Overnight Briefing & General Reality Check

Anniversaries:

Happy 200th Can-iversary! The can began on August 25, 1810, when Englishman PETER DURAND was granted a patent for an idea to preserve food in tinplate vessels. Today the Can Manufacturers Institute (CMI) invites Americans to recognize the 200th anniversary of the food can. Whether we open a can of tuna or a can of whup-ass it's a good time to celebrate our little tin friends. As someone once said, "Yes, we can." (Van Zandt)

I'm a Poll Man:

The latest Gallup Poll contains more rough numbers for PRESIDENT OBAMA. His approval rating among American men has fallen to a record low, coming in at just 39-percent for the week ending August 22.   
   When the president was inaugurated in January of 2009, his job approval rating was 64-percent among men and 69-percent among women, according to Gallup. (Pacelli)

Auto World /Gas Guzzlin' Update:

Gas prices fell to an eight-month low Monday, dropping to an average price of $2.70 a gallon across the country. (It was highest in California, averaging at $3.14.)
   But don't get too excited. Triple A says $2.70 a gallon is just four cents lower than last week and still eight cents higher than last year.
   And this may not be the good news it sounds like. The Washington Post says the drop was triggered by a decline in consumer spending. With unemployment high and gas prices higher than last year, "consumers likely have been shopping and vacationing less and trimmed their gasoline purchases accordingly."
   Gas prices were also dragged down by an increase in more fuel-efficient cars and more exports from Europe, as well as traders undervaluing the price of gas.
   But regardless of the reason, between slow growth and well-stocked supplies of oil and natural gas, analysts predict that prices should stay low through the end of the year. (Maiman)

What's Buggin' Ya:

With all the press the common bedbug has been getting lately, the pest control company, Terminix, has issued a list of the nation's 15 most bedbug-infested cities. Topping the list: New York City, where FOX News reported last week that the AMC 25 theatre had to be closed after moviegoers complained that it was infested.
   Other NYC locations with bedbugs included Victoria's Secret stores, Abercrombie & Fitch, Hollister, the Time Warner Center and Bill Clinton's Harlem office.
   At Terminix, the cities were ranked by the number of calls to local service centers. Another pest control company, Orkin, has also released a list of the most bedbug-infested cities, ranked by the number of Orkin treatments which were done. The top 15 Terminix cities with the most bedbugs (with Orkin ranking in parentheses):
15. Minneapolis
14. Cleveland
13. Louisville
12. Indianapolis
11. Boston
10. Los Angeles
9. Washington, DC (6)
8. Dayton (9)
7. Columbus (2)
6. Denver (4)
5. Chicago (3)
4. Cincinnati (1)
3. Detroit (5)
2. Philadelphia (8)
1. New York City (7)
   FYI: Orkin's #10 city, Baltimore, was not ranked in the Terminix list.
Editor's note: Of course, the list could be flawed because the pest companies could have a bigger presence in one city or another... thereby having more treatments, etc.

Sucking the life out of the wire services:

LINDSAY LOHAN is out of rehab. Lindsay checked out of UCLA's Neuropsychiatric Hospital yesterday, according to TMZ.com, perhaps managing to finagle her way out of sobriety for a fourth time. She had been ordered to stay for 90 days beginning Aug 02, which means she served (carry the one)... 22 days.
   The rehabbed redhead is due for another court date today with Judge ELDEN FOX, who replaced Judge MARSHA REVEL on the bench after she quit the case amid allegations of impropriety. She was not expected to show at the hearing, but since she's been released, she may make an appearance to prove she's OK.
   While some may believe she's fit as a fiddle, DONALD TRUMP isn't quite convinced. The combover'd reality mogul told "Extra" that he'll consider letting Lilo compete on "Celebrity Apprentice" if she's "better," "strong" and at "100 percent." (Lee)