Today is Tuesday, July 7, 2023.
It is the 192nd day of the year.
173 days remain.
WHAT’S ON TAP
How to cater your wedding on a budget and how to get a vanity license plate recalled. More in HIT LIST.
JAMIE FOXX has been spotted for the first time since suffering an unknown medical emergency and MADONNA updates fans about her “Celebration” tour plans. More in SHOWBIZ.
RAINN WILSON says he felt unfulfilled while filming “The Office” and HULU wants to be the new one-stop-shop for animation and anime. More in CASTING CALL.
ANDREA BOCELLI speaks up amid KIM KARDASHIAN and KOURTNEY KARDASHIAN’s Italian wedding feud. More in KARDASH.
PRINCE HARRY’s visa application will remain concealed for now. More in ROYALS.
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HIT LIST
Aviators John Skittone and Bob Reynolds have set a new Guinness World Record for landing their plane in all 48 contiguous states. They completed the feat in 38 hours and 13 minutes.
The two took off on May 17th from Sanford, Maine and landed at 1 a.m. on May 19th in South Bend, Indiana.
The shortest distance the two spent between two states (Nebraska to Iowa and Ohio to West Virginia) was about four minutes, while the longest was about two hours, Skittone told local NBC affiliate TMJ4.
In honor of the milestone the two friends are already planning their next adventure: traveling to the southernmost airport in South America. [via TMJ4]
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A very sad Rhode Island man would like some help locating his pet peacock.
Angus Kerr says that two years ago, a wild peacock he named Paravani wandered into his yard and never left. Kerr provided the bird with food and even cleared out his porch in the winter so it could live there out of the cold.
BUT WAIT: Some time over Memorial Day weekend, Paravani the peacock disappeared. Kerr says he’s taken out newspaper ads and put up flyers since, with no luck of finding the bird he says he considers family.
Kerr tells local media, “I've done everything I can and it's just really devastating. I don't know what to do." [via WJAR]
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The Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles apparently has no sense of humor.
A resident’s vanity plate was recalled after some dork bureaucrat realized “GOBK2CA” was shorthand for “Go Back to California” following a complaint. The plate was recalled on DMV rules that a vanity plate’s licensing could not be defamatory to a person or group.
GET THIS: Despite the well-documented exodus from the high-tax nanny state in California, the plate’s owner has had it for twenty years. He says he’s been pulled over by law enforcement just so they could tell him they love the phrasing.
He’s going to appeal the decision. [via KOLO]
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New technology from Washington University in St. Louis gives hope that future respiratory disease outbreaks will be easier to monitor and manage.
The innovative device can detect the presence of the covid virus in the air within five minutes. The hope is that it can also monitor for the presence of flu particles and RSV. Researchers say it’s the most sensitive such device ever created, and at scale could be affordable for everyday applications.
HOW IT WORKS: The 12-by-10-inch device lights up if a virus is detected, giving administrators the ability to quickly improve air flow and circulation in the room, which has proven to be one of the most effective ways to mitigate spread. [via SciTechDaily]
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McDonald’s Indonesia has rolled out a wedding catering package for the budget-conscious bride.
The basic package includes 100 chicken sandwiches and 100 4-piece McNuggets – and it only sets you back 3.5 MILLION Rupiah.
DON’T SWEAT IT: That’s about $231. You can also add on McFlurries and shell out for a “food stall,” with the staff to serve everything to your guests. [via McDonald’s Indonesia]
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DEATHS
Actor JEFFREY CARLSON has died.
He passed away on July 6, according to a post from fellow actor Susan Hart. No further details were shared.
Carlson is known for his role as Zoe on “All My Children.”
He was 48.
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Actress ANDREA EVANS has died.
She passed away Sunday after a battle with cancer, according to a statement from casting director Don Carroll.
Evans rose to fame as troubled teen Tina Lord on “One Life to Live” and went on to play Patty Williams on “The Young and the Restless” and Tawny Moore on “The Bold and the Beautiful.”
She was 66.
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Author STEPHEN M. SILVERMAN has died.
He passed away on July 6, according to People Magazine, where he served as editor. No further details were shared.
Silverman authored more than a dozen books, including “Public Spectacles” and “Movie Mutts: Hollywood Goes to the Dogs.”
He was 71.
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BABY NEWS
ESPN reporter ERIN ANDREWS and her husband, hockey player JARRET STOLL have welcomed a baby boy.
The newborn, named Mack, was born via surrogate a couple of weeks ago.
Andrews has been open about their years of fertility struggles, so fans were ecstatic to hear the news.
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BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The DOW added 209 points (0.62%) to close at 33,944 on Monday. The S&P added 10 points (0.24%) to close at 4,409 and the NASDAQ added 24 points (0.18%) to close at 13,685.
🛢 WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE closed at $73; BRENT CRUDE at $77.
⛽ The national average price of a GALLON OF GAS was $3.54 on Monday.
₿ BITCOIN added 2.4% on Monday, trading around $30,900.
🛩 There were more than 4,970 FLIGHTS delayed within, into, or out of the United States on Monday and more than 565 such cancellations.
💰Tonight’s MEGA MILLIONS drawing will be for a $480 million jackpot or a $240.7 million cash payout.
SHOWBIZ NEWS
TMZ photogs spotted JAMIE FOXX out and about for the first time since his medical emergency.
The actor appeared happy and healthy as he cruised down the Chicago River over the weekend, waving to fellow boaters.
He was also spotted by fellow golfers taking in some swings at Topgolf in Naperville.
It is still unknown what sort of medical emergency Foxx suffered several months back, and the lack of info has led to all sorts of speculation from fans. [via TMZ]
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MADONNA has announced that she is delaying her “Celebration” tour until October.
She made the announcement in her first post-hospitalization social media post on Monday, writing that while she hates to disappoint her fans and those who have worked so hard alongside her, she needs some more time to focus on her health.
As previously reported, Madge was supposed to kick off her tour in Vancouver on July 15. She will now start with the European leg of the tour. [via Variety]
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BRITNEY SPEARS says she is still a huge fan of basketball player VICTOR WEMBANYAMA, despite the incident with a member of his security last weekend.
“It’s not his fault his security hit me…s**t happens!!!!” she wrote on Instagram.
In a separate post, Spears also thanked those who “swarmed” her after the alleged slap happened because they made her feel like she “mattered.”
It is good that there are no hard feelings between the two, especially since the investigation into the incident has been closed after video footage shows Spears actually hit herself in the face with her own hand. [via Uproxx]
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JACK HARLOW’s wax figure has been unveiled at Madame Tussauds in Las Vegas.
The figure took 20 artists about six months to create. They outfitted the rapper with a custom-designed suit by Musika New York, which he wore in his video for “Churchill Downs.” The figure also features diamond studs, and a Rolex and jewel encrusted Kentucky-shaped pendant that hangs from a chain in his hands.
“Wow…he is just beautiful, Jesus. That is crazy. Is this mine? Everything just looks like he’s about to come to life. It’s good. He’s cut. Way, way exceeded my expectations,” Harlow is heard saying in a video shared by Madame Tussauds. [via Billboard]
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Thieves ransacked TINA KNOWLES’ Los Angeles home last week, making off with a safe containing over $1 million in cash and jewelry.
LAPD officials told ET that BEYONCE’s mom was not home at the time of the incident and that an investigation is ongoing. [via ET]
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LADY GAGA will not have to pay one of the people involved in kidnapping her dogs the $500,000 reward.
According to legal docs, the lawsuit filed by Jennifer McBride claiming the singer owed her the reward money because she “helped” in the return of the pups has been tossed out by a judge because she was also convicted in connection to the kidnapping.
McBride claimed to have found the two Frenchies tied to a pole, but it turns out she was working with the two guys who snatched the pups.
It all worked out in the end, Gaga has her pets and gets to keep her cash. [via TMZ]
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BAD BUNNY’s “Un Verano Sin Ti” is now the most-streamed album on Spotify.
The streaming platform announced Monday that the album, which was released in May 2022, has become the most-streamed of all time in Spotify’s history, globally. It took the crown from ED SHEERAN’s album, “Divide.”
The feat should come as no surprise as BB was named Spotify’s artist of the year in 2022 for a third consecutive time. [via PopSugar]
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Remember the story about how football player LEONARD FOURNETTE’s Dodge SUV spontaneously combusted last month and he had no idea how it happened?
Turns out he was racing a motorcyclist at a high-rate of speed, according to a newly released police report.
In the report, an eyewitness told Florida Highway Patrol officers that he remembers Fournette’s vehicle was “racing when fire erupted” from the bottom of his car.
Despite Fournette not being honest in the initial report, insiders say there isn’t any sort of open investigation into the incident. [via Bleacher Report]
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CASTING CALL
While making others laugh during his time as Dwight Schrute on “The Office,” actor RAINN WILSON says he was “really mostly unhappy.”
Opening up on a recent episode of BILL MAHER’s “Club Random” podcast, Wilson said that even though he realized he was part of a hit show, and making lots of money while working alongside STEVE CARELL, JENNA FISHER and JOHN KRASINSKI he still felt like “it wasn’t enough.”
“I was making hundreds of thousands [of dollars]. I wanted millions. I was a TV star, but I wanted to be a movie star. It was never enough,” he explained.
That being said, Wilson says it does help when fans of the show share their love and appreciation. [via People]
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Hulu has launched a new hub for adult animation and anime called “Animayhem.”
According to the platform, the brand will complement their already popular lineup of adult animation and anime shows, such as “American Dad,” “Bob’s Burgers,” “Family Guy,” “Futurama” and “King of the Hill.”
With over one BILLION hours of adult animation content having been streamed already, plus over 288 million hours of anime content, bigwigs at Hulu said “creating this destination is obvious.” [via Variety]
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CRIB NOTES
JAMES CAMERON is selling his 102-acre property located in the Hollister Ranch neighborhood in Gaviota, California for $33 million.
The lot features an 8,000-square-foot main house and a 2,000-square-foot guesthouse. There is also a 24,000-square-foot-barn, pool, garden, gym, movie theater, dual offices, game room and helipad on the compound. And it is just minutes from the beach!
Cameron bought the home in the late 1990’s for $4.3 million. [via People]
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CELEBRITY CELLBLOCK
ELIZABETH HOLMES, the disgraced founder of blood testing company, Theranos, has apparently gotten two years shaved off her 11-year-and-three-month prison sentence. She is now scheduled to be released in December 2032, according to an update on the Bureau of Prisons website.
It is unknown why the time has been removed.
Holmes is currently serving time at a minimum-security women’s prison camp in Texas after being convicted of conspiracy and fraud. [via ScrippsNews]
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
Italian tenor ANDREA BOCELLI has said all he will say amid the ongoing feud between KIM and KOURTNEY KARDASHIAN over him serenading them at both of their Italian weddings.
It all started when Kim collaborated on a collection with Dolce & Gabbana, who were the designers behind Kourtney and TRAVIS BARKER’s wedding wear. Kourt got upset that Kim “allegedly” copied her wedding look for the collab.
Kim then accused Kourt of copying her Italian wedding (remember Kimye tied the knot there in 2014) and also having Bocelli perform at the nuptials.
Bocelli took to Instagram where he refused to take sides in the spat, writing, “Dear [Kim] and [Kourtney], I’m so flattered that you both love my voice and I’ll always be happy to sing to you [...] see you soon in Tuscany!”
We can title this one “Fights of the Rich & Famous.” [via Huffpost]
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
The United States government is going to make a think tank play hardball if they want to get their hands on PRINCE HARRY’s visa application.
The Heritage Foundation has sued for the application materials to be released after Harry admitted to drug use in his family-bashing media tour – which would typically preclude someone from being granted a visa.
The Department of Homeland Security has since stonewalled even a judge that encouraged the government to respond one way or another. Now, the head of the foundation says the issue will ultimately be decided by a federal judge in Washington DC. [via DailyMali]
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DAY OF THE YEAR
Cow Appreciation Day
National Free Slurpee Day
National Mojito Day
World Population Day
National Blueberry Muffin Day
National Swimming Pool Day
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ON THIS DATE
1798 - Congress re-establishes the US Marine Corps. It first consisted of:
1 major
4 captains
16 first lieutenants
12 second lieutenants
48 sergeants
48 corporals
32 drums and fifes
720 privates
The President was to direct its formation of companies and detachments, with officers and musicians appropriately allocated. The major was allotted four daily rations and $50 a month.
The Executive Branch would decide on compensation for the peons.
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1804 - Aaron Burr mortally wounds Alexander Hamilton in an arranged duel.
The bout culminated a longtime rivalry between the two. Political maneuvering by one constantly inhibited the other's political future. Burr had earlier beaten Hamilton's father-in-law for a Senate seat.
In the 1800 election, Hamilton intentionally influenced the vote to bump Burr off the president's slot. Hamilton actively campaigned against Burr's bid for the New York governorship in 1804. A final, public exchange of vitriolic letters impelled the death match Ultimately, Burr was indicted for murder but was acquitted.
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1864 - Union forces hold off a Confederate attempt to break through Fort Stevens.
Breaking the fort would be the confederacy's ticket to taking Washington, DC. Fighting was so close that Abraham Lincoln was able to survey the fighting with his wife.
In fact, they were so close that a bullet wounded a surgeon standing next to the president. Meanwhile, Confederate Major General John Breckinridge, who challenged Lincoln in the 1860 presidential election, was on the other side of the battle firing shots.
It is the only time presidential opponents also fought on opposing sides in battle.
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1897 - Salomon Andree and two others fire up their hot air balloon on the island of Danskon in the Svalbard Archipelago en route to the North Pole. (The islands are just inside the Arctic Circle.)
Without steering mechanisms, the crew depended on large ropes dangling from the gondola to act as rudders as they dragged across the ground.
But wind and ice quickly screwed up their course, and they lost two of these ropes. The men hit the ground in a controlled crash on the arctic pack ice. Their three months of rations were substantial, supplemented by the meat and hides of polar bears they murdered.
They made way for Kvitoya, a Russian island amidst the ice.
It is there they died: one man was buried, though without a marker; Adree and another died in their tent. Historians suggest they died not from the weather conditions, but rather from ingesting parasites found in polar bear meat.
Their camp would not be found until 1930.
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1914 - Babe Ruth makes his professional baseball debut for the Boston Red Sox at age 19.
He pitched against the Cleveland Naps and won the game.
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1960 - “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee is first published.
The following year Lee would be awarded a Pulitzer Prize for the novel.
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1972 - American Bobby Fischer plays his first chess match of the 1972 World Chess Championship against Soviet Boris Spassky, the reigning champ.
The tournament ended at the end of August, with Fischer victorious -- 12-and-a-half games to 8-and-a-half games.
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2013 - “Orange Is the New Black” debuts on Netflix.
It is the first series to be nominated for comedy and drama Emmy awards.
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2015 - Mexican drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman escapes prison again.
After stepping into the shower, he slipped into a tunnel where he was able to exit the maximum-security Altiplano Federal Prison, located near Mexico City.
Authorities discovered a lighted and ventilated tunnel that was nearly a mile long, stretching from the prison to a half-built home.
El Chapo previously escaped from a high-security prison in 2001 and was not recaptured until 2014.
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2021 - Richard Branson flies to the edge of space on his Virgin Galactic rocket.
Five others joined him on the flight, which was part of the company’s test of space tourism.
The spacecraft reached an altitude of 53.5 miles.
After the flight, Virgin Galactic reports they have 600 reservations for tickets on future flights. A seat costs between $200,000 and $250,000.
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BIRTHDAYS
Alessia Cara - pop singer - 27
Connor Paolo - actor, “Gossip Girl” & “Revenge” - 33
David Henrie - actor, “Wizards of Waverly Place” & “That’s So Raven” - 34
Joan Smalls - model - 35
Tyson Kidd - wrestler - 43
Jax Taylor - reality star, “Vanderpump Rules” - 44
Nadya Suleman - Octomom - 48
Lil Kim - rapper - 49
Justin Chambers - actor, “Grey’s Anatomy” - 53
Cassi Davis - actress, “House of Payne” - 59
Lisa Rinna - actress & reality star, “Days of Our Lives” - 60
Mindy Sterling - actress, “iCarly” & “Monsters University” - 70
Stephen Lang - actor, “Gods and Generals” & “Avatar” - 71
Giorgio Armani - fashion designer - 89
Born On This Date
Carl Judie - actor, “Dhar Mann” - 1958 (d. 2021)
John Quincy Adams - 6th POTUS - 1767 (d. 1848)
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