2/2/2024: Farmers Siege Brussels
PLUS: Skyscraper Space Rock; “Erotic Vagrancy”; and Bringing Back the Brand
Today is Friday, February 2, 2024.
It is the 33rd day of the year.
333 days remain.
WHAT’S ON TAP
Musk makes moves and Ecuador closes in on a high profile gang leader. Details in HIT LIST.
JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE is apologizing for nothing and DANNY MASTERSON heads to an infamous prison. More in SHOWBIZ.
Find out who assaulted ELMO in CASTING CALL.
TRAVIS SCOTT calls on his “brother” to join him on stage. More in KARDASH.
PRINCE HARRY and MEGHAN MARKLE might be busy working, after all. Details in ROYALS.
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HIT LIST
Farmers protesting ongoing environmental regulations descended on the European Union’s headquarters in Brussels on Thursday, starting fires, throwing rocks, and setting off fireworks in protest of high taxes and the enduring effects of inflation.
The aggressive demonstrations coincide with the gathering of EU leaders at a summit nearby. Demonstrators say they are underpaid and overtaxed while European leadership discussed sending another multi-billion-Euro aid package to support Ukraine’s war effort against Russia. Police on hand used tear gas and water hoses to push back the protestors. Some reports suggested rubber bullets were fired on the demonstrators.
BUT WAIT: One social media video shows police officers offering food to farmers in solidarity with their protest.
Reuters reports that farmers from Italy and Spain joined the demonstration in Brussels.
MEANWHILE, IN PARIS: Farmers brought their protest into the city of Paris on Thursday, driving a convoy of tractors near the country’s parliament building as other heavy machinery blocked off highways. [via Reuters]
Social media videos – which can’t be independently verified, but come from a generally trustworthy source, show empty produce sections at grocery stores in France and Belgium as farmers not just protest but strike from the job. Watch >
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Just a day after a judge ruled in favor of shareholders to revoke his $55 BILLION compensation package from TESLA, ELON MUSK has called for a shareholder vote to move the company’s incorporation from Delaware to Texas.
Shortly after the judge’s decision earlier this week, Musk posted on X, “Never incorporate your company in the state of Delaware.” He later posted a poll asking about the move, which more than 87% of respondents favored – but of course, those are just random internet weirdos voting in an online poll. [via @ElonMusk]
WORTH REMEMBERING: The judge that forced the revaluation of Musk’s compensation package is the same judge who forced the sale of Twitter, despite Musk’s concerns the social media platform’s previous leadership had fraudulently misrepresented its number of active users.
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Add DENNY’s to the list of companies shutting down operations in Oakland, California.
The only restaurant in the city announced it is closing its doors for “the safety and well-being of Denny’s team members and … guests.” It had been open for 54 years.
Denny’s follows the closure of In-N-Out Burger, which will wrap up operations in Oakland in March. [via New York Post]
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President of Ecuador DANIEL NOBOA said this week authorities are closing in on the location of drug-gang-kingpin JOSÉ “FITO” MACÍAS, weeks after he disappeared from his prison cell.
The ensuing disappearance sparked a nationwide crackdown on gang activity.
No word on where, exactly, authorities are looking. Rumors have swirled that Fito never left prison – but now authorities have regained control of the facilities and likely ruled that out as a possibility. Argentina’s government deported Fito’s immediate family just days after they purchased a home there – in cash. [via Lopez-Doriga Digital]
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An asteroid similar in size to the Empire State Building will zoom past Earth today.
No need to fret however, as the space rock will cruise by about 1.7 MILLION miles away -- that’s about seven times the distance from Earth to the moon.
The asteroid, dubbed 2008 0S7, was discovered in 2008. It won't make its way past Earth again until 2032. [via Newsweek]
BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The DOW gained 369 points (0.97%) to close at 38,519 on Thursday. The S&P gained 60 points (1.25%) to close at 4,906 and the NASDAQ added 197 points (1.3%) to close at 15,361.
🛢 WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE closed at $73; BRENT CRUDE at $78.
⛽ The national average price of a GALLON OF GAS was $3.15 on Thursday.
₿ BITCOIN ticked up on the day, trading just over $46,000.
🛩 There were more than 2,600 FLIGHTS delayed within, into, or out of the United States on Thursday and more than 230 such cancellations.
💰Tonight’s MEGA MILLIONS drawing will be for a $333 million jackpot or a $160.1 million cash payout. Saturday night’s POWERBALL drawing will be for a $206 million jackpot or a $99.4 million cash payout.
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SHOWBIZ NEWS
New Music Friday
Ángela Aguilar, “Bolero”
Enterprise Earth, “Death: an Anthology”
Giant Rooks, “How Have You Been?”
J Mascis, “What Do We Do Now”
Kirin J Callinan, “If I Could Sing”
Lorne Balfe, Ariana DeBose & Boy George, “Argyllе” (Soundtrack from the Apple Original Film)
Morgxn, “BEACON”
Ryan Lеslie, “You Know My Speed”
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JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE may have a hard time performing at his upcoming tour with his foot in his mouth.
During a performance in NYC this week, JT told the crowd that he wanted to take a brief moment to apologize, then paused before adding “to absolutely [effing] nobody.”
While those in attendance cheered, those who viewed the clip online took major offense, especially on behalf of BRITNEY SPEARS and JANET JACKSON, whom JT apologized to in the recent past.
Remember, Britney fans are upset with JT over revelations that came out in her memoir. As for Janet, people are still angry over the Super Bowl performance (20 years ago yesterday!) when JT exposed her breast on national TV. [via TMZ]
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DANNY MASTERSON has been relocated to Corcoran State Prison in California’s San Joaquin Valley, a maximum-security prison, to serve out his 30 year sentence.
Corcoran is known for housing several infamous criminals, including Charles Manson and Sirhan Sirhan.
The move comes after Masterson’s request for bail -- which he sought for the appeals process -- was denied by a judge, who called him a “flight risk.” [via EW]
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HEIDI KLUM likes to keep things light and airy.
Appearing on the “Call Me Daddy” podcast, the 50-year-old model said when she is at home -- or even out in her garden -- she prefers to be topless, which is fine, until her kids want to have friends over.
Klum said her kids will say, “You know, my friend is coming over mom, put your top on.” Klum clarified that she has never gone topless when company is over. [via People]
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Social media trolls don’t bother BRITTANY MAHOMES.
After being accused of acting rude toward an employee at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore last weekend, Mahomes shared a cryptic post on social media, writing “I take rumors as a compliment. The fact that you’re bringing my name onto tables I don’t sit at shows your obsession. Stay bothered.”
The trolling started this week after a video of her allegedly speaking rudely to an employee made the rounds on TikTok. [via NY Post]
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PETA is not pleased with poet AMANDA GORMAN for partnering with MilkPEP (the people behind the “Got Milk?” ads) in support of the inaugural Every Woman’s Marathon.
In a letter sharing her disappointment, PETA’s senior VP of communications stated that any woman who participates in the event -- which is being touted as the “only US marathon designed for women, by women” -- is a “sucker.”
PETA’s issue with the dairy industry is they believe it is “destroying the environment, causing cows physical and emotional distress and making a large part of the American population sick, due to lactose intolerance.”
FOR WHAT IT’S WORTH: Gorman used to be on PETA’s good list after urging people to adopt and not shop for pets. [via Ground]
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ELIZABETH TAYLOR would bring along quite the entourage when she and husband RICHARD BURTON would travel.
According to an excerpt from the forthcoming book “Erotic Vagrancy,” the actors would always have their secretaries, makeup artists, housekeepers, photographers, tutors, bodyguards, nurses, business managers, chauffeurs, butlers and suitcase packers in tow.
Supporting this excessiveness, author Roger Lewis notes that when the pair attended the Taormina Film Festival in 1967, they packed 156 suitcases.
Another jaw-dropping antidote is that while filming “Where Eagles Land” in 1958, the couple gave their dogs their very own boat, paying a thousand pounds a week to keep it moored near Tower Bridge in London.
Check out those stories and more in “Erotic Vagrancy,” which hits shelves on March 26. [via Page Six]
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CASTING CALL
“Today” show viewers were left perplexed Thursday after actor LARRY DAVID picked a fight with Elmo.
Elmo -- the furry red muppet from “Sesame Street” -- was on the morning news show with his father, Louie, chatting happily with hosts SAVANNAH GUTHRIE, HODA KOTB and CRAIG MELVIN when things were segwayed to AL ROKER for the weather.
It was during that transition that David started attacking Elmo.
Following the short scuffle, David walked off the set to the muppet saying, “Mr. Larry, Elmo liked you before.”
Of course viewers shared their reactions on social media, with one writing “Larry David beat the shit out of Elmo this morning,” while another called it “child abuse.”
Others questioned why Elmo’s dad just stood by and let his son be assaulted. [via NY Post]
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While CHRISTOPHER NOLAN enjoys “smaller-scale” films, he says that he will stick to making bigger blockbusters, with “pricey budgets.”
Nolan explained his reasoning to Time magazine, saying that “there are so many filmmakers out there in the world who would give their eye teeth to have the resources” he does and so he feels a “responsibility” to do the most he can with what he has.
This of course comes after his latest blockbuster, “Oppenheimer,” had a production budget of $100 million -- a smaller-than-usual sum than some of his other films.
BY THE WAY: “Oppenheimer” has 13 Academy Award nominations, and is believed to be the frontrunner for best picture. [via Time]
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SETH MACFARLANE’s animated comedy, “Family Guy” isn’t going anywhere.
“It’s still surviving and thriving. It still has a sizable audience and is a perfect example of there being an appetite for something,” MacFarlane told The Wrap.
Despite a brief cancellation in 2002, the show has hit its 25th anniversary. Its first episode -- “Death Has a Shadow” -- premiered on January 31, 1999.
“Family Guy” returns on March 6. [via The Wrap]
WORTH NOTING: The show was canceled in 2002 due to low ratings…nothing to do with the cancel culture that is so prevalent today. It was revived thanks to high DVD sales and its success on Adult Swim.
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
YE made a special appearance at TRAVIS SCOTT’s “Circus Maximus Tour” show in Orlando on Wednesday night.
Before bringing him out onto the stage, Scott told the crowd that he wouldn’t be there “without [his] brother” who he then called “the greatest of all time.”
Ye then appeared on stage wearing a ski mask -- think Jason Vorhees in “Friday the 13th” -- and performed a couple of songs to an elated crowd.
Scott and Ye have a lengthy history of collaborating on songs. Also, their collective six kids are cousins via KIM KARDASHIAN and KYLIE JENNER. [via Variety]
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
PRINCE HARRY and MEGHAN MARKLE may not be as busy doing nothing as previously thought.
At an event promoting forthcoming content for the platform, NETFLIX’s Chief Content Officer said there are a handful of projects helmed by the Sussexes actively in the works, including a movie, and a scripted series, and a “couple” of unscripted shows. The exec added, “the movie’s great.”
WORTH REMEMBERING: While no one has confirmed details, last year, the Sussexes’ production company bought the rights to the 2022 novel “Meet Me at the Lake.” [via Deadline]
DAY OF THE YEAR
Groundhog Day
National Crepe Day
World Play Your Ukulele Day
National River Day
National Bubble Gum Day
Number Day
National Catchers Day
National Hedgehog Day
National Working Naked Day
National Wear Red Day
National Give Kids a Smile Day
National Sled Dog Day
Marmot Day
National Tater Tot Day
World Wetlands Day
National Brown Dog Day
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ON THIS DATE
1847 - The first member of the Donner Party dies.
She was a part of a group of pioneers traveling through the Sierra Nevada en route to San Francisco.
Harsh cold conditions stranded the explorers. As more died off, those who survived turned to cannibalism to survive.
A small group eventually found a Native American village, and a rescue party was dispatched. In all, 42 died.
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1876 - The National League of Baseball is founded.
The eight original teams were:
-Boston Red Stockings
-Chicago White Stockings
-Cincinnati Red Stockings
-Hartford Dark Blues
-Louisville Grays
-Mutual of New York
-Philadelphia Athletics
-St. Louis Brown Stockings
The American League would begin play in 1901.
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1887 - Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania celebrates its first Groundhog Day.
It included a highly scientific experiment, in which a groundhog popped out of its hole. If it saw its shadow, it would mean 6 more weeks of winter; no shadow would mean an early Spring.
That groundhog was named Phil. And he's been named Phil since.
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1897 - A patent is issued for an ice-cream scoop invented by black American inventor, Alfred L. Cralle of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
His design of an "Ice-cream Mold and Disher" was made to be strong and durable, effective, inexpensive, able to keep ice cream and other foods from sticking and easy to operate with one hand.
It could be constructed in almost any desired shape, such as a cone or a mound, with no delicate parts that could break or malfunction.
The basic design is so efficient that it is still in use today.
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1943 - German soldiers surrender at Stalingrad.
After almost a year of fighting, the Soviets had been able to hold the city.
When the line commander Friedrich von Paulus returned to Berlin, Hitler declared he should have killed himself. After Von Paulus was captured by the Soviets, he joined the National Committee for Free Germany, and urged German troops to surrender to the Soviets.
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1962 - The USS Diamond Head sets sail for Africa from Newport News, Virginia.
Its passengers were medical workers equipped with the newly invented vaccination gun pistola de la paz (“pistol of peace”).
Their mission was to conduct the first field trials of this invention of Robert Hingson. The "jet" injector, which enabled more efficient mass inoculation without need of needles and syringes and subsequently improved the health of millions of people.
Most importantly, it made it easier for small children to get necessary drugs.
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1996 - Ali Landry, 22, is crowned the 45th Miss USA.
She would go on to star in several Super Bowl commercials, be named one of People’s 50 most beautiful people and appear in several films and TV shows.
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2020 - Palindrome Day
This date — 02022020 — reads the same forward and backward.
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BIRTHDAYS
Aire Webster - son of Kylie Jenner - 2
Florence Hunt - actress, “Bridgerton” - 17
Milania Giudice - reality star, “Real Housewives of New Jersey” - 18
Soni Nicole Bringas - actress, “Fuller House” - 22
Paul Mescal - actor, “Normal People” - 28
Tom Blyth - actor, “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” - 29
Julia Fox - model & actress, “Uncut Gems” - 34
Southside - music producer - 35
Natalie Halcro - model - 36
Gerard Pique - soccer player - 37
Jason Kapono - basketball player - 43
Shakira - pop singer - 47
Christie Brinkley - model - 70
Duane Chapman aka Dog the Bounty Hunter - reality star - 71
Ina Garten - author & chef - 76
Born On This Date
Farrah Fawcett - actress, “Charlie’s Angels” - 1947 (d. 2009)
Frank Lloyd - actor, “Oliver Twist” - 1886 (d. 1960)
James Joyce - novelist & poet, “Ulysses” - 1882 (d. 1941)
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