If the Hollywood Chrises have been popping up in your social media feed a lot this week, and you were wondering which one of them had died, the answer is none of them.
What actually happened is that US screenwriter and producer Amy Berg tweeted photos of the four Chrises – Chris Pratt, Chris Pine, Chris Evans and Chris Hemsworth – along with the caption “one has to go".
And unfortunately for Guardians of the Galaxy star Pratt, the Twitterverse overwhelmingly decided that he should be the one jettisoned from the Chris Club.
And that should have been that.
However, Pratt’s wife, Katherine Schwarzenegger (of Arnold’s daughter and Kennedy family fame), slid into the comments to declare: “Is this really what we need? There’s so much going on in the world, and people struggling in so many ways. Being mean is so yesterday. There’s enough room to love all these guys. Love is what we all need, not meanness and bullying. Let’s try that.”
However, her comments somewhat backfired, with social media users continuing to debate the topic.
Even Pratt's Avengers co-stars, Robert Downey Jr and Mark Ruffalo, joined the melee, firing back at criticisms being levied at the actor concerning his rumoured political leanings and general silence during the current US election.
Now that you’re all up to speed, let’s take a look at the Hollywood Chrises, so you can decide for yourself who should be kicked out of the Chris Club.
Chris Pine
For many fans, he's the "thinking woman's Chris", and Pine earned himself a lot of feminist brownie points for being confident enough in his masculinity to play the "man-sel in distress", Steve Trevor, to Gal Gadot's butt-kicking Diana Prince in 2017's Wonder Woman.
It was a role that led When They See Us director Ava DuVernay to declare him "president of the Chrises" and pop culture website Jezebel to swiftly follow suit, calling the 40-year-old "the Chris that America needs."
Having shown off his acting chops taking on varied roles such as Scottish king Robert Bruce in Outlaw King, Cinderella's Prince in Into The Woods (give that casting agent a pay rise), and everyone's favourite rogue CIA agent Jack Ryan in Shadow Recruit, he also put his own spin on the cinematic legend that is Star Trek's Captain James T Kirk.
As of today, he has managed to remain wholly unproblematic, with no skeletons tumbling out of his closet.
Chris Hemsworth
The 37-year-old Australian really pinged on to everyone's radar when he won the role of the god of thunder in 2011's aptly named Thor.
Since then, Hemsworth has seen his career and fan base go from strength to strength, thanks to starring roles in the mega-hit Avengers films, and the flair for comedy he showed as the pretty but dumb secretary Kevin in 2016's Ghostbusters.
Moving back to Australia in 2015 with his actress wife, Elsa Pataky, and their three children, he also scored some major popularity points by becoming besties with that other Hollywood favourite, Matt Damon.
Side note: There's a fun Chris connection to be had between Hemsworth and Pine, as Hemsworth had a brief cameo as the heroic George Kirk in 2009's Star Trek, in which he played dad to baby James T Kirk (who was played by Pine).
Chris Pratt
Getting your wife to step in over a fairly innocuous tweet isn’t very Peter Quill of Pratt. Actually, forget I said that because it is pretty solid Peter Quill behaviour, come to think of it.
After all, Pratt's Guardians of the Galaxy character is the guy to blame for Thanos wiping out half the galaxy, and all because he couldn't wait just a few more seconds so that Iron Man and Spider-Man could grab the gauntlet.
Having made his name as Andy Dwyer in fan-favourite TV show Parks And Recreation, before he landed the role in Guardians of the Galaxy, 41-year-old Pratt appeared in the likes of The OC, Bride Wars, Moneyball, Zero Dark Thirty and Jennifer's Body.
With three major film franchises to his name – the Jurassic Park reboot, Guardians of the Galaxy and the Lego movies – there have long been rumours that his 2019 marriage to Schwarzenegger could mean a move into politics is one day on the cards.
Chris Evans
When you're Captain America, you're never going to be in the running to be kicked out of the Chris Club. If anything, you're going to be the one doing the kicking while uttering a well-timed "son, just don't".
Evans, 39, has the role of Cap to thank for launching him into the Hollywood power player stratosphere, because before that he was starring as Johnny Storm the Human Torch in the much derided Fantastic Four, and being called "bland" by the BBC's film critic, Matthew Leyland, for his role in 2004's Perfect Score.
Evans is one of the most politically active stars in Hollywood and has launched his own political news website, A Starting Point. Plus, he uses his fame and platform to do a lot of charity work, like dressing up as the Cap to visit children in hospital. Go Cap!
Wicked: For Good
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater
Rating: 4/5
Company%20profile
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Under 19 Cricket World Cup, Asia Qualifier
Fixtures
Friday, April 12, Malaysia v UAE
Saturday, April 13, UAE v Nepal
Monday, April 15, UAE v Kuwait
Tuesday, April 16, UAE v Singapore
Thursday, April 18, UAE v Oman
UAE squad
Aryan Lakra (captain), Aaron Benjamin, Akasha Mohammed, Alishan Sharafu, Anand Kumar, Ansh Tandon, Ashwanth Valthapa, Karthik Meiyappan, Mohammed Faraazuddin, Rishab Mukherjee, Niel Lobo, Osama Hassan, Vritya Aravind, Wasi Shah
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Sun jukebox
Rufus Thomas, Bear Cat (The Answer to Hound Dog) (1953)
This rip-off of Leiber/Stoller’s early rock stomper brought a lawsuit against Phillips and necessitated Presley’s premature sale to RCA.
Elvis Presley, Mystery Train (1955)
The B-side of Presley’s final single for Sun bops with a drummer-less groove.
Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two, Folsom Prison Blues (1955)
Originally recorded for Sun, Cash’s signature tune was performed for inmates of the titular prison 13 years later.
Carl Perkins, Blue Suede Shoes (1956)
Within a month of Sun’s February release Elvis had his version out on RCA.
Roy Orbison, Ooby Dooby (1956)
An essential piece of irreverent juvenilia from Orbison.
Jerry Lee Lewis, Great Balls of Fire (1957)
Lee’s trademark anthem is one of the era’s best-remembered – and best-selling – songs.
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Top New Zealand cop on policing the virtual world
New Zealand police began closer scrutiny of social media and online communities after the attacks on two mosques in March, the country's top officer said.
The killing of 51 people in Christchurch and wounding of more than 40 others shocked the world. Brenton Tarrant, a suspected white supremacist, was accused of the killings. His trial is ongoing and he denies the charges.
Mike Bush, commissioner of New Zealand Police, said officers looked closely at how they monitored social media in the wake of the tragedy to see if lessons could be learned.
“We decided that it was fit for purpose but we need to deepen it in terms of community relationships, extending them not only with the traditional community but the virtual one as well," he told The National.
"We want to get ahead of attacks like we suffered in New Zealand so we have to challenge ourselves to be better."
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
VEZEETA PROFILE
Date started: 2012
Founder: Amir Barsoum
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: HealthTech / MedTech
Size: 300 employees
Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)
Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
MIDWAY
Produced: Lionsgate Films, Shanghai Ryui Entertainment, Street Light Entertainment
Directed: Roland Emmerich
Cast: Ed Skrein, Woody Harrelson, Dennis Quaid, Aaron Eckhart, Luke Evans, Nick Jonas, Mandy Moore, Darren Criss
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
U19 WORLD CUP, WEST INDIES
UAE group fixtures (all in St Kitts)
- Saturday 15 January: UAE beat Canada by 49 runs
- Thursday 20 January: v England
- Saturday 22 January: v Bangladesh
UAE squad:
Alishan Sharafu (captain), Shival Bawa, Jash Giyanani, Sailles
Jaishankar, Nilansh Keswani, Aayan Khan, Punya Mehra, Ali Naseer, Ronak Panoly,
Dhruv Parashar, Vinayak Raghavan, Soorya Sathish, Aryansh Sharma, Adithya
Shetty, Kai Smith
The%20specs
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UK%20-%20UAE%20Trade
%3Cp%3ETotal%20trade%20in%20goods%20and%20services%20(exports%20plus%20imports)%20between%20the%20UK%20and%20the%20UAE%20in%202022%20was%20%C2%A321.6%20billion%20(Dh98%20billion).%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EThis%20is%20an%20increase%20of%2063.0%20per%20cent%20or%20%C2%A38.3%20billion%20in%20current%20prices%20from%20the%20four%20quarters%20to%20the%20end%20of%202021.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EThe%20UAE%20was%20the%20UK%E2%80%99s%2019th%20largest%20trading%20partner%20in%20the%20four%20quarters%20to%20the%20end%20of%20Q4%202022%20accounting%20for%201.3%20per%20cent%20of%20total%20UK%20trade.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Top financial tips for graduates
Araminta Robertson, of the Financially Mint blog, shares her financial advice for university leavers:
1. Build digital or technical skills: After graduation, people can find it extremely hard to find jobs. From programming to digital marketing, your early twenties are for building skills. Future employers will want people with tech skills.
2. Side hustle: At 16, I lived in a village and started teaching online, as well as doing work as a virtual assistant and marketer. There are six skills you can use online: translation; teaching; programming; digital marketing; design and writing. If you master two, you’ll always be able to make money.
3. Networking: Knowing how to make connections is extremely useful. Use LinkedIn to find people who have the job you want, connect and ask to meet for coffee. Ask how they did it and if they know anyone who can help you. I secured quite a few clients this way.
4. Pay yourself first: The minute you receive any income, put about 15 per cent aside into a savings account you won’t touch, to go towards your emergency fund or to start investing. I do 20 per cent. It helped me start saving immediately.
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
Scores
Rajasthan Royals 160-8 (20 ov)
Kolkata Knight Riders 163-3 (18.5 ov)
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, second leg
Roma 4
Milner (15' OG), Dzeko (52'), Nainggolan (86', 90 4')
Liverpool 2
Mane (9'), Wijnaldum (25')
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Yahya Al Ghassani's bio
Date of birth: April 18, 1998
Playing position: Winger
Clubs: 2015-2017 – Al Ahli Dubai; March-June 2018 – Paris FC; August – Al Wahda
LA LIGA FIXTURES
Friday Athletic Bilbao v Celta Vigo (Kick-off midnight UAE)
Saturday Levante v Getafe (5pm), Sevilla v Real Madrid (7.15pm), Atletico Madrid v Real Valladolid (9.30pm), Cadiz v Barcelona (midnight)
Sunday Granada v Huesca (5pm), Osasuna v Real Betis (7.15pm), Villarreal v Elche (9.30pm), Alaves v Real Sociedad (midnight)
Monday Eibar v Valencia (midnight)
What is a Ponzi scheme?
A fraudulent investment operation where the scammer provides fake reports and generates returns for old investors through money paid by new investors, rather than through ligitimate business activities.
THE BIO
BIO:
Born in RAK on December 9, 1983
Lives in Abu Dhabi with her family
She graduated from Emirates University in 2007 with a BA in architectural engineering
Her motto in life is her grandmother’s saying “That who created you will not have you get lost”
Her ambition is to spread UAE’s culture of love and acceptance through serving coffee, the country’s traditional coffee in particular.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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