4/17/2023: MeeMoo the Emu On the Loose!
PLUS: Summer Ceiling Showdown, Bruce Springsteen Day; and King Charles' Net Worth
Today is Monday, April 17, 2023.
It is the 107th day of the year.
258 days remain.
WHAT’S ON TAP
A Spanish woman emerges from a cave after 500 days and MeeMoo the Emu takes Tennessee police officers on a wild chase. More in HIT LIST.
A check-in on historical polling for incumbents heading into reelection and a preview of the upcoming summer showdown over the debt ceiling. More in THE SWAMP.
KATHY GRIFFIN has complex PTSD and MATT DAMON is a filthy roommate. More in SHOWBIZ.
Another spinoff of “The Big Bang Theory” is in the works and “Baywatch” is getting a reboot. More in CASTING CALL.
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HIT LIST
A 50-year-old Spanish climber and extreme sport athlete named Beatrix Flamini has resurfaced after spending the last 500 days in a cave in southern Spain.
Flamini voluntarily entered the cave in November 2021 as part of an experiment called “Timecave,” which aimed to examine how a human would handle living underground for a long stretch of time. While she was down there, a team of psychologists, researchers and speleologists monitored her, though they never made contact.
As for how Flamini passed the time, she exercised, read books, drew, painted and took up knitting.
The team behind “Timecave” think Flamini may have set a world record for surviving the longest time underground. This has yet to be confirmed by the Guinness Book of Records. [via AP News]
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MeeMoo the emu led police officers in Tennessee on a wild chase last week.
According to his owner Harry McKinney, the large bird hopped over the 7-foot-high fence of his enclosure and took off down the street in Harriman. After trying to track him down, to no avail, McKinney decided to post about the escape on Facebook and contact the local PD.
Several officers soon spotted the bird and followed behind it to avoid the animal -- and residents -- being harmed. At one point, officers clocked MeeMoo doing 40 mph.
Eventually the bird was wrangled up and returned to McKinney’s farm, though it didn't stay there long. Less than 24 hours later, MeeMoo once again hopped the fence and took off down the road. This time the chase only lasted an hour and after he was safely back home, McKinney said he got right to work raising the fence to 9-feet. [via NY Post]
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The criminal justice system in New York City has grown so lax that in 2022 only 327 people were responsible for one-third of ALL shoplifting arrests.
In total, this cohort was arrested and rearrested 6,000 times.
Some back of the napkin math says that each of these people were arrested 18 times on average, which works out to about once every three weeks. [via NYT]
WORTH ASKING: Maybe the Manhattan DA can institute a 17 times-and-you’re-out policy?
MEANWHILE IN MISSISSIPPI: A man was arrested during a traffic stop Friday after attempting to hide a gun inside his quesadilla from Taco Bell. The move, which was witnessed by officers, prompted a vehicle search. During the search they found methamphetamine, liquid heroin and drug paraphernalia, and of course, the gun.
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The first Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray sold at an auction in Florida over the weekend for $1.1 million -- more than 10 times its asking price of $104,295.
The winning bid came from NASCAR team owner and car dealer Rick Hendrick.
The E-Ray can accelerate to 60 mph in 2.5 seconds, and cover a quarter-mile in 10.5 seconds, making it the quickest Corvette and General Motors vehicle ever made.
All proceeds from the auction will benefit Donors Choose charity, which helps buy school supplies and project materials for public schools. [via Fox News]
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The 127th running of the Boston Marathon takes place today.
Over the weekend families of those killed in the Boston Marathon bombing marked the 10th anniversary by laying wreaths near the finish line.
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CHARTS
Weekend Box Office
10. Sweetwater: $350k (new)
9. Nefarious: $1.3 million (new)
8. Scream VI: $1.4 million (down from 5)
7. Mafia Mamma: $2 million (new)
6. Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves: $7.3 million (down from 4)
5. Air: $7.7 million (down from 3)
4. Renfield: $7.8 million (new)
3. John Wick: Chapter 4: $7.9 million (down from 2)
2. The Pope’s Exorcist: $9.1 million (new)
1. The Super Mario Bros. Movie: $87 million (stayed at 1)
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DEATHS
Musician MARK SHEEHAN has died.
He passed away Friday after a brief illness, according to a statement from his band THE SCRIPT. No further details were shared.
Sheehan was only 46.
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Actor MURRAY MELVIN has died.
He passed away on Friday from complications from a fall he suffered last December, according to a statement from Theatro Technis.
Melvin is best known for his roles in “Alfie,” “Barry Lyndon” and “The Phantom of the Opera.”
He was 90.
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THE SWAMP
On April 15, 2019, former President DONALD TRUMP’s approval rating sat at 42%.
At the same point into his presidency – on April 15, 2023 – JOE BIDEN’s approval rating sits at 43%. Politico reports that this doesn’t bode well for Biden’s reelection chances: “Biden isn’t just struggling with independents and near-unanimous disapproval among Republicans. He’s also soft among Democrats and left-leaning demographic groups, a weakness that suggests a diminished enthusiasm for his candidacy.” [via Politico]
BUT WAIT: Biden’s old boss, BARACK OBAMA, had a similar approval rating and he walked away with reelection in 2012.
A lot will happen in the next 18 months regardless.
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House Republicans are working on a bill that would raise the debt ceiling – but only with a corresponding $4 TRILLION in spending cuts over the next decade.
THE HORROR: Republicans want public benefit programs to return to pre-covid spending levels, and to reimplement the work requirement for people under 60 who have no dependents to receive Medicaid.
IN OTHER WORDS: Under the framework, if you’re able to have a job, and don’t have anyone you’re responsible for, you at least have to work in order to get public benefits. [via CNN]
WORTH ASKING: In what world is that an unreasonable ask?
The Biden White House has said they’re not willing to negotiate and the House needs to just get in line. Speaker KEVIN MCCARTHY has had a similar attitude.
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BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The DOW lost 143 points (0.42%) to close at 33,886 on Sunday. The S&P dropped just 8 points (0.21%) to close at 4,137 and the NASDAQ slid 42 points (0.35%) to close at 12,123.
🛢 WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE closed at $82; BRENT CRUDE at $86.
⛽ The national average price of a GALLON OF GAS was $3.66 on Sunday.
₿ BITCOIN was mostly flat over the weekend, up just a couple bucks and trading just over $30,300.
🛩 There were more than 5,300 FLIGHTS delayed within, into, or out of the United States on Sunday and more than 400 such cancellations.
💰A winning ticket for Friday night’s MEGA MILLIONS drawing was sold at a convenience store in Queens, New York. The winner has the choice of the $476 million jackpot or $253.1 million in cash. Tuesday night’s drawing will be for a $20 million jackpot or a $10.6 million cash payout. Tonight’s POWERBALL drawing will be for a $235 million jackpot or a $125.3 million cash payout.
SHOWBIZ NEWS
KATHY GRIFFIN reached out to her TikTok followers for help with her recent diagnosis of complex PTSD.
“You can laugh or whatever, but I’ve been diagnosed with complex PTSD, and it’s called an extreme case,” she said.
According to Griffin, it all started after she got fired from her gig hosting CNN’s New Year’s Eve special, had her stand-up comedy shows get canceled and even ended up on the “No-Fly” list after holding up a mockup of former president DONALD TRUMP’s severed head.
After destroying her career, Griffin says she started taking “any prescription pill [she] could get [her] hands on.” She also battled stage 1 lung cancer in 2021.
As for how she is coping, Griffin said she is leaning on her friend, music and film producer, SIA. [via Deadline]
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September 23 has officially been declared “Bruce Springsteen Day” in New Jersey.
Governor PHIL MURPHY made the declaration over the weekend, calling Springsteen the “voice of the Garden State.” [via NY Post]
WORTH NOTING: September 23 was chosen because it is Springsteen’s birthday.
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TAYLOR SWIFT donated over 125,000 meals to the Tampa Food Bank ahead of her “Eras Tour” performance in Florida over the weekend.
The Feeding Tampa Food Bank thanked the singer on social media for her generous donation and for helping their “mission to end hunger by 2025.”
Donating to local food banks has been a theme with Swift as she travels from city to city on her “Eras Tour.” [via PinkVilla]
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Remember the story about how MATT DAMON and BEN AFFLECK were roommates before they were big actors? Well it turns out Damon was a filthy co-habitant.
Speaking with JAMES CORDEN on his late-night talk show, Affleck said that he got so sick of Damon not cleaning up that he decided to go “on strike” and not clean in an effort to force his friend to pick up.
Affleck said he, and his brother CASEY AFFLECK who lived with them at the time, wanted to “wait and see how long” it would take Damon to clean. Turns out the plan backfired and Damon ended up going “two weeks without touching the apartment.”
Of his best friend -- and former roommate -- Affleck said he is a “beautiful” and “brilliant” guy but he doesn’t “suggest living with him.” [via Page Six]
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JANET JACKSON kicked off her “Together Again Tour” in Florida on Friday night, with a 40 song set list that included “Control,” “Nasty,” “Together Again,” and “Rhythm Nation.”
LUDACRIS is joining Jackson on her 33-date tour of North America.
This is her first tour since 2019. [via People]
SPEAKING OF PERFORMING: On Friday, HALSEY announced several performances in June and July that will benefit Hard Rock Heals, Outright International and the Human Rights Campaign. Halsey, who identifies as “they,” chose the organizations because of their connection to the LGBTQ+ community. [via People]
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BRITNEY SPEARS’ memoir is almost complete.
Sources close to the pop star told ET that she is “very close” to finishing the book and that “she’s not holding back.”
Spears signed a $15 million book deal with Simon & Schuster last year. Author SAM LANSKY is ghostwriting her story. [via ET]
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Actress JOAN CUSACK was ticketed in Chicago over the weekend after crashing her pickup into another vehicle.
Those on the scene told TMZ that Cusack was trying to enter a parking lot when she reportedly T-boned a passing SUV. She was cited for driving too fast for conditions.
While it doesn’t appear anyone was seriously injured, the four young women in the car Cusack hit were checked out by paramedics. [via TMZ]
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CASTING CALL
Another spinoff of “The Big Bang Theory” is in the works from creator CHUCK LORRE.
According to Warner Bros. Discovery, the new comedy series will stream on HBO Max. While few details were shared about the show, Variety reports that it will feature a mostly new cast with “potential for ‘Big Bang’ stars to appear.”
The show already has one spinoff, “Young Sheldon,” which premiered in 2016. [via Variety]
“The Big Bang Theory” aired for 12 seasons on CBS.
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A “Baywatch” reboot is currently in the works.
According to Deadline, the beach drama series is being pitched to several broadcasters and streamers.
The original show from the ‘80s and ‘90s starred DAVID HASSELHOFF and PAMELA ANDERSON as lifeguards who patrolled the beaches of LA County. It aired for 10 seasons and spawned several spinoffs. [via Deadline]
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LIL UZI VERT will be the musical guest when PETE DAVIDSON hosts “SNL” on May 6.
This will be Davidson’s first time hosting the sketch-comedy show, which he starred on for eight seasons. [via Deadline]
FUN FACT: Last year, the rapper got a matching tattoo with YE after he divorced KIM KARDASHIAN, who was dating Davidson at the time.
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
NORTH WEST joined KATY PERRY on stage at her Las Vegas residency PLAY at Resorts World on Saturday.
According to an attendee, Perry hosted a walk-off competition and invited West and her friends on stage to compete. KIM KARDASHIAN was reportedly ushered to the front row to watch her eldest daughter, along with gal pals PARIS HILTON and SIA.
West and her friends were crowned winners of the competition by Perry. [via Daily Mail]
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
A study by the Sunday Times (of the London variety) estimates KING CHARLES’ net worth at around 600 million Pounds – that’s $745 million US Dollars.
GET THIS: He’s worth more than his mother was, the late QUEEN ELIZABETH.
FOR THE UNINITIATED: Much of the Royal Family’s wealth comes from massive land ownership, which is held in a “Duchy” – kind of like a trust specifically for managing the land owned by nobles, or in this case, the British Royal Family.
As the heir to the throne, Charles oversaw the Duchy of Cornwall, and earned more than 200 million pounds from it between 2012 and 2022. He even paid income taxes on the gains, though the royal family is exempt from doing so. The Duchy of Cornwall exceeded a value of 1 billion Pounds by the end of 2022 as well.
Add to that his inheritance of the Balmoral and Sandringham estates, and he’s well on his way to being a royal billionaire. [via New York Post & lots of hours watching “The Crown”]
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DAY OF THE YEAR
National Kickball Day
Nothing Like A Dame Day
National Cheeseball Day
International Bat Appreciation Day
Blah Blah Blah Day
International Haiku Poetry Day
World Hemophilia Day
National Ford Mustang Day
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ON THIS DATE
1790 – Benjamin Franklin dies.
He was 84 years old.
His legacy includes fighting for US independence, the US Constitution, and solidifying America as a legitimate nation around the world.
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1945 – American forces confiscate 1100 tons of German uranium in Starssfut.
The commanding officer was under orders to not let it fall into the hands of the Reds.
The American troops were also under orders to prevent any German scientists from being captured by the Soviets.
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1961 – The Bay of Pigs invasion begins.
It was an attempt by the Kennedy administration to overthrow Fidel Castro's communist regime.
The plan was for 1200 Cuban exiles to land on Cuba's beach and rally the locals to violently overthrow the government.
But the Cuban government was ready. The landing force's boats were sunk and 100 were killed. The other 1100 were captured and jailed. Instead of weakening Castro it only served to solidify his power in Cuba, and was given even more Soviet support.
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1964 – The first Ford Mustang is shown off at the World's Fair in New York.
One of the designers at Ford was a fan of the P-51 Mustang fighter plane, arguably the coolest flying war machine ever constructed, and suggested borrowing the name for the car.
It was put on sale in Ford showrooms across the country on the same day. Nearly 22,000 were bought that day.
By year's end 400,000 were sold. Fan clubs for the car popped up across the country.
Since then, more than 9 million have been sold.
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1970 – The crew of Apollo 13 splashes down safely in the Pacific Ocean.
The mission was the third American manned journey with the objective of landing on the moon. On the second day of the mission, an oxygen tank exploded, leaking the astronauts' supply and altering the flight plan.
In order to conserve power, the astronauts navigated using the sun, earth, and moon, only using bursts of power to maintain their course for reentry.
The wait for splashdown was nerve-wracking, as they would not be able to communicate with mission control until they entered the Earth's lower atmosphere. Finally, after the parachutes deployed and the command module was spotted, it was confirmed the astronauts were alive.
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2009 – Former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark becomes the Administrator of the United Nations Development Program.
She is the first woman to lead the organization.
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2019 – 10 babies with “bubble boy disease” cured using gene therapy at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
The disease, severe combined immunodeficiency or SCID, was made famous in the mid ‘70s when the “Bubble Boy” was described in a documentary.
The condition—a lack of a functioning immune system—strikes fewer than 100 babies a year in the U.S.
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BIRTHDAYS
Kyla Drew Simmons - actress, “Prisoners” - 19
Phoebe Dynevor - actress, “Bridgerton” - 28
Joy Sunday - actress, “Wednesday” - 28
Avi Kaplan - pop singer - 34
Luke Mitchell - actor, “Blindspot” & “The Code” - 38
Rooney Mara - actress, “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” - 38
Tyron Woodley - MMA fighter - 41
Victoria Beckham - singer, Spice Girls - 49
Jennifer Garner - actress, “Alias” & “13 Going on 30” - 51
Maynard James Keenan - metal singer, Tool - 59
Sean Bean - actor, “Game of Thrones” & “National Treasure” - 64
Dwayne Casey - basketball coach - 66
Olivia Hussey - actress, “Virus” & “Death on The Nile” - 72
Born On This Date
Roddy Piper - wrestler - 1954 (d. 2015)
J.P. Morgan - financier & banker, US Steel Corp. & AT&T - 1837 (d. 1913)
Alexander Cartwright - credited with creating modern baseball, known as “father of baseball” - 1820 (d. 1892)
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