Today is Monday, July 10, 2023.
It is the 191st day of the year.
174 days remain.
WHAT’S ON TAP
The ElonJet kid begins a comeback on Threads as Elon kowtows to the commies. More in HIT LIST.
MADONNA appears to be on the mend and JONAH HILL’s ex-girlfriend has some not-so-nice things to say about their time together. More in SHOWBIZ.
ARIANA MADIX is dancing away from “Scandoval” and “It Ends With Us” gets a theatrical release date. More in CASTING CALL.
KIM KARDASHIAN shares a spooky selfie. More in KARDASH.
PRINCE WILLIAM went full recluse ahead of the infamous Oprah interview with HARRY and MEG. More in ROYALS.
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HIT LIST
ELON MUSK is throwing in with the Chinese Communist Party to help expand TESLA’s foothold in the country.
He signed the company onto a letter from the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology that pledges to adhere to “socialist values.”
Among the guidelines, Tesla pledges to “not disrupt fair competition with abnormal pricing,” “not exaggerate or use false publicity to attract or gain new customers,” “improve lives with high-quality products and services,” and to “take on the heavy responsibility of maintaining steady growth, strengthening confidence and preventing risks.”
IN OTHER WORDS: These are all things healthy, honest, and fair businesses should do in any economy.
Fifteen other EV manufacturers in China also signed onto the document — which is non-binding anyway, but does it matter when CCP thugs can unilaterally decide to shut down your operation on a whim anyway? [via Jalopnik]
MEANWHILE: The kid who made a Twitter bot that tracked the movements of Musk’s jet and was booted from the platform after Musk took over has found a new life on META’s Threads app.
There is no interface to automate the postings of the jet’s movements quite yet on Threads, but the guy behind the account, Jack Sweeney, says he hopes to be able to set that up eventually. [via DailyStar]
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Two sisters in Pennsylvania gave birth on the same day last week.
Older sister Monica was admitted last Sunday for a planned labor, with sister Michelle at her side for support. Early Monday morning, Monica’s baby boy was born. Michelle knew she’d be back soon with a planned delivery that Friday.
BUT WAIT: Just hours later, Michelle started getting contractions and headed back to the hospital — to find that nurses had reserved the room next to her sister to deliver her own baby.
GET THIS: The cousins born on the same day in adjacent rooms will also grow up as neighbors: the sisters live on the same street. [via CBS News]
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When news of FTX’s collapse broke, TOM BRADY tried to get ahold of company brass to figure out what was going on — but his initial calls were ignored.
In an interview with the New York Times, FTX’s head of partnerships Sina Nader says, “I never would’ve expected to decline a call from Tom Brady.”
She added that the two eventually did touch base, and that Brady was empathetic to Nader’s position in the middle of it all. He told her, “I know you put your heart and soul into this.”
Those are awfully kind words for a man who was out $30 MILLION overnight, since his endorsement deal for the platform was totally tied up in FTX stock, which dived to zero. [via New York Times]
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A university study suggests a new record high average global temperature was set for the third time last week.
On Thursday, just days after a record reading of 62.9 degrees Fahrenheit on Tuesday, the University of Maine’s Climate Reanalyzer project recorded a new high average global temperature of 63 degrees. [via USA Today]
WORTH NOTING: Even the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration tells the Associated Press that it “could not confirm data that results in part from computer modeling, saying it wasn’t a good substitute for observations.”
IN OTHER WORDS: The study cooks data to create a narrative. As Steve Milloy points out in Sunday’s Wall Street Journal, the average of actual surface temperature measurements taken around the world and processed on a minute-by-minute basis shows an average global temperature last Thursday of 57.5 degrees Fahrenheit – an 8% difference than University of Maine’s cooked scenario. [via Steve Milloy]
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A book about electricity has made its way back to a New Bedford, Massachusetts library 119 years after it was checked out.
James Clerk Maxwell’s “An Elementary Treatise on Electricity” was discovered in a pile of books that had been donated to West Virginia University Libraries. The curator there noted it had been part of a collection from the New Bedford library and that it had not been stamped “withdrawn,” like the other donated items.
The curator reached out to the special collections librarian in New Bedford, who was shocked to find the book had been checked out on February 14, 1904.
BY THE WAY: The New Bedford library has a 5-cent-per-day late fee. At that rate, someone returning a book overdue by 119 years would owe more than $2,100. The good news is the library’s late fee limit maxes out at $2. [via PennLive]
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BABY NEWS
“One Tree Hill” alum CHAD MICHAEL MURRAY and his wife, actress SARAH ROEMER are expecting baby #3.
The couple are already parents to an 8-year-old son and 6-year-old daughter.
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RELATIONSHIPS
Comedian MATT RIFE is dating “Find Me in Paris” star JESSICA LORD.
He was previously linked to actress LUCY HALE and before that, actress KATE BECKINSALE.
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WEDDINGS
NBA center FRANK KAMINSKY and former “SportsCenter” anchor ASHLEY BREWER have tied the knot.
The ceremony took place in Los Cabos, Mexico on Friday, months after the pair legally tied the knot at a Los Angeles courthouse.
Kaminsky and Brewer met in 2017 and got engaged last year. He is 30 and she is 31.
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WEEKEND BOX OFFICE
10. Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken: $2.8 million (down from 6)
9. The Little Mermaid: $3.5 million (down from 7)
8. Transformers: Rise of the Beasts: $5 million (down from 5)
7. No Hard Feelings: $5.2 million (down from 4)
6. Joy Ride: $5.8 million (new)
5. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse: $8 million (down from 3)
4. Elemental: $9.6 million (down from 2)
3. Sound of Freedom: $18.2 million (new)
2. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny: $26.5 million (down from 1)
1. Insidious: The Red Door: $32.6 million (new)
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BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The DOW lost 187 points (0.55%) to close at 33,734 on Sunday. The S&P lost 12 points (0.29%) to close at 4,398 and the NASDAQ lost 18 points (0.13%) to close at 13,660.
🛢 WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE closed at $73; BRENT CRUDE at $78.
⛽ The national average price of a GALLON OF GAS was $3.53 on Sunday.
₿ BITCOIN lost 62 points (0.2%) to close at 30,211.
🛩 There were more than 5,594 FLIGHTS delayed within, into, or out of the United States on Sunday and more than 1,839 such cancellations. The dramatic increase in flight delays and cancellations resulted from widespread storms across the east coast on Sunday.
💰Tuesday night’s MEGA MILLIONS drawing will be for a $480 million jackpot or a $240.7 million cash payout. Tonight’s POWERBALL drawing will be for a $650 million jackpot or a $328.3 million cash payout.
SHOWBIZ NEWS
ELTON JOHN performed the very last show of his “Farewell Yellow Brick Road” tour in Stockholm on Saturday night.
During the concert, a live video from COLDPLAY -- who were also performing in Sweden -- popped up. Frontman CHRIS MARTIN told both of the crowds, “Elton, from all of us here, from all the bands and artists you’ve helped and inspired, we love you so much.”
Elton has been putting on concerts around the world for over five-decades. His final tour was over 330 performances. [via Entertainment Weekly]
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MADONNA was spotted taking a stroll over the weekend, allowing fans a sigh of relief after her ICU stay.
The 64-year-old was wearing sunglasses, a wide-brimmed hat and sneakers while appearing to be happily chatting with a friend on Sunday afternoon, according to Page Six.
As previously reported, Madonna was rushed to the hospital after being found unresponsive in her NYC apartment. She was intubated and placed in the ICU. Her longtime manager told fans that the singer had “developed a serious bacterial infection.” Days later she was reportedly sent home to rest and recoup.
Madonna has not addressed the health scare herself. [via Page Six]
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Country singer ERNEST took a tumble while performing in St. Louis last week.
He lost his footing while tossing roses into the crowd, falling off the stage and into the barricade below. He didn’t seem to suffer any injuries, however, and quickly jumped back up to cheers from the crowd.
Ernest is currently on tour with MORGAN WALLEN, who took his own tumble on stage earlier this year. [via TMZ]
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After weeks of he-said, she-said and several calls to police, KIM ZOLCIAK and KROY BIERMANN have reportedly called off their divorce.
The abrupt turnaround has some speculating that it was all a farce and perhaps the couple only did it to help their financial situation or maybe to increase viewership for Kim’s return to the “Real Housewives of Atlanta.”
Neither Kim nor Kroy have spoken out about their rekindling. [via Today]
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The list of performers being hit with objects continues to grow.
HARRY STYLES was hit in the face with an unidentified object while performing in Vienna over the weekend.
Clearly injured, Styles put his hand over his left eye before exiting the stage. He did eventually come back out and finish his set.
Styles is no stranger to items being thrown at him on stage. He has had flowers, Skittles and even chicken nuggets tossed at him. [via Deadline]
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JONAH HILL’s ex-girlfriend, surfer SARAH BRADY claims he was “emotionally abusive” during their time together and is showing off the text messages to back it up.
Brady shared her side of things on Instagram, posting screenshots of texts allegedly from Hill, who she says would “gaslight” and “manipulate” her into removing surfing videos and photos from her social media. According to the texts, he deemed them “inappropriate” because she was wearing a bikini.
In another set of messages, the actor allegedly claimed that he wanted to end the relationship over Brady’s “boundaryless [sic] inappropriate friendships with men” and “friendships with women who are in unstable places.”
The pair were together for less than a year before calling things quits, though Brady says during that time they were in therapy once a week to deal with their “ongoing issues.”
Hill has since gotten engaged to and welcomed his first child with boutique owner OLIVIA MILLAR. He has not commented on Brady’s posts. [via Page Six]
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Soccer star MEGAN RAPINOE is retiring.
She announced Saturday that the 2023 National Women’s Soccer League season and the 2023 World Cup will be her last.
Over her 17-year career, Rapinoe has scored 63 goals, recorded 73 assists and won two World Cups. [via USA Today]
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Former Packers wide receiver DONALD DRIVER recently gave delivering mail via mailboat in Lake Geneva, WI a shot.
Each year, teens take part in the iconic tradition of auditioning for the summer job of delivering mail to docks around the lake. The tricky thing is that the boat never stops moving.
Giving it his best shot, Driver had a successful attempt and a not-so-successful attempt getting back on the boat. But he definitely gave it his all. [via TMJ4]
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CASTING CALL
ARIANA MADIX is taking her talents to the dance floor.
The “Vanderpump Rules” star and “Scandoval” victim will be competing on Season 32 of the ABC dance competition show.
Madix is the first celebrity to be revealed for the upcoming season. The full cast will be announced on “Good Morning America” on September 13. [via People]
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The film adaptation of COLLEEN HOOVER’s best-selling book, “It Ends With Us” will hit theaters on February 9, 2024.
Starring BLAKE LIVELY, JUSTIN BALDONI and BRANDON SKLENAR, the story follows a girl named Lily (Lively) who is ready to start her post-college life, when she meets and falls for Ryle (Baldoni). As they navigate the new relationship, Lily’s first love, Atlas (Sklenar) comes back into her life. [via Hollywood Reporter]
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
A recent selfie KIM KARDASHIAN took is making the rounds on social media, but not because of how she looks in it.
The reality star shared the snap on Instagram, drawing her fans’ attention to a shadowy figure in the background that appears to be a woman.
Kim captioned the shot, “Sooo I took this pic last week when I was alone and now going through my phone I am freaking out noticing a woman in the window.”
While some followers were just as freaked out as Kim, others made jokes.
“Could you imagine being a ghost and finding out you’re on KIM KARDASHIAN'S INSTAGRAM,” one person wrote, while another added, “If I was a ghost I would definitely live in Kim’s house.” [via Metro]
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
The anticipation of PRINCE HARRY and MEGHAN MARKLE’s sit-down with OPRAH WINFREY two years ago had PRINCE WILLIAM so anxious he didn’t eat for a whole week before it aired.
Royal observer Charlotte Griffiths says that William “cut himself off for the world” and holed up at an unnamed royal residence beforehand.
Afterward, William and Kate played instrumental roles in crafting the Firm’s rare public response to the interview, which included the phrase “recollections may vary” about the Sussexes accusations of racism within the royal family. PRINCESS KATE insisted that phrase stay in the statement to support her husband – and the monarchy she expects him to inherit. [via Mirror]
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DAY OF THE YEAR
National Kitten Day
International Town Criers Day
Don’t Step On A Bee Day
Teddy Bear Picnic Day
National Pina Colada Day
Pick Blueberries Day
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ON THIS DATE
1850 – One day after Zachary Taylor dies, Millard Fillmore is sworn in as president.
His nickname quickly became "His Accidency," since he was not elected to the office.
He would lose to Franklin Pierce in the 1952 presidential race. Fillmore would run in the following two elections, but lose both times.
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1962 – The first geosynchronous communications satellite is launched into space.
It would communicate live signals across the Atlantic Ocean. Most notable: a presidential press conference with JFK airing in France and England and a changing of the guard at Buckingham witnessed by American audiences.
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1985 – Greenpeace loses a ship near the New Zealand coast after operatives of the French government sink it using planted bombs.
The Greenpeace mission was to protest French bomb tests in the South Pacific.
Officially, the government denied any involvement. Francois Mitterand, the Prime Minister at the time, would be implicated in authorizing the detonation mission in a report released 20 years later.
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1990 – Mikhail Gorbachev is re-elected as head of the Soviet Communist Party.
He would be the last Soviet dictator, before the power structure collapsed in 1991.
Under his rule, freedoms and liberties were expanded, at least by Communist standards. As such, he wasn't a favorite of the Communist party, but as the world modernized, change in his own country seemed inevitable.
The Soviet Union and communist regime fell shortly thereafter.
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1995 – Hugh Grant appears on “The Tonight Show” just days after being caught knocking boots with a hooker in L.A.
Leno famously opened with the question, "What the hell were you thinking?"
Grant replied, "I did a bad thing." He went on to apologize and explain the situation.
He was initially scheduled to be on the show to promote one of his first major movies, "Nine Months."
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2018 – Drake surpasses The Beatles’ record of most singles on the Billboard Hot One 100.
He reached the milestone with seven hits from his album “Scorpion.”
The Beatles had held the record at five.
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2019 – Taylor Swift is named the world’s highest paid entertainer by Forbes.
Reportedly earning $185 million in 2018.
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BIRTHDAYS
Angus Cloud - actor, “Euphoria” - 25
Perrie Edwards - pop singer - 30
Will Smith - baseball player - 34
Antonio Brown - football player - 35
Thomas Ian Nicholas - actor, “Rookie of the Year” & “American Pie” films - 43
Jessica Simpson - pop singer - 43
Sofia Vergara - actress, “Modern Family” - 51
Erika Jayne - reality star, “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” - 52
Urban Meyer - football coach - 59
Jackie Chung - actress, “The Summer I Turned Pretty” - 62
Born On This Date
Stefan Karl Stefansson - actor, “LazyTown” - 1975 (d. 2018)
Arthur Ashe - tennis player - 1943 (d. 1993)
Nikola Tesla - electrical engineer & physicist & inventor - 1856 (d. 1943)
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