Discover more from Morning Martini
7/26/2022: Britney & Elton’s “Tiny Dancer” Collab
PLUS: Monkey Tranqs, Adele (finally) Reschedules, and NFL To Go
Today is Tuesday, July 26, 2022.
It is the 207th day of the year.
158 days remain.
TRENDING
Paul Sorvino was trending Monday as Twitterverse reacted to the news of his passing. More in Deaths.
#CreativeWaysToStartFresh was trending yesterday. Tweets included “Spend even more time with family,” “Burn it down. Burn it ALL down,” “hit the reset button,” “start with a healthy breakfast,” and “smile.”
David Warner landed in Twitter’s Top 10 Trends after news of his death broke. More in Deaths.
#JohnClearMyList was trending Monday after T-Mobile president John Legere tweeted that he is offering to “clear the school supply lists of hard-working educators across the US.”
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HIT LIST
A police officer on scene at Dallas Love Field Airport shot a woman who appeared to fire a gun into the air multiple times Monday morning. The woman survived, and was the only one shot or otherwise injured during the incident.
The woman opened fire at the ticketing desk, and did not get the gun through security.
MEANWHILE: Two planes collided near a gate at Miami International Airport on Sunday. Both planes belonged to Delta. No word yet on what caused the crash.
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A Mickey Mantle baseball card from 1952 will hit the auction block next month, where it’s expected to fetch more than $10 million. The current record for most valuable baseball card is a 1909 Honus Wagner card, which sold for $6.6 million last year.
The current owner of the Mantle card says he bought it for $50,000 in 1991.
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Researchers believe they’ve identified the root cause of a mysterious spate of hepatitis in very young children: decreased immunity to adenovirus thanks to covid lockdowns that kept the kids away from other people.
More than 1,000 such cases in kids under five years old have been recorded globally across at least 35 countries.
WORTH REMEMBERING: Kids this age have a next-to-zero chance of getting very sick from covid, and a statistically-zero chance of dying from it.
MEANWHILE: In an interview on web show “Rising,” ANTHONY FAUCI said if he could go back to the start of the pandemic, he would do things differently: “[t]here would have been much, much more stringent restrictions…” he said.
IN OTHER WORDS: Go bankrupt harder, peasants. Stay at home more, idiots. Wear six masks, you gross unwashed masses.
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ELON MUSK has rejected reporting that he had an affair with the wife of fellow billionaire SERGEY BRIN. Musk posted on Twitter a photo of himself hanging out with Brin, that Musk says was snapped just hours beforehand.
In an email to the New York Post, Musk said, “Nicole and Sergey’s divorce has absolutely nothing to do with me.” He also said that none of the three of them involved provided any comment and called the reporting “a case of broken telephone, two or three layers removed.”
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Officials in Japan have been unable to contain a pack of macaque monkeys that have been terrorizing people for weeks. So far, 42 people have been injured. The monkeys are also eating crops and plants when they can find them.
Authorities are now arming themselves with tranquilizer guns to make quick work of containing the pests. So far, though, they haven’t been able to nab any.
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The recession and supply chain fiasco just got real: The Choco Taco is no more.
Reps for Klondike say the frozen ice cream treat was discontinued earlier this month, as the company reallocated resources to make more in-demand snacks, according to PEOPLE magazine.
It was first invented in 1983.
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BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The Dow added 90 points (0.28%) on Monday to close at 31,990. The S&P 500 added 5.21 points (0.13%) to close at 3,966 while the Nasdaq lost 51 points (0.43%) to close at 11,782.
🛢 West Texas Intermediate ticked up a bit Monday, but remains under $100 a barrel at $96.75. Brent Crude remains above $100, but barely, at $100.13.
⛽ The average cost of a gallon of gas was $4.35 on Monday.
₿ Bitcoin slid Monday, losing more than 2% and trading just over $22,100 on Monday evening.
🛩 There were 5,291 flight delays within, into, or out of the United States on Monday, and 1,070 such cancellations.
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CHARTS
Top 5 Songs on iTunes:
John Rich, “Progress”
Kate Bush, “Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)”
Lizzo, “About Damn Time”
Luke Combs, “The Kind of Love We Make”
Walker Hayes, “Y’all Life”
Top 5 Songs on Spotify:
Harry Styles, “As It Was”
Lizzo, “About Damn Time”
Bizarrap & Quevedo, “Quevedo: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 52”
Post Malone & Doja Cat, “I Like You (A Happier Song)”
Kate Bush, “Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)”
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DEATHS
PAUL SORVINO has died.
The actor, known for his role as Paulie Cicero in “Goodfellas” and NYPD sergeant Phil Cerreta on “Law & Order,” passed away Monday morning at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida of natural causes, his rep reported.
He was 83.
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DAVID WARNER has died.
The British actor, known for his roles in “The Omen” and “Titanic,” passed away Sunday from a cancer-related illness, the BBC reported.
He was 80.
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MARK HOWARD has died.
The beloved Nashville radio host passed away Sunday at his home, according to his wife Debra. No cause of death was shared.
He was 65.
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BABY NEWS
Model BRE TIESI, 31, recently welcomed her first child, a boy named Legendary, with rapper NICK CANNON, 41.
Tiesi announced the news on her Instagram. She also shared an 11-minute video on her vlog, showing off the newborn, and revealing his name.
While the child is the first for Tiesi, it is Cannon’s eighth. He is dad to 11-year-old twins Monroe and Moroccan, whom he shares with his ex-wife MARIAH CAREY. He shares 5-year-old son Golden “Sagon” and 19-month-old Powerful Queen with model BRITTANY BELL, and 13-month-old twins Zion and Zillion with DJ ABBY DE LA ROSA. His son Zen, whom he shares with model ALYSSA SCOTT, passed away in December after being diagnosed with brain cancer.
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Former “Bachelorette” contestant JJ LANE, 38, welcomed a daughter with his wife, former NFL cheerleader KAYLA HUGHES, 39.
Nelle Eden Lane arrived on July 21, according to social media posts from both Lane and Hughes.
She joins big sister Gemma, Lane’s daughter from a previous relationship.
Lane appeared on Season 19 of the “Bachelorette.”
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WEDDINGS
“Bachelor” alum EMILY FERGUSON, 29, and NHL player WILLIAM KARLSSON, also 29, tied the knot in Las Vegas over the weekend.
The pair said “I do” on the Rose Rooftop in front of a view of the Strip. Several “Bachelor” alums were in attendance.
Ferguson -- along with her twin sister -- appeared on the 20th season of the reality dating show.
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THE SWAMP
In August 2020, an FBI agent formally opened a case against HUNTER BIDEN. For these purposes, this means the agent created a file in the FBI’s database where he would collect, store, and manage all evidence related to the investigation of Hunter’s alleged illegal activities.
WORTH NOTING: It’s not yet clear which of Hunter’s since-exposed illegal behavior was being investigated: his illegal ownership of a gun, his lying about his criminal history and drug use on his gun permit application, his prolific use of prostitutes and drugs that he recorded on video many times, his failure to pay taxes to the federal government, or his selling access to his father’s political connections.
Two months later, an FBI special agent based out of Washington DC named Timothy Thibault closed that file, which means agents would no longer be able to access, or add to, the growing pile of evidence that Hunter Biden was committing crimes.
In a statement, Senator CHUCK GRASSLEY announced on Monday that at least one whistleblower has come forward to his office to indicate that Thibault shut down the file despite knowing the evidence inside was “either verified or verifiable via criminal search warrants.” Thibault then ordered the investigation closed without providing a valid reason.
Further, the evidence against Hunter was locked so that it could only be accessed at the highest of levels within the FBI.
IT GETS WORSE: An investigation of Thibault’s social media accounts reveal he frequently liked and shared articles and reporting critical of then-President DONALD TRUMP and his Republican allies in Congress.
IN OTHER WORDS: An anti-Trump FBI agent actively suppressed factual details about Hunter Biden’s illegal activities in the weeks before the November 2020 election.
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New York City Mayor ERIC ADAMS is very unhappy about the influx of illegal immigrants headed to his city. He told reporters Monday, “Our schools are going to be impacted. Our healthcare system is going to be impacted. Our infrastructure is going to be impacted.”
WORTH ASKING: If the biggest city in the country can’t absorb this many illegal immigrants, what hope do small rural border towns have?
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LOTTERY
No winner for Friday night’s Mega Millions drawing. Tonight’s drawing will be for a $790 million jackpot or a $464.4 million cash payout.
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SHOWBIZ NEWS
BRITNEY SPEARS secretly met with ELTON JOHN at a Beverly Hills recording studio last week, to work on a new duet to his 1971 hit “Tiny Dancer.”
A music industry insider told Page Six that the duet was Elton’s idea, while adding that “Britney is a huge fan.”
The track is set to be released next month.
WORTH ASKING: Does this mark Spears’ official comeback?
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A new book details the pungent smell and scarred genitals of disgraced movie mogul HARVEY WEINSTEIN.
Author KEN AULETTA spoke to former film employees, Weinstein accusers and even the director’s brother and former business partner, BOB WEINSTEIN, for his book “Hollywood Ending: Harvey Weinstein and the Culture of Silence.”
Former actress, and Weinstein accuser JESSICA MANN told Auletta that he “smelled like poop” and his “private parts looked deformed.”
Weinstein, who is currently serving 23 years in prison for multiple charges of rape and sexual assault, tried to have the book shelved, but failed.
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ADELE announced rescheduled dates for her Las Vegas residency on Monday.
“The Weekends With Adele” residency at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace will now take place from November 18, 2022 through March 25, 2023.
Adele postponed her residency earlier this year because at the time she felt it wasn’t “good enough.”
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JASON MOMOA collided with a motorcyclist in California over the weekend.
The actor was driving his 1970 Oldsmobile near Los Angeles when a 21-year-old man on a motorcycle crossed the double yellow lines and “directly into the path of Jason Momoa’s vehicle,” the collision report read.
Despite being ejected from his motorcycle, the rider suffered only “minor, non-life threatening injuries,” while Momoa was unhurt, according to the report.
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SI Swimsuit model MANJU BANGALORE has plans to head into space.
The physicist, actress, writer, founder of two nonprofits and 2019’s Miss World California can now add scientist-astronaut candidate with Project PoSSUM to her resume.
Speaking to Fox News about her latest endeavor, Bangalore said that she is “excited for the opportunity to go to space and conduct experiments [...] and further scientific research.”
“I also hope to represent women in STEM,” she added.
Bangalore will appear in SI’s 2023 Swim issue. No word on when she will head to space.
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MACKLEMORE is almost 700 days sober after relapsing during the pandemic.
Over the weekend, the rapper announced on TikTok that he’s been sober for 694 days after relapsing during the summer of 2020.
He urged others to share their own sobriety journeys in the comment section of his video, which has nearly 6 million views.
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CASTING CALL
All eight seasons of “Game of Thrones” are heading to HBO Max.
An exact date was not revealed, but insiders told Variety it will be next month.
In addition to past episodes, the streamer will also debut the prequel series “House of the Dragon” on August 21.
HBO aired “GoT” from April 2011 through May 2019.
WORTH NOTING: The episodes and the prequel series will be available in 4K Ultra HD, HDR 10, Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos.
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SARAH PAULSON is set to star in the upcoming horror flick “Dust” for Searchlight Pictures.
The film follows a woman who is trapped by treacherous dust storms while also being haunted by a threatening presence. She must take extraordinary measures to protect her family, according to the official description.
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The NFL announced its new streaming option on Monday.
NFL+ will “offer fans the ability to stream live out-of-market preseason games, live local and primetime regular-season and postseason games along with live local and national audio for every game,” according to the announcement.
Fans will also be able to access NFL Network shows on-demand.
With the new streaming service, NFL Game Pass will no longer be available.
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TBS has canceled weekly late-night series “Full Frontal with Samantha Bee” after seven seasons.
Other notable shows that were recently canceled by the network include “Chad” and reality series “The Big D.”
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CELEBRITY CELLBLOCK
GHISLAINE MAXWELL has been transferred to the Tallahassee Federal Correctional Institution, a low-security federal prison in Florida, to serve out her 20-year sentence.
To pass her time, she can do yoga and Pilates, create some artwork, take part in talent shows or play some flag football with her fellow inmates.
Others who have served time at the prison include Russian spy MARIA BUTINA, terrorist COLLEEN LAROSA aka “Jihad Jane,” and nursing home serial killer CATHERINE MAY WOOD.
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
KOURTNEY KARDASHIAN is setting the record straight about her son MASON DISICK and his connection to -- or lack of -- Instagram accounts claiming to be him.
The mom-of-three took to Twitter after an account pretending to be Mason shared an Instagram Story about KYLIE JENNER allegedly getting married to her boyfriend, rapper TRAVIS SCOTT.
“After months and months of thinking you should all know that is NOT Mason on these fake social media accounts talking about our family,” she tweeted.
Kourt also criticized media outlets who refer to the account as a “news source” when publishing pieces about the famous family.
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
PRINCE HARRY’s memoir will likely hit shelves by the upcoming holiday season.
A publishing source from Penguin Random House told The Sun that “the manuscript has been finished” and the release is “on track for the end of the year.”
Harry has previously described the book as a “firsthand account” of his life, focusing on the “highs and lows, the mistakes, [and] the lessons learned.”
Royal biographer DUNCAN LARCOMBE told the outlet that the “uncertainty about the content of the book is preventing reconciliation between [Harry and his family].”
WORTH NOTING: Last week, a source described the book as “juicy” to Page Six.
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SPORTS
The upcoming season of the spring pro football league, the XFL, will kick off February 18, 2023.
Games will be played in Las Vegas, Orlando, San Antonio, Arlington and Houston, Texas, Seattle, St. Louis and Washington DC -- which are also the locations of the eight teams in the league.
The 43-game season will air on ABC, ESPN, and FX.
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DAY OF THE YEAR
National Aunt and Uncle’s Day
National Bagelfest Day
National Coffee Milkshake Day
All Or Nothing Day
One Voice Day
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ON THIS DATE
1579 - Francis Drake leaves San Francisco to cross the Pacific Ocean.
He landed in New Albion (today’s California), claiming the land for Great Britain the month prior. He had sailed around the tip of South America to get there.
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1775 - The Second Continental Congress establishes the US Postal System.
Ben Franklin is put in charge as he had been the postmaster for the colonies under British rule, and thrived in the position.
With the declared split from Britain, he worked on behalf of the Continentals, and set up routes that covered the entire East Coast.
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1788 - New York becomes the 11th state to ratify the US Constitution.
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1945 - Winston Churchill resigns the office of Prime Minister.
His Labour Party was defeated in the first election in ten years. He led the opposition party six years later and once again became Prime Minister.
He served for four more years as PM, then returned to parliament for nine more years.
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1947 - President Truman signs the National Security Act into law.
The law reorganized the military, putting the Department of War and Department of the Navy under the control of the Secretary of Defense. It also split the Air Force into its own organization separate from the US Army.
The National Security Council was also established to advise the executive and the CIA to unify all intelligence gathering efforts.
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2005 - Shuttle Discovery launches from Cape Canaveral.
It was the first shuttle mission since the 2003 Columbia disaster.
The mission took supplies to the International Space Station, and tested new safety procedures.
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2020 - Congressman John Lewis’ casket is carried over the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma with a military honor guard as part of a remembrance ceremony.
He had previously crossed the bridge 1965 as part of a march for freedom for African Americans. During that march, he and many others were beaten by state troopers.
Lewis passed away on July 17 after a battle with pancreatic cancer.
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BIRTHDAYS
Carson Lueders - pop singer - 21
Taylor Momsen - rock singer, The Pretty Reckless - 29
Elizabeth Gillies - actress, “13” & “Dynasty” - 29
Francia Raisa - actress, “The Secret Life of the American Teenager” - 34
Monica Raymund - actress, “Chicago Fire” - 36
Jacinda Ardern - 40th Prime Minister of New Zealand - 42
Kate Beckinsale - actress, “Pearl Harbor” & “Van Helsing” - 49
Chris Harrison - TV show host, “The Bachelor” - 51
Jason Statham - actor, “The Transporter” & “War” & “Death Race” - 55
Jeremy Piven - actor, “Entourage” - 57
Sandra Bullock - actress, “The Blind Side” & “Speed” - 58
Kevin Spacey - actor, “American Beauty” & “House of Cards” - 63
Dorothy Hamill - Olympic figure skater - 66
Roger Taylor - drummer, Queen - 73
Helen Mirren - actress, “The Queen” & “Phil Spector” - 77
Mick Jagger - rock singer, Rolling Stones - 79
Born On This Date
Joe Jackson - Jackson family patriarch - 1928 (d. 2018)
Stanley Kubrick - director, “2001: A Space Odyssey” & “The Shining” - 1928 (d. 1999)
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