9/27/2023: Otter Attack! 🦦
PLUS: How To Be An Influencer; Britney's Knife Dance; and State Dinner
Today is Wednesday, September 27, 2023.
It is the 270th day of the year.
95 days remain.
WHAT’S ON TAP
TARGET is giving up on theft prevention at some stores in big cities and SBF’s mom cries victim. More in HIT LIST.
BRITNEY SPEARS continues to alarm fans with her bizarre Instagram posts and SHAKIRA is facing more tax evasion charges. Find out more in SHOWBIZ.
TAYLOR SWIFT’s concert film will hit theaters worldwide & some “Real Housewives” took things too far. More in CASTING CALL.
Fans may already know what KOURTNEY and TRAVIS are going to name their baby boy. Find out in KARDASH.
The KING and QUEEN are planning their next official state dinner. More in ROYALS.
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HIT LIST
Retail giant TARGET is giving up on trying to fend off crime sprees at nine of its stores in major cities and has decided to close them down entirely.
Nine stores in Portland, New York City, Seattle, and San Francisco will shutter for good next month. In an official statement, the company said that increased security and locked merchandise weren’t enough to protect both their merchandise and their staff.
Earlier this year, Target’s leadership was already anticipating a $500 MILLION loss across the entire company due to theft and organized retail crime. [via Star Tribune]
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In a woe-is-us email to The New Yorker magazine, SAM BANKMAN-FRIED’s mother calls the prosecution of her son surrounding the collapse of FTX a “McCarthy”-style target campaign and maintains her son’s innocence.
“It takes a lifetime to build up a reputation as honorable people,” BARBARA FRIED wrote, adding, “It takes five minutes to destroy it, which they now have done.”
Fried also insisted, “Sam will never speak an untruth.” [via The New Yorker]
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A Florida man says he was bitten by a rabid otter when he went to his back forty to feed the ducks on his property.
Joseph Scaglione says he started to retreat when he saw the otter’s head poke out from the bank of a pond, but before he could get back behind the safety of his gate, the otter pounced.
YIKES: Scaglione says he was bit on his legs, hands, and arms 41 times.
Animal control officials say the otter then went after a dog that was out on a walk with its family. That’s when they were able to track it down inside a nearby recycling bin. The otter has since been put down – and Scaglione says he’s undeterred from going back and feeding the ducks. [via WBPF]
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Want to learn how to be an influencer? Then Southeast Technical University in Carlow, Ireland has just the class for you!
The university is offering a Bachelor of Arts in Content Creation and Social Media program next Fall. The curriculum will focus on a “comprehensive set of skills needed for success in content creation,” and will cover things such as “writing in the digital age, creative digital media, and social media marketing.”
There will also be a mandatory course outlining how to avoid being canceled and a “Crisis Management” module that dives into “various social media-crisis case studies.”
CLOSER TO HOME: A community college in Ohio offers a two-semester “Media Influencer Certificate” program. [via Insider]
FOR WHAT IT’S WORTH: A survey from HigherVisibility found that one in four Gen Z-ers wants to become an influencer. [via HigherVisibility]
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Two breakfast pantry staples have gone through wild price swings already this year: eggs and bacon. Now, orange juice is expected to get more pricey, too.
After a few years of poorly-timed hurricanes and natural disease wrecking Florida’s orange crops, the state saw its worst orange harvest since the 1930s this year.
Suppliers are now turning to imports from Brazil to help stabilize prices. OJ imports from Brazil are up 55% year over year. [via Zero Hedge]
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DEATHS
Rapper NASHAWN BREEDLOVE has died.
He passed away Sunday in his sleep at his home in New Jersey, according to a family member. No cause of death is yet known.
Breedlove is best known for battle-rapping EMINEM in the movie “8 Mile.”
He was 46.
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Former baseball player BROOKS ROBINSON has died.
He passed away Tuesday, according to a statement from his former team, the Baltimore Orioles. No cause of death was shared.
Robinson, who played his entire 23-year career with the Orioles, helped the franchise win two World Series titles.
He was 86.
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BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The DOW lost 388 points (1.14%) to close at 33,618 on Tuesday. The S&P lost 63 points (1.47%) to close at 4,273 and the NASDAQ lost 207 points (1.57%) to close at 13,063.
🛢WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE closed at $90; BRENT CRUDE at $92.
⛽ The national average price of a GALLON OF GAS was $3.83 on Tuesday.
₿ BITCOIN was mostly flat Tuesday, trading around $26,230.
🛩 There were more than 2,710 FLIGHTS delayed within, into, or out of the United States on Tuesday and more than 45 such cancellations.
💰Tonight’s POWERBALL drawing will be for a $835 million jackpot or a $390.4 million cash payout.
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SHOWBIZ NEWS
BRITNEY SPEARS alarmed fans with her latest Instagram video featuring her dancing with knives.
“I started playing in the kitchen with knives today,” she captioned the post.
Remember, one of the conditions suggested by those around her, as her conservatorship came to an end, was that knives be kept away from her. So much for that!
After several concerned comments from fans, Spears changed the caption to read: “Don’t worry they are NOT real knives!!! Halloween is soon!!!”
BUT WAIT: In the video she clinks the knives together and they sound very real. [via TMZ]
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USHER’s Super Bowl halftime show may not be a wholesome family event.
Insiders told Page Six that he plans to use pole dancers in his set -- just like he has in his Las Vegas residency. There will also be “dancers on roller skates,” the source added.
In the past, there has been little to no tolerance for risky performances by viewers. [via Page Six]
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As the obsession with TAYLOR SWIFT and TRAVIS KELCE grows, Insider took a look into his and her finances.
Travis will make about $12.3 million this season with the Kansas City Chiefs, meanwhile Taylor earned $13 million in ticket sales -- each night -- so far during her “Eras Tour.”
Throughout his 11-year NFL career, Travis has earned just over $77 million, while Taylor made about $92 million just last year. With her “Eras Tour,” she is expected to take in “hundreds of millions of dollars.”
Kelce does have several endorsements, plus his sports podcast with his brother, fellow football player JASON KELCE, but added up that is only about $5 million. [via Insider]
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SHAKIRA has once again been charged for tax evasion by Spanish prosecutors.
The latest allegations against her claim she failed to pay $7.1 million in taxes on her 2018 income.
As previously reported, Shakira is already due to be tried on November 20 in a separate case regarding her permanent address between 2012 and 2014 and what taxes she failed to pay, if any. [via THR]
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A clip of a fan ruining what has become an iconic part of BEYONCE’s tour has gone viral.
During her song “Energy,” Bey tells the crowd, “Everybody on mute,” and typically silence falls across the crowd. At her recent show in Houston, one fan just couldn’t put down his popcorn long enough to go mute, and those around him scolded him for his noisy eating. One woman got so upset that she punched the guy to silence him.
One person commented on the video, writing, “When the queen says stfu you stfu.” [via Newsweek]
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KIM ZOLCIAK has requested that a judge dismiss KROY BIERMANN’s second divorce petition.
In court documents filed this week, Zolciak claims that Biermann’s divorce filing, which stated that the marriage is “irretrievably broken,” is no longer valid as they are still cohabiting – and having lots of sex.
She believes the marriage is “still viable,” an insider told Us Weekly. [via Us Weekly]
KROY SAYS: In response to reports that Zolciak wants a judge to toss out his divorce petition, an insider told TMZ that despite all the sheet-shakin’, Biermann “remains steadfast in his desire to divorce her.” [via TMZ]
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CASTING CALL
The concert film of TAYLOR SWIFT’s world tour will also hit more than 100 countries overseas.
The film is already set to play in more than 4,000 theaters in the US, Canada and Mexico.
Based on presales, some analysts believe the opening weekend could cross $100 million domestically. [via THR]
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“Real Housewives of New Jersey” stars JENNIFER AYDIN and DANIELLE CABRAL have been suspended from filming after getting into a physical fight.
Insiders told Page Six that the two ladies got into a heated argument at fellow “Housewife” TERESA GUIDICE’s home, and things got physical.
The incident is currently under investigation by Bravo. [via Page Six]
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Max (formerly HBO Max) has quietly added a popular UK dating show, “Naked Attraction.”
HERE’S HOW IT WORKS: In the show, one “chooser” eliminates six potential dates who are standing on stage completely naked. As body parts are gradually revealed the “chooser” gets to critique the potential dates. When there are only two potential dates left, the “chooser” gets naked too. The final couple then goes on a date.
FAIR WARNING: The show is not censored on Max, but there is a warning before the start of each episode.
The show originally aired in 2016, and is currently on its seventh season in the UK. [via THR]
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Now that a tentative deal has been reached between writers, studios, and streamers, ABC decided to move forward with the premiere of Season 32 of “Dancing With the Stars.”
As previously reported, some celebrity contestants had decided to take a “pause” from the dance competition show because of the ongoing picketing outside of the studio and dance rehearsal spaces.
“DWTS” premiered last night on ABC and Disney+. It is available today on Hulu. [via THR]
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
Eagle-eyed Kardashian fans may have discovered what TRAVIS BARKER and KOURTNEY KARDASHIAN are naming their baby boy that is on the way.
In one of the Instagram photos from the couple’s Disneyland themed baby shower, a follower spotted a wish tree, on which a guest wrote “May Baby Rocky have [...] life filled with love.”
“I’m telling you mark my words they named that baby Rocky Barker!!!” the fan wrote. [via Style Caster]
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
Buckingham Palace has announced the next official state dinner to be hosted by the King and Queen: the monarchs will welcome South Korean president YOON SUK YEOL some time in November – but a date has not yet been announced.
KING CHARLES and Yoon met last year before the state funeral for QUEEN ELIZABETH. [via People]
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DAY OF THE YEAR
National Corned Beef Hash Day
National Chocolate Milk Day
National Crush a Can Day
Ancestor Appreciation Day
World Tourism Day
Morning Show Hosts Day
National No Excuses Day
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ON THIS DATE
1779 – John Jay is appointed by the Continental Congress to be the minister to Spain. His mission was to rally the Spanish behind the cause of the American Revolution and to get Spain to acknowledge his new country's independence.
Though Spain never offered wholesale military support, the country did give America loans and occasional war provisions. The Spanish government did not want to encourage revolution among its holdings in the Americas.
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1854 – 322 ship passengers die in a collision off the coast of Newfoundland.
The ship called the Arctic collided with the Vesta. Heavy fog didn't help the situation that night, but the Arctic's captain refused to slow down or toot the ship's horn to alert other boats in the area.
Upon impact, the Arctic's crew sent lifeboats to those on the Vesta, which was an iron-hulled ship. But the iron provided good protection, and more damage was actually done to the Arctic.
Soon the Arctic's crew realized this, but many of the lifeboats had already been sent off. Many had capsized in the waters. The Arctic's captain tried to beach the sinking boat, and in doing so crushed the remaining lifeboats.
Only 1 person reportedly survived the sinking.
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1869 – Wild Bill Hickok shoots his second ruffian since starting as Sheriff in Hays City, Kansas, five weeks earlier.
His lack of restraint was certainly effective, but troubled the city's government.
The good people of Hays City stripped Hickok of his deputization and he moved West, where he would serve again as a successful law enforcer.
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1956 – Captain Mel Apt pilots the Bell X-2 rocket plane, making him the first to exceed Mach 3. The plane eventually reached 2,094 miles per hour.
When Apt attempted a banking turn, the jet spiraled out of control.
Apt fired his ejection chair, but never made it out.
The Air Force retired the X-2. It would be replaced by the X-15 three years later.
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1959 – Nikita Khrushchev ends his two-week trip to the United States, which was riddled with confusion and embarrassment.
Among the blunders were his verbal sparring match with a Twentieth Century Fox executive while visiting Hollywood. He was also denied access to Disneyland due to concerns over his safety.
Vice President Nixon took the premier to the airport, where a military band played America's and the Soviet Union's anthems.
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1995 – The defense in the O.J. Simpson murder trial makes its closing arguments.
Lead defense attorney Johnnie Cochran poked holes in the prosecution's case and pleaded that the jury treat Simpson with dignity.
On October 3rd, the jury would find Simpson not guilty of murdering Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman.
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1997 – NASA loses communication with the Mars Pathfinder probe.
The mission was only expected to last between a week and a month, but lasted three.
Pathfinder sent more than 16,500 pictures back to Earth and made millions of measurements of the Red Planet's atmosphere.
Fun fact: Pathfinder's on-board computer boasted a whopping 512 kilobytes of RAM and 176 Kilobytes of flash memory storage!
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2018 - The US Securities and Exchange Commission files a lawsuit against Elon Musk.
The lawsuit accused the SpaceX founder of securities fraud for a series of false and misleading tweets about a potential transaction to take Tesla private.
The issue is that Musk had not discussed deal terms with potential financing partners.
He would settle the suit two days later.
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BIRTHDAYS
Jenna Ortega - actress, “Stuck In the Middle” & “Wednesday” - 21
Sam Lerner - actor, “Monster House” - 31
Poison Ivory - pop singer - 31
Austin Carlile - metal singer, Of Mice & Men - 36
Avril Lavigne - pop singer - 39
Lil Wayne - rapper - 41
Anna Camp - actress, “Pitch Perfect” movies - 41
Gwyneth Paltrow - actress, “A Perfect Murder” & “Iron Man” - 51
Steve Kerr - basketball coach - 58
Liz Torres - actress, “Gilmore Girls” - 76
Born On This Date
Meat Loaf - rocker singer - 1947 (d. 2022)
Samuel Adams - Founding Father & Governor of Massachusetts - 1722 (d. 1803)
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