we're back now with more of "today" on a friday morning, march 16th, 2012. take a look at some of the unusual characters that have gathered in our plaza this morning. a lot of people in town for the big st. patrick's day parade tomorrow on 5th avenue. but we've got some of them with us this morning. that's just fine with us. i'm matt lauer along with savannah guthrie and al roker. ann is taking a couple of days off. we have weather here today that isn't in keeping with what we have had for a couple of days. we have nothing to complain about. >> i'll complain. it's a little drizzly now. just is saying. >> especially, i was saying, if you consider what happened in

southeastern michigan overnight. >> oh! >> they had a line of storms come through. this is unusually for this time of year. >> in this county it's the earliest they have had a tornado since 1950. so we are talking it was unusually warm. the conditions were right. it was really tough. >> now i feel terrible. >> you had no way of knowing. it's only right here on the script. >> right. also, let's change the subject. >> we should have done that five seconds ago. store credit cards. whether you're buying furniture or electronics, the cashier usually ask asks if you want to save 10% to 20% to open a credit card. we'll tell you about the risks you need to consider before you open a card. >> if you're doing a little california dreaming or any dreaming that involves the beach we have great ideas for beach getaways and affordable resorts great. deals from puerto rico to hawaii

and mexico for fun in the sun. >> let's go inside. natalie is on assignment. we have tamron hall at the news desk. good morning. >> good morning, everyone. more than a hundred homes were damaged, many severely, when at least three suspected tornadoes touched down in southeast michigan thursday. the weather channel's mike seidel is in dexter, michigan, with more. good morning, mike. >> reporter: and good morning, tamron. we are here in the damage path of the twister that rolled through dexter yesterday afternoon. this house has been she aared o. piles of lumber and plywood. the jeep here may be drivable, but look at the house. this is a total loss of 13 in a subdivision the twister hit. if this is verified, this will be the earliest occurrence of a tornado in this county west of detroit on record.

as the emergency sirens were sounding -- >> i'm in the city limits of dexter and i have a large tornado on the ground. >> reporter: -- cameras captured a large funnel cloud that touched down. >> through the trees! >> reporter: as the twister approached people took cover. >> we took the customer and crew into the cooler. >> reporter: from above video captured the destruction in the small village of 4,000 people. homes ripped to shreds. some barely standing. >> our roof is gone, our bedroom. the house is leaking everywhere. >> reporter: the storm system brought pelting hail and after the storms roared through, the reality of the situation sunk in. >> oh, my gosh. >> reporter: people here already hard at work with the cleanup. the local laundromat wiped out, the owner trying to salvage what's left. >> trying to get it before the villains do. >> reporter: with the reminders of the storm around them. >> we live near the tracks but there was no train coming. when they say it sounds like a train they are not kidding.

>> reporter: despite the destruction there were no reported injuries. >> need a house? >> reporter: with some already looking on the brighter side. >> yeah. i have extra room now. my bike is in the neighbor's bush. i still have my lawnmower. i should be fine. >> reporter: the house behind me is also a total loss. an elderly man and two kids ran into the basement and avoided injury and loss of life. that's the saving grace here. early rning. more than an hour before all the sirens went off. also, most of the homes here are well constructed and many have basements. that's a good place to head in a tornado. again today, another day of 70-degree weather in michigan. more than 35 degrees above average for the date. >> incredible weather. mike, thank you so much. due gnu details are emerge -- new details about the soldier accused of gunning down afghan civilians. his attorney said his client

didn't want to go to afghanistan to serve a fourth combat tour. he saw his friend lose a leg in combat the day before the shooting spree. a military official said the individual was drinking and snapped before the massacre. this according to the new york times. women in arizona may have to prove they are using birth control for medical reasons, not for contraception in order to receive reimbursement from their work place health insurance. the bill also allows all employers and not just religious institutions to opt out of providing coverage for birth control. the american civil liberties union is battling the bill saying it would make it easier for women to be fired for using birth control for contraception is and would force women to reveal sensitive medical information. the newest apple ipad hits stores today and fans are lining up in nine countries. it boasts a faster processor, sharper screen.

analysts say more than one million could be sold today alone. with st. patrick's day almost upon us, a stunning amount of green has been put on display, donated for display at the north carolina museum of natural sciences. the emeralds include three uncut stones found last st. patrick's day eve on a north carolina farm. another became the biggest cut emerald ever produced in north america. if you're wondering, that's 64 carats. now it's six is minutes past the hour. back to al for a check of the weather. >> we have wet weather out west. another big storm system in the pacific northwest into central california. eventually makes its way into southern california. strong storms making their way through the mid mississippi river valley today. a slight risk of storms texas into oklahoma. beautiful through the southeast. showers and fog in the northeast. icy conditions in northern new england. the big weather story will be

out west where three to four inches of rain from central california to the oregon coastline. and the wasach mountains looking at one to two feet of snow. >> good morning. we have a chance for a shower or thunderstorm today. it will not be a washout. it will be a little cooler than the last couple of days. time now for today's money. store credit cards. getting discounts at that time corner can be tempting but do the risks out weigh the benefits?

here is farnoosh torabi. you get hit up every time at a check out. >> yeah. >> would you like to save 15%? who wouldn't? >> it's tempting. if you think you're getting a deal, get this. retailers cash in so much with the store cards. more than banks with traditional cards. >> just applying for it can affect your credit score. >> just like applying for any kind of credit card, an inquiry is placed on your credit report. but here we don't apply for one. we want two or three because the discounts are enticing. multiple inquiries can lower your score by 50 points t. damage stays for a year. >> also a lot of cards have high interest rates. >> very high. the average interest rate on a store branded card is 24% versus a traditional card is about 15%. if you are carrying a balance, any interest you're paying will

outweigh any initial discount. >> what about the credit limits? >> they are low. credit limits usually start off with about $500 or $1,000 versus a traditional card which can start you with $10,000 or $15,000. you ring up a couple of items and you're maxed out already on the card which is negative for your credit score. >> you want to save money. >> right. >> what are alternatives out there? >> there are a lot. one is to sign up for the store's retail loyalty program. if they issue you a card but it has nothing to do with your credit, essentially giving you the opportunity to get in on deals and steals ahead of time, earn points to save money in the long run. you could also show your student i.d. card or your teacher card. stores like banana republic, apple, maybe you will get a discount showing your card. and ask for a discount. sometimes saying, hey, can you cut me a deal? i tried to buy a ski coat and i

said, do you have any sales going on? he said, no, but do you have a aaa card? i did. i saved 10%. >> what about a store newsletter by e-mail. >> you want to be selective here. e-mails from your favorite retailers can help you save continually. learning about sales and deals before everybody else. >> is there a time when these store credit cards are beneficial? >> i'm going on the record to say i don't love the cards but if you're trying to re-establish credit when you have had a bad experience with debt and you really can't qualify for a traditional credit card, a store credit card is easier to qualify for. it could be what you need to bridge you over to a traditional card. also, if there is a store you shop at a lot and you spent $1,000 or more there a year maybe the discounts you could receive with the store cards will actually pay off. assuming you are paying off the balance every month. like target's card gives you a

5% discount every time you shop including prescription drugs. costco gives you a discount on gas. you have to weigh the costs and see if it's worth it. >> and if you're a loyal shopper it doesn't hurt to just ask, make friends. >> buddy up with the retailer. say, have you ever made an exception? even if you don't see a sale. when you ask like that, you want to empower the salesperson to feel like, i'm going to help you. everyone can empathize with trying to save. >> you draw the line at taking them to dinner. >> i'm not saying that. i love a discount. >> how far will she go? thanks so much. up next, if you feel like getting away from it all, we have great beach destinations to fit your mood and your budget. then the sporty side of kate. not just of cambridge. she shows off her moves and scores.

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>> announcer: today's travel is brought to you by sleep inn. dream better here. this morning on today's travel beach getaways. pack your bags and grab your sun block. travel & leisure magazine's nilou motamed has hunted down the best sand and surf destinations. good morning. good to see you. >> good morning, tamron. >> it's so expensive to travel this time of year with spring break, isn't it? >> not the case. i just got back from the caribbean. i was in jamaica. you should go on vacation. it's time. >> summer is quite a ways away.

what about the airfare? >> it's hunting and pecking. one great tip is don't travel on friday. travel on saturday for a better deal. >> nice. let's get to the list. some things you have picked out. we are starting in mexico. you have to leave the kids at home? >> some people want to leave the kids a at home. >> aw. >> people need a break. this is an adults only property. >> i have no children. i'm mocking. >> what is this sad face? once in a while you have to have relaxation and have it be adult only. this is about 45 minutes from cancun. i like cancun because there are direct flights there. this is a charming property with hammocks on the beach, mexican tiles in the rooms. >> nice. >> infinity pool but the price is amazing. this is their high season. $208 a night. >> you fly to cancun, get a car and 45 minutes away. >> easy. >> we stay in the caribbean at

puerto rico? >> this is a windham property. this one has a casino if you're looking for action. but it's close -- >> are kids banned from here, too? >> no. they have a great kids program. a kids' pool with a water slide and you can go into the rain forest for an amazing hike. >> i just went there. it's amazing. great family experience. >> this hotel has beautiful beaches. 600 guest rooms. so you have more availability here. amazing deals. $123 a night if you book four nights. that's a great amount of time. puerto rico is great. also a great flight. if you are an american citizen you don't need a passport. >> moving on to hawaii. i can't believe something is under $200 a night in hawaii. >> maui. i was there this year and it's a tropical paradise. worth the long flight. especially from l.a. it's acceptable. $199 a night includingiing breat

for two. this is next to one of the most beautiful beaches in maui. you have access to so much that is great in hawaii. you can go horseback riding, zip lining, swimming by a waterfall. >> i love the renovation. you get new stuff. i like that. >> people like it. >> i do. moving back to south carolina. hilton head. what's going on there? >> people with families. everybody loves hilton head. south carolina is beautiful. don't discount it in the spring. they are having 77-degree weather, i checked. this is a great new property by holiday inn. it's a resort. we have a history of feeling like what our parents used to do on road trips. they have had a huge change and they have upgraded everything. the rooms have all you would expect and the price is great. $159 a night and access to everything hilton head offers. >> you have dana point, california. this is intimate. where is it? >> this is orange county.

this is 50 minutes south of driving from los angeles. it's acceptable for anyone who lives in california. >> charming. >> very. it feels like an old world inn. this is the blue lantern inn with amazing pancakes at breakfast. >> sold. >> they have 29 rooms, all charming and lovely. you have beautiful views of the harbor. telescopes for whale watching. >> that's fantastic. >> i want to move you to newport, rhode island. $232 a night. tell me about it. >> what's amazing is that it's half off a. what you get with that is a brand new place that's only been open for a year. it's called 41 north. this deal is fantastic for anyone wanting to get away for the weekend. you get a beautiful room for two nights, a wine tasting and five course tasting menu with a wine pairing. you get a cheese plate, breakfast included. this is great for anyone who feels they need to do valentine's day again.

this is the moment. >> a lot of locations without kids. i notice a theme here. nilou motamed, thank you very much. coming up, protecting your kids in cyberspace. first, these messages. some mornings, getting the family together for breakfast might seem...impossible. unless you have eggo® waffles. they're quick and easy to make, and there's something about them... that just makes people move. [ male announcer ] eggo® waffles. simply delicious.

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kate reid and you play ben, a new addition to the law firm. what was it like when you first started working together? >> it was a quick process for ryan. >> yeah. >> i likened it to mae west picking w.c. fields from a lineup. there was a group of men. i went, um, no, no, oh! >> yeah. >> i was like, you, come here. >> it was awkward because the character was american. i started talking and they were like -- oh, we better do this quickly. >> now i assume you have perfected your american accent. >> i had to bung it on pretty fast. >> that's really not an american phrase. >> bung it on. >> translate, please. >> i had to adapt quickly. >> very good. >> you're a potential conflict for sara's karkh a tcharacter a

potential love interest. >> we meet in a bar. his character is hitting on kate. kate really makes him work for her. doesn't give in. i show up to work the next day and he's the new guy. >> wow. awkward. >> yeah. kate is very much about the moral ground of things. she really doesn't care about the law. she just takes the system into her own hands. ben is all about money. you know, they are both extremists in their a personality. they are incredibly feisty but at opposite ends of the spectrum. >> sounds like a love affair in the making. we are both texans. >> yes! >> you didn't tell me you were a former dallas cowboys cheerleader. that's like being a goddess. >> so were you! >> i know. >> oh, my gosh. >> no, no, no! >> i was really excited. i was going to make them do a cheer. >> we can break it down. >> we can. >> not yet. >> not just now. >> always mention the cheer

leading thing. >> what time do we start drinking? >> "fairly legal" on usa. first, your local news and weather. mom, dad. for your son. [ sighs ] [ male announcer ] it's a snack like nothing else. kraft milkbite bars are made with real milk combined with tasty granola. find me in the dairy aisle -- please.

>> live, local, latebreaking. this is a wbal-tv 11 news update. >> good morning. a lot of clouds, a little mist, scattered rain showers to our west. cold front is trying to leave. some areas may have a tough time getting out of the 60's d. highest chance of rain l

when i saw you sleeping there, i thought -- i couldn't imagine not seeing you there in the morning. will you marry me? >> get ready for another season of the period drama "mad men." i cannot wait for this. >> me, too. >> it's inspired styles, stars and millions of devoted fans. we'll catch up with the cast. they will all be here live monday on "today." >> let's show up for work. >> all right. >> exciting. >> meantime, coming up this half hour, savannah will be talking about monitoring this generation of cyber kids. >> it's a challenge for parents. kids are often so much more technically savvy than their parents. it's a challenge to keep track

of who your kids are talking to and protect them from things like cyber bullying. we'll have sneaky ways for parents to check up on their kids online. >> nothing wrong with snooping. >> not when you're a parent. >> then she shoots and scores. the future queen of england supported the huskies team and she was a natural like most things she does. but her slap shot is not the only thing capturing headlines. >> oh, my gosh. >> she got down and got -- >> dirty? >> did better than i can do. >> two words -- tangerine jeans. >> that's all i notice actually. >> lester has a pair. >> matt lauer has a pair. >> he had them long before they were fashionable. >> he's ahead of the times. >> then the fighting irish. our annual irish cookoff in today's kitchen. the defending champion brian duffy and the challenger taking on a st. patrick's day

tradition, corned beef & cabbage. mm. >> mm. >> shaken, not stirred. >> wearing the green? >> not even a little bit. >> tomorrow. >> want to know what's coming up this weekend? >> st. patrick's day. >> we're talking vitamins. millions of americans take at least one a day. can vitamin supplements do more harm than good? we have the results of a dateline investigation. then inside joan rivers stunning penthouse. known for her one liners and red carpet critiques. now she's trying to cash in on real estate. >> is that versailles? >> we're talking about "the hunger games." it's been compared to the hugely successful twilight franchise. will it eat up the competition at the box office? and the titanic auction, one hundred years after it sank the most famous ship wreck of all times is on the auction block

including luxurious items like these diamond jewels. i thought i would make it fancier. >> that was lovey from "gilligan's island ". >> so much more when we see you this weekend on "today." >> thanks, guys. al, how about a check of the weather? and diamond jewels. >> a girl's best friend. let's check out the weekend starting with "today." wet weather in the northeast. strong storms texas into oklahoma. warm air along the coast into central california. tomorrow, st. patrick's day, the rain moves down into southern california. it will be windy as well. look for hit or miss showers and thunderstorms in the appalachians. on sunday, we've got record highs, great lakes into the plains. more wet weather in the pacific northwest from the dakotas to texas, a risk of strong storms, sunny and warm through the gulf coast. >> good morning. the temperatures will be above

average said. a little cooler the the last couple of days. a chance for it thunderstorm into the afternoon. that's your latest weather. >> al, thank you very much. up next, tips for protecting your kids online right after this. [ male announcer ] this is the story of one of nature's most perfect foods... quaker oats. in every way, a super grain. ♪ super for the fiber that helps fill us up. super for the energy it gives to get us going. super for the oats that are so good for our hearts. ♪ super for how it makes us... super. quaker oats. energy. fiber. heart health.

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♪ >> announcer: today's moms is brought to you by pampers cruisers. >> this morning on today's moms, sneaky ways to keep track of your cyber kids. the amount of time kids spend online every day has tripled in ten years. here with advice to monitor what they are doing is michelle gorba. good morning. >> good morning. >> just to get it out of the way we are not debating whether or not your kids should have access online, that kind of thing. we are assuming they do. >> right. >> this is about how to monitor it. >> this is about how to parent. it's not espionage. it's monitoring to make sure your kid is being safe online starting with three tips. number one, get educated about the internet. get your head out of the sand. you need to know every one of the ways -- every digital device

your child uses. set rules. families who set rules, your child is far less likely to engage is risky behavior. third, start talking about internet safety early and keep talking. because that's the crux of good parenting, communication. >> first you say we need to tell the kids you're going to be monitoring what they do online. it's really not spying though there is sneakiness. >> if you tell your child, you will be monitored. as soon as you say it, the risk behavior goes down. if you set up what's called a walk-by rule which means if i happen to walk by and i notice you changing screens, covering up or being sneaky, i cover up. i'm responsible for your well-being and safety. >> because i'm the mom. >> yeah. >> we have to speak teen. there is internet lingo. i had never heard these. you say learn the slang abbreviations said online. >> p.o.s. is parent over shoulder. if you see the child going one,

two, three, four, five, that means a parent is reading the screen. >> p 911. >> mom or dad is in the room. >> it doesn't mean your kid will use it, but if you see your child using a term it means get the monitoring up more. >> you also say, because kids are on facebook and twitter and this is an extension. you say you have to be where your kids are. do you mean join the sites? >> if you want to monitor you have to have the account and pass word. periodically, we are going to make sure what you are posting is right. that doesn't mean you're going to post on your kid's facebook. that's a real downer for the teen. >> you make a distinction between asking for a password. you say that's okay. that's not a violation of their privacy? >> no. this is part of the rules and regulations of the house. how often you monitor and what -- don't tell them when or whe. that's a key that you have to keep going.

it just means that you're going to be able to monitor your child. >> you say the no-no is posting and embarrassing them and inserting yourself into their social life. don't do that. >> yeah. >> you say to keep internet access in places you can monitor. not in the bedroom. one of four kids have access in the bedroom. that's where most teens say they are getting into trouble, particularly at lights out. so texts keep coming in, sleep deprived kids come in. do a collect and drop box which means when lights are out, take the text, take the laptop. just give it back first thing in the morning. what you can do periodically is with your child watching say, let's do a quick check. doesn't mean you're going to read ifrg everything. if your child knows you are watching it increases safety levels online. >> you say to check their online profile. see what they are posting? >> no.

their virtual persona. how are they posting themselves in terms of identity online. you wnt to make sure what's on there is going to be okay and safe for their reputation. ask. this is always an eye opener for a parent. why did you choose that photo? maybe you should take that down. do a google alert. google your child's name and see how much your child is online and if it's starting to go up, you start going up a level on the monitoring. >> good advice. a brave new world for parents. thank you so much. michelle, appreciate it. up next, the duchess of cambridge slips into something more comfortable right after this. allie's spelling bee is monday... sounds like a mini-wheats day to me! and becka's science fair is on the 8th. she's presenting the solar system. hey i've got just the whole grain fiber to help keep her full so she can stay focused. um...you rock. she'll be ready to rock. right here! [ female announcer ] make your kids big days, mini-wheats days. packed with fiber and nearly a day's worth of whole grains kellogg's frosted mini-wheats cereal

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the duchess of cambridge is getting the british excited for the summer olympics in london, showing off her field hockey skills during a visit to olympic park. kei similar -- keir, good morning. >> reporter: she's cautious about what she wears as a member of the royal family until yesterday when she pulled on a pair of tangerine jeans that have the fashion enthusiasts buzzing. kate middleton says she doesn't get to play sports so much anymore. but it didn't take her long to change into something comfortable, to put a bit of royal sparkle into a hockey game at an olympic venue. >> she was good. she seems natural. >> reporter: the smile said sporty kate is looking forward

to the olympics as much as her new brother-in-law. >> yeah, the three of us -- my brother and my sister -- will be as involved as we can be. london's hosting and we'll help as much as we can. >> reporter: kate's fashion sense is likely to get as much attention as her sporting skills. the focus was on her bright jeans, the latest fashion trend. where she goes, young women follow. >> she's a princess. she's handled it so well. >> reporter: then from sneakers to high heels and a sophisticated dress by a young designer for an outing with the in-laws. >> reporter: what she's wearing sells out in seconds. amazing. she's said to be giving camilla fashion advice and with prince william away, his wife is growing closer to her new family. visiting one of charles's aunt's charities, kate listening attentively. he turning to her for help. >> i have no idea what i'm doing. >> reporter: the two giggling together. there was the same warmth with

the queen at a fashion show last week. then the duchess of cambridge wore a dress from l.k. bennett. it's not just her royal family she's winning over. >> very pretty. nice dress. >> she's got the right sort of manner from what i saw. >> reporter: in your opinion? >> yes, in my opinion. >> reporter: with so many changes of clothes, a quick spot of ironing is often needed. not something prince charles has mastered, but people aren't looking so closely at what he's wearing. worker's compensation >> william is reportedly back from that military duty. kate is reportedly having her portrait painted for his 30th birthday. i don't think she'll wear those tangerine jeans. >> she could. i wonder how many women will pop up over the weekend with tangerine jeans. thanks a lot. up next, who has the luck of the irish?

we were holding a st. patrick's day cook-off. they're battling it out. this is "today" on nbc. girl: i want to tell you about my friend. his name is ben. ben learned about a homeless boy who had an infected tooth, and the boy died. that made ben really sad. he wrote a law so every kid can see a dentist. we have special dental van that goes from school to school. he even helps make sure we learn how to brush our teeth. he's my friend, ben. i hope he's your friend, too. i'm ben cardin, and i approved this message.

>> announcer: happy st. patrick's day "today" is brought to you by the new nonalcoholic baileys coffee creamers. find your flavor today. >> this morning our annual st. patrick's day cook-off. battling for the title, returning champ, brian duffy, chef and consultant for irish restaurants across the country. >> wow. and his challenger, newcomer, chef and owner of restaurant in alexandra, virginia. the battle is on. corned beef and cabbage. tell us about this grand irish tradition. >> it's really not irish. we never had corned beef growing up. it would be bacon or lamb. >> either one is good.

today it's corned beef. >> american irish. >> absolutely. >> i'm doing a beef brisket. doing it nontraditional. i have the brisket in there ready to go. salt and pepper. simple stuff. a true corned beef is salted or brianed brisket. i have great onions, parsnips and carrots and a really good fresh horseradish that goes over top of it. good herbs, marjoram, thyme. >> could you do it in a crock pot? >> is absolutely. let it sit for two hours. cover it with water. >> don't turn on the heat at all? >> yeah, you are. absolutely. >> glad i double checked. >> two hours with heat. >> thought we were brining. >> turn that heat on. then thinly sliced cabbage right on top. this is the fun part. a little bit of extra flavor. this is a parsley cream sauce. cream cheese, shallots and

cream. >> wow. m ark rjoram and parsley. three types of potatoes, cabbage in the center and a beautiful brisket. >> wow. >> place it. >> i love your dessert here. >> it's a fun little thing we do. right over here is the guinness float. ice cream, blackberry brandy, brown sugar and guinness. >> smells amazing. >> my director is in love with you. >> bring the trophy with you. >> we taste after. >> next up is caho. what's going on here? >> we did real corned beef. >> oh! bam. >> we brine cured it for two weeks. then dry rubbed for another week after that. >> takes three weeks to do the meat alone? >> we're already late. >> three weeks of preparation.

then dice it up after we cooked it. mix it with a meat glaze which is reduced veal stock. add in the cabbage, seared onions and fresh chopped thyme. mix it together, nice like that. >> is this a family recipe? >> this is my recipe. my mother never cooked for me. i never had corned beef growing up. this is an irish american thing. probably created in boston or new york. it's similar to pastrami. >> put it into blanched cabbage leaf. >> this is wrapped in caul fat s. >> what is that? >> don't worry about it. >> we're running short here. >> we have one we wrapped. i did a potato puree finished

with chopped parsley. classic sauce is a parsley be bechamel. >> plate it up. >> we have to judge you. >> do you have a fork? >> i do. >> this isn't going to be pretty. >> shoot. >> get some of the parsley cream sauce, cabbage. taste that love. >> okay. >> bring this over. >> when do we try the guinness float? >> after we judge. >> all right. >> tamron said she can't judge people. >> i can't. >> i don't believe her. >> this is hot! burned my mouth. >> that's good, too. >> mine is much more elegant. sorry. >> i'm good with it. >> ladies and gentlemen, we have a tie! >> wait, wait, wait. they'll share it. >> we didn't