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Overnight Briefing & General Reality Check - Oct 11, 2016
October 11, 2016
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Big Money, Big Problems:
The Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City closed for good yesterday after years of losses and negotiations with an employees' union broke down.
The Taj Mahal was sold to CARL ICAHN in 2014 after it came out of bankruptcy protection for the second time. But the labor problems caused the hotel to lose "almost $350 million over just a few short years" according to Icahn. A thousand of the three-thousand employees went on strike Jul 01, seeking health care and pension benefits. That was the last straw for Icahn, who said keeping the casino-resort open would have required additional investments and result in losses in "excess of $100 million over the next year." Five Atlantic City casinos have closed in the last five years.Warning: note potential sponsor conflict.
The marketing geniuses over at Ruth's Chris Steak House may be eating Top Ramen and frozen burritos for the next few weeks. USA Todayreports the location in Ann Arbor, Michigan wanted to cash in on the excitement surrounding the University of Michigan versus Rutgers game last weekend and promised fans a one-percent discount for every point that UM scored over the Scarlet Knights for the win. The Wolverines did quite well and ended up with a final score of 78-zero.
Ruth's Chris promptly clarified that the discount would be capped at 50-percent for the five days following the game. (Lee)Fashion Emergency:
All-American debate night hero KEN BONE and his iconic red sweater was the real winner of Sunday night's debate --along with the American voters, who were so taken with the decent everyman in the eye-catching thick cable knit that he immediately became an internet fashion icon.
In a near-tragic turn, the Hollywood Reportersays the St. Louis undecided voter almost didn't show up for the big debate in all his cable knit glory. He said, "I had a really great olive suit that I love a great deal and that my mother would have been very proud to see me wearing on television," he said. "But apparently I gained about thirty pounds, and when I went to get in my car the morning of the debate, I split the seat of my pants all the way open."
And so it came to pass that Ken's cable-knit quarter zip Izod sweater was the back up choice for the debate, and made Ken the number one choice for our hearts. The exact sweater is now sold out at JC Penney, Macy's and Amazon.com. (Bartha)Broadcast, cable and video news:
JAY Z's production company is reportedly putting together a six-hour miniseries about the first African-American to serve as a special ops sniper for the US Army.
NICHOLAS IRVING was nicknamed "The Reaper," and was reportedly so effective --with 33 kills-- that he had an AR-15 rifle named after him. The miniseries will be based on his book, and the NY Postreports actor STERLING K. BROWN, who just picked up an Emmy for his portrayal of CHRISTOPHER DARDEN in "The People vs O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story," will play the master sniper in the drama. -
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