Overnight Briefing & General Reality Check - Jul 5, 2011

The White House:

The White House quietly posted the salaries of all its employees online late Friday afternoon, possibly because they wanted to give the press the smallest possible window of opportunity for follow-up questions about the White House media monitor, what he does, and why he makes $42 grand a year (that's actually on the lower end of salaries on this list).
If you're not just looking to pull out salary quotes for the silliest and most specific positions, it's a fascinating document. And if you are, might we recommend the ethics adviser ($155,500)? It comes with your choice of director of progressive media ($72,500) or deputy director of public engagement ($92-thousand), and pairs well with a nice West Wing receptionist ($42-thousand). (Maiman)

Post-Independence:

Once again, as we predicted last Friday, San Jose's JOEY CHESTNUT won the annual Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest on Coney Island yesterday. Joey managed to down 62 hot dogs --six less than his world record 68 from last year-- in ten minutes. Second place on the men's side went to PAT "Deep Dish" BERTOLETTI, who managed to eat 53.
But TAKERU KOBAYASHI, who held the world record for nearly six years, was *not* invited to participate in this year's contest because he refuses to join the IFOCE, International Federation of Competitive Eating, which sponsors the contest. Instead, Takeru held his own eating exposition across town on New York's Fifth Avenue and ate 63 hot dogs in ten minutes. That would have earned him a win had he been in the contest.
This year was also the first time a women's division was split off, and (as we predicted on Friday) SONYA "The Black Widow" THOMAS ate 40 hot dogs to win a title belt and $10-thousand, just like the men's champ. JULIET LEE, who downed 29 and a half dogs, came in second in the women's division.

Sucking the life out of the wire services:

It was a heart problem and not the car crash that followed that killed professional wrestling legend RANDY "Macho Man" SAVAGE.
Medical examiners say that Savage was likely already dead when his Jeep Wrangler hit a tree in Seminole, Florida, on May 20. "The crash had nothing to do with his death," said the M-E. "He just happened to be driving when he had a cardiovascular event."
An autopsy report shows that Savage suffered from atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Chances are that Savage didn't have a heart attack, but instead had "some type of arrhythmia" that stopped his heart.
Savage's coronary arteries were more than 90 percent blocked, according to the autopsy report.
Macho Man obtained near super-hero status while wrestling. He was famous for giving slightly mad interviews in outrageously colorful costumes. And few will ever see a Slim Jim beef jerky without remembering Macho Man.
Editor's note: Not that Slim Jims are any healthier for you than his lifestyle was for him. (Maiman)

Chic Sh*t:

KATE MIDDLETON celebrated Canada Day over the weekend by dressing like the Canadian flag.
She and PRINCE WILLIAM were in Ottowa Friday to take part in Canada Day festivities. Kate recycled the white Reiss dress she wore in her engagement photo, but added red heels, a brooch and a red hat decorated with Canadian Maple leaves. According to the Daily Mail, the brooch was the same one worn when then-PRINCESS ELIZABETH toured Canada in 1951. The hat was designed by SYLVIA FLETCHER for Lock and Company.
Kate and Prince William are on their first North American tour, which will end in Southern California on July 9th and 10th. (Bartha)

Grace notes:

JUSTIN BIEBER spent the holiday weekend in New York City with his gal pal, SELENA GOMEZ. The Gatecrasher gossip column in the New York Daily News says they were aboard a 155-foot yacht in the ritzy Hamptons with hip hop mogul RUSSELL SIMMONS, and for some strange reason, former Florida Governor CHARLIE CRIST. It was a dinner cruise.
On Friday night, Justin and Selena had dinner at a Thai restaurant in Manhattan and reportedly talked about dental work! A man walked up to their table and to take a photo with Selena. Her security guard said no, but the couple picked up the guy's check. But, the real "news" is that the teen power couple were shopping at Armani Exchange and said "I love you" to each other several times in public for everyone in the store to hear. (Marino)

Use it or lose it:

LAURI QUINN LOEWENBERG is a dream expert. We worked with her last week and she not only is quick and witty but gives "sound bite" answers which moves the pace along. If you've got a good phone screener who can get the weird dreams, Lauri is a great guest. Her website (if you want to do some research); Book her by calling 888-536-5213 ext. 2. Feel free to use my name. (RB)
www.thedreamzone.com