9/14/2023: Treehouse Eviction 🛖
Discover more from Morning Martini
9/14/2023: Treehouse Eviction 🛖
PLUS: FTX Assets to Auction; The Beyonce Beat; and Meg’s Fashion Influence
Today is Thursday, September 14, 2023.
It is the 256th day of the year.
109 days remain.
WHAT’S ON TAP
Inflation clobbered American families in 2022 at 40-year-high levels and auto workers inch toward targeted strikes. More in HIT LIST.
Hearts are breaking amid news there will not be an NSYNC reunion. More in SHOWBIZ.
DREW BARRYMORE is out as host of a National Book Foundation event and KIM ZOLCIAK is living “The Surreal Life.” More in CASTING CALL.
There is not one ounce of intelligence in the entire KARDASHIAN-JENNER family, just ask JOY BEHAR. More in KARDASH.
MEGHAN MARKLE’s appearance at the Invictus Games triggers a run on an iconic sweater. More in ROYALS.
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HIT LIST
The assets for defunct crypto exchange FTX are headed for auction, and will go toward the pool of funds for paying back the billions owed to creditors.
The portfolio of holdings includes more than $3 BILLION in cryptocurrency plus an expansive real estate portfolio of 38 properties in the Bahamas. Sale of cryptocurrency will be limited to $200 million a week, so that a sudden influx of Bitcoin and other currencies don’t cause market value to implode. [via New York Magazine]
MEANWHILE: SAM BANKMAN-FRIED has lost his last-ditch effort to get out of jail before his trial starts October 3. His lawyers argued he had insufficient resources in the klink to adequately prepare, but the judge wasn’t having it. [via New York Post]
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A 72-year-old Florida woman is being kicked out of the treehouse she has lived in for nearly two decades over a slew of code violations.
Shawnee Chasser built the treehouse, complete with a fully equipped kitchen, in a large tree on a property she had lived on for 17 years.
While she enjoys being one with nature, her neighbors reportedly did not like looking at the treehouse and reported it to the Building Code Enforcement Department in 2015. The code enforcers deemed the home unsafe and said it needed to be taken down or brought up to code. Choosing to ignore the orders for years, Chasser has been fined about $40,000 in violations.
Done with the fighting and fines, Chasser recently said she will start the process of tearing the place down. As for where she plans to live, Chasser told CBS Miami that it will be another outdoor-ish home, but this time it will be to code. [via CBS Miami]
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A Census Bureau report shows that inflation rose 7.8% from 2021 to 2022 – making for the biggest year-over-year change in cost of living since 1981.
IT GETS WORSE: Real income and median earnings both dropped over 2% over the same period.
In August, inflation rose back over 3% and unemployment ticked up to 3.8%. [via Census.gov]
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Car companies and the United Auto Workers have until midnight tonight to hash out a deal to avert a strike, a rep for the union said on Wednesday.
UAW President Shawn Fain says targeted strikes are planned at plants for General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis.
WORTH NOTING: The focused strikes mean workers at other plants will remain on the job for the time being.
Demands include a 36% wage increase, a 32-hour workweek, traditional pensions restored, and regular cost-of-living adjustments.
Ford’s CEO has recently said he thinks a deal can be hammered out before that deadline. [via CNBC]
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A small cruise ship called Ocean Explorer with more than 200 people on board has run aground in Greenland, with help days away and a storm building nearby.
Danish authorities suggest the ship miscalculated tide levels when it made port, leaving it stranded. In an official statement, the ship’s operator said neither the boat nor those aboard face any danger.
If the weather holds, help will arrive Friday morning. [via CNN]
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BREAKUPS
Actor COREY FELDMAN has filed for legal separation from his wife COURTNEY ANNE FELDMAN, after nearly seven years of marriage.
According to court documents, Feldman said the couple has been separated since June and cited irreconcilable differences as the reason.
The couple does not have any children together.
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BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The DOW lost 70 points (0.2%) to close at 34,575 on Wednesday. The S&P added 5 points (0.12%) to close at 4,467 and the NASDAQ was up 39 points (0.29%) to close at 13,813.
🛢 WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE closed at $88; BRENT CRUDE at $92.
⛽ The national average price of a GALLON OF GAS was $3.84 per gallon.
₿ BITCOIN ticked up 1.3% on Wednesday to trade around $26,180.
🛩 There were more than 2,475 FLIGHTS delayed within, into, or out of the United States on Wednesday and more than 125 such cancellations.
💰Friday night’s MEGA MILLIONS drawing will be for a $162 million jackpot or a $77.8 million cash payout.
SHOWBIZ NEWS
After reuniting at the MTV VMAs, NSYNC fans were hoping for a reunion tour, residency or new album announcement, but none of those things will be happening.
Insiders told TMZ that despite the fanfare around their recent reunion, there are no plans for the group to get back together…except for the song they worked on for the new “Trolls” movie. [via TMZ]
SPEAKING OF THE VMAS: Rumors of a backstage spat between JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE and MEGAN THEE STALLION were put to rest Wednesday after a source told Billboard that she was just excited to meet the boybander. [via Billboard]
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BRITNEY SPEARS once again showed off her stripper pole skills in a new Instagram video.
This time, she also had full length mirrors surrounding her, giving followers a full 360 look at her dancing.
The footage was posted just hours after it was announced that her sister JAMIE LYNN SPEARS would be competing on “Dancing With the Stars.” Perhaps Brit posted the video as some sort of audition tape? [via Instagram]
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USA Today is looking to hire a dedicated BEYONCE reporter, who will “chronicle [her] music, fashion, cultural and economic influence.”
The publication is also reportedly looking for someone to do the same job but for TAYLOR SWIFT. [via Page Six]
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NICK JONAS asked fans at a recent JONAS BROTHERS concert in Sacramento to stop throwing things onstage.
A video, of what appears to be bracelets being flung at the trio, shows Nick telling the crowd to “stop” before continuing on with their song.
Throwing items, from bracelets to books and bras, has been a theme at concerts this year. [via People]
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Congresswoman LAUREN BOEBERT and her male friend were kicked out of a performance of “Beetlejuice” at Denver’s Buell Theater on Sunday night after complaints that they were “vaping, singing” and “recording the show.”
The Denver police department was called after the two were asked to leave, but refused.
In a video of the incident, Boebert appears to flip off one of the ushers escorting them out, while yelling at another one.
A rep for Boebert denied that she was vaping, while admitting she unknowingly broke a theater rule about using her phone to take photos of the show. [via TMZ]
###
“Rich Men North of Richmond” singer OLIVER ANTHONY recently canceled a show due to a Tennessee venue charging high prices for tickets and hundreds for a meet-and-greet.
“Don’t buy $90 Cotton Eyed Joe tickets or $200 for a meet and greet,” Anthony posted on social media. “That’s not acceptable. Just saw the Facebook post and lost my s***. Miscommunication with my friend booking shows and I. My shows should never cost more than $40, ideally more than $25.” He has since found another venue that will only charge $25 for tickets.
Anthony, who rose to fame last month for his hit song, is currently on tour. He has also released several other songs, including “I Want To Go Home” and “90 Some Chevy.”
WORTH NOTING: As of Wednesday, “Rich Men North of Richmond” has over 64 million views and over two million likes on YouTube. [via Washington Examiner]
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ADAM SANDLER is heading out on a 25-date North American tour.
The “I Missed You Tour” will kick off on October 12 in Vancouver and end on December 12 in Denver.
It is Sandler’s second tour of the year; following his “Adam Sandler LIVE Tour.” [via Billboard]
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CASTING CALL
The celebrity competitors for Season 32 of “Dancing With the Stars” are:
Tyson Beckford (supermodel)
Xochitl Gomez (Marvel star)
Alyson Hannigan (actress, “American Pie” & “How I Met Your Mother”)
Harry Jowsey (reality star, “Too Hot to Handle”)
Jason Mraz (singer)
Lele Pons (singer)
Mira Sorvino (actress, “Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion”)
Maruricio Umansky (real estate mogul & husband of reality star Kyle Richards)
Matt Walsh (actor, “The Hangover” & “Veep”)
Barry Williams (actor, “The Brady Bunch”)
The group joins previously announced celebs, JAMIE LYNN SPEARS (actress), ARIANA MADIX (reality star, “Vanderpump Rules”) and CHARITY LAWSON (former “Bachelorette”). [via NY Post]
###
In solidarity with the ongoing writers’ and actors’ strikes, the National Book Foundation has dropped DREW BARRYMORE as host of their November awards ceremony.
The decision comes after Barrymore decided to move forward with her daytime talk show despite the duel strikes.
The event is scheduled for November 15. [via People]
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KIM ZOLCIAK has joined the cast of MTV’s “The Surreal Life.”
The former “Don’t Be Tardy” star flew to Columbia over the weekend, joining castmates MACY GREY, CHET HANKS, JOHNNY WEIR, ALLY BROOKE, O.T. GENASIS and JOSIE CANSECO.
The series follows the lives of a group of celebs who live together and participate in various activities.
The casting comes as Kim continues to be in denial that her former football playing husband KROY BIERMANN is moving forward with the divorce. [via Page Six]
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CRIB NOTES
ALEX TREBEK’s Los Angeles home, which he lived in for nearly 30 years, has been demolished.
His wife, JEAN TREBEK, sold the place in January 2022 for $6.4 million, and the new owners applied for demolition permits earlier this year.
Remember, Alex passed away in the home in November 2020. [via PopCulture]
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
JOY BEHAR may be Keeping Up With the Kardashians, but that doesn't mean she likes them.
While discussing KYLIE JENNER’s budding relationship with actor TIMOTHEE CHALAMET on “The View,” Behar told her co-hosts that no one from the KarJenner clan “have the vibe of being brilliant.”
“All they care about is plastic surgery and their big behinds,” she continued.
Co-host SUNNY HOSTIN reminded everyone that Kim has done “exceptionally well in business” and is currently working on her law degree, and co-host SARA HAINES added that “intelligence shows its way in different forms.” [via Decider]
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
MEGHAN MARKLE might have a future as an influencer after all.
She showed up to the Invictus Games in Germany wearing an ivory-colored, $158 sweater from J. Crew. As photos emerged online of her ensemble, enough buyers flooded J. Crew’s website to cause it to crash for a few hours.
WORTH REMEMBERING: Markle has signed with power agent Ari Emmann and could earn hundreds of thousands for sponsored social media posts. With a response like this – just from her showing up and not advertising the brand – her financial future could be very bright.
WORTH ASKING: Will PRINCE HARRY still be around for that future?
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DAY OF THE YEAR
National Cream Filled Donut Day
National Hug Your Boss Day
Gobstopper Day
National Eat a Hoagie Day
National Coloring Day
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ON THIS DATE
1716 - America's first lighthouse starts illuminating the shoreline near Boston Harbor.
It's simply called "Boston Light." Before its construction, the Massachusetts Bay Colony built giant bonfires to help guide ships.
At the time of its lighting, it was one of 70 lighthouses in the world.
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1752 - The British Empire nixes the old Julian Calendar and adopts the Gregorian Calendar.
In the 16th century, Pope Gregory XIII tried to get the Catholic world under the Gregorian Calendar, which more accurately kept track of dates in the long-run by adding the leap year every 4 years.
Britain and her subjects were just slow on the uptake.
Though the Julian Calendar was relatively accurate, it was a little more complicated and arbitrary.
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1814 - Francis Scott Key finishes a poem called "Defense of Fort McHenry," recalling the siege on the namesake fort the night before the War of 1812. It was published a week later.
In his mind, Key set the tune to John Stafford Smith's song "Anacreon in Heaven."
Today we know it as “The Star-Spangled Banner.” President Woodrow Wilson would authorize the song as the National Anthem in 1916.
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1848 - American businessman Alexander Stewart opens the first department store.
Housed in an extravagant building named The Marble Palace in New York, the store sold hard-to-find European clothing to women.
Though Stewart is not well-known today, his wealth rivaled that of contemporary gazillionaires like the Astors and Vanderbilts.
Much of his success came from creating and promoting a mail-order business for those who might not be able to shop in-store. He also built his own production mills for fabric, driving down the cost of his products.
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1901 - Teddy Roosevelt is sworn in as the 26th President of the United States, hours after William McKinley dies from gunshot wounds he received eight days earlier.
Roosevelt had been informed of McKinley's deteriorating health the day before while on a trek up a mountain in New York. When a telegram reached him, he departed for Buffalo, the nearest major city. When he arrived, U.S. District Judge John Hazel swore him in.
Roosevelt would win a landslide reelection in 1904.
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1959 - Soviet rocket Luna 2 impacts the Moon. The research ship spent a day conducting tests, like the behavior of gasses in space and whether the Moon had a magnetic field.
After spending 33-and-a-half hours in flight, signals from Luna 2 abruptly stopped transmitting back to Earth, indicating to Soviet scientists that it had crashed. Unlike so many other failed Soviet experiments, this crash was on purpose. It was the first man-made object to touch another body in space.
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1986 - Nancy Reagan kicks off the “Just Say No” to drugs campaign.
The movement was geared toward children, encouraging them to reject experimenting with or using drugs by simply saying “no.”
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1994 - 34 days after Major League Baseball players declare a strike, commissioner Bud Selig cancels the rest of the season.
There would be no World Series that year, the first to be canceled since 1904. The strike also ended the Montreal Expos' best season in club history, where they were 1st in the league and six games ahead of the Braves. They would never recover, and eventually became the Washington Nationals in 2005.
The 1995 season was reduced to 144 games from 162 on account of the late start in April. The Braves beat the Indians 4 games to 2 to win the World Series.
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2001 - A historic National Prayer Service is held at Washington National Cathedral for victims of the September 11 attacks.
A similar service is held in Canada on Parliament Hill, the largest vigil ever held in the nation’s capital.
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2018 - Hurricane Florence makes landfall in North Carolina.
The storm hit as a Category 1 and weakened as it slowly moved inland.
It was the first major hurricane of the 2018 Atlantic hurricane season.
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BIRTHDAYS
Emma Kenney - actress, “Shameless” & “The Connors” - 24
Deshaun Watson - football player - 28
Shayne Topp - actor, “The Goldbergs” & “So Random!” - 32
Logan Henderson - pop singer, Big Time Rush - 34
Jimmy Butler - basketball player - 34
Ashley Roberts - pop singer, The Pussycat Dolls - 42
Ron DeSantis - Governor of Florida - 45
Danielle Peck - country singer - 45
Andrew Lincoln - actor, “The Walking Dead” - 50
Nas - rapper - 50
Kimberly Williams-Paisley - actress, “Father of the Bride & wife of Brad Paisley - 52
Dan Cortese - actor, “Melrose Place” - 56
Sam Neill - actor, “Jurassic Park” & “The Hunt for Red October” - 76
Born On This Date
Amy Winehouse - soul singer - 1983 (d. 2011)
Margaret Sanger - nurse & birth control proponent - 1879 (d. 1966)
James Wilson - Founding Father, signed the Declaration of Independence - 1742 (d. 1798)