Overnight Briefing & General Reality Check

The White House:

Word broke yesterday of an embarrassing episode for the White House. Officials apologized for turning family members of a Medal of Honor recipient away from an exclusive tour last week because a 10-year-old grandson of the late veteran showed up wearing shorts.
   The veteran in question was VERNON BAKER, the last surviving black Medal of Honor winner from World War II. He was buried last Friday at Arlington National Cemetery after dying this past July.
   Baker's widow and grandson went to the White House this past Saturday for a rare West Wing tour, including the Oval Office and other rooms that the general public doesn't normally get to see. But when 10-year-old VERNON PAWLIK showed up in shorts and a tee-shirt with his grandfather's picture on it, he was turned away.
   Editor's Note: So who's dumber here? The family for not putting the kid in a jacket and tie, or the White House for turning him away? (Pacelli)

Fast Food:

Domino's is test marketing a new breakfast pizza.
   Lots of people have had pizza for breakfast but usually not on purpose. But in Ohio, Domino's is introducing a pizza that's topped with cheese and eggs, and extra toppings like bacon, ham and sausage.
   Editor's note: Eating this would void my warranty.
   --I guess their first crack at a breakfast pizza, the one with the oatmeal, didn't work out too well. (Maiman)

Trash talk and satellite dish:

BRITNEY SPEARS tried to get control of her life and career back yesterday, but a judge said no. The Los Angeles Times says the singer asked that the court-ordered conservatorship put in place in 2008 when Britney went off the deep end be canceled. No dice.
   The judge ruled that Britney's father, JAMIE SPEARS and attorney Andrew Wallet will continue to be in charge of her personal and business affairs.
   Editor's Note: Ok, it's difficult enough to trust an attorney, but why would you ever hire a guy whose last name is Wallet??? (Marino)

LINDSAY LOHAN should be focused on maintaining her sobriety, but is all fired up over rumors her fortune could be tied up in a conservatorship like BRITNEY SPEARS.
   Sources tell TMZ.com she's been hearing rumbling that some of her nearest and dearest are ready to go to court to tie up her hard-earned wealth. Word is Lilo isn't impressed with the latest development and has every intention of fighting to keep control of her cash.
   Meanwhile, her estranged father, MICHAEL, is spouting off about her choice of treatment facilities. The proud pop mouthed off to Us Weekly that the Betty Ford Clinic is nothing but a "country club" that freely gives it's patients prescription drugs.
   He also voiced his complaints that they have no family programs --which is the heart of the problem. Sounds like he may know what he's talking about --Michael spent some time there himself. (Lee)

Going Geek-dot-com /Caught in the Web:

Antarctica isn't exactly known for its streets, but that didn't stop Google from unveiling its Street View feature on the coldest continent on yesterday.
   After running into opposition in Germany and the Czech Republic over the controversial imaging service, Antarctica was a welcome change. A geospatial technologist told the London Guardian, "This allows people to understand the contrast between New York's Times Square and being on the edge of a glacier looking at penguins."
   Over the next 24 hours, Street View images will go live from Antarctica, Ireland, and Brazil, giving Google an on-the-ground presence on all seven continents.
   Editor's note: And there were no legal proceedings to deal with the privacy concern of penguins. (Maiman)