4/14/2023: Dime Bandits
PLUS: Car Chemicals Cause Cancer; ACM Nominees; and Coronation Takes Shape
Today is Friday, April 14, 2023.
It is the 104th day of the year.
261 days remain.
WHAT’S ON TAP
While a bunch of thieves in Philly make off with thousands of dollars worth of dimes, an Oregon man spreads his own wealth on the highway. More in HIT LIST.
The fog of war complicates the global military supply trade. More in THE SWAMP.
MATTHEW MCCONAUGHEY and WOODY HARRELSON may be closer than they realize and JAMIE FOXX is recovering from an unknown medical emergency. More in SHOWBIZ.
PETE DAVIDSON is heading back to “SNL” and “Extra” gets a 30th season. More in CASTING CALL.
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HIT LIST
A new study published in the journal Cell Reports Physical Science suggests that the “new car smell” people seem to enjoy could increase the risk of cancer.
Researchers from Harvard University and the Beijing Institute of Technology monitored the air in new cars that were left parked outside for 12 days. What they found was severely heightened levels of the cancer-causing compound formaldehyde and the carcinogen, acetaldehyde.
Based on their findings, researchers believe that spending just 30 minutes daily in a car can expose a person to enough of the chemicals to put them at risk of exceeding safety standards. Also, the levels go up significantly in warmer weather. [via NY Post]
WORTH ASKING: What’s a soccer mom to do?
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In an effort to make sex more inclusive, sexual wellness brand Roam has created the “world’s first” skin tone condoms.
The condoms are available in four colors: Dark Brown, Medium Brown, Light Brown and the Original Latex.
Also, the company says the packaging is made with 40% less plastic than traditional foil wrappers and they are “suitable for vegans.” [via Daily Mail]
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Thugs in Philadelphia made off with more than $100,000 in dimes after ransacking a truck that had just left the Philadelphia Mint.
According to authorities, the theft occurred early Thursday morning as the truck was parked overnight before traveling to Florida.
On their exit, the thieves scattered hundreds of dimes all over the parking lot, leaving officers to determine exactly how much of the $750,000 was stolen and who took it. [via AP News]
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A man in Oregon wanted to share his -- and his family’s -- wealth this week along Interstate 5.
According to ABC affiliate KEZI, 38-year-old Colin Davis McCarthy tossed dollar bills out of his car window on Tuesday evening to “bless others with gifts of money.”
Officers responding to the chaos told McCarthy to stop the “blessings” as motorists were unsafely stopping to get their hands on the cash. At that point, he had tossed about $200,000.
Meanwhile, McCarthy’s family members told officers that he had taken all of the money out of the family’s shared bank accounts. The family is now asking anyone who picked up the money to return it. [via KEZI]
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A dog belonging to a family in Alaska first went missing last month while they visited a small town on the Bering Strait. The 1-year old Australian shepherd had run off hunting, and just never returned.
After some searching, the family returned home and took to social media, posting photos in hopes someone would spot the dog. A few weeks later, people in Wales, Alaska, recognized the missing animal and got in contact with the owners.
Despite having survived some kind of animal attack and bearing the bite marks to prove it, the dog seemed well and in good spirits. The family thinks it tussled with either a wolverine or seal. [via Associated Press]
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CHARTS
What’s Streaming?
New to Hulu:
Section 8 (Rotten Tomatoes Score: 31%)
She Will (Score: 85%)
The Offering (Score: 77%)
New to Netflix:
Phenomena (No Score)
Queens on the Run (No Score)
The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die (No Score)
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DEATHS
Designer MARY QUANT has died.
She passed away Thursday at home in Surrey, England, according to a statement from her family. No cause of death was shared.
Quant is best known for creating the mini skirt in the ‘60s.
She was 93.
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BABY NEWS
Country singer KIMBERLY PERRY, 39, is expecting her first child with husband, musician JOHNNY COSTELLO.
She shared the news on social media, posting a photo of herself alongside Costello, showing off her baby bump.
As previously reported, Perry’s band THE BAND PERRY is currently on a “creative break.” She is in the band with her two brothers.
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THE SWAMP
FOG OF WAR: The South Korean government has agreed to loan – yes, loan – the United States half a million artillery shells, as America’s stockpile dwindles while the government props up Ukraine’s fight with Russia.
YOU MIGHT BE ASKING: How does one loan a very expendable item like an artillery shell that’s made to explode?
No one seems to know. One source tells South Korean media that using the “rental method” keeps the country insulated from directly supplying any material that could end up in Ukraine.
BEST GUESS: This arrangement lets the US hold onto the shells, but can also return them if they ever go unused.
WORTH ASKING: Why aren’t American manufacturers cranking out our own weapons? Is that not allocated in the multi-hundred-billion-dollar defense budget? And why is the US sending away back stocks of weapons it can’t afford to part with?
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The Supreme Court on Thursday declined to block $6 billion worth of student loan debt forgiveness.
BUT WAIT: This has nothing to do with a case separate from President JOE BIDEN’s blanket forgiveness program that was rolled out as a midterms vote-buying scheme. In this case, a class action suit demanded loan forgiveness from mostly for-profit colleges that misrepresented their credentials. The settlement will move forward as planned now that the Supreme Court won’t take it up. [via CNBC]
WORTH REMEMBERING: Many hands were wrung over fears the Trump-appointed justices would be fascist shills, but that has yet to be the case.
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BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The DOW added 383 points (1.14%) to close at 34,029 on Thursday. The S&P added 54 points (1.33%) to close at 4,146 and the NASDAQ added 236 points (1.99%) to close at 12,166.
🛢 WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE closed at $82; BRENT CRUDE at $86.
⛽ The national average price of a GALLON OF GAS was $3.46 on Thursday.
₿ BITCOIN was up over 1.5% on Thursday, trading back over $30,300.
🛩 There were more than 3,300 FLIGHTS delayed within, into, or out of the United States on Thursday and more than 800 such cancellations.
💰Tonight’s MEGA MILLIONS drawing will be for a $476 million jackpot or a $256 million cash payout out. Saturday night’s POWERBALL drawing will be for a $219 million jackpot or a $119.7 million cash payout.
SHOWBIZ NEWS
These albums drop today:
Abraham Alexander, “SEA/SONS”
Ann-Margret, “Born To Be Wild”
Bodywash, “I Held the Shape While I Could”
Brian Dunne, “Loser on the Ropes”
Chris Duarte, “Ain’t Giving Up”
Cindy, “Why Not Now?”
Eli Hurts, “Ouch, Eli Hurts”
Eloise, “Drunk on a Flight”
Feist, “Multitudes”
Fenne Lily, “Big Picture”
FEWS, “Glass City”
Frost Children, “SPEED RUN”
GoGo Penguin, “Everything is Going To be OK”
Giuliana Mormile, “Slouch”
Jake Issac, “For When It Hurts”
Kid Koala, “Creatures of the Late Afternoon”
MC Yallah, “Yallah Beibe”
Metallica, “72 Seasons”
Natalie Merchant, “Keep Your Courage”
Temples, “Exotico”
Walking Dreams, “Sliding Lanes
Zombie Juice, “Love Without Consequences”
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JAMIE FOXX is recovering from an unknown medical emergency.
His daughter CORINNE FOXX shared the update with fans, saying her dad was hospitalized on Tuesday, but is now “on the mend.”
Insiders told TMZ on Thursday that the actor will remain in the hospital as doctors run a few more tests to find out what is going on with him. [via TMZ]
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Actor DRAKE BELL, 36, has been found safe after being reported “endangered” and missing Thursday morning.
According to an initial report, the “Drake & Josh” star was last seen Wednesday night near Mainland High School in Daytona Beach, Florida.
It is unknown who reported him missing or what caused the “endangered” description, though Bell does have a history with substance abuse. Also, he is currently going through a separation with his wife, JANET VON SCHMELING. The couple share a young son. [via Page Six]
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JENNIFER COOLIDGE, MICHAEL B. JORDAN, BOB IGER and DOJA CAT have landed the covers of Time100 Most Influential.
The 100 honorees, including AUSTIN BUTLER, COLIN FARRELL, DREW BARRYMORE, PATRICK MAHOMES, BEYONCE, BRITTNEY GRINER, and BELLA HADID, will be celebrated on April 26.
Coolidge will host an ABC special on the Time100 gala on April 30. [via Page Six]
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MATTHEW MCCONAUGHEY and WOODY HARRELSON may be related.
The actors -- and longtime friends -- appear together in a new show, called “Brother From Another Mother,” where they play fictionalized versions of themselves.
While discussing the show on KELLY RIPA’s “Let’s Talk Off Camera” podcast, McConaughey revealed that his mom and Harrelson’s dad may have once had an intimate relationship.
“In Greece a few years ago, we’re sitting around talking about how close we are and our families. And my mom is there, and she says, ‘Woody, I knew your dad.’ Everyone was aware of the ellipses that my mom left after ‘knew.’ It was a loaded K-N-E-W,” McConaughey said.
“Brother From Another Mother” will air on Apple TV+. A premiere date has not yet been announced. [via Variety]
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BLINK-182 is heading to Coachella.
TRAVIS BARKER, MARK HOPPUS and TOM DELONGE will once again share a stage, something they haven’t done since 2014.
The first weekend of the music festival kicks off today! [via RollingStone]
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The Academy of Country Music Awards were announced on Thursday.
Leading the pack were new artists HARDY, with seven nominations and LAINEY WILSON, with six.
MIRANDA LAMBERT, LUKE COMBS, KANE BROWN and COLE SWINDELL all landed five nods.
This year’s Entertainer of The Year nominees are Lambert, Brown, Combs, JASON ALDEAN, CHRIS STAPLETON, CARRIE UNDERWOOD and MORGAN WALLEN.
FOR THOSE WONDERING: The Academy noted that women are accounted for as nominees in all major categories.
The ACMs will stream live on Prime Video on May 11. [via Variety]
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CASTING CALL
PETE DAVIDSON is returning to Studio 8H.
The comedian is set to host “Saturday Night Live” for the very first time on May 6.
Davidson appeared on the sketch-comedy show from 2014 to 2022. [via Page Six]
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TIM MCGRAW is launching his own media company, called Down Home.
Based in Nashville, the company’s goal is to connect the singer’s country music audience with Hollywood and consumer brands by producing film, TV and digital projects that “capture the essence and spirit of everyday Americans,” according to the official announcement.
Down Home already has two scripted series in development with Skydance, with plans for more down the road. [via Deadline]
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“Extra” is getting a 30th season.
Hosted by BILLY BUSH, and others, the show focuses on breaking entertainment news.
The renewal will bring the daytime show through its 9,000th episode. [via Deadline]
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
The night before tying the knot with TRAVIS BARKER in Italy, KOURTNEY KARDASHIAN received a sentimental gift from her mom, KRIS JENNER.
At the rehearsal dinner, Jenner gifted her eldest daughter her wedding ring from late husband ROBERT KARDASHIAN.
“When my dad died, I remember thinking I never want to get married because my dad isn’t there to walk me down the aisle. So that gift meant so much,” Kourt tells the camera in the new Hulu special, “‘Til Death Do Us Part.” [via People]
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
The coronation program for KING CHARLES continues to take shape – though plenty of questions linger.
He’s apparently not invited SARAH FERGUSON, ex-wife of PRINCE ANDREW and the mother of PRINCESS EUGENIE and PRINCESS BEATRICE.
Bea and Genie are expected to attend, but they, and their father, may not be a part of any processional.
WORTH NOTING: Charles’ late father, PRINCE PHILLIP, reportedly detested Fergie.
ALSO WORTH NOTING: Keeping the processional limited to the direct line keeps with the recent strategy to limit the number of working royals.
STILL UNSURE: No word on what role PRINCE HARRY will or won’t play, or if he’ll just take his seat. Recent reporting suggests the Royal Family doesn’t intend to say anything to him beyond public pleasantries, though he does reportedly remain close with his cousins, Beatrice and Eugenie. [via DailyMail]
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LIST OF THE WEEK
Financial advising company SmartAsset has released a report identifying the cities where a $100,000 salary goes the shortest distance, and how much the take-home pay ends up being after considering cost of living adjustments and all state, local, and federal taxes. Here’s how much of a $100,000 salary ends up in your pocket after all taxes are considered:
New York City: $35,791
Honolulu: $36,026
San Francisco: $36,445
DC: $44,307
Los Angeles: $44,623
Long Beach, CA: $44,623
San Diego: $46,167
Oakland, CA: $46,198
Boston, MA: $46,588
Seattle, WA: $48,959
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DAY OF THE YEAR
National Gardening Day
Day of Silence
National Look Up at the Sky Day
National Dolphin Day
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ON THIS DATE
1828 – Noah Webster publishes a dictionary of American English.
The project amassed 70,000-word definitions over 26 years. It was Webster who simplified the British spellings of words — taking the U out of colour, for example.
After Webster’s death, George and Charles Merriam bought the rights to the dictionary, and continued to provide updates and revisions. Because of some legal wrangling in the early 20th century, it was ruled that Webster lost the trademark to his name when the first copyright in 1806 lapsed — so today “Webster’s” is commonly used by competing dictionaries and publishing companies.
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1865 – President Abraham Lincoln is shot at Ford’s Theater in Washington DC.
The night of the assassination, actor John Wilkes Booth snuck into the president’s box and shot him in the back of the head. One of his conspirators failed to carry out an attack on Vice President Andrew Johnson, and instead opted to get drunk.
A simultaneous attempt failed to kill Secretary of State William Seward, while he was bedridden following a carriage accident. Co-conspirator Lewis Powell gained entrance to the house, and managed to stab Seward but was eventually fought off by the secretary’s family and staff.
Booth was eventually found and shot. The others implicated in the assassination attempts were hanged. Lincoln died the following day.
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1912 – The RMS Titanic hits an iceberg and sinks hours later.
The behemoth passenger ship was crossing the Atlantic en route to New York City. After the collision, it took nearly three hours to sink. While about 700 passengers were saved, nearly 1500 were lost at sea.
The wreckage was discovered in 1985, 12,415 feet below the surface, south of Newfoundland.
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1939 – John Steinbeck publishes “The Grapes of Wrath.”
The novel follows the Joads, a farming family who leave Oklahoma during the Dust Bowl.
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1958 – Sputnik 2 burns up in Earth’s atmosphere.
It was the second satellite to achieve orbit around Earth, and carried the first living creature to enter space. It was revealed in 2002 that the dog on board died within hours of launch, likely from overheating and stress.
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2003 – Researchers announce the near complete mapping of human DNA.
The study has helped detect and diagnose disease and other human afflictions.
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2018 - Beyonce is the first black woman to headline the Coachella Music Festival.
Her performance was one of the most-viewed performances on YouTube’s Live Stream.
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2020 - President Donald Trump freezes funding for the World Health Organization pending a review over the group’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
He called the organization too “China-centric,” prompting international criticism.
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BIRTHDAYS
Luna Stephens - daughter of John Legend & Chrissy Teigen - 7
Abigail Breslen - actress, “Little Miss Sunshine” & “Zombieland” - 27
Baker Mayfield - football player - 28
Graham Phillips - actor, “Riverdale” & “The Good Wife” - 30
Ellington Ratliff - pop singer, R5 - 30
Chris Wood - actor, “The Carrie Diaries” - 35
Sarah Michelle Geller - actress, “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” - 46
Amy Dumas - wrestler - 48
Anderson Silva - wrestler - 48
Da Brat - rapper - 49
Adrien Brody - actor, “The Pianist” & “Dummy” - 50
Anthony Micheal Hall - actor, “The Breakfast Club” & “Sixteen Candles” - 55
Robert Carlyle - actor, “Once Upon a Time” - 62
Peter Capaldi - actor, “Doctor Who” - 65
Born On This Date
Loretta Lynn - country singer - 1932 (d. 2022)
Anne Sullivan - teacher who worked with Helen Keller - 1866 (d. 1936)
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