Tomorrow (December 9), KROQ is holding its 32nd annual Almost Acoustic Christmas event at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles. With a stacked lineup that spans genres, the crowd will be treated to performances throughout the night.
Here’s what to know about the set times.
The terrace for the event opens at 3 p.m. PT, with doors following behind — as they open at 5 p.m. From there, the night of music begins. While it’s unclear how long each band will play for, the sets seem to be fairly short, spanning about 20 to 30 minutes to fit enough acts — and account for the transition on stage.
The Beaches: 6:00 p.m.
Bakar: 6:25 p.m.
Lovejoy: 6:50 p.m.
Cannons: 7:20 p.m.
Bleachers: 7:55 p.m.
Portugal The Man: 8:30 p.m.
Garbage: 9:00 p.m.
311: 9:30 p.m. The Offspring: 10:05 p.m.
Tickets for the Almost Acoustic Christmas event are still available, with prices starting at $55 on Ticketmaster. Additionally, as the Red Hot Chili Peppers were supposed to play, but had to cancel, ticketholders will have the chance to attend a special show from them (still at the Kia Forum) on March 2, 2024. Details for this have yet to be announced, but the website states they will be contacting people soon.
To purchase passes, and find more information ahead of tomorrow, visit here.
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
Funerals can be many things—a sombre mourning, a celebration of life, a time for family to honor a loved one—but one thing they should never be is unattended.
But the reality is that some people simply don’t have people. Maybe they’re estranged from their family and have outlived all their friends. Maybe they fell into a life of drug addiction and lost all of their close connections. Maybe no next of kin can be found or they just happen to die in a life stage when they have no one around to attend their funeral. Whatever the reason, some people’s send-offs from earthly existence are purely legal affairs with no personal touches whatsoever.
Two decades ago, some poets in the Netherlands decided that was an unacceptable ending for a human life. In 2001, a poet named Bart Droog began attending the funerals of people who had no one to attend them and honoring the dead with a poem based on whatever was known about their life. A year later, Dutch poet and artist Frank Starik took the idea even further, launching The Lonely Funeral project to ensure that someone who cares consciously acknowledges the life of a person who has died.
The idea was to create a network of poets who would find out whatever they could about the person, write a custom poem about their life and read it at their funeral. As of 2018, over 300 “lonely funerals” had been attended by poets in Amsterdam and Antwerp (where Flemish poet Maarten Inghels launched a Lonely Funeral project seven years after Starik’s).
The Lonely Funeral project has continued to expand to other countries as well. Scottish poet Andy Jackson has begun writing poems for “lonely funerals” and attending them in his hometown of Dundee and he hopes to expand the project to the rest of Scotland.
“I feel everybody deserves something humane at the end of life” he told the BBC. “Nobody should be completely unmourned. If we want to live in humane country these are little things we can do for people. It becomes the job of the community.”
A natural question is how the poets know what to write if the person was all alone.
“They would have a passport, some details from the police or from social services, a photograph or some information about their life maybe,” Jackson explained to the BBC. “Something that would give away something of who they were that a poet then could use to form the basis of a piece of work that would actually celebrate the real person—not somebody you couldn’t identify.”
Starik and Inghels have even published a book, The Lonely Funeral: Poets at the Gravesides of the Forgotten, which includes poems for 31 forgotten lives and descriptions of their funerals—a small piece of dignity offered to perfect strangers.
There’s perhaps nothing more beautiful than the impulse to recognize someone simply for the sake of their humanity. It’s a reminder that we are all connected in some way, even if it’s just by the reality of life and death.
As Starik wrote in his preface to The Lonely Funeral: “We do not know to whom we say goodbye, so we feel no pain. But everyone—and this is the point—every person deserves respect.”
Leave it to the poets to remind us of the inherent worth of every human being and to honor it with such a simple, selfless service.
Last night, Nicki Minaj dropped her anticipated Pink Friday 2 album. Spanning 22 tracks, the record highlighted collaborations with Drake, J. Cole, and many more. However, that doesn’t seem to be all. Minaj has been teasing that there will be a deluxe version — and here’s what to know about it.
When Will Nicki Minaj’s Pink Friday 2 Deluxe Come Out?
Minaj revealed that starting either Monday or Tuesday of next week, she’ll be dropping one track per day. This would continue until next Friday, providing four songs in total to complete the project. While it’s still TBA if there will be any other songs that will count toward a Pink Friday 2 deluxe after this, at the very least, fans will get to hear even more new music.
She also dropped some hints about two of the potential added features on the bonus tracks for next week. “Two of the names on a very important song rhyme with Schmechia Schmole & Schmonica,” Minaj wrote. (It’s Keyshia Cole and Monica.)
Based on this teaser alone, fans are extremely excited to hear the new collab — and any other surprises Minaj will have in store.
Check out her post about the schedule for next week below.
Next week#GagCity welcomes a new edition every day beginning Monday or Tuesday. Every day until Friday, you’ll get an add’l song that completes my fave body of work to date. 4 more songs.
Two of the names on a very important song rhyme with
It’s that time again; Uproxx’s list of the best hip-hop albums of 2023 is out now. While you can read up on the albums we enjoyed the most this year, that isn’t stopping rap’s finest from putting out new music.
And Sexyy Red continued her mission of global domination, teaming up with rising Latin star Tokischa on “Daddy“:
Here is the best of hip-hop this week ending TK, 2023.
Albums/EPs/Mixtapes
Kalan.Frfr — Not Hard 2 Understand
Kalan.FrFr
The Compton croon-rapper pulls together six versatile tracks to show off all facets of his craft with some help from Quavo and Tay B. The sparse, mellow West Coast production makes this EP a smooth listen from beginning to end.
Nicki Minaj — Pink Friday 2
Nicki Minaj
The long-awaited follow-up to Queen and sequel to Nicki’s debut album finds Nicki firmly back in her super-rapper bag and collaborating with unexpected guests like J. Cole, Lil Uzi Vert, and Skillibeng. Of course, Young Money cohorts Drake and Lil Wayne appear.
Rowdy Rebel — Back Outside
Rowdy Rebel
Rowdy Rebel’s bounce back continues with 10 thumping, aggressive street bangers. Fivio Foreign, Icewear Vezzo, and Skilla Baby all show up to give him a hand, but he’s good enough to go it alone.
Singles/Videos
Benny The Butcher — “One Foot In” Feat. Stove God Cooks
When you see Benny and Cooks on a track, you expect nothing less than a brick-hard bar-fest. “One Foot In” meets that expectation, offering a straightforward but effective two-man game that scores where it needs to.
FendiDa Rappa — “In The Trunk” Feat. GloRilla
Listen, I know I’m a LITTLE late on this one. But are we really about to complain about new FendiDa Rappa — especially a collaboration with GloRilla? The two gruff-voiced rappers are a natural fit, and the blunt lyrics are quotable for days.
Southside — “Gimme Da Lite” Feat. Lil Yachty
Lil Boat’s been on a rap roll for the last few months, dropping absolute bangers alongside Drake and J. Cole. This time, he goes for dolo, employing a more SoundCloud-y flow than he’s most recently used, taking full advantage of a signature Southside backdrop.
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
Most of the time, the women of The View do a pretty good job of roasting each other, so they do not need to outsource to their guests or audience. But other times, for reasons that perhaps non-Viewers will never understand, The View just does stuff like invite Triumph The Insult Comic Dog to appear. And he sure did insult this table full of various opinionated women.
Unlike other dogs with normal attributes (cute, fun, and soft), Triumph and his ambiguous accent like to be mean. Unfortunately, it’s easy to do that to the women of The View. It happens a lot.
Triumph first took a stab at Joy Behar. “I was at Joy Behar’s 80th birthday party. I performed. Oh, what a night it was. It was open-bar and open-casket. Joy, you and I both got so drunk, we were fighting over who got to sniff Hillary Clinton’s chair,” the cigar-mouthed pup told the host. People thought it was funny, too. He continued, “You’re beautiful, she still looks beautiful, doesn’t she? 81 years old, now. Joy, you realize you’re 81, you’re old enough to run for president — and to watch The View! You’re right in the demographic of The View now,” he concluded.
Obviously, roasting Joy wasn’t enough, so he just put everyone on blast. “I kid, I love The View. It’s inspiring, it’s empowering. Women feel safe, here — except from other women,” he joked, seemingly referencing Alyssa Farah Griffin. “This show wasn’t affected by the actors’ strike was it?” Triumph asked. “I think you’re all excellent actors, like the way you four girls all act like you’re interested in Alyssa’s opinions.”
This year’s Uproxx Gift Guides are brought to you by Sirius XM. Check out their site to find all the holiday music and content you need to get into the giving spirit.
It’s that time of year again, you’re juggling a million things, you’re planning holiday weekend activities, and figuring out the best way to spend the end of the year. It’s cold, you’re stressed out, and everything everywhere is crowded. Breathe friend, we feel that holiday anxiety too… and we’re here to help. We want you to spend the end of the year as relaxed and carefree as possible, which is why we’ve been dropping holiday gift guides for every type of person in your life.
Looking for boozy gifts for your favorite drinking buddies? Bam, we’ve got you. Looking for some home goods for that friend who just moved into a new place? Easy. But what do you get for that streetwear fanatic in your life? That’s a tougher question.
Why? Well, the world of streetwear is always shifting, trends that seem cool yesterday might already be outdated. Luckily for you, we make a point of keeping our ears to the ground regarding all things streetwear. From the hottest brands and newest drops to the sort of accessories streetwear fanatics geek out on, we’ve collected it all for our ultimate streetwear gift guide.
For this gift guide, we’re focusing on a mix of specific items and brands that are operating at the top of their respective games right now. Let’s shop!
le FLEUR* — For The Sunseekers Collection
YouTube/Le Fleur
Price: Varies
As Tyler the Creator has progressed in his career, his output has become more and more elevated and we’re not just talking about his music. Tyler has always been on the cutting edge of fashion, his label Golf Wang has been filtering modern streetwear through his distinct lens for years, but our favorite fashion collection from the multi-hyphenate is his le FLEUR* label.
Le FLEUR’s vibe leans more toward high fashion but still has that distinct pastel tone that has become Tyler’s MO. The label is just about to drop its second season, dubbed “For The Sunseekers,” a collection of warm-toned blazers, trousers, puffer jackets, varsity wear, knitwear, vests, and button-ups. Shop the new collection in-store in Malibu on December 9th or online on December 13th.
BUY IT FOR:
That streetwear-obsessed fashion-forward friend who has graduated from simple graphic t-shirts.
Right now one of the hottest brands in men’s fashion is Teddy Santis’ Aimé Leon Dore. For some context, Teddy Santis is the reason everyone is now obsessed with New Balance thanks to a few collaborations with ALD that helped elevate the brand. For the winter season, the NYC-based brand has teamed up with London menswear label Drake’s for a preppy collection of puffer jackets, scarves, tracksuits, outerwear, and other layerable pieces.
Imagine British style filtered through a New York streetwear lens and you’ll land in the ballpark of what this Winter 2023 collection is offering.
BUY IT FOR:
People with a more sophisticated aesthetic who appreciate high-quality construction, and ultra-modern fits.
If you’re not up on skatewear you might not be aware that Supreme is out and in its place is Palace, a UK-based brand that picks up where Supreme left off but with a distinct London aesthetic that sets it apart from the box label brand.
For the brand’s latest collection, it has teamed up with Italian sportswear brand CP Company for a collection of winter-ready streetwear silhouettes. A piece we’re digging on is the Funnel Neck Knit in Olive. The piece is made from lambswool and nylon with hidden zippers, elasticated cuffs, and Palace embroidered branding in a relaxed fit. –
BUY IT FOR:
The skater in your life who cares about their fit just as much as the design of their deck.
Lately, the New York brand NOAH has been putting its unique NYC streetwear spin on concert merch, and this team-up with The Cure is the best merch collection the brand has put out yet.
The Collection consists of jackets, button-ups, sweaters, cardigans, hoodies, graphic t-shirts, all the general streetwear staple stuff, but our favorite piece is this crewneck sweater, which features graphics from The Cure’s best album, 1989’s Disintegration.
The crewneck is a 100% cotton piece with brushed-back fleece and embroidered details on the sleeve.
BUY IT FOR:
A skate or streetwear fanatic who adores the Cure and leans a bit goth.
Right now the dominating influence in women’s fashion is the Y2K aesthetic, and no other brand is capturing that look and translating it through a modern lens like Heaven by Marc Jacobs.
Currently, the full collection features just about every wardrobe staple you can think of, from long sleeves, to sweaters, baby tees, tops, zip-ups, skirts, and footwear all with a retro-futuristic aesthetic that is equal parts colorful and gritty.
Peachy Den’s strength is in its versatility. The London-based brand produces great eye-catching looks no matter the occasion, whether you’re hitting the club, the streets, meeting up for coffee or a museum date, or looking for something cute and loungey.
Right now the brand’s current collection features dresses, midi-skirts, velvet tops, hooded cardigans, and asymmetrical zip-ups that are as cute as they are functional.
BUY IT FOR:
That person in your life who never fails to use every occasion as an opportunity to look adorable.
Levi’s has teamed up with Barbie Ferreira for a capsule collection that brings Ferreira’s gritty ‘90s style to Levi’s iconic silhouettes. The full collection features graphic printed jeans, skirts, t-shirts, flared jeans, and corsets, but a standout for us is this Long Dress Coat.
The coat features an oversized fit with green button detailing, neon doodles, and quality non-stretch Levi denim in a slightly faded black colorway.
BUY IT FOR:
A person whose sense of fashion leans more on the edgy side.
Ford, Dickies, and Sydney Sweeney have teamed up for a special workwear collection that features coveralls, jackets, t-shirts, and hats. Sweeney’s love for automobiles is well-documented on her Instagram so this was the perfect team-up that is true to her personality.
Our pick from the collection is the Sweeney Jacket. It features a cropped cut with a form-fitting design with a tan colorway and faded blue racing stripes adding a bit of contrast.
BUY IT FOR:
Perfect for people who love the look of workwear but feel like the fits aren’t flattering enough.
Everyone needs a good quality puffer jacket, and this one made by Canada Goose in collaboration with streetwear brand CONCEPTS is equal parts warm and tech-forward. Plus, it’s fashionable.
This puffer uses Canada Goose’s signature Crofton silhouette with a duck-down filling and an iridescent all-over paisley print in three colors. Our favorite is easily the Flint, but the blue-toned Polar Sky also looks great.
BUY IT FOR:
Anyone who can use a quality puffer that’ll keep them warm and looking great.
It’s the sort of gift not everyone knows they want: a great pair of house slippers. And we’re not talking about the sort of slippers you slip on when you go out to throw the trash, we’re talking about a pair that turns heads and inspires people to utter words you’ve never thought you’d be so happy to hear: “goddamn those are some nice slippers!”
When it comes to a good pair of house slippers we can’t think of a better pair than those made by Hiro Yanagimachi. These slippers are handmade, come in six rich colors, are available in whole sizes. For $50 extra, they can be outfitted with a monogram.
BUY IT FOR:
That person in your life who cares about fashion even when they’re just lounging around at the house.
Sony — WH-1000XM5 Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones
Amazon
Price: $328
What separates people with style from people who merely get dressed, is knowing how to accessorize, and nothing completes a great streetwear fit like a dope pair of headphones.
These Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless headphones check a few boxes: they’re stylish, offer fantastic sound quality, and sport some of the best noise-canceling technology out right now. The headphones are completely wireless and Bluetooth-enabled with a 30-hour battery life, a lightweight design, and a frequency span of 20-40,000hz, offering the full spectrum of audible sound, from deep rumbling bass to shimmering highs.
BUY IT FOR:
Someone who is equal parts music and fashion-obsessed.
It might be winter now but before we know it spring will be upon us, the clouds will clear, and the sun will be in our eyes. That’s why it’s a great time to update someone’s wardrobe with a great pair of sunglasses. Bottega Veneta’s Turn Cat-Eye Sunglasses feature a flattering shape that looks great on just about every face type.
The frames are made in Italy and feature a metal construction and drop in three colorways, grey, green, and gold.
BUY IT FOR:
Someone who needs a new pair of luxury sunglasses.
Every skate movie on earth — from Kids to Mid-90s to Gleaming the Cube — has at least one kid wearing pants that looked like they were pulled out of his grandpa’s war chest or were part of the uniform for 1950s train porters. And every time I see those pants, I burn with envy. They always look so cool!
These are those pants. They feel like they will last for 200 years, they wear well and I always get compliments on them — whether I am pairing them with Adidas Sambas or something more formal. (Style hack of the day: By some sturdy, built-to-last “trousers” like these — you will get so many comments.)
I love the look of these, I love how they can look sharp or be super casual, and I especially love that they feel like they will last forever.
BUY THEM FOR:
The friend who likes to keep some classics on hand to combine with their edgier streetwear looks.
I’m going to make it simple for you — everyone needs some of these. They are just too handy. They can be deck shoes or paired with a tuxedo. They match everything. You can’t mess these up — I wore mine to the beach and a charity event on the same dang day.
Look, style is not always simple. Streetwear lovers know that. Giving them a few classic freebies is vital. And considering I’ve had my Helm Xanders for a while, I can tell you with authority — these hold up. The rubber doesn’t chip, the leather is thick and solid, and the silhouette isn’t weird in any unexpected way (sometimes sneakers like this are too thin and cling to your feet giving a “clown shoe” effect).
BUY THEM FOR:
Me! Or anyone in your life who maybe anguishes over looking cool sometimes and just needs a great all-rounder that can do double duty as a “knock-around kick” and as something more formal.
EDITOR’S PICK: Dandy Del Mar — The Cusco Sherpa Pullover (Vintage Ivory)
Dandy Del Mar
Price: $189
This is the coziest coat on earth. I feel like a sheep. Not the kind of sheep that does what other people do; the kind of sheep that is shrouded in wool and warm all the time.
The zipper is metal, the jacket is thick, and the look is super clean. Rather than some “performance fleece” that has weird pieces of reflective fabric, this is uniform and isn’t made for anything more demanding than a hike with a good book.
I do have an issue with this pullover though — I legit wear it too much. It has enough of a vibe to be a statement piece and people clock it when you turn it into your day-to-day fleece. No retreat though — I’m keeping this through the winter as my every day — I need a lot of hygge and this jacket from normally tropics-focused brand Dandy Del Mar hits it out of the park.
Durability-wise, I’ve had to get this dry-cleaned twice and it’s not showing signs of wear. The coffee stains are out and the fleece remains as fluffy as ever.
BUY IT FOR:
Anyone who wants to be cozy and look cool at the same time.
Not to get all male-gazy but Roark really seems to have taken aim at the “Can a jumpsuit be sexy?” question with this one. That long zipper in the front is pretty evocative while the thick material is super durable. This is like what the cool farmer who lives in your town wears while longboarding to work.
Easily swayed by a good photo, I bought this for my lady and can report that she loves it. It’s form-fitting while definitely maintaining the dense, workwear quality. The mustard color goes with so much this time of year and the short sleeves are perfect for pairing with a sweatshirt that you can peel off indoors.
BUY IT FOR:
Someone who unrepentantly mixes built-to-last workwear with sexiness. (Also, that’s the sort of person we should all have in our lives!)
EDITOR’S PICK: Culture Kings — Bridges To Babylon ’97 T-shirt
Culture Kings
Price: $44
You don’t need me to wax overly philosophical on this one… we all need a Stones shirt. Gotta have one. It’s a “must” for the tee lineup. And if you’re not going to have a shirt from a tour you actually went to, Bridges to Babylon — which spawned a historic concert DVD — is a great pick.
I own this shirt and can attest to the fact that it’s thick enough to not feel cheap but also drapes naturally, how a cotton tee should. The slightly faded logo on the front is iconic and when people ask about the tour poster on the back you can share that none other than Dave Matthews supported the band on this run (boy, that guy seems mellow but he’s had some fun in his day!).
BUY IT FOR:
Anyone who likes streetwear and the Rolling Stones. And if you don’t have that person, maybe you need to start playing the Rolling Stones for some friends.
We know your relationship with your parents can affect a lot about who you are as you grow up. But is it possible that the good and bad of that relationship could actually show up in your saliva?
That’s the bizarre-but-important question a team of researchers recently asked, the results of which were published in Developmental Science.
Led by Elizabeth Shirtcliff, an associate professor from Iowa State University who studies early childhood adversity, the study gathered 300 8th-grade kids and used a simple survey to determine some basic facts about their parents. The kids were asked things like whether they were close with their parents and how often positive reinforcement was used in their household.
The team was looking for signs of what they called “positive parenting, attachment, and bonding.”
Six years later, the kids — now adults — were brought back in for a strange follow-up. The researchers collected a dozen different samples of their saliva.
It sounds a little gross, but they were looking for something important: the presence of a hormone called cortisol. Cortisol is crucial to our overall well-being. Lower levels of cortisol are correlated with fatigue, mood swings, and muscle loss, for example. Higher levels of cortisol correlate with healthy blood pressure levels and better immune system function (though extremely high levels are a health risk).
For this study, cortisol was particularly important because it plays a big role in how we process and react to stress. When we’re faced with extreme stress or danger, cortisol floods our bodies, resulting in the “fight or flight,” response.
The study’s authors observed that people who are generally more stressed over longer periods of time, however, often show lower cortisol levels — almost like they get accustomed to all that stress over time and have a lesser reaction to it. While this might sound like a good thing, as far as your health goes, it’s definitely not.
The results of the study were clear: The more signs the kids showed of a positive bond with their parents when they were young, the better their cortisol functioned in adulthood.
That’s a good thing, the researchers suggest, because it helps keep kids alert and sensitive to all of the stimuli and information swirling around them from day to day, rather than having a blunted response to stressors and life in general.
So having great parents who use positive parenting methods is a good thing. Yay!
But the study had an important twist when it came to looking at racial demographics.
When race differences were accounted for — about half the kids were black and half were white — the cortisol correlation didn’t hold up.
On average, the study found, white and black parents were equally likely to have a positive bond with their kids. But parenting styles aren’t the only thing that can affect stress levels and kids’ response to it.
Many of the white students in the study may have benefited from “low stress, resource-rich contexts which unfortunately may be less common for black youth,” the researchers explained.
It’s also worth noting that many groups — including black people of people Jewish descent — carry biological markers of trauma from previous generations (i.e., slavery, the Holocaust), which can also affect cortisol response.
In other words, growing up with various socioeconomic and other hardships does indeed have a lifelong impact, and now we’ve got the beakers full of saliva (so to speak) to prove it.
This is important work. It proves that, in many cases, being a great parent can actually physically manifest itself in kids growing up to be well-adjusted and adaptable.
Being a loving parent can actually have a biological impact on your kids years and years later. That’s amazing!
Perhaps most importantly, however, it shows a glaring need for kids — particularly those belonging to marginalized or disadvantaged groups — to get better support in the form of solid education, safe communities to grow up in, and more opportunities to learn and grow.
Having great parents isn’t always enough to overcome a world that seems to be stacked against you, but it certainly helps.
Everyone seems to have a theory on the best time to purchase airfare to save the most money. Some say it’s right before take-off. Others will swear that prices are lowest six months before the flight. Well, now we have the truth. A scientific study was conducted by Expedia and the Airlines Reporting Commission that found the best times to buy flight tickets to get the best deal possible.
When we actually buy…
DOMESTIC: 32 DAYS IN ADVANCE
INTERNATIONAL: 59 DAYS IN ADVANCE
When we should buy…
DOMESTIC: 57 DAYS IN ADVANCE
The ideal advance-purchase time for domestic flight to snag the lowest average airfare is 57 with prices climbing most rapidly in the 20 days leading up to the flight. On a flight that averages $496, it will cost $401 57 days before the flight and around $650 the day of departure.
INTERNATIONAL: 171 DAYS IN ADVANCE For a ticket that averages $1,368, the lowest average of $1,004 happens around 171 days before take-off. On the day of, the price will be around $1875. Ticket prices begin to dramatically escalate 75 days leading up to departure.
Heading into the final days of the SAG-AFTRA strike, reports were flying in that studios were already prepping to get their biggest properties in front of cameras as soon as possible. Case in point, Deadpool 3 is already back in production. Stranger Things 5 is another one of those aforementioned properties, and Netflix is definitely not messing around in getting things up and running.
According to a new report from Deadline, Stranger Things 5 will resume filming on January 8, 2024 if not sooner. Given the approaching holidays, that’s an extremely fast turnaround time, which confirms reports that Netflix is eager to get the fifth and final season in front of viewers quickly and rack up a buttload of views, of course.
While not much is known about the last season, David Harbour has teased that that it will be an emotional roller-coaster that gives the show’s sprawling cast the sendoffs they deserve.
“I’m excited to go back. I’m excited to wrap it up in a bold, amazing way,” Harbour told Variety. “I’m excited to really swing with this character, because you know they’re going to pay off these OG characters: Eleven, Hopper, Joyce, Will, Mike. They’re going to pay them off in big ways because they’ve lived with you for the past eight years.”
You’re probably familiar with the literary classic “Moby-Dick.”
But in case you’re not, here’s the gist: Moby Dick is the name of a huge albino sperm whale.
(Get your mind outta the gutter.)
There’s this dude named Captain Ahab who really really hates the whale, and he goes absolutely bonkers in his quest to hunt and kill it, and then everything is awful and we all die unsatisfied with our shared sad existence and — oops, spoilers!
OK, technically, the narrator Ishmael survives. So it’s actually a happy ending (kind of)!
Basically, it’s a famous book about revenge and obsession that was published back in 1851, and it’s really, really long.
It’s chock-full of beautiful passages and dense symbolism and deep thematic resonance and all those good things that earned it a top spot in the musty canon of important literature.
There’s also a lot of mundane descriptions about the whaling trade as well (like, a lot). That’s because it came out back when commercial whaling was still a thing we did.
In fact, humans used to hunt more than 50,000 whales each year to use for oil, meat, baleen, and oil. (Yes, I wrote oil twice.) Then, in 1946, the International Whaling Commission stepped in and said “Hey, wait a minute, guys. There’s only a few handful of these majestic creatures left in the entire world, so maybe we should try to not kill them anymore?”
And even then, commercial whaling was still legal in some parts of the world until as recently as 1986.
And yet by some miracle, there are whales who were born before “Moby-Dick” was published that are still alive today.
What are the odds of that? Honestly it’s hard to calculate since we can’t exactly swim up to a bowhead and say, “Hey, how old are you?” and expect a response. (Also that’s a rude question — jeez.)
Thanks to some thoughtful collaboration between researchers and traditional Inupiat whalers (who are still allowed to hunt for survival), scientists have used amino acids in the eyes of whales and harpoon fragments lodged in their carcasses to determine the age of these enormous animals — and they found at least three bowhead whales who were living prior to 1850.
Granted those are bowheads, not sperm whales like the fictional Moby Dick, (and none of them are albino, I think), but still. Pretty amazing, huh?
This is a particularly remarkable feat considering that the entire species was dwindling near extinction.
Unfortunately, just as things are looking up, these wonderful whales are in trouble once again.
We might not need to worry our real-life Captain Ahabs anymore, but our big aquatic buddies are still being threatened by industrialization — namely, from oil drilling in the Arctic and the Great Australian Bight.
This influx of industrialization also affects their migratory patterns — threatening not only the humans who depend on them, but also the entire marine ecosystem.
And I mean, c’mon — who would want to hurt this adorable face?
Whales might be large and long-living. But they still need our help to survive.
If you want another whale to make it to his two-hundred-and-eleventy-first birthday (which you should because I hear they throw great parties), then sign this petition to protect the waters from Big Oil and other industrial threats.
I guarantee Moby Dick will appreciate it.
This article originally appeared on 11.04.15
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.
#kroqxmas
