Today is Friday, May 12, 2023.
It is the 132nd day of the year.
233 days remain.
WHAT’S ON TAP
ELON MUSK picks a new CEO and residents of a Des Moines suburb can rest easy knowing the rodent assailant has been relocated. More in HIT LIST.
More details about ROBERT DE NIRO’s seventh child and the New York Jets get some primetime games thanks to new QB AARON RODGERS. More in SHOWBIZ.
AMY ROLBACH and TJ HOLMES’ “GMA” replacements have been revealed and MEADOW WALKER follows in her dad’s footsteps. More in CASTING CALL.
Adidas has finally decided what to do with all its Yeezys. More in KARDASH.
PRINCE HARRY is expected to take the stand next month in his lawsuit against the Daily Mirror. More in ROYALS.
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HIT LIST
ELON MUSK says he’s stepping down as Twitter’s CEO.
In a Tweet, Musk implied that an unidentified woman would take the reins in about six weeks, and he’ll stay on as Chief Technology Officer and remain hands-on with product development and system operations.
The news bumped up Tesla’s stock price by 2%.
https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1656748197308674048
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Customers and creditors hoping to get some of their money out of FTX’s restructuring will likely have to get in line – behind the Internal Revenue Service.
The IRS has filed 44 claims worth $45 BILLION against the crypto exchange and its vast web of subsidiaries. Almost half of that is for unpaid payroll taxes and income taxes for the Alameda Research hedge fund at the center of the corruption.
GO FIGURE: Under an “administrative authority” rule, the IRS gets first crack at any money that gets paid out to any other creditors or customers. [via CoinTelegraph]
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PELOTON is recalling two million exercise bikes over concerns that the seat post can break while in use.
The company issued the recall after receiving more than 35 reports of the part detaching from the machine during use. Of those, 13 users suffered injuries, which included fractured wrists, lacerations and/or bruises.
WORTH REMEMBERING: Pelton issued a major recall in 2021 of its Tread+ treadmills after a child was sucked underneath the machine and later died. [via NBC News]
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There is a neighbor dispute brewing in Burns Beach, Western Australia – over meat.
According to PerthNow, a homeowner received a letter asking that he shut his windows when cooking meat out of respect for his plant-eating neighbors.
“PLEASE TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY” was written across the envelope that contained a letter reading, “My family are vegan -- we eat only plant-based foods -- and the smell of the meat you cook makes us feel sick and upset.”
The letter, which made the rounds on Facebook, has garnered hundreds of comical reactions, including one that reads, “I bet her mouth starts watering when old mate mows his lawn and she gets a whiff of that deliciously fresh cut grass but[t].”
No word on whether the recipient of the letter will respect the ask or organize a neighborhood BBQ. [via PerthNow]
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A Des Moines suburb is now safe from a rabid rabbit that had been terrorizing residents.
According to KCCI, two people were bitten by the rodent, while countless others reported the animal charging at them, chasing them and blocking them from exiting their homes and vehicles. A 13-year-old girl reportedly got rabies after being attacked.
Police were finally able to catch the assailant and have since relocated him out of the neighborhood. So far he has not returned. [via KCCI]
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DEATHS
Actress JACKLYN ZEMAN has died.
She passed away Wednesday after a short battle with cancer, according to a statement from her family.
Zeman was best known for her role as Bobbie Spencer on “General Hospital.”
She was 70.
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BABY NEWS
Milwaukee Bucks player GIANNIS ANTETOKOUNMPO and his longtime girlfriend MARIAH RIDDLESPRIGGER are expecting their third child together.
The couple are already parents to sons Liam, 3, and Maverick, 21 months.
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BREAKUPS
Country singer JIMMIE ALLEN and his wife ALEXIS GALE have filed for divorce.
Both cited irreconcilable differences as the reason and are seeking joint custody of their two daughters. Gale is also currently pregnant with their third child.
News of the divorce filing comes on the heels of a report that Allen is being sued for sexual battery by his former manager, who claims he raped her in March 2021 and then continued to sexually abuse and harass her.
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BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The DOW lost 221 points (0.66%) to close at 33,309. The S&P lost 7 points (0.17%) to close at 4,130 and the NASDAQ added 22 points (0.18%) to close at 12,328.
🛢 WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE closed at $71; BRENT CRUDE at $74.
⛽ The national average price of a GALLON OF GAS was $3.53 on Thursday.
₿ BITCOIN was down over 2% on Thursday, dipping below $27,000.
🛩 There were more than 3,990 FLIGHTS delayed within, into, or out of the United States on Thursday and more than 110 such cancellations.
💰Tonight’s MEGA MILLIONS drawing will be for a $99 million jackpot or a $52.1 million cash payout. Saturday night’s POWERBALL drawing will be for a $125 million jackpot or a $67.2 million cash payout.
SHOWBIZ NEWS
These albums drop today:
ARIZONA, “ARIZONA”
Bailey Zimmerman, “Religiously. The Album.”
Charlotte Cornfield, “Could Have Done Anything”
Dropkick Murphys, “Okemah Rising”
Harriet, “The Outcome”
James Ellis Ford, “The Hum”
Jeff Carson, “448”
Jeffrey Silverstein, “Western Sky Music”
The Jonas Brothers, “The Album”
Kesmar, “Always Chasing Rainbows”
LP Giobbi, “Light Places”
Moby, “Resound NYC”
Nighthawk, “Prowler”
Parker McCollum, “Never Enough”
Parker Milsap, “Wilderness Within You”
Sub Focus, “Evolve”
Various Artists, “Love Again (Soundtrack From the Motion Picture)”
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GARTH BROOKS and DOLLY PARTON hosted the 58th annual Academy of Country Music Awards last night.
And the winners were…
Entertainer - Chris Stapleton
Female Artist - Lainey Wilson
Male Artist - Morgan Wallen
Album - Lainey Wilson, “Bell Bottom Country”
Single - “She Had Me at Heads Carolina,” Cole Swindell
Song - “She Had Me at Heads Carolina,” Cole Swindell
Duo - Brothers Osbourne
Group - Old Dominion
New Female Artist - Hailey Whitters
New Male Artist - Zach Bryan
Visual Media - “Wait in the Truck,” Hardy ft. Lainey Wilson
Music Event - “Wait in the Truck,” Hardy ft. Lainey Wilson
Songwriter - Ashley Gorley
Artist-Songwriter - Hardy
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Just days after fans urged SHAKIRA to ignore advances from TOM CRUISE, she was spotted hanging out with Formula 1 driver LEWIS HAMILTON.
Insiders told TMZ that the two grabbed a bite after Sunday’s and later hung out at Lewis’ home. The following day the pair went boating with some of Lewis’ friends.
While it is unclear if they are just friends or something more…both are currently single. [via TMZ]
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After hiccuping regularly for nearly a year, former MLB player BO JACKSON will undergo a procedure to alleviate the annoyance.
“I have done everything -- scare me, hang me upside down, drink water, smell the ass of a porcupine. It doesn’t work,” he said during a recent appearance on “McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning.”
According to Mayo Clinic, hiccups lasting more than 48 hours could be due to nerve damage or irritation, central nervous system disorders, metabolic issues or other causes.
No word on what sort of procedure Jackson will undergo. [via People]
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ROBERT DE NIRO revealed Thursday that his seventh child is named Gia Viriginia Chin-De Niro and arrived a month ago. The news comes three days after the 79-year-old actor dropped the bombshell during an interview with ET Canada. [via Page Six]
IN OTHER BABY NAME NEWS: The name of RIHANNA and A$AP ROCKY’s son has been revealed. After being a secret for nearly a year, fans now know the child’s name: RZA Athelston Mayers. [via Daily Mail]
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“Spider-Man” star TOM HOLLAND says he is one year and four months sober.
Speaking to Entertainment Weekly Holland said that filming his AppleTV+ thriller “The Crowded Room” led to a “bit of a meltdown” offscreen, prompting him to take better care of his mental health.
In the series, Holland plays Danny Sullivan, who is arrested for his involvement in a shooting at Rockefeller Center. The show is based on the true crimes of Billy Milligan, who was diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder. [via Entertainment Weekly]
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USC is getting another big-name baller.
As previously reported, LEBRON JAMES’ son BRONNY JAMES is heading to USC to play basketball this fall. Now, joining him is D.J. RODMAN, the son of NBA legend DENNIS RODMAN.
While D.J. has already graduated from Washington State, where he played ball for the last four seasons, he is taking advantage of a NCAA rule that allows an extra year of eligibility because of the pandemic. [via AP News]
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The New York Jets will open the upcoming football season on “Monday Night Football” against the Buffalo Bills. They will also get their first “Sunday Night Football” appearance since 2011.
The primetime spots are very likely due to the addition of QB AARON RODGERS. [via NY Post]
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CASTING CALL
EVA PILGRIM and DEMARCO MORGAN have been named as replacements for ousted “GMA3” co-anchors-turned-lovers AMY ROBACH and T.J. HOLMES.
They will be joined by “GMA” regular Dr. JENNIFER ASHTON.
As previously reported, Robach and Holmes were sent packing last December after their off-the-air affair made being on set too chaotic. [via Page Six]
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MEADOW WALKER, the daughter of the late actor PAUL WALKER, is making a cameo in the newest “Fast & Furious” film.
Despite growing up on set watching all the films be made, this will be Meadow’s first time appearing in one.
“I am so blessed to be able to honor my father’s legacy and share this with him forever,” she said of the role. [via TMZ]
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
Adidas has made a decision about the $1.3 BILLION worth of Yeezy shoes that were left over following the company cutting ties with YE.
CEO Bjorn Gulden said Thursday that the plan is to donate the gear to non-governmental charity organizations that have “been hurt by Kanye’s [antisemitic] statements.” Plan B was to burn it all.
As previously reported, Adidas ended its partnership with Ye last October after the rapper made a series of antisemitic comments. [via UPROXX]
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
The Daily Mirror has begun its defense in PRINCE HARRY’s lawsuit that alleges they hacked his phone.
Attorneys for the publication told a judge this week that all the information about Harry that they published came from sources within The Firm – and even in some cases, things Harry said himself publicly. The prince is expected to take the stand himself next month – which will make the first time since the 1800s a senior royal has given testimony in court.
In 1890, before Edward VII became king, he testified about a card game he had played in, during which another player was accused of cheating. [via DailyMail]
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DAY OF THE YEAR
International Nurses Day
Shades Day
National Nutty Fudge Day
National Public Gardens Day
National Limerick Day
National Fibromyalgia Awareness Day
National Odometer Day
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ON THIS DATE
1780 – American troops are handily defeated at Charleston by British Troops, receiving the worst strategic blow of the American Revolutionary War.
Under the command of Sir Henry Clinton, the British army outnumbered the Continentals more than two-to-one. Fortunately, casualties were limited, but the British did capture more than 5,000 soldiers.
After the victory, Clinton left for New York to battle the French and left his men under the charge of Charles Cornwallis — who eventually had to fight the guerrilla tactics employed by Francis Marion. That battle was the basis for the Mel Gibson flick “The Patriot.”
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1932 – The body of Charles Lindbergh’s infant child is found near the family’s home.
Kidnappers had taken the baby more than 2 months earlier, leaving a ransom note that demanded $50,000.
Eventually a transaction was arranged to drop the money in exchange for information, but the lead was a dead end.
Two years later, the kidnapper tipped his identity when a marked bill from the ransom was found by a gas station attendant, who called police. It turned out to be German immigrant Bruno Hauptmann, who was found with $13,000 of the ransom money. He was tried, convicted, and died by the electric chair.
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1937 – George VI formally becomes King of England during a coronation ceremony at Westminster Abbey.
He took the throne following the abdication of his brother King Edward VIII the previous December.
George would become the first reigning British monarch to tour the United States. His courage during World War II was a huge boost to morale, including personally visiting war zones and staying in Buckingham while it was damaged from fighting.
His famous speeches during the war are chronicled in the movie, “The King’s Speech.”
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1963 – Bob Dylan refuses to perform on the “Ed Sullivan Show.”
The song he was to play was called “Talkin’ John Birch Paranoid Blues.” It was a satirical take-down of the John Birch Society, an organization known for aggressively attacking communism and communists.
Producers were concerned how the lyrics would be taken by viewers. When asked to change the tune, Dylan refused, and walked off the show.
The media backlash Dylan received likely did more good for his career than appearing on the show would have. Even Ed Sullivan himself publicly denounced the censorship.
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1965 – Soviet probe Luna 5 crash lands on the Moon.
It was designed to land softly on the Lunar surface, but collided instead when the retrorockets failed.
The accident made it the fifth man-made object on the moon, following a previous Soviet attempt and three American probes that intentionally crashed.
Both the USA and USSR would soft-land spacecraft on the Moon within the following year.
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2002 – Jimmy Carter begins a private visit to Cuba, becoming the first president to visit the island country since Fidel Castro’s 1959 communist revolution.
Following several talks, Carter concluded it was time for the US to lift its embargo and soften the tension between the nations.
He also encouraged Castro to allow international humanitarian aid into the country.
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2020 - Russia’s confirmed cases of COVID-19 reaches 232,000 — the 2nd highest in the world.
The number is reported a day after President Vladimir Putin eases the country’s lockdown.
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BIRTHDAYS
Rio Sage - actress, “Malibu Surf” - 26
Odeya Rush - actress, “The Giver” - 26
Luke Benward - actor, “Cloud 9” - 28
Malcolm David Kelley - actor, “Lost” - 31
Marcelo Vieira - soccer player - 35
Emily VanCamp - actress, “Everwood” & “Revenge” - 37
Domhnall Gleesaon - actor, “The Revenant” & “Star Wars” The Force Awakens” - 40
Rami Malek - actor, “Mr. Robot” & “Bohemian Rhapsoday” - 42
Kim Fields - actress, “Facts of Life” - 54
Tony Hawk - skateboarder - 55
Stephen Baldwin - actor, “The Usual Suspects” & “The Flintstones” - 57
Emilio Estevez - actor, “Breakfast Club” & “The Mighty Ducks” - 61
Born On This Date
George Carlin - comedian - 1937 (d. 2008)
Yogi Berra - HOF baseball player - 1925 (d. 2015)
Katherine Hepburn - actress, “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner” & “Antony and Cleopatra” - 1907 (d. 2003)
Otto Frank - dad of Anne Frank - 1889 (d. 1980)
Florence Nightingale - activist, founder of modern nursing - 1820 (d. 1910)
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