4/25/2023: Cattle Carnage
PLUS: Carlson Out at Fox; Celebs Pay to Keep Blue Check; and Brits Want to Keep the Royals
Today is Tuesday, April 25, 2023.
It is the 115th day of the year.
250 days remain.
WHAT’S ON TAP
Officials at SpaceX examine the aftermath of last week’s Starship launch and a spate of bizarre incidents involving dead cows have freaked out locals in rural Texas. More in HIT LIST.
Most voters don’t want President JOE BIDEN to run again – but that’s still not good news for former President DONALD TRUMP. More in THE SWAMP.
J.K. ROWLING’s podcast is a hit and big time changes at two major news networks. More in SHOWBIZ.
“Carpool Karaoke” will end with ADELE and “CoComelon” is heading to the big screen. More in CASTING CALL.
PRINCE HARRY’s spot in the cheap seats at next month’s coronation of KING CHARLES might not be a snub after all. More in ROYALS.
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HIT LIST
Last week, SPACEX’s massive Starship rocket didn’t quite make it to space, after blasting upward for over four minutes. While the ship didn’t escape Earth’s gravity, ELON MUSK said he’d call it a win if the blastoff didn’t obliterate the launch pad during ignition.
As SpaceX officials assess what went wrong, they’re also inspecting the damage done as the 33 first-stage rocket engines powered up for the first time, and it turns out the most powerful rocket ever built leaves more damage behind than expected. The powerful engines left a huge crater below its mount on the launch pad, literally shattering the concrete below it.
Now SpaceX is installing a giant steel plate cooled by water underneath for the next launch, hoping for better results. [via AFP]
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Authorities and ranchers in three Texas counties are scratching their heads over the deaths of six cattle, who also had their tongues removed. Making the deaths more perplexing, there was no blood found near any of the animals or any tracks in the grass.
All six were found lying on their sides, with the exposed side of their face cut along the jawline and their tongues removed. Two of the cows also had their “anus and the external genitalia” removed, according to authorities.
Similar reports came out of Colorado this past fall, where dozens of cattle were reportedly slaughtered, with no signs left behind by the predator. [via NBC]
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Twelve-year-old Ivy-Marie Buzinhani Brustello, from Canada, has become the world’s youngest gold medalist weightlifter after lifting 264 pounds at the 2023 International Weightlifting Federation World Youth Championship.
Oh - and she is only 88 pounds.
Last month, Ivy-Marie competed at the IWF World Youth Championship in Durres, Albania where she became the youngest-ever world champion in the history of IWF, taking home three gold medals.
Next up, Ivy-Marie is preparing for the USA Youth Championships and the Junior Canadian Championships. She also has her sights set on the 2028 Olympics. [via Daily Mail]
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An Arkansas dad was arrested last week after piercing his teenage son’s ears.
According to BPR, 45-year-old Jeremy Sherland was handcuffed at his home after a resource officer from his son’s school called police regarding a welfare check on the teen. Per the report, the teen was allegedly overheard talking about how his dad “was drunk and put him in a choke hold and shoved the piercing in his ear.”
Despite the teen repeatedly stating that he wanted his dad to pierce his ears, the arresting officers said that Arkansas law states, “An artist shall not perform body art on a person under sixteen (16) years of age, regardless of parental consent.”
Sherland faces a Class D felony for performing the “body art.” He also faces charges of endangering the welfare of a minor, resisting arrest and obstructing governmental operations. He was released over the weekend on a $1,500 bond. [via BPR]
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Bethanny Funke, one of the two roommates of the four University of Idaho students who were brutally killed last November, has been subpoenaed by the suspect Bryan Kohberger to testify in his defense..
According to court records obtained by the New York Post, Kohberger’s attorneys argue that she has information that could potentially clear the murder charges levied against him.
Funke denies having any such information and has filed a motion to dismiss the subpoena. [via Newsweek]
WORTH REMEMBERING: The other surviving roommate, Dylan Mortenson, was the one who allegedly came face-to-face with the murderer the night of the attack. No word on whether she is also being subpoenaed.
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DEATHS
LEN GOODMAN, the longtime judge on “Dancing With the Stars” and “Strictly Come Dancing,” has died.
He passed away at a hospice center in Kent, England on Saturday after a battle with bone cancer.
Goodman served as head judge on “Strictly Come Dancing” from 2004 to 2016 and on “DWTS” from its inception in 2005 until last year.
He would have been 79 today.
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Australian jockey DEAN HOLLAND has died.
He passed away after falling off his horse during a race on Monday.
Holland was only 34.
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SICK BAY
Comedian RICHARD LEWIS has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
The “Curb Your Enthusiasm” star revealed his diagnosis on Twitter on Monday, telling fans that he is also retiring from stand-up. He is 75.
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THE SWAMP
Ahead of President JOE BIDEN’s formal re-election announcement, an NBC News poll shows that 70% of Americans – regardless of political affiliation – do not want him to run for a second term. The vast majority of those respondents say Biden’s age is a major reason why.
That same poll shows 41% of Americans planning to vote for Biden while 47% will back whoever the Republican nominee is – unless that Republican is former President DONALD TRUMP. Biden beats Trump’s favorables, 38-to-34%, neither of which is a strong number for either candidate. [via NBC News]
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BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The DOW added 66 points (0.2%) to close at 33,875 on Monday. The S&P added just 3 points (0.08%) to close at 4,137 and the NASDAQ lost 35 points (0.29%) to close at 12,037.
🛢 WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE closed at $78; BRENT CRUDE at $82.
⛽ The national average price of a GALLON OF GAS was $3.67 on Monday.
₿ BITCOIN slid another 0.75% on Monday, trading under $27,400.
🛩 There were more than 2,980 FLIGHTS delayed within, into, or out of the United States on Monday and more than 71 such cancellations.
💰Tonight’s MEGA MILLIONS will be for a $26 million jackpot or a $13.7 million cash payout.
SHOWBIZ NEWS
Fox News abruptly fired primetime star TUCKER CARLSON on Monday morning.
Mediaite reports that Carlson – and most employees at the network – were blindsided by the news. No word yet on the particulars or what’s next for Carlson. [via Mediaite]
WORTH NOTING: Last week, Fox News agreed to pay nearly $800 million to Dominion Voting Systems in a defamation settlement – and there’s plenty of speculation that someone significant’s head had to roll. The Washington Post reports that text messages between Carlson and a colleague subpoenaed as part of that suit had to do with the firing, in particular as Carlson questioned the network’s decision to call the 2020 election for JOE BIDEN. [via Washington Post]
BAD BLOOD: Former Fox News host MEGYN KELLY defended Carlson on Twitter, writing, “Good for Tucker. Trust me, he doesn’t need them.” Remember, Kelly left FNC shortly after the election of former President DONALD TRUMP and had a brief stint at NBC, before the network paid out her contract and she started a podcast. [via @MegynKelly]
MEANWHILE, AT CNN: Controversial host DON LEMON was axed on Monday. Earlier this year, Lemon was moved from primetime to a morning hosting slot, where conflict abounded between him and his female colleagues.
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Actor MATTHEW PERRY says he will remove a dig he took at KEANU REEVES’ from future editions of his memoir “Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing.”
In the book, Perry states several times that Reeves is an actor who “still walks among us” even though “the original thinkers like River Phoenix and Heath Ledger die.”
Those close to Reeves said he was “taken aback” by Perry using his name.
Since then, Perry has apologized indirectly to Reeves, saying he “just chose a random name,” before adding that he is a “big fan.” [via CBS]
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In honor of the 20th anniversary of the film “Napoleon Dynamite,” the cast will reunite at the Bilheimer Capitol Theater in Clearwater, Florida next February.
The live event, dubbed “Napoleon Dynamite Live! 20th Anniversary Celebration,” will feature a full screening of the movie, a discussion with cast members and a comedy improv, game show, and party.
“Napoleon Dynamite,” starring JON HEDER (Napoleon), JON GRIES (Uncle Rico) and EFREN RAMIERZ (Pedro) is “one of the most quoted movies of our time,” per the event description. [via Decider]
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TAYLOR SWIFT, KHLOE KARDASHIAN, RYAN REYNOLDS, SOULJA BOY and THE WEEKND are all giving ELON MUSK $8 a month in order to retain their blue check on Twitter.
Others shelling out the dough include ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER, NICK CARTER, LL COOL J, OJ SIMPSON, SIA, and JOHN CENA. [via TMZ]
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Nearly 6 million people have listened to “The Witch Trials of J.K. Rowling” podcast since it debuted two months ago.
The podcast was created on the premise of “examining some of the most contentious conflicts of our time through the life and career of the world’s most successful author,” according to producer Andy Mills.
It also explores the controversy surrounding Rowling’s tweets about gender and trans issues. [via Bloomberg]
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A 2022 Panini WWE Black Prizm card featuring DWAYNE “The Rock” JOHNSON sold for over $126,000 at auction, making it the highest-selling WWE trading card of all time.
According to PWCC Auctions, the price was so high because the card is the only one in existence. [via TMZ]
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PETE DAVIDSON will soon learn whether he faces charges after crashing his car into a Beverly Hills home last month.
According to law enforcement sources, an investigation into the incident was recently completed and is being reviewed by the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office.
As previously reported, Davidson was speeding through the Beverly Hills neighborhood, with his girlfriend, actress CHASE SUI WONDERS in the passenger seat, when they jumped a curb and crashed into a home. No one was injured in the accident. [via NY Post]
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CASTING CALL
ADELE will be the final guest to sing along with JAMES CORDEN on his “Carpool Karaoke” segment.
In Adele’s last “Carpool” appearance she rapped the song “Monster” by NICKI MINAJ and YE, among other hits including her own.
As previously reported, Corden’s final episode of “The Late Late Show” will air this Thursday night. HARRY STYLES and WILL FERRELL will be the final guest appearances. [via CNN]
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ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER is making an acting comeback with the action-thriller, “Breakout.”
According to Deadline, Schwarzenegger will star as Terry Reynolds whose stepson is framed and sentenced to 25 years in a foreign country.
It has been four years since Schwarzenegger has appeared on the big screen. [via Deadline]
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“CoComelon” is heading to the big screen.
Creators of the hit children’s Netflix show are working with DreamWorks Animation to create a movie based on the animated characters.
The CoComelon YouTube channel already has more than 158 million subscribers and its videos have been viewed more than 100 BILLION times.
There are also rumors that there are plans to launch a “CoComelon” themed playground at a resort in the Dominican Republic. [via Bloomberg]
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COURT CASES
Jury selection kicked off Monday in the trial over ED SHEERAN’s “Thinking Out Loud” and MARVIN GAYE’s “Let’s Get It On.”
As previously reported, heirs of ED TOWNSEND, Gaye’s co-writer on the 1973 hit, sued Sheeran in 2017, alleging his 2014 track has “striking similarities” to “Let’s Get It On.”
Sheeran has denied the allegations, calling “Thinking Out Loud” a “uniquely composed song.” It is expected that Sheeran will take the stand at some point.
The trial is expected to last up to two weeks in a Manhattan federal courtroom. [via Insider]
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
Broadway star PATTI LUPONE is not a fan of KIM KARDASHIAN taking on a role in the “American Horror Story” franchise.
During her recent appearance on “Watch What Happens Live” LuPone told host ANDY COHEN that she doesn't like Kim being cast in the show.
When asked to elaborate, she said that Kim is “taking a role away from actors.”
As previously reported, Kim will appear in the show’s upcoming 12th season, titled “Delicate.” [via Page Six]
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
PRINCE HARRY’s assigned seat rows back from working royals during next month’s coronation of KING CHARLES might be the prince’s own decision.
One royal expert says that sitting ten rows back isn’t a snub, but actually lets Harry slip out quickly afterward without having to have awkward chats with immediate family members no one wants to have anyway. [via DailyMail]
MEANWHILE: A YouGov survey of Britons shows a healthy majority still support the monarchy, with 58% saying it should stay while another 26% would prefer an elected head of state. About 16% say they’re not sure.
BUT WAIT: Young folks in particular are totally checked out on the matter: 75% of those 18-24-years-old say they’re “not interested” in the royal family. [via France24]
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QUEEN CONSORT CAMILLA was “saddened to hear” about LEN GOODMAN’s passing, according to a statement from Buckingham Palace shared on Monday.
Camilla and Len danced together at a public engagement in 2019.
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DAY OF THE YEAR
National Telephone Day
National Lingerie Day
National Hug a Plumber Day
World Malaria Day
National DNA Day
World Penguin Day
National Zucchini Bread Day
National Financial Awareness Day
Anzac Day
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ON THIS DATE
1719 - Adventure novel "The Life and Strange Adventures of Robinson Crusoe" is first published by Daniel Defoe.
The story tells the tale of a man who spent 28 years shipwrecked on a deserted island. It is based loosely on the experiences of Alexander Selkirk, who spent four years stranded on an island off the coast of South America.
It is regarded as the first English novel.
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1859 - Workers shovel up the first dirt to construct the Suez Canal.
The man-made waterway would stretch 101 miles to connect the Mediterranean and Red seas.
The first ceremonial pickax was thrown by Ferdinand de Lesseps. He was a French diplomat who orchestrated the project.
Since then, the canal has been a key route for opening trade to Europe and the Middle East.
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1901 - New York becomes the first state to require license plates on vehicles.
It cost $1.
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1947 - President Truman becomes the first to use the White House bowling alley.
It was only two lanes.
In his first frame, the president knocked down 7 of 10 pins.
While Truman didn't make much use of the lanes, he encouraged White House employees to assemble a bowling team, which would eventually compete around the country.
President Eisenhower would turn that bowling alley into a mimeograph room in 1955.
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1983 - Pioneer 10 leaves its orbit around Pluto, and heads to Neptune.
This is back when Pluto was still considered a planet. Because of Neptune and Pluto's orbits, Neptune at the time was the planet farthest from the sun.
Pioneer continued faint communications with Earth for another 20 years.
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1990 - The Hubble Telescope is put into orbit by the shuttle Discovery.
It began as an idea in the 1940s, but took almost 50 more years to make it a reality.
Since then, shuttle crews have consistently maintained and managed the orbiting telescope, which gives astronomers on earth an unprecedented look into deep space.
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2011 - At least 300 people are killed when tornadoes touch down in several southern and eastern states.
The hardest hit were Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee where 175 tornadoes were reported to have touched down.
Severe damage was also reported in Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, New York and Virginia.
In total, 360 tornadoes were confirmed by the National Weather Service over the next three days.
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2019 - Microsoft becomes the third US company to hit a market value worth of $1 trillion.
The other two are Apple and Amazon.
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BIRTHDAYS
Sam Fender - rock singer - 29
Maggie Rogers - folk singer - 29
Raphael Varane - soccer player - 30
Sara Paxton - actress, “The Front Runner” & “Aquamarine” - 35
Jonathan Bailey - actor, “Bridgerton” - 35
Jay Park - rapper - 36
John Deluca - actor, “Teen Beach Movie” - 37
Daniel Sharman - actor, “Fear the Walking Dead” & “Teen Wolf” - 37
Tim Duncan - basketball player - 47
Jason Lee - actor, “My Name is Earl” & “Mallrats” - 53
Renee Zellweger - actress, “Jerry McGuire” & “Judy” - 54
Hank Azaria - actor, “The Simpsons” & “Mystery Men” - 59
Adam Silver - NBA commissioner - 61
Christa Johnson - golfer - 65
Al Pacino - actor, “The Godfather” trilogy - 83
Born On This Date
Ella Fitzgerald - jazz singer - 1917 (d. 1996)
Guglielmo Marconi - Italian inventor and engineer, long distance radio transmission - 1874 (d. 1937)
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