11/29/2022: Mac & Cheese Lawsuit
PLUS: Elon vs. Apple; Bob Dylan’s Autopen Scandal; and Cleveland’s Rally Rodents
Today is Tuesday, November 29, 2022.
It is the 333rd day of the year.
32 days remain.
TRENDING
#CyberMonday was trending yesterday as Twitter users shared the best deals in shopping on the web.
#GivingTuesday was trending Monday ahead of today’s national day of giving. Twitter users shared brands and businesses that were promoting giving back.
Diet Coke landed in Twitter’s Top 10 Trends, but not for the reason one may think. Head to Showbiz to find out more.
Twitter users reacted to Balenciaga’s apology over an ad they shared and removed featuring kids holding teddy bears that appeared to be wearing bondage. Several users also called out Kim Kardashian -- who promotes the brand -- for her late response to the ad. More on that in Kardashopus.
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HIT LIST
ELON MUSK has fired some public shots across Apple’s bow, as the latter has apparently threatened to take Twitter off its App Store because of its free speech policies.
It started with Musk noting in a tweet that, “Apple has mostly stopped advertising on Twitter. Do they hate free speech in America?”
He then posted a yes-or-no poll question: “Apple should publish all censorship actions it has taken that affect its customers.”
In a subsequent tweet, Musk added some context: “Apple has also threatened to withhold Twitter from its App Store, but won’t tell us why.”
WORTH NOTING: One major source of revenue for Apple is its App Store, where developers pay a 30% cut to Apple for all transactions made within the apps. For companies dependent on App Store exposure, Apple holds tremendous power in threatening apps with de-listing if they don’t comply with the company’s toxic woke agenda – the same toxic woke agenda loudly supported by the Biden White House. Isn’t there a word to describe massive collusion of government and business to achieve the mutual goals of an elite few?
WORTH REMEMBERING: Musk tweeted on Friday that if Twitter were to get booted from the Apple or Google app stores, he’d manufacture his own smartphones.
https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1596268804413476864
AND THEN: Musk tweeted Monday afternoon that “The Twitter Files on free speech suppression soon to be published on Twitter itself. The public deserves to know what really happened…”
MEANWHILE, AT SNAPCHAT: Remember when Musk left Twitter employees, like, LITERALLY SHAKING RIGHT NOW, because he demanded they work in the office?
The CEO of Snap, the company behind Snapchat, is now expecting employees to be in-office at least four days a week.
MEANWHILE, IN TIM COOK’S EVIL LAIR: Bloomberg reports that Apple has disabled the AirDrop functionality on devices in China. This feature allows iPhones to share information directly – making it impossible for the CCP to snoop on the communications and activity of freedom protestors there.
AND YET (AS WE COME FULL CIRCLE): Apple has the audacity to imply that Musk is the one who opposes a culture of free speech.
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Another domino has fallen in the FTX implosion: Crypto company BlockFi has filed its own bankruptcy case, after FTX failed to make good on a $680 million loan FTX owed earlier this month, according to court filings.
BlockFi also blames the general downturn in crypto value in recent months. It made a name for itself lending money that used crypto assets as collateral.
BUT WAIT: If the crypto assets become worthless, those loans get awfully risky. That’s what happened when BlockFi loaned cash to FTX that was backed by FTX’s own cryptocurrency, which is now worth zilch.
WORTH NOTING: Analysts say that where FTX was a disaster in terms of recordkeeping, BlockFi does appear to have its case in order.
MEANWHILE: FTX’s own bankruptcy filing shows that one of the top creditors for sister company Alameda Research is Margaritaville Beach Resort in the Bahamas, where they owe $55,319. That’s one hell of an unpaid bar tab.
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A Florida woman is leading a class action lawsuit against Kraft Heinz – accusing them of misleading instructions on their Velveeta Shells & Cheese offering.
A box of the stuff promises it’ll be ready in just three-and-a-half minutes if you boil the noodles in the microwave. This, the suit alleges, is bogus: That time doesn’t allow for unpackaging the noodles and cheese goop, opening the cheese goop, and mixing the cheese goop in with the boiled noodles, which itself takes three-and-a-half minutes.
The suit seeks $5 million in damages. A spokesman for the company rightly calls it a frivolous suit.
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A daring rescue in Maryland on Monday had all the trappings of an action thriller movie: Early yesterday morning, a couple flying in a Mooney M20J single engine plane crashed into an electric line tower. The two passengers survived the impact, but the plane teetered precariously high off the ground.
First responders were able to get the passengers out before a crane lifted the plane onto the ground.
The passengers are being treated for serious but non-life-threatening injuries. FAA officials say the pilot was relying on the plane’s instruments and didn’t see the power lines in the fog.
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A study by consulting firm Gartner Inc. reveals just a third of employees feel they’re fairly compensated.
BUT WAIT: Whether an employee thinks their comp is fair has less to do with the actual dollar amount and more to do with how the employee perceives the company. Things like culture, inclusivity, and work-life balance have an outsized influence on that perception.
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BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The Dow lost 497 points (1.45%) on Monday to close at 33,849. The S&P lost 62 points (1.54%) to close at 3,963 and the Nasdaq lost 176 points (1.58%) to close at 11,049.
🛢 West Texas Intermediate slipped to $76. Brent Crude fell to $83.
⛽ The national average price of a gallon of gas was $3.54 on Monday.
₿ Bitcoin lost more than $200 Monday and traded around $16,200.
🛩 There were more than 3,528 delays within, into or out of the United States on Monday and 91 such cancellations.
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CHARTS
Top 5 Songs on iTunes:
Sam Smith & Kim Petras, “Unholy”
Meghan Trainor, “Made You Look”
Rihanna, “Lift Me Up”
Taylor Swift, “Anti-Hero”
Irene Cara, “Flashdance…What a Feeling”
Top 5 Songs on Spotify:
Drake & 21 Savage, “Rich Flex”
Brenda Lee, “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree”
Taylor Swift, “Anti-Hero”
Mariah Carey, “All I Want for Christmas Is You”
Bobby Helms, “Jingle Bell Rock”
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DEATHS
Celebrity trainer ERIC FLEISHMAN has died.
He passed away unexpectedly on Thanksgiving, according to TMZ. No further details were shared.
He was 53.
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RELATIONSHIPS
All signs point to actress MINKA KELLY, 42, and Imagine Dragons frontman DAN REYNOLDS, 35, dating.
The pair were spotted on multiple occasions over the weekend holding hands and touching affectionately.
Dan recently split from his wife of 10 years, and Minka is newly single after calling it quits on her two year relationship with TREVOR NOAH, 38.
An official confirmation on the relationship has not been made by Dan or Minka.
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THE SWAMP
The Biden White House issued a meaningless, robotic statement on the freedom movement in China Monday morning that had more to do with covid than the brave opposition to totalitarianism.
The statement acknowledged that a “zero covid” policy is “very difficult,” before tacking on a cursory acknowledgement that, “We’ve long said everyone has the right to peacefully protest, here in the United States and around the world. This includes the [People’s Republic of China].”
WORTH NOTING: There was no acknowledgment of the zero covid policy killing dozens of people who were welded into their apartment last week and couldn’t leave when a fire broke out. There was no condemnation of Chinese police beating and detaining a BBC journalist. There were no calls for the Chinese Communist Party to open up speech laws. The last two-and-a-half years of covid restrictions have been the last straw of an oppressed people finally fighting back for their own freedom.
WORTH ASKING: Why does the White House issue more forceful statements against former President DONALD TRUMP? What leverage does the CCP have on the Biden family through its international crime syndicate? Why isn’t Jim Acosta asking these questions – and where has his righteous indignation been, anyway?
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If you watch a lot of Fox News, you’ll recognize MIKE LINDELL as “the MyPillow guy.” He’s also drifted in and out of former President DONALD TRUMP’s inner circle.
On Monday, Lindell announced he’s throwing his hat in the ring to be chair of the Republican National Committee.
There are 168 members of the official RNC committee. So far, about one hundred have reportedly signaled they’ll support incumbent chair RONNA MCDANIEL.
Another contender is LEE ZELDIN, the 2022 Republican nominee for governor of New York.
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LOTTERY
No winner for Friday night’s Mega Millions drawing. Tonight’s drawing will be for a $305 million jackpot or a $158.2 million cash payout.
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SHOWBIZ NEWS
GEORGE TAKEI and WILLIAM SHATNER’s decades-long feud continues.
Earlier this month, Shatner called his former “Star Trek” co-star a “bitter” person who never stopped “blackening [his] name.” In response, Takei told the The Guardian this week that Shatner is a “cantankerous old man.”
Takei also mocked Shatner’s trip to space alongside JEFF BEZOS, calling him an “unfit guinea pig.”
For those who may not remember, Takei starred opposite Shatner as Lieutenant Hikaru Sulu in the 1966 “Star Trek” series, and other TV and film variations. Their feud dates back to their time on the show. It was fully cemented when Takei didn’t invite Shatner to his wedding.
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JAY LENO clipped a cop car Sunday night as he returned to the stage for the first time since his garage fire accident.
On his way to the Comedy & Magic Club, the comedian grazed the wheel of the police cruiser with his Tesla. All was taken care of quickly so Leno could hit the stage, where he was met with loud applause.
BY THE WAY: His first show back was sold out.
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ELON MUSK tweeted a photo of his bedside table on Monday.
The snapshot shows four cans of caffeine-free Diet Coke, two handguns, a Buddhist amulet and a painting of George Washington crossing the Delaware.
WORTH NOTING: Musk has previously spoken about his love for Diet Coke, and is an avid supporter of the 2nd Amendment.
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IGGY AZALEA says she “didn’t walk” for three weeks after what was supposed to be routine back surgery.
The 32-year-old tweeted about the experience Monday, writing that she “ended up in bed hooked up to a million machines” and was “in so much pain” that there are parts of her recovery that she “can’t remember at all.”
In a follow up tweet, Iggy wrote that she lost out on a film role due to her extensive recovery process.
She says she has been cleared to start moving again and hopes to “be in good health by Christmas.”
WORTH NOTING: Iggy didn’t go into details about what led to the surgery, only saying that it was needed after two years of touring.
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BOB DYLAN is apologizing for using a machine to duplicate his signature on books and artwork over the past few years.
The apology comes after fans on social media noticed a similar signature on limited-edition signed copies of Dylan’s latest book, which cost $600 a pop.
Dylan says he started using an auto pen to sign merchandise, books and other artworks. He apologized for his “error in judgment” over approving his works to be sold as hand-signed copies.
His book publisher, Simon & Schuster, claimed the signatures were valid, but later admitted the 900 copies were “penned replicas” and offered those who purchased them a full refund.
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CANDACE CAMERON BURE has unfollowed her “Full House” costar JODIE SWEETIN on Instagram.
The move comes after Sweetin defended those who spoke out against Bure’s comments about “traditional marriage.”
As previously reported, Bure came under fire after stating that she was switching TV networks (from Hallmark to Great American Family) to focus on projects that feature “traditional marriage.”
WORTH NOTING: Sweetin still follows Bure.
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JON BATISTE will perform at the first White House State Dinner this Thursday.
The event is set to honor French President EMMANUEL MACRON and highlight the US’ relationship with France.
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NICOLE KIDMAN was met with applause while attending “The Music Man” on Broadway over the weekend. The cheers came after her $100,000 bid for a hat signed by HUGH JACKMAN.
The hat was part of an auction set up to support the Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS charity.
Jackman, who stars in the show, thanked the actress for her “generosity,” calling her a “beautiful person.”
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CASTING CALL
A handful of farmers on Hawaii’s big island are irate with actor JASON MOMOA after his new show “Chief of War” cost them an unknown amount of income.
Production on the Apple TV+ show has shut down the Kaimu Farmer’s Market for two consecutive Saturdays, where 76 vendors typically sell their goods.
Those affected took to social media to rip the actor for “taking away their livelihoods during the biggest time of the year” and blasting him for being “out of touch.” Many asked for Momoa to replenish lost revenue.
The manager of the market told TMZ that he was told by the crew that vendors will not be reimbursed for the time off.
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JOE JONAS opened up on the “Just for Variety” podcast about the one acting role he was “destroyed” not to have landed.
“I was up for Spider-Man and I was so, so excited and it was the year Andrew Garfield got it. Obviously, he was the right one,” Jonas explained.
Jonas, who is best known for his musical endeavors, most recently appeared in “Devotion,” which he thanked his wife, actress SOPHIE TURNER, for helping him secure.
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
KIM KARDASHIAN has finally broken her silence on the Balenciaga scandal.
Over the weekend, the reality star, who has been synonymous with the brand for years, said that she was “shocked” and “outraged” over the recent ad featuring children posting with BDSM-themed accessories.
“As a mother of four, I have been shaken by the disturbing images,” she added before saying that she believes Balenciaga “will take the necessary measures for this to never happen again.”
Yesterday, the fashion house issued a statement about “learning from [their] mistakes” and doubled down on their apology.
In response, Kim tweeted that she is “reevaluating” her relationship with the company.
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
QUEEN ELIZABETH’s lifelong friend, LADY ANNE GLENCONNER, is not a fan of Netflix’s “The Crown.”
In a recent interview on BBC’s “Woman’s Hour” podcast, Glenconner called the show “complete fantasy.”
“The trouble is, the people, especially in America, believe it completely. There’s nothing much I can do about it,” she added.
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SPORTS
A skunk stole the show at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland on Sunday as the Browns took on the Buccaneers.
According to the Associated Press, the animal was running through the stands, likely in search of food, during the game. In an effort to avoid anyone being sprayed, a security guard put a box over it, which only worked for a bit.
The animal escaped and scampered around the stands some more before finding its way out of the stadium.
Per the outlet, no one was sprayed.
WORTH REMEMBERING: Four years prior, a possum was running around the stands as the Browns played the Jets during a “Thursday Night Football” game. The animal was credited with the Browns’ win -- ending a two-year drought.
WORTH NOTING: The Browns also won Sunday 23-17 in overtime.
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DAY OF THE YEAR
National Chocolates Day
National Square Dancing Day
National Day of Giving
Throw Out Your Leftovers Day
Electronic Greetings Day
National Lemon Cream PIe Day
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ON THIS DATE
1830 - Polish locals rise up against Russian control.
Young Polish officers in Warsaw serving at the military academy revolted and quickly got widespread public support.
The uprising spread to nearby Lithuania and Belarus. Though the fighters fiercely stood for independence, they were no match for the Imperial Russian Army, which squashed the rebellion less than a year later.
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1877 - Inventor Thomas Edison first demonstrates his phonograph machine.
He showed it off to editors of the Scientific American magazine. The small machine was able to record sounds, and when a crank was turned, replay them.
The invention was spurred while Edison was trying to find a way of recording telegraph messages.
He would get the patent for the invention the following February.
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1929 - Explorer Richard Byrd and 3 others fly over the South Pole.
They're the first to cross the geographical landmark by air. The roundtrip flight from the Ross Ice Shelf and back took 18 hours and 41 minutes.
Byrd dropped an American flag over the exact spot of the pole to commemorate the occasion.
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1945 - The Constituent Assembly of Yugoslavia declares the country's monarchy abolished, and replaces it with what they call a republic.
The new regime was in cahoots with the Soviet Union to proliferate communism across Europe and elsewhere from the start. The new leftist state even had the chutzpah to shoot down American planes flying over their airspace the following year.
The US and its allies quickly distrusted the new leader, Josip Tito. But with time their foreign relations softened with free countries.
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1972 - Atari announces the release of the hit video game Pong.
The arcade unit came complete with a cabinet, shipped as one set. At first the factory could only churn out about 10 a day, though demand was through the roof.
In 1974, Atari would announce a version compatible with a home television.
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1990 - The UN Security Council passes Resolution 678, which demands that Iraqi forces withdraw from Kuwait by January 15 the following year. Member states would have authority to use all necessary means to force Iraq out, should it not comply.
On January 14, France proposed that the UN make another proposal to call on the Iraqis to get out of Kuwait, but actually mean it that time.
But that wouldn't be the case. Aerial bombings began on January 17th, coordinated by Air Force Lieutenant General Chuck Horner. Norman Schwarzkopf would eventually take over the mission.
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2016 - NFL player Darren Sharper is sentenced to 20 years in prison for a series of rapes.
Two victims testified against the Super Bowl champion, saying he drugged and raped them after night of partying.
His arrest came as the league was dealing with off-field problems with multiple players accused of crimes ranging from spousal abuse to murder.
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2019 - A thumb-sized wood fragment believed to be from Jesus’ manger is returned to Bethlehem.
A procession and mass were held in Jerusalem to mark the return, which was described as a “gift” from Pope Francis to a Franciscan order of monks in Bethlehem.
After a day of celebrations, the piece was transferred from Jerusalem to Bethlehem, where it would go on permanent display at St. Catherine’s Church.
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BIRTHDAYS
Laura Marano - actress, “Austin and Ally” - 27
David Lambert - actor, “The Fosters” - 29
Stefon Diggs - football player - 29
Russell Wilson - football player - 34
Gemma Chan - actress, “Sherlock” - 40
Janina Gavankar - actress, “True Blood” & “Blindspotting” - 42
The Game - rapper - 43
Lauren German - actress, “Chicago Fire” & “Lucifer” - 44
Anna Faris - actress, “Mom” & “The House Bunny” - 46
Ryan Giggs - soccer player - 49
Brian Baumgartner - actor, “The Office” - 50
Don Cheadle - actor, “Hotel Rwanda” & “Crash” - 58
Howie Mandel - game show host, “Deal or No Deal” - 67
Jerry Lawler - wrestler - 73
Born On This Date
Chadwick Boseman - actor, “Black Panther” - 1976 (d. 2020)
Vin Scully - sportscaster - 1927 (d. 2022)
C.S. Lewis - author, “Chronicles of Narnia” - 1898 (d. 1963)
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