Today is Wednesday, September 4, 2024.
It is the 248th day of the year.
118 days remain.
WHAT’S ON TAP
The battle between Brazil and X continues through another ELON MUSK property and American commuter habits shift post-pandemic. Details in HIT LIST
NIKKI GARCIA is looking for a good divorce attorney and ELLE MACPHERSON reveals a shocking diagnosis. More in SHOWBIZ.
A couple of new podcasts are in the works. Details in CASTING CALL.
KYLIE needs to step it up. More in KARDASH.
Another blow to MEGHAN MARKLE’s brand launch. Details in ROYALS
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HIT LIST
Regulators in Brazil have gotten wise to ELON MUSK’s satellite-powered internet service, Starlink, and are threatening sanctions if it continues to provide users with access to X.
BUT WAIT: Short of stopping Starlink, or its parent SpaceX, from conducting business in the country, there’s not much they could do. They could pressure internet service providers to make it impossible to download the app that connects to Starlink, but even that is a flimsy way to enforce a rule.
FLASHBACK: In 2021, when the technology was still getting off the ground, a Twitter user asked Musk, “How does transmitting into a country without a local downlink work on the regulatory side?”
Musk replied, “They can shake their fist at the sky.” [via Morning Martini]
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A data analytics firm reports that commuter habits have shifted significantly, even as most Americans end work-from-home arrangements.
Before lockdowns – as Dolly Parton immortalized – the typical American workday was a “9 to 5.” Now, the peak traffic times around the country are around 10 am and 4 pm, but remain significantly elevated throughout the afternoon.
The report’s author explains, “There is less of a morning commute, less of an evening commute and much more afternoon activity.” There’s a similar number of noontime trips being made as there are at 9 am and 5 pm as well.
The study also shows sustained, decreased use of public transportation to get around. [via CNBC]
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The hedonistic weirdos bailing out of Burning Man last weekend didn’t spend days stuck in the mud, but they did face a dust storm, triggering hours of delays.
The storm began Friday and increased in intensity throughout the weekend. By Monday, one report said the wind was heavy enough to sting bare skin.
MEANWHILE: State officials reportedly busted multiple “Burners” for organizing paid rides in and out of the festival. Under Nevada law, it’s illegal to operate a paid driving service without a permit. Bureaucrats scanned message boards and chat groups to fine and bust people for setting up these services – many of whom had no idea they were breaking the law. [via SFGate, DailyBeast]
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Americans continue to cut the cord from traditional television providers, which lost 1.6 MILLION net subscribers in the second quarter of the year – or about 7% of the customer base.
YouTube TV still managed to gain 50,000 subscribers in the same period, but that service only requires an internet connection and no other installation or hardware. The gain also paled compared to the 300,000 subscribers it picked up in the same period in 2023. Americans increasingly subscribe to television seasonally, specifically to be able to watch NFL football in the fall and winter. [via Business Insider]
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Altoids Sours, a discontinued favorite, is making a comeback -- sort of.
A staple of the early 2000’s, the citrus-flavored candy is returning BUT it will only be sold at Cracker Barrel’s Old Country Store locations and under a different name.
Instead of Altoids, the candies will be produced by Iconic Candy, a family-owned and operated candy company that specializes in bringing back discontinued favorites. While the recipe will be EXACTLY the same, the candy will be called Retro Sours, and will be offered in mango, tangerine and citrus flavors.
A launch date is not yet known. [via Instagram]
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DEATHS
Actor JAMES DARREN has died.
He passed away in his sleep on Monday at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles. A cause of death was not shared.
Darren is best known for his roles in “Gidget,” “T.J. Hooker” and “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.”
He was 88.
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BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The DOW lost 626 points (1.5%) to close at 40,936 on Tuesday. The S&P lost 119 points (2.12%) to close at 5,528 and the NASDAQ lost 577 points (3.26%) to close at 17,136.
🛢 WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE closed at $70; BRENT CRUDE at $73.
⛽ The national average price of a GALLON OF GAS was $3.32 on Tuesday.
₿ BITCOIN gained more than 2% on Tuesday, but remains down 2% from the long Labor Day weekend, trading around $58,000.
🛩 There were more than 2,120 FLIGHTS delayed within, into, or out of the United States on Tuesday and more than 55 such cancellations.
💰Tonight’s POWERBALL drawing will be for a $93 million jackpot or a $45.9 million cash payout.
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SHOWBIZ NEWS
Before things got physical, NIKKI GARCIA (formerly Nikki Bella) says she wanted to have a conversation with her husband ARTEM CHIGVINTSEV about how to improve their marriage.
Now, almost a week after his arrest for domestic violence, insiders say he is living elsewhere and Nikki is seeking divorce lawyers.
The couple tied the knot in 2022 -- a year after welcoming their son Matteo. [via Page Six]
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Reality star AMY SLATON HALTERMAN was arrested over the weekend at a Tennessee zoo.
Officers were called to the zoo after Halterman was allegedly bitten by a camel. While chatting with her, deputies say they were “overtaken by suspicious odors” coming from her vehicle.
Upon further investigation, officers found drugs in the vehicle and arrested Halterman for illegal possession of schedule I and schedule IV drugs as well as two counts of child endangerment. It is unknown exactly what drugs she had in her possession. [via NY Post]
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ELTON JOHN revealed that he now has limited vision in one of his eyes after battling a severe eye infection all summer.
“I am healing, but it’s an extremely slow process and it will take some time before sight returns to the impacted eye,” he reassured fans.
John wrapped up touring this summer, performing his final show on July 8 in Stockholm, Sweden. [via Instagram]
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ELLE MACPHERSON recently revealed that she was diagnosed with breast cancer seven years ago.
Speaking to Australia’s Women Weekly Magazine, the 60-year-old model shared how following the diagnosis she “rejected the advice of 32 doctors” who told her to undergo chemotherapy. Instead, she chose a holistic approach, something Macpherson called “an intuitive, heart-led” approach.
As for her status today, Macpherson told the publication, “In traditional terms, they’d say I’m in clinical remission, but I would say I’m in utter wellness.”
Her cancer journey is also depicted in her new book, titled “Elle: Life, Lessons, and Learning to Trust Yourself,” which hits shelves on November 19. [via Women Weekly]
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JENNIFER LOPEZ was once asked to choose between exes SEAN COMBS and BEN AFFLECK -- prior to her recent marriage and divorce from the latter.
“You’re on a raft in the middle of the ocean and you look in the ocean, you see two people floating. You can only pull one up because that’s how much room you have on the raft. You look in the ocean, you see Ben Affleck and you see Diddy,” radio host BIG BOI proposed in a 2014 interview.
Her response: “I’d let both those [m-fers] drown!”
Safe to say that her answer would likely be the same today. [via The Mirror]
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CASTING CALL
There is now a petition to save KELLY MONACO’s character on “General Hospital.”
Following a slew of “I Stand With Kelly Monaco” posts on X, an official Change.org petition, titled “Retain Kelly Monaco In The Cast of General Hospital” has garnered nearly 11,000 signatures.
Monaco has played Sam McCall on the daytime soap for over 20 years and says she was “blindsided” by her character being written out of the show. [via The Mirror]
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ELLEN DEGENERES’ final stand-up special now has a title and premiere date.
“For Your Approval” will land on Netflix on September 24.
It is her second comedy special for the streamer, following 2018’s “Relatable, For Your Approval.” [via Deadline]
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Actor JERRY FERRARA and former football star MATT LEINART are teaming up for a sports-themed podcast, called “Throwbacks.”
It will cover all things sports, from current headlines to off-field stories and everything in between. The two make a perfect pair with Leinart being from the West Coast, and playing ball at USC, while Ferrara is a Brooklyn native.
The first show airs this Thursday. [via Instagram]
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HAILEY WELCH aka the “Hawk Tuah Girl” is getting her own podcast, aptly titled, “Talk Tuah.”
Debuting September 10, the weekly podcast will feature interviews, discussions and funny moments with a variety of celebrities. First up is comedian WHITNEY CUMMINGS, followed by media personality JOSH RICHARDS and YouTuber JAKE PAUL.
For those unfamiliar with the “Hawk Tuah Girl,” head to this NSFW TikTok video of where it all started. [via THR]
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A new documentary, titled “Gary,” takes a deep dive into new allegations that famed actor GARY COLEMAN’s wife Shannon Price could have been behind his untimely death 14 years ago.
Initial reports indicate Coleman suffered an accidental fall which caused a fatal intracranial hemorrhage, but the new doc suggests a sinister alternative.
Several of Coleman’s friends and his former business manager share their own skepticism regarding the cause of death and point out several red flags they believe point to Price playing a role, including her selling a photo of Coleman on his deathbed.
Coleman starred in the 1980s sitcom “Diff’rent Strokes.”
“Gary” is currently streaming on Peacock. [via Radar Online]
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
Some fans think KYLIE JENNER is perpetuating the KarJenner stereotype of “being famous for being famous.”
The topic was brought up in a Reddit thread with one user writing, “Your sister is an actress now. Khloe dabbled with being a TV host. Kendall is a model. What’s your talent? Being pretty is just simply not enough anymore.”
Others seemed to agree with the sentiment calling her “lazy, late and flakey.” [via The Mirror]
IN HER DEFENSE: Kylie appears to work hard behind the scenes. She has a net worth of around $710 million and is the only person on Forbes list of 100 Richest Self-Made Women in her 20s. [via Forbes]
TOTALLY UNRELATED, WORTH ASKING: Why don’t KarJenner fans have a fun nickname? Like Swifties, for example. Even the people who don’t like the family could be called something clever.
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
The US Patent and Trademark Office has rejected MEGHAN MARKLE’s application to protect her brand, on the grounds she cannot have exclusive use of geographic locations.
In this case, the Pacific coastline near her and PRINCE HARRY’s home in Santa Barbara is called “the American Riviera” – meaning she can’t trademark “American Riviera Orchard.” She also reportedly failed to sign the proper documents as part of the trademark filing.
It was previously reported that Markle’s team inappropriately filed paperwork relating to products she plans to sell under the brand name.
IT GETS WORSE: A candle company is already selling an item called the “American Riviera” candle.
Markle had planned to fully launch the company before year’s end – but a total rebrand before the launch could be in the works before it initially gets off the ground. [via DailyMail]
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DAY OF THE YEAR
National Wildlife Day
Indigenous Literacy Day
National Macadamia Nut Day
Global Talent Acquisition Day
World Cogeneration Day
National Newspaper Carrier Day
National Eat an Extra Dessert Day
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ON THIS DATE
1618 - An avalanche in Plurs, Switzerland demolishes the town and buries 2,500 victims. No one survived.
By some accounts, four residents were vacationing when the avalanche hit, and returned to find their entire community washed away beneath the snow.
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1781 - A group of44 settlers establish a village they call The Town of our Lady the Queen of the Angels of the Porciuncula River. We know it today as Los Angeles.
The settlers were called "Los Pobladores," or "townspeople." The group consisted of 11 men, 11 women, and 22 children from an array of backgrounds. Some were Spanish, some African, and some Native American. The Governor of Las Californias at the time, Felipe de Neve, tasked them with building the city and living in it.
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1882 - The New York Times' newspaper plant is the first to make use of electrical power -- supplied by the Edison Illuminating Company.
Fifty-two lamps lit up the editorial and business offices. An article in the Times proclaimed the staff's unanimous praise for the new technology, which eliminated the smell of gas lamps that were much more conveniently turned on and off.
Within the next 14 months, the Edison Illuminating Company would service 508 households, and power 12,732 light bulbs.
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1888 - George Eastman receives a patent for his box camera, and on the same day trademarks the name Kodak.
His design would lead to the first mass-market camera. Advertising described the contraption's operation as "Pull the String, Turn the Key, Press the Button." The process was surely more complicated than the point-and-click options today, but a sea-change in photography technology for the time. The film roll even held 100 exposures.
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1923 - The first American militarized airship takes off. It's called the USS Shenandoah, a blimp based on the German's Zeppelin bomber’s design.
The American incarnation focused on recon work. It would also be the first rigid airship to fly across North America, when it flew on a test run from California to Washington state.
With poor navigation equipment and worse scouting technologies, not much came of this technology. Almost two years to the day of its first flight, the Shenandoah was torn apart in a storm over Ohio on September 3rd, 1925.
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1950 – The comic strip Beetle Bailey debuts.
The cartoon depicts dopey, lethargic Private Beetle Bailey and his run-ins with Sergeant Snorkel.
Mort Walker started the cartoon; he also started Hi and Lois in 1954.
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1998 - A privately held tech company is founded by two PhD candidates at Stanford University.
Larry Page and Sergey Brin took a $100,000 investment in their little start-up and incorporated Google.
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2018 - The FBI announces they have recovered Dorothy’s ruby red slippers from “The Wizard of Oz.”
The infamous slippers were stolen 13 years prior from the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, Minnesota.
No word on who stole the shoes.
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BIRTHDAYS
Victoria Moroles - actress, “Teen Wolf” - 28
Tayshia Adams - reality star, “Bachelorette” - 34
Xavier Woods - wrestler - 38
Whitney Cummings - comedian - 42
Beyonce - pop singer - 43
Granger Smith - country singer - 45
Max Greenfield - actor, “New Girl” - 45
Wes Bentley - actor, “Yellowstone” - 46
Mark Ronson - music producer - 49
John DiMaggio - actor, “Disenchantment” - 56
Damon Wayans - comedian & actor, “My Wife and Kids” - 64
Jan Pol - TV vet, “The Incredible Dr. Pol” - 82
Ray Floyd - golfer - 82
Born On This Date
Jason David Frank - actor, “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers” - 1973 (d. 2022)
John McCarthy - computer scientist who coined the term “artificial intelligence” - 1927 (d. 2011)
William Lyons - automobile manufacturer, Jaguar - 1901 (d. 1985)
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