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Overnight Briefing & General Reality Check - May 30, 2013
May 30, 2013
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The President at play:
PRESIDENT OBAMA will use an event tomorrow to urge Congress to stop an upcoming hike in student loan interest rates. The president will gather with college students at the White House on Friday to call for a halt on a doubling of the interest rate for federally-subsidized Stafford student loans, from from 3.4 percent to 6.8 percent.
However, the president will make his push as overdue student loans have reached an all-time high. Eleven percent of student loans were seriously delinquent --at least 90 days past due-- in the third quarter of 2012, compared with just 6-percent in the first quarter of 2003. Almost 30 percent of 20- to 24-year-olds aren't employed or in school, the study found.
Editor's note: Which of course means we need to make loans even cheaper, right? How'd that work out with the housing market? (Pacelli)Recall:
Apparently not wanting to be linked with Nazis, JCPenney has wiped out all signs of the so-called Hitler teapot.
The California billboard that started the meme was taken down almost immediately after the story went viral Tuesday, despite claims by the retailer that any similarity was unintentional. The online listing is gone, too.
But it's not all bad news for the embattled retailer: the kettle, which cost about $40, sold out almost immediately. Now they're selling on eBay where one user blew $199.99 for one --plus $6.99 for expedited shipping and handling.
Editor's note: For sale: One Hitler tea kettle. Whistles Wagner operas. Best offer.
--Can I get a Mussolini espresso machine?
--Next up from J.C. Penney, the "Pol Pot Crock Pot."
--If you can't find anymore on eBay, there might b a few hiding out in Argentina. (The Boys From Brewzil. --Maiman)Like you really care:
Question: Can the NYPD make a drug case against AMANDA BYNES?
TMZ.com says although the arrresting officers smelled marijuana, there was none recovered or listed in their report. In addition, an official says the bong that Amanda allegedly tossed out the window was never recovered, either. In fact, nothing has been recovered so far that could lead to the actress' conviction.Rounding up the usual suspects:
An employee at Disneyland was arrested on suspicion of causing a small explosion in the Toontown area by putting a bottle containing dry ice into a trash can. Turns out CHRISTIAN BARNES was a vendor at the park, and is being held on $1 million dollars bail, according to the Anaheim police. Barnes reportedly told cops the blast was an isolated incident "with unanticipated impacts." Although Toontown was evacuated and closed for about three hours, the rest of the park remained open.
There was another minor problem for Disney yesterday.
Deadline.com reports a grandma found a loaded 38-caliber pistol on the Dinosaur ride at Walt Disney World in Orlando while riding with her grandson. She turned it over to park authorities, who gave it to police who traced the weapon and then called the owner.
Turns out ANGELO LISTA had a concealed weapons permit and hadn't realized Disney does not allow guests to carry guns in the parks. He told cops the gun "just slipped out" of his pocket during the "extremely bumpy" ride.Taking everything much too seriously:
A guy in New York is selling his "virgin hair" on Craigslist.
The unnamed man says his wavy 27-inch locks have "never been dyed, permed, or chemically altered." He describes his hair as "black, the way a raven shines in the moonlight, the color of a deep dark sleep." The guy claims he's 100-percent serious and is only entertaining serious offers of $600 or higher. (Still) -
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