Category: News

He was a (cowboy hat-wearing storm chaser) boy. She was a (by-the-books Brit playing an American) girl. Can I make it any more obvious? Well, for Steven Spielberg, it was a little too obvious.

Twisters, which debuted with a shocking $80.5 million at the box office, does not end the way you think it might: with Tyler Owens (Glen Powell) running through an airport to give Kate Cooper (Daisy Edgar-Jones) a big ol’ smooch. Instead, there’s no kiss. There originally was, but Spielberg, who produced the film through Amblin Entertainment, suggested it be removed.

“I think it’s a Spielberg note, wasn’t it?” Edgar-Jones told Collider. “I think it stops the film feeling too cliched, actually. I think there’s something really wonderful about it feeling like there’s a continuation. This isn’t the end of their story. They’re united by their shared passion for something.”

Powell added, “I feel like a kiss would be sort of unrepresentative of the right goal at the end of the movie. And it is a good Spielberg note. It’s why that kid is still in this game. It’s amazing.”

Director Lee Isaac Chung agreed with his two stars. “I feel like audiences are in a different place now in terms of wanting a kiss or not wanting a kiss. I actually tried the kiss, and it was very polarizing — and it’s not because of their performance of the kiss,” he explained to Entertainment Weekly. “This [no-kiss shot] was the other option that I had filmed on the day, and I got to say, I like it better. I think it’s a better ending.”

This just means Powell and Edgar-Jones need to star in another movie where they get to kiss. They have too much chemistry not to.

(Via Collider and Entertainment Weekly)

Urban Dictionary has two definitions of “moist” that sum up the current perception of the word well: “The word that if said properly can make many people uncomfortable,” and, “A word people pretend to hate because the internet told them to.”

Well, Billie Eilish isn’t hopping on the hate train.

She was just a guest on BBC Radio 1, and while chatting with host Greg James, they did a segment called “Unpopular Opinion.” It’s a recurring Radio 1 segment (here’s Lizzo doing it in 2021), during which James and his guest give their thoughts on listener-submitted unpopular opinions. This time, one of them, from listeners Ellie and Darren, was that the word “moist” is “actually great.”

Eilish responded, “Ugh… love you, Ellie and Darren.” She added, “I just don’t see the problem. I understand where it came from, it makes sense, but I don’t… I think it’s great. When cake is moist: Oh my god, amazing. […] I like the word. It’s a great word, it’s a great adjective. An amazing adjective.”

She didn’t agree with a different listener, though, who claimed that “baths are the worst thing ever.” Eilish also noted that she and brother/collaborator Finneas differ on that issue, as he’s not a fan of a hot bath “unless he’s sick.”

Eilish and James also played a round of ‘Sexy Or Not Sexy,’ so check out the video above.

House of the Dragon’s sixth episode is, as Marie Kondo would say, “mess.” One big gay mess. Luckily, this mess sparks joy, so you won’t find us complaining when two sexually frustrated women release a bit of tension while plotting a rebellion. Or when a spooky witch torments a deadbeat dad having the most poorly-timed mid-life crisis we’ve ever seen. Or when the realm’s biggest drama queen does a bit of workplace restructuring that leaves his own mother unemployed and his brother bedridden.

No, this is the kind of mess we don’t feel the need to clean up, but rather marvel at before wondering exactly how this season is going to wrap things up with only two episodes left. Here’s where everyone stands on HoTD’s leaderboard this week.

Mysaria

Just call her “Missus Steal Your Girl” because, while Mysaria seems committed to seeing Rhaenyra grace the Iron Throne, the woman clearly has other ideas of where the Realm’s Delight could sit. (Her face, you guys. We’re making Sapphic allusions here.) The pair have been getting cozy while plotting the downfall of their shared enemy, the Hightowers, for multiple episodes now and all that subterfuge and political machination has hornt up these warmongering baddies. Naturally, a bit of tongue-tango-ing is in order, but Mysaria proves she’s not just the queen’s newest side chick, she’s an expert strategist capable of weaponizing the hunger pains of a city for her ruler’s cause. Her tavern plants and gossip girl minions do their job well, spreading rumors of feasts at the Red Keep while the peasants are left to survive on fish scraps and she makes good on the manufactured outrage by organizing aid drops under Rhaenyra’s banner. It’s the most clear cut win Team Black has enjoyed all war and it came, not from the back of a dragon, but the mind of a determined woman who’s been underestimated her entire life.

Addam Velaryon

For a man who spent most of the episode whining that his deadbeat dad favored his brother, Addam Velaryon was a little too quick to flee in terror from a dragon who simply wanted to be his friend. You’re digging for clams and knotting ropes all day, bruh, maybe you should be a bit more open to the mystical opportunities around you. That said, it certainly looks like Seasmoke has chosen his new rider – our condolences to Ser Steffon Darklyn, who served as his own funeral pyre this week.

Rhaenyra Targaryen

Rhaenyra Targaryen is in her Brat Girl Summer era, backhanding the chauvinistic grandpas at her war council and feeding her Kingsguard to the flames of her first husband’s cranky old dragon. She might not know the scientific terminology for the handle thingy of a sword, or even how to properly wield one, but she’s learning to make the men around her quake in fear despite this. And she’s scored herself a friend-with-benefits who’s helping her forget all about her waste of space uncle-husband and while giving her a crash course in Machiavellian mind games. It feels really good to finally say this: Rhaenyra Targaryen is winning.

Alys Rivers

This week on “What in the hell is that Goth-girl getting up to at Harrenhal,” everyone’s favorite human barn owl is leading Daemon on a merry chase for his sanity and (maybe) orchestrating the deaths of key Riverlords. After all, it is Alys who stays Daemon’s hand this week, advising him to wait a few days before flying out to forcibly bring the Riverlands tribes to their knees. When he heeds her warning, he’s rewarded with the death of old Grover Tully, the liege lord who couldn’t control his bowel movements just a few episodes prior. With a child in his stead, Daemon will be able to manipulate House Tully into doing his bidding, meaning we might just see him leave the castle grounds before the season is through. But does Alys want that? Who knows? She seems to be having a grand ol’ time haunting his dreams and poisoning his peas. We just know she’d love the 1996 cult classic, The Craft if times were different.

Aemond Targaryen

The Red Keep’s resident homicidal twink is living out a DMX song, losing his mind and acting a fool at the absolute worst time. His bright idea to treat with the Triarchy in order to thwart the Sea Snake’s blockade is met with a healthy dose of skepticism by his advisors and old one-eye is not a fan of constructive criticism. He lashes out by threatening his Lannister allies, sending his best fighter (and a few thousand men) to certain death, and firing his own mother from the only fulfilling job she’s ever had. (That includes raising him and his siblings.) But that’s just his professional life, his personal life is imploding too, especially when Aegon begins to regain consciousness putting all of his carefully-laid, quickly-screwed-up plans in jeopardy. Instead of handling things subtly, Aemond goes full Kathy Bates on his brother’s incapacitated, decomposing ass. We’re all for soaking in the moment, but when your power-trip blinds you to the uprising happening right outside your gates, it might be time to step back and reflect.

Larys Strong

Larys Strong has traded ogling Alicent’s feet for playing nursemaid to her rotting corpse of a son. It’s not an improvement, but it is his only option considering Aemond is too shrewd to manipulate and Aegon’s mind is too addled to object. If his plan is to Weekend At Bernie’s his way to the throne, he’s got some work to do.

Criston Cole

Ser Criston Cole is basically sentenced to death this episode so, you know, maybe God is real?

Daemon Targaryen

The good news? Daemon doesn’t dreamfuck his mother this week. Instead, his nightmares feature his brother, Viserys, at his absolute lowest, when his wife and child died on the same day and Daemon was nowhere to be found. It’s clear this particular screw-up still haunts the throne-thirsty Targaryen, but at least he’s able to find some type of closure before Simon Strong gives him a jarring reality check. Speaking of, the bad news for Daemon this week is that he’s still at Harrenhal, he’s still being controlled by a malevolent witch, and he still isn’t answering his wife’s ravens. We know men find it difficult to apologize sometimes, but this is getting ridiculous.

Aegon Targaryen

Aegon is conscious again, which is a new development we can’t help but think Aegon is not happy about. If the drugs are wearing off it means the peeling skin and oozing sores, the scabbed-over eye and crushed leg, the internal bleeding and exposed foot sitting right next to Lary Strong… he’s too aware of all of it now. He’s also aware that his younger brother wants him dead and he’s pretty committed to seeing that life goal realized.

Alicent Hightower

Alicent has officially reached the “fuck around and find out” stage of this little story. She’s spent her life playing by the rules of men intent on keeping women shackled to archaic gender roles. She’s benefited from her complicity, wielding her femininity when it suited her, judging others who would do the same. She’s played stupid games and now she’s winning stupid prizes – the main one being a demotion from her seat on the council courtesy of her tyrannical manchild. (Not the slab of burnt bacon, the other one, with the mommy issues and the missing eye.) She’s been robbed of what little power she possessed, relegated to the same “domestic pursuits” she would condemn others to, and left to wonder if this entire mess – the fracturing of House Targaryen, the civil war in Westeros, the rioting smallfolk, the death of dragons, the emotionally stunted men positioned to rule – is all her fault. To that, we offer this wise council: Uh, yeah, you messed up girl.

(WARNING: Spoilers for HotD will be found below.)

Team Black and Team Green have the same issue in House of the Dragon: a dwindling supply of dragons paired with riders. Of course, Team Green is still “winning” that contest at the moment because Vhagar (ridden by Aemond) is an absolute unit, and Rhaenyra cannot exactly zoom away atop Syrax (although she does do so at the end of this episode) without risking the same fate as Aegon after his idiotic decision to end up crispy.

Before Rhaenyra does fly away with Syrax, though, she happens to engage in an intense kissing session with Mysaria/White Worm. Wait, what?

To back up several scenes: Rhaenyra aimed to enlist dragonseeds to ride unclaimed dragons, but her ex-husband’s former flying companion, Seasmoke, declined that option. This effort went much worse than when we saw Aemond claim Vhagar, and we saw a dragonseed promptly get torched after daring to tell Seasmoke to “dohaeris” (i.e., serve). This, of course, runs counter to a previous suggestion by Mysaria, who wondered if Seasmoke was lonely without a rider. However, Rhaenyra accepts blame for the Seasmoke debacle, and she continues to take Mysaria’s counsel for better (and there are benefits, like that planted gossip enraging the residents of King’s Landing) or worse.

Also, this partnership now sits on another level after an embrace led to impromptu necking between Queen Rhaenyra and the newest member of her court. This was a gasp-inducing move on several levels, including the memory that both Rhaenyra and Mysaria have been with Daemon.

Daemon, however, is busy being pouty and haunted by not only young Rhaenyra but also Viserys. And after viewers felt the sheer joy of watching Seasmoke choose another rider, Addam of Hull, distraction mode hit when Rhaenyra and Mysaria’s kissing commenced. Sorry, Daemon?

It’s almost penultimate episode time.

House of the Dragon airs on Sunday nights.

The main thing the EA Sports team really wanted to do with the return of the College Football video game franchise was make it feel like actual college football. Visually, that meant getting stadiums right, mapping out how bands lineup for run outs, and getting the presentation in line with what it looks and sounds like on TV, but it also meant making the gameplay, well, a bit chaotic.

College football players are far from perfect, and the developers wanted you to feel that. It is infuriating at times playing the game, but it’s true to the spirit of college football, where 19 year olds often make critical mistakes. The EA team has been fairly stingy with the ratings (in a good way) as there needs to be a real benefit to having stars who excel at a skill in a college football game. That’s how it works in real life too, as the variance from top to bottom is so much greater than at the pro level and that needs to be reflected. That means keeping high ratings to an exclusive group. For overall rating, only the top 100 earned 90+, and a 90+ is even more exclusive for some skills.

On offense, plenty of folks have pointed out how hard it is to throw the ball, especially throwing downfield, and having a QB with a strong arm is vital — as is having receivers with speed to create separation. However, defense is just as hard and while some of you may be like me and just toggle the ol’ “offense only” tab when playing Dynasty, folks are learning that the simply getting a guy to the ground is a bit harder than usual, in part because a lot of guys are not very good at tackling.

Tackling is among the most exclusive skill ratings, as only 49 players earned a rating of 90 or better in their tackling (and 20 of those are at 90). That bears out in playing, and having one of these guys that can consistently get guys to the ground is a huge boost for your defense.

99 Tackle

Jason Henderson (ROLB, Old Dominion)

98 Tackle

Jay Higgins (MLB, Iowa)

97 Tackle

Nick Martin (MLB, Oklahoma State)

96 Tackle

Jordan Phillips (DT, Maryland)
Matt Salopek (ROLB, Miami OH)
Bobbie Walker-Smith (MLB, Alabama)

95 Tackle

Walter Nolen (DT, Ole Miss)
Joshua Farmer (DT, Florida State)

94 Tackle

Danny Stutsman (MLB, Oklahoma)
Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy (DT, Texas A&M)

93 Tackle

Jack Kiser (LOLB, Notre Dame)
Nick Jakcson (ROLB, Iowa)
Gabe Powers (MLB, Ohio State)
Marlowe Wax (MLB, Syracuse)

92 Tackle

Bam Martin-Scott (ROLB, South Carolina)
DJ Hicks (DT, Texas A&M)
Kenneth Grant (DT, Michigan)
Jordan Bertagnole (DT, Wyoming)

91 Tackle

Ty Wise (MLB, Miami OH)
Jordan Burch (RE, Oregon)
Ben Roberts (MLB, Texas Tech)
Jacob Manu (ROLB, Arizona)
Derick Mourning Jr. (MLB, Texas State)
Darrell Jackson Jr. (DT, Florida State)
Colin Coates (DT, Charlotte)
D’Von Ellies (DT, Penn State)
Bryun Parham (MLB, Washington)
Zeke Cables (DT, LSU)
Stefon Thompson (MLB, Nebraska)

90 Tackle

Xander Mueller (MLB, Northwestern)
Nazir Stackhouse (DT, Georgia)
Ruben Hyppolite II (MLB, Maryland)
Debo Williams (MLB, South Carolina)
Smael Mondon Jr. (MLB, Georgia)
Jailen Richards (RE, Temple)
Adrian Williams (LE, Utah State)
Landon Jackson (LE, Arkansas)
Travion Ford (LE, Toledo)
Mohamed Toure (ROLB, Rutgers)
Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins (LE, Georgia)
Ernest Hausmann (ROLB, Michigan)
Damonic Williams (DT, Oklahoma)
Dontay Corleone (DT, Cincinnati)
Jhalyn Shuler (ROLB, USF)
Ali Saad (LE, Bowling Green)
Aliki Vimahi (DT, Utah)
Rayshaun Benny (DT, Michigan)
LaMarcus Fox (RE, Alabama)
Xavier McKoy (DT, Alabama)

Kendrick Lamar and Drake’s feud forced many of rap’s biggest names to choose a side. Despite the war of words officially concluded, as Kendrick’s diss record “Not Like Us” continues to top the charts, the online banter refuses to die out.

Yesterday (July 20), Lupe Fiasco found himself in the middle of a heated debate surrounding the war of words with a host of fans online. Continue below for a full run down of has users online in an uproar.

What Did Lupe Fiasco Say About Kendrick Lamar?

During an X (formerly Twitter) Space, Lupe Fiasco decided to share his thoughts on who can assume the role of gatekeeper to hip-hop culture. Many users took his statement to be a subtle jab at Kendrick Lamar. Read his remarks below.

If you want to start who is in and who is out, a process which I don’t agree with, and I think is bullsh*t, if you want to do that you should have a degree. You should have a PhD in hip-hop. If you ain’t got that, then I don’t think that you are qualified to and have the right to speak on of hip-hop. Just because you can rap, and you’ve sold a bunch of records, I don’t think at this point, and it’s to the point now that it is visceral, and it’s to the point where people are making decisions on it, and it’s hurting people and building up other people that it shouldn’t just be based on some n**** at a podcast… It should be stewarded by people who know what the f*ck they are talking about very very deeply and can write a book about it. But I’m being biased. I don’t agree with the process anyway. I don’t think we should be choosing who comes in and out and making decisions on that sh*t anyway… I think it is going to do more harm than good. And I think you are going to miss out on a lot of beautiful things because of it. I think you are going to ostracize people and like I said, there are going to be a group of motherf*ckers that you think you actually control and sh*t and its dudes doing 50 city tours who you ain’t never heard of. ‘Cause they like, ‘F*ck that dude. I’m finna do this because I love it.’ But now, they are the ‘out group,’ but they are selling more records than you and selling more tour dates than you. But you are the spokesperson for hip-hop? That don’t make no sense.

Later in the discussion, Lupe shut down rumors that he dislikes Kendrick. Listen below.

If you were taking a stroll through a quiet neighborhood and happened to catch a glance of this majestic sight, you might bat an eye. You might do a double take. If you were (somewhat understandably) concerned about this surprising roof-dog’s welfare, you might even approach the homeowners to tell them, “Uh, I’m not sure if you know…but there’s a…dog…on your ROOF.”

Well, the family inside is aware that there’s often a dog on their roof. It’s their pet Golden, Huckleberry, and he just sorta likes it up there.

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To put passersby at ease and ebb the parade of concerned parties knocking on their door, Huckleberry’s human put up a note explaining the whole weird scenario to those interested:

It reads:

“Huckleberry is living up to his name and learned how to jump onto our roof from the backyard. We never leave him in the backyard without someone being at home. He will not jump off unless you entice him with food or a ball!””

We appreciate your concern but please do not knock on our door… we know he’s up there! But please feel free to take pictures of him and share with the world! #hucktheroofdog.”

Of course, they ended it with a hashtag for photos shared on social media. Also, it seems a little strange that the owners mention that Huck is willing to jump 10 feet off a roof to chase food or a ball, but do nothing to suggest that people refrain from urging their dog to make that (seemingly dangerous) leap. Maybe Huck’s got the whole process down to the point it’s just not a concern.

This may seem like a pretty odd phenomenon, but not so odd that there isn’t a whole corner of Reddit devoted to dogs who just seem to really, really enjoy roofs. It’s called r/dogsonroofs, and boy does it ever deliver on that name.

This article originally appeared on 12.05.18

In 2005, a Croatian architect designed a 230-foot-long organ that turns the rhythm of the waves into actual music.

Nope, not nonsensical bellows or chaotic tones. Real, actual, music.

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Most of us have never seen, or heard, anything like it.

Imagine walking along the picturesque Adriatic Sea, treading lightly on a set of white stone steps as a cool breeze rolls past.

Carved into the steps are narrow channels that connect to 35 organ pipes, each tuned to different meticulously arranged musical chords.

As the waves lap against the steps, they push air through the pipes and out whistle-holes in the surface above, making a harmonious and completely random musical arrangement.

But you don’t see what’s happening below the surface. You close your eyes and all you hear is a song like you’ve never heard before, one completely unique to the movement of the sea at that exact moment.

Take a listen: Here’s what it sounded like at one particular moment, on one particular day. On any other day, it might sound completely different.

(Hit the orange button to hear it.)

Pretty amazing, right?

The Sea Organ, or the Morske Orgulje, is an incredible feat of architecture designed to bring life back to one of the world’s oldest cities.

Zadar, a 3,000-year-old city on the coast of Croatia, was almost completely destroyed in World War II –– so many of its ancient landmarks lost forever. Years after a rebuilding that featured lots of plain, concrete structures, award-winning architect Nikola Bašić was brought in to bring some delight back to the coastline.

That’s when he came up with the idea.

No doubt he was inspired by the hydraulis — a nifty little instrument built by the ancient Greeks that used water to push air through tuned pipes — or even the Wave Organ in San Francisco — a set of curved tubes built in the 1980s that amplify the gurgles and howls of the Pacific Ocean.

But the intricate design of the Sea Organ is what sets it apart and makes it truly something to marvel at.

This article originally appeared on 11.06.15

Even after a short-lived dust up (and a resurfaced a diss track), Nicki Minaj and JT seemed to have put their animosity to the side. Since then, the ladies have appeared on livestreams, stages, and records together.

However, after the release of JT’s debut solo mixtape, City Cinderella, fans believe the beef has picked back up. Continue below for more information.

Do Nicki Minaj And JT Have Beef?

According to the Barbz themselves (Nicki Minaj’s super fans), the answer is yes. For years, Nicki Minaj has found herself at the center of multiple rap feuds (including Lil Kim, Remy Ma, and Cardi B). Due to that, Nicki has tried to keep her dislike for any other rapper private by never mentioning their name publicly.

However, around July 19, Nicki Minaj reportedly began unfollowing fans. Those, who claim to have been unfollowed, speculated that the reason why was due to their support of JT’s City Cinderella mixtape.

The rumor continued to spread after Nicki Minaj held a broadcast on Stationhead. Attendees took Nicki’s vague message as a jab at JT’s previous negative remarks.

“But you also have to question why a person would go from unliking you to loving you,” she said. “Is that odd? Well, you don’t say.”

Neither Nicki Minaj nor JT has confirmed a falling out. So, for now it is all Barbz say, Juvie say.

Given the breaking politics news (Joe Biden dropping out of the 2024 presidential race), today (July 21) isn’t an ideal time to make any more announcement. But it looks like Uproxx cover star Cordae wanted to cut to gloom online with a reveal of his own.

Across his official social media pages, the “Feel It In The Air” rapper uploaded a cinematic clip to tease his third studio album, The Crossroads.

“The Crossroads Era begins now,” he wrote.

In the video, Cordae provided fans with a sneak peek into what he’s daily activities since his brief step back from the public. Those activities include quality time with his daughter Shai (whom he shares with Naomi Osaka), relaxing, educating himself on world news, and more. All of which is sure to make its way onto the project.

He then went on to share that fans should expect the first offering of the forthcoming project, on July 24.

Users online shared their excitement with the news. Other welcomed Cordae back from his recent hiatus, to which he replied: “Great to be back, I had to get better for y’all. Y’all deserve my best .”

The official release date for the upcoming body of work isn’t known at this time. However, in his profile’s bio section Cordae made it clear that The Crossroads will be shared by way of his record label, Hi Level.