

Discover more from Morning Martini
6/6/2022: MTV Movie & TV Awards
PLUS: Melatonin Poisonings, “Tiger King” Star Arrested, and Kim Defends Weight Loss
Today is Monday, June 6, 2022.
It is the 157th day of the year.
208 days remain.
TRENDING
Saturday was National Hug Your Cat Day.
#PlatinumPartyatthePalace was trending Saturday as the royal family continued to celebrate Queen Elizabeth’s 70 years on the throne.
Twitter users reacted to the news of Lori Harvey and Micheal B. Jordan calling it quits over the weekend. More in Breakups.
Sunday was National Moonshine Day.
#FeelsLikeTimeTravelWhen was trending Sunday. Tweets included, “I see people doing unique exercise in the park,” “I step out the front door…,” “I have to go to my grandma’s house,” “I bust out the record collection” and “I bust out my old Sega.”
#WorldEnviornmentDay landed in Twitter’s Top 10 Trends Sunday as users urged their followers to do their part in working toward a greener planet.
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HIT LIST
Last week an email leaked that ELON MUSK sent to Tesla employees giving notice that the company would trim 10% of its workforce. The move worried investors and the market, triggering a 9% drop in Tesla’s stock price.
But the layoffs are only part of the story. Musk’s brief email said the company was “overstaffed in many areas” – suggesting the company was becoming bloated with unnecessary bureaucracy. Musk also added explicitly: “Hourly headcount will increase,” meaning they’ll hire the rank-and-file factory workers who actually produce the company’s product.
MEANWHILE: The Federal Trade Commission has formally cleared the sale of Twitter to Musk. The deal remains subject to approval by Twitter’s shareholders and, on Musk’s end, clarification of how many accounts are real people and not just bot accounts.
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Melatonin gummies and pills have exploded in popularity in recent years to help people fall asleep, leading to an uptick in children getting their hands on them and overdosing.
Poison control centers report a six-fold increase in such calls over the last decade, usually about kids who get their hands on the supplement in candy form.
WORTH NOTING: It’s something to be cautious about but not freak out over; in 83% of calls to poison control, the children who took the gummies weren’t even showing symptoms to be worried about.
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NASA has plans to put an explorer on Venus in 2029.
The paper outlining the mission was published in The Planetary Science Journal on May 24.
The mission is nicknamed DAVINCI – short for Deep Atmosphere Venus Investigation of Noble gasses, Chemistry, and Imaging. A spherical probe will spend about an hour falling through the planet’s atmosphere taking images and gas samples, and is only expected to be operable for up to 18 minutes after landing.
WORTH NOTING: The Soviets put a pair of landers on Venus in October 1975, called Venera 9 and 10. These were the first landers to send back images from the surface of another planet.
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There’s one pollution problem electric cars won’t be able to solve: the particles given off from rubber tires.
The Guardian reports that “tyre particles pollute air, water and soil and contain a wide range of toxic organic compounds” – so much so that tires produce almost 2,000 times more particle pollution than exhaust pipes!
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The Dow, S&P, and Nasdaq were all down on Friday.
Over the weekend, the national average price of gas surged even further, to $4.84 a gallon, according to AAA.
In June 2018, gas was $2.94 a gallon on average nationally.
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CHARTS
Weekend Box Office
10. Crimes of the Future: $1.1 million (new)
9. The Lost City: $1.3 million (down from 8)
8. Sonic the Hedgehog 2: $1.7 million (down from 7)
7. Vikram: $1.8 million (new)
6. Everything Everywhere All at Once: $2 million (stayed at 6)
5. Downton Abbey: A New Era: $3 million (down from 4)
4. The Bad Guys: $3.3 million (up from 5)
3. The Bob’s Burgers Movie: $4.5 million (stayed at 3)
2. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness: $9.2 million (stayed at 2)
1. Top Gun: Maverick: $86 million (stayed at 1)
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DEATHS
PAUL VANCE has died.
The songwriter, known for his hit “Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polkadot Bikini,” passed away on May 30. A cause of death was not shared.
He was 92
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ANN TAYLOR COOK, the original Gerber baby, has died.
The baby food company announced her passing on Friday. No cause of death was announced.
She was 95.
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ALEC JOHN SUCH has died.
The bassist, and founding member of Bon Jovi, passed away Sunday. A cause of death was not revealed.
He was 70.
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BABY NEWS
Actress JENNA USHKOWITZ, 36, and her husband, school teacher DAVID STANLEY, 38, have welcomed their first child, a daughter.
The “Glee” alum showed off the newborn in a photo on Instagram.
No further details were released.
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Actress SHAY MITCHELL, 35, has given birth to her second child with boyfriend, music journalist MATTE BABEL, 41.
The couple are already parents to daughter Atlas, 2.
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PIPPA MIDDLETON, 38, is expecting her third child with husband, hedge fund manager JAMES MATTHEWS, 46.
The couple are already parents to son Arthur, 3, and daughter Grace, 1.
Pippa is the younger sister of KATE MIDDLETON.
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BREAKUPS
Actor MICHEAL B. JORDAN, 35, and model LORI HARVEY, 25, have called it quits after a year of dating.
A source confirmed the news to PEOPLE magazine, saying both are “completely heartbroken.”
It is unclear what led to the split.
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THE SWAMP
The Congressional Budget Office is anticipating record income tax collection this year – to the tune of $2.6 trillion.
WORTH NOTING: THIS IS WITH THE TRUMP TAX CUTS IN EFFECT.
WORTH ASKING: Scolding socialist hags like ELIZABETH WARREN and ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ say they want to tax rich people in order to pay for their social programs. But time and again decreasing tax rates and simplifying the tax code leads to more tax revenue. If they really wanted to raise more money to fund their spending, why are they opposed to measures that actually raise more money to fund their spending?
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Here’s a Washington Post headline from November 12, 2020: “Conservatives predict gas prices will spike under Biden. Experts say those fears are overblown.”
WORTH REMEMBERING: Each day last week set a new record national average gas price.
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Republican voters are far more enthusiastic about the upcoming midterms than Democrats, by a 57-to-44% margin, according to an ABC News/Ipsos poll.
The same poll has President JOE BIDEN’s approval ratings under 40% on inflation (28%), gas prices (27%), crime (38%), and gun violence (35%).
MEANWHILE: The top issue informing voters in November is inflation (21%), followed closely by the economy (19%) and gun violence (17%).
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HEADS UP: The Supreme Court is scheduled to issue formal opinions today. No word on which will be published. There are still 33 cases expected to receive rulings before the end of June.
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LOTTERY
No winner for Friday night’s Mega Millions drawing. Tuesday night’s drawing will be for a $207 million jackpot or a $119.3 million cash payout.
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No winner for Saturday night’s Powerball drawing. Tonight’s drawing will be for a $198 million jackpot or a $114.4 million cash payout.
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SHOWBIZ NEWS
The 2022 MTV Movie & TV Awards were last night.
Actress VANESSA HUDGENS hosted the ceremony live from the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California.
And the winners are…
Movie -- “Spider-Man: No Way Home”
Performance in a Movie -- Tom Holland, “Spider-Man: No Way Home”
Show -- “Euphoria”
Performance in a Show -- Zendaya, “Euphoria”
Hero -- Scarlett Johansson, “Black Widow”
Villain -- Daniel Radcliffe, “The Lost City”
Kiss -- Poopies & the snake, “Jackass Forever”
Comedic Performance -- Ryan Reynolds, “Free Guy”
Breakthrough Performance -- Sophia Di Martino, “Loki”
Fight (Scripted) -- Cassie vs. Maddy, “Euphoria”
Most Frightened Performance -- Jenna Ortega, “Scream”
Team -- Tom Hiddleston, Sophia Di Martino, Owen Wilson, “Loki”
Here for the Hookup -- “Euphoria”
Song -- “On My Way (Marry Me),” Jennifer Lopez
Musical Moment -- “Dance With Me,” “Heartstopper”
Docu-Reality Series -- “Selling Sunset”
Competition Series -- “RuPaul’s Drag Race”
Lifestyle Show -- “Selena + Chef”
New Unscripted Series -- “The D’Amelio Show”
Reality Star -- Chrishell Stause, “Selling Sunset”
Reality Romance -- Loren & Alexei Brovarnik, “Loren & Alexei: After the 90 Days”
Talk/Topical Show -- “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon”
Host -- Kelly Clarkson, “The Kelly Clarkson Show”
Breakthrough Social Star -- Bella Poarch, TikTok
Fight (Unscripted) -- Bosco vs. Lady Camden, “RuPaul’s Drag Race”
Reality Return -- Paris Hilton, “Cooking with Paris” & “Paris in Love”
Music Documentary -- “Olivia Rodrigo: driving home 2 u”
Comedic Genius Award -- Jack Black
Generation Award -- Jennifer Lopez
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MARIAH CAREY is being sued for copyright infringement for her holiday hit “All I Want For Christmas Is You.”
According to legal docs acquired by The Post, ANDY STONE, who co-wrote the song for VINCE VANCE & THE VALIANTS, is accusing Carey of “never seeking or obtaining use” of his title for her song. He is also suing Carey’s co-writer on the song WALTER AFANASIEFF.
Stone’s song was released in 1989 and sounds nothing like Carey’s 1994 classic, but he claims his song got “extensive airplay” prior to the release of her hit.
He is seeking $20 million in damages.
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MACHINE GUN KELLY and his mom are no longer estranged.
The rocker shared a snapshot of the two on Instagram last week, with the caption, “Introducing…my mom.”
In June 2021, MGK shared that he had reconnected with his mom, who abandoned him when he was just a child. While announcing their path to reconciliation, he thanked his fans for pushing him to try and reconnect with her.
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Germaphobe HOWIE MANDEL can now show up at events without actually having to be there thanks to the first 4K, volumetric, self-contained holoportation machine.
The hologram box, from the inventors at Proto Inc., allows those using the technology to appear at a venue (or multiple venues) in holographic form -- and keeps them safe from germs while doing so.
SEAN “Diddy” COMBS used the technology to appear at his son’s 23rd birthday party last year, after not being able to travel to the venue.
WORTH ASKING: Could this be the new remote working option? At the office but not actually in the office.
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The All Winners season of “RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars” broke viewership records with its premiere on Paramount+.
According to the streamer, the season premiere is currently its most-watched original reality series. Exact numbers were not revealed.
WORTH NOTING: RuPaul’s show moved to Paramount+ from VH1 in June 2021.
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JOHNNY DEPP and British guitarist JEFF BECK will release a new album next month.
The pair previously worked together on a cover of JOHN LENNON’s song, “Isolation.”
Depp was spotted performing alongside Beck while the jury deliberated in his defamation trial against his ex-wife, actress AMBER HEARD.
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CASTING CALL
Beavis and Butt-Head are returning to the small screen in a new flick for Paramount+.
The movie follows the teenage slackers as they embark on a space mission for NASA. After traveling through a black hole, which transports them from 1998 to 2021, the pair must quickly learn to navigate the modern world, according to a description from Deadline.
“It’s the dumbest science fiction movie ever made,” per a description from the creators.
“Beavis and Butt-Head Do the Universe” will premiere on June 23.
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The CW has canceled its adventure competition show “Legends of the Hidden Temple” after one season.
The reboot of the classic Nickelodeon show reported abysmal viewers and was the network’s lowest-rated scripted series last season.
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TAHAR RAHIM is the latest to join the cast of Sony Pictures’ “Madame Web.”
He will star alongside DAKOTA JOHNSON, who plays the titular character.
As previously reported, Madame Web is an elderly woman with myasthenia gravis requiring her to be connected to a life-support system that looks like a spiderweb. Due to her condition, she never fought off any villains, which makes fans wonder what storyline the movie will follow.
Rahim’s role in the flick is unknown.
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KEVIN HART will serve as executive producer on “True To Size,” a half-hour comedy series based on his years working as a shoe salesman in Philadelphia.
Set in 1998, the show follows 20-something Kevin as he starts a new job at Sneaker World alongside a group of others who are all lost on a path to “figuring out life,” according to the official description.
Comedic actor DAN LEVY will also be working on the project.
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CRIB NOTES
The Los Angeles penthouse where JOHNNY DEPP and AMBER HEARD spent the majority of their 15 months of not-so-wedded bliss is set to hit the market.
The one-bedroom, two-bathroom pad will be listed this week for $1.76 million.
According to public records, the place last sold for $1.42 million in 2017 and has also been listed as a $5,500-a-month rental since the exes moved out.
PERFECT TIMING: As for the place hitting the market right after the very public defamation trial involving the two previous inhabitants, listing agent Ernie Carswell calls it “just coincidental timing.”
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CELEBRITY CELLBLOCK
“Tiger King” star BHAGAVAN “Doc” ANTLE, 62, was arrested by the FBI Friday on federal money laundering charges.
Fans of the Netflix series will remember Antle as the owner of the Myrtle Beach Safari located in South Carolina. Animal rights advocates have been after him for years over allegations of mistreating lions and other wildlife on his property.
The charges will be made official during a court hearing set for today.
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
KIM is defending her dramatic weight loss in the name of fashion.
In a recent interview for The New York Times, the reality star spoke about her decision to drop 16 pounds in three weeks in order to fit into MARILYN MONROE’s gown for the Met Gala.
After receiving heavy backlash for what many called an “unhealthy decision,” Kim responded by saying that it was fine when actor CHRISTIAN BALE dropped weight for a movie role or even when actress RENEE ZELLWEGER put on weight for a role.
“I wasn’t saying, ‘Hey everyone, why don’t you go lose this weight in a short period of time’,” she added.
WORTH NOTING: Following the Gala, she and PETE DAVIDSON reportedly chowed down on pizza and other carb-loaded foods.
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
QUEEN ELIZABETH finally got to meet her great-granddaughter -- and namesake -- LILIBET DIANA.
PRINCE HARRY and MEGHAN MARKLE took the little girl to meet the Queen for a brief visit when they landed in London on Wednesday. The Sussexes also spent time with Her Majesty at Windsor Castle on Friday, just one day before Lili’s first birthday.
Insiders told The Sun that PRINCE CHARLES also got a chance to meet his granddaughter, but PRINCE WILLIAM, KATE MIDDLETON and their three children have not.
SPEAKING OF THE SUSSEXES: Harry and Meghan were greeted with a chorus of boos (and some cheers) at the Platinum Jubilee church service on Friday. The loud jeers could be heard as the couple exited St. Paul’s Cathedral. Meanwhile, inside the cathedral, the couple sat quite a distance from Will and Kate. It is unknown whether this was due to royal status or because of bad blood.
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KIM JONG UN sent a congratulatory message to QUEEN ELIZABETH in honor of her 70 years on the English throne.
“I extend my congratulations to you and your people on the occasion of the National Day of your country, the official birthday of Your Majesty,” the North Korean dictator said.
WORTH NOTING: North Korea is one of the few countries Elizabeth has not visited during her lengthy reign.
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SPORTS
Another massage therapist has come forward accusing NFL QB DESHAUN WATSON of sexual misconduct. This is No. 24.
The woman’s attorney, Tony Buzbee, told Cleveland.com that his client will file her lawsuit today -- just a week after his other client, Nia Smith, filed the 23rd lawsuit against Watson.
It was previously revealed that Watson offered each of the first 22 accusers $100,000 last year, but required non-disclosure agreements as part of the financial deal. No word on whether the same deal will be extended to the latest two accusers.
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A jersey worn by KOBE BRYANT in his first playoff series -- during the 1996-97 season -- just sold for an obscene amount of money.
SCP Auctions revealed that the winning bid came in at more than $2.7 million.
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DAY OF THE YEAR
D-Day
National Eyewear Day
National Higher Education Day
National Applesauce Day
National Drive-Through Movie Day
National Gardening Exercise Day
National Yo-Yo Day
Russian Language Day
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ON THIS DATE
1644 – The Manchu forces of the Qing dynasty capture Beijing, edging the Ming Dynasty out of power. Shunzhi, the emperor and leader of the Manchu, takes control.
The Manchus would rule China until 1912 when the Republic of China is established.
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1813 – American and British forces clash at the Battle of Stoney Creek in Ontario.
The invaders were outnumbered by Patriot forces 3-to-1, but their years of training and discipline allowed them to win the fight. They even captured both of the American leaders at the battle, John Chandler and William Winder.
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1833 - Andrew Johnson becomes the first sitting president to ride on a train.
The trip went from Ellicott's Mill to Baltimore, a journey of about 15 miles.
John Quincy Adams had also ridden on a train, but he was not president when he did.
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1844 – The Young Men’s Christian Association – the YMCA – is founded in London.
As young men moved to cities for work on the heels of the Industrial Revolution, founder George Williams and his colleagues had concerns about young people finding beneficial and worthwhile activities in the Big Cities.
The only recreational activities were found in bars and whorehouses. The organization's initial mission was to offer activities that improve "the spiritual condition of young men engaged in the drapery, embroidery, and other trades."
So, it was for a bunch of dandies, apparently, with hopeful futures in textiles.
Similar organizations continued to sprout up around Europe, and eventually moved to the United States.
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1925 –The Chrysler Corporation is founded by Walter Percy Chrysler, who began his automotive career as a works manager at Buick in 1911.
A shake-up in the executive board in 1916 made Chrysler resign as some of his close friends lost their stake in the company. Thanks to an extremely-high salary offer, Chrysler rescinded his resignation and remained with Buick.
After three years, when his time at Buick was up, Chrysler worked for Willys-Overland Motor Company for two-years, and during this time he acquired control of Maxwell Motor Company which became the Chrysler Corporation four years later in 1925.
Chrysler Motor Company would go on to acquire Dodge in 1928.
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1944 – The Battle of Normandy begins. D-DAY commenced when 155,000 Allied troops landed on the beaches of Normandy, France against a force of approximately 10,000.
The soldiers quickly broke through the Axis forces and continued inland. Nazi casualties have been estimated as much as 9,000. This was the largest amphibious military operation in all of history.
It would mark the beginning of the end for Hitler's European takeover.
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1968 - Senator Robert F. Kennedy dies at 42-years-old.
He succumbed to the gunshot wounds he received the previous night.
The shooter was Palestinian native Sirhan Sirhan.
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1984 - Popular video game Tetris is released.
It was designed by Soviet game designer Alexey Pajitnov.
The game spread like wildfire when programmed for Gameboy and Gameboy Color -- a platform on which it sold 35 million copies.
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2012 - The Solar Impulse completes the world’s first intercontinental flight.
The solar-powered plane landed in Morocco’s capital after a 20-hour trip from Madrid.
The single-seat aircraft contains 12,000 solar cells along its immense wings, yet only weighs as much as your average sedan.
Construction on the plane took 10 years and cost nearly $100 million.
The one drawback to the aircraft is that it can only fly in perfect weather conditions.
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2018 - A special pedestrian lane for those who like to walk and talk on their phones opened in Xi’an, China.
The slow-walking smartphone users are referred to as “phubbers.”
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BIRTHDAYS
Alexander Clooney - son of George & Amal Clooney - 5
Ella Clooney - daughter of George & Amal Clooney - 5
Aubrey Anderson-Emmons - actress, “Modern Family” - 15
Kenny Pickett - football player - 24
Niko Valdes - boxer - 29
DeAndre Hopkins - football player - 30
Ross MacDonald - bassist, The 1975 - 33
Daniel Logan - actor, Boba Fett in “Star Wars: Attack of the Clones” -
Drew McIntyre - wrestler - 37
Aliza Licht - self-help author - 48
Uncle Kracker - singer - 48
James Schaffer - guitarist, Korn - 52
Paul Giamatti - actor, “Cold Souls” & “Billions” - 55
Jason Issacs - actor, “Awake” & “The OA” - 59
Carole Baskin - reality star, “Tiger King” - 61
Tom Araya - guitarist & singer, Slayer - 61
Sandra Bernhard - actress, “Roseanne” & “King of Comedy” - 67
Robert Englund - actor, “A Nightmare on Elm Street” - 73
Tommie Smith - football player & Olympian - 78
Born On This Date
Judith Barsi - voice actress, “The Land Before Time” - 1978 (d. 1988)
Doug Hart - football player - 1939 (d. 2020)
Nathan Hale - Revolutionary War patriot - 1755 (d. 1776)
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