Today is Monday, September 9, 2024.
It is the 253rd day of the year.
113 days remain.
WHAT’S ON TAP
A terrifying ordeal in small town Wisconsin and naval detritus closes a beach. Details in HIT LIST
ELTON JOHN was amused by DONALD TRUMP’s “Rocket Man” comment and DAK PRESCOTT makes history. More in SHOWBIZ.
KENDRICK LAMAR will headline the Super Bowl halftime show. Details in CASTING CALL.
DREAM’s Insta debut. More in KARDASH.
MEGHAN MARKLE and Co consider a plan B for her brand launch. Details in ROYALS.
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HIT LIST
ELON MUSK announced a new timeline for SPACEX to send rockets to the Red Planet in a post on X Saturday.
“The first Starships to Mars will launch in 2 years when the next Earth-Mars transfer window opens,” he wrote. Those first missions will be uncrewed and test the ships’ ability to land intact on Mars. Provided everything goes to plan, SpaceX will send humans to Mars in four years – but that’s a big caveat. No word whether those first humans will have a return trip planned, either.
Once those missions go well, Musk says, “Flight rate will grow exponentially from there, with the goal of building a self-sustaining city in about 20 years. Being multiplanetary will vastly increase the probable lifespan of consciousness, as we will no longer have all our eggs, literally and metabolically, on one planet.” [via Elon Musk]
MEANWHILE IN LESS AMBITIOUS CORPORATE SPACE TRAVEL: The BOEING Starliner capsule departed the International Space Station on Friday and landed at the White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico at 12:01 a.m. Eastern on Saturday after executing an automated re-entry process without pilots on board. [via CNN]
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CRIME NEXT DOOR: The police department for Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin – a small town of just over 5,000 people – announced the arrest of a 26-year-old Venezuelan for Domestic Disorderly Conduct, two counts of Domestic Battery, Strangulation/Suffocation, Physical Abuse to a Child, Disorderly Conduct and two counts of 2nd Degree Sexual Assault. The suspect, Coronel Zarate, is affiliated with the international crime organization Tren de Aragua.
The Prairie du Chien police department has notified US Immigration and Customs Enforcement. [via Bill Melugin]
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The man who multiple governments have acknowledged as the legitimate winner of the recent election in Venezuela has fled the country for Spain, after the incumbent regime of NICOLAS MADURO ordered his arrest.
EDMUNDO GONZÁLEZ has been granted asylum by Spain, where he arrived Sunday.
In Venezuela’s legislature, the opposition leader who should have been set to take power alongside González said she expects him to return to be sworn in on January 10.
“His life was in danger, and the increasing threats, summons, arrest warrants and even attempts at blackmail and coercion to which he has been subjected, demonstrate that the regime has no scruples,” MARIA CORINA MACHADO said in a post on X. “Let this be very clear to everyone: Edmundo will fight from outside alongside our diaspora.”
GET A LOAD OF THIS: Four other onetime presidential candidates in Venezuela continue to reside in Spain after being threatened with arrest and imprisonment by the Maduro regime. [via ABC News]
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In 1975, the U.S. Mint in San Francisco struck just two, ten-cent dimes without the “S” above the year, right below the profile of Franklin D. Roosevelt.
One of these sold in 2019 for $456,000. The second just turned up as part of an inheritance received by three sisters in Ohio from their late brother, and it’s set for auction in the coming weeks.
The auction house, GreatCollections, estimates it’ll go for more than half a million bucks. The two elusive coins have been the stuff of lore in coin collecting circles for years. The auction’s manager says, “Most major collectors and dealers have never seen one,” meaning a dime without the “S” mark.
In a fascinating twist, the late brother approached the auction manager seven years ago to tell him he possessed this rare coin and the manager kept the secret.
There may be other coins out there without the “S” marking, but they were only part of a small run of “proof” sets minted in 1975 and never made it to general circulation.
This dime will be on display in Tampa and the auction will close in late October. [via NBC News]
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Officials from the National Park Service closed a portion of the beach located in Buxton, North Carolina after erosion exposed large quantities of “hazardous” remnant Navy and Coast Guard infrastructure, such as concrete, rebar, wires, PVC and metal pipes, metal fragments and cables.
Petroleum-contaminated soils and groundwater were also exposed at the site, which is located in front of old Navy and Coast Guard bases from 1956 to 2010.
No word on how long the 0.25 miles-long section will remain closed. [via NY Post]
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DEATHS
NICOLE KIDMAN’s mom JANELLE ANN KIDMAN has died.
She passed away on September 6. No cause of death was announced.
Nicole was at the Venice Film Festival when she heard the news, quickly jumping on a plane to head home to her native Australia
Janelle was 84.
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RELATIONSHIPS
“Vanderpump Rules” alum KRISTEN DOUTE is engaged to boyfriend LUKE BRODERICK.
She's 41 and his age is not known.
Broderick popped the question while the two were vacationing in Maui early last week.
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WEEKEND BOX OFFICE
10. The Front Room: $1.6 million (new)
9. Despicable Me 4: $1.8 million (down from 8)
8. Blink Twice: $2.1 million (down from 6)
7. Twisters: $2.2 million (down from 3)
6. The Forge: $2.9 million (up from 7)
5. It Ends With Us: $3.7 million (stayed at 5)
4. Alien: Romulus: $3.9 million (down from 2)
3. Reagan: $5.2 million (up from 4)
2. Deadpool & Wolverine: $7.2 million (down from 1)
1. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice: $110 million (new)
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BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The DOW lost 410 points (1.01%) on Friday to close at 40,345. The S&P lost 94 points (1.73%) to close at 5,408 and the NASDAQ lost 436 points (2.55%) to close at 16,690.
🛢 WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE closed at $68 on Friday; BRENT CRUDE at $71.
⛽ The national average price of a GALLON OF GAS was $3.27 on Sunday.
₿ BITCOIN was down on the weekend, trading around $54,500 by Sunday.
🛩 There were more than 2,700 FLIGHTS delayed within, into, or out of the United States on Sunday and more than 65 such cancellations.
💰Tuesday night’s MEGA MILLIONS drawing will be for a $800 million jackpot or a $401.8 million cash payout. Tonight’s POWERBALL drawing will be for a $121 million jackpot or a $61 million cash payout.
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SHOWBIZ NEWS
LINKIN PARK’s new singer, EMILY ARMSTRONG, is explaining her perceived support of actor DANNY MASTERSON during his 2020 sexual assault trial.
“I was asked to support someone I considered a friend at a court appearance,” she explained. “Soon after, I realized I shouldn’t have. I always try to see the good in people and I misjudged him.”
Masterson would later be found guilty of sexual assault and sentenced to 30 years to life in prison. Armstrong says she hasn’t seen or spoken with the actor since the preliminary hearing. [via Deadline]
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ELTON JOHN thinks DONALD TRUMP’s use of his song “Rocket Man” to insult KIM JONG UN was “hilarious” and “brilliant.”
“I laughed, I thought it was brilliant [...] I’ve always been friendly toward [Trump], and I thank him for his support. When he did that, I just thought it was hilarious,” John told Variety.
WORTH NOTING: It appeared that the interviewer was hoping for a different response from John regarding Trump.
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SHIA LABEOUF got into a verbal altercation with a group of patrons at the OX184 bar in Edinburgh last week.
It all started when the group said something while walking past the actor, who in response shouted “Let’s go, I’m right here [MFer]” while chucking his hat on the ground. Things never got physical however, as two men intervened.
LaBeouf is in Edinburgh with his wife MIA GOTH filming for their upcoming movie “Frankenstein.” According to one bartender, he has been “nothing but nice” while visiting the local pubs. [via The Sun]
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SEAN COMBS is selling his Beverly Hills mansion for $61 million.
The 13,000-square-foot, two-story mega-mansion sits on 1.3 acres along the stretch known as “Billionaire’s Row.”
He bought the place for $40 in 2014. [via Page Six]
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JENNIFER LOPEZ and MATT DAMON, who is BEN AFFLECK’s best friend, were spotted having a “deep conversation” at the after party for the premiere of their film “Unstoppable” in Toronto.
While unclear what they spoke about, sources say it appeared to be a conversation between old friends.
In addition to starring in the movie, JLo also served as co-producer alongside Damon and Affleck, who was noticeably missing from the premiere. Also, it was her first major public appearance since filing for divorce from Affleck. [via OK!]
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RON HOWARD says he is not supporting J.D. VANCE’s campaign, despite directing the 2020 film adaptation of his memoir, “Hillbilly Elegy.”
The topic of politics wasn’t something that really came up while the men worked alongside each other on the movie, but Howard says that “based on conversations [they] had during that time” he is “surprised and disappointed by much of the rhetoric” he is hearing now.
Howard is also not a supporter of Vance’s running mate, saying “There’s no version of me voting for Donald Trump to be president again, whoever the vice president was.” [via EW]
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Dallas Cowboys QB DAK PRESCOTT signed a four-year $240 million extension, including a record $231 million guaranteed, making him the highest-paid player in NFL history.
He also received an $80 million signing bonus -- setting another record.
The deal was finalized just hours before the Cowboys kicked off their 2024 season against the Browns in Cleveland. [via NBC]
SPEAKING OF FOOTBALL: Former Patriots coach BILL BELICHICK wants to “return to coaching in 2025,” if the right opportunity presents itself. In the meantime, the 72-year-old has various media jobs, including regular scheduled appearances on “ManningCast” and “The Pat McAfee Show.” [via ESPN]
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CASTING CALL
KENDRICK LAMAR will headline the Super Bowl LIX halftime show.
“Rap music is still the most impactful genre to date. And I’ll be there to remind the world why. They got the right one,” he said of the gig.
Lamar is the first musician outside of the classical or jazz genres to win a Pulitzer Prize for music, which he did in 2018. He also has 17 Grammy Awards and 29 BET Awards.
Super Bowl LIX is set for February 9 in New Orleans.
WORTH NOTING: This isn’t Lamar’s first time at the halftime show. In 2022 he performed alongside several other rappers, including DR. DRE, SNOOP DOGG and EMINEM. [via NBC]
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MELISSA MCCARTHY and CLIVE OWEN will play JonBenet Ramsey’s parents, Patsy and John, in Paramount+’s limited series about her unsolved murder.
The series tells the “story of Patsy and John Ramsey -- exploring the unbreakable partnership of these two complex people -- as husband and wife, as mother and father -- who had committed themselves and their children to building the narrative of a perfect, privileged life only to have it destroyed one Christmas night in 1996,” according to the synopsis.
An air date is not yet known. [via IndieWire]
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Starting this fall, NBC’s “Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” will air new episodes four nights a week, and reruns on Friday.
The news is not a sign of Fallon's impending exit, however. He signed a new deal with NBC extending his run through 2028.
ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” CBS’ “Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show” and fellow NBC show “Late Night with Seth Meyers” are already on the four day schedule. [via THR]
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
ROB KARDASHIAN’s 7-year-old daughter DREAM KARDASHIAN made her social media debut on Instagram over the weekend.
In her first post, Dream introduced herself, saying, “Hi, my name is Dream, and welcome to my new page.”
Proud dad, Rob, commented “I love you” under the post.
BY THE WAY: Dream’s account is run by Rob and her mom BLAC CHYNA. [via Instagram]
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
SPEAKING OF THE KARDASHOPUS: MEGHAN MARKLE might take a nod from KIM KARDASHIAN for the launch of her lifestyle brand – whatever it ends up being called. After the US Patent Office rejected her initial application to protect the “American Riviera Orchard” brand, Meg and her team are considering how to proceed.
YOU MAY REMEMBER: Kim’s original plan for her successful SKIMS line of shapewear was to call it “Kimono” – but she changed course after receiving accusations of cultural appropriation. One insider tells the Express of Meg’s plans: “The team are thinking of backups as we speak just in case. They’ve been put into a bit of a last-minute spin but they’re not too worried because they are aware that Kim K also changed her brand name after launch and it still did amazingly well.”
The source adds that a change at this point would be a “rather costly measure” but not “the end of the world.” [via Express]
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DAY OF THE YEAR
Emergency Services Day
Care Bears Share Your Care Day
National Boss/Employee Exchange Day
National When Pigs Fly Day
International Sudoku Day
National Teddy Bear Day
Falsely Accused Day
Wonderful Weirdos Day
National Weinerschnitzel Day
Steak Au Poivre Day
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ON THIS DATE
1791 - The "federal city" on the banks of the Potomac River gets a new name, in honor of America's first president.
Calling it Washington is simply an honorific. The district is named Columbia, historically a poetic reference to the Western Hemisphere.
Since then "Washington" has become synonymous with any power or edicts that come from the nation's capital.
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1850 - California is the 31st state admitted to the Union.
The republic became a part of America in the Compromise of 1850, a package of legislation designed to end border disputes and territory issues following the Mexican-American War.
With Cali's statehood, the territories of New Mexico and Utah were also organized.
Texas also ceded some land to the federal government, which in turn picked up Texas' whopping $10 million in debt.
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1926 - The Radio Corporation of America founds the National Broadcasting Company, the first major broadcast network in the U.S.
The radio network first consisted of WEAF out of New York and WJZ out of Newark, New Jersey. Half of the company was owned by RCA, 30% went to GE and the rest went to Westinghouse. The first broadcast would not go out until November 15th.
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1947 - A Harvard Mark II computer at Harvard University contract's the world's first recorded computer bug -- literally.
A moth got lodged in one of the computer's relays, frying itself and the computer.
The term inspired the modern use of the word “bugs” for problems with software and hardware.
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1971 - John Lennon releases the album “Imagine,” a collaboration with his wife Yoko Ono and other mega producers like Phil Spector.
Some of the material was meant to be a slap in the face of former Beatles band member Paul McCartney, like the song “How Do You Sleep.”
The cover featured Lennon holding a pig to mock McCartney's album “Ram,” in which he also held a sheep on the cover art – but took it a little too seriously.
ALSO THAT YEAR…
After the shooting of inmate George Jackson, prisoners at New York's Attica Prison revolt, demanding better living conditions and rights. Almost 1,000 prisoners took prison officials and guards hostage.
Though negotiations initially began, Governor Nelson Rockefeller eventually ordered state troopers to squash the uprising.
In total, 39 died, including 10 officers and civilian employees.
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1987 - Pitching for the Houston Astros, Nolan Ryan strikes out his 4,500th batter.
Mike Aldrete was the victim, batting for the San Francisco Giants.
Ryan would finish his career with 5,714 strikeouts in September 1993.
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2015 - Queen Elizabeth II becomes Great Britain’s longest-reigning monarch at 63 years and seven months.
She beat the record set by her great-great-grandmother, Queen Victoria.
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2018 - The Green Bay Packers start their 100th season with a 24-23 comeback win over the Chicago Bears at Lambeau Field.
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2020 - Global death toll from COVID-19 passes 900,000.
Deaths in the US surpassed 190,000.
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BIRTHDAYS
Luke Hughes - hockey player - 21
Ricky Pearsall Jr. - football player - 24
Ronni Hawk - actress, “Stuck in the Middle” - 25
Gabby Williams - basketball player - 28
Leah Kate - pop singer - 32
Hunter Hayes - country singer - 33
Lauren Daigle - gospel singer - 33
Timothy Grandaderos - actor, “13 Reasons Why” - 38
JR Smith - basketball player - 39
Michelle Williams - actress, “Dawson’s Creek” & “My Week with Marilyn” - 44
Michael Buble - jazz singer - 49
Eric Stonestreet - actor, “Modern Family” - 53
Adam Sandler - actor, “Billy Madison” & “Happy Gilmore” - 58
Charles Esten - actor, “Outer Banks” - 59
Hugh Grant - actor, “Notting Hill” & “About a Boy” - 64
Born On This Date
Colonel Sanders - entrepreneur, KFC - 1890 (d. 1980)
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