4/13/2022: Inflation Surge
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4/13/2022: Inflation Surge
PLUS: Brooklyn Subway Shooting, Gilbert Gottfried’s Death, and Harry & Meghan Head to Invictus Games
Today is Wednesday, April 13, 2022
It is the 103rd day of the year.
262 days remain.
TRENDING
Happy Birthday David was trending as Twitter users wished David Hogg a happy 22nd birthday. Hogg is a founder & board member of March For Our Lives, a student-led organization that supports gun legislation.
#WakingUpIn3Words was circulating on Twitter Tuesday. Tweets included, “Time to surface,” “I gotta pee,” “How’s my hair?,” and “must have coffee!!”
#Bidenflation landed in Twitter’s Top 10 Trends on Tuesday as outlets reported that inflation surged to 8.5% in March -- a new 40-year high. More in Swamp.
#StrangerThings4 was trending following the release of the trailer for the upcoming fourth season of the hit Netflix show.
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HIT LIST
A gunman dressed as a public utilities worker shot at least ten people in a subway car in New York City Tuesday morning, after he activated a smoke grenade.
Dozens more were injured in the ensuing chaos. No immediate deaths were reported.
Law enforcement officials have named a person of interest as Frank R. James, who is believed to have had previous addresses in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania. He rented a U-Haul van whose key was found at the scene among other weapons.
Also found at the scene were a jammed Glock 9mm handgun and two magazines – suggesting the carnage could have been much worse had his weapon not malfunctioned.
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Clinical trials of a new covid treatment show it decreases the risk of death by 55% among already hospitalized patients.
The drug manufacturer, Veru, is taking next steps to seek an emergency use authorization from the FDA.
MEANWHILE: Less than 10% of Americans say covid is a “serious crisis.”
In the same poll, Democrats were five times as likely as Republicans to label the pandemic “serious” at all.
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A wild javelina recently took a car on an inadvertent joyride last week in Arizona. (A javelina is a pig-like mammal that thrives in desert conditions).
Investigators believe the animal hopped inside the vehicle’s rear hatch that was mistakenly left open overnight. Once on board, it rifled around for food, accidentally knocking the car into neutral. That’s when it rolled into the street.
Fortunately, a deputy was eventually able to open the door and let the javelina out; it then ran off into the wilderness.
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Nearly one-third of Americans will face dangerous storms this week.
Winds are expected to exceed 50 miles per hour in many states, spanning the Plane States and stretching down to the Gulf of Mexico, bringing a variety of tornadoes, hail, and blizzards, depending on where you live.
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A new study suggests the Bernardinelli-Bernstein comet is the largest ever recorded, spanning more than 80 miles wide – making it about 50 times larger than a typical space rock of its kind.
It’s expected to pass through the solar system in 2031, where it will blast through the orbits of Saturn and Uranus.
Astronomers are gearing up to study it closely when it does pass by, as it is believed to do every 3 million years in an enormous elliptical orbit.
One researcher said the comet has been largely unaffected over the eons, telling the Daily Beast, “Not a lot has happened to this object since its formation in the early days of the solar system, and so we can think of it as a window into the past.”
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CHARTS
Top 5 Fiction & Nonfiction Books Currently on the New York Times Best Sellers List:
FICTION:
“Where The Crawdads Sing,” Delia Owens
“Run, Rose, Run,” James Patterson
“The Viscount Who Loved Me,” Julia Quinn
"It Ends With Us," Colleen Hoover
“Verity,” Colleen Hoover
NONFICTION:
“The Body Keeps The Score,” Bessel van der Kolk
“Will,” Will Smith and Mark Manson
“The Storyteller,” Dave Grohl
“Ten Steps to Nanette,” Hannah Gadsby
“Against All Odds,” Alex Kershaw
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DEATHS
GILBERT GOTTFRIED has died.
The comedian passed away Tuesday after battling a long illness, his family wrote on Gottfried’s official Twitter account.
Gilbert's rep, Glenn Schwartz, told TMZ he died from a heart abnormality called Ventricular Tachycardia due to Myotonic Dystrophy type II.
He was 67.
BY THE WAY: Here’s a photo Gottfried posted shortly after NORM MACDONALD’s death — of him next to Macdonald and BOB SAGET. Rule of threes? (Also don’t forget LOUIE ANDERSON died earlier this year. Spooky time to be a well-known standup.)
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KATHY LAMKIN has died.
The actress, known for her role as Desert Aire trailer park manager in “No Country for Old Men,” passed away on April 4 after a short illness, according to her family.
She was 74.
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EYA GUEZGUEZ has died.
The Olympic sailor passed away during a training accident on Sunday when the sailboat she was on with her twin sister, Sarra, capsized in strong winds, according to The Guardian.
Sarra was rescued by their coach, who was unable to get to Eya in time. She was taken to a hospital where she was pronounced dead.
The sisters participated together in the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.
Eya was only 17.
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PATRICIA MACLACHLAN has died.
The author of the award-winning children’s book “Sarah, Plain and Tall,” and its sequels, passed away March 31 at her home in Massachusetts. No cause of death was shared.
She was 84.
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BREAKUPS
Comedian ALI WONG, 39, and her husband businessman JUSTIN HAUKTA, also 39, are splitting up.
Wong’s rep confirmed the news on Tuesday, telling PEOPLE that the breakup is “amicable” and the two will continue to “co-parent lovingly.”
They were married for 8 years.
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THE SWAMP
Brian Benjamin, New York’s now-former Lieutenant Governor, resigned Tuesday afternoon, just hours after his arrest on charges of bribery, fraud, and conspiracy. In particular, he allegedly traded favors to a real estate developer in exchange for pushing a $50,000 state grant to the developer’s non-profit organization.
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Inflation is bad. Very, very bad.
The Consumer Price Index is up more than 8% year over year, a 40-year high.
WHO’S TO BLAME: As tantalizing as it might be to throw the blame onto Putin, remember that inflation was already 7% in December, well before tanks started rolling into Ukraine.
WORTH ASKING: Do you s’pose the admin will be touting a cheaper Memorial Day grillout this year? Good thing Americans saved those pennies last summer!
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President JOE BIDEN’s approval rating is at 41%, Rasmussen reports. 58% disapprove.
IT GETS WORSE: At the same point in his presidency, former PRESIDENT TRUMP’s approval was at 50% – and that was with JIM ACOSTA’s daily freakouts and ‘round-the-clock baseless whining about Russia.
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LOTTERY
No winner for Monday night’s Powerball drawing. Tonight’s drawing will be for a $302 million jackpot or a $187 million cash payout.
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SHOWBIZ NEWS
KENEDI ANDERSON has dropped out of “American Idol.”
The 17-year-old front-runner revealed the news on Instagram, writing “for personal reasons” she is no longer able to continue competing on the show.
Many may remember that judges LUKE BRYAN, KATY PERRY and LIONEL RICHIE gave Anderson a standing ovation during her audition.
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DJ KHALED was enshrined on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Monday with many famous faces by his side.
On hand to witness the honor were JAY-Z, DIDDY, FAT JOE and TEYANA TAYLOR.
A huge crowd of fans were on site too.
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A very pregnant RIHANNA is featured on the cover of the May issue of Vogue Magazine.
Speaking about her pregnancy, Ri-Ri said that wearing maternity clothes was never going to happen.
“I’m sorry — it’s too much fun to get dressed up. I’m not going to let that part disappear because my body is changing,” she told the publication.
Rihanna is expecting her first child, with boyfriend, rapper A$AP ROCKY, any day now.
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MARK WAHLBERG wants to create more “faith-based content” following his starring role in new film “Father Stu.”
While speaking to Entertainment Tonight, the actor revealed that he hopes the movie leads others to “make more meaningful content” as well.
The story is based on the real-life Father Stuart Long, who leaned on faith during tough times.
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SEAN PENN may soon be on the frontlines in Ukraine.
The actor, who was in the country filming a documentary when Russia invaded, revealed in an interview with the Hollywood Authentic that he is considering “taking up arms” and helping Ukranians defend their land.
While Penn is currently back home in California, he told the outlet that he is really thinking about going back to fight.
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CNN’s newly launched streaming service CNN+ is already looking at making big time cuts over lackluster growth.
An initial investment of $1 billion is likely to be cut by hundreds of millions “in response to a low adoption rate,” sources told Axios. To date, $300 million has been spent on the subscription service, $100 million of which was marketing costs.
Two weeks since its launch, only 10,000 people are using the platform, according to CNBC.
THERE MAY BE HOPE ON THE HORIZON: On Monday, the streamer was added to Roku — one of the country’s largest smart TV platforms.
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CASTING CALL
Spirit Halloween, the iconic costume store, is getting a feature-length family movie, called “Spirit Halloween.”
The flick, billed as a family/kids adventure movie, stars CHRISTOPHER LLOYD and RACHAEL LEIGH COOK.
Production sources told Variety that the movie is set to be released in time for Halloween 2022.
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WHOOPI GOLDBERG is taking a break from “The View.”
The 66-year-old will be absent from the daytime talk show “for a while” as she films Amazon Prime’s upcoming series adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s “Anansi Boys,” her co-host JOY BEHAR announced this week.
According to Variety, Goldberg will play the villainous Bird Woman, the dangerous God of the Birds who’s looking to settle a score with the titular Anansi.
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HOLLIS JANE ANDREWS has landed a multi-episode role opposite FREDDIE HIGHMORE in ABC’s “The Good Doctor.”
According to Deadline, she will play Sophie, a savvy documentarian whose inspiring documentary projects have won her many awards. She becomes intrigued with her aunt’s doctor (Highmore) and his neurotypical fiancé.
The series is currently in its fifth season. It was recently renewed for a sixth.
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JUSTIN BARTHA will reprise his “National Treasure'' role as Riley Poole in Disney+’s new series based on the films.
He will star opposite LISETTE ALEXIS and CATHERINE ZETA-JONES.
“National Treasure,” the series, is an expansion of the namesake movie franchise that centers on young heroine Jess (Alexis), who embarks on an adventure of a lifetime to uncover the truth about her family’s mysterious past, per the official description.
As many will remember, Bartha starred as Riley in the first “National Treasure” film opposite NICOLAS CAGE.
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WILL FERRELL rounds out the cast of Warner Bros. film “Barbie.”
The movie, centered on the iconic doll line, stars MARGOT ROBBIE and RYAN GOSLING.
AMERICA FERRARA, KATE MCKINNON and SIMU LIU have also signed on to the project.
Robbie will play Barbie and Gosling will take on the role of Ken. It is unclear who Ferrell is playing.
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Peacock is working on “Casper,” a live-action horror/adventure series.
The flick reimagines the origin of Casper the Friendly Ghost in a coming-of-age story that explores what it means to be alive.
No other details were shared.
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
KANYE WEST offered to give up his career to become KIM KARDASHIAN’s full-time stylist, according to Kim herself.
The conversation plays out in an upcoming episode of Hulu’s “The Kardashians” when Kim is talking to her friend about some outfits Ye selected for her to wear.
“Kanye wants to quit everything and dedicate his life to being my stylist,” she says, before laughing it off.
While it may appear to be a joke, fashion has always been a top priority for Ye, who since splitting from Kim, has found other women to style and fuss over.
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
MEGHAN MARKLE will be by PRINCE HARRY’s side for the first several days of the Invictus Games in the Netherlands next week.
The event is an international sports competition founded by Harry for wounded service members and veterans.
This year’s Games will take place April 16-22.
WORTH REMEMBERING: The couple’s first official appearance together was at the Invictus Games in 2017.
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Remember PRINCESS MAKO, the Japanese princess who gave up her title and fortune to marry her true love, KEI KOMORO — a commoner — and move with him to New York?
Well, things appear to be going well for her.
Mako has a new job assisting curators at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. She is working within the museum’s Asian art collection and has been preparing an exhibition of paintings inspired by the life of a 13th-century monk who traveled throughout Japan as he introduced Buddhism.
Kei, meanwhile, is a paralegal at a law firm in New York.
SPORTS
No. 1 ranked tennis player NOVAK DJOKOVIC lost his opening match at the Monte Carlo Masters on Tuesday to 46th ranked ALEJANDRO DAVIDOVICH FOKINA.
It was Djokovic’s first match since February and only his fourth this year.
WORTH REMEMBERING: He was forced to miss the Australian Open and other big tournaments over his COVID-19 vaccination status.
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CAM NEWTON is under fire for controversial comments he made during a recent stop at Barstool Sports “Million Dollaz Worth of Game” podcast.
While talking about being raised by his mother, father and grandmother, the NFL player said his experiences helped him understand the difference between a “woman” and a “bad bitch.” The latter of which he said is what “women should strive for.”
Newton found himself in hotter water as he continued to explain what he meant, saying “You don’t know when to be quiet. You don’t know how to let a man lead.”
He also called out men, telling them to “start being men.”
Social media users were quick to call his comments “sexist” and “misogynistic.”
WORTH REMEMBERING: This isn’t the first time Newton has made remarks about women. In 2017, he was criticized for laughing at a female reporter’s question during a press conference, saying “It’s funny to hear a female talk about routes.”
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DAY OF THE YEAR
National Borinqueneers Day
National Make Lunch Count Day
National Peach Cobbler Day
National Scrabble Day
National Thomas Jefferson Day
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ON THIS DATE
1360 – English soldiers, encamped in Chartres, France as part of the Hundred Years War, are assaulted by a vicious hail storm.
The freak weather event is believed to have killed an estimated 1,000 soldiers. One written account described “a foul day, full of myst and hail, so that men dyed on horseback.”
In England, the tragedy was taken as a sign from God, and encouraged King Edward to begin negotiations for peace with France. A peace treaty was signed less than a month later, ending the first phase of the Hundred Years War.
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1928 – A crew of three make the first transatlantic flight in a Junker W33 airplane.
They left from Dublin, after waiting weeks for ideal weather.
The destination was intended to be New York, but between cloudy conditions and a malfunctioning compass, they ended up approaching Canada with an oil leak, forcing them to settle for landing on Greenly Island after finding a frozen pond.
Though the plane was damaged the men were uninjured.
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1941 – The Soviet Union and government of Japan agree to a neutrality agreement as World War II continues to rage.
The deal was to last five years, and though the nations had traditionally been at odds, the agreement allowed them to reallocate troops to hotter combat zones.
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1970 – The oxygen tank aboard Apollo 13 explodes.
What was supposed to be the third manned Moon landing turned into a survival exercise. On the ground, Mission Control and engineers scrambled to develop protocols to conserve enough power and oxygen aboard the spacecraft, as the damaged ship approached the Moon.
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1997 – Tiger Woods notches his first Masters win.
He was only 21 years old at the time, and won with a 12-stroke lead — making him not only the youngest winner at the time, but the first Asian or African to win one of the major tournaments.
He won again in 2001, 2002, and 2005.
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2004 - Barry Bonds hits his 661st career home run, passing his godfather Willie Mays on the MLB all-time list.
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2019 - BTS is the first K-pop group to perform on “Saturday Night Live.”
The host of the night was Emma Stone.
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2020 - NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo declared “I believe the worst is over if we continue to be smart,” regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.
The death toll for his state had already passed 10,000.
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BIRTHDAYS
Jessica Vanessa - actress, “Perfectly Single” - 30
Erin Lim - E! News correspondent - 31
Allison Williams - actress, “Girls” & “Patrick Melrose” - 34
Hunter Pence - baseball player - 39
Ty Dolla Sign - rapper - 40
Kelli Giddish - actress, “Law & Order: SVU” - 42
Julia Rose - actress, “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” & “CSI: NY” - 49
Caroline Rhea - actress, “Sabrina the Teenage Witch” & “Sydney to the Max” - 58
Peter Davidson - actor, “Doctor Who” - 71
Ron Perlman - actor, “Sons of Anarchy” & “Charmed” - 72
Al Green - R&B singer - 76
Born On This Date
Jonathan Brandis - actor, “The Never Ending Story II” - 1976 (d. 2003)
Thomas Jefferson - Founding Father & 3rd POTUS - 1743 (d. 1826)
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