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Overnight Briefing & General Reality Check - May 21, 2012
May 21, 2012
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Involved:
Almost two years after AL and TIPPER GORE announced their split, the former vice president has a new serious girlfriend. ELIZABETH KEADLE, called Liz, is a Democratic donor with a passion for the environment, and the Washington Post makes her sound like quite the catch, describing her as "independently wealthy, discreet, age-appropriate. All good things, if you're one of the most famous men in the world." She lives in Southern California, is in her 50s, and is serious enough with 64-year-old Gore that she traveled with him to Antarctica this year on a climate change awareness trip.
Editor's note: Ten years ago, who'd have guessed: Al & Tipper, divorced; Bill and Hillary still married. (Maiman)Sucking the life out of the wire services:
Update: As we told 'ya last week, "Terminator 3" actor NICK STAHL went MIA and his wife filed a missing persons report, but the missus, ROSE STAHL, now tells TMZ.com her prince checked into rehab. (Lee)
We're up to seven accusers in the JOHN TRAVOLTA sexual assault claims.
Two more men, from Seattle and Miami, have accused Travolta of assaulting them at high-end hotels, in addition to five other men, including three masseurs, who claim John groped them and asked for sex.
The NY Daily News says the new guys are a masseur named JEFF at the Eden Roc Resort in Miami and a former hotel employee at the Westin Hotel in Seattle, who says Travolta cornered him after a Qantas event in 2000, as he was cleaning up a guest room, then grabbed his butt. When he turned around, he told the Daily News Travolta's pants were unzipped and he was exposed.
Travolta's lawyer, MARTY SINGER, continues to insist the charges have been trumped up.Grace notes from Vinny Marino:
ROBIN GIBB of the BEE GEES has died. His long battle with cancer ended yesterday. Robin was 62.
Robin was one of two middle brothers in the Gibb family. He and his brother Maurice (pronounced "morris") were fraternal twins. Robin and Maurice were born on the UK's Isle of Man and then moved with the family to Manchester. The Gibbs then immigrated to Australia in 1958. This is where the Brothers Gibb, or Bee Gees, Barry, Robin and Maurice began their music career.
When they returned to England in 1967, BEATLES manager BRIAN EPSTEIN had his new business partner, ROBERT STIGWOOD take a look at the group. He was impressed and signed them up.Robin was the lead singer in those early days,but, his older brother Barry wanted the spotlight so Robin was the first Bee Gee to release a solo album, "Robin's Reign."
The band broke up, but reunited in 1970 and had a few hits before their record sales came to a grinding halt. But, the group's mega-success came when their manager asked them to write songs for a low-budget movie about life in New York City's disco culture.
"Saturday Night Fever" made a star out of JOHN TRAVOLTA and the Bee Gees became worldwide superstars. Maurice became very ill with a twisted intestine and died on the operating table in January of 2003. He was just 53 years old. Robin had the same condition, and was then diagnosed with liver cancer. He was in and out of remission, and in and out of the hospital. He slipped into a coma on April 14th.
Robin and Barry were planning on getting back together to record and maybe even tour. Robin leaves behind a wife and three children. (Marino)Horsies:
Looks like I'll Have Another has a shot at the Triple Crown. The horse came from behind down the stretch to beat out the favorite, Bodemeister, by a neck to win the Preakness Stakes, and now, all he has to do is win the Belmont Stakes to become the first horse since Affirmed in 1978 to pick up the title.
Easier said than done. There's been 11 other horses who have won the first two legs since 1978, but failed in the grueling 1.5 mile Belmont Stakes. They are:
--Spectacular Bid, 1979
--Pleasant Colony. 1981
--Alysheba, 1987
--Sunday Silence, 1989
--Silver Charm, 1997
--Real Quiet, 1998
--Charismatic, 1999
--War Emblem, 2002
--Funny Cide, 2003
--Smarty Jones, 2004
--Big Brown, 2008Health and Medical Briefs:
Government health officials are calling on all baby boomers to be tested for hepatitis C. Statistics suggest one in 30 may be infected with the virus, but very few actually know it.
According to WebMD, new studies show more than two million baby boomers in the U-S are infected with hepatitis C. The generation born from 1945 through 1965 now account for more than three-quarters of all Americans living with the virus. Unfortunately very few are aware they are infected or even at risk for infection. Hepatitis C can lead to serious liver disease and liver cancer, but therapies can cure up to 75-percent of hepatitis C infections. (Page) -
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