According to police, there has been an officer-involved shooting in the 300 block of North State College Boulevard, and the suspect has fled into a neighborhood. Local residents have been are urged to shelter in place, and Sycamore Junior High School has been placed on lockdown.
At this time, it is unclear what led to the shooting or who was involved in it. Patch reports that police are currently searching for a male suspect with tattoos on his face and neck with long black hair, wearing gray shorts.
Sycamore Junior High School is a junior high school located in Anaheim, California.
The lockdown at Sycamore Junior High School is just the latest in a string of lockdowns and/or shootings that have plagued the United States. Over the course of the past few years, shootings such as these have been a scourge upon the country and people have struggled with coming up with a solution. Lockdowns have become all too common as a means of protection when students and faculty are in danger and today is no different.
This lockdown follows incidents at Dodd Middle School in Connecticut, Windham Public Schools also in Connecticut, Pacoima Middle School in Los Angeles, Millennium Middle School in Florida, and US Grant High School in Oklahoma, which are just some of the places where events such as this have occurred.
After the left engine was ripped off of a Southwest Flight 1380 traveling from New York City to Dallas, breaking a window and nearly sucking a woman out of the plane, one brave pilot was able to make an emergency landing in Philadelphia. While people on board wrote on social media that they feared that they would soon be facing the end, the pilot’s actions helped ensure the safety of all but one of the 143 passengers. While Southwest Airlines has not named the pilot involved, her name was given as Tammie Jo Shults by survivors of the flight.
What happened?
According to CNN, one of the passengers, Kristopher Johnson, gave the first-hand account of the incident:
“We were leaving LaGuardia heading to Dallas. We were west of Philadelphia probably about 30,000 feet, and all of a sudden we just heard this loud bang, rattling and then it felt like one of the engines went out. The oxygen masks dropped and flight attendants did a good job. The pilot came on and said we’re diverting to Philadelphia and, you know, there was a serious medical injury. I don’t know much about that, but I was sitting in the front. With a couple passengers. We just got the mask on and as soon as we landed, we were thankful. The pilots did a great job, the crew did a great job.”
“They got us down to Philly, and that’s when I took the photo of the engine, and it appeared that it just shredded the left side engine completely. So we were coming down — we dropped probably from 30,000 feet to 25,000 feet, and then the pilot kind of regained control and brought it down safely to Philadelphia. So we got off the plane and onto buses and we’re trying to head over to the tarmac in Philly…It was pretty scary, but the pilots did a great job.”
On Facebook, another passenger, Marty Martinez, said while on video that another passenger was suffering from a heart attack while on board:
“Someone on the plane had a heart attack and it looks like an engine blew out then a window was blown open. We are still on the plane and they are trying to revive a woman on the plane.”
According to NBC 10, it was confirmed that debris broken off from the engine managed to hit and break a window on the plane, with the window’s implosion almost sucking a woman onboard off of the plane. It had also been confirmed that there was at least one fatality from the flight, although the person’s official cause of death was not confirmed; there had been speculation that the person who endured the heart attack had been the one who lost their life but this was also unconfirmed.
At this time, the cause of the engine failure is also believed to be under investigation.
Who is Tammie Jo Shults?
One Instagram user, identified as Amanda Bourman, identified the pilot as “Tammy Jo” during a description of what happened:
“Our engine that blew out at 38000 ft. A window blew out, a man saved us all as he jumped to cover the window. Unfortunately we lost a passenger to a heart attack. The pilot, Tammy Jo was so amazing! She landed us safely in Philly. God sent his angels to watch over us. I actually heard someone say, there is a God!! #southwest #flight1380 #godsenthisangels #anotherdayofgrace”
Shults is a native of New Mexico, having graduated in 1983 from MidAmerican Nazarene University; a Facebook post dating back to March 2017, when she attended a luncheon on campus, listed her as being “one of the first female fighter pilots for the US Navy,” adding that she currently lives in Fair Oaks Ranch, Texas, with her husband, Dean.
According to City-Data, Dean is also a licensed pilot. Together, the two have two children, Sydney and Marshall. In addition to her work as a pilot, Tammie Jo and Dean also ran a company called Girl Pilot Stuff, incorporated in 2004.
A lot of crazy things go down in Russia. Ever see those Youtube compilation videos of Russian drivers? Almost everyone has a dash cam on their car and after witnessing how people drive on the road over there, it makes sense. There’s one video where a semi-truck crosses over to the opposite side of the road and crashes into another semi truck. The driver of the second semi-truck narrowly escapes by jumping out of the cracked windshield, landing perfectly on his feet, and walking off like it was nothing. Our Eastern European friends are a seemingly unfazed bunch. However, two events this past week have caught the attention of the rest of the world making people wonder again, “What is going on in Russia?”
This past Sunday during a soccer match between club teams Fakel Voronezh and Luch-Energiya Vladivostok, a fan brought a rooster with him to the game. He picked up the bird, threw it onto the field, and then celebrated by yelling and making obscene gestures. Other fans then joined in shouting, “Grigoryan is a rooster.” The term “Rooster” in Russia is used as a homophobic slur. Alexander Grigoryan is Vladivostok’s coach and is pretty unpopular among the fans. He has been a constant victim of fan abuse and has even received threatening phone calls in the past.
Since he used to coach a local rival team, the Vladivostok coach is seen as a traitor among the fans. This most recent incident of bird-throwing has taken the abuse to another level. Vladivostok was winning the match with a 1-0 lead, but after the incident, they ended up losing 3-1. The Russian Football Union is now looking into possible punishment.
Prior to this, instead of roosters making an appearance at a Russian soccer match, on Saturday, there was a bear. Before a match between teams Angusht and Mashuk-KMV, a bear named Tim was used to entertain the crowd. The bear was clapping, hopping up and down, and before the start of the match, handed off the ball to the referee. A video of the performing bear went viral, resulting in a stream of complaints from animal rights groups.
The announcer at the match claimed the bear would also perform in the World Cup’s opening ceremony in June. Animal rights groups are not having it. They believe the act is inhumane. PETA president Ingrid Newkirk issued a statement regarding the abuse the bear, along with other performing animals, endure. The bears at a young age are trained by beatings, electric shocks, cigarette burns, and starvation. Not only that, but the teeth and claws of the bear are also removed. The Russian people are defending their decision to use Tim. To them, the bear is a symbol of their country and it was with pride and not disdain that they viewed the performance with. Well there you have it, folks– just another average day in Mother Russia.
The Raw portion of the Superstar Shake-Up has happened. On the April 16th edition of Monday Night Raw, the flagship show saw a massive change of landscape in its roster. The Superstar Shake-Up is a tactic WWE uses to keep their shows fresh and, in some cases, help a superstar who may not be finding their footing get a fresh start on their own. This was an insane change though. Nineteen total superstars were added. That is a lot of people to find a place for, and it’s easy to lose track of who made a move. Worry not, here are all the new faces you are going to find on Monday Night Raw.
Jinder Mahal
The Modern Day Maharaja has found his way to Monday nights. He busted onto the show early with a list of demands for Raw GM Kurt Angle. After shooting down, those demands Angle immediately made Mahal put his US Title on the line against recently returned perennial crowd favorite Jeff Hardy, to whom he then dropped the title too. Is this a set up for a feud? Or did he show up to immediately job (lose easily) to Jeff Hardy? We’ll just have to see…
The Riott Squad
The three woman stable comprised of Ruby Riott, Liv Morgan, and Sarah Logan has moved to the Red Brand. This is an exciting move because some saw them as the SmackDown version of Paige’s Absolution. But with Paige moving to SmackDown and Riott Squad’s tepid reception on their original show maybe this shake-up will kick the stable into another gear.
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Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn
The jobless troublemakers of SmackDown Live have found themselves employment with the rival show. After coming out on the last Miz TV segment on Raw and being confronted by Kurt Angle, the two revealed they had an email from Stephanie McMahon herself overriding Angle’s decision not to hire them. Owens and Zayn have been a excellent Heel duo and should continue to do so on the red brand.
Dolph Ziggler and Drew McIntyre
Dolph Ziggler is another superstar stuck in the mid-card despite his ability in and out of the ring. After coming out to a less than thunderous response, Ziggler was met in the ring by Titus Worldwide. When asked to join their group he revealed that he didn’t come alone. Drew McIntyre came thundering into the ring and assaulted the doomed group, apparently back from injury and promoted from NXT. Both of these men have had success in the past but were mismanaged by the WWE afterward. Will this team put both men where they belong?
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Natalya
The former SmackDown Women’s Champion has made the jump, and it’s a good move. The WWE has done an excellent job easing Ronda Rousey in, and this is a smart next step. Not only is Natalya one fo the best technical wrestlers in the business she also helped train Rousey. Setting them up in a program is perfect. We know they know how to work together and it’s a good diving off point in Rousey’s career.
Breezango
I for one am so happy for this. Tyler Breeze and Fandango have turned a silly combination into comedic gold. The Fashion Police and their show, The Fashion Files, are hilarious and a breath of fresh air. On SmackDown they were often underutilized if used at all. Raw’s tag division is a little thinner in ranks than its blue counterpart, so maybe these two will finally get a chance to truly shine.
The Ascension
Speaking of underutilized, the former NXT Tag Team Titans have faded to a whimper on the main roster. Konnor and Viktor were huge in their time with the developmental brand, capturing Tag Team gold. Since their promotion to the main roster, they have been jobbed into oblivion. Hopefully, they can use Raw’s thin Tag roster to jump back into the picture.
Zack Ryder
Zack Ryder needed a change. A crowd favorite that WWE seemingly doesn’t want to push, Ryder appears to have to consistently put himself over. Hopefully, a change to the bigger brand will help that, because it doesn’t seem like WWE is going to.
Mojo Rawley
As the former friend of Zack Ryder and member of the Hype Bros, Mojo Rawley just can’t seem to connect with fans. Was moving him with Ryder a good idea? Are they going to feud again? The fans aren’t really behind it, will they ever get behind him?
Chad Gable
One of the most talented in-ring performers on the roster has been split from another tag team. Separated from American Alpha partner, Jason Jordan, in the last Superstar Shake-Up he has now been separated from current partner Shelton Benjamin. Gable has the ability to be a singles competitor and may get it now. If it doesn’t work out maybe, we’ll get an American Alpha reunion?
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Mike Kanellis
Between an absence due to the birth of his child and personal issues, Kanellis has been a bit of a non-factor on WWE since his debut. Maybe a move to Raw will be a good restart and precisely what he and his wife need to get back on track.
Baron Corbin
Baron Corbin has been unable to gain momentum after failing to cash in his Money in the Bank Briefcase. The former US Champion needs something new to get back on track, and maybe this is what it is. Though will it help that there are so many other new faces in the line-up?
Bobby Roode
In the main event of Raw, the final member of the massive 10-man tag team match they were holding was revealed to be none other than the Glorious one, Bobby Roode. Roode has been a significant player in the mid-card of SmackDown Live and a constant in the US Championship picture, so it only makes sense he follows the title over to the red brand. Roode’s run so far has been good, but maybe not great. Maybe Monday Night Raw can make it–glorious.
A huge shake-up has changed what we know about Raw, and it’s only going to get crazier when SmackDown reveals who they have gotten. So far we know The Miz is going over, most likely to continue his feud with Daniel Bryan, but with 19 people coming to Raw we can only expect a large number heading to the blue brand.
Rashon Nelson was one of two black men who was arrested in a Philadelphia Starbucks. The incident was captured on video and led to public outrage and protests due to neither man in the video appearing to do anything wrong. Nelson was in the Starbucks with his business partner as they waited for a friend. It was at that time that the store manager called the police and had the men arrested for “trespassing.”
The video later surfaced on social media and went viral.
After the video went viral, there were immediate calls for the manager of the Starbucks to be fired — he has since left the location — and the hashtag #boycottstarbucks began trending on social media.
Here is everything you need to know about the matter.
What Happened?
Nelson and his business partner were waiting to meet with Alan Yaffe, a colleague who had set up the meeting. After the manager of the Starbucks noticed Nelson and his partner waiting in the coffee shop without placing an order, he made the decision to call the police. That is when Yaffe appeared and began questioning police officers about their decision to make an arrest for trespassing.
“Why would they be asked to leave?” Yaffe can be heard asking in the video. “I wanted to get coffee for two Black guys sitting and meeting with me. Does anybody else think this is ridiculous?”
“It’s absolute discrimination.”
The manager of the location, Holly Hylton, “mutually parted ways” with the store after being on the job for a year. She claims that a corporate policy against loitering in Starbucks locations was to be inforced when she made the decision to call the police.
Who is Rashon Nelson?
Rashon Nelson, Brother of the Alpha Eta Chapter Of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity inc. was removed from Starbucks for no reason by police while waiting for friend. We stand with you! #BoycottStarbuckspic.twitter.com/kHcgOu8kTP
Nelson was a student at Bloomsburg University in Pennsylvania where he majored in finance from 2013-2017. When the video went viral, Nelson received instant support from his fraternity brothers in the Alpha Eta chapter of Omega Psi Phi. Following the incident, Starbucks’ CEO Kevin Johnson reached out to Nelson in an effort to make things right.
First, to once again express our deepest apologies to the two men who were arrested with a goal of doing whatever we can to make things right. Second, to let you know of our plans to investigate the pertinent facts and make any necessary changes to our practices that would help prevent such an occurrence from ever happening again. And third, to reassure you that Starbucks stands firmly against discrimination or racial profiling.
Response From Omega Psi Phi
After news of the arrests went viral, the Grand Basileus of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Antonio F. Knox, Sr., took to social media to share a statement expressing their support for Nelson and expressing his thanks for those who have shown their own support during the arrest.
Giving Honor to God and my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
The times that we are living in continue to unveil the bold and dark side of racism through the lens of ready cameras of witnesses that record the injustices that are reported daily. The latest incident on the news around the world touched our Omega family as one of the young en arrested at the Starbucks in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is an Omega Man and remarkable example of resilient courage in the face of undeserved fire. I thank God for his sense of presence and calm because the encounter with police officers could have been very different. While we won’t yet releases names, please know that this Basileus and Chapter Brothers have been in touch. Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., said, “Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksand of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood.” Brothers, I say to you fifty-five years later that now is the Time! This was very clearly racial injustice but maybe this case will be the catalyst to create the positive change that we seek. When people of all diversities, ethnicities and cultures stand to speak out, the world takes notice. There were others in Starbucks that boldly stood up to speak against the actions taken by police and management. The CEO of Starbucks has made a public apology and I applaud his sincerity but the change within his company must include the training of management and employees on the correct procedures to embrace and understand diversity and continuously act accordingly. This will determine if Starbucks gets this right.
My Brothers, let’s continue to lift as we climb to show this world how good it will be when we all turn to the solid rock of brotherhood and mankind! WE ARE ONE!
After a ten point loss by the 76ers to the Miami Heat in game 2 of their first-round series, Joel Embiid, who has not played in either of the two games, expressed his aggravation at his lack of court action in a profane Instagram story. “F***ing sick and tired of being babied,” it read. Embiid, who has risen to superstar status this year with 22.9 PPG, 11 RPG, and 3.2 APG, has not played since March 28th due to a concussion and facial injury he suffered that night against the Knicks. In July of last year, Embiid was fined by the league for making a crude comment about the ever-controversial Lavar Ball on Instagram. Embiid is something of a darling on social media, what with his endless trolling and a genuine sense of humor. That he took to Instagram to express frustrations is of little surprise.
76ers coach Brett Brown after the game responded to his star center’s Instagram story and assured the media that he had taken no offense. “He just wants to play basketball,” he said, “He wants to be with his team. He wants to play in front of the fans, and he wants to see this through. And when he’s not able to do that, he gets frustrated, and we respect his frustration. It’s borne out of competitiveness.” He went on to say that everyone from the top of the organization, from the team doctors to the coaching staff, was on the same page to Embiid. “What I can say is there is a very unified effort with his representation and the people around him. With the people that did the operation, the doctors, with our medical staff, with the team, with me, the coaching staff. We’re all doing this. There’s a unified sort of spirit and line of communication.”
The Sixers will need Embiid to be cleared as quickly as possible given that their series with the Heat will be a dogfight that could go seven games. After bombing threes and speeding up the pace in game 1, the Sixers were slowed down by the heat in game 2, unable to move the ball with the quickness and freedom that they had on Saturday. Embiid’s automatic offense on the low block will provide a critical counter to the Heat’s scrappy defense, opening things up in a manner that fits the Sixers offense. Otherwise, it will be difficult for the 76ers to win on the road, where they are headed for the next two games.
Unlike the extremely messy situation with Kawhi Leonard and the Spurs, this situation will likely blow over quickly, forgotten as soon as Embiid is able to take the floor, which could be as early as game 3 on Thursday.
Day two of the WWE Superstar Shake-up will be streamed live from the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence, Rhode Island. The landscape of SmackDown Live may be forever altered as a select group of superstars from Monday Night Raw will be making their way to the blue brand.
The Miz is the only confirmed name from Monday Night Raw who will be switching brands to SmackDown Live. His return to “the land of opportunity” will likely pay off big time for the WWE Universe since there’s a good chance he’ll be rekindling his old feud with the returning Daniel Bryan. The Miz and D-Bry will likely be at each other’s throats in no time.
Who will be WWE Champion AJ Styles’ opponent for the Greatest Royal Rumble event? It may just be someone who is drafted to SmackDown Live tonight. Who could it be? You might find out tonight!
Excited about tonight’s episode of WWE SmackDown Live? Look below and find out what you need to know so you can live stream tonight’s show on your TV, PC, tablet or mobile device.
Looking to watch tonight’s new episode of SmackDown Live? Of course you do, you’re reading this article, aren’t you? To live stream tonight’s show, just click on USA, where you will be directed to that network’s official live stream page. But you’ll need your cable or satellite information to access this content.
Another way to check out tonight’s episode of SmackDown is by clicking on Sling TV, which provides a $25 monthly fee, but if you listen closely, you can see this all for free!
Just click on the Sling website, you’ll find a light blue bar with those incredible words (and that lovely number) “Watch Now 7 Days Free” – if you wanna see tonight’s pro wrestling show then you’re going to want to click on that offer.
You’ll also need to sign up for the Sling Blue package, it costs just $25 a month, but if you decide to cancel within seven days, you will not be charged. Though if you chose to stick around with Sling, you’ll be able to see many more episodes of WWE Raw and SmackDown Live in the future. Sling TV has something for you (sports and wrestling), and something for the kids (cartoons) too.
How To Watch WWE SmackDown Free Without A Cable Subscription?
Don’t have a cable subscription? Don’t sweat it, wrestling bro! Fubo TV is a streaming service that usually costs $39.99, but is now charging customers $19.99 for their first two months. The service offers 70+ channels for your viewing pleasure. But the sweetest part is that Fubo also offers a free seven-day trial.
You can also watch tonight’s episode of SmackDown through DirecTV Now, which is offering four different channel packages, all of which include the USA network. The cheapest package available is for $35. But the coolest part of this deal is that the first seven days are absolutely for free and you can cancel anytime.
Don’t have a cable subscription to watch SmackDown? Don’t sweat it. Just go to Sling TV, and sign up for a free 7 days on their Sling Blue package. You won’t want to miss a minute of the action.
How To Watch SmackDown On Your Tablet or Mobile Device
Want to watch SmackDown on your tablet or mobile device. Just sign up for the USA Now app, which is free with your cable or satellite log-in info.
You can also watch SmackDown on Sling TV. The first week is free, so you’ll want to keep track of time if you don’t wanna pony up $25 for the monthly Sling Blue package. You can access the Sling app from a wide variety of devices, including Roku, Xbox One, Chromecast, ZTE, and Nexus Player.
The Ultimate Fighting Championship is looking to negotiate a new UFC TV deal, and two rival companies could be coming together to strike a deal on the new UFC package. According to a report from Variety, ESPN and FOX Sports are set to team up for a proposal to land the premier mixed martial arts organization.
The UFC has reportedly been asking potential suitors for $300-$400 million per year.
FOX previously held television rights for the UFC, but their seven-year deal which pays $200 million per year is set to expire at the end of the year. The UFC and FOX had an exclusive negotiation period, but they were never able to agree to terms.
As part of the agreement with ESPN, the UFC would air multiple events each year on the recently launched ESPN+ platform that costs $4.99 per month.
From the report:
Fox, which currently pays $120 million per year UFC rights, would be willing see that number increase to a little more than $200 million. Fox’s current package includes four Saturday-night fights per year on Fox Broadcasting and a number of fight events on cabler Fox Sports 1 that has increased annually under its current agreement. A joint bid with ESPN would see Fox’s total number of events decline slightly.
…
For ESPN, a UFC deal would provide premium live-event content for the fledgling ESPN+ service not currently available on the company’s linear cable channels. ESPN+ launched last week at $4.99 per month with a mix of content including select games from MLB, NHL and out-of-market MLS games. UFC could mark the first significant deal for Kevin Mayer, who was recently promoted to run a direct-to-consumer unit at ESPN parent company Disney, and the network’s new president, James Pitaro.
Officials from ESPN and FOX Sports have yet to comment.
In recent months, the UFC has seen television ratings rapidly decline, with a 22 percent drop in 2017. With a new TV deal that could land broadcasts on multiple cable networks, the UFC appears willing to pull out all of the stops to get as many eyes as possible on their product.
Some people just have balls. Have most people driven around with a little weed in the car? Suureeee, it’s 2018, we’re all adults here, I’ll admit that. Have some of us driven with maybe a little more than they should have while in an automobile? Maybe, that’s not for me to say. But do some people just say “F*ck it” and load up 70 pounds of bud in their trunk for everyone to see? Apparently, yes.
And not only are regular people getting caught with a small child’s body weight in bud in their truck, but they weren’t even trying to hide it. Look, criminals, just because weed is legal in some states, doesn’t mean you can just throw it in the back of the Burban for the world to see.
However, 51-year-old Christian Elie and 42-year-old Austin Johnson apparently don’t give a damn about my drug smuggling advice and went about their business anyway. Elie, of Colorado, and Johnson, of Indianapolis, are facing preliminary drug charges after a state trooper found more than 78 pounds of marijuana inside their vehicle during a traffic stop in Indiana.
A trooper pulled over a 2017 Ford Expedition for a traffic violation on I-70 near Greenfield around 11 a.m. The trooper said the SUV was weaving outside the traffic lanes. The trooper later discovered more than 78 pounds of marijuana inside the SUV.
The vehicle was driven by 51-year-old Christian Elie of Elbert, of Colorado, and there was one passenger, 42-year-old Austin Johnson, of Indianapolis. Both men were arrested and transported to the Hancock County Jail on preliminary drug charges.
This is an ongoing investigation, troopers will work with the Hancock County Prosecutor’s Office to determine formal charges.
The estimated street value of the 78-pound haul is a cool quarter of a million dollars.
We all wish we could have made a grand exit at our college graduation. After years of our lives and thousands of our dollars, we wish we could strut into the world with confidence, grace, and fervor. That’s exactly what 22-year-old student, Chrys Alicia Palan at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa did.
Facebook / Chrys Alicia Palan
Immediately after the Media Honors student heard her name announced she threw on her sunglasses and made the stage her own. Strutting her way across and hitting poses like a professional. To top it all off she made the dress herself! Don’t worry she stops and makes sure you can get her good side.
The WWE Superstar Shakeup has already altered the roster of Monday Night Raw. The red brand has gained significant stars from SmackDown Live, such as Bobby Roode, Baron Corbin, Jinder Mahal, and the entire Riott Squad (Ruby Riott, Sarah Logan, and Liv Morgan). With the first day of the Shake-up already in history books, what does the WWE have in store for SmackDown Live in the second and final day of this event?
Which superstars from Monday Night Raw will jump over to the blue brand? That a little hard to predict for the most part. But there are a select handful of Raw stars who absolutely need to switch brands to revitalize their careers.
Here are the 5 WWE Monday Night Raw who must go to SmackDown Live…
5. Sasha Banks
Sasha Banks has almost fallen to the background of the Raw women’s division. Currently, she’s engaged in a feud with Bayley and doesn’t appear to have any current championship aspirations. The division is currently dominated by WWE Raw Women’s Champion Nia Jax. Banks falls behind stars such as Alexa Bliss and Asuka in the pecking order for the championship. If Banks makes the jump to SmackDown, she’d likely be utilized as one of the top female competitors on the brand. Plus, she’s hinted at a desire to perform on SmackDown for a while now.
4. Braun Strowman
Braun Strowman is slowly starting to lose his main event appeal on Monday Night Raw. He may have single-handedly won the WWE Raw Tag Team Championship at WrestleMania 34, alongside a 10-year-old boy. However, the decision to partner up with a little kid at ‘Mania showed a softer side to this monster, despite the fact that Strowman demolished both Sheamus and Cesaro in the match. Strowman is better booked as an unstoppable beast rather than a tough giant with a heart of gold. If Strowman is drafted to SmackDown Live, he could rise back to the main event scene and tear the house with WWE Champion AJ Styles. I predict if Strowman switches brands, he’ll likely be the next number one contender for the WWE Championship.
3. Curt Hawkins
Curt Hawkins is the resident jobber over on Monday Night Raw. His losing streak is simply unprecedented. If he switches brands to SmackDown, his status in the WWE will likely stay the same. However, the blue brand got raided of its lower tier and mid-card talent, therefore Curt Hawkins would be a welcome addition to the SmackDown Live roster. Plus, it wouldn’t hurt to give this star another fresh start, even though he’ll most likely continue to rack up losses.
2. Samoa Joe
Samoa Joe would greatly benefit with a fresh start on SmackDown Live. Much like Strowman, Joe’s main event allure has died down quite a bit on Monday Night Raw. If “The Samoan Submission Machine” is brought over to the blue brand, he may quickly find himself as a top contender for the WWE Championship. Joe and AJ Styles has had incredible matches in the past during their time spent in TNA. If Joe moves over to SmackDown, he has a good chance of being one of the brand’s top talent, especially considering their shallow main event scene.
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1. Finn Balor
Finn Balor has the absolute most to gain from this year’s WWE Superstar Shake-up. He hasn’t accomplished much on Raw since relinquishing the Universal Championship in August 2016. In the meantime, Balor can’t even win the brand’s secondary championship. He’s quickly falling to the background of a stacked roster and will likely find greater success over on SmackDown where they are in dire need of key talent. If Balor switch brands, he may find himself going from mid-card up-and-comer to one of the top main event competitors on the roster.
Barbara Bush, the 41st First Lady of the United States has passed away at the age of 92.
A statement from the office of former President George H.W. Bush said: “A former first lady of the United States of America and relentless proponent of family literacy, Barbara Pierce Bush passed away Tuesday, April 17, 2018, at the age of 92.” Furthermore, the statement said that First Lady Bush was “surrounded by a family she adores” at the time of her passing.
Former First Lady Bush died shortly after deciding not to undergo further medical treatments for her failing health. She was hospitalized numerous over the last couple of years while battling congestive heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and decided on Sunday, April 15, that she wanted to be surrounded by family.
Barbara Bush, the 41st First Lady of the United States of America passed away shortly after deciding to forgo further medical treatments for her failing health on Tuesday, April 17.
Biography & Career Accomplishments
Barbara Bush was the wife of George H.W Bush, serving as the First Lady of the United States from 1989 to 1993. Her son is George W. Bush, the 43rd President of the United States. Barbara was also the mother of Jeb Bush, the former governor of Florida who ran for the presidency in 2016, losing to Donald Trump in the primaries.
In addition to Abigail Adams, the wife of John Adams and the mother of John Quincy Adams, Mrs. Bush was one of only two first ladies in the history of the country who is also the mother of a president.
George H.W. and Barbara Bush celebrated their 73rd wedding anniversary in January, making them the longest-married couple in United States Presidential history. The couple got married in Rye, New York in 1945, eventually having six children together.
During her time as First Lady of the United States of America, Mrs. Bush worked to advance the cause of universal literacy and founded the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy. She founded the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy, which is a charitable organization that encourages parents to read to their children.
Barbara Bush passed away on Tuesday at the age of 92. She was the 41st First Lady of the United States, as well as the mother of the 43rd U.S. President George W. Bush and the 43rd Governor of Florida Jeb Bush. Prior to her death, Ms. Bush had been suffering with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, congestive heart failure, and Graves’ disease. She ultimately refused to seek further treatment, so she can have her last moments alive at home with her family.
Ms. Bush has received quite a few awards, including the 1995 Award for Greatest Public Service Benefiting the Disadvantaged. She also recieved The Miss America Woman of Achievement Award in 1997 for her work promoting literacy.
Here are the very best quotes from this woman who has left behind quite a legacy…
Barbara Bush Quotes: Best Quotes & Most-Famous Sayings From The 41st FLOTUS
“To us, family means putting your arms around each other and being there.”
“I married the first man I ever kissed. When I tell this to my children, they just about throw up.”
“Cherish your human connections – your relationships with friends and family.”
“Clinton lied. A man might forget where he parks or where he lives, but he never forgets oral sex, no matter how bad it is.”
“Giving frees us from the familiar territory of our own needs by opening our mind to the unexplained worlds occupied by the needs of others.”
“You have to love your children unselfishly. That is hard. But it is the only way.”
“You just don’t luck into things as much as you’d like to think you do. You build step by step, whether it’s friendships or opportunities.”
“Believe in something larger than yourself… get involved in the big ideas of your time.”
“Some people give time, some money, some their skills and connections, some literally give their life’s blood. But everyone has something to give.”
“Bias has to be taught. If you hear your parents downgrading women or people of different backgrounds, why, you are going to do that.”
“People who worry about their hair all the time, frankly, are boring.”
The WWE Superstar Shake-Up is officially in the record books. SmackDown Live gained 16 awesome athletes and The Miz (just kidding, the guy is called “awesome” for a reason). The landscape of both Raw, SmackDown, and even NXT, was drastically changed following the outcome of the two day Shakeup.
Asuka confirmed the rumors online when she jumped aboard the blue brand. “The Empress of Tomorrow” Asuka has arrived in the “land of opportunity” and Carmella’s time as champion appears extremely limited.
The NXT group Sanity will also be making their way over to SmackDown (my surprise prediction came true minus Nikki Cross). But they’re not the only members of the NXT roster who will be making their way over to the blue brand. Former NXT Champion Andrade “Cien” Almas and Zelina Vega are set to make their SmackDown Live debuts very soon.
SmackDown raided Raw‘s tag team division during day two of the Superstar Shake-up. “The Good Brothers” Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson were drafted to the blue brand, along with The Bar, Sheamus and Cesaro. How can Raw‘s tag team division recover from such a loss? Not even Matt Hardy’s “woken brilliance” can replenish the red brand’s now-depleted tag team division.
Who else was drafted from Raw and NXT to SmackDown Live? Look below for a full list of the SmackDown Live roster changes resulting from the 2018 WWE Superstar Shake-up.
When Southwest Airlines flight 1380 suffered a fatal engine failure, more than 100 passengers on board and the flight crew believed they could be witnessing the final moments of their lives. That led to some eery and terrifying videos surfacing online as passengers documented what they thought was their last minutes on Facebook Live, Instagram, and other social media platforms.
One woman, Jennifer Riordan of Albuquerque, New Mexico, was killed in the accident which blew out one of the plane windows.
According to eyewitnesses, Riordan was nearly sucked out of the plane when the engine explosion knocked out a window.
Passenger Marty Martinez was among the most active to document the frightening situation.
He took to Twitter to write, “Something is wrong with our plane! It appears we are going down! Emergency landing!! Southwest flight from NYC to Dallas!!”
Martinez later appeared on CNN to discuss the situation and recalled watching the woman who passed away in trouble.
“She wasn’t like sucked out of the window or pulled out,” he said. “But her like arms and her body were sucked, like sucked in that direction, from my vantage point. So you see people, from the back of the seat, holding onto her, you know, trying to keep her contained.”
Martinez also shared a series of photos on Instagram that show the damage done to the plane when the window exploded.
“Engine exploded and shattered one of the windows critically injuring a passenger,” he wrote. “Flight attendants ran over calling for passengers to help cover the hole as they broke down and began uncontrollably crying and looking horrified as they looked outside. Plane dropped dramatically and it smelled like fire with ash coming down on everyone thru the vents. Absolutely terrifying. Had to do a crash landing in Philly. I Facebook LIVED the entire experience. I literally thought these were my last moments on earth. It was so terrifying!!”
“PHL Update 12:35 PM: FAA has issued ground stop for planes on the ground at other airports waiting to depart for PHL. Check flight status with your airline. Flights are departing PHL. Passengers should expect delays.”
Our deepest condolences go out to those impacted by the tragic event.
Fraternities at Auburn University has decided to self-impose a ban on hard liquor after a high number of alcohol-related medical calls and conduct cases. Beginning in May, hard liquor will be banned at fraternity events held on chapter property — including date parties, band parties, rush events and big brother nights.
According to reports, Auburn’s Interfraternity Council of Presidents voted to implement the hard liquor ban, beginning May 5, 2018. The school’s IFC said the move would be a “step toward a healthier fraternity community.”
However, the liquor ban does not affect alcohol with less than 15 percent ABV. Furthermore, “well-run fraternity events held at third-party venues” will still be allowed to serve alcohol. The reason for this is because consumed alcohol at third-party venues has not been identified as a cause for the increase in alcohol-related incidents.
“We feel that there are steps that other schools have taken and steps that we needed to take to prevent a tragedy that has unfortunately plagued other universities,” said Gavin McGettigan, IFC president. “In our experience, we have observed issues with liquor consumption at parties on chapter premises, which led us to this solution.”
McGettigan said the IFC executive board, the council of presidents, Student Affairs and the office of student conduct have been working together on this initiative since the current IFC exec attended the Southeastern Interfraternity Conference in Atlanta in February.
“I am proud of the IFC for taking the lead on measures to ensure a safe environment in our Greek community,” said Vice President for Student Affairs Bobby Woodard. “That initiative is what makes Auburn students a valuable asset on campus and after they leave our campus.”
Following the ban, if a fraternity is caught with hard liquor at an event held at a chapter facility, an immediate cease-and-desist may be put on the fraternity. In addition to the cease-and-desist, a conduct case being submitted to the proper judicial authorities.
In response to incidents like these, fraternities such Phi Kappa Psi have made numerous changes to their code of conduct in an effort to address the issues that have arisen. In addition, schools such as Texas State have introduced new Greek Life rules to try and prevent these problems.
These reports come amidst similar allegations that have been made against fraternities nationwide, including Sigma Alpha Epsilon at East Carolina University, who were shut down for hazing and the Lamda Chi Alpha chapter at the University of Arkansas which has been accused of taking sexually explicit photographs of women without their permission.
In response to incidents like these, fraternities such Phi Kappa Psi have made numerous changes to their code of conduct in an effort to address the issues that have arisen. In addition, schools such as Texas State have introduced new Greek Life rules to try and prevent these problems.
Tallahassee police raided the apartment of Florida State quarterback Deondre Francois after they suspected he was selling marijuana. Francois was the subject of surveillance and investigation for two months after police received an anonymous tip that he was selling marijuana.
According to the Orlando Sentinel, Tallahassee police open an investigation into Francois after they received a tip that the QB possessed marijuana with the intent to sell. The Sentinel reports that the anonymous male tipster, who was inside Francois’s apartment in late February, claims he saw a large paper grocery-type bag full of cannabis.
Following the tip, Tallahassee Police opened an investigation into Francois, however, when TPD concluded its investigation of Francois and executed search warrant conducted at his apartment on Thursday, April 12, they found only 17 grams of marijuana.
Francois, a former Orlando Olympia High standout, was not arrested and offered the chance to participate in a pre-trial diversion program after the search. He was not expected to play in FSU’s spring game last week and was present on the sidelines for the game.
Francois’ garbage was collected and examined on Feb. 27, a date in the beginning of March, March 27 and April 3, according to the search warrant. The location of Francois’ home prevented TPD from conducting constant surveillance, according to the warrant. But TPD believed the discarded garbage showed evidence of ongoing criminal activity at Francois’s apartment.
When TPD conducted its search of Francois’ apartment on Thursday, during which his girlfriend Diamond Lindsey was present, police smelled marijuana coming from inside the apartment and found the 17 grams of marijuana and other drug paraphernalia less than two feet from Francois’ bed.
In Francois’ apartment, police found multiple plastic bags with cannabis residue, innards of blunt cigars, a Bob Marley grinder, an instant drug test cup, three vials of pain medication, two iPads with broken screens, three iPhones and an FSU student ID card for running back Zaquandre White.
In lieu of being arrested and charged, Francois must do community service and avoid any criminal activity for a designated time as part of the diversion program.
Do not ask me what today’s high is in New York City because it’ll just make me angry that it’s now almost May and Spring has not yet arrived. If I was in college right now, I’d be FURIOUS about this unseasonably cold weather putting a damper on day-drinking season, especially if I was a senior. So, to all the students out there, don’t let the weather get you down: keep partying outside at all costs, because once you’re an adult, day drinks are few and far between.
Anyway, on to COED’s Quick Fix: Everything You Need To Know Today —Wednesday, April 18, 2018.
Pop Culture
– Calling all comic book nerds! Check out this dope 10-year Marvel Studios featurette:
– Harry & Lloyd reunited on Conan last night:
Sports
– The Pelicans won both games in Portland to take a 2-0 lead over the Trailblazers back to New Orleans:
– Tonight’s NBA playoff schedule:
– Tonight’s Stanley Cup playoff schedule:
News & Politics
– Barbara Bush, the 41st First Lady of the United States of America, passed away at the age of 92-years-old.
The Sigma Pi fraternity at Penn State University decided to do some impromptu philanthropy over the weekend after they housed a lost pig in their home on Friday, April 13.
According to State College, a lost pig (yes, pig) wandered into the backyard of the Sigma Pi house on Friday, April 13. The pig arrived at the house at 303 Fraternity Row around 11 a.m. on Friday. State College Police say that the fraternity brothers did “what any responsible pet owners would do and took in the pig as one of their own. They fed the pig, gave it water, and even allowed it to stay the night in their backyard.”
State College reports that a Sigma Pi fraternity brother called the police about the lost pig at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 15. That same day, the Centre County volunteer nonprofit “Pets Come First” relieved the fraternity of their pig-watching duties.
Because the pig did not have any identifying characteristics, Pets Come First is currently holding the pig without any idea who it’s own is, waiting for it to be claimed.
Ya know, I’ve always heard that pigs are smarter than dogs & that some people actually own pigs as pets, but I never saw the appeal. However, I gotta admit … this little guy is pretty damn cute:
Pets Come First
Normally, when Penn State fraternities are in the headlines, it usually isn’t a good thing, but this time the guys at Sigma Pi nailed it.
In just over a week the ultimate cinematic experience arrives that will change the fate of Marvel Studios as we know it. Heroes will fall. A villain will rise. Fans will writhe in their seats. Popcorn will fly! Here’s a recap of the events leading up to Infinity War — a decade in the making.
Phase One:
Iron Man (2008)
YouTube/Marvel
The first film in a huge undertaking by the studio, Iron Man exceeded the odds and expectations of fans and critics alike. This was also a massive career boost for Robert Downey Jr. Ten years later, I can’t imagine anyone else playing the role of the billionaire playboy philanthropist. Iron Man per Marvel:
A billionaire industrialist and genius inventor, Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.), is conducting weapons tests overseas, but terrorists kidnap him to force him to build a devastating weapon. Instead, he builds an armored suit and upends his captors. Returning to America, Stark refines the suit and uses it to combat crime and terrorism.
The Incredible Hulk (2008)
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Many fans would love a Hulk movie with Mark Ruffalo, especially since the 2008 installment left much to be desired. Maybe it was the CGI quality at the time or just the overall story, but regardless this film has the lowest score of the bunch on Rotten Tomatoes. The official Marvel synopsis:
Scientist Bruce Banner (Edward Norton) desperately seeks a cure for the gamma radiation that contaminated his cells and turned him into The Hulk. Cut off from his true love Betty Ross (Liv Tyler) and forced to hide from his nemesis, Gen. Thunderbolt Ross (William Hurt), Banner soon comes face-to-face with a new threat: a supremely powerful enemy known as The Abomination (Tim Roth).
Iron Man 2 (2010)
Flickr
The second installment in the Iron Man trilogy was a bit meh, but it set up some important pieces that later would attribute to the world-building to come. According to Marvel:
With the world now aware that he is Iron Man, billionaire inventor Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) faces pressure from all sides to share his technology with the military. He is reluctant to divulge the secrets of his armored suit, fearing the information will fall into the wrong hands. With Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow) and “Rhodey” Rhodes (Don Cheadle) by his side, Tony must forge new alliances and confront a powerful new enemy.
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Thor (2011)
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The best part about Thor is without a doubt Asgard. This installment really takes the MCU away from robots and tech and dazzled us with ethereal realms and space travel. Thor really broadened the landscape, explaining the connectivity between the nine realms in the cosmos and how Earth fits into the larger galactic scope. As Marvel puts it:
As the son of Odin (Anthony Hopkins), king of the Norse gods, Thor (Chris Hemsworth) will soon inherit the throne of Asgard from his aging father. However, on the day that he is to be crowned, Thor reacts with brutality when the gods’ enemies, the Frost Giants, enter the palace in violation of their treaty. As punishment, Odin banishes Thor to Earth. While Loki (Tom Hiddleston), Thor’s brother, plots mischief in Asgard, Thor, now stripped of his powers, faces his greatest threat.
Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
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Captain America introduces a smorgasbord of game-changing elements, including the Tesseract, aka the first Infinity Stone, to demonstrate its power on screen. This also unveiled the ever-present threat of HYDRA to SHIELD, a battle for control that spans far beyond this one film. I love Cap, and I definitely will be sad to see him go. The official Marvel synopsis:
It is 1941 and the world is in the throes of war. Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) wants to do his part and join America’s armed forces, but the military rejects him because of his small stature. Finally, Steve gets his chance when he is accepted into an experimental program that turns him into a supersol dier called Captain America. Joining forces with Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) and Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell), Captain America leads the fight against the Nazi-backed HYDRA organization.
Marvel’s The Avengers (2012)
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The Avengers was the first spectacle in the coming together of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. This was truly the make or break film to determine whether or not the world building came together as planned. Not only did it blow the box office away, fans and critics were ALL swept up in Marvel mania! Added bonus, a new infinity stone is introduced. As Marvel puts it:
When Thor’s evil brother, Loki (Tom Hiddleston), gains access to the unlimited power of the energy cube called the Tesseract, Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), director of S.H.I.E.L.D., initiates a superhero recruitment effort to defeat the unprecedented threat to Earth. Joining Fury’s “dream team” are Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Captain America (Chris Evans), the Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), the Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) and Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner).
Tony Stark did not handle the events of The Avengers well at all. Between learning of galactic threats and how vulnerable Earth is, he tries to pull out every tool in his toolbox to prevent something like that from ever happening again. Spoiler alert: it happens way more times. The official Marvel synopsis:
Plagued with worry and insomnia since saving New York from destruction, Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.), now, is more dependent on the suits that give him his Iron Man persona — so much so that every aspect of his life is affected, including his relationship with Pepper (Gwyneth Paltrow). After a malevolent enemy known as the Mandarin (Ben Kingsley) reduces his personal world to rubble, Tony must rely solely on instinct and ingenuity to avenge his losses and protect the people he loves.
Thor: The Dark World (2013)
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The second Thor installment was a lot to digest. It definitely was the least fun out of all the three films. There is a looooot of science talk, however, we do get introduced to a new infinity stone. Again, the beauty of the Thor films is their ability to explore different planets and introduce new alien species in a way that we are always reminded we are simply not alone, but we are far from the most powerful beings in the galaxy. Per Marvel:
In ancient times, the gods of Asgard fought and won a war against an evil race known as the Dark Elves. The survivors were neutralized, and their ultimate weapon — the Aether — was buried in a secret location. Hundreds of years later, Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) finds the Aether and becomes its host, forcing Thor (Chris Hemsworth) to bring her to Asgard before Dark Elf Malekith (Christopher Eccleston) captures her and uses the weapon to destroy the Nine Realms — including Earth.
Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
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The second installment of the Captain America films has almost everything a fan could ask for. Not only does Cap gain a new ally in The Falcon, he and Black Widow develop a deeper friendship and sense of loyalty that most definitely will carry over into future films. Also, the return of Bucky Barnes aka The Winter Soldier was incredible. This is one of the most action-packed high adrenaline additions to the MCU – as Marvel puts it:
After the cataclysmic events in New York with his fellow Avengers, Steve Rogers, aka Captain America (Chris Evans), lives in the nation’s capital as he tries to adjust to modern times. An attack on a S.H.I.E.L.D. colleague throws Rogers into a web of intrigue that places the whole world at risk. Joining forces with the Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) and a new ally, the Falcon, Rogers struggles to expose an ever-widening conspiracy, but he and his team soon come up against an unexpected enemy.
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Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
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This movie was so much fun. There’s something about the absurdity that makes it that much more enjoyable. Guardians remind me of how I felt when I read comics as a kid: picturing all these crazy colors and creatures jetting around space to save the day. Yay! Another infinity stone found! Director James Gunn really got to the heart of these crazy characters, not to mention impeccable casting (and soundtrack) for a film that many thought would be a bomb. Per Marvel:
Brash space adventurer Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) finds himself the quarry of relentless bounty hunters after he steals an orb coveted by Ronan, a powerful villain. To evade Ronan, Quill is forced into an uneasy truce with four disparate misfits: gun-toting Rocket Raccoon, treelike-humanoid Groot, enigmatic Gamora, and vengeance-driven Drax the Destroyer. But when he discovers the orb’s true power and the cosmic threat it poses, Quill must rally his ragtag group to save the universe.
Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
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The second Avengers film brought about the creation of Ultron, the cyber/robot villain they’re forced to destroy once Tony Stark tried to fiddle with the Tesseract to create artificial intelligence as a means of preemptively protecting the planet. While the country of Sokovia got demolished, we got to add Scarlet Witch to the team along with the creation of Vision through use of the mind stone – yay, another infinity stone found! According to Marvel:
When Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) jump-starts a dormant peacekeeping program, things go terribly awry, forcing him, Thor (Chris Hemsworth), the Incredible Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) and the rest of the Avengers to reassemble. As the fate of Earth hangs in the balance, the team is put to the ultimate test as they battle Ultron, a technological terror hell-bent on human extinction. Along the way, they encounter two mysterious and powerful newcomers, Pietro and Wanda Maximoff.
Ant-Man (2015)
YouTube/Marvel
Ant-Man, like Guardians, was another risky move by Marvel that paid off big time. It doesn’t hurt that Paul Rudd is a national treasure that never seems to age, but the introduction of particle physics and the quantum realm opened a new playing field for future Marvel films. I saw Ant-Man in London and maybe it was the proper culture rubbing off on me, but when the film concluded, all I wanted to do was start a foundation to save and preserve ant colonies. I eventually came back to New York and left my fondness for insects across the pond. Per Marvel:
Forced out of his own company by former protégé Darren Cross, Dr. Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) recruits the talents of Scott Lang (Paul Rudd), a master thief just released from prison. Lang becomes Ant-Man, trained by Pym and armed with a suit that allows him to shrink in size, possess superhuman strength and control an army of ants. The miniature hero must use his new skills to prevent Cross, also known as Yellowjacket, from perfecting the same technology and using it as a weapon for evil.
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Phase Three:
Captain America: Civil War (2016)
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The Russo Brothers did something amazing and unique with Civil War which earned them the privilege to take charge of Avengers: Infinity War. It is not easy to have so many characters engaged in battle at once, but I’m sure once we see Infinity War, Civil War will look like a post credit scene. This film brought humor, heart, action, and most of all, conflict. It was an extremely humanizing direction to go to for heroes who… aren’t all entirely human. This film was heralded as the best of the MCU but I’m pretty sure Black Panther is giving it a run for its money. The official Marvel synopsis:
Political pressure mounts to install a system of accountability when the actions of the Avengers lead to collateral damage. The new status quo deeply divides members of the team. Captain America (Chris Evans) believes superheroes should remain free to defend humanity without government interference. Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) sharply disagrees and supports oversight. As the debate escalates into an all-out feud, Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) and Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) must pick a side.
Doctor Strange is such a visual treat — no matter which dimension it takes us to. Usually, origin stories are a snooze fest, but with the cockiness that rivals Tony Stark, Stephen Strange embarks on a mystic quest to fix his physical self and winds up channeling a much deeper power within. Don’t get me wrong, I can’t wait to see the battle of egos between Stark and Strange in Infinity War. Also, his use of the time stone (woooo another infinity stone!) brilliantly saved Earth once, so maybe he’s got more mystic arts up his cloaked sleeves when we see him again. The official Marvel synopsis:
Dr. Stephen Strange’s (Benedict Cumberbatch) life changes after a car accident robs him of the use of his hands. When traditional medicine fails him, he looks for healing, and hope, in a mysterious enclave. He quickly learns that the enclave is at the front line of a battle against unseen dark forces bent on destroying reality. Before long, Strange is forced to choose between his life of fortune and status or leave it all behind to defend the world as the most powerful sorcerer in existence.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)
YouTube/Marvel
The second Guardians film brought the space flare with a side of heart. This movie was all about strangers becoming a family, a theme Marvel uses a lot since many of our beloved heroes are semi-misanthropic outsiders who secretly yearn for a place to belong. We learn that Peter Quill is in fact, part god, and we add the empath Mantis to the team while we bid a fond farewell to our favorite Ravenger, Yondu Udonta. The official Marvel synopsis:
Peter Quill and his fellow Guardians are hired by a powerful alien race, the Sovereign, to protect their precious batteries from invaders. When it is discovered that Rocket has stolen the items they were sent to guard, the Sovereign dispatch their armada to search for vengeance. As the Guardians try to escape, the mystery of Peter’s parentage is revealed.
The best part of Marvel’s Spider-Man was that we didn’t have to watch Uncle Ben bite the dust for the zillionth time. Also, it’s perfectly cast and for once Peter Parker is a young kid like he’s supposed to be. His mentor/apprentice relationship with Tony Stark is another strong allegory of how the MCU values the connections between the people who become our family or members of our team. Per Marvel:
Thrilled by his experience with the Avengers, young Peter Parker returns home to live with his Aunt May. Under the watchful eye of mentor Tony Stark, Parker starts to embrace his newfound identity as Spider-Man. He also tries to return to his normal daily routine — distracted by thoughts of proving himself to be more than just a friendly neighborhood superhero. Peter must soon put his powers to the test when the evil Vulture emerges to threaten everything that he holds dear.
Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
YouTube/Marvel
I love everything about this film and I don’t care what anyone says. Tessa Thompson is a brilliant addition to the MCU and Cate Blanchett’s Hela is possibly the best villain besides Loki, so… Asgard FTW! Cutting Thor’s hair was long overdue and bringing Loki into the fold at the end felt like all the back and forth between the brothers finally got some closure. Which probably means Loki’s not long for this world, come Thanos. Director Taika Waititi takes the Thor franchise to the next level and I never wanted it to end. The official Marvel synopsis:
Imprisoned on the other side of the universe, the mighty Thor finds himself in a deadly gladiatorial contest that pits him against the Hulk, his former ally and fellow Avenger. Thor’s quest for survival leads him in a race against time to prevent the all-powerful Hela from destroying his home world and the Asgardian civilization.
Black Panther broke the mold on a cultural level, visual level, and of course, technological. This film was so beautifully crafted to develop the African nation of Wakanda it was an immersive experience just watching. The beauty of Wakanda is only rivaled by its resources. Also, the women are badass. Now that Wakanda is opening up to the rest of the world… is it too early to plan my trip?
After the death of his father, T’Challa returns home to the African nation of Wakanda to take his rightful place as king. When a powerful enemy suddenly reappears, T’Challa’s mettle as king — and as Black Panther — gets tested when he’s drawn into a conflict that puts the fate of Wakanda and the entire world at risk. Faced with treachery and danger, the young king must rally his allies and release the full power of Black Panther to defeat his foes and secure the safety of his people.
Avengers: Infinity War is going to take a while to digest. You’re going to need to hold on to that knowledge for when Thanos arrives because believe me, the Avengers will need all the help they can get.
(@TXGreekPicnic) 
