12/10/2024: Flying Ferry ⛴️
PLUS: Live Más Café; Bonus Eras; and Wales Family Values
Today is Tuesday, December 10, 2024.
It is the 345th day of the year.
21 days remain.
WHAT’S ON TAP
Tokyo wants its employees to get busy and TIKTOK’s days are numbered. Details in HIT LIST.
Golden Globes nominations and more on JAY-Z’s role in DIDDY’s crimes in SHOWBIZ.
ALYSSA FARAH GRIFFIN promises to wear a MAGA cap under one condition. Details in CASTING CALL.
A group of teens is suing YE. More in KARDASH.
PRINCE LOUIS shares a sweet Christmas message in ROYALS.
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HIT LIST
TACO BELL is exploring a foray into the gourmet beverage business, with the launch of a concept restaurant in San Diego called the Live Más Café, a play on its slogan.
The single location offers a variety of milkshakes and “dirty sodas,” which typically combine common soda flavors with other mix-ins. In a nod to coffee cafe culture, Taco Bell calls the employees at the experiment “Bellristas,” who they say provide “exceptional flavor and hospitality in a cozy, inviting atmosphere, all while maintaining the great value customers love." Diners can order a handful of traditional T-Bell menu items as well.
A prolific Taco Bell franchisee, Diversified Restaurant Group, which operates hundreds of locations, is operating the Live Más Café. No word yet on what the future holds for expanding the concept. [via Nation’s Restaurant News]
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While Americans slowly warm up to electric vehicles on the roads, one entrepreneur wants to bring an innovative type of electric travel technology to Lake Tahoe with a flying ferry.
Ryan Meinzer, who started a company called Fly Tahoe, describes the science to CBS Sacramento: “This advent of combining flight technology with what's called hydrofoils are essentially wings underwater. So they operate under the same fluid dynamics as an airplane's wings to create lift."
There’s only one other such ferry in operation in the world, in Stockholm, Sweden.
Meinzer says if all goes to plan he’ll be operational by the end of next year. Currently he’s working with the government to get his ferry cleared for operation. He says his ferry will cross Lake Tahoe in about a half hour, about a third the time of traditional vessels, and cost $50 each way. [via CBS Sacramento]
WATCH SWEDEN’S ELECTRIC FERRY IN ACTION:
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TIKTOK’s days in the United States remain numbered, after the DC Circuit Court ruled that a law passed last spring banning the platform doesn’t violate the Constitution.
The Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act requires the app’s Chinese parent company, BYTEDANCE, to sell it off by January 19. (If you’re looking at a calendar, that’s the day before Inauguration Day). Publicly, ByteDance has said they’ll shut it down before spinning it off.
The Court did find some merit in Bytedance’s argument that the law encroaches on the First Amendment, but ruled that finding new ownership strengthens national security by not piping the data of millions of Americans straight to the Chinese Communist Party. [via The Verge]
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Employees of Tokyo’s city government will only work four days a week starting next April. While the official rationale includes improving flexibility for the workforce, city officials have one thing in mind for their employees: making babies.
In 2023, Japan’s fertility rate bottomed out around 1.2, well below the 2.1 “replacement rate” that keeps a society functional.
As part of the new regulation, employees with young children will also be able to work two or fewer hours a day. The measure affects an estimated 160,000 workers. [via International Business Times]
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Before making New Year’s resolutions, check out what’s to come in 2025 from the “prophet of doom” himself, NOSTRADAMUS.
According to his book, “Les Propheties,” originally published in 1555, next year will see an end to the war in Ukraine; plague and more war; fear of a giant asteroid named “Harbinger of Fate” colliding with Earth; a natural disaster in Brazil; and rise of the “Aquatic Empire” – but it all depends on how generous you want to be with your interpretations of his prose.
For those questioning whether to believe the predictions, here are some things Nostradamus has gotten right over the years (again depending on how much intellectual gymnastics you want to do):
Great Fire of London
Hitler’s rise to power
September 11 attacks
Covid pandemic
2024’s New Year’s Day earthquake in Japan
WORTH ASKING: With the reports of aliens living in the ocean, did the last one trigger any thoughts of an invasion? [via NY Post]
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BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The DOW lost 240 points (0.54%) to close at 44,401 on Monday. The S&P lost 37 points (0.61%) to close at 6,052 and the NASDAQ lost 123 points (0.62%) to close at 19,736.
🛢 WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE closed at $68; BRENT CRUDE at $71.
⛽ The national average price of a GALLON OF GAS was $3.01.
₿ BITCOIN was volatile Monday, dropping down to $94k but popping back up around $97,000.
💰Tonight’s MEGA MILLIONS drawing will be for a $619 million jackpot or a $297.7 million cash payout.
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SHOWBIZ NEWS
Nominations for the 82nd annual Golden Globes were announced Monday.
“Emilia Perez” leads the films with 10 nods, followed by “The Brutalist” with seven and “Conclave” with six. For TV, “The Bear” leads the pack with five noms, while “Only Murders in the Building” and “Shogun” each received four.
Box office hits “Wicked,” “Gladiator II,” and “Dune: Part Two” scored eight nominations each.
Other notables: DENZEL WASHINGTON is now the most-nominated Black actor with his 11th nomination.
Comedian NIKKI GLASER will host the ceremony, live from the Beverly Hilton on January 5. [via Deadline]
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On Monday, JAY-Z filed to dismiss the rape lawsuit against him, and asked that his accuser be named publicly.
In the motion, Jay also called out Texas-based lawyer TONY BUZBEE, saying he has created an “extortionate campaign” against him to “force payment of an exorbitant sum of money.”
Buzbee is the attorney representing a majority of those who have filed lawsuits against SEAN COMBS.
For those unaware, a woman, identified only as Jane Doe, filed a lawsuit against Combs in October, claiming she was sexually assaulted by him and another male celebrity after the VMAs in 2000. She would have only been 13 at the time. On Sunday, she amended the suit, naming Jay-Z as the other male celebrity who assaulted her.
RUMOR IS: There was an unidentified female celebrity who watched the assault. [via Page Six]
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TAYLOR SWIFT gave $197 million in bonuses to those who have worked tirelessly on her “Eras Tour” over the past nearly two years.
The bonuses went to truck drivers, caterers, instrument techs, merch team, lighting, sound, production staff and assistants, carpenters, dancers, band, security, choreographers, pyrotechnics, riggers, hair, makeup, wardrobe, physical therapists, and video team.
BY THE NUMBERS: Over 10 million people attended the “Eras Tour,” which sold over $2 BILLION in total tickets. That makes it the bestselling tour of all time, with “double the gross ticket sales of any other concert tour in history,” according to Swift’s production company. [via People]
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PAUL RUDD shocked some locals when he popped into a pub in Dublin for a pint and some singing.
According to fellow bar patrons, the actor was seen hanging out with popular limerick folk band, Hermitage Green, ahead of their big concert.
Rudd is currently in Ireland filming “Power Ballad,” alongside NICK JONAS. [via The Sun]
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CHRIS ROCK abruptly ended his comedy set and stormed off stage during the Pratt Industries Christmas party in Australia over the weekend.
According to several reports, Rock reportedly “saw something the audience did not” and whatever that was “upset him.”
One insider claims he shouted something about not being “taped, videoed, recorded or whatever” before “barrelling quickly, forcefully, through people to the exit doors.”
Rock was hired by billionaire Anthony Pratt to perform at the exclusive party. [via The Blast]
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After a year of being criticized over their famous friends, and dealing with rumors of an impending divorce, ASHTON KUTCHER and MILA KUNIS are ready to put it all to bed.
“They want to throw a party at their house and do a small vow renewal,” an insider tells The Mirror.
This of course comes after the pair supported convicted rapist, actor DANNY MASTERSON, and Kutcher’s alleged connection to SEAN COMBS and his freakoff parties made headlines.
ELSEWHERE: There are multiple reports that the couple are considering relocating to Europe. [via The Mirror]
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KEITH URBAN once signed a fan's prosthetic leg.
He detailed the crazy interaction on “The Kelly Clarkson Show,” saying a fan asked him to sign her leg during a concert. He says “of course” and invites her up on stage, but moments later she disappears.
“Then she pops up out of the same spot and throws this prosthetic leg up on stage!” he continues. “This leg landed with a thud.”
Urban followed through, however, signing the leg, before questioning how he’d return it to the fan, which he ended up essentially crowd surfing back to her. [via EW]
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DAVID BECKHAM is doing a security overhaul after discovering images of his rural mansion, located in the Cotswolds, on Google Earth.
According to Radar Online, the detailed images lay out a map for those looking to gain access to the home via the surrounding fields and woods.
The area was hit by thieves six years ago, though at the time they were scared off by guards and attack dogs. [via RadarOnline]
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CASTING CALL
Two weeks in theaters and “Moana 2” is now the sixth-biggest movie of the year with over $600 million in global ticket sales.
It will soon take over its predecessor, 2016’s “Moana,” which grossed $643 million worldwide. [via Variety]
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ALYSSA FARAH GRIFFIN vows to wear a MAGA cap on “The View” if DONALD TRUMP follows through on getting the “Israeli hostages out.”
“Please don’t do that,” her co-host SUNNY HOSTIN replied.
Griffin was press secretary for former Vice President MIKE PENCE and a special assistant to Trump during his first term. She, however, voted Democrat for the first time last month, choosing to support KAMALA HARRIS over her former boss. [via EW]
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
Four teenagers hired to work for YE are suing him, claiming he created a hostile work environment.
The former employees say they were hired to create a streaming app to promote his “Vultures 2” album, but were instead subjected to bullying and exposed to pornographic images.
Ye’s former chief of staff MILO YIANNOPOULOS, is also named in the suit.
Each of the teens is seeking $300,000 in damages. [via InTouch]
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
The Waleses stepped out as a family as PRINCESS KATE hosted the “Together at Christmas” carol concert over the weekend. As part of the festivities, visitors can write a message of gratitude for someone they’re thankful for on red slips of paper, then hang them on a Christmas tree as ornaments.
Six-year-old PRINCE LOUIS was spotted hanging one of his own, reading, “Thank you for Granny and Grandpa because they have played games with me.”
WORTH NOTING: This likely applies to Kate’s parents. While KING CHARLES does have a private reputation as a doting grandfather, it’s been previously reported that Will and Kate’s kids call him “Grandpa Wales,” and call Camilla “Gaga.” [via New York Post]
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DAY OF THE YEAR
National Lager Day
International Animal Rights Day
Nobel Prize Day
Human Rights Day
Dewey Decimal System Day
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ON THIS DATE
1778 - John Jay becomes the President of the Continental Congress, where he had previously served as a delegate.
Jay was known for favoring independence in the colonies but was weary of a complete split from Britain.
Nonetheless, he would eventually be named the first Chief Justice by George Washington, and later negotiated the Jay Treaty in 1794 to settle ongoing military and commercial disputes between the US and Britain.
He would finish his political life as Governor of New York from 1797 to 1801.
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1884 - The “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” by Mark Twain is first published in the UK and Canada.
It wouldn’t be published in the US until the following February due to a printing error that turned an illustration into a lewd drawing. The book’s publisher, Charles L. Webster, wrote to the New York Herald in 1884 offering a $500 reward to track down whoever secretly altered the original engraving, which apparently added a very conspicuous bulge to the character of Uncle Silas’ pants.
Here’s how Webster described the alteration at the time: “On page 283 was a small illustration… By the punch of an awl or graver the illustration became an immoral one…. Had the mistake not been discovered, Mr. Clemens's [Mark Twain’s] credit for decency and morality would have been destroyed.''
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1901 - Five years after the death of Alfred Nobel, the first of his namesake prizes are awarded in Stockholm, Sweden.
The fields were physics, chemistry, medicine, literature, and peace.
Nobel himself most notably invented dynamite and the science of controlled explosions. He willed his tremendous fortune to those who benefited mankind.
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1915 - Ford produces its one millionth car – a Model T, which rolled off the line at Detroit’s River Rouge plant.
At the time, there was no celebration. Only later, in an internal newsletter, did the company note the milestone.
Nine years later, the ten-millionth car was paraded around to much fanfare, traveling from coast to coast.
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1936 - King Edward VIII abdicates the Throne.
In order to circumvent the traditional, ceremonial, political, and religious obligations of the monarchy, Edward would have to leave power in order to marry commoner Wallis Simpson.
The Church of England dictated that divorced people could not marry again as long as their ex was still living. As to not create a dangerous precedent, Edward left his station as monarch and head of the Church of England.
He was succeeded by George VI, the father of Queen Elizabeth II, and history was forever altered.
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1967 - Otis Redding and his band die in a plane crash over Lake Monona, just outside Madison, Wisconsin.
Severe weather was blamed for the accident, though the exact cause of the crash was not determined.
The wreckage and the bodies were found the next day.
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1971 - Lucasfilm Ltd. is founded as a film and television production company by George Lucas in San Francisco, California. Six years later, Lucas released “Star Wars.”
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2012 - Johnny Manziel is awarded the 78th Heisman Trophy.
The QB from Texas A&M is the first freshman to win the award.
Four years later…
Lamar Jackson is awarded the Heisman Trophy.
At only 19, he is the youngest player to win the honor.
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2019 - The first fully electric commercial plane completes a test flight in Vancouver.
The retro-fitted seaplane, housing a 750-horsepower electric motor built by US firm magniX, flew above the Fraser River for about seven minutes before touching down.
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BIRTHDAYS
Josie Duggar - 19th Duggar - 15
Joe Burrow - football player - 28
Melissa Roxburgh - actress, “Manifest” - 32
Teyana Taylor - rapper - 34
Raven-Symone - actress, “That’s So Raven” - 39
Xavier Samuel - actor, “Twilight Saga: Eclipse” - 41
Patrick Flueger - actor, “Chicago P.D.” - 41
Sultan Kosen - world’s tallest man - 42
Evelyn Lozada - reality star, “Basketball Wives” - 49
Meg White - drummer, White Stripes - 50
Bobby Flay - chef - 60
Kenneth Branagh - actor, “High Season” - 64
John J. York - actor, “General Hospital” - 66
Jack Hues - singer-songwriter - 70
Born On This Date
Michael Clarke Duncan - actor, “The Green Mile” - 1957 (d. 2012)
Emily Dickenson - poet - 1830 (d. 1886)
Ada Lovelace - mathematician - 1815 (d. 1852)
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