10/15/2024: Reusable Rockets
PLUS: Starbucks Scales Back; More Diddy Accusers; and Princess Kate, Soccer Mom
Today is Tuesday, October 15, 2024.
It is the 289th day of the year.
77 days remain.
WHAT’S ON TAP
A prankster gets fined for his political trolling and an archeology find takes a captivating turn. Details in HIT LIST.
OLIVIA RODRIGO takes a tumble and COLDPLAY tops the charts. More in SHOWBIZ.
Find out who is on the shortlist to host next year’s OSCARS in CASTING CALL.
More accusations against YE in KARDASH.
PRINCESS KATE returns to public mom duties, too. Details in ROYALS.
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HIT LIST
The man accused of attempting to carry out a hit on DONALD TRUMP says he is totally innocent.
Vem Miller posted a video to social media saying he’s an active and enthusiastic Trump supporter. As part of his support, he’s been to multiple rallies in Nevada before and has always informed law enforcement at security checkpoints that he has weapons with him – and that he forgot the laws are different in California regarding firearms, adding that he always carries a glock and shotgun for personal protection.
Miller says the special access pass that law enforcement said was a forgery was sent directly to him by the Republican Party of Nevada.
He says that bodycam footage will show that he proactively informed officers that he had the firearms in his vehicle. Miller adds that he told one officer he would turn around if having the weapons in his trunk would be an issue. That’s when the officer handcuffed him and put him in the back of a squad car while they searched Miller’s vehicle.
A few hours later, Miller was handed off for interviews with the Secret Service and FBI, who he said seemed “disinterested” in the arresting officer’s concerns that Miller was an actual threat. Miller says he is considering defamation lawsuits against the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department. [via Vem Miller / Rumble]
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Following Sunday’s historic milestones at SPACEX, ELON MUSK says the Starship booster section recovered by the Mechazilla tower remains in mostly functional order. “A few outer engine nozzles are warped from heating & some other minor issues, but these are easily addressed,” he said in a post on X, along with an image of the tower and booster.
Musk added that the technology advancement extends well beyond theatrics but is essential to rapid reuse: “Starship is designed to achieve reflight of its rocket booster ultimately within an hour after liftoff.”
At peak efficiency, at least in theory, the Starship booster will land in this same way about five minutes after launch, leaving the remainder of the hour for refueling and mounting another ship. If this technology scales, it will mark a revolutionary inflection point in human history to make space travel more regular and practical than ever before. [via Elon Musk]
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Don’t wait around for a discount to buy your eggnog latte at STARBUCKS this Christmas season.
The coffee retailer’s new CEO has ordered a company-wide scaleback of promotional offers, according to a Wall Street Journal exclusive report. Instead, BRIAN NICCOL is leaning into premium experiences and products.
Many food and beverage companies have embraced deals and special offers in a market saddled with inflated prices in recent years – but for Starbucks, this only led to downstream problems. More customers meant more orders at stores that don’t have the staff to handle the demand, triggering long waits, especially for those who ordered through the app expecting faster service.
Instead, similar to his regime at Chipotle, Niccol appears to be embracing a less-is-more approach. [via Wall Street Journal]
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A man in Hanson, Massachusetts faces a $100-a-day fine for projecting a Trump 2024 logo onto a nearby water tower from his home property.
While town administrators put together a cease-and-desist order, the troll keeps up his expensive prank. The local Highway Department has been dispatched to cast flood lights over the projected image, which Hanson’s leadership says is a response to confused citizens who believe the town is endorsing Donald Trump.
In a statement, the town administrator also warns that the unnamed citizen using the projector could face fees to reimburse the town for the costs of the spotlights and the manpower to operate them.
BY THE WAY: The Town of Hanson narrowly favored Trump in 2020 by one small percentage point. [via Morning Martini]
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Archaeologists recently discovered a tomb with at least 12 human skeletons and artifacts under the monument known as the Khaznah, or Treasury, in the ancient city of Petra, Jordan.
One skeleton was found holding a ceramic chalice resembling the Holy Grail in depictions of The Last Supper. In an ironic twist, the site was used as a location in “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade,” in which the namesake character seeks out the historic cup.
The find, estimated to be at least 2,000 years old, is believed to be the largest collection of human remains found in one place in Petra. [via CNN]
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BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The DOW increased 201 points (0.47%) to close at 43,065 on Monday. The S&P increased 44 points (0.77%) to close at 5,859 and the NASDAQ added 159 points (0.87%) to close at 18,502.
🛢 WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE closed at $73; BRENT CRUDE at $77.
⛽ The national average price of a GALLON OF GAS was $3.20 on Monday.
₿ BITCOIN remained steady, trading around $63,100.
🛩 There were more than 2,530 FLIGHTS delayed within, into, or out of the United States on Monday and more than 155 such cancellations.
💰Tonight’s MEGA MILLIONS drawing will be for a $169 million jackpot or a $80 million cash payout.
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SHOWBIZ NEWS
Texas-based attorney TONY BUZBEE, who is representing up to 120 alleged victims of SEAN COMBS, filed five complaints on behalf of three males and two females on Monday.
The incidents of alleged sexual assault and rape took place from 1995 to 2021, with one of the victims being a minor at the time.
The oldest allegation comes from a woman who says she was assaulted by Combs in a bathroom at a music video release party. In 2006, an accuser says he was assaulted at one of Combs’ “White Parties” in the Hamptons. Two years later, in 2008, a man says he was sexually assaulted by Combs at a Manhattan department store.
In the most recent allegation, the victim claims he felt disoriented after having a drink at one of Combs’ parties and was sexually assaulted by the music mogul and several of his associates.
MEANWHILE: Combs remains behind bars, though is hoping to be granted bail ahead of his May 5th trial date.
WORTH NOTING: That is the same day as the Met Gala. [via AP]
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OLIVIA RODRIGO fell through an open trap door while performing on stage in Melbourne over the weekend.
In a clip of the incident, the 21-year-old was seen running across the stage before taking the tumble.
Uninjured, Rodrigo jumped up out of the hole telling the crowd, “Oh my god. That was fun.” [via The Sun]
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COLDPLAY’s latest album, “Moon Music,” debuted at the top of the Billboard 200 chart.
It is the band’s fifth No. 1 album, joining “Ghost Stories” (2014), “Mylo Xyloto” (2011), “Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends” (2008), and “X&Y” (2005).
Among British bands, Coldplay ties for the fourth-most No. 1 albums, alongside PINK FLOYD and WINGS. [via Billboard]
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A tense moment between actresses NICOLE KIDMAN and SALMA HAYAK from last month’s Paris Fashion Week has gone viral.
In a clip of the incident, the women seem to be arguing over where and how to stand for the slew of paparazzi to take their photo. Kidman appears to understand the proper posing etiquette -- one arm draped gently over the other person’s shoulder and torsos not touching -- while Hayak seemed to want a more casual pose.
After a brief back and forth, Kidman allegedly says, “I’ll choose when I go or where I move to,” before walking off.
As for the rest of the evening, the two seemed to genuinely enjoy one another’s company, leaving some to believe the tension maybe had more to do with the hounding photogs than one another. [via Daily Mail]
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CARDI B says she will “never, ever drink again” after celebrating her 32nd birthday in NYC on Friday.
“Pray for me. Wait. I’m still drunk,” she posted on her Instagram Stories over the weekend.
Cardi also shared a screenshot of a message with one of her friends, who confessed that she “drank the whole” bottle of Hennessy cognac. [via Page Six]
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CASTING CALL
RYAN REYNOLDS and HUGH JACKMAN are on the shortlist of names to host The Oscars.
According to Deadline, the plan is to have an ensemble of rotating hosts, in an effort to “shake things up.”
Others being floated include WILL FERRELL, AMY POEHLER, and DWAYNE “The Rock” JOHNSON.
The 97th Oscars will take place on Sunday, March 2, 2025. [via Deadline]
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Heritage Auctions offloaded more than 900 costumes, props and other items from the HBO series “Game of Thrones” over the weekend, bringing in more than $21 million.
The top-dollar item was a replica of the Iron Throne, which sold for over $1.49 million.
Other big ticket items included John Snow’s signature sword, Longclaw, going for $400,000 and his night’s watch ensemble, including a heavy cape, which went for $337,500.
The auction was Heritage’s second-best entertainment event, falling behind a sale of DEBBIE REYNOLDS memorabilia in 2011. [via AP]
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ANTHONY HOPKINS has joined the cast of “Maserati: The Brothers.”
According to Variety, he will play an Italian financier who bankrolls the Maserati brothers.
Other casting details are being kept under wraps. [via Variety]
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At 82-years-old, HARRISON FORD says acting, for him, is all about “essential human contact.”
“I get to imagine with people that have great skill and experience…It’s fun to work with these people,” he told Vanity Fair.
Ford currently stars in AppleTV+’s “Shrinking,” as Dr. Rhoades, a grieving therapist who tells his clients exactly what he thinks, with no regard for his training and ethics. [via Vanity Fair]
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LAINEY WILSON will perform at The Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Kickoff Halftime Show during the Dallas Cowboys Thanksgiving Day game against the New York Giants.
The matchup will go down at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. [via Instagram]
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
Before they got hitched, YE allegedly told BIANCA CENSORI that he wanted to sleep with her mom.
The allegations are part of Ye’s former assistant, LAUREN PISCIOTTA’s lawsuit, in which she refers to Censori as the rapper’s “on-call sex party participant/employee.”
Censori, who was on a working visa at the time, allegedly responded to Ye’s request with her own sexually explicit and suggestive text, something Pisciotta says was “insisted upon and required by [Ye].”
As previously reported, Pisciotta is suing Ye for wrongful termination, unpaid wages, and alleged sexual assault. [via Page Six]
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
PRINCESS KATE resumed official royal duties last week, and is also back up and about as an involved soccer mom: she was spotted cheering on PRINCE LOUIS at a match on Saturday and talking with other parents.
One TikToker documented the event, saying that when she arrived there was a “bit of a weird atmosphere, not the usual atmosphere.” That’s when one friend pointed out the future Queen in the crowd. The poster said that Kate looked comfortable and casual and wanted to blend in with the crowd, which she successfully pulled off.
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DAY OF THE YEAR
National Mushroom Day
National Chicken Cacciatore Day
Global Handwashing Day
National Dance/Movement Therapy Advocacy Day
National Cheese Curd Day
National Roast Pheasant Day
White Cane Safety Day
National Grouch Day
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ON THIS DATE
1863 - The first combat submarine sinks.
The Hunley was developed by Horace Lawson Hunley for the Confederates. It was 40 feet long and crewed by eight -- one sailor steered and the other seven turned a giant crank that churned the propeller.
After successful tests off the coast of Alabama, it was shipped by rail to South Carolina. On its first launch, a mechanical function caused a leak in the hatch, and it sank.
The second time out, Hunley himself was on board for a public demonstration to restore confidence. He and the crew submerged, and never came back up.
By February, it would be raised again, and put back into commission.
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1878 - Inventor Thomas Edison sets up the Edison Electric Light Company in New York.
He had financing from the likes of the Morgans and Vanderbilts, the tycoon families of the time.
By 1880, Edison would patent an electricity distribution system and set up the first private power plant in 1882.
The Edison Electric Light Company would become part of General Electric in 1892.
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1965 - The first US Draft Card is publicly burned.
A law had recently outlawed their destruction, in response to increasingly outlandish war protests.
David Miller was a Catholic pacifist, who drew a tremendous crowd of protesters when he burned his card in New York City.
He was arrested, found guilty, and would spend 2 years in prison.
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1946 - Nazi brass Herman Goering takes his own life with a cyanide tablet.
He held a variety of titles, as is typical in despotic regimes:
President of the Reichstag
Commander in Chief of the Luftwaffe
Head of the Gestapo
Prime Minister of Prussia
Chief Forester of the Reich
Chief Liquidator of Sequestered Estates
Supreme Head of the National Weather Bureau
He was also designated to be Hitler's successor.
Goering was largely responsible for instituting the despicable ethnic cleansing policies instituted throughout the Nazi empire.
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1989 - Wayne Gretzky breaks the NHL record for career goals scored, with 1,850.
The previous record was held by Gordie Howe.
When Gretzky retired 10 years later, he would hold records for most career goals, 894; career assists, 1,962; and career points, 2,856.
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2007 - Comedian and actor Drew Carey replaces Bob Barker on “The Price is Right.”
Barker was 83 and had hosted the show for 35 years.
“The Price is Right” remains the longest-running daytime game show ever.
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2017 - Actress Alyssa Milano’s tweet about being a sexual harassment or sexual assault survivor sparks the #MeToo movement.
It would see the downfall of several big names, most notably movie mogul Harvey Weinstein.
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2018 - Sears files for bankruptcy.
A series of store closures and deals in desperate attempts to stay afloat failed to save the struggling retailer.
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BIRTHDAYS
Bailee Madison - actress, “Just Go With It” & “Good Witch” - 25
Grace Van Dien - actress, “Greenhouse Academy” - 28
Hannah Leigh - actress, “Kickin’ It” - 28
Billy Unger - actor, “Lab Rats” - 29
Anthony Joshua - boxer - 35
Keyshia Cole - R&B singer - 43
Ginuwine - R&B singer - 54
Vanessa Marcil - actress, “Beverly Hills, 90210” - 56
Eric Benet - singer & actor - 58
Susan DeMattei - Olympic cyclist - 62
Cathy Ladman - actress, “White Oleander” - 69
Larry Miller - actor, “Pursuit of Happiness” - 71
Joe Klecko - HOF football player - 71
Roscoe Tanner - tennis player - 73
Richard Carpenter - pianist, The Carpenters - 78
Jim Palmer - HOF baseball player - 79
Born On This Date
Tito Jackson - guitarist, The Jackson 5 - 1953 (d. 2024)
Tanya Roberts - actress, “Charlie’s Angels” & “That ‘70’s Show” - 1949 (d. 2021)
Penny Marshall - actress, “Laverne & Shirley” - 1943 (d. 2018)
Mario Puzo - novelist, “The Godfather” & “Earthquake” - 1920 (d. 1999)
P. G. Wodehouse - writer, Bertie Wooster novels - 1881 (d. 1975)
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