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Overnight Briefing & General Reality Check - Mar 22, 2013
March 22, 2013
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Political Racket /Dirty Tricks:
There's a call from some members of Congress for the NFL's Washington Redskins to change their name. A group of House Democrats has introduced a bill that would prevent the term "Redskins" from being trademarked, and thereby hopefully push the 'Skins to drop their name once and for all.
DC House delegate ELANOR HOLMES-NORTON is one of the co-sponsors of "The Non-Disparagement of American Indians in Trademark Registrations Act of 2013."
That comes just after a federal trademark panel recently heard arguments over whether the team name was a slur. If they agree that it is in fact a slur, the panel could potentially overturn the team's trademark. (Pacelli)Guilty Pleasures:
No winner in Wednesday night's drawing for the Powerball Lottery. That means Saturday night's drawing is valued at $320 million ($198.3 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 175.2 million.
Chic Sh*t:
DUCHESS KATE MIDDLETON took an official tour of the London Underground earlier this week. (The Underground... that's British for "subway.") Kate was given a "Baby on Board" button to accessorize her teal green Marlene Birger coat. She scrunched up her royally adorable nose and had a good royal laugh over it. She's five month's pregnant and doesn't look like she's gained One. Single. Royal. Ounce. Because if she wasn't already famous, she'd need to hang a sign up to make it obvious.
But the Daily Mail says there was another purpose behind the pin. It turns out the London Underground gives out the "Baby on Board" pins free to expectant mothers. It's supposed to be a "gentle hint" to fellow commuters to offer their seats to the pregnant moms and reminder to be more courteous.
Editor's note /phone starter: I rode a bus and train a many times when pregnant. Number of times I recall being offered a seat when none were available: One. Is this a good idea? Too subtle? Do you offer your seat to pregnant women when the bus or train is full? Would you be insulted if someone offered you a seat? (Bartha)Stars and their movies:
SETH ROGEN will be the star of the upcoming Columbia Pictures comedy, "The Interview."
Deadline.com says he'll play a talk show producer who travels to North Korea with his host and they get drawn into geopolitical intrigue with an attempt on the life of one of the leaders.
Editor's note: It kind of sounds like a plot for one of DENNIS RODMAN's trips, doesn't it?Grace notes:
BOBBY BROWN has a new fashion accessory: an ankle bracelet. The Los Angeles Times says he was released from prison on Wednesday, even though he was sentenced to serve 55 days after pleading no contest to driving under the influence and driving with a suspended license. They have that pesky prison overcrowding thing in L.A., so Bobby spent about five hours behind bars. But, now he's being monitored by the Los Angeles County Probation Department and has to wear the ankle bracelet for eight days. That means Bobby basically has to stay home. (Marino)
Weird science:
Scientists in Dubai have successfully bred a chicken with a duck's DNA as its father.
Yes, you read that right: scientists took the cells a duck uses to produce eggs and sperm and injected it into the organs of a chicken embryo, and the chicken began to produce the duck's sperm as it matured.
Initially part of an experiment to make hens more fertile, scientists now say they may soon allow hens to lay eggs of other birds, including ducks, songbirds, hawks and eagles.
Editor's note: Does this make it a Dicken?
--Well, every rule always has an egg-ception. (Maiman) -
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