foom. shipping out. crews working on that oil leak ordered to leave as tropical storm bonnie bears down on the gulf after hitting south florida today. and in wisconsin, dangerous flooding shuts down milwaukee's airport and creates a sinkhole we're tracking both storms.v. wall of shame, a new report this morning that 17 bailed-out banks gave executives more than $1.5 billion in questionable bonuses. this as the financial system collapsed. can anything stop them from doing it again? and from russia with love. admitted spy anna chapman may have gone underground since

leaving the u.s., but she's reaching out to the world on her new facebook page and she could be preparing for a big comeback "today," friday, july 23rd, 2010. captions paid for by nbc-universal television and good morning, everyone. welcome to "today" on a friday morning. i'm matt lauer. >> and i'm meredith vieira. tropical storm bonnie has brought work in the gulf to a standstill. officials fear the delay could last as long as two weeks. >> right now, south florida is in bonnie's immediate cross hairs. the storm is expected to pass somewhere near the florida keys a little later today and then it moves into the gulf and it will strengthen throughout the weekend. we'll go live to the keys and get al's track of the storm in just a couple of minutes. also ahead, investigators issue a warning to parents in california in the wake of the murder of 17-year-old norma lopez. her body has now been found nearly a week after she was abducted while walking to a

friend's house. coming up, her sisters speak out in a live interview. on a much, much lighter note, when it comes to sunglasses do you buy the cheapos from the drugstores or the designer kind? >> both actually. i have one nice pair and then cheapos. >> a lot of people ask the question -- do you get what you pay for when you pay the big price tag for the designer kind? we'll find out if they do what they're supposed to do when it comes to protecting your eyes from the harmful rays of the sun. some answers coming up. we begin with south florida bracing for tropical storm bonnie, as ships stationed over bp's crippled oil well in the gulf are ordered to begin evacuations. the weather channel's stephanie abrams is in key west, florida, for us this morning. stephanie, good morning to you. >> good morning to you, mered h meredith. and louisiana's governor bobby jindal has already declared a state of emergency as tropical storm bonnie is heading right towards the gulf coast telling people to prepare for a category 1 hurricane. here in monroe county, four

shelters opened on friday. some people did take advantage of those shelters overnight. state parks are closed. the airports are open though they will close those if necessary and, meredith, no hurricanes have hit south florida ever. if this stays a tropical storm, it will be only the fifth tropical storm in history to impact south florida in july. there have been no hurricanes in the month of july to impact south florida. the last was bob back in 1985. meredith, back to you. >> all right. stephanie abrams in key west this morning, thank you very much. >> al, what happens after the shot across the keys some. >> this is a fast-moving storm. it is booking. right now 155 miles southeast of miami. it's moving at 18 miles per hour and that's the good news. it doesn't linger over the water and gain strength. it's going to -- the path of the storm right now, we've got currently tropical storm warnings for the keys, for the

bahamas, all the way up to englewood, tropical storm watches from morgan city to destin, florida. here is the path of the storm. it comes across southern florida sometime later this afternoon. what it does, as it comes across, it makes landfall some time sunday morning in louisiana. the effects of this, as far as the oil spill is concerned, the winds are going to be out of the east saturday. 20 to 30 miles per hour. five to seven-foot waves and that is all pushing onshore, so you can see that's going to be bringing that oil ladened water into the marshes and into the inland sections of louisiana and parts of mississippi. and the winds on sunday out of the east-southeast with eight to nine foot seas and then the thing moves onshore and we're out of it and, hopefully, within 24 hours of that, by monday, the waves have calmed down. so that's the good news. the bad news, of course, we're going to be looking at the oil being pushed up into the marsh lands.

now, we also head a little further north. a lot of rough weather last night and throughout wisconsin. strong storms move through milwaukee. 5 to 7 inches of rain. we're talking copious amounts. we had the airport, because the runways are flooded, the milwaukee airport is still closed this morning. roadways crumbling, sinkholes actually swallowing suvs. it was a mess. 5 to 7 inches of rain came down within a very quick period of time, between two to three hours. we're talking historic rainfall and, in fact, this is the fifth city in the last two months to have historic rainfall in this summer, so it has been a really rough -- in fact, the fact is we're going to see more rain in milwaukee and wisconsin than we probably will see out of tropical storm bonnie. and you can see the storms this morning now firing up again from nebraska all the way into illinois and wisconsin where they don't need the rain. we'll have more on this and record setting heat this weekend in the east coming up a little bit later.

meredith? >> a lot of weather to report, al. thank you very much. there is a revealing new report this morning on bonuses doled out by troubled banks at the start of the financial collapse. kenneth feinberg reviewed payouts to 600 executives at 17 financial companies in late 2008. and reportedly found nearly 80% totaling more than $1.5 billion were unmerited. cnbc's erin burnett is at the new york stock exchange with details. good morning. obvious question, how did this happen? >> meredith, it's pretty amazing. that number you just shared is the one that hits home, ken feinberg says 80% of the money paid out. this is -- right after the banks got government bailouts, but before they faced restrictions on compensation and they took that window to pay out what he says were unmerited bonuses. he highlighted 17 banks of the 419 that he actually investigated. 11 of those banks have since

paid back their t.a.r.p. government bailout money including jpmorgan and goldman. others include well known names like aig and sun trust who haven't paid it back. citigroup was highlighted according to "the new york times" as the worst offender. two-thirds of its several hundred million in bonus payments, that year, went to just two people. one of them named andrew hall. they no longer work for the company, but he is the only name that we know of the 600 people highlighted in this report. we do not have names. >> so in terms of going forward from here, anything feinberg or the fed can do to make sure this doesn't happen again? >> meredith, that is the key question. the answer is no, which may surprise a lot of people listening. he was obligated to investigate these packages and put his results out. he doesn't have the legal authority to go and say, hey, give us this money back. what is he doing to the banks, he is proposing a break provision so in the future the government would have the right to take the money back. if this ever were to happen again in a financial crisis. now, since the bonus payouts were paid at the end of 2008, a

lot of these banks have changed their policies so they could, for example, get money back from people when they overpay them. but, no, no changes from what we're hearing today. this is really more about shame than anything real changing. i'll leave you with this. this year, 2010, could be a record for wall street bonuses. >> how much more shameful could banks be? erin burnett, thank you very much. let's get a check of the other top stories. ann is off. natalie is over at the news desk. good morning to you. good morning, everyone. we begin with new developments in the search for kyron horman, the 7-year-old oregon boy who disappeared seven weeks ago. police have been serving search warrants now on friends of kyron's stepmother. nbc's george lewis joins us now from our los angeles newsroom with the very latest. good morning, george. >> good morning, natalie. for some time now, investigators have been focusing on kyron's stepmother, terri horman. they want to know what she was doing around the time he disappeared. so now they've been checking up on her friends. >> reporter: as police removed evidence from the homes of three

friends of kyron horman's stepmother, the boy's mom released a statement saying one of those friends, a woman named deedee spicer, may have important information concerning terri horman, the last person to see kyron the day he disappeared. >> judges don't give out search warrants unless you have specific, credible information that there's evidence of the crime that you're investigating at that location. >> reporter: in her statement, kyron's mother, desiree young, said the stepmother's friend is, quote, refusing to cooperate with law enforcement. she is also going as far as to suggest to others that may have information regarding kyron's disappearance not to cooperate as well. the day kyron disappeared, it was his stepmother who dropped him off at a school science fair. the district attorney went before county commissioners thursday to ask for an additional $200,000 for his part of what he says is a complex investigation. >> you have a school.

you have a science fair. you have a lot of people involved. you have seemingly no explanation for why the child is missing. >> reporter: we tried to contact deedee spicer, but she's not responded to phone calls or messages left at her house. natalie? >> george lewis in los angeles, thank you, george. rescuers on thursday recovered the body of a climber who fell from a cliff during a storm wednesday night at grand teton national park in wyoming. 16 other climbers were treated for injuries caused by lightning. officials say it could be months before they know why a greyhound bus clipped an overturned suv and hit a tree thursday in fresno, california, killing the driver and five other people. the bus was traveling from los angeles so sacramento. and an attack caught on tape reminds us police work is never routine. an officer in ohio was assaulted this week by a suspect in a hit-and-run chase. the officer suffered facial injuries.

the suspect then had to be subdued with a stun gun and is being held on $500,000 bail. back over to matt and meredith. it's unbelievable. >> we don't stop enough to thank them for what they do on a daily basis. natalie, thanks very much. let's get another check of the weather, the more local forecast by mr. roker. the area that got slammed last night in wisconsin, they're, unfortunately, under the gun today. we have a risk of strong storms stretching from upstate new york to as far south as philadelphia across to cleveland, chicago, omaha, huron, south dakota. we are talking about strong storms, a possibility of isolated tornadoes. on the radar, you'll see we're seeing showers and thunderstorms firing up from omaha all the way to western new york. rainfall amounts today, not quite as bad as they were yesterday, but we could see in parts of southern wisconsin, up to 3 to 5 inches of rain. so, again, big problems for that part of the country. that's what is going on around the united states. here is what i a little cool and cloudy to

start the morning but later this afternoon more of the sunshine's coming back on in. we'll have some 70s and a couple of 80s for afternoon highs. we'll stay with this right through the weekend. in fact, as we go through next week some of the cooler air comes back in. and we'll cool off a little bit. back to the 70s next week. enjoy the sunshine today. and the early morning fog will burn off faster than it has in the past. charles rangel is vowing to fight back after being charged with multiple ethics violations by a house investigative co charles rangel is vowing to fight back after being charged with multiple ethics violations by a house investigative mmite. committee. kelly o'donnell has details. >> good morning, meredith. aides here didn't even hold back calling this a serious blow to the most senior people here. it is kind of like an indictment. both democrats and republicans looked at evidence and say rangel broke the rules. th democrats and republicans f

looked at evidence and say rangel broke the rules. that booming voice and big personality. >> after we whoop them like they're going to be whooped in november. >> reporter: harlem's charlie rangel has wielded influence here for almost 40 years. >> at long last the ethics committee has this investigation at my request. >> reporter: be careful what you wish for. rangel did ask and after two years of investigation the highly secretive committee found multiple violations but will not reveal the specific charges until a hearing next week. >> he gives me an opportunity to respond to my friends and constituents who supported me for close to 40 years. >> reporter: appearing unfazed he turned up at an event celebrating the extension of unemployment benefits. a nor agitated rangel rebuffed the notion his seat is at risk in an exchange with nbc's luke

russert. >> --lessing your job? >> what are you talking about? you're trying to make copy. what job? the job i've got? how do you think i got my job? i was elected. how do you think i lose it? >> reporter: the 80-year-old rangel repeatedly ridiculed the question. when you're young, you do need to make a name for yourself. basically you know it's a dumb question. >> reporter: back in march rangel was forced to step down as powerful chair of the tax writing ways and means committee for a gift rule violation. the ethics committee has examined a series of allegations including treating legislative favors for an an oil company, accepting special deals for lower rent on four new york city apartments. and while he wrote tax policy, he is accused of failure to pay his own taxes on rental income from this vacation villa in the caribbean. "the new york post" first ran this photo of rangel lounging there and it became a symbol of

the allegations against him. >> what it really looks like is a pattern of arrogance as if the rules just didn't apply to mr. rangel but it's got to be more than minor infractions for the committee to announce this public hearing. >> reporter: and that public hearing is really like a trial set for next week where a different group of democrats and republicans will look at all the evidence in public. if they decide there were violations, the punishment could be expulsion from congress. this is all very tough for democrats in this election year and rangel says he even wants this wrapped up in time for his own re-election. he's trying for a 21st term. meredith? >> kelly o'donnell, thank you very much. it is 7:15. once again here is matt. thursday here on "today" former agriculture department official shirley sherrod told us she would like a phone call from president obama and later in the day she got it. but will that call bring an end to the firestorm surrounding her forced resignation? nbc's chief white house correspondent chuck todd has the

late latest. chuck, good morning to you. >> reporter: good morning, matt. well, the president became the latest public official to personally apologize to shirley sherrod. it was a seven-minute phone conversation where the president also encouraged her to take this job that's been specifically designed for her at the agriculture department. sherrod is still undecided and the administration is anxiously awaiting word on whether she'll take it. shirley sherrod after receiving a phone call from the president. >> after all i've been through, i needed that. >> reporter: after being unable to reach her, the president finally spoke to sherrod from his private study just off the oval office. he apologized and encouraged sherrod to accept a new job at the department of agriculture. sherrod says she has not yet made a decision. >> this has been a whirlwind. and i need a little down time and i really have not seen the offer in writing yet. >> reporter: but the president reassured her their call was just the beginning of a dialogue. >> i can always get to him, you

know, share whatever i need to share and it gets directly to h him. >> reporter: and the president weighed in for the first time publicly about an interview on prevent something like this ace from happening again. >> i told my agencies that we have to make sure we're focusing on doing the right thing instead of what looks to be politically necessary at that very moment. we have to take our time and think these issues through. >> reporter: it's not the first time mr. obama has found himself uncomfortably in the middle of a race controversy. following the release of the r jeremiah wright tapes in 2008. the president went to philadelphia to give his views on race. >> race is an issue that i believe this nation cannot afford to ignore right now. >> reporter: and again exactly one year ago when the president famously weighed in on the arrest of his friend, the prominent harvard professor gates. >> the cambridge police acted

stupidly in arresting somebody when there was already proof that they were in their own home. >> reporter: after that episode the president ended up hosting a beer summit at the white house to resolve tensions between gates and the cambridge officer. as for sherrod, she said this experience has not made her cynical about the president. >> i told him right away you are my president. you've always been my president, and i've always wanted to do whatever i could to support you. before he hung up, i did tell him i need to get you down to south georgia. >> do you think the president is coming? >> i don't know. i certainly told him -- and i said, bring michelle. >> reporter: well, the white house is upset about the story for a number of reasons t. overshadowed everything this week. he signed two major bills into law. his choice for the supreme court is on her way to confirmation. that said, the white house believes among the lessons to be learned here for themselves not to be overreactive to what's going on in the media and for

the media not to be -- to double-check everything before they go to air. we'll see if everybody takes heed of those lessons, matt. >> chuck todd at the white house this morning, thanks very much. nbc news political analyst harold ford jr. is a former democratic congressman and chair of the democratic leadership counsel as well as the author o "more davids than goliaths." the publisher and editor of "the nation" magazine. we heard a lot this week of people from the naacp to the administration all over the place saying there are teachable moments here. what did we learn? >> i think we learned two things. one, we should all take a collective sigh and deep breath. the immediamedia, those in poli those listening and weighing issues in congress and certainly those who immediately inject race into things. i think the politics is bigger than the race. we in the media, and i consider myself in the media somewhat working for nbc, we jump on things whether it's from blogs, a report from some group that may not follow ethical standards

as forcefully as some in the media do. it's time for us all to take a step back, listen to the other side and you may reach a different conclusion. >> what did you learn? >> i think this is a testing moment for america. are we going to be an america that learns from shirley sherrod's tales of reconciliation over prejudice, working with that white family to overcome poverty? are we going to become a media system which is vetting and holding standards, or are we going to be bullied by a right-wing media which peddles fear and slanders the obama presidency. finally, is this white house going to wake up -- >> in the past it's worked in both directions, by the way. bias media is nothing new. >> it's not about bias, it's about a mainstream media with a few exceptions in this case accepting andrew breitbart, a journalist known to have no credibility, and he ginned up his story and people moved too quickly. i agree with harold. this white house needs to

institute the procedures president obama said and get a sp spine because it is feeding the zealots of our system by not standing tall and confronting the forces of hate and fear in a country that has a lot of economic pain. >> harold mentioned this, too, you say the word race or racism and it immediately elicits a sense of fear in people. ordinarily reasonable people start to do some very unreasonable things when they worry about being associated with that word. >> but i think you're doing too much moral equivalent, matt. i really think you're seeing people in the media system in this country who are doing good work. in this case "the atlantic journal constitution" and cnn stood back, took the time and vetted due diligence which is what the white house may have done. fox news hasn't retracted the story. shepherd smith has sued a few

words. this was a ginned up, fabricated story and this country cannot afford this kind of -- >> bill o'reilly also apologized. they didn't run the tape until after the resignation. so it's not as if they forced the resignation. >> the most positive thing about the racial aspect was that the collective response, if ms. sherrod had said and meant the things she said, the collective response of the nation was the right one, that she should be removed from her job if she allows race to determine how and when she will work. the problem no one looked at the tape. collectively our response to what we thought was an injustice as a nation, be it fox news or the white house, was the wrong thing. she is the hero in this whole thing. the fact she has shown a temperament, a disposition and the same kind of reconciliation she expressed in her speech towards those in the media and i know to mr. breitbart she said he was dead wrong but to the president and all, that's the spirit we should all embrace. >> if she doesn't end up taking

this job, does she do real damage to this administration? >> no, no, i don't think so. but i do think that in the grace and dignity she showed, she stuck to her principles and i think this country can learn a lesson. >> katrina and harold, good having you both here. parents in one california town are warned to keep a close eye on their children after the abduction and murder of 17-year-old norma lopez. her sisters will speak to us in a live interview.

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fun money from freedom. this is yours! thank you! what? that's 5% cash back in quarterly bonus categories all year long. does your card do this? sign up for this quarter's bonus today. chase what matters. go to chase.com/freedom. good morning, i'm laura garcia-cannon. breaking news out of contra costa county. nbc bay area spoke with the east bay grandfather accused in the mauling death of his 2-year-old grandson. christy smith is live in martinez where she just finished the jailhouse interview. christie? >> reporter: good morning. steven hayashi broke down with his role in all of this. he said for some reason yesterday his grandson went downstairs where the dogs were kept. >> but those dogs caused me more than -- way more than it's

worth. the cost of the life of a 2-year-old boy. >> reporter: and he says he considered one of the dogs aggressive. apparently it went after another dog before, but he certainly didn't think anything like this would happen. he did say that the dogs and the little boy had not been properly introduced. he also said when i asked who does he blame for all this, he said he blames himself. reporti ing live in martinez, christie smith, nbc bay area news. it's 7:27. yoil ha we'll have the forecast after this.

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good friday morning to you. some 50s out there, but the fog that we have is a little bit thinner than it was yesterday. we'll get clearing earlier. highs back into the 70s and 80s, some 80s back on the map, not many and not too hot. a nice pleasant afternoon. also for the gilroy garlic festival, should be nice for the weekend and cooler next week. >> all right. are you driving? >> let's go. another local news update in half an hour. the "today" show returns in less than a minute. i'll bring the mints.

♪ we keep waiting waiting on the world to change ♪ 7:30 now on this friday morning, july 23rd, 2010, and these folks aren't just waiting on the world to sing. they're also here to see john mayer live in concert. they will get the chance when he steps out on the summer concert stage one hour from now. i'm meredith vieira alongside matt lauer. i think he actually enjoys performing. >> he tweeted and said i like playing the "today" as much as i dislike waking up to play the "today" show. that is to say very, very much. getting up is no fun but doing the show is fun.

>> it's a lot of fun especially when he's here. just ahead, did you spend a small fortune on your sun glasses? they can cost hundreds of dollars. are designer shades any better than cheap ones you can buy at a drugstore? also ahead, small meals, very big calories. the shocking truth behind how fattening kids' meals are at very popular restaurant chains. we're talking about some meals that have more than 2,000 calories. that's one meal. >> wow. we're going to begin this half hour with serious news. parents in california warned to keep a close eye on their children after the abduction and murder of 17-year-old norma lopez. we're going to talk to her two sisters in just a moment. first, nbc's kristen welker has the latest. kristen, good morning. >> reporter: good morning, meredith. this makeshift memorial continues to grow outside of norma, lopez's high school and so does the grief here. so many people wondering who could do such a thing? police are investigating and urging parents to be on the lookout.

>> i want to remember that there's a family here that loved her very much. >> reporter: words that elizabeth lopez will never be able to express to her sister, nor that. she was found in a field six days after she disappeared. >> we love her. we miss her and one day we will be together again. >> reporter: it is a loss that has rocked much of this small community. >> we remember you, norma. >> we'll remember you, norma. >> reporter: thousands turned out for a vigil at lopez's high school, all of them asking one question -- why? >> i hear a lot of people ask, how could god let something like this happen? >> reporter: on a day lopez disappeared, she left summer school and headed for a friend's house. that's when things get murky. police believe she may have come to this wide open field commonly used as a shortcut by members of

this community, and walked down this path, a walk that only takes about five minutes. but lopez never showed up, so loved ones retraced what they thought would be her steps. they found some of her personal belongings in the same field. investigators say there were signs of a possible struggle. police scoured the area but found nothing until someone working outdoors in a field about 2 1/2 miles away, stumbled upon lopez's body. >> we haven't caught the suspect who killed norma. so obviously there's at least a murderer out there, and so i would be vigilant. i would be aware if i was a parent. >> reporter: police would not comment on a cause of death and wouldn't say much about the crime scene, but they spent thursday conducting vehicle checkpoints and questioning sex offenders. officials say that is standard procedure when a young person is murdered. >> and i can't imagine how her family is hurting right now. >> reporter: meantime, spontaneous vigils seem to occur around the clock, people who had never met lopez created signs and jewelry in her name, and

this community will not rest until the person who took norma lopez is caught. >> you killed her when we wanted her home. just turn yourself in. >> reporter: now police want to speak to the driver of a green suv which was seen leaving the area that lopez was last seen on the day she disappeared. there is a $35,000 reward for information lead iing to an arrt and conviction in this case. meredith? >> kristen welker, thank you very much. elizabeth and sonia lopez are norma's sisters. good morning to you both and please accept our condolences. >> good morning. >> thank you. >> elizabeth, i know your mom and dad do not speak english so you're here speaking for them as well. how is your family holding up? >> we're doing all right. it still breaks their hearts we're no longer going to see our sister and that there's an empty space missing.

>> i know you're a very, very close-knit family. what have police told you so far? we've heard about the green suv which may or may not be connected here. have they told you about any possible leads? >> they still haven't told us any possible leads. so far what you have heard is what we all know. >> sonja, elizabeth describe you and your sister norma as two sticks of bubble gum stuck together because you were so close. tell us about norma. >> yeah, we were really close as a family and as sisters we were best friends. it was us three all the time. and we were inseparable. >> can you tell me a little bit more about your sister, elizabeth, what kind of girl she was? >> she was a very friendly person. she loved making friends. she didn't deny friendship to anybody. she always had a smile on her face. she was very outgoing even though she was shy at times

because she didn't want to be judged easily so she would try to know you first before she could open herself in. >> police think she certainly put up a fight, at least that's their impression. >> yeah, they say that she -- that they had a struggle there, that she was taken by force, and that she was trying to fight back. >> elizabeth, i was particularly moved in the news conference yesterday when you directed comments to whoever did this and you asked that person or persons to turn himself, herself, or themselves in, i get the sense you will not rest until they are found. >> i will not rest until the killer is found. i need to find the person that killed her and i want to know why. why her? >> i think that's something we all want to know. again, our condolences to you and your family. you're in our thoughts and prayers to say the very least.

elizabeth and sonja lopez, thank you very much. >> thank you. >> thank you. >> and now let's switch gears and get a check of the weather with al. so sad. let's take a look and show you what's going on. the heat continues from the carolinas into alabama, mississippi, georgia, as far north as wisconsin. we have heat watches, heat warnings and advisories. temperatures anywhere from five to ten degrees above normal. some areas out west as much as 15 degrees above normal. washington, d.c., will see a high today of 98 degrees and that's just the beginning. the heat will continue tomorrow. look at this. 100s through the south into the gulf coast. 60s in the pacific northwest. 60s along the northern plains but everywhere else temperatures happy friday. good morning. i'm craig herrera. live right now, san francisco, a lot of the fog out there, nice cool start to the morning. temperatures will come up a couple degrees today from where we were yesterday. by the way, it's dog day at the park if you're heads to the a's game, 7:05 game time, bring your

pum pup. you want to. 60s along the beaches and in san francisco, 64, 70s for the north end of the bay. the same through the weekend. enjoy it. and if you want to track your weather or tropical storm bonnie go to the weather channel on cable or the new and improved weather.com online. meredith? >> al, thank you very much. up next, are designer sunglasses really worth the higher price tag? eye experts weigh in right aftir ♪ ♪ oh, love me ♪ oh oh oh ♪ just love me ♪ oh oh oh ♪ just hold me ♪ oh oh oh ♪ just kiss me ♪ oh oh oh ♪ just want me ♪ l-o-v-e ♪ love, love, love, love ♪ ♪ ♪ l-e ♪v- ♪ love, love, love, love

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♪ get yourself some cheap sunglasses ♪ back at 7:40, the skinny on shades. are designer sunglasses actually worth the price you pay? nbc's peter alexander asks some experts. peter, good morning to you. >> reporter: matt, good morning to you. everybody, of course, has their favorite pair. if you're like me, you lose your favorite pair. sunglasses can cost a small fortune. they've become a multibillion-dollar industry. the question is, does the extra money really give your eyes better protection? ♪ let the sunshine >> reporter: how much do you pay to keep the sunshine out? >> realistically no more than $150. >> i think the cheap ones work as well as an expensive pair. >> reporter: is there a difference between $30 pair and $300 pair in your mind? >> well, maybe not so much for

style but definitely for comfort and also the lenses are definitely different. >> reporter: but just how different are they? sunglasses come in all sorts of styles and brands. they can run you anywhere from $5 to $500 a pair. but before you plunk down all that cash -- >> there really is no difference between the cheap and the expensive sunglasses. >> reporter: especially says one ophthalmologist when it comes to protecting your eyes from the sun's damaging rays or uv light. >> most sunglasses have uv protection and just because they cost more doesn't mean they have more uv protection than something that costs less. >> reporter: you might be surprised what the higher prices really get you. >> money is going into making the brand, going into their advertisement, into selling their designer frames. >> reporter: turns out most name brand sunglasses are made by the same company, the italian manufacturer. behind everything from rayban to oakley, donna karan.

for every dollar you spend on their pair, more than half is pure profit. still, some will pay whatever it takes to wear that perfect pair. >> i'm looking for how it looks on me, so that's -- >> reporter: how do they look? >> i think they look pretty good. >> reporter: that pair only cost him 10 bucks. we asked luxotica a statement but they never provided us one. you will pay more better clarity and polarizing but they will not protect your eyes better from the sun. the most important thing when picking out a pair of shades, make sure they have the uva and uvb protection. there should be a label right there on the lens. >> peter, good advice. thanks very much. janice lieberman for "reader's digest" good morning to you. >> good morning. >> i think a lot of people are going to be surprised at what they just heard, it doesn't

matter if you pay $300 or $30. the lenses are basically offering the same protection. >> it was hard to find one that didn't say uva/uvb protection and that was from the drugstores to the mid-range places, you know, to the high-end retailers. you don't need to spend the money. what you're looking for is the fashion, the label, the cache. if you're going to spend $400 for a pair of sunglasses. >> there is a difference in frames, you can say that. just by picking up some sunglasses you can tell which are made better, some are cheap and light. still, the lens, same thing. you have some glasses you brought along with you here and let's take us through that. what do we have down at the far end here? >> this is prada, chanel, the construction is better but the lenses pretty much the same f. you're looking for the designer label and the latest in fashion, you might want to go with that. >> let's be honest, a lot of people that's what they want. the same thing with jeans and cars. they want the logo on the side and everybody to know what they're wearing. again, the same this terms of

uva/uvb protection. polarized lenses, peter just mentioned that, sometimes slightly more expensive. what are you getting? >> not really. i found them at the drugstore for 20 bucks. these are polarized and these were $189. so try them on and tell me what you think. >> all right. what am i supposed to see -- >> they should be a little clearer than a regular sun glass. put on the polarized that's not as expensive. >> these are just darker. it seems a little bit more even. >> but if you go out, it's going to cut down on the glare and you have to look for a "p" that says polarized. they're not as fashionable, i have to admit, but it works. >> uva/uvb protection, is there always truth in advertising? in other words if that label is on the lens of the sunglasses, are you sure you're getting that protection? >> i mean, you should be sure if it's at a reputable retailer not off the street where they stick on a label, you have to believe the retailer is standing hyped what it is. now, also, when you're outside

and you're doing sports, you need to wear the sunglasses. leaving them at home, designer or not, is not going to do you any good. >> your tips, look for the label that reads uva/uvb protection. make sure you're getting the coverage you need. i think by that you mean are they covering enough of your eye and face. >> especially if you're out playing tennis or golf or on a boat you want the side view. what i recommend is buy it or ask if you can go outside and look in the sun light. the shades, the color of the lenses may be different. it's really personal presence and one may cut down the sun light for you personally more than another. keep your receipt. return it if it doesn't work pour you. a lot of people throw them out and lose them. if you spend a lot of money, it's crazy. >> don't forget to get s sunglasses for your kids. >> so cute and make them wear it. >> and they never lose them. >> never. just ahead, she may be hiding out in moscow but does admitted russian spy anna chapman actually planning a comeback? whoa ♪

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she admitted being a spy and was sent back to russia, but it looks like anna chapman is not ready to step away from the spotlight, at least not yet. here's nbc's mike taibbi. >> reporter: she's the femme fatale of the spy scandal, beautiful, mysterious, and out of sight. anna chapman, who used to party in new york and london is now believed to be hiding in her native moscow. but that hasn't stopped the fascination. >> she was 28 years old, redhead, smoking hot. i mean, all the allure was there. she just stuck out. people were calling her shebon. she was just it. >> reporter: she has apparently stayed busy on what's believed to be her beloved facebook page quoting famous writers and politicians about her recent adventures from dickens, it was the best of times. it was the worst of times. from eleanor roosevelt, you gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look

fear in the face. we can't confirm those are chapman's postings but her lawyer told us she is using facebook again and also confirmed that she is still attracting, well, that kind of attention. vice president joe biden joked about her to jay leno. >> do we have any spies that hot? >> let me make it clear, it wasn't my idea to send her back. >> reporter: now, one website is selling an anna chapman action figure. there is a topless option. >> my name is anna chapman. >> reporter: supposedly a british bidding war that could push the price for a first interview past a quarter million dollars and, not surprisingly, there's an offer she has rejected for a star. >> entertainment movies, film, television shows or even porn, i think people want her. >> reporter: in the past on her facebook page she would only talk business claiming careers in real estate and banking.

now whether or not she has any secrets worth knowing there's business out there if she wants it and if she can get to it. for "today," mike taibbi, nbc news, new york. >> why would she turn down the porn, i wonder? >> out of that story, that's what you took away from? >> that's what you took away from it. biden is funny. >> the world we live in. >> a very bizarre world. i'm by someone who is pretty bizarre.mayer >> john may iern concert. with capital one's venture card,

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keeping you informed. every morning, over 50 spotter planes and helicopters take off and search for the oil. we use satellite images, infrared and thermal photography to map and target the oil. then, the boats go to work. stalmo 6,000 vessels. these are thousands of local shrimp and fishing boats organized into task forces and strike teams. plus, specialized skimmers from around the world. we've skimmed over 27 million gallons of oil/water mixture and removed millions more with other methods. we've set out more than 8 million feet of boom to protect the shoreline.al i grew up on the gulf coas we've set out more than 8 million feet of boom to protect the shoreline.al and i love these waters. we can't keep all the oil from coming ashore, but i'm gonna do everything i can to stop it, and we'll be here as long as it takes to clean up the gulf.

good friday morning to you. 7:56 right now. i'm laura garcia-cannon. time to check the commute with mike. >> friday light shaping up as far as the volume of the traffic but the view, not a lot of light as far as sun grows. haze and low clouds hanging out in sunol. but an easy drive southbound so far. the northbound side will get jammed up and this afternoon, it will get jammed up with folks heading out of town. eastbound coming towards with us the headlights, the headlights are still on because of the haze along the peninsula. there's no slowdown along the peninsula. but, craig, is the haze going to burn off? it's friday. >> waiting for the weekend sunshine. by k, t9:00, 10:00, we'll start see the haze burn off.

75 today, redwood city, 82, san jose. numbers are coming up a couple degrees. 80s for the gilroy garlic festival and upper fills across knapp and sonoma counties. the seven-day forecast, the same forecast through sunday. but next week we'll cool off a bit more. we'll be back after the break.

i would expect to find out when barry bonds will go on

trial for perjury. bonds accused of lying to a grand jury about steroid use in 2003. the former san francisco giant told the panel he never knowingly took steroids and never got testosterone or human growth hormone from his trainer. prosecutors claim bonds tested positive for steroids three times between 2000 and 2001 but the evidence cannot be used in court because bonds' trainer refuses to testify. i'll have another local news update for you in half an hour. the "today" show returns in less than a minute. have a great friday morning.

♪ we're back at 8:00 on a friday morning, the 23rd day of july, 2010. we have a huge summer concert crowd gathered on the plaza with good republason. we have a huge act, grammy winner john mayer here to put on a show. about 30 minutes from right now. do you remember this young lady? >> of course we do from last week. >> from the much-talked about smooch with enrique.

>> have you recovered? >> no. >> you haven't recovered? you still have another week. john mayer will be here in a second. who knows what will happen. anyway, coming up in our friday whip, all about last-minute summer getaways. >> how much to budget for a trip and where to go and how to entertain the kids along the way and yourself. >> let me ask you a question, would you let your kids eat a dozen pop-tarts or a whole jar of nutella? >> it's a trick question. >> there are some kid meals at popular restaurants that have the same nutritionality and caloric content. we'll give you some healthy options when you go out dining at some of the popular restaurants. >> when you put it that way it sounds disgusting. >> i wouldn't mind trying it. we have a lot to get to. let's go inside. ann is off. natalie is at the news desk with the headlines. good morning to you once again. good morning, everyone. powerful storms rip through wisconsin causing widespread flooding. nbc's kevin tibbles is in

milwaukee which received historic rainfall on thursday. kevin, is more rain expected is this? you have the slicker on. >> reporter: yes, natalie, there is more rain expected here. the monsoon season essentially came to milwaukee overnight. some people even said it was pibblycal at times, half a foot of rain here in the milwaukee area in just a couple of hours, at least 1,000 basements were flooded here. some two people reported injured from lightning strikes and then the entire milwaukee international airport had to shut down because of standing water on the runways there. if you're planning to fly out of milwaukee today, one would suggest you check with the airport. down here in the east side area of milwaukee, a spectacular 20-foot-wide sinkhole opened up and that sinkhole swallowed a luxury cadillac escalade suv. the police have actually moved us away from the sinkhole which is just over my shoulder here because the engine is still

running on that suv and they say that there's the risk of a gas leak. natalie, back to you. more rain in the forecast here. >> unfortunately for them. all right, kevin tibbles, in milwaukee. thank you. the well cap in the gulf of mexico is holding but the whether isn't. tropical storm bonnie formed near the bahamas last night. it is expected to cross south flo florida today and it's on a track that could take it over the bp oil site in the gulf. the storm is already delaying efforts to permanently plug the ruptured well. kerry sand certificates in st. petersburg, florida, where he got a unique look at the impact of the spill. good morning. >> reporter: the tropical storm is not only impacting the emergency operations but it's brought the scientists back to port. this is the submarine they've been using out there searching for the oil south of the leak site. well, they're out searching for evidence of oil but probably not today. i squeezed into the four-man

submersible joining scientists on an urgent exploration of the gulf. 88 miles west of st. petersburg, florida, and more than 230 miles of deep water horizon. we dipped into the gulf waters and immediately were welcome. >> a dolphin right there. >> reporter: one biologist says that is important. the ecosystem here is healthy. >> i've got you, jim. >> reporter: the scientific teams from harbor branch and florida atlantic university are venturing along the edge of the so-called loop current, an under sea highway that may carry oil and dispersants far from the source. >> that's beautiful. that's beautiful. >> reporter: in a separate rear chamber of the sub, marine biologist dr. shirley pomponi. on our dive we drop down 230 feet, shallow for a sub that can

go further. this is a critical collection point say experts. they call this the twilight zone because so little light penetrates making photosynthesis extremely delicate. >> oil destroys something down here may destroy something we have for a cure for cancer. >> reporter: and that's not just theoretical. >> it's not theoretical. we have found things. we have found sponges that produce very potent chemicals that can be the drug of the future for things like cancer. >> reporter: while there were no visible signs of oil, they are taking samples of those sponges and the corals which are living organisms and they will inspect those back in the lab to see if, indeed, the oil has made its way 200-some-odd miles south of where it is leaking or was leaking. natalie? >> what a really cool perspective you had there, and i know you said you are not

claustrophobic but i think all of us would be. thank you for bringing -- >> reporter: i wasn't. it was great. 8:305. back outside to meredith and matt. >> i'm jealous of kerry. we have al roker. we know he is a great we have al roker. we know he is a great broadcaster. a great meteorologist. did you know he's a thrill seeker? >> i did not. how are you? look at this crowd. this is a huge crowd. start over on 48th street over there, show those folks over there all for john mayer and then it stretches across our plaza and all the way in front of 30 rock. i mean, all these people for john mayer, ladies and gentlemen, yes. my people! my people! all right. i love doing this. this is the latest on bonnie. bonnie right now is 80 miles southeast of miami. it is moving west-northwest.

it's moving awfully quickly. the track of this system, of course, going to bring it across southern florida this morning and then out onto the gulf, into the gulf, over the oil spill area and then by sunday morning makes landfall so we will continue to track this. the good news is it's going to stay a tropical storm, minimal tropical storm. so hopefully not too much damage. not too many problems. that's what's going on around the country. good morning, happy friday. we'll start off with a live shot over san jose. santa cruz mountains, can't make them out with the fog in place. a little bit of a sea breeze over the morning hours but afternoon sunshine is coming through and we'll get 70s and 80s through sunday. 70s and mid and upper 80s for the south bay through sunday. next week that sea breeze gets stronger and we'll cool off more. be careful. when we come back a friday whip

on everything from where to go and what to pack. and also ahead, we have a friday concert from john mayer out on the plaza. first, these messages. good morning! ♪ [ female announcer ] nutri-grain -- one good decision... ♪ ...can lead to another. ♪ ♪ ...made with real fruit and now with more of the whole grains your body needs. nutri-grain can help you eat better all day.

it's called hope. hope? 'cause every time you get a happy meal or a mighty kids meal some of the money goes to ronald mcdonald house charities. happy meals. the simple joy of helping. ♪ you're the best. i thought you would like it. (announcer) it's more than just that great peanut taste, choosing jif is a simple way to show someone how much you care. i love you mom. i love you too. choosey moms, choose jif.

another heart attack could be lurking, waiting to strike. a heart attack that's caused by a clot, one that could be fatal. but plavix helps save lives. plavix, taken with other heart medicines, goes beyond what other heart medicines do alone, to provide greater protection against heart attack or stroke and even death by helping to keep blood platelets from sticking together and forming dangerous clots. ask your doctor if plavix is right for you. protection that helps save lives. [ female 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 2 weeks after starting plavix. other rare but serious side effects may occur. ♪ pop-tarts®! i'll have a frosted strawberry... as an ice cream sandwich. ♪ chocolate fudge... on a stick please! ( crunch ) with the endless possibilities of kellogg's® pop-tarts, it's sure to be a picture perfect summer. pop-tarts®. made for fun. back now at 8:11 with today's friday whip. last-minute travel getaways. summer may be winding down but it is never too late to find a

weekend away. >> four experts to show you how to plan a cheap family friendly vacation. sharon epperson, good morning to you. got to plan a budget. that's important. and you have to stop and remember all the things that you're going to spend money on when you go away. >> most people remember what they need to spend money on, transportation, food, and of course they want their lodging as well but remember the spontaneous activities. you cannot go into a theme park or museum and pick up plastic toys for your kids. don't forget to include those as well. >> one of the biggest items on your budget is getting to your destination. most people assume driving is not the cheapest. >> it's a good idea to check out some of those travel sites like kayak and see what the lowest fares are and compare that to what it would cost to drive. go to costtodrive.com or fuelcostcalculator.com and that will give you an idea how much it will cost you to go from "a" to "b." >> there's a day in the week called thursday. it's not all about friday

getaways. thursday is the cheaper day to fly. >> and don't always think you have to fly. there are other ways you can travel, too, maybe take the train. it can be a lot cheaper. >> better to go with a credit card in your pocket or cash in your pocket? >> always better to take cash. you can negotiate especially. if you want to try to get a better deal, it may be a great idea to use cash and negotiate that way. >> all right, sharon. thanks very much. good information. meredith will tell me where to go. >> you already know the answer to that. now that you have a budget, it's time to decide where to go. here are some great ideas. sarah, good morning to you. >> morning. >> going to start out with a city easy to get to, charleston, south carolina. you found a cool place to stay once you get there. >> it was rated the number three city in a survey. we love it because of its natural beauty. a 53-room modern hotel. what we love is not only that it throws in complimentary

breakfast for $139 a night but access to the oldest landscaped garden in america. so there's all sorts of things to see while there. >> and first shot fired in the civil war charleston, south carolina. >> we love it for its shopping. >> we do. antiques are beyond belief there. from the east coast to the west coast, santa barbara. if you're going to go there, get ready to stay in a tent. >> yes. who doesn't have a little bit of california love. santa barbara is easy access from l.a., beautiful weather. you can take advantage of it. 70 degrees this weekend. take advantage of it and stay in a canvas tent, sleep in a four-poster bed. beautiful egyptian cotton sheets. you'll have a swimming pool, access to the beach, and a really great rate starting at $135 a night. >> that's fantastic and that's quite a tent, too. >> you can bring the kids, sit around the campfire. there are so many options there. >> now the middle of the country. a couple hours from chicago, lake geneva, a resort that's great for kids. >> if you're looking through the

midwest, lake geneva is accessible from chicago and from milwaukee. you can stay at the resort and spa there. it is so beautiful for $159 a night. we love it for all of its extra amenities from a golf course to a spa and of course something unique, their own water park with the 53-foot slides. there's the lake if you want to explore that as well. so many options for you and your family if you're looking to get away this summer. >> we want lake geneva and that water park. thank you so much. now here's natalie. so what should you bring on your last-minute getaway. style expert, jen, what are musts? >> we have this i pack every time i travel. a giant wrap. i use it as a blanket on the plane. it's a great sarong at the beach, even a dress and of course a skirt. >> now you also like the caftan you can accessorize many ways.

>> you can wear this to the beach during the day. take a skinny metallic belt. you have a chic thing for going out at night. >> evening wear. speaking of accessories, you have some jewelry options, too. >> the less clothing you have to pack, if you bring a lot of accessories. my suitcase is so heavy because i pack so many accessories. change up what you're wearing, necklaces and bracelets. it gives you lots of options. >> other good dress options, you need a good pair of jeans and wrinkle-free fabrics is something to think about. >> everything should have a little stretch in it so any fabric will work. make sure there's lycra or stretch. this is from spiegel. this is the same dress i have on. it's briwrinkle-free. i can wear this on a plane and get off and it looks totally fresh. >> completely different because you have the zipper in the front. >> you can wear it backwards, wear it to work conservative. flip the zipper in the front and you have a good going out dress. >> for fashion emergencies down

here at the end some quick things. >> i love packing envelopes. it keeps everything organized. tissue paper your best friend for wrinkles. shout wipes. deodorant wipes. >> jenn falik, great information. here is mr. roker. now to fun games to bring the family together whether at the beach or the hotel room. elizabeth mayhew of "woman's day" magazine. >> time to turn off the tv, put the computer away. we took a poll of our favorite games. i'm so glad because they corresponded to my family's favorite games. an incredible game of comparison. you have to lobby one another to get a vote in favor of your comparison being the best. great card games. it's the cats versus the rats. you want the cats and not the rats. you want to get rid of them. it's strategy and some luck. a 6-year-old developed this game called sleeping queens. my kids love it. it's a little bit of fantasy.

you have to get the queens and knights and drag ons have different powers. balderdash, when you have a game like this, take the cards, leave the board behind. you don't even need it. the cards basically have words or sayings you've never heard of and you kind of have to define them. cranium great for all different kinds of creative minds. if you are better at words, if you're better at drawing, it celebrates the creativity in everyone. an incredible game to teach kids about america. scramble states of america. yeah, we have to go but lego has a new game and then kathie lee gifford's favorite game we had to include banana gram. >> and she plays them as a drinking game. okay, elizabeth, thank you so much. up next, the shocking amount of fat and calories in popular kids' meals including one nearly equal to four dozen dunkin' donuts munchkins. it's pain relief without the pills. no pills, no pain. how can you get pain relief without taking pills around the clock?

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what would i do for a klondike bar? you don't wanna know. i am so happy right now. just so happy. i am so happy right now. swipe your card please. excuse me...? this belongs to you... o...um...thank you. excuse me... this is yours... thank you! you're welcome. with chase freedom you can get a total of 5% cash back in your pocket. fun money from freedom. this is yours! thank you! what? that's 5% cash back in quarterly bonus categories all year long. does your card do this? sign up for this quarter's bonus today. chase what matters. go to chase.com/freedom. it's harder my doto build bone densityge... with calcium and vitamin d alone. he recommends citracal plus bone density builder... the only calcium supplement with genistein found in nature in soy and proven to significantly build bone density. citracal. and my car was worn out, so we got the '97 camry. when i was 16, i got the camry, and i drove it for nine years.

then when i turned 16, i was passed down the camry. i was like, "yes!" [ man] and then we just got a camry hybrid. it's just such a perfect, practical car. [ boy ] i'm hoping to probably get the new camry hybrid. [ laughter ] [ male announcer ] share your toyota story on facebook.com/toyota. ♪ with fries, starting at just $5.99. like the rojo burger. for a little more, enjoy the new avocado burger. the perfect burger with fries, starting at just $5.99. and now get chili's to-go with new online ordering. back at 8:22. this morning on "eat this not that," kids meals. a third of the children in this country are considered overweight or obese. on thedailybeast.com, the 25 worst meals for kids.

the editor in chief of "men's health magazine" and author of "eat this not that for kids." a third of kids overweight are obese, some of the meals we'll talk about here today a good place to start. >> outrageous kids meals are making for chubby children. they're trying to get them addicted to fat, sugar, salt at an early age and you enter up with core calamities. >> in case people haven't seen this before. you show a bad meal from a particular restaurant chain, what it is the equivalent of, and a better alternative at the same restaurant. let's start with the olive garden fettuccini alfredo meal. >> there is a snake in the garden whose name is alfredo. cream, cheese, butter, oil and a day and a half worth of saturated fats, 30 grams. that is like having a jar and a half of nutella. i'm not saying anybody should do that but that is the saturated fat equivalent right there.

so -- >> off to a strong start here. >> when you're at olive garden, get the cheese raf yoely instead. a portion of this is 300 calories. >> you're saving 500 calories right there. let's move on and pick now on appleby's, grilled cheese meal with french fries. we're talking almost 1,100 calories, 54 grams of fat. get this, 2,170 milligrams of sodium. >> right. and so it's the equivalent of 400 goldfish crackers. this is more like a sumo kid's meal. order it for the neighborhood bully. he'll be too sluggish to beat your kid up. if you are there and you don't want to go over 1,000 calories with grilled cheese and fries, go ahead and get a hot dog. it's portion control. >> which is great because your kid -- it's not like you're making me eat broccoli. it's a hot dog. >> and a few hundred calories. >> let's go to outback steak

house. the chicken finger meal with aussie fries. >> it's over 1,000 calories. this is eating down under, let's stay up here. >> 2,052 milligrams of salt in this one. >> this is the fat equivalent of a dozen -- a dozen -- chocolate fudge pop tarts right here. >> you say get the steak at outback. >> get the steak. it's very lean. it's high in protein. it's rich in vitamins and minerals. again, you're getting beef, good red meat. your kid is not going to say, oh, my gosh, what are you making me eat, dad? >> denny's slap shot slider meal with finish line fries. >> there is no -- you're not getting the finish line. this is an affront to the world of sports and your child's health. you are talk iing about these sliders, again, over 1,000 calories. so little burgers, big fat problem. it's the equivalent of all these beans so get the spaghetti. >> friendly's mac n cheese

quesadil quesadilla, 2,270 calories. >> more than you should have in an entire day. this is the equivalent of 45 glazed munchkins. >> some better alter good morning, everybody, the time is 8:26. checking in with mike and taking us to the golden gate bridge. >> we have a nice easy dry through the north bay. the low clouds are hanging out, still an issue as far as visible above the roadway of the on the roadway, not a problem. oakland, things are getting more crowded on the roadways but speeds hovering around 50 miles per hour. the nimitz freeway, coliseum, tonight there will be a game so there will be of course the get

out of town traffic, but tonight we're focusing on the game because we're focusing on the park. >> check the website so you can register your dog and bring them to the game. 69 for a high there. 70s for the north end of the bay. 8 we'll stay with this through sunday. next week that seabreeze is strong again and we drop back into the 70s, it's 8:27. brent cannon is it back after the break.

search is on for a pint-sized burglar. a 10-year-old boy has been involved in three robberies in the past week. he targets homes with unlocked windows and doors. the boy is not operating alone. witnesses have reported seeing accomplices waiting outside. nothing of really high value has been stolen, only a skateboard has been reported missing. the "today" show returns in less than a minute. see you back here in a bit.

8:30 now on this friday morning, july 23rd, 2010. a group of happy people gathered to watch grammy winner singer/songwriter john mayer live in concert outside on the plaza. meredith, matt, al and natalie. we have a great crowd today. we're looking forward to john

mayer today and more to come. >> next friday we have carrie underwood, the reign iing count music association entertainer of the year. so dust off your cowboy boots. get down here next friday morning for another great concert. >> that's right. also coming up later on, we've got -- normally for the backyard barbecue it's the same thing. normally grilled chicken or hot dogs. we have something great. shrimp tacos. >> they look good, too. >> kick it up a notch. >> anything. >> also coming up, i don't think this is on one of the diets, the shrimp tacos, but diet tips from around the world. what people in other countries seem to know about weight loss that we don't. >> okay. one more look at the weather. >> that's right. let's look at your weekend, show you what's happening. of course down in the gulf we have to worry about tropical storm bonnie. there's a lot of rain there and wind. strong storms from western new

york back to northern illinois. sizzling and hot in the western third of the country. sunday hot and sizzling along the east. heavy rain in the southern gulf. sizzling in the southwest. showers throughout the four corners on into the central plains. sunny and warm in the pacific northwest. good friday morning to you, craig herrera live over the san mateo bridge. we have delays at sfo up to 40 minutes. we have 50s everywhere on the map. a couple of places getting closer to the 60s. sunshine is around the corner, 70s and lower 80s on the map today. sunset at 8:25, the a's game tonight, 7:05. bring your dog if you want. 70s right through sunday. have a great weekend. and with tropical storm bonnie lurking, check your weather anytime of the day or night. >> always good advice. when we come back, an easy to make summer meal for your next

backyard get together and what these people are waiting for, a summer concert from john mayer out on the plaza.

>> announcer: today's kitchen is brought to you by chile's. it's all in the preparation. this morning on "today's kitchen" easy and affordable entertainment. if you've invited friends and family over and don't know what to cook, we have just the thing for you. daisy, good morning. >> hi, meredith. >> we're talking nice and easy and no sweat in the kitchen. >> quick, no sweat. you'll look fabulous in the kitchen and your friends will love you because you're going to freed them like crazy. avoca avocado/tomato salsa. do you want to stir that for me? >> of course i will. >> a little crunch and color and

bite. my favorite, the sicilantro. >> love this in guacamole. >> absolutely. this is basically like a deconstructed guacamole. some chopped garlic. beautiful wine juice to keep the colors vibrant and that acid with all the but theoriness -- go ahead and hit that with the salt. >> i love salt. i can't help it. >> avocado drinks salt. we have our beautiful avo salsa. >> i thought it was mojo. >> it is kind of your mojo. my friends on facebook call this crack. it's good on your honey, good on everything. i have cumin, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper and roasted garlic. >> it's already blended? >> this is what it looks like.

some beautiful skewers. >> any trick? >> i don't want it to curl up. >> you want it nice and straight. >> this way you get a bite of shrimp in every bite of taco. some beautiful corn tortillas are our salsa. >> putting your mojo. >> about two or three minutes on each side, meredith, until they're nice and opaque. and they look like this. when you take the shrimp off, isn't that beautiful? you smell that? >> i can smell it, baby. i thought that was you. >> on my best day. on my best day. over here i have a beautiful black bean mango salad. what i love about this salad, meredith, there's no mayo.

it's great for a picnic. you can make it ahead, keep it in the fridge. >> it's not going to spoil. >> we have some warm corn tortillas here and you're going to spear one of those shrimp, put it in your tortilla. >> can i use my hands? >> go ahead. >> we have this beautiful salsa. and we have a little more mojo. >> you're big with the mojo, honey. >> you're going to know why. you have your mojo and we have a little bit of -- >> you put that on the side. >> on the side with mango. a root reminiscent of very delicate apple. it has great crunch. it has a very subtle sweetness. very big in mexican cooking. i'm all excited. are we loving that? >> not really. i love it. >> oh, my god!

oh, my gosh. >> i love your mojo. what's the drink? >> this is a sparkling mexican lime aid. we add sparkling water to it so it's he eveffervescent. >> let me cheer you. >> gracias. >> now how do you figure out where to put it? >> it's trial and error. you taste and you're inspired by like different things. the other day, i was thinking about how to make a good burger and i thought about one of my favorites, grilled things wrapped with that spanish ham. all of that stuff would be great on a burger. >> it was fantastic? >> i put blue cheese on there. girlfriend, it was the bomb. it was just so good. >> well, girlfriend, this is great. >> terrific. i'm like thrilled. salud. happy entertaining. >> the shrimp taco with the

mango black bean salsa. thank you, daisy. >> you're welcome. >> up next, out to the plaza for a live concert from john mayer. i might stay. well, go ahead. i'm taking this with me.

>> announcer: the toyota concert series on "today" brought to you by toyota. he's a singer, a songwriter, a guitarist, seven-time grammy winner. a superstar, ladies and gentlemen, john mayer. >> one, two. one, two, three.

♪ me and all my friends to say we stop at nothing ♪ ♪ there's no way we ever could ♪ now everything going wrong with the world ♪ ♪ rise above and keep waiting waiting on the world to change ♪ ♪ we keep on waiting waiting on the world to change ♪ ♪ trying to make the best when we are standing ♪ ♪ keep on waiting on the world to change ♪ ♪ now if we have the power would have never made it to christmas ♪ ♪ no ribbons on the door

♪ what you get is what you got they're going to give you all they want ♪ ♪ we're waiti ♪ waiting on the world to change ♪ ♪ we keep on waiting waiting on the world to change ♪ ♪ it's not that we don't care we just know it ain't fair ♪ ♪ keep on waiting waiting on the world to change ♪ ♪ it's going to change ♪

♪ ♪ waiting on the world to change we keep on waiting waiting on the world to change ♪ ♪ we keep on waiting waiting on the world to change ♪ ♪ keep on waiting waiting waiting on the world to change ♪ ♪ we keep on waiting waiting waiting on the world to change ♪ ♪ waiting on the world to change waiting on the world to change waiting on the world to change ♪ >> john mayer, thank you. more music in a moment.

twizzlers. the twist you can't resist. a real study in craftsmanship and understated guitar ninja gum. i this i that's a compliment.

good to have you here. if you sit down and listen to this album and then compare it to what you did in the first three albums, do you see a difference? >> i do. i do. it's as much of a difference as i am as an individual, and i think i always sort of keep in mind the first series of records that i do. they all sort of matter. they lead into the next thing that i want to do. it is a quaint, sort of pop alb album. that makes you want to play guitar more on the next record. >> what's the title mean? >> it's sort of just about processing everything that i've gone through in music and learning, just as i go along in my life and the music. >> you hadn't put an album out in three years but you've been in the news a lot and some of it because of interviews. what have you learned in the last year based on the headlines you've made both good and bad? >> i learned don't talk to see

if you have something to say. talking to find out if you have something to say is a really bad way to find out that you had nothing to say. >> a good way to get yourself in trouble. >> i done goofed, matt. i done goofed. >> you done admit you done goofed. you're touring. it can be grueling to travel. when i talked to you in the past, i was looking back at one of the interviews we did. you seem to be relaxed by touring. you like to get out there. >> i think most feel terribly insignificant. when i'm not doing what i was put here to do, the clock sort of worked against me a little bit so i have great definition and identity in my life when i'm playing. i feel like i'm taking oxygen. >> when you walk out on stage for the first time in a long time and you see a crowd like this, do you ever think are they going to clap? are they going to react to me?

>> what if they all just turn around and leave? >> give you the silence. >> i think the fact they all came out in the morning, they lost sleep, a natural resource to come out here. i think they're going to want to stay until the end of this. >> i have a feeling some didn't go home last night. what are you going to sing now? >> a little song. >> john mayer, ladies and gentlemen. ♪ i was born an imaginary fri d friend ♪

♪ rode me home right where i've been ♪ ♪ then you come crashing in like the wind ♪ ♪ turn my back to understand ♪ path to my heart it takes time ♪ ♪ path to my heart to show you that i can't keep loving you ♪ ♪ half of my heart ♪ ♪ i never loved anybody else

lonely was the song i sang ♪ ♪ ♪ half of my heart has a grip on the situation ♪ ♪ half of my heart takes time ♪ half of my heart's got a right mind to tell you ♪ ♪ that i can't keep loving you ♪ oh, with half of my heart ♪ with half of my heart ♪ your faith is so strong ♪ but i can only fall short for so long ♪ ♪ time will hold, a little later on ♪ ♪ you will hate that i never

gave more to you than half of my heart ♪ ♪ but i can't stop loving you ♪ i can't stop loving you ♪ no, i can't stop loving you ♪ oh, no half of my heart ♪ ♪ half of my heart ♪ half of my heart's got a real good imagination ♪ ♪ half of my heart's got you ♪ half of my heart's got a right mind to tell you ♪ ♪ that half of my heart won't do ♪ ♪ half of my heart is a shotgun wedding to a bride with a paper ring ♪ ♪ and half of my heart is the part of a man who's never really loved anything ♪ ♪ half of my heart

♪ half of my heart ♪ oh, half of my heart ♪ half of my heart >> john mayer is not finished. there's more music to come on a friday morning after these messages.

good morning, the time is 8:56. i'm brent cannon. something to look out for in the road. >> look out for a bucket on the southbound side of 680 as we're traveling through the area. no major slowing coming in through pleasanton, we'll show

you the maps, very nice drive off of stone ridge and between both of those ets where you might find the debris. pretty smooth through the dublin interchange and coming through livermore, that will slow 2:00 to 3:00 getting out of town. more news after this. er. california on the brink. jerry brown's plan? you run for office and the assumption is, oh, i know what to do. you don't. i didn't have a plan for california. [ female announcer ] with our state in crisis, we need a governor with a plan. you need a real plan, something i'll acknowledge i did not have. [ female announcer ] jerry brown. no plan then. no plan now. meg whitman. a plan for jobs. log on. learn more.

so much for a cheaper ride on b.a.r.t. they are considering a 3% fare cut because of the budget surplus. passengers said they would rather have better service than cleaner trains. their using the money to deep clean the cars and replace the seat. the board also approved the project to link the airport to

the coliseum bart staple station. another update in 30 minutes. "today" show returns in about one minute. those people are happy 'cause they're gonna have a good time, and they've got extra money in their pocket. those are happy passengers. how much does it cost for those snacks again? nothing. at southwest airlines, when we have a sale, it's a sale. [ male announcer ] southwest airlines has flights starting at $49 one-way. book now only at southwest.com. [ rand ] how can you not want to get on the plane? come on and get on the plane. we're saving you money. now that's a plane full of happy. [ employees ] grab your bag. it's on. [ ding ]

♪ ♪ on a friday morning, the 23rd day of july, 2010. you're looking at john mayer getting back on stage after greeting some fans here on the plaza. a great concert. if you missed any of it, there's more music to come a little later on. this friday morning, i'm matt lauer along with al roker and is a van a guthrie. >> we should start singing -- ♪ >> my outfit, al? >> no. >> the munchkins here today. thanks to john mayer for coming

on out. the seven-time grammy-award winner out with a brand-new album and we're glad he stopped by here. coming up this half hour, we have a lot to get to. we're going to be talking about getting a lot of home for the money. >> that's right. depending on where you're looking anywhere from maine to new mexico to norman, oklahoma, what you can get starting at $200,000. also ahead, interesting question, good parents raising bad children. you may have child who is difficult, early behavior problems, you may ask what am i doing wrong? we will talk to experts about what is happening and the warning signs to look out for. >> did you know americans consume on average more calories than any other nation? but all those countries with good food, they don't suffer from an obesity epidemic like we do. we will look at diet tips from around the world and see what we can learn from others who struggle with this. >> how about those breakfasts for kids we just showed. >> from friendly's 2,200

calories. >> that's crazy. lots to get to. let's get inside. natalie is at the news desk while ann is off today. she has all the headlines. good morning, matt, savannah and al. north korea is threatening the u.s. and south korea with what it calls a physical response if they proceed with joint naval exercises this weekend. north korea delivered the threat at a security forum in vietnam. secretary of state hillary clinton lashed out at what she called the north's belligerent behavior. charles rangel says he looks forward to fighting ethics charges. house investigators announced the charges on thursday against the former chairman of the ways and means committee. they're related to rangel's travel, personal finance and fund-raising. the woman at the center of a domestic dispute that nearly brought down new york's governor is speaking out for the first time. she dated one of the governor's top aides and is hoping there will be criminal charges against him. more now from jonathan dienst. >> reporter: booker says she told the truth when she alleged

her then boyfriend david johnson, once the governor of new york's right-hand man, had had abused her. >> it's not okay for anyone to put their hands on anyone else. it's not okay for someone to be fearful. it's just not okay. speak up. stand up. >> reporter: and by standing up, booker is standing behind claims made in new york family court that state police officers had tried to keep her from moving forward. >> they kept harassing me to drop the charges. whatever i said in court i definitely stand by it. >> reporter: johnson denies any wrongdoing claiming their argument last halloween night was verbal not violent. >> i will be vindicated. >> reporter: new york state is no stranger to scandal. governor paterson admitted to past drug use and extramarital affairs and recently admitted calling booker during this controversy. but he denies it was part of an

effort to keep her from pressing charges against his aide. >> i have never abused my office. >> reporter: booker says she did love johnson for a time, but now she says it's pastime for her to speak out. >> if i can just help someone individual, one person, and give them a voice to either get away or to not even get into a certain situation, then i've done my part. >> reporter: jonathan dienst, nbc news, new york. tropical storm bonnie is racing towards southern florida on a track that would take it across the oil spill in the gulf. that has forced a pause in the cleanup efforts there, but engineers say they're confident the cap placed over bp's leaking well will hold. and gadgets aren't just for people. this one is called the cow wash. the swedish company that makes the automatic brushing machine says it can increase milk production, stop the spread of

disease, and make cows happier. that looks like a very happy cow there i'd say. it is now four minutes past the hour. let's get another check of the weather from al. we could use one of those around here. >> that cow was udderly clean. w wow. a little extra, you get the hot wax. anyway, let's take a look and see what's going on. the latest on bonnie, 60 miles southeast of miami, moving west-northwest. this is booking, 19 miles an hour. here is the path of bonnie, comes across the keys on friday afternoon and then by sunday morning makes landfall around new orleans. it will mean strong winds coming across the east-southeast. now, also, we have severe storms possible today from binghamton all the way into the midwest with some isolated tornadoes possible. good morning to you, still a lot of fog and haze hanging around the bay area as we look

out live over the golden gate bridge. a little cool at the coast today. mid-60s. we have a couple of 60s starting to pop up in the santa clara valley. san francisco in 69 in oakland. a's game tonight, lots of places just near 80 for napa and sonoma county in through lake county. enjoy it. ♪ now "today's real estate." open houses starting at about $200,000 from a picture perfect three-bedroom in maine to a ranch style home in oklahoma. barbara corcoran, our brick house, in pink and orange, has found some great properties. and showing off the guns today, too. >> you have to show a little respect here, al. >> let's take a look and show you what's happening. we are going to start off in carmel, indiana. it's a great house. >> it's a great house not to be

confused with the carmel house inc california. it's north of indianapolis, a city with probably the best drinking water in the region if that's important to you and it has a natural artisan well. this is a great example of a house with good bones but they could do a lot more with it to get a lot more money. when you step inside that house, i'm going to edit it and tell what you could be done. that rug ought to be taken out of there. it shortens the room. the pattern is too busy that would greatly improve it. there's another rug that should be taken out. notice that big console to the right of the fireplace. that's a lovely corner fireplace but that console overpowers it. that ought to get out of there just as well. there's another shot of the room and look at how distracting that rug is. it's such a simple, inexpensive change. if you look at the others coming up here, there's a great, huge kitchen, great cabinetry, brand-new. everything is good about that room but the floors are awful. you could lighten those floors

and make that room sing. a big difference. there's the back deck. all it needs is resanding and a little bit of stain and it needs a few pots of flowers and we're good to go. a great backyard but the deck detracts a lot from it. >> let's move now to gray, maine. a three-bedroom house, this one priced at $275,000. >> this is a house that's everybody's dream house. a picture of exactly how you would think it would be to have a house in maine. it's between three big lakes, a state park and a famous golf course. so you're surrounded by heavy woods. that's a great example of great curb appeal, the partial wall, the nice shrubbery, the whole place is in mint condition. you're in love with it already. >> the money they spent on that, they're going to get back. >> they're going to get that money back and enjoy living there while they have it and it's not an expensive shrubbery job. it's well placed and well thought out. when you go into the house, everything about this house looks like a model house. it's got gleaming wood floors. the living room is in mint condition. that's the staircase that goes up to the bedrooms. that's a working, wood burning

fireplace. i would change that flooring as well. >> the flooring in the last house. >> it kind of is. that's the only fault in this whole house. let's leave it alone. everything else is perfect. dining room, two big windows, a great big door that goes to the backyard patio. everything about this house is in perfect condition and i say it's as maine, maine, maine all over it. who doesn't want to move in? it's beautiful. a beautiful wood kitchen. >> norman, oklahoma. a five-bedroom, five-bathhouse. >> this is one that's perfect for a big family. it has five bedrooms and not just the bedrooms but five full baths. >> this is albuquerque, new mexico. >> let's go back. >> i jumped one. >> you're trying to push me tod today. >> albuquerque, new mexico. >> this is vastly different. what's odd about this house, a house with no roof. the reason it has no roof or looks that way is because this is the typical style of the area. people collect rain on the roof because it's a desert area.

you notice the big, beautiful mansion in the left-hand corner. this house is a perfect example of buying the best house on the block. you would make a ton of money. there's that pueblo center fireplace that's so popular there. people pay an extra $20,000 if you have that in one of the rooms. the kitchen is beautiful. those are expensive cabinets. i think they should be lightened but, nonetheless, it's a large family kitschen. it has an adjacent dining area. that's the backyard. it has a little too much gravel for my taste but that's very popular again in that area. >> they call it zero scaping. >> you're getting good at this. >> i'm hanging out with you. >> and that backyard patio. again, it needs a little planting. this is a typical pueblo-style house and people in the region love this kind of thing. >> now to norman, oklahoma. five-bedroom, five-bath. >> this clearly is meant for a big family and as i mentioned just a moment ago they have five bedrooms and five full baths. it has a night wrap driveway, so

vastly different in style than the last house we saw. it also has a kitchen that, well, when we get in there, i guess we'll look at the outside for a while. another beautiful shot of the outside and the circular driveway. actually that circular driveway, believe it or not, adds a 10% value to the house because people have bragging rights to drive up my driveway and it takes you more than a split second to get there. the inside of this house a little bit dated in the furnishings but if you can focus on the light, the walls, it's an enormous 3,500-square-foot house and has a working fireplace which i think i already mentioned. a breakfast bar in the kitchen. there's a beautiful kitchen right there. it also has a big master bedr m bedroom. when i mentioned five, each and every one of them is huge. another shot of that lovely kitchen. and this house i think is a great deal for $380,000. >> our last four-bedroom home in meridian. >> this is a very different home again. a lot of variety today. each to their own. you have to decide what's good

for you. this is a bedroom community in boise, idaho. boise has a vibrant job market. a lot of people would call this a modern house. many others would say it's a mcmansion. it is definitely a mcmansion because everything about the front facade of the house is intended to impress your neighbors. look at that big entrance, 18 foot ceilings in the living room when you get inside, that entry, having the double height windows is the telltale sign of a mansion about to happen once those windows go up. you go up those stairs and you have all your big, fat bedrooms up there. they use white very well throughout the house. that's a narrow room but it's much larger because of the high ceilings and the double height windows there. >> nice kitchen. >> i'd better take a breath. there's the kitchen. it has a breakfast area and you also can't quite she the shot to the backyard. well located and great for a house filled with kids with an informal dining air why that opens into the backyard and it has a pool in the back. >> look at that garage. >> look at the floors of that garage. this is for a car lover.

i would just move my stuff in there. they have two cars, room for five and why not? there is the extra room they don't know what to do with. >> a couple cars up there, too. >> you've got it. >> barbara corcoran, have a great weekend. and up next, how do foreign women stay so thin? we'll have some diet lessons from around the world. from being chased by foreign men. and later, one more song from the talented john mayer who has been rocking the plaza all morning long. activia light? sometimes i have no choice but to eat on the run and to eat whatever happens to be around. heavy greasy food that's hard on my diet and my digestive system. so i eat activia light every day. activia light, with bifidus regularis, helps regulate your digestive system in two weeks. mmmm. activia light is not light on taste! and with only 70 calories activia light helps make it easier to watch my weight. it helps me feel good and look good too! ♪ activia

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obesity so how do people from other countries stay so thin. today's diet and nutrition editor, madelyn. our friends around the world know something we don't. >> they're doing some different things. let's take a step back at what are we doing in america that makes it such a problem. food is around all the time. it's really cheap. our portions are gigantic and we snack constantly. we have giant cup holders in the car. >> we're more sedentary. >> all kinds of electronic conveniences, we don't do a lot. we don't even roll the windows down in our car anymore. we're less active and eating more. >> let's go country by kcountry. let's start with france. i just don't get it. how do the french women stay so thin with all that delicious food? it's all cream and butter. so what's their secret? >> in a word, moderation. the french do everything in moderation and no foods are off limits. there's no bad food, it's just bad portions. they don't snack. they have structured meals. they don't skip meals.

three meals a day. and they'll have a little bit of something. no food is off limits and the thing that is important, they're enjoying their food and they take their time but they're very structured and structured eating is a real key to weight control. >> and let's go to italy. of course we all love italian food. the way we do it is to pile the food on the plate and leave not a more sesel on it. i have a brother-in-law who is italian. they eat for hours. they really enjoy the process of eating. >> italian people in italy, it's enjoyable. it's social. it's wonderful. you're never going to see an italian person driving in a car grabbing a sandwich. there's no multitasking. people eat and socialize and they stay together and eating is the activity. also simple, fresh ingredients is the basis of italian eating. >> enjoy a glass of wine. >> right. enjoy a glass of wine. it's not for stress reduction. it's not two or three glasses. it's sociable, it's nice. it's food. it counts as part of the meal. take a step back, relax and

enjoy this. it's social eating in a good way. so many of us go out for dinner, what am i going to eat that is terrible? so much pressure. the italian people welcome it, enjoy it, and you eat less when food is not the only focus but part of it for socializing. >> just to pause for a second and one thing the italians do, they sit around the table and talk, enjoy it. we eat in front of our television and don't even know we're eating. >> that's that mindless eating that's so prevalent. we're doing so many other things in addition to eating, just scarfing down things. >> to greece. we have some big, fat greek diet tips. >> it's something when you look at greece you think of color, that mediterranean diet. that's at the heart of all of this. some heart healthy oils that are a garnish when you put nuts and just a sprinkling of olive oil. colorful fruits and vegetables and not a lot of processed things. greek yogurt is strained, thicker. it's cheese, salad dressing, it cools off spicy foods. >> cook with yogurt. we all seem to use a sauce

that's delicious. >> it's delicious because it gives a lot of seasoning. it can be something that cools off spicier foods. it's a nice balance that can be used in multiple dishes. >> let's move on to japan. there's a lot of fish in this diet. that's something all of us could add more of. >> japan has practically the lowest incidence of obesity. a lot of fish, eating slow with chopsticks, slows down your eating. people enjoy things. the basis is for small amounts of food over time as well as some green tea. it's hot, you're sipping it, not guzzling down a high, sugary drink. that's a plus. >> they eat until they're 80% full not looking for that feeling, oh, my gosh, i have to roll to the couch or i can't eat another bite. not that i've ever done that but others have told me. >> they train themselves to say i'm not going to be stuffed. stuffed as an end point is not a good thing. they say i can eat more but i'm

choosing to stop. >> lastly india which also -- there's a lot of spices, vegetarian fare. >> right. and these are two great things. because of that mind/body connection, very little meat and in terms of spiciness that slows down your eating. all of your taste buds are dancing and that's really a good thing. taking a walk after a meal, that's that mind/body thing as well as having your main meal at lunch which they figure you're more active then and want to have your main meal. >> last thing real quickly. is it in fairness to americans somewhat biology not just behavior? >> all things in nature. it's a little bit of both. there are a lot of things we can add in terms of rig to learn from what the rest of the world is doing and a lot of people are doing great in america, too. >> yeah, that's right. end on a positive note. madelyn fernstrom, thank you so much. coming up, can good parents produce bad kids? we'll talk to the experts about that. later, the results of our instant ambush makeovers for two lucky ladies on our plaza.

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coming up, can good parents have bad kids? om hnreong from john mayer on the plaza. but first, your local news and weather. may not be getting the nutrition they need to keep their bodies strong. a nutritious start to the day is essential. that's why carnation instant breakfast essentials supplies the nutrients of a balanced breakfast. so kids get the protein and calcium they need to help build strong muscles and healthy bones. ♪ carnation instant breakfast essentials. good nutrition from the start. carnation instant breakfast essentials. why do women like you love activia light? sometimes i have no choice but to eat on the run and to eat whatever happens to be around. heavy greasy food that's hard on my diet and my digestive system. so i eat activia light every day. activia light, with bifidus regularis, helps regulate your digestive system in two weeks. mmmm. activia light is not light on taste!

and with only 70 calories activia light helps make it easier to watch my weight. it helps me feel good and look good too! ♪ activia good morning, it's 9:26, i'm brent cannon checking in with mike on the commute. a small section of b.a.r.t. shut down. >> yeah, first we heard ten minute delays now it has completely stopped right now. word is security is it doing work because someone was going to ask questions and the person jumped down on the track between gln park and daly city. the rt of the part system sounds like it is on time but it may have a ripple affect south

of glenn park. southbound to the north bay, no problems. the bay bridge, very light volume but still gray in many spots. >> 50s still on the map because of the cloud cover coast to coast. you have a few more places closer to 60 degrees with the reds and oranges. we'll manage mid-60s then it quickly rolls back in this evening, with more cloud cover and afternoon sunshine. most of us in the 70s and lower 80s, we'll be back after the break.

the suspect who shot and killed a visitor from virginia may be linked toy strange of robberies in downtown oakland. the man and woman match the description given by witnesses at the oakland crimes. computer engineered kang who you saw was in town for an interview in google and two suspects

killed him. they demanded money on webster street last sunday. it appears he was randomly targeted and the motive was robbery. the suspects got away with $17. an unemployed san jose man is accused of impersonating an officer. a 27-year-old was parked in a car talking on a radio on monday. his car was outfitted with a dash cam, siren, computer and radios. officers say he had a fake i.d. and now worried there may be victims in santa clara county. the "today" show returns in less than a minute. have a great friday and great weekend. we'll see you back here in a bit.

♪ tomorrow, tomorrow i love you tomorrow ♪ ♪ you're only a day away the iconic song from the musical "annie" sung by the original annie on broadway, annie mccardell. more than 30 years later she has a new role in the show. we're going to catch up with her monday on "today." hard to believe, isn't it? can you believe it's more than 30 years? >> amazing. i feel so old. >> oh, stop. stop. >> how are you feeling, al? >> i'm feeling like the

cryptkeeper, okay? meanwhile, coming up in this half hour, can good parents have bad kids? >> it's actually a really serious subject. a lot of parents maybe need to do some soul-searching and ask what they're doing wrong. it turns out a child who is difficult or acting up may not be the result of a parent's parenting. and this morning we'll have some expert advice on raising a difficult child, some early warning signs for you to watch for and why it can happen to even the best of parents. >> and we're also going to take a look at another serious subject. an in-depth look at the face of poverty in this country. thousands of american families are struggling to pay their bills and feed their families. this morning we'll introduce you to the extended family of 14 who all live under one roof. most of the adults are out of work. they're living on just over $550 a month. an incredible story on "dateline." >> hard to believe it's happening in this country. one more song from grammy winning musician, mr. john mayer. meanwhile, a man who is a pretty

good musician in his own right, lester holt. >> he thought the crowds out there were for him. >> the clam diggers. al and everybody, this weekend we'll talk about that tropical storm taking shape in the gulf of mexico, what it means for the oil cleanup efforts. plus, inception is the number one movie in the country and sparking a lot of discussions about dreams. we'll take a look at what your dreams mean and ask can they be manipulated. i heard to covert ops camp where civilians get a taste of what it's like to be g.i. joe. i had a lot of fun there. and a cool new video, whef video of the whale over that sailboat. >> that is amazing. >> the question whether that was photo shopped or not. >> there is a whale coming out. more of that incredible story. >> it is just while. >> they thought it was going to appear somewhere but not on top of their deck.

>> we're going to need a bigger boat. >> it's all coming up this weekend. >> very cool. unbelievebliable unbelievable. in the gulf coast they're going to be watching bonnie making landfall sometime sunday. rain ahead of that. risk of strong storms from indiana, illinois, into upstate new york. sizzling and hot in the eastern half of the country. sunday more hot weather along the eastern seaboard. heavy rain in the lower gulf thanks to bonnie coming onshore and the sizzling weather good morning to you, a beautiful cool start to the morning across the bay area. of course, it is our summer, there's the fog and right over san francisco you can see it blowing through. 50s in san francisco, we'll get sunshine later this afternoon. if you're headed to the a's game later tonight, dog day at the park, 7:05. we'll have clear conditions by the afternoon. by the evening hours that fog rolls back in. 64 in san francisco, 70s and 80s for the rest of the bay area. low 80s south bay through

sunday. enjoy it. and that's your latest weather. >> all right, al, thanks. up next, when good parents have bad kids. some advice from the experts right after this. [ man ] our family was expanding rapidly, and my car was worn out, so we got the '97 camry. when i was 16, i got the camry, and i drove it for nine years. then when i turned 16, i was passed down the camry. i was like, "yes!" [ man] and then we just got a camry hybrid. it's just such a perfect, practical car. [ boy ] i'm hoping to probably get the new camry hybrid. [ laughter ] [ male announcer ] share your toyota story on facebook.com/toyota. ♪ ♪ [ male announcer ] he's sweet, even with 1/3 less sugar than soda. kool-aid delivering more smiles per gallon. but look below the surface. your mouth is no different.

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which started a family. which lead to a dress. this morning on "parenting today" what did i do wrong is a question so many parents ask themselves from time to time. but in a recent "new york times" article one psychiatrist said it is possible to be a good parent and still have a problem kid. so how do you deal with it? jeff gardere is host of vh-1's dad camp and robi ludwig is a psychotherapist and contributor. how is it that perfectly nice parents who seem to be doing a

great job of parenting seem to sometimes have children with boo bad behavior. that can happen. >> what the psychiatrists are saying in this particular article, sometimes the problem is in the child. so the child may have some sort of pathology, may have really bad behavior and none of it is impacted or may be caused by issues the parents have because for a very long time when we saw problem kids, we said, well, they must be problem parents. there's something wrong in the parenting. in fact, we're finding out, what did i do wrong? sometimes nothing. >> you're doing everything right. >> it's a shift in the way the profession is looking at children. it used to be that your environment was the cause of everything and almost this notion that you give birth to a blank slate so the parental environment has a huge impact on the kind of child that you raise and now we're seeing maybe that's not entirely the case. there are genetic factors and i think anybody who has a child realizes you give birth to a

child. they have a certain personality tendency and sometimes you don't like that personality. >> sometimes it's hard wired, that behavior. we see that with brain imaging and so on. we have a newer perspective. >> bad luck for parents if you happen to be born with a child who is hard wired and some warning signs in a minute. there is no such thing as a bad person, just a sick one. so are these signs sometimes of illness, jack? >> yeah, i think so. and what we're looking at sometimes a personality disorder. these are ingrained behaviors that really don't change. and as therapists we have a hard time working with them in that therapeutic venue. >> and in other cases it's adhd where it produces a certain kind of behavior that's very, very difficult to deal with, so i would say that's probably true. we don't understand how to treat everything and so if we can't treat it or don't know how to yet we sometimes call it evil or bad behavior. but it may be we don't know what to do with that personality. >> what are the warning signs of

whether it is adhd or other things that are manifesting and becoming bigger problems? >> the very first thing is behavior problems in the home or at school. >> right. so if a child is bullying otr kids, doesn't get along with kids, doesn't get along with parents at home, is rude, just really difficult and unpleasant to deal with -- >> and a lot of times you see the overreaction to perceived threats, what they think someone is trying to -- >> and the aggressive response. >> and it's an overresponse. they're really overdoing it. it tells me they're not regulated in mood and they don't perceive properly what's going on. and that can be part of that wiring or the adhd we talked about. >> now is there testing to be able to tell if your child is, you know, having issues or problems that could be even more severe? >> absolutely. sometimes we can identify mood issues very early and personality issues and i really do think that's what parents should do. >> that's right. >> instead of being in denial or thinking that they can do everything to help their child,

that's why we have a community out there. work with the school system, work with professionals, work with -- >> that's the only way to really help your child is to help diagnose the problem. >> if you can diagnose the problem then you know what the heck you're working with instead of just trying this approach of just throwing everything and seeing what sticks. >> maybe it's mentor, medication, maybe a different school system. but there are different environments that work well for kids who are problematic and just to consider that as an option. >> and there are, of course, sadly, extreme cases as well. >> right. >> and this is where you see signs of sociopathy. >> young kids setting fires or they're into killing animals at a very young age, that's a real -- a real -- >> seek help immediately. >> it shows lack of empathy. if you find your child can't empathize or feel on behalf of anyone else, then that's a real danger sign because they don't know -- well, they do know right

from wrong but they can't feel it in their gut. >> and that's what we see with a lot of borderline personalities. i will say this, i think it's an excellent article. it tells parents, listen, take a break. you don't have to blame yourself all the time. but still, as parents, we must take responsibility. we must have strategies to work with our kids and, for heaven's sake, sorry, dr. friedman, even though he said that kids can be sick, i don't like that term sick. i like maybe they have a problem and it can be worked with because words are powerful. that kid hears they're sick, they will still act out. >> you always want to try. >> jeff gar dear and robi ludwig, thanks a lot. a lot to think about. the daily strug of a family of 14 living on less than $600 a month. did at this morning's meeting? that was pure poetry. stop it. hello? you spotted a million dollar accounting error that no one else noticed. that was pretty sweet. but you did have eight layers of sweet crunchy back up.

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so i eat activia light every day. activia light, with bifidus regularis, helps regulate your digestive system in two weeks. mmmm. activia light is not light on taste! and with only 70 calories activia light helps make it easier to watch my weight. it helps me feel good and look good too! ♪ activia this morning a rare look at the recession's impact on america's working poor. in a tough economy, they're the first to be hit. experts say likely the last to recover. for the past nine months "dateline" has been reporting from southeastern ohio where many families are proud but suffer in silence. more now from ann curry. >> reporter: when we met sonny and the family in nelsonville, ohio, earlier this year, there were 14 family members living in a four-bedroom house. >> i slept in the bedroom on the floor with my husband. and three of our kids slept on the bed. >> reporter: the home belongs to sonny's parents. sonny, her husband and four

children moved in when her father got sick. you tried to be a good daughter and that created a situation that you were stuck. >> right. >> reporter: stuck because she quit a good job in another town packing produce to take care of her sick father and couldn't find other work. then her brother, todd, lost his home and moved his family in, too. but there just wasn't room for everyone inside. >> todd, he wouldn't go in for a while until he got really sick, he was coughing up blood, and that's what finally got him to move into the house. >> reporter: people were sleeping in the tents during the winter? >> yes. >> reporter: inside the house small children live in the same space as grandparents, aunts and uncles. for the most part this family of 14 was living on sonny's mother's social security check, $563 a month.

sonny prepared hearty meals but food was often scarce as her food stamps ran out well before the end of the month. >> kids, i always make theirs first so they get plenty. it's just the adults that usually end up going without. >> reporter: the stress was often too much for sonny. >> i don't like to see my kids hungry. i hate asking other people to do stuff for my kids. when you're so poor, it really makes you feel like crap, you can't do anything for your own kids. you feel really bad. you feel like everybody else is doing everything for your kids and you just can't do anything. if they need something and you just don't have the money, there's no jobs, you can't get a job or have the money to get what they want or need and you have to beg everybody you know to take care of your kids. that makes you feel really crappy. >> reporter: what does it take for a family to rise from this kind of pain? one woman among 40 million people in america now living in poverty and struggling for answers.

for "today," ann curry in southeast ohio. >> that's awfully hard to watch but we have to because this is america and this is happening. >> and america is starting to fall apart. families like that know all too well the pain. >> what's so devastating this unemployment has gone on for a lot of people, six months, a year, people are without jobs. >> they've almost given up. >> indeed. frankly we hear in washington about the extension of unemployment benefits but it doesn't go past 99 weeks and yet so many people in this country have been jobless for longer. >> and they are having to take care of their families, extended family and it becomes everybody's problem. >> this is a really important story to see. ann's report a special "dateline" sunday at 7:00, 6:00 central time right here on nbc. >> and back with more.

coming up, broadway legend, three-time tony winner carol channing will stop by. >> plus, is a $33,000,000 mattress really worth the money? >> what? >> do we really need to ask the question? >> i want to see what a night of sleep is like. stant ambush makeover.he seven-time grammy winner john mayer performing "crossroads." have a great weekend. ♪ ♪ i went down to the crossroads

fell down on my knees ♪ ♪ i went down to the crossroads fell down on my knees ♪ ♪ asked the lord for mercy, said, help me if you please ♪ ♪ i went down to the crossroads tried to flag a ride ♪ ♪ i wept down to the crossroads tried to flag a ride ♪ ♪ no one seemed to know me everybody passed me by ♪ ♪ ♪

♪ ♪ you can run, you can run tell my friend willie brown ♪ ♪ you can run, you can run tell my friend willie brown ♪ ♪ that i'm standing at the crossroads ♪ ♪ i believe i'm sinking down

this morning on "today" you saw john mayer live on the plaza. next friday, carrie underwood takes center stage. great music, good times. concert series only on "today."

good morning, it's 9:56, i'm brent cannon. b.a.r.t. is rolling agai

>> we have service that has been edrestor for a time. it was hstalted between the gle parknd the daly city hestation. due to someone j oumpingn the tracks topi avoidopolice. expect some delays around the system for the time being. yoig m ht wan to take b.a.r.t. over to w the coliseum station tonight there's an a's game but right now we'll show you the coliseum area, very smooth. we have a dog reported on the side of the road, probably not in time for the game. >> they have to wait until the p.m. we have dog day at the park today. 7:05. mid-60s for that game. we'll have 60s and 70s this afternoon. delays of 50 minutes for some arriving flights. we'll continue with more, mid-60s at the coast. the rest of the weekend doesn't change much. it's next week we start to cool down. back to you. >> a san mateo couple admits they burglarized a homof a family that died in a car crash the night before. the trial was set to start this

morning, but instead they'llen sentenced in september. they pled guilty to ransacking the home in november and stealing their car. the maloneys were driving home from sfo when a speeding car ran a red light striking and killing the family on impact. gu ter rez denies he knew the family had just died in the crash when the robbery happened. the search is on for a pint-sized burglar in palo alto. a boy has been in involved in three robberies, targeting homes with unlocked windows and doors. the boy is not operating alone. witnesses report seeing accomplices waiting outside. so far nothing of high val yue has been stolen, only a skateboard that has been reported missing. more local news coming up in half an hour. the "today" show returns in about a minute. have a great friday. we'll see you back here in a minute.

from nbc news this is "today" with katie lee gifford and hoda kotb. >> hi, everybody, it's friday, you made it. july 23rd. >> happy weekend. >> i think i might get some sun at the beach somewhere. >> that's what you need, more sun. work on your tan lines. >> i have to even them out. what are you doing this weekend? >> i'm having a crab feast. i'm having a crab feast. it just dawned on me. summer is halfway -- you're welcome to come.

this place in baltimore called kosta's. i always order from them and they ship them. >> get the hammer and do your thing. >> do you know how much a bushel is? six dozen. i'm going to be all crabbed up on monday. >> i like it. if do you a lot of communicating through e-mail, have you ever been so upset or ticked off at somebody you fire off an e-mail and you hit send and the think why did you do that? >> never happened to me. >> that's one of those things you can get lathered up because something happens and you want to get it off your chest. >> instead of thinking it through. >> hello. >> there are reasons that you're not supposed to do that. >> because it's stupid? >> yeah. five things to consider. what they tell you to do is focus on these things. can you sit and talk it out? a lot of people don't talk. >> people don't talk anymore, hoda. only you and i actually talk. >> you're right.

okay. now, e-mails are one of those things -- i had a friend, and we were e-mailing back and forth about somebody we didn't care for. some people do that. accidentally she hit send to that person. and then -- >> you deserve it for gossiping. >> you're trapped and try to get into the system and delete it and see if you can get it before it gets there. >> is there such thing? >> some you can if they're incident stant. we were in a full-on freak-out panic trying to get that e-mail out of there. but it's scary when it happens. >> i would imagine. >> they say you should write a draft, and write it and read it again. then write it again, read it again. >> the times i react immediately are the times i regret in life. >> me, too. >> there's this website called -- there's this website called iwritelike.

they take your writing style and out plops -- >> who you write like, famous authors during history. >> we sent samples. >> what are ours. >> they've analyzed 1.4 million so famp so far. it's algorithm. the alleged mel gibson recording, margaret atwood. what does this mean? >> melvil'moby dick and the person that writes like him was stephen king. >> interesting. >> let's go to ours. we don't know these people. >> where are we? who are these well-known authors? thank you very much. continue to roll. the lyrics of lady gaga was william shakes spear. >> kathie lee, you are stephen

king. >> wow. >> the similarities. >> he's got better hair. hoda was david foster wallace. to what you said who's that? >> he's very famous and important. >> really? what did he write? >> lots of things. important works. who can keep track of all the books he's written. >> this is more your speed. yeah. askmen.com and kcosmopolitan magazine, they had a new survey and asked over 100,000 people to respond. it's a men/women survey. so they asked should men pay the tab. 1 in 4 women -- is that what it was? 4 out of 5 guys say the man should pick it up. 1 in 4 women expect a guy to. >> really? i'm surprised by that. i bet that is a generational thing. anybody my age would expect the

man to do it, or they're not much of a man. >> if you're dissatisfied with your sex life -- >> who isn't? only 25% of all the 100,000 said they were satisfied. only 25%. 30% were unsatisfied. and 45% were kind of satisfied. >> room for improvement. >> so most people, if you're at home saying i have the worst sex life, most people do. >> doesn't that make you feel better? 47% of men admit they would dump their significant other if they got fat. >> i think that's disgusting. >> 19% of women would do the same. >> that's a deal-breaker, then forget it. forget it. >> what if you can't help the fact you love the person, but you're completely turned off and can't fake that kind of affection, what do you do? >> you have to love them for more than that? >> there are different ways to love people.

>> have you ever really loved a fat person? >> of course. >> have you dated a fat person and his body is flabby? >> no, i haven't. >> okay. well, i have. i still thought he was sexy over the rolls and the whole thing. i liked him. sexy is here. it's not even -- it's here. >> i'm happy to hear this. what happened to that relationship, hoda? >> it did not quite work out. it didn't work out the way i liked. >> but everything else was really great? >> yes. i didn't mind that part of it. i wasn't terrible, but it was -- i mean, you knew what was going on. there was a lot happening there. okay. >> this is surprising. speakers with accents seem less truthful to listeners. i find accents very charming. i actually fall for people with accents, and i shouldn't. >> me, too. i think they're accents you're unfamiliar with make you -- i

think if you're used to an accents, i don't think that holds true, the person is les truthful. it's like you call someone and get a person with a thick and heavy accent. i need & and y. they're smart and don't kwitd understand everything you're saying. >> why would that make you less truthful? >> no. less trusting of what they're telling you. just because you can't understand them? >> i think so. i think you don't believe. i think you don't believe what people say. >> we'd love toe hear from you. sarah is like i don't know what they're talking about. >> bobbie has something to say. >> she would like to join in the chat. >> it's like you don't trust the communication, not the person. >> i think this says you don't trust the person, though, and that's why i agree with you, bobbie. it's you don't trust what you had heard. >> you know is that bob bie's

second mother is here and she's the first mother of justin timberla timberlake. she's a lovely lady. >> landis, nice to have you here. >> i met her 11 years ago in toronto and it was her son justin and my son cody's very first movie. i bet it bugs justin a little less than cody. >> she sees it on the guide. >> cody was missing the two the teeth, the who bit. >> he was? >> justin has gone on to be far more successful than my son has been. what's your secret? >> he's older. >> it's time for bobbie, don't you think? >> she had her shot. >> let's bring her in. >> we love you. >> i love you, lynn, and my mom,

too. i'm on the way to be dumped because my topic today is sweets on a stick. >> this is sitting in front of you. >> those are my favorite pieces of corn. cafe ha vaugvana. smeared with man noise, chili peppers and lime. >> this is going to destroy your lipstick. let's do it at the end. >> and then maria manudos sent over k-pops. these are bite-sized pieces of birthday cake. >> hello, maria. love you. >> she turned me on to these great gift to send to someone. for all the moms out there, anyone who loves the popsicle in the summer. you put it in your freezer and then it's cold and you can make

popsicles of any fruit you want to make in 7 to 9 minutes. >> you did it, girl. >> are you going to eat one of these? >> yes. >> we're going to give sarah one, too. >> i already ate one. it was supposed to be my prop, and i ate it. >> oh, my god. bobbie, this is crazy. >> it's crazy. >> that is spicy. it has kayenne or something. >> my tongue's on fire. >> go sarah. what do you regret? forwarding anne mail from my sales manager to my colleague making comments on it and hitting reply instead of forward. brooklyn sent a message to my boss about how lazy she was. it was supposed to go to my husband. we had a little talk afterwards. >> wow, wow. tech-free and happy. coming up, hello carol.

>> she has a new book. isn't she the cutest? >> adorable. >> we're going to talk to her right after this. she has a new cd helping kids in the arts. we love carol. [ sighs ] morning! mor-ning? i'm your genie. you're wishing for a deliciously, nutritious fiber cereal. i am. well, you don't want that one. new kellogg's fiber plus cereal®. the delicious taste of berries, plus yogurty clusters, plus 40% of your daily fiber... plus wait for it... antioxidants! so, two more wishes. mmmm. maybe later, then. [ female announcer ] new kellogg's fiber plus cereal®. positively delicious. ♪ ¿por que no probamos esto? [ male announcer ] old el paso. a special blend of seasoning for especially delicious tacos. feed your fiesta.

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♪ it's so nice to be back home where i belong ♪ >> it sure does. that is three-time tony award winning carol channing still wowing audiences at the age of 89 in her one-woman show called the "the first 80 years are the hardest." she has a brands new cd called "for heaven's sake." >> we're so thrilled you're here. >> i have to tell you why i'm really here. i've done raet different shows and i can't seem to get it in. all right.

>> get it in. >> it's the launching of the national campaign for getting art back into public schools. >> you just like right here -- >> eyeball to eyeball with hoda. >> you just said it. >> into public schools we have to get arts back. >> you know what? we have the money there. >> the fall of the holy roman empire, it's over for all of us. >> the kids are out on the street getting in trouble, and the arts can be like sports for kid. >> and they're bored stiff in school. it comes out of math and human biology and dull subjects like that. we have a nation of idiots coming up. i mean, we're not -- >> i tends to agree with you. i any we're cutting back on all the stuff that makes a huge difference in people's lives. >> and happiness. >> you've brought so many

happiness for so many years to so many people, there are 19 or 18 songs on this cd. >> do you have a favorite in the group? >> yes. ♪ mama send me a letter ♪ papa send me a stamp >> my father taught it to me. >> i didn't realize your father was bi-racial. >> my mother -- i wish it were. it doesn't matter. >> it was in our notes that you kept it quiet for a long time because thought it was a problem. >> he was the same color i am, but i don't know -- >> without makeup. >> my mother was mad at my father at the time and she decided i'm going to get even. she told me, i must tell you something. don't have a baby. all these crazy things, and then she said, you see, there's that much of black -- she calmed led colors. i thought i could join the dance

troup in new york. i was thrilled to pieces. do you know what it is? the main thing is i can dance and sing if it's true. i can dance better than any white woman i know. i can. >> and you have proven it over and over again. you must have had a great time with this. these are all songs her father taught her growing up. it's a lot of fun. >> we love you to pieces. >> angela lance bsbury is still kicking it up. >> in six months i'll be 90. >> you have to come back on your birthday. >> thank you. love you so much. >> that's great. >> from carol to a $33,000 mattress. >> is it worth it? >> we'll ask janice lieberman after this. lar system. mars is down...and...

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tiring, confusing, and could cause nightmares. >> only serta mattress is so comfortable. >> so many price points and choices. what are you looking for? >> i'm looking for something -- aim old-fashioned. like a box spring and mattress. i know that's what i want, you know. so i'm doing this lying down. >> mhow different are the mattress mattresses? we went on a tour at gold bond to find out what goes into building a bed. here 300 mattresses are made daily. >> consumers are going to get a phenomenal value for 799. >> what do you get for your money? at this factory it takes two days to have a mattress ready for shipping. >> we're handcrafting using modern technology and modern raw material with old craftsmanship to continue to make a very durable, long-lasting comfort product. >> the company expects the customer to get good use out of

their product for at least ten years. >> it has a look and feel of a mattress more expensive with high quality material. >> $799 for all that work sounds reasonable, right? hold onto your sleeping caps. the latest luxury mattress will run you tens of thousands, 33 grand for a good night's sleep. >> what are the prices? >> $33 now thousan,000. would you pay that? >> no. >> try it. >> how do you justify spending 3 thousa 3,000 to sleep well? we had to find out. >> we had final p fine quality raw materials. we use 20 pounds of wool blend and we use special latex foam. we have pushgs organic kocotton.

it's hand sewn in england and conforms to your body. >> it takes three days to make. >> people feel good about spending if they can afford it, of course. they feel good about buying a great mattress. it's a tool for sleeping and part of the good health. >> whether it's $700 or $33,000, you don't want to lose sleep over it, so you need to do your own research and that means testing them all out. >> oh, this is very nice. oh, my god. this is yummy. >> can you get a good night's sleep on an $800 mattress than $33,000 mattress. >> it depends what your specific needs are and what it takes to make you comfortable. >> i asked the sales manager to break it down. 20 years warranty on this bed, 4

4.50 a night. if you forego starbucks, get it. >> it's important that you sleep on it and it's who you sleep with. i don't know. that's what i've been told. >> come on. >>. >> that is cozy. >> i like it. >> oh, gosh. >> if this guarantee that i would sleep through the night, i think i'd have to go on the layaway plan. >> thank you so much. we have some -- going through a change of life crisis? >> yeah. we'll talk about that, and at the very end of all the symptoms is depression. i wonder why? >> yeah. we'll be back after your local news. why do women like you love activia light? sometimes i have no choice but to eat on the run and to eat whatever happens to be around. heavy greasy food that's hard on my diet and my digestive system. so i eat activia light every day. activia light, with bifidus regularis, helps regulate your digestive system in two weeks. mmmm. activia light is not light on taste!

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[ male announcer ] listerine®. clean deeper. get healthier.™ and for a deeper clean and brighter teeth, try advanced listerine with tartar protection. good morning, time is 10:26. i'm brent cannon. mike has a new accident to tell you about. >> this just came in, not a whole lot of detail, on the peninsula say the san mateo bridge. from this shot on the hayward side it does look like fog would be an issue. keep in mind it is there especially going over highway 92 to half moon bay. very easy drive from the bay brimg toll plaza.

highway 27 passing thousand the race way, nhra division 7 starting today. starting with 70s, can already see those on the map. 60s along the coast. still delay s at sfo. you can bring your dog to the a's game this afternoon. 69 in oakland. right through sonoma and mid and upper 80s for the southy. eband the ba cooler next week. we'll be right back. my mercury moment came when i got caught in this insane dust storm

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garlic is in the air in the south bay. the 32nd annual gilroy garlic festival kicks off today to the garlic cookoff and the food booths, a lot of the town takes parts in getting it going and people work together for several months. >> i have a barn and we store stuff in there. we sheds and warehouses and garages and it all comes together in this three-day party. >> they getting ready to get going. the festival runs through sunday. a major star will be in town filming a new movie, brad pitt plays billy bean in the money called "money ball." these are pictures from filming in l.a. how he changed the way major

league baseball looks at players. crews moved to the coliseum on monday and looking for extras. if you're interested go to nbcbayarea.com. "today" show continues coming up next. we'll see you back here monday. we're back on this summer friday with our plaza ambush makeovers where two lovely ladies have a whole new look. >> louis laccari and "us weekly" contributor jill martin were hard at work on the plaza. how was it? >> it was great. it was a beautiful day. zoo >> not so hot. >> it was filled with beautiful women that didn't have a clue how pretty they are. >> how lovely they are. >> they did. we'll begin with miss lovely mixen. 66 years old from queens,

new york. she's married to her husband for 47 years and has two kids and two grandkids. she puts on moisturizer and blush, because that's all she knows how to do. let's listen to her story. >> well, we couldn't miss this clan family reunion in the crowd, and i know you want this for your mother. tell us why. >> after 25 years of military service my mother has supported me 100%. i think she deserves this. >> congratulations. i know you look at her and told me you want a little improvement. >> right. take away the gray and do the eyebrows and trim the hair. >> there we go. are you ready for a makeover? >> yes, i am ready for a makeover. let's see who can color the gray? do the eyes. >> we're going to make you look beautiful. ready to see a whole new grandma? >> yes. >> all right. we have the whole mixen family.

keep your blindfolds on until we tell you to take them off. here is lovely mixen before. let's see the new you. >> stay right here. >> no, no. you guys ready? hold on. take off your blindfolds. take them off. take them off. hold on. now she has to see herself. hold on. >> goodness. >> that is amazing. >> you look gorgeous. you look -- look at the family. look at the husband. he's not here. >> he said i'll marry her. >> you look spectacular. >> thank you very much.

>> the hair is adorable. >> isn't that pretty? >> hold on. >> the haircut, first of all, adel did this great bob. they do layer it on the ends. always flattering. she had a problem. she had the gray around the front. it wouldn't cover. it made it darker and darker. i made it extra bright by adding a few subtle brown highlights. >> what does the family think? what do you guys think? amazing, right? >> amazing. >> they're all asking for a makeover. >> very striking. >> i just put together a lot of basics. the skirt is ming wang, and if you look at the sweater, she's a pear shape. we used the belt to accentuate her waist. >> what do you think of the new s you? >> i love it. thank you. >> go and join your family. >> wow.

>> all right. our second lady is sherry spencer. she's 49. they're happy. she's from boise, idaho married to her husband cooper for 21 years. they have two teenage daughters. she retired seven years ago to spends more time with her family, and now she's ready to do something for herself. she's here with her daughter morgan and her friends kristen and hanna. let's lynn to her tale. >> i love this because we have a retired hairdresser, and you're letting us do whatever we want? >> yes, anything you want. >> ouellet louis boss you around? >> you betcha. >> why do you want a makeover? >> i'm in new york. why not have a makeover. >> we're going to make you look sex in the city. i know you want this for your mom? >> yeah. she's taken care of me so well, and i love her so much. i want her to get a makeover. >> are you ready to go? >> i'm ready to go. whoo! >> this is so much fun.

over there are her daughter morgan and the friends kristen and hanna. take one last look. don't take the blindfolds off. here's sherry spencer before. let's bring the new love v lovelier schey eier sherry spen? >> oh, my god. you want to take a look? okay. >> there go the tears. >> don't look at that. we're going to lose you. we're going to look at yourself. turn right around. >> oh, my god! >> nobody can believe it's you. >> wow. beautiful. >> it's absolutely stunning. louis, is that a -- >> you can see the hair. >> she does saucy better than anybody. >> i have to tell you, the great thing what she has to do in the morning, absolutely nothing. that's wash and wear. it's absolutely beautiful. she did this trick where she made the iliner a little thicker

on the end to lift up her eyes to give her that look. >> look straight into the camera, please. look at the difference there. >> wow, wow. >> we need a kleenex over here. >> jill, love the outfit. >> you know we love white. this is a blazer, and she can mix and match match this with jeans and a white t-shirt all throughout the year. >> what do you think? >> you look great. i'm so happy for you. >> let's bring mixen back out. >> we have lovely and gorgeous. here we are. don't forget, if you'd like to be ambushed this summer head to our plaza on thursday. >> up next, dealing with the change of life. >> can't imagine what that's all about. >> after that. >> i've changed so many times. i was short of breath, so i couldn't always do what i wanted to do. but five minutes ago, i took symbicort,

and symbicort is already helping significantly improve my lung function. so, today, i've noticed a significant difference in my breathing. and i'm doing more of what i want to do. so we're clear -- it doesn't replace a rescue inhaler for sudden symptoms. my doctor said symbicort is for copd, including chronic bronchitis and emphysema. it should not be taken more than twice a day. symbicort may increase your risk of lung infections, osteoporosis, and some eye problems. tell your doctor if you have a heart condition or high blood pressure before taking it. my copd often meant i had to wait to do what i wanted to do. now i take symbicort, and it's significantly improves my lung function, starting within five minutes. symbicort has made a significant difference in my breathing. now more of my want-tos are can-dos. as your doctor about symbicort today. i got my first prescription free. call or go online to learn more. [ male announcer ] if you cannot afford your medication, astrazeneca may be able to help. and you have that moment of... "oh, yeah!" well... this... is mine.

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it is an unavoidable part of life for every woman, and we're talking about menopause. the hot flashes and weight gain and headaches. >> depression. >> if you're going through the change, you may be considering hormone replacement therapy, hormone replacement therapy. here to tell us about is dr. lauren striker, she's the assistant clingal professor of obstetrics and guy kolb at northwestern medical school. that's a mouthful. >> yes, it is. >> here's all the symptoms. you don't get them all at once, and you can.

therefore you would be depressed. >> i think everyone is aware of the hot flashes, the dryness and insomnia. where it gets tricky is to know are you depressed because your husband is having an affair and your son pierced his tongue or because you're outs of estrogen or a combination of both? if you're depressed about all the other issues and then on top of that you have raging hormones and you get a good night's sleep and you can't think clearly and you're gaining weight -- >> you're forgetting things. >> welcome to my world. >> it's not cut and dried like on monday you're not going through it and on wednesday you are. >> that's why i call it the roller coaster. you go a couple months without your period, you think you're done and then wham, when you're whigt and getting on an airplane there it is again. so you're ovaries kick in for one last hur ray. a lot of times people say i went to the health food store and talked to the expert behind the counter and they got the

products and it made their symptoms go away and they're surprise when they come back. your ovaries probably kicked in. until you've been without a period for a full 12 months unless your ovaries have been removed. >> then it's called menopause and before that it's peri menopause. >> a lot of people try to do it organically and others try hormone replacement. >> i would like to say the botanicals work, but they don't. there have been many, many studies that show beyond the placebo effect you're not going to get a great result in terms of alleviating hot flashes. the only thing that works is hormone therapy, estrogen therapy. >> i think what it is is people are still like flashing back to 2002. remember there was that big study that came out, and it said that if you take hormones it will cause heart disease and blood clots and death and all these horrible things.

everyone took their premarin and flushed it down the toilet. now we realize there was so many flaws in the way the original study was done, and what we have to offer today is so much better and safer, and it's completely different. and what a lot of women aren't aware of is that the newer hormone therapy, the newer estrogens, many that are transdermal through the skin, bypasses the liver. all that bad stuff in terms of blood clotting and all that, we don't see it with the newer hormone. >> what about the breast cancer rifs risk? >> theest jo esestheestrogen gr that's so important about the study, one of the biggest flaw was the age of the women. the women in that study were 63 and 70% were over the age of 60. we give estrogen today early and

use the -- >> we have to have you back, because it's complicated but it's so important. >> we'll look at products the next time around. >> thank you so much. >> up next, we have to get to the cool treats to beat the summer heat after these mess ajs. . ag. e. messages. swipe your card please. excuse me...? this belongs to you... o...um...thank you. excuse me... this is yours... thank you! you're welcome. with chase freedom you can get a total of 5% cash back in your pocket. fun money from freedom. this is yours! thank you! what? that's 5% cash back in quarterly bonus categories all year long. does your card do this? sign up for this quarter's bonus today. chase what matters. go to chase.com/freedom. in the fridge it's a light and fluffy mousse... ...but put it in the freezer... and... ...voila!

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welcome back to "today's kitchen." >> donatella is the author of donatella cooks simple food made glamorous. nice to see you. >> a glamorous shot on the front of the book. >> you can't help it. it's what you are. >> we can cook and be glamorous, too. it's easy and simple, and we're going to start with semifredo.

>> it's ice cream you and don't need a machine. this is peach and sugar. you take whipped cream and you know how to fold. you just fold. >> you gently fold. >> you keep it nice and fluffy. you can take any mold you want like a popsicle and fill it and freeze it for two hours. that is it. >> these are the pops right sneer. >> yes, you can try it. >> freeze it for two hours. ilts fun and like an ice cream treat. >> try it. it's very healthy. >> yum. >> the next treat is my updated version of jell-o shots in college. >> i went to oral roberts. we did not do shots. >> i've been making up for it since. >> it's unflavored sprinkles, gelatin with the alcohol, a little water. you heat it up. it forms a little gelatin, and

you pour it into the ice wine. this is ice wine, which is a dessert wine. it's grapes frozen on the vine and fermented. it's really delicious. >> okay. >> we can pour it into the measuring cup. what a love to do is take grapes and freeze them, and i use them -- aren't these -- grapes are -- >> they're the best treat in the world. >> i love them. >> you pour them and set them to chill. that's it. here you go, ladies, this is your ice wine jell-o with frozen grapes. >> thank you. >> it's jell-o. >> you eat it with a spoon. >> hold on. we weren't ready. where did donatella go? >> come follow me with the jell-o. follow me with the jell-o. >> that's good. >> i have a restaurant down on 58th street and today we're launching our ice cream gelato sa

sandwiches. >> careful. >> you girls are bad. this is morning tv, ladies. >> uh-huh. >> gelato and this is pistachio. you sprinkle it with pistachio. >> this is a strange concept, i have to say. >> it's really good. in italy we have tall the time. >> i can't have sweets or bread. >> huh-uh. >> really? >> i would have never thought of that. >> it's perky. that's delicious. >> you're going to be good, because it's all over your lips. >> i like it there. >> there's more. >> there's nothing for me. it's like do i get to -- >> entertaining. sorbet. this is one of my favorites. you just pour it on, and it's the perfect little indulgence

when our entertaining. >> that's a smart idea. ice cream or sorbet. >> this is a lemon sorbet. >> you can add a little mint and garnish it. anything fresh always makes it great. >> donatelldonatella. >> we didn't turn on the oven, did we? >> not at all. that's how we like it. >> you can find all these reci e recipes on our website. >> we'll be right back. first, this is "today" on nbc. ♪

we have an awesome line-up next week when apolo ohno stops and ashley judd. >> we have america ferrara and the hilarious rob schneider. >> apolo ono tweets all the time. he's always tweeting.

here's a sunset. i'm eating a hot dog. this is what i'm doing. >> it's like kathie doesn't want to tweet. >> thanks for being with us. >> here's a look back at the week that was. >> hoda. >> hoda reporter. >> okay. >> what? hey. >> delighted you're back from yourle little week off. how was it? >> we had a great time. >> it just flew by eating and drinking. >> i love spanx. she's the anti-spanx one. >> i have ants in my apartment. i've tried raid. >> i think you need a new apartment, hoda. >> in case you care the ants in my apartment are dead. >> wait. how wou how old do you think i am?

>> 26. >> well said debbie, deborah. >> all three of them. >> what are you talking about? >> all three of them. >> what are you talking about? >> i'mgood.good. -- captions by vitac -- www.vitac.com