Category: Worldwide

The United States Olympic Team took a moment to celebrate Kevin Durant’s birthday on Friday. While the team was waiting to walk out during the Opening Ceremonies at the Olympic Ceremony in Tokyo, a number of athletes came together to sing “Happy Birthday” to the Brooklyn Nets’ star. The catch: Durant looked like he did not have any fun as folks sang along, presumably because his birthday is not until the end of September.

Durant turns 33 on Sept. 29, and while I am sure he is appreciative of whatever kind sentiments were sent his way here, he also is very visibly not enjoying this, presumably because it’s not his birthday and it’s awkward enough when people sing “Happy Birthday” to you then. As the video shows, JaVale McGee, a former teammate of Durant’s with Golden State, was in on the joke, but a different ex-teammate ended up admitting that they were behind this effort to mess with KD.

Let it be known that if you are friends with Draymond Green and he has the opportunity to have the rest of the United States Olympic Team get a joke off at your expense, he is going to take it. Then again, this is probably not useful advice for anyone other than Kevin Durant and he learned that lesson the hard way already.

If you’ve been looking for a new fantasy series to fill the giant Game of Thrones-shaped hole in your heart, boy are you in luck. After nearly three years in the works, we are merely months away from the premier of The Wheel of Time series over on Amazon Prime Video. To help reignite excitement for the upcoming show, Amazon has finally shared a first look at Rosamund Pike’s Moiraine in the official poster for the series, along with the caption, “See you in November, Dragonsworn.”

For those not familiar with the The Wheel of Time, the upcoming show is based on the best-selling fantasy novels by Robert Jordan. While the series 14 novels sprawls across years and features numerous characters, the show follows the hero of the first three books — Moiraine Damodred — as she embarks on a dangerous journey with five young men and women. Moiraine takes on this mission as she believes one of her traveling companions could very well be the reincarnation of an incredibly powerful individual, the Dragon, whom prophecies say will either save humanity or destroy it.

The Wheel of Time makes its big debut this November on Amazon Prime Video. The six-episode season is being adapted for television by Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D and Chuck writer Rafe Judkins, and will be produced by Sony Pictures Television and Amazon Studios. For all you longtime fans of the popular series, rest assured Judkins has said is a fan of the books, and is “honored to be the one finally bringing that world to life.”

“For so many people, including me, this book series has served as a world to escape to, to lose yourself in, to devour and inhabit completely. And I couldn’t be more honored to be the one finally bringing that world to life on screen, for old fans to lose themselves in all over again and new fans to discover for the very first time.”

(Via Deadline & Amazon)

The “serial killer gets impregnated by a car” movie of your dreams is almost here.

When Neon released the first trailer for Titane, director Julia Ducournau’s follow-up to Raw, the distributor provided no information about the plot. All we had was the definition of the title (“A metal highly resistant to heat and corrosion, with high tensile strength alloys, often used in medical prostheses due to its pronounced biocompatibility”) and an orgasm of visuals, including a shirtless buff dude, a woman in ecstasy on the hood of a car, and a child that looks like season one Eleven from Stranger Things.

But after Titane won the prestigious Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival (previous winners include Parasite, The Tree of Life, and Dancer in the Dark), Neon announced a release date — and we finally know what the heck it’s about.

Titane will hit theaters on October 1. As for the plot:

The film centers around Alexia (Agathe Rousselle), a serial killer impregnated by a car who disguises her gender and goes incognito as a lonely fireman’s (Vincent Lindon) long-lost son.

A tale as old as time, really.

Between The Many Saints of Newark, No Time to Die, Halloween Kills, Dune, Jackass Forever, The French Dispatch, Last Night in SoHo, and now Titane, October 2021 is shaping up to be a movie month for the ages.

(Via Variety)

Veteran Chicago radio personality “Ramblin’ Ray” Stevens was driving in his car two weeks ago when he passed Braxton Mayes, 20, several times.

“I was on my way home from work Friday and saw a young man walking down Kirk Road,” Stevens later recalled. “I dropped my friend off at the studio I work out of and headed home. This young man was still walking. So I drove around the block and asked him if he needed a ride.”

“In our town, we help people out,” Stevens said.

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After some hesitancy, the young man agreed. During the ride, Stevens learned that every day Mayes walks 12 miles between the west suburban towns of Montgomery and Batavia just to get to work. “It’s just one of those things,” Mayes told ABC 7. “You gotta do what you gotta do.”

Chicago area man’s car fixed after having to walk 6 hours a day to and from work

www.youtube.com

Mayes hits the road walking every morning at 4 am to make it to his 7 am shift on time. Then, after his shift, he walks another three hours home. His long commutes on foot started after his 2006 GMC truck broke down.

The former high school football star says that he had no trouble walking because he was raised with a strong work ethic. “I was struggling to get a job for a good amount of time, and once I finally got a job, I mean, that was my chance, I had to keep it,” Mayes said according to FOX 32. “So I had to do whatever I had to do.”

Inspired by Mayes’ commitment, Stevens put together a social media campaign to help get his car fixed. “Let’s help Braxton get his truck fixed! Any other leftover money will go to Chicago area food banks,” Stevens wrote on a GoFundMe page.

In just a few days, the campaign raised enough money to get the car fixed. “It brought me to tears,” Mayes said. “I didn’t know when I would come up with the money to fix it or how many times I would have to walk.”

Over the course of two weeks, the campaign has already raised nearly $11,000.

“This guy checks all the boxes,” Stevens said, according to People. “He’s a good, solid human being. People are having a hard time finding people to work and here’s a guy walking three hours one way just because his truck broke down.”

A local Ford dealership stepped up and paid for all of the repairs the car needed to get it rolling down the road again, so the money from the GoFundme campaign will go to local food banks.

Now, Mayes should be able to get to work in about 25 minutes.

Thanks @BurtonABC7 and @KrasheskyABC7 for telling Braxton’s story pretty cool ending) @friendlyfordros https://t.co/ku4JNkR1KM

— Ramblin’ Ray (@ramblin_ray)
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“The story of Braxton who was walking 3 hours to work one way has come to an end! Thanks to. @friendlyfordroselle for picking up the bill,” Stevens wrote on Instagram.

Stevens hopes to take Mayes and his family to dinner in the near future to get to know them a bit better.

With the Olympics officially beginning we’re about to see much of the world’s attention turn to Tokyo as fans cheer on their country, favorite athletes, or for the sake of sport itself. We’re also going to see many celebrations of the Olympics. One of those celebrations is coming from Friday’s Google Doodle.

The Google Doodle for Friday is a JRPG starring an adorable cat named Lucky competing in the Olympics. Players will take Lucky on a mini-adventure where she will compete in events like skateboarding, table tennis, and rugby to become the ultimate Olympian. Of course, since this is a JRPG, that means there is an anime-inspired art style alongside a handful of quests that the player can complete.

There’s actually a decent amount of content in the Doodle so anyone that wants to complete it may want to set aside a little bit of time to do so.

Welcome to the Doodle Champion Island Games! Over the coming weeks, join calico (c)athlete Lucky as she explores Doodle Champion Island: a world filled with seven sport mini-games, legendary opponents, dozens of daring side quests, and a few new (and old ;)) friends. Her ultimate goal? Defeat each sport Champion to collect all seven sacred scrolls—and complete extra hidden challenges across Champion Island in the purrr-ocess.

Are you feline Lucky ? Click on today’s Doodle, join one of the four color teams to contribute to the real-time global leaderboard, and let the games begin!

As for the game itself? It’s nothing too overly complicated, nor should it be considering you play it in a browser, but it is radiating with charm. The character sprites are all detailed and the character portraits all feature just enough detail to get the personality of whoever is being spoken to at the moment.

The entire game can be played with an arrow key and the spacebar so it should be relatively accessible to most players. The games themselves aren’t really meant to be a challenge, but there is a scoreboard for anyone that wants to compete in getting the highest scores. There’s a little bit of exploration, with a few NPC’s to talk to, and it hits all the right notes that one would expect from a JRPG. The only thing it’s really missing is a save the world plot, but maybe that is simply the start of the next great JRPG.

Washington DC hardcore punk band Minor Threat was only active for a few years in the early ’80s, but despite their short tenure, they’re regarded as one of the most important bands of their genre. The group’s members have gone on to great success outside of the band, including Ian MacKaye (who went on to form Fugazi) and Brian Baker (now a member of Bad Religion).

Then, there’s Buckcherry, who had some success in the mid-2000s — including a top-10 album with 2008’s Black Butterfly and a pair of multi-Platinum singles, “Crazy B*tch” and “Sorry” — but are not as historically revered. So, when Buckcherry singer Josh Todd recently brought up the idea of himself fronting a potential Minor Threat reunion, people weren’t feeling it.

In a recent interview with Classic Rock (as Consequence notes), Todd spoke about running into Baker and saying to him, “Hey, man, if you ever want to do a Minor Threat tour and Ian doesn’t want to do it, I’ll shave my head and we’ll f*cking do it!” As for Baker’s reaction, Todd reported, “He just laughed.”

Also laughing were Twitter users, many of whom were decidedly not into the idea of Todd taking the Minor Threat reigns. Classic Rock summarized the differences between Todd and MacKaye well: “Given that Todd is best known for the song ‘Crazy B*tch’ and the lyric, ‘I love the cocaine” (from ‘Lit Up’), whereas MacKaye is the author of the song ‘Straight Edge’ and sang, “I don’t smoke, I don’t drink, I don’t f*ck…” on the title track of Out Of Step, this would be a bold recruitment by Baker, to put it mildly.”

That Baker anecdote came after Todd spoke about his admiration for Minor Threat and the band’s lone studio album, 1983’s Out Of Step, saying, “I was fifteen and I felt like an outcast. I was dealing with a lot of dysfunction in my personal life at that time, a lot of adversity at home. I couldn’t trust the men in my life. There was a lot of anger inside of me. So I spent all my time at the record store. I had a crazy independent punk rock collection – and Minor Threat’s Out Of Step was one of them. I felt like it was describing what was going on with me at that time. I truly connected with the recklessness and aggression of songs like the title track. It made me feel like I was part of a tribe when I listened to Out Of Step. You can hear Out Of Step in what we do, too.”

Check out some more reactions below.

USA Basketball will begin Olympic play on Sunday morning when it takes on France at 8 a.m. EST. It’s a highly-anticipated game, as the French — which are ranked seventh in the world in the most recent FIBA rankings — shocked the United States by knocking it out in the quarterfinals of its last major international tournament, the 2019 Basketball World Cup.

One major issue facing the Americans is that three of its most important players are flying to Tokyo after battling in the NBA Finals, with Devin Booker of the Phoenix Suns hopping on a flight alongside Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton of the Milwaukee Bucks. The trio are expected to arrive by Saturday, and according to U.S. coach Gregg Popovich, the team is hopeful they’ll be able to play against France.

“I have no idea [how to use them],” Popovich said, per Brian Windhorst of ESPN. I’m not trying to be glib. I’m trying to be transparent. Maybe they’ll be OK for the game [Sunday] and it’ll hit them two days later. Maybe we should play them in the first half and see what they’re like.”

It’s certainly going to be a tricky needle to thread for Popovich, who will need to figure out on the fly whether to throw them in right away during the United States’ presumptive toughest group stage game — Iran and the Czech Republic round out Group A — with the hopes that they carry over their form after the playoffs, or let them gradually ramp things up. All three should, theoretically, play important roles for the Americans, which lost Bradley Beal’s scoring punch in the lead-up to the tournament and could have used reinforcements in the backcourt even before that.

Just as no one feuds as hard as celebrities, it turns out that no one pranks as hard either. Yesterday, actor and comedian Kevin Hart took his funny guy status to the next level in a prank involving some giant billboards and “best friend” Nick Cannon’s supposed phone number. For lucky passerby’s in Los Angeles, New York City, and Atlanta, you might have seen the prank in action, as Hart paid for billboards advertising “For any advice on fatherhood? Call my best friend Nick Cannon” followed by the star’s phone number.

The cheeky prank pokes fun at Cannon’s ever-expanding family, as the actor just welcomed twins twins Zion Mixolydian and Zillion Heir with their mother Abby De La Rosa on June 14, followed by newborn son Zen — whom he shares with model Alyssa Scott — on June 23. Cannon is also a father to four other children: Powerful Queen and Golden, whom he shares with Brittany Bell, and twins Moroccan and Monroe whom he had with his ex-wife Mariah Carey.

However, Hart’s little jab was not unprompted. According to Hart’s Instagram, he organized the stunt after Cannon surprised him with a llama on his birthday earlier in July. On July 9, Hart shared pictures of him with said llama, along with a caption to call Cannon “one of the biggest a**holes on the planet.”

Since then, Cannon has shared his phone ringing nearly off the hook on his Instagram story, along with the simple caption, “thanks Kevin Hart.” No telling on how much further things will escalate between the pair, but we’ll be watching eagerly.

Don’t get me wrong, I love a good party destination, music festival, and anywhere it’s acceptable to have a cocktail before 5 p.m. However, we all need to take a break from the busyness sometimes. Hopping on a cross-country flight might not seem like slowing down, but this was exactly the remedy I needed to chill the f*ck out. As someone who thrives on the stress of filling my everyday schedule and social calendar to the maximum, “relaxing” isn’t exactly my forte. But to my burnout’s delight, the low-key vibes and smalltown feel of Providence, Rhode Island brought some serious zen into my life (even if just for a few days).

I had been to Providence a few times growing up because my grandparents lived there sporadically over the years. Though returning for the first time as an adult shifted my perspective of what it means to be a must-visit city. Sure, all-inclusive resorts and packed travel itineraries are great. But it’s the under-the-radar places and laidback plans that might surprise you the most.

Providence is chock-full of historic landmarks, lush public parks, and tasty eats that deliver well-deserved R&R. If you’re in the market for a calm weekend getaway, check out my guide below. I’m sharing a few of my recommendations for what to do and eat in Providence, one of New England’s oldest gems.

PART I – What To Do

Benefit Street’s Mile of History

One of my favorite parts about visiting New England is that its old brick buildings, long-lived traditions, and American monuments offer a glimpse into our country’s rocky past. Being the oldest colonial region in the United States, centuries of history can be found around every cobblestone corner. In Providence, Benefit Street is the best place to start. Here you’ll find a mile-long stretch of original colonial homes, a restored cathedral, museums, and even a historic cemetery, all of which date back to the 18th century.

The colorfully painted sidings and antique lamposts felt like they were part of a miniature model neighborhood. Picturesque and perfectly spaced in a tight row, each landmark is adorned with a plaque indicating when it was built and who its original owner was. The oldest home on the block is the Stephen Harris House, which was constructed in 1763 and belonged to a successful merchant. I couldn’t help but peer into the windows of these homes to catch a peek at the new owners’ belongings that have replaced the ghosts of early American history.

Fun fact: Providence was home to H.P. Lovecraft, a legendary writer of all things weird in horror fiction. One of his novelettes, The Shunned House, is based on an actual home on Benefit Street.

Downtown Providence Riverwalk

Nothing says relaxation like a leisurely stroll by the water. While I’m used to the oceanview walks in my home city of L.A., the Providence River made a commendable substitute. For a tranquil morning or afternoon excursion, head downtown to the Providence Riverwalk. Go for a jaunt on the gray brick pathways and stop in at one of the many cafes. If you’re in the mood for some romance, see the city from down below by taking a gondola ride through the river. I was visiting with my brother who refused to take a ride with me. But the couple we saw floating in their dreamy Venetian boat, paddled by a man in a striped shirt and gondolier hat, looked like they were having a whimsical time.

While promenading the riverside paths, you’ll come upon Memorial Park. Directly across from the Providence County Courthouse, the public square houses the Providence World War I Memorial, a Holocaust Memorial, and the Korean War Memorial of Rhode Island. These stand as just another reminder of our nation’s turbulent history.

Brown University

The one thing Providence is most recognized for is probably Brown University. My grandpa was a creative writing professor here, which is how I ended up touring this little city in the first place. It wasn’t until my teen years when the school became part of a storyline on Gossip Girl that I realized how cool he really was. Although I didn’t get his ivy league genes, I still enjoyed perusing the campus on my visit. The majestic old-school architecture, art sculptures sprinkled throughout the quad, and herds of hopeful young dreamers touring the grounds make Brown an idyllic, centrally located resting spot between activities. Founded in 1764, Brown is also brimming with historical significance.

For a dose of creative inspiration, head to the neighboring college of Rhode Island School of Design. The RISD Museum of Art houses more than 100,000 works of art and design dating from ancient times to today — it currently displays approximately 2,300 of these pieces. From ancient Greek and Roman galleries to contemporary ceramics, RISD Museum’s eclectic exhibits take you on an artistic journey through time.

The John Brown House Museum

The American history marathon continues at The John Brown House Museum. John Brown was a leading merchant and businessman who secured much of his fortune through corruption, such as his involvement in the slave trade and human trafficking. The museum sheds a light on the dark realities of how many of Rhode Island’s developments came to fruition. It also gives a first-hand look into what life was truly like for predominate families, as it’s the actual home (or should I say mansion) where the Brown family lived back in the day. Each room in the residence felt like a scene from an Americanized Bridgerton, complete with handpainted portraits and exquisite porcelain china.

The Brown family was influential enough at the time to have connections to President George Washington. In fact, the museum showcases John Brown’s chariot that is believed to be the oldest American-made vehicle in existence today. It’s known as the “Washington Chariot” because Washington himself is said to have ridden in it while visiting Rhode Island.

PART II – Where to Eat

Haruki East

Sushi lovers, rejoice! Haruki East‘s extensive list of Japanese and Asian fusion favorites will have something for every taste palate. Make a reservation for an elegant sit-down dinner or sushi bar experience. The restaurant serves up mouth-watering appetizers (order the softshell crab, trust me), fresh sashimi that basically melts in your mouth, and specialty rolls that will have you calling the waiter back for more. The menu also features a collection of Japanese beers to complement every bite of your meal.

By CHLOE.

Maybe I’m biased because my name is Chloe, but By CHLOE. is the ultimate spot for a quick and easy afternoon meal. Right off the Brown University campus, it’s a 100 percent vegan menu of American favorites like burgers and fries, mac and cheese, hearty salads, and “chicken” strips. If you’re a meat-lover then you’re probably doubting this pick, but my carnivorous brother even agreed that By CHLOE.’s options were (almost) as good as the real deal.

The casual, grab-and-go style restaurant is on Thayer Street, which is always bustling with both students and locals. The vibrant area in the College Hill neighborhood is home to more than 70 unique businesses including quirky boutiques, mainstream shopping, a hookah lounge, other restaurants, and even an independent art deco movie theater.

Pane e Vino

At least once throughout your chill weekend in Providence, you need to make your way into Federal Hill. This neighborhood is best known for its tight-knit Italian-American community that operates an abundance of authentic Italian restaurants and small businesses. After exploring the historic area, get a table at Pane e Vino. You really can’t go wrong with anything on the menu, but the lobster ravioli was like an edible euphoria. Awarded the best wine list in Rhode Island, you can’t finish your Italian meal without a glass (or bottle) of Italian vino.

Insomnia Cookies

No weekend of treating yourself is complete without dessert. Head back to Thayer Street for goodies that will warm your belly, heart, and soul. Insomnia cookies has a collection of fresh-baked signature cookies that can satisfy the strongest of sweet tooth cravings. The gooey interior of the classic chocolate chunk, the sweet and savory goodness of the salted caramel — it’s safe to say any sense of self-control I had went out the window instantaneously. But, hey, I’m not mad about it. Take the sugary pleasure up a notch by turning your order into a cookie ice cream sandwich and devour it while you window shop in College Hill.

After a few short days in Providence, I left the quaint atmosphere and scenery behind to return to my hectic everyday life in LA. But what I brought home with me is an appreciation for all places. The farfetched destinations that leave me in awe, the outdoorsy adventures on my bucket list, and, yes, the unexpected places that remind me to take a breath.

Hopscotch Music Festival has announced its 2021 lineup. Taking place over the weekend of September 9 to 11, the Downtown Raleigh fest’s headliners include Animal Collective, Flying Lotus, Dr. Dog (an appearance that’s part of the Philly mainstays’ farewell tour), Parquet Courts, Archers Of Loaf, Caroline Polachek, and more.

Additional performers include Hippo Campus, Shannon And The Clams, Heledo Negro, Makaya McCraven, Lido Pimienta, Colin Stetson, Sarah Shook And The Disarmers, The Dead Tongues, Bowerbirds, Dougie Poole, Body Meat, Wednesday, Garcia Peoples, Hubert Lenior, Libby Rodenbough, Hannah Jadagu, Tatois Conselors, Sonny Miles, Kate Rudy, Lesthegenius, Sluice, and Magic Tuber String Band. Have a look at the full lineup below.

To accommodate COVID-19 protocols, Hopscotch’s website says that it will introduce a new layout “with programming across two main stages in Downtown Raleigh, one at Raleigh’s City Plaza and one at the newly redesigned Moore Square.” Additionally, the outdoor shows will only be filled to 75 percent capacity.

“Many of the venues will still present day shows across Raleigh (and hopefully some late night shows) so the vibe and spirit of the festival will be there across our three days in September,” the website says.

Finally, the festival poster bills “90+ local vendors and more to be announced.”

Learn more about the festival and tickets here.