Discover more from Morning Martini
Today is Tuesday, April 19, 2022.
It is the109th day of the year.
256 days remain.
TRENDING
DJ Kay was trending Monday after news of his death broke. More in Deaths.
#BostonMarathon was trending yesterday as runners competed in the 26.2 miles. More in Hit List.
On #TaxDay, Senator Ted Cruz tweeted “Abolish the IRS.” Senator Elizabeth Warren tweeted out a reminder that Jeff Bezos “paid $0 in federal income taxes in 2007 and 2011.” As with everything else, Dems blamed Republicans and vice versa.
#ThorLoveAndThunder was trending Monday after a trailer for the forthcoming Marvel flick dropped. The movie hits theaters in July.
A listing for a home in Onalaska, WI was trending on Monday after landing on the Zillow Gone Wild Twitter account. Head to Crib Notes to see why!
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HIT LIST
A federal judge on Monday ruled the CDC has exceeded its authority in requiring the travel mask mandate that requires passengers to wear masks in airplanes, in airports, and on trains and buses.
The ruling comes just days after the Biden White House extended the mandate another 15 days, which was set to expire May 3.
The White House issued a statement Monday afternoon that said in part, “today’s court decision means CDC’s public transportation masking order is not in effect at this time. Therefore, TSA will not enforce” the mask mandate.
IT GETS BETTER: A handful of airlines, including Alaska Air, Delta, and United, announced that masks are officially optional on board their domestic flights.
Even Amtrak announced it wouldn’t enforce mask-wearing, suggesting the Biden admin isn’t going to put up much of a fight.
WORTH REMEMBERING: Last month, the Senate voted 57-40 to repeal the federal travel mask mandate. That huge story was largely buried, and the vote is just window dressing considering it likely wouldn’t be taken up in the House of Representatives.
MEANWHILE, IN CANADA: Quebec’s health ministry tried tweeting a link last week to an update on the covid situation there. Instead, it linked to a Pornhub video called “Femdom feet worship.” They pulled it down and apologized, and said they’re looking into how it happened.
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Newsweek points out that Elon Musk has nearly 11 times as many Twitter followers as the entire board does, combined – some of whom have never tweeted at all.
IT GETS WORSE: Founder Jack Dorsey has a vast majority of the board’s followers, with more than 6 million following his account out of the 7.5 million the board members collectively have.
MEANWHILE: Musk said on Monday he would no longer pay board members if he takes over. Collectively, they make about $3 million total a year.
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Evans Chebet won the Boston Marathon on Monday, clocking a time of two hours, six minutes, and 51 seconds. That’s a pace nearly 13 miles an hour – a dead sprint for even the most athletic of mere mortals – for two hours straight.
Peres Jepchirchir won the women’s division, clocking a time of 2 hours, 21 minutes, and one second.
BY THE WAY: This year marks 50 years since women were first included in the race. In 1972, eight women competed. Yesterday, there were more than 14,000.
ALSO: The New York Times reports that the Boston Athletic Association, which sponsors the marathon, did not allow runners from Russia or Belarus compete, in solidarity with Ukraine.
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A preprint study in science journal MedRxiv [pronounced “Med-Prescriptive”] validates the anecdotal concerns that covid-vaccinated women have experienced drastic changes to their menstrual cycles.
42% of women experienced such changes, according to the study.
IT GETS WORSE: 39% of people on gender-affirming hormones reported menstrual bleeding after getting double-vaccinated. (Meaning a female who took drugs to permanently stop her period got it anyway).
(SARCASTICALLY) WORTH ASKING: Why, oh why, has the Biden administration forced a vaccination that can totally invalidate the totally-essential and life-saving gender-affirming care of hormone therapy?
MEANWHILE: A professor at Ohio’s Shawnee State University lost his job in 2018 after he refused to use a student’s preferred pronouns.
He’s since won the wrongful termination suit on First Amendment grounds, and will receive a $400,000 settlement.
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A study in Evolutionary Psychological Science journal argues that your mother-in-law has a genetic disposition to not liking you.
The research shows that the mother-in-law “unconsciously acts in the interest of their genetic kin,” instead of thinking of the couple as a whole.
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CHARTS
Top 5 Songs on iTunes:
Morgan Wallen, “Don’t Think Jesus”
Harry Styles, “As It Was”
Lizzo, “About Damn Time”
Jack Harlow, “First Class”
Walker Hayes, “AA”
Top 5 Songs on Spotify:
Jack Harlow, “First Class”
Harry Styles, “As It Was”
Justin Bieber, “Ghost”
Camila Cabello, “Bam Bam (ft. Ed Sheeran)”
Lil Nas X, “THATS WHAT I WANT”
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DEATHS
PATRICK CARLIN has died.
The author, actor, podcaster and brother of comedian GEORGE CARLIN, passed away Saturday at a hospital in Hollywood. A cause of death was not shared.
He was 90.
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RIO DEL VALLE HACKFORD has died.
The actor, who appeared in “Swingers” and “The Mandalorian,” passed away Thursday in Huntington Beach, California. According to a statement from his brother, he passed away after an undisclosed illness.
He was 52.
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DJ KAY SLAY has died.
The New York hip-hop legend passed away Sunday after a four month battle with COVID-19.
He was 55.
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CRISTIANO RONALDO and his girlfriend GEORGINA RODRIGUEZ announced the death of their newborn son Monday.
The 37-year-old shared a heartbreaking post on social media, revealing that one of their newborn twins, a baby boy, passed away during childbirth. The other twin, a baby girl, is doing well.
Ronaldo is also a dad to four other children.
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RANDY “Savage” TILLIM has died.
The YouTuber, best known for hosting the Savage Garage YouTube channel, passed away Friday. No cause of death was listed.
He was 55.
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THE SWAMP
The House Judiciary Committee is fighting tooth and nail to stop Republicans from uploading the contents of HUNTER BIDEN’s laptop to an online, searchable database.
The Daily Caller reports that committee clerks say that technological limitations are preventing the laptop’s contents from being put online, but Representative MATT GAETZ’s office has provided to facilitate it. Instead, the Republicans are being forced to physically print out all the information or provide PDF files.
WORTH NOTING: It’s much more difficult to search PDF files uploaded to a server in many cases. The Democrats are actively obstructing the process to make the information on the laptop public; begging the question: What are they hiding?
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Senator ELIZABETH WARREN says Democrats should make banning stock trading for Congress a priority ahead of midterms.
She wrote in a New York Times editorial that such a measure is essential in impeding corruption among her colleagues, and said the ban should extend to members’ spouses.
WORTH NOTING: She’s right. Politicians should especially not be able to trade stocks when they and their staff are still collecting paychecks while their actions, or inaction, force small businesses unable to operate, as happened so many times across the country in recent months.
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Remember back in January when President JOE BIDEN was caught on a hot mic calling Fox News reporter PETER DOOCY a “stupid son of a bitch” under his breath?
While appearing on a podcast last week, White House Media Commissar JEN PSAKI was asked if Doocy actually is a stupid son of a bitch, as Biden described.
Psaki sort of deflected, saying that Doocy asks questions that make him sound like a stupid son of a bitch by nature of working for Fox News.
WORTH ASKING: Remember when former PRESIDENT TRUMP’s treatment of the press was going to single-handedly undo democracy? When that kind of talk was going to lead to actual violence to members of the media? Where is that outrage now?
And remember when border patrol agents were accused of whipping illegal immigrants, when they were merely holding their horse’s reins – and a lengthy investigation cleared them of any wrongdoing?
On Monday, Doocy asked Psaki if she or the president would apologize for the accusations they leveled against the officers.
She refused and instead deflected.
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LOTTERY
A winning Mega Millions ticket for Friday night’s drawing was sold in Tennessee. The winner has the option of the $20 million jackpot or the $12.1 million cash payout.
Tonight’s drawing will be for a $20 million jackpot or a $11.9 million cash payout.
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SHOWBIZ NEWS
The ax used by JACK NICHOLSON in “The Shining” is hitting the auction block.
Gotta Have Rock and Roll auction house told Page Six they expect to get at least $100,000 for it.
Bidding begins April 20.
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CARLY RAE JEPSEN’s hiatus from music is over.
The 36-year-old performed a new track, titled “Western Wind,” during her set at Coachella over the weekend.
The song is her first release since 2020’s one-off single, “Me and the Boys in the Band.”
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Actor JERRY O’CONNELL apologized to his “Stand By Me” co-star WIL WHEATON for being “unaware” of the abuse he was suffering when they worked on the 1986 film.
In May 2021, Wheaton told Yahoo Entertainment that his parents “forced” him to become a child actor. He explained that at the time he was dealing with “emotional abuse” from his dad and “manipulation” from his mom.
O’Connell, who was only 11 when the two filmed the movie, told Wheaton that he is sorry for “not being there” for him.
BY THE WAY: “Stand By Me” is a 1959-set drama about four friends who discover the dead body of a missing boy while out on a hike. Along with Wheaton and O’Connell, the movie also stars RIVER PHOENIX and COREY FELDMAN.
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Social media users mocked JADEN SMITH after he said in a recent interview that he is thankful he grew up around adults because unlike children, they talk about the “political and economic state of the world.”
Memes and jokes flooded Twitter Monday in light of the actor seeming to be “annoyed” that at one point in his life a group of children didn’t want to discuss the complex subject matter with him.
Jaden has not addressed the backlash.
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In honor of her 50th birthday over the weekend, JENNIFER GARNER celebrated by giving back to the community.
The actress hosted a food drive at her home instead of a traditional birthday party.
Her boyfriend JOHN MILLER and 16-year-old daughter VIOLET were on hand to help out.
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LENNY KRAVITZ is focusing on oral health.
The 57-year-old recently co-founded Twice, an oral wellness company, alongside brothers Cody and Julian Levine, whose dad is Kravitz’s dentist.
The idea came to the rocker after he noticed that dental hygiene is often neglected in underserved communities due to the lack of resources.
“Twice is about doing your oral care process twice a day, but also it's about thinking twice about your oral healthcare,” Kravitz told PEOPLE magazine.
The line includes toothpaste, floss, a whitening pen and rinse aid.
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VANESSA BRYANT remembered her late husband KOBE BRYANT Monday on what would have been their 21st wedding anniversary.
She shared a photo on Instagram of the couple from their early years of dating, captioning it “I love you forever, baby. Happy Anniversary @KobeBryant #21.”
In the two years since Kobe — and the couple’s daughter Gianna — died in a helicopter crash, Vanessa has been working hard to keep their names alive.
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CASTING CALL
BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH is set to host “SNL” on May 7th.
The gig will mark his second time as host.
He will be joined by indie rock band Arcade Fire, who will make their fifth appearance on the show.
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KENDRICK LAMAR announced that he is dropping a new album.
The 34-year-old rapper revealed on Instagram that his album “Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers” will be released next month.
His last album came out in 2017.
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ROSALIA is going on tour.
The 28-year-old Spanish performer announced her Motomami World Tour, her first-ever, in support of her third album, “Motomami.”
The tour begins in July in her native Spain.
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COURT CASES
One of the men who supplied the fentanyl-laced pills to MAC MILLER was sentenced on Monday.
RYAN REVIS, who pleaded guilty in November to one count of distributing fentanyl, will be behind bars for 10 years and 11 months.
That is shorter than the 12.5 years prosecutors asked for.
REMEMBER: Reavis supplied the pills to Mac’s alleged drug dealer, CAMERON PETTIT, on orders from STEPHEN WALTER, who recently pled guilty to distributing fentanyl.
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CRIB NOTES
WYATT RUSSELL sold his Studio City home for just under $2.9 million.
The actor, and son of KURT RUSSELL and GOLDIE HAWN, purchased the home in 2019 for $1.7 million.
It features three-bedrooms, 2.5-baths, a pool, spa, massive garden, and covered outdoor dining area.
Wyatt and his wife recently relocated to a bigger home in Santa Monica, which they bought for $5.4 million.
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A home listed in Onalaska, WI was featured on the Twitter account Zillow Gone Wild for no other reason than the particular decor inside the home.
On many of the walls throughout the house are signs featuring words pertaining to the rooms they hang in. For example, in the kitchen there is a sign that says “EAT” and in the entryway a sign that says “Welcome.”
While those seem innocent enough, it is the sign in the master bedroom hanging above the bed that reads “Welcome to Poundtown” that had Twitter users reacting.
IF YOU’RE INTERESTED: The four-bedroom, three-bathroom, 3,600 square foot home is listed for $420,000.
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
A Los Angeles Times opinion piece recently called out the “toxic femininity” portrayed by the Kardashian-Jenner family.
The article starts out with the fact that whether you actually watch the show or follow the family members on social media, it is impossible to ignore what is going on with the family. For example, you would have to live under a rock to miss that they have a new series on Hulu or that KIM is dating PETE DAVIDSON, etc.
Next up, it quotes Ren Ellis Neyar, a Wesleyan University associate professor of African American studies, who believes the family has created “impossible beauty standards, while frequently pretending they were born that way.”
SPEAKING OF THAT: In 2015, British cosmetic surgery center, Transform, claimed they recorded a 73% increase in patients wanting to look like one of the KarJenners. Examples included, lips like KYLIE and butts like Kim and KHLOE.
Those are just the findings from ONE British practice. According to an article from PEOPLE magazine, written around the same time, the trend was also seen in the US.
WORTH ASKING: What is so fascinating about this family and how do they continue to stay relevant?
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KIM, KHLOE, KRIS and KYLIE were in court Monday as jury selection began in their pending trial with BLAC CHYNA.
All four women will testify in the trial.
Chyna was also in the courtroom.
As previously reported, Chyna filed a lawsuit against the entire KarJenner family in 2017 over claims of assault, battery, domestic violence, defamation and interference with prospective economic relations aka the canceling of her show “Rob & Chyna.”
ROB KARDASHIAN, who was previously engaged to Chyna and is a major part of the lawsuit, was nowhere to be seen.
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
While speaking with another mom at the Invictus Games over the weekend, MEGHAN MARKLE revealed that she and PRINCE HARRY were torn over what to name their first born.
While we now know him as ARCHIE HARRISON, Meghan shared that they had almost given him Harrison as a first name.
Prior to Archie’s 2019 birth, oddsmakers had more traditional monikers as top picks, including Arthur, James, Philip and Albert.
SPEAKING OF ARCHIE: During a speech at the Games, Harry revealed that his son, who turns three next month, wants to be an astronaut when he grows up.
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SPORTS
COLIN KAEPERNICK wants to be back in the NFL so bad that he is willing to sign as a backup QB.
The 34-year-old recently sat down with former NFL stars CHAD JOHNSON, ADAM “Pacman” JONES and BRANDON MARSHALL for an episode of “I AM ATHLETE,” where he discussed his desire to be back in the league.
“I just need an opportunity to walk through the door,” he explained. “So, if I have to come in as a backup, that’s fine.”
Kaepernick hasn’t played in the NFL since 2016.
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DAY OF THE YEAR
National Amaretto Day
National Garlic Day
National Hanging Out Day
National North Dakota Day
National Oklahoma City Bombing Commemoration Day
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ON THIS DATE
1809 - Former president Thomas Jefferson sells a slave to the sitting president James Madison.
John Freeman was an indentured servant, who was actually born free. Why he sold himself into work is unclear.
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1861 - Almost exactly 85 years after the first shots were fired in the American Revolution, the Civil War begins in earnest.
A mob in Baltimore attacks Massachusetts soldiers en route to Washington DC. Four soldiers were killed, along with 12 of the rioters.
Though a week earlier the Confederates took siege of Fort Sumter and captured it, no deaths were recorded.
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1897 - The first Boston Marathon is held.
A New Yorker won the inaugural race, with a time just shy of 3 hours.
The race was founded by John Graham, an Olympian who thought to bring the athletic feat after competing in the 1896 Athens games.
For the first go around, the course was only 24.5 miles. Fifteen runners showed up to run, but only 10 finished the race.
In 1907 the route would be extended to 26 miles and 385 yards in order to comply with Olympic regulations.
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1964 - Mario Andretti races for the first time in the Indy circuit.
The historic driver wouldn't win a championship until the next year, but the rest is history.
Andretti holds several records. One includes being the only man to have won each the Formula One World Championship, the US National Championship, the Indy 500, Daytona 500, and the Pikes Peak International Hill Club Race.
His racing career would last 30 years with 407 Indy races.
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1995 - Timothy McVeigh detonates a rented Ryder truck outside the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. The terrorist attack killed 100 and trapped dozens more.
McVeigh and his accomplices were swiftly captured and put on trial.
McVeigh was eventually put to death. His conspirator Terry Nichols received life in prison.
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2002 - "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" debuts in theaters nationwide.
The flick launched the career of Nia Vardalos, who has since fizzled. Vardalos was a frustrated actress who couldn't find work, so she wrote her own movie to star in.
The movie came about after Rita Wilson saw her one-woman show in Los Angeles. Wilson and husband Tom Hanks were impressed with her performance, reached out, and signed on as producers.
The flick was made for only $5 million, but eventually made more than $240 million.
Vardalos also won the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay.
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2020 - The US COVID-19 death toll passes 40,000 with more than 740,000 cases reported, according to John Hopkins.
Also on this day…
The UK COVID-19 death toll reaches 16,060.
The Sunday Times criticizes Prime Minister Boris Johns’s response to the virus, saying “they sleepwalked into disaster.”
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BIRTHDAYS
Loren Gray - pop singer - 20
Matt Sato - actor, “Hawaii Five-O” - 21
Simu Liu - actor, “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” - 33
Joe Hart - soccer player - 35
Maria Sharapova - tennis player - 35
Candace Parker - basketball player - 36
Ali Wong - comedian - 40
Hayden Christensen - “Star Wars Episodes II and II” - 41
Troy Polamalu - football player - 41
Kate Hudson - actress, “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days” & “Almost Famous” - 43
James Franco - actor, “James Dean” & “Pineapple Express” - 44
Joanna Gaines - reality star, “Fixer Upper” - 44
Luis Miguel - world music singer - 52
Ashley Judd - actress, “Divergent” & “Insurgent” - 54
Suge Knight - co-founder of Death Row Records - 57
Tim Curry - actor, “It” & “Legend” - 76
Born On This Date
Dudley Moore - actor, “Bedazzled” & “Foul Play” - 1935 (d. 2002)
Jayne Mansfield - actress, “The Girl Can’t Help It” - 1933 (d. 1967)
Mohammad Ali - Pakistani actor, “Clerk” & “Shaani” - 1931 (d. 2006)
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