5/24/2022: Arby’s Burger
Discover more from Morning Martini
5/24/2022: Arby’s Burger
PLUS: No More Payphones, Ye Returns to Instagram, and QE2 Skipping Royal Salute
Today is Tuesday, May 24, 2022.
It is the 144th day of the year.
221 days remain.
TRENDING
In honor of World Turtle Day, zoos around the country tweeted out appreciation for the reptiles and pleas for all to aid in protecting them.
Whoopi was trending after co-host of “The View” Whoopi Goldberg blasted the archbishop of San Francisco for denying Nancy Pelosi Communion because of her stance on abortion.
#DeppHeardTrial was trending as the Johnny Depp vs. Amber Heard trial kicked off its sixth and final week. Head to Court Cases for the latest.
#AddAWordRuinAMovie was trending Monday. Examples were: “It’s A Wonderful Life Sentence,” “Lord of the Onion Rings,” “Mary Poppin Pills,” “Top Glue Gun” and “Un Dead Poets Society.”
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HIT LIST
Starbucks is completely shutting down its stores in Russia.
The coffee giant paused operations there at the start of the invasion of Ukraine. In an astounding move of generosity, Starbucks is paying employees there six months severance and helping them find new work.
McDonald’s recently made a similar move, and ended up selling its Russian businesses to operate under new and different branding in the country.
MEANWHILE: A Russian soldier has been sentenced to life in prison in Ukraine for killing a civilian in the early days of the invasion. Ukraine’s justice system in ramping up a program to conduct war crime trials against other soldiers currently detained.
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The last public payphone has been removed from New York City.
The phone station near Seventh Avenue and 50th Street in Manhattan will be converted to a kiosk that emits free public WiFi. The station will ironically also include a phone with the ability to make free calls to any of the 50 states.
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Arby’s is out with its own hamburger – a first for the 60-year-old sandwich chain.
The Wagyu Steakhouse Burger costs $5.99 and will be on sale through the end of July.
Reps for the company say the patty is 52% American Wagyu beef, and the rest is just regular ol’ ground beef. It also has a special sauce.
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NASA has begun the slow process of powering down the InSight rover on Mars, which has been exploring there since November 2018.
It was originally scheduled to run about two years, but its performance allowed it to stay active nearly twice as long. NASA now believes dust has accumulated on its solar panels, hindering full functionality of all the tools and equipment on board.
It will take its last seismic readings later this summer, and NASA will juice as many operations out of it as possible until it stops responding some time later this year.
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Stocks rallied Monday, with the Dow picking up more than 500 points and the S&P picking up 67.
The national average price of gas is $4.59 a gallon.
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CHARTS
Top 5 Songs on iTunes:
Harry Styles, “As It Was”
Lizzo, “About Damn Time”
Morgan Wallen, “You Proof”
Jack Harlow, “First Class”
Walker Hayes, “AA”
Top 5 Songs on Spotify:
Harry Styles, “As It Was”
Lizzo, “About Damn Time”
Jack Harlow, “First Class”
Kendrick Lamar, “N95”
Camila Cabello, Ed Sheeran, “Bam Bam”
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DEATHS
COLIN CANTWELL has died.
The animator, known for his spacecraft designs for “Star Wars,” passed away Saturday at his home in Colorado. A cause of death was not shared.
He was 90.
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BABY NEWS
CHRIS PRATT, 42, and his wife KATHERINE SCHWARZENEGGER, 32, have welcomed their second child together, a baby girl named Eloise Christina Schwarzenegger Pratt.
The couple’s first child, daughter Lyla Marie will turn two in August.
Pratt is also father to son Jack, 9, who he shares with his ex-wife, actress ANNA FARIS.
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CHRISTINA PERRI is expecting her second child with husband PAUL COSTABILE.
The singer announced the news on Instagram with a photo of her daughter Carmella, 4, kissing her growing belly.
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THE SWAMP
Democrat legislators aren’t too happy about high gas prices, either.
Senator CHUCK SCHUMER tweeted: “Not just in DC, all across the country people are paying more at the [pump].”
Massachusetts Senator ED MARKEY tweeted: “gas prices have risen 25% – that means the average U.S. consumer is now paying roughly $350 more/year to fill up.”
Oregon Senator RON WYDEN posted a video talking about high gas prices in Eastern Oregon, where he said, “gas prices are skyrocketing.”
Except all these tweets were sent in the month of May 2018, when the national average price of gas ws $2.92 a gallon. Today it’s up more than 50%, over $4.50 a gallon.
WORTH ASKING: Why are they so quiet now? And were they actually worried about high gas prices then?
SPEAKING OF GAS PRICES: Here’s President JOE BIDEN addressing inflation and gas prices:
“We’re going through an incredible transition that is taking place that God willing when it’s over we’ll be stronger and the world will be stronger and less reliant on fossil fuels when this is over.”
IN OTHER WORDS: The suffering is the point. Sustained gas prices are part of a planned transition to decrease the use of fossil fuels not just in the United States, but around the world.
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LOTTERY
No winner for Friday night Mega Millions drawing. Tonight’s drawing will be for a $143 million jackpot or a $83.6 million cash payout.
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SHOWBIZ NEWS
The guitar played by KURT COBAIN in Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” music video sold for $4.5 million at auction over the weekend.
The new owner of the blue 1969 Fender Mustang is Indianapolis Colts owner JIM IRSAY.
A significant chunk of the money is going to Kurt’s estate, while the rest gets donated to charities fighting for mental health awareness.
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KENDRICK LAMAR’s “Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers” had the biggest debut of any album so far this year.
Also, it is his first album in five years to reach No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart -- his fourth overall.
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MICK JAGGER is not a fan of being compared to HARRY STYLES’ on-stage swagger.
The Rolling Stones legend told The Sunday Times that Styles only has a “superficial resemblance” to his younger self, adding that he was “much more androgynous.”
“And he doesn’t have a voice like mine or move on stage like me,” Jagger added.
That being said, Jagger explained that he has no issue with Styles, stating they have an “easy relationship.
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OZZY OSBOURNE’s daughter, AIMEE, escaped a studio fire in Hollywood last week.
Aimee’s mom SHARON OSBOURNE revealed the incident on Instagram, writing that her daughter was working in the studio with her producer when a fire broke out.
While those two made it out, an unidentified third person passed away in the blaze.
A spokesperson for the Los Angeles Fire Department told TMZ that it took 78 firefighters nearly an hour to extinguish the flames. It is unknown what started the fire.
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CHANNING TATUM reportedly had a group of diners kicked out of a fancy London restaurant after wrongly accusing them of taking his photo.
The “Magic Mike” star, who is in London filming the third installment in the franchise, was eating at Louie in Covent Garden when he noticed a table of six with their phones out.
A source told Page Six that the patrons were taking photos of each other, but Tatum believed they were snapping shots of him. His response was to “furiously flip them off” and then have them removed.
A rep for Tatum refused to comment on the story.
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LETITIA WRIGHT says the upcoming “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” movie will pay tribute to the late CHADRICK BOSEMAN.
“We honored him by committing ourselves to this story that he started, the legacy he started with this franchise,” she told Variety.
Boseman, who starred as T’Challa in the first “Black Panther” film, died in August 2020 after a battle with colon cancer.
The second “Black Panther” flick will premiere on November 11.
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ANGELA LANSBURY will receive the 2022 Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre.
The Tony Awards Administration Committee made the announcement Monday, while noting the Broadway legend’s “insurmountable” contributions to the stage.
Lansbury will be honored at the 75th Annual Tony Awards on June 12.
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CASTING CALL
RICKY MARTIN will star in Apple TV+’s series, “Mrs. American Pie,” as the male lead, Robert.
He joins previously announced stars, KRISTEN WIIG, ALISON JANNEY and LAURA DERN in the 10-episode series based on the novel by Juliet McDaniel.
“Mrs. American Pie” follows Maxine Simmons (Wiig), who attempts to secure her spot in the Palm Beach high society.
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Amazon has given a two series order to the adult animated sci-fi comedy, “The Hospital.”
MAYA RUDOPLH, NATASHA LYONNE, KIERAN CULKIN, KEKE PALMER, GRETA LEE and SAM SMITH voice characters in the new show.
“The Hospital” follows alien surgeons Sleech and Klak as they take on the most challenging cases in the galaxy.
Rudolph and Lyonne also co-produce the series.
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Actress JANELLE JAMES will host “The Final Straw” for ABC.
The game show sees four teams of contestants face off to combat tipping towers -- (think Jenga). Each life-sized themed tower is full of objects that contestants must try to remove without tipping it over. The last team standing will face The Mega Stack and a chance at winning the grand prize.
It will air alongside “Celebrity Family Feud” and “The $100,000 Pyramid,” premiering on July 10.
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COURT CASES
Just days after multiple outlets reported that JOHNNY DEPP will take the stand for the defense, Deadline reports that he will NOT be called.
Sources told the outlet that a member of AMBER HEARD’s team said “Calling Depp back to the stand would be as relevant to us as a bicycle to a fish.”
There is still a chance that Depp testifies again as a rebuttal witness for his own case.
Closing arguments are set for this Friday.
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
KOURTNEY and TRAVIS’ Italian wedding was hosted by Dolce and Gabanna, which seems odd as the fashion house’s co-founder STEFANO GABBANA once called the famous family “the most cheap people in the world.”
WHAT’S MORE: Business of Fashion reports that not only did D&C host, the brand also housed Kourt and Travis on a mega-yacht.
It is unknown what made the family decide to partner with the brand that once bashed them. Perhaps some sort of sponsorship deal?
WORTH NOTING: The brand has faced controversies for years, including several accusations of racism. They have returned to the mainstream this year, however, even prior to the big wedding.
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KANYE WEST is back on Instagram.
The rapper made his return to let fans know that he is working on a new design for McDonald’s packaging.
Ye was suspended from the platform in March after attacks on his ex, KIM KARDASHIAN and her boyfriend PETE DAVIDSON.
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
For the first time ever, QUEEN ELIZABETH will not take the royal salute during the Trooping the Colour parade.
PRINCE CHARLES, PRINCESS ANNE and PRINCE WILLIAM will take the salute instead.
The parade is held each year and officially marks the sovereign’s birthday. This year it will be part of the Platinum Jubilee celebration, marking Elizabeth’s seven decades on the throne.
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SPORTS
Several women who accused QB DESHAUN WATSON of sexual misconduct will tell their stories in an interview on “HBO Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel.”
According to The Spun, the women “detail the alleged abuse they suffered and share their reactions to Watson’s contract with the [Cleveland] Browns,” worth $230 million.
Watson was cleared of criminal charges by a grand jury earlier this year, but faces multiple civil lawsuits, and a potential punishment by the NFL.
The program airs tonight on HBO.
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DAY OF THE YEAR
National Escargot Day
National Scavenger Hunt Day
Aviation Maintenance Technician Day DAY
Brother’s Day
National Tiara Day
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ON THIS DATE
1689 – English parliament passes the Act of Toleration.
The act allowed for freedom of worship to Protestants and nonconformists who had left the Church of England.
Catholics, however, would still be treated as second-class citizens. They were not eligible to run for public office or attend university.
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1775 - John Hancock is elected President of the Second Continental Congress.
His biggest claim to fame would later be signing his name in a large scrawl on the Declaration of Independence.
Under his leadership, Congress appointed George Washington to lead the rebel army. He later served as a major general in the Massachusetts militia and set up his home state's own government, where he served as its governor.
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1883 – After 14 years of construction, the Brooklyn Bridge opens in New York City.
The 486 meter bridge spans the East River.
It was originally referred to as the “East River Bridge” and formally named the “Brooklyn Bridge” in 1915.
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1935 – The Cincinnati Reds beat the Philadelphia Phillies in Major League Baseball’s first night game. It was in Cincinnati.
The score was 2-1.
Crosley field was home to the Cincinnati Reds and the original Cincinnati Bengals
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1994 – Four men convicted for bombing the World Trade Center are each sentenced to 20 years in prison
The ’93 bombing occurred when a truck bomb detonated below the North Tower. Many terrorism experts believe the blast was intended to bring the whole building down, inspiring al-Qaeda to later use airplanes as missiles on September 11, 2001.
Funding for the terrorist act was received from Khaled Shaikh Mohammed, an Al Qaeda officer.
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1997 - Actor Tim Allen gets arrested for drunk driving in Michigan.
The following year he would enter rehab for alcohol abuse.
He has been sober ever since.
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2016 - Bill Cosby is ordered to stand trial in a sexual assault case in Norristown, Pennsylvania.
He faces three counts of felony aggravated indecent assault from a 2004 case.
In total, more than 50 women accused him of sexual assault, but for the vast majority, the statutes of limitations had passed.
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2020 - Millions of cicadas emerge in the southern US in a once in 17-year event.
The cluster, known as brood IX, invaded parts of Virginia, North Carolina and West Virginia.
It is unknown why the periodical cicadas emerge on 13 or 17 year cycles.
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BIRTHDAYS
Daisy Edgar-Jones - actress, “Normal People” - 24
Bobby Lockwood - actor, “House of Anubis” - 29
Matt Stonie - competitive eater - 30
Joey Logano - race car driver - 32
Brianne Howey - actress, “Red Scare” & “Twisted” - 33
G-Eazy - rapper - 33
Tracy McGrady - basketball player - 43
John C. Reilly - actor, “Step Brothers” & “Boogie Nights” - 57
Roseanne Cash - country singer - 67
Alfred Molina - actor, “Spider-Man 2” & “Maverick” - 69
Priscilla Presley - wife of Elvis Presley & actress, “Dallas” - 77
Patti LaBelle - R&B singer - 78
Bob Dylan - folk singer - 81
Tommy Chong - comedian & half of duo Cheech & Chong - 84
Born On This Date
Tara Correa-McMullen - actress, “Judging Amy” - 1989 (d. 2005)
Tommy Page - pop singer - 1970 (d. 2017)
Queen Victoria - royal - 1819 (d. 1901)
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