Since this happened last week when plenty of people were already completely checked out for the holiday, and maybe even traveling since that wasn’t really an option last year, I’m posting it now so everyone can see what happens when Ari tackles a little bit of Britney. Coming on the heels of the announcement that Britney is finally free of the conservatorship that ruled her life for years, Ari happily launched into “Oops I Did It Again” when that track came up on the wheel. She even remembers all the dance moves to the song, and does Britney proud with the snippet. Check it out above, along with Ari’s take on Cher and Kelly’s take on Shania, plus many more.
Back in October we first learned that Ed Sheeran and Elton John had made a Christmas song together, and in November Sheeran let us know the song title. Though “Merry Christmas” might not seem like the most original name, apparently there were no other songs with that exact title! Who knew.
Anyway, the song is going to be here very soon, as in, this week soon. And in order to let fans know that his very quick follow-up to a brand new album, =, would be coming this week, Ed did a little Love Actually cosplaying. Recreating that infamous scene from the movie when a friend of Natalie Portman’s husband comes to the door to privately let her know he loves her, Sheeran let us all know that Elton would be helping him bring some cheer very soon. Check it out below.
Just under a year ago, I called @edsheeran to see if he wanted to make a Christmas single with me and now it’s nearly here!
‘Merry Christmas’ will be out Fri 3 Dec with all proceeds from this year’s Christmas period going to the Ed Sheeran Suffolk Music Foundation & @ejafpic.twitter.com/rUJyvNFs2K
Here’s the news the video delivers, via the notecard trick: Hello, Last Christmas I received a call from my mate Elton John. And he told me we should do a “Christmas Song” and I replied, ‘Yeah, maybe in 2022.’ But I actually wrote the chorus that day, and here we are. Our Christmas song, “Merry Christmas,” is out this Friday. Go pre-order or pre-save it now. It has sleigh bells a lot of them…”
As Elton notes in his tweet, all the proceeds from this year’s Christmas period are going to the Ed Sheeran Suffolk Music Foundation and the Elton John AIDS Foundation.
Along with a sudden opening at Oklahoma, LSU still was seeking a new head coach — ironically, Riley was shooting down LSU rumors on Saturday night, less than 24 hours before bolting for USC. The Tigers were always expected to try and make a splash, and with Riley getting poached it seems the folks down in Baton Rouge got an idea for how to try and do the same. On Monday, rumblings began picking up that Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly was atop the Tigers wish list, but few expected him to be able to be wooed away from South Bend.
However, later in the evening Yahoo’s Pete Thamel — who broke the Riley to USC news on Sunday — brought word that a deal was expected to be done within the next 24 hours, creating another massive domino situation in college football. Ross Dellenger of SI confirmed the news shortly after.
Sources: LSU is expecting to hire Notre Dame’s Brian Kelly as the school’s next head coach. An announcement could come as early as tomorrow.
Kelly officially has a 113-40 record in 12 seasons at Notre Dame, including an 11-1 record this season that has the Irish, potentially, eyeing another Playoff berth should some things shake out in their favor this coming weekend. For him to leave for Baton Rouge means the money must be outrageous, and also means Notre Dame is in the market for a new coach — which will surely lead to another major opening.
Cincinnati head coach Luke Fickell will be the expected frontrunner for the Notre Dame job, as he’s led the Bearcats to an undefeated 12-0 season, handing the Irish their only loss of the season in the process, and if there’s a non-Ohio State job he’d leave Cincinnati for, most feel Notre Dame would be it. Otherwise, you could see a number of other prominent coaching names on the Irish wish list, but what’s certain is there will only be more and more ripple effects felt from this seismic shift.
The tragedy that was this year’s Astroworld festival left a number of attendees dead, and the youngest of which is a nine-year-old boy. Though Travis Scott has been deeply apologetic about his deadly event, and even offered to help cover funeral costs for those who lost loved ones at the festival, some families of victims aren’t interested in his money.
“Your client’s offer is declined,” Blount family attorney Bob Hilliard said in a response obtained by Rolling Stone. “I have no doubt Mr. Scott feels remorse. His journey ahead will be painful. He must face and hopefully see that he bears some of the responsibility for this tragedy. There may be, and I hope there is, redemption and growth for him on the other side of what this painful process will be — and perhaps one day, once time allows some healing for the victims and acceptance of responsibility by Mr. Scott and others, Treston and Mr. Scott might meet, as there is also healing in that.”
Ezra was on his dad Treston’s shoulders during the festival, until the two were trapped in a crowd surge and Treston passed out. Ezra was later found in a coma at a nearby hospital, but ultimately succumbed to his injuries.
As the old saying goes, “do good and it will come back to you in unexpected ways.”
Sometimes those “unexpected ways” come in four-wheel drive.
Oscar Rodriguez is a Navy veteran, church leader and personal trainer in Culver City, California. More important than that, he is a good person with a giving heart. In addition to taking care of his 75-year-old mom, he also makes meals for women victims of domestic violence.
Rodriguez thought he won the ultimate prize: going to a special VIP screening of Dwayne Johnson’s new film “Red Notice,” and getting pulled up on stage by The Rock himself. But it only got better from there.
Thanking him for his service, praising him for giving back to his community and bonding with him as a fellow “mamma’s boy,” Johnson stands with Rodriguez on the stage exchanging hugs … until Johnson says “I wanna show you something real quick.”
A video on The Rock’s Instagram shows the two walking out to a giant black Ford Raptor pick-up truck, where Johnson grabs a note and hands it to Rodriguez, saying, “I wrote this card for you. It’s a little thing.”
Playing along, a bewildered Rodriguez reads: “Thank you for your service brother. Enjoy your new tru-”
Rodriguez collapsed with tears before finishing his sentence. And rightly so. It’s not every day you’re gifted Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s very own custom truck.
The caption on Johnson’s post explains that he originally planned to give Rodriguez the same Porsche Taycan driven in the movie. Porsche said no, but the Rock still said yes, and aimed to “do one better.”
Honestly, I don’t know which is more heartwarming: the fact that this fan gets the ultimate surprise from one of his heroes, or seeing two grown men with such a huge display of emotion.
Bursting up from the ground, Rodriguez goes in for yet another hug with the Hollywood icon. His voice high and cracking from passion, he exclaims, “Yo, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen you in this truck,” while sobbing and holding his chest. Rodriguez then Facetimes his girlfriend, and shrieks of “oh my god” can be heard from the phone.
As Rodriguez peels out of the parking lot in style, Johnson tells viewers “his laundry list of caring credentials, it’s pretty amazing. So it’s just an honor for me to bring a little bit of joy to a dude who deserves probably a lot more than just my truck.” Not missing a beat, he adds “and now I can figure out…how to get home.”
The Rock might be without a car, but Oscar Rodriguez now has a daily reminder that kindness matters, and that acts of generosity do get noticed. Something tells me that he does these things from something other than extrinsic motivation. Still, a new car always helps.
On Thanksgiving, Rodriguez posted that he plans to emulate Johnson’s positivity, using the “new whip” to pay it forward by encouraging people and lifting their spirits, bringing cheer.
As Rodriguez’s story reminds us, “it’s just love.” Wonderful, surprising moments happen when we remember to act from our hearts.
Most Americans know by now that Joe Biden has worked hard to overcome a stutter he’s had his whole life. His story of success, living a life of public service as a senator, vice president and now president of the United States, has inspired many who struggle to get their words to come out the way they want them to.
A video of Biden talking to a little girl who stutters has gone viral on Twitter, with people praising the president for his kindness and decency. Rufus Gifford, who shared the video, wrote, “My amazing niece and goddaughter Avery has struggled with a stutter much of her life. She was just told by a guy who knows a little something about it that she can be anything she wants to in this world. A day she will never ever forget. Thank you sir.”
In the clip, Biden tells Avery, “That’s all you have to do, and it’ll go away, I promise. You just keep at it.”
“Thank you,” the girl says as she gives the president a hug.
My amazing niece and goddaughter Avery has struggled with a stutter much of her life.nnShe was just told by a guy who knows a little something about it that she can be anything she wants to in this world. nnA day she will never ever forget. nnThank you sir. pic.twitter.com/RDP5Y0FfTa
Biden then invites Avery and her family to the White House, which Avery is clearly thrilled about.
This is not the first time we’ve seen President Biden inspire a kid who stutters. During the 2020 presidential race, Joe Biden met a 13-year-old from New Hampshire on the campaign trail. Brayden Harrington struggled with a stutter and the two bonded over it when they met.
“Don’t let it define you,” Biden told him. “You are smart as hell.”
Brayden ended up writing and delivering a speech endorsing Biden at the Democratic National Convention and also recited a portion of a John F. Kennedy address for Biden’s presidential inauguration.
To go from worrying about stuttering to giving two speeches in front of millions in a matter of months is incredibly impressive. That’s the power of encouragement and inspiration.
“I’m just a regular kid, and in a short amount of time, Joe Biden made me more confident about something that’s bothered me my whole life,” Brayden said in his DNC speech. “Joe Biden cared.”
In 2015, when he was serving as vice president, Biden gave a speech on stuttering at the American Institute for Stuttering. He explained how, as a child, he would recite passages from Yeats and Emerson in the mirror and practice controlling his face and speech. He described how his mother encouraged him to not let his stutter define him. And he shared how having a stutter made him a more compassionate person.
“I learned so much from having to deal with stuttering,” he said. “It gave me insight into other people’s pain, other people’s suffering. It made me understand that everyone—everyone—has something they’re fighting to overcome, and sometimes trying to hide.”
Presidents have power and influence that goes far beyond politics. Thank you, President Biden, for showing others who stutter that their struggles don’t define them and that they definitely don’t have to hold them back.
Of the abuses Donald Trump heaped upon the American people over his four years in office, Melania’s Christmas decorations rank low on the totem pole. They were more of a punching bag than a cause for concern, an annual chance for people to do some therapeutic holiday dragging. There were the blood-red trees, which many thought looked suspiciously/unnervingly like The Handmaid’s Tale. Last year, her final stint, people were making jokes even before the tree was dragged into the White House.
So when the current First Lady, Dr. Jill Biden, unveiled her perfectly adequate, more traditional decorations, which didn’t make people feel like they’d stumbled into an unhappy person’s darkest nightmare, there was much rejoicing.
First lady Dr. Jill Biden unveils this year’s theme for the White House Christmas decorations is “Gifts from the Heart,” which she says is inspired by “the acts of kindness and experiences that lifted our spirits this year.” https://t.co/33aOB8i4rApic.twitter.com/rIkaZeX0HZ
Trees in state dining room decorated with old photos of first families. Stockings on fireplace have names of Biden grandkids pic.twitter.com/pkFjrAPyhy
Dr. Biden, unlike Melania, really loves Christmas. She also wanted her maiden voyage decking the White House halls to reflect what she’s learned from the American people. The year’s theme is “Gifts From the Heart,” and she even went so far as to write a commemorative guidebook explaining her methodology.
“The things we hold sacred unite us and transcend distance, time, and even the constraints of a pandemic: faith, family, and friendship; a love of the arts, learning, and nature; gratitude, service, and community; unity and peace,” Biden wrote. “These are the gifts that tie together the heart strings of our lives. These are the gifts from the heart.”
So there are gingerbread houses, and photos of loved ones, and stockings above the fireplace, and it’s all very nice. But people are focusing more on the absence of Melania.
After four years, thanks to First Lady Jill Biden, a normal, happy Christmas returns to the White House. It’s the end of Melania Trump’s dark, dystopian Christmases of “I’m working my a** off on Christmas stuff. Who gives a f**k about Christmas?”. pic.twitter.com/t5NobsOeQS
BREAKING: Jill Biden brings back a “normal Christmas” by welcoming the official White House Christmas Tree after Melania Trump turned the White House into a “dark, dystopian” landscape & asked, “Who gives a f*ck about Christmas?” RT IF YOU’RE GLAD TO HAVE A REAL FIRST LADY AGAIN!
The Trump era was one of constant anxiety and unexpected, even inventively surreal destructions of norms. Joe Biden effectively ran on restoring order and sanity, and his wife is following suit. But if you’re fearing that one day, in a few years hence, Donald Trump could return, then Melania is probably right there with you.
The Golden State Warriors are off to a flying start in 2021-22, posting the NBA’s best record at 18-2 and dominating on both ends. With Stephen Curry operating at an MVP level and Draymond Green anchoring what has been the league’s top defense through 20 games, the Warriors are clearly giving off fun vibes again, and Golden State has a prime time showdown against the similarly hot Phoenix Suns on Tuesday. In advance of that high-profile tilt, Curry chatted with Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports and, in the midst of a highly intriguing discussion, he explained why the Warriors not making the NBA’s Orlando Bubble in 2020 was his “lowest point” of a trying two-year period.
“Watching the bubble was the lowest point of those two years,” Curry told Haynes. “There was a part of me that felt it was nice to get refreshed, and a part of me really missed playing on that stage. That was the first time in seven years of not being in the playoffs. We know each player had their own experiences in the bubble, but I would have loved to have been there competing. I would say that was the lowest point in terms of my basketball experience because I felt so far away from it. This is what I love to do.”
Curry later said that he is “used to performing in certain times of the year,” and that likely contributed to some of it, especially as he watched his contemporaries vying for a title. From there, Curry said it was hard “because we know what it’s like to prepare for the playoffs and into a championship chase and how much fun that is,” and noted that was the “motivation (he) needed.”
It should be noted that it wasn’t as if the Warriors set the league ablaze in 2020-21, but Golden State did mount a much better performance and came on very strong down the stretch of the campaign. That may have set the stage for the “beautiful game” basketball that Steve Kerr’s team is exhibiting in the early going, and the Warriors might be even scarier in the near future if Klay Thompson can return at anything approaching pre-injury levels. It certainly makes sense that Curry generated motivation from not being in the Bubble environment, but this was a particularly interesting revelation in that the absence really seemed to hit him hard and also instill a renewed drive.
Though Mary J. Blige‘s last album, Strength Of A Woman, only came out four years ago, in 2017, she’s already ready to blow fans minds with a whole new record. That album might’ve had a Kanye verse, and Blige went on to get nominated and perform at The Oscars the following year, she’s still convinced that her new material is going throw fans for a loop. During a recent appearance on Tamron Hall, the legendary R&B star opened up about some of what she went through, a very public divorce included, that inspired this next project.
“Wait till you hear it, it’s gonna blow everybody’s mind,” Blige said. “And it’s because it’s something I had to do, and something I had to say when I was in my darkest, darkest moments in that life, to build myself up to this person that I can see and accept my nose, accept my eyes, accept my cheeks, accept all the things that I used to hate. When I wake up with no hair and makeup, I’m accepting that chick that goes to the bathroom and I like her. I hang out with myself a lot. I’m my own best friend.”
There is no gift more valuable than the gift of health, especially in this day and age. Giving those we love the tools to lead healthier lives, while bringing a little fun to the process, is what we call a win-win. Not only that, but the endorphins released can make them genuinely happier and not just on one day of the year.
Below you’ll find a list of gift picks — from dynamic training tech to state-of-the-art recovery modalities — that are perfect for the wellness and health-focused man in your life. They span all price ranges, because when you’re talking about a change of lifestyle, no amount is too small or big. Sure, companies can sometimes overpromise, but here they deliver and we’ll explain why. Each and every item has been properly road-tested by the crew here at Uproxx.
Check out the game-changing gear below. You might just decide to treat yourself to an item or two as you shop.
Men’s UA Tac Blackout 2.0 Gloves
Courtesy
Price: $23
The Company Line:
Built to keep you focused on the job, not your hands. They’re light, tough, and give you both the right protection and the right freedom of movement. Tech Touch print on thumbs and fingers allows you to use touch screen devices without taking your gloves off.
Why They’re Great Gifts:
For those looking to elevate their bodyweight training outdoors, these are a must-have. Not only do they provide warmth for the chillier days ahead, but they are also a great way to improve your grip for pull-ups and chin-ups. The gloves are durable enough to be used for grabbing onto anything for weight — like rocks or bars — and breathable enough to keep your hands cool.
The special fabric on the fingerprints allows you to find your next jam on Spotify without having to remove your handwear.
PowerBlocks are adjustable dumbbells that are simple to use. To change weights, remove the pin, select the rail with the corresponding weight chart, then insert the pin completely into the desired slot. That’s it, you’re ready to lift.
Why They’re Great Gifts:
Dumbbells have been in short supply over the past years, and for those living in apartments so is space. No matter what kind of room you are working with, a pair of these can go a long way in filling out any strength training at home. They have 16 different settings and come with up to 825 pounds of weight — ample for any person trying to up their game.
Onnit Brand Kettlebells are made with a high-quality, chip-resistant coating that’s strong enough to endure your most punishing workouts. Kettlebell training combines explosive strength with muscular endurance to provide an efficient and athletically optimized full-body workout.
Why They’re Great Gifts:
Based in Austin, Onnit first became known for its impressive social media presence, but for those in the know, they are also on the cutting-edge of physical performance. That is why some of the most impressive athletes in the world go to work out there, and their trainers are often called-on experts in their fields. Their gear is well-regarded in the industry, especially their kettlebells. The primate editions are the most recognized, but they have also had some huge collaborations with Marvel and Disney that are always quick to sell out.
Get a total body, low impact workout in, wherever you are. Complete with varying levels of short and long Looped Resistance Bands, a Door Anchor, and 2 Carabiners. the TB12 Full Body Band Kit combines everything you need to gear up for total body training.
Why They’re Great Gifts:
Resistance bands are an effective addition to any at-home gym roster. This set is top-notch, perfect for a full-body session or even as an added element to any free-weight routine. Not to mention that it is produced by the company of one of the most impressive athletes in the world. NFL quarterback Tom Brady.
The group also comes with a great bag that you can use to take it on the road when the hotel gym is lacking.
Oura translates your body signals and daily habits into actionable insights you can use to stay active and improve your overall health, and monitors your heart rate around the clock. Oura also helps you optimize your bedtime and provides insights to gradually improve your sleep.
Why They’re Great Gifts:
There are a lot of great fitness trackers on the market, but for those looking to keep their wrists free, Oura is the way to go. Not only does it provide you with all of the wellness insights that you could require but it is easy to forget that you are even wearing it. What you won’t want to forget is the information that will be at your beck and call on your phone, aiding your ability to live a healthy life.
The Hypervolt Go was designed to move with you. It gives you portable percussion massage in a perfectly light and powerfully small package so you can take it to the gym, on the road, and everywhere in between. Get the muscle relief you need so you can keep going. And then go again.
Why They’re Great Gifts:
The massage gun has become a fixture in modern-day recovery, but most of the units can be a little bulky or heavy to bring on the road. The beauty of these smaller pieces is that they can bring their deep muscle massaging relief wherever your active life takes you. They also come with Hyperice’s patented QuietGlide technology that keeps the process as relaxing as possible.
Recoup set out to create the most durable, longest-lasting cold massage roller solving the problems of ice cups, lacrosse balls and foam rollers. The ball is a little larger than a baseball, made from stainless steel and filled with nontoxic cooling gel. Recoup’s Cryosphere handle allows for the ball to free-roll for controlled recovery. On top of the handle is a rubber layer for optimal grip.
Why They’re Great Gifts:
The benefits of cryotherapy and cooling are well known, yet finding at-home ways to unlock them without using a bunch of melting ice and ice bags. In addition to the cold therapy, the sphere also makes for a useful massager. The ball is ready for use after just two hours spent in the freezer, which is more than can be said for most ice packs.
The piece is not only practical in that sense but also a pleasant respite after a hard session.
Lumen is the world’s first hand-held, portable device to accurately measure metabolism. Once available only to top athletes, in hospitals and clinics, metabolic testing is now available to everyone. Lumen is scientifically proven to meet the gold standard of metabolism measurement (RER) in multiple validation studies.
Why They’re Great Gifts:
This little item is a useful piece of technology that the majority of people in your life probably haven’t heard about yet. Getting metabolic data used to be a big undertaking, but the Lumen crew have endeavored to make it easily accessible to anyone. This piece helps you learn how you are burning fat and carbs based on a little breathe into their device. This information is delivered through your phone, so that you can use it to improve your eating habits and sleep patterns.
The Hydrow rowing machine combines design-forward beauty with innovative technology. Its electromagnetic, computer-controlled drag system creates the ultra-smooth feel of being on the water. Its patented, one-of-a-kind components separate Hydrow from the rest, putting it at the pinnacle of in-home fitness.
Why They’re Great Gifts:
Rowing is one of the most effective full-body workouts in the world and a great way to challenge your cardio with little impact on the body. For those who have been in a canoe on the river before, it is also quite fun and easy to develop a rhythm for those wishing to make a longer effort. This particular brand also has a variety of video content to partner with its machine’s 22-inch HD screen, so those at home can enjoy visual motivation.
Forget plates, barbells, and bands. Tonal uses a revolutionary dynamic weight system that adjusts to your every move, delivering personalized workouts to help you be your strongest self. Get detailed performance analytics that tracks your strength by body part to help you reach your goals faster.
Why They’re Great Gifts:
The cutting-edge electromagnetic technology has the ability to simulate up to 200 pounds of weight, 100 pounds for each arm. The unassuming and sleek design is perfect for those looking for an at-home solution that takes little space mounted on the wall, while also giving one hell of a workout.
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