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Overnight Briefing & General Reality Check - Aug 14, 2012
August 14, 2012
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Getting up to speed:
"F-bomb" and "sexting" are real words now.
The editors at Merriam-Webster have added those words along with 100 or so others to the 114-year-old dictionary's annual update, along with "man cave," "bucket list," "e-reader," "shovel-ready," "game changer," and "flexitarian," which refers to a mostly-vegetarian person who sometimes eats a bit of meat or fish.
Many of the new additions have been in the language for quite a while. The first mention in print of "F-bomb" found by the company's world sleuths was in a 1988 New York Newsday story, though usage took off after DICK CHENEY and JOE BIDEN's F-bombs in 2004 and 2010, respectively.
"Aha moment," popularized by OPRAH, has been around since the 1939, and finally made it into the dictionary this year. Other entries that have been around a while include, "earworm," "mash-up" and "energy drink." (They first appeared in 1802, 1859 and 1904, respectively.)
Some not so fun words added this year include "systemic risk," and new recession-related meanings for "underwater" and "toxic."
Editor's note: As in, "Thanks to the toxic assets the banksters sold, we're F-bombed." (Maiman)Words rejected by Merriam-Webster (Maiman):
--Dumplingesque
--Palincoherent
--Fudge-i-nator
--Lohab
--Clintern
--Hitler-riffic
--Foxtitious
--Fukushima'd
--Mitt-licious (as in, "That Paul Ryan sure is mittlicious!")
--ObamamessFilling a need:
Wedding season is upon us and saying "I Do" certainly isn't cheap --unless you head to Sin City's most romantic destination --the local Denny's! Yahoo.com reports the restaurant chain is opening up a chapel inside one of it's Las Vegas locations complete with photo booth, props and menu that includes everything the newlyweds' hearts desire. Even better? The happy couple can tie one on after tying the knot with a brand-new night club upstairs, as well. The company CEO, JOHN MILLER, says it's the "perfect venue" and wonders "who doesn't want a wedding cake made out of pancakes?" (Lee)
What's new:
If soda or espresso don't have quite enough caffeine for you --try this.
Weird Asia News says a Japanese company is combining soda and espresso to make "Espressoda". Suntory Beverage & Food Limited just launched the new drink, mixing the bitter, full-bodied flavor of espresso with the bubbly excitement of carbonation. The makers say Espressoda is being marketed to "hard-working adults". (Still)Chic Sh*t:
Spanx, the shapewear brand that is every well-dressed woman's best friend and worst enemy is opening its first ever free-standing stores. Women's Wear Daily says the Atlanta-based company will open three stores on the East Coast in October. They'll sell women and men's shapewear, women's swimwear and control activewear. Locations include:
--Garden State Plaza in New Jersey
--King of Prussia Mall in Pennsylvania
--Tysons Corner Center in Virginia. (Bartha)Broadcast, cable and video news:
Here's a shocker --could you see a male model on "The Price Is Right"? For the show's past 40 years, it's featured hot female models, but never a male. Now, producers say there will be an open casting call on Thu, Aug 20, followed by an internet competition which will feature the men posing and showcasing products, so that viewers can judge them on their on-camera presence and modeling skills.
That will narrow the competition down to six contestants, who will be voted on at the show's YouTube site; the winner will "Come on Down" and get a week of appearances on "The Price Is Right" beginning Mon, Oct 15.Grace notes from Vinny Marino:
You can call them Juggalos, but don't ever refer to INSANE CLOWN POSSE's fans as gang members. The band is suing the FBI for doing just that. The feds put the Juggalos on the National Gang Threat Assessment list last year, and at ICP's annual Gathering of the Juggalos festival over the weekend at Cave-In-Rock, Illinois, the band announced it has set up a website for any of its fans that were hassled by "The Man" for being ICP fans. That website is www.JuggalosFightBack.com. (Marino)
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