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Gruber Motors, a shop best-known for working on Tesla vehicles, caught on fire again. The second time in 4 years.

It is believed that several more rare Tesla Roadsters have been lost.

Gruber Motors is a Phoenix-based shop that focused on offering services to Tesla owners.

They made a name for being one of the rare companies able to fix the “bricking” issues that some Tesla Roadsters vehicles.

The early electric vehicle had problems where the battery would become unusable and Tesla wouldn’t be able to fix it and instead would recommend a full battery replacement, which was expensive out of warranty.

Pete Gruber, CEO of Gruber Motors, developed a system to identify a dead cell or module and was able to only replace those and get the Roadster working again.

However, the company had a major setback in 2017 when its shop in Phoenix caught on fire, which destroyed at least 5 Tesla Roadsters and even a Tzero vehicle.

No one was hurt in the fire but some piece of electric vehicle history was lost.

Now Gruber has suffered a second fire at their new shop in Phoenix yesterday. The local fire department reported on the incident:

It doesn’t sound like anyone was hurt, but the extent of the damages are still unknown.

A Tesla owner who had their car at the shop when the fire happened gave an account of the aftermath saying that the entire interior of the shop was gone (via TMC):

“I have some sad news to report about our friends at Gruber motors in Phoenix. I was scheduled to pick up my car there today after it had been in for service. I received an email message from Gruber early in the morning that unfortunately they had had a fire at their shop and that while my car was OK because it was parked outside, my key has been destroyed in the fire. They wanted to make sure I had a spare key in order to pick up the car. I assumed it must’ve been a relatively small fire given that they were taking the time to confirm that I was still coming to pick up the car today and had the spare key. When I went to pick up the car this afternoon, though, I was shocked to see what had happened at the Gruber facility. Sadly, it looks as if much of the building’s interior and workshop has been destroyed. The roof seemed to be entirely gone, and there was a large team of people doing hazardous materials cleanup (I assume because of the batteries and other electrical components that had burned in the fire.)”

As many of 25 Tesla Roadsters could have been lost in the fire. The cause of the fire is still being investigated.

We contacted Gruber for more information and we will update if we get more details.


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British author Samantha Harvey wins Booker Prize 2024

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British author Samantha Harvey wins Booker Prize 2024

British author Samantha Harvey has won this year’s Booker Prize with her book Orbital.

The novel, which is about astronauts on the International Space Station as they orbit the Earth, was announced as the winner at a ceremony at Old Billingsgate in the City of London on Tuesday.

It has sold around 29,000 copies – more than the last three Booker winners combined had managed before they won.

Accepting the trophy, Harvey dedicated it to everybody who “speaks for and not against the earth” and “for and not against the dignity of other humans, other life and all the people who speak for and call for and work for peace”.

The former museum worker turned author said before winning that she would like to spend the £50,000 prize money on taking time out of her job to sculpt, and waste some of it on buying “expensive Danish liquorice”.

Harvey, who was longlisted for the prestigious literary prize in 2009 for her debut novel The Wilderness, is the 19th woman to win since the first award in 1969. There have been 36 male winners.

(left to right) Yael van der Wouden, Rachel Kushner, Anne Michaels, Queen Camilla, Charlotte Wood, Percival Everett, and Samantha Harvey during a reception for the Booker Prize Foundation at Clarence House, London. Picture date: Tuesday November 12, 2024.
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Booker Prize shortlisted authors with the Queen. Pic: PA

Admitting that she nearly gave up writing the novel altogether, Harvey said: “I lost my nerve with it.

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“[I] originally thought, ‘Why on earth would anybody want to hear from a woman at her desk in Wiltshire writing about space, imagining what it’s like being in space when people have actually been there’.”

Taking place over a 24-hour time frame as astronauts orbit the Earth 16 times, Orbital is the second-shortest book to claim the prize at 136 pages long.

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Artist and chairman of the judges Edmund de Waal described the book as one that “compelled” the judging panel.

“We were determined to find a book that moved us, a book that had capaciousness and resonance, that we are compelled to share,” he said.

“We wanted everything. Orbital is our book. With her language of lyricism and acuity, Harvey makes our world strange and new for us.

“Our unanimity about Orbital recognises its beauty and ambition.”

This year, a record number of women were shortlisted for the Booker, with five nominated in total.

Earlier on Tuesday, all the shortlisted authors – Yael van der Wouden, Rachel Kushner, Anne Michaels, Charlotte Wood, Percival Everett and Harvey – attended a reception with the Queen, her first public engagement since falling ill with a chest infection.

A post on the royal family X account later shared a statement from Queen Camilla which congratulated Harvey on her win.

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‘A little bit of a pat on the back’: Selena Gomez on Emilia Perez role

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'A little bit of a pat on the back': Selena Gomez on Emilia Perez role

Selena Gomez says she felt recognised as an actor when taking part in her new film Emilia Perez.

The Emmy-nominated actress stars in the drama musical which follows four women as they find their paths to the lives they have always wanted.

She tells Sky News acting in Spanish was a joyful challenge.

“It was very exciting. I’m not completely fluent, so for me, it was really incredible to be able to even just be around people who were speaking it. I found it to be a very proud moment for sure.”

Selena Gomez as Jessi in Emilia Pérez. Pic: Shanna Besson/Page 114/Why Not Productions/Pathe Films/ France 2 Cinema
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Selena Gomez as Jessi in Emilia Perez. Pic: Shanna Besson/Page 114/Why Not Productions/Pathe Films/ France 2 Cinema

The 31-year-old first began her acting career in 2002 after securing the role of Gianna in Barney & Friends alongside her future Princess Protection Program co-star Demi Lovato.

But it was her lead role as Alex Russo in Wizards of Waverly Place that cemented her position as a prominent figure in the industry and paved the way for the artist to pursue film, TV shows and a hugely successful music career.

Gomez as Jessi. Pic: Page 114/Why Not Productions/Pathe Films/France 2 Cinema
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Gomez as Jessi. Pic: Page 114/Why Not Productions/Pathe Films/France 2 Cinema

Leaving the children’s TV channel in 2012, she decided to take on a role in the coming-of-age film Spring Breakers.

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She says being in the project with Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Benson and James Franco felt like the first time she was making something for her and not any external responsibilities she may have had at the time.

“I was only 18. It was a very odd choice for me at the time because I had just finished working on my show and I had this freedom.

“So in a way I felt like I could rebel. And even though my character is pretty safe in the movie, it was just enough for me to get this hunger for art, for abstract and crazy colours and cinematography. It just became addicting.”

Since then, the creative has secured four Emmy nominations for acting and executive producing, two Grammy nominations for her music and has amassed a reported net worth of over $1bn through her make-up brand Rare Beauty.

She is also the second most followed person on Instagram, behind Cristiano Ronaldo.

Now starring in the Jacques Audiard film Emilia Perez, Gomez says she’s grateful for the path she has had in the industry and feels more “confident” to pursue roles that challenge her skills as an actor.

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“I definitely don’t have any regrets. I genuinely think if anything, doing this movie has given me a little bit of a pat on the back and I felt encouraged.

“I feel eager and excited to go for material that I don’t think people would typically expect of me.”

Emilia Perez

Zoe Saldaña as Rita Moro Castro in Emilia Pérez. Pic: Shanna Besson/Page 114/Why Not Productions/Pathe Films/France 2 Cinema
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Zoe Saldaña as Rita Moro Castro in Emilia Perez. Pic: Shanna Besson/Page 114/Why Not Productions/Pathe Films/France 2 Cinema

The Spanish-language musical is set in Mexico and also stars Zoe Saldana, Karla Sofia Gascon and Adriana Paz.

Told through a mix of film genres, it follows a drug lord who wants to transition from male to female and her life afterward.

Zoe Saldana, one of the highest grossing actors of all time, says she’ll “never regret being a superhero” but being in this project allowed her to focus on the type of filmmaking she always wanted to do.

“Jacques Audiard is very much aligned with the kind of art that I like to consume, and I like to wish to be a part of.

“So for my career in Marvel and for [Selena’s] in Disney, to deliver us full circle to work with someone that we grew up sort of admiring, it means that the whole road was worth it every step along the way.”

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She added: “I never had the opportunity to reconnect with Spanish in my work through my craft because in my everyday life, as soon as these cameras go off, I’m only in Spanish. So I was happy.”

The Avatar star says she’s aware the film is “a niche of a niche of a niche” project and hopes people are “curious enough to watch this”.

“People are really taking to it and it just goes to show that it is good to bet on yourself and if the choices that you are making in your life are done with an open heart and their heart driven and you’re winning, then stay on that path.”

Emilia Perez is streaming on Netflix now.

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BBC confirms Gary Lineker will step down as Match Of The Day presenter

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BBC confirms Gary Lineker will step down as Match Of The Day presenter

Gary Lineker will step down as host of Match Of The Day at the end of the season, the BBC has confirmed.

The 63-year-old will continue to host coverage of the FA Cup in 2025/26 and the World Cup in 2026, the broadcaster announced.

Lineker will continue with the MOTD Top Ten podcast while his The Rest Is Football podcast, which features BBC pundits Alan Shearer and Micah Richards, will now be hosted on BBC Sounds.

The former England footballer said: “I’m delighted to continue my long association with BBC Sport and would like to thank all those who made this happen.”

Alex Kay-Jelski, director of BBC Sport, said: “Gary is a world-class presenter, and we’re delighted that he’ll lead our coverage of the next World Cup and continue to lead our live coverage of the FA Cup.

“After 25 seasons Gary is stepping down from MOTD. We want to thank him for everything he has done for the show, which continues to attract millions of viewers each week.

“He’ll be hugely missed on the show but we’re so happy he is staying with the BBC to present live football.”

Analysis: Will the next generation know him only as a podcasting mogul?

FILE - TV soccer pundits and former soccer players Micah Richards, Alan Shearer and Gary Lineker, from left, watch the FA Cup sixth round soccer match between Newcastle United and Manchester City at St. James' Park in Newcastle, England, Sunday, June 28, 2020. (Shaun Botterill/Pool via AP, File)
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Micah Richards, Alan Shearer and Lineker, who present the podcast The Rest Is Football. Pic: AP


Lineker has hosted the Premier League highlights show since 1999, after his predecessor Des Lynam moved to ITV.

He is the co-founder of Goalhanger Podcasts, which produces popular shows such as The Rest Is History, The Rest Is Politics and The Rest Is Entertainment, as well as his own football podcast.

The company, founded in 2014, claims to be the UK’s largest independent podcast firm and said in September its podcasts had been downloaded more than 380 million times so far this year.

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Lineker has been the BBC’s highest-paid star in recent years for his work on shows including Match Of The Day and Sports Personality Of The Year, as well as coverage of major tournaments including World Cups and European Championships.

He received about £1.35m during the 2023-24 financial year, according to the BBC’s most recent figures.

It is unclear who will take over from Lineker on Match Of The Day.

Former Tottenham Hotspur footballer Jermaine Jenas had at one point been considered to be his natural successor but he was sacked from the BBC in August over claims of inappropriate behaviour.

Lineker enjoyed a successful career as a striker, winning 80 caps for England, before moving into broadcasting.

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