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The Apollo Theater makes history... [Advertisement][Advertisement][Advertisement] [Morning Brew]( Presented By [Virgin Voyages]( [December 08, 2024]( | [View Online]( | [Sign Up]( | [Shop]( [Christmas market in New York City] It’s holiday market season in New York. David Dee Delgado/Getty Images  BROWSING  [Classifieds]( The wackiest headlines from the week as they would appear in a Classifieds section. Careers GOLDEN BASEBALL HITTER: Baseball fans are fiercely debating a [potential rule change]( (still hypothetical) that would drastically alter the sport. Called the Golden At-Bat, it would allow managers to send their best hitter to the plate for any at-bat once during a game to ramp up the drama. NYC sports radio legend Mike Francesa said he would stop watching baseball if it were implemented. SEEKING BRITISH SUMO: London will [host]( an official sumo wrestling tournament in 2025, only the second time ever that an official tournament will take place outside of Japan. SOMEONE HIRE SANDOVAL: The icons of Vanderpump Rules are out. Season 12 will [introduce]( an entirely new cast of young, drunk servers who scream in parking lots. Personal FAKE GRAVE DOWN: A vandal [destroyed]( the prop tombstone of fictional character Ebenezer Scrooge used in 1984’s A Christmas Carol movie. We don’t want to point fingers, but The Muppet Christmas Carol fans always seem to get mighty cocky around this time of year. ABANDONED PIES: A van stolen from an English Michelin-star restaurant this week wasn’t recovered quickly enough to save its precious cargo: [2,500 pounds of savory pies](. The steak and ale, turkey, and butternut squash pies were destined for a Christmas market nearby, but after the incident, the nearly $32,000 worth of food had to be thrown out. ISO HOME FOR ROCK: Stephen King is [shutting down]( his three independent radio stations in Bangor, ME, after keeping them alive for decades. Is it worth it to bury them in a controversial cemetery in hopes they return? For sale MUSICAL KNOCKOFFS: US Customs and Border Protection agents seized more than [3,000 fake Gibson guitars]( at a Los Angeles port. If the guitars had been real, they would have been worth $18 million and made some of y’all’s dads really excited. 8-BIT THIGH: KFC [released]( a Tamagotchi knockoff—in case you wanted to care for and raise a breaded drumstick as a virtual pet. The devices were initially available in Madrid for under $5 but are going for as much as $30 on eBay. EAU DE TOMATE: Get ready for [savory perfumes]( in 2025. Industry experts predict your trendiest friends will be walking around smelling like they just got off a brunch shift.—MM  Presented By Virgin Voyages [Choose your own adventure]( [Virgin Voyages]( Sounds like a [Virgin Voyages experience](. These award-winning, adults-only vacations at sea travel all over the world—Europe, the Caribbean, some even cross the Atlantic. As part of Virgin Voyages’ biggest offer yet, you can score [80% off your second]( sailor + up to $300 in free drinks on all voyages. What’s better? New 2025 and 2026 itineraries are included. Gift yourself a trip to write home about. [Explore Virgin Voyages]( vacations at sea.  SNAPSHOT  [GIF of the week](#) [Strava map art] Duncan McCabe on TikTok One Toronto man has taken the discipline of Strava art to a new level. Duncan McCabe combined his love for running and animation to create a [now-viral TikTok]( that stars a stickman in a hat dancing to Sofi Tukker’s “Purple Hat” overlaid on a map of Toronto. People have used Strava to walk, run, cycle, and hike art-inspired routes that create a still shape or object on a map, but McCabe blew those away with his degree of difficulty: He ran ~120 times over the course of nearly a year to create a 27-second moving picture that’s been viewed more than a million times. “I became one with the stickman,” McCabe [deadpanned]( to the New York Times. “It’s an unbelievable amount of work for a few seconds of content.”—DL  SCIENCE  [Dept. of Progress](#) [Baby elephant twins play next to their mother at Wingabaw Elephant Camp, Myanmar's Bago region] Sai Aung Main/AFP via Getty Images Here are some illuminating scientific discoveries from the week to help you live better and maybe even get your friends and family their favorite presents ever. Animal elders pass on wisdom like The Giver. The oldest members of endangered species need to be protected most, conservationists warned in a new review of more than 9,000 peer-reviewed papers on social and collective memory in wild animals. Older female elephants remember tipoffs to danger (like lions), postmenopausal orcas lead their pods to the best areas for salmon hunting, and deep-sea corals can shelter entire ecosystems for thousands of years. When animal herds lose their elders to poaching or climate change, they can fall apart, the researchers found—imagine if a school of fish lost the older members of the family who led everyone else to the best breeding grounds. The scientists are calling for “[longevity conservation]( which prioritizes protecting older animals and the knowledge they share with the rest of their populations. Google’s new weather tool nails 15-day forecasts. A new AI model trained on 40 years of weather data (up until 2018) is able to project 2019 weather patterns better than the best forecasting models currently used by meteorologists, according to Google. The tech giant said its new toy, GenCast, sees an additional five days ahead compared to leading forecasting tools, and it also sometimes provides more [accurate predictions]( for wind and the path of extreme weather like tornadoes, which could help disaster-prone areas better prepare for emergencies. Google DeepMind isn’t alone in pursuing meteorology: AI leaders Nvidia and Huawei also released weather forecasting models over the past few years. Good gift-givers don’t do this. As you check off your holiday shopping list, check in with yourself—is this present something they want, or something you want to give them? The [best gifters]( leave their ego at the door, according to a psychologist who says people tend to prefer presents they’ve asked for, rather than surprises. So, go the straightforward route, and also don’t be afraid to do a partial gift, like four nice dinner plates out of eight requested. Other gift-maxing suggestions include: Giving experiences (like vacations or massages), sacrificing nice gift wrap so you can splurge on the main attraction, and getting sentimental presents rather than clothes or gadgets for those closest to you.—ML  Together With Virgin Voyages [Virgin Voyages]( The ocean awaits. Ready to relax at sea while saving some $$$? Because right now, Virgin Voyages is offering [80% off your second]( sailor and up to $300 in free drinks on all vacations. Wi-Fi, tips, dining, nonalcoholic drinks, fitness classes, and entertainment are all included at no extra cost. Check out their [biggest offer yet](.  NEWS ANALYSIS  [UMich gives DEI a second thought]( [Michigan Stadium]( Raymond Boyd/Getty Images The University of Michigan is considering expelling some of its pioneering diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives from its halls, joining scores of American institutions moving in a similar direction. Michigan’s flagship state school announced this week that it will no longer [solicit diversity statements]( on applications for faculty positions, promotion, or tenure. In revealing the decision, Provost Laurie McCauley cited criticism that requiring job candidates to describe how they’re positioned to advance DEI goals has the potential to “reduce diversity of thought among faculty members.” The UMich regents also [reportedly considered]( slashing funding to some DEI programs and funneling more money toward financial aid for low-income students and expanding recruitment programs, according to the New York Times. Though they ultimately didn’t move to defund the programs at their Wednesday meeting, the regents’ rethinking of DEI has drawn vigorous criticism from UMich DEI professionals and other members of the school community. While the developments mirror wider trends across academia and industry—including Harvard and MIT similarly getting rid of diversity statements—it’s a major about-face for an institution that trailblazed DEI practices that were replicated on campuses nationwide. It represents one of the first instances of a selective public university remodeling its DEI approach not as a reaction to changing laws, per the New York Times. DEI debate Since 2016, UMich has [spent $250 million]( on a sweeping DEI initiative that infused all aspects of university operations, made diversity training for faculty the norm, and centered identity in hiring decisions and course syllabi, according to the New York Times. The effort has been attacked for causing administrative bloat: UMich professor Mark J. Perry, a DEI critic, calculated that the school employs 241 DEI professionals (a number UMich calls an overcount). The NYT reported on other criticisms of Michigan’s DEI practices: - Some faculty members claim much of the DEI effort means they must contend with the need to write time-consuming reports, participate in virtue signaling exercises with dubious results, and work in a culture that creates overeagerness among students to file formal complaints. - Surveys found that Wolverines are generally ignoring UMich’s DEI efforts and having fewer interactions with people of other races on campus. - Some faculty accused the university of prioritizing box-checking over substantive action to help students from disadvantaged backgrounds. The New York Times noted that Black enrollment has stagnated. But campus activists and some faculty members believe that dropping the programs would be a mistake and a capitulation to outside political pressure. While acknowledging UMich’s DEI playbook isn’t perfect, they claim branding DEI professionals as mere pencil pushers is a mischaracterization of their work, which includes tasks like helping plan class schedules to accommodate students with evening jobs. Defenders [credit DEI]( with boosting enrollment rates of first-generation college students and people of color (though Black enrollment remains disproportionally low). Meanwhile, UMich’s Chief Diversity Officer Tabbye Chavous accused the New York Times report of peddling misinformation and “sexism.” DEI on the decline in corporate America DEI battles aren’t contained to Ann Arbor. Conservative activism, fueled by the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision banning affirmative action in university admissions, has spurred companies large and small to [lawsuit-proof]( their DEI strategy or ditch it altogether. Last month, Walmart said that it would close its center for racial equity, stop considering race and gender when choosing suppliers, and stop reporting data to the Human Rights Campaign index used to grade companies on LGBTQ inclusivity. Corporate and governmental DEI got a rebuke in federal court this week when a judge rejected Boeing’s plea deal with the Justice Department over two deadly 737 Max crashes: US District Judge Reed O’Connor claimed a DEI provision in the agreement injects diversity considerations into the choice of a monitor to oversee Boeing’s future compliance, which is not in the public interest. Meanwhile, a newly created “anti-woke” ETF that will begin trading in the coming months—consisting of only S&P 500 companies without DEI hiring—has reportedly [singled out Starbucks]( as a target for exclusion from the fund. Starbucks responded that its diversity goals expired recently and have not been reinstated. Looking ahead: President-elect Donald Trump will likely wage an aggressive campaign against DEI in universities by threatening to retract federal funding. It’s also expected he’ll fight against diversity initiatives in federal agencies and in the selection of government contractors, efforts that could lead to DEI falling even further out of favor with corporate America.—SK  DESTINATIONS  [Place to be: The Apollo Theater](#) [Apollo Theater] Apollo Theater in 2016. Matthew Eisman/Getty Images It’s a big world out there. In this section, we’ll teleport you to an interesting location—and hopefully give you travel ideas in the process. The Apollo—Harlem’s legendary theater that has launched the careers of singers, rappers, comedians, and poets—will become the first institution to be recognized at the Kennedy Center Honors in Washington, D.C. Queen Latifah will host tonight’s [ceremony]( which will air on CBS and Paramount+ on Dec. 23. Cinema visionary Francis Ford Coppola, rock band the Grateful Dead, jazz musician and composer Arturo Sandoval, and singer Bonnie Raitt will also provide something to talk about as honorees. But it’s The Apollo and its place at the [heart of American culture]( for nearly a century that’s finally getting its long overdue recognition: - The theater opened in 1914 as a home for burlesque shows before it was shut down in the 1930s. When it reopened in 1934, ownership looked for ways to cater to Harlem’s burgeoning Black population and booked jazz musicians and created Amateur Night. - For 90 years, Amateur Night has attracted unknowns ready to stare down a famously fickle audience and make names for themselves. Ella Fitzgerald, Lauryn Hill, and Machine Gun Kelly won over the crowd; Luther Vandross and Dave Chappelle, however, were met with a chorus of boos that did nothing to deter their rise to stardom. It’s showtime a few doors down, too: The Apollo Theater had a major expansion this year, opening auxiliary stages at the nearby Victoria Theater. The new space will be used to develop Black talent, create educational and community programs, and increase performances.—DL  BREW'S BEST  [To-do list banner] Bake: Unique [holiday cookies]( that taste like a snickerdoodle married with a gingersnap. Listen: Finally, some good [elevator music](. Just one more subscription: Finish Bridgerton and ditch Netflix. You’d be hard-pressed to find something on [Dropout TV]( that didn’t make you laugh. Feline friends: A trip to one of Japan’s [cat islands]( but with a calming creator. Learn: Read about how Patagonia [tests gear](. Watch: A [feel-good]( Christmas movie starring Lindsay Lohan. All aboard: One ticket goes a long way with Virgin Voyages. These [award-winning vacations]( include luxury dining, entertainment, and more. Check out their [biggest offer yet]( to score extra savings.* *A message from our sponsor.  COMMUNITY  [Crowd work](#) Last week, we asked you for a tip that would help level up everyone’s holiday cooking or baking game. Here are our favorites: - “Sous vide your meat. Super hands-off, the meat is cooked perfectly. Quick sear after the water bath. Perfection! I highly suggest prime rib specifically.”—Vanessa from Texas - “If you’re gifting a variety of sweets, DO NOT plate peppermint flavors with any other flavors. Typically, it’s so strong that everything ends up tasting like peppermint, and nobody wants peanut butter blossoms that now taste minty.”—Hannah from Denver, CO - “2 WORDS: LOXARDO CHERRIES. MOST MARASCHINO CHERRIES ARE FILLED WITH WEIRD, BAD TASTING DYES, BUT THESE ELEVATE ANY HOLIDAY DESSERT OR COCKTAIL.”—Marvin from Cincinnati, OH - “Embrace the power of browned butter. Regular butter is fine, but browned butter? That’s butter with a PhD. Just cook it until it smells nutty and looks golden, and suddenly everything you bake will taste like it went to culinary school in Paris. Warning: You may never be able to go back to plain butter again.”—Sanskar from Columbus, OH - “Duck eggs! Use them in everything you bake. They are richer and have a higher fat content than chicken eggs. You will be thankful you made the switch.”—Jamie from Artesia, NM This week’s question What’s the best Secret Santa gift you’ve ever received? Matty’s answer to get the juices flowing: “Maybe a random mug with hot chocolate mix in it is overdone, but a few years ago, someone I barely knew got me a unique, handmade ceramic mug that her pottery teacher made, and I use it every day.” [Share your response here](.  SHARE THE BREW  [Share Morning Brew]( with your friends, acquire free Brew swag, and then acquire more friends as a result of your fresh Brew swag. We’re saying we’ll give you free stuff and more friends if you share a link. One link. Your referral count: 0 [Click to Share]( Or copy & paste your referral link to others: [morningbrew.com/daily/r/?kid=a905682a]( Written by [Dave Lozo]( [Cassandra Cassidy]( [Molly Liebergall]( [Sam Klebanov]( and [Matty Merritt]( Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up [here]( Interested in podcasts? - Check out ours [here]( [ADVERTISE]( // [CAREERS]( // [SHOP]( // [FAQ]( Update your email preferences or unsubscribe [here](. View our privacy policy [here](. Copyright © 2024 Morning Brew. 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