the 911 call from the man who shot and killed eight co-workers in connecticut. he calmly explains why he did it. >> they treat me bad over there. they treat all the black employees bad over here, too. so i hadt in my own hands and hands the problem. i wish i could have gotten more of the people. >> this morning the gunman in his own words. and wild weather, brutal temperatures in the south. dangerous flooding in parts of the northeast and there's the

threat of more storms and extreme heat today, friday, august 6th, 2010. captions paid for by nbc-universal television universal television good morning. good morning, everyone. welcome to "today" on a friday morning. i'm matt lauer. >> and i'm meredith vieira. president obama is pushing an economic turn-around as a big issue in november's mid-term elections. democrats will not get much of a boost from this morning's jobs report. >> there is at least one new job the obama administration was happy to hear about. on thursday the senate confirmed elena kagan to a seat on the supreme court. that vote 63-37. she'll be sworn in tomorrow, becoming just the fourth woman ever to sit on the high court. we'll get the latest on all of that straight ahead. also ahead, just a tragic scene in missouri. a deadly highway crash that included two school buses on a field trip to an amusement park. two teens were killed, dozens

more injured. coming up we'll hear from a student who was on one of those buses. also ahead, a big turn to some consumer news that you can use, the specific things that you can say to your cell phone and cable providers to bargain down your monthly bills. plus we've got a big crowd out on the plaza on a friday morning. they're getting ready for a great concert in the 8:30 half hour. grammy winner train rolls into the plaza and we'll hear from them. but first let's get a check of the morning's top stories. ann is off. carl quintanilla is at the news desk. >> good morning, everyone. today president obama welcomes elena kagan to the white house one day after kagan was confirmed as a supreme court justice. nbc's justice correspondent pete williams has more on that. pete, good morning. >> reporter: carl, she's not quite a supreme court justice yet, but she will be saturday when she's officially sworn in. attorney general eric holder, another top justice department officials congratulated elena kagan after thursday's senate vote as she prepared to leave the place where she's been

solicitor general, the top courtroom lawyer. she was confirmed on a vote of 63-37, a mostly party line vote. five republicans did cross over to support her. she'll become the third woman on the current supreme court, joining ruth bader ginsburg and sonia sotomayor. president obama described that development this way. >> a sign of progress that i relish not just as a father who wants limitless possibilities for my two daughters but as an american, proud that our supreme court will be more inclusive, more representative and more reflective of us as a people than ever before. >> reporter: elena kagan will be the court's youngest justice at age 50. she succeeds john paul stevens who retired in june at age 90. >> pete, thanks for that. bp engineers finished pouring cement into the well in the gulf on thursday. the government's point man on the spill says the cement will virtually assure there will be no chance of more oil leaking. overseas markets mostly

higher this morning. trish regan is at the new york stock exchange. trish, the focus will be the jobs number. >> reporter: jobs, jobs, jobs, you said it, carl. people are very concerned about this. the reality is that the consumer accounts for two-thirds of the overall economy, so if the consumer isn't employed, naturally, carl, the consumer isn't feeling very confident, certainly not enough to go out and spend money to help get this economic recovery under way. so it really does come back to jobs. one thing that makes it very difficult, corporations are quite unlikely to hire until they feel confident that there really is going to be end user demand, so it becomes kind of a catch-22 situation. but the key is to get people back to work. >> trish regan at the new york stock exchange. trish, thanks. officials in georgia have made an arrest in the case of a woman who used her feet to tap out a computer call for help after an intruder broke into her home and tied her up. amy windom who spoke with meredith on wednesday, says she is enormously relieved that a suspect is in custody.

violent weather tore through parts of virginia downing trees, knocking out power to tens of thousands of people. the storm was associated with the same weather system that brought flash floods this week at a campground in northern new york. some scary moments but no one was seriously hurt. and some amazing video of a spectacular catch. a baseball player in japan robbed an opposing player of a home run when he literally climbed to the top of the outfield wall and came down with the ball. can you believe that catch? >> how? that jump. >> it looked like a hidden baseball. >> that is good! i looked at that like three times to make sure it wasn't photo shopped in some way. it is really amazing. >> my gosh. >> anyway. >> good stuff. >> it's now 7:05. back to matt, meredith and al. >> carl, thank you very much. let's get a first look at the weather, mr. roker. we have a couple of areas of weather to talk about. first of all, the good news is the heat is shrinking. today, only nine states have heat advisories from oklahoma down to texas, over to south

carolina, charleston will see a high of 94. 98 in el dorado. 102 in san antonio. the feels like temperatures in and we've got -- it feels like over 105 in columbus. 102 in lafayette. 104 san antonio. we have a risk of severe weather also along the southeastern atlantic coast from albany, georgia, out to atlanta and elizabeth city, north carolina. we're talking anywhere from 1 to 3 inches of rain and there could be isolated tornadoes in some of these strong storms that develop later this afternoon. and there's a look at san francisco. we have misty skies, drizzle and a lot of low clouds. look at our temperatures as we go through the morning. 50s everywhere, including the altamont pass. some clears around lunch time. mid 60s in oakland, more or less the same through the weekend. not much changes in this wimild

weather pattern. next week the temperatures rise behind re degrees. that deadly shooting rampage at a business in connecticut. we are hearing it directly from the gunman, who placed a chilling call to police just moments before he took his own life. nbc's peter alexander is here with dough tails. peter, good morning to you. >> reporter: good morning to you. this tape is real auto quite haunting. omar thornton called 911 just moments after killing eight co-workers and wounding at least two others. he calmly told the dispatcher that he regretted not shooting more people in what was already the worst workplace attack in connecticut state history. moments after murdering eight co-workers, 34-year-old omar thornton was eerily calm on the phone with state police. >> 911. >> yeah. can i help you? >> this is omar thornton, the shooter over here in manchester. >> reporter: thornton insisted he was finished with his rampage

and tried to explain his deadly actions. >> you want to know the reason i shot. basically this is a racist place. >> yep, i understand that. >> they treat me bad over here. they treat all the other black employees bad over here too. so i just took it into my own hands and handled the problem. >> reporter: union officials say thornton who filed complaints about other work rules never filed a complaint about racism. surrounded by hartford distributor employees, the company president adamantly denied thornton's claims. >> i can state to you unequivocally that no such claim has ever been brought to the attention of our company. no such claim has been pursued under hartford distributors internal anti-discrimination and harassment policy. >> reporter: while thornton was telling a dispatcher his story, his co-workers, including a wounded victim, were frantically making their own 911 calls. >> what's going on, who got shot? >> somebody got shot, i got shot. >> stay there and we'll come to

you, all right? >> help me, please. help me. >> reporter: company officials say moments before the shooting thornton was forced to resign tuesday morning. after being shown surveillance video that they say showed he was systematically stealing beer and reselling it. >> did he used to work there? >> yeah, i just fired him. >> today? >> today just now before he started shooting. >> reporter: when thornton started shooting, five employees tried to warn their fellow workers or try to stop him, including jerome rosenstein who tried to ram thornton with a golf cart. he's now hospitalized in serious condition. rosenstein's family thanked the paramedics and police saying they have given our dad a fighting chance. as for thornton, the 911 dispatcher tried to get him to end things peacefully. >> you're not going to kill nobody else though? >> yeah. >> we're going to have to have you surrender yourself somehow here and not make the situation any worse. you know what i mean? >> these cops are going to kill me. >> no, they're not. we're just going to have to get you to relax. >> i'm relaxed, calmed down.

>> reporter: still moments before taking his own life, thornton wander the dispatcher he wouldn't surrender. >> i have to take care of business. tell my people that i love them and i gotta go now. >> reporter: it's a chilling tape to listen to. the entire call lasted almost four minutes. at one point he referenced the s.w.a.t. team that was closing in but by the time they arrived, he had already taken his own life. it is 7:10. once again here's matt. >> all right, thank you. today president obama is trying to prove to voters once again that the economy is making a turn-around, this with all eyes on the latest unemployment report out this morning. nbc's savannah guthrie is at the white house with details on this. savannah, good morning to you. >> reporter: good morning, matt. we'll hear from the president a little later today on those jobs figures. unemployment proving to be the most stubborn economic and political problem he faces. bracing for the latest jobs report, the president was out

accentuating the positive on thursday in chicago saying a turn-around in the american car industry is just the beginning. >> i'm convinced we're going to rebuild not only the auto industry, but the economy better and stronger than before. and at its heart is going to be three powerful words, "made in america." >> reporter: in an exclusive interview with cnbc's phil lebeau, the president said the economy will likely not slide back into recession. >> i think confidence is starting to come back and you're going to see more of that money put to work hiring american workers. i think we're on the brink of now moving into a better direction. >> confident we're going to avoid a double-dip recession? >> i am confident about that. >> reporter: but consumers, normally two-thirds of the economy, have yet to demonstrate that confidence, pulling back on spending again. the economy is growing, but slowly. and even many businesses making profits are too nervous to hire. >> it's kind of like a chicken

and egg situation where spending and jobs go hand in hand. they only come with confidence, and that is still going to take a bit more time for this economy. >> reporter: unemployment is the issue dogging democrats in the upcoming congressional races. fearing major losses, the president is in campaign overdrive, at three fund-raisers thursday, sticking with the car theme and suggests republicans want to take the country backwards. >> when you want to go forward, what do you put the car in? "d." when you want to go backwards, what do you do? you put it in "r." >> reporter: one other note from here, christina romer, the chief of the council of economic advisers here at the white house has announce had she is leaving. she's going back to the university of california at berkeley where among other things she had been an expert on the great depression, matt. >> savannah guthrie at the white house for us this morning.

thanks very much. david gregory is moderator of "meet the press." good morning to you. >> hey, matt. >> let's start this a little differently this week. in the last seven days you have the static kill starting to take hold in the gulf, a federal court overturned proposition 8, elena kagan confirmed to the supreme court. if you work at the white house, what's your major headline of the last week? >> i think as persistent as unemployment is and as huge a problem as that is, i think the static kill, i think progress in the gulf, crisis may not be over, but that bit of progress has to be the biggest headline. don't forget, this was a crisis of the order that the president gave an oval office address to the people of the united states. i mean this is a huge issue for his leadership and management of a disaster of this scale. i think that they have good news. i think they look at that and are breathing a huge sigh of relief. >> when you look at the economy, jobs are still a major problem. a lot of people, despite what we're hearing from some portions of the administration, think the recovery has stalled. the stock market is doing a little better. the auto industry, as the president highlighted this week,

is doing better. christina romer resigns overnight. connect the dots, if they're even connectible, david. how's the administration handling the economy right now? >> look, they want to be positive and say things are turning around but there's more bad news than good news. yes, there's more confidence. they don't think there will be a double-dip recession, but nobody is hiring, which is why government is trying to do more. but how much more can it do in this political environment? not a whole lot and that's just a political reality. alan greenspan, former chairman of the federal reserve, said last week there's tragic unemployment and the recovery that he sees is more limited. there's still a housing crisis out there. very difficult to make the argument that things are really moving forward when there's still such a huge weight on people's shoulders because of joblessness. >> let's get to this proposition 8 story. the federal judge who overturned that law says basically that there is no rational basis in sing ring oling out gay, men an lesbians for denial of a marriage license. david axelrod says president

obama opposes gay marriage but supports equality for gay and lesbian couples. he got 70% of the gay vote in 2008. is he going to have to reconsider his stance or revise his stance on this issue? >> well, if he believes that political imperative, he certainly got through the election without changing that stance. he writes in his own memoirs, he may be on the wrong side of history on this. neither he nor hillary clinton supported gay marriage, but they did support equal rights. and he opposed proposition 8. even though he respects the will of the voters. so the president has really tried to straddle the line here and may get a lot more pressure from the left, already disappointed about some things, to catch up with history as this keeps moving. >> as i tune in sunday morning, what am i going to see on your show? >> we're going to ask whether the crisis in the gulf is really over and what's ahead there, whether the moratorium should be reconsidered about oil drilling. also the man who wants to be speaker of the house, john boehner, will join me. what is the republican vision should they take over in

november. >> all right. sunday "meet the press." david gregory, thanks, david. 7:15, here's meredith. >> thank you. it was supposed to be a day of fun and members of a missouri high school band on a field trip to an amusement park just outside st. louis, but it quickly turned into a nightmare. a tragic chain reaction crash involving two school buses. this morning, two teens are dead. janet shamlian is in st. louis with details. good morning, janet. >> reporter: meredith, good morning. this was planned as a day of celebration. one a group of teenagers had been looking forward to for months. it was the end of their summer band camp and these kids had been selling candy, washing cars, doing anything they could to raise money for this trip to the six flags amusement park. just a few miles short of their destination, the outing turned tragic. it started as a fun-filled field trip for students from a high school band camp. they were traveling in two buses, one full of girls, the other full of boys. heading for six flags amusement park on the outskirts of st.

louis. but before they got there, a tragic ending in what's being described as a chain reaction accident. >> it's been a horrible, horrible day in our community and it will be felt forever. there will be no way that we can get over this. >> reporter: the chain reaction started as four vehicles were heading east on interstate 44 outside st. louis. the tractor-trailer slowed as it approached a construction site. a pickup truck crashed into the trailer. moments later, the first school bus smashed into the truck and the second bus rear-ended the first. aerials of the accident scene showed the first bus perched on top of the trailer cab and metal ladders used to evacuate band members. highway patrol officers said the driver of the first bus may have moved into the passing lane to give room to a vehicle on the shoulder of the highway. >> she then was looking in her mirrors to the left or to the right and she failed to notice the first impact. >> reporter: authorities say the driver of the pickup, 19-year-old daniel schatz, was

killed, as was 15-year-old sophomore jessica brinker, who was on the first bus. overnight jessica's family released a statement thanking everyone for their support. they wrote how jessica loved singing and dancing with her sister. how she was voted the friendliest girl by her classmates. and how friends say he saushe a had a smile. dozens of others were injured taken to area hospitals. they were treated for bumps, bruises and other minor injuries. >> broken glass and people on the floor. >> reporter: family members from the small town of st. james, where the band members attended school, rushed to the hospitals to pick up loved ones. >> my son called me on his cell phone, thank goodness for cell phones. he just said that they were in an accident. >> his first words were, dad, we've been involved in an accident and we need you to start praying. >> i was on the back of the bus. all i know about the impact is that it was pretty large. it was just evacuate, get away from the scene. >> reporter: and now the ntsb has sent a team of investigators

to the scene. meanwhile, there is one of the high school band members in the hospital here. she's in serious condition. but she is expected to recover from her injuries. just a horrific event for this community. meredith. >> all right, janet shamlian, thank you very much. it is 7:19. here's matt. >> thank you. it's always nice when a grandson follows his grandfather into the family business, but when the business is politics and your grandfather is richard nixon, is that connection a blessing or a curse? here's nbc's kelly o'donnell. >> reporter: chris cox had never run for office before. >> what are you, republican, democrat? >> i'm republican. >> reporter: but politics is in his blood. presidents, as in president richard nixon. his grandson, chris, was born five years after nixon resigned. hard lessons were passed down. >> the advice he always gave me is that you always have to come back, no matter what happens, no matter what roadblocks are thrown in your way, don't let anything get you down. >> i have never been a quitter.

to leave office before my term is completed is abhorrent to every instinct in my body. >> reporter: a much happier moment in white house history, the rose garden wedding of chris's parents, tricia nixon and edward cox. >> so they're now on their way into the white house for the official picture taking. >> reporter: tricia has lived a very private life ever since, but now the coxes only child is running for congress. >> did you get a sense that she was at all worried for you? >> i think every mother would be a little worried, but she was very happy that i wanted to serve my country. >> reporter: cox is 31 years old, a lawyer and business consultant. going door-to-door in a swing district on new york's eastern long island, where some people remember president nixon fondly. >> you know this guy over here? >> of course. that's my grandfather. >> reporter: competing in a september primary up against several republicans, old family connections help, like former

secretary of state henry kissinger who's raising money. >> when you knock on doors, do people know president nixon is your grandfather? >> there are a lot of people that have heard about it and we get a very favorable reaction. it's been a big plus so far. >> really? >> absolutely. >> reporter: his pitch is about what he could do in congress. >> that's why i want to go in washington, to help out small businesses like yours and mine. >> reporter: but some voters suspect his grandfather's fall from grace hurts his chances. >> going back to nixon's time and what he did, and i remember the tapes. that's what comes to mind. >> reporter: even with all the family history, the politics of today may be an advantage. voters here are pretty evenly split between parties, and cox hopes the anti-washington mood this year could help him beat a democratic income sglent we're running to balance the budget, cut taxes and grow jobs. >> reporter: do you feel any weight of the watergate era and the resignation? >> for me it's a new generation

and i think people are more concerned about what i can do to help make their lives more affordable here on eastern long island. >> reporter: cox prefers to talk about nixon's statesmanship on foreign policy or share a memory about nixon's lesser known sportsmanship with the grandkids. >> we would play pickup basketball games on his tennis court. we would love doing that. and he had an incredible outside shot, which you wouldn't believe, from the top of the key. he was incredible. >> reporter: nixon is chris cox' middle name, a legacy for both that young grandson in the picture and the grown-up candidate of 2010. for "today," kelly o'donnell, nbc news, river head, new york. and still to come on a friday morning, a mystery in minnesota. the death of a promising 21-year-old college student, chris jenkins. his parents have fought for answers for nearly eight years. they'll share their heart-breaking story in a live interview. first this is "today" on nbc.

just ahead, why some people are paying more than half a million dollars to open tibetan mastifs. when something's safe? you talk to these guys. they go through every car and truck we make with a big fat red pencil. because they know a family's going to be inside. a teenager. a guy on the way to the job. the engineers of chevrolet. just another reason why we can offer a 5-year 100,000 mile powertrain warranty. . a chevy. a chevy. have you tried honey bunches of oats with real strawberries? wow. it's seriously strawberry. they're everywhere. it's in the bunches, on the flakes, even real strawberries in the mix. can i have some more? honey bunches of oats with real strawberries. it's delicious. nobody does it quite like us.

a tornado hits, air life denver takes off... their night-vision goggles keeping the rescue mission safe... and powering those goggles-- the only battery air life trusts: good morning. the time is 7:26. i'm brent cannon, checking the morning commute with mike inouye. >> the san mateo bridge, you can see the sky. look at that, nice on the peninsula side. you notice the folks coming over using those headlights. some patchy clouds, drizzle over the course of the morning, but so far friday light for the most part. to the golden gate bridge, where you can't see the skies, can barely see the bridge. traffic flowing nicely through the north bay but the clouds are sticking around. >> misty skies, a strong sea breeze all day long. san francisco up to 60 today.

if these temperatures look familiar, you saw them yesterday and you will see them this weekend. we are locked into this pattern of morning clouds, afternoon sunshine inland. time is 7:27. more news after the break.

gay marriages could begin later today or as early as this weekend. a federal judge struck down proposition 8 as unconstitutional but also issued a stay on his ruling. he could decide today to lift

that stay or he could extend it. groups in favor of banning gay marriage are formally appealing that ruling. the case goes before the ninth court of circuit appeals in san francisco. if the decision on the stay is made today, we will bring that to you live and online. you can also sign up for breaking news alerts so you can get the information by going to nbcbayarea.com. more local news coming up in a half hour. the "today" show returns in less than a minute.

7:30 now on this friday morning, august 6th, 2010. standing room only crowd outside our window on the world in rockefeller plaza. in just about one hour from now, all these fine folks will be treated to a live concert from the grammy winning band train. inside studio 1-a i'm meredith vieira alongside matt lauer. a new warping to parents on how dangerous common household cleaners can be. >> to a toddler, some of them look like something fun to drink. there's something a lot of parents are not doing that is putting children at even greater

risk. we'll tell you about that in a couple of minutes. >> also ahead, are you tired of paying hundreds of dollars each month just for your cell bill and cable? we'll help you bargain your way to a better rate. >> how much would you pay for a dog? >> i like to get them from the pound actually. >> so you wouldn't pay a lot of money, right? >> no. >> how about upwards of $600,000? >> that's crazy. >> in one part of the world, that is the going rate for these massive mastiffs. we're going to tell you why they've become so popular and so expensive. >> all right. but we're going to begin it this half hour with with a mystery. what happened to college student chris jenkins? he vanished in 2002 and his parents have been on a crusade ever since. we'll talk to them in a moment. first chris' story as told by "solve my mystery" a new series that uses actors to tell crime stories from the victim's perspective. >> the day i disappeared was big news.

but that was nothing compared to the day they found me. floating faceup in the river. >> half of me was totally relieved because no one could hurt him anymore. and the other half is, oh, my god, he's gone. where is he? there he is. bye-bye, chris. >> after four months of searching, all my family had now were the videos, the photos, the memories, that and a box full of ashes. >> he always wore a blue bandanna underneath his lacrosse helmet, so i took the blue bandanna out of his helmet and i wrapped it around the box because i personally wanted chris' character front and center. >> to chris, my brother, my best

friend, my personal counselor, my comedian, my mentor, and my hero, i promise that every day from now until i join you, i will not take life for granted and i will not take those around me for granted. i promise to make every day count, chris, and i promise to live to the fullest. >> but if police thought that my funeral would finally end, my family's fight with the department, they were wrong. >> so the body was found -- critical moment that we need to understand exactly what was going on. no one would share with us. >> the medical examiner told my folks he had trouble pin pointing how i died. drowning seemed likely, but he couldn't prove how it happened, so he listed the cause as undetermined. >> following the conclusion of that meeting, the lead

investigator said it's suicide or accident. >> still, mom and dad kept going. they kept asking for an investigation. and a year and a half later, they got a response from minneapolis police. >> we have had this case reviewed by our most experienced investigators. we see no reason that this case needs to be viewed by any other parties. the case is closed. >> i wanted to rip somebody's eyes out. where do you go from there? at the end of the day, where do you go? i could look at a picture of chris, look into his eyes, and i personally was back on track, because the job wasn't done. >> steve and jan jenkins have written a book about their ordeal called "footprints of courage." good morning to you both. >> good morning. >> i know that this is the first time all of us are seeing that

scene from this new nbc series, "solve my mystery." as hard as it was to watch that, and i saw your eyes welling up with tears, i know you think it's important to get this story out this way. >> well, it very much is. and we have spent almost eight years working this case and we really did this for a number of reasons. one, because of the undying love we have for chris and sarah. two, the determination to find chris when he went missing and truly to find the truth after his body showed up. the motivating factor was all the volunteers, the family, the friends and most importantly the professional experts that came to our aid and truly the knowledge to know when it was time for us to give up. >> you've never given up. >> well, we haven't given up. what we learned from this is we learned to ourselves and also to other family members, that a

parent's love is really a force to reckon with. >> you know, jan, when your son went missing in 2002, from that day you all believed it was not suicide or an accident, you believed it was foul play. the police did not. they closed the case. you hired investigators, you spent thousands of dollars defying them basically saying you're wrong, we're going to determine what happened to our son. what kept you fighting? >> as steve mentioned, an undying love for chris. we were a very close family. chris and steve spoke every day. and yet we're parents. we were living in wisconsin at the time so we contacted his coaches, his teammates, his professors. the message was consistent, chris would not just disappear. that didn't happen. >> and in 2006 the police said we were wrong, they apologized to you and said this is a homicide. was there a sense of victory for you? >> there was a sense of, i believe, a small sense of justice for chris that that had actually occurred.

and yet at the end of the day, why was it allowed to happen and why was it not followed up on? and we would hope that all of us learned from what doesn't work in going forward to what does work. >> and yet since 2006 since the police reopened the case and said, yes, we did make a mistake, there have been no arrests. we contacted the minneapolis police department. i want to read to you what they told us. they said this is an open case. there have always been investigators assigned to this case. we will act upon any information we get immediately. in addition, the hennepin county attorney's office has a prosecutor assigned to it and they have reviewed this case. what's your response to that? >> well, i called the lead lieutenant four weeks ago. it had been 15 months since we spoke and i really wanted to know what kind of activity has taken place and really nothing has happened. it is an open investigation. we're really hoping that this story after almost eight years,

truly someone's conscience is going to be playing on them after they see the story and we hope that we get some phone calls. >> but is there a sense of frustration still with the police? there is? >> absolutely. and yet i would say about two years ago we realized we had done everything we could and i just decided i wasn't going to cross that line into stupid and stupid means hitting your head against the wall when you don't have the power to do something. we're proud of what we did. we went as far as we possibly could. would we like to see people held responsible? absolutely. whether that's the bar or the people that did this or friends. so at the end of the day, what we want, and we're so delighted that nbc is doing this show tonight because chris led a remarkable life. he lived almost 22 years. he touched thousands of lives in a very positive way. and the story tonight will be not just about his death, about his life. and that's what we want to carry forward into the future.

i wrote the book "footprints of courage." number one reason, for chris, a tribute to chris. also beginning this year, 2010, i have been a public speaker and workshop leader for over 25 years and i've added a new direction, which is stick together, stay alive. i plan to speak on college campuses and with high school students. we don't want this to happen to -- to ever happen to another family. and there are things that kids can do to stay safe and don't ever leave one behind. >> it's important that you do that. jan and steve, thank you so much. i greatly respect you. thank you so much. >> appreciate it. >> you can see more on "solve my mystery" tonight at 10:00, 9:00 central time right here on nbc. now let's get a check of the weather from al. >> thanks, meredith. tropical storm colin is back again 410 miles south-southwest of bermuda moving northwest at 14 miles an hour, 45-mile-per-hour winds. should stay to the west of bermuda but again it's about 65-mile-per-hour winds so it

shouldn't be too bad. then we've also got your weekend outlook. a slight risk of strong storms in the plains. showers in the pacific northwest, mild in the northeast. for sunday, you've got more beautiful weather throughout much of the country. the heat continues, though. it will be confined to the southwest on into the gulf. here's a look at san jose. we've got overcast skies to start off the morning, some spots have drizzle, especially around san francisco. 75 later this afternoon in san jose. 60 in san francisco. 72 petaluma. vacaville about 80. sacramento, relatively mild for sacramento standards, 88. the weekend will include more of the same. mostly 70s inland. 50s and 60s on the coast. the mild pattern not going anywhere fast. that's your latest weather. we're getting ready for football season. that's right. "sunday night" football night. it's the hall of fame game in akron -- canton, ohio, i should

say. the cincinnati bengals with t.o. that's right. and ochocinco. mostly clear, mild. temperatures 73 to 78. it's "sunday night football night in america." we're saving the big one for the real season. meredith? >> al, thank you very much. and up next, hidden hazards under the sink. a new warning on just how dangerous common household cleaners can be to your children. my "me time" is when i thought i parked on level 2. or maybe 8? my "me time" is when there's a 10% chance of rain! [ cellphone rings ] my "me time" is when he doesn't get the hint. ♪ my me time... [ bang ] is when everybody's takin' shots at me. [ male announcer ] discover you time anytime. mccafé your day with a mcdonald's frappé. smooth and icy caramel or mocha blended just for you and topped with a decadent drizzle. "me time"! [ male announcer ] the simple joy of a frappé. ♪

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[ all ] 10...9...8... a new school year has so much potential! any resolutions? my resolution is the same as always; keep her full and focused with my fiber. [ all ] 3...2...1... happy school year! [ female announcer ] this school year, make a resolution to give your kid kellogg's frosted mini-wheats cereal. an excellent source of fiber from 100% whole grain. that helps keep them full so they can focus on the day ahead. keeps 'em full... keeps 'em focused. and get this year's colors up on the wall...this year. let's get better prices... and better paint. let's break out the drop cloths, rollers, brushes, and tape. let's start small. then go big. no matter what the budget. and when we're done, let's take a bow. more saving. more doing. that's the power of the home depot. behr premium plus ultra. the only interior paint and primer in one that's rated number one.

now to a warning to parents about those spray cleaners you use in your home. as kevin tibbles explains, they can be a dangerous and sometimes deadly temptation for toddlers. >> reporter: it happened in the blink of an eye. >> i remember turning around, seeing him with a handful of carpet freshener in his mouth. >> reporter: erica christian's 19-month-old son was poisoned from ingesting the carpet freshener and rushed to the hospital. luckily he suffered no permanent damage. but each year the chemicals found in common household cleaners send thousands of young children to the emergency room. >> the biggest defenders in the way of products are bleach. >> reporter: from 1990 to 2006 more than 267,000 children under 5 were treated for injuries related to household cleaning products. >> a child puts them in their mouth, they realize that this is a yucky chemical and the first

thing they do is they do this -- and it goes into their lungs instead. and that's where it causes the most damage. >> reporter: another problem for kids, many of the brightly colored cleansers that we keep in our homes look very similar to the sorts of things they like to eat or drink. nearly 20 years of research went into the study which also found that while parents are doing a better job of keeping dangerous chemicals locked up, about 12,000 children are still injured each year. and spray bottles are of particular concern as many parents forget to lock the nozzles. >> another tip would be to keep cleaners in their original containers and not transfer them into kitchenware or other containers not labelled. >> reporter: with so many brightly colored and sweet smelling cleaners on the market, parents need to keep these products out of reach so our children don't confuse solvents with sodas. for "today," kevin tibbles, nbc news, chicago.

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tiny, purse sized dogs may be popular in the u.s. a much bigger breed may be all the rage. >> reporter: it's a lion, it's a bear, nope, it's a tibetan mastiff to be precise. the latest rich man's accessory in china. so loyal, says one businessman, and fierce. he and his wife prize these canine traits so much that last year they claimed to have paid $600,000 for a dog, a purebred, delivered in style by a fleet of mercedes. such is the life of a privileged pup in the new china. this certificate is actually what's worth money because it

verifies the bloodlines for the dog. weigh i weighing up to 180 pounds, the mastiff is also valued for its origins. from the former himalayan kingdom 12,000 feet above sea level on the tibetan plateau. in china people think of the tibe tibetan massive for their health. where mastiffs come in all shapes and sizes, judged for their physical traits. in the shape of the mouth and jaw. and demand has skyrocketed with prices jumping 500% a year and dog fairs like this taking place across china during the show season. boosting the fortunes of men like salia, once a chicken farmer, now a breeder of prize winning mastiffs. at the beginning i liked them because i liked dogs, he said,

then i realized i could make a lot of money from them and now i'm really in love with them. so this two-year tibetan mastiff will set you back half a million dollars. i don't know, are you worth it? some people don't think so. >> the whole trend is rich people buying a dog doesn't matter if you're a pet lover. you want to look at a dog or live with dogs, you just buy the dog and say i got a tibet mastiff. >> reporter: owners argue otherwise. it's very expensive to own a tibetan mastiff, he says. you have to love the dog to spend that kind of money. a status symbol by those smitten by puppy love. >> a spokesperson for the american kennel club and she has brought along two dogs. gia is just a puppy. matt and i had the same question, what is it with these collars? >> these are actually the

historical collars to protect them from attacks from snow leopards and wolves in the tibetan mountains. >> in this country they are not that expensive, correct? >> they're not as rare or valuable, approximately $800 to $3,500. >> and are they a good family dog? >> they are a good family dog. they're a guardian breed. they will protect their loved ones and their family and their property but they are a little aloof and reserved with strangers because of their nature. >> this one wasn't. loving. >> are you thinking what i'm thinking? >> you want one? >> we export these to china, $2,000 a dog, we sell 1.3 billion of them, we are done. we are set. >> we have money coming in. >> they are really sweet dogs. >> highly intelligent. they do need proper socialization. >> they can be destructive, too? >> they get bored. >> thank you so much. >> you're welcome. >> we'lln e themtraihe t oon p watch train on the plaza in our 8:30 half hour. ♪ think fast, go slow

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good morning. time is 7:56. i'm brent cannon. we want to check in with mike on the friday morning commute. new troubles on the south bay. >> for one portion of 101, we have the accident at story road, it's been moved to the shoulder. speeds of 45 approaching the scene. the rest of the south bay showing what friday light means. heading up northbound, 101 out of mountain view from 237 out of palo alto, slowing there as well. the dumbarton bridge moving nicely, san mateo bridge, too. you can see the san mateo hills today. >> a few breaks in the cloud today. temperatures pretty mild. 75 san jose. 72 petaluma. vacaville, off to the east at 80. that's one of the warmer spots. the weekend also mild, starting

off the morning with clouds and drizzle. time is 7:56.eak. s ter the brk. ea ♪ welcome to ultimate rewards from chase. no blackouts, no restrictions on airfare and hotels, no limits to what you can get with ultimate rewards. no wonder it's called ultimate. available on chase credit, debit, and business cards. chase what matters.

in a few hours, buses will make their final trips to and from the old transbay terminal in san francisco. at midnight that old building will be sealed and prepared for demolition. starting tomorrow, buses will move to a temporary outdoor tem na terminal about two blocks away.

the old terminal is being knocked down to make way for a new transit center which will open in about four years. starting on monday, caltrans will caracortadcarve out the fo of the caldecott tunnel. it is a 130-ton 40-foot long excavator that will do the digging. more local news coming up in a half hour. s had [ music throughout ] the fastest i ever served a tennis ball that actually went in... oh, i think i've looked at the clock before and it said 128, i think. my mom tells me, "don't try to hit it so hard. just try to place it." when the stakes are higher, i go for more, and i can't help it. it's my personality, and it's my game.

sorry, mom. watch venus bring the heat, during the olympus u.s. open series on tennis channel. ♪ hey soul sister we know when it's pretty much a picture perfect morning, blue skies and night, warm temperatures. but for now it's much less humid than it's been. >> and the heat has shrunk. now only nine states have heat advisories. down from the 20s since yesterday. >> we're in for a nice weekend in the northeast. looking good. we're in for a great concert about 30 minutes from now. we have train, the grammy award winners taking to our summer concert stage to put on a great show for what is a huge crowd here in the plaza. we're going to get to that in a

second. also ahead, you know that there are certain things you buy that you can haggle over the price, right? >> sure. >> like a car, a little wiggle room there. what about your cell phone and cable bill? >> hmm. >> i wouldn't think you could. >> it would be nice if you could. >> you can. we'll show you specific steps you can take, things you should say on the phone to the manager at the cable company or the cell phone company to get a much better deal. >> also, you hear a lot about adhd with children, but what about the toll it can take on a marriage if someone spouse actually has adhd? you'll meet a couple dealing with that, also some experts who will tell you the warning signs and how to cope with it. >> speaking of marriage, there are a lot of places people are getting married in wild places these days. we're seeing on the internet these exotic dances, all kinds of stuff. would you believe getting may married at a t.j. maxx? >> it's a bargain. >> i guess so. you already know you have good shoes. we'll show you some of the wild stuff going on with weddings these days. >> and lots to get to.

let's go inside. ann is off this week. we are happy to have carl quintanilla of cnbc over at the news desk. carl, good morning again. good morning. good morning, everyone. the nation's next supreme court justice visits the white house for a ceremony marking her senate confirmation. elena kagan was approved thursday despite republican opposition. she'll be sworn in tomorrow to succeed retired justice john paul stevens. bp engineers finished pumping cement into the ruptured oil well are waiting at least a day for the cement to dry. company executives say the so-called static kill method could permanently plug the leak. they say the company will finish drilling a relief well to forever plug the source of the oil. the ntsb will investigate thursday's chain reaction crash near st. louis that killed a 15-year-old girl and the teenaged driver of a pickup truck. officials said two school buses taking high school band members to an amusement park slammed into an earlier highway wreck. a minnesota prosecutor says she will not retry a man who served more than two years in

prison for a toyota crash that killed three people. lee was set free on thursday. lee's claim that the brakes on his 1996 camry had failed gained credibility after toyota's widely publicized problems with sudden acceleration. police in scotland are investigating what they call the suspicious deaths of three children from the same american family. nbc's martin fletcher is in london this morning. martin, good morning. >> reporter: carl, good morning. what a tragedy. firefighters were called to a house in edinburgh to put out a small fire and they found the bodies of three children. a shrine is already forming while the questions pile up. police are investigating one possibility -- where 8-year-old twins luca and austin riggi and 5-year-old sister cecilia killed by their mother. the family seemed to have it all, living in comfort. the mother home schooling the children. the father an oil engineer. back home in colorado, family

neighbors couldn't believe it. >> i am really shocked to hear this news. >> they had nice kids. they're real nice. it really is a shock. >> reporter: but the parents were going through a bitter divorce. they missed a scheduled court appearance tuesday on custody of the children and today the family is destroyed. the children's mother theresa in the hospital in serious condition after falling 40 feet from her balcony. another possibility, a gas explosion. >> there was a gas explosion and a woman fell off the third story or second story, i don't know. whatever the top floor is of the building. >> reporter: the children reportedly did not die as a result of gas or fire and police are investigating the cause of death. the injuries at the moment are suspicious. the children's father, pasquale is helping police. he is said to be heartbroken. while police are wait to go question the mother in the

hospital hoping she'll have the answer how the children died and hope to learn more from the autopsy today. >> martin, thanks for that. a power failure at the wisconsin state fair last night left dozens of people stuck on a chair lift ride for two hours. firefighters used a cherry picker to lower the dangling riders 35 feet to solid ground. it is 8:05. let's get back to meredith and matt out on a busy plaza. >> it is busy out here, carl. thank you very much. >> a busy, beautiful plaza. >> al roker is tucked behind the drum. >> i am. you're telling me to beat it. anyway, we have -- you found your soul mate ten years ago, officer horton. >> officer hardy. >> and where is officer hardy? >> he's sleeping right now because he's been working so much. >> yes. he's getting a little rest. we like that. happy anniversary. >> thank you. >> let's check your weather, see what's going on, and we'll show you our pick city today happens to be nbc 3. mostly sunny, mild in syracuse,

new york. my old stomping grounds. in ave a beautiful day her the northeast. some heavy showers and thunderstorms firing up today, down through the southeast. we have a risk of strong storms there. also through the central plains and much of montana a risk for strong storms, beautiful weather up and down the west coast. showers in the southwest. gulf coast hit or miss thunderstorms as well. here is the san mateo bridge, sunny breaks on the west side of the peninsula, otherwise, still misty, spots around the coast. around the interbay today, we will see temperatures staying quite cool. 60s, oakland, 70s, down toward redwood city, los gatos, morgan hill, 87 degrees. the weekend will look much the same. we will have the morning clouds and drizzle at times, then sunshine for the afternoon. temperatures inland warming a little bit as we head through the middle part of next week. and that's your latest weather. >> you know whose birthday it is?

is. >> no, who? >> jimmy kargan. turn so we can see you, jimmy. 63 years old today. jimmy, happy birthday. >> thank you, thank you. >> just ahead, how to cope if your spouse has adhd. one couple shares their story right after these messages. happy birthday, jimmy. [ girl ] bye mom! bye sweetie! you'll do great. [ laughs ] this is it! [ all ] 10...9...8... a new school year has so much potential! any resolutions? my resolution is the same as always; keep her full and focused with my fiber. [ all ] 3...2...1... happy school year! [ female announcer ] this school year, make a resolution to give your kid kellogg's frosted mini-wheats cereal. an excellent source of fiber from 100% whole grain. that helps keep them full so they can focus on the day ahead. keeps 'em full... keeps 'em focused. that makes everything taste better.

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the engineers of chevrolet. just another reason why we can offer a 5-year 100,000 mile powertrain warranty. and another reason why a chevy's a chevy. this morning on "today's relationships" attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. for most couples maintaining a healthy marriage requires a certain degree of work and compromise. and when one spouse has adhd, it can create a whole new set of challenges. >> robert and i met in law school. >> we got married in 1991. >> robert adapted to each other's personalities and various quirks. >> the early years, you know, honeymoon years, were a lot of fun but at the same time it was very frustrating. >> i was chronically late. i was disorganized, i often didn't finish projects that i

would start. >> as the years passed, rob's behavior became worse. he was often totally unfocused and unreliable. >> i can remember calling my wife and telling her that i would be home at 6:00 for dinner and before i know it it's 8:30. >> just day-to-day chores would be a problem. >> finally, eight years into their marriage, he sought help and that's when robert was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. adhd. >> there are millions of adults out there who have adhd and don't know it and it's ruining their marriage and ruining their careers. >> with education, medication, and by exercising his mind and body, robert found the clarity he and his wife desperately needed. >> i was able to focus on things more as opposed to leaving projects unfinished. >> the diagnosis was able to help us connect. >> reporter: now rob shares his own experience to help others struggling with adhd.

>> i think there's a tremendous amount of comfort in knowing that you're not alone. >> every marriage is a work in progress and i think that we've come a real long way. >> dr. hallowell is author of "married to distraction" restoring intimacy and strengthening your marriage in an age of interrupgs. he also has add. melissa orlov is the author of "the adhd effect on marriage." and she has a personal relationship with adhd she will talk about. good morning to both of you. >> good morning. >> first let's break it down again. attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. people have issues with distraction or both. how does that impact on a marriage? >> it can ruin it. if someone is distractable, impulsive, not there, not able to follow through the non-adhd spouse feels like she has another child and the marriage can easily fall apart.

but if you diagnose and treat it, then you can save the marriage. this is a very common, treatable reason for marriages to fall apart. >> you find people don't take the diagnosis seriously. >> stigma is a big problem or trivializing it. everyone is add. you toss it off as if it was just -- everyone is like this. well, not everyone is like that. and studies have shown roughly 3% to 5% of the population has this extreme version of distractability and hyperactivity and in adulthood it can ruin your marriage and your career. >> melissa, i mentioned you had a personal relationship. you were work iing with ned on research on adhd and suddenly it rang a bell with you. >> it did and we have a daughter who has adhd and that is another way you know because it's inheritable. we looked at it and said, wow, this is our marriage. these are our problems. >> and this was well into your marriage, right, like 15 years in? >> 15 years in. we had just a very dysfunctional

relationship by that time and we looked at it and we said this fits. this is what it is. and it gave us a completely new way to look at what to do to fix it and turn it around which we did very successfully. >> you mentioned your daughter had it. we think of adhd in terms of kids not really in terms of adults. >> the great undiagnosed group are adults, particularly adult women, by the way. people think you get over it during childhood. well, often you don't. and so if you have a pattern of chronic under achievement as an adult, trouble with organizing, trouble with focusing, trouble with following through, you may be very talented but you just can't make use of the talent you've got or you just can't get it together at home and be a co-equal spouse, think of this diagnosis because you can really help your marriage. >> let's talk about the warning signs and talk about ways of coping with it. the warning signs, i have three of them here. one spouse handles most household responsibilities, constant nagging, and then a child with adhd. the first two you could apply to a lot of marriages anyhow.

how do you know you've crossed the line over into this? >> well, it's intensity and during. if it's been going on for a long time and you're much more like that than other spouses like that. sadness and depression, if you're really sad for a long time, you're depressed. if you're really disorganized and impulsive and unreliable, think about adhd. >> and how do they find it with your husband, how do they diagnose it? >> a series of questions a psychiatrist would ask to diagnose it and the best expert on that. but it is -- once you start to think about it, the light goes on. you say, wow, this is it. i totally understand. i see myself in this. >> we only have 30 seconds left, how did you begin to cope with it? what are some of the coping m mechanisms that got your marriage back on track? >> understanding each other much better. i have a lot more empathy for what it's like to live with adhd. i don't think my husband is lazy or cares about me, i understand what the distraction brings to the relationship.

that's one way. and then you just start to work at it. you say, what is add friendly? what are the things i can put into place? which is why i wrote my book so people can learn what they are and they don't have to experiment like we did. >> thank you very much. thank you. and up next, bargaining your bills. what you can do today to lower your monthly cable and cell phone bills. [ male announcer ] how about we open up a whole can of getting it done?

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these top safety picks, and all our new safety innovations are available at toyota.com/safety. ♪ i love my cable tv back at 8:21, this morning on "today's consumer" paying less for cable and cell phone. everyone loves a bargain especially in tough times. it may be easier than you think to bargain down your bills. carmen wong ulrich, nice to see you. are table companies more likely to bargain with you now than in the past? >> oh, yes. >> why? >> cable has been cut by many americans in this recession because of the budget but also next year researchers project about 20% of us are going to be watching our tv online. we have fiber optics options and dish options so competition is here. >> your advice here is really

good. the first thing is be a good customer. >> this makes sense but here is what you have to have the perfect scenario. your great longtime customer, you've been with them for a while, and also you pay your bills on time every time and have great credit and you always want to know what the competition is offering. >> yes. knowledge is power. you say check out your itemized bill and know your usage habits. >> knowing the competition there are resources online you can go to, lowermybills.com where you enter your information, your exact address to see what's available. a lot of places don't have a lot of options for cable but they will find there's an option for you. >> now i have my information, i'm ready to pick up my phone and make that call. common sense again. make sure when you make the call and you're asking for a favor you're pleasant about it. >> listen, you get a lot further with honey than with bossy. be sweet about this. have that bill in front of you to negotiate down some fees. it's a roll of the dice who you're going to get on the phone. somebody who is not willing to budge, ask for a manager or even better for customer retention. >> are they always willing to

connect you. >> they will. they will have to do that. these phone calls are usually recorded, of course. so the good customer service, customer retention, it costs them more to find a new customer than to keep you and cut your bill. >> the next thing confused me. reading this last night and your suggestion is don't be too specific about what you're looking for. why not? >> don't call them up and say i'd like free hbo because it's not going to happen. they're not going to say, no, i'm not going to give you that. you know what, i'm reviewing my bills this month and looking to cut some bills, what kind of offers do you have out there right now? what kind of promotions are available? they can cut and slice for you. if you ask specifically, they're less likely to do that. >> do you tell a hardship story? do you get that person on the phone and say, look, my job is in jeopardy, i'm in trouble, i'm behind on my bills, do you get that specific? is. >> you can and getting that specific is this is what's happened the past couple of years. that's why people have cut their service and are looking to cut their bills. if you threaten to walk away

whether it's because you need to cancel it period or you say, you know what, look, this cable company is offering me that or this cell phone service, they will want to keep you and you have to be able to walk away. >> you want to make sure that while you're engaged in this phone call. >> take note on who you are talking to. they will give you a confirmation number of the transaction that just happened over the phone. keep a note because when you receive your bill, you want to make sure that they have changed and lowered your bill. if they haven't, call them back, give them that confirmation number and they have to adjust your bill. >> okay. so let's say i get to talk to a manager and that manager does not lower my bill substantially, do i go around that manager and try again? >> you can absolutely try again. here's another thing, even if you get a discount now today and you do this today, call again in six months or even three months. business is changing so rapidly, especially with cell phones, too, that there are more promotions and offers out there every couple of months. i have friends who did this every three months for a year, got a discount every single time.

>> you know what you're talk in about. you've done this, right? >> i have done this recently. >> so how much time did you save how much money? >> i saved cable in five minutes about 30%. and on my cell phone i walked into a business to get the cell phone and talking with that person said, what's out there? what can you get for me? cut my bill in half. >> a lot of people think about negotiating on a lot of products but not cell phone and cable bills. >> now is the time. >> pretty good, thanks. appreciate it. >> just ahead, grammy winners train will be live in concert out on the plaza, and they have a lot of their fans lined up to listen to them.

good morning once again, everybody, it is 8:26 now. i'm brent cannon checking your friday commute with mike. >> friday morning, friday light. >> all right. >> the sunol grade, not a whole lot of light, low clouds, the sun is bouncing off of them there you go nice smooth drive in the southbound direction, pleasanton. livermore, traditional spots, actually not so bad, often see. oakland moves through as well, 880 past the coliseum a reminder, the a's are playing against texas tonight so that will be the issue for postwork traffic. you will have the game time slowing there the bay bridge, smooth drive, interstate 880 here. keep in mind heading to reno, you may get very slow traffic because of traffic there hog is

over there? >> 90, reno, the weekend forecast, for the bay area, pretty mild, san jose, warmest places around the bay, mainly toward solano county and morgan hill, maybe close to 80 degrees today, misty morning, the story today. will be the story for the weekend as well, mild temperatures not just for your weekend but looks like they will hang on through the middle part of the next week. time 8:rtmore n break. ew this short break.

new stanford students will trade textbooks for high-tech. each member of the incoming medical class will get an ipad there are 91 first-year students and they will be part of a pilot program to tailor curriculum and the costs for students to be cut down. an ipad starts at $500 but one single textbook could cost about $200. more local news in half an hour and the "today" show returns in less than a minute. have a great morning.

8:30 now on this friday morning, the 6th of august, 2010. we have a bunch of folks waiting on train to roll into rockefeller plaza, the grammy winning band in just a moment. and a lot of great concerts coming up this summer. >> i think the lineup goes like this. next week on friday we have kesha out on the plaza. that should be a big crowd. then week after that we've got

some hard driving rock 'n' roll, we'll see daughtry on the plaza. and then we'll wrap things up later in the month, i think it's august 27th, one of our favorites, katy perry. >> the song of the summer. >> exactly right. >> california gurls." looking forward to that and we can see the guys in train signing autographs and t-shirts for their fans. >> katy perry is engaged to russell brandt. talking about what kind of wedding to have. more and more couples are saying they want to do something unique. all kinds of places you wouldn't think of including a couple that decided to tie the knot at t.j. maxx. the first time it had been done there. you won't believe what it cost them. >> got a deal. >> got a deal. >> when you go to the gym, muscles may not be the only thing you pick up. you could get serious skin infections, believe it or not. >> what's the problem with you? what's your problem? >> i was given this copy. >> another not to go to the gym.

>> how you can get it and how to avoid it. >> okay. before we get to all of that, mr. roker, you have a check of the weather? >> all right. let's check it out and show you what's happening as far as your weekend is concerned. showers in the pacific northwest, wet weather in the southwest, a risk of strong storms in the plains. beautiful in the east. rain for the gulf coast. sunday sunny and hot in the mid-atlantic states, warm in the northeast, new england, some showers in the southwest, the central great lakes. sunny and mild through the pacific northwest. sizzling weather continues oklahoma to the southeast. here is what is happening in san francisco, low clouds, misty skies again this morning, head toward lunchtime, we will see some clearing, temperatures eventually in our 60s in san francisco, 66, oakland, look at san jose, 75 degrees, average high this time of year should be closer to 84. nowhere near that, head through the weekend, we will see temperatures inland climbing a little bit but that's not so about the middle part of next week.

that's your latest weather. i think this is the first concert we've had a garden gn e gnome. very nice. to the world's largest gnome, let's head over to washington, d.c., and willard scott. hi, uncle willie. i have a lovely tie from the autism people, my friend suzanne sent me this. this is the anniversary of autism speaks. i remember when i first heard about it, i didn't know what it was. more and more work has been done and hopefully soon they'll have a cure. but thank you, suzanne. the fifth anniversary, congratulations. and happy birthday -- take a look at autism speaks and our birthday buddy. lawrence aceman, 100 years old today. and he loves to send hand-painted cards to troops

overseas. that's good. take a look at irving jacobs, east brunswick, new jersey is 100. retired bank clerk and he cared for his sister into his late 80s. with family taking care of family, it makes all the differen difference. gladys wing, santa rosa, california, volunteer week at the thrift shop where she helps make and sell things. and clifford morris, 100 years old. colin cancer survivor. he's 100. that's very encouraging. attributes his longevity to not eating red meat. and i always like aggie -- i had a neighbor named aggie -- halbeisen of grand rapids, michigan. lives independently and attends ch church weekly. never says no to chocolate. our kind of person. benjamin jefferson smith,

hallelujah, abraham lincoln. jacksonville, florida, 100 years old. repairs cars for people in the neighborhood and helps them out, saves them a lot of money, too. and john buhman, st. joseph, missouri. scored 92 in the senior golf tournament last month. his secret for longevity, good genes. you can't believe there's anything better. levis. now back to the big apple. >> willard, thank you very much. coming up, would you say "i do" at a it t.j.maxx. odd places people are choosing to get married these days and of course we have train in concert live on our summer stage. with high-speed internet from at&t,

you can connect to the internet at blazing fast speeds. wow, look at that! so you can go online and check out the news, or you can just catch up with old friends -- hey buddy. you can download videos and -- wow, that was fast. you can do it all from the comfort of home. so, as you can see, it's a -- whoa. i'm gonna just go grab a sandwich. [ male announcer ] introducing our fastest internet with speeds up to twenty four megabits per second. switch to high speed internet from at&t and get one-hundred dollars back via promotion card.

back at 8:37, from food to fashion, everyone is talk iing about the big clinton wedding. not every bride and groom goes for a traditional setting. "today" national correspondent amy robach is here to explain. good morning. >> you can say that again, meredith. most couples get mayor yad in a church or reception hall booking them months, even years in advance, and then there are these couples. a wedding is a milestone in a couple's life. saying i do the traditional way is starting to seem old-fashioned. conventional ceremonies are being tossed aside as couples look for innovative ways to personalize their big day. >> people are desperate for ways to make their wedding more unique and more perm than the wedding you went to last week. >> welcome. >> reporter: from picking a theme -- >> i announce you husband and wife. >> reporter: to dancing down the aisle. ♪ >> reporter: wedding fever keeps

spreading. voodoo doughnuts, a portland, oregon-based doughnut shop, has an entire menu dedicated to wedding services. since opening in 2003, they've held over 300 weddings. home depot has seen their fair share of matrimonial glee. several in the last couple of years. >> i like the out of the box thinking. it's a fun, memorable -- >> it actually shows the true colors of the individual. >> reporter: for lisa and drew ellis, t.j. maxx was their dream spot. >> a lot of my life lessons are connected to t.j. maxx. i learned the value of a dollar. any given day i would walk in and see my aunt, my sister, like a family reunion. you know what the store means to me and when he goes traveling, he'll only get a hotel if there's a t.j. maxx within five miles. >> we feel like we're being true to ourselves and getting married at a place we do have a bond at. >> i'll get you through

everything you need to. >> reporter: as drew and lisa prepared for the big day -- >> i'm looking forward to walking down the shoe aisle. i might skim the shoes but i'm going to try my hardest not to stop. you're a lot better than a pair of shoes. he's a lot better than a pair of shoes. >> reporter: so t.j. maxx -- >> we have to make this happener no matter what. she said this would be her dream wedding and we have to make it come true. >> she is literally in here once, twice, three times a week. >> i feel like i'm already married to her so we're just making it official, i guess. >> and i'll still pick out his clothes and stuff. >> and i'll let you shop. >> deal. >> i love those pictures they're going to have of the shoe aisle behind them on their coffee table. it's going to be hilarious. we should mention, we mentioned home depot and other places had lots of wedding. that wedding was the first for t.j. maxx. >> when she said she loved him more than a pair of shoes -- >> that's good. >> i'm not sure i bought it. that was great, amy.

thank you so much. up next, our live concert with train gets rolling on the plaza.

>> announcer: the toyota concert series on "today" brought to you by toyota. it's been called the summer anthem of 2010, the year's number one downloaded song performing "hey soul sister" from their latest album" save me san francisco," train. ♪ hey, hey, hey hey, hey, hey ♪ ♪ your lipstick stains on the front of my left side

brains ♪ ♪ i knew i wouldn't forget you ♪ and so i went and let you blow my mind ♪ ♪ your sweet moonbeam ♪ the smell of you in every single dream i dream ♪ ♪ i knew when we collided ♪ you're the one i have decided who's one of my kind ♪ ♪ hey soul sister ain't that mr. mister on the radio,ster yoe ♪ ♪ the way you move ain't fair, you know ♪ ♪ hey soul sister, i don't want to miss a single thing you do tonight ♪ ♪ hey, hey, hey

♪ just in time, i'm so glad you have a one-track mind like me ♪ ♪ you gave my life direction a game show love connection we can't deny ♪ ♪ i'm so obsessed my heart is bound to beat right out my untrimmed chest ♪ ♪ i believe in you like a virgin you're madonna ♪ ♪ and i'm always going to want to blow your mind ♪ ♪ hey soul sister ain't that mr. mister on the radio, stereo ♪ ♪ the way you move ain't fair you know ♪ ♪ hey soul sister i don't want to miss a single

thing you do tonight ♪ ♪ the way you can cut a rug ♪ watching you's the only drug i need ♪ ♪ so you're gansta i'm so thug ♪ ♪ you're the only one i'm dreaming of ♪ ♪ i can be myself now finally ♪ in fact there's nothing i can't be ♪ ♪ i want the world to see you be with me ♪ ♪ hey soul sister, ain't that mr. mister on the radio, stereo ♪ ♪ the way you move ain't fair you know ♪ ♪ hey soul sister, i don't want to miss a single thing you do tonight ♪ ♪ hey soul sister, i don't want to miss a single thing you do tonight ♪ ♪ hey, hey, hey

tonight ♪ ♪ hey, hey, hey tonight ♪ thank you. >> train, thank you very much. we'll have more music in a moment.

♪ raise your hands >> train burst on the scene back in 1998 and they've won countless fans and a lot of grammy awards now. after a three-year hiatus they're back with their fifth studio album called "save me san francisco." we are thrilled to have them back on the plaza. train, good morning. nice to have you here. pat, welcome back. welcome back not only to the show but welcome back. three years is a long time to take off. and from what i understand what you and the guys have said in the time away you all realized what the band meant to you. >> yeah, i think we started to believe in ourselves again as people who maybe could add something to people's lives in a positive way instead of, hey, let's get on the radio. let's make music that we love

again. and so by doing so, here we are on the radio. >> yeah, you have to be -- i don't know whether it's surprised but certainly delighted by the fact that after three years you come out with "hey soul sister" and it just zooms out there and it really put you guys right back on the map without a beat. >> i just love that it's such a positive song about how beautiful women are and i love that so many people are feeling that. >> jimmy, everybody here this morning has said, first of all, it's great to have you back. you've drawn a huge crowd and some of the people who weren't familiar with train are probably saying they have howie mandel to hang out in the band. that is big. >> yeah, yeah. >> do you get that a lot? >> i get that. >> we have a little comparison. people have been putting -- there's howie. you're obviously a better looking person. there you go. d look over here, it was just like riding a bike when you got back together, you pick it right where you left off? >> yeah, i think it was actually almost easier because before the

break we were kind of really wiped out and tired and sort of sick of our process and getting back was pretty smooth and fun. >> san francisco the first to what? >> we came up in san francisco and we have them to thank for everything, our lives as artists. and so we spent so much time on the road we ended up moving back to where our families are from and we miss san francisco and basically we're coming back home to them. >> a great city. what are you going to play now? >> "if it's love" a tribute to train fans. >> ladies and gentlemen, train. ♪ when everybody else is getting out of bed ♪ ♪ i'm usually getting in it ♪ i'm not in it to win it ♪ and there's 1,000 ways you can skim it ♪ ♪ feet on the floor ♪ flat like an idol singer

♪ remember winger i digress you are the best thing in my life ♪ ♪ husband and wife there's no happy endings ♪ ♪ you are the greatest thing about me ♪ ♪ here is love and we decide that it's forever no one else could do it better ♪ ♪ here is love and we're too much together and the rest is just whatever ♪ ♪ i'm addicted to loving you and you're addict ed ed to my l too ♪ ♪ we can beat them two birds of a feather ♪ ♪ that's life together ♪ love, love got to have something to keep us together ♪ ♪ love, love that's enough of me ♪ ♪ a loan on a house i own

♪ can't be a queen bee without a throne ♪ ♪ i want to buy you everything except cologne because it's poi poison ♪ ♪ the rainbow mainly on the plains sounds the same because it is ♪ ♪ we can laugh, we can sing have ten kids and give up everything ♪ ♪ put our cell phones up in the air and just be glad we made it here alive ♪ ♪ in the middle of space i love you from your toes to your face ♪ ♪ here is love and when it's time that it's forever ♪ ♪ no one else could do it best ♪ if it's love and we're two birds of a feather, and the rest is just whatever ♪ ♪ and if i'm addicted to loving you ♪ ♪ and you're addicted to my love, too ♪ ♪ we can beat them two birds of a feather ♪ ♪ that's life together ♪ love, love

got to have something to keep us together ♪ ♪ love, love ♪ you can move in i won't ask where you've been ♪ ♪ because everybody has a past ♪ let's do it all over again ♪ when everybody else is getting out of bed ♪ ♪ i'm usually getting in it ♪ i'm not in it to win it ♪ i'm in it for you ♪ if it's love and we're two birds of a feather ♪ ♪ and the rest is just whatever ♪ ♪ if it's love we decide that it's forever ♪ ♪ no one else could do it better ♪ ♪ and if i'm addicted to loving you and you're addicted to my love, too ♪ ♪ we can be them two birds of a feather ♪

♪ that's life together ♪ love, love that's enough for me ♪ train is back with more music on a friday morning.

good morning once again, everybody, time now 8:56, i'm brent cannon. checking in with mike, latest on commute through san mateo. >> out across the san mateo bridge, you are right, a disabled vehicle reported somewhere along just from the high rise to the flat section, blocking it slowly and the person in that vehicle got out

of the vehicle, jumping around, waving their arms, trying to make sure people don't hit it. don't hit that person either. eastbound still flowing slowly off the peninsula, san mateo, westbound direction nicely here toward 101 here 101 nicely t the north bay, low fog and clouds hanging around. more news after this. [ female announcer ] jobs leaving.

a budget disaster. california on the brink. jerry brown's plan? you run for office and the assumption is, oh, i know what to do. you don't. i didn't have a plan for california. [ female announcer ] with our state in crisis, we need a governor with a plan. you need a real plan, something i'll acknowledge i did not have. [ female announcer ] jerry brown. no plan then. no plan now. meg whitman. a plan for jobs. log on. learn more. time, 8:58. two suspected courthouse bombers are under a arrest this morning. thousands of criminal files were destroyed when somebody threw a moltov cocktail through a window through the window in the records room in june. the two suspects are now charged. there is no sprinkler system in that courthouse so the fire spread quickly and damaged offices connected to the

criminal division. another update in half an hour. today show returns in about a minute. have a great weekend. we will see you here later.

♪ and did you fall for a shooting star ♪ ♪ and only looking for yourself out there ♪ we're back mao with more of "today" on a friday morning, the 6th day of august, 2010, train out on the plaza. delighting their fans and our fans here in new york city. guys, thank you so much. and if you just missed any of that, they're going to be back with more music a little bit later on including a performance by the trainettes. >> that's right. stay tuned for that. one of my favorites.

>> pat, such a great guy. a great band. >> out on the plaza with tamron hall, natalie morales and al roker. barbara corcoran is also here. >> what you can get from between $200,000 and $600,000 whether it's a four-bedroom home in the heartland to beautiful stuff right along the coast. we have the home you want. >> okay. and then also later on, you know a lot of us go to the gym to get healthy but actually you might be leaving the gym unhealthy and with dangerous skin infections. from the shared mats, shared equipment and towels, yuck. after they're laundered but you never know. >> can i borrow your towel? >> awkward moment. >> let me use your sweat band. >> did you drink out of this cup? >> we're going to tell you what to watch out for and don't share towels, obviously. >> rule number one. and a look at if it your sex drive is running on empty.

just the reading of this, but nonetheless it should be something you could openly talk about. it could be the result of something related to exhaustion, dealing with the kids and work. we're going to take a look at how actually sex can improve your health and re-energize things with assistance. >> lots to get to. let's go inside, carl quintanilla is in while ann is taking some time off. he's over at the news desk. good morning. good morning, everybody. some new figure this is morning show the nation's unemployment rate holding steady last month at 9.5%. that's unchanged from the month before, but the economy lost 131,000 jobs for the month. elena kagan will be honored with a white house reception today, one day after she was confirmed as a supreme court justice. she'll be sworn in tomorrow, becoming the third woman curr t currently serving on the supreme court. police in connecticut have released new chilling 911 tapes from this week's work place massacre in connecticut including the voice of the

shooter himself. nbc's peter alexander has more on that. peter, good morning. >> reporter: carl, good morning to you. this tape is really quite haunting. omar thornton called 911 just moments after killing eight co-workers and wounding at least two others. he calmly told the dispatcher that he regretted not shooting more people in what was already the worst work place attack in connecticut state history. moments after murdering eight co-workers, 34-year-old omar thornton was eerily calm on the phone with state police. >> is this 911? >> yeah, can i help you? >> this is omar thornton, the shooter over here in manchester. >> reporter: thornton insisted he was finished with his rampage and tried to explain his deadly actions. >> you want to know why i shot this place up. basically this is a racist place. they treat me bad over here. so i just took it into my own hands and handled the problem. i wish i could have gotten more of the people. >> reporter: thornton, a two-year employee of the company

who filed complaints about other works rules never filed a complaint about racism and surrounded by hartford distributor employees the company president adamantly denied thornton's claims. >> i can state to you unequivocally that no such claim has ever been brought to the attention of our company. no such claim has been pursued under hartford distributors internal anti-diskrcrimination d harassment policy. >> reporter: company officials say moments before the shooting, thornton was forced to resign tuesday morning after being shown surveillance video that they say showed he was systematically stealing beer and reselling it. when thornton started shooting, five employees tried to warn their fellow workers or physically stop him including 77-year-old jerome rosenstein who tried to ram thornton with a golf cart. he's now hospitalized in serious condition. rosenstein's family thanked the paramedics and police saying they've given our dad a fighting

chance. as for thornton, the 911 dispatcher tried to get him to end things peacefully. >> i'm not going to kill nobody else, though. >> we're going to have to have you surrender yourself somehow here not make the situation any worse. >> these cops are going to kill me. >> no, they're not. we're just going to have to get you to relax. >> i'm relaxed and calmed down. >> reporter: still moments before taking his own life, thornton warped the dispatcher he wouldn't surrender. >> i have to take care of business. tell my people that i love them and i've got to go now. >> reporter: it is chilling to listen to. that call four minutes. at one point omar thornton referenced the s.w.a.t. team closing in. by the time they arrived he had already taken his own life. carl? >> nbc's peter alexander, thanks for that. violent weather downed trees and knocked out power to tens of thousands of people. the storm was associated with the same weather system that brought flash floods this week at a campground in northern new york. some scary moments but no one

was seriously hurt. it's now five minutes past the hour. let's get another check of the weather from al. thanks a lot, carl. as we check it out for you, well, first of all we have a shrinking heat wave so that's good news. only texas, oklahoma, on into parts of south carolina do we have heat advisories down from 20 states yesterday. oklahoma city will get up to 96 today. 96 in tallahassee. charleston 94. add the humidity. it will feel like it's over 105 in el dorado. huntsville 102. 105 in columbus. and then we have that same area a risk of strong storms from albany, georgia, to elizabeth city, north carolina, anywhere from 1 to 3 inches of rain by the time the afternoon thunderstorms really get going. zoo and we are still waiting for the clouds to clear around san jose, should be on our way to temperatures in the 70s in the afternoon. see the numbers around lunchtime, 60s to low 70s inland, close to 80 around fairfield, livermore. morgan hill, los gatos, warmer

spots, same thing for the weekend, start off with morning clouds and drizzle, staying mild to the beginning of next week, just our inland areas warming up some, we pass the middle parts of next week. now today's real estate and a look at homes for sale, some of the most popular cities in the u.s. here with a guided tour is "today" real estate contributor and our own brick house, barbara corcoran. good morning, barbara. >> good morning, al. >> some great houses. great city, raleigh, north carolina. this is a $286,900 english colonial. >> this is not only an english colonial, it's a beautiful little starter home that's meticulous in every way. this particular town, raleigh in the 1600s was called the lost colony. it vanished overnight. this neighborhood, don't worry,

al, is very, very safe. a nice, safe house. a pretty starter home on a private lot at the end of a cul-de-sac. the arched windows, great woodworking. there's an old kitchen that was totally renovated and it just needs a little bit of color but it's a great kitchen. >> it's a great job market. >> it's a great job market. they employ lots of people and high-paying jobs. the industries are high tech medical, pharmaceutical, and they have duke, the most famous of the lot. there's the backyard. it has little trails and bridges, heavily wooded. it's almost like your own little paradise outside. >> all right. let's move now to memphis, tennessee, the city that is mentioned in more songs than any other city in the world. >> and that's the trivia question. do you know how many songs? >> how many? >> i can't think of one. >> "walking in memphis." >> there's one. you need to name another 39. there's a little history here. it's a custom built home. this is a stunning home. it has great landscaping,

front/back side and makes the home look nestled. it's a fancy home, a sophisticated home. looks like a model home. $359,000. custom molding. enormous living spaces. formal dining room. >> a gorgeous kitchen. >> what could you do to fix it up? it not a thing. so pretty. each bedroom comes with its own private bath. there's the dining room and it opens out to a beautiful back deck area. there's actually two decks in the back. that is one heck of a bed, a queen. i've never seen -- that comes with the place. >> the bed you have, right? >> no. probably what you have. one of the two back decks. that's the only thing wrong with the house. >> why? >> it needs sand blasting. with that meticulous house you have to make that backyard measure up. just a little refinishing. >> let's move to seattle, washington. this house for $432,500. >> and who doesn't like seattle, washington? again, a city where it's easy to find a good-paying job. seattle makes two products better than anyone else is their

claim and smart people and great ideas is their claim. they have the most educated workforce in america, by the way. this is an early century tudor home. i don't know if you spotted that red color. normally red is terrible on a house but this house looks great in red. this cottage garden in the front of the house, a beautifully finished kitchen, gorgeous. you could eat off the floors. that's that dining area, also part of the kitchen. but, remember, there's a separate dining room as well. big backyard. the living room has a full -- wait, i have to talk about that. that is perfect. not too big. it's a hot tub. not too big. not too small. it's a perfect backyard surrounded by trees with lots of privacy. there's another shot looking up and there's that red house. i say it looks adorable. >> it looks like it fits into the area. >> it does and look ib side, it looks so much larger than the outside. >> to des moines, iowa, home of the iowa state bear. >> you've got it. it opens next week. but it's also more famous for the presidential caucus that's held there every year.

i think that's why everybody knows the name des moines, iowa. inside this house it might not be your style but i've spent a lot of time on the outside because -- well, we're inside already. what was i saying? there's the living room. a little bit of the furnishings -- >> thank you, tour director, joe michaels! >> we have to get him replaced as quick as we can. there's the kitchen desperate for color. i like white kitchens but that's too white for me. just needs something to give it a little bit of color. okay, but ignore the furnishings of this house. three levels, three fireplaces, two dens, a four-car garage, front and back stairs. it has a 12x12 room, two offices, and look at the size of that backyard. it has rolling hills, a flat level. it's on a double lot and it has total privacy from your neighbors. a great house. >> gorgeous. our last house, austin, texas. what a great city. >> who doesn't like austin? everybody there is happy.

i don't know if that's true but that's what they say and i half believe it. it's one of the most vibrant cities in the world. look at the front. it looks like a quaint cottage. wait until you get inside. i say it's sophisticated and refreshing for a texas house which is usually so big on the outside. there's the living room. look at the size of the windows. a massive fireplace there controls that room particularly meticulously funnished. there's the kitchen. what's wrong with that? a granite top breakfast bar. the master bedroom is large but all the other bedrooms are almost as large. notice that little terrace outside the master bedroom. and that is the back terrace. great dining area out there. just big enough, not too big, and it dumps down into the most beautiful backyard, again surrounded by old, mature trees. nobody's looking at you in this house. this is one great house. >> that is gorgeous. barbara corcoran, thank you so much. >> i'm going to sell you something one day. >> have at it. say hi to your folks for me. >> thank you. and coming up next, a health

warning if you're heading to the gym today. be careful who and what you touch. and later, how to rev up the romance with a sex drive makeover. oh, yeah. [ animals calling ] ♪ [ pop ] [ man ] ♪ well, we get along ♪ yeah, we really do - ♪ and there's nothing wrong - [ bird squawks ] ♪ with what i feel for you ♪ i could hang around till the leaves are brown and the summer's gone ♪ [ announcer ] when you're not worried about potential dangers, the world can be a far less threatening place. take the scary out of life with travelers insurance... and see the world in a different light. i'm gonna need my biggest player. a change in the lineup? [ female announcer ] one bottle of ultra dawn has the grease-cleaning power of two of this competing brand. [ sponge ] way to go, kid. [ female announcer ] dawn does more... [ sponge ] so it's not a chore. acidic foods can cause a softening of the enamel.

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...made with real fruit and now with more of the whole grains your body needs. nutri-grain can help you eat better all day. ♪ let's get physical i want to get physical ♪ this morning on "today's health" what you can catch at the gym. most of us know to wear flip-flops and not touch the walls when we take a shower at the gym but what about the yoga mat or the equipment or even the towels that you're using? you may be exposing yourself to some unpleasant and sometimes dangerous skin infections. dermatologist susan taylor is here to tell us about that. grpg to you. >> good morning.

>> i know the national athletic trainers association release add paper on some of the skin infections you can catch at the gym and there's a lot of risk there that a lot of us don't know about, right? >> that's right. so it's important for people to be aware that you can get various infections, be they bacterial infections, viral infections, even fun gallon infections. so it's important when you work out you do it safely. >> we'll get to some tips in a moment. how do you catch infections at the gym? >> well, you catch it from other people so you can either catch it through direct contact, contact from their skin, or if they're on a mat or a piece of equipment, then the infection can get off on those pick areas and then you go and get on that piece of equipment or on that mat and you catch it. >> and if anybody has wounds or sores or anything. >> you're particularly prone to get it if you have a scratch or an abrasion or some type of cut in your skin. >> and let's get to some of the bacterial infections and some that can be dangerous and that's mersa. >> a bacterial infection, staph. it's one that's difficult to

treat. sometimes bacteria -- antibiotics don't take care of that bacteria. bacteria like strep can infect the skin. you can get a carbuncle. here is an example. think of it as a big boil. it can be red and inflamed and it can be filled with infection. there is infpetigo. you can get that from the mat, from the bench, from even towels that have been used previously. >> sorry for the folks eating breakfast right now and looking at these pictures. what parts of the body -- we're seeing the legs, the hands, feet. >> your back, for example, for the feet f fungal infection. >> athlete's foot. >> if you go in a shower in the gym, to wear shower shoes to

protect your skin. keep your socks and sneakers on as well. >> okay. and then also let's talk about some of the viral infections and one -- here is athlete's foot. one of the viral infections you can get is herpes. >> yes, believe it or not, you can get herbies and you can get herpes by touching a piece of equipment infected by the previous user. so it's important that, for example, if you're going to get on a bike and touch those han e handlebars or on a mat you probably want to wipe it down with anti-bacterial wipes. you should do it before you get on that piece of equipment as well as when you get off of that equipment thinking about the next person. >> okay. there are some other fungal infections or viral infections? >> yes. there's a viral infection that looks like little pink bumps and that can be spread through contact with another person or with an inanimate object. it can be very common in children but adults can get it as well. >> very contagious.

the name says it all. so things that we can do. of course the anti-bacterial wipes you're talking about, showering. >> it's important to shower after you finish your workout. don't wait until you go home because if you're infected, that gives the bacteria, the virus, to really degree and take root. so go into the shower right away. take your own soap. you don't want to use a bar soap that's been sitting there. use shower shoes. and watch your whole body. it might sound like a simple thing but don't forget your feet, for example. we have talked about athlete's foot. so soap and water in the shower as soon as you finish your workout. >> and is it your responsibility as somebody who is going to the gym if you have an infection to stay away from the gym for a while as well? >> that's such an important point. yes, you can spread it so you want to wait until your infection is healed. don't just cover it with a band-aid. wait until it's completely healed and be mindful of other people who work out. you want to wipe down the

metropolitanry when you're finished. >> when i go to the gym, i watch people and i think 80% to 90% of people do not wipe down after. it's kind of disgust iing. >> it's important for us to work out for our general health so we can do it safely. >> keep your tips in mind. dr. susan taylor, thank you so much. >> thank you still to come, head to toe makeovers. our ambush makeover. their new hot look. and one more song from grammy winning band train. ] [ female announcer ] kids who don't eat breakfast may not be getting the nutrition they need to keep their bodies strong. a nutritious start to the day is essential. that's why carnation instant breakfast essentials supplies the nutrients of a balanced breakfast. so kids get the protein and calcium they need to help build strong muscles and healthy bones. ♪ carnation instant breakfast essentials. good nutrition from the start.

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coming up, a warning to parents about the dangers of common household cleaning produc products. >> and how to get back in the mood with tips to improve your

sex drive. >> plus one more song from train performing one of their biggest hits. tivia is better than ever! hey, you guys. want to try activia's great new taste? today is your tasty lucky day! sure, why not? isn't this the yogurt that, you know... helps regulate your digestive system. ooh, i think i'll pass. no, no, no! trust me. it is beyond tasty. okay! mmm! wow! i can't believe it, i love it! mmm, this is really good! new best tasting activia ever! taste it, love it, or it's free! ♪ activia would you like that to hurt now, or later? uh, what? sir, do you want heartburn pain now or later? [ male announcer ] these medicines make you choose. pepcid® complete doesn't.

it's fast acting and long lasting. pepcid® complete works now and works later. good morning to you, it is 9:26 right now. mike's got an update on our morning commute. >> so far, one accident to report on the eastshore freeway, westbound 80, right around university, a little flowing there. anyway that is a not a big deal for the freeway, speeds at 40 and 50 that is at their worst, 18 minutes, 19 minutes off the carquinez bridge. the toll plaza, we will look at the live light shot there, no major problems off the 80 or the 580 interchange, 880 itself past the coliseum, light volume of traffic, a game tonight, rob has your forecast. >> good friday morning to you, we have got a lot of clouds

around the bay area again and misty skies, eventually clearing skies inland, another mild-looking forecast, by august standards, mid-70s, san jose, oakland, san francisco, 72, petaluma, mid-70s north bay, notice the 7-day forecast, the weekend is going to stay milder, got lots of low clouds and drizzle at times, afternoons are going to stay quite a ways below average for this te wa o y yeine sl ale tawainto the start of next week. rt

a three-day event features everything a person needs to know about medical marijuana in hemp con. 60,000 people will visit the san jose convention center to see educational institutions and others. what they won't see is a self-medication tent or any san jose police officers much the officers declined to provide security for this weekend's event, organize hearse to hire private security. the group that runs the convention center says it takes

a different approach to controversial conventions. >> in terms of us making a judgment, if you will, based on sort of the nature of an event, we try desperately not to do that. >> this is the organizer's second hemp con. he has two others before in different cities. former google manager can sue the tech titan for age discrimination. the decision from the california supreme court rejects the lower court's ruling there wasn't enough evidence. the former employ yes, 54 at the time, was told he was not a good cultural fit. google says it looks forward to explaining its decision in court. i will have another local news update in half an hour. the "today" show is back in half a minute.

♪ your love is my drug ♪ your love, your love is my drug ♪ ♪ yes, your love your love ♪ >> that's the music of kesha, the music al roker dances to, but she's taking the charts by storm. now the best-selling singer/songwriter getting ready to take our summer concert stage by storm. we'll be here next friday on "today." and the following week the rocking sounds of former "american idol" standout daughtry will rock the plaza and then we'll wrach up our summer concert with a blow-out performance by katy perry. >> we have more music to come this morning. train is going to be back with one more song, their biggest hit

"drops of jupiter." i've heard this song for years. i didn't know what the name of it was. >> now you know. >> now i know the rest of the story. also ahead, actually a warning for parents especially with very young kids or grandkids around the house. all those cleansers and sprays that you have, they actually could pose a serious health risk even if you think you have them in an out of reach spot. what you need to watch out for. >> important information. maybe some of you have heard this before, honey, i'm just not in the mood. well, if that sounds familiar, we'll help you get your sex lping you figure out the p by reason for your lack of libido and how to get the spark back. first, lester holt and amy robach are here to tell us what's coming up. july unemployment numbers have been released. everyone is asking where are the jobs. we'll try to find the answers for you. plus, the truth about salt. we'll taste test some of your favorite foods considered low

sew sodium and see if there really is a difference in taste. and then coming to a vending machine near you, everything from wine to hair products. yes, wine in a vending machine. janice lieberman will try out a couple of them, see if they're worth the money. and it's not a zebra, it's not a donkey but a ze-donk. this new breed live when we see you on "today." lester, i loved your line. >> who's your daddy. >> on the next maury. >> got their spark back, we know that. did they run out of donkeys? >> they put them together because they thought they would be docile and friendly. >> got a little too friendly. how about a check of the weather? >> to start your weekend off, on saturday some plenty of good weather from new england all the way into the mid-atlantic states. show a risk of strong storms through the upper ohio river valley. sunday sunny skies, mild

conditions in the northeast. mild in the pacific northwest. showers from the central great lakes, back into the southwest and also around the gulf coast. and that's your latest weather. >> al, thanks. natalie, you're doing something special for the muscular dystrophy association, right? >> all part of their new ad campaign. it's called make a muscle and make a difference. and you can see i'm joining the ranks of a lot of other people, really talented people, who are hoping to make a difference for

muscular dystrophy to raise awareness, pump awareness up on neuromuscular diseases and more importantly is this young lady here, abbey, who is joining us. she's the association's national goodwill ambassador. so nice to have you here. >> it's nice to be here. >> you're 11 years old, and you've been a goodwill ambassador for three years now? >> yep, i have. >> that's right. and tell me what your role is as the ambassador? what do you like to do? >> well, my job is to -- >> travel the country? >> yep, i travel the country and i thank sponsors and volunteers for helping mda. and i actually represent all of the families that have muscular dystrophy and all of the kids. >> and what is it you have? >> i have a disease that makes it harder for me to walk. >> so you wear braces on your legs? >> mm-hmm. >> abby, you did a book-a-thon. how many books did you read to

raise money for muscular dystrophy? >> last year i read 35 books all over 100 pages. >> wow. >> that's pretty cool. that's more than most adults read in a lifetime. >> that's great. >> and your parents have been big supporters, of course. >> yes, they have. >> what can people do to help? >> well, there are a lot of ways that you can help, but first -- >> you can go to mda.org. >> or you could call them -- you could call the office at 1-800-fight-md and you could connect with kids. >> we'll put it all on our website, too, abby. people can go to todayshow.com. >> you do a great job as an ambassador for mda, so congratulations. keep up the great work, okay? >> thank you. >> natalie and i want your shoes. >> yeah, we love your shoes. >> lots of bling. >> you have great shoe taste, lady. >> thanks. >> nice to see you here. >> thank you. >> and coming up next, common

household cleaners that could pose a real danger to your toddler. what do people know about kim? people know a lot about kim. they know she does her own make up. ♪ she can not set up a music stand... oh, they know that she always forgets where she puts her "magic wand"... but when she finds it, she makes magic happen. ♪ [ kim ] people know a lot of things about me, but no one needs to know about my condition. and thanks to depend®, they don't. [ female announcer ] now the best protection also comes in new prints and lors. ♪ ♪ da da-da, da, da, da-da ♪ da-da, da, da, da ♪ da, da, da-da-da, da, da-da-da, da, da-da ♪

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to get more of the fiber you need every day, try fiberchoice. with the natural fiber found in fruits and vegetables and 33% more fiber per serving than benefiber. go to fiberchoice.com to get savings and rewards. or does frizz make you start all over? get ready for a revolution. the new pantene. frizzy to smooth system. medium to thick hair absorbs up to 40% more moisture. so we customized a pro-v system that in test, outlasts the frizz point. the results? smooth stays into the second day. put it to the test. frizzy to smooth from new pantene. healthy makes it happen. the pantene re-invention is here. introducing the new pantene custom solutions. with options for your unique hair structure. thick, fine, curly or color.

to make the hair you love, last and last. put it to the test. find your new pantene. a new warning for parents this morning about those cleaning solutions and sprays you use in your home. they can be dangerous temptations for toddlers and can easily be confused by kids for other grocery items. here's kevin tibbles. >> reporter: it happened in the blink of an eye. >> i remember turning around, seeing him with a handful of carpet freshener in his mouth. >> reporter: erica christian's 19-month-old son jalen was poisoned from ingesting that carpet freshener and rushed to the hospital. luckily he suffered no permanent damage. but each year the chemicals found in common household cleaners send thousands of young children to the emergency room. >> the biggest offenders were bleach and things like pine cleaners and spot removers. >> reporter: from 1990 to 2006,

more than 267,000 children under 5 were treated for injuries related to household cleaning products. >> a child puts them in their mouth. they realize this is a yucky chemical and the first thing they do is they do this -- and it goes into their lungs instead. and that's where it causes the most damage. >> reporter: another problem for kids, many of the brightly colored cleansers that we keep in our homes look very similar to the sorts of things we like to eat or drink. nearly 20 years of research went into the study which also found that while parents are doing a better job of keeping dangerous chemicals locked up, about 12,000 children are still injured each year. and spray bottles are of particular concern as many parents forget to lock the nozzles. >> another tip would be to keep cleaners in their original containers and not transfer them into kitchen ware or other containers that aren't labelled. >> reporter: with so many sweet smelling cleaners on the market, parents need to keep these

products out of reach so our children don't confuse solvents with sodas. for "today," kevin tibbles, nbc news, chicago. up next, the medical problem that could be putting a damper on your sex life. [ female announcer ] to do well, kids need to eat well. and eating well means getting enough whole grain and calcium. and general mills big g kid cereals can help. did you know it's the only leading line of kid cereals with at least 8 grams of whole grain and a good source of calcium? cereals they already love, like lucky charms and cinnamon toast crunch. give your kids more of what they need to be their best. grow up strong. with big g kid cereals. ♪ so join the sunnyd book spree. as a mom i believe books brighten a child's future.s. when your child's class collects 20 labels... they get 20 free books. go to sunnyd.com

and help us make classrooms sunnier. practicing. practicing what? writing my name. y are you writing your name so much? because grandpa said that our name goes on everything we make. (announcer) tim and richard smucker grew up knowing that putting your name on every jar was a guarantee of quality. what are you doing, richard? i'm practicing too! that's a good idea.

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it's fast acting and long lasting. activia is better than ever! hey, you guys. want to try activia's great new taste? today is your tasty lucky day! sure, why not? isn't this the yogurt that, you know... helps regulate your digestive system. ooh, i think i'll pass. no, no, no! trust me. it is beyond tasty. okay! mmm! wow! i can't believe it, i love it! mmm, this is really good! new best tasting activia ever! taste it, love it, or it's free! ♪ activia research shows that having a healthy and active sex life is not only important for your relationships, it actually has proven health benefits.

but what if you're never in the mood? "today" show contributor dr. roshini raj is here. dr. raj, good to see you. so it's two questions. "a," how big of a problem is it and why is it so difficult to talk about it? >> i think it's a big problem for women. we have so much going on in our lives between work, family, responsibilities, that sometimes sex takes the back seat, and why is it difficult to talk about? well, we're trained as little girls, this is not a topic you should be discussing. it's hard to talk to your doctor about it. you should. >> there are physical benefits to sex? >> there really are. having sex once or twice a week can boost immunity, help fight off infections like colds. you burn calories while having sex. 30 minutes of sex burns about 85 calories. doesn't sound like a whole lot but it adds up if you're doing it a lot. >> ironically i'm suffering from a cold, so there you have it.

you talk about a number of reasons for low libido not related to health and you mention stress overload. i think that would be the most common. >> i think stress is probably the most common for women and if you are feeling very anxious or stressed about some part of your life, chances are you're not going to have a very high sex drive. ironically sex can actually decrease stress. you release hormones and endorphins that can reduce anxiety. it's important to do something about that stress, things like acupuncture, meditation. >> how is stress overload different from no energy? >> no energy is a little bit different. if you're not sleeping properly, if you just feel exhausted and wiped out, you're not really going to be ready to jump into the sack. so that's something else you need to work on, getting good sleep, doing things that can make you have more energy, having sex in the morning as opposed at the end of a long day or we like to be spontaneous when it comes to sex. sometimes you do need to plan a low key day so you know you'll have enough energy to have sex.

>> and we often hear people say have a drink to get you in the mood, lessen your inhibitions but alcohol can be problematic. >> this is a pretty big misconception. one drink can lessen your inhibitions and make you more frisky perhaps, but more than that will actually decrease your sexual responsiveness. you won't enjoy sex as much. >> with women, our bodies change over the years. you have women who suffer from feeling insecure. >> yeah. absolutely. many women don't want to have sex because they don't want to be naked in front of their partner. they feel they don't look good enough. you need to find one part of your body you love, focus on that mentally. in general if you're feeling out of shape, get to the gym, work out. it's going to help your sex drive. >> another thing on the list, resentment comes into the bedroom. >> sure. little things that pile up that you might be angry with your partner about can really affect your mood and whether or not you're in the mood so you need to really be open. don't let things bottle up inside you. >> and focus on intimacy and

that means maybe touching and hugging but that doesn't lead to sex. >> it doesn't have to be the actual act of having sex. just hugging, sleeping, cuddling together. those can actually increase intimacy feelings. having sex itself actually releases hormones that create intimacy. if you have sex, you'll want to have more sex. >> so what about the medical issues, these real medical issues that could be affecting your libido? >> it's important to realize there are things that go on in your body that can affect it. for example, if you're going through menopause, the hormonal changes can affect your sex drive. and then there are things like thyroid conditions. if you have a chronic illness, depression. these are things that are treatable. if you notice a dramatic change in your sex drive, you should talk to your doctor about possible treatments. >> dr. roshini raj, i'm sure people will be thinking about that over the weekend. up next, one more song from train.

did you make copies of tamron's notes? >> tivo'd it twice. >> i think we did. coming up, hoe da and kathie lee catch up with actress jennie gar garth. >> two lucky ladies get an instant makeover. >> lobster rolls. >> my favorite. final song from train performing "drops from jupiter." ♪ now that she's back in the atmosphere ♪ ♪ with drops of jupiter in her hair ♪ ♪ hey, hey ♪ she acts like summer and walks like rain ♪ ♪ reminds me that there's time to change ♪ ♪ hey, hey

♪ since the return from her stay on the moon ♪ ♪ she listens like spring ♪ han she talks like june ♪ hey, hey ♪ hey, hey ♪ tell me, did you sail across the sun ♪ ♪ did you make it to the milky way to see the lights all faded ♪ ♪ and that heaven is overrated ♪ tell me, did you fall for a shooting star ♪ ♪ one without a permanent scar ♪ and did you miss me while you were looking for yourself out there ♪ ♪ now that she's back in the atmosphere ♪ ♪ i'm afraid that she might think of me as plain old jane ♪

♪ told a story about a man who is too afraid to fly so he never did land ♪ ♪ tell me, did the wind sweep you off your feet ♪ ♪ did you finally get the chance to dance along the light of day ♪ ♪ and head back to the milky way ♪ ♪ and tell me, did venus blow your mind ♪ ♪ was it everything you wanted and did you miss me while you were looking for yourself out there ♪ i have some trainettes to come up and help me sing the rest of this song. come on up, girls. ♪ can you imagine no love, pride, deep-fried chicken ♪ ♪ your best friend always sticking up for you ♪ ♪ even when i know you're wrong ♪ ♪ can you imagine no first dance, freeze-dried romance ♪ ♪ five-hour phone conversation ♪ the best soy latte that you

ever had and me ♪ ♪ tell me, did the wind sweep you off your feet ♪ ♪ did you finally get the chance to dance along the light of day ♪ ♪ and head back toward the milky way ♪ ♪ tell me, did you fall off a shooting star ♪ ♪ did you miss me while you were looking for yourself out there ♪ ♪ na-na-na-na ♪ did you finally get the chance to sail along the light of day ♪ ♪ na-na-na-na-na ♪ and did you fall for a shooting star ♪ ♪ fall for a shooting star moet

na-na-na-na-na ♪ ♪ and were you lonely looking for yourself out there ♪

good morning to you, it 9:56. i'm laura garcia-cannon. time to check with mike and the golden gate bridge. >> maybe keep you in the dark a

little bit, headlights going on that is it for the north bay, along the coast and many other patches. it is friday light, show you the approach to the bay bridge toll plaza, even flow of traffic, flowing to berkeley and emeryville, carquinez bridge. direction interstate 80, approaching that major interchange and livermore, 580 we westbound. both of those avenues out of the area this afternoon get crowded, folks head to reno, hot august nights in place, keep in mind, 80 will be slow to the state line construction. rob has your forecast. >> we continue to see a lot of low clouds and misty skies in the bay area, the coast, peninsula, clouds hang on during the day you 50s and 60s for highs, san francisco along the seashore, 75, san jose, near 80, warmest places inland. looks like more of the same, clouds for the morning, afternoon sunshine inland, mild temperatures into the beginning of next week.

>> thank you, rob. a federal dung judge will decide if gay couples can get married while the proposition 8 appeals process takes place f he rules they can, san francisco city leaders can expect as many as 100 same sex couples to marry per day. city assessor, recorder, phil ting is ramping up his staff and calling for volunteers to help keep the process moving. his office is ready to put in some long hours this weekend. >> should the state be lifted on friday, that city hall will be open until 8 p.m. and going to be open all weekend from 9 to 5, both saturday and sunday, we are prepared. >> they do need volunteers. if you are interested, call 311 and ask for the assessor's office. if a decision is made on the gay marriage state today, we will bring it to you on air and online, breaking news alerts on nbc bay area news alerts.com. i will have another update in half hour or so today show returns in about a minute. have a great friday morning.

captions paid for by nbc-universal television from nbc news this is "today" with kathie lee gifford and hoda kotb. from studio 1 a in rockefeller plaza. >> it's friday known around here as dry day, august 6th. how are you? how are you? >> what does that -- >> i don't know. i got a little -- >> are you ready for your weekend? >> yes, i am. we haven't been back to nantucket in a few months, not since july 4th weekend, a lot of traveling. so going to nantucket. how about syou? >> there are a bunch of people

that have august birthdays, and -- some of the leos are getting together. >> do you know some of the people involved? >> i don't know if you do, but you should be involved. you're a leo. august 16th. >> yes, it is. >> nobody invited me. >> you're invited. yes, you are. there are rules that are the style rules that people have always lived by, the whole thing don't wear white after labor day. in some magazine took them one by one and decided to go through them and see if they're true. never wear white to a wedding. >> unless you're the bride. even most of those shouldn't wear white, you know what i'm saying. maybe beige, maybe brown, maybe scarlet red. >> now, 77% of the people say that you should abide by that rule. >> out of respect for the bride. >> i'll be honest, i don't get the big deal. i honestly don't. i don't care. do you care? zo

>> a little. i wanted to wear white to a wedding recently, but i didn't. i don't know. it's her day. it's her day. >> okay. here's one. they say -- here's the rule. you can't wear flats to a formal affair. 68% say you should break that, go ahead and wear it if you want. >> wear what's appropriate. if that's appropriate for your outfit, or i had foot surgery on both of my feet. i didn't have a choice, you know. >> here's another one. do not apply lip color in public. >> then i would be on death row. >> 84% of the people say you know what? it's okay. you can break that. >> the two things that are okay are powder your nose or apply lipsticks. don't use a hair product in public, brushing, combs. >> what about other applying of

makeup? you want to put blush on. >> i'm not going to judge you for it. >> what do you think? >> it's the circumstance. sometimes you're about to have a picture taken and people want your picture taken and you've just been eating peanuts or it's going fob in cyberspace out there with a big old blob of peanut butter. do what you got to do. don't hurt anybody. just try to look around the room to see if it's offensive to anyone. >> some people don't care, do a full makeup application. i've done it. >> the ones that are driving at 60 miles per hour putting on mascara while they're texting and having a hot coffee in your their crotch, not smart. but enough about you. >> stop it. should yue accessories all match? >> that's too stepford wife for me. >> i wonder what bobbie thomas

thinks? >> i would say break the rules. >> look at her hair. notice something bobbie has done differently to her hair. >> oh, my gosh. did you she take the sxlung take the little bob. we'll find out soon. >> we'll find out in a little bit. >> i don't like to follow the rules too much. i'm not lady gaga but you should look appropriate for the situation. >> you're right. yo >> that's a little much cleavage for the morning. >> yours is always hanging out. your girls are always hanging out. >> i'm an amateur in the bobbie girls department, if you know what i mean. >> it's friday, after all. >> this is a cool story about how superman saved a family from foreclosure. they were about to lose their house and didn't have the money, and they started to pack stuff up. while they were packing they came across old comic books that

ended being -- they ended up being worth a quarter million bucks. >> one of them is considered just extremely rare, and it's in very, very good shape. in the past these things have sold for $1.4 million. >> here's the bottom line. they saved their house, because as they were packing they found the comic books. >> they had to have a friend call the bank and say this is true, authentic, don't take the house. they will pay. here comes to save the day. that was underdog. >> that was mighty mouse. >> i liked underdog. >> do you remember speed racer? you remember speed racer, right? >> no. >> my generation remembers the shadow. >> what's that? what's the shadow? >> i lived in germany when i was a little girl, and we'd listen to zorro on the radio. >> you did? you're old.

>> i know. in about a week i'm going to be even older. >> you say your age. you don't care. >> no. i'm 56. we're going to talk today about what your emotional age is. >> that's an interesting topic. >> even though we're chronological what we are. >> you're 56 and you'll be 57. >> i'll with 57. >> you're 45 and will be 46. >> i love -- >> i love the 45 feels like 40, 46 feels like 50. >> 45 feels like 30 to me. i had cassidy at 40. you have young children around, and that either kills you or keeps you young. i've never felt my age, and most people tell you i never acted my age, which is not necessarily a good thing. >> there's this woman who found love later in the life, and you might know the man she fell for. >> this is the cutest story. 45 years ago she was 10 years old she wrote to butch patrick,

remember eddie muenster on the muensters and she asked what his height was. we used to make these all the time in the school. the chewing gum wraepper where you make the chain. she wanted to make one as tall as he was. he was 5'4". >> many many years passed and she something about the longest chewing gum wrapper chain and she says i wonder whatever happened with eddie munster. she finds him and they get together and they're living together in sin. >> look at her. >> butch moved in with donna. >> i think that is too funny for words. i think it's great to find love like that. she still had the crush on him after all those years. who did you have a crush on when you were little. >> i liked eric estrada from

c.h.i.p.s. >> the first one i felt i was crazy about, besides paul approximate mccartney, remember dino, dezi, and billy. it was dean martin's son who was k killed in an airplane crash and kurt russell. when i did that other morning show that some people watch, he was one of the first people i had to interview. >> you were totally nervous? >> i was. >> i know someone else who made you nervous? >> kevin costner. still. >> it's time for "bobbie's buzz." who did you live? >> i loved rick springfield movies. i looked at my older stepsister and said i think i know what love s. he was on a show i was on for the style kick, and when he came on i was shaking

nervous. >> what do you think your emotional age is? >> 85. for sure. i'm called -- grandma is my nickname. >> what's with the hair. >> laura and mary whipped me together today because i'm trying to xhachannel this. it's not cut but pinned under. >> it's so cute. >> splish, splash and style. i want to share some of my bathroom favorites. this is a shower wrap. >> you don't get too hot. >> after you get out you don't overheat blow drying your hair and the towel won't fall. it comes in lots of colors. >> i got to have one of them. >> next, hoda and i shared our love of shower caps. >> you only wear purple ones. >> i'll wear this. i like this. >> turn aroundment it's a bow.

>> i wear this every day. >> those are stylish ones from zazz new york. this is from blow. >> tuck it all in. >> it's called the perfect shower cap. the terry cloth liner helps absorb moisture. i love these double-duty soap sponges. it has soap and shower gel. the body buffer does up to 40 washes, and i got it in a minute. >> how long does it last, bobbie? >> 30 washes, i think. that's amazing. everything is online today. >> it smells like coconut. >> look at sar va with her cap on, too. >> i wore this for hoda. the ones i have never looked this cute. are you kidding me? right now we have a fan piblgt coming up. this is a picture from kala in

kings port, tends who said too good not to share with kathie lee and hoda woman. >> wanted: a lady. >> on that truck. >> i wonder if that will work? >> that could be the man of your dreams. there aren't many ladies left, hoda woman. they all have reality shows. >> she is the most popular girl at west beverly, jenny garth is with us. >> she'll tell you why she's smiling so much lately. this woman has a good life. right after this. [ girl ] bye mom! bye sweetie! you'll do great. [ laughs ] this is it! [ all ] 10...9...8... a new school year has so much potential! any resolutions? my resolution is the same as always; keep her full and focused with my fiber. [ all ] 3...2...1... happy school year! [ female announcer ] this school year, make a resolution to give your kid kellogg's frosted mini-wheats cereal. an excellent source of fiber from 100% whole grain. that helps keep them full

so they can focus on the day ahead. keeps 'em full... keeps 'em focused. but even in your 30s bones begin to change calcium and vitamin d help keep your bones strong. yoplait has calcium and vitamin d in every cup. keep your bones strong, with yoplait. vegetables are naturally low in calories. v8 juice gives you 3 of your 5 daily servings. it's a tasty, nutritious way to make this number go up... and help this one go down. v8. what's your number? at pso, we set out tot your dog to discover the science inle. some of nature's best ingredients. we created purina one with smartblend.

new, delicious shredded morsels and crunchy bites, with real meat, wholesome grains and antioxidants, for strong muscles, vital energy, a healthy immune system, and a real difference in your dog. purina one improved with smartblend. discover what one can do. but this is warm, fresh-baked strawberry toaster strudel. [ music ] see the difference? pillsbury toaster strudel, the one kids want to eat. whoa! do you know what our favorite part of shooting hoops is? 3...2...1... overtime! ♪

♪ we're the kids in america ♪ oh, oh, oh jenny garth rose to fame on "beverly "90210"" bplaying kell taylor. now jenny is teaching girls beauty is more than a pretty smile. on thursday she hosted smile and style for a back-to-school

fashion show for kids. nice to see you. was this in the fashion show? this is beautiful. >> my stylist styled the fashion show, and the american association of orthodontics -- you said american heart association. >> i did? >> i thought they were working together. >> but a lot of the patients were actually orthodontic models. the models were orthodontic patients. so they walked the catwalk and smiled and be so confident. >> it's about self-esteem. >> my daughter did and she was on the catwalk with braces. >> that can be a tough time. >> my daughter didn't have to wear them but cody did. when all the other kids are wearing them as well, it makes it easier. >> now they're cuter. a little more sleek and they have the cute rubber bands.

>> remember the head contraption? that was problematic. >> you and your family, you're the sole grownup on this rv trip across the country. how many kids were with you? >> we just drove here in the rv to come to the fashion show. me, my brother and my sister accompanied me and i did all the driving. let's see. five kids in the motor home and two dogs and a pig. >> kids are enough. why did you bring the pig? >> everyone thinks i'm insane. i might be. >> what's it like stopping by the side of the road so everybody gets a potty break? >> they won't pooee in the rainr the sidewalk. the dogs and the pig. >> i was a little worried. >> what inspired this whole

trip, anyway? why did you do it? >> i don't like to fly. we fly so much. i like family time. my husband was working in rhode island. we went to see him too. >> he's the actor and writer, right? >> yes. i thought he's unavailable to do this trip, but i want to make it happen anyway. we seahawk my brother in oklahoma and my sister. >> quality time. >> it was meant to be. >> i drove a lot. they had quality time in the back. >> it's tough to drive anyway, and then the kids have control of what music is on. for me it's hard to concentrate because that music is loud and it ain't music to me. >> it's like a zoo on wheels. they have their little ipads and everything. >> remember when we had to count cows? those days are gone. >> they're watching their own movies. >> your husband wrote something for the hallmark channel, it was going to be both of you and it

was just you. you said he's not right for it. >> he thinks it's the funniest story. he had it produced at hallmark, and we just finished it, mulligan or i love mulligan or something like that. it's going to be on in the spring. it's really cute. i told him you can't be in it. i don't think you're right for it. >> you're in it and he's not in it? >> great. >> that's why they spend so much time apart. >> you're terrific. thank you. sarah haynes makes a splash. >> this is a fun job they actually get paid for doing. you won't believe it. as a mom, i believe books brighten a child's future. so i'm proud to join the sunnyd book spree - to bring free books to your child's classroom. just save sunnyd labels. when your child's class collects 20, we'll donate 20 books. and don't stop collecting.

because sunnyd and i will award hundreds of books to the ten schools with the most lables. go to sunnyd.com open a bottle of sunshine... and help us make classrooms sunnier. 100% natural nuts and granola in bite sized clusters. it's a little bit of nature... a little bit better. and nature approves. granola nut clusters from nature valley.

...into a free year's supply? be one of thousands to win free honey nut cheerios for an entire year... its great taste helps make lowering cholesterol a non-challenge. just see specially marked boxes for details. ♪ i can't hold her hand on the bus. ♪ or be there to show everyone how great she is. but what i can do is give her everything she needs to be excited for school, while staying in my budget.

that's why i go to walmart. she has everything she needs. and then some. [ female announcer ] walmart has low prices on not just a few things, but everything on their back-to-school list. guaranteed. save money. live better. walmart. we're back with "they get paid for that?" we check out jobs you would do without getting paid. >> sarah haynes got wet and wild

for this assignment. >> there is nothing like playing at a water park on a hot day, but as the director of operations, every day is an excuse to get wet. how cool would it be if there were no lines and you had free reign to ride anything you wanted, from cow bung ga to flash flood, shelley rides it all. it's part of her job as director of operations at noah's ark water park in wisconsin dells. >> i knew i didn't want to sit behind a desk, so this was a great opportunity for me not to have to do that. >> it's a 70-acre play ground, but it's not all funs and games. from the equipment, she willy keeps everything running smoothly. >> get your fingers away from the roller. we work a lot of hours in the summertime, but i get to be outside. this is my office. >> not bad. >> not bad. not a bad view. >> she overseas the park's staff of more than 500 employees,

about half of them are lifeguards that she must also train for deep water rescue, but she can't plan on every scenario. these are the infamous ducks? >> yes. >> the day brings a picture perfect view, but after the park opens is when the sun begifun begins. >> every rider has to be weighed because we have to stay between 90 and 300 pounds. >> i kwd that shelley go first in case it was needed, but then it was my turn. two thumbs up for the sprinkler. now we move on to testing a new intertube. >> this is in current use right now. it's a little different shaped than this here. >> shelley and justin, her

co-director of operations. let's try that one again. oh, my god. that's not a good thing, right? >> that's no good. >> they take the yellow one for a spin. the third time's a charm. all in a day's work. >> wow. >> that was a good assignment. >> the best ever. >> good job, sarah. thank you, honey. >> still to come, two women get ambushed on the plaza. first, this is "today" on nbc. ♪ hi, a number two please? would you like that to hurt now, or later? uh, what? sir, it's a simple question, do you want heartburn pain now or later? [ male announcer ] these heartburn medicines make you choose between hurting now, or later. pepcid® complete doesn't. it starts to neutralize acid in seconds and keeps it under control all day or all night.

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oh, my, but your mouth is gonna love it. plus now you get three box tops for your kids' school. now this is the deal of the day. hamburger helper. one pound. one pan. one tasty meal and bonus box tops. good friday morning to you, 10:26, i'm laura garcia-cannon. joined by mike. take you through an accident. >> it started as a report of debris, pickup truck with plastic garbage cans off of that someone might have hit one of the cans, doesn't matter what it is made of, your car hit it is at highway speeds can do damage, no injuries, slow southbound 101, san jose international airport, some folks heading out of town for a weekend get away. folks heading to the city, you will see the traffic build the next few hours. golden gate, just a little slow there and rob has your forecast with the cloudy skies. >> well, friday, we are waking up to a lot of low clouds and

even some drizzle once again around the bay area, afternoon will be mild, 50s and 60s the coast, 70s inland, october continues through your weekend plans. highs, 70 in san jose, morgan hill, low 80s, fairfield, 80. north bay, a range from 70s in petaluma to 90 a in ukiah. weekend looks mild as well.

if it seems like there is much more roadwork in san francisco than normal it is not your imagination. construction crews are ripping up the streets and say drivers aren't happy it. >> lots of finger gestures, had one this morning. >> the federal stimulus money provided cash for the department of public works there is a lot of construction project under way right now. dpw has $42 million to spend on upgrades to the city's aging infrastructure this year, more than twice the amount available just a few years ago. >> we can help continue to minimize these impacts. let us know what we can do better and how we can improve. >> san francisco's public utilities commission is also hard at work this the city with a budget of 90 million to finish up dozens of water and see youer projects before the rainy season sets in. new this morning, social security is paying out more than it is taking in. it is the first time the program is running in the rid since a major overhaul in 1983 a new report says it will continue to run in the deficit through 2011

then it will be back in police for three years after thank thanks to an improving economy. social security has enough money in its trust fund to cover its annual deficits until 2035. >> thanks so mu for joing us this mornrning. today show continues next. we will see you on monday. welcome back to "today" on this dry day. two lucky ladies get a new look. >> today contradictor and style to the stars louis lacarri and jill martin. how was the crowd out today, lewie louis? >> great crowd. it's humid out there tonight. you know, instead of us finding them, they found us. they were so excited. >> crying already. >> lots of good signs. >> was lou the one crying, too? >> i had a box of tissues in the back pocket.

>> mary is 65 years old from stanton, virginia. she recently celebrated her anniversary with her husband. when we asked about her beauty routine, she laughed and said and, that's a good one. >> i know you want this for your aunt. tell us why. >> she really needs to color her hair. >> you tilely said the same thing. >> i know it, i know it. i'm getting older and shorter. it's just time for a remakeover, whatever. >> i know your husband, kim, will want this. >> oh, yes. oh, yes. i called him already. he's at the tv. hello, kim. >> are you ready to go? >> yes, i am. let's do it! >> what an adorable lady. >> her niece is with her. there's mary. keep your blindfold on mary. here is mary before. so let's see the new you. oh, oh!

oh, wait a second. your niece is going to freak. take off your blindfold. >> oh, my god! >> you ready? >> you're going to freak. >> in a good way. >> okay, okay. put your glasses on. oh, my god. who is it? what's her name? >> it's you. >> oh, my god. orr, dear. >> you look beautiful. >> thank you. >> it's your inner playboy bunny. >> wow. >> i like her. >> tell us about the hair. >> the first thing is she had a -- her hair was progressively going gray, so she added highlights. the highlights didn't work anymore. she had to switch over to a single process. she came alive, and then debbie, of course, gave her this great haircut. she has fine hair. we gave her the bob which made her thin hair look twice as

thick. >> you look ten years younger. >> no, 15. >> and you look taller, too, by the way. >> mary what do you think? >> i think her sisters are going fob really jealous. >> i love it. >> her husband is going to be very happy. we wanted to give her something that wasn't too out of her comfort zone, but that was for her new york makeover. we got this at macy's. >> darling. >> thank you, lady. our second lady is jessie stovall, 43 from peoria, illinois. they have three children and two grandchildren. she never wears makeup and her idea of treating herself is having her dauger color her hair with a box from the drugstore. she's here with her husband. we have to wait a few minutes to hear her story. >> this is their first vacation in 26 years, so you definitely deserve this. ever since i told you you were getting it, you were crying.

why is this so emotional for you? >> i've never had anything like this happen to me ever, ever. it's wonderful. he made this sign. we even had an argument afterwards. >> you made the sign, and i know you really want this for your wife. tell us why? >> she's the best mom in the world. she's taken care of our three kids for so long and made me do things that i argued with her and said don't do it. >> all right. are you ready to be pampered for three hours? >> yes, i am. thank you so much. thank you so much. >> i love both of these ladies so much. you keep it that way, rob, all right? here's -- a disgusting group of people we have here. >> your mind is in the gutter. >> me? this is jessie before, and now let's look at jessie new and improved.

>> wow. >> looking good. >> oh, my gosh. rob, the wait is over. >> holy moly! wow. >> he likes it. >> what do you think about that? >> are you ready to see jessie? now a kleenex. >> she has to see herself. turn around jessie. take a deep breath, honey. >> oh, no. oh, no. >> oh, yes. >> you look beautiful. >> come here. get some kleenex. >> tell us about the hair louis. >> it's the sweetest story. this couple has been together since they were 15 years old, which is pretty amazing. she never looked more beautiful. >> how old? 15? >> she miet him 15shg9t at 15,

loves her so much it's obvious. >> wait a minute.xd one more. >> we filled in her top lip to make her lips more sexy for her husband, and debbie gave her this great layered haircut and gave her the banks which make her incredibly sexy. i liked her hair. her daughter did her hair color before and did a good job, too. i refined it a little bit. >> look at rob. >> rob, darling. rob, what do you have to say, honey. >> i love her so much. i do. >> now i need some! >> tell us about her outfit. >> this is sahari also available at macy's. we wanted to give her a form-fitting dress to show off that figure. >> mary, come join us. this is both of our ladies. >> all summer long our makeovers are on thursday, so come down to the plaza to get chosen.

>> what is your emotional age? i'm dying to know yours. what is it? >> take a guess. >> i'm not guessing. guys remember, we're a solar system. mars is down...and... um, is isçó ♪

whoa! do you know what our favorite part of shooting hoops is? 3...2...1... overtime! ♪ ♪ we're the kids in america ♪ oh, oh, oh ♪ [ female announcer ] nutri-grain -- one good decision... ♪ ...can lead to another. ♪ ♪

...made with real fruit and now with more of the whole grains your body needs. nutri-grain can help you eat better all day. we've always been open about our age. i'm 56. >> hoda you are? >> 45 until monday. >> when it comes to our emotional age, the numbers may surprise you. i am 28 and hoda is 38.5. >> there's no half.

>> yes, there is. >> 38.5. how do they know? simply stated, emotional age is a number that takes into account how old you feel in various areas of your life. stop showing off. the editor and chief of "self-"magazine and author of "nine rooms of happiness" and she just completed her first ironman. big, big deal. >> i can't believe you're bringing that up. >> you're amazing. and feeling a little older because of it. let's talk about emotional age. >> why is it important to know what your emotional age is? >> what does it mean? in every category of your life you can decide are you younger or older than what it says on your birth certificate. >> how you feel. >> and this is a way our "self" readers want to improve. first assess how you feel. you go on-line at self and there's this category, how do you feel in each category, family, friends, style, finances, career, every part. >> and romance. >> and romance. if you're maybe in your 20s and

you want to settle down, maybe you're feeling older. if you're settled down and want to feel a little frisky, you want to be younger. this is a way to assess where you are and where you want to be. >> okay. >> which is why you're so young. >> yeah. >> how do you calculate? you have to go on, fill out this thing. >> you have to be honest. >> let's say financially it's a big area for women. they want to start saving maybe for a house. they feel immature. a lot of people say i'm juvenile when it comes to my finances. >> i am into. >> that's a great indicator. >> looking for an apartment for ever. >> 20 dates with 20 men and can't find an apartment. >> if you're saving for that, that's a great way to get unstuck. we talk about in our book of getting unstuck. katherine did this quiz with me. my co-author. if you're stuck, you're acting young and juvenile. get out of that pattern and mature in certain areas. >> it's not always good to be younger, is it? >> not always. >> see. >> 28. >> feels 12 years younger,

40-year-olds feel like they're in their early 30s. 32. if you're young and want to mature, that's one thing. if you're old and want to act younger socially, open yourself up to new experiences, networking. that can be great for you. >> when you fill out this quiz, should you expect to see a higher number or lower number? what should you expect? >> if you're in your 20s you see something in your 30s. some women settle down early and feel very mature in their relationship or job accomplished. as you age you generally feel younger, and that's a good thing. because you can say, actually, in my social life i would like to be younger f i meet more people, i'm stimulated and have fun. fitness-wise you're out there running. i see you. >> it looks like running but it's walking. >> you can evaluate how you feel about it? kathy, you said medium is the fitness for you. >> i do it every day but i'm not a ironman. i remember my mother saying, i'm an 18-year-old woman trapped in this 53-year-old body. >> i'm much older than what my

mother was at that time and inside i do not feel my age at all. >> we're saying that's not a bad thing. if you act young in certain areas, that keeps you young physically, emotionally and in terms of growing. so it's a good thing. >> lucy, the quiz is worth taking in "self" magazine. >> it's in "self" magazine and you will feel great about however you feel, whatever your number. >> thank you. up next, an award winning lobster roll. >> who would have thought there's an award for that >> he's very cute. >> adorable. >> right after this. > he's very. >> adorable. >> right after this. ♪ [ mom ] walmart has low prices on not just a few things, but on everything on our back-to-school list. guaranteed. so we didn't have to shop around. that means we got home in time for just a little more summer. and for one last night of lightning bugs. ♪ save money. live better. walmart.

honestly, i'd love to do this for the rest of my life so i have to take care of myself. [ male announcer ] to keep doing what you love, keep your heart healthy. cheerios can help. the whole grain oats can help lower cholesterol. it's simple; love your heart so you can do what you love. it's simple; it's tough to get enough servings of vegetables every day if you don't always like the taste of them. good thing v8 v-fusion juice gives you a serving of vegetables hidden by a serving of fruit. [woof woof] v8. what's your number? in the fridge it's a light and fluffy mousse... ...but put it in the freezer... and... ...voila! yoplait whips becomes a luscious frozen treat. yoplait whips, it is so good.

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time for "today's kitchen" we're going saucy with the very cute chef luke holden. >> he's ready to give away his award winning lobster roll recipe. >> you look like you should have been graduated from high school. you have two successful

restaurants going already in new york? good for you. >> i appreciate that. >> there must be something special about your lobster rolls, because there are plenty around the city. yours are unique, right? >> our product comes directly from my family seafood business in maine. we guarantee the freshest product each and every day. >> lobster rolls will say it's expensive, it's not affordable for a lot of people. how much does a lobster cost? >> we sell ours for $14 a lobster roll. >> that comes with little chips. >> tell us your unique recipe you're going to reveal. >> step on up here, luke. step on up to the counter. >> the secret is honestly a pure, unadulterered lobster roll. a lot mix with with mayonnaise. >> you don't tasted lobster at all. >> we pult a little butter on each side and grill it up. >> these are these right here. >> we have that here.

>> can we do it? >> do your thing. the first step is to actually put a little bit on the bun. >> i've never seen these sold. can you buy them? >> we get them from maine. they're soft and squishy. i like that. i took the liberty of doing this before hand so we each have one at all stations. >> i have to take off that part. ip don't like that part. it has a different taste and texture, and i don't like it. >> grab your mayo bottle. >> oh, mayo. >> put a little bit in between the buns. >> okay. >> look, that's got a double do-dah. >> grab the meat in front of you, load it in the bun. >> i'm going to love this. >> that's a lot. you really pile it in there. >> you put a nice quarter pound

of meat in there. are you getting all your tips off? >> if you're going to eat it, you got to eat it the way you love it, right? >> absolutely. here's a little butter. >> butter. okay, that's it. >> thank you, thank you. >> and then -- what else? lemon? >> a little of luke's secret seasoning. grab your shaker. >> what's in here? >> it's principally celery salt that you taste, and then lemon. squeeze a little lemon on top. it's going to be really good. >> looks really good. looks really good. >> that's it. >> mine is gone. are you going to get involved with that and try it? give it back.

>> how is that? good? delicious. >> unbelievable. it's so much better with a tyne bit of mayo. >> delicious. >> thank you so much. have a great rest of the summer, and we'll be back with more of "today" on nbc.

we're so happy. that's all that's left. next week rob schneider is with us. >> oliver platt and gene simmons. all of kiss will be here. >> we like to look back at the week that was. >> let's do it. thanks, luke. >> have a great weekend. bye. >> welcome. it is fun day. >> it is gorgeous.

>> it's a boozeless booze day. that means it's a tragic day. >> speaking of drinking, if you were around over the weekend. >> freeze away fat contouring apparel. i'll try it and let you know. >> you freeze fat away. >> is that vino in your hand? >> it's for horses. it's for horses. >> okay. focus. >> hot in the studio. >> ladies, really. >> devastating, really. >> we're going to talk to them. >> so cute. >> he's got a crush on you. >> back away. >> we're breaking the law. it feels so good. >> i am. i'm going to break my -- i needed something. >> grab the item. >> the gang's all here.

>> if you are -- ♪ strength a new voice ♪ we never can know how strong we are ♪ ♪ until being strong