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Tour Boat Sinking off Antarctica; Discounts & Door-Busters: Holiday Shopping Rush is On; Racial Profiling? Congressman Accuses Police
Aired November 23, 2007 - 09:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, everyone. You are in the CNN NEWSROOM.
I'm Tony Harris.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Betty Nguyen. Heidi is off today.
Watch events come into the NEWSROOM live on this Friday morning. It is November 23rd.
Are you shopping? Because that's what's on the rundown.
HARRIS: Yes.
NGUYEN: They've had the meal. Now they are hungry for the deal. Early morning shoppers scramble for holiday bargains.
HARRIS: You know, they went to see penguins and they came close to swimming with them. A tour boat sinking today off Antarctica.
NGUYEN: Tasered over a speeding ticket. The driver in this alarming vehicle talks to CNN this morning.
The interview -- in the NEWSROOM.
HARRIS: Oh, the best way to imagine this, think Titanic. A cruise liner hits an iceberg, but all passengers and crew on this boat, The Explorer, are safe. All this going down near Antarctica this morning.
Emily Chang is in London with the latest.
Emily, good morning.
EMILY CHANG, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Tony.
Well, right now, this ship, The MS Explorer, is still stranded in the middle of the an Antarctic Ocean. We're told that it's taking on water very quickly and it is in danger of sinking.
Now, early this morning it's believed the ship hit an iceberg. It punched a hole in the side of the ship the size of a fist.
Now, there were a hundred passengers and 54 crew members on board. Everyone was evacuated very quickly on to life boats. However, the captain and the first mate remained on board to maintain communications.
Now, this ship was on an Antarctica tour. There were people of all nationalities onboard, including 14 Americans.
As soon as it went down, five other vessels in the area were diverted to the scene. The first vessel to get there was a Norwegian Nord Norge.
Now, at this point, all passengers have been transported safely on to the Norwegian Nord Norge. The Norwegian Nord Norge is now on its way towards King George Island. That is the closest land mass to where this happened. Once the passengers get to King George Island, they will be transported to Chile, and presumably arrangements will be made for them to go home.
Now, I should add that air temperatures in the area 23 degrees Fahrenheit, water temperatures 30 degrees Fahrenheit. So it is brutally cold down there, but, luckily, no injuries at this point and everyone should get home safely -- Tony.
HARRIS: So, Emily, if you would, again, I think I heard you -- I'm not sure if I heard you correct here. The hole created by this iceberg was the size of a what?
CHANG: Size of a fist. And it began taking on water very quickly.
The ship started to lean. And at this point -- initially it was said if was definitely going to sink. At this point they're saying it's expected to sink. But still stranded there in the middle of the Antarctica Ocean.
HARRIS: Well, that's amazing. I mean, here is a fist, and to think that a hole the size of a fist could do all that, it's amazing.
All right. Emily Chang for us this morning.
Emily, thank you.
And on the phone with us right now is Susan Hayes with GAP Adventures, the operator of the ship.
Susan, good morning to you.
SUSAN HAYES, GAP ADVENTURES: Good morning.
HARRIS: If you would, Susan, give us the very latest on the rescue effort right now. It sounds like at least all of your passengers are safe.
HAYES: All of the passengers are safe. And, you know, I mean, speaking about the ship, it didn't hit an iceberg. It hit some ice.
HARRIS: Oh. Well, what happened? Susan, take us back. Take us back. Tell us what happened.
HAYES: OK. I mean, most of the details that you've communicated are quite accurate, but the ship hit some ice. I mean, ice is everywhere down there.
This is -- it's important to note, this is the Antarctic summer, so it's -- there are ice slows (ph). But it didn't hit a huge iceberg -- a submerged piece of ice.
And so, you're right, there was a crack. And a hole ensued, and it was the size of a fist. But we had several hours while the pumps on the ship were pumping the water. So we actually had ample amount of time to do a very calm evacuation.
There was quite a bit of time. Everyone was well-dressed for the elements. I mean, of course, they were prepared because of the trip. And, you know, it happened at 3:20 Greenwich Mean Time, so we had a fair amount of time to make sure it was all -- it was all well handled.
HARRIS: Got you. Hey, Susan, at any point were any of your passengers in any real danger?
HAYES: No.
HARRIS: Not at all?
HAYES: Well, I mean, needless to say, this is not a situation that you would ever want to have happen, but the crew and the passengers reacted calmly and seemed to manage the process extremely well.
HARRIS: OK.
HAYES: I mean, it's not something you're going to want to do, and, you know, you go on a trip of a lifetime and you don't anticipate this. But, you know, they handled it the best way possible.
HARRIS: Well, Susan, if you would, explain this to me. I'm holding up my fist again, and it's - - you know, it's hard to imagine that a hole the size of a fist could eventually sink this ship. Talk to us about the process.
HAYES: And I guess that is probably the most important point to note, is that the ship hasn't sunk. We don't know that the ship is going to sink. It is listing at about 35 degrees, 35, 40 degrees at the moment. So it is leaning, and it slowly takes on water. I mean, the (INAUDIBLE) pumps deal with the water and dealt with it for a very long time, but this has been a slow process.
HARRIS: OK. Well, let me ask you something. Since it looks like the emergency is over, the passengers are safe, what are you going to do for them? Are you going to book them on another cruise?
HAYES: You know what? The first and foremost thing in my mind is making sure the passengers are safe and located to where they want to be me and that they're looked after.
HARRIS: Well, aren't they safe? Susan, aren't they safe?
HAYES: Absolutely, they are. So that was the first priority. The next priority is to figure out whether they're going to continue on with the Nord Norge -- which the other ship actually has ample space to accommodate our passengers, should they wish. They actually have enough cabins for everyone.
HARRIS: OK.
HAYES: So, should they wish to continue on, we're in discussions with the Nord Norge about all of those options now.
HARRIS: So you're not -- as we stand here today, just to wrap it up, you're not -- you're not expecting that the ship will sink, but it is listing and there is at least a chance that it might, but all of your passengers are safe?
HAYES: Absolutely.
HARRIS: Susan, thanks for your time this morning. We appreciate it.
HAYES: No problem. Have a good day. HARRIS: OK. You, too.
NGUYEN: Well, another big story today, door busters, super sales, midnight madness. The holiday shopping is on. For some the bargain hunting began in the dead of night.
Stores around the country offering expanded hours and deep discounts to lure shoppers. The day after Thanksgiving known as Black Friday. That's when retailers move out of the red and into the black. But will they be singing blues this year? And are early birds really getting a bargain?
Our team of intrepid reporters braving the malls and stores this morning. There they are.
Ali at Roosevelt Field Mall in Garden City, New York, with Santa. And T.J. Holmes at Wal- Mart, Wally World in Woodstock, Georgia.
Let's begin with Ali.
I hear you have a special guest...
HARRIS: There we go.
NGUYEN: ... and I'm sure that you have a few things on your list for him, Ali.
ALI VELSHI, CNN SR. BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: This is the real deal. You know, it's one of those things where people talk about this being the beginning of holiday shopping center (sic), but there's nothing that makes you feel more than the little pinch we've got in the air this morning. It's a little cool up here in Long Island, and Santa, who's with me.
Santa, good to see you. Welcome back to the season.
SANTA CLAUS: Well, thank you very much.
VELSHI: How is it looking? How is it looking? We've been talking about people being a little worried about this year, but it looks like this place is full of people.
CLAUS: Oh, it's full of people. The greatest people in the world here at Roosevelt Field. I just love them.
VELSHI: Now, tell me, what are people asking for these days? What is different? What are you hearing a lot of?
CLAUS: A lot of electronics. A lot of iPods, Wii. Of course the little ones still like the cars and the tractors and the trains.
VELSHI: Well, let me -- you know, Betty and Tony are back there in the studio in Atlanta. And, you know, I can't do this job today without trying to find stuff for them.
So let me say -- let's start with Tony. What do you suggest I get for Tony?
CLAUS: I have the perfect gift for Tony.
VELSHI: All right. Let's take a look.
NGUYEN: He has it.
HARRIS: Whoa! Whoa!
NGUYEN: How did he know?
VELSHI: Look at that.
HARRIS: Whoa! Santa, you are so...
VELSHI: A little tailor-made putter. What do you think of that? Do we got you covered?
HARRIS: Santa is so the man. You got me covered.
VELSHI: Santa's the man, Tony says.
All right, Tony.
We got Tony covered.
Santa, what do you think we should do for Betty?
NGUYEN: Hang on, Santa.
CLAUS: I got what Betty wants.
NGUYEN: Bring it on. I'm ready for it.
Right there!
VELSHI: Oh, look at that, a little iPod Nano!
NGUYEN: Loving that.
CLAUS: Merry Christmas, Betty.
NGUYEN: OK, but -- thank you, Santa, but my first choice was a Bentley Coupe.
HARRIS: Oh lord.
NGUYEN: Can you swing that? Can you make that happen?
VELSHI: Yes. Well, as Santa said -- her first choice was a Bentley, but as you said, people like the cars and they like the iPods, so we got you half of that here.
NGUYEN: All right. Thank you, Santa.
HARRIS: That's great.
NGUYEN: I have been a good girl though.
CLAUS: Have a good Christmas, Betty and Tony.
NGUYEN: Thank you.
VELSHI: Listen, it's looking good over here. People are -- we're getting a good start to it.
As Santa said, electronics are big this year. And I know T.J. has been hanging around all morning stacking up his cart with stuff like that. But we'll keep an eye over here and let me know how he is doing.
NGUYEN: All right, Ali. We'll get back to you.
Want to find out what is on your list, too, so Santa can deliver.
Hey, it is called Black Friday, but retailers hope to see green. In fact, a lot of people got up very early today to catch those sales, those critical year-end sales.
This day represents the day when merchants move into the black, representing profit. And it has evolved into this symbolic kickoff to the holiday season leading up to Christmas.
The year and holiday season can't account for as much as half -- or it can account for as much as half of retailers' sales and profits for the entire year. Now, the forecast for this year? It's a little lukewarm.
The National Retail Federation expects total holiday sales to grow 4 percent to $475 billion.
So let's see if people are spending that kind of cash today.
HARRIS: There you go.
NGUYEN: There is our guy. Not quite Santa, but he's been up early for those bargains this morning.
And I gave you quite a list, T.J. I hope you can deliver.
T.J. HOLMES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You know, what was that? Santa was giving you an iPod Nano? Is that right?
NGUYEN: Yes. It's nice, right?
HOLMES: OK. Santa doesn't know you like I know you, because I know what Betty wants for Christmas.
NGUYEN: Uh-oh. Jewelry, diamonds!
HARRIS: I love this.
(LAUGHTER)
NGUYEN: Nice.
HOLMES: That's what Betty wants. Santa distant know you like I know you, Betty.
NGUYEN: That's true.
HOLMES: Well, the diamonds -- diamonds, of course, are going to be popular around the holidays. But you're right, a lot of the electronics we've been hearing about, a lot of toys of course we're hearing about.
Let me show you what is going on at Wal-Mart here right now. You know, it's Black Friday. This is the big day, right? This is when everybody is supposed to be shopping.
Well, if you noticed like I'm noticing, the lines are pretty short right now. Not those long, long lines that have become synonymous with the holiday season. You don't see people streamed down and lined up.
Well, there's a very good reason for that. It's because all of the people who had the serious holiday shopping to do, they're back in bed right now, guys.
Those serious shoppers got here at 5:00 a.m. That's what happened today here at this Wal-Mart. I got here with them at 5:00 a.m. And I would love to be back in bed right now, but that's not an option.
But yes, the deals. And this is what happens -- Wal-Mart, 5:00 to 11:00 is when the hot, hot sales are. And everybody we talked to, sure enough, they said, yes, the reason we're here is because we're hear to save money.
Some people didn't even have specific items on their list that they needed to get. They just wanted to come in and they knew this was the day to save money.
Now, Wal-Mart is expecting another rush around 10:00 a.m. You know, folks who wanted to let their turkey digest a little more...
HARRIS: There you go.
HOLMES: ... didn't want to get up at 5:00 a.m. Yes, they do expect them to come back.
So we're going to be here with you, and little while later take you down some of the aisles and let you see some of the hot items, certainly the hot toys for the holiday season. But, yes, right now, it has died down.
Those serious shoppers, they know what they're doing. They got here right at 5:00 a.m. They picked up those DVD players that were inexpensive, those digital cameras. They picked up those flat screen TVs. They got that stuff.
So we're going to take you -- we have something we have today called our cart cam we've been using this morning, taking you shopping. We're going to you show you that.
And Betty, got you on the diamonds. All right?
NGUYEN: Yes. Can you pick up a few?
HARRIS: Oh my.
NGUYEN: Not just one. The largest ones would be preferred.
HOLMES: Again, Betty, it's you, of course!
NGUYEN: Let me ask you this, T.J.
Oh, you got a few elves there.
(CROSSTALK)
NGUYEN: But when it comes to those people who came out around 5:00 this morning, was it a mad dash? Because we've seen in the past wigs flying, people fighting. You didn't see any of that, or did you?
HOLMES: There were no wigs flying. There was no fighting, even though I got elbowed and bumped around a little bit because I wouldn't get out of people's way quick enough.
NGUYEN: Did you? Wow.
HOLMES: Again, I'm new to this. I don't know how it goes. Nobody is trying to be rude, they're just on a mission. And they know what they're doing and they're going after it.
Now, Wal-Mart did a good job this morning. They had people stationed in several locations to tell people exactly where they need to go.
People said, "Hey, where is that Elmo doll?" Hey, right there. "Where is that DVD player?" Hey, it's right there. So a lot of help in that regard.
It was very organized. People knew where they needed to go in the lines, and people have those strategies as well. Again, I'm new to this, but people -- I saw plenty of people in line with empty shopping carts. I'm like, what in the world are you doing?
They had a strategy. They got in line, they sent somebody else to go pick up the item, so they have their place in line.
NGUYEN: Oh, it was a tag team deal. Got you.
HOLMES: They've got strategy.
NGUYEN: That's smart.
HOLMES: So I learned all of these tricks this morning. It is very smart.
NGUYEN: Yes. I'm taking notes right now.
All right, T.J. We'll be checking in with you.
Want those diamonds.
HOLMES: See you again soon.
NGUYEN: Talk to you later. OK.
HOLMES: I know you do.
HARRIS: Taking notes. You're not doing your own shopping. You've got Santa...
NGUYEN: That's why I have T.J.
HARRIS: ... you've got T.J.
All right. We want to hear from you. What do you want this Christmas? What do you want for the holidays? Maybe a new Wii? Some diamonds? Lots of diamonds?
NGUYEN: A Bentley.
HARRIS: Maybe a Bentley Coup. E-mail us at cnnnewsroom@cnn.com and we will read some of your responses throughout the morning right here in the NEWSROOM.
NGUYEN: And don't say peace on Earth. As much as we all want it, just give us what you really want for Christmas. All right?
HARRIS: You want the real deal, right?
NGUYEN: Give us the real deal. Break it down for us.
(WEATHER REPORT)
(NEWSBREAK)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: Well, suspects, they're in court today. Will police reveal new evidence in Natalee Holloway's disappearance? We are live from Aruba. That's straight ahead.
HARRIS: Accusations of racial profiling. A black congressman challenging two white Chicago police officers over a traffic stop. He insists there was a bigger problem.
Illinois Representative Danny Davis live from Chicago.
Congressman Davis, good to talk to you. Thanks for your time this morning.
REP. DANNY DAVIS (D), ILLINOIS: Good morning. How are you doing?
HARRIS: Outstanding.
If you would, in brief, tell us what happened. There's a traffic stop. You're pulled over by two white officers.
Why were you pulled over?
DAVIS: Well, that's the question. I never could figure out any reason that I would have been pulled over.
(CROSSTALK)
HARRIS: Well, they gave you a reason, didn't they? Didn't they give you a reason?
DAVIS: Well, they said that I was weaving and that I drove left of center, but then, of course, I was not weaving and I was not driving left of center. And so I couldn't figure any reason to be stopped. All of the equipment on my car was working.
HARRIS: Yes.
DAVIS: I was not speeding or anything close to it. And I had to just ultimately figure out that there was some other reason that I was stopped beyond anything that...
HARRIS: How did you settle on racial profiling? Because you couldn't figure out another reason why you were stopped?
DAVIS: Well, I analyzed everything. I tried to rationalize everything. And I really couldn't come up with anything else.
There were four of us in the car. We were just simply four adults on our way home from a radio show. And no reason, there was no traffic on the street. We were the only people on the street visibly, and out of the clear blue, there's a traffic...
HARRIS: So you feel like you were pulled over for driving black, essentially?
DAVIS: That is correct. Absolutely.
HARRIS: You know, we almost -- in the black community we almost kid about that as being such a commonplace event, that it is something we almost kid about with one another. And I understand it's serious, but maybe you can help us here. So something like this happens to you. Did you identify yourself as a representative, as a U.S. representative?
DAVIS: At a point during the conversation, I did.
HARRIS: And why did you do that?
DAVIS: Why?
HARRIS: Yes.
DAVIS: Well, I was so astounded when the officers say, "You're driving left of center." And ultimately, he said, "I'm going to give you a ticket." I just couldn't believe it. I mean, I was dumbfounded.
HARRIS: I got you.
DAVIS: This can't be true.
HARRIS: I got you. But help us here. And maybe there is something we can all learn from your situation.
Now you have an opportunity, it seems to me, to guide everyone else that might find themselves in the same situation. What are you doing kind of proactively, A, I don't know, to reach out to the supervisors, the hierarchy of the Chicago Police Department to try to isolate the situation, draw attention to the situation, maybe more quietly than what you do here in talking to the nation about this? I'm just wondering if you're doing anything about it.
DAVIS: No, the first thing that I actually did, I drove to the police station, spoke with a supervisor, and shared with him what had happened. A very delightful gentleman, as a matter of fact.
He called the officers and asked them about the incident and tried to, you know, see whether or not there was an error, a mistake, or there could be some adjudication. And he indicated that they were adamant that I should receive a ticket.
HARRIS: Yes.
DAVIS: And I just couldn't believe it.
HARRIS: So what ultimately happens here? I mean, you go to court, right? That is what happens, and that is what happens to all of us.
DAVIS: Ultimately, I will go to court. I will contest the ticket. But in the meantime, I will have spent a great deal of time dealing with the issue that was unnecessary.
HARRIS: OK. Congressman...
DAVIS: And also...
HARRIS: Yes?
DAVIS: ... I discovered that there is just a tremendous amount of animosity, especially in the African-American community relative to the police. I mean, I went to a meeting the next night where people were discussing a shooting that had occurred...
HARRIS: Yes.
DAVIS: ... and they were attacking the ministers who had called the meeting, and then they began to attack me and an alderman, Alderman Ed Smith (ph). We both were there at the same time.
HARRIS: Well, the Chicago Police Department...
DAVIS: As you know, this is out of hand.
HARRIS: Yes. The Chicago Police Department had a statement about this incident with you. Writes this: "The Chicago Police Department does not encourage, tolerate or condone racial profiling of any level. Congressman Davis was stopped on probable cause and issued a citation for violating a traffic law. We assure the congressman that any allegations of racial profiling will be thoroughly investigated, and the Chicago Police Department remains committed to enforcing the law fairly and without bias."
Do you accept this at face value?
DAVIS: Well, I do -- I know that they are investigating it. I've spoken with an investigator and the investigation is moving along.
HARRIS: OK.
DAVIS: But I think it's important that it be investigated, but it's also important that we find a way to bridge some of the gulf, not a gap.
HARRIS: Yes.
DAVIS: It's a gulf that exists between the community and the police department.
HARRIS: And perhaps that is the best that can come out of you going public in this way with this.
DAVIS: That's my most fervent desire.
HARRIS: Yes. Congressman Davis, thanks for your time this morning. We appreciate it.
DAVIS: Absolutely. Thank you.
(NEWSBREAK)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: An early snowfall turning parts of the country into a winter wonderland this Thanksgiving week. Check it out.
Here's the scene in Abilene, Texas. Look at that. Up to four inches of snow blanketing the town. It was a real surprise, to say the least.
HARRIS: Texas, huh? NGUYEN: Yes.
HARRIS: Yes.
NGUYEN: This time of year? Because you know what, Tony? Temperatures have been unseasonably warm there all month long, and, boom, there you go, Thanksgiving. Something to be thankful for, a little bit of snow. Eight inches in some parts of Texas.
Now to Chicago, also getting an early taste of winter. And today, it's the Northeast's turn. Snow is expected in parts of Ohio and New York.
HARRIS: You're from Texas, isn't that correct?
NGUYEN: I grew up in Texas.
HARRIS: OK. Picking up the pieces after a dangerous storm system sweeps through the Florida Panhandle. Look at this.
At least one suspected tornado damaged homes and businesses. The winds strong enough to tip over a trailer and rip bricks from the side of one home. Residents were still thankful though that no one was hurt.
When weather becomes the news, you have to know by now we'd love for you to send us an I- Report. Go to CNN.com and click on "I-Report," or type ireport@CNN.com into your cell phone. But as always, we remind you to be safe.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: And we are checking out the opening bell today. There you hear it ringing coming from Build a Bear Workshop.
HARRIS: They are great.
NGUYEN: There's a big guy there on your right. Let me give you a little bit about the numbers. Wednesday, the Dow closed down 211 points. NASDAQ closed down 3466. So, we'll see if today will mark an up day considering it is Black Friday and folks are heading to the malls. We'll keep on watching it for you.
In the meantime, though, a Florida grandmother with diabetes and heart problems fends off two armed men. It happened Thanksgiving Day in Naples, Florida. 77-year-old Marilyn Wilson's daughter calls her a feisty little lady and, yes, she was. Wilson was preparing a holiday dinner when two men knocked on her door. They were armed and tried to force her inside. Wilson's daughter is a sheriff to pick up the story from there.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) CHERYL HALL, VICTIM'S DAUGHTER: They shoved her into the house.
SHERIFF MIKE SCOTT, LEE COUNTY, FLORIDA: Threatened her with a gun. Pushed her backwards.
HALL: She was screaming and he told her, if she continue to scream, he was going to shoot her.
SCOTT: She actually pushed back a little bit herself.
HALL: When they told her that they we're going to shoot her, she said well, you're going to do it right here on the porch because I'm not going back in that house and I'm not going to stop screaming.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: That's how you do it, they say, you got to make noise. Well, the two men made off with Wilson's purse but the sheriff says they were caught just minutes later.
HARRIS: Shoppers gone wild. Holiday bargain hunters' line up before the sun comes up. Wow. We are hitting the malls, straight ahead in the newsroom.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: All right, a traffic ticket gets a man tasered? Now, he is talking to CNN. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is a potentially lethal weapon that was used on me over a trivial traffic violation.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: Shocked driver just ahead in the CNN NEWSROOM.
ANNOUNCER: This is CNN, the most trusted name in news. Now back to the NEWSROOM.
NGUYEN: Good morning. I hope you had a great Thanksgiving. Right now, you are in the CNN NEWSROOM. Hopefully, awake, too, after all that turkey. Good morning, everybody. I'm Betty Nguyen.
HARRIS: And good morning, everyone, I'm Tony Harris.
And busting through the doors in search of deals. Let's take a look at these pictures. Get out of my way! Get out of my way! The holiday shopping push is on. Some stores opened at midnight trying to lure shoppers with those deep discounts, those door buster deals. Is that what they call them?
NGUYEN: That's what they call them.
HARRIS: Door busters? NGUYEN: That's what they did.
HARRIS: There you go. The day after Thanksgiving known as Black Friday. That's when retailers move out of the red into the black. The holiday shopping season can account for as much as half of the sales and profits for the year. For shoppers, it is all about finding bargains and having a good time.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is just a tradition for me and my mom. We do this every year.
QUESTION: Have you found that this year's any different from years past? The deal is about the same, the crowds about the same?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I don't think it's as crowded this year.
QUESTION: And why do you think that is?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I don't know. I don't know. Everybody decided to sleep in.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It gets crazier each year. Last year was insane.
Next year is going to be even crazier.
QUESTION: Are you having fun, right now?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. We're with a bunch of friends.
QUESTION: Would you do it next year?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: As of right now, yes. If I get punched in the face trying to grab a coat, then probably not.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: And that happens. Remember last year?
NGUYEN: Oh, yes and we have video coming up. You want to stay tune for this.
HARRIS: We do?
NGUYEN: Wigs flying, fist flying.
HARRIS: Wigs flying?
NGUYEN: Wigs! A lady lost her wig shopping, two years ago on this day.
HARRIS: So, here's the deal. As the retail analysts predicting only lukewarm increases in sales this year. They expect sales to grow about 4 percent. NGUYEN: Well, a lot of people did stand in line out in the cold, some in the rain, snow. Bonnie Schneider is watching the weather out there. And we got quite a mixed bag, don't we?
(WEATHER REPORT)
HARRIS: So, once again, if you're hitting the roads, flying the skies, we love what our friends at cnn.com are doing. Check out our special report holiday travel. And get an online travel kit with tips on how to get where you're going, plus, if you would, we love this, particularly when the trip starts to go sideways, send us an I-report showing us your travel experience so far.
NGUYEN: Daddy, how much further?
HARRIS: Are we there yet? That and more at cnn.com/holidaytravel.
NGUYEN: Take you to Aruba now. Two brothers appearing before a judge today in the Natalee Holloway case. There among three suspects who had been re-arrested. Prosecutors say they have new evidence, more than two years after the Alabama teen vanished. CNN's Susan Candiotti now in Aruba.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Behind closed doors. The suspects are expected to learn why investigators have rounded them up again. They, along with a judge and defense attorneys will hear the prosecutor lay out what he calls new incriminating evidence. Natalee Holloway's parents had been through this before. Still, they hope to see some resolution.
DAVE HOLLOWAY, NATALEE HOLLOWAY'S FATHER: They've been investigated for the last 2 1/2 years and hopefully with what they say that they have, this new evidence, maybe we'll finally get some answers.
CANDIOTTI: Joran Van der Sloot consistently has denied he has any clue about what happened to the high school grad who was last seen leaving the bar with him and two of his friends. He claimed he left her at a beach but sources say the three boys gave conflicting stories. His lawyer says he is willing to cooperate but terribly upset.
LEON VAN DEN EEDEN, VAN DER SLOOT'S ATTORNEY: Very emotional. Because, perhaps, can you imagine that this young guy has come over in a lot of things in the last year.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: And Susan Candiotti joins us live now. OK, Susan, the appearance before a judge today is for the Kalpoe brothers. So, when does Joran Van der Sloot arrive from the Netherlands?
CANDIOTTI: Well, he is under police escort. Good morning, Betty, from the Netherlands. And he is expected to arrive back here in Aruba. Remember, he was extradited from the Netherlands. And he will be arriving later today. He is not likely to appear before a judge until Monday. That's the latest word we have from prosecutors. And these appearances today, before the judge aren't happening in a courtroom.
The Kalpoe brothers are in jail. Van der Sloot also will be in jail and appear before this judge. What the prosecutors are asking for, is at least eight more days to allow them to continue their questioning. And the judge must decide whether there is enough new evidence to hold on to these people behind bars so that authorities can continue their investigation. We don't know, whether this is technical new evidence, new physical evidence, or might include information from new witnesses, possibly.
NGUYEN: Well, let me ask you this. When it comes to this investigation, Natalee Holloway's father, in fact, plans to search the water again. Do you know? Is there something new that he has learned?
CANDIOTTI: Well, there had been some reports that he had some new information from police, but we understand from a spokesperson for Beth Holloway, Natalee's mother, that there doesn't appear to be any new information but instead they're conducting a new search or plan to because of a benefactor that is helping them out with some additional sonar equipment to allow them to go back out into the water and search again.
They're not exactly sure when this is going to happen. It could be sometime from now because the boat leaving from the United States hasn't even left yet.
NGUYEN: All right, CNN's Susan Candiotti joining us live from Aruba today. Susan, thank you.
HARRIS: A taser that take off and now talking. Millions of you seen it on YouTube. A Utah man tasered over a speeding ticket. Now, he is speaking out about it on CNN. Jared Massey, look at this. He just falls. Made a public request of records for the dash cam video. He says, a state trooper told him to step out of his car when he refused to sign the ticket. Then, the officer pulled out the stun gun.
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JARED MASSEY, TASERED BY UTAH STATE PROPER: You got to realize at the time, I thought it was a gun. I was scared to death. I was scared for my life. I had my 6 1/2-month pregnant wife in the car, 15-month- old baby. You know, those panic thoughts start going through my mind. What's going to happen to me, what's going to happen to them? I really thought that this cop would shoot to harm me.
JEFF NIGBUR, UTAH STATE HIGHWAY PATROL: I think there was a lot of, I would even go as far as saying a little bit of ego involved on both sides, and you know, we want to look at this, every taser deployment, at least from our troopers or the highway patrol is a serious matter and we look into each and every one of those.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: Well, that police spokesman says, the official investigation has been, quote, "Expedited since the YouTube posting."
NGUYEN: All right, smokers listen up. A drug that is supposed to help you quit is raising some questions. Could it also cause suicidal thoughts? Our Elizabeth Cohen is here to tell us about this new warning that's coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: All right, a popular drug helps smokers quit but now there is some new concern. Can the drug lead to suicidal thoughts? Medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen is here to talk about this. I mean, trying to quit smoking already will drive you crazy, but suicidal thoughts?
ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Right, exactly. But they're having trouble figuring out if this drug really is causing these problems. But the FDA has received reports from about a hundred people where apparently the reports say that it can cause, that they were experiencing suicidal thoughts, erratic behavior, depression, aggression. There's also some of these reports coming out of Europe. But when people quit smoking that can cause...
NGUYEN: (INAUDIBLE), yes.
COHEN: So, it's unclear whether it's the drug or the fact that these people are quitting smoking. So, they need to investigate that and that is what they are doing now.
NGUYEN: Well, all right but doesn't this big drug companies, don't they do these types of tests before that drug is on the market? This has been out there for a little while.
COHEN: Right. It's been out there a while. But, here's the issue. When you test a drug, you're testing it on, say thousands or maybe tens of thousands of peoples. But then, when you put it on the market, millions of people start to use it. So, there may be some rare side effects that are going to show up when you have millions of people using it, that you just didn't see when you used it on a smaller group.
NGUYEN: All right. So, the drug is called Chantix, right?
COHEN: Yes.
NGUYEN: Can you just use a different type of drug or is there something special about this drug.
COHEN: Well, if someone is really concern. Like, if you hear these reports and you think that you've been showing this erratic behavior or you've notice that you maybe had suicidal thoughts, you should definitely go to your doctor and see if something else that maybe you can use. It's definitely worth asking your doctor about. So, that's what you can do. There are other drugs that you can use to quit smoking. Now, this one is sort of unusual. It works on the brain in a different way. So, some of the questions are, well, gosh, maybe that's why it is possibly causing these behavior problems because it works on the brain in a very specific way.
NGUYEN: Got you. OK, Elizabeth Cohen, thanks for breaking it down for us. We appreciate it.
HARRIS: And still in the NEWSROOM this morning. One man just wouldn't believe it until...
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think I'll go home and put my cat inside.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: A bear moves in. Yes. Will doughnuts get him out?
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NGUYEN: Well, they say the early bird gets the bargain. Shoppers are flocking to stores and malls all across the nation. The holiday rush is on. So, what are they buying? Well, you'll find out ahead.
HARRIS: And we've got these new pictures in to CNN. Well, this still pictures, maybe from I-reporters. Maybe from, they're aerial pictures so that would pretty much rule that out. This is that ship that we've been telling you about throughout the morning here sinking apparently as we speak.
NGUYEN: These are the life boats.
HARRIS: These are the life boats. OK, great. Sinking off Antarctica. And at last report, we talk to a spokes woman from the company that sponsors the tours. More than 150 people have made it off of that ship safely. So, everyone seems to be OK at this point. This is the "Explorer" is the actual vessel, the cruise ship that we're talking about here. But as you can see, these are the pictures of lifeboats that we're used to get those people ferried them off that boat and to safety.
NGUYEN: Yes. They're headed to King Georgia Island right now. And you know, this is a dangerous situation at the time. Not only was the "Explorer" taking on water, it's listing at around 40 degrees right now. But, when we talk about the temperatures outside, it was 23 degrees Fahrenheit. The water is about freezing at 30 degrees. So, they need to get them off quickly. And you know, the spokesperson says she is not sure if the boat is going to actually sink but it's not looking so good at this point.
HARRIS: Well, it's interesting. We were talking earlier. The hole, it hit ice. I mean, that's the reality of it. And we heard the spokesperson disputing the notion that it hit an iceberg but just ice floes. And that the hole, in the hull was the size of a fist.
NGUYEN: Which doesn't sound very big.
HARRIS: Yes. The pumps are working the best they could, to get the water off. But we will continue to watch the situation and get you the latest information, more pictures as we get them right here in the NEWSROOM.
You know, we have seen dogs chase cars. How about a 550-pound lion? This king of the jungle took on several cars on a highway in central Ohio.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
911 OPERATOR: Pike County 911.
CALLER: I'm on 23 and there's a lion in the road.
911 Operator: A lion?
CALLER: It's a lion. Like, it almost hit my car.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: Oh, man. So, the lion's owner coaxed the big cat home. By the way, Lambert, the lion, is OK.
NGUYEN: Lambert?
HARRIS: Yes, the lion is OK. He apparently escaped through the top of his pen. And wild animal problem in an Orlando neighborhood to tell you about, but it's not alligators this time. Have a look. We're talking bears. This one in some woods in college park. That's near interstate 4. Man, look at the eyes. Night vision. State wildlife workers are trying to catch the bear and move it elsewhere. They fear it could run across the interstate and cause a real bad traffic accident. Bear sightings in Florida have been on the rise in recent years.
NGUYEN: Yes, that would lead a dent, don't you think?
Well, they owe him $15 and instead this is what he got.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: $2.4 -- yes, 200 hundred -- I can't say it it's so much.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: That would be 2 million and some change. Did he or didn't he?
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NGUYEN: You know, she is a real life saver on Thanksgiving. Helping us to cook that turkey just right but being the nice voice at the other end of the Butterball turkey hotline is a second career for a woman who has made food, well, her life. Here is CNN's Ali Velshi with today's "Life After Work."
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ALI VELSHI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's the holidays and you forgot to defrost the turkey in advance. Who can you turn to for help? Meet retired food writer Dorothy Jones.
DOROTHY JONES, BUTTERBALL TURKEY TALKLINE: Butterball turkey talk line, "How can I help?"
VELSHI: One of 55 turkey gurus working at Butterball's hotline in a Chicago suburb.
JONES: I'm a home economist, and therefore, I'm a turkey expert, having gone through training all these many years. I love being on the Butterball Turkey Talkline and helping people. It's a very gratifying job.
VELSHI: It all started back in 1985 with a help wanted ad she spotted.
JONES: I did see this little paragraph about the need for people to work on the Butterball Turkey Talkline. Having been a food editor, it was seemed like a natural thing to transition to.
VELSHI: Dorothy spent 10 years writing features for Chicago area newspapers before taking time off to raise a family. Once her children were older, she decided to take on a part time job and she's been solving the nations turkey crisis ever since.
JONES: We switched on the lights on November 1st and we go now all the through the end of the week after Christmas. You're trying to help as many people as you can in the country. And people do call back the day after and for a couple days to tell, you know this is the best advice I've ever got.
I don't know in this period of time, November, December, if you have any other place you can get that gratification.
VELSHI: Ali Velshi, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: Good morning, everybody. I'm Betty Nguyen. Heidi is off today.
HARRIS: And I'm Tony Harris. Stay informed all day in the CNN NEWSROOM. Here's what's on the rundown.
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