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Back in August of last year, a sex abuse suit against Bob Dylan was filed in New York by a woman identified only as J.C. The suit alleges that the victim was only 12 at the time, and that Dylan gave her drugs and alcohol along with abuse. Now, the case has reached the courts, and according to reporting from Rolling Stone, Dylan’s lawyers are dismissing it as a “a brazen shakedown.”

“This case – based on plaintiff’s alleged interactions with Bob Dylan more than 56 years ago — is a brazen shakedown masquerading as a lawsuit. It was filed in bad faith for the improper purpose of extracting a huge payout on the threat of negative publicity. The allegation is false, malicious, reckless and defamatory. Mr. Dylan will not be extorted,” Dylan’s lawyers wrote in response to the case, filing their statement yesterday in Manhattan.

It seems like Dylan’s lawyers aren’t just defending their client, but defending the truth as well. In her claim. J.C. stated that the abuse took place at the Chelsea Hotel between April and May of 1965 — but Dylan scholars (of which there are many) determined that he wasn’t in New York then. After she updated her claim to the “early spring” of that year, scholars searched for a single week, let alone several, that Dylan was in New York during that time frame, and could only find possibly a day or two.

Dylan’s lawyers further lambasted the accusers work as a psychic: “According to her own website, plaintiff is a psychic who specializes in ‘channeling’ the deceased loved ones of grieving families — for a fee,” Dylan’s statement continued, also noting that the plaintiff claims “she speaks to cats, dogs and other animals — alive and dead — as well as insects and plants,” and that she also claims she’s been abducted by aliens. His lawyers think the psychic is targeting Dylan because he seemed like an “easy mark.”

“Mr. Dylan may have seemed like an easy mark for the lawyers who filed and hoped to profit off of this fraudulent lawsuit,” the filing continues. “They likely assumed he would not be up for the fight and would instead pay extortion to avoid the burden, publicity, and expense of defending himself. They could not have been more wrong. Mr. Dylan seeks and will achieve justice, vindication and full accountability.”

In better news for Dylan, a massive display of his artwork is currently open in Miami.

Fred VanVleet made his most emphatic argument yet in his quest to become an All-Star. During Friday night’s game against the Utah Jazz, VanVleet caught fire and helped rally the Toronto Raptors from down double digits to a position where they held a lead against one of the best teams in the NBA.

In all, VanVleet scored 24 points in the quarter, going a perfect 8-for-8 from the field and knocking down all five of his attempts from the free throw line. Embedded in that was a 15-0 stretch in which he was literally the only player in the entire basketball game who scored a point, all while pitching in three assists, three rebounds, and a pair of steals. And for good measure, VanVleet did not turn the ball over at all.

While VanVleet is in the midst of a very good season in which he’s been the lynchpin for Toronto, this was him taking things to another level, submitting a huge performance in the midst of waves of support for him to make the NBA All-Star game for the first time in his career. It happened in a crucial game for the Raptors in their chase to get out of the play-in tournament and earn a playoff spot — Toronto went on to win, 122-108, for its fifth win in a row.

Entering Friday night’s game, VanVleet is averaging a career-best 21.3 points, 6.7 assists, and 4.9 rebounds per game.

In late 2021, beloved indie rockers The War On Drugs suddenly returned with a brand new album, I Don’t Live Here Anymore. It was one of the best albums of the year, and fans were eager to hear the band live again after a long hiatus. And though they initially announced a full tour with lots of openers, they made the tough choice to cut the opening acts. In a lengthy post on the band’s website today, frontman Adam Granduciel shared his thoughts on the changes and other precautions the band is taking due to the recent surge of the Omicron variant of Covid-19. Check out some of his thoughts below, and stay safe out there!

Hi all, just wanted to give a quick update about our US tour that begins in Austin on January 19th.

First off, we’re disappointed to announce that due to the government of Ontario’s indoor capacity restrictions, our Toronto shows on February 5 and 6 at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre have unfortunately been cancelled. Automatic refunds will be issued to all ticket holders in the next 30 days.

We’ve always loved playing for you in Toronto and have had some of our most memorable nights as a band there — playing “like a hurricane” at Massey Hall in 2017, the power going out an hour before our show at Lee’s Palace in 2014, playing two sweaty, sold out horseshoe Tavern shows, the massive Slave Ambient artwork/window display that the folks at Soundscapes made for us (that I still cherish). We’re so disappointed to be doing this, but we promise we’ll make it up to you in 2022 (and beyond). Wheels are already in motion as they say…

We’ve added a show in Pittsburgh (Feb 5) as well as a show in Cincinnati (Feb 6). Yay! Tickets for those are available on our website. Obviously, we’re beyond excited for these additions.

We’re also requesting that as many of you as possible wear a mask when you come see us play this tour — especially if you’re in the first few (50) rows. I know we’re all over masks but for one, it makes me more at ease cuz now I don’t get self conscious (and dark) when I see y’all yawn out there but also because we want our fans, our crew and our band to stay healthy so we can honor the commitments we’ve made to every city on this tour. Seriously, we would really appreciate it.

Second, due to this latest Covid surge and our need to exist within the tightest possible tour bubble, there will be no support acts on this run. We know how excited all of the opening acts were for this tour and we sincerely appreciate them being so f’n understanding.

Lo Moon was scheduled to be with us through Atlanta. We met years ago when Charlie was asked to play on their wonderful and CLASSIC debut record, Lo Moon. We became fast friends and they’ll still be joining us as MAIN SUPPORT on our EU/UK tour in March and April. We’re beyond excited to travel around with them. Their new song “Dream Never Dies” is out now!

Caroline Kingsbury wrote me out of the blue on Instagram asking to open our tour when we announced it back in July. I had never heard of her but I listened to a few songs and I knew SHE NEEDED TO PLAY MADISON SQUARE GARDEN. Big songs, big voice. Great hooks. I loved it. Please check her out and support her when she comes through your town. I know that we’ll be doing some shows together this year one way or another.

Our friend Rosali from Philly was going to play all the midwest shows with us since she has relocated to the rural calm of Michigan. Every one of her records is on heavy rotation at one point or another and her latest record, No Medium is a true stunner. She makes singing and writing songs sound easy and effortless. Maybe it is…what a life. We love you Rosali! We’re gonna miss playing “Birds Of Paradise” and “Because The Night” with you every night :((((

We became instant friends with Toronto native Joseph Shabason when we opened for Destroyer in 2011 on the most epic 7 week tour I’ve ever been on — 6 months before Slave Ambient came out. Basically Chris Koltay was forcing us to go to Culvers to eat butter biscuits and Joseph was also DYING to go to Culvers. So he ditched the comforts of the Destroyer tour bus and enjoyed some of the biscuits that Koltay had ordered “for the table.” We’ve been close ever since. Honestly this guy’s got a million great records to his name. We suggest you check them all out. He also played saxophone on the outro of “Eyes To The Wind.”

Finally, when Shawn and I were mixing our record into some sort of strange mush back in late 2020 I remember hearing 3 songs on repeat coming from his kitchen. Having no luck with Shazam I asked his wife what I was listening to. It was rough mixes of what would become TOMI’s Sweet, Sweet Honey EP and I fell in love with it immediately. I was really looking forward to hearing her sing these songs down the west coast but that’ll have to wait until some other time!!

Ok…wow, king of social media. thank you and we love you all. We can’t wait to see you. It’s been a long road. We’re beyond excited. Take care of one another xoxo

While both Shania Twain and Taylor Swift have written plenty of scathing songs about men who don’t get it, there’s nothing but love between the two pop-country superstars. A few days ag, ever vigilant Swifties noticed that Taylor had set a record by becoming the female artists with the most weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard country albums chart. Her re-recording of Red (Taylor’s Version) has been sitting pretty on that chart for plenty of weeks lately, and quickly racked up enough to make Taylor’s overall time spent topping that chart surpass the old record set by Shania, 97 weeks.

But for her part, Shania was nothing but thrilled that Taylor is having that kind of success, and said as much in a tweet yesterday quoting the record-breaking stat. “Let’s Go Girls!!!!” she began, quoting her own epic hit, “Man, I Feel Like A Woman,” natch. “Proud of you @taylorswift13. Historical records are meant to be made and then broken. The baton is meant to be passed on to new generations. Unstoppable young female country artists are in spite of the hurdles #trailblazers.”

We’d expect nothing less from Shania, who has always been supportive of other women, and particularly Taylor. A class act as always.

Ever watched a cleaning TikTok? Man, are they satisfying. There’s nothing like seeing the grubby bathroom getting scrubbed and buffed into something spa worthy. It’s just so cathartic. Is there such a thing as visual ASMR?

Not to mention that having a clean home just feels so good. Having things tidy makes the daily stressors of life seem more manageable.

But for many of us, this basic comfort is an impossible luxury. Things pile on, both literally and metaphorically. Being a single parent, having depression and illness are among the many obstacles that can drain someone of their time and energy to really take on a thorough cleaning. And once things spiral out of control, it can be very hard to get back on track again.

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Cleaning enthusiast Aurikatariina proudly describes herself as “The Queen of Cleaning” on TikTok and YouTube. Yes, the transformations are wild. Yes, she has some great tips and tips. But the truly remarkable thing is that this woman uses her passion to help others: by offering to clean their homes for free.

Her free home makeover videos not only feature the Queen of Cleaning doing what she does best, they also share the stories of those she’s helping. And watching them feels like a good soul cleansing.

@aurikatariina

This lovely was crying from happiness 🥺👵🏻🙏 I just LOVE to help people ❤️ ##elderly ##helping ##homecleaning ##takecare ##satisfya ##satisfyingvideo

♬ Home – Edith Whiskers

Like when she helped an 80-year-old couple who had no support to manage their home. So Aurikatariina got to work, and made the kitchen immaculate (in the video above).

Her caption reads “my heart melted when this lovely lady was crying from happiness.”

I mean, it’s one thing to get this much joy from cleaning your own home. But for a stranger? That’s next level. And it really goes to show that giving to others rewards everyone involved.

@aurikatariina

One of the saddest but the best cleaning ever 🥺👩‍👧‍👧❤️ ##cleaningtiktok ##cleaning ##makeover ##oddlysatisfying

♬ Survivor – 2WEI & Edda Hayes

In another video, Aurikatariina helps out a single mom. She explains that the father left her alone with two kids, and (understandably) the home had gotten in bad condition.

What seems like a million toys litter the floor. A Coke can in the medicine cabinet. An ironing board that’s become a table for junk. Yeah, it’s bad. But Aurikatariina cleans it all, staying kind and compassionate the whole way through.

Her video ends with “if there is a mother struggling I‘m here to tell you that you are not alone.”

One person commented “as a single mom of 4 thank you for helping her. These messes get outta hand so quickly when you’re the only one doing literally EVERYTHING.”

@aurikatariina

The reaction of the cat at the end 😭😻👏🏻 ##story ##storytime ##touching ##forfree ##happycat ##homecleaning ##homemakeover

♬ Home – Edith Whiskers

Aurikatariina cleaned the home of a cat owner, who was really sick. Both kitty and the young girl were swimming in mounds of food packaging and cat hair. But with Aurikatariina’s help, along with some generous donations of supplies from her followers, the home became spotless.

You’ll wanna stay for the end of this one if you want to see one happy cat lounging in a pristine bathroom sink, after being thoroughly confused to see his new home.

As many people noted in the comments, the cat was also clearly healthy and well loved. This woman was able to take care of her cat, just not herself.

@aurikatariina

Hope is the best medicine of all 🙏 ##forfree ##homecleaning ##satisfying ##hope ##cleaningtiktok ##deepcleaning ##kitchen ##kitchencleaning

♬ Summer – Instrumental – Devinney

Aurikatariina captions this one with “hope is the best medicine of all.”

As she declutters and scrubs, Aurikatariina explains that this homeowner suffers from anxiety, depression, a physically demanding job and financial problems. Yeah, that’s a lot.

“He didn’t have the strength to put effort into his home…so here I am,” she writes.

@aurikatariina

THE MOST AMAZING TRANSFORMATION EVER!! 😍😍 ##forfree ##cleaning ##clean ##beforeandafter ##motivation

♬ Cinematic Trailer – Saltonbria

This home was labeled “dirtiest house in Europe.” A cleaning job this massive would have cost about $15,000, Aurikatariina tells us. And she did it for free.

She even flew from Finland to Switzerland to do it. Cleaning brand Scrub Daddy paid for her plane ticket and hotel. But still, that kind of generosity is beyond inspiring.

Aurikatariina is offering people not only a freshly cleaned home, but a fresh start as well.

As the saying goes, “helping one person might not change the world, but it could change the world for one person.” And that matters.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go organize my closet.

The world has lost a brilliant giant of a man, one who left an indelible mark on the entertainment world and society at large. Sidney Poitier, actor, director and civil rights icon, has passed away at age 94. The first Black actor to win an Academy Award, he was a trailblazer and barrier breaker, in addition to being undeniably charismatic in his signature, almost understated way.

Sidney Poitier was smooth without being smarmy, persuasive without being pedantic and stately without being snooty. He could command attention and respect with a thoughtful monologue or with a simple, unwavering gaze. He was uncompromising in his principles, speaking out for civil rights and turning down projects that didn’t align with his character and values. He was grace and dignity personified.

Born as the youngest of seven children in a tomato-farming family in the Bahamas, he went from having no electricity or running water to becoming one of the most renowned actors of all time. Poitier overcame all manner of obstacles, from poverty to racism, to gain his place in American history and the accolades he’s received are well-deserved.

Those who knew him personally are sharing their tributes to him today. May we all live lives that prompt such glowing praise of our person and our mark on the world.

Poitier and Belafonte at the March on Washingtonpic.twitter.com/4fOVBATxdL

— Dorothy Berry (@Dorothy Berry)
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Harry Belafonte and Sidney Poitier met in Harlem before either of them had made it big, and became lifelong friends. “For over 80 years, Sidney and I laughed, cried and made as much mischief as we could,” said Harry Belafonte in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter. “He was truly my brother and partner in trying to make this world a little better. He certainly made mine a whole lot better.”

Sidney Poitier pic.twitter.com/otVjSFHaw8

— Oprah Winfrey (@Oprah Winfrey)
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Oprah Winfrey has often gushed about her appreciation of Sidney Poitier, from before their first meeting through the decades-long friendship they formed. “For me, the greatest of the ‘Great Trees’ has fallen,” Winfrey wrote in a statement shared on Twitter. “My honor to have loved him as a mentor. Friend. Brother. Confidant. Wisdom teacher. The utmost, highest regard and praise for his most magnificent, gracious, eloquent life. I treasured him. I adored him. He had an enormous soul I will forever cherish.”

Through his groundbreaking roles and singular talent, Sidney Poitier epitomized dignity and grace, revealing the power of movies to bring us closer together. He also opened doors for a generation of actors. Michelle and I send our love to his family and legion of fans.pic.twitter.com/zkYKFSxfKA

— Barack Obama (@Barack Obama)
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Tyler Perry shared a tribute on Facebook, writing, “The grace and class that this man has shown throughout his entire life, the example he set for me, not only as a black man but as a human being will never be forgotten. There is no man in this business who has been more of a North Star for me than Sidney Poitier.”

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Actress Octavia Spencer shared the story of her meeting Sidney Poitier after she won an award. She was “shell shocked and sweaty,” but he stopped, smiled and congratulated her. “He told me he expected great things from me,” she wrote. “There’s something about hearing those words from a pioneer that changes you! Thank you, Mr. Poitier!! I’ve been riding high ever since!!

Former @disney board member Sidney Poitier was the most dignified man Iu2019ve ever met. Toweringu2026gentleu2026passionateu2026boldu2026kindu2026altogether special.pic.twitter.com/1ccPjqabkz

— Robert Iger (@Robert Iger)
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Disney CEO Robert Iger wrote, “Sidney Poitier was the most dignified man I’ve ever met. Towering…gentle…passionate…bold…kind…altogether special.”

u201cIu2019ll be chasing you, Sidney. Iu2019ll always be following in your footsteps.u201dnnStill a timeless moment between Denzel Washington and Sidney Poitier at the 2002 #Oscars.pic.twitter.com/yCWSkIs7ww

— Lights, Camera, Pod (@Lights, Camera, Pod)
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“It was a privilege to call Sidney Poitier my friend. He was a gentleman and opened doors for all of us that had been closed for years. God bless him and his family,” Denzel Washington shared in a statement according to the Associated Press.

Poitier will be remembered and honored for his talent, wisdom and dignified forthrightness. There will never be another quite like him.

The legendary Sidney Poitier has reportedly passed away at 94. A true icon. nnHere is a powerful interview from him back in 1968 – he was addressing how he was being treated by the press. nnRest in power.pic.twitter.com/WtjmN2sU27

— Clay ‘Critical Thinking Theory’ Cane (@Clay ‘Critical Thinking Theory’ Cane)
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As the world prepared to ring in 2022, tens of thousands of people near Boulder, Colorado were being evacuated from their homes due to an unprecedented winter blaze that tore through their community December 30. The Marshall Fire took out entire neighborhoods at incredible speed, burning more than 6,000 acres in less than 24 hours and destroying nearly 1,000 structures.

It was a terrifying disaster, with families having just minutes to flee their homes as the flames raged toward them at speeds of up to 100 miles per hour.

Mary and Taylor Stanley were in their home in Superior, Colorado with their baby when they found out the fire was headed straight for their house. “We look outside and there’s thick smoke in the air,” Mary told Fox 31 News, “and we can see it crawling, the flames and the smoke, just crawling toward us.”

They only had five minutes to get out of the house.

“While I was gathering our belongings, my husband ran out and tried to start the car,” Mary Stanley wrote, telling the story on GoFundMe. “It was dead. He then ran to the neighbor’s house and began banging on the door to no avail. He ran back home and said ‘we have no way out of here we have to try to make it by foot’ while hundred mile an hour winds blew the fire through the shopping center right across the street from our house and smoke covered everything.”

Just as the Stanleys were gathering belongings to take with them, an Amazon driver named Luanne showed up to deliver a bike pump Taylor Stanley had bought since their car was out of commission. She asked the couple if they needed help, and they told her they had no way to get out of town except on foot.

“A violent gust of wind then slammed against our gate, causing the door to become lodged inwardly,” Mary wrote. “We tried to pry it open and we couldn’t, so my husband began throwing items over the 8-foot tall fence and then climbed over it himself. Thank God we had gotten the baby and most of the belongings out before that happened. She [Luanne] then gave us a ride to the community center where we were safe from the smoke, fire and winds until our best friend could come get us.”

Later, the Stanleys would find out that their house was a total loss, burned to the ground like hundreds of their neighbors. But they were grateful they got out in time with Luanne’s help.

“It was just one of those miracles that happened on both sides,” Luanne said when the Stanleys called to thank her.

“We could be dead if it wasn’t for Luanne,” Mary Stanley told Fox 12. “She was our saving grace. A little angel right at the moment that we needed her.”

There is truly no end to the bizarre and delightful pockets of TikTok. Whether you’re watching someone put literally anything under a microscope, discovering how to make oreo mug cake or enjoying the simple pleasures of witnessing amazing cleaning transformations, the possibilities for entertainment are endless.

This 20-year-old trainspotter and TikTok star, Luke Nicolson (better known as Francis Bourgeois), is certainly no exception to this.

Even if you could care less about trains, the unbridled, child-like enthusiasm that Francis has for them is so contagious that you might find yourself looking longingly at a railroad. Or at the very least, in better spirits after hearing his infectious laugh.

@francis.bourgeois Here is a Southern class 377 running Littlehampton to Southampton Central #trains #trending #fyp ♬ original sound – Francis Bourgeois

Often with a go-pro strapped onto his head, Francis waits in heightened anticipation, raves over tones and chats up the drivers, who seem equally happy to see him.

Most of the time, he simply can’t contain himself once the train arrives, as indicated by the bursts of pure glee that come from him as a new train approaches. And that’s just the way his millions of followers like it.

@francis.bourgeois Class 59 (59103) Merehead Quarry – Wootton Bassett driven by the legend called Gordon! #trains #trending #fyp ♬ original sound – Francis Bourgeois

“It’s the sound of the engines, the honks, the wheels on the tracks, they’re therapeutic noises, “ he tells The Face. “As for the railways, there’s a satisfaction in the way they line up, the way something so huge is on a direct path. On a deeper level, there’s something [special] about how the direction of a train is predefined – you know where it’s come from and where it’s going to go.”

@francis.bourgeois Fantastic Mr. Fox nearly ended up in a disasterous situation but luckily I saved him!🦊 #trains #fox #trending #fyp ♬ Time – Hans Zimmer

Luke spent his childhood in North West London immersed in his passion, even drawing pictures from memory of the trains he had seen passing by at the station (The Tab).

Often as we approach adulthood, that certain zest for our childhood hobbies begins to fade. Or rather, it gets suppressed. Luke too felt the pressure to conceal his interests in order to blend in once he got older.

However, once he began his engineering degree at Nottingham University, things changed.

@francis.bourgeois Class 158s are amazing, if you’ve been on one, you will know they’re good! 😊 #trains #trending #fyp ♬ original sound – Francis Bourgeois

“Coming to university, I’ve turned a new page and allowed my passions to [flourish] and not be held down. It’s made me a lot happier,” he told The Face.

@francis.bourgeois I found an awesome new train spotting location where you can wave at the commuters coming back from London! #trains #trending #fyp ♬ original sound – Francis Bourgeois

Coming more into his own, along with a dose of lockdown boredom, helped Luke come up with the idea. And thus Francis Bourgeois (presumably named after a court painter for George III) was born.

@francis.bourgeois Saying goodbye to @ryan.windridge after a great day train spotting! #trains #trending #fyp ♬ Peace Piece – Bill Evans Trio

Many thought Francis’ larger-than-life person was too good to be true, and accused him of being a fake, particularly after photos of his younger self emerged. Francis posted a response video. And it is not only a masterclass in authenticity, it also sheds light on just how powerful the urge to fit in can be, and how we are so routinely compelled to silence that inner child.

@francis.bourgeois I wanted to make this video to show that train spotters can come in different shapes and sizes! #trains #trending #fyp ♬ original sound – Francis Bourgeois

And sadly, many of us can struggle to bring that light back, once it’s squelched. However, seeing people like Francis rekindle that innocent spirit makes things seem so much more hopeful, and I think that’s a major aspect of his appeal.

@francis.bourgeois BILLIE EYLISH WENT ON IG LIVESTREAM WITH ME!!! #billieeilish #dreamcometrue #uk #trending #fyp ♬ original sound – Francis Bourgeois

His fame might have taken off as a result of a few fake Insta lives with celebrities like Billie Eilish, but the true lasting power of Francis’ account is thanks to the endearing charm, wholesome devotion and genuinely loveable demeanor of his personality.

@francis.bourgeois Here’s when I saw the Midland Pullman and met some lovely staff #trains #trending #fyp ♬ original sound – Francis Bourgeois

It’s a certain lust for life that makes Francis’ videos so profound. It’s hard to not find yourself wanting to discover your own passion after witnessing his.

@francis.bourgeois Class 66’s top and tailing a rake of engineering carriages to Fairwater Yard! A very rare occurance happens here😂 #trains #trending #fyp ♬ original sound – Francis Bourgeois

Francis might be a mostly local celebrity now, but as is the magic of TikTok, his local celebrity status has transcended after being discovered by a talent agency. So who knows, maybe we’ll spot this trainspotter on his very own television show. I’d certainly watch it.

In the meantime, his TikToks continue to be amusing, uplifting and inspiring.

Julien Baker was already a force in indie rock all on her, starting with her spare debut in 2015, Sprained Ankle, and building into 2017’s epic Turn Out The Lights, and finally, last year’s Little Oblivions. In between her second and third albums, though, Baker took a break from solo work to collaborate with fellow rising rock stars, Lucy Dacus and Phoebe Bridgers. The supergroup trio recorded a whole EP together as Boygenius, and calling it a hit would be to undersell it — fans went crazy for the collaboration.

So, it’s not surprising that Baker heeded what her listeners were saying, and decided to launch a whole new supergroup collab to kick off 2022. Baker along with Angel Olsen and Sharon Van Etten — who have collaborated before themselves as a duo — all shared the same image to Twitter today, tacitly letting fans know that their collaboration would drop Monday. If that isn’t something to look forward to, then I don’t know what is! No word yet on whether this will be a single track together, a couple songs, or a whole collaborative project, but given the artists involved, it’s definitely going to be great. Check out the image below and keep your ears out on Monday for more info.

A bonkers story hit the internet on Friday by way of former NFL quarterback and current media personality Boomer Esiason. According to Esiason, a rumor is making the rounds that Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who has come under fire for basically everything he’s said and done regarding COVID-19, would skip the Super Bowl because he wants to protest the NFL’s COVID protocols.

“Boom, the Rodgers saga continues to get crazier and crazier,” Esiason’s cohost Gregg Giannotti says as he reads a tweet that Esiason received. “I’ve been told by multiple people in Aaron’s direct circle that if the Packers make the Super Bowl, he will use the week leading up to the Super Bowl to prove a major point. He will threaten the NFL by saying he won’t play in the big game or next season if they don’t eliminate some of the COVID-related rules. One big one that upsets him the most is the testing of non-symptomatic players. He’s told Jordan Love to be ready. Like you said, he’s got to make it first, but Super Bowl week will be set on fire and send Goodell in a frenzy navigating the situation.”

Now, it is worth mentioning that both Esiason and Giannotti believe that this was a prank, but things still spread far enough that it got onto Rodgers’ radar. Unsurprisingly, the Packers star shot the whole thing down, and did so by using a ton of hashtags.

Of course, there is no guarantee that Green Bay makes the Super Bowl, even though they have the 1-seed and a very good football team. But if they do, it seems pretty safe to assume No. 12 will be their starting quarterback.