The barbecue offerings from award-winning Owens and Hull. | Owens and Hull
Barbecue in Atlanta ranges from pitmaster purists who adhere to tradition, using Southern smoking and grilling techniques, to pitmasters who add their creative or cultural flair, such as Viet-Cajun, Indian, or Caribbean influences, not to mention lemon-pepper seasoned offerings that pay homage to Atlanta itself. It should come as no surprise that barbecue is a really big deal in Atlanta and requires itsvery ownlist. From barbecue platters at sit-down restaurants to smoked meat plates paired with Southern sides served at pop-ups, no matter where you live or are traveling to around Atlanta, these are the barbecue spots to know.
This latest update by pop-chef Candy Hom includes new additions like Owens and Hull, Gene’s BBQ, Dhaba BBQ, and Jimmie’s Jerk Barbecue, among longtime staples in the city. Our latest taste test of Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q on a Delta One flight is also mentioned. The barbecue joints are listed geographically from south to north. Don’t see a favorite on this list? Send Eater Atlanta the details via the tipline for consideration on the next update.
When people talk about all-day fast food items, it’s always, “When will McDonald’s bring back all-day breakfast?” and never “Why can’t I get a burger at 7 a.m.?” Well, if you fall into the latter category of people who want to kick off their day with a big ole burger without an egg or hash brown in sight, I’ve got…
If you’ve ever wondered just how passionate people are about free samples at Costco, look no further than these 2 incidents:
2015: At a Southern California Costco, a 78-year-old was punched in the face after accusing a 24-year-old of hogging too many Nutella waffle samples. An arrest was made.
2018: At a South Carolina Costco, 2 septuagenarians on a cheeseburger sample binge got into a spat over line etiquette that ended in a hat-flying slap to the face.
It may seem odd that a few small nibbles on toothpicks would incite violence. But this conduct is rooted in behavioral psychology.
In short, free stuff makes us do very strange, irrational things.
We’ll look at how “free” affects consumer behavior across 3 different areas: grocery store samples, shipping, and online content.
The ‘positive glow’ of not having to pay
Dan Ariely, a professor of behavioral economics at Duke University and the author of Predictably Irrational, has researched the allure of free for years in all kinds of settings.
One time, he even hired somebody to give out free tattoos at a party. People who otherwise may not have considered a tattoo — especially not on a whim — got inked up because the price was right.
“There is something special about being free,” Ariely tells The Hustle.
In 2007, he co-authored a study titled “Zero as a Special Price: The True Value of Free Products” in which participants were asked to choose one of the following:
A free Hershey’s Kiss
A $0.13 Lindt truffle (a superior product in quality that retails for multiples more than a Hershey’s Kiss)
More than 2x as many people chose the free Hershey’s Kiss than chose the $0.13 Lindt truffle. But when Ariely and his co-authors put a $0.01 price tag on the Hershey’s Kiss and adjusted the Lindt truffle price by a mere penny, participants overwhelmingly selected the Lindt truffle.
Zachary Crockett / The Hustle
The researchers conducted other experiments involving real chocolates and photos of chocolates, and the results were similar every time.
They dubbed this the zero price effect: People overvalue things that are free and make irrational decisions in many cases when something free is involved.
Kristina Shampanier, a co-author of the study who now works at an economics consulting firm, told The Hustle the behavior is irrational because the research participants who picked the free item gave up something better, something they should prefer in a traditional cost-benefit analysis.
People do it because they are guided by a good feeling — “a positive glow that people have about not having to pay,” according to Shampanier.
As Ariely explains further, when people see something for free, they don’t see the downside.
Most days, we’re not confronted with a choice between free Hershey’s Kisses and inexpensive Lindt chocolates. We do, however, face situations where accepting a free offer feels good but isn’t necessarily the best deal.
Free shipping
According to the 2019 Walker Sands Future of Retail Survey, 77% of 1.6k respondents said free shipping had made them more likely to buy an item online, ranking far above inducements like same-day shipping or the ability to visualize products in 3D.
Zachary Crockett / The Hustle
In a study about free shipping in ecommerce, former Wharton School professor David Bell found that free shipping lulled buyers into financially unsound decisions.
The consumers he studied preferred to save $6.99 and get free shipping, versus saving $10 on the purchase price but still pay for shipping, even though the savings would have been greater.
In addition to the positive glow inherent in the free offer, Ariely says the popularity of free shipping is attractive for another reason. Consumers, he says, have a difficult time understanding why shipping should cost anything:
They feel OK paying for a tangible product, but they don’t compute how the time and labor involved with shipping should drive up the price.
The added price of shipping makes them see the total purchase as having an “unfair” cost.
When the “unfair” barrier is removed (by making shipping free), people are more likely to buy the product.
FedEx workers sorting and processing packages with free shipping on Cyber Monday in 2008 (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
And inexpensive shipping isn’t nearly as effective as free shipping — at least anecdotally.
During Amazon’s early days, the company introduced free shipping in several European countries. In France, it reduced shipping to one franc. While business increased dramatically in the free shipping countries, purchases in France didn’t rise at nearly as high of a rate.
Free samples
When stores like Costco, Sam’s Club, Whole Foods, and Walmart halted free samples at the peak of the pandemic, they had to adjust.
Why so much trouble for a freebie? It’s simple: Free samples often make people spend money.
To get samples in stores, businesses typically partner with independent companies that staff sampling events and that have relationships with major stores.
Based on 2011 data from The Street, costs for contracting with a demonstration company for one sampling event at a grocery store range from $150 to $340 a day. Companies spend ~$2B a year on free samples.
The returns are usually high, both for the companies looking to sell new products and the stores.
The former supermarket chain Marsh found68% of samplers were persuaded to buy a product after sampling.
A sampling event by one brand leads to higher average sales of brands in the same category that were not part of the sampling event, according to a Brigham Young University study.
When Ziploc sampled a new space bag at Costco, it saw a 156% sales increase. Products in categories like beer, wine, cheese, and frozen pizza have seen increases ranging from 71% to 600%.
Zachary Crockett / The Hustle
Researchers have identified several reasons behind the success of the free samples, from customers gaining familiarity with a product they may have otherwise never tried to customers learning where sampled products are located in the store after sampling them.
But because something free is involved, irrationality is also at play.
The “free” aspect of a free sample causes the same glowing feeling that people experienced with the Hershey’s Kisses, and, Ariely says, people who receive the free sample want to reciprocate.
“You feel obligated to some degree, [making] it more likely you buy the full package,” Ariely says.
But the feeling of reciprocation doesn’t apply everywhere.
Free content
Whether it’s a Substack newsletter or a publication as decorated as The New York Times, many media outlets have readership bases built on giving away a few stories before requiring people to sign up for a subscription.
On the surface, it sounds similar to offering a free sample. So readers should be basking in the glow of a free deal after consuming a couple of articles and then feeling the need to reciprocate, right?
Ariely says the circumstances are different.
People who read 3 articles for free may want to read another when they bump up against a paywall. But they may see a monthly subscription rate as an expensive price for one more article.
For food and drink items that get sampled at stores, people are familiar with their regular prices. Because so much content is still free on the internet, people think of online media “in the realm of free.”
Some 20% of Americans pay for online news, according to the Reuters Institute’s Digital News Report for 2020. Their reasons for subscribing are varied, ranging from supporting a specific journalist, to wanting to get ahead in their careers, to believing that paying for news is a societal good.
Zachary Crockett / The Hustle
But ~40% of Americans say they would never pay for news.
Similarly, Ariely says hardly anybody would want to pay for Facebook after being ingrained in its ad-based model for so long.
Yet free content isn’t necessarily the best deal. It’s possible that subscription news sites are higher quality than the free options and also that the free sites — as well as the free version of Facebook we’re accustomed to — include more ads that hook users into paying more money in the long run.
The behavior isn’t rational, a common thread when something free is involved.
PLUS: The cost of leaving Russia, and TikTok’s endless meetings.
You never know what treasures are hiding in plain sight at your local Goodwill. In Texas, one store unknowingly sold an ancient Roman bust for $34.99. For now, it’s on display at the San Antonio Museum of Art, but it will ultimately return to Germany, where it was once part of a 19th-century Bavarian king’s art collection until looted during WWII.
In today’s email:
Forgot password: Is the age of passwords over?
Chart: How leaving Russia is costing energy companies.
Digits: Meetings, trademarks, babies, and more.
Around the web: An ESG glossary, a map of famous (or infamous) residents, kittens meeting puppies, and more cool internet finds.
🎧 On the go? Listen to today’s quick podcast to hear Jacob dive into the lucrative market for oddly shaped snacks and discuss why some people will spend $100k on a single Dorito chip.
The big idea
Are passwords over?
Passwords suck. They’re the root cause of 81% of data breaches, but due to the dizzying number of online accounts people have, 65% of us still reuse them.
But guess what? Apple, Google, and Microsoft will roll out no-password login options over the coming year, per the Fast Identity Online (FIDO) Alliance, which sets standards for passwordless authentication.
Instead of using a password, you’ll sign in with your smartphone or other devices — similar to 2-factor authentication. But this method is called “public key cryptography.”
How it works
Let’s say you decide to create an account with your favorite online retailer, CuteKittySocks.com.
When you register, a key pair is made: a public key shared with CuteKittySocks.com, and a private key that stays on your phone.
Keys are just big-ass connected numbers. For example, a private key could be 2 long prime numbers, and a public key would be what you’d get if you multiplied them.
But you won’t see these digits. You log in the same way you unlock your phone (e.g., entering a PIN or scanning your fingerprint). Your phone verifies with CuteKittySocks.com that you have the right key and, meow, you’re in!
Okay, but what if…
… someone steals your phone? They’d still need to complete the challenge, meaning they’d need to know your PIN or have possession of your finger.
Meanwhile, your keys are backed up on the cloud, so you can store them on multiple devices in the event one is lost or damaged, or transfer them to new ones. Other benefits:
FIDO protects against phishing attempts, per Apple.
You won’t even have to use a password during initial sign-up, perThe Verge.
However, there are still hurdles. Not everyone has a smartphone or device new enough to adopt passwordless logins.
And one survey found that while 85% of respondents wanted to use fewer passwords, 72% believed others would stick with passwords because it’s familiar.
Fun fact: A recent survey by digital safety platform Aura found 39% of US pet owners have used their pet’s name in a password — 48% of whom have also posted their pet’s name online.
SNIPPETS
Elon Musk presented a pitch deck with his plans for Twitter. Goals include: 5x’ing revenue by 2028, cutting the company’s reliance on ads by 50%, and generating $15m from a payments business.
New crypto unit: Google’s cloud team formed a new Web3 group offering services to developers building on the blockchain.
Gaming partnership: Microsoft partnered with Epic Games to offer Fortnite for free through Xbox Cloud Gaming, its gaming streaming service.
Buyer wanted: Peloton is seeking a buyer for a 20% stake amid recent struggles. The connected fitness pioneer, whose co-founder John Foley stepped down as CEO in February, has seen its stock drop ~55% in 2022.
Crypto is for the girls: The crypto industry’s gender gap is troubling, but innovation to fix the problem is underway. The Hustle rounded up the crypto orgs diversifying the space, and spoke with female founders blazing the trail.
Shopify bought Deliverr, an ecommerce fulfillment and storage company, for ~$2.1B to complement its warehouse hubs and expand next-day and 2-day delivery for its merchants. #ecommerce-retail
#ecommerce-retail
General Motors CEO Mary Barrasaid GM will sell more EVs than any other manufacturer in the US by mid-decade, focusing on affordable models. #clean-energy
#clean-energy
The US Forest Service will use drones to combat wildfires. One type spots new fires, while another starts fires near existing wildfires to deprive them of fuel. #emerging-tech
#emerging-tech
The SEC accused Nvidia of failing to disclose to investors how crypto mining increased demand for its graphics cards, typically used for gaming. Now, Nvidia will pay a $5.5m settlement. #fintech-crypto
#fintech-crypto
Spotify is ditching Stations, an app it began piloting in 2018 that allows users to listen to personalized playlists but not pick specific tracks… Kind of like the radio. #big-tech
#big-tech
Chart
Selina Lee
Backing out of Russia is costing oil companies billions
For some corporations, leaving Russia isn’t easy — take McDonald’s, which is losing $50m/mo. by shutting down its Russian restaurants.
But oil companies are making Mickey D’s losses look like child’s play: 4 of petroleum’s biggest players have lost a collective~$38B by shutting down Russian operations, per WSJ.
Among the group…
… BP was hit the hardest, taking a $25.5B accounting charge in Q1. Shell, TotalEnergies, and Exxon have each taken multi-billion dollar charges of their own.
But it’s not all doom and gloom in the world of petrol.
With the US national average for a gallon of regular gas up ~46% YoY, those same oil companies are swimming in cash.
Case in point: BP’s stock is up 5% since taking the loss.
Free Resource
The 3-decade evolution of web design
Everyone’s mouthing about Web3, but don’t forget to look back every so often to remember exemplary sh*t of the past.
The World Wide Web has transformed many times since 1991. Paradigm shifts from the 1st-ever website to parallax-scrolling goodness like this NY-based designer’s homepage are detailed in this HubSpot blog post.
85-hours of meetings? Yup. (Source: Tim Garcha / Getty)
Digits: TikTok meetings, babies, and more
1) The Wall Street Journal detailed the work experiences of some former US TikTok employees who claim to have averaged 85 hours of meetings per week. The Chinese company has 1.5k US employees and plans to hire ~8.5k more.
2) A new study tracking 305,422 trademarksfrom 1976-2014 found companies that filed with a higher “trademark intensity” — the trademark count as a percentage of total assets — performed 5.2% better on the stock market than those with low scores.
3) The US unemployment rate for 16- to 19-year-old workers was 10.2% in April. That’s way down from the sky-high 31.9% rate in April 2020, and not far off from the 68-year low of 9.6% in May 2021.
4) Q1 2022 saw more money spent on lobbying than ever — $1B+, up from <$929m last year. Meta and Amazon were the 7th and 8th highest spenders at $5.4m and $5.3m+, respectively.
5) Googoogaga. In the week ending April 24, a study across 11k+ US stores found 40% of baby formula products were out of stock, up from 31% on April 3 and way up from 11% in November.
AROUND THE WEB
🤱 On this day: In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson announced the 1st national Mother’s Day as the 2nd Sunday of May, though other states had already been celebrating it.
🌳 Useful: A glossary of common terms in the Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) space, including ESG investing, which “seeks positive returns and long-term positive impacts on society, the environment, and the performance of the business.”
🐆 That’s interesting: Miguel Ordeñana discovered P-22, a mountain lion famous for crossing LA’s freeways. Now, he advocates for connecting habitats to save wildlife.
⭐ That’s cool:This map replaces the name of each city with the resident people search for on Wikipedia the most. Results may include people who were born in, lived in, or are otherwise connected to a place.
🐾 Aww: Kittens and puppies meet each other for the 1st time.
Meme of the Day
Can’t forget a password if it doesn’t exist. (Source: Imgflip.com)
Every Sunday (ahem — so, like, 60% of Sundays) I have a little ritual where I check in to make sure I’m on the right path.
I use a framework called the 1-in-60 rule. If I had to give you one guide to living a happy life, I think I’d give you this one.
The 1-in-60 rule…
… is a framework pilots use for navigation. It means that for every one degree a plane veers off its course, it misses its target destination by one mile for every 60 miles flown
The thesis is, the further you go, the further away from your goal or destination you get.
I’ve found this is true in life, too — if you don’t track your progress consistently, you’ll veer off course. So often we obsess over a number, like $1m in net worth, 1m subscribers, $10k in monthly income, that we can forget the bigger picture.
So, how do you make sure you’re on the right path?
You grab yourself a nice big glass of red. You sit down to some music (I like instrumental). You open your computer. Then you ask yourself some questions.
Here are a couple I ask myself:
Am I happy doing what I am doing right now?
Looking back at last week, how much of my day was spent doing things I actively enjoyed? How’d that compare to the week before?
Then I throw all those answers and questions in Evernote. It turns out it’s a lot harder to get lost when you’re constantly looking at the map.
Though its design pays homage to the first-ever G-Shock, the MRGB500 is a rugged, state-of-the-art tech powerhouse that's built to withstand any situation.
If you love vintage monster flicks of the 1950s and 1960s, enjoy these original trailers, a few of which are so awful they helped inspire "Mystery Science Theatre"! But director Joe Dante reminds us there are at least a couple of gems in there, including "Unearthly Stranger" and "Invaders from Mars".
AQUA superPower develops a network of fast-charging stations for e-boats.
Electric cars are increasing in numbers, but there’s still the issue of enough charging stations around the country to make them mainstream. The same goes for boats, and even though it’ll take longer for technology to catch up, AQUA superPower isn’t waiting. It has developed the first electric fast-charging station specifically designed for the marine environment.
“With over seventy electric boatbuilders and powertrain manufacturers currently operating, the range of available models is constantly expanding,” says CEO Alex Bamberg. “AQUA’s goal is to support all electric boat users by providing the infrastructure that will enable coastlines and inland waters to establish a lasting tradition of sustainable boating.”
With electric automobiles, a fast charge to keep the car moving on the road is paramount, and it’s the same with electric boats. Without the infrastructure, a move away from liquid carbon fuels for a sustainable boating culture won’t happen anytime soon.
“Clean marine mobility works best when recreational and commercial boat users can take advantage of conveniently located charging stations throughout their local area,” says Bamberg. “These e-boat corridors are central to the AQUA vision, developing critical regional infrastructure.”
Current Locations
Lake Tahoe, California, is one such region where the chargers are expected to be installed this summer with more planned in both coastal and inland lake locations. It all started in Monaco, and charger installations continue to expand in the south of France, Spain, the UK, and Canada. Italy currently has one in Portofino and one in Venice.
Each station provides AC and DC charging with a current maximum power output of 150 kW which allows DC-compatible powerboats to rapidly recharge and get on their way. The units are constructed using Hydro CIRCAL recycled aluminum, are fully sealed, and built to IP65 standards.
The AQUA75 that was on display at the Miami International Boat Show has up to 75 kW output power with 480VAC and is similar in size to a fuel pump at a gas station. The twin Combined Charging System allows AC charging using connectors based on the geographical region. Pull up, plug in, and recharge.
App Support
The AQUA superPower Fast Charging Station is supported exclusively by the AQUA network which is accessible to marine users via the AQUA secure app, secure contactless payment, or RFID card. The app will allow users to view a map showing charger options and offer navigational aids to guide them to charger locations.
What makes it nice for the marina is that AQUA will own, operate, and maintain the network of smart chargers using its own cloud-based back-office system giving safe access to a range of user functionalities. It provides a fully funded, turn-key solution to marina owners and waterside locations which includes upgrading grid connections, supplying and installing charging hardware, maintenance and operation, and managing the customer experience. There is no cost to the marina.
“Shore power is not sufficient to meet the needs of electric boats,” adds Bamberg. “Battery efficiency, size, and regular usage mean that owners will want to charge quickly in order to enjoy a full day out. AQUA chargers allow them to charge in twenty to ninety minutes. Shore power can take more than three days.”
Partnering Up
It is estimated that there will be more than 1 million electric boats by 2030, all of which will require charging infrastructure to support them, and AQUA superPower is not only partnering with marinas across the globe but also with electric boat manufacturers.
Just days before the Palm Beach International Boat Show this past March, AQUA announced an alliance with X Shore, the Swedish supplier of electric boats in Europe and North America, to collaborate in driving infrastructure compatibility and technical standards for electrification across the marine industry as well as to “demonstrate the ecosystem and interoperability required to support marinas, boatbuilders, and consumers in the unstoppable transition to marine e-mobility.”
The announcement continued: “The marine e-mobility ecosystem requires a safe and reliable user interface providing clear guidance to charge points, coupled with ‘Plug and Charge’ technology when adoption becomes widespread.”
AQUA superPower is developing an all-electric and integrated global ecosystem of marine superchargers to reduce the impact of boating on the marine environment, and it seems they’ve caught the wave toward the future. aqua-superpower.com
OAK BROOK, Ill. — Brain scans discovering a key sign of cognitive decline could help doctors spot Alzheimer’s before symptoms ever begin, a new study reveals. Scientists with the Radiological Society of North America have linked increased volume in a brain region called the choroid plexus to greater cognitive impairment. The discovery offers hope of…
The first summer I lived in New York City was a sweltering reality check. Coming from the Northwest, I had never had an air conditioner, and I didn’t think I could afford one (or the higher electric bills). I spent that first summer tossing and turning in the muggy heat. By the following summer, I had wised up and invested in an A.C., but even then the window unit didn’t effectively cool my space.
An air conditioner is the obvious best fix for a hot bedroom. But if you don’t have one, there are some relatively simple and affordable steps you can take to keep your bedroom cool. And if you do have one, you can maximize all that conditioned air by keeping heat from entering your bedroom — or the cool air from escaping. Switching up your bedding can also go a long way to making you more comfortable.
With that in mind, here are five cheap(ish) things to help keep your bedroom cool even on the hottest nights of summer.
This inexpensive paper option doesn’t look as nice as other blinds we tested, but it’s a great quick fix. You can trim it to any size, and it hangs from an adhesive strip.
Window treatments can make a big impact on keeping your room cool. Nearly any shades or curtains will help reduce solar heat coming through the windows, but some are better at the job than others. Insulated cellular shades are particularly effective at blocking out light, but a paper option like the Redi Shade Original Blackout Pleated Paper Shade should also get the job done. While these shades won’t keep all the sunlight out, they still blocked a significant amount of light in our tests. These paper shades can be cut to custom fit your windows, and are easy to install, with a peel-and-stick application process. Shades should fit tightly, meaning no gaps at the sides of the window frame.
These adhesive foam strips are a simple and cost-effective way to close the gaps around your windows, so you can keep the inside air where it belongs (and keep your energy bill down).
Drafty windows and gaps under a door can defeat much of the work of an air conditioner. Leaks from the windows and under doors can let hot, humid air inside (and allow cool, conditioned air to escape). I realized this firsthand several summers ago, when my apartment remained stubbornly muggy despite cranking my A.C. unit. After I stuffed foam weatherstripping in the gaps of my windows, I noticed an immediate improvement in the chill factor. To fill any gaps along the side rails of single- and double-hung windows, or around a window A.C. unit, Wirecutter recommends V-seal stripping and foam strips. In a pinch, you can also use a rolled-up towel at the bottom of a door to help keep cool air inside.
A fan won’t lower the temperature of your room, but it will move the air around, which can make you feel cooler by helping sweat to evaporate. Wirecutter recommends the Dreo Fox One as its budget pick. We like that it’s quiet, effective and affordable. For those without air conditioning, you could also use a window fan like the Bionaire Twin Reversible Airflow Window Fan to draw cool air into your room. Just keep in mind that window fans are most effective at cooling when used in a mild or dry climate.
Just as the shift of seasons calls for a change of wardrobe, switching to lighter sheets will help you stay more comfortable in warm weather. I prefer linen sheets, because they’re extremely breathable, but they can be quite pricey. For a more affordable option, Wirecutter recommends a variety of lightweight percale sheets, including affordable sets from L.L. Bean and Brooklinen. While they’re less expensive than linen, they’re not dirt cheap; in tests, Wirecutter found that really inexpensive percale sheets can feel very scratchy.
Cooler and lighter than other blankets we’ve tested, this casual ribbed coverlet has a thick cotton top backed with a layer of gauze, which makes it durable but still airy to sleep under.
Spring and summer nights can be unpredictable, so it’s good to layer linens, just as you do with clothes. If you want something that’s just slightly heavier than a top sheet, consider the Riley Textured Cotton Coverlet, Wirecutter’s pick for a gauze blanket that’s durable, breathable, and looks nice in the room. It snags easily, but it’s very breathable and affordable. If you need something more substantial for cooler nights, Wirecutter recommends the L.L.Bean Maine-Made Cotton Twill Blanket. It’s the perfect weight for a New England or Northwest summer.
My own musical education began with radio, listening from the back of a green Ford Explorer while my dad drove me to kindergarten. The now-defunct “96.5 WHTQ, Orlando’s Classic Rock Station!” provided the soundtrack to my childhood. When I took over Wirecutter’s testing of tabletop radios, it was like being transported back in time, in the most delightfully nostalgic way.
What makes a great tabletop radio? That depends on who you ask. Sure, sound quality and reception are important, but our research has shown that many radio owners also want something stylish that will look great in their home. For others, perks like HD Radio reception, Bluetooth compatibility, or portability are a must. That’s why our recommendations cover a variety of radio functions and styles, from retro designs to colorful, portable options to more modern stereo setups. But they’ve all passed our reception and sound tests, too.
If
any film can be called the quintessential film noir, it has to be Double
Indemnity. Even film noir scholar Eddie Muller, the go-to author and
historian who seems to appear in every supplemental feature attached to Blu-ray
and DVD disks of film noir titles, agrees.
Double
Indemnity,
directed by Billy Wilder and released in 1944, contains every cinematic trait
that is associated with film noir: cynical characters, a femme fatale,
betrayal, voice-over narration, witty dialogue, contrasting light and shadow,
German expressionism in the production design and camerawork, smoking,
drinking, murder, and an unhappy ending.
Based
on James M. Cain’s scandalous 1943 novel (but it was first serialized in Liberty
magazine in 1936), the picture was a challenge to the Hays Office censors,
for the Production Code was heavily enforced at the time. Several studios had attempted
to buy the rights in 1936, but the Hays Office warned producers that the novel
was a non-starter as a Hollywood production. Years later, just after the
separate publication of the book, Paramount tried again and this time, based on
a treatment by Billy Wilder and his writing partner Charles Brackett, they were
able to secure the rights.
Apparently,
Brackett felt the material was too seedy and left the project, so Wilder sought
out a new collaborator to pen the screenplay. Raymond Chandler landed the job,
and the resulting alliance was the stuff of Hollywood gossip and legend. The
two men couldn’t stand working together, but nevertheless the turmoil was the
necessary ingredient. The screenplay, nominated for an Academy Award, is
brilliant. What is especially notable is how the writers fooled the Hays Office
with it. The dialogue was full of innuendo that spelled out to an audience
exactly what was going on, even though no literal words were said that
indicated that two people were committing adultery. Wilder and Chandler
improved Cain’s dialogue in this manner, and it’s a delight to hear what comes
out of the mouths of Barbara Stanwyck, Fred MacMurray, and Edward G. Robinson
during the course of the picture. (Phyllis, responding to unsubtle advances:
“There’s a speed limit in this town.” Walter: “How fast was I going, officer?”)
Walter
Neff (MacMurray) is an insurance salesman who calls on the Dietrichson house to
renew an auto policy, but Mr. Dietrichson isn’t home. However, his wife,
Phyllis (Stanwyck) is. There is an immediate attraction and flirtation, which
leads to you-know-what. Phyllis eventually talks Walter into getting a life
insurance policy—with a double indemnity clause (it pays double for accidental
death)—for Phyllis’ husband, whom she can’t stand. Once Dietrichson (Tom
Powers) is tricked into signing the policy, the naughty couple set out to
murder him and make it look like an accident, and they succeed. Even Walter’s
canny boss, Barton Keyes (Robinson), who has a “little man” inside of him that
senses when something doesn’t add up, believes the story until he starts to
closely examine all the angles. Throw in Dietrichson’s grown daughter from a
previous marriage, Lola (Jean Heather), and now there’s an additional threat
that comes between Walter and Phyllis. Keyes gets closer to the truth, Walter
gets paranoid, Phyllis goes a little mad, and things heat up to a boiling
point.
The
acting, the direction, the script, the cinematography (by John F. Seitz), the
editing, and the music score (by Miklós Rózsa),
are all superb and were nominated for Oscars in each of these categories
(Stanwyck was up for Best Actress). Why MacMurray and Robinson were not also
nominated is a mystery worthy of Raymond Chandler! More significantly, Double
Indemnity confirmed Billy Wilder’s future in Hollywood as one of the great,
classic filmmakers.
The
picture has been issued on home video many times in all formats, including
Blu-ray. The Criterion Collection has now released two new editions—one in 4K
UHD and Blu-ray combo (three disks), and another in just Blu-ray (two disks). The
4K digital restoration is the best this reviewer has ever seen the movie. It’s
a flawless presentation with an uncompressed monaural soundtrack.
A
vintage audio commentary by Richard Schickel, ported over from previous
releases, is included. Supplements abound. A port-over vintage feature on film
noir (“Shadows of Suspense”) is welcome, but new extras produced by
Criterion are especially fun: an interview with film scholar Noah Isenberg
(editor of Billy Wilder on Assignment); and a lively conversation
between film historians Eddie Muller and Imogen Sara Smith. There are two radio
adaptations—from 1945 and 1950—both starring Stanwyck and MacMurray. The entire
second disk is a three-hour BBC documentary on Billy Wilder (originally on the Arena
program), directed by Volker Schlöndorff and Gisela
Grischow. The booklet comes with an essay by critic Angelica Jade Bastién.
Even
if you already own a previous release of Double Indemnity, the Criterion
Collection’s new editionis a must-have and worth the upgrade. For fans
of film noir, Billy Wilder, the three stars, and solid, edgy filmmaking
that raised eyebrows in 1944 and is still potent today. Highly recommended.
"Finding things" in this context is not about finding a job, or finding your true love. It's about finding things you have lost, like your car keys or the Scotch tape. You might start your search with a prayer to St. Anthony, the patron saint of lost things. Or you could start by swearing. Professor Solomon has worked out a system for finding things, based on experience, that starts with neither of those steps. Many of them don't even involve looking, because frantically searching only leads to frustration.
Each of the 12 principles have their own link. Here's the index, but each principle has a link to the next one. It's important to start with the first one and read in order. By the time you get to the 13th (yes, there are really 13), you should have found your item. -via Metafilter, where you'll find further discussion on lost objects.
Seafood is best enjoyed in a group. Yes, you might have your own solo shrimp rituals, but what’s great about a fish-focused meal is that more often than not there’s a very specific way you must catch, cook, and enjoy the fish that requires multiple bodies—seafood is made to be served in large quantities, whether in…
No one needs an excuse to eat tacos. Just eat tacos. Unlike a margarita Monday, wine Wednesday, or a generally rowdy thirsty Thursday, no one needs to publicly justify their desire to eat tacos. Tacos are so versatile you can have them for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, no explanation necessary. But, that doesn’t mean…
Joice Figueiró gave birth to her son at a Metallica concert in Curitiba, Brazil last weekend -- just as the band was rocking out to their heavy metal classic, "Enter Sandman."
The ice cream section in any grocery store can be a pretty overwhelming place. You’ve got choices ranging from small, shockingly expensive pints all the way up to entire buckets at bargain prices. You’ll also see terms like “premium” and “super premium” slapped onto the packaging, labels that do more to confuse the…
Astrophotography. We hear the term tossed around a lot these days but what actually is it? The true definition of the word is photography of the nighttime sky. The sky only—at night.
The 2022 Royal Enfield Classic 350 blends authentic style with modern engineering. Photos by Brandon Bunch.
Few motorcycle manufacturers can hold claim to the word “classic” with as much legitimacy as Royal Enfield. Having launched its first motorcycle at the Stanley Cycle Show in London in 1901, it’s the oldest motorcycle brand in continuous production. Now, 121 years later, we have the 2022 Royal Enfield Classic 350.
The 2022 Royal Enfield Classic 350 is available in nine color-style combinations. On the left is the Dark Stealth Black version with cast wheels and tubeless tires. On the right is the Signals Marsh Grey with spoked wheels and tube-type tires. MSRP for both is $4,599.
One of Royal Enfield’s best-known models – the Bullet – was produced from 1931 until 2020, and it was available with either a 346cc or 499cc air-cooled Single. In 2021, Royal Enfield introduced the Meteor 350, a cruiser powered by a 349ccc air-/oil-cooled, SOHC, 2-valve, fuel-injected Single with a 5-speed gearbox. The Classic 350, which brings back the styling that made the Bullet such an iconic bike, is built around the same engine.
The Classic 350 is powered by a 349ccc air-/oil-cooled, SOHC, 2-valve, fuel-injected Single with a 5-speed gearbox.
Built in Chennai, India, since 1955, Royal Enfields are designed for an enormous segment of the global market – those who want reliable, affordable small to mid-sized motorcycles. Over a 12-year production run, from 2008 to 2020, Royal Enfield produced and sold three million examples of the Classic 500, known here in the U.S. as the Bullet C5 Classic.
Everything about riding the Royal Enfield Classic 350 is relaxed and enjoyable.
Royal Enfield North America hosted the press launch of the Classic 350 in Savannah, Georgia, a classic Southern city established in 1733 on the banks of the Savannah River. On hand were two variants of the Classic 350, both retailing for $4,599: Dark models, available in Gunmetal Gray or Stealth Black, with a blacked-out powertrain and 10-spoke cast wheels with tubeless tires; and Signals models, available in Desert Sand or Marsh Grey, with 1950s military-style graphics and spoked wheels with tube-type tires. The Signals models are inspired by Royal Enfield’s long association with India’s armed forces.
Savannah, Georgia, is a charming Southern city with squares that create mini-parks filled with enormous oak trees dripping with Spanish moss.
Later this year, Royal Enfield will release the Halcyon collection inspired by 1950s-era British roadsters. Halcyon Forest Green, Halcyon Black, and Halcyon Blue will retail for $4,499, while the Chrome Red and Chrome Brown models with a mirror tank finish and special badging are priced at $4,699.
Too legit to quit.
Like the Meteor, the Classic 350 was a collaborative effort by Royal Enfield’s design teams in the U.K. and India. They endeavored to create a motorcycle that seamlessly blends authentic styling and ride character with modern necessities like electronic fuel injection, disc brakes, and dual-channel ABS. All Royal Enfields are built in a state-of-the-art, ISO-9001-certified manufacturing facility and backed by a three-year, unlimited-mileage warranty with roadside assistance.
The Classic 350’s tank holds 3.4 gals.
As pleasing as the Classic 350 is to look at while parked on one of Savannah’s brick-paved streets, it’s even more enjoyable to ride. Its relaxed, neutral seating position accommodates riders of all shapes and sizes, and its engine abides riders of all skill levels. Hit the starter and the Single burbles to life, delivering a pleasant, visceral pulse feel and a heartwarming exhaust note that your grandmother would love.
Riding up and over the Talmadge Memorial Bridge, which rises 574 ft above the Savannah River to allow freighters to pass underneath.
Royal Enfield claims 20 hp and 20 lb-ft of torque at the crank. When we tested a Meteor 350, it sent 18 hp at 6,200 rpm and 18 lb-ft of torque at 3,500 rpm to its chain-driven rear wheel. Built around a heavy steel frame and weighing 430 lbs ready to ride, the Classic 350 isn’t exactly a featherweight. Add in a full-grown adult male compressing the 31.7-inch seat’s foam, and the result is a languid, unhurried experience. The engine revs at a relaxed pace, and acceleration lacks urgency. Top speed is about 75 mph.
The Classic 350 is as friendly as a puppy dog, and it felt right at home in old-town Savannah.
Horsepower and speed, however, are not the appropriate measuring sticks for the Classic 350. It’s the sort of motorcycle that embraces the slower pace of life that comes with molasses-thick humidity and lazy afternoons. What’s the rush?
Classic 350s will pound the pavement of rough, neglected roads the world over, and its suspension and brakes are designed to take abuse. The 41mm non-adjustable fork with 5.1 inches of travel and twin emulsion rear shocks with adjustable preload and 3.5 inches of travel were chosen for their durability and affordability. Ride quality is good but not great, right in line with expectations. Likewise, the ByBre disc brakes, with a 2-piston front caliper squeezing a 300mm rotor and a 1-piston rear caliper squeezing a 270mm disc, provide modest but predictable stopping power.
Just what you need and nothing you don’t.
With a 19-inch front wheel and an 18-inch rear, the Classic 350 rolls over road imperfections with ease. Its Ceat Zoom Plus tires, which are also made in India, are narrow – 100/90-19 front, 120/80-18 rear – and contribute to the bike’s quick steering.
It’s hard not to love a motorcycle like the Classic 350. It’s a time capsule, an attention-getter, and – like that 1960s ad campaign for Tab diet cola – a “mindsticker.” Riding around the streets of Savannah, every time our get-along gang of journos stopped at a red light or a crosswalk, locals and tourists alike stopped in their tracks and asked, “Hey, what kind of bike is that?”
Ride a Royal Enfield Classic 350 and you’ll make new friends, and that never gets old.
2022 Royal Enfield Classic 350 Specs Base Price: $4,599 Warranty: 3 yrs., unltd. miles w/ roadside assistance Website:royalenfield.com Engine Type: Air-cooled Single, SOHC w/ 2 valves Horsepower: 20 hp @ 6,100 rpm (claimed) Torque: 20 lb-ft @ 4,000 rpm (claimed) Displacement: 349cc Bore x Stroke: 72.0 x 85.8mm Transmission: 5-speed, cable-actuated wet clutch Final Drive: O-ring chain Wheelbase: 54.7 in. Rake/Trail: 26 degrees/4.4 in. Seat Height: 31.7 in. Wet Weight: 430 lbs (90% fuel) Fuel Capacity: 3.4 gals.
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