You’d be hard pressed to go online and not see some kind of chatter about her game appearances—from the jewelry she’s wearing to the faces she makes to what she might be saying to friends during the match…it’s all the topic of conversation.
But not everyone seems to be pleased with Taylor’s version of the game. Specifically, “annoyed” men who seem to feel her very presence has ruined football as a “sanctuary from femininity.” Or the “dads, Brads and Chads” of the world, as Swift likes to call them.
Well, one man has a “word of advice” for all the dads out there threatened by the NFL’s Swift Era, especially girl dads: embrace it.
“A word of advice for all the dads out there, especially all the girl dads, the dads of teenage girls,” John R. says in a now-viral video. “This whole thing with Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift. You need to embrace it. You really do. Stop fighting it. Stop being a jerk about it. Stop saying that she’s a distraction. All of that. Embrace it.”
For John, the reason behind this thinking is simple. “It’s gonna be good for your relationship with your daughter.”
That was certainly the case for him. John shared how his own teenage daughters suddenly took an interest in the game after Swift got involved, which created more opportunities for bonding.
“This past Monday, I went to a playoff game in single-degree weather, sitting on a pile of snow with our feet in ice. Our toes were red when we left, but I had the time of my life with my teenage daughter at a football game,” he said. And he even had the happy photos to prove it.
“Do you think that happens without Taylor Swift? You need to embrace it. Do it.”
“My wife and daughter have watched more Chief games with me this year than all other years combined. Been married 16 years and my kid is 11,” one wrote
Another echoed, “My 20/17 yr old daughters now actively watch the games with me and ask questions. I’ll walk into traffic for Tayvis!!!”
A few even commented on how this was a chance for dads to show their daughters a world in which their own interests are respected.
“I’m so happy it’s made something that dads and their girls can enjoy together. Dads show their daughters how they should be treated. It’s important,” one person said.
Granted, not every man getting mad about the Swift/NFL phenomenon is a dad, and therefore might be unaffected by John and many others opinions. But on a certain level we can probably all agree that when people who are important to us suddenly take a genuine interest in our own passions…it’s a wonderful feeling.
As John so eloquently put it in a follow-up video, “I now have this thing that I love that I can share with the person I love more than anybody else on this planet. And it’s amazing. It’s one of the coolest things in the world.”
To avoid paying that premium, it’s good to know whenBlanton’s is actually released — so that you have a chance of catching a bottle at its suggested retail price off the actual shelf at your local liquor store. That can be the difference between paying $200 for a bottle and paying $60. Surprisingly, that’s not as hard as it might seem.
There are four mainstream Blanton’s products — Blanton’s “The Original” Single Barrel Bourbon, Blanton’s “Special Reserve” Green Label (low ABV version), Blanton’s Gold (higher ABV version), and Blanton’s Straight From The Barrel (barrel strength version). Then there are store picks for “The Original” Blanton’s Single Barrel as well — those come in when they come in. But that’s what you’ll be able to get out in the wild.
Blanton’s “Special Reserve” Green Label, Gold, and Straight From The Barrel are released once a year. Blanton’s “The Original” Single Barrel is released quarterly. Generally speaking, the releases are as follows:
Blanton’s “The Original” Single Barrel Bourbon is released in January, April, July, and October.
Blanton’s Gold is released in October (generally).
Blanton’s Straight From The Barrel is released at the end of summer (though sometimes some trickles out in spring too).
Blanton’s Green Label is generally an end-of-summer release and is primarily for the international market.
Right now, you can score a bottle of Blanton’s at the Buffalo Trace Distillery Gift Shop for $63 plus tax. You just have to be there on the right day. You might also get lucky and see some on the shelf at your local liquor store. My store in rural Kentucky had six on the shelf a week ago. They were priced at $67 each with a “limit one” sticker. All of that said, at this point, you might have to wait until the end of March/early April to see the next batch hit shelves.
Scotch whisky starts getting pretty damn good at the $50 to $60 price range. It’s a little bit more refined, special, and overall tasty. There’s more depth in the oak, the craft, and the diversity when you hit just under $60 a bottle. It’s an exciting place to be, especially for a novice.
All of that said, we’re still in the entry-level arena for most Scotch whisky brands. Below, I’m going to name 10 bottles of excellent Scotch whisky that you can actually find at most liquor stores — all under $60. But please keep in mind that Scotch whisky prices fluctuate far more than American whiskey prices (import tariffs and shipping fees alone are always in flux). So these prices tend to also vary depending on whatever part of the U.S. you’re in.
I ranked these great-tasting whiskies based on my notes and my palate. Some of them are true entry-level whiskies for particular brands that also taste damn fine, others are unique blends that stand out, and some are hidden gems that could easily cost a lot more. There’s a lot of variation — so let’s dive in!
Also Read: The Top 5 UPROXX Scotch Whisky Posts of The Last Six Months
This is an entry whisky to Speyside and single malts in general. The juice is aged in a combination of used American and European oak before it’s married, rested, proofed with Speyside’s iconic water, and bottled.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: This dram is creamy like a vanilla pudding with a bright pear orchard vibe, some mild toffee, and hints of sweetgrass next to mild oak.
Palate: That leads towards a very easy and soft woodiness with a touch of candied pear and more vanilla cream before hints of soft cinnamon spice poke up in the background with those soft malts.
Finish: By the end, it’s clear how light and approachable this whisky is as that pear, vanilla cream, and mild spice slowly fade away, leaving you with a silken mouthfeel and just enough malts and toffee.
Bottom Line:
This is one of the most approachable whiskies on the list with a deep sense of orchard fruits and creaminess. At first glance, it might feel simple. But if you take your time, it’ll reveal so much more.
9. Laphroaig Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky Select
Master Distiller John Campbell created this whisky to highlight the diversity of the casking process behind Laphroaig’s classic expressions. The whisky is a blend of four casks. Their quarter, Pedro Ximénez, triple wood, and ten-year-old casks are married to create a deeply satisfying bottle of whisky.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The whisky draws you in on the nose with hints of red fruit, plums, nuts, and a bit of peated maltiness.
Palate: The fruit leads the way on the palate while the wood leans mildly spicy with a bit of alcohol warmth, Ace bandages, smoked salts, and more of that malt.
Finish: The end lingers as the fruit and wood come together with an ever-so-distant wisp of smoke and Band-Aid.
Bottom Line:
This is still very bold Laphroaig and will be a love/hate pour for many. That said, if you can get past that medicinal vibe, a lot is being offered in this whisky’s profile. Give it time, a little water, and patience and you’ll be rewarded with a refined pour.
8. Bruichladdich The Classic Laddie Scottish Barley Unpeated Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Bruichladdich’s philosophy on whisky making is pretty unique. Each batch highlights local, unpeated Scottish barley that’s fermented and distilled. That juice then goes into some combination of ex-bourbon, ex-sherry, and ex-wine casks for a varied amount of time. That means each batch is unique. Bruichladdich then provides a code on their bottles so that you can go to their website and find out what makes the bottle in your hand special.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Wildflowers and granola bars draw you in on the nose as a hint of brine and salted caramel linger on the back end with orange oils and softwood.
Palate: That brine becomes a full rush of seaspray as tart apples lead towards a Caro syrup mid-palate sweetness.
Finish: That sweetness fades into a spicy malt as sea salt and sweet oak dominate the finish.
Bottom Line:
This is a really good unpeated whisky from a distillery renowned for its peated malt. This is a great on-the-rocks sipper that also works really well in simple whisky-forward cocktails with a citrus or floral base.
7. Highland Park Single Malt Scotch Whisky 12 Years Old
This is a pretty unique whisky. The distillery is located in Scotland’s far north Orkney Islands. The whisky in the bottle is a classic peaty single malt that spends 12 years maturing in European and American oak, both of which were seasoned with sherry. The whiskies are then married and proofed down to a very accessible 40%.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: There’s a real sense of rich and almost rummy holiday cake full of dark spices, dried fruits, candied citrus, and nuts with a hint of smoke.
Palate: A touch of fragrant honey arrives to smooth out the texture while adding sweetness.
Finish: That smoke pops back in on the finish but it’s more like a chimney smoke from a house a few doors down on a snowy day than a funky peaty smoke from a bog.
Bottom Line:
This is a great bridge between peated malt and dark bourbon. There’s a lot of connective tissue for a bourbon drinker to enjoy while expanding their palate toward bold yet sweetly spiced peated whisky.
6. The Balvenie Single Malt Scotch Whisky DoubleWood Aged 12 Years
This is the whisky that launched the “double aging” trend back in 1982. This unpeated single malt spends 12 years mellowing in ex-bourbon casks before it’s transferred to ex-sherry casks for a final maturation of nine months. Finally, the whisky is vatted in a “tun” where it rests for three to four months before proofing and bottling.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Soft and floral honey mix with a hint of vanilla extract, sweet red berries, and wine-soaked oak mingle on the nose.
Palate: The palate meanders through light touches of marzipan with a hint of cinnamon and fields of plum trees with a whisper of tree bark and leather lurking in the background.
Finish: The finish lets the spicy malt kick in with a dose of hot cinnamon and honey tobacco.
Bottom Line:
This is another great bridge whiskey for bourbon drinkers but in the unpeated category this time. The spice and dark fruit with a creamy vanilla will feel very familiar to American whiskey drinkers while the spicy malt and honey tobacco will feel new and fresh. All of that said, make your favorite cocktail with this one as a jumping-off point.
This is a classic Chivas that has finally arrived in the U.S. The whisky is classic Chivas blended whisky (made from malt and grain whiskies) that was left to age for 15 long years before the whisky is moved into French cognac casks for a final rest. Finally, that whisky is vatted, proofed, and bottled.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Orange marmalade on wheat toast is accented by freshly ground cinnamon, a touch of clove, and mincemeat pies iced with a thin layer of powdered sugar icing.
Palate: Dark dried fruits — think prunes, sultanas, and dates — drive the palate toward soft berries, rich butterscotch, and a touch of caramel-laced toffees dipped in roasted almonds.
Finish: The end is lush and creamy with a hint of vanilla kissed with more mincemeat pie, brandy-soaked dates, and a dark Christmas pudding swimming in brandy butter.
Bottom Line:
This is the quintessential on-the-rocks pour. It’s vibrant and fun with a deep sense of classic malty Scotch whisky, bright fruit, and malty sweetness. Of course, that also means that this will make one hell of a cocktail.
4. Aberlour Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky Double Cask Matured Aged 12 Years
This whisky is the cornerstone of brands like Chivas (listed above). The whisky is a soft unpeated single malt that ages in a combination of ex-bourbon barrels and sherry casks. Those barrels are blended and vatted before proofing and bottling.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Brandy-soaked orange peels and almonds sneak in on the subtle nose with a sense of dark and spiced sweet sherry, a soft vanilla creaminess, and a hint of chocolate.
Palate: One the palate, that chocolate takes on bitterness and creaminess before marrying to the brandy-soaked orange, pear, and cherry with a hint of marzipan nuttiness lightly accenting the mid-palate.
Finish: The end leans toward stewed fruits layered into soft tobacco with the vanilla creaminess smoothing out the very end.
Bottom Line:
This is just a nice pour of whisky. It takes a moment to open up. But once it does, there’s a bevy of flavors waiting for you. Pour this over a single rock or into your favorite whiskey-forward cocktail and you’ll be in for a treat.
This is a quintessential Islay peated whisky. The whisky is aged in a combination of Pedro Ximénez, charred virgin oak, and ex-bourbon casks before being married and rested again in Ardbeg’s bespoke oak “Gathering Vat,” allowing the whiskies to meld into a cohesive pour.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Slow-smoked peaches mingle with soft cherrywood and a bundle of smoky savory herbs — sage, rosemary, ramps — on the nose.
Palate: The palate is soft and buttery with a sweet burnt toffee vibe next to nutmeg, walnut, Earl Grey, and maybe a touch of woody maple syrup.
Finish: The end takes its time and meanders through salted black licorice, wild florals, more singed savory herbs, and a hint of black-pepper-covered brisket fat that’s been heavily smoked over sea-soaked driftwood.
Bottom Line:
This is great peated malt. It’s not going to be for everyone. But I’d argue that if you slowly ease into this one, add some water or ice, and take your time with it, you’ll be rewarded with a subtly distinct and amazingly deep whisky unlike any other.
2. Glenmorangie Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky “The Lasanta” Aged 12 Years
The 12-year-old expression from Glenmorangie spends most of those years maturing in old bourbon casks. The whisky is then transferred to old Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez Sherry casks for a final maturation. After vatting, it’s proofed with Highland water and bottled.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: There’s a subtle spice next to sweet and creamy toffee malts with a touch of honey, soft brandied berries, and a touch of creamy vanilla tobacco on the nose.
Palate: There’s a nice dried fruit softness and leatheriness next to a mild nuttiness with a touch of spicy orange and dark chocolate that comes in late as those sweet malts linger on the mid-palate.
Finish: The end leans into creamy vanilla and marzipan with a deep sense of brandied pear and dark dried berries next to tobacco spice.
Bottom Line:
This is just a nice AF sipper. It’s so easygoing and delicate while offering a deep and familiar profile (that bourbon note is unmissable). This over a single big ice cube is a can’t-miss pour.
1. Oban Little Bay Single Malt Scotch Whisky Small Cask
While this is technically a Highland whisky, Oban’s location on the sea sort of bridges it to the Islands and even Islay as a style/region too. The tiny distillery is in the heart of the town and this expression is a love letter to that place. The whisky is aged in small casks for varying times and with a variation of new and used casks in the mix. Once vatted, the final result is a masterclass in refined whisky.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: There’s a deep sense of smoked prunes, plums, and dates on the nose before soft creamy malts arrive with a touch of walnut bread smeared with salted butter and a fleeting note of orange saltwater taffy with old seawater-soaked pier planks underneath it all.
Palate: Clove-studded oranges and creamy malted vanilla open the palate toward more of those saltwater taffy chews with a sense of stewed pear mush cut with brandy and dark spiced mulled wine.
Finish: All of that combines to create a sort of spiced nutty apple cake with a buttery crumble on the finish as you slowly meander away along that damp old wooden pier.
Bottom Line:
This is a widely delicious whisky with a deep sense of place. It’s a soft and supple neat pour that really rewards you for going back in with touches of water and time. Overall, this is a hidden gem at this price point that’ll transport you to an old pier on the Scottish coast. You can’t put a price tag on that.
The above photo (courtesy of Getty Images) does not hail from the upcoming Borderlands movie. Rather, the photo throws back to the 2016 Birmingham MCM Comic Con in England. That’s much longer than the official wait for a big-screen adaptation of the wildly popular shoot-’em-up game series (the same series that has such a devoted fanbase that they’ve been known to debate which incarnation is the most fun to play, and that’s fun, too). Still, gamers have been patiently waiting while The Last Of Us, Super Mario Bros., Five Nights At Freddy’s, and Twisted Metal have all sprung to live-action life.
By and large, the above projects performed well with ratings and box-office dollars as well as audience/critic clout. So, it’s fair to say that this bodes well for Borderlands but also piles on the pressure, too. High expectations, man! Let’s talk about where the movie stands as of January 2024.
Plot
The making of this adaptation has been quite a journey thus far, with a script initially hailing from Craig Mazin (Chernobyl) before the process changed hands, culminating in Eli Roth (that shark lover extraordinaire) stepping up to pen the final version.
Notably, Cate Blanchett (who worked with Roth on The House With A Clock In Its Walls) stars in this movie as notorious outlaw Lilith. She will kick off the action while attempting to locate the “missing daughter of the universe’s most powerful S.O.B., Atlas” on Pandora, according to Lionsgate’s description:
Lilith forms an alliance with an unexpected team – Roland, a former elite mercenary, now desperate for redemption; Tiny Tina, a feral pre-teen demolitionist; Krieg, Tina’s musclebound, rhetorically challenged protector; Tannis, the scientist with a tenuous grip on sanity; and Claptrap, a persistently wiseass robot. These unlikely heroes must battle alien monsters and dangerous bandits to find and protect the missing girl, who may hold the key to unimaginable power. The fate of the universe could be in their hands but they’ll be fighting for something more: each other.
Roth recently spoke with IGN (ahead of Thanksgiving) and promised that the film will not be “too slavish” to the source material. That is to say, “I didn’t just want to film the game. We wanted to tell a great story on its own, but of course it’s loaded with Easter eggs for the fans. It’s a big movie.” He also stressed that the movie adaptation(s) would have their own canon aside from the canon of the video games.
Kevin Hart also stars the film and told Collider that, at least visually speaking, “It looks like the game. It’s unbelievable, truly unbelievable.”
Cast
In addition to Cate Blanchett as Lilith, the project will also star Kevin Hart as Roland, Gina Gershon as Mad Moxxi, Jamie Lee Curtis as Dr. Patricia Tennis, and Jack Black as Claptrap. The cast further includes Édgar Ramirez, Ariana Greenblatt, Haley Bennett, Cheyenne Jackson, and more.
Release Date
As of now, Borderlands is still on the calendar for an August 9, 2024 theatrical release.
Trailer
Surely, at least a teaser trailer will be on the way soon? Until then, here’s the aforementioned interview snippet of Kevin Hart speaking to Collider.
It sure must stink to know that artists whose work you love hate your guts. Ted Cruz knows it. So does Donald Trump. Over the years one musical act after another has demanded he stop playing their hits at his ever-increasingly fascist-y rallies, and that includes his favorites: The Village People. But there’s one musician who’s probably fine, maybe even ecstatic, that the former president has added one of their songs to his rally playlist: the one born Steven Patrick Morrissey.
Per Stereogum, Trump has recently been playing songs from Morrissey’s beloved band, The Smiths. Was it “Bigmouth Strikes Again”? “Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me”? Maybe “Half a Person”? Actually it’s a pretty funny one: Pre-show MAGA revelers at Monday’s rally in Laconia, New Hampshire were treated to “Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want.” Thing is, they’ve actually been playing it since at least last September:
You actually hear the Smiths more often than you’d think at 2024 Trump rallies
Does Trump actually listen to The Smiths? Maybe! He has a deep passion for Broadway musicals and he has the world’s biggest persecution complex, so it’s not entirely far-fetched that he identifies with Morrissey’s grandiose self-pity.
Morrissey probably won’t be one of those pop stars who sends the big guy a cease and desist. His views on non-whites are, shall we say, pretty out there; he’s a supporter of the far-right extremist group For Britain, to name one of his stances. Lately, he’s been vocal about cancel culture, because of course he has.
His surviving former bandmates, however, feel differently. Shortly after news of his music being played by the magnets understander, guitarist Johnny Marr threw his foot down.
Ahh…right…OK. I never in a million years would’ve thought this could come to pass. Consider this shit shut right down right now. https://t.co/M6eYROedOy
“Ahh…right…OK. I never in a million years would’ve thought this could come to pass,” Marr wrote on Twitter/X. “Consider this sh*t shut right down right now.”
The Milwaukee Bucks made a gigantic move 43 games into the regular season by firing head coach Adrian Griffin. Despite going 30-13 to start the year and finding themselves in second place in the Eastern Conference, Milwaukee decided the time was right to move on from its first-year head coach, and from the moment that news hit the internet, ESPN broadcaster Doc Rivers’ name got thrown around as a potential veteran replacement.
It’s not unusual for a team to fire a coach and have a good idea of who they want their replacement to be, but as it turns out, there is a good bit of familiarity here. According to a piece by Sam Amick, Shams Charania, and Eric Nehm of The Athletic, Rivers has been around the team in an “informal consultant” role to Griffin, something that happened at the request of the front office.
While the Bucks had compiled a 15-6 record leading up to their trip to Las Vegas and made their way to the semifinals of the In-Season Tournament, Bucks’ leadership organized a meeting between Griffin veteran NBA head coach Doc Rivers, who was broadcasting In-Season Tournament games for ESPN. Per league sources, the organization believed Rivers, a 24-year NBA head coach and NBA champion, may be able to offer Griffin advice and guidance on how to navigate his first NBA season with high expectations and a championship-caliber team in their Las Vegas session.
Rivers has spent this season on ESPN’s top broadcast booth alongside Mike Breen and Doris Burke after the Philadelphia 76ers fired him at the conclusion of last year. We’ll have to see what happens next here, but according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, the two sides have not spoken about the role yet.
ESPN Sources: Doc Rivers is a top Milwaukee target to replace Adrian Griffin but the sides have yet to talk. Bucks are expected to reach out and gauge his interest soon.
Usher, Backstreet Boys, Janet Jackson, and Snoop Dogg have been announced as the headliners for the 2024 Lovers & Friends Festival in Las Vegas, and millennials everywhere are checking their bank accounts and stacking their coins in anticipation of the presale this week. Fortunately, if they miss the presale on Friday (January 26), they’ll have plenty of time to make arrangements ahead of the festival’s May 4 date (and cop some orthopedics). So…
How Much Are Tickets For Lovers & Friends 2024?
General Admission tickets start at $235, GA+ starts at $595, and VIP starts at $695. Friday’s pre-sale begins at 10 am PT, and if any tickets are left over, a general sale will follow. You can visit loversandfriendsfest.com for more information.
Find the full festival lineup below.
Lovers & Friends Festival 2024 Lineup
Usher (performing Confessions)
Janet Jackson
Backstreet Boys
Snoop Dogg
Lil Wayne (performing Tha Carter III)
Alicia Keys
Gwen Stefani
Nas
Mary J. Blige
Nelly Furtado
Ludacris
Ja Rule & Ashanti
Ciara
Nelly
T-Pain
TLC
Akon
Ne-Yo
M.I.A.
Timbaland
Keyshia Cole
Brandy
Monica
Eve
Kelly Rowland
Craig David
Sean Paul
6lack
Jodeci
Jason Derulo
Robin Thicke
98 Degrees
Tyrese
Majid Jordan
Method Man & Redman
Rick Ross
Jeezy
Fat Joe
T.I.
Mase
E-40
SWV
Xscape
Tank
Jeremih
The-Dream
Pretty Ricky
Ginuwine
Mario
Jojo
Mya
Kelis
Lloyd
Dru Hill
Keri Hilson
Lupe Fiasco
Too Short
Cam’ron
Twista
Juvenile
Paul Wall
Trina
Ying Yang Twins
David Banner
Lil Flip
Plies
Mims
Tweet
Next
Lumidee
Nina Sky
Total
Blaque
702
Amerie
Paula Deanda
Jon B
112
J Holiday
J-Kwon
Iyaz
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
The Gin Basil Smash is a modern classic that has dominated the scene since 2008. The drink hails from Hamburg, Germany’s cocktail scene in the mid-aughts, and was originally called the “Gin Pesto.” As the drink blew up on the global stage, it became the Gin Basil Smash because, well, the drink just had fresh basil in it and not also parmesan, pine nuts, and olive oil. The “pesto” bit was unnecessarily confusing.
Today, the drink is as popular as ever. It’s so freaking refreshing that it just won’t go away. It works as a summer sipper while eating pizza al fresco as well as an après-ski sipper with a bright and almost funky spiced vibe, thanks to that basil. It’s versatile, is what we’re getting at.
Let’s dive in!
Also Read: The Top Five Cocktail Recipes of the Last Six Months
This is a very straightforward shopping list. I’m using classic Bombay London Dry Gin which is available at any liquor store for about $18. The rest is easily gettable. Just make sure you’re using good fresh basil.
Zach Johnston
What You’ll Need:
Rocks glass (prechilled)
Cocktail shaker
Cocktail strainer
Fine mesh strainer
Muddler
Jigger
Hand juicer
Paring knife
Zach Johnston
Method:
Add the basil and simple syrup to the bottom of a cocktail shaker. Use the muddler to bruise the basil leaves and break up the stems a tad. Add the gin, lemon juice, and a large handful of ice to the shaker. Affix the lid and then shake vigorously for about 20 seconds.
Add a large ice cube to the rocks glass. Double strain the cocktail into the rocks glass and then garnish with a fresh basil sprig. Serve.
Bottom Line:
Zach Johnston
This is a pretty freaking delicious cocktail. The basil gets this pop of sharp spice that’s almost like a spearmint-meets-nasturtium vibe. It’s a nice bright spice that’s light and oily enough to give the drink a silky mouthfeel.
The sweet syrup and lemon add to the brightness with a hint of lemonade that’s cut with juniper and a hint of clove thanks to the gin. It all comes together for an amazing easy sipper that delivers a punch of flavor with every sip. In the winter, it wakes your senses back up. The brightness and sharpness of the spicy basil widens your eyes and gets you ready for the coming spring and the vibrancy found therein.
Lastly, if you’re eating a freshly fired pizza topped with fresh basil, this is the perfect pairing. Just sayin’!
The 2024 McDonald’s All-American Games will be in Houston this year, where 48 of the best high school basketball players in the country will descend for a celebration of their talents as they get set to embark on the next step of their basketball journey.
On Tuesday, the 24-player rosters for both the Boy’s and Girl’s games were released on ESPN, with most of the top recruits in the country earning their way onto the rosters. For the Girl’s, that includes Sarah Strong, the top-ranked recruit in the nation who is still uncommitted at this time, along with South Carolina commit Joyce Edwards and Ohio State commit Jaloni Cambridge.
EAST GIRL’S
Mikayla Blakes, G (Rutgers Preparatory School (NJ); Vanderbilt)
Kendall Dudley, G (Sidwell Friends School (DC); UCLA)
Joyce Edwards, F (Camden High School (SC); South Carolina)
Kayleigh Heckel, G (Long Island Lutheran High School (NY); Southern California)
Zamareya Jones, G (North Pitt High School (NC); NC State)
Kateryna Koval, C (Long Island Lutheran High School (NY); Notre Dame)
Madisen McDaniel, G (Bishop McNamara High School (MD); South Carolina)
Olivia Olson, G (Benilde-St. Margaret’s (MN); Michigan)
Zania Socka-Nguemen, F (Sidwell Friends School (DC); UCLA)
Sarah Strong, F (Grace Christian School (NC); Uncommitted)
Syla Swords, W (Long Island Lutheran High School (NY); Michigan)
Berry Wallace, W (Pickerington High School Central (OH); Illinois)
WEST GIRL’S
Imari Berry, G (Clarksville High School (TN); Clemson)
Jaloni Cambridge, G (Montverde Academy (FL); Ohio State)
Justice Carlton, F (Seven Lakes High School (TX); Texas)
Morgan Cheli, G (Archbishop Mitty High School (CA); UConn)
Avery Howell, G (Boise High School (ID); Southern California)
Jordan Lee, W (Saint Mary’s High School (CA); Texas)
Alivia McGill, G (Hopkins High School (MN); Florida)
Me’Arah O’Neal, C (Episcopal High School (TX); Florida)
Mackenly Randolph, F (Sierra Canyon School (CA); Uncommitted)
Arianna Roberson, F (Clark High School (TX); Duke)
Kennedy Smith, W (Etiwanda High School (CA); Southern California)
Allie Ziebell, G (Neenah High School (WI); UConn)
On the Boy’s side, the top three players in the 247 Composite, Duke commit Cooper Flagg and Rutgers commits Airious (Ace) Bailey and Dylan Harper, headline the rosters for April 2 in Houston.
EAST BOY’S
Jalil Bethea, G (Archbishop Wood High School (PA); Miami)
John Bol, C (Overtime Elite Academy (GA); Ole Miss)
Isaiah Evans, F (North Mecklenburg High School (NC); Duke)
Cooper Flagg, F (Montverde Academy (FL); Duke)
Johnuel Fland, G (Archbishop Stepinac High School (NY); Kentucky)
Ian Jackson, F (Our Saviour Lutheran School (NY); North Carolina)
Liam McNeeley, F (Montverde Academy (FL); Indiana)
Tahaad Pettiford, G (Hudson Catholic Regional High School (NJ); Auburn)
Drake Powell, G (Northwood High School (NC); North Carolina)
Jayden Quaintance, F (Word of God Christian Academy (NC); Kentucky)
Derik Queen, C (Montverde Academy (FL); Uncommitted)
Bryson Tucker, F (Bishop O’Connell High School (VA); Uncommitted)
WEST BOY’S
Airious Bailey, F (McEachern High School (GA); Rutgers)
Flory Bidunga, C (Kokomo High School (IN); Kansas)
Carter Bryant, F (Centennial High School (CA); Arizona)
Vazoumana Diallo, G (Prolific Prep of Napa Christian (CA); Washington)
Valdez Edgecombe, Jr., G ( Long Island Lutheran High School (NY); Baylor)
Donavan Freeman, F (IMG Academy (FL); Syracuse)
Dylan Harper, G (Don Bosco Preparatory High School (NJ); Rutgers)
Richard Johnson, G (Link Academy (MO); Texas)
Karter Knox, G (Overtime Elite Academy (GA); Uncommitted)
Trent Perry, G (Harvard-Westlake School (CA); Southern California)
Derrion Reid, F (Prolific Prep of Napa Christian (CA); Alabama)
Aiden Sherrell, C (Prolific Prep of Napa Christian (CA); Alabama)
After learning that his best friend of 30 years, Harper Steele, was transitioning, Will Ferrell set out to make a documentary as the two embarked on a road trip to explore this new chapter of their friendship. The resulting film is Will & Harper, which is already racking up rave reviews at Sundance and accolades for Ferrell thanks to the comedy actor modeling how to be a true friend and ally amidst a political climate that’s still rife with anti-transgender rhetoric.
While promoting the film, Ferrell confessed to having “zero knowledge” about the trans community before Steele came out. He’s since taken considerable steps to remedy that.
“I had met trans people, but I didn’t have anyone personally in my life,” Ferrell told Variety. “So this was all new territory for me, which is why I think this film is so exciting for us to kind of put out there in the world. It’s a chance all of us in the cis community to be able to ask questions and also just to listen and be there as a friend to discuss this journey.”
Following the Sundance premiere of Will & Harper, Ferrell was greeted with a standing ovation at the Utah film festival:
Biggest standing O of the fest goes to the completely wonderful “Will & Harper,” a new doc about Will Ferrell taking a road trip with his longtime friend, Harper Steele, who transitioned at 61. The cheers and love in this room are so moving. #Sundance2024pic.twitter.com/VIabydAggA
Meanwhile, on social media, people are praising Ferrell and his commendable work teaching people how to listen and be more accepting of others. The comedic actor has one heck of a soapbox, and he’s using it to model behavior that could change lives.
You can see some of the reactions below:
easy to be cynical about this but I do think it’s cool that a lot of cis people who (think they) don’t know a trans person will see this and be like oh if Will Ferrell can do it so can I https://t.co/We2nMll2qF
— Emmy Award LOSER Elizabeth Debicki is 6’3″ (@hayejunt) January 22, 2024
I’ve never been a fan of Will Ferrell’s work, but he’s so based for this, what a thoroughly decent guy. That’s all it takes, be nice, supportive, and don’t be a cunt. https://t.co/KLaDDPcXN2
Unlike other comedy legends like Ricky Gervais or Dave Chappelle that use trans people as targets in their inability to write funny jokes anymore, Will Ferrell decided to both educate himself and others on the entire issue once one of his best friends came out pic.twitter.com/sk2UvaFuQE
Will & Harper is currently seeking distribution at Sundance.
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9/8/2023 SDGOP rally in Rapid City, South Dakota 
