Today is Wednesday, September 11, 2024.
It is the 255th day of the year.
111 days remain.
WHAT’S ON TAP
A big “oops, oh well” for BOEING and big penalties for tech giants. Details in HIT LIST
A couple of lawsuits and a half-eaten slice of pie in today’s SHOWBIZ.
BAD BUNNY joins the cast of “Happy Gilmore 2” and AARON RODGERS gets his own Netflix docuseries. Details in CASTING CALL.
YE’s antisemitic comments get CANDACE OWENS suspended. More on that in KARDASH.
Dueling announcements in the House of Windsor this week. Details in ROYALS.
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HIT LIST
Following the safe return of BOEING Starliner capsule, the company says the astronauts left on the International Space Station would’ve been just fine after all.
The head of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program said in a press conference, “If we'd have had a crew on board the spacecraft, we would have followed the same back away sequence from the space station, the same deorbit burn and executed the same entry. And so it would have been a safe, successful landing with the crew on board.”
Since the first inkling of thruster issues in June, Boeing and NASA have tried to recreate the problem to troubleshoot it, but never getting it quite right. In retrospect, knowing that the capsule returned safely and functionally, reps say putting crew on board would have been an “easy decision.” [via Space.com]
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Two big blows for two of the biggest companies in the world:
GOOGLE lost its final appeal to overturn a ruling from the European Commission that it violated antitrust regulations by pointing users of its search engines to its own Google Shopping service instead of its competitors. It will have to pay a $2.7 BILLION fine and has no more recourse to avoid it. As of June 30 this year, Google parent Alphabet reported having $100.725 BILLION just in cash-on-hand.
APPLE also has to pay $14.34 BILLION in back taxes to Ireland, as part of a separate decision. By comparison, Apple had a mere $61.8 BILLION cash on hand as of June 30 this year. [via ABC News, Morning Martini]
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It’s certainly not news that exercise helps lose fat, but a new study sheds light on the role activity plays in changing how belly fat cells function.
In research published in science journal Nature Metabolism, overweight people who exercised were found to have more flexible fat tissue, meaning they stored fat more prominently under the skin, instead of as visceral fat between the body’s organs. The exercise group also had more powerful metabolisms. Least surprisingly, they also had a lower likelihood of developing heart disease and diabetes. [via NBC News]
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The new head of STARBUCKS published an open letter about his plan and vision for the coffee chain after formally taking over as chief executive officer this week.
BRIAN NICCOL left the top job at CHIPOTLE to take this gig, which he says will focus on getting back to the company’s roots. “[T]here’s a shared sense that we have drifted from our core,” Niccol writes, having spent recent weeks talking to customers, partners, and employees.
Regulars of the ‘bucks say online ordering has led to increasingly long wait times, as baristas try to keep up with increasingly complicated, customized orders. Niccol acknowledges the shortcoming about the modern experience: “It can feel transactional, menus can feel overwhelming, product is inconsistent, the wait too long or the handoff too hectic. These moments are opportunities for us to do better.”
Among his four priorities is one that seems fundamental for a coffee chain: “delivering outstanding drinks and food, on time, every time.” [via Starbucks]
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What would you grab in an emergency situation?
If you’re like most Americans the answer would be a cell phone, charger, and battery.
A survey of 2,000 Americans found that cell phones are top priority at 74%, followed by wallet/purse (63%), important documents (62%), prescription medication (43%), family photo albums (41%), clothing (40%), water, food, snacks (25%), and heirloom jewelry (13%).
The survey, conducted by Talker Research on behalf of Master Lock for Natioanal Prepardness Month, also breaks down what each generation prioritizes, with Gen Zers grabbing their laptop and Baby Boomers most likely to grab their own jewelry. [via NY Post]
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BABY NEWS
FOO FIGHTERS rocker DAVE GROHL revealed Tuesday that he recently welcomed a daughter with a woman outside of his marriage.
He shared that he plans to be a “loving and supportive parent” to the newborn while also doing “everything [he] can to regain [his family’s] trust and earn their forgiveness.”
Grohl, who is 55, has been married to wife Jordyn since 2003. They share three daughters, 18-year-old Violet, 15-year-old Harper and 10-year-old Ophelia.
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BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The DOW lost 92 points (0.23%) to close at 40,736 on Tuesday. The S&P gained 24 points (0.45%) to close at 5,495 and the NASDAQ increased 141 points (0.84%) to close at 17,025.
🛢 WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE closed at $66; BRENT CRUDE at $69.
⛽ The national average price of a GALLON OF GAS was $3.26 on Tuesday.
₿ BITCOIN gained on the day, up over 2% and trading around $57,800.
🛩 There were more than 1,535 FLIGHTS delayed within, into, or out of the United States on Tuesday and more than 40 such cancellations.
💰Tonight’s POWERBALL drawing will be for a $134 million jackpot or a $67.6 million cash payout.
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SHOWBIZ NEWS
CHESTER BENNINGTON’s son, Jamie, is sharing his disdain with LINKIN PARK co-founder MIKE SHINODA and his decision to name EMILY ARMSTRONG as the group’s new lead singer.
Shinoda “has quietly erased my father’s life and legacy in real time … during international suicide prevention month,” Jamie wrote in part of a much lengthier Instagram post. The Linkin Park frontman died by suicide in 2017.
As for Armstrong, Jamie called out her ties to Scientology, and past support for convicted rapist DANNY MASTERSON; the latter of which she recently addressed as a mistake.
Jamie also highlighted a fan’s comment about how the decision makes Shinoda “senile and tone deaf.” [via TMZ]
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A new lawsuit filed against DESHAUN WATSON accuses the Browns QB of sexual assault and battery, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
The victim, identified only as Jane Doe, claims Watson committed the acts during a date they went on in October 2020.
Remember, he faced more than 20 lawsuits from massage therapists who all alleged he acted “inappropriately” in 2021. All of those have since been settled.
Watson served an 11-game suspension in 2022 for the original set of lawsuits. The Browns organization has not commented on the latest suit. [via NY Post]
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SEAN COMBS must shell out $100 MILLION to accuser Derrick Lee Cardello-Smith, who is currently incarcerated.
According to the lawsuit, the two men were allegedly hanging out naked with a bunch of women at a party in Detroit in 1997. Cardello-Smith alleges that Combs handed him a spiked drink, causing him to pass out, at which point he was victimized by the rapper.
Combs never responded to the suit, and also failed to show up at this week’s default judgment hearing, so the judge awarded Cardello-Smith the full amount, plus monthly installments of $10 million.
A statement from Combs’ attorney says that Cardello-Smith, a convicted felon and sexual predator, has now also committed fraud. [via The Mirror]
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BEYONCE didn’t create music videos for her last two albums, “Renaissance” and “Cowboy Carter” on purpose.
She explained the decision, telling GQ, “Sometimes a visual can be a distraction from the quality of the voice and the music.” Adding, “The music needed space to breathe on its own.”
The lack of “visuals” didn’t hinder the success of the albums; Bey became the most decorated artist in Grammy history with four wins for “Renaissance” in 2023 and the first single off of “Cowboy Carter” made her the first Black woman to have a No. 1 country song. [via EW]
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GAYLE KING once ordered a piece of coconut custard pie only to receive a portion of pie crust and a bit of coconut custard.
Uncertain whether it had been eaten or just jostled around in transit, King posted a photo to social media asking her followers to share their own thoughts. The consensus was that someone had eaten some of her dessert.
As for what King did with the half-eaten slice, she says she ate it as she “had been thinking about it for three days.” She also notified the eatery she ordered it from, who was reportedly “mortified” by the incident. [via People]
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CASTING CALL
“The Goonies” is getting a sequel.
The Sun reports that the 1985 cult classic is getting a follow-up with several of the original cast members expected to return.
The original stars SEAN ASTIN, JOSH BROLIN, COREY FELDMAN, JEFF COHEN, KERRI GREEN, KE HUY QUAN and MARTHA PLIMPTON. No word on whether or not any have officially signed on to the new project.
Filming will begin next year, with a release expected in 2026 or 2027. [via The Sun]
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Netflix will air a three-hour docuseries about four-time MVP AARON RODGERS this December.
“Aaron Rodgers: Enigma” follows the Jets QB’s return to the field after tearing his Achilles tendon just four plays into last season.
The docuseries is part of an upcoming slate of sports-related projects at Netflix, including “Full Swing,” “Polo,” “The Comeback,” and “Untold.” [via THR]
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BAD BUNNY has joined the cast of the upcoming “Happy Gilmore” sequel.
He will star opposite ADAM SANDLER, who plays the titular character, CHRISTOPHER MCDONALD as Shooter McGavin, and JULIE BOWEN as Virginia Venit.
Production on the sequel is underway. [via Bleacher Report]
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Peacock’s reiterated version of “The Office” will star MELVIN GREGG (“Snowfall”), CHELSEA FREI (“The Cleaning Lady”), and RAMONA YOUNG (“Santa Clarita Diet”).
They join previously announced cast members DOMHNALL GLEESON and SABRINA IMPACCIATORE.
The show is not a reboot or spinoff, but rather a mockumentary set in the same universe, with a new cast. No official title has been announced, though the rumor is it will be called “The Paper.” [via Variety]
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Fans are not thrilled with the new look of “Wheel of Fortune.”
Following this week’s Season 42 premiere, featuring new host RYAN SEACREST, viewers were quick to share their thoughts on social media.
While most comments were supportive of Seacrest taking over for PAT SAJAK, there was lots of negativity for what many called the “blinding set.” Others asked why there were “so many lines” and “wheels in various shapes, sizes and forms,” while some simply called the new look “distracting.” [via The Mirror]
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
YE inadvertently got conservative commentator CANDACE OWENS suspended from YouTube.
Owens shared the news on X, explaining that her show will be off air for the week because her interview with Ye “violated” the platform’s hate speech policies. Specifically, YouTube has an issue with Ye stating “Jewish people control the media.”
Rabbi Shmuley Boteach applauded Owens’ suspension, calling her “America’s antisemite,” after the two clashed last week on PIERS MORGAN’s “Uncensored.” [via Independent]
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
Let’s play a game of “Coincidence or Attention Whores?!”
Just hours after PRINCESS KATE released the video announcing she’s finished chemotherapy, PRINCE HARRY and MEGHAN MARKLE released details for their next Netflix project — a documentary series about international polo leagues, called “POLO.”
The DailyMail notes in a bit of generosity, “There is no evidence to suggest the timing of the Netflix announcement was planned around Kate’s video.”
The “POLO” announcement was not a trailer, but a series of images and the plan to debut it in December, alongside some other sports-related programming for the streamer. [via DailyMail]
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DAY OF THE YEAR
Patriot Day
September 11 National Day of Service
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ON THIS DATE
1609 - English explorer Henry Hudson describes "as fine a river as can be found." That river now bears his name, the Hudson, near Manhattan.
Captain Hudson's mission was to find the Northwest Passage and a shorter route to China, to open trade of goods between Europe and the East. Hudson and his son were later mutinied, set adrift, and never heard from again.
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1786 - The Annapolis Convention meets in Maryland. Twelve delegates representing New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Virginia meet to lay the foundation for a constitutional convention that would include all 13 American states.
The group sought to fix shortfalls of the Articles of Confederation, which poorly regulated trade and commerce among the independent states. The Convention ultimately produced a report that impelled the Philadelphia Convention a year later.
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1789 - Alexander Hamilton begins as the first Secretary of the Treasury.
Hamilton was an early advocate of the federal government assuming states' debts following the Revolutionary War.
Later he helped found the US Mint, the first national bank, and the foundation for present-day tariffs and excise taxes.
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1903 - William Jones wins a five-lap race around the Milwaukee Mile racetrack in West Allis.
Jones set the record for running a 72 second, 50 mile-per-hour lap.
The first 100-miler would be run in 1915. In the meantime, 10- and 15-mile races were common, as were 24-hour endurance races.
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1941 - Charles Lindbergh accuses the British, President Roosevelt, and Jews of instigating war against the Nazis at a speech in Des Moines, Iowa.
Lindbergh also denounced the Jewish Holocaust, and claimed to not be anti-Semitic, despite the criticisms.
The FBI’s J. Edgar Hoover would later order a secret investigation of Linbergh to determine whether he was a closet Nazi.
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1973 - Chilean Marxist Salvador Allende shoots himself as rebels storm his palace.
Rebel leader Augusto Pinochet led the revolt, and would remain in power for 17 years.
Allende's weapon was a gift from Fidel Castro, who reported in Cuba that Allende had gone down valiantly in battle. An autopsy proved otherwise.
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2001 - More than 3,000 die in the terrorist attacks in New York, Washington, and Pennsylvania.
Terrorist cell al-Qaeda would eventually claim responsibility, and a war against the group and its allies followed.
Osama bin Laden, the mastermind of the attacks, would be killed 10 years later.
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2017 - Hurricane Irma leaves 7 million US homes without power in Florida and Georgia.
Irma made landfall in the US as a Category 3, causing about $50 billion in widespread damage.
The affected areas had little time to clean up as Hurricane Marie would form two weeks later.
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BIRTHDAYS
Zay Flowers - football player - 24
Tyler Hoechlin - actor, “Teen Wolf” - 37
Ludacris - rapper - 47
Taraji P. Hensen - actress, “Hidden Figures” & “Empire” - 54
Harry Connick Jr. - pop singer & actor, “Independence Day” - 57
Paul Heyman - wrestler - 59
Moby - pop singer - 59
Elizabeth Daily - voice actress, “Rugrats” - 63
Scott Patterson - actor, “Gilmore Girls” - 66
Bob Packwood - politician - 92
Born On This Date
Tom Landry - football player - 1924 (d. 2000)
Ed Sabol - filmmaker, NFL Films - 1916 (d. 2015)
Paul “Bear” Bryant - football coach - 1913 (d. 1983)
D. H. Lawrence - poet & writer, “Lady Chatterley’s Lover” - 1885 (d. 1930)
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