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Shoppers Pounce on Black Friday Deals; GOP Candidates Back on the Trail; "Last Chance" Protests in Cairo; "Last Chance" Protests in Cairo; Looking for Life on Mars; Shopping Apps Save Time, Money; Season of Part-Time Work; Family Planning vs. Family Finances
Aired November 25, 2011 - 09:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HALA GORANI, CNN ANCHOR: Hi, Alina and Carol.
Happy black Friday. Nearly one in four Americans -- one in four Americans says that he or she plans to shop on this busy shopping day and the crowds are coming out. At times, however, things do get a little bit out of hand like at this Wal-Mart near Los Angeles. Authorities say a woman waiting in line pepper-sprayed other customers, apparently, so she could get a better place in line.
About 10 people were hurt when the crowd scattered. No serious injuries were reported. The woman paid for her items and ran out of the store and detectives are hoping that a security camera will help identify her.
And there was another wild morning at a Wal-Mart near Orlando and police say two men started fighting at the jewelry counter. One of them allegedly resisted arrest and officers ended up wrestling him to the ground.
OK, hopefully these are just exceptions and it's an important day in the United States, as well as far as the economy is concerned. So much of this economy relies on consumer spending.
We're talking, of course, about Black Friday with CNN's Chris Knowles in New York, with George Howell in Atlanta.
Let's start with Chris. He's at Macy's in Manhattan.
And how are things looking now? It's 9:00 a.m. Are the crowds out?
CHRIS KNOWLES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You know what, Hala, good morning to you from New York. The world's largest Macy's. You know here the shoppers came out hours and hours ago. Typically it's a busy time on a Black Friday but this time retailers tried something new.
They opened up early. Some as early as 9:00 last night here in New York City and other cities across America. This scene here at Macy's, huge crowds lining up around the block for those good deals. For the very first time ever, they opened up at midnight. Four hours earlier than they've ever done in the past. And we spoke with the CEO of Macy's just a few moments ago. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TERRY LUNDGREN, PRESIDENT AND CEO, MACY'S: We tested 12 stores at the request of those stores last year and it's a big success right from the gun at midnight. So it was clearly a big success here at Herald's Square with over 10,000 people standing outside waiting to get in.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KNOWLES: This is going to be a huge test for retailers this holiday season. The retail association of this country expecting 152 million shoppers. That's the estimate on Black Friday and, of course, coming up on Monday, we have Cyber Monday where you go to the Internet to find some of these same deals -- Hala.
GORANI: OK. Thanks very much.
Now Black Friday might be a misnomer these days. Some stores actually open on Thanksgiving Day. Not everyone loved that idea, by the way.
CNN's George Howell is covering that for us in Atlanta.
Now we have some stores, George, open at 9:00 p.m. You have the midnight open, but that's been going on for a while. But then others are saying, look, if you open in the evening of Thanksgiving, you're basically opening on Thanksgiving.
GEORGE HOWELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Hala, here in the news business and I'm sure you can attest to this, I don't know the last time I didn't work a holiday. It's just kind of what you do in this business and you're finding many retailers.
Retail employees now doing the same. Many of the employees who work at this Best Buy started at 10:00 p.m. last night, Thanksgiving Day. They will get off here in the next couple of hours around 11:00. So 12-hour work day, a long day many of them clearly happy to be part of the Black Friday -- frenzy rather.
But some of them, at least one employee that started a petition in Tampa has a problem with it. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RICK MELARAGNI, BEST BUY EMPLOYEE: I understand that there's money to be made and we need to make that money, but families should always come above any form of money.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOWELL: Now that petition has gotten at least 14,000 signatures. And another petition started by Anthony Hardwick, a Target employees in Omaha, Nebraska, got some 200,000 signatures. So some people definitely agree with this. Both companies, both Target and Best Buy, responded by saying this is what their customers wanted. They wanted these stores to open early so that they could get these good deals.
And both employees, they also add that while they certainly disagree with the policy, they are happy that they can at least share their opinions with no problems -- Hala.
GORANI: Well, so, the question is, is this going to work for retailers? They need the sales. This economy needs consumer spending. Are they finding that this is working for them in terms of increasing customer turnout?
HOWELL: Well, according to the National Retail Federation, this is the busiest shopping day of the year. So many of these stores trying to capitalize on that to open early and the way it's described, it's a competitive environment. The earlier you open, the better chance you will have customers buying your items.
So, clearly, that's what Best Buy is doing and so far it seems a lot of customers are getting some good deals -- Hala.
GORANI: OK. Thanks very much, George. And thanks to our team there on the ground reporting on Black Friday.
A very important day for retailers and we'll continue to follow developments and see whether or not these 150 million plus customers actually show up with Thanksgiving over, the White House candidates are heading back on the campaign trail.
Our deputy political director Paul Steinhauser joins us with a look at the state of the race.
Hi there, Paul.
PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Hey, good morning, Hala. And you're right, the holiday is over and it's back to business for these candidates. A bunch of them on the campaign trail today, including Newt Gingrich. He'll be down on the campaign trail in Florida.
Remember we are now just five and a half weeks away. That is it. From the first votes. And that will be in Iowa. The Iowa caucuses on January 3rd. They kick off the primary and caucus calendar.
But where does the race stand right now with just five and a half weeks left? Take a look at this. This is our most recent CNN/ORC national poll. These are Republicans nationwide and who's their -- preference for the nominee. You can see now Newt Gingrich. That was the first time Newt Gingrich on top, the former House speaker, in our CNN polling. Mitt Romney in second place, the former Massachusetts governor, but that four-point margin for Gingrich basically all tied up when you take into effect -- account the sampling error.
Herman Cain the businessman at 17 percent. He seen his numbers fade a little bit over the last few weeks. He surged earlier this fall and those allegations of sexual harassment from when he was the head of the National Restaurant Association in the 1990s. Rick Perry, the Texas governor, remember he was the frontrunner at one time back in September at 11 percent. Everybody else in single digits.
What about Iowa? Of course, Iowa the very important, the first state. Take a look at this. This is a poll by American Research Group. This came out just a couple days ago, as well. There's Newt Gingrich in Iowa. Number one as well. Romney second, and you can see right there, Ron Paul, the congressman from Texas, at 16 percent in third place.
Remember, both these polls, Hala, conducted before our debate on Tuesday night. So maybe that debate had an impact. A lot of these debates have had impacts on the polls and it's one of the reasons Newt Gingrich has surged -- Hala.
GORANI: Right. And let's talk about Gingrich. He made some comments on amnesty for some illegal immigrants, I mean that could have an impact on his popularity that has surged over the last few polls, I should say. So is that something we need to look out for?
STEINHAUSER: It could be. It could be a concern for Newt Gingrich, no doubt about it. Listen, if you're running in the general election what he said, and he did call for some kind of amnesty for some long-time illegal immigrants, that's actually kind of like -- I guess some would say a compassionate take or stance and that could help in the general election.
But when you're running for the Republican primaries among hard- core conservatives, it is -- it's basically amnesty is considered a four-letter word especially in a rural states like Iowa and South Carolina. So it could be troublesome for him.
In fact a very influential congressman in Iowa just on Wednesday said that after hearing those comments from Newt Gingrich, he would be maybe less inclined to support Gingrich in Iowa. So listen, five and a half weeks left. We've seen these candidates go up and down. Will Gingrich down -- go down after going up? Stay tuned. This race changes by day -- Hala.
GORANI: Right. And the point you're making is this one thing to appeal to national voters and another one entirely to appeal to primary voters. And we still have a year left.
STEINHAUSER: We do. That's --
GORANI: Until the presidential election. But several months until a nominee is determined.
STEINHAUSER: Exactly.
All right, Paul --
STEINHAUSER: Exactly.
Yes, go ahead. No, no, you're right, it is a long road. A long road to the White House once we get through the -- through the primaries and caucuses, you're right, we have to go all the way until next November for the general election. So this ride is far from over.
GORANI: Paul Steinhauser, thanks very much. See you a bit later. We'll have your next political update in one hour. And a reminder for all the latest political news, go to our Website, CNNPolitics.com.
Coming up, tens of thousands of protesters have flooded Cairo's Tahrir Square. They call it their last chance rally. We'll go there live.
Plus NASA gets ready to launch its biggest Mars mission ever. More on the super ball of space exploration next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GORANI: A sea of people in the heart of Cairo today, once again, for what protesters call their last chance rally. These are live images from Tahrir Square. The beating heart of the opposition movement in Egypt. It comes a day after the military leaders in that country named a new prime minister. A man who has already held that post under Hosni Mubarak, the deposed dictator.
Ivan Watson joins us now on the line from Cairo. So what is the mood there of demonstrators in Tahrir and in an adjacent street after the appointment of this new prime minister, is is appeasing them at all?
IVAN WATSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I don't think so. I mean, this is a symbol, a demonstration of defiance against the system and a kind of popular people power pressure to push forward reforms in the country that I think many of the people, but tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, have gathered there. They argue that it hasn't been fast enough since the former president was pushed out of power.
The very important to point out that the newly appointed Prime Minister Kamal Ganzuri just gave a press conference. He just addressed the nation and he insisted in his comments on Egyptian television that the ruling military council that has been the focus point of so much rage on the part of the Tahrir Square protesters that the military council will afford him enough power to serve as a real prime minister.
He almost seemed a little bit on the defensive because the former civilian government, which resigned en mass just a couple of days ago amid the loss of life in the clashes between the demonstrators and the security forces, it was widely seen as a puppet government that was basically dominated by the generals, the army generals who have been governing this country for the past nine months.
This new prime minister insisting that amendments will be made and that he will be able to govern the country in the coming transitional period -- Hala.
GORANI: So the question is, I mean -- are protesters trusting him? Here's a man, he's 78 years old. He was a prime minister under Hosni Mubarak, the dictatorial leader that these protesters overthrew. And there he is now heading the new government.
WATSON: That's right. And, so, a lot of criticism has already been heaped on him from some of the people in Tahrir Square saying he is yet another symbol of the former regime that they're battling against that he is not in touch with the youth that have been so instrumental in driving this protest movement.
However, it is important to note, Hala, that Tahrir Square is not all of Egypt. This is a country of 70 million people. And simultaneously, there is a rival protest under way in another part of Cairo where tens of thousands of people have gathered in support of the Egyptian military. In support of Marshal Mohammed Tantawi, the much reviled general who leads the military council.
So, you have a battle of people power here, of people trying to show their support for different institutions here. And, fortunately, thus far, the day has gone peacefully.
That is a positive thing I can report the two sides have not gotten involved in any types of clashes that we have heard about thus far.
GORANI: OK. Ivan Watson live there in Tahrir Square.
And, of course, a reminder to our viewers that three days from now is when important elections are going to take place and everybody will be looking for potential violence there.
And speaking of violence, while observing events in Tahrir Square, Egyptian American blogger Mona Eltahawy said she was arrested and abused by police. She talked about her ordeal on CNN's AMERICAN MORNING.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MONA ELTAHAWY, JOURNALIST: I was standing on the front line where protesters have had this confrontation with the security forces. And, all of a sudden, some riot police crossed over to our side and some of the people standing around me managed to get away. But I was cornered by four or five riot police and they beat me with their sticks and that's how I got the break on my left arm and my right hand. And then they dragged me beyond what was basically this confront line into this no man's land, all the way to the interior ministry, which was close by.
And as they were taking me there, I experienced a terrible sexual assault. I mean, it was basically just hands everywhere, groping my breasts, hands between my legs. I lost count of the number of hands that tried to get into my trousers that I was trying to push off.
They were calling me all kind of terrible names. I fell to the ground at one point and dragging me by my hair.
But I want to emphasize what happened to me is not just unique to me. This is the kind of brutality that was one of the main catalysts for the Egyptian revolution. As an Egyptian, I came back to Tahrir Square because I wanted to be here with fellow Egyptians to basically say this revolution will continue and will not be hijacked by the supreme council of the armed forces. And it will not be hijacked by this brutal security forces who beaten me and beat so many other Egyptians.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Mona Eltahawy and, by the way, a French reporter was sexually assaulted in Tahrir Square. Now, according to the head of the military's moral department, Eltahawy was detained because she didn't have an Egyptian press pass. His quote, "What did she expect? She could be a spy for all we know. But when she told me she was sexually assaulted, I encouraged her to take the appropriate legal action."
A $39 billion dollar deal in the telecom industry hits a major roadblock. Why regulators may disconnect a tie up between AT&T and T- Mobile. We'll go to New York Stock Exchange next.
Plus, NASA gets ready to launch its biggest Mars mission ever. More on the, quote, "super bowl" of space exploration.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GORANI: It's a big week for NASA. The space agency is celebrating half a billion dollars in new founding for its Hubble 2.0 telescope and tomorrow lifts off on its 19th attempted mission to Mars.
John Zarrella reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Mars. Does life exist there? Did it ever?
NASA is poised to take its boldest step towards answering questions that could change forever our view of humanity's place in the universe.
ASHWIN VASAVADA, DEPUTY PROJECT MANAGER: I think the best way of saying why we're so excited about this mission is that it sets us up for the mission of finally answering that, you know, really age-old question of does life exist on other planets?
ZARRELLA: The mission is called the Mars Science Laboratory or MSL, the most sophisticated vehicle ever sent to Mars, it has the ability to detect signs of life. If it works, come next August, after traveling 350 million miles, a 2,000-pound, six-wheel rover called Curiosity will arrive at the red planet.
Using a tether system never tried before, it will be lowered down to a place called the Gale Crater. The size of a small car, Curiosity is the Cadillac of rovers.
JESSICA SAMUELS, SURFACE SYSTEMS ENGINEER: We're choosing to make the rovers bigger and bigger because we want to cover more ground. We want to be able to put an arm out and drill a rock.
ZARRELLA: Drill a rock? Why?
ROB MANNING, MSL CHIEF ENGINEER: On Mars, if life exists as single cell organisms or it ever existed, we believe it will be under the ground or inside rocks.
ZARRELLA: Inside Gale Crater sits inside what scientists believe is a layered mountain. In essence, the history of Mars told in the layers. And if water ever flowed on Mars, it might have been in that crater. Curiosity's arm will collect samples and place them in its onboard laboratory with the ability to detect organic material.
VASAVADA: Now, if we discover organic materials on mars, then it gets very exciting. You know, the chances of it may be low, but the payoff is huge. Organic materials are required for life as we know it.
ZARRELLA: But it won't mean life exists, just the building blocks.
MANNING: If you go to the driest desert on earth, can you find life on your samples if you do a robotic study? Probably not. It's actually quite difficult. Life has to stick up and make itself seen.
ZARRELLA: Finding life itself would be next to the next wave of explorers, robotic and perhaps even human.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GORANI: And John Zarrella joins me live. Now, John, of course, NASA had actually hoped to launch this Mars science lab two years ago. At the time, there were technical issues.
So, the question is: are they confident this time around?
ZARRELLA: Yes, they really are. They say the extra two years that they ended up having to take really gave them an opportunity to work out the issues they had. Of course, they're way over budget, about $900 million over budget on this rover project. But for the engineering team at the jet propulsion laboratory in California which built the Curiosity rover, this is a big, big deal, Hala, because this is the last of the planetary missions on tap for NASA. There are no more.
And they really hope that they will be able to find at least evidence on Mars of past life. Before we go, you know, you see that behind me there, we're in the vehicle assembly building in NASA.
With the shuttle not flying any more, that's Endeavour there being readied for its trip to California, at the museum that is going to take delivery of it in about a year and a half.
GORANI: That's fascinating, you're right there in front of it.
Now, let's talk about tomorrow's launch.
ZARRELLA: Sure.
GORANI: What's the forecast like for that? Are we expecting it to be a smooth one?
ZARRELLA: Weather looks pretty good. Yes, weather looks pretty good. Right now, it's a little bit windy out there. They've been saying about a 70 percent chance of good weather. Little bit of overcast clouds moving by, but, chances of launch look very, very good from about 10:00 am. -- 10:02 a.m. Eastern Time, and the launch window actually extends out over an hour and a half. So, they'll have plenty of opportunities to get off the ground tomorrow.
GORANI: All right, thanks very much -- John Zarrella reporting live there on that anticipated launch tomorrow.
ZARRELLA: Sure.
GORANI: We'll talk to you a bit later.
ZARRELLA: Now, a bid to create the world's biggest mobile phone carrier may get derailed. We're talking about the $39 billion tie up between AT&T and T-Mobile.
Alison Kosik at the New York Stock Exchange.
All right. I'm sure trading volume is light, but before we talk about that, the deal. Is it going to follow through?
ALISON KOSIK, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Yes. And that is really the question then, Hala. You know what? The signal is really not so strong on this one going through. In fact, AT&T is actually setting aside money just in case. It's setting aside a $4 billion breakup fee because companies have to pay some penalty if the deal that they agree on winds up falling through.
Now, AT&T is preparing this because of what happened on Monday. That's when the FCC recommended that the deal go to an administrative hearing and this is very rare. The last time it happened was back in 2002 for a different deal and that deal eventually fell through.
Now, this one, the AT&T/T-Mobile deal, it comes with a lot of controversy. In fact, the government filed a suit to block it back in February, saying it's going to lead to higher prices for consumers and fewer jobs. But this is getting pretty expensive for AT&T.
In addition to that, $4 billion break-up fee I just told you about, it's going to have to pay, if this thing falls through, a $3 billion termination fee to Deutsche Telekom, that's T-Mobile's owner and it will then lose billions dollars more in wireless spectrum allotment. So, this one is to be continued -- Hala.
GORANI: All right. We'll keep an eye on that.
Now, what about trading today? It's the day after Thanksgiving. So, obviously, we're not expecting a very high trading volume figure. But what's the expectation in terms of the direction of the stock index?
KOSIK: Hala, it's more of the same of what we have been seeing, a weak open. Dow futures now pointing lower, about 70 points. You know what? Today, especially on all the day, not much to trade on, no economic reports or major corporate news. But the headlines are moving, again. Yesterday, for Thanksgiving Day, we found out that Portugal's credit rating was downgraded to junk. So, what you have here for investors are the same worries about Europe carrying through.
Opening bell ringing in about three minutes -- Hala.
GORANI: OK. We'll check in with you a little bit later. Alison Kosik is at the New York Stock Exchange.
Want to be a savvy holiday shopper? Well, guess what, there's an app for that. In fact, your mobile phone, if you use it correctly, can save you time, obviously, but also money. We'll explain what we mean after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GORANI: Welcome back.
Checking top stories now:
Congresswoman Gabby Giffords met with some of her constituents for the first time since being wounded in a shooting in January. Giffords and husband Mark Kelly helped serve a meal to military families.
Also among the stories we're following, "Harry Potter" author J.K. Rowling said she was so hounded by paparazzi at one time, she felt like a hostage in her own home. Rowling testified before a committee investigating Britain's phone hacking scandal.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
J.K. ROWLING, AUTHOR: This doesn't apply to the whole of the press, but the attitude seems to be utterly cavalier, indifference, what does it matter, you're famous, you're asking for it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Rowling says she was outraged after a journalist slipped a note into her 5-year-old daughter's school bag.
And shoppers got an earlier-than-ever Black Friday start with some stores opening late at night. Fifteen people suffered minor injuries at a California Wal-Mart when one customer used pepper spray, apparently, to move others out of the line.
And mobile phones have become quite handy for today's holiday shoppers from searching for deals to comparison shopping. There are new apps that can help you save time and money.
Karin Caifa shows us just how helpful our phones can be.
I've got to confess, Karin, I don't phone-shop, you know? But if there was an option to do it easily and quickly, I guess that's very tempting, right?
KARIN CAIFA, CNN NEWSOURCE: There's a lot more of those apps out there this year, more than ever, Hala. The smartphone is the holiday shopper's best accessory. You can do everything from tracking down those elusive items, even saving yourself a little bit of Christmas cash.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CAIFA (voice-over): 'Tis the season to be mobile.
FIONA DIAS, RETAIL & E-COMMERCE EXPERT: This is undoubtedly the year of mobile devices.
CAIFA: Holiday shoppers can have the best of both worlds, using that smartphone while looking at merchandise in the store.
DIAS: You can touch it, you can feel it, you can see it, but then they're going to price check on their mobile phones or their mobile tablets.
CAIFA: The Google shopper app for iPhone and Android is just one way to make sure you're getting the most bang for your buck.
JULIE KRUEGER, GOOGLE RETAIL INDUSTRY DIRECTOR: You can go on and find out product information, reviews of the product from other consumers who have purchased it. Do price comparisons with online retailers, as well as brick and mortar retailers.
CAIFA: Location-based apps like Foursquare are a favorite for limited time offers. And a simple search for nearby deals may yield more than you expect.
KRUEGER: Looking for deals and coupons that are available online is a huge way that people use search and use their mobile devices.
CAIFA: The tablet boom has given rise to another trend: couch commerce. Easy to tote around than a laptop, consumers can take that tablet to bed so the shop never stops.
Shop Runner brings together dozens of retailers and offers free two-day shipping for a membership fee and keep track of online purchases with an app like Slice for iPhone. It scans your inbox for confirmation emails, looks for things like shipping information, and tracks packages and electronic receipts.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CAIFA: We keep citing that number, 152 million Americans expected to shop Black Friday and through the weekend -- well, that means a lot of fighting for parking spots. So, check and see if your city or even your local mall has a parking spot app. Those are out there to help make it just a little bit easier, Hala.
GORANI: All right. Karin Caifa, you're braving the crowds. I don't know if you're going to get some shopping in at the Pentagon City Mall in Arlington there. But, good luck to you and we'll check in with you later.
Well, it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas at the White House. The official White House Christmas tree will be presented to First Lady Michelle Obama in about an hour and a half.
CNN's Dan Lothian will have a bird's eye view. Tell us about this beautiful tree.
DAN LOTHIAN, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Hala.
Well, as you know, if a tree is headed here to the White House, it has to be fully vetted for beauty and all the other characteristics that make it the perfect tree for the White House. This one comes all the way from Wisconsin. It is a 19-foot tall balsam fir. It was selected in early October, and it was harvested just last week.
Now, in order for a tree to get here, it has to go through a long process. First of all, there's a competition. There's a state and regional competition and there are different panels made up of tree growers, retailers, other experts. Then, a White House team will formally make the selection.
This time, the selection, the honors go to Sue and Tom Schroeder of their farm there in Wisconsin. This tree, by the way, was planted 18 years ago and now made the journey here to Washington where it will be sort of the centerpiece of the holiday season, as all of that gets under way starting today, Hala.
GORANI: All right. So, for all those people perhaps in Washington, D.C., on holiday, do the White House tours include the tree?
LOTHIAN: Of course. I mean, this is a tree that everyone really wants to see when they come here to Washington and they get a chance to tour the White House. As you know, during the holiday season, there are a lot of different holiday receptions here at the White House. There are tours that do take place.
This tree will be in the White House blue room. And, so, anyone who's coming through here, thousands of people who will come through here during the holiday season will get a chance to see this beautiful tree.
GORANI: Thanks, Dan Lothian at the White House.
Prince Harry turned tourist this week. America's royal visitor stepped away from helicopter training for a different kind of thrill ride. The details are next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GORANI: All right. Let's get you your "Showbiz Headlines."
Efforts to bring ABC daytime dramas to the internet has hit a snag. Prospect Park is company licensed to continue production of "All My Children" and "One Life to Live" on the web. But according to the Hollywood report, those efforts have been suspended because negotiating parties cannot reach a deal.
And Prince Harry takes a break from helicopter training in Arizona for a different kind of thrill ride in California. "U.S. Weekly" is reporting the 27-year-old royal visited Universal Studios on Wednesday and the magazine says Harry's highlights included a behind the scenes studio tours and a trek through the King Kong 360 3D and the "War of the Worlds" exhibits.
And teen sensation Justin Bieber may have visited all seven continents, but he couldn't seem to name them all on the "Late Show" with David letterman.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAVID LETTERMAN, HOST, "LATE NIGHT WITH DAVID LETTERMAN": Where have you been? Run off the countries.
JUSTIN BIEBER, SINGER: I think I've been to every continent.
LETTERMAN: How many continents are there?
BIEBER: Asia, North America, South America, Africa, Antarctica and the North Pole. No.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Actually, I'm kind of impressed that he got Antarctica. Now, he named six of the seven. He just forgot Europe, which seemed like a slip more than anything else. Letterman gave him a hint to help him with the final answer. I thought that was pretty good.
A severe drought dries up a Texas lake. Underneath, a tiny town is revealed, and that's not all archeologists found lurking 20 feet under water. That story is next.
Also, it's the holiday hiring surge. Retailers are expected to have brought on an extra 500,000 workers this holiday season. It does sound great. But are they leading to full-time work or are we becoming a part-time economy?
That and more on CNN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GORANI: Once again, checking news across the country:
In Texas, the drought there is drying up lakes and underneath one lake is an old town called Bluffton. Also discovered, never before seen artifacts and ruins, as well, including a cemetery that dates back to the 1930s.
In Missouri, a pet wallaby decided to take a stroll around town. It took off while being fed. It got caught and taken to the Kansas City zoo
In Everett, Washington, parents of a four-year-old say their daughter was forced to scribble her signature on a form banning her from a store for shoplifting. A Safeway security guard informed the girl and her father that the store would be pressing charges after he watched the small girl open a bag of fruit and eat some and put it back on the shelf. Safeway says it's investigating the incident.
Now, the holiday shopping season is officially under way, you don't need me to tell you that. It is Black Friday. It means more hiring, as well. This is good for the economy. But in most cases, we're talking about part-time jobs.
Alison Kosik is at the New York Stock Exchange. Now, it's good to see people working but the fact that these positions are part-time says what about the state of the economy.
KOSIK: Right. Exactly. So during a slow recovery like we're having here in the U.S. it's expected you're going to see a lot of part-time positions. But the concern that many economists have, Hala, is that it could wind up being a fundamental change in the job market.
Now the National Week Help Federation says that retailers are hiring half a million people of workers this year. And that's normal considering the influx of holiday shoppers coming in and buying things. But -- but the thing with the situation now is that we're seeing this all year long.
You look at the jobs report, the most recent jobs report; it shows that almost nine million Americans are working part-time because they have to. They can't find full-time work and the bigger fear here is that companies they may be learning to do more with less.
Now they may wind up hiring a part-time worker who does enough to get by or the company would just bring on two part-time workers to avoid paying benefits and hiring that one full-time worker. So you see how companies are getting around this and that fear of this kind of structural change in the job market itself -- Hala.
GORANI: And this economy is going to have to start adding jobs at a higher pace if a rebound, a significant rebound in the economy is to take place. So the question is, these part-time jobs for these hundreds of thousands of Americans, will they lead to full-time positions?
KOSIK: And you make a good point because, sure, many -- many of these part-time positions do wind up leading into a full-time position and, you know what, a part-time job in the end is better than having no job at all and it gives employers a lot of flexibility. Let's say who -- at department stores and at call centers where there are long hours so they can cut and boost hours and they don't have to necessarily lay people off, as much. It's also cheaper for employers because they don't have to pay benefits.
But the thing is, many part-time jobs don't lead to full-time jobs and that hurts the economy. And for workers, that leads to more instability because their hours and the size of their pay checks wind up fluctuating a lot. And you know what; in the end it hurt employers too because part-time workers wind up leaving quickly for other jobs.
And then it costs a lot to train these people, as well. So, sure, it's good to have work, but the reality is, you know what we really don't want to become a part-time economy.
GORANI: Absolutely. Alison Kosik, thanks very much.
Having a baby is a big decision and it's also a big expense. Now more and more couples are putting another child on hold because they're worried about making ends meet. We'll hear one of those families explain their decision to wait.
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GORANI: Checking stories making headlines later today.
At 11:00 Eastern this morning, First Lady Michelle Obama will receive the official White House Christmas tree.
Keeping in the holiday spirit, at 5:00 Eastern National Harbor, Maryland, kicks off the spectacular Harbor Light festival complete with tree lighting, fireworks and live performances.
Also, at 5:00, protesters promise to "Occupy Black Friday" by holding a series of protests across the country.
We're following many developments in the next hour on the CNN NEWSROOM. Let's check in first with Chris Knowles.
CHRIS KNOWLES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Here at Macy's flagship store, the largest Macy's in the world, crowds still lining up for Black Friday specials but wait until you see what it looked like at midnight. We'll have that at the top of the hour.
GEORGE HOWELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm George Howell hanging out with customers at what is a great day to get some good deals but thousands of people have signed on to a petition against big stores like this opening for Black Friday. I'll have a live report for you coming up at the top of the hour.
DAN LOTHIAN, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: I'm Dan Lothian at the White House where the administration watching the situation on the ground in Egypt is pushing for democratic reforms in that country. I'll have more on that story at the top of the hour.
GORANI: All right. We'll also go live to Egypt. Thanks, Dan, and to all of you.
Small business owners have a message for holiday shoppers. Don't just hit the big box stores. Tomorrow is Small Business Saturday. We'll talk about that next hour.
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GORANI: Welcome back.
For this first time ever in the NFL, two brothers faced off as head coaches. Jeff Fischel is here with that and other sports headlines. Hi, Jeff.
JEFF FISCHEL, HLN SPORTS: And it was perfect timing; Thanksgiving, right. It's all about family. Well, we saw it last night; John Harbaugh's Ravens versus Jim Harbaugh's 49ers. Before the game, they were with mom and dad. That's a special Thanksgiving for the family. By the way, mom and dad celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary today.
Fourth quarter, tied at 6. The Ravens Joe Flacco to Dennis Pitt for the touchdown. John does beat Jim in the Harbaugh Bowl, 16- 6. The Ravens win. They move in to first in the AFC North. Jim's 9ers lead the NSC West and after the game the two did meet at midfield for a big brotherly hug.
The Packers trying to stay perfect and 11-0 for the first time in franchise history, taking on the lions. Aaron Rodgers, I think you can start etching his name on the MVP trophy right , another big day. Two touchdowns including this one to James Jones.
Now watch Lion's defensive start Ndamukong Suh; steps on Green Bay lineman Evan Dietrich Smith. Suh was ejected. Life isn't easy for a boy named Suh. The packers win 27-15 and they're 11-0.
Dallas quarterback Tony Romo finds Robinson not once but twice against the Dolphins. But Miami comes back. Matt Moore going for his fourth straight win since coming off the bench, deep to Brandon Marshall -- Marshall, Marshall, Marshall . The nice catch even though he's totally being -- there's a PI on the play but he makes the great catch. Last play of the game, the field goal by the Cowboys rookie kicker Dan Bailey; wins it for the cowboys 20-19. They're in first in the NFC East.
And check out finally the end of a horrible losing streak. American Samoa has finally won an international match. They had never since they started playing international play in 1994.
GORANI: Who did they beat? Who did they beat.
FISCHEL: They beat Tonga this week, 2-1.
GORANI: Oh, wow.
FISCHEL: And you know what; they followed it up today with a tie against the Cook Islands, a huge turn-up for a team. They once lost 31-0.
GORANI: What?
FISCHEL: Yes. That's how bad it was to start.
GORANI: In soccer?
FISCHEL: Yes, yes. That's how bad it was to start. But the turnaround is huge. They've now won. They were number 204 in the world.
GORANI: 31, that means the goalkeeper took in 31 goals in one day.
FISCHEL: Yes.
GORANI: You have to almost work at that, right?
FISCHEL: They were 204th in the world in the rankings. That was tied for dead last. I think they'll move up a little bit.
GORANI: Well, listen, I looked up American Samoa. 67,242 people live there.
FISCHEL: Not a big population.
GORANI: So it's a small population. Well done. I like that they kept at it until they registered that first win. Reminds me when Germany beat Saudi Arabia 8-0 in the World Cup, I think two World Cups ago. You do feel bad, though. You know? For the team on the other end of that.
OK. Thanks very much, Jeff. We'll see you a bit later.
FISCHEL: OK, Hala. All right.
GORANI: There's a new debate at the dinner table: family planning versus family finances. More and more couples now take money into account when deciding whether to expand their family. Christine Romans introduces us to one couple having this very conversation.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Want to go get some toys?
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Laurie and Ryan Parthemore want to have another baby.
LAURIE PARTHEMORE, DELAYING HAVING ANOTHER BABY: Once you get married, everybody is like oh, when are you having a baby? When are you having another baby? But it's not always that easy.
ROMANS: But the economy stands in their way.
RYAN PARTHEMORE, DELAYING HAVING ANOTHER BABY: Two would scare the heck out of me. I mean because to have child care costs times two, that's another big chunk of change.
L. PARTHEMORE: Hi.
ROMANS: The couple spends $11,000 on child care for Olivia. She's 1 1/2 years old.
Ryan, a detective, gets extra income working in the family's business but Laurie's job is a major factor in the family planning.
L. PARTHEMORE: Did you get the letter from us over the summertime about the funding cuts?
ROMANS: 14 out of 21 people have been laid off at the child care association where she works. Laurie isn't sure if she'll have a job come January.
L. PARTHEMORE: I'm 39 now and so there's a window and so that window closing while the job window closes at the same time or potentially will close, it's a little unnerving.
Can you burp the baby?
ROMANS: No question, women are already waiting longer to have kids and they're having fewer of them. In 2010, 4 million babies were born in the U.S. down from the peak of 4.3 million in 2007.
Dr. Jacque Moritz has delivered about 3,000 babies.
You are going to cost $250,000 by the time you're 18.
DR. JACQUES MORITZ, ST. LUKE'S-ROOSEVELT HOSPITAL CENTER: That's true.
ROMANS: $226,920 to be exact, according to the government; that's up more than $60,000 from ten years ago.
MORITZ: Well, there's no doubt that economy matters in having children. It has mattered throughout history. In the Depression it went down. In other recessions it went down and in boom times it goes up.
ROMANS: The recession is technically over but for most people doesn't feel like it.
MORITZ: Couples are telling me that the economy is tight. Having a kid, it is a great expense. I think a bigger expense up in your head than in reality but still, you know, people think about kids and college and education and all of the costs involved. They're right. So they're seeing the moment right now. How could we ever do this? They're postponing it.
ROMANS: Moritz says women think they can't afford to have a baby but for many, they can't afford to wait.
MORITZ: Biological clock.
ROMANS: You can't wait for the economy to recover.
MORITZ: Right. The stock is up, the stock is down --
ROMANS: Doesn't matter.
MORITZ: -- but the stock in the eggs is always going down.
ROMANS: yes.
MORITZ: Basically every year we get older.
ROMANS: Can you say thank you?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you.
ROMANS: You're welcome.
For now the Parthemores remain a family of three.
