12/3/2024: Enron 2.0
PLUS: Panthers on the Prowl; Clooney Conned; and Another Royal Snub
Today is Tuesday, December 3, 2024.
It is the 338th day of the year.
28 days remain.
WHAT’S ON TAP
An update from Ukraine’s front lines and another Word of the Year. Details in HIT LIST.
Another DIDDY lawsuit and BRITNEY SPEARS is officially single. More in SHOWBIZ.
“Moana 2” sets a box office record and a pay discrepancy is discussed in CASTING CALL.
KIM is ready to thicken up. More on that in KARDASH.
PRINCE HARRY and MEGHAN MARKLE will remain in the US for the holidays. Duh. Details in ROYALS.
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HIT LIST
Some internet pranksters who got their hands on the Enron.com website domain and its X handle “relaunched” the company on Monday, 23 years after it declared bankruptcy.
To the casual eye, Enron.com looks legitimate, but the website copy offers little more than trite platitudes, as does a promotional video chock full of stock video footage and a meaningless voiceover with word-gems like “change is the only constant” underneath video of a woman in a tutu doing ballet on the beach. WATCH:
video via Enron.com >
But its Terms of Use page makes clear, “THE INFORMATION ON THE WEBSITE IS FIRST AMENDMENT PROTECTED PARODY, REPRESENTS PERFORMANCE ART, AND IS FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY.”
Spectacular performance art, indeed.
BY THE WAY: For the “30 Rock” nerds, the Enron spoof ad is awfully close in vapid meaninglessness to Gavin Volure’s “Sunstream” spot. WATCH:
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2024 could prove to be the deadliest year for wild Florida panthers in nearly two decades.
With at least 30 deaths so far this year -- more than double the number from 2023 -- state conservationists fear the total will surpass 2014’s toll of 42.
The rise in deaths is detrimental to the already critically endangered species, as there are only about 200 living in the state.
As for what is preying on these big cats? According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, more than 75% of the deaths have been attributed to vehicular collisions. [via NY Post]
BY THE WAY: The Florida panther is the official state animal.
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President of Ukraine VOLODYMYR ZELENSKY says North Korean soldiers dispatched to assist Russia’s war of aggression have been confirmed killed in battle.
In an interview with Japanese outlet Kyodo News, Zelensky says this first wave of troops sent to the front lines have been treated particularly well by Russians, at least by North Korean standards, for word to get back to the homeland and encourage even more to sign up to fight.
On an even more grim note, Zelensky called the North Korean troops “cannon fodder,” suggesting they’re just warm bodies to minimize troop casualties among Russia’s military. [via Kyiv Independent]
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One of the last culprits you’d expect in a porch piracy case is the delivery driver who delivered the package in the first place.
A Massachusetts couple say their doorbell camera shows an Amazon driver setting down the packages, taking a photo to confirm delivery with the app, waiting a few seconds for cars in the background to pass, then picking the boxes right back up and returning to her vehicle.
No word yet whether Amazon has intervened or if the driver has been axed.
video via WCVB Boston >
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Oxford Dictionary’s word of the year is a twofer: “brain rot.”
The term describe’s an individual’s deteriorating mental state as a result of endlessly reading social media feeds and internet content on their handheld supercomputer.
Oxford’s other contenders for word of the year included demure, slop, dynamic pricing, romantasy, and lore, but a panel of 37,000-some voters chose the winner. [via OUP]
WORTH NOTING: While the term is appropriate in the context of modern internet consumption, its first recorded published use was in the book “Walden” by Henry David Thoreau. In the work’s conclusion, after belaboring notions of solitude and aloneness, Thoreau asks, “While England endeavors to cure the potato-rot, will not any endeavor to cure the brain-rot, which prevails so much more widely and fatally?”
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RELATIONSHIPS
JASMIN LAWRENCE and ERIC MURPHY are engaged!
She’s 28 and the daughter of actor MARTIN LAWRENCE. He’s 35 and the son of actor EDDIE MURPHY.
The pair started dating in 2021.
BY THE WAY: They were introduced via Jasmin’s uncle -- not by their famous fathers.
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SICK BAY
HARVEY WEINSTEIN is in the hospital after an “alarming” blood test, as described by his lawyer.
Prison officials transported Weinstein from Rikers Island to Bellevue hospital for treatment on Monday. Weinstein is waiting for a new trial connected to sexual assault allegations.
He’s previously undergone emergency heart surgery and is also receiving treatment for leukemia.
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BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The DOW lost 128 points (0.29%) to close at 44,782 on Monday. The S&P increased 14 points (0.24%) to close at 6,047 and the NASDAQ increased 185 points (0.97%) to close at 19,403.
🛢 WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE closed at $68; BRENT CRUDE at $71.
⛽ The national average price of a GALLON OF GAS was $3.04 on Monday.
₿ BITCOIN fell Monday, down 1.7% and trading around $95,500.
💰Tonight’s MEGA MILLIONS drawing will be for a $541 million jackpot or a $257.6 million cash payout.
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SHOWBIZ NEWS
Another day, another Diddy lawsuit.
Fashion designer Bryana “Bana” Bongolan claims she was molested by SEAN COMBS at one of his “freak off” parties in 2016. She also alleges that he dangled her over a 17th floor balcony in a fit of rage.
Hearing her screams, Combs’ then-girlfriend, CASSIE, came to Bongolan’s rescue.
Cassie referenced the incident in her lawsuit, calling it one of the music mogul’s many “abuses throughout their relationship.”
Bongolan is suing Combs for $10 million. [via The Sun]
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GEORGE CLOONEY feels like he was made the scapegoat following KAMALA HARRIS’ election loss, after putting his support behind her over JOE BIDEN at the insistence of former president BARACK OBAMA.
An insider tells RadarOnline that Clooney is “furious with Obama for disappearing after the election disaster and leaving him holding the bag for pushing the plan with his Hollywood pal.”
Remember, Clooney posted an op-ed in July expressing concerns about Biden’s mental acuity, noting that the Democrat Party “would not win in November with this president.” Less than two weeks later Biden dropped out of the race.
It’s been crickets from Obama ever since. [via RadarOnline]
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BRITNEY SPEARS is officially a single woman.
As of Monday -- which was also her 43rd birthday -- the pop princess’ divorce from SAM ASGHARI was finalized.
Asghari filed for divorce in August 2023, after only 14 months of marriage. Thanks to a prenup, he was left with virtually nothing, though Spears did pay his rent for a while. [via TMZ]
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The grass isn’t always greener across the pond.
Just days after moving into their new home in the UK, PORTIA DE ROSSI and ELLEN DEGENERES were forced to deal with raging flood waters.
After days of torrential rain and high winds, the couple were left marooned inside their multi-million dollar mansion as their 43-acre property became submerged.
Prior to the floods, however, the newbies were spotted at a local watering hole, where they were joined by pop stars JAMES BLUNT and NATALIE IMBRUGLIA. [via Daily Mail]
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AEROSMITH drummer JOEY KRAMER is ending his Rockin’ & Roastin’ Coffee line.
He announced the news on the band’s website, citing “no realistic alternative,” after the “devastation” from the pandemic.
Kramer launched the line in 2012 after years on the road, being subjected to bad coffee.
COINCIDENCE?: News of the closure comes months after Aerosmith announced their retirement from touring. [via Billboard]
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CASTING CALL
“Moana 2” grossed $221 million at the domestic box office over the holiday weekend, setting a new record for the five-day holiday frame.
The previous record holder was 2019’s “Frozen II” at $125 million.
The Disney flick also made the biggest five-day debut in history, surpassing Universal’s “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” ($205.6 million). [via Variety]
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DID YOU KNOW?: In the original “Wizard of Oz” film from 1939, JUDY GARLAND, who starred as Dorothy, made less than MARGARET HAMILTON, who played the Wicked Witch of the West?
Despite appearing in a much smaller role, Hamilton’s salary was $21,000 (about $476,000 today). Garland, meanwhile, earned $9,600 (about $218,000 today).
Actors RAY BOLGER, JACK HALEY, and BERT LAHR, who played the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion, respectively, raked in $72,000 each (about $1.63 million today).
AND YOUR LITTLE DOG TOO: The terrier who played Dorothy’s beloved pet, Toto, earned around $125 a week. [via People]
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DANIEL CRAIG says he had a “difficult” time filming 2008 Bond flick “Quantum of Solace.”
“[Effing] nightmare,” he said during an appearance on the “Awards Chatter” podcast, while discussing how the 2007-2008 Writers’ Strike impacted production.
After screenwriter Paul Haggis joined the picket line, “I ended up writing a lot of that film,” he explained.
Despite grossing nearly $600 million at the worldwide box office, the movie is considered by some the worst of Craig’s five Bond films. [via Metro]
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TIM BURTON is open to the idea of working with JOHNNY DEPP again.
The 66-year-old director was recently asked about a future team-up with the actor, to which he said, “I’m sure there will be.”
The pair have a lengthy film-history, including 1990’s “Edward Scissorhands,” 1994’s “Ed Wood,” 1999’s “Sleepy Hollow,” 2005’s “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” 2005’s “Corpse Bride,” 2007’s “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street,” 2010’s “Alice in Wonderland,” and 2012’s “Dark Shadows.” [via IndieWire]
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BAD BUNNY appears to play a caddy in the forthcoming “Happy Gilmore” sequel.
Behind-the-scenes snapshots show the musician wearing a button-down shirt underneath a red caddy bib. Standing next to him is ADAM SANDLER, wearing the titular character’s trademark look: a Boston Bruins hockey jersey, baggy sweatpants, and Timberland boots.
Production began in September. [via X]
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
KIM KARDASHIAN wants to get thicker.
An insider tells OK! Magazine that the mom-of-four “is done with her starvation diet” and “is eating what she wants again.”
“She’s going to get some help from the plastic surgeon to make sure she balloons out in all the right places,” the source continued.
When it comes to her looks, there is nothing Kim won’t do. It was just two years ago she told the New York Times, “If you told me that I literally had to eat poop every single day and I would look younger, I might. I just might.” [via OK!]
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
THIS IS MY SHOCKED FACE: KING CHARLES did not send an invitation to PRINCE HARRY and MEGHAN MARKLE to join the rest of the senior Royal Family at Sandringham for Christmas.
Harry and Meg haven’t joined the Windsor family holiday festivities since 2018, when they were still just months into their marriage. Even the following year, before announcing their departure from official duties, the Sussexes jetted off to Canada to quietly celebrate the Christmas season with newborn son Archie.
While no official guest list has leaked or otherwise been reported (yet!), PRINCE WILLIAM and his family are certainly expected to attend as PRINCESS KATE continues her cancer recovery. [via People]
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DAY OF THE YEAR
Let’s Hug Day
World Trick Shot Day
Make A Gift Day
National Green Bean Casserole Day
National Roof Over Your Head Day
International Disability Day
National Day of Giving
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ON THIS DATE
1818 - Illinois officially becomes a state.
At first, the population was concentrated in the south, where wood was abundant for construction and soil was fertile for farming.
By 1840, Chicago would become a prosperous city.
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1910 - Neon lighting is first presented at the Paris Motor Show.
Physicist Georges Claude developed the invention, passing electric current through inert gas in a vacuum tube.
More than 150 color variations are possible using different combinations of gasses.
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1967 - Surgeons in Cape Town, South Africa, complete the first human heart transplant.
Lewis Washkansky received the heart of a 25-year-old donor who died in a car accident.
The technique had been proposed in the 1950s by American doctors, and though it had been tested on animals, it had not yet been done on a human.
Washkansky died 18 days later from a weak immune system. However, the heart was fully functional until he died. The cause of death was pneumonia.
The basics of the surgery are still used in transplants today, and research has improved the drugs patients can take to boost their immune systems and prevent rejection of the new organ.
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1979 - In Kenosha, Wisconsin, the last Pacer is completed at the American Motors Corporation plant.
It was a hit when it arrived four years earlier, but enthusiasm for it quickly fizzled. By some standards it's considered one of the worst cars of all time.
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1989 - President George H.W. Bush and Soviet Premier Mikhail Gorbachev issue separate statements following a summit in Malta that suggest the Cold War is coming to an official close.
Following the years of work by Ronald Reagan, it was up to Bush to seal the deal. The president credited freedom reforms across the Soviet Empire with bringing the two nations closer together.
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2019 - Spotify announces Drake as the most-streamed artist of the 2010s with over 28 billion streams.
Ed Sheeran’s track “Shape Of You” is the most-streamed track with over 2.4 billion streams.
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BIRTHDAYS
Ruby Jay - actress, “Holly Hobbie” - 20
Lil Baby - rapper - 30
Jake T. Austin - actor, “Wizards of Waverly Place” & “The Fosters” - 30
Sech - reggaeton singer - 31
Amanda Seyfriend - actress, “Mean Girls” & “Mamma Mia!” - 39
Andy Grammer - R&B singer - 41
Jenna Dewan - actress, “Step Up” & “Take the Lead” - 44
Anna Chlumsky - actress, “My Girl” - 44
Tiffany Haddish - comedian & actress, “The Carmichael Show” - 45
Trina - rapper - 48
Holly Marie Combs - actress, “Charmed” - 51
Montell Jordan - R&B singer - 56
Brendan Fraser - actor, “George of the Jungle” & “The Whale” - 56
Julianne Moore - actress, “Boogie Nights” & “Still Alice” - 64
Ozzy Osbourne - metal singer - 76
Born On This Date
Carol Sutton - actress, “Ray” & “Steel Magnolias” - 1944 (d. 2020)
Bobby Allison - race car driver - 1937 (d. 2024)
Andy Williams - pop singer - 1927 (d. 2012)
David Alter - invented the electric clock and electric buggy - 1807 (d. 1881)
John Wallis - mathematician who introduced the infinity symbol - 1616 (d. 1703)
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