Earlier this week, a game between the Boston Celtics and the Denver Nuggets included a delay of a little more than half an hour because a Robert Williams dunk in the fourth quarter caused the rim at Ball Arena to bend a little. Things took a little to get all sorted out, but apparently, the problem is back again during Denver’s home tilt against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night.
Early on in the fourth quarter of a game the Nuggets led, 96-82, someone noticed that the rim the Cavs were shooting on was bent after Evan Mobley grabbed the rim on an unsuccessful dunk attempt where he was fouled. It led to a delay of about eight minutes, but everything got sorted out pretty quickly.
After about an eight-minute delay, with the levels and ladders being brought out in Denver, we are back to hoops.
Still, having this happen again is extremely annoying, and no one was more annoyed over the whole thing than Denver coach Michael Malone. Here he is, absolutely furious that this is happening again and making his way onto the floor to try and get a sense of how bad it is.
While Jamal Murray used this as a chance to chill on the sidelines with fans, please wait for the camera to cut to Malone at the 1:31 mark of the below video, as he is having an extremely bad time.
No one is happier than Michael Malone that this didn’t take half an hour.
Back in 2021, Radiohead members Thom Yorke and Johnny Greenwood launched a side band project called The Smile. However, with that announcement came rumors that the original band was breaking up or being replaced by this new endeavor.
Radiohead’s drummer, Philip Selway, sat down for a recent interview with Spin to clear the air on all the fans’ biggest fears. (No, they are not breaking up — at least to his present knowledge.)
“As far as I know, we’re still a band,” Selway said. “If anybody knows any different, I’d be very interested.”
“For me, whatever we do, it all falls under that umbrella of the five of us,” he added. “Ultimately, it all feeds into it.”
The band’s last tour ended back in 2018. While they might be due for another album release soon, the members are currently stacked in terms of other career projects, from recording and releasing solo projects (in Selway’s and Ed O’Brien’s cases) to touring live with Nick Cave (Colin Greenwood).
“We’ve been very focused on the whole Kid A/Amnesiac thing, and I think that’s coming to its natural conclusion, going back through the reissue and the game scenario around that,” he said. “We’re going to get together at the start of [2023], and I’m sure we’re going to start looking at other ideas for what comes next. Hail to the Thief — it’s a long time since that record, isn’t it?”
The nepo baby discourse isn’t slowing down anytime soon. TikTok and Twitter timelines have been torn apart since last month, when Vulture published a feature about what defines a nepo baby and how they are able to navigate the entertainment industry more easily than those who don’t have familial connections.
Some have referred to Hailey as a “double nepo,” given her uncle, as well as her husband. Nevertheless, she doesn’t appear to be bothered by the controversial title.
Though she has never directly commented on the nepo baby, she admitted in an interview with the Call Her Daddy podcast that fame can be overwhelming at times.
“Sometimes I don’t think we can comprehend [those thoughts] on our own because then you just throw yourself back into like, a vicious cycle,” she said. “I do think sometimes you need to express it and you need to go to someone who is going to feel safe for you and support you in those thoughts, not make you feel like you’re crazy or that you’re wrong for feeling dark and deep and heavy.”
Bernie Sanders ran for both the senate and president… Now, the politician is coming for another title that might surprise people: musician. Sanders appears on a new album by Minnesota House representative Maria Isa Pérez-Vega.
Pérez-Vega, after being sworn into office this week, dropped her new EP, Capitolio, to celebrate. Sanders appears on the opening title track, aptly titled “Tío Bernie.”
“People will respond to you a lot more than these ninety-year-old guys,” he is recorded saying on the song. While it’s not exactly a verse but a 0:44 recording, he does offer Pérez-Vega some sage advice.
“Don’t be afraid,” he adds. “If somebody says something to you, ‘Young lady, this is not good decorum’… Tell them to go f*ck themselves.”
She, and presumably the rest of the group burst out laughing. “Can I give you a hug man?” she responds.
As for the rest of Pérez-Vega’s new EP, it includes eight total songs (including Sanders’ intro) that range from Latin to hip-hop influences.
“Of course I’m going to keep making my music — that’s where I get my energy,” Pérez-Vega told The Star Tribune.
“I had been working on it from the first day I was running for the House, and it’s been a part of my campaign trail the whole way,” she added to the Tribune. “Music is medication, and we can certainly use that medication in politics right now.”
Check out Maria Isa Pérez-Vega’s song, “Tío Bernie,” above.
It’s no secret that Billie Eilish is a massive fan of The Office. However, fans are just now finding out even more about how deep her loyalty to the show runs. After recently claiming she’s watched the series several times, she also learned a lot of incorrect facts — as the jokes went over her head as a child.
“Starting to watch The Office at a really young age, I almost didn’t understand any reference whatsoever,” the singer-songwriter and known super-fan of the TV series explained. “There’s so many things that are said, especially by Michael, in The Office that he says wrong on purpose, were written on purpose that, I didn’t even know the real word. So I said many words wrong because I learned them from Michael Scott.”
One of these references is a joke about U2 that appeared in a season four episode titled “Goodbye, Toby Part 1.” Eilish says she “blames John Krasinski,” as his character, Jim, has a conversation with his boss, Michael Scott, about making a mixtape.
“Hey, what’s the group that was from Scranton that made it big? Was that U2?” Scott asks Jim in the episode, to which he simply replies “Yes.”
“There’s no pause, there’s no laugh,” Eilish said. “Honestly, in my head, I thought Jim thought, ‘Oh, that’s a stupid question,’ because obviously, they’re the band that made it big from Scranton… I thought that was the vibe instead of no, not at all. Their whole thing is that they’re Irish!”
Eilish, who appeared on the Office Ladies podcast, only found out that Bono (and U2) was from Ireland after he sent her a card welcoming her to the country.
“I was like, ‘Why would Bono, who’s from Scranton… Why would he send me something in Ireland? What does this have to do with him?’” she continued. “And it was like, ‘Welcome to my hometown’ or something like that. But U2 is from Scranton. I kept asking everyone like, ‘What is Bono doing sending me flowers all the way across the world? Why would he do that?’”
Listen to Billie Eilish’s full appearance on the Office Ladies podcast here.
Long before the days of TikTok, singer Rebecca Black was one of the earliest viral stars. Though her debut song “Friday” proved polarizing, she’s continued to persevere. While she’s had a brief stint as a YouTube vlogger, music has always been her first love, and over the course of the past 12 years, she’s gone from making teenage bubblegum pop, to infectious queer bops.
Over a decade in the making, Black is finally gearing up to release her debut album. She previously announced her album would be titled Let Her Burn last year, upon the release of its lead single, “Crumbs.” Today (January 6), Black took to Instagram and revealed the cover art for Let Her Burn, which is set to drop next month.
Back in November, she shared a post on Instagram reflecting on her musical journey, and every milestone leading up to this era.
“I’ve dreamt of this ever since I was a tiny tumblr obsessed teenage bean in OC,” she said. “I remember I was full of fear, but at the same time I had this burning desire to show and prove myself to the world. I spent hours up alone every night listening to the albums that brought me comfort, hope and adventure in my own skin, imagining how my own could feel, if one day it ever got to exist.”
Check out the Let Her Burn cover art below.
Rebecca Black
Let Her Burn is out via 2/9 via Rebecca Black. You can pre-order it here.
It’s usually reserved for romantic couples, and shows one partner picking from two pieces of paper labeled with different activities like “picnic in the park” or “dinner and a movie.” They won’t be able to see what’s on the card until they choose, and it’s always fun to see their reaction after the fact … especially when they accidentally pick a chore. Yeah, some partners go there.
One dad decided to take the idea and add his own twist—taking his young daughter out on their own “pick a card” adventure. Absolute cuteness ensued.
Joshua Chavez first presented his daughter, Indie, cards, which read “shopping spree at Target,” and “trip to Disney World.” Indie chose the former.
In case you were thinking, ah man, poor thing missed out on Disney, Indie is seen jumping up and down with excitement after realizing new toys are in store. So I think she’s fine.
Next thing we know, the pair are seen cruising through the toy aisle, Indie’s kiddie-sized shopping cart already filled to the brim.
Next, it was between sushi or Starbucks. Sushi won. Indie gasps, elated, and then we see the pair noshing happily.
Finally it’s between a tea party or a spa night. Indie chose a spa night—complete with foot rubs, cucumbers on the eyes … the whole shebang. Dad joined in too. Too stinkin’ cute.
“The best date of my life,” the father wrote in his caption.
The video, posted by Madison Chavez, mama of the family, quickly rose to 4.3 million views on TikTok. People not only loved the pure sweetness of it all, but also how this dad was stepping up in a big way for his little girl.
Here are just a few things people are saying:
“Brought a tear to my eye thinking about my daughter. Good to see positive fatherhood.”
“She will remember this for the rest of her life.”
“From the girls who never got this, thank you sir. That’s one lucky baby!”
“Bro, you are the epitome of what a man should be. That is so beautiful. I can truly see you love your daughter like Iove mine. Thank you for showing.”
“Cherish the moment, they grow up so fast.”
It’s no secret that the relationship we share with our parents during early childhood can have a profound and lasting effect on our adult lives. This dad understands that the bond between a father and his daughter is an important one to foster. And, as he has demonstrated, even the simplest activities can create positive core memories. No dad is perfect, but putting in real effort can make a world of difference in a child’s life.
Here’s to more daddy-daughter “pick a card” adventures!
Today, Netflix officially announced the renewal of the Addams Family-inspired television show, Wednesday, for a second season. The series is set around the spooky daughter (played by Jenna Ortega), as noted by the title, as she navigates attending school and mystical creatures.
Following the news, Pop Crave posed the question “Who would you like to see be cast in ‘Wednesday’ Season 2?” on Twitter. While fans replied with their own picks, ranging from TK to TK, musician Becky G threw her own name in the ring.
People immediately wondered what Becky G meant, and if there was any validity to her statement when it comes to casting. “pls explain we need more deets,” one person said.
“OMG?! Spill the tea sis!!” another added.
While it’s still unclear what Becky’s intention was — as a clue or just a suggestion, it wouldn’t be the first time the series has aligned itself with the music world. After all, Lady Gaga’s “Bloody Mary” became a resurged hit after TikTok users set edits of Wednesday to the song. (They even used Gaga’s track in the promotions for season two.)
While Lizzo had one of the best-selling albums and singles last year, and continues to make strides as a pop and R&B icon, she still receives online vitriol. She is one of many artists who receive comments on her body, and she has seen it pan out in real time for other artists.
Today (January 6) the “About Damn Time” singer took to TikTok to offer some words for those who can’t seem to keep their comments to themselves.
“The discourse around bodies is officially tired,” she said. “I have seen comments go from ‘Oh my gosh, I liked you when you were thick. Why’d you lose weight?’ to ‘Oh my gosh, why’d you get a BBL? I liked your body before’ to ‘Oh my gosh, you’re so big. You need to lose weight, but for your health.’”
Later in the clip, she shared an idea that could possibly convince people to withhold their sh*tty comments.
“I wish that comments costed y’all money,” she said, “so we could see how much time we are f*cking wasting on the wrong thing.”
Granted, this would be ideal, however, certain stan groups would probably end up bankrupting themselves sending hate comments to their idols’ rivals.
If you’re not a big fan of vodka, there’s a chance you might think it tastes like… nothing. Well, not necessarily nothing. It’s a neutral spirit. Its flavors (albeit light) come from the sugars and other ingredients that are manipulated during the filtration and proofing processes. But in general, it’s not supposed to have harsh or abrasive flavors.
The problem is that there are so many vodkas on the market. with many of them being incredibly cheap, and quite a few being overtly bad.
Not all bargain basement vodkas are terrible though. At the under $20 price point, there are a ton of vodkas worth buying. To find these budget diamonds in the bottom shelf rough, I decided to take eight bottles of well-made vodka and blindly nose and taste them. Some are big names and others are smaller upstart brands. All are cheap and a few even deserve a spot on your home bar cart. Keep scrolling to find out which ones made the cut and which you should avoid.
PART I — The Lineup
New Amsterdam Vodka
Seagram’s Vodka
Sobieski Vodka
Tower Vodka
Luksusowa Vodka
Pinnacle Vodka
Svedka Vodka
Skyy Vodka
PART II — The Taste
Taste 1
Christopher Osburn
Tasting Notes:
On the nose, I found a ton of alcohol mixed with sweet corn and cereal grains. Drinking it revealed some mineral qualities, citrus peels, and more alcohol burn. Not a great vodka, but one passable as a mixer for sure.
Taste 2
Christopher Osburn
Tasting Notes:
A lot is going on with this vodkas nose. There’s a fruity sweetness, a ton of corn, and even some vanilla beans. It definitely makes you want to take a sip. The flavor profile is smooth and loaded with vanilla, sweet corn, and just a hint of wintry spices. The finish is mellow but warming in a great way.
Taste 3
Christopher Osburn
Tasting Notes:
There’s a strong alcohol smell coming from this vodka and maybe some rye or other spices. It seems like it’s going to be a bit harsh based on the nose. Luckily, the palate was a little more mellow with a peppery, slightly spicy flavor profile. The finish was borderline harsh in its heat.
Taste 4
Christopher Osburn
Tasting Notes:
This vodka doesn’t start on a great note. The aroma is like pure ethanol. It’s really not very inviting at all. The palate did nothing to change this. It’s oily, watery, and sickeningly sweet. The finish is abrasively hot and lasts way too long.
Taste 5
Christopher Osburn
Tasting Notes:
The nose is sweet with notes of vanilla, citrus peels, and a mineral aroma. Sipping it brings forth more sweetness with vanilla and just a hint of cracked black pepper. It seems like it’s not very flavorful, but it is. It’s just simple, subtle, and velvety smooth, and ends with a nice warming finish. A very well-made vodka.
Taste 6
Christopher Osburn
Tasting Notes:
Sweet corn, pepper, slight citrus, and ethanal are prevalent on the nose. The palate continues this trend with a more sweet, oily corn flavor followed by light spice and citrus. It’s surprisingly smooth and very warm at the finish but not unpleasant.
Taste 7
Christopher Osburn
Tasting Notes:
There’s not much smell to this vodka because of ethanol and maybe some cereal grains and a hint of citrus. Drinking it reveals a fairly smooth, but overly sweet flavor profile of citrus fruits that finishes with aggressive, peppery heat.
Taste 8
Christopher Osburn
Tasting Notes:
I had a tough time discerning anything on this Vodka’s nose besides ethanol. The palate is slightly better with some corn syrup-like sweetness and cracked black pepper. The finish is a mix of bitterness and heat. Not a great vodka by any means.
Seagram’s is one of those vodkas that seem to always hide somewhere in the back of people’s liquor cabinets. This American-made vodka is distilled five times and it touts how smooth it is right on the label. A blind taste test will be the judge of that claim.
Bottom Line:
Seagram’s touts its vodka as being exceptionally smooth. I found it to be a mix of watery and overly hot heat. Not a great combination at all.
This Polish-made vodka brand was named to pay tribute to Polish King Jan III Sobieski who was sometimes referred to as the Lion of Lechistan. He ruled Poland in the late 1600s. It’s made from 100% Polish-grown red rye.
Bottom Line:
Sobieski is a very cheap vodka. It’s not bad for the price, but a bit harsh and spicy for some vodka fans.
Sweden might be most well-known for its iconic Absolut Vodka, but the country is also the genesis of another popular vodka brand: Svedka. This Swedish-born vodka, owned by US brand Constellation, is a mix of the ‘Svenska’, which is the word ‘Swedish’ in the Swedish language, and vodka.
Bottom Line:
This is the vodka you imagine when you think of overly harsh, hot, flavorless vodka. It’s pretty rough and definitely needs to be mixed with and not sipped neat.
Pinnacle Vodka is distilled in France. It’s a wheat-based vodka that comes in more flavors than anyone could possibly ever be interested in. We’re only interested in the classic Pinnacle Original. You know, the one that’s just an unflavored vodka.
Bottom Line:
This is a strange vodka. It’s not a bad vodka for how much it costs. It’s just a little too sweet and has a little too much heat on the backend for many drinkers.
Everything that goes into New Amsterdam Vodka seems to be done to make sure it tastes as little as nothing as possible. It’s distilled five times and filtered three times to make it as pure and clean as possible.
Bottom Line:
I didn’t know what to expect with New Amsterdam. It’s cheap, mostly flavorless, and mixes well. Otherwise, it’s fairly boring.
The San Francisco-made vodka with mineral-rich, locally-sourced water from the Bay Area. It’s known for its smooth flavor profile after being filtered through California Limestone. It’s been a staple of the American vodka marketplace since its inception in 1992.
Bottom Line:
This bargain-priced vodka is better than many on this list because of its mix of sweetness and spice and a lack of a harsh burn at the finish. That’s it but that’s also pretty damn solid!
There’s a good chance you’ve never heard of Tower Vodka and that’s okay. This corn-based, award-winning, six-times distilled vodka comes from Texas. It’s received a ton of acclaim yet remains surprisingly inexpensive.
Bottom Line:
For the price, you’ll have a tough time finding an American vodka better than Tower. It’s sweet, slightly spicy, and pleasantly warming.
Poland is well-known for its vodka prowess with some of the most well-known brands calling the country home. It’s also where one of the best bargain vodkas is made. Luksusowa Vodka is clean, mellow, 100% potato-based vodka that’s been made the same way since its inception in 1928.
Bottom Line:
Luksusowa took the top spot for one reason only. It’s simple, elegant, and does everything right — mellow, balanced, but not at all devoid of flavor. All for a very low price. It’s tough to beat.
Part 3: Final Thoughts
While my notes vary greatly about what vodkas I did and didn’t enjoy, one thing stood out above all else. While I was able to overlook less-than-desirable flavor profiles in some of the vodkas, I wasn’t able to overlook any of the lasting harsh heat. All the vodkas that faired poorly were aggressively hot in the worst possible way.
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