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Overnight Briefing & General Reality Check - Oct 23, 2012
October 23, 2012
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The Internet:
A recent survey of more than 74-hundred online shoppers found that Pinterest drives more people to buy stuff than Facebook... by a lot. The survey by BizRate Insights showed that a whopping 70 percent of the shoppers named Pinterest when asked where they get their "inspiration to buy." But Facebook still has a wider reach --over one billion users-- and drives more traffic to websites. (Bartha)
Trade Secrets:
Do Monster Energy drinks have unsafe levels of caffeine?
The company's products have killed five people over the past year and a sixth in 2009, according to reports submitted by doctors and companies to the FDA.
Parents in Maryland have already used the reports in a lawsuit against Monster, America's most popular energy-drink maker, claiming caffeine toxicity killed their teenage daughter, ANAIS FOURNIER. But Monster denies culpability in Fournier's death, claiming it's "unaware of any fatality anywhere that has been caused by its drinks."
Behind the legal clash is a long-brewing battle over energy drinks in general. Illinois Sen DICK DURBIN wants to limit their caffeine levels because emergency room visits related to energy drinks soared 10-fold between 2005 and 2009 --although half of those involved drugs or alcohol. Unlike sodas, energy drinks have no caffeine limits because they are often sold as dietary supplements. (Maiman)Gossip Central: tabloids:
HONEY BOO BOO has a fan in REBEL WILSON. The "Pitch Perfect" star tells Star magazine that her family is the Australian version of the THOMPSON family. "One time we bought a house because it came with a free donkey" she says. (Myers)
On, off and way-off Broadway:
BARRY MANILOW is headed back to Broadway. He's set to do a 17-show run at the St. James Theater starting on January 18th. He's calling it "Manilow on Broadway," and tickets will run from 50-dollars all the way to to 350-bucks. This will be the 69-year-old singer's third trip to Broadway. He performed there in 1976 and 1989. (Marino)
Grace notes:
The last two times the ROLLING STONES toured, there were rumors that original bassist BILL WYMAN would rejoin the band. Well, that rumor is back for the four concerts the band will do in London and New York City for its 50th anniversary. Bill told NME.com that sure, he's heard the scuttlebutt, but so far, neither MICK nor KEITH has called him up. Bill says he wants to do it, but he won't exactly be waiting by the phone. He quit the Stones in 1993. (Marino)
Pet Patrol:
A British pet-insurance company has created a bucket list for pooches.
The Daily Telegraph says the More Than Pet Boutique made a list of "50 things a dog should do before dying." The top four include: flopping down in front of a morning fire, going for a swim in the ocean, going crazy in the snow, and digging up a flower bed. The company also recommends teaching your dog to skateboard and creating his or her own puppy Facebook page. (Still) -
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