Overnight Briefing & General Reality Check - Sep 24, 2018

Sometimes you read things that just make you wonder.
We're a ways away from the holidays, but already the British store, Harrod's, has told its rewards card members that only people from their "second tier" --who spend a minimum of £2,000 a year-- will be able to have their children visit Santa in the Christmas grotto at their Knightsbridge store. And there's an additional £20 charge per kid once you get there. Bosses at the store reportedly believe the new system will prevent a rerun of the chaos last year when their booking website failed. The Christmas grotto has been a fixture since 1955.
Question for your listeners: Is it wrong to charge to see that jolly old fat man?

Congratulations are allegedly in order for RICHARD GERE, whose third wife, ALEJANDRA SILVA, is pregnant with their first child. He's 69 --she's 35.
This bothers me because by the time the child is ready to ride a bike, his or her father may already have gone wherever it is dead Buddhists go. (For one explanation, go HERE). But of course, in these days of pre-nups, etc, he may have provided for any child of the union, but not so much for his wife.
Gere was married to supermodel Cindy Crawford for four years in the 190s. He was also married to model and actress Carey Lowell, who had his other son, Homer James Jigme Gere, who is almost 18. (I know you're wondering --he's named for his grandfathers as well as the Tibetan name Jigme).
Question for your listeners: Is it selfish to have children when you know you may not be around for their growing up?

Today's the day the BILL COSBY sentencing hearings will begin. Both the prosecution and defense will have a chance to trash or suck up to the judge before he issues the sentence for the 81-year-old who's legally blind. Sources say the prosecution will portray him as a sexual predator while the defense will probably dwell on his charitable acts and emphasize the fact that he's in declining health.