“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.
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This week marked a major anniversary for Sopranos fans – it’s been 25 years since the show premiered on HBO, and quite literally changed television forever (mostly for the better, we’d argue). There’s been no shortage of retrospectives this week looking back on the show, its stars, and the many amazing TV moments we’ve all enjoyed over the course of 6 seasons and too many rewatches to count. But one of our favorite pieces this week was found in the New York Times, and focuses on the distinctive production design and real New Jersey locations used for filming. There was a level of authenticity that was always apparent in the The Sopranos that felt markedly different from other mafia stories told on the screen, and a huge part of that is the cast (made up largely of local NJ and NY actors with Italian ancestry) and the lived-in, familiar locations. Check out the story here.
Whatever you think of the modern incarnation of Rolling Stone, you have to admit one thing: they have become experts at creating mega-lists that provoke discussion and debate. Earlier this month, they unveiled their list of the 150 greatest science fiction films of all time, and as enthusiasts of the genre, we were, naturally, intrigued. Most of our favorites are represented (including multiple Time on Screen alums surprisingly close to the top), but the real fun of a list like this is debating the finer points of where these movies land, and also, hopefully, discovering something new. The #1 pick is perhaps a little on the nose, but #2, a little seen masterpiece from Andrei Tarkovsky that doesn’t neatly fit into the modern idea of “sci-fi” at all, is likely being exposed to an entirely new potential audience, and that’s worth celebrating. Check out the whole list right here.
Maybe the only thing written about more than the Sopranos anniversary this week is the unfortunate incident on an Alaska Airlines flight originating from Portland in which part of the fuselage apparently dislodged mid-air, causing panic among the passengers on a nearly full flight. The plane was able to turn around and make a safe landing, but something about this incident (we think it’s the hole in the side of the plane) has caused even the most frequent and nonplussed flyers a new twinge of anxiety. Slate’s Luke Winkie gets to the heart of why this is so troubling: we accept a certain amount of risk when we fly, but something about the triviality of a loose screw that could have been tightened on the ground makes that risk equation feel unbalanced. Check out the story here, but maybe not before you board the plane.
The tech industry and hordes of journalists swarmed Las Vegas this week for this year’s edition of CES, the Consumer Electronics Show that has become one of the biggest trade shows in the world, with new products exhibited in an enormous array of categories, from electric cars to televisions, to kitchen gadgets. Engadget does a great job of covering the show, and you should check out all of their stories covering CES 2024, but we especially liked this one that highlights 25 products featured at the show that you can buy right now. There’s no need to wait for that new 40 inch curved WUHD monitor, or that retro keyboard case for your iPhone. We fully support a good impulse buy around here.
The Finch Knife Company, run by Steve Laughlin of Raven Watches, currently has a pretty solid sale on some of their most popular knives that is worth checking out. The Stinger, Buffalo Tooth, Hatfield, and more are all on sale in a variety of colorways, with discounts of up to 20%. That’s a pretty good incentive to pick up a new knife if you’re in the market. If you haven’t handled Finch knives, they’re of a very high quality and make a great companion to Steve’s watches. Finch is still a relatively young brand, but it’s been exciting to see them grow over a short period of time, greatly expanding their offerings with new knife designs that appeal to the collector gene common to most watch lovers. Check out the sale right here.
We begin and end this edition of Watches, Stories, & Gear with a story about an iconic HBO show. Curb Your Enthusiasm is back for its twelfth and final season next month, and the new trailer that dropped this week has all kinds of footage that has us excited to be reunited with Larry David. At one point in the trailer, he exclaims to Richard Lewis, “I think this is the happiest I’ve ever been in my life!” Being familiar with the arc of this character, we’re not sure how long that good mood will last, but we’re happy to have him back for one more season.
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