Today is Wednesday, November 20, 2024.
It is the 325th day of the year.
41 days remain.
WHAT’S ON TAP
SPACEX hits some major milestones and tax companies sweat government reform. Details in HIT LIST.
Governor GAVIN NEWSOM won’t be granting ERIK and LYLE MENENDEZ clemency. More on that in SHOWBIZ.
POST MALONE will headline Coachella and NETFLIX gets sued. Details in CASTING CALL.
KIM introduces her new man in KARDASH.
Another detour to the HOUSE OF GLÜCKSBURG. Details in ROYALS.
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HIT LIST
More than 130 hamsters grounded a plane for nearly a week after they escaped their cages and ran amok inside the cargo hold of a plane in Portugal.
It wasn’t until the flight -- which included human passengers as well -- landed at the airport that baggage collectors noticed the cages were empty.
After an extensive check of the aircraft, only 16 hamsters were recovered.
By the way, the hamsters were last minute additions after being denied access on an earlier flight due to the condition of their cages. [via UPI]
IN OTHER RODENT NEWS: The New Hampshire SPCA is looking for homes for 1,000 pet mice that were surrendered last week. According to CBS, a man showed up at the organization with over 150 “filthy” tubs packed with mice. [via CBS]
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British farmers took to the streets of London to protest sweeping tax reforms that would devastate family farms.
In particular, the proposed changes would levy a 20% tax on agricultural assets worth more than One Million Pounds at the time of the owner’s death. Of course, just because a bunch of land and machinery is worth a million quid doesn’t mean there’s 200,000 Pounds just sitting in a bank.
An estimated 1,800 members of the National Farmers Union gathered near Parliament carrying signs and protesting the change, which is set to take effect in April 2026.
A government report shows the typical British farm takes home an annual profit of just over 45,000 Pounds a year, leaving little wiggle room to sack away savings that all end up going to the government anyway. [via BBC]
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SPACEX launched its Starship rocket for the sixth time Tuesday, to mixed results.
Mission control aborted an attempted crane catch, following the near-miraculous completion of the feat just about a month ago on its first attempt. Still, the booster section did safely splash down in the Gulf of Mexico during a controlled landing burn.
In another major milestone, a Raptor engine successfully restarted on the ship while in orbit for the first time.
Behind the scenes, ELON MUSK posted, “There are thousands of small design changes also being tested.” [via SpaceX, Morning Martini]
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If you’ve got a DELTA flight booked this winter, you might get a particularly tasty treat for meal service: burgers from SHAKE SHACK.
The airline and fast food joint announced their partnership on Tuesday – but on a very limited basis to get started. The upgraded meal only applies to First Class passengers departing Boston on flights at least 900 miles.
Delta says they’re hoping to expand the service on additional domestic flights throughout next year. [via Delta]
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Tax season will be here in just a few weeks, but stocks for companies behind popular tax preparation software slid Tuesday anyway.
The Washington Post reported Tuesday that the incoming Department of Government Efficiency might develop a free tax-filing app available to all Americans. The news clobbered the stock prices for H&R Block and Intuit, which manages TurboTax, down 8% and 5%, respectively.
Lobbyists for tax prep companies have spent decades stalling the creation of simpler tax filing procedures especially as technology increasingly makes the complicated process more simple and straightforward. Earlier this year, the IRS debuted a free filing website that was only available in 12 states for taxpayers with incomes under $79,000 a year. [via CNBC, Morning Martini]
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DEATHS
COLIN “SMILEY” PETERSEN has died.
The original Bee Gees drummer played on the band’s earliest albums before pursuing solo projects. No cause of death was shared.
He was 78.
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BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The DOW lost 120 points (0.28%) to close at 43,268 on Thursday. The S&P gained 23 points (0.4%) to close at 5,916 and the NASDAQ increased 195 points (1.04%) to close at 18,987.
🛢 WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE closed at $69; BRENT CRUDE at $73.
⛽ The national average price of a GALLON OF GAS was $3.06 on Tuesday.
₿ BITCOIN gained Tuesday, up over 2% and trading around $92,300.
💰Tonight’s POWERBALL drawing will be for a $155 million jackpot or a $71.3 million cash payout.
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SHOWBIZ NEWS
LIAM PAYNE will be laid to rest today.
All four of his ONE DIRECTION bandmates -- HARRY STYLES, NIALL HORAN, ZAYN MALIK, and LOUIS TOMLINSON -- will be in attendance at a private ceremony near London. [via The Sun]
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Governor GAVIN NEWSOM won’t be granting ERIK and LYLE MENENDEZ clemency.
His office released a statement on the matter this week, leaving the call up to District Attorney-elect Nathan Hochman.
Hochman, who will take over for D.A. George Gascon, said he will speak on the brothers’ case once he’s had a chance to fully review it.
As previously reported, a resentencing hearing is set for December 11. [via TMZ]
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An excerpt from CHER’s newly released memoir, “Cher: The Memoir (Part One)” reveals some of the tumultuous times between her and husband SONNY BONO.
In one passage she writes how Sonny “seriously thought” about killing her at the end of their marriage. A marriage that Cher says she was so unhappy in, she once considered jumping from the balcony of their Las Vegas hotel room.
Sonny and Cher, who met when she was 16 and he was 27, were married from 1964 to 1975. [via Page Six]
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PETE DAVIDSON is back in rehab after splitting from “Bachelor” alum MARIA GEORGAS.
According to The Sun, the secret relationship only lasted “a couple of months,” and was ended by Davidson.
This is the comedian’s second rehab stay this year. His last stint was in July. [via The Sun]
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MAC MILLER’s never-released album “Balloonerism” is due out “soon.”
An announcement regarding the project was made during TYLER, THE CREATOR’s Camp Flog Gnaw festival in Los Angeles.
Miller reportedly created the album in 2014 before of his untimely passing in 2018. [via Variety]
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MARK WAHLBERG is opening up a fitness center in Vegas.
In addition to workout equipment, the gym will offer a recovery center, featuring cryotherapy, cold plunges, red light therapy, infrared saunas and more.
The new venture comes just a couple of months after Wahlberg opened his restaurant, Flecha Cantina, on the south end of the Strip. That’s the one that had a small fire on the patio last month. [via The Blast]
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BILLY BOB THORNTON likes to wear women’s pants.
He revealed the fashion choice on “The Drew Barrymore Show,” explaining that he enjoys a slimmer fit, which means shopping in the women’s department.
“I’ve got bird legs and it just feels like I’m in a tent,” he said of wearing men’s jeans.
By the way -- he’s a size 6. [via People]
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CASTING CALL
POST MALONE is headlining Coachella 2025.
He is scheduled to perform on April 13 and April 20.
The gig comes just before he heads out on his “Big Ass Stadium Tour,” which kicks off April 29 in Salt Lake City.
Joining Post on tour are JELLY ROLL and SIERRA FERRELL. [via Billboard]
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“The Tucker Carlson Show” landed the No. 1 spot for Top New Shows on Apple Podcasts this year.
It also scored the most-shared episode of the year for the August 16 show titled, “Calley & Casey Means: The Truth About Ozempic, the Pill, and How Big Pharma Keeps You Sick.”
ELSEWHERE: The most listened-to episode of the year was Crime Junkie’s “Serial Killer: The Alphabet Murders Part 1,” followed by JOE ROGAN’s October 25 interview with DONALD TRUMP. [via Variety]
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NETFLIX is being sued by a guy upset over the “legendary problems” he -- and others -- dealt with while trying to watch the MIKE TYSON vs. JAKE PAUL fight.
Ronald “Blue” Denton filed the suit on Monday, claiming that throughout the bout he experienced “no access, streaming glitches, and buffering issues.”
He’s not alone, others were quick to complain about the interruptions on X, including Barstool Sports’ DAVE PORTNOY, who posted a video of his inconsistent quality.
Denton is suing Netflix for breach of contract, and seeking unspecified damages. [via TMZ]
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
KIM KARDASHIAN has a new man in her life.
“Meet my new friend,” she captioned a video of her interacting with a new Optimus “personal assistant” robot from Tesla.
In the clip, Kim waved hello, made a heart shape with, and asked it to “raise the roof,” all of which the bot completed flawlessly.
No word on whether the Optimus was a gift from ELON MUSK or if Kim shelled out the $20K-$30K they are rumored to cost. [via TMZ]
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
To the HOUSE OF GLÜCKSBURG in Norway we return!
Norwegian officials have arrested MARIUS BORG HOIBY, the son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit, on suspicion of rape. By way of marriage, Hoiby is also the stepson of Crown Prince Haakon, the heir apparent to the Norwegian throne.
In August, police responded to an altercation, where a woman accused Hoiby of domestic violence. He was charged on multiple counts then released. In September, he was picked up again by police for violating a restraining order.
NOW: Authorities say at the time of his most recent arrest, he was in a car with the same woman who alleged domestic abuse in August, near the Oslo-area compound where the Crown Prince and Princess live. Hoiby was also charged with driving without a driver’s license. Police say they searched and seized control of a home he keeps on the royal compound.
Multiple reports say Hoiby is being detained in Greenland. Apparently Norway has a “central detention” facility for criminals on the Danish territory. [via People, NY Daily News]
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DAY OF THE YEAR
National Peanut Butter Fudge Day
World COPD Day
World Children’s Day
Name Your PC Day
National Educational Support Professionals Day
Future Teachers of America Day
National Absurdity Day
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ON THIS DATE
1789 - New Jersey ratifies the Bill of Rights, the first state to do so.
The addendum to the Constitution granted a list of liberties the Founders did not incorporate into the original draft, but after consideration, were deemed essential to free society.
However, with New Jersey's approval, they also rejected a measure that forbade Congress from voting itself a pay raise within its own term. That would not become law until 1992.
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1820 - The whaling ship Exxex is attacked by an 80-ton sperm whale off the coast of South America.
Whales provided materials for oil and their bones had many uses. The crew of the ship got into a tussle with the giant whale, who rammed the boat twice and managed to capsize it.
The whole crew made it into lifeboats, but only five of the 20 survived. They were eventually picked up 83 days later by other ships.
Stories of cannibalism were rampant. It would've been the only way to survive. Legend says that the men drew straws to see who would be shot in order to be eaten.
The story inspired in part Herman Melville's novel "Moby Dick."
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1923 - Garrett Morgan receives a patent for the design of the modern traffic signal.
While the first stop-and-go signs were implemented in London in the mid-1800s, Morgan's design incorporated the "slow down" signal, making traffic crossings and intersections a little safer.
Morgan's story is truly heroic: His parents had been slaves, and he moved to Ohio for work when he was just 14. He developed a knack for working with his hands and found work repairing sewing machines.
At the age of 30 he opened his own store and in 1909 added garment alterations to his services.
Having become rather wealthy, he started his own newspaper, the “Cleveland Call and Post,” in 1920. Given his wealth, he was able to own a car, which made him acutely aware of the needs for improved traffic control in a time when horses, pedestrians, cars, and bikes packed the streets.
His design sold to General Electric for $40,000.
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1947 - Princess Elizabeth marries Philip Mountbatten.
The ostentatious wedding at Westminster Abbey shook up the royal dynamic of Europe. Philip renounced his titles as Prince of Greece and Denmark to marry Elizabeth.
She was only 21, he was 26. With his marriage to the heir to the British throne, he was made Duke of Edinburgh.
They would have four kids: Charles, Anne, Andrew, and Edward.
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2003 - Recording producer Phil Spector is indicted for killing actress Lana Clarkson.
Spector worked with the likes of John Lennon, Ike and Tina Turner, and the Ramones.
The trial wouldn’t begin until 2007, and lasted three and a half months. The jury was deadlocked and the judge declared a mistrial. After a retrial, Spector was convicted of second-degree murder.
He would spend the rest of his life in prison; dying in 2021 at 81-years-old.
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2019 - Prince Andrew officially steps back from public duties following his disastrous interview on his friendship with convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
The decision came from his mother, Queen Elizabeth II.
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BIRTHDAYS
Madisyn Shipman - actress, “Game Shakers” - 22
Hannah Kepple - actress, “Cobra Kai” - 24
Michael Clifford - guitarist, 5 Seconds of Summer - 29
Cody Linley - actor, “Hannah Montana” - 35
Demetrius Shipp Jr. - actor, “All Eyez on Me” - 36
Amelia Rose Blaire - actress, “True Blood” - 37
Oliver Sykes - metal singer, Bring Me The Horizon - 38
Jaina Lee Ortiz - actress, “Station 19” - 38
Jeremy Jordan - actor, “Newsies” & “Smash” - 40
Future - rapper - 41
Josh Turner - country singer - 47
Dierks Bentley - country singer - 49
Joel McHale - actor, “Community” - 53
Ming-Na Wen - actress, “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” - 61
Joe Biden - 46th POTUS - 82
Born On This Date
Richard Dawson - game show host, “Family Feud” - 1932 (d. 2012)
Robert F. Kennedy - politician - 1925 (d. 1968)
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