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CNN Live At Daybreak

The Perfect Gift?; Ready, Set, Shop; Ultimate Gift

Aired November 25, 2005 - 05:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


(WEATHER REPORT)
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: All right, thank you, Jacqui.

The former FEMA chief, Michael Brown, is starting a consulting business aimed at helping people prepare for emergencies. It's true. You will remember that Brown left FEMA after being roundly criticized for his work before and during Hurricane Katrina.

Brown says -- and I quote -- "I think people are curious: My gosh, what was it like? The media just really beat you up. You made mistakes. I don't want to be in that situation. How do I avoid that?" He adds, "If I can help people focus on preparedness, how to be better prepared in their homes and better prepared in their businesses, because that goes straight to the bottom line, then I hope I can help the country in some way."

Brown does admit that he made many mistakes during Hurricane Katrina, but also says the media is partly to blame for his downfall. So now he plans to pass on his knowledge for a price.

In other news "Across America" now, two sisters are out of the hospital this morning after an accident in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Take a look. Watch closely in the upper right hand corner of your screen. You can see the M&M's balloon. It clips a light post. I'm watching along with you, it's really hard to see. But it clips the light post and the lamp attached to the light post comes tumbling down into the crowd.

Mayor Bloomberg says there will be an investigation into the accident, but added that a gust of wind may have been to blame. And we should mention, that light, parts of it, hit two people in the crowd. One woman in a wheelchair and her 11-year-old sister both were taken to the hospital and treated for bruises. But if that had hit anyone directly, it could have been a really bad situation.

Three people still in the hospital after they were hit by a rapid transit train in Chicago. The metro train hit several cars that were stopped on the track. Investigators say drivers have more than 50 seconds to move from the time the warning gate is first activated, but backed up traffic left them stuck on the tracks.

"Father Dollar Bill" continued his long Thanksgiving Day tradition of giving. The Reverend Maurice Chase hands out $1 bills to the poor and homeless in Los Angeles. This year he handed out $15,000. The project is partially funded by the widows of Bob Hope and Frank Sinatra. The Macy's Tree all lit up in Atlanta. The traditional lighting has been going on there since 1948. It took a crew of more than a week to fully decorate the 70-foot tree.

Now mark your calendars for some other big lightings. The Rockefeller Center Tree is being done next Wednesday and the National Christmas Tree in Washington will be lit on Thursday.

Still to come on DAYBREAK, are you in the market for a diamond ring this holiday season? Remember they are a girl's best friend. Just ahead, how we came to know that a diamond is forever.

But first, here's a look at what else is making news this Friday.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: You guys are sending great e-mails. Keep them coming, because I'm enjoying reading them this morning. DAYBREAK@CNN.com.

Many of you will be heading out today looking for that perfect holiday gift. For some of you it may be a toy or maybe a little electronic gadget or maybe a scan (ph) T-shirt. Then there are people who think big, like diamonds.

CNN's Ali Velshi takes a look at all the attention and the money associated with a little sparkle.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALI VELSHI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's not just the diamonds that last forever. This slogan has been around since 1947. It's part of a campaign of memorable and effective one liners, backed up by an expensive marketing approach that has at least some men saying I will.

(on camera): Two month's salary too much to pay for something that lasts forever?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, not if you love the girl enough.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And money is not an object to me when I'm making someone feel good. And on top of that something that will last forever for something that is two month's salary? Hey, you are going to work until you die anyways.

VELSHI (voice-over): Money can't buy endorsements like that. Or can it? How about a couple of hundred million dollars a year, paid for by the Diamond Trading Company. It's part of the legendary diamond giant, De Beers.

KAREN BENEZRA, EDITOR, "BRANDWEEK": Fairly significant from the standpoint of spending $200 million a year worldwide, but compare that to McDonald's, compare that to Coca-Cola, a drop in the bucket.

VELSHI: A drop in the bucket? More like Chinese water torture. That same message year after year after year. And it all started at the N.W. Ayer building in Philadelphia. That was the ad company for De Beers. Copy editor Frances Gerety worked late one night to come up with the perfect slogan for them.

LINDA KAPLAN THALER, THALER AD COMPANY: She could not come up with a line. She wanted it to be something bold and beautiful and something that would go on for eternity, like diamonds. And she fell asleep, and when she woke up, in her handwriting was the line "a diamond is forever."

VELSHI: Linda Kaplan Thaler runs the ad company in New York that took over N.W. Ayer a few years ago. She says when you buy a diamond, you buy the mystique.

THALER: You don't have one for rubies or sapphires or emeralds, and they are far more precious gems. They are rare, they're resilient, they're beautiful, but nobody says, my God, I hope my husband gets me, you know, a ruby for Christmas.

VELSHI: And the mastery? Telling men exactly how much to spend on a diamond engagement ring. The average American man ties the knot for the first time at the age of 27. The average 27-year-old American man makes about $30,000 a year. So, if the average American guy believes the ads, he needs to find a $5,000 ring and he needs it to look good.

(on camera): And that's why any day, any time of year, you'll find men jamming the stalls of the diamond district here in Manhattan, looking for this, the perfect diamond. This is a place because of its bustle and congestion thought to offer a better deal than the fancy boutiques. But in end, the message that the men get when they're here is the same, it's worth it. She's worth it. After all forever is a long time.

(voice-over): Like the ad says, there are only two things that last longer than time. Love is one of them. Any guess what the other one is?

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: I'd just like to say, as I always say, sometimes I enjoy my diamond ring much more than I enjoy my husband. And, ladies, you know what I'm talking about, although I do love him very much.

That was CNN's Ali Velshi.

The U.S. accounts for $8 billion a year in diamond sales. That's even more than two month's salary for Bill Gates.

It is early, but holiday shoppers are already hitting the malls and the discount stores this morning. So let's get out there with them, shall we?

Reporter Amy Buckman of CNN affiliate WPVI joins us live from a Wal-Mart in Philadelphia. And I can see all the people behind you.

AMY BUCKMAN, WPVI-TV REPORTER: This is an unbelievable scene down here, Carol. The Wal-Mart opened just before 5:00 this morning. And before that, for hours before that there was a line that stretched the length of this store, all the way down past the tire department on the end. Thousands of people waiting to get in to the Wal-Mart.

Now they are actually starting to come out with their shopping bargains. The big items that were for sale down here, a laptop computer that was selling for $378. They only had about 20 of them in the store. They sold out very quickly.

But the other items, we're seeing a lot of folks pushing out these 20 inch TV-DVD combos. There's other flat screen monitors that are selling like hotcakes down here. Also some "Dora the Explorer" and "SpongeBob" toys. A lot of kids will be finding those under their Christmas trees.

But it took about 20 minutes for the line just to get inside the store. Here you have got someone pulling out a shopping cart full of toys and gifts for the holidays. You would think it's 5:30 in the afternoon here not 5:30 in the morning. The parking lot is full.

People are spending like there is no tomorrow. But actually, the Retail Federation tells us that people will be spending tomorrow as well. They expect consumers to spend about a hundred -- that they expect about 130 million shoppers to go to the store at some point over this holiday weekend. It's just been an unbelievable scene down here this morning. All that, despite like 20 degree temperatures with the wind chill.

COSTELLO: I know. Amy, I was just going to ask you, because you look so cold, and I know that you're...

BUCKMAN: It's freezing out here.

COSTELLO: And eventually your lips start to freeze and you can't speak anymore. OK, we'll let you run in the truck to get warm for a minute. Thank you -- Amy.

BUCKMAN: I'm going to go into Wal-Mart. I think I'm going to shop. There must be something good in there.

COSTELLO: Yes, find some -- that's right, something cuddly and warm.

Thank you, Amy Buckman, reporting from WPVI in Philadelphia this morning.

BUCKMAN: Sure.

COSTELLO: All right, Jacqui, let's get to some e-mail, because we're getting some interesting e-mail this morning.

JACQUI JERAS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yes, we are. In fact, the first one here is from a Wal-Mart shopper who was just going for that HP laptop that Amy was talking about. But Amy said $378 and this lady is telling me $385, but she's not from Philadelphia, so who knows.

COSTELLO: Yes.

JERAS: It's not a lady. Sorry, It's John Taylor (ph) from Loveland, Colorado. Sorry, John (ph). He got up at 3:30 this morning in Loveland, Colorado so he can get that HP. And it will be a Christmas present for his 17-year-old daughter. So hopefully she's still sleeping. Being that she's a teenager, I'm guessing so.

COSTELLO: Yes, they need more sleep, apparently.

JERAS: Yes, they do, don't they? I heard about that study.

Charlie (ph) in North Carolina says for Christmas all I need is to get home to be with my family and friends, but a new car would be nice.

Michael Lipka (ph) from Toronto, Ontario wants a BlackBerry 8700C.

This person, no name on this one, but they would like to say love for their answer, but maybe a purse would be good.

Richard King (ph) from Tennessee says his most wanted item for the holidays is money, but there won't be much shopping because most of my money is going into my gas tank.

And the must have item on my Christmas list this season is season one of "Veronica Mars" on DVD.

COSTELLO: Really?

JERAS: "Veronica Mars," I have not heard of that one, but apparently Jennifer Stephen (ph) from El Paso says who cares about watching "Alias" if it's being cancelled because there's "Veronica Mars" on UPN.

COSTELLO: "Veronica Mars" is like a new "Nancy Drew."

JERAS: Really?

COSTELLO: She's blonde and cute, very clever. You know she's like a -- she's like a -- she's not a teen but she's a 20-something detective.

JERAS: Young 20s.

COSTELLO: Yes.

JERAS: Interesting.

COSTELLO: Thank you -- Jacqui.

JERAS: Yes.

COSTELLO: Your news, money, weather and sports. It's 5:43 Eastern. Here is what's all new this morning. This is Black Friday, the day retailers hope to move their bottom line into the black. Some department stores have already opened their doors as we have just been telling you ad naseaum.

Michael Brown getting back into the emergency preparedness business. The former FEMA director who was so heavily criticized for FEMA's response to Hurricane Katrina is starting a disaster preparedness consulting firm.

In money news, say good-bye to the Casual Corner store. The company is closing or selling all 525 stores across the country. Casual Corner is a women's clothing store. The company employs 9,000 people.

In pop culture, musician Bob Geldof is the recipient of the "Man for Peace" Award at the World Summit of Nobel Peace Prize laureates. Former Soviet Leader Mikhail Gorbachev established the foundation that brings together Nobel Peace recipients.

In sports, the Denver Broncos beat the Dallas Cowboys 24-21 in overtime last night. This is the winning field goal by Jason Elam. He was set up by Ron Dayne's 55-yard run on the second play of overtime. Ron Dayne isn't even a starter. And I guess Denver did it with a third string quarterback, is that right?

JERAS: Yikes.

COSTELLO: So go, Denver.

JERAS: Wow, good for them.

I'm kind of bummed about Casual Corner myself.

COSTELLO: I used to shop there all the time.

JERAS: I bet you. I did, too, absolutely. They had good online specials. I bet you there are a lot of specials there today. If you're going out shopping, looking for a sweater, maybe...

COSTELLO: Yes.

JERAS: ... try the Casual Corner, probably half off.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: Thank you, Jacqui.

A big oops, New Mexico's Governor Bill Richardson admits that his claim to have been a draft pick of the Kansas City As in 1966 totally not true. The claim has been included in several reports, including one released by the White House when Richardson was about to be named U.N. Ambassador. But the "Albuquerque Journal" has found no record of Richardson being drafted. He insists he thought it was true based on an old program from an amateur team he had played for in Massachusetts.

Still to come on DAYBREAK, a warning about wine. Just ahead, one country that wants to keep the bottles just as they are.

And we want to know, what is the must have item on your shopping list? If you're going to go out and stand in line to get into a store early, what do you absolutely have to have? You can e-mail us at DAYBREAK@CNN.com. That's DAYBREAK@CNN.com.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: What a beautiful shot of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania this morning. It might be cold there, but wow, what a lovely city. It's going to be 25 there, if you want me to get specific. So bundle up, because I know many of you will be heading to the mall later today. Maybe you're already there. Good morning, Pittsburgh.

Checking some "Health Headlines" for you this morning.

If you have got some leftover cranberries from Thanksgiving in your refrigerator, do not let them go to waste. It's already known that cranberries can help fight off urinary tract infections. Now research shows cranberries may help prevent tooth decay and cavities.

French winemakers are popping their corks over this one. The French Health Ministry is recommending wine bottles carry labels warning that wine can cause alcohol abuse. The ministry says alcoholism affects 1 in 10 people in France.

As you start buying gifts for those you love, we'd like to show you someone who changed the lives of many by giving the ultimate gift.

CNN medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen reports on the gift of life.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you now.

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Annettor Murphy traveled 400 miles to thank the parents of the man who saved her life. She will never be able to thank their son.

Craig McBride, a police officer, died in August. Just two years on the force, he'd been voted rookie of the year at his precinct in Washington, D.C. His parents had never seen him happier. He would have been married soon. Now, Annettor Murphy has his liver.

(on camera): There's several others out there like you...

ANNETTOR MURPHY, LIVER TRANSPLANT RECIPIENT: Sure there are.

COHEN: ... who have a part of Craig inside them.

MURPHY: Yes, yes, but I think I got the best part. And I'm so happy.

COHEN (voice-over): On August 9, Ken and Jeanne McBride were at home in Massachusetts when their phone rang. Their son was being taken to Washington Hospital Center.

JEANNE MCBRIDE, CRAIG'S MOTHER: And what I asked the doctor was, is this the kind of situation where we needed to be there yesterday? And he said yes. That's all he needed to say.

COHEN: The next day, with his parents and dozens of police officers by his side, Craig died.

A few weeks ago, Annettor and her family flew from Baltimore to Boston.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm good. How about you?

COHEN: She wanted to learn more about the man who gave her a new lease on life. The McBride's shared family photos and stories.

MCBRIDE: Just pictures growing up. He was an entrepreneur very early.

COHEN: And together they celebrated Annettor's 62 birthday.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Happy birthday to you.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Happy birthday to you.

COHEN: A birthday her doctors never thought she'd reach.

KIM TAYLOR, ANNETTOR'S NIECE: Craig was a hero. He's allowed life to continue in someone else, and that's my aunt. He's just an awesome guy.

COHEN (on camera): How was it to meet the parents of the man who gave you your liver?

MURPHY: I love them. I love them. They're angels. And he was an angel to give me his liver.

COHEN (voice-over): The McBrides gave Annettor this quilt.

MCBRIDE: The organ transplant symbol, butterflies. So I put butterfly fabric in each corner.

COHEN: To symbolize that forever...

MCBRIDE: Our hearts to your heart.

COHEN: Because of Craig, they're family.

Elizabeth Cohen, CNN, Framingham, Massachusetts.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Turkey update. Those two turkeys that received the traditional Thanksgiving pardon from the president are now at the happiest place on earth. That's right, they're at Disneyland. One of the birds was the honorary grand marshal of the Disneyland Thanksgiving Day Parade. We decided we'd show you. There he is. His name is Marshmallow because of his feathers.

He and his alternate, Yam, flew first class to California and they will spend the rest of their lives at Disneyland's Frontier Land and they won't even be in those tubes. You know, in the past turkeys have retired at a farm in Virginia, but not so this year.

Time for our DAYBREAK "Eye Opener."

The giant ice sculpture festival opens today in Bruges, Belgium. Some of the world's best ice carvers have come together to mold more than 38 tons of ice into art. They used anything from chainsaws to machetes to make their temporary masterpieces. The display will stay solid until the New Year, unless of course they get a heat wave.

The famed Christmas Market is up and running in Dresden, Germany. In fact, the annual market opened yesterday for the 571st time. People come from all over the world to sample the Stalin (ph). In case you didn't know, that is a traditional German Christmas cake. The market also boasts the world's largest wooden pyramid.

And now here is one of our favorite furry friends on DAYBREAK, it's Tai Shan. We don't really have anything to tell you about the National Zoo's cub, except that it bit one of the handlers the other day. But we have enjoyed bringing you updates on the little guy. And since this is the last DAYBREAK at 5:00 Eastern Time, because it's going away, we had to show you the panda cub one more time -- Jacqui.

JERAS: DAYBREAK just wouldn't be a DAYBREAK today without that panda, would it?

COSTELLO: Exactly.

JERAS: I love it. It makes you -- I'm still smiling.

COSTELLO: Exactly.

JERAS: It's so cute.

COSTELLO: You look at a panda and it makes you smile.

JERAS: It does.

COSTELLO: They're hypnotic.

JERAS: I told you my sister sent me that panda cam link, right? Like when I was stressed out during the hurricane, she was like just look at the panda. It'll make you smile. And it did. Absolutely.

Anyway, we've got some answers for our e-mail question, Carol, and some of these are pretty good. The question was holiday shopping, what is the must have item on your list?

Joel (ph) from Seatac Airport says he wants an Xbox 360. You know there would be a couple of those, didn't we? We actually had quite a few of Xbox wishes.

I'm getting ready to go and stand in line for the new iPod nano and maybe one of those iPod videos. That one coming in from Dee (ph).

COSTELLO: OK.

JERAS: Carol, my must have item this year is a boyfriend so he can buy a diamond for me.

COSTELLO: I'm with you, sister.

JERAS: I was going to say, you like this one, don't you?

And Michael Bonis (ph) from Huron, South Dakota says I want the first season "Simpsons" DVD or peace on earth. And if I can't have that, then Kelly Ripa.

COSTELLO: She is a cute little woman, isn't she?

JERAS: Yes, she is. She's adorable.

COSTELLO: OK, I just want to tell our viewers once again that DAYBREAK is going away because "AMERICAN MORNING" is going to expand. And I will be part of that program when it expands to 6:00 Eastern until 10:00. The 5:00 Eastern hour I think we're going to show an Anderson Cooper show in that hour.

And you know I was supposed to come up with all of these great things to say about DAYBREAK and I haven't wanted to think about it because I have enjoyed doing DAYBREAK so very much. I mean the hours stink, yes, but it was the kind of show where the whole team became a family. So you kind of enjoyed coming in and seeing what everyone put together and their wonderful creativity and their wonderful intelligence. And of course we all learned so much from the enormous international coverage we did here on DAYBREAK.

So, in the next hour of DAYBREAK, I'll be a little more well spoken and a little less emotional. So, the next hour of DAYBREAK begins in one minute.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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