Overnight Briefing & General Reality Check

Holiday Gifts:

If you're looking for a simple gift for that simple person in your life, you can't go wrong with a roadkill calendar.
   Yes, imagine the surprise when an unsuspecting friend opens up this delightful gift featuring squashed squirrels, battered badgers and dead ducks. And of course, for added festive cheer, the year-ending unidentifiable carcass.
   Surprise: It's a bestseller.
   Creator KEVIN BERESFORD said he got the idea last year while doing his day job as a courier. "I travel around so I see a lot of roadkill," he tells the London Metro, "and it inspired me."
   (There's an Australian version, too.)
   The calendar, he says, is dedicated to "all the courageous critters that never quite made it across the road in time."
   Like last year, some shops still won't stock it but it's popularity remains just as high this year, particularly with students and as a "Secret Santa" gifts at the office. (Maiman)

Cyber Monday:

How much work is really getting done today? According to the National Retail Federation's online division Shop.org, the online division, 55% of workers with Internet access (some 70 million people) are shopping for holiday gifts from the office today.
   And why not, as the study also finds nine out of ten retailers are offering offer special promotions for Cyber Monday, up from 72% in 2007. And this year, more are offering specific deals (49%, up from 43% last year), planning one-day sales (41% vs. 33% last year) and free shipping on all purchases (22% vs. 16% last year --Kaye).

On, off and way-off Broadway:

DAVID HASSELHOFF has signed on to play Captain Hook in the century-old Christmas Pantomine in London. The show, which is a Christmas tradition, begins Dec 10.

Rocking the Internet:

This may be the best use of Facebook and Twitter yet. As of tomorrow, which is World AIDS Day, big stars like LADY GAGA, JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE and USHER will not post status updates or Tweets until 1-million dollars is raised for Keep A Child Alive.
   That's the charity run by ALICIA KEYS, and she came up with the idea for a Digital Life Sacrifice to bring awareness to the cause. A bunch of celebrities have filmed "last tweet and testament" videos which show them lying in coffins to show their "digital deaths."
   You can find out more about the campaign, and make a donation at keepachildalive.org. (Marino)

Drug Bust of the Day:

We are shocked, just shocked, that WILLIE NELSON was arrested for pot possession over the weekend.
   Nelson was traveling from California to Austin when the bus was pulled over by police who found six ounces of marijuana in his tour bus. He claimed the marijuana was his. Two others were also arrested.
   "He could get 180 days in county jail," said Hudspeth County Sheriff ARVIN WEST, "which if he does, I'm going to make him cook and clean. He can wear the stripy uniforms just like the other ones do.
   This isn't the first time illegal substances were found in Nelson's tour bus. In 2006, nearly 1.5 pounds of marijuana and three ounces of hallucinogenic mushrooms were found inside the bus.
   Editor's note: Good thing this dangerous criminal is off the streets. I know I'll sleep better tonight. Thank goodness for Sheriff West! (Maiman)

Lowering expectations (not!):

How'd you like to attend a housewarming for a home worth a billion dollars? Around 80 people did for the new home of India's richest man, MUKESH AMBANI. One guest described Ambani's dream-house as "the Taj Mahal of the 21st Century."
   The home has 27 floors, a movie theater, swimming pools, a helicopter pad and its own temple. Ambani moved in last month. His first electric bill: $155-thousand.
   According to Forbes magazine, Ambani is worth $27 billion. To put that in perspective, that's about one percent of what the government collected in revenues in 2008. (Maiman/Still)