i love gingerbread, i love pumpkin pie. i love everything but those blinking lights. oh yeah, right in my eye. [ female announcer ] if it tastes like the holidays, we've got it. safeway. ingredients for life. good morning. on the house. the u.s. house of representatives set to vote on the tax cut deal today after it was overwhelmingly passed by the senate. will it pass as is or will representatives on both sides of the aisle get the changes they want? the latest from the hill. why did he snap? new details on the florida man who opened fire during a school board meeting before taking his own life. this morning his wife speaks out for the first time. and snow job? a popular television weathercaster suspended after charges of filing a false police report. she claims she was attacked by a would-be rapist in central park but investigators say the whole thing was made up "today," but investigators say the whole thing was made up "today," thursday, december 16, 2010.

captions paid for by nbc-universal television and welcome to "today" on this thursday morning. i'm meredith vieira. >> i'm matt lauer. the house of representatives set to vote on this tax cut promise today, expected to be a lot closer than it was in the senate, where it was 81-19. >> despite a new call from president obama to pass the bill without changes, house democrats say to expect a heated debate over at what point estates should be taxed and how much. we're going to get the latest from capitol hill straight ahead. also ahead, new details in the brutal murder of yeardley love, a lacrosse player at the university of virginia. attorneys for her ex-boyfriend who also played lacrosse for uva and is charged in the case are casting doubts about how love died, and they want her medical records to allegedly prove their case. we are going to have more on

that coming up. plus, important news for parents. the government outlaws drop-side cribs that can be found in millions of homes, hotels, and day care centers. so what if you already have one? we will tell you what you should do coming up. let start this morning in washington where the tax cut bill heads to the house after passing a senate vote. nbc's capitol hill correspondent, kelly o'donnell, has the latest. kelly, good morning. >> reporter: good morning, matt. there is a complication to this that can only happen one time a year and it is here, the politics of christmas. with pressure to get so many important things done, there is really a lot of fighting going on and democrats and republicans are not spreading holiday cheer. 'twas the fight before christmas. >> this is a terrible way to run the federal government's business. >> reporter: the senate to-do list is long. >> the senate will come to order. >> reporter: republicans say there is only time left to fund the government before the money runs out this saturday. >> we ought to pass the tax legislation and keep the lights

on. everything else, mr. president, can wait. >> reporter: democrats say they are not leaving town. >> yet, some of my republican colleagues have the nerve to whine about having to stay in action, do the work of the american people. >> reporter: republicans' message to harry reid, don't mess with christmas. >> the democrat leadership somehow thinks that by being here christmas week, that that's an act of courage, that they are being courageous by having congress here because we are doing all these important things. >> reporter: but reid blames republicans for stalling bills all year. >> so it's offensive to me and millions of working americans across this country for any senator to suggest that working through the christmas holidays is somehow sacrilegious or disrespectful. >> reporter: today, the senate will debate the new s.t.a.r.t. treaty with russia. >> we are ready to be here all weekend. we are ready to work and vote. >> reporter: the nuclear arms reduction treaty is a top priority for the white house. vice president biden says the senate must get it done before heading home.

>> i hope i don't get in the way of your christmas shopping, but this is the nation's business. this is a national security at stake. act. act. >> reporter: both democrats and republicans in the senate did pass the president's tax cut compromise wednesday. >> the yeas are 81. the nays are 19. >> reporter: today it goes to the no-so-happy house where liberal democrats are upset the president refuses to reduce tax breaks for the wealthy. >> it appears our leadership is attempting to avoid our wishes and bring this bill forward without major changes. it will be a disaster for the american people. >> reporter: and the president has showed some calm but impatient pushing toward the house, saying don't make any changes. and on the senate side, they are saying don't make any changes, but today they will still try to peel back some of the benefits on the estate tax, but it is expected to be much tighter and there is still a lot of hope that this tax cut compromise can get done today. matt? >> kelly o'donnell on capitol hill for us.

thank you very much. indiana republican congressman mike pence has already announced he will not vote for the tax cut deal. congressman pence, good morning to you. >> good morning, matt. >> you said this is a tough call. how do you think it will go in the rest of the house? do you think it will pass? >> i think it is a tough call. no house republican wants to see taxes go up on any american. and most of us have been fighting to make sure that no american sees a tax increase in january, but for my part, i just believe that this tax deal will do little to create jobs. it adds to the national debt. i think we can do better. i think we can take time to do better and congress should do just that. >> even as you make this decision, one of your fellow republicans, paul ryan, is criticizing it, saying this is purely a political decision. as a matter of fact, i think he goes further to say it's a purely personal, political decision, that as someone who is being considered or perhaps considering running for president in 2012, you can't be seen as too cooperative with the

democrats or president obama. how do you respond to that? >> well, i would respond, look, we -- my decision is based exclusively on what i think is the right thing to do for the american people and that is -- you got to recognize a couple of things. first, uncertainty is the enemy of our prosperity. a two-year extension of the tax code is not going to encourage the kind of investment that's going to begin to create jobs in this economy. and i really believe that this -- this congress ought to take a breath. we ought to roll our sleeves up and we ought to do what we can, like john f. kennedy did, like ronald reagan did and embrace permanent extensions of all the tax rates. i'm arguing, you know, let's not do this take it or leave it deal from the senate. if the liberals want to have an amendment today on raising taxes, let every house republican vote on what we know would help this economy -- >> you it's really not a take it or leave it deal, congressman, because there's promise in this deal. there are things in this package

that neither side likes, but that's the basis of compromise, and isn't that what's better for the country at this particular moment? >> well, i think, yeah, i hear about the compromise. i know that this deal was largely negotiated by leaders in the senate and the white house, despite the fact that the constitution clearly says the bills relating to taxes should begin in the house of representatives. but, look, bottom line is this is not about whether or not there was compromise involved. it is about what is it going to take to get this economy moving again? and a two-year tax extension that simply takes tax increases that are scheduled for january and says they're going to come two years from january is not going to encourage the kind of investment that will put americans back to work. i was in muncie, indiana, just the other day, matt, and i had a banker walk up to me and say, look, nobody is going to come in and sign a five-year note and borrow money and create jobs on a two-year tax code. that is the reality. what we are asking for is an up

or down vote on making all the current tax rates permanent. i think most americans know that's what we should be doing to get this economy moving again. >> congressman mike pence from indiana. congressman, thanks for your time this morning. i appreciate it. >> thank you. >> it is 7:07, here is meredith. >> matt, thank you. so what do americans think about what is going on in washington? chuck todd, nbc's political director and chief white house correspondent has the results of the latest nbc news/"wall street journal" poll. chuck, good morning to you. what does the poll show us about how americans feel about the tax deal? >> good morning, meredith. well, let's start with that tax deal. 59% approve of the overall deal. that includes 54% of democrats, 68% of republicans. in fact, even self-described liberal democrats, 50% of them support this deal, 47% disapprove of it. so, there is broad support here, and i think that's why you saw it fly through the senate, and it will probably only hit little speed bumps in the house but probably get through. >> obviously, the white house

hopes this bipartisan bill is passed because, as the president put it, he took a real shellacking in those midterm elections. he needs a victory here. the poll shows 54% of the people believe that the president got the message after midterms. how are his approval ratings? >> well, they did, but only about half of that group believe he's making necessary adjustments. now, his approval rating is actually -- took a bit of a hit compared to last month. he is sitting at 45% approve, 48% disapprove. part of that has to do with the fact that more people tell us the country is headed on the wrong track than at any time during this obama presidency. now, one remarkable thing about the president's approval rating it is actually kind of static over the last year, and our pollsters say considering everything he went through, including that shellacking in the elections, the fact that he still is at 45% is actually quite remarkable. >> a good sign. let's look ahead to 2010. you started to match president obama up against potential gop candidates. how does he fare? >> against an unknown republican, he is in a bit of trouble. he only gets 42% of folks saying that they would support him for

re-election, 39% would pick the republican candidate. now, put some faces with those names, and he actually gets a bit stronger. matched up against mitt romney, the quasifront-runner, very early, of course, 47% for the president, 40% for mitt romney. against john thune, one of the unknown candidates, kind of like mike pence, no national name recognition, the president sits at 47%. you kind of see a pattern here, thune at 27%. then match him up against sarah palin, and you see some problems here for sarah palin because the president gets 55%, palin gets 33%. that is more about sarah palin than it is president obama because look at these negative ratings, meredith. >> yeah. >> she is sitting at 50% negative. >> palin, for all the exposure she has had this year, does not do well with the voters. >> not at all. in fact, there is a real divide. you dig inside the numbers. sitting at that 50% negative rating makes her the most unpopular politician we tested in our poll this month and tied for the most unpopular we have tested all year.

only nancy pelosi scores an equal rating. women are more negative toward her. really, the only positive group of voters sitting out there, meredith, are fox news viewers, that is one of the only groups of voters where she has a positive rating. >> we'll leave it on that note. chuck todd, thank you very much. >> you got it. >> it is 7:11. once again, here is matt. >> thank you. we are learning more about the gunman who opened fire at a school board meeting this week before he turned that gun on himself. his wife spoke out on wednesday. nbc's mark potter is in panama city, florida, with the latest on this story. mark, good morning to you. >> reporter: good morning to you, matt. the more we look at the shooter here, the more we see a man with a criminal past who was mentally troubled and believed in conspiracies. he was also well-armed. >> you may leave. you may leave. >> reporter: as 56-year-old clay duke armed with a the millimeter handgun threatened the bay county school board and then opened fire, a terrified witness called 911.

[ gunshots ] >> oh, my gosh, he is firing. he is firing. he is firing. i don't know -- >> are you secure where you are? >> we need an ambulance. >> reporter: in confronting the school superintendent, four board members, and their attorney, duke said he was angry his wife had been fired from her teacher's job. rebecca duke, who is separated from him, says he suffered from economic and emotional pressures. >> the economy and the world just got the better of him. and along with his bipolar, it just set him up for this horrible event. >> reporter: while police confirm rebecca was fired from her teaching job, they say she was unaware of duke's plans to lash out at the school board. even his former lawyer agreed the gunman had mental problems and wasn't shocked he was involved in the shooting. >> please don't. please don't. >> he was the guy who everybody you hear about on the news that believes in the end of the world and conspiracy theories and things of that nature. he was that type of guy. >> reporter: in the year 2000,

duke was convicted of aggravated stalking and shooting into a vehicle in a case involving his ex-wife. he was sentenced to five years in prison. >> he was dressed in full camouflage, had an assault weapon, and basically was planning on killing her the day that he was going to meet her at her house. >> reporter: despite what happened at the school board, rebecca duke insists he was trying to turn his life around. >> he wanted a second chance. he lived in a very quiet community out in the woods so that he could -- wouldn't have to deal with the stress. >> reporter: police say they believe duke planned the school board attack for some time and arrived there tuesday with lots of ammunition. >> he had an extra magazine that was fully loaded in his back pocket at the time of the shooting. and then he had another box of ammo. >> reporter: neighbors describe duke as quiet and a loner, much different from the aggressive gunman who opened fire on school officials, then took his own life after being wounded in a gun fight. now, later this morning, school

board security chief mike jones who confronted clay duke and ended the shooting, will tell his side of the story at a news conference, and he is being hailed here by many people as a hero. matt? >> mark potter in panama city for us this morning. mark, as always, thanks very much. it is 13 minutes after the hour. once again, here's meredith. >> thank you. there are new developments in the julian assange case. just this morning a british judge has granted bail to the wikileaks founder. peter alexander is live outside the court with more. peter, good morning to you. >> reporter: meredith, be clear, this was a significant victory for julian assange. his attorney says they have now collected the $315,000 needed for him to be released on bail. that means he could be a free man anytime now, and his attorney, mark stevens, spoke on the court steps just a few minutes ago. >> as you can imagine, we're utterly delighted and thrilled with the results here today. we think it was an unnecessary appeal. >> reporter: followed by a crowd of cameras, this morning's ride to court may be julian assange's

final trip in police custody. the founder of wikileaks seen here through the police van's heavily tinted windows is in for an extraordinary change of scenery. from solitary confinement at a prison to this 600-acre estate outside london, so big it straddled two counties. assange's own lawyer jokingly referred to as mansion arrest. the ten-bedroom english manner volunteered by vaughn smith, the owner of a british club for journalists where assange has appeared in the past. >> i let him stay there. i believe in supporting the underdog. he's a friend of mine. i trust him. >> reporter: smith acknowledged it will likely be one of the most unusual christmases i have ever experienced. for the man who has made freedom of information his life's work, the price of his own freedom is $315,000 cash bail. with several prominent celebrities offering to help cover the cost, including documentary filmmaker michael moore and mick jagger's ex-wife, bianca jagger. the former computer hacker will

also be under curfew wearing an electronic monitor and he'll be required to check in with authorities each night. assange still faces possible extradition to sweden for questioning after allegations of sexual misconduct by two women assange met at this wikileaks seminar this summer, allegations he denies. "the new york times" reports that federal prosecutors seeking to build a case against assange in the u.s. are now looking for any evidence of collusion between assange and the army intelligence analyst, bradley manning, the man who is suspected of leaking the classified information. meredith? >> peter alexander in london for us this morning. peter, thank you very much for your reporting. >> i have to tell everybody that ann curry is a little under the weather this morning and she's watching. ann, we hope you feel much, much better. we have natalie standing by at the news desk and natalie has all the headlines of the morning. good morning. >> wishing ann well. good morning to you guys, and good morning everyone.

a hotly anticipated white house review of the war in afghanistan has just been released this morning. nbc's jim miklaszewski is at the pentagon for us. good morning, mick, and what does the report say? >> reporter:t does the report say? >> reporter: good morning, natalie. the president's review says the afghanistan strategy is pretty much on course, that in many parts of the country, taliban momentum has either been stopped or even reverse bud it also warns that any progress is still fragile and reversible. still, big concerns about receipt liability of the afghanistan government and those taliban safe havens across the board terror in pakistan. but when i was in afghanistan last week with secretary of state gates, i never have seen him or the u.s. military commanders there more optimistic about that mission. they do warn, however, that it still remains a long, hard fight and that american troops are going to be on the ground there for years. natalie? >> jim miklaszewski at the pentagon for us. thank you, jim. freezing temperatures and icy roads in the southeast are to blame for five deaths in mississippi and alabama, including three high schoolers. several school district notice area canceled classes due to

dangerous road conditions. federal government has now banned drop-side cribs that are a tape is until millions of americans homes. nbc's pete williams has the story. >> reporter: cribs with one side that can be dropped down can make picking up the baby easier but an edge can come loose and a child can get caught in the gap. the government says 32 infants have died that way. that's what happened to 10-month-old tyler witt of new york. >> i rocked him, i put him to bed at 1:00 in the morning aft his 1 a.m. feeding and i never imagined that would happen. >> reporter: 11 million of the cribs have been recalled and some retailers have stopped selling them. now, the consumer product safety commission has voted unanimously to ban drop-side cribs a topped toughen federal crib testing. >> i believe these new standards will markedly reduce crib-related hazards and ensure young children sleep more safely in their cribs. >> reporter: under the new rules taking effect in june it will be illegal to make or sell drop

side cribs that includes reselling them, too, on websites like ebay, craigslist or second hand stores. child care centers and hotels will have two years to phase them out and he replace them with cribs with stationary sides. drop-side cribs still in home cbs safely used if the sides are locked into place so they cannot move. pete williams, nbc news, washington. australian officials are launching a criminal investigation into wednesday's shipwreck that killed at least 28 asylum seekers, including 11 children on the shore of christmas island. november foreclosures dropped to their lowest rate in 18 months, according to realtytrac, but the dip is a result of freensz repossessions imposed for improp letter handled evictions and foreclosures. now 7:19, you are up to date. to become meredith, matt and al. >> natalie, thank you very much. >> sure thing. >> a first check of the weather from al roker. >> i have amazing video for you here. this is the power of wind and

cold. this is a lighthouse in the harbor on -- lake erie there, cleveland, ohio. it is encased -- the house and lighthouse encased in ice. >> looks like santa's workshop. >> amazing stuff. it s. >> there is a guy inside that can't get out. that is right. the good news is his frozen dinners are fine. and we have right now winter storm warnings and winter weather advisories stretching from fargo all the way to washington, d.c., down to asheville. we have lake effect be snow advisories up through lake ontario. this part of the system pushing its way causing icy conditions from southern indiana all the way to the carolinas. look at this we are talking about anywhere from three to six inches of snow, stretching from cincinnati to norfolk. six to nine inches of snow in central west virginia. an amazing amount of snow coming down and icy conditions throughout the mid-atlantic states into the southeast. here's what's happenings on

willol gden gate bridge. g patchy fog in a few spots. showers off tote south. rain for l.a. down towards san diego where the 49ers will take on the chargers. for the futurecast rainfall, rain off and on into and through the weekend. along with pretty gusty winds. temperatures climbing into the mid 50s for the afternoon with increasing clouds approaching the evening. >> and that's your latest weather. meredith? >> al, thank you. and just ahead, a new twist in the murder of university of virginia lacrosse player yeardley lovement her ex-boyfriend is charged with beating her to death but now her attorneys are questioning how love actually died. we will have the latest, but first this is "today" on nbc.

still ahead, three things you can do if you want to retire in the next decade. >> plus, a popular weathercaster suspended after a all

>> time now is 7:26. taking a peek at the morning commute starting at the toll plaza. the usual back up. westbound lanes not too bad in terms of construction. they are doing work on the new tower. if you are headed eastbound, there is a lane closure in effect until 2:00 p.m. a couple of things to watch for. check out the sunol grade, look at the shot. you can barely make out the headlights. the fog is extremely thick and rob has more on what to expect. >> thick from pleasant to sunol

and you will find clearing. a chilly start with rots of 30s. no rain yet and the clouds across the coast heading towards southern california where we see showers today around los angeles. our temperatures as more clouds spill in and cool. low to mid 50s. late this evening on the coast, a few showers and tomorrow breezy and wet as we head into a oggy looking timeen time right now is 7:27. more news after the break.

police and grief counsellors will talk about a classmate's murder. they attacked a boy, stabbing him to death on cedar near birch. he was a student last year and transferred to bridge point continuation for his senior year. his mother said he thinks he was killed because he stood up for a clear leader at a recent party. police are looking for two men seen run away in black hoodies. the "today" show returns in less than a minute.

7 kfr -- 7:30 on a thursday morning, the 16th day of 2010. another frosty morning in the big apple. the sun is shining, you can't see it there, it s take our word for it. it should warm up a little bit today. thank the people for stopping by. inside studio 1a, i'm matt lauer and meredith vieira this half hour, a strange case involving a local television personality here in new york city. >> a weathercast we are a career on the rise suspended after authorities say she filed a fake police report about

astalked and attacked by a would-be rapist. with and if you want to retire in the next ten years, will you have enough money and what should do you if the answer is no? what can you do to turn the answer no to yes? financial expert susie orman will offer her advice. race to no wrarks documentary made by another seen enough, casting the spotlight on the tremendous pressure and stress placed on today's students. we begin this half hour with new details in the murder other of yeardley love, a popular lacrosse player at the university of virginia. her ex-boyfriend is charged in that crime but now his defense team is he questioning love's cause of death. nbc's jeff rossen is on the campus in charlottesville, virginia. good morning to you. >> reporter: good morning to you. let me read to you from the autopsy report. the official cause of death for yeardley love is blunt force trauma to the head. police say her ex-boyfriend beat her, now he is charged in her murder but his defense lawyer says not so fast. yeardley love was also on

prescription drugs like alteril and maybe others and that may have cause herd death. now they want her medical records to prove it. on the pristine campus of uva where george hughley brutally beat and killed yeardley love, prosecutors say this new twist. lawyers want to develop into yeardley love's personal files, her medical records, saying she was on alteril, the medication prescribed for adhd and overusing. the new defense theory, blaming the victim, the trucks may have cause herd death, stopping her heart, not the beating. >> i think that that's pretty transparent. i think the fact that they can't rest their case on anything more substan sex telling. >> i think it is kind of disrespectful to her memory, personally. >> reporter: hughley friends say had had a tur by lent romantic relationship with love and sometimes got physical with her. police sources say he may have been angry over their breakup and sent her death threats over text message. inside his apartment, court

documents say, investigators found the lacrosse shirt with a red stain on it. then, there's his confession the night of the murder, admitting to police he kicked his right foot through the door that leads to love's bedroom. they got into a fight and he shook love and her head repeatedly hit the wall, leaving her to die, police say, face down on her pillow in a pool of blood. hughley's lawyers wouldn't comment on their new theory, just that this was a tragic accident, a theory some experts don't buy. >> the extent of these injuries to the head are severe and could be explained only by somebody pushing her head forcefully against the wall. it just doesn't fit any other way. >> reporter: but in court, where reasonable doubt is all the jury needs, hughley's defense team is pulling out all the stops, not only requesting yeardley love's medical record bus also pointing out she was drunk the night of her murder. according to the autopsy, love had a blood alcohol level of .14. >> this is actually decent strategy by the defense,

creating an alternate theory of the cause of death and they are doing their job and if they can get their expert to say that there may be another cause of death, they are creating reasonable doubt. >> reporter: how longly is sitting in jail, awaiting trial next month. as the family of yeardley love, still grieving the loss of their rising star, gets ready to face him in court. need tolls say, prosecutors here in virginia are fighting the release of these medical records and love's own family, her mother specifically, sent a letter to the court saying you shouldn't release it, you shouldn't unseal these medical records because they are private it may have worked, matt. the judge has said he is not going to allow the defense to go on some kind of fishing expedition here and release all of the records built judge is reviewing them right now and may unseal some of them. we will find out soon. >> jeff rossen down in charlottesville this morning, thanks very much. it is 34 after the hour. let's get a check of the weather from al.

a. >> announcer: today's weather is brought to you by kay jewelers, the number one jewelry store in america. and the cold air all across the country is going to start to moderate just a little bit. these are afternoon temperatures, teens and 20s in the plains, 40s in the southeast, teens even up into new england. the departures from normal right now look -- warmer through the gulf coast and on into texas but chillier in the mid-atlantic states. then as we move on into friday, you can see this cold air starting to seep its way all the way down to the south, backro t the central rockies, 21 degrees below normal. by saturday, though, the cold air starts to retreat up to the plains, on into the upper midwest, temperatures anywhere from 10 to almost 21 degrees >> per a live look at the san mateo bridge eastbound as the sunrises. you are running into bright sunshine. no fog there. temperatures in the 30s and 40s. fairfield is 29. no worries about rain yet, but

there is a lot of moisture heading our way that will spill a chance of rain. very late today, but holding off for friday. breezy conditions into the weekend. heavy rain at times and highs near 60. and to make sure you keep track of this wild weather all day long, go to the weather channel on cable and weather.com online. meredith? >> al, thank you. a meteorologist on the local abc station here in new york has now been suspended after police say that she made up claims that she was stalked and nearly assaulted by a would-be rapist in central park. nbc's mike taibbi has details. mike, good morning to you. >> reporter: good morning, meredith. how flu is at 37, heidi jones' career as a tv meteorologist and much more was on the rides. she was also an avid fitness buff and distance run zaerpd a lot of run hearing in central park. this is also where she claims someone tried to rain her. >> northwestern corner of new york state. >> reporter: heidi jones had made it to the big-time, going

all the way from an indiana girlhood to forecasting the weather on abc's huge new york tv station. >> we get into late september. >> reporter: reporting countless stories from the field. >> perfect day for this. it is called beach 10 t is not just for hackers slackers like myself. one of the best tune-up races yesterday. >> reporter: often filling in on abc's nationally broadcast morning show, "good morning, america." >> heidi jones is here. >> good morning, everyone. >> reporter: on her facebook page and run with heidi website she writes about her flourishing tv career and prowess as a long distance runner. no where does she tell her fans what police say she recently told them that a hispanic man had twice confronted her, first back in september when he grabbed her as she joggeded and tried to rape her and three weeks ago near her apartment when she says he harassed her again. but police say they weren't so sure. after all, two days after the alleged rape attempt in september, heidi wrote on her

facebook page, "good day, how was yours?" after the man supposedly threatened her in november, she wrote, "here's your turkey day forecast, gobble, gobble." now police sources confirm for nbc news that when jones was confronted with inconsistencies on her story and waited two months to tell it that she basically made it all up. the local wabc-tv newscast reported that jones is now off the air. >> heidi jones, a wabc-tv meteorologist faces misdemeanor charges for filing a false police report. jones faces types and jail time if convicted. wabc has suspended jones pending the outcome of an internal investigation. >> reporter: jones' critics have already taken to her facebook wall. this is inexcusable. you are a disgrace. fire her and put her in jail. jones reportedly made up her story to win with sympathy because of personal problems. >> oftentimes, people do dramatic things when they are going through personal issues. people leverage are the support

in a variety of different ways. >> front moving through. >> reporter: what's likely to happen now to a career that was clearly on the rise? >> if it's all true, there's no question that heidi jones' career is in serious trouble. >> reporter: her lawyer, paul callen, urges folks not to jump to conclusions and says she will plead not guilty to any criminal charges against hership. he could face a year in jail on each charge of falsifying a police report. meredith? >> mike taibbi, thank you very much. ricky clyman is a criminal defense attorney. gail salt sanchez a "today" contributor. good morning to you both. >> good morning. >> gail, start with you, heidi jones admitted to police she made the whole thing up, a court date january 5th charged with filing a false police report. you have talked to her attorney. what is her next step? >> her attorney, paul callen is really the perfect lawyer here. he is a mixture of compassion and competence and if i were paul callen what i would be doing is calling up the d.a.'s office immediately to try to work out something. >> this is a woman who does not

need to go to jail, however this is a case that's not going away. she needs to be a candidate for probation. >> her lawyer saying she is going to plead not guilty how can she do that if she already admitted guilt? >> everyone who goes into court will enter a plea or their attorney enter a plea for them always a not guilty plea until something can be worked out. and i'm sure in this kind of case with a progressive and thoughtful d.a., a good lawyer like paul it will cry out for someone to help her and it will cry out for an example to be made so that we don't have other people making false accusations. >> this is a young, attractive woman, obviously doing well professionally what would motivate someone like this? >> you would be surprised. many, many people have the fantasy or thought, gee, if this ennelse would feel badly for me or someone else would rush to my

aid. we all actually have thoughts like that but to act on it is a different story. so then the question becomes, you know, is -- was the stress such or is the personality character such that a reaction to anxiety or depression would cause them to, if you will, break their own moral code? 'cause that's really the question here, right? why would you do something that could destroy your life and that would be a lie, essentially that would hurt other people, that takes the police away from their job and so on? sometimes it is real mental illness. looking at someone beautiful and successful does not mean that they are not suffering inside that they don't potentially have a mental illness, something really bizarre didn't going on in their life as we see over and over again in cases. >> and why cry rape? >> right. well, you know it is about being attacked. you know, this is -- one fantasy sometimes people claim i'm horribly sick. i have seen the cases of i've got cancer so i need people around me. this is about being attacked and it is strange to say but

actually many, many women do have thoughts about rape. again, they don't want to be raped, but they have thoughts about it. it is not an uncommon fantasy. and the idea that someone would rescue you or rush to your aid because you have been violated and violated in a sexual manner so it makes you think about being a personal other to her, a boyfriend or somebody that she wanted to arouse or concern. >> you sit on a board for a rape treatment center, correct? >> yes, i do. >> in california. >> seven years. >> i'm sure there are people on that board who, you know what she cried rape, that presents a chilling effect to people who have been raped, she deserves to go to jail. >> she may deer is to have go to jail but the reality is it is not going to do her or anybody else any good. the trouble here, meredith, does have a chilling affect? are women afraid to go forward because when you have someone of this celebrity it, even if it's because of a mental illness and it's not malicious, the reality

is that it does make them say, well, maybe the police won't believe me. i have to say i have got to applaud these pleas for nipping it in the bud because, what if it went one more step? what if there was a lineup? what if there was a show up -- a picture and she picked that hispanic that she had never seen? >> such things have happened so i think we have to think about the moral greater good here and today, i would say a lot of people are comfortable with, frankly, untruths. we see a lot of things going on today that are, you know, not about following the rules and it's emboldening, i think, others to break them. >> gail saltz, ricky kleman, thank you both for your perspective this morning. we appreciate it. up next on a much different note, three things to do if you hope to retire in the next decade, criticaler advice aftf. susie orman, after this.

ab ann today. >> announcer: today's money is brought to you by bank of america. >> we are back at 7:46. this morning on today's money you what, really need to retire if you were ten years from retirement and your nest egg has take an hit recently, what should you do? that question was asked in a recent wall street journal article. here with advice is susze orman the host of the suze orman show on cnbc. good to he see you. >> hi, matt. >> a decade away from retirement, may have take an hit in the recession, you start to lock at what you need. this is the time to plan. you got to get busy. >> actually, you should be planning all the way up until now. all right. we have ten years left. you don't know what to do so let's start right into t listen, your major, page ex-er spence in life is your mortgage payment. if you own a home, my advice to you would be, after the point of maturing the retirement account get rid of the mortgage. you need more money in the retirement account to pay the mortgage than if you just paid the mortgage off. >> make sure people heard what you said, don't stop

contributing to your 401(k) plan, get up to the match point and then take the excess money and pay off the mortgage. >> only if you plan to stay in the house for the rest of your life. you get rid of the mortgage payment by the time you retire, you're sitting pretty. >> second thing now this some ways takes a piece of conventional wisdom and turns this on the ear. usually you say, okay, you are ten years away from retirement, you start to get out of the stock market and into bonds. you say today's economy has changed that equation. >> you bet he be very careful. we are at very version low interest rates when interest rates go down, the price of bonds go up. when interest rates go up, the prices of bonds go down. most people go into bond funds. this he don't have a maturity date that says you are going to get your money back. if you go into bond funds now and interest rates go up, which they will eventually, you are going to lose money -- >> just when you need to be building more of it. >> i'm here to tell you, this is not the time on any level go into bond funds, especially if they are long-term maturity bond

funds, big, big red flag. >> you have got a lot of people thought still nervous about the stock market. so if you're telling them not to buy bonds, what should they buy? >> so i'd like them to start to get a little calmer about the stock market in doing this. stocks group and down but if you were to buy a stock or an exchange-traded fund that has a dividend on it, a 5, 4, 6% dividend, at least you have some cushion if the stock or the exchange-traded fund goes down, you still are getting paid some, retirees today really should start thinking about looking into exchange-traded funds or stocks. >> quickly, exchange-traded fund is what? >> like a mutual fund that trades on the stock market. it's far better than actually a mutual fund because of its liquidity but it's a really viable alternative today, especially since interest rates are so low. >> recap, pay off your mortgage, be careful of your buying of bond it is you're ten years away from retirement. >> especially a bond fund. >> look at these dividend -- >> paying stocks and exchange

traded funds. >> three important tips for people who are ten years and probably sooner from retirement. suze orman, thank you very much. for more financial advice, catch the "suze orman show" saturday nights at 9 p.m. eastern and pacific time. that's on cnbc. still ahead, speaking of we will talk about that but first, these messages.

still ahead, are we pushing our kids too hard and too fast. >> and does that hurt them in the end? we will talk about that after your local news. the end? we will talk about that after your local news. >> and does th the end? we will talk about that after your local news.

>> good morning. time is 7:56. checking in with rob and he has double duty. she ticking a look at the commute and the forecast. >> there is a look at the commute and metering lights are on. you are seeing slowing and the travel times approaching that area. look at that. slowing down to 32 miles per hour. the slow approach as you get towards the bay bridge. patchy fog is slowingown around the benicia bridge this areas. there you see the east shore freeway down to 32 miles per hour. highway 4 away from pittsburgh at 9 miles per hour. patchy dense fog around pleasanton and a lot of slowing towards fremont and highway 17 approaching 280 with slowing

there. you get up and out of the santa cruz mountains this morning. the weather, we will see more clouds and highs in the low to mid 50s. for the weekend, friday with the rain coming in and the weekend looking soggy and windy. late evening on the coast and that rain is goingn to coin off and on over the next days. more news after the break. ue

we are learning more about the gang rape of a rich moend high school student.

during the latest testimony in the preliminary hearing, an expert said dna from defendants was found on the 16-year-old victim and at the scene of the crime. the strongest dna evidence allegedly linked a 43-year-old defendant to the assault. the preliminary hearing is expected to wrap up soon and then the judge will determine if there is enough evidence to send seven men and teen boys to trial for the october 29th rape. the victim said she remembers drinking alcohol with the men and collapsing. more local news in a half hour and the "today" show returns in less than a minute. have a great morning. see you in a bit.

8:00 now on this tuesday morning, thursday -- i'm sorry about that december 16, 2010. matt, these folks are waving to loved ones back home or flapping their arms to keep warm. either way it works for us. outside on this chilly plaza, i'm meredith vieira, along with matt lauer and al roker is somewhere. there he is. >> there he is. >> just ahead, this is something that i'm actually -- the pressure-packed lives of today's students, they have schools and they have club, afterschool activities, home works the list goes on and on and on. some stay is causing our kids to lose their grip, literally. we will talk about that coming

up. >> also, we are going to talk to actor matt damon, starring in the movie "true grit," talk about his role in that time on the horse and role as his father of four little girls. wow. four, count them. >> my goodness. brave man. and one with of the stresses around the holiday season who do you tip and how much? tipping is really a tough topic. you don't want to offend people, we are going to get into that. >> especially tough economic times, too. but first, let's see who is stopping by it is oscar win dustin hoffman. in the neighborhood. so good to see you. >> yeah. >> i just saw you up on the big screen as the big focker in "little fockers." >> no one has ever called me the big focker. we will take that. >> was it as much fun the second time around? >> it always is.

>> i just throw them, you hit them. >> think of the cast here, barbra streisand, robert deni o niro, you, jessica alba, own wilson this is the big time? >> yes, we are all crazy. >> you know, your characters go through a bid of midlife crisis in this. actually, you are in spain taking flamenco lessons. did you know -- >> yes. >> mr. hoffman, that meredith was the eastern rhode island flam mepg co-champion 1954. can you give us a little flamenco? here, i will hold this ready? >> can we get a mike? >> i think he is lying to you. >> all right. all right. all right. hold this. pretty good. >> i can do that. >> go ahead. go ahead. >> like a penguin.

>> whoa, what is in there? >> well what are you doing for the holidays, by the way? >> well, my son, jake, is going to australia and i know you want a short answer. and untrained dog with us so i plan to stop him from popping in the house. >> wow. nothing says holidays. >> like a little doggy do. >> a little doggy do for christmas. >> you don't need it but good luck with "little fockers." one of our favorite guest ever. >> say hello to the crew? >> of course. [ cheers and applause ] >> the crew loves dustin hoffman. >> yes they do. >> what do you want for breakfast? >> that's why the crew loves dustin hoffman. government inside. natalie is standing by a check of the headlines. natalie? >> all right, good morning. the baked goods will be arising tomorrow. as always, dustin hoffman delivers. good morning once again. in the news, an $850 billion

extensions of tax cuts and jobless benefits is headed for a vote in the house today. it won senate approval wednesday. president obama wants quick passage to prevent a tax like in january. the don't ask, don't tell for gay service members moves to the senate but it may be too late to act before congress adjourns. 14 members of the same extended family were killed when their minivan collided with another vehicle carrying explosives in afghanistan. in a public public comment since her husband's suicide saturday, the widow of bernie madoff's son, mark, says she is devastated and asked for privacy as she raises her two young children alone. now, let's head over to wall street. cnbc's trish regan is at the new york stock exchange for us. trish what are investors watch withing this morning? >> good morning, natalie. they are anxiously awaiting with the extension of the tax cuts. while you have wall street with enthused, analysts wonder what it will mean for long-term

deficits. in europe, european officials are having a meeting today a summit in brussels. they are trying to deal with and find ways to prevent a future crisis, such as what we are seeing right now. there are a number of economic data points out today to be watching for, including numbers on the housing market and on the jobs market, keep busy. >> trish regan at the knock stock exchange, thank you. philadelphia eagles quarterback, michael vick who served 18 months in prison for dogfighting, says he would like to have a pet dog again. vick was banned from dog ownership for at least three years. he says dog would be good for his daughters and for his own rehabilitation. it is 8:05 right now you are up to date. let's go to al with a check of the weather. mr. roquer. >> thank you very much, natalie. my girlfriend dragged me here in the zmold you know she can see this sign. okay. very nice. good luck, my friend with that and here's -- these nice folks brought toys for our toy drive.

here is great gift you might want to bring for any adults in this. al roker, i just signed it for this nice lady. wow. thank you so much. shameless plug. let's take a look, show you what is happening as far as your weather is concerned. pittsburgh, p.a. yay, nbc 11. 26 degrees and as we look at the rest of the coun cy, s youanee we have got an icy mixaking its way through the ohio valley towahe cht states, a real mess. stretching from minnesota all the way to the virginias today. wet weather in the pacific northwest. snow in the central rockies. sunny down in florida. still cool but nowhere near as and here's a look at a very foggy sinole great. head over to the grade, you will find more clear skies heading toward san jose. right now no rain around the bay area. see all the moisture to the west eventually spilling our way as we head into tonight and friday.

rain will be coming back into the picture around this time and tomorrow. high today. most in the 50s. cool day some heavy at times and gusty winds forever the weekend. >> this is why we love dustin hoffman, hucking and kissing and being dustin hoffman. al, we do love him. when we come back, a powerful documentary revealing the dangerous toll that stress and pressure can take on students. we will talk to the mother who me. agest ri t ter these messages. impressive resume. thank you. you know what, tell me, what makes peter, peter ? well, i'm an avid catamaran sailor. i can my own homemade jam, apricot. and i really love my bank's raise your rate cd. i'm sorry, did you say you'd love a pay raise asap ? uh, actually, i said i love my bank's raise your rate cd. you spent 8 days lost at sea ? no, uh... you love watching your neighbors watch tv ? at ally, you'll love our raise your rate cd that offers a one-time rate increase if our current rates go up.

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of students. are we pushing them too hard and too fast? today, national correspondent amy robach found one mother of two who said absolutely. amy, good morning. >> meredith, good morning to you. vicki ables did more than talk about it, she picked up a video camera and started asking questions of educators, students and parents and the result, a documentary that has people across the country taking notice. >> i would spend six hours a night, at least, on my homework. >> high school is about learning,pass tests. >> you try to stuff as much information into your brain as possible. >> reporter: these students give voice to a number of the overwhelming concerns faced by teens and their parents. >> i didn't think when i had kids that the only time i would with see them is for 20 minutes at dipper. >> reporter: mother of two, vicki ables saw the strain on her own family and set out to take the pulse of what was happening across the nation in her new documentary, "race to nowhere". >> we are all afraid that our children won't be able to be as

successful as we are. >> reporter: it is a pressure that can exact a costly toll. >> i took at ter rill, hard to be the vice president of your class and do homework. >> i would be sitting there trying to catch my breath. i couldn't fall asleep at night. >> reporter: two people interviewed in the film are today college juniors. how did you hand that will pressure? >> some time in 11th grade, i guess, something cracked under the pressure. i cheated on a test. >> reporter: what do you think about the level of competition where we are at as a country? >> i think it has gotten progressively worse and i think what this film does is gives us a -- sparks a nationwide conversation. >> reporter: film has been screened in 600 communities and making an impact. >> my reaction was, whoa this is so powerful. >> reporter: tara krantz is a mother of two and works as a middle school counselor in

louisville, colorado. >> made me think as a parent, okay, i think i need to reprioritize our routine it feels like a rat race for my kids. >> reporter: "race to nowhere" is primarily screened in school auditoriums and churches and that allows people to stick around after the film and really get into it, discuss its message. meredith? >> amy robach, thank you very much. vicki ables is with us now along with high school student phillip grossman, the co-founder of term, the educational reform movement. dr. janet taylor is psychologist, good friend of the show. nice to see you all. vicki, let me start with you. you have two daughters. one of them in particular was the inspiration behind this film. tell me what happened to your daughter, jamie. >> when my daughter was 12th and in seventh grade, she became physically sick from the pressure she was feeling and from the schedule she was keeping and as i started talking to parents in my community and different communities across the country way, found was an epidemic of kids who were facing

hours of homework at night who were becoming anxious, depressed, sleep deprived and i decided there was an important story to tell and set out to give students, parents and educators a voice and in this important conversation. >> i can understand what students said about it, but what did parents and educators tell you? >> i feel that everyone feels that there are tremendous pressures coming from many different places right now and everyone feels alone and if they don't have power to take it. that is what is so unique about this film, it is bringing people together to find ways that work for them and to look around the room for alliances with one another, become advocates. teens better served by young people today and teachers. >> janet, so it is not just the students that feel the pressure? >> it is not, absolutely. what student does with their parents, own parents are stressed and we have this lack of balance. i have a 17-year-old senior awaiting college acceptances and has migraines, stomach aches, i mean, she is stressed. >> our psychiatrist. how do you help her? >> you can't put her on the

couch. i think tough create some billion and create meaning and perspective. you will get in somewhere but these kids, relentless, relentless demand and we don't create enough balance we don't create enough down time to say it is going to be all right as parents, because in our own world, we are just going 24/7. >> our junior right now in high school. how would you describe the pressure that you are under? >> it comes from the tests. everyone is trying to get a good grade and what worries me, we are really not focusing on learning anymore it is all about -- be it is like a competition. as americans, we have a competition culture, obviously going to seep into the educational system. but the pressure that we have is just unneeded. we are not even learning as much as we could all because of this pressure. you know, it's pretty troubling. >> how does it manifest itself with you though? >> i try and, you know, make sure i pace myself. i don't take too many aps, not going to things just to get into college, i want to learnt stuff but there are a lot of people who get really caught up in this. they take everything they can,

taking five aps -- >> because they believe without them they won't get into college? >> yeah, they think that they can't get into college or they have to go to the best college. there is a right college for everyone. you know it is not -- everyone doesn't have to go to harvard, everyone doesn't have to go to princeton. all the colleges are good and anyone can find their -- the right place. >> seems like you have your headhead screwed on right. you want to start a mom. and seems you want to, inspired by this film, where do you start? >> for me, i think it is from bringing communities together, listening to one another and know we don't need to wit for poll cities to change or legislators or college admissions to change. better served young people and their teachers today. i think we have an education crisis here. >> we have compelling statement notice film, one of the students and then what? our kids are pushing, pushing, pushing but they don't see what the purpose is. how do we talk about that as families what happened our

values are a and why our kids -- we want our kids to be like philip and motivated. >> we have to but i wanted to let the audience know while you were making the film, very sobering event happened, a 13-year-old girl committed suicide because she didn't get an a on a math test. this is what we are up against. vicki, thank you for the film, philip as well, janet, always a pleasure to have you here. good luck with your daughter with the college process. up next, oscar winner matt damon. that's right after this. mom.

♪ wake up, it's christmas! ♪ come see the tree ♪ there's presents underneath it ♪ ♪ and i know there's some for me ♪ ♪ get moving mom and dad ♪ wake up already please! ♪ how can you still be sleeping ♪ ♪ when it's six a.m. at least? ♪ come with me downstairs, and make it fast... ♪ ♪ i've waited weeks ♪ i've waited months ♪ now christmas morning's here at last! ♪ [ kid ] wake up. it's christmas. ♪

so you think santa will like these... red and green m&m's? i don't know! i never met the guy! whaaaaa! he does exist! they do exist! uhm... santa? old legs. p.a.d., the doctor said. p-a-d... p.a.d. isn't just poor circulation in your legs causing you pain. it more than doubles your risk of a heart attack or stroke. i was going to tell you. if you have p.a.d., plavix can help protect you from a heart attack or stroke. plavix helps keep blood platelets from sticking together and forming clots, the cause of most heart attacks and strokes. call the doctor about plavix -- please? i will. [ male announcer ] certain genetic factors and some medicines such as prilosec reduce the effect of plavix leaving you at greater risk for heart attack and stroke. your doctor may use genetic tests to determine treatment. don't stop taking plavix without talking to your doctor as your risk of heart attack or stroke may increase. people with stomach ulcers or conditions that cause bleeding should not use plavix.

taking plavix alone or with some other medicines including aspirin may increase bleeding risk, so tell your doctor when planning surgery. tell your doctor all medicines you take including aspirin especially if you've had a stroke. if fever, unexplained weakness or confusion develops, tell your doctor promptly. these may be signs of ttp, a rare but potentially life-threatening condition, reported sometimes less than two weeks after starting plavix. other rare but serious side effects may occur. [ female announcer ] talk to your doctor about plavix. "true grit" the story of a stubborn young woman's search for her father's killer was a signature for john wayne, in fact, earned him his own oscar. now the cohen brothers have remade "true grit" starring jeff bridges and matt damon. >> that's right. i'm a texas ranger.

>> why have you been pursuing jane? >> he shot and killed a state senator make iner in waco texas >> matt damon. good to sigh. they were not interested if you had seen the original from 1969, they want to knowed if you read the book. >> yy why was the book more important than the original movie? >> i am thank's what they found and what john wayne found 40 years ago that it is just a phenomenal book, just wonderful. and the adaptation that joel and ethan did really uses so much of the dialogue that charles portis, the author of the novel, came one with. that was really there listen, not looking that the as a remake, looking a this the going back to the original source material and making our own movie out of it. >> glen campbell played the

character you played it this the texas ranger. looking at the footage here, people aren't familiar with the story it is a western and yes, that means horses. i've always thought that the only thing worse than a baseball movie where the actor looked like he couldn't throw a pitch would be a we were if the actor looks like he is not comfortable on a horse. you are very comfortable. >> this is the same group that wrangled the movie that i did 11 years ago, so i knew all those guys. >> so, thisment is from riding in the wilds of boston? >> right. >> childhood. >> i grew up wrangling in boston, we cowboy a lot up there. no it -- well, a few things. one, i mean, aid a lot of experience with movies riding horses and had had the chance to go kind of months early on movies in the past and really work -- work a lot with the horses but also these horses that were on are just so well trained. you really actually -- they are dummy-proof, you can put pretty much -- >> not saying they drugged these horse? >> the horses think better than the actors. the horses will see a mark, they

will run up and stop and actually get them to lean a little bit. >> what better way to get character of a, we sit in the saddle of a who can't feel like a cowboy then, or a jockey, but that wouldn't work. that would be bad. >> definitely no the saddles more comfortable than the director's chairs. a lot of times you stay through. >> you chose to do the movie odd flexible schedule, allowed to live your life, a new baby at home and three other children at home and this gave the flexibility you were looking for? >> look, it was a role -- it was a great chance to work with the directors that i have been dying to work with and with jeff and with josh brolin and then this incredible actor, 13-year-old girl named haley steinfeld, the center of the movie, so she was this incredible discovery really for all of us in this experience. when they came in with the project the one thing i said was, look, i'm here in new york and my kids are in school.

is theremy way you could help with the schedule and make it so i'm not away for long stretches and so they were really nice and accommodating. >> really nice but that is one of the great perks for your level of success, they are willing to work with you, where other actors might not have that opportunity? >> if the role is the right size. you are the lead in the movie, can i have three days off a week? >> you mentioned off new baby. >> four girls. >> four kwoung girls at home with you and luciana. you group up with a brother? >> right. >> which means one thing, girls have you completely wrapped around their finger. >> really pathetic. >> take some getting used to the girls? >> no, just a total love affair. it is interesting, the way they look at the world and interact with the world is so different from the way boys do like, my brother's boys come over, if we have other friends, they have a play date and a boy comes over, they will just do things to the toys that never would occur to me. just try to kill them, smash them. >> wait. wait. >> just a very different

experience having these four little girls. >> i can only imagine what you are like as a dad. in hollywood, off reputation, somewhat stellar. i mean, anyone who has worked with you over the years says you are one of the nicest guys, one of the warmest and most caring people they have ever met. i have had the chance to interview you probably a dozen times. i don't see it i really -- [ laughter ] >> you have enough layers of publicists and -- >> actually, you didn't want to speak to me today. no, no this suspect me. this is a doppleganger. >> call you the mayor? >> i think he calls me a lot of things. >> because you are so even keel all the time. i think what he says about you. >> he sees me as a politician. i don't know how to take that. >> well, your honor, this movie is "true grit" and you are great in everything you to you. and congratulationses on the arrival of the new little girl with. nk thank you very much "true grit" opens december 22nd.

we are back in a moment with more "today" on nbc. good morning, everybody. time now 8:26. taking a look outside with rob and getting the latest on the forecast. >> 880 northbound, sunshine but a little slowing there. otherwise fairly typical around the east bay right now. look at some maps. you notice highway 4 slowing down from pittsburg. bay shore free way seeing slowing as well. quad loop parkway in santa clara valley as you approach downtown san jose. you can see around menlo mark.

approaching the west side of san mateo bridge. slowing southbound approaching the bridge. let's show you the forecast. increasing clouds and plan on rain and gusty winds, getting started early as tonight, maybe on the coast. heaviest rain will likely fall as you move into saturday with periods of heavy rain off and on through the weekend. time now 8:27. more news after the break.

the man convicted of killing

a lo a los gatos killer, is slated for sentencing in san jose. they had not had a contract since mid july. they are upset because they say administration at children's hospital wants them to pay more for their health care coverage. the two held a peaceful demonstration last night to express frustration. more local you news coming up in a half hour. today show returns in a minute. she you in a bit.

we are back now 8:30 on a thursday morning, the 16th day of december, 2010. our toy drive rolls on. man, we have got an impression sive elf with us now, it that is liam neeson, the actor, collecting toys for needy children all across the country.

remember, if you can't get down here, still donate online by heading to amazon.com/today. we are going to talk to liam neeson in just a couple of minutes. meanwhile on this thursday morning, i'm matt lauer along with meredith vieira, al roker and natalie morales. speaking of people doing good things a great story. >> lucy and mike brian dedicated their lives helping u.s. veterans. today, we have a few surprises waiting for them make their work a little bit easier. great. also coming up, the issue of holiday tink, how much do you give, who do you give to how much i do owe you guys? >> a lot. >> talk about that coming up in a little bit. a little later on, dr. nancy snyderman will be here, talking about a topic we are all too sensitive about, sleep. how much do you need to really get a good night? what do you do -- >> always depressing. >> if you've got a spouse that snores? all that and a lot more, everything you need to know about sleep. >> all right. first, bring in liam neeson.

good morning. great to see you, liam. happy holidays. big opening weekend? >> it is not happy holidays it is happy christmas. >> odd good christmas or good holiday weekend at the box office, man. >> did well. >> $25 million. when you signed on to this a couple years ago, did you realize it would be this big? talk to you. >> i had a feeling. i knew the books are sort of classics. certainly the money and expertise. okay, this is very, very rich are. >> and there is a reason you have this attached to your chest, other than you like him, obviously. you are donating -- i know you are donating a lot to the toys to our toy drive, based on the

narnia character. >> the smithsonian national zoo, three cubs december 22nd and name one of the cubs aslan. >> lovely. >> become an ambassador to the conservation of big cats. >> wonderful. >> we are very honored. very honored. >> again, movies are doing super well. more books ahead. sign on for the other movies? >> yeah. >> four more. so hopefully, you know? >> i can't wait to see it. >> most importantly, thanks for taking part in the toy drive. always nice. merry christmas. exactly right. mr. roker? see what is going on as far as your forecast is concerned. for today, we have got icy conditions moving into the mid-atlantic states after coming out of the mid-ohio river valley. snow in the central rockies, wet weather in the pacific northwest, snow showers in the great lakes, still lake-effect snow, syracuse pick up another half foot of snow before it is all over

and there's a look at oakland. they got patchy low cloud, no rain just yet. you can see on the radar scan, not seeing much just yet. we've got clouds coming in offshore. eventually that will spill showers towards the coastline, very late in the day today. looking at mainly a friday start to the rain for the rest of the bay area with breezy conditions for friday and potential for very heavy rain certainly for the coast. al mountain areas off an on through the weekend into next week. >> a lot of crazy weather out there check in with the weather channel two three, four times a day or go online to weather.com. head down to willard scott and willard.com. >> nicest gifts in the world, the metropolitan museum of art. they are classy and they are priced right, something for everyone. metmuseum.org. please. you are doing yourself a favor. any way, happy birthday, how

sweet it is. check it out and see for yourself. this is dorothy haines from harmon, missouri, 101. taught bible studies for years. we love her. good old darryl, he is from cherokee river, arkansas. still drives his own car to his favorite restaurant and never gotten a driving ticket. beulah sinclair, knoxville, tennessee, 101. attributes her long jeffity to making scrapbooks for her friends. people love to look at pictures, i don't care, television, video, good old pictures. marjorie of kansas city, missouri, 102. and unbelievable lady, did so many wonderful things, goes to church every single week and helps neighbors. lawrence smith, 100 years old, world war ii vet, retired businessman and still plays golf. maybe that is the secret.

or it is the hokey pokey. clara of katie, texas, lives independently and makes the best lemon meringue pie in town, which is my favorite. that's it. that's all. lemon meringue pie and a cup of coffee. now back to you. >> willie, thank you very much. coming up, the dos and don'ts when it comes to holiday tipping, but first, this is "today" on nbc. it's really delicious, mom.

it's not too well done? nope. but it is a job well done. what are you reading, sweetie? her diary. when you're done, i'd love some feedback. sure. your mom and i read that thing cover-to-cover. loved it. thanks. would you mind if i cut the lawn this weekend? only if you let me talk to your mother on the phone for hours on end. done. [ male announcer ] u-verse brings peace to the family. at&t u-verse lets you record four shows at once from any room and play them back on any tv. now get up to $300 back in promotion cards. at&t. rethink possible.

we are back now at 8:38 with questions asked a lot this time of year, how much should you tip and for what? best-selling author steve deblanaca describes it as in your clutches. steve, good morning, nice to see you. >> nice to see you again. >> you were here for a your last book, after about nine years

waiting tables and after that book came out, for some reason, people said, wait a second, he is a waiter, must know everything about tipping. they thought you were an expert. >> and that wasn't true. you know, i found out that casino dealers get tipped and i have been to atlantic city a dozen times and never tipped them. so i was like, oh oh, i don't know everything. i went on the road to find out. >> you started asking people in the service industry about tipping, did you find it was an emotional subject for them? >> it was this is how they make their living. waiters and busboys and bathroom attendants and shoe shine guys this is how they make their livelihood. >> we will go through some of the jobs that you think people should or shouldn't tip for. can we talk about reality for a second? >> sure had. >> we are in a recession, people are cutting back, should they be cutting back on their tipping as well or is that something that should be an island? >> one of the first people that get affected in a recession like we have today are tip workers. they are feeling the brunt. so ask people to tip as much as

they can. and i always say if you can't give what you gave last year, give something. and if you can't give money, maybe a gift to show appreciation toward you. >> you say it is not just about money, equally about relationships. let's talk about waiters right now. >> sure. >> so what is common what is average what is exceptional and is it okay to cut back a little bit? >> when i was a waiter, what i valued the most was having customers who were nice to me and good tippers all year. if they didn't give me a christmas tip, it didn't matter so much. but then again, nothing says merry christmas like cold, hard cash. >> what about the guy who delivers our mail or the woman who delivers the mail? are they actually allowed to accept a gratuity or is it only up to a certain amount? >> postmen can't take cash and they can only accept a gift that has a value of $20 or less. a gift certificate. >> having said that -- >> johnny walker is good. >> think people should go right up to that 20 or above it if they can get away with it? >> i would do the best you can.

>> hairstylists and barbers. why would you want to, you know, shortchange your barber? >> i know. >> look at me. this is a problem, right? so, be generous with those people. >> always be generous and very tough for -- easy for me 'cause you just tip on the price of the cut but when some people have $200 haircuts -- >> what do you give? what percentage? >> should give the price of the cut. so, my barber -- my haircut costs $25, i give as 25 tip. >> are you kidding me? 100% tip? >> yep. for christmas, once a year. >> okay. wow, you are a good customer. babysitters and nannies? >> well, live-in nannies should get a month's pay, au pairs a week's pay. babysitters are hard to get, i would give them consideration at the end of the year. >> what about your garbagemen? a lot of people who forget the garba garbageman, stiff the garbageman? >> my rule, give them 20 bucks but if you have them hauling illegal stuff away from your

house all the time -- >> i don't would you think? >> people doing construction. i had a relative of mine remain unnamehood to throw out a fridge, couldn't take, slipped them $20 bucks, they took it away with doing that kind of stuff, i would tip them. >> seems to me the garbagemen are the people you want to keep happy, don't want 11 days of garbage building up outside your house. dog groomers, walking services? >> dog walkers a week's pay and dog groomers the same thing as going to a barber, the price of the cut. >> you learned about tipping at an early age, like me, you were a paper boy? >> that's right. >> how many papers did you have? >> i had a very small route when i was little, 25, 25, 30 customers. >> did you find that you got stiffed a lot? were people generous with you? >> no they were terrible and that was my first taste of being on the receiving end of bad tips. and little did i know 20 years later, going to get even more bad tips as a wear the. >> anyone we have left out, someone that generally doesn't get thought of at this time of year that you honestly think we should spread a little christmas

cheer with? >> you know, the person who does my laundry. i do go to the wash and fold service and i drop it off, she does a tremendous job doing my laundry. you are getting a tip for christmas. >> steve, thank you very much. the book is called "keep the change." up next, a big surprise for a family doing really great things for our country's veterans but first this is "today" on nbc ♪

♪ you can find your feet and you can find your way ♪ ♪ you can find yourself in bed at the end of the day ♪ ♪ you can find some fun on a tropical isthmus ♪ ♪but you'll never find my... ♪ you can find it in your heart to be patient with me ♪ ♪ you can find a new star for the top of the tree ♪

♪ i don't mean to be coy and i don't mean to be vicious ♪ ♪ but you'll never find my christmas ♪ this morning on getting to the heart of christmas, serving those who served our country. on any given night, more than 100,000 u.s. veterans can be found sleeping on the streets. one young couple from oregon decided to do something about it and they have really made an impact. a world away from battles fought in vietnam, iraq and afghanistan sits lacy's house of dreamses, a

home for the once homeless veterans of u.s. wars. started by lacy and mike bryant, a young couple who has never seen combat. growing up, lacy was touched by her own father's service in vietnam. >> my dad is like we need a police for homeless veterans and so i was like, okay, well, look and the mike and like, okay, well, let's do it. >> the reason lacy's in on the bad things that came back, ptsd was the big, big thing. >> reporter: compassionate toward veterans, lace sand mike poured their savings into a home to help american vets living on the street. >> we haven't sacrificed anything here with the men and women sacrificed for us that go over and serve. >> reporter: couple considers the veterans they helped family. >> they are not alone. military is a family. being at lacy's house, that's what i try to bring back to have them remember that they are still family. >> reporter: and they help meet their needs, driving them to appointments. >> you have everything you need?

>> reporter: spending time together and working to pay for the home. >> you guys each find a fir tree. >> reporter: lacy and mike make a daily trip with some of the vets to cut down donated christmas trees, which they will sell to make money for lacy's house but despite their efforts, the home was recently forced to downsize from 30 beds to ten. >> when someone comes to the door and they need another -- a police to stay it is really hard to turn someone away when i don't have any room left for them. >> reporter: because very often lacy's house of dream sass last resort. >> i would be homeless. i would be living on the street. >> lacy's house saved my life. >> reporter: ed neurman also found comfort. >> the hardest part for me was coming home to my family because of all the stuff i have seen and done. >> reporter: homeless, jobless and hungry, he turned to lacy's house for help and is now reuniting with his daughter. >> people that live here are your brothers, your sisters, your moms, your dads, your

grandpas that is who are your veterans. >> we extend hope to the veterans and then when they go from there the next thing would be dreams. ♪ jingle bells, jingle bells >> some christmas morning, the veterans willville some dreams to fill, they found a family and a place to call home. >> merry christmas. >> lacy and mike bryant are with us along with the vets helped by lacy's house, including brian york. good morning to you all. >> good morning. >> mike, lacy's house is such a very special place, why do you feel it is important to help the veterans? why have you made this such a mission? >> i couldn't imagine living my life any other way with at this point. these soldiers have sacrificed their lives for us and when they do come home, i feel a deep need to make sure that our family members that are serving for us are treated the same way that our moms and dads and brothers

and sisters are wanting to be treated in our families. >> lacy, at times, we saw it on your face, it can be very overwhelming, the responsibility. what keeps you doing? >> just being the turnout some of these guys and gals get leaving the homes, knowing that i'm helping them every day through their battles that they are going through is enough to keep me going each day and through every up and down we get. >> brian, our vet. we thank you for your service. how has this house helped your home -- i'm sorry, helped you redirect your life? >> lacy's house has meant the world to me. it's given me a leg up, to so to speak, to where i can get back into the game of life when i was looking at having nothing and it's also given me a chance to work on my comedy act. electrician by day and bill hilly by night.

that's not a verbal typo, that's actually bill hilly is the -- >> we are thrilled by that listen, lacy, mike and brian, you thought that we had gathered you there to talk about what every american can do to help vets and that's partially true, but we have also teamed one walmart. they want to make sure this is a very special christmas for you, i want you to head into the other room right now, a way to say thank you. [ applause ] these are all the presents, gifts from walmart. they include ham, turkeys, vegetables and fruit. a house of furniture, games together. everything from basketball to bocce ball. >> thank you, guys, so much. >> everything. stockings filled with personal goods for all of the vets, games for the house. and that's just some of the stuff. and lacy, i hope you're hearing me, as a big thank you, walmart

is also giving you a $25,000 gift to lacy's house. lacy, what does that money mean to you? >> oh, my gosh, $25,000. >> what? >> lacy, what does that money mean to you? >> really no words to explain this. it's amazing and it's going to help so much to keep going further and to help more veterans each and every day that we can help them. >> thank you. >> and it is overwhelming. i can't even say. >> i'm sure it s mike, you know, we have one more surprise from the university of oregon, alumni association, let's cue the duck, please, a thank you for helping these men and women. airfare to the national championship bcs football game. >> mike is so happy!

>> and mike, as if that isn't enough, we want to thank you everyone who helped out with the surprise. mike, they have helped a lot. hey, mike, one final question. what does community support mean to you and to lacy? >> it means our family can support the families. thank you. thank you, meredith. >> we thank you, mike and lacy, for all you do all the work do you at lacy's house. big thank you to walmart and the university of oregon alumni association and biggest thank you to the veterans for what they have done. >> thank you, meredith. >> thank you so much. we are back in a moment. this is "today" on nbc. [ female announcer ] martinelli's gold medal sparkling cider

is the perfect choice for holiday gatherings. martinelli's is non-alcoholic, festive like champagne, and tastes great! martinelli's: since 1868.

>> you know what tomorrow is? >> what? friday? >> not only friday, tomorrow, we look back at the year that was here on the show. >> oh -- >> exactly right. >> oh. yeah. that was a frightening moment. >> yeah. >> yeah. >> a lot of dancing to on the show. who knew? >> think we did nothing but frivolity. it was bad. always bad. >> actually, i can't even believe this, this was the year

of the olympics. >> brian will.i.am. >> said that is going to be the new dance craze. >> yeah, okay. >> apocalypse. >> you want to see a lot more -- tune in tomorrow. coming up, lots more ahead. lightning fast. lightning strong.

veriten l4g l rule the air on the most advanced 4g network in the world. good morning, once again, everybody, 8:56, i'm brent cannon, checking in wit&12 rob,e was a look at traffic and weather. >> taking you to the sinol grade. fog lifted a little bit in that part of the 680 commute. northbound, brig problems. significant alert issue.

left three lanes are blocked. you can see southbound 680. get down through alamo seeing snowing there. earlier sig alert, westbound. that has since cleared but traffic showing the lingering effects. slowing westbound across the dumb barton bridge this morning. now the weather we've got clouds spilling in. we'll see a cool afternoon of highs to the mid to upper 50s. plan on rain developing, heading on in to friday with gusty winds and heavy rains atheim for the weekend ahead. time now 8:57. more news after the break. hey, guys ! what's going on ? we're fine. we just figured since it's taking forever to pay off our mortgage,

we might as well slow our whole life down. touch the ball. get rid of your mortgage faster. get an easy orange mortgage from ing direct. pay less interest, pay more principal, pay it off sooner. yes ! state air quality regulators could pass sweeping new laws today. new regulations would get power

plants, refineries and financial incentives. air resources board could pass it today or tomorrow. thanks for joining us. we'll have another today show in about a minute.

captions paid for by nbc-universal television back with more of "today" on thursday morning, december 16, 2010. temperatures barely going to get above the 30-degree mark today. is that really true? wow. >> bone-chilling cold. >> it really s we have been in a real winter snap here and winter hasn't even technically begun yet. >> tuesday. >> yeah? >> first full day of winter. >> something to look forward to. >> we can't complain. out in the midwest, they have been dealing with this. >> and florida. i'm matt lauer, natalie morales, al rocker. in this half hour a local weather report we are a rising career here in new york city may be in a bit of trouble after

police say she filed a false police report claiming that she was assaulted by a would-be rapist in central park. investigators say she has now admitted to making all up. so, what happened? we will have the latest in a live report. also going to be talking about a serious problem of chronic loneliness it affects millions of americans and of course this time of year it can be especially tough, but there are ways to overcome it and get yourself to a happier place. we will have helpful advice coming up. something we are all too aware of, getting the so-called 40 wink withes of sleep cab little hard, especially with all of our busy lives. as you may have heard here yesterday there is a new study that finds beauty sleep is not an old wife's tale after all, you actually look better the more you rest. i would need about a week with, i guess. other health benefits as well. dr. nancy snyderman will be here to answer your question. >> i think he just insulted you. first, natalie with the headlines. london's high court ruled

that wikileaks founder julian assange can be released on $300,000 bail. it rejected an appeal by prosecutors who wanted assange to remain in jail until an extradition hearing next month. assange was arrested in britain last week and is wanted in sweden on a sex crimes warrant. police say the gunman who killed himself tuesday after firing shots at a florida school board meeting has circled the shooting date on his calendar some time ago. his wife says clay duke was a gentle giant, upset that she had lost her teaching job. an army doctor who refused to serve in afghanistan because he doubts that president obama was born in the united states pleaded guilty wednesday at his court martial. lieutenant colonel terry lincoln now faces up to 3 1/2 years in prison or a discharge and loss of benefits. new mexico governor bill richardson arrived in north korea this morning after a stop in china for a diplomatic mission to ease tension opts

peninsula. tinnitus or ringing in the ears is a growing problem, affecting 50 million americans and doctors say they are seeing a major increase in the condition in children as young as 12 years old. experts caution against listening to head phones at a high volume for more than two hours at a time. a rising star in the new york world of broadcast news has been suspended for allegedly filing a false report claiming she was assaulted in central park. that is where nbc's mike taibbi is this morning. >> reporter: heidi jones' career was on the rise, an avid fitness buff and a distance runner did a lot of her running in central park. this is where she claimed someone tried to rape her. heidi jones made it the big time, forecast the weather on abc's huge new york tv station, often filling in on abc's nationally broadcast morning show with, "good morning, america." >> this is heidi jones is here.

>> reporter: her facebook page and run with heidi website she reports about her prowess as a long distance runner but nowhere tell fans what police say she told them, that an hispanic man had twice confronted her, first back in september when he grabbed her as she xbroged and tried to rape her and three weeks ago near her apartment where he she says he harassed her again. but police say they weren't so sure. after all, two days after the alleged rape attempt in september, heidi wrote on her facebook page, "good day, how recast, gobble, gobble." day now, police sources confirm for nbc news that when jones was confronted with inconsistencies in her story and the fact she waited two months to tell it that she basically made it all up. the local wabc-tv newscast reported that jones is now off the air. >> heidi jones, a wabc-tv meteorologist faces misdemeanor

charges for filing a false police report. jones faces fines and jail time if convicted. wabc has suspended jones pending the outcome of an internal investigation. >> reporter: jones' critics have ll. ady taken to her facebook this is inexcusable. you are a disgrace. fire her and put her in jail. nes reportedly made up her story to win with sympathy because of personal problems. jones lawyer, paul callen, urges folks not to jump to conclusions and says she will plead not guilty to any criminal charges against her. she could face a year in jail on each charge of falsifying a police report. natalie? >> mike taibbi in central park. thank you, mike. in case you were wheerngtd pope was up to today, take a look, things got a little wild at the vatican when acrobats performed for the papal audience them got a standing ovation from the pontiff, as you see there.

apparently, they were a big hit with the nuns. very nice. turn it over to al now. >> i like it. weather for today, natalie, winter storm warnings from fargo, rockies, all the way into the mid-atlantic states. winter storm -- went wither weather advisories stretching there as well. all part of a complex system bringing snow, icy conditions and rain all the way from minnesota to virginia. rain -- snowfall amounts, we are talking anywhere from throw to six inches of snow, up to nine inches in central west virginia. lighter amounts as you move to the south and a little bit to e,e north.

on today's daily dose, are you getting enough sleep? according to the centers for disease control, more than 70 million americans suffer from chronic sleep disorders. guess what, it can have a major impact on your health? nbc's chief medical editor dr. nancy sniderman is here with answers. it is a big deal. >> is a big deal and getting worse. i keep every five years as we do this, we will get the message, but we don't seem to be getting the messages. >> our lives are getting busier and busier. what are the common sleep dised orrers? >> sin some nia. the first is not getting enough. a lot of different reasons are, insomnia, sleep apnea, stop breathing ten seconds a night. restless leg syndrome, people used to not take seriously but

which can now be treated and narco help circumstance the sexy one, people stop what they are doing, seem to fall to sleep and go on with the normal daily lives, most people top of that list, insomnia. >> new study released from sweep sweden -- >> british medical journal. shows the myth about beauty sleep may not be a myth at all. >> this is interesting. they took 23 people, young, healthy people and basically sleep deprived them and took people who were just normal, average people, show them sort of presleep and postsleep deprivation photos and said what do you see? >> let's take a look. >> there was a difference. >> we have got the before and after photos. take us through that. >> so on the left, you see a guy who looks pretty robust, he is fine. maybe be not particularly clean shaven but eyes are wide, eyebrows are up and then sleep deprivation, everything starts to sag. i did this at abc news ten years ago, producerses moved into my house, 36 hours, they kept me

awake, i did a video journal and i said i'm fine, i feel great, do little tasks, what was most stunning to me was to look at how my face changed over 36 hours. i lost color in my face. every wrinkle showed up. my eyes got sunken. i looked sallo. >> that is work at abc. >> look how much. i'm here. go kaboom boom. makes a difference. anybody out there worried about how they work, get eight hours. >> a good night's sleep. >> yeah. >> view arers, first of all, our first question from a view here joins us via skype. say hi to sonia from vandenberg air base in california. good morning, sonia. did you get a good night sleep last night? >> not so much. >> okay what is your question for dr. nancy? >> hi, soap ya. >> hi, how are you? my question for you is i have two young children and time to actually go to sleep at night, i

find myself really struggling to fall asleep. is there anything that can i can eat during the day to fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer? >> you are in the sleep fragmented category of any young mother. you duke a mother just delivered to one who still has children who may sometimes go to sleep willingly and other times i not so willingly, you are going to find it is a little bit more of a challenge. a couple of things, a power nap in the afternoon when the kids are asleep might actually help you get into the evening. and then really start to fix fixed times for your children and make sure that you sort of set the time shortly thereafter. a couple thing for the bedroom, get the tv out of your bedroom, get the computer away from yourself, all that work think you need to do after you put the kids to sleep. find some turn off time so all those l.e.d. lights really have a separation from and you the time you go to bed. your bed should be used for nothing more than sleeping and sex and nothing else.

your computer, all those electronics elsewhere. and if you have an alarm clock with a very bright display, consider turn iting it away fro you. >> swim a tougher time than men? >> men can fall asleep doing anything. are you kidding me? >> almost anything. now rk, barn on the phone. what is your question? >> caller: i'm 38 years old who struggles with sleeping about three times a week i think it maybe stress related. i find myself relying on tylenol p.m. to help with the sleepless nights r there any medications that safe to take for sleep? >> you hit the nail on the head when you talked about stress and tough talk about the basic thing what is the stress indicator? do nothing more than this simple task. sit down with a pose of paper and pencil and write down the stressors of your day. usually, you can figure out what the stressors and take them out if you were reliant on a short sleep -- short sleep aid, tylenol p.m. or some of the

over-the-counters are fine when used in moderation. interestingly it is the acetaminophen in the tylenol that over a long period of time or use too much of it may pose somewhat of a risk. then, yes, very good prescription aids. they are not meant for every night use. so you have to be very smart and use them really when you need to. for a lot of people like us who travel we use them to get over time periods, but i think the big thing for you is to loop become to the beginning of your question and that is the stressor. >> caller: thank you. >> good luck, barn, good night sleep to you. dr. nancy snyderman, thank you for the info. >> always. coming up next it cab serious problem this time of year, helpful advice if you're suffering from -- later, diet? ipyour y grip style. but first, these messages. - ( audience applauds ) - hey, you're supposed to be a vegetable!

there's a full serving of vegetables in every manwich. announcer: surprise. every manwich has a full serving of wholesome vegetables. manwich. meat your vegetables. of wholesome vegetables. 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.

progresso. oh yes hi. can you please put my grandma on the phone please? thanks. excuse me a sec. another person calling for her grandmother. she thinks it's her soup huh? i'm told she's in the garden picking herbs. she is so cute. okay i'll hold. she's holding. wha? (announcer) progresso. you gotta taste this soup. ♪ well, it feels so good [ female announcer ] when you have a softer bath tissue, you can enjoy going more... while still using less. introducing new charmin ultra soft. new charmin ultra soft has an ultra-cushiony design that's soft and more absorbent. so you can use four times less versus the leading value brand. [ both ] ♪ soft to the touch... [ female announcer ] using less never felt so good. new charmin ultra soft. enjoy the go. this morning on today's health, chronic loneliness age cord to be the new aarp study,

44 million adults over the able of 45 suffer from chronic loneliness, an overwhelming sense of emptiness and solitude, even amongst friends and family. so how can you cope? psychoanalyst gail saltz is a today contributor and nancy zbram vice president and chief of aarp, the magazine. good morning to you, ladies. >> good morning. >> chronic loneliness, gail, first, explain to us how it's different than depression. >> right. >> the winter blues a lot of people experience this time of year. >> loneliness can be exacerbated this time of year because of holidays and expectations, have the loved ones around you and be very connected. they can overlap. loneliness certainly can cause depression, blue mood and difficulty getting going but it can be very separate. you can feel lonely for a day. you can feel lonely in an ongoing way, you can feel loan any an ongoing situation. a feeling of being bereft, empty, so on. a longing. but it is not the same as this chronic, low mood of depression and it is not a dsm-iv

diagnosis, not considered a diagnosis, as major depression s. >> nancy, you-all did the study and the article. and you category -- you stay is being actually becoming an epidem epidemic. who is it affecting? >> rising dramatically. we surveyed 3,000 people over the able of 45 and 35% reported being chronically lonely. that's up from 20% of ten years ago and it doesn't make a difference your gender, your education, your race. it really doesn't discriminate. and it really points to the fact that society pays a lot of attention to the financial and medical conditions of older people but not so much attention to the social situation. are people isolate and what can we do about it? >> and you say -- typically, you are seeing it more in people over the able of 45. what are some of the other things that -- if you were to put a profile on who might have this, who does it affect? >> the big surprise -- the big surprise, excuse me, is that

loneliness actually decreases as we get older, so it peaks in your 40s and 50s. the baby boomers right now tend to be the loneliest group. 43% of people 45 to 49 are chronically lonely and the numbers are about the same when you are in your 50s. by the time you hit age 70, that drops to 25%. >> that is an age group i imagine a lot of changes, kids going off to college, maybe some of you think about early retirement. does that affect you? >> the workplace has become inescapable. the economy, people are working longer for less money. so it is all work and no play. the other thing is electronics, people are not unplugging. as we know, facebook is no substitute for face time. the' like being on a diet and eating celery, it fills up nut short term but the long term, leaves you a hungrier. >> chronic loneliness doesn't necessarily mean you are not surrounded by people. you can be surrounded by people

you love and still feel this, right rite? >> sometimes that is the worst lonely feeling of all, patients in a marriage and feeling incredibly loanly, the mar san not functioning, they feel like they are supposed to feel these feelings but instead, they feel kind of isolated and diskecked. this time of year, people go to holiday parties and feel incredibly lonely because even though they are surrounded by people, they don't really feel connected to any of these people. they are not having an intimate relationship, they don't feel somebody they can trust who really knows them and gets them and accepts them for them. >> let talk about how we can deal with overcoming some of this loneliness. what are some -- obviously, making some social connections. >> volunteering is a good idea. >> yes, it is. >> first of all, you have to know that you are lonely. sometimes people have these sad, disconnected feelings and they don't understand they are lonely, 'cause they are at party and surrounded by people or on the computer and i think i have these people out there in the internet world. you have to identify that that's the feeling that is going on and then why is it happening?

that's very important. so is it social ankle night? a lot of people have social anxiety and hard for them to reach out and connect and that requires a different kind of intervention than if the problem is you're newly widthed, you're newly divorced, something happening in your life, lost your parents, empty-nesters, odd loss and you haven't figured out how to get through that and replace those people, so to speak. >> nancy, i know recommendations in the article, par it 'tis pay thing in group activities, volunteering. >> social groups, again, volunteering. >> force yourself to -- >> so simple and educate yourself, the most powerful tool of all, i think. >> it is s and therapy, if the issue is you're very socially anxious or haven't gotten over a grieving situation and figured out how to make the next move. >> ladies, important topics, thank you for bringing it to our attention, read more about it in ur. ease llthwee and on ofon one see the as well. coming up, great toys to fit every budget, but first, these messages. ♪

[ grandma ] okay. ♪ ah. then we will all do it together. treats. teets...teets...teets... yeah. look at this. [ female announcer ] it seems like the best family traditions always start in the kitchen. ♪ rice krispies®. happy holidays. ♪

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our 2010 toy drive giving away almost $20 million worth of goods to families suffering this year. helping us out right now, michael north, the president of party life. good to sigh. >> nice to see you, al. >> what do you have for us? >> very happy to be proud of the drive, our fifth year being part of the drive and we are taking the stress out of children who are looking to give something to their parents. so, this is a unique positioning that we want to help the kids give something to their par. >>s and take a little bit of stress. >> michael north and all the folks at party life, thank you so very much. we appreciate that. >> thank you. >> and don't forget, you can donate online here on the -- i should say you can donate online, amazon.com/today or come to the plaza or innocence experience store until december 22nd. still ahead on "today," we have got a lot more, including the fantastic chicken under a

brick. and who doesn't like chicken under a brick? somebody go get me a brick. l ws ath weafilo . nd athea . lucy, i missed you. ♪ [ gasps ] this is for you. thanks. ♪ cool. ♪ [ chuckles ] whoa! ♪ [ chuckles ] i love this part.

yeah. me, too. [ lucy gasps ] [ female announcer ] this year, hallmark has all new ways to say it. good morning. it's 9:26 now. . the way. but a look at the forecast. >> you can see a little bit of fog out there. slow as you get into downtown san francisco on the other side. let's take a look at east bay in the toll plaza here around the bay bridge. you can see things stacked up as you typically see this time of morning. travel times believe it or not slowly starting to improve. show you along the east shore parkway. 35 miles per hour, that's actually up from about 20 we

have the last half hour. travel times, though, around highway 24 still slow, as you pass the caldecott tunnel and south bay, highway 17 slow, heading up north to 280 and downtown san jose. clouds out there right now. rain should hold off until tomorrow. highs in the 50s around the bay area. watch that rain picks up for friday, plan on gusty winds coming in as well. time right now is 9:27. we'll have more news right after the break. [ female announcer ] safeway talks gift ideas.

music makes a great gift. i like rock, hip-hop, country... and you are telling me this, why? i...uh...thought you might be my secret santa? no. i'm giving for skunk. uh, i can hear you. no. not you. the other skunk. [ female announcer ] safeway is the place to stock up on itunes gift cards. right now, save $6 on a $40 4-pack. keep 'em on hand. only at safeway. ingredients for life. a public hearing hosted by the naacp will start in just a few minutes and the group wants to talk about what they call police brutality by an east bay police force. the group is upset about the shooting death of derek jones. two oakland police officers shot and killed the popular basher last night, while responding to a domestic violence call. hes unformed but officers said he pulled a metal object from

his pants, causing him to open fire. he claims brutality and civil rights violations by oakland police. the meeting with ill be had at 9:30 this morning at the aquatic center and it is open to the public. the new year will bring lower paychecks to the lowest paid workers. the city's minimum wage will increase to $9.92 starting january 1st. up 13 cents an hour. one of the highest in the can untri. it call force annual rate adjustments based on the previous year's consumer price index. more local news force you, coming up in about 30 minutes. the "today" show returns in less than a minute. twizzlers. the twist you can't resist.

>> taking one for the team, swallowing a bug for bereakfast there. way to go mark. >> what happens when you are on live tv, folks. just about time to look back at all the fun we have had. you have been here for a lot of it. if you haven't, well, we have got the -- whoa. naughty puppy. take a look back at the year that was tomorrow on "today." i will remember that one. >> well, meanwhile, coming up in this half hour, we have got just nine shopping days left to -- >> nine days. >> nine. that's right.

>> all the people are panicking. >> you have got to pick up the perfect toy for the little ones on your list, guess what we have help for you, whether you feel like splurging or pick a little something up, we have the best bet, no matter what price you want to spend. all right. also ahead, all that glitters is gold or silver or sequins, but adding a little shimmer to your holiday party outfits doesn't have to be expensive. bobby thomas, our diy genius will be here to show you how to make some easy and cute ways to dress up your style. >> all right. plus in today's kitchen, from under a brick to on your plate in no time. we are going to show you a simple and delicious chicken dinner, chicken dish for dinner tonight. all you have to do is go out to your house and chip out a brick from the front of your house. fantastic. >> that is exactly it. i don't know what it will do for your house, any ways it will taste good. a check of the weather for us? >> we sure do. take a look for today, we have

got wet weather, the pacific northwest, icy conditions your way, speaking of icy condition, this is the mouth of the cuyahoga river right on lake erie, cleveland, ohio. this thing is completely iced up. it is a lighthouse and that's also a navigation marker. >> wow. >> completely encased in ice. almost doesn't look real. unbelievable. well, that is some incredible video. here's a nice run ur ep, maybe. looking off to the fog. you can see pass the camera there, no rain just yet, a little patchy fog around the bay area. radar not picking up things close to us. clouds southwest of us, that's the reason why. we'll see a cool afternoon highs to low to mid 50s. showers on the coast as early as evening. most will hold off friday long with gusty winds moving into the weekend. >> that's your latest weather.

>> thank you, al. coming up next, adding spark tole to your holiday. more diy, after this. a place for friends, family, and your husband's trademark victory dance. [ cheering ] now the crowd is gone. and all that remains is the stink. [ dog barks ] but you're ready because febreze air effects cleans away tough game day odors in the air. sweat-socks, chicken wings, garlic dip. and leaves a light fresh scent. febreze air effects. just one of the many ways to keep your home fresh with febreze. all day friday and saturday, get countdown to christmas doorbusters at sears. these small kitchen appliances are only nine, ninety-nine after mail in rebate. save up to seventy percent on fine jewelry. plus, this forty two inch zenith plasma is only four twenty-nine, ninety-nine. sears. be the santa you want to be.

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and earn double miles on every purchase, every day. go to capitalone.com. i wonder what it could be?! what's in your wallet? we always make time for just us cousins. like the other night at olive garden. hey susan, you gotta tell the aunt jessie story again. -yes, you do! -ok, ok. joe: love that story. try olive garden's two new scaloppini dishes. pan-seared chicken breasts in a lemon-herb glaze. or sauteed pork in a creamy white wine sauce. both served with asiago filled tortelloni. with our unlimited salad and breadsticks.

this is like being back at the kids' table. [ laughter ] olive garden. when you're here, you're family. this morning, adding shimmer to make you shine at your holiday celebration. editor of bobbie.com's bobbie thomas is here with two affordable options, buy it or diy it. good morning, bobbie. >> good morning. >> this is the time of year we can sparkle from head to toe. >> what girl doesn't love gliter? >> only do it this time of year. >> you look amazing this is a zahra dress that everyone in the studio has been raving over, only $99. >> well, okay there we go. shoutout to zahra.

okay. meanwhile, tell me about the glittery -- >> glittery nail polish so many e-mail about the nail polish i have been wearing. "burlesque" is the movie, teamed up with op toy create the grim ender's shimmers collections, doing so well, a great way to get a little dazzle on your finger tips i. >> lip gloss, too? >> max dazzle zoos great lip gloss, see glitter everywhere. even this is a great -- not a fragrance, it is actually little shimmer dust. >> wow. amazing. >> wonder slus a great illuminating tonic for your hair. but if you don't want to buy it, if you have a little loose glitter, diy it. add a little pinch of glitter, this was $2 for all the colors, add a pinch of glitter, hairspray in a travel size bottle, a great way to add extra shine to your hair, especially for new year's. >> clear nail polish. >> if you just add some clear nail polish to your fingertips i and then take some glitter and literally just sprinkle it on.

that's how i did my nails today. >> wow. >> really easy and a top coat and you are done. >> beautiful. okay. now here to the shoes. shoes. >> you can wear sequence and sparkles. >> and everyone, i love rachel by rachel roy at macy's, stuart weitzman, gap getting into it all of these are great options if you want them. however, you can diy it. >> right. if you are bobbie thomas, you can. not me. >> i wanted to share at home that you know hairspray actually the best way to make the glitter stick. >> oh, really? >> really cool and you can even use -- >> go ahead. what do i do? rubber cement? on an old pair of shoes, scuffs. >> anything it is great and then you can just add the sequence or glitter but for some of these to get the designs, just use masking tape that is how i got the cap toe on this shoe, this shoe i created a design with the

masking tape, then i have so much fun, over the top, glitter and sequins, look at that. >> look at that. >> so much fun. >> beautiful. don't have to worry about sequence falling off now and again? not a shoe that is going to last. >> to keep the glit and sequins on, find at your local craft store, a clear finish by chyron or something like that keep it on, a couple dollars go to michael's, very easy to find. >> great. i'm continuing my shoe here. probably a good idea to get a shoe color that is sort of close to it? >> that is what makes it look sophistica sophisticated, stick with neutral tones, the navy, the gold, i like that could you do hot pink or red like dorothy but might be a little too much. >> talk beautiful stockings, too, these are buy it. >> glitzy. hue.com offers this great tight that looks like it has a crystal tattoo for around $20. >> beautiful. >> i had fun with a pattern pair, i got inspired by the runways, and these are crystal tattoos you can get at the store for $2 to $5.

either break them apart like i did and just make your own design or -- >> they just stick on or you glue them on? >> stick right on and they will stay all night. here is something for you to play w. >> okay. >> you can literally -- >> i didn't know i had to be crafty. i'm not crafty. >> you will notice it really sticks right on it won't come off. it can make your own design. >> great. >> also use a glitter spray or some of these 3-d pens to make more intricate designs. >> okay. now denim? even denim is sparkly. these are guys? okay. matt lauer we got a pair of jeans for you. >> bee squared has been selling out the guys and -- >> are you kidding me? >> no. they are glitter, they are little drops of glitter, use glitter spray, but there is glitter everywhere. okay, last but not least, blazers a great way to add spark toll a dress. >> you made these? >> i made all these. this one is from piper line. that is from macy's. these are great buy its but easy

to add bling this is trim. none of these cost me over -- $10 or less. buy a -- >> at the craft store? >> and you add it, like this jack tote lapel, you can slip that on if you want while i show this get the trend that looks like the fabric, light weight. >> it fit mess. >> and i want to show one more trick. these are just some appliques, little epaulettes, $2 each. you could just use this hem tape and stick it to your shoulder. >> like michael jackson. >> a great way that is temporary, come off your blaze tender is great. >> you are a seenious, as i said, i tell yarks i stand by my word. bobbie thomas, diy genius. up next, whether you want to spend $10 or $50, the best toys for every budget, right after this. [children screaming] [growl] i met my husband here.

i got to know my grandkids here. we've discovered so much here together. but my doctor told me that during that time my high cholesterol was contributing to plaque buildup in my arteries. that's why i'm fighting my cholesterol... with crestor. along with diet, crestor does more than help manage cholesterol, when diet and exercise alone aren't enough. crestor is also proven to slow plaque buildup in arteries. crestor is not right for everyone, like people with liver disease, or women who are nursing, pregnant, or may become pregnant. simple blood tests will check for liver problems. tell your doctor about other medicines you are taking, or if you have muscle pain or weakness. that could be a sign of serious side effects. ask your doctor if crestor is right for you. i love it when we're here together. if you can't afford your medication, astrazeneca may be able to help. you don't get 100% daily value of any vitamins. unless you do this. but total is the cereal that gives you 100% daily value

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this morning on today's holiday gift guide, great toys at every price point, whether the kids on your list have been naughty or nice. sure nice, santa is here to bring something special. stephanie oppenheim from toy portfolio.com is here. >> hi, al. >> good to he see you steph. >> happy holidays. >> happy holidays to you, too. toys ten bowl, under. >> bumpy ball, 10 or less. bumpy ball, explore, play with them on the floor. they are crazy cars, you hit them, they light up. big kids, small kids, they have small parts. >> all right, $15. puzzles? >> puzzles i love, thomas the tank, big balloon puzzle, kids play with them after the holidays are over. i like that. >> orders up. >> game, a fun game, has a bell to play, our testers loved it from the people who brought us banana grams this is zip it.

i love saying zip it. a great word game. you have to make words fast against other players and zip it up. good take-along for the holidays. >> 20 bucks, choices widen out. >> hard tore me to pick them on our list. dr. seuss what's in the cat's hat game, kind of like a 20-questions game for school-aged kids. this is my best. spin art, a blast, it has frequencies, very cool. under 20. >> play doe? >> you can put play doe in that as well. >> cool. >> this is the jewelry tree from creativity for kids. put it together. it is a really pretty thing to decorate in their rooms and they can make jewelry as well. >> this looks cool. >> beautiful. these are record a story. guess how much they miss you and the night before christmas, not a child or make a keepsake because you travel a lot and want to be there for bedtime story. >> 30 sfwhunchs the boys playing with city blocks. this year, come in hot colors and coloradoers, open-ended, put

them in the basket for the coffee table. >> what is the age range? >> 4 and up and then put them with these toys, these are planimals. from all over the country. make and break challenge, very different type of game, visual discrimination, you have to make these designs but you can only use this, no hands. >> afterwards, have chinese food. >> exactly. russell toes, heard about dolls this year, you and i, these are sweet, big animals and they are not gender specific. i love them. >> 40 bucks? >> 40 bucks, the step to kitchen, the best in the category, beatrice is playing with over there a lot of opportunitieses for cause and effect and making things happen. >> right. >> "star wars," light saber with real are sound effects. i my you would like t. >> that is going to get old. >> and then you can take them off and you can duel. >> oh, great. >> great fun. now we are talking big-ticket toys.

now, here i like the play mobile wild african safari but also a lego city no full body scanner here but a lot of fun to play. little role playing. and finally, we have a wonderful old-fashioned stroller from caroll. >> becomes a baby carriage? >> a carrier in one. >> everybody had a good time and got it all n stephanie oppenheim, thank you so much. and a thank you to all of our helpers, you guys were terrific, very nicely done. everybody played together nicely. >> very nicely. >> up next, somebody get me a brick, 'cause we are making chicken under a brick. that's it. there's no brick in there. there's just chicken, baby, but first, this is "today" on nbc.

this morning in today's holiday kitchen, under a brick. the name maybe strange but it is

a classic comfort italian dish and a real crowd pleaser. john delucie is the executive chef and owner of the royal restaurant at the raleigh hotel in the south. newest restaurant, congratulations. >> thank you very much. the lion. >> the royal. >> you are busy. >> it's a busy guy. >> tell me about the royal. >> the royal is in the beautiful raleigh hotel. >> south beach. >> and though not very warm there right now -- >> no, i know. >> great to be there, a lot of fun. >> all right. great. >> back and forth from miami to new york. >> tell me about this dish. this is something that is sort of a classic italian. >> yes, this is -- well, we -- you know, go to your house, pick out a brick, like al said, cover it with foil. so easy. i took it, a beautiful, organic, hormone-free all-natural chicken. >> right. >> and i have just some garlic. >> split down the middle, right? >> all the bones, except for the thigh and the leg bone he is. >> keep that in there? >> nice to cook things on the

bone. >> split it like that add the herbs and garlic in there. what kind of herbs did you use? >> rosemary and garlic and some salt. >> wow. >> and some fresh pepper. and -- >> the smell is unbelievable here. awesome. >> you look very glamorous today. >> i can cook. i'm glamorous for you. >> very nice. >> great. >> and you can see here, show you the skin is just flawless and beautiful. i want to keep it that way. >> you want to have the skin, you want it to get the flavoring and the crispiness? >> the crispiness the key to this dish what the brick will do. i will put this in here, should sizzle. just like that. >> love that sound. >> what i want to do also, i want to add a little bit of butter at this point. >> okay. didn't give me butter that is okay. >> a little more butter, more flavor. >> that guy, right on top. >> you there go. >> you hear that sound? >> you just lay it right on top and let it go for a bit?

>> let it go for a bit. going to go for about 15 or 20 minutes, medium heat. you can see here, we move over a little bit, this is what it should look like. >> that's great. >> nice. it has flattened out. >> flip it both sides. >> i'm going to go into the oven, ready to go cook it, show you what it might look like if i can do that right over, not screw it up. >> there you go. >> see how shiny and crispy? and to go with this, we are going to prepare a gratn a japanese mandolin. i had milk steeping, i put in some thyme, some cinnamon, some cardamom pads and you can do this for me -- nutmeg. >> are regular milk, extra zest? >> yeah. >> right there? >> and you get all the flavors of the holiday. >> right. okay. potatoes? >> i peeled them, really thin. i have the mandolin, very, very careful. i have gotten many stitches over

the years with this mandolin. >> oh oh. just layering -- and this is something you do in little casserole dishes? >> exactly. use this cast iron here. >> okay. >> running out of time. going to lay it on there. create a couple of different layers? >> exactly. add the milk. >> add the mill income there and show you what it looks like over here. >> hello. hello. >> speed it up. >> come on, people. >> our chicken with a brick. >> you added the rosemary, too. >> squeeze lemon on top. >> yeah. >> here is the potatoes. >> john used an organic brick. >> yeah. >> organic house. exactly. going to say that. >> john delucie, thank you. we are going to dig right in. my gosh this is great, happy holiday to us. i will visit you in miami. >> please, do. >> stars from "the little fockers" with teri polo and

blythe danner. [ female announcer ] safeway talks made-for-you meals. when you don't have to cook, you have time for other things. yeah, like what? i don't know. fishing. fishing?! i, uh, i said wishing. [ female announcer ] when we do the cooking, you do the enjoying. safeway. ingredients for life.

mmm. you smell that? yeah, wait. what is that? love. smells like ham. [ female announcer ] serve a main course brimming with comfort and joy. safeway. ingredients for life. good morning. it's 9:56, i'm marla t.

here's a look at the traffic. >> you can see heading up north on the airport. let side of the screen. southbound. we do have an accident that's been cleared off to the side. lingering effect is still there around 8 80. approaching the bay bridge toll plaza 35 miles per hour. slowing highway 441. slowing northbound this that direction. toward the altamont pass, including up to 40 miles per hour, still patchy fog. speaking of weather. you can see the high clouds rushing toward the coastline, a chance of showers coming tomorrow. today. cool temperature, highs to low to mid 50s. rain gets started tomorrow and will be a tape many of the forecast over the next six days, getting started tomorrow. rain and gusty winds will be heavy at times, marla.

>> update of story we brought you earlier next week. a menlo park girl's bid to play on a men's basketball team is over. the 8-year-old family asked the city to let her play on a boy's team in the city's youth league. last night the city turned down that request saying an exception would set a negative precedent. the commissioner says they support changing the policy to let girls play with boys in the future. the niners played sunday but already they're getting ready to get back on the field tonight. a rare thursday night game for san francisco. the teams already in san diego this morning. now not just finer fans keeping an eye on the game. raiders' fans are also watching a win tonight by the niners, means the raiders still have a slim chance to make the playoff, niners and chargers play at 9:20 tonight. more local news and weather in 30 minute, "today" show returns in about a minute. for itchy dry skin.

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hey, everybody. welcome, welcome. it's thirst-day, thursday, december 16th. winding our way through the last couple of weeks of 2010. >> have we shopped? are we finished? >> i was just looking will you "okay" magazine and saw kendall and kylie jenner. like they need something.

>> who do you buy for? family and friends? >> i send the -- what is it? >> that delicious candy. >> toffee. it goes to help people that are truly in need and everybody else gets a little sweet. you know how i feel about those presents things. trying to keep it -- >> trying to keep from getting anything at the last second. >> i know this time of year so many people make their entire livelihood based on a christmas selling season. i'm torn. how about you? >> i buy for family and friends and i'm a last-minute buyer and every year i say not this year. then you panic and buy a candle or something at the last second. >> what's wrong with a kringle. >> nothing. tammy loved hers last year. >> most men prefer to toast beer over the holidays. they don't want the champagne. they just want beer so somebody has solved this problem just in time for --

>> beer! beer! >> it's called infinium. >> it is sam adams beer that comes in a champagne bottle. >> fine bubbles and a fruity, elegant aroma. $5. jerry, you're a champagne guy? then you should be the one to give us a -- >> it's beer. it's totally beer. >> how is it? >> if you were a beer lover, you will love that. >> joe, you're a beer love, right? >> it's got mire lip -- who cares. >> you're a real beer drinker. >> how does that measure up? >> it's all right. >> yeah, good? would you get that for 20 bucks? >> yeah, sure.

>> what a personality you have. >> he's trying to be calm and keep it together. >> i know. not around here, mister. he's actually so much fun and he comes on here and he's like -- >> let me say what he just said off camera. he just said these words "totally toed." here's the explanation in case you missed it. will.i.m. was with us yesterday. kathie lee was saying something he goes that's doe. you goe dough? >> he goes tobe. >> my new word. that's the way i roll. >> will.i.m. made quite a splash when he was here because i is imitating brian williams in the video. that was when the "today" show did that huge video. brian williams showed us his

dance moves. >> he said he's going to. put it in the next video called "backing out of the club." >> i love it. will.i.m. was a blast. >> he was adorable! adorable. we saw -- we'll talk about it a little bit later. acronyms are interesting things. >> you know them, lol is laughing outloud which no one does when they write that. no one. lol. lol. ha-ha-ha. nobody is really doing that. >> but lying hoda. >> the new acronym is smh. do you know? >> i didn't know until you told me -- shaking my head. like what in the world. >> what was the other one from yesterday? >> hmu. hit me up. >> which still means somebody wants money to me. >> which means text me back. hit me up. >> people don't want to be hit up in the holiday season.

hello, merry christmas. right? >> so some more annoying words. we told you about some of them yesterday. yesterday it was totally. did we make that up? >> i made it up. totally tobe. basical basically, absolutely and my bad. >> my bad seems ancient to me. a few years ago, at least. or facebook people said that those were the words that annoyed them. >> speaking of facebook, they're so innovative but once in a while you wonder is this really a good idea? more and more we are losing so much of our privacy. it cracks me up with this julian assange has put out all these wikileaks all over the world, endangering quite a few people, whether you like him or dislike him. nobody disputes the fact that he's leaked it and it could potentially put lots of people in danger. julian assange wasn't the ten-bedroom house that he's going to be staying in under house arrest. he doesn't want the location known. he wants his privacy.

i don't think so. >> so facebook is doing this deal now where if you guys are on facebook you understand that sometimes you can get tagged in a mixture and suddenly this picture you didn't even know existed winds up on your page. because someone has tag your face in it. now facebook has new technology where they can scan kazillions of pictures and they have this face recognition thing and they can self-tag pictures. in other words, you're at a party, someone takes a picture, it gets on someone's facebook page and suddenly it winds up on yours or you're walking down the street or this guy outside with the camera. anybody can do that and they take a picture. >> hi! >> it winds up on your page so you have to actually push a button to disengage that option. >> there is an option. this is the thing. lots of people look alike and lots of people have the same name. i think there is a real opportunity for disaster there.

and harming people's lives. >> i agree. but it is hard to undo things. i was on twitter on my back berry and i was tweeting or doing whatever. someone said, oh, how's 85th street? i said how do they know i'm on 85th street? and i was on 85th street. there is a thing in there. someone wrote in you better take that off. i went somewhere else, someone says you're at the train station. oh, my gosh. >> not everyone in this world wishes you well, hoda, no matter what you think. >> i don't think that. >> this is disturbing. tom ford, verying with very talented guy, fine photographer, nobody disputes that -- designer, and now movie director. his current fashion editorial in french "vogue" shows photos of children as young as 6 posing as grown women. >> that's french "vogue." let's look at some of these pictures. >> it is creepy to me.

horrible. what do you all think? there is a time and a season for everything under the sun, even the good book says so. but 6 years old? 5 years old? it is the continuing sexualization of young girls, all children and it's part of what's wrong with our culture. >> i agree. reminds me of the shows who have the little girl beauty pageants and their parents put big red lips and eyelashes -- >> it creeps me. we'd like to know what you all think about about that. >> you are very, very, busy all day. ? how do i do it? i'm just one woman. aging at a rapid pace. but i was at lord & taylor because i had to cancel a book signing last week because of don meredith's death. i went last night. michael smallings designs basically beautiful, beautiful -- he's got some books

about christmas balls. the man couldn't stop talking about his balls the entire time he was there. i said how big are your balls? he said they vary. that's when i stopped asking him questions -- >> what were you say signing? >> balls. he was signing his balls and he signed the christmas ornament -- he was. he is a chris mall ball -- ornament -- designer. you had to be there. >> matt's asking if we're on the air. >> speaking of, matt lauer just walked in. we're live right now. hey! have you seen the ratings? thank you! we are totally tobe and we don't need you over here, okay? so it's time for a little diddy that i'm not sure if you're going to like it. >> oh, yuck. >> is the ihoda play list. listen to just a little bit of that.

♪ the club can't even handle me right now ♪ wait, hold on. show the video. roll the video. this is going to be the actual song i'm picking today. oh, my gosh, meredith's here, too. >> check out the video. let's all just listen. ♪ >> finally. let's crank this one. look at those legs i have. look at the stomach i once had. look at the rear end. look at that face. ♪ >> that song is called "love never fails." >> and i should know. >> we're going to look at it on itunes right now.

itunes. >> are you watching, matt? you watching this? matt can't take his eyes off it. thank you very much. >> when was that from? >> that was 2000. >> ten years ago? >> thank you, meredith. >> tramp. >> you should know. >> two shows we saw yesterday -- i did anyway. we saw "driving miss daisy." extended to april 9th. >> james earl jones, vanessa redgrave. >> you had to remind yourself you were watching something live in front of you. often you don't get to see the great like this. >> last night, "brief encounter." irv's never seen this kind of direction. this brilliant woman named emma. matt's making me so nervous. >> matt, matt, she's never this nervous. >> you know how i get around you. stop it. you're being you and that's enough. you are totally, totally --

>> don't say it. don't say it. >> all right. we're going to be back. back with everything. >> after this.

it's been ten years since we met the parents and six since we met "the fokers." and finally what every parent wants, "little fockers." >> it is an all-star cast, dustin hoffman, barbra streisand and robert de niro. take a look. >> what's this? >> that is your own personal yarmulke! >> one of those little jewish hats. cute! >> we know that you're into that genealogy stuff. >> we thought it would be fun to trace your lineage all the way back. >> yes. and it turns out you are 1/23rd israelite. >> welcome to the tribe, jack. >> while i dispute the findings, i appreciate the gesture, thank

you, bernard. >> you're welcome, yakoff, your hebrew name. >> welcome, blythe and mayterry. terry's got quite the outfit on. so chris may and appropriate for morning television. beautifully -- >> my daughter. this is for my men -- wow. that was a big close-up. >> you wear it, we will show it. >> that's a "j" for my man jamie. >> so you're having a good time. i saw screening of this movie the other day with my son and my friend. we were the only ones in the screening room. >> how old is your son? >> he's 21 now in march. quite the film critic. we all laughed our sides sick. it is really funny.

he thought it was funnier than the second one. >> a lot of people thought it was funnier. last night was the first time i've seen it. >> for the first time last night? >> yeah. >> my favorite thing -- well, actually on the set is robert de niro cracking up. >> he never laughs in this one. >> he completely breaks up. he just goes -- he just shakes. doesn't make a noise. and just rocks. >> but his character -- he's having a heart attack when he does that. hard to tell. you know? >> is a lot of it -- i know most of it is scripted but do you guys get to have some fun with the words? >> here and there. >> mostly the boys. the guys can't behave. >> i notice on the credits it's john hamburg watch the screen. joan hamburg, great radio woman, her son. >> since the beginning. >> there's a wonderful

consistency in the characters and story lines are so funny. >> but the men carry this movie pretty much so you all are -- >> we're waiting for the fourth one, "mother fockers." >> the women alone guarantees that that will be made. >> tell us about the little "fockers." >> they're so lovable. such wonderful kids. >> what's going on? >> that's you guys. >> i thought -- i need to present the idea to universal. i should have gotten double pay because i was pam focker as well as child wrangler. >> these kids are so professional from day one. they're unbelievable. >> both daisy and cohen. >> can we give a little shout on to gwyneth on "glee"? she was unbelievable. you've got to be so proud. >> i am. but she's been singing since she's been a toddler.

been doing scats of sesame street songs. quite something, yes. >> something serious you want to talk about. >> i want to get a word out, my husband passed away from cancer. the bruce paltrow foundation. he had oral cancer. there is a real epidemic of oral cancer now in younger people and we are finding it is the hpv-16 virus which is the same virus in cervical cancer ands it transmitted sexually. we're trying to get the prepubescent boys, as well as girls -- >> it is a game to them right now. >> it is really scary and it's just catapulted numbers spop please, mothers, kids, everybody, grandparents, go to oralcancerfoundation oralcancerfoundation.org. it is one of the top ten non-profits. >> we wish you great luck with this movie.

>> it is very, very funny. >> the "little fockers" hits theaters near you dice 22nd. next, sit back h saas hashet video that's all the talk this week. she's bold and she's blunt, suze orman tells it like it is and answers your money questions. he

time for "webtastic," the series that keeps you up to date on o all the videos hot on the internet. >> except for mine. >> sara, you've found the next big thing. >> we've gone to the dogs this week with a video from the best friends animal society aptly called it is a holly jolly dog celebration. check it out. ♪

♪ >> i like to keep watching this. >> i could watch that forever. >> is that a cat? >> the cutist thing they said, though it only took nine hours to make it, the part that took the longest was to get the houses decorated. . >> thank you, sara. suestions and tells uze orman you how to deal with debt. >> and you better take your advice. we got a lot of stuff o on santa's list for you. >> after this.

it is tellez. we look at the roads. rob. >> speed on 80, down towards 238 this morning, still seeing slow times. seeing the red showing up heading southbound, as you cross 238, slowing as you head towards the airport as well. other times around east bay, you can see the approach to the bay bridge toll plaza a little slow and slowing east at the caldecott tunnel on highway 24.

southbound travel times slowing, getting away from 237, getting past s sunnydale. you can see clouds spilling in for the afternoon and rain still to follow as we head toward the coast and all areas tomorrow. a cool afternoon around the bay area. but the last of dry day, rain tomorrow and breezy conditions, rain could get heavy for the coastal mountains. time right now is 10:27. more news right after the break. ♪ [ female announcer ] yoplait's real fruit and the goodness of dairy... gives you a little slice of happy.

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go to the center on san pablo road. oakland's jerry lawson talk of the town hit nbc's stingoff. ♪ >> friends and family gathered at sam jordan's bar in san francisco last night to watch the acapella group compete against four other groups. >> we won the world series now we got something else to root

for. >> five groups competed. one was eliminated at the end of the show. jerry lawson made it into the final round. season's finale right here on nbc. >> thank you for joining eth sh" oway c ontinues next. we're back on this thirst-day with "today." it is time to get real about your money with suze orman, host of cnbc's "suze orman show." sara haines is across the street at the msnbc digital cafe. >> what have you two been doing? you smell like beer. >> not me, i didn't drink it. >> no, no! >> that's hoda you're smelling. >> hoda. >> go ahead, sara. >> first up, patty from kingston, washington has a question about bonds. >> subonds are in the toilet, t

interest. what can i do with my money. >> i like her already. >> here's the main thing you need do. don't flush the toilet! really, very seriously. here's the thing. if you have individual bonds, those bonds will have maturity date. don't worry about the value going down when they mature. if they're good bonds, you'll get your money back. what you really need to be careful about now is investing in bond funds. don't buy bond funds, especially long-term bond funds at this point in time because bond funds do not have a maturity date. as interest rates go up, the value of bonds go down, which is why this woman's bonds are in the toilet. if you don't want bonds, look into dividend paying stocks, exchange traded funds but be careful and diversify. >> we've got derek from iowa. woo! go iowa! question about investing now. >> we saved a little bit of extra money and wonder where is the best place to put it,

whether down on our house, put it in the stock exchange or roth ira. >> you would only want to pay down the mortgage on your home if you know without a shadow of a doubt you'll keep your home for the rest of your life. if you're going to sell your home in five or ten years, don't pay down the mortgage. it makes no sense. your next question is stock market and roth i.r.a. why don't you have your cake and eat it do? do a roth i.r.a. and within the roth ira invest your money in the stock market. >> i only understand 10% of what you're talking about. i didn't know. >> but thatting can risky, too, depending on what else is in that. >> yes, but he was a younger looking man. he has time on his side. oh, look at him smile. >> tough times are coming. you're very honest about that. i appreciate that. >> tough times,ive ivive always

until 2015 it will take us to get out of this but in 2012, my opinion, it would be a difficult year. but he has time on his side. if he dollar cost averaged, gets diversity, as the stock market goes down his money buys more shares, the more shares he buys, in the long run he makes more money. >> people wonder if you have a little bit of extra money, where should i put it. >> depends on your needs. i'm very serious about this. there is not one universalal answer or one universal pill that cures an illness. if you have credit card debt, get rid of your credit card debt. if you don't have enough in an emergency fund, put it in an emergency fund. >> with some sort of interest. >> good luck. it's whatever. >> but is it safe. >> this question is from someone a viewer e-mail -- i have $30,000 in krrd decredit card d found neglect difficult reviews.

why can't i get the lower apr these debt management companies get? then she doesn't have to depend on the company. >> should i answer to you or pam directly? >> pam. >> pam, my dear, listen to me, i'll tell you why. these companies that you go to are called non-profit companies. all right, they don't make money but guess who's funding them? the credit card companies. the credit card companies rather get some money back than no money back. so if you deal with them, they've struck a deal with the credit card company to be able to lower your apr so you can't lower your apr across the board on your own but if you go to one of these companies you can make sure if you are using a company that it is part of the nfcc, national foundation of credit counselors. check them out. and fcc.org. if they're part of them they might be okay but make sure they don't have me negative reviews. remember, you pay them, they pay your creditors. if they don't pay your creditors on time, your ding on your

credit report. >> i'm here with elaine. she's got a question about mortgage interest rates. correct? >> yes. suze, do you expect more rates to go up in 2011? >> i have to tell you, if you've looked at the trend for the past two months, you can see the long-term bond is starting to edge up again which is making everybody a little bit nervous. mortgage rates are based on long-term bonds. if those continue up, mortgage interest rates will start to go up which makes it harder for people it buy real estate which then affects the real estate market so who knows how they'll manipulate this because they need real estate to come back but i do think you may see them trend up, not a lot, but some. >> i wish we could do an hour with suze. >> you're a genius. >> didn't i hear you say that your ratings were doing great? >> yes. >> stick to what you're doing, girls. >> you're really great. you can get a lot more of

kk suze's great advice. on

we are counting down to the holidays with gifts for all of the women in your life. >> if you haven't even put a

spouseman is here. let's get started. >> for $32, vin will actually decoupage your invitation, a special photograph and in just a few days will be almost -- it looks like it is laminated but it is the art of decoupage which is a parisian technique. >> fantastic. >> how quickly do you need to get those pictures in? >> you can order with vin this week but get them in by this weekend, beat the holiday rush. >> if you have someone who loves to cook -- >> personal creations, for $40, a personalized casserole dish. >> oh, my gosh! >> a helping from hoda or their treat jar for cookie smart cookies on your list for $25. they will personalize it and again, order by tomorrow but these are fantastic gifts. you don't look like you waited

until the last minute at all. >> anything that customized seems like you thought about it a long time ago. >> all year long in fact. >> flashbacks are ecofriendly bags really made from recycled newspapers. you send your cover or photographs or the pet's photographs or they have photos you can choose from and they schlepp with. $18 and up. >> a deal and a steal. >> i need this cosmetic bag. i immediate to replace my ziploc so let's talk about it. >> for $13 for personal from creations, they'll put your name, initials. they expand because it is a waffle weave. i like them a lot. i think it is a wonderful gift. >> my favorite gift may be this next one because it is about time someone did this. >> this is so cool. this is called the light-up lip

$22. handling. mirror. here's the good part. finally! light up my life ♪ yeah, darling! >> isn't that such a smart idea? i know you're captivated but it is a perfect stocking stuffer. >> mommy and me aprons are great mommy. it is a great christmas portrait. then festivities online for the fashionista, $24. these are these beautiful scarves. they're rosetta scarves that go around your neck and form a little rose. as far as for $16, the clutch with the rose. that's so affordable. comes in a lot of colors. five colors. now the tahitian jelly bean watch, this is our pricier one. but for $295, the person you

love spending time with that girl on your list comes in all of these jelly bean-like colors. >> they are beautiful! >> you'll want one for everyone on your list. this is from bloomingdale's. great item. i love also from the gift district from $28 and up, charms that are personalized. you could have "bff" or "ilyf." >> lol -- ha-ha-ha-ha. >> these are great because you then create your charms. it is called build a necklace. you build your own charm necklace. now alex toys pore $12, love the crafter, happily ever after crafter. that's you, hoda. >> i love crafts. >> last, but not least, this is a hip item, called hip candy. these chains go on the teenagers and tweenagers on your list. these are charms and they change the charms and collect them and

trade them. >> i love that. >> hipcandy.com. >> robin, you did it again! >> as usual. merry christmas. coming up next, even santa has to go to school. pack a lunch, we're going to go with him and meet his friends right after this.

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every winter thousands of volunteers dress as santa claus to collect donations for the homeless and hungry. >> you can't just throw on a red velvet outfit and shout ho ho ho. they have to learn the trade somewhere. >> volunteers of america have been training sap santa's helpers for more than a century. i got a crash course in all things santa at their santa school. it takes more than a belly and a beard to be santa claus. at the volunteers of america headquarters here in new york, class is in session.

>> first of all, let's clear one thing up. there's just one santa. he's not here, he's at the north pole. >> reporter: in santa class, you train to be one of santa's helpers. we had to get into costume to get into character. we work from the bottom-up starting with the pants and boot covers. >> if your shoes are three-inch heels, maybe you should re-consider your footwear. >> reporter: lesson two, you can't be santa without a little pad to the midsection. i feel like a kangaroo. i already feel jollier. we'd just be a fat guy in boots without that trademark red robe. >> i can't see over my belly. lesson three, you have to give the kids something to tug on. >> we have boxes of beards. take it out, shake it out. >> reporter: it is the first time i'm dressing like a man -- since halloween. >> do you know what we have to go through to go to the bathroom? >> oh, gosh. we have to get out of this

thing? >> reporter: costumes and wigs in place, we definitely look the part but something is missing which brings us to the most important lesson. >> the laugh is a good way to let them know you're a good guy or gal. when you laugh, you jiggle. >> reporter: because these santa's helpers collect donations, we perfect our bell-ringing technique. >> and cut! >> reporter: and go through the dos and don'ts. >> santa does not smoke. there's nothing more unsightly than crumbs in your beard. >> reporter: to make it official, there is a pledge. >> reporter: as sidewalk santa, this i pledge. and we receive diplomas. >> sara haines. >> thank you! >> congratulations, ladies and gentlemen. you are now official volunteers of america sidewalk santas. ho ho ho! >> is this like graduation? do we move it over?

school's out but the holiday cheer is just beginning. so far, these santas helpers have raised $70,000 for homeless and hungry families. >> we got a whole bunch of volunteers from the volunteers of america and rachel winestein is here, the group's leader. >> thank you for having us here. >> we see these guys with the bells ringing. >> some women. >> where does the money go? >> the money goes to our holiday food voucher program. we're sending food vouchers to thousands of people who are hungry this season. >> more people are ever before this season. >> we may have raised $70,000, but we need to raise a lot more. >> you guys did really well. do you have the laugh down? we didn't do the thing, what about this part? >> laugh outloud. ho ho ho ho ho! >> thank you. if you'd like to make a

donation to the volunteers of america, go to klgandhoda.com. we will be back with more of "today" on nbc. we will be back with more of "today" on nbc. our points from chase sapphire preferred are worth 25% more on travel. we're like forget florida, we're going on a safari. so we're on the serengeti, and seth finds a really big bone. we're talking huge. they dig it up, put it in the natural history museum and we get to name it. sethasauraus. really. your points from chase sapphire preferred are worth 25% more on travel?

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since it is thirst-day, today's question -- is it okay to wear high heels when you're pregnant. kathie lee says, unless your feet are swollen, go for it. >> hoda said why try the balancing act. from baby to our toy drive, some wonderful companies have stepped up this year. >> one is the puff's division at procter & gamble. daniel door is mr. puff today. he's going to tell us about the great donations. >> we're thrilled to be a part of this yearary holiday gift drive by donate ing $100,000 in

puff's. we want to help families comfort each other. >> welcome, this is the first time you guys have been part of this. >> we are really excited to be here this year. >> we're not going to let you go after this year. have a great holiday. bless you. remember if you want to donate from home, just go to amazon.c amazon.com/today. and tomorrow we got a big "ambush makeover" and holiday everything to help you all get ready for the big weekend next week. have a great day. see you tomorrow. tomorrow is try-day friday. bye-day. -- captions by vitac -- www.vitac.com

- hello! - ha! why don't you try a home cooked meal... with yummy hamburger helper? oh! tada! fantastically tasty, huh? ummm, it's good. what would you guys like? hamburger helper. what?! one pound... one pan... one tasty meal! with not having enough food. that's why i've teamed up with feeding america and hamburger helper®. when you buy hamburger helper® you can helpeeding america deliver a meal to a local food bank. visit this website to see how you can help.