Today is Friday, November 1, 2024.
It is the 306th day of the year.
60 days remain.
WHAT’S ON TAP
FORD taps the brakes on EV production and an ugly art piece gets relocated. Details in HIT LIST.
OLIVER ANTHONY is back in the news and the MENENDEZ BROTHERS have a chance to be home by Thanksgiving. More in SHOWBIZ.
ZAK BAGANS will go where no team of paranormal experts has gone before. Details in CASTING CALL.
Find out why KIM shut down SAINT’s YouTube in KARDASH.
Palace insiders put the brakes on a potential royal reunion. Details in ROYALS.
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HIT LIST
THERE ARE 4 DAYS UNTIL ELECTION DAY and here’s the state of the race:
– Lawyers for ELON MUSK successfully stalled a suit brought by Philadelphia’s District Attorney over the billionaire’s voter petition lottery. Musk had been called to appear in court Thursday morning, but that hearing remains postponed while Musk seeks to have the case brought before a federal, not state, judge.
– The Trump campaign has sued CBS News for $10 BILLION in damages, arguing that deceptive editing of the “60 Minutes” interview with KAMALA HARRIS constitutes election interference. According to the suit, "President Trump brings this action to redress the immense harm caused to him, to his campaign, and to tens of millions of citizens in Texas and across America by CBS’s deceptive broadcasting conduct.”
– DONALD TRUMP had his highest lead ever in the Real Clear Politics poll average Thursday, at a slim half-a-point. Across battleground states, he leads by one point.
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North Korea continues to try to get the attention of the United States in the days before the election, this time with another missile test – the first of its kind in nearly a year.
KIM JONG JUNIOR personally oversaw the launch of the missile, which his defense ministry has the ability to hit the United States. In a rare move, the secretive country announced the test just hours after it finished, when it typically makes such announcements at least a day later.
The test comes as Western allies closely monitor the involvement for North Korean troops in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. [via CBS News]
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FORD is tapping the brakes on production of its electric truck until at least the start of next year.
The company says demand for the F-150 Lightning is too low to keep building. The shutdown will affect its Rogue Electric Vehicle Center plant near Detroit, putting 730 hourly workers temporarily out of a job.
While sales of the electric truck grew 86% year over year, Ford loses money with each unit. Ford expects to eat a $5 BILLION loss on EVs this year. [via NBC News]
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In 1949, Ann Schroeder from Bettendorf, Iowa, took a job at Davenport Spring Company. She’s worked for the company ever since, and now the 94-year-old is retiring.
Schroeder’s first tasks included customer service and handwritten bookkeeping. “As time went by, things became faster and faster,” she tells local media, but said the love of work kept her coming back year after year.
With her newfound free time, Schroeder says she looks forward to spending time with friends and family. [via KWQC]
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A sculpture of a giant hand that sits perched on two fingers, built on the roof of an art gallery in Wellington, New Zealand, will soon be removed.
Australian-based sculptor Ronnie van Hout created the 16-foot tall work five years ago. It features an unsmiling human face and has been named Quasi. Ever since, locals have shared their “horror” and “revulsion” to it.
Tomorrow, Quasi will be lifted from the roof via helicopter and relocated at an undisclosed location in Australia.
“Everything comes to an end eventually,” van Hout told the AP. “I am sure it will be missed, but even Lovecraftian nightmares have to return to where they came from, and now you only have an absence to reflect on.” [via AP]
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RELATIONSHIPS
“Tiger King” star JOE EXOTIC is engaged to fellow inmate JORGE MARQUEZ.
He announced the news on X, alongside a photo of him and Jorge.
By the way -- Joe is 61 and Jorge is 33.
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BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The DOW lost 378 points (0.9%) to close at 41,763 on Thursday. The S&P lost 108 points (1.86%) to close at 5,705 and the NASDAQ lost 512 points (2.76%) to close at 18,095.
🛢 WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE closed at $70; BRENT CRUDE at $74.
⛽ The national average price of a GALLON OF GAS was $3.13 on Thursday.
₿ BITCOIN slid on Thursday, barely under $70,000.
🛩 There were more than 2,450 FLIGHTS delayed within, into, or out of the United States on Thursday and more than 80 such cancellations.
💰Tonight’s MEGA MILLIONS drawing will be for a $281 million jackpot or a $129.8 million cash payout. Saturday night’s POWERBALL drawing will be for a $54 million jackpot or a $25.8 million cash payout.
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SHOWBIZ NEWS
New Music Friday
The Cure, “Songs of a Lost World”
Kelly Clarkson, “When Christmas Comes Around..Again”
Lil Uzi Vert, “Eternal Atake 2”
Usher, “Confessions (20th Anniversary Edition)”
Weezer, “Weezer 30 (Anniversary Super Deluxe)”
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Remember OLIVER ANTHONY? He’s the guy who rose to the top of the music charts with his song “Rich Men North of Richmond.”
Now, a year since the track landed at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, Anthony says he is leaving the music biz to start a “traveling ministry,” called “The Rural Revival Project.”
His plans include creating a “routing schedule to exist parallel to Nashville that circumvents the monopolies of Live Nation and Ticketmaster,” which he thinks are “a joke.”
According to his website, Anthony wants to play shows in cities that are in “financial deficit” and hopes to promote “sustainable development,” while “improving the quality of life for people living in rural areas.” [via People]
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ZOE KRAVITZ and CHANNING TATUM ended their engagement because they reportedly “haven't been on the same page and grew apart.”
They met in 2021 when Tatum was cast in Kravitz’s flick, “Blink Twice.” After two years of dating, he popped the question last year.
Neither have publicly addressed the split. [via NY Post]
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In addition to setting a December court date to discuss resentencing LYLE and ERIK MENENDEZ, their attorney, Mark Geragos, filed legal docs asking California Governor GAVIN NEWSOM to grant the men clemency.
D.A. George Gascon said he “strongly” supports the brothers’ request.
Newsom addressed the brothers’ case over the weekend, noting that he often grants clemency around Thanksgiving time.
Stay tuned… [via TMZ]
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RICHARD SIMMONS’ housekeeper, Teresa Muro, has been accused by Simmons’ brother, Leonard Simmons, of stealing over $1 million of the late fitness guru’s jewelry and fine art.
Leonard and Teresa were named co-trustees of Richard’s trust, and after his passing, Teresa claims that she was “coerced and fraudulently induced to sign” paperwork effectively removing her as a co-trustee.
Now the two are going to battle it out in court. [via Daily Mail]
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In response to his daughter MALIA OBAMA dropping her famous last name for her directorial debut, BARACK OBAMA says he told her, “You do know they’ll know who you are.”
Malia, who’s film “Heart” premiered at Sundance, initially decided to omit her last name because she wanted audiences to watch the film without having the “Obama family connection in mind.”
The decision was met with both criticism and support, with many also questioning why drop the name when everyone knows who she is. [via Page Six]
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RUMOR IS: There are issues brewing between ELLEN DEGENERES and wife PORTIA DE ROSSI.
In Touch reports that “bad blood” from the negative reviews of DeGeneres’ Netflix comedy comeback have resulted in a tense environment at home.
“People can tell that something is off, because they have never really seen Ellen like this before,” an insider told the outlet.
Stay tuned… [via InTouch]
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PETE DAVIDSON has gone inkless.
The comedian was spotted for the first time since leaving rehab without the extensive ink that once covered both of his arms.
Some of the tattoos appeared faded, while others had been removed completely.
Davidson started the process of getting rid of some of his ink years ago so he no longer would have to “spend three hours” getting them covered up on film sets. [via Page Six]
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CASTING CALL
ZAK BAGANS’ “Ghost Adventure” crew will soon investigate the famous “Poltergeist” house, located in Simi Valley, California.
Preliminary research from his team of paranormal experts found that the new owner of the home, which was featured in the horror classic, was spooked by something bad enough to reach out to Bagans.
It will be the first time ever a paranormal investigation occurs at the place. [via TMZ]
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CHARLIE XCX has been announced as both host and musical guest for the November 16 episode of “SNL.”
Tomorrow’s show will see JOHN MULANEY host, alongside CHAPPELL ROAN as the musical guest, followed by BILL BURR as host and musical guest MK.GEE the following weekend. [via Rolling Stone]
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
KIM KARDASHIAN has followed through on her threat to shut down her son, 8-year-old SAINT WEST’s YouTube channel if he posts things she doesn’t like.
She pulled the plug this week after he shared two anti-KAMALA HARRIS videos, one of which shows a cartoon saying they “stepped in [poop]” -- with a picture of Harris on their foot.
No word on whether or not it's a temporary ban or if he is done for good.
While Kim has not endorsed one candidate or the other, she has previously met with both Harris and DONALD TRUMP as part of her justice crusade. [via Daily Beast]
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
Royal author Robert Hardman says KING CHARLES has been advised to ignore letters and messages from estranged son PRINCE HARRY.
Insiders want to keep the King’s stress levels down as he continues cancer treatment. “There is a sense that now is probably not the time,” Hardman says, adding that the King’s advisers “don’t want him to have extra things to worry about.”
Hardman said the King himself certainly wants to “normalize things” with Harry, only when the time is right. Earlier this month, QUEEN CAMILLA reportedly intervened to stop her husband from meeting with Harry while he was in London for similar reasons. [via New York Post]
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DAY OF THE YEAR
All Saints Day
Love Your Lawyer Day
National Pate Day
Fountain Pen Day
National Deep Fried Clams Day
National Jersey Day
National Family Literacy Day
International Pet Groomer Appreciation Day
National Biologic Coordinators Day
Prime Meridian Day
National Brush Day
National Cinnamon Day
Extra Mile Day
Scented Candle Day
National Cook For Your Pets Day
National Authors’ Day
National Vinegar Day
World Vegan Day
National Calzone Day
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ON THIS DATE
1512 - The public is able to view the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in Rome for the first time.
The work is heralded as among the master Michelangelo’s finest.
The most famous of the nine ceiling panels depicting biblical stories is "The Creation of Adam," which shows God giving the spark of life to Adam.
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1765 - British Parliament approves the Stamp Act, which forced American colonists to use special paper for all printing purposes. It was designed to raise money for the British Army serving in America.
Organizations like the Sons of Liberty sprang up in reaction to the measure.
The outcry was loud enough that Parliament did repeal the Stamp Act the following March; however, they also passed the Declaratory Acts, which asserted Parliament's legislative supremacy over the colonies.
Of course, the back-and-forth culminated in the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War in 1775.
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1800 - John Adams moves into the President's House in Washington, D.C.
Only a few months of his presidency remained, which was fortunate, as there remained much work to be done to complete the house.
The winter months were indeed cold and uncomfortable and Abigail Adams insisted that fires be lit in every room to warm the place. She had to hang her laundry indoors, in what is today the East Room.
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1950 - Two lame assassins botch an even lamer assassination attempt on President Truman.
The commander in chief and his family had been living in Blair House, across the street from the White House, which was undergoing renovations.
The two assassins, Grisello Torresola and Oscar Collazo ran up to the front door and started shooting, willy nilly.
They were quickly subdued by police officers and secret service, one of whom died in the fight. Torresola was also killed.
Collazo later admitted that their plan was ill-conceived. They were even unsure whether the president was home at 2 pm that afternoon — the time of the attack.
Truman kept his schedule that day. His only remarks: "A president has to expect these things."
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1952 - The world's first thermonuclear bomb is detonated over Eniwetok atoll in the Pacific Ocean.
The blast came seven years after the explosion of the atomic bombs over Japan. The Soviets caught up in 1949 with their own atom bomb. In the meantime, this gave the United States the most powerful weapon in the world. It was 1,000 times more destructive than other atomic bombs.
The Soviets would catch up the following year, with the detonation of their own hydrogen weapon.
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1993 - With the passage of the Maastricht Treaty, the European Union becomes a real institution.
Named for the town in the Netherlands where negotiations over formation of the EU took place, the Maastricht Treaty called for a centralized European parliament, a central European bank, and universal foreign policy across the member nations.
It was also the first step for the foundation of the Euro currency.
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1998 - 49ers Steve Young and Jerry Rice hook up for their 80th career touchdown at Lambeau Field.
They would ultimately lose the game to the Green Bay Packers 36-22.
The record was previously held by Dolphins tandem Dan Marino and Mark Clayton.
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2018 - Palau becomes the first country to ban sunscreen and its chemicals.
The Pacific nation made the decision as the cream can be harmful to corals and sea life.
Hawaii would follow three years later.
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2021 - Johns Hopkins reports that the global death toll from COVID-19 has surpassed 5 million.
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BIRTHDAYS
Rocky Barker - son of Travis & Kourtney - 1
Jayden Bartels - actress, “Coop and Cami Ask the World” - 20
Buddy Keaton - actor, “Wendell & Vinnie” - 25
Kaylee Bryant - actress, “Legacies” - 27
Rocky Lynch - pop singer, R5 - 30
Anothony Ramos - actor, “Hamilton” - 33
Penn Badgley - actor, “Gossip Girl” & “You” - 38
LA Knight - wrestler - 42
Jenny McCarthy - TV personality, “The View” & “The Masked Singer” - 52
Toni Collette - actress, “The Sixth Sense” - 52
Anthony Kiedis - rock singer, Red Hot Chili Peppers - 62
Tim Cook - CEO of Apple - 64
Lyle Lovett - singer & actor, “The Player” - 67
David Foster - music producer - 75
Charles Koch - businessman, Koch Industries - 89
Born On This Date
Marcia Wallace - actress, “The Bob Newhart Show” - 1942 (d. 2013)
Larry Flint - magazine publisher, Hustler - 1942 (d. 2021)
Stephen Crane - novelist, “Red Badge of Courage” - 1871 (d. 1900)
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