It cost $20 million to evict the last four tenants of a Manhattan apartment building to renovate it. The last tenant was so stubborn and savvy that he received $17 million of the money, plus use of a $2 million condo for life. 10
According to physics there may exist…
According to physics there may exist the opposite of a black hole which cannot be entered from the outside, although matter and light can escape from it. It is aptly named: a white hole. 00
After Kurt Cobain dropped out of high…
After Kurt Cobain dropped out of high school, he got a job as a janitor, at the very same high school that he dropped out of. 00
20 John Carpenter Quotes About Horror Movies
Image credit:
Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Entertainment Weekly
Though he’s made a variety of movies—from fantasy to science fiction films—John Carpenter will forever be known as a master of horror, thanks in large part to the role he played in reinventing the genre with 1978’s Halloween. To celebrate the award-winning filmmaker’s 69th birthday, we’ve gathered up 20 of his most memorable quotes about Hollywood.
1. ON THE DEFINITION OF HORROR
“Horror is a reaction; it’s not a genre.”
—From a 2015 interview with Interview Magazine
2. ON THE RULES OF MOVIEMAKING
“I think the rules of filmmaking are essentially the same as they were since, I guess, The Birth Of A Nation. The way you make movies: long shot, close-up, camera movement, structure—it’s all the same. Not much has changed. But the technology of movies has vastly changed. From 35mm black-and-white to color, from nitrate film to safety film and now into digital—and yet we’re still breaking scenes into master shots and close-ups. The cinema narrative has not changed that much since the silent film.”
—From a 2015 interview with The A.V. Club
3. ON THE TWO TYPES OF HORROR STORIES
“There are two different stories in horror: internal and external. In external horror films, the evil comes from the outside, the other tribe, this thing in the darkness that we don’t understand. Internal is the human heart.”
—From a 2011 interview with Vulture
4. ON THE IMPORTANCE OF NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD
“One movie that showed me it was possible to make a low-budget horror movie was Night of the Living Dead (1968). When I saw that, I was like, ‘Wow, that’s really effective, but it’s obviously low budget.’ They didn’t have any money but they actually made something cool. That was inspirational to me when I was in film school.”
—From a 2015 interview with Interview Magazine
5. ON THE TRUTH ABOUT HOLLYWOOD
“Film buffs who don’t live in Hollywood have a fantasy about what it’s like to be a director. Movies and the people who make movies have such glamor associated with them. But the truth is, it’s not like that. It’s very different. It’s hard work. If you were suddenly catapulted into that situation—without any training—you would say after it was over: ‘Oh, God! You’re kidding! You mean, this is what it’s like? This is what they put you through?’ Yes, as a matter of fact, it is like this—and it’s often worse. People have tried to describe the film business, but it’s impossible to describe because it’s so crazy. You must know your craft inside out and then pick up the rules as you go along.”
—From an essay for Santa Fe Studios
6. ON THE HORROR OF WATCHING HIS OWN MOVIES
“I don’t watch my films. I’ve seen ’em enough after cutting them and putting the music on. I don’t ever want to see them again.”
—From a 2012 interview with Entertainment Weekly
7. ON THE EMOTIONAL TOLL MAKING MOVIES CAN TAKE ON A DIRECTOR
“I’ve been feeling old for years and years, and I think the movie business did it to me. At one point I just did movie after movie, and it starts tearing you down physically—emotionally too, if you do one after another. The stress, the emotional exertion of dealing with others. I’ve worked with really great actors and really difficult actors. The difficult ones are no fun. And the style of the movies today have changed a great deal. To me, I’m not a big fan of handheld. That’s just my tastes. That’s a quick fix for low budget. Let the operator direct it! Walk around. That’s how you burn through the pages. And found footage—how many times do we need to do that?”
—From a 2014 interview with Deadline
8. ON WHAT MAKES A GOOD HORROR FILM
“There’s a very specific secret: It should be scary.”
—From a 2015 interview with The A.V. Club
9. ON THE PERCEPTION OF A MOVIEMAKER
“In England, I’m a horror movie director. In Germany, I’m a filmmaker. In the U.S., I’m a bum.”
—From The Films of John Carpenter
10. ON STANDING OUT
“I don’t want to be in the mainstream. I don’t want to be a part of the demographics. I want to be an individual. I wear each of my films as a badge of pride. That’s why I cherish all my bad reviews. If the critics start liking my movies, then I’m in deep trouble.”
—From an essay for Santa Fe Studios
11. ON MAINTAINING CONTROL
“My years in the business have taught me not to worry about what you can’t control.”
—From a 2007 interview with MovieMaker Magazine
12. ON HIS FAVORITE MOVIES
“I have two different categories of favorite films. One is the emotional favorites, which means these are generally films that I saw when I was a kid; anything you see in your formative years is more powerful, because it really stays with you forever. The second category is films that I saw while I was learning the craft of motion pictures.”
—From a 2011 interview with Rotten Tomatoes
13. ON BEING STUCK IN THE 1980S
“Well, They Live was a primal scream against Reaganism of the ’80s. And the ’80s never went away. They’re still with us. That’s what makes They Live look so fresh—it’s a document of greed and insanity. It’s about life in the United States then and now. If anything, things have gotten worse.”
—From a 2012 interview with Entertainment Weekly
14. ON THE IMPORTANCE OF INSTINCT
“I think every director depends primarily on his instincts. That’s what’s got him where he is, what’s going to carry him through the good times and the bad. I generally go with what I instinctually think I can do well.”
—From a 2011 interview with Vulture
15. ON BEING TYPECAST AS A DIRECTOR
“I haven’t just made horror. I’ve made all sorts of movies. There have been fantasy movies, thrillers, horrors, science fiction. In terms of the ultimate reward, listen, man, when I was a kid, when I was 8 years old, I wanted to be a movie director, and I got to be a movie director. I lived my f*cking dream, you can’t get better than that. That’s the ultimate.”
—From a 2015 interview with Interview Magazine
16. ON THE REALITY OF MONSTERS
“Monsters in movies are us, always us, one way or the other. They’re us with hats on. The zombies in George Romero’s movies are us. They’re hungry. Monsters are us, the dangerous parts of us. The part that wants to destroy; the part of us with the reptile brain. The part of us that’s vicious and cruel. We express these in our stories as these monsters out there.”
—From a 2011 interview with the Buenos Aires Herald
17. ON MOVIES AS A SENSORY EXPERIENCE
“A movie’s not just the pictures. It’s the story and it’s the perspective and it’s the tempo and it’s the silence and it’s the music—it’s all the stuff that’s going on. All the sensory stuff. Sometimes you can get a lot of suspense going in a non-horror film. It all depends. But, look, if there was one secret way of doing a horror movie then everybody would be doing it.”
—From a 2015 interview with The A.V. Club
18. ON THE UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE OF HORROR
“Horror is a universal language; we’re all afraid. We’re born afraid, we’re all afraid of things: death, disfigurement, loss of a loved one. Everything that I’m afraid of, you’re afraid of and vice versa. So everybody feels fear and suspense. We were little kids once and so it’s taking that basic human condition and emotion and just f*cking with it and playing with it. You can invent new horrors.”
—From a 2015 interview with Interview Magazine
19. ON THE REMAKE TREND
“It’s a brand new world out there in terms of trying to get advertising. There’s so much going on that if you come up with a movie that people have never heard of they don’t pay attention to it—no matter how good it is. So it becomes, ‘Let’s remake something that maybe rings a bell and that you’ve heard of before.’ That way, you’re already ahead. I’m flattered, but I understand what’s going on. They’re picking everything to remake. I think they’ve just run down the list of other titles and have finally got to mine.”
—From a 2007 interview with MovieMaker Magazine
20. ON THE LASTING INFLUENCE OF HALLOWEEN
“I didn’t think there was any more story [to Halloween], and I didn’t want to do it again. All of my ideas were for the first Halloween—there shouldn’t have been any more! I’m flattered by the fact that people want to remake them, but they remake everything these days, so it doesn’t make me that special. But Michael Myers was an absence of character. And yet all the sequels are trying to explain that. That’s silliness—it just misses the whole point of the first movie, to me. He’s part person, part supernatural force. The sequels rooted around in motivation. I thought that was a mistake. However, I couldn’t stop them from making sequels. So my agents said, ‘Why don’t you become an executive producer and you can share the revenue?’ But I had to write the second movie, and every night I sat there and wrote with a six-pack of beer trying to get through this thing. And I didn’t do a very good job, but that was it. I couldn’t do any more.”
—From a 2014 interview with Deadline
January 16, 2017 – 12:00pm
You Shouldn’t Miss Amazon’s Top Monday Deals
Image credit:
amazon / istock
As a recurring feature, our team combs the Web and shares some amazing Amazon deals we’ve turned up. Here’s what caught our eye today, January 16.
Mental Floss has affiliate relationships with certain retailers, including Amazon, and may receive a small percentage of any sale. But we only get commission on items you buy and don’t return, so we’re only happy if you’re happy. Good luck deal hunting!
GADGETS, TOYS, AND MEDIA
Jaybird X2 Sport Wireless Bluetooth Headphones – Midnight Black for $150.00 (list price $341.42)
Spy Tec STI_GL300 Mini Portable Real Time GPS Tracker for $49.95 (list price $69.95)
WD 1TB Elements Portable External Hard Drive – USB 3.0 – WDBUZG0010BBK-EESN for $52.99
Anker Ultra Slim 4-Port USB 3.0 Data Hub for $9.99 (list price $19.99)
TP-Link AC750 Dual Band Wi-Fi Range Extender (RE200) for $22.99 (list price $69.99)
TeckNet 2.4G Nano Wireless Mouse, 5 Buttons (M002) for $8.99 (list price $9.99)
Brookstone Pocket Projector Micro for $129.99 (list price $149.99)
AUKEY 54W QC 2.0 Universal 5 Port USB Charger for $19.99 (list price $26.99)
Samsung 32GB 80MB/s EVO Select Micro SDHC Memory Card (MB-ME32DA/AM) for $9.99 (list price $14.46)
Amazon Premium Headphones for $14.99 (list price $24.99)
LEGO Star Wars First Order Battle Pack 75132 for $8.99 (list price $12.99
LEGO Super Heroes Black Panther Pursuit 76047 for $23.99 (list price $29.99)
LEGO Classic Large Creative Brick Box 10698 for $46.00 (list price $59.99)
LEGO Creator Super Soarer 31042 for $7.99 (list price $9.99)
P3 P4400 Kill A Watt Electricity Usage Monitor for $19.74
Casio Men’s CA53W Calculator Watch for $14.99 (list price $24.95)
Fossil Men’s FS4552 Machine Black Stainless Steel Chronograph Watch for $88.98 (list price $155.00)
KITCHEN
J.A. HENCKELS INTERNATIONAL Fine Edge Pro 8-inch Bread Knife for $12.95 (list price $22.00)
KitchenAid KFC3516IC 3.5 Cup Mini Food Processor, Ice for $39.99 (list price $49.99)
Brita 10 Cup Everyday BPA Free Water Pitcher with 1 Filter, White for $19.99 (list price $21.49)
Cilio 18/10 Stainless Steel Wine Sealer for $5.79 (list price $7.95)
Lipper International 1174 Large Wavy Bowl, Acacia for $26.06 (list price $66.07)
Hamilton Beach 25490A Dual Breakfast Sandwich Maker for $33.85 (list price $39.99)
Cook N Home 10-1/2-Inch 2 Tier Lazy Susan for $12.47 (list price $24.99)
Wildkin Whale Blue Lunch Box for $10.00 (list price $17.99)
Seville Classics Bamboo Cutting Board with 7 Removable Cutting Mats for $24.99 (list price $29.99)
Cuisinart WMR-CA Round Classic Waffle Maker for $25.93 (list price $55.00)
Bakers Couche – Flax Linen Proofing Cloth 26”x35” for $22.95 (list price $29.99)
Kitchy Pizza Cutter Wheel, Stainless Steel for $11.99 (list price $30.00)
HOME
South Shore Axess Collection 4-Shelf Bookcase, Black for $47.99 (list price $70.50)
DampRid FG60LV Moisture Absorber, Lavender Vanilla, 10.5-Ounce, 2-Pack for $4.97 (list price $5.99)
Zinus Modern Studio Collection Deluxe Rectangular Coffee Table, Brown for $39.98 (list price $55.99)
Estilo Stainless Steel Toilet Brush and Holder for $7.99 (list price $19.99)
ClosetMaid 4105 Cubeicals 9-Cube Organizer, Dark Cherry for $53.22 (list price $70.00)
Sunny Bay Extra Long Heated Neck Wrap, Blue, 2.8 Pound for $21.10 (list price $25.00)
Puredown Feather and Down Pillow, Standard Size, Set of 2 for $33.99 (list price $59.99)
Bottomless Bath Overflow Drain Cover – Recyclable for $8.49 (list price $9.99)
HEALTH AND BEAUTY
PFB Vanish + Chromabright , 93 grams for $19.49 (list price $29.00)
Gillette Sensor Cartridges 10 Count for $13.98 (list price $22.99)
Waterpik Aquarius Water Flosser, WP-660 for $59.99 (list price $79.99)
Waterpik Complete Care Water Flosser and Sonic Toothbrush, WP-900 for $69.99 (list price $99.99)
Aveeno Positively Radiant Skin Brightening Daily Scrub, 5 Oz for $3.31 (list price $7.69)
Infiniti Pro by Conair Curl Secret; Purple for $63.99 (list price $119.99)
Lavanila The Healthy Deodorant, Vanilla Passion Fruit, 2 Ounce for $13.52 (list price $14.00)
AsaVea Portable Electric Hair Straightening Brush 3.0, Red / Black for $37.99 (list price $99.99)
Oral-B Complete Satin Floss Mint, 50m, Twin Pack for $3.86 (list price $4.62)
WaterPik FLA-220 Power Flosser, Battery Powered (Colors May Vary) for $6.99 (list price $19.99)
Hot Tools Curling Iron, Rainbow Gold, 1.25 Inch for $43.99 (list price $52.99)
TONYMOLY Pandas Dream So Cool Eye Stick, 1.4 Ounce for $6.35 (list price $8.99)
TONYMOLY Tony moly Egg Pore Nose Pack 7 Sheets for $4.22 (list price $7.00)
3 Piece Mood Color Changing Lipstick for $7.99 (list price $17.99)
OFFICE, SCHOOL, AND CRAFTS
SentrySafe CB10 Small Cash Box, Black for $10.19 (list price $15.46)
Prismacolor Premier Water-Soluble Colored Pencils, 36-Count for $26.49 (list price $59.99)
Master Lock 7148D Locking Steel Security File Box for $15.75 (list price $20.86)
DYMO LabelManager 160 Handheld Label Maker (1790415) for $10.00 (list price $14.99)
Artist’s Choice Sketch Pad ,75 sheets, Pack of 2 for $12.99 (list price $39.99)
Wacom Intuos Draw CTL490DW Digital Drawing and Graphics Tablet for $63.90 (list price $79.95)
Darice 80-Piece Deluxe Art Set for $14.57 (list price $39.99)
Post-it Self-Stick Easel Pad, 25 x 30.5 Inches, 30-Sheet Pad (2 Pack) for $31.74 (list price $38.99)
Prismacolor Scholar Colored Pencils, 60-Count for $27.65 (list price $44.65)
Sanford Prismacolor Colored Pencil Accessory Set, 7-Piece for $11.27 (list price $16.19)
EXPO 2-in-1 Dry Erase Markers, Chisel Tip, Assorted, 4-Count for $6.15 (list price $7.22)
VELCRO Brand One Wrap Thin Ties, Black, 8 x 1/2-Inch, 100 Count (91140) for $6.29
Westcott All Purpose Value Scissors, Black, 8″ for $2.99 (list price $6.25)
Eparon 40-piece Gel Pen Set with 40 Unique Colors! for $7.99 (list price $19.99)
Top Quality Gel Pens (Pack of 60) for $14.99 (list price $39.99)
OUTDOORS, GARDEN, AND SPORTS
Outdoor Products 3-Pack Ultimate Dry Sack for $11.56 (list price $16.00)
Coleman 30 Can Cooler, Green for $22.48 (list price $34.99)
Coleman North Rim Adult Mummy Sleeping Bag for $39.00 (list price $66.99)
Ozark Trail Folding Camp Chair, Blue for $9.20 (list price $16.99)
Arm & Hammer Double Duty Litter, 40 Lbs for $12.59 (list price $27.99)
Coghlans Ltd 0902 9″ Cooler Light for $6.98 (list price $10.82)
SmartBones Peanut Butter Dog Chew, Mini, 24 pieces/pack for $11.01 (list price $15.96)
goDog Puppy Tough Ball Pig Dog Toy with Chew Guard Technology for $10.28 (list price $12.60)
Perfect Fitness Ab Carver Pro for $31.34 (list price $39.99)
Z-Edge Motion Sensor Activated LED Wall Sconce Night Light for $13.99 (list price $39.99)
TOOLS
Leatherman – Wingman Multi-Tool, Stainless Steel for $29.47 (list price $30.89)
Stanley 58-013 Self-Centering Screw Hole Punch for $4.93 (list price $6.99)
Dremel 710-08 All-Purpose Rotary Accessory Kit, 160-Piece for $25.46 (list price $44.74)
Makita XDT111 3.0 Ah 18V LXT Lithium-Ion Cordless Impact Driver Kit for $89.00 (list price $164.23)
Stanley 85-753 22 Piece Long Arm SAE & Metric Hex Key Set for $9.99 (list price $15.99)
Gerber Splice Pocket Tool, Black [31-000013] for $11.85 (list price $22.10)
DEWALT DWARA100 Right Angle Attachment for $19.98 (list price $35.76)
Beadalon Flat Nose Pliers for $11.69 (list price $16.22)
Stanley 33-725 25-Feet FatMax Tape Measure for $19.99 (list price $36.58)
Klein Tools NCVT-2 Dual Range Non-Contact Voltage Tester for $18.39
Kidde i4618 (Firex) Hardwired Smoke Alarm with Battery Backup for $9.78 (list price $11.74)
January 16, 2017 – 11:00am
Power Up With This Super Mario-Themed Radish Shaper
Image credit:
Even if your days aren’t filled with saving princesses and fighting Goombas, you could probably use a power-up every now and then. This kitchen tool—spotted by Gizmodo—allows you to shape radishes into mini mushrooms ripped from the world of Super Mario Bros.
To create the tiny treats, slice off the top of a radish and press the flat side into the center of the device. Turning the vegetable creates a stubby mushroom “stem” and the tip of the tool can be used to carve white polka dots on top.
The tool, called Ravanello, is currently backordered but normally retails for $12. It’s expected to be back in stock in February, so you’ll have plenty of time to power up before the release of the Nintendo Switch in March.
[h/t Gizmodo]
January 16, 2017 – 10:00am
12 Historic Facts About Martin Luther King Jr.
Image credit:
Getty Images
Monday, January 16, marks Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the federal date of recognition for one of the most important figures in the civil rights movement. Signed by President Reagan in 1983, the holiday marked the culmination of efforts that started just four days after King’s assassination in 1968, when Representative John Conyers of Michigan began 15 years of introducing and reintroducing a bill to establish the holiday. (Stevie Wonder joined the chorus of Americans backing Conyers’ efforts; in 1980 he wrote the song “Happy Birthday” to help create a groundswell of support.)
While it would be impossible to encompass everything King accomplished in a mere list, we’ve compiled a few intriguing facts that may pique your interest in finding out more about the man who helped unite a divided nation.
1. MARTIN LUTHER KING WAS NOT HIS GIVEN NAME.
One of the most recognizable proper names of the 20th century wasn’t actually what was on the birth certificate. The future civil rights leader was born Michael King Jr. on January 15, 1929, named after his father Michael King. When the younger King was 5 years old, his father decided to change both their names after learning more about 16th century theologian Martin Luther, who was one of the key figures of the Protestant Reformation. Inspired by that battle, Michael King soon began referring to himself and his son as Martin Luther King.
2. HE WAS A DOCTOR OF THEOLOGY.
Using the prefix “doctor” to refer to King has become a reflex, but not everyone is aware of the origin of King’s Ph.D. He attended Boston University and graduated in 1955 with a doctorate in systematic theology. King also had a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Morehouse College and a Bachelor of Divinity from Crozer Theological Seminary.
3. HE TOOK 30 TRIPS TO JAIL.
Dr. King leading a march from Selma, Alabama to its capital, Montgomery, in March 1965. Getty
A powerful voice for an ignored and suppressed minority, opponents tried to silence King the old-fashioned way: incarceration. In the 12 years he spent as the recognized leader of the civil rights movement, King was arrested and jailed 30 times. Rather than brood, King used the unsolicited downtime to further his cause. Jailed in Birmingham for eight days in 1963, he penned “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” a long treatise responding to the oppression supported by white religious leaders in the South.
“I’m afraid that it is much too long to take your precious time,” he wrote. “I can assure you that it would have been much shorter if I had been writing from a comfortable desk, but what else is there to do when you are alone for days in the dull monotony of a narrow jail cell other than write long letters, think strange thoughts, and pray long prayers?”
4. THE FBI TRIED TO COERCE HIM INTO SUICIDE.
King’s increasing prominence and influence agitated many of his enemies, but few were more powerful than FBI director J. Edgar Hoover. For years, Hoover kept King under surveillance, worried that this subversive could sway public opinion against the bureau and fretting that King might have Communist ties. While there’s still debate about how independently Hoover’s deputy William Sullivan was acting, an anonymous letter was sent to King in 1964 accusing him of extramarital affairs and threatening to disclose his indiscretions. The only solution, the letter suggested, would be for King to exit the civil rights movement, either willingly or by taking his own life. King ignored the threat and continued his work.
5. A SINGLE SNEEZE COULD HAVE ALTERED HISTORY FOREVER.
Our collective memory of King always has an unfortunate addendum: his 1968 assassination that brought an end to his personal crusade against social injustice. But if Izola Ware Curry had her way, King’s mission would have ended 10 years earlier. At a Harlem book signing in 1958, Ware approached King and plunged a seven-inch letter opener into his chest, nearly puncturing his aorta. Surgery was needed to remove it. Had King so much as sneezed, doctors said, the wound was so close to his heart that it would have been fatal. Curry, a 42-year-old black woman, was having paranoid delusions about the NAACP that soon crystallized around King. She was committed to an institution and died in 2015.
6. HE GOT A “C” IN PUBLIC SPEAKING.
King’s promise as one of the great orators of his time was late in coming. While attending Crozer Theological Seminary from 1948 to 1951, King’s marks were diluted by C and C+ grades in two terms of public speaking.
7. HE WON A GRAMMY.
At the 13th annual Grammy Awards in 1971, a recording of King’s 1967 address, “Why I Oppose the War in Vietnam,” took home a posthumous award for Best Spoken Word recording. In 2012, his 1963 “I Have a Dream” speech was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame (it was included decades later because its 1969 nomination was beaten for the Spoken Word prize by Rod McKuen’s “Lonesome Cities”).
8. HE LOVED STAR TREK.
It’s not easy to imagine King having the time or inclination to sit down and watch primetime sci-fi on television, but according to actress Nichelle Nichols, King and his family made an exception for Star Trek. In 1967, the actress met King, who told her he was a big fan and urged her to reconsider her decision to leave the show to perform on Broadway. “My family are your greatest fans,” Nichols recalled King telling her, and said he continued with, “As a matter of fact, this is the only show on television that my wife Coretta and I will allow our little children to watch, to stay up and watch because it’s on past their bedtime.” Nichols’ character of Lt. Uhura, he said, was important because she was a strong, professional black woman. If Nichols left, King noted, the character could be replaced by anyone, since “[Uhura] is not a black role. And it’s not a female role.” Based on their talk, Nichols decided to remain on the show for the duration of its three-season original run.
9. HE SPENT HIS WEDDING NIGHT IN A FUNERAL PARLOR.
Circa 1956. Getty.
When King married his wife, Coretta, in her father’s backyard in 1953, there was virtually no hotel in Marion, Alabama that would welcome a newlywed black couple. A friend of Coretta’s happened to be an undertaker, and invited the Kings into one of the guest rooms at his funeral parlor.
10. RONALD REAGAN WAS OPPOSED TO A KING HOLIDAY.
Despite King’s undeniable worthiness, MLK Day was not a foregone conclusion. In the early 1980s, President Ronald Reagan largely ignored pleas to pass legislation making the holiday official out of the concern it would open the door for other minority groups to demand their own holidays; Senator Jesse Helms complained that the missed workday could cost the country $12 billion in lost productivity, and both were concerned about King’s possible Communist sympathies. Common sense prevailed, and the bill was signed into law on November 2, 1983. The holiday officially began being recognized in January 1986.
11. WE’LL SOON SEE HIM ON THE $5 BILL.
In 2016, the U.S. Treasury announced plans to overhaul major denominations of currency beginning in 2020. Along with Harriet Tubman adorning the $20 bill, plans call for the reverse side of the $5 Lincoln-stamped bill to commemorate “historic events that occurred at the Lincoln Memorial” including King’s famous 1963 speech..
12. ONE OF KING’S VOLUNTEERS WALKED AWAY WITH A PIECE OF HISTORY.
King’s 1963 oration from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, known as the “I Have a Dream” speech, will always be remembered as one of the most provocative public addresses ever given. George Raveling, who was 26 at the time, had volunteered to help King and his team during the event. When it was over, Raveling sheepishly asked King for the copy of the three-page speech. King handed it over without hesitation; Raveling kept it for the next 20 years before he fully understood its historical significance and removed it from the book he had been storing it in.
He’s turned down offers of up to $3.5 million, insisting that the document will remain in his family—always noting that the most famous passage, where King details his dream of a united nation, isn’t on the sheet. It was improvised.
January 16, 2017 – 8:00am
5 Questions: “King” Day
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See Chewbacca Turn Badass In a Deleted ‘The Force Awakens’ Scene
Though Chewbacca has spent the bulk of his screen time in the Star Wars universe playing a loveable “fuzzball,” Han Solo warned us that his sidekick has a dark side. Forty years ago, in the midst of a heated game of holographic chess in A New Hope, Han urged R2-D2 to let Chewbacca win—warning the droid that “it’s not wise to upset a Wookiee.”
When C-3PO protested on his buddy’s behalf, Han let them in on a little secret: that Wookiees are known to “pull people’s arms out of their sockets when they lose.” But, as Cinema Blend reports, a deleted scene from The Force Awakens reveals that it’s not only board games that can bring out a Wookiee’s violent tendencies.
In the scene below, Chewbacca intercedes in an altercation between Rey (Daisy Ridley) and Unkar Plutt (Simon Pegg), and clearly doesn’t take kindly to Unkar’s attitude. In one swift move, Chewbacca rips the Crolute’s arm clean off and hurls it across the room. One can only surmise that the scene was cut as it cast the beloved ball of fur in a whole different light. The lesson learned? Let the Wookiee win!
[h/t Cinema Blend]
January 16, 2017 – 6:00am
Morning Cup of Links: Special Effects Tricks of Early Cinema
Image credit:
Hal Roach Studios
Silent Film GIFs Reveal the Special Effects Tricks of Early Cinema. The effort was worth it, as audiences were amazed.
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The Simpsons: How “Bart the Genius” Changed the TV Landscape. It wasn’t supposed to be the series’ first episode, but it was perfect.
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A 29-Year-Old Mayor Shares Insights of Holding Office. And advice on how you can get into an elected position.
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The Story Behind A Spooky Photo Of Fish Frozen In Wall Of Ice. It’s a weird natural phenomenon, not an advertising stunt.
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22 American Food Quirks that the French Think Are Super Weird. We know they’re weird, but some of them are quite delicious.
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U.S. Public Schools Are Suspending Millions of Students, With Little Reward. It eliminates the problem, but those problems are real students.
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How to make any pancakes fluffier. Plus recipes to dress them up fancy.
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The Lasting Gifts of the Civilian Conservation Corps. It was make-work at the time, but we still enjoy what they built.
January 16, 2017 – 5:00am