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CNN Live At Daybreak

Shopping Season; Gadget Gifts

Aired November 25, 2005 - 06:29   ET

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


ANNOUNCER: From the Time Warner Center in New York, this is DAYBREAK with Carol Costello.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: And good morning to you. Thank you for waking up with us. Jacqui will have your forecast in just a minute.

Also coming up this half-hour, early shoppers are already burning up their credit cards this morning. We'll take you live to a couple of places where the shopping rush may be turning into the shopping crush. In fact, we're hearing of a little scuffle at a Wal-Mart in Orlando.

But first, "Now in the News."

Getting the go-ahead. Indonesia's health minister says Swiss drug manufacturer Roche has given Indonesia permission to make the drug Tamiflu. The antiviral drug can be used to treat bird flu in people.

Four U.S. governors got a chance to celebrate Thanksgiving with the troops serving in the Middle East. The Pentagon invited the governors of Georgia, Michigan, Mississippi and Kansas on the trip.

New Mexico's governor, Bill Richardson, admits his claim to have been a draft pick of the Kansas City A's in 1966 was not true. His admission came after the "Albuquerque Journal" reported it found no record of Richardson being drafted.

To the forecast center and Jacqui.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: 'Tis the season to be shopping, at least that's what stores are hoping for big time. And today is the day when many stores across the country have thrown open their doors early.

But we're letting Allan Chernoff stand outside -- actually you're in Macy's. So you're warm.

ALLAN CHERNOFF, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm comfy, Carol. I'm not toughing it at all. In fact, the people in here, lots of smiling faces. In fact, I don't think I've ever seen so many people in a store at this hour, rushing around with the energy that we're seeing right now.

Literally, thousands of people now are coursing through Macy's, trying to find the bargains. And they are here from all over the world -- Ireland, England, India, just to name a few countries of the people that we've met so far this morning. And certainly, lots of folks from all over the country.

We have someone here, Bobbi Harris. She's from Durham. Wearing your Duke t-shirt, I see. Your sweat shirt.

BOBBI HARRIS, NORTH CAROLINA: Good morning. Yes.

CHERNOFF: Good morning to you. What time did you arrive at Macy's?

HARRIS: About 5:15 this morning.

CHERNOFF: Now, why so early? What's...

HARRIS: It's the day after Thanksgiving. And they're having a sale and these cards that you win things. And it's like going to the parade. It's what you're supposed to do in New York on Thanksgiving.

CHERNOFF: So, this is the parade of shoppers.

HARRIS: Oh, absolutely. And everybody is just as happy and nice and friendly today as they were yesterday. I don't know what you guys put in the water.

CHERNOFF: Isn't New York a great place to visit?

HARRIS: Oh, it's amazing.

CHERNOFF: What are you planning to buy?

HARRIS: Clothes, electronics. It's Christmas. Don't tell my children. We've got to keep some things a secret.

CHERNOFF: All right, good luck to you. Good luck shopping.

HARRIS: Thank you so much. Thank you to New York.

CHERNOFF: Have a great time.

HARRIS: Thank you.

CHERNOFF: Carol, a very busy store here. And, yes, there are some great bargains early this morning. Men's shirts 75 percent off.

COSTELLO: Wow!

CHERNOFF: So, if you need any gifts after you finish working, come on down.

COSTELLO: No, I'm going to have you do it, Allan.

CHERNOFF: Oh, OK. You've got to make list.

COSTELLO: Thanks, Allan Chernoff, reporting live from Macy's in New York.

Beware of the shopocalypse. Shopocalypse. I guess that's how you pronounce it. Shopocalypse. That is the warning from the Reverend Billy. His church of Stop Shopping is preaching the gospel of buying nothing today, the mother of all shopping days. It's Reverend Billy's global initiative to smite the devil consumerism.

Reverend Billy and the Stop Shopping gospel choir are using a buy nothing day to kick off a month-long cross-country shopocalypse tour maybe at a store near you.

As you hit the roads to come home from Thanksgiving, please remember to be careful. Truckers who are more plentiful during this time of year want you to know that accidents are not always their fault. In fact, 70 percent of deadly truck crashes are actually caused by smaller vehicles. And that's the new federal highway legislation includes $10 million for increased patrols to find people who get reckless around big rigs.

Michael Brown, the former FEMA guy, wants to be the go-to guy for your next disaster. The former FEMA chief is starting a consulting business aimed at helping people prepare for emergencies. Of course, you remember that Brown left FEMA after being roundly criticized for his work before and during Hurricane Katrina.

Brown says -- 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?'"

And he goes on to say even more. And we'll get to more of that on "AMERICAN MORNING."

When we come back on DAYBREAK, though, they're not the cheapest, but they are some of the hottest gadgets around. We'll tell you where to get reviews on new high-tech gifts this season.

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Just outside the nation's capital, some store managers are hoping shoppers get their best buy today.

Sarah Lee of CNN affiliate WJLA certainly is. She joins us live from Alexandria, Virginia.

Good morning, Sarah.

SARAH LEE, CNN AFFILIATE WJLA REPORTER: Good morning, Carol. It's a cold one up here in Washington, D.C. But when we rolled up to this location -- we're in Alexandria, Virginia, just outside of the District -- at 4:30 this morning, there were some people that had been standing in line since midnight.

Now, the line spans down the block. Several hundred people were out here. It took a full five minutes actually once they opened the doors at 5:00 for people to get inside.

Now, it seems that all of those crowds are lined up at the cash register inside this Best Buy. We saw people really bundled up. A guy even brought his blanket with him. So, clearly people were rolling out of bed to ring in the holiday shopping season.

Now, at this time, there are people coming out, as you can see, loaded down with a lot of loot. Some very happy customers.

Some folks telling us they were a little bit disappointed, because they were hoping to get their hands on some deeply-discounted computers and laptops, that sort of thing. But for the most part, people have been telling us the wait was well worth it.

Now, hot items this year, we're hearing from folks, are flat- screen TVs, laptop computers, digital cameras and that elusive X-Box 360. A lot of folks are getting out early with those items. So mission accomplished out here.

So, clearly people seeming to be finishing up that Thanksgiving trifecta, which would be eat, sleep and then shop.

COSTELLO: And shop. Exactly. It wouldn't be Thanksgiving without the shopping part either.

LEE: Absolutely.

COSTELLO: Sarah Lee reporting live from Alexandria, Virginia, this morning.

So, what is hot among the little tots? Soledad will have more on "AMERICAN MORNING." But she has a tidbit for us now.

Good morning, Soledad.

SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning to you.

First, how did your Thanksgiving dinner turn out, Carol?

COSTELLO: You know, my turkey was delicious.

S. O'BRIEN: All right, good for you!

COSTELLO: It was almost as if someone else had cooked it.

S. O'BRIEN: Did someone cook it?

COSTELLO: No, No, I did it myself.

S. O'BRIEN: Oh, you did?

COSTELLO: But it was so good I couldn't believe I did it.

S. O'BRIEN: Good for you! Congratulations.

(CROSSTALK) COSTELLO: We just at a little bit of it, and then we just kept it.

S. O'BRIEN: Well, good for you.

COSTELLO: No, I'm just kidding. I'm just kidding.

S. O'BRIEN: You're so funny. Good. I'm glad that turned out well. Yea! My Thanksgiving was good, too.

Yes, we're talking shopping. And, you know, not only will I talk about what's coming up for the hottest little toys for little tots this year, I'll probably be fighting with other mothers over those very same toys a little bit later today.

We're going to take you this morning to the Toys R Us store in New York City. You know the one that's got the ferris wheel on the inside? It's an amazing store. This morning, we'll go inside, and we'll talk to them about what parents will be fighting over this season.

Also a reminder, a new time for "AMERICAN MORNING." We begin starting on Monday at 6:00 a.m. Eastern Time. Look at how cute we all look in that shot, Carol.

COSTELLO: Oh, that looks great.

S. O'BRIEN: We do. We look so awake and happy.

COSTELLO: We do.

S. O'BRIEN: We'll be getting up a little early. And maybe you'll get to sleep in a smidge, too, huh?

COSTELLO: I get 45 extra minutes of sleep. And you can't beat that.

S. O'BRIEN: And I'll lose 45 minutes. OK.

COSTELLO: Well, I'll give you my tricks.

S. O'BRIEN: Well, we are looking forward to our new start. We'll see you on -- all of you on Monday morning starting at 6:00 a.m. for the new hours of "AMERICAN MORNING" -- Carol.

COSTELLO: All right, thanks, Soledad.

"Wired" magazine intends to make your holiday gadget shopping as smooth as silk. The magazine editors have tested and reviewed more than 340 products.

Our gadget guru today is Sonja Zwajinski with "Wired" magazine.

SONJA ZWAJINKSI, "WIRED" MAGAZINE: How are you?

COSTELLO: Thanks for coming in so early. We appreciate it. ZWAJINSKI: Thanks for having me.

COSTELLO: You have brought some cool stuff with you.

ZWAJINSKI: I have. Actually, you know, the holiday season can be very, very stressful. And "Wired" magazine tried to make everything a little easier for everybody.

And so, we tested, as you said, 340 products -- MP3 players to cameras to cell phones to even baby monitors.

COSTELLO: Wow!

ZWAJINSKI: But some of our favorites for kids are, of course, the iPod Mano...

COSTELLO: How tiny.

ZWAJINSKI: ... which is just so, so small.

COSTELLO: I mean, that makes my iPod look gigantic. Can we get a shot of that somewhere? We can from behind you.

ZWAJINSKI: And it comes in 2-gig and 4-gig models, which hold 500 and 1,000 songs.

COSTELLO: Wow!

ZWAJINSKI: And they start at $200, and the 4-gig is 250.

COSTELLO: So, if I already have my iPod, is it worth it to get this one?

ZWAJINSKI: I really think it is just because it's so, so small. I mean, they make wallets just with little pockets to hold them it's that small.

COSTELLO: Oh my goodness.

ZWAJINSKI: So, this is great for going to the gym. You don't want to carry a lot. You don't want another extra weight to carry.

COSTELLO: Exactly. OK. What's this thing?

ZWAJINSKI: So the next one is a Sony Ericsson music phone. And everybody has heard about the Motorola Rocker. But we actually think that the Sony Ericsson music phone is better. It holds a 512-memory card that holds about 150 songs about. And it's just a great phone. It's got a great form factor. It also has a 2-megapixel camera here on the back...

COSTELLO: Wow!

ZWAJINSKI: ... so that you can take, you know, photos. You can also take video. And it's just a great little gizmo that keeps you connected to friends, but it also lets you listen to music, take photos and just capture...

(CROSSTALK)

COSTELLO: Very cool. That is so cool. OK. I'm pulling up my list. That's why I'm, like, looking at my computer, because the graphic is not up, and I haven't prepared obviously.

You also reviewed other stuff, too.

ZWAJINSKI: Yes.

COSTELLO: The Sony Playstation you came up with as a great buy.

ZWAJINSKI: Yes. The PSP, which is the mobile Playstation, is really great, especially, you know, the X-Box 360 already having technical problems. A great alternative is to go with the PSP, which has been really great for the past year. It lets kids take games, movies on the go. There's a 4.3-inch-wide screen.

COSTELLO: Wow!

ZWAJINSKI: So, you know, you feel like you're at home watching a movie if you want to watch a movie.

COSTELLO: Yes. And that will keep the kids quiet for a long time.

ZWAJINSKI: Exactly.

COSTELLO: OK. The -- is it the Archos AV-7000?

Yes. That is a good substitute for the iPod video. We really like the Archos, because it lets you take movies and television from your TV and put it on the video player. So, you're not stuck to whatever iTunes store has with its video. You know, right now the iTunes store only has "Lost" and "Desperate Housewives." And so, you know, if you want to watch something else, if you want to watch DAYBREAK on the way to, you know, school or to the train, you can copy it all onto the Archos and watch it on the train.

COSTELLO: That's terrific. So, how much is that?

ZWAJINSKI: That's $800.

COSTELLO: Whew!

ZWAJINSKI: That's a big, big...

COSTELLO: You'd have to really, really like your loved one.

ZWAJINSKI: Yes.

COSTELLO: They would have to be really, really good.

ZWAJINSKI: Yes. You need a kid with straight A's to get that.

COSTELLO: Definitely so. Sonja, thank you so much for coming in so early from "Wired" magazine.

ZWAJINSKI: Thank you so much for having me.

COSTELLO: Thanks so much.

ZWAJINSKI: Thank you.

COSTELLO: Rabid shoppers are packing into crowded stores. We've been talking about that all morning long. But, man, it can cause tempers to flare. You will not believe what happened at a Wal-Mart this morning.

CNN affiliate WFTV has the story from Orlando.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: People are fighting, you know, are pulling, you know, the boxes from other people's hands and start fighting over there. It's crazy.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: All of a sudden everyone just started pushing each other and carrying and, I mean, yelling and screaming.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We were getting out of there.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was absolute pandemonium inside there. And they were throwing these laptops in the air, 20 feet in the air, and people were collapsing on each other to grab them. It was ridiculous.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Jacqui...

JACQUI JERAS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Wow!

COSTELLO: ... this is unbelievable.

JERAS: Unbelievable.

COSTELLO: You know, it was...

JERAS: And how many dollars are you really saving?

COSTELLO: But, you know, it was bound to happen with all of those people. There are going to be a couple of bad apples somewhere, right?

JERAS: Yes. And, you know, I got an e-mail from somebody that said there were only, like, a handful of computers, and that was the big thing that everybody wanted. Like, hundreds of people were there wanting the same thing. So, everybody was kind of fighting over them.

COSTELLO: You know, that's something to keep in mind, because when those X-Box 360s went on sale, they only put so many in the stores. And you know it was on purpose. JERAS: Right.

COSTELLO: So then all of those people wait in line...

JERAS: For one item.

COSTELLO: ... and their frustration level would be very high.

JERAS: Yes. And plus, you didn't have a lot of sleep probably if you were waiting in line for hours, too. That can make a lot of people a little on the grumpy side.

COSTELLO: Unbelievable. Unbelievable. So, man, have some patience this morning.

JERAS: I know.

COSTELLO: Your news, money, weather and sports. It's 6:46 Eastern. Here's what's all new this morning.

This is Black Friday, the day retailers hope to move their bottom line into the black. Many department stores are already open and, as we have been telling you, doing a brisk business.

In money news, the European Union is getting rid of sugar subsidies that could cost hundreds of thousands of farmers their jobs. The new trade deal means sugar prices in Europe will fall by a third.

In 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, 30 percent of professional hockey players use steroids. Thirty percent! That's what the president of the World Anti-Doping Agency says. But NHL officials say the statement has no basis. In fact, NHL players are subject to a 20-game suspension for their first positive drug test and a lifetime ban after the third.

To the forecast center now.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: Still to come on DAYBREAK, we will announce our final coffee cup winner. Can you believe it? Our final DAYBREAK mug winner coming your way next.

JERAS: I know. Collector items.

COSTELLO: Yes. As one viewer e-mailed this morning, may the DAYBREAK mug rest in peace.

And we'll tell you why this man had to have his turkey specially delivered.

But first, it's time to say happy birthday. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Welcome back. It's 6:51 Eastern. Here is what will be making news today.

Boston Archbishop Sean O'Malley is calling for an end to prejudice against gays. He sent letters to nearly 300 parishes in his archdiocese saying he doesn't want gays to feel like the church discriminates against them despite its opposition to same-sex marriage.

Thanksgiving dinner was hoisted up to a man who is living atop a billboard in South Carolina to raise money for the children of fallen soldiers in Iraq. The advertiser will pay Jamie King (ph) a million dollars if he stays up there for 30 days. He says half of it will go to the Children's College Education.

And shoppers are out this morning for Black Friday, one of the biggest shopping days of the year. It's called Black Friday, as you know, because it's the day retailers hope to move out of the red and into the black.

Let's give away a DAYBREAK coffee mug for the final time.

JERAS: A hot commodity here, Carol. And a lot of people were asking on their Christmas wish, by the way, the thing they can't live without, a DAYBREAK coffee mug. Go figure.

So, let's find out who the lucky winner is today. And we'll give you the answers to the questions from Wednesday.

What's the nickname for one of the biggest days of online shopping? The answer is Cyber Monday. And it's right around the corner. And what are the names of the whale sharks at the Georgia Aquarium? I think Daniel Sieberg said it, like, 20 times.

COSTELLO: Exactly.

JERAS: So you shouldn't have missed this one. I think he might have known that were questions. Ralph and Norton.

And the winner is Ron Polinsky from Palmyra, Pennsylvania. And Ron says he watches DAYBREAK every morning while feeding 2-month-old twins.

COSTELLO: Yea, Ron!

JERAS: Ron, congratulations.

COSTELLO: Ron, it will be a collectors' item, because you win the very last DAYBREAK coffee mug. We're going to go out back and break the rest. Just, you know, in a ceremonial thing as an end to DAYBREAK.

JERAS: Just like you do on the bow of a ship, right?

COSTELLO: If you're planning to pull off the plastic today, stick around for "AMERICAN MORNING" before you hit the mall, Soledad.

S. O'BRIEN: Wait. Don't break them. Bring them by. I was going to ask you. I was going to grovel for a DAYBREAK mug as a commemorative. Do you have one?

COSTELLO: This one is cracked, so you really wouldn't want it.

S. O'BRIEN: Really?

COSTELLO: Yes.

S. O'BRIEN: Can I have another one? Don't break them.

COSTELLO: Yes, you can.

S. O'BRIEN: Oh, you're so sweet. Thank you.

COSTELLO: Sure.

S. O'BRIEN: Yes, we are talking about shopping, because, of course, it's the day after Thanksgiving, Black Friday. The season has officially begun, and the shoppers, as we've seen already -- I mean, look at some of these pictures. People are out in full force already.

But here is the question: How do you make sure that by the time you come back with all of those packages you haven't ruined your budget? We've got some really good tips this morning for budget- minded shoppers. That's ahead.

And a reminder again. On Monday, we start up a new time. "AMERICAN MORNING" comes to you live starting at 6:00 a.m. Eastern Time. There we are in that little graphic. Look at how cute the three of us look, Carol.

COSTELLO: I know. And Miles is...

S. O'BRIEN: We look lovely.

COSTELLO: Miles is one lucky man, isn't he?

S. O'BRIEN: A Miles sandwich, flanked by Carol and Soledad. He's back from his vacation on Monday by the way. I hope he had a nice time.

COSTELLO: Oh, we'll punish him then, yes. OK.

S. O'BRIEN: Get me two mugs, maybe one for me and Miles.

COSTELLO: Yes, OK. I'll bring them by.

S. O'BRIEN: It's a deal. Thank you.

COSTELLO: OK. We'll be back right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) COSTELLO: How can you say good-bye to so many dedicated people? I just really can't, because, you know, DAYBREAK is going to go away. This is our last day. The DAYBREAK team had crazy hours. Actually most of them came in at 10:00 at night. But they came to work passionate about their jobs. They became my second family, as you did. Your e-mails made my laugh. They made me think. And they taught me so much. I enjoyed my time with you.

But indulge me. I would like to honor my DAYBREAK team, because, hey, they deserve all of the credit they can get. So, let's take a look at the control room in Atlanta.

There they are. Rich, the TV, fastest fingers in the business. Mike Fleisch (ph), he is the best director period anywhere, and I mean that, Mike. I love you! Bryan Bell (ph), executive producer. He's coming up here to work on "AMERICAN MORNING" with me, and I could not be more happy. Angie, our 6:00 producer. She will take over a network some day. I know. I know. And Mara (ph), the only Valley Girl I know from New York. Very clever, creative.

Can we go on to the newsroom now in Atlanta, so we can take a picture of our writers? Because they don't get credit enough. They are so fantastic.

Brenda, our conscience. Diane, quiet but might. Doug, he thinks so much like me it's scary. Jim, Mr. I've been around so don't mess with me. We like that attitude, because it's passionate and strong. And Boscar (ph), so smart and so creative with words. Oh, Joe. Joe, a wonderful southern gentleman with a wicked sense of humor. Oh, my gosh, I'm just -- Joe is also going to work on "AMERICAN MORNING."

Our senior copy editor is not here, John Dedakus (ph). But we nicknamed him "Satan." Need we say more?

Let's take a shot of our studio here in New York to thank all of the crew. Jay and Mike and Don and Rob and Chad is standing over there.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Come on in, Chad.

COSTELLO: I mean, these guys make my morning every single morning, because they bring a smile to my face. And actually Rob always went to get me coffee. And Jay...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE).

COSTELLO: Jay, you're better than Steven Tiles (ph).

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK.

COSTELLO: Yes, exactly.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's been a pleasure.

COSTELLO: I know I'm forgetting someone, but I'm running out of time. Our copy editors are Mary and Margie, too. Wonderful people. And they're all going to stay in the CNN family. And what more can I say?

"AMERICAN MORNING" will start at 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., and I will be part of that program. And thanks to all of you wonderful viewers sending wonderful e-mails this morning. They certainly make my job worth it.

Have a great day.

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