Today is Thursday, June 20, 2024.
It is the 172nd day of the year.
194 days remain.
WHAT’S ON TAP
An update on FYRE FESTIVAL 2 and the biggest names in tech partner up. Details in HIT LIST.
JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE plans to fight his DWI charge and BILL BELICHICK does the walk of shame. More in SHOWBIZ.
DISNEY’s latest animated film is a box office hit and a “Spaceballs” sequel is in the works. Details in CASTING CALL.
YE takes in a wrestling event hosted by a fashion designer in Tokyo. More in KARDASH.
MEGHAN MARKLE’s ego exceeds her class. Details in ROYALS.
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HIT LIST
Convicted fraudster BILLY MCFARLAND says the reincarnation of his disastrous FYRE Festival is already sold out -- even though an official location and date have not been announced.
On X, he said the waitlist is coming up on 11,000 people.
McFarland has openly committed to paying the Bahamian workers he stiffed last time around and paying restitution to the customers he defrauded. For FYRE 2, he says he’s only working on hyping the event and has no involvement in the actual operations. [via @pyrtbilly]
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On Tuesday, NVIDIA became the most valuable company in the world as its stock soared to new highs, surpassing Microsoft and Apple.
On Wednesday, DELL TECHNOLOGIES announced it would be building a supercomputer to power ELON MUSK’s xAI startup, using chips manufactured by Nvidia.
AND SO: The world’s most valuable company is getting into business with the world’s richest man, depending on what day it is.
Dell CEO MICHAEL DELL said on X, the social media platform Musk also owns, that his company is manufacturing half of xAI’s mainframe server racks while the rest will be made by San Francisco-based Super Micro Computer.
WORTH NOTING: X, formerly Twitter, and xAI are different companies owned by the same guy -- but Musk will almost certainly use the data on X to train xAI’s language models. [via Reuters]
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FERRARI is getting into the electric vehicle game -- and their fist model will be very expensive.
In the first quarter of the year, the average ticket price of its conventional cars was $376,000. The new EVs will start at $535,000.
Ferrari says it will dedicate a new plant in Maranello, Italy to manufacture the car, with deliveries expected to begin in 2025. [via CBS News]
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Service industry employees have taken their fair share of abuse from rude customers in recent years, but a Florida McDonald’s worker turned the tables on whiny customers when she shot at them when they said their drive-thru order was wrong.
Around 1:00 am Friday morning, at a McD’s location in Lakeland, Florida, the annoyed customers began arguing over their order at the window with 22-year-old worker Cassidy Gardner.
The customers started to drive away when Gardner tossed a drink into their car window. Then the customers got out of their car, opened the drive-thru window, and threw their own drinks back inside.
The bickering hotheads took their brawl to the parking lot, with Gardner walking outside as the customers drove around -- except now she was armed and started firing her gun, hitting the car at least once.
Police were called, the customers remained on the scene, and Gardner was arrested for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. [via WESH]
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As parts of the Northeast and Midwest get hit with dangerously high temperatures (and humidity) this week, experts want people to be aware of the signs of heat stroke.
It only takes a few minutes of being exposed to extreme heat for one’s body to begin feeling the symptoms, including sweating, fast heartbeat and dehydration. While sweating is the body’s way of cooling itself down, humidity exacerbates the process, resulting in more fluid loss than the body can keep up with.
Within 5 to 10 minutes, blood can be stripped away from vital organs, causing confusion, dizziness and even loss of consciousness. After only 15 minutes, heat stroke can take over, leading to a “complete loss of body function.”
This can be avoided by drinking water or sports drinks containing electrolytes, limiting sun exposure, and avoiding strenuous activities.
FOR THE RECORD: Over 700 people in the U.S. die every year from heat stroke. [via Daily Mail]
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WEDDINGS
ASHANTI and NELLY are legally married and have been since last year.
According to public records, the two tied the knot on December 27, 2023.
The news comes as couple are also expecting their first child together.
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BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The DOW gained 56 points (0.15%) to close at 38,834 on Wednesday. The S&P increased 13 points (0.25%) to close at 5,487 and the NASDAQ added 5 points (0.029%) to close at 18,862.
🛢 WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE closed at $81; BRENT CRUDE at $82.
⛽ The national average price of a GALLON OF GAS was $3.44 on Wednesday.
₿ BITCOIN was mostly flat on the day, trading around $64,700 Wednesday evening.
🛩 There were more than 2,780 FLIGHTS delayed within, into, or out of the United States on Wednesday and more than 100 such cancellations.
💰Friday night’s MEGA MILLIONS drawing will be for a $80 million jackpot or a $38.2 million cash payout.
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SHOWBIZ NEWS
JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE’s attorney says the plan is to fight the DWI allegations, telling TMZ, “He will have a lot to say at the appropriate time.” [via TMZ]
MEANWHILE: Fans seem to think a Tuesday Instagram post from BRITNEY SPEARS is a diss at JT’s recent arrest. “It’s the little things you know,” she captioned a photo of a colorful cocktail -- in a martini glass. [via Instagram]
ELSEWHERE: Britney fans took to their respective social media accounts to troll JT, with one person writing, “Every tongue that rises against Britney Spears will fall.” [via The Blast]
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A clip of a shirtless BILL BELICHICK leaving a Massachusetts residence last November is now confirmed to be from a Ring camera belonging to his new, and much younger, girlfriend JORDON HUDSON.
The walk of shame reportedly took place just a month after Belichick split from his longtime girlfriend Linda Holliday.
It was also hinted at during TOM BRADY’s roast, when the former QB said, “Everybody asks me which ring is my favorite, I used to say ‘the next one.’ But now that I am retired, my favorite Ring is the camera that caught Coach Belichick slinking out of that poor girl’s house a few months ago.” [via Daily Mail]
REMEMBER: He’s 72 and she’s 24.
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HUGH JACKMAN loves a good puzzle.
The actor recently revealed his passion on Instagram, posting a series of snaps of him working on a jigsaw puzzle.
One of the more amusing clips showed the “Wolverine” star crawling around on the floor searching for a missing piece. Upon finding it, he belted out “Hallelujah.” [via Daily Mail]
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JENNIFER LOPEZ is on an Italian getaway.
The singer-actress was spotted off the coast of Positano on Wednesday, boarding a boat with some friends.
The vacay comes amid continued rumors that her marriage to BEN AFFLECK is over.
WORTH NOTING: Affleck spent Father’s Day with his kids and ex-wife JENNIFER GARNER. [via TMZ]
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JELLY ROLL has officially booked his first international tour.
After years of only performing in the States, JR says he has finally been granted permission to show off his talents around the world.
As previously reported, the country-rock singer was having a hard time booking international shows due to his criminal past.
His first stop will be in Canada next month. [via People]
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CELEBS, THEY’RE REALLY NOT LIKE US: Estranged reality stars KYLE RICHARDS and MAURICIO UMANSKY put aside their differences to surprise their 16-year-old daughter, Portia, with a $90,000 Porsche.
The exuberant gift comes a year after Richards and Unmansky announced they were splitting after 27 years of marriage. [via Page Six]
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AJ MCLEAN wants to go by his full name of Alexander James.
He explained his decision to fellow boybander LANCE BASS, saying that he wants to step away from his “persona” as “one-fifth of the Backstreet Boys,” adding that Alexander James is more his “true, authentic self.”
McLean is currently on tour with Bass’ *NSYNC bandmate JOEY FATONE. [via Today]
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CASTING CALL
DISNEY’s “Inside Out 2” grossed over $29 million on Tuesday, setting a new record for an animated movie.
It took the top spot from 2018’s “Incredibles 2” which set a Tuesday-record earning $27 million.
Also, with the film’s $205.7 million domestic earnings so far, it is the year’s second-highest grossing, behind “Dune: Part Two” which brought in $282.1 million during its theatrical run.
Globally, “Inside Out 2” is at $380 million. [via Deadline]
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A “Spaceballs” sequel is in the works at Amazon MGM Studios.
JOSH GAD is on hand to star and produce, alongside MEL BROOKS.
The original film from 1987 -- a parody of popular space-based franchises, such as “Star Wars” and “Star Trek” -- starred BILL PULLMAN as Long Star, JOHN CANDY as Barf, DAPHNE ZUNIGA as Princess Vespa, RICK MORANIS as Lord Dark Helmet and Brooks as President Skroob. [via Variety]
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Those (unofficially) in the running to replace KATY PERRY as judge on “American Idol,” include JELLY ROLL, JON BON JOVI, JORDIN SPARKS and MEGHAN TRAINOR.
KELLY CLARKSON’s name was also tossed around, but she has since turned down the opportunity saying her family wants to stay in New York.
Insiders say producers have a tough decision on their hands, trying to find someone who “checks all the boxes: star quality, a huge fan base, relatability and, preferably, no skeletons in their closet.” (I guess that takes JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE out of the running.)
As for what Perry is hoping for with whomever takes her spot, “someone that is not afraid to tell the truth,” but in a “graceful” way.
The newbie will join returning judges LIONEL RICHIE and LUKE BRYAN.
FOR THE RECORD: Perry ended her seven-year run on the singing competition show after last season. [via Radar Online]
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
YE made a surprise appearance at a wrestling event in Tokyo on Monday.
Footage from the event, which was part of fashion designer Alexander Wang’s Wangmania, showed the rapper miming his song “TALKING” alongside TY DOLLA $IGN, leaving some fans asking, “What the hell is going on?”
As previously reported, Ye and BIANCA CENSORI flew Economy to Japan, though it's unclear if the trip was for this event specifically or if they have other stuff going on. [via Indy100]
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
A new book about DAVID BECKHAM and VICTORIA BECKHAM sheds some light on the beef between the power couple and PRINCE HARRY and MEGHAN MARKLE.
Author Tom Bower reports that Meg blames Victoria for leaking news about the time they went for a luxurious spa day together, culminating with Harry calling David and the soccer star having none of the drama.
Bower says Meg is “deluded” in believing she belongs to a higher social class than the Beckhams and is notoriously envious that their net worth was well above her and Harry’s -- even when they were still working members of the Royal Family. [via Express]
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DAY OF THE YEAR
World Tapas Day
World Productivity Day
National Yard Games Day
Summer Solstice
Global Car Recycling Day
International Tennis Day
National Seashell Day
World Refugee Day
National Ice Cream Soda Day
National Vanilla Milkshake Day
National Dump the Pump Day
National American Eagle Day
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ON THIS DATE
1782 - Congress adopts the Great Seal of the United States of America.
The front of the seal depicts a bald eagle clutching an olive branch in its right talon and arrows in its left. On top of the eagle is a shield marked with 13 vertical red and white stripes underneath a bar of blue.
In the eagle’s beak is a banner inscribed with E pluribus unum, which is Latin for “Out of Many One.”
The back features the Masonic motif of a pyramid, which is used as a symbol of “Strength and Duration.” Beneath the pyramid is 1776 in Roman numerals — an ode to the year of independence.
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1837 - Queen Victoria ascends the British throne following the death of her uncle, King William IV.
She was only 18 at the time.
She would rule for 63 years.
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1863 - West Virginia becomes the 35th US State.
When it entered it was State Number 24, since 11 Southern states had seceded from the Union.
Arthur Boreman also became governor that same day.
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1893 - Lizzie Borden is acquitted for the 1892 murders of her father and step-mother in Fall River, Massachusetts.
Everyone knows the famous rhyme: Lizzie Borden took an ax….
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1941 - Henry Ford and his motor company agree to a sweeping contract with the United Automobile Workers of America and Congress of Industrial Organizations.
It followed the passage of the Wagner Act in Congress six years earlier, which permitted collective bargaining and regulation of working conditions by labor unions.
Ford had a reputation for physically beating up those who tried to organize into unions -- and the Wagner Act gave whistleblowers more power to enact change.
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1963 - The infamous "red phone" hotline is agreed on between the Soviets and Americans.
It was a move to calm escalating tensions in the Cold War, especially following the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962. It was a technological feat before the widespread use of satellites and even fax machines.
The 24/7 link between Moscow and Washington was intended to allow direct communication between top diplomats for each country in the hope of stalling war, should a situation like the Cuban Missile Crisis occur again.
It went live a few months later. By public record, it was never used.
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1975 - Steven Spielberg bursts onto the movie scene with the release of "Jaws."
The shark-centric horror story quickly became one of the highest-grossing films ever during its tremendous run in theaters. The buzz and hype eventually led to it winning a smattering of Academy Awards that year.
Since then, Spielberg has of course become one of the most prolific directors in American history.
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1979 - Jimmy Carter has a short-lived solar energy panel system installed on the White House.
Carter was a hippie-dippie green and vocal advocate for alternative energy sources. He also had a wood burning stove installed in his White House residence.
President Reagan had the panels removed in 1986 -- the panels weren't delivering the energy efficiency that they promised.
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1994 - OJ Simpson is arraigned for the murder of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman.
The former NFL running back pleaded not guilty to both murders. He would repeat the same plea at his second arraignment two days later.
The trial would begin in January of the following year.
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2017 - Mattel releases 15 new body types for their Ken doll.
One of them included a man bun.
The new designs were part of the toymaker’s new agenda of “diversifying” their toys.
Barbie underwent a similar makeover the previous year, with new body types, skin tones, eye colors, hairstyles and on-trend fashions.
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BIRTHDAYS
Capri Bryant - daughter of Kobe & Vanessa - 5
Kayla Maisonet - actress, “Dog with a Blog” - 25
Serayah McNeill - actress, “Empire” - 29
Christopher Mintz-Plasse - actor, “Superbad” - 35
Tika Sumpter - actress, “One Life to Live” - 44
LaVar Arrington - football player - 46
Frank Lampard - soccer player - 46
Nicole Kidman - actress, “Big Little Lies” - 57
Matthew Murphy Karges - bassist, Sugar Ray - 57
Michael Landon Jr. - actor, “Little House on the Prairie” - 60
John Goodman - actor, “Roseanne” & “The Conners” - 72
Lionel Richie - R&B singer - 75
Brian Wilson - singer, Beach Boys - 82
Born On This Date
Doris Hart - tennis player - 1925 (d. 2015)
Errol Flynn - actor, “Captain Blood” & “Robin Hood” - 1909 (d. 1959)
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