You're A Barrel of Laughs Today |
Barilotto, meaning "barrel" in Italian, is a cheese made by a Casa Madaio dairy farm in Cilento, Campania. It is produced by heating the whey obtained from buffalo mozzarella production. The cheese's smooth yet granular paste melts in the mouth instantly, rather like this newsletter. Meanwhile today's Cheddlines are not exactly a barrel of laughs, I'm afraid, although some of them might make you titter a bit. Barreling through! —Matt Davis, Need2Know Chedditor P.S. This robot is the new Caitlin Clark, sinking full-court basketball shots thanks to machine learning. |
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1. How's This for Government Efficiency? Elon Musk Drives Shutdown |
Talk about government efficiency. President-elect Donald Trump delivered a likely death blow to bipartisan congressional budget negotiations this week, rejecting the measure as full of giveaways to Democrats after billionaire ally Elon Musk whipped up outrage toward the bill and cheered on Republican lawmakers who announced their opposition.
"Stop the steal of your tax dollars!" Musk wrote on his social media platform X as he dangled primary challenges against anyone who voted for the budget deal, a threat Trump later echoed in a post of his own.
The episode showcased the growing political influence of Musk. Trump's opposition to what was considered must-pass legislation reinjected a sense of uncertainty and political brinkmanship that was reminiscent of his first term in office. The Biden administration criticized the possibility of a shutdown.
"Republicans need to stop playing politics with this bipartisan agreement or they will hurt hardworking Americans and create instability across the country," said White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.
Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform and a veteran of Washington's budget battles, was concerned about the lack of a clear plan for resolving the dispute.
"There's got to be a second part of the strategy," he told the Associated Press.
Norquist has been enthusiastic about Musk's ability to generate public attention for efforts to reduce the size of government, but he suggested that the owner of a space rocket company wasn't the right person to spearhead a congressional spending debate.
"He doesn't know politics like he knows physics," he said. Read More |
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2. United Airlines Will Serve Banana Pudding from Magnolia Bakery, Sorta |
United Airlines has recently announced a unique addition to its in-flight menu: the famous banana pudding from New York City's Magnolia Bakery.
A dessert institution revered for its frosted cupcakes and notable appearance on the original Sex and the City series, Magnolia Bakery has captivated the taste buds of New Yorkers for years. Yesterday my son ate several of their $5 cupcakes.
While the original Magnolia Bakery recipe features layers of creamy vanilla pudding, fresh bananas, and Nilla Wafers, the version taking to the skies, dubbed "Banana Pudding Wafer Cookie Bits," offers a unique twist appropriate for high-altitude enjoyment. The 3 oz. frozen-to-thaw pudding cup is described as "a wafer cookie wonderland," packed with whipped bananas and chunky bits of wafer cookies, promising a delightful dessert experience above the clouds.
In other words, it's not really banana pudding from Magnolia Bakery. It's also only available on long-distance, first-class flights for the time being but whatever. Delta just announced it was going to offer Shake Shack, and airlines are a competitive business. Read More |
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| Could Toyota's basketball-playing robot be the future of the game? 🤖🏀 CUE just set a world record for the longest basketball shot by a humanoid robot. |
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3. Oscar Mayer Will Pay You $35k Plus Health Insurance and Free Hotel Stays to Drive the Wienermobile Across the Country |
Have you ever dreamed of hitting the open road inside a 30-foot hot dog?
I mean, who hasn't? Right?
Luckily, Oscar Meyer is turning those everyday dreams we all have into a delicious reality, offering a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity: Imagine being at the helm of the famous Weinermobile, symbolizing joy and nostalgia across the United States, and getting paid doing it!
The job comes with a savory salary of $35,000 a year, health insurance, free hotel stays, and a weekly cash allowance. I'm sure that there is absolutely nothing that could go wrong if you quit your current gig, apply for this one, and get going as soon as possible. Nothing. Read More |
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4. SpaceX Wants Starbase to be Texas City |
I'm reading a fascinating book called The Case for Mars by Robert Zebrin. It's about the plan to settle the red planet and "why we must." I'm not so convinced, personally. It implies we've given up on this planet. I'm not disputing the case for adventure, but there are real issues to be solved on Earth. What do you think?
Meanwhile, Elon Musk's SpaceX is pushing forward with plans to transform an unassuming community in Texas into the burgeoning epicenter of humanity's march to Mars. Aptly named Starbase, this Texas city is on the cusp of becoming a reality and the official 'gateway to Mars'.
First, Musk just needs to win an election, which as we know is his recent strength. Nestled within Cameron County in the far-south of Texas, Starbase is more than just a launch site; it's the heart of SpaceX's rocket manufacturing, operations, and the ambitious Starship program, which aims to develop the first fully reusable rocket capable of manned missions to the Moon and Mars.
Now the journey to Mars, as envisioned by Musk and his team, necessitates the official incorporation of Starbase as a city. Kathryn Lueders, Starbase's general manager, in a letter to Cameron County Judge Eddie Trevino, highlighted the need for the incorporation.
"To continue growing the workforce necessary to rapidly develop and manufacture Starship, we need the ability to grow Starbase as a community," Lueders wrote.
The process to make Starbase a city involves a special election ordered by a county judge, a step that could streamline efforts to make Starbase not only a hub for space exploration but also a "world-class place to live."
As Starbase gears up for its transformation into an official city, SpaceX's investment in the area is already generating significant economic impact, with billions poured into infrastructure and hundreds of millions in income and taxes for local businesses and government. Would you want to live there? Read More |
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5. Home Sales Hit Fastest Pace Since March, but Buying a Home Is Still Hella Expensive |
The U.S. housing market witnessed a notable upswing in November, fueled by an increased inventory of homes on the market.
According to data released by the National Association of Realtors, existing home sales surged 4.8% in November from October, reaching a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.15 million. The numbers outpaced economists' expectations and marked a significant 6.1% escalation compared with November last year.
Home prices have continued their upward trajectory for the 17th consecutive month, with the national median sales price climbing 4.7% from a year earlier to $406,100. Mortgage rates — which had reached a 23-year peak of nearly 8% in October — have seen some fluctuation, recently dipping to a more favorable rate just above 6%. These rates, while marginally lower, remain too expensive for many potential homebuyers. Read More |
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