Today is Wednesday, October 2, 2024.
It is the 276th day of the year.
90 days remain.
WHAT’S ON TAP
The latest on the port strike and Middle East conflicts in HIT LIST.
ROB SCHNEIDER shares his anti-vax stance in an insensitive way and DANA WHITE donates big bucks to victims of Hurricane Helene. More in SHOWBIZ.
Big wins for “SNL” and “Inside Out 2.” Details in CASTING CALL.
ROCKY BARKER gets revealed in KARDASH.
PRINCE WILLIAM makes a big delivery for a major charity. Details in ROYALS.
###
HIT LIST
An estimated 45,000 members of the International Longshoremen's Association went on strike Tuesday after rejecting a proposed 50% pay increase over six years by their employers. Reps for the ILA are looking for an even heftier raise and contractual guarantees that automation technology won’t put its members out of work in the coming years.
How long the strike continues is anyone’s guess but the timing could not be worse on at least two fronts: first, the American economy has been artificially overheated for going on five years and this latest disruption to the supply chain will have consequences beyond short-term price shocks; and second, the strike will do no favors for efforts to rebuild communities still drying out from the disastrous impact of Hurricane Helene over the weekend.
The guy directing the strike, ILA President Harold Daggett, earned more than $900,000 last year, drives a Bentley, and reportedly owns a 76-foot yacht. Maybe he can use it to ferry supplies to areas in North Carolina crippled by the weekend’s storms while his members are off the job picketing. [via Morning Martini]
###
Here’s the latest fallout from the destruction of Hurricane Helene over the weekend:
– At least 150 people have been confirmed dead across the southeast. At least 40 deaths are in Buncombe County, North Carolina, home of hard-hit Asheville.
– The Red Cross reports having received more than 3,000 requests from people searching for information about loved ones they have not heard from.
– A private organization called Operation Airdrop is coordinating private helicopter pilots to bring in aid to areas of North Carolina. The group says it has received help from pilots from Texas to Maine to both make deliveries and survey damage.
– A non-profit offshoot of AIRBNB, called AIRBNB.org, announced it is coordinating with local nonprofits in Florida and North Carolina to provide free housing to displaced residents in the worst-hit areas.
– A GoFundMe promoted by DONALD TRUMP has raised more than $3.3 MILLION in just a matter of hours.
– Presidents JOE BIDEN and KAMALA HARRIS will visit the area today.
– ELON MUSK says he has ordered SPACEX to send “as many Starlink terminals as possible to help areas in need” by providing satellite internet service, allowing individuals to contact loved ones. All Starlink systems in affected areas will have free service as utilities get restored. [via Morning Martini]
###
WAR DRUMS: Iran sent a volley of at least 100 missiles into Israel on Tuesday amid ever-increasing tensions in the Middle East.
The attack follows surgical strikes by Israel on leaders of terrorist organizations supported by Iran in recent weeks. Iran promised more destruction if Israel retaliated, but Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations responded during a press conference Tuesday, saying, “Iran will soon feel the consequences of their actions. The response will be painful.”
Initial reports suggest the only casualty from the barrage of rockets was an ethnic Arab born in Gaza, who was killed when an Iranian rocket that was shot out of the sky fell on him.
ALSO: Lost in the fog of war was the report of a terrorist shooting in Tel Aviv Tuesday morning. Six people were killed and dozens wounded before police killed the shooters. [via Morning Martini]
###
Pharmacy chain CVS has announced a round of layoffs, to the tune of nearly 3,000 jobs.
The cuts represent less than 1% of the company’s workforce but would be part of $2 BILLION in cost savings over the next few years, primarily impacting corporate roles, not the rank-and-file store workers.
CVS has already shuttered nearly 1,000 stores over the last two years, citing “regulatory pressures and evolving customer needs and expectations.” [via CNN]
###
Mars is once again offering its Halloween Rescue Squad services, delivering free candy to those who run out this upcoming trick-or-treating holiday.
On the evening of Halloween people can visit the Rescue Squad site who, in partnership with Gopuff, promises to get the free candy delivered within a 30-minute window. There will also be physical Rescue Squad stands in select cities, as well as Rescue BOOths in Philadelphia and Westfield, New Jersey -- the two cities that utilized the service most last year.
That’s not all, Mars is also offering up new flavors this year: Pumpkin Pie and Peanut Butter & Jelly M&Ms. [via Food&Wine]
###
DEATHS
Actor JOHN AMOS has died.
He passed away on August 21 of natural causes, according to a recent statement from his son.
Amos is best known for his role on the sitcom, “Good Times.”
He was 84.
###
“American Pickers” star FRANK FRITZ has died.
He passed away Monday evening, according to a statement from co-star and longtime friend MIKE WOLFE. No cause of death was shared.
Fritz’s passing comes two years after he suffered a stroke.
He was only 60.
###
Voice actor KEN PAGE has died.
He passed away in his sleep at home in St. Louis on Monday, according to a statement from his rep.
Page is best known for voicing Oogie Boogie in “The Nightmare Before Christmas.”
He was 70.
###
BABY NEWS
Baby #2 is on the way for PRINCESS BEATRICE and her husband, EDOARDO MAPELLI MOZZI.
The news was announced by Buckingham Palace on Tuesday.
The couple are already parents to daughter Sienna, and Mozzi’s son Wolfie from a previous relationship.
Bea is due early next year.
###
BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The DOW lost 173 points (0.41%) to close at 42,156 on Tuesday. The S&P lost 53 points (0.93%) to close at 5,708 and the NASDAQ lost 278 points (1.53%) to close at 17,910.
🛢 WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE closed at $70; BRENT CRUDE at $74.
⛽ The national average price of a GALLON OF GAS was $3.20 on Tuesday.
₿ BITCOIN fell further Tuesday, down 1.8% and trading around $62,000.
🛩 There were more than 1,980 FLIGHTS delayed within, into, or out of the United States on Tuesday and more than 80 such cancellations.
💰Tonight’s POWERBALL drawing will be for a $275 million jackpot or a $137.8 million cash payout.
###
SHOWBIZ NEWS
SEAN COMBS is assembling his own dream team of attorneys.
Insiders say he recently added ANTHONY RICCO and ALEXANDRA SHAPIRO (no relation to famed defense attorney ROBERT SHAPIRO) to his legal team. [via TMZ]
MEANWHILE: A press conference was held Tuesday afternoon in Houston by two law firms who say they are representing 120 new accusers. While individuals were not identified by name, details of the allegations were shared, including one of the alleged victims being as young as 9-years-old, assaults that allegedly took place from 1991 to 2024, and videos, texts and photos as evidence.
EVEN MORE SHOCKING: The attorneys also revealed that there are a slew of “high profile enablers and/or participants” that were described as “People we all know…names that will shock you.” [via X]
WORTH ASKING: WHO?!
###
COLDPLAY held the world premiere of its new album, “Moon Music,” at a dive bar in Moon, Wisconsin, called the Moon Saloon, at Noon on Tuesday.
But for the launch of an album expected to earn industry accolades for the band that broke the all-time record for tour ticket sales last year, the event was an abject dud. A local DJ set up two speakers for the event. Record label reps arrived less than an hour before the scheduled start time. There was no welcome, no introduction, no freebies to give away, no message from the band, and no buzz or excitement.
Instead, the album played over and over and over for hours as people shuffled in and out. [via a very disappointed Morning Martini editor]
ANYWAY: “Moon Music” drops for everyone else on Friday. You can also catch listening parties at record stores and movie theaters around the world today and tomorrow.
###
Actress SARAH HYLAND is being sued by her former manager RICHARD KONIGSBERG, who claims he was “unceremoniously fired” earlier this year in what he believes is an attempt to get out of paying his 10% commission on a couple of projects.
He is seeking damages and a declaration from the court that she is obligated to pay him 10% on all the money she makes from projects she landed during his tenure as her manager.
BY THE WAY: Konigsberg is the one who helped Hyland land her breakout role on “Modern Family.” [via Daily Mail]
###
ROB SCHNEIDER is in the cross hairs once again, this time for pushing his anti-vax thoughts while offering condolences over the passing of NBA star DIKEMBE MUTOMBO.
The actor wrote in part, “I’m sure this is just (another) coincidence. But I took a pass on the Jab and I’m not gonna let anyone I know (and who will Listen) get it either!” He attached an old post of Mutombo’s asking his followers to “get vaccinated” to the tweet.
This one is a stretch by Schenider as Mutombo died of brain cancer. [via X]
###
It turns out the guitar that a man bought at auction only to smash with a hammer moments later, wasn’t signed by TAYLOR SWIFT, nor officially-Swift certified.
According to the organization that held the auction, a signed CD insert was offered alongside the guitar, which the guy purchased for $4,000.
A video of the smashing has been viewed over 22 million times since it was posted on Sunday evening.
Swift’s team has not reacted to the incident. [via Variety]
###
FRANKIE VALLI is addressing fans’ concerns over his ability to continue performing.
The 90-year-old shut down speculation of “elder abuse,” saying he “feels blessed” to still be doing what he loves at 90-years-old, adding, “Nobody has ever made me do anything I didn’t want to do.”
Valli’s current tour runs through April. [via People]
###
Wrestling sensation THE MIZ and his wife, fellow wrestler MARYSE, are selling their Los Angeles English manor ahead of their move to Vegas.
Fans will recognize the 10,400-square-foot manor from the couple’s reality show “Miz & Mrs.”
They are asking $11.995 million. [via TMZ]
###
UFC head honcho DANA WHITE donated $100,000 to victims of Hurricane Helene through the GoFundMe account launched by his “good friend” former president DONALD TRUMP.
KID ROCK also donated, as did hedge fund guru BILL ACKMAN and former U.S. Senator KELLY LOEFFLER. [via TMZ]
###
CASTING CALL
Over 5.3 million people tuned in to watch the 50th season premiere of “SNL,” marking the best opening since 2020.
It was also the most-watched episode on Peacock, according to NBC.
JEAN SMART hosted, and country singer JELLY ROLL performed. [via THR]
###
“Inside Out 2” is the top-streaming premiere for 2024 on Disney+ after being viewed 30.5 million times worldwide in its first five days.
During its theatrical run the Pixar film became the highest-grossing animated movie of all time, passing 2019’s “Frozen II” ($1.45 billion globally) and beating out last year’s box office bombshell, “Barbie” ($1.44 billion).
The movie earned $154 million in its opening weekend, and crossed the billion-dollar threshold in just 19 days. [via The Wrap]
###
THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
TRAVIS BARKER is not pleased that paparazzi were able to snap a photo of his young son, ROCKY BARKER, after his attempts to keep his face hidden.
“Unfortunately, someone finally got a photo of him,” he told the Wall Street Journal. “But we’d rather keep him out of the spotlight.”
After addressing the invasion of privacy, Barker said he wished that he would have “done the same thing” with his older kids, 18-year-old ALABAMA BARKER, 20-year-old LANDON BARKER, and step-daughter, 25-year-old ATIANA DE LA HOYA, when they were younger.
Barker’s wife, KOURTNEY KARDASHIAN feels the same way when it comes to social media, though she instead asks her kids’ permission if they want to be posted or not; her eldest son, 14-year-old MASON DISICK has asked her not to. [via WSJ]
KARDASHIAN WEB: Travis and Kourtney are married and have baby son Rocky together, he also has two adult children Alabama and Landon, from his previous marriage to model SHANNA MOAKLER, plus continues to parent her daughter, Atiana, whom she shares with her ex, OSCAR DE LA HOYA. Kourtney shares three kids with ex-boyfriend, SCOTT DISICK, Mason, 12-year-old PENELOPE, and 9-year-old REIGN.
###
WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
PRINCE WILLIAM and DAVID BECKHAM showed off the new helicopter their joint fundraising efforts purchased for a charity in England.
London’s Air Ambulance Charity provides airlift services for serious trauma emergencies around the English capital. Since launching a fundraising drive in 2021, one of William’s charities ended up raising north of 16 MILLION Pounds, enough for two H135 choppers.
William himself is a former helicopter pilot. He and Beckham had hoped to take a ride but bad weather scrapped those plans. Instead they checked out the cockpit for the photo op and visited with the charity’s staff. [via The Sun]
###
DAY OF THE YEAR
National Name Your Car Day
World Farm Animals Day
National Coffee With a Cop Day
National Custodian Day
Audiophile Day
National Pumpkin Seed Day
Mahatma Gandhi Day
National Produce Misting Day
National Walk and Bike to School Day
National Kale Day
National Fried Scallops Day
###
ON THIS DATE
1789 - George Washington transmits the proposed Constitutional amendments to the States for ratification.
The list is known today as “The Bill of Rights.”
###
1836 - Charles Darwin returns from the HMS Beagle, ending his journey that would inspire publication of "the Origin of Species by means of Natural Selection."
He wouldn't publish the work until 1859, however.
###
1902 - Beatrix Potter’s “The Tale of Peter Rabbit” is published by Frederick Warne & Co. in London.
The children’s book follows a mischievous, disobedient young Peter Rabbit as he gets into, and is chased around, the garden of Mr. McGregor. He escapes and returns home to his mother, who puts him to bed.
The story has since been translated in 36 languages.
###
1919 - Woodrow Wilson suffers a stroke in the White House, leaving him largely unable to serve.
He remained in office, however, with his wife, powerful legislators and aides doing most of the work.
Wilson had been lobbying the American people for support to get Congress to ratify the Treaty of Versailles and admit the U.S. to the League of Nations. The tour of the country nearly killed him from exhaustion. Toward the end of the train tour, he collapsed, and upon returning to DC, suffered the stroke.
He would be awarded the Nobel Prize that year.
###
1958 - Guinea declares its independence from France, making it one of the first open allies with the Soviets in Africa.
More than half its diamond and gold exports would go to communist holdings while it received millions in aid from the Reds.
Guinean leader Sekou Toure was also a sympathizer to Mao in China. He was known for pitting American and Soviet powers against each other, squeezing relief and aid out of both countries.
Military juntas and dictators have largely ruled Guinea since Toure's death in 1984.
###
1967 - Thurgood Marshall is sworn in as the first black justice of the Supreme Court.
Marshall had been the leading lawyer for the NAACP and helped build the national legal cases against institutional segregation.
He was also responsible for successfully arguing Brown v. Board of Education, after which the Supreme Court ruled racial segregation illegal per the 14th amendment.
Marshall retired in 1991 and died in 1993.
###
1974 - Hank Aaron hits his final home run as a member of the Atlanta Braves. Shutting out the Reds 13-0.
It was his 733rd career HR.
He went on to play his final two seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1982.
###
2001 - “Scrubs” debuts on NBC.
The series followed the lives of employees at the fictional Sacred Heart Hospital.
The show would run for nine seasons before being canceled in 2010.
###
2016 - Kim Kardashian is robbed at gunpoint.
The thieves broke into her hotel room in Paris, tied her up and put her in the bathtub.
Over $10 million worth of jewelry -- including her ring from husband Kanye West -- was taken.
###
BIRTHDAYS
Tara Lynne Barr - actress, “Casual” - 31
Alisson Becker - soccer player - 32
Brittany Howard - rock singer - 36
Phil Kessel - hockey player - 37
Efren Ramirez - actor, “Napoleon Dynamite” - 51
Jim Root - guitarist, Slipknot - 53
Tiffany Darwish - rock singer - 53
Kelly Ripa - actress & TV show host - 54
Sting - rock singer, The Police - 73
Annie Leibovitz - photographer - 75
Donna Karan - fashion designer - 76
Don McLean - pop singer - 79
Born On This Date
Jack Finney - author, “The Body Snatchers” - 1911 (d. 1995)
William “Bud” Abbott - comedian, Abbot & Costello - 1897 (d. 1974)
Groucho Marx - comedian - 1890 (d. 1977)
Mahatma Gandhi - civil rights & spiritual leader - 1869 (d. 1948)
Nat Turner - leader of major slave rebellion in V.A. in 1831 - 1800 (d. 1831)
###