Haven’t you heard? 4/19’s the new 4/20! I wrote about the Canadian documentary Hofmann’s Potion–which traces the pre-60s history of LSD–for the film site Fandor. If you’re not familiar, Fandor is a streaming movie rental service that focuses on independent and hard-to-find older films. If Hofmann’s Potion (or anything else on Fandor) grabs you, you can watch one movie for free on the site by logging in via Facebook.
Today, all the run of the mill stoners are anticipating tomorrow’s designated smoke-up date of “4/20” (The date’s significance is appropriately hazy: some say it’s a police code, others trace it back to a ‘70s in-joke, but either way it’s the hallowed pothead holiday). Mind you, the true drug connoisseurs aren’t pre-gaming by stocking up on potato chips, killer tunes, and fresh hackie-sacks. They’re already glued to their recliner, or wandering the woods, straight tripping balls!
See, April 19th marks the day in 1943 that Swiss scientist Albert Hofmann “discovered” d-lysergic acid diethylamide, a.k.a LSD, while researching a cure for migraine headaches. He accidentally absorbed a small bit through his finger and took note of its well, evidentiary effects. Produced by the National Film Board of Canada, Hoffmann’s Potion revisits the early days of LSD, featuring a cast of now-elderly scientists (most in quite good health) who constitute a secret society privy to this new portal to perception…
Are You A Serious Comic Book Reader?
This is getting a bit more subjective, but I much prefer the Zune Marketplace. The interface is colorful, has more flair, and some cool features like ‘Mixview’ that let you quickly see related albums, songs, or other users related to what you’re listening to. Clicking on one of those will center on that item, and another set of “neighbors” will come into view, allowing you to navigate around exploring by similar artists, songs, or users. Speaking of users, the Zune “Social” is also great fun, letting you find others with shared tastes and becoming friends with them. You then can listen to a playlist created based on an amalgamation of what all your friends are listening to, which is also enjoyable. Those concerned with privacy will be relieved to know you can prevent the public from seeing your personal listening habits if you so choose.
WeetAntiz
5 Jun 12 at 8:53 pm
Reminds me of college where we would take old CDs and shoot them off the end of a high-speed dereml down the dorm hallway, where they would shatter against the RA’s door.
Pedro
4 May 14 at 11:45 am
This is both street smart and intelligent.
green
23 Jul 14 at 4:27 pm
Thank you for this wonderful visaul essay! It’s a delight to see an analysis on Spielberg’s filmmaking. Though he’s the most famous director around, his tactics are never plainly spoken of. He only lets out a secret here and there. One thought, though it’s rather obvious. I’d say that The Spielberg Face is merely Spielberg’s use and interpretation of Sergei Eisenstein’s THEORY OF MONTAGE. (The actor-the bowl of soup-the actor-the dead child-the actor, etc) Forgive me for simplifying it, but I wonder if Spielberg would agree. Yes, the way that Spielberg implements this tool is uniquely him, but one could argue that BERGMAN exploited this tool as well. What I mean is this. All filmmakers are now slaves to Eisenstein.
Angel
18 Feb 15 at 10:21 pm
And in a pessimistic point of view, their straes areforms of surrender to their helplessness of being human… as they freeze to those moments of uncertainty… staring and waiting for wherever the future events will take them…… … just like the clueless American viewer as he straes helplessly of what is beyond his territory, thinking of what he can do –because they have their ways and means he can’t understand– and end up exploiting what he doesn’t know, like third world countries……. (particularly referring to the 90s and earlier, where Spielberg and other Hollywood movies dominated, you may also check Gerbner’s Cultivation theory) ….I still appreciate Spielberg though.
Abderhaman
23 Mar 15 at 8:41 pm
yes, life is short, i am doing my best to challenge myself. reading still is my best hobby. so i always read something new and something old. from reading, i can open my eyes a little more each time. with this, i communicate with my kids in a deeper understanding and sometimes without words exchanged. the only thing they know from me is that i love them.you have two lovely girls too. i am sure they love you as much. cherish every chance you have to be with them. girls have a special attach to their fathers. they are just a phone call away.press on, and love life.
online college
20 Apr 15 at 4:22 pm
Thanks Jon -and excellent point about the Spielberg-produced moveis of the 80s some Marty McFly faces in BACK TO THE FUTURE are playing in my head as I write this now! I now wish I had fit that in, but I was mostly focused on Spielberg’s oeuvre and after going through 28 of his films, plus some 2011 blockbusters for contemporary relevance, I was pretty beat.
Mehmet
24 Apr 15 at 2:16 am