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Overnight Briefing & General Reality Check - Feb 8, 2012
February 8, 2012
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Dead:
World War I is finally over. The last known World War I veteran died in her sleep last Saturday night at a nursing home just outside London. FLORENCE GREEN would've been 111 this month (Feb 19). She joined the Women's Royal Air Force in 1918 at the age of 17 and served as a mess steward at two Royal Air Force bases during the conflict. She married at age 19 and spent most of her life working at a hotel in her hometown.
The last living combat veteran of World War I died last May at age 110. (Maiman)Posturing, Posing and Press Releases:
A ton of conservative pundits mused again yesterday about whether or not the two-minute Chrysler spot featuring CLINT EASTWOOD that a ired during Sunday's Super Bowl was some sort of payback for PRESIDENT OBAMA'S bailout of Chrysler and General Motors. The latest twist to this whole thing comes from the Hollywood Reporter.
The HR points out that two members of the creative team that produced the spot for ad agency Wieden and Kennedy donated their personal time in 2008 to make pro-BARACK OBAMA art. Some observers have also noted that the title of the Chrysler spot --"It's Halftime in America"-- is pretty darn close to RONALD REAGAN "It's Morning in America" spot, considered one of the greatest political spots ever produced. (Pacelli)CLINT EASTWOOD yesterday he denied the commercial was intended to be a political statement, telling Fox News "I am certainly not politically affiliated with [President] Obama. It was meant to be a message just about job growth and the spirit of America. I think all politicians will agree with it. I thought the spirit was OK."
The spot was immediately criticized by Republicans after its airing, but Clint swore "there is no spin in that ad. On this I am certain. I am not supporting any politician at this time."
Still, KARL ROVE said he was "offended" by the commercial, MICHELLE MALKIN tweeted "Agh. WTH? Did I just see Clint Eastwood fronting an auto bailout ad???"Grace notes:
You'll be seeing and hearing something new on the Grammy Awards this weekend. For the first time in the 53-year history of the event, there will be a peformance segment for the dance/electronica category. A thousand fans will be in a tent outside the Staples Center in Los Angeles while the nominees in that category all perform together. That's DEADMAUS, FOO FIGHTERS, LIL WAYNE, CHRIS BROWN and DAVID GUETTA. Dance music wasn't even part of the Grammys until 2003, but it's become so popular all over the world that KEN ERLICH, the producer of the show decided it was time to put the spotlight on the category. (Marino)
Fashion Emergency:
High-end knock-offs are so over. Thanks to the crummy economy, the hottest trend in counterfeit fashion is downscale knock-offs. The LA Times says low-end knock-offs are big business nowadays Instead of selling fake Prada and Gucci, the knock-off industry is churning out fake Gap and Victoria's Secret now. Instead of $8-dollar undies from Victoria's Secret, sellers are offering high-quality fakes for $2-bucks.Internet cyber-squatters --the web equivalent of guys selling fake Fendis out of the back of a car-- are another driving force behind the down-scale knock-offs trend. (Bartha)
Idle gossip & unconfirmed rumors:
Should this surprise anyone? JAY-Z and BEYONCE have already filed a trademark application with the U-S Patent and Trademark Office in order to keep anybody from cashing in on the name of their daughter, BLUE IVY.
This doesn't mean that you couldn't name YOUR daughter after her, but it will keep anybody from releasing, say, a perfume with that name or any other product.
The Washington Post says the filing is still pending but is expected to be approved. -
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