Overnight Briefing & General Reality Check

Rounding up the usual suspects:

Well, here's an important piece of investigative journalism from the NY Times: Criminals prefer Yankees hats.
   The Times says "dozens of men and women who have robbed, beaten, stabbed and shot at their fellow New Yorkers have done so while wearing Yankees caps or clothing," adding that three --a whole three-- such robberies have taken place this year.
   But a more "extensive" investigation revealed that over the past decade, more than 100 people implicated in serious crimes in New York were repping the Bronx Bombers. In contrast, only about a dozen people were found to be wearing Mets' hats.
   As to why the Yankees are so popular among lawbreakers, experts have a few ideas. No seriously, they do. Criminologist FRANKIE BAILEY (Yo, Frankie!) chalks it up to what he calls the "Jay-Z effect" --the theory that inner-city rappers have made cocked Yankees caps a necessary accessory (fashion-wise, that is).
   Others say that it's just about numbers: Yankees gear constitutes about 25 percent of all Major League Baseball merchandise sold.
   The Yankees had no comment but fans who talked to the paper weren't happy. "It's a shame," said the president of a Pennsylvania Yankees fan club. "It makes us Yankees fans look like criminals, because of a few unfortunate people who probably don't know the first thing about the Yankees."
   Editor's note: And when the president of a "Pennsylvania Yankees fan club" speaks, you know it's golden. (Maiman)

Stars and their movies:

The New York Times interviewed CASEY AFFLECK yesterday, and Casey finally admitted that his documentary of JOAQUIN PHOENIX called "I'm Still Here" is basically a fake, and no more than what some might sum up as "performance art."
   And if you caught Joaquin's interview with DAVID LETTERMAN (they ran the show again last night), you'll be interested to know that too, was a fake.
   The Times dug up an interview with Letterman writer BILL SCHEFT in Nuvo.com, in which he says Dave was in on the Joaquin act: "Think ANDY KAUFMAN without shaving," Scheft says. "Dave knew about it and Dave loved it because he could play along... And he did, and it was great television."
   But that's not going to stop Casey from releasing the film. And he told the Times, "I hope Joaquin gets nominated for all kinds of awards. He deserves it."

You've seen Disney's version of "Pinocchio," now how about a live-action version?
   Daily Variety magazine reports Warner Brothers has one in the works, despite the fact that there was one done as recently as 2002 with ROBERTO BENIGNI starring and directing.
   DAN JINKS, who's company is producing the flick, said "I think we've found a fresh approach that's going to be very entertaining."
   Editor's note: No word on whether it'll be done in 3-D, which would make the puppet's nose (or any other parts) really pop. And no word on casting, either. It doesn't take a genius to see a porn version in 3D, with Pinocchio as a girl or boy... but that would be for an entirely different audience, of course.

Grace notes:

Here's a bit of perfect casting. SACHA BARON COHEN will play FREDDIE MERCURY in a biopic on the late lead singer for QUEEN. Deadline.com says ROBERT DE NIRO's Tribeca Films with co-produce along with Queen Films, which is controlled by the band's surviving members.
   The screenplay will begin with the group's formative years in London, leading up to its historic Live Aid set in 1985. The film will use original Queen recordings, but there's no word on whether or not Sacha will do his own vocals, or lip-synch to Freddie's tracks. Cameras are set to roll in 2011. (Marino)

Apparently in relationship math, 5+1=3:

   A new study printed in the British paper The Independent found that when we fall in love, we typically lose two of our closest friends in the process. Researchers say the core five friends for most people dropped by two when a new lover enters the picture. That's four if you count the new love interest.
   Researchers say since romantic relationships take up a lot of our time, the smaller circle is likely a result of just not enough time to go around.
   An interesting side note -- those who pick up a new love interest as part of an extra marital affair did not tend to lose any friends as a result. (Page)