Month: July 2024

For the last 27 years, Fuji Rock Festival has been Japan’s largest outdoor event, and this weekend (Friday, July 26-Sunday, July 28), it returns to Naeba Ski Resort with headliners The Killers, Kraftwerk, and Noel Gallagher‘s High Flying Birds. The lineup includes a diverse array of both Japanese and international talent, with the Green Stage hosting performances from Japanese rapper Awich, American pop star Omar Apollo, alt-rocker Beth Gibbons, British neo-soul singer RAYE, and more. And that’s just the Green Stage; there are four more main stages, as well as an array of peripheral venues like The Palace of Wonder, Pyramid Garden, and Gan-Ban Square. The festival will also be streamed live via Amazon Music on Prime Video for those fans who won’t be attending in person.

You can see the set times and streaming schedule below.

Friday, July 26

Green Stage

(11:00-11:45) Indigo la End, (12:45-1:45) Route 17 Rock’N’Roll Orchestra, (2:20-3:10) Friko, (3:50-4:50) Macaroni Pencil, (4:30-6:30) Omar Apollo, (7:20-8:30) Awich, (9:30-11:00) The Killers

White Stage

(12:40-1:30) Lucky Kilimanjaro, (2:20-3:10) Taeko Onuki, (4:10-5:10) T3ddy Swims, (6:00-7:00) Iri, (8:00-9:00) Hiroko Yamamura, (10:00-11:30) Peggy Gou

Red Marquee

(11:30-12:10) New Tokyo, (12:45-1:45) Yellow Days, (2:30-3:30) Erika De Casier, (4:30-5:30) The Spellbound, (6:30-7:30) King Krule, (8:30-9:30) Floating Points, (11:45-12:45am) Denki Groove, (1:00-2:30am) Jax Jones, (2:40-3:55am) NOTD, (4:05-5:00am) Group_inou

Field Of Heaven

(11:40-12:30) Shibusashirazu Orchestra, (1:20-2:20) Landlord, (3:10-4:10) Original Love Jazz Trio, (5:10-6:10) Chip Wickham, (7:00-8:10) Ghost-Note, (9:00-10:30) Hiromi Uehara Hiromi’s Sonicwonder

Saturday, July 27

Green Stage

(11:00-12:00) tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra, (1:00-2:00) The Last Dinner Party, (3:00-4:00) 10-Feet, (5:00-6:00) Man With A Mission, (7:00-8:10) Beth Gibbons, (9:10-10:40) Kraftwerk

White Stage

(12:40-1:30) Syrup 16g, (2:20-3:10) The Bawedies, (4:10-5:10) Yuta Orisaka (band), (6:00-7:00) Quruli, (8:00-9:00) Sampha, (10:00011:30) Girl In Red

Red Marquee

(10:20-11:00am) Billyrrom, (11:30-12:10) Hedigan’s, (12:40-1:30) Angie McMahon, (2:00-3:00) Glass Beams, (4:00-5:00) Eyedress, (6:00-7:00) Noname, (8:00-9:00) Kid Fresno, (11:00-12:30am) 2manydjs, (1:00-2:10am) Hiroko Yamamura, (2:10-3:35am) ¥ØU$UK€ ¥UK1MAT$U, (3:35-6:00am) SAMO

Field Of Heaven

(11:40-12:30) Tokumaru Shugo, (1:20-2:20) Theatre Brook, (3:10-4:10) Kitty Liv, (5:10-6:10) Suga Shikao, (7:00-8:10) Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, (9:00-10:30) The Yussef Days Experience

Sunday, July 28

Green Stage

(11:00-12:00) NO PARTY FOR CAO DONG, (1:00-2:00) Rufus Wainwright, (3:00-4:00) CreepHyp, (5:00-6:00) RAYE, (7:00-8:10) I Wish It Was Midnight Forever, (9:10-10:40) Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds

White Stage

(12:40-1:30) Esne Beltza, (2:20-3:10) Hey-Smith, (4:10-5:10) The Jesus And Mary Chain, (6:00-7:00) Toe, (8:00-9:00) Kim Gordon, (10:10-11:10) Turnstile

Red Marquee

(10:20am-11:00am) Hiroto Mori, (11:30am-12:10pm) Betcover!!, (12:40-1:30) US, (2:00-3:00) WEEKEND LOVERS 2024 “with You” LOSALIOS / The Birthday (Kuhara Kazuyuki, Hirai Haruki, Fujii Kenji), (4:00-5:00) Kitani Tatsuya, (6:00-7:00) Fontaines DC, (8:00-9:00) Ride, (11:15-12:00am) Kenya Grace, (12:10-1:00am) Oliver Tree, (1:00am-2:00am) 250, (2:00-3:10am) DJ Krush, (3:10-5:00am) Ken Ishii

Field Of Heaven

(11:40-12:30) Naruyoshi Kikuchi and Pepe Tormento Ascarar, (1:20-2:20) Chlo Co Pa Co Cho Co Quin Quin, (2:10-4:10) Ali, (5:10-6:10) Yin Yin, (7:00-8:10) Celebration of The Meters, (9:00-10:30) The Allman Betts Band

Keanu Reeves might have broken into the industry through “Bill and Ted,” and was an established ‘90s action actor thanks to films like “Speed” and “Point Break.” But his iconic role as Neo in “The Matrix” truly catapulted him into stardom.

For many, “The Matrix” was both a thrilling cinematic escape and a powerful spiritual experience—exploring what it means to be human in the digital age, all while kicking ass in cool leather trench coats. And Reeves was the hero that took us on that journey.

Of course, he would go on to be the center of another legendary franchise with “John Wick” and would become a legend off-camera as a genuinely compassionate and generous person. But to think—we might have not had any of it had Reeves never taken that red pill.

It turns out that not even Reeves himself takes that moment in his life for granted.

During a recent interview with Stephen Colbert on “The Late Show,” the host mentioned several of Reeves’ movies that were celebrating an anniversary this year — “Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure,” 35; “Point Break,” 33; “Speed,” 30; “The Matrix,” 25; and “John Wick,” 10.

Colbert then asked Reeves to name a fond memory from each of these iconic movies in a lightning-round style. Reeves was able to get out simple answers like “friendship” for “Bill and Ted” and “the genius of Catherine Bigelow” for “Point Break,” but when he got to “The Matrix,” there was a palpable, emotional pause.

After about twenty seconds, Reeves replied, “’The Matrix’ changed my life. And then, over these years, it’s changed so many other people’s lives in really positive and great ways.”

Gathering himself, he concluded, “As an artist, you hope for that when you get to do a film or tell a story…it’s the best.”

It was so well said that Colbert didn’t bother trying to get a memory for “John Wick” but instead shook his hand and ended the segment.

Watch:

“The Matrix” Changed My Life – Keanu Reeves Shares Fond Memories Of His Most Iconic Films

Down in the comments, people were once again moved by Reeves’ heartfelt authenticity.

“Keanu’s response to the Matrix question was so profound.”

“That really got me. So moving. As for the movie itself, to this day, The Matrix is still the most mind-blowing experience I’ve ever had in a theatre!”

“The answer, his face, his body language, how he changed his emotion so fast just gave me chills and I cried. He knows the truth.”

“What a real dude. There’s a reason everyone loves him.”

“Do we all simply want to burst into tears when he emotionally recounts how The Matrix has touched people?”

“To this day, The Matrix remains my favorite movie of all time. Full stop. It’s amazing to see him get so emotional when he talks about it.”

“He almost made me cry, that was a raw emotional sincere comment he made – just beautiful.”

“The Academy Awards will honor Keanu Reeves one day with a lifetime achievement award. No doubt. The Matrix is the best sci-fi movie ever made and Keanu was brilliant in the role. A beautiful human being. I always support his work. I wish him the best this world offers.”

By the way, if all this Matrix nostalgia has got you wishing you could see it on the big screen again, you’re in luck! AMC will be presenting a special anniversary screening of it in September.

To paraphrase a popular adage about a tree falling in the woods: If you have a meeting and nobody takes notes of what was said, did the meeting ever really occur in the first place?

That’s the core question at the center of one of billionaire entrepreneur, Virgin Group founder, adventurer and philanthropist Richard Branson’s most important habits. He takes pen-and-paper notes during every meeting.

“I love learning,” Branson explained on the “Worklife” podcast with Adam Grant. “I can never understand how people can have a meeting with somebody and not take notes. If you’re having a meeting with a group of people where you’re planning to sort out issues and not take notes, you’re only going to remember two or three things from that meeting. And quite often from a meeting, you might have a list of 20 ideas that come out of it.”

He’s got a great point. If people only leave the meeting remembering a handful of ideas, then some great suggestions that should be followed up on magically disappear. The good ideas that deserved reconsidering have been blown away into the ether, never to be considered again.

Branson believes that following up on ideas presented at meetings can take a company up another level.

“It’s important to follow up on and it’s very important to get back to the person who came up with those ideas and either respond positively or say why you disagree. By dealing with all those small things quickly, you go from potentially becoming an average company into becoming an exceptional company, and the staff who work there are really appreciative that their issues have been dealt with,” Branson concludes.

The entrepreneur blames the lack of note-taking squarely on men. He adds that leaving all the note-taking to women does a real disservice to men.

“In my experience, 99 percent of people in leadership roles don’t take notes. What’s more, males are less likely to take notes than their female counterparts,” Branson writes on LInkedIn. “Not only is this unfair to women, but it’s also disadvantageous to men. It’s time for men to step up and do their share of support work. On top of counteracting gender bias in the work force, it will also give men a better understanding of what going on within the business and what needs to be done to make things run more effectively.”

Running meetings without taking notes also makes it harder for meaningful work actually to get done. “This often happens with, for instance, politicians. We will have a meeting, talk about dozens of ideas to improve things, and they won’t write anything down. They might remember one of the ideas, but what about all of the others? They will have to muddle through and little will get done,” he wrote on Virgin’s blog.

Ultimately, it’s essential for people to take notes because great ideas can be lost forever without them. “No matter how big, small, simple or complex an idea is, get it in writing,” Branson wrote. “But don’t just take notes for the sake of taking notes, go through your ideas and turn them into actionable and measurable goals. If you don’t write your ideas down, they could leave your head before you even leave the room.”

When we ask ourselves, “Who am I?” there are many different places to go for answers, whether it’s psychology, spirituality, or connecting with our inner barometer that tells us when we’re being authentic.

There’s also the big question: Is life about finding oneself or creating oneself? Is there a true you lurking deep inside your heart and mind, or is life all about creating the person you always wanted to be through discipline and self-cultivation?

One thing is for sure: our thoughts are a big part of who we are. As the Buddha once said: “We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts we make the world.”

However, in a world where so many people are constantly locked into their smartphones, consuming everyone else’s thoughts on TikTok, YouTube, Reddit, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, at what point do we lose our unique sense of self after being filled with others’ ideas?

A girl is losing herself to her smartphone. via Cottonbro studio/Pexels

This question was recently brought up on Reddit, where Accomplished-Bend898 made an interesting point about the self in the social media era.

“Social media is killing you, but not in the way you think,” Accomplished-Bend898 wrote. “When you passively consume so much content, it fills your brain. To the brim. And at the same time, you aren’t spending any time alone with your own thoughts. You’ve become a consumer, not a contributor.”

“So your own, true thoughts start to merge with the hivemind of the internet,” the Redditor continued. “And whatever information the algorithms think you want to hear becomes what you actually believe. And so you are becoming less and less you.”

Accomplished-Bend898 simplified their theory into a math equation: “Passive content consumption – time alone with your own thoughts = the death of the real you.”

The idea that social media is killing people’s individuality is a bold and scary claim in a world where nearly everyone is on one platform or another. But for many, it rings true. Have you known anyone who fell down a rabbit hole on Twitter or TikTok, and their worldview began to change slowly over time? The more they viewed videos or tweets on a topic, the more the algorithm fed them the same content, creating a feedback loop that forever altered their personality.

If social media hasn’t wholly cut off people’s internal monologues and moments of thoughtful solitude, then they have definitely been curtailed. Studies show that the average person now spends 2 hours and 23 minutes a day looking at social media.

Although it’s hard to determine whether social media crowds out our own thoughts, it does cause cognitive overload, which makes it difficult to focus and process information correctly. This, in turn, makes it harder to think deeply about the information presented to us, making it easier to fall for misinformation.

Whether or not social media is killing “the real you” or “real us,” it has, undeniably, stunted our collective ability to hear our own thoughts.

A man is losing herself to her smartphone.via Cottonbro studio/Pexels

Social media allows people to express themselves in ways that were unimaginable 20 years ago. However, instead of breeding a culture of individualism, it has created one of collectivism, where people are eager to follow the latest trends or conform to groupthink.

“Trends create a culture of conformity; if one doesn’t stay up to date with what’s ‘in,’ they are quickly categorized as ‘other.’ Extending beyond social media, people who wear certain clothing or listen to music that isn’t considered relevant to today’s trends are instantly judged,” Anahai Pellathy writes at The Standard. “Rather than choosing what to wear or how to act based on personal preference, people tend to rely upon trends and external perceptions.”

In addition, people are less likely to flaunt their individuality when they believe their actions are being judged by those who view their posts.

“Authenticity suffers under the constant gaze,” Hoan Westerberg, a writer focused on technology’s effect on people, writes on Medium. “Psychological studies show heavy social media users report lower self-esteem and life satisfaction than light users. When we constantly evaluate ourselves through the lens of others, we lose sight of our core identity.”

Although much work remains to determine whether spending too much time on social media is really “killing the real you,” there are enough warning signs to be concerned that we are losing the best part of ourselves to technology.

People are losing themselves to smartphone addiction.via Cottonbro studio/Pexels

So, if you’re looking to reconnect with your true self, Accomplished-Bend898 has some suggestions for reducing screen time or making it healthier.

Don’t sleep next to your phone

Your brain will crave the first thing you feed it, so wait at least an hour after waking up to check it for anything.

Get a good screen time app

Built-in screen time settings are no match for your monkey brain. BePresent is my favorite because it uses actual psychology to combat phone addiction.

Delete social media from your phone

Force yourself to use it only on your computer so it is more intentional.

Turn your phone to greyscale

Greyscale will make your screen time a lot more boring. On an iPhone, go to Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text > Color Filters > Grayscale.

Replace scrolling with another activity

When you reduce your screen time by several hours per day, you need to replace it with something meaningful in your life. Start small and find out what motivates you.

There are no two human beings who are exactly alike. One of the funny quirks of evolution is that some of us can do things with our bodies we think are routine, but are impossible for others.

Some people can wiggle their ears, others can’t. Some can wiggle their nose like Samantha from “Bewitched” while others just look really silly when making an attempt.

Not everyone can lick their elbow but most wouldn’t attempt to do so in public.

A Twitter user named Massimo dropped some knowledge about a skill that not everyone has and even fewer discuss: ear rumbling.

Those of us who can do it know exactly what it is, while it’s a mystery to those who cannot.

A part of the human population can voluntarily control the tensor tympani, a muscle within the ear. Contracting this muscle produces vibration and sound. The sound is usually described as a rumbling sound https://bit.ly/2Clijefu00a0pic.twitter.com/ianKb60EK8

— Massimo (@Massimo)
1581957023

People who can ear rumble have the ability to control the tensor tympani, a muscle within the ear. Contracting the muscle creates a rushing, rumbling sound that, if flexed enough, can drown out a significant amount of noise.

This can be useful when someone is saying something that you don’t want to hear but don’t want to be rude and cover your ears. It can come in real handy if someone is about to spoil your favorite TV show or if you live with someone who can’t stop nagging.

Some people cannot voluntarily create the rumbling sound but hear it when they let out a large yawn.

There’s a Reddit sub-forum just for ear rumblers with over 60,000 people. Here’s how some of them get rumblin’.

“I just squeeze the muscle in my ears I guess,” — melvinthefish

“When I flex and hold whatever I’m manipulating to do that, I get my rumble,” — ttywzl

“I get a mild rumble just doing the usual flex, but i can make it a bit louder by bringing my top lip up to my nose,” — Willmono7

“The best way I can describe it is I ‘squint my ears,'” —SteeleIT

The muscle exists to mask-low frequency sounds so we can focus on those at a higher frequency. It also works to mute sounds we create ourselves such as eating potato chips or coughing. It’s a way that helps us from becoming annoyed with our own bodies.

Unfortunately, the muscle has a rather slow reaction time so it cannot prevent us from hearing loud sudden noises like a gunshot or a book slamming on the ground.

Massimo’s tweet caused quite a stir on the platform.

Been able to do that forever and wiggle my ears independently. Regrettably It doesn’t attract women and I can’t make money from it. Sad face.

— Simon the Smith 3.5% (@Simstersnose) February 17, 2020

To me it sounds like when there’s a big thunderstorm and the thunder is just lowly rolling around in the sky forever with only tiny flashes of lightning that don’t leave the clouds

— 🍀shmily🧚🏽☻ (@turtlelaughing) February 18, 2020

Quick! We need a Venn Diagram to show people who can do this, people who have internal monologues, people who have synaesthesia, and people with any other weird “I thought everyone did this” stuff.

— Marian Matta writes (among other things) (@MadWomansKnitti) February 18, 2020

Although scientists have known about ear rumbling since at least the 1800s, there doesn’t appear to have been too much research on the topic. We know that some can rumble and others cannot, but it’s unclear how it breaks down percentage-wise or if it’s more prevalent in certain groups.

The good news is that the word is starting to get out and people who’ve been rumbling all their lives suddenly don’t feel so alone.

This article originally appeared on 03.05.20

Sometimes the best new R&B can be hard to find, but there are plenty of great rhythm-and-blues tunes to get into if you have the time to sift through the hundreds of newly released songs every week. So that R&B heads can focus on listening to what they love in its true form, we’ll be offering a digest of the best new R&B songs that fans of the genre should hear every Friday.

Since the last update of this weekly R&B column, we’ve received plenty of music and news from the genre’s artists.

The Weeknd continues to tease his new album, one that will complete the trilogy that includes After Hours and Dawn FM while Tinashe dropped separate remixes of “Nasty Girl” with Chlöe and Tyga. Khalid took a step closer to his upcoming album Sincere with his level-headed single “Ground” and Kaytranada announced the Timeless Tour with Channel Tres, Amaarae, Sam Gellaitry, Kitty Cash, and Lou Phelps. Elsewhere, Netflix’s Prince documentary is reportedly “dead in the water” after six years of work and Normani was accused of not properly crediting a songwriter on her Dopamine album.

Tinashe — “Nasty Girl Remix” Feat. Chlöe & “Nasty XXX Remix” Feat. Tyga

We’re a couple of weeks away from Tinashe’s upcoming album Quantum Baby, and she continues its rollout with a pair of remixes for her hit song “Nasty Girl.” The two remixes, titled “Nasty Girl Remix” and “Nasty XXX Remix,” feature Chlöe and Tyga, respectively, for reimagined versions centered on the female and male experiences. Fans now have two more reasons to love the original song.

Sampha & Little Simz — “Satellite Business 2.0”

It took Sampha six years to release his second album Lahai, but it didn’t take him nearly as long to drop new music after it. The British singer teamed with fellow Londoner Little Simz for a remix to “Satellite Business.” The new take, titled “Satellite Business 2.0,” is the fully-realized version of the interlude from Lahai. Its “completion” comes after Simz witnessed Sampha perform it live with his band during his run of residency shows for the album.

Blxst — I’ll Always Come Find You

Almost four years after Blxst emerged onto the scene with his debut EP No Love Lost, the West Coast crooner is finally here to deliver his debut album. I’ll Always Come Find You arrives with 20 songs broken into four discs and features from 2 Chainz, Fatman Scoop, Offset, Anderson .Paak, Joony, Becky G, Joyce Wrice, Ty Dolla Sign, and more. “I feel like it’s my obligation to bridge that gap and show people from my city different tastes, cultures, music, food and fashion,” Blxst said in a press release about the album. “It’s a big world, and I’d be crazy to limit myself to just one thing.”

Khalid — “Ground”

Khalid’s third album Sincere arrives on August 2 and it’s currently led by two singles: “Adore U” and “Please Don’t Fall In Love With Me.” With a couple of weeks to go, Khalid makes it three singles with “Ground.” A level-headed Khalid steers through the track as his showcases his growth, a theme that will be seen throughout Sincere.

4Batz & Usher — “Act IV: F*ckin U Again (18+)”

Days away from the start of his Thank U, Jada Tour, 4Batz lands the co-sign of a lifetime from Usher who remixes his U Made Me A St4r standout “Act IV: F*ckin U (18+).” A new verse from Usher is also paired with a new verse from 4Batz that adds to the smooth and sensual feeling behind the track.

Blk Odyssy — 1-800 Fantasy

Singer and producer Blk Odyssy returned with his third album 1-800 Fantasy which presents 13 songs and features for Wiz Khalifa, Jackie Giroux, Harry Edohoukwa, and Joey Badass for a deep dive into infatuation and rejection. The album was made from the perspective of a teenage boy obsessed with an elusive woman, following his attempts to win her over. Unfortunately for him, it ends with heartbreak, but without a lesson learned.

Hailey Knox — For The Best

Los Angeles-based singer Hailey Knox is here with her debut EP For The Best. The 8-track release showcases her impeccable vocal talents and sweet pop-R&B blend carried by catchy hooks at the center of tales of dysfunctional relationships and the aftermath “For The Best is about accepting what is,” Knox says about the project. “Reflections on when love hurts, growing together and apart, closing chapters, and starting new ones.”

Honey Bxby — “Bonnie & Clyde” Feat. Fivio Foreign

Just a couple of months after releasing the deluxe version of her debut EP 3 Words, 8 Letters, Honey Bxby is back with new music. She teams up with fellow East Coaster Fivio Foreign for their new track “Bonnie & Clyde.” The duo’s take on the ride-or-die anthem blends nostalgia and a fresh feel for a heartfelt addition to the long-running canon of Bonnie & Clyde records.

Rayana Jay — “Garden”

Two years after Last Call, Richmond, California singer Rayana Jay is readying a new album. Temple is set to arrive later this year, and for its first offering, Jay brings us to the “Garden” on the new single. “This song illustrates what happens when we take love and pleasure into our own hands and tell someone, ‘Hey, this is what I want’,” she said in a press release. “I think ‘Garden’ is about passion, vulnerability, and love as a form of worship.”

Allyn — “Lick Back”

For her second single of the year, Sacramento singer Allyn is getting her “Lick Back.” Success if the best form of revenge, and on her latest track, Allyn is focused on leveling up, proving her haters wrong, and conserving her energy for the things that serve her the most.

Tyler Loyal — “Eve’s Garden”

Boston native Tyler Loyal navigates through heartbreak on his latest single, “Eve’s Garden.” The track, which pulls elements of sexy drill, captures Loyal’s frustration about a woman’s infidelity in their relationship and how it proved to be the last straw.

Las Vegas is known for many things, but amazing outdoor recreation is often forgotten among them. But it’s surprisingly easy to escape the hustle of the strip for a day by visiting Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, a stunning expanse of desert vistas, which lies just a stone’s throw west of Las Vegas. Here, you can trade slot machines for sandstone and swap hoards of people for panoramic views.

With 200,000 acres of protected recreation area, you’ll feel transported much further than the mere 16 miles traveled from downtown Las Vegas to the area’s entrance.

HOW TO GET THERE FROM LAS VEGAS:

The best way to travel to Red Rock Canyon Conservation Area is by car. Following SR 159, it is just a short 30-minute drive from the city. A one-day pass for cars costs $20, and an annual pass is just $50.

If you’re visiting the Scenic Loop portion between 8 am and 5 pm October 1 and May 31, you must secure a timed entry reservation online at recreation.gov, including a $2 reservation fee.

WHAT TO DO WHILE YOU’RE THERE:

Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area offers plenty of activities for all kinds of outdoor enthusiasts. The 200,000 acres are perfect for a scenic drive along the park road, hiking one of the park’s trails, which range in difficulty from easy to difficult, or climbing one of the many trad or multi-pitch climbs that have made it well-known as one of the best climbing destinations in the country.

HIKING TRAILS:

Ice Box Canyon Trail:

Ice Box Canyon Trail is a moderately challenging hike popular for hikers and runners alike. The initial section of the trail is a gradual incline through the desert wash, but once you enter the canyon, things get more interesting. Be prepared for some light scrambling as you navigate boulders and loose rocks. Depending on the time of year, you might be rewarded with seasonal waterfalls cascading down the canyon walls. Reviews mention that parts of the trail can be tough to follow, so download an offline map before heading onto the trail.

Distance: 2.1 miles
Difficulty: Moderate

Calico Tanks Trail:

Calico Tanks Trail is likely the most popular trail in Red Rock Canyon, but don’t let that keep you from it. The trail, which winds through a colorful canyon with sandstone formations, has panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and, at the end, even a glimpse of Las Vegas in the distance. Be sure to arrive early to beat the crowds (and the heat!).

Distance: 2.4 miles
Difficulty: Moderate

White Rock Mountain Loop Trail:

This 6.2-mile loop White Rock Mountain Trail is moderately challenging due to its longer length and elevation gain of 1,148 feet, some uphill sections, and uneven terrain. The loop is a great choice as it offers a taste of everything Red Rock Canyon offers, from cholla cacti to rocky slopes and even a hidden forest of pinyon and juniper nestled into the mountain’s west side. Be prepared with the ten essentials, including sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses.

Distance: 6.2 miles
Difficulty: Moderate

Turtlehead Peak Trail:

The Turtlehead Peak Trail in Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area is a classic hike with stunning views and opportunities to view petroglyphs while getting in a challenging workout. The trail is just 4.6 miles round-trip but packs a punch with steep climbs, loose sections, and nearly 2,000 ft of elevation gain. The rocky but generally well-marked trail winds its way up the side of Turtlehead Peak, offering fantastic views as you climb the Red Rock Canyon and Las Vegas below.

Distance: 4.6 miles
Difficulty: Hard

CLIMBING:

Red Rock Canyon National Recreation Area is a world-renowned rock climbing destination with routes for all skill levels, from beginner to expert. With over 2,000 established climbing routes, there is something for every climber here. Popular climbing areas include Calico Hills, which offers a variety of gentle slabs and faces, and Rainbow Wall, an iconic wall that features a mix of trad and sport climbs and offers breathtaking views of the valley below.

SCENIC DRIVE:

The 13-mile scenic drive through Red Rock Canyon is a must for any visitors to the area. Wind your way through the canyons and past towering sandstone rock formations that will transport you to what feels like another planet entirely. Be sure to spend time at the pull-offs, where you can stop and take in the views. Remember, to access the Scenic Drive between 8 am and 5 pm from October 1 to May 31, you’ll first need to secure a timed entry vehicle reservation here.

Whether you like it or not, Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman are everywhere. Just this week alone, they’ve done Hot Ones (which Hugh barely survived), guest hosted on Jimmy Kimmel Live! and somehow made it back to charm the ladies on The View, who probably will not be seeing Deadpool & Wolverine anytime soon. But are they taking time to check in with each other lately?

The Deadpool & Wolverine stars took GQ’s friendship quiz to get to know each other a little better, as if they haven’t spent the last year and a half shooting a movie together. But, probably due to sleep deprivation, it turned into a chaotic back and forth between the two longtime friends/enemies.

When Jackman asked what is the best prank he had pulled on Reynolds, Reynolds knew exactly what to mention. “We did a commercial together years ago for Laughing Man Coffee and Aviation Gin. And I made a spectacular ad for his company. And he thought I was gonna take the p***. So he took the p***.” For reference, Reynolds’ ad features picturesque scenes and a calming voiceover, while Jackman’s ad consisted of him calling Ryan an a–hole. This did happen.

These two seem to prank each other often, to varying degrees. Reynolds added, “There’s been a bunch, though. ‘Come on over to my house, it’s a Christmas party, everyone’s wearing an ugly sweater.’ No they’re not. Everybody’s wearing f*ucking Dior and sh*t and I’m in the ugly sweater. Yep, that was fun.” Reynolds recalled. Did this happen? Unclear.

“What is the best prank I’ve pulled on you?” Reynolds then asked Jackman, who replied with a concerning anecdote. “When you asked me to come and look after our kids for an hour and you didn’t come back for like three months. That was hilarious,” Jackman added.

Hopefully that last one is fake…or else Jackman and Taylor Swift might have to team up for some babysitting.

Check out the full interview above.

While the Kansas City Chiefs won the Super Bowl last year, they did have some trouble in the middle of the regular season, as they went on a 3-5 stretch that was capped off with a pretty shocking loss to the Las Vegas Raiders on Christmas Day. The Raiders walked into Arrowhead Stadium and totally flummoxed Patrick Mahomes and co., and picked up a 20-14 win off of back-to-back defensive touchdowns in the second quarter despite some serious issues with their ability to throw the ball.

Kansas City rebounded from this pretty well, as they lifted the Lombardi Trophy for the third time in the Mahomes era. But the Raiders seem to be riding high off of knowing they got the better of him, as evidenced by the fact that they have a Mahomes Kermit doll that they’re playing with at training camp.

Of course, Mahomes has been the source of jokes for years for sounding like Kermit. Having said that, going as far as to make a Kermit doll with his hair and jersey and bringing it to training camp is some next level hating. Would I recommend that a team does this with Mahomes? Absolutely not, but the Raiders clearly disagree with me, and I wish them luck in both of their games against the Chiefs this season.

Lady Gaga has dabbled in pop, rock, country, and even American standards. But her singing in Joker: Folie à Deux was entirely new for her.

“People know me by my stage name, Lady Gaga, right? That’s me as that performer, but that is not what this movie is; I’m playing a character. So I worked a lot on the way that I sang to come from Lee, and to not come from me as a performer,” she recently told Empire. “How do you take music and have it just be an extension of the dialogue, as opposed to breaking into song for no conceivable reason? It was unlike anything I’ve ever done before.”

Gaga is a trainer singer, but her character, Harley “Lee” Quinn,” isn’t, so she had to learn how to hit the “bum” notes. “My breathing was different when I sang as Lee,” she explained. “When I breathe to sing on stage, I have this very controlled way to make sure that I’m on pitch and it’s sustained at the right rhythm and amount of time, but Lee would never know how to do any of that. So it’s like removing the technicality of the whole thing, removing my perceived art-form from it all and completely being inside of who she is.”

Joker: Folie à Deux isn’t a straight-up musical. Rather, “it’s a film where music is an essential element,” director Todd Phillips previously told Entertainment Weekly,” including a rumored 15 reinterpretations of well-known songs. Maybe Gaga can show off the Harley Quinn singing voice during the Olympics.

Joker: Folie à Deux hits theaters on October 4.