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It’s a busy and exciting time in the NBA right now. Over the past few days, there were major trades involving Marcus Smart, Kristaps Porziņģis, Bradley Beal, and Chris Paul. All that was leading up to yesterday’s NBA Draft, the headline of which was the unsurprising decision by the San Antonio Spurs to draft Victor Wembanyama with the No. 1 pick.

Gradey Dick also made headlines for his dazzling red outfit before getting selected at No. 13 by the Toronto Raptors (a pretty good pick, in our opinion). After donning his Raptors hat and shaking Adam Silver’s hand, Dick’s mind was on Drake.

In a post-draft press conference, Dick was asked about Drake and he said, “Gotta get out there, see Drake. I haven’t seen him a bunch, but I’m looking forward to that. [Becoming boys with Drake], that’s the goal. I need him to wear my jersey. That’s how I know [I’ve made it]. That’s my priority.”

Now, it appears their friendship is off to a good start: a video shared by the Raptors shows an excited Dick smiling shortly after getting followed on Instagram by Drake.

Drake will surely be happy to see Dick suit up for Toronto: Per our draft analysis, “This is a good value and a good fit. Dick is one of the best shooters in the class with good size for a wing and the ability to move off the ball and shoot on the move. Defensively, he probably won’t be a big plus, but Dick improved as the season went along, and Toronto’s roster could use the infusion of floor spacing.”

Yevgeny Prigozhin, leader of Vladimir Putin’s private army of mercenaries (the Wagner Group), is not known for holding back on his feelings. He has trashed Putin on numerous occasions for leaving the group twisting in the wind without adequate ammo, although nonexistent ammo might be preferable to degraded ammo that could “explode in your face.” Prigozhin has also trashed Putin for essentially turning the Wagner Group into hamburger meat in Ukraine, and Putin’s also doing the same thing to his own army, which is why he has to replenish troops by pardoning convicts.

What Putin and Prigozhin do surprisingly agree on (at least for the moment) is that Russia is performing abysmally, but Prigozhin appears to have finally had it. Via The Moscow Times, the mercenary leader lamented, “We are washing ourselves in blood. No one is bringing reserves. What they tell us is the deepest deception.” On that note, Prigozhin accused the Russian Defense Ministry and Russian leadership of “deceiving the public” by claiming that Russia defensively attacked Ukraine, which is incredible. The rant continued:

“The Armed Forces of Ukraine were not going to attack Russia with the NATO bloc,” Prigozhin explained in the half-hour tirade released by his press service.

“The mentally ill scumbags decided ‘It’s okay, we’ll throw in a few thousand more Russian men as ‘cannon fodder.’ ‘They’ll die under artillery fire, but we’ll get what we want’,” Prigozhin continued.

“That’s why it has become a protracted war … The task was to divide material assets in Ukraine. There was widespread theft in the [industrial eastern Ukrainian territory of the] Donbas, but they wanted more.”

One wonders how long Prigozhin will hang in there before declaring that the Wagner Group is out. And as Newsweek also reports, he’s growing more popular with the Russian public by the day. Some have even speculated that he might run for president, if Putin gets the boot. Well, reports have suggested that a military coup might be possible against Putin, so in all likelihood, there are more related developments to come.

(Via The Moscow Times & Newsweek)

We haven’t gotten a Coen Brothers Film in 5 years, but in the meantime we’ve gotten a heady take on MacBeth from Joel and a documentary on Jerry Lee Lewis from Ethan. It’s nice to try new things.

But if you’ve been jonesing for the real deal, Ethan has graced you with a fresh fix of quirky dialogue, misunderstandings that lead to violence, and a wacky caper involving damaged people. Drive-Away Dolls stars Margaret Qualley and Geraldine Viswanathan as two friends in way over their heads just because they rented the wrong vehicle. Wackiness ensues.

Here’s the official synopsis:

“Written by Ethan Coen and Tricia Cooke, this comedy caper follows Jamie, an uninhibited free spirit bemoaning yet another breakup with a girlfriend, and her demure friend Marian who desperately needs to loosen up. In search of a fresh start, the two embark on an impromptu road trip to Tallahassee, but things quickly go awry when they cross paths with a group of inept criminals along the way.”

A little bit of classic Hitchcock. A little bit of people not speaking like any normal people have ever spoken. Yup. It’s a Coen movie. Qualley and Viswanathan look excellent here, with a ton of chemistry, and a clear understanding of the outlandish assignment. Drive-Away Dolls also stars Pedro Pascal, Annie Gonzalez, Beanie Feldstein, and Matt Damon. What are the odds Damon’s character gets shot in the head at the most surprising possible moment? We’ll see when it hits theaters on September 22nd.

Just about everyone gets those scam emails, whether it’s a Nigerian prince promising you hundreds of thousands of dollars if you just send him money first or someone asking you to click a link to claim a prize you didn’t actually win. The scams are intricate and sophisticated, often savvy enough to fool someone who has grown up with the internet. But not every email in your spam folder is from someone attempting to scam you.

At least that’s what one man discovered. Ben Taylor decided to dig a little deeper into a suspected scammer that contacted him, but instead of just doing a Google search, Taylor responded to the man. After some back and forth, Taylor learned the man, Joel, did in fact live in Liberia and was reaching out to people for help with business advice.

Now, Taylor didn’t just hand over money to a previously thought-to-be scammer. He did something even more unexpected. Taylor helped Joel make a booklet about his life and sold it online so his new friend could make his own money.

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Eventually, Taylor went to visit Joel in Liberia after the booklet earned enough money for the man to put a new roof on his home. But Joel wasn’t the only person Taylor helped.

A few years after meeting Joel and being inundated with help requests, the inquisitive helper responded to another email that had been declared a scam years ago. Once again, the “scam” turned out to not be a scam at all, and Taylor was once again on a mission to help a stranger. Watch the remarkable story below.

Cinema might be the epitome of commercial entertainment and a juggernaut of capitalism, but it is also a valuable art form. Since screening “Gone With the Wind” back in 1994, the television network Turner Classic Movies has celebrated the craftsmanship of filmmaking by airing timeless classics, foreign films and renowned art-house movies—all without a barrage of commercials, no less.

Despite being a brand associated with the past, TCM impressively appeals to both young and old audiences. This is due in part to focusing on education with guest introductions, documentaries, their Criterion Collection, and even their “Reframed” series that addressed problematic issues in certain Hollywood staples like “The Jazz Singer” and “My Fair Lady.”

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The network also creates authentic connection with fans through annual film festivals, a dedicated cruise, and even an official wine club. Heck, TCM even has a TikTok account and the clips are like tiny sips of delicious, comforting nostalgia.

@tcm “I’m not like other guys!” 🤪 #oldhollywood #pickme #filmtok ♬ original sound – Turner Classic Movies

Unlike other cable channels (and even commercially successful streaming apps) TCM has helped countless viewers not only consume their content, but truly fall into love with what the content represents—history, romance, art, culture, fantasy, and the serenity of slowing down.

With all the inspiration TCM has provided to cinephiles over the years, it’s no wonder why the news of possibly losing such a sanctuary is hitting people—real people, not just Hollywood heavyweights—so hard.

The basic gist is this: The Warner Bros. Discovery corporation, which TCM is a part of, underwent another round of job cuts, which included a departure of five major TCM executives. This decision adds to the growing list of questionable choices made by WBD David Zaslav which seem to indicate a loyalty towards the bottom line over…well, anything else, really. And while the effects of this leadership shakeup have yet to be revealed, TCM loyalists fear it signals impending doom for the network.

With the apparent burnout of superhero blockbusters and overabundance of reality TV shows, some view TCM as perhaps the last place to escape into something pure on the screen.

TCM is an oasis in a broadcast desert. Instead of cheap-to-produce home improvement shows and real housewives, it celebrates the visual story telling and the American art form, film. Please, WBD, #SaveTCM! pic.twitter.com/GqIO6T86qf

— LaurieH118 (@LaurieH118) June 22, 2023

Turner Classic Movies is a Technicolor spot in a bleak, grey world. Why would you take away one of the few wholesome sources of joy left? #SaveTCM

— Jennifer Ann Redmond (@JA_Redmond) June 22, 2023

Whenever I get tired of (gestures wildly) *everything* I like to put on TCM. It’s an escape, in a way. #SaveTCM https://t.co/hKnYYH9H4V

— Screaming into the void (@jersey8934) June 22, 2023

Others feel the potential loss of such a rich database of history.

I’m catching up on the @tcm news. Without @tcm, the world loses oral history from film in addition to the films themselves.

Many of these films would be lost to the ages without the film historians at @tcm keeping them alive both through the channel and the festival.#SaveTCM

— Andie Redwine 🟧 (@AndieRedwine) June 21, 2023

And if there’s any doubt as to the fearsome devotion folks have to their beloved network, one fan declared, “I will call out of work and picket. If there are gates to chain myself to, I will. TCM is more than a channel, it’s a community and an invaluable historic archive.” The folks aren’t messing around.

Of course, major filmmakers like Steven Spielberg and Martin Scorsese have also shared concern, even having a meeting with Zaslav to discuss TCM’s future. According to Deadline, both directors were “heartened and encouraged by the conversations thus far.” Perhaps people won’t have to resort to the picket lines to keep this cultural benchmark alive. Hollywood already has enough of those going around these days.

History is a valuable teacher. Simple comfort is sacred. Art is priceless. This is wisdom the human heart intuitively knows, that corporations can never comprehend. And while this news is alarming for many, the good thing to be gleaned from it all is that we haven’t fully given in to pure consumerism just yet. By and large, people will still choose that which inspires. And clearly, they are even willing to fight for it.

People are quite remarkable creatures, aren’t we? We’re capable of such goodness, altruism, compassion, creativity, joy—so many qualities that make the world a better place.

We’re here to celebrate what makes humanity great, and this week’s list of 10 things taps right into the heart of human awesomeness. (With a few adorable animals included as well, for good measure.)

If you’re looking for a resaon to smile, we’ve got 10 of them for you right here. Enjoy!

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1. UPS delivery driver goes above and beyond to hide a gift from a woman’s fiancé

@ayoohannah

please enjoy my interaction with the best UPS Driver ***back story: I had a birthday gift delivered for my fiancé and i knew that the packaging was obvious & would give it away; so this is what my delivery driver did… he lied & all for me 🤣😅💃🤷🏼‍♀️🥳😂😭

Give Rick a raise. And allll the tips.

2. Kiddo returns to his old school and gets a welcome back that he’ll never forget

See on Instagram

Cayson! What a sweet bunch of kiddos. If this is the future, it’s lookin’ bright.

3. Speaking of awesome kiddos, check out how this young fella has his whole financial future planned out

@linsfam33

It was 10:30 on a Friday night. Our youngest had been quiet. So quiet that i thought he had gone to bed. Nope. He was just preparing a finacial presentation for us. 😂 #collegeplan #financialliteracy #fridaynight #kidsarethebest

Seriously, most of us full-on adults don’t have this much number-crunching prowess. Read the full story here.

4. Good Boy Ollie goes out to visit the ducks and it’s too wholesome and adorable

@good.boy.ollie

His favourite quack-tivity 🦆 🌧 #dogsftiktok #rain #ducks #labrador

SUCH a good boy, Ollie! And his little raincoat? Stop it.

5. Kid simply cannot contain his dance and his energy is infectious

See on Instagram

Well, that was just about the greatest thing ever, eh? Go, kiddo, go.

6. The Freedom Singers from Skid Row blow everyone away with their version of ‘Under the Bridge’

It has a whole new meaning coming from these talented singers. Read the full story here.

7. A woman asked people to bring dogs by her house to celebrate her dad’s 100th birthday—and 200 showed up

— (@)

Now that’s pawrty!

8. Let’s all agree to support one another like this cafe where a Ph.D candidate worked on their dissertation

— (@)

More holding people “in life-affirming community,” please.

9. And when we fall, let’s pick one another up and keep going

See on Instagram

This truly is what it’s all about.

10. And if we have to fight, let’s make it a fight like these baby sheep

— (@)

So stinkin’ adorable.

Hope that brought your heart some joy and delight!

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Nicki Minaj has been having a ball exploring “Barbie World” with her protégé Ice Spice. Unfortunately, things aren’t as fantastic back in Hidden Hills, California. According to TMZ, the rapper’s neighbors have launched a petition to request that she and her husband, Kenneth Petty, move out of the community.

In the e-filing, the homeowners express their concerns over Petty’s criminal past precisely because he is a registered sex offender. Although the couple has vigorously denied any wrongdoing in the 1995 case, residents in the posh community aren’t having that. Petty has stated that his alleged victim was a “Willing participant” in the act. While the music super has stated that she believes in uncertain terms that the accuser is only looking for a payday at her expense.

Over the week, the petition has gained some traction, starting with just over one hundred signees. It now has racked up over eight hundred signatures and counting.

The multi-million dollar mansion purchased in December was supposed to be a fresh start for them and their young child, but it is turning out to be the complete opposite. In the meantime, the couple has many other legal matters to tend to, including a defamation case against the legal representative for Petty’s accuser.

Chris Christie showed he isn’t afraid to go into the lion’s den and call out Donald Trump in front of his biggest supporters. The former New Jersey governor is running for president, but unlike most of candidates in the Republican primary, Christie hasn’t shied away from hurling insults at Trump like “loser” and “petulant child.”

Christie’s latest slam on Trump took place at the Faith and Freedom Coalition Conference on Friday, which is a bold move considering Trump’s practically unwavering support amongst religious conservatives.

“He’s let us down because he’s been unwilling to take responsibility for any of the mistakes that were made, any of the faults that he has, and any of the things that he’s done,” Christie told the crowd. “And that is not leadership, everybody. That is a failure of leadership.”

However, the MAGA crowd clearly wasn’t in the mood for the attacks on Trump. Large portions of the audience started to boo Christie, who gave it right back to them.

Via Raw Story:

“You can boo all you want!” a defiant Christie shot back. “But here’s the thing: Our faith teaches us that people have to take responsibility for what they do, people have to stand up and take accountability for what they do!”

Interestingly, Christie did exactly what Morning Joe host Joe Scarborough wishes more Republicans would do.

“They’re scared to be leaders,” Scarborough said about GOP politicians. “They’re scared to stand up in a town hall meeting and tell people something that people may not want to hear; keep their head down and continue telling them that. They’ll be surprised if they do that, what happens, but they never take that chance.”

Well, Christie did it, and what happened was lots of booing.

(Via Raw Story)

Earlier this week, Rauw Alejandro and Bizarrap shared “Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 56.” “God has never failed me, he has listened to my prayers,” Bizarrap wrote on his Instagram Story in Spanish, translated to English. “What a joy it gives me to finally release music together brother.”

Already, Alejandro is dropping new material. “Baby Hello” with Bizarrap is out today, and it’s taken from Alejandro’s highly anticipated forthcoming album Playa Saturno. It was teased at the end of the “Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 56” video, so it’s not that much of a surprise to fans.

Alejandro has been the center of attention since he teamed up with world-dominating pop star Rosalía for the three-track project RR. Before it was even released, the two got engaged and became one of the most beloved celebrity couples. The press release said that RR “sonically chronicles their journey as a couple, tracing a roadmap of their relationship from the past to the present with hints at what the future holds. Their voices complement one another as they lock into a creative chemistry only partners could share. At the same time, their respective styles fuse into a fresh and fiery vision unlike anything else either of these trailblazers have crafted thus far.”

Listen to “Baby Hello” above.

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (commonly referred to as the Kennedy Center) has announced its 2023 Kennedy Center Honorees and among them is Queen Latifah, the first female rapper to be honored by the Kennedy Center. This is fitting, as 2023 also marks the 50th anniversary of the birth of hip-hop, and Queen Latifah has been a massive part of that history as an artist, manager, producer, and all-around ambassador for hip-hop since the late ’80s.

Her accolades include a Grammy Award for her 1993 single “U.N.I.T.Y.” (which she won over Snoop Dogg in a funny story he shared in his upcoming book), classic film roles like the one DJ Drama recently remade from Juice, and inspiring a generation of modern MCs/moguls like Lizzo and Megan Thee Stallion. She currently stars in a remake of the The Equalizer and still finds time to perform, with a headlining set at Rock The Bells Festival coming this summer.

The Kennedy Centered previously honored LL Cool J — the first rapper to receive the honor — and hosted a special performance of Nas’ seminal debut Illmatic with the National Symphony Orchestra, so Latifah’s in good company. The remaining four honorees this year are Billy Crystal, Renée Fleming, Barry Gibb, and Dionne Warwick.