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Overnight Briefing & General Reality Check - Feb 7, 2014
February 7, 2014
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Splitting:
You may know model EMILY RATAJKOWSKI from ROBIN THICKE's video, "Blurred Lines" --she's the dark-haired babe who danced topless.
Now, the NY Post's Page Six gossip column says she's back on the market after splitting with her boyfriend, LA ad exec ANDREW DRYDEN. She reportedly was overheard telling people at Super Bowl parties that she was single and attended the DirecTV party without him this past Saturday.Guilty Pleasures:
No winner in Wednesday night's drawing for the Powerball Lottery. That means Saturday night's drawing is valued at $247 million ($142.5 million cash value). Powerball is played in 44 states, Washington, DC and the U-S Virgin Islands. Chances of winning the grand prize (all five numbers plus the powerball) are 1 in 175.2 million.
On, off and way-off Broadway:
First there was "The Color Purple" and "The Butler." Now, OPRAH WINFREY, Broadway star?
The Hollywood Reporter says the Opster is currently talking to producers to star opposite Tony winner AUDRA McDONALD in a revival of the Pulitzer-winning play, "'night, Mother," for the 2015-2016 season.
Oprah reportedly told the publication she was thinking about Broadway but trying to work it into her busy schedule.Lawsuit of the Day:
Drivers of the world, unite! Because the coppers can't stop you from doing so.
It's a common custom of the road to flash your headlights at oncoming traffic to warn them if they're about to pass a speed trap. But when MICHAEL ELLI did that in Missouri in November 2012, the Ellisville police cited him for violating a city ordinance. The charges were eventually dropped, but not before the ACLU had filed a suit on Elli's behalf.
On Monday, US District Judge HENRY AUTREY agreed that prohibiting the headlight flash violates the First Amendment. "Detaining, ticketing, or arresting someone for the content of their speech is illegal," he reasoned.
Ellisville says it's since dropped the ordinance, but there's a similar state law, and drivers elsewhere in Missouri have reported similar stops but one law professor told the St Louis Post-Dispatch that the judge's decision "has sweeping implications for the First Amendment" --in a good way. For motorists.
Editor's note: The funny part is, you flash your lights to get other drivers to slow down. Isn't that what the police want? (Yes, but after they write you a ticket. --Maiman)Olympics update:
By now, you've surely heard the harrowing stories about how the Sochi Olympic village is a hellscape of stray dogs, weird toilets, and unfinished accommodations. Well, according to Russian Deputy Prime Minister DMITRY KOZAK, the journalists who have reported deplorable conditions in Sochi hotel rooms are big babies just trying to malign the Games. He claims that out of 100-thousand guests, only 103 have registered complaints (he didn't say why).
And how does he know? "We have surveillance video from the hotels that shows people turn on the shower, direct the nozzle at the wall and then leave the room for the whole day," he said yesterday. When a reporter went to ask him further about hotel surveillance, he was pulled away by an aide.
Perhaps not surprisingly, Russian officials later walked back the "surveillance" claim, saying there is absolutely no surveillance in hotel rooms or bathrooms occupied by guests.
Editor's note: What a disappointment. With the disaster this whole thing has been, I would have at least hoped for the surveillance systems to be in working order! (Maiman) -
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