Overnight Briefing & General Reality Check

Top baby names for 2009:

Every year, the Social Security Administration goes through their records and compiles a list of the most popular baby names of the past year. Last year's #1 girl's name, Emma, has been unseated by Isabella. Jacob was the number one most popular name for boys again last year. It's the 11th year in a row for Jacob.
   This is just more proof the "Twilight" series is taking over the next generation. Both Isabella and Jacob are the main characters in "New Moon," played by KRISTEN STEWART and TAYLOR LAUTNER while Cullen --(actually Edward Cullen) played by ROBERT PATTINSON-- is also heading up the list, rising from number 782 to 485. Other trend-setting names include Maliyah, a variation on First Daughter MALIA OBAMA and Isla, thanks to ISLA FISHER, while Lindsay, Miley, Jonas and Britney are on their way out of style.
   Over the last 100 years, Michael has held the top spot most often (44 times), while Mary has been ranked number one 46 times.
   Other name trends: ELVIS slipped from 673 in 2007 to 713 in 2008 to 858 this year.
   Check your name's popularity through the Social Security Administration, even by state. (Maiman)

Most popular girls' names (Last year's ranking in parentheses):
10. Mia (new)
9. Chloe (10)
8. Abigail (8)
7. Madison (4)
6. Emily (3)
5. Ava (5)
4. Sophia (7)
3. Olivia (6)
2. Emma (1)
1. Isabella (2)
   FYI: Elizabeth (#9 last year) dropped off this year's top 10.

Most popular boys' names (Last year's ranking in parentheses):
10. Anthony (7)
9. Noah (new)
8. Jayden (new)
7. Daniel (5)
6. Joshua (4)
5. William (8)
4. Alexander (6)
3. Michael (2)
2. Ethan (3)
1. Jacob (1)
   FYI: last year's #9 and #10 names, Christopher and Matthew, dropped off this year's top-10.

Motorcycles:

Do the words KNIEVEL and Snake River Canyon sound familiar? They should, since that's the jump that EVEL KNIEVEL didn't make in 1974 with his rocket-powered cycle.
   Now, the Magic Valley Times-News reports Evel's son, ROBBIE KNIEVEL, wants to attempt the stunt on the Fourth of July weekend next year (2011), 37 years after his father's failure. He's in Twin Falls, ID, today to survey the site and ponder the possibility.

Off the beaten path:

A flower in England is so rare --police are being sent to protect it.
   Orange.co.uk says a rare Lady's Slipper orchid growing at a golf course is thought to be the last flowering plant of its kind in the country. So, police in Lancashire are stepping up patrols in the area. They've also installed C-C-T-V (closed-circuit television) cameras near the flower. And, cops are tagging the 100-year-old plant with a security mark.
   It's expected to bloom soon and police are afraid somebody will steal it. Back in 2004, a collector tried to dig up the entire plant. And, last year, a thief was caught taking snippings from it. (Still)

This weekend's hot movies (Daily Variety):

Biggest opening ever? "Iron Man 2" pulled in an estimated $133.6 million in the U-S alone this past weekend. Overseas, where it's in its second weekend, it "only" made $57.2 million, which most movie companies would be excited to get on an opening weekend. But... it's only the fifth-highest three-day opener ever domestically, surpassing "Shrek the Third," which debuted with $121.6 million in 2007.
   However, it's already a third of the way to a billion dollars... the total for the film worldwide is an amazing $327.6 million.
   The four movies beating "Iron Man 2's" opening are:
   4. "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" ($135.6 million)
   3. "The Twilight Saga: New Moon," ($142.8 million),
   2. "Spider-Man 3," ($151.1 million),
   1. "The Dark Knight," ($158.4 million).
   (Source: Box Office Mojo)