9/7/2023: Rothschild Masterpieces 🏦
Discover more from Morning Martini
9/7/2023: Rothschild Masterpieces 🏦
PLUS: Disney Drama; “Posh”; and Malibu > Montecito
Today is Thursday, September 7, 2023.
It is the 250th day of the year.
115 days remain.
WHAT’S ON TAP
BURNING MAN attendees were finally able to leave and an exploding cell phone saved a farmer’s life. More in HIT LIST.
JOE JONAS and SOPHIE TURNER released a joint statement about their divorce and TOM BRADY’s new face is the new face of Delta Airlines. More in SHOWBIZ.
The ongoing Hollywood strikes are taking a toll on studios. More in CASTING CALL.
We now know what sort of family emergency KOURTNEY and TRAVIS endured. Find out more in KARDASH.
PRINCE HARRY and MEGHAN MARKLE are house hunting. Again. More in ROYALS.
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HIT LIST
Tens of thousands of people were stuck in traffic for upwards of five hours this week as they left the BURNING MAN festival grounds after being stranded over the weekend because of heavy rain.
Despite the long wait in traffic, attendees appeared to be relieved to see sunshine and drier conditions as they exited, according to several at the site.
This year’s event kicked off on August 27 and was supposed to end Monday, but things got pushed back amid the mud and flooding. [via ABC News]
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Researchers from the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel have created living, growing models of human embryos from stem cells, meaning there were no human eggs or sperm involved.
While the embryo would not be able to develop if transferred into a womb, it can be used for other purposes, such as researching health issues that occur during the first few weeks of fetal development, according to professor Jacob. H. Hanna.
The model could also be used in pharmaceutical research, as many drugs are not tested on pregnant women because of safety and ethical concerns. [via The Guardian]
SPEAKING OF NEW LIFE: A study, published in the journal Science, has found that ancient humanity was almost wiped out about 900,000 years ago when the global population dropped to around 1,280 reproducing individuals. Even more alarming is that it stayed that way for about 117,000 years. [via CNN]
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For the first time ever, hundreds of items from the Rothschild family’s private collection will be up for auction in North America.
The sale, titled “Rothschild Masterpieces,” will include a “lavish assortment of art, furniture and homewares” from the collection of French banker and industrialist, Baron James de Rothschild, his wife Betty and their sons Baron Aphonse and Baron Gustav, according to Christie’s auction house.
The items, which are expected to fetch millions of dollars, will be on display at Christie’s Rockefeller Plaza starting October 11. An online sale kicks off on October 3. [via ArtNet]
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When BOB IGER stepped down as Disney CEO he was willing to give up all perks of the job…except one.
According to his hand-picked successor, BOB CHAPEK, Iger refused to vacate his office, featuring a bathroom with a custom shower and two prized posters.
The office, which was handed down from Iger’s predecessor, MICHAEL EISNER, was outfitted with a private shower, which Iger would use daily, sometimes twice-a-day. Iger once said that he lived for those “two-shower days,” several people told CNBC.
As for the posters, one featured a collage of newspapers featuring Iger celebrating Disney’s purchase of Marvel in 2009 and the other was a movie poster for the 1975 CLINT EASTWOOD flick, “The Eiger Sanction” -- with the title changed to “The Iger Sanction.”
The drama over the office didn’t last long however, as Iger returned to his position as CEO in 2022 after Chapek failed to further the Disney vision. [via CNBC]
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An exploding cell phone saved a Brazilian farmer’s life last week.
The 40-year-old man was checking on some animals when a jaguar attacked him. Another farmhand tried to fend off the big cat with a knife, but the animal would not quit.
The attack didn’t end until the jaguar chomped down on the farmer’s leg, puncturing his cellphone, which caused the device to explode in the cat’s face. Spooked by the explosion, the jaguar ran off.
The farmer was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was treated for extensive injuries to his arms and legs and a second-degree burn on his leg from the phone explosion. [via NY Post]
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BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The DOW lost 198 points (0.57%) to close at 34,443 on Wednesday. The S&P lost 31 points (0.70%) to close at 4,465 and the NASDAQ lost 148 points (1.06%) to close at 13,872.
🛢 WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE closed at $88; BRENT CRUDE at $90.
⛽ The national average price of a GALLON OF GAS was $3.80 on Wednesday.
₿ BITCOIN fell Wednesday, trading around $25,738.
🛩 There were more than 2,700 FLIGHTS delayed within, into, or out of the United States on Wednesday and more than 62 such cancellations.
💰Friday night’s MEGA MILLIONS drawing will be for $122 million jackpot or a $58.7 million cash payout.
SHOWBIZ NEWS
JOE JONAS and SOPHIE TURNER issued a joint statement on Wednesday regarding their split.
In the Instagram post, they noted that “there have been many speculative narratives as to why…” but didn’t divulge any further. One of the latest rumors as to what caused the split is Turner’s penchant for partying.
Also, an insider told TMZ that Jonas heard or saw something involving Turner on their Ring doorbell that was “the final straw for him.” No word on what that could have been.
As previously reported, Jonas filed for divorce on Tuesday. He is seeking joint custody of their two young children. [via TMZ]
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TOM BRADY is the new face of Delta Airlines.
According to the company, the former NFL QB signed a multi-year agreement this week, making him a new strategic advisor.
More specifically, Delta said Brady will “assist them in developing/advising on strategic training and teamwork tools for their more than 90,000 employees.”
For those thinking the pairing is a bit odd, Brady’s mom was a flight attendant, so apparently it's in his blood. [via Delta News]
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KEVIN COSTER’s estranged wife, CHRISTINE BAUMGARTNER, says she will have to “enter the workforce” amid her divorce from the actor.
Her woe is me comment comes after a judge slashed Costner’s child support payments in half, which Baumgartner called a “complete joke.”
As for his next steps, Costner says he will continue to “take care of [his] obligations” and “responsibilities.” This, of course, doesn’t include “Yellowstone,” which he bailed on after scheduling issues and differing ideas with director TAYLOR SHERIDAN. [via Daily Mail]
ALSO: On Wednesday, a judge ruled that Baumgartner must pay Costner’s legal fees. [via TMZ]
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A warrant has been issued for DREW BARRYMORE’s stalker, a man named Chad Michael Busto.
Remember, he not only showed up at a panel Barrymore was at in New York City, but has also made his way to her Hamptons home over the past month. [via TMZ]
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GARY BUSEY is being investigated for his role in a hit-and-run in Malibu last week.
According to local authorities, the actor backed his car into another vehicle while leaving a shopping center. When confronted by the other driver, Busey fled the scene.
The aftermath -- including Busey leaving -- was caught on video by the other driver. [via People]
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A 30th anniversary edition of NIRVANA’s 1993 album “In Utero” will be released next month.
The release will also include previously unreleased material.
“In Utero” was the group’s third album, and their final album with original members before the death of KURT COBAIN. [via Cover]
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CRUZ BECKHAM got some new ink in honor of his mom, VICTORIA BECKHAM’s SPICE GIRL days.
The 18-year-old showed off a photo of the word “Posh,” written in an elegant script on the underside of his arm, just beneath his elbow.
Remember, his mom was known as Posh Spice. [via Page Six]
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NICK BOSA has agreed to a five-year $170 million contract with the San Francisco 49ers.
The deal makes him the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history. [via X]
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CASTING CALL
The ongoing writers’ and actors’ strikes will cost Warner Bros. Discovery between $300 million and $500 million in losses this year.
Despite the hugely successful “Barbie” flick, CEO David Zaslav says it's not enough to cut the losses.
Zaslav also stated that his company has been in negotiations with the unions, but there is still no clear end date in sight. [via Daily Mail]
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“Mayor of Kingstown,” starring JEREMY RENNER, has been renewed for a third season at Paramount+.
The show was actually picked up months ago, but a formal announcement wasn’t made until it was clear that Renner would be healthy enough to return.
Remember, he broke 30 bones after being run over by his snow plow on New Year’s Day. [via Hollywood Reporter]
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
KOURTNEY KARDASHIAN revealed Wednesday that the family emergency she and TRAVIS BARKER recently experienced was life-saving surgery for their unborn child.
On Instagram, Kardashian thanked the doctors for “saving [her] baby’s life” and her husband for rushing home from his tour to be by her side.
She also thanked her mom, KRIS JENNER, for helping her stay calm through the scary process.
No word on what was wrong with the baby or if there will be future complications. [via TMZ]
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
PRINCE HARRY and MEGHAN MARKLE are looking for a new home in Malibu.
Insiders told TMZ that the couple were recently spotted touring an $8 million plot of land in the area, as well as an estate that sits on about six acres.
They currently reside in a $14 million mansion in Montecito. [via TMZ]
JUST FOR THE RECORD: Malibu is significantly closer to the bright lights of Hollywood.
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DAY OF THE YEAR
National Salami Day
National Buy a Book Day
Neither Snow Nor Rain Day
Superhuman Day
National Beer Lovers Day
World Duchenne Awareness Day
National Acorn Squash Day
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ON THIS DATE
1251 BC - A solar eclipse on this date may mark the birth of Hercules in Thebes, Greece.
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1776 - A small, wooden American submarine approaches the HMS Eagle, which is moored in New York Harbor.
Sergeant Ezra Lee was the pilot of the small vessel, which was called the “Turtle.” It took two hours to maneuver the submersible to the British ship to attach a bomb, which would fail. The charge he was to set included a delayed detonator, so rather than blowing himself up, Lee discharged the small bomb and floated it down the river where it exploded without inflicting any damage.
There is no British account of this explosion, only the official American reports. Some believe the “Turtle” never existed, and was only fabricated for the sake of propaganda.
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1876 - An attempted robbery in Northfield, Minnesota backfires on Jesse James and his gang when the town rises up and chases them away.
Seeing the holdup at the First Bank, citizens drew arms and started shooting at the bandits, several of whom were killed.
Not risking his own death, James upped and left, retreating into the Dakotas.
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1906 - The 14-Bis aircraft takes flight. Some say it's the first aircraft to do so under its own power.
The wheels only lifted off for a few fleeting seconds, but the plane did go airborne. Later in the year, it would fly up to 50 meters for short spurts of time.
The achievement does conflict with the Wright brothers' 1903 launch of their Flyer, which got airborne with the assistance of a catapult. The 14-Bis only used wheels and hills for momentum. To the Wright brothers' credit, their flights were more controlled and sustained compared to the erratic maneuvers in the 14-Bis.
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1921 - Looking for ways to keep tourists in town past Labor Day weekend, Atlantic City holds the first Atlantic City Pageant.
The winner of the beauty contest would receive a three-foot Golden Mermaid trophy. Only upon her return the following year would she receive the Miss America title.
16-year-old Margaret Gorman of Washington, D.C. was the first to be named Miss America.
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1953 - Nikita Khrushchev is named First Secretary of the Soviet Communist Party. It's a diplomatic way of saying he's the communist empire's dictator.
Khrushchev’s policies were markedly more relaxed than Stalin's, as political prisoners were freed and the mass executions were denounced. He encouraged Soviet countries to peacefully coexist with capitalist nations and compete with them. This didn't last long.
By 1964, the Soviet Central Committee would demand his resignation.
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1979 - Chrysler Corporation got a government bailout before we were calling it a bailout.
The federal government guaranteed $1.2 billion in loans to the car manufacturer, which needed at least $800 million by the end of the month.
Eventually Chrysler restructured and reorganized in a way that highly resembles Chapter 11 bankruptcy, without really calling it "declaring bankruptcy" ... on the taxpayers' dime.
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1979 - The Entertainment Sports Programming Network hits the airwaves for the first time.
ESPN debuted with SportsCenter, hosted then by Lee Leonard and George Grande.
The first score announced was for women's tennis at the US Open. To fill the airwaves in the meantime, ESPN broadcasted games you couldn't catch on other networks.
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1996 - Tupac Shakur is shot while hanging out of Suge Knight's sunroof. He would die six days later in the hospital.
No one was initially arrested in the shooting – but rapper Biggie was implicated. He would be shot and killed the following year.
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2008 - The U.S. Treasury takes over federal mortgage houses Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
The takeover was one of many bailouts of both private and government organizations that accelerated the nation’s debt.
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2021 - The US records more than 40 million cases of COVID-19.
Daily cases hit 161,000 two days earlier, with an average daily death count of 1,560.
More than 100,000 are hospitalized due to the virus.
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BIRTHDAYS
Dannielynn Birkhead - model & daughter of Anna Nicole Smith - 17
Gracie Abrams - pop singer - 24
Donovan Mitchell - basketball player - 27
Alex Greenwood - soccer player - 30
Jennifer Veal - actress, “Jessie” - 32
Loren Allred - pop singer - 34
Jonathan Majors - actor, “Lovecraft Country” & “Loki” - 34
Kevin Love - basketball player - 35
Evan Rachel Wood - actress, “The Wrestler” & “Thirteen” - 36
Alyssa Diaz - actress, “Army Wives” & “Ray Donovan” - 38
Leslie Jones - comedian - 56
Toby Jones - actor, “Frost/Nixon” & “The Girl” - 57
Gloria Gaynor - pop singer - 80
Born On This Date
Eazy-E - rapper - 1964 (d. 1995)
Buddy Holly - rock singer - 1936 (d. 1959)
Ed Warren - novelist & paranormal investigator - 1926 (d. 2006)
Elizabeth I of England - The Virgin Queen - 1533 (d. 1603)