Aug 20, 2024

Chimay Be the Beauty or The Beast

If there's a better Cheese Pun with which to kick off the Democratic National Convention, I'm hard-pressed to find it. Of course I'm referring simultaneously to Elvis Costello's song "She;" to a Broadway musical, which will come up again later; and, finally, to divided opinions about presumptive Democratic Presidential nominee Kamala Harris.

Today's pun also, as we all know, references Chimay, a cheese made by quiet Trappist monks in the Belgian countryside, with a variety of flavors and textures. It can be half-baked, a bit like this newsletter. Or it can be sticky, grassy, and hoppy — again, a bit like this newsletter. Thanks, incidentally, to Rebecca T for the recent newsletter feedback, asking, "What happened to the old N2K writer? Please bring them back and kill this awful new brand voice."

Sharp like cheddar, Becky, eh?

Speaking of sharp, the markets rose further yesterday, with all 11 sectors up in the S&P 500. The week's big market moment is still tomorrow's appearance by Fed Chair Jerome Powell before an annual gathering of central bankers at Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Until then, we're here to keep you in the know with Tuesday's cheddlines:

Chimay be the famine or the feast!

—Matt Davis, N2K Chedditor

P.S. We've got footage of a robotic fish on our Instagram!

Quote of the Day

"Last week, Broadway was 96% full, and if we aren't making money on 96% of these seats being sold, then that's on us, right?" — Thomas Laub

Read the story

1. Run DNC! Convention Kicks Off in Chicago

It's like that. The Democratic National Convention (DNC) — not to be confused with Hip Hop act Run DMC (d'oh!) — is underway in Chicago with Vice President Kamala Harris set to be the focal point as she walks this way, preparing to accept the Democratic nomination later in the week. The week comes as a critical test for the Democratic party's harmony and Harris's ability to establish her candidacy's independence while maintaining allegiance to Good Old (or just Old) President Joe Biden's achievements.

Anticipation surrounds Harris's speech, which is expected to introduce her campaign's vision and distinguish her leadership style from President Biden's. I sense it won't be all that different, to be fair. Still, many are on tenterhooks to see how Harris will handle divisive issues like the war in Gaza, which are pivotal with Gen Z. Something I will not do now is attempt to solve that issue with a flippant cheese pun.

Meanwhile, rival presidential candidate Donald Trump continues to engage in aggressive campaigning. He plans to visit several battlegrounds this week and has even posted fake images of Taylor Swift pretending he has the singer's endorsement, which he most definitely does not have. Read More

2. Federal Judge Changes the Channel on Mega-Streaming Bundle

A judge has blocked Venu Sports' $42.99 monthly mega-streaming bundle, combining sports channels from Walt Disney, Fox, and Warner Bros.

The judge said there were simply too many acronyms amongst the 14 combined channels: ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNEWS, ESPN+, SEC Network, ACC Network, FOX, FOX Sports 1, FOX Sports 2, Big Ten Network, TNT, TBS and truTV.

Wait...she didn't say that. She said the new service might have "violated anti-trust claims" in response to a lawsuit filed by rival streamer FuboTV. The judge granted FuboTV's request for a preliminary injunction, saying consumers would "suffer irreparable harm" without it.

The lawsuit was initiated by FuboTV two weeks after the announcement of Venu Sports on February 6, arguing that their efforts to provide a sports-only streaming service were hampered by ESPN, Fox, and Warner Bros. through bundling requirements. Fubo said this forced them to incur significant costs for unwanted or unnecessary content. David Gandler, Fubo's co-founder and CEO, hailed the ruling as a win for both Fubo and consumers, promising continued efforts for fairness and a competitive marketplace. The case has also attracted attention from cable and satellite providers because of the implications for content licensing and distribution fairness.

Meanwhile, my main question is: Where am I going to be able to watch the NBA when the season starts in the fall? Eh? Read More

From @cheddar

Meet Eve, the robotic fish making waves in ocean research. Engineering students at ETH Zurich in Switzerland are creating innovative robots that could transform ocean research. One of their designs, "Eve," is a robotic fish that swims through water with minimal disruption to marine ecosystems.

Eve features a silicone tail powered by internal pumps that enable it to swim effortlessly like a real fish. According to the student team, the robot's biomimetic design helps it not scare fish or other marine life. Eve can help scientists identify aquatic species and provide valuable insights into ocean life.

Follow @cheddar on Instagram!

3. Oh, Dear: Jake Paul Says He'll Beat Mike Tyson in November

Mike Tyson and Jake Paul have once again met face-to-face in New York City for a news conference to promote their upcoming fight on November 15 in Arlington, Texas.

Tyson, who experienced a health scare with an ulcer flare-up in May delaying the original July fight date, declared he is now ready and has been training for the bout. At 58, Tyson is significantly older than the 27-year-old Paul, who took on the role of the antagonist during the conference, eliciting boos from the crowd and responding defiantly.

"Mike, I love you, but this is my sport now," Paul said. "You're a legend. You're one of the two most famous boxers to ever live — you and Muhammad Ali. It's an honor to get in the ring with you; I'm so, so honored. You're a legend, but I'm gonna take your throne, brother."

Oh, dear. Oh, dear. Oh, dear.

Despite criticism of the fight being seen as just a spectacle, Paul sees it as a strategic move in his boxing career with ambitions to eventually take on names like Canelo Álvarez for world titles. The problem with those ambitions is that they are clearly delusional, and Mike Tyson is very likely indeed to kill him in November. File under "idiot." Next! Read More

You Need 2 Know About This Box!

Meet the Sunset Box, a quarterly subscription service sending home, wellness, and travel goodies straight to your doorstep, curated by editors at mag Sunset, the Western-lifestyle magazine that just so happens to be a sister company of ours.

Since you clearly have good taste (you're an N2K subscriber, after all), we think you'll love this box. Use code CHEDDAR15 for 15% off your subscription.

Gimme the Box!

Note: Sadly does not contain any cheese.

4. Has Broadway Officially Rebounded To Pre-Covid Times?

I love a good show, but what's been up with Broadway since the pandemic? We chatted with Tony Award-winning producer Thomas Laub about the business of Broadway.

"Broadway is off to a humming start of the summer," he said. "We're excited to see these packed houses. People are coming. People are excited, and I think just like anything else, we have to give them a reason to come."

Costs are rising to stage Broadway shows, he said. "When we're generating and developing a show, we might talk in terms of years and workshops and development sessions. And not only has the cost of each of those risen, but the number of those required to get a show to the street now has increased. So not only has the cost of development increased, but the timeline has extended."

Nevertheless, Broadway has taken advantage of dynamic pricing models to sell out at the last minute. "Last week, Broadway was 96% full," he said. "And if we aren't making money on 96% of these seats being sold, then that's on us, right?"

Wicked, The Lion King, and Hamilton continue to be the mega shows. Thomas also recommends The Big Gay Jamboree, which is coming up. Keanu Reeves, George Clooney, and Robert Downey, Jr. are also rumored to be mulling stints on Broadway over the coming months. Exciting! Read More

5. 'The Outsiders' Cody Spencer Pulls Back The Curtain On Broadway Sound Design

Speaking of Broadway, we caught up with Tony Award-winning sound designer Cody Spencer of The Outsiders for an exclusive look at how audio is used to bring the magic on stage to life.

"My big goal is to sit in every seat, any place in the house, and really just make sure that everyone is having the same experience," he said. "We need to make sure we take care of the cast, make sure the cast is hearing what they need to on stage, and make sure the musicians have everything they need."

The musical, which depicts rival gangs divided by economic status in 1960s Tulsa, is based on the 1967 coming-of-age novel by S.E. Hinton and the 1983 film adaptation directed by Francis Ford Coppola. But the score, written by folk band Jamestown Revival, is what most influenced Cody's vision, he said.

Unlike most Broadway musicals, The Outsiders isn't a very loud show, with both intimate and dynamic moments that build from scene to scene. Cody uses Sound Vision, a software package created by L-Acoustics, to build the sound quality in the auditorium.

"I'm able to emulate as if I'm sitting in the seats, so that it's going to sound exactly how I want it to," he said.

L-Acoustics products have also powered Adele's Las Vegas residency, music festivals like Coachella, and the Super Bowl halftime show. After 15 years working on Broadway, Cody continues to bring a fresh perspective to new stages. He's currently working alongside Grammy Award-winning producer Jack Antonoff on an upcoming musical adaptation of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.

"I always want to put my best foot forward and have the best design possible, no matter what level," he said. "As you get higher up, there is more pressure, more producers, more people looking at you. I just constantly try to do the best no matter what I do." Just like this newsletter! Read More