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Overnight Briefing & General Reality Check - Nov 14, 2013
November 14, 2013
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Looking for Love in all the Wrong Places:
Cyber cafes in China found a way to boost business that has nothing to do with coffee or computers.
ZHU LUDI, owner of the Playboy Bunny cafe, has begun hiring girls in bikinis to talk to the nerdy male customers. In fact, coffee shops all over China have started paying hot girls to make friends with the customers. Some critics are slamming the scheme as "sexist". But, Chinese internet cafe owners claim they are performing a useful role in society.
The girls don't seem to mind it either. One bikini clad young lady said it's "better than most student jobs because you get to meet nice young men in a nice environment and get paid." (Still)Your Body:
Sorry ladies, but whatever they said on "Sex in the City" just ain't so. The best sex you are ever going to have is most likely not going to come from a random encounter.
A Kinsey Institute study of hundreds of college students finds that women are about half as likely to achieve sexual satisfaction during a casual hookup than during a committed relationship. But these women are still seeking out casual sex for benefits --physical and emotional-- other than their own pleasure.
One recent test subject described as "sort of like having the experience, and having somebody that you can call or you can like, whose house you can spend the night in if you don't feel like you want to be going home alone. It almost is weirdly irrelevant whether or not the sex is actually good." (Maiman)Broadcast, cable and video news:
Didja read Beowulf in English Lit?
Because the SYFY network is doing a series based on the epic poem, considered to be one of the most important works of Anglo-Saxon literature.
In the original poem, a Scandinavian hero named Beowulf helps out a Danish king whose fast food takeout place is being attacked by a monster named Grendel. After Beowulf drops him like a box of rocks, Grendel's mother --also a monster-- drops by to nail our hero and he beats the daylights out of her, too, and becomes King when he gets back home. There's more, but you get the picture.
Deadline says the drama series will be an "adaptation" but nobody's said whether it'll be a modern adaptation or something more like "Game of Thrones."Fashion Emergency:
The Nakedest Holiday Special on TV was recorded last night. The annual Victoria's Secret Fashion Show will air December 10th at 10 p.m. on CBS. The LA Times gives the rundown:
--Performances by TAYLOR SWIFT, FALL OUT BOY, A GREAT BIG WORLD and NEON JUNGLE.
--Lots of scantily-clad lingerie models, including CARA DELEVINGNE, ADRIANA LIMA, ALESSANDRA AMBROSIO and KARLIE KLOSS
--CANDICE SWANEPOEL wearing the $10 million dollar "Royal Fantasy Bra." It includes a 52-carat pear-shaped ruby that hangs from the middle of the bra. Also 4,200 rubies, diamonds and yellow sapphires, all hand-set in 18-carat gold. The bra also comes with a matching belt and two bodyguards. (Bartha)Filling a need:
Got a sugar tooth the size of a steak? Hope you've been saving your pennies, 'cuz the granddaddy of all desserts is waiting at a Hollywood joint called The Powder Room. PerezHilton.com reports the nightspot is serving a milkshake that features premium spirits, Belgian chocolate, edible gold and even comes with a Swarovski Nirvana Montana blue crystal ring. The Velvet Goldmine is available now for a budget-friendly $500. (Lee)
Getting up to speed:
Three quick ways to help disaster relief efforts in the Philippines, via your phone (all donations will be added to your monthly bill):
--Shelterbox delivers survival necessities to homeless and displaced families instantly after a disaster. Their large boxes include things like a big tent, clean water, blankets, cooking utensils and other vital items. Donate $10 by texting "Shelter" to 20222.
--UNICEF is helping displaced families find access to shelter, clean water, food and vaccines and airlifting supplies from its Copenhagen warehouse. To give $10, text RELIEF to 864233.
--World Food Programme (WFP), another United Nations organization, is sending more than 40 tons of food and working with the Filipino government to help with logistics and emergency communications systems. To donate $10, text the word AID to 27722. (Kaye) -
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