8/23/2022: Good Riddance Dr. Fauci
Discover more from Morning Martini
8/23/2022: Good Riddance Dr. Fauci
PLUS: What Does a Black Hole Sound Like?; Rodman To The Rescue; and No Remorse for Kim
Today is Tuesday, August 23, 2022.
It is the 235th day of the year.
130 days remain.
TRENDING
Dr. Fauci landed in Twitter’s Top 10 Trends on Monday after the top doc announced his plans to retire. More in The Swamp.
Twitter users sent Nicki Minaj messages of congratulations yesterday. Head to Showbiz to see what’s up.
#DormRoomSongs was trending Monday. Tweets included, “Stand By Your Fan,” “Purple Hazing,” “It’s Raining Ramen” and “Uptown Bunk.”
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HIT LIST
What does a black hole sound like?
Some elementary school science education should teach that space is silent, since the empty vacuum means there’s no air for sound to travel on. But NASA has captured sounds emitting from a distant galaxy that was full of enough gasses to allow sound to travel.
LISTEN:
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The Internet Age has come to Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa.
The Tanzania Telecommunications Corporation has installed infrastructure for broadband wireless internet all the way up to 12,000 feet. It’s intended to help adventurers access data on their smartphones during the climb.
But they’ll still be on their own for a portion of the hike to the summit, which is around 19,000 feet.
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Remember all the talk about how investing in green technologies will create all kinds of jobs?
Not for not at Ford, at least. The automaker announced Monday 3,000 white collar jobs will be laid off in the coming days as it adapts to building and marketing electric vehicles.
Ford hopes for half of its sales to be composed of all-electric vehicles by the end of the decade.
RELATED: A National Association of Business Economics poll says 72% of their experts expect a recession by the middle of next year – but that’s a moot point, because the United States has experienced two consecutive quarters of economic contraction, which has been the definition of a recession for decades.
MEANWHILE: Speaking of electric vehicles – France now has a national program that pays out 4,000 Euros to citizens who trade in their gas-powered car for an electric power-assisted bike. It’s modeled after a similar program in Lithuania that pays out 1,000 Euro.
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Competitive soccer is returning to Ukraine.
All the leagues suspended play after Russia invaded in February. Today, a new league season kicks off in Kyiv with a faceoff between Shakhtar Donetsk and Metalist 1925, but no fans will be permitted to attend – 65,000 Ukrainians in a sports stadium would be a prime target for Russian troops.
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A bull in Israel escaped its pen on Monday and charged through the streets of Lod, outside Tel Aviv. It eventually made its way to an office building, where it roamed through hallways before being chased outside – where a team was standing by to tranquilize it.
Its owner was identified and got it home – and apparently just owning a bull in a pen by the side of the road is a very normal thing there.
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BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The Dow lost 643 points (1.91%) on Monday to close at 33,063. The S&P lost 90 points (2.14%) to close at 4,137 and the Nasdaq lost 323 points (2.55%) to close at 12,381.
🛢 West Texas Intermediate traded at $90.67 Monday. Brent Crude was up over $96.
⛽ The national average price of a gallon of gas was $3.90 on Monday.
WORTH NOTING: Gas prices have been artificially depressed a result of President JOE BIDEN depleting the strategic petroleum reserve to the lowest levels since January 1985.
₿ Bitcoin lost $355 on Monday, trading around $21,150.
🛩 There were 5,295 flights delayed within, into, or out of the United States on Monday and 889 such cancellations.
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CHARTS
Top 5 Songs on iTunes:
BTS, “Dynamite”
BLACKPINK, “Pink Venom”
Evanescence, “Bring Me to Life”
Bailey Zimmerman, “Where It Ends”
Don Mclean, “American Pie (Full Length Version)”
Top 5 Songs on Spotify:
Harry Styles, “As It Was”
Steve Lacy, “Bad Habit”
Lizzo, “About Damn Time”
OneRepublic, “I Ain’t Worried”
BLACKPINK, “Pink Venom”
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DEATHS
Three Indiana State University students -- CHRISTIAN EUBANKS, 18, CALEB VANHOOSER, 19, and JAYDEN MUSILI, also 19 -- were killed in a car crash on Sunday.
According to the accident report, the vehicle left the road and hit a tree. When first responders arrived it was engulfed in flames. They were able to rescue two other passengers, who are currently listed as in serious condition. The other three were pronounced dead at the scene.
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BABY NEWS
NBC News correspondent MORGAN RADFORD, 34, is expecting her first child with husband DAVID WILLIAMS, 37.
Radford revealed the exciting news on Monday on “TODAY.”
She is due in January.
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BREAKUPS
“Love Is Blind” stars DANIELLE RUHL 29, and NICK THOMPSON, 36, are done.
She filed for divorce last week, after just over one year of marriage.
The two got engaged on the second season of the reality dating show. Their wedding was featured on the season finale.
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THE SWAMP
Let’s take a little journey to the Irish Swamp.
In 2016, the government passed a law to control rent prices. The package included a 52% tax on landlords, eliminated property owners’ ability to deduct expenses related to the property from their taxes, and essentially made evictions illegal.
Today there are 716 homes available for rent – in all of Ireland. Last year there were 2,500. It seems shocking that as a result rent is only up 12.6% year over year.
Via Irish Examiner
MEANWHILE, IN FINLAND: Last week Finnish Prime MInister SANNA MARIN caught flack after a video surfaced showing her dancing with friends on social media.
She’s 36, so still young enough to throw down and the story doesn’t have the novelty factor it would have if, say, HILLARY CLINTON was seen on video tossing back tequila shots and twerking on Huma Abedin (and not just because she’ll never be the leader of a country).
Marin since caved to pressure to take a drug test to prove she wasn’t getting into too much trouble. That test has come back negative.
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Dr. ANTHONY FAUCI – the miserable bureaucrat responsible for blowing the pandemic wildly out of proportion – says he’ll step down at the end of the year.
He’s been the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease for 38 years.
Fauci says it’s not retirement but the start of his next chapter, but hasn’t gotten into any details yet.
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LOTTERY
No winner for Friday night’s Mega Millions drawing. Tonight’s drawing will be for a $116 million jackpot or a $65.6 million cash payout.
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SHOWBIZ NEWS
More details have emerged surrounding GARY BUSEY’s sexual harassment charges.
Several sources told TMZ that during a meet-and-greet at Monster Mania, the actor allegedly put his face close to one woman’s breasts and asked where she got them. He then allegedly attempted to unhook her bra. A second woman claimed he grabbed her butt.
The next day, officers reportedly got a call from a man who said his daughter was sexually assaulted by Busey at the event, claiming he touched her butt too.
According to legal docs, Busey initially denied the allegations. Later he allegedly asked to apologize to the women, saying “sometimes it is possible to accidentally touch someone in a specific body part.”
As previously reported, Busey has been charged with several counts of committing criminal sexual contact and one count of harassment.
MAKING IT WORSE: Over the weekend photogs caught Busey with his pants down -- literally -- while sitting on a bench at a park in California.
BUT WHY?: Could Busey’s erratic actions all stem from the brain damage he suffered after his near-fatal motorcycle accident in 1988? Many may recall that the actor suffered severe damage to his frontal lobe as a result of the crash.
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As millions tuned in to watch Sunday night’s premiere of the highly-anticipated “Game of Thrones” prequel “House of the Dragon,” HBO Max had trouble keeping up.
Several subscribers reported the app crashing, taking to Twitter to seek help. In response, the HBOMaxHelp account suggested they “try closing the app and restarting” it.
The streamer later issued a statement to Deadline saying they narrowed down the problem to Fire TV devices and were in the process of resolving the issue.
WORTH NOTING: Variety reports that 9.9 million people watched the premiere on HBO and HBO Max, making it the biggest premiere in HBO’s history.
“House of the Dragon” is based on GEORGE RR MARTIN’s “Fire & Blood” series. Set 200 years before the events of “Game of Thrones,” it tells the story of the House Targaryen.
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NICKI MINAJ’s new single “Super Freaky Girl” reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
It is her first Hot 100 No. 1 as an unaccompanied artist and her third overall.
STREAMING STATS: “Super Freaky Girl” tallied 21.1 million streams and 89,000 downloads in its first week (August 12-18), according to Billboard.
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DENNIS RODMAN says he is going to head to Russia to attempt to rescue WNBA star BRITTNEY GRIER.
The former NBA player told NBC News that he recently got “permission” to head over there and “help that girl.”
It is unknown if Rodman is actually serious about the trip, but he did suggest in the short interview that he knows VLADIMIR PUTIN “well.” It is also unclear on what he meant when stating he got “permission.”
There is no word yet on whether the trip is sanctioned by the US or not.
FRIENDS IN LOW PLACES: Rodman has always felt that his good relationship with North Korea’s KIM JONG JUNIOR played a role in the communist country freeing American prisoner KENNETH BAE. So maybe it will work again?
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LEAH REMINI skipped out on her best friend JENNIFER LOPEZ’s wedding to spend more time with her college-bound daughter, Sofia.
Sources told Page Six that the actress was invited to the nuptials, but declined attending because she wanted to spend some time with her 18-year-old daughter before she leaves for school.
Other notables missing from the event include, BEN AFFLECK’s ex-wife JENNIFER GARNER and JLo’s ex-husband MARC ANTHONY. Ben’s brother CASEY AFFLECK was also MIA, though he explained his absence on social media, saying he too was spending time with his college-bound teen.
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Hairstylist BREANNA TRUPIANO has been granted a temporary restraining order against her ex-boyfriend, actor DAREN KAGASOFF.
According to legal docs, Trupiano says her ex allegedly sent nude pictures of her to her parents and threatened to leak them online. She also claims that he stalked her home and work, causing her to feel unsafe.
Per the order, Kagasoff is required to stay 100 yards away from her and isn’t allowed to make any sort of contact. His rep says the claims are “categorically not true.”
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AFROMAN’s California home was raided by heavily armed law enforcement officers over the weekend.
A source told The Blast that officers burst onto the property early Sunday, with their weapons drawn. They were reportedly in search of narcotics, but insiders say they came up empty-handed.
The rapper was not home at the time of the raid, and believes he was being profiled over his music – which includes hits like “Because I Got High,” “Tumbleweed,” and “Drive Better Drunk.”
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CASTING CALL
DEBI MAZAR will play Medusa in Netflix’s mythological series “Kaos.”
The show has been described as a “bold, darkly comic, contemporary take on Greek mythology, exploring love, life and power in the underworld,” per Deadline.
Filming is currently underway in Spain.
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ABC has picked up “The Company You Keep,” a new series based on the Korean format “My Fellow Citizens.”
The show follows con man Charlie, played by MILO VENTIMIGLIA, and undercover CIA officer Emma, played by CATHERINE HAENA KIM, who fall in love despite their conflicting professions.
It is set to debut in 2023.
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“Elvis” has become director BAZ LUHRMANN’s highest-grossing movie ever in the US and Canada with $144.851 million.
It beat out the original run of Luhrmann’s 2013 flick “The Great Gatsby,” which made $144.84 million.
This past weekend -- its ninth at the box office -- “Elvis” made $1.98 million.
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The series finale episode of “Better Call Saul” was the most-watched episode of the season with over 2.7 million viewers tuning in last week.
According to Nielsen, it is the third-most watched cable drama for the current broadcast season in key demographics.
IN THE RUNNING: “Better Call Saul” is up for seven Emmy Awards.
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Peacock’s comedy thriller “The Resort” will debut on NBC Wednesday, August 24.
The show has been described as a multi-generational, coming-of-age love story disguised as a fast-paced mystery about the disappointment of time, per the official description.
It stars WILLIAM JACKSON HARPER and CRISTIN MILIOTI.
MARVEL: “Thor: Love and Thunder” hits Disney+ on Thursday, September 8. Star of the flick CHRIS HEMSWORTH revealed the premiere date on Monday. NATALIE PORTMAN also stars.
NETFLIX: “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” will land on the streamer on Friday, December 23. The murder mystery stars DANIEL CRAIG as Detective Benoit Blanc. It is the first of two sequels. No word on a theatrical release date.
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CELEBRITY CELLBLOCK
FETTY WAP will be sentenced to at least five years behind bars after pleading guilty to a federal drug charge.
The rapper appeared in court Monday, where he entered a guilty plea to one count of intent to distribute controlled substances including cocaine, heroin and fentanyl. The charges stem from his arrest last October.
TMZ reports that Fetty was returned to custody after the hearing.
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A group of men who allegedly burglarized MARIAH CAREY’s home when she was on vacation last month have been arrested.
Law enforcement sources told TMZ that three men are currently in custody in connection to multiple home invasions in the area, including Mariah’s.
A source close to the singer told the outlet that she is “so grateful for the detectives.”
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
One of the men accused of robbing KIM KARDASHIAN in Paris in 2016 says he doesn't feel bad about what happened.
YUNIS ABBAS recently did an interview with Vice News, explaining that he feels no remorse for what took place because he saw Kim “throwing money away” (metaphorically) on social media and her family’s reality show. While he acknowledges that she must have been traumatized from the experience, he feels that she shouldn’t be “flaunting” what she has for the world to see.
This isn’t the first time Abbas spoke out about the crime. He also wrote a book detailing his role in the heist.
In total, 12 men were charged in connection to the robbery. Abbas has already served his time, while others have yet to be sentenced.
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SCOTT DISICK flipped his Lamborghini SUV on Sunday.
The reality star, and ex of KOURTNEY KARDASHIAN sustained a minor cut to his head, but refused medical attention at the scene.
Photos of the accident obtained by TMZ, show Disick’s Lambo lying on its side just feet from a destroyed stone mailbox. Eyewitnesses told the outlet that “speed” was a factor in the collision. Alcohol is not believed to have been a factor.
Disick was the only one in the vehicle. He has not commented on the crash.
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
PRINCE GEORGE, 9, and PRINCESS CHARLOTTE, 7, will head to a new school following the family’s move to Windsor.
PRINCE WILLIAM and KATE MIDDLETON confirmed the switch in a Kensington Palace press release yesterday, revealing that the kids will leave Thomas’s Battersea in London for Lambrook School in Berkshire.
PRINCE LOUIS, 4, will also start there next month.
A royal insider told Page Six the move allows for Will and Kate to “take on a far more senior role in the royal family.”
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SPORTS
Kansas City Chiefs QB PATRICK MAHOMES is the latest athlete to be added to Fortnite’s Icon Series.
According to the game, there are three skins that players can collect in addition to Mahomes’ default “practice” skin. They include, Gladiator Mindset Style, Gameday Gladiator Style and Mahomes Saucy Style.
All his outfits and accessories will be available in the Fortnite Item Shop tomorrow evening.
Other celebrity icons include: LEBRON JAMES, NAOMI OSAKA, NEYMAR JR., HARRY KANE, CHLOE KIM and MARCO REUS.
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DAY OF THE YEAR
National Sponge Cake Day
National Boys Hug Girls Day
National Ride The Wind Day
National Cuban Sandwich Day
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ON THIS DATE
1305 - William Wallace meets his unfortunate demise. The leader for Scottish Independence and his army had fallen at the Battle of Falkirk.
When he was captured, King Edward I of England ordered him hanged, drawn, and quartered.
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1775 - British Monarch King George III declares the American colonies in open and direct rebellion against the crown. This was in response to the Olive Branch Petition, which sought a civil and reasoned negotiation for colonial liberty.
The King's reaction was a prime motivator for the signing of the Declaration of Independence the following year.
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1833 - Great Britain abolishes slavery in all of its colonies worldwide. It was the first empire of such size to do so.
Over 700,000 were freed.
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1904 - Harold D. Weed receives a patent for the Grip-Tread for Pneumatic Tires.
In short, he invents the idea of putting chains on your tires for better traction on snow or ice. Weed sold the patent to the American Chain and Cable company.
He later served as a lieutenant colonel in World War I, where he helped design bomb-release mechanisms and machine guns for aircraft.
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1966 - The Lunar Orbiter 1 spacecraft snaps the first photos of Earth from the moon.
During the mission, the orbiter also took pictures of the moon to help NASA scientists select landing spots for the Apollo missions.
The mission ended with a controlled crash into the moon on October 29.
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1989 - The Dodgers beat the Expos 1-0 -- after 22 innings.
The game took 5 hours, 14 minutes. Over 21,000 were in attendance for the game, but there's no intel on how many were around by the end.
In total 352 pitches were thrown.
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1990 - Estranged countries East and West Germany announce their pending reunion.
The countries divided after World War II had little to squabble over following the fall of communism. The reunion was slated for October 3.
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2007 - The hashtag is created.
The new trend is first used in a tweet by US product designer Chris Messina.
He tweeted: “how do you feel about using # (pound) for groups. As in #barcamp [msg]?”
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2020 - Jacob Blake is shot and injured by police officers in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
Blake was walking away from officers, ignoring their orders to stop, when he was shot. He would later admit to being armed with a knife.
The incident sparked violent protests across the country.
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BIRTHDAYS
Indiana Massara - pop singer - 20
Lil Yachty - rapper - 25
Francesca Reale - actress, “Stanger Things” - 28
Seth Curry - basketball player - 32
Jeremy Lin - basketball player - 34
Chris Gayla - actor, “Jessie” - 35
Neil Cicierega - comedian - 36
Marty York - actor, “The Sandlot” - 42
Julian Casablancas - rock singer, The Strokes - 44
Scott Caan - actor, “Hawaii Five-O” - 46
Tana Ramsay - author & wife of Gordon Ramsay - 48
Rick Springfield - rock singer - 73
Barbara Eden - actress, “I Dream of Jeannie” - 91
Born On This Date
Kobe Bryant - basketball player - 1978 (d. 2020)
River Phoenix - actor, “Stand By Me” & “Running on Empty” - 1970 (d. 1993)
Keith Moon - drummer, The Who - 1946 (d. 1978)
Gene Kelly - actor, “Singin’ in the Rain” - 1912 (d. 1996)
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