Ronnie O’Sullivan will be competing in the 2026 Seniors Snooker Championship and the World Snooker Championship within just weeks of each other; the 50-year-old won his first world title 25 years ago and looks to add another accolade to his name
Last Updated: 23/02/26 3:44pm
Ronnie O’Sullivan will be going for his eighth world title and first Seniors world title this spring
After a record-equalling seven world titles, Ronnie O’Sullivan will be making his debut on the senior world stage in May at the 2026 World Seniors Snooker Championship.
However, the 50-year-old is still expected to play in the main World Championship, which finishes just two days before the seniors starts, with both events taking place at the Crucible.
Ronnie O’Sullivan tried to defend his first Masters title against Steven Hendry in 1996 as the youngest winner of the title at 19-years and 69 days
He joins an impressive seniors line-up that includes 2015 world champion Stuart Bingham, 12-time women’s world champion Reanne Evans and former Masters and UK champion Matthew Stevens.
Chairman Jason Francis branded O’Sullivan the “most commercially valuable player the sport has ever seen” and that he expects The Rocket’s participation to drive ticket sales even higher.
The seniors tournament will take place May 6-10, being prefaced by World Championship from April 18-May 4.
O’Sullivan relocated to Dubai last year but will spend April and May in Sheffield as he also attempts to win an eighth world title when he appears in his 34th consecutive World Snooker Championship.
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Changes to the seniors tournaments rules have meant players ranked in the world top 64 are eligible to take part with several having taken the opportunity.
With four title wins, the most successful player in the seniors is Jimmy White, with the 10-time ranking event winner also slated to take part.
This comes 25 years after O’Sullivan won his first World Snooker Championship which he won in his 10th year of being a professional at the age of 25, as he seeks to add yet another record to his CV.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kevin Federline says concern for his two sons with Britney Spears long kept him from telling his story, and those same concerns are the reason he’s telling it now that they’re men.
In a memoir to be released Tuesday, “You Thought You Knew,” Federline documents his difficult years as husband, ex-husband, and co-parent with Spears, who wrote her own memoir in 2023.
Federline’s includes some salacious stories and some potentially disturbing details about her behavior that have already made headlines.
“I want my children to be able to move forward in their lives and know that the actual truth of everything is out there,” Federline, 47, told The Associated Press in a Zoom interview, backed by palm trees in Hawaii, where he now lives with wife Victoria Prince and their two daughters. “That’s a very, very big part of this for me. And it’s really important that I share my story, so they don’t have to.”
He and Spears’ son Preston is now 20 and his brother Jayden is 19. They have little relationship with their mother.
Federline was a 26-year-old backup dancer for other major pop acts when he coupled with Spears in 2004. Their courtship, two-year marriage and divorce took them through one of the most intense celebrity media frenzies in modern history. Federline was ruthlessly roasted as a loser hanger-on, especially after he released his own deeply mocked hip-hop album.
Britney Spears, center right, and her husband Kevin Federline are interviewed by Rachel from the Tyra Banks show as Tyra Banks, right, looks on while they arrive for the LG Mariah Carey and Jermaine Dupri Post Grammy Party at a private residence, Feb. 8, 2006, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (AP Photo/Danny Moloshok)
Britney Spears, center right, and her husband Kevin Federline are interviewed by Rachel from the Tyra Banks show as Tyra Banks, right, looks on while they arrive for the LG Mariah Carey and Jermaine Dupri Post Grammy Party at a private residence, Feb. 8, 2006, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (AP Photo/Danny Moloshok)
“I wasn’t just famous — I was infamous,” he writes in the book, which will be released on the new audiobook first platform Listenin.
He told the AP he long considered writing the book, but recently got serious about it.
“I picked it up and put it down quite a lot over probably a five-year period,” he said. “I think that it’s a very good description of me, who I am, the father I’ve become, the husband I am, the ex-husband I am.”
Key revelations from Kevin Federline about Britney Spears
— Federline describes the night he and Spears first connected at a Hollywood nightclub, and how they hooked up hours later in a hotel bungalow: “Britney turned around, slipped off her underwear and started kissing me, tearing at my clothes with both hands. We stumbled toward the bed while I struggled to kick my pants off my ankles. This. Is. Happening. OK, sorry. Calm down, that’s as detailed as I’m going to get.”
— He writes that a “San Andreas-level seismic shift in my reality” followed a few hours later when he left the hotel with Spears and dozens of paparazzi cars followed them.
— He describes the night before their wedding, when Spears called her ex Justin Timberlake, seeking closure: “She never really got over him. She might’ve loved me, but there was something there with Justin that she couldn’t let go of.”
Justin Timberlake, right, greets Kevin Federline as they arrive at the JT-TV launch party in Los Angeles, Feb. 9, 2007. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles)
Justin Timberlake, right, greets Kevin Federline as they arrive at the JT-TV launch party in Los Angeles, Feb. 9, 2007. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles)
— Federline said seeing Spears drinking while pregnant “tripped the silent alarms in my head.” He later was outraged when he saw her doing cocaine when the boys were still breastfeeding, saying “are you seriously going to go home after this and feed them like you don’t have a body full of drugs?”
— He writes that Preston told him Spears mercilessly mocked him and once punched him in the face.
— He says the boys began refusing to visit her when they were 13 and 14, and later told him stories that “shook me to the core.” “They would awaken sometimes at night to find her standing silently in the doorway, watching them sleep — ‘Oh, you’re awake?’ — with a knife in her hand.”
Spears’ response to Federline’s book
Spears responded with a statement on her social media accounts. She said Federline has engaged in “constant gaslighting.”
“Trust me, those white lies in that book, they are going straight to the bank and I’m the only one who genuinely gets hurt here.” She said, adding that “if you really know me, you won’t pay attention to the tabloids of my mental health and drinking.”
She also addressed her relationship with her sons:
“I have always pleaded and screamed to have a life with my boys. Relationships with teenage boys is complex. I have felt demoralized by this situation and have always asked and almost begged for them to be a part of my life. Sadly, they have always witnessed the lack of respect shown by (their) own father for me.”
An attorney for Spears did not respond to a request for comment.
Federline’s life, and thoughts about Spears’ life
Federline writes about growing up in Fresno, California, and finding “my therapy and my purpose” through dance.
Kevin Federline performs during a concert at the House of Blues Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2006, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Danny Moloshok)
Kevin Federline performs during a concert at the House of Blues Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2006, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Danny Moloshok)
He reminisces about his first big tour, with Pink, and working with Aaliyah, Destiny’s Child and Michael Jackson. He details wrestling with John Cena in the WWE and appearing in a self-mocking Super Bowl commercial.
Federline says Preston and Jayden are living on their own as young adults, and have both been working on making music that makes him proud.
He weighs in on Spears’ dissolved court conservatorship, saying it was necessary but hurt most of the people involved. He said the fans who fought to free her left an unfortunate legacy.
“The Free Britney movement may have started from a good place, but it vilified everyone around her so intensely that now it’s nearly impossible for anyone to step in,” he writes.
He says in the book that he wrote it in part as a public plea for her to get more help.
“I’ve lost hope that things will ever fully turn around,” he writes, “but I still hope that Britney can find peace.”
Pink Pantheress is the pop princess who fell out of England. We’re in love with her, and here is your sign that you should be too! Pink Pantheress took the world (and TikTok) by storm with dance-pop hits ‘Just For Me’ and ‘Illegal,’ transforming from a bedroom SoundCloud artist into a well-deserved Billboard chart topper. That’s just the tip of the iceberg for our English pop princess. There is so much spontaneity jam-packed into this spunky 24-year-old star, it should be illegal not to stan her. Here are a few reasons why.
Infectious Personality
Something we just cannot get enough of is Pink’s infectious personality. She is unapologetically herself and full of witty British humor. There will never be a dull moment watching Pink. She connects to you across the screen with her bold and relatable personality, showing that she’s not afraid to laugh at herself. Her bubbly personality is completely irresistible, giving us plenty of funny and iconic moments to binge-watch in bed. What more can we ask for?
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Pink creates a unique pop-princess look by wearing bold patterns that tap into Y2K and British rock fashion. You’ll catch her rocking soft yet bold looks, often wearing plaid with contrasting pops of color, but you’ll never know what you’ll get with Pink. Pink keeps us on the edge of our seats by mixing things up and taking on a different style when she can, as she did with her ‘Tonight’ music video. Pink’s artistic vision for ‘Tonight’ traveled to the Tudor period as she wears a stunning corset dress with dramatic hair inspired by Madonna’s iconic 1990 MTV ‘Vogue’ performance. Let us raid your closet, Pink!
Female Producer
Pink is a force to be reckoned with in the studio, and it’s for far more than her distinctly soft vocals. Our girl is producing her own tracks (how girl boss is that?). Pink is not a stranger to music production, recognized by Billboard’s Producer of the Year award in 2024. She exclusively produced Half of her 2021 mixtape ToHell With It in her bedroom, and co-produced her debut album, Heaven Knows. Not only does she have an ear for creating the right mix for her own songs, but Pink has also co-produced songs for other artists, including WILLOW and Mura Masa. When do her talents stop?
Dedication To Her Craft
Pink showcases her dedication to creating music with her humble beginnings of anonymously sharing her songs on SoundCloud in 2020. Pink began showing her face in the media in 2021 after there was unexpected, yet deserving, traction to her songs, letting it be known that she was not just in it for the stardom. With each music release, Pink carefully crafts a unique world for you to fall into and remains true to her original work despite her rise to fame. Her passion for being involved with each project shows that there is even more to see from her in the future. You wouldn’t want to miss it!
Her Favs Are Our Favs
Pink takes inspiration from all of the greats, including My Chemical Romance, Paramore, and Imogen Heap. Boy, does she have taste! Pink was totally in her Brat era, channeling her inner Charli XCX as she produced ‘Stateside,’ from Fancy That. Creating yet another electronic dance-pop banger. If you love any of these other talented artists, you will definitely love Pink Pantheress. She perfectly blends the genres between them all into an original sound of her own.
You do not want to miss anything Pink Pantheress does next!
See Pink Pantheress on tour and kickstart your stanning journey by listening to ‘Romeo.’ It will leave you wondering why you didn’t get into Pink sooner!
What are your current favorite Pink Pantheress songs? Let us know by tweeting us at @thehoneypop or visiting us on Facebook and Instagram.
Ronnie O’Sullivan has pulled out of the Northern Ireland Open, having already withdrawn from the British Open and Wuhan Open in recent weeks; Seven-time world champion last featured at the English Open in September
Last Updated: 20/10/24 11:00pm
Ronnie O’Sullivan withdrew from the Northern Ireland Open ahead of his first round match
Seven-time world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan has withdrawn from the BetVictor Northern Ireland Open due to medical reasons, the World Snooker Tour (WST) has announced.
O’Sullivan was due to face Long Zehuang in the last 64 in Belfast on Monday afternoon, but announcement from WST on their website confirmed he had pulled out of the event.
China’s Long receives a bye to the last 32, with the tournament at the Waterfront Hall in Belfast running until October 27th.
Ronnie O’Sullivan has now withdrawn from three consecutive events due to medical reasons
O’Sullivan hasn’t featured since being knocked out of the first round of the English Open last month after a shock defeat to He Guoqiang, where he describing his performance as “awful” and “embarrassing”.
It is the third consecutive tournament that O’Sullivan has withdrawn from, having also skipped the British Open and Wuhan Open in recent weeks. He is next due to feature at the International Champions event in China from November 3-10.
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Ronnie O’Sullivan says if the World Snooker Championship was relocated to Saudi Arabia then he would find the tournament more convenient as a player
Ronnie O’Sullivan says if the World Snooker Championship was relocated to Saudi Arabia then he would find the tournament more convenient as a player
Trump makes winning start in Belfast
World No 1 Judd Trump began his title defence with a 4-0 win over Ishpreet Singh Chadha needing just 49 minutes to whitewash his opponent with the aid of breaks of 72, 65 and 112.
“It was easy to get up for this event,” said Trump, who has won the event four times in the last six years. “Certain venues seem to be made for snooker. Anyone who has played in the semis or final at the Waterfront [Hall] knows how special it is.
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“It’s similar to Alexandra Palace or the Tempodrom in terms of the size of the crowd and the way people react. I thrive on that atmosphere with people enjoying themselves. It helps me show off and play my best shots.”
Trump will face Matthew Selt in the last 32 after Selt defeated Lyu Haotian 4-1, while World Championship runner-up Jak Jones beat Alexander Ursenbacher 4-0 and Zhou Yuelong recovered from 3-1 down to oust Dominic Dale 4-3.
Northern Ireland’s Jordan Brown suffered a 4-2 defeat to Robert Milkins, while 18-year-old Stan Moody made breaks of 108 and 105 before beating Ryan Day in a decider.
Louis Heathcote also came through in a decider in a scrappy contest against former world champion Mark Selby, whose 81 in the first frame was the only break over 50 by either player.
Stuart Bingham beat Scott Donaldson 4-1 in a similarly low-scoring contest, while China’s Pang Jungxu made a break of 98 in the decider as he beat compatriot Yuan Sijun 4-3.
John Higgins reaches 1,000 career centuries but is knocked out of the English Open; Ronnie O’Sullivan is the only other player to have reached the four-figure century milestone
Last Updated: 19/09/24 11:36pm
John Higgins became only the second snooker player to reach 1,000 career centuries
John Higgins became only the second snooker player to reach 1,000 career centuries despite crashing out of the English Open in Brentwood.
The 49-year-old Scot achieved the milestone with breaks of 108 and 105 in the third and fifth frames of his quarter-final clash against Mark Allen.
But it was not enough to seal a win that would have boosted his hopes of staying in the top 16 as Allen – who hit a century of his own in the opening frame – held firm in a gruelling decider to edge a 4-3 win.
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Ronnie O’Sullivan is the only other player to have reached the four-figure century milestone, having done so in the final frame of his 2019 Players Championship final win over Neil Robertson.
Earlier, Judd Trump set up a quarter-final clash with China’s Wu Yize after hitting back from behind to claim a 4-2 win over Fan Zhengyi.
The world No 1 nudged one closer to joining O’Sullivan and Higgins in the thousand-century club as he reeled off a break of 101 in the course of winning three frames in a row to extend his winning run.
Mark Selby held his nerve to carve out a 4-3 win over Si Jiahui and book a last-eight meeting with India’s Ishpreet Singh Chadha, who also overcame a final frame decider against China’s He Guoqiang.
Anthony Joshua’s heavyweight showdown with Daniel Dubois takes place on Saturday September 21 live on Sky Sports Box Office. Book Joshua v Dubois now!
Japanese Anemone, A. hupehensis: “Daughter of the Wind”
There’s a nondescript, partially shaded corner of my garden that is frankly rather dull until finally it comes into its own in September. That’s when the gorgeous Japanese anemone ‘Honorine Jobert’ produces its pearly buds as a subtle preview of the real show—white flowers bobbing delicately on tall wire-thin stems. What makes these flowers so outstanding is their brilliant centers: bright green seed heads surrounded by a thicket of orangey yellow stamens.
Surprisingly Japanese anemones aren’t Japanese at all. This corner of my garden is actually home to natives of China. Read on to hear the story of how they came to Brooklyn (and gardens in other countries):
Photography by Britt Willoughby Dyer for Gardenista.
Above: Early European plant explorers first discovered windflowers in Japan, where they had been imported and cultivated by gardeners for generations. (The anemones, which frequently like to grow where they want instead of where you plant them, had escaped into the wild and naturalized.) The Europeans labeled the plants Anemone japonica.
Above: Today the plant has been re-named Anemone hupehensis, or Chinese anemone. It is a native of Hubei province in eastern China. The Victorian plant hunter Robert Fortune discovered it growing in a cemetery in Shanghai and introduced it in Europe in 1844.
Above: There are more than 120 species of Anemone but unlike some of the others that grow from tubers or rhizomes, Anemone hupehensis is a tall (typically 2 to 4 feet in height) long-lived perennial with fibrous roots that can spread via underground stems.
Three-time world champion Mark Williams beaten 10-9 by 2023 semi-finalist Si Jiahui at the Crucible; Welshman’s exit means six seeds have now fallen in the first round so far; Ronnie O’Sullivan begins bid for eighth title against Jackson Page on Wednesday afternoon
Last Updated: 23/04/24 6:23pm
Mark Williams lost 10-9 to Si Jiahui in the first round of the World Snooker Championship
Mark Williams’ quest for a fourth World Snooker Championship title ended in the first round as he lost a last-frame thriller to 2023 semi-finalist Si Jiahui.
Sixth seed Williams – world champion in 2000, 2003 and 2018 – led 5-4 after Monday’s opening session but then found himself 8-5 down as Si reeled off four frames in a row on Tuesday afternoon.
The 49-year-old then recovered from 9-7 down to force a decider but his Chinese opponent, 21, knocked in a nerveless break of 77 in the 19th frame to secure a second-round meeting with fellow qualifier Jak Jones.
Si lost to Luca Brecel in the 2023 semi-finals in Sheffield
Williams’ exit takes the number of seeds eliminated in the first round to six, with defending champion Luca Brecel, four-time winner Mark Selby, Ali Carter, Gary Wilson and Zhang Anda also dispatched.
O’Sullivan plays first match on Wednesday afternoon
Williams was hoping to become the oldest champion in the tournament’s history, a record held by Ronnie O’Sullivan, who was 46 years and 148 days when he won the most recent of his seven Crucible trophies in 2022.
O’Sullivan begins his bid for an outright record eighth world title against Jackson Page at 2.30pm on Wednesday, with that match then concluding from 1pm the following day.
Jak Jones is Si’s second-round opponent this year after he beat 11th seed Zhang Anda at the weekend
Si led Luca Brecel 14-5 in last year’s semi-final, only to lose the match 17-15 as Brecel won 12 of the next 13 frames in a Crucible-record comeback.
Si’s clash with Williams was viewed as one of the ties of the first round, with Williams winning the previous tournament on the calendar, the Tour Championship in Manchester.
Williams, 49, defeated Judd Trump, Mark Allen and O’Sullivan – the top three players in the world rankings – in successive matches to claim his second ranking title of the season, after the British Open in Cheltenham in October.
Dominic Dale is playing at The Crucible for the first time in 10 years
What else happened on Tuesday?
Elsewhere, 2020 finalist Kyren Wilson surged into an 8-1 lead over Dominic Dale.
Dale, who is the oldest player at this year’s competition at the age of 52 and playing at the Crucible for the first time in 10 years, had one moment to cheer against Wilson – a sublime 120 clearance.
World No 17 Jack Liswoski leads seventh seed and 2016 finalist Ding Junhui 5-4, while Mark Allen romped into a 7-2 advantage over Robbie Williams.
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Two Nebraska construction guys are quickly becoming gas station celebrities, because of the vehicle they drive.“You guys like my ride?” Mike Langford shouts to people taking photographs as he fills his old Honda minivan with fuel. The vehicle has 210,000 miles on it and an unusual new paint job. Langford is the Chief Operating Officer of Ronco Construction Company in Omaha, Nebraska. And he’s also a self-admitted terrible golfer. Langford’s golf skills earned him a special prize in the latest company golf outing. Ronco President, Zak Olsen, will likely earn his own time behind the wheel. “We saw the unraveling and now Mike is oh for two,” said Olsen, laughing. A few years ago, the two were once again on the losing end of a golf game and were teased by co-workers when they were forced to wear hotdog costumes at 72nd and Dodge. The hilarious video lives on thanks to a drone crew and photographer who captured the notorious event.Now, there’s a new scenario. The company purchased and painted a bright pink, Barbie-themed minivan complete with a working cassette player and fuzzy pink keychain. “A pink car! There’s pretty pink flowers on it,” said Michelle Hurt, co-founder of Chariots 4 Hope, a non-profit that helps people in need find affordable transportation.Langford must drive the car for the number of days that coincide with the number of golf strokes that put him on the losing end of the game. And while he drives it for 23 days, the company figured a non-profit should benefit. “I’m grateful that Mike lost the bet because they’re doing it for the community and the common good,” said Hurt. Each time someone snaps a photo of the pink Barbie car, dubbed the Pink Chariot, and posts it on social media with the hashtag #RoncoGives, Ronco will make a donation to Chariots 4 Hope. “Our most popular program is a vehicle ownership program and that’s finding a reliable vehicle and teaming up a with a single mom or dad,” said Jason Hurt, President of Chariots 4 Hope. After Mike takes a turn driving the Barbie car, others in the office will as well, driving it to construction sites, hosting guests and popping up at events to show off their pretty wheels for all of 2024. Mike loves the attention.“It’s the chuckles, the double takes, the cameras are coming out,” he said.
Two Nebraska construction guys are quickly becoming gas station celebrities, because of the vehicle they drive.
“You guys like my ride?” Mike Langford shouts to people taking photographs as he fills his old Honda minivan with fuel. The vehicle has 210,000 miles on it and an unusual new paint job.
Langford is the Chief Operating Officer of Ronco Construction Company in Omaha, Nebraska. And he’s also a self-admitted terrible golfer.
Langford’s golf skills earned him a special prize in the latest company golf outing. Ronco President, Zak Olsen, will likely earn his own time behind the wheel.
“We saw the unraveling and now Mike is oh for two,” said Olsen, laughing.
A few years ago, the two were once again on the losing end of a golf game and were teased by co-workers when they were forced to wear hotdog costumes at 72nd and Dodge. The hilarious video lives on thanks to a drone crew and photographer who captured the notorious event.
Now, there’s a new scenario. The company purchased and painted a bright pink, Barbie-themed minivan complete with a working cassette player and fuzzy pink keychain.
“A pink car! There’s pretty pink flowers on it,” said Michelle Hurt, co-founder of Chariots 4 Hope, a non-profit that helps people in need find affordable transportation.
Langford must drive the car for the number of days that coincide with the number of golf strokes that put him on the losing end of the game. And while he drives it for 23 days, the company figured a non-profit should benefit.
“I’m grateful that Mike lost the bet because they’re doing it for the community and the common good,” said Hurt.
Each time someone snaps a photo of the pink Barbie car, dubbed the Pink Chariot, and posts it on social media with the hashtag #RoncoGives, Ronco will make a donation to Chariots 4 Hope.
“Our most popular program is a vehicle ownership program and that’s finding a reliable vehicle and teaming up a with a single mom or dad,” said Jason Hurt, President of Chariots 4 Hope.
After Mike takes a turn driving the Barbie car, others in the office will as well, driving it to construction sites, hosting guests and popping up at events to show off their pretty wheels for all of 2024.
Mike loves the attention.
“It’s the chuckles, the double takes, the cameras are coming out,” he said.
A 3-year-old brown pelican hobbled about the San Pedro Pier, injured and unable to feed itself for at least a day.
Cuts ran parallel to the jaw, straight and through to the back of the neck and into the feathered skin, according to reports from a bird rescue group.
A member of a local sport-fishing crew spotted the disoriented bird March 10 and tossed it a fish. The pelican caught it with its beak, but the snack slid out of its exposed and damaged pouch.
The fisherman drove the bird two miles to International Bird Rescue, which is known for providing care and rehabilitation services.
The organization announced Thursday that the brown pelican, christened “Blue,” is improving, “eating with bravado” and has gained nearly two pounds.
“We got the bird quickly, and it’s fair to say that Blue is on the road to recovery,” said Russ Curtis, the group’s communications manager. “The bird is eating, and it has a bright future.”
Curtis said the pouch is a “vital organ” for brown pelicans that allows the birds to scoop up and swallow fish.
Blue at International Bird Rescue’s aviary. The organization believes the wounds were man-made.
(Russ Curtis / International Bird Rescue)
“If it’s cut, it’s a death sentence,” Curtis said.
Curtis said Blue required 400 immediate stitches, performed by the organization’s chief veterinarian, Dr. Rebecca Duerr. Another 100 stitches were added after Blue rested for five to six days, to sew up the rest of the exposed mouth area, Curtis said.
“The back of Blue’s mouth required careful reconstruction but came together well,” Duerr said.
Blue spent Friday morning and afternoon in International Bird Rescue’s flight aviary. The group posted a YouTube video Thursday of the brown pelican attempting to grab small fish out of a blue crate.
“We want to thank the bird lovers of Southern California and beyond for their support of our efforts to save Blue,” Chief Executive JD Bergeron said in a statement.
Duerr and other International Bird Rescue staffers believe humans inflicted the injuries on the bird.
“We see many pelicans with pouch trauma due to fishing gear and eating dangerous, sharp items like fish skeletons, but the wounds do not look like this,” said Duerr, director of research and veterinary science. “The cuts are reminiscent of a knife, machete or other sharp object.”
The injuries reminded staffers of an attack 10 years ago on a Long Beach brown pelican called “Pink.” International Bird Rescue officials labeled that incident “the worst deliberate pouch slashing we’ve ever seen.”
Pink needed two surgeries and almost two months of recovery at the same aviary where Blue is convalescing. Pink was released at San Pedro’s seaside White Point Park in June 2014. Blue was named as an homage to Pink.
The assault on Blue is the first one thought to be by a human that International Bird Rescue has come across this year, according to Curtis.
“I don’t know what would lead a person to attack a bird, out just looking for food, so cruelly,” he said. “It’s a sad statement about the world.”
The injury was reported to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife for investigation.
Capt. Patrick Foy, a member of the department’s enforcement division, said he was aware of a handful of birds with injured pouches over the last several years between Ventura and Dana Point. However, his division could not identify what or who was wounding them.
“There’s no doubt these birds have been horribly injured,” Foy said. “Whether it’s caused by a human has not been proven yet.”
Foy said his department could not conclude that a human was responsible for the attacks until the animals are inspected.
Until then, he said, “we have an investigation that is ongoing, but we have very little to go on.”
Foy and International Bird Rescue have a tip line at888-334-2258 and hope members of the public will provide information.
Last month, Pantone picked Peach Fuzz as its 2024 Color of the Year. The shade is warm, fuzzy, and like a gentle hug or a cozy sweater. And I’m a fan of any hue that’s close to pink or orange. In case you’re looking to embrace this color in your landscape, here are my five favorite peachy-keen plants to consider adding to the garden this year.
1. Geum ‘ Apricot Pearl’
Above: At left, the Geum ‘Apricot Pearl’, available at DutchGrown for $9.80 for 1 bare root. At right, the Peony ‘Coral Charm’ (photograph via TulipStore).
Fantastically ruffled blossoms in shades of pale peach poise themselves above semi-evergreen/evergreen foliage. Growing to just under two feet tall, this perennial will bloom late spring to summer in a sunny to partially sunny spot. They’re perfect for containers, as sweet edging for garden beds, or in a cutting garden. Potentially deer-resistant and most certainly pollinator-attracting. (For more on geums, see Gardening 101: Geums). A larger (growing to three feet) alternative is the oldie but goody peony ‘Coral Charm’ that won the 1986 Gold Medal of the American Peony Society and sports frilly peachy bowl-shaped blooms.
2. Grevillea ‘Peaches and Cream’
Above: Photograph of Grevillea ‘Peaches and Cream’ via Bloomables.
As if grevilleas weren’t already some of my favorite shrubs because they’re evergreen, drought-resistant, pollinator-friendly, and deer-resistant, then came along this sweetie. ‘Peaches and Cream’ has a low-maintenance mounding habit that is desirable and displays curiously curved flowers that age to shades of peachy hues. Worshiped by hummingbirds, this dense shrub grows to four to six feet high and just as wide and likes a sunny spot in well-draining soil. Hardy in USDA Zones 9-11.
If I’m going to plant a rose, it better be tough, disease-resistant, and long-blooming. ‘Peach Drift’ checks all those boxes, and now it’s on trend as well with its soft peachy-pink spring flowers that keep blooming through the end of summer. Perfect for small gardens, along walkways, and gently tumbling down slopes. Maturing to one to two feet high and two to three feet wide, this deciduous ground cover rose will accept full sun or part sun and regular drinks of water. Hardy in USDA Zones 4-11. An alternative to this rose with a more upright habit is the always-popular hybrid tea rose ‘Just Joey’, named “World’s Favorite Rose” in 1994.
This new and improved abelia from Sunset comes at the right time for the gardener wanting to riff a bit on the Pantone color trend. This low-water hybrid plays like a jazz song and offers vibrant multicolors with extra warm apricot tones. I use abelias all the time in my garden designs because they’re easy to maintain, deer-resistant, and colorful; plus this new hybrid stays effortlessly compact. Tiny white blossoms are an added bonus for hungry hummingbirds. This abelia grows to two to three feet tall and three to five feet wide, and will like full sun or partly sunny spot in hot climates. It’s a great candidate for containers, low border/hedge, or evergreen structure in a low-water garden. Hardy in USDA Zones 6-10.
I am a huge dahlia devotee and am especially fond of this waterlily-like hybrid that has long stems that gift apricot peachy flowers perfect for cutting and adding to floral arrangements. Plant this tuber in the spring in a sunny spot, and you’ll be rewarded from June to the first frost with delicate peachy blossoms. Perfect for borders or added to containers, it grows quickly to three to four feet high. Hardy in USDA Zones 8-11. Another peach perfect dahlia is the Giant Ball Dahlia ‘Sweet Suzanne’.
When defining the balletcore look, there are a few things to remember. The first is that a major part of the overall aesthetic is about tapping into things that are “pretty” or traditionally “feminine,” which manifests through the color palette, textiles, and silhouettes chosen. Typically, you’ll see ballerinas or anybody aspiring towards this look donning a muted pastel color palette of pale pink, light lilac, baby blue, and sage green, with pops of neutrals, including white, black, gray, and shades of nude. Occasionally, a brighter color will be thrown into the mix, like saffron red, but overall, most of the color palette is demure.
In terms of the textiles, you’ll see a mix of materials that will either be “performance-ready” or “off-duty casual.” For example, while ballerinas are on stage, they typically wear textiles made from tulle or chiffon (the material that makes the iconic tutu) embellished with crystals, ruffles, or any other form of appliqués. While off-stage, you’ll typically find that ballerinas are all about comfort, which is reflected through the adoption of more breathable materials that are easy to dance in, like jersey, cotton, and cashmere.
The same can be said for silhouettes, as the dancer’s schedules often inform them. Traditionally, you’d find a ballerina’s onstage look silhouette to be a dress with a form-fitting bodice and voluminous skirt. But designers have expanded that silhouette to include bubble hems, drop-waists, puff sleeves, and even looser-fitting ruffled frocks. In terms of off-duty silhouettes, you’ll see more of the traditional workout gear in the form of leotards, tights or leggings, and boleros. Overall, these are the things that have informed what we now consider “balletcore.” But ultimately, the key to nailing this fashion aesthetic is all about finding clothing that feels like it could be worn by ballerinas on the dance floor but incorporated into daily life effortlessly. So, what key pieces can ensure you embody this aesthetic? Find out…
Grammy-winning singer Pink is taking the fight against censorship to where she works.
The pop star on Monday announced she was giving away thousands of banned books at concert stops in Florida, where book-banning has thrived under Gov. Ron DeSantis (R).
In a partnership with PEN America and Florida bookseller Books & Books, Pink will distribute 2,000 copies of “The Family Book” by Todd Parr, “The Hill We Climb” by Amanda Gorman, “Beloved” by Toni Morrison and a book from the “Girls Who Code” series at her Tuesday and Wednesday shows in Miami and Sunrise, according to a release. All are on the free-expression advocacy group’s index of books that were banned at some point.
“Books have held a special joy for me from the time I was a child, and that’s why I am unwilling to stand by and watch while books are banned by schools,” the “Trustfall” performer said. “It’s especially hateful to see authorities take aim at books about race and racism and against LGBTQ authors and those of color. We have made so many strides toward equality in this country and no one should want to see this progress reversed. This is why I am supporting PEN America in its work and why I agree with them: no more banned books.”
Pink’s move comes on the heels of Florida’s Collier County removing hundreds of titles from its public school libraries, after the Florida Legislature passed a bill earlier this year permitting schools to restrict classroom materials about gender and sexuality.
Comedian Steve Martin, whose 2000 novel “Shopgirl” was among the targeted works, fought back with humor last week.
“So proud to have my book Shopgirl banned in Collier County, Florida!” he wrote on Instagram. “Now people who want to read it will have to buy a copy!”
But the situation is no laughing matter, PEN America says. Florida accounts for more than 40% of book bans amid an overall rise nationally, according to the advocacy group.
Pink still feels like an underdog, 25 years into her successful music career. She explains why she feels that way, even though she’s sold $350 million in tickets around the world so far this year.
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On her world tour, the pop singer showed off her skill as an acrobat, dangling from silk ropes without a safety net. 60 Minutes visited her California home to see how she trains for her nail-biting, aerial act.
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First, Warnings from “Five Eyes” intelligence leaders. Next, American shares story of being held in Iran. Then, Pink: The 60 Minutes Interview. And, Isle of Man’s dangerous TT motorcycle race.
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2023 has been a year of sold-out stadium concerts… but only one of the women breaking attendance records has built a global brand singing upside down. High-flying stunts are only part of her appeal. Alecia Moore is known as much for her party anthems as her powerhouse voice. And if the name is unfamiliar, it’s because she’s best known by her one-word professional identity: “Pink.” Pink famously has no filter and fans who have followed her 25-year career have come to expect her to share every detail of her sometimes-troubled story.
Cecilia Vega: Do I have this right? You’re willing to talk about anything. Any question is fine. There’s no offense taken.
Alecia (Pink): Yeah, it’s all– I’m– I’m open to all of it.
Cecilia Vega: A lotta people in your world, thrive on protecting privacy. You’re an open book. Why?
Alecia (Pink): I guess I look at it in a very specific way. If I’m a mystery to you, how can I expect you to connect with me? And if I’m a person that’s desperate for connection, then why would mystery be interesting to me? I wanna know you. I want you to know me.
Pink
60 Minutes
Start by coming to one of her concerts. We were there for her homecoming shows in Philadelphia last month… one stop on a year-and-a-half long tour.
She’s already set attendance records in stadiums around the world and sold more than $350 million in tickets.
A Pink concert is part rock rager, part Broadway spectacle, with some Tinker Bell sprinkled in.
She belts out her hits while flipping and flying a hundred feet in the air. …and she does it without lip syncing. When she says she actually sings *better* upside down, believe her.
Now 44, when she looks out into the crowd, she sees a lot more moms and dads. She calls herself and her fans the uncool kids… and takes great pleasure in taking on their haters. whether in her shows or on social media, her message is: don’t mess with them… or me.
Cecilia Vega: This image that you’ve created– you’ve got this famous snarl
Alecia (Pink): Yes
Cecilia Vega: Right? I wonder if when that started the message was, “this is a woman that you don’t wanna mess with.”
Alecia (Pink): Well, this is a woman you don’t wanna mess with is a true statement. I know what certain people think of when they look at me, down to the fact that I’m muscular, I’m outspoken, and I have short hair. I’m possibly a dude— definitely a lesbian. People sort of put you in a box no matter what you look like. And my box happens to be if you’re outspoken and you don’t sort of bend to societal norms, then you’re scary and dangerous.
Cecilia Vega: And the reality is?
Alecia (Pink): The reality is I am the goofiest, most fun-loving person that will possibly kick your ass if I have to.
These days, life is less “get the party started” and more “get these kids to bed.” Her 6-year-old son Jameson and 12-year-old daughter Willow are often on tour with her, riding their scooters on stage during sound checks. For the hometown show in Philly, Pink’s husband, motocross star Carey Hart, was there… and so was her mom Judy.
Alecia (Pink): So this is our tour library.
Backstage, there’s a library where the team swaps books. Pink has a romantic novel she needs to return.
Alecia (Pink): We have a little—(laugh)
Cecilia Vega: You actually have—
Alecia (Pink): –little sign in sheet
Cecilia Vega: (laughs) You actually have a sign in sheet.
Alecia (Pink): I wish I had the (makes noise) thing. But we don’t have that
Cecilia Vega: So I’ve been backstage for other artists. And some of the things I’ve seen are a lot of booze.
Alecia (Pink): Yeah
Cecilia Vega: A lot of party.
Alecia (Pink): Cool. My dressing room used to be, like, whiskey and cigarettes. Then it was ball pits and stuffed animals.
When she’s not on the road, she’s home in southern California. This is where she’s Alecia Moore… a mohawk-wearing mom who bakes sourdough and is part of the PTA. She’s either driving for school drop off or driving a forklift on her 25-acre vineyard. She says she schooled herself on the science of wine making by studying late into the night after her shows.
Pink has a 25-acre vineyard.
60 Minutes
Cecilia Vega: So do I have this correct? You don’t make pink rosé?
Alecia (Pink): I do not make pink rosé. My–grenache is– it looks like a white wine. Occasionally it’s a –bit peach, but –
Cecilia Vega: You drink it?
Alecia (Pink): I drink a lot– well, (laughs) Biggie Smalls once said, “Never get high on your own supply,” (laughs) but–
Cecilia Vega: He sure did.
Alecia (Pink): –yes, I do. I drink a lotta wine. (laughs)
Home is also where she makes music…
Alecia (Pink): This is my music room.
Cecilia Vega: Gorgeous–
Cecilia Vega: It’s really great.
Alecia (Pink): Yeah.
She’s a writer on most of her songs and says no topic is off limits– not even the ups and downs in her marriage.
Cecilia Vega: And you taught yourself–
Alecia (Pink): And–
Cecilia Vega: –to play on this?
Alecia (Pink): Sorta kinda. I mean, I can play halves of songs. One of my favorite songs is “Make You Feel My Love.” And I played this every day during COVID.
This is a Bob Dylan song made most recently famous by Adele…
Pink and Cecilia Vega in the singer’s music room
60 Minutes
Alecia (Pink): That’s one of my favorite songs. (singing) “When the rain is blowing in your face and the whole world is on your case, I could offer you a warm embrace to make you feel my love.”
Alecia (Pink): So I played that every day–
Cecilia Vega: Wow. Wow.
Alecia (Pink): –until I was good enough to-
Cecilia Vega: You taught yourself.
Alecia (Pink): –go on stage and play an instrument.
She grew up singing opera and gospel in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. But she says tension at home made her desperate to leave. She calls her relationship with her father, Jim Moore, complicated. He served in Vietnam and passed away two years ago. As a teen, arguments with her mother were so bad, Pink says one fight got physical and her mom fell down stairs. She now calls that her one regret in life.
Cecilia Vega: You’ve said you were the kid that other moms didn’t want their kids to play with. Why?
Alecia (Pink): I was a punk, I had a mouth. I was– (makes noise) I had a chip on my shoulder. Basically I grew up in a house where everyday my parents were screaming at each other, throwing things. They hated each other. And then I got into drugs. I was selling drugs. And then I was kicked out of the house. I dropped outta high school. I was off the rails.
Cecilia Vega: What happened on Thanksgiving in 1995?
Alecia (Pink): Thanksgiving of 1995 I was at a rave and I overdosed. I was on– oh boy– ecstasy, angel dust, crystal, all kinds of things. and then I was out. Done. Too much.
Cecilia Vega: You almost died?
Alecia (Pink): Yeah.
She says that was the end of hard drugs for her, and weeks later got her first record deal as the lead singer in an R&B girl group. But they didn’t last long.
Cecilia Vega: So, when you’re starting out, the industry sort of seems like they’ve got you going down a path. They paint you with an R&B brush?
Alecia (Pink): Yes, I signed to LaFace Records. We were the token White girls on a Black label.
Alecia (Pink): I was told to take etiquette classes very early on. They wanted me to learn how to wear dresses and use the right fork.
Cecilia Vega: How’d that work out?
Alecia (Pink): I went once. But it didn’t work.
Cecilia Vega: What did they not like?
Alecia (Pink): I think they were tryin’ to turn me into something that I didn’t wanna be. Image is everything in this business.
Using her teenage nickname Pink, she went solo and her first album was an R&B double-platinum success. She then broadened her sound to include rock and pop.
And not so subtly named her next album “Missundaztood”…
It was a career-defining hit, selling 15 million copies around the world.
Cecilia Vega: You’d said in the past it felt like you were never winning the popularity contest among your peers.
Cecilia vega: What do you mean by that?
Alecia (Pink): We sold three million tickets in the last six months, but you don’t really hear about it unless you went. So at the end of the day, do I give a –it who talks about me? As long as the mom and the daughter, or the dad who’s in the Pink t-shirt, as well as his daughter and her three friends, had a fantastic time– or the gay couple that came together and felt super safe at my show because no one heckled them, that’s what really matters.
And then there’s this…
Pink is known for her aerial stunts during her concerts.
60 Minutes
We wanted to know how she does it… singing upside down .. as an asthmatic no less… Well, it took a lot of childhood gymnastics classes and tortured training sessions with her aerialist coach Dreya Weber.
Dreya Weber: OK, tighten up your stomach.
Dreya Weber: Are you ready?
Alecia (Pink): Be nice.
Dreya Weber: Now sing.
Alecia (Pink): (singing) “Where this is desire there is gonna–“
Dreya Weber: Come on–
Alecia (Pink): (singing) –“gonna be a flame.”
Dreya Weber: Come on. (laughter)
Alecia (Pink): (singing) “Where there is a flame, someone’s bound to get burned. Just because–“
Dreya Weber: Come on.
Alecia (Pink): (singing) –“It burns doesn’t mean you’re gonna die. (singing) “You gotta get off.” (laughter)
Alecia (Pink): I’m not just a singer. I’m a gymnast. I can do all kinds of things. I’m physical. This body, like– this– the muscles that– that scare people are– it’s my power. Right? It’s like, I don’t eat well to look good, I eat well to go far, fast and hard.
Pink showed off her ability belt out her lysics, even in unusual circumstances.
60 Minutes
At 5’3″, she is all muscle… and make no mistake, as tough as she looks.
Alecia (Pink): I realize that the machete that I’ve always carried, this metaphorical machete that I’ve always carried that made me a really difficult kid, is what makes me really good at what I do today. And it makes me a survivor.
Cecilia Vega: Do you feel like you needed that hard edge, that machete to climb as far as you’ve climbed in this business, particularly?
Alecia (Pink): Absolutely. Absolutely I never got a record deal because I was cute; I got a record deal because I was fiery, I had a lot to say, and I had a voice. So I’m relieved I don’t have to fall back on– sort of conventional beauty. And– and that doesn’t have to be my thing. And I don’t have to keep that up, either, as I age. I don’t have to be that. I can be all of this.
She won’t need a plan b any time soon, but as she told us at midnight over a glass of wine in her dressing room in Philadelphia, she is planning the next chapter.
It’s what any self-respecting acrobatic, sequin-loving entertainer would do… a Las Vegas residency.
Alecia (Pink): I would like to have the best show that Vegas has ever seen. And I think that I can. For a performer like me to have a stage that doesn’t have to travel, (laughs) oh my God. You can do so much.
Cecilia Vega: So all these years in, what’s the hardest part about your job now?
Alecia (Pink): I guess that I keep demanding more, and more, and more, and more from myself physically, emotionally, spiritually– vocally. I wanna raise the bar all the time. And I’m sort of going against time, right?
Cecilia Vega: How do you keep outdoing that?
Alecia (Pink): I like going against societal norms. When they say a woman has to slow down, become smaller, take up less space, calm down, no. Absolutely not. Why? Who says? Why can’t we ride it till the wheels fall off? (laugh) That’s what I plan on doin’.
Produced by John Hamlin and Kara Vaccaro. Broadcast associate, Katie Jahns. Edited by Michael Mongulla.
Most Wantedis a weekly series in which one editor, staffer, or influencer shares their top 30 must-haves or current wish-list items.
I’m a former ballet dancer, so it’s safe to say I’m a little more than in love with the balletcore aesthetic. Baby pink is one of my favorite colors; satin ribbons, tulle skirts, and ballet flats are mainstays in my wardrobe; and my hair is in a bun 99% of the time. Naturally, my affinity for pretty things extends to my beauty routine as well. I’ve rounded up some gorgeous finds that embody balletcore to a T, many of which I’ve used to get dolled up for performances. Keep scrolling to see my balletcore beauty edit.
Pink, who received a bizarre gift from a fan during a show last summer, was interrupted again this week by an audience member’s antics.
The singer was in the middle of her show Monday when a man at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, began yelling about circumcision while holding up a message on his phone calling it “cruel and harmful.”
Pink, not one to suffer fools, told him to cut it out.
“Oh wow, you’re making a whole point right now, aren’t you?” Pink told the protester, as seen in viral TikTok footage. “Do you feel good about yourself? Are you gonna be alright? You spent all this money to come here and do that? Come on, dude.”
Pink joked that she might “have to buy a Birkin bag with that ticket money” before asking security to escort him out.
“He came here tonight to talk about circumcision,” she continued. “Get out, why don’t you get that outta here?”
“There’s something seriously wrong with a lot of you out there,” she wrote in a blurred-out follow-up post. “Going off about my baby’s penis? About circumcision??? Are you for real? As any normal mother at the beach, I didn’t even notice he took off his swim diaper.”
Pink has expressed special distaste for people who tell others what to do with their bodies. She slammed then-President George W. Bush and his anti-gay marriage policy in 2006’s “Dear Mr. President,” and told People in 2018 that she doesn’t “like labels” because both genders “can do anything.”
