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Shooting Near Youngstown State University Kills One, Wounds Eleven; Egyptian Vice President Meets With Opposition Leaders; Egyptian Army Fires Warning Shots in Tahrir Square; Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright Says Mubarak Era Over; Espionage Trial of Three American Hikers Begins in Iran
Aired February 06, 2011 - 17:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, everyone. I'm Fredricka Whitfield, you're in the CNN NEWSROOM. Lots of developments to tell you about this afternoon. Let's get straight to it.
A fatal shooting near Youngstown State University in Ohio. A 25-year- old YSU student is dead, 11 other people were wounded, 6 of them students. Three of them remain in a hospital, and one in critical condition.
It happened shortly after midnight. Police say shots were fired indiscriminately at a house where members of a fraternity were having a party. Arrest warrants are expected later on.
And bursts of gunfire, earlier, in the heart of Egypt's capital. Now, relative calm. Hundreds of protesters are making their stand, demanding President Hosni Mubarak step down. Today, Egypt's vice president met with key opposition groups. Our Hala Gorani joins us, now, from Cairo.
All right, so who met with the vice president, Suleiman?
HALA GORANI, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, you had representatives of the biggest and most organized opposition group, the Muslim Brotherhood. They had previously said that they would not meet with the government. They did.
However, they nuanced their participation by saying it was exploratory and not full negotiation mode for the Muslim Brotherhood. There was also the Wise Men Council representatives, they were present, and also representatives of youth groups.
However, this is all really adding a layer of complexity to the situation rather than clarifying the course ahead, because some of the protesters in Tahrir Square said they were not represented. Mohamed ElBaradei, for instance, a leading opposition figure, was not present. Amr Moussa, the secretary-general of the Arab League was not present, although I understand he did speak with members of the government yesterday.
So, this is the latest, really, in terms of the meeting. Now, what was discussed is the course ahead. How do we get to September and organize free and fair elections in Egypt? Well, there's been some disappointment with what was -- with what came out --
(AUDIO GAP)
GORANI: Meeting, Fredricka. Many saying that what was announced, what was presented as the way ahead is nothing new, and there have been no promises and, certainly, no timetable. So, it's a question of seeing what happens with these discussions going forward and whether they manage to appease demonstrators, many of whom are still in Tahrir Square today, Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right. And all that taking place with the backdrop of people still turning out to Tahrir Square. And I understand there was some gunfire that was heard. Explain what happened.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(GUN SHOTS)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Well, whenever there is a burst of automatic gunfire in Tahrir Square -- and I believe you can see and hear it there on your screens -- there is always concern, especially after several days of violence this week on Wednesday and Thursday.
It turns out, based on testimony from many witnesses, that the military broke up a crowd of people who were trying to remove barbed wire from around a tank in order to form a human chain. Nobody got hurt, as far as we know.
But again, this underscores the very high level of tension, here. And a situation, a political situation that is still deadlocked. Many people still very disappointed that President Hosni Mubarak says he will remain in power until September. And as we saw this week, Fredricka, things can very much turn on a dime in this country in the current climate.
WHITFIELD: Hala Gorani, thanks so much, from Cairo. Appreciate that update.
Meantime, a former US Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright, tells CNN that these groups need to reach a, quote, "inclusive and peaceful transition before extremist groups take control of the country."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MADELEINE ALBRIGHT, FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE: I think that there is never an indispensable leader. I think that there is a time, with dignity, that one needs to leave. But it is not -- they have to make the decision there.
I think that the Mubarak era, my own personal opinion, is the Mubarak era is over. And the question is, how to have a process that really works properly that allows these various voices to come together and not disagree on some of the tactical aspects.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: Albright added the US cannot micromanage the process in Egypt, but the Obama administration, in her view, needs to make its goals clear.
All right, so what happens in the coming months will shape the way the US military deals with a post-Mubarak Egypt. This is a country that gets more than a billion US dollars for its armed forces. Pentagon Correspondent Chris Lawrence with us now from Washington.
So, Chris, what exactly is being weighed?
CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, at its base level, Fredricka, it's what about this $1.3 billion. That's what the US gave to Egypt last year. That's how much the Obama administration has requested for this year to give to Egypt in military aid.
We're talking about co-producing more than a thousand Abrams tanks, hundreds of F-16 fighter jets. Coming up later this year, the Egyptian military is scheduled to take delivery on coastal patrol crafts, surveillance drones, air defense missiles. It runs the gamut. In fact, one congressional report seems to estimate that up to 80 percent of Egypt's arsenal is paid for by this American aid.
WHITFIELD: And so, depending on the leadership in Egypt, if there is, indeed, a decision made by the US to trim the amount of money that's given, or cut it off completely, what would be the criteria that's being weighed.
LAWRENCE: Well, the tricky thing about cutting aid is not so easy in that, there is about a billion dollars, it's a lot of money, and technically the US gives it to Egypt. But really, a lot of that money is spent by American defense contractors, which means American companies building these weapons that the US government pays for to get -- to then give to Egypt.
So, take for example, just in the last year alone, it meant $200 million to defense companies in Texas, another $50 million each to Florida and Pennsylvania. Another $25 million to Missouri and Arizona. So, you're talking about American companies at stake, here, and the fact that, no matter who is in charge of the Egyptian government, a lot of people feel that the Egyptian military is still going to play a huge part.
And that's what we're talking about, here. Military aid from the US to the Egyptian military. It is that billion dollars that sort of buys the US a seat at the table with the Egyptian military. Fred?
WHITFIELD: Chris Lawrence in Washington, thanks so much. Appreciate that.
LAWRENCE: Yes.
WHITFIELD: The trial of three American hikers accused of spying is underway in Iran, and one of them, Sarah Shourd, was released on bail last September because of a medical condition. Well, she left Iran and has not returned. Authorities in Tehran say Shourd will be tried in absentia if she does not appear in court there. The three were arrested in July 2009 after they allegedly crossed into Iran while hiking in a remote region in Iraq.
Last week's blizzard in the Midwest and Northeast is still causing some pretty serious problems. At Indianapolis International Airport, just too much snow and ice on a canopy there. It actually collapsed late last night, damaging some rental cars. The canopy is at the airport's parking garage.
Another collapse in Oklahoma. The roof of a department store in Broken Arrow came crashing down last night. Authorities think a buildup of snow there may have been a factor, as well. No word on any injuries.
Well, we're seeing that a lot this winter. Bonnie Schneider in the Weather Center. We know that ice came crashing off the dome there in Arlington, Texas -- less than 24 hours before the kickoff.
BONNIE SCHNEIDER, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Right. And there were several roof collapses in Massachusetts due to heavy snow. When you have 20 inches of snow and bitterly cold temperatures, the snow doesn't melt and, unfortunately, it really can weight, especially on a flat roof.
Let's talk a little bit about the weather, right now, in Texas, since that's where a lot of our focus is because of the Super Bowl. There was a little bit of shower activity coming through the Dallas area, but I have to tell you, most of it will be light, and it will be short-lived. We're not expecting heavy downpours.
Right now, the temperature's a comfortable 50, 51 degrees. It will be getting colder later on tonight, certainly. You can see some of that snow, though, where the temperatures are cold enough, and that's back out towards areas of west Texas.
Our i-Reporters have been capturing the snow. Friday was such a treacherous day out there. Let's take a look at an i-Report in Dallas to show you that snow is melting. This i-Report is from Sandra Kent, and that's what she wanted to show, that you can see that melting on the rooftop, which is always good to see. Unfortunately, the people in the Midwest and the Northeast would love to see that, I think, but it is looking a lot brighter there.
What's also interesting is that in just a couple days, another arctic blast is coming down. We may see more snow for Dallas. But we'll get to that in a moment.
First, the game forecast. Mostly cloudy, the chance of a shower will be brief. Temperatures will get colder, certainly, and drop down into the upper 30s.
Let's take a look at the big picture, now. And I can show you our computer models, you can see that most of the rain stays to the south of the city, it just pops up a little bit intermittently, but not causing too much of a problem. And lot of that rain and even some wintery weather is headed to places like Memphis overnight, tonight. The South just not catching a break with all this wintry weather.
So, the Super Bowl forecast once again is looking good, with temperatures in the upper 30s, so we can look forward to some nicer weather.
Well, unfortunately for the Midwest, there's some more snow coming down, but this is nothing like the storm that worked its way through earlier in the week. Milwaukee and Chicago getting a light a dusting of snow, one to two inches. And it is working its way through Detroit, another city that got hammered with the storm.
With all this snow out there, though, it is impacting travel. So we have one airport delay to tell you about, and that is in Chicago once again. Only 35 minutes, a lot better than what we saw earlier on.
All right, well, here's the setup for the week. The arctic air is back. Winter is not over yet. So it's going to get a lot colder in the South and in the East. This air is going to get pretty far south, so we'll see temperatures getting much colder in Alabama, in Georgia, and South Carolina. And there is a chance for a wintry mix into Tennessee, as well.
Watch as the system works its way to the north and east. It may bring some more wintery weather to areas as far north as Virginia but, so far, it's looking a little bit better for extreme areas of the northeast of the country, in the I-95 zone. But we're watching it because, like I said, winter isn't over yet, and we could still see one last storm.
But here's a positive note, Fredricka. Looking at the models for next week, everything changes, and it's going to warm up. We're going to see 60s and 70s --
WHITFIELD: Wow!
SCHNEIDER: In a lot of places that have been bitterly cold. So, if you just wait until, maybe, Valentine's Day, it'll get a lot better.
WHITFIELD: So, it heats up in many ways.
SCHNEIDER: Yes.
WHITFIELD: Around Valentine's. All right, thanks so much, Bonnie.
SCHNEIDER: Sure.
WHITFIELD: Appreciate that.
A split second changed a football dad's life forever and also turned him into a CNN hero. You're about to meet him, live.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: When money is tight, something has got to be cut. In education, that often means programs aimed at gifted students, and usually they're the first to go. CNN Education Contributor Steve Perry warns if gifted programs continue to be cut, we may all feel the consequences. It's part of his ongoing series, Perry's Principles.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
STEVE PERRY, CNN EDUCATION CONTRIBUTOR (voice-over): What do Lady Gaga and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerburg have in common? They're alums of the Center for Talented Youth. Known as CTY, the 32-year-old organization seeks out and identifies kids who are academically advanced.
PATRICIA WALLACE, CENTER FOR TALENTED YOUTH: Sometimes the teachers don't know who they are because they may be the ones who sit in the back of the room who become behavior problems because they're bored. And we start developing programs that really challenge them. We never underestimate them.
PERRY (voice-over): At Baltimore's Mount Washington Elementary School, gifted students are solving advanced math problems at their own pace. The CTY online program, which enrolled more than 10,000 students last year, offers a variety of courses where kids around the world interact with teachers through the internet.
PERRY (on camera): What happens to kids when they don't have this in the school?
WALLACE: It's very frustrating. They will never make it to the potential that they're capable of without help. It's like an athlete. What would've happened to our great football players if they didn't have a coach?
PERRY: You spend so much money on public education, and gifted and talented programs that are the first to be cut.
WALLACE: They are. Because of the No Child Left Behind legislation. It dis -- we collectively decided to put more of our resources into helping children who really needed a lot of help. But one of the costs for that was that we started to neglect the ones at the top. We're paying a price in losing these kids. The cure for cancer is in the minds of one of these students, and we're missing the boat if we don't nurture that talent.
PERRY (voice-over): Steve Perry, Baltimore.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: How is your career going? Are you where you want to be, or are you struggling? Our career coach will tell you what you should be doing to try and fix those wrongs.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Taking your career to the next level. In a moment, a look at what you need to know to try and get ahead. But first, a look at these top stories.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(GUN SHOTS)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: Gunfire erupts during Day 13 of protest in Egypt. The military fired warning shots to keep protesters from surrounding their positions in Tahrir Square. It's being called an isolated incident. Egypt's prime minister says the military has been told not to hamper human rights activists or journalists who are watching the demonstrations.
And a California company is recalling thousands of pounds of ground beef. There is some concern that the packaged beef and beef patties could be contaminated with the E. coli bacteria. Most of the meat has been shipped to restaurants across southern California. No reports yet of anyone getting sick.
And tributes honoring the life and legacy of the late president Ronald Reagan, today. This would have been his 100th birthday. The largest celebration was held at the newly-renovated Reagan Library in Simi Valley, California. Nancy Reagan was there for a wreath-laying ceremony in remembrance of her late husband.
It's natural to want to get ahead in your career, but are you? You could be sabotaging your own goals without even realizing it. But it's actually easy to fix, as our life coach, Valorie Burton, here with us. Good to see you.
VALORIE BURTON, AUTHOR, "WHAT'S REALLY HOLDING YOU BACK": Good to see you.
WHITFIELD: So, you say, first of all, you really kind of crystallize what your career vision is.
BURTON: Yes.
WHITFIELD: What is it that you want to do, where do you want to go?
BURTON: Yes, that's really huge. And I think one of the most important things we can do is to self-reflect. So, ask yourself some of those simple questions that a lot of times we don't bother to ask. And one of them is, what's your career vision?
And you want to also, along that vision, come up with what are some of the milestones, how are you going to know that you're making progress at each level?
WHITFIELD: All right. And then you say, you have to be willing, I guess, to travel. Or you have to be willing to get out of your comfort zone.
BURTON: Get out of your comfort zone. So the question really is, are you equipped to travel to your desired destination? So, you've got that vision. Do you have the experience? Do you have the contacts? Do you even know all the things you need in order to be equipped to get to that vision? And I have a mentor that told me once, "You think you know the things that you don't know, but you really don't." And so, sometimes we have to ask other people and get some of that feedback.
WHITFIELD: And if it's within the same company, you really need to know the kind of rules of engagement.
BURTON: That's right.
WHITFIELD: Understand the company that you're trying to --
BURTON: That's right.
WHITFIELD: Climb.
BURTON: Yes. So the question is, do you understand the rules at your company? So, you might work at a company where the culture is really all about teamwork, and you're an individual player. And so, your work might be really excellent, but because you're not fitting into that culture, you're not moving ahead as quickly as you would like.
WHITFIELD: Oh, my gosh. OK. And then, what will I do to strengthen my professional relationship?
BURTON: Yes.
WHITFIELD: A question you should ask yourself.
BURTON: Yes. That's really, really important, because relationships -- it's people that promote you along. It's people that give you opportunities. So you want to say, you know what? Am I easy to work with? Am I the person that solves problems rather than rehashing problems? So, really finding those ways to build relationships by being the person that people go to.
But then, you know what? This year, ask yourself, who is it that I would like to build a stronger relationship with? And then, start reaching out to those people.
WHITFIELD: All right. Well, hopefully, in this year of 2011, folks taking this advice and then ascending --
BURTON: That's right.
WHITFIELD: Throughout the year. All right, Valorie Burton, thanks so much. Good to see you.
BURTON: Thanks, Fred.
WHITFIELD: President Barack Obama talked to Bill O'Reilly today as part of the Super Bowl Pregame show. We'll tell you what was said, coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: The show of defiance continues in Egypt. Here's what we know. This is Cairo's Tahrir Square. CNN reporters heard several bursts of automatic gunfire there several hours ago. They were warning shots fired by Egyptian soldiers, but we're told it was an isolated incident.
And in a sign that some semblance of normalcy just might be returning, several Egyptian banks opened this morning. Most banks have been closed since anti-government protest began 13 days ago.
And Egypt's prime minister tells CNN that he's explicitly forbidden the -- has explicitly forbidden the arrest or harassment of journalists and human rights activists. He describes the situation in Cairo today as "extremely better" than yesterday.
We've talked to so many people this weekend about Egypt, not just CNN correspondents, but academics and analysts and Middle East experts and all lending their expertise to helping us get a better perspective of what's taking place there. Here's just a few of them that I spoke to over the weekend.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RASHA KAMHAWI, UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA PROFESSOR IN EGYPT: So, the vice president and the prime minister have assured in their interviews that foreign crews are welcome and there are orders to the military to make sure that they are safe.
However, down in Tahrir Square, the situation is a little bit different. Foreign reporters are welcomed by protesters, but still, it is very hard to get in the square with cameras or any kind of recording equipment.
MICHELLE DUNNE, SENIOR ASSOCIATE, CARNEGIE ENDOWMENT: There was a growing gap between Egyptian society, particularly between this younger element in Egyptian society and the Egyptian government, a widening gap. And I think it was only a matter of time until it broke wide open, and we saw that 12 days ago.
JON ALTERMAN, CENTER FOR STRATEGIC AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES: There are three really important things in terms of US security that go through Egypt. We use the Suez Canal, we use overflight, we send about a dozen ships a month through the Suez Canal. We also do a lot of counter-terrorism cooperation with the Egyptians, and Egypt helps with regional security vis-a-vis Israel.
If you lose all three, then the whole way the US thinks about the major security issues in the Middle East gets thrown into the air.
I think Israel has two concerns. One is the sort of sense that they haven't had to worry about their southern border, and if they have to start worrying about their southern border, they have to rethink their whole security strategy.
The other part of this is on a whole range of things, especially dealing with Hamas and Gaza. They have counted on very deep understandings with the Egyptians in terms of diplomacy with Hamas. CARRIE WICKHAM, PROFESSOR, EMORY UNIVERSITY: The Muslim Brotherhood started out as a group positioned outside the formal political order. It was founded in 1928, and it was committed to the comprehensive Islamic form of society and state.
The Brotherhood is taking a deliberately low-key role in this whole uprising and transition period. It wants, above all, for the transition to succeed.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: So many important points of view that were expressed this weekend from various experts on Egypt as well as the entire Middle East region.
Well, this is usually the time when we talk about heroes, and we've got a great one today. He's a dad in Texas who can't just sit in the stands and watch when young athletes are hurt playing the game he loves so much. But there's a deeply personal reason for it. Just watch.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(WHISTLE BLOWS)
(MARCHING BAND CADENCE PLAYS)
(CROWD CHEERS)
CHRIS CANALES, FORMER HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PLAYER: Growing up in Texas, football is very important. It's like a religion.
(CROWD CHEERS)
CANALES: You get the adrenaline going. You want to win.
(WHISTLE BLOWS)
EDDIE CANALES, FOUNDER, "GRIDIRON HEROES", CHRIS'S FATHER: It was senior night. Chris was having the game of his life.
CHRIS CANALES: It was the fourth quarter. I made a touchdown-saving tackle. I could hear my teammates saying, "Chris, come on, let's go." And I couldn't move.
EDDIE CANALES: You don't want to even think that your son may never walk again. That was a hard pill to swallow.
CHRIS CANALES: Around my one-year anniversary, I was going through a lot of depression.
EDDIE CANALES: I said, "Let's go to a football game."
(CROWD CHEERS)
EDDIE CANALES: We ended up watching another young man suffer a spinal chord injury. Chris, he turns to me, and he said, "Dad, we've got to go help him."
I'm Eddie Canales. My goal is to be there for young men that have suffered spinal cord injuries playing high school football.
CHRIS CANALES: We hear about an injury, we go to the family as soon as we can.
EDDIE CANALES: Since we've started, we've worked with 19 families just in the state of Texas. We help them with ramps in their homes, wheelchair-accessible vehicles.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We made room.
EDDIE CANALES: It's a very expensive injury. Someone injured on the professional level is going to be taken care of, but on a high school level, it's a totally different story. We wanted to make sure that these kids are not forgotten.
CHRIS CANALES: We're a band of brothers. Our biggest bond is football.
EDDIE CANALES: They were on the gridiron. But they've never quit. They've never given up. That's what keeps me pushing.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Eddie Canales is joining us now. So, we just watch this beautiful piece and all that you're doing for these 19 families in Texas, I imagine now that the demand is very great now that so many people across the country know that you exist.
How are you able to help so many?
E. CANALES: Well, just by having our name out there. You know, in front of people. What you're doing to help put our name out there creates awareness that, you know, what we're going to help these other athletes -- and we definitely know that there's a need for what we do. You know, one of the things that we need is to make sure that the football community is able to rally around this. So -- and, in our experience, these young men get a little bit of help the first six months to a year. After that, it dwindles down.
WHITFIELD: And what kind of help?
E. CANALES: Well, we help with a lot of the families in organizing the people that want to help the young men that have gone down with this type of injury. With the administrators of schools, rally them and try to kind of organize them on what to do to prepare for something like this when they get ready to come home.
But our goal is to make sure that they're not forgotten and that they fall in between the cracks. And so, to be able to do that, we need all those that are involved within the football community to get involved with this -- and yes, we have started receiving many calls from across the nation of other young men that do need help and that have felt forgotten. And that's something that we have to change. As big as football is across the state of Texas, and across this nation, just like today's game, millions of people will be viewing this game -- but if we could just get, you know, a little portion of something like that so that we can help these young men and be ready to help them when something like this happens, you know, it's just so important to make sure that they don't fall in between the cracks.
WHITFIELD: And just looking at their faces when they're at the football games -- clearly, they still love the sport, despite the injuries that have changed their lives, changed their family's lives. At the same time, do you kind of feel it's bittersweet for them to go to the game? Do they express to you any regrets of playing the sport or their concerns about the direction of the sport of football?
E. CANALES: Not a single one. If you ask any one of these young men if they would play all over again, even knowing that they could get hurt, every single one of them will tell you they would play all over again.
They all still have, you know, a love for the game. The game of football is the bond that all of our young men have right here, you know, especially here in the state of Texas. And for them to be able to go -- you know, you have to understand, they had aspirations maybe to play college ball or go to the next level. But some of these young men -- because those dreams were taken away -- the only way they go to a game now, to a college game, or, to a pro game, is to we're able to take them and provide an opportunity for them to still be involved in the game that they really love.
WHITFIELD: And how's your son Chris doing?
E. CANALES: Chris is doing well. He's doing very well. He's, you know, he's very positive about this.
And, you know, this injury, we could have gone one of two different ways and I'm so proud of what he has chosen. You know, basically, Chris has been the inspiration behind Gridiron Heroes and he was the one that wanted to go help the young men. At his worst time, at his lowest point, he was that one that wanted to go and help another young man when he saw him go down. And it just kind of clicked. And this is something that we felt that the Lord put in our heart to do to be there for other young men and other families when their lives have been changed so drastically.
WHITFIELD: Eddie Canales and the all best to Chris, as well -- and congratulations on the growing success out Gridiron Heroes.
CANALES: Thank you very much. Appreciate that.
WHITFIELD: And, of course, CNN wants to hear from you, as well at home. Who might be the hero in your community? Nominate him or her at CNNHeroes.com.
Snake on a train -- sounds familiar, doesn't it? Well, it's not movie. This is a very real story about a boa missing on a subway -- the dramatic conclusion, next. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: All right. The surprising results of a new survey on romantic relationships is straight ahead.
But, first, a look at these top stories:
Work began at Cairo's Egyptian museum today to restore artifacts damaged during anti-government protests. The work could take three weeks, among the artifacts damaged, items from King Tut's tomb.
An off-campus shooting near Youngstown University in Ohio has left a student dead and 11 others injured. It happened just after midnight. Police say shots were fired indiscriminately at a house where members of a fraternity were having a party. Arrest warrants are expected later on.
And flames light up the sky in Ohio after a train derailment. Twenty- eight tanker cars carrying ethanol ran off the tracks and caught fire. Twenty homes in the area were evacuated. No word of any injuries.
All right. Time to lighten things up a little bit with "The Chat Room." Bonnie Schneider and I at the sofa, giving ourself a little pop culture therapy.
BONNIE SCHNEIDER, AMS METEOROLOGIST: That's true. So comfortable here.
WHITFIELD: Yes. So, some interesting things happening, especially in the realm of relationships out there -- among the single folks out there as we lead up to Valentine's weekend.
SCHNEIDER: Right. It's a gender role reversal. A new survey shows men are becoming more like women. Women are becoming more like men with romance and relationships.
Five thousand men and women ages 21 and up were asked about their views on love, marriage and children. And their answer shows a big change, Fred.
WHITFIELD: All right. Fifty-four percent say that they have actually fallen in love at first sight, compared to women just 44 percent. I'm actually kind of surprised with that.
SCHNEIDER: I'm actually not surprised that --
WHITFIELD: Really?
SCHNEIDER: -- because they say men fall in love with their eyes. So, love at first sight.
WHITFIELD: OK.
SCHNEIDER: I like the way she looks. I'm in love.
WHITFIELD: All right. There we go. That explains it. All right. And then, among single people without, you know, any children, more men than women say that they actually want to have kids.
SCHNEIDER: That's interesting.
WHITFIELD: Yes. Twenty-four percent compared to 15 percent there.
SCHNEIDER: And when asked if personal space is important, only 58 percent of men said yes, compared to 77 percent of women. Women want their space.
WHITFIELD: Wow. Speaking of relationships, men and women, what about that Ken and Barbie? Look --
SCHNEIDER: Oh, boy.
WHITFIELD: You open up the magazines these days, celebrity kind of magazines, and this is what you're going to find. You're going to find an ad here saying that Ken wants his Barbie back. I never knew that they had split.
SCHNEIDER: They divorced in 2004 -- since I follow Barbie and Ken pop culture. They divorced and now just in time for Valentine's Day --
WHITFIELD: Yes?
SCHNEIDER: -- he wants to come back. But will Barbie take him back? That's the question, I think.
WHITFIELD: OK. What's this campaign all about my Mattel? This advertising campaign? Trying to get folks interested in Barbie and Ken in a whole new way? Trying to increase the sales?
SCHNEIDER: I think so. And also, you know, showing the romantic side in time for Valentine's Day that even Ken has a little pink heart on and wants his Barbie back. But I just want to know what's going to happen. We're going to see this campaign and -- well, it's going to be all over the place. I think it's funny that they described as a plastic couple.
WHITFIELD: Ah. Well, it's --
(CROSSTALK)
WHITFIELD: There's a Web site apparently, BarbieandKen.com. I mean, they're really going for the gusto here.
SCHNEIDER: Yes. He's on Twitter and he's everywhere, Ken.
WHITFIELD: OK.
SCHNEIDER: We'll see.
WHITFIELD: All right. What would you say if you're, you know, in a train and you suspect that something's kind of slithered by? You'd probably hit the roof, right? Or jump out of the train.
SCHNEIDER: This is right out of a movie. It really is.
WHITFIELD: Yes. Not "Snakes on the Plane" but snakes on the train.
SCHNEIDER: Yes. This is the "t" as they call it subway in Boston. A pet snake was lost. It was found. It was a three-foot boa named Penelope, slithered out of its owner's coach. When train operators searched the car, Penelope was nowhere to be found. And the owner almost gave up hope when Penelope was found behind the train attendant cabin by the train conductor.
And here's what's interesting. Most people would be screaming, "Oh, my gosh, there's a snake." Well, the train conductor actually is a snake owner herself. So, she was like, no problem. There's a snake, I know how to handle this.
WHITFIELD: That was perfect. I don't know how -- how do you -- I guess it coils up like it did right there on the wrist there, but it was in the pocket? That's one heck of a coat pocket.
SCHNEIDER: I can't even imagine sitting next to someone and you look over and there's a little snake head coming out of the coat.
WHITFIELD: I would freak. Oh, I would freak. That's it. That's over for me.
All right. Big Super Bowl. So, what you're going to do? You're going to be plastered watching -- plastered in front of the TV.
SCHNEIDER: Won't be plastered, Fred.
WHITFIELD: Plastered in front of the TV watching the game.
SCHNEIDER: I will be watching. As you know, I watching and mooching.
President Obama's having a big party and on the menu is bratwurst, kielbasa, cheeseburgers, deep dish pizza, buffalo wings, German potato salad, twice-baked potatoes. It goes on and on.
WHITFIELD: Oh, my goodness. This is a serious menu.
SCHNEIDER: Yes. I think they're going to have a good time and it's certainly not --
WHITFIELD: It's a traditional stuff. Of course, we're looking at the pictures of Arlington, Texas. We don't get a chance to see the spread at the White House just yet.
But guess what? Something else taking place there at the stadium. We understand that, apparently, there is -- there might be some fans who are going to be rather upset. They have their tickets to go to the game, be in the stadium, but apparently, there's a temporary seating area where a number of those tickets belong to. And apparently, that seating area is not quite finished as in construction.
SCHNEIDER: Oh, boy.
WHITFIELD: Yes. So the NFL has released this statement, I'm going to read it to you, saying, "There are a limited number of sections and temporary seating areas inside the stadium that have not been fully completed. We are working to resolve the matter and expect that by game time, most of the fans affected will have been accommodated in their seats or relocated to similar or better seats and those fans that are affected by this will be directed to the party plaza area while the matter is resolved. So, maybe they'll be happy.
SCHNEIDER: Well, I think they'll be happy that they're there, but, you know, any inconvenience is not what you want to hear.
(CROSSTALK)
WHITFIELD: This might make them very, very happy. So, the NFL statement goes on to say, "The fans who are not accommodated with seats inside the stadium will each receive a refund of triple the cost of the face value of their ticket. So --
SCHNEIDER: That's good.
WHITFIELD: Yes. Financially, they might be happy.
SCHNEIDER: That's true. I hope everyone has a great time watching.
WHITFIELD: But they just want to see the game.
SCHNEIDER: If you have a ticket, that's a big deal.
WHITFIELD: I know it is. All right. Very fun. Thanks so much.
SCHNEIDER: It was fun in "The Chat Room," Fred.
WHITFIELD: Yes, it was. Always, yes.
All right. Advertisers are spending millions of dollars to run their commercials during tonight's Super Bowl, but not all of the commercials are million-dollar productions. A couple of advertisers bypassed the advertising agencies, asking amateurs to submit Super Bowl commercials.
Here's Jeanne Moos.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Forget Roethlisberger and Rodgers, the up and coming stars of the Super Bowl could be a pug, a beaver, a pint-sized Darth Vader, maybe even Adam and Eve.
Most advertisers spend a bundle making professional commercials.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NARRATOR: In the paws of a clairvoyant woodland creature --
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MOOS: Bridgestone tires used a real beaver and stunt beaver, but there will also be a half dozen homemade Super Bowl commercials, Doritos and Pepsi Max asked folks to make their own ads.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, babe. Check this out. Come on. Come on. You want it?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MOOS: J.R. Burningham created "Pug Attack."
J.R. BURNINGHAM, PUG ATTACK: I've always thought pugs running in slow motion was funny.
MOOS: So, we borrowed a friend's pug.
There were over 5,600 entries competing for cash and exposure. The sauna wasn't a finalist. Adam and Eve was.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Different take on an old story.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, I'm good.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MOOS: Some aspiring ad makers had the same creative concept. For instance, the chip on the butt. Neither of those made the finals but one called "The Best Part" did.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You left the best part.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, I'm pretty sure they're --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hmm, cheese.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MOOS: OK. That isn't as cute as, say, Volkswagen's Super Bowl spot featuring a miniature Darth Vader that finally gets the force to work when his dad gives him a hand.
(on camera): In the days leading up to the game, some advertisers even release trailers for the commercials.
(voice-over): For instance, the tail of a scorpion and the Anheuser- Busch Clydesdales is to be continued.
Ditto for another Bridgestone tire ad.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Rod, you sent this e-mail reply all. You hit "reply all."
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MOOS: But those are created by agencies. The amateurs stand to win up to 1 million bucks if their homemade ads make it to the top of the "USA Today" ad meter.
(on camera): Now, if I were a betting girl, I put my chips on the pug.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Babe, don't hurt my dog.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MOOS: Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: All right. Time for a "CNN Equals Politics" update.
We're keeping an eye on all the latest headlines at the CNNPolitics.com desk. And here's what's crossing right now.
President Barack Obama and the first lady are throwing a Super Bowl party at the White House, but president was also part of the Super Bowl pregame show on FOX. During that interview with Bill O'Reilly the president addressed much more serious topics like the crisis Egypt and the potential role of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt's future.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I think that the Muslim Brotherhood is one faction of it. They don't have majority support in Egypt. But they are well-organized and there are strains of their ideology that are anti-U.S. There's no doubt about it.
But here's the thing that we have to understand: there are a whole bunch of secular folks in Egypt. There are a whole bunch of educators and civil society in Egypt that wants to come to the floor as well. And so, it's important for us not to say that our only two options are either the Muslim Brotherhood or a suppressed Egyptian people.
BILL O'REILLY, FOX NEWS HOST: But you don't want the Muslim Brotherhood --
(END VIDEO CLIP) WHITFIELD: And today marks the 100th birthday of the late President Ronald Reagan. The ceremony was held today at the Reagan President Library in Simi Valley, California. Nancy Reagan laid a wreath at her husband's grave site while F-18 fighter jets from the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan flew overhead.
The White House budget director says the president is making several tough calls in his upcoming budget. Jacob Lew tells "The New York Times" the budget will include to scores of federal spending programs, including a $650 million cut in community development and service programs. The president is set to present his fiscal 2012 budget to Congress in one week.
The president will also be talking about the economy this week. CNN's deputy political director, Paul Steinhauser, has a preview of the week ahead in politics.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Hey, Fred.
President Barack Obama heads to what some consider politically enemy territory tomorrow when he speaks in front of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Last year, the Chamber opposed Mr. Obama's push for Wall Street and health care reform, and in the midterm elections, work to defeat many Democrats backed the president's programs.
On Tuesday here in Washington, what's being touted as the first ever Tea Party town hall. Among the lawmakers attending the event, Senator Rand Paul and Congresswoman Michele Bachmann. On Thursday, the annual Conservative Political Action Conference kicks off. There's controversy this year with some social conservative groups boycotting to protest the inclusion of a pro-gay Republican group.
Speaking at the event, many of the Republicans who may -- may run for the White House. The conference ends Saturday with a straw poll for the GOP presidential nomination -- Fred.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: All right. Thanks so much, Paul.
The crisis in Egypt dominated the Sunday morning talk shows. Here are the highlights.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIPS)
CANDY CROWLEY, HOST, CNN'S "STATE OF THE UNION": What do you think Mubarak should do? Should he quit?
MADELEINE ALBRIGHT, FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE: I think there's never an indispensable leader, you know? I think that there is a time with dignity that one needs to leave. But it is not -- they have to make the decision there. I think that the Mubarak era -- my own personal opinion is the Mubarak era is over and the question is how to have a process that really works properly. SEN. JOHN KERRY (D), MASSACHUSETTS: He must step aside gracefully and begin the process of transition to a caretaker type of government. I believe that is happening right now. That is precisely what is going on with Vice President Suleiman -- not President Mubarak -- Vice President Suleiman engaged in discussions with the opposition. And what is -- what I think is needed now is a clarity about this process.
MARTIN INDYK, FORMER U.S. AMBASSADOR TO ISRAEL: I would give President Obama credit here what while he hasn't always gotten the messaging right, he's got the policy right, which is to get on the side of change and to try to use what influence we have to shape it in a peaceful and orderly way -- but to make clear that democracy needs to come to Egypt.
CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, ABC NEWS: What is your fear if President Mubarak was to say, "I've had enough"? He told me that he's had enough. Sixty-two years of public service and he wants to -- he wants to go, but not quite yet. What are the concerns? Why would he not want to go now?
OMAR SULEIMAN, EGYPTIAN VICE PRESIDENT: We don't want chaos in our country. If President Obama would say that "I'm leaving now," who would take over? In the Constitution, that means the speaker would take over. I think with this atmosphere, that means that the other people who have their own agenda would make instability in our country.
PRINCE HASSAN BIN TALAAL, JORDAN: Well, I think the question is not whether he'll step down, he said that he'll step down. But it's a question of what follows.
(END VIDEO CLIPS)
WHITFIELD: I'm Fredricka Whitfield. I'll see you back here next weekend. Don Lemon is coming up next with more of the day's headlines.
