Sarah Begley

'Tis the season to be Harry

On the first day of Christmas, J.K. Rowling will give to you: new Harry Potter material. On the second day of Christmas, she’ll give you some more. And so on, through the 12 days leading up to Christmas Eve.

The author announced the new stories in a newsletter to Pottermore members, explaining that each new installment would be posted at 1 pm GMT (8am ET) every day beginning Dec. 12. The email promises “wonderful writing by J.K. Rowling in Moments from Half-Blood Prince, shiny gold Galleons and even a new potion or two.”

MORE: The Top 10 YA Books of 2014

One story will reportedly center on Draco Malfoy, Harry’s nemesis. In the spirit of the holiday season, maybe he’ll get a little redemption, Ebenezer Scrooge-style.

[Daily Telegraph]

Read next: J.K. Rowling Reveals Her Dream Job If She Weren’t A Writer

Filming is slated to start next year on Southside With You

As President Obama enters the back half of his second term, it’s time to start thinking about a biopic. No, not the kind where he makes major decisions about world events. The kind where he goes on a first date with a pretty lawyer.

Shooting will allegedly begin next year on Southside With You, a film depicting Barack Obama and Michelle Robinson’s first date, Deadline Hollywood reports. The future president famously took Michelle to see Do the Right Thing in Chicago on a summer afternoon in 1989. They also visited a Baskin Robbins and shared their first kiss on the curb outside, where a plaque now celebrates that fateful smooch.

Tika Sumpter, who appeared in the James Brown biopic Get on Up, will play Michelle, while the role of Barack has not yet been cast. The movie has been described as a romantic drama, so expect it to be more Before Sunrise and less My Date With the President’s Daughter.

[Deadline Hollywood]

Taylor Swift, Sam Smith and Beyoncé among early nominees

The first nominees have been announced for the 2015 Grammy Awards. Contenders so far include Taylor Swift, Sia, Sam Smith and Meghan Trainor. The award show will air Feb. 8 on CBS. More will trickle in over the course of the day, so check back or refresh as we update the list:

Record of the Year

Iggy Azalea ft. Charli XCX – “Fancy”

Sia – “Chandelier”

Sam Smith – “Stay With Me” (Darkchild Version)

Taylor Swift – “Shake It Off”

Meghan Trainor – “All About That Bass”

Best New Artist

Iggy Azaelea

Bastille

Brandy Clark

HAIM

Sam Smith

MORE: The Top 10 Worst Songs of 2014

Best Pop Solo Performance

John Legend – “All of Me” (live version)

Sia – “Chandelier”

Sam Smith – “Stay With Me”

Taylor Swift – “Shake It Off”

Pharrell – “Happy”

Best Pop Vocal Album

Coldplay – Ghost Stories

Miley Cyrus- Bangerz

Ariana Grande – My Everything

Katy Perry – Prism

Ed Sheeran – X

Sam Smith – In The Lonely Hour

MORE: The Top 10 Best Albums of 2014

Best Rock Album

Ryan Adams – Ryan Adams

Beck – Morning Phase

The Black Keys – Turn Blue

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers – Hypnotic Eye

U2 – Songs of Innocence

Best Urban Contemporary Album

Jhené Aiko – Sail Out

Beyoncé – Beyoncé

Chris Brown – X

Mali Music – Mali Is

Pharrell Williams – G I R L

Best Country Album

Dierks Bentley – Riser

Eric Church – The Outsiders

Brandy Clark – 12 Stories

Miranda Lambert – Platinum

Lee Ann Womack – The Way I’m Livin’

Best Rock Song

Ryan Adams – “Gimme Something Good”

Beck – “Blue Moon”

The Black Keys – “Fever”

Paramore – “Ain’t It Fun”

Jack White – “Lazaretto”

MORE: The Top 10 Best Songs of 2014

Best Country Song

Glen Campbell – “I’m Not Gonna Miss You”

Kenny Chesney – “American Kids”

Eric Church – “Give Me Back My Hometown”

Tim McGraw ft. Faith Hill – “Meanwhile Back At Mama’s”

Miranda Lambert – “Automatic”

Musicians took to Twitter to celebrate:

Now you can send "colorful greetings" to your friends in the Breaking Bad actor's voice

Sometimes, just texting your friend a bland “hey, what’s up?” won’t cut the mustard. That’s when Aaron Paul’s new app “Yo B-tch” will come in handy.

The app, named after the signature phrase of Paul’s Breaking Bad character, will allow you to send your friends audio recordings of his voice saying “colorful greetings” like the app’s name, or alternatives such as “Bueno, b-tch,” or “I love you, b-tch.”

The app, which is free in iTunes but offers in-app upgrades for purchase, was announced by Paul on Twitter on Friday, just in time to spread some good cheer for the holidays.

Read next: Aaron Paul’s Response to Toys ‘R’ Us Breaking Bad Controversy Is Perfect

President Obama made the announcement on Friday

President Obama nominated Ashton Carter as Defense Secretary on Friday, a week after Chuck Hagel announced he would resign from the post last week.

Carter comes with experience—he served as Deputy Defense Secretary until last December. As TIME’s Mark Thompson wrote earlier this week, he’s “by far Obama’s safest, most predictable choice”:

Carter’s 2011-2013 background as the Pentagon’s No. 2 civilian, largely responsible for the building’s day-to-day management, primes him for the military’s tough budget environment. He’s also an expert on nuclear weapons and military technology, having served as the Defense Department’s top weapons buyer from 2009 to 2011.

Unlike Hagel—who served as an Army sergeant in Vietnam and was wounded twice—Carter has never worn a U.S. military uniform. And, also unlike Hagel—twice elected as a Republican senator from Nebraska—Carter hasn’t engaged in partisan politics.

Of course, given Hagel’s vague tenure and unceremonious dumping from his Pentagon post, the value such experience affords may be dubious.

[WSJ]

The predators have a two-pronged tactic to "remotely control" their prey

In the battle of electric eel vs. prey, it turns out electric eels have an even greater advantage than we thought.

A new study published in the journal Science reveals the mechanics of the eel’s electric discharge, showing how the predators use this biological weapon to “remotely control their target.”

When an eel is pursuing a fish and doesn’t want it to get away it can emit an electric charge from its organs that stuns its victim, according to research by Vanderbilt University’s Kenneth Catania. The elongated fish uses “high-frequency volleys to induce immobilizing whole-body muscle contraction.”

MORE: The Top 10 New Species of 2014

And when an eel is looking for prey and cannot find any, it uses a different tactic: the eel releases electricity in two or three batches, which actually causes nearby fish to twitch, revealing their hiding place.

It’s an electric eel’s world and tiny fish are just living in it.

Read next: And Then Here’s an Owl Going for a Swim in Lake Michigan

If you live in Boston, New York, Seattle or Washington, that is

We’ve all been at a party where someone needs to make a late-night run to the liquor store for a few more beers. That transaction just got a whole lot easier: beginning this weekend, people in four U.S. cities will be able to buy 12- or 24-packs of Miller Lite through an online store, delivered straight to their homes with free shipping.

MillerCoors LLC has partnered with one-year-old Drizly, Inc. to make the service available to customers in Boston, New York, Seattle and Washington. The start-up’s technology helps retailers to ensure the age of buyers, and in return, your local liquor store could pay Drizly anywhere from $1,000 to more than $10,000 a month for use of the system.

Anheuser-Busch InBev NV is reportedly working on e-delivery for its own beers, but in the mean time, the drinkers of Boston, New York, Seattle and Washington might find themselves drinking a lot more Miller Lite—especially on those cold winter nights when bundling up for a beer run doesn’t sound so appealing.

[WSJ]

The latest installment comes out in June 2015

Production will cease at the end of the year

Queen Latifah’s syndicated daytime talk show has been canceled after two seasons of ratings that disappointed CBS-owned stations.

The musician, actress, producer and TV personality announced the news on her Facebook page in a letter addressed to herself and her cast and crew.

“Your dedication and sacrifice was crucial to the entire team, and in the face of intense challenges, you displayed ‘True Grit’!” she wrote. “The most important thing in life is that you wake up every single day and take chances.”