Discover more from Morning Martini
Today is Friday, June 17, 2022.
It is the 168th day of the year.
197 days remain.
TRENDING
Beyonce was trending Thursday after news broke that she will be releasing new music. Head to Showbiz for more info.
Twitter users shared stories of the “amazing” customer service they received from pet food and pet supply company, Chewy.
Dolly Parton was trending Thursday after she once again donated $1 million to infectious disease research.
Sue Bird landed in Twitter’s Top 10 Trends after the WNBA star announced her plans to retire. More on her impressive basketball career in Sports.
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HIT LIST
ELON MUSK addressed Twitter employees in a video chat corporate town hall Thursday. He apparently has a big vision for the social network platform, telling the virtual crowd Twitter should be used to help humankind “better understand the nature of the universe, as much as it is possible to understand.”
Musk outlined a plan to get a billion people using Twitter, which would be a fourfold increase over its current user base.
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Severe storms have taken the Abbott facility that’s back to making baby formula offline.
Flooding caused by heavy downpours have suspended all production at its Sturgis, Michigan location. Reps for the company say the weather will setback release of newly-produced formula by weeks.
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A study from the American Chemical Society’s Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry suggests drinking a lager beer is good for gut health in men. The habit provides “a more diverse colony of healthy gut microbes, compared to measurements taken before their daily beer regimen.”
IN OTHER WORDS: It’s good for inside the gut, but drinkers beware the effect it has on the waistline.
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Amazon’s Prime Day is coming next month, on July 12 and 13. The annual event features deeply discounted products across the site. Last year, buyers spent more than $11 billion during the 48 hour commercial bonanza.
For the first time, the deals will be available to online shoppers in Poland and Sweden.
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Ugly day on Wall Street Thursday: The Dow fell 741 points (2.42%), the S&P lost 123 points (3.25%) and the Nasdaq lost 453 points (4.08%).
The downturn puts the Dow under 30,000 for the first time in more than a year, virtually erasing any gains made since President JOE BIDEN took office.
West Texas Intermediate fell to $115.31, while Brent Crude continued just shy of $120 a barrel.
The national average price of a gallon of gas dropped to $5.009.
Bitcoin also got walloped, losing $1,808 in value (8.02%) to trade at $20,753.
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CHARTS
New to Amazon Prime:
Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (Rotten Tomatoes Score: 54%)
New to Disney+:
Big Shot (No Score)
King’s Ransom (Rotten Tomatoes Score: 2%)
New to HBO:
Non-Stop (Rotten Tomatoes Score: 62%)
New to Hulu:
Ted K (Rotten Tomatoes Score: 83%)
The Ledge (Rotten Tomatoes Score: 38%)
New to Netflix:
Spiderhead (No Score)
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DEATHS
DARWYN ENCARNACION has died.
The former prospect for the New York Mets passed away during a car crash in the Dominican Republic this week.
He was 21.
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BREAKUPS
“Tiger King” star JOE EXOTIC is single again.
According to TMZ, Exotic was dumped by his prison fiancee JOHN GRAHAM.
The pair met during their stay at a federal prison in Texas.
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THE SWAMP
President JOE BIDEN said in a tweet Thursday that America’s 790-or-so billionaires only pay an average tax rate of 8%. As the left-wing canard goes, it’s a disgrace for someone so rich to pay a lower rate than “a teacher, a firefighter, an electrician, or a cop.”
BUT WAIT: Where’d he come up with that 8% number?
In “research” posted on the White House website, the study analyzed what they call “income from unsold stock.”
IN OTHER WORDS: If a billionaire owned stock that went up in value, this study counts it as income, even though there’s no cash changing hands or landing in a bank account.
WORTH REMEMBERING: Senator ELIZABETH WARREN has been a vocal champion of a “wealth tax,” which would require America’s wealthiest to pay a fee on their estate’s total value every year.
WORTH ASKING: Why does the White House need to obfuscate to make their point? If the injustice is so severe, why not let the real data speak for itself?
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A man named NICHOLAS ROSKE was indicted on Wednesday by a federal grand jury for the attempted assassination of Supreme Court Justice BRETT KAVANAUGH.
As of Thursday evening, his name hadn’t appeared in the New York Times in over a week.
(h/t @jerylbier on Twitter).
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LOTTERY
No winner for Tuesday night’s Mega Millions drawing. Tonight’s drawing will be for a $273 million jackpot or a $151.7 million cash payout.
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No winner for Wednesday night’s Powerball drawing. Saturday’s drawing will be for a $279 million jackpot or a $159.4 million cash payout.
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SHOWBIZ NEWS
These albums drop today:
Calum Scott, “Bridges”
Dylan Moon, “Option Explore”
Flasher, “Love Is Yours”
Foals, “Life Is Yours”
Hank Williams Jr., “RIch White Honky Blues”
Harken, “Honeymoon Suite”
Joey Badass, “2000”
Kevin Gates, “KHAZA”
Lionel Boy, “Down at 8”
Lit, “Tastes Like Gold”
Logic, “Vinyl Days”
Mt. Joy, “Orange Blood”
Nick Cave, “Seven Psalms”
Patty Griffin, “Tape”
Pet Fox, “A Face In Your Life”
Tungsten, “Bliss”
Violet Skies, “If I Saw You Again”
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BEYONCE’s next album, “Renaissance,” will be released on July 29.
According to a tweet from music streaming platform, Tidal, the album will feature 16 tracks.
“Renaissance” is her seventh album as a solo artist.
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BRITNEY SPEARS has once again deactivated her Instagram.
The singer gave no forewarning that she was going to take a break from the platform, so fans were not sure if she removed herself or if the app shut down her page.
A source from Instagram told TMZ they did not remove Brit’s account.
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BAM MARGERA was found Wednesday hiding out in a Florida hotel room, just days after he fled a nearby rehab facility.
He was “sober” and “cooperative” when authorities picked him up and returned him to the treatment center, an insider told TMZ.
As previously reported, Margera left his court-ordered program after complaining to management that he was “unsatisfied” with restrictions placed on him.
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WWE head honcho VINCE MCMAHON allegedly paid a former employee $3 million in “hush money” following an affair the two had.
The Wall Street Journal, who first reported on the payout, claims WWE’s 12-member board is currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the alleged affair and payment.
WORTH NOTING: The alleged affair occurred in 2019 -- Vince has been married to his wife since 1966.
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TOM HANKS lost his cool after a group of fans nearly knocked over his wife, RITA WILSON.
After seeing his wife stumble when some overly excited fans shoved her, Hanks ran to her aid yelling “This is my wife, back the [f word] off!!”
It's safe to say none of the fans got autographs or selfies with the famous couple.
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BET announced the first round of performers for the 2022 BET Awards.
LIZZO, JACK HARLOW and CHLOE BAILEY will take the stage at Los Angeles’ Microsoft Theater on Sunday, June 26.
Joining them will be KENNETH “Babyface” EDMONDS, LATTO, CHANCE THE RAPPER, RODDY RICCH, and many more.
TARAJI P. HENSON will host the event.
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DRAKE surprised fans by dropping his new album, “HONESTLY, NEVERMIND,” at midnight.
He announced the release just hours before it was released.
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CASTING CALL
Several big names have signed on to star in JERRY SEINFELD’s Netflix comedy “Unfrosted: The Pop-Tart Story.”
The cast includes, MELISSA MCCARTHY, JIM GAFFIGAN, AMY SCHUMER, HUGH GRANT and JAMES MARSDEN.
They join previously announced stars, JACK MCBRAYER, TOM LENNON, ADRIAN MARTINEZ, BOBBY MOYNIHAN, MAX GREENFIELD, CHRISTIAN SLATER and SARAH COOPER.
Seinfeld is co-writing, directing and starring in the film that follows cereal rivals Kellogg’s and Post during their race to create a pastry that will change the face of breakfast forever.
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DAKOTA FANNING is reuniting with DENZEL WASHINGTON for Sony Pictures upcoming flick “The Equalizer 3.”
The plot is being kept under wraps.
It is scheduled to hit theaters on September 1, 2023.
WORTH NOTING: Fanning and Washington previously starred together in “Man on Fire,” nearly 20 years ago.
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JACK BLACK is reprising his role as Po the Panda in the upcoming Netflix and DreamWorks Animation series, titled “Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight.”
Black first voiced Po in the original “Kung Fu Panda” (2008), followed by “Kung Fu Panda 2” (2011) and “Kung Fu Panda 3” (2016).
The cast also includes RITA ORA as English knight Wandering Blade and JAMES HONG as Mr. Ping.
The animated series premieres on Netflix on July 14.
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JENNIFER HUDSON is gearing up for the launch of her self-titled daytime talk show.
According to Warner Bros, the show has been cleared in over 95% of the US.
“The Jennifer Hudson Show” is set to premiere on September 12.
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National Geographic’s “Sharkfest” is set to return on July 10.
The 10th anniversary of the four-week TV event is “bigger and more action-packed than ever before,” a source told PEOPLE magazine.
Shark-obsessed fans will be able to watch on Disney+, Hulu, ABC, ESPN, National Geographic, Nat Geo WILD and Nat Geo MUNDO.
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COURT CASES
KEVIN SPACEY was granted unconditional bail Thursday during his preliminary hearing in a London court over sexual assault charges.
He was not asked to enter a formal plea.
Spacey’s next hearing is set for July 14.
As previously reported, the actor has been charged with four counts of sexual assault and one count of “causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent.”
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
KIM did NOT ruin MARILYN MONROE’s iconic dress.
A recent side-by-side photo made the rounds on social media, implying that Kim’s voluptuous curves stretched out the gorgeous gown, but a rep for Ripley’s Believe It or Not -- who bought the dress for $4.8 million in 2016 -- says it's not true.
The source told TMZ that the damage was done prior to Kim wearing it to The Met.
Case closed.
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In a recent episode of “The Kardashians” KIM revealed that most of the family photos taken for their Christmas card were “unusable” because her eldest child, NORTH WEST “was sticking out her middle finger.”
“Taking a family photo is the most stressful time in my life,” Kim said in a confessional for the show.
This seems to be a tradition with North.
In 2019, Kim revealed that she had to photoshop her daughter into the family Christmas card because she was “having a day.”
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
PRINCE HARRY and MEGHAN MARKLE may be planning to spend more time in the UK as they have reportedly extended their lease at Frogmore Cottage.
Following the mixed reactions to them during the Platinum Jubilee, royal experts were shocked to hear that the couple decided to hold onto their former home a while longer.
“The fact that they’re extending that lease lets us know that they’ll definitely be back for more events in the future,” royal expert Elaine Swann told Us Weekly.
WORTH NOTING: With Harry still being one of the four Counsellors of State, he is required to have a residence in the UK. Perhaps that is the reason for the extended lease?
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SPORTS
WNBA superstar SUE BIRD announced Thursday that the 2022 season will be the last of her career.
The 41-year-old guard has spent her entire 21-year career playing for the Seattle Storm.
Bird is a four-time WNBA champion, 12-time All-Star and five-time Olympic gold medalist.
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The cities set to host the World Cup in 2026 are Los Angeles, New York, Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Miami, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Seattle.
Canada and Mexico will also host some games. It will be the first time that three different countries will host the matches, according to FIFA.
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LIST OF THE WEEK
Do you know which animals are close to extinction?
South West News Service polled 2,000 Americans in an attempt to find out how “informed” they are about endangered species.
According to the poll, nearly one-third of adults admitted the issue of animal extinction isn’t even “on their radar.”
Here’s a list of the top 20 endangered animals, ranked by the percentage of adults who were previously aware they are near extinction:
Black rhino: 22%
Asian elephant: 22%
Red panda: 21%
Blue whale: 20%
Mountain gorilla: 20%
African forest elephant: 20%
Sumatran rhino: 20%
Cross river gorilla: 20%
Sunda tiger: 19%
Sea turtle: 19%
Javan rhino: 19%
Sumatran elephant: 19%
Galapagos penguin: 19%
Fin whale: 19%
Hawksbill turtle: 18%
Sea lions: 18%
African wild dog: 18%
Ganges river dolphin: 18%
Black-footed ferret: 18%
Bluefin tuna: 18%
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DAY OF THE YEAR
National Apple Strudel Day
National Eat Your Vegetables Day
National Stewart’s Root Beer Day
National Cherry Tart Day
National Quote Famous People Day
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ON THIS DATE
1579 – Francis Drake claims California for Queen Elizabeth during his adventure around the world.
He landed near present-day San Francisco. The crew stopped in order to repair his ship and gather supplies before sailing across the Pacific Ocean.
In September the following year, the crew landed back in Plymouth, England, and Drake was later knighted.
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1885 – Crates of boxes containing the parts of the Statue of Liberty arrive in New York.
The monument was a gift from the French government. It was supposed to be finished nearly 10 years earlier, but the project needed ongoing fundraisers to be completed. Boxing events, auctions and lotteries were implemented to keep the cash flowing into the construction of the statue.
Four months later, the statue was completely assembled and ready to be opened to the public in a dedication ceremony presided over by President Cleveland.
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1972 – Nixon campaign operatives are arrested at the Watergate office complex after breaking into the Democratic National Committee's headquarters.
An investigation into the break-in revealed that the Nixon campaign had been financing and organizing a large effort to discredit the Democrat Party.
The president was later caught on tape approving the cover-up of the break-in just days after it happened.
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1989 – Teen pop sensations New Kids on the Block reach #1 on the Billboard Pop Chart for the first time.
The band was the brainchild of music entrepreneur Maurice Starr, who also created the Jackson 5 knock-off "New Edition" in the early '80s.
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1994 – Five days after being charged with the double-murder of Nicole Simpson and Ron Goldman, OJ Simpson is captured.
The former NFL star attempted to escape arraignment, famously fleeing in his white Ford Bronco. The ensuing police chase was made public by TV news helicopters filming the whole event.
The truck eventually returned to his home and OJ surrendered after a 90-minute standoff with police.
2008 - Same-sex marriage is legal in California.
Two years prior, the California Supreme Court ruled that the ban on same-sex marriage was unconstitutional on the basis of equal protection.
Five months later, California voters would pass Proposition 8, an amendment that stated marriage could only be between one man and one woman.
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2018 - The world electric speed record is broken by Jaguar with its battery-powered boat, the Jaguar Vector V20E.
The previous world record for an electric speed boat was set in 2008 and stood at 76.8 miles per hour, but Jaguar blew that out of the water with an average speed of 88.6 mph.
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BIRTHDAYS
KJ Apa - actor, “Riverdale” - 25
Stitches - rapper - 27
Amari Cooper - football player - 28
Jordan Henderson - soccer player - 32
Kendrick Lamar - rapper - 35
Marie Avgeropoulos - actress, “The 100” & Hunt to Kill” - 36
Jodie Whittaker - actress, “Doctor Who” - 40
Venus Williams - tennis player - 42
Paulina Rubio - world music singer - 51
Diane & Erin Murphy - actresses, both played Tabitha Stevens in “Bewitched” - 57
Newt Gingrich - politician & author - 79
Barry Manilow - pop singer - 79
Born On This Date
Simone Battle - pop singer - 1989 (d. 2014)
Ruth Wakefield - created Toll House Cookie - 1903 (d. 1977)
James Weldon Johnson - civil rights activist & NAACP leader - 1871 (d. 1938)
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