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It’s not every day your Uber driver stops the car to don a cape and become a hero. OK, there wasn’t a cape, but there was certainly a hero. Recently, Fritz Sam was driving for Uber and he was on his way to drop his passenger off at LaGuardia Airport when he noticed flames spilling out of a brownstone window. Instead of continuing his route, he stopped to help.

You may be thinking, “What about the passenger?” Well, Sam consulted with his passenger before leaping into action. The passenger was Jemimah Wei, a 29-year-old writer, and she helped Sam yell up to the second story window to check for people still inside. Sam told PIX11, “Together we just started shouting, ‘Is anyone inside?’ Screaming at the top of our lungs, ‘Come out, come out, there’s a fire.’ I think I just made a decision at that moment to just go inside.” According to The Washington Post, when Sam made it into the building he saw a man and a woman, but the woman refused to move when he urged her to evacuate.

u201con the way to the airport this morning and drove by a burning building, my Uber driver LEAPT out of the car and INTO the building while the rest of us screamed at the top of our lungs for people to evacuate, the fire truck came, we rushed to airport, I made my flight. NEW YORK.u201d

— Jemimah James Wei / u9b4fu4fe1u5b50 (@Jemimah James Wei / u9b4fu4fe1u5b50)
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Sam told The Washington Post that convincing the woman to leave “took a little bit of negotiating.” He told her, “I’m not leaving without you. If you’re not leaving, I’m not leaving.” He told the publication that the woman eventually left with him and made it safely outside. But Sam wasn’t done, the man was still inside, so Sam went back in a second time.

Eventually, Sam was able to guide the man to safety, telling PIX11, “I held his arm because he was a little wobbly and we just walked to the front door. The officer was there. The first firefighter was coming through the door with a hose. So the professionals are here. I’m gonna get out.”

Thankfully, everyone was able to get out of the building safely and no one was injured in the fire, according to multiple news sources. Saving the people in the building was a community effort. Without realizing it, Sam gave his cellphone to a stranger before running into the building and he left his car in the road in front of a fire hydrant, he explained to CNBC.

According to CNBC, a stranger realized Sam’s car was blocking the hydrant and was able to get his keys to move the car down the street. His phone was also returned and, surprisingly, he hopped back in his car to drop his passenger off at the airport.

Funnily enough, Sam apologized to Wei for the delay and was concerned he smelled like smoke, but Wei wasn’t concerned, according to The Washington Post. “Firstly, you smell fine,” Wei recalled telling him. “And secondly, you just saved a life. Maybe multiple.”

Even after saving people from a burning building, Sam was still providing excellent customer service. Yes, she still made it in time for her 10 a.m. flight, because of course she did. What an amazing story!

Bharatanatyam is the oldest form of traditional Indian dance, dating back thousands of years. “Avatar: The Last Airbender” is a beloved animated series from the mid 2000s. A dancer merged the two together and it’s pretty much the coolest thing ever.

Naomi Namboodiripad has trained for several years in a variety of styles, including Bharatanatyam. Originally only performed by solo female temple dancers as a sacred devotion, this traditional form is dramatic, expressive and meant to tell a story—using rhythmic movements, pantomiming or a combination of both.

These aspects lend themselves well to recreating the iconic opening sequence to “Avatar: The Last Airbender,” which uses different martial arts techniques symbolizing the four fictional elemental tribes of earth, water, air and fire.

Here’s a refresher of what that looks like. I bet you can’t just watch it once.

“Avatar: The Last Airbender” Theme Song (HQ) | Episode Opening Credits | Nick Animation

www.youtube.com

Namboodiripad did her own version of this intro, using elements of traditional Indian dance, and created something truly spectacular.

Everything from Namboodiripad’s movement, to gorgeous wardrobe changes, to clever camera angles was absolutely brilliant—and people took notice.

Here are just a few gems from the literal thousands of loving comments:

“I’m still not over how beautiful the outfits are and how they compliment the movements.”

“THIS IS SO BEAUTIFUL, MY INNER CHILD WAS SO HAPPY TO SEE THIS 💚😌”

“This gave me chills lol”

@naomi.nambo Replying to @Raahi @Naomi Namboodiripad here is an extended version! #dance #avatar #atla #elements #air #water #earth #fire #bharatanatyam #mohiniyattam #kuchipudi #trending #indian #southasian #desi #acting #culture #performance #costume #makeup #jewelry ♬ Avatar the Last Airbender – juanito

“Earth and water are Bharatanatyam, air is Mohiniyattam, and fire is Kuchipudi,” Namboodiripad explained, noting the different styles used for each element in the comments section.

Ironically, Bharatanatyam is also known as a “fire dance” but was not used to portray fire in the video. Its focus on clear lines makes it a great fit for earth and water. Namboodiripad told Upworthy that both the “groundedness” and “versatility” made it a good fit for the two elements.

Mohiniyattam, on the other hand, is characterized by graceful, circular movements, or “relaxed,” as Namboodiripad puts it—making it perfect to embody the light, flowing essence of air.

Kuchipudi might have been tied to the earth element when it originated, but those hand moves Namboodiripad used simply scream “fire.” In a bold, cool way, mind you. Not a “there’s an emergency” kind of way. Guess that’s why Namboodiripad says there’s a “bright but dangerous quality” to the form.

Namboodiripad shared with Upworthy that “Avatar” and traditional Indian dance might have more connecting ties than one might initially think. “I noticed that growing up Indian in a western country that most cartoons did not have the element of diversity and lacked explorations of different cultures and values. However, ‘Avatar’ broke that cycle, and I found that I not only enjoyed the immense world building and engaging plot, but the cultural and spiritual elements as well.

“‘Avatar’ has many ideas of Hinduism—the name itself originates from Hinduism—and Indian classical dance is rooted in Hindu mythology as well,” she continued. “Considering the connections between the two pieces of art, I decided that I wanted to combine ‘Avatar’ and Indian classical dance to provide the South Asian representation that was missing from the show and to reach the audience that ‘Avatar’ has, but most importantly, express storytelling and showcase my culture through a multimedia platform with dance, music, and film.”

Although Namboodiripad’s Indian-styled Avatar dance is a fan favorite, she has all kinds of videos showcasing how delightful expressive traditional Indian dances are.

Here’s one where she dances as different animals. Mouse is kind of my fave.

@naomi.nambo Replying to @idontcareanymore1111222 some animals, like the tiger, have the same mudra (hand gesture) as lion – so it depends on context #dance #animals #acting #indian #desi #fyp #turtle #culture #emotion #story ♬ Mohiniyattam – Hridya Chintan

Animals play a large role in Hindu mythology and were often given the status of gods or goddesses. According to an article in The Indian Express, “many postures in Indian classical dance are based on those of animals.”

Here’s another one where Namboodiripad does an acting challenge—portraying different emotions using only facial expressions.

@naomi.nambo Reply to @fresh_mint_tea trying this challenge using Navarasas and Mudras (facial emotions and hand gestures from Indian classical dance) #trending #actingchallenge #cake #dance #melaniemartinez #bharatanatyam #kuchipudi #mohiniyattam #indian #desi #culture #fyp ♬ Cake – Spedupluvr

You can see how exaggerated each navarasa (or mood) is on her face, so that every mood can clearly be conveyed, even from a distance.

Of course, one of her most popular videos (with more than 1.6 millions views) is simply showing off her performance jewelry. Because it’s awesome.

@naomi.nambo Replying to @niyah.fr full performance look! #dance #mohiniyattam #performance #makeup #jewelry #outfit #costume #flowers #indian #desi #southasian #fyp #trending #culture ♬ original sound – Naomi Namboodiripad

Considering how much of the face and hands are used in traditional Indian dances, it makes sense that most of the bedazzling would go there. Plus anklets with bells on them for next-level stomping.

Here’s another fun one, featuring death:

@naomi.nambo This was highly requested, so here are some ways to show death 💀 #dance #indian #desi #southasian #bharatanatyam #kuchipudi #mohiniyattam #culture ♬ Indian music – Hollywood Labo

Whether Namboodiripad gives us straight-up traditional dances or something with a modern spin, it’s incredible to see. This is the beauty of creative expression … there’s always so much to be inspired by.

Harry Styles has been inescapable since the release of his single “As It Was,” which came from his new album Harry’s House and topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart for 10 weeks in a row. He’s been promoting the music through extensive touring, including fifteen-night residencies in New York and Los Angeles. A new Rolling Stone UK profile of the pop star was published today, and he discussed his shows, including his showering ritual.

“It’s really unnatural to stand in front of that many people and have that experience,” he told the magazine after explaining that he showered after every one of his shows, both for his physical health and his mental health. “Washing it off, you’re just a naked person, in your most vulnerable, human form. Just like a naked baby, basically.”

The Rolling Stone UK profile caused some stir on social media after calling Styles “the new King of Pop” — a title that was originally reserved for the one-and-only late, great Michael Jackson. MJ’s nephew Taj Jackson settled the debate succinctly on Twitter, writing, “The title has been retired. No disrespect to Harry Styles, he’s mega talented. Give him his own unique title.” Many users chimed in to agree with this statement.

For months, HBO execs and their employees have been nervous: Will House of the Dragon, the prequel to Game of Thrones, be as watched as its predecessor? Do audiences really want to watch the white-haired ancestors of Daenerys Targaryen? Would audiences get fantasy-d out from the combined power of Dragon and the Lord of the Rings show (to say nothing of the more cerebral The Sandman)? Well, judging from the show’s premiere ratings, at least, everyone can chill.

It had already been reported that Sunday’s premiere had a huge viewership. But as per Entertainment Weekly, HBO finally released the official numbers, and it ain’t small: The episode hauled in a whopping 9.986 million viewers across both linear cable and HBO Max platforms. Not only is that nothing to sneeze at, but it’s also the largest series premiere audience in HBO history. For contrast, when it premiered back in 2011, the original Game of Thrones “only” pulled in 2.2 million viewers.

Samba TV, the third-party TV and streaming analytics company, had even more good news. They stated that House of the Dragon wasn’t only HBO’s biggest-ever opener but the biggest premiere of any premium cable or streaming show in the year so far.

The House of the Dragon premiere didn’t go off without any hitches. HBO Max suffered some issues due in part to how many people were watching it? So now we know what happens when almost 10 million sets are streaming the same show.

(Via EW)

It’s late summer, and you know what that means: California is in one of their awful droughts. This year’s is worse than usual; 97 percent of Los Angeles has been declared to be in a state of “severe drought,” and it’s reported to be the fourth driest year of the last century-and-a-quarter. But not everyone in the City of Angels is doing their part to save water, including a number of celebrities.

As per Newsweek, 2,000 Los Angelinos have been accused of using excessive amounts of water. Included in that number are no less than Kim Kardashian, Kevin Hart, Sylvester Stallone, and NBA star Dwayne Wade and his wife, the actress Gabrielle Union. Those on that list have been issued “notices of exceedance,” alleging that they had surpassed 150 percent of their monthly water budget, not once but four times since rules went into place to combat the drought late last year.

Some wasted water more than others:

The records showed actor and comedian Hart was about 519 percent over budget in June. Meanwhile, Wade and his wife, Gabrielle Union, exceeded their water budget by a whopping 1,400 percent in June—roughly 90,000 gallons of water over the allocated amount. In May, their property exceeded the budget by 489,000 gallons.

Meanwhile, Kardashian hasn’t only been accused of ignoring water laws. She’s also number seven on a list of celebrities seen as the “biggest offenders” when it comes to private jet emissions. But still, the summer isn’t over quite yet, so there’s time to make amends.

(Via Newsweek)

For most bands, aging gracefully is an impossible task. It’s something that a group doesn’t have to think about for their first decade, but as albums start hitting their 10 and 20-year anniversaries, the choices of how to proceed with a (Pavement voice) career become more narrow, regardless of the quality of said band’s newest material. You can double down on the new stuff in concert, aware that a good chunk of your audience might still be drawn to the tunes that made them fall in love in the first place. Or, you can go full-nostalgia mode and tour full classic albums or mostly ignore the recent material in live shows.

Or, if you are Kentucky greats My Morning Jacket, you find the perfect middle ground, where a concert distinctly feels like entering a greatest hits phase while still showcasing where the later songs fit in. This was the energy MMJ brought to Los Angeles on Wednesday, playing the iconic Hollywood Forever Cemetary in front of a sold-out crowd of sitting picnic-ers, standing superfans, and venue regulars mostly there for the vibes. Bandleader Jim James, who has lived off and on in LA for years now, clearly knew the score, shouting out the venue’s movie program early in the set, where he remembered seeing The Wizard Of Oz and then visiting its star pup, Toto, whose grave in on the property.

But in scanning the band’s recent setlists, other artists should note how the band walks this tightrope. The set changes dramatically each night, with much of their beloved material on the table. And generally, all eras of the band come to light. Sure, neither of the first two albums featured on this night, but shows on both sides of the Hollywood date found At Dawn and The Tennessee Fire still figuring in. And while Z and It Still Moves will always be the fan faves, the set also highlights just how well the singles from Evil Urges and Circuital have aged.

The past work is so strong — though it clearly isn’t a perfect fit for the streaming age, where the band’s singular indie-country-jam hybrid doesn’t fit neatly in background music playlists — that a spattering of tracks from the band’s recent, quite good two albums fit in neatly. Both dropped during the pandemic, The Waterfall II and My Morning Jacket find the band still operating with command and ease. In an interview with Uproxx for the latter, James noted that there was a chance that the band was done prior to its creation, and this tour behind it has that borrowed time sensibility. These are the performances of a band not just wanting to share their latest offerings, but also to celebrate their own existence and survival.

As such, MMJ’s biggest tunes soared: “One Big Holiday,” “Off The Record,” “Victory Dance,” “Evil Urges.” MMJ also honored their frontman’s solo endeavors by offering the surprising “State of the Art (A.E.I.O.U.).” Z‘s closer, “Dodante,” was a particular highlight, all tension and release that showed a band’s ability to pivot from nuance to bombast on a dime. And a song like “Complex,” off their latest, exemplified the Kentucky outfit’s ever-evolving sonic sensibilities, and how all roads lead back to their Southern rock roots.

My Morning Jacket’s recent years might have some wondering how much they have left in the tank, especially after James has noted that the end felt imminent at various stages of the last few years. But, you’d never know it at a My Morning Jacket concert. They’re known for their elite-level live shows and that’s still exactly what they deliver. And at these shows in 2022, the past and present hardly have borders. It’s as graceful as aging in music can be, and their rock peers would be served to follow suit.

House of the Dragon pulled off a streaming miracle on Sunday night while crashing servers at HBO Max, and one character held instant intrigue for fans. That would be the so-called “rogue prince” himself, Daemon Targaryen. He’s portrayed by Matt Smith, who already warned the world that he might have too many sex scenes. Certainly, his introduction into that realm was something else. Daemon had performance issues, it seems. Daemon’s very distracted by forever lurking in the shadow of his brother (although he’s one of Our Contenders) for the throne, so who could blame him?

Prince “HotD” (or lack thereof) moniker aside, people love to make comparisons, and after watching one episode, a lot of people are already ready to slap the chaos-causing character with a label. Because Daemon is such a presumptive butthole who’s maneuvering like crazy, and people already love him, Homelander of The Boys is already popping up in Twitter conversation.

Is this an accurate comparison? Give it time, everyone. Certainly, Daemon is morally grey, but Homelander is straight-up amoral. It’s too (extremely) soon to call this one, but there’s something to be said about the discussion that’s already ongoing, and of course, there are also fears (as you’ll see below) that this could turn into a situation where some people realize (in a few seasons) that they were rooting for someone terrible. Again, there’s no way to predict what shall happen, but it’s nice to already have a new batch of characters to obsess over, so soon after Better Call Saul ended. And yes, someone threw out a Gus Fring too…

HBO’s House of the Dragon airs on Sundays at 9:00pm EST.

Love or hate Harry Styles’s music, there’s simply no denying that he’s got pop culture in a chokehold. His latest Harry’s House single, “As It Was,” throttled the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 for 10 weeks in a row until being dethroned on the most recent chart by Nicki Minaj and still landed at No. 2 only losing less than a percent of its streams last week. Meanwhile, Harry’s House itself was a massive hit overall, with a jaw-dropping pure sales total (330,000) and over a half-million equivalent units in its first week.

But even with all those accolades to his name, there are plenty of folks who believe that Rolling Stone UK overstepped its bounds in calling Styles “the new King of Pop” — a title that was originally reserved for the one-and-only late, great Michael Jackson. And let’s keep all the way funky; however impressive Harry Styles’ current level of success is, it still pales in comparison to MJ’s heights, which may never be achieved again, even with the advent of streaming (or maybe because of it). Thriller is 34× Platinum certified by the RIAA and is still the best-selling album ever.

This is why it makes sense that there were those quick to shut down Rolling Stone‘s proclamation, including MJ’s nephew Taj Jackson, who settled the debate succinctly on Twitter, writing, “The title has been retired. No disrespect to Harry Styles, he’s mega talented. Give him his own unique title.” Plenty of others agreed with him, censuring Rolling Stone UK for its audacity.

In early 2020, a mother of a young boy with dwarfism named Quaden Bayles was fed up with his school not doing anything to combat bullying, so she decided to film him tearfully explaining that he was being bullied by classmates and friends. This video quickly went viral, and suddenly celebrities like Hugh Jackman and Mark Hamill came to send love to Bayles, who then became an overnight sensation. Now, almost three years later, Bayles is about to make his big-screen debut thanks to George Miller.

Bayles will have a short cameo in Miller’s upcoming movie Three Thousand Years Of Longing, alongside Tilda Swinton and Idris Elba. Miller reached out to the family after seeing his viral video, and then invited him to have a small role in the film. “It was good for us and it was good for him,” Miller told The Sydney Morning Herald.

Not only will Bayles be seen on screen in Three Thousand Years Of Longing, but he also secured a spot in the highly-anticipated Mad Max prequel. “He did such a good job that he’s got a small role in Furiosa,” Miller explained.

Furiosa will star Anya Taylor-Joy as the titular heroine, set years before the events of Mad Mad: Fury Road. The movie is slated for a 2024 release when Bayles will get his second on-screen role.

The moral of the story is that bullying is bad, but acting in a dangerous dystopian thriller is just fine and even encouraged! Good work by everyone here.

(Via EW)

It seems like yesterday that New Jersey rapper Fetty Wap appeared to be on top of the world, flying high on the success of singles like “Trap Queen,” “679,” and “My Way.” But that was actually seven years ago and today, Fetty Wap — real name Willie Junior Maxwell II — is facing up to 40 years in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess controlled substances, according to the New York Post. Fetty and others had an agreement to move around 500 grams of cocaine; Fetty’s attorney made sure to tell reporters that he was not cooperating with police for a shorter sentence.

According to federal prosecutors, the group in question was picking up the cocaine in Suffolk County, then moving it to New Jersey to distribute it. Had the case proceeded to trial, prosecutors said they had both video evidence and witness testimonies that could prove their case. Meanwhile, Fetty’s lawyer said she is “very concerned about his housing” since he’s in a special housing unit in Brooklyn due to his celebrity and requested a transfer to another jail to await his sentencing hearing.

Fetty was arrested last October ahead of Rolling Loud New York at Citi Field and was released on a $500,000 bond, but was later re-arrested on a separate infraction at Newark airport. The FBI said that 16 kilos of cocaine, 2 kilos of heroin, and a variety of firearms were recovered during their investigation into the conspiracy, in which US Postal Service trucks with secret compartments were used to move drugs from the West Coast to New York and New Jersey.