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Winnipeg Free Press
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
Must-reads for Dad
This Father's Day, skip the grilling cookbooks, the corny bathroom joke books and cookie-cutter sports bios, and get dad a something new to read that he can really sink his teeth into. The Free Press arts and life team have pulled together a list of books practically any dad will find compelling. From life on the road in a rock band to a fraught father-son story of addiction to the shifting landscape of geopolitics, a fiction writer's first novel in decades and beyond, any father on your list will find something they'll enjoy. By Jeff Tweedy (Dutton, $28) Jeff Tweedy had a dad, is a dad and makes, with his band Wilco, the kind of music sometimes described as Dad Rock, so Let's Go (So We Can Get Back) — also a deeply dad sentiment— has many dad bonafides. It's also a laugh-out-loud funny and revealing memoir by a guy who has had to fight a lot of demons to become (in this writer's opinion) one of America's best living songwriters. Obviously, there are a lot of Uncle Tupelo and Wilco stories in here, but one doesn't need to be a Wilco fan to enjoy this book; Tweedy's storytelling abilities transcend format. He writes affectingly about his father who worked on the railroad — yes, 'all the live-long day' — and his sons, who also make music. But it's the stories from his childhood growing up in Belleville, Ill., that will stay with you; no spoilers, but an anecdote about Bruce Springsteen is worth the price of admission alone. Buy on — Jen Zoratti By Tim Marshall (Scribner, $26) Tomes on geopolitics aren't usually high on my reading list, but this page-turner by Tim Marshall deserves to be on everyone's bookshelf, not just your dad's. Marshall, previously a journalist at Sky News and the BBC, explains clearly and concisely how the 'land on which we live has always shaped us' — delving into the wars, the power, politics and social development determined by the rivers, mountains, deserts, lakes and seas of our landscape. Originally published in 2015, the completely revised edition has been updated to reflect the global changes of the last 10 years and includes new material exploring the growth of China's military and strategic power, Moscow's alliances with authoritarian states and the Russia-Ukraine war, and America's pivot to the Pacific. It's a riveting book that tackles traditionally complex subjects with aplomb. Witten in highly accessible language with nothing dumbed down, this is very much a must-read. Buy on — AV Kitching By Ron Carlson (Penguin Canada, $30) This grim and gorgeous novel by American short-story author Ron Carlson is probably the most overtly 'manly' book I've ever read, but it's also startlingly tender. It follows three men working on a summer construction project, building a stunt ramp to launch a motorcycle over a canyon in Idaho. All three are dealing with painful pasts, and Carlson carefully delineates the struggle of how each one defines manhood in the face of tough work, toxic masculinity and tragedy. Arthur Key, the sort-of protagonist, is a taciturn man with no children, but he becomes a father figure to his co-worker Ronnie, a juvenile delinquent looking to straighten out. Arthur doesn't talk about his feelings; his love is expressed by teaching, passing his knowledge of how things are made on to his protegé. Carlson delves into the mechanics of carpentry and building in a way that's incredibly detailed, and yet somehow sounds like a poem, not a user manual. The writer has an unparalleled sense of place, delivering the reader to a remote location of wild beauty, but the hint of impending doom that looms over the summer does not go unanswered, and even the most macho-dude dad may find he has a little something in his eye by the book's end. Buy on — Jill Wilson For the Love of a Son: A Memoir of Addiction, Loss, and Hope MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS Scott Oake's moving memoir, For the Love of a Son, describes the devastating loss of his son, Bruce, who struggled with addiction. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS Scott Oake's moving memoir, For the Love of a Son, describes the devastating loss of his son, Bruce, who struggled with addiction. By Scott Oake (Simon & Schuster, $27) After decades covering the Olympics, and as part of the Hockey Night in Canada broadcast team, Winnipeg's Scott Oake could have penned a rollicking memoir about highlights both in front of and away from the cameras. Heck, he still could. Instead, in his memoir Oake (with Michael Hingston) takes readers through some of his darkest days as he reminisces about his son Bruce, whose struggles with drug use led to his death at age 25 in 2011. (Oake also recalls the loss of his wife Anne, who died in 2021.) For the Love of a Son is Oake's candid and moving recollection of Bruce's highs and lows that will tug on the heartstrings of even the chilliest of dads. Oake's trademark wit and sly humour so often on display while covering sports also permeate the book's heavy subject matter, providing some levity. The silver lining of everything Oake has endured is the creation of the Bruce Oake Recovery Centre in 2021 and the forthcoming Anne Oake Family Recovery Centre. Proceeds from sales of For the Love of a Son benefit the Bruce and Anne Oake Memorial Foundation. Buy on — Ben Sigurdson With the Boys: Field Notes on Being a Guy By Jake MacDonald (Greystone, $23) The late Winnipeg author Jake MacDonald spent a lifetime documenting and poeticizing a way of life that can feel as timeworn as the lodges and cottages he explores. An arguably conservative way of life — where free time's absorbed by hunting, fishing and gallivanting through secluded, if not exclusive, wilderness milieus, mostly with other men. While Manitoba's Hemingway found perhaps his most captive audience in the cottage crowd, his gentle humour, natural wonder and breezy but vivid prose made his work popular with Canadian literary reviewers and high school librarians alike. MacDonald wrote both fiction — his kid-friendly Juliana and the Medicine Fish is probably his best-known novel — and literary non-fiction, which is to say mythopoetic odes to his world and friends. With the Boys is the second type: a collection of vignettes about old drinking buddies, tossing barbs back and forth like rusty lures while they commune over the crap of life, amid (as the book jacket puts it romantically) 'crack-of-dawn motel breakfasts (and) starlit stakeouts in the bulrushes.' MacDonald died right before the pandemic, and as this writer's father also ages out of this outdoorsy boomer culture, one wonders wistfully whether its best aspects are disappearing too. Buy on — Conrad Sweatman Ben SigurdsonLiterary editor, drinks writer Ben Sigurdson edits the Free Press books section, and also writes about wine, beer and spirits. Read full biography Jill WilsonArts & Life editor Jill Wilson started working at the Free Press in 2003 as a copy editor for the entertainment section. Read full biography AV KitchingReporter AV Kitching is an arts and life writer at the Free Press. Read full biography Jen ZorattiColumnist Jen Zoratti is a Winnipeg Free Press columnist and feature writer, working in the Arts & Life department. Read full biography Conrad SweatmanReporter Conrad Sweatman is an arts reporter and feature writer. Read full biography Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
The Verge
30-05-2025
- Business
- The Verge
Nintendo's Switch era took Pokémon collecting to the next level
Though the first Nintendo Switch era of Pokémon games was undeniably rocky at times, it brought the series' trading and organization systems into a new level of maturity. It wasn't always easy to complete Pokédexes in remakes like Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl and new entries like Sword and Shield. But those games helped The Pokémon Company create a more seamless way to move your monsters from one title to another, or swap them with friends. And with the Pokémon franchise about to make its big debut on the Switch 2 with the cross-generation game Pokémon Legends: Z-A, it feels like The Pokémon Company is getting ready to take the trading system to the next level. In the Pokémon games, filling up your Pokédex has always been an exercise in patience, planning, and understanding that Nintendo and The Pokémon Company want you trading with other players rather than trying to catch 'em all on your own. The games' trading mechanics evolved as the series jumped from the Game Boy to new hardware. By Generation IV (the DS games), players could swap monsters remotely over the internet without needing to use wired link cables. And after years of many legendary and mythical pokémon only being obtainable through in-person events, The Pokémon Company and Game Freak used Pokémon 's Generation V to introduce a serial code redemption system that made snagging super-rare monsters infinitely easier. Bringing pokémon you first caught on older titles like the GBA's Pokémon Emerald up to more modern ones like the 3DS's Ultra Sun was still a very tedious process. But with each generation of games, The Pokémon Company was clearly building out a digital system that allowed players to experience their Pokémon adventures as one massive, continuous journey. That project continued in the Switch era with 2018's Let's Go games, 3D remakes of Pokémon Yellow that featured new mechanics inspired by Pokémon Go. It was wild to see Nintendo using a console title to capitalize on the success of a mobile application. But the way the Let's Go games connected with Pokémon Go and the Pokémon Home cloud storage service spoke volumes about Nintendo and The Pokémon Company's vision for the franchise's future. Like the 3DS's Pokémon Bank and Poké Transporter companion applications, Pokémon Home gave players an online space to stash their 'mons and a way to move them between games. Home's ability to connect with Bank made it useful for longtime fans looking to keep their favorite monsters with them. But the application was also clearly meant to help newer players — people drawn to the franchise by games like Scarlet / Violet and Legends: Arceus — start building collections that would keep them invested (both emotionally and financially) in the series. By requiring subscriptions, Pokémon Home and the Switch Pokémon games' online features helped Nintendo come into its own as a services company. Since Nintendo Switch Online's launch in 2018, Nintendo has sweetened the deal by gradually adding more of its classic games to the service, along with other features, like a streaming music app. It's been a little frustrating to watch the company choose not to put most of its older pre-DS Pokémon games online. But much like Nintendo and The Pokémon Company's tradition of making it impossible to complete the Pokédex without having access to both versions (e.g., Red / Blue) of the same game, this has felt like a calculated movie on the company's part to keep players thinking about spending more money. Especially with Pokémon Go and the various Switch remakes in the mix, Nintendo and The Pokémon Company built out an ecosystem of modern games that give players a way to catch virtually every single one of the franchise's creatures. And while none of the past Switch games have been focused on cataloging all the pokémon, that feels like something that could change as Pokémon moves to the Switch 2. Like Arceus before it, Legends: Z-A (a Switch game that's also getting a Switch 2 edition) will likely feature a limited selection of 'mons in order to put more focus on new gameplay mechanics and a fresh story. But as the Switch 2 becomes Nintendo's flagship platform, we could and arguably should see the Pokémon series evolve in some surprising ways. Legends: Z-A looks like a significant upgrade from Scarlet / Violet, but the franchise's potential to change more radically feels like something Nintendo has to be thinking about as it prepares for the next generation of mainline (rather than spinoff) games developed specifically for the Switch 2. Something as simple as bringing the classic games to NSO with Pokémon Home compatibility would make buying into the larger ecosystem with its various subscriptions a much more interesting prospect. It would be a huge win for Pokéfans still hanging out on the original Switch, and it would make upgrading to the Switch 2 feel even more like following the franchise into the future.
Express Tribune
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Rick Derringer dies at 77 after decades of shaping rock, pop, and wrestling music
Rick Derringer, celebrated American singer and guitarist known for his wide-ranging contributions to rock and pop music, has died at age 77. The news was shared by close friend Tony Wilson in a Facebook post, though no cause of death was provided. Born Richard Zehringer in Ohio, Derringer began his music career in Union City, Indiana, with garage rock band the McCoys. At just 17, he fronted the group's breakout hit 'Hang on Sloopy,' which reached No. 1 in 1965. The track later became Ohio's official rock song, cementing its cultural significance. The McCoys followed up with hits like 'Fever' and 'Come On, Let's Go,' releasing five albums before joining forces with blues-rocker Johnny Winter in the group Johnny Winter And. Derringer's solo debut came in 1973 with All American Boy, featuring the enduring hard rock anthem 'Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo.' The song later gained renewed fame through appearances in Dazed and Confused and Stranger Things. That same year, he played guitar and produced the Edgar Winter Group's No. 1 instrumental 'Frankenstein' and contributed to their hit 'Free Ride.' Though he released 14 solo albums, Derringer was perhaps best known as a sideman and producer. He worked with legends like Alice Cooper, Todd Rundgren, Steely Dan, Meat Loaf, Barbra Streisand, and Cyndi Lauper. His guitar work also featured on 'Weird Al' Yankovic's Grammy-winning 'Eat It' and WWF's 'Real American,' Hulk Hogan's theme song. Later in life, Derringer toured with Ringo Starr's All-Starr Band and recorded with his wife Jenda and their children. His final album, Rock the Yacht, was released in 2023. A prolific and versatile artist, Derringer's legacy spans generations and genres.
Black America Web
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Black America Web
Birthday Bash Playlist: The Best of GloRilla
Source: Prince Williams/WireImage / Prince Williams/Wireimage GloRilla, this year's headliner for Birthday Bash ATL, has quickly cemented herself as a force to be reckoned with, bringing raw energy and an unapologetic style to the music world. Hailing from Memphis, Tennessee, her climb to success might seem meteoric, but it's rooted in years of hard work and a voice uniquely her own. With all that she has accomplished, it is no surprise that Hot 107.9 has tapped her as Birthday Bash's 2nd-ever female headliner! Her breakout moment came with the viral smash hit 'F.N.F. (Let's Go),' a summer anthem that resonated with millions and earned her a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Performance in 2023. The song's success catapulted GloRilla into the mainstream, landing her collaborative opportunities with major artists like Cardi B, with whom she teamed up on the fiery track 'Tomorrow 2.' These hits showcased her ability to blend Southern grit with catchy, anthemic hooks, making her a standout figure in today's hip-hop landscape. Beyond her chart success, GloRilla's authenticity and relatability have garnered her a devoted fan base. She openly chronicles her experiences as a young woman navigating fame, relationships, and self-discovery, infusing her lyrics with raw vulnerability and fierce confidence. Her rise is a testament to the power of perseverance and staying true to one's roots. With several accolades already under her belt and an undeniable influence on Southern hip-hop, GloRilla is not merely enjoying a moment; she's building a legacy. Whether performing on stage or connecting with fans online, she embodies a fresh, fearless voice, reshaping the rap scene one verse at a time. Check Out The Best of Our Birthday Bash Headliner, GloRilla, In Our Playlist Below! Birthday Bash Playlist: The Best of GloRilla was originally published on Black America Web Featured Video CLOSE
Scottish Sun
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Steven Gerrard's Rangers journey in quotes & what they could mean for return from ‘let's go' to ‘do I look happy?'
His Ibrox spell both began and ended with an iconic quote LET'S GO AGAIN Steven Gerrard's Rangers journey in quotes & what they could mean for return from 'let's go' to 'do I look happy?' STEVEN GERRARD is in line for an incredible return as Rangers manager. SunSport were first to reveal the Liverpool and England legend was one of the two front-runners to be the next Light Blues boss. 8 Steven Gerrard could be in line for a sensational return to Rangers Credit: Reuters 8 He led the club to the Scottish Premiership title in 2021 Credit: The Sun 8 He came away with many memorable quotes at Ibrox Credit: Reuters Gerrard and former Rangers defender Russell Martin are in a two-horse race to succeed Barry Ferguson in the hotseat ahead of a period of huge change at the club. There appear to be plenty of signs pointing towards Gerrard, 44, returning to the Gers for a second spell in charge - especially now that Martin appears to be closing in on the Leicester job. Some bookies suspended betting while he is the strong odds-on favourite among those still taking bets. Gerrard has also withdrawn from an exhibition match next week, with the game's host, his former Liverpool teammate Djibril Cisse, revealing he was unable to appear due to "professional commitments." It would be an incredible return to Ibrox for Gerrard, who ended a three-year spell with Rangers in November 2021 to take over at Aston Villa. Many fans weren't happy with the manner of his departure, which came just six months after he lifted the Scottish Premiership trophy. In truth, there had probably been a number of signs within Gerrard's words that he wasn't entirely happy - specifically with how he'd been backed in the transfer market. From 'let's go' to 'do I look happy?', SunSport analyses Gerrard's words from first time around and how those words feed into a potential stunning second spell as Rangers manager. Let's Go! 8 Gerrard was appointed Rangers manager in May 2018 Credit: AFP or licensors 8 He arrived with the now famous tagline 'let's go!' Credit: Getty Images - Getty Gerrard had barely been in the door when he uttered what would become an iconic two-word rallying cry. He was appointed Rangers manager in May 2018 and before long was in the Blue Room at Ibrox, suited and booted with club tie. Robert Grieve & Bill Leckie have the very latest on the Rangers manager situation as Steven Gerrard & Russell Martin emerge as front-runners Sat alongside chairman Dave King, Gerrard was asked about the risk factors involved in him being appointed. While he had an incredible playing CV behind him, Gerrard had never been a manager before and had been plucked from the Liverpool academy. He responded: "I have confidence in myself, in my ability. I have weighed the gamble up and the risk and I understand other people thinking it is because it is my first job in management, but I have confidence in myself that I can deliver for these supporters. "That's the only thing that matters to me: do I think I can do a good job as the manager of Glasgow Rangers? In my mind, it's yes." Asked to deliver a message to the Rangers fans, Gerrard simply responded: "Let's go." Those two words would be synonymous with his three years in charge all the way through to securing the league title. Gerrard will also know all about the pressure that comes with being Rangers manager. He dealt with it in leading the Light Blues to the championship, a league title that had a huge amount of pressure behind it. Not only because it was Rangers' first in a decade but because the pressure was very much on to deny Celtic a record 10th title in a row. On his first day, Gerrard made it clear he knew what he was coming into and insisted the pressure would be something he would THRIVE on. He said: "Pressure is not a bad thing for me. I played under pressure, I have lived under pressure since I left school. "In football, if you are working under pressure you are in a good place. Since I stopped playing football, I have missed that pressure of fighting for three points at the weekend. "Being Rangers manager, I know there will be a lot of scrutiny and pressure but that's what I love about being involved in football. "Bring it on. I don't mind being under intense pressure. I knew that before I decided to be Rangers manager and I'm up for the challenge." The man manager - 'I love the player' Gerrard was never one to back down when defending his players. This was certainly the case with Alfredo Morelos in particular. The Colombian striker was never far from controversy during his time at Rangers, but time and time again Gerrard had his back. In one of his earliest games as Gers boss, Morelos was sent-off during a crucial Europa League qualifier against FC Ufa. It was a tie that Rangers won to progress to the group stage, despite having TWO men red-carded. But instead of laying into the hot-headed striker who was dismissed for dissent, Gerrard sought to calm things down. He said: "Alfredo is an incredible footballer, but he's still a young footballer and I think it helps him that I've been a young footballer, someone who has made mistakes myself. "I've said before I love the player and I love the person, but at the same time all my players need to learn quick that when you come away in Europe sometimes the decisions are not the same as domestically and we have to find some discipline because as a group ours hasn't been good enough so far." 8 Gerrard regularly leapt to Alfredo Morelos' defence Credit: Reuters One notable occasion where Gerrard failed to defend Morelos was when the striker was shown a red card in the first-half of a 2-1 defeat to Celtic in March 2019. He did, however, back winger Ryan Kent after the same game when the winger avoided being sent-off despite PUNCHING Scott Brown. Gerrard backed his own man and turned the tables on Brown, saying: "The guy who antagonised it all from the beginning deserves to be punished as well." Gerrard regularly leapt to the defence of his players in the fact of criticism. It's something he might have to tap into again should he return as he takes over a squad on the back of a dire campaign and devoid of plenty of confidence. Backing of the board Perhaps the most telling quotes from Gerrard, especially during his latter days in charge, were his comments around backing from the board in the transfer market. After sealing the league title in 2021, Gerrard quickly made it clear he felt the club needed to build on that success to improve even further. In fact, on the SAME day he got his hands on the league trophy, Gerrard was calling for the means to improve his squad. But he also demanded he was able to KEEP his prize assets in place - and at the time, he fully believed he'd be back in the transfer market. Speaking to Sky Sports moments after the Gers got the trophy, Gerrard said: "You can see the last few games that we're short in certain areas. Steven Gerrard's Rangers career Appointed manager on four-year contract in May 2018 Led Rangers back to group stage European football by qualifying for Europa League in first season in charge Guided Gers to first league win over Celtic since 2012 with 1-0 victory in December 2018 Led the club to the Scottish Premiership title in 2021 Rangers went entire 2020/21 league season undefeated with 102 points Left role in November 2021 to join Aston Villa 'I've had some really interesting meetings with the board and they're with me, they'll back me and we'll go again. "Can I keep these players together? Well, let me flip the question for you. If anyone wants to take them away from me, they best bring an army with them." Rangers DID keep a hold of their top players - but Gerrard was NOT backed substantially in the transfer market. The Gers signed four players in what turned out to be Gerrard's final transfer window, with three of those coming on on free transfers. They paid a small fee to land Juninho Bacuna from Huddersfield. By October - just weeks before his exit - Gerrard's tone regarding boardroom backing had shifted. After losing 1-0 to Sparta Prague in the Europa League, the former England captain's frustration was clear to see. He hit out at the fact that the club "hadn't spent a penny" in either transfer window in 2021 in perhaps the first real sign that he wasn't happy with what was going on behind the scenes. Gerrard blasted: "If we want to keep growing and going to the extra level, we need to spend big money in transfer windows. "It's as simple as that - to compete with the teams that we're playing against, we have to spend big money. "In the last two windows, we haven't spent a penny. So there has to be some realism there as well." What is certainly abundantly clear is that Gerrard would not be entertaining a return to Rangers without assurances. And many of those assurances are sure to centre around backing in the transfer market, backing that he doesn't believe he had first time around - certainly towards the end of his reign. Happy or not? 8 Gerrard's infamous 'do I look happy?' response happened on live TV Credit: YOUTUBE/TNT SPORTS Gerrard's spell as Rangers began with a memorable short quote. It also ended with one. It's a quote that was ringing in all Gers' fans ears for some time after his departure. The words are also likely to still be in the minds of many of them should he seal his incredible return as manager. Gerrard's success at Ibrox had led to several links with prominent English clubs. In mid-October 2021, Gerrard was being heavily linked with the Newcastle job. It was speculation that didn't go away and he was directly asked about the talk of a move after a Europa League victory over Brondby at Ibrox. BT Sports reporter Emma Dodds asked Gerrard if he had anything to say to those linking him with a move away. He famously replied: "Do I look happy? Do I look settled? "Don't ask me silly questions then!" At the time, Rangers fans were delighted about what they saw as his commitment to the cause at Ibrox. Those words were uttered on October 21, 2021. On November 11, 2021, Gerrard was appointed Aston Villa manager. It's unlikely Gerrard will be able to return as manager without addressing those comments. The quotes have become infamous due to Gerrard walking away barely three weeks after reaffirming he was staying. Rangers were beaten 3-1 by Hibs in the League Cup semi-finals two weeks after Gerrard's departure. And in his post-match interview, Hibees defender Ryan Porteous couldn't resist a cheeky pop at Gerrard's expense. Speaking to Emma Dodds, he said: "Do we look happy? Don't ask silly questions." Hibs then even started selling T-shirts with the phrase printed on the front. We f****** love Rangers! What will curry more favour than the previous is Gerrard's most recent quote about the club. Approached by a Celtic fan on a boozy night out to record a message, Gerrard said down the barrel of the phone's camera: "Listen Debbie, this f****** mushroom is a Celtic fan. "We f****** love Rangers. F*** Debbie. "I love Rangers!" Another clip shows Gerrard shouting 'up the Teddy Bears' while a woman sings 'You'll Never Walk Alone.' Gers fans will be hoping for more of that love and passion should he return as boss. 8 Gerrard declared 'I love Rangers' in a boozy video Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
