That's a mouthful

Good morning Staker! Here’s what’s cookin’ today. Google just made it a lot easier to speak in tongues, how ‘bout some snow beer, and the Beach Boys are surfin’ into more tour dates for 2026 🏄

Let’s get into it!

Can you imagine being able to speak to someone in one language as they speak to you in another, all the while both of you understanding each other through real-time translations?

That day is nearly upon us, with Google announcing the rolling out a beta version of a feature in Google Translate that allows you to hear translations in your headphones in real time, maintaining the tone and cadence of the speaker’s voice, so you not only hear the translated words, but how they spoke them.

On top of that, idioms that don’t literally translate into other languages will be converted in ways that get the same point across. Google says the idioms will be parsed by the Gemini AI app in order to maintain meaning and provide context.

“Whether you’re trying to have a conversation in a different language, listen to a speech or lecture while abroad, or watch a TV show or film in another language, you can now put in your headphones, open the Translate app, tap ‘Live translate’ and hear a real-time translation in your preferred language,” said Google VP Rose Yao.

The beta version is only being released on Android for now, and only for users in the United States, Mexico, and India but Google says an iOS version will be available in 2026.

U.S. District Judge George Wu in Los Angeles ruled the other day that Live Nation must face a class-action lawsuit alleging it and its subsidiary Ticketmaster overcharged plaintiffs for live events dating back 15 years.

Live Nation's lawyers maintained the events and ticketing giant did nothing wrong, but Wu agreed the plaintiffs met the criteria to have their case certified as a class-action lawsuit affecting over 400 million tickets to events purchased since 2010.

The suit stems from an accusation made in 2022 that Live Nation and Ticketmaster had monopolized ticket distribution at major venues. The company argued that a suit covering ticket-selling at 1,000 different event sites made it impossible for the claim to be heard in one single trial.

The Supreme Court of the United States disagreed with that claim when Live Nation attempted to have the suit thrown out of federal court and into private arbitration, resulting in plaintiffs seeing their class successfully certified last week.

Whether or not your a fan of the Buffalo Bills, there’s no denying how passionate their fanbase is. Unless you’re a fold-out table, you’d probably have as much fun as anyone at a Bills tailgate. Inside Highmark Stadium, a snowball fight is always on the menu in the winter months, especially when fans graciously offer to show up and shovel the snow ahead of a big game.

That famous Highmark snow made its way to the desk of Anheuser-Busch’s top dogs, who announced the release of Bud Light Blizzard Brew. And yes, it’s exactly what you’re thinking. The beer was indeed made using snow from Highmark Stadium, collected during the year’s first snowfall.

“It’s no secret Bills Mafia is one of the most passionate fanbases in sports, with fans in Buffalo and beyond who will do anything for their team,” Todd Allen, senior vice president of marketing for Bud Light at Anheuser-Busch.

“That dedication is on full display when they show up to Highmark Stadium with shovels in hand, and we couldn’t be more honored to show up for Bills fans by creating a brew that both showcases and celebrates their years of commitment to the team.”

The beer will be available in limited quantity at select Buffalo-area retail outlets to celebrate the last game ever to be played at Highmark before the Bills’ new stadium opens next season.

The Beach Boys are getting back on the road next month, announcing several new dates prior to their summer stint planned in the United Kingdom.

The band hasn’t put out an album since 2012, but continues to tour despite the loss of its songwriter and co-founder, Brian Wilson.

The 2012 album, That’s Why God Made the Radio, was its first since reuniting with Wilson, and its last with him since he passed earlier this year.

"We got together at Paradise Cove [in Los Angeles] at the end of the documentary," Love said in May 2024. "He was remembering things I'd forgotten about our high school days. His long-term memory is right there. His musical abilities, as long as he’s alive he'll have those."

The show must go on, and the band will play in North Myrtle Beach, Ponte Vedra Veach, FL, Albuquerque, NM, and Chandler, AZ in late January before heading overseas to the U.K. in June. They’ll return for one more show in Pleasanton, CA on July 1.

Holiday magic in the air

Now that we’re halfway through December, we thought it’s about time we featured some of your favourite holiday classic TV episodes.

That’s right, we’ve got ten festive questions for you in today’s trivia! Complete the game, and you’ll earn a shot at a $25 eGift Card ;)

Winner will be notified on Wednesday afternoon. Keep an eye on your inbox and don’t forget to check your spam folder!*