11/15/2024: Bear Attack Caper, Day Two
PLUS: Self Care; Ear Protection; and The King Goes to the Movies
Today is Friday, November 15, 2024.
It is the 320th day of the year.
46 days remain.
WHAT’S ON TAP
TESLA stock slides on transition news and another bear attack makes headlines. Details in HIT LIST.
LINDSEY VONN returns to skiing and EVA LONGORIA is happy to be out of America. More in SHOWBIZ.
HODA KOTB’s replacement has been announced. Details in CASTING CALL.
KIM gets frustrated with her mom over this very grandma-esque trait. More in KARDASH.
KING CHARLES attends the “Gladiator II” premiere. Details in ROYALS.
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HIT LIST
TESLA stock tumbled about 5% Thursday on news that Biden-era EV tax credits would be rolled back in the second Trump administration.
Current tax law allows for a $7500 tax credit for those who buy an EV. Insiders working on transition energy policy leaked to Reuters that this government expense would be on the top of the chopping block.
Tesla’s stock remains about 15% up since the election and up 25% from the start of the year. [via Yahoo Finance]
SPEAKING OF ELONWORLD: The official Department of Government Efficiency X account is soliciting resumes from people committed to downsizing government. There’s an open application process for “super high-IQ small-government revolutionaries willing to work 80+ hours per week on unglamorous cost cutting.”
The top 1% of people who submit their resumes will be passed along to ELON MUSK and VIVEK RAMASWAMY. [via DOGE]
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If you’re looking to stay in this weekend for some me-time, UK hair care Timotei has sponsored research to map out the perfect plan.
Start by getting home by 5:30 pm, then take a 19-minute shower. By 6:42 pm, you should be ready to kick your feet up on the couch and have nothing else to do.
Two-thirds of respondents said they’re more comfortable at home, 53% say staying in is more peaceful than going out, and 55% hope no uninvited guests stop by to get in the way of their down time.
Other favorite activities include bingeing a TV show, baking something indulgent, trying a new recipe, and knitting. [via New York Post]
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UPDATE: Online betting market POLYMARKET is under investigation for illegally allowing American-based users to place bets on its platform, just two years after the company paid a $1.4 MILLION fine and agreed to stop such bets.
CEO Shayne Coplan believes the investigation is politically motivated, and said in an X post that Polymarket is “deeply committed to being non-partisan.”
Regulators in France launched their own investigation of Polymarket about a month ago after one foreign gambler won $28 MILLION on bets placed on the election. [via ABC News]
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All vegetables matter, but did you know that one out ranks the rest when it comes to being a nutrient powerhouse?
According to the CDC’s ranking of powerhouse fruits and veggies, watercress is the most nutrient-dense vegetable, receiving a perfect score of 100.
Coming in second, with a score of 91.99, is Chinese cabbage, followed by chard (89.27), beet greens (87.08), and spinach (86.43). [via CDC]
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Another day, another bogus bear attack – but this time no one died.
Four suspects in California are under investigation for making insurance claims on their cars that they say were damaged by a bear that got inside and tore up the seats and door panels.
Four claims were filed on January 28 this year, in the same location. The suspects even included video footage to prove their claims were legitimate.
BUT WAIT: A more careful review of the video revealed “the bear was actually a person in a bear costume.”
A California Department of Fish and Wildlife official told investigators the animal was “clearly a human in a bear suit.”
In total, the claims amounted to more than $140,000 for four high-end vehicles, including a 2010 Rolls Royce Ghost and two Mercedes. The phony claimants and their friend with the bear costume have all been arrested and charged with insurance fraud and conspiracy. [via CBS Los Angeles]
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BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The DOW lost 207 points (0.47%) to close at 43,750 on Thursday. The S&P lost 36 points (0.6%) to close at 5,949 and the NASDAQ lost 123 points (0.64%) to close at 19,107.
🛢 WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE closed at $68; BRENT CRUDE at $72.
⛽ The national average price of a GALLON OF GAS was $3.08 on Thursday.
₿ BITCOIN tumbled Thursday, down over 3% and nearly $3k in value to trade around $87,500.
💰Tonight’s MEGA MILLIONS drawing will be for a $387 million jackpot or a $181.4 million cash payout. Saturday night’s POWERBALL drawing will be for a $130 million jackpot or a $61.4 million cash payout.
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SHOWBIZ NEWS
New Music Friday
070 Shake, “Petrichor”
Dwight Yoakam, “Brighter Days”
FLO, “Access All Areas”
Gwen Stefani, “Bouquet”
Jon Batiste, “Beethoven Blues”
Michael Kiwanuka, “Small Changes”
Nickelback, “Live From Nashville”
Quando Rondo, “Here For A Reason”
Rauw Alejandro, “Cosa Nuestra”
Shawn Mendes, “Shawn”
Dolly Parton & Family, “Smokey Mountain DNA: Family, Faith & Fables”
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LINDSEY VONN’s retirement is over!
After six years, the three-time Olympic medalist announced her plans to rejoin the U.S. Ski Team.
The next Winter Olympics are in Italy in February 2026. [via ESPN]
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Ahead of tonight’s fight against MIKE TYSON, YouTuber-turned-boxer JAKE PAUL purchased a pair of blinged-out ear coverings. A clear jab at his opponent’s infamous 1997 ear-biting incident.
According to insiders, the ear coverings cost $100,000 each!
The fight will be live streamed on Netflix. [via TMZ]
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EVA LONGORIA is reflecting on her family’s decision to leave America, telling Marie Claire how “privileged” she feels to be able to get out.
“Most Americans aren’t so lucky. They’re going to be stuck in this dystopian country, and my anxiety and sadness is for them,” she explained.
Longoria noted “homelessness,” “taxes” and DONALD TRUMP’s reelection as her reasons for moving to Spain. [via Marie Claire]
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After giving up chewing tobacco and nicotine lozenges, actor JOSH BROLIN says his new vice is nicotine pouches.
“24 hours a day,” he revealed this week on the “WTF” podcast.
Brolin shared his struggles with addiction in his new memoir, “From Under the Truck,” explaining that he switched from lozenges to pouches after experiencing some bad side effects. [via People]
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Six employees from the California Department of Corrections will testify on behalf of ERIK and LYLE MENENDEZ during their resentencing hearing next month.
The brothers’ attorney, Mark Geragos, said two correctional officers, one education officer, a prison guard, a correctional lieutenant and another employee, who have all crossed paths with Erik and Lyle during their time behind bars are ready to testify.
Several of the brothers’ family members have also spoken out in favor of their release, telling the court that it “would help their healing process.”
The resentencing hearing is set for December 11. [via NY Post]
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CASTING CALL
CRAIG MELVIN will replace HODA KOTB on “Today.”
He will join SAVANNAH GUTHRIE starting next year.
Melvin is already a part of the show, so the transition should be a smooth one.
No word on who will take over Kotb’s spot on “Today with Hoda & Jenna.” [via NBC]
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SOPHIE TURNER is in talks to play Lara Croft in Prime Video’s series adaptation of “Tomb Raider.”
The character has previously been played by ANGELINA JOLIE and ALICIA VIKANDER.
PHOEBE WALLER-BRIDGE is the creative mind behind the adaptation. [via Deadline]
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A BOYZ II MEN biopic is in the works.
The four-time Grammy-winning group is made up of NATHAN MORRIS, SHAWN STOCKMAN, and WANYA MORRIS.
The group is currently touring. [via Variety]
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LEBRON JAMES and NETFLIX are being sued by filmmaker Rob Grabow, who claims they stole one of his scripts and then used it to make the film, “Rez Ball.”
In the suit, Grabow points out the “numerous substantially and strikingly similar concrete and expressive elements” in the two films’ “plot, theme, dialogue, mood, setting, pace, characters and sequence of events.”
He is suing for copyright infringement and breach of contract, and asking for unspecified damages. [via TMZ]
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
KIM KARDASHIAN says it is super “frustrating” when her mom, KRIS JENNER, judges the snack selection she keeps at home for her four kids.
“My mom is like the most judgemental when it comes to snacks and candy. Then her house has every candy, ice cream -- it’s like a kid’s heaven,” she explained on iHeartRadio’s “What in the Winkler?!” podcast.
What are grandmas for? [via People]
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
KING CHARLES attended the premiere of “Gladiator II” this week, and showed off his chops as a caring grandpa.
While walking the red carpet for the event, two young children, ages seven and four, presented him with a bouquet and brochure for the screening. The King chuckled, asked, “Where’s your mummy?” adding that they’re much too young to see such a violent movie.
Later, when glad-handing with the movie’s stars, Charles asked DENZEL WASHINGTON, “Are you playing someone terrible?”
Washington, who plays the villain, sarcastically responds, “I’m a lovely man, you’ll see.” Charles complimented Washington for being in “so many films, fantastic.” [via DailyMail]
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DAY OF THE YEAR
National Drummer Day
National Recycling Day
National Bundt Day
National Camp T-Shirt Day
Steve Irwin Day
I Love to Write Day
National Philanthropy Day
National Raisin Bran Cereal Day
National Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day
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ON THIS DATE
1867 - The world's first stock ticker debuts in New York City.
The machine printed stock quotes on streams of paper, configured through a telegraph machine.
The same paper would be used for ticker-tape parades. The term "ticker" got its name from the sound of the paper going through the machine's wheel.
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1889 - Brazilians depose their last emperor, Pedro II.
67 years after establishing the monarchy, the people of the South American country never took to liking imperial rule, though the last leader was generally successful and benevolent.
Pedro II oversaw a stable country, but alienated military officials and middle-class city dwellers.
Pedro survived the military coup; he would die in exile in Europe two years later.
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1957 - Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev belligerently challenges the US to a "shooting match" with missiles.
Khrushchev made the claim to an American reporter, making the point that the USSR's missile capabilities were far superior to the United States'.
He also boasted about the recent success of Sputnik, fueling fears that America was falling behind in both the arms and the space races.
The "missile gap" would become a key debate point in the 1960 presidential campaign.
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TWO Unabomber attacks, 6 years apart
1979 - A bomb makes its way onto the cargo hold of a passenger flight from Chicago to Washington DC.
It began smoking halfway through the flight, causing the pilot to land early. Some passengers had to be treated for smoke inhalation and were it not for a faulty timing mechanism, it would have destroyed the whole plane.
1985 - An attack on a University of Michigan professor almost kills two.
The bomb was sent to Dr. James McConnell's house, disguised as a pile of papers. McConnell's research assistant opened the package, and it exploded. McConnell suffered hearing loss and the assistant received shrapnel wounds.
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1990 - The National Assembly of Bulgaria reestablishes the country as a free state.
The body changed the name from the People's Republic of Bulgaria to the Republic of Bulgaria.
It also voted to undo the Bulgarian Communist Party's logo from the country's flag.
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2017 - Leonardo da Vinci’s painting “Salvator Mundi” sells for $450.3 million at an auction in New York; setting a new record for most expensive painting ever sold at public auction.
The “Salvator Mundi” depicts Jesus in Renaissance dress, making the sign of the cross with his right hand, while holding a transparent, non-refracting crystal orb in his left.
It is one of fewer than 20 known works by Leonardo.
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2020 - SpaceX Falcon 9 blasts off for the International Space Station.
Four astronauts are on board -- three from NASA and one from Japan.
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BIRTHDAYS
Sadie Stanley - actress, “Kim Possible” - 23
Catherine Missal - actress, “Tell Me Lies” - 25
Karl-Anthony Towns - basketball player - 29
Shailene Woodley - actress, “The Fault in Our Stars” - 33
B.o.B. - rapper - 36
Lily Aldridge - model - 39
Sean Murray - actor, “NCIS” - 47
Chad Kroeger - rock singer, Nickelback - 50
E-40 - rapper - 57
Anni-Frid Lyngstad - singer, ABBA - 79
Bob Gunton - actor, “The Shawshank Redemption” - 79
Born On This Date
Randy Savage - wrestler - 1952 (d. 2011)
Ed Asner - actor, “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” - 1929 (d. 2021)
Georgia O’Keeffe - painter - 1887 (d. 1986)
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