Chris M

During the Cold War, Enver Hoxha, the hard-line leader of the People’s Socialist Republic of Albania, embraced isolationist and paranoid views, leading to the launch of a massive “bunkerization” project to defend the nation in 1968. Over 20 years, nearly 175,000 reinforced concrete bunkers were built across Albania, lining seashores and lakes, and dotting mountain passes, borders, farmland, and towns—at great expense and effort. However, these bunkers were never used as intended: They never sheltered the populace from a Soviet attack or an invasion by a neighbor, though they did see limited use during the Kosovo War and Albanian Civil War in the 1990s. In recent years, a few of the disused structures have been converted into hostels, homes, or museums, and many have been removed altogether, but most continue to slowly decay in place.

James Foster, CST
After 7 years and 6 countries we’re finally seeing a finished product that the pipe community has been anxiously waiting for. We’ve seen snippets and previews at the Chicago show, and you might have run across Chad Terpstra, Jeremy Rush, and team filming throughout the years enough to be excited about this. Personally, when I heard about this project on the Pipesmagazine radio show with Brian Levine I immediately became a community backer and then like you, I’ve sat and waited… and waited. But now as of today, it’s out and available on iTunes and Amazon for purchase. Fair warning, if you aren’t smoking a pipe when you watch this movie, you’ll have this gravitation to find your favorite pipe and light up.

Find the movie on iTunes here.

From the movie packet synopsis:

Father The Flame follows Lee Erck, a world-renowned pipe maker from far Northern Michigan, as he travels the globe to explore the nearly forgotten art of tobacco pipe making. Featuring a charming cast of characters—from the royal family of Danish pipe makers to the Italian briar cutter known as the world’s greatest, to a fourth-generation Native American sacred pipe maker—this story speaks to a slower pace of life, a luxury in our sped-up world. Contemplative and hypnotic, Father the Flame immerses the viewer in the cultural and spiritual significance of the tobacco pipe and what it can teach a modern generation about legacy and the things we leave behind.

Father the Flame weaves together a tapestry of stories of legacy, sadness, friendship, and family that leaves the viewer, pondering some of lifes’ greatest questions.
And that left me surprised as the credits rolled. Going into watching this movie, I had only seen a trailer or two and hadn’t seen any previews of the movie so it allowed me to go in with a fresh perspective without too many preconceived notions. It’s narrated by Lee and the primary characters in the movie talking about their lives as Lee travels the globe selling pipes, meeting people, and discussing life. The interwoven message of legacy is shown through Lee, Mimmo, his father Pippo, Sixten, Lars, and Nanna Iverson, and Travis Erickson as we see the torch of knowledge passed through generations and the traditions of craftsmanship and artistry told from their perspectives. The movie cultivates a feeling of melancholy and pride in a careful balance to leave the viewer pontificating where we are in our universe and what we leave behind.

“There is sometimes you sit back in awe and say look what the hell I did” - Lee Erck

Father the Flame also goes between factory pipes and the cultivated artisan pipe makers as it delves into what is art when it comes to craftsmanship, and why people collect pipes for their aesthetic beauty. Comparing artisan pipe making to other master artworks, like a Van Gogh painting it shows a reason why some of us are attracted the hobby of pipe collecting. Looking at the picture above, the birdseye in the grain, one can see the similarities to the famous painting Stary Night and draw comparisons to how we view and work with nature in art.

The music is done by Kyle Calvin Campbell and is a perfect match for the story especially when the movie weaves in our cosmic place in this life towards the end. Hearing the score I’m reminded of another similar movie with a haunting soundtrack - The Fountain. While the score of Father the Flame may not be as percussive as the Fountain, it does build to an impactful climax that helps close the movie out in a grand fashion.

After my first viewing I wanted to follow up with Chad to ask him a few questions about the film:

How does it feel to finally have the movie out after 7ish years?
It feels amazing to finally be at this stage. We started this project, in part to learn how to make a feature film ourselves from beginning to end. I’ve worked on a lot of other short and long-form projects before, but have never experienced this stage of content creation where something you’re deeply invested in gets to go out and find its home in the world. It’s a little nerve-wracking, but I’m mostly just excited to share it. I’ve been so floored by the overwhelmingly positive responses by those who’ve experienced the film so far. I hope it is well-received by a larger audience

Did the story change much as you captured more film and interviews?
It sure did. Having met Lee first, we always knew he’d be some kind of central figure or backdrop. But I cast a very wide net in terms of where the film would go. We delved into everything from nuanced details of pipe making, to pipe history to family relations and spirituality. A lot of that stemmed from where I was in life as a new father searching for stories of lasting legacy. But the film just kept revealing itself as we went, where new pieces would emerge as beautiful little dots that needed to be connected. My editor and good friend, Scott McCambridge made that possible.

What were a couple of things you learned when doing this movie?
Man… I learned a lot during the making of the film. There were countless pipe-related discoveries, for example, when we started I was really still relatively new to the pipe world. I’d been smoking for about three years, but still had no idea about the upper-end artisanal pipe market, nor what qualities went into those high-end pipes. The material of briar, the way it’s unpredictable really spoke to me once I grasped all that goes into it. Then there was the Native American use of the “peace pipe,” which deserves an entire film in itself. But the overarching takeaway for me is just the idea of being generous and improving upon the world you’re given. This is how lasting legacy is built, and how knowledge moves from one generation to the next. These were the bigger themes that the film seemed to want to explore.

What did Lee say when he saw the final movie?
Apart from an occasional, “Oh boy…!” he was pretty speechless from what I remember. We were worried at first it might get too personal for his liking, but he praised it effusively and was humbled and honored to have been included. From the beginning, he didn’t want it to be about just him and insisted we meet Mimmo and Frank Burla and a number of other folks. He continues to stay as active as he can it helping us promote it and attend screenings.

“I got too much good tobacco at home, aged stuff that….that I gotta smoke some of it.” - Lee Erck
When looking at the twilight of life, Lee’s words ring home for many pipe smokers and gives us a final grin as we think about our own tobacco cellars and the things we want to make sure we accomplish before we pass the torch ourselves.

Wrapping up I’d like to thank Chad for answering my questions, sending over the preview, and for completing this movie. As you get a chance to watch the movie, let me know what you think about it.

Find the movie on iTunes here

Additionally, it will be available on the following platforms:

Amazon
Google Play
Xbox / Microsoft Video
Redbox
Vudu
FandangoNow
Vimeo
Kaleidescape

In the following territories:
Anguilla
Antigua and Barbuda
Bahamas
Bermuda
Canada
Cayman Islands
Dominicana
Grenada
St. Kitts and Nevis
Trinidad and Tobago
United States
British Virgin Islands

James Foster goes by the online handle of Pylorns in the forums, and he is the creator of an app for keeping track of your tobacco cellar inventory called The Pipe Tool, serves as the President of the Austin Pipe Club and is a Certified Tobacconist.

Every day for nearly two weeks now, severe weather systems have spawned multiple tornadoes across America’s Midwest and Northeast—an average of 27.5 tornadoes a day, according to NBC News. From Oklahoma to New Jersey, storms have been bringing destructive winds and rainfall to small towns, farms, and suburbs, causing at least seven deaths and leaving behind ruined buildings, power outages, and the threat of flooding. Gathered here: images of some of the cities and towns affected by this tornado outbreak over the past 13 days.

A century ago, the Treaty of Versailles was signed, as much of the world was still recovering from the devastation of World War I. Rebuilding was just beginning, refugees were returning home, orphans were being cared for, and a global influenza outbreak was being battled. In other news, the Lincoln Memorial was nearing completion in Washington, D.C.; Vladimir Lenin was working to solidify the Soviet Republic; the Nineteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was passed—guaranteeing women the right to vote; a molasses disaster struck Boston; and much more. Please take a moment to look back at some of the events and sights from around the world 100 years ago.

After a nearly 30-year reign, Japan’s Emperor Akihito stepped down today in an abdication ceremony in Tokyo. The 85-year-old monarch is passing the throne to his son, Crown Prince Naruhito, after acknowledging that his age and poor health were making it difficult for him to fulfill his duties. Akihito was Japan’s 125th emperor, part of a line of succession that some have traced back more than 2,500 years. Below, a collection of images of Akihito and his wife, Michiko, through the years, first as prince and princess, then emperor and empress of Japan.

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Super Mario Maker 2 is heading to Nintendo Switch on June 28. It includes many aspects of the Wii U original, like building side-scrolling levels in the art style of games like Super Mario Bros., Super Mario World, and New Super Mario Bros. You can also upload your creations for others to play, or download other people's levels and play them. New features include a story mode, co-op level building, four-player multiplayer, a night theme, the moving sun enemy from Super Mario Bros. 3, and the ability to create slopes.

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Your choice of two systems, five games, and related accessories—saving you nearly $70 in the process.

A day after the devastating blaze that destroyed the roof and spire of the Notre-Dame cathedral, investigators and photographers were able to get a first look at the damage inside, including the preservation of a number of valuable artifacts and features among piles of debris and a heavily damaged roof. Private citizens and companies in France have stepped forward, pledging hundreds of millions of euros to help restore the treasured building.

Above: Donald Bell’s video review. Below: reviews by Jeff Shepperd and J. Sciarra

I was inspired by the recent review regarding a simple cone/filter combo for making a great cup of coffee. I’m of the same opinion. I’ve tried making single-serving coffee using various methods and once I found the Clever Coffee Dripper ($26) I have stayed with it.

It combines the best of pour-over and press methods to make a reliable single-serving cup of coffee. It acts like a pour-over cone except there is a valve on the bottom that doesn’t open until place the device on your cup. So you put in your filter, grinds and hot water and let it sit until your coffee is the desired strength. Then you place the dripper on your cup and it filters into your cup with no sediment.

I go a few extra steps: I weigh and grind my own beans, know just how long to microwave the water to get it to 190 degrees, moisten the grounds for 30 seconds before adding the rest of the water, and give it a stir once in the middle of the brewing process. However, I’ve had my kids make me a cup for Father’s day breakfast-in-bed where they just boil the water, scoop the beans and let it sit for four minutes and the coffee has been fine as well.

There are more buying options right now than when I bought it five years ago. I paid $20 but now you can get it for $25 with filters. The Amazon link should get you to the right one. I first bought the small version but it made a shy 8-ounce cup and I’m more of a 12 to 14-ounce mug guy. Even though the large version has a capacity of 18 ounces you lose some volume to the grounds and shouldn’t fill it to the brim anyway (if the water level goes above the filter you will get sediment in your cup). Another nicety is that it has a lid that helps retain heat during the brewing process. If you like a french press but don’t like the grit, this could be the solution for you. — Jeff Shepperd

*

This is in some ways a response to the recent post about the Melitta Perfect Brew Cone. The Clever Dripper is basically a Melitta-like cone with a stop valve at the bottom that releases when put over a cup or other receptacle. This means that you can place the Dripper on a countertop load it and pour water into it while not being perched on a cup. More importantly, the grounds get to steep for a whatever time period you deem correct (I generally give them a stir and leave for about 30 seconds) This is what makes the great pour over cup. The shortcoming of the regular Melitta system is the grounds don’t get a chance to release all their oils and such in a controlled manner. The clever dripper has the crowdsourced endorsement of friends and family. We all use it (my wife is an Aero Presser another good system working on the espresso principal.) This device, in my opinion, makes the best consistent cup of coffee with the least amount of fuss and cleanup. — J. Sciarra

Clever Coffee Dripper with 100 filters ($26)

Available from Amazon

I was recently given five white noise machines to review, one of which was the Avantek White Noise Sound Machine ($36). I’ve got to say that the Avantek is the one that impressed me the most. My husband is a light sleeper and he’s always had trouble sleeping through the night, while I have trouble getting to sleep in the first place.

We were traveling across Europe when I did the reviews, so I hoped that the white noise machine would mask the random noises coming from TVs and doors opening and closing in the night. I would use a fan for white noise before, which worked well for a while but would cause me to wake up cold in the winter months. I also tripped over the box a few times in the dark. So, I was happy and excited to get the chance to try something new.

My first impressions of the Avantek were good; the sound quality from the machine was rich and it sounded far better than anticipated. The machine is small but packs quite a punch in the volume department. I later discovered it has around 20 different sounds including nature sounds, birds, ocean waves, crickets, and general fan and white noises. There’s a lot to choose from. I thought I would prefer the sounds of rain, and the machine has two settings for rain; a more gentle rain or a hard surging rain with lots of volume variation. Then I discovered there was a hybrid sound that resembled the sound of soft rain in the distance coming through a window next to a quiet fan. This was the magic formula that I needed. I focused on the sound from the machine instead of all the things that I hadn’t gotten done at work. Before I knew it I opened my eyes and it was morning.

The white noise sounds are non-looping, so there are no breaks in sounds during use. Some machines have five- to ten-minute recordings that are broken by a silence or a click before replaying the sound. That’s not how the Avantek works. Instead, it plays the sound continuously with no indication that it has restarted a track.

There is a timer built into the Avantek, next to the speaker. From here you can choose a setting of 1, 2, or 4 hours. If you don’t set the time then the white noise machine will run until you turn it off. Since I would listen to it at night I just turned it off in the morning. The machine remembered the track setting and volume I used last, so I was able to just turn it back on to where I was the next night.

Nothing is perfect though, so what about this machine didn’t I like?

One thing is that I wish the volume settings were done with smaller increments. White noise is specific to the purpose and use after all. Though it is possible to make slight adjustments to the volume by changing the angle of the speaker.

I also wish that the manual listed all of the different noises. Instead, the machine has a track setting that lets you find the noise you want. I suppose that listing all the noises and making them easier to find would mean the unit cost more though.

Finally, the machine plays sonic repetitive “notes” under white noise. My husband comes from a musical background and was annoyed by this. I couldn’t tell it was there at all though and had no problem sleeping. If you don’t have a musical ear, you might not even notice it.

The Avantek comes equipped with a USB plug that can be plugged into an AC outlet. I reviewed the machine while traveling in Europe and had no problem using it with an adaptor (110-240v). That was great for me because I likely wouldn’t have been able to take it with me if I also had to take a heavy transformer. Please note that some machines do need a transformer! They can explode without them. (As happened to my poor defenseless tea making machine. A tragic loss I still mourn to this day.)

The machine has a modern design and it looked great on my nightstand. It doesn’t have an overly bright light that you need to tape over like other machines. The cord was plenty long enough to reach the high shelves on a bookshelf too.

The Bottom Line: My husband would sometimes wake up while using the machine, but he was able to fall back to sleep quickly without having to toss and turn. It helped me fall asleep faster and I noticed I had far more restful sleep. I’m definitely happy with the Avantek and would happily recommend it to others.

-- Hannah Edmonds

Avantek White Noise Sound Machine ($37)

Available from Amazon

Spend less time setting up, and more time enjoying the outdoors.

Earlier today, smoke was observed billowing from the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral, in central Paris; it was undergoing renovation work. The smoke grew and was followed by flames, which consumed the roof and caused the central spire of the cathedral to collapse. The gothic cathedral is visited by millions of tourists and locals every year. Authorities report no injuries or deaths at the moment, and have tentatively linked the fire to the renovations, which were due to have been completed in 2022. Below, some images of the disaster, and a handful of images from inside Notre-Dame before the fire.

The country shot down a missile last week, which has created a cloud of debris that risks damaging or destroying the ISS.

An unnamed person with a significant amount of wealth is planning to set up a real-life, 100-person battle royale event on a private island.

Hush Hush, which styles itself as “the world’s leading luxury shopping marketplace”, has received a request from an anonymous person who is looking for a gamemaker who can help organise the three-day event.

The plan thankfully does not require participants to actually kill each other; instead players will be equipped with airsoft guns and touch-sensitive body armour. The last person standing is set to win a £100,000 prize.

The plan is for the anonymous millionaire to acquire a private island, which will be the setting for this real-life battle royale. The competition will run for three days, with 12 hours of competition each day. During the night time, players will be able to camp for the night. All camping gear and food will be provided.

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We're starting to delve deeper into the world of The Witcher, Netflix's forthcoming series starring Henry Cavill as Geralt of Rivia, with the new info about the highly anticipated series dropping at Comic-Con.

While many fans are probably familiar with The Witcher franchise thanks to the massively popular action RPG series from CD Projekt Red, the upcoming Netflix adaptation is actually based on the series of novels and short stories by Andrzej Sapkowski, which inspired the games but feature some key differences - like the way Geralt carries his swords.

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At least three people are confirmed to have lost their lives so far amid record-setting floods affecting parts of Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri, and other nearby states. Thousands of people have been asked to evacuate, and many have been away from their homes for days in hard-hit Nebraska, following last week’s “bomb cyclone” weather system that dropped huge amounts of precipitation—adding to existing troubles from heavy snowmelt and ice-choked rivers. Dams and levees were overwhelmed, roads have been washed away, and some neighborhoods, farms, and military bases now sit in water up to eight feet deep. Some of the rivers in eastern Nebraska are beginning to recede, and others are expected to crest within 24 hours. Areas downstream, along the Mississippi River Valley, are preparing for likely flooding.

The Nesco Food Dehydrator ($60) is a simple, affordable, and well-built tool for drying foods quickly and thoroughly. Though not an every-day-use item for most people, it becomes absolutely essential when it is needed.

I recently went on a weekend trip hunting for morels and returned with far more than I could eat. Luckily, this dehydrator made short work of the excess. The stackable trays easily fit 60 whole small morels and many of the larger ones which I’d cut in half. Altogether, I fit about three pounds of mushrooms in fivetrays.

Like the previously reviewed Excalibur Food Dehydrator, the Nesco model has a temperature control, fan, and heating unit. The Nesco’s heating unit is built into the top (cheaper models heat bottom-up) that sits atop the stack of trays and blows air through a central column allowing for better distribution and airflow throughout.

I used a temperature of 110F when drying morels, and left them to dry over night for about 8 hours. Since any moisture can lead to a ruined batch, I made sure to let them dry out for a little longer than necessary. They were perfectly dried the next morning, and ready for storage in an airtight container.

While I have mainly used this model for mushrooms, the large trays and variable temperature dial (95-160F) allows for a wide range of dried foods to be made. This particular model is also expandable to 12 trays if you need to dry a truly astonishing amount of food.

The Nesco, when compared with the Excalibur, has the benefit of being nearly $125 dollars cheaper combined with a smaller (though expandable) footprint, a relatively-quiet fan, and similarly adjustable temperature.

— Oliver Hulland

I have experience with both the Excalibur and the more recently-reviewed Nesco, a smaller and less expensive dehydrator. The Excalibur is a superior product if you are a heavy user and tend to be drying large batches of produce at once. It has quite a bit more capacity due to the design (no center hole and square racks make a big difference). The horizontal airflow system does dry large batches more uniformly. Although you can add racks to the Nesco, it dries less efficiently, and once you add in the cost of extra racks you are approaching the same price as the Excalibur.

Having said that, the price on the Nesco has really dropped and the top-down heater/blower is a nice upgrade over the older bottom-fan models. Heck, you could almost get three of them for the same price as an Excalibur, although that would take up a lot of storage space and use more energy to power 3 units.

— JC

-- Oliver Hulland

[This is a Cool Tools Favorite from 2007]

Nesco 700-Watt 5 Tray Dehydrator ($60)

Available from Amazon

I am over-weight and have a large waist. My car’s seat belt is sometimes difficult to buckle and also drags across my neck. I purchased extenders from ‘Seat Belt Extender Pros’. They offer different types of extenders to fit various cars. They come in different colors and lengths. You can choose a rigid version that will stick up by itself or ones with a loose fabric belt; you can also choose adjustable extenders. I use the rigid ones so I don’t have to reach further down to find the buckle. Extenders also help with you are wearing large coats which can get in the way when trying to buckle up. The extender moves the buckle up several inches, based on the length you choose, which will also change the angle the seat belt crosses your body and your neck. I own a Grey 7 inch rigid version for my 2017 Subaru Outback. I also have a similar beige extender for my 2004 Honda CR-V.

-- Russel Brooks

Seat Belt Extender ($18+)

Available from Amazon

On March 3, a tornado outbreak struck several southern states in the U.S., including Alabama, where a monster of a tornado reached estimated wind speeds of 170 mph. It left a path of destruction more than 20 miles long in Lee County, killing 23 people and injuring at least 100 others. In the days since, survivors have been picking through the pieces of their homes, recovering what they can, as they try to determine their next steps.

As Hurricane Florence passes out of the area, the floodwaters from the record rainfall continue to threaten some parts of North and South Carolina, with major rivers expected to reach their peak flood levels in the next few hours or days. For much of the past week, residents have been evacuating or fleeing from Florence, many of them carrying their beloved furry companions. Dogs, cats, and other animals that were left behind, or were caught in the storm, are now being rescued and cared for by owners, neighbors, and first responders.

The gun was so good, the military asked the company to build something else.

Authorities are now saying at least 18 deaths have been caused by Hurricane Michael across four states. Michael crashed into the Florida Panhandle on October 10 as a powerful Category 4 storm, with sustained winds of 155 mph. One of the hardest-hit towns was Florida’s Mexico Beach, southeast of Panama City, where entire neighborhoods appear to have been erased by the ferocious winds—the debris of the structures scattered far inland among boats and shattered trees. Below, recent photographs from Mexico Beach, Panama City, and neighboring towns, as the full extent of the damage wrought by Michael becomes clearer.

Spending time looking at the varying and beautiful images of our planet from above in Google Earth, zooming in and out at dizzying rates, I thought it would be interesting to compare all of these vistas at a fixed scale—to see what New York City, Venice, or the Grand Canyon would look like from the same virtual height. So, the following images are snapshots from Google Earth, all rectangles of the same size and scale, approximately three and a half miles (5.6 kilometers) wide by two miles (3.2 kilometers) tall—showing seven square miles (18.1 square kilometers, or 4,480 acres) of the surface of our planet in each view.

As the days grow shorter, one might feel a strong urge to find a warm place indoors and cozy up to a good book. As much as our world hurtles toward digitized information, physical books remain popular, useful, and revered items. We share, use, collect, and read billions of books every year, and we house our most treasured ones in libraries, in some of the most remarkable architecture around the world. And for those who cannot access these amazing buildings, there are volunteers who fill the need as they can, creating mobile libraries to bring books to people in remote places. Today, a visual feast—glimpses of libraries big and small, new and old, from across the globe.

As the costumes are put away, the decorations taken down, and candy wrappers gathered from every corner of the house, I thought it would be fun to take one last look at this year’s fun and creepy Halloween celebrations, with photographs from Canada, Turkey, the United States, China, Japan, Chile, England, Poland, and more. It’s only a matter of days before Christmas music will start to fill every public space.

My new favorite tool is the Tube Wringer ($28), from Gill Mechanical.

From their website: “The Tube-Wringer efficiently squeezes the contents from tubes of caulk, glue, medical compounds, adhesives, and toothpaste. Nearly indestructible, the Tube-Wringer will last a lifetime under normal use and pay for itself in short order.”

In addition to sqeezing every little bit out of just about any tube, the squeezed part is left with a zig-zag texture so future usage doesn’t undo the squeezing. Tubes are left efficiently squeezed, and cool looking. My only problem is that I wish I had more partially-used tubes available because it’s so satisfying to squeeze every last bit out of them.

-- Sally Rosenthal

[This is a Cool Tools Favorite from 2003]

Heavy Duty Tube Wringer ($28)

Available from Amazon

The 91st Academy Awards took place last night in Hollywood, and despite the lack of a host, it moved along at a good pace. Nominees and their supporters dressed to impress, the winners sparked celebration (and controversy), tears were shed, speeches were made, and parties were attended. You should definitely read Hannah Giorgis on Black Panther’s technical wins, but I also invite you to view the collection of photos below, from last night’s festivities.

And it's a complete mystery as to how it got there.

The actor had reported being the victim of a racist and homophobic attack. Prosecutors say that report was not true.

(Image credit: Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)