Do you want to know the secret to Top Gun: Maverick‘s box office success? It isn’t Tom Cruise’s movie star charisma; or the dope-ass aerial sequences; or a bunch of ripped fellas throwing around the pigskin on the beach — it’s Jon Hamm as a stern, yet lovable authority figure. He’s one of the best to do it (after Kyle Chandler, of course).
Writer and director Christopher McQuarrie revealed that Nick Offerman has joined the cast of the eighth Mission: Impossible movie. No details about his character have been revealed, other than his name is Sydney and he appears to be wearing a military uniform in the photo below — not unlike Hamm’s Beau “Cyclone” Simpson in Top Gun 2.
“It’s really fun and fascinating. There’s a handful of very high caliber actors that I’m getting to work with as well as the lead guy, and getting to toss the ball around is incredible,” the Parks and Recreation star told the “Light the Fuse” podcast about joining the Mission: Impossible franchise. “Getting to watch them deal with the fire hose technique is fascinating, because everybody brings a great deal of elan and panache and years of experience. And watching McQ and Tom do their thing, you can’t really describe it to people. You have to be there. I’ve never seen anything like it. It’s like they’re painting an incredible mural and we’re all the paints.”
If Offerman doesn’t say something along the lines of “Ethan Hunt plays by his own rules, but dammit, he gets the job done,” I’m requesting a refund.
Noted Batman Michael Keaton hadn’t donned the rubber suit since the 1990s until very recently, and it sounds like the Bruce Wayne of old has a lot of catching up to do in the ever-sprawling cinematic universes of recent superhero fame.
Keaton is currently busy with Dopesick, but he’s also slated to return to his role as Batman in at least one major project in the future. Most notably, a Flash movie that seems slated to dig into some alternate Batman-filled dimensions if it ever actually hits theaters. The reveal that several Batmans may be involved certainly got fans excited, as comic fans seem to have a nearly limitless craving for content.
But in an interview with Variety, the former Batman did not exactly claim he’s keeping up with the various goings-on in the various superhero cinematic universes.
“I know people don’t believe this, that I’ve never seen an entire version of any of those movies — any Marvel movie, any other. And I don’t say that I don’t watch that because I’m highbrow — trust me! It’s not that,” he says. “It’s just that there’s very little things I watch. I start watching something, and think it is great and I watch three episodes, but I have other shit to do!”
Keaton, of course, couched his dismissal in a very positive way and stressed that he isn’t trying to be “highbrow” about anything. But it’s even funnier that he’s actually acting in these movies/universes without really keeping track of what’s going on in them. Which, perhaps, makes his appearance in Morbius all that much better when you think about it. What’s also delightful about Keaton’s comments is that he had a pretty simple reason for wanting to come back in the first place: “it seemed like fun.”
“I was curious what it would be like after this many years. Not so much me doing it — obviously, some of that — but I was just curious about it, weirdly, socially. This whole thing is gigantic. They have their entirely own world,” he says of the DC and Marvel character universes. “So, I like to look at it as an outsider, thinking ‘Holy moly!’”
He was also very complimentary of the writing that brought him back to the Batman role, so he’s certainly not trying to make any enemies here. But in a modern climate where there seems to be a new Marvel product further connecting each and every superhero together in ever-increasing frequency, I’m sure quite a few people can relate to Keaton’s excuse for checking out a bit here.
For the past several years we have watched a good portion of the West Coast’s forests catch fire, displacing families and decimating the trees. Climate change has contributed to many of these devastating fires and its impact has been devastating. Trees are home to forest animals and provide much-needed protection for the Earth by their ability to remove carbon dioxide from the air and turn it into oxygen. The importance of trees in the battle against climate change is not lost on everyone, which is why the Biden administration announced its plan to plant more than 1 billion trees over the next decade.
Yes, that’s billion with a “B.” The trees will be planted across the acres of scorched and dead forests in the west where thousands of acres of trees are lost to wildfires every year. Normally, the forest would begin to regrow without human intervention but climate change is affecting the ability for it to regrow naturally due to the increased heat of the recent fires. Trees being unable to regrow naturally has caused a backlog of 4 million acres that need replanting, according to the USDA.
Most of us learned at some point during our school years that trees are important for people. We learned they produce oxygen, provide shade and are habitats for animals such as squirrels, chipmunks and birds. But we didn’t fully appreciate how much trees help combat climate change until the situation reached near crisis levels.
According to the Arbor Day Foundation, forests help to improve water quality in streams, lakes and rivers and filter pollutants out of the air. National forests absorb more than 50 million metric tons of carbon each year in the United States alone. The Arbor Day Foundation also explains that “forests increase rainfall, prevent drought, and cool the overall temperature of the planet.” Fruit and nut bearing trees also help with food security. The more you think about the purpose that trees serve, the more you grow to love them, even if they drop a never-ending supply of leaves on your lawn every fall.
Last year, the U.S. Forest Service replanted 60,000 acres but plan to now replant about 400,000 acres a year—more than quadrupling the amount of acreage. In 2015, 10.1 million acres burned after a record-setting fire season but 2022 is on track to meet or exceed that massive number. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in a statement announcing the reforestation plan, “Our forests, rural communities, agriculture and economy are connected across a shared landscape and their existence is at stake. Only through bold, climate-smart actions … can we ensure their future.”
The Forest Service plans to continually increase its spending on reforestation over the years, with plans to spend up to $260 million annually under the Repairing Existing Public Land by Adding Necessary Trees (REPLANT) infrastructure bill passed by Congress last year. Currently the Forest Service has invested more than $100 million this year for reforestation.
While this plan to replant a billion trees is a good one, it’s important for people not to become complacent with hoping someone has a quick-fix plan. Trees take time to grow and we still have to do our part to reduce how much humans as a whole are adding to climate change. In the meantime, we should still celebrate this victory.
As an actor, Nichols originated the iconic role of Starfleet communications officer Lieutenant Nyota Uhura on “Star Trek,” becoming an inspiring image of what’s possible for underrepresented racial and ethnic groups.
As an activist, she went on to work with NASA—helping to recruit minorities for the space program. In both entertainment media and real life, Nichols helped the world create a more inclusive vision of the future.
After building such a positive legacy it’s no wonder that, when the news of Nichols passing on July 30 at the age of 89 was shared, she received a flood of loving tributes online.
This included words from fellow “Trek” legends like George Takei, J.J. Abrams and William Shatner.
Takei, who played Hikaru Sulu alongside Nichols’ Uhura, wrote on Twitter, “I shall have more to say about the trailblazing, incomparable Nichelle Nichols, who shared the bridge with us as Lt. Uhura of the USS Enterprise. For today, my heart is heavy, my eyes shining like the stars you now rest among, my dearest friend.”
I shall have more to say about the trailblazing, incomparable Nichelle Nichols, who shared the bridge with us as Lt. Uhura of the USS Enterprise, and who passed today at age 89. For today, my heart is heavy, my eyes shining like the stars you now rest among, my dearest friend.
“A remarkable woman in a remarkable role. Nichelle, you will be deeply missed. Sending much love and respect,” wrote Abrams.
Abrams would later cast Zoe Saldana and John Cho in the roles of Uhura and Sulu for his subsequent “Star Trek” films. Cho credited Nichols for being “ a huge part of why Star Trek mattered so much to me.”
A remarkable woman in a remarkable role. Nichelle, you will be deeply missed. Sending much love and respect. pic.twitter.com/ZRnMblXx0Z
The original Captain Kirk himself, William Shatner, also honored his former co-star, writing, “She was a beautiful woman & played an admirable character that did so much for redefining social issues both here in the US & throughout the world.”
Of course, it wasn’t just “Star Trek” alumni who had wonderful things to say. Former Georgia State Representative Stacey Abrams (technically also an actor on the show after her cameo on “Star Trek: Discovery”) shared what she described as one of her “most treasured photos”—an image of Abrams next to Nichols, smiling and holding up the well-known Vulcan hand sign.
One of my most treasured photos – Godspeed to Nichelle Nichols, champion, warrior and tremendous actor. Her kindness and bravery lit the path for many. May she forever dwell among the stars. #RIPNichelle#Uhurapic.twitter.com/nFXHif8HEC
“Godspeed to Nichelle Nichols, champion, warrior and tremendous actor. Her kindness and bravery lit the path for many. May she forever dwell among the stars.”
Even the official NASA Twitter account paid its respects, saying, “We celebrate the life of Nichelle Nichols, Star Trek actor, trailblazer, and role model, who symbolized to so many what was possible. She partnered with us to recruit some of the first women and minority astronauts, and inspired generations to reach for the stars.”
We celebrate the life of Nichelle Nichols, Star Trek actor, trailblazer, and role model, who symbolized to so many what was possible. She partnered with us to recruit some of the first women and minority astronauts, and inspired generations to reach for the stars. pic.twitter.com/pmQaKDb5zw
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. famously once told Nichols, “Don’t you realize how important your presence, your character is? … Don’t you see? This is not a Black role, and this is not a female role. You have the first non stereotypical role on television, male or female. You have broken ground. For the first time, the world sees us as we should be seen, as equals, as intelligent people — as we should be.”
Dr. King would not see just how much ground Nichols would break, but she did live long and prosper. Not only that, she fought for the right to prosper for everyone, and she will be remembered fondly as the hero she is.
Ah, trees. One of Mother Nature’s most majestic creations. Always glorious sights to behold, with their bountiful blooms, luscious leaves and poisonous fruit bombs…
Wait, what?
You read that correctly. The sandbox tree, also known as the monkey no-climb or dynamite tree, lives up to all of its nicknames. It might not hold the official record for being the “most deadly tree in the world,” but it certainly comes close.
A video posted to YouTube by Animalogic gives a fun deep dive on the sandbox tree and all the ways in which it “chooses violence.” Reader beware: This might cause trust issues with other trees. Suddenly you might find yourself wondering what that birch in your front yard’s real intentions are.
First off, let’s talk about those fruit bombs.
The sandbox tree’s official name references the small pumpkin-like fruit it bears. Up until the mid-1800s, when sand was the primary tool for blotting ink, these small gourds made a perfect container for sand and therefore were a standard desk item until they were replaced with blotting paper, Animalogic explained.
But when not being harvested as desk ornaments, these fruits can act as seed explosives. Though this is more of a reproductive strategy than a defensive attack (aiming to get the seeds as far away from the parent plant as possible), humans and animals caught in the crossfire can still be badly hurt by a relentless seed onslaught.
Luckily these seed grenades are fairly predictable and therefore avoidable. They don’t explode at night or when the air is damp, as they need heat and dryness to be ignited. When temperatures are high, however, the fruit will lose more than half of its moisture—becoming so dry each of the 15 sections will violently split away from each other … sort of like distant cousins at an outdoor family reunion. If that happens, look out!
Next, we have stabbing bark.
Yep, from top to bottom, the sandbox tree is densely covered in needle sharp, knife-like points. Hence, monkey no-climb (and hopefully nothing else tries to climb it either). No wonder Animalogic likened it to a “medieval torture device.”
When all else fails, the sandbox tree relies on a weapon that’s withstood the test of time—poison.
Remember those fruit bombs? Well, even if they don’t explode and kill you, just one bite could result in violent cramps, vomiting and diarrhea. OK, so maybe it’s not death … but it ain’t great.
The sandbox tree’s thick, red sap it secretes is also toxic, creating a skin rash on contact, not to mention temporary blindness if it gets into your eye. Indigenous peoples would dip their darts into this sap for hunting and warfare. On the plus side, certain parts of the plant can allegedly be used to treat stomach issues, eczema, rheumatoid arthritis and intestinal worms. Please, please don’t try this at home.
Much like Audrey II in “Little Shop of Horrors,” this tree seems hellbent on world domination. Because of its explosive and efficient seed dispersing system, the species is now considered invasive in East Africa. Ironically, the trees were consciously planted there for shade.
One person joked in the video’s comments, “okay, who thought the poisonous, explosive, thorn-covered tree would be the best option to import for shade?” A fair question!
The sandbox tree might be a tad toxic, deadly, intrusive and insidious, but it’s still pretty cool to learn about. The planet never ceases to provide things that leave us in awe … and in this case, terrified.
And special kudos to Animalogic for providing entertaining and educational videos. You might have given us some nightmare fuel, but we love it.
Jon Stewart is clearly not backing down until the Senate passes the Honor Our PACT Act and provides health care to veterans who were exposed to toxic burn pits during their time in service. Despite the bill having bipartisan support, Senate Republicans suddenly voted against it last week and it’s believed the move was done solely out of retaliation for Democrats planning to move forward with President Joe Biden’s Build Back Better plan.
Once again taking to the steps of the Capitol on Monday to urge the Senate to pass the bill before heading for recess, Stewart fired off a few jabs at his conservative critics who have been oddly attacking him for championing the healthcare bill. While the late night comedian got in a few jokes, he quickly pivoted back to the seriousness of the situation as the stalled bill is leaving veterans on the hook when time is a crucial factor.
Jon Stewart at protest in support of the bill providing health care for veterans exposed to toxic burn pits:
“I get it: I am a liberal piece of shit…I’m Hunter Biden’s cocaine dealer…But the VFW isn’t…and the Wounded Warriors Project isn’t, so why are they standing here?” pic.twitter.com/b5MugIOZtP
“I’m a liberal piece of shit,” Stewart said with a twang. “I get it. I know what I am. I’m Hunter Biden’s cocaine dealer. I get it. I’m more gay pride flag than man. I get it. But the VFW isn’t, and the American Legion isn’t, and the IAVA [Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America] isn’t, and DAV [Disabled American Veterans] isn’t, and the Wounded Warriors Project isn’t.”
With a throng of cameras recording Stewart’s every word, he challenged the Senate to honor its commitment to the men and women who served their country.
“My suggestion to this Senate would be, when you come back, if all the members aren’t here, keep the lights on, keep the doors open, and don’t leave here tonight until you do the right thing by these folks,” Stewart said. “Don’t make it harder than it is.”
Lizzo had a major career moment last week when “About Damn Time” climbed to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Now, on the new Hot 100 chart dated August 6, we have a repeat on our hands as “About Damn Time” is on top for a second straight week. This makes “About Damn Time” Lizzo’s second song to spend multiple weeks at No. 1, after “Truth Hurts” had seven weeks on top in 2019.
Meanwhile, the next four spots on the chart are also all the same as last week: Harry Styles’ “As It Was” is No. 2, Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)” is No. 3, Jack Harlow’s “First Class” is No. 4, and Future, Drake, and Tems’ “Wait For U” is No. 5.
We have a couple noteworthy changes in the bottom half of the top 10, though. Beyoncé’s “Break My Soul” rises to No. 6, a new peak for the Renaissance single. Post Malone and Doja Cat’s “I Like You (A Happier Song)” also re-enters the top 10 at its previous high of No. 9, following the recent release of a fun new video for the track.
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
You’d think Peloton would have figured out their music licensing rights deals by now. Considering the company has partnered with Beyoncé, Eminem, and David Bowie’s estate in the recent past, streaming music to play alongside their cycling workout programs ought to be a fairly straightforward setup, just as it is with any streaming service: The music gets used and royalty payment gets paid out to the copyright owners. Well, according to a lawsuit filed on behalf of DJ Muggs of Cypress Hill and his company Soul Assassins Inc., Peloton has been using Cypress Hill’s music and not paying for the rights to do so.
“Peloton’s use of [the songs] in its work-out videos without a license from Soul Assassins is an outrageous, willful infringement because Peloton was sued by a group of music publishers in March of 2019 for doing the exact same thing,” DJ Muggs’ lawyers wrote, in a court document obtained by Billboard. “Clearly […] Peloton knew unequivocally that it had no right to use any musical composition in its exercise videos without first obtaining a license for one hundred percent of the song.”
The 2019 claim cited above, is in reference to a $150 million suit filed by the NMPA, claiming that Peloton was using music by artists like Drake, Rihanna, Bruno Mars, Ed Sheeran, and more, without securing the exclusive rights to do so. Now, Muggs claims that Peloton has used Cypress Hill tracks including “Insane In The Brain” and “Rap (Superstar)” without permission.
How Peloton is not locked into licensing deals the way TikTok or even Spotify are, is a bit mind-boggling. This feels similar to when podcasts were (and still regularly do) receiving takedown notices en masse for using songs without permission. Spotify as a podcast platform found a way to pay out royalties to those rights holders via their existing streaming agreements. It would serve Peloton well to enter into a partnership with a streaming service who can clear the usage rights for them so they don’t have to keep going on the defensive for what are very pricey lawsuits. Until then, Muggs and Soul Assassins Inc. are having none of it.
“Peloton is a textbook willful infringer,” the claim states. “Peloton fully understood what the copyright law required, having entered into sync licenses with certain other copyright holders, while trampling the rights of Plaintiffs by using their musical works for free and without permission.”
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
After some years away, both Beyoncé and Lizzo returned with new albums this year. Beyoncé’s newly-released seventh album Renaissance marks her first full-length effort since 2016’s Lemonade. Renaissance clocked in with 16 songs and features from Beam, Tems, and Grace Jones as well as additional contributors including Drake, Jay-Z, Syd, and others. On the flip side, Lizzo released her fourth album Special earlier this month and that arrived with 12 songs and no guest features. Renaissance and Special don’t share many similar qualities, but there is one thing they both have in common: they both have songs that were criticized thanks to their use of the word “spaz.”
Why Are Beyoncé And Lizzo Removing ‘Spaz’ From Their Songs?
Lizzo was the first to receive criticism for using the word “spaz” and it came after she released “Grrrls” from Special. In a line from the song she sings, “Hold my bag, b*tch, Hold my bag. Do you see this sh*t? I’mma spazz.” Beyoncé’s case comes more recently thanks to “Heated” from Renaissance. In that song, Beyoncé sings, “Spazzin’ on that ass, spaz on that ass / Fan me quick, girl, I need my glass.”
Merriam-Webster defines “spaz” as “one who is inept” and it categorizes the term as “slang, often offensive.” The word itself comes from “spastic” and “spasticity,” and according to a paper published by the National Library Of Medicine, the latter word “is a velocity-dependent increase in muscle tone and uncontrolled, repetitive, involuntary contractions of skeletal muscles.” With that being, the word “spaz” is viewed as an ableist term for those with cerebral palsy, also known as “spastic diplegia.”
As a result of the derogatory nature of “spaz,” Lizzo altered the line in “Grrrls” while a rep for Beyonce promised to do the same for the line on “Heated.”
Lizzo is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
August is starting out on a hot note. Really hot — from coast-to-coast. And on these epically hot days, the only thing that we truly crave to cool us down (besides a soft serve from the ice cream man) is a frosty, refreshing beer. The kind of beer we can crush; the lower alcohol brews that we’re eager to go back to again and again.
To find these summer refreshers, asked a panel of stone-cold craft beer experts to rave about their picks for the title of “most refreshing beer ever!” And since the summer is only going to get warmer before the chill of fall sets in, the time is right to stock up on these easy-drinking brews. Keep scrolling to see all of the picks.
Allagash White
Allagash
Jeremy Marshall, brewmaster at Lagunitas Brewing in Petaluma, California
Allagash White. It’s an amazing beer and refreshes on many levels. I like it in the sun— it even tastes like a hot sunny day. It’s like a sun tan for your innards. It’s naturally cloudy and zesty, but also has a unique spiciness to it. Brewers tend to like Allagash White the way guitar players like Jeff Beck. But there are reasons for that — a nerdy combo of oats and un-malted wheat, some sort of secret spice and botanical blend with an expressive Belgian yeast that’s approachable—it’s sublime.
This one is easy. Although I suppose not many Americans have ever had the opportunity to taste it fresh, Schönramer Pils is the most refreshing beer ever. It is perfectly balanced. It is full-bodied, and yet, so very delicate you can hardly believe it’s true. If you are ever in Bavaria and have the opportunity to run five miles and then sit down with a liter of beer, choose this one.
Urban Artifacts Spyglass
Urban Artifacts
Garth E. Beyer, certified Cicerone® and owner and founder of Garth’s Brew Bar in Madison, Wisconsin
I still think back to a couple of summers ago when I was doing house and yard work. A heavy sweat was building. My mouth was getting dry. I needed a refreshing beer. At that point, I hadn’t had Spyglass by Urban Artifact, but there was one in my fridge that I brought home from my bar, and damn. Just damn. It was somewhere between your favorite golden ale and your favorite classic margarita. All that was missing was a salted rim.
Living in the Australian desert can get hot during the summer months, and Kaiju Krush. is the perfect drink to quench your thirst. This tropical ale has a “super-clean” malt profile that highlights the drink’s many tropical flavors, such as pineapple and passionfruit.
Augustiner Helles/original is hands down one of my favorite beers of all time and if you can swing it, drink it from the source in Germany. It is a wonderful beer when fresh and has a perfect balance. The malt and hops dance in harmony without either dominating. The beautiful, cracker-y maltiness from German pilsner malt causes it to go down almost too easy.
Sudwerk People’s Pilsner. This is a classic North German-style pilsner made by one of the most exceptional craft lager breweries in the world. It’s extremely drinkable and super crisp and clean with a hit of German hoppy bite. Probably one of the five best Pilsners out there today. No joke.
Berliner Weisse is an amazingly refreshing beer due to its balance: A subtle tartness – nowhere near as sour as a sour – balances out the fruity notes, and a light effervescence brings it all together. One of the best craft examples is Evil Twin Nomader Weisse. It’s slightly sour, tart, and loaded with refreshing citrus flavors.
Jester King’s Le Petit Prince is amazing. It’s sub-3%, so is almost quite literally hydrating. The minerality almost makes it come across as fancy mineral water with a little hop, a little spice, a little breadiness. It’s perfection on a hot day.
One time I went on a 13-mile hike on a mountain in Alaska and right afterward was given a cold Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. At least at that moment, it was the most refreshing beer of all time. And of course, this gem is a classic and maybe the most influential American craft beer on earth, so you don’t just have to take my word for it.
Dogfish Head SeaQuench
Dogfish Head
Josh Radigan, director of food and beverage at Viceroy in Washington DC
That’s a tough question because I love Dogfish Head’s SeaQuench Ale. It’s salty and has touches of lime – perfect for a beach day. It gets its thirst-quenching flavor because it’s a mix of a Kolsch-style beer, a salty Gose, and a tart Berliner Weiss. Flavored with sea salt, lime juice, and black limes, it’s arguably the most refreshing beer of all time.
When it comes to refreshing beers, we always reach for a flavorful, fruity, slightly salt Gose-style beer above all others. This 4.5% tart, slightly salty, highly refreshing Gose-style beer is brewed with lime, sea salt, coriander, and cucumber. This German-style wheat beer is guaranteed to quench the mightiest thirst on a hot, hazy summer day.
If tart, salty beers aren’t for you, we always suggest a traditional, Czech-style pilsner. One of the best (and most sessionable) is Notch Session Pils. It’s low in alcohol but high in flavor. It’s crisp, crushable, and very refreshing. It’s the kind of beer you’ll want to drink all day — particularly when the temp climbs.
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