11/26/2024: Space Smells
PLUS: Norwegian Spy Caper; Billboard Nominations; and Kate’s Next Event
Today is Tuesday, November 26, 2024.
It is the 331st day of the year.
35 days remain.
PROGRAMMING NOTE
There will be no newsletter on Thursday, November 28 or Friday, November 29 for the Thanksgiving holiday.
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WHAT’S ON TAP
Another step toward closure for FTX customers and dashed hopes for Amelia Earhardt aficionados. Details in HIT LIST.
ELTON JOHN struggles to see and TRAVIS KELCE sets a new record. More in SHOWBIZ.
JOHN MAYER launches a new interview series and a “Wolfs” sequel is scrapped. Details in CASTING CALL.
KHLOE launches her first fragrance. Find out more in KARDASH.
PRINCESS KATE continues to add official duties to her schedule. Details in ROYALS.
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HIT LIST
Police in Norway have arrested a security guard working at the American embassy in Oslo on espionage charges.
The unnamed suspect, only identified as a man in his 20s, has been accused of sharing information with Russian and Iranian officials. So far, the suspect has reportedly not admitted to being a spy but will spend at least two weeks in prison while authorities continue to gather evidence.
The US State Department is keeping mum in the meantime, instead referring to Norwegian authorities for further updates and details.
The development follows a chaotic week, when undersea communication cables between European countries were severed, with multiple countries pointing their fingers at Russia. [via CNN]
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Former FTX customers bilked out of collective billions by SAM BANKMAN-FRIED’s fraud schemes will finally be made whole at the start of next year.
In a statement released late last week, the exchange’s new management team announced that these customers will receive instructions in December for getting their money back. A specific timeline for the exact date the distributions will begin has not been specified, but the management team expects it to be in “early January 2025.”
The court overseeing the case still needs to approve the plan, but payouts will begin as soon as the plan is legally effective if everything goes to plan. [via FTX]
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Earlier this year, an underwater exploration company called Deep Sea Vision discovered what they thought could be the wreckage of Amelia Earhardt’s plane in the Pacific Ocean.
TURNS OUT: A closer inspection months later revealed their underwater imaging found nothing more than a rock formation that looked eerily like a plane’s fuselage and wings. “After 11 months the waiting has finally ended and unfortunately our target was not Amela’s Electra 10E,” the company announced on social media.
Deep Sea Vision explored the site about 100 miles from Howland Island, in the middle of nowhere halfway between Australia and Hawaii. Earhardt and her navigator had planned to refuel on Howland Island during their mission to fly around the globe in 1937, but never reached their waypoint. [via NBC News]
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After a Russian supply ship docked with the International Space Station last weekend, the astronauts on board had to re-secure the hatch because the smell coming from it was so bad.
Along with three tons worth of food, fuel, and supplies, the Progress 90 cargo spaceship also had an unidentified foul odor that triggered the I.S.S.’ air decontamination protocols. Fortunately, air quality readings showed that the noxious fumes, whatever they were, were still safe to breathe.
The cargo ship is scheduled to remain docked for the next six months and get filled with trash and refuse from the crew, before being jettisoned and burning up in Earth’s atmosphere. [via Gizmodo]
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Krispy Kreme is waiting until after Thanksgiving to start celebrating Christmas.
Debuting Friday is the Merry Grinchmas Doughnut Collection. The collection features a Grinch Doughnut, Grinchy Claus Doughnut, and Cindy-Lou Who Merry Berry Tree Doughnut.
Each box will also come with fan-favorites: Santa Belly Doughnut and Holiday Sprinkle Doughnut.
DONUT FORGET: December 12 Krispy Kreme brings back its annual “Day of the Dozens,” offering a dozen Original Glazed doughnuts for just $1 with the purchase of a dozen at regular price! [via FoodandWine]
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DEATHS
Author BARBARA TAYLOR BRADFORD has died.
She passed away at her home last Thursday following a brief illness, according to a statement from her publishing house.
Bradford is best known for her debut novel, “A Woman of Substance.”
She was 91.
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BREAKUPS
REBECCA SNEED says she and husband LYLE MENENDEZ have separated.
She did not give a reason for the split, but did say the split is not due to the rumored affair Lyle has been having with a 21-year-old.
The two tied the knot in 2003 -- behind bars, of course.
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RELATIONSHIPS
Reality star BETHENNY FRANKEL is dating TOM VILANTE, a co-founder of payment processing company Yapstone.
She’s 54 and his age is not immediately clear.
Frankel confirmed the new romance on Instagram, though rumors of the two being together have swirled since they were spotted at the premiere for the second half “Yellowstone” Season 5 earlier this month.
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BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The DOW gained 440 points (0.99%) to close at 44,736 on Monday. The S&P increased 18 points (0.3%) to close at 5,987 and the NASDAQ increased 51 points (0.27%) to close at 19,054.
🛢 WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE closed at $69; BRENT CRUDE at $72.
⛽ The national average price of a GALLON OF GAS was $3.05 on Monday.
₿ BITCOIN tumbled Monday, down over 3% and trading under $95,000.
💰Tonight’s MEGA MILLIONS drawing will be for a $489 million jackpot or a $225.3 million cash payout.
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SHOWBIZ NEWS
ZACH BRYAN leads the list of nominees for the 2024 Billboard Music Awards with 21 nods across 18 categories.
TAYLOR SWIFT follows with 17, while MORGAN WALLEN earned 11, and SABRINA CARPENTER landed nine.
Those four, plus DRAKE, are all competing for Top Artist.
The 2024 Billboard Awards airs live on December 12. [via THR]
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LYLE and ERIK MENENDEZ appeared remotely before a judge Monday, the first time they were in court for their 1989 murders in 30 years.
The status hearing was scheduled to consider new evidence suggesting that the murders of their parents followed years of horrific sexual abuse from their dad, JOSE MENENDEZ.
The brothers were meant to appear via video, but due to technical difficulties had to listen over the phone.
After some witness testimony, including two family members who asked for the brothers to be released ASAP, Judge Michael Jesic made the decision to push the previously scheduled December 11 resentencing hearing back to late January. The delay is in order to give newly-elected D.A. Nathan Hochman time to review the case after he takes office.
Remember, Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascon -- who filed paperwork for the brothers to be resentenced -- lost to Hochman earlier this month.
PUBLIC WELCOME: The Los Angeles County Superior Court held a lottery to determine who got the coveted 16 seats reserved for the general public. [via Fox News]
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ELTON JOHN’s vision has gone from bad to worse.
After developing an infection in his right eye over the summer, John says he has now completely lost sight in that eye. He also doesn’t have the “greatest” sight in his left eye, which makes creating music difficult.
“It’s been a while since I’ve done anything,” he told ROBIN ROBERTS on “GMA.”
Despite the setback, John says he’s “taking an initiative” to treat his eye problems.
MEANWHILE: The reason for his sitdown on “GMA” was to promote his upcoming documentary, “Elton John: Never Too Late,” which debuts on Disney+ on December 13. [via GMA]
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New details surrounding LIAM PAYNE’s fatal fall last month have been revealed.
According to eyewitnesses, the police report, a 911 call, and surveillance video, it appears that he was trying to escape his hotel room when he fell from the balcony, something the hotel allegedly was aware he was threatening to do.
Payne was put in his room after being combative in the hotel lobby. One of the employees who helped carry him called 911 minutes after with concern that he might use the balcony to escape -- something those close to the singer said he has done in the past.
Based on other evidence, including a hat and bag Payne had on him when he fell, authorities concluded that he may have tried to jump to the second floor balcony and then the short distance to the ground.
It is believed that at the time of the fall Payne was not conscious, but he obviously had enough wits to grab some personal belongings before the fall. [via TMZ]
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TAYLOR SWIFT isn’t the only one breaking records.
During Sunday’s game against the Panthers, Chiefs tight end TRAVIS KELCE recorded a 19-yard reception, making him the tight end with the third-most receiving yards in NFL history and surpassing former Charger ANTONIO GATES.
Kelce now has 11,854 yards, topping Gates’ 11,841 receiving yards.
The two tight ends in the top spots are JASON WITTEN (13,046 yards) and TONY GONZALEZ (15,127 yards). [via People]
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SEAN COMBS’ latest attempt to get bail has been denied.
A judge ruled Monday that the defense’s plan to keep the music mogul at his New York City apartment, with three guards stationed at all times, no internet access, and a phone to only call his attorneys, was “not going to work.” [via The Mirror]
That means Combs will spend Thanksgiving behind bars, and this is what he can expect for a holiday meal: Turkey Roast or Hot and Sour Tofu, Gravy and Mashed Potatoes, Mixed Veggies, Cranberry Sauce, Two Dinner Rolls, and a Holiday Pie. [via The Sun]
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CASTING CALL
JOHN MAYER launches his new interview series on his “Life With John Mayer” channel on SiriusXM this Thursday.
“How’s Life” will feature some of the biggest names in the music industry, starting with BILLY JOEL.
Future guests include SHAWN MENDES and MAREN MORRIS. [via Billboard]
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A “Wolfs” sequel is no longer happening after director JOHN WATTS decided to pull the project following a disagreement with AppleTV+.
According to Watts, the initial plan was for the sequel to get a wide theatrical release, after the first one became one of the streamer’s most-viewed films. He says there was a “last minute shift,” however, to a streaming-only release without “explanation or discussion.”
After announcing news of a sequel, despite Watts asking AppleTV+ not to, he decided to return the funds given for the project, effectively ending it.
“Wolfs,” starring BRAD PITT and GEORGE CLOONEY, follows a fixer who is hired to cover up a high-profile crime, but soon finds his plans spiraling out of control when assigned to work with an unexpected counterpart. [via NY Post]
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A GLEN POWELL lookalike contest was held in his hometown of Austin, Texas, over the weekend, with the actor’s mom and aunt serving as judges.
During the competition, Powell FaceTimed in, telling the crowd that the winner will land a cameo in his next movie.
The winner was a guy named Max Braunstein, who was awarded a cowboy hat, free Torchy’s queso for a year, some cash, and of course, the promise of a cameo appearance in a future Powell flick.
BY THE WAY: Powell’s parents make a cameo in all of his films. [via Deadline]
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“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” (Beetlejuice) is heading to HBO Max in time for the holidays.
While it may be the wrong holiday for a spooky flick, viewers will be able to enjoy the sequel starting December 6. [via The Verge]
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
KHLOE KARDASHIAN has launched her first signature fragrance.
XO Khloe is a “floral fragrance that indulges the senses with a delicate bouquet of crystallized rose petals, a touch of praline, sexy musks and soft woods,” per the official description.
The scent debuted Monday at luxury retailer Harrods in the UK. It will be available in the US on December 1 at Ulta Beauty locations. [via Glamour]
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
When the Qatari Emir visits the United Kingdom for a state visit early next month, PRINCESS KATE will attend the formal welcome with husband PRINCE WILLIAM.
Kate continues to ramp up the frequency of her public events as she recovers from successful cancer treatments that sidelined her for most of the year.
Her duties will include a welcome parade and lunch at Buckingham Palace with KING CHARLES and QUEEN CAMILLA. Royal biographer Sally Bedell Smith tells People Magazine, “You can’t say she is back … but she is coming back.” [via People]
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DAY OF THE YEAR
National Cake Day
Good Grief Day
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ON THIS DATE
1862 - The writer known as Lewis Carroll sends a handwritten draft of a story called "Alice's Adventures Under Ground" to Alice Liddell.
The author was a friend of the Liddell family, who often enjoyed his fantastical stories. Carroll, whose real name was Charles Dodgson, taught mathematics at Oxford. He suffered from a stammer, except when telling stories to children.
Another novelist friend of the Liddell's, Henry Kingsley, noticed the manuscript during a visit, and encouraged them to have it published. Dodgson would three years later, under the name of Carroll.
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1898 - A blizzard plasters New England, killing at least 450 people across New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts.
Winds up to 40 miles an hour blew in from the ocean, meeting gales of equal strength coming from the West.
Trains were stopped and communication halted as telegraph lines fell down.
100 ships were blown in from Boston Harbor, and 40 sunk.
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1922 - British archeologists enter the tomb of Tutankhamun in Egypt, marking the first time humans entered the chamber in 3,000 years.
Inside a pyramid, the tomb was well preserved and included a treasure trove of artifacts and jewelry.
By that time, many of the tombs had been raided, but these explorers took advantage of Tut's little-known reign. The boy king reigned from the age of 8 to 18, around 1300 BC.
As the archeologists first entered the antechamber, they saw evidence that it had already been visited. But they pressed further, breaking through another door.
On the floor of the tomb, footprints were even visible of the men who laid King Tut to rest for the last time 3,000 years before.
It would take several years to fully excavate the chambers. Most of the collection is hosted at the Cairo Museum.
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1941 - President Franklin Roosevelt signs the law that makes the fourth Thursday in November a federal holiday for Thanksgiving.
From colonial times until Abraham Lincoln's presidency, the holiday was an informal celebration. In 1789, President Washington asked Congress for a special declaration in order to give thanks nationally—for the Constitution.
Abraham Lincoln made the last Thursday of November the official day for giving thanks in 1863.
Then, FDR butted in 1939. That year, November had 5 Thursdays, and the President wanted to give stores more time during the Christmas shopping season. So, he decreed that November 23, the second-to-last-Thursday, would be Thanksgiving that year.
Many ignored the change. Republicans made it a political issue, saying he was doing an injustice to the legacy of Lincoln.
By 1941, there was enough uproar, so FDR reinstated the fourth Thursday as Thanksgiving.
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1942 - "Casablanca" premieres in New York City.
The film, starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman, would become one of the most well-known in American film history.
In January the next year, it would open nationwide, and be nominated for eight Academy Awards, of which it won three.
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1965 - France becomes the third country to launch a satellite into space.
Astrix-1 launched onboard a Diamant rocket from Hammaguir, Algeria, which it occupied at the time.
The desert launch base was used by the French to conduct nuclear, missile, and space launch tests.
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2013 - Alec Baldwin’s show “Up Late with Alec Baldwin” is canceled.
The decision comes after Alec was caught on video using a gay slur in a confrontation with a photographer. While he initially denied it, he eventually conceded and issued an apology.
MSNBC, which aired the show, released a statement on the matter saying, “This is a mutual parting and we wish Alec all the best.”
Rumor is there had been “creative tension” between Alec and the network for a while.
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2018 - NASA’s InSight mission lands on Mars after a seven month voyage.
Launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, InSight was designed to study the deep interior of Mars, measuring its seismic activity and heat flow.
The mission marked the first time a spacecraft was dedicated to studying the interior of the Red Planet.
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BIRTHDAYS
Asha Banks - actress, “A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder” - 21
Luka Sabbat - model - 27
Rita Ora - pop singer - 34
Rob Raco - actor, “Riverdale” - 35
Natasha Bedingfield - pop singer - 43
Maia Campbell - actress, “Poetic Justice” - 48
DJ Khaled - music producer - 49
Peter Facinelli - actor, “Twilight” franchise - 51
Shawn Kemp - basketball player - 55
Garcelle Beauvais - reality star, “RHOBH” - 58
Sue Wicks - basketball player - 58
Ivory - wrestler - 63
Dale Jerrett - race car driver - 68
Susanne Zenor - actress, “Days of Our Lives” - 77
Jean Terrell - R&B singer, The Supremes - 80
Born On This Date
Tina Turner - rock singer - 1939 (d. 2023)
Charles Schulz - cartoonist, Peanuts - 1922 (d. 2000)
Willis Carrier - developed modern air conditioning - 1876 (d. 1950)
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