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Overnight Briefing & General Reality Check - Feb 17, 2015
February 17, 2015
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Techno-geek-a-zoid crap:
Coolness alert: Contacts with wink-controlled zoom lenses may be coming soon to a future near you. Swiss researchers unveiled a prototype of the1.5-millimeter-thick lenses at the annual American Association for the Advancement of Science meeting in California on Friday. The contacts come with smart glasses that respond to the wearer's winks (not blinks --winks-- a very important distinction) so that the user can switch from normal to 2.8-times magnified vision. The wearer winks with the right eye to activate the telescope and deactivates it with the left eye.
CNET.com says the zoom contact lenses were funded by the Pentagon's advanced research division (DARPA) and initially developed to serve as a form of "bionic vision" for soldiers. But researchers also hope to make the super-contacts a reality for all people, especially for patients with low vision and age-related eye diseases like macular degeneration. (Bartha)Bad luck:
The Oscar Mayer Wienermobile spun out of control in Pennsylvania Sunday.
Windy conditions along South Enola Road in East Pennsboro Township caused the driver to skid off the road and slam into a pole. The accident caused traffic to backup because of rubber-necking and people pulling over to snap photos. The Wienermobile will be out of commission for awhile, it has a smashed windshield and "serious damage of the front of the 'bun' fender." Fortunately nobody was injured in the mishap. (Still)
FYI: Oscar Meyer has eight Wienermobiles, each driven by a "Hotdogger" and carrying various products from the company. The company first introduced the Wienermobile back in 1936, and they've evolved since then. Six of the Wienermobiles are full sized; the other two are a mini and food truck version.
Wienermobile trivia: Back in 2012 it was revealed that vice presidential candidate PAUL RYAN once drove the Wienermobile as a guest during a summer job as a Kraft sales rep.Grace notes:
LESLEY GORE has passed away. The New York Times says she had cancer and died yesterday at a hospital in New York City. She was 68. Lesley Sue Goldstein was born in Brooklyn, New York, and raised in Tenafly, New Jersey. She scored her first hit, "It's My Party" when she was just 17 years old. It was a number one smash in 1963. QUINCY JONES produced most of her music when he was an executive for Mercury Records. Lesley's other hits included "Judy's Turn To Cry," "She's A Fool," "You Don't Own Me," and "Sunshine, Lollipops And Rainbows." She was also in the movies "Girls On The Beach," "Ski Party" and the legendary "T.A.M.I. Show" with the BEACH BOYS, THE ROLLING STONES and JAMES BROWN. And, Lesley played Pussycat, one of Catwoman's crew on the original "Batman" TV series. Years later, Lesley came out and started working with various groups on gay and lesbian issues. She is survived by her partner of 33 years, Lois Sasson. (Marino)
Sucks to be you:
It's a sad day on the Jersey Shore as MIKE "The Situation" SORRENTINO's tanning salon has shut it's doors. Sources tell TMZ.com the guido fell behind on his rent, the landlord took him to court, they struck a deal to settle for $32-thousand dollars and he missed his first payment.
Fans looking to get baked will have to find another fake sun spot --there's a note on the door ordering that everything be moved within three days. The good-timin' reality stud is also facing criminal tax fraud charges. (Lee)Mardi Gras!
Today is Fat Tuesday --the culmination of 11 days of partying and parades called Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Traditionally, Mardi Gras (and the companion holiday, Carnival in Brazil and other places) are supposed to be the last days of partying before the 40 days of Lent, which begins with Ash Wednesday (tomorrow).
Today is also the 66th annual International Pancake Day. You know the drill; the contest between the folks in Liberal, KS, and Olney, England. This whole thing started when Christian Lenten rules prohibited the eating of all dairy products. So housewives would make pancakes to use up their supplies of eggs, milk, butter and other fats.
Editor's note: today is not National Pancake Day. That's a yearly celebration held at the International House of Pancakes, which serves up a "short stack" of free buttermilk pancakes, and in return, the company hopes they'll make a donation to the Children's Miracle Network. Donations are strictly voluntary. This year's date is Tue, Mar 03. -
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