Today is Monday, August 5, 2024.
It is the 218th day of the year.
148 days remain.
WHAT’S ON TAP
NASA considers drastic action to rescue the crew stranded on the ISS and a shirtless pothead causes a mid-flight ruckus. Details in HIT LIST.
Get an update on America's favorite couple in SHOWBIZ.
JULIA LOUIS-DREYFUS is ready to support KAMALA HARRIS and DAN AYKROYD almost took a very different career path. Details in CASTING CALL.
KIM’s chef speaks out. More in KARDASH.
A few celebs avoid hobnobbing with MEGHAN MARKLE. Details in ROYALS.
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HIT LIST
GET A LOAD OF THIS: Former President DONALD TRUMP did not have counter-sniper protection at any campaign events this cycle – until July 13, when a crack shot took out the shooter who wounded Trump, two others, and murdered COREY COMPERATORE.
In a press conference last week, acting Director of the Secret Service RONALD ROWE said, “It was the first time Secret Service counter-snipers were deployed to support the former president’s detail.”
The shocking development raises multiple questions, but most of all the alarming coincidence that they happened to be on hand on a day they were desperately needed.
WORTH REMEMBERING: Reports have suggested that the shooter was found with multiple clips, suggesting there could have been plans to kill more people than just Trump.
IT GETS WORSE: In the same press conference, Rowe acknowledged that the countersnipers did not have radios to communicate with local law enforcement on the ground and were instead instructed to use text messages on their personal phones.
The answers the government is giving in its investigation is only raising more as the stakes of November’s election only get higher.
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After weeks of delays and inspections, NASA and BOEING are slowly considering whether the Starliner crew capsule is safe to return its crew back to Earth.
The original weeklong-mission is now in its sixty-second day as engineers look into issues with the capsule’s thrusters and helium leaks. Now they’re considering deploying a SPACEX Dragon capsule to return the astronauts home, having not been able to identify the cause of the problems.
Publicly, Boeing has maintained confidence in Starliner to do the job but no formal announcement has been made – but CNBC reports that internal discussions have been far more apprehensive. [via CNBC]
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First the creeps used AirTags to track unsuspecting victims; now they’re turning to remote-operated video cameras to stake out targets.
In a recent incident, a homeowner in the suburbs of New York City discovered a camera surrounded by fake greenery in the landscaping, hooked up to a hotspot to transmit a video feed to who-knows-where. One local officer in Scarsdale, New York, says they’re investigating a group with ties to South America.
But local police have seen similar spycams outside homes, especially in California and Boston in recent weeks. In the meantime, officials encourage homeowners to be extra vigilant about anything suspicious on their properties, warning, “The bad guys are ahead of us.” [via CBS Los Angeles]
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A New Jersey man faces charges for disrupting a July 18 flight from Seattle to Dallas in a multitude of ways.
A grand jury has indicted Eric Gapco for interference with a flight crew and attempted damage to an aircraft. Specifically, he’s been accused of trying to open the hatch mid-flight, asking a flight attendant to hook up, vaping, general harassment of other passengers, and locking himself in the plane’s toilet.
Footage taken by fellow passengers show Gapco with his shirt off on the flight while the crew and others on board tried to subdue and restrain him.
SHOCKER: Gapco told authorities after he was arrested that he had taken TEN marijuana edibles before taking off. [via KOMO]
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CALL IN PETER PIPER: A single-vehicle accident in Outagamie County (that’s in Wisconsin) caused thousands of pickles to be spilled all over an interstate on-ramp on Friday night.
According to authorities, a semi tipped while exiting the interstate, causing it to dump large crates of pickles all over the side of the road.
Cleanup took several hours. [via KFIZ]
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DEATHS
Football player BENJAMIN GAY has died.
He passed away on July 29 in a car crash in Colorado.
Gay was a former running back with the Cleveland Browns.
He was only 44.
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SICK BAY
ZACH EFRON landed in the hospital Friday after he was pulled out of the pool of a villa in Ibiza.
It is unclear if he was suffering a medical emergency or drowning at the time.
He was released the following day.
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WEDDINGS
Senator TIM SCOTT married interior designer MINDY NOCE at their home church in Mount Pleasant on Saturday.
He’s 58 and she’s 47.
They met at the church in 2022.
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WEEKEND BOX OFFICE
10. Bad Boys: Ride or Die: $601k (down from 7)
9. A Quiet Place: Day One: $1.4 million (down from 6)
8. The Firing Squad: $1.6 million (new)
7. Longlegs: $4.1 million (down from 5)
6. Harold and the Purple Crayon: $6 million (new)
5. Inside Out 2: $6.7 million (down from 4)
4. Despicable Me 4: $11.2 million (down from 3)
3. Trap: $15.6 million (new)
2. Twisters: $22.6 million (stayed at 2)
1. Deadpool & Wolverine: $97 million (stayed at 1)
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BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The DOW lost 610 points (1.5%) to close at 39,737 on Sunday. The S&P lost 100 points (1.84%) to close at 5,346 and the NASDAQ lost 417 points (2.43%) to close at 16,776.
🛢 WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE closed at $74 on Friday; BRENT CRUDE at $77.
⛽ The national average price of a GALLON OF GAS was $3.47 on Sunday.
₿ BITCOIN got clobbered on Sunday, tumbling over 7% and trading under $53,900 Sunday evening.
🛩 There were more than 7,025 FLIGHTS delayed within, into, or out of the United States on Sunday and more than 2,080 such cancellations, as airlines cancel flights and airports hunker down in anticipation of Hurricane Debby hitting the East Coast.
💰Tuesday night’s MEGA MILLIONS drawing will be for a $374 million jackpot or a $183.9 million cash payout. Tonight’s POWERBALL drawing will be for a $174 million jackpot or a $86.6 million cash payout.
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SHOWBIZ NEWS
RUMOR IS: An engagement is coming soon for TRAVIS KELCE and TAYLOR SWIFT. However, his camp says there are no official plans in place. [via Page Six]
MEANWHILE IN POLAND: Swift’s “Eras Tour” is the first to play three sold out shows at PGE Narodowy stadium in Warsaw. [via People]
MEANWHILE IN THE STATES: An Illinois man was arrested at MORGAN WALLEN’s concert in Kansas City over the weekend after making terroristic threats toward PATRICK MAHOMES and Kelce, who walked him out onstage. The dressing room to stage walkouts have become a huge part of Wallen’s shows, with local celebs, athletes, musicians, etc. joining him for the trek, which is played on the big screen to pump up the crowd.[via TMZ]
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AEROSMITH’s “Peace Out Tour” will no longer resume this September after the band’s “heartbreaking and difficult” decision to retire.
The band announced on X over the weekend that they will no longer be touring, citing frontman STEVEN TYLER’s inability to recover from his vocal cord and larynx injury. [via Deadline]
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An upcoming tell-all by New York Times journalist ANUPREETA DAS details how Microsoft management banned young interns from being alone with BILL GATES, who acted like a “kid in a candy store” around them.
It was “not unusual for Gates to flirt with women and pursue them, making unwanted advances,” Das writes in “Billionaire, Nerd, Savior, King: Bill Gates and His Quest to Shape Our World.”
Das also dives into Gates’ alleged infidelity that left wife MELINDA FRENCH GATES “seething.”
The book hits shelves on August 13. [via Daily Mail]
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PUDDLE OF MUDD frontman WES SCANTLIN was arrested last week on an outstanding warrant and resisting arrest.
The 52-year-old was stopped by police while driving in Burbank, California for a traffic violation. Authorities also wanted to speak with him about allegations that he had a weapon at an airport.
Refusing to exit his vehicle during the stop, a crisis negotiator was called in. Still not cooperating, officers pepper-sprayed Scantlin and were forced to break one of his windows and shoot pepper balls to get him out.
He was booked and released with a court date scheduled for August 20.
FOR THE RECORD: Scantlin is no stranger to breaking the law. In 2012 he was arrested after an incident with a flight attendant and in August of 2015 he was booked for two DUIs. [via Us Weekly]
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KOBE BRYANT’s Staples Center locker sold for $2.9 million at auction on Friday.
According to Sotheby’s, four bidders went at it for about 20 minutes over the item, which was expected to fetch between $1 million and $1.5 million.
A portion of the proceeds will go to The Los Angeles Lakers Foundation. [via People]
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SIMONE BILES wants people to let her “soak up the moment” after winning big at the Paris Olympics.
“You guys really gotta stop asking athletes what’s next after they win a medal at the Olympics,” she tweeted Sunday. “Let us soak up the moment we’ve worked our whole lives for.”
Followers were quick to support Biles, with one suggesting she prepare some “really crazy answers” such as “I’m going to climb Mount Everest with a blindfold on,” “I’m going to buy Nebraska,” and “I’ve always wanted to work at Best Buy.” [via X]
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CASTING CALL
“Veep” star JULIA LOUIS-DREYFUS is ready to support Democratic nominee KAMALA HARRIS.
When asked by The Times of London if she planned to attend the DNC in Chicago, the actress replied, “I probably will be, yes.”
Many have compared Harris to Louis-Dreyfus’ character Vice-President Selina Meyer, though creator Armando Iannucci recently said there is no official connection. [via Times of London]
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While cast announcements, hosts and musical guests for the upcoming 50th season of “SNL” will be announced next month, two stars have already bailed.
PUNKIE JOHNSON announced her exit during one of her comedy shows, which sparked some confusion for her fellow cast members and the production team. No word on why she decided to be done now, however.
Following Johnson’s announcement, nonbinary cast member MOLLY KEARNEY took to X to announce their exit. No word on the details of that departure either.
Season 50 of “SNL” premieres on September 28. [via TMZ]
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Try to imagine “Ghostbusters” and “The Blues Brothers” without DAN AYKROYD. Can’t do it? Well you have his parents to thank for that!
Speaking to People, Aykroyd revealed that as a youngster he planned to stay in his hometown of Ottawa and work as a prison guard, until his parents enrolled him in an improv class. Falling in love with acting, Aykroyd said he still went on to study criminology in college, where he met Valri Bromfield, who told him, “You’re not going to be a prison guard. We’re going to write comedy and you’re going into comedy.”
Fast forward to 1975 and Aykroyd became one of the first stars of “SNL.” Five years later “The Blues Brothers” hit the big screen, followed by “Ghostbusters.” [via People]
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WESLEY SNIPES’ cameo as “Blade” in “Deadpool & Wolverine” landed him the record as the longest career as a live-action Marvel character.
HUGH JACKMAN was predicted to take the record, but Snipes’ return comes 25 years and 240 days after he first played the character in 1998’s “Blade.” Jackman’s first appearance as Wolverine was in 2000’s “X-Men.”
The cameo also broke the record for the longest gap between appearances in Marvel films. Snipes’ last appearance as the character was in 2004’s “Blade: Trinity.” [via THR]
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
KIM KARDASHIAN’s fit figure is thanks to a commitment to working out daily and cheat days full of chicken tenders, fries and pasta (with no sauce!).
Former Kardashian family chef Jesse Henderson says Kim made her cravings clear, once telling him, “Everyone is probably telling you quinoa this and veggie that, but I just want to be honest with you, I want chicken tenders and pasta with no sauce.” She also always had “salty snacks” on hand.
Henderson, who worked for the family in 2021 and 2022, revealed that he would make between $2,000 and $5,000 for a casual dinner and $15,000 to $25,000 for themed events. [via HOLA!]
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
LAST WEEK: MEGHAN MARKLE was spotted rubbing elbows with influential women at a retreat in the Hamptons as she gears up for the launch of her American Riviera Orchard brand.
NOW: The New York Post reports that other attendees went out of their way to avoid showing up in pictures with Markle. In particular, GWYNETH PALTROW, REESE WITHERSPOON, and DIANE SAWYER came to the same event but feared Meg would exploit a photo with them to climb the social and business ladder.
One insider says, “They know that if they are in a picture with [Meghan] it is a tacit approval of her that she can use to promote herself.” [via New York Post]
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DAY OF THE YEAR
National Dashcam day
British Columbia Day
National Couscous Day
Terry Fox Day
Start-Up Day Across America
National Work Like A Dog Day
National Oyster Day
Blogger Day
National Underwear Day
International Traffic Light Day
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ON THIS DATE
1620 - The Mayflower departs Southampton, England, packed with a crew of pilgrims and shipmen seeking a new life in the New World.
Unfortunately, two days later a leak in the Speedwell was detected and the ship turned back to be refitted.
It is suspected that the crewmen, weary of leaving their lives behind, sabotaged the hull to delay the voyage.
The Mayflower would embark on its historic sail on September 6.
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1862 - To help fund the Civil War, Congress authorizes the Revenue Act of 1861. It levies the first income tax.
The terms: 3% of any income above $800 a year -- that's just shy of $20,000 today.
Those living outside the country paid 5%.
A year later, the Act was repealed, and replaced with a progressive tax rate. Just like today, the tax was withheld at the source by the employer.
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1872 - Bertha Benz packs up her two teenage sons into the first Patent Motorwagen and drives from Mannheim to Pforzheim, Germany.
Bertha married the inventor Karl Benz, who had been tinkering with a motorized buggy, which would eventually become the first patented automobile in 1888.
The venture was considered a road trip for the time, spanning 60 miles. On the way, she used ligroin for fuel -- chemically, it’s between naphtha and kerosene in potency. She also invented brake lining on the road and used her hairpin to clean a fuel pipe.
The trek proved to her husband that his invention would be commercially viable.
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1914 - A light signal system regulates traffic at the intersection of East 105th Street and Euclid Avenue in Cleveland, OH. It was the first electric traffic light in America, though red and green natural gas lamps had been operated manually in Britain since 1868.
It lit up red and green and it had a buzzer to signal drivers that the light would change.
Police and firemen were even able to regulate the lights in an emergency.
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1957 - “American Bandstand” debuts nationally on ABC.
Dick Clark hosted. The show would run until 1989.
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1981 - President Reagan’s union busts the more than 11,000 striking air traffic controllers and tells them to hit the road.
The PATCO members went on strike two days earlier, and the president swiftly gave them 48 hours to return to work. Their demands were egregious: and included a limited 32-hour work week for more pay.
The move violated a law banning federal workers from striking.
Only 1300 workers returned to work based on Reagan's mandate. The rest were banned for life from federal service, though Bill Clinton would rescind the ban in 1993.
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2006 - Warren Moon becomes the first black QB to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Other players joining him that year were Troy Aikman, John Madden, Rayfield Wright, Harry Carson and Reggie White.
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2010 - 33 Chilean miners become trapped 2300 feet below ground.
Nearly every Chilean government ministry, NASA and a dozen corporations from around the world cooperated on the rescue mission.
It would take 69 days to rescue the men, who instantly became worldwide celebrities.
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2019 - Brazilian drug dealer Clauvino da Silva tries to escape a Rio de Janeiro jail by dressing up as his teenage daughter in a silicone mask and wig.
He had hoped to trick prison officers into thinking he was his daughter, who had been visiting. The ruse fooled no one and Silvia was moved to solitary confinement as punishment.
He would be found dead in his cell the next day. It is alleged that he took his own life.
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BIRTHDAYS
Elle McKinnon - actress, “Wonder” - 18
Anthony Edwards - basketball player - 23
Maddox Jolie-Pitt - son of Angelina & Brad - 23
Yungblud - rock singer - 27
Olivia Holt - actress, “Cloak & Dagger” - 27
Dawn Richard - R&B singer, Danity Kane - 41
Lolo Jones - Olympic bobsledder - 42
Jesse Williams - actor, “Grey’s Anatomy” - 43
Reid Hoffman - co-founder of LinkedIn - 57
James Gunn - director, “Guardians of the Galaxy” - 58
Patrick Ewing - basketball player - 62
Maureen McCormcick - actress, “Brady Bunch” - 68
Born On This Date
Adam Yauch - rock singer, Beastie Boys - 1964 (d. 2012)
Herb Brooks - coached the 1980 Olympic Men’s Hockey Team - 1937 (d. 2003)
Neil Armstrong - first person to step on the moon - 1930 (d. 2012)
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