Overnight Briefing & General Reality Check

I'm a Poll Man:

A new CNN/Opinion Corporation poll says that a whopping 74-percent of the public thinks GEORGE WASHINGTON --the father of our country-- lied at one time or another while he served as president. Seventy-one-percent even think "Honest ABE" LINCOLN told a fib or two while he was in office.
   Three-quarters of people questioned in the survey think that modern-day federal officials are not honest, a figure that's been essentially steady since 1994. Americans overwhelmingly think their government is broken, but holds out hope that it can be fixed. (Pacelli)

Equal time:

In a reversal of a nearly 100-year-old policy, visitors are now allowed to bring their guns to national parks and wildlife reserves.
   The decision was tacked on to credit card legislation that went into effect yesterday, and it allows visitors to bring weapons (in some cases, concealed ones) into national parks, hotels and gift shops as long as the owner complies with state gun laws.
   This, however, may not be that simple. Officials worry that implementing the law could create headaches in the more than 30 national parks that cross state lines, and critics say that the legislation will probably lead to an uptick in violence in national parks.
   Gun advocates, on the other hand, are thrilled. In honor of the legislation, armed barbeques took place in Valley Forge and Gettysburg parks.
   "Now it's a big sea of gun freedom," a gun activist MIKE STOLLENWERK told the LA Times. "The idea is that the same rule that applies on Main Street will apply to the national park."
   Editor's note: Because you never know when you're going to need to defend yourself against a Redwood or a cactus. (Maiman)

Bid'ness is Bid'ness:

A January Harris poll finds replacing brand-name products with generics leads the list (65%) of ways adults are curbing their spending; 45% are brown-bagging their lunches instead of buying; 39% are spreading out their visits to the hairdresser/barber/stylist; 34% have switched to refillable water bottles and 33% have cancelled at least one magazine subscription (19% have cancelled newspaper delivery --Kaye)

Idle gossip & unconfirmed rumors:

Didja see HILARY DUFF's ring on the entertainment shows last night? It's big --really big! As we mentioned yesterday, she's set to tie the knot with MIKE COMRIE and --like any blushing bride-- wants to show off her new bauble. Word is the rock is fourteen carats and retails for around one-million-dollars. (Lee)

JUSTIN BIEBER is ready for a whole lot of car. The 15-year-old will have his license in a few weeks and Star magazine reports he's thinking of buying a $300 thousand dollar Ferrari because he thinks it will help him get girls.

When the JACKSON 5 reunites for a world tour later this year, MICHAEL's place will be taken by his sister, JANET JACKSON. She has denied this for months, but this week, JERMAINE JACKSON confirmed that after a conference call, Janet is on board. No dates or venues have been announced yet. (Marino)

ELTON JOHN & BILLY JOEL:

were supposed to do more of their Face-To-Face concerts this summer, but all of those dates have been canceled. Elton told the Chicago Tribune that Billy wants to take some time off. That means a July 7th return to Wrigley Field is now not going to happen. Elton also said that after the March 11th show in Albany, there may never be any more Face-To-Face concerts. (Marino)