12/15/2023: How Not to Deal Drugs
PLUS: Another Word of the Year; Hulu Drops Diddy; and Drink Like a King!
Today is Friday, December 15, 2023.
It is the 349th day of the year.
16 days remain.
HOUSEKEEPING
CHRISTMAS BREAK: There will be no regular daily newsletter from December 25 - January 2 for the Christmas and New Year holiday season. Regular delivery will resume at 4:00 am Central on Wednesday, January 3, 2024.
BUT WAIT: “Top Shelf” Subscribers will have full access to our Year in Review and Year Ahead series we’ll be sending between December 26-30 and on January 2.
TOP SHELF: You have until midnight to claim your FREE MARTINI GLASS and pledge your subscription. THANK YOU to those who have shown your ongoing support!
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WHAT’S ON TAP
Post-pandemic health metrics plummet and a frightening number of Gen Z-ers admit to casual theft. Details in HIT LIST.
MADONNA was late to her first US show and cops were called (again) to ZOLCIAK-BIERMANN home. Find out more in SHOWBIZ.
TREVOR NOAH will host the Grammy Awards for the fourth consecutive year. Details in CASTING CALL.
NORTH WEST’s rap name has been revealed. Find out what it is in KARDASH.
Find out how to drink like a king in ROYALS.
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HIT LIST
Idaho residents hoping to get their first taste of iconic West Coast burger joint, In-N-Out, camped out, slept in their vehicles and waited in line all night, in freezing conditions, to be first in line when the newest location opened this week.
One local woke up early to hit up the new eatery before work, only to find that there was already a mass of people in line eagerly waiting for the 9 AM opening time.
With the large crowd, over 100 employees were on hand for the opening, with some traveling from other locations just to assist with traffic control. [via KIVI]
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Another “word of the year,” this time from DICTIONARY.COM.
It’s “hallucinate,” but in a very specific context: It’s when an artificial intelligence program is caused “to produce false information contrary to the intent of the user and present it as if true and factual.”
A rep for the online resource says they added the definition earlier this year, though it’s been used in a computer science context since the early 1970s. The site internally selected the word to fit the cultural moment, not based on any kind of public vote. [via CNN]
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Law enforcement in Indiana have arrested a drug dealer after he accidentally texted details of his inventory to a police officer.
The perp had the officer’s number from previous run-ins and communications, and inadvertently sent her photos and videos of his haul, including prices. That media gave cops an easy search warrant.
On the premises they found 14 pounds of weed, more than 600 grams of THC wax, gummy edibles, a gun, and cash.
If convicted, the dealer faces up to six years in prison. [via NewsNation]
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A Gallup survey shows overall American health “plummeting” in the wake of the pandemic.
In particular, measures of obesity, diabetes, and eating habits have all gotten worse.
Obesity is up six percentage points since 2019, at 38.4%.
An all-time high of respondents reported a diabetes diagnosis, at 13.6%.
Self-reported good eating habits declined five points, to 46.7%. [via Gallup]
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A shocking number of Gen Z-ers say they’ve committed “friendly fraud” – that’s when you dispute a credit card charge even after you successfully received the product and are happy with it.
A survey shows that 42% of respondents aged 26 and younger say they’ve done exactly this to steal their money back.
About one in five millennials reported doing the same. [via New York Post]
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DEATHS
Actor CAMDEN TOY has died.
He passed away Monday after a two-year battle with pancreatic cancer.
Toy is best known for his role on “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.”
He was 68.
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Hall of Fame basketball player GEORGE MCGINNIS has died.
He passed away Thursday morning following complications from cardiac arrest that he suffered last week.
McGinnis was a two-time ABA champion and three-time All-Star in both the NBA and ABA.
He was 73.
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BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The DOW increased 158 points (0.43%) to close at 37,248 on Thursday, another record close, on excitement over a coming rate cut from the Federal Reserve. The S&P increased 12 points (0.26%) to close at 4,719 and the NASDAQ increased 27 points (0.19%) to close at 14,761.
🛢 WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE closed at $71; BRENT CRUDE at $76.
⛽ The national average price of a GALLON OF GAS was $3.10 on Thursday.
₿ BITCOIN was trading just over $43,000 on Thursday evening.
🛩 There were more than 2,540 FLIGHTS delayed within, into, or out of the United States on Thursday and more than 60 such cancellations.
💰Tonight’s MEGA MILLIONS drawing will be for a $28 million jackpot or a $13.3 million cash payout. Saturday night’s POWERBALL drawing will be for a $535 million jackpot or a $257.6 million cash payout.
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SHOWBIZ NEWS
New Music Friday
Chief Keef, “Almighty So 2”
Joshua Roberts, “Good For You” EP
Kanye West & Ty Dolla $ign, “Vultures”
Omarion, “Full Circle: Sonic Book Two”
Paul Wall, “The Great Wall”
Wishy, “Paradise” EP
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Hulu has decided against moving forward with a reality show centered on SEAN “Diddy” COMBS and his family after several women came forward with sexual abuse allegations against him.
The show, tentatively titled “Diddy+7,” was in its “nascent stages” according to an insider working at Fulwell 73, the production company owned by JAMES CORDEN.
As for the allegations, Diddy has continued to deny them all. [via Rolling Stone]
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JOHN MAYER and DEAD & CO. may soon have a residency at James Dolan’s Sphere in Las Vegas, where U2’s residency is currently taking place.
It is unknown when a residency would kick off, but U2’s is set to end in March, so it would likely be sometime next summer, if it all works out.
Remember, the $2.3 BILLION Sphere opened in September. [via NY Post]
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FOLLOW UP: A source close to BROOKE MUELLER says she is not “out of the picture” when it comes to the sons she shares with her ex, CHARLIE SHEEN.
The statement was made after Sheen told multiple outlets that he is “mostly raising their 14-year-old [twin] boys” on his own.
Those close to Mueller told Page Six that in reality the boys split time between their two parents, who have a co-parenting plan in place. [via Page Six]
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MARTIN LAWRENCE played Santa for a group of underprivileged kids in Los Angeles this week, treating them to gifts and some time at a go-kart park.
Other famous faces on hand to help spoil the kids were JO KOY, KID CUDI, MC LYTE, WILLIE MCGINEST and BENJI BROWN.
The event is an annual thing for Lawrence. [via TMZ]
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MADONNA took her sweet time taking the stage Wednesday night for the US debut of her “Celebration Tour.”
Fans were not happy about having to stand around for hours after the Material Girl was scheduled to start, and took their frustrations to social media.
“I don’t give a [eff] if you’re Madonna. If you’re 3 hours late, you’re just [effing] rude,” one person tweeted, while others demanded a refund.
It turns out that some technical issues were to blame for the delay, but as for why that was not relayed to the crowd is not known. [via Page Six]
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Cops were called once again to KIM ZOLCIAK and KROY BIERMANN’s home after another explosive fight between the on-again, off-again couple.
Footage from the call shows Biermann in the driveway yelling, “We’re getting divorced one day and we’re not the next! She’s [effing] other men.”
When asked what started the argument, Biermann yells, “Our life. Our life! And it’s [effing] destroyed!”
Another officer spoke with Zolciak, who emotionally stated that she just wants to be divorced. [via TMZ]
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CASTING CALL
TREVOR NOAH is hosting the 2024 Grammy Awards for the fourth consecutive year.
He is also nominated for best comedy album, for “I Wish You Would.” If he wins, he will become the second Grammys’ host to win an award on the same night as hosting.
The Grammys are set for February 4. [via People]
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BARBRA STEISAND will receive the 2024 SAG Life Achievement Award.
The honor is given in recognition of career achievements, humanitarian accomplishments and “the finest ideals of the acting profession,” according to SAG-AFTRA.
She will be presented with the award during the 30th annual SAG Awards on February 24. [via Deadline]
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SYDNEY SWEENEY was bit by a Huntsman spider while filming her new film “Anyone But You” in Australia.
In the scene of her with the spider, Sweeney was supposed to shriek as if she had been bitten, but what no one knew at the time was that her scream was real because the arachnid took a little nibble on her hand.
A bite from a Huntsman spider can be painful, but is not deadly to humans. [via TMZ]
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
Just call her Miss Westie!
NORTH WEST, the eldest of YE and KIM KARDASHIAN’s four kids, took the stage alongside her dad at his “Vultures” listening party in Miami. With her dad by her side, North debuted her own verse from one of his tracks, which appeared to include her rap name.
“I love it here / we gonna take over the year for another year / it’s your bestie, Miss Miss Westie,” she sang.
Fans were quick to social media to note how North clearly takes after her father, with one person calling her a “musical genius.”
No word on how Kim feels about the performance, especially after all the backlash over Ye’s choice of clothing -- specifically the black hood. [via Page Six]
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
You, too, can drink like a King.
The Balmoral Estate sells its own Scotch whisky and is offering a special commemorative edition coinciding with KING CHARLES’ 75th birthday last month.
This batch was distilled in 1978, making it aged 45 years. Only 253 bottles are available – to the tune of 3,260 British Pounds, or $4,238.
Balmoral promises that the sale of each bottle will go toward the planting of 75 trees, “one for each of The King’s 75 years.” [via Balmoral Castle]
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DAY OF THE YEAR
National Lemon Cupcake Day
National Wear Your Pearls Day
National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day
National Underdog Day
National Cat Herders Day
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ON THIS DATE
1791 - The first 10 amendments to the Constitution are ratified by Virginia, making them the law of the land.
They're also known as the Bill of Rights. They serve as a complement to the Constitution, ironing out some leftover wrinkles that the Founders did not initially consider.
Their creation was also a bargaining chip so that Massachusetts would approve the Constitution -- the small state only agreed to the Constitution provided that Congress immediately ratify a Bill of Rights.
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1890 - Sioux chief Sitting Bull finally meets his maker.
He had been on the run from American soldiers and police for years. After fighting the Americans on-and-off, Mr. Bull made it to Canada. Following his years in exile, Sitting Bull surrendered to US troops, and was placed in a reservation in present-day South Dakota.
Seven years later, Indian police tried kidnapping Sitting Bull, fearing he was trying to lead an uprising against the Americans. Mr. Bull did not go quietly, and his cronies intervened. They tried shooting his captors, but instead killed the old chief with shots to his head and chest.
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1896 - Stephen M. Balzer is awarded a patent for a gas-powered car.
None of Balzer's inventions were ever mass-produced. He started Balzer Motor Company in 1900, but was more interested in engineering than sales. Still, his experimental buggy is considered one of the first American automobiles.
The car submitted to win the patent is now on display at the Smithsonian.
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1973 - Sandy Hawley wins his 500th horse race of the year at Maryland's Laurel Park race track. He was the first jockey to achieve the feat.
The winning horse was named Charlie Jr.
Hawley's career continued into the 1990s. He'd win his 5,000th career race in 1986.
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1993 – “Schindler's List” premieres.
It would be the first film for which Stephen Spielberg would win Academy Awards -- which included Best Picture and Best Director.
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2001 - After being closed for 11 years, the Leaning Tower of Pisa reopens.
The Italian government spent $27 million to keep the tower in its somewhat-upright position without it falling over.
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2016 – Dylann Roof is found guilty of killing nine people at a Bible study class in a South Carolina church.
The self-declared white supremacist stormed the church in 2015 with the hopes of starting a race war.
It took a 12-person jury a little over two hours to convict Roof on all 33 counts.
He would be sentenced to death the following month.
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2020 - MacKenzie Scott — the former Mrs. Jeff Bezos — announces that she has donated more than $4 billion to 384 non-profit organizations across the US.
The news comes just four months after she donated $1.7 billion to 116 organizations.
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BIRTHDAYS
Christian Isaiah - actor, “Shameless” - 16
Erika Tham - actress, “Make It Pop” - 24
Maude Apatow - actress, “Girls” & “Euphoria” - 26
Jesse Lingard - soccer player - 31
Daniel Ezra - actor, “All American” - 32
Alana Haim - guitarist, Haim - 32
Camilla Luddington - actress, “Grey’s Anatomy” - 40
Ronnie Radke - rock singer, Escape the Fate - 40
Charlie Cox - actor, “Stardust” & “Daredevil” - 41
Michelle Dockery - actress, “Downton Abbey” - 42
Adam Brody - actor, “The O.C.” - 44
Lee Jung-jae - actor, “Squid Game” - 51
Don Johnson - actor, “Miami Vice” & “Watchmen” - 74
Born On This Date
Kim Porter - model - 1970 (d. 2018)
Gustave Eiffel - French engineer & architect, designed the Eiffel Tower - 1832 (d. 1923)
Nero - Roman Emperor - 37 AD (d. 68 AD)
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