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Overnight Briefing & General Reality Check
November 19, 2009
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Thanksgiving:
The roads may be a little more crowded if you're planning to travel this Thanksgiving but you should be able to stretch out a bit if you fly.
Triple A says 38.4 million of us will go more than 50 miles away from home to chow down on turkey. That's a slight increase over last year (by half a million people). The conclusion being drawn is that people are feeling better about the economy --at least that's what Triple A said.
By the way, long lines at the gas station are getting way out of hand in China.
Ananova.com says Taxi drivers in that country are being forced to wait in line for hours to refill their tanks. That's because most of the cabs there run on natural gas --and demand for it is through the roof right now, thanks to a cold snap. Lines to refuel are stretching for miles and even backing up onto the main roads and freeways. A spokesman for one gas company says they are increasing production to fill the demand.
Cabbies in China have the option of using regular gasoline instead of natural gas, but it's more expensive. (Still)
Something else to be thankful for this Thanksgiving: The cost of a traditional turkey dinner will cost less than last year.
The American Farm Bureau Federation says the average cost of this year's feast for 10 is $42.91, down a $1.70 from last year's $44.61. That's only the sixth drop in average price in 24 years.
The price is based on the average cost of preparing a meal of turkey and dressing, sweet potatoes, peas, bread rolls, cranberries, pumpkin pie with whipped cream topping, a relish dish, milk and coffee.
Since the survey started in 1986, the cost of Thanksgiving dinner has risen about $13 bucks, but the price is still a bargain. (Maiman)Setting a good example:
You don't have to be a little girl to have a doll obsession. At 58-years-old, MARGOT STRAWN's love for dolls is as strong as ever. Too strong, in fact.
The Laguna Hills, California, woman spent most of this decade stealing more than a half-million dollars from the trust fund of a family she worked for. Margot used most of that ill-gotten $500-grand to buy dolls off the Internet, from 2001 until 2007.
That's when the IRS smelled fraud, and tipped off the family to her pilfering ways. By the time she was caught, Margot had squandered almost all of that trust fund cash on dolls.
On Monday, she pleaded guilty to grand theft and white collar crime charges. Margot will be in prison for the next four years, and was told she'd have to pay the family back. Preferably in cash, not dolls. (Couchman)Most overpaid stars:
Forbes magazine is out with it's list of the most over-paid Hollywood stars, the actors for whom movie companies pay out the nose to get -and then get little in return. Leading the list is "Land of the Lost's" star WILL FERRELL, whose films earn an average $3.29 for every buck he makes. Compare that to SHIA LaBEOUF. For every dollar he makes in a film, the movie makes $160. The rest of the list:
10. Jim Carrey
9. Samuel L. Jackson
8. Leonardo DiCaprio
7. Drew Barrymore
6. Tom Cruise
5. Ice Cube
4. Eddie Murphy
3. Billy Bob Thornton
2. Ewan McGregor
1. Will FerrellGrace notes:
TAYLOR SWIFT has a new day job. The CMA's Entertainer of the Year and crossover pop star will create a line of greeting cards. American Greetings' head honcho ZEV WEISS says Taylor's abilities as a songwriter and storyteller will allow her to flourish in the world of "get wells" and "happy birthdays." She'll also develop wrapping paper, stationery and online greetings as part of her deal. (Marino)
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