Overnight Briefing & General Reality Check

Rock Band update on the way:

The next edition of "Rock Band" is coming out Oct 26.
   MTV Games says although there have been editions like "Beatles: Rock Band," there hasn't bee a true overhaul of the game in three years.
   The new version includes a keyboard instrument and modes which are designed to help you actually learn how to play real-world guitars, drums and keyboards.

Those @$#%* Foreigners:

While the U-S is about to end its Space Shuttle program and redefine NASA's mission, Russia is ramping-up its space flight agenda. Russian Prime Minister VLADIMIR PUTIN announced yesterday that Moscow will spend about $800-million-dollars on a new "cosmodrome" to take the burden off its old Cold War-era site in Kazakhstan.
   Since the break-up of the old Soviet Union, Russia has actually been renting the Baikonur site from Kazakhstan. The new cosmodrome will be built near Uglegorsk, and should come online by 2015. (Pacelli)

Reality Round-Up:

RACHEL UCHITEL made headlines yesterday with the announcement that she was asked to appear on "Celebrity Apprentice," but wanted to clean up first and also agreed to become a patient on VH1's "Celebrity Rehab." TMZ.com reports she's making a cool half-million-bucks to go stone-cold sober, but ruined her chance to appear on NBC.
   DONALD TRUMP told the gossip site that she made a "terrible decision" and they now have "zero interest" in featuring TIGER WOODS' ex-mistress.
   Other "stars" getting clean on the tube include JANICE DICKINSON, JASON WAHLER of "The Hills," LEIF GARRETT, KEISHA COLE's mom, FRANKIE LONS, and oil heir JASON DAVIS.
   The detox may not be enough for everyone on the cast, sources at the addiction clinic tell TMZ.com that JEREMY LONDON and his wife, MELISSA, are going through serious withdrawals and need much more help than the center can provide. (Lee)

The Reel Deal:

Shades of "Free Willy" --Alcon Entertainment will be doing the real-life story of Winter the Dolphin in "Dolphin Tale." Based on a true story, Daily Variety magazine says the film is about "Winter" the dolphin, who lost her tail in a crab trap, and the young boy who helped save her by getting people to create a prosthetic tail to replace the one she lost. The story will be filmed this fall at Florida's Clearwater Marine Aquarium where Winter now lives, with the dolphin playing herself in the film.

Grace notes:

When PBS airs highlights from PAUL McCARTNEY's recent concert at the White House, you won't hear his jab at former President GEORGE W. BUSH. When Sir Paul was honored with the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song by PRESIDENT OBAMA and the Library of Congress, he said (quote), "After the last eight years, it's great to have a president who knows what a library is." The Washington Post says that remark has been edited out of the PBS special which will air on July 28th. (Marino)

Slow news day:

Bet you didn't know that the World Snail Racing Championship just wrapped up in England.
   Orange.co.uk says the winner was a snail named SIDNEY. The slimy little guy finished the 13-inch course in just 3-minutes 41-seconds.
   Sidney's owner, 62-year-old CLAIRE LAWRENCE, says she trained Sidney in her garden and fed him salad to get him in shape for the race.
   But, even though Sidney won --he didn't beat the world record. That was set by a snail named ARCHIE back in 1995.
   Organizers say windy conditions this year probably slowed Sidney down a little. (Still)