My favorite Donald Trump story goes like this: in 2007 WWE ran a storyline the place firm chairman Vince McMahon was killed in a limo explosion. The ultimate shot of the episode was him stepping into the automobile, which then blew up, and the printed light to black. Trump allegedly referred to as the corporate in a panic to ask if Vince was okay, as a result of he thought the explosion was actual.

That man is a candidate for president. He’s already been president.

As humorous and peculiar as that story is, I all the time had hassle believing it. Trump would by no means be tricked by a wrestling storyline. In spite of everything, his complete life has been one huge professional wrestling storyline. He’s a WWE Corridor of Famer. He was one half of the “battle of the billionaires” at WrestleMania 23. And now, in a second nearly too stupidly excellent to be true, he’s been endorsed for president on the Republican Nationwide Conference by Hulk Hogan, brother.

In case you missed it, Hogan took to the stage at yesterday’s RNC to offer a ringing endorsement for Diamond Don. Hogan got here on stage to his signature theme music “Actual American” – they settle for nothing much less on the RNC, in any case – and ended the speech by tearing his shirt off, solely to disclose a second Trump/Vance 2024 shirt beneath. “Let Trump-o-mania run wild, brother!”, screamed the six-time WWE champion, earlier than main the group in a chant of “USA! USA!” It was a spectacle as uplifting because it was dignified, and served as an ideal convergence of each males’s lives and careers.

They’re each former actuality TV stars – Trump with The Apprentice, Hulk with Hogan Is aware of Greatest. They each rose to prominence within the eighties, making a reputation for themselves in iconic New York venues: Trump Tower and Madison Sq. Backyard, respectively. They’re each additionally extraordinarily good pals with former WWE firm chairman Vince McMahon – a equally problematic character who most likely deserves his personal article.

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They’re additionally each seemingly resistant to cancellation. All of us keep in mind Trump’s “seize ‘em by the p****” audio leak, which we informed ourselves could be the top of his divisive 2016 marketing campaign (spoiler: it very a lot was not). However Hogan had the same subject in 2015, when audio tapes surfaced which featured him saying some deeply racist issues about his daughter’s boyfriend, together with repeatedly utilizing the n-word and even calling himself a “racist” – he later apologised, acknowledging that his conduct had been “offensive” and “unacceptable”. WWE minimize ties with Hogan over the incident, however like with Trump, it didn’t stick – simply this previous January, he was the face of the corporate’s Royal Rumble occasion.

To not point out the truth that they’re each recognized for, properly, let’s say “stretching the reality”. After all you most likely know that Trump likes to magnify, and even make issues up wholesale, to serve no matter narrative he’s attempting to push that day. However do you know that Hulk Hogan was requested to play bass for Metallica? No? Effectively neither did James Hetfield, the band’s lead guitarist, who when informed that Hogan had been going round making the declare responded “Huh? Undoubtedly not”.

Or how about the truth that Hogan claims Elvis was an enormous fan of his, regardless of the King dying in 1977 – properly earlier than Hogan turned well-known. Or there’s my private favorite: that as a result of time distinction between the US and Japan, Hogan – who continuously flew between the 2 for work – as soon as ended up wrestling 400 days in a single 12 months. Yeah. Take a second to essentially drink that one in.

It’s an ideal match. Not simply Hogan and Trump, however professional wrestling and politics. Within the US, there isn’t actually a lot distinction between the 2. You know the way wrestlers will hold enjoying their half even when the cameras aren’t rolling, to assist keep the phantasm? Like they realize it isn’t actual, and we all know it isn’t actual, however all of us faux that it’s to assist promote the lie? There’s a phrase for that. In wrestling, it’s referred to as “kayfabe”. In politics, it’s referred to as a “coverage place”.

Hogan wasn’t even the one wrestler on the conference. Keep in mind Kane? The Undertaker’s brother? The large, shambling Jason Voorhees knock-off who wore a purple leotard and by no means spoke? Effectively his actual title is Glenn Jacobs, and he’s presently the Republican mayor of Knox County, Tennessee. Enjoyable truth: regardless of carrying a masks for a lot of his profession, he got here out as staunchly in opposition to face coverings in the course of the pandemic – and regardless of his character being mute, he by no means shuts up about it on Twitter.

This has all been recognized for a very long time, although. In case you’ve seen the 2006 movie Idiocracy, during which a future model of Earth is populated fully by idiots, you’ll keep in mind that an enormous a part of the plot revolves round the truth that their president is a professional wrestler. Why? As a result of folks like huge, silly spectacles. I ought to know, I’m one among them. Certain, we’re not fairly on the stage the place we’re electing the wrestler himself – he’s simply making a key speech at a serious get together convention – however should you ask me, it’s shut sufficient.

And don’t assume we’re resistant to it right here within the UK. Certain, we didn’t have Huge Daddy come out and endorse Keir Starmer for PM, however keep in mind when Boris Johnson did his little zipline stunt a number of years in the past? Or how about Ed Davey’s grand Middle Parcs tour in the course of the latest election marketing campaign?

Folks like Nigel Farage, Suella Braverman and Kemi Badenoch have just about made careers out of performing like basic wrestling heels. “You could not like me, however I’ll make you’re keen on me” is wrestling unhealthy man 101. All Jacob Rees-Mogg wants is a pet snake and a valet and he’s set to tackle Cody Rhodes at subsequent month’s SummerSlam.

As an enormous wrestling fan and politics nerd, let me be the primary to say that I hope the 2 keep far aside from each other. One is a violent, harmful spectacle carried out by immodest maniacs for the pleasure of a braying, bloodthirsty mob, and the opposite is skilled wrestling. Is that too apparent a joke? Perhaps, however Trump might be going to be president once more quickly, so I suppose huge, apparent jokes are again in vogue.

Hopefully that is the final time politics and wrestling come fairly this shut to at least one one other. Though if the information is to be believed, the Rock has hinted that he would possibly run for president quickly; so don’t rule something out simply but, brother.

Noah Kahan and The Lumineers simply like to carry out collectively.

The band’s founding members, Wesley Schultz and Jeremiah Fraites, joined Kahan atop the Inexperienced Monster at Fenway Park in Boston on Thursday for the Jason Isbell music “If We Have been Vampires.”

“I’d wish to convey out a few of my earliest and largest influences, the unimaginable Lumineers,” Kahan advised the gang.

The efficiency passed off simply two hours earlier than the discharge of “Up All Night time,” a brand new collaboration between James Bay, The Lumineers, and Noah Kahan. Kahan and The Lumineers’ Wesley Schultz had beforehand launched a model of “Vampires” in 2023 for the Spotify Singles collection.

In 2023, The Lumineers invited Kahan on stage at Boston Calling. Kahan had been an earlier performer on the competition and a crowd favourite.

The Lumineers additionally returned to the stage alongside different friends, together with Gracie Abrams, Bay, and Mt. Pleasure, later within the evening for Kahan’s “Stick Season” finale.

Watch Noah Kahan and The Lumineers carry out “If We Have been Vampires” from the Inexperienced Monster at Fenway Park

Test again at Boston.com for extra protection together with a assessment and setlist from Noah Kahan’s first evening at Fenway Park in Boston.

TEL AVIV, Israel — A drone slammed into an condo constructing close to the Tel Aviv oceanfront earlier than daybreak Friday, killing one man and wounding no less than 10 extra civilians. The Houthi militia in Yemen stated it carried out the assault, marking the primary time the group has penetrated a significant Israeli metropolis.

The drone set off a loud blast that woke Tel Aviv residents simply after 3 a.m. The weapon struck an condo constructing a block in from the Mediterranean seafront, spraying shrapnel on the level of affect and shattering glass in surrounding buildings.

Jonathan Karten, 27, stated he and a few pals had been out on the balcony simply beforehand.

“A pal of mine stated, ‘What’s that over there?'” he stated. “I turned my head to see. After which I heard a buzzing. It was perhaps 30 meters above sea stage. After which I noticed an orange blast. I felt this warmth, a blowback.”

The drone hit only a block from the U.S. Embassy Department Workplace, which is on the oceanfront. The diplomatic compound beforehand served because the U.S. Embassy till it was moved to Jerusalem in 2018.

The Houthis have launched missiles and drones towards southern Israel since conflict erupted in Gaza final October, to little impact. The group had not beforehand been linked to a dangerous strike on Tel Aviv or another metropolis.

Israel’s Iron Dome air protection system has largely protected Tel Aviv and different inhabitants facilities from the hundreds of rockets fired by Hamas out of Gaza and by Hezbollah from Lebanon. However this assault apparently caught Israeli forces off-guard.

Sirens sometimes present a warning when Tel Aviv or different cities come beneath aerial assault. However an Israeli navy official, who briefed reporters on situation of anonymity, stated no alert was sounded as a result of the detection system had not been activated. The official described it as “human error.” The official described the drone as massive and able to long-distance flight.

Given the situation of the assault, the drone could have approached Israel from the Mediterranean Sea, however Israeli officers didn’t instantly touch upon the route it took.

The Houthis, probably the most highly effective group in Yemen, claimed accountability and stated this was a brand new sort of drone “able to bypassing the enemy’s interception techniques and undetectable by radars. The operation has achieved its targets efficiently.”

The group warned of extra such assaults.

The Israeli navy official stated the preliminary proof advised the drone was launched from Yemen, however Israel was investigating a spread of prospects.

The Houthis have been firing for months on business ships within the Crimson Sea, off Yemen’s western coast. The U.S. Navy has been main the hassle in opposition to the Houthi assaults. The Houthis say they’re appearing to point out solidarity with the Palestinians over the conflict in Gaza, although the civilian transport visitors includes vessels from all over the world.

Tel Aviv got here beneath heavy rocket hearth from Hamas within the early weeks of the conflict final fall, however the assaults have lengthy since stopped. Hamas often fires rockets into southern Israel.

The principle aerial menace to Israel has been coming from the north, with Hezbollah and Israel buying and selling rocket hearth throughout the border each day.

Maya Levin contributed to this report.

A wave of IT outages swept throughout the globe Friday morning, inflicting over 1,000 flight cancelations and stalling inside and exterior programs throughout a wide range of industries together with hospitals, banks, inventory exchanges and different establishments, as some Microsoft-based computer systems ceased to work.

CrowdStrike — an American cybersecurity expertise agency that gives cloud workload safety, risk intelligence and cyberattack response providers — mentioned the outage isn’t a resulting from a cyber assault; it was attributable to a software program concern that has been recognized and a repair had been deployed.

Some programs might be mounted and again up and working instantly — however for others it “could possibly be hours, could possibly be a bit longer” at first is again up and working, CrowdStrike CEO George Kurtz instructed CNBC in an on-air interview. For some clients, it’s going to take greater than rebooting programs to work by means of fixes.

“CrowdStrike is actively working with clients impacted by a defect present in a single content material replace for Home windows hosts. Mac and Linux hosts usually are not impacted,” Kurtz mentioned earlier Friday.

“We refer clients to the help portal for the newest updates and can proceed to supply full and steady updates on our web site. We additional advocate organizations guarantee they’re speaking with CrowdStrike representatives by means of official channels. Our staff is totally mobilized to make sure the safety and stability of CrowdStrike clients,” Kurtz mentioned.

The Alaska State Troopers instructed ABC Information there have been 911 outages throughout the state.

Some computer systems have been affected at Division of Justice within the outage, although there was no indication that it was affecting regulation enforcement actions within the subject, a supply instructed ABC Information. A discover issued by the DOJ Workplace of the Chief info officer mentioned the difficulty is “important” and there’s no restoration time.

The DOJ alerted customers that they’re among the many companies and authorities customers worldwide affected and that the DOJ Workplace of the Chief Info Officer has actively been troubleshooting attainable workarounds with Part CIOs and technical groups.

Legislation enforcement has been notified that there are already on-line actors and hackers who’re trying to infiltrate company and authorities IT networks by distributing emails with malware disguised as bogus software program fixes for the CrowdStrike downside, a non-government supply engaged on the issue instructed ABC Information.

The U.S. Division of Well being and Human Companies has additionally put out an alert to hospitals and regulation enforcement reporting that “a number of authorities companies” have been affected, together with the secretary’s operations heart – whilst the issue is beginning to roll again.

Some hospitals across the nation have additionally been affected within the IT outage. Mass Basic Brigham in Boston, Massachusetts, cancelled all elective surgical procedures on Friday and Cincinnati Kids’s Hospital Medical Heart in Avondale, Ohio, additionally reported some disruptions.

The D.C. Metro system was additionally impacted, telling ABC Information a few of its inside programs have been down and IT groups are working to resolve the difficulty.

New York Metropolis’s mass transit system, the biggest within the U.S., says that bus and practice operations usually are not impacted by the worldwide outage, although some MTA buyer info programs are briefly offline.

International IT outages have additionally been reported in lots of nations the world over together with Berlin Airport in Germany, the London Inventory Change, Google Cloud, Microsoft and Gatwick Airport in the UK.

“We’re investigating a problem impacting customers capacity to entry numerous Microsoft 365 apps and providers,” Microsoft mentioned in an announcement launched on social media Friday morning.

Airways are actually starting to slowly come again on-line, however it’s anticipated to take time earlier than they’re again up and totally operational. Delays and cancellations are anticipated by means of the morning and into the early afternoon.

Over 1,000 flights have been canceled within the U.S. after American Airways, United and Delta requested the FAA for international floor cease on all flights, in line with an alert from the FAA on Friday morning.

The airways with the very best charge of cancellations and delays thus far are Delta and American. Delta has 331 cancellations and 194 delays. In its most up-to-date replace, Delta mentioned that it has resumed some flight departures.

“Nobody right here is aware of something, the gate brokers mentioned everyone knows as a lot as they do,” an airline passenger instructed ABC Information, saying his flight from SeaTac Airport in Washington was delayed for 2 hours on the tarmac earlier than passengers have been deplaned. “I really feel terrible for the workers and those who have a sick liked one they should get to or funerals, fortunately that is not us.”

The FAA instructed air visitors controllers to inform airborne pilots that airways are presently experiencing communication points. In the meantime, flights that have been within the air already have been allowed to proceed on, however no American, United or Delta flights had been taking off in the course of the outage.

“We’re conscious of a technical concern with CrowdStrike that’s impacting a number of carriers. American is working with CrowdStrike to resolve the difficulty as shortly as attainable and apologize to our clients for the inconvenience,” American Airways mentioned in an announcement obtained by ABC Information.

“A 3rd celebration software program outage is impacting laptop programs worldwide, together with at United,” United Airways mentioned in an announcement on Friday morning. “Whereas we work to revive these programs, we’re holding all plane at their departure airports. Flights already airborne are persevering with to their locations.”

President Joe Biden was briefed on the CrowdStrike outage and his staff is in contact with the corporate and impacted organizations, the White Home mentioned Friday.

“His staff is engaged throughout the interagency to get sector by sector updates all through the day and is standing by to supply help as wanted,” the White Home mentioned.

The inventory worth of CrowdStrike plummeted in early buying and selling on Friday amid a worldwide IT outage that has affected shoppers worldwide. Shares fell practically 15% on Friday morning, dropping the value to its lowest degree since Could.

It is a creating story. Please test again for updates.

-ABC Information’ Ahmad Hemingway, Josh Margolin, Joe Simonetti, Zunaira Zaki and Helena Skinner contributed to this report.

SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom at present introduced the next appointments:
 
Marc LeForestier, of Sacramento, has been appointed Normal Counsel on the  Division of Hashish Management. LeForestier has been Normal Counsel on the California Group Schools Chancellor’s Workplace since 2017. He was a Supervising Deputy Lawyer Normal within the Authorities Legislation Part on the California Division of Justice, Workplace of the Lawyer Normal from 2013 to 2017 and served in a number of roles there from 2000 to 2013, together with Supervising Deputy Lawyer Normal, Director of Legislative Affairs and Deputy Lawyer Normal. He’s a member of the California State Bar, Public Legislation Part. LeForestier earned a Bachelor of Arts diploma in Political Science from the College of Toronto and a Juris Physician diploma from Case Western Reserve College College of Legislation. This place doesn’t require Senate affirmation and the compensation is $204,996. LeForestier is registered with out celebration choice.              
                 
Joshua Eisenberg, of Sacramento, has been appointed Deputy Director of Authorized on the Division of Hashish Management. Eisenberg has been Supervising Deputy Lawyer Normal within the Hashish Management Part on the California Division of Justice, Workplace of the Lawyer Normal since 2022. He held a number of roles within the Licensing Part on the California Division of Justice, Workplace of the Lawyer Normal from 2016 to 2022, together with Deputy Lawyer Normal I, III and IV. Eisenberg was a Volunteer Lawyer with the Sacramento County Workplace of the Public Defender in 2015. He was a Sole Practitioner from 2014 to 2016 and a Companion on the Legislation Workplaces of Gary L. Lieberman, LLP from 2011 to 2014. He earned a Bachelor of Arts diploma in Politics from the College of California, Santa Cruz and a Juris Physician diploma from College of California, Davis College of Legislation. This place doesn’t require Senate affirmation and the compensation is $198,852. Eisenberg is a Democrat.
 
Marty Greenstein, of Sacramento, has been appointed Deputy Director of Public Affairs on the California Division of Parks and Recreation. Greenstein has been Assistant Deputy Secretary of Communications on the California State Transportation Company since 2020. He held a number of roles on the California Division of Motor Automobiles from 2017 to 2020, together with Data Officer II and Data Officer I. He was Copy Editor and Designer at GateHouse Ohio Media from 2013 to 2017. Greenstein was Copy Editor and Designer at The Stockton File from 2006 to 2013. He was Copy Editor and Designer on the Sante Fe New Mexican from 2005 to 2006. Greenstein earned a Bachelor of Arts diploma in Journalism and Spanish from Syracuse College. This place doesn’t require Senate affirmation and the compensation is $139,056. Greenstein is registered with out celebration choice.

Florence Bernal, of Sacramento, has been appointed Chief Deputy Director of the California State Lottery. Bernal has served as Particular Advisor to the Director of the California State Lottery since 2019. She was a Deputy Appointments Secretary within the Workplace of Governor Gavin Newsom in 2019. Bernal held a number of roles within the Workplace of Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom from 2011 to 2018, together with Chief Guide and Guide/Director of Constituent Affairs. She was a Deputy Director of Legislative Affairs on the California Division of Human Assets from 2013 to 2015. Bernal held a number of roles within the California State Legislature from 1999 to 2011, together with Legislative Director and Legislative Aide. She earned a Bachelor of Science diploma in Speech Pathology and Audiology from California State College, Sacramento. This place doesn’t require Senate affirmation and the compensation is $175,512. Bernal is a Democrat.
 
Erin Rodriguez, of Sacramento, has been appointed Director of the Workplace of Governmental Affairs on the California Public Utilities Fee. Rodriguez has been Deputy Director of Legislative Affairs on the California Division of Assets, Recycling, and Restoration since 2022. She was a California Coverage Advocate on the Union of Involved Scientists from 2019 to 2022. Rodriguez was a Legislative Analyst on the California Division of Assets, Recycling, and Restoration in 2018. She was a Fellow on the New Leaders Council in 2019. Rodriguez held a number of roles within the California State Meeting from 2015 to 2018, together with Legislative Aide to Assemblymember Susan Talamantes Eggman and Legislative Aide to Assemblymember Henry Perea. She was a Political and Legislative Assistant at Blanning and Baker Associates in 2015. Rodriguez earned a Bachelor of Arts diploma in Authorities from California State College, Sacramento and a Grasp of Science diploma in Environmental Coverage Administration from the College of California, Davis. This place doesn’t require Senate affirmation and the compensation is $155,760. Rodriguez is a Democrat. 
 
Jazmin Guajardo, of Santa Paula, has been appointed to the California State College Board of Trustees. Guajardo was Vice President of Related College students Included at California State College, Channel Islands from 2023 to 2024. She was a Peer Mentor with the California State College, Channel Islands Instructional Alternative Program from 2021 to 2024. Guajardo was a Licensed Nursing Assistant with Coastal View Well being Care Middle from 2022 to 2023. She was a Senator of Pupil Engagement for Related College students Included at California State College, Channel Islands from 2021 to 2022. She is President of the California State College, Channel Islands Pupil Nurses’ Affiliation, Founder and President of the California State College, Channel Islands League of United Latin American Residents Collegiate Council, and a member of the Related College students Included Pupil Authorities Foyer Corps at California State College, Channel Islands. This place doesn’t require Senate affirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Guajardo is a Democrat.

After 18 holes of the ultimate main championship of the yr, we have a shock on the prime of the leaderboard in Scotland.

Daniel Brown, who entered the week ranked No. 273 within the Official World Golf Rankings, took the in a single day lead after his bogey-free 65 on Thursday at Royal Troon. Brown, who overtook Shane Lowry with a late birdie to seize a one-shot lead, is taking part in in his first ever main championship this week. He is the highest-ranked golfer to guide a significant after the opening spherical since 2016, too.

Lowry, who additionally carded a bogey-free 66, is in an amazing place to make a run by the halfway level of the event. He picked up his first main championship win at Royal Portrush in 2019. Justin Thomas will begin Friday alone in third at 3-under, and a bunch of seven golfers are tied at 2-under.

After their wild battle in North Carolina, neither Bryson DeChambeau nor Rory McIlroy began their week in Scotland properly. DeChambeau opened with a 5-over 76, and McIlroy completed with a 7-over 78. They’re each going to must make a run on Friday in an effort to make the reduce, one thing McIlroy hasn’t missed on the British Open since 2019.

Tiger Woods, like he has so many instances in recent times, struggled once more too. Woods posted an 8-over 79 on Thursday, which is prone to result in his seventh missed reduce or withdrawal in his final 10 main championship begins.

For full tee instances for the primary two rounds of the event, click on right here.

For the total leaderboard, click on right here.

The way to watch Spherical 2 of the 2024 British Open

The primary two rounds of the British Open shall be streamed on Peacock and broadcast on the USA Community.

Sustain with Yahoo Sports activities for full dwell protection of the British Open beneath:

Donald Glover is making ready for Infantile Gambino’s last act, and earlier than Bando Stone & The New World arrives, the multi-hyphenate put his style buds to the take a look at on Scorching Ones Thursday (July 18).

Glover has experimented with hallucinogenics resembling ayahuasca, however didn’t understand consuming spicy rooster wings can be a comparable expertise. “This does really feel shamanic,” he informed host Sean Evans. “It feels fairly intense already. I really feel like I’m about to do ayahuasca.”

Within the midst of chowing down on some spicy wings, the 40-year-old put a bow on his Infantile Gambino moniker. “A collaborator of mine, fam and I, we talked in regards to the demise of Superman loads … I all the time knew Infantile Gambino was like a personality, and on some degree I needed it to finish,” he defined. “I virtually really feel like Infantile Gambino is just like the boss from The Workplace, like, ‘That stuff labored 10 years in the past.’ All that stuff labored, however now it’s like a distinct factor. It’s like, ‘Oh it’s just a little unhappy, however its like, wow, the cycle kinda continues, which is nice, I believe.’”

A fast historical past lesson: Infantile Gambino found the identify of his alter ego when messing round with a Wu-Tang Clan identify generator in faculty. On the finish of the episode, Glover revealed what RZA informed him about what the identify meant.

“The Infantile Gambino story from the Wu-Tang Clan RZA informed me it’s a narrative of a kid turning right into a boss,” mentioned the actor-musician, who earned his fifth Primetime Emmy nomination for appearing July 17. “This final sundown stroll is for the followers. That is for you.”

Glover additionally continued to supply sad followers a refund at his upcoming present, which is certain to upset his attorneys. “If this isn’t the very best reside present you’ve seen — after the primary tune should you’re like, ‘I gotta go,’ you possibly can depart and I’ll offer you your a reimbursement,” he promised. “That’s how a lot I care about all of this. That’s not a joke. My attorneys will probably be like, ‘It’s a joke,’ however it’s not a joke. I’ll set it up so you possibly can go.”

The “This Is America” rapper hits the highway for a world tour, which kicks off in Oklahoma Metropolis on Aug. 11 with help from Willow and Amaarae.

After powering via the new wings, Glover credited his Neighborhood co-star Joel McHale for serving to construct up his hot-sauce tolerance.

“Joel was actually, like, solely consuming espressos and eggs as a result of he had a shirt-off scene. He was like, ‘Scorching sauce, it’s the one taste.’ So I began placing scorching sauce on the whole lot after which we began getting right into a factor with one another,” he added within the submit credit. “I spotted, ‘Oh yeah, that should’ve boosted my tolerance.’”

Bando Stone & The New World hits streaming companies on Friday (July 19). Gambino’s final album is a genre-blending effort that includes visitor appearances from Jorja Smith, Flo Milli, Yeat, Steve Lacy and extra.

Watch Donald Glover on Scorching Ones beneath.