Overnight Briefing & General Reality Check - Jan 22, 2013

Those @$#%* Foreigners:

It's Election Day in Israel today. About 5.7-million voters will be choosing from 32 different parties in nationwide balloting from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., local time.
The big question: Will Prime Minister BENJAMIN NETANYAHU be able to hang onto power? (Pacelli)

The Internet:

The online game, Candy Crush Saga, has crushed the farm. BizReport.com says the confectionery-themed match puzzler now boasts close to 10 million users --almost a million more than FarmVille 2. Candy Crush launched on Facebook last April and became available across a growing number of platforms including the Internet, Android and iOS. The game is played more than 55 million times a day on the iOS and Android platforms alone.
It can be played on one device and synchronized with others. So, if you start playing at home on a laptop but want to continue on a phone while commuting to work or school, you can.
The game's developer is King.com, and its Bubble Witch Saga and Pet Rescue Saga are also in the Facebook Top 10. "In less than 18 months King.com has become the second largest game developer on the Facebook Platform with 70 million monthly active users," according to JULIEN CODORNIOU, the head of European gaming partnerships at Facebook. (Kaye)

Sucks to be you:

CAMERON DOUGLAS is doing a nine-year stint in federal prison and still managing to get in trouble! The NY Post's Page Six gossip column reports the 34-year-old son of Oscar-winner MICHAEL DOUGLAS tested positive for drugs early this month and was sent to solitary confinement. Cameron is serving time for possessing heroin, dealing crystal meth and possession behind bars and won't be eligible for parole until 2018.
On the bright side, sources say he's embraced the lifestyle, "gone gangster," lifts weights and has several new tattoos. (Lee)

Morons on Parade:

This music is for the birds. Or rather, from the birds.
The NY Post says a composer in England co-composed a symphony with birds. JOHN HERING placed blank music notation paper underneath a perching area. Then, the birds relieved themselves onto the paper, creating musical "notes" on the page.
Hering's 20-minute masterpiece entitled "Number Two" was then performed at an art gallery in Liverpool.
Editor's note: The symphony is comprised of several "movements."
--(careful!) Critics agree the work is complete crap.
--The concerto ends with a very fluid movement. That probably has something to do with what the birds ate for lunch. (Still)

Weird science:

Attention shellfish lovers: A new study finds that lobsters probably do feel pain, so people who have a problem with animal suffering might want to re-consider eating them.
Researchers at Queen's University in Belfast studied the reaction of shore crabs to little electrical shocks. They found that the crustaceans actively avoided areas associated with these shocks, suggesting that they do in fact have pain sensation.
"I don't know what goes on in a crab's mind," says one researcher. "But what I can say is the whole behavior goes beyond a straightforward reflex response and it fits all the criteria of pain."
Editor's note: Well, that settles it. I refuse to eat lobster that has been cooked with thousands of electro shocks.
--In an alternate universe, lobster scientists are presently debating on whether or not humans dropped into pots of boiling water experience any pain sensations. Thus is exampled what is known as "interuniversal coincidence." (Maiman)

Why you need a good night's sleep:

A new study suggests sleep deprivation could hurt relationships. Researchers found a poor night's sleep tends to make people more selfish. According to a UC Berkeley press release, those who don't get a good night's rest are likely to prioritize their needs over those of their partner.
The National Sleep Foundation recommends adults get at least seven to nine hours of sleep a night. Lack of sleep can put a person at greater risk of motor vehicle accidents, obesity, diabetes, heart problems and psychiatric conditions. It also makes it tougher to pay attention, remember or react to stimuli.
Researchers suggest to combat the bad mood after a poor night's sleep, people should make a conscious effort to show gratitude. Remember to say 'thanks' when your partner does something you appreciate. (Page)