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Overnight Briefing & General Reality Check - May 3, 2013
May 3, 2013
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The President at play:
PRESIDENT OBAMA continues to look at a nation armed to the teeth. New numbers released by the FBI show that there have been 72,005,482 background checks for gun purchases since he took office.
That breaks down to 46,455 background checks for gun purchases each day since 2008. (Pacelli)
Editor's note: That's either an awful lot of background checks or an awful lot of paranoid people.
--I guess he's gonna be awful busy when he starts going door to door to take all them guns away. He's doing that, right? (Maiman)Cinco de Mayo:
Believe it or not, Cinco de Mayo is a bigger holiday in the U-S than it is in Mexico.
Cinco de Mayo has nothing to do with Mexico's Independence Day --which is actually September 16. May fifth actually marks the victory of Mexican forces over the French at the Battle of the Puebla, back in 1862, while we were messing around in the Civil War.
But even though the Mexicans gave a beat-down to the French, the Frenchies were on the way to Mexico City and eventually conquered it, putting Emperor Maximillian on the throne in 1863. The Mexicans then turned around and although it took them several years, defeated the French and kicked them out of Mexico, executing Emperor Maximillian in 1867.Chic Sh*t:
If Duchess KATE MIDDLETON is Wearing It, Then It Must Be a Trend... InStyle magazine says TopShop was the latest store to get whacked with a sellout when she wore one of their polka dot dresses to visit London's Warner Brothers Studio. There's even a name for it... "The RepliKate Effect. Other top stores are stocking up on similar polka dot dress styles. Nordtrom and ModCloth.com both carry similar styles. (Bartha)
Stars and their movies:
Look for JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE to play record mogul NEIL BOGART in the upcoming film about his life, called "Spinning Gold."
The Hollywood Reporter says the Bogart's son is writing the script for the film about the founder of Casablanca Records, who was closely aligned with the rise of disco.
Neil, who died when he was just 39, is widely credited with discovering and launching the careers of a generation of superstars, including CURTIS MAYFIELD, BILL WITHERS, GLADYS KNIGHT, KISS, PARLIAMENT, DONNA SUMMER and the VILLAGE PEOPLE.Grace notes from Vinny Marino:
CHRIS "MAC DADDY" KELLY of the 90's rap duo KRIS KROSS most likely died from a drug overdose. That's what the Fulton County, Georgia, Medical Examiner said. Friends told police that Chris had taken a combination of heroin and cocaine Tuesday night. He was found unconscious at his home on Wednesday night, then pronounced dead three hours later at the hospital. Toxicology reports will take a few weeks to be released. (Marino)
Horsies:
Known as the Greatest Two Minutes In Sports, the 139th running of the Kentucky Derby, the first leg of the Triple Crown, is Saturday afternoon in Louisville. The field was narrowed to 20 horses Wednesday for the Run for the Roses, based on the amount of money each horse made in their stakes races before the big event, which is expected to draw a quarter million fans through what's now become a weekend bash.
The favorites are Verrazano and Orb, both currently at 4-to-1. As usual, you can bet on the horses, or a bunch of off-the-wall stuff like how long will it take MARTINA McBRIDE to sing the national anthem --over /under 1 minute, 57 seconds.Last five Triple Crown winners:
1978: Affirmed
1977: Sleattle Slew
1973: Secretariat
1948: Citation
1946: AssaultTop five fastest times in Kentucky Derby:
5. Decidedly (1962), 2:00.40
4. Spend-A-Buck (1985), 2:00.20
3. Northern Dancer (1964), 2:00.00
2. Monarchos (2001), 1:59.97
1. Secretariat (1973), 1:59.40 -
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