After at least two years worth of rumors that Star Wars: Rebels character Ezra Bridger would make the jump from animation to the live-action world of The Mandalorian, Eman Esfandi has been reportedly cast in the role for the upcoming Ahsoka series on Disney+. Esfandi’s casting arrives after rumors that Midnight Mass actor Rahul Kohli and Aladdin star Mena Massound were circling the Ezra Bridger part.
Esfandi’s credits include the Robert Rodriguez horror film Red 11, which screened at Cannes in 2019, as well as a small role in best picture nominee King Richard. He also appears in the upcoming gay military drama The Inspection, which is getting strong early reviews out of the Toronto Film Festival this week.
As one of the main characters of the animated Rebels series, Ezra Bridger displayed a sensitivity to the Force at a time when the Empire was aggressively hunting down the Jedi. After unlocking an ability to travel through space and time with the Force, Ezra disappeared in the series finale along with the villainous Grand Admiral Thrawn. Ahsoka Tano and Mandalorian fighter Sabine Wren set off on a quest to find him, which will reportedly be the plot of the Ahsoka series. (The Society star Natasha Liu Bordizzo was cast as Sabine earlier this year.)
In Season 2 of The Mandalorian, Rosario Dawson‘s Ahsoka is shown searching for Thrawn in her live-action debut, so the groundwork for finding Ezra Bridger is in place. Judging by this casting news, it’s a good guess that she finds him.
We don’t always choose our gifts. Joy Milne’s superpower, one she inherited from her mother’s side of the family, was having a highly acute sense of smell.
Milne might have never used her olfactory talent as a force for good, had it not been for her late husband, Les Milne.
According to NPR, Les and Joy met in their teens and it was love at first sniff. “He had a lovely male musk smell. He really did,” she told NPR.
After many years of a happy marriage, Joy noticed her husband, then in his 30s, had developed an “overpowering sort of nasty yeast smell.” The running joke-slash-complaint was that Les “wasn’t washing enough.”
Eventually Les’ scent wouldn’t be the only thing to change. Joy told NPR that her once funny, thoughtful husband completely transformed, becoming “moody,” irritable and even aggressive. He wouldn’t receive a proper Parkinson’s diagnosis until the age of 45.
Joy didn’t suspect that she could somehow detect the disease until going with Les to a Parkinson’s support group and noticing that the same distinctive smell seemed to fill the room. After sharing the discovery with her husband, she knew she had to take action.
Joy began working with researchers at University of Edinburgh and through a series of experiments confirmed that she could sniff out Parkinson’s with flawless accuracy. Now scientists have created a breakthrough method of detection based on Joy’s special ability.
Under the belief that Parkinson’s affects a person’s odor due to a chemical change in sebum, or skin oil, doctors simply run a cotton ball along the back of the neck, then identify specific molecules linked to the neurological condition. The BBC reported that the skin-swab test is 95% accurate under laboratory conditions.
Though this medical advancement is still in its early stages, the discovery is promising. There is currently no definitive test to get a Parkinson’s diagnosis and, as Joy explained to Sky News, it is often not identified until patients have “over 50% of neuronal damage.”
Joy Milne, who can ‘smell Parkinson’s Disease’ has helped scientists from The University of Manchester develop a test to diagnose the disease within minutes. 👃 pic.twitter.com/j68oSQnM2o
Les died in 2015 at 65. An earlier diagnosis might have provided the opportunity to improve his lifestyle, which could possibly have offset symptoms. “It has been found that exercise and change of diet can make a phenomenal difference,” Joy told The Guardian.
She also recalled to BBC News that it would have meant having an explanation for the mood swings, not to mention traveling, spending more time with family … making the most out of what time was left. That perhaps is the biggest saving grace an early diagnosis could offer.
God save the Queen! The fascist regime! She kicked off before the Frot… Now Vince and Matt have lots of thoughts…
That’s right, this week, the Queen has died and we welcomed all-star Frotcast guest Jessica Sele back to Frottingham Palace to talk all about it. Was she a good queen? Was she a bad queen? Did she do an imperialism? Is The Crown real life? Most of all, what does Frank Stallone think about it all?
Once we got through discussing the Liz and Frank of it, we got down to discussing more pressing geopolitical matters. Such as the Don’t Worry Darling press tour, all the dumb things Harry Styles says, whether he spat on Chris Pine, and whether Olivia Wilde is the real villain here or if it’s just a typical case of the media trying to bring down down a powerful woman who named herself after Oscar Wilde. Hey, remember Booksmart?
Believe it or not, we managed to squeeze in ALL THAT before we even got to our Big Review Of The Week, of Rings Of Power, the new Tolkien show about how Elves just wanna have fun. Matt is a piggy, so he loved it. I’m Peter Jackson hater and I only watched the first 47 minutes so I was bored. Jessica, who’s some kind of damned Tolkien scholar, was in between. More importantly, she actually has some insights into what that old limey fart was actually on about in all those books. We wrap things up with a spirited debate over whether this latest round of “The racists hate the woke show!” is worth paying attention to. We really think you’ll enjoy it. But if you don’t, remember: no refunds.
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Ari Lennox’s sophomore album Age/Sex/Location was officially released on Friday (September 9) to the excitement of many fans of hers and of the R&B genre in general. One person in particular who has been loud and proud about his approval of the album, before it was released and now, was none other than her Dreamville labelmate J. Cole. The “Middle Child” artist drew a major parallel when he promoted Age/Sex/Location on Friday morning.
Ari Lennox album phenomenal Shit make me feel 14 again like when I heard songs in A minor https://t.co/AUHD2s29m3
In a tweet, the North Carolina rapper said “Ari Lennox album phenomenal Sh*t make me feel 14 again like when I heard songs in A minor” in reference to Alicia Keys’ 2001 debut album Songs In A Minor, highlighted by “Fallin’,” “A Woman’s Worth,” and “How Come You Don’t Call Me.” As the breakthrough LP for Keys, this is a major comparison to make for the Shea Butter Baby artist and time will tell if Age has a similar impact on her career.
Ahead of Age‘s release, a video surfaced on social media of Cole in the studio with Ari Lennox. He provided her ideas for song creation, sang background on a record, which ultimately became “POF,” and expressed how excited he was for the album to come out. Thus, such a statement comes as no surprise.
Check out J. Cole’s tweet above.
Age/Sex/Location is out now via Dreamville and Interscope. Listen here.
Puerto Rico is the birthplace of some of the world’s most prized masterpieces – the piña colada, sexy salsa music, Bad Bunny. Where would we be without them? While I’ve long been a lover of these party-centric cultural contributions, what I learned on my recent trip to the little Caribbean island is that its charm goes far beyond just the hits. Puerto Rico is also home to a vibrant community, lush landscapes, and pristine beaches — as well as a food and drinks scene that’s rooted in history while rapidly evolving. The best part? You don’t even need your passport to get there!
One of the best things about Puerto Rico is that it feels like you’re in a far-out tropical paradise even though you’re still in a United States territory. And with the infamous passport delays and international airport nightmares over the past year, staying somewhere closer to home can be the most reliable option for travel as fall weather starts turning cold on the mainland. All you really need is a few days in Puerto Rico to enjoy your time there, too. I only spent a long weekend in town and was able to adventure in the outdoors, relax by the beach, and indulge in the local delicacies.
If you’re in the market for a tropical island vacation without the hassle of international crossings, Puerto Rico should be your go-to destination. Read on for my top recommendations on where to play, eat, drink, and stay.
All I can say about Puerto Rico’s tropical landscape is wow. The island’s mountainous and hilly terrain, in many places, is covered in lush flora that looks especially bright green in contrast to the crystal blue sea and sky. The best place to experience and learn more about Puerto Rico’s stunning natural scenery is by visiting El Yunque National Forest. It’s the only tropical rainforest in the US, making it a must on your itinerary.
Much of the public forest area is still closed due to lasting damage from Hurricane Maria, but there is still plenty of land and trails to explore. To start, stop by the visitor center for a guided informational tour. This is a great way to get familiar with the different plants and animals you might see before exploring on your own. From there, you can drive up the winding two-lane road that takes you to various trailheads, observation points, and historic sites throughout the forest. You’ll stumble across natural waterfalls, doable hikes (there are also overnight hikes for the avid adventurers), swimming holes, and awe-inspiring views.
My favorite stop along the way, which had what I believe might be one of the best accessible views on the entire island, was at the Yokahú Tower. It’s an old lighthouse-looking building in which you can climb up a winding staircase to the top. What you’ll find once you make your way up is an unobstructed sweeping view of the forest and the island beyond. You can see for miles, from the luscious rainforest canopy to the distant Caribbean waves.
What’s a trip to the Caribbean without some boating? The best way to wind down after a long day of exploring and feasting on fried Puerto Rican food (more on this later) is by going for a sunset sail with Sail Old San Juan. The sunset tour fits up to six people, so grab your travel crew, throw on your nicest vacation getup, and celebrate by toasting with complimentary bubbly. It’s nothing but carefree, laidback vibes out there on the water.
Your US Coast Guard licensed Captain will take you through the San Juan harbor and past the city of Old San Juan. You’ll get a glimpse of the area’s famous historic sites, such as the Castillo San Felipe del Morro, a citadel built between the 16th and 18th centuries and a UNESCO World Heritage site. The sail lasts for about two hours, so you’ll have plenty of time to soak in the cool ocean breeze (savor it — Puerto Rico is hot) and gawk at the sun setting over the horizon. Overall Sail Old San Juan is an excellent way to take in the historical monuments from the water, admire the stunning sunset views, and relax at sea. Your captain might even let you steer the boat!
Book a sunset sail or another boating excursion with Sail Old San Juan here.
PART II — Where to Eat & Drink
Kioskos de Luquillo
Chloe Caldwell
If you want to indulge in the goodness that is authentic Puerto Rican food, you need to make a trip to Kioskos de Luquillo — but be prepared for a serving of fried everything. Kioskos de Luquillo is a long street side row of about 60 family-owned kiosks selling food, drinks, and souvenirs. Some traditional Puerto Rican meals include mofongo, tostones, arroz con gandules, and coquito. Mofongo is one of the most recognized Puerto Rican dishes, made with plantains as its main ingredient — the plantains are typically fried and then mashed with salt, garlic, broth, and olive oil in a wooden pilón. Being that Puerto Rico is surrounded by clear Caribbean waters, there’s an abundance of good seafood options (for the most part, these are also fried).
Kioskos de Luquillo is an ideal lunch spot, especially if you spent the morning exploring El Yunque, as it’s only a short drive away from the forest. Plus, you’ll need to burn off some energy and get hungry before coming here. Like I said, there are 60 food stalls, bars, and shops to explore, so it’s best to come with a big appetite.
Learn more about the many family-owned food stalls here.
La Factoría
Chloe Caldwell
If you’re looking for a place to party it up on a weekend in Puerto Rico, head back to Old San Juan. There are tons of bars on the heavily trafficked San Sebastian Street, all located within walking distance of each other. The best place to start is at La Factoría. This low-lit, speakeasy experience has been named one of the world’s 50 best bars numerous times, and for good reason.
Beyond the main entrance, which appears to be more of a small dive bar, there are “secret” doors and passages to six other bars with their own unique ambiance and drink menus. I stayed in the main “Facto” bar area and ordered the Lavender Mule, a tart and tasty concoction made with Ketel One, ginger tea, lavender, and citrus.
Whether you want to sip on craft cocktails, dance late into the night, or just chill with your squad for a quick nightcap, it’s safe to say you can find what you’re looking for on a night out at La Factoría. You can basically start and end your night here exploring the different rooms, or bar hop down the lively and colorful stretch of Old San Juan.
I know, Margaritaville. But seriously, it’s well worth staying here on your trip to Puerto Rico. The Margaritaville Vacation Club at Wyndham Rio Mar offers oceanfront suites, apartment-style accommodations (since it’s a timeshare property that’s available to book for short-term stays), poolside restaurant and bar service, and easy access to the beach — it’s just steps from the sand and sea. It’s pretty much what you’d expect from most “resort” properties, but that might be exactly what you want and need for a relaxing and somewhat secluded weekend away (as opposed to the bustle of Old San Juan). It’s definitely what I needed, and nothing helped me unplug and relax more than savoring a cup of fresh coffee on my oceanview balcony each morning.
The best part is the property’s proximity to El Yunque National Forest and Kioskos de Luquillo. It’s right down the street from both, so if these are top activities on your Puerto Rico to-do list, you can’t beat Margaritaville Vacation Club’s location.
Book your stay at Margaritaville Vacation Club at Wyndham Rio Mar here.
If you’re looking for a more boutique yet still luxury experience, book a room at Hotel El Convento, a historic hotel in the heart of San Juan. It’s located just steps away from the historic landmarks and nightlife of the city, so this is ideal if you’re looking to be immersed in the action. Built in 1646, this property offers old-time charm combined with modern amenities and comfort — including high-end, vintage-inspired rooms, an open-air restaurant, courtyard bar, fitness center, and a pool with an ocean view.
Uproxx was hosted for this story by Puerto Rico Tourism. However, they did not review this story. You can learn more about the Uproxx Press Trip policy here.
John Lydon, former Sex Pistols singer and current Public Image Ltd. bandleader, is often in the news for weird reasons. When he announced that he was a Trump supporter, punks everywhere were confused and disillusioned. He has once again sent a wave of bafflement through the community after paying respects to the Queen after she passed yesterday, September 8, and social media erupted with reactions.
In a statement on his website, he wrote, “Rest in Peace Queen Elizabeth II. Send her victorious.” He sent out a tweet with that caption as well, and it received as many quote-tweets as retweets, with people expressing their confusion.
Sex Pistols are known best for their classic album Never Mind The Bullocks, Here’s The Sex Pistols, which was their only studio LP but changed the direction of punk music and influenced the following generations of bands to come. It crashed with heavy riffs and fast rhythms while Lydon — who called himself Johnny Rotten — yelped anti-establishment quips: “God save the queen / The fascist regime / They made you a moron / A potential H bomb,” he spewed on “God Save The Queen.” “God save the queen / She’s not a human being / and There’s no future / And England’s dreaming.”
Many are accusing him of being a sellout, others are complaining that he’s old, and some say he was never a true punk to begin with. Check out some reactions below.
OLD SELL OUT Johnny “Rotten” Lydon of the Sex Pistols is praising the Queen Elizazbeth. The one he spend his career bashing. He called her the fascist regime. #SexPistols#JohnnyLydon#SellOut#Punk I don’t dislike her but Lydon sure did act like he did. pic.twitter.com/sk3YkxuItv
Johnny Rotten was just a character played by John Lydon to allow him to become famous despite fronting one of the worst bands of all time https://t.co/sA2malWvvx
Morbius has become the little engine that couldn’t but kept going anyway! The Jared Leto movie became a pandemic spectacle after being delayed several times and finally hitting theaters on April Fools Day of this year…to disastrous reviews. But hey, at least they were being good sports about it!
After inspiring ironic memes throughout every corner of the internet, Sony decided to bring it back into theaters in June…which was also a bit of a disaster. Finally, the movie got one last push into streaming, and it’s actually dominating Netflix. Who would have thought that morbin’ time could lead to all of this?
Last year, Sony and Netflix inked a deal that allows the streamer to get first access to Sony films after their theatrical run. This is proving to be effective for Morbius, which is currently sitting at No. 1 on the movie top 10 for this week. Considering the movie was just released to the platform on Wednesday, it’s a pretty impressive feat for a movie that barely made $75 million at the US box office.
To make matters even more complicated for a movie with such a rich history, Morbius will eventually find its home on Disney+ after Netflix’s rights expire in the next year. So, there will be many more opportunities for everyone in the world to keep talking about this movie for the rest of eternity. Besides Matt Smith.
As Elton John performed his final Toronto show last night, he took a moment to honor Queen Elizabeth II of England, who passed earlier in the afternoon on September 8 at 96 years old. Highlighting images of her on the venue’s screens, John used music to pay tribute to her. Specifically, he dedicated his 1974 song (and 1991 collab with George Michael) “Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me” to the monarch’s passing.
“She was an inspiring presence to be around,” John said. “She led the country through some of our greatest and darkest moments with grace and decency and genuine caring, and warmth.”
Elton John sings “Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me” after paying tribute to Queen Elizabeth II in Toronto pic.twitter.com/FT1oX6lP5E
“I’m 75 and she’s been with me all my life and I feel very sad that that she won’t be with me anymore, but I’m glad she’s at peace,” he added in his speech. “I’m glad she’s at rest and she deserves it. She worked bloody hard. I send my love to her family and her loved ones, and she will be missed. But her spirit lives on. And we’ll celebrate her life tonight with music.”
John has been a longtime friend to the royals. Specifically, he was close with the late Princess Diana and performed his song “Candle In The Wind” at her 1997 funeral, as well as a tribute concert in 2007. John has also attended both the weddings of Prince Harry and Prince William. He was officially knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1998.
In addition to John’s live show tribute, he also took to Instagram to share some extra words. “She was an inspiring presence to be around,” he wrote. Queen Elizabeth II died at age 96 at Scotland’s Balmoral Castle. Following her passing, Prince Charles III is currently the King of England, with his wife Camilla Parker-Bowles serving as Queen Consort.
Some good news, and some maybe bad news. A sequel to the Pixar hit Inside Out will reportedly be announced at this year’s D23 Expo, but the movie might be missing two voices from the original film. According to Matthew Belloni’s Puck newsletter, Amy Poehler will be returning as the voice of Joy, but she won’t be flanked by Mindy Kaling or Bill Hader. In what Belloni claims is an increasing trend at Disney, Kaling and Hader were reportedly offered very low-ball salaries and decided to take a pass.
Per Belloni’s sources, Mindy Kaling and Bill Hader will not be returning to voice Disgust and Fear, respectively, because they were offered just 2 percent the salary of Amy Poehler, who is returning as lead character Joy. Apparently, Poehler was offered $5 million “plus additional fees and bonuses,” while the rest of the main cast was offered just $100,000, no bonuses.
Disney reportedly tried to offer Kaling and Hader higher salaries, but the two of them still passed. Both are busy with their own projects, which could also be a factor, but Belloni writes that problems with voice actor pay became especially prominent with this year’s Chip N’ Dale: Rescue Rangers movie. Belloni says the offers were “laughably low” and that stars John Mulaney and Andy Samberg only agreed to provide their voices as a favor to director Akiva Schafer.
Maybe the new Inside Out movie can help navigate the complex emotions this information is causing.
On Friday (September), New York federal judge Ann Donnelly ruled that prosecutors could claim the tens of thousands of dollars R. Kelly possesses in his prison funds account and use them to pay fines or compensate his victims. The ruling deemed that the federal bureau of prisons must hand over $27, 824 to the prosecutors who will maintain possession until a final ruling is given.
Federal prosecutors argued, “The defendant has not made any payments towards the substantial criminal monetary penalties imposed upon him at sentencing, even though payment was due immediately.” Kelly retorted that the government had “improperly” taken his funds and did not have the right to do so, but Donnelly countered that there was “no dispute” that federal statutes gave prosecutors the right to use Kelly’s inmate funds to compensate his victims.
This decision came after a Washington Post article revealed that the Bureau Of Prisons was giving pushback on efforts to seize funds from inmates to be given to their victims. The article reported that said funds amount to over $80 million per year and are used to pay the salaries of hundreds of staffers within the bureau.
R. Kelly, who is currently on trial in Chicago for several criminal charges, was convicted of racketeering and sex trafficking charges last year in New York after decades of sexual misconduct allegations. Specifically, the R&B singer was accused of a longstanding operation where he would recruit and abuse women and underage girls. After a long enduring process, he was sentenced to 30 years in prison this past June.
The Chicago artist is gearing up to appeal his convictions. His attorneys feel his previous legal team was inadequate and the evidence against him is insufficient to justify a conviction. As for his Chicago case, if convicted, Kelly can face additional decades added to his already-30-year sentence.
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, of Rings Of Power, the new Tolkien show about how Elves just wanna have fun. Matt is a piggy, so he loved it. I’m Peter Jackson hater and I only watched the first 47 minutes so I was bored. Jessica, who’s some kind of damned Tolkien scholar, was in between. More importantly, she actually has some insights into what that old limey fart was actually on about in all those books. We wrap things up with a spirited debate over whether this latest round of “The racists hate the woke show!” is worth paying attention to. We really think you’ll enjoy it. But if you don’t, remember: no refunds. 
(@CindyLynn1969) 
