Today is Thursday, July 18, 2024.
It is the 200th day of the year.
166 days remain.
WHAT’S ON TAP
A major American manufacturer backs down from DEI policies and an indigenous tribe emerges in Peru. Details in HIT LIST.
OZZY is done with BRIT’s dancing and BENNIFER forgoes celebrating their anniversary together. More in SHOWBIZ.
TIMOTHEE CHALAMET dusts off his table tennis skills in CASTING CALL.
YE’s debts keep rising. More in KARDASH.
THE KING opens the new Parliament. Details in ROYALS.
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HIT LIST
More details on the attempted assassination of DONALD TRUMP and murder of COREY COMPERATORE:
– The local law enforcement officer who spotted the shooter on the roof was boosted up by his partner. That’s when the shooter turned his weapon at the officer, who was holding onto the ledge with his hands and was unable to reach for his weapon or radio. He then fell to the ground. It is believed that in the ensuing seconds, the shooter fired shots and the officers got on the radio to announce a shooter was confirmed.
– Countersnipers reportedly saw the shooter scoping out their own very position with a rangefinder, according to reporting by the Daily Mail.
– The Butler Township Commissioner issued a statement that said the Police Department “had no security detail for this event. There were seven officers all assigned to traffic detail. Period!!” He added that local police were not assigned any responsibility for securing any part of the site, including the building from which the shooter fired. On an ominous note, the commissioner said that anyone who says otherwise is “uninformed, lying, or covering their own backsides. I trust I am being loud and clear.”
– According to Wisconsin Senator RON JOHNSON, during a briefing of Senators on Wednesday by reps from the Secret Service, the legislators were only allowed to ask, in total, four questions. He called the briefing “unbelievably uninformative.”
MAJOR LINGERING QUESTION: Why was Trump not prevented from taking the stage while the shooter was investigated, after being stopped through security with a rangefinder, then disappearing and returning with a backpack? He began shooting just minutes into Trump’s rally.
ALSO WORTH ASKING: With Vice Presidential nominee JD VANCE now receiving Secret Service protection, how will he possibly be safe if there weren’t resources to adequately protect Trump in the first place?
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In a statement issued Tuesday, agricultural manufacturer JOHN DEERE announced it is stepping back from promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. “We will no longer participate in or support external social or cultural awareness parades, festivals, or events,” it said in part.
The scale back also includes removing “socially motivated messages” from training materials and policies, adding that “diversity quotas and pronoun identification” are not company policy. The company said the changes are a response to feedback from customers and employees. [via USA Today]
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Amid development in the Peruvian rainforest, members of one of the most reclusive Indigenous communities have been spotted increasingly in recent weeks. In one instance, more than 50 members of the Mascho Piro were spotted near a small village in the jungle and another 17 near the coastal community of Puerto Nuevo.
Indigenous advocacy groups say their appearance proves they continue to live in the area and that further logging efforts should be suspended.
According to government estimates, there are an estimated 750 Mascho Piro living in jungles in Peru and Brazil. [via Washington Post]
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Keep your African land snails at home the next time you fly.
Officials at Detroit Metro Airport say they intercepted 90 live snails from luggage belonging to a traveler from Ghana at the end of June. The traveler isn’t believed to be a smuggler, however, having declared “fresh food items” on customs forms.
Such snails are classified as an invasive species and not allowed into the country. [via CBS Detroit]
MEANWHILE, IN SOUTH KOREA: After classifying poppies as a narcotic, South Korea’s Incheon International Airport has posted signage reminding travelers not to pack Trader Joe’s popular “Everything But the Bagel” seasoning mix.
One traveler posted a photo of a giant poster explaining the policy and specifically picturing the Trader Joe’s seasoning bottle in a call to avoid packing it. [via NBC News]
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The latest victim of DISNEY WORLD’s PC crusade is Liver Lips McGrowl, one of the 18 animatronic bears featured in the “Country Bear Jamboree” at Magic Kingdom.
According to Disney blog, “Inside the Magic,” the term “liver lips” can be considered derogatory and offensive, as it is associated with alcohol abuse and the damage it does to the liver; therefore, it must be removed at once.
Taking over McGrowl’s place is Romeo McGrowl, a bear who resembles the original, but with much softer features.
In addition to the new bear, a new script and soundtrack has been added to attraction. No word on whether that was a revamp or because of other offensives. [via Inside the Magic]
WORTH NOTING: The original McGrowl had been part of the Jamboree for 50 years -- no word on how many people he led to become alcoholics during that time.
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BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The DOW gained 243 points (0.59%) to close at 41,198 on Wednesday. The S&P lost 78 points (1.39%) to close at 5,588 and the NASDAQ slid 512 points (2.77%) to close at 17,996.
🛢 WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE closed at $83; BRENT CRUDE at $85.
⛽ The national average price of a GALLON OF GAS was $3.51 on Wednesday.
₿ BITCOIN ticked down 1%, trading around $64,400.
🛩 There were more than 5,715 FLIGHTS delayed within, into, or out of the United States on Wednesday and more than 730 such cancellations.
💰Friday night’s MEGA MILLIONS drawing will be for a $251 million jackpot or a $118.7 million cash payout.
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SHOWBIZ NEWS
Nominations for the 76th annual Emmy Awards were announced Wednesday.
“Shogun” led the noms with 25, followed by “The Bear” at 23, “Only Murders in the Building” at 21 and “True Detective: Night Country” with 19. Other notables include “Fallout” at 16, “Baby Reindeer” with 11 and “The Gilded Age” at 6.
The biggest takeaway is CAROL BURNETT becoming the oldest female nominated for an Emmy at the age of 91, for her portrayal of Norma Dellacorte in Apple TV+’s “Palm Royale.”
The Emmys are set for this September. No host yet.
WORTH NOTING: If it seems like the 75th Emmys just happened, it's because they did! The 2023 awards were pushed to this past January because of all the Hollywood strikes. [via NY Post]
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OZZY OSBOURNE is done with BRITNEY SPEARS’ dancing videos on Instagram.
Speaking on his family’s podcast, Ozzy said he is “fed up” with seeing the “poor old” pop star’s videos, to which his wife SHARON OSBOURNE clarified as Spears’ dancing clips.
“Every [effing] day,” Ozzy added. [via Us Weekly]
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JENNIFER LOPEZ and BEN AFFLECK spent their second wedding anniversary apart this week.
She was spotted in the Hamptons, while he stayed back in L.A. for work.
JLo has spent the past few weeks in New York, and hasn’t been spotted with Affleck in months.
According to insiders their marriage has been over since March. [via Page Six]
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DRAKE’s Toronto mansion flooded this week when severe weather hit the Canadian city.
He gave fans a glimpse of the chaos on Instagram, showing the dirty water rising up over his ankles, while he joked, “This better be Espresso Martini.”
It did appear that he still had power, however, while over 105,000 residents were without.
Drake has not yet updated fans on the aftermath. [via The Sun]
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As they prepare to release their new album, “Moon Music,” COLDPLAY has decided to forgo a traditional tour in an effort to reduce their carbon footprint.
The band is currently planning a 10-night residency at London’s Wembley Stadium rather than traveling around the UK. Having their set stationary would reduce the need for HPV’s to drive their equipment across the country, drastically lowering their impact on the environment.
“Moon Magic” is due out October 4.
Stay tuned for official residency news. [via Daily Mail]
WORTH ASKING: Whether they may stay put, but their fans will have to travel to see them…so at the end of the day could the environmental impact be a wash?
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JENNY MCCARTHY and DONNIE WAHLBERG renew their vows annually.
She shared the tidbit during a recent appearance on SiriusXM’s “Let’s Talk Off Camera with Kelly Ripa.”
The renewals, something McCarthy says she used to mock others for, has gone on for 10 years now. [via People]
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MISSY ELLIOTT made history last week when NASA transmitted her song “The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)” from Earth to Venus (about 158 million miles away) at the speed of light.
The only other song to be sent to space is THE BEATLES’ “Across the Universe,” which was sent up in 2008.
Why Venus? Because it’s Missy’s favorite planet. [via CNN]
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TIGER WOODS says he was so distraught over the attempted assassination attempt on his friend, former president DONALD TRUMP, that he lost sleep.
Woods was flying to Scotland for this week’s Open Championship when news of the shooting broke. He stayed glued to the coverage for the duration of the overnight flight, which he says impacted his practice round the next day.
“It was a long night and that’s all we watched the entire time on the way over here,” he told reporters on Sunday.
Trump and Woods go way back. The two have golfed together a bunch over the years and Trump awarded Woods with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2019.
The Open kicks off today. [via TMZ]
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MEL B paid homage to her Scary Spice roots while receiving her honorary doctorate degree from Leeds Beckett University for her work with domestic abuse victims.
For the ceremony, the 49-year-old wore a custom-made graduation gown with a leopard-print lining.
She later called the honor “as massive an achievement” as her time performing with the SPICE GIRLS. [via Page Six]
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CASTING CALL
TIMOTHEE CHALAMET will star in “Marty Supreme,” a fictionalized story inspired by professional ping pong player Marty Reisman.
Reisman started his table tennis career as a hustler in Manhattan. From there he would go on to win 22 major ping pong titles, and five bronze medals at the World Table Tennis Championships.
When he was 67, Reisman competed in the United States National Hardbat Championship, becoming the oldest player to win an open national competition in a racket sport. [via Variety]
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
Another day, another legal situation for YE.
According to The Sun, the rapper owes property taxes on his Wyoming ranch, totaling close to $6,000. That, plus all his other debts -- like the four tax liens on Yeezy Apparel and two on a couple of his L.A. properties -- bring the grand total to close to $1 million in debt.
One legal insider told the outlet that Ye may be using his “non-payment as a way to establish control” over his employees and those seeking the funds.
It was just this month Ye’s attorney dropped him as a client over his unwillingness to “speak to counsel” and refusal to “pay counsel as well.” [via The Sun]
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
KING CHARLES and QUEEN CAMILLA formally opened the new British Parliament on Wednesday.
Keeping with tradition, the King read a speech laying out newly-minted Prime Minister KEIR STARMER’s policy agenda, including initiatives to nationalize the rail system, amend planning laws to boost home construction, and curb illegal immigration. Starmer has 40 bills he’ll present to Parliament in coming weeks to turn these proposals into law, if successful.
The monarchs dressed in extravagant formal royal garb for the event, including grandiose jewels, accessories, and crowns, which Express estimates are worth more than $4 BILLION (with a B!) Great British Pounds. [via CNN, Express]
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DAY OF THE YEAR
Insurance Nerd Day
Nelson Mandela International Day
National Caviar Day
Black Leaders Awareness Day
National Sour Candy Day
World Listening Day
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ON THIS DATE
64 A.D. - The Great Fire of Rome begins.
The fire would burn for over five and a half days. Of the fourteen districts in the city, seven suffered serious damage and three were completely destroyed.
Nero, the emperor at the time, paid for the relief efforts from his own funds and even allowed his palaces to be opened as temporary homes for the displaced citizens.
To prevent a similar disaster, the city was rebuilt with greater spacing between the houses and brick was used in their construction.
The cause of the blaze remains unknown.
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1389 - France and England agree to the Truce of Leulinghem.
The treaty ended the third phase of the Hundred Year's War.
This began a 13-year period of peace and was the longest during the entire conflict. The truce was supposed to last twenty-seven years, but Scotland decided to invade England in 1402 ending the peace prematurely.
France would re-enter the conflict in 1403.
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1870 - The First Vatican Council decrees the Pope's infallibility.
This dogma stated that the Pope does not have a possibility of error when he declares a teaching on faith based on his own divine revelation to the Catholic Church.
A common misconception is that Papal infallibility implies the Pope is free from sin in his personal life, which is inaccurate.
This declaration only applies when the Pope is working in his official capacity.
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1925 - Adolf Hitler publishes “Mein Kampf."
The thesis described an alleged Jewish conspiracy to gain world leadership. It also attempted to tell the story of how Hitler became increasingly anti-Semitic and militaristic.
Hitler dictated this first volume of the work while in prison for political crimes. The second volume would be published in 1926.
The title translated into English means "My Struggle" or "My Battle."
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1969 - Senator Ted Kennedy kills Mary Jo Kopechne after a party on Chappaquiddick Island when he drunkenly drives his car off a bridge.
At approximately 11:15 p.m. Kennedy left a thank you party, held for some of Robert Kennedy's campaign staff, with Mary Jo. He planned to get her onto the last ferry to Edgartown, where she was staying that night.
The Oldsmobile Delmont 88 was driven off a narrow, unlit bridge that was not on the route to Edgartown. Kennedy pulled himself to safety, but Kopechne was not so lucky.
The Senator reported the incident only after the car and body were discovered by police the next morning.
One week later, Kennedy pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of an accident and received a 2-month suspended sentence as punishment.
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2013 - Detroit, Michigan files for Chapter 9 bankruptcy.
The debt owed is:
$2.9 billion in government bond debt
$5.9 billion in Detroit Water and Sewerage Department debt
$3.5 billion in unfunded pension liability
$5.7 billion unfunded retiree health care liability
It is the largest municipal bankruptcy filing in US history, with over $18 billion owed.
Detroit is also the largest city by population to file for bankruptcy in the US.
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2019 - The City of West Palm Beach, Florida uses the songs “Baby Shark” and “Raining Tacos” to prevent homeless people from sleeping on the patio of a city-owned rental banquet facility near the beach.
West Palm Beach Parks and Recreation spokesperson explained the decision away, saying “people shouldn’t be tripping over bodies” when setting up for events, or when guests are leaving the venue.
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BIRTHDAYS
JD McCrary - actor, “K.C. Undercover” - 17
Bam Adebayo - basketball player - 27
Mandy Rose - wrestler - 34
Christon Gray - R&B singer - 38
Chace Crawford - actor, “Gossip Girl” - 39
Ryan Cabrera - pop singer - 42
Priyanka Chopra - actress, “Quantico” - 42
Kristen Bell - actress, “Veronica Mars” & “The Good Place” - 44
Kelly Reilly - actress, “ Yellowstone” - 47
M.I.A. - rapper - 49
Daron Malakian - guitarist, System of a Down - 49
Vin Diesel - actor, “The Fast and the Furious” - 57
Benzino - rapper - 59
Wendy Williams - TV show host - 60
Richard Branson - entrepreneur, Virgin Group - 74
Joe Torre - baseball player - 84
Born On This Date
John Glenn - astronaut & politician - 1921 (d. 2016)
Nelson Mandela - South African politician & activist - 1918 (d. 2013)
George “Machine Gun” Kelly - Prohibition gangster - 1895 (d. 1954)
Molly Brown - Titanic survivor - 1867 (d. 1932)
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