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Overnight Briefing & General Reality Check - Feb 11, 2013
February 11, 2013
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Those @$#%* Foreigners:
You know all those late-night radio ads that constantly chirp at you to "buy gold" before it's too late.? Well, they might actually be on to something.
Reuters reports that Turkey's government will apparently not bow to U-S pressure to halt gold exports to Iran. Uncle Sam is concerned that those gold sales allow Iran to export natural gas and thereby skirt some economic sanctions imposed due to its nuclear program.
And there's also word that Russia stockpiled 570 metric tons of gold over the past decade, essentially betting on an eventual crash of the U-S dollar.
But even after all that, Russia's total gold stash is estimated at about at about 958 tons, placing it at Number eight worldwide. The U-S is currently Number one, with about 8,134 tons. (Pacelli)Don't have a date for Valentine's Day yet?:
Maybe you should check out HotPrisonPals.com.
According to Reuters, the web site gives people a chance to exchange love letters with convicted felons while they serve their sentences (or, as they put it: "We bring you pen pals looking for love --that just happen to be incarcerated").
So far the site only features male prisoners --but women cons have also been invited to participate. JASON RUPP --who built the site-- says it's good for the prisoners because they have abandonment issues. Rupp says, "The letters they get through the site are crucial to their well being. They need to know someone on the outside cares."
Prisoners pay $19 to join the site, which allows them to post pictures and a short introduction. Any prisoner can join, regardless of their crime or sentence --and they're not required to list their criminal history on the site. So, be careful ladies, that hot guy just might be a murderer.Idle gossip & unconfirmed rumors:
Will the third shot at love be a charm for ZOE SALDANA and BRADLEY COOPER? Sources tell RadarOnline.com the golden boy has been quietly seeing the "Avatar" beauty despite the fact that they broke up last December. Word is the "Hangover" hottie is keeping things a secret from his mother --she doesn't think they're a good fit, never "clicked" with the actress and remains friends with her son's former love, RENEE ZELLWEGER. (Lee)
Models:
Twenty-year-old KATE UPTON will be on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition for the second year in a row.
The magazine unveiled its choice in a tweet last Friday. The issue hits newsstands Tuesday.
Trivia: There have been four other models who've been on the Swimsuit edition two years in a row. Name 'em: Ans: CHRISTIE BRINKLEY, PAULINA PORIZKOVA, ELLE MACPHERSON and TYRA BANKS (although she shared a cover one of the years). BROOKLYN DECKER was on the cover two years in a row, but one of those was in an inset photo. KATHY IRELAND, CHERYL TIEGS, DANIELLA PESTOVA, ELSA BENITEZ and REBECCA ROMIJN were all on two covers, but not in a row.British Film Awards:
The British version of the Oscars, the BAFTA Awards-- were held over the weekend in London, giving another preview of what to expect in two weeks.
Interestingly, BEN AFFLECK wound up with three awards at last big award show before the Oscars, including the evening's big prize, Best Film, as well as Best Director for you-know-who and Best Editing as well.
In the acting categories, DANIEL DAY-LEWIS won for his role in "Lincoln," and 85-year-old EMANNUELLE RIVA picked up the best actress award for her performance in "Amour." The picture also won for Best Foreign Film. CHRISTOPH WALTZ was named Best Supporting Actor and ANNE HATHAWAY got Best Supporting Actress for her role in "Les Miserables."
And the James Bond film, "Skyfall," picked up the award for Outstanding British Film.Grace notes:
Today at 2:40 pm (Eastern), take a moment to think about this. On this day, 50 years ago, THE BEATLES recorded their debut album, "Please Please Me," in less than 10 hours. That's 12 songs, in 10 hours. Two of the tracks, "Love Me Do" and "P.S. I Love You," had already been recorded and released as a single. The sessions at London's EMI Studios at Abbey Road began at 10am. Just before the band was about to call it a day, at 7:40 pm (London time), they still had one more song to do. JOHN LENNON's voice was shot and he asked if they could finish up in the morning. Producer GEORGE MARTIN said no, get it done now. So, John stepped to the mic and cranked out his vocal on "Twist & Shout" in one take. It was all his voice had left. (Marino)
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