Brie, as we literally all do actually know, is a French cheese. It's sometimes known as "The Queen of Cheeses," just like this newsletter — as in, "Need2Know is the Queen of Newsletters," you know? Meanwhile, Baby Brie… has a smaller diameter than regular Brie, hence its diminutive title, and "Santa Baby" is a popular Christmas song. I realize the cheese pun/cheddline connection was a further reach than usual today, but you're good for it; I can tell. Try to gloss over that second one, if you can? —Matt Davis, Need2Know Chedditor P.S. We've got a robot manicurist on our gram! |
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"We are at the very much of the beginning of our journey vis-a-vis light spray." — Martin Hoffman. |
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1. Christmas Music Tops Spotify's Charts, Ushering the Right Time to Rock the Night Away |
The holiday season is peeking over the horizon a bit earlier each year, and according to recent data, 2024 is setting unprecedented records for the early embrace of festive tunes. Spotify's "Christmas Hits" playlist has surged to the No. 1 playlist slot in the U.S. this week, boasting almost double the streams compared to the same period last year.
As of November 1, Spotify witnessed a dramatic uptick in streams for iconic Christmas tracks. Eartha Kitt's "Santa Baby" and Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas Is You" are topping the list. Perhaps it's a collective yearning for the comfort and joy that the holiday season represents? I can't think why... Read More |
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2. We Might Be About to Have a Nuclear War |
Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued a stark warning to the United States and its allies by signing a new nuclear doctrine. It comes amid growing concerns over President Joe Biden's U-turn allowing Kyiv to use American-made long-range missiles for strikes inside Russia, sparking a vehement response from the Kremlin.
The newly signed decree by President Putin effectively lowers the threshold for the use of nuclear weapons by Russia. The revision in Russia's nuclear doctrine is a clear indication that the Kremlin is willing to consider a conventional attack on Russia, supported by a nuclear power, as a joint attack on its sovereignty. It's a dramatic shift in policy, underlining the heightened risk of escalation in an already volatile geopolitical landscape.
Ukraine just marked 1,000 days since the inception of Russia's comprehensive invasion. With thousands of civilian and military lives lost, the international community remains deeply divided on how to effectively address the ongoing violence.
Of course, there's a new president starting in January, and his vice president has suggested a good way to end the war would be to capitulate and have Ukraine cede captured land to Russia. So, it's unlikely we'll have a nuclear war, after all, but it's a possibility! It's probably best to put Mariah Carey on loop and dig yourself a bunker over Thanksgiving. Read More |
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| Do you still leave a tip for a robot? Asking for a friend 💅🤖
Travelers at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas can now enjoy a manicure from the AI-powered Clockwork MiNiCURE. The service, part of XpresSpa, debuted in Terminal 1 in late 2023 and is now available at airports in New York and Florida too. |
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3. Will Trump Media Buy Crypto Firm Bakkt? |
Donald Trump's social media group is reportedly in advanced talks to acquire Bakkt, a well-known player in the cryptocurrency trading platform space. The move, first reported by the Financial Times, signals a deeper involvement for the former U.S. president in the cryptocurrency arena, potentially merging his political and technological influences.
Bakkt's shares skyrocketed 162.5% after the report, and Trump Media also went up 15%. Trump has pledged to retain his 53% stake in the company, and Trump Media has become one of the most actively traded US stocks since Trump's election victory. It may have reported just $2.6 million in revenues this year, but it has a $6 billion equity valuation. What could possibly go wrong? Read More |
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4. These 3-Minute "Spray-On" Shoes Could Change The Footwear Industry |
Swiss sportswear company On Running has unveiled a groundbreaking innovation in footwear manufacturing: spray-on shoes featuring its new "Light Spray" technology. The process allows for the creation of a shoe upper in just three minutes using robotic spraying.
Martin Hoffman, the firm's Chief Financial Officer and co-CEO (pick a title, dude…), showed us the tech in action. Traditional shoe manufacturing involves lots of steps and labor. On Running's Light Spray technology streamlines this process, using a robotic arm to spray a liquid material directly onto a mold, creating a seamless and lightweight upper. It's not only more efficient, but it also reduces the environmental impact of shoe production. The resulting shoe upper is incredibly light, providing a "much more direct connection to the shoe," Hoffman said. It also has a 75% lower CO2 footprint. "We are at the very much of the beginning of our journey vis-a-vis light spray," he said. Read More |
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5. Trump Could Hold Musk's Hand at SpaceX Launch |
President-elect Donald Trump will be standing side by side with SpaceX CEO Elon Musk on Tuesday for the latest test flight of the colossal Starship rocket in Texas. The event marks yet another public cooperation between Trump and Musk. I read a funny tweet yesterday saying, "Donald Trump locks bathroom door to avoid being followed by Elon Musk."
Ho, ho, ho. Still, their partnership has become increasingly visible, with Musk making regular appearances at Trump's rallies and even joining him at the UFC 309 event at Madison Square Garden last weekend. SpaceX's 400-foot Starship is hailed as the most powerful rocket ever constructed. Its role is pivotal in NASA's Artemis campaign for lunar exploration, aiming to safely transport astronauts from orbit to the moon's surface. Beyond moon missions, Musk envisions the Starship as humanity's first step towards the colonization of Mars.
"A new world awaits in the off-world colonies," to quote Bladerunner, a dystopian science fiction film set five years ago. Read More |
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| So, What Do You Think of Cheddar?
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