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Skimm for December 1st

Skimm’d while browsing Skimm’bassadors’ Secret Santa lists

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“Anybody can file a lawsuit, but eventually they’ll have to come with evidence.” — A lawyer for real estate heir Robert Durst. Yesterday, the family of Durst’s first wife sued him for her disappearance more than 30 years ago. Durst denies it…except on camera.

YUAN-A SIT WITH US?

THE STORY

Yesterday, the IMF invited the Chinese yuan to sit at the popular currency table.

WHAT HAPPENED?

The IMF voted ‘yaaaas’ to adding the Chinese currency to a VIP group of reserve currencies. This group – which includes the dollar, euro, pound, and yen – is a stash of stable currencies the IMF keeps in case of a crisis (cough, Greece, cough). China got the invite because it’s a major global exporter. And because of a surprise move earlier this year when the country devalued its currency.

REMIND ME…

Over the summer, China’s economy had a really big hangover. So bad it decided to let the value of its currency slide to make goods cheaper and encourage people to spend. The decision also showed the rest of the world that the country is ready to let the markets have a say in the value of its currency, rather than just the government.

theSKIMM

Yes, China is the second largest economy in the world. But the Communist Party’s grip on the country has been a big red flag for global markets. So this is the IMF’s way of trying to nudge China towards a freer market.

REPEAT AFTER ME...

WHAT PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT…

Freddie Gray. Yesterday, the trial started for one of the police officers who’s been charged in connection with Gray’s death. Earlier this year, the 25-year old black man was arrested in Baltimore after running away from police officers. He was put into a police van, and at some point suffered a spinal cord injury that led to his death a week later. Cue massive protests in Baltimore, with many demanding to know what happened to him. Gray’s family has since settled with the city of Baltimore for more than $6 million. Six officers in total have been criminally charged in connection with Gray’s death. But this is the first to go to trial.

WHAT TO SAY WHEN YOU REALIZE IT’S DECEMBER...

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow. Around the Midwest fo real. At least seven US states are being greeted with up to a foot of snow from last night and today. That also comes with a side of heavy winds, sleet, and freezing rain. Merry merry.

WHAT TO SAY WHEN IT’S FINALLY YOUR TURN AT THE GENIUS BAR...

Hopefully there are some answers here. Today, investigators said that a technical malfunction and the way pilots responded to it caused an AirAsia crash almost a year ago. Reminder: last December, an AirAsia plane flying from Indonesia to Singapore crashed in the Java Sea, killing all 162 people on board. Leading many to wonder ‘how did this happen?’ And yesterday, investigators said ‘this is how’: apparently the plane had a faulty rudder system, and the crew didn’t follow proper training procedures in response. The crash was one in a string of disasters for planes operating out of Southeast Asia.

WHAT TO SAY WHEN YOUR HOTEL BILL IS MORE THAN YOU EXPECTED...

It could be worse. Yesterday, the Chicago Tribune reported that the state of Illinois has been suing former prisoners for the cost of their time in lock-up. So far this year, 11 former inmates have been hit with lawsuits – a big jump up from the number of cases in previous years. Most of them are former prisoners who’ve just recently come into money through things like an inheritance, a trust fund, or a settlement. It’s unclear why there’s been a trend of the state filing more of these lawsuits. Illinois says they’re to help fund its prison operations, and make ex-cons suffer even more for their crimes. But these ex-cons say ‘well, this is not a nice welcome back to the real world.’ Yesterday, the state’s Attorney General said ‘yeah, maybe this is wrong,’ and suggested that lawmakers take another look at the state’s prison laws.

WHAT TO SAY WHEN IT’S HOT IN THE OFFICE…

The UN is feeling hot hot hot too. Yesterday was day one of its major climate change conference, where world leaders are aiming to cut a deal to slow the rise in global temps. We Skimm’d it for you.

THING TO KNOW

AIDS: You know what it is, but you should also know that it stands for ‘acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.’ AIDS, which is caused by the HIV virus, seriously cripples the body’s ability to fight off infections. Most of the 35 million cases globally are in sub-Saharan Africa. Heads up: today is World AIDS Day.

12 DAYS OF SKIMM'NESS

On the first day of Skimm’ness…you decided to spread holiday cheer by sharing theSkimm.

We’ve got $500 to Nordstrom for two of today’s sharers.
The more you share, the better chance you have to win. Do your thing.
PS: here’s the fine print on sharing.

SKIMM BIRTHDAYS

*Indicates Skimm’bassador. Treat yo’self.

*Margot McCloskey (Bronxville, NY); *Kellee Clark (Phoenix, AZ); *Erin Williams (Springfield, VA); *Emma Guerra (Miami, FL); *Erica Wheeler (Raleigh, NC); *Liz Scarborough (Scottsdale, AZ); *Mallen Urso (Charlotte, NC); *Celeste Wong (Pearl City, HI); *Nikki Abba (Chicago, IL); *Maggie Regan (Philadelphia, PA); *Liz Scarborough (Scottsdale, AZ); Emily Rapport (Brooklyn, NY); Kate Hallett (San Francisco, CA); Beth Walker (Brooklyn, NY); April Lofton (Chicago, IL); Carlye Kosiak (San Francisco, CA); Devin McGrath (New York, NY); Francesca Casalini (Parma, Italy); Kara Geller (Vestal, NY); Mary Margaret Mooney (Boston, MA); Megan Zadlock (Shark River Hills, NJ); Stephanie Lerner (New York, NY); Christy Goodman (Hoboken, NJ); John Pollick (Chicago, IL); Lexi Lipkin (New York, NY); Paul Robinson (Delaware, OH); Shira Sacks (Millburn, NJ); Judy Shannon (Highland, IL)