Thieves steal wine
Thieves break into the wine room of French Laundry and steal up to $300,000 worth of wine. The majority of the 76 bottles are from the Domaine de la Romanée Conti, including bottles from the fabled Burgundy estate’s Romanée Conti vineyard that are worth at least $15,000 each. The chef and proprietor, Thomas Keller, tweets:
On Christmas day, The French Laundry was the victim of a robbery. Specific wines of specific value were stolen (DRC & Screaming Eagle). We have complete trust in the authorities leading the investigation, and we welcome any information our community may have regarding the event…We are confident that if and when any of the stolen bottles appear in public, they will immediately raise questions and red flags among the wine knowledgeable.
Renner, Pacheco split
Pacheco files for divorce citing irreconcilable differences. She wants physical custody of the couple’s daughter and spousal support.
Authorizes limited release
Sony announces a limited theatrical release of The Interview on Christmas Day. The movie will be shown in several hundred independent theaters across the United States. Chairman and CEO of Sony Entertainment, Michael Lynton:
We have never given up on releasing The Interview and we’re excited our movie will be in a number of theaters on Christmas Day. At the same time, we are continuing our efforts to secure more platforms and more theaters so that this movie reaches the largest possible audience.
Criticizes Sony
Penn joins George Clooney, Judd Apatow, Aaron Sorkin and Barack Obama in criticizing Sony for its decision to cancel The Interview, believing the action to set a disturbing precedent.
The damage we do to ourselves typically outweighs the harm caused by outside threats or actions. Then by caving to the outside threat, we make our nightmares real. The decision to pull The Interview is historic. It’s a case of putting short term interests ahead of the long term. If we don’t get the world on board to see that this is a game changer, if this hacking doesn’t frighten the Chinese and the Russians, we’re in for a very different world, a very different country, community, and a very different culture.
Drops two Fox channels
Dish Network drops the Fox News Channel and Fox Business Network after disagreements about contract terms. Dish accuses Fox of attempting to increase fees across the board for all their channels though they are covered by different contracts. Dish’s senior vice president of programming, Warren Schlichting:
It’s like we’re about to close on a house and the Realtor is trying to make us buy a new car as well.
Labor board brings formal charges
The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) files a formal charge against McDonald’s, alleging that it violates workers’ rights and threatens retribution against employees who participate in strikes. The charges cover both franchises in 13 cities and the parent company. Labor and employment law expert at the UC Irvine School of Law, Catherine Fisk:
The federal government’s complaint makes clear that fast-food companies like McDonald’s can’t have it both ways — it can’t exercise such pervasive control over a workplace and effectively dictate wages and working conditions while still saying that it’s not the employer.
Delta born
Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard welcome their second child, a baby girl named Delta Bell Shepard.
https://twitter.com/IMKristenBell/status/546142259368845312
Plead against death penalty
Robert and Arlene Holmes, parents of James Holmes, plead for him to be spared the death penalty, citing severe mental illness. This is the first time they have commented on their son and the case.
We have read postings on the Internet that have likened him to a monster. He is not a monster.
Says not a pedophile
In an interview with Katie Couric, Stephen Collins states that he is not a pedophile.
A pedophile is someone who is mainly or wholly attracted to children. I’m not. I had a distortion in my thinking where I acted out in those ways. But I’m absolutely not attracted, physically or sexually attracted to children. I’m just not.
Couric follows up by asking what Collins then considers his pathology.
I think I’m someone who gave in, several times, to exhibitionistic urges. Someone who had big boundary issues as a young man and beyond that…to an extent.
Joins American Crime Story cast
David Schwimmer joins the cast of American Crime Story, the newest anthology style series from the creator of American Horror Story, Ryan Murphy. Schwimmer will play defense attorney Robert Kardashian in the season long dramatization of O.J. Simpson’s trial for murder.
Recalls airbags for more than three million vehicles
Chrysler plans to replace defective airbag inflators in just over three million vehicles, all stemming from faulty airbags made by Japanese supplier Takata Corp. The recall covers 2.8 million vehicles in the United States, nearly 300,000 in Canada and roughly 65,000 in Mexico, all mainly older Chrysler models.
Takes plastic
For the first time in its 106 year history, Philippe The Original takes credit cards. Andrew Binder, manager and partner at Philippe:
The main thing that prevented us from switching over to accepting cards was the quick service we provide. If you’ve been in the restaurant, you know you’re surrounded by people and long lines.
Even with credit card acceptance, wait times have not increased.
It seemed to be working great. The ‘cash only’ sign will be coming down.
Bass, Turchin marry
Lance Bass and Michael Turchin are married at the Legendary Park Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles. Jamie-Lynn Sigler and JoAnna Garcia Swisher became Universal Life ministers to officiate the ceremony. For the couple’s first dance, J. C. Chasez, a former member of ‘N Sync, sang Elvis Presley’s Can’t Help Falling in Love.
DGA defends ‘The Interview’
The president of the Directors Guild of America, Paris Barclay, releases a statement criticizing Sony’s decision to cancel The Interview and indicates he would like to see it distributed.
As the events of the past weeks have made painfully clear, we are now living in an age in which the Internet can enable a few remote cyber criminals to hold an entire industry hostage. This unprecedented situation demonstrates that even basic rights such as freedom of expression can quickly fall prey to those who would misuse and abuse the Internet to steal from, intimidate and terrorize our industry and our nation, and stands as an excruciating illustration of the heightened need for the federal government to increase its efforts to protect our society against cyber crimes, terrorism and all of its implications.
We hope that instead of the “chilling effect” on controversial content, this incident becomes a rallying point for all of us who care about freedom of expression to come together and champion this inalienable right. We stand by our director members Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg and hope that a way can be found to distribute the film by some means, to demonstrate that our industry is not cowed by extremists of any type.
Offers style advice to mom
Kardashian emails her mother, Kris Jenner, with fashion advice – an email that Jenner promptly puts on Instagram.
BitTorrent urges use of its paid service
BitTorrent talks to Sony about releasing The Interview on their new, paid service. The company works as a peer-to-peer file-sharing network, with millions of users running the software to share files, making it nearly impossible for hackers to keep up with the quantity. Chief content officer at BitTorrent Matt Mason:
This is a way for Sony to not only deliver the film in a real way, but get out on the side of the hacker community. This is an issue that’s bigger than The Interview, bigger than the Sony hack — it’s really about free speech.
Hires Judy Smith
Sony hires Judy Smith, famous for being the inspiration behind the Olivia Pope character on ABC’s Scandal. Smith’s crisis management firm has worked with clients such as Monica Lewinsky, Wesley Snipes, and Michael Vick.
Child tests negative
The child admitted to the University of Chicago Medical Center after being flagged for a high fever during an O’Hare screening tests negative for the virus and has been discharged, per a statement released by the hospital.
Tests by the Illinois Department of Public Health confirmed a negative result for Ebola.
Son mugged
Muggers attack Mayor Emanuel’s 17-year-old son Zach for his cell phone across the street from the family home on the North side of Chicago. His injuries include a chipped tooth and bruised, swollen mouth. The suspects fled the scene.
Calls only on female reporters
President Obama makes history when he takes questions from female reporters only at a White House press conference. Additionally, the eight reporters were from print or radio outlets only; no television.
With 8th & last question, it's fact: Obama called only on women at press conf. Women long chafed at dominance of front-row male TV reporters
— Jackie Calmes (@jackiekcalmes) December 19, 2014