Category: News

The Los Angeles Lakers are approaching the midpoint of the season in a place they didn’t expect, sitting at 20-19 which is only good for seventh in the West, meaning they would find themselves in the play-in if they don’t improve their standing over the next 43 games.

The good news of course, is they have half of the season to turn things around, but to do so it has become pretty clear that there need to be changes made to the roster. Making major changes is going to be difficult simply because they don’t have a lot of players that make more than the minimum since they have three max contracts, two of which are untouchable in LeBron James and Anthony Davis, and the other is the recently acquired Russell Westbrook who, despite the Lakers seemingly having interest in potentially moving on quickly from the former MVP, is incredibly difficult to trade because of his contract.

That leaves a lot of smaller moves as the only real chance to shuffle the roster, both in trying to swap in new role players via trades and also clearing roster spots to be players on the buyout market. They already dumped Rajon Rondo in a three-team deal that sent Rondo to the Cavs and Denzel Valentine to the Knicks, who waived him with some cash the Lakers sent them to save them some luxury tax money. Two more veterans appear to be next on the Lakers trade list, as ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reports hearing from other teams that the Lakers are actively shopping DeAndre Jordan in an effort to create another roster spot and are willing to part with Kent Bazemore as well.

Jordan has not been effective despite opening the season in the starting lineup, and as the Lakers have moved away from playing as many big lineups, they seem ready to swap Jordan out for a buyout market spot (or the ability to add two players for one, or three for two, in a trade). Bazemore likewise was a starter early in the season, but has struggled mightily to produce in L.A. and the Lakers would apparently be willing to move him out of town to get someone else in to try and find a consistent contributor.

These all seem like the kinds of moves that would be appetizers for something else, as Talen Horton-Tucker is, by far, the biggest asset on the Lakers who, when paired with Kendrick Nunn’s deal, makes up the only real opportunity to acquire something more than a vet minimum talent. We’ll see if they’re able to make something happen with those two, but if nothing else, Lakers fans can expect to see some more vets shuttled out of town as the Lakers will look to take a spin around the buyout market in February.

*Omicron is spreading in Hawaii but the state has not made changes to its travel policies. Travelers are encouraged to respect local and national advisories.

In 2021, I spent more time on the road than I did at home. As a passionate adventurer, one of my greatest lessons over the past year has been a new appreciation for solo travel. Group trips, couples getaways, and family vacations are great, but there’s something empowering about taking your travels into your own hands. Especially as a woman. Exploring unknown places alone leaves the door wide open for you to create your own itinerary with the freedom to be spontaneous along the way. You learn to have fun by yourself, connect more intentionally to the world around you, and experience people and places in new ways.

Or at least, that’s what I’ve gained from it. And I’m absolutely hooked.

My most recent solo adventure was to Kauai, Hawaii’s wettest, greenest, and fourth-largest island. With 97 percent of the island covered by forests or mountain ranges, it’s a haven for nature lovers and outdoor adventurers. The endless stretches of beach surrounding the dense greenery make it a vision of tropical paradise — and a natural stand-in for Jurassic worlds, distant jungles, and far-off planets.

Traveling to Kauai solo, I was able to meet people I never would have connected with had I gone in a cloistered crew. I may or may not have left with new ink because I met a tattoo artist and owner of Tried and True Tattoo at dinner on my first night. I often changed plans on a whim, whether that meant chilling at the resort pool with a Mai Tai or hiking first thing in the morning. Whatever I wanted to do, I did it. By the end of my five days in Kauai, I felt more connected to myself, nature, and my spirituality than I had in a long time.

If you’re looking for a solo adventure of your own, Kauai is my #1 pick on the planet. It’s hospitable, safe, and full of beauty. Below, you’ll find my solo traveler’s guide to the island — but I’ll readily admit that I’ve only scratched the surface of what there is to see and do.

PART I — Where to Play

Explore Waimea Canyon

First of all, you’re going to need a rental car in Kauai. Uber is scarce here, and as a solo traveler, it’s nice to have easy transportation access at any time of the day. I spontaneously decided to upgrade my rental to a convertible, and it was 100 percent worth it. (As a rule of thumb, never leave any valuables in your rental car.) One of the best parts of my trip was simply cruising through the jungle with the top down and checking out the views. This was especially enjoyable when I drove through Waimea Canyon State Park, a ten-mile long and 3,000 feet-deep canyon where cliffside views are abundant.

Waimea Canyon wasn’t originally on my itinerary, but a convincing DM from one of my Instagram followers persuaded me to change things up (again, the perks of solo travel!). I spent an afternoon driving through the state park, making stops along the way whenever something caught my eye or I noticed a line of cars parked on the side of the road. From miles of mountainous greenery to waterfalls and running creeks, the island’s vast natural beauty is on full 360-degree display throughout Waimea Canyon.

At the top of the state park, there are lookout platforms where you can take in the views from up above. However, if you find yourself in Kauai during winter, then you’ll realize how quickly the weather can turn on its head. By the time I made it to the peak, it was completely foggy and absolutely pouring (AKA, bring a rain jacket). Luckily, the sun made its way back from behind the clouds on my way back down. I made one last stop in the canyon where I was met with a breathtaking double rainbow and mountain view.

It was truly a magical moment that made the afternoon of driving and rain worth it.

Cacao Bliss & Mindful Snorkeling Tour

I’ve been loving Airbnb Experiences lately. These are first-hand, one-of-a-kind activities hosted by local experts. I knew I wanted to do at least one badass experience during my stay in Kauai, so I signed up for the Cacao Bliss & Mindful Snorkeling Tour. My guide took me on a short morning hike down to a small secluded beach that’s typically only frequented by locals. He then led me in a meditation, served me a warm cup of ceremonial cacao elixir while sharing its various healing benefits, and joined me in the ocean for a swim. Unfortunately, the water was too rough for the snorkeling portion of the excursion, but it was certainly a morning to remember.

This mindfulness experience was the perfect way to start the day, as it encouraged me to get in touch with nature, practice gratitude, and open up to the endless beauty that surrounds me — cheesy, I know, but… it’s true!

Check Out Wailua Falls

There is no shortage of gorgeous waterfalls in Kauai. If you want to get up close and personal with one, head to Wailua Falls, a 173-foot fall on the Wailua River near Lihue. Not only is it incredible to see, but it’s also convenient. You can drive straight up to the main viewpoint to check out the scene and take photos. This spot is great if you’re on a time crunch but still want to fit in seeing the island’s scenery between meals or activities.

If you’re feeling adventurous and don’t mind getting a little wet, you can even hike down to the base of Wailua Falls. The trek down is a short distance, but it’s often muddy and therefore slippery so it’s a good idea to use caution and take your time walking down. As always, especially when traveling solo, it’s a good idea to text someone where you’re hiking and what time you’ll be done.

Chill on the Beach

I mean, duh. You obviously can’t spend time in Kauai without hitting the beach daily, even if that means you don’t venture from the sand at your resort. There are a plethora of public beaches on the island, and each one seems to have its own character and charm. If you’re on the North Shore of the island, a few notable beaches to check out are Hanalei Bay and Anini Beach. Both of these offer tranquil vibes and scenic ocean views with a jungle backdrop to match. Hanalei is more ideal for families and swimming, while Anini Beach is a great spot to chill out and enjoy a picnic by the water.

For days on the South Shore, check out Poipu Beach, one of Kauai’s most popular beaches. This is another good beach for taking a dip in the waves, as there are lifeguards, picnic tables, and showers nearby. There are also great spots to eat right by the main beach area so you can enjoy your lunch while you sunbathe.

Tour the Kauai Coffee Estate

Have you ever wondered exactly how coffee is made? It’s more intricate than you might think, and the Kauai Coffee Estate gives you a first-hand look (and taste) of the entire process. With over 4 million coffee trees grown on 3,100 acres, Kauai Coffee Company is the largest coffee grower in the U.S.

The farm in Kalaheo offers personalized, guided walking tours where you’ll learn about how the farm’s coffee is grown, harvested, and roasted. You can also opt for a free self-guided tour and stroll through the grounds at your own leisure. After the coffee estate tour, you can chill out at the property’s visitor center for coffee taste-testing and panoramic views of the fields and ocean.

I spent an afternoon touring the Kauai Coffee Estate, and it was certainly the educational highlight of my trip.

PART II — Where to Eat

South Shore Restaurants & Fast Casual:

You can find everything from beachside resort restaurants to hole-in-the-wall small businesses throughout Kauai. As you can imagine, seafood is one of the primary delicacies of the island. If you’re craving fresh sashimi and sushi, head to Sushi Bushido. Tucked in the far corner of the Coconut Marketplace, a charming shopping center full of gift shops and eateries, Sushi Bushido is a locally-owned sushi bar with both unique specialty rolls and traditional favorites.

Order the Lava Roll and Uni for a mouthwatering meal. As an LA sushi aficionado, I definitely vouch for this spot.

For a more casual bite to eat by the beach that doesn’t skimp on taste, head to Puka Dog. Located next to Poipu Beach, Puka Dog serves Hawaiian-style hot dogs (or veggie dogs) slathered in a mess of tangy sauce and flavors of your choosing. A traditional Hawaiian-style hotdog is made with a freshly-baked bun wrapped completely around the dog. It’s then doused with garlic lemon secret sauce, a tropical-fruit relish, and locally-made mustard.

It just might be the best wiener experience of your life.

For a nicer sit-down outing and lively environment, I recommend Duke’s. I ended up here two nights in a row because I enjoyed the entire dining experience, from the ambiance to the food and fruity cocktails. Between the rainforest-like decor (including a waterfall fountain in the middle of the dining area), the live music, laidback vibes, and good grub, it’s a must-visit restaurant. I ordered the fish tacos and fish ‘n’ chips, and both offered a large portion that did not disappoint. To drink, I ordered the Lava Flow, a blended concoction of pineapple, coconut, and light rum erupting with strawberry. It was the ultimate island drink to celebrate my time in Kauai. Sweet but definitely tasty.

North Shore Restaurants & Fast Casual:

I didn’t spend as much time on the North Shore, but I did get a taste of the local eats while I was there. If you want to do some shopping and taste the local fare, head to the center of Hanalei where you’ll find boutique shops, clothing stores, local bars, and eateries. Another must-visit spot for sushi lovers is Hanalei Dolphin’s Fish Market. Here, you’ll find specialties like teriyaki shrimp, sushi rolls and fresh sashimi, poke salad, ceviche, seafood chowder, organic salad mixes, and The Dolphin’s homemade salad dressings. It’s basically your one-stop-shop for all things fish.

There are sit-down dining and takeout options available. I got mine to go for lunch on the beach.

Another Hanalei hotspot is Tahiti Nui, a family-run and operated establishment that serves everything from specialty pizzas to coconut shrimp, baby back ribs, and macadamia-crusted chicken. It’s a great restaurant for a post-beach pick-me-up when you need to refuel from a long day in the sun. The menu also offers a selection of specialty cocktails and wine. Go for the Over the Rainbow Martini for a strong kick of Grey Goose Poire, passion fruit, lime, lemonade, and club soda.

PART III — Where to Stay

Kauai Coast Resort at the Beachboy

There really isn’t a bad place to stay on the island. You’re in freakin’ Kauai, after all! The North Shore is where you’ll find lush jungle views and a serene atmosphere due to its more frequent rainy weather and untouched natural environment. The South Shore is dryer and closer to the airport, and it’s also a more convenient access point to popular adventure spots like Waimea Canyon. The good news is that no matter what side of the island you stay on, it’s a quick drive to and from each shore.

I stayed in Kapa’a at the Kauai Coast Resort at the Beachboy, and it turned out to be the perfect location for me. It was nearly equidistant to both sides of the island, making the drive to every excursion a breeze. As for the resort itself, Kauai Coast Resort at the Beachboy made me feel right at home. The rooms themselves aren’t the most extravagant, but the apartment-style layout was comfortable and nice to come back to at the end of the day. The resort is right on the beach, so I spent every morning strolling in the sand watching the sunrise. There’s also a central pool area, a popular restaurant (make a reservation!), and hammocks spread out throughout the property for the mid-afternoon nap of your dreams. The resort is also across the street from the Coconut Marketplace mentioned above, so you’ll always have shopping and a bite to eat nearby.

The Australian Open is set to begin on January 17, but the No. 1 player in the world and nine-time Australian Open champion, Novak Djokovic, apparently will not be participating. Djokovic is, rather famously, not vaccinated against COVID-19 and while the Australian government has issued exemptions for the country’s vaccine mandate to some players to allow them to play in the tournament, Djokovic ran into issues on Wednesday as his flight arrived in Melbourne.

Apparently, the visa that Djokovic and his team had applied for did not permit medical exemptions for the vaccine mandate, and as such, hours before the star landed in Australia, he was no longer arriving with the correct paperwork to be allowed entry into the country. While Tennis Australia officials pushed to get him cleared, the Victorian government rejected a request to sponsor his visa, meaning when he landed he was unable to actually enter the country.

Djokovic was held at the airport for hours, but it was ultimately decided that his visa would be canceled and he would be forced to leave Australia on Thursday, per The Age and Sydney Morning Herald.

World No.1 Novak Djokovic has been told his visa has been rejected and that he will be flown out of Australia later on Thursday.

Djokovic’s lawyers are in the process of challenging the decision, a source familiar with the situation confirmed to The Age and Sydney Morning Herald.

As one would expect, this did not make Tennis Australia very happy and they voiced their frustration, telling the Age and Herald that other players had been allowed in under the exemption Djokovic had applied for and felt they were singling him out given the scrutiny and backlash that specifically came from his being offered an exemption to play.

“I don’t know how the feds will [address the fact that] several tennis players are already in the country with the same exemption granted to Novak,” the source said.

“This looks to us like the feds are responding to the media by letting some players in but not the World No. 1.”

Other players had been granted exemptions for having had COVID-19 in the past six months and that was believed to be the exemption Djokovic was seeking, but the visa he or his team had applied for apparently didn’t allow for that.

How the courts respond remains to be seen, but it is a very real possibility that Djokovic will have to sit out rather than trying to win a fourth straight Aussie Open title, all because he has refused the vaccine that billions of people have received worldwide.

The Book of Boba Fett: Season 1 (Disney+ series) — Catch up on the season premiere before Episode 2 drops to bring us more of the iconic bounty hunter who’s now a crime lord. The very dead Jabba the Hutt has left a void in the galactic organized-crime realm, and Boba Fett is all too happy to fill it in his own way. All of this follows the very accurate prediction of Patton Oswalt on Parks and Rec about this iconic character being a lot more alive than previously suggested.

Rebelde: Season 1 (Netflix series) — Here comes a sequel to the Mexican telenovela/soap opera that’s insanely popular in Argentina. The story revolves around a snooty boarding school where one can barely stomach the drama while students fight during a Battle of the Bands. Everyone here wants a musical career, but of course, there’s romantic and friendship-related hijinks along the way, along with a secret society that’s pulling strings.

Four to Dinner: Season 1 (Netflix film) — This Italian film follows the Sliding Doors and Ordinary Joe template while four single friends interact in parallel storylines while entering into coupledom.

The Wonder Years (ABC, 8:30pm) — Bill and Lillian enter a new social circle (and it’s a lofty one) while attempting to expose Dean and Kim to a more positive set of influences. They all fit in before things go quite wrong.

The Late Show With Stephen Colbert — Courteney Cox, David Arquette, Neve Campbell, SAINt JHN

Late Night With Seth Meyers — Michael C. Hall, Margaret Qualley, Benson Boone, Gustavo Di Dalva

The Late Late Show With James Corden — Jessica Chastain, Penelope Cruz, Andrew Sleighter

In case you missed this streaming picks from last Wednesday:

Crime Scene: The Times Square Killer (Netflix series) — The first installment (The Vanishing At The Cecil Hotel) in this series arrived through the game changing ways of director Joe Berlinger, who’s navigating from within the true crime genre. In this new installment, the Times Square Killer gets the spotlight, along with the the social and systemic forces that facilitated this serial murderer. In the process, all the danger and depravity of 1970s and early 1980s midtown Manhattan will make those few blocks a spectacle of their own.

Carol City, Florida rapper Denzel Curry’s love for Japanese animation is well-documented but he’s apparently also a big fan of so-called Spaghetti Westerns, as evidenced by the new trailer for his upcoming album, Melt My Eyez See Your Future, he just shared on social media. The trailer features all the hallmarks of the beloved genre, from a sweeping desert vista to the poncho-clad protagonist silhouetted before its barren but beautiful horizon.

The end of the trailer features the album’s title spelled out anime-style, in both English and Japanese, and hints at the featured artists and producers making appearances on the project. The artists listed include fellow Floridian 454, Atlanta sing-rapper 6lack, buzzing underground singer Bridget Perez, legacy actress/folk star Buzzy Lee, Dreamville fireball JID, punk-rap rage machine Rico Nasty, grime rapper Slowthai, and hitmaker T-Pain. The production will be handled by Boi-1da, Cardo, Dot The Genius, Jpegmafia, Karriem Riggins, Kenny Beats, Powers Pleasant, Robert Glasper, Thundercat, and Denzel himself. Talk about your all-star casts.

Melt My Eyez See Your Future will be Denzel’s first full-length project since 2019’s Zuu, although he did release a joint EP with Kenny Beats in 2020 called Unlocked. Its release date has yet to be announced. Whether or not it becomes one of his final projects, as he previously promised to retire after a few more releases, remains to be seen. As the caption on the video’s YouTube page reads, the album is coming to a stereo near you, so stay close and check out the trailer above.

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Now that PlayStation has announced the PlayStation VR 2 we can start getting excited about all the possibilities of what VR could look like on new hardware. Even more exciting is we don’t have to spend too much time imagining what that technology is going to look like in action.

Alongside the announcement of the PlayStation VR 2 we also got a teaser for a game that will be coming to the system, Horizon Call of the Mountain. The teaser didn’t give us too much to go on, but it shows us that this new game plans to let us see the world of Horizon Zero Dawn and Horizon Forbidden West in a new light. We’ll surely get some new characters as well as some returning ones making this a great experience for fans of the series.

The real question though is how much of this game is going to be focused on pushing the series forward and how much of it will feel like a tech demo for the new headset. Horizon is one of the most gorgeous-looking series of games out there. Everything in that world has incredible color and all of it is amazing to look at. It makes perfect sense to let us put on a VR headset and look at that world through our own eyes, but is that all this game plans to offer? Via PlayStation Blog.

We don’t want to reveal too much just yet, but this story will be told through the eyes of an entirely new character. You will also meet Aloy, other familiar faces, and new characters along the way, and we’ll be introducing you to the protagonist of Horizon Call of the Mountain soon.

We’re looking forward to welcoming VR fans into our wonderful Horizon community, and giving you all an unforgettable experience. Horizon Call of the Mountain has been proudly developed with the team at Firesprite, and we’ll soon be revealing more about what you can expect from the game. Until then, check out the teaser trailer!

We want to see the PlayStation VR 2 take a chance on VR and push the platform forward. Even if the game is a tech demo we’re hopeful it shows more than just visuals, but obviously, since this is just a teaser we don’t want to assume too much. We’ll just have to wait to see more in the future to learn more about what the game could be.

Go big or go home: Shaquille O’Neal clearly lives by these words. The gregarious NBA legend has seemingly never met a money-making opportunity he didn’t jump into in full force. Lately, he’s been headlining New Year’s Eve festivals under his DJ Diesel moniker, getting put through two tables in a pro wrestling match, and diving into the crypto-currency game so deeply, that his Twitter display name is no longer SHAQ, it’s SHAQ.ETH (a nod to the Ethereum blockchain.)

Now he’s getting ready to throw another edition of his wild Super Bowl weekend party that might just rank near the top of the insane-o meter. Dubbed Shaq’s Fun House, his Super Bowl Weekend… pardon… Big Game Weekend event at Los Angeles’ Shrine Auditorium will feature musical guests like Lil Wayne, Diplo, and Zedd, plus DJ sets from himself and his son Myles O’Neal.

Did we mention that it’s open bar? That’s right, folks. Each ticket holder is entitled to a six-hour open bar, plus bites from “LA’s most iconic restaurants” like Roscoe’s Chicken And Waffles, Pink’s Hot Dogs, Diddy Riese Ice Cream, and LA… err…. institution, Papa John’s. The party is also a carnival, with the enormous FTX ferris wheel and circus performers. Shaq, who also happens to be dropping a collab track with Steve Aoki on Friday, laid out on his website that this is clearly an “over the top” affair:

“Los Angeles – I am back to win another Big Game Weekend championship! Part festival, part carnival, I recruited Lil Wayne, Zedd, Diplo and more to perform, plus will be building out a massive carnival experience. Get ready for LA’s most over the top party and celebrity filled event ever!”

This is a very of-the-moment function, with every attendee guaranteed to go home with free NFTs and even features an “Ultimate Giveaway” for $10,000 in Bitcoin among other prizes. The VIP area is hosted by Wynn Las Vegas and I’m not sure what parties you might be planning over Super Bowl weekend, but Omicron not withstanding, Shaq has you topped.

Ticketing pre-sale begins Thursday, January 6th at 10 a.m. PT here, with general on-sale starting the following day at the same link.

It’s not too difficult to spot when an actor is just doing something for the money. And look, this is no judgement on doing “things for money.” (Full disclosure: I, too, like money and I, too, have done things to earn said money.) And sometimes everyone gets lucky and a job someone likes also comes with ample compensation. Now, I have no idea what Andrew Garfield got paid to be in Spider-Man: No Way Home. But I would guess both (a) Garfield didn’t come back as Spider-Man only for the money and (b) he probably wasn’t paid as much as another actor, who also came back, and I would guess was more influenced by the money. (By the way, this isn’t a dig. Everything about the Magurie Spider-Man was pretty well wrapped up and well regarded and there was no real personal reason for him to reprise the role, as opposed to Garfield.)

The way I’ve been looking at this is trying to put myself in Andrew Garfield’s shoes. He’s not even 40 yet and has already had a great career, yet that has to gnaw on someone like Garfield that he’s the one who had the, let’s say, “lackluster” Spider-Man movies. So much so that Sony finally just gave up on them and called Disney for help. Now, absolutely none of this is Garfield’s fault. He’s genuinely good as Spider-Man and when people talk about The Amazing Spider-Man movies that’s usually the first thing people mention. But if it were me, oh, yes, that would annoy me to no end. No matter what success I had as an actor, that would always be in the back of my head, You’re feeling pretty good about yourself huh? Hey remember those Spider-Man movies people didn’t seem to enjoy? Too bad THAT still happened.

The thing about Andrew Garfield is he genuinely enjoyed being Spider-Man. I remember interviewing him at San Diego Comic-Con before the release of The Amazing Spider-Man 2 and the guy was just beaming. I’ll never forget, Sony had this weird conference room and each “talent” from the movies they were promoting was set up and spread out at these round conference tables. Garfield had one in the corner and when I interviewed him he was kicked back and had his feet up on the table and was holding court like he was the king of the world – just going on and on about the possibilities of where these movies were going and how this might all tie in with a Sinister Six battle. (If I recall correctly, right before this particular Comic-Con Sony had announced, or at least leaked, not just a third The Amazing Spider-Man movie, but also a fourth. So Garfield, at this point, thought this would be his job for the foreseeable future.)

Also, besides the inherent problems those two The Amazing Spider-Man movies have (Jamie Foxx mentions quite a few of these in No Way Home), they end on such a bummer. Peter can’t save the love of his life and then it just pretty much ends. The third film would have been about Peter coping and trying to become a hero again and actually sounds pretty interesting. But, as we know, that third movie never happened so it just ends with Spider-Man depressed. But, now, and I’m sure in Garfield’s mind, there is a third movie and it completely redeems Garfield’s Spider-Man.

Going back to the whole idea of actors doing parts only for the money, look, Andrew Garfield is a great actor but he’s absolutely beaming in Spider-Man: No Way Home and no amount of acting talent in the world can quite pull off just how happy he looks. Also, as discussed, Garfield always got praise for his portrayal of Peter, but it’s quite something to see Andrew Garfield as Spider-Man in a well-made, capable movie that actually makes sense. As much as I loved him in No Way Home, it’s also kind of frustrating because we are getting a glimpse at what could have been. Three good Spider-Man movies starring Andrew Garfield could have been dynamite. But, before, we had to just kind of assume that was true. Now we can see it with our own eyes and we know it’s true: Andrew Garfield made it crystal clear to everyone he’s a terrific Spider-Man. And what many people thought would be a cameo became a full-on third-act lead role, where his character actually gets to have a catharsis from the events of The Amazing Spider-Man 2.

(By the way, as an aside, it’s kind of hilarious Garfield had to do two press tours this past fall – one for The Eyes of Tammy Faye and another for Tick Tick… Boom! – so he was bombarded with questions about No Way Home while Tobey Maguire just got to hang back and play poker, or whatever else it is he does in his free time. I do hope no one gives Garfield too much grief for his constant denials that he was in No Way Home. The back no one ever believed him made the whole this endearing.)

There are already some rumblings that people would love to see Garfield’s Spider-Man back in some capacity. At this point, I’m curious what Garfield would say to that? On one hand, it’s pretty obvious he loves playing Spider-Man again. But on the other, put yourself back in his shoes: for the past seven-plus years Garfield has had to live with questions about why his series, considered a failure, ended. Now, for the first time, he’s playing with house money. Everyone loves his Spider-Man. If he never makes another people will now think of his Spider-Man as successful. If he decides to make another? Who knows what could happen? Movies like this are difficult and if a news one doesn’t turn out well… it’s back to the way it was. It’s like being down money at a casino and putting everything on red in some last-ditch effort to salvage the night and somehow it hits. You can walk out right now a winner. But, yes, it’s tempting to let it ride one more time…

You can contact Mike Ryan directly on Twitter.

Ever since losing the 2020 presidential election, Donald Trump has been crowing about election fraud to the point where it boiled over into a full-blown insurrection on January 6 that made even his best friend Sean Hannity say, “Hey, maybe calm down.” While evidence of widespread voter fraud has yet to materialize, what has been repeatedly found are residents of the MAGA-loving Villages retirement community in Florida getting busted for voting in multiple states. Whoops.

This time around, it’s 64-year-old Charles Franklin Barnes who has become the fourth resident to get arrested for voter fraud after he allegedly voted in Florida and his original home state of Connecticut. As for how The Villages residents keep getting picked up for voter fraud, well, it appears someone ratted them out with a super subtle email. Via ClickOrlando:

Anonymous emails sent to Florida’s Secretary of State in May by someone using the pseudonym “Totes Legit Votes” prompted the voter fraud investigation, court records obtained show. The self-described “citizen election integrity analyst” reportedly used publicly available voter registration data to identify numerous Florida voters who may have also cast ballots in other states.

“I believe that if hundreds of people sign sworn affidavits that they saw election irregularities, people should at least try to check into it,” the anonymous tipster told News 6. “You can’t claim ‘the system is working’ if random internet people have to find the violations for you.”

Despite Trump’s repeated claims to the contrary, little to none of the few instances of voter fraud in the 2020 election were in Joe Biden’s favor. In fact, they were the opposite, but who’s going to let a little thing like facts get in the way of a good coup, right?

(Via ClickOrlando)

Ed Sheeran has been placing the health of the environment at the top of his list of priorities lately: The singer wants to “re-wild” as much of the UK as he can, and he apparently wants an electric camper for his next tour, too, as he revealed on this past weekend’s episode of CBS’ Sunday Sitdown.

In an unedited version of the conversation that was shared on the Sunday Sitdown podcast, Sheeran said (as NME notes):

“We’re going to spend time in each city. We’re going to try to do it on the train or… I’m talking to VW about an electric campervan. I want to travel to every show as electric as possible. […] The baby is coming with me on tour. It was really a slog at the beginning of my career. You would play five shows in a row and have one day off. But the luxury of playing these large venues is no one goes mid-week so they have to be at weekends. So it’s Friday, Saturday, Sunday every week. We’re going to take time in each city.”

He also noted that he sees his next tour going on for a long time: “I feel quite lost not being on stage because that’s so much of my purpose. And I have been on stage since I was like 11 years old, just constantly. Any stage that there is, I would hop up and play. I really like that gigs are back on and we’re finding a way to do shows, and I can’t see the tour stopping. I’m going to be going for a while.”

Watch the interview here.

Ed Sheeran is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.