Today is Friday, July 7, 2023.
It is the 188th day of the year.
177 days remain.
WHAT’S ON TAP
A delivery driver gets axed for rude behavior – but maybe he’s just stressed out about paying for an expensive new car. Details in HIT LIST.
THE EAGLES have announced a final farewell tour and DRAKE is the latest celeb to be beamed with a phone. More in SHOWBIZ.
Feuding sisters-in-law TERESA GIUDICE and MELISSA GORGA are both set to return to “Real Housewives of New Jersey.” More in CASTING CALL.
JENNY MCCARTHY and CARMEN ELECTRA reunited for an ad for KIM KARDASHIAN’s SKIMS line. More in KARDASH.
The Waleses spend the day on the polo pitch. More in ROYALS.
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HIT LIST
Lawyers for TWITTER have already lobbed a bomb at META for the rollout of its “Threads” app, billed as a text-based version of Instagram.
The letter accuses Meta of “systematic, willful, and unlawful misappropriation of Twitter’s trade secrets and other intellectual property,” followed by a direct threat that Twitter will take legal action if necessary. The accusation is based on Meta’s recent hiring of former Twitter employees.
WORTH REMEMBERING: Twitter’s headcount is down by thousands since ELON MUSK completed his purchase of the platform late last year. [via Semafor]
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A DOORDASH driver’s bizarre interaction with a customer went viral earlier this week, after the customer’s doorbell camera recorded the driver swearing at the woman for leaving what he believed to be an insufficient tip.
The driver is seen telling the customer, “I just want to say it’s a nice house for a $5 tip.”
The woman replies, “you’re welcome,” and as he turns away, the driver says, “[f] you.”
NOW: DoorDash says they’ve booted that driver from using their platform. “'Respectfully asking for a tip is acceptable but abusing or harassing someone is never acceptable,” DoorDash said in a statement.
WORTH NOTING: The woman left an apparent $5 tip on a $20 order – so 25% is pretty generous.
WORTH ASKING: When did tipping expectations hinge on the customer’s ability to pay? Sounds very “from each according to their ability….” as a certain German philosopher opined. [via DailyMail]
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A fifth of new car buyers are spending more than $1,000 a month on their car payment.
IT GETS WORSE: The average monthly car payment, regardless of age of the vehicle, is now $733.
IT GETS EVEN WORSE: A vast majority of people financing new vehicles are stretching out loan terms to between 67 and 84 months, with an interest rate around 9.6%. [via Jalopnik]
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Etiquette expert William Hanson has shared his top tips for being a polite house guest.
First, he says that arriving on time, though not on the dot, is a good way to start things off. Arriving anywhere from five to 10 minutes after the set time is acceptable.
Next, Hanson says that if a host prepares a beverage, the guest should offer to clean up at the end of the visit, but if the host says no to the offer then leave it be.
Another well-mannered thing guests should do is never refuse hospitality from the host. An example of this would be if the host offers some food or a drink, “just accept it. Even if you [only] drink half of it,” it is “rude to say no,” Hanson stated.
The rest of the guidelines include, acknowledging the host’s children and/or pets, taking off one's shoes when entering the home and “returning the favor” by inviting the host over on a later date.
Lastly, Hanson says the most important thing to remember is that the “host is in charge of the entire day,” so no making alternative suggestions. [via The Sun]
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Could you imagine hiccuping for a whole day? A week? A month? What about 68 years?!
Iowa farmer Charles Osborne holds the Guinness World Record for longest attack of hiccups after a farming accident left him hiccuping 20 times a minute for 68 years.
The hiccuping started in 1922 when Osborne was hanging a 350-pound hog, lost his balance and fell down. He didn’t think much about the fall until he started hiccuping nonstop.
While it is unknown exactly what caused Osborne’s chronic hiccups, physician Terence Anthoney said that perhaps the “fall impacted the portion of his brain that inhibits the hiccuping mechanism.”
Seeking different medical opinions and trying several different techniques to get rid of the hiccups -- including his friend trying to scare them away by shooting a .22 behind his head -- Osbourne said nothing seemed to work.
Then in 1990, they suddenly stopped. Sadly, Osborne passed away in May of 1991, so he only got less than a year to enjoy being hiccup-free. [via NY Post]
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DEATHS
Guitarist GEORGE TICKNER has died.
He passed away Tuesday, according to a post from his JOURNEY bandmate, NEAL SCHON. No cause of death has been shared.
Tickner, along with Schon, co-founded the band in 1973. Prior to that he was a member of the psychedelic rock band FRUMIOUS BANDERSNATCH.
He was 76.
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BABY NEWS
QB CARSON WENTZ and his wife MADISON WENTZ announced that they will be welcoming another girl into the family.
Wentz shared the news on Instagram, cementing himself as a “girl dad.”
The newborn will join big sisters 3-year-old Hadley Jayne and 20-month-old Hudson Rose.
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BREAKUPS
Musician RICKY MARTIN and his husband, artist JWAN YOSEF are calling it quits after six years of marriage.
The two shared a joint statement about the split on Thursday, writing that they have decided to “end [their] marriage with love, respect and dignity for [their] children.”
The pair will share custody of 5-year-old daughter Lucia and 3-year-old son Renn. Martin is also dad to 14-year-old twins Matteo and Valentino who he welcomed via a surrogate in 2008.
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Actor BILLY PORTER and his husband, creative director of The Smith Society ADAM SMITH have split.
A rep for Porter called the decision “sad” but “amicable,” while adding that the two will “continue to love and support each other as they embark on this next chapter.”
Porter and Smith were married for six years.
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BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The DOW lost 366 points (1.07%) to close at 33,922 on Thursday. The S&P lost 35 points (0.79%) to close at 4,411 and the NASDAQ lost 112 points (0.82%) to close at 13,679.
🛢 WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE closed at $71; BRENT CRUDE at $76.
⛽ The national average price of a GALLON OF GAS was $3.52 on Thursday.
₿ BITCOIN slid a bit on Thursday, trading under $30,300.
🛩 There were more than 3,900 FLIGHTS delayed within, into, or out of the United States on Thursday and more than 190 such cancellations.
💰Tonight’s MEGA MILLIONS drawing will be for a $427 million jackpot or a $220.6 million cash payout. Saturday night’s POWERBALL drawing will be for a $590 million jackpot or a $304.8 million cash payout.
SHOWBIZ NEWS
These albums drop today:
12 Rods, “If We Stayed Alive”
Bloodhound, “Tales From the North”
Citizen Cope, “The Victory March”
The Far Outs, “The Far Outs”
Gus Dapperton, “HENGE”
Local Natives, “Time Will Wait for No One”
The Mighty Bard, “Beyond the Gate”
Miles Miller, “Solid Gold”
Nothing But Thieves, “Dead Club City”
Taylor Swift, “Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)”
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While trying to get the attention of NBA player VICTOR WEMBANYAMA at a restaurant in Vegas, BRITNEY SPEARS was allegedly backhanded by a member of his security team.
Eyewitnesses told TMZ, that the two were entering Catch restaurant, along with Spears’ husband SAM ASGHARI, when she tapped Wembanyama on the shoulder to say hi. It was then that security personnel allegedly pushed her back and slapped her. It is unclear if the slap was on purpose or an accident. Meanwhile, other reports have surfaced stating the security guy pushed Spears back and in the process she hit her own face.
Sources say the matter, which occurred Wednesday night, is being treated as a criminal investigation by Vegas authorities. [via TMZ]
Yesterday, Wembanyama told reporters that he didn’t know the woman was Spears, while also stating that she didn’t just tap his shoulder, but “grabbed” him, which is why his security pushed her away. [via TMZ]
To that, Spears said she did not grab him and only offered a “friendly tap” on his shoulder, which coincides with what she stated in the police report she filed after the incident. Spears also noted that there were hordes of fans trying to get at her and no one from her security team assaulted any of them. [via TMZ]
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KEVIN COSTNER’s estranged wife CHRISTINE BAUMGARTNER is scoffing at the nearly $52,000 a month child support payment that he is offering.
According to new legal docs filed by Baumgartner, she calls the amount “completely inappropriate,” while adding that Costner spends $240,000 a month on himself and the kids when they are with him. She states that there is no way she can give their three teenagers the life they are “accustomed to” with that amount.
As for what amount she would like, Baumgartner says $248,000 a month should cover it. [via Daily Mail]
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In an update Wednesday, an insider told Page Six that MADONNA is feeling “weak and tired” as she continues to recover from a bacterial infection that landed her in the ICU last week.
As she continues to rest and recoup, her “Celebration” tour has been placed on hold. It had originally been scheduled to kick off on July 15. [via Page Six]
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After 52 years of performing more than a thousand concerts THE EAGLES have announced they are heading on a final farewell tour.
Band members DON HENLEY, JOE WALSH and TIMOTHY B. SCHMIT, will kick things off September 7 in New York. The tour is expected to run into 2025.
STEELY DAN will open for the group. [via Variety]
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During the opening night of his “It’s All a Blur” tour in Chicago, a fan threw a phone at DRAKE, hitting him in the arm.
For his part, Drake watched the phone bounce off and hit the ground, while continuing to sing a rendition of GINUWINE’s hit “So Anxious.”
Like most stupid things people do these days, the phone-throwing can be blamed on TikTok. In the trend, fans “toss” their phones onstage hoping the performer will take a selfie and pass it back. Again, stupid. [via Page Six]
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KOBE BRYANT will be featured on the cover of the NBA 2K24 video game.
There will be two cover choices, a Kobe Bryant Edition and a Black Mamba Edition.
Kobe was last on the 2K21 cover after his tragic death in January 2020. He was also featured on NBA 2K17 and NBA 2K10.
The game will be released in September. [via TMZ]
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CASTING CALL
EDWARD NORTON will voice LEE HARVEY OSWALD in “The Oswald Project”; part of the “True Spies” podcast.
“The Oswald Project” tells the story of JFK’s assassination and Oswald’s connection to the CIA.
“Star Wars” star DAISY RIDLEY will narrate the series, which is set to launch on July 18. [via Deadline]
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Sisters-in-law and sworn enemies TERESA GIUDICE and MELISSA GORGA will both return for Season 14 of the “Real Housewives of New Jersey.”
The ladies future with the show has been up in the air since a tumultuous three-part reunion where they were constantly at one another’s throats.
Fans had been skeptical that Bravo would keep them both on the show going forward, but it turns out drama makes for good TV; huh, who would’ve thought?!
Filming on Season 14 is set to begin in August. [via People]
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Peacock announced this week that “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” will hit the platform on August 3.
The movie is the highest-grossing video game adaptation of all time, the second-highest grossing animated film in history and the top-grossing title of the year to date. [via Variety]
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
JENNY MCCARTHY and CARMEN ELECTRA reunited to pose for KIM KARDASHIAN’s SKIMS line.
In the newly released photos, the two are washing a sports car, holding electric guitars and eating ice cream all while rocking some SKIMS swimwear.
A spokesperson for the line issued a release on the ad, saying the two women were selected “to celebrate the impact [they] had on pop culture and their timeless appeal, reminding the world that confidence and sexiness cannot be confined.”
McCarthy is 50 and Electra is 51.
The two previously worked alongside one another on MTV in the ‘90s. [via People]
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
PRINCE WILLIAM got in the saddle Thursday for the annual Royal Charity Polo Cup on the grounds of Windsor. The event raised about $1.2 MILLION for various charities and causes supported by the Waleses.
SPOTTED: PRINCESS KATE was on hand to cheer on her husband with a glass of champagne in hand. She also hung out with PETER PHILIPS, the son of PRINCESS ANNE; he’s also, by the way, the eldest of the late QUEEN ELIZABETH’s grandchildren. [via People]
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DAY OF THE YEAR
World Chocolate Day
National Strawberry Sundae Day
Global Forgiveness Day
Tell the Truth Day
National Macaroni Day
National Dive Bar Day
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ON THIS DATE
1865 – Four people connected to the plot to assassinate Abraham Lincoln are hanged at Old Arsenal Penitentiary.
The death of Mary Surratt marked the first time the US government executed a woman -- her connection to the plot is much less clear than the other three men who were executed.
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1930 – After thirty years of planning, design, and preparation, construction begins on the Hoover Dam in Nevada.
Over 21,000 workers contributed to the construction, which finished in five years -- two years ahead of schedule, and even came in under budget despite being a government operation.
It is the second-highest dam in the US.
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1981 – Court of Appeals judge Sandra Day O'Connor is nominated by President Ronald Reagan for the U.S. Supreme Court, becoming the first woman tapped for the bench.
Her appointment would be unanimously approved two months later.
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2005 – Al-Qaeda coordinates bombings across London's mass transit system during the morning commute. Three suicide bombers attacked subways and another hit a bus.
In total, 52 victims were killed and at least 700 more were injured, marking the worst attack in Great Britain since World War II.
The attack occurred during a meeting of the G8 countries. Prime Minister Tony Blair's remarks in the aftermath of the attack doubled down on his country's alliance with the United States for its war efforts in Iraq.
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2019 – The U.S. women's team brings home its second consecutive and record-breaking fourth overall World Cup win.
Only Germany has won more than one title.
The win sparked a nationwide debate over the gender pay gap. Lawsuits brought to light that the women's national team averaged less per game between 2015 and 2019 than their male counterparts -- but it's worth noting that the women's team was more successful.
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BIRTHDAYS
Dylan Sprayberry - actor, “Man of Steel” & “Teen Wolf” - 25
Ashton Irwin - drummer, 5 Seconds of Summer - 29
Alesso - music producer - 32
Jack Whitehall - actor, “Bad Education” & “Good Omens” - 35
Tom Sandoval - reality star, “Vanderpump Rules” - 40
Synyster Gates - guitarist, Avenged Sevenfold - 42
Kirsten Vangsness - actress, “Criminal Minds” - 51
Cree Summer - pop singer - 54
Jim Gaffigan - comedian - 57
Patrick O’Connell - actor, “Baskets” & “The West Wing” - 66
Shelley Duvall - actress, “The Shining” - 74
Ringo Starr - drummer, The Beatles - 83
Born On This Date
Satchel Paige - HOF baseball player - 1906 (d. 1982)
Otto Frederick Rohwedder - invented the bread-slicing machine - 1880 (d. 1960)
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