Overnight Briefing & General Reality Check

Mardi Gras:

Today is Fat Tuesday --the culmination of 11 days of partying and parades called Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Traditionally, Mardi Gras (and the companion holiday, Carnival in Brazil and other places) are supposed to be the last days of partying before the 40 days of Lent, which begins with Ash Wednesday (tomorrow).

Being Shrove Tuesday, today is also International Pancake Day. You know the drill; the contest between the folks in Liberal, KS, and Olney, England. This whole thing started when Christian Lenten rules prohibited the eating of all dairy products. So housewives would make pancakes to use up their supplies of eggs, milk, butter and other fats.
   Editor's note: For some reason, this year's National Pancake Day is not today, but next Tuesday, on Feb 23. On that day, visitors to the International House of Pancakes will be served up a "short stack" of free buttermilk pancakes, and in return, the company hopes they'll make a donation to the Children's Miracle Network. Donations are strictly voluntary. Last year IHOP served more than 2.5 million free pancakes, and since 2006 when they began, they've raised more than $3.25 million.

Small town, small people:

In 2001, British truck driver KEN STRICKLAND started collecting water cans --no one knows why, a hobby, maybe.
   He kept very accurate records of each one, including the ones he made himself. He'd look for them high and low: Antique shops, curio shops, yard sales; Sometimes people would leave them on his doorstep. He kept them in his greenhouse, his garden and tool shed --and of course, in his home.
   He became known as the Watering Can Man.
   Last month, at age 73, Watering Can Man died and left all three-thousand watering cans to his niece, HILARY TAYLOR. (Photo of Hilary with all the cans) She thinks she'll sell them and donate the money to charity.
   All but one, that is: The one holding his uncle's ashes. (Maiman)

Most popular dog names:

With the annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show going on tonight and tomorrow night, here's the most recent (2009) listing of the most popular dog names for males and females (Source: Veterinary Pet Insurance):

Most Popular Male Dog Names:
5. Jake
4. Bailey
3. Rocky
2. Buddy
1. Max

Most Popular Female Dog Names:
5. Daisy
4. Maggie
3. Lucy
2. Molly
1. Bella

Hook it up:

SAMANTHA DANIELS is a professional matchmaker. In fact, she was the model the network used for that ALICIA SILVERSTONE show on NBC, "Miss Match." She also writes stuff for the Huffington Post and has a book out as well.
Is she any good? Well, she has 100 marriages to her credit. A good interview, she can also dish advice to your listeners about what they might be doing wrong and other dating related stuff, including:
--Are you giving out the right signals to the opposite sex?
--How to end the date if you're interested... or what not to do if you're not interested at all.
--Why you should... or shouldn't text your date the next day.
--What a great first date should include.
--The number one way to attract somebody.
--Do opposites attract (she says "no")???
...and many more.
We asked her what kind of signal our co-host was sending out by being over 40 and never having been married; she had an interesting take on it. Set up a phoner by emailing Samantha@SamanthasTable.com. (RB)