Latest news with #Lex
GMA Network
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- GMA Network
From backyard hobby to Pro Circuit: Pickleball star Lauren Mercado blazes the trail
When the COVID-19 pandemic locked down most of the world, it also unlocked something unexpected for the Mercado family: a new love for a little-known sport then called pickleball. What began as a casual family activity has since transformed into a professional journey for 18-year-old Lauren Mercado, who now competes in the Pickleball Pro Circuit and continues to rise as one of the sport's promising Filipino-American stars. 'I started during COVID when I stopped traveling for AAU basketball,' Lauren shared in a feature for GMA Pinoy TV. Her younger brother, Lex, is not far behind. 'It looked interesting, so we tried it as a family. We were actually really bad at first, and we were like, 'Oh no, we can't be this bad in sport,' said Erika Paman Mercado, Lauren and Lex's mother. But the bad didn't last long. Pandemic pivot The Mercados, like many families, were in search of new routines during the early days of the pandemic. For Lauren, who had been competing in basketball, the abrupt halt of organized sports left a void. Her parents encouraged her to pick up a paddle, and that moment at Cougar Creek Pickleball Courts marked the beginning of what would become a new athletic chapter. 'I discovered my love for pickleball because of my parents. They were the ones who introduced me to the sport,' said Lauren. With athletic instincts honed by years on the basketball court, Lauren quickly found her rhythm—and her competitive fire. She began entering tournaments and putting in serious hours on court, transitioning from a newcomer to a formidable opponent in national competitions. 'She's been playing in the pro circuit for the last two years now,' said Erika. 'And Lex will soon be starting.' While Lauren was the first to shine on the pickleball court, her younger brother Lex wasn't far behind in discovering the game's appeal. Like his sister, he came to the sport from a period of inactivity—hours spent in front of video games—until his parents decided to take action. 'I used to sit down and play video games for like eight to nine hours a day. Then my parents put me in a tournament just to get me out of the house,' Lex recalled. That one tournament changed everything. 'I played up against other juniors, and I thought, 'Ooh, this is fun. I wanna get good,'' Lex said. The competitive spirit, it seems, runs in the family. Their parents nurtured that spirit not by forcing the sport onto them but by supporting their kids with the right environment, training, and tournament exposure. 'The athlete in us—and the competitive drive—we wanted to train our kids to be better. And we're just lucky to have so much support from friends and family who help us get them to tournaments,' Erika shared. Culture, community, and igado Fridays Even as the Mercados make their mark in the global pickleball scene, they remain deeply rooted in their Filipino identity. Their journey is not just one of sport, but of family, tradition, and cultural pride. 'We definitely embrace the culture a lot. We always say 'mahal kita,' and we have this bonding tradition called Igado Friday and Monday,' Lauren shared. Igado, a classic Ilocano dish made with pork and liver, is something Lauren and her dad look forward to every week. 'There's a restaurant that only serves Igado on Fridays and Mondays, so that's our thing. It's our bonding time.' It's a small but powerful reminder of how cultural traditions can anchor families, even as their children soar into unfamiliar worlds like professional sports. A champion's mindset For Lauren, pickleball isn't just a pastime or a profession, it's a passion that she pours herself into daily. 'I definitely think if you work hard at what you love, you'll be able to achieve anything. I just put a lot of work in and I train every day.' This mindset, paired with family support and community encouragement—has helped Lauren and Lex thrive in a sport that's rapidly gaining popularity around the world. What was once seen as a sport for retirees has now become a fast-paced, competitive arena with professional tours and growing youth engagement. 'It's so cool to just be able to travel now. I get to go to other countries, other states, and meet lots of new people. Everyone's so nice. The community of pickleball is what makes pickleball,' Lex said. Inspiring the next generation As Lauren continues to rise in the ranks and Lex prepares to enter the pro circuit, the Mercados hope their journey can inspire other young Filipino athletes to pursue their dreams, especially in niche sports like pickleball. 'I just hope that with what they're doing, they can inspire other kids, other Filipino athletes, to follow in their footsteps,' said Erika. 'To know that they can be great at something new, even if it starts in a public park during a pandemic.' From makeshift courts during lockdowns to the bright lights of professional competition, Lauren and Lex Mercado prove that with passion, perseverance, and pancit-fueled family support—anything is possible. Pickleball may have started as a curious discovery on a quiet walk, but for the Mercados, it has become a family legacy in the making. —JKC, GMA Integrated News
Geek Tyrant
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
Why Lex Luthor Hates Superman So Much, According to James Gunn and Nicholas Hoult — GeekTyrant
Lex Luthor's vendetta against Superman isn't just about jealousy, it's deeper, more existential, and, according to Superman star Nicholas Hoult and director James Gunn, relatable in today's world. In a recent interview with Fandango at MEGACON Orlando, Hoult broke down what really drives Lex's hatred of the Man of Steel, saying: 'We are weak, and that's what Superman shows us, that we are.' Hoult describes Lex as someone who built his empire on power, intelligence, and the belief that humanity could, and should, be its own savior. But then Superman drops from the sky, and suddenly Lex isn't the smartest, most admired man in the room. The attention, the faith, the admiration that Lex worked for is gone in a flash. Hoult added: 'Suddenly this person has taken all that adoration that [Lex] feels he deserved.' It's not just Superman's abilities that infuriate Lex, it's what he represents. His presence threatens Lex's entire sense of self-worth. If a godlike alien can save the day, what's the point of everything Lex has accomplished? Gunn, who's both writing and directing the new Superman film, chimed in with a modern analogy: 'I think Lex looks at Superman like a lot of print artists look at AI. He sees him as a threat to his livelihood and his legacy.' This frames Lex not just as a villain, but as someone watching the world shift beneath his feet, where everything he values and built is being overtaken by something he can't control, and didn't ask for. It's less megalomania, more existential dread. Something I can 100% relate to. Gunn continued by pointing out that for Lex, Superman isn't just a superpowered alien, he's an uninvited cultural phenomenon: 'He's a simple guy wearing a stupid costume that all of a sudden everybody loves, and every woman loves, and all of the things that [Lex] cares about now are all going to him.' There's also a pragmatic side to Lex's menace. Hoult pointed out that the challenge of making a human villain feel like a real threat to an unstoppable alien. The answer lies in Lex's brain, not brawn. 'Strategy and manipulation' are his weapons, not fists or lasers. That contrast, power vs. control, strength vs. intellect, is where the tension in Superman will come from. Hoult also made it clear he's just getting started in the role. 'There is much I want to do with Lex.' If this take on the character hits the way it sounds like it might, it will be interesting to see how his story arc will play out beyond this first Superman movie.
Chicago Tribune
05-06-2025
- General
- Chicago Tribune
Ask Anna: How to make LGBTQ+ friends as an adult
Dear Anna, My girlfriend and I (both 28, together for three years) have a solid group of friends from college and work, but we're the only queer couple in the bunch. While our friends are supportive and inclusive, we're craving connections with other LGBTQ+ people who just 'get it' without explanation. The problem is, we're not sure how to branch out at this stage of our lives. We're past the club scene and dating apps obviously aren't the right tool for friendship. We've tried a few LGBTQ+ meetups but they skewed much older than us. How do we find our queer chosen family without it feeling forced or like we're abandoning our current friendships? We want to expand our circle, not replace it, but we're struggling to know where to start. — Bad at Finding Friends Dear BFF, The struggle is real. Regardless of sexual orientation, the older we get, the harder it is to make friends. This isn't your fault. When we're younger, socialization is built into a lot of our activities. As we age, that becomes less and less true. And depending on where you live, finding friends can be especially challenging, particularly if you're in a monogamous relationship, aka not doing the dating-to-friends pipeline. I have vivid memories of being 22 and making lifelong friends with random people on the sidewalk at Pride, getting swept into their friend group like some beautiful gay fairy tale. (Fairy gayle?) Alas, those days are over. Is it because I'm too jaded to strike up conversations with strangers on sidewalks? Or because everyone's buried in their phones? Probably both, plus the fun crushing weight of adult social anxiety. But fear not! Alternatives do exist. However, like getting abs or learning TikTok dances, a certain amount of effort must be invested to get anything worthwhile out of it. Let's talk apps, because as the cliche goes, there's an app for everything now, including queer friendship. Lex has a friendship/community component that (in my opinion) works way better than using it for dating. It's text-first, so you actually get to know people's personalities instead of judging their bathroom mirror selfie game. Plus, you can join group chats based on your interests — comedy shows, writing fan-fiction, rock climbing, erotic crochet (I mean, one can dream), etc. HER also lets you switch to 'looking for friends' mode, though you'll still get the occasional person who clearly didn't read your profile and propositions you anyway. And Bumble BFF exists too — not exclusively queer, but you can be pretty obvious about what you're seeking. For IRL connections, think beyond those generic 'LGBTQ+ Meetup' events where everyone stands around awkwardly eating gluten-free wafers. Look for activity-based groups where friendship happens naturally while you're distracted by actually doing something fun. What would you enjoy doing anyway that just happens to be better with other queer humans? Book clubs where you can argue about whether that character was actually gay or just 'really good friends,' hiking groups, volunteer work that doesn't make you want to cry. Many cities have queer sports leagues ranging from serious competition to less serious. (Drunk pickleball, anyone?) Gay bar trivia nights are clutch — nothing bonds people like collectively failing to remember who won Eurovision in 2019. Pro tip: Become the lesbian social coordinator you wish existed in the world. Host a casual Pride potluck and make each of your straight friends bring one queer person they know. Your allies probably have LGBTQ+ coworkers, cousins or that person from their yoga class who has a labret piercing and a rainbow carabiner. You'd be amazed how connected we all are through the gay grapevine. Check out local LGBTQ+ centers too — many have age-specific events so you don't end up feeling like someone's mom at a college mixer or someone's granddaughter at a retirement home bingo night. (Though I've done both and can say these events also have their charms.) Remember: Building chosen family is a marathon, not a sprint (unless you're really lucky and stumble into a friend group at karaoke night/a magical sidewalk). Start with one genuine connection and let it take as long as it takes to bloom. The beauty of queer friendship is real — that instant 'finally, someone who gets it' feeling when you don't have to explain why your heart quickens during certain Chappell Roan songs or watching Cate Blanchett do literally anything. Be patient and keep searching. Happy Pride. ___
Sky News AU
03-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- Sky News AU
American mum living in Brisbane causes online controversy after revealing bizarre list of things she hates about Australia
An American expat residing in Brisbane has sparked a lively online debate after listing her top grievances about Australia, including difficult shopping trolleys and a puzzling highway system. Lex, a social media content creator whose account provides an American perspective on integrating into Australian culture, posted the video to TikTok and listed her five top issues with her adopted homeland. Number one on the list was that Australian shops close their doors far earlier than those in America, with the former Houston-based mum admitting 'it was a little strange at first'. 'The shops close early here, I'm used to it, I've been here nine months, but it was a little strange at first, but I understand it, because there can be a duality with things like that'. An American expat residing in Australia has sparked a lively online debate after listing her top grievances about life down under. Picture: NewsWire /John Appleyard. The popular user then claimed in the US 'supermarkets are pretty much open all of the time'. However one user questioned, 'the shops close early where you are? Come to Victoria, the shops are open very late here'. The Brisbane mum's second bugbear was that Australian shopping trolleys are 'challenging to steer'. 'Shockingly 90 per cent of Aussies are in agreement with me on this," wrote Lex, adding she was "challenged with this nine months in'. The Brisbane mum was more confidant about her second bugbear, that being the unruly nature of Australian shopping trolleys. Picture: Bev Lacey/NCA. She conceded, 'you really have to put you body into it', with a raft of Australians taking to the comment section to encourage Coles and Woolworths to apply a generous portion of WD-40 to the aging fleet. 'You don't push a trolly here, you manage it' one person said. However another user claimed US trollies were far worse, writing "I HATE American trollys I go to Costco and it's infuriating." However, a more contentious compliant from the women was that 'Mexican food is pretty bad here' and was far inferior to that served in Texas. 'The Mexican food is not great, and I don't expect it to be great, it's just hard because in Texas the Tex-Mex is so good, I crave it'. One person said, 'the Mexican thing is true, but we're about as far from Mexico as you can get', whilst another disgruntled user asked, 'do you have a Guzman y Gomez in Brissie because that's pretty good?' "In Melbourne we have fabulous Mexican restaurants," shot back another commenter. However, a more contentious compliant from the women was that 'Mexican food is pretty bad here'. Picture: Guzman y Gomez via NCA NewsWire. The expat also unloaded on Australian motorways, and that they were almost impossible to understand. Picture: Nigel Hallett/NCA/ The expat also unloaded on Australian motorways, claiming they are almost impossible to navigate as opposed to the gigantic American interstate highway system. 'The highways here are a bit of a challenge, and I don't exactly know why, we turn around easily and take the wrong exit, and I can't figure out if it's the signage, the signage is different for sure,' the women said. 'The name of the highways aren't as prominent as Houston, the name of the highways are blatantly big in Texas and so that took me a minute. I had to get used to searching for the name of the highway which is what I was used to'. One user pointed out that 'the moment you use a tunnel in Brisbane [Google] maps no longer works', with another bemoaning that 'if you get off on the wrong exit, so often you can't just get back on! You're stuck!' Whilst admitting her last irk was 'so petty' the women was shocked that Australian restaurants and cafes make customers pay for condiments and sauces and stated this was the biggest culture shock of all. 'You have to pay for condiments here, in the states if you want 50 sauces then that's that, it goes to the other direction where it's wasteful, but yeah you have to pay for condiments here so that was an adjustment." However one follower fired back: "Surely you now need to expose how GREAT our sauce packets are? Squeeze to dispense - no ripping a packet - use again later in the meal - the best!"
Independent Singapore
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Independent Singapore
Stage set for Mediacorp 987 STAR grand finale: Who will take the mic?
Courtesy of press release SINGAPORE: After weeks of high-pressure challenges and non-stop hustle, just four talents are left standing in the race to become the next Mediacorp 987 STAR. Georgina, Lex, Nicolette and Shaniah have earned their place in the spotlight—and now, it all comes down to the live grand finale at the Ultimate Showdown. Only one will take the crown. Star power Since the beginning, the challenges have not been easy. The top 10 contestants sat through two high-pressure challenges that put their creativity, grit and star power to the test earlier this week. Contestants were given complete control over the scripting, filming, and editing of their video for the first challenge, 'Messy Is The Message,' provided that it advertised the competition finale. Striking and memorable It all came down to originality, inventiveness, and digital production skills in order to produce the most visually striking and memorable film for the judges, influencers Faris Samri and Avi Dixit, and Mediacorp 987's Germaine Tan. The next challenge, 'Going Viral', contestants have to step into the spotlight through a TikTok Live session where they entertain viewers in real-time with their energy and charisma. They then went into the radio booth to co-host with the personalities of Mediacorp 987 for 30 minutes. Without breaking a beat, they managed to spin tunes, interact with listeners, and provide traffic and weather updates while live on air. Zhu Zeliang of Mediacorp YES 933, Nity Baizura of RIA 897, and Gerald Koh of 987 were the judges of this real test of multi-platform wizardry. Final four Georgina, Lex, Nicolette, and Shaniah stepped up to the task, passing every exam and earning their places in the final four despite the extreme difficulties. They will now go to the last round, The Ultimate Showdown, which will take place live at 313@somerset on Saturday, May 31 at 5 p.m. The last four will compete in an exciting series of challenges unlike any other challenge before, in front of an enthusiastic live audience. They will be put to the test on their stage presence, originality, and vocal skills while interacting with the audience. What's at stake? Imagine this: you could be the next Mediacorp 987 STAR! That means landing an awesome gig with 987, plus you'd walk away with a cool $5,000 in cash. In addition to witnessing all the action live, viewers can expect exclusive performances from local singer WhyLucas and singer-songwriter Shazza, as well as the opportunity to interact with their favourite Mediacorp 987 characters. The contestants have reached the final stretch! It sounds like it's been a real adventure getting here. Who will take over the microphone? Attend the launch of the next Mediacorp 987 STAR! Tune in to watch the full episodes now on Mediacorp Entertainment on YouTube and mewatch , and enjoy exciting highlights on Mediacorp 987's TikTok .
