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CNN Saturday Morning News
Portland, Oregon Targeted by Terrorist; Small Business Saturday Boasts Deals for Consumers; College Football Recap; Flash Mob Sings Hallelujah to Mall Goers; 21st Century Salvation Army; Going "Commando" in Scotland; Thanksgiving Leftovers
Aired November 27, 2010 - 08:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN ANCHOR: From the CNN Center, this is CNN SATURDAY MORNING. It is Saturday, November 27th. Good morning. I'm Brianna Keilar in for T.J. Holmes. Thanks for starting your day with us.
Oh, yes, it was a Black Friday stampede as eager shoppers surge into a Target store. Commotion, screams, and one shopper, you can see they're pinned against a door bent over in pain. We're going to be hearing from him.
And no pocket change no longer an excuse when you pass by a bell ringer at the red kettle. The Salvation Army goes high-tech and we're looking at the newest ways you can give.
Well, we start this morning with an injured Marine not in Iraq or Afghanistan. Twenty-four-year-old Corporal Phillip Dugan was at a Best Buy store in Augusta, Georgia, with a group of other Marines when they spotted a shoplifting suspect running out of the store. The Marines tackled the suspect and police say that during the commotion, the suspect stabbed Dugan in the back. The Marine was treated and released from a hospital.
President Obama is nursing a sore lip this morning. He got an elbow during a basketball game yesterday, needed 12 stitches to close that cut.
And you probably know about Black Friday, perhaps Cyber Monday, but do you know that today is Small Business Saturday? It's a new thing. It's an effort to get shoppers to buy at local mom and pop stores rather than those big-box retailers. American Express behind that effort.
Now we're also following breaking news on what could have been a devastating terrorist attack in Portland, Oregon. A 19-year-old naturalized U.S. citizen from Somalia is accused of attempting to blow up a van filled with explosives. The detonation site right there, last night's crowded Christmas tree ceremony, tree lighting ceremony in Portland's Pioneer Square.
And the top FBI agent in Oregon says the suspect -- and I'm quoting here -- was absolutely committed to carrying out an attack on a very grand scale. The agent says the threat was real, but the explosives were fake and the suspect is Mohamed Osman Mohamud, who had been on the FBI's radar for months. His arrest came after a very long undercover operation. I talked with a former FBI agent, Thomas Fuentes about this case an hour ago.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
THOMAS FUENTES, FORMER ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, FBI (via telephone): Everybody right now expects the attack to occur either in New York City or Washington, DC or at least a major city of the United States. And so to have it occur in somewhere that's not New York is an issue. Because then everybody can wonder whether or not somebody in their neighborhood is plotting to do something like this in their community.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KEILAR: Mohammed is due in court on Monday.
And to the Korean peninsula now and growing concerns over the possibility of an armed conflict. North Korea's intense artillery shelling of a South Korean island this week is drawing protests today in Seoul. Demonstrators say they want a stronger response against North Korea. That shelling killed four South Koreans.
Our Stan Grant found himself in the middle of today's protest in Seoul.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
STAN GRANT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The protesters surged forward. They were hauling themselves at the police, and the police firing tear gas and charging back into the protesters. This is an indication of just how much tension there is on the streets of Seoul right now.
As you can see, they are starting to move behind me. And we're going to try to keep our distance here.
As you can see, the pushing and shoving started, again. This is what -- this is what the police have been brought in here -- this is what the police have been brought in here to try to stop. We are in the middle of this. We are going to try to get out of here because this could flare again, violently.
So, I'm just going to -- Fred, let's try to get out of here. Let's try to get out of here. This is not going to be safe for us. Let's go. Let's go. Let's go.
It's been quite confusing what is actually happening here today. Now, of course, violent scenes, lots of pushing, lots of shoving. These protesters are charging towards the police. The police charging back at them.
Just look around here and you can see that we are talking heavily armed riot squad. Now, these people are used to this type of protest. But this is indication of just how much anger there is on the streets of Seoul right now. And just through in here, you can see the protesters themselves, I think you can see -- one of them has now taken his shirt off. The others are wearing banners around their heads.
Now, all the men have been pushed back up there against the wall and surrounded by these police. All you can see through here are the heads, the black helmets of the police riot squad.
With the United States in South Korea about to begin this new war games in the Yellow Sea and North Korea warning that that will take the whole Korean Peninsula to the brink of war. And now, that tension is spilling over into the streets. More and more people angry and more and more people demanding that the South Korean government take a tougher line and move in harder against North Korea.
And here over here, you can see the protesters themselves as they are starting to disperse.
So calm is being restored right now. But as you can see, this is a situation that is fluid and could always explode, again, at any minute.
Stan Grant, CNN, Seoul.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KEILAR: Confidential diplomatic communications expected to be released soon by WikiLeaks could contain highly sensitive information. The diplomatic cables could reveal U.S. negotiating positions and secret intelligence.
That has prompted the State Department to launch a massive review of diplomatic communications. In fact, a source tells CNN that every diplomatic document between 2006 and 2009 is under review.
Admiral Mike Mullen says that WikiLeaks, that whistle blowing website that is threatening to release the documents, is creating a dangerous situation.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ADM. MIKE MULLEN, JOINT CHIEFS CHAIRMAN: What I don't think those who are in charge of WikiLeaks understand is we live in a world where just a little bitty piece of information can be added to a network of information and really open up an understanding that just wasn't there before.
So it continues to be extremely dangerous and I would hope that those who are responsible for this would at some point in time think about the responsibility they have for lives, that they're exposing and the potential that's there and stop leaking this information.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KEILAR: The material could be released at any time. and the United States has already begun alerting nations all around the world about the possible leak. You can watch the entire interview with Admiral Mullen on "FAREED ZAKARIA GPS." That's Sunday at 10:00 a.m. Eastern and Pacific. It's no secret that the holiday shopping season unofficially kicked off yesterday with Black Friday shoppers out and about trying to grab those early bird bargains. Look at this line here, braving the rain, the cold, the dark of night.
Just how much are shoppers expected to shell out? It's pretty amazing. The National Retail Federation is predicting about $447 billion will be spent this holiday season. This Black Friday weekend alone, retailers expect to do better than $41 billion in business.
And CNN's Sandra Endo is live in McLean, Virginia this morning on the day after Black Friday shopping. I mean, Sandy, you're at Tyson's which is one of the biggest shopping destinations in DC. How is it going?
SANDRA ENDO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Brianna, good morning.
On this Saturday morning, the stores haven't opened yet. They're going to open here in just about an hour or so. Macy's, though, opened their doors. And you can see the signs one after another promoting sales and bargains. And yesterday, this mall like many others nationwide opened at midnight and throngs of shoppers came in here looking for those Black Friday deals as you mentioned, Brianna.
But it's still unclear if that translates into a boost in sales. But the National Retail Federation is anticipating a 2.3 percent increase in retail sales from last year. And last year, they only saw a 0.4 percent increase in sales and they say that stores are doing everything they can to lure in those customers.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SCOTT KRUGMAN, VP PUBLIC RELATIONS, NATIONAL RETAIL FEDERATION: Retailers understand that this is a marathon and not a sprint. Consumers do have more spending power but they lack confidence mostly because of the job market. And absent of jobs, retailers are looking to discount as a way to boost confidence. And I think consumers are going to respond.
So what you're going to see are retailers using every weapon in their arsenal to get consumers out to the stores. Whether it be discounts, whether it be their multi-channel strategy, whether it be using mobile and social media. I think they're reaching consumers in new and unique ways and offering some amazing deals to go along with that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ENDO: And shoppers have their own strategy too. Consumer experts say that shoppers are coming out here with a plan. They have the bargain lists and they know the exact items they want. They've done their research online. They've comparison shopped.
So they're just out here to try to find those deals. So it seems like the best course of action is to have a plan of attack -- Brianna.
KEILAR: Yes, serious business there at Tyson's Sandy. I know we'll be checking back in with you next hour. Thanks for that.
And Sarah Palin swinging through Iowa. This is part of a book tour, not a campaign stop. But could the Tea Party darling be dropping hints about a White House run?
And Black Friday more like black and blue Friday at a big box store in Buffalo. We're going to hear from a guy who got caught underfoot.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KEILAR: From the November 2nd shellacking to political fence mending, President Obama has had a few weeks now to reflect upon the historic 2010 midterm election where he saw his Democratic majorities in both the House and Senate take major hits, in fact, losing the majority in the House.
Last night on ABC's Barbara Walter's Thanksgiving special, the president spelled out a course of correction of sorts for the next two years.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I think that no matter what happened in the election, the first two years were all about saving the economy from a crisis and we've done that. The economy's now stabilized.
Our focus now has to be on issues like education, issues like investing in research and development, issues like infrastructure development.
So my hope is that the new Republican leadership, those who are coming in, that they welcome the opportunity to work together with me and other Democrats to focus on solving the country's problems instead of focusing on politics. And I'm confident that we're going to be able to do that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KEILAR: Positive thinking. But the political reality dictates otherwise, especially when conservative Republicans see the midterm elections as the Obama referendum. And then there's the Sarah Palin factor as her latest book tour appears to be a primer for a 2012 White House run.
Here's CNN's deputy political director Paul Steinhauser.
PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Good morning, Brianna.
Sarah Palin's heading to Iowa today and that should turn some heads. The former Alaskan governor is in Des Moines to sign books for her new book "America by Heart." John McCain's running mate in the last presidential election returns to Iowa again on Thursday for another book signing in the state. So why is this a big deal in the political world? Here's why. Palin says she's seriously thinking of making a bid for the Republican presidential nomination in 2012 and Iowa, of course, plays a big role in the road to the White House as its caucuses kick off the presidential primary season.
Palin's book tour also takes her to South Carolina which holds the first southern primary in the battle for the White House and to Ohio, a crucial must-win state for any presidential nominee -- Brianna.
KEILAR: Paul Steinhauser for us there.
(WEATHER REPORT)
KEILAR: Yes. Watch CNN and know that you're probably having a better weekend than maybe a commander in chief who is nursing a busted lip. Yes, in the basketball game, he caught an errant elbow. We've been talking a lot about that, but football is what's on your mind.
REYNOLDS WOLF, AMS METEOROLOGIST: And plenty of it.
KEILAR: So happy today.
WOLF: (INAUDIBLE) One of the games actually finished up last night, we're talking about the Boise State game, Boise State versus Nevada. What's interesting about this, Boise State had the opportunity on the road to finish this game up right before -- right at the end of regulation.
It was a long pass, you see, the completion here, goes in (INAUDIBLE) field goal that would have won it for the Broncos. You've got the time-out. You got the kicker on the field. Everything is lined up. It's going to be perfect, right? Wrong, veers off a bit more to the right. And as it does so, they go into overtime. First attempt in overtime, kicks another one, this time he shanks it to the left.
KEILAR: That's the worst if you're a kicker. You never live that down.
WOLF: It is so difficult. It is really difficult. And sure enough, Nevada goes out, nails one and Wolf Pack comes away with the win upsetting the undefeated Boise State Broncos, so tough times. Their team has the blue field at home. We're not talking about Nevada. We're talking about Boise State (INAUDIBLE).
Another amazing game that took place yesterday was the Iron Bowl, we're talking Alabama and Auburn. Check out the video. Let's go right to it. The story was all Alabama early. They rattled up 24 unanswered points.
Here's (INAUDIBLE) throwing to Julio Jones (ph), wide open, no one (ph) within the same time zone as Julio Jones as he high steps into the end zone. Alabama would add quite a few more. They did a heck of a job, but then Auburn woke up from the stupor. You see (INAUDIBLE) throwing (INAUDIBLE) He's got it (INAUDIBLE) between two receivers and there he goes, the defenders rather, no one's defending that. He goes right on in, Auburn would answer in the second half coming back to take the win 28-27.
The first time Alabama has lost a game at home in over 23 games. Auburn, amazing, amazing season. They've had all kinds of issues. They've had some scandal regarding Newton (INAUDIBLE). There's allegations of a pay for play controversy. But didn't seem to mess him up yesterday at all. They played very well.
KEILAR: And putting the allegations aside, you're a huge Auburn fan. Were you freaking out when Alabama was that far up?
WOLF: Yes, absolutely. I was ripping my hair out of my head. It was insane. But you have to give it to Alabama, though. They played very, very hard. The defending national championship team, you wouldn't expect any less from the Tide. They're an amazing team, very well coached by Nick Saban. What do you expect from Alabama except the best?
KEILAR: That's true. Good competitors, good game.
WOLF: No question.
KEILAR: Some of us wouldn't know a flash mob from a flash flood, but this one at a mall food court in Canada has gone viral on YouTube. This is crazy. Check it out.
Pretty beautiful music they're making there, this is a group of about 100 people serenading unsuspecting shoppers with a hallelujah chorus. And this video has now been viewed more than a million times on the web.
WOLF: I love the idea. I love the idea, but to be honest with you, if I'm sitting there munching on my Sabarro's with a Coke, I'm freaking out.
KEILAR: You are?
WOLF: If someone gets up and just breaks into song like that,, it tends to be a little bit strange, something you just don't see every single day.
KEILAR: I love it. I think it's so cool.
WOLF: Again, the intent is wonderful, you got to like that, but I mean, it is a little freaky.
KEILAR: No, it's definitely weird. I've seen them do it with the Thriller dance. Might actually beat the hallelujah chorus.
WOLF: At the same time, though, if you're going to one of those events and you know you're going to expect it. Let's say you're listening to our iPod and you're enjoying some great thrash metal and all of a sudden, boom, they break into that. It's great music, beautiful time of the season, but still a little freaky.
KEILAR: A little freaky. We have more top stories ahead after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KEILAR: Checking top stories now. A 19-year-old naturalized U.S. citizen from Somalia is accused of attempting to blow up a van filled with explosives. The FBI says Mohamed Osman Mohamud targeted last night's crowded Christmas tree lighting ceremony in Portland's Pioneer Square. Mohammed is due in court on Monday.
A second-story loft office collapses at a Colorado Salvation Army thrift store. Some tense moments there as rescue crews sifted through debris for hours trying to find survivors. Thankfully everyone made it out safely.
And those three teenage boys that were given up for dead after more than 50 days lost at sea have been rescued. Their boat had drifted 750 miles across the south Pacific. A crew member on a fishing boat spotted the teens and called for help.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KEILAR: A little more evidence that the economy might be starting to pick up. The CEO of Best Buy tells us the company is hiring 20,000 seasonal workers and expects to keep around 5,000 of them after the holidays. Similar story from Macy's, as well. They will hire around 65,000 workers, could hang on to between 2,000 to 3,000 of them once the holiday rush is over.
And it is a good thing that retailers are bulking up because larger than expected crowds jammed malls and stores around the country on Black Friday kicking off the holiday shopping marathon. This year's bargain hunters found especially sweet deals on electronics and toys, but some retailers didn't even wait until Friday. For instance, Toys R us opened its stores at 10:00 p.m. on Thanksgiving. And the company said that early start paid off. Many of its outlets had lines of 500 to 1,000 people waiting to get in.
The head of the FDIC says government action or action on government debt is urgently needed. Sheila Bair said in an opinion piece in "The Washington Post," that if something isn't done, the U.S. could face another financial crisis. The Federal debt has increased sharply in recent years and is now approaching $14 trillion.
Well, that sound of spare change clinking at the bottom of the red kettle. You know it. It's one of the most distinctive sounds of the season. But now you may be hearing the swipe of credit cards too. That's because the Salvation Army is going high-tech.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KEILAR: Welcome back. I'm Brianna Keilar in for T.J. Holmes. Thanks for starting your Saturday with us.
Up top, our top stories.
A 19-year-old naturalized U.S. citizen from Somalia is accused of attempting to blow up a van filled with explosives. The FBI says Mohamed Osman Mohamud targeted last night's crowded Christmas tree lighting ceremony in Portland's Pioneer Square. Mohamud is due in court on Monday.
And North Korea's artillery shelling of a South Korean island is drawing protests today in Seoul. Demonstrators say they want a stronger response against North Korea. That shelling killed four South Koreans.
And President Obama is nursing a busted lip after catching an elbow during a basketball game. Took 12 stitches to close the wound, he was hit by an aide for the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute who called the president a tough competitor and a good sport.
While the economy is still in recovery mode, the Salvation Army says there are more people than ever in need of help. And now you can still do your part even if you're not carrying around loose change.
Ray Arzate from affiliate WGCL has the details.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)]
MAJOR JAMES SEILER, SALVATION ARMY: It's that time of year.
RAY ARZATE, GENERAL ASSIGNMENT REPORTER, WGCL: Time for the red kettles to come out --
SEILER: You guys have a nice day.
ARZATE: -- and the bells start ringing.
SEILER: Happy holiday.
The need this year is tremendously greater than we've seen in prior years. This year more than ever, we need folks to come out and really help the Salvation Army.
ARZATE: So with a greater need, the Salvation Army needs greater support.
SEILER: It's our hope this year to raise $2.1 million, not because we want to amass any great sum of money because the need is just so great.
ARZATE: And to meet that need, the Salvation Army has a new strategy.
SEILER: It's not your mom and dad's Salvation Army Christmas kettle.
ARZATE: You can pay with plastic.
SEILER: Credit card machine at many of our kettles this year. ARZATE: You can pay online.
SEILER: You can set up your own virtual kettle online.
ARZATE: You can even download an app for your phone and get in on bell ringing yourself.
SEILER: Sit back and volunteer at your kettle while perhaps sitting in your pajamas at home.
ARZATE: Or you can be a good old-fashioned volunteer.
SEILER: We always need volunteers. It's just that simple.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Some days are slow, some are fast. But we do pretty well.
SEILER: Happy holiday, ma'am. Thank you ma'am.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's nice.
ARZATE: People who donated today said it brought a smile to their face and they hope others will do the same.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We need to pass it on.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Times are tough for a lot of folks right now.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Dig deep and try to give a little.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KEILAR: And here to tell us more about this new high-tech way to give is Major James Seiler with the Salvation Army. Now you just saw him in that report.
Thanks so much for joining us in the flesh, as well.
You know, these are wireless credit card machines that are going to be available at more kettles. Walk us through how this works. Because I know a lot of you might be going into the grocery store and -- and you don't have any change.
SEILER: Well, I mean, if I go shopping with one of my kids, the odds are that they're not going to have a dollar bill in their pocket. They're used to paying with a debit or credit card. And that's true of the whole generation. So we have to make it easy for folks to continue to donate to the work of the Salvation Army.
KEILAR: So how widespread is this? How many of these sort of -- I guess, meaning the -- the -- the futuristic kettles, how many are there?
SEILER: Well, here in Atlanta, we're going to deploy about 60 of them. But across the country, they'll probably be in about 40 or 50 markets. KEILAR: OK, so and how many markets are there? How widespread is this then?
SEILER: Probably we're still at the beginning stages, maybe a -- a dozen states --
KEILAR: OK.
SEILER: -- versus deploying nationwide.
KEILAR: So you'll be phasing this in -- in future years, as well. But are you expecting that this is going to increase the donations that you get?
SEILER: Oh, absolutely. Again, you're making it easier for folks who know your work and support what we do to donate to us. So it only makes greater sense that that will increase as the years go by.
KEILAR: And this isn't the only way the Salvation Army is going high-tech. You kind of -- you have some apps and some other things. Tell me about that.
SEILER: Well, we have -- we're using Facebook and Twitter quite a bit and encouraging folks to create a virtual kettle, if you will. Where you can log on to our Web site and in essence start a kettle of your own, send e-mails to your friends and family and enable them to donate.
And one of the phrases I've used to -- here in Atlanta is, you know, say 100 or 200 people have do that while you create just a tremendous buzz. And that could create a good deal of income for us.
KEILAR: You have this virtual kettle online last year I think, right?
SEILER: We've done it for several years, and -- and literally from last year to the year before doubled our income from the less than $1 million to $1.9 million last year. We set a goal of $3 million this year nationwide. But truth be told, we're really hoping for a much bigger impact.
KEILAR: And the Web site. Let's -- let's give the Web site.
SEILER: SalvationArmyUSA.org is a way to log on and see what all is being offered.
KEILAR: Let me ask you this. It makes you think that if you have the virtual kettle, is that where -- is that where this goes? I mean, is it possible that we're not going to be seeing the bell ringers in years to come?
SEILER: Oh I don't think so. Now -- it -- it's no secret that the Salvation Army is a fixture. We've been shown in movies, depicted a number of times a number of ways. You just can't imagine the number of donors who come up to me in uniform and say, you know, it's just not Christmas until I see a Salvation Army bell ringer. And so I don't think they're ever going away.
KEILAR: Or you hear one, you hear them first --
SEILER: That's true.
KEILAR: -- and then you see them.
All right, Major James Seiler, thank you so much for being part of the story and for talking to us here in person, as well.
SEILER: Thank you.
KEILAR: You know, an amazing story next. Lost at sea and living off of coconuts and birds. How three teenagers survived more than 50 days adrift?
And the king of hip hop at a royal engagement party for real? For real? How Snoop Dogg landed on a prince's performer wish list.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SNOOP DOGG, RAPPER: And also you have to --
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KEILAR: Wearing kilts without underwear. For generations, going "Commando" in Scotland has been considered a sign of manhood but now a group in charge of setting Scottish customs wants to end it this time- honored tradition.
And joining me now to talk about this, CNN editorial producer Nadia Bilchik. Why -- this -- I don't even know what to say. I feel like I'm going to get myself in trouble here.
NADIA BILCHIK, CNN EDITORIAL PRODUCER: OK, well, I thank (ph) you. The Scottish Tartan Authority are urging men to please wear underwear underneath their kilt. Now, why? I can't report this accurately without telling you why. A lot of kilts are rented, and unfortunately, it's rather unhygienic --
KEILAR: Oh, yes.
BILCHIK: -- when they send them back.
KEILAR: Indeed.
BILCHIK: And that is the primary reason. But now, you can imagine, there is a great deal of controversy about this. And people say going "commando" or what they call "being true" is the age-old Scottish tradition. And do you know why?
KEILAR: Why?
BILCHIK: Because the idea was that in battle you didn't need to unzip anything or unbutton anything to relieve yourself. You could just do it.
KEILAR: It's a matter of convenience.
BILCHIK: Exactly.
KEILAR: It's not needed as much anymore.
BILCHIK: Well, apparently not. But you're not allowed to ask a Scotsman what he has underneath his kilt. Did you know that?
KEILAR: You're not supposed to?
BILCHIK: You're not supposed to.
And I also heard about a particular brigadier in one of the army who used to have a mirror to double check that his officers were wearing underwear.
KEILAR: Really?
BILCHIK: Yes.
KEILAR: That's disturbing.
BILCHIK: So going "commando", or "being true".
KEILAR: Being true, I like that I'm going to -- incorporate that somehow. That's pretty funny.
OK. Look, this is a pretty interesting story that we've talked about. This is just an amazing story of survival, these kids in the South Pacific. How were they able to do this, 50 days adrift?
BILCHIK: Isn't it extraordinary? Three cousins, in a Tokelau Island, now apparently not unusual to go from one island atoll to the other in a small 12-foot aluminum boat; so they had some coconuts with them originally. They used it (INAUDIBLE) to gather water and that's how they survived. They're close to disintegrated --
KEILAR: They just use it -- they just use it --
BILCHIK: Right. And what happened was they gathered water. But by that stage they'd close to disintegrated totally. The last two of the 50 days are only days that they started to drink sea water which is very damaging, it causes kidney failure, dehydration. And it was then that a New Zealand fishing boat luckily found them dehydrated, sunburned, malnourished and put them on the boat and rehabilitated them. But extraordinary 50 days, two 15-year-olds and 14-year-old cousins.
KEILAR: On the brink, I mean, that's just shows you how limited their time was.
BILCHIK: Human endurance and one of the things the rescuers said is they gave them electrolyte but he wouldn't let them swallow it. They have to literally gargle it for 30 minutes before they could swallow. They were in such dire straits.
KEILAR: Really, oh my goodness.
BILCHIK: Extraordinary they survived. There had already been a memorial service for them.
KEILAR: That's right. Their parents had had a vigil. And I spoke with one of the rescuers yesterday who said it was a downright miracle that -- that ship wasn't even supposed to be there and there they were to rescue then.
BILCHIK: So miracles do happen.
KEILAR: It really was -- it really was a miracle.
All right, Nadia, thank you so much. Great stories.
BILCHIK: We'll never look at kilts the same way.
KEILAR: No, we will not. Being true, being true.
Elton John says that he might perform at the upcoming wedding of Prince William to Kate Middleton. The singer was a favorite of course of the late Princess Diana. And in a recent radio interview, Sir John was asked if he would serenade the royal couple. He said probably but joked I'll be outside basking. What does that mean, Nadia?
BILCHIK: To bask is to improvise.
KEILAR: To improvise.
BILCHIK: Yes.
KEILAR: All right, on the streets for a coin maybe. All right, U.K. tabloids and hip hop Web sites are reporting that rapper Snoop Dogg was asked to perform at the royal couple's engagement party. That's pretty cool, right? And it's said that Prince Harry is the one planning the festivities and he's quite the hip hop fan. Snoop's camp has not confirmed the performance.
And for those Britons who didn't get a personal invitation to the Prince William and Kate Middleton's spring nuptials, well, they may have another option. This is pretty neat. "The Daily Mail" reports UK broadcasters are considering airing the royal wedding live in 3-D.
Sky TV which pioneered 3-D television in Europe for sporting events is said to be planning with the BBC and Virgin to make small screen history. And the 3-D television, of course -- this is the issue, right -- it's needed to take advantage of the new technology. But you can really imagine maybe pubs and theaters who would want to hold these viewing parties for the April 29th royal wedding.
The shopping season has begun. Here we go. Bargain hunters on the prowl. Coming up next hour, we'll show you what's hot. We'll also talk about ways to keep from digging yourself deeper into debt during the holiday season. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KEILAR: A Black Friday shopper in Buffalo rushed to the hospital after getting caught up in the door buster whirlwind.
Screams and a commotion there as the doors to a Target store swung open before dawn; you can see right there in that circle, Keith Krantz (ph). He says he got pinned against a door support and then he bent over in pain, shoppers stepped over and around him before he stumbled into the store.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KEITH KRANTZ, BLACK FRIDAY SHOPPER: At that moment, I was thinking I -- I don't want to die here on the ground. That's exactly what I thought.
I see it as a little absurd. I don't think it's worth standing out there all night to get trampled -- or trample somebody else.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KEILAR: Now, Krantz says that he already suffers from a herniated disk and he says he was given x-rays and painkillers at a local hospital. Target declined to comment on this and the store wouldn't say if there were other injuries during the early bird rush.
This is like a contact sport. So I think it makes sense now that we go to a couple of cliff hangers in college sports last night. Couple of big games, yes?
JOE CARTER, HLN SPORTS ANCHOR: A lot of big games.
(CROSSTALK)
KEILAR: Joe Carter, thanks for joining us.
CARTER: Thank you for having me, Brianna.
This was a big, big weekend for college football. Yesterday was an unbelievable day if you're a fan; one of the greatest match-ups in college football, which we'll get to in a second.
But one of the biggest upsets yesterday was Nevada/Boise state. Towards the end of the game tied 31-31, you have Boise state essentially setting themselves with one second to go to win the game on a field goal. But their kicker who's been good all season pushes it wide right, they go to overtime, they get a chance to win it again in overtime and they push it wide left.
So, Nevada gets their possession in overtime and sure enough they kick it right down the center and snaps Boise state's 24-game winning streak, gone are any chance at a national championship spot for Boise state. A lot of their fans, anyone affiliated with the program; their players are waking up this morning, going oh, man. Now I know what it feels like to actually lose. It's been two years since this team actually lost a game.
KEILAR: And the kicker's name is mud, I bet.
CARTER: You know, I feel bad for him.
KEILAR: I do too.
CARTER: These guys aren't professionals, they're student athletes. And I have a sensitive side to that because I don't want to say the kicker, bag him, send him off. But that's his responsibility. That's essentially his job on that team if to make those field goals and they weren't very long field goals.
KEILAR: No, but this is the worst nightmare for a kicker.
CARTER: This is why most people don't ever want to be a kicker, to be put in that situation and not do good.
KEILAR: And the other -- I mean this is a pretty amazing game, the Auburn/Alabama game. This is unreal.
CARTER: I really believe this is probably one of the biggest rivalries in college football. You've got the Iron Bowl, these two teams played for 75 years. And this has to be one of the greatest games in that 75-year span.
Alabama essentially just jumped right out of the gate and right on top of Auburn. I mean if anyone watched this game, the first 15 to 20 minutes you're thinking, this is over, Alabama's got this. They go into the locker room up 24-7, and then auburn comes out and the momentum just completely shifts into their favor.
They scored this touchdown in the first few minutes coming out of halftime. That's going to give you a sense, oh, they're coming back here and Cam Newton with all the controversy surrounding him off the field put that aside and essentially became a lock for the Heisman trophy by marching this team back, giving them a one-point lead. Then the defense steps up, knocks out Alabama's quarterback with a concussion; really didn't have a chance to do anything more than that from there.
And Auburn stays undefeated 12-0, but they have a must-win game next week in Atlanta against South Carolina. That is a huge game for them. If they win that, then they've essentially locked themselves into the national championship picture.
And I know, Reynolds, you're a --
(INAUDIBLE)
CARTER: -- you're a War Eagle guy; could you have ever imagined this?
WOLF: Never in a million years.
CARTER: Last year? This time last year?
WOLF: Hard to believe. It's just amazing. But what's really incredible is in the state of Alabama if Auburn were to run the table and if it wins the Heisman, I think it's going to be the first time ever that a single state has had two national championship teams and two Heismans from the same state within a two-year period.
CARTER: Good point.
WOLF: Think about that for a little bit.
Hey, you know, if you happen to be a football fan. If you're an Auburn Tiger, your battle cry is "War Eagle". If you're a Michigan State Spartan it's "Go Green". And for the Michigan State Spartans, your forecast today is going to be a cold one at Happy Valley, 34 degrees, windy conditions there. It's a noon kickoff.
Also a noon kickoff for Michigan Wolverines, and the Buckeyes, playing again in Columbus, 36 degrees amidst the sunshine and clouds (ph) for Georgia Tech; the Bulldogs are going to be finding the yellow jackets. That's going to be an interesting game; 40 degrees for 7:45 kickoff.
For LSU and Arkansas, this might be one of the games of the day; 53 degrees at 3:30 kickoff, again plenty of sunshine. Oklahoma and Oklahoma State, nice and brisk for you with 48 and then Notre Dame and USC, 58 degrees in southern California, 8:00 start.
Guys, this is a snapshot of your forecast. Good day for football. Let's send it back to you, Brianna.
KEILAR: All right Reynolds. Thanks so much for that.
We're going to get another check of this morning's top stories. We're going to take a look at America's dirty little secret, debt. Maybe you don't want to be a Scrooge this holiday season, but you don't want to rack up a bunch of new charges on your credit card either. That's straight ahead at the top of the hour.
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KEILAR: We certainly hope that you and yours made the most of your Thanksgiving meal. And if you're like a lot of us, no matter how tasty your holiday bird was, you probably have a few leftovers filling your refrigerator. So those Thanksgiving leftovers, well, they don't have to be plain old turkey sandwiches or even throwaways.
In fact, our Sandra Endo takes us to one of Washington, D.C.'s most popular restaurants to see how the pros do it.
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SANDRA ENDO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: After a big Thanksgiving meal, there'll be plenty of leftovers you don't want to throw out. But what to do with all of them, you're tired of all those turkey sandwiches?
Well we're going to take you through these doors, inside this kitchen for some trade secrets on what to do with those leftovers.
AL NAPPO, EXECUTIVE CHEF, FOUNDING FARMERS: We're going to make something that's so easy for the usual Thanksgiving leftovers. We've got some stuffing and some ham and turkey, and we're going to take those and we're going to mix them together and we're going to make some fantastic brittle cakes.
This is just a little something different. And it'll help you out because you're going to be able to use all those leftovers and you're not going to waste anything. And it'll save you a few bucks. Mix it up and go. Look at that.
ENDO: The American Farm Bureau says the price for an average Thanksgiving dinner this year rose 1.3 percent, and whole turkey prices are up 13 percent since last year. At $1.68 a pound, the total cost for a dinner for ten averages $43.47. So not to put any to waste --
NAPPO: You've got guests in from out of town, and you want to wow them with a little breakfast. We're going to take some of these sweet potatoes, and we're going to add them right into our pancake batter. We've got sweet potato pancakes with the cranberry and maple syrup.
ENDO: Delicious.
NAPPO: I'm going to dig in. That's what I was looking for.
ENDO: Ways to spice up that Thanksgiving meal that keeps on giving.
Sandra Endo, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KEILAR: Time for a quick check of top stories.
A 19-year-old naturalized U.S. citizen from Somalia is accused of attempting to blow up a van filled with explosives. The FBI says Mohamed Osman Mohamud targeted last night's crowded Christmas tree lighting ceremony in Portland's Pioneer Square. Mohammed is due in court on Monday.
North Korea's artillery shelling of a South Korean island is drawing protests today in Seoul. Demonstrators say they want a stronger response against North Koreans. That shelling killed four South Koreans.
And President Obama is nursing a sore lip this morning. He was elbowed during a basketball game yesterday. He needed 12 stitches to close the cut.
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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We usually pay with debit so we can pay as we go. And then we watch the deals and sales and try to get what we can. But if we really want it, then we'll buy it.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm really finding some great values that may be because of Black Friday, but I am having an extremely wonderful experience.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Just wanted to give the kids a good experience this year. Work has been good for me, so I've been able to spend a little extra this year.
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