Latest news with #Rickman
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, It's the Muppet Show!
There are spoilers ahead. You might want to solve today's puzzle before reading further! It's the Muppet Show! Constructor: Justin Werfel Editor: Anna Gundlach ALAN (16A: "Galaxy Quest" actor Rickman) Galaxy Quest is a 1999 movie that parodies and pays homage to sci-fi movies and TV series and their fandoms. In the movie, fans of a fictional cult TV series, Galaxy Quest, become involved in an interstellar conflict with aliens who think the series is a documentary. ALAN Rickman portrays Alexander Dane, the ship's science officer on the fictional series, who is a member of an alien species known for superhuman intelligence, and whose catchphrase is "By Grabthar's Hammer, by the Suns of Warvan, you shall be avenged!" Although I know ALAN Rickman, and so was able to figure out the answer here, I was not familiar with this movie. In learning about Galaxy Quest, I discovered that scenes of the alien planet were filmed at Goblin Valley State Park in Utah. My husband and I have been to that park. It's an amazing place, and with its red rock hoodoos (rock formations) it does look a bit alien. GONZO JOURNALISM (35A: Hunter S. Thompson's reporting style) GONZO JOURNALISM is a non-objective style of reporting that centers personal experience and emotion rather than the detached style of traditional JOURNALISM. Hunter S. Thompson (1937-2005) was a journalist and author. For his 1967 book, Hell's Angels: A Strange and Terrible Saga, he spent a year living with the Hells Angels motorcycle club in order to write a first-hand account of the experience. In 1970, Hunter S. Thompson wrote an article for Scanlan's Monthly titled "The Kentucky Derby is Decadent and Depraved." An editor of The Boston Globe commented on the Kentucky Derby article, saying it was "pure GONZO JOURNALISM." This was the first use of the term GONZO JOURNALISM. TAMPA (8A: Florida city near St. Petersburg) TAMPA is located on the west side of Florida, with coastline on TAMPA Bay and Old TAMPA Bay. The city of St. Petersburg, Florida is also located on TAMPA Bay – it's across the bay from TAMPA. The port of TAMPA BAY is the largest in the state of Florida. APE (13A: Donkey Kong or King Kong) Donkey Kong is the titular gorilla of the Donkey Kong video game franchise. King Kong is a gorilla-like monster who has appeared in movies, comics, video games, and TV series since 1933. An APE is a tailless primate, and the classification includes gorillas. HULU (14A: "Shogun" streaming service) Shōgun is a HULU TV series that premiered in 2024. The show is based on James Clavell's 1975 novel of the same name. A 1980 miniseries of the same name by Paramount Television was also based on the novel. HULU's Shōgun series features a mostly Japanese cast and much of the dialogue is in Japanese. Shōgun won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series. It is the first Japanese-language series to win that award. WALDORF ASTORIA (19A: Luxury resort brand of Hilton Worldwide) According to their website, WALDORF ASTORIA has resorts in a number of locations worldwide, including Doha, Qatar; Beverly Hills, California; Osaka, Japan; and Beijing, China. RTS (24A: Some football linemen (Abbr.)) In football, RTS are right tackles. I'm pretty sure I learned that information from a crossword puzzle at some point. LEG (27A: One of a quadruped's four) In this photo, my cat, Willow is showing all four of her LEGs, helpfully demonstrating that she's a quadruped. DUSTS (40A: Does a housecleaning task) My husband and I do a fairly good job of working together to keep our house clean. We make a pretty good team, because we are generally bothered by different types of messes, so we each take responsibility for cleaning those that bother us. However, neither my husband nor I DUSTS on a regular basis; apparently DUST doesn't bother either of us as much as it should. THE (43A: Most common word in English) Just for fun, I counted up the number of times the word THE appears in this article. THE answer is 101 times. ALEC (55A: Actor and comedian Mapa) The comedy special, ALEC Mapa, Baby Daddy, premiered on Showtime in 2015, and is based on ALEC Mapa's one-man show of the same name. The show tells the story of ALEC Mapa's experience of becoming a father through the process of foster adoption. INCA (56A: Creator of a 40,000 km-long South American road system) In the late 1400s and early 1500s, the INCA Empire incorporated a large part of western South America, including portions of the modern-day countries of Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, Argentina, Chile, and Colombia. The INCA built an extensive and advanced road system that had two main north-south roads. One of the main roads ran along the west coast of South America, while the other main road was further inland and in the mountains. Both roads had numerous branches. SUET (58A: Beef fat in some bird feeders) This clue feels timely for me, as the birds in our neighborhood have been particularly hungry recently. For the last week I have been putting a new SUET block in the bird feeders on a daily basis. DALAI (1D: ___ Lama) The Dalai LAMA is a spiritual leader in Tibetan Buddhism. The current and 14th Dalai LAMA is Tenzin Gyatso. ELSA (6D: "Frozen" princess) In the 2013 Disney animate movie, Frozen, the princess ELSA is voiced by Idina Menzel. Wait, has it really been 12 years since we first heard "Let it Go," ELSA's iconic song? TAHOE (8D: Lake on the California/Nevada border) Lake TAHOE is located in the Sierra Nevada Mountains on the California/Nevada border, and is the second-deepest lake in the U.S., after Oregon's Crater Lake. MAUI (10D: Second-largest Hawaiian island) and LEIS (27D: Hawaiian necklaces) As the clue informs us, MAUI is the second-largest Hawaiian island; the largest is Hawai'i. If you visit any of the Hawaiian islands, you're likely to receive LEIS. PITA (11D: Bread served with hummus) and ATE (12D: Had some hummus) It's fun to see hummus linking these two consecutive clues together. PITA is making back-to-back puzzle appearances, as we saw it yesterday clued as [Pocketed bread for souvlaki]. MONA (33D: "___ Lisa") Leonardo da Vinci's painting MONA Lisa is on display at the Louvre in Paris, France. BLUE SKIES (34D: Jazz standard that describes sunny weather) The jazz standard "BLUE SKIES" was written by Irving Berlin in 1926. The song was written (as a last-minute addition) for the Rodgers and Hart musical Betsy. Although the musical wasn't much of a success, the song became a hit. It has been sung by numerous artists over the years, including Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye for the 1954 movie White Christmas. "BLUE SKIES, smilin' at me / Nothin' but BLUE SKIES do I see..." RIVER (44D: Tigris or Euphrates) The Tigris RIVER and the Euphrates RIVER both begin in the Armenian highlands of Turkey and then flow, in a somewhat parallel fashion, down through valleys and gorges in a south-easterly fashion before joining and discharging into the Persian Gulf. The Tigris-Euphrates RIVER system lies in the Fertile Crescent region where Mesopotamian civilization flourished. HENRY (47D: Shakespeare wrote seven plays about kings with this name) The seven plays William Shakespeare wrote about kings named HENRY are (rather unimaginatively) titled HENRY IV, Part 1, HENRY IV, Part 2, HENRY V, HENRY VI, Part 1, HENRY VI, Part 2, HENRY VI, Part 3, and HENRY VIII. ORCAS (48D: Whales commonly seen in Haida art) The Haida are indigenous people of the Pacific Northwest Coast of North America. They are one of 231 federally recognized tribes in Alaska. ORCAS are prominent and significant symbols in Haida art and stories. CLUE (53D: You're reading one right now) Self-referential CLUEs always bring a smile to my face. AOL (54D: "You've got mail" ISP) Who else is old enough that they can still hear AOL's "You've got mail" message in their head? I sometimes wish I had saved all of the CDs AOL sent me in the mail, as they surely would have been useful for making some marvelous, creative artwork. (Actually, I'm extremely glad I did not save all of those CDs...) WALDORF ASTORIA (19A: Luxury resort brand of Hilton Worldwide) GONZO JOURNALISM (35A: Hunter S. Thompson's reporting style) ANIMAL CRACKERS (50A: Zoo-or circus-themed snacks) IT'S THE MUPPET SHOW: The first words of the theme answers are names of characters on THE MUPPET SHOW: WALDORF, GONZO, and ANIMAL. Cue The Muppet Show theme song, "It's time to play the music / It's time to light the lights / It's time to meet the Muppets on the Muppet Show tonight..." As a tremendous fan of The Muppet Show, I thoroughly enjoyed this theme. The Muppets we're meeting in today's puzzle are: WALDORF - one of the two elderly men (along with Statler) who sit in the balcony of the show and heckle people, GONZO - a Muppet of ambiguous species who is known for his passion for performing stunts, and ANIMAL - the wild and frenetic drummer of the Muppet band Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem. Congratulations to Justin Werfel on a USA Today debut! Thank you, Justin, for this delightful puzzle. USA TODAY's Daily Crossword Puzzles Sudoku & Crossword Puzzle Answers This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Crossword Blog & Answers for June 2, 2025 by Sally Hoelscher
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Yahoo
Former Hillsborough County deputy charged in connection to road rage incident
The Brief A former Hillsborough County deputy has been charged in connection to a road rage incident. Brandon Parker, 47, is charged with throwing a deadly missile at or into an occupied conveyance. On Tuesday, the state asked the judge to set a $7,500 bond, however, the judge set a $3,500 bond. TAMPA - A former Hillsborough County deputy is charged in connection with a road rage incident. Brandon Parker, 47, is charged with throwing a deadly missile at or into an occupied conveyance. The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office says on Sunday afternoon, a driver was heading south on Bell Shoals Road when they approached a red light at the intersection of Fish Hawk Boulevard. When the light turned green, the vehicle in front of the victim didn't move, which is when the victim honked her horn to alert the driver of the green light. Both vehicles continued on Fish Hawk Boulevard when the passenger of the suspect's vehicle started yelling at the victim, according to HCSO. Once they reached a red light at the intersection of Fish Hawk Boulevard and Mosaic Drive, the passenger of the suspect's vehicle threw a bottle at the victim, hitting her in the head. The other side "There's two sides to every story and I'm confident when the other side of the story is heard, Mr. Parker will be exonerated from these charges," Parker's attorney Anthony Rickman said. Parker made a first appearance on Tuesday afternoon, where his attorney argued the probable cause in this case. "The state must establish that Mr. Parker engaged in a wanton or malicious throwing or hurling of a hard object or stone into a vehicle," Rickman said. "In this case, Mr. Parker is alleged to have thrown a water bottle. An Evian water bottle." Rickman argued that the water bottle was filled a quarter of the way and that the victim had minor injuries, so it doesn't qualify as a deadly missile. "We're not talking about a Stanley," Rickman said. "We're not talking about a Yeti. We're talking about an Evian, one of those squishy Evian bottles, in the direction of the vehicle. That is the allegation." READ: Missing Florida baby's family desperate for answers 18 years after alleged knifepoint abduction The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office says Parker was employed from 2003-2016. The Hillsborough County Public School District says Parker is currently employed as an investigator in its human resources department at one of the district offices. The district says he's on administrative leave, pending board action. "Mr. Parker has obviously had a distinguished career with Hillsborough County," Rickman said. "He has served this community his entire life. He has no criminal history." On Tuesday, the state asked the judge to set a $7,500 bond, however, the judge set a $3,500 bond. "I do think there's probable cause, but there's going to be some evidentiary issues," the judge said. CLICK HERE:>>>Follow FOX 13 on YouTube The Source Information for this story was gathered by FOX 13's Kylie Jones. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA: Download the FOX Local app for your smart TV Download FOX Local mobile app: Apple | Android Download the FOX 13 News app for breaking news alerts, latest headlines Download the SkyTower Radar app Sign up for FOX 13's daily newsletter
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
‘Intrepid Ambition': UAFS announces $85M fundraising campaign
FORT SMITH, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — Fort Smith (UAFS) has launched its largest fundraising initiative to date, the Intrepid Ambition campaign, with a goal of raising $85 million. 'An $85 million goal isn't just ambitious—it's necessary,' Blake Rickman, UAFS vice chancellor for university advancement and executive director of the UAFS Foundation said in a news release. 'We're not raising money to keep the lights on—we're raising it to light the way forward.' The eight-year campaign began in 2020 and will conclude in 2028. UAFS has already secured about 80% of its goal, receiving more than 14,000 contributions from over 6,400 donors, including 'major' gifts from the Windgate Foundation, ABB, First National Bank of Fort Smith, Citizens Bank & Trust and numerous anonymous donors. 'Many have given anonymously, choosing impact over recognition,' Rickman said. 'Our future is built on their generosity.' Gov. Sanders announces bills targeting social media harm to children The campaign's focus is on three main priorities: Expanding student access to education by increasing scholarships and creating pathways to debt-free education. Investing in faculty and staff through professional development and classroom resources. Strengthening community partnerships with regional industries, particularly in workforce training and healthcare. ''Intrepid' speaks to the fearless resolve of our students, alumni, and community,' said Rachel Putman, UAFS director of communications. ''Ambition' is the fuel that drives them forward—the courage to transform dreams into action.' For more information about Intrepid Ambition, visit Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
23-03-2025
- Yahoo
This couple retired and sold their home to live on cruise ships full-time. Here's how they make it work.
Tori Carter and Kirk Rickman sold their home in 2022 to become full-time cruisers. They've since been on 29 cruises, the longest for 68 days. The retirees use the monthly income from their rental properties to help subsidize their travels. For Victoria "Tori" Carter, bad things did come in threes. First, her friend died suddenly. Her dog, who she loved like a son, followed shortly after. Then, she suffered a serious back injury. "It all happened at the same time," Carter, 55, told Business Insider. "It felt like everything accumulated to saying, 'now is the time. Do what you want to do now.'" What she wanted was to see the world by cruise — a dream she and her partner, Kirk Rickman, 52, have been living since December 2022. The couple retired from their nine-to-fives and sold their home in Canada to start anew as full-time cruisers. Since then, they said they've been on 29 voyages across 12 cruise lines, averaging about a month each. The shortest has been 14 days — the longest, 68. This new lifestyle has allowed them to experience the historic streets of Buenos Aires, an iceberg in Antarctica, and the iconic architecture of Lisbon. Throughout the over two years at sea, the couple estimates they've only spent a month sleeping on land, which includes a night or two waiting for their next voyage and a road trip in Australia. "We're going to try to do this for as long as we can," Rickman said. To understand their love of cruising, you must first understand the genesis of the "KirkTori Story." It all started with a two-night cruise in 2005. Or, as they call it, their first date — followed by what they estimate to be about 100 vacations at sea to date. Many back-to-back cruises later, by 2021, the jokes about moving on board inevitably came up. The couple accepted an offer on their home in December 2022, moved their belongings into storage, and immediately embarked on their new life at sea. By then, there wasn't much keeping them tied to Canada. The duo had already retired from their day jobs (Carter, a high school teacher, and Rickman, a supervisor at a manufacturing plant) in 2018, instead opting to focus on their side hustle as realtors. Their several rental properties now help subsidize their travel. To keep within their budget, the couple plans their voyages about six months in advance. They prefer avoiding repeat itineraries (the goal is to see the world, after all), instead opting to ship-hop according to destinations they want to see and cruises embarking at ports they're disembarking. They also favor itineraries of at least 14 days, avoiding the tedious repacking process and the livelier party atmosphere of shorter voyages. "We feel like each ship is a destination in itself," Carter said. "Because we live on ships, it's not like we want to party every single night." Rickman is partial to Holland America and Cunard when he's in the mood to relax. Carter is fond of Costa, drawn to what she said are "the most spectacular shows I have ever seen on any cruise ship." Both lean toward balcony cabins but are OK with ocean-view staterooms if they better fit their budget. Yes, they're pricier than inside cabins, but "we didn't do all of this to be, excuse my French, cheap asses," Rickman said. "We're not going to give all of that up to be in an interior." The couple spends an average of about $7,340 a month (which, like any cruise, includes food, their cabins, and onboard amenities). While it's a little more than they paid when living on land, it's a worthy trade-off. "You don't have to be a millionaire or billionaire to do what we're doing," Carter said. "We've got enough to sustain ourselves to be happy and do what we want to do, which is travel and see the world." Read the original article on Business Insider
The Independent
21-03-2025
- Business
- The Independent
The smart savings moves to make before the new tax year starts
With the end of the tax year fast approaching on April 5 2025, time is running out for savers and investors to make the most of allowances before they 'reset'. But research indicates that 'investment anxiety' is holding some people back, with seven in 10 (70%) UK adults citing barriers such as a lack of experience or concerns around losing money. Craig Rickman, a personal finance expert at interactive investor (ii), which commissioned the research, suggests firstly, making the most of your Isa allowance. The annual limit for the amount that can be newly saved into Isas is £20,000. Rickman says: 'If you have unused Isa allowance this tax year and plan to add more, make sure you do before the allowance resets.' He also highlights the various different types of Isas to choose from, including Lifetime Isas, Innovative Finance Isas and Junior Isas (for children). Savers may choose to hold their money in cash, stocks and shares, or a combination. Lifetime Isas can be useful to people saving for their first home as they come with a government bonus, but there are terms and conditions to consider, such as potential withdrawal penalties in certain circumstances. Innovative Finance Isas, meanwhile, enable investments to be made with businesses. Rickman says that when choosing an Isa, 'the best one for you will depend on your personal goals and risk appetite'. Putting money into investments, rather than cash savings, does carry the risk of getting back less money than you paid in, although there may be bigger rewards – if it turns out that the investments perform relatively strongly over the longer-term. Rickman says Junior Isas can be a great way to help children navigate the wave of financial challenges of early adulthood. 'While only a parent or guardian can open a Jisa for a child, anyone can contribute once the account is up and running,' he adds. Potential returns and rates of interest will be something savers often weigh up when considering savings accounts, but something else to consider might be whether an account aligns with your values. Roger Hattam, director of retail banking at Triodos Bank UK, says: 'Whether you're saving in a cash Isa, or investing in stocks and shares or innovative finance, your money won't just sit there: it will be actively used by your bank to fund whichever businesses and sectors that bank sees fit. And this is where your choice really matters.' He adds: 'Even a small amount of money can make a huge impact when it's being invested back into transformative projects that deliver measurable positive impact.' Hattam suggests researching ethical campaigns and independent guides to find more sustainable and transparent savings products.
