Overnight Briefing & General Reality Check - Oct 28, 2011

I'm a Poll Man:

The results of a new Time magazine poll are sure to rev-up the "HILLARY CLINTON for President" crowd again. The survey shows the current secretary of state handily defeating MITT ROMNEY, HERMAN CAIN and RICK PERRY.
She bests Romney 55-to-38-percent, Perry 58-to-32 and Cain 56-to-34 among likely voters in general election match-ups, with all margins bigger than those provided by PRESIDENT OBAMA. (Pacelli)

Small-town politics:

If you live in Maryland, it might cost you a bit more over the next year or so to "flush." Yes, that kind of "flush."
The state --in an effort to raise revenue-- is considering doubling, and maybe even tripling the current $30-dollar-a-year tab per household that pays for sewage treatment plant and septic system upgrades and certain crops that stop pollution run off from farms into waterways. (Pacelli)

Trick or Treating with your children:

Nearly 94 percent of children between the ages of four and 12 participate in Halloween activities each year. Some additional common sense tips for trick-or-treaters from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.
--Plan a trick-or-treating route in familiar neighborhoods with well-lit streets. Avoid unfamiliar neighborhoods, streets that are isolated, or homes that are poorly lit inside or outside.
--Never send young children out alone. They should always be accompanied by a parent or another trusted adult. Older children should always travel in groups.
--Always walk younger children to the door to receive treats and don't let children enter a home unless you are with them.
--Be sure children do not approach any vehicle, occupied or not, unless you are with them.
--Discuss basic pedestrian safety rules that children should use when walking to and from houses.
--Make sure children know their home phone number and address in case you get separated. Teach children how to call 911 in an emergency.
--Teach children to say "NO!" or "this is not my mother/father" in a loud voice if someone tries to get them to go somewhere, accept anything other than a treat, or leave with them. And teach them that they should make every effort to get away by kicking, screaming and resisting.
--Remind children to remain alert and report suspicious incidents to parents and/or law enforcement.

What your Halloween costume says about you:

Hey bachelorettes --lots of Halloween parties are going down this weekend. If you're on the hunt for Mr. Right, take a look at what he's wearing, Glamour magazine reports his costume speaks volumes about what's going on inside.
--Famous Musicians: They're big fans of whoever they're imitating and would love the chance to serenade you with a song or two.
--Characters from "300," "Tarzan," or a Chippendale's Dancer: Chances are they've been putting in lots of time at the gym and want to show off the fruits of their labor.
--Cowboys: This is most likely a last-minute Louie that threw a costume together 15-minutes before the shindig.
--Police Officers, Firefighter, Military Personnel: Either he does this for a living or just wants to cash in on the allure of a man in uniform. (Lee)

Guilty Pleasures:

No winner in Wednesday night's drawing for the Powerball Lottery. That means Saturday night's drawing is valued at $203 million ($123.2 million cash value). Powerball is played in 44 states, Washington DC and the U-S Virgin Islands. Chances of winning the grand prize (all five numbers plus the powerball) are 1 in 195.2 million.

Fast Food:

Do you love Whoppers from Burger King? You might want to visit Japan.
CNN reports Burger King is offering unlimited all-you-can-eat Whoppers at their Japanese restaurants. All a customer has to do is purchase a Whopper Value Meal and they can top it off with as many Whopper sandwiches as they can fit in their face. The only real catch is --customers have to stop eating after 30-minutes!
A spokesman for BK Japan says, "Now we want to make our customers even more satisfied." (Still)

Designer Update:

Let’s be honest --would you EVER equate the terms “Walmart” and “fashion?” Apparently nobody did, and the NY Post reports Walmart is closing the high-rent fashion-design and buying office it opened in midtown Manhattan just two years ago.
The Post quotes an internal memo from Walmart executive vice president ANDY BARRON declaring, “We’re getting back to the basics of our business.” In other words, basic apparel staples like socks and underwear. The retail giant is still planning to open stores in New York City. (Kaye)