🐤 Twice as nice

Critics are saying "Moana" got the sequel it deserved.

Wednesday | November 27th, 2024
Early Chirp
Together With Masterworks

Happy Wednesday, chirpers! If you’re getting your Thanksgiving dinner menu in order today, there are probably at least a few of the standard items: turkey, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie, etc. But not every dish can stand the test of time. Several once-popular foods, from fondue to savory Jell-O salad, are all but extinct in today’s homes. And while poultry is still a year-round favorite, certain recipes — like Chicken A La King and Chicken Cordon Bleu — have fallen out of favor.

-Chris Agee

Markets
NASDAQ
IXIC
$19,174.30
$119.46 (0.63%)
Dow Jones
DJI
$44,860.31
$123.74 (0.28%)
S&P 500
GSPC
$6,021.63
$34.26 (0.57%)
EUR-USD
EURUSD
$1.05
-$0.00 (-0.04%)
Bitcoin
BTC-USD
$91,721.77
-$1,380.53 (-1.48%)
GM
GM
$54.79
-$5.41 (-8.99%)
*Market data for this issue is from November 26th, 2024 at 4:29pm EST

Markets: Investors are still trying to figure out what impact a second Trump administration will have on the market. Wall Street responded enthusiastically to his victory on Election Day, but his subsequent call for 25% tariffs on Mexican and Canadian imports (and an additional 10% on goods from China) sparked some concern. Nevertheless, the three major indexes managed to chalk up modest gains yesterday.

World

The Breakdown

A quick look around the world.

The Breakdown Giphy

Ready, set, go: Cadillac is preparing for its entry into the world of Formula 1 racing after a prior false start. General Motors previously teamed up with Andretti Global to make a bid for the first U.S.-based F1 team in half a century. That deal fell through, but GM responded with a solo proposal that resulted in a spot for Cadillac beginning in 2026. The American automaker’s interest in F1 racing is further evidence of the sport’s increasing popularity in the U.S.

Take your seat: If you’re a frequent flyer, you probably already know that airlines love to tack on as many extra charges and fees as possible. And one particularly frustrating example is the “seating fee,” which U.S. airlines reportedly used to rake in a total of $12.4 billion over the five-year period beginning in 2018. Ahead of a hearing set for December 4, members of a special U.S. Senate subcommittee denounced the practice — particularly by budget carriers like Spirit and Frontier — of charging more for particular seats or increased legroom.

Downward trend: Best Buy disappointed investors once again with its latest quarterly numbers. According to data released this week, the big-box electronics chain experienced a decline in same-store sales of nearly 3% over the past three months. Worse yet, that marked the 12th straight quarter of negative growth. There was a faint bright spot in a slight uptick in computing and mobile sales. But many other categories, including electronics and appliances, dropped significantly over the most recent quarter. The report led to a dip in the company’s stock.

Their fair share: The MLB season is over and the Los Angeles Dodgers came out on top. As the adage advises, now it’s time for the victor to get its spoils. For their World Series win, the Dodgers claimed $477,441 per share of the $129.1 million postseason pool. The total pool is much higher than last year’s $107.8 million, but the winner’s share total is lower than either of the two most recent MLB postseasons. Nevertheless, the Dodgers received 79 full shares, more than 17 partial shares, and additional awards for a combined total of $46.47 million.

Share this issue:
Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email
entertainment

Here’s Why 'Moana 2' Is Hitting All The Right Notes With Critics

It's being included in lists of the best sequels ever.

Here’s Why 'Moana 2' Is Hitting All The Right Notes With Critics Giphy

It was one of Disney’s biggest 2010s hits, and audiences will soon have a chance to witness the continuation of that story on the big screen. Earlier reports signaled that the “Moana” saga would proceed in the form of an animated TV series — but when the project received a green light to become a feature movie, critics and fans alike were overjoyed.

Hitting theaters today

You might be preoccupied with your Thanksgiving dinner plans, but if there’s a “Moana” fan in your house you probably already know that this is also the release date of the highly anticipated sequel “Moana 2.”

And critics have already begun weighing in with some positive reviews.

Here are some of the highlights:

  • Old favorites: Familiar characters like Maui, Hei Hei, and Pua the Pig receive plenty of screentime to please fans of the original.
  • New faces: A new supporting cast joins forces with Moana as she heads out on a mission to locate a sunken island.
  • Broader horizons: Whereas the original film was focused on a tight-knit community, its sequel greatly expands the scope of the action.

Like its 2016 predecessor, “Moana 2” is chock full of catchy tunes, witty dialogue, and a story that packs plenty of heart.

The way it should be told

Given the grandiosity of the quest at the center of “Moana 2,” critics seem to agree that it deserves the big-screen treatment. A-list actors, top-tier animation, and an impressive production quality are all features that combine to create a compelling and enjoyable tale for audiences of all ages.

Some are already ranking it among other great cinematic sequels like “Paddington 2” and “The Empire Strikes Back.”

And if you still haven’t had enough of the Moana story, just wait until the live-action remake of the original finally hits theaters.

Share this story:
Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email
Together With Masterworks

**Invest with the art investment platform with 23 profitable exits.**

It Has Historically Outperformed the S&P 500

**Invest with the art investment platform with 23 profitable exits.**

How has the art investing platform Masterworks been able to realize an individual profit for investors with each of its 23 exits to date?

Here’s an example: an exited Banksy was offered to investors at $1.039 million and internally appraised at the same value after acquisition. As Banksy’s market took off, Masterworks received an offer of $1.5 million from a private collector, resulting in 32% net annualized return for investors in the offering.

Every artwork performs differently — but with 3 illustrative sales (that were held for 1+ year), Masterworks investors realized net annualized returns of 17.6%, 17.8%, and 21.5%.

Masterworks takes care of the heavy lifting: from buying the paintings, to storing them, to selling them for you (no art experience required).

Now, you can SKIP THE WAITLIST when you use our exclusive link to get started.

technology

New Research Highlights The Importance Of Driver Attention In Automated Vehicles

Technology isn't an excuse to take your eyes off the road.

New Research Highlights The Importance Of Driver Attention In Automated Vehicles Giphy

More automobiles than ever are equipped with partial self-driving capabilities or similarly automated features. And while these options can provide an extra layer of safety on the road, it’s important that drivers remain attentive while behind the wheel.

And a new study conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety revealed some ways both automakers and motorists can make the most of this technology.

Who’s getting it right?

A key takeaway from the latest research is a link between making small steering wheel adjustments and improved driver engagement. That’s why partial automation features that allow drivers to take an active role in steering received high marks from the IIHS.

Two brands — Ford and Nissan — achieved this goal, respectively, with their BlueCruise and ProPilot Assist features.

By creating what researchers call “shared control,” the study determined that drivers using such features were “40-48 percent less likely than others to say they would keep their hands off the wheel in situations that would make most drivers nervous.”

Experts are increasingly worried about drivers who take their hands off the wheel (or worse yet, take their eyes off the road) because they believe technology has made such attentiveness obsolete. And while shared control might be one way to address the issue, not every automaker is on board.

Who’s getting it wrong?

According to the IIHS, partially automated systems like Super Cruise by General Motors or Tesla’s Autopilot are designed to turn off their lane-centering functions when a driver steers the wheel.

Of course, no system is perfect and none can replace a human driver. As researchers advised, it’s motorists themselves who often put too much trust in these features and allow themselves to become distracted.

But if humans and machines can start working in harmony, we might soon see much safer roads everywhere.

Share this story:
Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email
history

America’s Oldest Firearm Might Hold A Lot Of Secrets About US History

It's believed to be linked to a famous 16th century expedition.

America’s Oldest Firearm Might Hold A Lot Of Secrets About US History International Journal of Historical Archaeology

What weighs 40 pounds, is made of copper, and was recently discovered in Arizona? Historians think it might be a cannon used during a mission led by famed conquistador Francisco Vazquez de Coronado. In any case, it seems pretty clear that this is the oldest firearm ever discovered on American soil.

500 years later

It’s been nearly half a millennium since Coronado conducted a three-year expedition that covered ground across much of what is now the Southwestern United States.

And it was on the floor of a Spanish structure in southern Arizona that researchers recently discovered what they believe is a unique remnant from that mission.

Lead study author Deni Seymore explained: “Until this particular cannon was found, no firearms from the Coronado Expedition had been discovered. No firearms from this early period are known from the U.S. or on the continental land mass as a whole.”

Of course, a firearm produced during this period bears little resemblance to the guns used today. Here are some observations:

  • It’s more like a cannon than a gun
  • Its total length is 3.5 feet
  • It probably required two operators

The centuries-old firearm was so big it likely required the use of a tripod or some other stabilizing structure to support its weight.

Searching for treasure

Coronado set out to search for utopian cities described in mythology, but soon found himself at odds with the native people his team encountered along the way. Cannons were often used during these battles, and the one recently discovered in Arizona is thought to have been connected to a conflict between Coronado and the Sobaipuri O’odham tribe.

A second cannon was also found, and both of them used a design from the previous century, meaning they were based on old technology even from Coronado’s perspective.

Share this story:
Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email
Game

Solve today's crossword and win a prize!

Highest score wins an Amazon gift card!

Crossword

*Prizes are sent out via email the next day by 11am EST.

meme https://memes.com/u/robinhoodprinceofmemes
Early Chirp

Written by Chris Agee

90 N Church St, The Strathvale House
Grand Cayman KY1, 9006, Cayman Islands

Copyright © 2022 Early Chirp. All rights reserved.