11/2/2023: Rolling Stones Make History (Again)
PLUS: SBF Trial Closing Arguments; Alex Trebek Fund; and Another Royal Memoir (Sort Of)
Today is Thursday, November 2, 2023.
It is the 306th day of the year.
59 days remain.
WHAT’S ON TAP
DOORDASH flips the script on tipping and another tech unicorn now faces bankruptcy. More in HIT LIST.
CELINE DION is spotted publicly for the first time in years and SOPHIE TURNER may have a new man. More in SHOWBIZ.
AMY ROBACH and T.J. HOLMES are making a comeback to showbiz. More in CASTING CALL.
NORTH and SAINT WEST took home big paychecks for their “PAW Patrol” roles. More in KARDASH.
Another memoir enters the fray amid simmering tensions between The Firm and House of Sussex. Details in ROYALS.
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HIT LIST
The jury in SAM BANKMAN-FRIED’s fraud trial heard closing arguments on Wednesday.
The prosecution painted SBF as a crook whose recklessness bilked customers out of billions. Defense lawyers relied on good intentions that resulted in mistakes and misjudgments.
SBF notoriously bounces his leg nervously during interviews; one reporter within the courtroom described him as “vibrating under his oversize gray suit.”
The jury begins deliberations this morning. Judge LEWIS KAPLAN told jurors to anticipate a late evening. [via Morning Martini]
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The gig economy has transformed tipping from a consumer-driven reward to supplier-driven extortion.
If a DOORDASH customer does not include a tip in their order, the customer is now alerted that their food may take longer to arrive. They then have the option to either stick with no tip or throw the driver some cash.
A rep for DoorDash says they’re just testing the idea for now and the alert doesn’t appear in some locations.
WORTH ASKING: What happens when you’ve left a tip and the driver didn’t bring a completed order?
FOR WHAT IT’S WORTH: Delivery drivers no longer see how much of their earnings come from DoorDash and how much is a tip, forcing customers to compete for delivery time. [via The Verge]
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REMEMBER ADAM NEUMANN AND WEWORK?
The eccentric weirdo blew through billions of investment dollars for his personal benefit and at WeWork’s expense. He managed to land with a multi-million-dollar golden parachute and keep his equity in the company after he was forced out as CEO in 2019.
NOW: WEWORK hasn’t been able to recover amid stuttering attempts to get employees back in offices and expects to file bankruptcy next week. Its stock price tanked 50% on Wednesday.
At its peak, WeWork earned a $47 BILLION valuation. Today it’s worth about $121 million. [via Reuters]
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It’s a bad idea to cross the mother of young twin girls. It’s an even worse idea when that mother is a lawyer.
Last February, an attorney named Erika Hamilton from Oregon flew from Portland to Tallahassee with a layover in Dallas. She bought two seats, one for herself, and another for one of her 18-month-old twin daughters; the other she planned to hold in her lap. This was in line with American Airlines’ policies at the time.
Following the connecting flight from Dallas to Florida, Hamilton filed a lawsuit against American Airlines, accusing one of the flight attendants of belittling and harassing her for not buying enough seats for her children, even though she was complying with American Airlines’ own rules.
After complaining to the airline and receiving the offer of a $75 voucher, Hamilton took them to court instead. She tells USA Today, “I think a big problem with corporate America is that there is very little remedy for the ‘little guy’ when a corporation essentially steals from you.”
Hamilton has won her suit in small claims court, and has been awarded 4,500 airline miles from American – not the $3,500 in damages she had sought. [via USA Today]
MEANWHILE: Two veteran flight attendants for United have filed suit against their employer, claiming that they are not allowed to work on chartered flights for the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team because the airline supplies exclusively younger, white women on those trips. [via CBS News]
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Could JIMMY HOFFA be buried in Milwaukee, Wisconsin? A team from the nonprofit group Case Breakers thinks so!
According to Jim Zimmerman, a 13-year member of the group, a dying police sergeant connected to Hoffa’s disappearance “scribbled instructions on an ace of spades” which led the investigation to what once was the site of Milwaukee County Stadium.
Zimmerman explained that three credible sources have also come forward, stating that six years before the demolition of Milwaukee County Stadium Hoffa’s body was moved from a different location and “secretly buried under the old stadium’s 3rd base.”
The alleged burial site would now be just outside the little league field that was built in 2002 in the middle of the parking lot that replaced the old stadium, which is adjacent to American Family Field, where the Milwaukee Brewers currently play.
With that information, plus a cadaver dog “alerting” to the suspected area, Case Breakers founder Thomas J. Colbert says the next step would be to dig up the area -- once given permission by local law enforcement and the FBI. [via NY Post]
HISTORY OF HOFFA: Jimmy Hoffa was a labor leader who had been president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. He vanished in July 1975 while on his way to meet with a couple of mob bosses. Several digs for his body have been unsuccessful over the years. He was officially declared dead in 1982.
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DEATHS
Basketball coach BOB KNIGHT has died.
He passed away at home on Wednesday, surrounded by his family, according to a statement from family members. No further details were shared.
Knight coached at Army, Indiana and Texas Tech for a total of more than 40 seasons.
He was 83.
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BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The DOW added 221 points (0.67%) to close at 33,274 on Wednesday. The S&P added 44 points (1.05%) to close at 4,237 and the NASDAQ added 210 points (1.64%) to close at 13,061.
🛢 WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE closed at $80; BRENT CRUDE at $85.
⛽ The national average price of a GALLON OF GAS was $3.46 on Wednesday.
₿ BITCOIN earned big gains Wednesday, added 2.25% and trading around $35,450.
🛩 There were more than 2,225 FLIGHTS delayed within, into, or out of the United States on Wednesday and more than 45 such cancellations.
💰Friday night’s MEGA MILLIONS drawing will be for a $181 million jackpot or a $79.2 million cash payout.
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SHOWBIZ NEWS
While an official toxicology report will take anywhere from four to six months, initial tests showed that MATTHEW PERRY had no fentanyl or meth in his system at the time of his passing.
More in-depth tests are being conducted to determine if he had other drugs in his blood or if his prescription pill use was at harmful levels.
Once all the information is gathered the coroner will determine an official cause of death. Initial reports stated that his death was due to drowning. [va TMZ]
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CELINE DION watched the Golden Knights take on her home team, the Montreal Canadiens, in Las Vegas on Monday night -- marking her first public appearance in nearly four years.
She was joined by her son Rene-Charles and twins Eddy and Nelson at the game, which she appeared to be in good spirits during.
Remember, Dion was diagnosed in 2022 with stiff-person syndrome, a rare, progressive neurological disorder that can cause stiff muscles.
She last took the stage in early 2020. [via Page Six]
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As MARIAH CAREY thaws off for the upcoming holiday season, she is facing another copyright lawsuit from singer ANDY STONE.
He claims that her 1994 holiday hit, “All I Want For Christmas Is You,” is too similar to his song of the same name that he co-wrote in 1989 with his pop group VINCE VANCE & THE VALIANTS.
Stone -- and co-writer TROY POWERS -- are seeking $20 million in damages.
WORTH REMEMBERING: Stone filed, and subsequently dropped, a similar lawsuit last year. [via RadarOnline]
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The ROLLING STONES are the first to have newly-charted top 10 albums on the Billboard 200 chart in the U.S. in every decade since 1960.
The group had 13 top 10 albums in the ‘60s (including compilations and live albums), 12 in the ‘70s, six in the ‘80s, three in the ‘90s, two in the 2000s, one in the 2010s and now, their latest -- “Hackney Diamonds” -- in the 2020s.
“Hackney Diamonds,” which dropped on October 20, debuted on the chart at No. 3. [via THR]
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UC Berkeley is the latest college to offer a course inspired by TAYLOR SWIFT.
“Artistry and Entrepreneurship: Taylor’s Version” will focus on the ins and outs of Swift’s “success as a songwriter, businesswoman and creative influence,” per the course syllabus.
Other schools with Swift-inspired classes include the University of Texas, Arizona State University and Stanford. [via Billboard]
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SOPHIE TURNER may have already moved on from her split with JOE JONAS.
The actress was spotted smooching English aristocrat PEREGRINE “Perry” JOHN DICKINSON PEARSON on the streets of Paris over the weekend.
He is heir to the 4th Viscount Cowdray.
TIMING IS EVERYTHING: Jonas filed for divorce from Turner last month, which is around the same time that Pearson split from PRINCESS MARIA-OLYMPIA, who happens to be KING CHARLES’ goddaughter. [via The Sun]
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JEAN TREBEK has teamed up with Stand Up to Cancer to launch The Alex Trebek Fund, in honor of her late husband ALEX TREBEK.
The goal of the fund is to accelerate research to better treat pancreatic cancer, which Trebek passed away from in 2020.
WORTH NOTING: Stand Up to Cancer is KATIE COURIC’s foundation. She created it after losing a sister to pancreatic cancer.
ALSO: November is Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month. [via THR]
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FRENCH MONTANA’s private plane was searched by Columbian police officers as he tried to fly out of the South American country this week.
According to the rapper, who documented the ordeal on Instagram, the officers were searching for narcotics -- specifically cocaine.
French didn’t appear to get too upset over the interruption, but did later post “I need bail!! 👀” in an Instagram story.
Perhaps his label, which is named Coke Boys Records, has something to do with the random inspection. [via Daily Mail]
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CASTING CALL
Former “GMA3” co-anchors-turned-lovers AMY ROBACH and T.J. HOLMES are launching a new podcast, titled “Amy & T.J.”
The podcast will focus on “current events, pop culture, and everything in between,” according to a press release. They will also tell their side of the story regarding their alleged affair.
The show is set to debut on December 5. [via ET]
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TAYLOR KINNEY is returning to “Chicago Fire.”
Kinney, who plays Lieutenant Kelly Severide in the series, took a leave of absence in January to “deal with a personal matter.” There has been no followup on the matter since he left.
Now, production sources have confirmed that Kinney will be back for Season 12.
WORTH NOTING: No word on when “Chicago Fire” will return, though NBC sources confirmed the show -- along with spinoffs “Chicago PD” and “Chicago Med” -- are all set to return following the SAG-AFTRA strike. [via People]
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
NORTH WEST and SAINT WEST -- the two oldest of KIM KARDASHIAN and YE’s four kids -- made five figures for their parts in the new “PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie.”
According to The Blast, North was paid $20,000 for four recording sessions, while Saint made $10,000 for two sessions.
North played a Pomeranian pup named Mini in the film and Saint took on the role of Meteor Max.
No word on what Kim made as Delores the poodle in the animated movie. [via The Blast]
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
There’s another royal memoir in the works – sort of.
GARY GOLDSMITH is preparing for the release of his own family’s story – he’s better known as PRINCESS KATE’s mother’s brother; put another way, the future queen’s uncle.
Goldsmith has made millions as a tech entrepreneur and wants to write a tell-all that defends his family and pushes back on the claims of racism and mistreatment made by PRINCE HARRY.
It’s well known that The Firm avoids public confrontations and insiders say Goldsmith sees himself as the perfect outsider to punch back. The memoir will “set the record straight” against Harry’s claims and also tell Goldsmith’s own story of entrepreneurship. [via Express]
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DAY OF THE YEAR
International Project Management Day
National Men Make Dinner Day
International Stout Day
National Stress Awareness Day
Dynamic Harmlessness Day
National Deviled Egg Day
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ON THIS DATE
1889 - North and South Dakota become the 39th and 40th states admitted to the union.
Americans moved to the Dakotas after railroads made the transportation of goods more efficient in the late 19th century.
The Enabling Act of 1889 built the framework to admit these states, as well as Montana and Washington. Following Benjamin Harrison's election, he officially admitted North and South Dakota to the Union.
Since then, there's been animosity over which was actually admitted first. President Harrison wanted the official signed documents to declare the states pulled at random. No one knows which was officially first -- but since N comes before S alphabetically, North Dakota usually gets credit for being Number 39.
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1947 - Howard Hughes' "Spruce Goose" takes flight.
It was the largest aircraft ever built. Hughes designed the project and piloted the maiden flight.
It had been commissioned in 1941, at the outset of America's entrance into World War II. $23 million and six years later, it would be finished, after fighting ended.
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1948 - President Truman wins re-election after defeating Thomas Dewey.
Truman won by just two million votes.
It was a close election and many had thought the win was a lock for Dewey. The Chicago Tribune infamously pulled the trigger on the wrong headline before the results were in: “Dewey Defeats Truman.”
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1959 - Charles Van Doren admits to Congress that the game show "Twenty One" was rigged, and that he had been given the questions and their answers before appearing on the show.
“Twenty One” celebrated great ratings and captive audiences, but it turned out the progression of contestants through the ranks was entirely rigged.
Van Doren would go on to be a well-published academic and writer who actively edited the Encyclopedia Britannica.
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2000 - The first short-term residents of the International Space Station enter the orbiting capsule.
One American and two Russians began the four-month mission. They functioned on a limited power supply and lived out of only two rooms. In December, Shuttle Endeavor would arrive carrying full solar panels, in order to allow expansion and full power.
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2016 - The Chicago Cubs beat the Cleveland Indians 8-7 in Game 7 of the World Series.
The win marked the Cubs’ first title in 108 years.
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2020 - “Baby Shark” by Pinkfong becomes the most-watched video on YouTube with over 7.04 billion views.
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BIRTHDAYS
Sunny Sandler - actress & daughter of Adam - 15
Alphonso Davies - soccer player - 23
Jordan Love - football player - 25
Brielle Barbusca - actress, “Royal Pains” & “The Starter Wife” - 25
Jimmy Garoppolo - football player - 32
Kayla Nicole - model & media personality & ex of Travis Kelce - 32
Kendall Schmidt - actor, “Big Time Rush” - 33
Katelyn Tarver - pop singer & actress, “Big Time Rush” - 34
Karamo Brown - news contributor, CNN, HLN & Huffington Post - 43
Nelly - rapper - 48
Marisol Nichols - actress, “24” & “Riverdale” - 50
Stevie J. - R&B singer - 52
David Schwimmer - actor, “Friends” - 57
Born On This Date
Warren G. Harding - 29th POTUS - 1865 (d. 1923)
James K. Polk - 11th POTUS - 1795 (d. 1849)
Marie Antoinette - French Queen - 1755 (d. 1793)
Daniel Boone - explorer - 1734 (d. 1820)
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