Tintin, the seminal hero of the pulp genre of boy adventurers, enters the United States public domain in 2025, though in a way that probably wouldn’t please his creator Hergé very much. Not necessarily because the cartoonist would be angry at other folks being able to legally make Tintin stories — but because the Tintin story entering the public domain is among his least favorite ones.
On Jan. 1, 2025, works first published in 1929 (and sound recordings from 1924) will enter into the public domain in the United States, and that includes a good portion of Tintin in the Land of the Soviets, a work of explicit and broad anti-Soviet/Marxist propaganda that Hergé was so embarrassed by that he refused to allow it to be reprinted for 40 years.
But Tintin and his little dog Snowy aren’t the only comic strip characters whose earliest adventures will no longer be covered under copyright. Popeye (you know, the sailor man?) also appeared in E.C. Segar’s Thimble Theater for the first time in 1929. Though, at that point, Thimble Theater had already been running in the New York Journal for a decade — Popeye was merely a one-arc guest character in the adventures of Ham Gravy (boyfriend to Olive Oyl) and Castor Oyl (brother to… yeah, you get it). The nautical hombre hadn’t even developed his trademark spinach-powered super strength, and Olive Oyl wouldn’t break up with Ham Gravy to date him until 1930.
Other 2025 entries to the wild world of public domain art include many films from the bleeding edge of the Silent Era and the Talkie revolution, including Alfred Hitchcock’s first sound film, Blackmail, and the first feature-length Marx Brothers movie, The Cocoanuts. Numerous Disney animated shorts also enter the field, like “The Skeleton Dance,” whose dancing skeletons (what else?) have gained new life in celebratory Halloween gifs.
Mickey and Minnie Mouse themselves made a big splash last year when their earliest shorts hit public domain, enabling gleefully emotionally transgressive and carefully not-legally transgressive horror art, and more than a dozen more 1929 Mickey Mouse shorts will follow in 2025, including “The Karnival Kid,” in which the famous mouse has a speaking role for the first time.
What would this writer like to see in the public domain in 2025? Maybe our universal agreement that, in the pursuit of something to do with newly public domain art, low-budget horror is low-hanging fruit. (Of course we are getting Popeye the Slayer Man in 2025.)
For more notable works entering the public domain in the United States in 2025, you can check out the Center for the Study of the Public Domain’s yearly bulletin.
Bold and the Beautiful had Brooke Logan texting Ridge Forrester while he was at the Forrester family’s Christmas party on the CBS soap this week. While Brooke tells her sister she doesn’t blame Ridge for being angry at her taking the CEO position, she shocks B&B fans with what she makes an excuse for next.
Bold and the Beautiful Spoilers: Brooke Logan Not Done with Ridge Forrester Yet
Bold and the Beautiful had a devastated Brooke Logan (Katherine Kelly Lang) walk out of Eric Forrester’s (John McCook) mansion. She stopped by because she needed to explain to Ridge Forrester (Thorsten Kaye) why she took the Forrester Creations CEO position.
But once she discovered her soulmate had company, it rendered her speechless. That is because his company was Taylor Hayes (Rebecca Budig), Brooke’s long-time rival on B&B.
The next day, Brooke conveyed how hurt she was to her sister Katie Logan (Heather Toms). They talked about this at the family’s Christmas gathering. But Bold and Beautiful fans suggest her wording got a bit odd. Brooke Logan first said she was upset the Ridge didn’t wait long before turning to Taylor. But what she said next was what fans had a tough time swallowing.
B&B | CBS
Brooke couldn’t have misinterpreted the scene that she stumbled upon. Ridge came downstairs when he heard Brooke call out his name. Then, after a few minutes, Taylor saunters down the stairs, walking bare-legged and barefoot, with just an oversized shirt on. So, it was obvious what they had been up to.
B&B Spoilers: Ridge Gets a Pass from Brooke?
While the scene of Taylor coming down the stairway hurt Brooke Logan, it didn’t seem to do much to taint her against Ridge Forrester. What she told her sister Katie seemed to offer evidence of her forgiveness toward him. Then, she said the same thing to Hope Logan (Annika Noelle).
It was almost as if she didn’t blame him, since he didn’t know her plan behind taking the CEO position. So, she may be hurt over what Ridge did, but she seems to demean herself by not blaming him for running to Taylor.
Bold and the Beautiful fans were surprised. When she declared she hadn’t given up on him, it seemed as if she was willing to overlook this betrayal. So, Brooke declares, that she’s not done with him yet, and she plans to bring him back into her bed.
Hope tries to make her mom see the whole picture, suggesting that maybe he isn’t her destiny, as Brooke always said. But no, the Logan matriarch seemed to think his cheating was her fault and gives him a pass.
Bold and the Beautiful Spoilers: Desperate Play…
Bold and the Beautiful starts Brooke Logan on her journey to lure Ridge Forrester back to her. She seems willing to resign herself to the notion that she drove Ridge into Taylor’s arms after he heard her CEO announcement.
Instead of becoming infuriated over him cheating on her, she has a different approach on Bold and the Beautiful this week.
It is more like she will take this betrayal as collateral damage. It sounds like she thinks she deserves it after Ridge thought she betrayed him by taking the CEO position.
B&B Spoilers: Brooke Faces a Tough Road Back to Ridge?
Brooke Logan getting her destiny back on track will likely be tougher than ever before on Bold and the Beautiful. That’s due to Taylor Hayes and her broken heart syndrome.
Steffy Forrester (Jacqueline MacInnes Wood) already warned her father not to break her mother’s heart again. So it appears he painted himself into a corner, one that he can’t get out of.
Taylor Hayes was diagnosed with broken heart syndrome a while back. Bold and Beautiful fans learned from watching Taylor at the doctor’s office that it is a diagnosis that could become fatal in certain circumstances.
B&B | CBS
So, if Ridge goes back with Brooke Logan after that intimate evening with Taylor Hayes, this could become one of those circumstances. This means dumping Taylor could jeopardize her health, which he wouldn’t want to do.
So, Bold and the Beautiful likely has Brooke Logan become desperate, when her rival’s roadblock emerges. Ridge Forrester probably finds himself in a position with Taylor that proves almost impossible to walk away from.
While Brooke is willing to overlook Ridge romancing Taylor, this likely isn’t enough to bring him back into her arms. So, he might have sealed a deal with his ex by romancing her. It could turn out as something he can’t get out of without causing Taylor major health problems on the CBS soap.
Head back to Soap Dirt for the latest Bold and the Beautiful spoilers.
Towards the end of every year, a popular concept emerges across the financial world, including the cryptocurrency market: the Santa Claus Rally. This phenomenon, which signifies a market rise at the end of the year and the beginning of the new year, offers investors a renewed sense of hope, perfectly suited to the festive season. While it is not guaranteed to occur every year, the anticipation surrounding it creates a buzz in the markets. But what exactly is the Santa Claus Rally? When does it start, and how did it originate? Let’s dive into these questions!
What Is the Santa Claus Rally?
The term rally might first conjure images of car races, where drivers tackle rugged terrain and steep climbs. However, in the context of stocks and cryptocurrencies, a rally refers to sudden and significant price increases over a short period. For example, in 2024, Bitcoin experienced a sharp rise from $69,335 on November 6 to over $100,000 by December 5. This rapid, continuous increase is known as a “Bitcoin rally.”
The Santa Claus Rally, specifically, refers to a period of stock market gains that occurs during the last five trading days of December and the first two trading days of January. Since the 1950s, this period has typically seen positive market movements, making it an eagerly awaited financial event. If stock prices rise noticeably during this time, it is said that the Santa Claus Rally has occurred.
When Does the Santa Claus Rally Start and End?
The Santa Claus Rally begins as the U.S. stock markets reopen after the Christmas holiday and continues through the first trading days of the new year. This time frame has historically brought optimism and upward momentum to the markets.
The Origins of the Santa Claus Rally
The term Santa Claus Rally was coined in 1973 by Yale Hirsch, the founding editor of the Stock Trader’s Almanac, a renowned annual publication on the U.S. stock market. Hirsch identified this phenomenon by studying the S&P 500‘s performance during the specified period. He observed that the index had shown consistent upward trends during the last five trading days of December and the first two days of January since the 1950s.
Over time, this concept expanded to include other stock indices and financial markets. Beyond being a seasonal trend, the Santa Claus Rally is also considered a predictive indicator. As Jeff Hirsch, Yale’s son and current editor of the Stock Trader’s Almanac, noted, “If Santa Claus doesn’t come, bears may come to Broad and Wall,” implying that the absence of a rally could signal a bear market in the following year.
Santa Claus Rally in Cryptocurrencies
Since the advent of Bitcoin in 2008, the cryptocurrency market has evolved into one of the world’s largest financial sectors. Naturally, many have wondered if the Santa Claus Rally applies to cryptocurrencies.
According to a recent CoinGecko report, between 2014 and 2023, the crypto market experienced a Santa Claus Rally in 8 out of 10 years. During these years, the total market capitalization of cryptocurrencies increased by 0.69% to 11.87% after the holiday period compared to pre-Christmas levels.
However, cryptocurrencies are far more volatile than traditional stocks. While the Santa Claus Rally can be used as a potential indicator, experts caution that traditional market analysis methods may not always apply to cryptocurrencies. As such, this phenomenon should be evaluated alongside other indicators and analyses for a more comprehensive market outlook.
The Santa Claus Rally continues to capture the attention of investors worldwide, serving as both a seasonal trend and a potential market indicator. Whether in traditional stocks or the ever-evolving world of cryptocurrencies, this phenomenon offers a unique perspective on market behavior during the festive season. However, it’s important to consider it as part of a broader analysis rather than relying on it in isolation.
What do you think about the Santa Claus Rally? Share your thoughts in the comments below!eted in any way as suggesting to investors, directing investors or promising profit/loss to investors.
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Janelle Brown just spent her first Christmas without son Garrison.
But he was very much in her thoughts.
As Sister Wives fans know all too well at this point, the 25-year old took his own life back in March via a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Garrison Brown is pictured here on an episode of Sister Wives. (TLC)
In memory of Garrison, his mom took some time this week to commemorate her late son on Instagram Stories, sharing a set of photos of her family together taken on Christmas Eve in 2023.
“Miss you so much sweetheart,” Brown wrote alongside the memorable snapshot. “I am so beyond grateful we were all together last year and got pictures.”
The first photo Janelle uploaded was a family picture of herself beside all six of her children — who she shares with ex Kody Brown — their spouses and her grandchildren.
A second photo featured Garrison pulled in his mother for a kiss on her cheek.
May Garrison Brown rest in peace. His mother shared this photo in his memory on Christmas 2024. (Instagram)
Garrison was found dead in his home in Arizona on March 5, the Flagstaff Police Department reported at the time.
According to the official report, officers responded to a report of a death inside a home and confirmed that Garrison’s brother Gabriel had “discovered Mr. Brown deceased.”
The manner of death was later deemed a “suicide.”
Just so, so sad all around.
Janelle Brown looks very sad in this confessional on Sister Wives. (TLC)
Janelle has made a point to honor Garrison on every major occasion since his death.
For example, the TLC personality previously opened up about celebrating the holidays without Garrison after she and her family got together for Thanksgiving.
After everyone packed their bags and left Janelle’s home, the Sister Wives cast member dedicated an Instagram post to Garrison… along with a throwback picture of him as a child.
“First of the ‘big’ holidays without you sweetheart. We all gathered in NC to celebrate together and kept your photo close by,” Janelle captioned her December 1 post.
“We laughed about your silly sense of humor and told so many stories honoring you. We ate, played games and enjoyed each other’s company. Everyone is returning home now and normal life resumes tomorrow. But I feel you close by.”
Garrison Brown died by suicide at age 25. RIP. (Image Credit: TLC)
Janelle and Kody confirmed the awful news about their child in a joint statement on social media, saying in March they were “deeply saddened to announce the loss” of Garrison and adding:’
He was a bright spot in the lives of all who knew him. His loss will leave such a big hole in our lives that it takes our breath away.
We ask that you please respect our privacy and join us in honoring his memory.
Josie Gibson has apologised to fans following her appearance on The Masked Singer Christmas special.
The This Morning presenter, 39, was unmasked on last night’s festive special (December 26). She performed as Cracker!
Sharing the surprise news on her Instagram following the show, Josie admitted feeling nervous over the stint.
Josie unveiled as Cracker on The Masked Singer festive special (Credit: ITV)
Josie Gibson on The Masked Singer Christmas special
The star wrote: “Sorry for making your ears bleed tonight… the voice of a werewolf I know…. she’s been unmasked.
“@maskedsingeruk thank you for having me… what an experience… I’ve never been so nervous in my life.”
Meanwhile, Josie then shared a video of her son Reggie’s shocked reaction to the unmasking.
Sorry for making your ears bleed tonight… the voice of a werewolf I know…. she’s been unmasked.
In the clip, Reggie looked fixated on the TV screen as the audience chanted the iconic “take it off”. He then exclaimed “Mum!” as he jumped up and down over Josie’s appearance.
Josie wrote: “Apparently, I’m not allowed to prank him again…. @maskedsingeruk on @itvxofficial Christmas special.
Viewers appeared stunned by Josie’s voice (Credit: ITV)
“I can’t believe who the star is… you absolute hero… and what a voice!!!!” referring to Davina McCall, who was behind the Star costume.
Viewers loved to see Josie behind the mask. One person said: “Omg! You were brilliant! What a voice! You are a very talented women go Josie, we love you.”
Another gushed: “YOU WERE STUNNING. Don’t be so hard on yourself! I actually was surprised that you had such a good voice!”
A third added: “I literally watch you all the time and never guessed it was you, you were and are fabulous.”
Davina swapped roles on the Christmas special (Credit: ITV)
The Masked Singer Christmas special winner
Although Josie performed amazingly, she didn’t win the Christmas special. Frankie Goes to Hollywood star Holly Johnson won the show as Nutcracker.
Meanwhile, Davina featured on The Masked Singer Christmas special as Star.
Read more: Josie Gibson shares her brother has welcomed baby as she plans big family Christmas
She usually judges on the show. But this year, Jonathan Ross and Mo Gilligan returned to the panel alongside newbies Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders.
Davina was unveiled as Star, and fans appeared in awe at her voice. One gushed: “Wow, who’d have thought Davina could sing.”
You can watch The Masked Singer Christmas special on ITVX.
Did you watch the show? You can leave us a comment on our Facebook page @EntertainmentDailyFix and let us know.
The Russian government has introduced a cryptocurrency mining ban in 10 regions, citing the strain on energy infrastructure. The ban will take effect on January 1, 2025, and remain in place until March 15, 2031, as part of efforts to mitigate the high electricity consumption associated with crypto mining.
A Step Towards Energy Regulation
This decision aims to address the challenges posed by the energy-intensive nature of cryptocurrency mining, particularly in regions such as Dagestan, North Ossetia, and Chechnya. According to officials, these areas benefit from regional electricity subsidies, which lower energy costs but have led to disproportionate demand. A government commission will periodically assess energy demand and may recommend adjustments to the restrictions in specific regions.
The new regulations also include provisions for temporary restrictions in other regions during periods of peak energy demand, signaling a broader effort to create a sustainable energy consumption model.
Russia’s Cryptocurrency Stance
Russia has been working to establish a comprehensive cryptocurrency regulatory framework. While crypto mining was legalized in July, the use of cryptocurrencies as a legal form of payment remains prohibited within the country. However, under specific conditions, cross-border cryptocurrency payments are allowed, primarily as a means to circumvent international sanctions imposed following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Balancing Energy and Industry Needs
By regulating energy-intensive activities like crypto mining, the Russian government aims to ease the load on regional power grids while maintaining a balance between industry needs and energy sustainability. This strategic move reflects Russia’s commitment to addressing energy challenges while navigating the complexities of cryptocurrency adoption.
What are your thoughts on this decision? Share your opinions in the comments section below
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Jacob & Co. has launched a new watch collection featuring CryptoPunk non-fungible tokens (NFTs).
The collection, called “TimePunks,” includes 99 limited edition watches, each with a unique 1/1 CryptoPunk suspended above the mainspring.
These timepieces are 44 mm in size, made from grade 5 Titanium and sapphire crystals. CryptoPunk owners can customize their own watch with their NFT.
The collection is both digital and physical. Each physical watch comes with an accompanying NFT, which is minted on the Ethereum blockchain. Buyers will also receive a Swiss watch passport.
The cost of each TimePunk watch is $50,000, which includes the NFT, the custom watch, and shipping. The payment can also be made in cryptocurrency.
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The watches are expected to be delivered in August 2025.
Jacob & Co. describes “TimePunk” as more than just a watch. According to the company’s website, it is “a symbol of modern innovation, unique craftsmanship, and a tribute to both horology and digital culture.”
This is not the brand’s first foray into Web3. In 2022, Jacob & Co. released “Astronomia Metaverso,” a collection of NFT luxury watches inspired by the solar system’s planets.
Jacob & Co. is part of a growing group of watch brands that have entered the Web3 space. Timex partnered with Daz 3D in 2022 to create a limited edition line of watches featuring Bored Ape Yacht Club NFTs, which came with linked NFTs.
Casio also embraced the digital trend by releasing eight NFT watches in May, marking its 50th anniversary, in collaboration with Astar zkEVM. In addition, last year, Panerai worked with Arianee to introduce NFT “passports” with their timepieces to boost trust and authenticity.
NFTs have surged over the past few years. What was once a small segment of the blockchain world has transformed into a large marketplace for digital art, collectibles, virtual real estate, and more. Some NFTs have sold for crazy amounts, others disappear into thin air as fast. In this rollercoaster of an environment, more and more creators and investors are turning to predictive analytics to try and figure out what’s next for NFT valuations. But can AI really forecast the next big things in NFTs?
Below we’ll dive into how predictive analytics works, what data points matter most in NFT valuations, the AI tools used to interpret those data points and where the market might be headed in the near future.
Why Data-Driven Insights Matter in the NFT Market
In simple terms, predictive analytics uses historical data and advanced algorithms to identify patterns, anticipate outcomes, and guide decision-making. When applied to NFTs it means collecting and analyzing data such as past sales, social media chatter, and market sentiment to predict how an NFT or entire category of NFTs will perform in the future.
NFTs have attracted the interest of analysts, venture capitalists, and even large corporations. While some still dismiss digital collectibles, others see these tokens as the foundation of Web3. As the market grows, understanding pricing patterns is key, for creators who want to price their work fairly and for investors who want to find undervalued gems.
Predictive Analytics Basics
Predictive analytics relies on several key components:
Data Collection: Collecting a broad range of data—NFT transaction records, social media posts, on-chain analytics etc—is crucial.
Model Selection: Different models are suited for different problems. Whether it’s a time series or a neural network the choice can make a big difference.
Feature Engineering: This step involves turning raw data into features. For example an NFT’s rarity level might be treated as a numerical value or even a sentiment score from social media.
Correlation vs Causation: It’s easy to confuse correlation with causation. For example, an NFT price going up might coincide with a celebrity tweet, but that doesn’t mean the tweet caused the price to go up.
Data Points for NFT Valuation Models
On-Chain Data
One of the biggest selling points of NFTs is transparency. Anyone can view blockchain records for sales history, wallet addresses and transaction timing. These data points help analysts see demand patterns. If a certain collection is getting new wallet holders every week that might be a sign of an upward price momentum.
Social Media Sentiment
Twitter and Discord are meeting grounds for NFT enthusiasts. Analyzing mentions, hashtags and user sentiment can reveal emerging hype cycles or highlight projects with strong communities. AI driven sentiment tools can scan thousands of messages to see the overall sentiment around a particular NFT project.
Creator or Brand Reputation
Well known creators or brands get more attention in NFT marketplaces. Artists with a history of successful drops or strong track record in traditional art may see their NFT valuations rise. AI can track past performance data along with brand mentions and see how a creator’s reputation correlates with pricing.
Broader Crypto Market Factors
NFTs don’t exist in isolation. Crypto markets especially Ethereum and Solana can impact NFT values. High gas fees or negative sentiment towards crypto as a whole can scare off buyers. Conversely, bullish trends in major coins can spill over and bring new buyers into NFTs.
Time Series Analysis
Time series models—ARIMA or advanced recurrent neural networks—can be used to forecast how an NFT’s price or trading volume will change over days or weeks. They are good at spotting cycles but struggle with sudden changes caused by viral social media chatter.
Machine Learning Regressions
Linear regression or gradient boosting machine learning models can take in multiple input features—social media mentions, trading volume etc.—and output a predicted price. The success of these models depends on the amount and quality of data.
Neural Networks for Pattern Recognition
Deep learning algorithms can find patterns in large data sets that are missed by traditional methods. For example a neural network might see early changes in sentiment based on how people talk about a project rather than just the number of positive or negative words.
Automated Dashboards
Nansen or DappRadar offer analytics dashboards that collect blockchain data, track wallet movements and visualize trending collections. While these tools are powerful they are only as good as the data and the algorithms they use.
Potential Pitfalls and Challenges
Data Quality and Availability
NFTs are recorded on public ledgers but each marketplace has different data presentation standards. Inconsistent or incomplete data can mess up AI models. Analysts need to cross-check sources and possibly combine data from multiple platforms.
Fast Moving Trends
NFTs can follow meme-driven hype cycles that pop up and die down within weeks, if not days. AI models trained on older data may miss these quick changes, especially if they are based on historical patterns that no longer apply.
Market Manipulation (Wash Trading)
Some NFT creators or holders may wash trade, artificially inflate sales numbers to create the illusion of demand. This can easily skew on-chain data and mislead AI models.
Limitations of Numeric Approach
Not everything about NFTs can be reduced to price charts and volume metrics. Community spirit, developer reputation and even cultural relevance can make a huge difference. Overreliance on numbers can miss intangible variables that impact long term value.
Future Outlook
Experts expect the NFT space to grow but the market may move from speculation to utility tokens like gaming assets or membership tokens. As the market evolves, AI will get better at understanding these changes. Meanwhile, the convergence of NFTs, metaverse and new blockchain protocols will open up new data analysis and predictive modelling opportunities.
On top of that institutional investors will start to pay attention to NFT analytics and apply the same data driven methods as traditional finance. This will result in more mature marketplaces with standard practices and ultimately more reliable predictive analytics.
Final Thoughts
While predictive analytics and AI are great at finding patterns they are not infallible. The NFT world is all about innovation, community and viral content—things that can’t be quantified by a set of numbers. But combining the power of AI with human intuition and a sense of the market’s cultural vibe can help collectors and creators make better decisions.
As NFTs move out of the hype cycle and into practical use cases the demand for analytics will grow. Whether you are an artist looking to price your work fairly or an investor looking for early stage projects, keeping an eye on AI driven insights while acknowledging the limitations of machine based forecasting will put you in the best position to succeed in this wild and crazy space.
Editor’s note: This article was written with the assistance of AI. Edited and fact-checked by Owen Skelton.
Owen Skelton is an experienced journalist and editor with a passion for delivering insightful and engaging content. As Editor-in-Chief, he leads a talented team of writers and editors to create compelling stories that inform and inspire.
Actress Betsy Brandt has filed for divorce from her husband of more than two decades … finally taking the step after apparently separating more than a year ago.
The “Breaking Bad” star filed to divorce her husband Grady Olsen pro per — without a lawyer like Jennifer Lopez did back in August — earlier today … citing the boilerplate “irreconcilable differences.”
Brandt says the two married back in September 1998 … and lists the date of separation as August 2023 — almost 25 years of marriage.
Brandt notes she and Olsen share one minor child — a 16-year-old named August … and checked the box indicating she wants legal and physical custody.
As for property … Brandt notes the two will still have to split up their possessions. Unclear if the two have a prenup.
Brandt rose to fame during five seasons of “Breaking Bad” as Marie Schrader — Walter White’s sister-in-law — on 62 episodes of the hit show.
After ‘BB’ ended in 2013, Brandt flexed her comedy muscles in the sitcom “Life in Pieces” as Heather Hughes … appearing in 79 eps of that show.
We’ve reached out to Betsy regarding the split … so far, no word back.
Craig Wright, a computer scientist, has long claimed to be Satoshi Nakamoto, the mysterious creator of Bitcoin. Despite numerous court rulings dismissing his...
