5/3/2023: Stoned Dogs
Today is Wednesday, May 3, 2023.
It is the 123rd day of the year.
242 days remain.
WHAT’S ON TAP
An increase in human consumption of marijuana has led to pets getting baked and a salacious iceberg draws curious attention near Newfoundland. More in HIT LIST.
Congressional leaders will finally gather at the White House next week to begin work on ironing out a debt ceiling deal. More in THE SWAMP.
“Dancing With the Stars” returns to ABC and “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” gets leaked online. More in CASTING CALL.
YE has another lawsuit on his hands. More in KARDASH.
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HIT LIST
The allowance of public marijuana consumption, in places like New York City, is leading to some dogs getting stoned.
NYC veterinarian Dr. Amy Attas said cases of pets getting high were rare, typically occurring at home when one would get into their owner’s stash. Now with people smoking out and about, and discarding their joints on the ground, more pets are getting stoned.
According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, cases are rising nationwide, noting a 300% increase over the past five years.
Twenty-one states have legalized the recreational use of cannabis. [via NBC]
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Vermont has become the first state to allow out-of-state residents to take advantage of its medically assisted suicide law, which allows terminally ill individuals to end their lives on their terms.
Critics of the law say removing the residency requirement runs the risk of the state “becoming an assisted suicide tourism destination,” but supporters say there are safeguards in place to avoid that. These include the person being capable of making and communicating their health care decision to a physician twice over a set period of time and submitting a written request that they have signed in the presence of two or more witnesses who are not interested parties.
Vermont is one of 10 states that allow medically assisted suicide. [via AP News]
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A photographer from the Canadian town of Dildo has gone viral for his shot of a phallic shaped ice chunk.
Ken Pretty told The Guardian that he noticed the “boner ‘berg” as he flew his drone around Conception Bay, off the coast of Newfoundland.
The phallic-shaped chunk of ice, which measures 30 feet high from the surface of the water, is flanked on two sides by hunks of rounded ice balls.
“Only in Newfoundland,” Pretty told the outlet. [via The Guardian]
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An ancient, 28-inch-tall Buddha statue has been discovered at a dig site in the Egyptian port city Berenike. It’s the first time such a statue has been found west of Afghanistan, and suggests an ancient trade connection between the sub-continent and northern Africa.
The researchers who found the artifact believe it was made in the second century in Alexandria. That would mean it was manufactured while Romans ruled parts of Egypt. [via ARTnews]
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A mysterious explosion sent manhole covers into the air in a Brooklyn neighborhood over the weekend.
By one account, the circular metal disc shot ten feet into the air following an explosion so intense that one man’s apartment window shattered. WABC reports that multiple manhole covers followed suit in the area.
While no cause has been shared by officials, residents in the area were briefly evacuated over increased carbon monoxide concerns. [via ABC 7 NY]
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DEATHS
Folk singer GORDON LIGHTFOOT has died.
He passed away Monday in a Toronto hospital, according to his agent.
Lightfoot found success in the 1960s and ‘70s, with hits such as “If You Could Read My Mind,” “Early Morning Rain” and “Sundown.”
He was 84.
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UFC fighter FELIPE “Cabocao” COLARES has died.
According to his trainer, he was run over by a bus on Monday.
Colares was only 29.
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THE SWAMP
BLINK: After a weeks-long standoff, President JOE BIDEN has invited Congressional leaders – including Republicans – to begin negotiating a debt ceiling raise.
Senate Minority Leader MITCH MCCONNELL and House Speaker KEVIN MCCARTHY will join their Democrat counterparts at the White House on May 9 nexty week.
MEANWHILE, AND NOT COINCIDENTALLY: Treasury Secretary JANET YELLEN said Monday that an agreement must be reached before June 1 to avoid the financial ramifications of not raising the debt ceiling.
WORTH REMEMBERING: The House passed a bill to raise the debt ceiling with conditional spending cuts last month – a move Senate Majority Leader CHUCK SCHUMER said would “tear at the fabric of American society.”
BUT WAIT: Schumer has already put the House version of that bill on the Senate calendar using a rule that bypasses the committee process – suggesting he’ll whip Democrat votes to get the conditional increase passed.
OH, BY THE WAY: Schumer also is pushing a bill that would entirely ignore the debt limit until December 31, 2024 – which would avoid having the discussion until after the next presidential election. So that’s convenient. [via CNBC]
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BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The DOW lost 367 points (1.08%) to close at 33,684 on Tuesday. The S&P lost 48 points (1.16%) to close at 4,119 and the NASDAQ lost 132 points (1.08%) to close at 12,080.
🛢 WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE closed at $71; BRENT CRUDE at $75.
⛽ The national average price of a GALLON OF GAS was $3.59 on Tuesday.
₿ BITCOIN was up over 2% on Tuesday, trading over $28,600.
🛩 There were more than 2,230 FLIGHTS delayed within, into, or out of the United States on Tuesday and more than 87 such cancellations.
💰Tonight’s POWERBALL drawing will be for a $71 million jackpot or a $38.2 million cash payout.
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SHOWBIZ NEWS
The Writers Guild of America called a strike after negotiations were called off Monday night, which is when writers’ contracts expired with studios.
The union’s demands include increased residuals for streaming programs, data transparency, minimum staffing levels for writers rooms, and regulations on the use of artificial intelligence in writing.
Late night shows affected by the work stoppage include, “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” “Late Show With Stephen Colbert,” “Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” and “Late Night With Seth Meyers.’
NBC said “SNL” will air repeats starting this weekend, which is when alum PETE DAVIDSON was slated to host the comedy-sketch show alongside musical guest LIL UZI VERT. “SNL” had three weeks left of shows, with the finale set to air on May 20.
The last WGA strike lasted 100 days between 2007-08. In 1988 it lasted 153 days and in 1985 a strike lasted 14 days.
There is not yet a date scheduled for the two sides to return to the bargaining table. [via Hollywood Reporter]
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LEA MICHELE and MYLES FROST announced this year’s Tony Award nominations on Tuesday morning.
“Some Like It Hot” led the pack with 13.
Close behind were “& Juliet” and “New York, New York” with nine each. “Kimberly Akimbo” and “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” had eight, while “Ain’t No Mo’,” “A Doll’s House,” “Into the Woods,” “Leopoldstadt” and “Parade” landed six nods.
The 2023 Tony Awards will be held on June 11 at the United Palace in New York. [via Deadline]
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LEBRON JAMES was the highest-paid American athlete over the last 12 months, earning more than $119.5 million.
In addition to the nearly $45 million he made from the Lakers, he brought in a ton of revenue from endorsements, his stake in Fenway Sports Group, and his sports entertainment business, SpringHill company, according to Forbes.
On a larger scale, James is the fourth-highest paid athlete in the world, falling behind three soccer stars KYLIAN MBAPPE ($120 million), LIONEL MESSI ($130 million) and CRISTIANO RONALDO ($136 million). [via Forbes]
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Los Angeles police got a call from an unnamed concerned neighbor requesting a welfare check for a 27-year-old woman – but when they showed up at the address provided, they were greeted at the front door by KEANU REEVES.
The officers explained the situation – in particular, that the caller was a friend of the woman, and hadn’t heard from her in days. Reeves said he’d never heard of her and she certainly wasn’t with him.
No word if the caller was just confused or trying to pull a prank. Insiders tell TMZ that the actor was cool about the dustup. [via TMZ]
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CASTING CALL
After one season on Disney+, “Dancing With the Stars” will return to ABC.
Season 32 of the ballroom dance competition show will air simultaneously on the streamer.
As previously reported, TYRA BANKS will not be hosting the upcoming season. JULIANNE HOUGH will take over her spot, joining ALFONSO RIBEIRO.
Celebrity contestants have not yet been announced for Season 32. [via People]
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ED SHEERAN and ALANIS MORISSETTE will fill in on “American Idol” for KATY PERRY and LIONEL RICHIE who are traveling to the UK this week to perform at KING CHARLES’ coronation.
They will join judge LUKE BRYAN and the remaining eight contestants.
As previously reported, Perry and Richie will join ANDREA BOCELLI to serenade the newly crowned monarch this weekend. [via Page Six]
ISN’T IT IRONIC: Perry and Richie are Americans going to England to perform for the coronation festivities, and are being replaced by Sheeran, an Englishman, and Morissette, who as a Canadian is a citizen of the British Commonwealth of Nations.
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NBA star DRAYMOND GREEN is reportedly gunning for a role in the upcoming sequel to the 2002 movie “Juwanna Mann.”
Actor MIGUEL A NUÑEZ JR. tells TMZ the flick is in the works, but was mum on details.
WORTH REMEMBERING: The original plot centers on Jamal Jeffries, played by Nunez, who dresses up as a woman to play in a women’s league after he’s cut from the men’s league. Hilarity ensues. [via TMZ]
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“The Super Mario Bros. Movie” has been viewed by nine million people after being illegally uploaded to Twitter.
According to Forbes, an account called “vids that go hard” posted the movie in two parts over the weekend. The account has now been suspended by Twitter, but only after the footage was up for seven hours. [via Forbes]
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Fox Sports revealed Tuesday that Super Bowl 57, which saw the Kansas City Chiefs take on the Philadelphia Eagles, was the most-watched Super Bowl in history.
More than 115.1 million viewers tuned in to watch the Chiefs win the Lombardi Trophy. That is just a notch above the previous record of the 114.4 million that watched the New England Patriots beat the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl 49.
Nielsen initially reported that 113.9 million viewers tuned in to the game. The correction was made after it was noted an internal NFL Network Live feed should have been coded as Fox viewers. [via Bleacher Report]
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
A Manhattan Supreme Court Judge ruled Tuesday that YE’s company, Yeezy, must pay over $300,000 to a Brooklyn creative director who says she was never compensated for a photoshoot she did.
Katelyn Mooney sued Yeezy last December, claiming the fashion company owed her nearly $100,000 for a shoot she did for Ye’s new sunglasses line SHDZ. According to her suit, Mooney says she only received $15,000 of the $110,000 amount agreed on.
The ruling came after Yeezy failed to name an attorney or respond to filed court documents. [via NY Post]
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS: CORONATION WEEK
An unidentified nutjob threw what were believed to be shotgun cartridges over the fence surrounding Buckingham Palace on Tuesday, amid rehearsals for Saturday’s coronation events.
The man was also carrying a knife and a “suspicious bag” when police detained him.
Neither KING CHARLES nor QUEEN CAMILLA were in Buckinham at the time. So far, officials have not identified a motive, but do not believe the act was terror related. [via Express]
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DAY OF THE YEAR
Write a Review Day
National Chocolate Custard Day
National Paranormal Day
National Two Different Colored Shoes Day
National Garden Meditation Day
National Lumpy Rug Day
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ON THIS DATE
1936 - Joe DiMaggio makes his debut with the NY Yankees.
He gets three hits.
The Yankees defeated the St. Louis Browns 14-5.
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1946 - The International Military Tribunals for the Far East begins hearing the case against 28 Japanese military and government officials accused of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity during World War II.
Twenty-five were found guilty later that year -- of the other three, two died and one was found clinically insane. Seven were sentenced to death.
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1947 - Japan’s postwar constitution goes into effect.
The progressive constitution granted universal suffrage, stripped Emperor Hirohito of all but symbolic power, stipulated a bill of rights, abolished peerage, and outlawed Japan’s right to make war.
The document was largely the work of Supreme Allied Commander Douglas MacArthur and his occupation staff, who had prepared the draft in February 1946 after a Japanese attempt was deemed unacceptable.
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1952 - A ski-modified U.S. Air Force C-47 piloted by Lieutenant Colonel Joseph O. Fletcher of Oklahoma and Lieutenant Colonel William P. Benedict of California becomes the first aircraft to land on the North Pole.
Fletcher climbed out of the plane and walked to the exact geographic North Pole, probably the first person in history to do so.
Standing alongside Fletcher on the top of the world was Dr. Albert P. Crary, a scientist who, in 1961 would travel to the South Pole by motorized vehicle, becoming the first person in history to have stood on both poles.
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1968 - After 34 days of discussions to select a site, the United States and North Vietnam agree to begin formal negotiations in Paris on May 10, or shortly thereafter.
Hanoi disclosed that ex-Foreign Minister Xuan Thuy would head the North Vietnamese delegation at the talks. Ambassador W. Averell Harriman was named as his U.S. counterpart.
The start of negotiations brought a flurry of hope that the war might be settled quickly. Instead, the talks rapidly degenerated into a dreary ritual of weekly sessions, during which both sides repeated long-standing positions without seeming to come close to any agreement.
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1986 - 54-year-old Willie Shoemaker, aboard long shot Ferdinand, becomes the oldest jockey ever to win the Kentucky Derby.
The victory was just one of Shoemaker’s 8,833 wins, a record that stood until 1999, when it was broken by Laffit Pincay.
Ferdinand was the only horse to run in all three Triple Crown races that year, finishing second in the Preakness Stakes and third in the Belmont Stakes.
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2020 - US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo blames China for the spread and severity of COVID-19.
He also said that the Chinese government stockpiled medical supplies while concealing the virus from the rest of the world.
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BIRTHDAYS
Rachel Zegler - actress, “West Side Story” - 22
Domantas Sabonis - basketball player - 27
Noah Munck - actor, “iCarly” - 27
Pom Klementieff - actress, “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” - 37
Poppy Delevingne - model - 37
Cheryl Burke - dancer, “DWTS” - 39
Eric Church - country singer - 46
Dule Hill - actor, “Psych,” “The West Wing” - 48
Christina Hendricks - actress, “Mad Men” & “Drive” - 48
Rob Brydon - comedian & actor, “The Trip” & “Cinderella” - 58
Bruce Hall - bassist, REO Speedwagon - 70
Frankie Valli - pop singer - 89
Born On This Date
Dwayne Haskins - football player - 1997 (d. 2022)
James Brown - soul singer - 1933 (d. 2006)
Sugar Ray Robinson - boxer - 1921 (d. 1989)
Bing Crosby - pop singer - 1903 (d. 1977)
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