Friday 12/17/21
Celebrate National Maple Syrup Day, Ugly Christmas Sweater, Wright Brothers, and Underdog Day (no not the superhero)
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Vinyl records are selling more than they have in a long time, and if you're a collector, MarthaStewart.com says these are the most rare and valuable.
The Beatles "White Album" - "The original vinyl pressings of the album were actually numbered," says Adam Zengel, Director of Entertainment Operations at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City. "The first pressing ever created was number "0000001" and sold by Ringo Starr in 2015 for $790,000. The fact that an original band member and a Beatle owned the album adds to the rarity and story behind it."
Elvis Presley's Rare Recording - Acetates and test pressings are the first runs of vinyl that the rest of the copies are made from. Jack White bought a test pressing of Elvis Presley's first ever recording for $300,000 in 2015.
Madonna's "Like A Prayer" - The original pressings were sprayed with essential oils from the patchouli plant, which was meant to remind you of being in church. "Although not nearly as rare as other albums, copies go for around $100 on eBay.
Dave Matthews Band "Before These Crowded Streets" - "Copies of the album are scarce and they go for around $500 on eBay and other sites. However, albums signed by all five members of the original band can go for several thousand dollars, especially the ones with LeRoi Moore, a founding member of the band, who passed away in 2008 due to a tragic ATV accident."
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Sotheby’s had a record year, thanks in part to its foray into non-fungible tokens. The 277-year-old auction house sold more than $7 billion worth of art this year, $100 million of which came from bidders to its new NFT category that sells entirely digital works from popular collections like Bored Ape Yacht Club and CryptoPunk. The NFT craze that exploded in 2021 doesn’t show any signs of slowing down. Everything from the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree to a sweater worn by Harry Styles has recently been auctioned as a digital token.
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Bruce Springsteen has reportedly sold the rights to his entire music catalog to Sony Music. Terms of the deal aren’t public, but it’s said to be in the neighborhood of $500 million.
That would be the biggest deal ever for a single artist’s body of work. The Boss joins artists like Bob Dylan, Neil Young and Paul Simon who recently sold all or parts of their masters for prices into the hundreds of millions.
(Take the money and run Bruce!!)
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An article from thediscoverer.com covers the best road trip in each state. For New York it's The Finger Lakes Region of Upstate New York boasts some of the finest lake views in the northeastern United States. This family-friendly region has something for everyone, from amusement parks to winery tours. Cruise along the winding roads from Rochester to Syracuse, bypassing the 11 lakes that make up the area. Each lake has its own unique set of attractions such as the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail or the Canandaigua Lake Boat Cruise.
Road Trip Highlights: Visit Letchworth State Park, which was voted USA Today's "Best Attraction in New York State" in 2017 for its whitewater rafting and hot air balloon rides.
For Pennsylvania - The Big 4 - While Pennsylvania is often overlooked, it’s home to some fantastic major cities. Visit the four largest cities in the state — starting in the southeastern corner in Philadelphia. Home to rich American history, Philadelphia is home to the Liberty Bell and Philadelphia City Hall and The Philadelphia Museum of Art, which includes the famous “Rocky Steps.” The state capital of Harrisburg is 100 miles west. Stop at the National Civil War Museum, or for chocolate lovers, Hershey Park. Head further west until you reach Pittsburgh, the city of bridges. Boasting nearly 450 bridges, this city is home to lively arts, culture, and food scenes. End your trip by heading north of Pittsburgh to Erie, the fourth largest city in the state. Here, you can enjoy the best sunset you’ve ever seen on the shores of Lake Erie.
Road Trip Highlights: Visit Presque Isle State Park in Erie for coastal fun at Pennsylvania's only "seashore." This 3,200-acre protected peninsula is home to a high concentration of the state's endangered, threatened, and rare species — making it a perfect spot for nature lovers.
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Kraft is using its cream cheese shortage as a marketing opportunity.
For just a few days this holiday season, a limited number of people will be able to spend $20 on dessert and charge it to Kraft, owner of Philadelphia Cream Cheese. The premise: People who can't bake cheesecakes because they can't find cream cheese can get another baked good on Kraft's dime.
Here's how it works: People interested in the offer can visit a special website set up by Kraft. On December 17 and 18, up to 18,000 of them will be able to nab the right to get reimbursement for a holiday treat. They'll be able to submit receipts to the company a few weeks later.
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Today's Useless Fact of the Day - Peanuts are one of the ingredients of dynamite.
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