The Morning Briefing - March 30, 2015
HOWELL – The big news consuming Monmouth County is the controversial firing of a Wawa worker, known to dress up in costumes to serve customers. NJ.com says he would appear in a tuxedo, with champagne flutes, a clown nose, and pink knee-high socks, to the delight of customers. But it all ended when he used a squirt toy that looked like a kid peeing to wash car windows. A customer took offense (sigh); the worker immediately apologized. She still filed a complaint (sigh, again); he was canned within 90 minutes. There’s now a Facebook group supporting the employee, as well as an online fundraising campaign for him. What a reaction! This guy should expect a sheepish call from Wawa, with the offer of a promotion.
ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL – Any Republican mulling a Presidential run can be assured at least one initial win: He or she will likely poll higher than Gov. Chris Christie. The latest CBS News poll has our governor now trailing eight other Republicans in the race for the 2016 nomination, as the Christie train has derailed, fallen into an embankment, rolled over six times, and exploded into flame. Only 27 percent of Republicans would consider supporting Christie, who trails the likes of Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, who seems to appear from his bunker ever four years like a groundhog.
LONG BRANCH — There are still more stories about accused scam artists who tried to make a buck during Superstorm Sandy. The state has slapped a local landscaper with $33,000 in fines, claiming company owners gouged people with ridiculously priced generators and gasoline. The landscaper denies all wrongdoing, yet is still writing the check, the Asbury Park Press reports, saying the cost of litigation just isn’t worth it. Perhaps there are no more customers willing to buy $5,000 generators.
IN OTHER IMPORTANT NEWS
BROOKLYN, NY – Want a real thrill ride? Be the first person to ride an 88-year-old roller coaster after it has been sitting all winter. CBS reports riders on the famous Cyclone got an extra thrill, as the ride got stuck about 10 feet from the top. CBS has video of workers helping 24 or so riders walk down the tracks to safety yesterday, after they were stranded for 15 minutes or so. Anybody got some WD-40 and duct tape?
AKRON, Ohio – You are never too old to be photographed in the buff. Like the ladies of a local assisted living facility who are raising money for charity by posing naked for a wall calendar. These pin-up models, in their 80s and 90s, are taking the job seriously, reports the Akron Beacon Journal. You have Miss March,88, wearing a green hat and not much else. You have two women playing poker with over-sized cards. (You figure where they are placed.) The youngest model, at a spry 87, is caught playing in a bubble bath with flower petals, her lingerie dangling nearby. All the excitement is enough to give you a heart attack, especially for fellow resident Herman, now on his third pacemaker.
THIS DAY IN HISTORY
It was this day in 2012 that VISA and MasterCard say an itty-bitty security breach has compromised more than 10 million credit card numbers. But, hey, free super platinum cards for all.
WORD OF THE DAY
Dudgeon – noun
Definition: A bad mood, a huff.
Example: "I walked off the Cyclone in high dudgeon, after the thing stopped at the top and I was forced to walk down the tracks. Sheesh."