Fifty-six years ago, who many consider to be the best country singer released one of his many No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart.
July 31 marks the anniversary of many popular songs throughout the years. This includes Bob Dylan’s Sara in 1975, Martha and the Vandellas’ Dancing in the Street in 1964 and Kendrick Lamar’s Swimming Pools in 2012. Even John Mellencamp’s classic eighth studio album Scarecrow was released on this day in 1985.
And on July 31, 1970, Johnny Cash released his hit single Sunday Morning Coming Down from the album The Johnny Cash Show.
The song eventually hit No. 1 on the Billboard US Country chart on Oct. 10, 1970, where it would stay for two weeks. It remained on the charts altogether for a total of 15 weeks.
Not only that, but Cash’s Sunday Morning Coming Down would go on to win the 1970 Country Music Award for Song of the Year.
Johnny Cash Ranked as the Best Country Musician of All Time
American rock and country singer-songwriter Johnny Cash
While Cash had 21 singles hit No. 1 on the Billboard Country charts, he never reached the top spot in the Billboard Hot 100. Even with classic hits such as Walk the Line, Ring of Fire and Understand Your Man.
Still, Cash became enough of an icon in the music business that he is widely considered the best country singer of all time. He was even voted by fans as No. 1 on The Top Tens.
Behind Cash are other country legends such as George Strait, George Jones, Merle Haggard and Hank Williams, who round out the top five.
Throughout television history, a small number of sitcoms have been nearly universally recognized as the greatest comedy series. Those shows include titles like Friends, Seinfeld, Cheers, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, The Simpsons, I Love Lucy, The Office, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and All in the Family. Recently, one beloved series that premiered more than 19 years ago, 30 Rock, was ranked above them all and named the greatest sitcom of all time.
Who Ranked ’30 Rock’ as the ‘Best Sitcom Ever Made’?
On April 26, 2026, TVLine published its ranking of the “25 Best Sitcoms Ever Made.” After the list named the most iconic comedy shows of all time, one series topped the list to be ranked at No. 1: 30 Rock. That was a huge compliment to the series that had premiered more than 19 years earlier, on October 11, 2006.
That is far from the only time 30 Rock has been included on a list like that. It was previously ranked at No. 18 on Rolling Stone’s May 2021 list of the “Best Sitcoms of All Time.” It was also included at No. 75 on Time Out’s broader January 2026 “100 best TV shows of all time you have to watch” ranking.
Long before 30 Rock was included in those lists, it was already earning praise and accolades. For example, the series was nominated for a staggering 103 Emmy Awards, 16 of which it won, including prevailing in the Outstanding Comedy Series category. Most importantly, it has been embraced by generations of viewers. The show even currently holds a near-perfect 91% Popcornmeter score on Rotten Tomatoes based on user ratings.
What Makes ‘30 Rock’ Such a Legendary Sitcom?
There are many reasons why 30 Rock deserves to be ranked as one of the greatest sitcoms ever produced. The most obvious is how brilliantly written it is, with each episode packing a staggering amount of truly hilarious jokes. Just as important as that is the fact that virtually all of the show’s humor hits hard.
Another one of the best elements of 30 Rock is how the show manages to be incredibly goofy and whip-smart at the same time. A show that is absolutely absurd in one moment and a sharp satire of the corporate world of network television in the next, it works on every level.
30 Rock will also always be remembered for having an incredibly stacked cast of comedy heavyweights, including Tina Fey, Tracy Morgan, Jane Krakowski, Jack McBrayer, and Alec Baldwin. Those actors have made characters like Liz Lemon, Tracy Jordan, Jenna Maroney, Kenneth Ellen Parcell, and Jack Donaghy truly beloved. Additionally, the show features a non-stop cavalcade of talented guest stars who step in to elicit laughs.
The final key element that has helped build 30 Rock‘s incredible legacy is that it is a wonderful comfort watch. One of the best parts of the show is that it features a slew of characters who are both wildly successful and a complete mess. That allows viewers to have the joy of watching them reach new heights and the delight of basking in their many foibles at the same time. That is an incredibly comforting combination.
Few criminal cases have forced Americans to confront the boundaries of parental responsibility as intensely as that of Colin Gray. On Thursday, a Georgia judge sentenced the 55-year-old father to 15 years in prison after concluding that his criminal negligence helped pave the way for one of the deadliest school shootings in recent memory.
The punishment closes one chapter of the Apalachee High School tragedy while opening another debate that may continue for years. Is 15 years behind bars an appropriate punishment for a father whose actions did not involve pulling the trigger, but whose failures were found to have contributed to four murders?
Judge Nicholas Primm acknowledged that the case occupied unfamiliar legal territory.
“Mr. Gray committed crimes, but his crimes are tethered to the crimes committed by his son,” the judge said before explaining why the sentence could never be viewed like that of a conventional murder defendant. He stressed that Colin Gray did not know his son planned the attack, did not participate in it, and never intended for anyone to die. Those distinctions, he said, mattered.
Yet they did not erase the devastating consequences of his decisions.
Gray, dressed in a striped prison uniform, stood breathing heavily as the sentence was read before deputies escorted him from the courtroom in shackles. He declined to address the court, while his attorney announced plans to appeal what remains one of the most significant parental accountability convictions in American legal history.
To understand why the sentence has become so controversial, it is necessary to examine the long chain of warnings presented during trial.
On September 4, 2024, Colin Gray’s then 14-year-old son, Colt Gray, entered Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, carrying an AR-15-style rifle hidden inside his backpack. He opened fire inside a math classroom before shooting victims in the hallway.
Teachers Richard Aspinwall and Cristina Irimie, along with students Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, were killed. Seven other people were wounded.
Investigators did not accuse Colin Gray of planning the attack or encouraging his son to commit violence. Instead, prosecutors argued that his repeated failures amounted to criminal negligence.
Evidence presented during the trial painted a troubling picture. Colin Gray had purchased the AR-15-style rifle as a Christmas gift for his son months after law enforcement had visited their home following an FBI tip about an online school shooting threat linked to Colt. Although investigators could not prove Colt authored the threat, prosecutors argued that the encounter should have prompted extraordinary caution rather than the purchase of another firearm.
Jurors also saw photographs showing numerous unsecured firearms and ammunition inside the family home. Colin Gray admitted that the weapons were neither locked nor secured and acknowledged that Colt sometimes kept the rifle inside his bedroom.
The trial also revealed repeated signs that Colt’s mental health was deteriorating. His estranged mother testified that their son suffered panic attacks, anxiety, and severe emotional struggles that demanded professional treatment. Family members described escalating behavioral problems, while evidence showed Colt had displayed an image of a notorious school shooter inside his bedroom.
Perhaps most disturbing was Colin Gray’s own acknowledgment that his son had become physically violent and had previously sent a chilling text message stating, “Whenever something happens, just know the blood is on your hands.”
Even with those warning signs, Colt maintained access to firearms.
Jurors deliberated for less than two hours before convicting Colin Gray on all 27 charges, including second-degree murder, involuntary manslaughter, reckless conduct, and cruelty to children.
For grieving families, Thursday’s sentence felt painfully inadequate. Barrow County prosecutors had requested an 80-year prison sentence, arguing that Colin Gray’s choices created the conditions that allowed the massacre to occur.
District Attorney Brad Smith told the court that Gray was “the reason four people are dead, seven were injured and countless others were traumatized.” Victims’ relatives echoed that argument with heartbreaking testimony.
Richard Aspinwall’s widow, Shayna Aspinwall, called Colin Gray “a pathetic excuse for a father.” She described leaving her teaching career because of post-traumatic stress disorder while her young daughter now requires therapy.
“Colin could not take his son to therapy; therefore, I have to take mine,” she said.
Breanna Schermerhorn, whose son Mason died in the attack, drew a distinction that resonated throughout the courtroom.
“There is a world of a difference between struggling to parent, and refusing to parent.”
Christian Angulo’s brother delivered perhaps the most powerful criticism, calling Colin Gray “a complete failure of a father.”
“He made a choice to buy that rifle, he made a choice to ignore every red flag, and because of his choices, my little brother Christian and three others are gone.”
Taylor Jones’ grandfather spoke even more directly, pointing toward the defendant while declaring that although Colin Gray did not fire the weapon, “he bought the bullets.”
Their arguments are rooted less in legal technicalities than in moral accountability. To the victims’ families, the shooting did not result from one isolated mistake. It reflected years of neglected warning signs, unsecured firearms, and decisions that repeatedly placed a troubled teenager in possession of deadly weapons.
From that perspective, fifteen years may appear far too small a punishment for failures that permanently altered dozens of lives.
Yet criminal courts are designed to punish proven crimes rather than moral outrage. Judge Primm’s sentence reflects that distinction.
Although Colin Gray’s negligence was found to be a legal cause of the shooting, prosecutors never argued that he intended for anyone to die. Unlike his son, who pleaded guilty to 55 felony charges and received life without parole earlier this week, Colin Gray was convicted because his conduct fell so far below reasonable parental responsibility that it became criminal.
That difference carries enormous weight in American law.
The sentence also closely resembles another landmark parental accountability case. James and Jennifer Crumbley, whose son killed four students at Oxford High School in Michigan in 2021, each received prison terms of between 10 and 15 years after convictions for involuntary manslaughter.
Seen through that legal lens, Colin Gray’s punishment falls within the emerging range courts have imposed on parents whose negligence contributes to mass shootings. Whether fifteen years is “proper” therefore depends largely on the question being asked.
If the question is moral, many people will never believe justice was fully served. Four people are dead, families remain shattered, and evidence showed repeated opportunities to prevent the tragedy. No prison sentence can restore those lives.
If the question is legal, however, the answer becomes more complicated. Colin Gray was not sentenced as a killer. He was sentenced as a father whose reckless decisions crossed the threshold into criminal conduct. Punishing negligence exactly like intentional murder would challenge long-established principles of criminal law.
His conviction nevertheless establishes a powerful precedent. Parents who knowingly ignore unmistakable warning signs, provide dangerous weapons to troubled children, or fail to secure firearms may now face consequences extending far beyond civil liability.
The debate surrounding Colin Gray’s punishment is therefore unlikely to end with Thursday’s sentencing. Instead, it will continue to shape future prosecutions, influence parental responsibility cases across the country, and force courts to balance compassion, accountability, and justice whenever a child’s violence is linked to an adult’s failure.
A tiny crested gecko with two heads is capturing attention far beyond Pennsylvania after surviving against the odds and showing signs of healthy development just weeks after hatching.
The remarkable reptile, affectionately named Simon and Garfunkel, emerged from its egg on June 29 at Rockstar Geckos, a reptile breeding business in northeastern Pennsylvania. The hatchling was an unexpected arrival, with the breeder revealing that it was only the second case of a two-headed gecko they had seen in years of breeding.
While animals born with two heads often struggle to survive because of severe developmental complications, Simon and Garfunkel have continued to grow, offering a rare glimpse into one of nature’s most unusual conditions.
A Rare Condition With Long Odds
The gecko’s condition is known as polycephaly, a rare developmental anomaly in which a single animal develops two heads. Scientists believe it can result from genetic or environmental factors that affect the embryo during development.
rockstargeckos/Instagram.
In polycephalic animals, each head typically has its own brain while sharing one body. This unusual anatomy often creates challenges because the two brains may attempt to control the same limbs and organs. Many such animals also suffer from malformed internal organs, making long-term survival uncommon.
Rockstar Geckos initially cautioned that most two-headed reptiles do not live very long. Even so, the breeder pledged to provide the hatchling with the best possible care.
Four weeks later, Simon and Garfunkel have exceeded expectations. According to the breeder’s latest update, the gecko weighs just 1.8 grams, roughly the weight of a small paperclip, yet both heads are eating independently without assistance.
The breeder also noted that neither head appears to dominate the other. Instead, the pair have become increasingly coordinated as they move, despite occasionally appearing to prefer different directions.
Winning Hearts Around the World
Another encouraging sign is that the heads are positioned in a way that prevents them from biting each other, avoiding one of the complications sometimes seen in two-headed reptiles.
Native to New Caledonia, crested geckos normally grow to between 8 and 10 inches in length and can weigh up to 45 grams as adults. Whether Simon and Garfunkel will reach adulthood remains uncertain, but each passing week marks an important milestone.
Their story has sparked an outpouring of support online, with reptile enthusiasts cheering every update. Many followers have described themselves as “obsessed” with the tiny twins, while others have expressed hope that the gecko continues to thrive.
Although polycephaly has been documented in turtles, snakes, fish, pigs, goats, and other animals, successful survival beyond the first weeks of life remains exceptionally rare, making Simon and Garfunkel’s progress all the more remarkable.
Some roles stay with actors long after the cameras stop rolling. For Denzel Washington, Malcolm X was one of them. While promoting Spike Lee’s 1992 epic, Washington described the civil rights leader as “a wake-up call,” offering a glimpse into how deeply the role affected him. More than three decades later, that perspective helps explain why “Malcolm X” is still considered one of the defining performances of his career.
What Did Denzel Washington Say About Playing Malcolm X?
Washington did not treat Malcolm as a historical figure to imitate, he treated him as someone still asking the audience an uncomfortable question.
He had already played Malcolm once, in a 1981 off-Broadway production, and returned to the role a decade later. Washington described the call-and-response preaching as something close to a drug once a crowd locks in with you. That kind of commitment is what separates a good performance from the one that redefines a career.
How Did Spike Lee Get the Film Made?
A bond company shut the film down in post-production and told Lee to cut it to two hours and fifteen minutes, so he picked up the phone and called Black Hollywood instead.
Oprah Winfrey, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Janet Jackson, and Prince were among those who wrote checks. Lee told the New York Times the money was neither a loan nor an investment but a rescue, and he has since said half his own salary went in and left him broke. The finished cut ran 202 minutes.
Why Does It Still Matter?
Washington pointed out in 1992 that a speech Malcolm gave in 1962 still played over footage of someone being beaten, and that has not aged into irrelevance.
The Library of Congress added the film to the National Film Registry in 2010, nearly two decades after Washington lost the Best Actor Oscar to Al Pacino. Warner Bros. executives watched their first cut during the 1992 Los Angeles riots, timing no marketing team could have arranged. Black storytelling keeps building on the ground Lee cleared, right down to today’s prestige prequels.
Where Can You Watch Malcolm X?
Clear three and a half hours before you start this one, because Spike Lee fought too hard for that runtime to watch it in pieces.
The film streams on Philo and free with ads on YouTube, and rents on Apple TV, Prime Video, and Fandango At Home. Availability shifts often, so renting is safer if you have the night blocked out. Criterion’s 4K restoration adds Lee’s commentary and the 1972 documentary.
Asics updates its best running shoes about once a year, and that cycle usually means the outgoing versions go on sale. Over the past couple of years, though, the brand has maintained a firm grip on online pricing, and we haven’t seen many discounts go over the 25% mark. But a new version of the Gel-Cumulus, one of Asics’ best running shoes, hit shelves earlier this year, and the previous model, surprisingly, is marked at almost 40% off on Amazon.
Usually priced at $140, the Asics Gel-Cumulus 27 Running Shoes are now selling for $90 at Amazon in multiple colorways, which is a 36% drop, and a much better deal than we had initially reported back in February. Thousands of them were purchased during the 2026 Prime Day sale, and that momentum has continued into August now that word of the price has gotten out, because it may be the most worth-it running shoe on the site.
Asics Gel-Cumulus 27 Running Shoes, From $90 (was $140) at Amazon
Midsole: FF Blast Plus foam paired with a PureGel insert at the heel
Outsole: FluidRide outsole
Closure: Lace-up
Best For: Neutral runners, extra-supportive shoes, everyday runners
The Gel-Cumulus 27s are built on an FF Blast Plus midsole that absorbs impact without feeling mushy, along with a PureGel insert at the heel that adds some extra give where most runners land first. The mesh upper trades a little of the 26s’ softer knit for a more structured weave, which holds its shape better over the long run, but gives up a little breathability in return. They’re finished with a FluidRide outsole for a comfy ride with solid traction.
The Gel-Cumulus is Asics’ go-to daily trainer for mostly neutral runners, and the 27s keep that profile with a slightly roomier toe box that also works well for wide-foot runners. If you wore the 26s, most of the changes are in the upper (redesigned mesh, a thicker tongue, a new heel pull tab), but the midsole and heel insert are carried over and mostly unchanged.
Asics dropped the Gel-Cumulus 28s earlier this year with a lighter foam setup, and that, too, is receiving a positive response.
One helpful reviewer wrote, “Right out of the box, they feel soft underfoot yet supportive, and the gel technology really helps absorb impact on longer runs.” This same shopper also praised the versatility you get: “I’ve used them for daily training and longer distance runs, and they stay comfortable throughout.”
The extra cushioning in these running shoes makes them a popular pick for those with mobility issues or foot injuries. One shopper who’s been seeing a podiatrist for their feet wrote, “I have worn them walking for a few days, and have absolutely no pain in my feet any longer.”
If you’re in the market for a pair of simple and effective running shoes you can always rely on, the Asics Gel-Cumulus 27s are well worth the $90 sale price. Just be sure to get a pair soon, because sizes are already running out.
When people discuss the greatest Olympic athletes of all time, Michael Phelps is always part of the conversation.
Fourteen years ago, on July 31, 2012, Phelps separated himself from the rest at the London Olympics by winning his 19th Olympic medal, becoming the most decorated Olympian in history.
He set the record after helping Team USA win gold in the men’s 4×200-meter freestyle relay, surpassing Larisa Latynina, whose record of 18 Olympic medals had stood for nearly 50 years
The U.S. relay team consisted of Ryan Lochte, Conor Dwyer, Ricky Berens, and Phelps, who swam the anchor leg. The Americans won the event in 6:59.70, finishing roughly three seconds ahead of France.
Phelps wasn’t finished, though. He continued his dominance for four more years, competing at the 2016 Rio Olympics, where he won five gold medals and one silver. He finished his career with 23 gold medals, three silver medals, and two bronze medals.
“I’ve been able to do everything I’ve ever put my mind to in this sport,” Phelps said in 2020. “After 24 years in the sport, I’m happy with how things finished.”
Fans React to 14-Year Anniversary of Phelps Making Olympic History
“How could it possibly be THAT long ago?? Seems like yesterday!” one fan wrote.
Someone else added, “My favorite athlete. He’s just amazing.”
Another person wrote, “Great memories.”
“I still believe he’s a shark,” another fan commented.
JetBlue is giving travelers more ways to buy the same seat—and more chances to pay for flexibility they may have assumed was included.
The airline is rolling out a redesigned booking structure built around four onboard experiences and as many as three fare tiers, according to JetBlue. The change arrives ahead of BlueFirst, JetBlue’s new domestic first-class cabin, meaning travelers will need to look beyond the cabin name before clicking “buy.”
Under the new system, customers first choose Main, EvenMore, BlueFirst, or Mint. They then select Base, Standard, or Flex, depending on the cabin. JetBlue’s announcement says the options will become available in the coming days.
Base is the cheapest and most restrictive tier. It does not include advance seat selection, and eligible cancellations produce a travel credit minus any applicable fee. Standard includes seat selection, no change fees, and travel credit for eligible cancellations. Flex adds refunds to the original form of payment.
Mint will not offer a Base fare. Customers who already booked will retain their original benefits, while TrueBlue Mosaic members and eligible JetBlue cardholders will keep their existing perks.
The important distinction is that “first class” will not automatically mean maximum flexibility. BlueFirst Base is expected to put travelers in the new premium cabin without including seat selection. JetBlue says BlueFirst will begin appearing later this year on aircraft and routes that do not offer Mint.
Reuters reported that the redesign follows a broader airline push toward segmented pricing. It can create a lower advertised entry price, but the final value depends on whether a traveler needs to pick a seat, change plans, cancel, or receive cash back instead of airline credit.
Main, formerly called Core, will still include JetBlue staples such as free Fly-Fi, seatback entertainment, snacks, and drinks. EvenMore adds extra legroom, early boarding, and dedicated overhead-bin space.
That makes the fare label—not merely the cabin label—the detail that determines what is actually included.
A months-long investigation by the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office has ended with the arrest of a Florida man accused of relentlessly harassing a woman through thousands of anonymous phone calls and escalating the campaign by filing a false child abuse report against her family.
Authorities say 31-year-old Luke Herbert of Port Orange spent nearly a year targeting the Flagler County woman while attempting to conceal his identity through blocked numbers and internet-based phone services. Investigators say their extensive digital investigation eventually uncovered the source of the harassment, leading to felony charges.
According to the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, the victim contacted detectives in February 2026 after enduring an extraordinary level of harassment that had stretched back to March 2025.
She reported receiving thousands of unwanted phone calls and messages from blocked or unknown numbers. On some days alone, she was bombarded with more than 50 calls. The constant stream of voicemail recordings and random audio clips repeatedly filled her voicemail box, making it difficult for legitimate callers to leave messages.
Detectives from the Major Case Unit worked alongside the Sheriff’s Office Cyber Crimes Unit to trace the calls. Their investigation found that many of the communications originated from a network of internet-based phone numbers allegedly linked to Herbert.
Investigators also determined that during a single week in early February, Herbert’s personal cellphone placed 213 calls to the victim. Authorities say the calls were disguised so her phone displayed each one simply as “Unknown,” making it appear they came from unidentified callers.
False Child Abuse Report Added to Allegations
The investigation also uncovered another troubling accusation.
Detectives say Herbert used an internet-based phone number in December 2025 to submit a false report to the Florida Department of Children and Families, claiming the woman and her husband were abusing their children.
Child protective investigators responded to the report but found no evidence supporting the allegations. The case was ultimately closed as unfounded.
According to investigators, Herbert had no personal relationship with the victim beyond having previously been trespassed from the business where she worked.
Sheriff Rick Staly praised investigators for overcoming significant technological obstacles to identify the suspect, saying the case demonstrated the importance of the agency’s Cyber Crimes Unit and its ability to follow complex digital evidence.
Authorities also revealed that Herbert had faced similar allegations before. In an earlier Volusia County case involving harassing phone calls, he pleaded no contest, and a judge withheld adjudication.
On July 17, detectives obtained a felony arrest warrant charging Herbert with stalking, filing a false report of child abuse, and unlawful use of a two-way communications device. The Volusia Sheriff’s Office arrested him at his Port Orange home. He was booked into the Volusia County Jail and was later released after posting a $12,500 bond.
During the 1990s, one of the most unique and influential rock bands of all time took the music world by storm and began building the legacy that would make them iconic. One of the reasons why Rage Against the Machine became so legendary is due to the stunning skills of its guitarist, Tom Morello. A song that featured some of his most iconic playing, “Killing in the Name,” went on to be named one of the best guitar solos ever.
Rage Against the Machine’s 1992 Song ‘Killing in the Name’ Was Ranked One of the ‘Greatest Guitar Solos of All Time’
The song “Killing in the Name” was the lead single off the band’s self-titled first studio album, which featured some of the most inventive guitar playing of that or any era. Tom Morello’s iconic solo was so unique that Rolling Stone focused much of the list’s entry on the track to reveal how the guitarist wrote the solo. The outlet quoted Morello providing the following origin story for the solo:
“I was showing this young man how to do drop-D tuning. And then I was like, ‘Hold on one second.’ I got my little cassette recorder, I pressed record, and saved that for myself.”
A guitar solo that sounds like it should have been recorded by a DJ operating a turntable, “Killing in the Name” is infused with immense energy thanks to a legendary performance. Arguably one of the most impressive parts of the solo is that it is more than thirty years old, but it still almost feels like it was a magic trick. Just as importantly, it isn’t showy since it perfectly fits the anger and energy of the still beloved track. Fortunately, Morello’s Rage Against the Machine bandmates, Tim Commerford, Zack de la Rocha, and Brad Wilk, could all keep up with his genius.
