Whether it’s the mac n’ cheese that reminds you of simpler times, or the exotic spiced chicken recipe you acquired from your travels, every meal tells a story.
This rings especially true for people whose families immigrate to different countries to start a new life. Immigrant parents often not only save every penny, but spend most of their time away working in order to build a future for their children. Each comfort meal they manage to provide their kids in the very few spare hours they have tells the story of love and sacrifice.
For Kat Chao, that meal was her mother’s Korean curry.
A photo of baby Kat and her mom and dad
Growing up, Kat’s mom worked weekends to support her family. But that didn’t stop her from waking up Saturday morning to dice up some beef and fresh veggies and throw them into a large pot so that Kat’s dad could heat it up and serve it with some rice to her and her brothers later.
Curry was a quick, easy and inexpensive way to feed a full house, but it served more than just practical purposes. As Kat would wake up to the enticing aroma, she was reminded that her mom was always taking care of her, even if she couldn’t physically be there.
YUM
As Kat grew a little older, her attitude towards her mother’s curry shifted. Instead of looking forward to it, she would “roll her eyes at it,” as is customary of the rebellious teen. Those less-than-positive feelings were only exacerbated by the media constantly labeling carbs, therefore rice, as “bad.” As a kid who struggled with weight, her comfort food became a source of discomfort.
But as an adult, and now a mom herself, Kat has reached a full circle moment.
Kat, all grown up with her own familiy
As she makes her own kids the exact same curry dish (okay, maybe a leaner cut of beef, and organic veggies…but otherwise exactly the same!) Kat finds a whole new appreciation for the recipe, knowing how hard her mom worked to even make it happen.
Kat was lucky to have grown up with a meal to look forward to each night. Other kids aren’t so lucky. 1 in 8 kids currently experience food insecurity in the United States. But there’s an opportunity to decrease those numbers.
For every O Organics product you purchase, the company will donate a meal to someone in need through the Albertsons Companies Foundation—for up to a total of 28 million meals.
Is there a dish from your childhood that you’ve longed to rekindle with? You could do like Kat does and give it an O Organic twist. Luckily, the O Organics brand has a wide array of affordable ingredients, so creating healthy swaps is easier than ever. Plus, you can provide nourishment to another family at the same time.
Just think—the next meal you prepare could make all the difference to someone else. If every meal tells a story, that’s certainly a story worth telling.
Every year, as students around the globe gear up for a new academic term, piles of plastic school supplies make their way into classrooms and, inevitably, into our landfills. We’re talking pens that run out of ink, broken rulers, empty glue sticks—the list goes on. It’s a perpetuating cycle that feeds into the enormous issue of plastic waste that’s choking our environment. These seemingly small contributions from our backpacks and pencil cases add up quickly, creating a startling amount of waste, and it’s time we start rethinking how we equip our young learners.
100% Plastic & Vinyl-Free
Zero-waste Binder Kit
$24.00 at Wisdom Supply Co.
Enter Wisdom Supply Co., a company redefining what back-to-school shopping looks like. They’ve taken a hard look at the classroom, identified the sources of plastic waste, and come up with a solution that’s as innovative as it is eco-friendly. Their mission is simple yet profound: to change our relationship with school supplies by offering sustainable, waste-free alternatives.
Their flagship product, the Zero-Waste Binder Kit, embodies this mission perfectly. It’s a product designed not only to serve its purpose in organizing students’ notes but also to instigate a shift in the industry—away from single-use, disposable items and toward durable, earth-friendly supplies. With Wisdom Supply Co., going back to school means going forward with sustainability.
What’s the big deal with traditional school supplies? First off, think of the sheer volume. There are millions of students, each with a backpack full of notebooks, pens, binders—the common essentials. The majority of these items are plastic-based, designed for a single school year’s use, then discarded. But these items don’t just disappear. Instead, they end up in landfills, contributing to an already severe environmental waste crisis. It’s a system built on convenience, but it’s also unsustainably shortsighted, and our desire for new, shiny supplies overlooks the long-term impact.
The downside of plastic pollution goes beyond overflowing landfills—it’s a problem that impacts our health and the overall well-being of our planet. Many plastics contain harmful chemicals, such as phthalates and BPA, which can seep into the soil and water, disrupting ecosystems and making their way into our food chain. The production process for plastic is no angel either—it’s a significant contributor to air pollution and global warming.
Our penchant for plastic, driven by convenience and short-term thinking, is coming at a significant cost—one that we pay in environmental degradation, climate change, and health risks. It’s a high price for a pack of pens or a binder.
Luckily, there’s the Zero-Waste Binder Kit, an innovative solution from Wisdom Supply Co. This isn’t your standard, off-the-shelf school supply. The Binder Kit is a blend of thoughtfulness, sustainability, and practicality. Each kit comes with durable cardboard binders, recycled paper notebooks, and non-toxic, plastic-free dividers and tabs.
All these components can be replaced individually, which means you won’t need to buy a whole new binder every year. And each item in the kit is designed to last a full school year and beyond, making it the perfect companion for a student seeking both functionality and sustainability. But most importantly, this Binder Kit is 100% recyclable, entirely plastic-free, and proudly made right here in the United States.
100% Plastic & Vinyl-Free
Zero-waste Binder Kit
$24.00 at Wisdom Supply Co.
By choosing this kit, you’re not just opting for a plastic-free solution; you’re supporting local manufacturing and reducing the carbon footprint associated with transporting goods from overseas. That’s a win-win situation if ever there was one. The Zero-Waste Binder Kit from Wisdom Supply Co. is more than just a product—it’s a statement, a commitment to sustainable living, and an investment in our planet’s future. Isn’t it time we rethought our approach to school supplies?
Wisdom Supply Co. was founded by two parents who were fed up with the disposable culture around school supplies. The company arose from the ashes of many broken, discarded plastic binders. Frustrated by the endless cycle of buying, breaking, and trashing, they set out to create a solution that respects the planet and teaches kids about sustainability. Their core philosophy? Quality, reusable school supplies that are built to last and designed to be fixed, not thrown away.
Wisdom Supply Co. is more than a company—it’s a call to action. They’re on a mission to turn the tide on the plastic waste crisis, one sustainable product at a time. They have big dreams about a world where school supplies contribute to a circular economy rather than an overflowing landfill. Each product they create, including the Zero-Waste Binder Kit, is a step in that direction—designed to be loved, used, repaired, and eventually recycled, never trashed. Every purchase supports this vision and helps make a more sustainable world possible.
The upfront cost of the Zero-Waste Binder Kit is higher than its plastic counterparts. But when products are created with sustainability and longevity in mind, certain costs are associated with that—fair wages for workers, high-quality materials that last longer, and environmentally-friendly manufacturing processes all play a role. Also, remember that this binder isn’t a single-use item that will end up in a landfill after a few months. It’s built to last and be repairable, so you’re essentially buying several years’ worth of binders all at once.
There’s also the invaluable aspect of voting with your wallet. By buying from companies like Wisdom Supply Co., you’re supporting a shift away from the disposable culture plaguing our planet. You’re encouraging the production of more sustainable, earth-friendly products and sending a message to other manufacturers about the kind of future you want to see. Purchasing the Zero-Waste Binder Kit isn’t just a school supply decision—it’s a step towards a more sustainable world.
As we approach another school year, remember that every purchase we make is a statement about the world we want to live in. Choosing sustainable over disposable, repairing instead of replacing—these choices matter. They ripple out, impacting our environment and teaching our kids valuable lessons about stewardship and sustainability.
That’s why we invite you to take a stand with Wisdom Supply Co. Click here to order their Zero-Waste Binder Kit. Make it part of your back-to-school shopping list. It’s more than just a binder—it’s a way to support a greener future, a tool for teaching kids about sustainability, and a vote for a world without wastefulness. Let’s redefine school supplies. Let’s make sustainability the standard. Because the planet deserves better, and so do our kids.
In the post (shared on August 17, before “Rich Men North Of Richmond topped the Hot 100), Anthony says he “never wanted to be a full time musician,” adding, “There’s nothing special about me. I’m not a good musician, I’m not a very good person.” He continued, “I’ve spent the last 5 years struggling with mental health and using alcohol to drown it. I am sad to see the world in the state it’s in, with everyone fighting with each other. I have spent many nights feeling hopeless, that the greatest country on Earth is quickly fading away.”
He also indicated that he’s turned down some significant opportunities recently:
“People in the music industry give me blank stares when I brush off 8 million dollar offers. I don’t want 6 tour buses, 15 tractor trailers and a jet. I don’t want to play stadium shows, I don’t want to be in the spotlight. I wrote the music I wrote because I was suffering with mental health and depression. These songs have connected with millions of people on such a deep level because they’re being sung by someone feeling the words in the very moment they were being sung. No editing, no agent, no bullsh*t. Just some idiot and his guitar. The style of music that we should have never gotten away from in the first place.”
“It’s been difficult as I browse through the 50,000+ messages and emails I’ve received in the last week. The stories that have been shared paint a brutally honest picture. Suicide, addiction, unemployment, anxiety and depression, hopelessness and the list goes on.
Im sitting in such a weird place in my life right now. I never wanted to be a full time musician, much less sit at the top of the iTunes charts. Draven from RadioWv and I filmed these tunes on my land with the hope that it may hit 300k views. I still don’t quite believe what has went on since we uploaded that. It’s just strange to me.
People in the music industry give me blank stares when I brush off 8 million dollar offers. I don’t want 6 tour buses, 15 tractor trailers and a jet. I don’t want to play stadium shows, I don’t want to be in the spotlight. I wrote the music I wrote because I was suffering with mental health and depression. These songs have connected with millions of people on such a deep level because they’re being sung by someone feeling the words in the very moment they were being sung. No editing, no agent, no bullsh*t. Just some idiot and his guitar. The style of music that we should have never gotten away from in the first place.
So that being said, I have never taken the time to tell you who I actually am. Here’s a formal introduction:
My legal name is Christopher Anthony Lunsford. My grandfather was Oliver Anthony, and ‘Oliver Anthony Music’ is a dedication not only to him, but 1930’s Appalachia where he was born and raised. Dirt floors, seven kids, hard times. At this point, I’ll gladly go by Oliver because everyone knows me as such. But my friends and family still call me Chris. You can decide for yourself, either is fine.
In 2010, I dropped out of high school at age 17. I have a GED from Spruce Pine, NC. I worked multiple plant jobs in Western NC, my last being at the paper mill in McDowell county. I worked 3rd shift, 6 days a week for $14.50 an hour in a living hell. In 2013, I had a bad fall at work and fractured my skull. It forced me to move back home to Virginia. Due to complications from the injury, it took me 6 months or so before I could work again.
From 2014 until just a few days ago, I’ve worked outside sales in the industrial manufacturing world. My job has taken me all over Virginia and into the Carolinas, getting to know tens of thousands of other blue collar workers on job sites and in factories. Ive spent all day, everyday, for the last 10 years hearing the same story. People are SO damn tired of being neglected, divided and manipulated.
In 2019, I paid $97,500 for the property and still owe about $60,000 on it. I am living in a 27′ camper with a tarp on the roof that I got off of craigslist for $750.
There’s nothing special about me. I’m not a good musician, I’m not a very good person. I’ve spent the last 5 years struggling with mental health and using alcohol to drown it. I am sad to see the world in the state it’s in, with everyone fighting with each other. I have spent many nights feeling hopeless, that the greatest country on Earth is quickly fading away.
That being said, I HATE the way the Internet has divided all of us. The Internet is a parasite, that infects the minds of humans and has their way with them. Hours wasted, goals forgotten, loved ones sitting in houses with each other distracted all day by technology made by the hands of other poor souls in sweat shops in a foreign land.
When is enough, enough? When are we going to fight for what is right again? MILLIONS have died protecting the liberties we have. Freedom of speech is such a precious gift. Never in world history has the world had the freedom it currently does. Don’t let them take it away from you.
Just like those once wandering in the desert, we have lost our way from God and have let false idols distract us and divide us. It’s a damn shame.”
Indie music has grown to include so much. It’s not just music that is released on independent labels but speaks to an aesthetic that deviates from the norm and follows its own weirdo heart. It can come in the form of rock music, pop, or folk. In a sense, it says as much about the people that are drawn to it as it does about the people that make it.
Every week, Uproxx is rounding up the best new indie music from the past seven days. This week we got new music from The National, Death Cab For Cutie, Chvrches, Blur, and more.
While we’re at it, sign up for our newsletter to get the best new indie music delivered directly to your inbox, every Monday.
Fiddlehead — Death Is Nothing To Us
The third Fiddlehead album Death Is Nothing To Us is a riot. The opening track “The Deathlife” watches frontman Patrick Flynn yelling as passionately as he did in his days in cult-followed hardcore band Have Heart; closer “Going To Die” is similarly a tumultuous highlight. In between are dynamics tracks that take the listener through the ups and downs of grief and gratitude.
Jean Dawson — DESTRUCTION FOR DUMMIES PT. 2
Made up of three songs called “NO SCOPE,” “X-RAY,” and “VEXED,” the second part of Jean Dawson’s trilogy is rivetingly atmospheric, with “VEXED” as the most memorable track. “I only sleep when I’m stressed / Smoking cigarettes throwing up / Putting off sh*t for fun / I don’t own nobody none,” Dawson raps, finding power in a brooding, low-key ambiance that sheds more light on his dreamlike vocals.
Runnner — Live In Los Angeles 8-09-2022
If you (like me) have not had the honor of experiencing Runnner’s daydreamy folk ballads in-person, then this new live album will fill the void. His songs are already intimate and emotional enough in recorded versions, but these renditions from shows are an even harder punch to the gut.
Blur — The Ballad Of Darren
Blur’s new album The Ballad Of Darren is as cinematic as it sounds. The opening ballad bursts with the melodrama of the beginning of a movie; the following track “St. Charles Square” is an idiosyncratic anthem that flirts with classic rock, kicking off with the amazing line: “I f*cked up / I’m not the first to do it.”
The National — “Space Invader”
The National released their new album First Two Pages of Frankenstein, but they’re already back with new material, consisting of songs “Space Invader” and “Alphabet City.” The former is a standout, encapsulating their evocative, gloomy sound and dismal lyrics whose delivery is resigned and powerful.
Death Cab For Cutie — “Arrow In The Wall”
Death Cab For Cutie pleased many indie fans with last year’s album Asphalt Meadows, and they’re already back with a new song. It’s more upbeat and catchy then the band usually is; however, Ben Gibbard’s distinct vocals fit perfectly against the buzzing sonic backdrop.
Chvrches — “Manhattan”
In October, Chvrches are sharing the 10th-anniversary edition of The Bones of What You Believe. “Manhattan” is a hallucinatory, pulsating song that comes from the album, and it has equally as trippy lyrics: “Eyes like mine / Watching you blow us all to hell.”
Sun June — “Get Enough”
Sun June are back with a disarming new indie earworm called “Get Enough.” Against lighthearted, buoyant sound with vulnerable, poignant lyrics: “And it’s easy for me to get lonely when I love someone / It’ll all come down in an instant / I can feel it / I can almost taste it,” Laura Colwell sings in a mesmeric lull.
Another Michael — “Candle”
Preparing for the release of two albums (Wishes to Fulfill this year, and Pick Me Up, Turn Me Upside Down in 2024), Another Michael are sharing another preview of what’s to come. “Candle” is a warped, groovy dream-pop ballad that captures the delirium of nostalgia: “Seeing it all again / I remember what happened back then / When we were going through it / Seeing it all go down.”
Diners — “Working On My Dreams”
Diners, the project of Blue Broderick, have announced a new album called Domino, and the lead single “Working On My Dreams” is an infectious power-pop treat with lyrics that are irresistible to sing along to: “Anywhere you go, people wanna know, / How to have a real time. / Habit overdue, looking for a clue, / Tangled up and tongue-tied.”
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
Flo Rida was in for a wild ride when he performed at Erie, Pennyslvania’s CelebrateErie music festival over the weekend. During his show, a parent in the crowd put their baby up to crowdsurf — and the child eventually made its way to the musician, who was performing in the middle of the audience.
Despite the wild nature of the video and experience, Flo Rida welcomed the child with open arms. He held the toddler as he continued to perform with his microphone in the other hand.
The child was then brought onto the actual stage at some point, as he is lifted into the air while “GDFR” is blasting. According to HotNewHipHop, Flo Rida also kissed the baby and held the mic for him to try to sing, and then a fan on stage took a selfie with the child.
While it’s still unclear why or who put their baby up to be passed on stage to Flo Rida, he clearly didn’t seem to mind the interruption. And hey, the child has a truly chaotic story to tell when he gets older — just as long as he takes a pause from the audience encounters.
Check out the video of the baby crowdsurfing at Flo Rida above.
When Snoop Dogg recorded his multi-platinum single “Drop It Like It’s Hot,” he had his sizzling dance moves in mind. Unfortunately, the Houston heat had different plans for concertgoers attending his outdoor concert on August 19. According to USA Today, due to the city’s unprecedented temperature spikes, 16 people attendees were hospitalized after suffering from heat-related illnesses.
It has been reported that the temperatures grow up to 104 degrees near the peak of the performance. The outlet also revealed that in addition to the 16 people that were hospitalized, 19 other individuals sought medical treatment on-site at The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion amphitheater.
In a statement shared with the publisher, Montgomery County Hospital District public information officer Misti Willingham provided an update on the concertgoers, saying, “Out of these, MCHD EMS transported 16 adults to nearby hospitals in stable condition.”
Although the number is alarming to fans interested in attending Snoop and Wiz Khalifa’s High School Reunion Tour, Atascocita Fire Department public information officer Jerry Dilliard told the outlet it is expected given the circumstances. “This is a common practice and very effective if done early on,” said Dilliard.
The local fire department took immediate action, sharing their quick response time on X (formerly Twitter), writing, “Headed to the Woodlands Pavilion to assist with overheated concert attendees at the @SnoopDogg concert.”
Atascocita First Responders and the @SETRAC_TX AMBUS (MPV601) are headed to the Woodlands Pavilion to assist with overheated concert attendees at the @SnoopDogg concert. We got your back Snoop! pic.twitter.com/jRXOAKojY3
Ron DeSantis‘ war with Disney is officially back on. The governor’s hand-picked board of stooges that oversees the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District has reacted to Disney’s latest countersuit by accusing the entertainment giant of “unethical” conduct. That conduct? Handing out free passes and discounts to employees and their families who served on the governing board.
While that complaint might seem confusing considering the governing board is now suing Disney, DeSantis reshuffled the members last year and stacked the oversight committee full of his hand-picked lackeys who did not receive the perks. The governor and Florida Republicans publicly boasted that the reshuffle was retaliation for Disney opposing the state’s highly controversial “Don’t Say Gay” law, which prompted Disney to fight back in court and repeatedly run circles around DeSantis.
Board members of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District submitted a complaint to the state Inspector General, claiming that the millions of dollars in season passes, as well as discounts on hotels, merchandise, food and beverages, that their Disney-supporting predecessors provided governing district employees amount to unethical benefits and perks.
Last year alone, before the DeSantis appointees took over the governing board and it was still controlled by Disney backers, around $2.5 million in discounts and passes were given to district employees and their families, the board said in a news release.
As for whether this latest DeSantis gambit has legs, not likely. “The arrangement appears to be more like an employee benefit rather than a taxpayer scam, similar to the way professors at a university may get free passes to athletic events or free tuition for family members,” Rollins College professor emeritus Richard Foglesong told the AP.
Fogelsong wrote a “wrote a definitive account of Disney World’s governance” for his book Married to the Mouse: Walt Disney World and Orlando, so he knows the ins and outs of the special district that DeSantis is trying to manipulate.
Shirtless centaur Adam Driver is the gold standard of “celebrities posing in various stages of undress while on a horse” photo shoots (it’s a thing). But give Kendall Jenner points for trying. As part of Stella McCartney’s winter 2023 campaign, the model posed nude on a white pony in France.
“I knew this season’s Stella girl had to love horses as much as I do,” McCartney told InStyle. “Kendall has been riding since she was a kid, just like me, and has her own ranch; you can see how at ease she is around these sensitive creatures and them with her.” Jenner is a former horse girl, and her family has a long history with broncos. “I rode horses for 10 years, so I thought I was going to be a professional horseback rider and then a vet. I used to play these vet video games,” she told Harper’s Bazaar in 2016.
In one photo, Jenner dons a gown with braid and cutout detailing, holding a matching black purse while a horse stands up on its hind legs. Another shows her wearing a bright skirt, a sharp blazer with strong shoulders, a matching red purse, and a pair of sculptural heels, standing still among a group of running horses. Finally, in an ultra-dramatic moment, the model lies saddle-free on one of the pony’s backs at dusk, wearing just a pair of thigh-high boots and a matching purse.
Check out the “celebration of the timeless healing relationships between humans and horses” (isn’t that the plot of BoJack Horseman?) below.
For every moment of frustration, letdown, or roadblock in the way, Swerve Strickland is using it as motivation. He talks openly about the challenges that forced him to revamp and take his character, his wrestling, and his physique to a whole different level.
He reached the highest of highs on the WWE roster, winning the North American championship in NXT before being drafted to Smackdown on Night 1 of the WWE Draft alongside his faction, Hit Row. There was an expectation that Hit Row could be big-time players on the show before the group was ultimately dismantled and Strickland, among others, was released.
“That left a big chip on my shoulder to prove it was one of the biggest mistakes you could have made,” Strickland tells Uproxx Sports. “And now, winning the tag titles with Keith Lee and doing a co-main event in pay-per-views with said tag titles, doing all these big arenas and being featured in a lot of different, very unique ways and being able to do the music crossover and show them that was one of the biggest mistakes you made, but you can’t have it back now. You can’t make up for that now and I’m creating something that’s even bigger than what you expected of me over there. I’m really blessed in that department. I want to not just give back to them, but I want to showcase, I want to exceed the expectations of me here at AEW as well.”
Strickland appreciates the opportunities he’s gotten in the year he’s been with AEW, and he thanks his team of people who have helped bring unique ideas to keep his name in the conversation.
With AEW, Strickland has been awarded with creative freedom to blended pop culture with wrestling in ways that made the business boom in throughout the 2000’s. From Fabulous taking part in his entrance at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York to his work with Rick Ross to having Kevin Gates celebrate his tag team championship win in Georgia, Strickland says that’s the beauty of AEW — you never know what’s going to happen on the show.
It’s not just pop culture that’s made Strickland a trending name, but his recent surge heading up Mogul Embassy. He sees the Nick Wayne angle as a turning point for his character, a moment that shocked AEW fans when he and A.R. Fox left the 18-year-old Wayne in a pool of his own blood at the Buddy Wayne Academy in Seattle.
“I knew this is something that hasn’t been done in wrestling in a while, especially to this degree. And with the story we have, the connection we have, it’s a little more powerful. And how young he is, it’s a little more shocking, too,” Strickland continues.
“I want to go in new, unique ways. That’s something I also don’t want to bastardize to the point where you see it so often. Those should be moments that change either my character perception or the perception of the character that is being acted upon. Those need to be key moments (where) we need something big to shift the new story. Those need to be monumental moments that you don’t forget. Because if you do too many of them, then it kind of get lost in the wayside.”
Ultimately, it came down to getting fans invest. And once they were, the hard part of the story was completed.
“How do we get people to really care?” Strickland says. “If you see (Wayne) wrestle, this kid’s going to be something one day. Why should we care? Well, now he’s got a reason to. And then A.R. Fox is being involved. Okay, we like A.R. Fox, he’s athletic and he can wrestle, he’s really good, but why should we care about him in this mix? Well, now we got you a reason to.”
There are callbacks to the independent scene across this rivalry that Strickland says makes it more real, bringing fans closer to the wrestlers, their background, and the moments that brought them to AEW.
“It was more emphasis to bring the realness and authenticity to what we’re trying to tell you and rather than just like, I want to beat you because I think I’m better than you or you want to beat me because you think you’re better than me. No, I want to hurt you because you’ve done something to me in the past that I have not gotten over and now I’m going to do all these things to get back at you on a personal vendetta,” Strickland continues.
“Now it’s like, oh, we’re dealing with dangerous men over there. We got to call in the cavalry, which was Sting.”
AEW
Strickland appears to be positioned as AEW’s next big star, with a marquee matchup alongside A.R. Fox against Sting and Darby Allin in a coffin match at All In from Wembley Stadium in London on August 27.
He speaks of manifesting this match, stating in a previous interview that Sting would be a star he’d love to face. It’s a testament to keeping a chip on his shoulder and continuing to churn away.
“Where’s the hole in my game? Where’s something that’s missing? Let’s fix that. Let’s get on that and work on that. And then honestly, timing, timing is huge too. I didn’t know about the stadium thing being announced at all until it was. Now that that’s taking shape, I gotta get myself in a position where I can’t be left off of this card. And here we are,” Strickland says.
With AEW’s loaded roster, being on the card in general is a success in itself, much less wrestling Sting in front of the largest paid attendance of his iconic career. For Strickland, it’s also a significant moment for the culture.
“I always felt like whether I intend to or don’t intend to, the culture is always watching. African American culture, the Black pro wrestling fan base, the hip hop culture, all that has influenced me so heavy. It’s helped create the Swerve character,” Strickland says. “People really have caught onto that, and they’re influenced, and some are even inspired by that. So just the fact that I am the representation on the Wembley card right now at this moment, because there’s still more matches to be announced, that’s big. And to be going against an icon like Sting and, somebody that I’ve gone to wars with for years on the independents with Darby Allin. And somebody that I’ve had one of the greatest matches with A.R. Fox, that’s a really wild crew of people to be around that I never would’ve thought of six, seven years ago.”
More than just a moment for Strickland, or really any individual within AEW, he feels like All In is a turning point that could have trickle effects for years to come across the wrestling industry.
“It makes people see that there’s a possibility. It makes people believe again,” Strickland says. “We know WWE is doing their thing. Their business is higher than it’s ever been and congrats to them. But that made us raise their game. Wembley is going to make them have to make changes. They’re not sitting as comfortable in there anymore. And that’s not a bad thing, that’s a good thing, we want them to. If AEW can make the people who run WWE treat my friends and talent better and get them better opportunities and stuff, that’s a win for pro wrestling and that’s all we need.”
Former political BFFs Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump are both having less than ideal 2023s. The latter, of course, has been indicted four times, which is almost an impressive run if you really think about it. (So much winning.) The former thought he was gonna storm into Ukraine in early 2022 and instantly take over, which obviously has not happened. And now, Putin has been experiencing severe Russian ruble woes, so he’s probably very distracted. Perhaps even too distracted to think about his old buddy Trump, who recently bragged that he was “the apple of Putin’s eye.”
Well, Putin is on Trump’s mind. In response to learning that he’ll have to pay $200,000 bail bond in Georgia, Trump is responding by essentially mocking Fulton County DA Fani Willis. On his Truth Social platform, he painted a little fantasy about hanging in a fancy gold suite in “Russia, Russia Russia… with Vladimir.” Ladies and gents, here’s a former U.S. president’s words:
The failed District Attorney of Fulton County (Atlanta), Fani Willis, insisted on a $200,000 Bond from me. I assume, therefore, that she thought I was a “flight” risk – I’d fly far away, maybe to Russia, Russia, Russia, share a gold domed suite with Vladimir, never to be seen or heard from again. Would I be able to take my very “understated” airplane with the gold TRUMP affixed for all to see. Probably not, I’d be much better off flying commercial – I’m sure nobody would recognize me!
In addition to posting bond, Trump will apparently also not be allowed to post about his Georgia case, which (as federal lawyer Ron Filipkowski notes below) does not seem likely to be something he can cope with.
There is a zero percent chance this dude won’t violate the bond conditions his lawyers just agreed to. The only question is whether they will enforce them when he does. pic.twitter.com/n31MGs250F
How long can he last… 5, 10 minutes? We should soon find out.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy
Privacy Overview
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
