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Overnight Briefing & General Reality Check - Sep 5, 2012
September 5, 2012
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Guilty Pleasures:
No winner in last night's drawing for the Mega Millions Lottery. That means Friday night's drawing is valued at $105 million ($81 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.
Auto World /Gas Guzzlin' Update:
The economy may be puttering along in a low gear, but the auto industry is shifting up.
Car dealers reported their best August in five years, selling 1.285 million cars. The strength was across the board, as U.S. automakers notched double-digit gains. Japanese manufacturers like Toyota and Honda, reported bigger increases as they recovered from the after-effects of the tsunami.
What makes this especially good news? Cars represent America's largest manufacturing and retail sector. (Maiman)Bid'ness is Bid'ness:
If you want a cell phone without the contract, you have another choice as of today. Radio Shack is launching a no-contract plan at its stores beginning today.
PC Magazine reports the electronics retailer is teaming up with Leap Wireless and its Cricket subsidiary to launch the plans. Consumers can get an unlimited data plan tied to an Android smartphone for $50 bucks a month. Other service plans start at $25 dollars a month. (Page)Idle gossip & unconfirmed rumors:
Interesting article in GQ magazine which reveals the candidates Secret Service code names.
MITT ROMNEY chose his name himself, "Javelin," which apparently refers to the AMC car, since his father, GEORGE ROMNEY, was the CEO at American Motors. And his running mate, Republican vice presidential candidate PAUL RYAN, chose "Bowhunter," since he's an avid deer hunter.
The tradition is that the protectees and their families all have code names beginning with the same letter, so Ryan's wife, JANNA's, Secret Service code name is "Buttercup."
No word on what ANN ROMNEY's code name is.
Over on the Democratic side, PRESIDENT OBAMA's code name is "Renegade," and MICHELLE, SASHA and MALIA are also 'R' names --Renaissance, Rosebud and Radiance, respectively. Vice President JOE BIDEN is Celtic, while wife JILL is Capri.On, off and way-off Broadway:
"Flashdance" is coming to Broadway. A musical version of the classic 1983 JENNIFER BEALS movie is set to open in August of 2013. The show didn't do so well in London back in 2010, but the producers say its been (quote), "substantially rewritten and completely restaged." (Marino)
Chic Sh*t:
The hot new shoe trend for fall will be taking a major load off your ankles. StyleList.com says wide, stacked chunky heels are back in fashion. The "librarian chic" clunkers started last year at Prada and Miu Miu. They' re way more comfortable than stilettos while also giving your legs some serious height. (Bartha)
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