Category: News

In the first week of September, a sprawling dust-covered landscape where swirling haboobs, crackled clods, and cloud porn are staples of the now-dried prehistoric lakebed of the Black Rock Desert, Nevada’s annual Burning Man returned after a two-year-long hiatus. With the pandemic in the rearview (…sorta), it’s here that wanderers, lovers, and dreamers converged in a grand social experiment where art, unity, and wonder bring Birkenstock-wearing weirdos from around the world together. Through the chapped breezes and gusting dust bunnies, Black Rock City was the canvas for a collaborative art project so vast and complex that many who experience it have lovingly likened the iconic Summer festival to a full-fledged ecosystem of its own.

Whether through some human-made miracle or something more divine, Burning Man is so well known for its life-changing experiences that (they say) identifying a Burner is as easy as listening for that token phrase “one time at Burning Man…”

Given the fact the most recent iteration of the Burning Man was anticipated with more fervor than any other in recent history, it only stands to reason that the moments and memories made this year would be some of the most important to Burning Man-goers to date. Sure, what happens at Burning Man practically never stays at Burning Man, but in the storm of so much going down it can be easy to miss a single experience — especially if it’s over in a flash. Fortunately, UPROXX was there collecting the most exceptional stories guaranteed to fill you with FOMO.

To learn more about what we heard, read on and peruse a few of our favorites in the sections ahead!

Burning Love

The first year I went to Burning Man, it was 2011 — I was starting my sophomore year at Reed and I had met a boy that summer who found his entire life purpose at burning man 7 years prior. He wanted to share it with me — so I went and missed a few first days of the semester. It felt worth it — we were riding bikes when he asked me to be his girlfriend. I must have been 19 or 20 — he was my first ‘adult’ relationship.

Somehow, I had forgotten about that moment until this year biking at dusk in the desert again, 11 years later.

Burning Man that first time felt like coming home, and it still does. It’s always a new amalgamation of people — a living organism constantly in flux. People from all parts, all moments of our historical selves, appear. It’s always magic. It’s always the music, for me. It’s the new experiences, the conversations and collective dreaming, awake — this time: my all-girl build and breakdown team in tiny shorts and wide smiles, the lightening storm we thought was BM art only to find out it was nature’s installation, which we followed with our conceptual fireside chat.

Burning Man is alive, and it brings me into a heightened state of living in presence. It’s so nice to share it with people I love spending time with

— Genevieve Medow-Jenkins, founder of Secular Sabbath

Acid in the Dark

Every year at Burning Man I take a tab at about 4 pm and bike over to the temple [perimeter] to spin fire. I bring my own music and I just sink deep into that temple energy while I’m dancing. It’s dark and I love it.

— Sam Tobey, Professional Fire Performer

Nudity as Therapy

Burning Man has been in the periphery of my life since I was a kid. A couple of days ago my fiance and I stripped down nude and walked around. I wanted to show myself as who I am and feel more comfortable in my skin, but I also wanted to meet other people — so we went to the Interaction Cafe where we met a server named Bubbles, and through that, I was able to reframe an embarrassing experience that has been traumatizing for me my whole life where a substitute teacher from my childhood scolded me hard… Finally, through this, I was able to ask for forgiveness for Miss Feinstein and even though the weight of this was small it stings and it really speaks to the power of this place.

— Dave Roston, Psychedelic HipHop Puppeteer in The Fungineers

Hell and back – with superpowers!

Going to Burning Man is like going to hell, surviving, and then celebrating your newfound superpowers. The elements and environment are so incredibly difficult and uncomfortable that none of us could do it alone. But once you figure out the basics and you begin to look around you can’t help but be amazed at all the wonder. Unique humans, incredible mind-blowing art, flowing cocktails, and the culture of generosity and kindness that has clearly been cultivating for years-it’s crazy-and now I have proof that it’s possible!

The group foam shower with hundreds of new friends was probably my favorite experience. It was liberating to feel seen and safe while being so very naked. It was so refreshing to finally get a good foamy wash in the land of eternal dust. And then the music and high-energy dance + lotion party that followed was super clutch!

–Honey Larochelle aka the Berry Fairy, The Fungineers

Making My Friends Cry

I kept making all these jokes about my sunrise set that I was just gonna make everyone cry. Then in the middle of my set I was like “God, I’m making myself cry so much” and then I have looked around and then everyone was crying, so it was a really beautiful moment that I’ll never forget.

–Danielle White, DJ DivaDanielle

Making a Difference with my D*ck Out

We rallied and marched against the Instagrammers and influencers that have been commodifying Burning Man and what happened this year was nothing short of unprecedented. D*cks came from far and wide to participate. We shirt-cocked [defined: nude, except for a shirt] to stand for something and it was activism. With any luck, our dusty genitalia will haunt their nightmares forever.

–John Cameron, Swig’N’Swing Instigator, and Shirt-cocking Activist

Connecting with Others like Me

So this is my first Burning Man and I only got here Wednesday evening, but so far the most special thing that I’ve been a part of has been the big photograph we took for the Black House Street Project — it was all a bunch of Black and persons of color that got there to take a picture together. Just to see the sheer volume of people who look like me here at an event where a Black person or a person of color may not feel like this is an event that we are meant to be at.

It’s great to see that there are people who are like “naw, fuck that. We can be here and still be Black, and still be beautiful, and all that!”

–Chinwe Oniah, First Time Burner

Finding Family in the Dust

I got married on white Wednesday and it made me so happy to be around my playa family. This whole atmosphere makes me feel like I’m at home finally, so just being around good people and being around happiness that you don’t normally feel in the normal world. It’s like here I’m safe to walk up to anyone and say ‘hello’.

— Jade aka ‘The Wanderer’, Dancer in the Wild

The Show Must Go On

I was supposed to get to the Playa by Wednesday evening for a show with my conclave. I flew into Reno but the friend that was supposed to pick me up — who had all my stuff — was hours behind… so I bought a standby ticket for the Burner Express and walked into Burning Man with nothing but a dead iPhone and a makeup bag. But I knew I’d be walking into a camp of my best friends and that I had nothing to worry about. No tent, no water, no worries.

We did make that show happen! That’s why I call Burning Man home.

–Katelyn Carano, Professional Aerialist and Fire Performer

Helping My Friends Build a Sound Camp

Burning Man gives us an opportunity to express ourselves on this clean slate. It’s the mutual appreciation that everyone has in that space and that time gives us a chance to be ourselves. The efforts combined are what make this all happen… The people that I came out here to work with, we overcame a lot of personal challenges individually to drag a bunch of things out here for other people. That’s what made me realize it’s not just about “radical self-reliance” it’s also about your radical ability to get just some shit done.

Whatever it takes, we all have to work together to help each other. All in all, it’s always a good time too.

— Ryan Culp, Crew at Camp Question Mark

Learning to Love Again

Really getting to drop in with new friends and old friends when we arrived and over the week just connecting in ways that are harder in “Default” (outside Burning Man) felt wonderful. I felt held and expansive. I even felt a lot of love.

— Annabelle ‘Monarch’ Catalano, Camp Crew at The Lusty Chantarell Kombucha Bar

Feeling Myself

At Ashram Galactica’s last blowout party of the week, I was dancing on the bar, but not for the crowd, a client, or some paycheck like I usually do. I was up there stomping my big black boots on the bar for me. At that moment, I released my inner critic and let my body move and vibe to some of the most incredible disco house I’d ever heard.

There I was, at 3 am in the morning in the middle of the desert covered in dust, remembering that I could do what I love for myself and still enjoy the hell out of it.

–Violette on the Rocks, Award-winning Burlesque Performer, Fire Dancer, and Go-Go Dancer

Integrating Ourselves with the Power of Hallucinogens

One of the things I found thematic over the time there is just how much of a gap there is between the Burning Man persona and their “default” life persona, and how integration is such a huge piece if not the main piece of what can help bridge that gap — which is exactly what I went over in the workshops and ceremonies that I led while there.

For non-burners, I lead these same sorts of events and integrations “off the Playa.”

—Green Dream, Mushroom Queen

Fire in Bed

I met this chick at a fire circle and we were vibing. We would see each other throughout the week running lit wicks across the body of the other, painting each other in the circle. Then later she took me back to her wooden yurt and we decided we wanted to get naked and play with more fire. I was breathing flames up and down her legs. Then I blew flames down her back and up her chest. We spent the whole night together… And she never even told me her name.

–Jesse Luis Rodriguez, Professional Fire Performer at Camp Kinetic

When Artists Make Art with my Art

This has been a really fuckin’ hard year, but also my most fun. I think it was really cool to be able to build a piece that I brought in 2019 with our camp instead of putting it out on playa. But I think one of my best moments was wandering out to the Museum of “One Time at Burning Man…” and running into the Kaleidoscope panel, that was really special… It’s like meta-art when somebody makes art out of your art. It’s really cool, and it feels really special to know that Michael Hartmann and I built a piece of art that other artists appreciate enough to include in a space like that.

–Deniz Nicole, Artist and Co-Creator of The Kaleidoscope

Sparking Inspiration

My girlfriend, Beth, and a pair of virgin burners lured by the promise of water spritzing stopped by Deaf Grandma’s Kitchen and were taught sign language, served watermelon, and truly came to appreciate the participatory aspect of on-the-fly randomness that ensued. It left me grateful, almost to the point of tears… It even inspired me to take do a few things differently next year at an event I co-produce with some friends near Los Angeles, called Teleport Art Car Festival.

–Christopher Taube, Founder Teleport Art Car Festival

Teaching Sexy

At my pole dancing workshop, I had a really good mix of men and women, and potentially some non-binary individuals. Some had only seen it in strip clubs and some had only ever done it as a stripper. One girl I actually met the day before when she roped me — like, physically with a rope — to force me to have a drink at her camp. It was really encouraging to see everyone try everything. Everybody was super encouraging with each other. I started off the class with a real sensual leg ab warm-up. I loved seeing the men get into it – especially the CIS men. It made me feel like I was achieving exactly what I wanted to, which was to make everybody feel safe and comfortable, in a consensual but also really open environment where you’re really stepping into your sensuality — and also just feeling really sexy in general. And everyone seemed like they had unlocked that and were tapping into that… And that’s really the whole point.

–Priscilla ‘Polezilla’ Somogie, Professional Pole Dance Instructor

The Pittsburgh Steelers looked like they might be in for a very long season on Sunday. While the team managed to outlast the Cincinnati Bengals in overtime and pick up their first win of the season, it came at quite the cost, as star linebacker T.J. Watt suffered a torn pectoral. Watt walked off the field in the second half and knew in that moment that he suffered the injury, as he told someone on the sideline that “I tore my pec.”

In the days since, the outlook has become far more optimistic for the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year. Reports in the last day indicated that Watt might be able to come back this season and avoid getting surgery, which he confirmed when he tweeted a GIF of Arnold Schwarzenegger in The Terminator saying “I’ll be back.”

As for when he will be able to return to the field, both Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network said he’ll only miss a few weeks, with Dulac indicating that Watt could be back on the field by mid-October.

It goes without saying, but this is just about the best-case scenario for the Steelers, as having Watt terrorize opposing quarterbacks off the edge completely changes their team.

This week was a real head-spinner. Obviously, the Don’t Worry Darling premiere at the Venice Film Festival stole everyone’s attention with all of its weird antics. There was also Charlie Puth’s steamy thirst trap and Blackpink’s album tracklist reveal; aside from these events, there were also a ton of great releases.

Each week, Uproxx rounds up the best new pop releases. Listen up.

Rosalía — “Chiri”

Restless pop star Rosalía just released the deluxe version of Motomami, which featured four brand new tracks. “Chiri” is a highlight, bursting with the invigorating energy of a hit. Her vocals are strong and spellbinding against a catchy beat; it’s hard to believe it didn’t make the album originally.

Nessa Barrett — “Madhouse”

Nessa Barrett puts her haunting voice to use in this new track “Madhouse,” which radiates an eerie vibe off the bat. The Sylvia Plath-like lyrics come in a creepy deadpan “Make me a spectacle / I’ll have a beautiful chemical meltdown,” she drawls, and it successfully puts the listener in a trance.

Björk, Kasimyn —“Atopos”

It finally happened: Pop legend Björk made her return with this eccentric track “Atopos” featuring Kasimyn. Her vocals are one-of-a-kind as always, taking unexpected twists. Of course, it came with an equally unique music video full of mushrooms, which is the perfect visual accompaniment for the cinematic song.

Suki Waterhouse — “Nostalgia”

Suki Waterhouse’s vocals are sprawling and sparkling like a waterfall, and they’re even more mesmerizing when she digs into emotive storytelling, like on this new song “Nostalgia.” It’s unforgettable when she sings the visceral line: “You were so easy to forgive / But not so easy to forget.”

Trevor Daniel — “Story”

“Story” by Trevor Daniel is a pop punk-tinged anthem about the way love can give someone rose-colored glasses. Against a vehement, building rhythm, he sings: “I wonder which story you tell / One where we’re in heaven or you put me through hell,” and it’s a hell of a hook.

Carolesdaughter — “Sunshine And Roses”

Accompanied by a gorgeously old-timey music video, “Sunshine And Roses” by Carolesdaughter is about the pain of waiting and disillusionment. She captures the feeling with poetic imagery sung in a sticky staccato: “I’m livin’ in the dark blindfolded / This ashtray full of roaches is the closest / That I’ve gotten to clean.”

Natalie Jane — “Seven”

Natalie Jane’s “Seven” is a brooding anthem that may sound familiar from TikTok. Cushioned between slow-burning verses is a crashing chorus: “Was it ever really love if the night that we broke up / Both went out to go hook up / With the one we both told each other not to worry about?” The specificity and anger have resonated with people on the app; it’s the perfect soundtrack to a harsh breakup.

NGHTMRE, Oliver Tree — “Nothing’s Perfect”

NGHTMRE and Oliver Tree teamed up for this bombastic new track “Nothing’s Perfect,” a bitter anthem that’s sorting through the wreckage after a broken relationship. The beat is clubby and the lyrics ring with frustration: “Don’t tell me how you love me / While I’m here, left with nothing.”

Tom Odell — “Smiling All The Way Back Home”

Tom Odell’s “Smiling All The Way Back Home” is a sprawling piano ballad that paints a vivid scene of an intimate exchange after a party that holds a lot of promise and hope: “We’re sat there on a sofa / Kinda close, getting closer, / I know that you gotta go but, / I don’t wanna say goodbye,” he recounts in a voice full of longing.

EDEN — “Reaching 2”

“Reaching 2” by EDEN is a vibrant, glitchy adventure with his poignant vocals serving as the centerpiece. The song gets more emotional and powerful throughout as he reveals visceral details: “I didn’t feel the time slip by / I didn’t know that was a last goodbye,” he sings.

Oliver Tree is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

If you’ve ever stayed in a hotel, you know there’s an additional lock you can latch as an added layer of protection. But sometimes weird things happen that make us rethink the comfort and security many of us take for granted. TikTok user TayBeepBoop had a disturbing experience when a hotel front desk person attempted to enter her room while she was inside. Some readers may find the story to be unsettling but it’s a powerful reminder of exactly why situational awareness and caution are so important in today’s world.

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Tay, obviously frightened, uploaded clips from the event on her TikTok page, which has since garnered 6 million views. In the video, which is mostly the floor, door and bed, you can hear the man outside of her room knocking loudly asking to be let inside.

Tay asks the man repeatedly why he attempted to walk into her room using the hotel key to which the man explains there’s a problem with the woman’s car. There’s only one problem. Tay doesn’t own a car and is only in town on business where she did not rent a car to get around town, relying only on other modes of transportation. So, what the heck was the man doing at her door?

@taybeepboop

Replying to @dani klarić this was a really long and hard video to make, it was sort of traumatizing and I’m kind of freaked out about staying anywhere now and I dont leave my house much anymore tbh because I already was dealing with PTSD about my safety. I’m OKAY which is why im able to go through this footage now. I genuinely don’t want anything to do with this hotel, this is a PSA to stay safe and cautious. I don’t want people to go after this worker because I still don’t know what his intentions were and he could have just been trying to do his job

Tay was staying at the hotel alone and made sure to latch the additional lock on her hotel room door, which is the only thing that prevented this hotel staff member from getting into her room. Since the situation was so scary and went on for quite some time according to her video, she called friends on FaceTime to be a witness and help comfort her. Eventually the man leaves after repeated attempts to get the scared woman to open the door and Tay was able to get a male business partner to escort her safely to another hotel.

But the comments were filled with stories from women who have had similar experiences. Many people explained the danger of admitting you’re alone upon check-in, while other commenters sympathized with the woman not thinking to call the police right away. With people traveling more as COVID-19 restrictions subside, there could be a greater chance for things like this happening so it’s best to be prepared and err on the side of caution when traveling alone.

Women on the Road has several tips for hotel safety including making sure your door lock works, putting a chair under the handle of the door or buying a rubber door stop. The site also highlights the importance of locking your windows if they open and not opening the door for people you don’t know.

Another site geared towards safety is Solo Female Traveler and it recommends getting a floor higher in the hotel to make it more of a hassle for someone from outside to break in. It, too, reiterates the importance of locking the additional lock in the hotel room while you’re inside.

While it’s statistically unlikely you’ll be a victim of a hotel robbery or whatever was happening with Tay, her experience is a reminder to research hotels and practice caution when traveling. Always, always, lock the deadbolt or chain.

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Brittany is clearly no stranger to busting a move and showed off her skills, but Kelly had the audience (and the internet) absolutely floored. He not only nailed every move, but kept a constant grin from ear to ear.

“Reason number 1838329194920 why I love my dad,” Brittany wrote in her caption.

@bnrevell Reason number 1838329194920 why I love my dad. 🫶🏼🥹 #thatdougietho #fatherdaughter #weddingtok ♬ original sound – Brittany Revell

People in the comments were quick to profess love for Kelly as well. Here are some gems:

“WHO IS THIS LEGEND!”

“I aspire to this level of smooth.”

“Pops got moves!!🔥”

“He really is the main character 🤩🤩”

Others shared praise to both dancers for delivering an unforgettable performance.

“I would absolutely lose my mind if I saw this at a wedding,” wrote one person.

“This is probably THE best TikTok I’ve ever seen. You and your dad are legit rockstars!! Congratulations!!” added another.

Brittany told The Morning Show on Channel 7 that she and Kelly have been learning dances together “for fun in the living room” since she was little. “He has always had some rhythm, but I did not know he could pick up the moves like that,” she quipped. Hey, there’s always something new to learn about dear old dad.

Brittany also shared in an interview with NBC News that people were responding to more than just impressive choreography—it touched them on a heartfelt level.

“I think it’s kind of unique to see a dad of Asian descent be able to open up, let loose and just embrace their American child’s music and culture,” she said, adding that several people who didn’t have relationships with their fathers commended how “inspiring” it was to see the fun Brittany and Kelly created, encouraging them to “be better with their future kids.”

Weddings are a celebration of love, and that can extend beyond the bride and groom. This father expressed his love on the dance floor, and it’s giving us all something to smile about.

Odds are Brittany and her dad are gonna keep posting even more amazing dance videos. You can keep up to date by following Brittany on TikTok here.

Jack Russell terriers are dogs that were bred to hunt. They’re also extremely stubborn, prone to fits of uncontrollable barking and need a lot of exercise. They may seem like a lot of trouble but they are so loving that their intensity is easy to forgive.

Jack Russells have such an innate desire to hunt that Hill’s Pet Nutrition says that the “instinct cannot be trained out of the breed.” In fact, the Jack Russell terrier in the story we’re about to share was so fearless that it was able to chase off a black bear.

Now, that’s a stubborn and brave pooch.

The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department reported that on August 20, Susan Lee, 61, was walking her Jack Russell terrier and labradoodle on a trail at her Strafford property when she noticed she was being watched by a black bear.

Imagine how frightening it must be to feel a bear staring at you.

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Lee tripped on a stone and the bear charged, jumped on top of her and bit her leg. Her Jack Russell terrier could have run, but instead, it stayed right beside her and barked at the bear. The bear backed down and walked away into the woods. Lee was able to run away and was followed to safety by her two dogs.

The dog must have put on a pretty impressive display of yapping to drive the bear away. A black bear can weigh up to 660 pounds and a Jack Russell terrier won’t get much larger than 17.

Game Warden Sgt. Jeffrey Whipple, who responded to the incident, told USA Today that the dog performed “some ninja-like moves” to avoid the bear.

“If I were to predict what would have happened if the dog wasn’t there, the bear may have caused more damage to her,” he said. “But most likely, when she was knocked down and was out of the fight, the bear would have got off of her and retreated.”

Sgt. Whipple and Bear Biologist Jaclyn Comeau inspected the area where the attack occurred and concluded that the bear was a female with cubs and was startled by Lee and the two dogs.

It’s estimated that there are between 4,600 and 5,700 black bears in the state of Vermont.

“Bear attacks are extremely rare in Vermont,” said Comeau, adding that the department only has records of three black bear attacks in the state. “However, at this time of year black bears are moving in family units and mothers will be protective of their cubs. If confronted by a bear it is essential to remain calm and back away slowly, and to fight back immediately if attacked.”

The Jack Russell terrier probably found it impossible to stay calm.

Lee was given a ride to the hospital where she was treated for the bite wound and a few cuts resulting from the attack. The dogs weren’t hurt in the incident. There’s no word on what happened to the bear.

Parts of the south are getting drenched with rain. Some states, like Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas, have experienced so much rain over the past couple of weeks that residents may need to invest in an ark. In Dallas, the rain had gotten so bad that parts of the city were flooding, and that’s when a school bus driver and bus monitor became heroes. Tekendria Valentine and Simone Edmond were taking an alternate route back to the bus lot because of the flooding when they noticed two children clinging to a tree in rushing water.

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The women stopped the bus and went to help the kids and it was all caught on tape. Valentine and Edmond drive a bus for special needs children, so the bus is installed with removable seatbelts to safely buckle children who need wheelchairs. The women unhooked the seatbelts and tied them together to use as a rope to help pull the kids to safety. Thankfully, they weren’t alone. Neighbors jumped in to help the two women save the children from being swept away. Before long, the children were out of harm’s way and the tearful boy asked if he could hug one of the women that helped him and his sister.

Watch the heartwarming moment below:

I’m so glad this story had a happy ending. While it still seems to be unclear who the children were, I hope they’re safely back at school and things have dried up. As for the women, the school district has hailed them as heroes and I couldn’t agree more.

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“When I first came here, I felt like a spectacle,” answered the first woman, an African American who had lived in Japan for six years teaching academic English. Though she noted, “it just feels like I would living anywhere else…people are just gonna look because they have this notion of Black people.”

TAKASHii then asked the young woman her opinion on young teenagers wearing dreadlocks in their hair. “Some people say ‘it’s appropriation’ and other people say ‘it’s appreciation’. I personally don’t like it but I can’t make anybody do anything,” she replied.

As another African American, in Japan since 2016, put it: “In America they like Black people as a culture, not as a people. It’s kind of the same here.”

However, two women from Kenya shared a different view.

“In my opinion Japanese are very welcoming. And even the stares you get, it’s not malicious. People are just curious. And people are friendly. There are so many cases where I’ve been helped by Japanese strangers,” one noted.

She did add that Japanese people tended to “relate more” to Black Americans from consuming their music and movies, whereas the first thing that comes to mind when meeting a Black African is “the national parks and animals.”

The last interviewee, a man from Jamaica, came to Japan to escape his home and expand his world view.

“A lot of the time I forget what color I am,” he quipped, saying that “Japanese people are not outwardly racist, thank god.”

He also joked that some of the major “positive stereotypes” usually associated with Black people tended to work out in his favor. “They think I can play basketball, that I’m a good singer, or that I have these super star qualities.

“The more you interact with Japanese people and you enter their social circle, the more they treat you like one of them,” he added.

Our world is opening up in many ways. Perhaps by having more conversations like these, we can learn how to better build a more accepting society.

You can find even more of TAKASHii’s interviews here.

There’s something about kids being resourceful and working toward something they really want that gets you in the feels. Ten-year-old David Hove from Toronto set out to earn enough money to buy himself an Xbox by selling homemade scones. But someone had other plans, and when David went inside to take a quick toilet break, his scone stand was gone. You may be wondering what type of person steals from a little kid, and that’s exactly what David wants to know. However, after the story aired on CTV Toronto, the community stepped up to replace the stolen stand.

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It’s amazing how things are coming back together for David after he was heartbroken by his stand being stolen. Gaming systems are expensive and finding a way to earn money when you’re still well under the legal age to work can be tricky. Thankfully, David wasn’t out the money he earned before his stand was stolen. Though he’s only 10, the little entrepreneur thought to bring the money in the house with him when he went to the bathroom. So while the thief drove away with the stand, cooler and even David’s cold bottle of water, he didn’t get the money.

After seeing a video of the man loading up David’s items, Toronto residents came out to support the pint-sized vendor in a big way. The stand was replaced with a table and there were plenty of hungry customers lined up waiting to buy a scone. One person even brought along a brand new Xbox, the one that David was saving for, nearly bringing him to tears.

But David isn’t done with his business venture. He told CTV Toronto that he was now going to save up for a car. I don’t know about you but when I was 10, I could barely save up for a pack of gum and this kid is saving up for big-ticket items and he’s got the help of his community to support him.

Currently there doesn’t seem to be a way to send David and his family well wishes or money to help with his business ventures but it looks like he’s getting plenty of customers.

David’s father, also named David Hove, told CTV Toronto, “It pains my heart to see my kids going through this. They come up with the initiative to do something hard working for themselves … but it’s teaching them life lessons.” Indeed. No parent wants to see their child upset, but when mishaps or misfortunes happen, parents can only hope that a valuable life lesson is gained.

It would seem that the younger David learned a valuable lesson about life, lemons and lemonade. When he experienced misfortune, he was able to witness the coming together of strangers for a common goal. I’m sure the young businessman would’ve preferred for his stand to never have been stolen in the first place, but it sure is a sweet ending to a sour start.

So here’s a weird thing that happened: I am still at the Toronto International Film Festival as I type this. (It’s great being back after the last two years covering it remotely. I am having a nice time, but I’m also tired and ready to go home.) Anyway, I had an open window in my schedule so I decided to take a chance on a movie called Raymond and Ray. I knew absolutely nothing about it other than it is directed by Rodrigo Garcia and it stars Ewan McGregor and Ethan Hawke as the aforementioned Raymond and Ray. And from the photo I assumed it was about two buddies who are up to something.

So, the plot of this movie is Raymond and Ray are half brothers who share both a father and share the same name. When their father dies, a man they both hate, Raymond has to convince Ray to also go to the funeral. Once they get there, a lot more secrets about their family and past are revealed.

A lesson learned from all this, I think, from now on, is I’m going to start reading the descriptions of movies before I see them. Now, don’t get me wrong. I enjoyed this movie quite a bit but, if I had known the plot, there is not a chance I’d ever see this movie. Once the plot dawned on me, I mumbled out loud to myself, “Oh, for fuck’s sake.”

So here is a fun, quick fact about me: In 2018, a year after my father died, I found out my dad had a son before I was born. And he and I also share the same name. To this day we have never met and he doesn’t seem too interested in doing that. So, I do what I normally do with stressful situations: I take all those emotions that hurt and I squeeze them up as tight as I can and bury them deep inside me, waiting for them to explode out in a cascade of tears once or twice a year. So far it’s not a terrible system. But my goal is to not think about it, which as you may have noticed isn’t working too well right this second. Anyway, my point is I think I might be the target demographic for this movie.

Actually, I found this movie therapeutic. Raymond and Ray have a somewhat healthy relationship, at least with each other. They do not have a healthy relationship with the memories of their father, who, throughout this movie, still seems to be haunting them with new information and stupid tasks like making the brothers dig his grave. I found all this aspirational. See, here are two brothers with the same name who are nothing alike, but seem to like each other and can only solve their issues with their father by talking it out with each other. So, yes, this movie hit me in a way that it’s probably not going to hit you. But if you find yourself thinking the notion of two half brothers with the same name existing … I am here to tell you that this is a thing.

And both McGregor and Hawke seem to be having a nice time with each other. Part road trip movie, part “watch these two knuckleheads do wacky things because of their anger and grief,” they contemplate each other well, to the point I hope they make more movies together. (Having said all those nice things, now some report will come out, “McGregor and Hawke clashed on set and hate each other.”)

I’m glad I saw this movie. It was fate. It was fate I had an opening in my schedule and this was playing at just the right time, and it’s a movie about a situation that maybe only I can relate with and also one I go out of my way to think about. But the way this movie made me think about it was a pleasant one. It felt hopeful in some weird way. It kind of showed me a glimpse of my best-case scenario with this kind of crap hand both of us were dealt. And, strangely, now that there’s a whole movie about this particular situation, it makes it all seem less weird.

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