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CNN Saturday Morning News
Remembering Larry Hagman; Buying the Hottest High-Tech Toys; Twelve Scams of Christmas; Hector "Macho" Camacho Declared Dead; Outrage Over Morsi's New Order Grows; Fragile Truce Holds in Gaza Conflict; School Adopts Girl's Anti-Bullying Model; Powerball Drawing Tonight; Online Versus Retail Store Battle Rages; 100 Places To Eat Like A Local: Manchester, New Hampshire
Aired November 24, 2012 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
RANDI KAYE, CNN ANCHOR: From the CNN Center this is CNN SATURDAY MORNING. It is Saturday, November 24th. Good morning, everyone. I'm Randi Kaye.
Hollywood is mourning the loss of TV icon Larry Hagman. We'll look back at the actor's life and unforgettable career and hear how his famous co-stars are reacting to news of his death.
In Massachusetts, a massive gas explosion at a strip club caught on video. We'll tell you why this actually could have been much, much worse.
And if you missed Black Friday, get ready for Cyber Monday. But before you buy anything online, there are things that you need to know to avoid getting ripped off.
He was the bad guy that America loved to hate, and today family, friends, and fans all over the world are celebrating the life of Larry Hagman. The 81-year-old actor played many roles over his decades' long career, but it was his masterful portrayal of J.R. Ewing, the good- looking, greedy and conniving oil tycoon in the primetime television series "Dallas" that made him a Hollywood superstar.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You drove Cliff to attempt suicide?
LARRY HAGMAN, ACTOR: How was I to know he was going to do a dumb thing like that?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAYE: Hagman reprised his role as the evil J.R. Ewing in the remake of the "Dallas" series earlier this year. Behind the scenes, Hagman suffered several health scares over the years, some related to his battles with alcoholism and smoking. It was complications from cancer that took his life yesterday at a hospital in Dallas.
Fans and former co-stars of the Hollywood legend have been reacting all morning to his passing. CNN's Kareen Wynter is live at Larry Hagman's star at the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Good morning Kareen. KAREEN WYNTER, CNN SHOWBIZ CORRESPONDENT: Randi good morning you can bet so many people waking up this somber news of Larry Hagman's passing continues this morning. A lot of people will be coming out here paying their respects on Hagman's famous star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame here, right in the heart of Hollywood.
And as you mentioned, you know an outpouring of support from Hollywood. So many people who have championed Larry's career over the years, who worked with him, who have known him personally, friends, family members.
I want to read a handful to you. First one from Joan Collins and she wrote "Oh no, just heard about Larry, he was magnificent as J.R. and inspired me to play Alexis," of course that famous role on "Dynasty"."
Barbara Eden, who Hagman co-starred with back in the 1960s "I Dream of Jeannie," that little show that went on to become such a huge hit, especially in syndication. She wrote, "Amidst a whirlwind a big laughs, big smiles and unrestrained personality Larry was always simply Larry. You couldn't fault him for it. It was just who he was. I'm so thankful that this past year I was able to spend time with him and experience yet again Larry in all his big Texas bravado."
Linda Gray wrote "So sad to lose such a wonderful, dear bigger than life friend. Larry Hagman was one of a kind and will be with us forever."
And finally, Patrick Duffy, another Dallas co-star wrote, and this one so touching, it kind of bring tears to your eyes Randi, "My friend is taking a break. Pardon my silence. Love, Patrick."
And again, those are just a few responses we've been seeing on Twitter, on Facebook. And as you can imagine, there will be more that people will be writing about as the morning progresses. And you know Larry Hagman, he really became a household name back in the late 1970s. That villainous role on "Dallas". The man that we love to hate, such a huge show for him back then.
But believe it or not, he still acted throughout the years. Most recently, "Desperate Housewives." He was involved in big films, blockbuster films from "Nixon" to "Primary Colors." And you know, you mentioned off the top, TNT's reboot of "Dallas." You know he had to have been a part of that and you know it's such a storied, storied career.
And the big question is -- although this is secondary -- what producers of that show are going to be doing right now, we know that Hagman was filming scenes for the second season, which kicks off in January and Deadline.com is actually reporting, Randi, that Hagman had completed a number of those scenes, a number of those episodes, six out of the 15, so writers will perhaps have to go back to the drawing board to recreate that storyline with his passing right now.
Production is going to change a little bit. But again that's all secondary. Right now, everyone, especially folks here in Hollywood they're pausing to remember the life of this iconic actor -- Randi. KAYE: And he will -- he will certainly be remembered very, very fondly. Kareen Wynter, thank you very much for that.
Hector "Macho" Camacho, the former boxing champion who beat such fighters as Roberto Duran and Sugar Ray Leonard is dead. He was taken off life support today by his family. Last night, his mother, Maria Matias told reporters in Puerto Rico, "For me, he's not alive."
The former boxing champ was shot in the face outside a bar near San Juan Tuesday night. He was at first expected to survive, but his condition worsened and had been declared clinically brain dead this week.
One of the FBI's most wanted fugitives is in custody. Jose Luis Saenz was captured Thursday night in Mexico. He faces prosecution in Los Angeles for the murder of two gang members and his girlfriend in 1998 and another murder ten years later. Saenz was added to the most wanted list three years ago. The FBI offered a $100,000 reward for information leading to his arrest.
A frightening scene in Springfield, Massachusetts, a gas explosion ripped through a strip club, leveling the building. You saw it right there caught on camera. Fortunately, about an hour earlier, emergency crews had evacuated the area after someone complained about a strong gas odor. 18 people were hurt. Most of them were firefighters and gas company workers. The explosion was so strong it damaged two dozen other buildings and could be felt ten miles away.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I jumped. I could feel the garbage cans move next to me. I could hear the window shaking. It automatically -- I knew where it came from I could tell that it came from this part of the city.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAYE: Officials are investigating what caused that blast.
A sheriff's deputy in Alabama is dead, another critically injured, after they were shot during a domestic dispute call. Police say the officers were called to a home to settle an argument, and that's when the suspect Michael Jansen allegedly opened fire. Police say Jansen was also shot and killed.
We all know of the enormous health problems that arose after 9/11. Similar issues are emerging in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. We'll investigate in hard-hit Long Beach.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAYE: Gas rationing ended this morning in New York City, more than three weeks after Superstorm Sandy. The city had been rationing gasoline by odd and even days since November 9th. If you can believe it 30,000 people are still without power in New York and New Jersey. Governor Chris Christie says the storm caused an estimated $29.4 billion in damage to New Jersey alone, far higher than early estimates adding to the concerns, medical issues that are beginning to emerge in Sandy's wake.
CNN's Mary Snow reports from New York's Long Beach.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Lurking in the devastation from Sandy is yet another worry for homeowners. Exposure to toxins, mold, and dust, and in some places, sewage. Long Beach homeowner Fred Morello will only enter his house wearing a protective suit and mask as he clears out areas that were submerged in several feet of water.
FRED MORELLO, LONG BEACH HOMEOWNER: I am concerned about mold, sure. But at this particular point, I don't have the time for it. I have things to get done and they've got to get done, so I protect myself as best I can.
SNOW: While Morello says he has no time to get checked for the cough he now has, others have been showing up to mash like tents set up by Federal Disaster Medical Assistance Teams.
(on camera): You been to other disaster areas?
KEVIN, MCGILLICUDDY, FLORIDA DMAT: Sure.
SNOW (voice-over): Commander Kevin McGillicuddy says besides people seeking psychological treatment, they mostly come in complaining of coughs, bronchitis and asthma since the base was set up November 13th.
MCGILLICUDDY: We've been treating 70 patients a day.
SNOW: A day.
MCGILLICUDDY: A day and since we've started this base, we've treated over a thousand patients.
SNOW: Majority of them would say a pulmonary problems?
MCGILLICUDDY: Pulmonary and that would probably be the best guess.
SNOW (voice-over): The Commander stresses it's unclear how many cases are linked to people with chronic conditions being worsened, combined with the fact that access to their regular medication has been tough. Some of those questions are in the hands of the Long Beach Medical Center, which is taking over now that it's been able to set up a makeshift emergency room in its parking lot. The hospital is still closed because of the storm.
Dr. Robert Canter heads the E.R. unit and says it's the unknowns that concern him.
DR. ROBERT CANTER, LONG BEACH MEDICAL CENTER: It's sort of like 9/11. At this point, who knows? You know it's down the road we're going to find out I'm sure a lot of problems.
SNOW: Mary Snow, CNN, Long Beach, New York.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAYE: How to track down the hottest high-tech toys before heading out to the mall.
And if you're leaving the house right now, just a reminder, you can continue watching CNN from your mobile phone. You can also watch CNN live from your laptop. Just go to CNN.com/TV.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAYE: High-tech toys are big this holiday season, but actually finding them can be quite difficult. CNN's Karen Kaypas (ph) reports on ways to track down the most popular presents without wasting a whole lot of time.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KAREN KAYPAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: just like their parents, many kids want tech toys this holiday season. Whether it's a tablet designed just for them or something that interacts with a device that they already have.
LAURIE SCHACHT, THE TOY INSIDER: You download the Furby app and then you can open up different things in it.
KAYPAS: But with the same toys topping lots of wish lists, they can be tough to snag.
SCHACHT: Both of the tablets and Furby are going to drive parents crazy. They're going to be difficult to find. I know with Furby, the purple and the teal are particularly difficult colors to get your hands on.
KAYPAS: Luckily, tech makes the chase easier. Toy expert Laurie Schacht says the search no longer entails going store to store.
SCHACHT: I'm a big fan of sticking in the name of the toy, Googling it and then I find that Amazon, Toys 'R' Us, Walmart, Target -- everyone is going to come up, and I can choose whether by price or knowing that they have inventory on it.
KAYPAS: Similarly, the red laser app lets users see which stores have certain items in stock and at what price. In stores scan barcodes to compare cost across retailers. Toys 'r' Us revamped its apps for the holidays and users can search for a toy at nearby stores and arrange pickup directly from their smart phone. And if mom or dad spots that elusive toy in Target shelves while a little one is in tow, they can keep the surprise under wraps by scanning a QR code on the box and ordering online.
Karen Kaypas, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAYE: Black Friday may be over, but the hunt for bargains has just begun. 147 million shoppers are expected to hit the stores this weekend. And then there is Cyber Monday; online shopping is expected to climb more than 12 percent and generate $96 billion -- yes billion. How do you stay safe when you're browsing for bargains?
I spoke earlier with Robert Siciliano, McAfee's online security expert and asked him about social media scams.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERT SICILIANO, MCAFEE'S ONLINE SECURITY EXPERT: So bad guys are creating fake social media pages with too good to be true offers and then luring in unsuspecting victims with offers via status updates to your friends' pages.
Once you click on those links, it can infect your page and infect your PC. Just delete those links. Don't go to those status updates and be careful out there.
KAYE: All right. That's good advice.
What about malicious mobile apps? I mean, we're downloading apps all the time on our phones and things.
SICILIANO: Yes, recent studies show that as much as 33 percent of mobile apps are actually sharing information that you'd rather not like your location. They are actually -- when you download these apps, they can even infect your mobile device with spyware.
So, only download mobile applications from, say, Google Play or Apple iTunes. Whereas if you go to third party sites and download applications, essentially your device can be infected.
Also, be aware of what information you're communicating on certain apps. And always update your mobile device with antivirus, as well.
KAYE: And a lot of people, of course, during the holiday season, they love to get those gift cards. But you say some of them are bogus.
SICILIANO: Yes, bad guys are creating fake e-tailor Web sites. And these fake sites are designed to get you to enter your credit card information. And, often, these fake sites revolve around gift cards. So if you're searching out a gift card, you end up on one of these third party sites, you don't know if that site is going to be there the next day.
Basically, you should buy your gift cards at the kiosk at the mall or at the brick and mortar store, places that you know, like and trust and always tell your -- the people who receive your gifts to spend them immediately.
KAYE: And you know, we've heard the term "phishing" before in our emails. But now there's this holiday term called "SmiShing". Explain that one. SICILIANO: So, SmiShing is to text messages what phishing is to emails. Basically, bad guys send you out text messages designed to get you to a visit a Web site.
But once you click on these links, a couple of things could happen. A, you could download a virus right to your device, to your mobile device, essentially infecting it with spyware, to spy on your activity on your mobile device; or it will bring you to a Web site that eventually you'll plug in your information and ultimately giving away your credit card data.
Anytime you receive a text message for any type of offer, just hit delete. If you receive a text message to update your device just hit delete because your carrier is not going to send you that text.
KAYE: Yes.
SICILIANO: Always be careful out there. And again update your device with anti-virus, as well.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAYE: And Robert says there are safe sites out there like eBay, Amazon and Best Buy. The key is to make sure that you start shopping at sites that you know, like, and trust.
There's an update in the tragic story today of Hector Camacho. The former boxing champ was shot in the face Tuesday outside a San Juan bar, then took a turn for the worse.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAYE: He was a perfect blend of boxer and entertainer known for his lightning quick hands and flamboyant actions in the ring. Now Hector "Macho" Camacho, the champion who defeated fighters like Sugar Ray Leonard and Roberto Duran is dead.
Joining me now is Nick Valencia to talk a little bit more about this. So, it's not really a surprise, right? Because he had been declared officially brain dead this week, right but now the question was whether or not he would be taken off life support?
NICK VALENCIA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Right. On Thursday he was declared clinically brain dead, Randi. And then today he suffered a second heart attack. I spoke with the hospital spokeswoman and she said that about 1:45, he suffered a secondary heart attack.
Shortly after the shooting, on Tuesday night, overnight he had had an initial heart attack. That's when doctors, his condition went from expecting to survive to being put on life support.
KAYE: And we know certainly he was an incredible boxer. He brushed gloves with some of the greatest.
VALENCIA: Yes.
KAYE: But he also had some brushes with the law.
VALENCIA: Some people call him the last of the great middleweights. But he was also known later in his life after his boxing career ended outside the ring, lots of trouble with the law. In 2007 actually when he was still boxing -- his last bout was in 2010 -- he robbed a computer store in Mississippi and was sentenced to seven years. He served about two weeks of that sentence.
But also in 2005, getting back to his drug problems, he was arrested on a robbery charge. Police found ecstasy on him.
KAYE: And we know that cocaine was found in the care where he was shot. Any leads or suspects?
VALENCIA: Yes, I spoke to the Puerto Rico Police Department earlier today and an investigation is still ongoing. But we know that there was a shootout, according to our local affiliate Huapa (ph), a shootout there locally and the suspects got away. They fled on foot. They still have not been arrested.
But this was in Bayamon, his hometown just outside of a bar. Hector Camacho was with his childhood friend in a car. At which point a passerby came and shot at the car, but no drugs were taken. Nine bags of cocaine found, a tenth bag open, no drugs taken at the scene. His friend died, he was in the driver's seat. Hector Camacho took a bullet to the jaw and severely injured, Randi. Today he is dead at 50 years old.
KAYE: And he had done so much for trying to help crime in the area and trying to clean himself up and get away from the drugs.
VALENCIA: He was trying to clean up his image. He was on "Dancing with the Stars", he came on the show on Univision as well as had his own quest for love on a YouTube channel. He was trying to rebrand, sort of be a more cleaned up image of himself. But evidently, too little too late.
KAYE: All right, Nick, appreciate the update. Thank you.
VALENCIA: Thank you.
KAYE: Celebrations in Gaza as Hamas declares it's the winner in its standoff with Israel. We'll tell you why the group may indeed have emerged from the conflict even stronger.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAYE: Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi's political party is calling for a million-man demonstration in Cairo Tuesday in support of Morsi's new controversial orders.
Morsi triggered massive protests when he announced Thursday that courts cannot overturn any law he's issued since taking office in June. Critics call it an anti-democratic power grab. Today, Egypt's highest judicial body called on Morsi to stay out of all judicial matters. Well, life is slowly returning to normal in Gaza three days after Hamas militants and Israel agreed to stop fighting. Children returned to school today and despite a shooting near the border yesterday that reportedly left one Palestinian dead, the ceasefire is holding.
The next phase of the truce talks of potentially easing Israel's economic blockade in Gaza and opening border crossings. The death toll in Gaza was much higher than in Israel, but Hamas is calling the conflict and the truce a political victory. Brian Todd has that story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In Gaza, celebrations and declaration of victory. This is the side, which had scores of its facilities destroyed, more than a hundred of its people killed. Yet for the leaders of Hamas, it signifies a strategy that works.
GHAZI HAMMAD, SENIOR HAMAS OFFICIAL: I think people fear now that the only way to push for different positions is resistance.
TODD: Many observers agree Hamas emerges from this conflict stronger than it was before.
YOSSI MEKELBERG, ASSOCIATE FELLOW CHATHAM HOUSE: So in ways, it's consolidated. It's supporting Gaza.
TODD: It was Hamas' rockets that put the Palestinian cause back on the world stage, not the diplomatic tack taken by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and his rival Fatah faction.
Hamas also has the support of regional powers Turkey, Egypt and Qatar, making the group much less isolated than it was before. Many analysts say internally Hamas' street cred among Palestinians have grown stronger. In the West Bank, the stronghold of Fatah, Palestinians demonstrating in support of Hamas during this conflict signaled who they thought was fighting for them while Abbas remained almost invisible.
PETER BEINART, "THE DAILY BEAST": Mahmoud Abbas never looks good when he's standing by while Palestinians are dying. Of course, Israelis are dying, too.
But for Palestinians who are naturally going to feel a very strong sense of empathy and solidarity with their brethren in Gaza doesn't make Mahmoud Abbas look good to be standing idly by.
TODD: Hamas may also come out of this with a key economic victory, the opening of important crossings into Gaza that Israel had blockaded.
But what does the strengthening of Hamas, which the U.S. and Israel consider a terrorist group mean for security in the region?
MEKELBERG: I don't think that Hamas will become moderate, but I think it's much more pragmatic than many people actually attribute to it. They saw that the alternative to a ceasefire will be a ground invasion by the Israelis, which they knew would hit them even further. TODD: And Yossi Mekelberg and other analysts point out, it's not as if Israel never negotiates with Hamas. The Israelis had to have spoken at least indirectly with them to achieve this ceasefire. After Hamas captured Israeli soldier (inaudible) and held him for five years, Israel negotiated to get him released. Brian Todd, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAYE: And earlier this morning, I talked with Mark Regev, the spokesman for the Israeli government. I asked him if Israel believes the ceasefire with Hamas will be something permanent.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MARK REGEV, ISRAELI GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN: We hope that this will be long-standing. We have no illusions about Hamas' agenda. They haven't suddenly moderated their positions.
But in the framework of the understandings, the Hamas movement has promised Egypt to abide by this ceasefire and that gives us a certain amount of confidence.
One way or the other, we hope this quiet for the people of Southern Israel will last. After all, they deserve a period of quiet. They've been on the receiving ends of those rockets from Gaza day in and day out for too long now.
And if they get peace and quiet, if they no longer have to live in fear of that incoming rocket from Gaza, if they don't have to run to bomb shelters every time they hear a siren, that's a good thing and we're thankful for it.
KAYE: Some Israelis certainly those who live closer to the Gaza border and have been subjected to those rocket attacks, have said that they were disappointed that Israel did not take a stronger action.
A poll in Israel actually showed that 49 percent of Israelis surveyed wanted the government to continue the military operation. Why did Israel decide to go with a truce at this point?
REGEV: I think we thought that the opportunity that Egypt put on the table that this halt of hostilities was worth exploring. It was an opportunity that we should explore.
Ultimately, if Hamas breaks its commitments to the Egyptians, if Hamas does reignite violence and start shooting at our people again, we always have the option to act to defend ourselves, as any country would if it was attacked.
We hope we don't go there, but once again, if Hamas breaks its violation, Israel will respond. We hope they don't. We hope this ceasefire lasts.
KAYE: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that Israel will not hesitate to take strong action in the future if it's necessary. Could that involve a ground invasion? Is that still on the table?
REGEV: If Hamas breaks its commitments to the Egyptians, if Hamas does escalate the situation again, I think in fairness, I'd have to say that all options would be on the table because then we will say that we've given diplomacy a try and diplomacy didn't work.
And no government would sit idly by and see its civilian population targeted by terrorists shooting rockets into our cities. No one would stand for that and we won't either. The biggest challenge, I think, to this quiet is, of course, Iran.
Because Hamas' arsenal of missiles, those weapons that were fired at Israeli cities, has been substantially depleted, because of our surgical strikes against their arsenals, against their military machine, and they have very few left.
And so I don't think they have a lot of motivation to start another round now. Of course, the government in Iran will do what it can to replenish those supplies and try to rearm Hamas as quickly as possible and therefore it's very important for us, for the United States and hopefully for Egypt to act in a precise way and prevent Iran from rearming Hamas.
KAYE: Hamas is claiming victory here in getting this truce. How do you see it? Did Hamas score a victory? Even after the truce was announced, there were several rockets that fell on Israel.
REGEV: I think in fairness, Hamas will always claim victory, but the truth is, in the eight days of fighting, we hit them hard. We hit their commanding control. We hit their missile stocks. We hit their communications. We hit their organization. We hit their military machine.
And I think there's a certain amount of bravado in Hamas' behavior. We didn't want this conflict in the first place. We wish we didn't have to defend our people, and we hope now the quiet will prevail and that there will be no need for Israel to act to protect our civilians.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAYE: Once again that was Mark Regev, the spokesman for the Israeli government.
Well, this story is particularly close to my heart. It's about a 9- year-old who refused to be a victim of bullying, and when she took matters into her own hands, her school and her entire community noticed. We'll introduce you to her.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAYE: Welcome back. A 9-year-old girl is taking a stand against bullying. She even came up with an idea to stop it, an idea even her school hadn't thought of before.
Kevin Torres from our affiliate, KUSA, in Denver has her story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KEVIN TORRES, KUSA (voice-over): Not too long ago, John Griffin's daughter, Isabella, told him about some mean girls at school who were bullying.
ISABELLA GRIFFIN, 9-YEAR-OLD STUDENT: They were picking on me because of my clothes and how I look.
TORRES: She went on to tell him about the special needs kid in her class who was also getting bullied except he was getting worse.
GRIFFIN: I thought that that was really mean so I wanted to help him.
TORRES: And then she told him this.
GRIFFIN: I stood up for myself and I would like to stand up for everyone. I pledge to be a buddy, not a bully.
TORRES: Standing up for others by standing in front of the school board.
GRIFFIN: You are making a commitment to yourself, your fellow students.
TORRES: Isabella came up with be a plan called "Be a Buddy, Not a Bully," which asked students to sign a pledge against bullying.
GRIFFIN: A rubber bracelet --
TORRES: When they do, they're given bracelets to wear around school to show their support.
JON GRIFFIN, FATHER: It basically entitles the kids to actually step in.
TORRES: The idea was so successful. The school district implemented it through all of its K through 5 schools.
ROBERT ALEJO, SUPERINTENDENT: And if not for the likes of our students along the lines of Isabella Griffin, we'd have our hands full.
TORRES: As you can imagine, doing all of this at the age of 9 hasn't been a piece of cake. Quite frankly, what Isabella Griffin has accomplished so far has been pretty sweet.
GRIFFIN: Thank you.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAYE: So sweet. And joining us now via Skype from Colorado is 9-year- old Isabella Griffin and her father Jon. Good morning to both of you.
So Isabella, congratulations on this great work that you have done, certainly comes in handy for so many kids, I'm sure. How many people have now signed your pledge?
GRIFFIN: Well, we are actually waiting for our symbol, which is the bracelets to come and then we will go from there?
KAYE: And are you surprised, Isabella, by the fact that the school picked it up as their official program? How does that make you feel?
GRIFFIN: Well, it makes me feel really good that now that I've presented it to my school. They are going to make it happen.
KAYE: Yes. We have some of what you'd call your confidence points listed here. These are things that a buddy would say to help a friend who is being bullied.
One of them that stands out is "don't listen to them, you know you are better." These are really important points to think about when you're in the midst of being bullied. How did you come up with these?
GRIFFIN: Well, I have done a lot of research, and I have come up with these because, well, I remembered what I did for myself and I know what I could do for others.
So I thought about what I could say to them to make them feel better. Like don't listen to them, they're wrong or be who you are, you're fine the way you are and something like that.
KAYE: Jon, you must be so proud of your daughter. Did you expect this to come out of the work that she was doing?
JON GRIFFIN: Absolutely not. Basically, Isabella sat me down and presented 20 pages worth of information on why she wanted to create a club in school.
And when I really sat down and I looked at everything she was doing, it occurred to me that we need to take this to the principal. Because this plan can be implemented not only in the Alamosa School District, but I think it can be a model for schools nationwide.
KAYE: So great to see a young girl doing such good work. If you'd like to sound of on stories about bullying, you can tweet me now or any time. Use the hash tag, bullyingstopshere. You can find me @randykayecnn. I'd love to hear what you think.
Shopping at the stores this holiday season or online? We'll tell you how the battle between two retailers is ramping up and how the difference is narrowing.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAYE: Welcome back. Someone may wake up a multi-millionaire tomorrow. The Powerball lottery jackpot is now a whopping $325 million. That is the fourth largest jackpot in the game's history.
You have to buy a ticket before 10:00 p.m. Eastern Time tonight to be included in that drawing. So get out there, call someone you know and get it done.
Online shopping versus going out to the store, used to be the big advantage for shoppers who bought at the store was getting the merchandise that they wanted immediately, right there. But as Dan Simon tells us even that gap is narrowing.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAN SIMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Online versus brick-and- mortar. The battle for your holiday dollars perhaps has never been so intense. For years, internet merchants like Amazon had a key advantage in states like California.
No sales tax. Local bookstores already under pressure by the rapid rise of e-books and large bookstore chains felt particularly squeezed. Michael Tucker owns a chain of bookstores in San Francisco.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If you can save 10 percent, why wouldn't you?
SIMON: But Amazon's tax advantage recently disappeared in California adding 7 percent to nearly 10 percent to the cost of each order. It also began taxing in other states like Pennsylvania and Texas.
Online retailers collect tax only for states where they have a physical presence. Now here in California, Amazon is building two giant warehouses including this one near Los Angeles. It's a million square feet and for the old fashioned retailers, it's another reason to worry.
(on camera): Why, because Amazon's goal is to get items to customers faster and to be able to offer same day delivery. That's right. You can avoid stores if you want and have a package delivered to your house in a matter of hours.
(voice-over): A win for consumers, but tough for local retailers.
COLIN SEBASTIAN, BAIRD RESEARCH: If Amazon creates distribution centers and facilities on their turf locally that takes away the one advantage that we see retailers have left to compete against Amazon. So it is a big deal.
SIMON: Internet analyst, Colin Sebastian says that means retailers need to up their game.
SEBASTIAN: Retailers need to take a lesson from Amazon. They need to focus on the consumer experience. They need to become more sophisticated both off line and online.
SIMON: Those who want a lesson on how to thrive can learn from Books Inc in San Francisco.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We had almost everything that comes down the pike that could flatten an industry.
SIMON: Amidst the tidal wave of change in the industry, Michael Tucker's dozen stores are thriving.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Everybody can get the books. But the staff that's we have and the readers that we have that are working with the public, that's the difference. That's the different factor. We have tremendous staffs that are engaged with those communities. SIMON: A basic reminder to all retailers, internet and otherwise, that good customer service can mean the decisive factor in winning over business.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you.
SIMON: Dan Simon, CNN, San Francisco.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAYE: The United States relationship with Egypt put to its first test after Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi issues a controversial legal decree.
And when traveling to other cities and countries, the best way to get a real taste of the place is through the local food, of course. CNN I- Report has teamed up with "Travel And Leisure" magazine to create a global list of 100 places to eat like a local.
And your recommendations will play a big part. David Mattingly takes us to Puritan Backroom in Manchester, New Hampshire.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I'm David Mattingly in Manchester, New Hampshire. When I want to eat like a local, I go to Puritan.
The menu is good for a little light reading. There is something here for just about everybody, but when people talk about this place, more often than not, they'll talk about the boneless breast of chicken with the special sauce.
That's supposed to be what makes it really different. Also, the fried chicken tenders. This is co-owner, Chuck Stergiou. Tell me what is so special about these? What makes them world famous?
CHUCK STERGIOU, CO-OWNER, PURITAN BACKROOM: Supposedly the chicken tenders were invented right here at the Puritan Backroom, way back when back in the early '70s. One of the previous owners, my partner's father, was dealing with a poultry company.
They had these -- he called them one day. He said he had scraps left over. Do you want to do anything with them? So the chicken tenders, believe it or not, were actually invented right here at the Puritan Backroom way back in the early '70s.
We have perfected the marinating, the frying, the batter, the oil, everything we've done is -- people will come worldwide for our famous chicken tenders.
MATTINGLY: When you say chicken tenders, you're talking about different kinds of chicken tenders here.
STERGIOU: We're talking about our original chicken tenders. We now have spicy chicken tenders. We have coconut tenders and buffalo tenders.
MATTINGLY: As if anybody would still have an appetite after they ate all this, what makes the mudslide special?
STERGIOU: There is no ice cream in it. Even though we make our own ice cream, it is strictly alcohol.
MATTINGLY: And how many different types do you have?
STERGIOU: We have probably 15 different types of mudslides.
MATTINGLY: So there it is, to eat like a local in Manchester, New Hampshire, go to Puritan Backroom.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAYE: Well, I-Reporters, here's your chance to help us create a food lover's map of the world. Go to ireport.com/100 places and send us a photo of your favorite restaurant and dish.
Tell us why it's special, why you love IRT, how you might have discovered this place. The definitive list of 100 places to eat like a local will be revealed in March. And some I-Reporters will make that list. So stay tuned to see if you're one of them.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAYE: CNN "NEWSROOM" starts at the top of the hour. Fred is here to tell us what she has coming up.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, ANCHOR, CNN'S "NEWSROOM": Good to see you. Per usual, our legal guys are going to be with us tackling some of the most fascinating cases of the week beginning with a case in Coral Springs.
A family who has a child with Down Syndrome has a cute little pig as a form of therapy. But apparently in this city, they don't consider a pig like this. They don't consider anything except for a dog or cat to be a working animal.
And so there might be a penalty, a fine, removal of the pet involved. Yes, our legal guys are going to tackle who has the real leverage in this case.
And then the housing market, is this a good time to sell or to buy? Low interest rates, the market is flooded with a lot of available properties out there. Is there real balance in the industry up ahead? We're going to be talking about whether this is a good time for buying or selling or both.
And then family stress this holiday weekend, you know, you would think that everyone getting together that simply means that there's a lot of harmony in the household. But we also know that there is a lot of consternation.
So we're going to have some great advice on how to keep the harmony, how to keep the love under the roof top this holiday season.
KAYE: Yes. Families, find that Zen.
WHITFIELD: You know, have a lot of "I love you" moment.
KAYE: Yes, that's good.
WHITFIELD: All that straight ahead beginning noon Eastern Time.
KAYE: That's great advice coming up, I'm sure. We'll see you just a moment.
WHITFIELD: OK.
KAYE: Meanwhile, Egypt's new president played a vital role in attaining a ceasefire in the latest conflict between Israel and Gaza. But now many Egyptians are rising up against the leader they voted power putting Washington into a precarious position. CNN's Dan Lothian explains.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAN LOTHIAN, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): At the White House, a sense of calm, kicking off the holiday season with the arrival of a 19-foot Christmas tree.
MICHELLE OBAMA, FIRST LADY: It is perfect. It's exactly what we need.
LOTHIAN: While the president headed to the golf course at Joint Base Andrews, but the White House is closely watching developments in Egypt. Protests, violence at times, and anger over what some see as President Morsi's power grab, his declarations preventing any court from overturning his decisions.
STUART HOLIDAY, FORMER U.S. AMBASSADOR TO U.N.: It appears timing is curious. He's gotten the support and this bump particularly for his role in mediating the ceasefire from the United States and from others. He's really seen as emerging stronger from this.
LOTHIAN: But now concern from the Obama administration, State Department spokeswoman, Victoria Nuland saying, quote, "the decisions and declarations announced on November 22nd raise concerns for many Egyptians and for the international community."
Adding in the statement, "One of the aspirations of the revolution was to ensure that power would not be overly concentrated in the hands of any one person or institution."
While President Obama was on his Southeast Asia trip this week, he spoke frequently by phone with President Morsi in a successful attempt to seal an Israeli-Hamas ceasefire.
They developed what one administration official characterized as a relationship of trust. It's too early to tell if this latest move will change that. ROBIN WRIGHT, MIDDLE EAST ANALYST, WOODROW WILSON CENTER: Let's wait and see how Morsi uses these powers. Up until now, he's done pretty well in terms -- from the western perspective in working with Israel. He has a lot to prove to the outside world and his own people.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAYE: And that was Dan Lothian reporting. The Obama administration is calling for calm in Egypt and encouraging the government to resolve the matter through democratic dialogue.
CNN "NEWSROOM" continues right now with Fredricka Whitfield.
Hi there, Fred.