The Paris Olympics closing ceremony saw the handoff of the Olympic flag to Los Angeles. In Hollywood fashion, Tom Cruise rappelled into the stadium while H.E.R. played the entrance music. The Olympic flag was given to Cruise by Simone Biles and then the relay began. After another Cruise stunt and relay, the flag ended up on an LA beach where the Red Hot Chili Peppers were jamming. Also, Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg performed. At the end of it all, the United States dominated with 126 medals – 40 gold, 42 silver, and 44 bronze. The next closest country was China, which racked up 91 medals – 40 gold, 27 silver, and 24 bronze. Take that China!
A new survey reveals how Americans most like to spend their do-nothing days. It finds that the ideal lazy day includes an average of two hours lying in bed, an hour eating, three hours binge-watching movies and shows, an hour reading, two hours scrolling, three hours doing absolutely nothing, two hours napping and an hour just dreading the next day. Two-thirds of people take their lazy days spontaneously, while 21% plan theirs in advance. I actually have a lazy day scheduled for tomorrow.
A 40-year-old Russian player has been accused of poisoning a rival by smearing mercury on her chess board. Surveillance video purports to show Amina Abakarova wandering into a mostly empty room where chess boards are set up and smearing mercury from a thermometer on the board where Umayganat Osmanova would soon be playing, per Chess.com. Osmanova sought medical assistance during her subsequent game after feeling nauseated and dizzy but has recovered. Abakarova was quoted in Russian media as saying she only wanted to knock her 30-year-old rival out of the tournament, not seriously injure her. I'd call that a checkmate!