Overnight Briefing & General Reality Check

Guilty Pleasures:

Tattoos are apparently so popular that you can now get do-it-yourself kits. The trend is called "DIY tattooing."
   You buy the kits on the internet (since tattoo parlors aren't going to carry them --duh!). It's not as big a deal here yet but health officials in England want them banned, citing the high risk of infection.
   Ya think? Key paragraph in a BBC story: "Keen to become a professional tattooist, she looked for an apprenticeship with a studio, but when she didn't succeed a friend suggested she give it a go herself."
   Something should tell you that if you don't succeed in an apprenticeship at a licensed studio, you shouldn't be tattooing yourself or your friends, but in the BBC story, that's what this person did.
   You can buy the kits online for as little as $50 bucks. The kits are made in China (another red flag).
   Health risks include HIV and Hepatitis C from poorly sterilized equipment, and allergic reactions to the tattoo ink. (Maiman)

Sick bay:

Uh oh --there's already major problems on the set of "Celebrity Rehab." Peoplemagazine reports MELISSA CUNNINGHAM --who was under the care of Dr. DREW PINSKY and the Pasadena Recovery Center --suffered a brain hemorrhage shortly after checking in to the reality show. The wife of JEREMY LONDON --also a patient-- is now recovering at home with the mister by her side and his rep says she's still pursuing sobriety. (Lee)

Broadcast, cable and video news:

You probably remember ALFRED MOLINA from his breakthru movie, "Chocolat," although he was also Dr Octopus in "Spider-Man 2." Daily Variety magazine says he's just joined the cast of NBC's "Law and Order: Los Angeles," playing the deputy DA on the new fall series. Already announced on the show is actor SKEET ULRICH, who will play a detective.
   The show will debut Sep 22, in the Wednesday time slot after "Law & Order: SVU."

On, off and way-off Broadway:

Look for ELTON JOHN and LEE HALL, who did the musical "Billy Elliott" together, to re-team for a new musical based on GEORGE ORWELL's iconic novel, "Animal Farm." Daily Variety magazine says Hall has been working on adapting the satire on Stalinism and will have lyrics this fall for Elton so he can work on the music.

Off the beaten path:

The nation of France appears to be getting more patriotic.
   Agence France-Presse says a new law has just been introduced to protect the French flag from "insult." The law resulted from a recent case where a man used the French flag to wipe his bottom. A photo of the act ended up being published, causing mass outrage. The picture even won an award.
   Now, the government says anyone caught degrading the French flag can be fined nearly two-thousand dollars. Doing the same thing at a public event can even land you in the slammer for six-months. (Still)

Idiots or Insane:

Police in Lewes, Ireland, are searching for the person who put up enlarged photographs of a man's private parts around town.
   In the photo, placed mostly on parked cars, a yellow bow was tied around the man's you-know-what.
   Police are interviewing residents in the areas where the photos were found and the photos were shipped to a lab for fingerprint analysis.
   A police office told the BBC, "If this is a self-portrait, the artist won't be in a hurry to be identified."
   Editor's note: Guess that makes this a short story, huh? (Maiman)

Top-10 Summer Bodies:

Men's Health and Women's Health magazines have gotten together to appoint this summer's best bodies. "Twilight" star KELLAN LUTZ tops the mens' list, while Sports Illustrated swimsuit model BROOKLYN DECKER tops the women's list. The rest of the top-10 best summer bodies for men and women:

Men:
10. Channing Tatum, Actor
9. Daniel Craig, Actor
8. Jake Gyllenhaal, Actor
7. Mark Sanchez, NY Jets QB
6. Isaiah Mustafa, Actor
5. Mario Lopez, Actor
4. Zac Efron, Actor
3. Taylor Lautner, Actor
2. Matthew McConaughey, Actor
1. Kellan Lutz, Actor

Women:
10. Kim Kardashian, Reality Star
9. Jennifer Aniston, Actor
8. Lauren Conrad, Reality Star/Author
7. Katy Perry, Musician
6. Carrie Underwood, Musician
5. Jessica Biel, Actor
4. Vanessa Hudgens, Actor/Musician
3. Ashley Greene, Actor
2. Jessica Alba, Actor
1. Brooklyn Decker, Model