12/4/2023: College Shmollege, Part 728
PLUS: Modern Warfare; Swift's Spotify; and “Racist Royals” Row Continues
Today is Monday, December 4, 2023.
It is the 338th day of the year.
27 days remain.
###
WHAT’S ON TAP
An historic landmark prepares for the worst and two Pacific airlines eye a merger. Details in HIT LIST.
FELICITY HUFFMAN speaks out about the college admissions scandal and MARK CUBAN opens up about his recent business moves. More in SHOWBIZ.
STEPHEN COLBERT returns and an HGTV star announces their exit. More details in CASTING CALL.
KHLOE KARDASHIAN’s ex has some words of advice for dating famous women. Find out what he said in KARDASH.
The “racist royals” row saga continues in ROYALS.
###
HIT LIST
You know the Garisenda Tower more commonly as the “Leaning Tower of Pisa,” and its days might be numbered.
The city council in Bologna, Italy, has ordered the construction of a special metal barrier to contain dust and debris if the tower spontaneously collapses to minimize collateral damage and injuries.
Officials say that they don’t necessarily anticipate the tower’s imminent fall, but when it does, it will all happen pretty suddenly. [via CNN]
###
MODERN WARFARE: Israeli Defense Forces have created an interactive digital map to warn people in Gaza where and when to expect offensive military maneuvers in order to minimize casualties.
Airplanes have dropped leaflets with QR codes that connect to the map, which divides Gaza into hundreds of numbered sections. Separate evacuation notices sent by text message then pinpoint the corresponding areas to expect the IDF to advance. [via @Doron_Kadosh]
###
COLLEGE SHMOLLEGE: The Yale Daily News reports that the average grade point average for a student at Yale College was a 3.70 for the last academic year. Nearly 80% of all grades handed out were in the A-range.
The findings were first presented – naturally – by an economics professor at the school, who showed a ten-point increase in the number of A-grades doled out over the last decade. One Yale professor (quite obviously) points out to the Daily News, “This results in compression, making it difficult for instructors to use grades for their intended purpose of helping students understand areas of strength and others that need attention.” [via Yale Daily News]
WORTH NOTING: By grade distribution, Economics was the most difficult subject – with 52.39% of students earning A-grades.
###
Two major airline carriers based on the West Coast announced plans to merge over the weekend: Alaska Airlines will acquire Hawaiian Airlines for about $1.9 BILLION if the deal is approved by federal regulators.
The plan would centrally locate operations for both airlines out of Seattle, where Alaska Airlines currently operates, but maintain the separate brands. Alaska would acquire nearly $1 BILLION worth of Hawaiian Airlines’ debt and pay $18 per share – well above its $4.86 market price from the end of last week.
If all goes according to plan, the deal would close in twelve to 18 months. [via CNBC]
###
Steubenville, Ohio is home to a record-breaking number of life-size nutcrackers.
The annual holiday display features over 200 larger-than-life creations, many of which are created to look like iconic characters and celebs, including Steubenville native, DEAN MARTIN and the cast of “Wizard of Oz.”
It all started in 2015 when woodworker Mark Nelson wanted to “bring light and life to downtown.” The first village featured 50 nutcrackers. [via People]
###
DEATHS
SANDRA DAY O’CONNOR, the first woman on the Supreme Court, has died.
She passed away Friday in Phoenix, Arizona after a years-long battle with Alzheimer's.
During her 24-year term on the bench, O’Connor voted on some of the court’s most contentious issues, including affirmative action and abortion. In 2009, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her role in transforming the American judiciary.
She was 93.
###
SICK BAY
“Supernatural” star MARK SHEPPARD suffered a series of massive heart attacks last Friday and had to be revived four separate times by EMTs.
According to the actor, he had a 100% blockage in his left anterior artery -- which is also called a “widowmaker.”
Now, he says he feels “great” and “humbled.”
###
WEEKEND BOX OFFICE
10. Thanksgiving: $2.6 million (down from 5)
9. Silent Night: $3 million (new)
8. The Shift: $4.3 million (new)
7. Animal: $6.1 million (new)
6. Napoleon: $7.1 million (down from 2)
5. Wish: $7.4 million (down from 3)
4: Trolls Band Together: $7.6 million (stayed at 4)
3. Godzilla Minus One: $11 million (new)
2. Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes: $14.5 million (down from 1)
1. Renaissance: A Film by Beyonce: $21 million (new)
###
BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The DOW increased 294 points (0.82%) to close at 36,245 on Friday. The S&P gained 26 points (0.59%) to close at 4,594 and the NASDAQ added 78 points (0.55%) to close at 14,350.
🛢 WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE closed at $74; BRENT CRUDE at $79.
⛽ The national average price of a GALLON OF GAS was $3.24 on Sunday.
₿ BITCOIN gained over the weekend, passing the $40,000 mark Sunday evening.
🛩 There were more than 3,421 FLIGHTS delayed within, into, or out of the United States on Sunday and more than 70 such cancellations.
💰Tuesday night’s MEGA MILLIONS drawing will be for a $377 million or a $175.4 million cash payout. Tonight’s POWERBALL drawing will be for a $412 million jackpot or a $194 million cash payout.
###
SHOWBIZ NEWS
BRITNEY SPEARS reunited with her mom LYNNE SPEARS on Friday -- one day before her 42nd birthday -- and, as she often does, marked the occasion with some snaps on Instagram.
One of the photos showed the duo cuddled up together on a couch, with Brit’s head on her mom’s shoulder.
The pair were also spotted out and about together on Saturday.
The reconciliation comes after years of the two being estranged over Britney’s 13-year conservatorship. [via Daily Mail]
###
In addition to being named Spotify’s top-streamed artist of the year, TAYLOR SWIFT is also on track to earn over $100 million in royalties on the platform this year.
By year end, Swift’s Spotify streams are expected to increase to an estimated 27.2 BILLION streams.
Across all music streaming platforms, including Apple Music, Amazon Music, and YouTube, Swift is estimated to earn around $160 million. [via Billboard]
###
More than four years after serving time in prison for her role in the infamous college admissions scandal, actress FELICITY HUFFMAN is speaking out about her actions.
“It felt like I had to give my daughter a chance at a future,” she told Los Angeles news station KABC-TV. “And so it was sort of like my daughter’s future which meant I had to break the law.”
Remember, Huffman pleaded guilty to paying admissions consultant RICK SINGER $15,000 to have a test proctor boost her daughter’s SAT score. For her crimes, she was sentenced to 14 days in prison. [via KABC]
WORTH NOTING: Her reasoning seems to infer that she didn’t believe her daughter was able to get into a good school on her own. Talk about being “Mom of the Year”; YIKES!
###
It turns out MARK CUBAN is liquidating assets and saying goodbye to the “Shark Tank” in order to spend more time with his family.
Speaking to NBC, Cuban shut down rumors that he is making room in his busy calendar to take a shot at the White House, saying his family would “disown” him if that was the case.
As previously reported, Cuban announced he will leave the ABC show next year, and is selling off his majority stake in the Dallas Mavericks. He has also recently hinted at investing in a massive hospitality and sports complex in the Dallas area that could even include a casino – which would first require legislative approval in Texas. [via NBC]
###
KELLY CLARKSON’s ex-husband, BRANDON BLACKSTOCK, has been ordered to pay her over $2.6 million after a judge found he “overstepped” in his managerial role and procured deals that should have been handled by a talent agent.
In the court filing, Blackstock was reportedly unlawfully paid commissions for several of Clarkson’s gigs, including nearly $2 million for her deal as coach on “The Voice,” over $200,000 for a promotional deal with NCL, $450,000 for her collaboration with Wayfair, and $93 for her multi-year contract as host of the Billboard Music Awards.
According to the Talent Agencies Act, “a manager, like any person without a talent agency license, cannot procure or attempt to procure employment for artists.” [via Buzzfeed]
###
Taking a trip to Disneyland is expensive, especially for dad-of-a-dozen, NICK CANNON.
During a recent appearance on “The Breakfast Club,” Cannon revealed that he spends around $200,000 at the park annually -- though he says he is there about once a month.
It is unclear if he takes all 12 kids at once or if he splits up his time with them. [via Page Six]
###
WHOOPSIES: Actor MICHAEL B. JORDAN crashed his dark blue Ferrari into a similarly colored Kia that was parked on a street in Hollywood late Saturday night.
Responding officers performed a field sobriety test and found that the actor did not appear to be under the influence. Thankfully, there were no injuries reported.
No word on what caused the crash though. [via TMZ]
###
CASTING CALL
STEPHEN COLBERT’s “The Late Show” returns tonight after a week-long hiatus due to his ruptured appendix.
No word on whether or not JENNIFER GARNER, BAZ LUHRMANN, PATRICK STEWART, JON BATISTE and KELSEY GRAMMER’s missed appearances will be made up. [via Deadline]
###
HILARY FARR is leaving HGTV’s “Love It or List It” after 17 seasons.
Farr appeared on 258 episodes alongside frenemy, real estate agent DAVID VISENTIN.
On the show, the two competed to win over homeowners on the idea of remodeling their home or selling it.
No word on who will replace her. [via Variety]
###
50 CENT is taking his decades-long, on-again, off-again feud with fellow rapper SEAN “Diddy” COMBS to the small screen.
Page Six reports that 50’s production company, G-Unit Films and Television, is working on a documentary about Diddy and the recent allegations of abuse made by his ex, CASSIE and others.
Diddy, who has denied the claims, has not commented on the documentary. [via Page Six]
###
CELEBRITY CELLBLOCK
JUSSIE SMOLLETT is (maybe) heading back to jail.
An appeals court upheld his 2021 conviction of a 2019 hate crime hoax.
Remember, the actor was convicted of FIVE felony counts of disorderly conduct related to the alleged racist, homophobic attack. He was sentenced to 150 days, but only served six of those days as his appeal was pending.
Smollett’s team says they will keep fighting the decision. [via NY Post]
###
THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
KHLOE KARDASHIAN’s ex-husband, LAMAR ODOM, has some advice for anyone trying to date an uber-famous celebrity, specifically TRAVIS KELCE.
“My advice would be to be strong and stay by her and be as close to her as possible,” meaning Kelce should keep his eyes only on TAYLOR SWIFT, because “there are going to be millions of women that want to taste what [she] is tasting.”
Lamar and Khloe were married from 2006 to 2016, during which there were several instances of infidelity on his part. [via Pinkvilla]
###
POLL RESULTS: On Friday we asked if you thought the Kardashians were only famous for being famous.
The majority of respondents (60%) stated they couldn't care less, while “Yes” responses and “No” responses were tied with 20% of the votes each.
###
WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
KING CHARLES spent the weekend with advisers and PRINCE WILLIAM on how to handle the “royal racists” row sparked last week.
WORTH REMEMBERING: Journalist OMID SCOBIE’s book “Endgame” hit shelves last week, promising an inside account of the modern monarchy. In one section, he revisits the claims made by MEGHAN MARKLE in 2021 that a senior member of the Royal Family had open concerns about PRINCE ARCHIE’s skin color before he was born – but Scobie said he did not name names for fear of a lawsuit.
BUT WAIT: The Dutch translation of the book revealed the King to be one of those who made these remarks, and later suggested indirectly that PRINCESS KATE made similar claims.
MEANWHILE: So far The Firm hasn’t made a formal statement. While Scobie maintains that no version of his manuscript ever named Charles or Kate, the translator for the Dutch version insists the names were absolutely in the version of the manuscript that he edited. [via Express]
IT GETS WORSE (FOR SCOBIE): Scobie also claims in the book that TAYLOR SWIFT turned down an invitation to perform at Charles’ coronation earlier this year. As he is learning, it’s a bad idea to scorn a Swiftie: her army of sycophants took to social media to defend the pop star, rightfully pointing out that she was in the thick of her Eras tour during the coronation and turning down the monarch was not a snub. [via DailyMail]
###
DAY OF THE YEAR
National Sock Day
International Cheetah Day
Cabernet Franc Day
National Dice Day
World Wildlife Conservation Day
Wear Brown Shoes Day
Santa’s List Day
National Cookie Day
Walt Disney Day
###
ON THIS DATE
1783 - General George Washington tells his closest officers that he will resign as general.
He fully intended to quietly return to civilian life.
The resolute Washington reportedly choked up and cried briefly while embracing and bidding goodbye to his closest confidants.
The official resignation would be delivered to Congress on December 23.
He would spend six relatively quiet years as a farmer before his election as the first President of the United States in 1789.
###
1917 - The concept of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder first appears in a medical context.
Psychiatrist WH Rivers wrote a report called "The Repression of War Experience."
It included anecdotal evidence of British soldiers who had returned from combat during World War I who suffered from anxiety and nightmares.
Rivers suggested that the emotional toll could often rival the physical toll that war took on soldiers.
###
1918 - Woodrow Wilson departs Washington on a trip in which he would become the first sitting president to visit Europe on state business.
He traveled for nine days aboard the S.S. George Washington on the way to France. At Versailles, Wilson discussed a formal peace treaty to end World War I.
For his efforts, he would be awarded the 1920 Nobel Peace Prize.
###
1945 - After a ratification vote in the Senate, the United States becomes a participating member of the United Nations.
The organization was officially founded by China, France, the Soviet Union, Britain and the U.S. in October that year at the conclusion of World War II.
With approval from the Senate, the U.S. could constitutionally participate and contribute.
###
2009 - Amanda Knox is convicted of murder by an Italian Court.
The American student studying abroad was implicated in the murder of her roommate, with her boyfriend as an accomplice.
After a series of appeals, Knox would eventually be acquitted in 2011. Then in 2013, Italian prosecutors retried the case, leading to a second conviction – though Knox remained in the United States for that process. Fortunately, Italy’s highest court overturned that conviction in 2015, closing the book on the case.
###
2022 - Mt Semeru, Indonesia’s highest volcano, erupts.
Clouds of gas and rivers of lava cover the island of Java, with some columns of ash blasting more than 5,000 feet into the sky.
Semeru’s last eruption was a year prior; 51 people died.
###
BIRTHDAYS
Jin - pop singer, BTS - 31
Nafeesa Williams - actress, “One Life to Live” - 34
Orlando Brown - actor, “That’s So Raven” - 36
Ronnie Ortiz-Magro - reality star, “Jersey Shore”- 38
Joe Thomas - football player - 39
Lauren London - actress, “The Game” - 39
JellyRoll - country singer - 39
Jay Demerit - soccer player - 44
Tyra Banks - model & TV shot host - 50
Jay-Z - rapper - 54
Fred Armisen - comedian - 57
Marisa Tomei - actress, “My Cousin Vinny” & “Wild Hogs” - 59
Jeff Bridges - actor, “The Big Lebowski” & “True Grit” - 74
Born On This Date
Pappy Boyington - combat pilot & fighter ace, WWII -- 1912 (d. 1988)
Chester Greenwood - inventor of earmuffs - 1858 (d. 1937)
Crazy Horse - Sioux chief, Battle of the Little Bighorn - 1840 (d. 1877)
###