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5 Speed Reads: Netflix Price Hike Coming Soon

In today's midday read: Neflix is planning to raise prices, BriWi raps on "The Tonight Show" again, and NASA wants your selfies.
Netflix Reports Third Quarter Earnings
Netflix envelopes sit in a bin with other mail at the U.S. Post Office sort facility on Oct. 24, 2011 in San Francisco, Calif.Justin Sullivan / Getty Images file

1. Netflix Price Hike Coming Soon

Listen up binge watchers: Netflix is planning to raise its prices for new members by $1 to $2 this spring, but if you’re already a Netflix subscriber you’re safe…for now. Subscription costs for current members will remain the same for about one or two years. If you’re sensing a bit of déjà vu, that’s because Netflix has tried to change its business model before, with disastrous results. Perhaps with the success of Netflix originals like “House of Cards” and “Orange is the New Black,” subscribers won’t be as peeved when they have to shell out a few extra bucks.

2. Brian Williams Raps Again

Brian Williams appeared on the “The Tonight Show” on Monday, where he was the subject of yet another “Brian Williams Raps” video. True to form, Jimmy Fallon’s team spliced together clips of Williams reporting the news to make it seem like he’s rapping. The latest creation features classic lines from Snoop Dogg’s 1994 hit “Gin and Juice,” such as, “Sipping on gin and juice, with my mind on my money and my money on my mind.” “The Tonight Show” host then mentioned his collection of rap nicknames for Williams, including B-Dubs, BriWi, B-Willy and Honey Bri-Bri. So what’s next? The “Nightly News” anchor suggested “Rollout” by Ludacris.

3. NASA Wants Your Selfie

In celebration of Earth and the people who live on it, NASA is asking people to step outside and take a selfie. All you need is a camera, your smile and a sign indicating where on our planet you happen to be. You can also use a pre-made sign from NASA, available in more than 20 languages. Then, share your photo using the hashtag #GlobalSelfie. NASA will then stitch together the photos to create “a mosaic image of Earth...built bit by bit with your photos.” So go ahead, be your best selfie.

4. Eating Lunch at Your Desk Is Bad for You

It’s not only depressing to eat lunch alone at your desk, it’s also bad for your health, according to the Atlantic. Even so, 65 percent of Americans do it. The Atlantic suggests it’s worth taking a few minutes to eat just about anywhere else -- a common area, in the office kitchen, even the bike locker room will do. And if you feel guilty taking lunch away from your desk, they suggest encouraging others to join you. Studies prove social isolation adds stress to your life, so grab your coworkers and dine together. After all, how many of us end up eating lunch at our desks, stalking social media and getting no work done.

5. Darren Rovell Tries to Make a Funny and Gets Banned from Twitter

Darren Rovell is known as ESPN’s money man. On Sunday, he tried to play funny man on Twitter and now, it’s gotten him in hot water. The sports business reporter tweeted a screenshot of the Bulls vs. Wizards playoff game, showing a large gentleman sitting courtside and seemingly occupying two seats. Rovell’s caption read, “Cost of 2 courtside seats [to] tonight’s Bulls game is $5k.” Bad move. Rovell instantly got tons of flak for the offensive tweet online. He deleted it and apologized to his 460,000 followers. Now, for once, the serial tweeter and occasionally bad comedian has gone silent.