Links We Love

Ashton Kutcher's shockingly mature speech and more links we love right now

Editor's note: There's so much that's beautiful, funny, smart and informative on the Internet. Problem is, there's also a bunch of garbage. Here's the best of the web right now.

1. Ashton Kutcher gives a shockingly mature speech to a screaming crowd of little girls. At the MTV Teen Choice Awards, Kutcher not only reveals that his real name is Chris, but he talks about working hard, doing jobs no one else wants to, and how to build a life instead of just living one. He also weighs in on how to be sexy, which results in many ear-piercing screams from the audience.

2. Little girl sings her heart out to Elvis. Ella Mae isn't even 2 years old yet, and she's already got a hit video with more than 1 million views on YouTube. The whole thing is pretty stinking adorable, but skip to the two-minute mark for some of Ella's best moves.

3. Twenty iconic black and white photographs now available in color. Reddit is full of wonders, and the thriving subreddit Colorized History is but one example.

4. Strong contender for worst parenting video of the year award. Lest we get too positive and uplifting with these links, take a look at this video from across the pond. It's the perfect combination of parental exasperation, profanity and sheer embarrassment.

5. CIA finally admits Area 51 exists but no one really cares. Once upon a time, the American people thought the government's biggest secret was what went on at Area 51. But after finding out that the NSA systematically spies on all our communication with the blessing of a secret court, no one really cares that Area 51 exists. Nice try, Big Brother.

Ashton Kutcher is putting his childish ways behind him.

News_Ashton Kutcher_hair cut_shaved_January 2012

Photo by Phil McCarten Reuters

Ashton Kutcher is putting his childish ways behind him.

Rivers wild

Ethan Hawke narrates new documentary that deep-dives into Texas rivers

Cropped still from Deep in the Heart 2: Texas Rivers

Cropped still from Deep in the Heart 2: Texas Rivers

The Rio Grande is one of the stunning subjects of Deep in the Heart 2: Texas Rivers.

One Texas film icon passes the torch to another for a deep dive on Texas' river ecosystems in the upcoming documentary Deep in the Heart 2: Texas Rivers. Matthew McConaughey narrated the original 2022 film, Deep in the Heart: A Texas Wildlife Story. Now Ethan Hawke narrates the follow-up, which will be in theaters September 25.

Deep in the Heart 2 is directed by Ben Masters, a nature-obsessed Texan who was born and raised in Amarillo and has followed wildlife around the state and beyond. Working with his crew at Fin & Fur Films, Masters explores the Rio Grande, the Sabine River, and the Neches River, a press release says, coming across otters, turkeys, alligator snapping turtles, and more.

This underwater shot was taken in San Marcos.Still from Deep in the Heart 2: Texas Rivers

The original Deep in the Heart took a broad view of Texas — both its landscapes and their inhabitants — while the "sequel," as the release calls it, specifically highlights water. Conservation is an important angle, and viewers will get a chance to consider how they could connect with and protect the ecosystems on their screens.

"Most of my favorite memories are on Texas Rivers," said Masters in the release. "I grew up on the Canadian, fell in love on the Brazos, got married on the Guadalupe, found adventure on the Rio Grande, and am raising my kids on the Colorado."

The filmmaker says that spending three years filming his natural subjects gave him "a newfound appreciation" for rivers and how distinct they are from one another.

Amazing cinematography was a hallmark of the original film, and the sequel offers more beautiful shots.Still from Deep in the Heart 2: Texas Rivers

"We spent months filming mountain lions on the Pecos, snapping turtles on the Neches, otters on the Sabine, fatmuckets on the Llano, and whooping cranes in the Guadalupe's Estuary," Masters said. "Editing the majesty of Texas Rivers into 80 minutes was a huge challenge, and I'm just incredibly grateful to work with such a talented team of cinematographers, editors, producers, and musicians."

Hawke, born in Austin and raised in Fort Worth, is known for acting in the Dead Poets Society, Gattaca, the Richard Linklater films Boyhood and Blue Moon, and more. He has taken up causes in environmental advocacy for years and appeared in other ecology-focused films, including the intense fictional First Reformed (2018) and a goofy anti-littering PSA with TxDOT (2023).

Some unexpected guests in the Rio Grande.Still from Deep in the Heart 2: Texas Rivers

The film was made in association with H-E-B, a regular supporter of ecological documentaries and initiatives, and conservation organization Texan by Nature. Other collaborators include producer Josh Winkler, editor Sam Klatt, assistant editor Chet Stefan, and composer Noah Sorota. The musical score is performed by Dallas Chamber Symphony.

animals documentaries ecology ethan hawke film matthew mcconaughey movies nature texas wildlife

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