Flagship City Comedy Festival's weekend performers left patrons in stitches
Guests filled the seats at the 1020 Collective in downtown Erie to watch local and national comedy acts take the stage.
Shelter animals strut their stuff at Erie Humane Society's fourth annual Mutt Gala
The festival, which started in 2022, hosts multiple shows across several days at various locations around the city.
Saturday night's headliner has made appearances on multiple major network television shows and shared his way of finding inspiration for his comedy routine.
Polish Falcons of America's 85th annual bowling tournament makes return to Erie
'Tragedy is usually my inspiration for comedy, I would say it's pretty personal,' said Shane Torres, a comedian.'I would say the best part of traveling and doing comedy is actually being on stage. The travel part of it kind of sucks.'
To stay up to date on Shane Torres and his upcoming tours, projects and more, click here.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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Forbes
7 hours ago
- Forbes
Introducing The Volonaut Airbike, A Futuristic Ride Built For Superheroes
Airbike on test run Volonaut The future of personal transportation is rapidly evolving with dramatic new launches every year. For decades, we have fantasized of flying like our favorite superheroes, soaring through the sky like a Marvel Avenger or skimming the ground on Luke Skywalker's speeder bike. That dream is now coming to life as a flying motorbike has arrived, turning our dreams into reality. The outrageous Volonaut Airbike is a jet-powered personal aircraft designed to give one rider the feeling of flying through the skies like a member of the Fantastic Four . It's a sleek, compact machine that was created to transform the consumer's experience with movement. The Airbike is the brainchild of Tomasz Patan, a Polish inventor and entrepreneur who developed the machine over several years in "stealth mode" before now unveiling it to the world. Weighing only 67 pounds and much lighter than the average motorcycle, the Airbike uses multiple jet engines instead of propellers, dramatically changing the function and feel of flight. Airbike ready for pre orders Volonaut 'It was always my dream to create a personal flying machine so futuristic and iconic that it could be placed on a science-fiction movie set,' Patan says. 'The challenge was to build real-world, reliable technology that could be shrunk down and wrapped in bold design. The result is a vehicle with incredible performance, stunning looks, and it's flying!' Patan wanted the Airbike not only to function, but to inspire people with a machine that incorporates cutting-edge technology with the visceral thrill of straddling a superbike, only in the air. Unlike most vertical take-off and landing aircraft (VTOLs), which rely on helicopter-style rotors or drone propellers, the Airbike is powered entirely by jet propulsion. The design reduces vibrations and creates a smooth, responsive ride. The rider sits in a forward-leaning position, using motorcycle-style controls and stabilization software to do most of the technical work, making it easy to operate. Patan says, "as simple as playing an arcade game." This means beginners will not need aviation training, although the company will provide professional instructions. Because the Airbike falls under the U.S. CFR Part 103 ultralight classification, it does not require a pilot's license. The fuel options are numerous, with the machine able to run on jet fuel, kerosene, diesel, or biodiesel, and can refuel in less than a minute. Despite its remarkable design and function, the Airbike is still restricted to transporting a rider up to 210 pounds and reaching speeds of only 63 mph. It obviously won't get you too far in 10 minutes, so it's still in its infancy for tourism and exploring. Airbike on test ride Volonaut Patan acknowledges the constraints. Describing the current model as a "first-generation" product. "Its purpose is mainly recreational with some interesting use cases where rapid deployment and compact size could be of great benefit," he tells me, "Future Airbike generations will overcome most of those limitations and become more popular and accessible." The other obstacle to most consumers is the cost. The Airbike is currently taking pre-orders for $880,000, limiting its realistic purchase to thrill-seeking billionaires. Despite all of this, the Airbike still proves an important milestone in aviation. According to the company's sales brochure, it is "the first jet-powered flying bike to achieve stable, controlled flight without traditional propellers, which is a breakthrough that could influence the next wave of personal air mobility." Look for many more launches in the future, as personal flight machines are becoming a reality with automakers entering the market. Hyundai, Volkswagen, and Rolls-Royce are among the manufacturers currently developing flying cars and electric VTOLs. All of these are capable of transporting multiple passengers rather than the single-person Airbike. Rolls-Royce electric, vertical take-off and landing (EVTOL) flying car concept. Rolls-Royce With new footage of the Airbike test flight now released, hovering, and landing, it is thrilling to imagine what our future will look like. Camping and exploring in remote, inaccessible areas will never be the same again. For Patan, the emotional connection is as important as the technology itself. 'The rider feels like a superhero with the ability to glide through the air with no effort and the sensation of full three-dimensional freedom,' he explains. This remarkable machine opens up a wonderland of opportunity to deliver an experience never thought possible. As Patan explains, 'The first generation of Airbike lets everyone experience the thrill of riding in the air and owning a machine so far reserved only for science-fiction movies. The Airbike doesn't just fly you through the skies, it transports you into the future.' MORE FROM FORBES Forbes UFO Tourism Is Booming With These 15 Hotspots To Visit Around The World By Jim Dobson Forbes Outrageous Travel Gifts For The Man Who Has Everything By Jim Dobson volonaut airbike
Buzz Feed
a day ago
- Buzz Feed
23 Bizarre Facts That Sound Fake But Are Actually True
Until 2015 in the UK, the coloring in red skittles contained carmine, which derives from the crushed abdomen of female beetles. There's an 80% chance your toothbrush has fecal matter on it. Even if it's stored in a closed container. Even toothbrushes stored outside the bathroom may be contaminated with fecal matter. Winnie the Pooh was banned from a Polish playground because he doesn't wear pants. The casting team for the Harry Potter movies was strongly against non-British actors being a part of the film, which meant that Robin Williams was turned down for Hagrid. Liam Aiken was the only American actor who even got the chance to audition for Harry Potter. Aside from that one exception, the casting team insisted on hiring only British actors. Because of that rule, Robin Williams reached out to director Chris Columbus about playing Hagrid but was politely turned down. As casting director Janet Hirshenson later explained, once Columbus said no to Robin, there was no way he was going to make an exception for anyone else. Cows have accents, and it goes way beyond moo! UK dairy farmers observed that cows seemed to moo with slight variations depending on the region. Curious about this, researchers from the University of London conducted a study and confirmed it — cows really do have regional differences in their moos. Interestingly, birds are also known to develop distinct local dialects. Nutmeg isn't just used in food. It can also be hallucinogenic if consumed in large doses. McDonald's used to have stirring spoons for their coffee until people began using them to snort cocaine. Pirates wore eye patches not because they were missing an eye, but to keep one eye adjusted to darkness. This let them switch quickly between bright sunlight above deck and the dim conditions below deck, giving them an advantage in battle or while moving through the ship. You can actually go to Norway that is, or even Hell, Michigan. And don't worry, it doesn't really get hot. Pope John Paul II is an honorary Harlem Globetrotter. Believe it or not, the largest tire manufacturer in the world In 2011, Guinness World Records named Lego the biggest tire manufacturer in the world. That year, the company produced 381 million tiny tires — far more than Bridgestone's 190 million, Michelin's 184 million, or Goodyear's 181 million. Sure, Lego tires are much easier to make since they're miniature and don't require everything an actual motor vehicle tire needs, but the numbers are still surprising! Roses are among the oldest plants on Earth, with fossils dating back 35 million years. The oldest living rose, which grows on a wall at Hildesheim Cathedral in Germany, is over 1,000 years old — and amazingly, it even survived a World War II bombing. President Theodore Roosevelt had a pet hyena named Bill. There's a pretty high chance that the ground coffee you use likely contains cockroaches. On August 9, 1996, production on Titanic took an unexpected and alarming turn when almost 80 cast and crew members were sent to the hospital after eating clam chowder on set. At first, the incident was thought to be a case of food poisoning, but a Nova Scotia newspaper later reported that the chowder had been deliberately spiked with PCP. Among those affected were actor Bill Paxton and director James Cameron. It's wild to think about, but none of us have ever actually seen our own faces — only reflections and images. Every time we look in a mirror or scroll past a photo, we're only catching a filtered representation. The world sees us directly, but we only know ourselves through glass and pixels. Stop signs used to be yellow. Before the 1920s, stop signs didn't follow any uniform rules — they came in all different shapes and colors. In 1922, the American Association of State Highway Officials decided that stop signs should be yellow and octagon-shaped. At the time, they didn't choose red because red paint tended to fade quickly and appeared too dark at night. It wasn't until the 1950s, after more durable red paint was developed, that the now-familiar red stop sign became the standard. There's actually a gender-neutral word for "niece" or "nephew" — It's "nibling." If you're brother or sister is becoming a parent but they don't know the sex yet, you could easily say, "I have a nibling on the way!" "Paul Winchell, who voiced Tigger in The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, invented an artificial heart." Technically, strawberries and raspberries aren't berries, but bananas and avocados are. Strawberries aren't considered true berries because they don't develop from a single ovary — instead, each tiny seed on the outside comes from its own ovary. Bananas, on the other hand, grow from a single ovary and meet the botanical definition of a berry, which is why they count as one. Before people became obsessed with painting fake freckles on their faces, people wore fake moles made of things like silk, velvet, and even mouse skin as a fashion statement. While stars like Marilyn Monroe, Eva Mendes, and Cindy Crawford popularized beauty marks, people wore facial patches for a variety of reasons. Some covered scars or blemishes, others made political statements, and some even used them to express their personality or relationship status. These patches came in all sorts of shapes — circles, hearts, stars, and moons. The trend saw a short revival in the 1940s before disappearing again. The dot over the lowercase letters 'i' and 'j' actually has a name. It's called a tittle. It appears to be a blend of the words "tiny" and "little"...now how adorable is that?! Lastly, Rapper Pusha T and Justin Timberlake wrote the "I'm Lovin' It" jingle for McDonald's. Unfortunately, they were only paid a one-time fee, and they don't own any publishing rights. Pusha T mentioned in a podcast that he received a $500,000 upfront payment for a jingle — a hefty sum, but he doesn't hold any publishing rights to it. Since the jingle has been used for years, he likely could have made much more if he had. On the other hand, he also created the jingle for Arby's 'We Have the Meats' slogan, and he owns 40% of the publishing rights for that one. Do you have a cool fact to share? Let me know in the comments!
USA Today
a day ago
- USA Today
Former KSW star Robert Ruchala surrounded himself with greatness ahead of 'dream' UFC debut
Robert Ruchala's patience paid off. For months, two-time KSW interim featherweight champion Ruchala (11-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) heard frustration from fans eager to see him step back in the cage. But he listened to those he trusted – including his manager, Joanna Jedrzejczyk. He put his head down and grinded with elite training partners at American Top Team. And then it happened. "My exercise was a lot of training and waiting," Ruchala told MMA Junkie in his first interview conducted in English. "In Poland after four or five months, I had a lot of haters because I waited. 'OK, Rob. Rob, why are you waiting for UFC?' Because the UFC is something big, yeah? It's my dream, and I had to wait for my chance. After seven months, I signed the contract in the U.S. because I was at ATT for camp. Joanna told me that I had the contract on my email, and I had to sign it." Ruchala, 27, was one of a handful of top-tier veteran signings the UFC has made in recent months. His friend and fellow Pole, KSW bantamweight champion Jakub Wiklacz, was offered a contract at the same time as he was. Known for his fun personality and creative social media posts, it was inevitable Ruchala would pull out all the stops for the biggest announcement of his career. He rounded up Wiklacz (16-3-2 MMA, 0-0 UFC) and Jedrzejczyk and another Polish fighter Robert Ceremuga and asked them to put their acting skills to the test. "I like funny videos. I'm very creative," Ruchala said. "I like to record something for my social media. When I got the call from Joanna and Joanna told me the contract would send to my person for maybe one week, I told her that it will be good to record something special for the UFC contract. I asked my friend Jakub if it would be good to record something, something good. After this, in Poland and in Europe, it was very loud after this video. I'm happy. Bro, it's my biggest dream to join the UFC. It's the best league in the world, like the Champion's League in football. I'm very excited to join to the UFC, and I can't wait for my next fight." Embedded in greatness Ruchala has to pinch himself sometimes. His heroes have somehow become his peers. He not only has UFC Hall of Famer Jedrzejczyk as his manager, but he's embedded himself deep in the most elite training sub-circle of American Top Team. He was a key member of the camp for Dustin Poirier's retirement fight and trains with Mateusz Gamrot on a weekly basis. Ruchala doesn't take the experience for granted. He sparred 20 rounds with Poirier prior to the bout. "Dustin is my inspiration, and Max (Holloway) was the same," Ruchala said. "When I was a child, I always watched Max (Holloway) and Dustin Poirier fights. ... Sparring was very stressful for me because Dustin is the legend. After sparring, Dustin told me that it would be very good to train with me. "... Dustin told me a lot of good words in sparring and in after. For me, it was a very, very big experience after sparring. ... For me, it's crazy. Crazy I watched his fights as a child and then I sparred with him. Brother, Dustin trained at American Top Team with a small group of fighters, and I joined into this group. I joined into this group and trained with him. Crazy." The big debut and beyond Ruchala enters the UFC with about as impressive a 12-fight pro resume as humanly possible. He has six finishes in 11 victories, an 8-1 record in KSW, and his only loss came against Salahdine Parnasse, a fighter many believe is the best pound-for-pound outside the UFC. "I think I'm very uncomfortable to fight," Ruchala said. "I like the show. I like striking. I like all MMA. I think I'm a MMA fighter. I like striking. I like wrestling. I like Brazilian jiu-jitsu. But in the UFC, I want to give a show. In my fight, I always want to give you a show. In this fight, it will be a big challenge for me. I have to show something special." For his first UFC assignment, Ruchala will enter enemy territory Sept. 6 with a Paris debut against Frenchman William Gomis at UFC Fight Night 258. Gomis (14-3 MMA, 4-1 UFC) aims to bounce back from his first promotional loss, which came by split decision against Hyder Amil in March. "For me, it's good to fight with Gomis because this is my debut," Ruchala said. "I think Gomis is a very good challenge for me, for my debut. Because Gomis fought in the UFC five times. For me, this is a big challenge. In KSW, I always had a lot of challenges. For example, I fought Lom-Ali Eskiev. I fought Salahdine Parnasse. I fought Kacper Formela. I had a lot of big fights and now this is my new challenge. This is something big. This is my debut in the UFC." "... It will be a good show for fans and it'll be very good for the fans. But I had a lot of training. I had a lot of competition fights. For me, it'll be good to show my skills. After finishing my contract in KSW, I made very big progress in my game. I had a lot of trips to other clubs and now I'm a different fighter. I want to show you my new skills." With a victory, Ruchala thinks ranked opposition will be next. Given his experience outside the promotion, a title run could be fast-tracked. To hold UFC gold is unsurprisingly the ultimate goal. "I think when I win vs. Gomis, I think it'll be very good for me to fight with top-15," Ruchala said. "But I'm focused on my debut. I always focus on my fights. After, I will see. Because this is a fight. I have to focus on my fight now. "... I watched a lot of fights in my division and I feel I can (win gold). I have always been into the sport. For me, it's the biggest dream to fight for the UFC belt and in a championship bout. I think I can. But I have to wait. I have to wait. Because now I focus on my fight and after I will see."
