6/23/2023: V.I.P. Bathroom Break 🚽
PLUS: Billionaire Cage Match; Gwyneth’s “Private” Stash; and “House of Spencer”?
Today is Friday, June 23, 2023.
It is the 174th day of the year.
191 days remain.
WHAT’S ON TAP
The Coast Guard has found wreckage of the OceanGate submersible and Bed Bath & Beyond will (sort of) live on after its bankruptcy. More in HIT LIST.
KEVIN COSTNER’s divorce gets uglier. More in SHOWBIZ.
Big plans are in the works for “SNL’s” 50th anniversary next summer. More in CASTING CALL.
KIM KARDASHIAN gets real on HAILEY BIEBER’s Youtube show. More in KARDASH.
Could there be a new “House of Spencer”? More in ROYALS
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HIT LIST
After an anxious week of uncertainty, the US Coast Guard announced Thursday that the missing OCEANGATE submersible experienced a catastrophic implosion on its descent to explore the wreckage of the Titanic and that the five passengers on board were killed.
The sub began its journey on Sunday, but eventually lost communication with the surface, triggering an expansive search and rescue effort.
It is likely the passengers were killed almost immediately as a result of whatever malfunctioned on board the craft. The search for any remains will remain underway.
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ELON MUSK and MARK ZUCKERBERG – who head rival social media companies TWITTER and META (which owns FACEBOOK), respectively – appear poised to throw down in a cage match, if their social media taunts are to be believed.
In response to a report about Meta readying a new platform to directly take on Twitter, one Twitter user commented, “Better be careful @elonmusk I heard [Zuckerberg] does the ju jitsu now.”
Musk replied, “I’m up for a cafe match if he is lol.”
Zuck then screen grabbed the exchange and posted to his Instagram story, “Send Me Location.”
AND THEN: Another reporter tweeted a link to Zuck’s reply, to which Musk commented, “Vegas Octagon,” then quipped, “I have this great move that I call ‘The Walrus,’ where I just lie on top of my opponent and do nothing.”
TO BE DETERMINED: If anything comes of it or the internet just moves on.
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After sparking controversy and outrage over its decision to disqualify a blue marlin caught in a fishing tournament last week that would have awarded the winners with a $3.5 MILLION purse, the organizers are doubling down on their decision.
In a video statement, the president of the tournament said, “This rule is there to protect the fish so nobody gets an advantage. When you fight and land this fish, you have fought 100% of the fish.” Later, he compared the rule to hitting a ball out of bounds in golf: “You can’t just go pick the ball up and go put it in bounds and continue play.” [via CNN]
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California Rep. ADAM SCHIFF became the 25th member of the House of Representatives ever to be censured on Wednesday, and the first since 2010.
The resolution accused Schiff of “falsehoods, misrepresentations, and abuses of sensitive information” connected to his management of investigations into former President DONALD TRUMP.
The resolution barely passed along party lines, 213-209; six members voted “present.” [via Roll Call]
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Homegoods retailer Bed Bath & Beyond will live on amid its bankruptcy – sort of.
The name, intellectual property, and digital assets are expected to be sold to Overstock.com for $21.5 MILLION.
BUT WAIT: The deal will close any remaining stores still operating. The store has been looking for solutions since filing bankruptcy in April.
MEANWHILE: If Overstock’s acquisition falls through, a software company is ready to spend big to acquire the Beyond.com domain, which the retailer also owns.
The buybuyBaby brand is being sold off separately. [via CNN Business]
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BABY NEWS
RYAN LOCHTE and wife KAYLE RAE REID welcomed their third child on Wednesday.
The former Olympian named the baby girl Georgia June Lochte.
She joins 5-year-old brother Caden and 3-year-old sister Liv.
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BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The DOW lost 4 points (0.014%) to close at 33,946. The S&P added 16 points (0.37%) to close at 4,381 and the NASDAQ added 128 points (0.95%) to close at 13,630.
🛢 WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE closed at $69; BRENT CRUDE at $74.
⛽ The national average price of a GALLON OF GAS was $3.58 on Thursday.
₿ BITCOIN remained over $30,000 on Thursday.
🛩 There were more than 5,470 FLIGHTS delayed within, into, or out of the United States on Thursday and more than 430 such cancellations.
💰Tonight’s MEGA MILLIONS jackpot will be for $320 million or a $167.7 million cash payout. Saturday’s POWERBALL will be for $427 million, or a $221.1 million cash payout.
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SHOWBIZ NEWS
These albums drop today:
Big Freedia, “Central City”
Coi Leray, “Coi”
Kelly Clarkson, “Chemistry”
Kim Petras, “Feed the Beast”
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GWYNETH PALTROW’s “Goop” brand is planning to roll out a line of chocolate candies called “This Tastes Like My Vagina.”
The Sun reports her lawyers have filed a trademark for the name, which is under government review. The brand in the future could cover other types of candies. [via The Sun]
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CHRISTINE BAUMGARTNER is trying to invalidate the prenup that she signed with future-ex-husband KEVIN COSTNER when they got hitched in 2004 that requires the person who initiates the divorce to leave whatever house they share within 30 days.
A Wednesday court filing argues that the prenup was signed before the pair had any kids, and therefore their needs were “not contemplated nor accounted for.”
Costner has already paid out a $1 MILLION sum in accordance with the prenup, but she wants to have that returned so she can get more child and spousal support. [via US Weekly]
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At a recent tour stop in Wales, a pregnant fan got HARRY STYLES’ attention and asked him to help her choose a name for her baby – either Stevie, Rafe, Harley, or Caleb.
Styles got the audience to chime in with their favorite, and based on feedback, “Stevie” seemed to be a winner.
AND THEN: Ever the compassionate crooner, Styles asked the woman if she needed to use the restroom, and he promised to pause the show if she hurried. “You know what I’m going to do this one time? You go for a wee, I’m going to stall,” he said. [via @daydreamingnic]
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Another flick about ELVIS is in the works – and his estate isn’t too happy.
The story is based on PRISCILLA PRESLEY’s 1985 memoir “Elvis and Me,” and is written and directed by SOFIA COPPOLA. People who manage Elvis’ estate tell TMZ that the whole project is horrible: “It feels like a college movie. The set designs are just horrific, it’s not what Graceland looks like.”
They’re also accusing Priscilla of making a brazen money grab by selling the rights. [via TMZ]
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CASTING CALL
“Saturday Night Live” is gearing up for its 50th anniversary celebration next year.
The official milestone show will broadcast from Radio City Music Hall and coincide with the kickoff of NBC’s coverage of the Paris Olympics.
Longtime showrunner and creator LORNE MICHAELS says, “It will be emotional, but everyone will show up because it’s important. The planning for it, which has taken the last six months and it’s not happening for another year and a half — there are a lot of events happening.”
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SARAH SNOOK is headed to London to star in “The Picture of Dorian Gray.”
The “Succession” star is joining a unique twist of the iconic story, in which she’ll play all 26 characters.
The show is slated to open in January for a 12-week run, with a hopeful eye on eventually moving the show across the Atlantic to Broadway.
One insider says she’ll interact with pre-recorded videos of herself as various characters on a video screen. [via Deadline]
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GERALDO RIVERA is done with “The Five” on Fox News after he shoots two shows next week.
“It’s been a great run and I appreciate having had the opportunity,” Rivera said in a statement.
The show includes a rotating slate of guests, so it won’t be trouble to find someone to replace him. [via US Weekly]
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CRIB NOTES
The nation’s most expensive mansion in history is on the market for $250 MILLION.
“Casa Encantada” in Bel Air, California, is the home to zillionaire GARY WINNICK and his wife. The 40,000 square foot pad sits on more than 8 acres.
In 1980, it was the most expensive home ever sold — when Conrad Hilton sold it to David Murdock for $12.4 MILLION. In 2000, Winnick bought it for $94 MILLION, another record setter. [via Dirt]
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CELEBRITY CELLBLOCK
IKE TURNER JR. has been arrested on charges of cocaine possession.
The 64-year-old son of TINA TURNER was busted during a traffic stop in Alvin, Texas, when officers found both coke and crystal meth in the vehicle. An unidentified female passenger was also arrested.
The police report suggests Ike tried to consume the evidence before they could be seized. [via E!]
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
KIM KARDASHIAN stopped by HAILEY BIEBER’s “Who’s in My Bathroom” series on Wednesday, and revealed that she’s a member of the mile high club – and so is Bieber.
Hailey quipped that Kim’s private plane would make it easier to have sexytime at 30,000 feet than in a regular airplane bathroom.
Kim also weighed in on balancing a very busy and public career with her home life: “Every parent that acts like they have their [s—] together is acting. So, winging it is my way of coping. It’s just the reality. I’m winging everything in life.” [via InStyle]
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
Author TOM BOWER says that PRINCE HARRY and MEGHAN MARKLE’s next big move will be to formally change their last name to Spencer, in honor of Harry’s mother.
“...Meghan went to the extent of suggesting that they should drop the name Windsor and take the surname Spencer. So she’d be Meghan Spencer - the new Diana,” Bower says. He added that the couple have already floated the idea to friends in their inner circle. [via Express]
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DAY OF THE YEAR
National Porridge Day
National Take Your Dog to Work Day
National Let It Go Day
International Women in Engineering Day
International Widows Day
National Typewriter Day
Public Service Day
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ON THIS DATE
1861 – Congress establishes the Government Printing Office by way of Congressional Joint Resolution 25.
The organization produces many of the government's official journals, including The Congressional Record, the Federal Register, and the U.S. Code.
Since the 1920s, it has also produced American passports.
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1868 – Christopher Latham Sholes is granted the first of two patents for the modern typewriter.
He came up with the design while living in Milwaukee, in conjunction with Samuel W. Soule.
Other similar models had previously existed, but Sholes' design was the first marketed.
The Scientific American journal called the first model a "literary piano": it had black and white keys in two rows. There were no 0 or 1 keys, since the letters O and I were feasible substitutes.
In 1878, Sholes would patent the QWERTY keyboard used today -- arranged so that the most-used letters are most-easily typed.
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1917 – Boston Red Sox pitcher Ernie Shore throws a perfect game -- almost.
Shore took the mound after one at-bat. He relieved Babe Ruth, who had gotten into an argument with the umpire, punched him, and was ejected.
Shore caught the first base runner stealing. He then retired the next 26 batters.
Though a perfect game for the reliever, the record books record Shore's stunt as a combined no-hitter.
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1938 – Congress establishes the Civil Aeronautics Authority to regulate the civilian air travel industry.
It later morphed into the Civil Aeronautics Board, which heavily regulated the airline industry, including routes, fares, and taxes.
The Airline Deregulation Act heavily dismantled the Board, though some would suggest Airline Deregulation did not go far enough: the FAA still heavily impacts the economics of air travel.
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1961 – The Antarctic Treaty System goes into effect.
Twelve countries - including the USA, UK, and USSR - had scientific bases on the continent.
The treaty provides stipulations that no military testing activity is to take place on the continent -- though military personnel and equipment may be used for peaceful purposes.
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1972 – Tapes reveal that on this date Richard Nixon and his chief of staff discuss using CIA resources to cover up the Watergate investigation.
The plot would have included the CIA blocking the FBI in the false interest of national security.
The smoking gun tape was the last nail in the coffin for Nixon's impeachment trial.
He would resign three days after the tape's release, on August 8, 1974.
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1980 – The “David Letterman Show” debuts on NBC.
It would only air for four months as the edgy comedy did not go over well with morning television viewers.
Two years later, Letterman’s evening show, “Late Night with David Letterman” would hit TV screens.
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2003 - Barry Bonds steals second base against the LA Dodgers.
The move made him the first player in MLB history to have 500 career home runs and 500 steals.
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2014 –Claude Monet’s “Water Lilies” sells at auction for $54 million.
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2020 - America records its 3rd highest daily total of more than 35,000 COVID-19 cases.
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BIRTHDAYS
Tim Anderson - baseball player - 30
Allie Bertram - actress, “Radio Rebel” - 34
Billie Kay - wrestler - 34
Anna Duggar - reality star & wife of Josh Duggar, “19 Kids and Counting” - 35
Duffy - pop singer - 39
Melissa Rauch - actress, “The Big Bang Theory” - 43
Jason Mraz - pop singer - 46
Selma Blair - actress, “Legally Blonde” & “Cruel Intentions” - 51
Robert Brooks - football player - 53
Frances McDormand - actress, “Fargo” - 66
Randy Jackson - TV show host, “American Idol” & “America’s Best Dance Crew” - 67
Clarence Thomas - US Supreme Court Justice - 75
Born On This Date
Wilma Rudolph - Olympic runner - 1940 (d. 1994)
June Carter Cash - country singer & wife of Johnny - 1929 (d. 2003)
Alan Turing - mathematician who did code-breaking during WWII - 1912 (d. 1954)
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