Today is Thursday, August 22, 2024.
It is the 235th day of the year.
131 days remain.
WHAT’S ON TAP
A major jobs-numbers revision raises questions and a new streaming platform enters the mix. Details in HIT LIST.
More info on the BENNIFER split in SHOWBIZ.
Extra safety precautions were taken while filming the latest film in “The Crow” franchise. Details in CASTING CALL.
This KARDASHIAN sister gets called “attention-seeking.” Find out who it is in KARDASH.
Locals fume at the cost to protect PRINCE HARRY and MEGHAN MARKLE. Details in ROYALS.
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HIT LIST
The Bureau of Labor Statistics on Wednesday announced its monthly reports of jobs created for the year following March 2023 were a little inflated – to the tune of 818,000 jobs.
Some quick napkin math shows that in that time, the government originally reported a little over 3 MILLION jobs created. By slashing that number by more than 800,000, that means they were off by nearly 30%. [via Morning Martini]
WORTH NOTING: If a publicly-traded company misreported its headcount to the SEC by 23% it could be prosecuted for fraud by the Department of Justice. Investors could sue. Management would be forced out. But when it’s the government? LOL, oops!
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Step aside, Netflix, a new streaming platform is headed to an internet connection near you – created by CHICK-FIL-A.
The sandwich company plans to launch its own streaming platform with original content, Deadline reports, in addition to licensing existing shows, with a focus on family-friendly programming. While its focus will be on competition and reality-style shows, they are spending on scripted shows, too.
So far there’s no confirmation of a launch date, but it’s expected some time before the end of the year. [via Deadline]
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FORD has scrapped its plans for a massive overhaul of its electric vehicle designs.
In addition to completely canceling the development and production of a three-row electric SUV, Ford is delaying production of a new electric pickup that was slated to be made in Tennessee.
In the meantime, it is focusing on hybrid technology and commercial vehicles set to start hitting dealer lots some time in 2026.
“As we’ve learned in the marketplace, and we’ve seen where people have gravitated, we’re going to focus on where we have competitive advantage, and that’s on commercial land trucks and SUVs,” the company’s CFO told CNBC on Wednesday. [via CNBC]
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Another twist in the potential plans to get the stranded BOEING Starliner astronauts back to Earth: if they take a SPACEX capsule back, they’ll need different space suits, if any.
Since contracting out space travel to private companies, NASA did not establish uniform specifications for space suits. When blasting off to orbit and returning to Earth, the suits plug into life support systems in case of depressurization or other catastrophe. But whatever plugs and doohickies involved in that process are different in a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule than in Boeing’s Starliner.
The solution may be as simple as SpaceX bringing up suits for the Boeing astronauts to wear if they hitch a ride in a Crew Dragon capsule, but those accommodations would have to be made. [via Futurism]
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Police in New Jersey are looking for a woman who scaled a fence at the Cohanzick Zoo.
According to a Facebook post from the Bridgerton Police Department, the woman climbed over the wooden fence to “pet” a Bengal tiger and ended up “almost getting bit.”
A video of the intrusion shows the large cat snapping at the woman’s hand after she sticks it through the wire enclosure. The post also features a photo of a sign that reads: “Do not climb over the fence. Climbing over any zoo fence is against city ordinance 247-C.”
No word on what sort of punishment she faces, though being banned from the zoo is likely. [via News12]
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DEATHS
Former NBA coach AL ATTLES has died.
He passed away Tuesday at his home in San Francisco. No further details were shared.
In addition to coaching the Warriors, Attles also played on the team, served as general manager and team ambassador.
He was 87.
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BABY NEWS
ASHANTI and NELLY welcomed their first child together.
She’s 43 and he’s 49.
Their son, Kareem Kenkaide Haynes, arrived on July 18, according to a rep.
Nelly is also dad to 25-year-old son Cornell III and 30-year-old daughter Chanelle.
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BREAKUPS
JENNIFER LOPEZ filed for divorce from BEN AFFLECK after two years of marriage.
She filed on Tuesday, which also happened to be the two-year anniversary of their Georgia nuptials. In the docs JLo listed their date of separation as April 26, 2024. There is reportedly no prenup.
Buckle up folks, this is gonna be messy.
BY THE WAY: This is her fourth divorce and his second.
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SAMANTHA LAWRENCE filed for divorce from her husband, actor JOEY LAWRENCE after two years of marriage.
She’s 37 and he’s 48.
The couple, who separated two months ago, share 1-year-old daughter, Dylan.
Lawrence was previously married to CHANDIE YAWN-NELSON whom he shares two teenage daughters with. They split in 2020.
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BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The DOW ticked up 55 points (0.14%) to close at 40,890 on Wednesday. The S&P increased 23 points (0.42%) to close at 5,620 and the NASDAQ increased 102 points (0.57%) to close at 17,918.
🛢 WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE closed at $71; BRENT CRUDE at $76.
⛽ The national average price of a GALLON OF GAS was $3.39 on Wednesday.
₿ BITCOIN gained more than 3% on Wednesday, trading over $61,000.
🛩 There were more than 2,625 FLIGHTS delayed within, into, or out of the United States on Wednesday and more than 85 such cancellations.
💰Friday night’s MEGA MILLIONS drawing will be for a $527 million jackpot or a $261.9 million cash payout.
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SHOWBIZ NEWS
The same day news broke about JENNIFER LOPEZ filing for divorce from BEN AFFLECK, her ex-fiance ALEX RODRIGUEZ shared -- what some felt -- was a cryptic quote on Instagram.
“You either go one way or the other, you might as well be the one deciding the direction,” the post read. [via Instagram]
MEANWHILE: Page Six reports that trouble started for the couple during their honeymoon in Lake Cuomo, Italy, where Affleck was reportedly surprised they were followed around by paparazzi and annoyed that JLo was not more irritated by it. “They would barely speak to each other during what was supposed to be the happiest time of their life. He sold her on him being a changed man, and that lasted a very short time,” one insider says. [via Page Six]
GET THIS: JLo and ARod attended President JOE BIDEN’s inauguration together in 2021. Since then, she ended the engagement, rekindled her romance with her ex-fiance (Affleck), got engaged to him, married him (in two ceremonies!) and filed for divorce -- and Biden is still in office!
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TAYLOR SWIFT is the first solo artist to perform at London’s Wembley Stadium eight times in a single tour.
The record was previously held by MICHAEL JACKSON, who performed at the venue during his “Bad Tour” in 1988.
MEANWHILE: Swift is taking a break from touring. Her next performance is scheduled for October 18 at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. [via BBC]
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BEYONCE announced her new whiskey line, SirDavis, on Instagram this week.
In the post, Bey poses alongside a glass of the booze, and shows off the new bottle featuring the emblem of a golden horse. She captioned the post, “Davis in my bones,” which are lyrics from her song “Bodyguard.”
SirDavis is named in honor of Bey’s great-grandfather whose first name was Davis and her son, Sir.
The bottles are selling for $89.99 and can be purchased at SirDavis.com. [via Instagram]
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Fear not, ALICIA SILVERSTONE is alive and well!
After posting a video eating what followers believed was a toxic fruit, the actress posted a followup clip, which she captioned, “Don’t worry … I didn’t swallow.” [via TikTok]
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IAN MCKELLEN says his fat suit saved him from being more seriously injured when he tumbled off the stage during a performance in June.
“I was wearing a fat suit for Falstaff and that saved my ribs and other joints,” the 85-year-old told the U.K.’s Saga Magazine.
McKellen did end up with a chipped vertebrae and fractured wrist from the fall, which he says “are not yet mended.” [via Saga]
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A TikTok video allegedly shows MICHAEL JORDAN’s Chicago home in utter disrepair.
In the clip, the kitchen appears to have been left in mid-renovation, with cupboard doors on the ground and pieces of wood displaced throughout. Elsewhere in the home, there appears to be damage from flooding -- including the indoor basketball court.
The seven-acre property, which has been on the market since 2012, has a current asking price of $14.855 million. It was originally listed for $29 million. [via TikTok]
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CASTING CALL
TRAVIS KELCE will have a small role in the “Happy Gilmore” sequel.
ADAM SANDLER confirmed the news during an appearance on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.”
Meanwhile, Sandler will revive his role as the hockey player-turned-golfer, and has been working hard on his golf swing.
The sequel will premiere on Netflix. [via The Sun]
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ALEX COOPER is moving on from Spotify.
Several sources report that Cooper signed a new three-year deal with SiriusXM worth $125 million for her “Call Her Daddy” podcast.
Her Spotify deal was also for three years at $60 million -- and was the second-biggest podcast deal made at the time. The biggest was JOE ROGAN’s deal worth $200 million. [via The Mirror]
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There were no real guns on the set of “The Crow;” a decision made by director RUPERT SANDERS.
“We didn’t have one gun that could have had a live round or a blank round anywhere near it ever, so that no projectile could go in,” he told Entertainment Weekly. Instead, choosing to go with airsoft guns, and “rubber or metal decoys [without a] firing mechanism.”
The concern comes from the production of the 1994 original, when an actor fired a gun that malfunctioned and ended up killing 28-year-old star of the film, BRANDON LEE.
Sanders’ film is the fifth entry in “The Crow” franchise. It hits theaters on Friday. [via EW]
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ANYA TAYLOR-JOY’s next project is in the works at Netflix.
She will play Grace Bernard in the film adaptation of the novel “How to Kill Your Family.”
Taylor-Joy previously starred in “The Queen’s Gambit” on Netflix, which landed in the Top 10 in 92 countries -- ranking No. 1 in 63 of them. [via THR]
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
In addition to being called the “least exciting to look at” in the family (per sister KIM KARDASHIAN), KOURTNEY KARDASHIAN has now been dubbed the most “attention-seeking” sister.
The critique came after Kourtney released the latest ad for her lifestyle brand, Lemme, featuring her sucking on a “beauty lollipop,” which she claims will enhance one’s natural glow.
“Okay what was the point of that?” one person commented, while another wrote, “Cringe,” and a third said, “Anything for attention.” [via The Mirror]
WORTH ASKING: Aren’t they all?
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
Locals in Colombia are fuming after learning the cost of security to protect PRINCE HARRY and MEGHAN MARKLE for their non-royal tour of the country over the last week.
Keeping the non-royals safe cost an estimated 8 BILLION PESOS – or about $2 MILLION. The costs covered an estimated 3,000 police and soldiers, helicopters, sniffer dogs, and 24/7 armed guards.
While the expense is not debilitating for a government, about one-third of Colombia’s population lives below the poverty line. One local security official tells the Daily Mail, “The country paid almost two million US dollars for the security of this trip and there are many, many Colombians who are hungry and have a lack of basic needs.” Adding, “They invested this money because the vice president wanted to meet two high profile public figures and brush aside criticism and problems that we have here through a corrupt government.” [via DailyMail]
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DAY OF THE YEAR
Burger Day
National Bao Day
National Pecan Torte Day
Daffodil Day
National Eat A Peach Day
National Take Your Cat to the Vet Day
National Be An Angel Day
World Plant Milk Day
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ON THIS DATE
1787 - An early steamboat is demonstrated to delegates at the Continental Congress, along the Delaware River. It was the invention of John Fitch.
A steam-powered engine powered oars that swept through the water, propelling the boat 11 feet with each stroke. It topped out at 3 mph.
Fitch would translate the technology to a successful passenger ferry between Philadelphia and Trenton in 1790. He would receive a patent for the steamboat the following year.
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1849 - The Austrian Army conducts the world's first air raid.
It launched 200 balloons toward Venice, each attached with time-fused bombs. While some of the targets were actually struck, wind patterns caused many of the balloons to move erratically.
Each balloon was 23 feet in diameter -- so pretty big.
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1902 - Henry Leland founds the Cadillac Automobile Company. Leland was an engineer who was appraising the Henry Ford Company's assets before it was to be dissolved.
Once Henry Ford left his own company, the name was changed to Cadillac. Its name came from Antoine Laumet de la Mothe, Sieur de Cadillac, the founder of the city of Detroit.
Cadillac was an early leader in automobile manufacturing. General Motors would buy it in 1909.
Also that year…
Teddy Roosevelt became the first sitting president to ride in an automobile.
The short trip was made from Hartford, Connecticut in a Columbia Electric Victoria. TR would also be the first president to take an airplane ride, but that wasn't until he was out of office.
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1963 - Captain Joe Walker pilots his X-15 jet more than 60 miles into the sky, reaching the edges of space.
It's a new altitude record for America, though the Soviets had put Valentina Tereshkova into the upper reaches of the earth's atmosphere the month before.
Walker would die the following year in an aerial collision while flying in tight formation for a publicity photo.
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1989 - Nolan Ryan strikes out his 5,000th batter. His victim is Oakland's Rickey Henderson, who whiffed on a 96-mile-per-hour fastball with a full count.
George W. Bush was owner of the team at the time.
A videotaped message by George H-W Bush congratulated Ryan's milestone achievement.
Ironically, the Rangers still lost the game 2-0. Ryan still holds the record, with 5,714 career strikeouts.
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2018 - Forbes says actor George Clooney made more money in a single year ($239 million) than any other actor ever.
Behind him is actor and professional wrestler Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson at $124 million.
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2020 - Mexico’s COVID-19 death toll passes 60,000, making it the world’s third highest.
The US has the highest with 153,415 deaths and Brazil has recorded 92,475 deaths.
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BIRTHDAYS
Gabbie Marshall - basketball player - 24
Maxx Crosby - football player - 27
Dua Lipa - pop singer - 29
Keith Powers - actor, “Faking It” & “Famous in Love” - 32
Jey Uso - wrestler - 39
Jimmy Uso - wrestler - 39
James Corden - comedian - 46
Howie Dorough - pop singer, Backstreet Boys - 51
Kristen Wiig - actress, “Bridesmaids” & “SNL” - 51
Giada De Laurentiis - chef - 54
Ty Burrell - actor, “Modern Family” - 57
Paul Molitor - HOF baseball player - 68
Bill Parcells - NFL coach - 83
Carl Yastrzemski - HOF baseball player - 85
Born On This Date
Layne Staley - rock singer, Alice in Chains - 1967 (d. 2002)
Valerie Harper - actress, “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” - 1939 (d. 2019)
William Richards - missionary & politician in the Kingdom of Hawaii - 1793 (d. 1847)
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