10/25/2024: World’s Smallest Rubik’s Cube
PLUS: Election Countdown; Leo’s Snake; and Tom Parker Bowles Weighs In
Today is Friday, October 25, 2024.
It is the 299th day of the year.
67 days remain.
WHAT’S ON TAP
A trade group challenges a new FTC rule and BOEING’s luck worsens. Details in HIT LIST.
Big news for the MENENDEZ BROTHERS and the investigation into LIAM PAYNE’s death continues. More in SHOWBIZ.
LIAM NEESON says he’s too old for action films. Details in CASTING CALL.
KIM watches “Wicked” with her ex’s ex. More on that in KARDASH.
New details about the KING’s cancer diagnosis from inside the family. Details in ROYALS.
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HIT LIST
THERE ARE 11 DAYS until Election Day.
– A former girlfriend of Second Gentleman DOUG EMHOFF tells the Daily Mail he once slapped her so hard she spun around in 2012, two years before he married Harris. “Every time I see Doug on TV portraying the persona of a perfect spouse and non-toxic man, I wonder if Najen” – that’s the nanny he admitted to knocking up – “is watching too and feeling as disgusted as I am,” she says.
– The Washington Post reports that BEYONCE will appear at an event for Harris in Houston on Tuesday.
– During a Thursday radio interview, DONALD TRUMP said he would consider a pardon of HUNTER BIDEN, the sitting president’s son.
– A Newsweek poll shows that Trump’s Sunday photo op at a Pennsylvania McDonald’s won him favor with Gen Z voters, with 39% saying they like him more. A similar number 38%, said the stunt made no difference, and 28% said it made them like him less.
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UPDATE: Ukraine’s intelligence service reports that North Korean troops deployed to support Russia’s aggressive war have been sent to the front lines near Kursk Oblast.
It had been previously reported that only 3,000 had already been dispatched with another 10,000 on the way before the end of the year. New intel suggests nearly 12,000 troops have already arrived in Russia for training, but have not yet deployed to combat.
SINCE NO ONE ASKED: The Kyiv Independent reports that each North Korean soldier gets 50 meters of toilet paper every month. [via Kyiv Independent]
MEANWHILE, IN SOUTH KOREA: A balloon of trash sent by the North into South Korea reportedly landed inside the presidential compound in Seoul yesterday. After a quick inspection, nothing dangerous was found. [via ABC News]
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YOINK: After a glimmer of hope to end its strike earlier this week, BOEING machinists rejected the proposed pay package that would’ve boosted wages 35% over the next four years.
Nearly two-thirds of the employees voted against the package. The strike now crawls into its sixth week.
One corporate analytics firm estimates the strike is costing Boeing $1 BILLION every month. [via NBC News]
MEANWHILE, IN SPACE: An unidentified “anomaly” caused a Boeing-built satellite to explode last weekend. It had been used by a European communications company; its destruction reportedly caused interrupted data transmission for a relatively small number of customers back on Earth.
The US Space Force is tracking an estimated 20 pieces of debris from the incident. [via CBS News]
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LAST WEEK: The Federal Trade Commission announced a new rule requiring companies to let customers unsubscribe from services as easily as they sign up.
NOW: The Internet & Television Association, a trade group representing cable and internet providers, is suing to stop the rule.
The FTC created the mandate as a result of extensive public comment, but the suit alleges the FTC is overstepping its authority and not using real evidence.
The rule is scheduled to be implemented in April. Time will tell how the suit affects this timeline. [via Reuters]
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The world’s smallest Rubik’s Cube is now available for pre-order for an astounding $5,320.
Designed by Japanese toymaker MegaHouse, the fully-functional six-sided cube is made from aluminum and weighs 0.01 ounces -- about 1,000th of the size of the original.
Guinness World Records confirmed the toy as the “world’s smallest rotating puzzle cube” in August, breaking the record set by a British puzzle designer in 2016, who created a 5.6-millimeter version.
The release coincides with the 50th anniversary of the original Rubik’s Cube. [via WSVN]
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DEATHS
ELIZABETH FRANCIS, the oldest person in the U.S., has died.
She passed away peacefully in her Houston home on Tuesday, according to a statement from one of her granddaughters.
Francis was the third-oldest person in the world at the time of her death.
She was 115.
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BREAKUPS
Actress SUTTON FOSTER has filed for divorce from her screenwriter husband, TED GRIFFIN.
She’s 49 and he’s 53.
As far as a reason for the split, rumor is Foster is in love with her “Music Man” co-star HUGH JACKMAN, who filed for divorce from his wife of 27 years last year.
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BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The DOW lost 140 points (0.33%) to close at 42,374 on Thursday. The S&P increased 12 points (0.2%) to close at 5,809 and the NASDAQ increased 138 points (0.76%) to close at 18,415.
🛢 WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE closed at $70; BRENT CRUDE at $74.
⛽ The national average price of a GALLON OF GAS was $3.15 on Thursday.
₿ BITCOIN rallied on Thursday, up over 2.3% and trading around $68,200.
🛩 There were more than 2,125 FLIGHTS delayed within, into, or out of the United States on Thursday and more than 70 such cancellations.
💰Tonight’s MEGA MILLIONS drawing will be for a $229 million jackpot or a $107.4 million cash payout. A lucky lottery player in Georgia won the $478 million POWERBALL jackpot on Wednesday. The winner could also choose the $230.6 million cash option. Saturday’s drawing will be for a $20 million jackpot or a $9.6 million cash payout.
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SHOWBIZ NEWS
New Music Friday
311, “Full Bloom”
Bastille, “&”
Halsey, “The Great Impersonator”
JC Chasez and Jimmy Harry, “Playing With Fire”
Kelsea Ballerini, “Patterns”
The Oak Ridge Boys, “Mama’s Boys”
Peach Pit, “Magpie”
Tears For Fears, “Songs for a Nervous Planet”
Yo-Yo Ma and Kathryn Stott, “Merci”
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L.A. District Attorney GEORGE GASCON announced Thursday that LYLE and ERIK MENENDEZ will be resentenced after spending more than 30 years behind bars for the 1989 murder of their parents, JOSE and KITTY MENENDEZ.
He also recommended that the brothers be eligible for parole.
The final decision will be left up to a judge, however, and should they agree, parole-eligible sentences would change to 50 years to life -- 25 years for each murder.
There was already a court date set for the brothers for November 26 prior to the press conference, it is unknown if that will be changed. [via NY Post]
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The CasaSur Palermo Hotel was raided by personnel from the Special Investigations Division and the Special Technological Investigations Division this week, “to obtain elements of interest” regarding the investigation into LIAM PAYNE’s death.
Insiders say they were seeking “documents and videos” from the lobby and courtyard to piece together his final moments, as well as more info about who was working that day.
Payne died on October 16 after falling from the balcony of his third-story room at the hotel. [via Page Six]
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LEBRON JAMES and his son BRONNY JAMES are being sued over a November 2022 car crash.
Two women, Kiara McGillen and April Almanza Lopez, filed the suit claiming they had to pay medical and vehicle expenses, and lost income because of the crash, which they say was the fault of the NBA stars.
The filing came out right before the men made history on Tuesday night, becoming the first father-and-son duo to ever play in a game together. [via Daily Beast]
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TODD CHRISLEY is no longer working as a chaplain’s assistant behind bars after “getting too chatty with inmates.”
The 55-year-old reality star was recently fired from the job, where he organized religious services and celebrations for Christian, Muslim, and Jewish inmates, according to his attorney. He is still allowed to attend the services, however.
Chrisley is serving a 12-year sentence for tax evasion and bank fraud. [via NY Post]
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In honor of his long history of environmental activism, researchers have named a newly discovered snake species after LEONARDO DICAPRIO.
Anguiculus dicaprioi, or DiCaprio’s Himalayan snake, was found in the western Himalayas in the summer of 2020. The reptile has “short” heads, “large” nostrils, many teeth, and a “steeply domed snout,” according to an ongoing study published by nature.com. The snakes are considered on the smaller side, reaching lengths of only 22 inches.
No word on whether Leo will make a trip to Nepal to see his namesake in person. [via Nature.com]
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JESSICA SIMPSON continues to be spotted without her wedding ring, prompting some to assume her marriage to ERIC JOHNSON is over.
An insider all but confirmed the theory to In Touch, saying, “It’s only a matter of time before she files for divorce.”
The last time Simpson was seen in public with her ring on was in January.
The pair tied the knot in July 2014 and share three kids. [via In Touch]
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In honor of RYAN REYNOLDS’ birthday on Wednesday, his friend, fellow actor ROB MCELHENNEY partnered with Best Friends Animal Society for a sweet surprise.
In an Instagram post, McElhenney revealed that the animal rescue renamed all of the puppies, senior dogs, cats, kittens, horses, pigs, bunnies, birds, a turtle and donkey after the “Deadpool” star. He also said that he will “match all donations to Best Friends, dollar for dollar through the end of the month, up to $25,000.”
All the adoptable “Ryan Reynolds” are listed on Best Friends’ website. [via Instagram]
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CASTING CALL
Comedian DAVE CHAPPELLE and rapper KILLER MIKE are co-headlining a tour called, “Still Talkin’ That Sh*t.”
Per the announcement, the event is described as “a fusion of music and comedy across a joint set.”
Kicking things off in Detroit, the pair will make seven stops across the country next month.
As always, no phones will be allowed. [via THR]
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At 72-years-old, LIAM NEESON says it's time to retire from action flicks.
“It has to stop at some stage,” he told People Magazine, sharing his plans to stop filming action scenes in 2025.
Neeson does intend to keep acting, just in other genres. [via People]
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
KIM KARDASHIAN held a family-only showing of “Wicked” at her home, which was decorated to the nines for the special event.
The entire family wore green pajamas and pink socks for the screening, while the younger generation of KarJenners snuggled an array of “Wicked”-inspired Barbie dolls.
ARIANA GRANDE and CYNTHIA ERIVO, who play Glinda and Elphaba, respectively, were also present for the movie night.
KARDASH CONNECTION: Fans were quick to point out that Kim and Ariana both dated PETE DAVIDSON. [via Us Weekly]
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
TOM PARKER BOWLES tells People that his stepfather, KING CHARLES, is doing well in his cancer treatment.
“The King is strong,” Bowles said, adding, “He’s following the advice of his doctors. Fingers crossed, touch wood.”
The King has suspended chemotherapy during his nine-day tour of Australia and Samoa. [via People]
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DAY OF THE YEAR
Global Champagne Day
Frankenstein Friday
National Breadstick Day
Nevada Day
National I Care About You Day
World Lemur Day
World Opera Day
National Greasy Foods Day
World Pasta Day
International Artist Day
Sourest Day
Crisp Sandwich Day
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ON THIS DATE
1760 - King George II dies, with little fanfare, atop the Royal Throne.
Minutes after entering his enclosed toilet area, his personal valet heard a loud crash. The valet found the monarch keeled over on the floor. George was taken to his bed, but died moments later. It was determined he died of an aortic aneurysm.
George II was succeeded by George III, his grandson.
Which brings us to:
1774 - The First Continental Congress petitions King George III with complaints about the colonies’ treatment.
While many were still willing to pledge loyalty to the Crown, it was difficult to stomach such allegiance with unfair treatment under the Intolerable Acts. These rules, issued by the King, included ridiculous taxes and the Quartering Act, which permitted British troops to reside in any house, by force.
George brushed off the petition.
Eight months later, the Second Congress would adopt the Declaration of the Causes and Necessity of Taking Up Arms – an outline of the reasons for war.
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1828 - One of the first major naval docks to service London opens.
Construction on St Katharine Docks had begun more than a year before, with more than a thousand houses demolished to accommodate the project. 11,300 people lost their homes.
The docks failed commercially, and would be combined with the nearby London Docks in 1864.
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1944 - Nazi Reichsfuhrer Heinrich Himmler starts pursuing the Edelweiss Pirates, a youth group of renegades to counteract the growing influence of the Hitler Youth.
By November, 13 leaders would be captured and executed; six were teenagers.
Later the remnants of the group in East Berlin would play a role in fighting against communist oppression by the Soviets – but also caused trouble for Allied rebuilding efforts throughout Germany.
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1983 - By order of President Reagan, US Marines invade Grenada to overthrow the small island’s Marxist regime. The Operation’s codename was Urgent Fury.
Almost 2,000 troops stormed the island, and within a week had taken over control. Free elections would be held in December of the following year.
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1990 - The first lung transplant from one live donor to another is successfully performed.
A mother donated to her 12-year-old daughter.
The chief surgeon was also the first to transplant a heart and lung into an infant.
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1995 - Singer Cliff Richard is granted knighthood by Queen Elizabeth.
He is the first rock star to be knighted.
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2005 - The Chicago White Sox beat the Houston Astros 7-5 in Game 3 of the World Series at Minute Maid Park in Houston.
At the time it was the longest World Series game, lasting 5 hours and 41 minutes. It tied for the most innings with 14.
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2020 - Pope Francis appoints 13 new cardinals.
One of them is Wilton Daniel Gregory, who is the first African American to be appointed.
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BIRTHDAYS
Juan Soto - baseball player - 26
Mia Goth - actress, “Nymphomaniac” - 31
Mia Wasikowska - actress, “Alice in Wonderland” - 35
Ciara - R&B singer - 39
Katy Perry - pop singer - 40
Antony Starr - actor, “The Boys” - 49
Persia White - actress, “Girlfriends” - 52
Craig Robinson - actor, “The Office” - 53
Adam Goldberg - actor, “Saving Private Ryan” - 54
Samantha Bee - comedian - 55
Chad Smith - drummer, “Red Hot Chili Peppers” - 63
Mike Eruzione - hockey player - 70
Dave Cowens - basketball player - 76
Born On This Date
Richard E. Byrd - aviator, first to reach both the North and South Pole - 1888 (d. 1957)
Pablo Picasso - painter - 1881 (d, 1973)
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