8/9/2023: 🐍 Snake v. Hawk 🦅
PLUS: Deepening Divides; Starbucks & Swifties; and Royal Website Revisions
Today is Wednesday, August 9, 2023.
It is the 221st day of the year.
144 days remain.
WHAT’S ON TAP
American household debt surges and a Florida mayor reels in a lucrative (and illegal) find. More in HIT LIST.
MEGAN FOX is a poet, though many didn’t know it. More in SHOWBIZ.
PETA has jumped on the “Barbie” bandwagon. More in CASTING CALL.
YE took the stage alongside TRAVIS SCOTT in Rome on Monday night. More in KARDASH.
An update on the Sussexes next film project in ROYALS.
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HIT LIST
American households now hold more than ONE TRILLION DOLLARS in credit card debt – a first.
Amid the pandemic-era government spending binge, households opened 70 MILLION more credit card accounts since 2019. The number of households with an open credit card has also increased by ten percentage points over the last decade.
WORTH NOTING: Keep an eye on this number as student loan balances come due in the coming weeks. [via Axios]
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If it feels like you and your neighbor have even less in common than you did twenty years ago, it’s not in your head. A Gallup survey of Democrats and Republicans show a growing divide between perceptions of hot-button issues making headlines every day. Some highlights:
84% of Democrats say gun laws should be stricter while only 31% of Republicans agree (from 70% and 41%, respectively, in 2003).
87% of Democrats worry about global warming while only 35% of Republicans agree (70% / 41% in 2003).
59% of Democrats say abortion should be legal under any circumstance while only 12% of Republicans agree (32% / 15% in 2003).
Since 2003, the left and right divide about trust in government has totally flipped. Today, 73% of Republicans say the feds have too much power (38% in 2003) while 31% of Democrats agree (46% in 2003).
Satisfaction with the country’s K-12 education system follows a similar path. In 2003, 53% of Republicans were satisfied with the system, but only 30% are now; for Democrats, 44% were satisfied in 2003; 51% are now. [via Gallup]
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If you thought you had a bad day, Peggy Jones from Silsbee, Texas probably has you beat.
When she was mowing her lawn last week, a snake fell out of the sky and wrapped itself around her arm. Moments later, a hawk swooped down and started attacking the snake.
Jones tells local media, “I just kept saying, ‘Help me Jesus, Help me, Jesus.’”
After an estimated four swoops down, the hawk finally flew away with the snake. By that point she was badly scratched and clawed – but was promptly treated for her wounds at the ER.
GET THIS: Jones said she was bitten by a venomous snake just a few years ago, and survived that too!
If you have the stomach for the morose, pictures of the wounds here > [via Click2Houston.com]
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Tampa Mayor Jane Castor reeled in a considerable catch during a fishing trip with her family in the Florida Keys last month.
The group was out hoping to snag some mahi-mahi when Castor’s sister spotted a package floating in the water. After hauling it aboard, Castor, a former Police Chief in Tampa, immediately recognized the find as cocaine -- about 70 pounds of it, worth an estimated $1.1 million.
The loot was turned over to Border Patrol Agents, who credited the group with the find. [via CNN]
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A two-day hunt for the Loch Ness monster is taking place at the end of the month in Drumnadrochit, Scotland.
A group from the local Loch Ness Centre is teaming up with a research group from Loch Ness Exploration in a massive effort to track down Nessie in the freshwater lake, Loch Ness.
The latest search, which is believed to be the largest since the early ‘70s, is being led with state-of-the-art equipment, including thermal drones, infrared cameras, and a hydrophone. [via USA Today]
Aliens are real so why can’t Nessie be too?
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DEATHS
DJ CASPER has died.
He passed away Monday after a battle with renal and neuroendocrine cancer, according to a statement from his wife.
Casper is best known for the dance party hit “Cha Cha Slide.”
He was 58.
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BABY NEWS
CIARA and her husband, NFL QB RUSSELL WILSON are expecting their third child together.
The singer announced the news on Instagram with a video of her showing off her baby bump while dancing in front of a pool.
The couple are already parents to three-year-old son Win and six-year-old daughter Sienna Princess. Ciara is also mom to nine-year-old son Future Zahir, whom she shares with her ex, rapper FUTURE.
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“Bachelor” alum NICK VIALL and his fiancee NATALIE JOY are expecting their first child together.
The couple announced the news on Instagram with a photo collage, which they captioned “Our biggest dream came true 🤍.”
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BREAKUPS
Actor COREY FELDMAN and his wife COURTNEY ANNE MITCHELL are separating.
Feldman shared the news this week, saying “it is with great sadness” that the pair have decided to go their separate ways “after many wonderful years together.”
No word on what exactly caused the split.
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BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The DOW lost 158 points (0.45%) to close at 35,314 on Tuesday. The S&P lost 19 points (0.42%) to close at 4,499 and the NASDAQ lost 110 points (0.79%) to close at 13,884.
🛢 WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE closed at $82; BRENT CRUDE at $86.
⛽ The national average price of a GALLON OF GAS was $3.82 on Tuesday.
₿ BITCOIN rebounded Tuesday, up over 3% and trading north of $30,100.
🛩 There were more than 4,400 FLIGHTS delayed within, into, or out of the United States on Tuesday and more than 400 such cancellations.
💰 Tonight’s POWERBALL drawing will be for a $170 million jackpot or a $83.4 million cash payout.
SHOWBIZ NEWS
Comedian and TV show host WAYNE BRADY has come out as pansexual.
The 51-year-old opened up to People Magazine, saying that he initially thought he was bisexual, but then later began to identify as pansexual because he is “attracted to anyone who identifies as gay, straight, bi, transsexual or non-binary.”
Brady said his ex-wife, actress MANDIE TAKETA and their daughter, 20-year-old Maile, have shown him nothing but “overwhelming support.”
It is unknown if Brady’s journey to this new self-discovery will be featured on the forthcoming unscripted reality series, centered on his family, for Hulu. [via People]
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Seven months after the death of her mom, LISA MARIE PRESLEY, and just days after being named the new owner of Graceland, RILEY KEOUGH has opened up about the family drama to Vanity Fair.
Remember, after Lisa Marie’s death Riley and her grandmother PRISCILLA PRESLEY were reportedly at odds about who should be in charge of her estate.
When asked if things between her and Priscilla are better, Keough gave a non-answer, saying, “at the end of the day, all she wants is to love and protect Graceland and the Presley family and legacy.” [via Vanity Fair]
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The microphone CARDI B hurled into the crowd at her Vegas show sold for $99,900 on eBay.
The mic, which had a starting price of $500, received more than 120 bids before things came to a close on Tuesday.
As previously reported, the earnings will go to the Wounded Warrior Project and Friendship Circle Las Vegas.
No word on who bought the mic. [via TMZ]
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Actress MEGAN FOX announced on Instagram she will reveal “the secrets and sins of men” in a book of poems titled, “Pretty Boys Are Poisonous.”
“I’ve spent my entire life keeping the secrets of men, my body aches from carrying the weight of their sins,” she captioned a photo.
It is unknown which men’s secrets she plans to expose.
“Pretty Boys Are Poisonous,” is due out November 7. [via Instagram]
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Filmmaker TAIKA WAITITI says his wife, singer RITA ORA, was the one who popped the question.
“She proposed to me, and I said ‘yes’ instantly,” the 47-year-old told Vogue.
Ora asked while the couple were on vacation in Palm Springs last summer; just weeks later the two tied the knot at their Los Angeles home. [via Vogue]
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The 2023 Made in America Festival has been canceled.
Organizers tweeted out the news yesterday, citing “severe circumstances outside of production’s control” as the reasoning.
The festival was set for September 2 and 3 in Philadelphia.
LIZZO and SZA were scheduled to headline the event. It would have been the former’s first performance since three of her backup dancers filed a lawsuit against her. No word on if that played a role in the cancellation. [via Page Six]
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CHRISTINE BAUMGARTNER has moved again.
KEVIN COSTNER’s estranged wife has now moved into a rental home that is located about 10 miles from the home she shared with the actor and their kids.
As previously reported, after being ordered by a judge to vacate the home she shared with Costner by the end of last month, she moved into a smaller home on the same property. Now, it seems she has left the property completely.
Her new rental costs about $35,000 a month, which Costner is most-likely paying for. [via Daily Mail]
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Actor CHRIS NOTH has finally addressed the multiple allegations of sexual misconduct made against him.
Speaking to USA Today, the former “Sex and the City” star said that while he did in fact cheat on his wife, any “encounters outside his marriage were consensual.”
Noth and Tara Wilson have been married since 2012, and were together for 10 years before that. They share two kids. [via Daily Mail]
Speaking of affairs…
Former “GMA3” co-anchors AMY ROBACH and TJ HOLMES are reportedly thinking about taking the next step in their relationship. Insiders told Us Weekly that the pair are in “a good place” and are “moving on from all the negativity surrounding their affair.” [via Us Weekly]
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Swifties can now listen to their favorite singer while sipping their favorite Starbucks brew.
A spokesperson for the coffee chain announced Wednesday that in honor of TAYLOR SWIFT wrapping up the first leg of her “Eras Tour” they will be playing her songs in all of their U.S. locations.
The playlist, called “Starbucks Lovers,” features 122 tracks.
ALSO: The chain has given 10 of its popular drinks nicknames that go along with Swift’s albums. [via TMZ]
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CASTING CALL
PETA is applauding the animal-conscious decision making that went into costumes for “Barbie.”
“From his fabulous faux mink coat to his rad vegan leather boots, Ken serves looks that mirror actor Ryan Gosling’s own kindness to animals and refusal to wear fur,” PETA Senior VP Lisa Lange told TMZ.
By the way -- the white faux fur coat is being sold online as part of a Ken-inspired Halloween costume. [via TMZ]
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
TRAVIS SCOTT had a special guest join him on stage at the historic Circus Maximus in Rome on Monday night.
“There is no Utopia without Kanye West. There is no Travis Scott without Kanye West. There is no Rome without Kanye West. Make some noise for Ye,” he yelled to the crowd as YE appeared, singing along to their hit “Praise God.”
It was Ye’s first big performance since making his antisemitic rants. [via TMZ]
WORTH REMEMBERING: Scott and Ye are both members of the KarJenner ex’s club.
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
The website manager for The Firm might be looking for a new job.
Last week, British tabloid Express pointed out that on the official website for the Royal Family, PRINCE HARRY still had “His Royal Highness” as his title and was referred to as the son of the Prince of Wales.
WORTH REMEMBERING: Harry surrendered the title as part of his departure from official royal duties and PRINCE WILLIAM became the Prince of Wales last year.
Harry and MEGHAN MARKLE’s profiles have since been bumped down further on the page – but they’re still a notch above PRINCE ANDREW. [via Page Six]
MEANWHILE: Earlier this week, rumors swirled that Harry and Meg bought the movie rights to a romantic novel.
TURNS OUT: The rights for “Meet Me at the Lake” were actually bought by Netflix for Archewell Productions, so the Sussexes can work on turning it into a movie. [via Page Six]
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DAY OF THE YEAR
National Book Lovers Day
National Women’s Day
National Rice Pudding Day
Melon Day
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ON THIS DATE
1483 - The Sistine Chapel opens for mass.
After nine years of work by some of the most renowned artists and architects in the world, the chapel was finally opened in Vatican City.
It is the official residence of the Pope.
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1831 - The first steam engine in the US takes off.
The Mohawk and Hudson Railroad made its first regular trip between Albany and Schenectady with an engine and three 10-passenger cars, which were stagecoaches mounted on trucks.
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1893 - The first bowling magazine — “Gut Holz” — is published in New York.
The name means “good wood.”
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1945 - The US drops a second atomic bomb, “Fat Boy,” on Nagasaki, Japan, destroying part of the city.
The exact death toll is unknown, but is estimated to be about 75,000.
The first bomb, “Little Boy,” was dropped on Hiroshima three days earlier.
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1965 - Singapore separates from Federation of Malaysia and becomes an independent and sovereign state.
The separation was the result of deep political and economic differences between the ruling parties of Singapore and Malaysia.
The differences led to race riots in July and September 1964.
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1974 - Richard Nixon resigns as President of the United States and Vice President Gerald Ford is sworn in as the 38th President.
Nixon’s resignation comes after his part in the Watergate scandal.
He is the only US President to resign from office.
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2002 - Barry Bonds hits his 600th career home run while playing for the San Francisco Giants.
He had hit his 500th homer in April 2001, making him the fastest player to cover the distance between 500 and 600 career home runs.
Bonds would end his career with a total of 762 home runs; an MLB record that still stands. His godfather, Willie Mays is 6th on the list with 660 home runs.
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2017 - A giant inflatable chicken resembling President Donald Trump is placed outside the White House as part of a political protest.
The 30-foot high bird was erected in Ellipse Park, just south of the White House, by artist and documentary filmmaker Taran Singh Brar.
Trump never saw the giant chicken as he was out of the office that day.
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2020 - Brazil reports over 100,000 COVID-19 deaths — the world’s 2nd highest — and more than 3 million recorded cases.
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BIRTHDAYS
Justice Smith - actor, “The Thundermans” - 28
Alexa Bliss - wrestler - 32
Adelaide Kane - actress, “Reign” & “Teen Wolf” - 33
Bill Skarsgard - actor, “Hemlock Grove” & “It” - 33
Anna Kendrick - actress, “Pitch Perfect” films - 38
Dan Levy - actor, “Schitt’s Creek” - 40
Ashley Johnso - actress, “Growing Pains” & “Recess” - 40
Jessica Capshaw - actress, “Grey’s Anatomy” - 47
Kevin McKidd - actor, “Grey’s Anatomy” - 50
Gillian Anderson - actress, “The X-Files” - 55
Deion Sanders - football player - 56
Hoda Kotb - TV show host, “Today” - 59
Michael Kors - fashion designer - 64
Sam Elliott - actor, “The Ranch” & “Up in the Air” - 79
Born On This Date
King Von - rapper - 1994 (d. 2020)
Whitney Houston - R&B singer - 1963 (d. 2012)
Elizabeth Hamilton - wife of Alexander Hamilton - 1757 (d. 1854)
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