2/12/2024: ‘Roo on the Loose 🦘
PLUS: T-Bell Tech Conference; Taylor’s Stalker Update; and Harry Settles (Again)
Today is Monday, February 12, 2024.
It is the 43rd day of the year.
323 days remain.
PROGRAMMING NOTE
For February 14-16 and 19-20, the daily newsletter content will be scaled back slightly as half of our two-man team takes a couple of days off.
We will be back to full force starting February 21.
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WHAT’S ON TAP
JEFF BEZOS cashes out and the IDF makes a terrifying discovery in Gaza. Details in HIT LIST.
BRANGELINA’s divorce may soon be finalized and BEN AFFLECK doesn’t kiss and tell. More in SHOWBIZ.
“The Golden Bachelorette” is a go at ABC. Details in CASTING CALL.
How did YE manage to piss off OZZY OSBOURNE and the family of the late DONNA SUMMERS? Find out in KARDASH.
A victory for PRINCE HARRY and swift backlash from a top media personality. Details in ROYALS.
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HIT LIST
Israel Defense Forces announced over the weekend the discovery of a Hamas technology and data center located directly underneath the United Nations Relief and Works Agency headquarters in Gaza.
On paper, the UNRWA does not support or shelter Hamas and works on behalf of the citizens of Gaza. This discovery makes that assertion hard to believe.
An IDF officer tells The Times of Israel, “There is no doubt that UNRWA staff knew that [Hamas] was digging a massive tunnel beneath them,” Aharon said. “There’s a perimeter wall, a gate, cameras, at the gate they log who comes in and out. Whoever worked at UNRWA knew very well who was coming in, and who they were covering for.”
The head of the UNRWA says he and his team left the building just days after the October 7 Hamas terrorist attacks in Israel and that previous routine inspections of the facility did not show any connection to this central hive of Hamas operations.
The discovery of this tunnel follows the news last month that 12 members of the UNRWA took part in the October 7 terrorist attacks. [via Times of Israel]
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JEFF BEZOS is on a selling spree.
The AMAZON founder cashed out more than $2 BILLION worth of stock in the company this week. On Friday, he filed paperwork proposing to sell another 50 MILLION shares worth over $8 BILLION. [via NPR]
WORTH REMEMBERING: Bezos has been on a real estate buying spree on Florida’s Indian Creek Island – better known as the “billionaire bunker” – buying adjacent properties last year for nearly $150 MILLION. Previous reporting has suggested that Bezos plans to demolish the existing buildings and build a megamansion on the site. Even spending several hundred million on demolition and construction would leave him very, very, very liquid.
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Hopper, a 7-year-old kangaroo, caused some chaos at an apartment complex in Tampa, Florida last week.
A confused resident called 911 to report the animal was jumping around inside the pool area of the complex. Officers from the local police department, as well as the Agriculture Unit, responded to the scene where Hopper was led into a trailer and removed from the property.
Authorities were able to track down Hopper’s owners, who showed paperwork that they were approved to own not one, but TWO kangaroos at their property.
No word on how Hopper escaped or how he ended up at the apartment complex. [via Tampa Bay Times]
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TACO BELL on Friday held a media event announcing a new slate of menu items in a style reminiscent of a tech conference or Apple launch event.
Presenters stood on a triangular stage in front of a massive video screen backdrop, hyping up new offerings like crispy chicken nuggets, “street chalupas,” Baja Blast-flavored gelato, and milkshakes.
And if the Bell’s spicy offerings leave you thirsty, you can wash it down by chugging one of their new cold brew latte offerings. Let’s hope it also comes with a roll of toilet paper. [via IGN, Newswire]
You can watch the whole bizarre program here >
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An American research team believes that wild wolves inhabiting the exclusion zone around Chernobyl have developed cancer-resistant genes nearly 40 years after the disastrous meltdown.
While the finding sounds spooky, scientists believe the development could aid in understanding how to cure and prevent cancer in humans. After tracking wolves with collars that detect location and radiation levels, the study group was subject to six times the radiation a human should endure to remain healthy.
The researchers found both altered immune systems and adapted genetic information suggesting resiliency from cancer. [via Sky]
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DEATHS
Former Dutch Prime Minister DRIES VAN AGT and his wife EUGENIE have died.
The couple passed away last Monday, “hand in hand,” by legal euthanasia, according to The Rights Forum, a human rights organization Agt founded.
Both had been suffering from deteriorating health for sometime before they made the collective decision to die together, the organization stated.
They were both 93.
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KELVIN KIPTUM has died.
The 24-year-old marathon runner and his coach were killed in a car accident in Kenya on Sunday.
Kiptum smashed the world record marathon time in October, finishing the Chicago Marathon at 2:00.35, becoming the first racer to finish under two hours, one minute.
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SICK BAY
OJ SIMPSON has been diagnosed with prostate cancer.
No word on when exactly he received the diagnosis, but multiple sources report that he has been receiving chemotherapy for some time.
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Defense Secretary LLOYD AUSTIN was taken to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center Sunday for symptoms of an “emergent bladder issue.”
The 70-year-old is battling prostate cancer.
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WEEKEND BOX OFFICE
10. Poor Things: $1.1 million (down from 9)
9. American Fiction: $1.3 million (down from 8)
8. Mean Girls: $1.9 million (down from 6)
7. Anyone But You: $2.7 million (stayed at 7)
6. Migration: $3 million (down from 5)
5. Wonka: $3.1 million (down from 4)
4. The Chosen: S4 Episodes 1-3: $3.2 million (down from 2)
3. The Beekeeper: $3.4 million (stayed at 3)
2. Lisa Frankenstein: $3.8 million (new)
1. Argylle: $6.5 million (stayed at 1)
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BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The DOW lost 54 points (0.14%) to close at 38,671 on Friday. The S&P gained 28 points (0.57%) to close at 5,026 and the NASDAQ increased 196 points (1.25%) to close at 15,990.
🛢 WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE closed at $76 on Friday; BRENT CRUDE at $82.
⛽ The national average price of a GALLON OF GAS increased to $3.18 on Sunday.
₿ BITCOIN continued to climb over the weekend, trading over $48,000 on Sunday.
🛩 There were more than 2,580 FLIGHTS delayed within, into, or out of the United States on Sunday and more than 50 such cancellations.
💰Tuesday night’s MEGA MILLIONS drawing will be for a $425 million jackpot or a $202 million cash payout. Tonight’s POWERBALL drawing will be for a $270 million jackpot or a $130.4 million cash payout.
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SHOWBIZ NEWS
USHER celebrated his 30-year musical career during the Super Bowl Halftime show, opening with his early 2000s hits “Caught Up” and “U Don’t Have to Call.”
ALICIA KEYS stole the show in a red hot bedazzled jumpsuit, with a red piano to match. She started out with her hit “If I Ain’t Got You” before launching into “My Boo” -- her 2004 song with Usher.
H.E.R. absolutely shredded her surprise performance, giving off PRINCE-vibes with her guitar solo.
For what is arguably his biggest hit -- “Yeah!” -- Usher was joined by LIL JON and LUDACRIS.
WHERE’S THE BIEBS?: Fans were disappointed that JUSTIN BIEBER was not included in the performance, especially with him being Usher’s protege and all.
AD OUTRAGE: Uber Eats edited their Super Bowl commercial after backlash over a joke about having a food allergy.
The ad centers on a running joke of forgetfulness, with DAVID SCHWIMMER and JENNIFER ANISTON, who forgets she worked with him on “Friends” for 10 years; DAVID and VICTORIA BECKHAM, who cannot recall her former band name: the SPICE GIRLS; and country singer JELLY ROLL trying to wash off all his tattoos.
The outrage over the ad comes from a non-celeb whose face swells after eating a spoonful of peanut butter, while saying, “There’s peanuts in peanut butter? Oh, it’s the primary ingredient.”
The ad was called out by the Food Allergy Research & Education advocacy group, who shared their disappointment over the use of “life-threatening food allergies as humor.” [via USA Today]
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The 2024 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nominees are here!
Of the 15 names, 10 are on the ballot for the first time, including MARIAH CAREY, CHER, FOREIGNER, PETER FRAMPTON, KOOL & THE GANG, LENNY KRAVITZ, OASIS, SINEAD O’CONNOR, OZZY OSBOURNE, and SADE.
The other five are MARY J. BLIGE, DAVE MATTHEWS BAND, ERIC B. & RAKIM, JANE’S ADDICTION, and A TRIBE CALLED QUEST.
Inductees will be announced in April and the Induction Ceremony will take place this fall. [via Deadline]
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The end may be in sight for BRAD PITT and ANGELINA JOLIE’s contentious divorce.
According to court documents, the exes have submitted their final financial disclosures. This is huge as the divorce has been seemingly stalled for the last few years.
Pitt and Jolie got engaged in 2012 and married in 2014. Jolie filed for divorce in 2016. [via TMZ]
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UPDATE: TAYLOR SWIFT’s alleged stalker has been deemed unfit to stand trial based on the results of his psychological exam.
The Manhattan D.A. says the criminal case against David Crowe has been dismissed and he will instead be committed to the custody of the Office of Mental Health.
Crowe was arraigned last month after showing up at Swift’s Tribeca home three times in under a week. [via CBS]
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BEN AFFLECK is keeping mum on the alleged kiss that BRITNEY SPEARS claims they shared years ago.
When asked about it by photogs over the weekend, Affleck’s demeanor went from pleasant and happy to sour real quick.
Remember, Spears shared a throwback picture of herself and Affleck last week, while claiming she made out with him the same night the photo was taken.
The post was deleted shortly after she shared it, however. [via Us Weekly]
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Actor WIL WHEATON is not a fan of LARRY DAVID’s assault on Elmo.
For those unfamiliar with the incident, David attacked the beloved muppet during an appearance on the “Today” show earlier this month, and while he apologized for his antics, many -- such as Wheaton -- are still upset over it.
Days after the incident, Wheaton shared his reaction on Facebook, writing, “What the [eff] is wrong with that guy? Elmo is, like, the best friend to multiple generations of children. In the ‘Sesame Street’ universe, ELMO IS A CHILD, who is currently putting mental health and caring for others in the spotlight.”
He also called David a “stupid, self-centered, tone deaf [a–]hole,” while sharing a story about how when he was a child, his dad would shake him and yell in his face.
Comments on Wheaton’s post ranged from support for “his openness” to those calling his comment “the cringiest thing imaginable.” [via Decider]
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Actor CARL WEATHERS’ official cause of death was due to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
The manner of death is listed as “natural” as Weathers had suffered from heart disease for years, according to his death certificate.
Remember, Weathers passed away in his sleep on February 1 at 76-years-old. [via The Blast]
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Former wrestling star BILLY JACK HAYNES was arrested last Thursday for allegedly fatally shooting his wife.
Responding to reports of gunfire, officers took Haynes into custody after an hour-long standoff. His wife, 85-year-old Janette Becraft, was found dead in the home.
Haynes was a fixture in the ring in the ‘80s, and retired in 1995. [via NY Post]
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CASTING CALL
The family of Griselda Blanco have settled the lawsuit filed against Netflix and actress SOFIA VERGARA for the mini series centering on the Colombian drug lord.
Blanco’s son filed the suit in mid-January in an effort to block the series from debuting on Netflix on January 25. He argued the family did not give permission to the streamer to use their “image, likeness and/or identity” for the show.
Vergara, who stars in “Griselda,” also served as executive producer, which is why she was named in the suit.
According to the settlement, the suit was dismissed with prejudice, meaning it cannot be brought back to the court. No other detials are known. [via THR]
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“The Golden Bachelorette” is in the works at ABC.
The spinoff, set to air this fall, comes on the heels of “The Golden Bachelor,” which saw 72-year-old Gerry Turner find love with Theresa Nist.
No details on who the leading lady will be. [via Vulture]
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
YE’s album “Vultures” finally dropped on Friday -- over a month after it was originally supposed to be released. While devoted fans were ecstatic about the release, others were not as thrilled about what they heard.
OZZY OSBOURNE shared his thoughts on X, writing that Ye sampled BLACK SABBATH’s song “Iron Man,” even after he was denied permission to do so. Osbourne’s wife SHARON added her own irate post, telling Ye that he “[effed] with the wrong Jew this time.” The couple have reportedly sent off a cease and desist letter.
Elsewhere, DONNA SUMMER’s estate says Ye asked permission to sample her song, “I Feel Love,” but was denied. Not liking that answer, Summer’s estate says Ye “changed the words, had someone re sing it or used AI.” They are accusing him of “copyright infringement.”
Last December the BACKSTREET BOYS took issue with Ye sampling their 1997 hit “Everybody (Backstreet’s Back)” for a track on the album. [via X, TMZ, UPROXX]
ALSO: Ye name drops TAYLOR SWIFT in his new song “Carnival” in some NSFW lyrics. This of course follows Ye’s years-long feud with Swift after he interrupted her acceptance speech at the 2009 MTV VMAs and rapped about her in his 2016 song, “Famous.” [via NY Post]
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
PRINCE HARRY is set to receive a final payment as part of his settlement with THE MIRROR GROUP, the media company he successfully sued for hacking his phone and those of his friends.
The final settlement announced by Harry’s attorney on Friday covers court and attorneys fees to the tune of 400,000 Great British Pounds, or just over half a million US Dollars. Through a statement, Harry said that former Daily Mirror editor PIERS MORGAN “knew perfectly well what was going on” and that “His contempt for the court’s ruling and his continued attacks ever since demonstrate why it was so important to obtain a clear and detailed judgment.”
BUT WAIT: Morgan quickly clapped back at Harry on X, saying in a post: “I totally agree with Prince Harry that ruthless intrusion into the private lives of the Royal Family for financial gain is utterly reprehensible… and I hope he stops doing it.”
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DAY OF THE YEAR
Darwin Day
Red Hand Day
National Plum Pudding Day
National Lost Penny Day
National Clean Out Your Computer Day
National Football Hangover Day
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ON THIS DATE
1898 - The first automobile fatality is recorded.
Henry Lindfield lost control of his car in Surrey, England. The car tumbled down a hill and crashed through a wire fence and into a large iron post.
The accident caused a huge gash in his leg. Had it happened today, he likely would've survived; instead, doctors had to amputate the whole leg.
Lindfield died of shock the day following his surgery.
His son was a passenger during the accident. This was before seat belts and roofs, so he was tossed completely out of the vehicle, but was unharmed.
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1973 - The first metric road signs in America are put up along Interstate 71 in Ohio.
It was part of the National Metric Conference's efforts to convert America to use a decimal system.
Congress would pass the National Metric Conversion Act in 1975, which encouraged the voluntary switch to the metric system. This failed.
Today the military often uses metric units, in order to communicate with other nations’ militaries.
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1999 - Bill Clinton is acquitted by the Senate of perjury and obstruction of justice.
The vote sharply followed party lines.
In a civil settlement, Clinton would pay Paula Jones $850,000 to settle the harassment suit brought upon him by her.
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2002 - Deposed Yugoslavian president Slobodan Milosevic begins his trial at The Hague, charged with genocide and other war crimes.
Milosevic served as his own lawyer during the trial.
A verdict was never reached; he died of a heart attack four years into the proceedings.
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2008 - General Motors offers a mass buyout of all 74,000 United Auto Workers employees.
The move came after the company hemorrhaged nearly $40 billion during 2007, largely in part to huge union demands. The average base wage for a GM-employed UAW worker was $28.12 an hour -- but after luxurious benefits, workers earned nearly $78 an hour.
Meanwhile, gas prices were also rising, and GM wasn't offering sustainable cars.
The company filed for bankruptcy the following year, and restructured.
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2013 - North Korea announces its third successful nuclear test, a follow-up to a test in 2006.
The underground detonation triggered earthquake-magnitude tremors, but after a study by Chinese, Japanese, and South Korean investigators, no radiation was detected.
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2019 - Mexican drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman is found guilty of all 10 federal crimes against him in New York.
The verdict was reached after over 200 hours of testimony from more than 50 witnesses.
He would be sentenced that June to life in prison plus thirty years.
Also on this date…
The US Treasury reports that the national debt tops $22 trillion for the first time.
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BIRTHDAYS
Jennifer Stone - actress, “Wizards of Waverly Place” - 31
Drew Ray Tanner - actor, “Riverdale” - 32
Robert Griffin III - football player - 34
Mike Posner - pop singer - 36
Tony Ferguson - MMA fighter - 40
Gucci Mane - rapper - 44
Christina Ricci - actress, “The Addams Family” - 44
Jesse Spencer - actor, “Chicago Fire” & “House M.D.” - 45
Tara Strong - voice actress, “The Rugrats” & “The Fairly OddParents” - 51
Josh Brolin - actor, “No Country for Old Men” & “The Goonies” - 56
John Michael Higgins - actor, “Pitch Perfect” & “Arrested Development” - 61
George Elliott Clarke - poet - 64
Arsenio Hall - TV show host - 68
Judy Blume - children’s author - 86
Born On This Date
Bill Russell - basketball player - 1934 (d. 2022)
Lee Byung-chul - founder of Samsung - 1910 (d. 1987)
Charles Darwin - biologist, Father of Evolution - 1809 (d. 1882)
Abraham Lincoln - 16th POTUS - 1809 (d. 1865)
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