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Overnight Briefing & General Reality Check - Apr 26, 2012
April 26, 2012
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Fast Food:
If you typically start your day with a Croissan'wich, go ahead and pat yourself on the back: You'll soon be supporting cage-free farming.
Burger King made major fast-food news yesterday with the announcement that within the next five years it will use cage-free pigs and chicken products exclusively.
It's the first national chain to make that promise. The Humane Society, which pressed the move, is thrilled and hopes the company's decision will raise the bar for other corporations. Could be, as analysts say the decision represents "a game-change in the egg and pork supply business."
Currently, pigs and chickens are kept in cramped quarters, even during pregnancy, which can harm their health.
Other food corporations have recently started to show signs of moving toward humane practices. McDonalds and Wendy's announced their intentions to eliminate gestation crates earlier this year (but gave no time limit). Smithfield Farms and Hormel also committed to removing the crates by 2017. And in the state of California, the 2008 bill Proposition 2 called for an end to crowded crates and cages by 2015. (Maiman)Sucking the life out of the wire services:
Congratulations to BEYONCE KNOWLES, who was just named the "World's Most Beautiful Woman" by People magazine. Mrs. SHAWN "Jay-Z" CARTER says she feels "more beautiful" than ever since giving birth to little BLUE IVY, believes the word "love" means something "completely different" and has never felt like she's had "such a purpose on this earth." Although mom is a traffic-stopper, she's got some competition and coos that her baby girl is absolutely "the cutest thing."
Other ladies making the grade include CHARLIZE THERON, MIRANDA LAMBERT, SOFIA VERGARA and KATE MIDDLETON. The full issue hits news stands this Friday. (Lee)TOM CRUISE is a smoothie fan. Us Weekly reports that the actor had a smoothie machine and cappuccio machine put in on the set of his sci-fi movie "Oblivion" for everyone to use. (Myers)
Designer Update:
The Go-Go's BELINDA CARLISLE has branched out into design. She just debuted a line of home accessories at Bergdorf Goodman last month. Women's Wear Daily says Belinda's been living part-time in India for the last two years and all the textiles in her line are woven there. A portion of sales benefits an Indian organization that cares for abandoned children with disabilities. (Bartha)
TV Briefs:
--"Dancing With the Stars" update: MARIO LOPEZ, who appeared on season three of the show, told KELLY RIPA yesterday that producers were after him to participate in an "All-Stars" version of "Dancing With The Stars" next season. No comment from ABC about the possibility of an "All-Stars" show.
Grace notes from Vinny Marino:
Ever think that maybe LADY GAGA and JUSTIN BIEBER are aliens? Well, you may be right. They'll both appear in "Men In Black 3" on a surveillance board at headquarters. Director BARRY SONNENFELD said he chooses the celebrities who wind up on that board very carefully. First, you have to figure out who will still be remembered in 10 years, and then get their permission to use their images. "Men In Black 3" opens in theaters on May 25th. (Marino)
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