3/30/2023: Buc-ee Beaver
PLUS: Bank Regulation Reform; Ben Affleck’s RBF; and Prince Philip the “Terrifying”
Today is Thursday, March 30, 2023.
It is the 89th day of the year.
276 days remain.
WHAT’S ON TAP
Tech leaders say it’s time to tap the brakes on AI research and Mexican authorities are on the hunt for an escaped tiger. More in HIT LIST.
Ok, we lied – there’s been a development in the Trump grand jury saga. More in THE SWAMP.
LIONEL RICHIE says he can no longer last “All Night Long” and KATY PERRY is five weeks sober. More in SHOWBIZ.
“Succession” star joins the cast of “Deadpool 3” and TREVOR NOAH is hosting a new reality competition show in South Africa. More in CASTING CALL.
###
HIT LIST
Dozens of tech entrepreneurs and data scientists have signed an open letter calling for artificial intelligence companies to put a six month pause on the development of their technology, claiming out of control AI will wreak havoc on global society.
The letter was published by the Future of Life Organization, which is backed financially by ELON MUSK, who is one of the primary signers.
“AI labs and independent experts should use this pause to jointly develop and implement a set of shared safety protocols for advanced AI design and development that are rigorously audited and overseen by independent outside experts,” they write.
Other co-signers include Apple co-founder STEVE WOZNIAK and former Democrat presidential candidate ANDREW YANG. [via Future of Life]
###
LAST YEAR: Two men were accused of rigging a fishing competition by loading up their catches with lead weights and other dead fish to take home a hefty cash prize from the Lake Erie Walleye Trail tournament.
NOW: The two men – Jacob Runyan and Chase Cominsky – have pleaded guilty to cheating and unlawful ownership of wild animals charges. They’ll also lose their fishing licenses for three years.
As part of the deal, Cominsky is also surrendering his $100,000 bass boat.
They’ll be sentenced next month – which will likely include a brief probation and the opportunity to expunge their records. [via NBC News]
###
A full-grown, 5-year-old tiger named Baluma has escaped from its home in Mexico.
Mexican law permits the private ownership of Bengal tigers, and the owners apparently had all their paperwork in line.
The Associated Press reports that police have circulated a picture of the tiger to help locals identify it if they see it.
WORTH ASKING: Are there so many tigers on the loose in Mexico that people will need help identifying which is which? [via Associated Press]
###
Gen Z appears to be learning a lesson from the Millennial counterparts, ditching smartphones for simpler “feature phones” that include basic features like a GPS or setting up a wi-fi hotspot, but without the ever-glowing giant touchscreens.
Manufacturer HMD says their flip phone sales were up in 2022 and that they sell tens of thousands every month. One analyst says the relatively archaic technology could see a 5% increase in the next few years. [via CNBC]
###
Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin believe they’ve uncovered a new species of beaver in their fossil collection – which they’ve named after popular gas station chain Buc-ee's, which sports a beaver mascot.
The new species is dubbed Anchitheriomys buccei.
The research team believes that this species would’ve looked similar to the modern day North American beaver – but was 30% bigger.
WORTH NOTING: Archeologists believe that bear-sized beavers once roamed North America during the last Ice Age. [via SciTechDaily]
###
CHARTS
Recommended Reading
Worried about how the future of the country will look for your kids? You’re not alone. The Wall Street Journal deep-dives a recent survey showing plenty of angst and concern about shifting attitudes and values. Read it here >
###
BREAKUPS
“Real Housewives of Atlanta” star EVA MARCILLE, 38, has filed for divorce from her husband, lawyer MICHAEL STERLING, 39.
According to the paperwork, obtained by TMZ, Marcille did not state a reason for the split, but did note the marriage is “irretrievably broken.”
As for the couple’s three children, who are all under the age of 10, she has asked for legal and primary physical custody.
The pair tied the knot in 2018.
###
SICK BAY
POPE FRANCIS, 86, will spend the next few days in the hospital as he receives treatment for a respiratory infection.
According to a statement from the Vatican press office, Covid-19 has been ruled out.
###
THE SWAMP
President JOE BIDEN is expected to call for a new round of regulations affecting midsize banks following the collapse of two such institutions earlier this month.
The new capital and liquidity requirements would apply to banks holding between $100 billion and $250 billion in assets.
MEANWHILE: The White House is also toying with changing FDIC rules to cover more than $250,000, but that would likely require Congress to act. [via WSJ]
###
BLUFF CALLED: The grand jury hearing the case against former President DONALD TRUMP won’t convene again til April 24.
###
BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The DOW added 323 points (1%) to close at 32,717 on Wednesday. The S&P added 56 points (1.42%) to close at 4,027 and the NASDAQ added 210 points (1.79%) to close at 11,926.
🛢 WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE closed at $72; BRENT CRUDE at $77.
⛽ The national average price of a GALLON OF GAS was $3.46 on Wednesday.
₿ BITCOIN ticked up Wednesday, trading just shy of $28,500.
🛩 There were more than 3,450 FLIGHTS delayed within, into, or out of the United States on Wednesday and more than 100 such cancellations.
💰Friday night’s MEGA MILLIONS drawing will be for a $355 million jackpot or a $187.6 million cash payout.
SHOWBIZ NEWS
Actress MELISSA JOAN HART helped a group of young students and teachers who were fleeing a shooter at their Nashville elementary school this week.
In an Instagram video, Hart said she and her husband were on their way to a conference at their children’s school, which is located near the school that was under attack.
“We helped a class of kindergartners across a busy highway that were climbing out of the woods, that were trying to escape the shooter situation at their school,” she emotionally shared.
Hart encouraged her followers to “pray for the families” and called for action to prevent these situations from continuing to occur. [via Page Six]
###
A gown worn by BEYONCE at the 2017 Grammys, a Versace number worn by BLAKE LIVELY at the 2022 Met Gala and LIZZO’s Thom Browne outfit, also from the 2022 Met, are now on display at Kensington Palace.
The ensembles are part of the new “Crown to Couture” display that shows how “fashion icons have drawn inspiration from how the royals partied more than 200 years ago.”
In total, there are 20 contemporary and 50 historical pieces in the collection. [via People]
###
BEN AFFLECK says he has serious RBF (Resting Ben Face) but is asking fans not to hold it against him.
“I have a very unhappy-looking resting face,” he told late night host JIMMY KIMMEL this week. “That’s how God made me, you don’t have to punish me for it!”
He is referring to the memes that have gone viral showing his less-than-enthusiastic facial expressions during big events. [via TMZ]
###
At 73-years-old, LIONEL RICHIE says his hit song “All Night Long” no longer rings true.
He spoke about the single during a recent appearance on “The View,” in honor of the song’s 40th anniversary. “When I wrote ‘All Night Long,’ it was truly all night long. Now my ‘all night long’ is down to a fierce 15 minutes,” he joked. [via People]
###
Singer KATY PERRY says she is five weeks into a three-month-long sobriety pact with husband, actor ORLANDO BLOOM.
“I’ve been doing a pact with my partner and I want to quit,” she told People Magazine this week, while jokingly wiping away tears.
Perry’s “American Idol” co-judge, LUKE BRYAN asked if she was going to give in, to which she quickly replied, “No.”
It is not known why the couple have decided to be alcohol-free for three months. [via People]
###
JOHN MAYER is adding 17 more shows to his “Solo” tour.
He made the announcement on Instagram, writing “As a dear friend once told me, ‘never block a blessing,’” while thanking his fans for supporting his current run.
Mayer will perform through April 14 before taking a break. He will start up again in October at Madison Square Garden in New York City. [via People]
###
CASTING CALL
JEREMY RENNER recently spoke to DIANE SAWYER in an hour-long special, marking his first interview since being critically injured by his 1,400 pound snow plow on New Year’s Day.
In the sitdown interview, Renner discusses the severity of his injuries, which included more than 30 broken bones, a collapsed lung and pierced liver. It will also feature clips from his time in the hospital and subsequent rehab.
“Jeremy Renner: The Diane Sawyer Interview -- A Story of Terror, Survival and Triumph” will air on ABC on April 6, just days before Renner is set to make his first public appearance at the premiere of his Disney+ series “Rennervations.” [via Deadline]
###
“Succession” star MATTHEW MACFADYEN has joined the cast of Marvel’s “Deadpool 3.”
As previously reported, RYAN REYNOLDS will return as the titular character, with HUGH JACKMAN making a cameo as his Wolverine character.
“The Crown’s” EMMA CORRIN is also starring in the film.
Macfadyen’s role is not known. [via Deadline]
###
TREVOR NOAH is set to host Amazon’s first South African original show.
The series, a remake of “LOL: Last One Laughing,” will feature 10 famous comedians who compete against one another to see who can keep a straight face while trying to make the others laugh. The last one standing will win $1 million for a charity of their choosing.
The show launches next year. [via Deadline]
WORTH NOTING: Noah was born in Johannesburg.
###
DOLLY PARTON will host the Academy of Country Music Awards for the second year in a row. Joining her for the evening will be country legend GARTH BROOKS.
The show will air on May 11, live from the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas.
It is Brooks first time hosting an awards show. [via AP News]
###
CRIB NOTES
BRAD PITT has sold his Hollywood Hills home for a cool $39 million.
He purchased the home in 1994 from Elvira aka CASSANDRA PETERSON for $1.7 million.
The 6,700-square-foot home features a ballroom, movie theater and huge Koi pond. There is also a skatepark, motorcycle garage and stone house on the property.
According to TMZ, Pitt sold the home because he is moving to Carmel, California. [via TMZ]
###
THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
JONAH HILL has nothing to say regarding his film “21 Jump Street” being the reason YE says he has had a change of heart about Jewish people.
The actor was bombarded by paparazzi as he left dinner in Santa Monica this week, who all wanted to know how he felt about Ye’s recent social media post about liking Jewish people now.
For the most part Hill ignored their questions, just shaking his head as he got into his vehicle. [via TMZ]
WORTH REMEMBERING: Last weekend Ye credited Hill’s performance in the 11-year-old film for making him rethink his perspective on Jewish people.
###
WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
SARAH FERGUSON recently talked about her late father-in-law PRINCE PHILIP on the latest episode of the “Life’s a Beach” podcast.
When asked by podcast host ALAN CARR what it was like to be around the Duke, Ferige replied, “Terrifying!”
“You had to be your best. If you asked a silly comment, you were certainly told it was a silly comment,” she explained.
Despite divorcing Philip and QUEEN ELIZABETH’s son PRINCE ANDREW in 1996, Fergie said she remained close with the monarchs. [via People]
WORTH REMEMBERING: Following Queen Elizabeth’s passing, Fergie was entrusted with her most prized possessions -- her corgis.
###
DAY OF THE YEAR
National Doctors Day
National Pencil Day
National Take a Walk in the Park Day
World TB-303 Appreciation Day
###
ON THIS DATE
1775 – King George tries to reign in rebellion in New England, authorizing the New England Restraining Act.
The law required the colonies to trade exclusively with Great Britain. Later that year the Crown banned any fishing in the North Atlantic.
###
1867 – The United States buys Alaska from Russia.
Secretary of State William Seward signed the treaty, authorizing $7 million for the land purchase -- that works out to about two cents an acre at the time.
Depending on who you ask, the United States could fetch north of $2.5 TRILLION if it were to sell off Alaska today, as the Washington Post determined in 2012.
The Senate ratified the treaty about a week later. The money wasn't appropriated by the House until the following Summer.
The cold northern outpost was slow to get started but was bolstered by the discovery of gold in 1898.
###
1939 – The German “Heinkel He 100” fighter plane sets a new world airspeed record — peaking at 463 miles per hour.
While the German military was interested in testing the aircraft, it was never ordered into mass production, favoring designs from Messerschmitt.
###
1974 – John Denver gets his first Number One hit with "Sunshine on my Shoulders."
The song originally appeared on the album “Poems, Prayers and Promises” three years prior, but found success after being re-released on his Greatest Hits album.
###
1981 – John Hinckley Jr. shoots President Ronald Reagan outside the Washington Hilton hotel.
Hinckley fired six times, injuring the President and three others.
Reagan walked into the hospital on his own feet despite the bullet ripping through his lung. The president joked with the doctors that he hoped they're all Republicans.
Hinckley was eventually found not guilty by reason of insanity. He remained in a mental institution until 2018 and today lives in Williamsburg, VA and reportedly runs an antiques business.
###
2000 – Richard Branson is knighted by Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace.
He received the honor for “services to entrepreneurship” for his work in retail, music and transport, his taste for adventure, and for his humanitarian work.
###
2020 - The International Olympic Committee postpones the 2020 Summer Olympic Games because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
They would be rescheduled to begin in July the following year.
###
BIRTHDAYS
Simone Ashley - actress, “Bridgerton” - 28
Anita - pop singer - 30
NF - rapper - 32
Thomas Rhett - country singer - 33
Cassie Scerbo - actress, “Make It or Break It” - 33
Richard Sherman - football player - 35
Sergio Ramos - soccer player - 37
Justin Moore - country singer - 39
Norah Jones - jazz singer - 44
Mark Consuelos - actor, “All My Children” & “Riverdale” - 52
Celine Dion - pop singer - 55
Piers Morgan - TV show host & journalist - 58
Tracey Chapman - pop singer - 59
MC Hammer - rapper - 61
Eric Clapton - guitarist, singer & songwriter - 78
Rolf Harris - pop singer - 93
Born On This Date
Robbie Coltrane - actor, “Harry Potter” films - 1950 (d. 2022)
Vincent van Gogh - painter - 1853 (d. 1890)
###