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Overnight Briefing & General Reality Check
May 24, 2010
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Former Presidents at play:
It happens to everyone. A Secret Service van carrying former President BILL CLINTON was involved in a minor accident yesterday. Clinton was unhurt when the van he was riding in was rear-ended on Connecticut's Merritt Parkway.
Mr. Bill was heading up to New Haven, to deliver the commencement address at his alma mater, Yale University. After a short delay, he continued on to Yale, where he gave his speech.
A Connecticut State Police spokesman said the accident was at a very low rate of speed, and there were no injuries. (Pacelli)Anniversaries:
Did you play Pac-Man over the weekend? You may have if you jumped on the Google search engine. For the first time ever, Google made a playable logo on its homepage on Saturday, the 30th anniversary of everybody's favorite (or at least first favorite) video game. Pac-Man was released on May 22, 1980 by a Japanese company called NAMCO BANDAI. Actually, it was originally called "Puck-Man" but American buyers rejected it, worried the letter "P" would chip off and look like an "F."
It wasn't the first video game, or even the first arcade game, but Pac-Man is considered one of the most influential games in industry history, partly because it broke new ground by featuring friendly, non-violent characters. (Maiman)Recall:
A nationwide salmonella outbreak is being linked to alfalfa sprouts.
The U-S Department of Agriculture (USDA) says 20 people have been sickened with salmonella in ten states. The alfalfa sprouts were made by Caldwell Fresh Foods for products made under the Caldwell Fresh Foods, Nature's Choice and California Exotics brands. They were distributed to restaurants and retailers including Trader Joe's and Wal-Mart stores.
No deaths have been reported, but four cases did involve hospitalization. Salmonella can cause serious and possibly fatal infections in young children, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems. Healthy people infected with salmonella may experience fever, diarrhea, nausea and abdominal pain.
FYI: The ten states reporting salmonella illnesses include: AZ, CA, CO, ID, IL, MO, NM, NV, OR and WI. (Page)Idle gossip & unconfirmed rumors:
DOUG REINHARDT has traded up in the celebrity dating pool. Rumors are swirling the ex-boyfriend of PARIS HILTON has landed another piece of American royalty, Miss USA, RIMA FAKIH. Sources tell Us Weekly the two just started dating but are having a great time together. (Lee)
On, off and way-off Broadway:
The revival of "Pee-Wee's Playhouse," which has been playing to sold-out crowds in Los Angeles, is coming to Broadway for six weeks this fall.
PAUL REUBENS --who plays Pee Wee Herman-- has taken stuff from his TV show, "Pee-wee's Playhouse," and the producer says as long as he'll be in town, Pee Wee will likely make an appearance in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
JOHN PARAGON will be back as Jambi the genie and LYNNE MARIE STEWART as Miss Yvonne. No word on who'll do the Cowboy Curtis role, originally played by LAURENCE FISHBURNE.
The show begins previews Oct 26 and opens Nov 11 at the Stephen Sondheim Theater. And, if the show does well, the producer tells Daily Variety "Clearly we'd be open to extending in New York."Grace notes from Vinny Marino:
OZZY OSBOURNE may be the Prince of Darkness, but when he's having dinner with his wife, he likes a bit of peace and quiet. The New York Post says Ozzy and SHARON were chowing down at Serafina in Manhattan on Thursday and asked the waiter to turn down the music in the restaurant. Ozzy admits that after more than 40 years of live and loud concerts, he's just about completely deaf. (Marino)
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