When Donald Trump touches down in London next week, he will be greeted by the best of Britain.
Dinner with the king, a golden carriage and all the impossible pomp that the royal family make look so effortless.
A far cry from the welcome Graham Linehan received last week when the comedian stepped off a flight from Texas.
Seized by five heavily armed cops, the Irishman was banged up in a cell over a joke he had posted on X while 5,100 miles away back in Arizona.
Linehan’s thought crime? Advice on what to do if transwomen refuse to leave female changing rooms: “punch him in the balls.”
Chillingly this was not a joke cracked on British soil nor hosted on a British server, yet somehow within the scope of Britain’s Brave New World as the self-appointed global internet policeman.
‘Let’s see what happens’
The sorry episode made a mockery of Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who told President Trump in Scotland in July: “We’ve had free speech for a very, very long time in the UK — and it will last for a very, very long time.”
Meanwhile, the UK online regulator Ofcom is on a legal collision course with US firms it claims — with imperious but impractical bluster — fall under its remit to prosecute.
So it comes as no surprise that Linehan is considering claiming asylum here in the US.
The internet is littered with videos of busybody cops up and down Britain knocking on doors over social media posts.
Even journalists have been snared by the sinister spread of “Non Crime Hate Incidents,” as poorly drafted laws like the Online Safety Act create a tangled web ripe for lawfare. It’s been a gift to the political left.
Some 13,000 of these NCHIs were dished out in 2023 alone, prompting firebrand Nigel Farage to tell Congress last week Britain is on a slippery slope to North Korea.
But the leader of the surging Reform UK party is far from alone in hoping a critical friend might point out that Keir Starmer’s words ring hollow when doors are kicked not for muggers, rapists and thieves but keyboard warriors.
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Thankfully, it has not gone unnoticed by an administration with a genuine fondness for the old country, with Trump warning “strange things are happening over there, they are cracking down and surprisingly so.” He told a tech dinner last week: “I’ve spoken to the PM and, let’s see what happens.”
But it feels like that conversation may need to be repeated next week in London.
And many Brits will be hoping it’s far from the only item on the agenda behind the scenes.
While things will look spectacular for next week’s unprecedented second state visit, as troops line the festooned streets, all is not well in Britain.
Elected within months of each other with thumping victories, Liberal Starmer and hardliner Trump have cut an unlikely alliance with the invitation brandished with great fanfare in the Oval Office.
But their records in office tell a very different story.
While Trump ground illegal immigration on the southern border to a halt, another 1,097 migrants crossed the English Channel on Saturday in small boats.
About 30,000 mostly fighting-age men have now landed this year, up 37% and almost half the size of the British Army.
Nice hotels and preloaded debit cards await new arrivals, who flout black market rules, some taking jobs within hours of landing.
The US economy is growing almost three times the rate of Britain’s, where inflation is ticking back up and taxes are already at the highest level in peacetime history.
Oil wells and fracking sites are being concreted over in a quasi-religious drive to net zero by 2050, while laws on building onshore wind farms have been relaxed as Starmer appeases his left flank.
Hapless efforts to kick-start growth are hampered by an ever-growing mountain of red tape directly linked to this arbitrary carbon neutral target.
Harsh comparison
Bonds are rising across the West, but Britain is always the outlier as markets nervously eye Starmer’s inability to pass even the smallest reductions in spending and benefit handouts despite what on paper should be a commanding majority in Parliament.
Debt interest payments are twice the entire defense budget.
Meanwhile, traditional allies like Israel are squeezed, and Starmer is to recognize a Palestinian state at the United Nations as millions of Muslim voters desert his electoral coalition.
Tourism has been hit by overspilling street crime in London, while the White House is at least trying to do something about it in Washington, DC.
So no surprise to see Starmer sink to a new ratings low of -59% last weekend, while President Trump topped +55%.
The pair have plenty to discuss in London, and unless he’s careful, Sir Keir may well see Britain rather than Canada as the president’s new 51st state target . . .
“Harry Cole Saves the West” launches this week on YouTube and wherever you get your podcasts.
While Scale AI relied heavily on workers in the Philippines, Nigeria, and Kenya, Uber’s approach distributed work across established transportation networks with existing regulatory compliance and payment infrastructure. “This offered enterprise buyers concerned about data sovereignty built-in advantages that traditional crowdsourcing platforms couldn’t match,” Gogia added.
The broader implications extended beyond data labeling. “Uber’s strategy reflects a larger realignment in the digital economy, where gig platforms are no longer confined to mobility or food delivery but are recasting themselves as distributed labour infrastructures for AI,” Gogia observed. “What Uber has launched is not a sideshow but a blueprint for how other platforms may monetise their dormant workforce cycles.”
For enterprise procurement teams, Uber’s entry forced strategic recalculation. “In areas such as retail, logistics, and consumer technology, where datasets are vast but not highly sensitive, Uber’s model is immediately attractive,” Gogia explained. However, “the challenge lies in extending that appeal to regulated domains” where banks, insurers, and healthcare providers require tightly controlled, auditable environments.
Judge William Alsup has rejected the record-breaking $1.5 billion settlement Anthropic has agreed to for a piracy lawsuit filed by writers. According to Bloomberg Law, the federal judge is concerned that the class lawyers struck a deal that will be forced “down the throat of authors.” Alsup reportedly felt misled by the deal and said it was “nowhere close to complete.” In his order, he said he was “disappointed that counsel have left important questions to be answered in the future,” including the list of works involved in the case, the list of authors, the process of notifying members of the class and the claim form class members can use to get their part of the settlement.
If you’ll recall, the plaintiffs sued Anthropic over the company’s use of pirated copies of their works to train its large language models. Around 500,000 authors are involved in the lawsuit, and they’re expected to receive $3,000 per work. “This landmark settlement far surpasses any other known copyright recovery,” one of the lawyers representing the authors said in a statement. However, Alsup had an “uneasy feeling about hangers on with all [that] money on the table.” He explained that class members “get the shaft” in a lot of class actions once the monetary settlement has been established and lawyers stopped caring.
Alsup told the lawyers that they must give the class members “very good notice” about the settlement and design a claim form that gives them the choice to opt in or out. They also have to ensure that Anthropic cannot be sued for the same issue in the future. The judge gave the lawyers until September 15 to submit a final list of works involved in the lawsuit. He also wrote in his order that the works list, class members list and the claim form all have to be examined and approved by the court by October 10 before he grants the settlement his preliminary approval.
The French government collapse is making headlines this week as the chaos in France’s parliament continues. Prime Minister François Bayrou — who took office in December 2024 — was ousted by lawmakers in an astounding vote, leaving the country’s government up in the air as French President Emmanuel Macron must find a replacement. So, what does this mean for France and for the United States?
Learn more about France’s political crisis and what it means going forward for Americans.
What Does a Government Collapse Mean for a Country?
A government collapse happens when a nation’s central institution breaks down, and the country is indefinitely left with no government to lead. This typically happens during periods of economic meltdowns and political crises.
EN DIRECT | Déclaration de politique générale du Premier ministre, François Bayrou, à l’Assemblée nationale. https://t.co/arjH8hI6vc
France’s government collapsed because Prime Minister Bayrou was voted out. He had only been in office for about nine months. Bayrou was ousted by the national assembly with a total of 364 votes against him, and 194 in his favor. The total number of votes needed to jettison the PM is 280.
Bayrou pushed for an unpopular €44 billion ($51 billion USD) savings plan for 2026, which would have thrown out two public holidays in France. Per the Élysée Palace, Macron has to select a new PM in place of Bayrou.
Signs of Bayrou’s downfall were visible in the months leading up to the vote as he tried to convince French lawmakers that cutting public spending was a smart plan to repay the nation’s debts. Clearly, he miscalculated, and he must submit his resignation as France’s PM tomorrow, Tuesday, September 9, 2025.
Who Will Be the New French Prime Minister?
There is no clear pick for Macron to replace the PM with. His possible prospects are currently unknown.
How Does the French Government Collapse Affect the U.S.?
As of now, France’s government collapse won’t hit the United States too hard, but it could over time. Both countries have worked together on numerous issues and policies over the past few centuries. Amid the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian War, France and America have had an extra burden placed on their respective governments.
A 46-hour train journey transports passengers across two countries through wildlife, waterfalls and mountains. The Tazara Railway, a 1,160-mile route, links Dar es Salaam on Tanzania’s eastern coast to Kapiri Mposhi in central Zambia.
It has been named one of the “world’s most incredible train journeys” by Lonely Planet. From the coast, the train runs south of Mikumi National Park and enters the Selous Game Reserve and crosses the Great Ruaha River. The Selous is one of the largest faunal reserves in the world and passengers can often see wildlife such as giraffe, elephant, zebra, antelope and warthog.
The railway then cuts through Kilombero Valley, passing the Kibasira Swamp and going between Mlimba (the Kingdom of Elephants) and Makambako (the Place of Bulls). The most spectacular feature is the bridge across the Mpanga River, which stands on three 164ft tall pillars. The Tazara then climbs into the plateau of the Southern Highlands, into the coffee and tea country of the Njombe Region. It enters the Udzungwa Mountains National Park, with views of the Kipengere Range, before entering Makambako.
From Makambako, the railway runs towards Mbeya, passing the Kipengere Range and crossing tributaries of the Great Ruaha, which are lined with belts of forest and grasslands.
The Uporoto Range then takes over, with the Usangu Flats stretching to the north, before the route heads to Tunduma and crosses the border into Zambia.
The Tazara enters northeastern Zambia, crossing the Chambeshi River en route to Mpika. It then runs along the foothills of the Muchinga Mountains, past Serenje and Mkushi to Kapiri Mposhi, located due north of the Zambian capital, Lusaka.
There are two services a week, departing on Tuesdays and Thursdays in each direction. There is an ordinary service, with 107 stops, and the express service, with fewer stops. The train is popular among tourists who want to see big game without having to go on safari.
The project was built from 1970 to 1975, financed and supported by China. At its completion, the Tazara was the longest railway in sub-Saharan Africa.
It was built to eliminate landlocked Zambia’s economic dependence on Rhodesia and South Africa, both of which were ruled by white-minority governments.
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After Speaker Mike Johnson made the ridiculous claim that Donald Trump was an informant against Jeffrey Epstein, he had to face reporters on Monday and walk it all back.
Johnson was asked, “What did you mean by that?”
Rep. Johnson answered:
What I was referring to, sir, in that long conversation was what the victim’s attorney said. More than a decade ago, president Trump kicked Epstein out of Mar-a-Lago, and he was one of the only people, one of the only prominent people, as everyone has reported, not President Trump, but everybody about him that he was willing to help l aw enforcement go after this guy who was a disgusting child abuser, sex trafficker, all the allegations, that’s what they heard.
So the president was helpful in that. I don’t know if I use the right terminology, but that’s common knowledge and everybody knows that. So this is much ado about nothing.
Video:
Mike Johnson said that the President Of The United States was an informant against one of the worst sexual criminals in American history, but now the speaker claims that it is nothing.
Johnson was later asked, “ So was he ever asked to wear a wire or anything like that?”
The speaker answered, “I have no idea. No, I’m not saying that. I have no information about that whatsoever. I was repeating what has been common knowledge for a long time. The president was helpful in trying to get Epstein. For the law enforcement to go after Epstein.”
We’ve gone from Trump being an informant against Epstein to Trump was helpful to law enforcement about Epstein, which is a vague term that is not the same as being an informant or contributing an active role to the investigation.
It sounds like Mike Johnson made up Trump’s helpfulness to the investigation, because it was never heard of before Jeffrey Epstein became a political anchor around Trump’s neck.
If Trump were such a hero in the Epstein case, why wouldn’t Trump release the Epstein files?
The answer is that Johnson not only had to humiliate himself to get out of this mess, but he also continues to lie to protect Trump.
Self-identified person of faith Mike Johnson can’t stop lying to protect Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein.
What do you think of Johnson walking back his claim that Trump was an Epstein informant? Join the conversation in the comments below.
Once thought lost to time, Apple’s collection of iPod clickwheel games now has a permanent home thanks to a community-led preservation project.
Image credit: GitHub user Olsro
The community-led iPod Clickwheel Games Preservation Project has successfully compiled a complete collection of all 54 titles that Apple once sold in the late 2000s. For the first time, the games are accessible together in a format that works across supported iPod models.
The effort, spearheaded by GitHub user Olsro, began in 2024, thirteen years after Apple removed the clickwheel games from the iTunes store. While there were archives of the IPG files out there, they weren’t particularly useful, as Apple’s FairPlay DRM rendered them unplayable.
TNT is known for churning out some of the small screen’s most underrated gems, like The Closer, Leverage, Rizzoli & Isles,and Animal Kingdom. In 2011, the legal dramedy Franklin & Bash made its debut and featured Breckin Meyer and Mark-Paul Gosselaar as two longtime pals and tenacious lawyers who are recruited by a prestigious Los Angeles firm to bring some much-needed energy to the business. Naturally, their unconventional approach to cases ruffles more than a few feathers at the firm.
The TV treasure ran for four seasons and garnered mixed reviews from critics, but became a knockout with viewers, with fans appreciating the charming banter between Meyer and Gosselaar as their fast-talking, fun-loving characters and the show’s refreshing take on the legal genre. Despite serving up solid ratings for the network, Franklin & Bash was shockingly canceled in 2014, and TNT’s reasoning for giving the dramedy the ax may surprise you.
Meyer & Gosselaar Deliver Endless Charm in ‘Franklin & Bash’
Breckin Meyer & Mark-Paul Gosselaar as the titular lawyers in Franklin & BashTNT
Breckin Meyer and Mark-Paul Gosselaar are no strangers to Hollywood, with Meyer having appeared in beloved films like Cluelessand The Craft and former teen heartthrob Gosselaar memorably starring as Zack Morris in the ’90s classic sitcom Saved by the Bell. In 2011, the two leading men joined forces for the legal dramedy Franklin & Bash, which focuses on the streetwise attorneys Jared Franklin and Peter Bash, who, after defeating the tough-as-nails Damien Karp (Reed Diamond) in court, are enlisted to join the prominent law firm Infeld-Daniels at the request of its eccentric senior partner Stanton Infeld (Malcolm McDowell).
After witnessing the dynamic duo’s unconventional style and techniques in the courtroom, Infeld believes that the two young and ambitious lawyers will be able to breathe some much-needed life back into his waning firm with their off-kilter methods. Franklin and Bash find themselves directly at odds with Infeld’s nephew Karp, who grows jealous and resentful over their connection with his uncle and sets out to sabotage their careers. Franklin & Bash also featured (then) rising star Kumail Nanjiani in one of his earliest roles, with the actor appearing as the pair’s agoraphobic friend and fellow lawyer Pindar Singh.
‘Franklin & Bash’ Becomes a Casualty of Network Rebranding
Breckin Meyer & Mark-Paul Gosselaar in Franklin & BashTNT
When Franklin & Bash first premiered on June 1, 2011, critics compared the series to fellow legal shows like White Collar, Suits, and Boston Legal, with the United Kingdom cheekily referring to it as “Ally McBeal with Balls” when promoting its impending debut. The pilot episode attracted an impressive 2.7 million total viewers, with fans enjoying the fun and mischievouson-screen camaraderie between Meyer and Gosselaar and the bravado of their overly confident characters. The show’s witty dialogue, quirky humor, and top-tier performances by its decorated ensemble were positively praised by Variety as being “playful, silly, and wholly unpretentious.”
Franklin & Bash ran for four seasons before TNT shockingly announced its cancellation in 2014, leaving audiences perplexed as to why the entertaining gem was given the ax despite a solid fan following and its wholesome buddy comedy spirit. According to a report from Deadlineat the time, the network opted not to renew the show for a fifth season, partially due to a decline in ratings but largely because it was trying to rebrand its image and pursue “more edgier types of shows.” Turner Broadcasting President David Levy revealed in a statement about TNT’s transitional period:
“We are going to get edgier, we are going to get louder, and we are going to get more dual (male-female), but we also have an existing audience, we have an existing fan base with a lot of our very popular shows.”
TNT made quite the gamble by canceling Franklin & Bash in favor of producing their new batch of “edgier” shows like Legends and Public Murals, neither of which made it further than two seasons before they, too, were given the ax. Though the network swiftly bounced back thanks to original hits like The Last Ship, The Librarians, and Animal Kingdom, it’s still baffling to cancel a show like Franklin & Bash when it already had an established fan base and refreshingly infused humor within the legal genre while keeping its storylines both heartfelt and entertaining.
In the more than 10 years since its cancellation, Franklin & Bash is continuing to find a new audience thanks to streaming platforms like Netflix acquiring its episodes and seasons, and the series currently holds an 84% Popcornmeter score from fans and a stellar 7.6 IMDb user rating. If you’re a fan of a wholesome buddy story and want to see Meyer and Gosselaar amusingly riff off one another in every scene they’re in, while also playing off of the great Malcolm McDowell, then now is the perfect time to go and binge-watch all four seasons of Franklin & Bash.
Jason Ensler, Richie Keen, Andrew Fleming, Arlene Sanford, Colin Bucksey, David Grossman, Elizabeth Allen Rosenbaum, Kevin Bray, Mike Listo, Steve Robin, Allan Arkush, David Paymer, Fred Savage, Jeff Bleckner, John Landis, Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Michael Zinberg, Paul Holahan
As enjoyable as it may be to follow ongoing manhwa, it can also come with certain risks, such as the possibility of a title being canceled too soon or the story taking an unpleasant turn that ruins the experience. As such, many fans may instead prefer to read the best completed manhwa first, before seeking out new and uncertain adventures.
In a medium as broad as manhwa, there is a title for everyone, whether one prefers familiar tropes polished to perfection or one-of-a-kind tales that follow unique journeys set in fantastical worlds. From lighthearted titles or comedic experiences to emotionally impactful ones that sit but inspire readers, here are plenty of options for fans looking for a complete story.
Tomb Raider King (2016)
Original Series Written by Sanji Jiksong & Illustrated by 3B2S
Tomb Raider King trailer screenshot featuring a defeated Joo-Heon Seo
Jooheon Seo explores mysterious tombs that contain powerful relics until one day he falls into a deadly trap set for him. Although Jooheon avoids this fate thanks to the intervention of a special relic, he will have to start from the beginning, taking over the best relics as the tombs begin to appear and becoming the Tomb Raider King.
Tomb Raider King boasts fast-paced action and great worldbuilding, with a creative use of relics and their abilities that connect to their mythology and historical origins. Additionally, the manhwa flexes incredible art from REDICE Studio, which elevates the action scenes and makes them easy to follow.
The story creates intrigue with the frenetic competition between the governments and corporations to acquire these powers, and how Jooheon has to surpass them. Tomb Raider King is often compared to Solo Leveling due to the thematic similarities between both stories, and has an upcoming anime scheduled for 2026.
Villainess Turns the Hourglass (2020)
Based on the Novel by Sansobi, Written by Ttaelkkam & Illustrated by Ant Studio
Aria Roscent is a hated villainess, known for bullying her seemingly saint-like, much-beloved stepsister, Mielle Roscente. However, right as Aria is about to pay the price for the suffering she caused, she learns that Mielle had been manipulating her the entire time, in an attempt to improve her own reputation.
Having received an enigmatic hourglass that can turn back time, Aria is determined to get ahead of her sister and overturn her plans, obtaining everything Mielle wanted in the process. Villainess Turns the Hourglass is a brilliant revenge manhwa that follows a villainess who, rather than refusing to play her role or switching her character, commits to being the best anti-hero possible.
Refreshingly, Aria is willing to do anything to obtain her rightful vengeance, no matter what method she has to resort to. However, she also has plenty of redeeming qualities, making her a complex and captivating character whose story readers are sure to want to read to the end.
Yumi’s Cells (2015)
Original Series Written and Illustrated by Lee Dong-gun
If you were a fan of Inside Out, look no further than an entire series about the inner turmoil of one’s inner thoughts, all acting out of whack, known as Yumi’s Cells. This hilarious series explores the many different cells within a young woman, Yumi, as each emotion and desire is now personified.
Although Yumi’s Cells has plenty of hilarious moments, it also has quite a few instances of self-reflection and exploration as Yumi traverses through the many ups and downs of life, from breakups, endangered friendships, and mental health issues. Readers will find themselves relating to or sympathizing with Yumi as her body works hard to maintain her health and happiness.
Viral Hit (2019)
Original Series Written by Taejun Pak & Illustrated by Kim Junghyun
Viral Hit is about Yoo Hobin, whose high school life is full of humiliation and torture, as he is physically abused day in and day out by his classmates while also struggling to afford his mother’s hospital bills from his part-time work. After an incident, when he starts helping produce content videos, he becomes viral and strikes it big.
Finding a new avenue for success to turn his life around, Hobin will slowly climb his way up the streaming world by fighting bullies and picking on tougher opponents for the clicks. By picking up a few techniques from tutorials online, Hobin in Viral Hit quickly becomes a fascinating story for fans of street justice and well-choreographed fights.
Though Viral Hit has gained popularity for combining elements of crude action and comedy, the manhwa serves as criticism of real-life issues like mental health problems, bullying, vulnerable social classes, poverty, live-stream media culture, and toxic influencers, which makes it an entertaining read.
The God of High School (2011)
Original Series Written & Illustrated by Yongje Park
The final trailer for The God-of-High School anime
The God of High School was once the most popular manhwa on WEBTOON, running for more than a decade before ending in 2022 with a total of 569 chapters. The story centers around Jin Mori, a high school student who is incredibly skilled in martial arts and who enters a big tournament and meets two participants, Han Daewi and Yu Mira.
As the story and competition progress, the hidden mystery behind the tournament is steadily revealed, and how the three of them are bound by destiny. The God of High School’s start might be generic, but the characters have to deal with evil power users gradually reaching mystic levels that involve the human and heavenly realms, presenting many references to Chinese folklore and other mythologies.
With a clear inspiration from Journey to the West, a novel about Sun Wukong, The God of High School is most remembered for its incredibly detailed and stunning art and its exciting combats, making it a manhwa that nobody should miss.
Hellper (2011)
Original Series Written & Illustrated by Sakk
manhwa hellper
Gwang-nam Jang’s gang, Killberos, is unlike any other. Rather than involving themselves in destructive or even criminal acts, as other gangs would,they spend their time creating clothes and helping anyone in need, protecting their city. As such, everyone is devastated when Gwang-nam dies in an unfortunate accident.
But when he wakes up in the underworld wearing a black bracelet, he learns that there is a way for him to reincarnate and return to his loved ones, although the process is far from easy. Hellper tells a truly original story set in an intricate world, which is sure to captivate readers immediately.
The art style is likewise unique, with every stroke of color being meaningful and purposeful, and the interesting characters only further add to the title’s recognizability and memorability. Thanks to its many strengths and the remarkable way it harmonizes action scenes with emotional ones, Hellper is undoubtedly one of the best fantasy manhwa.
Her Tale of Shim Chong (2017)
Based on a Korean Novel, Adapted and Written by Seri, and Illustrated by Biwan
Her Tale of Shim Chong is a lovely manhwa that focuses on two female leads from very different backgrounds: Shim Chong is a beggar, struggling to make ends meet, and a bride-to-be who was sold off to Chancellor Jang to help with her family’s status. Taking place in an older timeline, the manhwa highlights the difficulties society pushes onto women.
Based on the classic Korean novel, Her Tale of Shim Chong’s manhwa is a well-adapted series that paints a realistic depiction of how traditional values are placed upon women, pushing them into a cookie-cutter role with little other options. Despite this, it balances a hopeful and supportive couple who aim to survive in an era that’s constantly working against them.
Beware the Villainess! (2020)
Based on the Web Novel by Ppongttamatseukeuryuba, Written by Yeolmae, & Illustrated by Blue Canna
Beware the Villainess! annoyed while wearing an expensive-looking dress
When a modern-day Korean college student becomes the victim of a tragic car accident, she wakes up in the body of Melissa Podebrat, the villainess of a popular novel. Her status as the duke’s daughter allows her to live a comfortable life, surrounded by wealth, much unlike her previous one.
However, she is also fated to suffer in love at the hands of the loathsome male leads who take advantage of her kind nature. Since she lacks the patience to tolerate their antics, Melissa resolves to live her life to the fullest, even if that involves taking them out of the picture.
In the manhwa medium, villainess stories have become increasingly common. Yet even in such a crowded landscape, Beware the Villainess! stands out, thanks to its unique protagonist, who follows her goals with no regard for her reputation or any social expectations. More often than not, this leads to absurd and amusing situations, making this one of the best comedy manhwa.
Hardcore Leveling Warrior
Original Series Written and Illustrated by Kim Sehoon
Hardcore Leveling Warrior trailer screenshot featuring Won-Ho Gong playing Lucid Adventure while sleeping and his in-game character
Hardcore Leveling Warrior is a great example of how to punish your protagonist for being a terrible person rather than glorifying it. Gong Won-Ho may have been an exemplary player in the game, Lucid Adventures, but a lot of his achievements were only made by the hard-working players tackling the hard parts of quests and dangerous mobs.
When an unknown player appears out of nowhere and takes out Gong Won-Ho, he’s back down at Level 1 with zilch in-game and growing loans in real life. With little choice, he’s right back in Lucid Adventures, unaware of the insurmountable challenge he’ll have to face to pay back his debts; otherwise, it’s his head that’s on the chopping block.
Hardcore Leveling Warrior is massively entertaining for readers who may not like Won-Ho at first, because the narrative does just enough to punish him for his despicable behavior, allowing for a great transition into a story of redemption. He actually learns from his past actions and grows into a character that’ll have the audience rooting for his success.
What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim? (2015)
Based on the Original Series by Jeong Gyeong Yun, Written & Illustrated by Kim Myeongmi
Best enemies to lovers manhwa Mi-so quitting
Regarded as required reading for fans of the best enemies-to-lovers manhwa, What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim? is also familiar to K-drama fans as an excellent 2018 story adaptation. This series follows similar hallmarks found in other popular romances and K-dramas: a narcissistic, handsome, rich executive who falls for his female subordinate, who surprises him with her resignation.
The hook of this series is just how closely the two operated, with Kim Mi-so being appreciated as the only character who can handle the male lead, Lee Young-joon’s behavior. The series is available to read digitally on Tapas, and it’s a reasonable, 98-chapter read, chock-full of romantic tension and a commonly recommended favorite among romance readers.
The romantic comedy tropes come out in full force, with Young-joon being characteristically brilliant as a company man, but hopeless in everyday life once he is out of his element, or pursuing love. But perhaps the biggest surprising twist is in the pair’s childhood trauma, another recurring trope, which is shocking yet brilliantly executed and explains his behavior in a believable sense, giving greater context to Mi-so’s fear of spiders.
Damon Dash, the hip-hop mogul and record executive who co-founded Roc-A-Fella Records with Jay-Z and Kareem “Biggs” Burke, detailed dire financial straits as he filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy last week.
The 54-year-old New York native claimed in his voluntary petition, reviewed by The Times, that he is in debt to the tune of $25.3 million. The petition, filed Thursday in Florida, says Dash makes no monthly income and has $4,350 to his name — including $100 in cash, a $500 cellphone and two guns worth $750.
A legal representative for Dash did not immediately respond to The Times’ request for comment on Monday.
Dash’s petition says he owes a total of $25,303,049.47 to as many as 49 creditors, with a majority of that (about $19.1 million) owed to the government in the form of taxes and other debts. He also owes nearly $648,000 in domestic support obligations to ex-wife Rachel Roy and ex-girlfriend Cindy Morales, the petition said. Dash and Roy were married from 2005 to 2009 and share two daughters. Dash shares a son with Morales, and has additional children from other relationships.
The petition confirms reports that Dash’s one-third share of Roc-A-Fella Records was auctioned to the New York Department of Taxation and Finance in August 2024 to help pay off his tax debt. Dash claims he is also owed a “possible” but unspecified amount of money from Burke, and also “unknown” amounts of money from his “possible” claims against actor Claudia Jordan, filmmaker Josh Webber and others he has battled in court.
“Dear Frank” filmmaker Webber and production company Muddy Water Pictures — also mentioned in Dash’s petition — sued the music entrepreneur for copyright infringement and defamation in 2019. A jury sided with the filmmakers in the spring of 2022 and ordered Dash to pay more than $800,000 in damages, but tensions from that decision have dragged into 2025. Webber last month accused Dash and the businessman’s girlfriend of hiding assets that would help pay off the hefty judgment, Complex reported.
Webber also sued Dash for libel and slander in April 2024. Dash was ordered earlier this year to pay the filmmaker $4 million.
As reports of his decision to file for bankruptcy spread, Dash seemingly took ownership of the financial revelations. On Instagram, he reshared a post from hip-hop-centric website WorldStar about his legal woes to his own page.
“Now let’s get to work #staytuned,” Dash captioned his post.
