SZA is back and better than ever. After saying her album would come out during the summer — and then letting the months pass — she finally announced that S.O.S., as it’s called, is arriving next month. Now she’s taking to social media to respond to a fan about a less expected matter.
A fan on Instagram posted a screenshot of a tweet from @ThePopTingz that stated there’s a rumor of SZA having recorded a remix for The Weeknd’s “Die For You.” The caption of the picture read: “Sza I know you don’t like rumors, can you clarify this for us?? #sza #theweeknd.” The singer replied in the comments, writing, “Lmao it’s super old but it does exist . I should re record it.”
So far, SZA has released the single “Shirt” along with a music video featuring Atlanta actor Lakieth Stanfield. There are also rumors of a SZA remix of Lizzo’s “Special” after SZA made a surprise appearance at Lizzo’s show at Los Angeles’ Kia Forum on November 19. Lizzo also got more people talking about it by posting a TikTok with SZA of them lip-syncing to what sounds like the remix. The video was captioned, “Guess what B*TCH?!”
For the last few weeks, the already beleaguered crypto world has suffered yet another hit: the once-prosperous, Larry David- and Tom Brady-approved exchange FTX has collapsed in spectacular fashion. All crypto eyes are on its young, schlubby head honcho, Sam Bankman-Fried, who may be responsible for substantial missing assets, and has been doing wild things like giving perhaps overly frank interviews. (At least Jim Cramer still believes in him.) If you thought this has all the makings of a movie or a limited series, well, looks like you were right.
As the news of the FTX debacle broke, so did word that bestselling (and absurdly lucky) journalist Michael Lewis (Moneyball, The Blind Side, The Big Short) had been trailing Bankman-Fried for the last six months. Sounds like he has another hit on his hands, as well as another Hollywood payday: As per Deadline, streamers have been duking it out for the as-yet-unwritten book’s rights. And it sounds like the winner is Apple.
The wild story of Bankman-Friend — as well as his equally out-there associates, some of whom shared a Bahamas home and even dated each other — has the makings of one of those truth-is-stranger-than-fiction Hulu shows, like The Dropout or Pam & Tommy. But Deadline is reporting that it will probably be a movie. If so, that will follow the trajectory of Lewis’ previous books, three of which became money- and award-gobbling films.
In the meantime, the latest wacko revelation out of the Bankman-Fried story? As per Insider, the fallen CEO allegedly owns a $100 million stake in another dodgy tech empire: Twitter dot com.
Ben Simmons missed the entire 2021-22 season with injury and, while he was off the floor, the Philadelphia 76ers traded him to the Brooklyn Nets in a deal centered on James Harden. With that in mind, Simmons has not played a game at Wells Fargo Center since June 2021 when the Sixers fell to the Atlanta Hawks in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals. On Tuesday, that changed with Simmons returning to Philadelphia in an opposing uniform for the first time, and he was greeted with boos from the crowd.
Simmons seemed to be in good spirits before the game, telling TNT’s Stephanie Ready that he “had the same feelings toward the crowd” when he was with the Sixers. Philadelphia will also be without several key pieces, including Harden and Joel Embiid due to injury. There was an uptick in police presence, though, with the local officials taking no chances in what could’ve been an antagonistic atmosphere.
“I played in Philadelphia wearing the 76er jersey and had the same feelings towards the crowd.”@StephanieReady relays what Ben Simmons told her about his expectations for the fans prior to his return to Philly pic.twitter.com/cj3vj30UTL
Stephanie Ready says on the TNT pregame show that there will be increased police presence for Ben Simmons’ return to Philly tonight#NBATwitterpic.twitter.com/nJTfiqVbOq
On the floor, Simmons is off to a slow start this season, though he has shown strides in the last handful of games. That includes three straight games with double figures in scoring, headlined by 22 points, eight rebounds, and five assists on Sunday against the Memphis Grizzlies. It will be interesting to see how he responds to the return to Philadelphia but, after the first time, perhaps it will become more “normal” in time given the close proximity between Atlantic Division rivals.
If there’s one thing people around the world associate with Māori culture, it’s the haka. We’ve seen the traditional dancing and chanting before international sports matchups and in viral videos from wedding parties to tiny toddlers.
Haka originated as a way to prepare warriors for battle, but it has also been performed as a custom when groups came together in peace. Today, in addition to symbolizing a challenge to a sports opponent, haka is used to honor people and show the importance of an occasion.
In New Zealand, it’s not uncommon to see haka performed at airports, as people send off or welcome home loved ones. But one airport haka has people feeling particularly moved.
In a video shared by @curlyheadnikau on TikTok, a young man who is heading off to the U.S. for school, having received a basketball scholarship to Utah, stands opposite a group of young men who honor him with the haka. “Send off for the big cuzzy,” reads the caption.
What’s particularly notable in this haka video is that all of the participants appear to be youth—no obvious elders among them—which sends a strong signal of a culture being successfully passed down from one generation to the next.
send off for the big cuzzy good luck over in the us 💯 @tuhi2x #fyp #nz #haka #foryou #us #foryou
Upworthy posted the video on our Instagram page, and people are sharing how moved they are by it.
“I love how they transform from modern teens to timeless warriors, in spirit with their ancestors. So incredibly moving and significant,” wrote one person.
“The release of emotion in Haka makes me cry!” wrote another. “So beautiful, healthy and moving.”
“It’s so moving to see non-toxic demonstrations of strong masculinity. This is how it’s done,” shared a third.
Several people shared this sentiment:
“I can never watch this incredible ritual without tearing up. This is pure magic!!!!”
Seeing these guys in their T-shirts and Nikes put their all into the haka is so powerful. Knowing how many indigenous cultures have had their traditions stripped away, with many being lost altogether, makes this video all the more moving.
The New Zealand tourism website shares a bit about the origins of the haka:
“The Māori legend describing the origin of the haka paints it as a celebration of life. The story goes that Tama-nui-te-ra, the sun god, and his wife Hine-Raumati, who embodies summer, had a son named Tane-rore. On hot summer days, Tane-rore would dance for his mother, causing the air to quiver. This light, rapid movement was the foundation of all haka.”
The Māori people have inhabited the islands of New Zealand for more than 700 years, their ancestors having arrived by boat from Polynesia around 1300 A.D. The population declined following British colonization and hit a low point in the early 20th century, but thanks to the influence of key Māori leaders, the country changed. Today, the Māori people play a significant role in New Zealand society and government.
With young people like this carrying on the traditions of their ancestors, this beautiful nation’s cultural diversity will be preserved for generations to come.
It’s hard to believe, but it’s been over three long, long years since Martin Scorsese said something shocking: that he doesn’t care for Marvel movies and was not pleased that they had all but driven every other type of film from the major studios. The legendary filmmaker’s comments opened the floodgates, not only to other directors saying similar — and sometimes much angrier — things, but also to Marvel staffers indignantly pushing back. And they’re still doing it!
Quentin Tarantino has been doing press for his new film criticism book Cinema Speculation, and in the midst he’s been inevitably spouting out some of his eccentric hot takes. In turn, he became the latest auteur to take on Hollywood’s most profitable genre. Bemoaning the “Marvel-ization of Hollywood,” he argued that the actors playing superheroes (or villains) are “not movie stars.” It’s not that they’re not famous, but that it’s really “these franchise characters that become a star,” not the actors playing them. “Captain America is the star. Or Thor is the star.”
Well, one of the Marvel stars/actors did not like that.
No movie studio is or ever will be perfect. But I’m proud to work with one that has made sustained efforts to improve diversity onscreen by creating heroes that empower and inspire people of all communities everywhere.
I loved the “Golden Age” too.. but it was white as hell.
“If the only gatekeepers to movie stardom came from Tarantino and Scorsese, I would never have had the opportunity to lead a $400 million plus movie,” wrote Simu Liu, who became a name after last year’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. “I am in awe of their filmmaking genius. They are transcendent auteurs. But they don’t get to point their nose at me or anyone.”
He added, “No movie studio is or ever will be perfect. But I’m proud to work with one that has made sustained efforts to improve diversity onscreen by creating heroes that empower and inspire people of all communities everywhere.” He finally concluded, “I loved the ‘Golden Age’ too.. but it was white as hell.”
It’s worth noting that both Scorsese and Tarantino have made diverse films. Scorsese has even made an entire film about the Dalai Lama, and on the Disney dollar: 1997’s Kundun. That’s to say nothing about his long history of film preservation, which has yielded, among other things, multiple box sets for world cinema obscurities. Tarantino’s films are for the most part multicultural, sometimes casting Asian stars. Some even address race head-on.
It’s also worth pointing out that Marvel’s diversity is a relatively new thing. Their first solo film about a female superhero only came out three years ago, some 20 films into the MCU. Shang-Chi, the first with an Asian-American lead, was their 25th film.
Anyway, it’s the holidays. Maybe the Marvel people and the Scorsese/Tarantino factions should take a time out and break bread together.
The internet has been having a fun week with Cabello’s recent cover of “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” in which her pronunciation of the word “Christmas” is rather unique. Some people have translated it as “quismoiss,” and the memes have been plentiful.
This year, Cabello also unveiled her new album Familia. “Wowzer! Familia is finally out,” Cabello said about the LP in a TikTok, adding that “this album means so much to me.“ She said, “The journey to making it completely changed (me) and, not to be dramatic, saved my life. Y’know, I started this album at a really shitty mental health point and the process of making it, and being vulnerable and being honest about my experiences and leaning on other people changed my life.”
Last summer, Top Gun: Maverick went old school — and made bank. In age when many blockbusters hit streaming a mere handful of weeks after hitting theaters — if not on the same day — it waited out the height of the pandemic, then only played theaters. Even months later, when its ship had sailed, it was nowhere near a streamer. It did finally hit streaming, but only for rental or purchase. For those who wanted to watch as part one of their many subscriptions, the wait is almost (but not quite) over.
As per Variety, the year’s biggest hit will hit Paramount+ in about a month, namely on Dec. 22. That’s right in time for the holidays, when travelers have set up shop in some family home, looking to watch something, anything that everyone can theoretically enjoy. Given that Maverick was both a commercial and critical hit — having surgically erased almost all of the Reagan ‘80s original’s jingoism (and some, but not all, of its homoeroticism) — this should be a better fit than Boomers insisting everyone watch Yellowstone (also on Paramount+).
When Maverick finally arrives on Paramount+, it will have been over six months since its theatrical debut, which is almost unheard-of in this streamer-loving age. People are still happening upon some “Easter Eggs,” including a detail in its version of the original’s iconic/hilarious volleyball scene.
Matters grew tense for Doom Patrol fans when the sh*t started to hit the fan for HBO Max shows at at Warner Bros. Discovery. However, good news was eventually in order when we learned that Joker and Harley Quinn weren’t the only DC projects saved from the chopping block.
Everyone’s favorite DC misfit superheroes ended up being safe, too. This means that it’s celebration time for Brendan Fraser fans (who portrays the disembodied brain that remains after Cliff Steele’s race car-driving tragedy) after people grew disappointed with the Batgirl tax-break shelving. As well, we’ll soon see a return of Diane Guerrero’s Crazy Jane, and hopefully, that means more Karen mayhem, and she’ll demand to talk to the manager.
Season 4 will soon be upon us (on December 8). The principal members of the Doom gang (including Matt Bomer as Negative Man, April Bowlby as Elasi-Girl, and Jovian Wade as Cyborg) will return, and we’ll also see Michelle Gomez as Madame Rouge. A teaser previously told us that “daddy’s home,” meaning that Cliff is still making Jane smile despite herself.
From the looks of the newly released trailer, the group will be time-travelling (in a way, at least) to confront the traumas that ended up spawning their powers. Also, we’ve got a bunch of dancing butts doing obscene things.
As the trailer indicates, trouble looms on the horizon in the form of Immortus. We don’t receive much of a hint here on whether this is the General Immortus of DC Comics fame, but this seems likely, given the circumstances. As well, they must save the world, and Cliff will (still) be very upset that he couldn’t have an orgasm back when the collective climate scene took place, and boy, it never gets old to hear Fraser articulate profanities from underneath that robot apparatus. Still, the season’s logline suggests that the team could choose happiness over saving the world, so that should make for an interesting season finale.
If you haven’t yet had the pleasure of watching Fraser in this role, then you are missing out on a real treat. Although you actually can’t see Fraser himself during his non-flashback scenes, you can rest assured that this is one of his finest performances. Cliff Steele is such a tragic figure, but he’s also a hero who refuses to go by the usual hero playbook. I’d venture to say that this is the most textured, multidimensional Fraser character on the books so far, although The Whalemight boast that same honor.
Regardless of what oddities await this motley crew of reluctant heroes, Doom Patrol returns to HBO Max on December 8. Generally speaking, HBO Max drops initial three episodes with weekly single-episode followups, so the show will carry us well into the new year. Yeehaw!
In what has never seemed like a shady move, Donald Trump has refused to make the last several years of his infamous tax returns public. Surely the famously honest former president has nothing to hide. But all good things come to an end, and after six long years of hiding his business dealings, the powers-that-be — including a few of his personal appointees — have declared the tax return-hording party is over.
As per The New York Times, the right-leaning Supreme Court has refused Trump’s most recent request to block access to his tax returns. That clears the path for the Democratic wing of the House, in the last month-and-a-half that they control it, to get their mitts on documents that may prove damning to the only Republican currently running for president in 2024.
There were no dissents from the bench, not even from the three justices he himself appointed. NYT described their order as “terse.”
The House committee has been seeking the big guy’s tax returns from the Treasury Department since 2019. Instead they’ve found Trump and his legal team using their usual drag-it-out methods. For instance, the case was assigned to a Trump-appointed judge, who didn’t make a ruling until December 2021. When the Trump judge ruled the committee did have the right to see his returns, but blocked the Treasury Department from releasing them until a D.C. Court of Appeals reviewed the decision — which they didn’t until this past August.
That court did allow the House to see the returns, only for Trump to reach out to the Supreme Court. That worked, at least for a bit: Justice John G. Roberts granted a temporary block in early November. Mere weeks later, that block has been overturned.
With the holidays in full swing, it’s officially warming, potent beer season. We can’t get enough bold, roasty stouts this time of year. But we also enjoy sweeter, richer porters — especially imperial porters. For those unaware, imperial (named for the imperial court of Catherine the Great in 1700s Russia) porters are higher in alcohol than their non-imperial counterparts. They’re also known for sweet, caramel, chocolate, coffee, and roasted malt flavors.
We love imperial porters in late November and December drinking. Keep scrolling to see eight of our favorites — some classic and no frills and others loaded with bold, sweet, indulgent flavor.
If you’re a coffee drinker, you can probably figure out where Saint Arnold French Press got its name. This imperial porter was brewed with Java Pura Coffee Roasters Espresso blend coffee. It’s known for its roasted malts, chocolate, and coffee.
Tasting Notes:
The nose is all coffee and some chocolate and really not much else. The palate continues this trend with some caramel malts, and wintry spices making an appearance but it’s pretty much all coffee and chocolate. If that’s your thing you’ll like it. Otherwise, move along.
Bottom Line:
This is a beer for coffee fans and nobody else. If you prefer your imperial porters to taste like a freshly brewed cup of coffee in beer form, you’re in luck.
If you’re a porter fan, you’ve probably noticed that they are flavored with coffee, chocolate, peanut butter, and other flavors. Nobody will be confused about what flavors they’ll find in NoDa’s popular imperial porter. It’s called Captain Peanut Butter’s Chocolate Revenge and it’s brewed with cocoa nibs and toasted peanut butter.
Tasting Notes:
The nose is all roasted peanuts, coffee, dark chocolate, and caramel malts. It seems promising, but the palate has other plans. It’s all peanut butter, dark chocolate, and coffee. There’s almost too much going on and it’s pretttttty sweet.
Bottom Line:
Another example of an imperial porter having over-the-top, dominant flavors. The peanut butter is the biggest flavor, but it’s all a little too sweet.
Named for the late Hunter S. Thompson, this bold, robust imperial porter is brewed with Caramel, Black, and Chocolate malts, as well as American ale and English ale yeast as Northern Brewer and Cascade, hops. It’s known for its flavors of coffee, chocolate, vanilla, and bitter hops.
Tasting Notes:
Vanilla, chocolate, coffee, and lightly floral, herbal hops are prevalent on the nose. The palate is licorice, bitter chocolate, roasted malts, and slightly piney, bitter hops. It’s a decent imperial porter, but nothing to write home about.
Bottom Line:
Gonzo is a drinkable, flavorful imperial porter. It has everything porter fans enjoy. It just doesn’t knock your socks off in terms of flavor and the finish is a little bitter than expected.
This popular imperial porter comes from the folks at San Diego’s Ballast Point. While most known for its iconic Sculpin IPA, the brewery has many Victory at Sea fans as well. This bittersweet, memorable beer gets its flavor from an infusion of vanilla and locally-sourced Caffe Calabria coffee beans.
Tasting Notes:
It all starts with a nose of toasted vanilla beans, coffee beans, bitter chocolate, and roasted malts. The welcoming aroma continues on the palate with notes of licorice, dried fruits, vanilla beans, milk chocolate, and a ton of freshly brewed coffee. It’s complex and highly memorable.
That said, the vanilla is slightly overwhelming.
Bottom Line:
Victory at Sea is a highly complex imperial porter with a ton of mingling flavors. The only downfall is that the vanilla addition is a little overpowering and takes over the whole show.
This is a truly unique imperial porter. Not only is it a bold, robust, semisweet porter, but it was brewed with 80 pounds of graham crackers as well as vanilla beans sourced from Madagascar. The result is a sweet, rich porter that ends up just as warming as a winter sweater.
Tasting Notes:
Caramel, roasted malts, graham crackers, chocolate, and vanilla, and big on the nose. Drinking it reveals even more indulgent sweetness from graham crackers, dark chocolate, toasted vanilla beans, and coffee. It’s sweet, slightly bitter, and highly warming on a cold winter night.
Bottom Line:
This is a beer for the s’mores fans. It’s graham cracker, vanilla, and chocolate filled. The only thing it’s missing is marshmallows and it would be perfect.
The word “aphotic” means “without light” in Greek. That’s a very apt name for this sweet, rich, pitch-black imperial porter. It’s known for its caramel, roasted malts, coffee, chocolate, and dried fruit flavors. It’s a highly sought-after beer from the Lodi, California-based brewery.
Tasting Notes:
Complex aromas of roasted malts, bitter chocolate, coffee beans, and lightly floral, herbal hops meet your nose before your first sip. The palate is all roasted malts, cocoa powder, coffee beans, and slightly sweet, toasted vanilla beans. It’s well-balanced and highly drinkable even with its high alcohol content.
Bottom Line:
This is a beer for true imperial porter fans. It doesn’t have any flavors it doesn’t need. It’s roasted malt forward and all of the other flavors are there to add to it. It’s a very complex, drinkable beer.
Beachwood Mocha Machine is brewed with German and British malts before being infused with roasted coffee beans from Portola Coffee Lab in nearby Costa Mesa, California. But that’s not all. It’s matured on Ecuadorian cocoa nibs.
Tasting Notes:
It starts with a nose of freshly brewed coffee, roasted malts, cocoa powder, and light floral hops start this beer off on a pleasant note. Sipping it brings forth notes of raisins, roasted coffee beans, toasted malts, vanilla beans, toffee, and rich dark chocolate. It’s filled with coffee flavor, but it melds well with the rest of the bold flavors.
Bottom Line:
While coffee is obviously the main event when it comes to this beer’s flavor profile, it doesn’t overpower all of the other flavors. In fact, it only heightens to overall flavor experience.
You might assume a brewery with such a hop-centric name wouldn’t have such proficiency in crafting superior imperial porters as well. But you’d be wrong. This imperial version of its popular porter begins as an imperial oatmeal porter that’s full of peanut butter and chocolate flavors.
Tasting Notes:
Complex aromas of dark chocolate, roasted malts, vanilla beans, and roasted peanut butter give this beer a bold nose. Drinking it only adds to this with hints of peanut butter cups, milk chocolate, fresh-brewed coffee, and roasted malts. The finish is a nice mix of sweetness and bitterness.
Bottom Line:
This bold, rich beer is what a peanut butter cup would taste like in beer form. Luckily the flavors are balanced and complex with a nice combination of sweetness and bitterness so it’s not overly cloying.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy
Privacy Overview
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
