Daily Skimm: You look like you came out of an encyclopedia

"Stay clear of the steer" – Rhode Island authorities, who've been looking for the animal for over a month. Sounds like they're on a total steak out.

WTF NFT

The Story

NFTs are a BFD.

Yeah...you lost me.

NFTs. They stand for non-fungible (read: irreplaceable) tokens. They're kind of like unique deeds or trading cards...but make 'em digital. Normally when an artist sells a painting, people buy the physical thing. But in a world of GIFs, JPGs, and MP3s, collectors want to be able to say 'I own that' about art that's circulating in the digital space for free. Enter: NFTs.

And they are...?

Expensive bragging rights. NFTs have unique identifiers to track who sold and bought anything in the digital world – from Jack Dorsey's first tweet (on track to rake in $2.5 million) to a Kings of Leon album. How do you own a tweet, you might ask? You don't. You own the idea of owning the tweet. Eccentric? Sure. In any case, whoever pays up gets a token – encoded with fancy crypto magic – that proves they did it. Quite the flex.

Why am I hearing about it now?

Yesterday, an NFT by an artist known as Beeple sold for $69 million – putting Beeps among "the top three most valuable living artists." It surpassed bids for work by artists like Frida Kahlo and Salvador Dalí. And was the first time auction house Christie's ever sold a completely digital NFT. Another first for Christie's: accepting Ethereum – a cryptocurrency. The auction house reportedly says it would be open to selling tokens like this in the future – but that it won't quit its day job of selling actual, physical paintings.

Idk how to feel about this.

It's a lot. But there's more to the story than just bragging rights: NFTs can provide musicians and artists with a new source of revenue. For the buyer, NFTs can be a form of investment that could earn some profits. But keep in mind: the market is still evolving. And investing in NFTs isn't exactly a tried and true strategy.

theSkimm

The digital age for buying and selling content is taking a new direction. Now, some artists and musicians are cashing in on the opportunities cryptocurrencies are creating. And people with lots of money are finding new ways to spend it. And that's the NFTea.

One-on-One With Obama

We sat down with former President Obama to talk about his memoir "A Promised Land" – which covers his childhood through his first term in office. He gave us insight on:

• the policy he's most proud of
• his biggest political setback
• the most surprising thing about being president
• the world leaders he'd want to be in a group chat with

Find out that and more here.

Plus, we got his thoughts on the state of race relations today and how he thinks the country can achieve racial equality. Listen to our podcast "Skimm This" for his answer.

And Also...This

Who's had enough...

Women. In the UK, women are speaking out about the sexual assault and violence they've experienced. The calls for change stem from the disappearance of 33-year-old Sarah Everard – who went missing last week in south London after walking home from a friend's house. Earlier this week, authorities found human remains in the woodlands of Kent. A Metropolitan police officer was arrested as a suspect of kidnapping and murder. Met Police Commissioner Cressida Dick said she was "utterly appalled" by the news. Everard's family shared a tribute to the woman who "brought so much joy" to their lives. Now, women are highlighting the dangers we face every day – even when doing mundane tasks – and the extreme precautions we must take to stay safe.

• This is not normal: Walking with keys between our fingers, wearing bright colors, carrying a rape whistle, downloading all the safety apps, taking the long way home on well-lit streets, texting when you get home...the list goes on. All of these are measures women should not have to take to feel safe.

• A sad reality: One study found that over 70% of women in the UK have been sexually harassed in public. That number rose to 97% for women ages 18-24. And some UK lawmakers are taking to social media to support women's calls for change.

What's ruling by committee...

China. Yesterday, its legislature voted to reduce Hong Kong residents' voting power. The resolution allows Beijing to add more seats (read: loyalists) to the committee that elects Hong Kong's leader. And it's saying 'new rule': future legislators need to fall in line with China's national security legislation – which has been used to arrest dozens of pro-democracy figures. The changes are seen as the latest crackdown on pro-democracy Hong Kongers, who took to the streets in 2019 to protest a controversial extradition bill and advocate for Hong Kong's special, semi-autonomous status. And could take effect within weeks.

Who's saying 'save the date'...

President Biden. Yesterday, during his first primetime address he gave Americans two dates to look forward to: By May 1, Biden says he'll tell states to open up COVID-19 vaccine eligibility to adults ages 18 and up. And by July 4th, he expects that Americans should be able to gather in small groups. The speech came hours after Biden signed the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill into law. The first stimulus checks could hit Americans' bank accounts as soon as this weekend.

Psst...here are a few smart ways to spend your stimulus money.

Who's saying 'nothing to see here'…

Prince William.

Who's getting the opposite of a "Slow Clap"…

Selena Gomez and Nick Jonas.

Buying Time

Shopping is our cardio. But time is a precious resource. And no matter what you're buying (groceries, clothes, gadgets, etc.), you don't want to spend your WHOLE day buying it. So we've partnered with Walmart+ to share a few tips to help you get it done quicker.

1. Go in with a game plan. Have a general idea of what you want slash need. And how much money you're ready to part with.

2. Sign up for recurring shipments. A great option for the things you know you'll use.

3. Become a Walmart+ member. You'll get free shipping from Walmart.com.† No matter how much (or little) you spend. Oh, and the ability to check out on your phone when you shop in-store. Start your free 15-day trial.

What's worse than the gender pay gap? The gender wealth gap. Because women are also deeper in debt, overlooked at work, overworked at home, and underinvested. And that was before the pandemic. The good news: we Skimm'd how you can help close the gap by getting your own finances in order and supporting other women.

PS: For more $$$ news and tips, sign up to get our Skimm Money newsletter in your inbox every Friday.

Skimm Reads

"What's Mine and Yours" by Naima Coster

This week, we've got a special Skimm Read thanks to our friends at Book of the Month. Use code SKIMM to join now and get a copy for just $9.99. And then pick from five books every month to get one delivered right to your door. Your shelf says 'thanks.'

When two students join a high school play designed to bring their divided town together, their families become connected in messy, lasting ways. This read jumps through 20 years of twists, turns, and surprises. It'll get you thinking about parental love, race, class, sex, and community. Bragging rights go to whoever guesses the ending.

Here are today's recs to help you live a smarter life…

1. A new smile in time for summer. These invisible aligners straighten teeth in an avg of three to four months. Bonus: they come with a free whitening kit. And Skimm'rs can save over $300 with this exclusive offer. Open wide.*

2. Products you need to actually meal prep the right way. If the delivery person knows your order by heart, it's time to start seeing other people. Like your kitchen. Warning: things may get hot and steamy.

3. A habit-tracking calendar so you can achieve everything you want this year. Like reaching your hydration goals. And decreasing your daily screen time. You can even keep an eye on your sleep schedule and monthly finances. Get to it.

PS: Like what you see here? Make sure you're signed up to get more picks like these in your inbox every Monday. We've got exclusive shopping recs, streaming ideas, life hacks, and more.

Skimm’rs

We like to celebrate the wins, big and small. Let us know how your friends, neighbors, coworkers (and yes, even you) are making career moves, checking off goals, or making an impact in the community. Reach out here for a chance to be featured.

Learning on the go...Megan T (TN). She was awarded the highly competitive Fulbright Grant to teach in Argentina in 2022. But before she packs up her bags, she'll finish her Master of Education at Vanderbilt University this year.

Sweet-smelling action...Amanda M (NY). She's the founder and CEO of Nepenthe Candle Co. And after last year's racial protests, Amanda decided to take action. Every candle purchase equals a donation to a charity of the buyer's choice. And they've already made donations to orgs like Black Lives Matter and the Trevor Project. Learn more.

(Some) Birthdays... theSkimm's Emmy Favilla (NY), Jessica Kasmer-Jacobs (ISL), Alyson Lane (NY), Laura Miller (FL), Nat Gryll (DC), Shelley Greebel (NY), Christina Claxton (PA), Serin Kim (VA), Rachel Stern (NY), Thomas Karageorgiou (MO), Kimberly Pinkerton (PA), Megan Scarano (MD), Courtney Opalko (MI), Rachel Stern (PA), Maggie Secor (MA), Lyn Kellermeyer (IL)

PS…we've also got a video wall to shout out a woman in your life who's making an impact on you. Check it out.

This week marked the one-year anniversary of the COVID-19 pandemic. Tune in to a special ep of "Skimm This'' for the latest on the CDC guidelines and what you need to know about the stimulus bill. Plus, hear from a Skimm HQ'r about her experience getting vaccinated.

And if you're looking for other smart ways to spend your time…

• Listen to our news podcast "Skimm This" for clarity on the biggest stories of the week.

• Tune in to our career podcast "Skimm'd from the Couch" for tips to build your resume.

• Subscribe to our "Skimm Money" newsletter to keep up to date with your wallet.

• Sign up for our "Press Pause" newsletter for curated shopping, reads, and entertainment recs.

• Follow us on the gram, Twitter, YouTube, and Facebook.

• Download our app to get it all in one place.

Skimm Share

Friends don't let friends get bogged down in headlines. So click that share button to send theSkimm to your network. Because, as they say, sharing is caring.

Skimm’d by Maria del Carmen Corpus, Kamini Ramdeen, Clem Robineau, and Julie Shain

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