Category: Trending

The health of our planet has been a hot topic of discussion for quite some time now. I distinctly remember when I begged my mom to buy me a new hairspray bottle because of some special I saw on MTV (or some other channel geared towards teens) declaring Aquanet enemy No. 1 of the ozone layer.

There’s an entire generation of near middle-aged adults who will go into a panic if they see someone throw away a six-pack plastic ring without cutting it because one time in 1992 there was a commercial that showed how damaging they were to sea turtles. Clearly, marketing environmental concerns to adolescent-aged children is effective if you want to see an impact.

Since the late 80s and early 90s theoretically sent aerosol spray products into a free fall, the ozone layer has slowly been healing itself. Was that the doing of determined teenagers? Eh, I’d like to think our awareness of it helped to bring forth more conscious adults and scientists who worked to make changes in the future.

But we still face environmental catastrophe due to climate change, and one Canadian film producer, John Geddes, is hoping to home in on some of that 90s strategy to tackle the elephant on the planet.

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Geddes formed OnTheVerge with Jeff Maher and Jackie Eddolls to address climate change using entertainment television geared toward teenagers. The group of producers is working on a new series called “The Goldilocks Mission,” which follows several teens in the near future as Earth experiences devastating climate change, according to Product Dragon. But to bring in the element of science fiction, the teens must communicate with extraterrestrials who will either show them how to repair the damage or completely destroy the Earth.

“‘The Goldilocks Mission’ is an eight-part series that showcases real science on the causes and solutions of climate change,” OnTheVerge told Globe and Mail. “We’re creating a positive story that merges entertainment with education.”

The new production group goes on to explain that they’ve not only partnered with young writers but have assembled an advisory board that is made up of engineers, climate scientists, youth leaders and clean energy companies. This combination of education paired with fantasy may just help build a bridge between climate change believers and climate change skeptics—at least that’s what the group is hoping.

Geddes told Classical Jukebox that “The Goldilocks Mission” is currently in development and coming soon. To secure more investors in the television franchise focusing on climate change solutions, the group is hosting events where potential investors can learn more about the project. There’s even a screening of a preview for the series as well as speakers and cocktails, according to their website. The next event for potential investors is May 6, in Ontario, Canada.

While it’s not currently clear what impact this new series will have on the opinions and action on climate change, it’s certainly a start. The mission of OnTheVerge is to provide edutainment that will leave a lasting impression on today’s youth and hopefully leave the world a better place for future generations.

The health of our planet has been a hot topic of discussion for quite some time now. I distinctly remember when I begged my mom to buy me a new hairspray bottle because of some special I saw on MTV (or some other channel geared towards teens) declaring Aquanet enemy No. 1 of the ozone layer.

There’s an entire generation of near middle-aged adults who will go into a panic if they see someone throw away a six-pack plastic ring without cutting it because one time in 1992 there was a commercial that showed how damaging they were to sea turtles. Clearly, marketing environmental concerns to adolescent-aged children is effective if you want to see an impact.

Since the late 80s and early 90s theoretically sent aerosol spray products into a free fall, the ozone layer has slowly been healing itself. Was that the doing of determined teenagers? Eh, I’d like to think our awareness of it helped to bring forth more conscious adults and scientists who worked to make changes in the future.

But we still face environmental catastrophe due to climate change, and one Canadian film producer, John Geddes, is hoping to home in on some of that 90s strategy to tackle the elephant on the planet.

---

Geddes formed OnTheVerge with Jeff Maher and Jackie Eddolls to address climate change using entertainment television geared toward teenagers. The group of producers is working on a new series called “The Goldilocks Mission,” which follows several teens in the near future as Earth experiences devastating climate change, according to Product Dragon. But to bring in the element of science fiction, the teens must communicate with extraterrestrials who will either show them how to repair the damage or completely destroy the Earth.

“‘The Goldilocks Mission’ is an eight-part series that showcases real science on the causes and solutions of climate change,” OnTheVerge told Globe and Mail. “We’re creating a positive story that merges entertainment with education.”

The new production group goes on to explain that they’ve not only partnered with young writers but have assembled an advisory board that is made up of engineers, climate scientists, youth leaders and clean energy companies. This combination of education paired with fantasy may just help build a bridge between climate change believers and climate change skeptics—at least that’s what the group is hoping.

Geddes told Classical Jukebox that “The Goldilocks Mission” is currently in development and coming soon. To secure more investors in the television franchise focusing on climate change solutions, the group is hosting events where potential investors can learn more about the project. There’s even a screening of a preview for the series as well as speakers and cocktails, according to their website. The next event for potential investors is May 6, in Ontario, Canada.

While it’s not currently clear what impact this new series will have on the opinions and action on climate change, it’s certainly a start. The mission of OnTheVerge is to provide edutainment that will leave a lasting impression on today’s youth and hopefully leave the world a better place for future generations.

Cillian O’Connor, a 13-year-old from County Meath, Ireland, wowed judges on “Britain’s Got Talent” on April 15 by making cards appear out of nowhere, making milk disappear and conjuring up a huge jar of jelly beans for Simon Cowell.

The appearance would have been incredible for any magician, let alone a teenager, but O’Connor’s was even more remarkable because he has autism spectrum disorder and dyspraxia.

Social anxiety is prevalent in people with autism, with reports showing it could be as high as 50%. Further, dyspraxia is a neurodevelopmental condition that makes it difficult for people to perform motor skills. Every magician needs two things: being comfortable in front of an audience and above-average fine motor skills. O’Connor believes that magic has helped him to develop both.

Before studying the art of magic, O’Connor says he didn’t want to be within “50 feet” of people. But all that changed after picking up his new skill.

“I have learned that having autism is not a disability, it’s an ability. When I was younger, I was unable to interact with people,” O’Connor said during his performance. “I felt a bit empty, incomplete. I felt invisible. After discovering magic, my life changed. It was like a light switch coming on inside my head.”

“I found a way to interact with people through my magic,” he added.

During his routine, O’Connor took the audience on a journey. He discussed the transformative power of magic while transporting milk across the stage, helping Simon Cowell guess the exact number of jelly beans in a jar and pulling a 7 of diamonds out of nowhere.

And he did it all with amazing dexterity and confidence on stage.

After his performance, he received a standing ovation from the audience, and all four judges gave him “yesses” to move on to the next round.

See on Instagram

Simon Cowell was particularly impressed—no easy feat.

“Wow, you are unbelievably talented. Seriously,” Cowell said, noting that the jelly bean trick freaked him out. “There is something really, really incredible about you, and I do believe in magic, and you are such an amazing performer. Brilliant, brilliant.”

Judge Bruno Tonioli held back tears when giving his appraisal.

“I was totally, totally captivated by what you were doing,” he exclaimed. “For somebody so young, it’s an incredible quality. You have a fantastic future in front of you.”

After the judges passed O’Connor, his mother rushed to the stage and hugged him.

“Six years ago our quiet, shy, anti-social, little boy saw a little girl, Issy Simpson, perform Magic on Britain’s Got Talent. Cillian became obsessed with Magic, and he always dreamed of someday being just like that #youngmagician,” she wrote on Facebook.

“When I grow up, I want to be a magician,” O’Connor said before his routine. “What I like about magic is just trying to make people smile.” Well, Cillian. There’s no need for you to wait to grow up to be a magician. After that performance, you have all the right in the world to start calling yourself one now.

Cillian O’Connor, a 13-year-old from County Meath, Ireland, wowed judges on “Britain’s Got Talent” on April 15 by making cards appear out of nowhere, making milk disappear and conjuring up a huge jar of jelly beans for Simon Cowell.

The appearance would have been incredible for any magician, let alone a teenager, but O’Connor’s was even more remarkable because he has autism spectrum disorder and dyspraxia.

Social anxiety is prevalent in people with autism, with reports showing it could be as high as 50%. Further, dyspraxia is a neurodevelopmental condition that makes it difficult for people to perform motor skills. Every magician needs two things: being comfortable in front of an audience and above-average fine motor skills. O’Connor believes that magic has helped him to develop both.

Before studying the art of magic, O’Connor says he didn’t want to be within “50 feet” of people. But all that changed after picking up his new skill.

“I have learned that having autism is not a disability, it’s an ability. When I was younger, I was unable to interact with people,” O’Connor said during his performance. “I felt a bit empty, incomplete. I felt invisible. After discovering magic, my life changed. It was like a light switch coming on inside my head.”

“I found a way to interact with people through my magic,” he added.

During his routine, O’Connor took the audience on a journey. He discussed the transformative power of magic while transporting milk across the stage, helping Simon Cowell guess the exact number of jelly beans in a jar and pulling a 7 of diamonds out of nowhere.

And he did it all with amazing dexterity and confidence on stage.

After his performance, he received a standing ovation from the audience, and all four judges gave him “yesses” to move on to the next round.

See on Instagram

Simon Cowell was particularly impressed—no easy feat.

“Wow, you are unbelievably talented. Seriously,” Cowell said, noting that the jelly bean trick freaked him out. “There is something really, really incredible about you, and I do believe in magic, and you are such an amazing performer. Brilliant, brilliant.”

Judge Bruno Tonioli held back tears when giving his appraisal.

“I was totally, totally captivated by what you were doing,” he exclaimed. “For somebody so young, it’s an incredible quality. You have a fantastic future in front of you.”

After the judges passed O’Connor, his mother rushed to the stage and hugged him.

“Six years ago our quiet, shy, anti-social, little boy saw a little girl, Issy Simpson, perform Magic on Britain’s Got Talent. Cillian became obsessed with Magic, and he always dreamed of someday being just like that #youngmagician,” she wrote on Facebook.

“When I grow up, I want to be a magician,” O’Connor said before his routine. “What I like about magic is just trying to make people smile.” Well, Cillian. There’s no need for you to wait to grow up to be a magician. After that performance, you have all the right in the world to start calling yourself one now.

“Life finds a way” might be a line from a movie, but it’s the perfect way to describe the very real resilience of nature.

Take for example an enormous 620,000 square mile build-up of trash floating in the ocean between California and Hawaii, which has miraculously become a floating home to a myriad of sea creatures, otherwise known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.

Swirling ocean currents called gyres act as whirlpools sucking in piles and piles of litter into condensed areas, and the debris collects in patches in the center of the gyre. Though there are five of these garbage patches across the globe, the Great Pacific Garbage Patch—made of trash from countries in Asia and North and South America—contains the most plastic, according to USA Today.

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In a new study published in the “Nature Ecology & Evolution Journal,” a team of researchers revealed that dozens of species of invertebrate organisms that normally dwell on coastlines had been able to survive and reproduce on the floating garbage. Animals like crustaceans, sea anemones, mollusks and worms, oh my! Fishing nets, which make up nearly half of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, held the highest diversity of these coastal critters.

Scientists say the giant Pacific Garbage Patch has become a floating habitat for marine animals. pic.twitter.com/LRTBhlQli0

— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) December 21, 2021

“It was surprising to see how frequent the coastal species were,” Linsey Haram, a science fellow at the National Institute of Food and Agriculture and the study’s lead author, told CNN. “They were on 70% of the debris that we found.”

Creatures already known to live in the open ocean were also thriving on the plastic garbage, Haram told NPR. And more often than not, researchers saw the unlikely neighbors living together on the same piece of trash, with diversity of all organisms being highest on rope.

Of course, the findings of the study highlight possible negative consequences. Not only are the two species competing for food and space (and likely eating each other), there’s risk of these coastal animals becoming invasive species, as more and more learn to travel on wayward debris.

This is why, despite how nature is nature-ing, a huge overhaul of plastic use on multiple levels is still crucial. Another study published in March 2023 said that without urgent policy action, the rate at which plastics enter aquatic environments could increase by around 2.6 times between 2016 and 2040.

See on Instagram

Luckily, actions are being taken. The UN Environment Assembly passed a landmark resolution in 2022 to end plastic pollution and create the world’s first global plastic pollution treaty by 2024. The agreement would address the full life cycle of plastic, from its production and design to its disposal.

Elsewhere, organizations have come up with innovative strategies for large scale trash collection. The Ocean Cleanup, for example, has created a net-like barrier known as a trash fence that acts as a trash collecting dam, preventing debris from moving from rivers to the ocean in the first place.

Animals clearly have a knack for evolving and adapting to help their species overcome. Hopefully, we humans can take a page from their book and make necessary changes in order to survive.

“Life finds a way” might be a line from a movie, but it’s the perfect way to describe the very real resilience of nature.

Take for example an enormous 620,000 square mile build-up of trash floating in the ocean between California and Hawaii, which has miraculously become a floating home to a myriad of sea creatures, otherwise known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.

Swirling ocean currents called gyres act as whirlpools sucking in piles and piles of litter into condensed areas, and the debris collects in patches in the center of the gyre. Though there are five of these garbage patches across the globe, the Great Pacific Garbage Patch—made of trash from countries in Asia and North and South America—contains the most plastic, according to USA Today.

---

In a new study published in the “Nature Ecology & Evolution Journal,” a team of researchers revealed that dozens of species of invertebrate organisms that normally dwell on coastlines had been able to survive and reproduce on the floating garbage. Animals like crustaceans, sea anemones, mollusks and worms, oh my! Fishing nets, which make up nearly half of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, held the highest diversity of these coastal critters.

Scientists say the giant Pacific Garbage Patch has become a floating habitat for marine animals. pic.twitter.com/LRTBhlQli0

— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) December 21, 2021

“It was surprising to see how frequent the coastal species were,” Linsey Haram, a science fellow at the National Institute of Food and Agriculture and the study’s lead author, told CNN. “They were on 70% of the debris that we found.”

Creatures already known to live in the open ocean were also thriving on the plastic garbage, Haram told NPR. And more often than not, researchers saw the unlikely neighbors living together on the same piece of trash, with diversity of all organisms being highest on rope.

Of course, the findings of the study highlight possible negative consequences. Not only are the two species competing for food and space (and likely eating each other), there’s risk of these coastal animals becoming invasive species, as more and more learn to travel on wayward debris.

This is why, despite how nature is nature-ing, a huge overhaul of plastic use on multiple levels is still crucial. Another study published in March 2023 said that without urgent policy action, the rate at which plastics enter aquatic environments could increase by around 2.6 times between 2016 and 2040.

See on Instagram

Luckily, actions are being taken. The UN Environment Assembly passed a landmark resolution in 2022 to end plastic pollution and create the world’s first global plastic pollution treaty by 2024. The agreement would address the full life cycle of plastic, from its production and design to its disposal.

Elsewhere, organizations have come up with innovative strategies for large scale trash collection. The Ocean Cleanup, for example, has created a net-like barrier known as a trash fence that acts as a trash collecting dam, preventing debris from moving from rivers to the ocean in the first place.

Animals clearly have a knack for evolving and adapting to help their species overcome. Hopefully, we humans can take a page from their book and make necessary changes in order to survive.

Even if you aren’t a fan of Wes Anderson movies in general, you gotta admit the man has a rich, distinct cinematic style that is uniquely his own. You can always spot an Anderson movie for its satisfying symmetry, vibrant color palette and planimetric composition that makes every frame feel more like a standalone painting than a film still. The result makes even the most humdrum event feel like something out of a storybook.

And this is why folks on TikTok are taking the film auteur’s aesthetic and running absolutely wild with it.

The wholesome trend seems to have begun with Ava Williams (@avawillyums), who filmed herself on a train and perfectly nailed that signature Wes Anderson style. Warm hues, curated shots, chirpy music and all.

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“You better not be acting like you’re in a Wes Anderson film when I get there,” the onscreen text reads. We then see a title card with a timestamp and location (another classic Anderson touch) that sets Williams off on her whimsical train journey “Along the Shoreline East To Grand Central Terminal.”

Watch below. And yes, that delightful song is “Obituary” by Alexandre Desplat from Anderson’s 2021 film, “The French Dispatch.” Oh so fitting.

@avawillyums With a good imagination, everything is symmetrical. Let a girl day dream! #wesanderson ♬ Obituary – Alexandre Desplat

It was watching that movie that inspired Williams to make her video in the first place. The 26-year-old enjoyed it with her parents only the night before during a visit that felt too short. Borrowing some of Anderson’s levity and infusing it with her own creativity seemed to be the perfect antidote for homesickness.

“I didn’t want to really end my trip on such a sad note so I was hoping to make the most out of a situation that wasn’t totally ideal,” Williams shared with Newsweek.

“I thought about how I could enjoy the trip if I basically romanticized the moment, made it more exciting and tried to enjoy the train ride in style,” she added. “The video was really a way for me to document a moment I didn’t particularly want to enjoy and try and enjoy it.”

It wasn’t long before others hopped onto the #WesAnderson bandwagon, filming themselves as the lead characters in their own romantic, fanciful story, be it in a prime Anderson location like Paris or at a local Starbucks.

@twolostkids Sempre fingimos que estamos em um filme do Wes Anderson – Lost in Paris #wesanderson #shotoniphone ♬ Obituary – Alexandre Desplat

@tjastone I hope this blows up because I literally got hit by a car right after the first shot, lens destroyed, and now I can’t walk, enjoy 🤭 ______________________________ #tariqstone #cinematography #film #filmmaking #artstudent #cinematographer #cinematic #videography #video #cinema #camera #videographer #sanfrancisco #sf #photographer #lumix #lumixs5 #moment #cinebloom #photography #art #filmtok ♬ Obituary – Alexandre Desplat

@irinahp Lisbon, but make it Wes Anderson 😉 Here some of my favorite spots: 📍Ponto Final restaurant (try to make a reservation before) 📍Conoba Café (lots of vegan options!) 📍Miolo Café (perfect for brunch) 📍best Pastéis de nata: Castro & Manteigaria #lisbonportugal #lisbon #wesanderson #wesandersontrend #accidentalywesanderson ♬ Obituary – Alexandre Desplat

@josh_rimmey let me tell you about my shop #wesanderson ♬ Obituary – Alexandre Desplat

@keithafadi

I’ve recently discovered Wes Anderson and his films so here’s a quick & fun little video for this trend

♬ Obituary – Alexandre Desplat

Honestly, Wes Anderson and TikTok seem made for each other. Anderson’s films often strive to find beauty in the mundane and celebrate quirkiness, which just so happen to be qualities of TikTok at its absolute best. It’s no wonder why the trend has taken off, really. Sometimes we just want to feel like we’re living in one big work of art. Thank goodness for the artists (and platforms) that help us achieve that.

Even if you aren’t a fan of Wes Anderson movies in general, you gotta admit the man has a rich, distinct cinematic style that is uniquely his own. You can always spot an Anderson movie for its satisfying symmetry, vibrant color palette and planimetric composition that makes every frame feel more like a standalone painting than a film still. The result makes even the most humdrum event feel like something out of a storybook.

And this is why folks on TikTok are taking the film auteur’s aesthetic and running absolutely wild with it.

The wholesome trend seems to have begun with Ava Williams (@avawillyums), who filmed herself on a train and perfectly nailed that signature Wes Anderson style. Warm hues, curated shots, chirpy music and all.

---

“You better not be acting like you’re in a Wes Anderson film when I get there,” the onscreen text reads. We then see a title card with a timestamp and location (another classic Anderson touch) that sets Williams off on her whimsical train journey “Along the Shoreline East To Grand Central Terminal.”

Watch below. And yes, that delightful song is “Obituary” by Alexandre Desplat from Anderson’s 2021 film, “The French Dispatch.” Oh so fitting.

@avawillyums With a good imagination, everything is symmetrical. Let a girl day dream! #wesanderson ♬ Obituary – Alexandre Desplat

It was watching that movie that inspired Williams to make her video in the first place. The 26-year-old enjoyed it with her parents only the night before during a visit that felt too short. Borrowing some of Anderson’s levity and infusing it with her own creativity seemed to be the perfect antidote for homesickness.

“I didn’t want to really end my trip on such a sad note so I was hoping to make the most out of a situation that wasn’t totally ideal,” Williams shared with Newsweek.

“I thought about how I could enjoy the trip if I basically romanticized the moment, made it more exciting and tried to enjoy the train ride in style,” she added. “The video was really a way for me to document a moment I didn’t particularly want to enjoy and try and enjoy it.”

It wasn’t long before others hopped onto the #WesAnderson bandwagon, filming themselves as the lead characters in their own romantic, fanciful story, be it in a prime Anderson location like Paris or at a local Starbucks.

@twolostkids Sempre fingimos que estamos em um filme do Wes Anderson – Lost in Paris #wesanderson #shotoniphone ♬ Obituary – Alexandre Desplat

@tjastone I hope this blows up because I literally got hit by a car right after the first shot, lens destroyed, and now I can’t walk, enjoy 🤭 ______________________________ #tariqstone #cinematography #film #filmmaking #artstudent #cinematographer #cinematic #videography #video #cinema #camera #videographer #sanfrancisco #sf #photographer #lumix #lumixs5 #moment #cinebloom #photography #art #filmtok ♬ Obituary – Alexandre Desplat

@irinahp Lisbon, but make it Wes Anderson 😉 Here some of my favorite spots: 📍Ponto Final restaurant (try to make a reservation before) 📍Conoba Café (lots of vegan options!) 📍Miolo Café (perfect for brunch) 📍best Pastéis de nata: Castro & Manteigaria #lisbonportugal #lisbon #wesanderson #wesandersontrend #accidentalywesanderson ♬ Obituary – Alexandre Desplat

@josh_rimmey let me tell you about my shop #wesanderson ♬ Obituary – Alexandre Desplat

@keithafadi

I’ve recently discovered Wes Anderson and his films so here’s a quick & fun little video for this trend

♬ Obituary – Alexandre Desplat

Honestly, Wes Anderson and TikTok seem made for each other. Anderson’s films often strive to find beauty in the mundane and celebrate quirkiness, which just so happen to be qualities of TikTok at its absolute best. It’s no wonder why the trend has taken off, really. Sometimes we just want to feel like we’re living in one big work of art. Thank goodness for the artists (and platforms) that help us achieve that.

In modern football, there are few positions outside of quarterback that are more important than offensive tackle. As defenses load up on EDGE rushers to attack opposing quarterbacks from both sides of the line, it’s imperative to have a left and right tackle capable of holding up in pass protection. As such, there’s always plenty of focus coming into the Draft on the top tackles and this year presents an interesting group.

There is not a tackle in this year’s class like, say, a Penei Sewell who looks like an absolute lock to be a perennial All-Pro and will be going in the first few picks, but there’s a cluster of first-round tackles that all figure to go off the board starting towards the end of the top 10. There are things to like about all of them — for me, there’s four guys all operating in a similar tier — but also questions for each to answer. A lot of the tackle selection process will come down to personal preference this year, but there’s plenty of talent available and someone that fits just about every kind of offense.

The Top Dog: Broderick Jones, Georgia

As mentioned, there’s not a top-5 prospect in this year’s tackle group, and as such I’ll bank on the biggest upside guy for the No. 1 spot on my board. Jones has been Georgia’s starting left tackle for the past 19 games, and I’m not sure if you’ve heard, Georgia has won national titles with him holding down that spot. Jones has the tape (albeit less than two full seasons as the starter), he has the grades, and at the Combine, he brought the measureables. Jones came into Indianapolis at 6’5, 311 pounds with 34.75 inch arms and proceeded to run a 4.97 in the 40 (1.74 10-yard split) and jump 30 inches in the vertical and 9′ in the broad jump.

He is the best combination of size and athleticism there is in this Draft, and I don’t worry too much about his relative lack of experience, because he simply was waiting his turn behind other NFL players at Georgia. There’s unquestionably technique things to tighten up for him, but you can’t teach his physical attributes and he’s already played at an incredibly high level for the best college program in the country and performed in the biggest games against top tier competition.

The Next Best: Darnell Wright, Tennessee, Paris Johnson Jr., Ohio State, and Peter Skoronski, Northwestern

Like I said up top, there’s a number of tackles that you’ll find people noting as their favorites in this class. Skoronski is the consensus top-rated guy after three excellent starting seasons at Northwestern, but he also might not be a tackle at the next level coming in with short arms (32.25 inches) that has some scouts concerned about his future as an anchor on the left side. As such, he gets dinged because he might get moved inside and that is simply a slightly lesser value than a tackle, but he’s going to have a long, productive career even if that’s at guard and he’s probably the safest bet of any of these guys.

Johnson has a gigantic frame at 6’6, 313 pounds and honestly has room to add some more strength. He was very good this year moving to the left side of the Ohio State line, a group that gave C.J. Stroud so much time that scouts tend to wonder if Stroud has enough playmaking ability outside the pocket because he wasn’t often asked to do so. That’s a credit to the work Johnson and company put forth. He, like Jones, is also still young enough and raw enough to make an offensive line coach believe they can keep building on his technique and mold him into a star on the left side.

Darnell Wright really enjoyed playing under Josh Heupel and was a big reason why Hendon Hooker and the Vols offense broke out the way it did in 2022 as he moved back to right tackle for Tennessee. His performance against Will Anderson and Alabama in the Vols’ biggest win of the season is some of the most impressive film any tackle put out there this year. At 6’5, 333 pounds, he is a big fella but isn’t a statue out there — 5.01 in the 40 at the Combine. I think a right tackle who can hold up as he did in pass pro is almost as vital at this point as a great left tackle, because so many teams employ two great EDGE rushers and also will move around attack a weak spot on the right if it exists. As such, I don’t think Wright should be dinged much for not being a blindside guy, and he should be off the board by the late first round.

Boom Or Bust: Blake Freeland, BYU

Freeland put on a show at the Combine, running a 4.98 (1.68 10-yard split) in the 40 at 6’8, 302 pounds, with a 37-inch vertical and a 10′ broad jump. Those are insane athletic numbers, and someone is going to be enamored by them and take the young man on Day 2, believing that an NFL strength and nutrition program can beef out his frame and build his strength up to match his freakish athleticism. If that happens, he could be a stud at the next level because his length with that kind of athleticism is rare. That said, he’s not the strongest tackle and they don’t play in a T-shirt and shorts in the NFL, so that Combine performance won’t mean much if he can’t make that leap to add the functional strength needed to hold up against NFL rushers.

Day 3 Swing: Warren McClendon Jr., Georgia

Did I mention that Georgia was really good? Well, McClendon’s started the last three years in Athens and while he doesn’t have the elite measureables of his counterpart in Jones in this Draft, he’s just a really good football player. He can play guard or tackle, which is helpful versatility for a late round guy to have, and at 6’4, 306 pounds he’s not exactly tiny, just not a guy ideal size or athleticism. Still, give me someone who was a starter on an elite line and made it work in spite of some of those physical limitations, because that’s a guy who knows how to play football and is going to make everyone else better because of his smarts and work ethic.

Megan Thee Stallion is having a hard-earned moment, but for the rest of her life, it will be hard to top the full-circle moment of collaborating with her fellow Houstonian Beyoncé on 2020’s “Savage Remix,” a Grammy-winning track that hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Meg reflected on that milestone and her other “Hottest Career Moments,” an extension of her reign as the cover star of Elle‘s May issue:

“Beyoncé probably so tired of me saying her name,” Megan Thee Stallion said, giggling, about 70 seconds into the video. “We were in quarantine at this time. Beyoncé did the [‘Savage Remix’]. I didn’t believe she was actually gonna do it, but she did it, and my mind was blown. I called my granny. Me and my manager was in my living room, going crazy.”

She continued, “Beyoncé was like, ‘Could you please make your verse a little bit cleaner?’ I went in my living room, and I recorded it right then. Like, Beyoncé didn’t have to tell me twice! I sent that verse right back. But it was amazing. Everybody knows that I am obsessed with Beyoncé, so when I got the collab — like, being from Houston with her — I was just appreciative. When I saw people dancing to the song, vibing to it, loving it, how many famous people was dancing to the song, I was like, ‘Oh, my God, y’all know me.’”

Watch the full “Hottest Career Moments” video above, and check out outtakes from Meg’s Elle cover story below.

Megan Thee Stallion is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.