4/19/2024: Too Drunk to Fly
PLUS: 911 Outages; The Tortured Poets Department; and Real Royal Jam
Today is Friday, April 19, 2024.
It is the 110th day of the year.
256 days remain.
WHAT’S ON TAP
Google strikes back against insolent protestors and Ecuador balances crises. Details in HIT LIST.
SNOOP DOGG designs some sneakers in time for 4/20 and JOHN MAYER creates a stunning timepiece. More in SHOWBIZ.
A reality star was spotted serving food at a California Chili’s and Netflix announces the end of “The Watcher.” Details in CASTING CALL.
YE faces another battery charge, but this one might have been justified. Find out more in KARDASH.
Internet pranksters have a go at MEGHAN MARKLE’s latest venture. Details in ROYALS.
###
HIT LIST
The FBI formally announced on Thursday that the Chinese Communist Party is actively working to attack American cybersecurity infrastructure. In the words of FBI Director CHRISTOPHER WRAY, China’s plan “is to land low blows against civilian infrastructure to try to induce panic and break America’s will to resist.” He added that China’s “targeting of our critical infrastructure is both broad and unrelenting.” [via FBI]
WORTH REMEMBERING: Earlier this week, CBS News reported on extensive illegal marijuana operations across the country managed and bankrolled by Chinese organized crime groups.
UNRELATED?: While there is no public confirmation that China had anything to do with this, emergency services in four different states went offline on Wednesday night in another brief and bizarre incident affecting American telecommunication services.
Areas in South Dakota, Texas, Nebraska, and Nevada reported that 911 calls would not connect, but landlines could. So far there’s no reporting on a cause, but at least one police department in Texas blames a problem with a “major cellular carrier.” [via CNN]
For what it’s worth, a spokesperson for a third-party contractor called Lumen Technologies took blame for the outage, saying a crew physically cut a fiber optic cable while installing a light pole. But that wouldn’t explain the entire outage in Texas, either.
IT GETS WEIRDER: Later on Thursday, the Honolulu Police Department said its 911 system was down, though only for a short amount of time.
ALSO UNRELATED?: On Thursday morning, flights out of Sacramento, California were delayed over a disruption in AT&T services. [via KCRA]
WORTH REMEMBERING: In February, a network-wide AT&T outage left 75% of its customers across the country without cell service and the company credited everyone’s account. The CEO blamed an “incorrect process” internally for the disruption that lasted several hours.
###
In a move that would have been unfathomable at the peak of woke political discourse three years ago, Google fired 28 employees who protested its contracts with the Israeli government this week. The employees staged sit-ins at offices in New York and California earlier this week. At the time, nine were arrested for trespassing.
An activist group called No Tech For Apartheid organized the protests and is calling the dismissals a retaliatory act, claiming Google staff have the right to “peacefully protest about terms and conditions of our labor.”
Google and Amazon are partnered in a $1.2 BILLION deal to provide data storage and computing power for the Israeli government. [via New York Times]
###
As Ecuador wages a domestic war on gang violence, it’s also struggling to keep the lights on. The government ordered all public and private sector workers to stay home yesterday for a long weekend in an effort to conserve energy at places of work.
President DANIEL NABOA axed the energy minister this week for a failure to anticipate and manage the situation. He also announced an investigation into concerns other power plants were intentionally sabotaged.
Officials blame a lack of rainfall for the outages, limiting the output capacity of hydroelectric dams that compose much of Ecuador’s energy infrastructure. [via Reuters]
###
Animal Control officials in Connecticut collected a pair of black vultures who appeared to fall over after taking just a few steps, let alone being able to fly.
Some subsequent tests revealed the birds were medically fine – other than being drunk.
One official tells local media, “They were literally drunk… Unable to balance, stand, kept passing out or in our eyes [sic], actively dying... we ran every test and in the end, they were too drunk to fly."
Officials believe some fermenting garbage in a dumpster was enough to get them loaded. And just like humans treating inebriates, the caretakers gave them fluids, let them sleep, and they were good as new after a big breakfast the next day. [via CBS News]
###
Rush hour traffic is a headache for many, but the Department of Energy has compiled a list of the top ten cities with the worst commute.
Topping the list is New York State, whose commuters spend approximately 33.2 minutes getting to the office. Maryland, New Jersey and D.C. aren’t far behind with a 30 minute commute for workers.
Rounding out the top ten are Massachusetts, California, Illinois, Georgia, Virginia, and Florida; all of which see about a 27 minute commute.
FOR THE RECORD: The average one-way commute time across the country is about 27 minutes. [via DOE]
###
DEATHS
Legendary guitarist DICKIE BETTS has died.
He passed away Thursday at his home in Osprey, Florida after a battle with cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Betts co-founded the ALLMAN BROTHERS.
He was 80.
###
BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The DOW increased 22 points (0.058%) to close at 37,775 on Thursday. The S&P lost 11 points (0.22%) to close at 5,011 and the NASDAQ lost 81 points (0.52%) to close at 15,601.
🛢 WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE closed at $82; BRENT CRUDE at $87.
⛽ The national average price of a GALLON OF GAS was $3.67 on Thursday.
₿ BITCOIN ticked up over 3% Thursday, trading around $63,300.
🛩 There were more than 3,265 FLIGHTS delayed within, into, or out of the United States on Thursday and more than 60 such cancellations.
💰Tonight’s MEGA MILLIONS drawing will be for a $178 million jackpot or a $79.6 million cash payout. Saturday night’s POWERBALL drawing will be for a $98 million jackpot or a $45.8 million cash payout.
###
SHOWBIZ NEWS
New Music Friday
Air Formation, “Air Formation”
Anne Wilson, “REBEL”
The Bacon Brothers, “Ballad of the Brothers”
Billy Morrison, “The Morrison Project”
The Brother Brothers, “The January Album”
Judith Hill, “Letters From a Black Widow”
Pearl Jam, “Dark Matter”
Raffi, “Penny Penguin”
Taylor Swift, “The Tortured Poets Department”
###
Basketball star CAITLIN CLARK blocked former football player ANTONIO BROWN on X after he posted inappropriate things about her, including calling her “Cracker of the Day.”
Others who have blocked AB included his former teammate TOM BRADY and even President JOE BIDEN. [via TMZ]
###
Actress SYDNEY SWEENEY thinks it’s “shameful” that veteran Hollywood producer CAROL BAUM called her “not pretty” and said she “can’t act.”
In response to Baum’s critique, which also included calling Sweeney’s flick “Anyone but You” “unwatchable,” she told Variety, “If that’s what she learned in her decades in the industry and feels is appropriate to teach her students, that’s shameful.”
After backlash across multiple platforms, Baum’s rep said she is “already expressing regret over the whole thing” and “wishes she never would’ve made her original comments.” [via Variety]
###
SNOOP DOGG is collaborating with Skechers on some new sneakers in honor of 4/20.
The Skechers Snoop One slip-on sneakers feature smoke graphics on the heel and a pot leaf on its overlays -- perfect for those looking to celebrate the holiday.
They come in a variety of colors, including olive, tan and black & white. [via Billboard]
###
Watch connoisseur JOHN MAYER is the latest celeb to design a piece in collaboration with Audemars Piguet.
The new Audemars Piguet Perpetual Calendar “John Mayer” Limited Edition features a highly sophisticated calendar complication, deep-blue dial, and a watch face that boasts a moon phase with glittery aventurine.
“I think I've created something that will outlive me. And this is the first time I can be sure of that,” Mayer said of the luxury piece.
The watch -- of which only 200 are available -- sells for $180,700. [via GQ]
###
CASTING CALL
“Vanderpump Rules” star SCHEANA SHAY was serving food and slinging drinks at a Chili’s in L.A.’s San Fernando Valley this week.
The gig was for her new collaboration with the eatery. She and “VPR” castmate KATIE MALONEY recently introduced Chili’s new Espresso Martini -- which features Reposado tequila in place of classic vodka.
BY THE WAY: Scheana used to work at Chili’s back in the day. [via TMZ]
###
Netflix announced that it has renewed “The Witcher” for a fifth and final season.
Season four of the fantasy adaptation is currently in production. [via X]
WORTH NOTING: The final two seasons will feature LIAM HEMSWORTH as Geralt. The role was originally played by HENRY CAVILL.
###
“The Movie Critic” will no longer be QUENTIN TARANTINO’s final film.
Insiders told Variety that the director gave the project -- which was supposed to be his 10th and final film -- a “a thumbs down.” BRAD PITT had already been cast in a leading role.
No word on what he will work on next, or whether he still plans to have Pitt to star in it. [via Variety]
###
ANDY COHEN is not leaving Bravo, despite several reports claiming his exit is imminent.
A spokesperson told TMZ on Thursday that there is no truth to rumors that Cohen is negotiating an out from the network. [via TMZ]
###
MARTIN SCORSESE is working on a biopic about FRANK SINATRA, with LEONARDO DICAPRIO in talks to play the late singer.
The thing is, Sinatra’s daughter, who controls her father’s estate, has not yet signed off on the project.
This isn’t Scorsese’s first time attempting to make a biopic. In 2014, he was shot down by Sinatra’s daughter, who was not pleased with the film getting into the “ugly elements” of Sinatra’s legacy. [via The Guardian]
###
THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
YE is being investigated for allegedly hitting someone who his team says sexually assaulted his wife, BIANCA CENSORI.
The man didn’t require medical attention, but did call the cops.
In response to the altercation, Ye’s team says the guy “put his hands under her dress, directly on her body, he grabbed her waist, he spun her around, and then he blew her kisses. She was battered and sexually assaulted.”
No word on whether the charges go anywhere. [via TMZ]
###
WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
Online pranksters are poking fun at MEGHAN MARKLE’s new lifestyle venture.
While AmericanRiviera.com goes to a basic placeholder landing page for Markle’s company, AmericanRiviera.uk redirects to an online grocery store page to buy strawberry jam produced from harvests on land owned by the Duchy of Cornwall – the massive shell organization for properties owned by the Prince of Wales.
AmericanRivieraOrchard.uk, meanwhile, redirects to a food bank page with the opportunity to donate. So far, the cheeky campaign has collected more than 1700 British Pounds in donations. [via Morning Martini]
###
DAY OF THE YEAR
John Parker Day
Education and Sharing Day
Sylvester the Cat Birthday
Humorous Day
National Clean Out Your Medicine Cabinet Day
World Jackal Day
Poetry and The Creative Mind Day
National Hanging Out Day
Bicycle Day
National Garlic Day
National Amaretto Day
National Rice Ball Day
###
ON THIS DATE
1809 - Former president Thomas Jefferson sells a slave to the sitting president James Madison.
John Freeman was an indentured servant, who was actually born free. Why he sold himself into work is unclear.
###
1861 - Almost exactly 85 years after the first shots were fired in the American Revolution, the Civil War begins in earnest.
A mob in Baltimore attacks Massachusetts soldiers en route to Washington DC. Four soldiers were killed, along with 12 of the rioters.
Though a week earlier the Confederates took siege of Fort Sumter and captured it, no deaths were recorded.
###
1897 - The first Boston Marathon is held.
A New Yorker won the inaugural race, with a time just shy of three hours.
The race was founded by John Graham, an Olympian who thought to bring the athletic feat after competing in the 1896 Athens games.
For the first go around, the course was only 24.5 miles. Fifteen runners showed up to run, but only 10 finished the race.
In 1907 the route would be extended to 26 miles and 385 yards in order to comply with Olympic regulations.
###
1964 - Mario Andretti races for the first time in the Indy circuit.
The historic driver wouldn't win a championship until the next year, but the rest is history.
Andretti holds several records. One includes being the only man to have won each the Formula One World Championship, the US National Championship, the Indy 500, Daytona 500, and the Pikes Peak International Hill Club Race.
His racing career would last 30 years with 407 Indy races.
###
1995 - Timothy McVeigh detonates a rented Ryder truck outside the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. The terrorist attack killed 100 and trapped dozens more.
It's the worst case of domestic terror in American history.
McVeigh and his accomplices were swiftly captured and put on trial.
McVeigh was eventually put to death. His conspirator Terry Nichols received life in prison.
###
2002 - "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" debuts in theaters nationwide.
The flick launched the career of Nia Vardalos, who has since fizzled. Vardalos was a frustrated actress who couldn't find work, so she wrote her own movie to star in.
The movie came about after Rita Wilson saw her one-woman show in Los Angeles. Wilson and husband Tom Hanks were impressed with her performance, reached out, and signed on as producers.
The flick was made for only $5 million, but eventually made more than $240 million.
Vardalos also won the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay.
###
2020 - The US COVID-19 death toll passes 40,000 with more than 740,000 cases reported, according to John Hopkins.
Also on this day…
The UK COVID-19 death toll reaches 16,060.
The Sunday Times criticizes Prime Minister Boris Johns’s response to the virus, saying “they sleepwalked into disaster.”
###
BIRTHDAYS
Matt Soto - actor, “ - Hawaii Five-O” - 23
Simu Liu - actor, “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” - 35
Maria Sharapova - tennis player - 37
Candace Parker - basketball player - 38
Ali Wong - comedian - 42
Troy Polamalu - football player - 43
Hayden Christensen - actor, “Star Wars: Episodes II & III” - 43
Kate Hudson - actress, “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days” - 45
Joanna Gaines - reality star, “Fixer Upper” - 46
James Franco - actor, “127 Hours” & “The Disaster Artist” - 46
Ashley Judd - actress, “High Crimes” & “Double Jeopardy” - 56
Suge Knight - co-founder of Death Row Records - 59
Tim Curry - actor, “It” & “Legend” - 78
Born On This Date
Dudley Moore - comedian & actor, “10” - 1935 (d. 2002)
Jayne Mansfield - actress, “The Girl Can’t Help It” - 1933 (d. 1967)
Eliot Ness - federal agent who arrested Al Capone - 1903 (d. 1957)
Lucretia Garfield - First Lady, wife of James A. Garfield - 1832 (d. 1918)
Roger Sherman - lawyer & Founding Father - 1721 (d. 1793)
###