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Overnight Briefing & General Reality Check
April 14, 2010
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Anniversaries:
Famous Last Words: "I'll see you later." That was JOHN JACOB ASTOR to his wife, MADELINE, after putting her into one of the last Titanic lifeboats and giving up his seat to another female passenger, the night of April 14-15, 1912.
Politics as usual:
It looks like Mexico's tourist industry is finally getting dented by all the country's recent drug violence. Reuters reports that many of Mexico's usually bustling beaches and tourist resorts are seeing less traffic this year amid increased worldwide coverage of drug violence that claimed one thousand lives in March alone.
About 20-million vacationers visit Mexico every year, with tourism accounting for eight-percent of the country's total economy. Spending by tourists in Mexico fell 15-percent in 2009, due to the swine flu outbreak and the global recession. (Pacelli)Guilty Pleasures:
Tonight's Powerball Lottery drawing is valued at $175 million ($84.1 million cash value). Powerball is played in 41 states, Washington DC and the U-S Virgin Islands. Chances of winning the grand prize (all five numbers plus the powerball) are 1 in 195.2 million.
--No winner in last night's drawing for the Mega Millions Lottery. That means Friday night's drawing is valued at $122 million ($74.6 million cash value). Mega Millions is played in 34 states and Washington DC. Chances of winning the big prize are 1 in 175.7 million.Sucks to be you:
MAKSIM CHMERKOVSKIY has figured out KATE GOSSELIN's problem --she can't relax and have fun! The super-suave "Dancing With the Stars" pro blogged on TVGuide.com that the Octo-Mom simply doesn't get the point of the show, which is to have the time of your life! Maksim thinks the cranky reality staple needs to focus, listen to instructor TONY DOVOLANI and trust he knows best when it comes to cutting the rug. (Lee)
High-profile celebrities in court:
Las Vegas casino mogul STEVE WYNN could be the new winner in the most-expensive divorce sweepstakes.
Wynn tells America Online News that he and his wife, ELAINE, split their 38 percent stake in Wynn Resorts Ltd. And currently her more than 11-million shares is valued at $955 million dollars. Although the exact amount of stock and shares were sealed in the divorce hearing, the number became available after a Securities and Exchange Commission filing was released last month.
Wynn also tells AOL that she walked away from the marriage with art and a house or two, but the main value is probably in the stock.Grace notes:
JEFF BECK has insured his fingers for 1-million dollars per digit. The UK's Daily Record says the guitarist was slicing carrots when he accidently cut off the first finger of his left hand, just below the top joint. Jeff put the severed finger on ice and rushed to the hospital where surgeons were able to sew it back on. Since then, Jeff decided to up his insurance from 1-million dollars per hand to 1-million dollars per finger. (Marino)
Prison follies:
Police in Argentina finally figured out how two maximum security inmates escaped from prison: They disguised themselves as sheep.
According to the London Sun, the convicts stole the sheep hides from a ranch (complete with sheep heads) after busting out and just laid low, pretending to graze among flock until the coast was clear.
Cops are still on the lookout for the men. One official says, "They can't pull the wool over our eyes forever." (Still) -
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