10/20/2023: Pepper X
PLUS: Palm Beach Real Estate Update; Brit’s Dedication; and The King’s Discount
Today is Friday, October 20, 2023.
It is the 293rd day of the year.
72 days remain.
WHAT’S ON TAP
A former attorney for FTX testifies about SAM BANKMAN-FRIED covering his tracks and mortgage rates hit families harder than ever. More in HIT LIST.
JUSSIE SMOLLETT has entered a treatment program and GWYNETH PALTROW is ready to leave the spotlight behind. More in SHOWBIZ.
“GMA’s” big move and LEONARDO DICAPRIO films ranked. More in CASTING CALL.
KRIS JENNER is a ruthless businesswoman and is CAITLYN JENNER gearing up to reveal all the dirty details of the KARDASHIANS? Find out more in KARDASH.
Select English residents will get discounted access to certain Royal properties. Details in ROYALS.
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HIT LIST
FTX’s former general counsel, a man named CAN SUN, testified in court on Thursday that when he first learned about more than $7 BILLION missing from customer funds, SAM BANKMAN-FRIED ordered Sun to find a legal justification for the missing money.
SBF himself provided no justification and by the looks of it was trying to cover his tracks and buy himself some time.
WORTH REMEMBERING: In the days before the fraud first came to light, SBF was working around the clock to get a new investment infusion to refill customer coffers. A deal in late stages with a Chinese crypto-zillionaire fell through in the eleventh hour as news of the missing funds spread.
NEXT: The court is taking a week off while the judge attends to some other obligations, resuming next Thursday morning.
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With interest rates having slowly crept up, online house listing marketplace Redfin estimates that homebuyers now must earn $115,000 a year to afford the typical American home.
That’s $40,000 over the national average and a 15% increase over last year.
BY COMPARISON: In August 2020 – even amid the white-hot covid market – a household income of about $75,000 would put the average family in a typical house. [via Redfin]
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A rediscovered coin from England’s Iron Age sheds new light on an ancient ruler lost to history.
A hobbyist with a metal detector found the artifact in Southern England. The coin bears the name of a ruler called Esunertos, who hasn’t shown up before in the country’s well-documented history.
The coin dates to somewhere between 50 and 30 BC. It ended up selling for over 20,000 British Pounds at auction. [via DailyMail]
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More than one in five active duty American soldiers are obese – double the number just ten years ago.
IT GETS WORSE: More than two-thirds of active service members are considered at least overweight.
The data comes as the military struggles to recruit new members and reach its quotas. [via RollCall]
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Guinness World Records had named a South Carolina chili, called Pepper X, the world’s hottest pepper.
The greenish-yellow pepper was created by Ed Currie, founder of the PuckerButt Pepper Company. It was first unveiled on the web series “Hot Ones,” in which celebrities are challenged to eat 10 hot wings with progressively hotter sauces.
The pepper packs a punch at 2,693,000 Scoville Heat Units, beating the Carolina Reaper, which clocks in at 1.64 million on the Scoville scale. (For perspective, jalapenos register at about 3,000 to 8,000 SHU). [via AP News]
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DEATHS
Former boxer-turned-actor BURT YOUNG has died.
He passed away earlier this month, according to his manager. No cause of death was shared.
Young was best known for his role as Rocky Balboa’s brother-in-law Paulie in the “Rocky” movie franchise.
He was 83.
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BABY NEWS
Actress ASHELY BENSON is expecting her first child with fiance, oil heir BRANDON DAVIS.
She’s 33 and he’s 44.
The pair got engaged this past summer.
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BREAKUPS
Actress LUPITA NYONG’O and her boyfriend, musician SELEMA MASEKELA have called it quits.
He’s 52 and she’s 40.
She posted about the split on social media, saying she wants to be “open and honest” with her fans.
The news comes a day after Nyong’o was spotted hanging out with newly-single actor JOSHUA JACKSON at a concert.
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BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The DOW lost 250 points (0.75%) to close at 33,414 on Thursday. The S&P lost 36 points (0.85%) to close at 4,278 and the NASDAQ slid 128 points (0.96%) to close at 13,186.
🛢 WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE closed at $90; BRENT CRUDE at $92.
⛽ The national average price of a GALLON OF GAS was $3.56 on Thursday.
₿ BITCOIN ticked up 1.4% on Thursday, trading around $28,725.
🛩 There were more than 3,490 FLIGHTS delayed within, into, or out of the United States on Thursday and more than 75 such cancellations.
💰Tonight’s MEGA MILLIONS drawing will be for a $91 million jackpot or a $39.7 million cash payout. Saturday night’s POWERBALL drawing will be for a $70 million jackpot or a $31.7 million cash payout.
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SHOWBIZ NEWS
These albums drop today:
Blink-182, “One More Time…”
Blues Traveler, “Traveler’s Soul”
Boys Like Girls, “Sunday at Foxwoods”
Cher, “Christmas”
Evain Christ, “Revanchist”
Goo Goo Dolls, “Live At the Academy”
Luke Grimes, “Pain Pills or Pews” EP
Mason Ramsey, “Fall Into Pieces” EP
RealestK, “Real World”
Rival Sons, “Lightbringer”
Salt n Pepa, “Very Necessary (30th Anniversary Edition)”
The Rolling Stones, “Hackney Diamonds”
Trolls Band Together soundtrack
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BRITNEY SPEARS has dedicated her forthcoming memoir, “The Woman in Me,” to her estranged sons, Sean Preston and Jayden James.
In the book, Spears writes that the “boys” are the “love of [her] life” -- despite not having seen them in two years.
She shares Sean and Jayden with her ex-husband, KEVIN FEDERLINE, who has tried to be supportive of their relationship.
“The Woman in Me” hits shelves on October 24. [via Page Six]
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A rep for JUSSIE SMOLLETT says the disgraced actor has entered an outpatient rehab program to deal with the “extremely difficult past few years” he has endured.
LET’S RECAP: Smollett was found guilty of lying to Chicago officers about an alleged attack in 2019, when he said two Trump supporters put a noose around his neck, dumped bleach on him and yelled something about “MAGA country.”
For the hoax, Smollett was sentenced to 150 days in jail -- of which, he only served about a week before his attorneys were able to successfully argue a stay while he appeals the conviction.
Since then, Smollett has been seen out and about with friends, working on several movie sets and even attended the BET Awards last year. [via TMZ]
WORTH ASKING: Is this all a bid to get sympathy? Or will Smollett finally come clean about the fake attack?
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Actress TORI SPELLING was forced to evacuate her home this week while a hostage situation, with an armed suspect, happened next door.
Spelling was spotted down the street from her rental home with a gaggle of other neighbors as a SWAT team entered the suspect’s home.
The guy was eventually disarmed and taken away in handcuffs. No word on the state of the hostage.
Thankfully it didn’t appear that Spelling had any of her children with her during the scary incident. [via In Touch]
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OZZY OSBOURNE just couldn’t hold it.
During this week’s episode of “The Osbournes Podcast,” the rocker revealed that he used to pee himself on stage because he was “wet anyway” from spraying the crowd with water guns.
The topic came up as SHARON OSBOURNE was discussing how a pair of QUEEN VICTORIA’s underwear was once put up for auction and how she once owned a pair of MARILYN MONROE’s worn shoes.
To that, daughter KELLY OSBOURNE pointed out there being a difference between “shoes” and “knickers that [someone] farted and [pooped] in,” to which son JACK OSBOURNE asked, “Who’s [pooping] in their underwear?”
Cue Ozzy and his pottying on stage story. [via The Blast]
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After she sells her wellness brand, Goop, actress GWYNETH PALTROW says she will be done with Hollywood.
Speaking to Bustle, Paltrow said her plan is to sell Goop in a few years and then retire from the spotlight.
“I will literally disappear from public life. No one will ever see me again,” she quipped.
No word on whether or not Paltrow is already seeking offers for the biz. [via Bustle]
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ADAM SANDLER stopped his show in San Jose this week for a fan who was suffering a medical emergency.
According to those on the scene, Sandler paused his routine after hearing someone shout “medical emergency.” He then had the lights turned on and helped guide medics to the person in distress.
TMZ reports that the fan was dehydrated and is doing fine.
Sandler is currently on his “I Missed You” tour. [via TMZ]
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CASTING CALL
“Good Morning America” is making a big move.
According to several sources, the set of ABC’s morning show will be relocating from the Times Square Studios to New York’s Hudson Square neighborhood.
The move comes amid parent company, Disney’s purchase of a shiny new office tower in the downtown neighborhood.
Not everyone is excited for the change, however. Insiders say both the talent -- meaning ROBIN ROBERTS, MICHAEL STRAHAN and GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS -- as well as producers are “not happy” about the news. [via Page Six]
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Netflix will air a documentary focused on KEVIN HART and CHRIS ROCK’s stand-up tour, called “Kevin & Hart & Chris Rock: Headliners Only.”
The doc will take viewers behind the scenes of the tour and follow the duo as they give first-hand accounts of their childhoods, struggles, triumphs and their friendship.
It is set to air on December 12. [via Deadline]
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As his latest film “Killers of the Flower Moon” hits theaters today, Insider has released a ranking of every movie starring LEONARDO DICAPRIO; based on Rotten Tomatoes Scores.
“Critters 3” (1991) - 0%
“The Beach” (2000) - 21%
“Total Eclipse” (1995) - 22%
“The Man in the Iron Mask” (1998) - 32%
“Poison Ivy” (1992) - 39%
“Celebrity” (1998) - 42%
“J Edgar” (2011) - 43%
“The Basketball Diaries” (1995) - 47%
“The Great Gatsby” (2013) - 48%
“Body of Lies” (2008) - 55%
“Don’t Look Up” (2021) - 55%
“The Quick and the Dead” (1995) - 58%
“Blood Diamond” (2006) - 63%
“Revolutionary Road” (2008) - 67%
“Shutter Island” (2010) - 69%
“Romeo + Juliet” (1996) - 73%
“Gangs of New York” (2002) - 73%
“This Boy’s Life” (1993) - 76%
“The Revenant” (2015) - 78%
“The Wolf of Wall Street” (2013) - 80%
“Marvin’s Room” (1996) - 84%
“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” (2019) - 85%
“The Aviator” (2004) - 86%
“Inception” (2010) - 87%
“Django Unchained” (2012) - 87%
“Titanic” (1997) - 88%
“What’s Eating Gilbert Grape” (1993) - 90%
“The Departed” (2006) - 91%
“Catch Me If You Can” (2002) - 96%
BY THE WAY: Rotten Tomatoes has given “Killers of the Flower Moon” a 95% score. [via Insider]
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CRIB NOTES
Billionaire investor KEN GRIFFIN has been buying up a 20-acre plot of land in Palm Beach, Florida, apparently with his eyes on building the most expensive private home in the world.
Griffin has demolished the homes that had stood there, making way to spend up to $400 MILLION on his own estate, which given the location could be worth around $1 BILLION once it’s complete. Plans include 50,000 square feet spread between a main mansion and guest house. Insiders say Griffin is currently building it for his mother, but he himself will retire there.
WORTH NOTING: The 20 acres is just a quarter mile south of Mar-a-Lago, former President DONALD TRUMP’s club. [via New York Post]
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Fox News star anchor BRET BAIER has listed his Washington DC-area house for $31.9 MILLION. If it sells, it’ll mark the most expensive private home sale in the District’s history.
WORTH NOTING: The custom home was built just last year. No word on what’s behind the quick turnaround – but the Baiers did also purchase a $31 MILLION Palm Beach mansion earlier this year.
Baier makes a reported $14 MILLION a year base salary for hosting “Special Report.” [via Washingtonian]
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
KRIS JENNER’s tentacles know no bounds.
Insiders told Page Six that the momager is apparently working on getting PRINCE HARRY and MEGHAN MARKLE to appear on her family’s Hulu show, “The Kardashians.”
One source called the pairing a “slam dunk,” while another told The Mirror it would be a “huge win for Kris” even if the royal pair only make a cameo. [via Page Six, The Mirror]
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Insiders told Radar Online that CAITLYN JENNER is planning to release her own tell-all as a way to settle the score with her former family, the Kardashians.
“Caitlyn figures she has nothing to lose, so she’s going to write the whole truth and make them sorry for shunning her,” a source said.
The report comes after Cait admitted to no longer speaking with ex-wife KRIS JENNER. Rumors have also surfaced that Cait is no longer close with any of the kids -- including biological daughters KENDALL and KYLIE JENNER.
A rep for the former Olympian denied she is writing a new memoir, which would follow up her 2017 book, “The Secrets of My Life, detailing her transition from male to female. [via Radar Online]
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
KING CHARLES has slashed the cost of a tourist visit to a handful of Royal properties – but only for Brits pocketing government assistance money.
Those receiving England’s “universal credit” welfare program can enter Hampton Court Palace, the Tower of London, and Kensington Palace for just 1 British Pound.
Express points out that a family of four would otherwise spend more than 90 Pounds on a visit to Hampton Court. [via Express]
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DAY OF THE YEAR
Developmental Language Disorder Awareness Day
Community Media Day
International Chefs Day
Office Chocolate Day
National Brandied Fruit Day
Information Overload Day
Suspenders Day
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ON THIS DATE
1803 - Congress approves the Louisiana Purchase.
The 828,000 acres sold for a paltry 3 cents an acre, or $15 million.
Napoleon decided to sell the land to America, rather than risk it falling into British control. It also helped the French dictator secure funds for his wars in Europe.
At the time, President Jefferson received criticism that the Constitution did not provide the Executive powers to make such a purchase, but persuaded the legislature otherwise. One controversial move was Jefferson’s allowance of slavery in the territory, which would impel the civil war less than 60 years later.
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1944 - 130 people die when two gas tanks explode in Cleveland, Ohio.
Natural gas tanks at the East Ohio Gas Company near Lake Erie had been leaking, and were later ignited, shooting flames more than 2,000 feet into the air. The explosion radius was a half-mile; everything was leveled.
10,000 residents and workers were evacuated from the surrounding area. The explosion inflicted $10 million in damages.
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1947 - A Congressional committee begins its investigation of communists in Hollywood.
The House Un-American Activities Committee called a number of witnesses to the stand, famously asking directly whether they had affiliations with the American Communist Party.
Under pressure from Congress, 325 actors, writers, and directors were blacklisted. Among them were Dashiell Hammett, Dorothy Parker, and Orson Wells.
In the 1960s, Senator Joe McCarthy became famous for looking into bureaucrats with alleged communist ties.
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1968 - Dick Fosbury high-jumps 7-feet 4-and-one-quarter inches at the Olympic Games in Mexico City.
The feat gave the U.S. its first gold medal in the event since 1956.
Fosbury’s style was known as the “Fosbury Flop,” in which he landed on the back of his head over the high-bar, rather than on his feet or torso.
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1977 - The plane carrying Lynyrd Skynyrd bandmates crashes en route to Baton Rouge.
Ronnie Van Zant, Steve Gaines, and Cassie Gaines all died, along with their assistant road manager and the pilot and co-pilot. Twenty others survived.
The crash was attributed to insufficient fuel and came just three days after the release of the band’s fifth studio album.
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1990 - Rappers from the group 2 Live Crew are acquitted of obscenity charges after a trial for performing songs filled with explicit lyrics in Hollywood, Florida.
The evidence used against the group was shoddy to begin with; the recording used in court was fuzzy and barely audible. One officer on the stand tried to decipher the tapes, much to the amusement of the jury.
Naturally, the trial sparked a national debate over how First Amendment rights applied to music lyrics. The case did much of the work to encourage record labels to put the Explicit Content sticker on objectionable material.
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2015 - Joe Biden adamantly states he will not run for President.
Five years later he would change his mind.
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2020 - Argentina becomes the fifth country in the world to record over 1 million cases of COVID-19.
The death toll sits at 26,716.
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BIRTHDAYS
Asante Black - actor, “This Is Us” - 22
A$AP Ferg - rapper - 35
Alona Tal - actress, “Supernatural” - 40
B.G. - rapper - 43
John Krasinski - actor, “The Office” - 44
Snoop Dogg - rapper - 52
William Zabka - actor, “Karate Kid” & “Cobra Kai” - 58
Kamala Harris - VP - 59
Ian Rush - soccer player - 62
Viggo Mortensen - actor, “Lord of the Rings” films - 65
Born On This Date
Mitch Lucker - metal singer, Suicide Silence - 1984 (d. 2012)
Scott Hall - wrestler - 1958 (d. 2022)
Tom Petty - rock singer - 1950 (d. 2017)
Mickey Mantle - baseball player - 1931 (d. 1995)
Jelly Roll Morton - first to publish jazz composition, “Jelly Roll Blues” - 1890 (d. 1941)
Bela Lugosi - actor, “Dracula” & “The Raven” - 1882 (d. 1956)
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