Today is Tuesday, August 20, 2024.
It is the 233rd day of the year.
133 days remain.
WHAT’S ON TAP
An iconic American manufacturer guts it's DEI program and a mayoral candidate chooses a unique governing strategy. Details in HIT LIST.
TAYLOR SWIFT meets with Southport stabbing victims and HARVEY WEINSTEIN will stay put -- for now. More in SHOWBIZ.
MILLIE BOBBY BROWN has a new project in the works and BRIAN COX thinks superhero movies have become “diluted.” Details in CASTING CALL.
Another celeb poses for SKIMS in KARDASH.
PRINCE ANDREW will venture from the Windsor estate with his family this summer. Details in ROYALS.
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HIT LIST
In September 2022, an Atlanta man, Fernando Cluster, entered Emory University Hospital to treat an intracerebral hemorrhage – bleeding in the brain. In the emergency surgery that followed, doctors removed a 12-by-15 centimeter piece of his skull with plans to put it back in a follow-up procedure a few weeks later.
When the time came for the follow-up, the hospital said it lost that chunk of his skull. As a result, Cluster needed a synthetic replacement and endured an even longer recovery after an infection that required yet another surgery.
Of course, the hospital billed him for the synthetic “skull flap” and the additional time spent in recovery. Cluster was also out of work and says he’s endured permanent injury.
He and his wife are now suing the hospital for unspecified damages, but the suit seeks both general and special compensation.
True to form, the hospital says it doesn’t comment on pending litigation. [via NBC News]
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A man running for mayor of Cheyenne, Wyoming, has pledged to let an artificial intelligence program govern the city if he wins this November’s election.
Victor Miller is a librarian with a self-described obsession with A.I. – so much so that he programmed a bot he’s nicknamed “VIC” to run the city; that’s an acronym for “Virtual Integrated Citizen.”
Miller demonstrated the technology at a recent campaign event, where citizens and media asked questions through a microphone that the chatbot responded to in real time.
When voters cast ballots in November, Miller’s name will be listed only as VIC. He promises to press the flesh if elected, attending events and meeting voters, but leave all the decision making to his software, which he’d update based on talking to constituents. [via Washington Post]
WORTH NOTING: The sci-fi satirical comedy series “Avenue 5” on HBO featured an A.I. president in its second season, but the show was regrettably canceled. It’s a fun watch if you need something new for your queue.
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Motorcycle company HARLEY-DAVIDSON issued a statement on Monday backtracking the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion policies it has implemented in recent years.
The company says it will not consider race and other demographic factors in hiring and will instead “retain the best talent” and ensure “all employees feel welcome.” It also noted that the company ended DEI hiring as of April this year.
In a further step, HD says it is reviewing all “sponsorships and affiliations,” likely suggesting it will not take an active role in LGBTQ-related events.
Finally, Harley-Davidson says employee training will “be absent of socially motivated content.”
The company joins other manufacturing companies like Tractor Supply and John Deere in making similar adjustments in recent months. [via Morning Martini]
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Following last year’s muddy debacle at Black Rock City, Nevada, organizers for this year’s BURNING MAN are struggling to sell tickets.
The event kicks off next week but general admission tickets remain on sale for an event that’s typically quite exclusive, marking the first time since 2011 it hasn’t sold out well before opening day.
In 2022, attendees battled unseasonably hot temperatures. Last year, attendees waited days in some cases to leave after rainstorms made the roads impassable. [via CBS News]
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Vera Liddell, the former Illinois school cafeteria employee who stole $1.5 million worth of chicken wings, says she did it to fund her gambling addiction.
“She’s just a little sweetheart that’s got a gambling problem,” her attorney told People. “She feels beyond terrible about this. It was the disease taking over.”
Earlier this month Liddell pled guilty to one count of felony theft of more than $1 million and was sentenced to nine years in prison.
MEANWHILE: Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle CHRIS JONES has offered to cover the cost of the chicken wings with the hope that it will free Liddell. The status of that offer is currently unknown. [via People]
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DEATHS
Legendary talk show host PHIL DONAHUE has died.
He passed away Sunday night following a long illness, according to his family.
Donahue is remembered for his self-titled talk show, which premiered in 1967. It had a 29-year run.
He was 88.
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BABY NEWS
A couple of “Bachelor” babies are on the way!
“Bachelor” alum BEN HIGGINS and his wife, esthetician JESSICA CLARKE are expecting their first child, a baby girl.
He’s 35 and she’s 29. They tied the knot in 2021.
“Bachelor” runner up MADI PREWETT and her husband, basketball player GRANT TROUTT are expecting their first child.
Both are 28. They tied the knot in 2022.
WORTH NOTING: Neither of the “Bachelor” alums are married to people they met on the show.
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SICK BAY
Actress DANIELLE FISHEL revealed Monday on her “Pod Meets World” podcast that she has been diagnosed with breast cancer; specifically ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS).
Fishel explained that it was caught early and is “technically stage zero.” She will undergo surgery to remove it and have some follow-up treatments, but otherwise should be okay.
WORTH NOTING: Breastcancer.org explains that DCIS isn’t life-threatening, but those who are diagnosed with it have a higher risk of developing invasive breast cancer later on.
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BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The DOW increased 236 points (0.58%) to close at 40,896 on Monday. The S&P gained 54 points (0.97%) to close at 5,608 and the NASDAQ increased 245 points (1.39%) to close at 17,876.
🛢 WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE closed at $74; BRENT CRUDE at $77.
⛽ The national average price of a GALLON OF GAS was $3.41 on Monday.
₿ BITCOIN ticked up Monday, trading around $59,110.
🛩 There were more than 5,225 FLIGHTS delayed within, into, or out of the United States on Monday and more than 840 such cancellations.
💰Tonight’s MEGA MILLIONS drawing will be for a $498 million jackpot or a $245.3 million cash payout.
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SHOWBIZ NEWS
TAYLOR SWIFT met with two of the young fans who were part of the Southport stabbing ahead of one of her shows in London.
A mom of one of the girls shared a photo of Swift embracing the fans, who witnessed a 17-year-old attack fellow attendees at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class last month. Three little girls died and eight people were injured.
It is unknown if others from the tragic incident also attended one of Swift’s concerts, though it was previously reported that she personally reached out to all the families. [via Rolling Stone]
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Meet SHILOH JOLIE.
ANGELINA JOLIE and BRAD PITT’s daughter officially dropped “Pitt” from her name, with court approval. There was no formal hearing on the matter, as she is a legal adult.
So far, no word from Pitt about the name change being made official. [via TMZ]
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After his retrial in November, disgraced movie mogul HARVEY WEINSTEIN will be extradited from New York to California.
His initial 23-year sentence got tossed earlier this year after it was decided the trial judge “erred by allowing testimony from three women whose allegations weren’t directly tied to the case.” The retrial, set for November 12, could include fresh sexual assault charges, according to Manhattan prosecutors.
Weinstein was convicted in a separate case in California in 2022, which prosecutors argue is now his “primary” sentence.
In the meantime, the 72-year-old is being housed in a special wing at Rikers for inmates with health issues. [via NY Post]
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Former football player GOSDER CHERILUS was arrested over the weekend after allegedly peeing on a passenger on a flight from Boston to Ireland. He was also allegedly acting “unruly” toward other fliers.
The 40-year-old was booted from the plane (which had not yet departed), arrested and booked on charges of disorderly conduct and disturbing a flight crew.
Cherilus addressed the incident Monday blaming his behavior on sleeping meds. He also apologized to the passengers and flight crew. No word on whether or not he reached out to the guy he peed on. [via TMZ]
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MIKE TYSON playfully punched JAKE PAUL during a promo event for their upcoming bout later this year.
The match got pushed to November after Tyson suffered an ulcer flare-up in May. He claims he is recovered and ready to take on the YouTuber -- who is 30 years his junior.
The fight will air live on Netflix on November 15. [via The Mirror]
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It’s been 26 years since the music video for their hit song “C’est La Vie” debuted, yet B*WITCHED says they are still getting messages from fans who hurt themselves attempting their famous Irish jig routine.
EDELE and KEAVY LYNCH, LINDSAY ARMAOU, and SINEAD CARROLL, who fortunately have never been injured doing the routine, shared a piece of advice for fans: “If you just do it without alcohol, you’ll be fine.”
B*Witched released their first music in a decade on Friday, an EP called “Ripped Jeans” -- an ode to their all-denim ensembles. [via The Sun]
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CASTING CALL
After announcing his retirement from the league, 37-year-old QB COLT MCCOY revealed that he will serve as an analyst for Big Ten football coverage for NBC Sports.
After getting drafted in 2010, McCoy spent 14 seasons in the NFL, playing for the Cardinals, Giants, Commanders/Redskins, 49ers, and Browns.
He will make his broadcasting debut on September 7. [via NBC]
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MILLE BOBBY BROWN is working on a film adaptation of her novel, “Nineteen Steps,” for Netflix.
The New York Times bestseller follows 18-year-old Nellie Morris who tries to navigate wartime in East London while embarking on a new romance with American airman Ray. The story covers the Bethnal Green Tube disaster, one of the worst civilian disasters in the UK during the war. Many of the experiences shared in the book are from Brown’s own grandmother.
Brown will serve as co-producer on the film. No word on if she will also star in it. [via Deadline]
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The Journal of the American Medical Association reports an increase in online searches of “gynecologists” thanks to one small scene in “Barbie.”
In the week following the film’s release there was a 154.1% increase in the term “gynecologist definition” and a 51.3% increase in the term gynecologist.
“Other than ‘Barbie’s’ release, there were no major events during this period that may have led to widespread changes in search interstate in gynecology,” the study notes.
The scene in the movie is just Barbie seeing a gynecologist -- nothing crazy enough to prompt such an increase in searches. [via People]
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Actor BRIAN COX is not a fan of Marvel.
“I think cinema is in a very bad way,” he stated during a panel at the Edinburgh International Film Festival. “I think it’s lost its place because of, partly, the grandiose element between Marvel, DC and all of that. And I think it’s beginning to implode, actually. You’re kind of losing the plot.”
Cox cited the recent success of “Deadpool & Wolverine,” arguing that while it “earned a lot of money” and made “everybody happy,” eventually it “becomes diluted.”
QUENTIN TARANTINO and MARTIN SCORSESE share the sentiment, with the latter previously stating that superhero films are “not cinema.”
MEANWHILE: “Deadpool & Wolverine” dethroned “Joker” to become the highest-grossing R-rated film of all time, earning $1.086 BILLION at the worldwide box office. [via EW]
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
CHARLI XCX is the latest celeb to pose for KIM KARDASHIAN's SKIMS brand.
In a sneak peek of the new SKIMS Cotton line, Charli wore the Cotton Rib Split Neck Bralette and Boxer in Marble Stripe. She accentuated the look by posing alongside a sprinkler.
Charli joins a slew of well-known celebs, such as SABRINA CARPENTER, USHER, LANA DEL REY and Olympian SUNI LEE, who have all posed for SKIMS.
The new Cotton line drops tomorrow. [via TMZ]
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
PRINCE ANDREW will be joining the Royal Family for its summer holiday at Balmoral and get exclusive use of the Craigowan cottage that QUEEN ELIZABETH particularly enjoyed.
Andrew has not wandered far from the Royal Lodge on the Windsor Estate this year, amid multiple reports and rumors that KING CHARLES has been trying to force him out of the residence.
Andrew will be joined by his daughters and ex-wife SARAH FERGUSON at Craigowan. The ladies are reportedly eager to get Andrew out and about. [via Express]
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DAY OF THE YEAR
National Bacon Lovers Day
World Mosquito Day
International Day of Medical Transporters
International Hawaiian Pizza Day
National Radio Day
National Chocolate Pecan Pie Day
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ON THIS DATE
1804 - The Lewis and Clark Expedition suffers its single casualty of their entire journey.
Sergeant Charles Floyd likely suffered acute appendicitis and his ruptured organ likely killed him.
Given the medical technology of the time, he probably would not have survived even if he had been hospitalized.
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1911 - The New York Times attempts to send the first telegram around the globe.
The message was "This message sent around the world" and was dispatched from their in-house telegraph office at 7pm. It was sent through 16 operators and traveled 28,000 miles.
The same dispatch office received the same message 16 minutes and 30 seconds later.
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1920 - An organization of seven men meet in Canton, Ohio to discuss forming the first professional football league.
What resulted was the American Professional Football Conference, which would evolve into the NFL.
One of the founding members was Jim Thorpe, a decathlete and early football star.
The first game would be played on September 26 that year, with the Rock Island Independents taking on a team not even in the league. The first APFA game was between teams in Dayton and Columbus.
Dayton won 14-0.
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1940 - Former Soviet leader Leon Trostky is assassinated while exiled in Mexico City.
His attacker used an ice pick, most likely working for Stalin.
Trotsky was a powerful member of the Soviet power machine, but after Lenin died, Stalin grabbed control and pushed Trotsky out.
He first was exiled internally, and was later banished to Turkey, France, and Norway. He finally settled in Mexico.
Trotsky survived his first assassination attempt, by machine gun.
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1975 - The Viking I probe begins its journey to Mars.
By June the next year, it would be in orbit around the Red Planet. Its on-board rover would become the first man made spacecraft to successfully land there.
TWO YEARS LATER ...
1977 - Voyager II launches from Cape Canaveral, Florida.
The spacecraft's launch coincided with the alignment of planets Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, all of which it would visit. On board was a copper plate with information about Planet Earth, plus a disc of "Sounds of Earth," including different music and messages recorded from world leaders.
Voyager I would launch two weeks later. They were the first spacecraft to return close-up images of the Solar System's outer planets.
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2015 - Thirty Students at West Point Military Academy are injured in a mass pillow fight.
The annual tradition at the prestigious academy is a way for first-year cadets to have some fun after a rigorous month of summer training. This particular fight turned so violent that 24 cadets had concussions while others suffered more serious injuries that included: a broken nose, a dislocated shoulder and a hairline cheekbone fracture.
None of the cadets left the academy due to their injuries.
An investigation into the incident showed that some cadets put hard objects, such as helmets, in their pillowcases.
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2018 - Colorado man Christopher Watts is charged with the murder of his pregnant wife Shanann Watts and their two daughters Bella, 4, and Celeste, 3.
He was hit with five counts of first-degree murder, three counts of tampering with a deceased body and one count of unlawful termination of a pregnancy.
The charges came a week after Shanann and the girls were reported missing from their home.
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BIRTHDAYS
Liana Liberato - actress, “Trespass” - 29
Demi Lovato - pop singer - 32
Andrew Garfield - actor, “The Amazing Spider-Man” - 41
Ben Barnes - actor, “Stardust” & “Westworld” - 43
Cory Sullivan - baseball player - 45
Amy Adams - actress, “Hillbilly Elegy” & “Enchanted” - 50
Misha Collins - actor, “Supernatural” & “Charmed” - 50
David Williams - comedian - 53
Fred Durst - rapper, Limp Bizkit - 54
James Marsters - actor, “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” - 62
Al Roker - TV show host, “Today” - 70
Robert Plant - rock singer, Led Zeppelin - 76
On This Date
Issac Hayes - soul singer - 1942 (d. 2008)
Jacqueline Susann - author, “Valley of the Dolls” - 1918 (d. 1974)
Benjamin Harrison - 23rd POTUS - 1833 (d. 1901)
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