Month: July 2023

Depression hits different folks in different ways. But whether it’s an occasional episode of the blues or more long-lasting, debilitating clinical depression, there are two factors that only make the ache worse: one, the pervading loneliness from feeling like no one can possibly understand what you’re going through, and two, wondering if the storm will ever truly pass.

That’s why an encouraging word from a loved one can be helpful during these low episodes. Or in this case, from Samwise Gamgee.

“Lord of the Rings” actor Sean Astin was recently signing autographs at Knoxville’s Fanboy Expo when a female fan (@easttnelvira on TikTok) opened up about how one of his character’s iconic lines had been helping her through “severe depression.”

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Astin knew exactly what line she was referencing, and without missing a beat said, “Even darkness will pass and a new day will come.”

But he didn’t stop there. Astin then validated the woman’s experience in a lighthearted way (“You know what the best part about severe depression is? NOTHING! It blows!”) before reminding her that, just as the quote promises, “It gets better.”

He even took her hand, looked her right in the eyes, and said, “You know what’s wrong with you? Nothing. Absolute nothing. I’m sorry it’s hard sometimes…Be strong. I love you.”

Can you believe that? Girlie came for an autograph but unlocked a new core memory instead.

@easttnelvira I met one of my childhood heroes Sean Astin today and he offered me some words of wisdom and encouragement over the battles of depression that I needed to hear. I am so glad this was captured on video to remember this moment, cherish, and reflect on anytime I am feeling down. I hope anyone else who struggles with depression takes his words and kindness to heart too. 🖤 #seanastin #samwisegamgee #lordoftheringstiktok #lotr #lotrtok #lordoftherings #fanboyexpoknoxville #fyp #trending ♬ original sound – 𝖊𝖆𝖘𝖙𝖙𝖓𝖊𝖑𝖛𝖎𝖗𝖆

In the clip’s caption, the woman wrote, “I am so glad this was captured on video to remember this moment, cherish, and reflect on anytime I am feeling down. I hope anyone else who struggles with depression takes his words and kindness to heart too.”

Even her boyfriend, who filmed the whole thing, felt some residual joy. “I can say with confidence she was overwhelmingly ecstatic to the point of happy tears. This meant the world to her and seeing the person you love that happy was a moment I’ll remember forever,” he wrote.

As the touching interaction began making the rounds on TikTok and Reddit, viewers couldn’t help but praise Astin for showing authentic compassion.

“He said it with the conviction of someone who means it 100%,” one person wrote.

Another added, “All that validation with a good solid bit of empathy and encouragement. This is a VERY thoughtful and helpful way to reply.”

Some were quick to point out that Astin’s mother, sitcom actress Patty Duke, had her own struggles with bipolar disorder, which led her to become a mental health advocate. Astin has followed in his mother’s footsteps, regularly championing the importance of seeking help and self-forgiveness

And then, of course, some folks just wanted to bask in how Astin is one of the nicest guys in Hollywood. As one person commented, “Oh Sean, you are one of the good ones from my generation. We are lucky to have grown with you and see how great you’ve become.”

“That is a man who has seen every fan, done every photo, shaken every hand. And he’s still out here, loving and caring for people,” seconded another.

Be it carrying a cursed ring back to Mordor whence it came, or carrying a heavy emotional burden, struggles are easier to manage with support on your side. It can be hard to know exactly what to say to someone going through severe depression in a way that truly helps them feel supported, but take a page from Astin’s book and start with empathy.

When we’re kids, fun comes so easily. You have coloring books and team sports and daily recess … so many opportunities to laugh, play and explore. As we get older, these activities get replaced by routine and responsibility (and yes, at times, survival). Adulthood, yuck.

Many of us want to have more fun, but making time for it still doesn’t come as easily as it did when we were kids—whether that’s because of guilt, a long list of other priorities or because we don’t feel it’s an age-appropriate thing to long for.

Luckily, we’ve come to realize that fun isn’t just a luxury of childhood, but really a vital aspect of living well—like reducing stress, balancing hormone levels and even improving relationships.

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More and more people of all ages are letting their inner kids out to play, and the feelings are delightfully infectious.

You might be wanting to instill a little more childlike wonder into your own life, and not sure where to start. Never fear, the internet is here. Reddit user SetsunaSaigami asked people, “What always remains fun no matter how old you get?” People’s (surprisingly profound) answers were great reminders that no matter how complex our lives become, simple joy will always be important.

Here are 14 timeless pleasures to make you feel like a kid again:

1. Playing with dogs

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Doggos are basically furry children, so this one’s a no-brainer.

2. Legos

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The only thing NOT fun about Legos is stepping on one. Everything else is pure magic.

3. Popping bubble wrap

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With each satisfying “pop” sound, just imagine tiny bursts of dopamine flooding the brain.

4. Riding roller coasters

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While it’s true that riding roller coasters might become less physically possible with age, barring that limitation—you’re never too old to ride one.

5. Arcades

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Playing video games at home is cool, but there’s a special thrill in seeing an arcade absolutely buzzing with different game sounds, colored lights and other people enjoying themselves.

6. Go-karts

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Because speeding in real life is irresponsible.

7. Pillow fights

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A quintessential sleepover activity that can easily be done with a roommate. Bonus points for surprise attacks.

8. Dinosaurs

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Whether in toy or nugget form, dinosaurs are a delight.

9. Dressing up for Halloween

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Halloween costumes can go from a fun form of playful expression in our younger years to a source of self-image issues in our teens and beyond (as so many things in life do). Hopefully though, dressing up for the spooky season can be a highlight on the calendar.

10. Water slides

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Roller coasters in liquid form!

11. Dolls

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We no longer have to hide our passion for toys under the serious moniker of “collecting.” Playing with dolls is a fun practice in storytelling and has even shown a very specific set of therapeutic benefits. Permission, granted!

12. Daydreaming

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Remember peacefully imagining made-up worlds while staring up at the clouds? Those were good times.

13. Swings

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Whether you are a traditionalist or prefer to go crazy and twist yourself up for some epic spins, a swing set is a perfect place to let your inner child out.

14. Taking sick days

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Everything is more fun when you do it during a time you technically should be somewhere else.

This article originally appeared on 9.7.22

Robert Downey Jr. has a new movie out: He’s in Oppenheimer, in which the plays the titular physicist’s chief antagonist. That means he’s doing the press rounds, revealing his two most important movies of the last quarter century — the answers may/will surprise you — and telling fun stories. One is that a prominent British actress gave him hell for one of his lesser attempts at her accent.

As per Entertainment Weekly, Downey joined Jimmy Fallon on a recent episode of SirusXM’s The Howard Stern Show. What do they two have in common, apart from being performers? Well, they both read for roles, sort of, in Nancy Meyers’ 2006 rom-com The Holiday. Neither of them, as you may recall, is in Nancy Meyer’s The Holiday. Downey’s story was particularly embarrassing.

“We both got called in just as seat fillers,” Downey recalled, saying Meyers just “needed someone to read with the gals.” Downey read for the part that would wound up going to Jude Law, the future Watson to his future Sherlock Holmes. He apparently wound up trying to sound like Law, i.e., British. It didn’t go well.

“And I was like, ‘I’ve got to have a better English accent than Jude Law at this point,’” he told Winslet. “And Winslet said, ‘That is the worst British accent I’ve ever heard.’”

That should be a bit of a shock: Downey had done a British accent before, in his Oscar-nominated turn as the titular comedy legend in Chaplin, and he’d do it again in the aforementioned Sherlock Holmes movies. His accent isn’t bad in any of them. Maybe it was an off day.

How did Fallon do? Better, it sounds like. “I thought, honestly, I said, ‘If Jack Black says no to this movie, I’m so in,’” Fallon told Stern. “‘I’ll do it for half his price.’”

Or maybe it didn’t go so well, partly because he was awestruck…by Downey. “I’m sitting across from Robert Downey Jr., and I go, ‘This is the best actor I’ve ever sat across and did a scene with in my entire life,’” Fallon recalled. “It was mind-blowing for me and it kind of, I quit the business. I never went back. That was the last time I auditioned for a role.”

But that’s all in the distant past. These days Downey’s getting good marks for Oppenheimer, in which he plays Lewis Strauss, the Republican businessman who, as the chair of the Atomic Energy Commission, launched a sleazy campaign to strip our hero of his government security clearance and tarnish his reputation, in turn scaring off untold left-leaning scientists from ever putting their brains to use for the greater good of the country. And to think tons of people are going to be seeing it the same day as Barbie!

(Via Entertainment Weekly)

The list of musicians holding out for a collaboration with Nicki Minaj just grew by one. The “Barbie World” rapper is currently working on her forthcoming album, Pink Friday 2. While the release isn’t due until November, if Metro Boomin has his way, fans won’t have to wait until then to hear new music.

Boomin took to Twitter to publicly profess his desire to collaborate with the musician on a new track, writing, “Let’s make more @NICKIMINAJ.”

Minaj enlisted the producer’s help on her 2014 song “Want Some More,” off her album, The Pinkprint. Since then, the pair have worked together on other tracks, including Young Thug’s song “Money,” which appears on his latest album, Business Is Business.

Although Minaj hasn’t replied to Metro Boomin’s initial tweet, her fans have given their stamp of approval.

“The only producer we need, mother,” wrote one fan.

Another begged for the link up, posting, “Please. F*cking please, y’all are an amazing duo.”

Meanwhile, others speculated that the track is already done, writing, “I kinda feel like they just got done recording something, and this is more so an announcement, but maybe that’s just me.”

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

While there is a great deal of attention on Damian Lillard and his ongoing focus on landing a trade out of Portland, another situation involving an established superstar continues to unfold at a glacial pace. James Harden has an established (and re-established) trade request with the Philadelphia 76ers and, in an odd situation, it comes after Harden chose to exercise his player option and effectively remove himself from clear agency in the situation.

Beyond that, Harden and Daryl Morey, Philadelphia’s president of basketball operations, have an extensive shared history dating back to Houston, but The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported Monday that the the relationship between the two parties is “essentially severed” and “essentially fractured” at this stage.

“It’s essentially severed,” Charania said on Bally Sports‘ The Rally. “It’s essentially fractured throughout this process. There’s no longer that valve of open-minded, open-ended trust that we’ve seen over the course of 692 games that Daryl Morey and James Harden have been together in Houston and in Philly.”

Later, Charania noted that the relationship is “nowhere close to being on solid ground,” furthering illustrating the clear divide. Charania indicated that Harden’s decision to opt in “stemmed from James Harden believing that there was no real intention from the Sixers in giving him a long-term offer as a free agent.” If that was Harden’s belief, it would have left the star guard without an internal bidder and, with salary cap space dwindling around the league, he clearly believed that opting in and attempting to force a trade was the superior option to testing the unrestricted free agent market on his own.

During Charania’s comments, he described Harden as being “incredibly unnerved” by how Philadelphia has handled the situation, noting again that Harden took a pay cut last season to make things easier on the Sixers. On the other hand, Morey is well known for his unwillingness to consider anything beyond on-court dynamics when evaluating basketball decisions, though some of the optimism around Harden potentially sticking around in Philadelphia was seemingly rooted in the potential for reconciliation. If Charania’s reporting here is accurate, that seems more and more unlikely, leaving all sides in a precarious position as Harden wants out and the 76ers seek the best basketball result for a team that is aiming to win in the short term.

Marjorie Taylor Greene has a lot of kooky opinions, but over the weekend she said something that made sense. Of course, it was by accident. During a far right gathering, she slammed all the “big government programs” enacted by Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Lyndon B. Johnson, and, now, Joe Biden, which greatly improved the lives of everyday Americans. She didn’t mean it as a compliment, but many took it as inadvertent praise — including the Biden White House.

As per Mediaite, on Monday White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre got to utter some very surreal words. “We don’t get many opportunities to say what I’m about to share,” she told reporters. “I want to make sure these words come out very clearly, I’m sure she’ll be very shocked that I’m saying this, which is that we agree with Marjorie Taylor Greene.”

What did Greene say, exactly, that so pleased the Biden White House? During her appearance at the Turning Point Action conference over the weekend, she told the crowd:

The Great Society were big government programs to address education, medical care, urban problems, rural poverty, transportation, Medicare, Medicaid, food stamps and welfare, the office of Economic Opportunity, and big labor and labor unions. Now, LBJ had the Great Society, but Joe Biden had Build Back Better. And he still is working on it. The largest public investment in social infrastructure and environmental programs that is actually finishing what FDR started that LBJ expanded on.

Greene meant the words “the largest public investment in social infrastructure and environmental programs” as a bad thing, saying they’re “killing the American dream.” But to many that sounds like heaven. Jean-Pierre certainly thought so:

Over the weekend, the Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene criticized Bidenomics as being in line with [President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s] creation of Social Security, [President] Lyndon Johnson’s creation of Medicare. She also bizarrely attacked Bidenomics because it’s reducing poverty in rural areas. We agree with her all around, all around on this. We are opposed to rural poverty, and the president is committed to protect Medicare and committed to protect Social Security as you heard from him over and over again over the past several months.

Anyway, listen to Marjorie Taylor Greene, voters: She’s saying Republicans don’t want to help struggling Americans, though they do have a history of outright fleecing them, even when they’re allegedly smart businessmen who are definitely as wealthy as they claim.

(Via Mediaite)

Lindsay Lohan has had a rollercoaster life, to put it mildly. A child star, she hit a sizable rough patch as she got older. But she worked through it, slowly and, hopefuly, surely. And now look at her: Last year she nabbed a two-picture deal with Netflix, and she’s reteaming with Jamie Lee Curtis for a belated sequel to Freaky Friday. To make her comeback even comeback-ier, she’s now a cool mom.

Reps for Lohan told The Hollywood Reporter that the actress has given birth to a “beautiful, healthy” son. His name is Son Luai, an Arabic name which means “shield or protector.” Lohan welcomed the baby boy with her husband, financier Bader Shammas, whom she wed in April of last year.

Lohan didn’t make her pregnancy public until March, when she took to Instagram to post a picture of a baby onesie bearing the words “Coming Soon…”

She opened up about the big news in June, telling Allure that when she learned of her pregnancy, it wasn’t the kind of moment you see in a movie, unless it’s a deadpan comedy.

“It was so unexciting,” Lohan recalled. “I walked into the room, I threw the test down. I was like, ‘Guess what?’ He goes, ‘We are?’”

So congrats to Lohan, someone who’s been through the ringer and who is doing really well for herself and who deserves, as well do, happiness.

(Via THR)

There has been a significant change in how Americans name their children over the past few decades. Years ago, parents gave their children names that helped them fit in, and now they want them to have names that stand out.

Laura Wattenberg, founder of the naming trends site Namerology, told The Atlantic that in 1950 the percentage of babies born that received a common name was around 28%. However, in 2023, that number has dropped to just 7%.

“We are deep in an era of naming individuality, where parents assume that having a [name] sound distinctive and unique is a virtue,” Wattenberg told The Atlantic. The competition between parents to come up with unique names means that they risk giving their child one that’s so outlandish it could cause them trouble down the line.

Multiple studies show that having an unusual name can hamper a child’s economic and social prospects.

A father-to-be recently fought with his pregnant wife over what to name their daughter, and it sparked a good debate on Reddit. A user named NeverlyLane asked the AITA forum if he was wrong for rejecting his wife’s unusual name suggestions.

“I suggested my all-time favorite name, Anna. My wife suggested Caeleigh (pronounced Kailey, and yes, she spelled it out). I vetoed it,” the husband said.

“She suggested another name, Ryleigh (Riley, and again she did spell it out). I vetoed it and suggested Riley spelled the normal way. She refused. She then suggested Novalynn. I vetoed, suggesting Nora as an alternative. She again refused,” he continued.

The mother may be trying to be unique by coming up with names where the “ly” is replaced with “leigh,” but it’s a popular choice nowadays. Replacing “ly” with “leigh” is one of the biggest trends in baby names over the past few years.

The mom-to-be couldn’t handle the rejection, so she lashed out at her husband. “What’s the point in talking about it if you veto all my choices, you controlling a**hole!” she said. “Maybe if you picked something normal, we might get somewhere, but you won’t even try to compromise!” the husband responded.

Looking to see if he was right, he posted about the exchange on Reddit, and just about everyone agreed with him.

“You’re doing your daughter a favor by vetoing these names,” Cautious-Spited wrote. “Thank you for standing up for your unborn child. People should really stop naming their children traghedeighs and consider the fact that they will be adults one day,” Reb-Lev added.

“You should suggest brockleigh,” throwaway6827206t joked.

“Yeah, mom may never see it this way, but maybe if she can imagine being her kid and having to either explain how to pronounce or spell their name correctly over and over for their entire life—substitute teachers, doctor’s appointments, as an adult meeting with new clients/staff/customers EVERY SINGLE TIME…that’s not a burden you should put on your child for a first name just because you think it makes the name cooler,” RavenWood_9 wrote.

The husband showed his wife the thread, and she agreed that her spellings were a little “out there.” The couple then compromised by choosing uncommon names with a history. “Anyway, we eventually decided on Reya Annaliese as our working first choice, with Mercy, Freya, and Eloise as our backups,” the husband wrote.

Even among the world’s timeless and universally beloved songs, Ben E. King’s “Stand By Me” stands out. With its instantly recognizable bassline, laid-back vibe and sweet lyrics, the ballad has inspired a wide range of artists to make it their own, from John Lennon to Tina Turner to Miley Cyrus. Even boxing great Muhammad Ali recorded his own version of it.

But one “Stand By Me” cover from an unexpected source is currently making waves online, and it’s right up there with the best of them. The musical sibling trio Biko’s Manna from Johannesburg, South Africa, is made up of 16-year-old Biko Nhlangothi (also known as BikoStar), 13-year-old Manna Nhlangothi (also known as MannaHero) and 8-year-old Mfundo Nhlangothi (also known as TauLion).

A TikTok of the kids playing the guitar and singing the classic tune has more than 22 million views, and the same video on Facebook has more than 7.9 million views. When you hear Biko open her mouth and sing, it’s easy to see why it’s gone viral.

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When Manna adds in his harmony, the casual living room performance goes to the next level. Add when you add in little Mfundo with his body percussion, and it’s clear why news outlets are saying Biko’s Manna is ready to “take the world by storm.”

Watch:

@bikosmanna

🫶🏾🫶🏾 Stand by me Song by Ben E. King Covered by BikosManna #TauLion🦁 #BikoStar #MannaHero #TauLion🦁 #BikosManna #BKMN

The sister and brothers come from a family of musicians and performers, and their mom, singer and actress Ayanda Nhlangothi (40), serves as their manager.

Biko told News 24 that music is in her blood and that she is inspired by singer and songwriter India Arie. After she started learning guitar, Manna decided he wanted to as well and they’ve been performing ever since. Mfundo, who dances and plays piano, started playing along with his older siblings and would shout out his name when they were introduced as “Biko’s Manna.”

It’s clear they enjoy making music together, and people sure enjoy listening to them. Here’s the group performing another sweet ballad, Ed Sheeran’s “Thinking Out Loud.”

@bikosmanna

Wow! #MannaHero Thinking Out Loud Song by Ed Sheeran Covered by Biko’sManna #TauLion🦁 #BikoStar #MannaHero #TauLion #BikosManna #BKMN

Absolutely gorgeous. This trio is definitely going places, and you can more of BIko’s Manna on Facebook, TikTok, Instagram and YouTube.

It’s Disneyland’s 68th birthday! On July 17th, 1955, the iconic park first opened its doors to the public, and single-handedly created the modern theme park. Whether you’re a fan of large attractions and world-building ala Universal Studios or high-octane roller coasters of the Six Flags variety, we can all agree that Disneyland started it all. And whether its the food or the spectacle that you love — there’s a reason the park, with its $100+ tickets, is still a destination that people go nuts over.

Originally built on 160 humble acres of orange groves in Anaheim California, Disneyland has since expanded to 500 acres with 9 distinctively different “lands” and a sister park — California Adventure — where yes, you can drink beer.

The OG park might not have the allure of the gargantuan Walt Disney World or Tokyo Disneyland, but there is something about being the original that will forever mark the park as special. To celebrate the park’s birthday, we collected some vintage images from the park’s construction, opening day, and early years. The photos depict that park as nearly unrecognizable, and yet at the same time, strangely familiar, and that’s coming from a native Southern Californian who has visited the park in every decade of my life.

Let’s jump in!