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Overnight Briefing & General Reality Check - Mar 14, 2012
March 14, 2012
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What's Poppin':
After 244 years, Encyclopaedia Britannica will end production of its multivolume reference books, and go completely digital.
The focus now shifts to online encyclopedias and educational tools.
Britannica usually prints a new set of tomes every two years, but 2010's 32-volume set will be the last one ever produced.
Britannica president JORGE CAUZ said there's nostalgia but no sadness. The publication is just moving with the times. Print encyclopedias account for less than one percent of Encyclopaedia Britannica's revenues, with curriculum products and other educational tools bringing in 85 percent and the remaining revenues coming from online subscriptions to its website. (Maiman)Guilty Pleasures:
No winner in Tuesday night's drawing for the Mega Millions Lottery. That means Friday night's drawing is valued at $200 million ($145 million cash value). Mega Millions is played in 42 states and Washington DC. Chances of winning the big prize are 1 in 175.7 million.
Fashion Emergency:
MADONNA thinks KARL LAGERFELD is "ridiculous." The singer was jumping to the defense of Grammy-winner ADELE. Lagerfeld had called Adele "too fat" in Metro World News about a month ago. He has since backtracked, claiming his remark was taken out of context (it wasn't). But for some reason, Madonna decided now would be a good time to weigh in (groan) on the silliness. Madonna told The Sun that she doesn't "like it when anybody says anything bad about anyone" and that "Adele's a great talent and how much she weighs has nothing to do with it." (Bartha)
Five Surprising Ways to Use a Hair Dryer
1. Detach a Photo From An Album. Blow warm air on the back of the page while gently pulling the picture free.
2. Dust Tough-to-Reach Places. Set the dryer on cool to give those trick shelves and knick knacks a once-over.
3. Dewrinkle Plastic Shower Curtains or Tablecloths. You can "iron" out the fold marks with hot air, just remember to keep it a foot away from the object to avoid any meltdowns.
4. Perfect Frosting or Icing. Use the cool setting to harden your cake, use hot air to brighten a dull finish.
5. Erase Crayon Marks or Wax Spills. Did the kids go crazy during craft time? Blow-dry the stain on high until the wax melts, then wipe away with a soapy sponge.
(Source: Yahoo.com) (Lee)Broadcast, cable and video news:
See ya! It's the end of the line for that over-the-top outdoor guy, BEAR GRYLLS, who spent six seasons as the star of the Discovery Channel's "Man vs. Wild."
The show featured Bear --who spent three years in England's equivalent of the Navy SEALS, the Special Air Service-- trying to survive in all sorts of inhuman places, eating insects and other slimy things, and at one point, nearly freezing to death. He climbed Mt Everest at the age of 23 and he's done other extreme things, but that's all over now, since the Discovery Channel has fired him over a "contractual dispute."
A spokesman for Bear said he and Discovery had been unable to reach agreement on new programming and had parted ways. Too bad, since the show aired in over 200 countries around the world.
The Hollywood Reporter says the dispute revolved around two "unannounced projects" for which Bear had already contracted. -
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