3/1/2023: Savoy’s Star Stripped!
PLUS: An FTX Guilty Plea; Jon Stewart’s Conspiracy Theory; and Will & Kate Take a Spin Class
Today is Wednesday, March 1, 2023.
It is the 60th day of the year.
305 days remain.
WHAT’S ON TAP
A new guilty plea in the FTX case and a new way to talk about planetary systems. More in HIT LIST.
The White House orders all agencies to dump TikTok from its phones in the next 30 days. More in THE SWAMP.
TOM BRADY wants to get roasted and DAVE GROHL serves up some meat. More in SHOWBIZ.
CHRIS ROCK has a new Netflix special and DAMIAN LEWIS returns to “Billions.” More in CASTING CALL.
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HIT LIST
Another domino has fallen in the ongoing FTX implosion. The company’s former director of engineering, Nishad Singh, pleaded guilty to fraud charges yesterday. Singh said he knew that FTX’s internal hedge fund was using customer money to make investments last summer – a practice about which SAM BANKMAN-FRIED has denied knowing.
In addition to Singh’s guilty pleas, he’s forfeiting the profits he incurred from investments derived from customer money.
IT GETS WORSE: On the same day as his guilty plea, Singh was hit by civil lawsuits filed by the Securities and Exchange Commission – separate from the criminal fraud charges.
Singh was allegedly the coder responsible for writing in the back door that allowed FTX to shovel customer funds into its hedge fund without any safeguards in place. [via New York Post]
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Mexico’s President has finalized an agreement with ELON MUSK to build a Tesla plant in the northern part of the country.
Bloomberg reports that Musk committed to using recycled water in its production process at the plant, in an area where droughts can make fresh water scarce. More details about the expansion are expected during an investor call later today. [via Bloomberg]
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World-renowned chef GUY SAVOY’s Paris restaurant has been stripped of one of its Michelin stars – but per standard practice, the reason for the dishonor has not been made public.
APPARENTLY: The folks at Michelin only tell the head chef the reason for downgrading their rating. The head of the food-rating organization told Agence France-Presse, “These are exceptional restaurants, so you can imagine that these decisions are carefully considered, supported by numerous visits from our inspectors throughout the year.” [via NDTV]
WORTH NOTING: Michelin critics live in anonymity, and chefs and restaurant staff typically have no idea when one of them is dining. Part of the job is maintaining anonymity.
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Astronomers have identified four classes of planetary systems – and it turns out Earth’s solar system is one of the less common types: Ordered, Anti-Ordered, Mixed, and Similar.
In most cases, planets in a system are similar in size and shape, putting them in the “similar” class, which represents about 80% of planetary systems.
Our solar system represents an Ordered system, where planets get larger and more massive the farther they get from the sun – this is the least common type. (In an Anti-Ordered system, planets get smaller the farther they get from their central star). [via SciTechDaily]
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As Amazon employees gripe about returning to the workplace a few days a week later this year – especially because some moved farther away amid covid’s relaxed work-from-home policies – the company is making it easier to take out a mortgage.
Amazon has partnered with online mortgage company Better.com so that Amazon staff can use their stock as collateral when they buy a house. This is a simpler alternative to selling the stock to raise the cash, which would also incur tax implications. [via Wall Street Journal]
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CHARTS
Top 5 Fiction & Nonfiction Books Currently on the New York Times Best Sellers List:
FICTION:
“It Starts With Us,” Colleen Hoover
“It Ends With Us,” Colleen Hoover
“Heart Bones,” Colleen Hoover
“Lessons in Chemistry,” Bonnie Garmus
“Verity,” Colleen Hoover
NON-FICTION
“Spare,” Prince Harry
“The Body Keeps the Score,” Bessel van der Kolk
“Unscripted,” James B. Stewart & Rachel Abrams
“I’m Glad My Mom Died,” Jennette McCurdy
“Caste,” Isabel Wilkerson
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DEATHS
MLB player MATT POBEREYKO has died.
He was found in his Chicago home on Friday, his brother told NBC News. No cause of death is known.
Pobereyko pitched for various minor-league teams throughout his career.
He was only 31.
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Former NFL star FRED MILLER has died.
He passed away Sunday, according to a tweet from his former team, the Indianapolis Colts. No cause of death was revealed.
Miller was 82.
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LINDA KASABIAN, the woman who helped send murderer CHARLES MANSON to prison, has died.
She passed away on January 21 in Washington state, according to a death certificate obtained by TMZ. No cause of death was shared.
Kasabian, who was part of Manson’s cult, made a deal for immunity in exchange for her testimony.
She was 73.
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BABY NEWS
Actress KEKE PALMER, 29, and fitness instructor DARIUS JACKSON, also 29, are parents!
The couple welcomed a son, named Leodis Andrelton Jackson, on Saturday February 25.
Palmer shared photos of the newborn on Instagram.
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Disgraced Theranos founder ELIZABETH HOLMES has given birth to her second child.
The arrival comes as her legal team fights to delay her imprisonment for fraud.
Holmes is already a mom to a 10-month old daughter.
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RELATIONSHIPS
“Mad Men” star JON HAMM, 51, and actress ANNA OSCEOLA, 34, are engaged.
The pair have been together for three years.
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THE SWAMP
The Biden White House has ordered all executive agencies to ensure TikTok has been deleted from any agency-owned devices in the next thirty days.
The mandate comes after Congress passed a law last year banning the app on government devices. Multiple departments had already banned the app before the vote, too.
The measure comes amid heightened scrutiny over TikTok’s spying capabilities on the users whose devices have the app installed.
WORTH ASKING: If you’re some bureaucrat using a government-issued phone for work stuff, what business do you have spending time on an app where internet dorks dance in the grocery store and lip sync to other peoples’ words anyway? [via Reuters]
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BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The DOW lost 232 points (0.71%) to close at 32,656 on Tuesday. The S&P lost 12 points (0.3%) to close at 3,970 while the NASDAQ lost 11 points (0.1%) to close at 11,455.
🛢 WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE closed at $76; BRENT CRUDE at $83.
⛽ The national average price of a GALLON OF GAS was $3.35 on Tuesday.
₿ BITCOIN slid nearly 1.25% on Tuesday to trade just over $23,200.
🛩 There were more than 3,328 FLIGHTS delayed within, into, or out of the United States on Tuesday and more than 578 such cancellations.
💰Tonight’s POWERBALL drawing will be for a $143 million jackpot or a $73 million cash payout.
SHOWBIZ NEWS
One day after reports surfaced that TOM BRADY was considering a career in comedy, sources told TMZ that the former QB is not going to try his hand at stand-up.
He is, however, in talks with Netflix to be the center of a roast special, tentatively titled “The Greatest Roast of All Time.”
The roast will likely happen this year, before Brady starts his new gig with Fox Sports. [via TMZ]
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JON STEWART is still fired up over the hate he received last year when he suggested that Covid-19 was possibly leaked from a lab in Wuhan.
He revisited the topic this week on his AppleTV+ show, “The Problem with Jon Stewart,” just days after the US Energy Department revealed a lab leak to be the most likely explanation for what triggered the pandemic.
Stewart explained that his issue with the “anger” in response to his backing the theory is that the only “two things that came out of it [at the time] were, I’m racist against Asian people, and how dare I align myself with the alt-right.”
Critics came hard for the comedian, with many wanting to cancel him over his differing opinion. [via NY Post]
WORTH ASKING: Stewart wasn’t the only one to be bashed for speaking out or simply questioning the lab leak theory, which many referred to as a conspiracy theory at the time. Now that it’s come out to be the most likely cause…what happens next? Will there be apologies? How many “conspiracy theories” have to come true -- in relation to the covid-pandemic -- before people start demanding answers?
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THE WEEKND is the first artist in Spotify history to hit 100 million monthly listeners.
MILEY CYRUS has the No. 2 spot with 82 million monthly listeners and TAYLOR SWIFT is in third with 80 million, according to the streaming platform. [via Variety]
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SHAKIRA is not holding back her feelings regarding her ex GERARD PIQUE’s new girlfriend CLAR CHIA MARTI.
In a recent interview with Mexican TV network Canal Estrellas, Shakira said there is a “special place in hell” for women who don’t follow the “girl code” when it comes to dating.
The hip-shaker and Pique split last year after she discovered he had been cheating on her with the much younger Marti. [via TMZ]
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ALEC BALDWIN and his co-producers are being sued by three “Rust” crew members who were on set when HALYNA HUTCHINS was fatally shot.
In the civil suit, the three claim that they are suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder after witnessing the fatal shot. They also claim to have suffered “blast injuries.” It is not know what they are seeking in damages.
The lawsuit is the latest in a series of legal actions taken against Baldwin. He is also facing civil suits from other “Rust” crew members. Last year he settled a wrongful death case with Hutchins’ widow for an undisclosed amount. [via NY Post]
WORTH REMEMBERING: Last week Baldwin entered a plea of not guilty to involuntary manslaughter charges stemming from Hutchins’ death.
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FOO FIGHTERS frontman DAVE GROHL stopped by The Hope Mission in Los Angeles to whip up and serve some ribs, pork butt, brisket, cabbage, coleslaw and beans to those in need.
What’s more, Grohl covered all expenses for the meal that fed over 500 people. [via TMZ]
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Football player TAYLOR LEWAN says his former team, the Tennessee Titans, “savagely” dropped off his equipment in garbage bags on his front porch.
After spending his entire 9-year career with the team, Lewan tweeted out his shock over the lack of respect he was shown after being let go. The 31-year-old was drafted by the Titans in the first round of the 2014 draft. He was let go last week after failing a physical.
It is unknown if he will retire from the league. [via TMZ]
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CASTING CALL
CHRIS ROCK will finally address the now infamous slap he received by WILL SMITH at last year’s Oscars.
An insider told Page Six that Rock will “spill his humorous take on it on his live Netflix stand-up special” which will be filmed this weekend in Baltimore.
The special, titled “Chris Rock: Selective Outrage,” will stream live on Netflix. [via Page Six]
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“The Office” alum JENNA FISCHER has joined the cast of Paramount’s new “Mean Girls” musical film, which is based on the Tony-nominated Broadway musical written by TINA FEY.
She will play Ms. Heron, Cady Heron’s mom.
In the original 2004 movie, Cady’s mom was played by ANA GASTEYER. [via Deadline]
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DAMIAN LEWIS is returning for Season 7 of “Billions.”
The actor, who starred as fan-favorite Bobby Axelrod, will appear in half of the upcoming season. He left the show at the end of Season 5.
According to Showtime, in Season 7, “alliances are turned on their heads. Old wounds are weaponized. Loyalties are tested. Betrayal takes on epic proportions. Enemies become wary friends. And of course, Bobby Axelrod returns, as the stakes grow from Wall Street to the world.”
“Billions” also stars PAUL GIAMATTI, COREY STOLL, MAGGIE STIFF, CONDOLA RASHAD and others.
Filming is currently underway. [via Entertainment Weekly]
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CRIB NOTES
BOB SAGET’s former Los Angeles home has sold for $5.4 million.
The pad features a spa, BBQ area, walk-in closets and a large motor court out front. There is also a guest house on the lot.
Saget purchased the home in 2003 for $2.8 million. [via TMZ]
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
KHLOE KARDASHIAN is opening up about a facial tumor that she had removed.
The topic came up when a fan asked the reality star why she had a bandaid on her face in a snapshot of her at the gym. Khloe replied, explaining that she had a “tumor removed [...] but is totally ok.”
She also said the bandaid is actually a “scar strip.”
Khloe revealed that last October she had a bump on her face biopsied and then removed. [via People]
WORTH NOTING: This is not her first experience with abnormal skin issues. When Khloe was 19, she had a melanoma removed from her back. At the time, she shared how “grateful” she was that it was caught early.
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
One royal expert claims MEGHAN MARKLE was “disappointed” that PRINCE HARRY had “very little money” when they met.
Tom Bower, who wrote the book “Revenge: Meghan, Harry and the War Between the Windsors,” called Meg “money-obsessed” in an interview with the Daily Mail.
“She had imagined he would be worth hundreds of millions, if not billions, and she is having to make up for it now,” Bower stated.
Also in the interview, Bower said that he believes Harry and Meghan could “ruin” KING CHARLES’ Coronation if they decide to attend. [via Daily Mail]
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PRINCE WILLIAM and PRINCESS CATHERINE took part in a spin class during a recent visit to Aberavon Leisure & Fitness Centre in Wales.
The couple -- who were dressed in business attire -- pedaled their hearts out for about 45 seconds, according to eyewitnesses.
Also, Kate appeared to beat her husband in the short race, according to the New York Post. [via NY Post]
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DAY OF THE YEAR
National Peanut Butter Lovers Day
National Barista Day
World Compliment Day
National Horse Protection Day
National Pig Day
National Fruit Compote Day
National Wedding Planning Day
Plan a Solo Vacation Day
Refired, Not Retired Day
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ON THIS DATE
1692 - The first women are arrested for witchcraft in Salem, Massachusetts.
Sarah Good, Sarah Osborne, and Tituba were charged with practicing witchcraft, in particular bewitching 2 young girls who were experiencing bizarre fits.
Tituba confessed later that day, likely after being coerced. The other women blamed each other of being witches, but claimed innocence themselves.
Good was eventually hanged. Osborne died in jail. Titbua spent some time in jail, but there is no record of what happened to her after being released.
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1781 - Congress ratifies the Articles of Confederation with Maryland agreeing to terms of land claims with Virginia.
These Articles would govern the states until passage of the Constitution eight years later.
The document gave express and supreme sovereignty to the individual states. Many argued there was not enough power granted to a central government. The Articles of Confederation were a diametric, opposite extreme from living under a sovereign king. The Constitution struck a more reasonable balance.
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1954 - Puerto Rican nationalists touring the US Capitol open fire on members of the House of Representatives from the visitors' gallery.
Five reps were wounded, but eventually recovered.
Three of the four shooters were caught right away, the fourth was caught a short time later.
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1961 - President Kennedy authorizes the Peace Corps through an executive order.
The trial program would send civilian workers to develop impoverished countries. Though Congress was skeptical of whether it would be effective, it later voted to fund it and make it permanent in September that year.
Thousands of young Americans signed up, and were sent to countries around the globe. Since then, more than 240,000 have served.
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1966 - A Soviet satellite crashes on the surface of Venus.
Venera 3, which was supposed to measure the planet's atmosphere, was the first spacecraft to impact a planet.
Two years later. Venera 4 was successful in collecting the desired measurements.
Venera 4 would also successfully land on Venus and send back images before failing in the high temperatures and high pressures on the planet's surface.
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2006 - The one-millionth article is published on the English version of Wikipedia.
It's about the Jordanhill railway station in Glasgow.
At the time there were more than 3.3 million articles in 125 languages.
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2016 - Forbes releases its Richest List.
Taking the top spot is Bill Gates with $81 billion. Jeff Bezos came in second with $67 billion, Warren Buffet in third with $65.5 billion, Mark Zuckerberg in fourth with $55.5 billion and rounding out the top five, is Larry Ellison with $49.3 billion.
The number of billionaires at the time was 1,810. Today there are over 2,600.
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2020 - The first known COVID-19 case is identified in New York.
A 39-year-old health care worker contracted the virus while traveling abroad in Iran.
According to all reports, her symptoms were mild.
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BIRTHDAYS
Ja’Marr Chase - football player - 23
Justin Bieber - pop singer - 29
Tyreek Hill - football player - 29
Tenille Dashwood - wrestler - 34
Daniella Monet - actress, “Victorious” & “Winx Club” - 34
Kesha - pop singer - 36
Big E. Langston - wrestler - 37
Lupita Nyong’o - actress, “12 Years a Slave” & “Black Panther” - 40
Jensen Ackles - actor, “Supernatural” & “Big Sky” - 45
Cara Buono - actress, “Mad Men” & “Stranger Things” - 49
Mark Paul Gosselaar - actor, “Saved by the Bell” - 49
Javier Bardem - actor, “No Country for Old Men” - 54
Don Lemon - TV show host, CNN - 57
Booker T - wrestler - 58
Ron Howard - actor & director - 69
Roger Daltrey - rock singer, The Who - 79
Harry Belafonte - pop singer - 96
Born On This Date
Alan Thicke - actor, “Growing Pains” - 1947 (d. 2016)
Frederic Chopin - pianist & composer - 1810 (d. 1849)
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