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Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade; Unrest in Egypt; "A Dark Cloud Over This Campus"; Russian Missile Warning; Heading Off an Asteroid; Infamy on the Internet

Aired November 24, 2011 - 09:00   ET

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

T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: Of course I have. I have to leave it in my wife's hands for just a couple of hours, and that's a scary thought, as you know, Alina. So I got to get through this show so I could get back to my turkey.

CHO: That's not true. That's not true.

HOLMES: Ladies, Happy Thanksgiving to you both.

COSTELLO: Happy Thanksgiving.

HOLMES: I will talk to you soon. And hello to everybody out there. And Happy Thanksgiving to you. We know you got a lot going on today with family, friends, football, whatever it may be. We're going to get you caught up on what you need to know here and let you get back to enjoying your day with your family. But stay with us here for just a bit.

We got a couple of stories, a couple of major stories that are unfolding right now. We need to tell you about. And both of them in Egypt, actually. Three American students are now free after being accused of throwing fire bombs during recent violent protests in Cairo. We are monitoring their moves.

Also this morning, an American journalist -- we'll get back to our Jason Carroll there in just a second. But the other story I need to tell you about, also in Egypt. Someone you have seen on our air here at CNN a number of times.

An American journalist who's appeared here with us says she has been blindfolded, she was beaten and sexually assaulted by Egyptian police. She is now free and speaking out. We will be live in Cairo in just a minute.

But, back home, here on this Thanksgiving, our Jason Carroll, as you saw just a moment ago, he is monitoring things for us in New York. Of course always the big happening today, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade about to kick off. I think we just heard our Bonnie Schneider report that, in fact, the weather is going to cooperate.

So is that the case, Jason? You hear me all right? Happy Thanksgiving to you. JASON CARROLL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Happy Thanksgiving to you. Look, can you see -- can you see that sun shining on me here? That is why we've got all these people out here. Thousands of people lining this parade route because the weather is terrific. And if you look right down there you can see Sonic the hedgehog about to make his way down here at Central Park.

Very beginning of the parade, which starts right about now, 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time. He is making his debut after an 18-year absence. A lot of folks out here, T.J., wanting to take part in everything that is going on.

We've got some folks here from Canada. Canada.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Canada.

CARROLL: I see Canada over here, it's Canada here. You're from where?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Texas.

CARROLL: Texas, Canada, Louisiana and Missouri.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: St. Louis, Missouri.

CARROLL: St. Louis, Missouri.

Actually, all you guys are from the same school, yes?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.

CARROLL: Yes? Tell me about that.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We go to the American Musical and Dramatic Academy. We call it AMDA for short.

CARROLL: And the reason why I ask them that, T.J., is because here they go to a school which celebrates music and theater, and I wanted them to sing but then they told that they weren't going to sing for me so I don't know. Maybe of their teachers --

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We can dance for you.

CARROLL: You can dance?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.

CARROLL: OK. We're going to leave the dancing to some of those in the parade. Who you looking forward to seeing?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Santa, of course.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes. Santa.

CARROLL: Santa. Santa. Anyone else?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The Aflac duck.

CARROLL: The Aflac duck.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, Aflac.

CARROLL: That is a new addition to this year's parade.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.

CARROLL: Actually you were also talking about the Rockettes, but that's a whole different holiday. So we'll get into that one a little bit later. But actually, if this -- why did you guys decide to come out? Because this is your first time coming out to the parade.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: New to New York.

CARROLL: New to New York.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes. It's our first time in New York, so why not come to the Macy's Day Parade if we're here for that.

CARROLL: Absolutely. And what do you guys have to be thankful for on this particular Thanksgiving?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Waking up --

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm thankful it's not raining.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.

(LAUGHTER)

CARROLL: Thankful it's not raining.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The support of my family to be out here and doing what I want to do.

CARROLL: Support of family.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm thankful to actually be here in New York and actually doing what I love to do.

CARROLL: Doing what you love to do. I am thankful for that, too, T.J..

T.J., I'm just thankful to have a job. Thank you, you guys. Happy Thanksgiving.

T.J., once again, right now you can see the parade moving our way. We are all thankful to be out here on a day like today. Beautiful weather, 3.5 million people expected to line the parade route. Fifty million people expected to be watching at home -- T.J..

HOLMES: All right. Jason, clearly you're having a good time out there. So enjoy. We'll check in with you again. We also, as an important part of this day, need to check in with our Bonnie Schneider. A lot of people are still traveling today. And most of them, I guess, did it, Bonnie, yesterday, most of their traveling, but still some on the road today and maybe some catching some flights. So are they going to have any issues?

BONNIE SCHNEIDER, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Just a few. I'm with the parade goers. I am so relieved the winds are not bad, it's not raining. There's nothing worse than standing out in the rain and the wind during a parade so great weather for those of you in New York. In fact let's take a look.

(WEATHER REPORT)

HOLMES: All right. All in all, sounds pretty good. Bonnie Schneider, thank you so much. We'll check in with you again.

And we're just six minutes past the hour now and some important stories to update you on. Celebrating Thanksgiving, yes, here in this country, but there is chaos on the streets in Egypt right now getting also disturbing word about that American journalist. You may recognize the face and the name. She's appeared here on CNN a number of times, but she has been arrested and beaten in Egypt. What she says police did to her. That's next.

Also --

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SIENNA MILLER, ACTRESS: The effect that it had on my life was really damaging to me and to my family and friends.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: Yes, at first we were just talking about Hugh Grant, but now more and more celebrities are taking the stand claiming the press hacked into their cell phones uncovering their personal secrets. Also, the judge today announcing that one of CNN's own will be called to testify. Stay with us.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SMSGT. KIM GUIDRY, U.S. ARMY: Hi, I'm Senior Master Sergeant Kim Guidry, currently deployed in Southwest Asia. I wanted to say happy Thanksgiving to my family in Lafayette, Louisiana. I'll be back home soon and I love you and miss you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: Ten minutes past the hour on this Thanksgiving. Unrest goes on in Egypt and we are now getting disturbing word that an American Egyptian journalist who has appeared on CNN a number of times was beaten and arrested in Egypt's Interior Ministry. Mona Eltahawy is her name and she tweeted that she had been detained. She was released 12 hours later. Let me tell you and show you what she wrote.

And I quote, "I can barely imagine what my family and loved one were going through those 12 hours. I know they were worried about me to begin with. Sorry."

She goes on to say that someone named, "Sarahnjb is coming to kindly take me to the hospital. Besides beating me, the dogs of CSF subjected me to the worst sexual assault ever." Another tweet, she adds, "Military intelligence blindfolded me for two hours, didn't want to go with them, but one said I either go politely or else. Three hours later."

Now we are working to get Mona Eltahawy on the line with us. We'll bring that to you and hear her story when we can.

But right now, let's turn to our Ben Wedemen, he is in Cairo.

And Ben, that's one part of the story. A development today. Another major development is that three American college students, we understand, that were detained are now released. Give us the update.

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, we heard from the spokesman for the general prosecutor here in Egypt who said that a judge had ordered the release of these three young college students who were studying at the American University Cairo. Derrik Sweeney, Gregory Porter and Luke Gates have been released.

They were detained earlier this week on Monday, charged with attacking Egyptian security forces in the clashes that have been taking place off of Tahrir Square. The police said that they found them with a bag that included empty bottles and rags that they claimed were going to be used as Molotov cocktails against the security forces in that area -- T.J..

HOLMES: Also, Ben, what is the situation today in Cairo and particularly in Tahrir Square?

WEDEMAN: It's fairly calm at the moment. Tahrir Square is yet again filling up with more people, demonstrating against the military rulers of the country. Tomorrow they're calling for another million- man protest.

As far as the clashes with the police go, they seem to have calmed down. The army has now erected barriers in the street leading to the Interior Ministry to stop the protesters from clashing with the police.

So, at the moment, it's somewhat calmer, but as we saw yesterday, this calm can very quickly evaporate when the rocks start to fly -- T.J..

HOLMES: Ben Wedemen there for us in Cairo. Ben, thank you. We want to turn now to London and that British phone hacking scandal and high-profile celebrities including British actress, Sienna Miller. They're testifying today at a hearing on media ethics. Miller who starred in "Alfie" says the paparazzi chased her, hacked into her cell phone and hounded her so much she became anxious, even paranoid.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MILLER: I did feel constantly very scared and intensely paranoid. I've kind of touched on it already, but, you know, I had -- my publicist, we had a separate number that we would only speak to each other on that number and I found out had that number, as well. So, just every area of my life was under constant surveillance and instinctly (ph) I felt that and felt very violated and very paranoid and anxious constantly.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: Harry potter author, JK Rowling, is also set to testify today. And also word we're getting this morning. It was announced that CNN's Piers Morgan who is a former British newspaper editor will also be called before that panel.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, it's not just a sticker. OK. 6-6-6 is the mark of the beast.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: A guy says he was fired for refusing to wear a sticker at work. We'll explain why the company wanted him to wear this thing in the first place.

Also new fallout today in the sudden death of a former or rather a Florida A&M band member. Police say he died because of hazing. Stay with me.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: All right. Seventeen minutes past the hour on this Thanksgiving Day. Give you some news making headlines across country.

A Georgia man says his religious rights were violated. And he's filed a federal lawsuit. He says he was fired from his factory job after refusing to wear a 666 sticker.

(BEING VIDEO CLIP)

BILLY HYATT, FILED FEDERAL LAWSUIT: It's not just a sticker. OK? Six-six-six is the mark of the beast.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: Now, why in the world would any company want to make its employees wear a 666 sticker? Well, the sticker was actually marking the factory's 666th day without an accident.

Well, also some slow going for drivers near Pittsburgh. Look at that. That gooey mess was on the Pennsylvania turnpike.

This is driveway sealant. It covered about 40 miles of road thanks to a leaky tanker.

Some people say the stuff was actually eating through car tires.

Also an unusual 911 call out of Wisconsin. A drunk, but honest, driver. He called 911 to turn himself in to police.

He actually called twice. He wanted to make sure the officers could find him. He ended up with a citation for a first offense of operating while intoxicated.

Let's turn now to Florida A&M University.

They've now fired the director of its marching band days after a drum major's death. Police believe hazing was involved and a former band member is not surprised at all. He actually sued after a brutal beating that led to kidney failure.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

IVERY LUCKEY, HAZED AT FLORIDA A&M: Yes, I was taken into a room, blind folded and paddled with you, they have these wooden paddles. And after the paddling stopped, it was actually physical blows, face slapping -- just all sorts of things to cause pain and suffering.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: Our Lisa Sylvester takes up this story talking about the culture of violence on campus.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LISA SYLVESTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): They are one of the best with precision and technique. Florida A&M University's marching 100 has stood out. The band program began more than 100 years ago, a proud tradition for the university.

But the entire band is now suspended indefinitely after the death of drum major Robert Champion. Authorities are investigating if hazing has played a role.

ROBERT CHAMPION SR., FATHER: I do want to know what happened because that would give me more understanding. So I can accept what happened.

SYLVESTER: Saturday night after the Florida classic, Champion was found on a university bus outside of a hotel. He was reportedly throwing up, and said he couldn't breathe. He died shortly afterward.

The Orange County medical examiner has completed the autopsy, but says more information is needed before determining a final cause of death. The university announced that it's forming a task force to review the circumstances of Champion's death.

JAMES AMMONS, PRESIDENT, FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY: The purpose of this review is not to establish culpability of individual band members in this particular case. But rather to determine, whether there are patterns of behavior, by the band, or members of it, that should be addressed at the institution level.

SYLVESTER: Thirty band members were let go earlier this year because of hazing. Those investigations are ongoing.

Marching band members at historically black colleges have been tight knit groups much like a sorority or fraternity. And hazing has long been a problem.

At Clark Atlanta University, the band director says a student handbook spells out it's against university policy to haze another student.

THOMAS WARNER JR., BAND DIRECTOR, CLARK ATLANTA: There's zero tolerance here at Clark Atlanta. We don't condone it at all.

SYLVESTER: And Robert Champion, his band director said he was to have been named the head drum major next year. But he never got the chap to tell him.

(on camera): A mother of a family of a marching band student has come forward to CNN detailing her many concerns with hazing within the program. Even though there is a zero tolerance policy there, she says it still happens. Her son told her, it is a right of passage, like a gang initiation. The quote that she said was, quote, "You have to be beaten to earn respect."

And she spoke to university officials before this happened and now, looking back, she says that Robert Champion's death could have been prevented.

Lisa Sylvester, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: At 21 minutes past the hour now.

You're going to eat and then you're going to start thinking about Christmas. You're going to think about doing that Christmas shopping, the gifts and deals. What about the scams?

You are about to be targeted, folks. You need to stick around with me because I know you think about great vacation offers and thinking maybe a job offer to get some extra cash and maybe buying gift cards -- all that stuff you could be scammed if you're not careful. What you need to know, when I come back.

Stay here.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: All right. We're 25 minutes past the hour on this Thanksgiving Day. Welcome back to you all.

Got a sad update to give you here about a story in Arizona. Authorities there say there are no signs of survivors after a twin engine plane crash. As many as six people and, they believed three of them children were on that plane when it slammed into the Superstition Mountains east of Phoenix. Rescues have found the body of one child.

Also, command posts to set up the disappearance of a missing Missouri child has now shut down. You know the name now, baby Lisa, Lisa Irwin. Investigators are back in their usual offices now.

The case is still open. Eight detectives still remain assigned to this case. Baby Lisa has been missing since the 4th of October.

Also on this Thanksgiving Day, we often hear these around the holidays. But a new terror bulletin from the Department of Homeland Security and FBI says terrorists could decide to launch attacks during this holiday season, but it adds there's no evidence of any plots being planned. This is the first Thanksgiving and Christmas season since U.S. troops found and killed Osama bin Laden.

Now, as we get close to the bottom of the hour now, I know what you're doing, you're going to eat and then you're going to go shopping. You might be shopping first and then eat. Who knows how it is going to go?

But if you're one of those folks who are so anxious about getting out there and shopping, you are the prime target of some folks who are perpetrating some scams this holiday season.

Ryan Mack is with me to help me out and fill you in on how to not be a target. He's the president of Optimum and author of the book, "Living in the Village." He is here with me now.

Good to see you. Thanks for coming in. And happy Thanksgiving to you, first of all.

RYAN MACK, AUTHOR, "LIVING IN THE VILLAGE": Happy Thanksgiving to you, too, sir.

HOLMES: Well, first things first, everybody knows there's always some hot gift during the holidays and you figure -- wait a minute, it's not in the stores any more. I can't get this from a kid or whatever else. That makes you a prime target.

MACK: Right now, there's a 7 or 8-year-old giving their parent pure heck making sure they get the new gift and come Christmastime, they want that new gift under the tree. So, there are a lot of individuals who capitalize off of that. You can't find the Tickle Me Elmo, you can't find the new video game. So, what they'll do is they'll create these fake Web sites. You go to these websites and, essentially, again, the Internet is still not necessarily the most regulated market out there.

So, what they'll do is they create these Web sites. You pay your money. You think you're paying three times the amount you're going to have to get that new gift. That new gift doesn't come. You go back to the Web site, it's not even there any longer.

So, you have to make sure you're buying things from the stores directly and make sure we're doing enough research to know exactly where we're buying things from.

HOLMES: Are there any out there -- to follow up on these -- that are legit because a lot of times you can find and maybe can't find it at the Target or Wal-Mart or whatever. And then you find some Web sites. Are there any out there that are legit that maybe have a special stash of stuff?

MACK: Well, there are a few legitimate ones. But, again, it's very easy for me right now to go on a Web site and create something that gives that new gift -- video games are especially very hot right now. I can create a web site right now and collect all your credit card information. At worse, you want to get the toy, but you might also have identity theft, as well.

So, they might steal your information and not only out of money, but now, you you're your identity theft --

HOLMES: Gift cards always popular and they're easy, as well. What's the problem here?

MACK: Well, gift cards. If they don't have a scratch off code behind them, and if they're conveniently located. Many individuals will go into the store previously, they write down the code. They write down the 800 number. And then when you buy your gift card, as soon as that card is activated, those individuals are calling that 800 card to say, as soon as that card gets activated, they run to the store and say, hey, I lost my card, here's the code, I want to spend your money.

So, again, we have to make sure that the card, behind of it has the scratch off code or just purchase gift cards online. But, again, gift cards, again, sometimes we spend too much money on gift cards. Again, give a check, gift cash, it's a little bit more easy, a little bit more safe.

HOLMES: You would actually recommend that. It seems so convenient with the card. They can go in and spend it. But you are still saying, old-fashioned cash.

MACK: Exactly. I mean, sometimes gift cards have fees attached to them and we should never have to be spending money to use our own money.

HOLMES: And sometimes around the holidays, people want to pick up a little extra cash. Sometimes tens of thousands of jobs are out there, sometimes temporary. You need to watch out for this. You can get scammed?

MACK: People try to make money and they see this new thing, post on Facebook and on Twitter. It's a new job, come down here and get this brand-new job. The next thing you know, you're giving up your Social Security information, you're giving up your address, you're giving up your telephone number. And there's no job available.

That's just someone on the other side saying, I want to collect your information to make sure that I can steal your identity. And there's no job available. You have to be very cautious about this.

HOLMES: So, it's not really in that case about necessarily getting your money and getting your identity.

MACK: Information is key. You should never be willing to give out your information. Information is power. Information is money.

As soon as we give information up, somebody can use that to make a lot of money off of -- basically off of your own identity.

HOLMES: Are we getting better at this or are we still falling for this stuff?

MACK: We're definitely falling for the stuff. But the thing is, the crooks are getting better. There are things right now they can walk past your pocket and they magnetically steal your credit card information. So, there's lot of new advents on this.

So, the crooks are getting better. And sometimes we're still not as up on making sure what is savvy we're making sure we're aware of these different types of scams.

HOLMES: All right. I hope you listen, folks. Ryan Mack, good to have you here on this Thanksgiving. Happy Thanksgiving to you, man.

MACK: Thank you.

HOLMES: We're just at the bottom of the hour now.

And, still ahead, a couple developing stories to tell you about on this Thanksgiving Day, including over in Iran. Iran is saying they have arrested a dozen CIA spies. This coming as tensions between the U.S. and Iran escalate.

Also today, Russia threatening to deploy missiles targeting U.S. interests abroad. That is, of course, unless the U.S. makes one particular move. We are live at the White House next.

Stay with us on this Thanksgiving Day.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: About 35 minutes past the hour now.

And Iranian lawmaker says Iran and Lebanon have arrested 12 CIA spies. The lawmaker tells Iran-state media the alleged spies were trying to cripple Iran in nuclear, military and security areas. He did not identify the nationality of the suspect or say when they were arrested.

Earlier this week, the U.S. confirmed that informants working with the CIA had been captured in Lebanon.

Also, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev issues a harsh warning to the U.S. and NATO. He says Russia could deploy its own short-range missile, unless Moscow's concerns about NATO's planned missile defense system are addressed. Medvedev also threatened to withdraw from the new START arms control treaty with U.S. over this dispute.

Dan Lothian joins me now from the White House.

Dan, hello on this Thanksgiving. Are we getting a reaction from the White House on this?

DAN LOTHIAN, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Yes, we are. You know, this sounds so much like the Cold War-style rhetoric that, you know, of yesteryears.

But, you have the White House saying that the U.S. has been open and transparent about plans for this missile defense system. That the system doesn't threaten Russia's strategic deterrent. The concerns from Moscow is that somehow, some of the concerns of how this could potentially threaten them are not being addressed. They want certain guarantees from the U.S.

As for that START treaty, that new START treaty, here at the White House, NSC spokesman Tommy Vietor is saying that the treaty is going well and that, quote, "We see so no basis of threats to withdraw from it."

As you know, the U.S. and Russia have been resetting their relationship as recently as a few weeks ago or less than a week ago when the president was in Hawaii. He met on the sidelines of the APEC Summit there with President Medvedev showing a strong show of support for each other. That they are strong partnerships in dealing with some of the issues around the world, specifically in Iran and North Korea. And then you find this where President Medvedev goes out on live television and makes these strong comments.

So, publicly, they're showing that they get along and now you see him showing somewhat of a different face in Russia.

HOLMES: And, Dan, you used the word rhetoric a moment age -- Cold War rhetoric. Is this at the White House being chalked up to just rhetoric or a real threat of some kind?

LOTHIAN: Well, look, when you hear from the experts, they believe that this is more politics at work. That President Medvedev is addressing his domestic audience, trying to show that Russia is being tough on NATO and the U.S.

So, again, it is seen as more rhetoric than any real threat from Russia.

HOLMES: And, of course, the president has to balance a lot of things 24/7, including Russia and whatever else going on in the world. But also today, he's got to balance a turkey at some point.

The first family, what are they up to on this Thanksgiving?

LOTHIAN: That's right. As far as we know, nothing public on the president's schedule for today. He will be behind closed doors, meeting with family members and friends around the dinner table, eating turkey, we presume.

Usually around this time, we get the menu. We have not received that yet. But we're expecting that at any moment. We'll get a chance to find out exactly what they will be eating today.

But, yes, a quiet time with family members and friends here at the White House behind the scenes.

HOLMES: All right. Dan Lothian, happy Thanksgiving to you. We'll talk to you, again.

LOTHIAN: OK.

HOLMES: All right, also coming up next, social networking. Forget about it. Facebook reportedly now developing a phone that could compete with the Droid and iPhone? What might this thing do? Why the project is apparently named after a vampire slayer.

Stay with me.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: Forty-one minutes past the hour now.

And the folks over at Facebook are now heavily invested in hardware. They have reportedly teamed up with HTC for a new smartphone based around the social network.

Christina Warren has stepped in the studio with us. She's from Mashable.com.

Good to have you here in Atlanta with us.

Why does Facebook want to do this in the first place? Before we get into some of the details, why is it important for them -- a Facebook phone, why?

CHRISTINA WARREN, MASHABLE.COM: Well, mobile is the future. And so, they want to be where everyone else is. If they're competing against Apple, and Google and Microsoft, which are companies that don't want necessarily Facebook to own the phone space, then maybe they need to build their own.

HOLMES: Is there a need for this? Or is there -- are consumers out there yelling, hey, Facebook, we need a phone from you guys? Do we need this?

WARREN: You know, I don't know if we need it, but I do think that the way that Facebook current application system is set up, it's really good on the desktop but it's really bad on the phone. So, you can use the app to update your status message.

But if you want to play a game, or if you want to access other apps, or if you want to vote in a poll, you can't really do that. They don't really have a mobile app ecosystem. So, I think that's where a phone is really beneficial.

HOLMES: OK. What would this look like? A Facebook phone. Are we talking about a phone, literally, built around this network in this network alone?

WARREN: I think that's what they're talking about. I mean, this has been rumored for a long time and the most recent rumor they would be working with HTC. They'd be using Android as a base, but modifying it heavily so it's just about Facebook.

And, you know, Facebook really likes everyone to just use Facebook. Don't use the web browser, don't go to CNN.com, don't go to Mashable.com. You just go to our Facebook pages.

That's what Facebook wants and I think they would ideally like people to do that on the phone.

HOLMES: You say it's been rumored before? Are we sure about this time? Is it more than just rumors? WARREN: You know, the details this time are a lot more clear than they were before. Facebook still won't really confirm or deny anything, but I think any major player right now is having to look in the mobile market. So, it makes a lot of sense that they would be considering it.

HOLMES: How soon might we se this thing?

WARREN: You know, they're saying 12 to 18 months. It would be a long way off. So, the big news is that we have a code name and a hardware partner.

So, that gives us a few more details.

HOLMES: OK. Help me understand the code name. Everybody thought this was so funny, but why are code names important? Does this help us understand that it is further important because it does have an official code name, if you will?

WARREN: I think most projects have code names. The fun one about this is called Buffy, as in B the vampire slayer. And, you know, they're slaying the vampires of Google and Apple or whatever. So, that makes it more fun and that kind of is a nice little hook. It's a Buffy phone.

HOLMES: What about the relationship between Facebook and HTC?

WARREN: You know, HTC is the partner they're looking at. They've worked with them before and they released a phone over the summer called the Status, it was not a good phone.

But HTC is a big hardware maker. They make a lot of devices that people really like. And they would probably be a good person to partner with.

HOLMES: OK. So, next Christmas, maybe in 12 month or so, we might be talking about the hot thing for Christmas is this new phone, possibly.

WARREN: Yes. And then you can like and poke and do whatever you want.

HOLMES: Like and poke -- Christina Warren, good to see you here in the studio. Happy Thanksgiving to you, all right?

WARREN: Happy Thanksgiving.

HOLMES: We're about a quarter of the top of the hour now.

And the world's worst nightmare, an asteroid heading for earth. Well, that just improved your Thanksgiving holiday, didn't it? Threatening life as we know it, possibly, but it's not just science fiction. This is not just the movie.

Scientists are now taking this threat seriously? Yep! One more thing for you to worry about, when we come back.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LT. JOSE ALAS RUIZ, U.S. ARMY: Hi, this is Lieutenant Jose Alas Ruiz from Camp Eric John Kuwait. I would like to wish my family a happy Thanksgiving in Beverly, Massachusetts. Thank you, all, and God bless.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

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HOLMES: Well it was just about two weeks ago that an asteroid the size of an aircraft carrier zipped relatively closely past Earth. There wasn't in any danger this time, but scientists at NASA know that will not always be the case.

CNN's John Zarrella has the dooms day scenario.

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JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A nuclear blast. Humanity never wants to see another one of these on the planet, but off the planet, that's a different story. Rather than destroying life, it could save us from asteroid extinction.

JONATHAN MCDOWELL, ASTROPHYSICIST: If you don't think they're a clear danger, ask your nearest dinosaur.

ZARRELLA: While scientists are making great strides searching for life in the universe, they are also working on ways to prevent massive asteroids from ending life here, like one did the dinosaurs.

MCDOWELL: Bad things happen to good planets. We know that the earth has been hit by asteroids before. In the long run, I think our species has to learn how to protect the earth in that way.

ZARRELLA: Scientists say there are methods that should work. A nuclear blast knocking the asteroid off its collision course or simply running into it with a spacecraft. To get a better handle on these flying rocks, NASA's first human deep space mission around 2025 is going to an asteroid. Down in the Florida Keys, they're already planning.

MIKE GERNHARDT, ASTRONAUT: If I chip a rock on an asteroid, it's going off. It has escape velocity.

ZARRELLA: Astronaut Mike Gernhardt is developing tools astronauts would need.

GERNHARDT: This is a soil collection device that we cock.

ZARRELLA: And just off shore, an asteroid proving ground of sorts where the tools are tested in the near weightless environment beneath the surface.

But don't go losing any sleep over an asteroid impact. New findings show there are fewer of the really big ones, the size of a mountain than was thought and none will threaten the earth for centuries.

There is a down side. The smaller ones, like the one that flew by earth a couple weeks ago, well, astronomers say they don't know where most of those are. About 15,000 of them.

AMY MAINZER, ASTRONOMER: We only have found a very small fraction of those objects yet and they could still cause considerable damage.

ZARRELLA: Like taking out a metropolitan area or an entire state. But scientists are confident, if there's enough lead time, say 10 to 20 years before it would hit, they're pretty sure they'll get the asteroid before it gets us.

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HOLMES: John don't I have enough to worry about? You are telling me there's always -- they don't even know where a lot of these are.

ZARRELLA: Yes, the smaller ones that are out there, you know the sun hides a lot of them so they really don't -- they don't know where they are but they've got a handle on the really big ones and you don't have to worry about those for a long, long time, at least -- T.J.

HOLMES: Ok what are the options? Do they have a backup plan, a plan A, B, C or D?

ZARRELLA: Yes. Yes, they do. And I think the nuclear plan, as they explained it to me, is kind of the last option.

HOLMES: Yes.

ZARRELLA: The nudging option is a pretty good one. But one of the things they are talking about, the scientist out at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California say you could go actually go up there with a lot of spray paint. Spray paint the asteroid that would add some weight to it and just adding that little weight from the paint would move the asteroid enough so that it would miss the earth.

HOLMES: John stop.

ZARRELLA: That's not a bad idea.

HOLMES: Stop it. That's not a legitimate plan.

ZARRELLA: I can't make that stuff up. I can't -- listen, don't shoot the messenger. I'm just telling you. No, that's -- that is one of the options. You can add enough weight to it you could just kind of move it off enough so it wouldn't hit the earth.

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HOLMES: Ok, so all we had to stop by --

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ZARRELLA: Hopefully we never have to worry about it, T.J.

HOLMES: Yes hopefully we never have to worry about it, but still these stories -- it really, and I might be just me but these stories really freak me out when you tell me there is a satellite falling and I actually am ducking when you tell me this stuff. I take this stuff seriously, J.Z.

ZARRELLA: Well, you need to. You know I mean, they are realities out there. And like they were saying in the piece, look, just ask your nearest dinosaur, I mean it happens. And eventually, so someday it's going to happen again.

HOLMES: Ok but not that high on their list of priorities at NASA, is that fair to say?

ZARRELLA: No.

HOLMES: Not that high. All right.

ZARRELLA: They've got a lot of other things on their plate like getting the Mars vehicle off the ground here on Saturday so that they can get that thing off to the Red Planet. That's the number one priority.

HOLMES: Well, once again, another reassuring report from our John Zarrella and the folks at NASA. John good to see you as always. Happy Thanksgiving to you, buddy.

ZARRELLA: Take care.

HOLMES: All right. And as you get ready, a lot of you are going to be settling in today and you're getting that food ready now and you're getting ready for a couple of a big games today, football. We've got some good games today.

Something is going to happen on the sidelines today for the first time ever actually it involves one family. We'll tell you about that.

Plus, a campus cop in California pepper spraying protesters, looked fairly nonchalant about it, didn't he. Well, some folks who saw this got upset about it but they didn't get even necessarily. They got creative. We'll tell you what they did.

Stay with us.

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HOLMES: We actually have good matchups today. Three NFL games. I know you will be sitting in front of the TV today with that plate of whatever you are eating. The league's only unbeaten team, the Packers, they're actually going into Ford Field taking on the 7-3 Lions. A lot of people are picking the Lions in this game. Big deal. They are at home. A national audience.

Tony Romo and the Dallas Cowboys, they are hosting the Dolphins who don't have the best record right now but are playing pretty well. Both of these teams are looking for their fourth straight win.

Also, a family reunion, the San Francisco 49ers playing the Baltimore Ravens. You see Jim Harbaugh who coaches the 49ers -- you see him there on your screen -- he's taking on his brother, John Harbaugh -- there on the right -- who coaches the Ravens. This is the first time in NFL history two brothers will face each other as head coaches.

Some college hoops now. They need to rename the Maui Invitational to Duke Invitational. Duke last night, couldn't be beat. And when I say couldn't be beat, they really couldn't be beat. They were playing Kansas in the finals. Kansas had no answer for the Dukies. The Devils win this invitational, win the tournament, 68-61 for this final game, but Duke has never lost a game in the Maui Invitational. This is their fifth title.

Also, let me turn you to some hockey last night. Hockey highlights often involve fights. The last time the Bruins and the Sabres meet up, Boston's Milan Lucich, he kind of ran in to Buffalo goalie, Ryan Miller. They didn't appreciate that. So apparently some retaliation last night. There were at least three fights that broke out in this game. A lot of fans will tell you they appreciate that stuff. A lot of people will tell you it's just barbaric. But either way, whatever you like, the game turned to be a pretty good one. They had to go to a shoot-out, fifth round -- you're seeing how it ends up. The game winner there, now defending Stanley Cup champions have won ten straight games. Now an update for you on the NBA. There are talks, yes, between the NBA players and owners. They will resume tomorrow. Two sides are trying to resolves lawsuits before getting down to saving the season. New York Times reporting the league has a plan for a 66-game season that could start Christmas Day if, though, if there is a labor agreement. The two sides would need that agreement in place in the next few days. However, to make that happen, the commissioner of the NBA says you can do your own math in your head about the schedule.

Whenever a deal is done, they will need 30 days before the first game can take place. Do the math and you know something needs to get done soon to make a Christmas Day tipoff.

Also, pepper spray, the stuff can hurt but online mockery stings for a whole a lot longer. Here now, our Jeanne Moos.

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JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): First an officer hosed down protesters with pepper spray and now he's getting hosed back. Peppered with ridicule for watering my hippies.

SHARON OSBOURNE, CO-HOST, "THE TALK": He was like watering the garden.

MOOS: Now, je is spraying everyone from Santa to Jesus at "The Last Supper". He's spraying Lassie. He's spraying Snoopy. He's become what is called a meme, an idea reproducing across the web, even spraying another Internet meme, the keyboard cat. He is spraying the Beatles. He is spraying to stop the flag raisers at Iwo Jima.

His pepper spray replaces the torch on the Statue of Liberty. He is spraying in famous paintings of historic moments, at national monument and now we know why House Speaker John Boehner cries. He too has been pepper sprayed by the now infamous officer.

(on camera): His real name is Lieutenant John Pike but he's being tagged with the nickname "Pepper Spray Pike".

(voice-over): That's the name on his fake parody Twitter account full of bellicose tweets. You want to see the super committee do something, give me ten minutes with them in a locked room with spray.

The hacker group, "Anonymous" went after him Lt. Pike by publicizing his phone and address.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We are going to make you squeal --

MOOS: Someone even created a pepper spray cop's lament.

Hey sorry I pepper-sprayed you

MOOS: And when Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly described pepper spray this way.

MEGYN KELLY, FOX NEWS ANCHOR: It is like a derivative of actual pepper; it's a food product essentially but --

MOOS: She was mocked. Megyn Kelly on the electric chair -- it's a massage chair essentially. Megyn Kelly on mustard gas -- it's a hot dog condiment, essentially.

(on camera): Megyn Kelly would probably like to eat her words as long as there weren't seasoned with pepper spray.

(voice-over): On amazon.com, critics are writing reviews of actual pepper spray calling it the Cadillac of citizen repression technology.

Pepper spray is being aimed at old people and the village people. It's even been shot up Marilyn Monroe's dress. Anyone care to give thanks for pepper spray on turkey day?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Move!

MOOS: Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.

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