10/5/2023: Tenant From Hell 🔥 🏠
PLUS: More Adderal, Please; Is Britney “Too Free”?; and Fergie’s Bailout
GOOD MORNING!
Don’t forget to forward this email to a friend who might enjoy it. (Or if you just hate-read our daily dispatches, send it to someone you really don’t like!)
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Today is Thursday, October 5, 2023.
It is the 278th day of the year.
87 days remain.
WHAT’S ON TAP
ELON MUSK’s lawyers are keeping busy amid multiple new lawsuits and some Wisconsin moms band together. More in HIT LIST
TRAVIS KELCE wants the NFL to cool it when it comes to his new relationship and another woman has come forward with allegations against HARVEY WEINSTEIN. More in SHOWBIZ.
DREW BARRYMORE and KELLY CLARKSON are ready to get back to work, but will it happen? More in CASTING CALL.
KIM KARDASHIAN got into a bidding war with TOM BRADY and lost. More in KARDASH.
PRINCE ANDREW turns to a well-known ally to help him stay at the Royal Lodge. More in ROYALS.
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HIT LIST
Nine women and three men have been seated in the jury that will decide SAM BANKMAN-FRIED’s fate. The judge overseeing the case, LEWIS KAPLAN, is the same one who was assigned to E. JEAN CARROLL’s defamation suit against former President DONALD TRUMP.
To prove the fraud charges, prosecutors will need to show that SBF intentionally bilked customers out of their money. His defense attorneys used their opening statements to paint him as a well-intentioned kid trying to figure things out as he went.
After the business of the day, SBF’s lawyers told the judge that their client wasn’t getting the proper dosage of Adderall while in jail to treat his ADHD. The judge said this should have already been addressed – which sounds like SBF will get his meds. [via Morning Martini]
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In September 2021, a Los Angeles-area man named Sascha Jovanovic rented out his guest house on AirBNB to a long-term guest who booked the accommodation for six months – 187 nights, to be exact.
The guest, named Elizabeth Hirschhorn, formally ended her stay in March 2022, but she still hasn’t left.
NOW: Hirschhorn is extorting Jovanovic for $100,000 to relocate – and the municipal government says there’s nothing that can be done about it.
CATCH-22: Because Jovanovic didn’t get a permit to rent out the guest house and built a shower inside it without pulling the proper permits, he’s technically not protected by any laws, apparently. In Los Angeles, he has no legal recourse to enter the unit to properly get everything up to code. And without everything permitted and up to code, he can’t get an enforceable eviction from the city.
The whole story is wild, read it here > [via LA Times]
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There’s an online advertising company in Florida called X Social Media, LLC, and since 2016 it has owned the trademark on the name “X SOCIALMEDIA.”
NOW: That company is suing ELON MUSK’s X CORP., the company that owns social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. In the suit, X Social Media alleges that the X Corp. name has caused them to lose revenue and incur fees to rebrand to distinguish themselves from the platform.
One legal expert tells tech site The Verge that because there are so many trademarks that include the letter “X,” the advertising company probably doesn’t have a strong case. [via The Verge]
SPEAKING OF LAWSUITS INVOLVING ELON MUSK: His former partner GRIMES is suing him for partial custody of their youngest son. The couple never went public with the existence of TECHNO MECHANICUS, who was born earlier this year and is called “Tau” for short – but WALTER ISAACSON revealed the baby’s existence as part of his reporting for his biography of Musk.
Musk and Grimes were never married but share three children. Grimes is alleging that Musk is not letting her see Tau. [via TMZ]
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Sometimes a community temporarily loses electricity during routine maintenance of power lines. Or, they lose power because there’s a naked guy climbing a tower and the police have to get him down.
Exactly that happened on Tuesday, when law enforcement in the Winston-Salem, North Carolina area were called after locals reported an indecent exposure incident. The unnamed man had climbed a giant power tower buck naked.
They determined this wasn’t some bizarre stunt or protest and that the man was suffering a mental health crisis. Fortunately, he was coaxed down and taken in for evaluation and treatment. [via WXII]
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An army of moms from Kaukauna, Wisconsin took their school district’s bus issue into their own hands and decided to drive the buses themselves.
Since the pandemic, districts across the country have faced shortages when it comes to having enough bus drivers to get kids to and from school, leaving parents to figure out a solution, which is what these moms did.
One of the women told local NBC affiliate WTMJ that driving a bus affords her not only a paycheck, but also allows the ease of her to bring her newborn daughter to work with her.
NUMBERS DON’T LIE: In Wisconsin 92% of districts faced a shortage prior to the 2023-2024 school year -- 30% of which were severely under staffed when it came to bus drivers. [via WTMJ]
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BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The DOW added 127 points (0.39%) to close at 33,129 on Wednesday. The S&P was up 34 points (0.81%) to close at 4,263 and the NASDAQ increased 176 points (1.35%) to close at 13,236.
🛢 WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE cooled to $84; BRENT CRUDE to $86.
⛽ The national average price of a GALLON OF GAS was $3.78 on Wednesday.
₿ BITCOIN ticked up Wednesday over 1%, trading around $27,700.
🛩 There were more than 1,933 FLIGHTS delayed within, into, or out of the United States on Wednesday, and more than 345 such cancellations.
💰Friday night’s MEGA MILLIONS drawing will be for a $350 million jackpot or a $155.9 million cash payout.
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SHOWBIZ NEWS
TRAVIS KELCE wants the NFL to pump the brakes when it comes to their over-the-top coverage of TAYLOR SWIFT.
He addressed the league’s obsession with his new relationship on the “New Heights” podcast, which he co-hosts with his brother JASON KELCE.
“I think they’re overdoing it a little bit for sure. Especially my situation,” Travis told his brother of the constant camera focus on the singer at his games. [via E!]
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Actor KEVIN SPACEY was rushed to a hospital yesterday over fears he was having a heart attack.
While attending the 15th Tashkent International Film Festival in Uzbekistan, the 64-year-old reportedly lost sensation in his arm “for eight seconds,” causing the alarm.
After undergoing an MRI and some other tests, Spacey was given the all clear and discharged.
He later returned to the festival, where he detailed the situation to the crowd. [via L.A. Times]
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KATHY GRIFFIN thinks that maybe BRITNEY SPEARS is “too free” since the end of her 13-year conservatorship.
“You didn’t have a plan,” she said of the #FreeBritney people on a recent appearance on JIMMY KIMMEL’s late night show.
The interview came after Griffin posted a video to Instagram of her dancing in a pink bikini with a knife and spatula -- clearly mocking the knife-dancing video Spears posted last week that drew tons of concern. [via Page Six]
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SOPHIE TURNER and JOE JONAS will spend some time in mediation to work through their messy divorce and child custody battle.
According to The New York Post, attorneys for the estranged couple appeared in court this week to inform a judge of their plans to start mediation and establish a parenting plan for their two young daughters.
Remember, Turner wants the kids to live in the UK while Jonas wants to keep them here in the US. [via NYPost]
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Another woman has come forward with sexual assault allegations against disgraced movie mogul HARVEY WEINSTEIN.
Actress JULIA ORMOND filed a suit this week, accusing Weinstein of sexual battery that she says occurred after a business dinner in 1995. She also claims that she told her agents at the time, who allegedly advised her against speaking out, and later dropped her as a client.
Ormond is also suing Creative Artists Agency, Miramax and the Walt Disney Company for negligence.
As for why she is coming forward now -- versus with the masses during the #MeToo movement -- Ormond told Variety that she feels there needs to be “systemic change” and “accountability from enablers.” [via Variety]
SCUM: Weinstein has been accused by more than 100 women of sexual abuse and is currently serving a 23-year sentence for abuse against an actress and a production assistant. He is also serving 16 years for forcible rape of an Italian model.
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Country music star HARDY has postponed two upcoming concerts for his “Mockingbird & The Crow” tour to focus on his mental health.
Hardy announced the break, saying he has been suffering from “serious anxiety” that landed him in the hospital.
He told fans that it all stems from the accident he was involved in last year when his tour bus swerved off the road and flipped onto its side. The bus driver -- the only one wearing a seatbelt -- was seriously injured in the crash, while Hardy and four band members suffered only minor injuries.
Hardy plans to get back to it next week. [via ET]
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AMY WINEHOUSE’s “Back to Black” music video has earned her a spot in the YouTube Billion Views Club.
The song is the third single from her second -- and final -- album.
Winehouse tragically passed away in 2011 of alcohol poisoning. She was only 27. [via Billboard]
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Celebrities…they’re just like us!
Musician KATHERINE MCPHEE revealed on Instagram that she accidentally baked her son’s iPad.
“I tried to hide it and forgot it was in there while heating up the oven for my chicken special,” she told her followers as she removed the charred tablet.
McPhee shares two-year-old son Rennie with her husband, music exec DAVID FOSTER. [via Insider]
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CASTING CALL
Universal Studios has acquired the international rights to the MICHAEL JACKSON biopic, “Michael.”
The film will cover all aspects of MJ’s life, though whether or not the sexual abuse allegations will be featured is unknown.
Michael will be played by his nephew JAAFAR JACKSON.
Production is set to resume after the actors’ strike concludes. [via MJVibe]
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Now that the fear of backlash has subsided thanks to the end of the writers’ strike, DREW BARRYMORE and KELLY CLARKSON are ready to get back to work.
Barrymore, who had planned to return weeks ago, but changed her mind after harsh criticism from striking writers and their supporters, will kick off the fourth season of her talk show on October 16.
“The Kelly Clarkson Show” will return for its fifth season that same day, with taping set to begin the week prior. [via THR]
DAMAGE IS DONE: Just hours after it was announced that Barrymore would be returning to air, top writers from her talk show announced they will not be part of it. Apparently they are still upset over her prematurely planning to return. No word on whether or not this will affect her show’s return date. [via TMZ]
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
KIM KARDASHIAN engaged in a bidding war with TOM BRADY at a recent charity auction for Reform Alliance in Atlantic City.
The two were both interested in a piece of art by George Condo called “Standing Female Figure.” Kim kicked things off with a $500,000 bid, which Brady quickly countered, offering $2 million. Knowing she had been beaten, Kim gave up the piece to Brady.
But wait! Condo heard about the bidding war and agreed to make a matching piece for Kim if she was willing to also shell out $2 million for it. [via ARTnews]
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
More details on the deal struck between PRINCE ANDREW and KING CHARLES that’ll keep Andy in residence at the Royal Lodge on the grounds of Windsor: the disgraced prince can stay but he’s on the hook to pay for an estimated TWO MILLION POUNDS worth of repairs and renovations.
Express reports that Andrew’s ex-wife SARAH FERGUSON is going to help fund the project. She’s been living there with him despite their divorce almost 30 years ago. One friend close to Fergie says, “Andrew has always stood by Sarah throughout her various past failures and she sees this as her chance to do the same." [via Express]
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DAY OF THE YEAR
National Do Something Nice Day
World Teachers Day
Balloons Around the World Day
National Poetry Day
Country Inn Bed & Breakfast Day
Global James Bond Day
Bring Your Bible to School day
National Get Funky Day
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ON THIS DATE
1550 – Spanish Conquistador Pedro de Valdivia founds Concepción, Chile.
It was close to the border of Spanish-controlled territory and the lands of the Mapuche.
The town functioned as a military settlement for brass in the Spanish army occupying South America. Four years later, natives overran the village and destroyed it. But the Spaniards were unfazed, and built it again in 1555.
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1582 – This date is the first of ten that are … well, lost in Italy, Poland, Portugal, and Spain.
Those countries switched from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar effective the day after October 4th. But in order to get on the same page as other countries already using the Gregorian calendar, the date following October 4th 1582 would be October 15th.
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1813 – Shawnee Chief Tecumseh is defeated and killed during the War of 1812.
The Indian leader had joined forces with the British. They were in battle against future president William Harrison’s army at the Battle of the Thames near present-day Ontario.
Tecumseh had been amassing an army of native Americans to fight the white invaders, but it wasn’t enough.
His death marked the end to much of the resistance from native Americans against the European settlers east of the Mississippi River. Many remaining tribes moved west.
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1869 – FA Spofford and Matthew G. Raffington receive a patent for a “water velocipede.”
It was a rudimentary paddle boat.
The invention was one of many similar vessels patented around that time as upper class folks looked for new activities on the water.
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1947 – Harry Truman addresses the nation from the White House – he’s the first to do so.
In the speech, he implores Americans to conserve use of grain to aid Europe, which was rebuilding from six years of war.
People were asked to give up meat on Tuesdays and poultry on Thursdays. The initiative did not last long, as the Marshall Plan was quickly successful in rebuilding Europe.
In 1948, Truman would be the first president to broadcast a paid political ad on TV.
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1953 – The New York Yankees beat the Brooklyn Dodgers in game six of the World Series, marking their fifth consecutive championship.
It was the fourth time in 11 years that the Yankees beat the Dodgers to win all the marbles.
Two years later, the Dodgers would get their first MLB championship – against the Yankees.
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1962 – The first James Bond movie is released in the UK.
The flick pitted James Bond against Dr. Julius No, an evil villain with an underground base, plotting to thwart an American space launch.
Sean Connery starred as the tuxedoed super-spy.
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1990 – The first film with an NC-17 rating hits theaters.
“Henry & June” starred Uma Thurman, Fred Ward, and Maria de Medeiros. It contained lady-on-lady action, which caused the adult rating. It also got an Oscar nomination for cinematography.
NC-17 replaced the X rating, which had become too associated with pornography.
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2005 – Vampire novel “Twilight” by Stephenie Meyer is published by Little Brown.
There would be three more books released in the series - “New Moon,” “Eclipse” and “Breaking Dawn.” Followed by five films with the same titles, with the last one broken into Part 1 and Part 2.
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2015 - Governor of California Jerry Brown signs a bill giving terminally ill patients the “right to die.”
The death with dignity bill was officially called the California End of Life Option Act.
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2020 - The WHO estimates that 10% of the world’s population may have been infected with COVID-19 — more than 20 times the number of confirmed cases.
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BIRTHDAYS
Jacob Tremblay - actor, “Room” & “Wonder” - 17
Kevin Magnussen - race car driver - 31
Travis Kelce - football player - 34
Nathalie Kelley - actress, “The Baker and the Beauty” - 38
Jesse Eisenberg - actor, “Zombieland” & “The Social Network” - 40
Kate Winslet - actress, “Titanic” & “Mare of Easttown” - 48
Scott Weinger - actor, “Full House” - 48
Neil deGrasse Tyson - astrophysicist - 65
Brian Johnson - rock singer, AC/DC - 76
Steve Miller - guitarist, Steve Miller Band - 80
Born On This Date
Bernie Mac - actor, “The Bernie Mac Show” & “Mr. 3000” - 1957 (d. 2008)
Ray Kroc - entrepreneur, McDonald’s - 1902 (d. 1984)
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