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Overnight Briefing & General Reality Check - Jul 30, 2014
July 30, 2014
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I'm a Poll Man:
Despite all the nasty rhetoric surrounding immigration reform, a new poll from the Public Religion Research Institute shows that the vast majority of Americans have a soft spot for migrant children now crossing the U.S. border at Texas. Sixty-nine-percent of Americans polled say those kids should be treated as refugees, with just 27-percent saying those kids should be deported.
However, 59-percent of Americans say they mostly or completely agree with the statement that the allowing the children to stay will increase illegal immigration. (Pacelli)Filling a need:
Are you looking to ramp up your fitness regimen, but tired of the same old options? Great news --you can burn some calories just like DARRYL HANNAH in "Splash" with an academy dedicated to "mermaiding." Yep, Distractify.com reports students get to wear mermaid tails and are taught to use their core muscles to propel themselves, how to swim without floaters and to care for the fins. People of all ages, sizes and gender have signed on, but wannabe Ariels will need a passport as the lessons are held in Boracay Island in the Philippines. (Lee)
Shopping Around:
Check your supermarket snack food aisles for the latest offering from Frito-Lay: Cappuccino chips. The questionable flavor joined the chip-maker's other latest treats this week --Cheddar Bacon Mac & Cheese, Mango Salsa and Wasabi Ginger.
The Boston Globe explains the four flavors emerged as finalists from the Lays Do Us a Flavor contest, the annual event that lets chip aficionados submit flavors to Frito-Lay every summer. The four finalists are selected from thousands of submissions and get marketed nationwide for a few months so tasters can vote online for their fave to become a permanent flavor. If you recall last summer's Chicken and Waffles contestant, you probably mourned the fact that it got edged out in favor of the Cheesy Garlic Bread flavor, now a Frito-Lay standby.
Vote HERE. (Kaye)On, off and way-off Broadway:
"The Princess Bride" may come to Broadway after all. The UK newspaper The Guardian says ROB REINER, who directed the 1987 movie, has once again put a stage musical version in development with Disney. They both tried this once before, but couldn't get the project up and running. Rob asked RANDY NEWMAN to come up with the songs, but he said no. So did JOHN MAYER. Reiner didn't have a whole lot of info about the musical, but he said he still wants to make it happen. (Marino)
Designer Update:
Spanx, the leading brand of shapewear on the market, has just introduced Spanx jeans. New York magazine's The Cut says the maker of extra-extra-tight tights will give your denim "thigh-trimming construction." The new elastic jeans have Spanx's body-hugging, signature tight stretch.
Editor's note: They sound more like denim pantyhose than denim pants. (Bartha)Cops & robbers:
A group of would-be robbers in Texas were foiled by a mixed martial arts fighter.
Semi-pro MMA fighter MAYURA DISSANYAKE works behind the counter at Fuel Depot in Houston. His co-worker was outside with the store's bank bag full of cash, when a group of men jumped out of an SUV. Security cameras caught the incident on video as the men surrounded the co-worker. When he saw what was happening, Dissanyake took action. He ran outside and knocked one man down with a single punch. He explains, "I just kicked him until he lays down on the floor... I wasn't sure if he had a knife or a gun so I wanted him to stop moving."
The suspect was arrested, but his accomplices got away.
If you missed Dissanyake in action at the gas station, you can always catch him fighting on August 23rd at the Bayou City Event Center. (Still) -
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