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Late in the second quarter of Wednesday’s game between the Orlando Magic and Detroit Pistons, Orlando was seconds away from committing a turnover. With Moe Wagner presumably shielding the ball to prevent any Pistons from scooping it up and starting a fast break, Killian Hayes was in hot pursuit. As Hayes caught up to Wagner, the 6’11 big man dealt out quite the blow with his forearm, which sent Hayes stumbling into Detroit’s bench.

Hayes immediately took exception to Wagner’s actions and leaped off his seat for retaliation, clubbing Wagner in the back of the head with the side of his fist, despite his coaches trying to restrain him. From there, Hayes’ teammates trickled in, followed by Wagner’s Magic teammates. It was a mess, full of pushing, shoving, and many people trying to separate others and avoid further conflict. The benches cleared and tempers flared. More than just Hayes and Wagner were animated with one another. Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley was held back at one point as well.

One angle shows how cleanly Hayes connected with the back of Wagner’s head, which sent the Magic big man tumbling into Detroit’s bench.

After a few minutes of deliberation from officials, a flagrant 2 was issued to Wagner, who was also ejected. Hayes and Hamidou Diallo — the latter of whom pushed Wagner before Hayes reached him — are also done for the night.

Given the NBA’s precedent on incidents like this, one would imagine some suspensions will be announced in the coming days, perhaps for both sides involved.

When GOP candidate George Santos won a right-leaning-ish area of eastern New York City and Long Island, no one much batted an eye. But over the last week and change, he’s become a household name. The incoming representative was accused of lying about his job history, his livelihood, his heritage, and much else. He even admitted as such. Now, mere weeks before he’s set to be sworn into Congress, he’s under federal investigation.

As per Mediaite, investigators in Nassau County, New York have launched an investigation into Santos’ false statements and dodgy allegations. Among his tall tales was that he worked at the financial groups Citigroup and Goldman Sachs. (He didn’t.) He also lied about his education, his residences, even that he’s Jewish. (He later stated that he meant he’s “Jew-ish.”)

Santos’ attempts to clear his name, or at least spin his dishonesty, have not gone well so far. Even when he made an appearance by a presumably friendly Fox News, he wound up being grilled by Tucker Carlson sit-in (and former Democrat) Tulsi Gabbard. She did not hurl softballs his way, instead holding his feet over the fire. Her merciless interview didn’t prompt much GOP backlash, apart from some predictably aggro words from Marjorie Taylor Greene, who seems less angry Santos lied than that he was held accountable.

(Via Mediaite)

TikTok is an ever-changing platform with trends that are impossible to keep up with. It’s hard to tell who started what because trends spread so rapidly. However, in a new interview with Kick Game, Jason Derulo is trying to take credit for not just a TikTok trend, but the entire transformation of the app.

Derulo discusses how it started off as a dancing app, and it wasn’t until he “started to introduce other things” that it changed. He explained that he noticed young people were using the app, and he wanted to check it out, but he didn’t start until the pandemic when he had time on his hands. He currently boasts 56.8 million TikTok followers.

“I had fun with it, honestly. It was a dance app at first. It being a dance app, I felt like, I don’t know if this is gonna work. Everybody doesn’t like to dance,” he said. “So I was like, ‘Let me start posting other sh*t.’ I tried to post a photo, that didn’t work. People was like, ‘What the f*ck is this?’ Then I started to post random story-like videos. That didn’t work.”

He continued, “What worked was when I was posting things that was more fun. Things that showed another side of me, you know what I’m saying? I was like, ‘Okay, this is a moment where I can be a leader and do something that’s totally different on the app.’ I think it changed the app forever because TikTok used to be just a dance app, and it wasn’t until I started to introduce other things that it became the app that it is today. And to this day, TikTok pays me…” He was about to share a dollar amount, but instead said, “Let me not say that.”

When pressed for specific tips for going viral on TikTok, Derulo emphasized that “lighting is everything” and “be organic to yourself.”

Watch the interview above. The TikTok talk begins around the 14-minute mark.

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: Teachers deserve all the kudos, high fives, raises, accolades, prizes and thanks for everything they do. Even if they just stuck to academics alone, they’d be worth far more than they get, but so many teachers go above and beyond to teach the whole child, from balancing equations to building character qualities.

One way dedicated educators do that is by developing relationships and building rapport with their students. And one surefire way to build rapport is to dance with them.

A viral video shared by an assistant principal at Sumner High School & Academy in Riverview, Florida shows a group of students gathered around one student as he challenges a teacher to a dance-off.

“Our 8th grade Stingrays having a well deserved exam dance break,” wrote assistant principal Natalie McClain. “Of course our teachers are ending 2022 with a win.”

The teacher, Ms. Yolanda Turner, took the challenge—and the students went wild.

Watch:

u201cOur 8th grade Stingrays having a well deserved exam dance break. Of course our teachers are ending 2022 with a win. Love my Stingrays ud83dudc99ud83dudc9a Happy Holidays @HCPS_SumnerHSu201d

— Natalie.McClain (@Natalie.McClain)
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The student really thought he had her, didn’t he? It looked as if his soul left his body when he tapped her shoulders and then realized what he’d done. But to her credit, she took it in stride and took him out with her dance moves.

“The music was on, all the kids were pumped,” Turner told Fox 13. “So it was like, let’s have a dance challenge. So I’m like, okay, all right, so everybody’s having fun. And I said, ‘I’m going to tap in. I’m going to tap into the dance.'”

“I really try to emphasize for kids to be their authentic selves and to really never be afraid to express who they are no matter who’s watching,” she told the outlet.

This dance-off video is a prime example of how schools can be places of joyful connection in addition to academic achievement. Gaining students’ respect doesn’t require being a stuffy authoritarian hard nose, and students generally respond better to teachers they genuinely care for. Meeting them where they are is one of the best ways to reach kids and creating experiences that include for silliness and fun is one of the best ways to keep them engaged.

Plus, who doesn’t need to blow off a little steam in between exams? What a lovely example of striking a balance between academic rigor and modeling healthy stress relief. Well done, Ms. Turner.

The Weeknd owned the first major drop of 2022 — a year marked by A-list album releases — with Dawn FM on January 7. He ended 2022 on the Academy of Motion Picture Arts And Sciences Best Original Song shortlist for “Nothing Is Lost (You Give Me Strength),” his contribution to the Avatar: The Way Of Water soundtrack.

The Weeknd squeezed plenty of other notable things in the intervening months, such as embarking on his After Hours Til Dawn Tour and hyping up The Idol, but it appears he will start 2023 by looping back to how he started 2022.

Over the last 24 hours, the diamond-certified artist has posted a 2022 collage and an After Hours Til Dawn Tour hype video with the caption, “xo bout to F*ck up 2023.” In response to the video, one fan tweeted, “dawn fm almost a year old, how do you feel?” The Weeknd responded, “i feel istheresomeoneelsemusicvideo-ish.”

“Is There Someone Else?” is the 10th of 16 Dawn FM tracks. The lovesick, paranoid slow-burner received a lyric video upon Dawn FM‘s release, and The Weeknd performed it as part of his “The Weeknd x The Dawn FM Experience” Amazon special in March. But it’s safe to assume that “Is There Someone Else?” will soon get the full cinematic treatment. The Jim Carrey- and Hoyeon Jung-assisted “Out Of Time” video set the bar high, but The Weeknd never has trouble exceeding the standard.

Theophilus London has been reported missing by his family. A statement from his label, Secretly Group, was shared today, December 28, explaining that he was reportedly last heard from in July in Los Angeles. His family is urging people with information to reach out to his cousin Mikhail Noel on Instagram at @iamdjkellz or the LAPD.

Read their full statement below.

“Over the last few weeks, friends and family of Theophilus London have been working together to piece together his whereabouts. The last time someone spoke with him reportedly stretches back to July 2022 in Los Angeles.

On December 27th, family members of Theophilus London traveled to Los Angeles to file a missing persons report with the LAPD. They are now seeking the public’s help with any information as to London’s whereabouts:

‘Theo, your Dad loves you, son. We miss you. And all your friends and relatives are searching for you. Wherever you are send us some signal. No matter what we will come get you son.’ – Lary Moses London, father of Theophilus London

London is 35 years old, Black, 6’2″, 175 pounds, with dark brown eyes. If you have any information regarding his whereabouts or well-being, please reach out to his cousin Mikhail Noel at his instagram account @iamdjkellz, or the LAPD.”

His last album was 2020’s Bebey. He has collaborated with a range of artists, including Tame Impala and Kanye West.

Over the past few years, the rising costs of homes and rent in the U.S. has pushed many to seek alternatives to traditional housing. People have been moving into tiny houses, sharing spaces with “platonic life partners” and living the nomad dream in motorhomes.

Some have even opted to take up permanent residence aboard cruise ships because it can be cheaper than paying rent or a mortgage.

One of the most unique, alternative homes in the US is Bruce Campbell’s in Hillsboro, a suburb of Portland, Oregon. According to CNBC, for over 20 years, the retired engineer has called a Boeing 727 200-passenger jetliner home. It’s a little smaller than the average house at 1,066 square feet, but it’s an open-concept lovers’ fantasy.

The plane has a unique history. It was once owned by Greek-Argentinian shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis and was used to transport his remains after his death in 1975. Onassis was married to former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.

The plane has everything Campbell needs to live comfortably. The original sink and bathroom are in perfect working order. He added a makeshift shower, refrigerator and portable washing machine to take care of all his needs.

“It’s a great toy. Trick doors, trick floors. Hatches here, latches there. Cool interior lights. Awesome exterior lights, sleek gleaming appearance, titanium ducts,” he said according to Awesome Inventions.

His jetliner home also has retractable stairs so he can climb in and out of his place. Campbell lives in the plane six months a year and spends the rest of his time in Japan.

“I can appreciate that some folks might feel isolated or that it might strike them as an unusual living environment. But for me, it has always felt completely natural,” Campbell told Great Big Story.

Some may find Campbell’s living arrangement strange but they can’t argue with its affordability. He told CNBC that his monthly expenses are around $370, which includes $220 a month in property taxes and $100 to $250 a month in electricity. Campbell paid $100,000 for the plane initially and it cost $120,000 to make it habitable.

The engines have been removed so the plane will never fly again.

The plane is an affordable place to live and it’s also great for the environment. “Jetliners can, and should, be transformed into wonderful homes—retirement into an aerospace-class castle should be every jetliner’s constructive fate. They should never be mindlessly scrapped. Shredding a beautiful and scintillating jetliner is a tragedy, a waste, and a profound failure of human imagination. The time for humanity to recognize this is long, long overdue,” he said according to the CBC.

Campbell has found an innovative and creative way to live well while finding a way to upcycle 70,000 pounds of materials that would have wound up in a landfill. But he’s not done yet. He hopes to start on a second airplane home in Japan which he describes as “a land I love and with people I love. If I can simply regain my youth, everything will be fine.”

The city of Buffalo, New York is called the “city of good neighbors.” And with a blizzard that has dumped more than 50 inches of snow on them, the world is getting to learn how they earned that name.

A woman named Sha’Kyra Aughtry went viral on Facebook after she reluctantly put out an emotional plea. Aughtry went live on the platform explaining that she heard someone calling for help outside, so she sent her boyfriend out to see who needed assistance. Turns out, it was a 64-year-old developmentally disabled man by the name of Joey White, who was stuck in the cold snow. Aughtry’s boyfriend helped the man out of the snow and physically carried him into the house.

White was so frozen that they had to use a hair dryer to melt the ice off of his pants that were frozen to him. The couple also had to cut his socks off along with the bags he was carrying, which were stuck to his hands. White was in a dire position and Aughtry, a mom of three preparing for Christmas, was desperate.

The woman said during the live video, “I’ve called the National Guard. I’ve called 911. I’ve called everybody – they just keep telling me I’m on a list. I don’t want to be on a list. I don’t care about nothing else. This man is not about to die over here.” It was clear to her that he needed immediate medical attention, but conditions were so bad, help never came. According to CNN, at least 31 people have died in the winter storm that pummeled the state.

Aughtry realized no one would be coming to her rescue any time soon, and the following day after FaceTiming a doctor that confirmed the severity of White’s condition, she made a last ditch effort. In the two days that she was caring for Joey, she was without her children for the holidays until a friend walked them home. Aughtry explained that White had the mental capacity of a 10-year-old, but he was able to remember his sister’s phone number and the number for his job.

The good samaritan called White’s sister to inform her that he was safe at her home and she was attempting to get him help. According to Sweet Buffalo, White was trying to get home from work when he got stuck in the storm. His sister credits Aughtry for saving her brother’s life.

During the live Facebook video, several people volunteered to come and help the man get to the hospital after seeing how severe his frostbite was. Aughtry relayed that the doctor that did the video call with them explained he could lose his fingers, or worse, if treatment wasn’t provided immediately. The frustration and desperation in her voice was palpable, and at one point, White innocently asked if he was going to die. Aughtry assured him he would not.

Within a short period of time, someone who saw Aughtry’s video came by with their snow plow to clear a path, and others showed up with a pick up truck to transport White. Since he was not only physically vulnerable but mentally vulnerable, White’s temporary caretaker insisted on riding with him to make sure he got to the hospital safely. The men that came to help had to carry White into the hospital due to his condition.

Thankfully, White received the care he needed and is currently being treated in the ICU at ECMC Hospital for fourth degree frost bite. And as a thank you for saving White’s life, North Park Theatre, where White works, set up a Go Fund Me that has reached over $100,000 in donations for Aughtry. There was also one set up for White. Buffalo really is the city of good neighbors.

If you’d like to send Joey well wishes while he recovers, you can send them here:

Joe White

ECMC462 Grider Street Buffalo, NY 14215

Room #1956

If you’d like to send cards to Sha’Kyra and her family, you can send them here:

Sha’Kyra Aughtry

P.O. Box 348

West Seneca, NY 14224

Warning: This post contains (vague) spoilers for the first and second seasons of The White Lotus.

When she joined the second season of The White Lotus, Sabrina Impacciatore had some big shoes to fill. The Italian actress was cast as Valentina, the manager of the Sicilian outpost for the high end resort chain. The manager in the first season, Armond, didn’t fare so well. Murray Bartlett, who played him, however, fared very, very well. But Impacciatore overcame her anxieties and delivered a similar but different frazzled White Lotus boss, even proving so bold that she improvised one of the season’s more shocking insults.

In a new interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Impacciatore credited her bravery partly to writer-director-creator Mike White, who gave her simple advice. “Be bitchy,” he told her, adding that “the bitchier you are, the more it’s going to work.” She leaned on his advice for a scene she had with Jennifer Coolidge’s Tanya, in which she had to interrupt her.

“Three takes, and I couldn’t manage it. The next day, we did the scene again, and I improvised: Jennifer was all in pink, and the first thing I said was: ‘You’re so pink.’ When she asked: ‘Who do I remind you of?,’ I replied: ‘Peppa Pig.’ The whole set froze. Then Jennifer broke out laughing. [I was surprised] to see that scene made the final cut. And even more surprised when it went viral worldwide.”

Elsewhere in the interview, the actress admitted she hadn’t watched the show’s first season when she was offered the gig. “[My agent] suggested I watch season 1 of The White Lotus so, that night, I didn’t sleep: I binge-watched all the episodes,” she said. “I swear, it was love at first sight. I thought, ‘This is my sort of thing.’ Drama and comedy in this series are almost overlapping; the lines are very blurry.” And the rest is history.

(Via THR)

On Tuesday night, Tulsi Gabbard actually did the right thing. While filling in for Tucker Carlson on Fox News, the recently former Democrat interviewed George Santos, the incoming GOP representative who’s been busted lying about…well, pretty much everything. The guy even fibbed about his avowed Jewish heritage. If Tucker had been hosting, he’d probably have hurled softballs, even helped Santos with his spin. Not Tulsi, who might have helped end Santos’ career. Gabbard didn’t receive much backlash from Republicans. Well, there was one.

As caught by Mediaite, Marrjoe Taylor Greene came out in force, not against Santos for lying — and potentially jeopardizing the GOP’s already slim hold in the House — but against Gabbard for not helping the poor guy lie his way out of his lies.

“Tulsi Gabbard, who says she is a former Democrat, gave Rep-elect George Santos zero grace,” Greene wrote in a tweet thread. She took Santos’ side, saying he was “admitting and apologizing for lying about his resume.” (He actually claimed his fibs were embellishments and even said people can “debate” his résumé. Gabbard responded by saying, “Is it debatable or just false?”)

Greene continued to trounce Gabbard for doing her job as an alleged journalist (or whatever she is as a former lawmaker on Fox News). “I don’t think a former Democrat who’s actions on the House floor as recent as 2020 that gave her an A from Planned Parenthood, an F from the NRA, and introduced a climate agenda signature piece of legislation called the OFF Act – designed to end all fossil fuels (the same as AOC’s Green New Deal) should lecture a newly elected Republican member of congress on how he should vote to represent his Republican district.”

Of course, Gabbard has since ditched the Dems and is even subbing for a guy who told conservatives to harass people who wear masks at the height of the pandemic. Greene ended her tirade by saying she appreciates that Gabbard flip-flopped.

Greene ended by making a bizarre argument about someone caught being dishonest while pursuing a powerful job: “I think we Republicans should give George Santos a chance and see how he legislates and votes, not treat him the same as the left is.”

Why is Greene defending a liar? Mediaite speculates that it may be because Santos, when/if he’s sworn in, will be deciding vote in making Kevin McCarthy House majority leader. Many MAGA representatives want him ousted from leadership. Greene, who is MAGA, too, but whom McCarthy has vowed to put on committees, does not. But Greene has never let truth stop her from spreading nonsense about, oh, for instance, “Jewish space lasers.”

(Via Mediaite)