“Watches, Stories, and Gear” is a roundup of our favorite content, watch or otherwise, from around the internet. Here, we support other creators, explore interesting content that inspires us, and put a spotlight on causes we believe in. Oh, and any gear we happen to be digging on this week. We love gear.
Share your story ideas or interesting finds with us by emailing our Managing Editor at [email protected].
Header Image Via BMW
The various Marvel series that have been airing on Disney+ give us a glimpse into the world post Avengers: End Game. Mini-series like Wanda Vision, The Falcon And The Winter Soldier, Moon Knight, Hawkeye and Loki check in on our beloved superheroes and lay out the storyline of what’s to come. Let’s face it, we can assume based on previous Marvel films that these series are all somehow connected and will be a part of a bigger plot. The latest addition to the Disney+ Marvel mini series is entitled She-Hulk: Attorney A Law. Tatiana Maslany plays Jennifer Walters who is tasked with heading the law division responsible for superhuman-related cases. She also happens to have super hulk powers. The series revolves around Walters’ life as a young adult with a demanding job, how she gets her super strength and her inevitable journey to use those powers against the forces against good. We’ll see familiar faces along the way including Mark Rufflalo as Smart Hulk and Tim Roth as the Abomination. The series is set to debut on August 17th and will be available for streaming on Disney+.
Fast Company has a great piece this week on a new mouse from Microsoft designed specifically for users with disabilities that keep them from using a traditional mouse. Assistive hardware is nothing new, but Microsoft’s approach here recognizes that no two people will need exactly the same feature set in a piece of customized hardware, so the mouse is designed to adapt to the unique needs of each individual user. It’s quite an ingenious design, and is notable in that the entire system was created with input from the community it’s meant for. It seems like this should be a common practice, but for too long it simply wasn’t, and Microsoft is taking steps to change that by listening to their customers and trying to address their needs through a combination of technology, ergonomics, and pure design. It’s a worthy endeavor, and the end result (though not really the “end,” as Microsoft will surely continue to refine their mouse) is a genuinely interesting piece of hardware that will hopefully enable increased access for many.
During three separate successful guiding expeditions this past week on Kanchenjunga, Everest and Lhotse, Nims Purja casually broke two climbing records in the process. The first record was the fastest time to summit three 8,000 plus meter peaks without supplemental oxygen which he accomplished in 8 days, 23 hours and 10 minutes. The other record was the fastest time from Everest to Lhotse in which he completed in an incredible 26 hours. If it weren’t for the two attempts made on the initial approach on Kanchenjunga, who knows how much faster Nims would have completed the three summits. If you’re familiar with Nims Purja, you’ll know that this feat is nothing new for Nims, and if this is your first time reading about him, stop reading (but make sure you come back for the rest of WSG) and check out his Netflix feature documentary 14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible. To those paying attention to what watch Nims is wearing these days, you’ll notice that he is no longer sporting a Bremont (bummer) which was one of his main sponsors during his meteoric rise as a mountaineer during Project Possible. Nims Purja is currently part of team Montblanc and on wrist during his latest record breaking climb, a Montblanc 1858 Geosphere O Oxygen. Just another day at the office for Nims.
BWM revealed the inevitable M4 CSL this week, taking the G82 to the extreme both visually and in the performance department. The controversial styling of the G8X generation is in peak form here, with the tall, wide twin grill design frames black geometric structures that span horizontally, providing a small bit of continuity to the aggressive front fascia. If you’re the type that longs for the days of the E46, or heck even just the F8X, you likely won’t find much solace here. BMW have managed to remove 240 pounds from the car (a move that ditches the back seats altogether) and squeeze 543 horsepower out of the 3.0 liter twin-turbo straight six, all routed to the rear wheels via ZF 8 speed transmission (no stick here). Plenty of carbon bits and bobs join some racing stripes and blacked out wheels for full effect. The price? An eye-watering $141,000. More from BMW here.
It’s a late start to the morning and you’re barely going to make it to work on time. You quickly get dressed, grab something to eat that’s light and easy, pour some coffee in the mug and gather all the essentials. Keys, check. Phone, check. Wallet, check. Half an hour later into the commute, you’re making REALLY good time. It might be a good morning after all. And then that dreaded moment happens. You glance at your wrist and there’s nothing there but a watch tan. Your beloved timepiece sits in the valet tray at home, playing hookie from work while you go the rest of the day feeling a weird lightness. We’ve all been there, in some form or another.
Mike Rood, a long time reader of W&W and watch enthusiast also happens to be a professional musician in the Big Apple and wrote a song about that feeling when you leave your watch at home. The lyrics are amusing and the vibe fits when you’ve got a naked wrist for the day. The track is appropriately called “Never Again”. Give it a listen and feel free to let it be the soundtrack if you have the misfortune of leaving your watch at home.
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