You'll Need a Carabiner for This Climb |
Carabiner, as we all know, is a natural-rinded raw cow's milk cheese aged for just over five months and made in a mountain style in California. A carabiner, meanwhile, is something crazy people use to climb steep cliffs and things. Today's cheddlines you need2know include an appropriate variety of tall orders: Hire a sherpa, for crying out loud. —Matt Davis, Need2Know Chedditor P.S. The most expensive house in the U.S. ever just hit the market, but it's in a floodplain. Check it out on our 'gram! |
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"Copa América" — The most-googled thing in 2024. |
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1. Judge Rejects The Onion's Bid to Buy Infowars |
A Texas judge has ruled against The Onion's auction bid for Infowars, which found itself bankrupt from the nearly $1.5 billion in judgments that courts have ordered host Alex Jones to pay for falsely calling the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary shooting a hoax.
U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Lopez in Houston called the auction process into question. It saw The Onion offering $1.75 million in cash along with other incentives, while another bidder — First United American Companies, which runs a website selling nutritional supplements under Jones' name — put forth a $3.5 million bid. Although First United American's bid was higher, The Onion's offer included a pledge by many Sandy Hook families to forgo $750,000 of auction proceeds due to them, thus providing more money for other creditors involved. The judge said that's not fair. Next steps are unclear. Jones celebrated the verdict on his show, though. No joke. Read More |
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2. General Motors Exits Robotaxi Market |
General Motors is calling a metaphorical taxi to get away from the robotaxi market, announcing it will shut down its Cruise driverless ride-hailing service after investing over $10 billion.
Cruise, a majority-owned subsidiary of GM, was at one point seen as the linchpin of GM's strategy to dominate the autonomous vehicle space. With bold projections, including a forecast by GM CEO Mary Barra in 2023 that Cruise would generate $50 billion in annual revenue by 2030, expectations were sky high.
However, reality has proven harsh. GM announced that the decision to stop funding Cruise robotaxis was driven by the "considerable time and resources that would be needed to scale the business," amidst an "increasingly competitive robotaxi market."
The retreat from the robotaxi business is expected to reduce GM's expenses significantly, with anticipated savings of more than $1 billion annually once the restructuring plan concludes by the end of June.
The stock market reacted positively to the news, with GM shares climbing 3.2% in extended trading following the announcement. This suggests that investors might be relieved that GM is cutting losses on a project that has become increasingly uncertain.
GM is not alone in facing setbacks in the autonomous driving sector. Several of its competitors, including Ford, have also dialed back their investments. Read More |
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| The most expensive U.S. home ever just hit the market. But there's a twist: it's located in a Florida floodplain. |
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3. Tom Brady's Jerseys, Watches Auctioned Off for $9M |
The event, hosted by Sotheby's in New York, titled "The GOAT Collection: Watches and Treasures from Tom Brady," captivated collectors and fans worldwide, culminating in a white-glove sale that significantly surpassed pre-auction estimates.
The summit was the sale of a yellow gold Rolex Daytona watch known as the "John Player Special." Worn by Brady when Patriots owner Robert Kraft announced his induction into the team's Hall of Fame, it fetched a monumental $1.14 million. It had been estimated to attract between $600,000 and $900,000, underscoring the premium that collectors were willing to pay for items directly connected to the quarterback's historic career.
One of my favorite insults of all time is to describe a hedge fund manager's watch as a "starter Rolex." Try it sometime, for real.
Other significant items in the auction included Brady's Super Bowl LI playbook wristband, his 2000 NFL Combine shirt, and his final college jersey from Michigan, which alone went for $792,000 — far exceeding its estimated value of $300,000 to $500,000.
The auction attracted immense global interest, with 800 participants from 45 countries. Interesting demographics emerged, notably that 40% of the participants were under the age of 40.
Often referred to as "The GOAT" (Greatest of All Time), Brady's career achievements have evidently created a robust market for his memorabilia. Meanwhile you can buy my watch today for like $100. Okay, $90. That's my last offer. Read More |
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4. Here's What Everybody Googled in 2024 |
As 2024 draws to a close, Google has released its highly anticipated "Year in Search" data.
2024 was a huge year for sports with major events capturing the globe's attention. Google's data shows soccer and cricket dominated the trending searches internationally. The Copa América stood out as the top searched event, underscoring Latin America's profound passion for soccer. Hot on its heels was the UEFA European Championship, followed by the ICC Men's T20 World Cup, proving cricket's massive appeal, especially in countries like India, Australia, and the UK.
In the realm of global politics, the U.S. election was a major subject of interest. As the world watched the political drama unfold, searches surged, pointing to the global impact of American politics. The election wasn't just a local affair; it resonated worldwide, highlighting the U.S.'s pivotal role on the international stage.
2024 also saw a significant spike in searches related to excessive heat, reflecting growing concerns about something called "climate change" and its "tangible impacts," whatever those are.
Disney and Pixar's "Inside Out 2" topped the charts as the most searched movie, while Netflix's "Baby Reindeer" was the leading TV show, underscoring the continued dominance of streaming platforms in the entertainment sector.
Interestingly, the Olympic Village's chocolate muffin recipe — popularized by Norwegian swimmer Henrik Christiansen — topped the global recipe search trends, showing how viral moments can spark widespread curiosity. On the gaming front, "Connections," a puzzle game featured in The New York Times, captivated users, leading the trends in this category. Read More |
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5. Saudi Arabia to Host 2034 World Cup, Igniting Human Rights Concerns |
The selection of Saudi Arabia as the venue for the prestigious event has not been without its controversies. The announcement was hardly surprising to those following the bidding process closely: Saudi Arabia presented the sole bid for the 2034 tournament, effectively making its selection a formality. One wonders how on earth the hugely wealthy kingdom persuaded other countries to demur from bidding in an industry as notoriously corrupt as football. It's really a complete mystery.
The victory represents a cornerstone achievement of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's ambitious efforts to reshape and rebrand the country's image on the world stage.
However, the decision has been met with stark criticism from human rights advocates globally. Saudi Arabia's government has been accused of numerous human rights violations, including the assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018 and the imprisonment of other political dissidents within the kingdom. Moreover, there is a fear that the migrant workers, who will be inevitably employed to build the necessary infrastructure for the World Cup, just might possibly face exploitation and abuse, mirroring the concerns raised during Qatar's preparation for the 2022 World Cup. At least 40 migrant workers died in Qatar, although some estimates say it could have been thousands.
In response to the news, a coalition of 21 human rights organizations — including Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and the Saudi-focused ALQST — issued a joint statement denouncing FIFA's choice. They highlighted the "great danger" the decision poses not only to the residents and migrant workers within Saudi Arabia but also to visiting fans. The organizations argue that the event could be marred by "repression, discrimination, and exploitation on a massive scale," unless FIFA and the Saudi government undertake urgent and comprehensive reforms.
On the other hand, soccer is cool! Right? Read More |
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