Two friends have captured the internet’s imagination by turning a dilapidated pontoon into an exquisite houseboat adorned with Hamptons-inspired shingles and sleek sliding glass doors.

Jake Doggett, 25, and James Little, 26, embarked on this transformative journey after purchasing the 24-foot craft for $4,000 in June 2024. Their vision was clear: create a timeless retreat in Massachusetts for their future families.

“I was the engineer, and he was the aesthetic designer,” Doggett shared with the Daily Mail, highlighting the duo’s complementary skills.

Over 14 months, they meticulously stripped and rebuilt what was once a sunken pontoon, transforming it into a striking 100-square-foot houseboat. This eye-catching vessel now graces the picturesque Essex Bay, located about 38 miles northeast of Boston.

“James reached out to me and said, ‘Hey, we should really build something together.’ By combining our strengths and creativity, we decided, ‘You know what? I built a house on a truck, and that was a blast. Let’s create a house on a boat to experience Essex Bay from an entirely new perspective,'” Doggett recalled.

It was the biggest project either of them had ever taken on, and they had to learn a lot on the fly to make sure their houseboat would not only float, but it wouldn’t corrode in the saltwater, which meant splashing out on stainless steel materials. 

They also had to worry about height, as they had to get the wide-load to the bay, as well as, weight and stability.  

The final product even features a solar-powered shower, kitchen, oven, refrigerator, and freezer, with the full build-out documented on Doggett’s YouTube page Salvage to Scenic. It also has a seating area where the table lowers down to place a bed, which affected the boat’s ability to stay above water.

And all of it had to be installed by hand. 

Doggett was more in charge of building the actual structure and focusing on the precise engineering behind making it work, while Little focused on picking the paint, door knobs, and handles. 

For example, it was Little’s idea to put in two floor-to-ceiling glass doors on two conjoining walls to give practically panoramic views of the bay. Doggett was initially reluctant. 

‘That’s going to be really difficult to build,’ he recalled thinking. ‘The big panoramic glass wall posed some challenges as far as being safe and structurally sound.

‘So, I thought a lot about the systems, whereas James was really skilled in considering which flooring would look good with the blue paint, which shade of blue paint, what kind of knobs and handles should we pair with this, and so on and so forth.’ 

Doggett, who has known Little since first grade, said the project was a ‘beautiful marriage of skills.’ 

The biggest complication the two men hit was when they realized the frame of the house weighed much more than the pontoon’s maximum weight-bearing capacity.

The vessel was designed to hold up to 5,000 pounds, significantly lower than their 9,000-pound finished project.

The additional weight meant the friends had to purchase new floats, which would allow the vessel to hold up to 21,000 pounds. 

Doggett and Little also had to learn to built cabinets from scratch and install a rubber roof, as well as, solar panels, modify the oven door to make the house door close, and more. 

They almost gave up on the project several times, especially as it became more expensive. 

The friends initially believed it would cost them around $10,000. The finished project, however, took much longer and cost around $40,000 to complete, with multiple setbacks, including a winter break. 

Doggett and Little were also gifted some items, amounting roughly to $10,000 in supplies. This makes the total cost of the houseboat construction to be around $50,000, Doggett told the Daily Mail.  

The pair initially built the houseboat with the intention of sharing it for the rest of their lives until Little got a job working with horses in Florida.

So they decided to sell it, Doggett told the Daily Mail. 

‘I find myself at this bittersweet crossroads, where I can hold on to it, but it’s not really fair for me to hold on to the houseboat and enjoy it all myself when James has moved away,’ Doggett said. 

‘And so, the fairest thing I figure I can do for James is list it for sale and split the profits with him.’ 

It is currently listed on Facebook Marketplace for $140,000. It had to be relisted after Facebook took it down for suspicious activity after it became so popular. 

The pair have had some interested potential buyers, but for the time being, Doggett is enjoying his creation with his girlfriend. 

As for the future, Doggett is considering building a houseboat village in Essex Bay. 

‘Countless people have reached out with meaningful interest about renting and staying aboard this famous houseboat,’ he said. 

‘I’d like to be able to host people and share an on-the-water experience with them in person.’  

CHICAGO (WLS) — In a poignant gathering on Saturday, a multitude of cyclists came together to pay tribute to the victims who perished during the harrowing 1919 Chicago Race Riot.

This significant event also celebrated the completion of a citywide art initiative that honors these lost souls, marking their memories across various sites throughout Chicago.

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Participants embarked on a guided bicycle tour, highlighting landmarks tied to the racial violence, including the lakefront spot where 17-year-old Eugene Williams tragically lost his life in 1919.

“It’s been 107 years since that fateful day when Eugene Williams, a Black teenager, came here with friends to swim in Lake Michigan on a scorching Sunday,” recounted Professor Peter Cole from Western Illinois University. “As their raft drifted south, a white man began hurling rocks at them, leading to Eugene’s untimely death,” he solemnly noted.

Historians at the commemoration emphasized that during that period, there existed an unspoken boundary delineating the swimming areas designated for Black people from those for white people.

Williams’ death sparked an outbreak of racial violence in Chicago that left 38 people dead and hundreds injured.

“These markers form Chicago’s first citywide memorial dedicated to the victims of racial violence,” said Dr. Franklin Cosey-Gay, co-director of the Chicago Race Riot of 1919 Commemoration Project.

The project includes 38 memorial markers spread across approximately 30 square miles of the city. Organizers said the memorial markers serve as a lasting tribute to the victims and as a reminder of a painful chapter that shaped the city of Chicago.

“We ensure that every person who lost their life during the Chicago Race Riot of 1919 is remembered where that life was taken – not erased in time, not reduced to just some simple footnote, but permanently woven into the landscape of our city,” said Kenya Merritt, commissioner of Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events.

Renowned actor John Cusack has shed light on his gradual retreat from Hollywood’s spotlight.

Known for iconic roles like in “Being John Malkovich,” the 60-year-old revealed his desire to narrate stories free from the influence of studio executives, inspiring him to pen the upcoming graphic novel “Momo.”

“Graphic novels have always felt akin to film for me,” Cusack shared with Variety during the San Diego Comic-Con. “They involve selecting shots; they’re inherently cinematic.”

Cusack outlined that his pivot to writing was fueled by a wish to avoid negotiations that might compromise storytelling.

“When you request someone to invest a hefty $20 million or $30 million in a film, they inevitably want input, which often comes with a layer of apprehension,” he explained.

Instead, he teamed up with illustrator Ignacio Noé to create “Momo” on their own terms.

“This was just like, I wrote it, and I said, ‘I like the story,’ and then I got this beautiful, wonderful artist, Ignacio Noé, to do the illustrations and so nobody edited anything I wrote or that he drew,” Cusack said.

“So it’s really a piece of work that was just done by two people. It was just me and Ignacio’s story, and that doesn’t happen today.”

“There’s no bull, and there’s no committee. There’s no computer up in Seattle that’s poll testing it,” he added.

“Momo” — Cusack’s first graphic novel — is set to be released on Sept. 29.

The story follows two fugitives in 1972 who set out to recover an ancient artifact for TV icon Jackie Gleason.

The actor spent decades as one of Hollywood’s most recognizable leading men, starring in “Grosse Pointe Blank,” “High Fidelity” and “Con Air,” but his acting career has become increasingly selective in recent years.

He appeared in the 2025 films “Fog of War” and the Mandarin-language film “Detective Chinatown 1900” after starring in the Chinese espionage thriller “Decoded” in 2024.

Before that, his only screen credits since 2020 were the action thriller “Pursuit” and Amazon’s dystopian series “Utopia.”

Cusack has been outspoken about the state of Hollywood for years.

“My friend Joe Roth ran Disney [until 2000],” he told the Guardian in 2014. “He made things like ‘The Rock’ and ‘Con Air’ to make shareholders happy, but then he also gave six or seven slots to people he liked.

“I got to make ‘High Fidelity’ and ‘Grosse Pointe Blank.’ Spike Lee got to make ‘Summer of Sam.’ Wes Anderson got to make ‘Rushmore.’ I had that memory of film and that’s gone.”

“Now it’s six for them — with a committee cutting the film who weren’t part of making it – and maybe one for you,” he added.

Cusack isn’t the only member of his family to step away from the spotlight.

His older sister, actress Joan Cusack, 63, made her first red-carpet appearance since 2015 in May when she attended the London premiere of “Toy Story 5,” ending an 11-year absence from public events.

“I feel so honored to have worked in this industry for a long time,” the actress told Variety in June. “But it’s also great to live your life and raise your kids and be in Chicago and be a normal person.”

In an effort to start anew, Sherrone Moore, the former head football coach at Michigan, and his wife, Kelli, are selling their sumptuous mansion in the Ann Arbor area. The couple has listed the property for $1.7 million after Moore’s departure from the university.

Moore, now 40, put the expansive 5,858-square-foot home on the market just seven months after losing his position due to an ‘inappropriate relationship’ with someone on his staff.

Before the controversy that ended his coaching career, Moore resided in the five-bedroom, five-and-a-half-bath estate with Kelli and their three young daughters—Shiloh, Solei, and Sadie.

The opulent property, situated on over half an acre, recently benefited from an estimated $300,000 in significant renovations and updates prior to being listed for sale.

According to the listing on Realtor.com, the home features a light-filled interior with maple hardwood floors, a chef’s kitchen, an impressive two-story great room, a sunroom, and three modern fireplaces.

‘The luxurious primary suite offers a spa-inspired bath with heated floors, a bubble massage tub, and Jacuzzi,’ the description adds, while also highlighting a walkout lower level equipped with a fitness room and full kitchen bar.

Moore originally purchased the Walnut Ridge Drive residence for $1.3 million in 2023, shortly before being elevated to head coach at Michigan to succeed Jim Harbaugh.

The decision to sell the home signals a departure from Ann Arbor following Moore’s firing in December 2025 for a workplace affair with former staffer Paige Shiver.

The controversy deepened on the day of his termination when Moore was arrested after allegedly breaking into Shiver’s apartment, initially leading to felony home invasion and stalking charges.

Following a court resolution in March, Moore pleaded no contest to misdemeanor trespassing and malicious use of a telecommunications device, receiving 18 months of probation without jail time.

The legal fallout from the scandal has continued to brew for the university itself. Shiver recently launched a lawsuit against the University of Michigan, demanding the release of findings from a $12 million internal investigation.

In the suit, Shiver, who is seeking requested records and punitive damages, claims the school violated the Freedom of Information Act by denying requests made on her behalf after the football coach was fired for having an inappropriate relationship with her.

‘It was important for our client to file this initial FOIA lawsuit to ensure the truth and facts come out,’ attorney Andrew M. Stroth said in a statement to the Daily Mail.

School spokesman Paul Corliss declined comment.

The legal action looks set to spark the next lengthy and expensive controversy for the embattled school, which is still reeling from Moore’s very public scandal. 

It also comes just months after Shiver quietly left her position in the athletics department in the wake of the scandal. 

Back in March, a department spokesperson told the Daily Mail that Shiver’s contract expired and she no longer works for Wolverines athletics. The spokesperson did not offer any more details on her departure from the program.

Shiver, 32, had been a visible part of the Wolverines football program as Moore’s executive assistant. She’s also the daughter of Bears scout Jeff Shiver, who has been a constant presence with the historic NFL team since 1987. 

Meanwhile, the Wolverines have already moved on to their next chapter on the field. 

Following Moore’s dismissal, Michigan appointed former Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham to take charge of the program as they prepare for the upcoming season.

With the criminal proceedings resolved, new leadership in place in Ann Arbor, and the family estate officially on the market, the listing marks the final step in the couple’s efforts to sever ties with Michigan and rebuild in private.

On a lively Saturday at Wrigley Field, a legendary former pitcher of the Cubs showcased that his skillset still includes an unexpected surprise.

Kerry Wood, who made headlines as a Cubs rookie by striking out a remarkable 20 Astros players on May 6, 1998, at this very stadium, delivered yet another unforgettable spectacle to his hometown fans.

The 49-year-old Wood suited up with the Savannah Bananas for their match at Wrigley Field and executed a pitch that will be talked about for years.

Facing loaded bases with two outs in the sixth inning, Wood prepared himself, lifting his leg and appearing to go through his usual windup.

Then came the unexpected twist — the baseball wasn’t in his hand as expected. Instead, Wood had deftly flipped it behind his back towards home plate, showcasing his incredible sleight of hand.

The smooth-looking trick pitch floated over the plate for a strike as the stunned batter stood frozen for what turned out to be a strike right down the middle.

Though Wood did not quite meet the hype and early expectations after his impressive first big-league season in which he won the Rookie of the Year award, he still had a good 14-year career from 1998-2012, primarily with the Cubs.

The one-time flame-throwing right-hander also had short stints with Cleveland and the Yankees.

He posted an 86-75 record for his career with a 3.67 ERA and 1,582 strikeouts.

Former Cubs World Series winner David Ross — who played 15 MLB seasons, including two with the Cubs — also suited up for the Bananas on Saturday night.

Ross, a catcher, won two World Series rings, one in 2013 with the Red Sox to go along with the Cubs title in 2016 which snapped a 108-year drought for the one-time woebegone franchise.

In a dramatic move on Friday, Kalshi, a well-known prediction market platform, issued a stern warning to Netflix. The company made it clear they are prepared to pursue legal action unless Netflix removes a trailer for an impending documentary that shines a spotlight on prediction markets.

Kalshi’s head of litigation, Jovalin Dedaj, fired off a cease-and-desist letter to Netflix on Friday, accusing the trailer of displaying “false and misleading statements.” This development comes on the heels of heightened scrutiny over how prediction markets are portrayed in media.

A day earlier, Netflix unveiled scenes from the documentary “Instadocs: The Prediction Games,” scheduled for release on Sunday. The provocative trailer features influencers engrossed in watching the World Cup final from a luxurious Las Vegas mansion, as they discuss wagers placed on prediction platforms like Kalshi.

In Nevada, a court order mandates that Kalshi prohibit any sports-related betting within the state. The ambiguity lies in whether the bets shown in the trailer were made prior to or following the enactment of this restriction on May 4. Notably, the trailer suggests that the depicted events occurred on July 19, 2026.

In a noteworthy moment, an influencer displays his phone, showing a receipt linked to a sports event contract with Kalshi. He declares, “I put $5,000 on Spain to win the whole thing,” in reference to the coveted tournament’s final. This scene underscores the high stakes and intense anticipation surrounding prediction markets.

A Netflix spokesperson told The Hill that this receipt was a screenshot from a bet placed on the prediction market platform in May 2025 — around a year before this court order. 

“The clip misleadingly indicates that the individual is trading sports event contracts while located in Nevada, despite the court order prohibiting such activity,” Dedaj wrote in his letter to Netflix. “However, upon close inspection, the displayed receipt in the Netflix trailer appears to have been entirely fabricated.”

The Netflix spokesperson addressed Kalshi’s claims in their statement, saying that “no footage” in this documentary “was fabricated.”

“Any specific trades or bets referenced during that weekend are between the individual and the app in which they placed the trades,” the company spokesperson said. 

Brandon Beckhardt, the marketing lead at Kalshi, criticized the doc as a “sensationalized film built on fiction” in a statement shared with The Hill. 

“The preview they just released features a Kalshi trade slip that’s completely fabricated – it looks nothing like our UI,” he said, adding that it appears to be “either photoshopped or AI-generated.”

Beckhardt said that the company flagged their concern to the streaming platform and requested that they take down the trailer.

“They haven’t,” he said. “We expect better from Netflix.”