Quick hits, Corrections, Letters

Real headlines. Made-up reactions.

1. Five Cheetah Cubs Born To First-Time Mom Zura At A Smithsonian Campus In Virginia; Boyd Watches The Cub Cam, Issues His First-Ever “Threat Level: Low.” Source: Smithsonian’s National Zoo; WTOP. Born Oct. 5 in Front Royal, Va. Mom Zura is 5. Dad Flash, 9, has seven earlier litters. The Cheetah Cub Cam is live.

2. Streamer’s Motorized Chair Reportedly Spins Once For Every Gift Worth About $7.50; Walt Asks If It Takes Faxes. Source: TechSpot; EarlyGame. Douyin streamer Fanqie Jiang Ye. About 50 yuan a spin. Neither outlet could independently verify how the payments work.

3. Ohio Neighbors Fret Over Taylor Swift And Travis Kelce’s Fence: Tree Roots, An Old Sewer Line, Deer. Neil And Margo Have Sent The Couple The 1923 Map. Source: Cleveland 19; TMZ; Wide Open Country. Bratenahl’s Architectural Review Board unanimously approved the 6-foot fence on Sept. 8, a month before the Oct. 8 reports. The plantings need a separate filing.

4. NFL Takes On The CFTC, Urges Supreme Court To Hear Kalshi Case, Calls Sports Event Contracts Gambling; Dana Asks Which App The Court Is On. Source: CoinDesk; Politico. Brief filed Oct. 8 in New Jersey’s case against Kalshi. The NFL says these are gambling that states can regulate, and that the approach of the CFTC (a federal trading regulator) threatens game integrity.

5. Kalshi Reviews Three Small Bets On Long Shot Katie Zacharia Placed Before Trump Named Her Press Secretary; Margo Has Logged All Three Bets. Source: TheLines; Blockchain Posts, citing the WSJ. About $19, $74 and $80, placed while she traded at about 1%. Together they pay about $9,600. No evidence of insider trading so far.

Source lines are real reporting. The reactions are made up. Nothing here is a pick.

CORRECTIONS. We were wrong. They were wronger.

A. Last issue promised the foreign desk this week. It has been pushed back. Neil and Margo could not agree on whose map to use.

B. Last issue’s Walt vs. Technology score was out of date by Saturday. It is now 4,121 to 0. The 1987 tie still stands.

C. Boyd’s Sit-Rep says “no rumors this week.” Darlene says she has several. None are verified, so none are printed.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR. All letters are made up. So are the people.

Dear Meridian, I am a regular reader and nobody’s wife. The man with the string in his garage should stop adding string. That’s all. — D., Caddo Bend, Texas

EDITOR: Darlene, we know it’s you. You’re still not allowed to write in.

Dear Meridian, someone left a bagel on my porch. I don’t live on Maple Court. I don’t know anyone on Maple Court. — Gary, Rotary Club

EDITOR: Gary, Margo has logged it.

Dear Meridian, my group chat says you should post picks. — Big Rudy, outside Abilene

EDITOR: Rudy, no. We don’t do picks. Go outside.