5 things you need to know Monday
We know who won the Super Bowl. But who won the battle of the ads?
Eagles fans are celebrating Monday after Philadelphia triumphed in Super Bowl LII in Minneapolis. The evening's other winners? Plenty of advertisers. But there can only be one true winner in Paste BN's Ad Meter, and this year, the honor goes to Amazon. In the ad for Amazon's Echo device, Alexa loses her voice but wins the day in a funny star-studded ad. The winning ad opens when Amazon’s virtual assistant loses her voice. Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos is reassured that replacements are at the ready. Among those who try — and spectacularly fail — to fill Alexa’s virtual vocal cords are Gordon Ramsay, Rebel Wilson, Cardi B and Sir Anthony Hopkins. Paste BN created the Super Bowl Ad Meter in 1989 to gauge consumers’ opinions about television’s most expensive commercials. The results have become the industry-leading tool used to measure public opinion surrounding them. Watch them all again here.
- The most controversial Super Bowl ads of all time
- The funniest Super Bowl ads of all time
- The most iconic Super Bowl ads of all time
14 million (!) Americans will observe #SuperSickMonday
Do you feel a tickle in your throat? You might be getting sick — or you might be getting ready for Super Sick Monday. About 14 million Americans will call in sick on Monday, which, conveniently, is also the day after the Super Bowl. Last year, 16.5 million Americans said they planned to call in sick because of the game. If you’re in the calling-out group, here are some of the best excuses. Of course, this is also the worst flu season in years, so if you’re actually sick, please, stay home (and maybe polish off the leftover chips and dip).
More victims set to detail abuse from gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar
A sentencing hearing for convicted sex offender Larry Nassar continues Monday after a nerve-rattling day Friday. Randall Margraves, father of three of Nassar's victims, rushed the disgraced doctor, asking the judge for "one minute with that bastard." The father was wrestled to the ground and held in contempt of court but will not be fined or detained. More victims are expected to give impact statements in Nassar's third and final sentencing hearing. He was previously sentenced to 60 years in a child pornography case and an additional 40 to 175 years in a separate sexual assault case.
First day on the job for new Fed chair
Jerome Powell will succeed Janet Yellen when he is sworn in Monday as chairman of the Federal Reserve. Powell has served for 5 1/2 years on the Fed’s board and is viewed as a centrist. A lawyer and investment manager by training, Powell will be the first Fed leader in 40 years without an advanced degree in economics. Many expect him to follow Yellen’s cautious approach to interest rates. President Trump decided against offering Yellen, the first woman to lead the Fed, a second four-year term as chair despite widespread praise about her work.
There’s a big trial on a tiny bit of technology
Uber and Waymo — the autonomous car company owned by Google-parent Alphabet — are fighting over the technology inside a little spinning eyeball on the top of a self-driving car’s roof. The companies will be in court Monday on the issue. Uber says its self-driving car project uses tech created by its own braintrust. Waymo says not so fast: We think it was built using trade secrets stolen from us. We break down the high-tech fight as simply as possible.
Contributing: The Associated Press
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