Human or animal, surgery is no fun. After a stressful hospital stay, all anyone recovering from an operation wants is to relax and heal in the comfort of their own home. Chris Evans, dog dad extraordinaire, has proven time and time again that he’ll do just about anything for his rescue dog, Dodger. The pair plays together, naps together, and are there for each other through thick and thin.

Without a doubt, Dodger is one lucky dog. He had a tough start, as an adult dog living in a shelter – puppies go quickly, but some adult dogs wait years before finding their forever home. In his first major stroke of luck, Dodger was discovered by Evans while the Captain America actor was filming a movie nearby. Ever since, the pair have been inseparable.

Even after finding his best friend, Dodger hit additional roadblocks. In July, Evans posted a photo on his Dodger-filled Instagram, a picture of his beloved pup recovering from surgery.

 

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Dodger recovered well after his first surgery, but according to Evans, the resilient boxer-mix needed a second hip replacement. Like any doting dad, Chris was by Dodger’s side as soon as he was out of the animal hospital. This time though, Chris had an adorable surprise for the groggy pup.

“Hip replacement #2 completed! Such a trooper. He’ll be back in action in no time,” Chris shared on Instagram.

After the photo of Dodger’s stitched-up leg, Chris shared a photo featuring some slightly less professional, but extremely important stitches. The doctor was none other than the actor himself, and the patient? Well, Dodger’s other best friend.

 

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“Yesterday while he was in surgery, so was his favorite lion (which had been on IR since November after a nasty tear). I’ve never sewn anything before but I’m pretty proud of my hack job,” Chris said. “They’re both happily recovering in each other’s company.”

There’s no such thing as a perfect parent, dog, or human. But doing little things to show you care, even if they’re out of your comfort zone, truly makes you one of the greats.

“The Silence of the Lambs” was partly about a man named Buffalo Bill who entertained a guest in his home. OK, he may have been a serial killer and the guest may have been kidnapped, but the new owner of the home featured in the film is hoping that will give it just enough charm for people to want to pay money to stay the night. Buffalo Bill’s house is becoming a Bed and Breakfast.

The new owner of the house, who bought it earlier this year for nearly $300k, plans to do some small renovations to make it more accommodating but will be keeping all of the creepy old-wallpaper, pocket doors, wood trim, and other furnishings that will remind fans of the movie.

The basement does NOT, however, have a well to torture victims in. The owner WILL, however, be adding said well. Though he claims it’s mostly for photo ops.

The three-story, four-bedroom house just outside Pittsburgh looks just as creepy as you remember it from the movie. And the timing is good, in a sense, as the film nears its 30th anniversary and the franchise receives a revival of sorts with the new “Clarice” show.

One of the previous owners of the home was an FBI agent, which is a fun little fact for such a creepy home. And soon you will be able to (try to) sleep in that creepy home.

‘Silence of the Lambs’ house in Pennsylvania becoming bed and breakfast https://t.co/FfA5GQvYv4 pic.twitter.com/f9eJnAiCpm

— WKBN 27 First News (@WKBN) February 19, 2021

Guests will be sure to receive only the finest lotion to put on their skin, and a sleepless night full of nightmares.

Tomorrow, Pokemon celebrates it’s 25th anniversary… which is kind of insane to think about since that means I was 10 when the very first Pokemon game released.

Anyway, now that I’ve just realized how old I actually am, Nintendo dropped a couple of new announcements for fans today during a ‘Pokemon Presents’ livestream.

The first announcement was for Nintendo Switch remakes of Pokemon Diamond & Pearl.  Originally released on the Nintendo DS back in 2006, these new versions will both be releasing later this year and feature updated graphics on top of the classic Pokemon gameplay.

The other announcement is actually a pretty big deal since we’ve never seen this kind of gameplay before in the franchise.  A Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild style game called Pokemon Legends: Arceus will be releasing early 2022 and will break new ground for the beloved series.  It takes place in the Sinnoh region (the same one as Diamond & Pearl) but features a vast open-world for you to explore.  Check out the trailer down below.

Well Nintendo, ya got me.  It looks like my kids and I are going to be catching them all… again.

Every job has different metrics for measuring success. Maybe you have regular performance reviews, sales goals to hit, or maybe being successful at your job means landing a freaking rover on Mars. Father and engineer Alejandro Miguel San Martin has worked for NASA for 35 years, and in that time, he’s made history time and time again. This time, however, San Martin’s daughter was able to capture the incredible moment on camera.

Because of COVID, NASA’s work on their most recent rover, Perseverance, has looked a bit different. Rather than working alongside his team in person, San Martin turned his daughter’s childhood bedroom into a makeshift mission control room.

“Touchdown! Never thought my childhood bedroom would become my dads covid mission control – but could not be more proud of the Jet Propulsion Lab EDL team!!!” Madeleine San Martín shared on Instagram. “5/5 for Mars Rover Landings, let’s celebrate!!”

 

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In the heartwarming video captured by the NASA engineer’s daughter, San Martin quite literally jumps out of his chair with excitement upon learning that the Perseverance mission was a success.

“YES!!!” San Martin exclaims, throwing his hands in the air after receiving confirmation that Perseverance safely touched down. He kisses his daughter and puts his head in his hands, watching with tears in his eyes as his peers celebrate on screen. “Unbelievable” he marvels, both laughing and crying.

After 35 years with NASA, San Martin has helped land five rovers safely on Mars. Even after experiencing such massive success four times previously, the thrill of making a monumental mark in history clearly doesn’t get old. This NASA dad’s work is out of this world, and San Martin is over the moon about it.

Sony held a ‘State of Play’ livestream today to show off some of the new games coming to PS4 and PS5 in 2021.  We didn’t hear any news on highly anticipated releases like God of War: Ragnarok or Horizon 2: Forbidden West, but that’s okay because we’ve got all these to tide us over until then.

Final Fantasy 7 Remake gets a PS5 upgrade

Final Fantasy 7 is one of the greatest RPG’s of all time, and I don’t think anyone thought the remake was going to turn out just as good as it did.  I was blown away and this updated PS5 version will contain a new playable episode featuring the lovable thief Yuffie.  If you already own the PS4 version, it’ll be a free upgrade to PS5.  You can transfer your saved data too, which is always awesome.

Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade will release for PS5 on June 10th, 2021

New Trailer for Kena: Bridge of Spirits

Kena: Bridge of Spirits is going to be a gorgeous, story-driven action-adventure with fast-paced combat, and it’s nice to see an actual release date attached to it.  Kena was originally supposed to release in the first quarter of 2021, but now we know for sure we’ll be playing it this August.

Kena: Bridge of Spirits releases for PS4 & PS5 on August 24th, 2021

Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time coming to Playstation 5

It looks like we’re getting an enhanced version of Crash Bandicoot 4!  This PS5 version will feature faster loading times, save transfers, 3D Audio Support, Adaptive Triggers and other DualSense features, and the game will run at 4K/60 FPS.  Oh, and it’ll be a free upgrade as well if you already own the PS4 version.

Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time PS5 upgrade releases on March 12th, 2021

New Five Nights at Freddy’s: Security Breach Trailer

My eight-year-old son can’t get enough of these Fight Nights at Freddy’s (or FNAF as he calls them) games.  I’ve tried playing them with him, but man the jump scares get me every time.  This next installment allows you to venture around an open mall instead of just being stuck inside one area.  Just like the other FNAF games, you’ll use an assortment of gadgets to try and protect yourself as you’re hunted down by killer animatronics.  Can’t wait to get suckered into playing this one too!

Five Nights at Freddy’s: Security Breach will release for PS4 & PS5 in 2021

Oddworld: Soulstorm will launch in April

Oddworld has been around since the PS1 days, and it’s great to see it making a return on next-gen consoles.  Oddworld is a unique side-scroller where you take on the role of reluctant hero Abe.  You’ll have to solve various puzzles to rescue your fellow mudokons from certain doom, and what’s cool is if you have an active Playstation Plus subscription, this will be free for you to download when it releases!

Oddworld: Soulstorm releases for PS4 & PS5 on April 6th, 2021

Knockout City Gameplay Spotlight

This team-based, dodgeball battle royale looks like a blast.  It’s coming to both Playstation 4 and Nintendo Switch with cross-platform functionality, so if you and your kids have different systems, you’ll still be able to play together.  If you want to check out the game early, you can sign up for the Cross-Platform beta at the official Knockout City website.

Knockout City releases for PS4 & Nintendo Switch on May 21st, 2021

Time to get your Martial Arts moves on in SIFU

SIFU looks badass.  No details were announced regarding the story, but the gameplay looks like hand-to-hand combat mixed with what seems to be some kind of aging mechanic.  When you lose, your character gets older.  Not sure how that will tie into gameplay, but I’m intrigued.  Give us more info please Sony.

SIFU will release on PS5 in 2021

The Irwin family is constantly coming up with new and touching ways to keep Steve Irwin’s memory alive. The Crocodile Hunter made waves both in conservation and in his personal life, quickly becoming a shining example of what it means to be both an activist and a loving father. Steve’s two children were both extremely young when they tragically lost him, but over the years they’ve made a point to follow in his courageous footsteps, picking up where he left off and bringing him along for the journey.

When Steve and Terri’s oldest child Bindi announced that she was expecting her first child, keeping her dad’s memory alive seemed to take on a whole new meaning. Not only was she keeping Steve’s memory alive for herself and everyone who loved him, but also for her unborn daughter – Steve’s first grandchild.

Bindi and her husband Chandler are quickly approaching the birth of their first baby, a daughter who is already surrounded by love. The young couple has taken to calling their quickly-growing daughter “Baby Wildlife Warrior,” a fitting title with a heartwarming origin.

In an interview with The Bump, Bindi explained, “My dad was the first person to create the term ‘Wildlife Warrior’. Being a Wildlife Warrior means to stand up and speak for those who cannot speak for themselves. We’ve been referring to our daughter as our Baby Wildlife Warrior.”

Bindi continued, “I know in my heart that she will forge her own path to make our planet a better place through her connections with the gorgeous animals that we protect here at Australia Zoo and the conservation work we do with animal species around the globe.”

Today, Wildlife Warriors is a foundation focused on conservation. Formerly known as the Steve Irwin Conservation Foundation, the organization educates the public and protects all forms of threatened and endangered wildlife. Bindi learned to love nature and wildlife from her beloved dad, and as her baby’s nickname suggests, she hopes to continue the tradition with the next generation.

The Mighty Ducks was one of the greatest trilogies in sports movie history (because honestly, how many were there really) and the beloved franchise is just weeks away from making its return. “Mighty Ducks: Game Changers” hits Disney+ on March 26 and we have our first full trailer for the series.

It starts by establishing one team in the area as a dominating powerhouse of hockey. One kid who is cut from the team, and a mom who just wants youth sports to BE FUN, tries to start their own team, but they need a coach. Enter a greatly reluctant Gordon Bombay (sound familiar?).

Only this time, The Mighty Ducks are the powerhouse, fun-draining youth hockey program. And Emilio Estevez gets dragged onto the ice this time by a mom, not by a judge.

Still, there’s a lot to like from the first trailer. If it sounds like the first movie, well, that formula rocked, and it was great. Plus, youth sports has only gotten vastly more ridiculous since the early 1990s, meaning there is a lot more to lampoon and play with. One of the parents in the trailer brought a trainer AND a sports psychologist to her kid’s hockey practice, which seems over the top but also not by that much.

Youth sports ARE supposed to be fun, a point Lauren Graham’s titular mom character makes repeatedly in the trailer. And seeing Gordon Bombay step back onto the ice is like seeing Luke Skywalker pick up a lightsaber again. The nostalgia alone is going to make it a must-watch.

Happy Gilmore is one of Adam Sandler’s most memorable films. And now the two stars of the movie are talking sequel, only a short 25 years after the original. Add in the fact that anything that could possibly make any money is being rebooted, and we’ve never been closer to the reality of a Happy Gilmore 2.

Adam Sandler kicked off the hype for a revival after he recreated the iconic Happy swing on the golf course in honor of the film’s 25^th anniversary. “That’s for your, Shooter!” he yelled. Shooter McGavin himself (in character) didn’t take too kindly to it and responded with his own social media post.

Happy loves you all! Thanks for everything! pic.twitter.com/p1aY9JcFWh

— Adam Sandler (@AdamSandler) February 16, 2021

My response @AdamSandler pic.twitter.com/Wa4Y8lh6rJ

— Shooter McGavin (@ShooterMcGavin_) February 16, 2021

The original clip from Sandler was viewed more than 17 million times, and the two stars were on Dan Patrick’s show talking about the movie and were asked point-blank if they’d make another. Both Sandler and Chris McDonald (Shooter) straight up said they’d love to do another.

Like for Happy Gilmore 2. RT for @ChampionsTour featuring Happy and Shooter.@AdamSandler and @ShooterMcGavin_ joined the @dpshow today. @Peacocktv pic.twitter.com/2OxL1RPIus

— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) February 24, 2021

Sandler said there isn’t a current discussion about making another, but Netflix will let the guy do whatever he wants, so if both stars are on board, it’s an easy sell. Given the amount of social media buzz just off a few clips, it’s enough to make any studio salivate, and a sequel wouldn’t be hard to pull off.

In this era, everything that’s old becomes new again. Disney is pulling The Mighty Ducks playbook back verbatim, it seems. Netflix already rebooted Full House, a beloved (yet boring) sitcom from the 90s, and Peacock brought back Saved By The Bell (this reboot is actually funny).

Put Happy and Shooter on the senior tour, and go crazy with it. If you build it, they will come. It might be the only thing that could get people excited about Subway again.

The past several weeks have been challenging ones for Texas, with snowstorms and unusually-cold weather shocking residents of the Lone Star State. Local heroes have been stepping up left and right, helping neighbors and strangers make it safely through the treacherous weeks. Actor and Texas native Matthew McConaughey is one such hero, but fortunately, he has the resources to help more than your average Texan. McConaughey loves his state, so much so that he’s even considering a future as a Texas governor. After seeing the devastation following recent storms, the actor and author stepped up to help.

“As most of you know, my home state of Texas was just hit with the worst winter storm it’s had in the last 70 years. It left a whole lot of people without power, water, and a whole lot of basic necessities,” McConaughey said on Instagram.

With power finally restored for most Texans, McConaughey points out that frozen pipes and busted water lines have left Texans in a state of crisis. From individuals to hospitals providing life-saving care, everyone relies on water – but right now, much of Texas is forced to go without.

“Camila and I are presently working with some wonderful organizations on the ground in Texas, but we know help is going to be needed for a while. That’s why Camila, the Just Keep Livin Foundation, and I are putting together a virtual benefit to directly help the necessary long-term effort to rebuild Texas and take care of those in need.”

 

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The Just Keep Livin Foundation was founded by Matthew and his wife Camila, and its main goal is to empower students to live healthier, more active lives. The organization also instills a sense of responsibility to kids in its programs, reminding them how important it is to give back to their communities.

McConaughey states that the virtual benefit will happen in the next two weeks, but in the meantime, he plans to share information about resources and ways to volunteer for those who are able.

The actor’s empowering video ends with a call to action and reminds us that it doesn’t take much to help. This quote perfectly sums it up, “Right now is the best time to safely check on your neighbor. Go knock on a door, go volunteer, and if you’re a ‘have’ please help out a ‘have-not’, there’s a bunch of them.”

The Dad Staff is donating to a collection of food and warming centers throughout Texas to help families in need. Impact Your World allows us to contribute to 14 organizations, including The Red Cross, Mercy Chefs, Austin Pets Alive, as well as local food banks in Dallas, Houston, and Austin. If you are able, please consider donating any amount here.

Another day, another new streaming service.

The latest platform to debut is Paramount Plus, which lands March 4th and is actually just CBS All Access rebranded and will be home to a bucket-load of movies and TV shows from Paramount Pictures and a variety of networks, including BET, CBS, Comedy Central, MTV, and Nickelodeon.

There have already been a handful of movies announced that will eventually land on the platform, including A Quiet Place 2, Mission: Impossible 7, and No Time to Die, and yesterday news broke about an exciting new revival that 90s kids are sure to be excited about.

Rugrats!

That’s right, the beloved animated series featuring Tommy, Chuckie, Angelica, Susie, Phil, and Lil is coming to Paramount Plus as soon as this spring, and it will feature the entire original cast! This time in CG instead of 2D because it’s 30 years since its 1991 debut and times have changed.

“Rugrats is one of the most iconic cartoons recognized by fans around the globe, and this original version is one we are taking great care and pride in creating for a brand-new audience,” said Ramsey Naito, President, Nickelodeon Animation. “Having the voice cast behind these special characters come together is one of the essential pieces to making the show recognizable and we can’t wait to watch this talented group bring them to life again.”

Neither can we!

Check out a clip from the new series:

There is a new player in the chicken sandwich wars, and it is a taco. And no, this isn’t one of these “Is a taco a sandwich?” debates (but is it tho), it’s a new chicken sandwich taco from Taco Bell. Yep, Taco Bell has entered the chicken sandwich battlegrounds.

When it comes to killer chicken sandwiches, it used to be Chick-fil-A and then everyone else. And then along came Popeyes, and the wars were on. Wendy’s spicy chicken has always been a competent player, but they’ve tried to up things with a jalapeno popper sandwich. After experimenting with spicey McNuggets, McDonald’s is rolling out several different new fried chicken sandwiches (a true act of desperation) and Burger King is reportedly joining the fray later this year (yawn).

Let’s be real, it’s still a battle between Chick-fil-A and Popeyes. But, Taco Bell is an intriguing newcomer. The new “Crispy Chicken Sandwich Taco” is rolling out next month at select locations and everywhere later this year. Here’s what you need to know: it’s an all-white piece of chicken, marinated in jalapeno buttermilk, fried with a crunchy tortilla chip coating, and served in a puffy bread shaped like a taco. It’s topped with creamy chipotle sauce, and you can spice it up with jalapeños on top.

 

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I am not a fan of the gimmick sandwiches trying to enter the arena with the true greats. But even I must admit, this sounds incredible. And it is coming at the right time for the taco chain, which alienated some of its most vocal customers earlier this year when they culled popular items from their menu and tried to explain by saying “Covid shrug emoji.”

They have brought back their Nacho Fries, but fans still yearn for their Mexican Pizza. They gave us a wine to pair with Chalupas.

But Crispy Chicken Sandwich Taco? Here for it.

And you can tell the competition is worried, because they are trying to mock it:

@popeyeschicken#LoveThoseTacosFromPopeyes #FYP #ForYou #DIYrecipes #DIYtacos #PopeyesChicken #popeyeschickensandwich♬ original sound – Popeyes Chicken

The chicken wars are about to get a lot spicier.

Over the past few months, there has been endless speculation about the future of the MCU. This extends from the movies that have been delayed by the pandemic, like Black Widow and Inhumans, and the TV universe that kicked off with WandaVision and its continuing surprises.

One of the most obsessed over properties is the forthcoming Spider-Man 3 movie, which may or may not dive deep into the multiverse. The rumors have been flying about Tom Holland’s third (and final) feature film as Peter Parker, from Dr. Strange’s role (the wizard also has a multiverse-focused sequel in production) to the potential appearance of characters from other studio Spideys, like Jamie Foxx’s Electro and both Tobey Maguire’s and Andrew Garfield’s Spider-mans (Spider-men?).

Now that speculation has extended to the film’s possible title.

Three of the movie’s cast members, Tom Holland, Zendaya, and Jacob Batalon, ignited social media by sharing the first set photos from Spider-Man 3, and teasing fans with their own ideas about what the title might be. The first movie was called Homecoming, the second was Far From Home, and now the third is expected to feature another spin on the theme.

But it’s probably not one of the ones they shared on their IG accounts.

Each of the cast took to Instagram to share the “news.”

Holland shared a set photo of the trio, which included a mock-up title card for one potential, 80s inflected title (Spider-Man: Phone Home), then Zendaya did the same, but her title had a 90s-slang kinda feel (Spider-Man: Home Slice), and Batalon’s casts the project in a very different, Fatal Attraction sort of light (Spider-Man: Home Wrecker).

As usual, social media took it all in stride.

Zendaya, Tom and Jacob really woke up and chose violence #SpiderMan3 pic.twitter.com/Jtkn1NDBGv

— giuls ◟̽◞̽ (@Giuls2828) February 24, 2021

Obviously, the cast was having some fun, and playing up the constant breathless rumors that have been swirling around this movie, and the MCU in general, for years now.

Unfortunately, there’s no real word on what the actual title might be. But with this clearly coordinated social media goof, some real news must be on the horizon. Maybe even a teaser?

We’re dying to find out what’s in store for us with the multiverse, and everything else, in Spider-Man 3: Homey Don’t Play That!

The internet doesn’t forget.

Years and years ago, back in the dark ages of the internet and social media, Metallica angered the tech gods by thwarting Napster, the music-sharing software that allowed everyone everywhere to download all the music they wanted – for free.

Was it legal? It was pre-legal, in that there weren’t any real laws preventing it, or, at least, no real way to regulate it. Until Metallica made a stink and Napster essentially got shut down.

In fairness, Metallica, and countless other artists, were being robbed by this widespread pirating, but they still came off like old men yelling at clouds. And now, some 20 years later, the internet got a little payback.

The elder statesmen of metal were playing a concert for BlizzCon – an annual gaming convention held by Blizzard Entertainment – that was being live-streamed on Twitch. The only problem is, Twitch didn’t want to get sued for sharing music they don’t have the rights to, so users who tuned in didn’t hear For Whom the Bell Tolls or One or Enter Sandman or Unforgiven.

Instead, they heard some bland, 8-bit music that made for a hilarious juxtaposition with the band’s hard-rocking histrionics.

According to Eurogamer, the dubbing didn’t occur everywhere, only on the Twitch Gaming channel.

Regardless, the irony was noted:

There’s something really funny about Metallica being dubbed over during Blizzcon due to copyright concerns.

The band famously went to war with file sharing service Napster 21 years ago to prevent copyright infringement on their music. Kind of a Frankenstein’s monster situation.

— Colin McNeil (@McNeilColin) February 20, 2021

Metallica not being able to play their own music live because of DMCA that came about in large part due to Metallica’s advocacy of it is a hell of a full circle.

— Charlotte Clymer 🏳️‍🌈 (@cmclymer) February 20, 2021

Watch the beautiful disaster unfold: