12/19/2023: FTX is Back! (Kind Of)
PLUS: Blue Origin Scraps Launch; “Troublemaking Queen”; and (More) Royal Book Drama
Today is Tuesday, December 19, 2023.
It is the 353rd day of the year.
12 days remain.
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PROGRAMMING NOTES
There will be no newsletter December 25-29 or January 1-2. Regular publishing resumes on Wednesday, January 3, 2024.
BUT WAIT: Top Shelf subscribers will get full access to our Year in Review series going out the week after Christmas and the Year Ahead preview on January 2!
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WHAT’S ON TAP
A prominent airline makes amends and a Texas woman battles a creepy tree invader. Details in HIT LIST.
AMANDA BYNES says one topic will be off-limits on her podcast and actor STEVEN SEGAL gets wild in Dubai. More in SHOWBIZ.
CHARLIE HUNNAM was almost cast as Anakin Skywalker and GEORGE CLOONEY says there are not “enough drugs in the world” for him to reprise this role. Find out more in CASTING CALL.
KIM KARDASHIAN shows off her brain. Check it out in KARDASH.
PRINCESS KATE’s uncle submits to pressure to keep his cards close to his chest in ROYALS.
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HIT LIST
The legal team overseeing FTX’s bankruptcy – headed by the same guy who wound down Enron, JOHN RAY III – filed paperwork over the weekend to begin the process of repaying creditors.
This is just the beginning of what will be a brutally long process. Although the new FTX team has submitted a proposal outlining the order in which creditors will get their money back, a court has to approve it, and anyone waiting in line can sue to either move up or protect their position. [via CoinDesk]
LOOKING OUT FOR THE LITTLE GUY: So far, FTX has been able to sell off assets and claw back billions in lost customer funds, but there’s still a $1.42 BILLION hole, so not everyone will be made whole. To deploy teams of lawyers and investigators to recover those funds has cost nearly $1.45 BILLION-with-a-B. One crypto blog estimates that works out to about $1.3 MILLION a day in fees. [via The Crypto Basic]
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JEFF BEZOS’ space company BLUE ORIGIN scrapped a scheduled launch on Monday over an unspecified error.
Posting on X, owned by billionaire-pissing-match-rival-ELON MUSK, Blue Origin vaguely noted that a “ground system issue” caused the delay. They’re going to try again later this week.
Unlike Musk’s SPACEX, Blue Origin has not put humans into orbit. This launch would have carried scientific equipment, but no passengers. [via news.au.com]
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Customs officials in San Diego say they’ve busted a drug smuggling operation that stuffed 3500 pounds of meth and cocaine in giant vats of jalapeno paste.
An unidentified 28-year-old driver brought the haul over the border, but no word yet of his role in the drug ring.
Officials say a K-9 unit first sounded the alarm over the suspicious cargo. [via NBC News]
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LATE LAST YEAR: An internal system error grounded thousands of SOUTHWEST AIRLINES flights across the country, stranding an estimated two million people over the holidays.
NOW: The airline has agreed to pay a $140 million settlement organized by the Department of Transportation. Of that, $35 million is a fine, which DOT says is the largest consumer protection violation penalty ever paid by an airline.
Much of the rest of the settlement already went out in the form of frequent flier points paid out to affected customers worth about $300 each. The airline also agreed to set aside $90 million in vouchers for customers affected by late delays in the future. [via AP]
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A Texas woman was startled to find a stowaway in her Christmas tree. While there have been many stories of birds -- and even squirrels -- hitching a ride to people’s homes, not many have reported an opossum.
Brett Ingram said she kept hearing a sneeze, and “some other squeaking noises,” but initially thought it was all in her head. Then as the noises continued she started to search for the culprit, thinking maybe her cat had brought in a mouse.
While looking around her living room, she spotted a “long, naked, rat-looking tail” and “a large breathing ball of gray fur” in her Christmas tree.
After speaking to a friend, who is an animal rehab volunteer, Brett said she was advised on how best to remove the creature, but that proved to be easier said than done as it had a strong grip on the branches. Once she got him to release, Ingram says it squirmed out of her hands and ran under her couch, and then the chase was on.
Eventually she was able to catch the animal and calm it down before releasing it back into the wild. [via NY Post]
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BABY NEWS
Comedian WHITNEY CUMMINGS has given birth to her first child, a son.
No details about the little one’s name or birthdate have been revealed.
As for the father, Cummings has only ever referred to him as “some guy from North Carolina.”
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BREAKUPS
Things are over for KENDALL JENNER and musician BAD BUNNY.
While neither have confirmed a split, several sources say the two have called it quits after less than a year together.
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BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The DOW was mostly flat on the day, closing at 37,306. The S&P was up 21 points (0.45%) to close at 4,740 and the NASDAQ increased 91 points (0.62%) to close at 14,905.
🛢 WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE closed at $72 on Monday; BRENT CRUDE at $78.
⛽ The national average price of a GALLON OF GAS was $3.06 on Monday.
₿ BITCOIN was up 2.8% Monday evening, trading over $42,500.
🛩 There were more than 3,990 FLIGHTS delayed within, into, or out of the United States on Monday and more than 550 such cancellations.
💰Tonight’s MEGA MILLIONS drawing will be for a $41 million jackpot or a $20.4 million cash payout.
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SHOWBIZ NEWS
One thing AMANDA BYNES says she will not discuss on her new podcast is her mental health.
Speaking to TMZ, the actress made it clear that the podcast will stick to the topics, such as her career, personal life and any stories she -- and her co-host PAUL SIEMINSKI -- find funny along the way.
Many may recall that Bynes was placed on a psychiatric hold earlier this year. Seems like she is doing better now. [via TMZ]
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Country singer JELLY ROLL and his wife BUNNIE can’t remember when their anniversary is, so they decided to renew their vows and celebrate that date instead.
The couple initially said “I do” in 2016 “while on a bender” in Vegas, and now, seven years later are happier than ever, but can't remember what day they tied the knot.
“There was always a discrepancy with our anniversary, because she thought it was on one day. I thought it was on another day. Neither one of us knew,” Jelly told People Magazine.
Going forward, the pair will celebrate on September 1. [via People]
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Action star STEVEN SEGAL got wild during a recent trip to Dubai’s Fame Park private zoo.
The 71-year-old played tug-of-war with a liger, held a massive snake, gave a bottle to a baby liger, held a golden eagle, fed a brown bear, and hugged a sloth.
It is unknown if the trip was for business or pleasure. [via NY Post]
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MADONNA had a chat with Bravo’s ANDY COHEN when she spotted him at her “Celebration Tour” in NYC.
“If you say one more bad thing about me on your show. Oh yeah, you’re gonna be in so much trouble. You little troublemaking queen!” she said into her microphone as she approached Cohen.
In response, Cohen simply mouthed, “I love you.”
It is unclear what Madonna was talking about as the two have always appeared to be friends. [via TMZ]
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CELINE DION’s sister, Claudette, says the singer has “lost all control of her muscles” as her stiff person syndrome continues to worsen.
She also told the Daily Mail that they have been unable to “find any medicine that works.”
Dion last took the stage in March 2020, though she did make an appearance at an NHL game in October. [via Daily Mail]
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CASTING CALL
“Priscilla” star JACOB ELORDI will host the first episode of “SNL” in 2024
He will be joined by musical guest RENEE RAPP.
It will air on January 20. [via THR]
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“Blue Bloods” star TOM SELLECK already knows what he will do when the CBS show wraps after Season 14.
According to those close to him, the 78-year-old will enjoy a slower-paced life on his 65-acre avocado farm, located just outside of Los Angeles.
Selleck has always been a homebody, one of the insiders told Radar Online, so being away from the spotlight will come natural to him. [via Radar Online]
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While promoting his new film “Rebel Moon,” CHARLIE HUNNAM revealed that he almost landed the role of Anakin Skywalker in GEORGE LUCAS’ “Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones.”
According to Hunnam, LEONARDO DICAPRIO, RYAN PHILLIPPE and PAUL WALKER were also in contention before Lucas decided to go with HAYDEN CHRISTENSEN as the lightsaber wielding character. [via ET]
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Don’t expect to see GEORGE CLOONEY as the caped crusader…like ever again.
He recently told Entertainment Tonight that there are not “enough drugs in the world” to get him to reprise the role of Batman.
Remember, Clooney played the superhero in 1997’s “Batman & Robin,” opposite CHRIS O’DONNELL and alongside ARNOLD SCHWARZENGGER and UMA THURMAN.
But earlier this year he did reprise the role for a cameo in “The Flash.” [via ET]
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People Magazine has compiled a list of the nine Greatest Christmas Movie Villains that appear in some of the best holiday films.
9. Ebenezer Scrooge - “A Christmas Carol”
8. The Grinch - “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”
7. Harry & Marv - “Home Alone”
6. Ted Maltin - “Jingle All the Way”
5. Hans Gruber, “Die Hard”
4. Comet & the Abominable Snow Monster - “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”
3. Scut Farkus - “A Christmas Story”
2. Oogie Boogie - “The Nightmare Before Christmas”
1. Mr. Potter - “It’s a Wonderful Life”
[via People]
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COURT CASES
A jury found actor JONATHAN MAJORS guilty Monday on one count of reckless assault in the third degree and harassment. He was initially facing a total of eight counts -- all related to alleged assault and harassment -- though four were dropped by prosecutors before the trial.
The victim and accuser in the case was Majors’ ex-girlfriend GRACE JABBARI.
Sentencing has been scheduled for February 6. He faces up to a year in prison.
FALLOUT: Marvel has dropped Majors from all projects in the MCU, specifically his role as villain Kang the Conqueror. [via TMZ]
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
KIM KARDASHIAN showed off an early Christmas gift she received: a model of her brain.
The reality star was sent a life-sized replica of her medulla oblongata from a company called Prenuvo, which does full body scans for diagnostic screening purposes.
Remember, Kim teamed up with them earlier this year, encouraging people to get the scan, which is sensitive enough to catch something that might be missed with other preventative measures.
The scan costs about $2,500, which is nothing for Kim, but a lot for the average American. [via TMZ]
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
There’s some more book drama involving the Royal Family.
Earlier this year, PRINCESS KATE’s uncle GARY GOLDSMITH announced plans to publish a book of business advice that wove in his own experiences with the Royal Family, including some dirt on PRINCE HARRY and MEGHAN MARKLE.
NOW: Goldsmith has reportedly been pressured to leave the Sussexes out of his book entirely. Instead, he’s making it a full-on business memoir.
Goldsmith has earned millions in his career heading up an IT recruitment firm.
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DAY OF THE YEAR
Look for an Evergreen Day
National Hard Candy Day
National Emo Day
National Oatmeal Muffin Day
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ON THIS DATE
1776 - Thinker of the American Revolution Thomas Paine publishes "American Crisis."
It was a long-form essay that first appeared in the Pennsylvania Journal.
The writing was meant to encourage General Washington's embattled troops, who had recently suffered significant defeats against the British Army near New York. Paine believed good morale would be essential for an American victory in the revolution.
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1917 - The National Hockey League begins play.
Five franchises debut in the first season. Two from Montreal and the others from Quebec, Toronto, and Montreal.
The winners in the first game of play both came from Montreal: the Canadiens and the Wanderers.
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1972 - The last men to walk on the moon splash down in the Pacific Ocean.
It ended Apollo 17's 10-day mission.
The end of the mission culminated three years of aggressive exploration of the moon.
Gene Cernan and Harrison H. Schmitt spent 75 hours on the surface of the moon -- a record for all the Apollo missions. They collected 243 pounds of rock and soil samples.
It was not the end of Apollo, however. The final mission would be in July 1975, when an Apollo rocket rendezvoused with a Soviet Soyuz 19 spacecraft in orbit around the earth.
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1986 - A man who parachuted into Game 6 of the 1986 World Series is sentenced to 100 hours of community service and slapped with a $500 fine.
Michael Sergio was a lifelong Mets fan, who skydived into Shea Stadium earlier that year carrying a "Let's Go Mets" banner.
Sergio pled guilty to a trespass charge in exchange for prosecutors dropping a reckless endangerment charge.
But it didn't end there: Sergio would not tattle on the pilot who helped him make the drop, and was sentenced to six months in federal jail for contempt.
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1998 - The House of Representatives charges sitting President Bill Clinton with lying under oath to a federal grand jury and obstructing justice.
The charges make Clinton the second President to be impeached, after Andrew Johnson.
He was accused of lying about an affair he had with 21-year-old White House intern Monica Lewinsky beginning in 1995.
If you ask Clinton, he "never had sexual relations with that woman."
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2005 - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad outlaws all western music played on state-controlled TV and radio.
The likes of Elvis, Ice-T, and Britney Spears were deemed inappropriate for Iranian culture.
It was similar to Ahmadinejad's ban on any advertisements featuring David Beckham in 2003 -- odd and arbitrary.
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2019 - The oldest known forest is uncovered by scientists at a quarry in Cairo, New York.
Three types of ancient trees were found with what the scientists called “surprisingly modern root systems” dating back to 386 million years ago.
The find, which suggests Earth’s transition toward forests began several million years earlier than initially believed, was published in the journal Current Biology.
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BIRTHDAYS
Jenelle Evans - reality star, “Teen Mom” - 32
Jorge Blaco - actor, “Violetta” - 32
Alexis Sanchez - soccer player - 35
Paulina Gretzky - model - 35
Ronan Farrow - journalist - 36
Karim Benzema - soccer player - 36
Marla Sokoloff - actress, “The Practice” & “Fuller House” - 43
Jake Gyllenhaal - actor, “October Sky” & “Brokeback Mountain” - 43
Warren Sapp - football player - 51
Alyssa Milano - actress, “Charmed” & “Mistresses” - 51
Rosa Blasi - actress, “General Hospital” & “The Thundermans” - 51
Tyson Beckford - model - 53
Criss Angel - magician - 56
Jennifer Beals - actress, “Flashdance” - 60
Born On This Date
Reggie White - football player - 1961 (d. 2004)
Edith Piaf - pop singer - 1915 (d. 1963)
Edwin Stanton - Secretary of War during the Civil War - 1814 (d. 1869)
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