Discover more from Morning Martini
Today is Wednesday, November 16, 2022.
It is the 320th day of the year.
45 days remain.
TRENDING
GRAMMYs was trending Tuesday after nominations were announced. More in Showbiz.
#TSTheErasTour landed in Twitter’s Top 10 Trends yesterday as Swifties entered presale waiting rooms to get tickets for Taylor’s upcoming tour.
Jack Harlow was trending as Twitter users questioned his nomination for Best Rap Album. Many felt it should have gone to more deserving artists.
8 Billion was trending as Twitterverse reacted to the new world population count, projected by the United Nations.
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HIT LIST
The Artemis I mission is finally underway after weeks of setbacks and delays caused by testing snafus and weather.
It blasted off just after midnight.
The mission will last 25 days, 11 hours, 36 minutes and travel 1.3 million miles around the moon and back. This is the first step toward a manned mission back to the moon.
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An official sentencing is expected today for Darrell Brooks, the convicted murderer who killed six and injured dozens more last year at a Christmas parade in Waukesha, Wisconsin.
On Tuesday, victims read impact statements to the court, detailing their struggles and trauma after the attack. Brooks, true to form, was spotted rolling his eyes and clapping sarcastically as his victims called him a sociopath who’s shown no remorse. Judge JENNIFER DOROW had Brooks removed at one point for his theatrics.
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A missile exploded in a Polish village Tuesday, killing two.
No word yet where it came from or who fired it. The impact zone was just four miles from the Ukrainian border. News broke late last night suggesting it was fired by Ukrainian forces to intercept an incoming Russian missile; Russia has been barraging Ukraine with strikes in recent days.
Polish authorities calling the explosion a deliberate act by Russia while Russian diplomats deny involvement.
Expect this story to develop over the coming days.
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The biggest fire ant infestation since 1999 is plaguing Hawaii.
Residents are reported getting stung in their beds.
IT GETS WORSE: The ants have a reputation for climbing trees and in some instances “raining down” on people as they pass by.
While for most people bites from the ants cause stinging welts, for some people they can be much more fatal.
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SHOT: The United Nations says the global population has surpassed eight billion people.
India is expected to surpass China in coming years, as China’s population is expected for the first time in modern history as early next year.
Current projections predict the global population will hit 10.8 billion people in the 2080s, after which it will slowly decline as the population growth rate continues to stall.
CHASER: Science journal “Human Reproduction Update” reports that male sperm concentration has been cut by more than half since the 1970s. Experts can’t pinpoint one specific cause, but suggest being unhealthy has a lot to do with it.
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BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The Dow added 56 points (.17%) to close at 33,592. The S&P added 34 points (0.87%) to close at 3,991. The Nasdaq added 162 points (1.45%) to close at 11,358.
🛢 West Texas Intermediate traded just under $87; Brent Crude at $93.
⛽ The national average price of a gallon of gas was $3.76 on Tuesday.
₿ Bitcoin lost $66 on Tuesday and traded just over $16,800.
🛩 There were 4,128 flights delayed within, into, or out of the United States on Tuesday amid wintery weather, and 76 such cancellations.
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CHARTS
Top 5 Fiction & Nonfiction Books Currently on the New York Times Best Sellers List:
FICTION:
“It Starts With Us,” Colleen Hoover
“Going Rogue,” Janet Evanovich
“It Ends With Us,” Colleen Hoover
“Triple Cross,” James Patterson
“The Boys From Biloxi,” John Grisham
NON-FICTION
“Friends, Lovers And The Big Terrible Thing,” Matthew Perry
“Surrender,” Bono
“The Philosophy of Modern Song,” Bob Dylan
I’m Glad My Mom Died,” Jennette McCurdy
“Cinema Speculation,” Quentin Tarrantino
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BABY NEWS
“Dancing With the Stars” pro WITNEY CARSON, 29, is expecting baby #2 with husband, choreographer CARSON MCALLISTER, also 29.
The couple are already parents to son Leo, 2.
Carson is currently dancing her way to the mirrorball trophy alongside her partner WAYNE BRADY.
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BREAKUPS
DEMI MOORE, 60, and her boyfriend, chef DANIEL HUMM, 45, have called it quits after less than a year of dating.
Us Weekly broke the news this week, with PEOPLE magazine later reporting that the actress is “in a good place” post breakup.
No word on what led to the split.
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SICK BAY
Comedian CHRIS REDD underwent surgery yesterday to repair his busted nose.
After breaking his nose in order to reset it, doctors are optimistic he will be good as new in a few weeks, sources told TMZ.
The “SNL” star was brutally attacked in NYC a few weeks back.
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THE SWAMP
Former President DONALD TRUMP filed official paperwork to kickoff his 2024 election campaign Tuesday night.
“America’s comeback starts right now,” he said at an announcement event in Palm Beach, Florida.
Trump outlined the increase in inflation, illegal immigrants, and energy costs as failures of the Biden administration. He argued he set the country up for success domestically and internationally, outlining victories against terrorism and a strong foreign policy that deterred bad actors abroad.
“We are a failing nation,” he said.
WORTH NOTING: Trump offered a level-headed, clear-eyed vision for what his second term would look like focused on individual responsibility, common sense, and American greatness in sharp contrast with the Biden administration’s policies. He can only pull it off he truly puts America First — ahead of even his own ego.
LIKE CLOCKWORK: The Washington Post — which reassigned the reporter to fact check literally every statement made by the president the day JOE BIDEN took office — tweeted out an article that fact-checked Trump’s assertion he oversaw the biggest tax cut in history. (Of course, they pull accounting tricks to make their point, and still seem to not understand Trump’s hyperbolic bombast).
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President JOE BIDEN canceled evening dinner obligations and events while attending the G20 summit in Asia Tuesday.
Insiders tell Politico’s White House reporter, “[Biden] just had spent a full day in meetings and needed to attend to a few things tonight (nothing urgent!).”
They added it totally isn’t covid, either.
WORTH ASKING: So did he crap his pants again or what?
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LOTTERY
No winner for Monday night’s Powerball drawing. Tonight’s drawing will be for a $76 million jackpot or a $38.2 million cash payout.
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SHOWBIZ NEWS
The nominations for the 2023 Grammy Awards were announced Tuesday.
BEYONCE led the pack with nine nods for her album “Renaissance,” making her the most-nominated person in Grammy history. KENDRICK LAMAR scored eight nominations and is now tied with YE for the rapper with the most Album of The Year nominations.
BAD BUNNY’s “Un Verano Sin Ti” is the first all-Spanish album to be nominated for Album of The Year.
TAYLOR SWIFT earned four nominations, including Song of The Year for “All Too Well (10 Minute Version).” That is her sixth nomination for Song of The Year, making her the most-nominated woman in that category. She is tied with PAUL MCCARTNEY and LIONEL RICHIE for the most ever.
The Grammy Awards will take place on February 5.
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DENISE RICHARDS and her husband were victims of a road rage incident Monday that culminated with an irate driver shooting at their vehicle.
Her husband, AARON PHYPERS, says he was driving her to a film studio, but was having trouble finding where to enter. This annoyed the driver behind them, who was trying to pass. When he did finally accelerate by, the driver fired at least one shot that hit the vehicle.
No one was injured but Richards was reportedly sobbing when she showed up to the set.
GET THIS: Richards is currently shooting a movie called “A Walking Miracle” — about a woman who enters a coma after a car crash.
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More details about JAY LENO’s scary accident have surfaced.
The comedian told TMZ Tuesday that he was working on his 1907 White Steam Car when he was sprayed in the face with gasoline. A spark then triggered an explosion, setting him on fire.
Leno said his friend was there and quickly jumped on him to smother the flames.
He is now dealing with 3rd degree burns on his face and hands and may need skin grafts. His eyes and ears are okay.
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POST MALONE and SWAE LEE have made history with their single, “Sunflower.”
The song, which was featured in “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,” is the “highest-certified single in RIAA history” after going 17x-platinum this month, according to Billboard.
Earlier this year, the track broke the all-time record for the most weeks spent on Billboard’s Streaming Songs chart.
The song also has nearly 2 BILLION views on YouTube to date.
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MARGOT ROBBIE says she questioned her career as an actress after her role in “The Wolf of Wall Street” propelled her into global stardom.
Speaking to Vanity Fair, Robbie explains how difficult it was for her to get used to the “intrusive paparazzi” and how much she feared something happening to those around her because of it.
Since then she has found a balance in it all, telling the publication “the highs are really high, and the lows are really, really low [...] if you’re lucky it all balances out in the middle.”
In the flick, Robbie plays Naomi Lapaglia opposite LEONARDO DICAPRIO’s character Jordan Belfort.
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Actress ANYA TAYLOR-JOY says she is no Julia Child.
Speaking to Page Six at the New York premiere of her new film, “The Menu,” Taylor-Joy said that she is very hands off in the kitchen.
“I’m not going to lie to you. I feel like we have delivery, we have takeout,” she explained.
Her co-star, NICHOLAS HOULT said he isn’t much better when it comes to cooking, telling the publication, “I’m reasonable, I can follow a recipe.”
“The Menu” follows a couple, played by Taylor-Joy and Hoult, who travel to a remote island to eat at an exclusive restaurant run by a celebrity chef, who has some gruesome surprises for his wealthy guests.
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FRANKIE GRANDE, the brother of singer ARIANA GRANDE, was attacked while walking down the street in NYC last week.
According to the NYPD two teens -- ages 13 and 17 -- punched Frankie in the head and then stole his bag. They were arrested after using one of his credit cards at a nearby smoke shop.
The teens were booked on assault, robbery, grand larceny and other crimes.
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CASTING CALL
PEOPLE magazine reported this week that CASEY ANTHONY blames her father for the death of her daughter, CAYLEE.
In a sneak peek of the new Peacock documentary, “Casey Anthony: Where the Truth Lies,” she tells the camera that her dad, GEORGE ANTHONY, staged Caylee’s death to make it seem like it was her fault. As for why he did it, Casey says it was to cover up what she believes may have been sexual abuse at his hands.
Many may recall that during her trial, Casey accused her dad of sexually abusing her as a child.
The documentary airs on November 29.
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LEN GOODMAN is leaving “Dancing With the Stars.”
The head judge announced his decision during Monday night’s episode, explaining that he wants to “spend more time” with his children and family.
He has judged the dance competition show since it debuted in 2005.
The Season 31 finale of “Dancing With the Stars” airs next Monday.
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STORMY DANIELS has a new gig.
The former porn star will host “For The Love of DILFs,” a new dating show for the LGBTQ+ television network OUTtv.
The series follows two groups of gay men as they compete to find love and win a $10,000 investment in their relationship. Daniels will live with the singles in a mansion and act as a relationship advisor.
The show is set to premiere in early 2023.
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Season 5 of Netflix’s “The Crown” racked up over 107.39 million viewing hours over its first five days.
That puts the show just behind Season 1 of “The Watcher” at 125M hours and Dahmer: Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story” with 196M hours.
It is, however, in the No. 1 spot on the streamer’s English-language television chart.
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
KRIS JENNER, 67, has landed the cover story for Vogue Czechoslovakia’s December 2022 issue.
The mom-of-six and grandmother-of-12 posed on the cover in a black turtleneck and chunky jewelry. Inside the magazine she posed in a long black coat and gloves. In one bold look, Jenner wore a dramatic octopus-style gown that was previously worn by LIZZO.
Several Kardashian fans complemented the momager’s looks, with one declaring her “The Queen of everything.”
WORTH NOTING: Khloe is the only KarJenner to not have posed for a Vogue cover.
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
On this week’s episode of her “Archetypes” podcast, MEGHAN MARKLE explores “the stereotypes and judgments women face in the world of activism,” with guest JAMEELA JAMIL.
During their conversation, Jamil rants about the “unfathomable amount of [s—]” that Meg has had to deal with for speaking her mind.
“That demonization just shows how afraid they are of you,” Jamil told her.
In response, Meg revealed that after marrying PRINCE HARRY a “very, very influential and inspiring” woman pleaded with her to not give up her activism after joining the Royal Family.
WORTH NOTING: Meg always seems to have these “inspiring” and “very influential” people around her yet she doesn’t ever name them. Is it all for this image she wants to portray, or are they all just OPRAH?
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SPORTS
There appears to still be some tension between TOM BRADY and his former teammate ANTONIO BROWN.
Brown, who has been critical of Brady on social media about his divorce from GISELE BUNDCHEN, posted (and then deleted) an alleged text from the QB dated May 2021.
The text in question is basically Brady telling Brown to shape up and calling him out for “acting selfish” and having “erratic and unpredictable emotional behavior.”
It is unknown what prompted the alleged text, especially as just months earlier the two won a Super Bowl together and weeks after Brown signed a one-year deal to stay with the Buccaneers.
Brady has not commented on the tweet.
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DAY OF THE YEAR
GIS Day
National Fast Food Day
National Button Day
Clarinet Day
National Educational Support Professionals Day
Indiana Day
International Day for Tolerance
Have a Party with Your Bear Day
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ON THIS DATE
1532 - Conquistador Francisco Pizarro captures Incan emperor Atahualpa.
Pizarro tricked the native king into attending what was supposed to be a peaceful feast held in his honor.
When Atahualpa arrived with his escort of Incas, the Spaniards opened fire on them, killing them all.
Pizarro eventually forced Atahualpa to convert to Christianity. Then he killed them.
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1849 - Russian author Fyodor Dostoyevsky is sentenced to death for publicly decrying the government.
He was a part of the Petrashevsky Circle, a group of intellectual radicals who opposed the Tsar.
Just before he was scheduled to be shot by firing squad, someone in the Russian monarchy changed their mind; he was instead sentenced to spend 4 years working in a Siberian labor camp. This was as good as a death sentence, though some survived.
He would later write his most notable work, “The Brothers Karamazov,” in 1880.
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1901 - A small electric car breaks the world record for fastest automobile, a title held for 10 years.
The device was called the Torpedo Racer, and it was a glorified platform on bike wheels.
It hit speeds of 57 miles per hour.
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1945 - The US starts herding German scientists across the Atlantic, to get their help developing rocket technology.
Most of the recruits worked for the Nazis, though not all willingly.
The US was eager to get its hands on the technology that powered the V-1 and V-2 German rockets.
In order to avoid public outcry for getting their help, the military said they were simply volunteers coming to work after the war for small stipends. Officially, the scientists were in American "protective custody."
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1957 - Notre Dame beats Oklahoma, thus ending the Sooners' 47-game winning streak that spanned 1,512 days.
Ironically, Oklahoma's previous loss was also to Notre Dame, 4 years earlier.
They also had a 31-game streak that spanned the 1948-1950 seasons.
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2001 - To wild fanfare and box office glory, “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone” opens in theaters stateside.
Christopher Columbus was the director, who followed suit for the second movie, but quit after that.
The franchise of course spans 7 books, which turned into 8 movies, and made J.K. Rowling a kajillionaire.
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2010 - Prince William and Kate Middleton announce their engagement.
Will popped the question with a blue sapphire and diamond ring -- the same one his father gave to his mother, Princess Diana in 1981.
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2018 – An elevator falls down 84 floors when the hoist rope breaks at the John Hancock Center in Chicago.
All six people survived the drop.
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2019 – Prince Andrew denies having sex with a teen connected to sex offender and friend Jeffrey Epstein in a disastrous BBC interview.
Legal ramifications would eventually follow the accusations.
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2020 - Moderna announces that its COVID-19 vaccine is 94.5% effective against the virus.
Early data shows that virtually all of the 30,000 volunteers showed no symptoms after getting two doses of the jab.
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BIRTHDAYS
Mason Ramsey - country singer - 16
Jaime Adler - actress, “Anastasia” & “Casualty” - 19
Kyle Catlett - actor, “The Following” & “Poltergeist” - 20
Noah Gray-Cabey - actor, “My Wife and Kids” - 27
Pete Davidson - comedian - 29
Kimberly J. Brown - actress, “Halloweentown” - 38
Maggie Gyllenhaal - actress, “Donnie Darko” & “The Dark Knight” - 45
Brooke Elliott - actress, “Sweet Magnolias” - 48
Paul Scholes - soccer player - 48
Missi Pyle - actress, “Big Fish” & “Walk. Ride. Rodeo” - 50
Lisa Bonet - actress, “The Cosby Show” & “A Different World” - 55
Bruno Amato - actor, “The Internship” & “Sons of Anarchy” - 61
Helen Pearson - actress, “Hollyoaks” & “EastEnders” - 63
Born On This Date
Burgess Meredith - actor, “Mr. Novak” & “Rocky” - 1907 (d. 1997)
W.C. Handy - composer & musician, “Father of the Blues” - 1873 (d. 1958)
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