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Overnight Briefing & General Reality Check - Jan 9, 2013
January 9, 2013
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NRA update:
Reuters reports that school teachers in Texas and Ohio are flocking into free firearms classes in the wake of the Newtown, CT, elementary school massacre, promising to protect their students with guns even if it means they could lose their jobs.
More than nine-hundred Ohio teachers, administrators and school employees asked to take part in a new three-day gun training program. In Texas, an $85-dollar course offered at no cost to teachers filled 400 spots immediately.
Ohio law does not expressly prohibit guns in schools and leaves it to each individual school board to set policy. In Texas, teachers who have concealed handgun permits to carry weapons into public school classrooms can do so as long as they have permission from their district superintendent. (Pacelli)Watercooler:
Target stores announced yesterday that they will price-match Amazon and Walmart's website prices. The new policy goes into effect immediately. According to the new Target policy, if you buy a "qualifying item" in a Target store, then find an identical item within seven days on several websites or a local competitor's printed ad, they'll match the price. That includes Amazon.com, Walmart.com, BestBuy.com, ToysRUs.com, BabiesRUs.com... even Target's own website!
Shopping news website Racked.com says this is a bold move to combat "showrooming." That's when you browse a product in-store, but buy with your mobile device, usually getting a lower price through Amazon. About 82 percent of shoppers do this now. But price-matching Amazon and other competing big box websites could help Target reverse that trend. (Bartha)Grace notes:
Yep, it was alcohol poisoning that killed AMY WINEHOUSE. But, you already knew that, right. Because the original coroner didn't have all the right credentials to do her job, a second inquest happened yesterday in London. The findings were exactly the same. Amy had a blood-alcohol of .04 and that probably caused respiratory arrest. She was found dead at her London home on July 23rd, 2011. Amy was just 27. (Marino)
Broadcast, cable and video news:
MAURY POVICH probably has his panties in a wad over this one.
Deadline.com reports CBS TV is doing a show about DNA testing called (wait for it...) "The Test." The syndicated talk show, produced by DR PHIL and his son, will use various tests --like DNA or lie detectors-- to find out the truth, whether it's gossip or pregnancy. Stand-up comedian KIRK FOX (who also co-starred on "Parks & Recreation") will host the show.
And actually, there's another show which also features DNA testing which will be rolled out next fall, called "Paternity Court."Taking everything much too seriously:
News from the Australian art world.
A lightning strike has blown the breasts off a statue of Venus de Milo.
Stonemason TOM FINLAY was about 50 yards away when he saw the lightning zap the five-fooot-tall sculpture --which he'd made as a tribe to women in Australia's Northern Territory.
The chunk of stone that went flying weighed about 50 pounds.
Finlay says he hasn't decided what to do with the surviving breasts. He says, "I might mount (the breasts) and hang them in my office."
Editor's note: For a second there I thought we were talking about Kim Kardashian.
--Poor Venus de Milo just can't get a break. First both arms and then the lightning.
--THe good news: The thunder thighs were left intact. (Maiman) -
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