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Overnight Briefing & General Reality Check - Jan 27, 2012
January 27, 2012
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Sucking Up:
Secretary of State HILLARY CLINTON has tried again to quell any speculation about replacing VP JOE BIDEN on a ticket with PRESIDENT OBAMA. At a town hall meeting with State Department employees on Thursday, one staffer asked, "What could we do to persuade you to run for vice president?"
Mrs. Clinton answered, "I will certainly stay on until the president nominates someone and that transition can occur... But I think, after 20 years... of being on the high wire of American politics, and all of the challenges that come with that, it would probably be a good idea to just find out how tired I am." (Pacelli)Guilty Pleasures:
No winner in Wednesday night's drawing for the Powerball Lottery. That means Saturday night's drawing is valued at $146 million ($91.4 million cash value). Powerball is played in 44 states, Washington, DC and the U-S Virgin Islands. Chances of winning the grand prize (all five numbers plus the powerball) are 1 in 195.2 million.
Today's police blotter:
Automatic flushers are disappearing from restaurant toilets in the Columbus, OH, area. Restaurants and other businesses have been reporting the thefts.
Police believe it could be because the devices contain a metal called "red brass" that can go for more than $2 a pound.
Editor's note: Lemme guess. Police have nothing to go on? (Life's a rimshot, ain't it? --Maiman)TV Briefs:
There will be many landmark commercials during this year's Super Bowl (as usual), but the one getting the most attention yesterday was one in which MATTHEW BRODERICK will once again become his signature character, Ferris Bueller, to shill for... something.
Yeah. You gotta watch Super Bowl 46 to find out exactly what the product will be. The 10-second teaser is on YouTube.
Also coming: A Pepsi commercial starring MELANIE AMARO, the winner of "The X Factor," and an M&M's ad introducing a Brown spokescandy.MARIE OSMOND is returning to television, without DONNY. She's working with the Hallmark Channel on a new daytime talk show, replacing MARTHA STEWART's show which has been canceled. Marie's program will premiere in the fall. (Marino)
10 most-hated jobs (CNBC):
A company called CareerBliss conducted an online survey to measure the level of job dissatisfaction of respondents. Limited growth opportunities and lack of reward, not salary, were the biggest complaints.
CareerBliss touts itself as an employment resource for people looking for a happier, more satisfying job and work environment. These occupations (described here) registered highest on their misery index:
10. Marketing Manager
9. CNC Machinist
8. Technical Support Analyst
7. Law Clerk
6. Electronics Technician
5. Technical Specialist
4. Senior Web Developer
3. Product Manager
2. Director of Sales and Marketing
1. Director of Information TechnologyFood and Nutrition:
As we mentioned yesterday, the U-S Department of Agriculture has finalized the first major changes in nutrition standards for school meals in 15 years. They call for USDA-subsidized breakfasts and lunches to offer more fruits, vegetables and whole grains; serve only fat-free or low-fat milk; and reduce levels of saturated fat, trans fat and sodium. They also set calorie maximums for the first time, and lower calorie minimums. Schools are required to be in compliance with most of the new standards by Jul 01.
But --don't be too impressed: the finalized standards aren't as healthy as the USDA had intended. In response to food-industry lobbying, Congress last year blocked some of the requirements included in the USDA's original subsidized-meals program proposals, including limiting pizza and French fries, and limiting potatoes to two servings per week. A bill also continued the practice of allowing schools to count the tomato sauce on pizzas as a vegetable. (Kaye) -
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