: aired

text: Sunday

text: on

text: Dutch

text: television

text: van

text: der

text: Sloot

text: a

text: suspect

text: in

text: the

text: disappearance

text: of

text: Holloway

text: told

text: a

text: man

text: he

text: was

text: with

text: the

text: Alabama

text: teen

text: on

text: an

text: Aruban

text: beach

text: when

text: she

text: apparently

text: died

text: and

text: that

text: a

text: friend

text: of

text: his

text: with

text: a

text: boat

text: disposed

text: of

text: Holloway

text: 's

text: body

text: Van

text: der

text: Sloot

text: later

text: said

text: the

text: statements

text: were

text: lies

text: and

text: on

text: Monday

text: Tacopina

text: said

text: the

text: video

text: contains

text: no

text: admission

text: of

text: a

text: crime

text: The

text: lawyer

text: said

text: facts

text: in

text: the

text: case

text: contradict

text: two

text: assertions

text: van

text: der

text: Sloot

text: made

text: in

text: the

text: video

text: including

text: that

text: the

text: boat

text: owner

text: friend

text: mentioned

text: was

text: n't

text: in

text: Aruba

text: in

text: May

text: Watch

text: how

text: video

text: has

text: brought

text: new

text: interest

text: in

text: case

text: ÃÂ

text: Meanwhile

text: prosecutors

text: are

text: still

text: awaiting

text: a

text: decision

text: from

text: a

text: three

text: judge

text: appellate

text: panel

text: on

text: the

text: nearby

text: Caribbean

text: island

text: of

text: Curacao

text: as

text: to

text: whether

text: van

text: der

text: Sloot

text: can

text: be

text: arrested

text: in

text: reaction

text: to

text: the

text: video

text: The

text: chief

text: prosecutor

text: in

text: Aruba

text: Hans

text: Mos

text: was

text: denied

text: an

text: initial

text: attempt

text: to

text: arrest

text: van

text: der

text: Sloot

text: by

text: the

text: investigating

text: judge

text: last

text: Sunday

text: The

text: judge

text: determined

text: that

text: numerous

text: pretrial

text: detentions

text: of

text: van

text: der

text: Sloot

text: in

text: the

text: past

text: have

text: created

text: a

text: high

text: bar

text: that

text: current

text: circumstances

text: do

text: not

text: meet

text: The

text: prosecutor

text: appealed

text: the

text: judge

text: 's

text: decision

text: on

text: Tuesday

text: and

text: the

text: appellate

text: panel

text: will

text: have

text: eight

text: days

text: to

text: respond

text: Holloway

text: disappeared

text: while

text: visiting

text: Aruba

text: with

text: about

text: classmates

text: celebrating

text: their

text: graduation

text: from

text: Mountain

text: Brook

text: High

text: School

text: in

text: suburban

text: Birmingham

text: Alabama

text: and

text: was

text: last

text: seen

text: leaving

text: a

text: nightclub

text: with

text: van

text: der

text: Sloot

text: and

text: brothers

text: Deepak

text: and

text: Satish

text: Kalpoe

text: Mos

text: dropped

text: charges

text: against

text: the

text: three

text: men

text: in

text: December

text: saying

text: he

text: could

text: n't

text: be

text: sure

text: of

text: a

text: conviction

text: E

text: mail

text: to

text: a

text: friend

text: CNN

text: Tracy

text: Sabo

text: contributed

text: to

text: this

text: report

question: Who is van der Sloot's lawyer?

answer: Joe Tacopina,

text: Joe Tacopina,

question: Country where Holloway disappeared?

answer: Aruba

text: Aruba

question: Who will answer questions about the video story?

answer: van der Sloot

text: van der Sloot

question: When did Holloway disappear?

answer: 2005

question: Where did Holloway disappear?

answer: g Arub

text: g Arub

question: Who disappeared in 2005?

answer: Natalee Holloway

text: Natalee Holloway

question: What did Joran van der Sloot lie about?

answer: he was with the Alabama teen

text: he was with the Alabama teen

question: What kind of trip did Holloway vanish from?

answer: Aruban

text: Aruban


text:
(CNN) -- The lawyer for the woman who faces 40 lashes for wearing clothes that Sudan deemed indecent called the law "degrading."

Lubna al-Hussein was told she had trousers considered too tight and a blouse too transparent.

"They ought to stop it," Nabil Adib said on Thursday. "It is quite unnecessary and degrading. It is harassment."

Lubna Al Hussein -- who writes for a newspaper and, until recently, worked for the media department of the U.N. mission in Sudan -- was arrested, along with 18 other women on July 3.

At the time of her arrest, she said, she was wearing pants, a blouse and a hijab or headscarf.

Police accused Hussein of wearing trousers that were too tight and a blouse that was too sheer, she said.  Watch more about the case Â»

A hearing on the case has been scheduled for Tuesday. Adib, the lawyer, seemed confident that the court would drop the case.

The indecent clothing charge has only one punishment under Sudanese law -- 40 lashes in public, according to the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information.

"These things have their ups and downs," Adib said. "These laws have generally relaxed as a matter of policy. But they are still sometimes enforced."

The Arabic Network humans rights organization said the threat of flogging was retaliation for Hussein writing critically about the Sudanese regime. However, Adib does not think his client was targeted.

"There are round-ups that they do and it is indiscriminate," he said. "I don't think she was targeted specifically. They attack public and private parties and groups. They are called 'morality police' and she was just a victim of a round-up."

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday called flogging "against the international human rights standards." He said he would take every effort to protect his staff member.

However, Hussein resigned from her position with the United Nations to avoid the immunity she would have received, Adib said.

Hussein said she will stand firm that she did nothing wrong.

CNN's Umaro Djau, Talia Kayali and Tracy Doueiry contributed to this report.

text: CNN

text: The

text: lawyer

text: for

text: the

text: woman

text: who

text: faces

text: lashes

text: for

text: wearing

text: clothes

text: that

text: Sudan

text: deemed

text: indecent

text: called

text: the

text: law

text: degrading

text: Lubna

text: al

text: Hussein

text: was

text: told

text: she

text: had

text: trousers

text: considered

text: too

text: tight

text: and

text: a

text: blouse

text: too

text: transparent

text: They

text: ought

text: to

text: stop

text: it

text: Nabil

text: Adib

text: said

text: on

text: Thursday

text: It

text: is

text: quite

text: unnecessary

text: and

text: degrading

text: It

text: is

text: harassment

text: Lubna

text: Al

text: Hussein

text: who

text: writes

text: for

text: a

text: newspaper

text: and

text: until

text: recently

text: worked

text: for

text: the

text: media

text: department

text: of

text: the

text: U.N.

text: mission

text: in

text: Sudan

text: was

text: arrested

text: along

text: with

text: other

text: women

text: on

text: July

text: At

text: the

text: time

text: of

text: her

text: arrest

text: she

text: said

text: she

text: was

text: wearing

text: pants

text: a

text: blouse

text: and

text: a

text: hijab

text: or

text: headscarf

text: Police

text: accused

text: Hussein

text: of

text: wearing

text: trousers

text: that

text: were

text: too

text: tight

text: and

text: a

text: blouse

text: that

text: was

text: too

text: sheer

text: she

text: said

text: Watch

text: more

text: about

text: the

text: case

text: Â

text: A

text: hearing

text: on

text: the

text: case

text: has

text: been

text: scheduled

text: for

text: Tuesday

text: Adib

text: the

text: lawyer

text: seemed

text: confident

text: that

text: the

text: court

text: would

text: drop

text: the

text: case

text: The

text: indecent

text: clothing

text: charge

text: has

text: only

text: one

text: punishment

text: under

text: Sudanese

text: law

text: lashes

text: in

text: public

text: according

text: to

text: the

text: Arabic

text: Network

text: for

text: Human

text: Rights

text: Information

text: These

text: things

text: have

text: their

text: ups

text: and

text: downs

text: Adib

text: said

text: These

text: laws

text: have

text: generally

text: relaxed

text: as

text: a

text: matter

text: of

text: policy

text: But

text: they

text: are

text: still

text: sometimes

text: enforced

text: The

text: Arabic

text: Network

text: humans

text: rights

text: organization

text: said

text: the

text: threat

text: of

text: flogging

text: was

text: retaliation

text: for

text: Hussein

text: writing

text: critically

text: about

text: the

text: Sudanese

text: regime

text: However

text: Adib

text: does

text: not

text: think

text: his

text: client

text: was

text: targeted

text: There

text: are

text: round

text: ups

text: that

text: they

text: do

text: and

text: it

text: is

text: indiscriminate

text: he

text: said

text: I

text: do

text: n't

text: think

text: she

text: was

text: targeted

text: specifically

text: They

text: attack

text: public

text: and

text: private

text: parties

text: and

text: groups

text: They

text: are

text: called

text: morality

text: police

text: and

text: she

text: was

text: just

text: a

text: victim

text: of

text: a

text: round

text: up

text: U.N.

text: Secretary

text: General

text: Ban

text: Ki

text: moon

text: on

text: Wednesday

text: called

text: flogging

text: against

text: the

text: international

text: human

text: rights

text: standards

text: He

text: said

text: he

text: would

text: take

text: every

text: effort

text: to

text: protect

text: his

text: staff

text: member

text: However

text: Hussein

text: resigned

text: from

text: her

text: position

text: with

text: the

text: United

text: Nations

text: to

text: avoid

text: the

text: immunity

text: she

text: would

text: have

text: received

text: Adib

text: said

text: Hussein

text: said

text: she

text: will

text: stand

text: firm

text: that

text: she

text: did

text: nothing

text: wrong

text: CNN

text: 's

text: Umaro

text: Djau

text: Talia

text: Kayali

text: and

text: Tracy

text: Doueiry

text: contributed

text: to

text: this

text: report

question: What was Al-Hussein told about her clothing?

answer: she had trousers considered too tight and a blouse too transparent.

text: she had trousers considered too tight and a blouse too transparent.

question: Who faces 40 lashes in public?

answer: Lubna al-Hussein

text: Lubna al-Hussein

question: What is a possible punishment if convicted?

answer: 40 lashes in public,

text: 40 lashes in public,

question: What is Al-Hussein's punishment?

answer: 40 lashes in public,

text: 40 lashes in public,

question: What was Al-Hussein arrested for?

answer: wearing clothes that Sudan deemed indecent

text: wearing clothes that Sudan deemed indecent

question: Who was arrested for wearing indecent clothing?

answer: Lubna al-Hussein

text: Lubna al-Hussein

question: For what reason was Lubna Al-Hussein arrested?

answer: trousers considered too tight and a blouse too transparent.

text: trousers considered too tight and a blouse too transparent.

question: How many, besides Lubna Al-Hussein where also arrested?

answer: 18


text:
(CNN) -- Microsoft founder Bill Gates told CNN on Wednesday that he hopes President-elect Barack Obama and Congress immediately craft a wide-ranging stimulus package, to help jump-start the nation's sputtering economy, and double the United States' commitment to foreign aid.

Microsoft founder Bill Gates spoke exclusively Wednesday with CNN's Wolf Blitzer.

"Clearly we need a stimulus that doesn't undermine the incentive for businesses to be careful about their spending and making those correct investments," Gates told CNN's Wolf Blitzer in an exclusive interview airing on The Situation Room on Wednesday and Thursday.

Gates, one of the world's richest men and founder of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, is also calling on Obama to increase investments in the nation's education system and spur technological advances to improve agriculture, prevent disease, and promote economic growth in the world's poorest nations.

"The key point I'd make is that in addition to that stimulus, you've got to fund the kind of scientific work and educational investments that could really have us be a much better country as we emerge from the recession," he said.  Watch Gates discuss economy Â»

On his Web site, Obama has pledged to double the United States' annual investment in foreign aid to $50 billion by the end of his first term, with the goal of fully funding debt cancellation for poor nations and fighting AIDS and global poverty.

In the interview with CNN, Gates said he thinks Obama will live up to that commitment.

"Obviously it's the Congress that gets to actually vote the final decision for how the money is spent, but I do think he will get to that commitment," Gates said. "I am thrilled to be able to see that people are responding to the success stories. Aid from the United States did go up in the last eight years."

The interview came shortly before the Microsoft founder delivered a wide-ranging speech at The George Washington University in Washington, D.C., during which he reiterated his call for a major new stimulus package to spur job growth.

"Spending is the only way we'll ever come out of this downturn, and with businesses, state governments and consumers pulling back, the federal government must step forward," Gates told the crowd.

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has distributed more than $17 billion in grant commitments in all 50 states and 100 countries. In his interview with CNN, Gates said he had personally given more than $30 billion to the foundation.

text: CNN

text: Microsoft

text: founder

text: Bill

text: Gates

text: told

text: CNN

text: on

text: Wednesday

text: that

text: he

text: hopes

text: President

text: elect

text: Barack

text: Obama

text: and

text: Congress

text: immediately

text: craft

text: a

text: wide

text: ranging

text: stimulus

text: package

text: to

text: help

text: jump

text: start

text: the

text: nation

text: 's

text: sputtering

text: economy

text: and

text: double

text: the

text: United

text: States

text: commitment

text: to

text: foreign

text: aid

text: Microsoft

text: founder

text: Bill

text: Gates

text: spoke

text: exclusively

text: Wednesday

text: with

text: CNN

text: 's

text: Wolf

text: Blitzer

text: Clearly

text: we

text: need

text: a

text: stimulus

text: that

text: does

text: n't

text: undermine

text: the

text: incentive

text: for

text: businesses

text: to

text: be

text: careful

text: about

text: their

text: spending

text: and

text: making

text: those

text: correct

text: investments

text: Gates

text: told

text: CNN

text: 's

text: Wolf

text: Blitzer

text: in

text: an

text: exclusive

text: interview

text: airing

text: on

text: The

text: Situation

text: Room

text: on

text: Wednesday

text: and

text: Thursday

text: Gates

text: one

text: of

text: the

text: world

text: 's

text: richest

text: men

text: and

text: founder

text: of

text: the

text: Bill

text: Melinda

text: Gates

text: Foundation

text: is

text: also

text: calling

text: on

text: Obama

text: to

text: increase

text: investments

text: in

text: the

text: nation

text: 's

text: education

text: system

text: and

text: spur

text: technological

text: advances

text: to

text: improve

text: agriculture

text: prevent

text: disease

text: and

text: promote

text: economic

text: growth

text: in

text: the

text: world

text: 's

text: poorest

text: nations

text: The

text: key

text: point

text: I

text: 'd

text: make

text: is

text: that

text: in

text: addition

text: to

text: that

text: stimulus

text: you

text: 've

text: got

text: to

text: fund

text: the

text: kind

text: of

text: scientific

text: work

text: and

text: educational

text: investments

text: that

text: could

text: really

text: have

text: us

text: be

text: a

text: much

text: better

text: country

text: as

text: we

text: emerge

text: from

text: the

text: recession

text: he

text: said

text: Watch

text: Gates

text: discuss

text: economy

text: Â

text: On

text: his

text: Web

text: site

text: Obama

text: has

text: pledged

text: to

text: double

text: the

text: United

text: States

text: annual

text: investment

text: in

text: foreign

text: aid

text: to

text: billion

text: by

text: the

text: end

text: of

text: his

text: first

text: term

text: with

text: the

text: goal

text: of

text: fully

text: funding

text: debt

text: cancellation

text: for

text: poor

text: nations

text: and

text: fighting

text: AIDS

text: and

text: global

text: poverty

text: In

text: the

text: interview

text: with

text: CNN

text: Gates

text: said

text: he

text: thinks

text: Obama

text: will

text: live

text: up

text: to

text: that

text: commitment

text: Obviously

text: it

text: 's

text: the

text: Congress

text: that

text: gets

text: to

text: actually

text: vote

text: the

text: final

text: decision

text: for

text: how

text: the

text: money

text: is

text: spent

text: but

text: I

text: do

text: think

text: he

text: will

text: get

text: to

text: that

text: commitment

text: Gates

text: said

text: I

text: am

text: thrilled

text: to

text: be

text: able

text: to

text: see

text: that

text: people

text: are

text: responding

text: to

text: the

text: success

text: stories

text: Aid

text: from

text: the

text: United

text: States

text: did

text: go

text: up

text: in

text: the

text: last

text: eight

text: years

text: The

text: interview

text: came

text: shortly

text: before

text: the

text: Microsoft

text: founder

text: delivered

text: a

text: wide

text: ranging

text: speech

text: at

text: The

text: George

text: Washington

text: University

text: in

text: Washington

text: D.C.

text: during

text: which

text: he

text: reiterated

text: his

text: call

text: for

text: a

text: major

text: new

text: stimulus

text: package

text: to

text: spur

text: job

text: growth

text: Spending

text: is

text: the

text: only

text: way

text: we

text: 'll

text: ever

text: come

text: out

text: of

text: this

text: downturn

text: and

text: with

text: businesses

text: state

text: governments

text: and

text: consumers

text: pulling

text: back

text: the

text: federal

text: government

text: must

text: step

text: forward

text: Gates

text: told

text: the

text: crowd

text: The

text: Bill

text: Melinda

text: Gates

text: Foundation

text: has

text: distributed

text: more

text: than

text: billion

text: in

text: grant

text: commitments

text: in

text: all

text: states

text: and

text: countries

text: In

text: his

text: interview

text: with

text: CNN

text: Gates

text: said

text: he

text: had

text: personally

text: given

text: more

text: than

text: billion

text: to

text: the

text: foundation

question: who is founder of Microsoft?

answer: Bill Gates

text: Bill Gates

question: what he want from Obama?

answer: craft a wide-ranging stimulus package,

text: craft a wide-ranging stimulus package,

question: What should investments be increased in?

answer: the nation's education system

text: the nation's education system

question: who is bill gates

answer: founder

text: founder

question: What does Gates say Obama should do?

answer: craft a wide-ranging stimulus package,

text: craft a wide-ranging stimulus package,


text:
Vancouver, British Columbia (CNN) -- The tragic death of a trainer at Sea World last week revived a number of long simmering questions. While we still grapple with "how did this happen?" the central question for many revolves around the role of large mammals -- like Tilikum the killer whale -- in zoos and aquariums: Should they be there or not?

Animals in zoos, aquariums and museums play an important and powerful part in our cultural and formal educational processes. Humans are inherently interested in nature. We are not very far removed from a time when being knowledgeable about nature was vital to life; you either knew how to find your dinner or you were dinner.

Today, with well over 50 percent of our populations living in cities, we are rapidly becoming divorced from the realities of the animal world. The dialogue we see in the media, read on blogs and hear in conversation makes it clear that many people have lots of ideas about what's happening in our natural world, much of it not correct.

This lack of knowledge is concerning in a world beset by environmental problems, where species are disappearing at an alarming rate. We need people to understand the changes taking place in our natural systems and appreciate that each of our actions has an impact. More interest and knowledge, not less, is essential.

Zoos and aquariums provide access and a vital connection to the world of wildlife and our environment, helping to foster an understanding of nature and how it works, and an appreciation for why it matters.

Most professionally operated zoos and aquariums, such as those accredited by the Canadian or American Associations of Zoos and Aquariums, are dedicated to increasing engagement and raising awareness and participation in conservation issues. They conduct active programs that aid species survival, research and conservation, both at their public display facilities and in the field.

The Vancouver Aquarium has operated our Marine Mammal Rescue (MMR) program since the mid 1960s. Each year, hundreds of marine mammals are rescued from situations of distress and rehabilitated by our dedicated team of staff and volunteers, led by our veterinarian. Their goal is to return marine mammals to good health so they can be released back to the ocean.

The Vancouver Aquarium has not had killer whales on exhibit since 2001. However, our orca research continues in the field with experts working off the British Columbia coast to observe and study social interaction, behaviors, migrations, and feeding patterns.

We do have beluga whales, including two calves born recently. Belugas are ideally suited to an aquarium environment. The calves' births have allowed researchers to study the social structure of a beluga family, and in collaboration with the University of British Columbia we have conducted beluga vocalization studies since 2002 to understand contact calls and other forms of communication between these beautiful and communicative animals.

As our visitors see beluga whales and learn about their communication, natural history and the challenges they face due to climate change in the Arctic, a unique chain is created, moving from initial amazement of observing these creatures to the inspiration to care about them and finally to take action, in large or small ways, to protect their future by conserving their natural environment.

We see our role as more important now than ever before. The time of simply displaying animals merely as curiosities is, thankfully, over.

Our aquarium, and many others like it, represents often the only -- and the best -- opportunity for urbanites (particularly youth) to establish a connection with the natural world of animals. Sadly, many of us will never experience the joy and wonder of encountering animals in their natural habitat. But can get learn about them up close and personal in a modern and reputable aquarium or zoo.

If you have had the good fortune to spend time in such an institution, and have seen the sense of awe and wonder on the faces of youngsters meeting a sea otter, for example, for the first time, you'll know what this is all about.

What's more, having access to, and learning about, Tilikum and other whales in aquariums and marine parks since such amazing creatures were first displayed in the mid-1960s, has totally changed people's perceptions about them.

Before then, killer whales were feared, termed "wolves of the sea", and even had a bounty on their heads in some places; being able to see them personally helped spark people's curiosity and interest. The resulting change in public perception was dramatic and swift, leading to their protection by the U.S. government in the 1970s under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

Today, most people revere killer whales and understand a great deal more about the challenges this species faces around the world -- with overfishing depleting their food supply, the impacts of climate change and pollution threatening their environment and their ultimate survival.

With so many changes confronting nature and the animals that make it their home, human understanding and appreciation is critical. Animals that people are privileged to see in professional zoos, aquariums and similar institutions are vital to engagement, inspiration and conservation.

The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Dr. John Nightingale.

text: Vancouver

text: British

text: Columbia

text: CNN

text: The

text: tragic

text: death

text: of

text: a

text: trainer

text: at

text: Sea

text: World

text: last

text: week

text: revived

text: a

text: number

text: of

text: long

text: simmering

text: questions

text: While

text: we

text: still

text: grapple

text: with

text: how

text: did

text: this

text: happen

text: the

text: central

text: question

text: for

text: many

text: revolves

text: around

text: the

text: role

text: of

text: large

text: mammals

text: like

text: Tilikum

text: the

text: killer

text: whale

text: in

text: zoos

text: and

text: aquariums

text: Should

text: they

text: be

text: there

text: or

text: not

text: Animals

text: in

text: zoos

text: aquariums

text: and

text: museums

text: play

text: an

text: important

text: and

text: powerful

text: part

text: in

text: our

text: cultural

text: and

text: formal

text: educational

text: processes

text: Humans

text: are

text: inherently

text: interested

text: in

text: nature

text: We

text: are

text: not

text: very

text: far

text: removed

text: from

text: a

text: time

text: when

text: being

text: knowledgeable

text: about

text: nature

text: was

text: vital

text: to

text: life

text: you

text: either

text: knew

text: how

text: to

text: find

text: your

text: dinner

text: or

text: you

text: were

text: dinner

text: Today

text: with

text: well

text: over

text: percent

text: of

text: our

text: populations

text: living

text: in

text: cities

text: we

text: are

text: rapidly

text: becoming

text: divorced

text: from

text: the

text: realities

text: of

text: the

text: animal

text: world

text: The

text: dialogue

text: we

text: see

text: in

text: the

text: media

text: read

text: on

text: blogs

text: and

text: hear

text: in

text: conversation

text: makes

text: it

text: clear

text: that

text: many

text: people

text: have

text: lots

text: of

text: ideas

text: about

text: what

text: 's

text: happening

text: in

text: our

text: natural

text: world

text: much

text: of

text: it

text: not

text: correct

text: This

text: lack

text: of

text: knowledge

text: is

text: concerning

text: in

text: a

text: world

text: beset

text: by

text: environmental

text: problems

text: where

text: species

text: are

text: disappearing

text: at

text: an

text: alarming

text: rate

text: We

text: need

text: people

text: to

text: understand

text: the

text: changes

text: taking

text: place

text: in

text: our

text: natural

text: systems

text: and

text: appreciate

text: that

text: each

text: of

text: our

text: actions

text: has

text: an

text: impact

text: More

text: interest

text: and

text: knowledge

text: not

text: less

text: is

text: essential

text: Zoos

text: and

text: aquariums

text: provide

text: access

text: and

text: a

text: vital

text: connection

text: to

text: the

text: world

text: of

text: wildlife

text: and

text: our

text: environment

text: helping

text: to

text: foster

text: an

text: understanding

text: of

text: nature

text: and

text: how

text: it

text: works

text: and

text: an

text: appreciation

text: for

text: why

text: it

text: matters

text: Most

text: professionally

text: operated

text: zoos

text: and

text: aquariums

text: such

text: as

text: those

text: accredited

text: by

text: the

text: Canadian

text: or

text: American

text: Associations

text: of

text: Zoos

text: and

text: Aquariums

text: are

text: dedicated

text: to

text: increasing

text: engagement

text: and

text: raising

text: awareness

text: and

text: participation

text: in

text: conservation

text: issues

text: They

text: conduct

text: active

text: programs

text: that

text: aid

text: species

text: survival

text: research

text: and

text: conservation

text: both

text: at

text: their

text: public

text: display

text: facilities

text: and

text: in

text: the

text: field

text: The

text: Vancouver

text: Aquarium

text: has

text: operated

text: our

text: Marine

text: Mammal

text: Rescue

text: MMR

text: program

text: since

text: the

text: mid

text: Each

text: year

text: hundreds

text: of

text: marine

text: mammals

text: are

text: rescued

text: from

text: situations

text: of

text: distress

text: and

text: rehabilitated

text: by

text: our

text: dedicated

text: team

text: of

text: staff

text: and

text: volunteers

text: led

text: by

text: our

text: veterinarian

text: Their

text: goal

text: is

text: to

text: return

text: marine

text: mammals

text: to

text: good

text: health

text: so

text: they

text: can

text: be

text: released

text: back

text: to

text: the

text: ocean

text: The

text: Vancouver

text: Aquarium

text: has

text: not

text: had

text: killer

text: whales

text: on

text: exhibit

text: since

text: However

text: our

text: orca

text: research

text: continues

text: in

text: the

text: field

text: with

text: experts

text: working

text: off

text: the

text: British

text: Columbia

text: coast

text: to

text: observe

text: and

text: study

text: social

text: interaction

text: behaviors

text: migrations

text: and

text: feeding

text: patterns

text: We

text: do

text: have

text: beluga

text: whales

text: including

text: two

text: calves

text: born

text: recently

text: Belugas

text: are

text: ideally

text: suited

text: to

text: an

text: aquarium

text: environment

text: The

text: calves

text: births

text: have

text: allowed

text: researchers

text: to

text: study

text: the

text: social

text: structure

text: of

text: a

text: beluga

text: family

text: and

text: in

text: collaboration

text: with

text: the

text: University

text: of

text: British

text: Columbia

text: we

text: have

text: conducted

text: beluga

text: vocalization

text: studies

text: since

text: to

text: understand

text: contact

text: calls

text: and

text: other

text: forms

text: of

text: communication

text: between

text: these

text: beautiful

text: and

text: communicative

text: animals

text: As

text: our

text: visitors

text: see

text: beluga

text: whales

text: and

text: learn

text: about

text: their

text: communication

text: natural

text: history

text: and

text: the

text: challenges

text: they

text: face

text: due

text: to

text: climate

text: change

text: in

text: the

text: Arctic

text: a

text: unique

text: chain

text: is

text: created

text: moving

text: from

text: initial

text: amazement

text: of

text: observing

text: these

text: creatures

text: to

text: the

text: inspiration

text: to

text: care

text: about

text: them

text: and

text: finally

text: to

text: take

text: action

text: in

text: large

text: or

text: small

text: ways

text: to

text: protect

text: their

text: future

text: by

text: conserving

text: their

text: natural

text: environment

text: We

text: see

text: our

text: role

text: as

text: more

text: important

text: now

text: than

text: ever

text: before

text: The

text: time

text: of

text: simply

text: displaying

text: animals

text: merely

text: as

text: curiosities

text: is

text: thankfully

text: over

text: Our

text: aquarium

text: and

text: many

text: others

text: like

text: it

text: represents

text: often

text: the

text: only

text: and

text: the

text: best

text: opportunity

text: for

text: urbanites

text: particularly

text: youth

text: to

text: establish

text: a

text: connection

text: with

text: the

text: natural

text: world

text: of

text: animals

text: Sadly

text: many

text: of

text: us

text: will

text: never

text: experience

text: the

text: joy

text: and

text: wonder

text: of

text: encountering

text: animals

text: in

text: their

text: natural

text: habitat

text: But

text: can

text: get

text: learn

text: about

text: them

text: up

text: close

text: and

text: personal

text: in

text: a

text: modern

text: and

text: reputable

text: aquarium

text: or

text: zoo

text: If

text: you

text: have

text: had

text: the

text: good

text: fortune

text: to

text: spend

text: time

text: in

text: such

text: an

text: institution

text: and

text: have

text: seen

text: the

text: sense

text: of

text: awe

text: and

text: wonder

text: on

text: the

text: faces

text: of

text: youngsters

text: meeting

text: a

text: sea

text: otter

text: for

text: example

text: for

text: the

text: first

text: time

text: you

text: 'll

text: know

text: what

text: this

text: is

text: all

text: about

text: What

text: 's

text: more

text: having

text: access

text: to

text: and

text: learning

text: about

text: Tilikum

text: and

text: other

text: whales

text: in

text: aquariums

text: and

text: marine

text: parks

text: since

text: such

text: amazing

text: creatures

text: were

text: first

text: displayed

text: in

text: the

text: has

text: totally

text: changed

text: people

text: 's

text: perceptions

text: about

text: them

text: Before

text: then

text: killer

text: whales

text: were

text: feared

text: termed

text: wolves

text: of

text: the

text: sea

text: and

text: even

text: had

text: a

text: bounty

text: on

text: their

text: heads

text: in

text: some

text: places

text: being

text: able

text: to

text: see

text: them

text: personally

text: helped

text: spark

text: people

text: 's

text: curiosity

text: and

text: interest

text: The

text: resulting

text: change

text: in

text: public

text: perception

text: was

text: dramatic

text: and

text: swift

text: leading

text: to

text: their

text: protection

text: by

text: the

text: U.S.

text: government

text: in

text: the

text: under

text: the

text: Marine

text: Mammal

text: Protection

text: Act

text: Today

text: most

text: people

text: revere

text: killer

text: whales

text: and

text: understand

text: a

text: great

text: deal

text: more

text: about

text: the

text: challenges

text: this

text: species

text: faces

text: around

text: the

text: world

text: with

text: overfishing

text: depleting

text: their

text: food

text: supply

text: the

text: impacts

text: of

text: climate

text: change

text: and

text: pollution

text: threatening

text: their

text: environment

text: and

text: their

text: ultimate

text: survival

text: With

text: so

text: many

text: changes

text: confronting

text: nature

text: and

text: the

text: animals

text: that

text: make

text: it

text: their

text: home

text: human

text: understanding

text: and

text: appreciation

text: is

text: critical

text: Animals

text: that

text: people

text: are

text: privileged

text: to

text: see

text: in

text: professional

text: zoos

text: aquariums

text: and

text: similar

text: institutions

text: are

text: vital

text: to

text: engagement

text: inspiration

text: and

text: conservation

text: The

text: opinions

text: expressed

text: in

text: this

text: commentary

text: are

text: solely

text: those

text: of

text: Dr.

text: John

text: Nightingale

question: What is vital to education

answer: Animals in zoos, aquariums and museums

text: Animals in zoos, aquariums and museums

question: What does the death of a whale trainer raise questions about?

answer: Should they be there or not?

text: Should they be there or not?

question: what does he says about zoos and aquariums?

answer: a vital connection to the world of wildlife

text: a vital connection to the world of wildlife

question: what raised questions

answer: The tragic death of a trainer at Sea World last week

text: The tragic death of a trainer at Sea World last week


text:
(CNN) -- Besides charting the nature of space and time and penning the bestseller "A Brief History of Time," Stephen Hawking has another distinction: He beat the life-expectancy odds for people with ALS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Stephen Hawking, shown in Pasadena, California, in March, is hospitalized but said to be "comfortable."

Most people with ALS survive only two to five years after diagnosis. Hawking, on the other hand, has lived more than 40 years since he learned he had the disease, which is also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease in America and motor neuron disease, or MND, in the United Kingdom.

Hawking, 67, was taken to Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridge, England, on Monday in a "very ill" condition, and spent the night in the hospital. He was said to be  "comfortable"  Tuesday.

Bob Hawkins, 75, of Fayetteville, North Carolina, who learned of his ALS diagnosis last year, said Hawking, with his long life and ability to communicate through a voice synthesizer, gives him hope. The physicist should be a role model for people with the disease as well as those without it, Hawkins said.

"The man is brilliant, and he has striven through a lot of adversity to accomplish all of the things he has accomplished," Hawkins said. "He should be an inspiration for anyone."

The British physicist also embodies the idea of empowering people with ALS to live life to the fullest, said Dr. Lucie Bruijn, scientific director for the ALS Association, in an e-mail. This empowerment theme is part of the mission of the ALS Association, she said.

"To have achieved so much in his lifetime while battling Lou Gehrig's Disease is quite remarkable," she said.

ALS affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, which results in muscle weakness and atrophy. The disease causes the death of motor neurons, meaning the brain loses its ability to control muscle movement.

Hawking has had direct involvement in promoting awareness and research into his disease. He recently agreed to be a patron of the MND Association in Northampton, England, meaning he will lend his name to the charity and support it by attending events, fundraising, or other activities.

He has participated in some of the organization's high-profile events, said Mel Barry, communications manager at the MND Association.

"He's a very busy man, so it's wonderful that he's publicly supporting us with his very heavy workload," she said.

Hawking's case is also unusual because his condition was diagnosed at a young age, said Sharon Matland, vice president of patient services at the ALS Association. People typically are between 40 and 70 when they learn they have ALS; Hawking found out at age 21. Some very rare cases manifest in the late teens, Bruijn said.

There have been other rare cases of people living long lives with ALS, although none as famous as Hawking. Barry said she knows of a man in Ireland who has lived with the disease for 30 years -- but only about 5 percent of people with ALS live longer than 10 years.

ALS affects 350,000 people worldwide and up to 30,000 people in the United States, the ALS Association estimates.

"It totally upsets your entire way of living," Hawkins of North Carolina said. "It slowly takes over your entire muscle structure and eventually your limbs are affected, your speech may or may not be affected. The only part of your body that isn't affected is your mind."

Still, patients experience different symptoms, and some do have cognitive impairment, Matland said. They may have trouble making day-to-day decisions, such as choosing which bills to pay first.

Hawkins said he first experienced weakness in his legs and arms, typical symptoms of the disease. People with ALS may also find it difficult to lift their arms or feet, Matland said.

"You drop things or you can't grasp things as you might have been able to do in the past," she said.

Loss of voice is another potential symptom, but some people are able to speak until they die, Barry said. The nature of the disease is that it's very different in each person, she said.

Most people with ALS become dependent on a wheelchair -- sometimes within six to eight months, but the time frame varies, Matland said. Typically, the ultimate cause of death is respiratory failure, because ALS affects the muscles used for breathing, she said.

David Niven, the English actor known for his roles in "Around the World in 80 Days" and "The Pink Panther," died of ALS at age 73. He suffered from the disease for more than a year.

A variety of ongoing clinical trials seek to find an effective treatment for ALS in the U.S. Drugs in these trials include lithium, ceftriaxone, and memantine, according to the ALS Association. A recent study showed there may be a genetic component to the disease.

In the UK, the MND Association is funding a trial for lithium, which has produced promising results in mice, Barry said. Psychiatrists currently prescribe lithium, a mood-stabilizing drug, for bipolar disorder and other conditions.

An FDA-approved drug called riluzole has been shown to prolong survival for some ALS patients, but extends the life span by only three to six months, Barry said. Typically, palliative care is the main treatment -- managing symptoms rather than stopping or curing them.

Stem cell therapy may hold promise for the disease, but the general perception is that research into it is not sufficiently advanced, according to the MND Association.

To raise money for research in the U.S., the ALS Association hosts walks across the country. Hawkins said he will be participating in the 2009 Fayetteville, North Carolina, Walk to Defeat ALS in May.

"I would encourage everyone to recognize how terrible this disease is, and encourage them to support the ALS Association and research projects," he said.

CNN's Jennifer Pifer Bixler contributed to this report.

text: CNN

text: Besides

text: charting

text: the

text: nature

text: of

text: space

text: and

text: time

text: and

text: penning

text: the

text: bestseller

text: A

text: Brief

text: History

text: of

text: Time

text: Stephen

text: Hawking

text: has

text: another

text: distinction

text: He

text: beat

text: the

text: life

text: expectancy

text: odds

text: for

text: people

text: with

text: ALS

text: amyotrophic

text: lateral

text: sclerosis

text: Stephen

text: Hawking

text: shown

text: in

text: Pasadena

text: California

text: in

text: March

text: is

text: hospitalized

text: but

text: said

text: to

text: be

text: comfortable

text: Most

text: people

text: with

text: ALS

text: survive

text: only

text: two

text: to

text: five

text: years

text: after

text: diagnosis

text: Hawking

text: on

text: the

text: other

text: hand

text: has

text: lived

text: more

text: than

text: years

text: since

text: he

text: learned

text: he

text: had

text: the

text: disease

text: which

text: is

text: also

text: known

text: as

text: Lou

text: Gehrig

text: 's

text: Disease

text: in

text: America

text: and

text: motor

text: neuron

text: disease

text: or

text: MND

text: in

text: the

text: United

text: Kingdom

text: Hawking

text: was

text: taken

text: to

text: Addenbrookes

text: Hospital

text: in

text: Cambridge

text: England

text: on

text: Monday

text: in

text: a

text: very

text: ill

text: condition

text: and

text: spent

text: the

text: night

text: in

text: the

text: hospital

text: He

text: was

text: said

text: to

text: be

text: comfortable

text: Tuesday

text: Bob

text: Hawkins

text: of

text: Fayetteville

text: North

text: Carolina

text: who

text: learned

text: of

text: his

text: ALS

text: diagnosis

text: last

text: year

text: said

text: Hawking

text: with

text: his

text: long

text: life

text: and

text: ability

text: to

text: communicate

text: through

text: a

text: voice

text: synthesizer

text: gives

text: him

text: hope

text: The

text: physicist

text: should

text: be

text: a

text: role

text: model

text: for

text: people

text: with

text: the

text: disease

text: as

text: well

text: as

text: those

text: without

text: it

text: Hawkins

text: said

text: The

text: man

text: is

text: brilliant

text: and

text: he

text: has

text: striven

text: through

text: a

text: lot

text: of

text: adversity

text: to

text: accomplish

text: all

text: of

text: the

text: things

text: he

text: has

text: accomplished

text: Hawkins

text: said

text: He

text: should

text: be

text: an

text: inspiration

text: for

text: anyone

text: The

text: British

text: physicist

text: also

text: embodies

text: the

text: idea

text: of

text: empowering

text: people

text: with

text: ALS

text: to

text: live

text: life

text: to

text: the

text: fullest

text: said

text: Dr.

text: Lucie

text: Bruijn

text: scientific

text: director

text: for

text: the

text: ALS

text: Association

text: in

text: an

text: e

text: mail

text: This

text: empowerment

text: theme

text: is

text: part

text: of

text: the

text: mission

text: of

text: the

text: ALS

text: Association

text: she

text: said

text: To

text: have

text: achieved

text: so

text: much

text: in

text: his

text: lifetime

text: while

text: battling

text: Lou

text: Gehrig

text: 's

text: Disease

text: is

text: quite

text: remarkable

text: she

text: said

text: ALS

text: affects

text: nerve

text: cells

text: in

text: the

text: brain

text: and

text: spinal

text: cord

text: which

text: results

text: in

text: muscle

text: weakness

text: and

text: atrophy

text: The

text: disease

text: causes

text: the

text: death

text: of

text: motor

text: neurons

text: meaning

text: the

text: brain

text: loses

text: its

text: ability

text: to

text: control

text: muscle

text: movement

text: Hawking

text: has

text: had

text: direct

text: involvement

text: in

text: promoting

text: awareness

text: and

text: research

text: into

text: his

text: disease

text: He

text: recently

text: agreed

text: to

text: be

text: a

text: patron

text: of

text: the

text: MND

text: Association

text: in

text: Northampton

text: England

text: meaning

text: he

text: will

text: lend

text: his

text: name

text: to

text: the

text: charity

text: and

text: support

text: it

text: by

text: attending

text: events

text: fundraising

text: or

text: other

text: activities

text: He

text: has

text: participated

text: in

text: some

text: of

text: the

text: organization

text: 's

text: high

text: profile

text: events

text: said

text: Mel

text: Barry

text: communications

text: manager

text: at

text: the

text: MND

text: Association

text: He

text: 's

text: a

text: very

text: busy

text: man

text: so

text: it

text: 's

text: wonderful

text: that

text: he

text: 's

text: publicly

text: supporting

text: us

text: with

text: his

text: very

text: heavy

text: workload

text: she

text: said

text: Hawking

text: 's

text: case

text: is

text: also

text: unusual

text: because

text: his

text: condition

text: was

text: diagnosed

text: at

text: a

text: young

text: age

text: said

text: Sharon

text: Matland

text: vice

text: president

text: of

text: patient

text: services

text: at

text: the

text: ALS

text: Association

text: People

text: typically

text: are

text: between

text: and

text: when

text: they

text: learn

text: they

text: have

text: ALS

text: Hawking

text: found

text: out

text: at

text: age

text: Some

text: very

text: rare

text: cases

text: manifest

text: in

text: the

text: late

text: teens

text: Bruijn

text: said

text: There

text: have

text: been

text: other

text: rare

text: cases

text: of

text: people

text: living

text: long

text: lives

text: with

text: ALS

text: although

text: as

text: famous

text: as

text: Hawking

text: Barry

text: said

text: she

text: knows

text: of

text: a

text: man

text: in

text: Ireland

text: who

text: has

text: lived

text: with

text: the

text: disease

text: for

text: years

text: but

text: only

text: about

text: percent

text: of

text: people

text: with

text: ALS

text: live

text: longer

text: than

text: years

text: ALS

text: affects

text: people

text: worldwide

text: and

text: up

text: to

text: people

text: in

text: the

text: United

text: States

text: the

text: ALS

text: Association

text: estimates

text: It

text: totally

text: upsets

text: your

text: entire

text: way

text: of

text: living

text: Hawkins

text: of

text: North

text: Carolina

text: said

text: It

text: slowly

text: takes

text: over

text: your

text: entire

text: muscle

text: structure

text: and

text: eventually

text: your

text: limbs

text: are

text: affected

text: your

text: speech

text: may

text: or

text: may

text: not

text: be

text: affected

text: The

text: only

text: part

text: of

text: your

text: body

text: that

text: is

text: n't

text: affected

text: is

text: your

text: mind

text: Still

text: patients

text: experience

text: different

text: symptoms

text: and

text: some

text: do

text: have

text: cognitive

text: impairment

text: Matland

text: said

text: They

text: may

text: have

text: trouble

text: making

text: day

text: to

text: day

text: decisions

text: such

text: as

text: choosing

text: which

text: bills

text: to

text: pay

text: first

text: Hawkins

text: said

text: he

text: first

text: experienced

text: weakness

text: in

text: his

text: legs

text: and

text: arms

text: typical

text: symptoms

text: of

text: the

text: disease

text: People

text: with

text: ALS

text: may

text: also

text: find

text: it

text: difficult

text: to

text: lift

text: their

text: arms

text: or

text: feet

text: Matland

text: said

text: You

text: drop

text: things

text: or

text: you

text: ca

text: n't

text: grasp

text: things

text: as

text: you

text: might

text: have

text: been

text: able

text: to

text: do

text: in

text: the

text: past

text: she

text: said

text: Loss

text: of

text: voice

text: is

text: another

text: potential

text: symptom

text: but

text: some

text: people

text: are

text: able

text: to

text: speak

text: until

text: they

text: die

text: Barry

text: said

text: The

text: nature

text: of

text: the

text: disease

text: is

text: that

text: it

text: 's

text: very

text: different

text: in

text: each

text: person

text: she

text: said

text: Most

text: people

text: with

text: ALS

text: become

text: dependent

text: on

text: a

text: wheelchair

text: sometimes

text: within

text: six

text: to

text: eight

text: months

text: but

text: the

text: time

text: frame

text: varies

text: Matland

text: said

text: Typically

text: the

text: ultimate

text: cause

text: of

text: death

text: is

text: respiratory

text: failure

text: because

text: ALS

text: affects

text: the

text: muscles

text: used

text: for

text: breathing

text: she

text: said

text: David

text: Niven

text: the

text: English

text: actor

text: known

text: for

text: his

text: roles

text: in

text: Around

text: the

text: World

text: in

text: Days

text: and

text: The

text: Pink

text: Panther

text: died

text: of

text: ALS

text: at

text: age

text: He

text: suffered

text: from

text: the

text: disease

text: for

text: more

text: than

text: a

text: year

text: A

text: variety

text: of

text: ongoing

text: clinical

text: trials

text: seek

text: to

text: find

text: an

text: effective

text: treatment

text: for

text: ALS

text: in

text: the

text: U.S.

text: Drugs

text: in

text: these

text: trials

text: include

text: lithium

text: ceftriaxone

text: and

text: memantine

text: according

text: to

text: the

text: ALS

text: Association

text: A

text: recent

text: study

text: showed

text: there

text: may

text: be

text: a

text: genetic

text: component

text: to

text: the

text: disease

text: In

text: the

text: UK

text: the

text: MND

text: Association

text: is

text: funding

text: a

text: trial

text: for

text: lithium

text: which

text: has

text: produced

text: promising

text: results

text: in

text: mice

text: Barry

text: said

text: Psychiatrists

text: currently

text: prescribe

text: lithium

text: a

text: mood

text: stabilizing

text: drug

text: for

text: bipolar

text: disorder

text: and

text: other

text: conditions

text: An

text: FDA

text: approved

text: drug

text: called

text: riluzole

text: has

text: been

text: shown

text: to

text: prolong

text: survival

text: for

text: some

text: ALS

text: patients

text: but

text: extends

text: the

text: life

text: span

text: by

text: only

text: three

text: to

text: six

text: months

text: Barry

text: said

text: Typically

text: palliative

text: care

text: is

text: the

text: main

text: treatment

text: managing

text: symptoms

text: rather

text: than

text: stopping

text: or

text: curing

text: them

text: Stem

text: cell

text: therapy

text: may

text: hold

text: promise

text: for

text: the

text: disease

text: but

text: the

text: general

text: perception

text: is

text: that

text: research

text: into

text: it

text: is

text: not

text: sufficiently

text: advanced

text: according

text: to

text: the

text: MND

text: Association

text: To

text: raise

text: money

text: for

text: research

text: in

text: the

text: U.S.

text: the

text: ALS

text: Association

text: hosts

text: walks

text: across

text: the

text: country

text: Hawkins

text: said

text: he

text: will

text: be

text: participating

text: in

text: the

text: Fayetteville

text: North

text: Carolina

text: Walk

text: to

text: Defeat

text: ALS

text: in

text: May.

text: I

text: would

text: encourage

text: everyone

text: to

text: recognize

text: how

text: terrible

text: this

text: disease

text: is

text: and

text: encourage

text: them

text: to

text: support

text: the

text: ALS

text: Association

text: and

text: research

text: projects

text: he

text: said

text: CNN

text: 's

text: Jennifer

text: Pifer

text: Bixler

text: contributed

text: to

text: this

text: report

question: Who has survived decades with ALS?

answer: Stephen Hawking

text: Stephen Hawking

question: What disease does hawking have?

answer: ALS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

text: ALS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

question: How many people does ALS affect?

answer: 350,000

question: What is the number of people affected by ALS?

answer: 350,000

question: How many people suffer from ALS in the U.S.?

answer: 30,000

question: What has Hawking survived decades with?

answer: ALS,

text: ALS,

question: what kind of trials are being performed?

answer: ongoing clinical

text: ongoing clinical