AdTrap Shows High Potential; The Human Factor; CNN Hero
WHITFIELD: It's one of the most annoying things about the Internet, dealing with all of the advertisements that pop up on almost every single web page. Well, a tech entrepreneur says he has the solution: a device that will block all of the ads. Dan Simon has more.</s>DAN SIMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The early days of the Internet -- dialup, slow connections, simple graphics. But Chad Russell says in many ways, things were better.</s>CHAD RUSSELL, ADTRAP: It was page, text and pictures, and that's it.</s>SIMON: In other words, no ads. Today, they are everywhere -- inescapable and sometimes annoying. Of course, they pay for many great services we get for free but Russell has basically declared war on them.</s>RUSSELL: At some point, it's gotten a bit much.</s>SIMON: And now, this 31-year-old high school dropout may be on the verge of shaking up the entire Internet advertising industry.</s>RUSSELL: And this is AdTrap.</s>SIMON: The idea kicked off with a video on the fundraising Web site Kickstarter, where Russell showed off his invention called AdTrap that connects between the modem and router, and what one he says that blocks every kind of ad on a Web site. (on camera): I have one of the first units right here. It's pretty easy to set up. Now, let's give it a try. (voice-over): Check out the video on the top without the AdTrap. You get an ad. On the bottom with the device connected, straight to the video and the company says it works on any device.</s>RUSSELL: There is no software to configure or settings. That was really one of the goals of the project, is to make it easy for people.</s>SIMON: He wanted to raise $150,000. He wound up with well over $200,000. AdTrap cost $139, based on early orders, demand seems incredibly high.</s>RUSSELL: I think the success of the product is really showing you how the general public feels right now about the state of advertising.</s>SIMON: As for potential lawsuits from advertisers, Russell is anticipating them, and that's why he's already retained a prominent Silicon Valley law firm. Dan Simon, CNN, Palo Alto, California.</s>WHITFIELD: And next in the CNN NEWSROOM, firefighters called it a miracle. Hear from the man in this dramatic rescue from the Colorado floodwaters. And for most of her life, Annette Miller has been burdened by her weight. Until now. She just completed the Malibu triathlon as a member of CNN's Fit Nation Team. Dr. Sanjay Gupta has her story in today's "Human Factor."</s>DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Growing up in Tennessee, Annette Miller always dreamed of playing basketball. So as soon as she was old enough, she decided to sign up for the team.</s>ANNETTE MILLER, CNN FIT NATION 2013 TRIATHLETE: I got a permission slip from our coach at school and came running home that day. I was so excited to get to play basketball. Instead of getting a signature from my parents, I was told you're too fat to play.</s>GUPTA: At 10 years old and more than 200 pounds, she says, that mantra instantly changed her life.</s>MILLER: "You're too fat" followed me into adulthood and I didn't realize how much it held me back.</s>GUPTA: But years later, when her twin sister, Bobbette needed a kidney transplant --</s>MILLER: I was not even tested or considered to be a donor because of my weight. That was the kick in the pants I need.</s>GUPTA: So she changed her diet. She started walking. She hit the gym. She was determined to get the weight off. By November of 2012, she was well on her way.</s>MILLER: I'm proud to say at this point, I've lost over 100 pounds.</s>GUPTA: And she wasn't finished.</s>MILLER: There's a little 10-year-old kid in here that still wants to play, wants to be a part of something, be a part of a team.</s>GUPTA: Miller applied for the CNN Fit Nation Challenge, and she was accepted in January. (on camera): Congratulations. We've already picked you -- (voice-over): For eight months, she trained, swimming, biking, running, to compete in the Nautica Malibu Triathlon. And she got below 200 pounds for the first time in decades.</s>MILLER: I didn't stop, 198, and then I have never had a breakdown on a scale, but I started crying.</s>GUPTA: And on Sunday, September 8th, Miller got her chance to play, crossing the finish line in Malibu, squarely in the middle of the pack.</s>MILLER: Amazing. I made the turn around on the bank. I knew I had it. If I can do it, you can do it.</s>GUPTA: Next up for Miller, surgery to remove the excess skin left over from her years of being overweight to complete her transformation. And as far as the basketball game, that dream came true as well. Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN, reporting.