6/3/2024: Magnet-Fishing Jackpot
PLUS: Boeing Delay; Behind the Puzzle Board; and Occupying the Royal Lodge
Today is Monday, June 3, 2024.
It is the 155th day of the year.
211 days remain.
WHAT’S ON TAP
AirTags can be used for good and a climate change nutjob tries to send a message by defacing precious artwork. Details in HIT LIST.
JENNIFER LOPEZ cancels her tour and the TYSON-PAUL fight has been postponed. More in SHOWBIZ.
KEVIN JAMES will play golfer JOHN DALY in a new limited series. Details in CASTING CALL.
KHLOE says parenting is exhausting. More in KARDASH.
More details on the Royal Lodge saga in ROYALS.
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HIT LIST
Another case of AirTags used for good, this time for one theft victim and untold others: a Virginia carpenter used the technology to track down the bandit who kept stealing his tools.
After showing up to the office twice to find his trucks broken into, he secretly placed the trackers into the larger tools that had not been stolen after the first two attempts.
Then in January, after the third robbery, he tracked them down to a storage center in the suburbs of Washington DC in Maryland.
When he called the police and got a search warrant, he found more than just his tools. In fact, the single storage unit was just the tip of the iceberg in a massive tool-theft operation. Over the next few months, authorities discovered 12 storage unit locations holding an estimated 15,000 saws, drills, sanders, grinders, generators, batteries, air compressors worth up to $5 MILLION, the Washington Post reports.
Despite identifying the storage units, authorities have not yet filed any charges or made any arrests, but say they expect to soon. [via Washington Post]
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Boeing’s attempt to carry astronauts into space failed for a second time on Saturday after an automatic hold triggered by the computer that launches the rocket stopped the countdown clock at 3 minutes and 50 seconds.
The next available liftoff is now set for Wednesday morning, with a backup of June 6. [via CNN]
SPACEX continues to lead private space technology, reliably delivering astronauts and cargo on behalf of NASA to space since 2020.
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Two days after an Idaho jury found CHAD DAYBELL guilty for the murders of his wife, Tammy Daybell, and newest wife, Lori Vallow Daybell’s two youngest children, that same jury unanimously agreed to sentence him to death.
RECAP: Chad and Lori were having an affair when both of their spouses died unexpectedly in 2019, and the two children went missing. Chad’s wife’s death, we now know, was at his hands, while Lori’s husband was fatally shot by her brother, Alex Cox, who died of natural causes during the investigation. From there, a states-wide investigation began after family members reported JJ and Tylee missing. A year later their bodies were found buried in Chad’s backyard. For her role in the murders, “Doomsday Mom” Lori was sentenced to life in prison without parole in 2023. [via The Guardian]
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Riposte Alimentaire (Food Response), the same group behind the pumpkin soup attack on the Mona Lisa earlier this year, is back at it, this time defacing Claude Monet’s “Poppy Fields” painting at the Musee d’Orsay in Paris.
The self-described “concerned citizen” placed a red sticker over the painting to show a “nightmare version” of the poppy fields in 2100 after it is “ravaged by flames and drought” if more isn’t done to prevent climate change.
Thankfully no permanent damage was done to the painting, and the woman has been detained. [via France 24]
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A treasure-hunting couple from Queens were shocked to find $100,000 inside a safe they found while magnet fishing in a lake in Corona Park in NYC.
Unfortunately, the “two stacks of freaking hundreds,” as described by angler James Kane, were ruined by the water.
To avoid any legal trouble, Kane says they alerted the NYPD, who basically said “finders keepers” as there was no identifying information on the safe. [via NY Post]
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DEATHS
MICHELLE OBAMA’s mom MARIAN ROBINSON has died.
She passed away Friday morning, according to a post from Michelle. No further details were shared.
Robinson was 86.
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BABY NEWS
Actress MANDY MOORE is expecting her third child with husband TAYLOR GOLDSMITH.
In an Instagram post announcing the news, Moore also revealed the baby is a little girl.
The couple are already parents to 3-year-old Augustus and 19-month-old Oscar.
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WEDDINGS
Fox News Corp chairman RUPERT MURDOCH and molecular biologist ELENA ZHUKOVA are married!
He’s 93 and she’s 67.
The pair said “I do” at Murdoch’s California vineyard on Saturday.
The marriage is his fifth.
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WEEKEND BOX OFFICE
10. Sight: $1 million (down from 7)
9. Ezra: $1.1 million (new)
8. In a Violent Nature: $2.1 million (new)
7. Haikyuu!! The Dumpster Battle: $3.5 million (new)
6. The Strangers: Chapter 1: $3.6 million (stayed at 6)
5. The Fall Guy: $4.2 million (stayed at 5)
4. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes: $8.8 million (stayed at 4)
3. Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga: $10.7 million (down from 1)
2. IF: $10.8 million (up from 3)
1. The Garfield Movie: $14 million (up from 2)
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BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The DOW gained 575 points (1.51%) to close at 38,686 on Friday. The S&P gained 42 points (0.80%) to close at 5,277 and the NASDAQ dropped 2 points (0.012%) to close at 16,735.
🛢 WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE closed at $77 on Friday; BRENT CRUDE at $81.
⛽ The national average price of a GALLON OF GAS was $3.54 on Sunday.
₿ BITCOIN was up slightly on the weekend, trading around $67,844.
🛩 There were more than 4,408 FLIGHTS delayed within, into, or out of the United States on Sunday and more than 210 such cancellations.
💰Tuesday night’s MEGA MILLIONS drawing will be for a $560 million jackpot or a $258.4 million cash payout. Tonight’s POWERBALL drawing will be for a $171 million jackpot or a $79.5 million cash payout.
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SHOWBIZ NEWS
JENNIFER LOPEZ’s “This Is Me…Live” tour has been canceled.
Live Nation reported the news on Friday, just weeks before the tour was to kick off, saying that JLo decided that she needs to take some time to “be with her children, family and close friends.”
Addressing the news herself, JLo told fans that she is “heartsick” and “devastated” over the cancellation.
Surely the dozens of fans who bought tickets feel the same. [via TMZ]
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MIKE TYSON and JAKE PAUL’s July 20 match has been postponed after the former’s recent medical scare.
According to the announcement from Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions, Tyson’s doctor advised him it was best to do “minimal to light training over the next few weeks,” so both men agreed to push the fight back.
A new date will be announced soon. [via Bleacher Report]
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RIHANNA now has the most diamond-certified titles for a female artist and the most diamond singles for a female artist after the Recording Industry Association of America awarded her with four more diamond plaques on Friday, bringing her total to seven.
The four newly-encrusted songs include “Umbrella,” “Work,” “Needed Me” and “Stay.”
FOR THE RECORD: RiRi has not released an album since 2016’s “Anti.” [via Billboard]
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It’s been nearly 20 years since STEVE IRWIN passed, but his widow TERRI IRWIN says she has no interest in finding love again.
“I totally got my happily ever after. And while there are a lot of wonderful men in the world, can you see another Steve Irwin? I just can’t,” she told Us Weekly at the annual Steve Irwin Gala.
Terri and Steve were married for 14 years before he tragically passed away in 2006 after being fatally struck in the chest by a short-tail stingray barb. [via Us Weekly]
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The woman caught on camera screaming at KYLIE KELCE last weekend has apologized for her actions.
Andree Goldberg told WPVI, that she apologized to the couple directly for her behavior and said that she should have “recognized and respected their right to privacy.”
RECAP: Kylie and JASON KELCE were on a date last weekend when Goldberg approached, asking for a photo. After politely declining, Goldberg was caught on camera screaming at Kylie that they would “never be allowed in this town again.” [via WPVI]
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SHILOH JOLIE-PITT, one of ANGELINA JOLIE and BRAD PITT’s kids, has filed to drop “Pitt” from her name.
The third-eldest of the couple’s six children, Shiloh is the first to file a petition for a legal name change, though some of her siblings have unofficially dropped the moniker in recent years.
The move comes amid Brad and Angelina’s on-going divorce which has been filled with accusations and insults. [via AP News]
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DIPLO celebrated the first day of Pride Month by shooting a rainbow out of his butt.
On Saturday, the music producer posted a nude photo of himself sitting on a cliff, legs spread eagle with a giant rainbow coming out from his bum. [via Instagram]
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Musician TAYLOR MOMSEN got bit by a bat while performing with her bandmates in Spain over the weekend.
So into her performance, Momsen didn’t even realize what happened until fans pointed out the bat on her leg.
She later updated fans on social media, captioning a photo of the bite marks, "Rabies shots for the next two weeks 😖😖😖 thanks to all the staff at the hospital who dubbed me #batgirl after seeing it on the local news that morning." [via TMZ]
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CASTING CALL
Ahead of his final show this Friday, PAT SAJAK is giving fans a sneak peek of what goes on behind-the-scenes at “Wheel of Fortune.”
In an Instagram video filmed by his daughter Maggie, Sajak takes viewers “behind the puzzle board” while joking, “We can’t show a lot, because there’s certain things that are highly classified!”
Sajak, who has hosted the show since 1981, will be replaced by RYAN SEACREST. Letter-turner VANNA WHITE will keep her gig. [via NY Post]
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A limited series based on the life of JOHN DALY is in the works, with KEVIN JAMES tapped to play the legendary golfer.
Daly has made a name for himself on the course with his 19 professional tournament wins, including five PGA Tour Titles and two majors, plus his eccentric outfits and catch phrase, “I just grip it and rip it.”
No word on when or where the limited series will air. [via Deadline]
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
KHLOE KARDASHIAN is feeling the heat after saying how “exhausted” she is from taking care of her two kids on a recent episode of “The Kardashians.”
While commiserating with her sister KOURTNEY KARDASHIAN about how hard it is to be the sole provider for 6-year-old True and 1-year-old Tatum now that TRISTAN THOMPSON is in Cleveland fans slammed her for ignoring her privileged life.
Some did come to Khloe’s defense, explaining that she doesn’t have a live-in nanny like her sisters do, but they were quickly shut down by others who pointed out she does have a “chef, housekeeper, personal trainer, in-home doctors,” etc. [via Daily Mail]
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
ROYAL LODGE SAGA: The Times of London has gotten its hands on documents that shed more light on the generous lease arrangement between PRINCE ANDREW and the Crown Estate that allows him to live in the Royal Lodge.
Unconfirmed rumors have swirled for months that KING CHARLES has been trying to force out his disgraced brother from the property, perhaps to allow PRINCE WILLIAM and family to move in -- but Andrew has been able to stay put so far.
NOW: The documents show that Andrew is required to have the exterior covered with at least two coats of fresh paint every five years. Inside, he’s required to “paper, polish, decorate and otherwise appropriately treat” every seven years.
Andrew must front these costs, in addition to paying 250 Great British Pounds a week for the 30-room, $36 MILLION estate. While that’s a hell of a deal, Andrew has reportedly been living off of whatever inheritance QUEEN ELIZABETH left him in her will, which remains under seal.
Though the generous lease arrangement provides favorable terms, Andrew’s failure to keep up with painting is likely the mechanism the King, through the Crown Estate, tried to use to force him out. The brothers are believed to have a handshake agreement that Andrew will get it done soon -- for now. No word how long that goodwill might last. [via DailyMail, Morning Martini]
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DAY OF THE YEAR
World Bicycle Day
National Chocolate Macaron Day
Love Conquers All Day
World Cider Day
National Egg Day
Insect Repellent Awareness Day
National Repeat Day
National Thank God It’s Monday Day
National Leave The Office Early Day
Love Island Day
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ON THIS DATE
1800 - President John Adams begins governing from the Tunnicliffe City Hotel in Washington DC. The White House was not yet finished.
He would move into the residence only to lose his re-election to Thomas Jefferson, making his stay short-lived. During that time, the home was still unfinished.
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1864 - Union troops are slaughtered by Confederates at the Battle of Cold Harbor.
A full-frontal assault ordered by General Grant left 7,000 dead in under an hour, as the Southern troops had time to fortify their position and dig protective trenches.
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1937 - The former King of England marries Wallis Simpson, the woman for whom he surrendered the royal throne the previous December.
Edward had only been on the throne a short time when he began his romantic entanglement with Simpson and thought he’d have more time to make appropriate arrangements to avoid scandal. But when his father, George-the-fifth died, he became King.
Wallis would be denied any titles of nobility. They would later live in France and travel Europe, when the couple became friendly with the Nazis, though that wouldn’t last.
Winston Churchill arranged for Edward to be governor of the Bahamas, and would send him across the Atlantic in August 1940.
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1965 - Ed White becomes the first American to walk in space.
From on board the Gemini 4 capsule, he exited the craft tethered by a 25-foot cable. He used an oxygen jet-propulsion system to maneuver.
The walk lasted just 20 minutes, but was a huge step in keeping up with the Soviets in the space race. They successfully sent an astronaut alone into space in March that year.
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1989 - The Chinese Government rolls tanks and troops into Tiananmen Square nearly two months after public protests for freedom began.
The uprising started as a movement for college students that quickly gained support from laborers, professors and bureaucrats.
By some estimates, a million people were eventually gathered at one point in the square.
During the shutdown, hundreds were killed and thousands arrested. The Chinese government would have scores of dissidents assassinated in the following weeks to deter further protests.
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2017 - The Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum opens in Springfield, Massachusetts.
It features family-friendly, interactive exhibits exploring the author’s Springfield roots, as well as recreations of his studio and living room memorabilia, and never-before-seen art, family photos, and letters.
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2019 - Jay-Z is named the world’s first billionaire rapper by Forbes magazine.
He accumulated his fortune through real estate, sports, music and fashion.
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2020 - Three police officers involved in the death of George Floyd are charged in Minneapolis.
Derek Chauvin, the officer who kneeled on Floyd, is also charged with second-degree murder.
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BIRTHDAYS
Jalen Suggs - basketball player - 23
Otto Porter Jr. - basketball player - 31
Dave East - rapper - 36
Al Horford - basketball player - 38
Josh Segura - actor, “Arrow” & “FBI” - 38
Rafael Nadal - tennis player - 38
Lazaros Papadopoulos - basketball player - 44
Lyfe Jennings - R&B singer - 46
Anderson Cooper - TV show host, “Anderson Cooper 360” - 57
Mike Gordon - bassist, Phish - 59
Jill Biden - First Lady - 73
Hale Irwin - golfer - 79
Billy Cunningham - basketball player - 81
Born On This Date
Ian Gelder - actor, “Game of Thrones” - 1949 (d. 2024)
George V - Emperor of India & King of UK - 1865 (d. 1936)
Jefferson Davis - President of the Confederate States (1861-1865) - 1808 (d. 1889)
James Hutton - father of modern geology - 1726 (d. 1797)
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