11/13/2023: Champagne Heist! 🍾
PLUS: Pink Pond; Trayler Does Argentina; and Royal Statues
Today is Monday, November 13, 2023.
It is the 317th day of the year.
48 days remain.
PROGRAMMING NOTE
There will be no newsletter on Thursday, November 23 or Friday, November 24 for Thanksgiving weekend.
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WHAT’S ON TAP
FTX is the grift that keeps on grifting and millionaires feel the pinch of inflation, too. Details in HIT LIST.
KEL MITCHELL shares more about his emergency room visit and KIM and KROY celebrate their anniversary. More on that in SHOWBIZ.
An ELON MUSK biopic is in the works. More in CASTING CALL.
It’s not easy to get a peek at KOURTNEY and TRAVIS’ newborn. More in KARDASH.
New statues celebrate the late Queen and her husband. More in ROYALS.
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HIT LIST
Two former FTX employees are seeking a $100 MILLION investment for 10% of their new crypto exchange startup, which they say won’t do the same things that put SAM BANKMAN-FRIED in prison.
CAN SUN is heading the new outfit, called Trek Labs; he was the former chief counsel at FTX who testified against SBF just a few weeks ago. One of his former staff at FTX is already along for the ride.
FOR WHAT IT’S WORTH: The technology they’re developing safeguards customer funds that would make it impossible for their exchange to move them around, with or without the customer’s consent or knowledge.
SPEAKING OF QUESTIONABLE BUSINESS MODELS: Electric vehicle company LUCID last week announced its quarterly earnings report – or, lack thereof. The manufacturer reported losses that amount to $433,000 for each car it sold. Details on the backward math here >
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A million dollars just ain’t what it used to be, apparently.
An Ameriprise Financial survey shows that 60% of investors who have at least $1 million worth of investable assets say they’re at best “upper middle class.” About a third say they’re squarely middle class.
WORTH NOTING: Most of these respondents aren’t wealthy executives or high earners, either. They’re people with strong retirement savings and major home equity who still feel the squeeze of inflation and relentless economic uncertainty. [via CNBC]
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French police stopped a team of bandits trying to make off with 600,000 Euro worth of champagne on Friday.
The bust culminated in a high speed chase after the thieves stole two trucks carrying the bubbly. The owner of the trucks made the detective work easy, giving police the location of tracking devices installed on them.
While officers were able to recover the goods, the crooks were able to get away.
GOOD NEWS: No bottles of champagne were damaged in the attempted heist. [via BBC]
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Conservationists are working to figure out why a massive pond in Hawaii has turned a bright pink color.
The water at the center of Kealia Pond National Wildlife Refuge on Maui has inexplicably turned into the strange hue, and while scientists work on figuring out why, they’re warning visitors not to wade into the water or, worse, drink from it.
WORTH NOTING: Initial researchers suggest a microbe that thrives in water with relatively high salt concentrations could be behind the color change. [via CBS News]
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An escaped lion has been captured after being on the run in the Italian town of Ladispoli, which is located near Rome.
The big cat was on the loose for about five hours before he was spotted, sedated, captured and returned to local circus staff, according to a statement from mayor Alessandro Grando.
As for how the lion escaped, circus staff reported seeing three people running away from the animal’s cage on Saturday morning. When they went to check things out, they found a broken lock. The incident is now under investigation. [via CNN]
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DEATHS
Former football player DJ HAYDEN has died.
He passed away in a car crash in Houston that also claimed five other lives.
During his time in the NFL Hayden played for the Raiders, Lions, Jaguars, and Washington.
He was only 33.
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BABY NEWS
GORDON RAMSAY is now a dad of six!
The celebrity chef and his wife TANA RAMSAY welcomed their sixth child together, a son named Jesse James Ramsay, on November 8. That is also Gordon’s birthday.
The newborn joins big sisters Tilly, Megan and Holly Anna, and big brothers Jack Scott and Oscar.
Gordon and Tana have been married since 1996.
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WEEKEND BOX OFFICE
10. The Exorcist: Believer: $1.1 million (down from 6)
9. Radical: $1.7 million (down from 5)
8. PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie: $1.8 million (down from 7)
7. Journey to Bethlehem: $2.4 million (new)
6. The Holdovers: $3.2 million (up from 16)
5. Killers of the Flower Moon: $4.6 million (down from 3)
4. Priscilla: $4.7 million (stayed at 4)
3. Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour: $5.9 million (down from 2)
2. Five Nights at Freddy’s: $9 million (down from 1)
1. The Marvels: $47 million (new)
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BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The DOW was up 391 points (1.15%) to close at 34,283 on Friday. The S&P added 67 points (1.56%) to close at 4,415 and the NASDAQ increased 276 points (2.05%) to close at 13,798.
🛢 WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE closed at $77; BRENT CRUDE at $81.
⛽ The national average price of a GALLON OF GAS was $3.37 on Sunday.
₿ BITCOIN was mostly flat on the weekend, trading around $37,150.
🛩 There were more than 2,095 FLIGHTS delayed within, into, or out of the United States on Sunday and more than 55 such cancellations.
💰Tuesday night’s MEGA MILLIONS drawing will be for a $245 million jackpot or a $110.7 million cash payout. Tonight’s POWERBALL drawing will be for a $235 million jackpot or a $107.9 million cash payout.
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SHOWBIZ NEWS
TAYLOR SWIFT changed some lyrics to her song “Karma” to give a shout out to her boyfriend TRAVIS KELCE at her show in Argentina over the weekend.
The line that used to say “Karma is the guy on the screen / Coming straight home to me” was changed to “Karma is the guy on the Chiefs / Coming straight home to me.”
Eyewitnesses said Kelce, who was at the show, applauded the new lyrics.
As previously reported Kelce flew to Argentina last week to be with Swift for her shows while his Chiefs are on a bye week. He headed back to the States yesterday. [via TMZ]
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KEL MITCHELL finally shared what landed him in the emergency room last week: a bulging disc.
The injury is not a new one for the actor, who said he was initially concerned he was having a stroke based on the symptoms he was experiencing. After a battery of tests, the true issue was found and Mitchell was treated and released.
He also took the opportunity to plug his upcoming movie, saying now that the actors’ strike is over there will be more “Good Burger 2” content. [via Instagram]
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JOEY FATONE admitted to getting “some work done” in a recent People Magazine interview.
The 46-year-old NSYNC member told the outlet that he recently underwent a fat removal procedure called AirSculpt to remove fat around his chin and stomach.
Fatone also opened up about getting hair plugs in recent years.
For those asking if the treatments are for an upcoming NSYNC tour, Fatone said the revamp was purely for personal reasons. [via People]
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Actress KEKE PALMER has been granted a restraining order against her ex, fitness instructor DARIUS JACKSON after she accused him of physical and emotional abuse.
Palmer also got sole custody of their 8-month-old son, Leodis.
The pair dated on and off starting in 2021. They called things quits in October. [via Daily Mail]
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Supermodel CAROL ALT has joined OnlyFans.
At 62-years-old, Alt says this is the first time she has had full control over her career and plans to take full advantage of it.
As for what sorts of things Alt plans to post, she told Page Six, “there are some nude photos, but tastefully done.”
BY THE WAY: Alt learned about the platform from her “Paper Empire” costar DENISE RICHARDS. [via Page Six]
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R&B singer VICTORIA MONET was nominated for seven Grammys, including one alongside her toddler daughter Hazel, who is now the youngest Grammy nominee ever.
Monet was ecstatic when she found out that her song “Hollywood,” which features the 2-year-old, received a nomination for best traditional R&B performance.
As for how Hazel took the news, Monet told Billboard that she “has no idea.” [via Billboard]
The 2024 Grammy Awards will air on February 4.
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JAMIE LEE CURTIS and LINDSAY LOHAN had a “Freaky Friday” reunion last week.
Curtis shared a photo from their hangout on Instagram, writing, “It’s Friday and the strike is over so hopefully, we can switch places again in the near future!”
The two actresses starred as mother and daughter in the 2003 Disney flick. [via People]
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DIVORCE BE DAMNED: Estranged couple KIM ZOLCIAK and KROY BIERMANN were spotted celebrating their 12-year anniversary over the weekend.
Kim documented everything on her Instagram, including their romantic dinner at an Italian restaurant and a stop at MORGAN WALLEN’s concert.
No word on if the divorce is off the table…again. [via Page Six]
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CASTING CALL
A biopic focused on ELON MUSK is in the works.
Variety reports that WALTER ISSACSON’s biography of the tech mogul will serve as the basis for the screenplay.
DARREN ARONOFSKY will direct. [via Variety]
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Actress JULIANNE MOORE will narrate MICHAEL CUNNINGHAM’s new book, “Day.”
Moore and Cunningham previously worked together when she starred in a 2002 adaptation of his book, “The Hours.”
“Day” follows an extended family on a single day -- April 5 -- in each of three years: 2019, 2020 and 2021. It hits shelves tomorrow. [via People]
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
Anyone hoping to get a peek at KOURTNEY KARDASHIAN and TRAVIS BARKER’s newborn son can do so by invite only.
Insiders told The Sun that Kourtney and Travis are taking some “family-only time,” meaning only their newly blended family. As for extended family members, they will have to wait for permission to meet Rocky Barker. [via The Sun]
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
KING CHARLES appeared to be holding back tears during a tribute to his late parents on Saturday.
The monarch and QUEEN CAMILLA were on hand at the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance to unveil statues celebrating QUEEN ELIZABETH and PRINCE PHILIP.
Just about all of the remaining working royals attended the event. [via New York Post]
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DAY OF THE YEAR
World Orphans Day
National Hug a Musician Day
Symphonic Metal Day
Odd Socks Day
World Kindness Day
National Indian Pudding Day
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ON THIS DATE
1789 - George Washington finishes his first tour of the new American states as President.
He visited New England, where he was greeted enthusiastically.
Washington wouldn't visit the southern states for another two years.
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1892 - Pudge Huffelfinger signs a deal to play football for the Allegheny Athletic Association for $500, making him the first pro football player.
It had previously been common for athletes to trade their playing time for services or swag. This was before organized teams and leagues, when athletic associations were formed and played informal match ups and seasons.
Pudge was later an insurance executive and Congressman for Minnesota.
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1940 - “Fantasia” is released.
The animated film by Walt Disney starred Leopold Stokowski and Deems Taylor.
It is Disney’s third animated film.
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1982 - The Vietnam War Memorial is dedicated.
The walls featured 57,939 names of those who died. They were commemorated chronologically, not in order of rank.
It is commonplace to make a sketching over the names of family members and loved ones who lost their lives.
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2001 - President George Bush signs an executive order allowing military tribunals against foreigners suspected of connections to terrorist acts or planned acts against the United States.
It is the first such act since World War II.
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2018 - The trial of Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman begins in New York.
Known as “the most ruthless, dangerous and feared man on the planet,” El Chapo was extradited to the United States to stand trial for his role in crimes committed by the Mexican Sinaloa drug cartel.
After 200 hours of testimony, he would be found guilty in February 2019 of all 10 counts against him. He was sentenced to life in prison plus 30 years.
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BIRTHDAYS
Lando Norris - race car driver - 24
Lucy Fallon - actress, “Coronation Street” - 28
Julia Michaels - pop singer - 30
Caleb Pressley - football player - 31
Devon Bostick - actor, “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” - 32
Matt Bennerr - actor, “Victorious” - 32
Monique Coleman - actress, “High School Musical” movies - 43
Metta World Peace - basketball player - 44
Gerard Butler - actor, “300” & “Law Abiding Citizen” - 54
Steve Zahn - actor, “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” - 56
Jimmy Kimmel - TV show host, “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” - 56
Whoopi Goldberg - actress & TV show host, “The View” - 68
Joe Mantegna - actor, “Criminal Minds” - 76
Born On This Date
Robert Louis Stevenson - novelist, “Treasure Island” - 1850 (d. 1894)
Edwin Booth - actor, “Hamlet” - 1833 (d. 1893)
John Dickinson - Governor of Delaware and Pennsylvania - 1732 (d. 1808)
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