Women are often saddled with the mental load of the household in romantic relationships, there are multiple articles covering the topic. It can be daunting to be in charge of remembering all of the things, essentially becoming a house manager by default. Many times this isn’t an arrangement that is discussed, it seems to be either an expectation due to parental modeling or falling into gender roles.
Morgan Strickell was not planning to fall into the trap of being her family’s sole organizer and distributer of information. This was a boundary she and her husband were clear about before getting married but recently had to reinforce. The soon-to-be mom, took to her TikTok page to explain that she is not interested in being her husband’s “kin keeper.”
Strickell is pregnant with her first child and after news was posed on social media, her mother in law’s feeling were hurt after finding out the news second hand. It was this situation that prompted the woman’s video.
“I refuse to be the primary communicator with my husband’s side of the family,” Strickell starts. “A few weeks ago my mother-in-law was on the phone with us and she expressed that she was a little bit hurt because she keeps finding out things about our pregnancy from her sister who sees the posts on social media.”
The woman explains that this is news to her as she assumed her husband had been communicating the news to his mother. So when they had another ultrasound appointment she reminded her husband to send the information to his mom, to which he asked why she couldn’t inform his mom for him. That’s when Strickwell had to reinforce her boundary, reminding him that it is his job to inform his side of the family of important information.
Strickwell has a good relationship with her mother in-law and speaks to her on a fairly regular basis, so it’s not a matter of an unpleasant relationship. The soon-to-be mom is simply not adding additional things to her plate that then become the expectation. Many people in the comments agreed with her approach.
I’m on your side and I’m actually the mom of three boys who don’t communicate with me, but it is their responsibility to keep me in the loop not their wives,” a commenter says.
“Last year my husband told me I was wrong for not including his mom in my Mother’s Day shopping and I kindly reminded him that we in fact do not share the same mom,” another writes.
“Stay strong on this, it only gets worse after the kid is born,” someone declares.
“You are correct and the next thing he’ll have you do is buying birthday presents birthday cards for his family and everything becomes your responsibility,” another person says.
In another video, Strickell clarified that her husband isn’t worried about his communication in with his mother. She also says this isn’t an issue that comes up often in their relationship because he is very good at communicating with his family. But Strickwell’s intention was to use that example as a means to make sure people are aware that the responsibility of communication doesn’t have to fall on the female partner in the relationship.
If you’ve never heard of the Cat Distribution System, then you probably don’t own a cat, or you do, but you acquired your cat in a normal, non-weird way. You know, like at an animal shelter or from some nice lady on social media who had a box of kittens. Some people do get cats that way, and it’s one thousand percent a valid way to attain cat parent status.
But some lucky folks get cats through the Cat Distribution System (or CDS for short). Is this system real? The only people who know this are cats. They’re also the ones that run the system, so the rules and the way in which you attain your purr machine may be a bit wonky. You may wake up with an unknown cat in your bed even though all of your windows are closed, or you just may be like this delivery driver.
The driver was out picking up orders when a cat came out of the CDS and jumped on the man’s leg as he attempted to get back to his car. Thanks to his dash cam, you get to see CDS at work, and so did his mom. The video currently has over 2.8 million views on TikTok.
When the driver asked his mom if he could keep the cat, at first she said no. Then she saw the footage of the cat aggressively and desperately choosing her son to be its new cat dad—and that’s how you get a cat through the CDS. Once the cat realized she made the right choice, she snuggled up on her dad’s lap as he drove her home.
“We are not cat people,” reads the text overlay. “My youngest son was out making deliveries last night. A cat kept following him. Then jumped on his leg and would not let go.”
I have news for you, Mom, you’re cat people now. It’s how the Cat Distribution System works. They train their recruits to turn non-cat people into cat people, one unsuspecting human at a time. If you don’t make it to the end of the video, yes, they kept the cat and her name is Venus. That’s how the system is designed.
#catrescue #catrescueroftiktok I am not a #catperson but maybe now I will be after today. I #Love my #son has a #huge #compassionate #heart #momsoftiktok #rescate #gato
No matter how long you’ve skied or snowboarded or how much of an expert you are, there’s one nemesis on the mountain that poses an underappreciated threat—the tree well.
People may think the main danger of skiing through trees is the risk of running into one. But falling into a tree well is a less obvious, but still potentially deadly risk due to the possibility of snow immersion suffocation (SIS). Essentially, the area around the base of a tree creates snow conditions that are quite different than those out in the open. Air pockets in the snow combined with water vapor rising from the tree base turns the snow into a quicksand-like texture that is nearly impossible to escape from—the more you struggle, the deeper in you fall. Skiers and snowboarders die every year from SIS due to falling into tree wells and not being found in time.
That could easily have been snowboarder Ian Steger’s fate in March 2023 if not for the eagle eye and quick thinking of backcountry skier Francis Zuber.
Zuber had just begun a backcountry ski run with a buddy on Mount Baker in Washington State when a flash of red caught the corner of his eye. Zuber’s GoPro footage shows him stopping and turning to see a colorful snowboard upside-down next to a tree.
“I knew there was somebody attached to it, and obviously they were still alive,” Zuber told Vancouver’s City News. “I shout out to the guy…he can’t hear me, he’s five and a half to six feet into the snow at that point.” Zuber knew he had to work fast.
As the video shows him struggling to make his way back toward the tree through the deep snow, we can hear him muttering expletives to himself and calling out to the snowboarder. At first, we can’t see how Steger is positioned, but as Zuber gets closer and starts digging, it becomes clear that the snowboarder is completely upside-down, with his face buried deep in the snow.
Watch the harrowing GoPro footage Zuber shared on YouTube:
[Warning: This video contains strong language.]
Zuber told the CBC that they estimated Steger had been buried between five and seven minutes, “probably at either a third or just the halfway point of his possible survival time in there,” when he found him. Zuber said Steger hadn’t been snowboarding alone—he was with a group of three other riders who were carrying safety equipment including shovels, beacons and two-way radios—but as we could see in Zuber’s GoPro, getting back up a mountain when you realize someone in your group isn’t behind you anymore is no small or quick task.
Steger and Zuber have since become friends since the March 3 rescue and have even gone skiing together on Mount Baker.
Steger told the CBC he just wants to “enjoy being alive.” Indeed, after a close-call experience like that, every moment you have would feel like a gift.
We’re all well aware of the sounds most common animals make, due in no small part to that classic Fisher Price “Farmer Says” toy (remember those?).
But more exotic animals…not so much. Their calls remain a mystery.
Like the hippo, for instance. Who the heck knows off the top of their head what those sound like?
Well, thanks to the Saint Louis Zoo, we can quell that curiosity.
In a video posted to the zoo’s TikTok account, we see three female Nile hippos—Mashavu, Kiboko and Tombi—make a noise that viewers feel is somewhere between a “whoopie cushion” and a “murder kazoo.”
Listen:
@stlzoo Ever heard a hippo? 🔊 The three female Nile hippos here at the Zoo make lots of different noises. They wheeze, honk, grunt and squeal to communicate with their group – known as a bloat – both above and below water! The sounds can be heard for more than a half a mile in the wild. #hippo#hippopotamus#animals#animal#animalsounds#zoo♬ original sound – Saint Louis Zoo
Pretty accurate description, right? According to the video’s caption, hippos make a variety of noises. They can roar, grunt, squeal and even communicate underwater! According to the New York Times, hippos will also announce their presence using a “wheeze honk.” Talk about knowing how to make an entrance.
Hippos aren’t the only members of the animal kingdom to make strange sounds. Have you ever heard…
A chirping cheetah?
Cheetahs will typically issue this call during distress or to locate their young, but have been observed using it in all sorts of scenarios, per Earth.com.
How about a screaming armadillo?
The Cincinnati Zoo explains that hairy armadillos will scream when threatened. Relatable.
Or a laughing fox?
It is theorized that foxes only make these “hehe” sounds to get human attention. Mission: accomplished.
It never gets olds learning something new about the cool creatures that share this planet with us.
Becoming a parent is simultaneously one of the most rewarding and terrifying life experiences a person can have. And try as you may, no matter how many books or blogs you read, there’s really no way to fully prepare for the ongoing reality of parenting. There’s always something you didn’t expect or account for, some surprise child-rearing delight or horror that catches you off guard.
Parents on X are sharing the one thing that most caught them by surprise about parenting and it’s a treasure trove of “What to Expect” wisdom and experience that might—might—help prospective or new parents feel a little bit more prepared.
“What is one parenting thing that caught you completely by surprise?” she asked. “I was prepared for sleeplessness, tantrums, picky eating. But I genuinely didn’t believe until I saw it with my own two eyes just how hard it is to find childcare that fully covers your working hours.”
— (@)
Other parents hopped right on in with surprises that run the gamut from food to sensory overload to kids’ hilarity.
Let’s start with sleep. We all know to expect to be tired with babies, but until you’re in the thick of it with a baby who really doesn’t sleep well, you don’t know how life-altering it can be. There’s a reason sleep deprivation is used as a torture technique, after all.
@Hardley76 @realgirl_fieri I spent 4 years with such severe sleep deprivation I was literally hallucinating. It’s actually the theme of the next thriller I’m writing. I was prepared for “tired” – I never imagined how much it would break me. Not enough support out there. 13 years later I’m still not over it
— (@)
Some parents were taken aback by having less socialization than they expected.
“Honestly, I thought I’d see my friends with kids more,” shared one mom. “My two best friends had babies when I did in 2022. I’ve seen each twice. I thought we’d be together all the time,” offered another.
“I thought there would be more play dates,” agreed another. “Maybe we’re just not there yet, but with work, school, life it just doesn’t happen? Sometimes with my friends with kids but rarely with friends from school.”
@sarahradz_ @realgirl_fieri My oldest friend has two little kids around my kidsu2019 ages, and the best we can do these days is like a 5 minute FaceTime whenever the stars align. Always interrupted by the kids talking to each other, then over within minutes ud83dude2d
— (@)
Some have been surprised by how true the stereotype of Mom always having her meal interrupted can be. When kids are little, it’s shocking how many times you find yourself getting up from the dinner table, even when you think you had everything ready to go.
“The line from A Christmas Story resonates,” shared one commenter, “watching his mom getting up/down at dinner and Ralphie narrates ‘My mother had not had a hot meal for herself in 15 years.'”
@clhubes @realgirl_fieri I have long thought this needs to be a SNL sketch bc it truly feels like the kids have perfect comedic timing with a new request every time my butt almostttt hits the chair!
— (@)
And then there’s the not really getting to sit down at all part due to snacks, spills, finding things, breaking up fights, etc. And when you finally do sit, you immediately becoming a lap to sit on or a climbing apparatus.
@IBD_AGatlin @realgirl_fieri Thissss. I was a nanny for almost 10 years before I had my daughter so I knew what I was in for. 4 years later and itu2019s NOTHING like nannying. If Iu2019m sitting down, Iu2019m getting climbed onud83dude29
— (@)
Some parents were surprised by the number and variety of toys and the noise that came with them. “Nobody told me there would be so much smashing and crashing of toys,” wrote one parent. Others were amazed by how quickly you become overrun with toys even when you don’t buy any. It’s like they just appear out of thin air.
Others offered up the out-of-left-field, unexpectedly-expensive need for berries. All the berries. So. Many. Berries.
As one dad shared, “One of the most ernest pieces of advice I got from a friend with two toddlers was to never introduce your children to blueberries. They are so expensive and children will eat an unlimited amount. They will bankrupt you.”
@throeingit @realgirl_fieri And strawberries, blackberries, bananas, grapes, raspberries, the list goes onnnI swear Iu2019m going to have to get a second job just to feed my kids berry habit
— (@)
On the up side, kids can also be delightfully bright and rip-roaring hilarious right from the get go.
@andeholmes @realgirl_fieri Yes! My brother was trying to get my son (6mo) to smile and asked me how I make him laugh. I very seriously said “oh just act like you are going to eat his hand, he thinks that’s hilarious” and my brother was confused then delighted when he tried it and my son laughed. u2764ufe0fud83dude02
— (@)
And then there’s the sheer relentlessness of it all and the constant space your beloved children take up in your psyche.
“You’re never alone, never off duty, never just responsible for yourself, never just thinking about yourself and your wants/ needs,” shared one parent. “This is the one,” agreed another. “I haven’t been alone for any meaningful period of time in eight years.”
Even if you manage to carve out some time for yourself, you’re never not thinking about your children in some part of your mind, and your parental instincts are always “on.”
@osimonsays1 @realgirl_fieri Never 100% relaxed again is SO true. I think the only times Iu2019ve felt truly rested in the last 21 years has been when Iu2019m under anesthesia for surgery. And they wonder why I laugh and cry simultaneously like a bipolar hyena.
— (@)
It’s good to share these things as parents so we know we’re not alone and so that people becoming parents aren’t totally blindsided. No matter how much people tell you, there will certainly be some things you still weren’t prepared for, so anything that makes prepping for parenting even a tiny bit easier is worth sharing.
Towards the end of The Beatles’ illustrious but brief career, Paul McCartney wrote “Let it Be,” a song about finding peace by letting events take their natural course. It was a sentiment that seemed to mirror the feeling of resignation the band had with its imminent demise.
The bittersweet song has had an appeal that has lasted generations and that may be because it reflects an essential psychological concept: the locus of control.
“It’s about understanding where our influence ends and accepting that some things are beyond our control,” Jennifer Chappell Marsh, a marriage and family therapist, told The Huffington Post. “We can’t control others, so instead, we should focus on our own actions and responses.”
This idea of giving up control, or the illusion of it, when it does us no good, was perfectly distilled into 2 words that everyone can understand as the “Let Them” theory. Podcast host, author, motivational speaker and former lawyer Mel Robbins explained this theory perfectly in a vial Instagram video.
“I just heard about this thing called the ‘Let Them Theory,’ I freaking love this,” Robbins starts the video.
“If your friends are not inviting you out to brunch this weekend, let them. If the person that you’re really attracted to is not interested in a commitment, let them. If your kids do not want to get up and go to that thing with you this week, let them.” Robbins says in the clip. “So much time and energy is wasted on forcing other people to match our expectations.”
“If they’re not showing up how you want them to show up, do not try to force them to change; let them be themselves because they are revealing who they are to you. Just let them – and then you get to choose what you do next,” she continued.
The phrase is a great one to keep in your mental health tool kit because it’s a reminder that, for the most part, we can’t control other people. And if we can, is it worth wasting the emotional energy? Especially when we can allow people to behave as they wish and then we can react to them however we choose.
Stop wasting energy on trying to get other people to meet YOUR expectations. Instead, try using the “Let Them Theory.”
Stop wasting energy on trying to get other people to meet YOUR expectations. Instead, try using the “Let Them Theory.” 💥 Listen now on the #melrobbinspodcast!! “The “Let Them Theory”: A Life Changing Mindset Hack That 15 Million People Can’t Stop Talking About” 🔗 in bio #melrobbins #letthemtheory #letgo #lettinggo #podcast #podcastepisode
How you respond to their behavior can significantly impact how they treat you in the future.
It’s also incredibly freeing to relieve yourself of the responsibility of changing people or feeling responsible for their actions. As the old Polish proverb goes, “Not my circus, not my monkeys.”
“Yes! It’s much like a concept propelled by the book ‘The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F**k.’ Save your energy and set your boundaries accordingly. It’s realizing that we only have “control” over ourselves and it’s so freeing,” 60DaysToLive2012 wrote.
“Let It Be” brought Paul McCartney solace as he dealt with losing his band in a very public breakup. The same state of mind can help all of us, whether it’s dealing with parents living in the past, friends who change and you don’t feel like you know them anymore, or someone who cuts you off in traffic because they’re in a huge rush to go who knows where.
The moment someone gets on your nerves and you feel a jolt of anxiety run up your back, take a big breath and say, “Let them.”
The Denver Nuggets did not look like champions during the first two games of their Western Conference Semifinal series against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Despite the games taking place in Denver, the Wolves walked into the Nuggets’ building and picked up two wins, putting the upstart Western Conference contenders in the driver’s seat as the series made its way to Minnesota.
Well, the first game in the Twin Cities took place on Friday night, and in an unfortunate turn of events for the revved up home fans at the Target Center, the Nuggets looked like the champions they are. Denver bounced back in a big way on the road, picking up a 117-90 win to cut Minnesota’s lead in the series to 2-1.
After spending Game 2 in a constant state of being sped up, the Nuggets looked far more composed and deliberate during the first quarter of Friday’s game. They avoided turning the ball over and didn’t try to do anything out of rhythm, which gave them the added bonus of being able to set up their defense on the other end of the floor.
As such, both Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. got off to hot starts — each had eight points — while the Wolves only shot 3-for-11 from three. This let Denver open up a 28-20 lead after one, their largest lead of the series to that point.
Denver continued to keep a vice grip on the game, showing off the composure that won them a championship last year as the lead grew to as many as 20 points. Every time that Minnesota started to chip into the lead — at one point, a 7-0 run got it down to 13 — the Nuggets had an answer that kept themselves from ever being in too much jeopardy.
By the time the two teams went into the locker room at halftime, Denver found itself in total control, as it held onto a 56-41 lead. Murray’s 18 points led all scorers, with Porter going for 12. Jokic, as is usually the case, was on triple-double watch by the time he got into the locker room for halftime with seven points, nine rebounds, and six assists. Minnesota was paced by Towns, who had 12 points and made all four of his attempts from three. But no one else was able to hit the double-figure scoring mark against a connected and disciplined Nuggets defense, although Edwards had nine points to go along with four assists and three rebounds.
The third quarter followed essentially the same script, with Denver continuing to build out its lead, Minnesota hitting a shot or two to try its hardest to get into a groove, and the Nuggets completely cutting them off at the pass. The lead would grow and grow, ballooning up to as many as 29 points as Denver tore apart the best defense in the league.
While anything can happen in the NBA, it sure seemed like the 93-66 lead the defending champions carried into the fourth quarter would be insurmountable. That, in fact, turned out to be the case, as Minnesota emptied its bench with just under six minutes remaining, while Denver did the same shortly after.
Murray and Jokic led all scorers with 24 points each. The former had five assists, four rebounds, and three steals, while the latter did a little bit of everything, going for 14 rebounds, nine assists, three steals, and three blocks. Porter chipped in 21 points, while Aaron Gordon had 13 points and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope had 12. No one on the Timberwolves eclipsed 20 points on the night, with Edwards coming the closest thanks to a 19-point effort.
Game 4 between the Nuggets and the Timberwolves will take place on Sunday night at 8 p.m. on TNT.
We all know on some level that no marriage is without its issues. But in this highlight-reel-only modern day existence, it can be easy to feel like every other couple is completely squabble-free.
As you can guess, these happy couples still had conflict around common subjects like money, intimacy, and communication. But even with their issues, these partners still consider their relationships as healthy. That’s saying something.
Here are 12 “serious issues” that even happy marriages continue to face:
1.“Neither of us have many friends so we rely on each other to meet too many of our needs”. –howyafeelin
“I feel like people who say “oh but that’s okay because your spouse should be all you need” don’t understand how much pressure that puts on both partners. No one person can or should be your everything.” –Square-Raspberry560
And on the opposite side of the spectrum, we have…
2. “Not enough time for ourselves.We both have big families and friend circles. If we are not seeing my friends, we are seeing her friends. If we are not seeing her family, we are seeing my family.This is on top of working long hours and being fairly introverted to boot.We have to schedule dates and ‘alone time’ so we can recover.Honestly, I couldn’t imagine managing all this with anyone else and I am so thankful for her.” –Shahfluffers
3. “The hardest things have ever been for us was when we let others dictate our relationship. My mom was always an enemy of our relationship, and her sister was always against us. As soon as we stopped letting them have opinions on us, our lives became infinitely better.” –TitularFoil
4. “No longer a pain point, but is a good reminder: just talk, don’t internalize your stresses/fears/etc. All that happens when you hold things in is that vacuum is filled with assumptions that benefit neither you or your spouse.” –Avamedic
“This!! I suffered a panic attack 2 weeks ago because I was keeping everything inside me. Once I told my wife everything I had in my head, suddenly it felt really silly that I was keeping it inside. Should have talked more from the beginning.” –MikePap
“Yep -I’ve experienced both being the partner with a lower sex drive and, more recently, being the one with the higher sex drive.Both were extremely difficult on our relationship and have been some of the most vulnerable and sensitive times for either of us.” –Rubinovyy17
6. “Kids put an incredible amount of stress on a relationship.” –inkyblinkypinkysue
“Parenting styles I feel like is something that is never discussed. It’s always “do you want kids?” It’s never “how do you plan on handling xyz when it comes to kids”. I’m currently trying to navigate this with my husband. I have to constantly be the bad cop because he will cave to the meltdown which requires me to do double duty trying to undo any enabling. It’s exhausting at times.” –ZolaMonster
7. “My husband has a serious phone addiction. He’s always on it, whether it’s in the bathroom, to in bed, movie night just the two of us, during meals. We can’t even eat out without him having to check his phone (for social reasons, not even work related reasons). I’ve discussed this with him multiple times and it’s in one ear out the other.” –ieatnoodlesw_sticks
8. “Holidays. My wife’s parents are divorced so we have 3 different families we’re trying to please PLUS our own. So basically whenever Christmas comes around, we need to find time to celebrate for ourself, my parents/siblings, her dad, her mom/grandma. It’s such a pain having to schedule early holidays and traveling all over the state to visit everyone.” –AFunkinDiscoBall
“For us, not just money itself, but differences in attitudes toward it. We were raised differently and value it differently. We’re in agreement that neither of our viewpoints/attitudes is inherently right or wrong (regarding money or any of the other ways we were raised differently), but it does cause tension. I’m more of a saver and she’s more of a spender, which causes conflict especially when I’m the higher earner. Sure, I like shiny things too, but I also like my money to buy security and early retirement. I think there’s a happy medium somewhere.” –PoisonWaffle3
10.“Endometriosis. My wife had stage 4 Endo, which seriously affected her mood, my mood, our sex life, intimacy, and countless other small things. She had her first surgery in 2015. That helped for 8 months but it slowly came back. She then went UNDER for her second surgery in 2021 they got in there and realized it was too serious for this specific doctor (it covered her bladder, bowels, and other major organs). So she had to go through the recovery of a surgery while not actually getting any benefit. She was then referred to a specialist doctor, one of Canadas best. But the wait time was 1.5 years.We hung on…and went through some rough times….But she finally had her surgery in June 2023, a full hysterectomy, and total cleanout of endometriosis…..and she’s feeling incredible! Endometriosis is awful. She was such a trooper, and we are now doing incredible. :)” –ActivE__
11.“Stubbornness. You CANNOT be stubborn in a marriage. You must be able to give, take, be self aware of your giving and taking, and be able to communicate about the nature of each others gives and takes.” –rippa76
12. “Deciding what the heck is for dinner every night !” –Main-Jelly-8589
Bottom line: though of course being able to navigate conflict is integral to every successful marriage, avoiding it entirely is impossible. So if you and your significant other can never seem to “get over” that one nagging problem…you’re not alone. And you’re not doomed.
Just like that, the Indiana Pacers are back in their Eastern Conference Semifinal series. It wasn’t always pretty, but Indiana was able to defend its homecourt on Friday night against the New York Knicks, as the Pacers won a 111-106 slugfest to cut the Knicks’ series lead to 2-1.
Indiana looked like a team that had an extra pep in its step playing in front of its home crowd. The team raced out to a 14-4 lead, and showed the offensive firepower and defensive peskiness that made them a difficult team to play this season.
With just under seven minutes remaining, New York saw its biggest fear come true, as Jalen Brunson had to limp off the floor with a foot injury. The team trailed by eight at the time, and the potential for the Pacers to open things up without the All-Star on the floor existed. Instead, the Knicks were able to play Indiana to a draw, both during the stint when Brunson was on the bench and nearly the remainder of the quarter, as the Pacers took a 29-20 lead into the second behind a 10-point quarter from Tyrese Haliburton.
It didn’t take long for the Knicks to erase that lead at the start of the second quarter. Thanks in large part to a hot stretch by Donte DiVincenzo, New York took a 36-35 lead less than four minutes into the frame.
Indiana was able to settle itself and go on an 11-2 run right after giving the lead up, with Haliburton drilling back-to-back triples, before New York ripped off 11 points in a row to go back ahead. And after Myles Turner evened things up at the charity stripe, Haliburton caught fire.
The Pacers went on a 7-0 run, with every point coming via their All-Star guard. Haliburton was locked in throughout the first, but in a stretch where Indiana needed someone to grab the game by the scruff of the neck, he came up huge.
Indiana ultimately took a 63-58 lead into the locker room, with Haliburton’s 23 points leading the way. Both Turner and Pascal Siakam chipped in 12 points, while the team hit eight of its 17 attempts from three. DiVincenzo’s 15 points led the Knicks, with Brunson and Burks both going for 13. Like Indiana, New York made eight threes in the half, only theirs came on 13 attempts.
The Pacers were able to extend their lead out a bit early on in the third, as the team got its lead up to as many as 11 points.
The big reason it wasn’t larger was DiVincenzo, who helped keep afloat early on in the third. And then, New York found a groove on both ends of the floor, ripping off a 24-6 run that left the crowd at Gainbridge Fieldhouse completely stunned as DiVincenzo 17 points in the period.
An Isaiah Jackson bucket at the very end of the quarter meant New York’s lead going into the fourth was 90-85, but Indiana had an uphill task ahead of it, as the shorthanded Knicks seemed to have caught a second wind in the third that completely knocked the Pacers off of their game.
New York continued to extend its lead early on in the fourth quarter, getting it up to as many as nine points before Haliburton decided it was winning time. With the Pacers trailing, 98-89, Haliburton ripped off seven points in a row to get his team right back into it.
After a Brunson free throw, Indiana came back down the floor and got the ball to Siakam, who scored, drew a foul, and hit the ensuing free throw to tie things up at 99 with just under seven minutes to play. And after both teams traded a few empty possessions with one another, Siakam got back to the line and split a pair of free throws to put the Pacers back ahead.
Neither team was able to create all that much separation down the stretch, with both teams going ice cold from the floor at the same time and neither team being able to open up a lead of more than a point or two. Right as the Pacers looked like they got thrown a lifeline when DiVincenzo unnecessarily committed a goaltend on a Siakam layup that was never going in to put them up by three with 54 seconds left, Brunson came right back down and drilled a stepback to tie things back up.
And then, something crazy happened. The Knicks played stellar defense on the ensuing possession, and all Indiana could get was a prayer from Andrew Nembhard. The basketball gods were in a good mood, apparently, because the shot went in.
New York had no way back from there, and as a result, Indiana was able to secure the win. Haliburton had his best game of the series, going for 35 points, seven assists, four rebounds, two steals, and a block. Siakam pitched in 26 points and seven rebounds, while Turner had a double-double with 21 points and 10 boards. For the Knicks, DiVincenzo scored 35 points, with Brunson going for 26. Josh Hart also had a double-double with 10 points and 18 rebounds.
Game 4 between these teams will take place on Sunday afternoon. It’s scheduled to tip off at 3:30 p.m. EST on ABC.
Rap beef is serious business. The long-simmering animosity between two of rap’s biggest stars, Drake and Kendrick Lamar, has finally come to a head — resulting in scathing diss tracks, countless memes, and even some violent real-world consequences. Because the verbal conflict has taken a bit of a dark turn, it’s probably advisable that all parties involved have a drink or two.
Yes, Kendrick is known to mostly abstain from alcohol and Drake has famously dubbed himself “Champagne Papi,” but the occasion really seems to call for bourbon. And one with some edge.
Bourbon’s boldness pairs perfectly with the brashness of the barbs each emcee sent to his opponent. And spirits are really best appreciated when they match the mood you’re trying to set. While the conflict is at a temporary standstill, you’re probably looking to catch up on every twist and turn, and there’s truly no better way to absorb all the animus and keep score than with the perfect pour.
Follow along for the best bourbons to pair with every Drake and Kendrick Lamar diss track.
Prior to Kendrick Lamar’s now-infamous “Control” verse, he and Drake seemingly shared a pretty warm relationship. That all soured when this song was released back in August of 2013. Mentioning Drake by name — among several other of his contemporaries — Kendrick challenged the entire rap game by saying, “What is competition? I’m tryna raise the bar high. Who tryna jump and get it? You’re better off tryna skydive.”
The Whiskey: Booker’s Springfield Batch, 2024-01
Booker’s is infamous for being the very first barrel-proof bourbon to hit the market in 1988. At the time it was an incredibly bold move, but it set the stage for the trend toward ever-higher ABV’s in American whiskey that persist today. Booker’s Springfield Batch 2024-01 is the first release from the brand in 2024 and will be followed by three more batches this year.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Marked by a floral aspect at first before exhibiting the trademark hazelnut quality that Booker’s is known for, this is a high-heat pour that doesn’t nose like it.
Palate: Once tasted, the interplay of floral flavors and nutty notes are elevated by the emergence of oak tones, allspice, and brown sugar.
Finish: The finish finds even more allspice and a touch of sage as the floral notes begin to crest and take control of the tasting experience.
Bottom Line:
This is the perfect pairing because only Booker’s can match Kendrick’s boldness in releasing “Control” back in 2013 when that particular class of rap stars was much more friend than foe.
Kendrick Lamar “Like That” with Blanton’s Single Barrel Bourbon
Yes, there were several thinly veiled shots exchanged between the rappers in the interim between “Control” and “Like That”, but while he didn’t actually say Drake’s name on this record — it was his most direct diss in over a decade making this the natural follow up to that first shot. In the song, Kendrick spurned the olive branch that Drake’s new bestie, J. Cole, extended on their collaboration “First Person Shooter.” In that song, J. Cole claimed that then rap game’s “Big 3” included himself, Drake, and Kendrick Lamar.
Rejecting the praise, on “Like That” Kendrick said “motherf*** the Big 3…it’s just big me.” which set the ball in motion for this recent back and forth.
The Whiskey: Blanton’s Single Barrel Bourbon
Blanton’s is known as “the Original Single Barrel Bourbon” and as such it’s become one of the most wildly popular bourbons on the market today. Each bottle is the product of a single barrel, meaning each bottle will taste slightly different.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The aroma of candied maple, caramel, and vanilla ice cream jumps out of the glass right away. The mellow sweetness plays well against a backdrop of well-aged oak and fresh clove.
Palate: On the palate Blanton’s has a mellow baking spice presence, with clove and cinnamon leading the way, and rich caramel rounding things out. Nuance is provided by supporting sweet flavors like vanilla ice cream, brown sugar, and flaky pastry notes.
Finish: On the finish is where the gentle oak tones become most evident and they gently recede with the help of gooey butterscotch.
Bottom Line:
“Like That” is an upbeat song that became Future, Kendrick, and Metro Boomin’s first number-one single, and likewise Blanton’s is a runaway success too. The song is a bit light on lyrical sparring and Blanton’s is a bit light in the ABV department, making it easy to enjoy how fun both of them are.
A low-quality version of Drake’s diss “Push Ups” initially leaked online on April 13th but in April 19th it was released in fully polished CDQ form. On the song, Drake took Kendrick Lamar to task but also directed some of that heat at The Weeknd, Metro Boomin, and Rick Ross for their respective slights.
The Whiskey: Elmer T. Lee
Elmer T. Lee is the man most often credited with “inventing” single-barrel bourbon. While Blanton’s was released first, due to its runaway success the Buffalo Trace Distillery decided to release Elmer T. Lee soon thereafter.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Honey, graham crackers, and wood chips are the notes most evident on the nose. It’s generally restrained, but very focused on those three well-refined notes.
Palate: On the palate there’s plenty of honey-drizzled baklava to go with a touch of toffee, white peach, and youthful oak.
Finish: The finish is short, but reiterates the sweetness found first on the nose and again on the front end of the palate.
Bottom Line:
While it wasn’t the strongest call to arms in the war-of-the-words, “Push Ups” signaled that the battle was on. Following up the commercial success of “Like That” was no easy task, and made more difficult by the still-unexplained leak of “Push Ups” but you can argue that Drake was simply emulating the lightness of Kendrick’s jabs with this one.
That’s similar to how Elmer T. Lee is a light follow-up to Blanton’s.
Drake “Taylor Made Freestyle” with Hancock’s President’s Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey
The Diss: “Taylor Made Freestyle” April 19th, 2024
Suddenly anxious to engage in the battle that Kendrick Lamar started over a decade prior, Drake took the “Back to Back” route by releasing “Taylor Made Freestyle” shortly after the official release of “Push Ups” hit the web. He raised a few ethical concerns by utilizing AI to use Tupac and Snoop Dogg’s voices in verses for the song.
The Whiskey:
Hancock’s President’s Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey is, to many people, a retread of Elmer T. Lee which itself is a retread of Blanton’s. All three bourbons feature the same mash bill at varying proof points and in the same single-barrel format.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Hancock’s has a touch of nuttiness and a bit more earthiness than its two contemporaries but still showcases notes of maple, honey, and vanilla extract on the nose.
Palate: On the palate this bourbon tacks a bit austere, with a lean mouthfeel. Some toasted coconut flakes can be found beneath the layer of caramel and youthful oak top notes.
Finish: On the finish there’s a bit of nuttiness that reemerges along with more youthful oak. Otherwise, it’s a rather straightforward sipper.
Bottom Line:
You could make the argument that producing Hancock’s is more trouble than it’s worth. Bourbon fans have warmly embraced both Blanton’s and Elmer T. Lee, but Hancock’s is the little brother that you pick for your team just because you’re friends with its more popular older brothers. Similarly, “Taylor Made Freestyle” was a tepid response that Drake eventually removed from the internet under the threat of legal action from Tupac Shakur’s estate.
Kendrick Lamar “euphoria.” with George T. Stagg Bourbon
The Diss: Kendrick Lamar “euphoria.” April 30th, 2024
The Whiskey: George T. Stagg Bourbon 2023
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Black cherry, rich oak, and Aleppo red pepper flakes come bursting out of the glass. Some molasses, brown sugar, and faintly mesquite notes add intriguing layers to the complexity of the aroma.
Palate: On the palate it begins with the syrupy sweetness of cocktail cherries but is then transformed by a touch of leather, cinnamon, and charred red peppers. The texture is viscous and full of high-octane which, once it settles down, serves to introduce a multitude of robust flavors.
Finish: The finish holds a faint bit of smokiness and barrel char to go with black pepper and a ton of toffee. It lingers long after the last sip which makes savoring it even more enjoyable.
Bottom Line:
George T. Stagg is often considered one of the best, if not the best, bourbons of all time. It is generally one of the boldest bourbons on the market each year and that reputation for exceptional quality and prototypical bourbon brashness has made it a classic in every way. In the same vein, Kendrick Lamar’s “euphoria.” is a scathing takedown that deserves a place among the best diss tracks in rap history — right up there with “Ether” and the West Coast classic, “Hit ‘Em Up.”
Kendrick Lamar “6:16 in LA” with Wild Turkey Rare Breed Bourbon
The Diss: Kendrick Lamar “6:16 in LA” May 3rd, 2024
Taking a page right out of Drake’s playbook, Kendrick released two records back-to-back with “6:16 in LA” hitting his Instagram page in the early hours of May 3rd. Seen at the time as a “bait” record, intended to goad Drake into rushing a response and preempt a more pointed attack, “6:16 in LA” is a strong diss track and a quietly impressive song in its own right.
The Whiskey: Wild Turkey Rare Breed Bourbon
Rare Breed is a batched evergreen product for Wild Turkey. Clocking in at a hefty 116.8 proof, Rare Breed was Wild Turkey’s triumphant answer to the rising popularity of barrel-proof bourbon.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Honeysuckle, bright red cherries, and cinnamon rolls serve to delight the senses after a single whiff of Rare Breed. Given some time to sit, you’ll find well-aged oak, clove, nutmeg, and toasted almonds all elevate the aroma profile of this bourbon.
Palate: The flavors in this whiskey are very clear and well-developed with each of the nosing notes coming through on the palate. Those flavors are bolstered by a bit of cooked apple and pie shell for a robust yet clearly defined cavalcade of flavors.
Finish: Lengthy and lingering, the finish on Rare Breed is deceptively delicious in that it deftly balances sweetness and spice — leaving you wondering which one will last the longest. The answer is typically the spice.
Bottom Line:
For the song “6:16 in LA” Kendrick Lamar achieved several feats at once — laying a trap, producing a high-quality record, and applying real pressure on his opponent in a single swoop. For its part, Rare Breed Bourbon also proves to check a lot of boxes. Rare Breed is a display in exceptional quality — capable of beating bourbons three times the price in blind tastings — but it’s also a case study for affordability and availability with its sub-$100 price point and ubiquity on liquor store shelves making it such an underrated success.
Drake “Family Matters” with Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Bourbon
Facing a growing deficit, Drake swiftly responded to Kendrick’s early-morning assault with “Family Matters.” The beginning of the song was teased on the tail end of “Push Ups” indicating that Drake was indeed prepared for what would come but the impressive diss track also incorporated plenty of new information and some direct responses to “euphoria.” and “6:16 in LA.”
The Whiskey: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Bourbon Batch A124
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Bourbon is often seen as the standard bearer for high-quality, well-aged, cask-strength bourbon. The A124 Batch of Elijah Craig Barrel Proof was aged for 10 years and 9 months — an all-time low for the expression — but at 119 proof it still packs plenty of heat.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: A medley of walnuts, brown sugar, and clove make up the key aroma notes in this bourbon. Given a few waves of the hand, the ethanol dissipates and further aromas of cinnamon and vanilla fill the air.
Palate: On the palate is where the brown sugar and walnuts really make their presence felt. Balancing that earthiness with some warm sugary notes works well and leaves enough room for some slight herbaceousness and baking spice — think cumin and bay leaves — to punch through.
Finish: On the finish is where those baking spice notes like black pepper, cumin, and bay leaves become more evident, along with the punch of ethanol that warms your chest after each sip. There’s also a gentle kiss of cinnamon and baked apple on the finish that makes it enjoyable to revisit time and time again.
Bottom Line:
Despite the fact that it isn’t as harmonious as previous releases of Elijah Craig — with the stellar C923 batch coming to mind — Batch A124 still lives up to its reputation as an exceptional cask-strength bourbon. Likewise, Drake’s “Family Matters” is a bit unfocused — as he continued to take the “20 v. 1” sentiment that he mentioned on “Push Ups” to heart. He ceded precious ground in the beef by taking on so many opponents at once — reserving almost equal venom for his former collaborator, The Weeknd, as he does for Kendrick Lamar.
That said, “Family Matters” does an admirable job of protecting his reputation while taking fresh digs at Kendrick Lamar’s credibility.
Kendrick Lamar “Meet The Grahams” with Frey Ranch Farm Strength Uncut Bourbon
The Diss: Kendrick Lamar “Meet The Grahams” May 3rd, 2024
The third(!) diss track of the day, “Meet The Grahams” was released less than an hour after Drake’s “Family Matters.” On the hard-hitting, low-tempo track, Kendrick takes aim at Drake’s family, hurls his ugliest accusations yet, and goes so far as to wish death on his Canadian counterpart. He also proved that his previous diss track “6:16 in LA” was indeed a well-laid trap, though aspects of the song’s veracity have since been called into question.
The Whiskey: Frey Ranch Farm Strength Uncut Bourbon
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Leather and cinnamon bark really lead the way on the nose of this bourbon and they’re supported by the scent of buttered croissants and date syrup.
Palate: The flavors in Frey Ranch Farm Strength Bourbon really scream “boldness.” There’s corn pudding, tropical fruit chunks, and tobacco leaf but there’s also a heavy dose of ethanol which takes some getting used to. In addition to that intriguing array of flavors, there’s a truly robust and viscous texture to the bourbon that forces you to sit up and dissect it.
Finish: On the finish there’s even more heat as charred red pepper skin fuses with honey and more grain-forward corn notes.
Bottom Line:
Frey Ranch Farm Strength Uncut Bourbon is deceptively challenging, with corn-forward sweetness on the front end masking the heavy dose of ethanol and surprising depth of flavor found at midpalate and on the finish. Frey Ranch’s Farm Strength offering makes for such a perfect pairing with Kendrick Lamar’s “Meet The Grahams” because it is undeniably complex and deeply tied to the concept of family.
The family behind Frey Ranch Distillery has been farming since 1854 and distilling for 20 years, and all of that experience is on display in every bottle of their unique grain-forward bourbons.
Kendrick Lamar “Not Like Us” with Redwood Empire Cask Strength Pipe Dream Bourbon
As the latest diss in the ongoing battle, “Not Like Us” called Drake’s alliance with Atlanta rap artists into question over a booming beat that showcases the signature California rap sound. Reminiscent of an N.W.A. record from the 90’s, Kendrick’s embrace of the regional sound on the catchy track resulted in commercial success with the song breaking Spotify’s streaming record by becoming the most streamed American hip-hop song in a single day with 6.59 million streams.
The Whiskey: Redwood Empire Cask Strength Pipe Dream Bourbon
Redwood Empire’s Cask Strength Pipe Dream Bourbon is aged for a minimum of 4 years and takes the brand’s already excellent bourbon and raises the stakes courtesy of an increase in ABV.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Aromas like toffee, barrel char, and the leather from a baseball glove are immediately evident on the nose. There’s a touch of smokiness hiding in the background as well as some caramel that emerges after a few swirls in the glass.
Palate: On the palate there’s a lovely green apple note to go with honeyed pecans, aged oak notes, and accents of nutmeg.
Finish: The finish on this whiskey doubles down with more baking spice and oak before relenting with some of the toffee from the nose and a sweet albeit slightly tart green apple note to close.
Bottom Line:
As the final nail in the coffin (for the time being) “Not Like Us” proved to be a surprise hit with the thumping West Coast production from DJ Mustard resonating with many fans. The best bourbon produced in California, Redwood Empire’s Cask Strength Pipe Dream, is not only fiery and full-bodied, but through the brand’s Trees For The Future initiative, they also give back and elevate their local community.
With Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” firmly planting the flag for the classic California sound, it can be said that he’s also elevating the region that has strongly supported him throughout his career. Though there were also scattershot disses from the likes of J. Cole, Rick Ross, and Metro Boomin — whose #BBLDrizzy challenge inspired a host of inventive covers — the spirited clash is at a standstill…for now.
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