4/12/2023: RIP Tupperware?
PLUS: Freaky Furbies; A Tale of Two Conventions; and King Charles, The Trailblazer
Today is Wednesday, April 12, 2023.
It is the 102nd day of the year.
263 days remain.
WHAT’S ON TAP
A popular, everyday household item could be gone for good and a man recovers from a samurai sword accident. More in HIT LIST.
The White House has a very jargony plan to tackle the fentanyl crisis. More in THE SWAMP.
JEREMY RENNER’s eye-popping injury and JOHN RICH pulls Bud Light from his bar. More in SHOWBIZ.
SYLVESTER STALLONE’s reality show is set to debut in May and the 1982 Milwaukee Brewers will be featured in a new docuseries. More in CASTING CALL.
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HIT LIST
A report published by the new management team at FTX reveals more specifics of the internal chaos and adolescent ineptitude at the company before it went kaput.
One internal communication shows SAM BANKMAN-FRIED shrugging off a $50 million accounting error: “We sometimes find $50m of assets lying around that we lost track of; such is life,” he wrote. In another, he acknowledged the complexity of the fraud, and relied on confusion to insulate himself from any external review, describing the Alameda Research hedge fund as “hilariously beyond any threshold of any auditor being able to even get partially through an audit.”
Multi-million-dollar transfers were reviewed on the chat app Slack, where a simple emoji response either approved or nixed the transactions. [via WSJ]
MEANWHILE: Tech site Gizmodo describes the company’s cybersecurity as “a comic masterpiece that will make you wonder how the company didn’t get hacked earlier.”
WORTH ASKING: Shouldn’t a company with BILLIONS of dollars of other peoples’ money have some of the best cybersecurity money can buy? Maybe instead of buying beachfront condos?
SPEAKING OF DOUCHEBAGS: Convicted fraudster ELIZABETH HOLMES of “Theranos” disrepute will have to sit in prison while she appeals her conviction.
The appeal is currently pending before the 9th US Circuit.
The judge for the current case argued that even if her appeal results in a reversal, it wouldn’t apply to all the counts – so she deserves some time behind bars anyway. [via Reuters
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A new world-record has been set for the priciest license plate.
An unidentified bidder in the UAE dropped over $15 million for plate number P 7 during a recent charity auction.
The record was held by Abu Dhabi businessman Saeed Abdul Ghaffar Khouri, who paid over $14 million for a plate featuring the number 1.
In the UAE, a low-numbered license plate equates to significant wealth; so the lower the better. [via Bloomberg]
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A household staple may soon be extinct.
Tupperware, the plastic food container business, announced this week that without emergency funds being raised they will be unable to stay afloat.
According to the company, shares “crashed about 50% this week” after investors were told that there is “substantial doubt about the company’s ability to continue.”
For what it’s worth, this is the second such panic in the last six months.
Tupperware was created by Earl Tupper in the 1940s, there was a resurgence in sales of the containers during the pandemic, but that has since faded. [via NBC News]
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Remember the bug-eyed furballs from the ‘90s known as Furbys? Well it turns out those who found them creepy may have been onto something.
A Vermont engineering student recently hooked up a stripped-down Furby to some new software and the creature revealed plans for world domination.
In response to being asked if there was a secret plot to take over the world, the toy paused, blinked a few times and said, “Furbies’ plan to take over the world involves infiltrating households through their cute and cuddly appearance. Then using their advanced AI technology to manipulate and control their owners.”
“They will slowly expand their influence until they have complete domination over humanity,” it continued. [via NY Post]
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A Belgian man is in the hospital in critical condition after being sliced with his own samurai sword.
The man, and his father, were reportedly woken up by a group of people playing Monopoly on the sidewalk near their home last week. Annoyed, the son confronted the game players with the sword, which then led to a scuffle. During the scuffle, the man and one of the Monopoly players both went after the sword and were both cut by the blade.
The Monopoly player was treated for his injuries and released, while the sword-owner suffered a deep artery cut and remains in the hospital. [via Insider]
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CHARTS
Top 5 Fiction & Nonfiction Books Currently on the New York Times Best Sellers List:
FICTION:
“Daisy Jones & The Six,” Taylor Jenkins Reid
“It Starts With Us,” Colleen Hoover
“Lessons in Chemistry,” Bonnie Garmus
“It Ends With Us,” Colleen Hoover
“The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo,” Taylor Jenkins Reid
NON-FICTION
“Outlive,” Peter Attia with Bill Gifford
“The Body Keeps the Score,” Bessel van der Kolk
“Poverty, By America,” Matthew Desmond
“Spare,” Prince Harry
“Crying in H Mart,” Michelle Zauner
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RELATIONSHIPS
Actress MILLIE BOBBY BROWN, 19, is engaged to JAKE BONGIOVI, 20.
The “Stranger Things” star revealed the news with a black-and-white photo of the couple on Instagram, which she captioned “I’ve loved you three summers now, honey, I want ‘em all.”
Her ring could clearly be seen in the pic.
Bongiovi is the son of JON BON JOVI.
WORTH NOTING: Brown’s caption is lyrics from TAYLOR SWIFT’s song “Lover.”
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THE SWAMP
The Democratic National Committee has announced that Chicago will host its convention in August 2024, when the party formally nominates its candidate for president.
WORTH REMEMBERING: Milwaukee will host the Republican Convention a few weeks prior, a geographic stone’s throw away.
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The Biden White House released a memo on Tuesday outlining its strategies for stopping fentanyl from entering the country, one of which includes creating “synergies and leverage among like-minded countries who agree that countering illicit synthetic drugs must be a global policy priority.”
WORTH ASKING: What?
ALSO WORTH ASKING: You know what else would stop the flow of fentanyl into the country? Border security and harsh penalties for illegal immigrants.
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BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The DOW added 98 points (0.29%) to close at 33,684 on Tuesday. The NASDAQ lost 52 points (0.43%) to close at 12,031 and the S&P was flat, losing just 0.17 points to close at 4,108.
🛢 BRENT CRUDE ticked up to $81; BRENT CRUDE at $85.
⛽ The national average price of a GALLON OF GAS was $3.60 on Tuesday.
₿ BITCOIN continues its surge, adding more than 1.8% on Tuesday and trading well over $30,000.
🛩 There were more than 2,221 FLIGHTS delayed within, into, or out of the United States on Tuesday and more than 63 such cancellations.
💰Tonight’s POWERBALL drawing will be for a $202 million jackpot or a $110.4 million cash payout.
SHOWBIZ NEWS
WARNING: Potential stomach-churning details ahead…
While detailing his critical injuries from his New Year’s Day snow plow accident, JEREMY RENNER told late night host JIMMY KIIMMEL that his “eye did pop out” of its socket.
The gruesome detail is just one more revelation the “Hawkeye” star shared as he makes his TV interview rounds. Remember, he told DIANE SAWYER last week that he could feel the 14,000-pound snow machine rolling over his feet, ankles, legs and torso, all the way up to his head.
As previously reported, Renner tried to jump into the cab of the machine to stop it from rolling over his nephew, but he slipped on the rotating treds and was pulled under. The same nephew got the machine stopped and backed up off of Renner and quickly tended to his wounds the best he could. A neighbor, who is a doctor, was also on scene to help.
Renner says he was aware of what was happening until he was loaded into the helicopter.
Kimmel told Renner he is the “toughest” of all the “Avengers” characters. [via Page Six]
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Country singer JOHN RICH is no longer serving Bud Light at his Nashville bar after the beer brand started featuring transgender activist DYLAN MULVANEY on its cans.
Rich told TUCKER CARLSON that he has cases of Bud Light, once a top-selling beer, piling up because customers are no longer purchasing it.
“At the end of the day, that’s capitalism That’s how it works,” he quipped. [via NY Post]
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Several of TAYLOR SWIFT’s breakup ballads are streaming again following news that she has split from her actor boyfriend JOE ALWYN.
According to SpotifySwiftie, the 11 tracks that have once again hit the top of the charts, were all recorded during the years she was with Alwyn.
There have been reports that Swift hinted at the split in one of her songs and her fans are clearly trying to figure out which one. [via TMZ]
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ANYA TAYLOR-JOY says she learned to speak English by watching JACK BLACK in “School of Rock” every Friday.
The actress shared the tidbit while speaking with People Magazine about how she lived in Argentina until she was six, which is when she moved to London. She said that she would also watch “Harry Potter” and “Jumanji” repeatedly to learn the language.
Speaking of Black, Taylor-Joy says she was “super starstruck” while working with him on the new “Mario Bros.” movie. She voices Princess Peach and Black voices Bowser. [via People]
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AMANDA BYNES was released from the hospital Monday, where she spent three weeks undergoing treatment.
Insiders told TMZ that both the actress and her doctors determined she was ready to get back to her day-to-day life. She will still continue to see professionals, but in an outpatient setting.
As previously reported, Bynes was found naked, wandering around the streets near downtown Los Angeles last month. [via TMZ]
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GRANGER SMITH is saying good-bye to country music in order to spend his time focusing on ministry at his local church in Austin, Texas.
His upcoming tour, “Like a River,” which kicks off on April 13, will also serve as a farewell to his fans. [via People]
WORTH NOTING: The tour is named after his three-year-old son, River, who died in a drowning accident in 2019.
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Race car driver CHARLES LECLERC is begging fans to stop showing up at his home in Monaco after his address was released to the public.
The 25-year-old made the plea on Instagram, while wishing his more than 10 million followers a Happy Easter.
Last year, thieves targeted Leclerc at his home, posing as fans. When he stopped to chat with them, they stole his Richard Mille timepiece. It is unknown if they used the leak address to find him or not. [via NY Post]
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BravoCon 2023 will take place in Las Vegas this November.
The event sees “Bravolebrities” from around the world gather to interact with their fans. The three day shindig -- November 3-5 -- will be held at the Caesars Forum.
More information, such as which Bravo favorites will be there, will be announced soon. [via Page Six]
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CASTING CALL
SYLVESTER STALLONE’s Paramount+ reality show “The Family Stallone” will premiere on May 17.
According to the streamer, fans will get to see a “softer side” of the 76-year-old actor, who stars in the show alongside his wife JENNIFER FLAVIN, 54, and their daughters Sophia, 26, Sistine, 24, and Scarlet, 20.
Stallone and Flavin’s marital issues, divorce filings and un-filings will be featured in the show. [via People]
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A docuseries about the 1982 Milwaukee Brewers is in the works.
“Just a Bit Outside: The Story of the 1982 Milwaukee Brewers” follows the team who made it all the way to Game 7 of the World Series before losing to the St. Louis Cardinals. Despite the loss, the city of Milwaukee threw the team a celebratory parade.
The docuseries will feature material from the Brewers organization, and interviews with several Hall of Famers, including ROBIN YOUNT, TED SIMMONS, PAUL MOLITOR, ROLLIE FINGERS, BUD SELIG and BOB UECKER.
No word on when or where the project will premiere. [via Deadline]
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
Some fans of FX’s “American Horror Story” are not pleased with the news that KIM KARDASHIAN will have a role in the upcoming season.
Sharing their feelings on Twitter, one user wrote, “kim k starring in AHS 12 just ruined my whole [effing] day,” while another commented, “Surely it’s Kim K who will bring down the quality of AHS.”
A third person suggested they “kill her character” in the first episode.
Season 12 is expected to premiere sometime this summer. [via Men’sHealth]
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
A new children’s book about KING CHARLES promotes the message that if you believe in yourself enough you can be anything you want…like the King of Britain.
Except, YOU can’t.
The book, simply titled “King Charles,” is part of the Little People, Big Dreams series, which shares stories of notable people who have overcome obstacles and faced challenges to make a difference in the world.
Charles being featured among the likes of former slave HARRIET TUBMAN confused a lot of people, as all he did to become King was be born.
Parents of young children were quick to leave reviews for the new book, with one mom writing, “So inspirational to think that any of us can be king if we work hard enough,” while another wrote, “He dreamed of being the king, and thanks to who his parents were, he did. The end.” [via Daily Mail]
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DAY OF THE YEAR
Yuri’s Night
International Day of Pink
National Licorice Day
World Hamster Day
National Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day
Deskfast Day
Walk On Your Wild Side Day
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ON THIS DATE
1770 - After dangerous uprisings in the American colonies, the British Parliament repeals the Townshend Act.
Beginning in 1767, the legislation put tariffs on British products purchased in America, and spurred the colonial catchphrase "No Taxation Without Representation." The anger peaked when shots were fired in the Boston Massacre in March 1770.
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1861- Almost exactly four years before it ends -- the Civil War formally begins.
The army of the Confederate States of America fires the first shots against Union troops in South Carolina.
After a day and a half of fighting, the Union troops would surrender, and soon after, Abraham Lincoln began assembling an army to put down what he called the Southern insurrection.
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1945 - During his historic fourth term as President of the United States, Franklin Roosevelt dies.
FDR suffered a stroke while vacationing at his home in Warm Springs, Georgia. He had grown sick while at Yalta, to discuss terms of peace with his counterparts Joseph Stalin and Winston Churchill, and went to his vacation home to recuperate.
Harry Truman would succeed him, and make the ultimate decision to use nuclear weapons against the Japanese to end World War II.
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1970 - Two days into its mission to the Moon, Apollo 13 suffers its crippling setback.
Jack Swigert was ordered by Mission Control to turn on the hydrogen and oxygen tank stirring fans, which were designed to more accurately display pressure readings on the crew's oxygen supply. Ninety-three seconds later, an explosion rattled the cockpit. The astronauts inside first believed a meteorite had hit the craft.
Over the next three days, the crew would slingshot around the Moon, but never land.
Meanwhile, they famously improvised a device that would convert their carbon dioxide to oxygen using materials on board the ship as rudimentary as plastic bags and duct tape.
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1999 - President Bill Clinton is cited for contempt of court for giving “intentionally false statements” in a sexual harassment civil lawsuit.
The suit, brought against him by Paula Jones, had previously been thrown out, but was reinstated after Clinton admitted to having an affair with White House intern Monica Lewinski.
The lie referenced is a famous one: “I did not have sexual relations with that woman.”
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2022 - Global Covid-19 cases pass 500 million.
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BIRTHDAYS
True Thompson - daughter of Khloe Kardashian - 5
Jenna Johnson - dance, “Dancing With the Stars” - 29
Saoirse Ronan - actress, “Atonement” & “Lady Bird” - 29
Jessie James Decker - country singer - 35
Brooklyn Decker - model - 36
Brendon Urie - rock singer, Panic! At the Disco - 36
Claire Danes - actress, “Homeland” & “Romeo + Juliet” - 44
Jennifer Morrison - actress, “House M.D.” & “Once Upon a Time” - 44
Riley Smith - actor, “Not Another Teen Movie” - 45
Christina Moore - actress, “MADtv” & “Jessie” - 50
Shannon Doherty - actress, “Beverly Hills, 90210” & “Charmed” - 52
Vince Gill - country singer - 66
Andy Garcia - actor, “Ocean’s Eleven” & “The Lost City” - 67
David Letterman - TV show host, “Late Night” & “The Late Show” - 76
Ed O’Neill - actor, “Married…with Children” & “Modern Family” - 77
Born On This Date
Tom Clancy - novelist, “The Hunt for Red October” - 1947 (d. 2013)
Tiny Tim - folk singer - 1932 (d. 1996)
Beverly Cleary - children’s author - 1916 (d. 2021)
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