5/29/2024: How to Make Friends and Pick Up Chicks
PLUS: Whale Spotting; Coldplay Chauffeur; and National Service
Today is Wednesday, May 29, 2024.
It is the150th day of the year.
216 days remain.
WHAT’S ON TAP
This US state is the world’s capital for shark attacks and Toco the Human Collie wants to broaden his horizons. Details in HIT LIST.
JLO’s Vegas residency might be in jeopardy and JUDGE JUDY can’t stand these people. More in SHOWBIZ.
JUDY DENCH fears her acting career is over. Details in CASTING CALL.
A signed YE album is hitting the auction block. More in KARDASH.
Will GEORGE, CHARLOTTE and LOUIS have to serve? Find out what’s being discussed in ROYALS.
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HIT LIST
A prominent proxy advisory firm, whose forecasts and analysis help inform shareholders of major companies how to cast votes on major decisions, has urged TESLA shareholders to reject the proposed $56 BILLION-plus compensation package for ELON MUSK.
Glass Lewis, the second largest proxy advisor in the US, issued a report calling the package excessive and warned it would only serve to dilute investor value and strengthen Musk’s position in the company.
Musk currently owns about 13% of the company. The proposed pay package includes no base salary and only stock awards based on tremendous performance. Shareholders are voting on it after a Delaware judge voided the package. Voting will conclude in mid-June. [via CNBC]
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Only about 40 right whales are believed to be left on Earth, and one was spotted on Friday off the coast of central California.
A researcher sighted the whale from a ship about three miles off the coast, despite winds creating 14-foot swells. It spent about 20 minutes near the ship before disappearing again under the waves. Right whales are identifiable by their size, pitch black color, and no dorsal fin.
The researcher added that the whale appeared to be resting, saying, “It wasn’t feeding. It wasn’t traveling. It would move a little bit, then sink down.”
The International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling banned the hunting and harvesting of right whales in 1937, after an estimated 40,000 were killed by the end of the 19th century. Despite conservation efforts, their population has not rebounded. [via Santa Cruz Sentinel]
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When police in Henderson, Nevada busted a man for driving his Tesla through a public park causing $250 worth of damage to the grass, the 18-year-old suspect told officers he was “trying to make friends and pick up chicks.”
NO KIDDING: On the scene, cops found some weed and an open can of booze in the vehicle.
The confident Casanova faces charges including property destruction, failure to comply with park regulations, reckless driving, weed possession, and minor possessing alcohol. His court date is June 10. [via KTNV]
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Since 1837 there have been 351 unprovoked shark attacks in Florida’s Volusia County, making it the world’s hotspot for attacks. For the state overall, there have been 928 attacks in that timeframe, according to the International Shark Attack Files.
Next up is Hawaii with 195, California with 138 and South Carolina with 118.
The Files also note that the United States has had a record 1,640 attacks since 1837, making it the country with the most shark attacks. Australia is in second with 706 attacks, followed by South Africa with 262 attacks.
Last year alone there were 69 unprovoked shark bites on humans worldwide, with 16 of those happening in Florida alone. [via Florida Museum]
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Remember Toco the Human Collie aka the guy who coughed up over $14,000 on a border collie costume to fulfill his “dream” of becoming an animal? He now says that he would like to become other animals as well.
“I might realistically be able to become another dog, a panda or a bear. A fox or a cat would also be nice, but they are too small for humans to try,” he told WanQol.
Interested in following Toco’s journey? Check out his YouTube channel, titled “I want to be an animal.” [via NY Post]
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DEATHS
NBA Broadcaster BILL WALTON has died.
He passed away Monday after a battle with cancer.
Before a lengthy career in broadcasting, Walton played in two NCAA championships and several years in the NBA.
He was 71.
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BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The DOW dropped 274 points (0.70%) to close at 38,796 on Tuesday. The S&P lost 7 points (0.13%) to close at 5,297 and the NASDAQ ticked up 71 points (0.42%) to close at 16,992.
🛢 WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE closed at $80; BRENT CRUDE at $84.
⛽ The national average price of a GALLON OF GAS was $3.58 on Tuesday.
₿ BITCOIN slid a bit on Tuesday, trading around $68,241.
🛩 There were more than 3,675 FLIGHTS delayed within, into, or out of the United States on Tuesday and more than 676 such cancellations.
💰Tonight’s POWERBALL drawing will be for a $143 million jackpot or a $66.8 million cash payout.
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SHOWBIZ NEWS
Rumor is…JENNIFER LOPEZ’s Las Vegas residency might be in jeopardy thanks in part to her lackluster new album and upcoming tour sales.
The NY Post reports executives at the MGM Grand are now questioning whether to move forward with their deal with the singer, which included a guaranteed $1 million a show for 90 dates in 2025.
“This is Me…Now” dropped in February and has been the worst selling of Lopez’s career. On top of that, she is struggling to fill seats at her shows, with seven tour stops already getting scrapped. [via NY Post]
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JUDGE JUDY SHEINDLIN has no time for liberal politicians and how they are “ruining” their cities.
The reality TV star says she believes the country is in worse shape now than it was 30 years ago because “a small group of people who have very loud voices created a scenario where bad people get rewarded.”
Sheindlin also called out several liberal district attorneys who she says should be “filling ice cream cones” instead of “ruining cities.”
“I think we better get smarter before we get lost,” she concluded. [via Daily Mail]
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MIKE TYSON suffered an in-flight scare over the weekend, prompting flight attendants to call for a medic on board.
The 57-year-old was flying from Miami to Los Angeles when he felt “nauseous and dizzy” due to an ulcer flare up, according to his rep.
In an update on Tuesday, Tyson wrote that he is “Now feeling 100% even though I don’t need to be to beat Jake Paul.” [via Page Six]
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What was meant to be a celebration of the iconic film “Jaws” with star RICHARD DREYFUSS turned into a political tirade from the actor.
Those who attended the event at The Cabot theater in Beverly, Massachusetts over the weekend were shocked when Dreyfuss ranted about trans youth, gender affirming care and the Academy Awards’ inclusion rules instead of the STEVEN SPIELBERG blockbuster they were all there to discuss.
Several attendees shared their outrage on X, calling his comments “disgusting” and “offensive.”
The venue later apologized for the remarks. [via THR]
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JASON KELCE is here for the cat jokes, especially when they are at his brother’s expense.
In response to TRAVIS KELCE wearing some shredded jeans to a recent NBA game, one Swiftie asked what his girlfriend’s cats did to him -- referring to TAYLOR SWIFT’s three feline friends.
Jason saw the comment on X, reposted it and added his own commentary, writing “Now that’s funny!” [via X]
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CHRIS PRATT says his humble beginnings didn’t teach him to be frugal with money.
After landing his first big Hollywood paycheck, Pratt admits to blowing the $75,000 on vacations and other frivolous things. “I was under the impression that I would never run out of money,” he explained.
It wasn’t until much later in life -- with the help of a detailed financial plan -- that he truly felt like he was “growing up.” [via People]
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JESSE EISENBERG is looking to get a better sense of his roots, by applying for Polish citizenship.
Talking to Variety, he revealed that both he and his wife have family from the area, his in Krasnystaw and her’s in Lodz.
Starting the process nearly a year ago, Eisenberg says he is now just “waiting for the final signature.” [via Variety]
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COLDPLAY frontman CHRIS MARTIN had his car pickup a fan struggling to walk on her way to see their show over the weekend in Luton, England.
64-year-old Saundra Glenn says she has osteoarthritis and “a dodgy right hip,” but loves the band and took the unique opportunity to see them perform in her hometown. While walking to the venue, she stopped to rest, and even considered turning back to watch the show at home, which was broadcast on BBC.
That’s when a black car pulled over and the driver asked if she needed a ride to the show. The passenger door opened and Martin invited her to take a seat. “I was clutching his shoulder and having a chat like two old women,” Saunders said. Once they arrived, Martin had venue staff get a golf cart to drive her to her seat. [via BBC]
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SEAN KINGSTON is facing a slew of charges in connection to a raid on his home over stolen merchandise.
According to the arrest warrant, the singer and his mom allegedly owe hundreds of thousands of dollars to a jeweler, an exotic car dealer and several other businesses.
The pair also face charges related to defrauding banks and writing bad checks.
Kingston and his mom remain behind bars. [via TMZ]
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CASTING CALL
Dame JUDI DENCH thinks her acting career may soon be over due to her advanced macular degeneration.
Since her diagnosis in 2012, the 89-year-old says her vision loss is progressively getting worse, to the point where she can no longer read scripts.
“I used to find it very easy to learn lines and remember them,” she told Deadline, but now says she relies on her friends to read her lines out loud to her.
Dench isn’t currently working on any new projects. [via Deadline]
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
A 2010 copy of YE’s “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy” album is hitting the auction block.
Moments in Time is selling the record, which features not only Ye’s signature, but also the words “[Eff] ADIDAS” -- written by the rapper.
According to the auction house, a fan waited three hours outside of a Paris hotel that Ye was staying at in February. When the rapper exited, the waiting crowd started chanting “[Eff] Adidas,” in solidarity with Ye’s issues with the brand.
Liking what he was hearing, the rapper decided to write the chant on the album cover along with his signature.
As for what album will fetch, Moments in Times is only entertaining offers of $500,000 or more. [via TMZ]
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
Despite their best efforts to avoid wading into the mess of campaign politics, the Royal Family is already part of the debate before July’s parliamentary elections.
In particular, the conservatives have floated a plan to revive the National Service, which would require all 18-year-olds to complete a year of military service or a year of monthly weekends of unpaid community service.
The plan raises the question, though, of whether future King, PRINCE GEORGE, and his siblings, would also be required to join. George turns 18 in 2031, when such a plan would be in full effect. Ultimately, a special Royal Commission would decide whether the Wales children would also be required -- though keeping in the family’s tradition of public service, it’s assumed they would. [via DailyMail]
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DAY OF THE YEAR
Mount Everest Day
National Alligator Day
National Biscuit Day
National Coq Au Vin Day
National Paperclip Day
World Digestive Health Day
World Otter Day
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ON THIS DATE
1780 - British Colonel Banastre Tarleton surrounds and forces the surrender of 350 Patriot troops following a battle at Waxhaws, North Carolina.
The British then murdered many of the Patriot survivors. Though the Americans suffered a huge defeat, the news of the slaughter emboldened other soldiers and Patriots to fight against a cowardly enemy.
The brutality gave way to the phrase "Tarleton's Quarter." Banastre Tarleton served as much of the inspiration for the Colonel Tavington character featured in the 2001 movie "The Patriot."
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1848 - Wisconsin becomes the 30th state in the Union.
The first European recorded to have visited Wisconsin was Jean Nicolet in 1634, when he landed at Green Bay. During the ensuing decades, the territory became a hotspot for the Fur Trade. Control of the land moved between Canada, France, and America until the war of 1812.
By 1840, the territory held 130,000 residents. Four times, the residents voted against statehood for fear of having to pay higher taxes!
But after seeing the benefits of federal programs in neighboring states, the electorate changed its mind in 1847, and officially became a state the following year.
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1886 - The first advertisement for Coca-Cola appears in the Atlanta Journal.
The classified text ad promised a concoction that was "Delicious! Refreshing! Exhilarating! Invigorating!"
The first of the drinks were sold for five cents a glass, and consisted of syrup mixed with soda water.
With more advertising and word-of-mouth marketing, the drink swiftly took off.
Today it is the most popular soft drink in the world.
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1953 - Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay summit Mount Everest.
At 29,035 feet above sea level, they were the first on record to reach the highest point on Earth.
Hillary was knighted later that year, and Norgay received the prestigious British Empire Medal, an award reserved for non-citizens.
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2005 - Danica Patrick leads for a short time during the Indy 500. Though she didn't win the race, she became the first female to ever hold the lead in that race.
She finished fourth that year.
The first woman to race at Indy was Janet Guthrie in 1977.
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BIRTHDAYS
Paul Skenes - baseball player - 22
Austin Reaves - basketball player - 26
Maika Monroe - actress, “It Follows” & “The Bling Ring” - 31
Gregg Sulkin - actor, “Wizards of Waverly Place” - 32
Riley Keough - actress, “Daisy Jones & The Six” - 35
Nia Jax - wrestler - 40
Carmelo Anthony - basketball player - 40
Mel B - pop singer, Spice Girls - 49
Laverne Cox - actress, “Orange Is the New Black” - 52
Noel Gallagher - guitarist, Oasis - 57
La Toya Jackson - R&B singer - 68
Danny Elfman - composer - 71
Rebbie Jackson - pop singer - 74
Born On This Date
John F. Kennedy - 35th POTUS - 1917 (d. 1963)
Tenzing Norgay - one of the first two people to summit Mount Everest - 1914 (d. 1986)
Bob Hope - comedian - 1903 (d. 2003)
Charles II of England - Monarch of England, Scotland & Ireland - 1630 (d. 1685)
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