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Yesterday — 22 December 2024Main stream

18 quirky British Christmas traditions that probably confuse Americans

22 December 2024 at 07:51
london soho christmas
Some Christmas traditions look a little different in the UK.

Alexey Fedorenko/Shutterstock

  • There are some Christmas traditions in the UK that might confuse people from the US.
  • Every Christmas, families gather to watch pantomimes or meet their school friends at the pub.
  • They also eat Yorkshire puddings, mince pies, Christmas pudding, and Christmas cake.

Christmas in the United Kingdom differs slightly from celebrations in America and elsewhere around the world.

People who celebrate Christmas in the UK have slightly different traditions than those who live in the US. From what is traditionally served at a Christmas Day feast to festive activities and childhood traditions, families across the pond have their own unique and quirky ways of celebrating the holidays.

Here are 18 British Christmas traditions that might surprise you.

Pantomimes, or "pantos," are plays performed around Christmastime in the UK.
british pantomime
Pantomime dames playing the role of the Ugly Sisters in a production of Cinderella.

Gideon Mendel/Corbis/Getty Images

Pantos are humorous, slapstick entertainment for the whole family, often featuring men dressed in drag. They are sometimes based on a famous fairy tale or story, like "Cinderella," "Peter Pan," or "The Wizard of Oz." 

Pantomimes rely on specific tropes. For example, there's often a villain who will sneak up on the protagonist intermittently throughout the play. It's then the role of the audience to scream, "He's behind you!" to the main character while he or she struggles to figure out what's going on.

Yorkshire puddings are perfect with gravy, but people outside the UK may have never heard of them.
yorkshire pudding dinner
A traditional British roast dinner with Yorkshire puddings.

Shutterstock

A traditional British roast dinner wouldn't be complete without Yorkshire puddings filled with Bisto or homemade gravy. Yorkshire puddings — not to be confused with sweet puddings — are made of eggs, flour, and milk or water.

After they're cooked in hot oil in the oven, they end up with a distinct hole in the middle. They closely resemble what Americans know as popovers.

While Yorkshire puddings are commonplace at Sunday dinners throughout the year, they're also eaten at Christmastime, though some argue they have no place on a Christmas plate.

Santa Claus is referred to as "Father Christmas."
Santa Claus
Santa Claus.

Hasloo Group Production Studio/Shutterstock

While some do refer to old Saint Nick as Santa Claus in the UK, it is widely accepted that Father Christmas is his more traditionally British name.

"Santa Claus" is seen as an Americanism, and The Telegraph reported that even the British National Trust said that "Santa Claus should be known as 'Father Christmas' in stately homes and historic buildings because the name is more British."

British children hang Christmas stockings at the ends of their bed.
kid christmas morning stocking
A child on Christmas morning.

Altrendo Images/Getty Images

In America, Christmas stockings are hung by the fireplace with care. However, some British children hang their stockings at the ends of their beds for Father Christmas to fill up while they're sleeping. 

Christmas Eve is a time for school-friend reunions.
christmas uk pub
Festive people drinking in a pub in Bath, England.

Matt Cardy/Getty Images

Thanksgiving weekend is seen as an opportunity in the United States for students to reunite with friends from high school or middle school. In the UK, it's a tradition for school friends to come together on Christmas Eve, often at the local bar or pub.

Christmas pudding is a traditional British dessert popular during the holiday season.
christmas pudding
Christmas pudding.

Shutterstock

A Christmas pudding is a dense fruit cake often made weeks or even months in advance. This time allows the dried fruit to soak up alcohol that's regularly poured onto the cake in the weeks before it's consumed.

On Christmas, the cake is set alight and then topped with a sauce of brandy butter or rum butter, cream, lemon cream, ice cream, custard, or sweetened béchamel. It is also sometimes sprinkled with caster or powdered sugar.

For many years, Queen Elizabeth II even gifted each member of her staff a Christmas pudding from Tesco.

Another dessert of choice is Christmas cake, a rich fruit cake covered with marzipan and icing.
christmas fruit cake
Christmas cake.

nelea33/Shutterstock

While fruit cake is certainly a polarizing dessert wherever you are, Brits seem to make it a little better with thick, sweet white icing. Oftentimes, Christmas cake also comes topped with festive holly decorations. 

Mince pies are pastries filled with dried fruits and spices that are eaten at Christmas.
A board of mince pies.
Mince pies.

Getty Images

The BBC reported that the first-known mince-pie recipe dates back to an 1830s-era English cookbook. By the mid-17th century, people reportedly began associating the small pies with Christmas.

At the time, they were traditionally filled with pork or other kinds of meat, sage, and other spices. Nowadays, the pies are filled with dried fruits and sugar powder.

British Christmas desserts are often enjoyed with brandy butter.
A slice of Christmas pudding with a scoop of brandy butter on the side.
Christmas pudding and brandy butter.

Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock

The perfect accompaniment to Christmas pudding and mince pies, brandy butter consists of butter and sugar beaten together before brandy is added. Rum butter is an alternative.

The result is still butter-like in consistency, and it's served cold alongside desserts. Americans might know it as "hard sauce."

Brits say "Happy Christmas" instead of "Merry Christmas."
merry christmas
"Merry Christmas" lit-up sign.

Johnnie Pakington/Getty Images

You might remember a scene from the first "Harry Potter" movie in which Ron says, "Happy Christmas, Harry!" While this may sound strange to an American, saying "Happy Christmas" is commonplace in the UK, as opposed to "Merry Christmas." 

Christmas crackers are cardboard tubes wrapped in brightly colored paper and twisted at each end that two people pull for a fun surprise.
christmas cracker
Girl pulling a Christmas cracker at the dinner table.

PeopleImages/Getty Images

Christmas crackers are often pulled at the start of the meal, and the paper hats found inside are worn throughout the meal. Also inside each cracker is a "banger," which makes a loud pop when the cracker is pulled, a joke, and a small prize.

The jokes are usually cheesy and festive. For example: "Why did Santa's helper go to the doctor? Because he had low elf esteem!" 

However, be sure not to pack them if you're traveling to or from the UK on an airplane — they're not permitted to go through TSA in carry-on luggage.

"Top of the Pops" is a television special featuring performances of the year's most popular songs.
A stage with the "Top of the Pops" logo
A stage with the "Top of the Pops" logo.

Phil Dent/Redferns/Getty Images

On Christmas, the BBC usually runs a holiday special of the since-retired show "Top of the Pops," which features performances from the year's most popular musicians.

The program ran weekly from 1964 until 2006, when it was canceled. People were so upset that the BBC decided to keep the Christmas special, which airs late in the morning on December 25.

Millions of people watch the King's annual televised Christmas Day speech every year.
King Charles delivers his Christmas speech in 2022
King Charles III is seen during the recording of his first Christmas broadcast.

Victoria Jones - Pool/Getty Images

Every year, families gather to watch the royal Christmas address, informally known as the Queen's or King's speech.

The Telegraph reported that the first Christmas address was 251 words long, but Queen Elizabeth II later came to average 656 words in each speech. It is often one of the most-watched television programs on Christmas Day in the UK.

Christmas commercials are as talked-about as Super Bowl commercials are in the United States.
christmas tv
People watching TV with mugs.

Hoxton/Sam Edwards/Getty Images

While Super Bowl commercials are highly scrutinized in the US, Brits pay just as close attention to Christmas commercials.

Not only is the John Lewis ad, or "advert," a Christmas tradition, but almost every supermarket and clothing brand tries to get in on the buzz with a talked-about Christmas commercial.

Brits also anticipate which song will become the annual "Christmas No. 1" single.
spice girls
The Spice Girls.

Getty Images

The British "Christmas No. 1" has been a tradition for over half a century. Starting in 1952, the top song on the British singles chart has been a coveted spot every Christmas. Christmas No. 1 alums include The Beatles, Queen, Ed Sheeran, and more.

While some Christmas No. 1s have indeed been Christmas songs — "Do They Know It's Christmas?" by Band Aid II in 1989, for example — they don't have to be.

School nativity plays are a popular tradition in UK primary schools.
nativity play school uk
Year one pupils from Kingsmead School perform in their annual Christmas nativity play.

Gideon Mendel/In Pictures/Corbis/Getty Images

While religious elementary schools in the United States may put on nativity plays, they are arguably much more popular and part of the culture in Britain.

In the popular British Christmas movie "Love Actually," the characters even attend a Christmas nativity play.

Brits take advantage of after-Christmas sales on Boxing Day.
Boxing Day
Boxing Day sale signage at Selfridges department store in London.

Getty

Boxing Day is typically called British Black Friday, but there are some differences between the holidays. Boxing Day, which is a public holiday in the UK, falls the day after Christmas and has a rich cultural history in Great Britain.

Originating in the mid-1600s, the day was traditionally a day off for servants. On this day, servants would receive a "Christmas Box," or gift, from their master. The servants would then return home on Boxing Day to give "Christmas Boxes" to their families.

In the UK, it can be bad luck to keep your decorations up for more than 12 days after Christmas.
Close up of a Christmas tree decoration that has been handmade by a child.
A Christmas tree with a handmade ornament.

Peter Lourenco/Getty Images

Another difference between US and UK Christmas customs comes after all of the festivities have ended. 

In the UK, it's tradition to take down your tree and decorations 12 days after Christmas — known as Twelfth Night — to avoid bad luck in the new year.

In the Anglican tradition, Twelfth Night, or Epiphany Eve, is the day before Epiphany, which celebrates the coming of the Magi to baby Jesus and marks the end of the 12 days of Christmas. 

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Ars Technica’s top 20 video games of 2024

22 December 2024 at 04:00

When we introduced last year's annual list of the best games in this space, we focused on how COVID delays led to a 2023 packed with excellent big-name blockbusters and intriguing indies that seemed to come out of nowhere. The resulting flood of great titles made it difficult to winnow the year's best down to our traditional list of 20 titles.

In 2024 we had something close to the opposite problem. While there were definitely a few standout titles that were easy to include on this year's list (Balatro, UFO 50, and Astro Bot likely chief among them), rounding out the list to a full 20 proved more challenging than it has in perhaps any other year during my tenure at Ars Technica (way back in 2012!). The games that ended up on this year's list are all strong recommendations, for sure. But many of them might have had more trouble making a Top 20 list in a packed year like 2023.

We'll have to wait to see if the release calendar seesaws back to a quality-packed one in 2025, but the forecast for big games like Civilization 7, Avowed, Doom: The Dark Ages, Grand Theft Auto 6, and many, many more has us thinking that it might. In the meantime, here are our picks for the 20 best games that came out in 2024, in alphabetical order.

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Before yesterdayMain stream

Inside the wild Robbie Williams biopic: ‘It’s sad seeing the monkey do cocaine’

21 December 2024 at 22:16

The unexpectedly brilliant ‘Better Man’ dives into the rise, fall and rise again of one of Britain’s greatest pop stars… who is depicted as an anthropomorphic chimpanzee. Adam White speaks to its director Michael Gracey about monkeys, mayhem and why Robbie was nervous about Gary Barlow seeing the script

© Entertainment Film Distributors

Is Mrs Brown’s Boys the worst show on TV? An investigation

22 December 2024 at 06:41

The BBC sitcom is critically loathed – but is it the worst thing to appear on our screens? Louis Chilton spends a week with Brendan O’Carroll’s ‘Mammy’ and her unbearable boys to find out for himself

© BBC/BocPIX/Greame Hunter

The Walton family empire: Inside the lives of the billionaire Walmart heirs

the walton family walmart
The Walton siblings.

AP/April L. Brown

  • The Walmart heirs' combined estimated net worth is nearly $380 billion.
  • All three of Sam Walton's surviving children have now made it into the $100 billion club.
  • In public, the Waltons live relatively modest lifestyles despite their wealth.

All three of Walmart founder Sam Walton's surviving children have made it into the $100 billion club as the retail giant's share price continues to soar.

The combined wealth of the Walmart heirs — which include founder Sam Walton's children, Rob, Jim, and Alice, as well as his grandson Lukas — is nearly $380 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

Together, they're significantly ahead of the top individual names on the list, such as Jeff Bezos, Bernard Arnault, or Mark Zuckerberg, though Elon Musk has recently seen his fortune outstrip their collective net worth.

While some have worked in the family business — whether that's serving on the company board or working to manage the family's wealth — others chose to pursue areas of personal passion.

Sam Walton, the original man behind the company that now encompasses both Walmart and Sam's Club, set his family up for financial success when he divided the ownership before he died.

Most recently, the Walton children have expanded voting control to their own, giving eight of Sam's grandchildren a say in the family holdings.

Sam wasn't a man of flashy luxury, but you can see how his children are living a slightly more lavish life now. Here's a look at how the Walton family empire spends its money: 

Sam Walton opened the first Walmart store in Rogers, Arkansas, in 1962.
sam walton
The original Wal-Mart name tag used to look like this one, worn here by Sam Walton.

Associated Press

As he grew his retail empire, Walton, an experienced pilot, would often fly in unannounced to check in on a particular store location.

He married Helen Robson on Valentine's Day in 1942.
Helen Robson
Sam and Helen had a Valentine's Day wedding.

April L. Brown/Associated Press

Together, they had four children: Rob, John, Jim, and Alice.

By the time Sam died in 1992, he had set up the company ownership in a way that minimized the estate taxes anyone on the receiving end would have to pay.
Walton family
Sam Walton died at the age of 74 of cancer.

Rick Wilking/Reuters

Source: Fortune

He set up his ownership of Walmart's stock in a family partnership — each of his children held 20% of Walton Enterprises, while he and Helen each held 10%. Helen inherited Sam's 10% tax-free when he died.
sam walton
The stocks were carefully divided among the family.

Courtesy of Walmart

Source: Fortune

Samuel Robson "Rob" Walton is the oldest Walton child. He is 80 years old.
Rob Walton
Rob served as chairman of Walmart for many years.

Reuters

He served as chairman of Walmart from 1992 until 2015 and remained on the board until this year.
Rob Walton Walmart
He'll retire from the board in 2024.

Rick T. Wilking / Stringer / Getty Images

He retired from Walmart's board at the end of his term in 2024.

Rob made a splash in 2022 by leading an ownership group to buy the Denver Broncos.
Denver Broncos
The group was led by Rob Walton, his daughter Carrie Walton Penner, and her partner Greg Penner.

Joe Mahoney/AP

The group purchased the NFL team for a $4.65 billion in summer 2022 in a record-breaking sale at the time.

Rob has purchased a house in Paradise Valley, Arizona, near the base of Camelback Mountain.
Paradise Valley Arizona
Walton owns a house in Paradise Valley, Arizona.

Tim Roberts Photography/Shutterstock

In the past, protesters have rallied outside of his Arizona home to advocate for better wages and benefits for Walmart workers.
Walmart protest florida
Protesters at a Walmart in Boynton Beach, Florida, called for better wages and benefits.

J Pat Carter/Associated Press

Besides real estate, Rob has a large collection of vintage cars.
vintage cars
Walton's personal vintage car collection is not pictured.

Ben Pruchnie/Getty Images

In 2013, he ran his Daytona Coupe, which was worth $15 million at the time, off the tracks and wrecked it. The car was one of only five ever made.
Daytona Coupe
Walton's Daytona Coupe was totaled in a crash.

AP Photo/Tom Mihalek

Sam Walton's second-oldest child, John Walton, died in a plane crash in 2005.
John Walton
John (right) with his mother (center) and older brother, Rob (left).

April L. Brown/Associated Press

He was 58 years old.

He was married to Christy Walton and had one son, Lukas.
Lukas Walton
Lukas Walton, pictured here, is the grandson of Walmart founder Sam Walton.

Walton Family Foundation/YouTube

John left about 17% of his wealth to his wife, and he gave the rest to charity and to his son.
Christy Walton
John Walton left half of his fortune to charitable trusts and a third to his son.

AP

John served in Vietnam as a Green Beret. When he returned from the war he held a series of jobs — like the Walmart company pilot, a crop duster, and the owner a few yachting companies — before becoming a Walmart board member.
John T Walton
John (second from left) pictured with members of his family.

AP Photo/Spencer Tirey

Source: Fortune

In 2013, Christy decided to sell their Jackson Hole mansion. She also sold the family's ranch for an undisclosed price in 2016 after listing it for $100 million in 2011.
Christy Walton Wal-Mart wyoming mansion
The family had a mansion in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

Jackson Hole Real Estate

The 8,606-square-foot home was put on the market for $12.5 million.
Walton Jackson Hole Mansion
An aerial view of John and Christy Walton's mansion.

Google Maps

Source: Curbed

James "Jim" Walton is the youngest son of Walmart founder Sam Walton. He is 76 years old.
Jim Walton
Jim Walton is now 76.

Walmart

He is chairman of the board of the family's Arvest Bank Group. One of the state's largest banks today, Arvest Bank has assets totaling more than $26 billion.
Arvest
One of many Arvest Bank locations in Bentonville, Arkansas.

Google Maps

Source: Bloomberg

He also served on the Walmart board, starting in 2005 to fill the vacancy after his brother John died. Jim Walton's son, Steuart, took over his father's seat on the board in 2016.
Jim Walton
Jim served on the board for more than a decade.

Rick T. Wilking/Stringer/Getty Images

Now, he presides over Walton Enterprises — the private company that deals with the investments and finances of the Walton family only — from modest offices in Bentonville, Arkansas.
walton enterprises inc
Jim now manages the family's finances.

Google Maps

Source: Fortune

The youngest of founder Sam Walton's children, Alice Walton is worth $112 billion, according to Bloomberg. She has been divorced twice and has no children. She is 75 years old.
Alice Walton
Alice Walton is the youngest of Walmart founder Sam Walton's children.

AP/April L. Brown

Alice has never taken an active role in running the family business.
Alice Walton (Jim out of focus)
Alice Walton with Jim Walton in 2013.

REUTERS/Rick Wilking

Instead, she became a patron of the arts, which she fell in love with at a young age.
Alice Walton
Alice has spent millions building her art collection.

D Dipasupil/Getty Images

When she was 10, she bought her first work of art: a reproduction of Picasso's "Blue Nude" for about $2, she told The New Yorker.
Picasso Blue Room
Picasso's "The Blue Room."

Evan Vucci/Associated Press

She has an immense private art collection, with original works from Andy Warhol and Georgia O'Keeffe. Alice opened a museum in Bentonville called Crystal Bridges in 2011 to house her $500 million private art collection.
crystal bridges calder
The museum displays both paintings and sculptures, like this one by Alexander Calder (center).

Danny Johnston/Associated Press

The collection includes a Georgia O'Keeffe painting that Alice spent $44.4 million on in 2014 — the biggest sale for a woman's piece of art in history.
Georgia O'Keeffe
Georgia O’Keeffe, "Jimson Weed/White Flower No. 1" (1932), Sotheby's.

Courtesy of Sotheby's

Source: The Observer

Alice also breeds horses.
FILE - In this Sept. 4, 2013, file photo, mustangs recently captured on federal rangeland roam a corral at the U.S. Bureau of Land Management's holding facility north of Reno, in Palomino, Nev. Two House committee chairmen are trying to put the brakes on money for a new Trump administration proposal to accelerate the capture of 130,000 wild horses across the West over the next 10 years. (AP Photo/Scott Sonner, File)
Besides art, she loves spending time with horses.

Associated Press

Her Millsap, Texas, property, Rocking W Ranch, sold to the Three Amigos Investment Group of Kermit, Texas, in September 2017 for an undisclosed amount.
Rocking W Ranch
Alice Walton's ranch was called Rocking W Ranch.

Courtesy of WilliamsTrew

It had an initial asking price of $19.75 million, which was reduced to $16.5 million. The working ranch had over 250 acres of pasture and outbuildings for cattle and horses.
Rocking W Ranch
It was also next to a large lake.

Courtesy of WilliamsTrew

Source: WilliamsTrew

Her other, 4,416-acre Texas ranch was previously listed at a reduced price of $22 million.
Fortune bend ranch
A huge fire pit was built in the backyard.

Courtesy of WilliamsTrew

The modest, three-bedroom, two-bathroom home overlooks the Brazos River.

Alice also bought a two-floor condo on New York's Park Ave. for $25 million in 2014.
park avenue new york
Park Avenue pictured above at night.

Getty Images/Arata Photography

It has more than 52 large windows overlooking Central Park plus a media room, a winding staircase, and more than 6,000 total square feet of space.
shutterstock_571830520
View of Central Park from the southeast.

evenfh/Shutterstock

In January 2016, Alice donated 3.7 million of her Walmart shares — worth about $225 million at the time — to the family's nonprofit, the Walton Family Foundation.
Walton Family Foundation
The Walton Family Foundation website.

Facebook/Walton Family Foundation

Sam and Helen started the foundation as a way to teach their children how to give back and how to work together.
Sam and Helen Walton
The Walton Family Foundation was established in 1987, when Walmart celebrated its 25th anniversary.

Walton Family Foundation/YouTube

The charity awards millions of dollars in grants to causes that align with the foundation's values.
Screen Shot 2018 12 05 at 5.29.18 PM
The foundation awarded $566.5 million in grants in 2022, according to its website.

Walton Family Foundation/YouTube

The foundation has three main areas of focus:
Screen Shot 2018 12 05 at 5.30.57 PM
A project put on by the Walton Family Foundation.

Walton Family Foundation/YouTube

The foundation's focus on education was led by John. His brother Jim said John was really interested in being able to give parents choices when it came to their child's schooling.
John Walton
The foundation was dedicated to supporting children's education.

Walton Family Foundation/YouTube

Rob spearheaded the foundation's venture into environmental protection. One of the first grants they gave helped develop a sustainable fisheries label.
Walton Family Foundation
Rob launched the environmental and sustainability branch of the foundation.

Walton Family Foundation/YouTube

A commitment to the family's home of Arkansas is another large part of the foundation. The website says this area of focus is about "advancing our home region of Northwest Arkansas and the Arkansas-Mississippi Delta."
Home Range arkansas
The Bentonville town square.

Walton Family Foundation/YouTube

Walmart Inc., which owns Walmart and Sam's Club, is the largest retailer in the US in terms of revenue.
walmart 1
In fiscal year 2023, Walmart reported $648.1 billion in revenue.

Business Insider/Jessica Tyler

Even though the Walton family is raking in billions as a result of the company's success, they remain relatively under-the-radar in terms of flashing their wealth — much like their patriarch, Sam, did in the early years.
the walton family walmart
The Walton siblings.

AP/April L. Brown

In December, Walmart disclosed that Sam's children had granted voting rights to eight of their own children, bringing the total number of voices in the family fortune from three to eight, and keeping with Sam's vision for his legacy.
Sam Walton flying in the late 1980s or early 1990s.

Walmart Museum

Source: SEC filings

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I stayed in an adults-only hotel for the first time. 6 surprises made it my favorite accommodation.

21 December 2024 at 03:26
the author in a white robe on a balcony in front of mountains
The reporter stayed at an adults-only resort for the first time in Jackson, Wyoming.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

  • I spent one night at Hotel Yellowstone, a luxury, adults-only resort in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
  • It was my first time staying in an adults-only hotel, and I was surprised by the relaxing amenities.
  • The quiet, calm environment led me to some epic natural sightings of a moose and the auroras.

I love kids, but it's tough for me to relax in a hotel full of them. Peaceful moments by the pool are often interrupted by splashing water. Occasional youthful screams in communal spaces startle me. And sunsets on the balcony may be accompanied by crying children and scolding parents in the room next door.

That's why I decided to check out an adults-only hotel called Hotel Yellowstone for the first time during a September trip to Jackson Hole, Wyoming. The resort, with views of Snake River Valley and Grand Teton National Park, opened in August for adults at least 21 years old, though anyone aged 18 to 20 may stay when checking in with an older guest.

I booked a Grand Teton Suite with a starting rate of $1,600 a night. (Business Insider received a media rate for the one-night stay.)

I expected a relaxing evening but didn't realize how much a kid-free environment would elevate my experience.

When I stepped onto the property, I was immediately taken by the peace and quiet.
Wood units with black roofs on the right of a hillside with mountains on the left
Guest accommodations at Hotel Yellowstone.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

Just 15 minutes from the traffic-filled streets of Downtown Jackson, I didn't even hear the hum of a highway as I stepped out of my cab to check in at Hotel Yellowstone.

On a hill above a valley surrounded by mountains, 10 modern buildings with a cabin aesthetic sat between stone paths. A pond in the middle of the property made it feel serene.

There were no voices or pitter-patters of running feet. I only heard chirping birds and wind rustling the leaves of tall trees.

I didn't expect the pool to be designed purely for relaxation.
A pool under an awning with grass on the left and. a spa on the right
Hotel Yellowstone's Negative Edge Pool.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

Most hotels I've stayed in have had at least one large pool where clusters of people lounge by the steps while others swim laps or play games. I typically find them chaotic, noisy, and tough to avoid a splash when passing through.

That wasn't the case at Hotel Yellowstone. This resort's pool, called the Negative Edge Pool, was just 4 feet deep and had jets and heating. It was indoors and overlooked a mountain scene with a retractable glass window. Though shallow, the pool was quite long. I thought it was spacious enough for multiple groups to enjoy simultaneously.

Next to the pool, there was a wood sauna. Both were open 24 hours a day, which surprised me since most hotels I've stayed in have had a pool curfew. I imagine this is partly because no children are on the property.

In my room, I was amazed to see the Tetons from every angle — even while taking a bath.
A composite image of a hotel room with white walls and a bed in front of two seating areas with a view of mountains from a balcony at the back of the room and the same room is shown from the balcony.
Inside the reporter's Grand Teton Suite.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

It was instantly clear to me that my room was designed to showcase the views as much as possible when I stepped inside.

The door opened into a short hallway with a bathroom on the left, behind a spacious bedroom and living space. Light poured in from a large window on the left wall and floor-to-ceiling windowed doors to the balcony spanning the back of the room.

Even the bathroom had a sliding door in front of the oversized tub, so I could gaze at the peaks of the Tetons and the valleys below while taking a bath.

"The room layout, windows, wall-to-wall sliding doors, and the beautifully crafted boiserie bathroom door enable guests to fully immerse themselves in the stunning views from every angle of the suite," a hotel representative told BI.

I didn't know the restaurant was so exclusive.
Inside a restaurant with a wooden ceiling and wide windows showing the mountains in the background.
Inside Olivia's, the restaurant at Hotel Yellowstone.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

In my experience, hotel restaurants are typically open to the public, so I was surprised to learn that only guests could sit at Olivia's, a fine-dining establishment at Hotel Yellowstone with an eclectic menu and locally sourced ingredients.

When it was time for dinner, I headed to the lobby and walked down a staircase to the restaurant on the first floor. I was mesmerized by the indoor-outdoor feel provided by the vast windows. Below the wood-beamed cathedral ceilings, the wide view of the mountains looked like a painting.

No one else was dining at Olivia's when I stepped inside, so I could sit wherever I wanted. I selected a spot right by the back window and feasted on bao buns in silence.

I returned to Olivia's for some fruit and steel-cut oats in the morning. This time, one other guest, a solo backpacker, sat two tables away from me. It was a far cry from the clattering plates and blending conversations of a typical hotel breakfast, in my experience.

One of the biggest surprises of my stay was catching a glimpse of the northern lights.
A cabin at night in front of mountains with stars and purple and green aurora lights in the sky
A glimpse of the auroras at Hotel Yellowstone.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

After dinner, I took a peaceful walk back to my room, coated myself in a thick robe, and headed to the balcony. I expected to hear whispers of other guests enjoying the outdoor view, but it was just as silent and peaceful as when I first stepped onto the property.

Sitting in a lounge chair, I noticed a faint flutter of color in the sky and immediately jumped up and leaned on the railing. Purple and green hues danced so subtly that I had to confirm what I thought I was seeing with a long exposure on my camera. And it appears that I was right — I had spotted the northern lights in Wyoming of all places.

Seeing the auroras has been on my bucket list since I knew the phenomenon existed. And no matter where you are in the world, a trip to see the northern lights is never guaranteed. So, I certainly never thought I'd stumble upon them in the US.

I could hardly see them with my eyes alone, and I thought that if the environment hadn't been so free of distractions, I might have missed them.

The other grand surprise of my stay was the last — a moose sighting at breakfast.
A composite image of moose walking on a hillside with a valley and mountains in the background and a similar frame of the same moose
A moose walks across the adults-only resort.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I'd never seen a moose before having breakfast at Olivia's.

There I was, dining at a table against the back window, when a moose casually walked along the property just outside the restaurant.

I was stunned, but my server was not — they said the moose hangs out regularly and is often seen swimming in the pond and drying off in the flower beds.

After staying there myself, I could see why. The kid-free environment was calm and quiet. I imagine the serene nature of the resort could make wildlife more comfortable in the human setting.

I thought the adults-only element was key to having these surreal moments with nature without sacrificing comfort and luxury.

Read the original article on Business Insider

Lin-Manuel Miranda: ‘I have a Pulitzer and a MacArthur Genius Grant. I’m already something no one else is’

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© Getty Images

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Genuinely good Christmas TV shows to watch during the festive season

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We watched some of the biggest series arriving on our screens over the next couple of weeks, from ‘Lockerbie: A Search for Truth’ to ‘Squid Game’ season two, and here’s what we thought...

© BBC/Getty/iStock/Netflix/Sky

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18 of the best anti-Christmas movies to watch if you're over the holidays already

20 December 2024 at 07:06
bad santa
Billy Bob Thornton stars in "Bad Santa."

Miramax

  • If you're sick and tired of "Love Actually" and "It's a Wonderful Life," you're not alone.
  • There are plenty of holiday movies that are full of blood, guts, laughs, and more.
  • Here are 18 of the best anti-Christmas Christmas movies.

Christmas movies are a huge industry and some, like "The Holiday," "Elf," or "Home Alone" are both wholesome and were huge box-office smashes. Others made less impact at the box office — see "A Christmas Story" and "It's A Wonderful Life" — but still became beloved classics.

But for every movie that makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside, there are horror, action, or black comedy films set around the holidays that might make you feel a bit differently about the holiday season.

Here are some of the best anti-Christmas Christmas films to watch when you've heard enough angelic carols and drank enough eggnog for lifetime.

"Carry-On"
taron egerton in carry-on
"Carry-On."

Netflix

"Carry-On" is essentially "Die Hard" in an airport — don't worry, "Die Hard" also appears on this list. It stars Taron Egerton as a lone TSA worker who is blackmailed into helping a terrorist known only as The Traveler (Jason Bateman) smuggle nerve gas onto a plane, all while his wife, Nora (Sofia Carson), is being held hostage.

What else could you ask for? We ranked this as our favorite of Netflix's six new holiday films this year. It should not be missed.

"Carry-On" is streaming on Netflix.

"Dear Santa"
dear santa jack black
"Dear Santa."

Paramount Pictures

When Liam, a sixth-grader who has dyslexia, accidentally addresses his letter to "Satan" instead of "Santa," hijinks ensue. Instead of St. Nick, Satan, a low-level demon played by Jack Black, shows up to help Liam gain back some confidence ... for the low price of his soul, of course.

Anyone who loves to see Black going wild should fire this movie up. It will not disappoint.

"Dear Santa" is streaming on Paramount+.

"Red One"
dwayne johnson and chris evans in red one
"Red One."

Amazon MGM Studios

In the world of "Red One," Santa Claus (JK Simmons) is totally ripped and loves to lift weights. He's also protected by a Secret Service-esque agency that knows him by the codename Red One. When Santa is kidnapped, his best agent, Callum Drift (Dwayne Johnson), teams up with a talented hacker and bounty hunter, Jack O'Malley (Chris Evans), to get him back.

"Red One" is streaming on Prime Video.

"Violent Night"
violent night
"Violent Night."

Universal Pictures

"Violent Night" stars David Harbour as Santa Claus, but not like any Santa you've seen before. When a rich family is targeted by a band of mercenaries at their mansion on Christmas Eve, Santa decides to stick around and take them down.

The mercenaries all have Christmas-themed code names, including their leader Scrooge, played by the always-great John Leguizamo.

If you're looking for some very visceral action and a Santa who used to be a bloodthirsty Viking, turn on your TV now.

"Violent Night" is streaming on Starz.

"Die Hard"
bruce willis in die hard
"Die Hard."

20th Century Fox

"Die Hard," released in 1988, stars Bruce Willis as John McClane, an NYPD detective traveling to Los Angeles to attend his estranged wife's holiday party at her building, Nakatomi Plaza. That same night, radical German terrorist Hans Gruber, played by Alan Rickman, decides to execute his plan to take the entire building hostage to steal hundreds of millions of dollars.

There's been much debate over the years whether "Die Hard" is a real Christmas movie, or a movie that just happens to take place on Christmas Eve.

Whichever side you fall on, it works as a thrilling action movie.

"Die Hard" is steaming on Disney+, Hulu, and Tubi.

"Batman Returns"
michelle pfeiffer and michael keaton in batman returns
"Batman Returns."

Warner Bros. Pictures

The sequel to 1989's "Batman," 1992's "Batman Returns" stars Michael Keaton once again as Bruce Wayne, aka Batman. This time, he's joined by Michelle Pfeiffer as Selina Kyle, aka Catwoman, Danny DeVito as the Penguin, and Christopher Walken as sleazy businessman Max Shreck.

Director Tim Burton's gothic version of Gotham City is all decked out for the holidays in "Batman Returns," covered in snow, Christmas lights, and a huge tree.

Plus, one of the most famous lines from the movie involves the potentially lethal nature of mistletoe.

This sequel isn't for the faint of heart, with the Penguin's overall disgusting vibe, the multiple attempted murders of Catwoman, and the overall dour vibes of Gotham City.

"Batman Returns" is streaming on Max.

"Bad Santa"
bad santa
Billy Bob Thornton in "Bad Santa."

Miramax

In the 2003 black comedy "Bad Santa," Billy Bob Thornton plays Willie, a small-time crook who secures a gig as a mall Santa every year — and this year, it works out in his favor as he meets Sue (played by Lauren Graham), a woman with a full-blown Santa fetish.

Along the way, Willie meets a young boy, Thurman, who he takes under his wing, gets blackmailed by a mall security guard (played by Bernie Mac), and learns a bit about the meaning of Christmas.

The less we say about 2016's "Bad Santa 2," the better.

"Bad Santa" is streaming on Paramount+ and Pluto TV.

"Gremlins"
Gizmo in the 1984 film "Gremlins."
"Gremlins."

Archive Photos/Getty Images

A true '80s classic, "Gremlins" is the tale of Billy Peltzer, played by Zach Galligan, who receives a mogwai for Christmas from his dad, accompanied by three simple rules: Don't expose the mogwai to sunlight; don't let it touch water; and don't let it eat after midnight.

Of course, everything goes wrong, the entire town is invaded by gremlins on Christmas Eve, and more than one person dies at the hands of Stripe, Gizmo, and the rest of them.

"Gremlins" and its sequel "Gremlins 2: The New Batch" are both quintessential anti-Christmas Christmas movies.

"Gremlins"  and "Gremlins 2" are streaming on Max.

"Krampus"
adam scott in krampus
"Krampus."

Universal Pictures

Starring Adam Scott and Toni Collette, 2015's "Krampus" follows the Engel family, who are more than a little dysfunctional. When Max, the youngest son and the only true believer in Santa, curses his family and loses his Christmas spirit, he inadvertently summons Krampus, a horned demon that punishes any family that doesn't respect the holidays.

Come for the surprisingly solid cast, stay for the festively gruesome kills and German folklore.

"Krampus" is streaming on Peacock and Max.

"Black Christmas"
oliva huessey in black christmas
"Black Christmas."

Warner Bros. Pictures

"Black Christmas," released in 1974, is a true '70s slasher. It follows three sorority sisters who are targeted by a mysterious caller only known as "The Moaner," who terrorizes them just before they're set to go home for Christmas break.

There won't be anything bloodier and less jolly on this list than "Black Christmas," but it has staying power — the film was remade in 2006 and 2019, though neither is as good as the original.

"Black Christmas" is streaming for free on various websites, including Peacock, Prime Video, Tubi, Crackle, YouTube, and more.

"Kiss Kiss Bang Bang"
rdj, michelle monaghan, and val kilmer in kiss kiss bang bang
"Kiss Kiss Bang Bang."

Warner Bros. Pictures

A California Christmas is already an odd combination, as many associate the holidays with cold temperatures, snow, and general coziness, not 85-degree weather, shorts, and sunshine.

Add in a dark criminal conspiracy, a thief played by Robert Downey Jr., a gay detective played by Val Kilmer, and a childhood crush played by Michelle Monaghan, and you have a solid neo-noir on your hands — and yes, it takes place at Christmas.

"Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" is available to rent online.

"Anna and the Apocalypse"
anna and the apocalypse
"Anna and the Apocalypse."

Vertigo Releasing

Starring Ella Hunt as Anna, a student who is planning to take a gap year before university, "Anna and the Apocalypse," released in 2017, is like "High School Musical" meets "Shaun of the Dead" meets Christmas.

Anna and her friends, on the night of their school's Christmas show, discover that their town (and later country) has been infected by a zombie virus ... all while singing about their feelings.

A particularly memorable set piece takes place at a Christmas tree warehouse.

"Anna and the Apocalypse" is streaming on Tubi, Pluto TV, and The Roku Channel.

"Reindeer Games."
ben affleck in Reindeer Games
"Reindeer Games."

Miramax Films

With a cast of A-listers like Ben Affleck, Charlize Theron, and Gary Sinise, 2000's "Reindeer Games" is filled with action, multiple plot twists, stolen identities, and Affleck dressed up as Santa attempting to rob a casino.

"Ocean's 11" this is not, but "Reindeer Games" provides the laughs and only a little bit of Christmas cheesiness at the end.

"Reindeer Games" is streaming on Paramount+.

"The Long Kiss Goodnight"
geena davis and samuel l jackson in the long kiss goodnight
"The Long Kiss Goodnight."

New Line Cinema

Geena Davis plays Samantha Caine, a schoolteacher with amnesia who discovers she has the skills of an expert assassin. To figure out who she really is, she hires a private investigator named Mitch Henessey (Samuel L. Jackson). 

"The Long Kiss Goodnight," released in 1996, also has an iconic action set piece at a Christmas parade where Davis dresses up as Mrs. Claus, if you needed any more convincing to turn this on.

"The Long Kiss Goodnight" is streaming on Pluto TV.

"Tangerine"
tangerine
"Tangerine."

Magnolia Pictures

Sin-Dee Rella, played by Kitana Kiki Rodriguez, meets up with her friend Alexandra, played by Mya Taylor, on Christmas Eve, soon after she was released from prison. This 2015 film follows the two friends on their Hollywood escapades over the next few days as they catch up, look for clients, support each other's work, and more.

"Tangerine" is streaming on Disney+ and Hulu.

"The Ice Harvest"
"The Ice Harvest"
"The Ice Harvest."

Focus Features

"The Ice Harvest," released in 2005, stars John Cusack and Billy Bob Thornton as unlikely allies who team up to steal from their mobster boss, played by Randy Quaid. When the two are stuck in town due to icy roads, they're left to their own devices to entertain themselves in Wichita, Kansas, during the holiday season.

Rounding out the cast is Connie Nielsen as a woman who runs a strip club in town (and is the object of Cusack's affection), Oliver Platt as one of Cusack's friends, and Mike Starr as a mob enforcer.

"The Ice Harvest" is available to rent online.

"Lethal Weapon"
lethal weapon
"Lethal Weapon."

Warner Bros.

The 1987 film "Lethal Weapon" is the story of LAPD narcotics sergeant Martin Riggs (Mel Gibson) and homicide sergeant Roger Murtaugh (Danny Glover) teaming up to take down a criminal conspiracy. It's also another California Christmas film.

Throughout the film, there are many reminders of the holiday season, including lights, Christmas trees — and frequent shootings, murders, and more. But it can still be considered a holiday classic!

"Lethal Weapon" is streaming on Hulu.

"In Bruges"
in bruges
"In Bruges."

Universal Pictures

The Belgian city of Bruges has never looked better than in this 2008 film, as it's decorated for the holidays — too bad its charms are wasted on Ray (Farrell), who compares being in Bruges to being in hell.

This is a story of redemption and friendship, as Gleeson's character Ken sticks by his friend, even after Ray accidentally kills a kid.

If you enjoyed "The Banshees of Inisherin," which recently starred Farrell and Gleeson, try watching their first collaboration.

"In Bruges" is available to rent online.

Read the original article on Business Insider

Why AI language models choke on too much text

Large language models represent text using tokens, each of which is a few characters. Short words are represented by a single token (like "the" or "it"), whereas larger words may be represented by several tokens (GPT-4o represents "indivisible" with "ind," "iv," and "isible").

When OpenAI released ChatGPT two years ago, it had a memory—known as a context window—of just 8,192 tokens. That works out to roughly 6,000 words of text. This meant that if you fed it more than about 15 pages of text, it would “forget” information from the beginning of its context. This limited the size and complexity of tasks ChatGPT could handle.

Today’s LLMs are far more capable:

Read full article

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Donald Trump Jr. has spoken out on rumors of his breakup with Kimberly Guilfoyle. Here's a timeline of their relationship.

19 December 2024 at 13:31
Kimberly Guilfoyle and Donald Trump Jr.
Donald Trump Jr. and Kimberly Guilfoyle are outspoken supporters of President-elect Donald Trump.

Mandel Ngan/Getty Images

  • Donald Trump Jr. and Kimberly Guilfoyle began dating in 2018 and became a GOP power couple.
  • Page Six reported their breakup in December after Trump Jr. was seen with a Florida socialite.
  • Donald Trump chose Guilfoyle to serve as ambassador to Greece in his administration.

Donald Trump Jr. and Kimberly Guilfoyle have reportedly broken up after six years of dating.

Trump Jr., President-elect Donald Trump's oldest son, and Guilfoyle, a Trump campaign advisor and former Fox News host, began dating in 2018. Guilfoyle confirmed their engagement in 2022.

Once called "the prom king and queen of MAGA land," the pair bolstered Donald Trump's 2024 presidential run with primetime addresses at the Republican National Convention and appeared at rallies across the US in support of Trump's campaign.

In December, Trump Jr. was photographed holding hands with Palm Beach socialite Bettina Anderson. He stopped short of confirming that his relationship with Guilfoyle had ended, but said in a statement to Page Six that "Kimberly and I will never stop caring for each other and will always keep a special bond."

Guilfoyle will remain in the Trump orbit as the president-elect's pick for ambassador to Greece.

Trump Jr., Guilfoyle, and Anderson did not respond to Business Insider's requests for comment.

Here's a timeline of Trump Jr. and Guilfoyle's relationship.

November 2007: Donald Trump Jr. and Kimberly Guilfoyle ran in the same circles before they started dating.
Donald Trump Jr. and Vanessa Trump (left) posed with Kimberly Guilfoyle (second from right) at an event in New York City in November 2007.
Donald Trump Jr. and Vanessa Trump (left) with Kimberly Guilfoyle (second from right) at an event in New York City.

NEIL RASMUS/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images

Guilfoyle and Trump Jr. were photographed together at events in New York City in 2007 and 2008. At the time, they were in other relationships.

Guilfoyle was married to Democratic politician Gavin Newsom from 2001 to 2006, and she was first lady of San Francisco during his time as mayor. After they divorced, she married businessman Eric Villency in 2006 and had a son in 2007. The couple divorced in 2009. 

Trump Jr. married model Vanessa Haydon in 2005. They divorced in March 2018 and share five children.

June 2008: They posed for another photo with their then-spouses at an event in New York City.
Donald Trump Jr. (second from left), Vanessa Trump (middle), Eric Villency (third from left) and Kimberly Guilfoyle (right) in June 2008.
Donald Trump Jr. (second from left), Vanessa Trump (middle), Eric Villency (third from left), and Kimberly Guilfoyle (right).

Johnny Nunez/WireImage/Getty Images

The Washington Post reported that Guilfoyle and Trump Jr. became friends when her son, Ronan, went to the same private school in Manhattan as his oldest daughter, Kai.

May 2018: Three months after Trump Jr.'s wife Vanessa filed for divorce, Page Six reported that he and Guilfoyle were dating.
A split image of Donald Trump Jr. (left) and Kimberly Guilfoyle.
Donald Trump Jr. and Kimberly Guilfoyle.

Steven Ferdman/Getty Images, Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images for Taoray Wang

Guilfoyle started as a legal analyst at CNN and eventually became a co-host on the Fox News show "The Five." She left Fox News in 2018 amid reports of sexual harassment, for which the network paid her former assistant a multimillion-dollar settlement, and joined the pro-Trump super PAC America First Action.

Guilfoyle had been connected to the Trump family for years and was in talks to become the White House press secretary, USA Today reported.

Trump Jr. and Guilfoyle began dating in April 2018. That May, Page Six reported that they made their debut as a couple at a send-off party for the Trump administration's ambassador to Germany, Richard Grenell.

June 2018: They made their relationship Instagram official.
Donald Trump Jr. and Kimberly Guilfoyle in 2018.
Donald Trump Jr. and Kimberly Guilfoyle at a rally.

Bob Levey/Getty Images for Left/Right TV

Trump Jr. posted their first Instagram photo together with Bret Michaels of the band Poison. Guilfoyle also shared the image on her profile.

June 2018: Guilfoyle accompanied Trump Jr. to the Montana Republican Convention.
Kimberly Guilfoyle in 2018.
Kimberly Guilfoyle in Montana.

Win McNamee/Getty Images

Trump Jr. thanked Guilfoyle in his convention speech as his "significant other," Vanity Fair reported.

"We're going to take her fishing tomorrow, then shooting," he said. "This is a miniature test to see if she really likes it, or if she's going to pretend to like it, but either way we're going to have a good time — or at least I will."

August 2018: Page Six reported that they had nicknamed each other "Pooh Bear" and "Junior Mint."
Donald Trump Jr. and Kimberly Guilfoyle at a film premiere in August 2018.
Donald Trump Jr. and Kimberly Guilfoyle at a film premiere.

Shannon Finney/Getty Images

Guilfoyle and Trump Jr. were overheard calling each other pet names during a weekend in Southampton, New York, Page Six reported. Guilfoyle reportedly called Trump Jr. "Junior Mint," which Page Six speculated was a reference to his bank account, and Trump Jr. dubbed Guilfoyle "Pooh Bear."

September 2018: They returned to Montana to campaign for Matt Rosendale, the Republican challenger of incumbent Democratic Sen. Jon Tester.
Donald Trump Jr. and Kimberly Guilfoyle at a campaign rally for Montana Senate candidate Matt Rosendale in Bozeman, Montana, in September 2018.
Donald Trump Jr. and Kimberly Guilfoyle at a campaign rally for Montana Senate candidate Matt Rosendale.

William Campbell-Corbis via Getty Images

Rosendale lost the 2018 midterm election, and Tester was reelected to a third term in the US Senate.

November 2018: Trump Jr. and Guilfoyle walked arm-in-arm at the National Christmas Tree lighting on the National Mall in Washington, DC.
Donald Trump, Jr. and Kimberly Guilfoyle arrive for the lighting of the National Christmas Tree in November 2018.
Donald Trump, Jr. and Kimberly Guilfoyle at lighting of the National Christmas Tree.

BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images

The tree lighting featured performances from Abby Anderson, "The Voice" contestant Spensha Baker, and "American Idol" contestant Gabby Barrett, according to the event's official website.

February 2019: They attended New York Fashion Week together.
Donald Trump Jr. and Kimberly Guilfoyle in February 2019.
Donald Trump Jr. and Kimberly Guilfoyle at New York Fashion Week.

Theo Wargo/Getty Images for NYFW: The Shows

Trump Jr. and Guilfoyle sat in the front row at a Zang Toi runway show.

May 2019: After joining the Trump campaign as a senior advisor in April, Guilfoyle made several appearances at rallies.
Donald Trump Jr. and Kimberly Guilfoyle in May 2019.
Donald Trump Jr. and Kimberly Guilfoyle at a Trump rally.

Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call

Guilfoyle spoke at a rally at the Williamsport Regional Airport in Montoursville, Pennsylvania, in May 2019, and Trump's 2020 campaign kick-off rally in Orlando that June. She and Trump Jr. were side-by-side at the events.

"She's definitely made Don Jr. more serious," R. Couri Hay, a New York publicist, told Business Insider as part of a profile on Guilfoyle. "She's had years and years on TV. She's helped guide and train and been very influential in Don's increasingly very secure, very formidable, very opinionated television personality."

"They are like the prom king and queen of MAGA land," a senior Trump advisor told Business Insider.

October 2019: Trump Jr. and Guilfoyle embraced onstage while speaking at the University of Florida.
Donald Trump Jr. and Kimberly Guilfoyle speak at the University of Florida in October 2019.
Donald Trump Jr. and Kimberly Guilfoyle at the University of Florida.

Paul Hennessy/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

Trump Jr. and Guilfoyle were paid $50,000 from student activity fees for their appearance, The Washington Post reported. The event drew hundreds of student protesters outside the auditorium.

November 2019: Trump Jr. and Guilfoyle were asked about their marriage plans during a joint appearance on "The View."
Donald Trump Jr. and Kimberly Guilfoyle on "The View" in November 2019.
Donald Trump Jr. and Kimberly Guilfoyle on "The View."

Lou Rocco/ABC via Getty Images

"You and your family have hurt a lot of people and put a lot of people through a lot of pain," co-host Meghan McCain said to Trump Jr., naming Trump's attacks on a family whose son was killed while serving in the US Army in Iraq. "Does all of this make you feel good?"

Trump Jr. replied, "I don't think any of that makes me feel good, but I do think that we got into this because we wanted to do what's right for America."

In an attempt to "end on a light note," co-host Abby Huntsman asked Guilfoyle and Trump Jr. about when they're getting married.

"Oh my God," Guilfoyle said, grinning at Trump Jr. and saying they were more focused on getting Trump reelected.

August 2020: Trump Jr. watched Guilfoyle record her heated speech for the Republican National Convention.
Donald Trump Jr. watches Kimberly Guilfoyle as she pre-records her address to the Republican National Convention in August 2020.
Donald Trump Jr. watched Kimberly Guilfoyle at the Republican National Convention in 2020.

Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

"President Trump is the leader who will rebuild the promise of America and ensure that every citizen can realize their American dream!" Guilfoyle said in her RNC speech. "Ladies and gentlemen, leaders and fighters for freedom and liberty and the American dream, the best is yet to come!"

August 2020: They kissed onstage at a rally in Coplay, Pennsylvania.
Donald Trump Jr, and Kimberly Guilfoyle kiss during the Sportsmen for Trump launch in August 2020.
Donald Trump Jr. and Kimberly Guilfoyle at a Sportsmen for Trump event.

Preston Ehrler/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

Trump Jr. and Guilfoyle — both avid hunters — marked the launch of a coalition called Sportsmen for Trump.

October 2020: Guilfoyle joined Trump Jr. for a signing of his self-published book, "Liberal Privilege."
Donald Trump Jr. and Kimberly Guilfoyle at a book signing to promote his book "Liberal Privilege" in October 2020.
Donald Trump Jr. and Kimberly Guilfoyle at a book signing to promote his book "Liberal Privilege."

Lokman Vural Elibol/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Trump Jr. held the book signing at a Marriott Hotel in Long Island, New York.

December 2020: Guilfoyle appeared in a Facebook Live video on Trump Jr.'s Facebook page wishing followers a merry Christmas.
Donald Trump Jr. and Kimberly Guilfoyle snap a selfie.
Donald Trump Jr. and Kimberly Guilfoyle snap a selfie.

Paul Morigi/Getty Images

As they expressed their gratitude to veterans and members of the military, Trump Jr. also joked on the Facebook Live stream that he was "reasonably thankful for Kimberly."

He also called Guilfoyle the "voice of reason" who makes sure that his tweets stay in check.

January 2021: They showed some PDA while campaigning before the Senate runoff in Georgia.
Donald Trump Jr. and Kimberly Guilfoyle campaign in Dalton, Georgia, in January 2021.
Donald Trump Jr. and Kimberly Guilfoyle campaign in Dalton, Georgia, in January 2021.

Alex Wong/Getty Images

Trump Jr. and Guilfoyle kissed during a Republican National Committee Victory Rally at Dalton Regional Airport in Georgia.

Democratic candidates Jon Ossoff and Rev. Raphael Warnock beat respective Republican challengers David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler in the runoff election.

January 2021: Trump Jr. and Guilfoyle skipped President Joe Biden's inauguration and began looking for homes in Florida.
Donald Trump Jr. and Kimberly Guilfoyle exit Air Force One at the Palm Beach International Airport in January 2021.
Donald Trump Jr. and Kimberly Guilfoyle exit Air Force One.

Noam Galai/Getty Images

Trump Jr. and Guilfoyle skipped Biden's inauguration along with most of the Trump family, instead flying to Mar-a-Lago on Air Force One.

Upon arriving in Palm Beach, the couple began looking for waterfront homes in Admirals Cove, a gated community in Jupiter, Florida, The Palm Beach Post reported. They were reportedly in contracts to buy an $11 million seven-bedroom, 12-bathroom home that featured a wine room, theater, chef's kitchen, and guest wings. Guilfoyle herself was also looking at the $9.5 million two-story home next door that had six bedrooms and 11 bathrooms.

February 2021: Guilfoyle introduced Trump Jr.'s address at the Conservative Political Action Conference.
Donald Trump Jr. and Kimberly Guilfoyle at CPAC in 2021.
Donald Trump Jr. and Kimberly Guilfoyle at CPAC.

Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Trump Jr.'s speech, titled "Reigniting the Spirit of the American Dream," covered cancel culture, Liz Cheney, and "the MAGA movement as the future of the Republican Party."

March 2021: As their search for a Florida property continued, Trump Jr. and Guilfoyle sold their house in the Hamptons for $8 million.
Donald Trump Jr. and Kimberly Guilfoyle's former seven-bedroom home in the Hamptons.
Donald Trump Jr. and Kimberly Guilfoyle's former home in the Hamptons.

Rise Media

The 9,200-square-foot Bridgehampton home sits on nearly 4 acres in a private gated community. It has seven bedrooms plus a heated outdoor pool, spa, and waterfall. 

April 2021: The couple purchased a $9.7 million home in the gated Admirals Cove neighborhood of Jupiter, Florida, about 20 minutes from Mar-a-Lago.
Donald Trump Jr and Kimberly Guilfoyle at Mar-a-Lago in 2019.
Donald Trump Jr and Kimberly Guilfoyle at Mar-a-Lago.

NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP via Getty Images

The 11,300-square-foot waterfront estate features six bedrooms and 11 bathrooms, People magazine reported.

January 2022: Guilfoyle posted a photo with Trump Jr. where she appeared to be wearing a diamond ring on her left ring finger, sparking reports that the two had gotten engaged.
Kimberly Guilfoyle wearing a diamond engagement ring.
A close-up of Kimberly Guilfoyle's engagement ring.

Celal Gunes/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

"Tonight was extra special celebrating @donaldjtrumpjr's birthday," Guilfoyle captioned the Instagram photo. "Don, you are strong, smart, courageous, funny and the love of my life. I can't wait to spend the rest of our lives together. Love you."

An unnamed source told The Daily Mail in January 2022 that the pair quietly got engaged on New Year's Eve in 2020, but neither Trump Jr. nor Guilfoyle had confirmed their engagement publicly.

"Kim has been wearing her engagement ring and both are very excited about blending their families," a source told People magazine.

February 2022: Guilfoyle confirmed their engagement in an Instagram post calling Trump Jr. her fiancé.
Kimberly Guilfoyle and Donald Trump Jr. at CPAC in 2021.
Kimberly Guilfoyle and Donald Trump Jr. at CPAC.

Octavio Jones/Reuters

"Falling in love with my fiancé more and more every day," Guilfoyle wrote in a Valentine's Day Instagram post. "@donaldjtrumpjr, you're my best friend, my support system and my forever guy. Happy Valentine's Day, I love you and can't wait for the adventures that lie ahead."

November 2022: Guilfoyle and Trump Jr. attended Trump's 2024 campaign launch event.
Kimberly Guilfoyle with members of the Trump family in November 2022.
Kimberly Guilfoyle with members of the Trump family.

Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Eric Trump, Lara Trump, and Jared Kushner were also in attendance, but Ivanka Trump skipped the event, saying in a statement that she was stepping back from politics.

December 2022: In an interview with Metropolitan Palm Beach magazine, Guilfoyle said she is "very traditional" in her relationship with Trump Jr.
Kimberly Guilfoyle and Donald Trump Jr. sit at a desk with a photo of the White House in the background.
Kimberly Guilfoyle and Donald Trump Jr. at CPAC.

Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images

"I love taking care of Don, the way I saw my mother lovingly take care of my father," Guilfoyle told Metropolitan Palm Beach magazine. "I go out of my way to make sure he has everything he needs — making coffee in the morning, cooking our favorite meals, doing our families' laundry, and caring for our home."

Guilfoyle also said that Trump Jr. loves that she is "traditional yet fiercely independent."

November 2023: Trump Jr. and Guilfoyle hit the campaign trail for Trump, appearing at a rally in Hialeah, Florida.
Kimberly Guilfoyle and Donald Trump Jr. watch Donald Trump speak at a Trump rally in Florida.
Donald Trump Jr. and Kimberly Guilfoyle at a rally in Florida.

Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images

"America is Trump country!" Guilfoyle said in her speech.

April 2024: Trump Jr. marked their six-year anniversary on Instagram.
Donald Trump Jr. and Kimberly Guilfoyle leave a restaurant in London.
Donald Trump Jr. and Kimberly Guilfoyle in London.

Justin E Palmer/GC Images

"Thanks for always being there no matter what the haters are throwing our way," Trump Jr. wrote on Instagram. "I love you."

The caption was accompanied by photos of Trump Jr. and Guilfoyle engaged in their hobbies of fishing and shooting, as well as a photo of them at the White House.

July 2024: Trump Jr. and Guilfoyle both spoke on the third night of the Republican National Convention.
Kimberly Guilfoyle and Donald Trump Jr. at the Republican National Convention.
Kimberly Guilfoyle and Donald Trump Jr. at the Republican National Convention.

Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Guilfoyle delivered a forceful RNC speech, warning viewers that the country is "closer to World War III than any time in my life."

Trump Jr. was introduced by his daughter, 17-year-old Kai Trump. He praised his father's bravery after the Pennsylvania shooting, calling him "Trump tough."

September 2024: Trump Jr. was spotted with Palm Beach socialite Bettina Anderson, sparking speculation that his relationship with Guilfoyle had ended.
Bettina Anderson.
Bettina Anderson.

John Parra/Getty Images

In September, the Daily Mail reported that Trump Jr. was seen eating brunch with Bettina Anderson, a model, socialite, and founder and executive director of the wildlife conservation nonprofit Project Paradise. The outlet reported that Anderson was seen kissing Trump Jr. during their meal, raising questions about his relationship status with Guilfoyle.

Anderson did not respond to a request for comment.

November 2024: Trump Jr. and Guilfoyle appeared together at Trump's election night celebration after he won the race.
Donald Trump Jr. and Kimberly Guilfoyle with Tiffany Trump and Michael Boulos.
From left to right: Tiffany Trump, Michael Boulos, Kimberly Guilfoyle, and Donald Trump Jr.

JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images

Amid rumors about their relationship, Guilfoyle and Trump Jr. continued to appear publicly together. They joined other Trump family members in celebrating Trump's victory on election night in Palm Beach.

December 2024: The day after Trump Jr. was seen holding hands with Anderson in Palm Beach, Trump announced Guilfoyle as his pick for ambassador to Greece.
Kimberly Guilfoyle at Mar-a-Lago.
Kimberly Guilfoyle at Mar-a-Lago.

Carlos Barria/Reuters

Trump Jr. and Anderson were photographed leaving a Palm Beach restaurant while holding hands on Anderson's birthday, the Daily Mail reported. Anderson also tagged Trump Jr. in a photo on her Instagram story of a bouquet of flowers with a card reading, "Many have said you're aging out but I think you're perfect...happy birthday!"

The following day, Donald Trump announced he'd chosen Guilfoyle to serve as ambassador to Greece in his second White House administration.

"For many years, Kimberly has been a close friend and ally," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "Her extensive experience and leadership in law, media, and politics along with her sharp intellect make her supremely qualified to represent the United States, and safeguard its interests abroad."

Trump Jr. congratulated Guilfoyle in a post on X.

"I am so proud of Kimberly," he wrote. "She loves America and she always has wanted to serve the country as an Ambassador. She will be an amazing leader for America First."

December 2024: In a statement to Page Six, Trump Jr. did not confirm his breakup with Guilfoyle but said that they "will never stop caring for each other."
Donald Trump Jr. at Mar-a-Lago wearing a tuxedo.
Donald Trump Jr. at Mar-a-Lago.

Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Trump Jr. told Page Six that he and Guilfoyle "will always keep a special bond" and that he "could not be more proud of her and the important role she'll continue to play in my father's administration."

"She's been an undefeated prosecutor, national TV news star, a leader of the MAGA movement and close advisor to the president," he added. "The people of Greece are getting an absolute star and now the whole world will see it more than ever."

Guilfoyle did not share a statement with Page Six and did not respond to Business Insider's request for comment.

Read the original article on Business Insider

The new 'Superman' trailer gives a first look at David Corenswet's new Man of Steel. Here's who's in the cast.

20 December 2024 at 01:42
An image showing a man flying in a blue and red superhero costume. It is mainly light blue with a red cape. On his chest is a red and yellow "S" symbol. He has red trunks on with a yellow belt.
David Corenswet on the poster for "Superman."

Warner Bros. Pictures/DC Studios

  • The first trailer for James Gunn's "Superman" gives a first look at David Corenswet's hero.
  • It also introduces a handful of other heroes, villains, and monsters.
  • Here is the cast of the new DC movie and who they play.

It's been over a decade since audiences last saw a solo "Superman" movie in theaters, but director James Gunn has finally revealed the first trailer for his new DC reboot.

The film stars "Twisters" actor David Corenswet as the new version of the Man of Steel, as he takes over the role from Henry Cavill. The trailer starts with Superman crashing down in the snow before calling his dog, Krypto, for help.

It then introduces audiences to the new iteration of the DC Universe as Clark Kent balances his life as a young reporter at the Daily Planet and as a superhero. It puts some of the focus on his relationship with Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan) a fellow reporter, as well as Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult), a nefarious tech billionaire.

The action also sees Superman fighting a huge monster and a mysterious black-suited figure. Take a look below.

David Corenswet plays the new Superman, taking the mantle from Henry Cavill.
A composite image of two photos of the same man. On the left, he is dressed in a gray suit with a black tie, he's wearing glasses and has messy black hair. On the right he's dressed in a blue superhero outfit with a red cape. There is a symbol on his chest that is dirty from a fight. He has slicked back black hair and with a fringe curl. He also has a dirty face.
David Corenswet as Clark Kent and Superman.

Warner Bros Pictures/DC Studios

Corenswet is known for his roles in "Pearl," "The Politician" and "Look Both Ways." He also starred in 2024's "Twisters" alongside Glen Powell and Daisy Edgar-Jones. 

He told the "Manly Things (Sort Of)" podcast that he bulked up significantly for the role.

Corenswet said: "Getting to bulk up for 'Superman' was... I was looking for an excuse to really throw on some weight. I thought 210 was going to make me happy, but then I got up to 238... I wasn't 238 when we started shooting. 238 was my max." 

He added: "It didn't feel great... I did it so quickly that my body just hadn't adjusted to the extra weight... But that was at the peak of my bulk, and then I slowly lost weight before we started shooting. 

"I started shooting at about 228. I put on one of those sweatshirts, and I was like an XL or double XL, and I was like, 'I fill this out. This is amazing.' I didn't fit into any of my pants."

Rachel Brosnahan joins Corenswet as Lois Lane, Superman's love interest and colleague.
A woman with shoulder-length black hair in a white top and a black waistcoat. She's holding a newspaper and a white coffee mug.
Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane in "Superman."

Warner Bros. Pictures/DC Studios

Rachel Brosnahan plays Lois Lane, a determined reporter at the Daily Planet and the love interest of Superman/Kent. 

The actor is known for her roles in "House of Cards" and "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel," she reportedly beat actors like "Sex Education" star Emma Mackey, "Bridgerton" lead Phoebe Dynevor, and "Ready or Not" actor Samara Weaving to the role.

In February, Brosnahan told Variety what drew her to the role, saying: "I have always loved Lois Lane. She's smart, ambitious, and can be funny. She knows she's the smartest person in the room more often than not."

Nicholas Hoult is on villain duties as Lex Luthor.
A composite image of a man. On the left he's wearing an all brown suit and has brown hair. On the left, h's dressed in a black suit and a white shirt, he is completely bald and he's holding a silver gun.
Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor in "Superman."

Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images/Warner Bros. Pictures/DC Studios

British star Nicholas Hoult originally auditioned to play Superman in the film, but Gunn decided to cast him as the hero's archnemesis, Lex Luthor, instead. 

Hoult told The Hollywood Reporter that he enjoyed working with Gunn on getting Luthor right.

He said: "I was like, 'Oh, this is exciting where he imagines this character being, and hopefully I can bring the energy that he wants to what he's written on the page.' Yeah, you do want him to be imposing and dangerous. That's something about that character. Whenever you're playing the villain, I suppose you want people to feel that they are dangerous."

Nathan Fillion plays Guy Gardner, one of the many Green Lantern superheroes in DC comics.
A composite image of the same man. On the left he is wearing a gray suit with a black shirt, he has long dark hair. On the right he has blond hair that his cut with a straight fringe. He's wearing a black leather jacket.
Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner in "Superman."

Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP/Warner Bros. Pictures/DC Studios

Nathan Fillion voiced the Hal Jordan Green Lantern in several animated movies and starred in "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3" and "The Suicide Squad."

In "Superman," he's playing Guy Gardner, a hot-headed member of the Green Lantern Corps.

Isabela Merced plays another superhero called Hawkgirl.
A composite image. On the left is a woman with tied back brown hair and a braided fringe. She's wearing a purple glittery outfit. On the right is a woman in a white and black leather outfit, with a gold and black helmet on. She is flying through the sky with wings that stem from her back, she is also carrying a large metal mace.
Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl in "Superman."

Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images/Warner Bros. Pictures/DC Studios

Isabela Merced is playing Hawkgirl, a hero with a complicated backstory involving reincarnation. She also appeared in the Sony Marvel movie "Madame Web" as another superhero, Anya Corazon, and had a very gross role in "Alien: Romulus."

Edi Gathegi plays Mr. Terrific, whose intelligence is said to rival Batman's.
A composite image of a Black man. On the right he's wearing a gray suit with a black shirt. On the right he's weaing a black and red leather jacket, there is a black mask across his face in a "T" shape.
Edi Gathegi as Mr. Terrific in "Superman."

Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images/Warner Bros. Pictures/DC Studios

Edi Gathegi is playing Mr. Terrific, a tech genius who uses his inventions to fight injustice. The actor has also played a superhero before — Darwin in "X-Men: First Class."

Anthony Carrigan plays another new DC hero named Metamorpho.
Anthony Carrigan plays another new DC hero called Metamorpho
Anthony Carrigan and his counterpart, Matamorpho.

John Shearer / Getty Images / DC Universe Infinite

Carrigan can briefly be seen as Metamorpho toward the end of the trailer — although he's easily mistaken for another character, Brainiac, due to the alien-like design of his face.

But it is definitely Metamorpho due to his purple crystal shoulder that can be seen on the right of the screen.

—Jorge (@djodjeee_) December 19, 2024

The character is typically a hero in the comics, but this ominous shot might suggest he has a villainous role to play in the film.

Carrigan is best known for his role in "Barry" but he has played two supervillains in DC shows "Gotham" and "The Flash."

Krypto the Superdog as himself.
A small white fluffy dog with a cape barking at a superhero in a red and blue outfit lying in the snow.
Krypto the Superdog in "Superman."

Warner Bros. Pictures/DC Studios

James Gunn previously told fans on Instagram that his version of the character was inspired by his rescue dog, Ozu.

He wrote: "Gosh, how difficult would life be if Ozu had superpowers?" - and thus Krypto came into the script & changed the shape of the story as Ozu was changing my life."

Read the original article on Business Insider

18 details you probably missed in 'The Holiday'

19 December 2024 at 12:18
the holiday
Kate Winslet and Jack Black starred in "The Holiday."

Columbia Pictures

  • The Christmastime rom-com "The Holiday" is a classic, but fans may have missed these gems.
  • Amanda and Graham both have floor-to-ceiling shelves showcasing things relating to their careers. 
  • An iconic voice actor narrates the trailers in the film, and the movie's composer gets a shout-out. 

As we get closer to the end-of-year holidays, there are plenty of comforting, festive rom-coms to turn to.

"The Holiday," which stars Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, Jack Black, and Jude Law, is a classic. 

Here are some mistakes, Easter eggs, and details you may have missed in "The Holiday."

Iris' desk gives viewers a hint about what she does before it's actually said.
wedding announcement on iris' desk in the holiday
Iris writes for The Daily Telegraph.

Columbia Pictures

Iris writes for the society column at The Daily Telegraph.

At the beginning of the film, the camera pans across her desk, showing scattered marriage announcements and photos.

These are all visible before her job title is actually mentioned during the company holiday party, so eagle-eyed viewers may have already figured it out. 

The shoes Amanda throws at Ethan disappear and reappear behind him.
ethan standing in a doorway with shows on the floor behind him and the same hallway without the shoes
Edward Burns played Ethan in "The Holiday.

Columbia Pictures

At the beginning of Amanda and Ethan's argument, she throws two sneakers at him.

Both shoes land behind him in the hallway outside their bedroom.

Throughout the next few shots, the shoes seem to disappear and reappear on the floor behind him. 

The gardener tries to signal to Ethan not to admit to his affair.
amanda and ethan's gardener wearing a ld dogers hat in the holiday
Ethan cheated on Amanda.

Columbia Pictures

Amanda's gardener overhears the conversation between Amanda and Ethan when their argument continues outside.

Amanda asks Ethan to admit to having an affair with his secretary and says she really wants to know the truth. 

Before he answers, the gardener looks at Ethan and shakes his head, presumably to warn Ethan against confessing.

This wasn't Lindsay Lohan's first project with the "Holiday" director.
lindsay lohan in the fake trailer in the holiday
Lindsay Lohan makes a brief, uncredited cameo in "The Holiday."

Columbia Pictures

It's hard to miss Lohan's uncredited cameo in "The Holiday" — she appears in Amanda's movie trailer alongside James Franco. But there's a story behind her appearance in the film. 

Nancy Myers, the writer and director of "The Holiday," also created Lohan's first feature film, "The Parent Trap."

In a 2006 interview with ComingSoon.net, Meyer's said, "I know Lindsay because I directed 'The Parent Trap' and I told her she owes me everything so I made her do it."

The director added, "I called her and said, 'You have to do this for me,' but she was sweet about it, she was totally there."

Hal Douglas narrates the trailers throughout the movie.
still from the movie trailer amanda is working on in the holiday
Hal Douglas was one of the most popular trailer voices in the US.

Columbia Pictures

The trailer Amanda works on at the beginning of the film and the one she dreams later on are both narrated by recognizable voice actor Hal Douglas.

Before his death in 2014 at the age of 89, he was well-known for narrating thousands of movie trailers, including those for "Forrest Gump" and "Lethal Weapon."

The website Amanda and Iris use to swap houses is real.
search result for vacation rentals in the holiday
HomeExchange has been around since the 1990s.

Columbia Pictures

Amanda and Iris find each other through the house-swapping website HomeExchange.

It's a real company and website that's still running today. It continues to offer the experience shown in the film, where two users agree to stay at each other's homes for a set amount of time.

The site even credits the film for really putting it on the map. x

The books stacked next to Amanda's bed date the movie a bit.
arrows pointing to books in a stack in the holiday
"The Holiday" came out in 2006.

Columbia Pictures

Amanda brings a big stack of books on her vacation, featuring many popular reads from the late 1990s and early 2000s. 

The pile includes the spiritual book "The Power of Now" (1997), young-adult fiction novel "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" (1997), and Alice Munro's short-story collection "Runaway" (2004).

The way Iris' scarf is tied changes as she walks around Amanda's house.
iris wearing a scarf tied loosely and iris wearing a scarf tied tighter in the holiday with an arrow connecting the two
There's a slightly different knot at the neck.

Columbia Pictures

When Iris first arrives at Amanda's house, she excitedly explores each room.

For most of the tour, her scarf is loosely looped around her neck once.

However, there are a handful of shots where her scarf is instead tied in a double layer around her neck.

The DVDs at Amanda's house seem to all be arranged in alphabetical order.
arrow pointing to the "g" section of amanda's dvd collection as iris browses in the holiday
Amanda has an entire wall of DVDs.

Columbia Pictures

Amanda has a massive DVD collection at her house, which isn't surprising seeing as she makes movie trailers for a living. 

Based on various shots, the DVDs seem to be sorted in alphabetical order. When Iris looks more closely at the shelves, she's near the "G" section. 

"Enigma" (2001) can also be spotted on one shelf, which is a bit of a pop-culture paradox since Kate Winslet (who played Iris) starred in the movie.

Irish watches a very fitting movie at Amanda's house.
iris jumping up and down in front of amandas dvd collection in the holiday
She eventually chooses "Punch-Drunk Love."

Columbia Pictures

After excitedly looking through Amanda's impressive DVD collection, Iris settles on "Punch-Drunk Love" (2002).

The choice pretty perfectly coincides with her plot in "The Holiday" as the 2002 rom-com follows an American man who falls for an English woman.

Arthur gets it wrong, Cary Grant isn't actually from Surrey.
arthur and iris talking in a car in the holiday
Cary Grant was from Bristol.

Columbia Pictures

When Iris and Arthur have their meet-cute, he asks her where in England she's from, and she says, Surrey. 

He excitedly responds that Cary Grant was from Surrey, which he knows because the famous actor told him.

However, Grant was actually from Bristol, another English town. 

The meet-cute Arthur mentions is from "Bluebeard's Eighth Wife."
arthur talking in the holiday
Eli Wallach in "The Holiday."

Columbia Pictures

Arthur explains the concept of a meet-cute — the moment in a rom-com when a couple meets for the first time — to Iris.

He then gives an example of a man and a woman meeting at a store while trying to buy separate halves of the same pajama set.

This exact scenario is the meet-cute in "Bluebeard's Eighth Wife" (1938).

There are indeed five marshmallows in each cup of hot cocoa at Graham's house.
hands holding a yellow mug of hot cocoa in the holiday
Graham is meticulous about making sure everyone has an equal number of marshmallows.

Columbia Pictures

Graham and his daughters, Olivia and Sophie, tell Amanda that they always drink hot cocoa with five marshmallows each.

Whenever the shot shows a clear view of their mugs, there are indeed five marshmallows in each cup.

Olivia says they never have girls at their house, but Graham's daughters seem close with their aunt Iris.
graham and amanda laying in a fort with graham's daughters in the holiday
Graham and Iris are siblings.

Columbia Pictures

When Amanda hangs out with Graham and his daughters, Olivia comments that they never have girl visitors at the house.

But their aunt Iris lives nearby, and judging by their reaction to seeing her at the New Year's Eve party at the end of the film, they're fans of hers. 

Graham's book collection mirrors Amanda's DVDs.
graham standing in front of his bookcase in the holiday
Graham works as a book editor.

Columbia Pictures

Just like Amanda's wall of DVD shelves, Graham has a wall of bookcases in his house. This is equally fitting since he works as a book editor. 

His collection seems to include a number of classics — there's a Tennessee Williams collection visible on the same shelf as a Dylan Thomas book.

However, there are also multiple travel guides on the shelves.

Miles comments on work done by the composer who scored "The Holiday."
jack black in the holiday and hans zimmer on the red carpet for the venice film festival in 2022
Hans Zimmer composed the score for "The Holiday."

Columbia Pictures; YARA NARDI/Reuters

While perusing Blockbuster with Iris, Miles picks up a copy of "Driving Miss Daisy" and tells her the iconic score was done by Hans Zimmer.

Zimmer actually composed the score for "The Holiday" as well.

"Jaws" is in the wrong section of the video store.
miles holding a copy of jaws in a video store in the holiday
Jack Black in "The Holiday."

Columbia Pictures

Miles continues pulling multiple movies from the shelves of the video store to comment on the different scores, including "Jaws."

The movie was sorted in the "drama" section, but it's most commonly referred to as an adventure/thriller.

Dustin Hoffman makes a brief but well-timed cameo.
dustin hoffman making a cameo in the holiday
Dustin Hoffman starred in "The Graduate."

Columbia Pictures

During the video-store scene, when Miles picks up "The Graduate" (1967) and starts singing Simon and Garfunkel's "Mrs. Robinson," the camera flashes down the row to Dustin Hoffman perusing the shelves. 

Hoffman starred as Ben Braddock in the 1967 film, and his cameo in "The Holiday" was actually happenstance. 

In the DVD commentary, Meyers said they were filming at a Blockbuster in the Brentwood neighborhood of LA, and Hoffman was having lunch next door. Meyers knew the actor, so she invited him on set, and he jumped into the scene. 

They didn't even change his clothes or give him any makeup. 

This story was originally published in December 2022 and most recently updated on December 19, 2024.

Read the original article on Business Insider

Solving renewable energy’s sticky storage problem

When the Sun is blazing and the wind is blowing, Germany’s solar and wind power plants swing into high gear. For nine days in July 2023, renewables produced more than 70 percent of the electricity generated in the country; there are times when wind turbines even need to be turned off to avoid overloading the grid.

But on other days, clouds mute solar energy down to a flicker and wind turbines languish. For nearly a week in January 2023, renewable energy generation fell to less than 30 percent of the nation’s total, and gas-, oil- and coal-powered plants revved up to pick up the slack.

Germans call these periods Dunkelflauten, meaning “dark doldrums,” and they can last for a week or longer. They’re a major concern for doldrum-afflicted places like Germany and parts of the United States as nations increasingly push renewable-energy development. Solar and wind combined contribute 40 percent of overall energy generation in Germany and 15 percent in the US and, as of December 2024, both countries have goals of becoming 100 percent clean-energy-powered by 2035.

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Outnumbered star Ramona Marquez: ‘I grew up on TV. I never knew anything different’

18 December 2024 at 22:00

Marquez was just five years old when the groundbreaking improvised sitcom ‘Outnumbered’ made her a star. As the show returns to our screens for a one-off Christmas special, she talks to Ellie Harrison about the pitfalls of fame, from eager fans at Reading to intrusive tabloid headlines, and what we can expect from the Brockman siblings now they are all grown up

© BBC, Getty

The countries with the tallest people in the world, ranked

18 December 2024 at 13:56
Sultan Kosen is very tall compared to the two children standing on a short wall next to him as he holds a cane and one of their hands
Sultan Kösen poses next to two children in 2024.

Waleed Zein/Anadolu via Getty Images

  • Height varies widely around the world, but some countries tend to have taller citizens.
  • Using medical data, Business Insider found the mean heights for the 25 tallest countries.
  • Many European countries made the list, including Germany, Poland, and Croatia

Sultan Kösen, who hails from Turkey, is nearly 8 feet 3 inches tall and may be the tallest person on the planet.

Despite his impressive stature, his country isn't among those with the tallest people, according to the medical database from the NCD Risk Factor Collaboration.

From 1985 to 2019, the project collected height, blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and other health metrics from over 2,500 population surveys across 193 countries.

The NCD lists the mean heights for 19-year-old men and women in each country. Averaging these two figures gives a rough idea of how tall the typical person is in the country.

Notably, the US isn't on the list. It ranked 58th for women, at 5 feet 4.29 inches (163.3 cm), and 47th for men at 5 feet 9.65 inches (176.9 cm).

These are the 25 countries that (literally) came out on top.

25. Greece's mean height is 5 feet 7.93 inches (172.55 cm).
John Aniston and Jennifer Aniston at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City, New York (Photo by Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)
John Aniston, an actor and the late father of Jennifer Aniston, was born on the island of Crete in Greece.

Photo by Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images

The mean height for men from Greece is 5 feet 10.59 inches (179.3 cm).

The mean height for women from Greece is 5 feet 5.28 inches (165.8 cm).

24. Austria's mean height is 5 feet 7.99 inches (172.7 cm).
Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) poses after receiving from US actor Danny DeVito his lifetime achievement award at the annual German film and television award ceremony Golden Camera.
Austrian-born Arnold Schwarzenegger, who's about 6 feet 2 inches tall, starred alongside Danny DeVito in the 1988 movie "Twins."

CHRISTIAN CHARISIUS/Getty Images

The mean height for men from Austria is 5 feet 10.28 inches (178.5 cm).

The mean height for women from Austria is 5 feet 5.71 inches (166.9 cm).

22. Belarus' mean height is 5 feet 8.03 inches (172.8 cm).
Victoria Azarenka
The 6-foot Belarusian tennis player Victoria Azarenka used her height to her advantage on the court.

THOMAS SAMSON/AFP via Getty Images

The mean height for men from Belarus is 5 feet 10.35 inches (178.7 cm).

The mean height for women from Belarus is 5 feet 5.71 inches (166.9 cm).

22. Cook Islands' mean height is 5 feet 8.03 inches (172.8 cm).
Three women in brightly colored clothing and headware stand and wave on a beach on Cook Island
The Cook Islands, located in the South Pacific, aren't far from French Polynesia.

iStock via Getty Images Plus

The mean height for men from the Cook Islands is 5 feet 10.19 inches (178.3 cm).

The mean height for women from the Cook Islands is 5 feet 5.87 inches (167.3 cm).

21. Bermuda's mean height is 5 feet 8.07 inches (172.9 cm).
Daren Herbert on stage acting in The Wild Party, a musical
Bermuda-born actor and dancer Daren Herbert has appeared in many TV shows and movies.

Rick Madonik/Toronto Star via Getty Images

The mean height for men from Bermuda is 5 feet 10.75 inches (179.7 cm).

The mean height for women from Bermuda is 5 feet 5.39 inches (166.1 cm).

19. Poland's mean height is 5 feet 8.21 inches (173.25 cm).
Poland Entry Blanka performs "Solo" on stage during The Eurovision Song Contest 2023 Grand Final at M&S Bank Arena on in Liverpool, England
In the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest, singer Blanka, center, represented Poland.

Anthony Devlin/Getty Images

The mean height for men from Poland is 5 feet 11.14 inches (180.7 cm).

The mean height for women from Poland is 5 feet 5.28 inches (165.8 cm).

19. Germany's mean height is 5 feet 8.21 inches (173.25 cm).
angela merkel
Former German chancellor Angela Merkel is a similar height to many other women in her country.

Omer Messinger-Pool/Getty Images

The mean height for men from Germany is 5 feet 10.98 inches (180.3 cm).

The mean height for women from Germany is 5 feet 5.43 inches (166.2 cm).

18. Norway's mean height is 5 feet 8.29 inches (173.45 cm).
Magnus Carlsen looks up from the chess board during a match in 2021.
Norwegian chess grandmaster Magnus Carlsen adds a bit to his height when he styles his hair a certain way.

Jon Gambrell/AP Images

The mean height for men from Norway is 5 feet 11.06 inches (180.5 cm).

The mean height for women from Norway is 5 feet 5.51 inches (166.4 cm).

16. Finland's mean height is 5 feet 8.33 inches (173.55 cm).
finland happy
A man holds a Finnish flag.

Vesa Moilanen/Lehtikuva/Reuters

The mean height for men from Finland is 5 feet 11.1 inches (180.6 cm).

The mean height for women from Finland is 5 feet 5.55 inches (166.5 cm).

16. Dominica's mean height is 5 feet 8.33 inches (173.55 cm).
Danny John-Jules and Petula Langlais dressed up and holding wine at the inaugural Visionary Honours Awards in 2019
"Death in Paradise" star Danny John-Jules, pictured with Petula Langlais, was born in London and both his parents are from Dominica.

Dave Benett/Getty Images

The mean height for men from Dominica is 5 feet 10.94 inches (180.2 cm).

The mean height for women from Dominica is 5 feet 5.71 inches (166.9 cm).

 

 

 

15. Sweden's mean height is 5 feet 8.35 inches (173.6 cm).
Soccer player Zlatan Ibrahimović wears a white jersey and shorts on the soccer field and spreads his arms wide
Swede Zlatan Ibrahimović, a former soccer player, is 6 feet 5 inches tall. Shaun Clark/Getty Images

Shaun Clark/Getty Images

The mean height for men from Sweden is 5 feet 11.06 inches (180.5 cm).

The mean height for women from Sweden is 5 feet 5.63 inches (166.7 cm).

 

 

 

13. Ukraine's mean height is 5 feet 8.43 inches (173.8 cm).
(L-R) Maksim Chmerkovskiy and Peta Murgatroyd attend the 2021 World Choreography Awards
"Dancing with the Stars" alum Maksim Chmerkovskiy, pictured with Peta Murgatroyd, moved to the US from Ukraine as a teen.

Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images

The mean height for men from Ukraine is 5 feet 11.26 inches (181 cm).

The mean height for women from Ukraine is 5 feet 5.59 inches (166.6 cm).

13. Croatia's mean height is 5 feet 8.43 inches (173.8 cm).
Slavica Ecclestone and Bernie Ecclestone under a green-and-white umbrella at the British Grand Prix in 2008
Croatian former model Slavica Ecclestone, pictured with her ex-husband, Bernie Ecclestone, is toweringly tall.

Crispin Thruston/Action Images via Reuters

The mean height for men from Croatia is 5 feet 11.18 inches (180.8 cm).

The mean height for women from Croatia is 5 feet 5.67 inches (166.8 cm).

12. Slovakia's mean height is 5 feet 8.52 inches (174.05 cm).
Slovakia's Petra Vlhova celebrates at the finish area of an alpine ski, women's parallel slalom World Cup in St. Moritz, Switzerland, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019
Petra Vlhová, Slovakia's first alpine skier to win an Olympic medal, is nearly 6 feet tall.

AP Photo/Sergio Bisi

The mean height for men from Slovakia is 5 feet 11.26 inches (181 cm).

The mean height for women from Slovakia is 5 feet 5.79 inches (167.1 cm).

11. Slovenia's mean height is 5 feet 8.54 inches (174.1 cm).
Slovenia's President Natasa Pirc Musar and Kosovo's President Vjosa Osmani-Sadriu talk as they pose for a photo during the Brdo-Brijuni Process in Skopje, North Macedonia in 2023
Slovenia's president, Nataša Pirc Musar, poses with Kosovo's president, Vjosa Osmani.

REUTERS/Ognen Teofilovski

The mean height for men from Slovenia is 5 feet 11.26 inches (181 cm).

The mean height for women from Slovenia is 5 feet 5.83 inches (167.2 cm).

10. Lithuania's mean height is 5 feet 8.56 inches (174.15 cm).
Wearing a black warm-up outfit Lithuania's Ruta Meilutyte celebrates on the podium after winning the women's 50m breastroke final at the Fukuoka 2023 World Aquatics Championships
Rūta Meilutytė has broken several swimming records and won an Olympic gold medal for Lithuania.

REUTERS/Issei Kato

The mean height for men from Lithuania is 5 feet 11.14 inches (180.7 cm).

The mean height for women from Lithuania is 5 feet 5.98 inches (167.6 cm).

9. Serbia's mean height is 5 feet 8.7 inches (174.5 cm).
Serbian Prime Minister and leader of the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) Aleksandar Vucic wears a suit and gestures during a rally ahead of the 2016 election in Belgrade
Serbia's president, Aleksandar Vučić, is well over 6 feet tall.

REUTERS/Marko Djurica

The mean height for men from Serbia is 5 feet 11.14 inches (180.7 cm).

The mean height for women from Serbia is 5 feet 6.26 inches (168.3 cm).

8. Czech Republic's mean height is 5 feet 8.74 inches (174.6 cm).
Madeleine Albright stands in front of a microphone in front of shelves of books in 2012
Born in Prague in what is now the Czech Republic, the late Madeleine Albright was the first woman to serve as the US Secretary of State.

E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images

The mean height for men from the Czech Republic is 5 feet 11.34 inches (181.2 cm).

The mean height for women from the Czech Republic is 5 feet 6.14 inches (168 cm).

6. Bosnia and Herzegovina's mean height is 5 feet 8.9 inches (175 cm).
Athletes from Bosnia and Herzegovina make their entrance at the 2022 Winter Olympics.
Athletes from Bosnia and Herzegovina at the opening ceremony for the 2022 Winter Olympics.

AP Photo/Jae C. Hong

The mean height for men from Bosnia & Herzegovina is 5 feet 11.85 inches (182.5 cm).

The mean height for women from Bosnia & Herzegovina is 5 feet 5.94 inches (167.5 cm).

6. Latvia's mean height is 5 feet 8.9 inches (175 cm).
Athletes from Latvia make their entrance at the Summer Olympics.
Latvian athletes make their entrance at the 2020 Summer Olympics.

Hannah McKay/Pool Photo via AP

The mean height for men from Latvia is 5 feet 11.34 inches (181.2 cm).

The mean height for women from Latvia is 5 feet 6.46 inches (168.8 cm).

5. Iceland's mean height is 5 feet 9.09 inches (175.5 cm).
Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson and fitness expert Natalie Eva Marie are dressed in costumes at the launch of Monster Energy’s new performance beverage REIGN Total Body Fuel in 2019 in New York City.
A few inches shy of 7 feet, "Game of Thrones" actor Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson, pictured with professional wrestler Natalie Eva Marie, was born in Reykjavík, Iceland.

Brian Ach/Getty Images for REIGN Total Body Fuel

The mean height for men from Iceland is 5 feet 11.69 inches (182.1 cm).

The mean height for women from Iceland is 5 feet 6.5 inches (168.9 cm).

4. Denmark's mean height is 5 feet 9.17 inches (175.7 cm).
Mads Mikkelsen in a tuxedo at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival
Trained as a gymnast, Mads Mikkelsen began his acting career in his native Denmark.

Joel C. Ryan/AP

The mean height for men from Denmark is 5 feet 11.61 inches (181.9 cm).

The mean height for women from Denmark is 5 feet 6.73 inches (169.5 cm).

3. Estonia's mean height is 5 feet 9.19 inches (175.75 cm).
Miss Estonia, Jana Tafenau, wears a black vest, white button-down shirt, and red skirt on stage at the 2002 Miss Universe pageant.
Miss Estonia Jana Tafenau performs at the 2002 Miss Universe pageant.

Jose Jimenez/Primera Hora/Getty Images

The mean height for men from Estonia is 5 feet 11.97 inches (182.8 cm).

The mean height for women from Estonia is 5 feet 6.42 inches (168.7 cm).

2. Montenegro's mean height is 5 feet 9.55 inches (176.65 cm).
Montenegro`s Mirko Vucinic (L) celebrates with Nikola Vukcevic and Fatos Baciraj (R) after scoring a goal during their Euro 2016 qualifying soccer match in Podgorica, Montenegro in 2015.
Montenegro`s soccer team competes during the Euro 2016 qualifying soccer match.

REUTERS/Stevo Vasiljevic

The mean height for men from Montenegro is 6 feet 0.17 inches (183.3 cm).

The mean height for women from Montenegro is 5 feet 6.93 inches (170 cm).

 

 

1. The Netherlands's mean height is 5 feet 9.72 inches (177.1 cm).
King Willem-Alexander in a suit and blue tie and Queen Maxima in a red dress with a sparkly dragonfly pin on her shoulder stand next to each other
The Netherlands' King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima are typical heights for their country.

Patrick van Katwijk/Getty Images

The mean height for men from the Netherlands is 6 feet 0.36 inches (183.8 cm).

The mean height for women from the Netherlands is 5 feet 7.09 inches (170.4 cm).

A note on mean versus average heights: Using mean heights instead of averages gives a sense of which countries have the most people who are tall. For example, many Icelandic men are 5 feet 11 inches. 

The list would look different ranked by average heights. The Federal Statistical Office of Germany calculates heights by average, for example, and the results would bump the country up several spots in the rankings. 

This post was originally published in 2019 and was updated on December 18, 2024.

Read the original article on Business Insider
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