Overnight Briefing & General Reality Check

Use it or lose it:

We like to chat every year with Dr ELMO SHROPSHIRE, who's the author of the quintessential Christmas classic, "Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer." As a teenager, Elmo was the exercise boy for "Needles," the Kentucky Derby and Belmont winner. Later, after receiving his vet's degree, Elmo was the racetrack veterinarian at Aqueduct, Belmont Park and Saratoga in New York as well.
   He now goes by the name, "Dr Elmo," and always does plenty of holiday interviews to talk about the song and associated goodies. For instance, there's TV specials, Hallmark keepsake tree ornaments and more.
   And this year, there's a Grandma iPhone app and iPad app --and, for you country guys-- the new Time Life CD, "Bluegrass Christmas," with cuts including "Greensleeves," "Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring," "We Wish You a Merry Christmas," "Jingle Bells" and more (press kit here). Yep --Dr Elmo is a bluegrass banjo player! Believe it!
   He now goes by the name, "Dr Elmo," and always does plenty of holiday interviews to talk about the song and associated goodies. For instance, there's TV specials, Hallmark keepsake tree ornaments and you name it --he's a regular merchandising machine!
   Phoner: Wanna interview? Elmo doesn't take himself too seriously and if asked, will sing parts of his other Christmas songs, as well. If you're really cool, he might even prescribe some horse tranquilizers for you (OK --just kidding about the last part). He lives in San Francisco these days and you can book him through Pam Wendell at 415-893-9818 or email at pam_drElmo@msn.com.

The Butterball Turkey Talk Line is on, designed to answer questions asked by the poultry impaired: 1-800-BUTTERBALL (1-800-288-8372) between the hours of 6 am to 6 pm (Eastern), through Thanksgiving Day and into December for all you Christmas turkey types. Or you can e-mail 'em at talkline@butterball.com, or hit up the website any time: Butterball.com.
   When the Butterball Turkey Talk-Line opened in 1980, six home economists responded to 11-thousand phone calls in the first year alone.
   The Butterball Turkey Talk-Line experts are also available for media interviews. For more information, please contact BRIDGET O'MALLEY at 312-BB-MEDIA or Bridget.Omalley@Edelman.com.

And while we're at it: Just in time for your holiday chow down, it's the Thanksgiving menu of chemicals in your food. It lists all the chemicals in all the Thanksgiving day grub we eat, then, explains what all those chemicals are. Appetizing!

Look for the RBR's HEATHER LEE filling in for CODY ALAN --the syndicated CMT night guy-- tonight and Tuesday.

What's the Buzz:

Altering photographs has become so unremarkable that it now regular happens with the traditional school portraits.
   The NY Times reports that parents can often choose what they want to do to the photograph and many companies offer a wide range of services, ranging from simple touch-ups such as removing a blemish to more complicated alterations such as changing hair length or whitening teeth.
   And if your kid happens to be sick on class-picture day, not to worry, they can likely digitally insert him in.
   As one might expect, the requests for retouching photos increase as the students get older. One company estimates that by senior year "sometimes half of a class requests retouching."
   Editor's note: It's cause kids are uglier these days. Dumber, too (except mine of course!)
   --This wasn't a problem for me. The day I was supposed to have my picture taken, I hired a model to take my place. He didn't work out quite as well when I had him take my SAT tests, though. (Maiman)