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CNN Saturday Morning News

NBA and Players Reach "Tentative Understanding"; Why You Shouldn't Give in to Those Credit Card Deals This Holiday Season; NASA Readies For Mars Launch; Interview with Will.i.am

Aired November 26, 2011 - 07:00   ET

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

T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: And we're at the top of the hour. Let's reset here and get you caught up on everything going on around the world and the country, as well -- including a breaking story from the NBA. This happened overnight, just a matter of hours ago, they announced a tentative deal is in place that could end the lockout and save the season.

The season would possibly begin on Christmas Day. So, you've still got a little waiting to do. We'll have the very latest on that.

Also, coming up, we're keeping a close eye on NASA this morning. They have the launch of their new Mars mission.

I'll be talking to Will.i.am coming up here shortly. He is on the hand with the liftoff. But why necessarily is he there? What's his connection? I'll let him explain it to you himself.

Also, if you're heading out to do some holiday shopping this morning, you know, those credit card companies are out there and they're offering some pretty good rewards. Or at least they sound pretty good. Have you necessarily read the fine print? Clyde Anderson, our financial guy, he's going to be along to help you understand this.

But, first, give you a look at some other stories making headlines, including some big news we're getting overseas where Pakistan says it's got a problem with NATO right now, because they say NATO helicopters opened fire on a military checkpoint, killing at least 26 soldiers -- this happened near the border with Afghanistan. Pakistani military officials say another 14 soldiers were injured in this attack. NATO says they are now investigating, but they have yet to release any official details.

Also this morning, we're expecting three American students arrested during those protests in Egypt. They are now out of jail and expected home sometime this weekend. They're accused of taking part in the sometimes violent protests in Tahrir Square. But parents of at least two of the teenagers say they didn't do anything wrong. Tens of thousands of Egyptians have been gathering in Cairo to protest the government ahead of Monday's scheduled elections.

Also, police searched the home of a Syracuse University assistant basketball coach who has been accused of molesting two ball boys. They didn't say, the authorities, what they were looking for in the home of Bernie Fine. He is right now on leave from the team. Two former ball boys say Fine molested them between the 1970s and 1990s. Fine has denied those claims.

Also, you don't want your car to catch on fire, do you? Well, fears of car fires are leading into a formal investigation into the Chevy Volt. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says the Volt's batteries could catch fire in a crash. They say, however, this has not happened in a real accident yet, it's only happened in simulations. Chevy says they're working with the federal government in this investigation.

Also, we've been telling you -- just a couple of hours from now, it's going to happen. You will see it here live. That thing is going to blast off. NASA's latest mission to Mars is the Curiosity rover. It's actually on top of that rocket you see there. This is sitting on the launch pad. We have a 10:02 eastern time scheduled launch.

This is a new mission supposed to look for evidence of water and life on Mars. We'll have more live from there coming up in just a moment.

But again, while you were sleeping, the NBA and its players reached agreement on some kind of a deal to end the lockout. It means we could see NBA basketball on Christmas Day. This is still a tentative deal. They call it a handshake deal, still needs to be approved by the players and the NBA's board of governors. That could take around a week to 10 days.

But, still, listen to the encouraging news from the NBA Commissioner David Stern.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAVID STERN, NBA COMMISSIONER: We've reached a tentative understanding that is subject to a variety of approvals and very complex machinations. But we're optimistic that will all come to pass and that the NBA season will begin on December 25th, Christmas Day.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: So we could have a triple-header to tip off the season, the NBA season on Christmas Day. And then they're expected to play a 66- game season.

We're four minutes past the hour now. Let's turn to some politics, shall we, in the race for the Republican presidential nomination. Our Paul Steinhauser reports that most of these candidates have their eyes on one place and one place alone right now, Iowa.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Hey, good morning, T.J.

While many Americans have holiday shopping on their minds this weekend, for some of us, it's all about the race for the Republican presidential nomination.

With Thanksgiving over, the GOP presidential candidates are back on the campaign trail with just 5 1/2 weeks to go until the first votes in the nomination battle.

MITT ROMNEY (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: And Iowa has the first and in some respects one of the most powerful voices as to who our nominee will be.

REP. MICHELE BACHMANN (R-MN), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I want to thank Iowa for taking this process so seriously.

STEINHAUSER: And expect to see most of the major candidates spend lots of time in Iowa from now until the January 3rd caucuses, which kick off the primary and caucus calendar.

A poll out this week of people likely to take part in the Republican contest there. It indicates that House Speaker Newt Gingrich is on top of the field, with former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney second and Congressman Ron Paul third, everyone else in single digits.

The survey was conducted almost entirely before our Tuesday night debate right here in Washington. Now, coming up in just over two weeks, the next two debates in Iowa, of course -- T.J.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: Thanks to our Paul Steinhauser.

Meanwhile, Newt Gingrich is still defending what he said about illegal immigration at Tuesday's Republican debate. His rivals, Republican rivals are already blasting him for being soft on illegal workers after the former House speaker said families who had been in the U.S. for a long time should not be torn apart. Meanwhile, at a town hall event in Naples, Florida, Gingrich said he does not support amnesty.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NEWT GINGRICH (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I think the vast majority of them, they should go home and we should be very clear about this. If you're here without any ties to the United States and you came here illegally, you just need to leave and apply for the guest worker program from back home, period. I do think if somebody in your neighborhood who has been here 25 years and they belong to your church and they have three kids and two grand kids and they've been paying taxes and working hard, it's going to be very, very hard to get the American people to agree to tear up those families.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: Gingrich is still campaigning in Florida today with a book signing stop.

We're at six minutes past the hour now, and around the holidays, credit card companies, they give you those offers that are too good to pass up. But Clyde Anderson is here to just put a damper on your parade and tell us to pass them up. Clyde schooling me once again after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) HOLMES: Clyde Anderson, our financial analyst, we're talking about these credit card companies who pull out all the stops here. Around the holidays because you're looking out there, you need a good deal. These sound pretty good, all right?

CLYDE ANDERSON, FINANCIAL EXPERT: Yes.

HOLMES: Give me an example of this type of stuff.

ANDERSON: Well, some of them, the American Express may say, we'll give you 15 percent back if you use your card during the holidays. Amazon is doing a thing right now if you use your card online from the 15th until the end of the year, they'll give you money back. Or up until Christmas, they'll give you money back just for swiping a card or buying something online.

HOLMES: Tell me, what is the problem with that? That sounds legit. I need the money back -- I'm going to spend this money anyway, right?

ANDERSON: You're going to spend it. A lot of times you are. But sometimes, it's an incentive to spend. Sometimes, you've been using your credit card throughout the year, that's fine if you accumulated points during regular things.

But sometimes they'll say if you spend $200, we'll give you 25 percent off. You weren't going to spend $200 anyway. So, if you weren't going to spend the money, so it's not a true reward.

HOLMES: OK. But if you were going to spend the $200, then some of these things can pay off.

ANDERSON: Some of the things can pay off. Now, the key is, that you've got to remember, though, that you've got to pay it off on time because now, if you don't pay it off on time, all the rewards go out the window because now you've accumulated the interest.

So, you've got to be really careful and you've got to be strategic about how you use it, as well.

HOLMES: OK. What about these rewards points?

ANDERSON: Yes.

HOLMES: I hear this all the time. I need to get into this a little more. I don't get it really. But can these be beneficial?

ANDERSON: Well, they reward you for using the card. So, what they're saying basically, the more you swipe, the more we're going to reward you. So, they can be beneficial again if you're not solely in it for the rewards. Some people are using the card just to get the rewards, which doesn't make sense if you weren't going to use the card but just use that to get some sort of benefit at the end. Sometimes it's 10 percent, 20 percent.

Now, we see it often in the department stores where they're offering you these cards or get our card from the department store or the box store.

HOLMES: Yes, all the time.

ANDERSON: A lot of times they're higher interest rate and can have a bigger ding on the credit report because of third party finance companies. So you've got to be careful about that, as well.

HOLMES: OK. You always put it -- just rain on my parade. I want to think -- and they come after us aggressively during the holiday.

ANDERSON: Definitely. This is their time.

HOLMES: They know we're about to spend.

ANDERSON: They know you're about to spend. They know this is when people are spending money. We talk about the average person spends about $725 on Christmas gifts alone. So now, they can get some of that interest, they're not doing it just for the goodness of their hearts, they're doing it to get some of that interest.

And so, they're assuming and knowing most people aren't going to pay that off on time and so they're going to pay interest. And they're financing their Christmas.

HOLMES: You're killing me here. What else do we need to keep an eye out for? And my question was going to be, and it sounds like there could be an upside if you're actually going to spend that much.

But what they're doing is playing on us and they're forcing -- not forcing us, we can't say that. But they're getting us. They're playing with our heads in such a way they're making us spend more than we were going to.

ANDERSON: Yes. It seems wonderful. It makes it easier to spend. So, they're saying, go ahead and spend now.

Again, if you're going to shop throughout the year or you know stores that you're going to frequent often, it may be a good idea to go ahead and get the card from the store.

HOLMES: Clyde, you always make sense and that just kills me. Clyde Anderson with us as always. You're going to stick around for this launch?

ANDERSON: I'll be there. I got to see it.

HOLMES: All right. The launch, we're talking about this. Taking off -- this is a pretty ambitious mission here by NASA. But there's a live look.

Kennedy Space Center, this is down in Florida. It looks like they will be able to take off. But Curiosity, the rover, is sitting on top of that Atlas V rocket you're seeing right in the middle of your screen, and it is heading to Mars today.

It's happening within three hours. The launch, you will see it here live. We're going to take you back there here in a moment to talk to some folks who are also keeping a close eye on this launch.

Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: A quarter past the hour, and we are just a few hours away from that thing over my shoulder taking off. You know where it's heading? To Mars.

NASA is about to send up the Curiosity rover set for 10:02 a.m. Eastern Time launch.

Joining me now to talk about this is our guy John Zarrella, who covers all things space-related.

So, John, give us perspective here. Just how ambitious of a mission is this, NASA is about to embark on?

JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This is about as bold and ambitious as it really gets, T.J. You know, getting off the ground is the easy part. And then they travel until August 6th, until they get to Mars on August 6th.

You know, if you and I were sitting on Mars looking up, it would be about 3:00 in the Martian afternoon when it actually gets there. And, you know, then they're going to use this whole sky crane system to land on mars, dropping the vehicle down, then it goes and takes off all on its own and starts searching for evidence -- evidence -- that life might have existed or still does on Mars.

So tremendously ambitious, $2.5 billion mission.

HOLMES: Let's go back to what they're looking for -- signs that life could have existed. When you say that, a lot of people are going to have in their heads, you know, we're thinking about little green men sometimes. That's not necessarily what they're up there looking for.

ZARRELLA: No, no, actually they're bigger guys up there now, they're not little ones. They're smaller.

(LAUGHTER)

ZARRELLA: What they're looking for is organic -- what they'd like to find is organic matter. And they're downplaying it saying the chances of finding organic matter are really, really slim. But in order for life to exist as we know it, you've got to have organic matter. If they find that, that's like the Holy Grail of Mars exploration.

But what they're looking to do is to really sort of examine if they don't find that, is there still enough evidence there of past water perhaps? Is there evidence in the rock formations that Mars might have been wetter at one point, might have been able to sustain life? At least they want to be able to find out that much.

HOLMES: OK. Again, a lot of ifs there -- and remind our viewers, this thing is not expected to land. We're not going to get answers for a little while.

ZARRELLA: No. No, it's going to be August 6th before it lands on the Martian surface. But pretty much, and that'll be Eastern Time after midnight, like 1:00 a.m.

But very quickly, it's going to be ready to go, you'll get the first images off the Martian surface, and, you know, see exactly what this Gale Crater location looks like.

And as far as the weather goes today, a lot of clouds moving in, but they're saying that may be the only obstacle. The winds are not a problem. And they think because they have an hour and 40 minute launch window that they'll have enough break in these clouds to get off the ground -- T.J.

HOLMES: All right. John Zarrella is there for us. We'll be talking to him plenty throughout the day.

But we're not done with this story yet. Coming up next, this NASA launch is bringing all kinds of folks together, including a NASA astronaut and Will.i.am from the Black Eyed Peas. Well, they'll be here with me. They'll be together live, next.

Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: Well, a live look. NASA's Space Launch Complex 41 right now. The rocket you see right there is about to take NASA's latest and greatest toy up to space, particularly to Mars.

The Curiosity rover is aboard, 340 million miles it will travel to the red planet. Hoping that today's mission doesn't just start the next chapter in the exploration of mars. They also hope it sparks the imaginations of kids all across the country and jump-starts their desire to learn more about space and science.

And joining me to talk about that part of the story, astronaut Leland Melvin, as well as Will.i.am from the Black Eyed Peas.

Thank you both for being here.

Leland, let me start with you. No matter how much we tell kids to get into math and science, sometimes what you really need is to see a rocket blast off, and you need Will.i.am to be involved. Is that sometimes what it boils down to?

LELAND MELVIN, ASTRONAUT: Well, that's what it takes. You know, we're all about trying to inspire that next generation of explorers. And whatever means we can use, whether it's music, math -- whatever that means is, whether it's a rocket behind us taking off to take up this rover Curiosity, we'll take that and use that to get these kids motivated to do stem education.

HOLMES: And, Will, you tell us, and we've kind of familiar, and you've talked to CNN before about your interest in trying to get kids involved with stuff. But would you classify yourself as a space geek?

WILL.I.AM, THE BLACK EYED PEAS: I'm a tech geek, a space geek -- just curious like this rover here. So, yes. I'm a space geek.

HOLMES: So you say just curious. And I just mentioned this to Leland, what have you seen? As you've been involved and trying to get kids more involved, have you been disappointed? Have you been surprised at how much it takes sometimes to get kids into those fields?

WILL.I.AM: I'm blown away and inspired by these kids, especially the kids that work within Dean Kamen's robotics program. And there's like 200,000-plus kids who are writing code, building robots, doing amazing things with their skill set. And it's not like kids aren't -- it's just that we haven't shined the light on the kids that are to inspire other kids to get involved, as well.

HOLMES: Yet, Leland --

WILL.I.AM: So, I'm really, really inspired by these kids.

HOLMES: Yet, Leland, you pick up that point for me there. Translate this for us. How do we get to launch to today? And how does that translate into getting some kid in the classroom somewhere in this country involved in a field of math and science and maybe even a career?

MELVIN: Well, when I think about a kid seeing Curiosity, this rover, going around the surface of mars taking samples, doing things.

I was a chemistry major. I mixed these two chemicals together and blew up this creative explosion in my mom's living room. And that got me fueled and energized.

But, so maybe there's going to be a kid watching Curiosity going around the surface of mars and they may think -- well, how do I become a scientist or engineer? How do I become a musician? Because music and math use both the right and left side of the brain.

So, if you know music, you know math, and left them see that the art -- there's science and engineering in the arts, too.

HOLMES: Uh-oh. Whose phone? You want to answer that?

WILL.I.AM: No, no, I got that. I'm sorry.

HOLMES: No, I'm kidding, my man. That's quite all right.

One other thing to you here, Will. What got you into it in the first place? What triggered your curiosity about these types of fields -- about NASA, about science, about robotics?

WILL.I.AM: Well, I went to the Brentwood Science Magnet School. So, my education early on got me into science. But through my career in music, I realized -- I realized that our industry, the music industry relies on engineering and science also. You know, it's about solutions. How do we change America's inner cities? And getting kids excited about stem education to take careers and become young entrepreneurs and innovators. That's what's going to change our country around. So I'm about solutions and stems --

MELVIN: And about the SYSTEM, right?

WILL.I.AM: Yes, the SYSTEM. So I came up with this concept called the SYSTEM, which stands for Stimulating Youth around Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.

And so, I'm -- that's my mission now, is to change the neighborhood I come from.

HOLMES: Well, gentlemen, I know the work you're doing. I know the challenge ahead for this whole country. I'm making sure we get more kids into those fields.

But congratulations on the work you're doing, and good luck, enjoy the launch today. Gentlemen, thank you so much.

MELVIN: Thank you.

HOLMES: And on another note as we talk about Will.i.am there. He's actually helping us out here, as well, at CNN with our CNN Heroes tribute, fifth annual all-star tribute to the heroes. He's one of the co-hosts of the special show on December 11th.

You can see it right here live at 8:00 Eastern time. We unveil the CNN Hero of the Year.

And you still have some time to vote right now. You can do that at CNNHeroes.com.

Meanwhile this morning, the Chevy Volt, the plug-in hybrid, you know this thing -- possible fire risk. Federal investigators looking into it. We'll tell you what's happening there as we get close to the bottom of the hour.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: Stories making headlines now.

Pakistan says NATO helicopters opened fire on a military checkpoint, killing 26 soldiers. This happened near the border near with Afghanistan. And Pakistani military officials say another 14 soldiers were injured in that attack. NATO says they are aware of an incident but have yet to release details.

You NBA fans, if you're still out, and if you still care, the NBA could be playing by Christmas. The owners and players have reportedly agreed on a tentative deal that could end the lockout. And it could mean a season would start on Christmas Day. It would be a 66-game season.

Also, a formal safety investigation has been launched into General Motors Chevy Volt. The Highway Traffic Safety Administration says the car's battery could catch fire in a crash. So far, it's only happened in simulations. Chevy is working with the federal government in this investigation.

I'm back at the top of the hour. Right now, the good doctor.