Today is Friday, June 30, 2023.
It is the 181st day of the year.
184 days remain.
WHAT’S ON TAP
A favorite magazine downsizes drastically and a lucky high school grad gets an unexpected financial boost. More in HIT LIST.
MADONNA is still bedridden, KELSEA BALLERINI got hit in the face by a fan-thrown bracelet and TARON EGERTON is taking a break from social media. More in SHOWBIZ.
VANNA WHITE knows what she wants and GERALDO RIVERA is out at FOX. More in CASTING CALL.
KIM KARDASHIAN had a full glam session before taking her license renewal photo. More in KARDASH.
Just how much money does an (actual) royal make? Find out in ROYALS.
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HIT LIST
DISNEY has gutted the writing staff of NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC magazine.
The print edition will live on, though, depending instead on contracted freelance writers to produce the content.
The magazine still boasts 1.7 MILLION subscribers even as print media struggles to survive in an increasingly digital economy. [via New York Times]
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For many women, a high-end handbag is a status symbol that merits the thousand-dollar-plus price tag.
So just imagine the kind of status a $63,000 Louis Vuitton handbag might buy – even if it’s small enough to pass through the eye of a needle.
A self-described “art collective” in New York called MSCHF has produced exactly that, using 3D printing technology. In this case, their tiny green version of a Louis Vuitton OnTheGo Tote sold at an online auction to an unidentified, though likely very eccentric, buyer.
It measures 657 by 222 by 700 microns – or about three-one-hundredths-of-an-inch wide.
The bag that inspired the design normally retails north of $3000. [via CNN Style]
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LAST WEEK: As defunct homegoods retailer BED BATH & BEYOND wrapped up its bankruptcy proceedings, OVERSTOCK.com bought the company’s digital assets and intellectual property.
NOW: Overstock says it’s changing its entire brand to Bed Bath & Beyond.
BIG DIFFERENCE: Bed Bath & Beyond balanced both brick-and-mortar stores and an online shop. Overstock is online only, and will remain so – for now.
A digital rollout will begin in Canada next week and a whole revamp of the site is coming for the United States soon.
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A recent high school grad in Washington state is getting a jump start on his future, after winning $50,000 in a lottery scratch-off ticket that his dad bought him as a graduation gift.
Those are 1-in-913,000 odds, the Washington Lottery says.
HE’LL NEED IT: The lucky 18-year-old says he wants to have a career as an artist. [via KPTV]
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A Croatian mayor wants to ban tourists from lugging their obnoxiously loud suitcases along the city of Dubrovnick’s beautiful cobblestone streets as residents complain that the sound “keeps them up at night.”
The ban is part of a larger plan to stop all tourists from carrying any suitcases in what is being called the “Respect the City” program.
According to The Dubrovnik Times, the local government will set up systems where tourists will be required to drop off their bags -- outside of the city. From there, the bags will be transported to where ever the tourists are staying by couriers.
Other items listed in the “Respect the City” program include, not walking pets without a leash, no climbing on monuments, and no walking around the city without a shirt.
No word on when the suitcase ban will go into effect, though residents are hoping it is soon as the city has already had nearly 300,000 arrivals since the beginning of the year; a 32% increase over the same period in 2022. [via NY Post]
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DEATHS
CHRISTINE KING FARRIS, the sister of the late Dr. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR., has died.
She passed away Thursday, according to a Twitter post from her niece, Rev. BERNICE KING. No details about her death were shared.
Farris was MLK’s eldest sister.
She was 95.
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BABY NEWS
NAOMI CAMPBELL is now a mom of two.
The 53-year-old announced Thursday that she has welcomed a baby boy. It is unclear if Campbell carried the child or if it was born via surrogate.
The supermodel is already mom to a little girl who was born in 2021.
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Actors NIKKI REED and IAN SOMERHALDER have welcomed baby #2.
The baby boy arrived a few weeks ago, according to Reed’s Instagram post. No other details about the birth or newborn were shared.
The couple are already parents to 5-year-old daughter Bodhi.
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BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The DOW added 269 points (0.8%) to close at 34,122 on Thursday. The S&P added 19 points (0.45%) to close at 4,396 and the NASDAQ was flat for the day at 13,591.
🛢 WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE closed at $69; BRENT CRUDE at $74.
⛽ The national average price of a GALLON OF GAS was $3.54 on Thursday.
₿ BITCOIN ticked up, trading around $30,300.
🛩 There were more than 4,500 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 $368 million jackpot or a $193.4 million cash payout. Saturday night’s POWERBALL drawing will be for a $493 million jackpot or a $258.3 million cash payout.
SHOWBIZ NEWS
These albums drop today:
Alex G, “Live from Union Transfer”
Charlie Watts, “Anthology”
Frank Zappa, “Funky Nothingness”
The Jins, “It’s A Life”
John Carroll Kirby, “Blowout”
Lucinda Williams, “Stories from a Rock n Roll Heart”
The Pink Stones, “You Know Who”
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MADONNA is extremely sick and bedridden despite being discharged from the hospital.
Insiders told TMZ that the “bacterial infection is still wreaking havoc on her body.”
As previously reported, Madonna was hospitalized over the weekend after reportedly being found unconscious. A source revealed that she had been dealing with a fever for more than a month, but kept it a secret from those around her over fear it would “jeopardize the tour.”
Now the tour, which was set to kick off in July, is up in the air anyway as Madge tries to recover. [via TMZ]
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TAYLOR SWIFT will have some new records to add to her roster when she takes her “Eras Tour” Down Under next year.
This week Swift announced a third night of performances at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Three consecutive nights of shows at the 100,000-plus capacity venue will allow Swift to break the attendance record set by her friend ED SHEERAN, who holds the record of performing in front of nearly 215,000 fans over two consecutive nights at the location.
Swift also announced a fourth show at Sydney’s Accor Stadium. She will now perform on February 23, 24, 25, and 26 at the venue. No other artist has played four shows at the 83,000-capacity stadium before. [via Billboard]
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KEVIN COSTNER’s estranged wife says she will leave their marital home if he gives her enough cash to make sure she isn’t left penniless in their divorce.
According to court documents obtained by Radar Online, CHRISTINE BAUMGARTNER will vacate the $145 million estate -- which she was supposed to do within 30 days of filing for divorce -- on August 31 if Costner agrees with whatever “support and fee orders the court makes” at their upcoming divorce hearing.
Baumgartner claims her hesitation to leave is that she wants to have all her finances in place before relocating their three teenage children.
For his part, Costner says he has already given her $1.2 million, which was agreed upon in their prenup. Going forward, he says that he is “willing to contribute $30,000 a month for a rental house [for Baumgartner and the kids] and is willing to advance another $10,000 for her moving costs.”
Their divorce hearing is set for July 12. [via Radar Online]
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STOP. THROWING. THINGS. AT. PERFORMERS.
Country singer KELSEA BALLERINI is the latest victim of fans tossing objects onstage.
While performing at Outlaw Field in Boise this week, Ballerini was hit in the head by what appeared to be a beaded bracelet. Startled, she turned away from the audience to check her face for injuries.
After taking a minute, Ballerini continued the song and then stormed off stage. When she returned, she told the crowd to stop throwing things before continuing on with her show. [via TMZ]
BEBE REXA was recently injured after being hit in the face with a phone that was tossed from a fan and PINK has been handed someone’s mother’s ashes and a wheel of cheese during her recent shows.
When and why did this become a trend? And how does it end?
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A Texas grand jury ruled Thursday that rapper TRAVIS SCOTT will not face any criminal prosecution for the deadly Astroworld tragedy.
The tragic event took place at his Astroworld Festival in 2021, when a stampede of thousands in the crowd killed 10 and injured an unknown number of people. As the chaos ensued, Scott continued to perform, later saying he had no idea what was going on.
Several lawsuits were filed against Scott and the festival organizers.
A rep for Scott issued a statement after the ruling yesterday, saying he is pleased with the court’s decision, while noting that it “confirms what we have known all along - that Travis Scott is not responsible for the Astroworld tragedy.” [via USA Today]
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Actor TARON EGERTON is taking a break from social media.
In a lengthy post, he explained the need to step away, saying he “feels removed from [himself].”
As for how long he plans to be offline, it appears that he won’t return at all this year, as he captioned the post writing, “Have a great rest of your year everyone.” [via People]
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CASTING CALL
VANNA WHITE won’t return to turning letters on “Wheel of Fortune” unless she gets at least half of what host PAT SAJAK makes.
“After 41 years as a model employee and more the face of that show than [Pat], asking for 50% of what he makes seems like a no-brainer,” an insider said on her behalf.
As previously reported, White earns $3 million a year, while Sajak has been earning about $15 million.
No word on what RYAN SEACREST will make when he takes over the gig. [via NY Post]
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GERALDO RIVERA is no longer a contributor for Fox News.
“I’ve been fired from The Five and as a result of that, I quit Fox,” he tweeted Thursday. He added that he will address the issue more this morning on “Fox & Friends.”
Rivera has been with the network since 2001. [via Deadline]
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Day 59 of the Writers Guild of America strike featured actresses JANE FONDA and LILY TOMLIN, as well as some Dolly Parton drag queens.
The colorful group joined picketers Thursday at Netflix headquarters in a “Striking 9-5 Picket -- A Dolly Drag Event.”
The Los Angeles chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America was on hand to provide tacos for those in attendance. [via Deadline]
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CRIB NOTES
LEBRON JAMES is tearing down his recently purchased $37 million mansion in Beverly Hills to build his “dream home.”
Shortly after buying the 13,000-square-foot pad, James started the process of obtaining building permits to demolish and rebuild on the lot.
Apparently the four bedrooms, eight bathrooms, seven fireplaces, pool, pool house, tennis courts, screening room, trophy room and extra-large driveway were not enough for him. [via AOL]
Oppression at its finest, folks!
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
The latest episode of Hulu’s “The Kardashians” shows KIM KARDASHIAN rolling up the DMV -- glam squad in tow -- to renew her license.
Not only did Kim get the whole place to herself, she also had a full glam session before getting in front of the camera, saying it’s “the most important photo you’ll ever take.”
For the photo, Kim wore a sleeveless black mock-neck top and an oversized varsity jacket.
She did make sure to thank the employees for staying open just for her. [via Page Six]
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
The Duchy of Cornwall’s annual report shows just how much PRINCE WILLIAM earned over the last year.
William took over the massive trust when he became the Prince of Wales; it generates revenue from managing an extensive property portfolio.
QUICK EDITORIAL NOTE: Obviously the figures below are in British Pounds, but we’re relying on the conversion to US Dollars to make it easier to follow.
In total, the Duchy netted over $30 MILLION, about $7.5 MILLION of which went into the heir’s pocket. About half of the profits went to KING CHARLES, who oversaw the Duchy for much of the financial year, until the death of QUEEN ELIZABETH. The remaining $8 MILLION-or-so remains in the Duchy for “working capital” – suggesting William might have some investment projects in mind for the future.
WORTH NOTING: The money paid out to the royals is net of expenses, so none of those proceeds have to go to operating costs connected to the Duchy. Next year, William will very likely hold onto the whole enchilada. [via Duchy of Cornwall]
MEANWHILE: PRINCE HARRY’s next project for Netflix is already underway, Page Six reports.
There has not been confirmation of what the project will entail, but insiders say it will be connected to his charity work in Africa – and that wife MEGHAN MARKLE won’t have anything to do with it.
WORTH REMEMBERING: Harry’s mother PRINCESS DIANA became an anti-landmine activist in the years before her death.
The entire operation will be held up until the writers’ strike is resolved. [via Page Six]
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DAY OF THE YEAR
International Asteroid Day
National Meteor Watch Day
Social Media Day
National Cream Tea Day
National Corvette Day
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ON THIS DATE
1520 – Spanish conquistadors battling Aztec warriors narrowly escape the ancient capital Tenochtitlan.
After Aztec King Moctezuma died in Spanish captivity, the Spaniards needed a way out of the city. The natives had turned on Moctezuma, who had grown sympathetic to the Europeans. On the night of June 30th, Hernando Cortez packed up his troops and his treasure.
They started undetected, but eventually had to fight against roused Aztec warriors. The Spanish lost hordes of treasure, all their artillery, and almost all their horses. Cortez escaped.
It was this incident that incited his desire for the destruction of the Mexican Empire and the siege of Tenochtitlan.
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1805 – Congress incorporates the Michigan territory. Detroit would be its capital.
For a while, the territory included what is today Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, and parts of both Dakotas.
What we know today as Michigan would become a state in 1836. The other land would be known as the Wisconsin territory.
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1859 – Charles Blondin walks a tightrope strung across Niagara Falls. He crosses 1100 feet of 3-and-one-quarter-inch diameter rope, 160 feet above the water.
It wasn't his only attempt. His other Niagara Falls tightrope stunts include making the walk blindfolded, with a man on his back and, once, on stilts.
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1908 – A strange explosion demolishes trees and other landscape in present day Krasnoyarsk Krai, Russia. It's known as the Tunguska Event.
Research indicates either a comet or meteoroid fragment exploded some five miles above Earth's surface as it fell to the ground. Estimates of the blast range from 10-15 megatons -- that's about 1,000 times more powerful than the bomb dropped on Hiroshima.
Luckily the explosion occurred in a remote area of Siberia and no one was injured.
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1953 – The first Chevy Corvettes go into production. In the first run, 300 are made, selling for $3,498 each.
All of the cars were white and had red interiors with a black top. The only options were door handles inside the car and clip-in curtains instead of roll-up windows.
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1921 – President Harding names former President William Howard Taft to be Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
He was approved on the day of his nomination in the Senate, 60-4. The roll call vote has never been made public. Taft would serve until 1930. He's the only president to have served as Chief Justice.
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1997 – The United Kingdom's 99-year lease on Hong Kong expires, and the land is handed over to China.
Governed by the "one country, two systems" principle, the city maintains an independent judicial branch and a common law system separate from the rest of Communist China.
A chief executive selected by an election committee presently oversees the region.
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2019 – President Trump becomes the first sitting president to set foot in North Korea in the Korean Demilitarized Zone.
Trump shook hands with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and then the pair crossed the border to South Korea together, shaking hands again.
The meeting of the two leaders was focused on reconciliation and diplomatic progress.
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2021 - Abhimanyu Mishra becomes the youngest chess grandmaster ever at 12 years, 4 months and 25 days.
He stole the crown from Sergey Karjakin who previously held the record at the age of 12 years and 7 months, which he set in 2002.
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BIRTHDAYS
Trea Turner - baseball player - 30
Nicole Row - bassist, Panic! at the Disco - 32
Alicia Fox - wrestler - 37
Michael Phelps - Olympic swimmer - 38
Cody Rhodes - wrestler - 38
Fantasia Barrino - R&B singer - 39
Katherine Ryan - comedian - 40
Cole Swindell - country singer - 40
Cheryl Ann Tweedy - pop singer - 40
Lizzy Caplan - actress, “Mean Girls” & “Cloverfield” - 41
Molly Parker - actress, “House of Cards” - 51
Monica Potter - actress, “The Last House on the Left” - 52
Mike Tyson - boxer - 57
Born On This Date
Willie Sutton - bank robber - 1901 (d. 1980)
William A. Wheeler - 19th Vice President - 1819 (d. 1887)
Elizabeth Kortright Monroe - wife of 5th POTUS James Madison - 1768 (d. 1830)
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