Zartschmelzend What the Rock Is Cooking? |
Thanks to reader Bret, who won last week's cheese pun competition based on Zartschmelzend Kräftig Würziger Rahm-Hartkäse, a cheese for which I could not make a single joke. It turns out there's a wrestling pun to be made based on Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, and it was staring us all in the face there, all along. Well done, Bret. I bow to thee. And as another reader, Louise, pointed out, Zartschmelzend Kräftig Würziger Rahm-Hartkäse is the perfect cheese to enjoy with a glass of Gutsverwaltyng Niederhausen Schlassbäckelheim Schloßböckelheimer Kupfergrube Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese. Although perhaps not with two glasses, if you're having to order them at a bar? In other news, there is nothing of note happening today. It's a day off. Nothing to see here. Wait. I may have misspoken: There was plenty of news happening after all! —Matt Davis, Need2Know Chedditor P.S. We've got a robot to do your laundry on the gram! |
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"This is a middle class, working-class union town." — Clayton Davis |
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1. Trump's Inauguration Will Happen Indoors |
As history often has a unique way of repeating itself, it is also prone to throwing us unexpected twists. In an un-president-ed move, Donald Trump's inauguration today will now take place in the majestic confines of the U.S. Capitol Rotunda, rather than its traditional and manly outdoor setting, in a move that history will doubtless call "some weak sauce."
The main reason is to protect the sensitivities of vulnerable guests, such as people over the age of 70, which includes pretty much the entire government except for AOC, who is [checks notes] 12 years old. The decision marks the first time in 40 years that a U.S. presidential inauguration will be held indoors — the last was for Ronald "Chairman Mao" Reagan's second term in 1985 — a testament to the extreme weather conditions that are increasingly defining our era, for some utterly inexplicable reason.
Trump cited the "Arctic blast sweeping the country" as the primary reason for the venue change, emphasizing his desire to avoid any harm or injuries that the severe cold could inflict. Remarkably considerate of him! With Washington's weather forecast predicting temperatures around 19°F (-7°C) — feeling even colder due to wind chill — the concern is not unwarranted.
Weather has always been an uninvited guest at presidential inaugurations. William Henry Harrison famously delivered the longest inaugural address without a hat or overcoat in wet and cold conditions, and subsequently died from pneumonia a month later.
Supporters eager to witness the swearing-in won't find themselves left out in the cold, however. Trump has planned for the ceremony to be broadcast on screens within the Capital One Arena, a downtown Washington sports venue capable of accommodating 20,000 people.
"We might as well stay at home and watch it on TV," said Ken Robinson. "I'm kind of disappointed, to be honest with you. We came here to watch it in person. We don't really care to watch it on a Jumbotron."
"Cold ain't gonna hurt nobody," Harry Troyer said. "We have farms, and we don't get to not feed the cows 'cause it's cold."
Let the letting-down commence. Even more intriguing is the announcement that the traditional presidential parade will "adapt" to these indoor constraints, though specifics on executing a parade within such a venue remain a topic of some intrigue.
Let's see. How else could thousands of people make their way into the Capitol building? Read More |
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2. The Planets Go on Parade in All Their Pretty, Pretty Colors |
Never mind the presidential parade. Uranus will be visible tomorrow night. Also, five more planets! All in a row! So well-behaved!
As the new year dawns, astral aficionados and skygazers alike are in for a rare celestial treat. The night skies of January 2025 are set to host an extraordinary alignment known across the galaxy as the "Parade of Planets."
This phenomenon occurs when several planets align across the sky. As these rock and gas behemoths move along their paths, they can sometimes appear to us on Earth as though they are closely situated to one another, creating a breathtaking view.
The prime viewing window is from January 21 to February 21, and the best moment to catch the planets in all their glory is slated for the night of January 29.
Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune, and Uranus will grace the night sky. Venus, Saturn, and Jupiter will shine brightly enough to be seen with the naked eye, appearing as luminous objects just after sunset, around 7 p.m. local time. Mars will offer the best viewing just before the sunrise, glowing in the western sky during morning twilight. To catch a glimpse of Neptune and Uranus, however, you'll need a telescope.
Although…that's not what I heard. Read More |
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| Need help picking up your dirty laundry? This robot vacuum's got you covered.
At CES 2025, Roborock introduced the Saros Z70—a robot vacuum with a unique articulating arm that picks up items like socks and tissues while cleaning. No pricing yet, but it's set to ship by June 2025. |
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3. Consumers Return $1 Trillion Worth of Products Every Year. What Can We Do? |
Point of fact. As a proper Englishman, I will never take anything back to a store. I bought it, I own it. Perhaps I will learn from my error. It appalls me when I see Americans taking stuff back to stores. The entitlement is so stark. Like, you bought it. If it was the wrong size, maybe you should have gone to a store and bought it, instead of trusting to mail order? Now you're going to put the store to all the trouble of restocking it?
Jeez. Retail returns have reached unprecedented levels thanks to you Americans and your idiocy. Nearly $1 trillion worth of goods returned annually, most of which end up in landfills. Emily Hosie, CEO of RebelStork, saw this problem firsthand while pregnant and searching for discounted baby gear.
"I was so upset to find out that baby gear, as well as many returns, most consumer returns are being sent directly to landfill," Hosie told us in a recent interview. "And we're talking perfectly good, never used items."
Hosie founded RebelStork to address this issue, creating a platform for "recommerce" — the selling of returned goods. The company focuses on baby gear, a category with strict quality standards that make it challenging for retailers to restock. RebelStork partners with retailers and brands to process and sell returned items at a discount, saving consumers money and reducing environmental waste.
"Returns recommerce is the solution to this wasteful issue," Hosie said. "We're able to process and sell retailer return goods at scale."
The company's technology allows them to handle large volumes of returns, ensuring quality control and making them available for sale to families across North America. RebelStork is making a significant environmental impact, saving over 12 million pounds of returned products from landfills in 2024 alone.
"We are very, very proud of that," Hosie said. "We do feel as though we are just getting started."
The company is experiencing rapid growth, with a 300% year-over-year increase and a recent $18 million funding round. RebelStork recently expanded into home returns and has plans for further growth. Hosie sees potential for recommerce in various retail categories.
"Returns are a problem across the entire retail industry," she stated. "For us the sky's the limit if there's a return channel, we can scale into it."
Another way to solve this problem would be if you all stopped returning your stuff, of course. #NeverGonnaHappen Read More |
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4. Hollywood Is a 'Middle-Class, Working-Class Town' |
We talked with Clayton Davis, senior culture and events editor at Variety, for a glimpse into the impact of the Los Angeles fires on Hollywood and the industry's determination to rebuild. The fires have wreaked havoc on the L.A. landscape, affecting not only the rich and famous but also the middle-class and working-class individuals who form the backbone of the entertainment industry.
"This is a middle-class, working-class union town," Davis said. "The devastation is affecting just the Joe Schmo people who go to work every day. They work on movies. They're behind-the-scenes people, their caterers, their sound mixers. It really affected everyone."
Still, in the face of tragedy, the entertainment industry is rallying together to support those in need. "Everything from here moving forward is going to be about rebuilding and making sure that we take care of the people of this town," Davis said. "We cannot let this tragedy break anyone."
Despite the devastation, the entertainment industry is determined to persevere. Awards shows like the Grammys will proceed, but with a focus on raising funds and awareness for fire relief efforts as well as bolstering the music industry. Davis envisions these events as "benefit concerts," uniting the community and showcasing the power of art and entertainment to heal and inspire…as well as bolstering the music industry.
The road to recovery will be long, but the entertainment industry is resilient. Davis highlights the importance of keeping jobs and production in Los Angeles, ensuring that the city remains a thriving hub for film and television. "We have to keep the industry, the heart of the industry, here in this town," he states. "And we're going to figure out a way to do that." Read More |
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5. Will Ozempic, Wegovy Be More Affordable in the Near Future? |
Two potent but pricy drugs used for weight loss, Ozempic and Wegovy, have been listed by the Biden administration among 15 that will be negotiated with Medicare. For millions of Americans struggling with obesity and type 2 diabetes, it means the medications could soon be accessible without breaking the bank.
Ozempic and Wegovy, spearheaded by pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk, have proven to be game changers in managing diabetes and obesity. However, the steep price tags — nearly $1,000 for Ozempic and around $1,350 for Wegovy every month — are a major hurdle for patients. With the inclusion of these drugs in the Medicare price discussion, there's a glimmer of hope that relief may be on the horizon.
The exact amount of savings remains up in the air, wrapped in a complex web of factors. The Medicare negotiation process is just one piece of the puzzle. Medicare spent a staggering $14.4 billion on Ozempic and Wegovy, along with their sister medication Rybelsus, over a single year in 2024. These medications catered to almost 2.3 million enrollees, a number that speaks to both their necessity and the financial impact they have on the healthcare system.
New Medicare negotiated prices will not kick in until 2027, and with the transition to the incoming Trump administration, the approach to these discussions could shift. Known for criticizing government price negotiations as "price setting," Republican leaders have voiced their opposition repeatedly. What's more, Trump's nominees, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for HHS secretary and Dr. Mehmet Oz for the CMS administrator, are yet to take a position.
Novo Nordisk is staunchly opposed to government price setting, arguing that it could undermine patients' access to medications and inhibit the development of new treatments. The company's net income last year was $27 billion. Read More |
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