Overnight Briefing & General Reality Check

Black Friday shopping:

How many of you will Christmas shop this holilday weekend?
   Three percent have already done their holiday shopping. That's the way the Consumer Reports' Money Blog figures it. [Ed's note: Odds are they've now started working on their taxes. --Maiman]
   For the rest of us, Black Friday looms. Nearly half of us --47 percent-- plan to make gift purchases over the long weekend --a third say they'll be looking for things for themselves. And of course, there's Cyber Monday ahead, too.
   Hottest item: Flat screen TVs. (Maiman)

Global warming update:

The politically-charged debate over global warming (Ooops! Sorry! "climate change") took another twist over the weekend when the Washington Post (HERE) and several other outlets gave futher details about some electronic files and e-mails that were stolen from a prominent climate research center and made public last week. Many of the entiries seem to point to an effort to prevent climate change skeptics from getting a fair shake in peer-reviewed journals and publications.
   Many of the cracked e-mails are pretty incriminating --with several scientists openly promising to do whatever they can to keep contrary points of view out of many prestigious journals and other publications. (Pacelli)

Idle gossip & unconfirmed rumors:

Don't believe the rumors that ROBERT PATTINSON and KRISTEN STEWART are just "good friends." The pair has been spotted looking comfy-cozy on a number of occasions and the latest was last week after the premiere of "New Moon" in Manhattan. The NY Post's Page Six gossip column reports the beautiful duo didn't attend the scheduled after-party with the rest of the cast, but headed to a joint called "Avenue" where they shared an intimate table for two and security was on-hand to make sure their private soiree stayed that way. 
  Meanwhile, "Twilight" mania hit fever pitch outside DAVID LETTERMAN's studio last week. JANET CHARLTON reports a stampede of crazed, sobbing female fans managed to break down protective blockades in the quest to see the real-life "Edward Cullen" and police had to shut down an entire city block to maintain order. (Lee)

For all you "Twilight" fans on Team Jacob, RITCH DUNCAN and BOB POWERS, authors of the highly entertaining "The Werewolf's Guide To Life: A Manual For The Newly Bitten" (Broadway Books, $14), share some Do's and Don'ts of Dating a Werewolf at IHeartDaily.com:
   --o--
Do: Cook a Steak for him.
Don't: Overcook it. Rare is better. Or don't cook it at all. Either way.
   --o--
Do: Realize that if he has shared the truth of his condition with you, he either loves you, or needs you for some reason.
Don't: Confuse the two.
   --o--
Do: Understand when he feels the need to pee outdoors. He's marking his territory.
Don't: Put up with his "misses" when he leaves the toilet seat down. That's not a werewolf thing, all guys do that.
   --o--
Do: Expect him to adapt to some of your needs as well.
Don't: Get a cat. Nothing personal, they just won't get along.
   --o--
Do: Love him unconditionally.
Don't: Pet him. It's patronizing. (Kaye)

Trolling for IQ points:

A couple in England have picked an interesting name for their new baby.
   Ananova.com says TONY RICHARDSON and SAMANTHA SMITH have named their daughter KIA --after the car manufacturer. They were originally going to call the baby TILLEY. But, they changed their plans after Samantha gave birth in the back seat of a Kia Rondo on the way to the hospital.
   Now, Kia Motors is giving the couple a brand new 2010 Kia. MICHAEL COLE is managing director of Kia in the U-K. He said, "We would like to welcome Kia to the Kia family and wish her a wonderful life." (Still)

NASCAR update:

Shattered records and celebrations were the theme of the day for JIMMIE JOHNSON and the crew of his number 48 Lowes Chevrolet.  He drove with purpose and stayed out of trouble at Homestead Miami Speedway to clinch the Chase for the Sprint Cup and become the only driver to do it consecutively four times.
  It was Hendrick Motorsports 12th championship and their drivers finished second and third as well with MARK MARTIN and JEFF GORDON sitting behind Johnson in points.
   Incidentally, DENNY HAMLIN actually won the race while Johnson finished fifth. (Myers)