Overnight Briefing & General Reality Check

Earthquake in Chile:

The death toll from Saturday's 8.8-magnitude quake in Chile now stands at more than 700, but that's going to rise as rescuers began digging out the rubble to save trapped victims. Some two million more are displaced.
   The quake, which lasted 90 seconds and has generated numerous aftershocks, was the biggest earthquake to hit Chile in 50 years, after the 9.5-magnitude quake that struck in 1960, which was the largest ever recorded and ended up creating a tsunami that killed 140 people in Japan and 61 in Hawaii.

Comparison to Haiti quake:

The 8.8 earthquake that hit Chile was 500 times more powerful than the one in Haiti, but modernized Chile won't suffer nearly the damage, let alone casualties.
   Why not? Chile is a wealthier country and no stranger to earthquakes, so its buildings are largely built to resist quakes. Plus, its residents are taught from an early age how to respond in the critical moments after the ground begins to shake, something that Haitians severely lacked.
   But preparedness was only part of it. Chile was relatively lucky this time because the quake's epicenter was in a relatively unpopulated area and occurred deeper underground, approximately 21 miles from the surface compared with eight miles in Haiti.
   Remember: Earthquakes don't kill --they create damage, and that's what kills. Earthquakes don't create damage if there's nothing to damage. (Maiman)

Update:

More controversy over the tragic death of BRITTANY MURPHY. TMZ.com says the actress picked up a Vicodin prescription for 120 pills just 11 days before her death, but there were only 11 pills left in the bottle that was found after her death. The pills were supposed to be taken four times daily according to the prescription --which means she more than doubled the dose-- if she was taking them. Now the LA County Coroner's Office is looking for the doctor. The cause of death is currently listed as pneumonia complicated by an overdose of prescription and non-prescription drugs.

Update:

Entertainment Weekly magazine reports that Gatorade has officially dumped TIGER WOODS' endorsement contract, joining Accenture and AT&T.
   That leaves Tiger with Gillette and watchmaker Tag Heuer, although the Wall Street Journal says both have distanced themselves from Tiger since the scandal.

Condiment Rage:

In Florence, AL, police have arrested an unidentified 38-year-old man for beating another man at a motel with a bottle of Worcestershire sauce.
   According to the Florence Times Daily, the victim opened the door to his room and the suspect hit him on the head with the Worcestershire sauce bottle, then grabbed a fire extinguisher and hit him on the head and face.
   The victim is recovering at a local hospital --he's in good condition-- and Condiment Man remains in the county jail. (Maiman)

Taking everything much too seriously:

A street in England is being named after "Tomb Raider" character, LARA CROFT.
   According to the B-B-C, a new loop road in the town of Derby is going to be called Lara Croft Way.
   27-thousand local residents turned out to vote on the proposed name change. And, the results were almost unanimous --with nine out of ten voters saying "yes" to the famous video game and movie heroine. (Still)
Obvious phoner: Besides you --you egotist!-- who would you want to name a street after?