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Overnight Briefing & General Reality Check - Sep 25, 2014
September 25, 2014
Have an opinion? Add your comment below. Sample content intended for show prep.
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Culture Shock:
A new survey by GfK for financial media firm TheStreet shows it's hard to find a general consensus on where and when it's acceptable to use a smartphone. But younger generations are clearly more tolerant of mobile use.
While almost half (46 percent) of those age 65 and older believe using a mobile while watching television is not okay, just 21 percent of those between the ages of 18 to 34 agree. Nearly two-thirds (63 percent) of those age 25 to 34 think the behavior is just fine.
When at a restaurant, at least half of all age groups agreed that using a smartphone was not acceptable and 69 percent overall. Those age 65 and over were the most intolerant of phone use while eating out (83 percent).
While it's accepted that mobile devices are often used during work meetings to share presentations and other data, the vast majority (71 percent male /85 percent female) said using the device at a work meeting for personal use was a real no-no. There was little different across age groups for this activity and even among the more tolerant Millennials 69 percent found it unacceptable.
Checking your phone at the movies while the feature is in full swing is by far the most universally condemned behavior. Nearly all (90 percent) of respondents, of all ages, said it was definitely not okay to use a smartphone while the movie is on --even during previews most agreed it was not good etiquette (72 percent). (Kaye)Setting a good example:
A Texas man faces conspiracy charges after allegedly trying to buy school board votes with cash and cocaine.
47-year-old FRANCISCO "FRANKIE" GARCIA of Donna, Texas, was arrested last week for allegedly offering voters $10-dollars in cash or a "dime bag" of coke if they agreed to vote for his preferred candidates. Authorities say Garcia worked for the candidates in question, but their names aren't being revealed.
Other suspects have also been arrested in the case, includding a group that allegedly offered beer and cigarettes for votes in the local school board election. (Still)Gossip Central:
Celebs and their pets from Us Weekly magazine:
--ANNE HATHAWAY brings chocolate lab Esmerelda to "The Intern" set in Brooklyn, NY
--EMMY ROSSUM studies lines for "Shameless" with Cinnamon and Sugar by her side
--SERENA WILLIAMS takes Yorkie Chip on the road with her to play tennis
Phone starter: Do you take your pet to work with you? (Myers)Grace notes:
There was violence at Madison Square Garden...at the most recent BILLY JOEL concert! The New York Daily News says 39-year-old Ari Ganeles was at the August edition of Billy's monthly concert residency at MSG and claims he was beaten up in the stands by a rowdy group of drunken idiots. Ari says they were being loud and spilling drinks on people, so he asked some ushers to get involved. They did, but then other staffers continued to sell the men alcohol. When Ari and some other folks complained again, the group started attacking Ari. He wound up bloody with all sorts of injuries and has sued Madison Square Garden. Remember, this was at a Billy Joel concert.
Editor's note: This further proves my point that the worst concert audience is the over 50 crowd who go to see veteran artists. They think they're still 21 and drink way too much booze, act like children, and annoy everyone around them. This doesn't happen at alternative or even metal concerts. I was at a PAUL McCARTNEY show at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, when a very drunk husband and wife sang loudly and off key, yelled during the songs and were generally being obnoxious idiots. I asked the ushers to do something, and they spoke to the couple, but then it continued. Finally, I stood up and asked them to please shut up. The husband took a swing at me and fell over into the next row. Police took them away, and after I complained to management, I got free tickets to another concert. (Marino)Weird science:
A New Orleans-based company has invented a combination fridge and motorcycle.
The Chopper-style motorized refrigerator --called the Kreweser-- is billed as the ultimate way to take drinks to a party. It's an electric bike that cruises at 18 miles-per-hour and travels for about 16-miles before it needs to be recharged. The bike is capable of transporting its rider along with three-thousand ounces of refreshments. That's about 250 cans --or 10 cases-- of suds. So far, there's only a prototype. But, designers have launched a Kickstarter campaign in an effort to raise $90-thousand dollars to mass produce the device.
Editor's note: This takes the phrase "going on a beer run" to a whole new level. (Still) -
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