The big news today over in Britain is that Buckingham Palace announced twenty-one new “honorary appointments” for working royals. All of the appointments are to military positions, because there are so many military units left patronless these days. It’s been a problem for years now, but the issue has been exacerbated by the Duke of York’s perversions, the Sussexit, QEII’s death and the chronic laziness of the heir and his wife. Suddenly, the Windsors find themselves without enough working royals to fill all of the military and charity patronages. Which might explain the Telegraph’s rather pointed coverage of the military patronage announcement:

Today’s announcement from Buckingham Palace of 21 new honorary appointments in the Armed Services for “working members” of the Royal family, chiefly concern those regiments, corps and units formerly headed by Elizabeth II. That said, some roles have been passed to other members of the Royal family by their present holder, the King, presumably to maintain tri-service balance.

Clearly, part of the much larger current review and redistribution of the late Queen’s patronages, which numbered at her death in excess of 600 organisations, these armed services patronages, for that is in effect what they are, have been much easier to deal with than those in the charity and other sectors, such as the patronage of Sunningdale Ladies Golf Club and the Royal Caledonian Curling Club.

However, the task cannot have been entirely easy – particularly when trying to make personal royal links to the units – by the absence from the working royal roster of the Sussexes, the Duke of York and his daughters. Add to that the increasing age and infirmity of the Duke of Kent and Princess Alexandra, who are both notably absent from the list. Indeed, it can’t be long before the Kents’ military roles come up for review and replacement, most notably the Duke’s Colonelcy of the Scots Guards, for which post the Duke of Edinburgh is the most likely candidate.

Some of the new appointments are obvious, others less so. The new Queen, who is not – unlike her late mother-in-law – particularly noted for her religiosity, surprisingly takes on only one new job to add to her existing three colonelcies. She has been made Patron of the Royal Army Chaplains’ Department. This is hardly an onerous task, since chaplains are distributed among the whole of the Army. Unless, of course, she is planning to meet all of them individually.

The Princess Royal’s only new job, Deputy Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Regiment of Scotland, must have been an easy call given her strong links to Scotland and her existing appointments with the regiment’s 1st and 6th Battalions. The same is true of the helicopter pilot, the Prince of Wales, who assumes the role of Colonel-in-Chief of the Army Air Corps, and the Duchess of Gloucester’s appointment as Colonel-in-Chief of the Adjutant General’s Corps, of which she has been Deputy Colonel-in-Chief since 1992.

Less obvious are some of the other jobs. Indeed, the attempt in the Buckingham Palace announcement to make personal links are at times somewhat strained, if not entirely absent. The Prince of Wales is not particularly associated with Mercia but is now Colonel-in-Chief of its eponymous regiment.

… And while on the subject of the newly-created Duke of Edinburgh’s colonelcies, surely the Palace knows that he is Colonel, not Colonel-in-Chief, of the London Guards as stated in the announcement. Still on the subject of accuracy, guardees the length and breadth of the land must be harrumphing over their kippers at seeing the King described as “Colonel-in-Chief of the Household Division”, when no such appointment exists. He is, of course, ex officio Colonel-in-Chief of all the regiments of the Household Division, but that’s not the same thing. Standards are clearly slipping at the big house.

[From The Telegraph]

I guess I’ve developed an ear for the nuances of British bitchery, because I snort-laughed a few times: “The new Queen, who is not – unlike her late mother-in-law – particularly noted for her religiosity” and “He is, of course, ex officio Colonel-in-Chief of all the regiments of the Household Division, but that’s not the same thing. Standards are clearly slipping at the big house.” LMAO. They also seem to be hitting King Charles and Buckingham Palace for not working faster to redistribute all of QEII’s 600-plus patronages, and I agree – it’s been a year, surely they should be further into the process. But the problem is as the Telegraph notes – too few working royals. Please, this is so funny.

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Cover Images.

Remember how excited people were for Jennifer Lawrence’s “raunchy” sex-comedy, No Hard Feelings? Well, it made about $85 million worldwide, which is pretty decent for a stand-alone R-rated comedy. It’s not a franchise, it was an original script, and the film starred an Oscar-winning actress. One of the reasons why the film got so much buzz is because… Hollywood rarely makes those kinds of movies anymore. The mid-budget – or even low-budget – comedy, with an original script and no merchandising tie-ins, nothing based on a game or a toy or a comic book. In the ‘80s and ‘90s, those kinds of comedies came out every other week. Some were middling, but some were great. And they just disappeared into thin air over the past ten-to-fifteen years. Well, Adam DeVine has a theory about that.

Adam Devine appeared on Theo Von’s “This Past Weekend” podcast during his press tour for Netflix’s “The Out-Laws” and shared his theory that Marvel movies and other superhero films killed the traditional Hollywood comedy. The “Workaholics” and “Pitch Perfect” alum noted that because Marvel movies rely so much on humor (see the “Ant-Man” and “Guardians of the Galaxy” franchises, for instance), they ended up becoming Hollywood’s new de facto comedy films.

“You watch comedies nowadays and you’re like, this is not a f–king comedy,” Devine said. “Where are the jokes? Where are the bits? There’s still good [comedy] shows, but movie comedy…it’s hard. My theory: I think Marvel ruined it. I feel like superhero movies ruined comedies because you go to the theater and you expect to watch something that cost $200 million to make, and comedy movies aren’t that. So you’re like, ‘Why would I spend the same amount of money to go watch a little comedy in the theater if I can spend that and watch something that is worth $200 million?’ And they still make those movies kind of funny, like, ‘Oh my god, is that raccoon talking? This is hilarious!’ Which it is, but it’s not a real comedy.”

“Every studio used to put out several comedies a year,” Devine noted. “And there were like 45 comedies in the theater per year. So every week or so, there’s a new comedy in the theaters. Now, last year, there was like 6 or 7. It’s crazy.”

[From Variety]

I don’t think DeVine is wrong, per se, but his theory is missing the bigger picture. Yes, some of those Marvel films function as “buddy-comedies” just with a massive budget. But the larger issue is that with the success of those comic book films and the Star Wars films, Hollywood simply decided that they wouldn’t “gamble” on a moderate-budget original comedy when they could make a bigger gamble on a film which had a “built-in audience.” The same thing happened with rom-coms – instead of making comedy or romantic-comedy theatrical releases, all of that kind of thing has moved to streaming.

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.

This Dan Wootton story continues to be unofficially embargoed in almost all of the British media outlets. Byline Times has just published their eighth exclusive exposé, and as of this moment, only the Guardian is doing any kind of follow-up reporting. Last week, we did hear that the Mail has suspended Wootton following what sounds like an ass-covering internal investigation. The Sun is also conducting an investigation, only they hired a neutral third-party to look into the claims raised by Byline. Wootton still appears on GB News and he’s still trying to influence Britain’s right-wing political system. Meanwhile, Byline’s reporting just gets worse and worse:

Dan Wootton met young male reality TV stars through his work as a prominent showbusiness journalist and then privately propositioned them to do photo shoots at his home for “underwear brands” in an “abhorrent abuse of power”, Byline Times can reveal.

Among those Wootton targeted over an eight-year period between 2011 and 2019 – during which he was working for The Sun, ITV and the Daily Mail – were The Only Way is Essex star Kirk Norcoss, Big Brother contestant JJ Bird, and an X Factor singer who was just out of his teens. Each had first encountered Wootton – today a star presenter on GB News – as a result of their involvement in the television industry, on which it was his highly-paid job to report and through which he enjoyed a powerful media influence.

Wootton was on his first day as a columnist and feature writer for the Daily Mail in December 2011 when he approached Big Brother series 11 contestant JJ Bird, then 25, and who is today a boxing trainer having also been a pro-fighter. Mr Bird, who refused Wootton’s offers, is among the first group of people in the public eye to discuss their interactions with Wootton.

He told Byline Times: “Dan told me he was an amateur photographer and was ‘working with underwear brands’. He invited me to a test shoot at his flat with a fee attached. At that time, I was trying to fund my boxing career and develop my career in entertainment. Dan was a big name in the world of showbiz journalism who had the power to do that – plus anything where I was going to receive payment would obviously have been very useful. Looking back now, it was a complete abuse of his power and position and he should not have been offering to do that kind of thing.”

[From Byline Times]

I don’t want to delve too deep into Wootton’s sexual pathology, but it’s clear that Britain’s media culture has an unsettling “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy when it comes to powerful men preying on boys and much younger men. The fact that no one said anything and Wootton operated like this for years, while simultaneously running dozens of kompromat, blackmail and catfishing schemes – it’s just so shocking.

Photos courtesy of GB News and AvalonRed.

Do you think the Duchess of Sussex gives much of a thought to the Princess of Wales whatsoever at this point? Let me put it another way: do you think Meghan thinks of Kate with anything other than pity? I still think about how Meghan referenced Kate in the Oprah interview and it was clear that there was some sympathy, even pity there. That bothered Kate and it bothered everyone else in the UK – that Meghan didn’t idealize Kate or think Kate was admirable. Even in Prince Harry’s Spare, Kate is a pitiful figure who gets irrationally angry about Meghan’s “baby brain” comment. All of which to say, I don’t believe this story, but I guess it’s worth discussing:

Meghan Markle is reportedly upset that her sister-in-law, Kate Middleton, still hasn’t apologized for the way the Duchess of Sussex was treated when she was a working member of the royal family. The “Suits” alum feels Middleton and her husband, Prince William, have “never been held accountable” for their actions, a source told Closer magazine (via the Mirror), adding that the pair “never apologized and have seemingly got away with it.”

The source added that Markle was “convinced” people would sympathize with her following the release of her and husband Prince Harry’s Netflix documentary, “Harry & Meghan.”

“That hasn’t happened,” the source claimed. “This isn’t how she envisioned things would turn out, but Meghan knows the truth and will tell anyone who will listen that Kate had an edge to her.”

A spokesperson for Markle did not reply for comment.

[From Page Six]

Accountability would be nice and I believe Kate has “an edge” – the edge of a bully, the edge of a Karen, the edge of a passive-aggressive a–hole. But yeah, I just don’t even think Meghan is hung up on this anymore, if she ever was. It’s also weird to assume that tens of millions of people watched the Netflix docuseries and came out of it without any sympathy for Meghan? Anyway, what a weird story – Kate and William have made it clear for three years that the Sussexes live rent-free in their heads, now we’re supposed to believe that Meghan wanders around Montecito, telling people that Kate is unpleasant?

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Backgrid.

Back in April, we were briefly obsessed with the idea that Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell cheated on their respective partners while filming a romance in Australia. Glen’s three-year relationship with Gigi Paris ended the moment people noticed how flirty Glen and Sydney were together. Sydney’s fiance Jonathan Davino didn’t seem to go away, although he definitely gave off the vibe of someone who would stick around, even if his fiance cheated on him. Anyway, that was months ago and the rumors died down. Now Sydney is addressing some of it in her Variety cover story, which she did pre-strike as part of her Emmy Award campaign (for Reality). Some highlights:

All of the gossip about her life: “Sometimes I feel beat up by it,” Sweeney says pensively. “It’s hard to sit back and watch, and not be able to stand up for yourself.” Her study of the industry has yielded crucial insights: Never respond to the rumors, and always find a connection back to the project. “I’ll see my uncle comment on things and I’m like, ‘You gotta stop.’ But it’s so hard, because I grew up in a small town, and they don’t get the business of it all. Just like Reality, it was all these tabloids and headlines, but no one knew the actual story.”

She never had a plan B: “I was going to five to 10 auditions a week, and not getting a single callback. I always believed that if you have a plan B, you’re prepared to fail. No matter how hard or how long it was going to take, I was just going to keep working at it.”

Just as she found work, her parents divorced and filed for bankruptcy. “My parents sacrificed so much to support my dream, and they lost so much during it. I just felt a responsibility to show them that it was worth it,” she says. Did the sacrifices her parents made contribute to these crises? “I’ll never know,” she says. “I think as a kid, as the eldest, I feel a responsibility. They’ll say no, or they’ll say yes, depending on what fight it is. But I’ll always feel responsible. But that’s OK.”

Her mother’s infamous birthday party: Photos of the celebration showed guests in what appeared to be Blue Lives Matter garb and MAGA-styled red caps later revealed to read “Make Sixty Great Again.” “There were so many misinterpretations. The people in the pictures weren’t even my family. The people who brought the things that people were upset about were actually my mom’s friends from L.A. who have kids that are walking outside in the Pride parade, and they thought it would be funny to wear because they were coming to Idaho.”

The rumors that she had an affair with Glen Powell: “It’s a rom-com. That’s what people want! Glen and I don’t really care. We have so much fun together, and we respect each other so much; he’s such a hard worker, and I’m a hard worker. We’re excited for the press tour, and I literally just left ADR with him. We talk all the time like, ‘That’s really funny.’” In a media environment that’s outside even a gifted actor’s control, there can be a certain pleasure in leaning into the narrative. “They want it. It’s fun to give it to ’em.”

She wants to find a balance between her career & family: “I always thought I’d have a kid by now. I always wanted to be a young mom. I love acting, I love the business, I love producing, I love all of it. But what’s the point if I’m not getting to share it with a family? The time will come, and I’ll have four kids. And they will come with me everywhere and be my best friends.”

On Madame Web: “I think it’s different from what people expect a superhero movie to be. Quote that! That’s a quote, because the tabloids will pick up everything else we talk about.”

[From Variety]

Much has been made about the fact that Sydney is the rare hot Hollywood commodity who is NOT a nepo baby, and I think you can see that here – Sydney is very much about the grind, the hustle, what’s next, how do I leverage my power, will I have time to have a family, all of the stuff that nepo babies don’t even think about, frankly. As for what she says about Glen Powell – I learned in this piece that Sydney put the film (Anyone But You) together and she produced it. Meaning, even if Glen and Sydney are not boning, they’re going to play up those rumors throughout the promotion to help sell the movie. (And I do think they were boning.)

Photos courtesy of Backgrid, Cover Images, Instagram. Cover courtesy of Variety.

In April, ProPublica released a shocking report on Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. ProPublica had extensive documentation that Justice Thomas took millions in undisclosed gifts and travel from a top Republican donor named Harlan Crow. None of this is some tricky ethical quagmire – for years, Thomas has broken federal law in his failure to disclose to gifts AND by receiving the gifts. Well, funny story: it’s so much worse than that. ProPublica just published a new report, once again with extensive documentation, about Thomas also receiving millions in gifts, vacations and private-plane flights from other GOP-affiliated billionaires.

During his three decades on the Supreme Court, Clarence Thomas has enjoyed steady access to a lifestyle most Americans can only imagine. A cadre of industry titans and ultrawealthy executives have treated him to far-flung vacations aboard their yachts, ushered him into the premium suites at sporting events and sent their private jets to fetch him — including, on more than one occasion, an entire 737. It’s a stream of luxury that is both more extensive and from a wider circle than has been previously understood. Like clockwork, Thomas’ leisure activities have been underwritten by benefactors who share the ideology that drives his jurisprudence. Their gifts include:

At least 38 destination vacations, including a previously unreported voyage on a yacht around the Bahamas; 26 private jet flights, plus an additional eight by helicopter; a dozen VIP passes to professional and college sporting events, typically perched in the skybox; two stays at luxury resorts in Florida and Jamaica; and one standing invitation to an uber-exclusive golf club overlooking the Atlantic coast.

This accounting of Thomas’ travel, revealed for the first time here from an array of previously unavailable information, is the fullest to date of the generosity that has regularly afforded Thomas a lifestyle far beyond what his income could provide. And it is almost certainly an undercount. While some of the hospitality, such as stays in personal homes, may not have required disclosure, Thomas appears to have violated the law by failing to disclose flights, yacht cruises and expensive sports tickets, according to ethics experts.

Perhaps even more significant, the pattern exposes consistent violations of judicial norms, experts, including seven current and former federal judges appointed by both parties, told ProPublica. “In my career I don’t remember ever seeing this degree of largesse given to anybody,” said Jeremy Fogel, a former federal judge who served for years on the judicial committee that reviews judges’ financial disclosures. “I think it’s unprecedented.”

The New York Times recently surfaced VIP treatment from wealthy businessmen he met through the Horatio Alger Association, an exclusive nonprofit. Among them were David Sokol, a former top executive at Berkshire Hathaway, and H. Wayne Huizenga, a billionaire who turned Blockbuster and Waste Management into national goliaths. (The Times noted Thomas gives access to the Supreme Court building for Horatio Alger events; ProPublica confirmed that the access has cost $1,500 or more in donations per person.)

The total value of the undisclosed trips they’ve given Thomas since 1991, the year he was appointed to the Supreme Court, is difficult to measure. But it’s likely in the millions.

[From ProPublica]

You can read more at the ProPublica link – this kind of blatant criminality is shocking, and it’s shocking that no one reported it before now. Thomas has been on the Supreme Court since the early ‘90s! Three decades of five-star vacations, rides on private jets, shady real estate deals and on and on. Where were the reporters on the SCOTUS beat? The only thing I’ll say in Justice Thomas’s defense is that he’s such a morally bankrupt hack that he would have voted in these Republican donors’ favor anyway, without the gifts. It’s not so much a quid pro quo or an explicit bribe – these donors are simply rewarding him for always voting in a way that aligns with their interests.

Photos courtesy of Cover Images, Avalon Red.

The faces we see on screen often become like family. So, when we lose them due to natural or unexpected death, it truly is a tragedy.

Although only just over halfway through the year, death has already affected so many sports, television, and music stars alike.

It is important to reflect on the positive impact these stars had on our lives and others, for even though they may be gone, they are not lost from our memories.

Doris Day

Doris Day was an adored actress and singer in the 50’s and 60’s. Some of her most famous works included Pillow Talk, The Man Who Knew Too Much, Calamity Jane, and Love Me or Leave Me. Miss Day died on May 13 at age 97 due to natural causes. Her girl-next-door-image, as well as her animal activism work with the Doris Day Animal League, will always be remembered.

Grumpy Cat

This social media-loving cat, who’s real name was Tardar Sauce, died at age 7 on May 14. This lovable cat met his fame 7 years ago when his photo was shared on Reddit in 2012. His owner captioned “Meet Grumpy Cat” and from then the image went viral. His meme-loving face was all over social media and even featured on the front of a New York Times magazine. It just goes to show you that the celebrities we love come in all shapes and sizes.

Peter Mayhew

There is no way to forget Peter Mayhew; both for his world-renowned role as Han Solo’s sidekick Chewbacca in the Star Wars saga and for his incredible 7 foot 3 inch stature. There’s no way not to miss an individual as unique and talented as Mayhew. Mayhew was 74 and died on April 30; a date that Star Wars fanatics will never forget.

Luke Perry

Luke Perry, otherwise known as Dylan McKay from television series Beverly Hills 90210, unexpectedly lost his life on March 4 when he suffered a massive stroke. He was 52 years old. The teenage heartthrob will be missed in the hearts of many, and Leonardo DiCaprio seeks to honor Perry’s kind soul, as he prepares to play the role of McKay in the new 90210.

 Cameron Boyce

One of the more recent and tragic deaths of 2019 was that of Disney-Channel star Cameron Boyce. He died on July 6, at the age of 20, due to a seizure in his sleep from an ongoing medical condition. His mother has shared how Cameron will always be remembered as the kind, loving, funny spirit that he always was.

Gloria Vanderbilt

Gloria was a talented woman who considered herself an actress, fashion designer, artist, and author. She was born straight into her fame however, into one of the wealthiest families in America. The Vanderbilt name was commonly associated with their jeans empire, and later Gloria remained in the spotlight with her son, Anderson Cooper’s, television fame. Gloria Vanderbilt died on June 17 at the age of 95. She lived a full and successful life that continues to live on, especially through her family.

Carmine Caridi

This famous actor made his presence in some of the most famous films of all time including Murder She Wrote, The Money Pit, and Starsky & Hutch, as well as The Godfather Part II and III. Caridi died on May 28 at age 83. His presence on the big screen will be forever missed.

Niki Lauda

Niki Lauda was a world-famous car-racing champion who had won the Formula One three times in his life. Lauda died on May 21 at the age of 70. His tenacity will always be remembered, especially for his participation in the world championship in 1976. During this time, Lauda was horribly burned in a crash in the German Grand Prix, but after a brief recovery, returned to the race, only to be narrowly beaten by James Hunt. His strength and passion for the sport are truly admirable.

Tim Conway

Tim Conway will always be remembered for his incredible ability to make co-stars of The Carol Burnett Show roll with laughter. He was witty, fun, but it wasn’t until his appearances on The Steve Allen Show and McHale’s Navy that he became world famous. Conway also made several television guest appearance such as on 30 Rock, and Spongebob Squarepants. He actually received an Emmy for his role on 30 Rock. Tim Conway died on May 14 at the age of 85, but his laughter provoking soul will forever love on.

These are only a few of the faces we have lost in 2019, and like all the others, their memories will outlast on the screen and in our hearts.

The post Remembering Celebrities of 2023 first appeared on CelebrityBabyScoop.

From CB: I bought the Dash mini rice cooker back in April, 2021 and still use it just about every day. It makes the perfect amount of rice for 2-3 people and it always comes out fluffy and perfectly cooked. I also use it to make oatmeal in the mornings. You can set it and leave it, and it will keep your food warm without drying it out. Here are some more things Rosie and I are looking at on Amazon.

A roomy gym bag with wet and dry compartments

From CB: This versatile bag comes in over 20 different colors and patterns, with many on sale under $30. It has a little matching cosmetic pouch and a USB port to charge your phone through an internal power bank (sold separately). There’s also a separate area underneath for your shoes and a wet compartment! This listing has over 5,400 ratings, 4.5 stars and a B on Fakespot. People say it’s just what they needed and is so convenient. “I’ve only had this for 2.5 months. I have taken this bag on my last 4 road-trips and can’t live without it. It has so many pockets on the inside and outside, plus a zippered compartment on the bottom for shoes. It even came with two drawstring shoe bags! I haven’t hooked up my power bank to use as a charger yet but it also came with the usb cord. The inner compartment is very well lined in case you have spills or wet items. I purchased the light cream color and I was worried that it would get dirty, but it really hasn’t.”

An affordable set of two satin pillowcases

From CB: I had a satin pillowcase with a zipper that stopped working after a while. These envelope-close satin pillowcases by BedSure are on sale with most sets of two under $10 plus a coupon at checkout! They come in over 30 colors and in five different sizes. They have over 285,000 ratings(!) and 4.3 stars on ReviewMeta. Reviewers say they’re so comfortable and that they’ve noticed better skin and less tangled hair since switching. “I’ve had other satin pillowcases/sheets and after washing & drying they are a wrinkled mess. These wash & dry beautifully and are basically wrinkle free. Soft & silky and my hair combs easily after a nights sleep. Was concerned my head would get hot, it doesn’t. These are extremely comfortable.” “I bought one set for myself and it has made a world of difference on my complexion and my hair.”

An induction burner for quicker cooking and easier cleanup

From CB: I was reading a list on Buzzfeed of cost-saving products and someone said their induction cooktop keeps their main stovetop cleaner! I definitely need help with that. We had a full induction stove in Germany and it was awesome. You never get burned by it and it’s hot immediately. You do have to make sure your cookware is compatible. This portable 1800W induction cooktop by Duxtop is under $60 and has a 5% off coupon. It has 15,000 ratings, 4.4 stars and the same score on ReviewMeta. Reviewers say it gets hot almost immediately and that there’s a learning curve, but they love how much quicker it cooks. “I have a gas range because that is the hookup that was there when I bought the home. I don’t have a problem with gas, but the range is so hard to keep clean, and I live alone! I only use this one new induction cooktop now, if I put hot water in a pot and turn it on high it boils in a minute! Put my eggs in and turn it off and I am done.” “I have been using this induction cook top for 6 months now on a daily basis, it is the only cook top I use. I am still as happy with it as I was when I first started using it. Getting use to the heat settings did not take long and it does hold true to the temperature. I most certainly recommend this product to others. Am very happy with my investment.”

A set of 30 dermaplaning tools so you’ll never be without

From CB: I dermaplane, which is a fancy name for shaving your face, after a lot of deliberation. It makes my skin look so smooth and prepares it for serums and moisturizing. The only issue is that the razors get gunky fast and you need to replace them frequently. This set of 30 dermaplaning razors is under $10. It has 4.3 stars, over 3,500 ratings and B on Fakespot. Reviewers say that these aren’t as sharp as much more expensive razors, but that they do the job and are gentle. “I use them to shave my whole face. I like them because they don’t cut my acne and they are thin and small enough that I can shave near my ears and jawline without cutting myself.” “I use these on my clients for my microblading business and they work great. I get a very close shave with these. I have used more expensive ones and I cannot tell a difference between the two.”

An insert to help keep your purse or bag organized

From Rosie: I have a tote bag and always carry way too many things in it. I need something like this purse organizer to help with that. It comes in 6 different sizes and has 21 color options overall (some sizes are only available in certain colors). It has a 4.5 star rating, more than 28,000 reviews, and an A on Fakespot. Reviewers love how well it fits inside their bags, as well as how organized it makes things. “This allows me to keep things organized. I love the insert with Velcro that allows you to remove it you’d like.” “I like that this organizer is sturdy and stout, and won’t fall apart or collapse easily. It has plenty of small pockets in addition to a zippered pouch which can be used or not used to divide the spacious center.”

A fragrance-free hyaluronic acid face moisturizer

From Rosie: This face moisturizer by Neutrogena is hands-down my favorite face cream. I have sensitive skin and used to just forgo moisturizer because it felt heavy and my face would break out or I’d start sneezing. I’ve had no issues at all since I started using this one. It has a 4.6 star rating, more than 43,000 reviews, and a B on Fakespot. People love how nice it feels on their sensitive skin. “I have tried both the fragrance free and the regular jar and both worked great. I have very sensitive skin and I didn’t have any allergic issues with either…Even my Dermatologist rec’d this line.” “I read all the reviews and it does live up to its hype. I am over 50 and I have dry skin. It feels so good on. It feels cooling and it moisturizes my skin all day.” “There is nothing I don’t like about this product! It goes on silky smooth and leaves my skin feel so soft/smooth.”

Divided cereal bowls to prevent soggy cereal

From Rosie: I had no idea that this product existed but I’m so intrigued by it. It’s designed to prevent your cereal from getting soggy or separating your favorite snacks or food combos, like chips and salsa. Buying options include a single bowl or a 2- or 3-pack. It has a 4.6 star rating, more than 6,600 reviews, and an A on Fakespot. Reviewers rave about how versatile it is. “This clever bowl is the perfect solution for me. I am not a fan of soggy cereal and it keeps the milk and cereal separated.” “Put hummus or egg salad in one side, crackers in the other. Or berries on one side and cottage cheese on the other. Maybe a bit of salsa and some chips. The possibilities are limitless!” “Perfect for feeding my 7 month old grandbaby as we experiment with puréed foods. I put her baby oatmeal in one section and puréed fruit in the other. Same with lunchtime vegetables and meats.”

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We heard this week that Prince William and Kate will “lead the tributes” to Queen Elizabeth II on the one-year anniversary of her death, September 8th. Kensington Palace went on a briefing spree this week, timed to “pull focus” from Prince Harry’s trip to Japan and Singapore, all to hype Will and Kate’s big death-anniversary event. I said yesterday that all of this hype was kind of dumb because they would probably just tweet an unsettling and macabre video on the death-anniversary, but it turns out, they are planning to do an actual “event.” As in, a public appearance somewhere, probably in Windsor.

The Prince and Princess of Wales will mark the anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s death with a public engagement, the Telegraph understands. The royal couple are set to make an appearance on Sept 8, the day Queen Elizabeth died last year aged 96, to pay tribute to her.

It is understood that they will not release a public message to commemorate the late monarch despite the plans for an engagement to go ahead.

While members of the Royal family will be going in and out of the King’s Scottish Highlands’ estate during their summer holidays, it is understood that Sept 8 will be kept for private reflection. The Prince and Princess of Wales are likely to have returned to their family home in Windsor by that point, as their children’s school will have started Michaelmas term 2023 on Sept 6.

While the exact location of where the Prince and Princess may carry out their public engagement to mark the anniversary is not yet known, it is possible they wish to stay around Windsor as their children return to school.

A source told the Daily Mirror that the royal couple will use the occasion to reflect on the late monarch’s life, but will also use the opportunity to “look forward”. They said: “Her Majesty’s passing was an event that truly ­signified the end of an era. The Royal Family has been in ­transition since then and following the Coronation and conclusion of the summer holidays, there will be an expectation to see what is next.”

Meanwhile, the King, who began his summer in Scotland earlier this month, will start to receive family members to Balmoral shortly.

[From The Telegraph]

People keep making a big deal about how King Charles isn’t doing anything for the anniversary, and I don’t get it? Is the British media yanking his chain and demanding that Charles do something or give them something? I think that’s what it is, and this is the answer – he is sending Will and Kate out to make asses out of themselves on the anniversary. Problem solved! After all of this hype, you’ve got to think that the actual event will probably be pretty underwhelming. But hey, it will be the first f–king thing they’ve done in two months. Imagine needing this much advanced hype for one hour of work in two months. Peg and Buttons are such a bad investment for the monarchy, I swear to god.

Photos courtesy of Cover Images.

Remember when Q scores were the rage? Q scores were corporate America’s attempt to quantify the unquantifiable – general likability, and a celebrity’s ability to “sell” you a product, like a TV show or an ad campaign. No one ever talks about Q scores anymore, I guess no one cares about that stuff in the fractured TV landscape and the homogenized film landscape. I was reminded of Q scores because someone (?) thought it would be a good idea (??) to engineer a Gallup poll of Americans to rate the most popular “public figures.” Not just any public figures, they asked Americans about Prince William, King Charles, Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy, Vladimir Putin, Joe Biden and Donald Trump. The results of the Gallup poll are mind-numbing.

Prince William has come out on top of a new poll asking both Republicans and Democrats which public figures they liked. The poll, conducted by Gallup, showed that Americans may have to look outside of its borders to find a public figure that the majority of the country can agree upon.

The Prince came out on top to serve in this US-unifying role, with 59 per cent of voters giving him a favourable rating. William beat out 14 other prominent figures to claim the top spot. He narrowly beat out Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian President, who got an approval rating of 57 per cent. Both William and the Ukrainian president were the only two figures on the list who earned a majority approval.

At the bottom of the list, is Russian President Vladimir Putin, receiving a 5 per cent favourable rating in comparison to 90 per cent of unfavourable opinions.

Included in the list, is William’s father King Charles, who received an approval percentage of 46 per cent. However, he was still more popular than unpopular with voters, gaining 37 per cent of unfavourable opinions.

[From GB News]

It’s awfully convenient that this suspiciously Peg-positive poll comes out just one month before William is due to make a grand solo-Peg appearance in New York. I suspect that some Earthshot funds went into rigging this Gallup poll, but I have zero evidence to back that up. They’re really trying to make “William is super-popular with Americans” into a thing, nevermind the fact that the last time he was here, his ass got booed at a Celtics game and he spent a full day throwing hissy fits about the Harry & Meghan Netflix teaser. Good times. Just goes to show you, you can’t actually buy your way to a good Q score.

Speaking of, one of the first things on William’s agenda should be backing away from the anti-woke MAGA crowd. Unfortunately, he’s the Tory Party’s useful idiot, so they probably consider it a “win” when Megyn Kelly goes on unhinged rants about how William is better than the Sussexes.

Paging Harry & Meghan – your campaign failed. You remain loathed & the Prince (& Princess) of Wales, beloved. https://t.co/Ezmw2gWosf

— Megyn Kelly (@megynkelly) August 9, 2023

Photos courtesy of Backgrid, Cover Images.