Why Sidwell Is Perfect for Alexis on General Hospital
We know a chemistry test when we see one, and General Hospital is most definitely chem testing Alexis and Sidwell. On paper, it doesn’t make much sense. He is an evil lawbreaker. And she is good, noble, honest, and pure of heart. Well, when she isn’t covering up her daughter’s attempted murder. Or covering up what she thinks is her daughter’s earlier successful murder. Or her own criminal acts. Or lying about her kids’ paternity. Or…the point is, Alexis isn’t nearly as good, noble, honest, and pure of heart as she likes to claim she is. And she has a type when it comes to men. Boy, does she have a type when it comes to men, which is why Sidwell is a perfect fit.
Best Man
Sonny (Maurice Benard) is the father of Alexis’ (Nancy Lee Grahn) most messed-up kid, Kristina (Kate Mansi) — oh, gosh, we wonder why the gangster’s daughter is so messed up? He is a mobster who orders killings and kidnappings like he has same-day shipping on Amazon.
He is the biggest and the baddest criminal Port Charles has ever seen. But he has the most adorable dimples. This means that Alexis will not only overlook the situation but also defend his actions.
Runner Up
Ric (Rick Hearst) is the father of Alexis’ most levelheaded daughter, Molly. Ric is Sonny’s half-brother. And he is half the criminal Sonny is. Ric has kidnapped Carly and kept her prisoner. He married Nina (Cynthia Watros) for her money while sleeping with her mother, Madeline (Donna Mills).
Currently, he is in the middle of a blackmail scheme. But he is one hot, silver fox. This means that Alexis might not defend him as passionately as she does Sonny, but she won’t completely condemn him.
Mistakes Were Made
The father of Alexis’ oldest daughter, Sam (Kelly Monaco), was Julian (William DeVry). He was also a mobster. Who also held a knife to Alexis’ threat and threatened to slice her on the spot.
But did you see those abs? Those abs helped Alexis overlook…a lot, which brings us to our main point. Sidwell (Carlo Rota) is Alexis’ type exactly. If she claims otherwise, she should be encouraged to take a stroll down memory lane. And reminded of it.
It’s the Burger King of trucks: It’s affordable, and the nascent brand lets customers ‘have it their way’ with a lengthy accessory list, including one that turns this pickup into an SUV.
Nascent automaker Slate is putting a lot of faith in the federal EV tax credit sticking around, because with the $7500 subsidy, the company’s battery-electric 2027 Truck will cost consumers a little less than $20,000. Even without that, the Slate Truck will retail for just under $27,500.
Slate’s history goes back to 2022, when it started as a project within Re:Build, a manufacturing conglomerate founded by Jeff Wilke, the former CEO of Amazon’s worldwide consumer business, and Miles Arnone, co-founder of Cannon Capital and current Re:Build CEO. In 2023, Slate secured more than $111 million in funding from 16 investors, one of which was reportedly Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.
The Slate Truck is a bare-bones pickup optimized for manufacturing and cost efficiency. To achieve that aim, Slate ditched most convenience features from the Truck. Apart from its digital gauge cluster that also serves as the rearview camera display, power locks, cruise control, and a forward-collision-warning system with automated emergency braking, the Truck offers little in the way of luxuries.
Roll-down windows come standard, as do manually adjustable rearview mirrors. An audio or infotainment system is noticeably missing, too. Instead, your cellphone or tablet serves these functions, with a dock for the former included and one for the latter available as an optional accessory. Better like the sound coming out from your phone or tablet’s speakers, too, because the Slate lacks speakers, though the brand’s accessory division will gladly hook you up with a set.
Access to Accessories
Accessories are the crux of Slate, with the high-margin parts giving buyers the chance to modify the Truck to their personal and budgetary needs. The brand claims more than 100 accessory items will be available when deliveries of the Truck begin at the end of 2026, ranging from power windows to a 2.0-inch lift and 1.0-inch lowering kit, to even an SUV kit, which adds a roof panel over the Truck’s stubby bed, and a three-across rear bench seat, roll bar, and airbags aft of the cab. Sorry, Subaru BRAT fans; the kit’s designed so that the rear bench can only be installed if the roll bar is already in place.
Adding accessories is a largely DIY affair. That said, Slate intends to have a network of approved service centers that can do the work for customers who are more of the YDIFM (you do it for me) variety.
Blank Slate
Every Slate Truck that leaves the automaker’s yet-to-be disclosed Midwest plant (which the company describes as a “reindustrialized factory”) will be almost identical to every other. The lone exception? The battery pack. The company allows customers to shun the standard 47-kWh (net) pack for an accessory unit with a capacity of approximately 75 kWh (net).
Expect Slate to charge a decent chunk of change for the larger-capacity pack, which the company estimates will net the Truck a driving range of 240 miles on a full charge. Regardless of capacity, Slate claims the optional battery choices have maximum charging speeds of 120 kW.
Additionally, the Truck wears unpainted gray composite body panels to keep manufacturing costs down by forgoing a factory paint shop. Those looking for a Truck with a bit more color can opt for a vinyl wrap from the accessories team. Stick with the standard 17-inch steel wheels, and the wrap options can extend to the steelies’ flat faces. Of course, the accessory team has 17- and 20-inch alloy wheels on hand for those less enthused by the standard wheels’ plebeian looks.
Small Slate
Measuring 174.6 inches long, the Slate Truck casts a shadow 1.8 inches shorter than that of a Subaru Crosstrek. Along with standard seating for two, the Truck offers a sizable 7.0-cubic-foot front trunk and a five-foot bed aft of the single cab. In comparison, the $28,590 Ford Maverick’s box measures almost half a foot shorter. While the 1000-pound towing capacity of the Slate is half that of the compact Ford pickup’s weakest rating, its 1433-pound payload comes in just 67 pounds short of the Maverick’s best.
