Today is Wednesday, July 26, 2023.
It is the 207th day of the year.
158 days remain.
WHAT’S ON TAP
More insight into the future of X and an historic skull fragment returns home. More in HIT LIST.
BRONNY JAMES is recovering after suffering cardiac arrest and DOJA CAT has angered some of her followers. More in SHOWBIZ.
DWAYNE JOHNSON makes a sizable donation to striking actors & CILLIAN MURPHY wants to play Ken in a “Barbie” sequel. More in CASTING CALL.
KIM KARDASHIAN is the ultimate soccer mom. More in KARDASH.
A return to the United Kingdom and official royal duties might hit yet another roadblock for the Sussexes – if they ever decide to go back. More in ROYALS.
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HIT LIST
Axios has gotten its hands on ELON MUSK’s plans to transform TWITTER from a mere social media site into X, the “everything app.”
Their primary source is biographer WALTER ISAACSON, who’s been following Musk around for months. Isaacson says that Musk has had the idea for an online platform that helps content creators earn money for more than 25 years.
WORTH REMEMBERING: Musk made his first big chunk of money when PayPal sold in 2002 for $1.5 BILLION; he pocketed about $100 million from that sale. So he’s understood online payments for a long time.
Musk also sees X transforming the news industry, making it easier to pay independent journalists for their reporting, rather than having to rely on news filtered through layers of bureaucracy in Big Media.
BY THE WAY: Isaacson’s biography is due out September 12. [via Axios]
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A survey sponsored by Bankrate says that only 35% of Gen Z reliably tips their servers at a sit-down restaurant.
By contrast, 83% of Baby Boomers always leave a tip and are more generous – even when it comes to taking care of food deliveries and Uber rides.
WORTH NOTING: Gen Z reached adulthood amid the pandemic, when food delivery and takeout became a new normal. As the youngest adults, they have relatively fewer financial resources – but instead of curbing their budgets and cooking at home, they’re still going out to eat, but stiffing the help. [via Fortune]
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UPS appears to have reached a deal to avoid a strike that many feared would again grind shipping logistics to a halt across the country.
The tentative deal still needs approval from the union’s 300,000-plus workers. Over the next five years, workers will get a $7.50 pay raise and curb some overtime requirements. [via CNBC]
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Pieces of skull believed to have belonged to Ludwig van Beethoven are now residing in a museum at the Medical University of Vienna, after having spent decades in the US.
Discovered by businessman Paul Kauffmann in a safety deposit box in France following his mother’s passing in 1990, the fragments were passed down from her great-uncle, Franz Romeo Seligmann.
Seligmann was a physician, medical historian and anthropologist in Vienna who reportedly acquired the pieces of skull in 1863 when Beethoven’s body was exhumed for research purposes.
Kaufman told CBS that DNA samples will be taken from the fragments and compared to hair samples of Beethovans to confirm. [via CBS]
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In an attempt to hinder overtourism, Amsterdam’s cruise ship terminal may be shuttered.
The city council has approved a proposal banning “polluting” cruise ships, and is now looking into how to implement such a ban.
Amsterdam is expected to see more than 18 million overnight visitors this year. By 2025, that number could reach 23 million, in addition to another 24 million to 25 million day visits. Under a 2021 ordinance called “Amsterdam Tourism in Balance,” when the number of overnight visitors reaches 18 million, the council is “obliged to intervene,” which is what they are now doing.
In another effort to curb overtourism, the council has announced a ban on the use of marijuana in the street and is taking steps to discourage alcohol in the red light district. [via Washington Post]
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BABY NEWS
Actress ALIA SHAWKAT is expecting her first child.
Few details are known, such as when she is due or who the father is.
The 34-year-old has always tried to keep her personal life private, though did reveal in 2017 that she is bi-sexual.
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BREAKUPS
Nine months after announcing their engagement “Chrisley Knows Best” star CHASE CRISLEY and entrepreneur EMMY MEDDERS have called it quits.
Speculation of a breakup has been circulating on social media after the two wiped each other from their respective accounts. The split was confirmed yesterday by Chrisley, who asked for fans to respect their privacy during this time.
No word on what happened.
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BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The DOW added 26 points (0.076%) to close at 35,438 on Tuesday. The S&P added 12 points (0.28%) to close at 4,567 and the NASDAQ added 85 points (0.61%) to close at 14,144.
🛢 WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE closed at $79; BRENT CRUDE at $83.
⛽ The national average price of a GALLON OF GAS was $3.63 on Tuesday.
₿ BITCOIN was mostly flat Tuesday, trading around $29,200.
🛩 There were more than 4,145 FLIGHTS delayed within, into, or out of the United States on Tuesday and more than 720 such cancellations.
💰Tonight’s POWERBALL drawing will be for a $41 million jackpot or a $21.2 million cash payout.
SHOWBIZ NEWS
BRONNY JAMES, the 18-year-old son of LEBRON JAMES, suffered cardiac arrest on Monday during a workout with his USC teammates.
He was treated on the scene before being rushed to a hospital where he was in the ICU. He is now in stable condition.
A family spokesperson has asked fans for “privacy,” “prayers” and “patience” until more information is released. [via TMZ]
Insiders say LeBron is “scared and devastated” about the incident and fears that his son’s basketball career could be over, as cardiologists try to figure out what happened. In the meantime, LeBron is “making sure [Bronny] gets the best care possible as his well-being is the most important thing right now.” [via Daily Mail]
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Rhode Island mom-of-one Veronica Correia had no idea the frenzy her bra could cause.
The 21-year-old has become a viral sensation after tossing her bra to DRAKE while he was performing at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn last week.
Landing at his feet, Drake picked up the undergarment, checked the tag and said, “Damn. 36G? Locate this woman immediately.”
After the incident, not only did Drake reach out to Correia on Instagram, but Playboy also contacted her, offering her a job, which she plans to take. [via Daily Mail]
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DOJA CAT has lost over 250,000 follows on Instagram after slamming fans who call themselves “Kittenz.”
“My fans don’t name themselves sh*t. If you call yourself a ‘kitten’ or [effing] ‘kittenz’ that means you need to get off your phone and get a job and help your parents with the house,” she spewed.
When one of those fans pointed out that Doja herself coined the phrase years ago, she said that the name was made up when she was an “alcoholic teen.”
A handful of Doja-inspired accounts were also removed from Twitter (X?) and Instagram in light of the rant. [via Page Six]
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KRISTEN BELL’s kids like to drink beer…the non-alcoholic kind.
The actress shared the tidbit during a recent appearance on “The Kelly Clarkson Show,” saying her 8- and 9-year-old daughters like to enjoy an alcohol-free brewski from time to time.
Bell explained that it all started because her husband, actor DAX SHEPARD, is a recovering alcoholic and their kids would see him drinking N/A beer.
And it’s not just at home; Bell said that the girls have asked about non-alcoholic beer on the menu at restaurants. [via People]
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RAVEN-SYMONE says she has a lot in common with her Disney character, including certain psychic abilities.
“I do have moments where I really will just stare and I will see a scene that is happening to me or that is going to happen,” the actress revealed on a recent episode of “The Best Podcast Ever with Raven and Miranda.”
Unlike her character in “That’s So Raven” and “Raven’s Home,” the 37-year-old says that she can’t see “directly” into the future, but has experienced deja vu through the help of her “spirit guides” for the past 30 years.
While she believes in psychics, Raven says that fortune tellers are a scam. [via Page Six]
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BTS’ JUNGKOOK is the first member of the group to land a No. 1 single on the Billboard Global 200 charts -- as a solo artist -- with his song “Seven.”
Since its release on July 14, the song has garnered over 217 million streams worldwide.
“Seven” also features LATTO, giving her her first No. 1 on the charts too. [via People]
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TERRY CREWS and RYAN REYNOLDS are teaming up to raise awareness about colon cancer prevention in a new video for the Colorectal Cancer Alliance’s Lead From Behind campaign.
The initiative aims to educate people about the importance and accessibility of preventive colon cancer screenings.
The new collaboration comes after last year’s ad, which features Reynolds getting a colonoscopy. [via ET Canada]
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CASTING CALL
DWAYNE “The Rock” JOHNSON is supporting his fellow actors.
Amid the ongoing strike, Johnson made a seven-figure donation to the SAG-AFTRA Foundation in an effort to help union members who may be struggling financially.
The actors’ strike kicked off on July 14, effectively shutting down Hollywood. [via ET]
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KATY PERRY, LIONEL RICHIE and LUKE BRYAN will once again be at the judges’ table for the upcoming Season 22 of “American Idol.”
The news comes after some drama surrounding Perry’s reactions and comments during the last season, leaving some uncertain if she would return.
Auditions for the new season kick off August 2.
RYAN SEACREST will return as host. [via Deadline]
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CILLIAN MURPHY says he would be down to star as a Ken doll in a “Barbie” sequel.
Speaking to Cinefilos about the recent “Barbenheimer” craze ahead of last weekend's theatrical release of “Barbie” and Murphy’s “Oppenheimer,” the actor said that he is looking forward to seeing the film.
“You can spend the whole day in the cinema. What’s better than that?” Murphy said ahead of the films’ releases. [via People]
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
SAINT WEST is serious about his love of soccer and KIM KARDASHIAN is happy to take on the role of ultimate soccer mom.
The reality star and son flew to Osaka, Japan to watch CRISTIANO RONALDO play against NEYMAR. Two of Saint’s favorite players -- besides LIONEL MESSI, of course.
Their trip comes after taking in Messi’s MLS debut in Miami last weekend. [via Hollywood Life]
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
If PRINCE HARRY and MEGHAN MARKLE decide to return to the United Kingdom and resume work as members of the royal family, they might still have to figure out how to earn a living.
Royal analyst Ephraim Hardcastle – who could not have a more perfect name to be a professional watcher of the British monarchy – notes that any funds paid out to the Sussexes would come from the Duchy of Cornwall.
But now that PRINCE WILLIAM is the Prince of Wales, he controls those purse strings, and there’s no guarantee he’ll be willing to take a pay cut to bankroll his treacherous brother. He’ll also have to help out his children as they reach adulthood in the coming years out of that same pot of money.
While he earned 24 million Pounds from the Duchy last year, dividing that up multiple ways doesn’t necessarily guarantee a lavish royal lifestyle. [via DailyMail]
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DAY OF THE YEAR
National Aunt and Uncle Day
National All or Nothing Day
One Voice Day
National Coffee Milkshake Day
Holistic Therapy Day
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ON THIS DATE
1579 - Francis Drake leaves San Francisco to cross the Pacific Ocean.
He had landed in New Albion (today’s California), claiming the land for Great Britain the month prior.
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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 would serve for four more years as PM, then return 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’ body 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
Elizabeth Gillies - actress, “13” & “Victorious” - 30
Taylor Momsen - actress & rock singer, The Pretty Reckless - 30
Francis Raisa - actress, “The Secret Life of the American Teenage” - 35
Miriam McDonald - actress, “Degrassi: The Next Generation” - 36
Monica Raymund - actress, “Chicago Fire” - 37
Kate Beckinsale - actress, “Pearl Harbor” & “Van Helsing” - 50
Chris Harrison - former host of the “Bachelor” - 52
Jason Statham - actor, “Death Race” & “The Expendables” films - 56
Sandra Bullock - actress, “The Blind Side” & “Speed” - 59
Kevin Spacey - actor, “American Beauty” & “House of Cards” - 64
Roger Taylor - drummer, Queen - 74
Helen Mirren - actress, “The Queen” & “The Hundred-Foot Journey” - 78
Mick Jagger - rock singer, Rolling Stones - 80
Born On This Date
Joe Jackson - Jackson family patriarch & talent manager - 1928 (d. 2018)
Stanley Kubrick - director, “The Shining” & “A Clockwork Orange” - 1928 (d. 1999)
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