Month: January 2023

While the Beyhive is still aching for the visuals for Beyoncé‘s seventh studio album, Renaissance, as well as a possible tour date, it appears she is ready to kick off the next portion of the Renaissance era.

According to TMZ, the “Break My Soul” hitmaker is set to perform an hour-long show in Dubai this upcoming weekend. Though the show may be brief, Beyoncé will reportedly be cashing in on $24 million for her performance.

The performance will reportedly take place at Dubai’s Atlantis The Royal resort. Yesterday (January 18), fans in Dubai claimed to have heard Beyoncé rehearsing for the upcoming show.

According to the fans, Bey may be performing “Crazy In Love” and “Naughty Girl” from her 2003 album, Dangerously In Love, “Halo” from her 2008 album, I Am…Sasha Fierce, “Drunk In Love” from her 2013 self-titled album, and “Spirit” from the 2019 adaptation of Disney’s The Lion King.

The event is reportedly invite-only. It appears British rapper Bree Runway was invited to attend the upcoming concert. She shared an Instagram story with a video clip of the resort, captioned with “soooooo excited to indulge in this beautiful place and experience queen Beyoncé.”

At the time of writing, Beyoncé has not yet spoken directly about the event.

100 Gecs announced a brand new tour for this year, with show dates spanning across North America. It will kick off later this spring, ahead of their new March album, 10,000 Gecs, and include Machine Girl as an opener.

For their DC show in May, Fever Ray will join the band as a co-headliner.

Presales for the 100 Gecs spring tour start January 25 before a general sale happens on January 27 at 10 a.m. local time. More information on tickets is available through their official website.

Continue scrolling for a complete list of 100 Gecs’ tour dates.

04/04 — San Jose, CA @ San Jose Civic Auditorium
04/05 — Oakland, CA @ Fox Theater
04/07 — Vancouver, BC @ PNE Forum
04/08 — Portland, OR @ McMenamins Crystal Ballroom
04/09 — Seattle, WA @ Showbox SoDo
04/12 — Salt Lake City, UT @ Rockwell at The Complex
04/13 — Denver, CO @ The Mission Ballroom
04/15 — St. Louis, MO @ The Pageant
04/16 — Madison, WI @ The Sylvee
04/18 — Minneapolis, MN @ Armory
04/20 — Chicago, IL @ Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom
04/21 — Detroit, MI @ Royal Oak Music Theatre
04/22 — Toronto, ON @ HISTORY
04/24 — Montreal, QC @ MTelus
04/25 — Boston, MA @ Roadrunner
04/26 — Philadelphia, PA @ Franklin Music Hall
04/28 — New York, NY @ Great Hall at Avant Gardner
05/01 — Washington, DC @ The Anthem
05/02 — Raleigh, NC @ The Ritz
05/03 — Atlanta, GA @ The Tabernacle
05/05 — Dallas, TX @ Southside Ballroom
05/06 — Austin, TX @ Stubbs Waller Creek Amphitheater
05/07 — Houston, TX @ The Lawn at White Oak Music Hall
05/09 — St. Petersburg, FL @ Jannus Live
05/10 — Ft. Lauderdale, FL @ Revolution Live
05/11 — Live Oak, FL @ Echoland Festival
05/13 — Las Vegas, NV @ Sick New World Festival
05/16 — Phoenix, AZ @ The Van Buren
05/17 — San Diego, CA @ Soma
05/19 — Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Palladium
05/21 — Anaheim, CA @ House of Blues

100 Gecs is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Rye whiskeys have changed a lot over the years. Based on a modern perspective (let’s not get into the historical styles of yesteryear), rye whiskeys have gone from “spicy!” to a nuanced whiskey style that layers in fruity Kentucky sweetness, herbal savoriness, fatty nuttiness, and grassy earthiness with all that “spice.” That, of course, is a broad brushstroke. But the point does exemplify how far rye whiskeys have come in the United States as a style over the last decade or so.

That leads me to ask the question, do the newer ryes outshine the classics (which, let’s be honest, always had way more going on than just “spicy” even back in the day)? I knew I had to do a blind tasting to answer that.

I grabbed the following bottles for today’s rye whiskey blind tasting:

• Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey Finished in Toasted Cherry Wood and Oak Barrels (New)
• Catoctin Creek Rabble Rouser Rye Whiskey Bottled In Bond (Classic)
• Old Overholt Straight Rye Whiskey Aged 4 Years (New)
• Pikesville 110 Proof Straight Rye Whiskey (Classic)
• Rabbit Hole Boxergrail Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey (Classic)
• Russell’s Reserve Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey Single Barrel (Classic)
• Elijah Craig Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey (Classic)
• Michter’s Limited Release US*1 Barrel Strength Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey (New)
• Pursuit United Blended Straight Rye Whiskeys Finished in Sherry French Reserve Oak (New)
• George Dickel Leopold Bros. Collaboration Blend Column Still & Three Chamber Still A Blend of Straight Rye Whiskies (New)

This tasting is looking at the classic bottles that get regular releases throughout the year and new releases from brands that drop special releases once a year. All of the “new” ryes are whiskeys that dropped in the back half of 2022. All of the classics are stuff you can find on the shelf pretty much year-round. Though there is a crossover with the new Overholt 4-Year Rye which dropped last August but has become a standard-ish release.

Semantics aside, this is still about what tastes great. I’m going to rank these ryes on what pops, has the deepest flavor profile, and tastes really good. Sometimes, it’s that simple so let’s dive right on in!

• The Single Best Bottle Of Whiskey From Each Of The 50 States
• The Best Whiskeys In The World, According To The John Barleycorn Awards
• The 50 Best Rye Whiskeys Of 2022, Ranked
• Every Single Bottle Of Wild Turkey, Power Ranked
• The Best Bourbons And Ryes From The 2022 American Whiskey Masters Awards

Part 1: The Tasting

Taste 1

Tasting Notes:

Nose: The nose is classic with fresh cherry layered with nasturtiums, cinnamon sticks, and soft cedar planks just kissed with clove, nutmeg, and anise before light red peppercorns and brandy-soaked cherries dipped in salted dark chocolate kick in.

Palate: The palate follows the nose’s lead with a lush mouthfeel that’s full of spicy stewed fruits and ciders mixing with creamy vanilla and nutty bases over subtle chili pepper spiciness far in the rear of the taste.

Finish: The end pushed the woody spices toward an apple cider/choco-cherry tobacco mix with a cedar box and old leather vibe tying the whole taste together.

Initial Thoughts:

This is really good rye. It’s spiced but more toward florals with a fruity Kentucky vibe. It’s good, really good.

Taste 2

Tasting Notes:

Nose: The nose opens with a deep and sweet red fruitiness that gives way to a light winter spice mix, some caramel, and maybe a hint of Cream of Wheat cut with brown sugar.

Palate: There’s a light but dark orange citrus vibe on the palate that leads to lemon pepper, vanilla pudding cups, and more of that winter spice with a dash of bitter espresso bean.

Finish: The espresso note drives the finish toward clove buds and cinnamon bark with a creamy porridge crafty sweetness counterpoint.

Initial Thoughts:

There was a twinge of craftiness (sweet grain porridge) that came through. Overall, this was nice.

Taste 3

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Mild notes of dark powdered spices (think dusty cinnamon and nutmeg) mingle with a hint of dried honeysuckle and maybe some apple chips.

Palate: The taste has a black pepper sharpness with a hint of dark berry fruit leather next to drip coffee, vanilla creamer, and a touch of cinnamon.

Finish: The black pepper circles back on the finish with a hint of caramel and vanilla but not much else.

Initial Thoughts:

This was okay but basically had no finish. It’s clearly a rail whiskey for mixing drinks.

Taste 4

Tasting Notes:

Nose: The nose pulls you in with a mix of dark cocoa powder packed into a cedar box with a touch of rye bread, caraway seed, and salted butter with this thin line of spiced honey.

Palate: The taste leans into clove and salted black licorice with that spiced honey leaning a little floral next to a touch of dry singed cedar bark.

Finish: The end mellows significantly towards a vanilla pudding spiked with eggnog spices and a touch more of that dark chocolate shaved overtop with a hint of spiced caramel sauce.

Initial Thoughts:

This is pretty damn good whiskey. It’s complex and tastes really nice.

Taste 5

Tasting Notes:

Nose: This has an interesting nose that’s part spicy pork stew (chili, umami, fat) with bright peaches, vanilla, and summer wildflowers as a counterpoint.

Palate: The palate has a hint of old cedar next to cream soda, white pepper, and crusty rye bread with a hint of caraway seed and maybe some dry fennel.

Finish: The finish brings in heavily spiced chewy tobacco packed into an old cedar box with creamy vanilla and a dash more of that powdery white pepper.

Initial Thoughts:

This is also very good. It leans into the vegetal notes with plenty of fresh and fun flavors.

Taste 6

Tasting Notes:

Nose: The nose is full of dark orchard fruits, soft vanilla pods, old oak staves with a hint of old barrel house funk, and a mix of spicy orange rind next to freshly cracked black pepper and sharp cinnamon powder.

Palate: The palate leans into the cinnamon and layers it into chewy and buzzy tobacco with hints of vanilla sweetness, cherry bark woodiness, and sharp fancy root beer vibes.

Finish: The end pings on that old musty rickhouse one more time as a humidor full of vanilla, cherry, and cinnamon-spiced tobacco fades towards a rich and buttery toffee with a hint of rye fennel on the very backend.

Initial Thoughts:

Okay, this is a clear and huge step up from every other pour so far. It’s deep, delicious, and perfectly balanced.

Taste 7

Tasting Notes:

Nose: There’s a real sense of a dark chocolate bar that’s cut with dried chili and a touch of cinnamon that draws you in.

Palate: The palate mellows that spice into a Christmas spice mix while a honey sweetness and texture lead towards sweet oak and the slightest wisp of pipe tobacco smoke.

Finish: The finish takes its time as those spices keep your senses warm and buzzing on the slow fade.

Initial Thoughts:

This is nice but there’s a lightness here that isn’t so much cheap as just a tad thinner. It feels like another cocktail base whiskey more than a sipper. It’s something you build with instead of sipping on.

Taste 8

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Dark cherry and butterscotch candies pop on the nose next to sour red wine mixed with mulled wine spices — lots of cinnamon, clove, and star anise — next to tart apple skins, apple bark, and a hint of singed marshmallow between lightly burnt Graham Crackers.

Palate: The palate leans into spices in a subtle way with a nutmeg/eggnog vibe next to rich vanilla ice cream and smoked cherries with a minor note of fresh pipe tobacco and singed cedar bark.

Finish: The end adds some dried red chili and sharp cinnamon to the tobacco with a pinch of freshly cracked black pepper and a supple sense of a fresh fruit bowl with a lot of red berries.

Initial Thoughts:

And we’re back up in the clouds. This is another stellar pour that’s just better, deeper, and tastier all around. It’s a little hotter than pour six, but just as complex.

Taste 9

Tasting Notes:

Nose: There’s a sense of dark fruits — black cherry, dates, rum raisin — on the nose that leads to soft and sweet oak next to worn leather, mulled wine, and brandy-soaked fig cut with nutmeg and clove.

Palate: The taste is more on the woody side of the spice with a clear sense of old-school mulled wine with sweet vanilla and star anise over orange rinds and raisins with a slight chili warmth underneath.

Finish: The chili warmth drives the finish toward a soft red-wine-soaked oak that’s spiced with orchard barks and fruits next to vanilla/cherry tobacco just kissed with dark chocolate.

Initial Thoughts:

This is really good too. It’s a little lighter but that just makes it an easy slow sipper. I like this a lot.

Taste 10

Tasting Notes:

Nose: The nose has clear notes of bright florals next to a hint of porridge cut with maple syrup with a very mild dusting of dark cacao powder and soft leather.

Palate: The palate opens with touches of holiday-spiced orange oils and rosewater leading towards light marzipan next to a prickly bramble of berry bushes hanging heavy with dark, sweet, and slightly tart fruit.

Finish: The mid-palate holds onto the sweet and meaty date while bitter yet floral Earl Grey tea with a healthy dollop of fresh honey leads towards a finish full of more of that powdery dark cacao just touched by dry chili flakes, adding a slight warmth to the backend.

Initial Thoughts:

This is a pretty strong entry that balances the florals and sweetness well with the craftier notes and classic dark spiciness on the finish.

Part 2: The Ranking

10. Old Overholt Straight Rye Whiskey Aged 4 Years — Taste 3

ABV: 43%

Average Price: $22

The Whiskey:

This new version of Old Overholt adds a year to the standard age statement while taking it back to the original version from back in 1942. The whiskey in the bottles is from Jim Beam but they don’t disclose the exact mash bill.

Bottom Line:

This was fine but clearly a mixer. And I mean that as a mixer with Coke, ginger ale, bubbly water, or big and fruity cocktails. Use it as one.

9. Elijah Craig Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey — Taste 7

ABV: 47%

Average Price: $32

The Whiskey:

This is a subtle rye whiskey. The mash bill only has 51% rye grains next to 35% corn and 14% barley. The hot juice is then aged for several years before being blended, proofed, and bottled with no age statement.

Bottom Line:

This was perfectly fine but felt like a good cocktail base more than anything else. It tastes like it’d make a very nice Manhattan or old fashioned.

8. Rabbit Hole Boxergrail Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey — Taste 5

ABV: 47.5%

Average Price: $52

The Whiskey:

This crafty distillery makes its rye with 95% rye and malted barley right in Louisville (and via contract distilling). The 95/5 rye hot juice is aged for three years in heavily toasted and charred barrels before vatting, proofing, and bottling.

Bottom Line:

This is a classic feeling Kentucky rye with a nice balance of sweetness and spice. I’d definitely reach for this more as a cocktail base, but I can see it being perfectly fine over some rocks too.

7. Catoctin Creek Rabble Rouser Rye Whiskey Bottled In Bond — Taste 2

ABV: 50%

Average Price: $96

The Whiskey:

This modern classic from Catoctin Creek is made from a 100% rye mash. The juice is distilled at a lower proof, which lets the graininess shine through in the end product, which is aged for four years before blending, proofing, and bottling.

Bottom Line:

This was a nice, crafty rye whiskey (thanks to that sweet porridge graininess). It’s good if you’re looking for something outside the box a bit as a cocktail mixer or easy sipper over a fair amount of ice.

6. George Dickel Leopold Bros. Collaboration Blend Column Still & Three Chamber Still A Blend of Straight Rye Whiskies — Taste 10

ABV: 50%

Average Price: $109

The Whiskey:

The blend is built from four-year-old rye made in Denver at Leopold’s distillery in their bespoke three-chamber column still. The mash bill is 80% Abruzzi Rye and 20% Leopold Floor Malt. That’s blended with George Dickel’s un-released new column still rye, which is a 95% rye cut with five percent malted barley.

Bottom Line:

This has a great balance of crafty and classic in every sip. It’s a little outside of the box, which is to its benefit. Still, this feels like a great candidate for killer cocktails that works as an on the rocks sipper in a pinch.

5. Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey Finished in Toasted Cherry Wood and Oak Barrels — Taste 1

ABV: 48%

Average Price: $69

The Whiskey:

This whiskey — from Bardstown Bourbon Company’s own Origin Series — is their classic 95/5 rye that’s aged for almost five years. Then the whiskey is finished with alternating toasted American oak and toasted cherry wood staves in the barrel. Once the whiskey is just right, it’s batched, proofed, and bottled.

Bottom Line:

This is where we get into the good stuff. This felt like a great classic Kentucky rye with the perfect balance of dark fruity sweetness, earthiness, and spiciness. It’s an easy everyday sipper and will make a mean cocktail.

4. Pikesville 110 Proof Straight Rye Whiskey — Taste 4

ABV: 55%

Average Price: $49

The Whiskey:

This is a real throwback rye whiskey. Pikesville Rye was at the center of the Maryland rye whiskey scene until Prohibition put it in the grave. Heaven Hill saved the brand and moved the production to Kentucky while holding onto the juice’s traditions of longer aging and higher proofing.

Bottom Line:

This was just good. It’s super accessible on the palate and nose while offering a nice profile overall. I’d like to make Manhattans with this all day or sip it over some rocks.

3. Pursuit United Blended Straight Rye Whiskeys Finished in Sherry French Reserve Oak — Taste 9

ABV: 54%

Average Price: $75

The Whiskey:

This brand-new rye from the team over at Bourbon Pursuit is a masterful blend. The juice is hewn from Bardtown Bourbon Company 95/5 Kentucky rye batched with two Sagamore Spirit ryes — one a 95/5 and one 52/43/5 rye/corn/malted barley. Those whiskeys are batched and re-barreled into a French sherry reserve cask for a final rest before batching, proofing, and bottling.

Bottom Line:

This really hit nicely today. It’s deep and fun with a fresh vibe while still feeling a little classic. It’s a tad lighter than the next two entires, but that just made it an easier sipper.

2. Michter’s Limited Release US*1 Barrel Strength Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey — Taste 8

ABV: 54.6%

Average Price: $199

The Whiskey:

This rare Michter’s expression is pulled from single barrels that were just too good to batch or cut. Once the barrels hit the exact right flavor profile, each one is filtered with Michter’s bespoke system and then bottled as-is at the strength it came out of the barrel.

Bottom Line:

This was another great whiskey. It’s so deeply hewn with a great flavor profile. It was a tad warm on the mid-palate, so it missed number one today. But that just means that you need a rock or to mix this into a great old fashioned or Sazerac.

1. Russell’s Reserve Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey Single Barrel — Taste 6

ABV: 52%

Average Price: $69

The Whiskey:

This hand-selected single-barrel expression hits on some pretty big classic rye notes with Kentucky bourbon vibes underneath it all. The whiskey is selected from the center cuts of the third through fifth floors of the Wild Turkey rickhouses. There’s no chill filtering and the expression is only slightly touched by water before bottling.

Bottom Line:

This was very clearly the winner today. It had a perfect balance of sweetness and spice that just led to more and more as you tasted it again and again. It also felt like the quintessential slow-sipping whiskey that’d f*cking rule in a Manhattan.

Part 3: Final Thoughts

The top three whiskeys on this list are all essential buys. Hell, the top five are. Go out and get anyone of them and you’ll have a great rye whiskey on your bar cart.

I think you know that if you press me, I’ll tell you to get a case of Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Rye. It’s amazingly well-priced and just delicious. It’s a winner that you should be able to find and enjoy right now.

Throughout the years there have been some notable celebrities who have changed careers to become politicians. The most notable is Ronald Reagan, who went from a ‘50s B-list actor to governor of California (1967 to 1975) and then President of the United States (1981 to 1989).

There was also Donald Trump who went from the host of “Celebrity Apprentice” to becoming a one-term president (2017 to 2021) and action star Arnold Schwarzenegger who served as Governor of California from (2003 to 2011).

Former actor and “Saturday Night Live” writer Al Franken was a Senator in Minnesota from 2009 to 2018 until he stepped down amidst allegations of misconduct.

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Although the Trump presidency was controversial, to say the least, there is still an appetite out there for having people from outside the world of politics hold office. A Reddit user by the name @Alarming_Research936 proved it when he asked the online forum, “It’s 2024, and the U.S. has elected a random celebrity as president, who do you want it to be?” and they received over 7,000 responses.

Last year, Upworthy covered a similar question posed to Reddit, “You get to add another American to Mt. Rushmore but it can’t be a president. Who do you choose?” and there were two people who made both lists. Can you figure out who they are?

Below, I’ve ranked the top 15 vote-getters to determine which celebrity Americans want most in the Oval Office. To determine each celebrity’s position, I looked at the number of upvotes each suggestion received and then ranked them. It’s not the most scientific way of doing things but it gives us a pretty good idea about who people think should be in the White House.

Here are the top 15 celebrities that Americans want to be president.

1.

“Jon Stewart. He would hate every second of it, which would make him great.” — @Earthiness

@ThePhiff added:

“Absolutely the best choice. His takedown of ‘Crossfire’ should be required viewing for anyone watching cable news on any regular basis.”

2.

“Dolly Parton.” — @Nawositol

@Smarterthantheaverag added:

“Yeah, but she would only work….9 to 5.”

3.

“Weird Al Yankovic, the world could use some comedy.” — @Ginger-Beefcake

4.

“Morgan Freeman every press conference would be like listening to god.” — @canuckstopthecup1

5.

“Keanu.” — @liveluaghween

6.

“Danny Devito.” — @LittleSoftTail

@Stuey_7787 added:

“The gang moves into the White House would be a pretty good episode.”

7.

“Steve Buscemi.” — @itsmeDreadShock

@lordph8 added:

“Love to see the presidential address. ‘Hello fellow citizens.'”

8.

“LeVar Burton.” — @Donkey25000

9.

“Terry Crews.” — @KnottShore

@ObelixSmiterOfRomans added:

“Long live President Dwayne Elizondo Mountain Dew Camacho”.

10.

“Paul Rudd.” — @amilares

11.

“Samual L. MotherF**king Jackson.” — Flashy-Ad-8327

12.

“Jeff Goldblum.” – @DollarStoreCrush

@Taramonia added:

“Democracy, uh, finds a way.”

13.

“Nick Offerman.” — @eric_ts

@TheDadThatGrills added:

“A president that is as deeply passionate about both conservation and the arts would be a dream.”

via GIPHY

14.

“Danny Trejo. Sponsored by Trejo Tacos.” — @Zachattack_horror

@JDCU added:

“That’s PRESIDENT Machete, please.”

15.

“Triumph the Insult Dog.” — @haltline

@joetebbie added:

“One nation under God… for me to poop on!”

Not everyone enjoys flying. The level of non-enjoyment can range from mild discomfort to full blown Aerophobia, which is defined as an extreme fear of flying. While flying is the quickest way to get to far away destinations, for some people being that far off the ground is terrifying and they’d rather take their chances on the ground.

A passenger flying from Charlotte-Douglas International Airport in North Carolina to JFK International Airport in New York confronted that fear while flying with Delta. The woman, who is currently still unidentified expressed that she was nervous to fly according to Molly Simonson Lee, a passenger seated behind the woman who witnessed the encounter. Tight spaces don’t make for much privacy, but in this case, the world is better for knowing this took place.

According to Lee, who posted about the exchange on Facebook, the Delta flight attendant, Floyd Dean-Shannon, took his time to give the nervous traveler his undivided attention.

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Approximately 25 million people in the United States have Aerophobia according to the Clevland Clinic and most of them probably wish Dean-Shannon was on their flights. In Lee’s Facebook post, she said Dean-Shannon took his time to explain every thing that was happening, “this woman was so nervous about flying, so he explained every sound and bump,” the bystander wrote. That wasn’t even the most amazingly sweet part of the story.

When the woman was still nervous, Dean-Shannon sat down in the aisle and held the passenger’s hand the entire flight. I’m not sure what Delta pays him but he needs a raise immediately and it seems the people of the interwebs agree.

Commenter, Miranda Anderson, tagged Delta Airlines and wrote, “I hope you see this! These are the types of people that deserve raises and make your company worth flying with. This is what pits [sic] you above the others so show these employees this is what you want and what you need.”

“I love this. This is what society is lacking. Empathy and kindness towards people in time[s] of need” wrote Diane Lawrence.

While Mary Beth Acker Ford, said, “I was on a flight with him today. He exudes joy and is intentional about making a connection with each person!”

This level of engagement with passengers is not a common experience but clearly people are happy to see this type of connection between humans. Flying anywhere can be stressful for any amount of reasons. From leaving the house late and having to participate in an involuntary 5k to catch your flight, to making your way through the devil’s backyard, also known as Atlanta International Airport…just for them to change your gate 10 minutes before boarding.

So having a flight attendant like Dean-Shannon is just the breath of fresh air people need. “The way he’s looking at her…letting her know she’s safe!!! This is just one of the many reasons I will always fly Delta Air Lines,” Liz Martin wrote in the comments.

The moment captured between a nervous passenger and Dean-Shannon is renewing people’s hope in humanity and it’s beautiful.

Have you ever made a resolution to be more active, engaged, and goal-oriented in the new year, perhaps starting a new gym membership, and then — just a few weeks into January — you’re already feeling exhausted? The reason is simple, a lack of balance. You have to remember that wellness as a two-way street. If you’re going to ask your body to put in extra work, you need to make sure you are putting just as much effort into helping it recover, or you’re setting yourself up to fail.

Conquering your goals — physical, mental, or spiritual — can feel impossible when you are starting the journey sore or sleepy. Self-care isn’t just a buzzword. It’s essential!

Below, we have a list of great gear for anyone looking to level up their recovery practices. As always, everything you see featured has been road-tested by the crew here at Uproxx and given our stamp of approval. Enjoy!

EDITOR’S PICK: HYPERICE VYPER 3

Price: $200

The Company Line

Built with your body in mind. The Vyper 3’s contoured design helps avoid pressure on your spine and other sensitive areas for a more comfortable roll. Prime your body with a powerful vibrating massage. The Vyper 3 accelerates your warm-up speeds and recovery time and keeps you moving better.

Pair the Vyper 3 to the Hyperice App for pro advice, guided sessions, and to monitor your progress from your phone.

Why You Need It:

Want to know what an embarrassing nerd I am? I bring this to work with me and roll it under my feet at my desk. I also use it for full-on warm-up and cool-down sessions. It’s just so incredibly helpful — combining this thing that your chiropractor insists you use, a foam roller, with a high-frequency vibrating massage.

Until literally this year, I just didn’t have a clear idea and understanding that massage could help my body warm up for an activity. Now I find that process absolutely essential. And this device is so quiet that you can use it while watching a show and not annoy anyone else in the room.

Perfect for people who carry tension in the lower or upper back.

Buy Here

OOFOS RECOVERY SANDAL

Price: $60

The Company Line

The OOFOS story begins with the original Sandal a combination of sleek design and OOfoam recovery technology that laid the groundwork for all future OOFOS styles and models. Our revolutionary OOfoam technology absorbs 37% more impact than traditional footwear foam materials to reduce the stress on your feet, joints & back. Research shows OOFOS reduce load, decrease compressive forces, and support foot mobility when compared to traditional footwear.

Why You Need It

For those of us who are looking to better ourselves through weightlifting or running, there is a lot of thought goes into what we are wearing when working out. But what are you wearing for the other many, many hours in the day? OOFOS provides a comfortable and stylish option to your everyday footwear at home and on the move.

The patented footbed is designed to reduce stress on your feet and legs so you can go further with your daily chores or harder in the gym.

Buy Here

NORMATEC GO

Price: $400

The Company Line

The Normatec Go by Hyperice delivers targeted massage for fresh legs on-the-go. Backed by the same science that powers the original Normatec system, the Normatec Go is completely portable and delivers dynamic air compression to the calf muscles to increase circulation and reduce pain and tension in the legs. These lightweight wearables are TSA approved and feature new intuitive user controls to help you keep moving.

Why You Need It

One of the brands that high-performance athletes swear by has made major moves to make their gear more accessible to the everyday athlete. The Normatec Go is a great way to heal up your legs after your morning run or evening bike ride, and can be worn while you do other activities in the home. It’s like having an at-home leg-specific masseuse in your living room. Designed to reduce inflammation and increase circulation in your lower body using air compression, the low-profile unit is easy to take on the road.

Buy Here

OSTRICH PILLOW EYE MASK

Price: $45

The Company Line

The Ostrich Pillow Eye Mask is the first truly 3D ergonomic eye mask. Its design adapts to the three-dimensional features of the face. It fits perfectly on all head sizes and face types, providing one hundred percent blackout experience in total comfort. The mask is developed with six layers of high-quality materials that ensure maximum comfort and functionality, making it perfect for sleeping. And it is machine washable, so it feels like new — night after night.

Why You Need It

So often the reason that we don’t feel truly recovered is simply that we aren’t getting enough high-quality sleep. Our schedules are busier and under attack now more than ever, so it’s important to grab that shut-eye when we can. Having a truly effective and comfortable eye mask available is a must-have for anyone struggling to secure their rest. The complete blackout experience and ergonomic design make it great for travel or at home when there is artificial light seeping in.

This mask comes with a carrying pouch, which is good because you aren’t going to want to leave it behind.

Buy Here

CEP COMPRESSION SOCKS

Price: $20

The Company Line

Enjoy faster recovery and fresh feet when you work out, in everyday life, and when you travel. CEP’s Allday Merino Compression Socks, comprised of heat and moisture-regulating merino wool, are specifically designed for the purpose of keeping your feet fresh, cool and comfortably dry while accelerating your recovery. The innovative blend of materials with merino wool and synthetic fibers perfectly regulates heat and moisture for comfortable feet. The anatomical design guarantee maximum comfort, and no more slipping.

Why You Need It

For most people on the move, the feet take a lot of punishment throughout the day, during their training or daily responsibilities. The areas that connect our lower body to the ground take a lot of beating, which can lead to stress on the ankles and foot pads. These socks are specifically designed to take care of those areas in tandem with your footwear or on their own at home. The brand also makes great compression knee braces for anyone who experiences swelling during runs or training sessions. Everyone should have a few great pairs of compression socks that can keep swelling down and your feet dry when walking around in rain or snow.

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HYPERSPHERE MASSAGE BALL

Price: $150

The Company Line

Power and versatility work together to make the Hypersphere convenient and efficient, the perfect blend to enhance your warmup and recovery routine. The high-powered vibrating Hypersphere can be used for trigger point release on your tightest muscles so you can recover faster and move better. Three speeds plus intense core vibration help loosen muscles, enhancing athletic performance. The textured rubber exterior targets vibration for more localized therapy

Why You Need It

This is like the “put a tennis ball under your shoulder” advice, taken up to an 11. I use this product literally every night, because I carry so much tension in my shoulders. It releases trigger points and leaves me feeling truly and deeply rejuvinated. I also use this under the hips. That upper glute carries so much tension and holds it all too well. Learning how to release that, via this magic ball, has been an absolute revelation.

Like the vibrating roller, don’t sleep on this as a foot massager, either. It’s excellent to have between your feet while working, watching Tv, etc.

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HIGHERDOSE INFRARED PEMF MAT

Price: $600

The Company Line

The Infrared PEMF Mat combines two powerful healing technologies to create the ultimate recovery tool. PEMF grounds you in earth’s magnetic field for a full-body reset, while Infrared’s deeply penetrating heat doubles your DOSE. Hit the mat to ease chronic pain, recover from workouts, deepen your meditations, or experience total-body relaxation. No set-up or clean-up is required.

Why You Need It

I have enjoyed visiting the revitalizing HigherDOSE infrared saunas at their New York location a few times in the past, so I can vouch for the benefits. I was drawn in to the pulsed electromagnetic field, or PEMF, therapy by the fact that astronauts use it to recover from space missions. This mat combines that therapy with their familiar deep heat. This is a great piece for anyone who wants to get into these techniques but don’t have room for a whole sauna at home or would like to avoid paying for every session at a spa.

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THE COLD PLUNGE

Price: $4900

The Company Line

Our revolutionary Cold Plunge uses powerful cooling, filtration, and sanitation to give you cold, clean water whenever you want it. Sports medicine has utilized cold water therapy for years, to help the active recovery of your muscles. Cold plunging has also shown the ability increase your baseline dopamine, the molecule in our brain and body that is linked to motivation. The Plunge is safe for indoor or outdoor use and we’ve made installation truly plug-and-plunge.

Fill your Plunge up with a hose, turn it on, set your temperture, all the way down to 39F degrees, and get ready to change your life!

Why You Need It

In the ever-evolving world of fitness, cold water therapy has recently become one of the most talked-about recovery modalities, though it has been around since the very beginning. Studies have shown that submerging yourself in cold water for a few minutes can decrease muscle soreness after an intense training session. But the benefits go beyond the physical, with practitioners like Wim Hof sharing the immense mental benefits that come with the practice. This unit is not an impulse purchase though, it is for those who have made a decision to make cold water part of their weekly recovery routine.

For those ready to take that step, this unit perfectly combines aesthetic style with functional design.

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When “Kai,” the quickly-dubbed “hatchet-wielding hitchiker” went viral in 2013 (“smash smash suh-MASH“), it was a story near and dear to my heart. Probably that’s a corny thing to say about anything that goes viral, which clearly touched people all over the world in similar ways, but that’s how it felt.

Kai was just that kind of story. The kind that in those days made me drop everything and write up a post, regardless of how much it actually fit my beat. For one thing, it happened in Fresno, the city where I’ve long told people I’m from and now actually live. For another, there was just something fascinating about “Kai.”

Quickly famous for stopping a potential mass killing in progress by bludgeoning the perp with a hatchet and then giving an interview that careened from uplifting to hilarious to unhinged, Kai (real name: Caleb Lawrence McGillvary) went on to get Milkshake Duck‘d in record time. This before the term “Milkshake Duck” had even been invented. He’s currently doing time for murder (spoiler alert kinda but not really).

Even at the time it felt like there must be more to this story, and yet it sort of just went away — from viral sensation to Jimmy Kimmel to prison in barely a few months. These days it lives just on the periphery of our collective consciousness, something we vaguely remember happening but forget the details of.

Which is to say, the perfect subject for a documentary in 2023. These days, when any viral news event spawns competing documentary projects before the duck shakes have even been milked, that’s no faint praise. The list of projects that have fallen into the awkward territory between tired of hearing about it and remember that? is long, and no one needs another Comey Rule. In that sense, Netflix’s The Hatchet Wielding Hitchhiker comes just at the right time. And kudos to Netflix and director Collette Camden (a prolific director of TV documentaries, many for the BBC) for giving us one stand-alone, 85-minute documentary feature rather than the de rigeur, hopelessly padded four-episode docuseries.

Yet while The Hatchet Wielding Hitchhiker may not need more run time, it could certainly use more insight. It offers many tantalizing details, making it that much more infuriating when it descends into yet another round of “maybe the media is to blame?!”

It’s not as if Camden didn’t do some legwork. The Hatchet Wielding Hitchhiker interviews, for the first time that I’ve seen, Kai’s mother and cousin, and reveals his true place of origin (Edmonton, Alberta Canada). Yet Camden has a habit of tugging threads just long enough to reveal some controversy and immediately moving onto something else. As if her idea of balanced coverage was to simply find two people who disagreed. In conclusion, America is a land of contrasts…

It’s natural that a documentary like this will have healthy chunk devoted to “remember that?” It has to refresh our memory before it can move onto revelations, and The Hatchet Wielding Hitchhiker does whet the appetite admirably. Through interviews with the people who “discovered” Kai, notably then-KMPH reporter Jessob Reisbeck, who conducted the initial interview, and his cameramen and producers, Camden thoughtfully conveys what made Kai so intriguing in the first place.

He was sort of a hobo with a heart of gold (“Before I say anything else, I want to say no matter what you done, you deserve respect…“), homeless and stony in an 80s surfer dude kind of way (That was like the biggest wave I’ve ever ridden in my life), with a comedian’s sense of timing (Q: Would you do it again? A: …Club him in the head with a hatchet?). He was clearly also an unreliable narrator and capable of serious violence (braining a guy with a hatchet, showing scars from knocking a guy’s teeth out, etc). His particular stew of compassion and malice was baked in from the beginning. It’s what made him intriguing. Yet Camden sort of presents Kai’s violent tendencies as red flags we should’ve seen but missed.

Camden is at her best delivering the untold story of what it was like trying to wrangle this unhinged, completely unpredictable and usually drunk guy onto his Jimmy Kimmel appearance (through interviews with various producers, fixers, and reality show gadflies). Great story! Throughout, Kai goes off on tangents about fluoride as a method of mass mind control, the government as an evil empire, and organized cabals of child predators. These are all now staples of the red-pilled conspiracy-net, but Camden doesn’t really explore this at all, or how this presumably not-very-online guy got caught up in them. That “Kai’s” accent goes from Hawaiian to Canadian also goes unremarked upon.

When Kai intimates that he was a victim of horrific child abuse, his cousin at first seems to corroborate this before Camden interviews Kai’s mother. The mother explains it away casually, locking Caleb in his room as a logical attempt to deal with a hyperactive child. Some editorial authority would’ve been crucial here, but Camden exerts little. She’s equally hands-off when it comes to the crime for which McGillvary is currently doing time — killing a New Jersey lawyer who McGillvary says tried to rape him. Was it really self-defense against a rapist, as McGillvary contends, or was it, as the prosecution contends… wait, what does the prosecution even contend? They take pains to show that the killing was “premeditated,” but the question of what the actual motive was remains wide open.

Camden introduces a subplot about McGillvary potentially using public sex offender registries to try to “hunt” rapists and pedophiles. Then, incredibly, does nothing to explain if or why he might’ve thought his victim was a sex offender. Instead we get the media people doing introspection about how maybe it was wrong to try to give this guy a reality show.

This seems to reflect a broader trend in historical revisionism, whereby media proves that the only kind of criticism it understands is media criticism. Was the media too mean to Britney Spears?? Was the media too mean to Princess Di?? Should the media have known Kai was dangerous??

This flagellation is inevitably just as facile as whatever inappropriate-by-today’s-standards thing they’re self-flagellating over, often as a way to bypass more substantive critique (like, why was Britney Spears being interviewed on Barbara Walters as a teenager in the first place? Why was “Kai” homeless and hitchhiking in the first place?). And what should people have done? Tut-tutted more? Been more paternalistic and measured in their excitement? Not stopped to look at a train wreck? Especially as it relates to Kai, the Forrest Gump of 20-teens web trends, “what should the media have done differently” strikes me as the most asinine question possible.

The Hatchet Wielding Hitchhiker was smart to explore this subject and in many ways is a good start, but as it stands feels frustratingly incomplete. Sometimes maybe competing doc projects are a good thing.

‘The Hatchet Wielding Hitchhiker’ is currently available on Netflix. Vince Mancini is on Twitter. You can read more of his reviews here.

Alec Baldwin’s apparently cursed Rust film is resuming filming again this year. That’s quite a turn of events, but the production reached a settlement with the late Halyna Hutchins’ family more than one year after she perished after being shot by a firearm held by Baldwin. He previously insisted that he he didn’t fire the weapon, although the FBI investigation found that statement to be inconsistent. Still, the production will continue with Halyna’s husband, Matthew Hutchins, doing executive producing duties, and the New Mexico Occupational Health and Safety Bureau exonerated Alec in light of his belief that the firearm only contained dummy rounds.

Fast forward to this week, and the Santa Fe District Attorney’s office feels differently. Baldwin is being charged with involuntary manslaughter, and in a statement to PEOPLE, his attorney called the decision “a terrible miscarriage of justice” while adding, “We will fight these charges, and we will win.”

If Baldwin is convicted, though, what could be the possible punishment? In New Mexico, involuntary manslaughter covers manslaughter cases where no malice is intended. As well, the charge counts as a fourth-degree felony. If convicted, a defendant would ordinarily be on the hook for up to 18 months in prison and a possible $5,000 fine. However and as NBC News points out, this case could carry a “firearm enhancement” which could beef up the sentence to a mandatory five years. Given that Baldwin’s attorney resolves to fight this charge, it seems unlikely that a plea deal is in the cards.

The Rust armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, will also be charged with involuntary manslaughter in this case. Via PEOPLE, her attorneys declared, “[S]he did not commit involuntary manslaughter…. We intend to bring the full truth to light and believe Hannah will be exonerated of wrongdoing by a jury.”

(Via PEOPLE & NBC News)

Another influential ’60s rocker has passed, just days after days after guitar god Jeff Beck passed at 78. Variety reports that singer-songwriter-guitarist David Crosby has died at the age of 81.

A statement shared by his wife reads: “It is with great sadness after a long illness, that our beloved David (Croz) Crosby has passed away. He was lovingly surrounded by his wife and soulmate Jan and son Django. Although he is no longer here with us, his humanity and kind soul will continue to guide and inspire us. His legacy will continue to live on through his legendary music. Peace, love, and harmony to all who knew David and those he touched. We will miss him dearly. At this time, we respectfully and kindly ask for privacy as we grieve and try to deal with our profound loss. Thank you for the love and prayers.”

Crosby was best known as the founder of the Byrds and later as part of the supergroup Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (originally just Crosby, Stills & Nash). While neither group lasted for very long, their influence has since reverberated throughout rock and popular culture (a bunch of characters in the sci-fi rock romcom adventure film Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World are named for Stills, Nash, and Young). CSN&Y has sporadically reunited over the past few years, keeping their presence in rock as unforgettable as hits like “Woodstock,” “Teach Your Children,” and “Our House.”

Crosby was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice: once for each of his two groups.

There’s still so much unknown when it comes to the fungal infection responsible for kickstarting an apocalypse on HBO’s The Last of Us. We’re starting to suspect creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann like it that way, because keeping fans in the dark about the world-ending pandemic’s origins and reproductive methodology only makes this show more unnerving to watch each week.

But we have enough nightmares thank you very much so we’ve done some investigating into the Cordyceps strain and how it launched the end of the world on the now critically beloved HBO adaptation.

We’re pointing fingers, placing blame, tossing out old boxes of pancake mix, and just maybe considering going Keto again. (Damn you Druckmann!)

How Did Cordyceps Initially Spread?

We know the infection likely originated in Jakarta, Indonesia. That heavily-populated hub was the focus of a radio report playing in the background during the season premiere as Sarah and Joel were enjoying his meager birthday breakfast. There would’ve been pancakes to accompany Sarah’s shell-laden scrambled eggs but her dad forgot to pick up more mix, a fact Tommy also remarks on when he comes home. As the family — Sarah, Joel, and Uncle Tommy — load up into the pick-up truck, ready to drive to school/work, a neighbor offers them some homemade biscuits, something they all turn down. So that’s two opportunities to consume carbs denied by characters this show is trying to convince us live in Texas, where carbs are one of the main food groups. Seems suspect, but let’s move on.

Sarah also refuses to eat some of her next-door neighbor’s homemade cookies — to be fair, they’re raisin cookies so that’s not necessarily a red flag, just an indicator Sarah has good taste in sweets and her Boomer babysitter doesn’t. And both she and Joel skip his planned birthday cake snack when he arrives home late and empty-handed. (Sidenote: Has anyone eaten at all on the day the world ends? If not, that’s bleak.) When Joel and Tommy race to grab Sarah and escape the chaos once Infected start roaming the streets later in the episode, they posit theories on how the “virus” is spreading. Joel says it’s contained to the cities while Sarah questions if terrorists might be behind the outbreak. She also wants to know how they’re so sure they aren’t already sick.

Besides not exhibiting any symptoms, it seems like a plausible answer might be that they didn’t consume any flour that day.

In the video game series, Cordyceps Brain Infection was initially spread through crops in South America that had been infected with the fungus, but the mention of Jakarta, Indonesia in the show has led some to think a flour and grain factory might be the culprit. That would mean that everything from bread to granola and, yes, pancake mix, might carry spores capable of invading those who ingest foods like biscuits and cookies and really all of the best items on the food pyramid. According to a Vulture breakdown, that pathway for fungal infections to spread has happened before, first in the Middle Ages but more recently in places like Manchester and France. Even certain strains of fungi like Candida survive off yeast produced in our bodies and can cause serious health issues. (Which, rude.)

All in all, it sounds like it was a good thing Joel didn’t indulge his sweet tooth on his birthday, though why some people got sick while others who most likely had consumed flour and grain in the days leading up to the outbreak didn’t is still something that’s keeping us up at night.