5/6/2022: Queen Elizabeth to Skip Garden Parties
PLUS: Co-Pilot Confusion, Increased Security for Comics, and Urkel The Bully
Today is Friday, May 6, 2022.
It is the 126th day of the year.
239 days remain.
TRENDING
In honor of the National Day of Prayer, Twitter users urged others to pray for their loved ones, schools, churches, law enforcement, military, judges and political leaders in DC. Others attached #NationalDayofPrayer to tweets including one or more of their favorite passages.
Yesterday was Cinco de Mayo. Some tweets were celebratory and others called out people for wanting a wall at the southern border while also drowning themselves in queso and margaritas.
#RevengeOfThe5th landed in Twitter’s Top 10 Trends -- one day after #MayThe4thBeWithYou.
#HouseOfTheDragon was trending Thursday after the first official trailer for the HBO show dropped. The series premieres in August.
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HIT LIST
CNBC reported Thursday that Elon Musk will personally manage Twitter as CEO once his takeover is finalized.
The news came amid another SEC filing showing that Musk has solidified another $7 billion in investment commitments for his takeover.
Musk is reportedly working with Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey to stay involved with the company.
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A flight from London to New York had to return after only 40 minutes, once the two pilots in the cockpit realized they both lacked the certification and training to fly together.
The captain didn’t have the accreditation to be a trainer, and the co-pilot hadn’t completed enough proper training.
Reps for the airline were eager to note that the captain has 17 years of experience, and his co-pilot was just one final assessment short of completing his training.
And despite the confusion, the flight landed less than three hours late.
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Non Fungible Tokens might prove to be one of the most fleeting fads of the last few years.
The Wall Street Journal reports that sales of NFTs are down 92% since September.
WORTH NOTING: NFTs might make a resurgence in the future, but haven’t yet proved to be valuable enough for sustained, practical investment.
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The head of a Table Tennis Club in Britain has set a new world record for most consecutive players faced in a single game.
It worked like this: Wen Wei Xu served the ball, and then one-by-one opponents traded off returning it, all in succession, with no stops, other than for Wen to hit it back.
Ultimately, 117 people in a row participated against Wen, smashing the current record of 102.
The feat is still pending certification and verification by Guinness.
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Stocks slid drastically on Thursday.
The Dow lost more than 1,000 points, shedding 3% of its value. The S&P lost a similar percentage.
Tech stocks took a major hit. Tesla was down 8.3% and Amazon was down 7.6%.
Meanwhile, the Nasdaq took a brutal 5% hit.
The Wall Street Journal chalks the whiplash up to weary investors seeking higher interest rates from the Federal Reserve, which has so far committed to modest incremental rate increases.
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CHARTS
New to HBO Max:
Dear Evan Hansen (Rotten Tomatoes Score: 29%)
New to Hulu:
Hatching (Rotten Tomatoes Score: 92%)
New to Netflix:
Along for the Ride (Rotten Tomatoes Score: Not Rated)
Marmaduke (Rotten Tomatoes Score: 9%)
Thar (Rotten Tomatoes Score: Not Rated)
The Takedown (Rotten Tomatoes Score: Not Rated)
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BREAKUPS
STEVE BURTON, 51, has split from his pregnant wife, nutritionist SHEREE GUSTIN, 45.
The soap actor announced the separation on Instagram, revealing that the child his wife is currently pregnant with is not his.
The couple are parents to three other children.
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WEDDINGS
Actress CERINA VINCENT, 43, tied the knot with stuntman MIKE ESTES, also 43, in Italy on April 29.
The pair wed at the Eden Roc Hotel in Positano with 14 of their closest friends and family, including their 3-year-old son, Nico.
The couple got engaged in 2019.
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TIFFANY TRUMP, 28, will wed billionaire MICHAEL BOULOS, 24, at her father’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida this November.
The pair were supposed to tie the knot in Greece this summer, but for unknown reasons those plans were scrapped.
Insiders told Page Six that over 500 guests will be invited to the nuptials, held by former President DONALD TRUMP and his ex-wife MARLA MAPLES.
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THE SWAMP
President JOE BIDEN has named JEN PSAKI’s deputy KARINE JEAN-PIERRE to take over as White House Press Secretary, after Psaki formally leaves on May 13.
Psaki noted in a series of tweets that Jean-Pierre is “the first black woman and the first openly LGBTQ+ person to serve” in the role.
Psaki’s future isn’t entirely certain, though it’s likely she’ll get a show or pundit gig on MSNBC, where administration alum SYMONE SANDERS already landed a job after running from Vice President KAMALA HARRIS’ office.
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Senate Majority Leader CHUCK SCHUMER will bring a bill that federalizes abortion protections for uterus-havers to the floor next week – but it’s all likely just a stunt.
A majority of Senators would need to nuke the 60-vote filibuster in order to get it to pass, and that doesn’t seem likely to happen.
WORTH NOTING: The goal is likely to create a midterm talking point, in order to rally an otherwise disengaged and frustrated Democrat base.
SPEAKING OF WHICH:
An Economist/YouGov poll says 62% of Americans say the country is on the wrong track.
A CNN poll puts President JOE BIDEN’s disapproval at 59%.
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LOTTERY
No winner for Tuesday night’s Mega Millions drawing. Tonight’s drawing will be for a $70 million jackpot or a $41.3 million cash payout.
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No winner for Wednesday night’s Powerball drawing. Saturday night’s drawing will be for a $51 million jackpot or a $30.5 million cash payout.
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SHOWBIZ NEWS
These albums drop today:
Arcade Fire, “We”
Bad Bunny, “Un Verano Sin Ti”
Belle and Sebastian, “A Bit Of Previous”
Halestorm, “Back From The Dead”
Ella Mai, “Heart On My Sleeve”
Jack Harlow, “Come Home the Kids Miss You”
Sharon Van Etten, “We’ve Been Going About Things All Wrong”
Simple Plan, “Harder Than It Looks”
Soft Cell, “Happiness Not Included”
Suki Waterhouse, “I Can’t Let Go”
Warpaint, “Radiate Like This”
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SOPHIE TURNER wants to move to her native England with husband JOE JONAS, their daughter WILLA, 1, and baby on the way.
In the June issues of Elle UK, Turner revealed that she wants to return home and raise her children, mostly for her own “mental health.”
As for Joe, Turner said he still needs “a bit of convincing.”
For now the couple call Florida home.
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JERRY JONES is okay after being involved in a car crash on Wednesday, so says his son.
According to WFAA Dallas, the 79-year-old was transported to the hospital with minor injuries after an accident near the Cowboys’ team facility.
Meanwhile, STEPHEN JONES, told ESPN that his dad is now recovering at home and is “all good.”
Details about the crash have not been released.
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The Laugh Factory is beefing up security in response to the recent attacks on comedians.
The famous Los Angeles based comedy club told TMZ they are going to “great lengths” to protect comics after what happened to DAVE CHAPPELLE at the Hollywood Bowl.
The precautions include extra security guards and a metal detector at the front door.
SPEAKING OF CHAPPELLE: The Los Angeles County DA has declined to pursue felony charges against the man who tried to attack him. The case has been passed to the City Attorney’s Office for consideration of possible misdemeanor charges. The 23-year-old is being held on $30,000 bail. A motive is still not known.
MEANWHILE: The women on “The View” blame former president DONALD TRUMP for the attack on Chappelle, but insiders at the Laugh Factory told TMZ their bosses blame the incident on WILL SMITH’s assault of CHRIS ROCK at the Oscars, and the lack of charges against him.
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TOM CRUISE touched down for the “Top Gun: Maverick” premiere in a USS Midway helicopter.
The 59-year-old, known for doing his own stunts, casually walked the red carpet in San Diego after the dramatic landing.
“Top Gun: Maverick” hits theaters on May 27.
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LUDACRIS was honored this week with a Bachelor of Science in Music Management degree from his alma mater Georgia State University.
The musician also addressed more than 800 master’s degree graduates for the school’s Commencement Week.
Ludacris left the Music Management program at the university in the mid-90s when he signed a record deal with Def Jam Records.
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CHRIS PRATT revealed on “Today” that the upcoming sixth “Jurassic” film will be the “end of the franchise.”
Speaking to co-hosts SAVANNAH GUTHRIE and HODA KOTB on Thursday, Pratt said “Jurassic World Dominion” converges all of the characters' storylines “in a way that is very much a finale.”
The movie hits theaters on June 10.
WORTH NOTING: It is the sixth “Jurassic” movie overall and the third in the “Jurassic World” trilogy.
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JO MARIE PAYTON, known for her role as “Family Matters” matriarch Harriette Baines Winslow claims actor JALEEL WHITE once tried to fight her during filming.
In a recent interview, Payton told “Entertainment Tonight” that White, who played Steve Urkel, became agitated during a scene they were shooting. When she called him out, he allegedly got aggressive saying he wanted to “fight” her.
Payton recalled at the time being upset with White over his “childish” actions, but now realizes that some of the adults around him were to blame as he was allowed to “run wild and do whatever he wanted to do.”
White has not responded to Payton’s comments.
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CASTING CALL
“The Steve Wilkos Show” has been renewed for a 16th season.
The daytime talk show, which tackles everything from family and criminal justice issues to true-crime and relationship conflicts, averages 900,000 daily viewers.
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ED O’NEILL will star as Donald Sterling in “The Sterling Affairs” for FX.
The six-episode limited series tells the story of the downfall of Los Angeles Clippers’ owner Donald Sterling amid the team’s drive to win a championship under head coach Doc Rivers.
LAURENCE FISHBOURNE will play Rivers, and JACKIE WEAVER will play Sterling’s wife, Shelly.
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AISHA TYLER has joined the cast of the Apple limited series “The Last Thing He Told Me.”
She will play Jules, the childhood best friend of JENNIFER GARNER’s character Hannah.
Based on the book by Laura Dave, “The Last Thing He Told Me” tells the story of Hannah, a woman who must team up with her sixteen-year-old stepdaughter to find out the truth about why her husband has mysteriously disappeared.
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LANCE REDDICK, TEYANA TAYLOR and LAURA HARRIER have joined the cast of the “White Men Can’t Jump” reboot.
They are set to star alongside previously announced JACK HARLOW and SINQUA WALLS.
The film will offer a new take on the 1992 sports comedy starring WOODY HARRELSON and WESLEY SNIPES.
It is unclear what roles the newcomers will play.
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COURT CASES
AMBER HEARD testified Thursday that she started taking photographs of JOHNNY DEPP passed out after drinking alcohol and/or taking drugs because nobody believed her or wanted to confront him about his issues.
She also revealed how angry Depp would get about her working with fellow actor JAMES FRANCO in “The Adderall Diaries,” in which the two had to be intimate.
This testimony comes after Heard recounted the first time Depp hit her while on the stand yesterday.
WORTH NOTING: Despite Heard telling her side of the story on the stand this week, social media is still very much Team Johnny.
BEATLE SUPPORT: Even PAUL MCCARTNEY seemed to show his support for the actor, after playing a music video for his song “My Valentine” at a recent concert. Depp appears in the video alongside NATALIE PORTMAN. Many on social media noted how “risky” the move was amid the ongoing trial.
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
It is he-said, she-said over KIM’s sex tape with former fling RAY J.
He says Kim’s mom KRIS JENNER was the one negotiating for a payout with Vivid Entertainment, which distributed the tape in 2007.
Ray also told TMZ that Kris and Kim plotted the whole thing after the success of PARIS HILTON’s sex tape.
But insiders say that Kris never negotiated with Vivid and she had nothing to do with planning the tape.
Sources explained that Kim and Ray made a deal with Vivid, clearing the path for the release of the video. They split a $1 million advance and shared 49% profits from the tape. The tape earned about $100 million in sales — making it the highest grossing sex tape of all time.
WORTH NOTING: That tape is also what many credit with the Kardashians being where they are now.
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
Buckingham Palace announced this week that other members of the Royal Family will stand in for QUEEN ELIZABETH when the traditional garden parties return this summer.
The first garden party is set to take place next Wednesday. It is unknown which royal will attend in place of Her Majesty.
More than 30,000 people are typically invited each year to Buckingham Palace for the annual tradition.
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SPORTS
NBA star MAGIC JOHNSON is throwing his hat in the ring to purchase the Denver Broncos.
He joins former NFL player ANTONIO BROWN and KANYE WEST, who, according to insiders, are “extremely serious” about taking the team.
WORTH NOTING: The Broncos are currently valued at $4 million. The sale is expected to be the biggest in sports history.
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LIST OF THE WEEK
Funny WiFi Names
(Courtesy of Popsugar)
Get Off My LAN
BatLAN and Robin
Revenge of the WiFi
Girls Gone Wireless
Wifi Art Thou Romeo
Lord of the Wi-Fi
Bill Wi the Science Fi
Benjamin FrankLAN
Making WiFi Great Again
Tell Your Wifi Love Her
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DAY OF THE YEAR
National Beverage Day
National Crepe Suzette Day
National Nurses Day
National Military Spouse Appreciation Day
National Provider Appreciation Day
National Space Day
School Lunch Hero Day
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ON THIS DATE
1536 – Henry VIII of England orders Bibles be placed in every Church in England.
The order helped establish the British monarch as the head of the church, not the Pope. It also made the Bible accessible to those who didn’t know Latin.
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1835 – The New York Herald is first published.
Within 10 years, it became the most successful and profitable paper in the nation, and branded itself as the most-circulated in the world, reaching 84,000 people a day.
For its time, it emphasized tabloid-style news, sensationalizing headlines whenever possible.
It would continue production until 1924, when it was merged with the New York Tribune.
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1840 – The Penny Black stamp is first accepted as currency — it’s the first adhesive postage stamp.
Previously, recipients paid for mail on delivery. This invention was an indication of pre-payment for all correspondence. It featured an image of Queen Victoria, and sold for a penny.
Eventually, more than 68 million stamps were put into circulation.
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1882 – The Chinese Exclusion Act is signed into law by President Chester Arthur.
The law banned immigration of all Chinese workers. Initially it was a temporary law, but endured until 1943.
An influx of immigrants from China began with the California Gold Rush in the mid-1840s, but as the abundant supply of gold disappeared, American prospectors didn’t like the extra competition, both for gold and for work.
It was organized labor leaders who pushed for the exclusionary law.
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1889 – The Eiffel Tower opens to the public for the Exposition Universelle in Paris.
It was structurally completed at the end of March, but had to be fitted to be accessed by visitors.
Throughout the exhibition, nearly 2 million people climbed the tower’s stairs.
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1994 – Arkansas state employee Paula Jones files a lawsuit against President Bill Clinton for sexual harassment while he was governor — just two days before the 3-year statute of limitations would have prevented her from taking action.
According to the lawsuit, Clinton propositioned and exposed himself to her after an event in Little Rock.
Jones would ultimately win an $850,000 settlement, but got no formal apology. Most of it went to attorney fees. She took home $200,000, and would later pose in Penthouse to raise money.
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2013 – Three women escape a house in Ohio after more than 10 years in captivity under horrific conditions. They had been individually kidnapped a year apart, beginning in 2002.
Their captor, Ariel Castro, was arrested, convicted, and the house was eventually demolished. Castro later hanged himself in prison.
A community fund awarded more than a million dollars to the victims.
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2020 - At least 90,000 healthcare workers worldwide have been infected by COVID-19.
According to the International Council of Workers, more than 260 nurses have died due to the virus.
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BIRTHDAYS
Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor - son of Harry & Meghan - 3
Naomi Scott - actress, “Aladdin” & “Power Rangers” - 29
Jose Altuve - baseball player - 32
Cheree Crowley - wrestler - 34
Meek Mill - rapper - 35
Chris Paul - basketball player - 37
Mark Bryan - guitarist, Hootie & the Blowfish - 55
George Clooney - actor, “ER” & “Ocean’s Eleven” trilogy - 61
Kate Collins - actress, “All My Children” - 63
Tom Bergeron - game show host - 67
David Leestma - astronaut - 73
Bob Seger - rock singer - 77
Willie Mays - baseball player - 91
Born On This Date
Orson Welles - actor, “Citizen Kane” - 1915 (d. 1985) *born in Kenosha, WI*
Amadeo Giannini - entrepreneur & founder of Bank of America - 1870 (d. 1949)
Sigmund Freud - father of psychology - 1856 (d. 1939)
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