2/21/2024: Butt Bandit
PLUS: Prison Suite; St. Patrick’s Eve; and Meg’s New Pod
Today is Wednesday, February 21, 2024.
It is the 52nd day of the year.
314 days remain.
WHAT’S ON TAP
A look into the life behind bars of a South American drug kingpin and some new details about life behind bars for SAM BANKMAN-FRIED. Details in HIT LIST.
PAUL MCCARTNEY’s missing guitar is found and BEYONCE is giving bak. More in SHOWBIZ.
Four films about THE BEATLES are in the works. Details in CASTING CALL.
YE is back on top. More on that in KARDASH.
THE HOUSE OF SUSSEX ramps up for a banner year. Details in ROYALS.
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HIT LIST
A look inside the facility where ADOLFO “FITO” MACIAS was imprisoned in Ecuador before his escape in January shows the drug kingpin living a life of relative luxury.
Footage of Fito’s prison suite, for lack of a better term, was taken last year and recently obtained by CNN. The video clips show Fito’s access to a queen-sized bed, private bathroom, and even his own personal courtyard where he kept pet chickens. Watch the clips here >
Macias’ escape in January has triggered a massive regional manhunt and an aggressive crackdown on gang activity in Ecuador in recent weeks. [via CNN]
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Reporter TIFFANY FONG has obtained the first photo of SAM BANKMAN-FRIED behind bars.
Fong is the same reporter who SBF leaked a bunch of dirt to about the prosecution’s witnesses, a move that later ended him up in pre-trial detention. In a video describing the photo, Fong says that SBF isn’t showering regularly, and as the photo shows, he’s lost a lot of weight. Check out the photo here >
A fellow inmate who Fong interviewed says SBF also hasn’t snitched on any other prisoners, either, earning him cred among their ranks – which might be helpful as he anticipates sentencing next month. [via @TiffanyFong]
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ELON MUSK announced during a recent Spaces broadcast on X that a human test subject implanted with a NEURALINK brain chip is recovering well and has shown an ability to control a computer mouse with their mind.
“Progress is good, and the patient seems to have made a full recovery, with no ill effects that we are aware of. Patient is able to move a mouse around the screen by just thinking,” Musk said. He said the next hurdle will be getting the patient to “click” the mouse in addition to moving it.
Neuralink is one of the several companies in Musk’s portfolio, with a goal of using brain chips to treat currently difficult or incurable conditions and diseases. [via Reuters]
ALSO IN ELONWORLD: The kid whose social media accounts track the jet movements of the rich and famous has responded to TAYLOR SWIFT’s demand that he stop publishing details about her travel activities.
Lawyers for JACK SWEENEY have doubled-down, asserting that there is nothing illegal about using publicly-available data to track and publish the jet’s movements. [via @Jxck_Sweeney]
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A 60-year-old woman was attacked by a mountain lion and lived to tell the tale thanks to her biking buddies.
According to ABC affiliate KOMO, the cyclists were enjoying a ride along a trail in Seattle, Washington last weekend when the big cat attacked.
Jumping into action, the others were able to get the animal off and pin it down with a mountain bike until officials from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife arrived. The mountain lion was then relocated from the area.
The injured cyclist was taken to a hospital, treated and released. [via KOMO]
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A Houston-area man has been accused of spending hours wandering an antique store and putting display items up his rear-end.
The man, 60-year-old Mitchell Vest, reportedly wore a kilt to the shop and took his time putting a hairbrush, tobacco tin, and bottle opener into his innards – then putting them right back on the shelf.
A very cautious store clerk tells police she watched Vest repeat the action to be sure she knew what she was watching and reporting. “I had to watch it a couple of times to be sure I knew what I was looking at,” she tells local media.
Review of security footage also showed the man patronizing at least two other area antique stores – no word so far what fate the display items suffered at the other locations. Vest faces a criminal mischief charge. [via Fox26 Houston]
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DEATHS
Actor TONY GANIOS has died.
He passed away Sunday at a hospital in New York after suffering a heart attack following spinal cord surgery.
Ganios is best known for his role in “Porky’s” and other cult classics.
He was You 64.
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Basketball player ROBERT REID has died.
He passed away after a battle with cancer. No further details are known.
Reid spent most of his 13-year career with the Houston Rockets.
He was 68.
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BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The DOW lost 64 points (0.17%) to close at 38,563 on Tuesday. The S&P lost 30 points (0.6%) to close at 4,975 and the NASDAQ lost 144 points (0.92%) to close at 15,630.
🛢 WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE closed at $78 on Tuesday; BRENT CRUDE at $82.
⛽ The national average price of a GALLON OF GAS was $3.27 on Tuesday.
₿ BITCOIN remained over $52,000 on Tuesday.
🛩 There were more than 2,125 FLIGHTS delayed within, into, or out of the United States on Tuesday and more than 55 such cancellations.
💰Tonight’s POWERBALL drawing will be for a $348 million jackpot or a $164.3 million cash payout.
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SHOWBIZ NEWS
A bass guitar stolen in 1972 has been recovered and returned to PAUL MCCARTNEY.
Thanks to the diligent work of the Loss Bass Project, the missing guitar was tracked down last October in Hastings, a town along England's southern coast.
“The search for the bass wasn’t just for Paul McCartney, it was for all the fans. It was so we could all see this…bass that kicked off Beatlemania,” a statement from the project read.
McCartney issued his own statement on the recovery, saying he is “incredibly grateful to all those involved.” [via CNN]
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JENNIFER LOPEZ likes being on top…of the charts.
The 54-year-old was elated to share that her latest album, “This Is Me…Now” is No. 1 on Apple iTunes, and her movie (of the same name) is sitting in the top spot on Amazon Prime.
COMING UP: JLo’s documentary “The Greatest Love Story Never Told” premieres on February 27 on Amazon Prime. [via Daily Mail]
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In honor of the debut of her new haircare brand Cecred, BEYONCE is donating funds to help support those currently in cosmetology school and local salons nationwide.
Through her BeyGOOD charity, Bey announced she will award $500,000 annually toward cosmetology-school scholarships and salon business grants in Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles and New Jersey.
As for her own line of haircare, Cecred includes Clarifying Shampoo & Scalp Scrub, Hydrating Shampoo, Moisturizing Deep Conditioner, Reconstructing Treatment Mask, Fermented Rice & Rose Protein Ritual, Nourishing Hair Oil and a Ritual Shaking Vessel. [via Instagram]
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“Gilmore Girls” star KELLY BISHOP is working on a memoir.
“The Third Gilmore Girl” details Bishop’s steps from Broadway to her time on the beloved TV show and all the life lessons she learned along the way.
Bishop’s other roles include playing Marjorie Housman on “Dirty Dancing” and several Broadway shows, including “Promises, Promises” and “A Chorus Line.”
“The Third Gilmore Girl” will hit shelves this September. [via People]
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“I made it” -- are the three words former “American Idol” contestant WILLIAM HUNG says he would tell judge SIMON COWELL if he saw him today.
Two decades ago Hung was given a harsh critique from Cowell, who called his audition “one of the worst” and “grotesque.”
Despite not making it on the show, Hung landed a $25,000 record contract and his audition tape was viewed over eight million times on YouTube in less than a month after being uploaded. [via Daily Mail]
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MACHINE GUN KELLY showed off his dramatic new ink on Tuesday -- a layer of solid black ink across his entire upper torso.
According to his tattoo artist, the rapper wanted everything covered up because he felt that his previous ink was “too chaotic” for him. Also, the coverup leaves the shape of a cross on his chest, which he alluded to in his Instagram post, writing “spiritual purposes only.”
BY THE WAY: The black-out process started in mid-December with MGK showing up at the tattoo parlor four days a week for 13 six-hour sessions. [via Instagram, Page Six]
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CASTING CALL
Director SAM MENDES is working on four separate films about THE BEATLES -- from each band member’s perspective.
Sony is behind the massive undertaking, which has gotten the blessing of not only the two living Beatles, but also the families of the late members.
All four films are scheduled to be released in 2027. [via People]
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SYLVESTER STALLONE wants his own experience to be a cautionary tale to other actors about doing their own stunts.
The action star has undergone seven surgeries for an injury he suffered on the set of his 2010 flick “The Expendables.”
Stallone fractured his neck and needed a metal plate inserted to stabilize things, after going toe-to-toe with STEVE AUSTIN during filming. Even with the surgeries, Stallone says he has never fully recovered.
TOM CRUISE -- take note!! [via Mirror]
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COLIN JOST and MICHAEL CHE -- best known as hosts of “The Weekend Update” on “SNL” -- will host a countdown to St. Patrick’s Day in Times Square.
The comedians have partnered with Jameson Irish Whiskey for the event, which will take place on Saturday, March 16.
“St. Patrick’s Eve” will feature a countdown, which Jost joked will be “at least the second biggest countdown of the year that happens in Time Square.” [via People]
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“Gwyneth Goes Skiing,” the musical inspired by GWYNETH PALTROW’s infamous legal battle with optometrist Terry Sanderson is heading to The Egyptian Theatre in Park City, Utah.
Creators Linus Karp and Joseph Martin will reprise their roles as Paltrow and Sanderson, respectively, while “Glee” star DARREN CRISS will provide the vocals.
The interactive musical tells the story of Paltrow’s 2016 encounter with Sanderson on a Deer Valley ski slope which resulted in him suing her. She then counter-sued for $1 plus legal fees.
Paltrow won the case. [via Deadline]
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
YE’s recently released album “Vultures 1” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums charts.
While it is his 11th No. 1, the feat is a first for collaborator TY DOLLA $IGN.
Ye ties BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN and BARBRA STREISAND with 11 No. 1s each.
WORTH NOTING: The 16-track set is only available via streaming services. Physical versions of the album will be released at a later date, though preorders are happening now. [via Billboard]
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
PRINCE HARRY and MEGHAN MARKLE have had a busy weekend. The couple launched a new website last week, replacing SussexRoyal.com with just Sussex.com. The move coincided with the announcement that their children will bear the last name Sussex – not Windsor, and certainly not Mountbatten.
Harry told “Good Morning America” on Friday that he would return to royal duties if asked by his father, KING CHARLES, especially as he receives treatment for cancer.
MEANWHILE: After Spotify axed her “Archetypes” podcast, Markle is prepping for a new show with a new platform called Lemonada Media. No word yet on what the show will be about – other than Meg will host it. The new deal will re-release old episodes of her “Archetypes” interview show and a new project. [via Express]
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DAY OF THE YEAR
National Sticky Bun Day
International Mother Language Day
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ON THIS DATE
1848 - German philosopher Karl Marx publishes “The Communist Manifesto”.
The document proclaimed to represent all workers of the world, united in an ongoing fight against The Man.
The philosophies and ideas of a universal workers’ movement have continued to percolate around the world. By 1950, about half the world would live under communism. It is estimated more than 100 million people have died as a cause of communist policies since its inception.
The document itself has inspired dictators, despots, and former bartenders from the Bronx who end up getting elected to the US House.
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1885 - The Washington Monument is dedicated.
At 555 feet, the obelisk was first proposed before Washington took office, by Pierre L'Enfant. The plans for the monument did not move forward until well after Washington died in 1832, however.
Construction began in 1848 but was suspended completely during the Civil War. Money wasn't allocated again to complete the project until 1876. Even casual observers will notice that the brick color used changes about one-third of the way up, because the source materials had changed in the nearly 30 years between construction phases.
Though it was dedicated in 1885, it wouldn't open to the public for another three years.
It was the tallest man-made structure in the world when it was completed, later surpassed by the Eiffel Tower in 1889.
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1948 - NASCAR is founded.
The National Association for Stock Car Racing was officially incorporated, thanks to the efforts of Bill France Sr. He was a mechanic in Daytona, Florida, who appreciated racing but hated the inconsistent and disjointed rules from race to race.
He got together racers and sponsors in the small community to help create a unified set of rules and governance for racing.
The first NASCAR-sanctioned race was held June 19 the following year in North Carolina. The winner took home a $2,000 prize.
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1965 - Malcolm X is assassinated.
The preacher was preparing to make a speech in Manhattan when a man in the audience pulled out a sawed-off double-barrel shotgun and rushed the stage.
The assassin managed to put one round in Malcolm's chest. Meanwhile, two accomplices approached with handguns, successfully getting off several shots.
Malcolm was pronounced dead before making it to the hospital, ultimately suffering 21 gunshot wounds. The shooters were all convicted of the murder.
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1972 - Marking a shift in foreign policy, President Nixon arrives in China.
It was a major step in thawing relations between the Communist East and the U.S.
Since Mao's takeover in 1949, the State Department did not recognize the People's Republic as a legitimate state at the time.
Nixon had been a vocal anti-communist before his presidency, but with the outcome of the Vietnam War uncertain and fear that the communists could further consolidate their power in the region, the Nixon Administration took action.
The meetings were also a tool to create tension between the Chinese and Soviets.
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2013 - The New York Times announces plans to sell The Boston Globe, and a handful of other regional papers.
The Grey Lady’s parent company had tried to sell off the Globe in 2009, but couldn’t attract buyers with such an unprofitable business model. In the ensuing years, employees agreed to wage cuts and other cost-cutting measures were taken to right the ship.
It was eventually purchased by John Henry, owner of the Boston Red Sox.
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2021 - 21-year-old Jasmine Harrison becomes the youngest woman to row across an ocean as part of the Atlantic Challenge.
It took her 70 days, 3 hours and 48 minutes to row from Spain to Antigua (about 3,000 miles).
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BIRTHDAYS
Blanket Jackson - son of Michael - 22
Anne Wilson - rock singer - 22
Rain Spencer - actress, “The Summer I Turned Pretty” - 24
Sophie Turner - actress, “Game of Thrones” - 28
Giveon - R&B singer - 29
Hayley Orrantia - actress, “The Goldbergs” - 30
Joe Alwyn - actor, “The Favourite” - 33
Corbin Bleu - actor, “High School Musical” - 35
Ashley Green - actress, “Twilight” franchise - 37
Elliot Page - actor, “Juno” & “The Umbrella Academy” - 37
Jennifer Love Hewitt - actress, “Party of Five” & “Ghost Whisperer” - 45
Jordan Peele - comedian - 45
Michael McIntyre - comedian - 48
Kelsey Grammer - actor, “Frasier” - 69
Born On This Date
Alan Rickman - actor, “Harry Potter” franchise & “Die Hard” - 1946 (d. 2016)
John Lewis - politician - 1940 (d. 2020)
Rue McClanahan - actress, “Golden Girls” - 1934 (d. 2010)
Nina Simone - jazz singer - 1933 (d. 2003)
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