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John Anderson Leaned Hard Into His Faith for His Final Album — Here's Why
Country music legend John Anderson was a man of God, and he was proud to share that side of himself with fans.
The “Swingin'” hitmaker’s final studio album ever, Years, arrived in April of 2020. He leaned hard into his faith on the project.
At the time, the global COVID-19 pandemic was rapidly changing the landscape in the entertainment world, but Anderson was on the better side of some health issues he’d been battling.
He’d overcome a suspected brain tumor (it was benign), heart issues, and dying three times on an operating table.
He lost most of his hearing as a result of his health problems, but was feeling optimistic.
“I did a whole lot of praying, and the good Lord saw fit to it that I get better, and even get my hearing back to the point where I thought, ‘Man, maybe I can play and sing again,'” he told Taste of Country in a 2020 interview.
The title track, as well as “I’m Still Hanging On,” “Celebrate,” and “You’re Nearly Nothing,” reflect his devotion to the Lord.
“I hope that some of these songs may touch people however they may, and I hope that’s a good thing,” he remarked in that interview.
Anderson was supposed to take his new songs on the road as a featured artist on Blake Shelton‘s 2020 Heroes & Friends Tour, but COVID put a stop to it. He wasn’t dispirited, however.
“It’s just the way it is, and I have a whole lotta faith in the Lord, and I believe everything’s going to be all right,” he said. “We’ll deal with it. And if we’re not here to deal with it, that’s probably okay, too.”
Anderson charted five No. 1 singles during his nearly 50-year career: “Swingin’,” “Black Sheep,” “Wild and Blue,” “Money in the Bank,” and “Straight Tequila Night.” The country hitmaker died in his sleep on Oct. 21, 2026. He was 71 years old.
Drew Barrymore's 'Very Pretty' $40 Slow Cooker at Walmart Is a 'Game-Changer' for Busy Families
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When you get home from work, sometimes the last thing on earth you want to do is cook an elaborate meal. That’s where handy kitchen appliances like slow cookers come in. Fortunately, Drew Barrymore has an entire line of cooking products at Walmart, and aside from the fact that the pieces are affordable, they will also upgrade your meals with ease. This Beautiful by Drew Barrymore 4-Quart Digital Slow Cooker is on sale, just in time to plan for holiday get-togethers.
The appliance initially cost customers $50, but has been reduced to $40 in hues like lavender, buttercream, hydrangea, black sesame, porcini taupe, wildflower porcini, and wildflower white hues.
Beautiful by Drew Barrymore 4-Quart Digital Slow Cooker, From $40 (was $50) at WalmartCourtesy of Walmart
Shop at WalmartThe “very pretty” steel slow cooker has three heat settings: low, high, and warm. There are four timer settings, consisting for four, six, eight, and ten hours. You can feed up to five people during one cooking period, making this 4-quart slow cooker ideal buy for families or those interested in meal prepping. There’s a spill-proof locking lid in case you’re transferring the slow cooker, along with a hinged tempered glass lid that’s described as shatter-resistant.
The feet located on the bottom prevent the appliance from moving. It’s dishwasher-safe, although, we always recommend hand-washing kitchen tools to ensure they’re long-lasting. The best part of this slow cooker, though? The touch-activated display that illuminates with the time and settings when needed.
Related: Walmart’s ‘Cozy’ Color-Changing Lamp Is a Cute, Budget-Friendly Pick for Mood Lighting
This bestseller has racked up over 1,000 perfect five-star ratings. Shoppers cited the “very well-made” slow cooker as “beautiful,” a “great size” for so many meals, and “fast and convenient.” Another said it’s a “game-changer” for cooking food in a time crunch.
Don’t dread cooking dinner when you get home — let this Beautiful by Drew Barrymore slow cooker do all the work for you, especially when it’s just $40 ahead of the holidays!
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7 Vintage Finds Interior Designers Are Hunting for at Flea Markets This November
If you ask me, browsing a flea market‘s never-ending stalls and hunting for antique treasures is an A+ way to fill an afternoon.
The last time I checked out a new-to-me flea market was earlier this year, during a trip to Los Angeles. My friend and I paid the flea market’s admission fee, excited to spend hours upon hours perusing vintage jewelry and antique home decor items. However, temperatures were more than 90 degrees, the sun was blazing overhead at full force and we were both overdressed for the scorching weather, so we didn’t last more than an hour. Womp-womp.
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Luckily, my friend and I each found a few fun items before we fled the sprawling flea market in pursuit of air conditioning. But with that experience behind me, I’ve been looking forward to some fall flea market shopping, as the lovely autumnal temperatures are perfect for spending a day outside. That being said, what are the best items to look for at flea markets in November?
To find out, we spoke with Olivia Martin, Interior Designer at Berberorugs, and Anna Reinhard, an interior designer and the founder of Anna Reinhard Interiors.
Below, the two designers share a few of the items they’ll personally be looking for at flea markets this November, as well as a handful of their best tips for a successful flea market trip!
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Why November Is a Great Time to Shop at Flea Markets“November can be a popular month for flea market shopping,” Reinhard tells Parade. “It’s slightly less crowded than December as it’s a bit farther out from the holiday season.” Plus, depending on where you live, the weather is likely pretty mild in November, meaning spending a few hours browsing an outdoor flea market is more bearable than it would be on a snowy December day.
“It’s a great time to really dig into what your vendors are offering, negotiate as it makes sense and try to stock up on unique finds and housewares for the cozy months,” she adds.
Martin agrees, noting that November is a good month to start collecting cozy items for the holiday season. “With the holidays just around the corner, I really enjoy finding items that can enhance the warmth and welcoming aspect of a home,” she says.
Related: The One Paint Finish Designers Say Most Homeowners Should Never Apply Themselves
7 Items Interior Designers Are Hunting for at Flea Markets This November 1. Jacquard blanketsVictoria Kotlyarchuk / Getty Images
“I am completely obsessed with antique… Americana-inspired textiles right now,” Reinhard says, speaking about vintage jacquard blankets. “They add amazing geometric patterns and color to the back of a sofa or the arm of a lounge chair and feel both classic and current.”
Plus, now is a great time to find them at flea markets. “Many vendors hold back thicker blankets or textiles until the cooler months so November is an especially good time to source these,” per Reinhard.
2. Rugs“I love vintage rugs because they give color, texture and character to [any] room,” says Martin. She adds that November is “the perfect time to find one for a cozy winter season.”
3. Candlestick holdersStefania Pelfini la Waziya / Getty Images
“A vintage candlestick holder is one of my all-time favorite styling accessories,” Reinhard says. “November is a great time to source these as we head into the darker, gloomier months.”
Reinhard adds that an antique candlestick holder can “offer height when styled on a coffee table with books or shape to an otherwise angular fireplace.” Plus, lit candlesticks “give a warm glow in a space that can’t be duplicated.”
Martin agrees, adding that she’ll be looking for a set of brass candlestick holders at flea markets this November.
“I love [brass candlestick holders] because they’re easy candlesticks to add a warm and classic element,” she says. “They are particularly lovely during November when I think about cosy evenings and table settings for the holidays.”
4. Wooden furniturePeeradon Warithkorasuth / Getty Images
“I am always on the lookout for old side tables, stools and cabinets,” says Martin. “They have a charm you do not get with brand new furniture, and they’re perfect for freshening up a room prior to the holidays.”
5. Pewter servingwareReinhard loves silver-toned pewter servingware for the winter.
“Move over brass, pewter is beautiful too! As a switch up from the traditional porcelain, stoneware and brass servingware, pewter can feel a touch more fancy and unexpected,” explains Reinhard. “As November ushers in the holiday hosting season, it’s a great time to snag a nickel platter or coupe-shaped glass for things like nuts and olives.”
6. Holiday decorationsCatherine Falls Commercial / Getty Images
“November is a prime time to sniff out some vintage-inspired holiday decorations,” Reinhard says. Some holiday decor she’ll be looking for this fall include vintage glass Christmas tree ornaments, bottle-brush Christmas trees and “old-school” incandescent string lights.
“Many vendors bring out their holiday decorations in early November, so there will be a plethora of vintage options to take your pick from!” she says.
7. Old prints and vintage frames“I love old prints, and I love frames that are not the standard style,” Martin says, explaining that an antique frame can give a room more “character.” She also thinks a vintage print in an antique frame can make a fantastic holiday present for a loved one—so long as it goes with their home’s interior design style!
Related: Black Kitchens Are Coming for White Kitchens—Designers Explain Why Everyone’s Making the Switch
5 Designer-Approved Shopping Tips for Flea Markets 1. Don’t worry too much about signs of wearIf you come across a secondhand piece you love, but the item is worn or slightly damaged, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get it. In fact, the item’s flaws make it all the more unique.
“Do not snap something up because it is a little worn,” says Martin. “I do not automatically turn my nose up at something just because it is slightly worn down.”
2. Scan an entire booth before picking up itemsWhen you’re walking around a flea market, Reinhard recommends “doing one large scan of a single booth or vendor area at first. Just try to take a cursory glance to check out what their vibe is and if anything immediately stands out.”
After you glance around, then you can “get up close and try to focus on one small section, or shelf or table at a time. This allows you to really see what they have to offer.”
3. Write down your home’s dimensions before you goBefore you head to a flea market, Martin advises measuring rooms and nooks that you’re looking to furnish. Having these dimensions written down or stored in your phone “helps prevent purchasing a beautiful item that ends up being too large or too small for the area,” she says.
Related: 35 Things in Your House Right Now That Could Be Worth Money, According to Certified Appraisers
4. Look through booths thoroughly“Don’t be afraid to get down and dirty!” says Reinhard. “Move things out of the way (carefully of course) [and] bend down and check out the lower shelves.” You just might find a true hidden gem!
5. Inspect items closely for significant damage“Before purchasing, look with a keen eye for any damage,” advises Martin. “I always inspect, particularly with rugs and wooden furniture.”
Reinhard has similar advice. “Run your hand across the ceramic vase to ensure it doesn’t have any worrisome chips or cracks and unfold the linen napkins or wool blanket so you can get the full picture of the piece.”
She adds that a thorough inspection can help you “hone in on what you’re drawn to and ensure it’s in good shape before buying it!”
Up Next:
Related: The 7 Best Flea Markets From Around the World, According to Interior Designers
Sources:- Olivia Martin, Interior Designer at Berberorugs
- Anna Reinhard, an interior designer and the founder of Anna Reinhard Interiors
'The Big Bang Theory' Creator Chuck Lorre Never Laughed Harder Than He Did at This Sheldon and Amy Scene
While the CBS sitcom The Big Bang Theory had plenty of humorous moments, there’s one in particular that the show’s creator, Chuck Lorre, was in stitches over.
During an appearance on an October 2026 episode of The Big Bang Theory star Mayim Bialik‘s podcast, Breakdown, Lorre discussed a moment from the show’s sixth season, which involves Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons) spanking a secretly delighted Amy Farrah Fowler (Bialik) as punishment.
“[Amy] pretends to be sick in order to sustain this intimate relationship with him. And once she’s well she continues to pretend she’s sick, and he discovers that. And then he punishes you by spanking you,” said Lorre, before revealing how tickled he was over the scene.
“I don’t think I’ve ever laughed harder in my life,” said the Two and a Half Men creator.
Mayim Bialik & Jim Parsons Revealed That Scene Was Supposed to Be Off-CameraWhile recording the Breakdown podcast episode, Bialik said that the moment from The Big Bang Theory Season 6, Episode 10, was supposed to be off-camera.
“Originally, we were told this is just going to be audio. And we just want the sound of her being punished,” said Bialik, who began playing Amy during the show’s third season, which began airing in 2009.
Parsons made similar comments about the season 6 scene during a SundanceTV panel. He said that the script originally called for the spanking “to be off-camera,” with viewers only getting audio from the moment.
He said, however, that “by the end of the taping” of the episode, he and Bialik realized that it would be “on camera.” Parsons, who played Sheldon on The Big Bang Theory throughout its 12-season run, said he had difficulty playing his usually straight-faced character in the scene.
“I would say it was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do because I found it tremendously amusing,” said Parsons.
Brian Boitano Revisits a Favorite 1995 Skating Routine and Reveals the Difficult Detail That Made the Crowd React: ‘One of My Favorite Artistic Performances'
More than 30 years after winning over audiences with his extraordinary skating skills, 1988 Olympic gold medalist Brian Boitano is taking fans back to one of his favorite performances from 1995. The figure skating legend recently shared a throwback video from his professional skating career, revealing why the routine remains so special to him decades later. While Boitano made even the most challenging moves look effortless, there was one particularly difficult sequence that he remembers the audience recognizing in real time.
Why Brian Boitano Still Loves This 1995 Skating Routine View this post on InstagramIn his recent Instagram throwback, the 1988 Olympic gold medalist revisits a 1995 program he describes as one of his favorites from his professional career, writing, “This was one of my favorite Artistic programs that I did in the world professional competitions. I really love how the audience realized that the opening sequence on one foot was challenging.”
Skating to “Elegy for Harp and Strings” by Richard Kaufman, Boitano can be seen meticulously working his way through an intricate program of edges and turns. Boitano’s Olympic skating career was dominated by fantastic jumps, which became his signature moves. Here, his performance is more restrained, but no less technically challenging.
For skaters, edge work is one of the most challenging technical aspects of a performance. The athlete must maintain balance and control through a series of turns on one foot while continuously shifting their weight, changing edges and controlling momentum without putting the other foot down.
What makes this throwback so compelling, other than the obvious thrill of revisiting a performance by one of America’s most dynamic figure skaters, is that the audience seems to understand what they’re witnessing. The opening sequence wasn’t a spectacular jump or daring spin, but it was technically demanding and clearly earned the crowd’s admiration.
That’s part of what made Brian Boitano such a force on the ice. Rather than focusing on big jumps, the kind that made him an Olympic gold medalist, he showcased the intricate footwork, deep edges and effortless-looking turns that made his skating so distinctive.
Related: Brian Boitano, 62, Is Still ‘As Beautiful As Ever’ as He Spins on the Ice
How Brian Boitano Showcased a Different Side of His Skating After Winning Olympic GoldBy 1995, Brian Boitano was already one of the most celebrated figure skaters in the world. Seven years earlier, he had won Olympic gold at the 1988 Calgary Winter Games, becoming known for his powerful jumps, precise technique and commanding presence on the ice.
But his professional skating career gave him opportunities to explore a different side of his talent. Rather than focusing entirely on the big jumps that helped make him an Olympic champion, Boitano could showcase the intricate footwork, deep edges and effortless-looking turns that made his skating so distinctive.
The throwback also highlights an important part of Boitano’s legacy and possibly one reason so many commenters call him their favorite skater of all time. As an Olympic athlete, Boitano’s athleticism was the star of the show. In his professional career, he showcased intricate, technically demanding routines like this one, proving that even the most refined performances could be as beautiful, challenging and entertaining as a soaring triple jump.
While many skaters use their post-Olympic professional careers to deliver crowd-pleasing performances, Boitano continued to challenge himself. Judging by the crowd’s response to this 1995 routine, his technical skills impressed audiences just as much as his ability to launch himself into the air.
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Ethan Hawke Explains How the 'Before' Trilogy Made Its Dialogue Feel So Real
The Before trilogy is often considered one of the finest romantic film series ever made, and its natural, deeply personal dialogues are a big reason why. Now, Ethan Hawke is opening up about how he and the makers of the film created conversations that feel spontaneous and true to life, revealing the thought process behind one of the trilogy’s most distinctive elements.
Although the movies have an intimate and spontaneous atmosphere, the dialogue was not merely improvised during filming. Rather, Hawke, co-star Julie Delpy and director Richard Linklater worked on the scenes through a collaborative writing process so that the conversations would sound as if real people were talking.
While making an appearance on Scene Stealers, Hawke described to John Feitelberg the way in which the team tried out dialogue before deciding which lines should end up in the final films.
The actor explained that they created the impression that they were improvising, trying out different ideas, keeping the ones that worked and discarding the rest. He called this method “controlled improvising.”
Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke in ‘Before Midnight’Sony Pictures Classics
“We create the feeling that we’re improvising. And we have written our own lines, and we’ve worked on them and what we’ve come up with through controlled improvising, meaning like we improvised some things around. Then we’d say, ‘Oh, that one was good. Let’s pick that. Let’s add that. Let’s cut that,'” Hawke noted during the conversation.
Even though the performances have a spontaneous feel since the actors sound at ease with each other, the conversations had been carefully crafted in order to serve the story; the process allowed the characters to explore themes such as love, faith, relationships and the uncertainties of life without causing their exchanges to sound as if they were rehearsed speeches.
The Before trilogy started with the film Before Sunrise in 1995, where Hawke played Jesse and Delpy portrayed Céline, two people who meet on a train and choose to spend a night exploring Vienna together.
The relationship between them grows as a result of their discussions on a wide range of topics, including romance and their opinions of the world.
The story then moved on to Before Sunset in 2004, bringing the characters together in Paris nine years later, and later saw the release of Before Midnight in 2013, which showed their relationship at a more complicated stage.
What made this trilogy so special is that it shows Jesse and Céline growing older instead of preserving them in the excitement of their first meeting; their relationship evolves as they come up against new responsibilities, disappointments and questions regarding what it means to build a life with someone.
Linklater, Hawke and Delpy were also involved in the writing and thus helped the characters to develop throughout all three films. The outcome is a rare achievement in the cinema which shows how love can feel different at various stages of life.
The Before trilogy is still one of the most rewarding romantic film series ever produced for those who value character-driven storytelling, since the conversations have a more real-life quality than that of ordinary movie dialogue.
Related: Ethan Hawke Calls Out Hollywood’s ‘Greedy’ Power Players: ‘Their Lives Are Worthless’
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Netflix's New Christmas Movie Stars 'Gossip Girl' and 'Gilmore Girls' Favorites—and It's a Millennial Dream
Holiday movies are here and Netflix has a fun one with Guarding Stars. In this role-reversal rom-com, Gossip Girl‘s Leighton Meester is a bodyguard assigned to protect an action star played by Supernatural‘s Jared Padalecki, Of course, her assignment takes place over the holidays and involves a trip home to see his family where sparks fly between the two.
Here’s everything we know about Guarding Stars.
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What is Guarding Stars about?When a no-nonsense bodyguard is assigned to protect a charming action star over the holidays sparks fly, secrets unravel, and Christmas gets a whole lot more complicated.
Is Guarding Stars based on other material?Yes. Guarding Stars is based on the 2022 novel, The Bodyguard by Katherine Center. The book and the 1992 film starring Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner are two different works of art.
Where can I watch Guarding Stars?Guarding Stars will stream exclusively on Netflix
Related: Lifetime Reveals Its 2026 Christmas Movie Lineup, Including Brandy’s Return—See the Full Schedule
When does Guarding Stars premiere?Guarding Stars premieres on Wednesday, Nov. 18.
Who’s in the cast of Guarding Stars? Leighton Meester as Hannah in Guarding Stars.Netflix
Leighton Meester as HannahMeester is best known for her role as Blair Waldorf on Gossip Girl. She is also a singer and model has released solo singles Your Love’s a Drug” and “Somebody to Love” as well as a studio album, Heartstrings. Her other credits include How I Met Your Father, Single Parents, and The Buccaneers. She is married to Nobody Wants This‘ Adam Brody.
Related: Great American Family Revealed Its 2026 Christmas Movie Lineup, and These Are the Films to Watch For
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Jared Padalecki as Jack StapletonPadalecki is best known for his roles on Supernatural and Gilmore Girls. He most recently led the show Walker which was a reboot of the Chuck Norris series, Walker, Texas Ranger. His most recent credits include The Rookie, The Boys, and Fire Country.
Andie MacDowell as ConnieMacDowell has been a staple at Hallmark for over a decade and has previously led the ensemble cast of The Way Home as well as Cedar Cove, Hallmark Channel’s first foray into television series. Other credits include Green Card, Groundhog Day, and Four Weddings and a Funeral.
Is there a trailer for Guarding Stars?Yes. Check out the official trailer for Guarding Stars.below:
Check out images for Guarding StarsTake a look at some select images from Guarding Stars in the gallery below.
Guarding StarssNetflixRachael Ancheril as Taylor and Toby Sandeman as Robbie
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Leighton Meester as Hannah and Jared Padalecki as Jack
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Jared Padalecki as Jack and Noah LaLonde as Hank
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Jared Padalecki as Jack and Andie MacDowell as Connie
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Phil Brooks as Doghouse and Rachael Ancheril as Taylor in Guarding Stars.
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Walker Hayes as Sheriff Sanderson in Guarding Stars.
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Leighton Meester as Hannah in Guarding Stars.
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Zoe Kosovic as Clementine, Henrik Bosovich as Wyatt, Leighton Meester as Hannah and Jared Padalecki as Jack
Netflix
'70s Singer-Songwriter Wrote Hits for the Carpenters and Eric Clapton, but Never Got Credit: 'What Are You Gonna Do? You're a Girl'
Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Rita Coolidge isn’t what you’d call a household name, but considering she either wrote or helped to write some of the most famous songs of all time, it seems like she should be. The problem is that Coolidge wasn’t given songwriting credits for her contributions to the classic rock hit “Layla” by Derek and the Dominoes or the easy listening chart-topper “Superstar” by the Carpenters.
In a 2016 interview with Relix about her memoir, Delta Lady, Coolidge opened up about her decades-long career, starting as a background vocalist for such artists as Delaney & Bonnie Bramlett, Joe Cocker, Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton and many more. Eventually, she pursued a career as a solo artist, also collaborating with Kris Kristofferson, her husband at the time.
Unfortunately, Coolidge never got to reap the benefits, critically or financially, of some of the most significant work she ever did, including the iconic piano coda in “Layla.”
“I’ll preface this by saying I haven’t heard a word from Eric Clapton or his camp — I’m sure that he’s aware, but that’s kind of the way it’s been all along,” Coolidge began.
“Jim Gordon and I became a couple and dated for probably a year — he was the drummer with Delaney & Bonnie for a while and, during that time, the Mad Dogs & Englishmen tour took place,” she continued.
“Before then, we had written a song called ‘Time (Don’t Let the World Get in Our Way).’ Jim had come over to my house one day and sat down — he was just noodling around at the piano and played a couple chords. He was not a great piano player, barely even competent, but he started noodling around and I sat down and started playing some chords and then started writing lyrics. We finished the song and decided that we should make a demo since we were on the way to England to record with Eric. The day we were in the studio with Eric, I sat down at the piano and played it and sang. Eric seemed to like it, so I gave him a cassette and left it on the piano. Everybody in Delaney & Bonnie were there— Bobby Whitlock, Carl Radle. The whole band who was there witnessed it.”
It wasn’t until the next year that Coolidge heard “Layla” and figured out she’d essentially been robbed.
“I was in the studio having pictures made for my new album on A&M and I hear this music come over the PA system in the studio and it sounded so very familiar,” she said. “As it went on, it suddenly dawned on me — that’s my music, that’s why it’s so familiar. It had become the coda for ‘Layla.'”
Still, Coolidge gave Clapton the benefit of the doubt.
“I heard Eric’s guitar and knew what had happened, but I still had enough faith in people to think maybe I had a writer’s credit. So I ran over to Tower Records and got the record and, tragically, I did not — it said Jim Gordon and Eric Clapton. They had totally just left me out of it.”
Coolidge tried to fight for her publishing rights, which would have made her quite a bit of money, but to no avail.
“I went to [producer] David Anderle because David knew the song ‘Time,'” she explained. “I went to David and told him what had happened and he said, ‘You’re not going to get to Eric — nobody gets to Eric. You have to go through Robert Stigwood, his management company, and the guy is just not somebody you want in your life — he’s not a nice man.’ I knew Robert Stigwood, I’d been to his house, so I called and explained my case and he just said, ‘What are you gonna do? You’re a girl. You don’t have money to fight this.’ And he was right.”
Record exec Jerry Moss gave Coolidge similar advice, telling her, “You gotta let it go, you don’t have the money to fight the deep pockets of Eric Clapton and Robert Stigwood.”
As for “Superstar,” while the most well-known version was performed by the Carpenters and released in 1971, it was initially called “Groupie (Superstar)” and was released in 1969 by Delaney & Bonnie. Coolidge played a crucial role in the writing of the song, but the single was officially credited to “Delaney and Bonnie and Friends featuring Eric Clapton.”
“I’ve told this story my whole life and, when the book was released, I saw where people had written stuff, which I stopped reading, saying, ‘Why are you just telling this story now?'” Coolidge said.
“Well, it’s not just now,” she added. “I’ve been telling this story since 1970. I didn’t sit back on my thumbs — I knew what had happened. And with ‘Superstar,’ when that record came out, and I saw Bonnie Bramlett and Leon Russell, Bonnie even said, ‘Why didn’t you say something, Rita?’ And I said, ‘Because, I knew if I did, then Delaney would beat the s–t out of you and it wasn’t worth it.'”
Of course, there’s still time for Clapton to write Coolidge a check.
Sam Bankman-Fried was convicted of FTX fraud in 2023 on seven counts; three years later, he's serving a 25-year federal sentence
Sam Bankman-Fried, the founder of cryptocurrency exchange FTX, has lost his latest appeal to overturn his fraud conviction and 25-year prison sentence, while continuing to claim that he did not commit fraud.
According to The Guardian, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit rejected his challenge to the conviction and sentence. Bankman-Fried was found guilty of seven felony counts in November 2023 after prosecutors accused him of misusing billions of dollars in customer funds.
Now, nearly three years after his conviction, the former crypto billionaire remains in federal prison. He is eligible for release in 2044, according to reports.
The case followed the collapse of FTX in November 2022, when customers, investors and lenders faced billions of dollars in losses. Prosecutors said Bankman-Fried used money entrusted to his exchange to cover losses at Alameda Research, his cryptocurrency trading firm.
Sam Bankman-Fried, co-founder of FTX Cryptocurrency Derivatives Exchange, leaves court in New York, US, on Wednesday, July 26, 2023.Photo by: Victor J. Blue/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Bankman-Fried was convicted in a Manhattan federal court in November 2023 on seven counts involving fraud and conspiracy. The charges covered the misuse of customer funds and lies to investors and lenders.
Prosecutors said around $8 billion in customer money was taken from FTX, per AP News. During the March 2024 sentencing, the court also addressed losses suffered by investors and lenders, bringing the total financial impact cited in the case to about $11 billion.
U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan sentenced Bankman-Fried to 25 years in prison in March 2024. Prosecutors had asked for a sentence of 40 to 50 years, while his defense team sought a much shorter term.
At sentencing, Kaplan said Bankman-Fried knew his actions were wrong but “made a very bad bet about the likelihood of getting caught”.
Bankman-Fried had pleaded not guilty. During his trial, he admitted making mistakes while running FTX but denied stealing customer funds.
Three former executives who worked closely with him testified for the prosecution after pleading guilty to related crimes and agreeing to cooperate. They said Bankman-Fried directed them to use FTX customer money to cover losses at Alameda Research.
Bankman-Fried’s lawyers argued on appeal that the trial judge improperly blocked evidence that could have supported his belief that FTX had enough money to meet customer withdrawals. Prosecutors argued that testimony and other evidence at trial clearly supported the conviction.
The appeals court rejected his challenge, leaving both the conviction and 25-year sentence in place.
In an October 2026 interview with The Economist’s podcast, Bankman-Fried continued to describe FTX as a legitimate business that failed after a run on its funds. He said: “Parties adverse to the company and stakeholders took control. When I needed to fight that, I was weak instead.”
His lawyers have also challenged the roughly $11 billion forfeiture tied to the case on constitutional grounds. They are pursuing a petition before the U.S. Supreme Court and have sought a presidential pardon from Donald Trump, according to the October report.
A pardon remains uncertain. Bankman-Fried told the podcast that obtaining one was “an uphill battle.”
FTX was once one of the world’s biggest cryptocurrency exchanges, and Bankman-Fried was widely known in the crypto industry. The company’s collapse in 2022 ended his rise as a major figure in digital finance and led to one of the most closely watched financial fraud cases in recent years.
For now, his conviction and prison sentence remain in place, while further legal efforts continue.
Columbia’s ‘Light and Stylish’ $49 Rain Jacket Packs Easily Into Your Purse for Sudden Showers
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Fall weather can be unpredictable, and even checking the forecast doesn’t guarantee you’ll avoid a sudden shower or gust of wind. Keeping a reliable rain jacket on hand makes it easier to handle those unexpected changes, and you don’t have to spend a fortune to find one that works. A lightweight, packable option is especially handy when you’re heading out for the day and aren’t sure what the weather has in store.
The Columbia Switchback IV Hooded Packable Jacket is currently on sale for 30% off at Macy’s, bringing the price down from $70 to just $49. It comes in seven colors, including sage green, light pink, mauve, wine, and navy blue, with sizes ranging from extra small to XXL. With a versatile design and a discounted price, it’s an easy option to keep close when the forecast looks uncertain.
Columbia Switchback IV Hooded Packable Jacket, $49 (was $70) at Macy’s Shop at Macy'sMade from 100% nylon, this lightweight jacket features Columbia’s Omni-Shield advanced water-repellent technology, which helps water bead up on the fabric rather than soaking in right away. The attached hood offers extra coverage when rain starts falling, and it can be tucked into the collar when you don’t need it. Its packable design also makes it convenient to keep in your car, purse, or travel bag for camping trips, hikes, and everyday errands.
The jacket has a regular fit and a short length, measuring approximately 25 inches long. A front zipper makes it easy to put on and take off, while two side pockets give you a place to keep small essentials within reach. It’s unlined, so it has a lightweight feel that’s useful for layering over other clothing when temperatures fluctuate. When it needs freshening up after a day outdoors, you can simply machine wash it.
The rain jacket earned nearly 100 five-star ratings, with shoppers praising its portability and everyday usefulness. One reviewer said it’s “light, stylish, and ready for surprise showers,” adding, “This jacket is a travel essential! It packs down small, repels light rain, and looks great on the go.” Another shopper said it’s “lightweight and comfortable,” adding that it’s “easy to pack and portable.”
Shop More Rain Jacket Deals- Puma Pearlized Water-Resistant Woven Long-Sleeve Jacket, $49 (was $70) at Macy’s
- Tommy Hilfiger Zip-Front Hooded Anorak Jacket, $100 (was $200) at Macy’s
- DKNY Hooded Bubble Hem Rain Jacket, $130 (was $260) at Macy’s
If you’re looking for a dependable layer for unpredictable weather, the Columbia Switchback IV Hooded Packable Jacket is worth considering. Macy’s current 30% discount brings it down to $49, saving you $21 on a lightweight jacket that’s easy to bring along wherever the day takes you.
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NYT Mini Crossword Answers, Hints for Friday, October 23, 2026
Today’s NYT Mini Crossword covers everything from high-speed trains, units of measurement, online discussion spaces, fashion developments, Atlanta basketball, New York City borough populations, Oscar-winning films, threaded fasteners, expressions of surprise and medical professional.
Working on the daily Connections, Connections Sports Edition, Wordle, and Strands is a whole ritual for many of us. And we can’t forget about the NYT’s The Mini Crossword, too!
Although the NYT is known for “The Crossword,” a larger puzzle for paid subscribers, The Mini has quite the fan following as well. This particular game resets at 10 p.m., unlike some of the others that start over at midnight.
So, if you’re working on today’s Mini Crossword on Friday, October 23, and need some help (I’ve been there), get ready to read the clues and solutions for each line. We have them separated into hints first for both “Across” and “Down” words, followed by “Across Answers” and “Down Answers,” so be careful if you want to avoid spoilers as you scroll!
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Hints for NYT’s The Mini Crossword on Friday, October 23, 2026Here are additional clues for each of the words in today’s Mini Crossword.
NYT Mini Across Hints1 Across: Like bullet trains — HINT: Ends with the letter “T”
5 Across: 1/12 of a foot NYT — HINT: Starts with the letter “I”
6 Across: Place for online discussion — HINT: Starts with the letter “F”
8 Across: Fashion development — HINT: Ends with the letter “D”
9 Across: Atlanta N.B.A. team — HINT: Starts with the letter “H”
Related: 16 Games Like Wordle To Give You Your Word Game Fix More Than Once Every 24 Hours
NYT Mini Down Hints1 Down: Like Staten Island, among all N.Y.C. boroughs in population — HINT: Starts with the letter “F”
2 Down: Best Picture winner after “Oppenheimer” — HINT: Ends with the letter “A”
3 Down: Threaded fastener — HINT: Starts with the letter “S”
4 Down: “Who’d have ___ it!?” — HINT: Starts with the letter “T”
7 Down: Many characters on “Scrubs”: Abbr. — HINT: Ends with the letter “S”
Don’t go any further unless you want to know exactly what the correct words are in today’s Mini Crossword.
NYT Mini Across Answers1 Across: Like bullet trains — FAST
5 Across: 1/12 of a foot NYT — INCH
6 Across: Place for online discussion — FORUM
8 Across: Fashion development — TREND
9 Across: Atlanta N.B.A. team — HAWKS
1 Down: Like Staten Island, among all N.Y.C. boroughs in population — FIFTH
2 Down: Best Picture winner after “Oppenheimer” — ANORA
3 Down: Threaded fastener — SCREW
4 Down: “Who’d have ___ it!?” — THUNK
7 Down: Many characters on “Scrubs”: Abbr. — MDS
Related: NYT Mini Crossword Answers, Hints for Thursday, October 22, 2026
The Police’s Andy Summers Says His Guitar Riff Saved ‘Every Breath You Take’—and He's Still Fighting for Recognition
One of the most recognizable guitar riffs in rock history almost never existed. According to The Police guitarist Andy Summers, “Every Breath You Take” was close to being abandoned before he walked into the studio and transformed it in a single take.
More than four decades later, the song remains a global favorite, but Summers believes his contribution deserves more recognition.
In an article published October 20, Guitar Player revisited Summers’ account of how the 1983 hit came together.
At the time, Sting and drummer Stewart Copeland were struggling to agree on the arrangement. The original demo featured Sting singing over a Hammond organ, without the guitar part that would eventually define the recording.
“That song was going to be thrown out,” Summers told Guitarist in 2022.
When Sting encouraged him to develop his own part, Summers drew on his interest in classical music and his collaborations with Robert Fripp. The result was the instantly recognizable arpeggiated guitar riff. “And I did it in one take. They all stood up and clapped,” Summers recalled.
Released in 1983, “Every Breath You Take” spent eight weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became The Police’s biggest American hit.
But Summers never received a songwriting credit. Sting remains the song’s sole credited writer.
Speaking to Guitar Player, Summers said his guitar riff was what made the song special, not just another part of the arrangement.
The disagreement has taken on new significance amid a royalties dispute involving Sting, Summers and Copeland. According to The Guardian, the two former bandmates have challenged how payments from the song, particularly streaming revenue, are calculated.
The track has accumulated billions of Spotify streams, introducing its famous riff to generations of listeners. For Summers, the frustration remains: one of rock’s most recognizable guitar parts carries his unmistakable sound, but not his name in the songwriting credits.
Meg Ryan Stars in 2003 Psychological Thriller Ranked Among 'Best Crime Movies of All Time'
In the long list of notable crime drama films, there are some that deserve a second look, like a 2003 Meg Ryan film directed by Jane Campion that’s a killer psychological thriller.
Entertainment Weekly developed a list of the best movies in the genre from classics like 1995’s Heat to the well-loved Chinese film Hard Boiled from 1992. Among the list is Ryan’s In the Cut, based on the 1995 novel of the same name by Susanna Moore.
The film was directed by Campion, who won an Academy Award for her critically acclaimed film The Piano, and produced by Nicole Kidman. Following the novel’s storyline, Ryan plays the role of an introverted writer and English teacher, Frannie Avery. Her student brings up the theory that famed serial killer John Wayne Gacy may not have been the one to commit the murders.
When the murders of young women somehow tie themselves to Frannie, she meets Detective Giovanni Malloy, played by Mark Ruffalo. She soon becomes entangled in the investigation and worries that the killer might set her sights on her.
In the Cut has a stellar cast of actors alongside Ruffalo and Ryan, including Jennifer Jason Leigh and Kevin Bacon. The film was given a limited release in late October before hitting audiences on Halloween, but it failed to win at the box office. It only made $23.7 million compared to its $12 million budget.
Critics commented that the director took “a stab at subverting the psycho-sexual thriller genre,” but ultimately got “tangled in her own abstraction.” While many praised Ryan’s role and the artiness of the film, many felt the “story’s unpalatable narrative holes” were a deal-breaker.
The Washington Post reviewed Ruffalo’s role as having been “unsettlingly convincing as a man whose sexual magnetism lies not in leading-man good looks but in his ability to portray himself as both a protector and, if the situation warrants, a predator”.
In the years since the release of In the Cut, the film has garnered a newfound retrospective popularity among movie fans. It’s since been praised as a feminist erotic thriller that subverts the well-known tropes of the genre concerning the femme fatale and the male gaze.
“It is just her. Generally, the way she treats the sexuality in her other movies are cool and interesting and not exploitative,” said Ryan about Champion’s vision to Dark Horizons, and added that she “loved the sex scenes in this movie, because they are really, really not coy, but truly honest.”
Critics have come to list the film as one of the greatest of the 21st century, with one critic admiring how “it’s the way that Campion, in scene after scene, juxtaposes powerful female desire with vulnerability that makes In the Cut a unique noir”
One interesting detail behind the film’s creation is that Laurie Parker and Campion took five years to develop it. Kidman was also only credited as its producer because she had originally been considered for Ryan’s role, but stepped away as she was going through a divorce.
After Over 14 Years Away, Tom Hanks Finally Returns to Broadway—and He's Bringing Two Tony Winners With Him in a New Play He Co-Wrote
The two-time Oscar winner is heading back to the stage, and he’s bringing his own words with him.
Tom Hanks, 70, will star on Broadway in fall 2027 in This World of Tomorrow, a new play he co-wrote with James Glossman. It will be his first Broadway appearance in 14 years.
He’ll once again share the stage with Tony winner Kelli O’Hara, and Kenny Leon is back to direct. The show will play a strictly limited engagement at a Shubert theater that hasn’t been announced yet, and exact dates and additional casting are still under wraps.
Hanks made his Broadway debut in 2013 in Nora Ephron’s Lucky Guy, playing New York City newspaper columnist Mike McAlary. The role earned him a Tony nomination.
This World of Tomorrow already has a strong track record. It premiered at The Shed’s Griffin Theater in November 2025 and played a sold-out eight-week run through Dec. 21.
The story comes from Hanks’ 2017 short story collection, Uncommon Type. He plays Bert Allenberry, a lonely scientist living at the end of the 21st century who travels back to the 1939 World’s Fair in Queens looking for love. There he meets Carmen, played by O’Hara, and the two begin a romance across generations.
Leon said he’s thrilled to bring the original stars back together. “I’m so excited to continue this work on this amazing new American play,” he said, adding that he can’t wait for more audiences to see the pair’s chemistry onstage.
Starring in his own script hasn’t been all smooth sailing for Hanks. During the Off-Broadway run, he admitted on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert that he had blanked on his lines mid-performance, leaving O’Hara and co-star Ruben Santiago-Hudson waiting for him to find his place.
Theater fans should keep an eye out for the venue and on-sale date in the coming months.
Blue Bell Just Brought Back a Fan-Favorite Holiday Flavor Packed With 3 Classic Cookies
Who knew Santa had a favorite cookie?
Well, according to Blue Bell’s official Instagram, he may have a hard time choosing just one.
The Texas-based creamery is getting a head start on the holidays by bringing back Christmas Cookies Ice Cream, a seasonal fan favorite that crams not one, not two, but three classic cookies into every sealed carton.
Blue Bell announced the flavor’s return on Oct. 22, giving fans plenty of time to stock their freezers before the stockings are even hung.
“No need to wait on Santa. Our Christmas Cookies Ice Cream arrives in stores beginning today!” the company announced on Instagram.
The festive flavor starts with sugar cookie ice cream loaded with pieces of chocolate chip, snickerdoodle and sugar cookies. Red sprinkles and a swirl of green icing round out the decidedly Christmas-y concoction.
View this post on InstagramAnd while Halloween hasn’t even arrived yet, Blue Bell isn’t exactly breaking new ground by decking out the freezer aisle in October.
Christmas Cookies first debuted in 2017, when the creamery similarly rolled out the flavor before trick-or-treaters had made their rounds. The combination has returned for several holiday seasons since, becoming a highly anticipated seasonal offering along the way.
Judging by the reaction to this year’s announcement, fans aren’t complaining about the early arrival.
“We’re so back,” one Instagram user celebrated, while another kept things even simpler: “NO WAYYYYY.”
Others offered a little advice for anyone planning to wait until closer to Christmas to grab a carton.
“Grab it while you can. I work for Kroger and last year it was gone by Thanksgiving,” one commenter warned, adding that they hoped stores would order more this year.
That may be worth keeping in mind. Blue Bell says Christmas Cookies is only available for a limited time, and this year’s return is currently being sold exclusively in the brand’s half-gallon size.
So, while Santa may still have a couple of months before he needs those cookies left by the fireplace, Blue Bell fans might want to get a head start.
At this rate, Christmas Cookies might not even survive Thanksgiving dinner.
Then again, that probably depends on who’s cooking. No offense, Mom.
Walmart's 'Beautiful' 8-Pack of Solar Pathway Lights Is Just $25 Ahead of Daylight Saving Time
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Daylight Saving Time is always a hot topic. Confusion about which seasonal shift gains an hour and which loses one never ceases. When does it start? When will it end? Does the word “saving” end with an “s” or not? (It does not.) One thing most people do realize, however, is that days start getting shorter in autumn and by winter, darkness falls much sooner than during the warmer months. With longer nights during this stretch, your mornings can also be quite dark. If you’re already struggling to see the path to and from your driveway, it’s only going to get worse when the time officially changes.
Right now, Walmart has a fantastic deal that’ll help illuminate the pathways around your home. Snag Top Zoo 8-Pack Solar Lights on sale for $25 — just over $3 per light — and add some much-needed brightness for nearly half the usual $49 price. The enchanting glow is a welcome feature for landscaping, patios, and porches any time of year, but it’ll be especially helpful during this darker stretch.
Top Zoo 8-Pack Solar Lights, $25 (was $49) at Walmart Shop at WalmartPowered by a built-in solar panel that charges throughout the day, each LED light turns on automatically at dusk and stays lit overnight. They’re weather-resistant and built to hold up through rain and snow. Each light stake is nearly 17 inches high, with a unique water-ripple pattern on the light head that projects decorative illumination onto the ground wherever it’s placed.
The warm white lights offer a traditional, lantern-like glow, but a flame orange version is also on sale right now. If your yard needs a splash of orange for Halloween and Thanksgiving, be sure to check those out.
Top Zoo 8-Pack Solar Lights, $25 (was $49) at Walmart Shop at WalmartWalmart shoppers were impressed by the “elegant” design of these “classy-looking” stake lights. With their “pretty” glow, one reviewer called the set “beautiful lighting that looks more expensive than it is.” Customers also said they’re “very simple to set up” — just pop the stake onto the light, flip the switch, and push the stake into the ground.
Shop More Deals- Skemo 12-Pack Solar Pathway Lights, $27 (was $30) at Walmart
- Ceevoo 16-Pack Solar Ground Lights, $30 (was $33) at Walmart
- Exc Mark 10-Pack Solar Lights, $30 (was $55) at Walmart
The clocks change on Nov. 1, 2026, so you still have time to add the Top Zoo 8-Pack Solar Lights to your yard before the extra hour of darkness rolls in. Head to Walmart now while the set is still available for just $25!
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Elvis Presley's Home Before Graceland Cost Just $29,500—and Later Attracted a $905,100 eBay Bid
In 1956, Elvis Presley was a 21-year-old rising star on the brink of superstardom. His hit “Heartbreak Hotel” was climbing the charts, his first album had reached number 1, and his career was about to change popular music forever. That spring, he bought a house in Memphis, Tennessee, for $29,500.
For Elvis Presley, it was more than a real estate purchase. It was an opportunity to give his parents something he had dreamed of providing since childhood: a comfortable home after years of financial hardship.
Elvis had grown up poor in Tupelo, Mississippi, in a modest two-room house. His father, Vernon, worked various jobs, including farm labor and truck driving. His mother, Gladys, worked in a garment factory and took on other work when she could. Money was often scarce, and the family knew the uncertainty of struggling to afford life’s necessities. “I don’t regard a person’s position or money as important. But I can never forget the longing to want to be somebody,” he told the Post-Star News in 1965. “I guess when you’re poor, you always think bigger and want more, than people that were born with everything.”
Now, with his music bringing him fame and money, Elvis could share his newfound success with the two people who had supported him from the beginning. He paid a $500 down payment on the four-bedroom, two-bathroom house at 1034 Audubon Drive. His parents moved in on March 20, 1956, and the property became a symbol of how dramatically the family’s circumstances were changing.
For the Presleys, the house offered the promise of stability and the chance to experience a luxury that had seemed out of reach. But Presley’s fame was growing quickly. The success of “Heartbreak Hotel” propelled Elvis toward national stardom. His television appearances attracted millions of viewers, and fans became fascinated with everything about him. Before long, admirers and photographers were gathering outside the Memphis home, hoping to catch a glimpse of the young singer.
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The white, ranch-style house had a swimming pool, and Elvis made improvements to the property, including work on the garage. Yet the attention surrounding him made privacy increasingly difficult for the family. Presley lived at Audubon Drive for approximately 13 months. During that period, his career continued to soar, with songs such as “Don’t Be Cruel” and “All Shook Up” becoming major hits.
In March 1957, Presley purchased Graceland, the Memphis estate that would become forever associated with his name. He left Audubon Drive behind, but the modest house retained an important place in his personal history. It was the home he had bought during his first great wave of success, when he could finally begin giving back to his parents.
Presley died in 1977, but interest in his life and legacy continued to grow. Over the years, Audubon Drive passed through different owners before Mike and Cindy Hazen purchased it for approximately $180,000. They understood that the property was more than an ordinary house. It was a tangible connection to the early years of one of the world’s most famous entertainers.
In 2006, 50 years after Elvis purchased the home, the Hazens decided to put it up for auction on eBay. The online sale attracted attention from Elvis fans and collectors eager to own a piece of music history. When bidding ended that May, the winning offer was $905,100—more than 30 times Elvis’s original purchase price.
The successful bidder was Uri Geller, the Israeli-born psychic known for his spoon-bending performances. Geller had met Elvis in Las Vegas during the 1970s. According to Geller, Elvis had asked him to demonstrate his famous trick. The encounter helped fuel Geller’s fascination with the singer, and he later assembled an extensive collection of Elvis memorabilia.
Geller joined forces with New York attorney Jim Gleason and jewelry designer Lisbeth Silvandersson, who lived in England. Together, they hoped to restore the property and eventually open it to the public. “We are unbelievably pleased,” Geller told Reuters in May, 2006. “This is a piece of history…We intend to restore it to its old glory….Hopefully one day we might get approval to turn it into a museum,” he added.
However, due to disagreements over the transaction, Geller and his partners ultimately sold the house to Nashville music executive Mike Curb for a reported $1 million. Curb ultimately gifted the property to Rhodes College, where students began using it for music research, creative projects and intimate performances through the Mike Curb Institute for Music. His request was simple: that the students “do something great with the house.” This vision gave Presley’s former home a new purpose, connecting the legacy of one generation of musicians with the creativity of the next.
Audubon Drive reveals a quieter side of Elvis Presley. Graceland tells the story of the superstar at the height of his fame. But this little Memphis house is about a young man whose success was just beginning to transform his family’s life.
For Elvis, the house represented the chance to provide his parents with security and comfort after years of struggle. It was a reminder of where he came from, even as the world began to treat him like a king. Here was a son who just wanted to give his parents a better life.
Aldi's $8 Acacia Cutting Board Has a Clever Feature That Makes Hosting Easier
Holiday entertaining sounds magical in theory. A beautifully arranged spread, festive drinks and guests gathered around the kitchen island. In reality, I’m usually juggling ingredients, searching for serving platters and trying to make everything look presentable before the doorbell rings. So, when I spot a kitchen find that can do double duty, I’m immediately interested.
That’s exactly why Aldi’s new Crofton Acacia Cutting Board caught my eye. Priced at just $7.99, this pretty wooden board isn’t just for chopping vegetables or slicing cheese. It also has a built-in charcuterie board setup that makes prepping, organizing and serving snacks a whole lot easier.
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Crofton Cutting Board With Function, 4 Section, $7.99 at Aldi One Board, So Many PossibilitiesI love the idea of one kitchen essential that takes me from food prep straight to the party spread without adding more dishes to the pile. Aldi’s acacia wood cutting board features four separate sections at the top, making it easy to keep different ingredients organized while getting everything ready for guests.
The sections can separate chopped vegetables, cheese cubes, crackers, small bowls of jams or spreads, olives and cornichons for holiday appetizers. Then, instead of transferring everything to a separate platter, you can display the selection of nibbles right on the board. Suddenly, an everyday cutting board becomes a charcuterie serving piece.
A Budget-Friendly Find for Holiday HostingAnd honestly, anything that helps me avoid digging through the cabinets for another serving dish gets bonus points. Another thing I appreciate about this Aldi find is its natural acacia wood finish. It has that warm, rustic look that works beautifully with cozy holiday tablescapes, whether I’m setting out appetizers for Thanksgiving, hosting a casual Christmas get-together or putting together a snack spread for game night.
At $7.99, this beautiful board is a budget-friendly way to make entertaining feel a little more polished without investing in a collection of specialty serving pieces. So, if you’re planning holiday gatherings and love a practical kitchen find as much as I do, this Aldi board is worth a look. It’s a prep station and serving piece rolled into one, so you’ll have less kitchen juggling and more time enjoying the party. And at that price, I’d be tempted to grab one for everyday snacking, too.
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‘Shazam!’ Star, ‘70s Teen Idol Michael Gray Dies at 75
Actor Michael Gray, who played Billy Batson in Shazam!, died at the age of 75 on Friday, October 16. Per TV Line, his publicist announced the sad news on October 22, revealing that Gray died of natural causes.
Even though he was best known for his role in the classic 1970s CBS superhero series, Gray got his big break as Ronnie Collins in NBC’s The Little People. Created by Hollywood legend Garry Marshall and starring Shelley Fabares and Brian Keith, the show followed a pediatrician who ran a free medical clinic in Hawaii. Gray appeared in 10 episodes from 1972 to 1973. The following year, the series was renamed The Brian Keith Show.
While The Little People was Gray’s first major TV role, it wasn’t his small-screen debut. The actor had guest-starring roles on Room 222 (1969), The Flying Nun (1970), and Marcus Welby, M.D. (1970). Following his stint on The Little People, Gray went on to guest-star on The Brady Bunch as Marcia’s boyfriend and on Our Time before landing the lead role of Billy Batson in Shazam!
Inspired by the DC Comics character, Gray could magically transform into Captain Marvel by saying the word “Shazam!” Jackson Bostwick (and later John Davey) played Batson’s superhero alter-ego.
Michael Gray. Photo: Michael Ochs Archives / Getty ImagesMichael Ochs Archives / Getty Images
According to People, Gray once said, “I didn’t know the character or the story when I was initially cast, so I had to be a quick study. So it was fun and exhausting, challenging and thrilling, all at once.”
In 2023, during an appearance on the “Pop Culture Retro” podcast, Gray revealed what it was like to be a ‘70s heartthrob with his face splashed across teen magazines. “It was fun sometimes, and sometimes it wasn’t. For example, so many kids read it; a lot of them found out where I lived. I don’t know how they found that out. So there were times I lived in a security building in West Hollywood. They had security agents downstairs in the lobby and sometimes they would call my apartment upstairs and say, ‘Michael, don’t come downstairs, there’s dozens of kids waiting in the driveway to see you.’ So I said, ‘okay’ and didn’t go downstairs.”
He went on to detail a time when he went to see Donny Osmond play live and as he walked to his seat, “So many kids saw me and started running up screaming, ‘There is Michael Gray.’ They started grabbing my clothes, pulling off my shirt, trying to pull pieces of my hair out of my head.”
An Italian Chef's Trick for Richer Tomato Soup Starts With Something You'd Normally Throw Away
Most home cooks know the moment. A few days after the grocery run, the rustic loaf that tasted so good on Monday has gone hard as a doorstop on the counter. The crust is tough, the middle is dry and a little voice says it’s time to toss it.
Chef Karen Akunowicz wants you to stop right there.
The James Beard Award-winning chef trained in Italy and now runs two Italian restaurants in Boston, Fox & the Knife and Bar Volpe. One of the most valuable lessons she carries from her time in Italy is also one of the simplest: The stale bread you were about to throw away is the secret to a tomato soup that’s richer, thicker and far more satisfying than the smooth purée most people make at home.
The dish is pappa al pomodoro, a classic Tuscan soup built from ripe tomatoes, garlic, olive oil and torn pieces of day-old bread. Akunowicz first tasted it in Tuscany, and she called the experience a revelation in a previous interview with Parade about the dish.
With soup season in full swing and weeknights getting busier, it’s the kind of recipe that earns a permanent spot in the rotation. Here’s why the bread works, how Akunowicz makes it and the second kitchen “scrap” she never lets go to waste.
Related: I Tried the Italian Way of Making Soup 10x Better
Why Stale Bread Makes Tomato Soup Richer“The bread thickens the soup, giving it this velvety body,” Akunowicz told Parade at the time.
The payoff goes beyond texture. She said the bread also makes the flavor deeper and more satisfying than a standard tomato soup. What looks like a clever way to use up leftovers is actually doing real work in the bowl.
The tomatoes still matter, of course. She recommended using the ripest, juiciest heirloom tomatoes you can find, because their juice becomes the base of the soup. When fresh tomatoes are out of season, canned San Marzano tomatoes are a good substitute.
Related: Joan Crawford’s Famous Hot Buttered Bread Is Still an A-List Side Dish More Than 70 Years Later
How To Make Akunowicz’s Pappa Al PomodoroThis version serves four. Like many traditional recipes, pappa al pomodoro has countless variations, and this is how Akunowicz makes hers:
- Start the base. Peel and chop about 1½ pounds of tomatoes and set them aside. Heat about ½ cup of olive oil in a heavy pot over medium heat. Cook a chopped yellow onion until translucent, then stir in a few thinly sliced garlic cloves until fragrant.
- Simmer the tomatoes. Add the tomatoes, season with salt and pepper and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes, until you have a rustic sauce.
- Add the bread. Remove the crusts from day-old rustic bread and cut it into chunks. Stir 3 to 4 cups of bread into the sauce, then pour in 3 to 4 cups of chicken or vegetable stock.
- Cook it down. Turn the heat to medium-low and simmer for 20 to 30 minutes, stirring and mashing until the bread dissolves into a thick, spoonable texture.
- Finish. Stir in a generous handful of chopped fresh basil and adjust the salt and pepper. Ladle into bowls, drizzle generously with olive oil and top with more basil.
Related: I Tried 10 Store-Bought Tomato Soups To Find Out Which One Is Worthy of Your Grilled Cheese
The Other Thing Italian Cooks Never Throw AwayStale bread isn’t the only scrap Akunowicz refuses to discard. She revealed to Parade that she never throws away the rinds from Parmigiano Reggiano, and she noted that Italian cooks wouldn’t dream of it. She drops them into soups, beans and sauces, where they add a subtle, savory depth.
Her storage tip is simple: When you finish a wedge of Parmesan, stash the rind in the freezer so you always have one on hand. A pot of soup like this one is a natural place to use it.
Together, the stale loaf and the cheese rind make the same point. Some of the most flavorful ingredients in your kitchen are the ones you’ve been tossing.
Adapted from Parade’s “The Italian Way To Make Tomato Soup 10x Better, According to an Award-Winning Chef (Exclusive)” by Nina Elder
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Source:- Karen Akunowicz, James Beard Award-winning chef, cookbook author and owner and operator of Boston’s Fox & the Knife and Bar Volpe, in an exclusive interview with Parade