3/4/2024: Cocaine Rollerblades
PLUS: End of Covid; 40,000 Points; and Royal Rumour Mill
Today is Monday, March 4, 2024.
It is the 64th day of the year.
302 days remain.
WHAT’S ON TAP
Lawyers who took on ELON MUSK saddle up to the money trough. Details in HIT LIST.
RIHANNA plays wedding singer and MACHINE GUN KELLY announces a new stage name. More in SHOWBIZ.
JOSHUA JACKSON joins the latest installment in the “Karate Kid” franchise. Details in CASTING CALL.
BIANCA CENSORI’s parents speak out. More in KARDASH.
Is PRINCESS KATE ok? Find out in ROYALS.
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HIT LIST
IN JANUARY: A judge in Delaware rescinded ELON MUSK’s $55 BILLION-plus compensation package that had been approved by TESLA’s board as a reward for meeting outlandishly aggressive sales targets.
The decision followed a lawsuit filed by a man who owned just a handful of Tesla stock well after the Board approved Musk’s compensation package, which worked out to more than $55 BILLION in stock in 2018.
NOW: The attorneys who won the suit have filed paperwork asking for their own compensation, which typically includes a cut of a company’s “savings” from such suits – this time, to the tune of $5.6 BILLION, mostly in the form of Tesla stock.
THE IRONY: Musk’s compensation was entirely results-based. He had to hit astronomical targets to earn the stock. Under his leadership, the company did. The suit alleges he was overpaid, to the detriment of shareholders, suggesting poor leadership performance – so why would the lawyers want stock in a poorly managed company? It makes a farce of the entire legal system. This was a brazen cash grab. [via Morning Martini]
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FOUR YEARS LATER: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced on Friday new guidance that no longer recommends covid-positive people isolate for at least five days. The new recommendation aligns with typical treatment of flu: stay home if you feel sick, wait a day, and get back to it – though the official recommendation still includes masking for the next five days.
But as CNN reports, “The CDC also noted that states and countries that have already shortened recommended isolation periods have not seen increased hospitalizations or deaths from Covid-19.” [via CNN]
OH, AND: Between 2020 and 2021, the CDC estimates that, on average, 488 Americans died every day from excessive alcohol consumption, a 29% increase from 2016-2017.
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Wildfires in Texas have scorched more than a million acres of land and remain only 15% contained as winds continue to feed the blaze, which destroys up to 1500 acres every hour.
The catastrophe has become the state’s most destructive wildfire ever.
So far, two are confirmed dead and hundreds of buildings have been destroyed. Texas’ agriculture commissioner estimates that at least 10,000 farm animals will have died, either directly from the fire or from euthanization following severe burns, by the time everything is contained.
YIKES: One disaster relief group is asking for owners of heavy machinery to assist with mass burials of dead livestock. [via The Guardian]
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Police in Kenosha, Wisconsin, say they discovered a new tactic to smuggle drugs – by hiding cocaine infused with a “gelatin-like substance” in rollerblade wheels.
US Customs officials collaborated with local law enforcement to get a search warrant for the intended recipient on Friday and found over a kilogram of blow (street value $35,000), wads of cash, and money transfer documents originating in Bogota, Colombia. The residents also had falsified permanent resident alien identification cards and phony social security numbers.
The investigation remains ongoing. No word yet on how rollerblade wheels get boiled down into street-marketable cocaine, though. [via WISN]
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Former Kansas City Chiefs assistant coach BRITT REID’s three-year prison sentence was commuted by Missouri Gov. Mike Parsons last week.
Reid, the son of head coach ANDY REID, was sentenced in November 2022 after pleading guilty to driving while impaired during a crash in February 2021 that injured a five-year-old girl and others.
Reid will now be on house arrest until October 2025. He will meet weekly with a parole officer, attend behavioral counseling and abide by all community service and employment requirements.
REACTION: An attorney for the family of then-five-year-old Ariel Young said they were “horrified” and “disgusted” by the decision. They also revealed they were not contacted prior to the commutation.
REMEMBER: Ariel was in a coma for nearly two weeks after the accident. She suffered memory loss and has issues with her speech and movement. [via NBC Sports]
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DEATHS
Fashion icon IRIS APFEL has died.
She passed away Friday at her home in Palm Beach, according to a spokesperson.
Apfel was known for her love of chunky accessories, jazz and unique style.
She was 102.
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Voice actor MARK DODSON has died.
He passed away Saturday after suffering a massive heart attack, according to a statement from his agent.
Dodson was best known for voicing some of Hollywood’s most iconic characters, in films such as “Gremlins” and “Star Wars.”
He was 64.
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BABY NEWS
STEPH and AYESHA CURRY are expecting baby #4.
The couple announced the news on Instagram with a photo of Ayesha showing off her bump on the cover of the first issue of her Sweet July magazine.
The baby will join big sisters Riley 11, and Ryan, 8, and big brother Canon, 5.
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WEEKEND BOX OFFICE
10. The Beekeeper: $1.1 million (down from 9)
9. Argylle: $1.4 million (down from 6)
8. Wonka: $1.7 million (down from 7)
7. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba - To the Hashira Training: $2 million (down from 2)
6. Migration: $2.5 million (down from 5)
5. The Chosen: S4 Episodes 7-8: $3.1 million (new)
4. Madame Web: $3.2 million (stayed at 4)
3. Ordinary Angels: $3.8 million (stayed at 3)
2. Bob Marley: One Love: $7.4 million (down from 1)
1. Dune: Part Two: $81.5 million (new)
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BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The DOW gained 90 points on Friday (0.23%) to close at 39,087. The S&P increased 40 points (0.8%) to close at 5,137 and the NASDAQ increased 183 points (1.14%) to close at 16,274.
🛢WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE closed at $79 on Friday; BRENT CRUDE at $83.
⛽ The national average price of a GALLON OF GAS was $3.34 on Sunday.
₿ BITCOIN continued to climb over the weekend, trading over $63,000 by Sunday evening.
🛩 There were more than 4,765 FLIGHTS delayed within, into, or out of the United States on Sunday and more than 160 such cancellations.
💰Tuesday night’s MEGA MILLIONS drawing will be for a $650 million jackpot or a $308.6 million cash payout. Tonight’s POWERBALL drawing will be for a $460 million jackpot or a $220.4 million cash payout.
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SHOWBIZ NEWS
In honor of his 30th birthday on Friday, Madame Tussauds unveiled its new wax figure of JUSTIN BIEBER.
Now on display at the Hollywood, California location, the statue features Bieber’s neck tattoos, facial hair and the same puffer coat that he wore in his 2021 music video for his song “Peaches.”
This isn’t the first Bieber wax figure. The augural one was introduced in 2011. [via Billboard]
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At an Oscars luncheon, BILLIE EILISH revealed that she once broke up with a guy after having a dream about actor CHRISTIAN BALE.
“I woke up and I came to my senses,” she quipped.
Eilish did not divulge who it was that she dumped, but she was last linked to singer JESSE RUTHERFORD. The two split in May 2023. [via YouTube]
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ALAIA BALDWIN, older sister to HAILEY BIEBER, was arrested last week in Savannah, Georgia for assault and battery after allegedly throwing a used tampon at a bartender
According to the police report, Alaia also assaulted several bar employees after being asked to leave the employee’s only restroom, where she reportedly threw up all over the place.
The case remains under investigation. [via Us Weekly]
WORTH NOTING: Maybe their dad STEPHEN BALDWIN should be asking for prayers for Alaia, instead of Hailey and JUSTIN.
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RIHANNA performed some of her biggest hits at a private pre-wedding celebration for the youngest son of Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani.
The concert was part of a three-night celebration for the couple, who are set to tie the knot this summer.
It's estimated that Rihanna was paid around $6 million, which is nothing for Ambani, who has a networth of about $116 BILLION. [via Variety]
BY THE WAY: RiRi wasn’t the only famous face in attendance -- IVANKA TRUMP, JARED KUSHNER, BILL GATES and MARK ZUCKERBERG were all at the extravagant extravaganza. [via NY Post]
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MACHINE GUN KELLY is going under a new, shorter, moniker.
The rapper, whose real name is Colson Baker, has officially changed his stage name to simply “mgk.”
The change comes after a dramatic physical transformation, in which mgk debuted a new black out tattoo over his shoulders, chest and arms. [via ET]
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Music producer BENNY BLANCO is releasing his very own cookbook, titled, “Open Wide: A Cookbook for Friends,” today!
According to Billboard, the cookbook features chapters such a “5 Dishes to Get You Laid and One for the Morning After,” “I Wish I Were an Italian Grandma,” “Take Me to the Cheesy Rodeo” and “F*ck Morton’s Steakhouse.” [via Billboard]
WORTH ASKING: How many of these has his girlfriend SELENA GOMEZ sampled?
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LEBRON JAMES is now the first player in the history of the NBA to hit 40,000 career points.
He was only nine points away from the milestone heading into the game against the Denver Nuggets on Saturday.
James is also the first player to hit 30,000 points, 10,000 assists and 10,000 rebounds, which he did in 2022. [via TMZ]
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CASTING CALL
When DONNIE WAHLBERG was cast in CBS’ “Blue Bloods” he was perplexed over how fans were going to believe he was the son of TOM SELLECK’s character.
“He’s got so much hair, his eyebrows are so bushy,” Wahlberg told the Lawrence brothers on their “Brotherly Love” podcast. “I didn’t care about the mustache, I was like ‘How am I this dude’s son?’”
His worries were eased once he saw who was playing his grandfather; actor LEN CARIOU. “He’s shorter than me, same hairline. I was like ‘Alright, I got his genes. I’m good.’”
“Blue Bloods” is currently in its 14th and final season. [via EW]
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After nearly 10 years, JOSHUA JACKSON is ending his acting hiatus to star in the latest installment of the “Karate Kid” franchise, alongside RALPH MACCHIO and JACKIE CHAN.
Jackson last starred in 2015’s “Sky.”
The new “Karate Kid” film will hit theaters this December. [via People]
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“Sex and the City” will make its Netflix debut on April 1.
The show’s spinoff series, “And Just Like That…,” will remain exclusively on Max. [via Deadline]
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
BIANCA CENSORI’s parents are concerned for their daughter and her marriage to YE.
A family insider told the Daily Mail that Leo and Alexandra Censori are sick of seeing their daughter “dressed like a naked trophy pony” and would like to have “a proper sit down meeting” with Ye about his controlling ways.
Also, in light of reports that the pair is discussing having children, the insider said Censori’s parents want their grandchildren to grow up in a “stable and loving household” and “life with [Ye] is not stable at all.
Unfortunately a sit-down won’t be happening in Censori’s native Australia as Ye has been banned from the country over his anti-Semitic comments. [via Daily Mail]
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
Following PRINCESS KATE’s under-wraps and vague abdominal surgery and her very private recovery, The Internet Gossip Apparatus is abuzz with speculation something sinister is afoot – that she actually is dead or perhaps totally went missing.
From the beginning, reps for PRINCE WILLIAM and his wife asked for privacy, but William’s sudden cancellation of a public appearance last week just poured gas on the fire. On Friday, The Firm issued a stern statement addressing some of the gossip, saying bluntly, "Kensington Palace made it clear in January the timelines of the princess's recovery. We said we'd only be providing significant updates. That guidance stands." [via BBC]
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DAY OF THE YEAR
National Hug a G.I. Day
Fun Facts About Names Day
World Tennis Day
Do Something Day
National Sons Day
Marching Band Day
National Pound Cake Day
National Grammar Day
Toy Soldier Day
International Scrapbooking Industry Day
World Obesity Day
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ON THIS DATE
1681 - King Charles II hands over a large piece of his North American land holdings along the North Atlantic Ocean to English Quaker William Penn.
The land was handed over in part to pay off the debts King Charles owed to Penn’s father, the admiral and politician Sir William Penn.
The land included the present-day states of Pennsylvania and Delaware.
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1789 - The first US Congress meets.
With the initial meeting, the US federal government officially begins operation under the new (and current) frame of government established by the 1787 Constitution.
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INAUGURATION FIRSTS:
1797 - John Adams is inaugurated as the second President of the United States.
Thomas Jefferson as VP.
1809 - James Madison is the first US President to be inaugurated in American-made clothes.
1861 - Abraham Lincoln is inaugurated as the 16th President of the United States.
1933 - Franklin Roosevelt becomes the last President to be sworn in on March 4.
Until the 20th Amendment, the constitution mandated March 4 as the day the president would begin his term. As technology and communications systems improved, less time was required after the election to install the new head of state.
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1952 - Ronald Reagan marries Nancy Davis.
The two met when Nancy sought Ron's help to keep her name off the Hollywood Blacklist during Joe McCarthy's ambitious purge of communist sympathizers. He was, at the time, President of the Screen Actors Guild.
Reagan would successfully run for governor of California 15 years later.
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1952 - Ernest Hemingway finishes "The Old Man and the Sea."
He wrote to his publisher that day, informing them not only that the story was finished but that it was his best work.
The work culminated a decade-long dry spell, in which he did not write any new notable works.
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1954 - Secretary of State John Foster Dulles makes an authoritative speech against communism.
As the Soviet Union continued to prop up leftist revolutions across the globe, the U.S. became particularly concerned with South America.
Dulles gave the speech at the Inter-American Conference, a gathering of nations in the western hemisphere. Following the speech, the gathering passed a resolution that formally condemned communism -- but no further action was taken.
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2005 - Martha Stewart leaves the slammer after serving five months.
The homemaking maven was convicted of insider trading in 2001.
After her 5 months in prison, she was required to serve the remainder of her 10-month sentence under house arrest. Similar convictions could've resulted in a 16-year sentence, but her celebrity status certainly helped.
While serving time, her company managed to thrive. Its stock value quadrupled.
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BIRTHDAYS
George Pickens - football player - 23
Brooklyn Beckham - son of David & Victoria - 25
Draymond Green - basketball player - 34
Tamzin Merchant - actress, “Pride and Prejudice - 37
Mike Krieger - co-founder of Instagram - 38
Chaz Bono - child of Sonny & Cher - 55
Sam Taylor-Johnson - director, “Fifty Shades of Grey” - 57
Dav Pilkey - children’s author, “Captain Underpants” series - 58
Jason Newsted - bassist, Metallica - 61
Ray Mancini - boxer - 63
Patricia Heaton - actress, “Everybody Loves Raymond” - 66
Catherine O’Hara - actress, “Home Alone” films & “Schitt’s Creek” - 70
Rick Perry - politician - 74
Jack Fisher - baseball player - 85
Born On This Date
Bobbie Kristina Brown - daughter of Bobby Brown & Whitney Houston - 1993 (d. 2015)
Dick Savitt - tennis player - 1927 (d. 2023)
Garrett Morgan - inventor, three-position traffic signal - 1877 (d. 1963)
Antonio Vivaldi - composer, The Four Seasons - 1678 (d. 1741)
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