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While you were sleeping: 22 January 2016

While you were sleeping: 22 January 2016
John Stupart
By John Stupart
22 Jan 2016
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Massive snowstorm hits the USA's east coast, Will Smith joins Oscar boycotts, and Hewitt out of the Australian Open.

“Earth's crammed with heaven...


But only he who sees, takes off his shoes.”

– Elizabeth Barrett Browning


 








WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING


Snowfall of up to 76cm is anticipated on the East Coast of the United States. Washington DC, New York and other major cities along the coastline are bracing for the mother of all storms. While grocery stores are being emptied of supplies and flights cancelled, local school kids will be happy to know that Friday is officially a snow day, with all public schooling cancelled. 

Japanese tech company, Sharp, is likely to receive a massive government-backed bailout. Estimated at about $5.5 billion, the loan will be the third such rescue bid in as many years. Sharp has shown little sign of recovery, but appears to be the darling child of Japanese officials hoping to keep the display manufacturer in Japanese hands. In other words, welcome to the Japanese equivalent of SAA.

Will Smith has joined his wife Jada Pinkett-Smith and Spike Lee in boycotting the 2016 Oscars. Mark Ruffalo, a current nominee, has voiced his support for their boycott, but will still be attending the awards show. Chris Rock, the appointed host, has meanwhile remained very silent on the issue, despite many calls for him to join the stayaway. 

Lleyton Hewitt has bowed out of his 20th and final Australian Open. Hewitt lost to David Ferrer 6-2 6-4 6-4. The baseline specialist and former Wimbledon champion is leaving a tennis world now dominated by sheer physical power and ridiculously fast serves. Nonetheless, Hewitt will focus his efforts on coaching the new generation of Australian tennis stars. Hopefully they will be trained in some aspects of physical power and fast serves as well.









IN NUMBERS


1,400,000

The number of metric tons of greenhouse gases generated by the production of the Yellow Pages. This is for the United States alone.








FACTS OF THE DAY


Today in 1970 saw the first commercial flight of the Boeing 747 jet. It began flying for Pan American Airways.

Fact of the day: Michael Jackson's autopsy revealed that he was in fact bald.








WEATHER








Bloemfontein: min: 19° max: 27°, rainy
Cape Town: min: 21° max: 32°, cloudy
Durban: min: 22° max: 32°, cloudy

East London: min: 21° max: 31°, rainy
Johannesburg: min: 18° max: 25°, rainy
Kimberley: min: 20° max: 24°, rainy
Nelspruit: min: 16° max: 29°, cloudy
Pietermaritzburg: min: 15° max: 30°, rainy
Polokwane: min: 16° max: 29°, cloudy
Port Elizabeth: min: 20° max: 26°, cloudy
Pretoria: min: 19° max: 28°, cloudy














FINANCIAL DATA


Oil=$29.49 Gold=$1,096.55 Platinum=$818.58
R/$=16.55 R/€=17.94 R/£=23.51 $/€=1.08
JSE All Share=46,282.02 DJIA=15,947.57 FTSE 100=5,773.79: Source









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