8/16/2022: WHO to Rename Racist Diseases
PLUS: Biden’s Failing Grade; Leo’s Charitable Loophole; and Sussexes Plan UK Trip
Today is Tuesday, August 16, 2022.
It is the 228th day of the year.
137 days remain.
TRENDING
CEO of Pfizer was trending Monday after Albert Bourla (the CEO of the Pfizer) tweeted that he has covid. By the way, he is quadruple vaccinated.
In honor of National Relaxation Day yesterday, Twitter users shared their tricks for keeping calm, turning off their minds and relaxing. Several noted the irony that the day fell on a Monday.
Happy First Day of School was trending as many teachers and students returned to school yesterday.
Capri Sun was trending yesterday after thousands of juice pouches were recalled due to possibly containing cleaning solution. The flavor being recalled is Wild Cherry.
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HIT LIST
The World Health Organization wants to rename monkeypox after concerns that the current name could be “considered derogatory or have racist connotations.”
The health agency said the decision was made in line with “current best practices for name diseases, which aims to avoid causing offense to any cultural, social, national, regional, professional or ethnic groups, and minimize any negative impact on trade, travel, tourism or animal welfare.”
Other names likely to be changed include Japanese encephalitis, Spanish influenza and Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome.
CANCEL CULTURE: When words make a person sad, they get canceled or redefined. How long before all names are removed and everything is referred to by a set of non-racist, non-sexist, non-ageist, non-ableist, etc, etc numbers?
SPEAKING OF THE POX: An Italian greyhound owned by a non-monogamous gay couple has been infected with the disease in the first reported case of it spreading from human to pet.
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A group of high school football players from Georgia are being praised for saving a woman’s life.
Cesar Parker, Treyvon Adams, Antwiion Carey, Messiah Daniels Tyson Brown and Alto Moore jumped into action after witnessing a serious collision near their school.
According to eyewitnesses, the group of teens saw a woman struggling to get out of one of the banged up vehicles, so they jumped into action to pry open her door. After lots of tugging, they were able to get to the 50-year-old woman and pull her out of the smoking vehicle.
Hundreds of people in the boys’ community took to social media to praise them for their selfless and heroic actions.
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A 7-year-old red panda named Ravi spent two days on the run after escaping from an Australian zoo.
The furry creature was captured Sunday after he was spotted hanging out in a fig tree in a nearby park.
Zookeepers tried to entice Ravi out of the tree with his favorite snacks, including bamboo and sweet corn, but he refused to budge. In the end, they used a tranquilizer dart to get him down.
AFRAID OF COMMITMENT: Ravi was sent to the Adelaide Zoo last week from a neighboring zoo with hopes that he would pair up with a female red panda named Mishy.
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The US set a record in July for overnight warmth.
The average temperature for the lower half of the country was 63.6 degrees fahrenheit -- a record for any month in 128 years of record keeping, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
The nighttime low was more than 3 degrees warmer than the 20th century average.
NOAA also reported that as a whole, July was the sixth hottest month on record with an average temperature of 61.97 degrees -- about 1.57 degrees warmer than the 20th century average.
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A man in California has broken the world record for the most ghost peppers eaten in one minute.
Gregory Foster was officially recognized by Guinness World Records for eating 17 ghost peppers in 60 seconds.
He broke the record on November 14, 2021 in San Diego.
THAT’S HOT: Ghost peppers can register 1 million or more Scoville Heat Units (SHU) . A jalapeno typically registers between 2,500 and 8,000 SHU.
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BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The Dow closed up 149 points (0.44%) on Monday, to close at 33,910. The S&P 500 added 16 points (0.37%) to close at 4,297 while the Nasdaq added 77 points (0.59%) to close at 13,122.
🛢 West Texas Intermediate was trading just under $90 on Monday. Brent Crude was trading right around $95.
⛽ The national average price of a gallon of gas was $3.96 on Monday.
₿ Bitcoin fell Monday, losing more than $255 and trading just over $24,000.
🛩 There were 2,602 flight delays into, within, or out of the United States on Monday and 216 such cancellations.
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CHARTS
Top 5 Songs on iTunes:
Nicki Minaj, “Super Freaky Girl”
Cole Swindell, “She Had Me At Heads Carolina”
Kate Bush, “Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)”
Morgan Wallen, “You Proof”
OneRepublic, “I Ain’t Worried”
Top 5 Songs on Spotify:
Lizzo, “About Damn Time”
Harry Styles, “As It Was”
OneRepublic, “I Ain’t Worried”
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
NICHOLAS EVANS has died.
The “Horse Whisperer” author passed away on August 9 after suffering a heart attack.
He was 72.
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PETE CARRIL has died.
The legendary Princeton basketball coach and Hall of Famer passed away Monday. No cause of death was shared.
He was 92.
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BABY NEWS
Actor KELLAN LUTZ, 37, and his wife BRITTANY GONZALES, 34, have welcomed their second child, a baby boy named Kasen.
The couple announced the news on Instagram Monday, revealing that the newborn arrived on August 10.
Lutz and Gonzales are already parents to daughter Ashtyn, 1.
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THE SWAMP
On the heels of President JOE BIDEN’s approval rating hitting 40% -- his highest in two months -- Fox News asked Americans in Milwaukee, San Francisco and Washington DC how they felt he was doing.
“F,F,F,” a retired teacher from Milwaukee said. “He doesn’t know what he is doing.”
A San Francisco man gave Biden a “C plus,” while a DC resident said, “There is not much good [Biden’s] done.”
So there you have it folks…the president who got 81 million votes.
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Fox News reports that LEONARDO DICAPRIO’s charity foundation has used a complicated web of shell companies and pass-through entities to finance climate nuisance lawsuits.
In particular, the foundation supported efforts by the leftwing Collective Action Fund to sue energy companies. The suits cited “devastating damage sea level rise - caused by their greenhouse gas emissions - is having on coastal communities,” an argument that may only hold up in the leftiest of court jurisdictions.
There’s also a sticky ethical gray area in all this, as one George Mason University law professor named Michael Krauss tells Fox News. Krauss says law firms in cases like these typically only get paid if they win, but they’re also taking money to pursue lawsuits in the first place paid for by charitable contributions.
WORTH NOTING: While it’s not illegal to do this, there is a question of ethical standards at play.
WORTH ASKING: As a vocal ecological justice warrior who flies on his own private jets around the world, why would Leo want to hide his involvement in cases such as these?
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LOTTERY
No winner for Friday night’s Mega Millions drawing. Tonight’s drawing will be for an $82 million jackpot or a $47.1 million cash payout.
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SHOWBIZ NEWS
An FBI investigation into the death of “Rust” cinematographer HALYNA HUTCHINS found that ALEC BALDWIN had to have pulled the trigger of the prop gun for it to go off. This contradicts Baldwin’s claim that his finger “wasn’t on the trigger.”
Per the report, the revolver in question was “intact and functional” and “could not be made to fire without a pull of the trigger.”
In a statement to ABC News, Baldwin’s attorney said the FBI’s findings are “being misconstrued” as the gun was only tested one time because “it was in such poor condition.”
As for where the investigation goes from here, detectives are still waiting on Baldwin’s phone records. Once they have those the case will be forwarded to the District Attorney for a final decision on whether charges should be filed.
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JENNIFER LOPEZ and BEN AFFLECK will celebrate their Vegas nuptials with friends and family this weekend.
An insider tells Page Six that the festivities will kick off with a rehearsal dinner on Friday, followed by a ceremony on Saturday and a barbecue picnic on Sunday.
Vogue magazine is expected to be on hand to document the event, which will take place at Ben’s estate in Riceboro, Georgia.
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MILLIE BOBBY BROWN is Purdue University’s newest student.
The actress told Allure magazine that she recently enrolled in the school’s online program to study human services.
“Stranger Things” fans noted that Purdue and the fictional city featured in the show are both located in Indiana.
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ANNE HECHE, 53, was “peacefully taken off life support” Sunday after being declared brain-dead following her fiery car collision.
Her rep told Fox News that her organs will be donated through the OneLegacy Foundation.
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MARK RUFFALO thinks Marvel does a better job with its superhero shows, movies and spinoffs than “Star Wars.”
In an interview with Metro UK, the actor defended the superhero franchise saying they “let a director or an actor sort of recreate each piece to their own style, their likeness.”
“If you watch ‘Star Wars,’ you’re pretty much going to get the same version of ‘Star Wars’ each time,” he added.
Ruffalo has played Bruce Banner aka The Hulk, for a decade. He reprises the role in the new Disney+ series “She-Hulk: Attorney at Law.” So, no bias there.
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WAYNE GRETZKY is being sued for $10 million after alleging that chewing gum made him lose weight.
According to the lawsuit, Wayne’s wife JANET became a spokesperson for STEVEN SPARKS product, a natural gum used to manage weight called “OMG gum.” In what can only be assumed as Wayne trying to support his wife, he claimed that after chewing the gum for two months he lost 35 pounds.
Sparks, claiming he had no idea Wayne was lying, reinvested both money and service into the company.
Then when it all came out as a big ‘ol lie, the company tanked and Sparks lost millions. So he is now suing The Great One for what he lost and more.
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MTV announced Monday that LIZZO, BLACKPINK, JACK HARLOW and MANESKIN will take the stage at the year’s Video Music Awards.
They join previously announced performer NICKI MINAJ, who will also receive the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award.
The show will be held at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey on August 28.
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CASTING CALL
JOHNNY DEPP announced Monday that he will direct a film about Italian artist AMEDEO MODIGLIANI. He will also serve as co-producer alongside AL PACINO and BARRY NAVIDI.
“Modigliani,” which is based on the 1980 play of the same name, “follows the painter and sculptor during a turbulent 48 hours in Paris in 1916 when he is unable to sell his work,” Depp told The Hollywood Reporter.
The project will be Depp’s first directorial gig since 1997’s “The Brave,” in which he also starred opposite MARLON BRANDO.
Production is slated for spring of 2023.
DEPP vs. HEARD: Also on Monday, Depp’s ex-wife AMBER HEARD revealed that she has gotten rid of her legal team and hired a new one as she heads to appellate court against the actor.
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REBA MCENTIRE’s boyfriend REX LINN will play her onscreen husband in the upcoming season of ABC’s “Big Sky.”
The pair will play owners of a successful glamping company Sunny Day Excursions, which has a long history of customers that go missing.
WORTH NOTING: The role will be McEntire’s first time playing a villain.
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Ring (as in the doorbell) and Hollywood Studios MGM are teaming up to create a TV show using viral footage from Ring’s doorbell and smart-home cameras.
The half-hour show, called “Ring Nation,” will be hosted by comedian WANDA SYKES.
The show will air on Amazon Prime, as both Ring and MGM are owned by Amazon.
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
PETE DAVIDSON allegedly proposed to KIM KARDASHIAN prior to the couple’s split, according to a new post from RadarOnline.
A Kardashian-source told the outlet that “Everything was just moving too fast. Kim wanted to slow things down and instead Pete proposed.”
Previous reports suggested the couple’s 13-year age gap and chaotic schedules are what caused the breakup.
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
PRINCE HARRY and MEGHAN MARKLE are heading back to the UK.
The couple will be in Britain early next month to attend a series of charitable events. They will also head to Germany to kick off the one-year countdown to next year’s Invictus Games in Dusseldorf.
A spokesperson for the couple released a statement on the upcoming visit, saying how “delighted” Harry and Meg are to “visit with several charities close to their hearts.”
No word on if they will get a visit in with Harry’s family.
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SPORTS
The Dallas Mavericks will host the Los Angeles Lakers on Christmas Day, according to a first draft of next season’s schedule.
Last season, the two teams met three times with the series ending 2-1 in favor of Dallas.
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DAY OF THE YEAR
National Tell A Joke Day
National Roller Coaster Day
National Airborne Day
National Rum Day
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ON THIS DATE
1501 - Michelangelo is awarded the contract to create his statue of David by the Overseers of the Office of Works of the Duomo, Florence’s cathedral church.
The statue would be completed three years later
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1812 - The British Army captures Detroit without having to fire a shot.
American General William Hull, foreseeing a losing battle, surrendered what was then just a fort.
Hull was a veteran of the Revolution, and understood the prowess of the British Army. He also had family with him inside the fort.
He was later court-martialed and sentenced to death for cowardice. President James Madison would commute that sentence for his service in the revolution.
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1841 - Protesters gather outside the White House and burn President John Tyler in effigy.
They were angry that he vetoed an effort to establish a Bank of the United States.
The protesters were those from his own Whig party.
Following the riot, the District of Columbia established its own police force.
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1896 - George Carmack finds gold in the Yukon territory.
He saw the shiny metal in a creek bed after traveling west on intel that there was plenty of gold in Alaska.
The news spread and sparked a mining rush into the Yukon territory.
Some dispute that Carmack actually made the discovery, believing that it was actually one of his Native American guides named Skookum Jim.
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1948 - Babe Ruth dies from cancer in New York City.
Following his death, he was laid in state in the Yankee Stadium entrance. Thousands showed up to pay their respects.
He would finally be put to rest in Hawthorne, New York.
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1977 - Elvis Presley kicks the bucket in his Graceland mansion.
The King was on the toilet when he suffered a heart attack.
In his later years, his unhealthy diet and drug habit was notorious, contributing to his early death at only 42 years old.
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2008 - Michael Phelps wins his 7th gold medal at the Beijing Olympics for his time in the 100-meter butterfly.
He set a new Olympic record of 50.58 — besting Milorad Cavic of Serbia by 0.01.
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2018 - British Columbia, Canada declares a State of Emergency with 566 wildfires scorching the area.
More than 3,000 people were evacuated.
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BIRTHDAYS
Skylar Dunn - actress, “The Greatest Showman” - 15
Piper Curda - actress, “A.N.T. Farm” - 25
Jack Met - guitarist, AJR - 25
Cameron Monaghan - actor, “Shameless” - 29
Young Thug - rapper - 31
Evanna Lynch - actress, “Harry Potter” films - 31
Carey Price - hockey player - 35
Arden Cho - actress, “Teen Wolf” & “Pretty Little Liars” - 37
Vanessa Carlton - pop singer - 42
Taika Waititi - director, “Thor: Ragnarok” - 47
Jase Robetson - reality star, “Duck Dynasty” - 53
Steve Carell - actor, “The Office” & “Anchorman” - 60
Angela Bassett - actress, “Tina Turner” & “Malcolm X” - 64
Madonna - pop singer - 64
James Cameron - director, “Titanic” & “Avatar” - 68
Born On This Date
Fess Parker - actor, “Davy Crockett” & “Old Yeller” - 1925 (d. 2010)
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