Today is Friday, June 14, 2024.
It is the 166th day of the year.
200 days remain.
WHAT’S ON TAP
TESLA shareholders approve ELON MUSK’s big pay package and WEWORK lives to die another day. Details in HIT LIST.
DAVID BECKHAM shoots down reunion rumors and new details emerge about RORY MCILROY’s divorce. More in SHOWBIZ.
A permanent FRIENDS experience is heading to Vegas and DISNEY finds its new Moana. Details in CASTING CALL.
YE flies economy in KARDASH.
THE KING preps for next month’s parliamentary elections in ROYALS.
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HIT LIST
TESLA leadership on Thursday announced that shareholders ratified ELON MUSK’s massive compensation package that is delivered only if the company meets aggressive growth metrics.
According to reporting by CNBC, though, even the shareholder vote doesn’t mean Musk will immediately be granted the stock options. Instead, the vote will be used to argue in front of the court that he can earn such options in the future -- to give an idea of how screwed up the American justice system has become.
Shareholders also agreed to formally move the company’s headquarters from Delaware to Texas. [via CNBC, AP]
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Wall Street Journal reporter EVAN GERSHKOVICH has been formally indicted by a Russian court of espionage charges after spending more than a year in prison.
Gershkovich, the paper, and the government deny the allegations -- specifically that he was spying on a Russian defense contractor for the CIA, and that his reporting assignment was just a cover.
The trial is expected to be held in Yekaterinburg, nearly 1,000 miles outside of Moscow, behind closed doors, with Russian officials insisting the trial will include classified information not for public consumption. It’s obvious Gershkovich will not get a fair shake. [via WSJ]
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TELL ME THIS ISN’T A GOVERNMENT OPERATION: The US State Department has for the first time created an online option to renew passports.
Even the rollout is on a very limited basis, with only a handful of slots for online renewal applications available each day -- in the Year of Our Lord 2024.
The current system requires pages to be physically printed, filled out in ink, and mailed in with a check.
Americans have increasingly begun traveling abroad in recent decades. In 1990, only 5% had a passport; today that’s nearly 50%. [via CBS News]
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Office-sharing company WEWORK lives to die another day after entering a Chapter 11 bankruptcy restructuring last November.
The company rose to fame in the 2010s under the stewardship of kooky founder ADAM NEUMANN, who was pushed out by the board in 2019 -- just before the pandemic that further changed working habits.
Now, WeWork’s leadership says they’ve settled $4 BILLION in debt, restructured leases, and raised $400 MILLION in capital. It is no longer a publicly traded company and has a new board of directors. [via Associated Press]
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JOEY CHESTNUT’s competitive eating days are not over, despite being uninvited to this year’s Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest.
This Labor Day, he will go head-to-head in a hotdog eating contest with his fiercest rival, TAKERU KOBAYASHI. Netflix will live-stream the event, titled “Chestnut vs. Kobayashi: Unfinished Beef.”
As for how Chestnut was allowed to compete in this event, Major League Eating says it is an unbranded hot dog eating contest, so the issues that arose with Nathan’s are non-existent.
FOR THE RECORD: The last time the two competed was at Nathan’s in 2009, when a five-dog sudden death round was needed to declare a winner. Chestnut won that one.
FINAL DOG: The event could be Kobayashi’s last -- only if he comes out victorious though. [via Fox News]
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BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The DOW lost 65 points (0.17%) to close at 38,647 on Thursday. The S&P gained 12 points (0.23%) to close at 5,433 and the NASDAQ increased 59 points (0.34%) to close at 17,667.
🛢 WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE closed at $77 on Thursday; BRENT CRUDE at $80.
⛽ The national average price of a GALLON OF GAS was $3.46 on Thursday.
₿ BITCOIN tumbled Thursday, down 2.3% and trading around $66,600.
🛩 There were more than 3,370 FLIGHTS delayed within, into, or out of the United States on Thursday and more than 600 such cancellations.
💰Tonight’s MEGA MILLIONS drawing will be for a $47 million or a $21.8 million cash payout. Saturday night’s POWERBALL drawing will be for a $34 million jackpot or a $16 million cash payout.
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SHOWBIZ NEWS
New Music Friday
Chanel Tres, “Head Rush”
David Bowie, “Rock ‘n’ Roll Star!”
Julius Rodriguez, “Evergreen”
Normani, “Dopamine”
Paul McCartney & Wings, “One Hand Clapping”
Walt Disco, “The Warping”
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DAVID BECKHAM says there won’t be a SPICE GIRLS reunion, or at least not one that his wife, VICTORIA BECKHAM will be a part of.
“Unfortunately, it’s not happening,” he told Variety.
The ladies did recently reunite at Victoria’s 50th birthday celebration, where they belted out one of their famous songs. Prior to that, the last time they all performed together was at the 2012 London Olympics. [via Variety]
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Those close to pro golfer RORY MCILROY believe that his change of heart on splitting from his wife is financially motivated.
According to one insider, he called off the divorce once he realized “how much money he would lose,” while another added that McIlroy has never really been “good on his own.”
Leaving seems to be a theme with McIlroy, who has a trail of broken-hearted women, starting with his high school sweetheart who he left for tennis player Caroline Woziniacki. He split from her just before their wedding invites were sent out. From there, McIlroy started dating his current wife ERICA STOLL, whom he recently filed for divorce from.
BY THE WAY: Stoll and McIlroy are parents to three-year-old daughter Poppy, so there would likely be child support payments in the mix as well. [via Daily Mail]
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The New England Patriots are paying homage to the G.O.A.T by erecting a 12-foot bronze statue outside their stadium.
Team owner ROBERT KRAFT announced the news at TOM BRADY’s Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Foxborough this week, telling the crowd that the former QB will be the first player in franchise history to receive the honor.
His No. 12 jersey will also be retired by the team. [via SI]
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POST MALONE recently got to check out his wax figure at Madame Tussauds in Las Vegas and could not believe the resemblance.
Dressed in a Tom Ford suede jacket, turtleneck, black jeans, cowboy boots and a crystalized belt, the figure is also holding a beer-filled red Solo cup.
“Are you [effing] kidding me? I thought that was a person,” Malone exclaimed after getting a good look at his likeness. [via ET]
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TIGER WOODS and JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE are pumping the brakes on their bar and restaurant plans in Scotland.
According to those in the know, the pair have been working on turning the historic Scots cinema into a “unique” bar and restaurant, but were recently told that officials need more time to look at the plans.
Woods and JT already own a bar under the T-Squared Social name in New York. [via Daily Mail]
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SHAKIRA is focusing on herself, not her dating life.
“I’m not thinking about that,” she recently told Rolling Stone, after sparking rumors that she was seeing actor TOM CRUISE or racer LEWIS HAMILTON.
The 47-year-old famously split from soccer star GERARD PIQUE in June 2022 after 11 years together. They share sons Milan and Sasha. [via Rolling Stone]
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CASTING CALL
A permanent The FRIENDS Experience is heading to Las Vegas.
The space allows fans of the show to dance around the fountain just like the cast does in the opening credits and pose for photos on the iconic orange sofa inside Central Perk. There will also be spots for guests to purchase items related to the show.
The new site, titled “The One in Vegas,” will open later this year, joining the permanent location that is already open in NYC. [via People]
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DISNEY has found its next Moana.
Actress CATHERINE LAGA’AIA will play the titular character in the live-action remake of the 2016 animated movie. She joins DWAYNE JOHNSON who reprises his role as Maui in the new film.
In the animated movie Moana was played by AULI’I CRAVALHO, who will serve as an executive producer on the remake, and mentor the new princess. [via Billboard]
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Ben Warren is heading back to Grey-Sloan Memorial Hospital.
Following the news of ABC canceling its firefighting drama, “Station 19,” actor JASON GEORGE will return to his roots on “Grey’s Anatomy.”
Fans were first introduced to Warren when he started as a surgical resident in Season 6 of the medical drama. He then went on to marry Dr. Miranda Bailey, played by CHANDRA WILSON. Warren later decided to change professions and become a firefighter, moving his life to “Station 19.”
No word on a Season 21 premiere date for “Grey’s Anatomy.” [via People]
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
YE and BIANCA CENSORI may like the finer things in life, but based on a recent clip circulating on social media, they aren’t too good to fly economy.
In the video, a surprised passenger is shocked to see the pair while boarding the flight to Japan.
For the trip, Ye sported a white robe with his moniker on it and Censori wore a flowy, translucent looking gown. [via TikTok]
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
KING CHARLES hosted legal experts this week to brief him on the potential outcomes of next month’s parliamentary elections.
Even though The King has worked with two Prime Ministers, the July 4 elections mark his first as monarch.
The last time the UK held elections was 2019. The monarch and Royal Family ceremonially remain above the political fray and function as advisors to the Prime Minister and other prominent politicians. [via Express]
WORTH NOTING: While QUEEN ELIZABETH frequently met with British legal scholars to advise and inform her, such meetings were never formally recorded. That Charles had these sessions officially published marks a pivot in transparency and openness under his reign.
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DAY OF THE YEAR
World Blood Donor Day
National New Mexico Day
National Movie Night
National Flag Day
Army Birthday
National Strawberry Shortcake Day
National Bourbon Day
National Cupcake Day
International Bath Day
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ON THIS DATE
1775 - The Continental Congress votes to establish the Continental Army.
The continental army was formed so the Thirteen Colonies could coordinate their efforts against the British forces. George Washington was named the commander of the continental army for the duration of the war.
After most of the Continental Army was disbanded in 1783 by the Treaty of Paris, the remaining militia groups gave birth to what is now the United States Army.
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1777 - The American flag is adopted by congress.
Of course this original symbol featured just 13 stars and 13 stripes representing the colonies.
The 50-star version would be made official on Independence Day in 1960.
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1789 - Survivors of the Bounty mutiny arrive on land for the first time in seven weeks.
Captain William Bligh had been mutinied by his first mate on April 28, left adrift with 18 of his crew and a small supply of rations. It was Bligh’s expertise as a captain that helped the crew survive and eventually find land.
From there, they would find passage back to England.
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1900 - Hawaii becomes a US territory.
Hawaii was annexed to the US by President William McKinley. The territory was granted self-governance and allowed to keep the Iolani Palace, the only royal palace in the United States, as its capitol building.
Despite many attempts to become a state, plantation owners found the territorial status was conducive to using cheap foreign labor and avoiding certain laws and taxes so these business owners fought against statehood.
In August of 1959, after almost 60 years, Hawaii would become the 50th state admitted to the union.
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1938 - Superman is introduced.
The character debuted in Action Comics issue number one. The initial print run put out 200,000 copies. The original authors were paid $10 per page, and refused royalties.
An original sold for $1 million in 2010.
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1967 - Mariner 5 is launched to Venus.
The probe carried experiments to test the atmosphere’s hydrogen spectrum and magnetic fields as well as collect a sample of solar particles.
As a result, previous temperature and pressure data became better understood and it was discovered that Venus has a much denser atmosphere than previously known.
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1994 - The 1994 Stanley Cup riots occur in downtown Vancouver.
The riot broke out after the Vancouver Canucks fell to the New York Rangers in game seven.
Approximately 60,000 fans poured into the streets and began fighting and looting stores. Police had to deploy tear gas to dissipate the crowd.
An estimated $1.1 million in property damage took place that night.
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2017 - A Bernie Sanders supporter opens fire at Republican politicians practicing baseball in Alexandria, Virginia.
James Hodgkinson shot US House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, US Capitol Police officer Crystal Griner, congressional aide Zack Barth and lobbyist Matt Mika.
Hodgkinson would later die during a 10-minute shootout with Capitol police officers.
All four victims would survive their injuries.
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BIRTHDAYS
RJ Barrett - basketball player - 24
Bobby Witt Jr. - baseball player - 24
Ryan McCartan - actor, “Liv and Maddie” - 31
Gunna - rapper - 31
Daryl Sabara - actor, “Spy Kids” - 32
Jesy Nelson - pop singer, Little Mix - 33
Lucy Hale - actress, “Pretty Little Liars” - 35
Kevin McHale - actor, “Glee” - 36
Alan Carr - comedian - 48
Steffi Graf - tennis player - 55
Yasmine Bleeth - actress, “Baywatch” - 56
Boy George - singer, Culture Club - 63
Kim Lankford - actress, “Knots Landing” - 70
Donald Trump - 45th POTUS - 78
Marla Gibbs - actress, “The Jeffersons” - 93
Born On This Date
Paul O’Grady - comedian - 1955 (d. 2023)
Alois Alzheimer - psychiatrist & neuropathologist - 1864 (d. 1915)
Harriet Beacher Stowe - author, “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” - 1811 (d. 1896)
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