9/22/2023: Methamphetamine Rules
PLUS: Best Airports; Rupert Murdoch Steps Down; and Running With Will
Today is Friday, September 22, 2023.
It is the 265th day of the year.
100 days remain.
WHAT’S ON TAP
A mama bear treats her cubs to some Krispy Kreme doughnuts, while another bear checks out Frontierland. More in HIT LIST.
Things are getting messy in JOE JONAS and SOPHIE TURNER’s divorce. More in SHOWBIZ.
“Dancing With the Stars” honors the late LEN GOODMAN. More in CASTING CALL.
Fans have reacted to KIM KARDASHIAN’s role in “AHS.” More in KARDASH.
PRINCE WILLIAM acted like a real New Yorker this week in NYC. More in ROYALS.
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HIT LIST
Archaeologists unearthed what is believed to be the oldest wooden structure ever discovered, at Kalambo Falls near the Zambia-Tanzania border.
The artifact dates back at least 476,000 years, well before the evolution of homosapiens, according to a study recently published in the journal Nature.
The wood features cut marks, likely from a stone tool, that was used to connect two large logs to create some sort of platform, walkway or raised dwelling. Wooden tools were also discovered at the site. [via Gizmodo]
SPEAKING OF THINGS THAT ARE OLD: A dinosaur skeleton, known as Barry, will hit the auction block next month in Paris. Dating back around 150 million years, the bones were first discovered in Wyoming in the 1990s. It was then restored in 2000 by paleontologist Barry James; hence the name. Standing at 6.9 feet tall and 16.4 feet long, the skeleton is expected to fetch up to $1.28 million. [via CNN]
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Australian journalist Kirsten Drysdale named her newborn son Methamphetamine Rules in an effort to see what happens when a name gets rejected by the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages.
She didn’t get her answer, however, as the name was approved!
After the initial shock wore off, Drysdale contacted the Registry and is currently in the process of changing his name.
As for how the name got approved in the first place, the Registry simply stated that it “slipped through the cracks.” [via Independent]
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A 19-year-old St. Louis man faces felony robbery charges after allegedly stealing a taco at gunpoint.
Earlier this month, Antonio C. Murray Jr. allegedly held a Lilly’s Panaderia employee at gunpoint, and demanded food. Growing impatient, Murray reportedly grabbed a taco and fled.
He was arrested near the restaurant shortly after.
If charged, Murray faces 10-to-30 years in prison. [via KMOV]
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A mama bear treated her cubs to some Krispy Kreme doughnuts last week in Anchorage, Alaska.
The trio raided a van at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson after the driver left the door open when he stopped at an Express store.
“They ate 20 packages of the doughnut holes and six packages of the three-pack chocolate doughnuts,” an eyewitness told KTUU. [via KTUU]
MEANWHILE, DOWN SOUTH: A black bear was spotted in a tree at Walt Disney World this week in a part of the park that had been temporarily closed. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation's bear management team was able to successfully capture and remove the bear, which had found its way to the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad in Frontierland. [via NPR]
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J.D. Power has ranked North American Airports.
The factors taken into consideration for the ranking include, terminal facilities, arrivals and departures, baggage claim, security check, check-in and baggage check and shopping for food, beverage and retail.
Airports were then broken down based on the number of passengers a year. And the results are…
Top 3 Mega Airports (33 million or more passengers a year):
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport
Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport
Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas
Top 3 Large Airports (10 to 32.9 million passengers per year):
Tampa International Airport
John Wayne Airport, Orange County
Salt Lake City International Airport
Top 3 Medium Airports (4.5 to 9.9 million passengers per year):
Indianapolis International Airport
Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers
Ontario International Airport in California [via JD Power]
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BABY NEWS
Minnesota Twins manager ROCO BALDELLI and his wife ALLIE welcomed twin boys last Saturday.
“Talk about being committed to your job,” a post on X (formerly Twitter) captioned a photo of the newborns.
The couple are already parents to two-year-old daughter Louisa.
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BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The DOW lost 370 points (1.08%) to close at 34,070 on Thursday. The S&P dropped 72 points (1.64%) to close at 4,330 and the NASDAQ lost 245 points (1.82%) to close at 13,224.
🛢 WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE closed at $90; BRENT CRUDE at $93.
⛽ The national average price of a GALLON OF GAS was $3.87 on Thursday.
₿ BITCOIN dropped by 2.02% Thursday, trading over $26,575.
🛩 There were more than 4,493 FLIGHTS delayed within, into, or out of the United States on Thursday and more than 101 such cancellations.
💰Tonight’s MEGA MILLIONS will be for a $205 million jackpot or a $98.1 million cash payout. Saturday night’s POWERBALL drawing will be for a $725 million jackpot or a $345.7 million cash payout.
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SHOWBIZ NEWS
These albums drop today:
Ben Goldsmith, “The World Between My Ears”
Doja Cat, “Scarlet”
JP Saxe, “A Grey Area”
Kylie Minogue, “Tension”
Matteo Bocelli, “Matteo”
Parmalee, “For You 2”
Petey, “USA”
Stephen Sanchez, “Angel Face”
Teenage Fanclub, “Nothing Lasts Forever”
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SOPHIE TURNER wants her and JOE JONAS’ two kids to live in the UK with her.
According to a recent court filing obtained by TMZ, Turner has demanded Jonas hand over the kids’ passports so she can take them to her native England. He said no way, explaining that per their divorce filing the girls cannot be relocated.
That being said, an insider told TMZ that Jonas is open to sharing custody with Turner and allowing the girls to grow up in both the UK and the US, but at the end of the day, their home is in the States.
To be continued…[via TMZ]
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MATTHEW MCCONAUGHEY and WOODY HARRELSON may soon know if they are actually related, with help from the paternity king himself, MAURY POVICH.
“I would come out of retirement. We could do primetime, ‘DNA, Maury’s back with Woody and Matthew,’” the former “Maury” host told E! News.
Remember, earlier this year McConaughey joked about the two actors being half-brothers after admitting that he had investigated his mother’s dating history, which included a romance with Harrelson’s dad. [via E!]
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Kings of Hustler in Las Vegas has offered former NFL player KROY BIERMANN $150,000 to “perform a live strip tease.”
To get the full payment, insiders say Kroy would have to perform on stage for 15 minutes, strip down to his underwear and give attendees lap dances.
The cash, plus any tips he gets, could go toward the serious debt he and estranged wife KIM ZOLCIAK have racked up. [via Star95]
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Don’t expect BRITNEY SPEARS to make the rounds promoting her memoir, “The Woman in Me.”
According to insiders, her team has been turning down all offers for a sitdown interview -- from multiple networks -- because they don’t feel she is in the right space.
One source told Page Six that those around Spears have concerns about her giving an interview, noting her eccentric Instagram posts, but another says the decision to say no has been all on Spears.
“The Woman in Me” hits shelves next month. [via Page Six]
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LISA MARIE PRESLEY’s estate is being sued by a private lending company for nearly $4 million dollars.
Naussany Investments & Private Lending, LLC claims Presley faulted on a 2018 loan. She reportedly put her ownership stake in Elvis Presley Enterprises and Graceland as collateral.
The LLC says they will drop the case if the estate, now under the control of Presley’s daughter RILEY KEOUGH, agrees to pay $2.85 million, or 75% of the total debt, within 45 days.
It is unclear why Presley took out the loan. [via ET]
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The first painting BOB ROSS created on his TV show, “The Joy of Painting,” is for sale.
“A Walk in the Woods” is listed by Modern Artifacts for $9,850,000.
Ross’ show debuted in 1983, and aired more than 400 episodes on PBS through 1994. [via TMZ]
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ANGUS CLOUD’s cause of death has been revealed.
The “Euphoria” star passed away from an accidental overdose of fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine and more, according to the Alameda County Coroner.
Remember, Cloud unexpectedly passed away in July. He was only 25. [via ET]
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CASTING CALL
RUBERT MURDOCH has stepped down as chairman of Fox Corp. and News Corp. His son, LACHLAN MURDOCH will lead both companies.
Rubert has been at the helm for 70 years. He will officially step back in November. [via THR]
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The Mirrorball Trophy, which is awarded to the winner of dance competition show “Dancing With the Stars,” will now be known as the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy.
Executive producer Conrad Green announced this week that the show wanted to honor the late Goodman and felt that this was the best way.
“The Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy will now be lifted on Dancing With the Stars like the Vince Lombardi trophy is lifted at the Super Bowl,” he told USA Today.
Remember, Goodman passed away in April. He was 78. [via USA Today]
SPEAKING OF “DWTS”: Actor MATT WALSH has taken a “pause” from the show amid the ongoing Hollywood strikes. Walsh reportedly walked out of rehearsal this week after being informed the dance competition show is in fact a WGA show. [via Page Six]
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
The response to KIM KARDASHIAN’s acting skills on the premiere of “American Horror Story: Delicate,” has been shockingly positive.
“Kim Kardashian did her thing. She had the odds stacked against her, but she was really giving actress,” one fan wrote, while another added, “Already living for Kim on AHS.”
Kim plays Siobhan Corbyn, a publicist for EMMA ROBERTS’ character Anna Victoria Alcott, in the series. [via TMZ]
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
PRINCE WILLIAM took a jog in Central Park this week and no one noticed.
Wills, who is in town for the Earthshot Summitt, told attendees that he “decided to join the hordes of New Yorkers on their morning routine.”
BY THE WAY: According to a recent Gallup poll, Wills is more popular in America than President JOE BIDEN and former President DONALD TRUMP. [via Page Six]
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DAY OF THE YEAR
International Astronomy Day
Native American Day
National White Chocolate Day
Hobbit Day
National Elephant Appreciation Day
Love Note Day
National Doodle Day
Business Women’s Day
World Car Free Day
Hug a Vegetarian Day
National Ice Cream Cone Day
Dear Diary Day
World Rhino Day
Chainmail Day
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ON THIS DATE
1776 - Patriot Nathan Hale is executed by the British for spying on behalf of General George Washington.
Hale's cover was as a schoolteacher. As the redcoats captured Manhattan and burned it to the ground, Hale tried to escape by sailing back to American territory, but the Brits caught him. Historians aren't certain why he was suspected of espionage.
Upon his capture, British General Howe found compromising documents Hale was carrying, and ordered him to the gallows.
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1789 - Congress establishes the national post office system and creates the Postmaster General position.
At the outset there were only 75 offices and 2,000 miles of roads connecting the post offices. Its staff included the Postmaster General, his secretary, an Inspector of Dead Letters, and only 26 post riders.
Its scope would be expanded in 1792, as the nation's postal needs also grew.
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1862 - President Lincoln issues the Preliminary Proclamation, a precursor to the Emancipation Proclamation.
The decree set a date for the freedom of all American slaves. On January 1st of the following year, all slaves would be declared free, but it had no effect in the rebelling southern states.
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1910 - The Duke of York's Picture House opens in Brighton, England. It remains in operation today, making it the longest-running movie theater in Great Britain.
It has just one screen and seats 283 people on the floor of the auditorium and on a luxury balcony. Originally its capacity exceeded 800, but renovations through the years have whittled that down.
The Picture House mainly shows indie films or flicks with huge cult followings. It is also known for things like all-night “Lord of the Rings” marathons.
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1927 - Boxers Gene Tunney and Jack Dempsey square off at Soldier Field in Chicago in front of more than 100,000 fans.
Tunney beat Dempsey one year earlier for the world heavyweight title in Philadelphia.
This rematch was under new rules, though, which would put the match at the center of controversy. When a fighter was knocked down, he had 10 seconds to get back to his feet, only after the opponent moved to a corner away from any trainers.
When Dempsey knocked Tunney to the ground in the seventh round, he didn't immediately move away, so the ref couldn't start the count. It took Tunney 13 seconds to get back to his feet, but the ref had only counted to nine.
Tunney eventually recovered and dominated the last three rounds. He won the bout by unanimous decision.
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1975 - A crazed assassin outside Saint Francis Hotel in California attempts to shoot President Gerald Ford.
A bystander tried to wrestle the gun out of crazy Sarah Jane Moore's hands. She got off a shot, but didn't hit her target.
The Secret Service hustled Ford away.
This was only 17 days after another woman, Squeaky Fromme, tried to shoot Ford in Sacramento, California.
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2003 - David Hempleman-Adams lands his hot air balloon in Ireland.
His journey started in Canada.
The trip was the first trans-Atlantic flight made in an open wicker basket hot air balloon.
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2020 - The COVID-19 death toll in the US passes 200,000.
It was the highest number of deaths in the world at the time.
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BIRTHDAYS
Michael Rainey Jr. - actor, “Power” & “Orange Is the New Black” - 23
G Flip - pop singer - 29
Tom Felton - actor, “Harry Potter - 36
Tatiana Maslany - actress, “Orphan Black” - 38
Billie Piper - actress, “Doctor Who” - 41
Chris Tallman - actor, “The Thundermans” - 53
Parry Gripp - rock singer, Nerf Herder - 56
Bonnie Hunt - actress, “Jumanji” & “Cheaper by the Dozen” - 62
Scott Baio - actor, “Happy Days” - 63
Joan Jett - rock singer, Joan Jett & the Blackhearts - 65
Andrea Bocelli - opera singer - 65
Toni Basil - pop singer - 80
Born On This Date
Anthoine Hubert - race car driver - 1996 (d. 2019)
Anne Of Cleves - 4th bride of King Henry VIII - 1515 (d. 1557)
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