You know what Ukraine doesn’t need right now? A former action star trying to stage a convincing “both-sides” argument to downplay the current Russian invasion killing its citizens.
Speaking to Fox News Digital on Monday, Steven Seagal shared his thoughts on pal Vladimir Putin’s attack on the democratic nation. Seagal, who has expressed his support for Putin and Russian policies in the past, lamented the fact that the two countries were at war, hoping for a peaceful resolution to the conflict before suggesting a wild conspiracy theory to absolve his dictator bestie from any blame.
“Most of us have friends and family in Russia & Ukraine,” Seagal said. “I look at both as one family and really believe it is an outside entity spending huge sums of money on propaganda to provoke the two countries to be at odds with each other.”
We’re not sure whether Seagal is suggesting the conflict is just fake news or he’s saying Putin is just idiotic enough to be duped into launching a full-scale invasion of another country. Either way, it’s a bizarre take on the situation, especially since, in the past, Seagal has been more than happy to support his martial arts buddy’s plans for world domination. Seagal was granted a Russian passport in 2017 and was appointed as a special envoy to the United States by the country a year later. His dual citizenship prompted Ukraine to ban him from the country for five years after Seagal publicly endorsed Russia’s attempted annexation of Crimea. He would later appear at a Crimean concert put on by a pro-Putin biker club with ties to the separatist movement in Ukraine.
So, it seems pretty clear which side Seagal — who we’d like to remind everyone was born in Lansing, Michigan — falls on.
(Mild spoilers for Super Pumped will be found below.)
Start-up disasters are all the rage on TV right now and Showtime’s Super Pumped is, arguably, the biggest entry in the genre so far.
The limited series starring Joseph Gordon Levitt, Uma Thurman, and Kyle Chandler recounts the early days of Uber — the ride-sharing platform destined to become a billion-dollar tech behemoth in just a few short years. Based on a best-selling book by Mike Isaac, the show chronicles the rise and fall of Silicon Valley’s prodigal son, Uber CEO Travis Kalanick, whose success eventually, led him on a self-destructive path that would end with his ousting from Uber and multiple lawsuits — all narrated by Quentin Tarantino. Yes, that Quentin Tarantino.
Before the show, which premiered Feb. 27th, gets too deep into the inner-workings of tech’s once most-promising venture, let’s break down who the main players are and what’s really at stake.
Showtime
What Is Super Pumped About?
The show promises eight episodes of “ripped from the headlines” drama, all focused on Kalanick and the financial powerhouses that backed him. The early days of Uber see Kalanick fighting against Silicon Valley titans to get funding for UberCab, a company he was originally brought on to in an advisory role before taking the reigns and becoming CEO. UberCab would then transform into Uber, a ride-sharing platform that partners with local operators in most major cities, receiving a commission from each booking. Kalanick employed a “work hard, play hard” attitude that resulted in numerous lawsuits being filed against the company by drivers, passengers, and employees as the company came under fire for everything from sexual harassment allegations to price-fixing, data breaches, and attempts to evade local regulations. Fans can expect the series to lean heavy into the drama happening behind the scenes with the show’s trailer promising a look into Kalanick’s psyche as his world quite literally crumbles around him.
Showtime
Who Is In Super Pumped?
The Showtime series has recruited some big names to fill in for the tech titans at the center of this scandal. Levitt plays the boy-wonder-turned-Silicon-Valley-pariah, introducing Kalanick as a man with a singular vision. Kalanick would drop out of college to work for a start-up called Scour — a peer-to-peer file sharing service — that would eventually go bankrupt after a dispute with investors. In the show, Levitt’s Kalanick is suspicious of venture capitalist investors, sometimes downright hostile towards them, because of his earlier experiences. It’s what also leads the tech executive to assume an almost tyrannical level of control over the company, something that dissuades employees from speaking out against abuse and rampant mismanagement. He’s a wannabe playboy with a complicated family life and an oversized ego that seems to attract trouble.
Another major player in the game is venture capitalist Bill Gurley, an early investor in Uber who served on the company board until 2017. Played by Kyle Chandler, Gurley is a shrewd businessman and something of a pessimist — he’s not wholly convinced of Uber’s “unicorn” status but he’s willing to back Kalanick’s vision, to a point. The two men had a close working relationship that eventually soured so badly that Gurley would essentially launch a coup, leading the charge for Kalanick’s forced resignation down the line. While Chandler and Levitt will likely have contentious contact on-screen, Kalanick’s relationship with advisor and mentor Ariana Huffington (Thurman) was fairly maternal. After the death of his own mother, Huffington became an emotional support system for the embattled CEO, defending him to the press amidst numerous scandals. Thurman’s take on the female tycoon is reserved, calculating, and perhaps, a bit naive considering the faith she seems to have in the show’s de-facto villain.
Other main characters popping up throughout the season include Emil Michael (Babak Tafti), Uber’s former chief business officer; Apple CEO Tim Cook (played by Hank Azaria); and Elizabeth Shue as Kalanick’s mother, Bonnie.
Check out the trailer for Showtime’s Super Pumped below:
Bock might be the German word for goat, but this popular spring beer’s name actually came from a colloquial mistake. Originally brewed in the German city of Einbeck as long ago as the 1300s, it eventually gained popularity and made its way south to Munich. That’s where the subtle difference in pronunciation changed the name “Einbeck” to “Einbock” which means “Billy goat” in German. The name stuck — explaining why so many bottles and cans of bock beer are adorned with goat images.
Traditionally released in the late winter or early spring, bock beers are usually caramel in color, bottom-fermented, fairly rich in malt flavor, and light in hops. Part of the reason bocks are released in the spring is due to religion. Historically, monks would brew this beer style in the fall and early winter and then bring out this higher proof, flavorful, hearty beer while they’re fasting during lent. History aside, we look forward to this rich brew each year because its arrival means the end of winter, meaning that the spring thaw is close.
Since we’re always on the lookout for different bock beers to try, we asked a handful of craft beer experts, brewers, and beer professionals for help finding them. They were nice enough to tell us some of their favorites to drink while they await the end of this dreary, dark season.
Weihenstephaner Vitus is a fantastic weizenbock. It’s semi-fruity with some clove and a little banana. Vitus has the full mouthfeel of a bock but also the drinkability of a wheat beer. It’s a very multi-dimensional flavor.
Ayinger Winter Bock is my pick. What flavors make it great? I do tend to believe when it comes to world styles, it’s best to go to the source. So here, that means Germany. This is smooth, strong, and malty without too much hop bitterness and almost no hop aroma. When people say beer is liquid bread, I think they mean styles like this because if they meant IPAs then people are eating some really messed up bread.
My favorite bock beer is the Troegs Troegenator with its rich flavors of caramel and chocolate. This one is eagerly awaited each winter and spring for good reason. I miss my East Coast beers.
My pick is Weihenstephaner Korbinian Doppelbock. Korbinian is one of many delicious German doppelbocks that are relatively easy to find locally. I’ve always been partial to this one due to its drinkability. It is clean and malty with the rich Maillard flavors one would expect. This one has a slightly lighter body and a drier finish without sacrificing flavor.
Once you have a steinkrug of this beer at their monastery beerhall overlooking the Bavarian countryside, it’s hard to imagine a better place to drink a bock beer. The beer itself is perfect. A celebration of liquid malt, it’s silky smooth with a creamy finish.
Augustiner Maximator is big and rich with sticky sweet malt flavors throughout, but it’s not cloying. We had a blind doppelbock tasting this winter and this one was the consensus winner. You could put a few other German ones in here without skipping a beat though, these are such fun, delicious, complex beers.
New Glarus Cabin Fever
New Glarus
Brian Jaszewski, director of product management at Sprecher Brewing Co. in Glendale, Wisconsin
I’m going with New Glarus Cabin Fever from New Glarus, Wisconsin. The addition of honey to the brew kettle — allowing for a bit of caramelization — provides a depth of mouthfeel and aroma that can’t be matched. This is why so many breweries do it, including us here at Sprecher.
KC Bier Weizenbock
KC Bier
Jeremy Ragonese, president of Uinta Brewing in Salt Lake City, Utah
I haven’t had it in a while, but if memory serves KC Bier Co. makes a wonderful Weizenbock, and I believe it even took home a GABF medal a few years ago. Whenever I think of bock beers, I naturally think seasonals, and Weizenbock is a great beer. It’s simple, bready, and flavorful with traditional aromas of banana and clove, but not overpowering.
It’s a perfect pairing for burgers, brats, and everything that goes with them.
Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Urbock
Aecht Schlenkerla
John Swanson, brewing supervisor at New Belgium Brewing in Asheville, North Carolina
Oh boy, this is a no-brainer for me, albeit potentially contentious amongst the greater beer drinking community. Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Urbock straight from the source at the old brewery in Bamberg is unmatched by any other bock beer. Rauchbier (smoke beer) is an acquired taste but done correctly, as they do in Bamberg, it is exquisite, especially when it is fresh. The smoke flavors are so mellow and creamy.
Darkhorse Perkulator
Darkhorse
Brad Bergman, brewing director at Sycamore Brewing in Charlotte, North Carolina
I’m not a big bock fan in general – they are often heavier and sweeter than I typically enjoy – but the best one that I’ve ever had was the Perkulator Coffee Doppelbock from Dark Horse. Those sweet, rich malt flavors are very nicely balanced with the coffee bitterness. So the sweetness is tempered to a degree.
The coffee flavors mesh nicely with the heavier caramel, bready notes of the beer.
Ayinger Celebrator Doppelbock has herbal and nutty aromatics lead to a rich but balanced palate. There are also notes of dried fruits, caramel, and a malty sweetness that makes you want to crack open a few bottles in one sitting.
Maibock from Lake Placid Pub and Brewery is my pick. It was my first taste of what a Maibock could be. It’s really difficult to restrain the flavors in such a high alcohol beer. When done well, there’s a right amount of fruity esters and it’s deceptively easy to drink.
New Glarus Gyrator
New Glarus
Garth E. Beyer, certified Cicerone® and owner and founder of Garth’s Brew Bar in Madison, Wisconsin
Hands down, the best bock I’ve had is New Glarus Gyrator Doppelbock. I know, my Wisconsin is showing, but there’s harmony in the rye bread, plum, biscuit, and toffee flavors. It’s also thin but rich with its malty date-flavored finish.
Given Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, that part of the world isn’t exactly somewhere people are flocking to right now. Given the unrest in the area, music acts who were planning on performing over there are understandably deciding to change their touring plans and skip Russia. Green Day was one of the first major artists to announce canceled Russian shows a couple days ago, and in the past 24 hours or so, a good handful of artists have taken a similar stance.
The Killers were set to perform at Moscow’s Park Live Festival this summer, but a representative for the band tells TMZ they’ve pulled out of the event. Franz Ferdinand also canceled shows they had lined up for this summer and wrote on social media, “We are cancelling our Russian shows that are scheduled for this summer. The only reason for this is the invasion of Ukraine by the Russian state. […] We know you see the madness of your country’s leadership. We know you do not want war. We do not want war. Despite the tragedy of this situation, we still burn a flame of optimism in our hearts and look forward to the day when we can return in a time of peace to share the joy of music together again.”
In light of this news, the band became a trending topic on Twitter today, as many users drew a connection between the current Russian invasion and Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, after whom the band is named and whose assassination in 1914 is considered to be a major catalyst for World War I.
Artists like Nick Cave, Louis Tomlinson, Health, Yungblud, and Måneskin shared similar news, with Måneskin not canceling shows but delaying news of upcoming shows. Check out their posts below.
Despite our desire to give you updates regarding the European and Italian tour by March the 1st, we are not able to define and share the new dates in this moment of tension for Europe and for the whole world. We are closer than ever to all the people plagued by war right now. pic.twitter.com/chfec541AB
If Victoria Spice still isn’t ready to reprise her role as Posh Spice on a subsequent Spice Girls Tour, Megan Fox is ready to heed the call as “BDSM Spice” should the phone ring. In a pair of selfies posted to her Instagram yesterday, the actress, styled in a black mesh top and immaculate hair and make-up, effectively put her name in the hat for future Spice Girls consideration.
“Offering myself to the spice girls if they are in need of a new member. BDSM spice,” read Fox’s caption.
And while the Spice Girls haven’t toured since 2019’s Spice World Tour, Mel C (Scary Spice) recently said that the famed British girl group talk about it “constantly” and that it was “always” the plan to reunite again. “We did these amazing stadium shows two years ago,” she told Lea Michele, who was filling in as the host of Ellen. “It was the best thing we’ve ever done. The creativity was so incredible. We had the best time. But we’ve got to come back because we love the US. Our fans are amazing.”
Fox, who got engaged to her partner Machine Gun Kelly earlier this year, has been leaning in to the BDSM aesthetic lately. She said that she and MGK “drank each other’s blood” when they got engaged and MGK gave her an engagement ring that was designed to be painful when removed. If BDSM Spice ever materialized, then Fox would definitely score points for authenticity.
We’re positively hyped for our March round-up of artists to watch. This column looks at artists from across the cultural spectrum that are rising in unique ways. And this month, we’re jumping from indie pop to electro soul, to Chicago R&B and a rapper on the tip of The Weeknd’s tongue. Check it out.
Deb Never
You might’ve already heard the commanding Korean-American vocalist on “Push” from Slowthai’s album Tyron, or perhaps you peeped last year’s sneaky excellent Where Have All The Flowers Gone? EP. Now Deb Never just dropped her first new tune of the year, “Crutches,” a hopeful, happy-go-lucky indie-electro pop jam about embracing your individuality and channeling your inner-drive. “No matter what they say ya, better hold your head up. No way out,” the now LA-based Never sings on the anthemic track over a shower of effects, strings and thunderous drum and bass that invite you to express yourself.
Yeat
When The Weeknd was celebrating his birthday in Vegas earlier this month, a clip surfaced of him singing along to Yeat’s “Get Busy.” The track, with its syrup-soaked video game beat, features the now-viral lyric “This song already was turnt but here’s a bell,” followed by clanging church bells. Portland-raised and now LA-based, Yeat’s career was born from SoundCloud, and then blew up on TikTok with tracks like “Sorry Bout That” and “Money Twërk.” His latest album, 2 Alivë, came out on February 18th and features appearances from Young Thug (on the melodic drums and bells of “Öutside”) and Gunna (on the woozy keys-driven “Rackz Got Më.) Unsurprisingly, the album’s LA listening party prompted a shutdown for crowd control issues illustrating that the hype is real. Now signed to Field Trip/Geffen, all the elements for a continued breakout are here.
On both Classical Notions of Happiness and Something To Say To You, Jordana’s first two releases, we were introduced to a witty songwriter, with an intrinsic knack for cynical, tongue-in-cheek indie pop. Now the 21-year-old has announced her proper debut studio album, Face The Wall, (out May 20th on Grand Jury) and she’s armed with an even sharper pop music knife. “Catch My Drift” is a catchy, glitzy jam with buoyant vocals that she says is “about going back and forth with your feelings for someone when they make you question whether they are even reciprocated.”
Khazali
When we highlighted Khazali’s track “Passion Controller” last month, we called it “a good fit for both the dance floor and the afterparty.” And the deeper I dive into the UK electro-soul singer’s catalog, the more he feels like a worthy star student of Sampha and Sbtrkt’s breed of vocal productions. But there’s a far more rhythmic step from Khazali and his second EP, The Rush, is made up of pieces of his dream journals expressed in the sonic universe of the romantically-woven characters he’s created. His latest jam, “Dance In The Rain,” is a liquid groove that further builds the anticipation for the release of The Rush, out March 11th via Kitsuné Musique.
Kaina
A Chicago native of Guatemalan and Venezuelan descent, Kaina’s take on R&B celebrates love, lineage, and heritage. The silky-voiced singer recently signed with City Slang and her latest two singles, “Casita” and “Apple,” were both co-written and co-produced with fellow Chicagoan Sen Morimoto. “Casita” is a bi-lingual ode to being with family and friends in simpler times, with Kaina singing “I’ve always dreamt about a place, big enough for us all to stay, so that we could be together.” While “Apple,” with a video that links it to a linear story that begins to unfold on “Casita” — has an upbeat swing over Morimoto’s guitar and Kaina’s layered vocals. She’ll be joining Helado Negro on tour in May and we’ll be keeping tabs on more heat from Kaina no doubt.
The world of rapper-owned weed brands features more smoke and mirrors than a Miami megaclub. While there are some bangers in the genre, most of these “brands” aren’t really brands at all. It’s far more common for a rapper to work with a preexisting company and drop a limited line of products or bag up some janky shit in mylar through a white-label grow operation, than it is for them to launch an autonomous cultivation project of their own. Half the time when you search for brands owned by rappers, the websites are defunct, the Instagrams don’t exist, and the products aren’t available. It’s as if, aside from the press release, a handful of blogs, and a lone lavish launch party, the brand ceases to exist at all.
Why?
Most rappers launch weed “brands” for clout rather than wanting to actually enter the cannabis space. And who could blame them? The weed industry is an expensive headache for entrepreneurs. It is ironic, though, because rappers are the celebrities most likely to be accepted by the discerning consumers of the cannabis community. Not only were they some of the earliest vocal proponents of cannabis in mainstream culture, but some famously sold weed prior to fame (and have served time for it).
If any genre of celebrity deserves to be in the weed space, it’s rappers. Period.
So today, we’re checking out some rapper-owned brands that actually exist and don’t totally suck (I don’t like them all, but none are fully trash). From the many rapper-weed collabs, we’ve chosen five strains to smoke, rank, and rant about from the floor of my living room. Sound fun? Let’s get stoned!
Uproxx
5. China White Preroll from Saucey Extracts by Jim Jones
Uproxx
I attended the launch party for Saucey Extracts a few years ago. It was insane. At a Beverly Hills mansion, giant glass candy jars full of nugs dotted sprawling gardens to the pool. The weed literally overfloweth. I ran around with a celebrity stoner’s daughter stuffing branded tote bags to the brim with nugs. Jim Jones made an appearance. It was everything the launch party of a rapper weed brand should be. Wish I could say the same about the weed itself.
First of all, I always feel a little wary when an extracts brand launches flower, because that usually means they didn’t grow it themselves. White labeling is a huge issue in the cannabis community, a super common practice because the overhead of cultivation itself is so massive. Most brands, especially the big ones, don’t grow their own flower. That’s why they’re rich. It’s way cheaper not to. However, what you gain monetarily, you lose in quality.
For this test, I popped open the Supreme-esque plastic packaging of the China White pre-roll pack. Four joints of mechanically trimmed flower burst forth, smelling like hay. I took a dry hit, which is when you take a hit of an unlit joint to experience the flavor of the flower, known as the terpene profile. It was pretty mild, fruity, a little citrusy. Not mad at it, but it could have been more flavorful for sure.
I lit up. The flavor wasn’t bad. Delicate, citrusy, fruity, but overall pretty mids. I immediately felt upbeat, and definitely wanted to give them props for the integrity of the joint structure. These burned cleanly and evenly, not too tight or loose.
The high was upbeat, spacey, and a little trippy. I felt cerebrally invigorated while my body relaxed. Definitely a good daytime work weed, which is not usually the kind of flower that rapper brands deliver. A welcome change.
Bottom Line:
This weed is not bad, but it’s not great either. I think the price is a little high, but we love Jim Jones and will blindly support anything Dipset does.
Monogram is Jay Z’s weed brand. I’m not a huge fan of their sleekly packaged, overpriced mids. But some people seem to like them, so let’s check out their #3 strain.
The first red flag here is that this flower is 35% THC. Not only is that physically improbable, but it’s also just plain silly. No one needs that much THC, and when you get a number that high you are totally destroying the natural balance of the chemicals within the plant. I’ve always felt that this brand has a weird air of being out of touch due to the fact that Jay Z has never been part of the cannabis community. He doesn’t publicly smoke weed or advocate for its use prior to entering the legal space in the most corporate way possible. Maybe if he had, he’d know better than to jack his THC up that high.
Anyways, the flower looks pretty good. Chunky, green, orange with little violet leaves. It doesn’t really have much of a smell and seemed a little dried out, but often you can’t really blame the cultivator if the weed shows up a little dry — it’s often a distro issue.
Based on the THC percentage, I was afraid to smoke this at all and be rendered useless for the rest of the afternoon. But I took a bong rip anyway. For journalism!
The flavor wasn’t strong, but it wasn’t bad either. Fruity, a little floral, grape forward. Immediately my head became swimmy as I felt a wave of far too much THC sneak into my mind and crash over my eyes from behind. Relaxed, euphoric, the colors seemed brighter. It’s definitely very potent, but not a particularly nuanced high. That’s the problem with these absurdly high THC cultivars. They make you feel high on THC, but that’s about it.
Then, the stupor hit. Staring into the horizon beyond the window, limp, my mind moved slowly. Even in writing this single sentence, I drifted into a world unknown for about four minutes. Some people may like this kind of high, but it’s not for me, a high functioning, all-day stoner.
Bottom Line:
It’s not terrible, just overpriced and way too juiced up with THC.
I like Wiz Khalifa because he’s a fucking stoner. He’s so in the mix that it’s not uncommon to see him at weed parties around LA. Also, he has BDE, minds his business, and gets high on stage. Vibes.
Unlike most rapper weed I get sent, I was actually looking forward to trying Khalifa Kush because you can tell this man truly cares about flower. I imagined it would be good. And it was!
The dry hit was so impressive! Super mango diesel flavor, it had that kind of syrupy dry hit quality where you can taste that the terps and chemical compounds are alive on the plant matter. I lit it. There was a fantastic smell-to-flavor translation, which is another sign of good weed. It kind of had a fruity sage flavor that I was super into. Smooth smoke, great joint overall.
I was thinking there was not a lot of head change, and then BOOM BITCH that shit hit. And it hit hard. I got suuuuuuuper languid and dreamy feeling, and it made this difficult to write (again). This is high quality dreamy daytime weed — euphoric without being sleepy.
Bottom Line:
Perfect for taking the day off work to smoke weed in public like Wiz Khalifa.
Plane Jane is a strain collab by Fiore and rapper Roy Woods. Fiore was started by the owners and head cultivators at Cookies (rapper Berner’s megabrand) and is the only Cookies micro-business. So this is actually a rapper weed squared strain collab. And a perfectly executed one at that.
I popped open the bag, and was punched in the face by gas, pine, and tropical fruit. Though I’m not usually the biggest fan of indoor flower, Fiore fucking crushes it everytime. Unbelievably pungent, soft nugs were easy to break apart, unlike those mechanically trimmed balls of THC everyone seems to be hawking these days. This flower was beautiful in every way… so I smoked it!
The flavor was as pungent as the smell, but less gassy, with more notes of pine and fruit. Immediately I felt focused, dreamy and upbeat. This is the kind of weed you can smoke to calm down and beat depression or anxiety when you still need to get shit done. It’s actually really nuanced and vibey. It has a holistic healing effect, tingly in the body and the spirit, and the mind.
Bottom Line:
Elevating and exciting, it’s not the kind of indoor that gets you dumb for 30 minutes then tired. This weed is vibrant and alive, and really, really good. Definitely worth a cop!
And now, the love letter begins. I have been a massive fan of Insane by Cypress Hill’s B-Real since I first tried their flower a year or two ago. This dude has been in the weed game forever and facilitated a lot of what we know as modern cannabis culture prior to entering the industry. He was on Hits from the Bong, bro! Idk if there is a higher stoner accolade than that.
I think this Insane OG strain is some of the best and strongest weed on the market. When I say strong, I don’t just mean high in THC. This is a fully immersive stoner experience. You feel so much with this flower. It’s full-body, full mind.
The bag opens to a rush of powerful terpene smell waves. Diesel, pine, and lemon. Deep pine forest energy. The nugs are crunchy and sparkle with trichomes. Frosted and cute, I felt as if the nugs were staring back at me.
I took a large hit of the bong, as instructed. A rainbow burst of forest flavors overcame my palate and I felt filled with joy immediately. The high is cerebral and fun. The body high is euphoric and relaxing. Together it’s a balanced high that leaves you feeling floaty, elated, and ready for anything.
Bottom Line:
This weed is simply a must-have. It’s perfect in every way, and there is no one more qualified to sell it to you than B-Real.
The world watched, holding its collective breath as Russia threatened to invade Ukraine. For weeks, as Russia teased the sovereign nation with military exercises along the country’s border and the soldiers moved tanks this way and that, we saw Ukrainians preparing to defend their land. Citizens practiced aiming with guns made out of wood, while others learned to properly use knives in hand-to-hand combat. The citizens of Ukraine had no intention of allowing their country to be overtaken, and now, in the midst of the invasion, we get to see Ukrainians show who they really are.
People have fled to safety but many have stayed behind to fight, some you wouldn’t expect. A former beauty queen, Anastasia Lenna, Miss Grand Ukraine 2015, revealed on her Instagram account that she traded in her crown and sash for military fatigues and an automatic rifle. In one of her posts, she writes “everyone who crosses the Ukrainian border with the intent to invade will be killed.” Lenna’s Instagram stories have been filled with calls to action, including praise for the men and women fighting to protect their country.
An 80-year-old man showed up to join the Ukrainian army carrying only a small overnight bag that contained two T-shirts, an extra pair of pants, a toothbrush and a few sandwiches for lunch. He was joining for his grandkids, he said. Another elderly person stood in front of a Russian soldier to confront him about why he was in Ukraine. The woman called the soldiers occupants and fascists, before offering the soldier sunflower seeds, stating “take these seeds and put them in your pockets, so at least sunflowers will grow when you die here.” Sunflowers are Ukraine’s national flower.
While bombs are dropping, shots are being fired and sirens blare in Ukraine, nurses and doctors are caring for NICU babies in a makeshift bomb shelter. The babies, some of which look only hours old, were from the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in Dnipro in Eastern Ukraine. Some of them were having oxygen hand-pumped into their lungs by the nurses who were attending to them. The infants were taken to the bomb shelter as Dnipro was struck by missiles.
Newborn infants from the neonatal intensive care unit at a childrenu2019s hospital in Dnipro, in eastern Ukraine, were moved into a makeshift bomb shelter on a lower level of the building on Thursday. https://nyti.ms/3JVlEQau00a0pic.twitter.com/kWud9ktt2P
— The New York Times (@The New York Times) 1645759206
While others are hunkering down in bomb shelters and basements, 13 Ukrainian soldiers tasked with defending a small island in the Black Sea stared down a Russian navy ship, refusing to surrender. Instead the soldiers defiantly barked “Russian war ship? Go f**k yourself,” before being killed. Though all 13 soldiers perished on that island, they exemplify the bravery and will of the Ukrainian people.
Ukrainian athletes are showing up to defend their motherland. Vlodymyr Bezsonov, a 63-year-old football legend, took up arms to defend Ukraine from Russia. In a short video, he explains that he’s joining his country’s fight. Two heavyweight boxing champions, Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko, both multimillionaires with the means to escape, stayed behind to fight alongside their fellow Ukrainians. Vitali, who is the mayor of Kyiv and the son of a former general in the Soviet Air Force, told “Good Morning Britain,” “I don’t have another choice, I have to do that.”
Former heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko, the mayor of Ukraine’s capital of Kyiv, plans to take up arms to defend against Russia’s invasion along with his brother, Wladimir. nnMore: https://es.pn/3sg25vXu00a0pic.twitter.com/LVrvuthAna
Stories such as these are not limited to the handful here. There are stories of everyday heroes taking up arms, helping their fellow Ukrainians through whatever means necessary, occurring throughout the war-torn days and nights. Ukraine never had the idea to surrender, and the spirit of their people is no less than inspiring.
Greta Van Fleet has added fall dates to their sold-out “Dreams In Gold” tour. Kicking off August 16th in Quebec City, the band will perform in 42 cities across the U.S. and Canada. The tour is in support of Greta Van Fleet’s sophomore album, The Battle at Garden’s Gate, and the band will be joined by the likes of Metallica, The Pretty Reckless, Houndmouth, Durand Jones & The Indications, Fruit Bats, Robert Finley, Crown Lands, and Hannah Wicklund.
Pre-sale begins Wednesday, March 2nd with general on-sale beginning Friday, March 4th.
Check out the complete list of dates below.
03/10 — Kalamazoo, MI @ Wings Event Center
03/12 — Grand Rapids, MI @ The DeltaPlex Arena
03/13 — Saginaw, MI @ Dow Event Center
03/16 — Flint, MI @ Dort Financial Center
03/17 — Ypsilanti, MI @ EMU Convocation Center
03/19 — Huntington, WV @ Mountain Health Arena
03/22 —Madison, WI @ Kohl Center
03/23 — Green Bay, WI @ Resch Center
03/25 — Omaha, NE @ CHI Health Center Omaha
03/26 — Peoria, IL @ Peoria Civic Center
03/29 — Cincinnati, OH @ Heritage Bank Center
03/30 — Hershey, PA @ GIANT Center
04/01 — Atlantic City, NJ @ Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
04/02 — Atlantic City, NJ @ Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
05/03 — Rio de Janeiro, Brazil @ Qualistage
05/16 — Mexico City, Mexico @ Pepsi Center
06/05 — Stockholm, Sweden @ Grona Lund
06/11 — Theatre Antique de Vienne @ Vienne, France
06/14 — Cologne, Germany @ Tanzbrunnen
06/15 — Frankfurt, Germany @ Jarhunderthalle
06/23 — Dublin, Ireland @ Fairview
06/25 — London, UK @ Alexandra Palace
06/28 — Manchester, UK @ O2 Apollo
06/29 — Manchester, UK @ O2 Apollo
08/11 — Buffalo, NY @ Highmark Stadium*
08/14 — Pittsburgh, PA @ PNC Park*
08/16 — Quebec City, QC @PNC Park†
08/18 — Montreal, QC @ Centre Bell†
08/19 — Toronto, ON @ Scotiabank Arena†
08/22 —Winnipeg, MB @ Canada Life Centre†
08/23 —Regina, SK @ Brandt Centre†
08/26 — Calgary, AB @ Scotiabank Saddledome†
08/27 — Edmonton, AB @ Rogers Place†
08/29 —Kelowna, BC @ Prospera Place†
08/30 —Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena†
09/02 — Spokane, WA @ Spokane Arena ‡
09/03 — Boise, ID @ ExtraMile Arena‡
09/20 — Fort Wayne, IN @ Allen County War Memorial Coliseum §
09/21 —Des Moines, IA @Wells Fargo Arena§
09/23 — Fargo, ND @ Fargodome§
09/24 — Sioux Falls, SD @ Denny Sanford PREMIER Center§
09/27 — Toldeo, OH @ Huntington Center§
09/28 — Knoxville, TN @ Thompson-Boling Arena§
09/30 — Charlottesville, VA @ John Paul Jones Arena§
10/01 — Allentown, PA @PPL Center§
10/04— Manchester, NH @ SNHU Arena§
10/05 — Albany, NY @ MVP Arena§
10/07 — Uncasville, CT @Mohegan Sun Arena§
10/08 —Bangor, ME @ Cross Insurance Center§
10/18 — Raleigh, NC @ PNC Arena**
10/19 — Greenville, SC @ Bon Secours Wellness Arena**
10/21 — Jacksonville, FL @Vystar Veterans Memorial Arena**
10/22 — Estero, FL @ Hertz Arena**
10/25 — Hollywood, FL @ Hard Rock Live**
10/26 — Tampa, FL @ Amalie Arena**
10/28 — Charlotte, NC @ Spectrum Center**
10/29 — Birmingham, AL @ Legacy Arena at The BJCC**
11/01 — New Orleans, LA @ Smoothie King Center**
11/02 — Little Rock, AR @ Simmons Bank Arena**
11/04 — Oklahoma City, OK @ Paycom Center**
11/05 — San Antonio, TX @AT&T Center**
11/08 — El Paso, TX @ Don Haskins Center**
11/09 — Tucson, AZ @ Tucson Arena**
11/11 — Anaheim, CA @ Honda Center††
11/12 — Sacramento, CA @ Golden 1 Center††
*with Metallica
†with The Pretty Reckless and Hannah Wicklund
‡ support TBD
§ with Houndmouth and Robert Finley
**with Durand Jones & the Indications and Crown Lands
†† with Fruit Bats and Crown Lands
Benzino has been going after Eminem for almost 20 years now. It starts with the former co-owner of The Source magazine giving the Detroit rapper’s 2000 album, The Marshall Mathers LP, a rating of 2 out of 5 mics. This beef was revived in late 2020 when Benzino took to Twitter to say, “Face it stans y’all will always be hip hop goofiest most out of touch fan base.” Collaborator and friend of Eminem Royce Da 5’9″ stepped in to defend him with a series of posts on social media.
Now, the saga continues. According to XXL, Money Man made a since-deleted tweet that said, “I ain’t never listened to no Eminem.” Benzino replied, “Nobody in my hood did.” As fans took to Twitter to get involved, Benzino viewed it as an opportunity to continue dissing Eminem. One fan wrote, “Say it to @Eminem face I bet you won’t your a poor excuse for a father and human being,” to which Benzino replied: “I’ll say it to his face but he’s scared coward p*ssy like his fan base.”
I’ll say it to his face but he’s scared coward pussy like his fan base
Per Complex, he also made some since-deleted tweets saying he “been left this sh*t alone but since the coward ass stans wanna talk sh*t and hide then it’s still f*ck Eminem and if you got a problem with me do something about it,” and threatened that he knows “how to fight and I got big sticks so pull up.”
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