Tom's Top 3: January 22, 2025
A Wednesday YouTube Hodgepodge
Hi everyone! Welcome to this week’s installment of Tom’s Top 3 Wednesdays(?), where I highlight three pieces of content (Podcasts/Shows/Songs/Articles/etc.) that I found interesting or noteworthy from the prior week.
I apologize for being a day late. Truth be told, the combination of a three day weekend and jury duty threw me off this week, and I thought today was Tuesday.
To make it up to you, I included a bonus video. Here are four random (and short!) YouTube videos for your entertainment.
[YouTube] TODAY - From 1984: David Lynch talks ‘Dune’ and ‘Star Wars’ comparisons
RIP to a legend, David Lynch. I love seeing resurfaced old videos, and this newsreel from 1984 tugs at the heartstrings.
One thing Lynch said particularly stood out to me:
I like going to places in a film where you can’t go unless you buy the ticket.
There are films that are special because they capture a familiar experience/feeling in a bottle. Conversely, there are films, like Dune or Star Wars, that are special because they take you somewhere you’ve never been.
That is the power of film. It can be a mirror. Or it can be a telescope.
Lynch seemed to be skilled at both, simultaneously. Many of his films depict otherworldly backdrops, but at their core, they pull back the curtain on our own humanity.
Take the cult-classic Eraserhead, for instance. It’s a surreal movie, trapping you in a nightmare for an hour and a half that makes no sense. But behind all that, it’s really just depicting the fears, paranoia, and confusion of early fatherhood.
I’m still just scratching the surface of Lynch’s filmography personally, and I am sad that there will be no more additions.
[YouTube] Max Miles Points - Get TWO Cities for the Price of ONE with Alaska Airlines!
This is just a great primer of Alaska Airlines’ stopovers. This has long-been heralded as one of the lesser-known tricks in travel hacking.
Essentially, Alaska let’s you add a free stopover on international flights booked with miles. A stopover is where you book a multi-city itinerary where you spend anywhere from 1-14 days at the first location.
The example Max provides is a trip from LA to Zurich, where you can stop off in Frankfurt for a few days along the way. This allows you to see an extra city for no additional cost.
Max lays out all of the stopover rules with Alaska, and he shows how to search for and book these types of itineraries. Definitely worth a watch if you are planning any upcoming trips and want to figure out how to squeeze in an extra city.
[YouTube] Bendheim Boards - Surfboard Shaping & Glassing
Not much to say here. I just find the process of making a surfboard both fascinating and relaxing. My preferred form of ASMR.
I always dreamed of opening a surf shop in retirement and doing exactly this all day long. It would probably be much easier (and cheaper) to just adopt a meditation practice.
[YouTube] Vanity Fair - Nicholas Hoult & Director Robert Eggers Break Down a Scene From ‘Nosferatu’
Last week, I saw Nosferatu. I liked it, but I wouldn’t say it is for everyone.
However, I do think this quick video is for everyone. I am a big fan of Robert Eggers, and it was a treat to see him break down one short sequence that I honestly didn’t give much thought to when watching the movie.
Whether it be location scouting, film inspiration, cinematography, or practical effects, Eggers’ passion and attention to detail comes through in every story he tells. And I loved being along for the ride.
That wraps up this edition of Tom’s Top 3 TuesdaysWednesdays. If you made it to this point, please drop a 1️⃣, 2️⃣, or 3️⃣ in the comments to let me know what you found most interesting/useful. And as always, please like and consider sharing with a friend who you think would enjoy! I’ll be back next week. ✌️
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