Today is Tuesday, February 7, 2023.
It is the 38th day of the year.
327 days remain.
WHAT’S ON TAP
Earthquakes, fires, and a new pricing scheme for movie-goers. More in HIT LIST.
What has the President lied about today? Find out in THE SWAMP.
TOM BRADY’s Fox Sports gig starts next year and BEN AFFLECK gets memed. More in SHOWBIZ.
“Avatar: The Way of Water” is now the third-highest-grossing film internationally. More in CASTING CALL.
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HIT LIST
Apparently Sam Smith did manage to open the gates of Hell with his Grammys performance Sunday night:
IN TURKEY: The strongest in a series of earthquakes in Turkey registered as far away as Greenland early Monday morning local time.
The first registered a 7.8 magnitude followed hours later by a 7.5 magnitude quake in the southeastern part of the country. [via NDTV]
More than 3,800 people have been confirmed dead and nearly 15,000 injured in the aftermath. [via AP]
IN BUFFALO: A 3.8-magnitude quake hit Buffalo early Monday morning, marking the strongest recorded in the area in 40 years. [via NBC News]
IN CHICAGO: A massive fire at a warehouse for a furniture company broke out in Chicago Heights, Illinois Monday morning, requiring five crews to put it out. No injuries have been reported. [via Chicago Sun Times]
IN OHIO: A train carrying toxic chemicals derailed near East Palestine, Ohio, Monday, requiring special teams to perform a controlled burn of any toxins that managed to leak out. In particular, liquid vinyl chloride was burned off by diverting it into a trench and burning it off with flares.
Residents around the site of the crash were ordered to leave by Governor MIKE DEWINE out of an abundance of caution. Officials are still scrambling to determine to what extent any toxic fumes could cause injury.
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Bed, Bath & Beyond might not be dead yet.
The company announced Monday it is looking to raise more than $1 billion in an equity sale. Company brass reported last week it does not have the available cash to pay debt on a note owed to JP Morgan.
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Computer manufacturer DELL is laying off 6,650 jobs amid a sharp decrease in demand for personal computers. The company reportedly saw a 37% decrease in sales during the fourth quarter of 2022 from the year prior.
The headcount reduction is expected to save up to a billion dollars over the next year. [via Bloomberg]
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Archeologists have uncovered what they believe could be the oldest man-made weapon ever found in North America. The 13,900 bone tip fragment was likely used on a spear to stab a mastodon; it was found in the ribcage of a mastodon’s remains.
Other bone fragments suggest the speared mastodon had just eaten another mastodon.
And to really make this mastodon-ception – the fragment itself was apparently made from the bones … of a mastodon. [via Miami Herald]
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As movie theaters recover from pandemic restrictions, AMC is making a big change, charging premium pricing for premium seats.
As movie theater attendance has dwindled in recent years, theaters began upgrading to extra-wide, reclining seat and stadium seating as pretty standard fare, and jacking up admissions. Even more recently, seats have become assigned when purchased online, but they’ve mostly all been the same price.
NOW: AMC has three tiers, effective this Friday in three markets, in an initiative called “Sightline”: “Value,” “Standard,” and “Preferred.” Most seats will be standard; preferred will be the good ones in the middle center, and the value seats will be for disability-compliant seats and the very front row.
The company hopes to roll out the program nationwide by the end of the year.
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CHARTS
Top 5 Songs on iTunes:
Miley Cyrus, “Flowers”
Bonnie Raitt, “Just Like That”
Harry Styles, “As It Was”
Nicki Minaj, “Roman Holiday”
Morgan Wallen, “Last Night”
Top 5 Songs on Spotify:
Miley Cyrus, “Flowers”
SZA, “Kill Bill”
Shakira & Bizarrap, “Shakira: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53”
Sam Smith & Kim Petras, “Unholy”
Metro Boomin, The Weeknd & 21 Savage, “Creepin’”
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BABY NEWS
PANIC! AT THE DISCO’s BRENDON URIE, 35, and his wife, esthetician SARAH URIE, 35, have welcomed their first child.
Urie announced the pregnancy news last month while also sharing that the band is breaking up after nearly 20 years together.
No details about the birth or the baby were shared.
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RELATIONSHIPS
HALLIE JADE MATHERS, 27, the daughter of rapper EMINEM, is engaged!
She revealed the news Monday, sharing on Instagram that her boyfriend, businessman EVAN MCCLINTOCK popped the question on Saturday.
The pair met at Michigan State University in 2016.
WORTH ASKING: Did he ask Em for her hand?
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THE SWAMP
Here’s a recent tweet from President JOE BIDEN amid ongoing debt ceiling negotiations: “House Republicans are threatening to cut Social Security and Medicare, putting the dignity of millions of Americns who rely on these programs at risk.”
WORTH NOTING: Maybe a few members of the House have suggested cutting these entitlements, but Speaker KEVIN MCCARTHY has said Social Security and Medicare are completely off the table.
WORTH REMEMBERING: Biden campaigned, and won, on a unity agenda designed to bring people together. Does a true uniter lie about his opposition so brazenly?
LAST WEEK: Biden told reporters he takes no blame for sustained inflation because inflation was already high when he took office.
INCORRECT: Inflation exploded in April 2021 and never slowed down, just after Congress authorized yet another round of government handouts that were central to Biden’s 2020 campaign platform.
WORTH REMEMBERING: In the four years DONALD TRUMP was president, inflation never increased past 2.4% year over year. On average, it was 2%.
WORTH NOTING: The “natural rate of inflation” – a term every freshman economics major learns to describe the inflation rate of an economy left totally to its own devices – is 2%. In other words, the Trump economy was the picture of economic efficiency.
BUT WAIT: Under Biden, inflation has not been below 3% since April 2021, two months after he took office. In 2022, the average monthly inflation rate was 6%.
The 2021 mega spending bill that Biden championed sparked the inflation dumpster fire. That’s just math. Biden is either lying or willfully ignorant that inflation started before he took office.
[data via BLS; Economic analysis via a very pointless B.S. in Economics]
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CHECKING IN: If you unplugged from the news for the holidays, you might not have noticed that in the week between Christmas and New Years, the then-Democrat led House Ways and Means Committee released former President DONALD TRUMP’s tax returns, after Democrats and never-Trumpers spent years whining about what he might be hiding. The tax returns have been public for six weeks now – where are the smoking guns they promised?
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BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The DOW lost 35 points (0.1%) to close at 33,891. The S&P lost 25 points (0.61%) to close at 4,111 while the NASDAQ lost 119 points (1.00%) to close at 11,887.
🛢 WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE closed at $74; BRENT CRUDE at $81.
⛽ The national average price of a GALLON OF GAS was $3.47 on Monday.
₿ BITCOIN was mostly flat Monday, trading just over $22,830.
🛩 There were more than 2,460 FLIGHTS delayed within, into, or out of the United States on Monday and more than 105 such cancellations.
💰Tonight’s MEGA MILLIONS drawing will be for a $31 million jackpot or a $16.6 million cash payout.
SHOWBIZ NEWS
RUMOR IS…MAROON 5 frontman ADAM LEVINE will address the infidelity accusations on tomorrow’s episode of the “Call Her Daddy” podcast.
In a teaser clip posted yesterday, podcast host ALEX COOPER says to her guest, whose appearance is hidden, “I was a huge Maroon 5 fan, and I’m glad that you agreed to sit down with me today and discuss the scandal surrounding infidelity in your marriage,” leaving fans to assumed it’s Levine.
Reps for both Levine and his wife, model BEHATI PRINSLOO told the New York Post that neither of them were booked for the podcast.
WHAT’S MORE: Prinsloo commented on the teaser writing only “LOL.”
Stay tuned…
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TOM BRADY made good on a bet Monday morning, posting a photo of himself wearing only his Brady Brand underwear.
In June, Brady retweeted an ad from his clothing company featuring two models showing off the new underwear. Brady tweeted that if the ad got 40,000 likes he would recreate the look.
SPEAKING OF TB12: He told Fox Sports that he will start his job as a broadcaster on the network during the 2024 NFL season.
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BEN AFFLECK’s expressions at the Grammys were easy targets for meme-makers.
The actor, who attended the event with his wife JENNIFER LOPEZ, appeared less than enthusiastic to be there and viewers took notice.
As he watched the presenters and performers with total disinterest, one viewer tweeted “Ben Affleck looks like he’d rather be at Dunkin’,” referring to his love of the coffee and donut chain. [via Daily Mail]
Affleck is no stranger to becoming a meme victim. In 2016, “Sad Affleck” made the rounds after an interview with the actor and his “Batman V. Superman” co-star HENRY CAVILL went viral.
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MARK HAMILL is signing autographs for a good cause.
In a new Politico interview, the “Star Wars” alum said he will be signing limited edition movie posters to raise money for the Ukrainian army’s drone supply. He was named an ambassador of Ukraine’s Army of Drones project last year.
Hamill has not signed autographs since 2017. [via Politico]
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Actress JULIE ANDREWS and her daughter, EMMA WALTON HAMILTON, have teamed up to create a new children’s book.
“The Enchanted Symphony” is set in a village “beset by a mysterious fog,” but revived by a “boy’s simple melody,” according to a statement from publisher Abrams Children's Books.
Andrews and Hamilton thought of the story during the pandemic, when they heard about a string quartet that would play for thousands of plants Barcelona’s Gran Teatre del Liceu.
The book is due to be published this September. [via Associated Press]
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TAYLOR SWIFT’s Grammys look included $3 million in jewels.
Paired with her bejeweled midnight blue Robert Cavalli ensemble -- an obvious nod to her latest album “Midnights” -- the singer wore Lorraine Schwartz earrings with over 136 carats of natural purple sapphires, paraibas and diamonds. She also had sapphire and diamond rings on her fingers.
Swift made history on Sunday night becoming the first to win Best Music Video with solo directing credit for her own music for “All Too Well: The Short Film.” [via Variety]
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JENNIFER COOLIDGE was honored as the 2023 Woman of the Year by Harvard University’s Hasty Pudding Theatricals over the weekend.
The organization, one of the oldest in the world, honors women annually who have “made lasting and impressive contributions to the world of entertainment.”
As part of the celebration, Coolidge had to judge a contest of four people doing impressions of her and was also dressed as a dolphin, an homage to a scene from her hit show “White Lotus.”
When presented with her Pudding Pot award, Coolidge got emotional, sharing how her late father had attended Harvard.
Past winners of the honor include MERYL STREEP, VIOLA DAVIS and DEBBIE REYNOLDS.
ALSO: Actor BOB ODENKIRK, known for his role as lawyer Saul Goodman on “Breaking Bad,” was honored as the 2023 Man of the Year last Thursday. [via Associated Press]
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CASTING CALL
“Avatar: The Way of Water” is now the third-highest-grossing film at the international box office, surpassing “Titanic.”
The sequel has earned more than $1.538 million globally; trailing JAMES CAMERON’s other blockbuster “Avatar” ($2.1 billion) and “Avengers” Endgame” ($1.9 billion).
Domestically, “Avatar: The Way of Water” is the 10th-biggest film. [via Variety]
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“Yellowstone” may be ending sooner than expected.
According to Deadline there has been some back-and-forth regarding filming timelines between producers and star of the series KEVIN COSTNER, and the issue is causing “morale problems” for the rest of the cast, one insider explained.
As for the future of the franchise -- which already has two prequel series “1883” and “1923” -- creator TAYLOR SHERIDAN is looking into a continuation of the Dutton saga minus Costner’s John Dutton. [via Deadline]
RUMOR IS: Actor MATTHEW MCCONAUGHY is in talks to star in the possible extension.
SPEAKING OF MCCONAUGHY: He is set to voice Elvis Presley in a new adult animated series for Netflix, called “Agent Elvis.” Co-created by PRISCILLA PRESLEY, the show follows the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll who is a global superstar by day and butt-kicking vigilante by night. [via Deadline]
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FREDDIE PRINZE JR and JENNIFER LOVE HEWITT are reuniting for another installment of the 1997 horror flick “I Know What You Did Last Summer.”
The original, which also starred SARAH MICHELLE GELLAR, RYAN PHILLIPPE, JOHNNY GALECKI and BRIDGETTE WILSON SAMPRAS, follows a group of teenagers who are stalked by a hook-handed killer, one year after they accidentally kill a man and cover it up. [via People]
Since its release, two films and a TV series have premiered.
No word if any more of the original cast plans to join the new film.
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COURT CASES
The list of witnesses who will testify against ALEC BALDWIN and armorer HANNAH GUTIERREZ-REED in the fatal shooting of cinematographer HALYNA HUTCHINS have been revealed.
Topping the list is “Rust” director JOEL SOUZA, who was struck by the bullet that killed Hutchins. Others on the list of 44 include a script supervisor, armorer mentor and prop master who were on set at the time.
All will be on hand for the February 24 preliminary hearing, which the accused are expected to attend virtually. If all goes accordingly, prosecutors hope to move ahead to trial.
Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed were officially charged with involuntary manslaughter on January 31. Both face up to five years behind bars if convicted. [via Deadline]
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
KIM KARDASHIAN made somewhere between half a million and $1 million to speak at the iConnections Global Alts conference during “Hedge Fund Week” last week about her newly launched private-equity film SKKY Partners.
While one insider told Page Six that Kim’s talk was so popular the venue had to open up two overflow rooms, another said some snooty financiers felt they were too good to listen to her speak.
Other speakers at the event included MARK CUBAN, ANTHONY SCARAMUCCI, and more. [Page Six]
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
PRINCE HARRY may make a quick trip to the UK to attend his father, KING CHARLES’ Coronation in May.
Sources told the Daily Mail that Harry could make a 48 hour trip, without his family, as his dad “specifically” asked that he attend. The rest of the Royal Family, however, is not as eager to see him, an insider added.
Another source told the outlet that Charles may sweeten the deal for Harry by promising to allow him to sit with the rest of the family for the event and not strip him and MEGHAN MARKLE of their royal titles. [via Daily Mail]
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DAY OF THE YEAR
Rose Day
National Fettuccine Alfredo Day
Independence Day Grenada
Wave All Your Fingers At Your Neighbors Day
National Send a Card to a Friend Day
World Ballet Day
Safer Internet Day
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ON THIS DATE
1812 – Earthquakes in Missouri cause a fluvial tsunami near Mississippi—that's when a river starts to run backward!
This tremor was one of a series of quakes that had begun in December the previous year. The February 7th one happened to be the strongest at 8.8 magnitude.
By some estimates, it was the strongest quake in human history.
It made church bells in Boston ring, unprovoked. In Cincinnati, brick walls crumbled.
More than 30 boats were hurled over waterfalls that had formed along the river immediately, killing hundreds.
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1904 – A small fire in Baltimore begun by a poorly discarded lit cigarette ends up igniting the whole city.
The blaze burned for 31 hours, razing 80 blocks of the downtown area.
It took down 1500 buildings and damaged 1,000 more. Property damage was estimated at nearly $100 million in 1904-dollars.
Fortunately, the fire was contained to the business district, and did not claim any lives or homes.
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1964 – Beatlemania arrives in the United States when the Fab Four arrive in America for the first time.
Their hit "I Want to Hold Your Hand" had just landed the number one spot on American music charts six days earlier.
More than 3,000 screaming, rioting fans were on hand to greet the singers.
Two days later they would appear on “The Ed Sullivan Show.” Their first public show would be February 11 at the Coliseum in Washington D.C.
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1984 – The first astronaut flies untethered in space.
Captain Bruce McCandless maneuvers freely outside the Challenger shuttle. He controlled a rocket pack that he designed himself.
He safely re-entered the shuttle 90 minutes later.
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1990 – The Communist Party eases its totalitarian control across the Soviet Union.
At the behest of President Mikhail Gorbachev, the Central Committee reversed policies that made it the only legal party in the country.
Gorbachev would resign on Christmas Day 1991, and the Soviet Union was fully dissolved the next day.
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2019 - Measles cases in Europe surge to the highest they have been in over a decade.
The WHO cites a number of factors for the increasing number, the main one being vaccine hesitancy.
There is no specific treatment for measles, which can cause death, deafness and brain damage, but two doses of a vaccine make people immune.
There was also an increase in cases in the US, though not nearly as notable.
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BIRTHDAYS
Pierre Gasly - race car driver - 27
Ovie Soko - basketball player - 32
Steven Stamkos - hockey player - 33
Isaiah Thomas - basketball player - 34
Matthew Stafford - football player - 35
Ashton Kutcher - actor, “That ‘70s Show” & ‘Dude, Where’s My Car?” - 45
Steve Nash - basketball player - 49
Essence Atkins - actress, “Smart Guy” - 51
Robyn Lively - actress, “Teen Witch” - 51
Chris Rock - comedian - 58
Garth Brooks - country singer - 60
James Spader - actor, “The Blacklist” & “Boston Legal” - 63
Born On This Date
Laura Ingalls Wilder - author, “Little House on the Prairie” - 1867 (d. 1957)
Charles Dickens - novelist, “Oliver Twist” & “A Christmas Carol” - 1812 (d. 1870)
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