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Overnight Briefing & General Reality Check - Jun 14, 2013
June 14, 2013
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It's Flag Day (anniversary of the Stars & Stripes). Basically, on this day in 1777, the Continental Congress made the Stars & Stripes the first National Flag. No one knows who really designed the FIRST American flag; historians believe it was FRANCIS HOPKINSON, a New Jersey delegate to the Continental Congress and a signer of the Declaration of Independence. As part of the Continental Congress' flag committee, he allegedly took the design to Philadelphia seamstress BETSY ROSS, who sewed it.
Editor's note: Although Betsy was primarily an upholsterer, she prayed in the pew next to GEORGE WASHINGTON, and a niece of GEORGE ROSS, both of whom were on the Flag Committee. And since upholsterers normally were called upon to make flags back in the day, it's not hard to believe she actually DID make the first flag.Sunday is Father's Day:
Mrs. John B Dodd of Spokane, WA, came up with the idea for Father's Day back in 1910. Spokane's mayor, who proclaimed the day to be June 19, embraced it.
Actually, Sonora Dodd thought of the idea for Father's Day while listening to a Mother's Day sermon in 1909. Sonora wanted a special day to honor her father, WILLIAM SMART. He was a Civil War veteran who lost his wife while she gave birth to their sixth child. He was left to raise the newborn and his other five children by himself on a rural farm in eastern Washington state.
After Sonora became an adult she realized the selflessness her father had shown in raising his children as a single parent and wanted to honor that parental sacrifice. Since he was born in June, she chose to hold the first Father's Day celebration in Spokane, where she lived, on that 19th of June in 1910.Freebies and deals for Father's Day:
There's several places which will be giving Dads free stuff this weekend:
--Shoney's will honor dads this Sunday with a signature Hot Fudge Cake with the purchase of a meal or entree.
--Dads who purchase 10 chicken wings at Hooters on Father's Day will get 10 free.
--Wendy's will donate 50 cents from the sale of every Frosty product all weekend (their annual Father's Day Frosty Weekend) to support a national effort to match America's foster children with prospective adoptive parents. All Frosty products are included --including their newest treat, the Frosty Waffle Cone.
--White Castle is giving dads four original sliders for a buck.
--Spaghetti Warehouse will give Dads free spaghetti or lasagna entrees (with soup and salad) if they bring in downloaded coupons from the chain's website on Father's Day.
--Head to Ben & Jerry's on Sunday to see if dad can get a free scoop of ice cream.
--At TCBY frozen yogurt stores, Dads will get free, six-ounce cups --and at some stores, cones on Sunday.Looking for something special for Dad this Father's day? How about a "Duck Dynasty" card?
Yep, you can now find 'em in card stores since the ROBERTSON family from A&E's hit show signed a licensing agreement with Hallmark cards.
The new line will be in WalMart stores just in time for Father's Day. There's also gift books, stationery, ornaments, gift wrap, plastic cups and more in the works as well, which will show up by September.
And for kids, they'll also be doing a "Duck Dynasty" back-to-school" line of supplies by August, featuring spiral notebooks, three-ring binders, composition books and folders.Sucking the life out of the wire services:
LINDSAY LOHAN bid a fond adieu to the Betty Ford Center and is now rehabbing at a place called Cliffside in Malibu, California. Sources tell TMZ.com the move was approved by prosecutors, the judge and her attorney and the hot mess is using her downtime to write! CINDY ADAMS of the NY Postreports Lilo requested a typewriter in treatment. (Lee)
FYI: Cliffside Malibu's phone number: 866-708-0053. Their websiteclaims to offer "cutting-edge, evidence-based, life-saving, holistic treatment in a luxury estate setting." There's also Acupuncture, Massage, Yoga and even Equine Assisted Therapy (yeah --ride horses as therapy). A review by The Fix says the place costs $53-thousand a month for a semi-private room; $68-grand for a private room. "But don't mistake Cliffside Malibu for a place that serves nothing but alfalfa sprouts and whole grains; bacon is available every morning at breakfast, and the beef tenderloin is a dinnertime favorite. And while indulgences such as coffee, snacks and sweets aren't promoted, you won't want for them, either. Kitchen staff even went on a Diet Coke run for one alumnus who said 'no way' to the always-disappointing question, 'Diet Pepsi OK'?" -
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