3/28/2024: Hedgehog Rescue?
PLUS: Measles Madness; Ear Edibles; and Kate A.I.?
Today is Thursday, March 28, 2024.
It is the 88th day of the year.
278 days remain.
WHAT’S ON TAP
A record drug haul near Columbia and hand-wringing over El Salvador’s gang crackdown. Details in HIT LIST.
SCOTT SWIFT is off the hook and SHAKIRA does a pop-up show in Times Square. More in SHOWBIZ.
MARTIN SCORSESE is creating a new series for Fox Nation. Details in CASTING CALL.
LAMAR ODOM dishes on what he wishes he could tell ex-wife, KHLOE. More in KARDASH.
PRINCESS KATE battles an army of relentless internet dorks. Details in ROYALS.
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HIT LIST
A well-intentioned British woman rescued a baby hedgehog from the side of the road, brought it home, and monitored it overnight. When she noticed the animal “hadn’t moved or pooped all night” she decided to take it to the Lower Moss Nature Reserve and Wildlife Hospital to be checked out.
After a thorough and careful examination, vets determined that the woman had not rescued a baby hedgehog, but a “hat bobble” – the little pom-pom from a beanie hat.
Moved by her kindness, the wildlife hospital shared the story on their Facebook page, while highlighting the importance of rescuing hedgehogs in vulnerable situations. [via The Independent]
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The United States has officially tallied more measles cases year-to-date in 2024 than all of last year with 64 confirmed cases – five more than the 59 recorded over the whole of 2023.
More than half of these confirmed cases are linked to a migrant shelter in Chicago, with 33 confirmed cases there.
WORTH NOTING: There is no vaccination status screening as part of the Department of Homeland Security’s processing of asylum-seekers, for covid or otherwise. [via NBC News]
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The compounding effects of inflation have dragged the value of the dollar since the start of the pandemic.
The purchasing power of $1 in 2020 is just 80 cents today.
Here’s another way to look at it. If you had a $100,000 income in 2020, and haven’t gotten a raise since, today it feels like you’re earning $80,000 a year, or about $1600 less a month.
$1600 a month is close to today’s median mortgage payment. So to get a sense of today’s economy, imagine in 2020 having to pay all your bills, save and invest for the future, and have a bit of fun, all while paying TWO mortgages. [via Kobeissi Letter]
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Amnesty International has denounced the gang crackdown in El Salvador as “the adoption of disproportionate measures” against the organizations that have terrorized people for decades. The statement decries prison overcrowding in facilities specially built to corral gang members and the more than one hundred thousand people who have been arrested since the crackdown began in 2022.
Human rights observers have worried that even the mere appearance of affiliation with gang members has led to imprisonment in some cases in El Salvador.
WORTH NOTING: In 2015, El Salvador recorded more than 6,600 homicides. In 2013, 214 people were killed in the entire country – nearly one in five of which were gang members killed in armed conflicts with police. [via Voz de America, Amnesty International]
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A combined effort by American and Colombian militaries intercepted a speedboat hauling nearly four tons of cocaine, yielding the biggest blow bust of the year so far for the Joint Interagency Task Force of the United States Southern Command. On the street, the haul would sell for around $113 MILLION.
Five men on the boat were ultimately detained, from Colombia, Honduras, and Venezuela.
The bust follows an encounter earlier this month, when British and American forces intercepted a boat with nearly three tons of cocaine near the US Virgin Islands. [via CBS News]
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DEATHS
Longtime senator JOE LIEBERMAN has died.
He passed away Wednesday after complications from a fall, according to his family.
Lieberman was the first Jewish-American to be nominated on a major party’s ticket when he was picked as AL GORE’s running mate in the 2000 presidential election.
He was 82.
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BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The DOW gained 477 points (1.22%) to close at 39,760 on Wednesday. The S&P increased 44 points (0.86%) to close at 5,248 and the NASDAQ added 83 points (0.51%) to close at 16,399.
🛢 WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE closed at $81; BRENT CRUDE at $85.
⛽ The national average price of a GALLON OF GAS was $3.53 on Wednesday.
₿ BITCOIN ticked down, trading just over $69,100.
🛩 There were more than 4,440 FLIGHTS delayed within, into, or out of the United States on Wednesday and more than 60 such cancellations.
💰A New Jersey resident is $1.13 BILLION richer after winning Tuesday night’s MEGA MILLIONS drawing -- the first winner of 2024. The jackpot is the fifth-largest prize in the lottery’s history. The winner does have the option to take the cash option of $537.5 million. Friday night’s drawing will be for a $20 million jackpot or a $9.5 million cash payout.
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SHOWBIZ NEWS
DIDDY UPDATE: On Wednesday, interviews featuring USHER and JUSTIN BIEBER detailing their respective time spent with Diddy as teens resurfaced. Usher, who was 13 at the time, said shadowing the rapper was “pretty wild” and “crazy,” while Bieber, who was only 15, talked to Diddy about getting some girls.
Also, a former employee of JENNIFER LOPEZ, who dated Diddy from 1999 to 2001, called the rapper “demanding” and “demeaning.” Despite not being his employee, the woman claimed he would still order her, and others, around. She also stated that he would categorize women around him as “[f—]able” and “not [f—]able,” while explaining that it was better to be the latter because with the former he was “creepy.”
Lastly, rumors about a Netflix doc called “Diddy Do It” are not true. The poster making its way around social media was a joke. But rapper 50 CENT is working on a Diddy-related doc, and can’t wait for people to watch. [via Forbes, Fox News, NY Post]
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The Supreme Court of Illinois has agreed to hear JUSSIE SMOLLETT’s appeal regarding his 2021 conviction for lying to police about the hate crime he claimed to have been a victim of.
He argues that prosecutors initially promised him a sweetheart deal if he forfeited a bond that he had paid, which he says he did. Then a special prosecutor joined the conversation and, according to Smollett, took away the deal. He is arguing double jeopardy over the situation, which the special prosecutor says doesn’t apply.
Remember, Smollett was sentenced to 150 days in jail for the hoax, but only served six days before he was released pending the appeal. [via Chicago Tribune]
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TAYLOR SWIFT’s dad, SCOTT SWIFT, won't get in trouble for allegedly getting physical with a paparazzi in Australia.
The New South Wales Police Force announced this week that the investigation into the incident has been closed as there is no evidence to support any charges against Tay’s dad.
Last month, during Tay’s “Eras Tour” Down Under, Scott got into a scuffle with photographer Ben McDonald, who got a little too aggressive with the singer’s team. Immediately following the incident, McDonald went to the police, claiming he was assaulted. [via TMZ]
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MIKE TYSON’s THC-company is releasing ear-shaped edibles.
The gummies, which come with a little bite mark in them, pay homage to Tyson gnawing on EVANDER HOLYFIELD’s ear during a 1997 boxing match.
Tyson plans to unveil the new line next month, though many dispensaries in New York are already reportedly stocking them. [via NY Post]
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Over 40,000 fans showed up at the TSX Stage in Times Square on Tuesday night to watch SHAKIRA shake her hips and belt out some of her hits.
The Colombian singer announced the pop up show only hours before hitting the stage. It was all to celebrate the release of her new album “Las Mujeres Ya NO Lloran.” [via Billboard]
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COLIN JOST and PETE DAVIDSON are still working on their Staten Island Ferry floating nightclub, despite reports to the contrary.
Ron Castellano, the architect working on the project, gave an update on the plans this week, saying renovations on the 1965 ferry are well underway and that both Jost and Davidson are involved in the process.
Many will recall that the Staten Island natives purchased the vessel two years ago for $300,000, saving it from being junked. The plan is for the ferry to travel to various cities along the Eastern seaboard. [via Deadline]
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MARK CONSUELOS was mistaken for the late REGIS PHILBIN at a recent New York Knicks game.
Recalling the incident on “Live” with his co-host and wife, KELLY RIPA, Consuelos said they were in the owner’s lounge when a woman approached them, saying “You’re Regis!”
“I’m not! But let’s talk!” he replied.
Philbin previously hosted “Live” from 1988 to 2011. Ripa replaced KATHY LEE GIFFORD in 2001. Philbin died in July 2020. [via Page Six]
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CASTING CALL
Acclaimed director MARTIN SCORSESE will host, narrate and executive produce an eight-episode docudrama for Fox Nation, called “Martin Scorsese Presents: The Saints.”
Each episode will focus on a singular Saint, including Joan of Arc, Francis of Assisi, John the Baptist, Thomas Becket, Mary Magdalene, Moses the Black, Sebastian and Maximillian Kolbe.
The series is set to debut this November. [via NY Times]
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“Vanderpump Rules” star ARIANA MADIX will take over hosting duties from “Modern Family” alum SARAH HYLAND on Peacock’s “Love Island USA.”
Insiders say Madix will kick things off with the upcoming sixth season.
Hyland hosted the reality dating show for the past two seasons. [via TMZ]
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The door from “Titanic” -- the one that Rose refused to scoot over on so Jack could also fit, potentially saving his life -- just sold at auction for over $700,000.
The slab of wood was the highest-selling item from Heritage Auctions’ Treasures from Planet Hollywood auction.
The door wasn’t the only item from “Titanic” up for grabs -- the wheel used on the boat sold for $200,000, and the dress worn by KATE WINSLET as the boat sinks went for over $118,000. [via People]
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
LAMAR ODOM knows exactly what he would say to ex-wife KHLOE KARDASHIAN if he ever got the chance.
Speaking to E!, Lamar said he would tell her, “I love her and that I’m grateful and that I miss her. And I wish her and her kids the best.”
Khloe and Lamar tied the knot in 2009, just a month after meeting at a party. They were married for seven years. [via E!]
WORTH NOTING: Khloe has shared similar sentiments when discussing Lamar and their time together.
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
A bunch of internet-dork supersleuths are convinced the video posted last week of PRINCESS KATE announcing her cancer diagnosis is an A.I. deepfake. Commenters point to what they see as a ring disappearing on her finger, unnatural hair movements, and the flowers in the background all pointing to an artificially created video.
But reps for the production arm of the BBC say they were on hand to film the announcement last week and Kensington Palace has formally rejected the claims. [via Washington Post]
WORTH ASKING: Why is the public outcry about misinformation on social media limited to the political sphere?
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DAY OF THE YEAR
Barnum & Bailey Day
MLB Opening Day
Wear a Hat Day
International Women in Music Day
National Black Forest Cake Day
National Something On a Stick Day
National Weed Appreciation Day
Respect Your Cat Day
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ON THIS DATE
1774 - British Parliament enacts the Coercive Acts against the Massachusetts colony.
The four acts were passed in response to the Boston Tea Party and other blatant acts of destruction of British property by American colonists.
The Coercive acts included:
The Boston Port Act, which closed the port of Boston until damages from the Boston Tea Party were paid.
The Massachusetts Government Act, which restricted democratic town meetings and turned the governor’s council into an appointed body.
The Administration of Justice Act, which made British officials immune to criminal prosecution in Massachusetts.
The Quartering Act, which required colonists to house and quarter British troops on demand.
The plan backfired, and instead of the other colonies cutting off Boston, they rushed to Boston’s defense. The Quartering Act in particular eventually led to specific Constitutional language barring such an action in the future.
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1797 - The first US patent — titled “Clothes Washing” — is granted to Nathaniel Briggs of New Hampshire.
The patent covered a device known as the Box Mangler. It consisted of a heavy frame containing a large box filled with rocks, resting on a series of long wooden rollers.
Dirty textiles were laid flat on a sheet and wound around one of the rollers. Two people then pulled on levers to move the heavy box back and forth over the rollers.
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1799 - New York State abolishes slavery.
As part of the new law, any child born to a slave after July 4, 1799 was legally free. Children born before July 4 were considered indentured servants.
Prior to this, 43% of all households in New York owned slaves.
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1881 - The “Greatest Show On Earth” is formed by P. T. Barnum and James Anthony Bailey.
It was described by the men as “a show that was truly immense, and combined all the elements of museum, menagerie, variety performance, concert hall and circus.”
The program would eventually turn into Barnum and Bailey’s Circus.
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1885 - The US Salvation Army is formed.
It began in England by William Booth in 1865 and was originally named the Christian Mission. The goal was to help the poor, drunk, outcast, and wretched of London’s East End slums.
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1930 - Turkish cities Constantinople and Angora change their names to Istanbul and Ankara.
In the case of Istanbul, local Muslims had colloquially used that name for centuries for Constantinople. By some accounts, beginning in the 13th century, local residents heard Byzantine visitors and invaders use the phrase “eis ten polin” to describe the area — which is a rough Greek translation for “in the city.” That turned into the Arabic-sounding “Istinpolin,” Anglicized as “Istanbul.”
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1990 - President George H.W. Bush posthumously awards Olympic athlete Jesse Owens the Congressional Gold Medal.
Owens was a track and field athlete who won four gold medals at the 1936 Olympic Games.
Owens died at the age of 66 from lung cancer.
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2009 - The first cases of H1N1 swine flu are reported in the US.
The WHO would eventually classify the outbreak as a pandemic.
Over 284,000 people would die from the virus.
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2020 - President Trump makes a grim prediction that over 240,000 Americans could die from COVID-19, even with restrictions in place.
The first case of the virus in the US was documented two months prior.
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BIRTHDAYS
Derek Carr - football player - 33
Lady Gaga - pop singer - 38
Julia Stiles - actress, “10 Things Hate About You” - 43
Kate Gosselin - reality star, “Jon and Kate Plus 8” - 49
Vince Vaughn - actor, “Wedding Crashers” - 54
Cheryl “Salt” James - rapper, Salt-n-Pepa - 58
Jason Garrett - football player & coach - 58
Bernice King - daughter of MLK Jr. - 61
Reba McEntire - country singer - 69
Dianne Wiest - actress, “Parenthood” - 76
Rick Berry - basketball player - 80
Born On This Date
Umaga - wrestler - 1973 (d. 2009)
Selma Rubin - co-founder of Earth Day - 1915 (d. 2012)
Henry Schoolcraft - geographer who found the source of the Mississippi - 1793 (d. 1864)
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