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5 Questions: “Hand”writing
Monday, January 23, 2017 – 01:45
In 1989, Stephen King was interviewed by Thomas Smith of the Public Radio Book Show. In the chat, King reflects on the differences between childhood thought process and adult ones, and explains what he sees as misconceptions about childhood. At the top, he explains that what he does for a living isn’t all that different from child’s play. Here’s a nice sample from the beginning:
I was taking a walk one day and I happened to spot a little girl on the corner of my street, she was about five years old. She was sitting in the dirt at the edge of the road talking to herself or to invisible friends and drawing in the dirt with a stick and I thought, you know if I did that, somebody would come along and say, “There’s a grown man sitting in the dirt, talking to himself—to people who aren’t there—and drawing with a stick!” Which is very close to what I do for a living. What people pay me to do.
Take five minutes and enjoy this animated interview:
For a full transcript and snippets of animation, check out this Blank on Blank page. It also features a nice section at the bottom about King’s Twitter presence.
January 22, 2017 – 12:00pm
As a recurring feature, we share some amazing Amazon deals we’ve turned up. These items were the ones that were the most popular with our readers this week, and they’re still available.
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!
Samsung 32GB 80MB/s EVO Select Micro SDHC Memory Card (MB-ME32DA/AM) for $9.99 (list price $14.46)
Snap Circuits Extreme SC-750 Electronics Discovery Kit for $87.99
LEGO Star Wars First Order Battle Pack 75132 for $8.99 (list price $12.99)
LEGO Large Creative Box 10697 for $73.00 (list price $187.99)
LEGO Classic Large Creative Brick Box 10698 for $47.99 (list price $59.99)
Fujifilm Instax Mini 8 Instant Film Camera (Black) for $58.92
Fujifilm Instax Groovy Camera Case – Black for $10.29 (list price $19.99)
Presto Bacon Microwave Cooker, Black for $11.39 (list price $14.99)
RTIC 30 oz. Tumbler for $14.10
Farberware Poly Cutting Board 12-Inch by 18-Inch, White for $9.97 (list price $13.50)
Magic Bullet Blender, Small, Silver, 11 Piece Set for $29.99 (list price $49.99)
Barbuzzo Lab Shots (Set of 4), Clear for $13.96 (list price $19.95)
AmazonBasics 3-Piece Baking Sheet Set for $11.29 (list price $15.29)
Presto 04820 PopLite Hot Air Popper for $23.49 (list price $29.99)
DeLonghi Double Walled Thermo Espresso Glasses, Set of 2 for $12.69 (list price $14.95)
Hamilton Beach 25476 Breakfast Electric Sandwich Maker, Red for $24.00 (list price $29.99)
Lodge SCRBRSH Scrub Brush, 10-Inch for $4.99 (list price $8.51)
Lodge L8SK3 Cast Iron Skillet, Pre-Seasoned, 10.25-inch for $12.74 (list price $15.92)
ChefLand 8-Piece Stainless Steel Measuring Cups and Measuring Spoon Set for $5.38 (list price $9.95)
Tovolo Collapsible Microwave Cover for $7.99 (list price $9.99)
Hamilton Beach 40865 Glass Electric Kettle, 1.7-Liter for $26.99 (list price $28.76)
Marquis by Waterford Markham Hiball Collins Glasses, Set of 4 for $39.95 (list price $100.00)
Star Wars Lightsaber Spatula for $14.99 (list price $19.99)
Brita Standard Replacement Water Filter for Pitchers, 3 Count for $14.88 (list price $15.97)
The Sushi Bazooka | All in 1 Sushi Making Machine for $7.00 (list price $7.19)
Simply Calphalon 12-Inch Nonstick Omelette Fry Pan with Lid for $41.12 (list price $75.00)
AmazonBasics Heather Jersey Sheet Set – Queen, Light Gray for $37.99 (list price $42.99)
Hefty Drawstring Trash Can Liner Bags – 33 Gallon – 48 Count for $12.72 (list price $15.59)
PyroPet Candles Kisa Candle, Pink for $33.99 (list price $40.00)
O-Cedar Power Corner Large Angle Broom for $15.99 (list price $19.99)
BestOffice Infrared Touchless Stainless Steel Trash Can, 13.2-Gallon for $39.99 (list price $49.99)
Hoover FH50150 Carpet Basics Power Scrub Deluxe Carpet Cleaner for $125.41 (list price $219.99)
Glad Tall Kitchen Drawstring Trash Bags, 13 Gallon, 90 Count for $10.33 (list price $12.74)
Simmons Curv 3-inch Flat Gel Memory Foam Mattress Topper – Queen for $109.99 (list price $129.99)
1byone 400ML Powerful Thermo-electric Dehumidifier, White for $32.99 (list price $56.99)
Classic Brands 12 Inch Cool Gel Memory Foam Mattress, Queen for $309.95 (list price $355.56)
Eddie Bauer 200607 Herringbone Cotton Blanket, Full/Queen, Bone for $33.26 (list price $50.00)
Simpli Home Acadian Ladder Shelf Bookcase, Black for $112.58 (list price $167.45)
Colgate Wisp Portable Mini-Brush Max Fresh, Peppermint, 24 Count for $3.59 (list price $7.99)
Dove Men+Care Body Wash, Aqua Impact 18 oz for $3.72 (list price $6.49)
CeraVe Moisturizing Facial Lotion PM, 3 Ounce for $6.11 (list price $13.99)
Q-tips Cotton Swabs, 2000 count for $9.94 after on-screen coupon (list price $14.89)
Buena Skin Triple Vitamin C Serum Anti Aging Antioxidant – 1oz for $18.99 (list price $39.95)
Biore Deep Cleansing Pore Strips, Charcoal, 6 Count for $5.62 (list price $6.99)
Eparon 40-piece Gel Pen Set with 40 Unique Colors! for $7.99 (list price $19.99)
Singer 1304 Start Free Arm Sewing Machine with 6 Built-In Stitches for $74.49 (list price $86.99)
Avery Ready Index Table of Contents Dividers, Black/White, 12-Tab Set (11140) for $1.52
Artist’s Choice Sketch Pad ,75 sheets, Pack of 2 for $12.99 (list price $39.99)
Staedtler Lumocolor Correctable Pens (305FWP4) for $11.97 (list price $17.40)
Gaiam Balance Ball Chair, Blue for $63.98 (list price $79.98)
Prismacolor Premier Water-Soluble Colored Pencils, 36-Count for $36.98 (list price $59.99)
Darice 80-Piece Deluxe Art Set for $14.00 (list price $39.99)
Mountain House Just In Case…Classic Assortment Emergency Food Bucket for $73.63 (list price $79.99)
AAA 85 Piece Commuter First Aid Kit for $13.18 (list price $19.99)
Calf Compression Sleeves (Pair) L/XL Black $9.95 (list price $29.99)
Mountain House 14 Day Emergency Food Supply for $221.36 (list price $275.00)
Timbuk2 Classic Messenger Bag, Black, Medium for $69.99 (list price $99.00)
Yeti Stainless Steel Tumbler, 30 Oz for $22.80 (list price $69.95)
Flexible Flyer Steel Saucer Sled for $29.99 (list price $39.99)
Klean Kanteen Stainless Steel Bottle with 3.0 Sport Cap for $15.74 (list price $20.95)
Landmann 28345 Big Sky Stars and Moons Firepit, Black for $81.00 (list price $95.80)
Callaway Chrome Soft 2016 Golf Balls, White for $36.99 (list price $39.99)
Blue Buffalo BLUE Wilderness Trail Treat Biscuits – Turkey – 10oz for $5.49 (list price $7.99)
Quik Chair Folding Quad Camp Chair – Moss Green for $11.69 (list price $14.99)
Kelty Trail Ridge 6 Tent for $234.22 (list price $399.95)
Igloo Playmate Elite Cooler for $13.19 (list price $39.95)
Artlii Fun Projector Mini Home Theater Support 1080P Projector for $45.99 (list price $99.99)
TeckNet 2.4G Nano Wireless Mouse, 5 Buttons (M002) for $8.99 (list price $19.99)
3M Gold Privacy Filter for Widescreen Laptop 14.0″ (GPF14.0W9) for $31.36 (list price $88.95)
Dell Computer Ultrasharp U2415 24.0-Inch Screen LED Monitor for $239.00 (list price $399.99)
Eton Mini Compact AM/FM/Shortwave Radio, Black (NGWMINIB) for $30.60 (list price $44.99)
Microsoft Designer Bluetooth Mouse for $17.99 (list price $29.95)
Anker Ultra Slim 4-Port USB 3.0 Data Hub for $9.99 (list price $19.99)
DEWALT DC970K-2 18-Volt Compact Drill/Driver Kit for $89.00 (list price $99.00)
TEKTON 30812 Double-Faced Soft Mallet, 35 mm for $7.78 (list price $11.95)
Meguiar’s Supreme Shine Microfiber Cloths (Pack of 3) for $5.97 (list price $10.09)
Stanley 45-912 8 Inch X 12 Inch Steel Carpenter’s Square for $2.99 (list price $8.92)
IRWIN VISE-GRIP Wire Stripper/Cutter/Crimper, 7″, 2078317 for $11.99 (list price $16.61)
CH Hanson 03040 Magnetic Stud Finder for $10.24 (list price $12.99)
Rain-X 600001 Windshield Repair Kit for $10.97 (list price $13.99)
Black & Decker 15557 Drill Bit Set, 10-Piece for $4.91 (list price $7.59)
Kidde FA110 Multi Purpose Fire Extinguisher 1A10BC, 1 Pack for $19.98 (list price $42.99)
DEWALT DW2166 45-Piece Screwdriving Set with Tough Case for $9.55 (list price $41.80)
Stanley Tr110 Heavy Duty Steel Stapler for $12.45 (list price $22.90)
Meguiar’s G13616 Quik Interior Detailer Cleaner – 16 oz. for $4.97 (list price $7.59)
January 22, 2017 – 11:00am
Chile’s Atacama Desert is one of the driest places on Earth, but it’s also home to buried treasure. The desert’s mineral-rich salt flats contain high concentrations of lithium—a key ingredient in the rechargeable batteries that power our smartphones, laptops, and electric cars. Mining companies “harvest” the lithium by pumping water through the salt beds and storing it in ponds. The sun evaporates the liquid, leaving minerals and salt behind, and this substance is refined into powder before being exported to countries around the globe, where it’s used to juice up electronics.
In the video above, Bloomberg journalist Ashlee Vance visits a lithium mine field operated by Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile (SQM), where he watches the beginning stages of lithium’s long journey from Chile’s salt flats to your cell phone—and spends a little time pondering the future of this essential material.
[h/t The Kid Should See This]
Banner image: iStock
January 22, 2017 – 6:00am
Pizza Planet is a “pizzacore” band from College Station, Texas. The duo consists of Josh Willis on drums and Nic Shields on guitar and vocals. Here’s the twist: all their songs are based on the movie Toy Story. Indeed, even their name refers to the pizza/arcade in the movie.
In their first EP released on Bandcamp, Escape From Pizza Planet, the band’s opening tune is “Snake In My Boot,” referring to Woody’s famous line when his string is pulled. Other songs include “Double Bypass Brain Surgery” (Sid’s disassembly/torture of toys), “The Claw,” “To Infinity,” “And Beyond.” (The last two songs are a little light on lyrics, with Shields simply hollering the song titles over grinding riffs.)
Here’s a quick phone video of the band performing “Snake In My Boot”:
It’s not every day that you encounter a band so singly dedicated to its premise, and having such fun doing it. In order to understand more about Pizza Planet, mental_floss conducted an email interview last week. Here are some keepers, lightly edited for clarity.
mental_floss: How old were you guys when Toy Story came out?
Nic Shields: I was almost 2.
Josh Willis: I was 3? Maybe a late 2. It’s definitely one of the first movies I remember watching.
mental_floss: When was the most recent time you saw Toy Story?
Shields: Probably 4 or 5 months ago.
mental_floss: … Your Bandcamp page says [your band is] “pizzacore.” Where does Pizza Planet fit in the world of musical genres?
Shields: …We are definitely pizzacore. Which I believe is a genre we invented.
mental_floss: Would you describe yourselves as more like Buzz or Woody? (And why?) Alternately, is there some other character is the Toy Story universe you really identify with?
Shields: I want to feel like I am Mr. Shark because I just make fun of everybody all the time and enjoy mockery in general. And that’s exactly what this band is, mockery.
Willis: I really identify with Slinky, he’s super sarcastic but also I have the ability to stretch my body to absurd lengths.
mental_floss: The message of the Toy Story movies (especially Toy Story 2) seems to boil down to, effectively, “Accept your situation and enjoy it while you can.” Does that message resonate with you?
Shields: (laughing) That’s exactly how I feel about this band because we put zero effort into it. We play in serious bands that we put time and effort into, but everybody just cares about our joke Toy Story band. So I’ve just learned to take whatever comes and stop trying.
Willis: Yeah, I’m in the same spaceship as Nic [Shields] on this one. I have a lot of disdain toward this band because of how little effort I’ve put into it and how little I care compared to my serious band that I drop a lot of time and care into and write about stuff that is important to me. But I’m learning recently to just accept it and enjoy it while it lasts.
mental_floss: How long does it take to write a typical Pizza Planet song?
Shields: About twice as long as it takes to play it.
Willis: None of our songs are longer than 2 minutes I don’t think. We usually practice maybe an hour a month. We weren’t kidding when we said pretty much zero effort is put into this band.
mental_floss: What’s the biggest audience you’ve ever played to, as Pizza Planet? How about the smallest?
Shields: Probably a little over 100, and smallest would probably be like 10.
Willis: Yeah, we played in a taco shop in Denton Texas called “Killers Tacos,” there was probably 100+ people there. They were moshing and going crazy enough that we had to tell them to calm down because I could feel the floor moving underneath us.
mental_floss: Does the audience understand the whole Toy Story thing? Like, do you explain it to them first?
Shields: Absolutely, we treat them like children and walk them through every song we play.
Willis: Yeah, we usually will describe what each song is about from the movies and between almost every song say “All our songs are about Toy Story” so hopefully nobody has misunderstood.
mental_floss: Any plans to record more Pizza Planet songs?
Shields: Yeah!
Willis: Yeah, we just booked studio time with a friend of ours, we’re going to re-record the original songs on our [EP Escape From Pizza Planet] plus some more songs. I think it’ll be like 10-11 songs total.
mental_floss: Have you learned anything doing this project?
Shields: That hard work doesn’t pay off and to not take anything too seriously.
Willis: Yeah definitely that I need to stop taking stuff as seriously with music. I’m just having a blast and doing stupid stuff with one of my best friends and if people are into it, whatever, and if they’re not, who cares? I’m in a band that plays music about Toy Story and you’re not. So yeah.
For a bit more on the band and their dreams of getting a cease-and-desist order from Disney, read this article from The Daily Dot. Their Facebook page is a lot of fun, and their music is on Bandcamp.
We salute you, Pizza Planet—The Claw has chosen wisely.
(All images courtesy of Josh Willis, used with permission.)
January 22, 2017 – 4:00am
The next time you’re throwing your eye of newt into the cauldron, you might want to use a steam releaser to let out a little hot air. Agatha, a witch-shaped silicone tool, might be the right candidate.
Created by OTOTO (the kitchen gurus who also designed whimsical cookware like the Loch Ness tea infuser and this bed for your sponge), Agatha is a playful character that holds on to your spoon and simultaneously lets steam out of the pot—all while giving the appearance that she’s riding a broom. You can buy the kitchen helper on Animi Causa, a site that’s also slinging this device that turns radishes into Super Mario-themed mushrooms.
January 22, 2017 – 12:00am
In this five-minute video, a LEGO train rides on an outdoor LEGO track. It’s going just one meter per second (just over two miles per hour), but because the tiny camera is mounted on the tiny train, the speed feels far faster.
The track runs 90 meters, and features some nice touches—tunnels, “boulders,” and countless twists and turns. When the train concludes its run, the journey repeats while the camera moves to a different part of the train.
Take your anti-nausea medicine and tune in:
If you like that, there’s a night version, and LEGO master BANANENBUURMANS’s website is intense.
January 21, 2017 – 8:00pm
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 21.
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!
Samsung 32GB USB 3.0 Flash Drive Duo (MUF-32CB/AM) for $15.53 (list price $29.99)
5.11 Tactical #53211 TMT PL EDC Flashlight, Black for $21.69 (list price $22.99)
Sennheiser HD 202 II Professional Headphones (Black) for $24.50 (list price $35.00)
SanDisk Ultra Fit 128GB USB 3.0 Flash Drive (SDCZ43-128G-G46) for $32.35 (list price $34.16)
LEGO CITY Prison Island 60130 for $68.00 (list price $89.99)
LEGO CITY Fire Starter Set 60106 for $6.39 (list price $9.99)
Kingston Digital USB 3.0 Hi-Speed Media Reader (FCR-HS4) for $17.98 (list price $30.00)
Anker 21W 2-Port USB Universal PowerPort Solar Charger for $59.99 (list price $99.99)
Fitbit Charge 2 Heart Rate + Fitness Wristband, Black, Large for $129.00 (list price $149.95)
Pulsar Men’s PXH227 Stainless Steel Watch with Black Rubber Band for $60.41 (list price $110.00)
Invicta Men’s 17204 AVIATOR Stainless Steel Casual Watch for $89.66 (list price $895.00)
Prepworks by Progressive Dice and Slice Chopper for $23.38 (list price $29.99)
Good Cook Classic Safe Cut Can Opener for $10.44 (list price $14.99)
Pyrex 2-Pack Easy Grab Glass Pie Plate, 9.5-Inch for $13.58 (list price $14.99)
Norpro 335 Nutmeg Grater for $4.49 (list price $14.25)
Mikasa Bravo Stainless Steel Pie Server for $11.99 (list price $22.00)
Rubbermaid 50-Piece Easy Find Lid Food Storage Set for $18.25 (list price $37.99)
Cuisinart CBK-100 2 LB Bread Maker for $64.00 (list price $77.50)
Fred & Friends SLOW BREW Sloth Tea Infuser for $8.53 (list price $10.00)
Hamilton Beach 10-Cup Food Processor, ChefPrep with 525-Watts (70670) for $33.74 (list price $45.75)
Lodge L8DO3 Cast Iron Dutch Oven, Pre-Seasoned, 5-Quart for $34.99 (list price $59.99)
Rachael Ray Cucina Stoneware 4-1/2-Inch Terra Cotta Garlic Roaster for $8.33 (list price $26.00)
Gibson Elite Pueblo Springs 16-Piece Dinnerware set, Multicolor for $39.97 (list price $59.99)
JoyJolt 6-Pack Heavy Base Shot Glass Set, 2-Ounce Shot Glasses for $13.99 (list price $19.99)
Hario Mizudashi Cold Brew Iced Coffee Pot/Maker (1000ml, Brown) for $16.74 (list price $26.50)
Kuhn Rikon Auto Safety Master Opener, Red for $14.42 (list price $20.00)
Pillar Candle (5.1 x 5.2, Ivory) for $15.99 (list price $27.99)
Whitmor 20 Pair Floor Shoe Rack, White for $11.88 (list price $32.91)
Big Joe Large Fuf Bean Bag in Comfort Suede, Black Onyx for $84.99 (list price $181.20)
Urban Shop Black and White Striped Table Lamp for $23.77 (list price $39.99)
Furinno 12127EX/BK Simplistic End Table, Espresso/Black, Set of 2 for $30.20 (list price $35.21)
Dyson V6 Motor Head Cord-free Vacuum for $289.99 (list price $399.99)
Honey-Can-Do DRY-01610 Heavy Duty Gullwing Drying Rack, White for $31.20 (list price $34.49)
Great Explorations Wonder Stars Super Kit for $9.99 (list price $10.99)
Balichun 330GSM Fleece King (90-Inch-by-108-Inch) Bed Blanket, Green for $39.00 (list price $140.00)
Yankee Candle Company Sparkling Cinnamon Large Jar Candle for $20.00 (list price $27.99)
Emerson CKS1708 Smart Set Radio Alarm Clock for $18.99 (list price $24.99)
Jeronic 11-Inch Plastic Folding Step Stool, Black for $9.99 (list price $16.99)
Winsome Wood TV Table Set, Walnut for $59.97 (list price $80.28)
Epica Anti-Slip Anti-Bacterial Bath Mat 16″ x 28″ Natural Rubber for $28.95 (list price $29.95)
COVERGIRL Smoothers AquaSmooth Makeup Foundation Ivory, .4 oz for $9.00 (list price $9.99)
Perry Ellis Fragrances 360 Purple for Women 4 Piece Gift Set, 3.4 Fluid Ounce for $42.17
Stetson Original After Shave with Aloe by Stetson, 1.5 Fluid Ounce for $10.98 (list price $12.58)
Amopé Pedi Perfect Daily Moisturizer Lotion for Feet, 8.45 Ounce for $4.68 (list price $8.99)
Mustela Delicately Scented Dermo Soothing Wipes for $5.49 (list price $8.00)
Real Techniques Core Collection Set for $14.75 (list price $17.99)
Philips Sonicare Essence Sonic Electric Rechargeable Toothbrush, Pink for $19.95 (list price $49.99)
Aveeno Positively Radiant Skin Brightening Daily Scrub, 5 Oz for $4.26 (list price $7.69)
Philips Norelco Multigroom Series 3100, 5 attachments, QG3330 for $16.95 (list price $19.99)
Wahl Hair Clipper Blade Oil 4 oz. #3310-300 for $5.95
Silicone Makeup Sponge – Compare to Silisponge for $9.95
St Ives Scrub, Even & Bright Pink Lemon & Mandarin Orange 6 Ounce for $2.99 (list price $4.99)
Sharpie Special Edition 12 Piece Permanent Marker Pack (1909896) for $10.69 (list price $18.78)
ACCO Binder Clips, Small, 12 Boxes, with 12 Clips per Box (72020) for $6.57 (list price $22.56)
Strathmore Series 400 Sketch Pads 9 in. x 12 in. – pad of 100 for $8.72 (list price $12.89)
Westcott All Purpose Value Scissors, Black, 8″ for $2.99 (list price $6.25)
Happy Camper Two Person Tent by Wakeman Outdoors – Bold Blue for $20.99 (list price $39.99)
Stanley Adventure Camp Cook Set 24oz Stainless Steel for $14.97 (list price $21.99)
Fire Sense Roman Fire Pit for $83.72 (list price $129.99)
6PACK Safe Paw Ice Melter (48 lbs.) for $109.47 (list price $117.99)
Intex Pull-out Sofa Inflatable Bed, 76″ X 87″ X 26″, Queen for $48.98 (list price $52.65)
Wilson Smart Core Golf Ball – Pack of 24 (White) for $15.96 (list price $24.99)
Coleman Aluminum Deck Chair for $38.75 (list price $54.99)
Velocity Fire-Starter Sticks for $4.95 (list price $6.95)
Everest Cooler Lunch Bag, Red, One Size for $11.13 (list price $18.95)
SE CC4580 MilitaryLensatic/Prismatic Sighting Compass with Pouch for $9.29 (list price $14.95)
Coleman 55 Quart Rugged 55 A/T Wheeled Cooler for $77.82 (list price $99.99)
Sony DVPSR510H DVD Player (Upscaling) for $44.30
Polk Audio PSW10 10-Inch Powered Subwoofer (Single, Black) for $99.99 (list price $239.95)
Anker Ultra Slim 4-Port USB 3.0 Data Hub for $9.99 (list price $19.99)
Yamaha RX-V379BL 5.1-Channel A/V Receiver with Bluetooth for $229.95 (list price $299.95)
RCA Remote Control with 4 Functions for $5.40 (list price $9.99)
Stanley 68-010 Multibit Ratcheting Screwdriver with 10 Assorted Bits for $9.64 (list price $26.84)
Dickies Work Gear 57026 Grey/Tan 5-Pocket Single Side Apron for $10.42 (list price $11.99)
Stanley 33-525 25-Foot-by-1-Inch PowerLock Tape Rule with Blade Armor for $12.99 (list price $26.26)
WEN 2305 Rotary Tool Kit with Flex Shaft for $20.53 (list price $22.83)
Kershaw 1990 Brawler Speedsafe Folding Knife for $24.58 (list price $39.95)
Meguiar’s Ultimate Liquid Wax – 16 oz. for $14.39 (list price $22.99)
3M Scotch #35 Electrical Tape Value Pack (10457NA) for $8.69 (list price $9.30)
Stanley 85-753 22 Piece Long Arm SAE & Metric Hex Key Set for $9.99 (list price $15.99)
January 21, 2017 – 11:00am
The small mountain town of Park City, Utah is being invaded this week by thousands of movie lovers eager to see what’s premiering at the Sundance Film Festival. But you don’t have to be among them to enjoy the Sundance experience. Many of the festival’s past hits are available to stream into your own home, where presumably you will not have to stand in line or wear a parka. If you’d like to program your own mini-festival, here are 10 Sundance world premieres to get you started.
Where to watch it: Amazon/iTunes
Parker Posey, the undisputed Queen of Sundance in the 1990s, won a Special Jury Recognition for her performance in this dark comedy about an unstable, Jackie Kennedy-obsessed young woman who gets very upset when her twin brother (Josh Hamilton) brings home a fiancée. Dysfunctional hilarity ensues as the family’s old secrets come to light. The film was by Mark Waters, who later made Mean Girls.
Where to watch it: Amazon/iTunes
Sure, you’ve seen Hamlet before. But have you seen it set in modern-day New York City, with Ethan Hawke as the Dane, Kyle MacLachlan as Claudius, and Bill Murray as Polonius? Michael Almereyda (who made last year’s Experimenter) retains the Bard’s language while refitting everything to the present: Elsinore is a luxury hotel; eavesdropping is accomplished via hidden microphone; and instead of staging a play to embarrass his uncle, Hamlet makes an artsy short film. Nothing rotten here!
Where to watch it: Amazon
Want to feel hopeful about the future? Here’s a documentary showing that the kids are all right. Or at least they were in 1999 to 2000, when this was shot. Kirby Dick gave video cameras to 10 high school students and had them film themselves for a week before passing the cameras along to someone else. Sixteen kids’ weeks were chosen and distilled into the segments in Chain Camera, offering a unique view (and now something of a time capsule) of young life at the turn of the century.
Where to watch it: Amazon
Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel, future stars of Sundance hit 500 Days of Summer, first appeared together in this low-key drama set in a juvenile psychiatric ward. (Don Cheadle is here, too, as their tough but sympathetic doctor.) Shot on digital video at a time when digital video tended to make things look cheap, Manic overcomes its aesthetic limitations with believable characters and totally natural performances.
Where to watch it: Amazon/iTunes
Christina Ricci plays a Southern California sorority blonde who’s paired up with a mildly disabled fellow named Pumpkin (Hank Harris) during a charity drive, disrupting her rich, clueless life. It’s a sunny, exaggerated satire—think Bring It On meets Heathers—and there’s an added level of curiosity: the directors, Anthony Abrams and Adam Larson Broder, never made another movie before or since.
Where to watch it: Amazon/iTunes
Tom McCarthy is up for two Oscars this year for directing and co-writing Spotlight, but he started his directing career (after more than a decade as an actor) with this enormously pleasant comedy about a surly dwarf (Peter Dinklage) who inherits a rural train depot and reluctantly becomes friends with the locals (including Patricia Clarkson and Bobby Cannavale). The film won Sundance’s Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award as well as the coveted, regular-people-like-this-too Audience Award.
Where to watch it: iTunes/Amazon
Not to be confused with Savages, the 2012 Oliver Stone movie, The Savages is a sharply funny comedy starring Laura Linney and Philip Seymour Hoffman as over-educated, under-achieving siblings grappling with their father’s impending death and their own midlife crises. Writer-director Tamara Jenkins’ screenplay and Linney’s lead performance were actually nominated for Oscars in 2008, but the film largely slipped away from public consciousness after that.
Where to watch it: Netflix/Amazon/iTunes
There are some red flags on this one: it’s a dark comedy about suicide, and it stars Robin Williams. To enjoy it requires not just a suspension of disbelief, but a suspension of taste. But if you can handle it, it’s hilarious, as Williams plays a high school teacher who writes fake diaries to change students’ perception of his loathsome son after the latter’s death. It was written and directed by Bobcat Goldthwait, who has emerged as one of the most daring filmmakers in the business.
Where to watch it: Netflix/Amazon/iTunes
One of the more widely praised films at the 2011 festival was this drama about a 17-year-old black lesbian (Adepero Oduye) in Brooklyn trying to navigate her sexuality without upsetting her family. Coming-of-age dramas about gay teens aren’t rare (especially at Sundance), but this one has an air of raw authenticity that many lack, and it offers a glimpse into a corner of American culture that will be new to a lot of viewers.
Where to watch it: Amazon/iTunes
It was just two years ago that this dramatic comedy about suicidal siblings—played by Bill Hader and Kristen Wiig—made waves in Park City and earned the festival’s screenwriting prize. It went on to make just over $5 million in its limited theatrical release before being forgotten entirely. It deserved better, especially for fans of Hader and Wiig’s un-fakeable comic chemistry.
January 21, 2017 – 8:00am
Photographer and filmmaker Jamie Livingston took a photo every day for nearly two decades, from March 31, 1979 through October 25, 1997. What started as an offhand project after receiving a Polaroid camera as a gift turned into a poignant look on how everyday moments make up a life.
January 21, 2017 – 6:00am