Month: January 2024

Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers took care of business on Monday afternoon against the Houston Rockets. The reigning NBA MVP went for 41 points and 10 rebounds in 31 minutes of work as Philly picked up a 124-115 win.

It was Embiid’s first game since Jan. 5, as he’s been dealing with a lingering knee injury. So far, Embiid has missed 10 games during the 2023-24 campaign, which presents a bit of a problem: The NBA, in its push to keep teams from resting guys during the regular season, instituted new games played requirements that players need to hit to be eligible for awards. MVP is one of those awards, and Embiid can only miss seven more games between now and the end of the regular season to be eligible to defend his title — the minimum number of games played, with a few exceptions, is 65.

When asked about this on the heels of Monday’s win, Embiid said that the plan is to do what he has to do to remain healthy, and if that costs him a chance to go back-to-back, he’s fine with it.

“No, I’ve already done it,” Embiid said. “I’ve always said, I wanted … if I have a chance to get a second one, I’ll do it. But I’m not gonna force myself or push for it. My game is always gonna speak for itself. We’re winning, that’s the main thing. We gotta keep winning, and obviously, you put the stats out to be in the conversation, that’s great, too. That’s great.

“But at the end of the day, if there’s something going on and I can’t meet the requirement for the amount of games played to qualify for that, then so be it,” Embiid continued. “But one thing we’re not gonna do is push for it to try and make the requirement. If I’m healthy enough and these guys are letting me play, then I’ll play. But if they tell me you gotta chill, then I’ll chill.”

Embiid is in the midst of the best season of his career, as he’s been as efficient as ever, is playing great defense, and entered Monday averaging more points (34.6) than minutes (34.1) per game. But of course, the big issue over the course of his career hasn’t been regular season excellence, it’s been the fact that he hasn’t gotten past the Eastern Conference Semifinals in large part due to his inability to remain healthy once the postseason rolls around.

The Bills and Steelers finally got to play their Wild Card game on Monday afternoon in Buffalo, as they were clear of the blizzard that covered the stadium in snow over the weekend.

With the field clear, no snow falling, and the wind dying down, the hopes Pittsburgh had of mucking up the game and dragging the Bills into the mud were dashed as the Buffalo offense came out flying. Josh Allen had a tremendous first quarter throwing the ball, hitting both of his tight ends for touchdowns to push the Bills ahead by 14 in the early going, but it was in the second quarter where he got it done on the ground, taking off from just beyond midfield and just never got brought down before he hit the end zone 52 yards later.

It was nearly a historic run from Allen, as his 52 yard scamper through the Steelers defense was four yards shy of the longest rushing touchdown by a quarterback in playoff history, as Colin Kaepernick had a 56-yarder for the Niners back in 2012.

The Steelers defense did not seem up to the task in the early going in the secondary, as tackling (and coverage) was rough, and Allen took advantage of that through the air and on the ground to open up a 21-0 first half lead.

Does Donald Trump ever stay permanently mad at anyone? Not really. The former president may be petty, but he also has zero scruples. For instance, he’s currently going after fellow GOP candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, despite the pharma bro being a total kiss-up he’s even praised him recently. But he’ll probably let him back in his good graces when he thinks he can do something good for him. That’s how he rolls. Another example: He finally said something nice (sort of) about longtime nemesis Ron DeSantis.

Per Mediaite, the former president, who’s duking it out with people doing far worse than him in the polls for the Iowa caucuses, railed against who he sees as his biggest enemies, namely Ramaswamy and his former employee Nikki Haley. He’s so mad at them that, in one of his deranged Truth Social post, he threw some light praise the Florida governor’s way.

“Nikki Haley can never win in the General Election because she doesn’t have MAGA, and never will! Ron DeSanctimonious, at least, is MAGA-Lite,” he wrote.

He then wrote some fairly bone-chilling words about his grip on the formerly not entirely insane Republican party:

“Remember, I think MAGA is almost ALL of the Republican Party. The days of the RINOS and non-AMERICA FIRST candidates are OVER! Nikki is a Globalist RINO, backed by American’s for Chinese Growth, the Charles Koch con job. It’s not going to happen for her, or DeSanctimonious! Vivek Votes are wasted, should come to “TRUMP.” MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!”

Trump and DeSantis used to be buds, but ever since the governor threatened to become the GOP’s great, very white new hope, Trump has singled him out for abuse. He never quite found the write mean name for him, though, forsaking the far funnier one he swears he didn’t come up with nor will ever use.

Alas, DeSantis’ polling has never come close to overtaking him. Haley’s, though, has. She’s now in second place, and nipping at Trump’s heels, which is probably why Trump has turned his anger towards her and away from Meatball Ron. But for DeSantis, maybe it’s not a good omen that Trump is no longer mad at him. That might just mean Trump no longer sees him as a threat, which might be the real sign that his campaign is truly and finally kaput.

(Via Mediaite)

Let me hit you with a very controversial health statement: Stretching is just as important, if not more important, than your workout.

Okay, that might not seem controversial, but you would think so with how many people don’t have a solid stretching routine built into their everyday training. I understand the desire for gym-goers to pick up a dumbbell as soon as they walk into the facility or a runner just wanting to hit the pavement as soon as they are laced up. But you are doing your future self, both immediate and distant, a huge disservice by not stretching properly.

There is a reason that every single professional athlete on the planet does some stretching as part of their training regime. Not only does it increase your instant ability to perform during your workouts but it also benefits your long-term mobility, giving you the tools to do more for longer in this life. And if you like exploring the world as much as we do here at Uproxx, then we’re guessing that’s a pretty big goal on your part.

To help you accomplish that goal, we’ve targeted a few essential static stretches that you should be doing every day. Doing regular static stretches consistently can help reverse the muscle shortening that can happen when you are in the same position too long, like many of us are when we sit at our desks or on our couches. Because so many of us are sitting much of the time, we found a diverse group of stretches that will have you up on your feet.

For ease of use, we picked stretches that you can do in one place, like at your desk, without any kind of fancy equipment.

Directions:

This may seem repetitive or redundant, but it’s actually useful to warm up to some degree before you begin stretching. Even a little bit of light jogging and swinging of the arms can help activate the body so you get a better stretch. Once you start, make sure that you are taking it easy on yourself, especially if you haven’t done these kinds of stretches before. That means smooth and gentle motion, without any kind of jerkiness that would force you to overextend.

The breathing that you do during a stretch is just as key as the movement itself. Exhale as you extend or reach and inhale as you return to the starting position. Move into the stretch until you feel a slight pull then hold it for the given amount of seconds in the description. Do each of the stretches in order, moving up the body as set below. Once you feel more comfortable and confident, add one or two more repetitions to the routine.

CALF STRETCH

Start by standing an arm’s length from a wall. Keeping your feet shoulder-width apart, put your right foot back a foot-length behind your left foot. Move forward, allowing your left leg to bend while keeping your right leg straight and your right heel on the floor. Keep your back straight during the stretch, moving your hips past your right knee.

Do this until you feel it in the hamstring along the back of your leg. Hold for 30 seconds and then do the other leg. Complete this stretch, doing each side, two times.

HAMSTRING STRETCH

Start by standing shoulder-width apart, placing a large book that is long enough to support both feet and is around 2 inches below your heel. Keeping your legs straight, bend down to touch your toes, reaching as far as you can comfortably go.

Hold for a count of ten seconds and then return to the starting position. Complete this stretch five times. Once you are done, move the book to the balls of your feet, and do the same thing.

STANDING QUAD

Start by standing shoulder-width apart. Keep your left foot solidly planted in the ground, and with your back straight use your hands to help bring your right knee to your chest. Engage your glutes to get the maximum out of the stretch. Hold this position for ten seconds and then do the other leg. Don’t stress if you need to take a few attempts to regain your balance. Do this stretch five times for each side.

STANDING HIP FLEXOR STRETCH

Start by standing shoulder-width apart with your left leg forward and your right foot back, with your torso between both. Begin the stretch by lowing your torso directly down, your knee should move from behind you to nearly below your hips. The left knee should move forward until it is above your left toes. If you need to, place your hands on your waist for stability. You should feel the stretch in your thighs and glutes. Hold this position for ten seconds and then return to the starting position. Complete the stretch five times for each side.

TRICEPS STRETCH

Start by standing with your feet hip-width apart and arms extended above your head. Begin the stretch by bending your right elbow and reaching your right hand to touch the middle of your back. During this move, grab your right elbow with your left hand and smoothly pull your upper arm towards your head. Keep going until you feel a slight pull while staying comfortable. Hold this position for ten seconds and then return to the starting position.

Complete this stretch five times for each side.

SHOULDER STRETCH

Start by standing with your feet shoulder-width apart. Begin the stretch by bringing your left arm horizontally across your body and use your right lower arm to pull your elbow closer to your chest. Keep proper posture through the motion with your head up and your back straight. Hold this position for ten seconds and then return to the starting position. Complete the stretch five times for each side.

THORACIC STRETCH

Start by standing with your feet shoulder-width apart in front of a desk or chair back that is over hip-height tall. Place your hands on top of the desk or chair back. Begin the stretch by bowing your torso forward, walking back, and bending your knees as needed until you feel a slight pull in your shoulders. There shouldn’t be any pull in your lower back. In order to advance the movement, flip your hands over so that the palms are upward and bring your hands closer together. If you prefer, you can also sit down cross-legged with your arms in front of you (like pictured above) to accomplish the same result.

NECK STRETCH

Start by standing with your feet hip-width apart. Begin the stretch by bringing your right hand in an arc above you, grabbing the top left of your head, and pulling your head directly to the right. Bring your ear towards toward the top of your right shoulder. Keep going until you feel a gentle pull in the back left side of your neck.

Hold this position for ten seconds and then return to the starting position. Complete the stretch five times for each side.

In 1997, ecologists Daniel Janzen and Winnie Hallwachs approached an orange juice company in Costa Rica with an off-the-wall idea.

In exchange for donating a portion of unspoiled, forested land to the Área de Conservación Guanacaste — a nature preserve in the country’s northwest — the park would allow the company to dump its discarded orange peels and pulp, free of charge, in a heavily grazed, largely deforested area nearby.

One year later, one thousand trucks poured into the national park, offloading over 12,000 metric tons of sticky, mealy, orange compost onto the worn-out plot.

---

The site was left untouched and largely unexamined for over a decade. A sign was placed to ensure future researchers could locate and study it.

16 years later, Janzen dispatched graduate student Timothy Treuer to look for the site where the food waste was dumped.

Treuer initially set out to locate the large placard that marked the plot — and failed.

“It’s a huge sign, bright yellow lettering. We should have been able to see it,” Treuer says. After wandering around for half an hour with no luck, he consulted Janzen, who gave him more detailed instructions on how to find the plot.

When he returned a week later and confirmed he was in the right place, Treuer was floored. Compared to the adjacent barren former pastureland, the site of the food waste deposit was “like night and day.”

“It was just hard to believe that the only difference between the two areas was a bunch of orange peels. They look like completely different ecosystems,” he explains.

The area was so thick with vegetation he still could not find the sign.

Treuer and a team of researchers from Princeton University studied the site over the course of the following three years.

The results, published in the journal “Restoration Ecology,” highlight just how completely the discarded fruit parts assisted the area’s turnaround.

The ecologists measured various qualities of the site against an area of former pastureland immediately across the access road used to dump the orange peels two decades prior. Compared to the adjacent plot, which was dominated by a single species of tree, the site of the orange peel deposit featured two dozen species of vegetation, most thriving.

In addition to greater biodiversity, richer soil, and a better-developed canopy, researchers discovered a tayra (a dog-sized weasel) and a giant fig tree three feet in diameter, on the plot.

“You could have had 20 people climbing in that tree at once and it would have supported the weight no problem,” says Jon Choi, co-author of the paper, who conducted much of the soil analysis. “That thing was massive.”

Recent evidence suggests that secondary tropical forests — those that grow after the original inhabitants are torn down — are essential to helping slow climate change.

In a 2016 study published in Nature, researchers found that such forests absorb and store atmospheric carbon at roughly 11 times the rate of old-growth forests.

Treuer believes better management of discarded produce — like orange peels — could be key to helping these forests regrow.

In many parts of the world, rates of deforestation are increasing dramatically, sapping local soil of much-needed nutrients and, with them, the ability of ecosystems to restore themselves.

Meanwhile, much of the world is awash in nutrient-rich food waste. In the United States, up to half of all produce in the United States is discarded. Most currently ends up in landfills.

“We don’t want companies to go out there will-nilly just dumping their waste all over the place, but if it’s scientifically driven and restorationists are involved in addition to companies, this is something I think has really high potential,” Treuer says.

The next step, he believes, is to examine whether other ecosystems — dry forests, cloud forests, tropical savannas — react the same way to similar deposits.

Two years after his initial survey, Treuer returned to once again try to locate the sign marking the site.

Since his first scouting mission in 2013, Treuer had visited the plot more than 15 times. Choi had visited more than 50. Neither had spotted the original sign.

In 2015, when Treuer, with the help of the paper’s senior author, David Wilcove, and Princeton Professor Rob Pringle, finally found it under a thicket of vines, the scope of the area’s transformation became truly clear.

“It’s a big honking sign,” Choi emphasizes.

19 years of waiting with crossed fingers had buried it, thanks to two scientists, a flash of inspiration, and the rind of an unassuming fruit.

This article originally appeared on 08.23.17

Beatle George Harrison was pigeon-holed as the “Quiet Beatle,” but the youngest member of the Fab Four had an acerbic, dry sense of humor that was as sharp as the rest of his bandmates.

He gave great performances in the musical comedy classics, “A Hard Days Night” and “Help!” while holding his own during The Beatles’ notoriously anarchic press conferences. After he left the band in 1970, in addition to his musical career, he would produce the 1979 Monty Python classic, “The Life of Brian.”

---

Harrison clearly didn’t lose his sense of humor for the rest of his life. Shortly before his death in 2001, he played an elaborate prank on Phil Collins that shows how the “Here Comes the Sun” singer would go the extra mile for a laugh.

In 1970, Harrison was recording his first solo record and arguably the best by a Beatle, “All things Must Pass.” The session for the song, “The Art of Dying” featured former Beatle Ringo Starr on drums, keyboard legend Billy Preston on keys, virtuoso Eric Clapton on guitar, and was produced by the notorious Phil Spector.

Harrison wanted a conga player for the session, so Ringo’s chauffeur reached out to Phil Collins’ manager. At the time, Collins was a relative unknown who was about to join Genesis, a band that would bring him worldwide stardom.

The 18-year-old Collins was starstruck playing on a session with two former Beatles, so he played extra hard in rehearsals, resulting in blood blisters on both hands.

“Anyway, after about two hours of this, Phil Spector says, ‘Okay congas, you play this time.’ And I’d had my mic off, so everybody laughed, but my hands were shot,” Collins told Express.

“And just after that they all disappeared – someone said they were watching TV or something – and I was told I could go,” after that, Collins was relieved of his duties and told to go home. A few months later, Collins bought the massive triple album in the record shop and was devastated to learn he’d been edited out of the song.

“There must be some mistake! Collins thought. “But it’s a different version of the song, and I’m not on it.”

Some thirty years later, Collins bought the home of Formula One driver Jackie Stewart, a close friend of Harrison. Stewart mentioned to Collins that Harrison was remixing “All Things Must Pass” for a rerelease.

“And he said, ‘You were on it, weren’t you?’ And I said, ‘Well I was there,”‘ Collins recalled.

Two days later, a tape was delivered from Harrison to Collins with a note that read: “Could this be you?” Collins continued: “I rush off and listen to it, and straight away I recognize it.” It was a recording of “The Art of Dying.”

“Suddenly the congas come in – too loud and just awful,” Collins was devastated, then as the end of the take, Harrison can be heard saying, “Hey, Phil, can we try another without the conga player?”

Collins was devastated, to say the least.

A while later, Stewart calls Collins and puts Harrison on the line. “‘Did you get the tape?’ Harrison asked. “I now realize I was fired by a Beatle,” Collins sighed. The two changed the subject, but a few minutes later, Harrison couldn’t stop laughing.

“Don’t worry, it was a piss-take. I got Ray Cooper to play really badly and we dubbed it on,” Harrison admitted. “Thought you’d like it!” So, Harrison had an entire recording session with a conga player who he asked to play poorly, just to pull one over on Collins.

If you’re in the mood for another of rock’s greatest pranks. The story of “The Ring” told by Beastie Boys’ Adam “Ad-Rock” Horovitz shared in “Beastie Boys Story” is another great example of someone going to incredible lengths just for a laugh.

The story revolves around the late Beasties’ rapper Adam “MCA” Yach, his bandmate Horovitz, and a very creepy ring given to him by a fan backstage at a concert.

This article originally appeared on 12.01.21

On January 9, Travis Scott performed at Bell Centre in Montreal, Canada, and it appears to have been a mostly ordinary show. One thing stood out, though, albeit something not directly related to Scott or his music.

A couple days after the show, CTV News reporter Kelly Greig shared a photo of the Stanley Cup (the NHL one, not this one) case at the venue, where the Montreal Canadiens play their home games. One of the team’s trophies was missing from the case, and Greig explained, “Eagle-eyed viewers tonight might notice a missing Stanley Cup in the trophy case at the Bell Centre. Apparently the Travis Scott concert on Tuesday has such strong bass three of them fell and one was damaged. Security told me that’s a first.”

Scott, meanwhile, has recently led some to speculate that he’s planning on dropping a new album in 2024. A fan account recently tweeted, “Travis records before every show, and has consistently been previewing new songs at clubs. Wonder if he’s got something on the way.” Another X (formerly Twitter) responded, “Imagine an album where each song is the city it was made in on the tour.” Scott himself responded, “R u in my brain or what ????”

Throughout my global travels, one element of every trip is always crucial to me: connecting to the natural environment. Whether that’s through basking on the idyllic beaches in Puerto Rico or simply finding a week of complete solitude in the Alaskan wilderness, syncing myself with my surroundings is a key priority. It’s when I feel most “me.”

When it comes to traveling within the United States, I’ve found this somewhat harder to achieve. Plenty of hotels position themselves as operating with the natural world in mind but… I don’t always see it. Sure, many properties are adding green spaces — and that’s great! — but I find that they rarely provide true tranquility. Or at least that was my perception.

It changed rapidly when I arrived in Fredericksburg, Texas to explore Nook’s latest accommodation partner, Onera. At this heavily wooded escape reconnecting with nature wasn’t just a catchphrase, it was truly possible. Read my full review below.

WHY IT’S AWESOME:

Most of the time, you have to choose between luxury and nature. Not at Onera. Each of its eleven stylish accommodation options lands you right at the edge of Texas Hill Country. Herds of deer and flocks of turkey roam the woods surrounding the compound. At night, you can soak in your cabin’s soaking tub or the onsite 24-hour hot tub and heated pool as the night sounds come to life.

It’s bliss.

Another cool thing about Onera is that each treehouse is completely different. I stayed in two different buildings – Spyglass and Monarch – that each portrayed creative design approaches for reconnecting yourself to the surrounding environment while blending into the forested property.

Aside from bringing you into the tranquil solitude of the Texan woods, Onera is also just a mere mile away from downtown Fredericksburg. If you feel like talking to a human, Fredericksburg is a beautiful little city full of German heritage and some pretty amazing wine. Less than a four-minute drive outside of Onera, you’ll find a plethora of wineries, breweries, museums, local shops, and historical sites that will keep you busy should you want to delve back into the happenings of society during your stay.

The bottom line: Onera is the perfect escape to reconnect with yourself alone, with friends or lovers in fully unique accommodation suites that will leave you relaxed and eager to explore more of what the natural world has to offer you.

IN-HOUSE FOOD & DRINK:

Onera hosts 11 different accommodation suites on its property, each fitted with its own kitchen. There isn’t an on-site restaurant or bar. While this may be a deal breaker for some people, I think it’s quite fitting. The treehouses are spread apart to give you ultimate privacy during your stay, helping you quiet your mind and reconnect with the natural environment. Why would you want to drown all of that out by getting dressed and sitting in a restaurant when you could be cooking dinner surrounded by a serene forest?

With that said, Onera does offer several in-room culinary experiences. While staying at any of its luxury suites, you can opt to add on a wine delivery service, private chef four-course meal, chef-prepared meals delivered directly to your room, and a nature elixir mixing class. Otherwise, you have full freedom to stock up at any of the several grocery stores within two miles of Onera to bring your own feast of drinks and culinary delights right to your room.

SPYGLASS TREEHOUSE AMENITIES:

• 10-foot elevated suspension into surrounding trees
• Private deck
• Heated cedar soaking tub
• Private fire pit area
• Outdoor grill
• Floor-to-ceiling windows
• Walk-in shower
• King-sized bed
• WiFi
• Fully stocked kitchen
• Dim lights

MONARCH AMENITIES:

• Elevated 10-feet off the ground in a beautiful, mature Elm tree
• Elevated dining & yoga deck
• Hand-carved, open-air private rock tub
• Floor-to-ceiling windows
• Skylights
• Lofted indoor hammock
• Private fire pit
• Walk-in shower
• King-sized bed
• WiFi
• Fully stocked kitchen
• Dim lights

ROOM TYPES:

Onera hosts 11 different lodging units, all fully unique and designed to optimize a tranquil setting among the Texas Hill Country and the property’s Dark Sky Community viewing.

Spyglass:

I truly let out a full gasp when I walked in the door of Spyglass. As the name implies, the studio treehouse unit is in the shape of a “spyglass” where you’re suspended 10 feet in the air in a canopy of trees. Floor-to-ceiling windows open up to your private elevated deck where you can relax in a cedar soaking tub.

Inside, you’ll find soft wood tones throughout the space, a cute little sitting area, and a walk-in shower that peeks into the bedroom/living space, which is ultra sexy.

BOOK HERE

Monarch:

This treehouse was one of the most architecturally unique structures I’ve ever seen. Its name comes from the way it looks to the naked eye, almost like a Monarch Butterfly. This was about double the size of Spyglass and featured an elevated dining and yoga deck in the front, while the separate bedroom opens up to floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the backing woods.

What truly makes Monarch so unique is the interior ladder that brings you to a second-floor hang-out space equipped with a netted hammock reading area under skylights. I loved the Texas decor throughout, especially within the bedroom.

BOOK HERE

BEST THING TO DO WITHIN A 15-MINUTE WALK:

No matter what treehouse accommodation you stay in, you’ll have full access to the on-site heated pool, hot tub, sauna, and swinging hammock chairs. Since Onera is part of the Dark Sky Community, I found it incredibly relaxing to walk to the community area at night and gaze up at the sky in profound solitude. When I stayed here in October, it seemed that most of the treehouses were occupied but I found myself with the pool and hot tub completely alone, which was a nice perk.

You can technically walk to downtown Fredericksburg from Onera but the main road doesn’t have a sidewalk and I would recommend just driving downtown and parking at any of the dozens of free parking spots around town.

BEST THING TO DO WITHIN A 5-20 MINUTE DRIVE:

Sip Your Way Through Wineries:

I had a blast exploring Fredericksburg. First, Fredericksburg and the surrounding region are home to approximately 1,000 acres of wine vineyards. There are dozens of wineries and vineyards to explore, but I can’t exactly recommend any because I spent my time doing other things than drinking.

Get A History Lesson:

Fredericksburg has a huge German population and heritage. The town’s history dates back to the town’s founding in 1846 when the first German settlers arrived in the Texas Hill Country. I’m a huge history nerd, so I happily spent one of my days exploring Fredericksburg’s Pioneer Museum and Vereins Kirche Museum to learn more about the German immigrants who built Fredericksburg.

A little outside of town, one of my favorite places I ended up visiting was the Lyndon B. Johnson State Park & Historic Site. The 36th President of the United States was born in Gillespie County and returned to the property often during his time in office. I went on a cold, cloudy day and bundled up as I walked through his old estate, including a fully functioning ranch, the Texas White House, the Johnson family cemetery, and the display of the Lockheed JetStar that he flew in.

Get Your Steps In & Walk Downtown:

Downtown Fredericksburg is also just the perfect town to park and walk around in. You’ll find over 150 shops, boutiques, art galleries, restaurants, wine-tasting rooms, and a brewpub spread out throughout just a couple of downtown streets, making for a full day of leisurely walking and exploring new happenings.

Make sure you walk into Allen’s Boots on E Main Street. You’re greeted with the olfactory sensation of tanned leather before your eyes feast on a selection of hundreds – if not upwards of a thousand – different authentic cowboy boots to choose from.

Eat Some Authentic German Food:

Because of the German heritage in the town, make sure you have dinner at Auslander Restaurant and Biergarten. The “Old World” Potato Soup was truly to die for with the pumpernickel croutons. The entree prices were insanely cheap compared to the portions, which I recommend for its fan-favorite Chickenschnitzel that comes smothered in gravy.

BED GAME:

The king-sized beds, pillows, and bedside tables at each Onera treehouse were extremely comfortable and well thought out. The bedside features were truly on point, each with individual tables, drink pads, outlets, and dimmable lights so you could turn on your own “sexy light mode” once in bed.

The views from the beds leveled them up even more. With the whole point of bringing you closer to nature, the beds were strategically placed to give you optimal viewing of the surrounding property while ensuring maximum privacy from other guests.

Rating: 9/10

SEXINESS FACTOR:

When it comes to rating a hotel or AirBnB’s sexiness, Uproxx Life lead editor Stephen Bramucci has outlined ten pillars to take into consideration. Spyglass’ private soaking tub and back patio where you can bask naked within the confines of the trees while also taking a shower that overlooks the bedroom is incredibly sexy. Monarch’s lofted hammock space would put anyone in a playful mood and its floor-to-ceiling window with exceptional views of the forested setting would turn anyone on.

Plus, I didn’t see any children.

Rating: 9/10

THE VIEWS & PICS SPOTS:

Onera offers solid Instagram-worthy content spaces. The view from Spyglass’ outdoor cedar soaking tub offers quite the (wet) dream while the walk up to Monarch and within the lofted hammock space is a perfectly unique element to highlight.

The views don’t necessarily boast cliffs or mountains, just the natural beauty of the wooded scenery and wildlife. Structure-wise, this is ideal #CabinSeason content.

Rating: 8/10

BEST SEASON TO VISIT:

I visited a week after Thanksgiving and it was cold but it helped me make good use of the outdoor cedar soaking tub at Spyglass and the community hot tub late at night.

You’ll also find fewer people on the property and have more privacy in the winter months before Fredericksburg pops off in the spring and summer with festivals and events.

IF I HAD TO COMPLAIN ABOUT ONE THING:

While Onera helps you reconnect to nature while offering elevated amenities, some details would help take it up a notch further. First, the private outdoor cedar soaking tub at Spyglass was incredibly finicky. The instructions tell you to not mess with buttons or levers, but I accidentally did. You can find yourself sitting in the tub with the water draining out the back if you’re not careful. The water also doesn’t stay very hot for very long, so I found myself wanting to continuously drain some of it out (which you technically aren’t allowed to do) to refill with hot water. While each treehouse has its own kitchen space, there isn’t much space to actually cook food. Specifically in the Spyglass house, I found myself working with a cutting board spread over the sink to get a sliver of “counter space.”

BOOK NOW:

Room rates are highly seasonal — starting around $200 per night in winter with the Spyglass unit I stayed in inching toward $1000 per night in spring.

BOOK ONERA HERE.

INSTAGRAM IMAGES TAKEN AT ONERA:

Last summer people were reminded of something that should be an established fact: Ryan Gosling is pretty freaking funny. The Oscar-nominated actor arguably stole Barbie as the film’s lunkheaded, equine-obsessed, latently misogynistic (yet still somehow sweet) Ken, particularly in a musical number that director/cowriter Greta Gerwig had to fight to include. Of course, some people already knew Gosling was a hoot, thanks to movies like The Nice Guys, which really needs a belated sequel.

Anyway, at Sunday night’s Critics’ Choice Awards, Gosling again showed off his comic chops when Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt received a trophy for Best Song, for the song “I’m Just Ken.” When their names were announced, the show’s telecast cut to Gosling, who made this deadpan face.

Clips of the speech went viral, naturally, racking up tons of social media likes and jokes.

During their speech, Ronson made sure to credit Gosling’s performance as key to the song’s power.

“Ryan Gosling, this is as much your award as ours,” said Ronson. “You made the audience fall in love with this song with your matchless performance, so thank you.”

Elsewhere at the Critics Choice Awards, Paul Giamatti won yet another award for The Holdovers, and he even acknowledged that a photo of him chowing down at In-N-Out Burger after had weirdly gone viral. And then there was the bit where Robert Downey Jr. read out some of the meanest things critics had said about his Oppenheimer performance, which also won him a trophy.

(Via Entertainment Weekly)

When a couple has their first child, they start out with the greatest of intentions and expectations. The child will only eat organic food. They will never watch TV or have screen time and will always stay clean.

But soon, reality sets in and if they have more kids, they’ll probably be raised with a lot less attention. As a result, first-born kids turn out a bit differently than their younger siblings.

“Rules are a bit more rigid, attention and validation is directed and somewhat excessive,” Niro Feliciano, LCSW, a psychotherapist and anxiety specialist, told Parents. “As a result, firstborns tend to be leaders, high achievers, people-pleasing, rule-following and conscientious, several of the qualities that tend to predict success.”

---

However, it’s not just laziness that makes parents change their M.O. As parents gain experience, they learn not to sweat the small stuff and to have a bit more faith in their children.

Tova Leigh is a writer and performer who creates funny sketches on TikTok about parenting and feminism. To point out the differences between new and veteran moms she made a series of funny sketches with fellow mom Riona O Connor.

In the first video, the two mothers deal with fighting children. The new mommy uses a sweet voice and quietly suggests, “Oh honey, no, no fighting, sweetie. Gentle hands” to the brawling kids. When that doesn’t work, the veteran mother screams, “We said stop fighting!”

@tova_leigh

We’re all doing a great job, some of us just do it a little louder (or with a hose) 😂 which one are you?! with @rionaoconnor_ #fyp #funny #parenting #momsoftiktok

The video must have hit a nerve with parents everywhere because it went viral, racking up more than 3 million views. “As a mum of 5… this is 100% accurate,” Lora Bora wrote in the comments. Kira agreed saying, “I got 4…. And I felt this in my soul.”

While the video was funny, it should also provide some comfort to young mothers who feel overwhelmed by the pressure to be perfect. As blogger Constance Hall points out, the need to be perfect can rob us of precious time with our kids.

“We are only half present for them all of the time due to the constant pressure to have everything perfect,” Hall wrote in a viral Facebook post. “To go to the gym, answer that email, pay that bill, cook that organic kale, blend it, get it into a patty so no one knows it’s kale, get to the doctors…. Make the kids lunches cos if you order them again you will be JUDGED!”

In the second video, the two mothers have very different approaches to making a puree.

@tova_leigh

We’re all doing a great job, some of us just do it with a happy meal 🤪 which one are you? With @rionaoconnor_ #funny #fyp #momlife

In a third video, the two parents express their Christmas spirit in very different ways.

@tova_leigh

#ad AD We are all doing a great job, some of us just do it with less Christmas spirit 😉 Which one are you?! Did you recognise any of the lines? They are all from our favorite movies available on @SkyTV this Christmas. What’s your favorite? With the amazing @rionaoconnor_ TAG A FRIEND #ChristmasOnSky #fyp #funny #momlife #momsontiktok #newmomvsveteranmom #ad

Kids grow up fast and if you blink an eye, you just may miss it. So regardless if you’re a new mom or a veteran mom, take a page out of these mothers’ books, relax a bit and have fun being a parent. Your kids will probably forget your vegan kale puree, but they’ll always remember the time you spent just being present.

This article originally appeared on 05.18.22