3/15/2024: Starship Successes 🚀
PLUS: Bobblehead Heist; 1587 Prime; and Meg’s Back
Today is Friday, March 15, 2024.
It is the 75th day of the year.
291 days remain.
WHAT’S ON TAP
Dead birds plague a western town and female college athletes take on trans policies. Details in HIT LIST.
NSYNC finally gives fans a reunion. More in SHOWBIZ.
The ladies of “The View” discuss the conspiracy theories around where KATE MIDDLETON is. Details on that in CASTING CALL.
Is KYLIE JENNER living outside her means? More in KARDASH.
MEGAN MARKLE’s new project prepares to launch. Details in ROYALS.
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HIT LIST
SPACEX’s Starship 3 launch completed a laundry list of new milestones on Thursday, including a fully controlled ascent, orbital insertion, stage separation in space, and all 33 of the raptor engines successfully firing and later restarting in space.
Both the booster stage and spaceship lost contact with space command during reentry, but the mission otherwise checked a lot of boxes, less than a year after its first mission exploded a few minutes after launch.
During the hour the ship spent in space, it demonstrated its ability to release Starlink satellites into orbit on future missions, powering the company’s global internet provider service. Starlink’s capabilities also allowed a live camera feed of the mission back on earth for most of its duration.
As ELON MUSK noted on X, Starship is the largest flying object ever made, weighing in around 5,000 tons. [via Morning Martini]
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The NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins announced Thursday morning that their expected delivery of former wing Jaromir Jagr’s bobbleheads for last night’s scheduled giveaway was stolen in a “cargo theft” incident somewhere in California.
A rep for the team said, “We were shocked to be a victim of cargo theft, and we are working closely with local and federal authorities on the investigation.”
Jagr had some fun with the fiasco on social media, posting a video alongside his bobblehead and vowing to catch whoever’s responsible for the theft.
Fans attending the game will receive a voucher for redemption at a future date. [via Pittsburgh Penguins]
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A group of female college athletes have filed a lawsuit against the NCAA to stop the practice of transgender women from using the same locker room and competing against women in college sports.
The suit specifically uses Lia Thomas’ 2022 competitive swimming victories as the basis for their action, accusing the NCAA of violating federal law that protects equal opportunity by gender. The suit also calls for any awards given to trans athletes to be reassigned to females who finished behind them.
This is the first federal action to sue to disqualify biological males from female competition. [via The Free Press]
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Residents of a quiet Utah town are grappling with hundreds of dead birds falling from trees and into their yards for now obvious reason.
One resident of Eagle Mountain tells local media she spotted nine in one day. A neighbor up the road has collected a dozen dead birds in recent days, which fell to the ground just from shaking the branches.
Utah’s Wildlife Resources department says the dead birds are starlings, technically invasive and non-native to the area. So far, officials tell those who find the bird corpses to dispose of them and keep pets away as they investigate a potential cause. [via KSL]
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A 14-karat gold lego piece sold for over $18,000 at auction last week.
The Bionicle Golden Kanohi Hau mask was dropped off at a Goodwill store in Dubois, Pennsylvania in a grab bag of jewelry. It wasn’t until people started asking if they could buy it for $1,000, that employees realized it was a rare piece.
Chad Smith, the head of e-commerce at the location, said there were a total of 48 bids on the piece, with the winner shelling out $18,101.
A spokesperson said the money will go toward Goodwill’s mission of “opportunity, education, training and work.”
BY THE WAY: The piece is part of Lego’s now-discontinued Bionicle collection. There were only 30 created for a giveaway in 2001. [via Smithsonian Magazine]
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DEATHS
Actress ROBYN BERNARD has died
According to multiple reports, she was found dead in a field behind a business in California on Tuesday. No other details were shared.
Bernard appeared in “General Hospital”.
She was only 64.
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BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The DOW lost 137 points (0.35%) to close at 38,905 on Thursday. The S&P lost 14 points (0.29%) to close at 5,150 and the NASDAQ lost 49 points (0.3%) to close at 16,128.
🛢 WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE jumped to $81; BRENT CRUDE at $85.
⛽ The national average price of a GALLON OF GAS climbed to $3.41 on Thursday.
₿ BITCOIN slid more than 4% and was trading just over $70,000 by Thursday evening.
🛩 There were more than 3,480 FLIGHTS delayed within, into, or out of the United States on Thursday and more than 1,090 such cancellations.
💰Tonight’s MEGA MILLIONS drawing will be for a $792 million jackpot or a $381.8 million cash payout. Saturday night’s POWERBALL drawing will be for a $600 million jackpot or a $293.4 million cash payout.
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SHOWBIZ NEWS
New Music Friday
The Black Crowes, “Happiness Bastards”
Cory Wells, “Harboring the Hurt I’ve Caused”
Heavee, “Unleash”
Justin Timberlake, “Everything I Thought I Was”
Lenny Kravitz, “Blue Electric Light”
Scott Stapp, “Higher Power”
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There was a mini NSYNC reunion at JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE’s concert in Los Angeles on Wednesday night.
JT shocked the crowd by bringing out his former bandmates to sing their hits “It’s Gonna Be Me” and “Bye Bye Bye.”
The reunion was the group’s first live performance since the 2013 VMAs. [via People]
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BELLA HADID has boot scootin’ boogied her way to Texas.
The model reportedly purchased a home in a Fort Worth suburb to be near her boyfriend, horseman Adan Banuelos.
It is unclear how the two met, though it's safe to assume it had something to do with their mutual love of horses. [via Daily Mail]
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“Sister Wives” fans are showing their support following the death of GARRISON BROWN by donating to a cause close to his heart.
According to a statement from the High Country Humane, people from around the world have donated over $13,000 in his honor.
Brown, who died by suicide last week, was well known at the shelter after adopting three cats in the last two years.
In response to the overwhelming generosity, HCH said it will rename its cat adoption room after Brown.
As for where his three cats are going, insiders told TMZ that his siblings have them. [via TMZ]
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Yesterday, PIERCE BROSNAN pleaded guilty to illegally hiking in Yellowstone after initially entering a not-guilty plea two months ago.
According to court documents, the actor was hit with two illegal hiking charges after he allegedly wandered into a delicate hot spring at the park in November 2023.
Initially facing a fine of up to $5,000 or six months in jail, Brosnan will now pay $1,540 in fines and other court costs. [via BDC]
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TRAVIS KELCE and PATRICK MAHOMES are taking their dynamic partnership to the restaurant industry with a new steakhouse called 1587 Prime in Kansas City. The name, of course, being a reference to their jersey numbers.
The “massive modern steakhouse” will feature two floors, totaling 10,000 square feet. The spot will boast several private dining rooms, and an impressive meat display, according to an official description.
No word on when the joint will open. [via People]
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CASTING CALL
The KATE MIDDLETON conspiracy theories have made it to “The View.”
While discussing the various theories that have popped up surrounding Kate’s mysterious absence, the ladies all chimed in on what they think happened…except for WHOOPI GOLDBERG, who seemed to take offense to the whole conversation.
“It’s not cute, it’s not funny and it really irritates me,” she shouted at her co-hosts.
Viewers were quick to weigh in on the heated exchange, questioning why Whoopi was so upset and adamant about defending the Royal Family. [via Daily Mail]
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A C-3PO head from “Return of the Jedi” sold for over $843k this week.
According to Propstore Auction, the prop, which still lights up, was offloaded by actor ANTHONY DANIELS, who said it was just sitting around gathering dust.
There are still several other items available from Daniels’ dusty collection. [via TMZ]
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OZZY OSBOURNE isn’t sure who should portray him in a forthcoming biopic, but he does know that it should not be actor BILL HADER.
Hader’s name was brought up by Ozzy’s son JACK during a recent discussion about the project on the family’s podcast. After suggesting that FLORENCE PUGH or MAISIE WILLIAMS would be perfect to play SHARON OSBOURNE, Jack suggested Hader for dear old dad.
Not knowing who Hader is, Jack showed Ozzy a photo to which he replied, “[Eff] off!” His daughter, KELLY, agreed with the sentiment.
As for when the biopic will be filmed, there doesn’t seem to be a timeline in place, or as Ozzy said, “By the time we finish this film, I’ll be dead.” [via Us]
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The third installment in the “Venom” franchise now has a title and a new release date.
“Venom: The Last Dance” will hit theaters on October 25 -- a week earlier than initially scheduled.
TOM HARDY once again stars as the black widow creature. [via Deadline]
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
Is KYLIE JENNER poor? The internet trolls certainly think so!
In response to reports that Kylie’s Beverly Hills mansion is still on the market (she listed it in 2022), TikToker @michelletok said she believes that perhaps “these celebrities are not as wealthy as we think they are.”
Explaining her reasoning, Michelle states that while she doesn’t believe Kylie is broke, she does believe that the reality star “lives way beyond her means.”
Back to the home; Kylie and then-boyfriend TRAVIS SCOTT purchased it in 2018 for $13.45 million. They originally listed it for $21.9 million, but later cut that to $20 million. Now the pad is listed at $17.9 million.
EXPERT ADVICE: Real estate connoisseur BARBARA CORCORAN says Kylie and Travis need to “be realistic” when it comes to their asking price as “LA has not been the best market for luxury mansions with the new taxes there.” [via NY Post]
WORTH NOTING: Last year Forbes had Kylie’s net worth at around $680 million.
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
MEGHAN MARKLE is back on Instagram – sort of.
Markle closed her personal account before her marriage to PRINCE HARRY in 2018. The couple have since managed their @sussexroyal account on the platform.
NOW: Markle is back with a new brand, AMERICAN RIVIERA ORCHARD, which insiders are calling a “lifestyle and cooking brand.” A brief promotional video shows Markle cooking in a kitchen, wearing a dress down a long hallway, and someone attending to a flower bouquet.
A website for the project includes a basic landing page with the opportunity for the visitor to enter their email address to join a waitlist. [via Morning Martini]
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DAY OF THE YEAR
Red Nose Day
National Shoe the World Day
World Contact Day
World Sleep Day
True Confessions Day
Buzzards Day
National Brutus Day
National Napping Day
World Speech Day
Ides of March
World Consumer Rights Day
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ON THIS DATE
44 B.C. - Brutus stabs Caesar in the Roman senate.
As many as 60 men were in on the assassination.
They wanted to get at the ruler before he left to fight another war. Caesar had already appointed governors to rule in his absence.
Authentic accounts have Brutus stabbing Caesar in the groin, and the emperor's last words being, in Greek, "You too, my child?"
It was Shakespeare's play that immortalized the Latin phrase, "Et tu, Brute?"
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1783 - General George Washington arrives in New York to end a feud between military leaders and the Continental Congress.
The soldiers were upset over having not received adequate compensation for fighting in the American Revolution.
They were promised a lifetime pension of half pay, but instead Congress bought them out with five years of full pay.
Ultimately, Washington persuaded his men to have confidence in the emerging American government.
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1820 - Maine becomes the 23rd state.
It had been under the control of Massachusetts as a province since 1647.
Maine became a state in part of a deal struck with Southern senators, who agreed to enter Missouri into the Union as a slave state.
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1917 - Czar Nicholas II of Russia is forced to surrender the throne.
As the February Revolution knocked the royals out of power, Nicholas gave up control to the leftist revolutionaries.
With the Russian Empire dead, it was quickly replaced with the Soviet Union, and a communist dictator.
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1970 - Bobby Orr becomes the first NHL defenseman to score 100 points in a season.
He knocked in 4 goals against the Detroit Red Wings to reach the milestone.
He finished the season with 120 points -- a ridiculous number for a defensive player, let alone a player on offense.
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1972 - "The Godfather" debuts in theaters nationwide.
The 3-hour epic film followed the lives of the Corleone family.
Based on a bestselling novel by Mario Puzo, the film starred Marlin Brando, who for years had not had a hit movie, and was known for erratic and uncontrollable behavior on set. But director Francis Ford Coppola fought for Brando -- who would win a Best Actor Oscar, which he declined to accept.
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1991 - Four officers with the Los Angeles Police Department are charged with excessive force over the beating of Rodney King.
The encounter occurred earlier in the month and was caught on amateur video footage, sparking mass outrage.
The officers would be acquitted the following year, leading to riots and unrest in the streets of LA.
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2020 - European countries impose restrictions on gatherings and borders as COVID death rates rise. On this day Italy reported 1,809 deaths, Spain had 288 and France tallied 120.
On this day in the US, the CDC reports 1,629 cases and 41 deaths attributed to the virus.
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BIRTHDAYS
Connor Ball - bassist, The Vamps - 28
Lil Dicky - rapper - 36
Jai Courtney - actor, “Divergent: & “Suicide Squad” - 38
Kellan Lutz - actor, “Twilight” franchise - 39
Young Buck - rapper - 43
will.i.am - rapper - 49
Eva Longoria - actress, “Desperate Housewives” - 49
Mark Hoppus - rock singer, Blink-182 - 52
Kim Raver - actress, “Grey’s Anatomy” - 55
Bret Michaels - rock singer, Poison - 61
Dee Snider - metal singer, Twisted Sister - 69
Born On This Date
Ruth Bader Ginsburg - Supreme Court Justice - 1933 (d. 2020)
Andrew Jackson - 7th POTUS - 1767 (d. 1845)
Saint Nicholas - religious leader - 1270 (d. 1343)
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