Today is Friday, May 24, 2024.
It is the 145th day of the year.
221 days remain.
WHAT’S ON TAP
An update on the whereabouts of SAM BANKMAN-FRIED and a tech company surges on Thursday. Details in HIT LIST.
ANTONIO BROWN is broke and JELLY ROLL likes to keep things fresh. More in SHOWBIZ.
RICHARD SIMMONS and STEVEN SPIELBERG have new projects in the works. Details in CASTING CALL.
KRIS JENNER once issued one of her kids a fake license. More in KARDASH.
Coming elections mean quiet time for the ROYALS.
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HIT LIST
UPDATE: SAM BANKMAN-FRIED didn’t prematurely end up in a California prison quite yet after all.
Instead, public records show he was processed through the Federal Transfer Center in Oklahoma City this week.
This facility is typically a short-term stay, though, in the middle of the country to facilitate further transfers.
The Bureau of Prisons does not comment on prisoner movements until they’re final.
Regardless, the detail does confirm that SBF will not remain in New York City as he prepares the appeal of his 25-year fraud conviction. [via Coin Telegraph]
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Chipmaker NVIDIA’s stock surged nearly 10% on Thursday after a boom earnings report, valuing it at $2.5 TRILLION.
With its individual shares trading over $1,000 for the first time, the company became the third-most valuable company in the world, behind Microsoft and Apple and just over Google parent Alphabet.
The boom has also lifted the company’s founder JENSEN HUANG into the world’s 20 richest people, at spot #17 as of Thursday evening, with a net worth over $90 BILLION. [via Yahoo Finance, Forbes, Morning Martini]
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A demographic researcher at UW-Madison argues that China’s economic forecasts are terribly flawed and do not reflect an inevitable population collapse.
Fuxian Yi believes China’s population is already at 1.3 BILLION -- 100 million fewer than the 1.4 BILLION the CPP publicly touts. Yi also predicts China’s population will dip under a billion by 2050.
The harsh reality conflicts with president-turned-strongman XI XINPING’s grandiose vision of a “rejuvenated” nation that will lead the world’s economy and international diplomatic efforts by the middle of the century. [via Newsweek]
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Thirteen counties in Oregon have now approved a measure to pursue seceding into Idaho.
More conservative eastern counties want distance from the progressive policies that dominate Portland and the surrounding area. The “Greater Idaho” movement still requires buy-in from more counties, but if effective, would split Oregon down the middle 200 miles from the eastern border and reshape Idaho.
Even then, both the Idaho and Oregon state legislatures would need to approve the plan and so would US Congress. [via News Nation]
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A record number of travelers will be hitting the road and air this holiday weekend, marking the busiest summer kick-off in nearly 20 years.
AAA says 38 million people will travel by car through Monday, while the TSA predicts up to 3 million people will take to the skies today alone.
As for how Americans are funding their travel plans in this economy, Trivago CEO Johannes Thomas says people are booking things farther in advance, staying closer to home, taking shorter trips and compromising on accommodations.
LOOKING AHEAD: U.S. airlines estimate 271 million travelers will fly between June 1 and August 31, breaking 2023’s record of 255 million. [via AP]
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BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The DOW lost 605 points (1.5%) to close at 39,065 on Thursday. The S&P lost 39 points (0.74%) to close at 5,267 and the NASDAQ lost 65 points (0.39%) to close at 16,736.
🛢 WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE fell to $76; BRENT CRUDE to $81.
⛽ The national average price of a GALLON OF GAS was $3.61 on Thursday.
₿ BITCOIN tumbled Thursday, down 2.6% and trading under $67,300.
🛩 There were more than 5,300 FLIGHTS delayed within, into, or out of the United States on Thursday and more than 230 such cancellations.
💰Tonight’s MEGA MILLIONS drawing will be for a $453 million jackpot or a $211.3 million cash payout. Saturday night’s POWERBALL drawing will be for a $120 million jackpot or a $56.4 million cash payout.
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SHOWBIZ NEWS
New Music Friday
Capstan, “The Mosaic”
Field Guide, “Rootin’ For Ya”
Jessica Pratt, “Here in the Pitch”
Lenny Kravitz, “Blue Electric Light”
Paul Weller, “66”
Travis Denning, “Roads That Go Nowhere”
Twenty One Pilots, “Clancy”
Wallows, “Model”
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The FBI is reportedly looking into the Graceland drama.
Insiders say agents contacted RILEY KEOUGH about the alleged fraud and are looking into whether to launch an investigation into Naussany Investments & Private Lending LLC.
Remember, the company claimed Keough’s mom, LISA MARIE PRESLEY, took out a loan from them prior to her death, and listed the iconic estate as collateral. Claiming she failed to make payments, Naussany announced the foreclosure and subsequent auction of Graceland this week.
Keough’s attorneys quickly fired off a suit to block the sale and a judge issued an injunction halting the foreclosure on Wednesday. Just hours later Naussany Investments said the company would be “withdrawing all claims with prejudice,” which apparently seems suspicious enough for the FBI to take a look. [via NY Post]
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CASSIE VENTURA shared a message of appreciation on Instagram, thanking her family, friends and strangers for the support following the release of footage of her being assaulted by then-boyfriend SEAN COMBS.
“This is only the beginning. Domestic Violence is THE issue,” she continued, while urging others to stand up and tell their stories and those around them to believe “victims the first time.”
FOR THE RECORD: She didn’t mention Diddy by name in the post, which would have gone against the NDA she signed in the settlement the two reached a day after she filed her lawsuit. [via TMZ]
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Rumor is…BEN AFFLECK and JENNIFER LOPEZ are in fact living separately just two years into their marriage.
A source told People Magazine that she is still living at their $60 million Beverly Hills home, while he is staying in a rental a few miles away.
As for what the issue is, one insider says it's the different ways they choose to parent their respective children. [via People]
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ANTONIO BROWN is broke.
The former football player filed for bankruptcy this week after admitting he cannot pay the nearly $3 million he owes to eight creditors.
After making over $80 million during his 12-year career, Brown now claims to have around $50k in assets.
Add this to the long list of Antonio Brown nonsense. [via NY Post]
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If there is one thing JELLY ROLL can’t stand, it's having stinky feet.
The country singer, who tries his best to live a humble lifestyle, recently admitted that he only wears a pair of socks “once” to be sure his feet are smelling fresh. [via Page Six]
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Football player JAELAN PHILLIPS was shocked to find an iguana chilling in his toilet.
Taking to Instagram to document the ordeal, Phillips explained how he had to call an exterminator because even at 6-feet-5-inches tall and 263-pounds, he was too freaked out to get rid of the reptile himself.
He said he has no idea how the lizard got into the toilet, but did note that he will now forever check before he goes. [via Instagram]
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SEAN KINGSTON’s Florida home was raided Thursday as part of a fraud and theft investigation.
Page Six reports that it wasn’t just the musician they were seeking, but his 61-year-old mother, Janice Turner, too. She was reportedly arrested on “numerous fraud and theft charges.”
Insiders told the outlet that the raid was two months in the making and based on claims that Kingston was allegedly “orchestrating a scheme to obtain expensive goods without paying.”
Kingston reportedly wasn’t home at the time of the raid, though later addressed it on Instagram, writing, “I am good and so is my mother!...my lawyers are handling everything as we speak.” [via Page Six]
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CASTING CALL
Fitness instructor-turned-recluse RICHARD SIMMONS is ready to make a comeback.
According to a recent Facebook post, Simmons is working on an interactive broadway show where audience members will have enough space to join in the sweat session.
“Broadway is in my blood!” the 75-year-old exclaimed. [via Page Six]
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STEVEN SPIELBERG is working on a new film.
The untitled project, backed by Universal Pictures, will hit theaters in May 2026. No word on what it's about, though Variety reports it is something UFO-related.
Spielberg’s last film was “The Fabelmans,” which received several Oscar nominations. It did however, only earn about $45 MILLION at the global box office. [via Variety]
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
Before she was a momager, KRIS JENNER was a regular mom trying to take care of her large family.
In an effort to make things a bit easier on herself, Jenner admitted to allowing KHLOE KARDASHIAN run errands and drive kids to school at only 14-years-old thanks to a “government-issued license.”
She of course admits now to having made up the documentation, saying that things were “a little bit different in the ‘90s.” [via Page Six]
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom RISHI SUNAK has called for elections on July 4 -- and following tradition, the Royal Family is deeply scaling back all public appearances in the run-up to the vote, so as not to get in any way involved with the political process.
The Firm has rescheduled and canceled public events until after the election for its most senior members, including the King and Queen and PRINCE WILLIAM.
An official statement says in part, “the royal family will—in accordance with normal procedure—postpone engagements that may appear to divert attention or distract from the election campaign… Their Majesties send their sincere apologies to any of those who may be affected as a result.” [via Newsweek]
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DAY OF THE YEAR
Aviation Maintenance Technician Day
International Tiara Day
Brother’s Day
Don’t Fry Day
National Scavenger Hunt Day
National Road Trip Day
National Escargot 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, the 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 would be 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
Jake Sim - actor, “It” - 24
Daisy Edgar-Jones - actress, “Where the Crawdads Sing” - 26
Cayden Boyd - actor, “Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story” - 30
G-Eazy - rapper - 35
Brianne Howey - actress, “Scream Queens” & “Ginny & Georgia” - 35
Tracy McGrady - basketball player - 45
John C. Reilly - actor, “Step Brothers” & “The Dewey Cox Story” - 59
Rosanne Cash - country singer & daughter of Johnny Cash - 69
Priscilla Presley - actress & wife of Elvis - 79
Patty LaBell - R&B singer - 80
Bob Dylan - folk singer - 83
Tommy Chong - comedian & actor, Cheech & Chong - 86
Born On This Date
Queen Victoria - UK royal - 1819 (d. 1901)
Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit - invented the thermometer & Fahrenheit scale - 1686 (d. 1736)
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