Latest news with #GIJoe
Geek Tyrant
13-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
G.I. JOE Resurrects COLD SLITHER in a Wild New Comic One-Shot — GeekTyrant
For fans who grew up on the gloriously awesome G.I. Joe animated series of the '80s, this is the kind of comeback we didn't know we needed… until now. Cold Slither, the fictional hard rock band fronted by Cobra's biker goons, the Dreadnoks, is getting its own comic. G.I. Joe: Cold Slither #1 drops October 1st from Skybound and Image Comics as part of the expanding Energon Universe, the ambitious crossover playground uniting G.I. Joe and Transformers under one chaotic roof. Written by Tim Seeley ( Rogue, Local Man ) and drawn by Juann Cabal ( Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man ), the one-shot dives headfirst into the rise, and inevitable implosion, of the most dangerous rock band to ever shred for Cobra. 'The catchiest song ever to grace a military-themed toy line has lived in my head rent-free for forty years,' Seeley said. 'So I'm happy to drag it out, and write the true story of the scrappy band of miscreants who recorded it.' The band was originally introduced in the episode 'Cold Slither', where Cobra cooked up a plan to brainwash the youth using subliminal messages embedded in a rock anthem. Naturally, the Dreadnoks were the perfect fit to front the band. Artist Juann Cabal is just as fired up to bring this chaotic ensemble to the page: 'My parents met at a Cold Slither gig back in the '80s, so getting to draw this one-shot has been really special for me.' Ben Abernathy, Executive Editor at Skybound, added: 'To say this face-melting issue was a labor of love is an understatement. Getting this motley crew of creators together for this incisive and heartfelt look at the rise and fall of the legendary Cold Slither was a heavy metal dream come true!' This is the kind of fun and unexpected deep cut that makes the current G.I. Joe comics so much fun. They're not just rebooting the familiar stuff, they're digging into the stranger corners of the franchise and treating them with reverence and ridiculous flair. G.I. Joe: Cold Slither #1 hits comic shops on Wednesday, October 1st. Get ready to throw the horns and surrender your free will to Cobra's favorite rock band.
New York Post
07-07-2025
- Business
- New York Post
What will happen to the housing market during a ‘baby dust'?
Advertisement The American dream was built around a timeline: Get married, buy a home, start a family. But that timeline is breaking down. Today, Americans are waiting longer or opting out entirely: Fewer marriages, fewer babies, delayed moves. And behind it all, a housing market that increasingly seems like it was built for a different time. That's why some experts are warning that the next big stress test for housing might not be affordability—but fertility. Politicians and pundits have begun sounding the alarm about America's declining birth rate, framing it as an existential threat to the economy, social safety nets, and the future of the country itself. To fix it, they're calling on young Americans to start families and invoking a familiar, almost mythic era as the model: the baby boom. Advertisement But the baby boom wasn't just a spike in births; it was also a blueprint for how Americans lived. Young couples married early, bought homes young, and raised families in newly built suburbs. It's the version of adulthood the housing market was built around, and it's a version that fewer Americans are living today. 3 Young Americans are being called to start families and invoking a familiar, almost mythic era as the model: the baby boom. Hernan Schmidt – So, what happens to a housing market built for growth when growth slows down? The baby boom blueprint that shaped U.S. housing Advertisement When Americans talk about ideal housing patterns, they're often referencing a very specific moment in history: the post-World War II baby boom. During that period, household formation surged alongside population growth, giving rise to a generation of young families, newly built homes, and widespread homeownership. It was the birth of the starter home as we know it—a modest, affordable house for a growing family. 'GI Joe and Rosie the Riveter got together right after World War II, got married, and births exploded,' explains James Hughes, a population and housing expert at Rutgers University. 'So we had rapid household formation.' That boom in household creation was closely tied to rapid housing production and policy support. 'You had the GI Bill, basically making over 4 million low-cost mortgages available to returning service members that really fueled homeownership,' explains Diana Elliott, senior vice president of programs at Population Reference Bureau, an organization that studies population. Advertisement Together, these forces created a blueprint that would shape American housing expectations for generations: Finish school, get married, buy a home, start a family—all before age 30. By 1984, this pattern was still holding, with 78% of 30-year-olds at the time married, according to data from John Burns Research & Consulting. But over the past few decades, each successive generation has followed a different, slower path. Delayed milestones, delayed demand 'The ordering in which [household formation and childbearing] happens is not as linear as it maybe was following World War II,' explains Elliott. Some of that comes down to economic and structural barriers. 'There's more of that startup time to become an adult that wasn't the case 50, 75 years ago,' she adds, pointing to rising education levels and changing job expectations. But part of it is also about choice. 'Preferences are really important here,' she notes. 'Some people increasingly have the ability to say that they don't want families … which wasn't necessarily how people felt post-World War II.' The ripple effect extends beyond the personal. As Americans put off starting families, the national fertility rate has dropped far below the replacement level of 2.1 children per woman. While that has inspired a national conversation about how to foster another baby boom, the likelihood of a second boom is 'very, very low,' Elliott says. 'Other countries have tried to enact really explicit policies to change this. … It hasn't worked.' Advertisement 3 During the baby boom, household formation surged alongside population growth, giving rise to a generation of young families, newly built homes, and widespread homeownership. Monkey Business – Yet the nostalgia for another baby boom persists—mirroring the postwar optimism that helped fuel the rise of suburban homeownership. And for those holding out hope that millennials will 'catch up,' the demographic math gets more complicated with time. 'What we have a lot of today: double income, no kids. … They're certainly delaying it if they're going to have children,' says Hughes. 'But some are questioning whether they are ever going to have children.' So what happens when an entire generation delays family formation long enough that the replacement rate slips out of reach—and with it, the demand that's propped up the housing market for decades? The future buyer: Older, fewer, different needs Advertisement When life milestones are delayed, so is household formation, and that ripple effect can reshape the entire housing market. One of the clearest signs of this shift is in who's renting. Right now, 72% of U.S. renters are aged 30 or older—an all-time high, according to John Burns Research & Consulting. It reflects a shift in typical homebuying age and, by extension, a significant change in the timing of household formation. The reasons for this delay are both structural and economic. Every morning, the NY POSTcast offers a deep dive into the headlines with the Post's signature mix of politics, business, pop culture, true crime and everything in between. Subscribe here! Advertisement 'Expensive housing makes it very, very difficult, particularly for single people, to leave their parents' house and rent an apartment,' says Hughes, the population and housing expert at Rutgers. Facing high housing costs and limited inventory, young adults are staying home longer, waiting longer to rent, and pushing off buying altogether. But the consequences don't stop there. When people delay forming independent households, other milestones—like having children—often get delayed, too. And those individual decisions can have long-term implications. 'The fewer children that are being born today means fewer people in 25 years who will be purchasing homes and starting their own households,' says Elliott. It's a compounding cycle: Delayed households today could mean fewer buyers and less demand tomorrow. What happens when household growth slows? Advertisement While America's youth population has already peaked and is projected to decline by 2.4 million over the next decade, housing experts still expect to see steady demand in the near term. But the long-term picture looks very different. Net household growth has slowed for the second year in a row, according to research from Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies. In 2024, the U.S. added just 1.56 million households, down from 1.61 million in 2023. As of early 2025, that number has slowed even further to an annualized pace of 1.26 million. That's a steep drop from the 1.93 million annual average seen between 2019 and 2022. This slowdown is unfolding at a moment of rising uncertainty across all major drivers of household formation: employment rates, income growth, immigration, and demographics. Perhaps most critically, the immigration surge that helped sustain population growth in recent years came to an end in early 2025. And the demographic headwinds are only intensifying. Beginning this year, the baby boomer generation will begin turning 80, ushering in a period where rising mortality rates might begin to overshadow the formation of new households. Without a surge in immigration, Elliott estimates we could begin to see more births than deaths in the U.S. as early as 2029. Hughes agrees: 'If there is no immigration, eventually the population and number of households are going to contract.' One thing is certain: The fastest-growing housing segment will be older adults. That raises major questions about whether today's housing supply and the homes we're building will match what tomorrow's population will need. And these shifts aren't playing out uniformly. 'You also have regional differentials,' says Hughes. 'The Northeast and the Midwest regions are the demographic laggards [compared with] the South and the West … who have been the recipients of migration.' 3 While America's youth population has already peaked and is projected to decline by 2.4 million over the next decade, housing experts still expect to see steady demand in the near term. But the long-term picture looks very different. Spiroview Inc. – Can builders keep up with the shift? With later household formation, shrinking family sizes, and slowing population growth, housing demand is evolving—and builders, developers, and policymakers will need to evolve with it. 'Housing, I think, in terms of facing contraction, is still pretty far off,' says Hughes. But while demand might hold, it will likely be for a different kind of housing entirely. Buyers aren't vanishing—they're showing up later, older, and with different needs. The challenge, then, isn't just to build more homes; it's to build the right homes for a slower-growth, later-blooming America. That could mean designing smaller homes in emerging metros or prioritizing flexibility for multigenerational households—trends that we're already seeing crop up across the country. It could also mean finally preparing for the wave of older homeowners who will dominate household growth in the coming decades. 'We might need to think about what housing for older people in the future looks like,' Elliott adds—especially as millennials age into retirement with different expectations than their parents. The sooner we accept that the old model isn't coming back, the sooner we can design a new one that fits where America is headed. What does it look like to build homes for buyers who arrive later, need less space, and want more flexibility? What happens to markets where household growth slows or reverses? And how can we ensure that the next generation o
Mint
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Mint
Squid Game actor Lee Byung-hun reveals how his son called him out for being 'bad' in the show: 'Why are you so mean?'
On The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Squid Game star Lee Byung-hun had the audience in stitches as he shared how his ten-year-old son reacted to finding out his dad plays the terrifying Frontman in the hit Netflix series. 'They're not supposed to watch Squid Game,' Byung-hun said with a grin. 'I have a ten-year-old son and an 18-month-old daughter. I think my son heard from a friend at school. One day, he looked really sad and asked me, 'Why are you so mean?'' Completely confused, Byung-hun replied, 'What?' Jimmy Fallon burst into laughter, jumping in to act out the moment: 'You know I'm an actor. I love you. I'm a good dad!' Byung-hun continued, 'I said, 'Why?' and he said, 'You killed a lot of people.'' It turns out, his son was especially upset about a scene involving T.O.P, the actor who played Thanos in 'Squid Game 2'. 'My son was very close to him,' Byung-hun explained. 'He asked me, 'Why did you hit him so bad, Dad?'' Trying to explain, Byung-hun told his son, 'I'm an actor,' but admitted, 'I think he doesn't understand 100 per cent.' Jimmy nodded and laughed, 'No, good for him. He should be a 10-year-old!' The laughs kept coming as Byung-hun shared a hilarious memory from when his son was just three years old. He had shown him a clip from GI Joe on YouTube, where Byung-hun plays a mysterious and deadly character. His son stared wide-eyed and asked, 'Are you really…?' To which Byung-hun whispered, 'Shhh, no one knows. Even your mom doesn't know.' The interrogation continued as the curious toddler asked, 'Where is the weapon?' Keeping the story alive, Byung-hun replied, 'It's in America, in some storage.' Not satisfied, his son asked, 'Why didn't you bring it back?' With perfect comic timing, Byung-hun answered, 'If I see some strong enemy, I'll bring it back.' The audience erupted in laughter, clearly loving the actor's playful parenting. For the unversed, Lee Byung-hun played the role of Storm Shadow in the 2013 film 'GI Joe: Retaliation'.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Trump gives off strongman pageantry with military parade we're paying for
We've all had that friend. The one who drops a year's salary on a one-day wedding with monogrammed cocktail ice and fireworks timed to the couple's first kiss. You smile politely, wear the overpriced bridesmaid dress, and pretend the champagne tower wasn't funded with a 401(k) withdrawal. Now imagine that wedding, but with tanks. Because on June 14, the 250th birthday of the U.S. Army and, coincidentally, the 79th birthday of President Donald Trump, we're all invited to his "Big Fat Military Parade." It's unnecessary. It's over the top. It's wildly expensive. And yes — we're paying for it. Letters: House budget provision exempts executive branch from following court orders So in the spirit of love, liberty, and judgment, here are 6 ways Trump's parade is like your friend's over-the-top gauche wedding: Your friend spent $100,000 on a single day while still renting a studio apartment and paying 23.99% interest on her credit card balance. This parade? Same energy. It's projected to cost up to $45 million dollars, but just like any good wedding, this one will likely blow the budget. We're talking tens of millions of dollars for tanks, jets, porta-potties, and housing the troops. Let's hope Rudy Giuliani's appearance fee these days is just a bottle of scotch and partial immunity. That's money that could actually help our troops and veterans with housing, healthcare, and food assistance. Instead they're being paraded around like GI Joe action figures at an America First themed birthday party with enough red, white, and blue smoke to make a bald eagle develop asthma. Trump's argument that tanks rolling down Pennsylvania Avenue is a demonstration of 'patriotism' is about as believable as your friend's horse-drawn carriage, champagne wall and a third outfit change demonstrating her love and commitment to Chad. This parade is about creating an Instagram thirst-trap but with tanks. We're about to get an epic amount of social media content set to a Lee Greenwood soundtrack. Just like a destination wedding, this isn't something most people asked for — and yet, we're the ones footing the bill. Americans struggling with rent, insulin costs, and groceries now get to sponsor the equivalent to a wedding in Bali they never RSVPed to — except instead of frequent flyer miles, they're paying for it in federal deficit. We didn't ask for this. We didn't budget for this. And we certainly don't need a military-themed engagement party for a man who avoided military service and now wants to wear patriotism like a rented tux. After the wedding? Broken wine glasses, credit card debt, and a drunk cousin crying by the photo booth. After the parade? Damaged streets, a gross misuse of public funds, and a fresh round of international side-eye. And like any bad wedding, the rest of us are left with a hangover and haunting memories of forced applause. Some brides plan weddings that are less about a joyful union and more about going viral. She's not inspired by love; she's copying Kim Kardashian's flower wall and Marie Antoinette's budget. Trump's parade Pinterest board seems to be emulating an aesthetic that is part Putin, part Kim Jong Un, with a little young Mussolini mustache twirl. The whole thing screams 'strongman pageantry,' except instead of tiaras and couture, we're flexing tanks and fighter jets. Trump's June 14 parade isn't about the country. It's about control, image, and the illusion of strength — just like your friend's over the top wedding was less about commitment and more about drone footage of the Amalfi Coast. Letters: Making Canada 51st state is a great idea, but not for reason Trump thinks Let's stop pretending this is normal. A true celebration of America doesn't need tanks. Just like a good wedding doesn't need a fog machine, a 17 piece big band or a commemorative hashtag. If this really were a wedding? I'd give it six months. Kristin Brey is the "My Take" columnist for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: True celebration of America doesn't need tanks or flyovers | Opinion
The Intercept
13-06-2025
- Politics
- The Intercept
Trump's GI Joe-Cosplaying 'Goon Squads' Sow Terror — and Solidarity
Across the country, demonstrators are preparing for a weekend of protests against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations, Donald Trump's planned June 14 military parade, and Trump himself. Ground zero for these demonstrations is likely to be Los Angeles, where heavily armed ICE agents have carried out raids at churches, graduations, parking lots, and scores of other gathering spots recently. ' The level of armament that these guys are wearing is out of a GI Joe movie,' said Salvador G. Sarmiento, the campaign director and lawyer for the 70-member National Day Laborer Organizing Network. 'It seems like the federal police is just driving around willy-nilly — dressed up as a goon squad — picking up people that they see on a street corner.' 'The federal government [is] violently taking people from their work sites in military fashion,' added Jonah Valdez, reporter for The Intercept. This week on The Intercept Briefing, Sarmiento and Valdez joined host Jordan Uhl to discuss the wave of ICE operations sweeping Los Angeles that have sparked a week of protests and the militarized response from law enforcement. Several weeks ago, White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller went on Fox News to tout the Trump administration's goal of 3,000 ICE arrests per day. Shortly after that, federal agents targeted day laborers outside several Los Angeles-area Home Depots and raided Ambiance Apparel, a clothing manufacturer in the heart of downtown. Sarmiento hypothesized that LA's reputation as 'a multicultural, multiracial, working-class city,' bothers Trump administration officials like Miller and Tom Homan, Trump's border czar. 'If anything triggers Stephen Miller more than the city of Los Angeles itself, it's undocumented workers that are visible on a street corner,' Sarimento said. 'Day laborers are often a target.' As videos of agents clad in tactical gear and armored vehicles spread online, so did fear and resistance. Protests erupted against the federal government's aggressive and militaristic push into communities. The law enforcement response against protesters escalated quickly with so-called 'less-lethal' munitions being fired at the crowd on Sunday. 'I spoke with five people total who were hit and injured by LAPD mostly, but also [California Highway Patrol],' said Valdez. 'One of them has a pretty bad injury on his arm where the ER doctor told him he's worried about long-term nerve damage and mobility.' Sarmiento, Valdez, and Uhl also discussed how the protests have been misrepresented by right-wing and mainstream media outlets — and the importance of community solidarity. ' People [have to] continue showing up because there's no politician, no elected official, no foundation, nobody in D.C. or Sacramento that's going to come save the day,' Sarmiento said. 'It's the people, it's our neighbors, it's our loved ones, it's our family, it's our friends, our co-workers that we're all counting on.' As people head to the streets again this weekend, protesters should be informed about their constitutional rights and safety options. The episode also features practical advice from attorney Isabella Salomão Nascimento. You can hear the full conversation of The Intercept Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.
