Overnight Briefing & General Reality Check - May 5, 2011

50 years ago today:

the new minimum wage law went into effect (1961) setting the rate at $1.25 (about what your average DJ makes today for a shift plus voice tracking if they still work for Clear Channel... LOL).

Osama aftermath:

It appears that the raid to kill OSAMA bin LADEN used a new type of stealth Black Hawk helicopter --pieces of which might be on the way to China. ABC News reports that the Navy SEAL team had to destroy one of the helicopters it used in the raid because it sustained some damage when it clipped a wall surrounding bin Laden's compound.
That chopper was apparently covered in a fabic-like material to absorb radar signals, and also had a type of cover on its tail rotor to muffle its sound.
But even though the SEAL team did the best it could to destroy it, large pieces of the chopper survived. The fear now is that Pakistan --perhaps out of a renewed sense of anger toward Washington-- will send those pieces to its ally China, whose military has been trying to build its own stealth helicopter for some time. (Pacelli)

Here's a shocker:

the Hollywood Reporter says following the successful raid on OSAMA bin LADEN's place the other day, the print run for a new book on SEAL Team Six --which was originally scheduled to be in stores May 24-- has been quadrupled to 70-thousand copies and is already the number five best-selling book on Amazon.com.
The book is written by HOWARD WASDIN, a former member of SEAL Team Six in the '90s, and STEPHEN TEMPLIN, a Navy vet and professor at Meio University in Japan. The pair are now reportedly hard at work on a series of SEAL Team Six novels to follow up their debut.

The leader of the Fort Sill Apache Tribe in Oklahoma is asking PRESIDENT OBAMA for an apology for the government's use of the code name "Geronimo" to signal that bin Laden had been killed. (Maiman)

Auto World /Gas Guzzlin' Update:

No surprise here: The auto shopping and research site Kelley Blue Book reports 84% of car shoppers last month said gas prices influenced vehicle considerations. KBB also says there are rising numbers of people whose purchase decisions are being driven by a desire to get better fuel economy; 90% of respondents to its recent survey expect gas prices to rise more in the next 30 days.
Over half of respondents said the economy is forcing them to make downgrades with engine size being the most common downgrade followed by vehicle size, less or eliminated vehicle options, and switching from new to used. (Kaye)

Grace notes:

LADY GAGA premiered another new track from her forthcoming "Born This Way" album Tuesday night during her concert in Guadalajara, Mexico. The song is called "Americano" and has a Latin feel to it. Gaga performed it acoustically, but she said the album version is (quote), "a big mariachi techno-house record." (Marino)

Going Geek-dot-com /Caught in the Web:

There's a new app that helps keep your iPhone from tracking your every move. But it didn't come from Apple. It's thanks to a company that helps people cheat on their partners.
The free app, called iWipe, erases your history file and prevents future tracking on iPhones and iPads, according to the Wall Street Journal. It was developed by a Toronto company called Avid Dating Life. That's the same company that runs the website Ashley Madison.com, a dating service for married people. The company's slogan? "Life is short. Have an affair."
NOEL BIDERMAN, the company founder, says they developed the software because Apple "didn't step up and do the job. We, being the gatekeepers of discretion, decided to step in," Biderman said. The company is also planning a Windows version, and might also make iWipe for Android and other mobile systems.
FYI: Ashley Madison has 9.2 million members and claims it's service was created to "prevent digital lipstick." It guarantees member information will be completely anonymous, and erases all account information when members leave. (Bartha)