Today is Thursday, August 24, 2023.
It is the 236th day of the year.
129 days remain.
WHAT’S ON TAP
The Russian mercenary tied to an attempted coup is (probably) dead and a Tennessee zoo welcomes an animal oddity. More in HIT LIST.
BRITNEY SPEARS may or may not be considering reconciliation with her dad and DIDDY has some new music on the way. More in SHOWBIZ.
TOM HANKS’ salary for “Forrest Gump” has been revealed. More in CASTING CALL.
The perks of being a KARDASHIAN nanny. More in KARDASH.
A Markle family insider tries to cash in on the family, awkwardly. More in ROYALS.
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HIT LIST
In June, the head of Russia’s massive mercenary organization, the Wagner Group, led what appeared to be a convoy headed toward Moscow to attempt a coup that would topple VLADIMIR PUTIN’s dictatorship of the country.
That man, YEVGENY PROGOZHIN, did not face immediate consequence, and instead is believed to have moved to exile in Belarus.
Yesterday, a jet owned by Progozhin, on which he is believed to have been a passenger, was shot down by a Russian military anti-aircraft missile. He is, for now, presumed dead, as well as one of his top lieutenants also on board. [via Morning Martini Original Reporting]
This will likely be a developing story …
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The Associated Press details some bizarre developments out of Maui, where officials continue to scramble to identify hundreds of missing citizens after extensive wildfires earlier this month.
First, officials inexplicably set up a blockade stopping cars from fleeing the only road out of the area. Some died in their cars waiting to flee. Others while trying to run away.
Then, officials did not activate the emergency sirens installed across the island, instead dispatching officers on foot and broadcasting messages through speakers mounted to vehicles. [via Associated Press]
Finally, the deputy director of the Hawaii Commission on Water Resource Management waited more than five hours to allow water to be used to help put out fires. He has since been reassigned. [via New York Post]
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India has joined the Moon club after successfully putting a lander on the south pole in search of water.
The development came just days after a similar mission from Russia’s space program lost communication with Earth and likely crash-landed in a similar area.
SPEAKING OF FAILED COMMIE ATTEMPTS TO GO TO SPACE: North Korea announced on Wednesday that it failed to launch a spy satellite. They’ll try again in October. [via The Sun]
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A two week old giraffe, born at a Tennessee zoo, is making history for its spotless coat.
Instead of the characteristic spots, the female calf instead has a solid brown coat; something that hasn’t been seen since 1972, when a spotless giraffe was born at a zoo in Tokyo.
Wildlife vet Sara Ferguson, from the Giraffe Conservation Foundation, told NatGeo that the unique coloring “has never been seen in the wild” and is likely due to some sort of gene mutation. That being said, so far there does not appear to be any sort of genetic disadvantage for the calf, according to the zoo. [via NatGeo]
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Police in Tampa, Florida are looking for a real-life hamburglar.
Last week, a man was caught on video breaking into the Bayshore Mediterranean Grill and stealing nearly $11,000 in meat and other ingredients. He smuggled out the items in a garbage bag, which he also stole from the eatery. [via NY Post]
This isn’t the first case of a meat-stealing man in the Sunshine State. In 2019, 34-year-old Patrick Benson broke into several restaurants where he proceeded to make himself a burger. Benson was eventually arrested and charged with burger-lary and grand theft. [via Fox13]
GET IT TOGETHER FLORIDA: Marion County (also in Florida) officers are looking for a guy who stole over $2,000 worth of trained homing pigeons from a home in Reddick. The department posted photos of the bird bandit on Facebook, writing, “When we catch him, we can’t tar-and-feather him, but we can make him the next jailbird to roost at the Marion County Jail.” [via NY Post]
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DEATHS
Wrestler TERRY FUNK has died.
He passed away Wednesday, according to a statement from his daughter and fellow WWE superstar RIC FLAIR. No cause of death was shared.
Funk entered the world of wrestling in 1965 and performed for over five decades, during which he won several championship belts.
He was 79.
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BABY NEWS
Country singer JESSE JAMES DECKER is expecting her fourth child with husband, former NFL player ERIC DECKER.
Jesse announced the news on Instagram, with a video showing off her growing baby bump.
The couple are already parents to 9-year-old daughter Vivianne Rose and sons, 8-year-old Eric Jr. and 5-year-old Forrest Bradley.
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BREAKUPS
HALLE BERRY has finalized her divorce from actor OLIVIER MARTINEZ -- eight years after filing.
The actress has been ordered to pay her ex $8,000 a month in child support for their nine-year-old son, Maceo, plus 4.3% of any income she receives above $2 million, which is considered additional child support.
The pair were married from 2013 to 2015.
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BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The DOW was up 184 points (0.54%) to close at 34,472 on Wednesday. The S&P was up 48 points (1.1%) to close at 4,436 and the NASDAQ increased 215 points (1.59%) to close at 13,721.
🛢 WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE closed at $78; BRENT CRUDE at $82.
⛽ The national average price of a GALLON OF GAS was $3.85 on Wednesday.
₿ BITCOIN started a rally, up over 2% and trading around $26,500.
🛩 There were more than 2,010 FLIGHTS delayed within, into, or out of the United States on Wednesday and more than 75 such cancellations.
💰Friday night’s MEGA MILLIONS drawing will be for a $52 million jackpot or a $24.6 million cash payout.
SHOWBIZ NEWS
Rumor is…BRITNEY SPEARS is considering reconciling with her dad, JAMIE SPEARS.
Insiders told TMZ that in light of her divorce from SAM ASGHARI she has been wanting to repair her relationship with her dad, who has been battling some health issues. Remember, at one point Brit wanted her dad tossed in jail for his role in the conservatorship.
As for the rest of her family, sources say Brit is only in contract with her brother Bryan. [via TMZ]
BUT WAIT: Sources told Page Six on Wednesday that Britney is not thinking about reconciling with her dear old dad. [via Page Six]
DIVORCE UPDATE: Sam and Brit have figured out a custody arrangement for their dogs. Insiders say Sam has their doberman, Porsha, full-time and Brit gets to keep the other four -- an Australian Shepherd, a Yorkie, and two other smaller pups. [via TMZ]
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Former NFL QB BRETT FAVRE is back in the spotlight after failing to produce text messages to the Mississippi Department of Human Services (MDHS), despite being ordered to do so as part of the ongoing welfare fund investigation.
Remember, Favre has been accused of helping to funnel millions of dollars in federal welfare funds to projects that benefited him, such as a $5 million volleyball center at the University of Southern Mississippi, where his daughter attended and played.
This isn’t the first time that Favre’s words have gotten him in trouble. In 2010, former Jets sideline reporter Jenn Steger accused him of sending inappropriate texts, voicemails and photos two years prior when he played for the team. He admitted to the voicemails, but nothing else, and was fined $50,000 by the league. [via NBC Sports]
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LIZZO is planning to sue the former backup dancers who accused her of sexual harassment and bullying.
After “she wins the lawsuit” filed against her by the three women, she will sue them for malicious prosecution, her lawyer Marty Singer told Radar Online.
Singer said there is “substantial evidence” that proves the lawsuit is “bogus,” including a photo of the women appearing to be enjoying themselves at the topless cabaret show they claim Lizzo forced them to attend in Amsterdam.
Also, all three women reportedly chose to return for the third leg of Lizzo’s tour, which occurred after the cabaret show. [via Radar Online]
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DIDDY has new music on the way.
The album -- his first solo release since 2006 -- is called “The Love Album: Off the Grid.”
Diddy shared a four-minute clip announcing his new tracks on Instagram. Featured in the clip are JUSTIN BIEBER, THE WEEKND, FRENCH MONTANA, TEYANA TAYLOR and more. No word on if that means those artists contributed to the album, but it is likely.
“The Love Album: Off the Grid” is set to be released on September 15. [via People]
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Titans rookie WILL LEVIS’ love of mayo is paying off -- big time.
After going viral ahead of the 2023 NFL Draft for putting a dollop of mayo in his coffee, Levis has been given a lifetime supply of Hellman’s mayonnaise.
He is also now an official spokesperson for the brand. [via NY Post]
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MATTHEW MCCONAUGHEY’s mom is a tough woman to please.
According to the actor’s wife, model CAMILA ALVES, her relationship with mother-in-law MARY KATHLENE “Kay” MCCABE hasn’t always been easy.
When Alves first started dating McConaughey in 2006, she says McCabe would call her by his exes’ names and speak down to her. It wasn’t until years later when Alves and McCabe were in Istanbul for a modeling gig that she finally put her foot down and stood up for herself.
“Okay. Now you’re in,” McCabe told Alves.
Some may recall that McConaughey had his own issues with his mom years ago. Things got so bad that he actually didn’t speak to her for about eight years. Now, things appear to be forgiven, but not forgotten. [via Daily Mail]
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Celebrity tattoo artist Mr. K showed off actress ANGELINA JOLIE’s new ink -- a mystery tattoo on both of her middle fingers. He prompted followers to guess what the tats are.
“[F] Brad,” one fan wrote, referring to Jolie’s ex-husband, actor BRAD PITT.
Others guessed a “warning label for prospective suitors,” “something spiritual” or “tributes to her kids.” [via Page Six]
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A security guard who worked TAYLOR SWIFT’s show in Minneapolis has been fired after a video of him singing along to her hit “Cruel Summer” went viral.
In a TikTok video, Calvin Denker said that his former security company had a rule about not taking photos with performers visible in the background, which he says he technically didn’t break because the video of him singing was taken and posted by fans standing in front of him.
The issue, he explained, is that he asked fans to send him the videos they took of him singing, which he then shared. [via Entertainment Weekly]
Watch the video of Denker singing here>>>
What do you think?
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CASTING CALL
TOM HANKS earned $40 million for his role as Forrest Gump, after negotiating for a portion of the box office earnings rather than a flat fee for the gig.
His earnings for the iconic role have never before been revealed, and is less than the $60 million many believed he earned.
“Forrest Gump” cost $55 million to produce, but grossed more than $330.4 million domestically and over $678.2 million worldwide. It was nominated for 13 Oscars, and won six. [via Daily Mail]
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VICTORIA BECKHAM, KIM KARDASHIAN, STELLA MCCARTNEY and ELIZABETH HURLEY are joining forces for a new Disney+ series about the history of Vogue.
The show will give viewers behind-the-scenes access to Vogue’s top editors, such as ANNA WINTOUR, and will feature “never-before-seen archives from key figures in the industry,” according to the synopsis. [The Sun]
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
KHLOE KARDASHIAN’s nanny has revealed some of the perks of working for the famous family.
Andreza Cooper shared an Instagram reel about traveling with Khloe and her two kids, five-year-old daughter True, and one-year-old son Tatum, who are currently vacationing in Tuscany.
First she showed the group hitching a ride on KYLIE JENNER’s $73 million private plane, dubbed “Kylie Air.” Once in Tuscany, Cooper shared what appeared to be a full banquet of food for the hungry travelers.
Despite calling the trips “challenging,” “tiring” and “more hard work than glamor,” Cooper said the ability to “experience other cultures cheers [her] soul.”
It is not known how long she has worked for Khloe, but according to her Instagram, since moving to the States from Portugal in 2010, she also worked for actor JOSH DUHAMEL, actress JORDANA BREWSTER and comedian KEVIN HART. [via Instagram]
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
A friend of MEGHAN MARKLE’s father has been selling $1,200 guided tours of the Montecito area, with the promise to get within spitting distance of Meg and PRINCE HARRY’s mansion and see some of the spots she frequented growing up in Los Angeles.
The guide is photographer Karl Larsen, who boasts an extensive collection of photographs of the royal pair. In an online listing for the tour, Larsen brags about being a close confidante of Meg’s father and adds, “I’m the only person that’s qualified to put on such a tour.”
NOW: Facing online backlash over privacy concerns for the Sussexes, Larsen now says he won’t go near the mansion, but instead show tour-goers public spots that Harry and Meg like to hit up near where they live and will “customize” the experience for those who shell out for it.
BY THE WAY: The $1,200 fee accommodates up to six guests. [via New York Post]
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DAY OF THE YEAR
National Waffle Day
Kobe Bryant Day
Burger Day
Pluto Demoted Day
National Knife Day
Vesuvius Day
International Strange Music Day
National Peach Pie Day
Internaut Day
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ON THIS DATE
79 A.D. - Mount Vesuvius erupts near the ancient city of Pompeii. A cloud of ash and pumice bursts into the atmosphere and covers the city 3 inches deep.
Many fled, while others hid in cellars or their primitive stone houses trying to ride out the natural disaster. To make things worse, volcanic mud poured into the nearby city Herculaneum.
Those who survived the initial blast most likely died the next morning, when the remaining toxic gas from the volcano engulfed the city, suffocating anyone who dared to stay.
A letter by Pliny the Younger to his friend Tacitus documented the terror -- that's how historians have been able to pinpoint the date of the eruption so closely.
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1814 - British troops plow into Washington, D.C.
President Madison was barely able to flee in time. He previously led troops at the Battle of Bladensburg, one of the last times the Commander-in-Chief commanded at a battleground site.
British General Ross and his closest officers had dinner inside the White House that night. The rest of the troops started burning and pillaging the remaining buildings.
The Capitol building was one of the most serious casualties. It was still under construction. The growing Library of Congress was also destroyed, as was the White House later.
A rainstorm eventually put out the blazes.
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1875 - Matthew Webb swims the English Channel unassisted - the first to do so - and gains immediate celebrity status across Europe.
Webb was inspired by the failed attempt of J.B. Johnson two years earlier. His first try at crossing the icy channel failed 12 days prior due to bad conditions. Webb doused himself in porpoise oil to insulate his skin.
Three boats kept watch over him. He even continued swimming after a jellyfish attack.
The entire feat took 21 hours and 45 minutes, swimming against the tide.
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1958 - Maria Teresa de Filippis races a Maserati in the Portuguese Grand Prix. de Filippis was the first woman to race a Formula 1 car professionally. But racing such a high-profile machine like the Maserati gave both her and the car manufacturer plenty of buzz.
She grew up with two brothers who dared her to beat them in car races, which she often did - inspiring her racing career. She never finished better than 10th in a race, but did break the gender ceiling in car racing.
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1981 - John Lennon's assassin is given 20 years-to-life for murdering the famous songwriter. Mark David Chapman gunned Lennon down December 8 the year before in New York City.
On the day of his sentencing, Chapman read from “Catcher in the Rye” - the same book he was found reading at the scene of Lennon's murder by NYPD officers.
Chapman served time at Attica before being transferred to the Wende Correctional Facility in Alden in 2012. His pleas for parole have been denied.
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2006 - The International Astronomical Union changes the definition of "planet.” The move downgrades Pluto from planet to dwarf planet.
The IAU has given it the designation Dwarf Planet 134340 - not even worthy of a name.
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2015 - Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg announces that his social media platform has hit a new milestone.
On this date, for the first time ever, over 1 billion people logged into Facebook.
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2019 - Prince Andrew’s name is first connected to Jeffrey Epstein. He denies knowing his friend was involved in sexual trafficking of underage girls.
Andrew would later be accused of sexually assaulting a teen he met through Epstein.
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BIRTHDAYS
Griffin Gluck - actor, “Just Go With It” - 23
Sofia Richie - model & daughter of Lionel - 25
Justine Skye - R&B singer - 28
Enrique Hernandez - baseball player - 32
Rupert Grint - actor, “Harry Potter” films - 35
Chad Michael Murray - actor, “One Tree Hill” - 42
Alex O’Loughlin - actor, “Hawaii Five-O” - 47
Dave Chappelle - comedian - 50
Marlee Matlin - actress, “Switched at Birth” - 58
Reggie Miller - basketball player - 58
Stephen Fry - actor & comedian, Fry and Laurie - 66
Vince McMahon - WWE co-founder - 78
Born On This Date
Rocky Johnson - wrestler & dad of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson - 1944 (d. 2020)
Carlo Gambino - mob boss, Gambino family - 1902 (d. 1976)
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