Today is Monday, May 13, 2024.
It is the 134th day of the year.
232 days remain.
WHAT’S ON TAP
Two very different tales from San Francisco in HIT LIST.
Is it time for JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE to retire? More on that in SHOWBIZ.
A “Community” movie is in the works and BLAKE SHELTON wants to be a movie star. Details in CASTING CALL.
PSALM WEST gets a ride like mommy. More in KARDASH.
The timing of a recognition for PRINCE WILLIAM leaves PRINCE HARRY “in tears.” Details in ROYALS.
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HIT LIST
SAM BANKMAN-FRIED gave his first major post-sentencing interview to online magazine Puck News, sharing a glimpse of his life behind bars for what could be the next few decades.
The writer notes that SBF and his fellow inmates trade bags of rice purchased through the commissary as alternative currency -- something he has a natural flair for, looking past the obvious fraud. The convicted former billionaire also appeared less fidgety and actually sustained eye-contact during the interview, something he notoriously avoided in the past.
Despite his 25-year sentence, SBF sounds more confident than ever that he will be vindicated, mentioning a coming legal battle to clear his name. He maintains relinquishing control of FTX to the management team that put it into bankruptcy was his first mistake, and had he not done so, it would be worth $80 BILLION, making his personal stake worth about half that.
SBF expects to file his appeal this fall and is meeting with his new attorney almost every day to work on it. [via Puck]
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A Florida man is lucky to be alive after surviving an attack from not one, but two, sharks while boarding his boat in a Bahamas marina two weeks ago.
24-year-old Marlin Wakeman — which sounds like a made up, nautical-themed name for this scenario — says a shark bit his leg at the knee then pulled him under water as he tried to climb into his boat.
Fortunately that shark swam off, but as Wakeman tried again, the second one attacked, nipping his shoulder. By some miracle he pulled himself into his boat and called for help. Responders arrived to treat him but Wakeman passed out on the way to the medical clinic. All in all, he’s in good spirits: “I may have some nightmares here or there, but I’ll be alright,” he said. [via WPTV]
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One of President JOE BIDEN’s signature economic accomplishments has been blocked by a federal judge after the US Chamber of Commerce and banking organizations filed suit against the rule capping credit card late fees at $8 a month.
The rule would have gone into effect on Tuesday. Now it waits in limbo as it works its way through the courts. [via CNN]
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MAKE IT MAKE SENSE: A program funded by the city of San Francisco to give free alcohol to homeless people has raised eyebrows after one tech founder’s post about the policy went viral late last week.
Adam Nathan made a series of social media posts highlighting the elements of the program, which includes handing out shots of beer and vodka at a hotel in the city’s dangerous Tenderloin district. In theory, the “managed alcohol program” provides “controlled doses” of booze at specific times. Supporters of the program say this prevents desperate people from committing acts of violence or robbery to get their fix.
But for $5 MILLION a year each year for the last four years, many wonder what impact the program has had other than make the city’s streets only more unlivable. [via NY Post]
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More than 100 hungry pelicans have been rescued by two International Bird Rescue locations in California -- one in San Pedro and one in the San Francisco Bay-Delta area.
According to the organization, the birds have been struggling to find fish and nearly half of those rescued have “significant injuries” caused by fishing lines and hooks. The pelicans are also being found away from places they typically inhabit along the coast, such as a lake at SoFi Stadium and at a fire station in Malibu.
With the surge in rescues, IBR is asking the public for donations to help cover the cost of medicine and fish for the starving birds. [via People]
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DEATHS
Baseball player SEAN BURROUGHS has died.
He passed away Thursday while coaching his son’s Little League game. No cause of death is known.
Burroughs was a first-round draft pick, selected by the San Diego Padres in 1998.
He was only 43.
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Actress SUSAN BACKLINIE has died.
She passed away at her Ventura, California home on Saturday. No cause of death has been determined.
Backlinie is best known for her role as the skinning-dipping teen who gets eaten by the shark in the opening scene of “Jaws.”
She was 77.
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Filmmaker ROGER CORMAN has died.
He passed away last Thursday at his home in Santa Monica. No cause of death was shared.
Corman is best known for creating low budget horror flicks and launching the careers of FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA and MARTIN SCORSESE.
He was 98.
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BREAKUPS
CREED frontman SCOTT STAPP and his wife JACLYN are calling it quits after 18 years of marriage.
He’s 50 and she’s 43.
They share three kids, 17-year-old daughter Milan, 13-year-old son Daniel and 6-year-old son Anthony. Stapp is also dad to 25-year-old son Jagger, with ex-wife HILLAREE BURNS.
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WEEKEND BOX OFFICE
10. Abigail: $1.1 million (down from 9)
9. Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace: $1.5 million (re-release)
8. Civil War: $1.8 million (down from 6)
7. Kung Fu Panda 4: $2 million (up from 8)
6. Unsung Hero: $2.2 million (up from 7)
5. Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire: $2.5 million (stayed at 5)
4. Tarot: $3.4 million (stayed at 4)
3. Challengers: $4.6 million (stayed at 3)
2. The Fall Guy: $13.7 million (down from 1)
1. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes: $56.5 million (new)
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BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The DOW increased 125 points (0.32%) to close at 39,512 on Friday. The S&P ticked up 8 points (0.16%) to close at 5,222 and the NASDAQ lost 5 points (0.03%) to close at 16,340.
🛢 WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE closed at $78; BRENT CRUDE at $82.
⛽ The national average price of a GALLON OF GAS was $3.61 on Sunday.
₿ BITCOIN climbed on Sunday after a Friday dip, trading around $61,200.
🛩 There were more than 4,120 FLIGHTS delayed within, into, or out of the United States on Sunday and more than 270 such cancellations.
💰Tuesday night’s MEGA MILLIONS drawing will be for a $363 million jackpot or a $166.9 million cash payout. Tonight’s POWERBALL drawing will be for a $47 million jackpot or a $22 million cash payout.
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SHOWBIZ NEWS
SEAN COMBS wants a sexual misconduct lawsuit filed against him thrown out.
His lawyers filed a motion last week asking the court to dismiss the complaint with prejudice, arguing that the statute of limitations has passed.
The accuser -- who is identified only as Jane Doe -- filed the suit last December, accusing Combs of trafficking, drugging and raping her when she was only 17.
There are currently three other women and one man who have filed similar suits against Combs. He has denied them all. [via Page Six]
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Have JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE’s fans decide it’s time for him to hang things up?
According to music journalist Toure of TheGrio, several factors are playing a role in JT’s latest album not performing well. These include, the six-year break he took between albums and the backlash he received following the release of BRITNEY SPEARS’ memoir.
“Most of [his] fans have aged out of caring about him. It’s like the old saying goes, ‘You don’t retire -- the audience retires you,’” Toure stated.
FOR THE RECORD: JT’s latest album “Everything I Thought I Was” debuted at No. 19 on the Billboard Hot 100 before falling off the Billboard Hot 200 altogether a month later.
ALSO: His “The Forget Tomorrow” tour is not selling out arenas. [via NY Post]
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BRITNEY SPEARS is back on her feet, despite one of them allegedly being broken.
Taking to Instagram, Spears posted a mirror selfie, along with the caption, “Walking on a broken foot…if i go fast it goes numb !!!”
The injury reportedly happened last week while Spears and her boyfriend, Paul Soliz, were staying at the Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles. While she denies it, initial reports said paramedics responded to the hotel because the couple were fighting and that is how she got injured. [via Instagram]
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You can take the player out of the game, but you can’t take the game out of the player…
Despite retiring from the NFL in March, JASON KELCE has been showing up at the Eagles building “almost every day,” according to his former teammate Jake Elliott.
While many may consider the move odd, Elliott and his teammates reportedly appreciate the impact Kelce had and still has on the organization.
Kelce played his entire 13-year career for the Philadelphia Eagles. [via People]
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A clip of GISELE BUNDCHEN explaining how to correctly pronounce her name has resurfaced.
During a 2005 appearance on “Late Night with Conan O’Brien,” she explained that, in Portuguese, her name is pronounced like “Gisele-y,” with a long vowel “e” at the end.
After years of trying -- and failing -- to correct people, she gave up. “So, whatever, it was Gisele in the end, I guess. Call me whatever you feel like.” [via Page Six]
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Celebs….they’re just like us!
“Dancing With the Stars” pro LINDSAY ARNOLD recently had to sop up her home after her 3-year-old flooded the place.
According to Arnold, their water had been shut off due to maintenance in the neighborhood, and during that time, their toddler, Sage, must have turned on a faucet and when nothing came out didn’t think to turn it back off.
Meanwhile, the family left the home for three hours to go out to eat and during that time the water was turned back on…including the forgotten faucet…flooding the place.
Watch Arnold detail the full story here>
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CASTING CALL
CHEVY CHASE will not be a part of the forthcoming “Community: The Movie.”
Actor -- and star -- JOEL MCHALE told TMZ that a movie based off the comedy series is currently in the works for Peacock, though without Chase due to the rumored drama he caused with the rest of the cast.
“Community” ran for six seasons on NBC. It ended in 2015. [via TMZ]
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SIGOURNEY WEAVER is in talks to star in a new Star Wars flick, “The Mandalorian & Grogu.”
No word on who she will play or any plot details.
The movie is the first in the franchise since 2019’s “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.” [via Deadline]
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At a live auction last week at the Keep Memory Alive’s 27th Annual Power of Love Gala, BLAKE SHELTON bid $40,000 for a walk-on role in a future MARK WAHLBERG flick -- and won!
“I’m a movie star now. I’m not [effing] around,” he told the crowd later on when he was honored for his philanthropic work.
Shelton also performed at the event, singing “Sweet Caroline,” “Ole Red,” and “Sangria.” He was joined by wife GWEN STEFANI to perform their duet “Nobody But You.” [via People]
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MTV announced there will be no Movie & TV Awards this year, though did not explain why.
Insiders say it will definitely return for 2025, however, making the announcement even more perplexing. [via The Sun]
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
PSALM WEST -- the youngest of the West children -- received a miniaturized Tesla Cybertruck for his 5th birthday last week.
KIM KARDASHIAN posted a video of Psalm getting the truck, saying, “Now you match Mommy, huh?” in the background.
“I want to drive this to school,” he replied.
By the way -- the truck was a gift from grandma KRIS JENNER. [via Parade]
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
The timing of a recent honor bestowed on PRINCE WILLIAM by KING CHARLES appears to be a direct slap in the face to PRINCE HARRY.
Last week, Charles named William the colonel-in-chief of the Army Air Corps — the unit Harry served in himself — on the very day Harry traveled to London for Invictus Games Foundation events.
Royal watcher Tom Quinn describes the move as “a real kick in the teeth for the son who always felt marginalized and underrated,” adding that the announcement put Harry “in tears.”
Quinn says, “What makes it much worse is that the role is being given to the very man who Harry sees as the cause of so many of his problems — his brother.” [via The Mirror]
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DAY OF THE YEAR
National Frog Jumping Day
National Fruit Cocktail Day
Cough Drop Day
Leprechaun Day
World Cocktail Day
International Hummus Day
National Crouton Day
Top Gun Day
National Apple Pie Day
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ON THIS DATE
1607 - Jamestown is established in present-day Virginia.
It would become the most famous European Colony in North America. Trouble began almost immediately for the settlers. They had arrived too late in the season to plant crops. Most of them were upper-class anyway, and wouldn't have known how to survive on their own.
Though the settlers suffered disease and raids by natives, the London Company continually shipped more settlers and supplies across the ocean.
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1846 - The United States declares war on Mexico.
The fight would be over the territory in and around modern-day Texas.
Texas had been independent of Mexico since 1836. The resolution to make Texas a state was argued and defeated in the Senate twice, for fear of severely disrupting the balance of free and slave states.
But by the end of 1845, it would become the 28th state. The Mexican government didn't take happily to its admission to the union. Border disputes began almost immediately. Polk sent in the first troops to defend the border in July that year.
After almost a year of back-and-forth skirmishes along the Rio Grande, Polk rallied the support of Congress to push back what he called a full-scale invasion.
The end of the war was settled with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848. The terms included Mexico's secession of California and New Mexico for the sum of $15 million.
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1958 - Vice President Nixon's car is attacked while touring Venezuela.
Latin American countries were decidedly leftist during the Cold War and outraged at the anti-Soviet rhetoric coming from Washington.
A swarm of students managed to interfere with Nixon's motorcade. They attacked his car, smashed the windows and dented the body. Inside, Nixon was covered by agents.
By some miracle the car managed to escape, but not before almost being tipped over by the throng.
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1981 - A terrorist shoots John Paul II in Rome.
Mehment Ali Agca was on the run after escaping a Turkish prison for murdering a journalist two years prior. He managed to get off several rounds, hitting the Pope four times and two bystanders.
The Pope underwent five hours of surgery and ultimately came around.
Agca’s trial was swift; he was convicted after only two days and spent 19 years in an Italian prison. He was then extradited to Turkey for another 10 years. He was paroled in 2010.
While in prison in Italy, the Pope personally met with his would-be assassin. By some accounts the men developed a friendship. John Paul II also met with Agca's family.
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2019 - Actress Felicity Huffman pleads guilty for her role in the college admissions scandal.
Thirty-three parents of college applicants allegedly paid more than $25 million to William Rick Singer, who organized the scheme. The money was used to fraudulently inflate entrance exam scores and bribe college officials.
Along with Huffman, “Full House” star Lori Loughlin and her husband were charged for their part in the scandal.
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BIRTHDAYS
Morgan Wallen - country singer - 31
Debby Ryan - actress, “Jessie” - 31
Candice Accola - actress, “The Vampire Diaries” - 37
Robert Pattinson - actor, “Twilight” films & “The Batman” - 38
Pusha T - rapper - 47
Tish Cyrus - mom of Miley - 57
Darius Rucker - country singer - 58
Stephen Colbert - TV show host, “The Late Show” - 60
Dennis Rodman - basketball player - 63
Stevie Wonder - R&B singer - 74
Born On This Date
Ritchie Valens - rock singer - 1941 (d. 1959)
Bea Arthur - actress, “The Golden Girls” - 1922 (d. 2009)
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