Author: Brent Lambert

Unforeseen circumstances can unite even the most diverse set of random figures and events. Such is the case with everything you see in the photo above. So what could possibly connect Nicolas Cage, Superman, O.J.’s white Bronco, and Ken Bone? The common thread is brilliantly explained by Terry O’Reilly of the podcast Under The Influence. Take a listen and find out how the story evolves to include ketchup, Purell, JFK, and James Bond.

Researchers have detected what is likely a fifth force in nature. “For decades, we’ve known of four fundamental forces: gravitation, electromagnetism, and the strong and weak nuclear forces,” says the study’s lead author Jonathan Feng, a professor of physics and astronomy at the University of California, Irvine. “If confirmed by further experiments, this discovery of a possible fifth force would completely change our understanding of the universe, with consequences for the unification of forces and dark matter.” The findings were published by the Institute for Nuclear Research, and the study was led by T.J. Ketel of the National Institute for…

It was the summer of 1982 and Eddie Van Halen was chilling at home in L.A. The phone rang and Eddie asked, “Who is it?” The voice on the other end replied, “It’s Quincy!” Eddie asks, “Quincy who?!” And the guy says, “Quincy Jones!” Eddie instantly screams, “Fuck off!” and hangs up the phone. This happened four times before Eddie Van Halen realized it wasn’t a prank call, and it was indeed Quincy Jones calling him.

Tucked away in the canyons of Bel Air, just a 10-minute drive up from Sunset Boulevard in Beverly Hills, is the gorgeousness known as The Oak Pass Main House. Designed and built by the masters at L.A.-based Walker Workshop, this house is nothing short of a masterpiece. The designers write, “The Oak Pass Main house uses an ‘Upside Down’ program, with public spaces above the bedrooms, which are buried into the hill and beneath a green roof of edible herbs. This relatively large house at 8,000 square feet appears much smaller and carefully integrated into the surrounding landscape, which includes…

Sampling is an art form in and of itself, but no recording artist has ever elevated the art to a higher level than Daft Punk. The legendary French duo are renowned for their meticulous sound engineering, but even their sampling is taken above and beyond. Listen to the video below to get a sense of how they have used a vast range of sampling (most from 70s and 80s) in a variety of original ways. And speaking of engineering, you can also watch a fascinating documentary revealing the story behind Daft Punk’s iconic helmet design.

Nothing “goes viral.” If you think a popular movie, song, or app came out of nowhere to become a word-of-mouth success in today’s crowded media environment, you’re missing the real story. Each blockbuster has a secret history — of power, influence, dark broadcasters, and passionate cults that turn some new products into cultural phenomena. Even the most brilliant ideas wither in obscurity if they fail to connect with the right network, and the consumers that matter most aren’t the early adopters, but rather their friends, followers, and imitators — the audience of your audience.

With every new STAR WARS release comes the predictable backlash of cinephiles who lash out at the over-commercialization of the most famous franchise in movie history. And J.J. Abrams’ upcoming STAR WARS: The Force Awakens is no exception. I can’t even count the number of times in the past few weeks I’ve heard someone ridicule the new film for the massive media machine that has linked the film to every possible brand and product in the galaxy. But beyond the hype, the ads, and all the explosions, there is a very noble and very eternal message that rests zen-like beneath it all.