Marjorie Taylor Greene continued to flex her political muscles this week by making a series of demands that will never happen. The Georgia congresswoman is reportedly calling for President Joe Biden to get tested for cocaine because, apparently, there’s still hay to be made out of narcotics being found in the White House over the holiday weekend.
“In the real world, employees have to take drug tests,” Greene recently tweeted on Monday. “And remember how you had to take a COVID test in order to do anything? The entire Biden family, especially Hunter and Joe, need to take a drug test, including all staff to screen for cocaine.”
Citing necessary efforts to stem the COVID pandemic as some sort of crime against humanity, Greene doubled down on her demand for Biden’s entire family to be tested for coke.
“If we all had to have a giant Q tip shoved up our nose to test for COVID constantly, even when we weren’t sick, then the entire Biden White House and family need to take a drug test!!” Greene ranted.
In the real world, employees have to take drug tests.
And remember how you had to take a COVID test in order to do anything?
The entire Biden family, especially Hunter and Joe, need to take a drug test, including all staff to screen for cocaine.
Not content with demanding Biden take a drug test, Greene introduced an amendment that would force the United States to pull out of NATO despite the defense treaty being an effective deterrent to Russia‘s invasion of Ukraine.
“They are not a reliable partner whose defense spending should be paid for by American citizens. For the better part of the last decade, Germany has contributed only around one per cent of its GDP to finance Nato obligations while the United States is paying around four per cent of our GDP to defend Nato countries,” Ms Greene said in announcing the amendment.
She added that the US “has been financing and promising to defend Nato countries for decades and paying more than its fair share.”
To Greene’s credit, she also made outrageous demands to members of her own party. The Georgia congresswoman has refused to take calls from the House Freedom Caucus that would officially inform her that she’s been voted out of the caucus. However, she recently told members that she is open to a meeting, but only on the House floor where everyone can see it.
According to Raw Story, the Freedom Caucus’ reaction to Greene’s request got straight to the point: “Doesn’t make any sense.”
After some cryptic teasers earlier this week, Haim announced that they’ll be honoring the tenth anniversary of their 2013 debut album, Days Are Gone, in a very special way.
They will be releasing a special anniversary reissue of the record, notably on a green two-disc vinyl pressing. The first will be the regular album; the second will have bonus tracks and remixes, according to a press release.
While a tracklist for this is still TBD, fans can expect it to drop later this fall — and likely more information to arrive before then.
Additionally, Haim announced an extra show at Los Angeles’ The Bellweather will be held on July 19, where they will perform the album in full. Tickets go on sale this Friday, with more information available here. (Buzzy Lee will open as support, along with the band’s two earlier regular dates at the same venue.)
At the time of the original release of Haim’s Days Are Gone, the album reached No. 1 in the UK charts and No. 6 on the Billboard 200 in the US. The immensely popular trio have since dropped two more albums and will be supporting their friend, Taylor Swift, on The Eras Tour throughout this summer.
Fans in the UK can also catch the group at London’s All Points East festival next month.
Find more information on the Days Are Gone reissue here.
The NBA’s Board of Governors passed a pair of rule changes on Tuesday designed to address flopping and the number of challenges that a coach can use. After it was previously announced that the league would put the rule changes in front of the Board last month, the decision was made to adopt an in-game flopping penalty for the next year, while coaches will receive a second challenge in the event their first one is successful.
While the league will keep the fines that have been in place for players who greatly embellish calls, the new rules will add a non-unsportsmanlike technical foul call that goes against the offending player’s team. This would allow the opposing team to shoot a free throw, although there would not be an automatic change in possession. Additionally, while flopping violations aren’t able to be addressed by a coach’s challenge, the referees can add it if they notice a flop while reviewing a different play, and can wait until there’s a stop within the game to make a call instead of immediately interrupting a play.
As for the additional coach’s challenge, the league had to slightly change how timeouts are addressed within the new rule. Currently, if a team wins its only challenge, it gets to keep the timeout that it called to trigger a review. While that will remain the case going forward, the team will lose its timeout no matter the outcome of a second challenge.
You have probably heard about those dastardly orcas that keep tanking ships near Spain and Portugal, possibly out of revenge, in addition to a killer whale sinking a yacht. Experts have theorized that the orcas, which are an intelligent species, are feeling the pain from mankind as an endangered species.
As well, there’s no way that you’ve forgotten the recent Titanic submersible disaster, in which the ocean literally crushed five Oceangate tourists, including a 19-year-old who didn’t even want to be there. Some people (myself included) wonder if perhaps we should give the ocean a break because it’s trying to tell us something: “Get outta here.”
Now, the otters have seemingly had it, too. In Santa Cruz, KSBW covered the story of one of these cute little critters deciding that they own the surfboards. Aggressive attacks have ensued:
The New York Times also published a feature on this otter gone mad. It really wants to eat surfboards, and this is somehow no joke:
On Monday, Joon Lee, 40, a software engineer, was surfing at Steamer Lane, a popular surf spot in Santa Cruz, when 841 approached his board.
“I tried to paddle away but I wasn’t able to get far before it bit off my leash,” he said.
Mr. Lee abandoned his board and watched in horror as the otter climbed atop it and proceeded to rip chunks out of it with her powerful jaws.
“I tried to get it off by flipping the board over and pushing it away, but it was so fixated on my surfboard for whatever reason, it just kept attacking,” he said.
Yes, the ocean needs a vacation from us, but it probably won’t ever receive one. After all, the Icon Of The Seas looks like an absolute monstrosity and will soon launch as the world’s biggest cruise ship to date. Be careful out there!
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: Teachers deserve all the kudos, high fives, raises, accolades, prizes and thanks for everything they do. Even if they just stuck to academics alone, they’d be worth far more than they get, but so many teachers go above and beyond to teach the whole child, from balancing equations to building character qualities.
One way dedicated educators do that is by developing relationships and building rapport with their students. And one surefire way to build rapport is to dance with them.
A viral video shared by an assistant principal at Sumner High School & Academy in Riverview, Florida shows a group of students gathered around one student as he challenges a teacher to a dance-off.
“Our 8th grade Stingrays having a well deserved exam dance break,” wrote assistant principal Natalie McClain. “Of course our teachers are ending 2022 with a win.”
The teacher, Ms. Yolanda Turner, took the challenge—and the students went wild.
Watch:
u201cOur 8th grade Stingrays having a well deserved exam dance break. Of course our teachers are ending 2022 with a win. Love my Stingrays ud83dudc99ud83dudc9a Happy Holidays @HCPS_SumnerHSu201d
The student really thought he had her, didn’t he? It looked as if his soul left his body when he tapped her shoulders and then realized what he’d done. But to her credit, she took it in stride and took him out with her dance moves.
“The music was on, all the kids were pumped,” Turner told Fox 13. “So it was like, let’s have a dance challenge. So I’m like, okay, all right, so everybody’s having fun. And I said, ‘I’m going to tap in. I’m going to tap into the dance.'”
“I really try to emphasize for kids to be their authentic selves and to really never be afraid to express who they are no matter who’s watching,” she told the outlet.
This dance-off video is a prime example of how schools can be places of joyful connection in addition to academic achievement. Gaining students’ respect doesn’t require being a stuffy authoritarian hard nose, and students generally respond better to teachers they genuinely care for. Meeting them where they are is one of the best ways to reach kids and creating experiences that include for silliness and fun is one of the best ways to keep them engaged.
Plus, who doesn’t need to blow off a little steam in between exams? What a lovely example of striking a balance between academic rigor and modeling healthy stress relief. Well done, Ms. Turner.
Army and Jackpots, get ready for the hit of the summer.”Today (July 12), Jungkook of BTS has shared a teaser for his upcoming solo single, “Seven.” Fans have been waiting with bated breath for “Seven,” which Jungkook has been hinting at for weeks. In the teaser, which you can see below, it was revealed that “Seven” isn’t exactly solo, as it will feature none other than Miss 777 herself: Latto.
The 24-second clip features Jungkook on a dinner date with South Korean actress Han So-hee. A chandelier then falls onto the table before a title card reveals that “Seven,” with Latto, will arrive this Friday.
In the brief clip, Jungkook is heard singing “Weight of the world on your shoulders / I catch your waist and ease your mind.”
We have yet to hear how Latto will bless the song, but with her recent run of hits — particularly with her scorching viral track “Put It On Da Floor” — we’re certain it’ll be nothing less than fire.
Latto did take to Twitter to give a shout-out to Jungkook, as well as the dedicated BTS fans.
“S/O to da ARMY,” she said, with a series of “7” emojis.
After heaps of praise during its run at Fantastic Fest, Sitges, and other outrageous film festivals, Medusa Deluxe will finally come to a theater near you thanks to A24. Written and directed by British filmmaker Thomas Hardiman, Medusa Deluxe is a murder mystery set in a competitive hairdressing contest.
Here’s the official synopsis:
“Talented, ambitious, and backstabbing hairstylists gather for a competition in England, only to find one of their own murdered before judging can begin. Winding through neon-lit halls and backstage dressing rooms, competitors unspool long-simmering resentments and secrets as they search for the killer among them, in this devilishly funny whodunit from debut filmmaker Thomas Hardiman.”
The trailer looks dangerous and lush. Shot by Robbie Ryan (American Honey, The Favourite), all the shadowy corners are captured amid a lurid tale brimming with muted rainbows and paranoia reflected in the vanity mirror. It’s also novel to see the hair designer as part of the marketing campaign. Eugene Souleiman is a 30-year veteran of the fashion industry and has crafted hair for tons of fashion companies and celebrities like Lady Gaga.
Medusa Deluxe stars Anita-Joy Uwajeh, Clare Perkins, Darrell D’Silva, Debris Stevenson, Harriet Webb, Heider Ali, Kae Alexander, Kayla Meikle, Lilit Lesser, Luke Pasqualino, and Nicholas Karimi. It hit theaters August 11st.
If the category was just Succession vs. Better Call Saul, both of which wrapped up with terrific final seasons, it would be hard enough. But don’t overlook House of the Dragon, the Game of Thrones prequel that corrected many of the sins from that show’s final season; or Yellowjackets, which didn’t lose momentum in its sophomore season; or The Last of Us, easily TV’s best video game adaptation. Also, The White Lotus, which gave us this indelible moment in HBO history, and Andor, if only for Andy Serkis and Stellan Skarsgård’s stirring monologues. (At the moment, I think Succession is the frontrunner, with The White Lotus, The Last of Us, and Better Call Saul close behind.)
Outstanding Comedy Series is solid, too, with Abbott Elementary, Barry, The Bear, Jury Duty, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Only Murders in the Building, Ted Lasso (they must have misspelled Poker Face), and Wednesday. But Outstanding Drama Series is the real smorgasbord of great television.
— Television Academy (@TelevisionAcad) July 12, 2023
The 75th Primetime Emmys are scheduled to air on September 18th, but the ceremony will likely be pushed back to November 2023 or January 2024, due to the ongoing WGA (and possibly SAG-AFTRA) strike.
Drake may or may not have just incurred a hefty fine for playing his recent Detroit tour stop way too late, but some fans have been showing up to his next It’s All A Blur stop way too early. A Twitter account called Only In Boston has posted a photo purporting that some Drake fans have pulled up to the North Station of TD Garden in order to gain access to the floor section for his show there tonight.
The venue uses a wristband system to organize entry for general access, lining fans up for the show entry according to the numbers on the wristband they acquired in the morning. So these concertgoers are more than likely only grabbing their wristbands for later, but the sight has still prompted confusion, derision, and wonderment on Twitter.
The line at 6AM this morning outside North Station for people trying to be the first to get access to the GA Floor section of the Drake concert tonight through numbered wristbands given out starting at 8AM. pic.twitter.com/06zrBqXBS4
From some of the responses, it seems that the system isn’t as widely known or understood as it could be, while some of those who had already attended previous shows say it’s not worth it. Then, there are the Drake haters, who just sound a little mad that they couldn’t get tickets.
Shot-making performances like what Jabari Smith Jr. has put together in Las Vegas can’t be ignored. With 71 points on 49 percent shooting and just five turnovers across two games, Smith has — despite his own good attitude about appearing in the exhibition games — looked way too good to be there. What the Houston Rockets’ brass will care more about during a summer in which the organization is clearly trying to jump-start being competitive again, though, is that Smith has made improvements that should help solidify his long-term standing on the team.
Coming off a post-All Star break stretch in which he put up 15 points and eight rebounds a night on 45 percent shooting, this season of the Jabari Show is starting the same way the last one ended: poised and exciting.
During his stint in Las Vegas that Kelly Iko of The Athletic reports has come to an end, Smith showed the beginnings of what it will look like when he blends the tough shot-making and confident footwork he showed at Auburn with a more physical on-ball role. Because of his steady, high release point and deep range, Smith was able to dominate games as a shooter at the college level fairly routinely. Auburn coach Bruce Pearl used pro-style sets to free up Smith in space off pindowns, pick and pops, and as the trailer in transition. From there, Smith could either let it fly or move into a comfortable one-dribble pull-up. When he did move inside, Smith often relied on quick moves like a jab step pull-up or a fadeaway jumper, again using his size and advanced skill game to win matchups.
In Las Vegas, Smith made a noticeable effort to get to the basket more consistently with some of the same basic tools. There is a patience to Smith’s game that is obvious, and though he will continue adding upper-body strength as his pro career continues, his lower body strides powerfully through dribble moves. He took an extra beat in the lane to let less assured defenders be thrown out of position by their own momentum.
In college and even during his rookie year, Smith would abort his drives to put his back to the basket for harder shots or fail to finish inside (he shot just 69 percent at the rim last season). In two games this summer, he absorbed contact with his big frame and used his length to finish easy drop-ins. A matchup against Detroit featured experienced NBA big men in James Wiseman and Jalen Duren as well, meaning Smith isn’t just feasting on G Leaguers or guys destined for Europe.
During a mid-game interview with new Houston head coach Ime Udoka in the Rockets’ Summer League opener last week, Udoka emphasized Smith squaring up and being ready to shoot at all times coming off a rookie year where just 31 percent of his threes fell. While the question and answer seemed to hint at a perceived hesitancy in Smith’s game, the more clear ripple effect of Smith hunting his own shot more consistently is that it opens up the rest of his scoring bag. Big shooters who make smart decisions and can put the ball on the ground are perhaps the hardest players in the NBA to defend. It’s why Smith was a top-three pick in the first place.
When Smith mixes in quick pull-ups or spot-up jumpers, he puts the defense on its heels and takes over.
While unlikely to be a major part of his game in the coming years, Smith also showed some open-court passing ability and quick decision-making as a ball-mover that Rockets coaches can tuck in their back pocket for later. That’s the stuff that Summer League allows players to try out in a less pressurized environment, and Smith benefited from it.
The defensive end is where Houston has the most questions and where Smith might be misunderstood, or at least currently miscast. Playing alongside a center like Alperen Sengun who is undersized, ground-bound, and a subpar rim protector, the easy idea is to hope that Smith, who is 6’10 with a 7’2 wingspan, can be the guy who protects the rim. That’s not likely.
Smith does have special tools defensively, just not in a traditional help role at the basket. His foot speed and fluidity translate when he’s guarding smaller players, allowing him to stay with guards on the perimeter. He has great awareness of how to get big while maintaining his balance as well, taking away passing and driving angles just with his length.
Against lesser shot creators like Duren, we also see Smith get stops in one-on-one situations.
However, there are clearly moments, even in a Summer League setting, in which Smith’s need to add strength also flare up on defense. His awareness and quick-twitch reaction speed are also not where it would need to be if the goal is for Smith to turn into a high-level help defender like Robert Williams.
Planting him inside in help position also leaves him susceptible to being bodied:
Instead, Smith’s specialty defensively is his versatility. He can block shots when guarding his man or reading a simple drive, but he excels more when he can lock in against his matchup. A better goal for Smith would be to aim to be like Jayson Tatum or Jaden McDaniels, big forwards who can fight through screens, contain the ball, and force turnovers.
After signing Fred VanVleet, Dillon Brooks, and Jock Landale in free agency, the Rockets should be able to execute basic defense more consistently after ranking 29th on that end last season. Teams ran a layup line against Houston and scored in transition at will. Veterans should help contain the ball and communicate to take away the easiest shots. That said, Smith probably still has a long way to go defensively considering the talent at the position he plays and how long it can take for someone who can do a little of everything to actually make an impact. Still, he will benefit from locking into a real role on a competitive defense and start learning how his physical gifts can affect games.
At the same time, Udoka is known for switching more on defense than most coaches. It’s what he deployed as an assistant in Brooklyn as well as the head coach in Boston during their Finals run in 2022. Lineups when Sengun and other young players are off the court could help raise Houston’s defensive intensity even more, with more switching and swarming.
A role is coming into focus for Smith, the greatest thing one can say about a young player after a strong Summer League. With a more balanced and assertive scoring game, even in a tertiary role, and more structure all-around, Smith should be able to improve dramatically from his .514 true shooting percentage as a rookie. The turnovers should start to come down as he gets more comfortable and patient with his dribble and body control. And with a defensive-minded coach and more veteran personnel, Smith is likely to make a stronger impact on that end of the floor.
Smith is all over social media highlight reels after a stellar opening weekend in Las Vegas, and while we have to sit back and appreciate the production, Smith has shown he is growing in the right ways, too.
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(@mtgreenee) July 10, 2023
(@Latto) 
