2/10/2023: Sword Swiper in Portland
PLUS: Spy Balloon Revelations; Matthew McConaughey’s New Book; and Who is Harry?
Today is Friday, February 10, 2023.
It is the 41st day of the year.
324 days remain.
WHAT’S ON TAP
KIM JONG JUNIOR’s still kicking and New Zealand makes an historic blow bust off the coast. More in HIT LIST.
Some early analysis of the spying technology aboard China’s spy balloon and the latest on RON DESANTIS’ decision to run in 2024. More in THE SWAMP.
An intervention was planned for BRITNEY SPEARS this week and TOMMY LEE bares it all again. More in SHOWBIZ.
Disney is working on sequels for some of its major franchises. More in CASTING CALL.
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HIT LIST
As Ukrainian President VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY makes the rounds in Europe for ongoing military support, Russian forces appear to be amassing troops and resources for another major offensive. The new push would symbolically coincide with the one year anniversary of the hot war there.
The Sun reports that a half million troops have gathered near the front lines, accompanied by a variety of tanks, armored vehicles, and artillery. [via The Sun]
MEANWHILE: Turns out KIM JONG JUNIOR is still alive and healthy enough to attend North Korea’s military parade Wednesday night, which marked the 75th anniversary of the founding of the country’s army.
WORTH NOTING: Junior once again brought one of his daughters to the event, who has popped up at other official events in recent months. Junior typically keeps a tight lid on his family, but may be bringing her into the fold to clarify the succession plan. [via Reuters]
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Yahoo has announced 1,600 layoffs in its advertising division, representing a 20% workforce reduction overall. About 1,000 of those jobs won’t be returning to work on Monday. Ultimately, it appears Yahoo has given up on competing directly with Google in the online advertising space.
Verizon owned the search engine for a few years before offloading it in 2021 to a private equity firm for $5 BILLION.
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Chick-fil-A is testing a meat-alternative sandwich, with a breaded cauliflower offering that has rolled out in three markets.
The restaurant has reportedly spent four years developing the recipe, and tried different combinations of vegetable patties before settling on cauliflower. No word yet on plans to take the menu item national – yet.
WORTH NOTING: McDonald’s has already launched a McPlant burger in the UK, Burger King has bet big on the Impossible Whopper, and KFC has a Beyond Meat chicken nugget offering. [via Associated Press]
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New Zealand authorities have recovered a flotilla of cocaine left unprotected in the Pacific Ocean. The haul included 81 bales of blow weighing more than three tons on a floating raft, worth an estimated $318 MILLION on the street.
New Zealand police commissioner Andrew Coster said it’s enough cocaine to last New Zealand’s druggies for about 30 years – or about a year for Australia. No word if that’s a cultural dig on Australia, or if that’s a function of different population sizes. [via NZ Police]
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This must have made for an awkward police report: A Portland, Oregon man says his sword collection was stolen from his car last weekend.
The thieves made off with a rapier, a cavalry saber, a steel longsword, a zweihander, and other training tools and accessories worth an estimated $3,000.
WORTH NOTING: The victim isn’t totally kooky for keeping the weapons in his vehicle; he teaches fencing classes in a nearby park. [via KPTV]
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CHARTS
What’s Streaming?
New to Amazon Prime:
Somebody I Used to Know (Rotten Tomatoes Score: No Score)
If I Stay (Score: 35%)
New to Disney+:
House of Darkness (Score: 59%)
The Christmas Consultant (No Score)
The Santa Con (No Score)
Tommy (No Score)
New to Hulu:
Brimstone (Score: 43%)
Jesus Henry Christ (Score: 22%)
Pound of Flesh (Score: 14%)
Something in the Dirt (Score: 91%)
The Perfect Weapon (No Score)
The Storied Life of AJ Fikry (Score: 35%)
New to Netflix:
10 Days of a Good Man (No Score)
Your Place or Mine (No Score)
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DEATHS
Composer and songwriter BURT BACHARACH has died.
He passed away Wednesday at his home of natural causes, according to his publicist.
Bacharach is best known for his hits “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head” and “I Say a Little Prayer.”
He was 94.
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BABY NEWS
Fox News correspondent PETER DOOCY, 35, and his wife, journalist HILARY VAUGHN, 33, have welcomed their first child, a baby girl.
Doocy announced the arrival in a tweet on Thursday, writing that Bridget Blake Doocy was born on February 1.
WHAT’S IN THE WATER AT FOX?: Doocy is one of several Fox employees to recently announce a pregnancy or birth. Former White House press secretary and “Outnumbered” co-host KAYLEIGH MCENANY welcomed a son in December and “The Five” co-host JESSE WATTERS announced he and his wife are due in April.
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SICK BAY
Senator JOHN FETTERMAN, 53, was under observation in a DC hospital on Thursday after falling ill the day prior.
According to his communications director, Fetterman started feeling lightheaded at the Senate Democratic retreat on Wednesday evening and was taken to the hospital.
Fetterman suffered a near-fatal stroke last May. Doctors do not believe this incident is connected.
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THE SWAMP
Here’s President JOE BIDEN touting his imagined economic policy victories in Tampa yesterday:
“If you make a billion or a million dollars, God love you, just pay something,” he said.
WORTH NOTING: In 2020, the top one percent of earners paid 42.3% of all income taxes, and paid about 60% more than the bottom 90% COMBINED. The top half of earners in America paid 97.7% of ALL federal income taxes. [via Tax Foundation]
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A few details about the Chinese spy balloon have leaked following briefings to Congress about what intelligence agencies have already learned.
One State Department official tells CNN that the balloon had capabilities to conduct electronic surveillance, likely by intercepting phone calls and other data sent between devices.
What’s left of the balloon that’s already been recovered is being studied at an FBI lab in Quantico, Virginia. [via CNN]
WORTH NOTING: For the dorks saying not to worry about the balloon because China already has spy satellites, the balloon would be able to interact with devices on the ground in a way satellites in space would not.
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America’s Governor RON DESANTIS is “on the cusp” of making a decision about running for president in 2024, The Hill reports.
His team apparently is gaming out when to announce, on the assumption DeSantis is full steam ahead – but a formal announcement would likely be in May or June. [via The Hill]
WORTH NOTING: A late announcement makes a lot of sense for DeSantis who is already a top contender despite having not launched anything official. A later announcement also gives him the opportunity to get a lay of the land as other Republicans announce their candidacies in the coming weeks.
BY THE WAY: Former President DONALD TRUMP got his Instagram and Facebook accounts back on Thursday.
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BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The DOW lost 249 points (0.73%) to close at 33,699 on Thursday. The S&P lost 36 points (0.88%) to close at 4,081 and the NASDAQ lost 120 points (1.02%) to close at 11,789.
🛢 WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE closed at $77; BRENT CRUDE at $84.
⛽ The national average price of a GALLON OF GAS was $3.43 on Thursday.
₿ BITCOIN got clobbered, losing nearly 5% and trading around $21,800.
🛩 There were more than 2,875 FLIGHTS delayed within, into, or out of the United States on Thursday and more than 120 such cancellations.
💰Tonight’s MEGA MILLIONS drawing will be for a $50 million jackpot or a $26.4 million cash payout. Saturday night’s POWERBALL drawing will be for a $34 million jackpot or a $18.3 million cash payout.
SHOWBIZ NEWS
The albums drop today:
American Authors, “Best Night Of my Life”
Andy Bell, “Strange Loops & Outer Psych”
Bailey Miller, “Love Is a Dying”
Carole King, “Home Again: Carole King Live In Central Park”
Chase Rice, “I Hate Cowboys & All Dogs Go To Hell”
CIVIC, “Taken By Force”
The GOLDEN DREGS, “On Grace & Dignity”
In Flames, “Forgone”
Maps, “Counter Melodies”
Narrow Head, “Moments of Clarity”
Paramore, “This Is Why”
Quasi, “Breaking The Balls of History”
The Rolling Stones, “GRRR Live!”
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An intervention for BRITNEY SPEARS was planned for earlier this week, but then later scrapped.
A source told Page Six that Brit’s husband, SAM ASGHARI, her manager, an interventionist and doctors were planning to try to get the singer to accept treatment, but later pulled back after the whole thing was “deemed unnecessary.”
“Britney is fine, and much of [the concern] has been overblown and grossly distorted,” the insider added.
TMZ reports that Britney did agree to meet with a doctor, though what kind is not clear, and the meeting “went well.”
For her part, Brit has insisted that she is fine amid all the hysteria over her mental state. [via Page Six]
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COCO AUSTIN, 43, has joined OnlyFans.
The model, and wife of actor ICE-T, shared the news on Instagram this week, explaining that she is using the platform to post photos that she isn’t allowed to share elsewhere.
Several fans cheered on her new venture, while others condemned her for “lowering” herself to the salacious site. [via Page Six]
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PAUL RUDD’s son thought his job was working at a movie theater.
In a clip of an upcoming episode of “Sunday Today with Willie Geist,” Rudd spoke about the moment his son realized what he actually does for a living.
“I think when he was 15, he finally put it all together,” he said, while explaining that he “never corrected” his son about working at a theater. “No, I work at AMC Loews in Santa Monica,” he joked.
Rudd sat down for the interview to promote his new film “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania,” which hits theaters on February 17. [via The Hollywood Reporter]
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TOMMY LEE once again bared it all on social media.
The 60-year-old drummer posted the NSFW photo of his backside, captioning it “Hey @MrPeanut let’s collab!... I’ll bring the NUTZ!!!!”
Last August Lee posted a full-frontal nude photo on Instagram. [via Page Six]
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The parents and sister of “Rust” cinematographer HALYNA HUTCHINS have filed a civil lawsuit against ALEC BALDWIN.
The filing comes three weeks after the actor was hit with two involuntary manslaughter charges in connection to Hutchins’ death.
Last October, Baldwin and other “Rust” producers settled a wrongful death lawsuit filed by Hutchins’ husband. [via People]
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MATTHEW MCCONAUGHEY is releasing his second book, this time a children’s book, titled “Just Because.”
The actor told People Magazine that the book “explores all of life’s little complexities through the eyes of children while seeing the world and each other as full of possibility.”
McConaughey’s memoir, “Greenlights,” debuted in 2020. [via People]
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KOBE BRYANT’s signed, game-worn jersey from his 2007-08 MVP season sold for $5.8 million at auction this week.
Sotheby’s Auction House told TMZ that the jersey set a new record for Kobe-related sports memorabilia sold at auction. It is also the second-most valuable basketball jersey to ever hit the market. [via TMZ]
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CASTING CALL
Disney CEO BOB IGER announced this week that there are new “Toy Story” and “Frozen” sequels in the works, as well as a “Zootopia” sequel.
There are already four “Toy Story” films, plus last year’s spinoff, “Lightyear.” The “Frozen” franchise has two films, a Disney on Ice show, Broadway musical and numerous short films.
No word on when the sequels are expected to be released. [via Variety]
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The downfall of former Subway spokesperson JARED FOGLE will be the focus of a new three-part documentary for ID, called “Jared from Subway: Catching A Monster.”
In the mid-90s, Fogle was an overweight college student who ultimately lost over 240 pounds by eating Subway sandwiches, leading to him becoming the face of the franchise.
Fast forward to 2015 and the public learned exactly who Fogle was behind-the-scenes: a child predator. After an FBI raid on his home and subsequent investigation, the dad-of-two was sentenced to 27 years in prison on child pornography charges.
“Jared from Subway: Catching A Monster” premieres on March 6. [via People]
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
KIM and KHLOE KARDASHIAN, along with their mom KRIS JENNER, gifted PARIS HILTON and her husband CARTER REUM, a life-size alpaca toy for their baby boy.
Paris shared her excitement over the gift on Instagram, writing how she “literally thought it was a real alpaca.”
Kris also sent the new family of three a Hermes Fine China set. [via Life & Style]
WORTH NOTING: A friend of Paris previously told the publication that Hilton spent “at least $1 million” on the baby’s room, which includes a “walk-in closet full of hundreds of designer clothes, just like his mom.”
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
While chatting with residents in East London this week, KING CHARLES was asked if he could “bring back Harry.”
Charles responded with one word: “Who?”
He then chuckled and moved on. [via The Sun]
WORTH NOTING: Royal insiders claim Charles wants PRINCE HARRY to attend his coronation in May (no word on whether that sentiment also extends to MEGHAN MARKLE), but other sources say an invite has not yet been extended to them.
SPEAKING OF THE CORONATION: Charles has canceled his annual Swiss skiing trip to avoid possibly injuring himself before his big day. He has taken the trip every year for the last 45 years, a source confirmed to The Sun. [via The Sun]
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SASHA WALPOLE, the woman who claims to have taken PRINCE HARRY’s manhood, appeared on PIERS MORGAN’s show “Uncensored” yesterday.
During the interview, Morgan asked if she felt Harry “traded up or down?”
“Definitely down,” Walpole quipped. [via The Sun]
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LIST OF THE WEEK
Foodie website “Delish” analyzed Google search data to reveal the most-searched dip recipe in each state ahead of this weekend’s big game. Here’s some highlights:
BUFFALO CHICKEN DIP was the most common favorite and most-searched in Colorado, Washington DC, Hawaii, Indiana, Kansas, Massachusetts, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Vermont
TACO DIP was the favorite in Connecticut, Minnesota, Missouri, and Wisconsin
Dessert-ish dips were the favorites in Oklahoma (cranberry jalapeno dip), Georgia (dessert dip), West Virginia (fruit dip), and Montana (no-bake peanut butter dip)
Some combinations of spinach and/or artichoke dips were the favorite in Kentucky, Virginia, and Wyoming (artichoke dip); Idaho, Mississippi, and New Jersey (spinach dip); and New York (spinach and artichoke dip).
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DAY OF THE YEAR
National Cream Cheese Brownie Day
National Umbrella Day
Plimsoll Day
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ON THIS DATE
1763 – The Seven Years' War ends with the signing of the Treaty of Paris.
France, Great Britain, and Spain had been fighting for more than 7 years. In America, it's known as the French and Indian War, where French expansion into the Ohio River Valley often put them at odds with British colonies—and with Native Americans.
As conditions of peace, France surrendered Canada, and handed over Louisiana to Spain.
Britain took Spanish holdings in Florida and parts of Canada.
Twenty years later the French were still ticked at the Brits. Much of that sentiment contributed to their assistance to the Yankees in the American Revolution.
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1861 – Jefferson Davis learns that the Confederate Constitutional Convention chose him as President of the Confederacy.
Davis had been a Senator from Mississippi and served as the US Secretary of War in the 1850s.
Davis did not want the position. He wrote that he had no confidence in his abilities to do it well.
The Confederate Vice President would call him "weak and vacillating, timid, petulant, peevish, obstinate."
After the fall of the Confederacy, he was captured and jailed for 2 years.
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1962 – American pilot Gary Powers is released from Soviet custody.
He had been a pilot flying a CIA spy plane, and was shot down over Yekaterinburg in west-central Russia. Protocol called for him to destroy the plane and kill himself with the suicide capsule, but both he and the plane fell into Soviet hands.
At first the U.S. denied any connection to Powers, but later scaled back.
While Soviets said they were releasing Powers after two years of imprisonment because of pleas from his family, Americans made it clear the switch was a spy-for-spy trade. The U.S. was giving up Rudolf Abel, a Soviet convicted of spying in America.
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1996 – Chess phenom Gary Kasparov loses to a computer.
It's the first time a computer beats a world-class chess champion. The IBM was named Deep Blue. It evaluated 200 million moves per second.
The match lasted 3 hours.
Ultimately Kasparov came out on top—he won 3 other games in the match and tied two others.
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2005 - Prince Charles announces his engagement to Camilla Parker Bowles.
The two dated in the early 1970s, but Camilla did not fit as the wife to the heir of the throne, so they were ultimately forced apart.
They would reunite several times over the years, most notably during Charles’ marriage to Princess Diana.
Following Charles’ divorce from Diana, Queen Elizabeth II recognized his relationship with Camilla and announced that she would receive royal status when Charles ascended the throne. That all went to plan; after the Queen’s death in 2022, Camila became Queen Consort.
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2009 – An outbreak of tornadoes wreaks havoc across Oklahoma, Texas, and Louisiana.
A total of 15 were recorded. While property damage was extensive, casualties were minimal.
The next day another four were recorded across Louisiana, Tennessee, Indiana and Virginia, but were relatively smaller and shorter.
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2015 - Jon Stewart announces he will be leaving “The Daily Show” at the end of the year.
He hosted the show for 16 years. The show racked up 13 consecutive Emmy wins for outstanding variety series from 2003-2015.
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2020 - More than 30 bushfires are put out by the heaviest rainfall in 30 years in New South Wales, Australia.
The rain helped end one of the worst bushfire seasons ever.
Over 46 million acres were burnt, over 1 billion animals killed and 34 human deaths.
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BIRTHDAYS
Yara Shahidi - actress, “Black-ish” & “Grown-ish” - 23
Chloe Grace Moretz - actress, “Hugo” & “If I Stay” - 26
Emma Roberts - actress, “Unfabulous” & “Scream Queens” - 32
Jade Ramesey - actress, “House of Anubis” - 35
Zaza Pachulia - basketball player - 39
Vic Fuentes - rock singer, Pierce The Veil - 40
Stephanie Beatriz - actress, “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” - 42
Elizabeth Banks - actress, “Magic Mike XXL” & “Pitch Perfect” - 49
Laura Dern - actress, “Jurassic Park” & “Big Little Lies” - 56
Glenn Beck - political commentator - 59
Robert Wagner - actor, “It Takes a Thief” & “Hart to Hart” - 93
Born On This Date
Cliff Burton - bassist, Metallica - 1962 (d. 1986)
Neva Patterson - actress, “The Seven Year Itch” & “Taxi” - 1922 (d. 2010)
Alan Hale Sr. - actor, “The Adventures of Robin Hood” - 1892 (d. 1950)
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