Today is Friday, June 9, 2023.
It is the 160th day of the year.
205 days remain.
WHAT’S ON TAP
The guy behind ChatGPT says its potential keeps him up at night and some hotel guests sure like to live large. More in HIT LIST.
A rep for JAMIE FOXX is shutting down claims that the actor developed a blood clot and suffered a stroke after getting the COVID-19 vaccine and TROY AIKMAN appears to have a new woman in his life. More in SHOWBIZ.
BRYAN CRANSTON says he plans to retire by 2026 and SONY is working on some new kid-friendly shows. More in CASTING CALL.
Several KARDASHIANS and their exes came together to celebrate the youngest generation's preschool graduation. More in KARDASH.
WILL and KATE are putting parenting first. More in ROYALS.
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HIT LIST
The Wall Street Journal reports that the Chinese Communist Party will open a spy facility in Cuba, designed specifically to intercept electronic communications sent from military bases in the southeastern United States. Its capabilities would include monitoring a variety of communications, including emails and phone calls.
The base would be just about a hundred miles from Florida. So far, the CCP has offered Cuba’s communist government billions of dollars, and the deal has been accepted in principle.
A National Security Council rep called the report “not accurate.”
WORTH REMEMBERING: This development comes in the wake of revelations that TIKTOK data feeds a garden hose of information directly to Beijing and weeks after multiple spy balloons belonging to the Chinese were detected – and one blown up – over American territory. [via WSJ]
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NOT REASSURING: The CEO of the company that developed ChatGPT – the “chatbot” that marked an incredible leap forward in artificial intelligence programming available to everyday internet users – says he loses sleep over the technology’s potential.
"What I lose the most sleep over is the hypothetical idea that we already have done something really bad by launching ChatGPT," SAM ALTMAN said during a recent tech event.
Altman added that he’s in favor of regulation for A.I., but noted that there should be a system in place that checks the authority of those overseeing it. [via BusinessInsider]
MEANWHILE: JET’S PIZZA has a limited-run pizza, with a toppings combination they say was developed by A.I.
The ranch veggie pizza includes ranch instead of tomato sauce, mozzarella, feta, mushrooms, onions, green peppers, black olives, and tomatoes. [via WNEM]
WORTH NOTING: If that’s the extent of A.I.’s pizza-making creativity, maybe there’s not so much to be worried about.
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An ancient wood carving has been discovered in Berkshire, England, dating back to around 4600 BC – making it the oldest-ever such find by at least 500 years.
Researchers believe the carvings are not an inscription, but more likely just a design, which could have any number of meanings.
IN CONTEXT: The 6000-plus-year-old find makes it older than Stonehenge by about 2,000 years, and 4,500 years before the Roman Empire first reached Britain. [via Historic England]
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Several Black-Veined White butterflies, once thought extinct, have been spotted fluttering around in south-east London.
The insect, which was first listed as a British species during King Charles II’s reign, was last seen in the UK in 1925.
While it is exciting news, the Butterfly Conservation said that the sightings do not mean the species has spontaneously recovered.
FUN FACT: Winston Churchill was a fan of the butterflies and unsuccessfully attempted to reintroduce the extinct species in his garden in 1940. [via The Guardian]
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HOTELS.COM has released their first ever “Room Service Report,” which features unusual room service requests, the most requested item and average amount spent on room service.
Some of the unusual requests include, “diet” water, melted ice cream, blowfish, the cooking of a raw fish that was caught by a hotel guest, cockle popcorn, no-egg-white omelet, rice bowl for a dog, bison and eggless eggs.
Burgers were found to be the most popular food item ordered, beating out pizza, sandwiches, tacos, and fries.
When it comes to spending, the report found that 27% of guests spend an average of more than $100 for room service, with steak and champagne being the most expensive items to splurge on.
Nearly 500 hotels were surveyed for the list. [via Hotels.com]
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DEATHS
Christian televangelist and one-time presidential candidate PAT ROBINSON has died.
He passed away Thursday at his home in Virginia with his family by his side, according to a press release. No cause of death was shared.
Robertson had a lengthy career in TV, politics and religion. He founded the Christian Broadcasting Network, which was home to “The 700 Club.” In 1988 Robertson lost his primary presidential campaign to GEORGE H.W. BUSH.
He was 93.
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BABY NEWS
JANA KRAMER is expecting her first child with fiance, former soccer player ALLAN RUSSELL.
The actress shared the news on Instagram Thursday -- just weeks after the pair announced their engagement.
Kramer is already mom to 7-year-old daughter Jolie and 4-year-old son Jace, whom she shares with ex-husband, former NFL player MIKE CAUSSIN. Russell also has a teenage son from a previous relationship.
She’s 39, and he’s 42.
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RELATIONSHIPS
Actor BILL MURRAY is dating “Milkshake” singer KELIS.
According to insiders the pair have been “getting close” for a while. Murray was also spotted at Kelis’ show in South London last weekend.
By the way -- he is 72 and she is 43.
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WEDDINGS
JENNA JAMESON and JESSI LAWLESS are married. The pair tied the knot in Las Vegas on May 23.
Jameson, a former adult actress, is 49 and Lawless, who hosts the “Born Lawless” podcast, is 40.
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BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The DOW added 168 points (0.5%) to close at 33,833 on Thursday. The S&P added 26 points (0.62%) to close at 4,293 and the NASDAQ added 133 points (1.02%) to close at 13,238.
🛢 WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE closed at $71; BRENT CRUDE at $75.
⛽ The national average price of a GALLON OF GAS was $3.56 on Thursday.
₿ BITCOIN ticked up Thursday, trading around $26,500.
🛩 There were more than 3,960 FLIGHTS delayed within, into, or out of the United States on Thursday and more than 95 such cancellations.
💰Tonight’s MEGA MILLIONS drawing will be for a $240 million jackpot or a $124.4 million cash payout. Saturday night’s POWERBALL drawing will be for a $308 million jackpot or a $160.1 million cash payout.
SHOWBIZ NEWS
These albums drop today:
Anna St. Louis, “In the Air”
Benny Sings, “Southern Skies”
The Boo Radleys, “EIGHT”
Chase Matthew, “Come Get Your Memory”
Conor Maynard, “+11 Hours”
Curtis Waters, “Bad Son”
The Defiants, “Drive”
Emotional Oranges, “Still Emo”
Extreme, “Six”
Janelle Monae, “The Age of Pleasure”
Jayda G, “Guy”
Jeff Clarke, “Locust”
Jess Williamson, “Time Ain’t Accidental”
Keaton Henson, “House Party”
Love and Rockets, “My Sweet Twin”
Niall Horan, “The Show”
Public Body, “Big Mess”
Rob Grant, “Lost At Sea”
The View, “Exorcism of Youth”
Zylva, “Poems from the Dark”
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A rep for actor JAMIE FOXX says his medical emergency did not stem from the COVID-19 vaccine.
He made the statement in response to a comment from gossip columnist A.J. Benza who said he heard Foxx developed a blood clot and suffered a stroke after getting the jab.
The rep called gossip “completely inaccurate.”
No details have been released about Foxx’s mysterious medical emergency, except that he is currently undergoing some sort of rehab at a facility in Chicago. [via Page Six]
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PINK had a special guest with her as she kicked off her “Summer Carnival Tour.”
Taking the stage at the University of Bolton Stadium in Bolton, England, Pink was joined by her 12-year-old daughter Willow. The pair sang their 2021 hit “Cover Me in Sunshine.”
Willow’s dad, CAREY HART tweeted out his praise and support of the mother-daughter duo, while congratulating his wife on her first show of the tour. [via ET]
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Fans were shocked to see former Cowboys QB TROY AIKMAN tagged in Instagram photos snuggled up with 34-year-old, Dallas-based sales director HALEY CLARK this week.
The last anyone was aware of, the 56-year-old was still married to CATHERINE “Capa” AIKMAN, though after the pics were posted, insiders told the NY Post that they quietly divorced in 2020.
Troy and Catherine tied the knot in 2017. She last posted about him on social media in February 2020. His last post featuring her is from May 2019. Before Catherine, Troy was married to Cowboys publicist RHONDA WORTHEY; they share two daughters.
FOR THE RECORD: Haley was just three-years-old when Troy won his first Super Bowl in 1992.
PRIVACY WARNING: After news of their romance broke Clark made her Instagram private. [via NY Post]
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CHRIS STAPLETON was forced to postpone his “All American Road Show” concert in New York on Thursday night due to the ongoing air quality issues in the area.
Fans praised the country singer’s decision, with one person writing how just walking to and from his car had his “lungs burning.”
A performance of “Hamilton” was also canceled due to the poor air quality.
This week the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre reported that 45 fires are currently burning, leading to air quality alerts for several states. [via Fox News]
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JUSTIN BIEBER’s dad apologized (sort of) for a tweet he posted bashing Pride Month.
“Acknowledging the nuclear family is offensive? My apologies to those offended. Was not my intent. Not that my opinion matters,” JEREMY BIEBER tweeted.
Twitter users continued to berate him for his “weak” apology.
WORTH NOTING (AGAIN): Jeremy tweeting about the importance of protecting the nuclear family is total BS as he was absent during Justin’s childhood and has several kids with several women. [via Page Six]
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Instead of releasing the entire soundtrack to his new HBO series “The Idol,” THE WEEKND announced he will drop one track at a time, coinciding with each week’s episode.
The first two songs -- “The Lure” and “World Class Sinner” -- were released last night, ahead of Sunday’s episode.
For those unfamiliar, “The Idol” stars LILY ROSE DEPP as an aspiring pop star named Jocelyn, who wants to claim the title of “greatest and sexiest pop star in America.” The Weeknd plays a nightclub owner named Tedros. [via Billboard]
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CASTING CALL
Actor BRYAN CRANSTON plans to semi-retire by 2026.
In a new interview with British GQ, the “Breaking Bad” star said he promised his wife that in three years he will shut down his production company and sell his half of mezcal company Dos Hombres -- “changing the paradigm” -- to spend more time with her.
Cranston met his wife while filming an episode of “Airwolf” in 1986. They started dating a year later after their respective relationships ended. The couple are parents to one child, a daughter named Taylor. [via British GQ]
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LISA VANDERPUMP will show off her luxury French villa in a new Hulu show called “Vanderpump Villa.”
The 10-episode series will follow Vanderpump’s “staff as they live and work together to navigate every extravagant desire of their well-to-do guests,” per the official description.
News of the show comes on the heels of Wednesday night’s bombshell-dropping “Vanderpump Rules” reunion. That show follows staff from one of Lisa’s restaurants -- and has been the center of “Scandoval.” [via Deadline]
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In an effort to develop more kid-friend shows, Sony Pictures is creating animated versions of “Bewitched” and “The Partridge Family.”
“Bewitched” will center on 13-year-old Tabitha Stevens, the daughter of witch Samantha and human Darrin, as she juggles attending middle school and a magical academy run by her grandmother, Endora.
“The Partridge Family” will focus on a Black family from Brooklyn who operates a food truck that travels throughout New York’s five boroughs.
There are also two unscripted shows in the works: a kid-version of “Wheel of Fortune” and “Shark Tank.”
No word on a premiere date for any of them. [via Hollywood Reporter]
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
The Kardashians and their exes came together this week for a graduation ceremony for their kiddos.
KYLIE JENNER and her ex, TRAVIS SCOTT, were spotted with their daughter STORMI, while KHLOE KARDASHIAN and her ex, TRISTAN THOMPSON, were all smiles while supporting their daughter TRUE. ROB KARDASHIAN’s ex-fiance ANGELA WHITE (formerly Blac Chyna) was also on hand to celebrate their daughter, DREAM.
No word on whether or not Rob was also there for the milestone. [via TMZ]
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
PRINCE WILLIAM and PRINCESS KATE are reportedly insisting that they don’t travel on prolonged tours of the British Commonwealth that would keep them away from their three children.
One insider tells OK! Magazine that they want any travel to accommodate their kids’ school time off, and be shorter but busier.
MEANWHILE: KING CHARLES is reportedly working on a lengthy international tour that would bring him to the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. [via Express]
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DAY OF THE YEAR
National Strawberry Rhubarb Pie Day
National Donald Duck Day
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ON THIS DATE
53 A.D. – The beginning of a rocky relationship begins with the marriage of Nero to Claudia Octavia. At the time of their betrothal, Nero was an aristocrat. The marriage to Claudia made him de facto heir to the throne of Claudius.
Nero had poisoned Claudia's brother Britannicus two years earlier, eliminating any opposition. Claudia knew about it, but kept mum, for fear of being killed herself. Nero, always the gentleman, grew bored with his wife, knocked up a former slave named Poppaea, then divorced and banished his wife.
Octavia complained, so Nero tortured her maids to death. When the Roman people revolted, Nero brought Claudia back to Rome. Exactly 9 years after first marrying Claudia, Nero ordered her suffocated to death in a hot vapor bath.
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1650 – The Harvard Corporation becomes the first legal corporation in the Americas.
Massachusetts' colonial legislature issued the charter at the request of Harvard College President Henry Dunster. Today Harvard is called a "university," but on the books the corporation's official name is "Harvard College."
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1732 – James Oglethorpe is granted a royal charter for the Province of Georgia. It gave him land between the Savannah and Altamaha rivers.
Oglethorpe, a social reformer, campaigned to ban slavery in the area. Instead, he thought Britons imprisoned for bad debts should be sent to Georgia.
Meanwhile, any religion was permissible in Georgia except, of course, Roman Catholicism. This had more to do with the Spanish in Florida than with the Church of England's separation from the Holy Sea.
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1876 – Charles Elmer Hires sells his first root beer in the Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition.
His concoction originated as a dry tea, with berries, roots, and more than twenty-five herbs. He used the dried mix to flavor carbonated soda.
Though farmers and settlers had been brewing similar drinks for years, Hires was certainly the first to successfully mass-market the beverage.
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1898 – China's Qing Dynasty agrees to lease the island of Hong Kong to the United Kingdom for 99 years.
When the lease expired in 1997, the People's Republic regained sovereignty over the island. That's thanks to an accord penned in 1984 between Margaret Thatcher and Prime Minister Zhao Ziyang.
But the agreement also excluded China's imposition of communism on the island, which remains a successful capitalist country.
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1954 – The hearings on Wisconsin Senator Joe McCarthy's investigation of communists in the US Government get heated.
It was on this date that Head Counsel Joseph Welch implored McCarthy, "Have you no sense of decency, sir, at long last? Have you left no sense of decency?"
But there were communist spies in the State Department.
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1978 – Johannes Gutenberg’s Bible sells for $2.4 million in London.
The book is the first to have been produced using the printing press.
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2013 – Edward Snowden makes his identity known as the leaker of NSA documents.
The documents, which he acquired while working as an NSA contractor, revealed publicly numerous global programs for the first time.
Snowden would be charged the following week with violating the Espionage Act and theft of government property, but he fled to Hong Kong and then Russia where he remains.
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2019 - Former Boston Red Sox player David Ortiz is shot in the back at a bar in his native Dominican Republic.
He was rushed to a local medical facility, where he underwent life-saving surgery. Ortiz was later flown to Boston and underwent two additional surgeries at Massachusetts General Hospital.
After a thorough investigation, it would be revealed that drug kingpin Caesar Emilio Peralta ordered a hit on Ortiz over an alleged incident of disrespect.
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BIRTHDAYS
Laurie Hernandez - Olympic gymnast - 23
Dylan Marlowe - country singer - 26
Damian Romeo - actor, “Ginny & Georgia” - 29
Danielle Churchran - actress, “Minor Details” & “The Wild Stallion” - 30
Logan Browning - actress, “Meet the Browns” & “Brotherly Love” - 34
Mae Whitman - actress, “Parenthood” & “The Duff” - 35
Natalie Portman - actress, “Black Swan” & “Star Wars” - 42
Udonis Haslem - basketball player -43
Matthew Bellamy - rock singer, Muse - 45
Johnny Depp - actor, “Edward Scissorhands” & “Blow” - 60
Michael J. Fox - actor, “Back to the Future” films - 62
Aaron Sorkin - screenwriter, “A Few Good Men” & “The West Wing” - 62
Born On This Date
Samuel N. Behrman - screenwriter, “Tale of 2 Cities” - 1893 (d. 1973)
George Stephenson - engineer known as the “Father of the Railways” - 1781 (d. 1848)
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