5/24/2023: Koi Bandits!
PLUS: Rebooting FTX; New Search for Madeleine McCain; and No Protection for Prince Harry
Today is Wednesday, May 24, 2023.
It is the 144th day of the year.
221 days remain.
WHAT’S ON TAP
British seagulls are making off with marijuana and getting stoned in the process and a roommate spat over a freezer favorite leads to a shooting. More in HIT LIST.
MIKE TYSON says JAMIE FOXX suffered a stroke and HULK HOGAN is getting into the cannabis business. More in SHOWBIZ.
JULIA FOX is working on a film she says resembles “Weekend at Bernie’s” and SHONDA RHIMES says there is one character she would love to bring back. More in CASTING CALL.
A TikToker mistakes YE’s wife for a single lady. Find out more in KARDASH.
Britain’s High Court smacks down another suit filed by PRINCE HARRY. More in ROYALS.
###
HIT LIST
Court filings in the FTX bankruptcy saga suggest the company’s new leadership is preparing to relaunch the crypto exchange.
As part of corporate bankruptcy proceedings, virtually all financial documentation is submitted to the judge overseeing the case. One such document includes new CEO JOHN RAY III’s billings statement, which includes line items for work related to “2.0” – suggesting he’s leading the charge to reopen the exchange as a new and improved, better version of itself.
BUT WAIT: Ray only spent about seven hours on such work – so it could just be reviewing plans that don’t necessarily pan out. [via CoinDesk]
SPEAKING OF BANKRUPTCIES: Large company bankruptcies doubled between January and April year over year, with 236 filings in 2023.
###
Portuguese officers, firefighters and K-9s searched in and around the Arade dam on Tuesday in a renewed search for MADELEINE MCCAIN.
McCain went missing in 2007 while staying at the Praia da Luz resort in Portugal with her parents. She was only three-years-old at the time.
The dam being searched is less than 30 miles from the resort.
This is the fourth search for the girl. After the initial one in 2007, two more took place in the area she went missing in 2013 and 2014. Another was held in Germany in 2020 after a 45-year-old German citizen was identified as a potential suspect.
An official update on the search is set for later this week. [via AP News]
###
Everyone’s had a roommate who steals food from the fridge, usually resulting in cold shoulders or drunken spats. In the case of two Kentucky roommates, one was shot for taking the other’s Hot Pockets.
In this case, 64-year-old Clifton Williams discovered his unidentified roommate took the last savory pastry from the freezer, and started throwing tiles at him. The hot pocket thief then tried to leave the premises, but Williams intervened by shooting his roommate in the butt.
Fortunately he survived. The shooter has been arrested and charged with felony assault. [via TSG]
###
Koi fish are going missing in one Maryland community.
Since the end of March nearly 90 koi fish have been stolen from at least three privately-owned garden ponds, according to local law enforcement.
It is unknown how much the missing fish are worth, though the koi breeding industry can be “quite lucrative,” according to a report from the Smithsonian.
In 2017 a grand champion koi fish sold for $1.8 million at an All Japan Koi Show. [via Fox News]
###
Seagulls in the UK are stealing drugs and getting stoned.
According to the Daily Star, the birds are swooping down on people smoking a synthetic marijuana known as “spice” and swiping it.
The drugs are reportedly making them turn into “psycho birds,” according to one “spice” user who had his joint ripped out of his hands by one of the birds. He said the bird “went mad” and started “dive-bombing pedestrians” before finally collapsing on the street.
“Gulls will go for anything,” another user told the publication. [via Daily Star]
THE DEA SAYS: “Spice,” which is more potent than regular cannabis, can “lead to an elevated heart rate and blood pressure.” It can also cause “seizures, tremors, hallucinations, anxiety and more.”
###
WEDDINGS
Country singer DYLAN MARLOWE tied the knot with longtime girlfriend NATALIE BARBER on May 19 in Nashville.
In honor of the nuptials, Marlowe released “You Were Right (Nat’s Song).”
The pair got engaged last November.
###
BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The DOW lost 231 points (0.69%) to close at 33,055 on Tuesday. The S&P lost 47 points (1.12%) to close at 4,145 and the NASDAQ lost 160 points (1.26%) to close at 12,560.
🛢 WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE closed at $73; BRENT CRUDE at $77.
⛽ The national average price of a GALLON OF GAS was $3.54 on Tuesday.
₿ BITCOIN improved on Tuesday, up 1.3% and trading around $27,200.
🛩 There were more than 3,056 FLIGHTS delayed within, into, or out of the United States on Tuesday and more than 83 such cancellations.
💰Tonight’s POWERBALL drawing will be for a $190 million jackpot or a $97.6 million cash payout.
SHOWBIZ NEWS
TAYLOR SWIFT is spending her 66th (non-consecutive) week at No. 1 on the Billboard Artist 100 chart.
The milestone comes a week after she became the first artist to have nine albums in the Billboard 200’s Top 40 at the same time.
Swift also holds the record for the most weeks at No. 1 in the Artist 100’s nine-year history.
WORTH NOTING: Billboard combines data from album and track sales, radio airplay and streaming to create its weekly Artist 100 chart. [via Billboard]
###
MIKE TYSON said that he heard actor JAMIE FOXX had suffered a stroke, before clarifying that he did not hear it from anyone close to the actor.
While chatting on the “PBD Podcast,” Tyson also said that he doesn’t understand why Foxx’s family is being so secretive about what happened, adding, “If we don’t know about it now, they don’t want us to know.”
Foxx, who is still at a rehab center in Chicago, was hospitalized in early April for a “medical complication.” Since then reports have varied with some stating the actor is in “recovery” and others claiming he isn’t doing well. [via Page Six]
WORTH NOTING: Tyson’s information could be legit as Foxx was set to play him in a biopic series.
###
KATY PERRY is considering leaving “American Idol” after being portrayed as a “nasty judge” this past season.
The Daily Mail, reports that Perry feels she was “misrepresented” and that producers edited the show to make her look like the bad guy.
The singer did find herself in hot water several times throughout the season. First she was accused of “mom-shaming” one of the contestants, then she was booed by the audience after making a negative comment about another contestant’s outfit choice. Lastly, she was called “disrespectful” after making a comment toward another contestant after her favorite was eliminated.
Coming to her defense, an insider told the outlet that Perry “has a unique sense of humor that may not always translate well on camera, but she never has any ill intent.”
No word on how fellow judges LUKE BRYAN and LIONEL RICHIE feel about her. [via Daily Mail]
###
HULK HOGAN is getting into the Cannabis business.
After raving about the benefits of THC and CBD, the former WWE star has decided to launch his own brand with Carma HoldCo.; the same company behind MIKE TYSON’s “Tyson Ranch 2.0” and RIC FLAIR’s “Ric Flair Drip.”
The brand will not only feature CBD and THC products, but also “functional mushrooms,” according to Carma President CHAD BRONSTEIN.
No word on a name or when the products will launch. [via TMZ]
###
NICK JONAS turned to therapy to deal with his emotions after a performance that went oh-so-wrong.
During a recent interview on the “Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard” podcast, Nick, along with his brothers KEVIN and JOE JONAS, shared his “worst moment” on stage.
It all happened at the 2016 ACM Awards when he was set to perform alongside country singer KELSEA BALLERINI. They were going to sing a duet version of her hit “Peter Pan,” except when he hit the stage Nick said he strung the wrong chords on his guitar and his mind went blank.
“Til this day and hours after unpacking it, I can’t really figure out exactly what happened.” [via People]
###
Another bird has been killed by an MLB ball.
Guardians outfielder WILL BRENNAN hit a ground ball that struck a bird wandering around the infield during the second inning of Monday’s game against the White Sox. The ball was clocked at 100.1 mph, by the way.
Play was halted while a grounds crew cleaned up the mess.
After the game Brennan tweeted an apology, writing, “I truly am sorry @peta and bird enthusiasts. An unfortunate sacrifice.”
The Guardians won 3-0.
It is the second bird death in as many weeks. Last week, a bird was hit by a ball thrown by Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher ZAC GALLEN during warmups. [via NY Post]
###
PAUL SIMON revealed he is suffering hearing loss in his left ear and it is so bad that he is considering never touring again.
Speaking to The Sunday Times, Simon said the hearing loss started while he was working on his latest album, “Seven Psalms.” Making the situation even more frustrating, Simon stated that “nobody has an explanation for it.”
In addition to his hearing loss, Simon said a lack of enthusiasm for singing some of his old songs is also a factor when it comes to no longer touring.
Plus, he is 81-years-old. [via The Times]
###
Country singer MORGAN WADE says she is electing to have a double mastectomy after testing positive for the BRCA gene.
According to the National Cancer Institute, when someone inherits one of the two BRCA genes they are at an increased risk for several types of cancers, including breast and ovarian.
So, at only 28-years-old, Wade says she is going to be proactive with her health and undergo the procedure.
The news comes shortly after she announced that her second studio album, “Psychopath,” will be released on August 25. [via Rolling Stone]
###
CASTING CALL
JULIA FOX is working on a new film that she described as “‘Weekend at Bernie’s’ meets ‘Spring Breakers.’”
“Lipstick Palm,” which Fox says she co-wrote with a friend, centers on two girls from Los Angeles. One is an aspiring actress and the other is a nepo-baby, whose rich father has run out of money to fund her lavish lifestyle. Also, they are both drug addicts in recovery and there is a dead body involved.
In addition to the movie, Fox also has a book due out in October and another upcoming film called “The Trainer.” [via Page Six]
###
Series creator extraordinaire SHONDA RHMES says there is one of the many iconic characters she has created over the years that she would love to bring back: Olivia Pope.
Played by KERRY WASHINGTON, Olivia Pope was a main fixture in Rhimes’ ABC political drama “Scandal.”
“I like that character so much. Even when she was bad, I like that character so much -- she’s very interesting,” Rhimes told IMDb.
“Scandal” ran for seven seasons from 2012 to 2018. [via Deadline]
###
THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
A TikToker who goes by Nueskii recently shared a video of himself flirting with a blonde woman while out shopping.
In the clip the two chatted for a bit before the guy asked if he could have her number, to which she replied, “I’m married!”
Not only is the blonde married, but she is BIANCA CENSORI, who is married to YE.
FOR THE RECORD: While Ye and Bianca reportedly exchanged vows in an intimate ceremony in Utah, there is no official record of their union. [via Indy100]
###
WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
When PRINCE HARRY stepped down as a working member of the Royal Family, he also lost government-sponsored police protection.
The son of the King was then denied the ability to pay for police protection out-of-pocket, and took the government to court over the decision.
NOW: The court has thrown out the case completely – private citizens can’t just buy security from the police department, it turns out.
The Daily Mail speculates that Harry could also be on the hook for £500,000 in court fees, too. [via DailyMail]
###
DAY OF THE YEAR
World Product Day
Brother’s Day
National Scavenger Hunt Day
National Escargot Day
International Tiara Day
Aviation Maintenance Technician Day
###
ON THIS DATE
1689 – English parliament passes the Act of Toleration.
The act allowed for freedom of worship to Protestants and nonconformists who had left the Church of England.
Catholics, however, would still be treated as second-class citizens. They were not eligible to run for public office or attend university.
###
1775 - John Hancock is elected President of the Second Continental Congress.
His biggest claim to fame would later be signing his name in a large scrawl on the Declaration of Independence.
Under his leadership, the Congress appointed George Washington to lead the rebel army. He later served as a major general in the Massachusetts militia and set up his home state's own government, where he served as its governor.
###
1883 – After 14 years of construction, the Brooklyn Bridge opens in New York City.
The 486 meter bridge spans the East River.
It was originally referred to as the “East River Bridge” and would be formally named the “Brooklyn Bridge” in 1915.
###
1935 – The Cincinnati Reds beat the Philadelphia Phillies in Major League Baseball’s first night game. It was in Cincinnati.
The score was 2-1.
Crosley field was home to the Cincinnati Reds and the original Cincinnati Bengals
###
1994 – Four men convicted for bombing the World Trade Center are each sentenced to 20 years in prison
The ’93 bombing occurred when a truck bomb detonated below the North Tower. Many terrorism experts believe the blast was intended to bring the whole building down, inspiring al-Qaeda to later use airplanes as missiles on September 11, 2001.
Funding for the terrorist act was received from Khaled Shaikh Mohammed, an Al Qaeda officer.
###
1997 - Actor Tim Allen gets arrested for drunk driving in Michigan.
The following year he would enter rehab for alcohol abuse.
He has been sober ever since.
###
2016 - Bill Cosby is ordered to stand trial in a sexual assault case in Norristown, Pennsylvania.
He faces three counts of felony aggravated indecent assault from a 2004 case.
In total, more than 50 women accused him of sexual assault, but for the vast majority, the statutes of limitations had passed.
###
2020 - Millions of cicadas emerge in the southern US in a once in 17-year event.
The cluster, known as brood IX, invaded parts of Virginia, North Carolina and West Virginia.
It is unknown why the periodical cicadas emerge on 13- or 17-year cycles.
###
BIRTHDAYS
Daisy Edgar-Jones - actress, “Where the Crawdads Sing” - 25
Cayden Boyd - actor, “The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl” - 29
Bobby Lockwood - actor, “House of Anubis” - 30
Matt Stonie - competitive eater - 31
Brianne Howey - actress, “Ginny & Georgia” - 34
G-Eazy - rapper - 34
Mark Ballas - dancer, “DWTS” - 37
John C. Reilly - actor, “Step Brothers” & “Talladega Nights” - 58
Roseanne Cash - country singer - 68
Priscilla Presley - wife of Elvis & actress, “Dallas” - 78
Patti LaBelle - R&B singer - 79
Bob Dylan - folk singer - 82
Tommy Chong - comedian, “Cheech & Chong” - 85
Born On This Day
H. B. Reese - inventor of Reese’s - 1879 (d. 1956)
Queen Victoria - Queen of England from 1837 to 1901 - 1819 (d. 1901)
Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit - inventor of the thermometer & Fahrenheit scale - 1686 (d. 1736)
###