All posts tagged: Essential

10 essential movies about a turbulent America at its pivot points

10 essential movies about a turbulent America at its pivot points

Published by Sam Flores

Can you tell the story of America in 10 movies? Maybe so — at least a version of it — if you stick to moments of serious national friction and those rare instances when a filmmaker meets the mood with a true vision. If you want tearjerkers about red, white and blue triumph, this is not your list (although the Space Race drama “The Right Stuff” always does the trick). Meanwhile, our current state of disunity and division will find its own expressions in time; start with “Civil War,” though it’s a bit too soon. Instead, we thought about historical pivot points and built a list of classics, along with a few alternatives for each title. The Great Depression Henry Fonda, left, in the 1940 film “The Grapes of Wrath,” directed by John Ford. (20th Century-Fox) ‘The Grapes of Wrath’ (1940) America is a broken place in John Ford’s poetically charged adaptation of the Steinbeck novel: a downbeat landscape of Oklahoma dust storms, long shadows and the teetering sight of a car turned into a …

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY’s Essential American Literature Selections

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY’s Essential American Literature Selections

Published by Jenni Sidey

Publishers Weekly picks 15 essential works of American literature, Barnes & Noble announces this year’s Discover Prize winner, a library quiz, and more. Welcome to Today in Books, our daily round-up of literary headlines at the intersection of politics, culture, media, and more. Essential American Literature, According to PW Publishers Weekly came up with a list of 15 essential works of American literature by polling their staff and identifying the top picks. These are books published in the U.S. since 1776 (the year the Declaration of Independence was issued, and the reason for this year’s U.S. semiquincentennial celebration). You’ll find an interesting mix of books on the list, including personal favorite and widely beloved classic Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston; the book my sister and fellow nature nut read in high school and still talks about, Silent Spring by Rachel Carson; the book that won Colson Whitehead a Pulitzer and turned me into a forever-fan, The Underground Railroad; and a bestselling work of queer, trans fiction that became an instant classic, …

The truth about cooking oils: 14 essential facts for healthier, cheaper meals

The truth about cooking oils: 14 essential facts for healthier, cheaper meals

Published by Sam Flores

The world of cooking oils is confusing. I keep spotting new ones on supermarket shelves, trumpeting their health claims. Cold-pressed avocado oil, extra virgin macadamia oil, organic coconut oil, premium hemp seed oil … Even familiar oils are mired in controversy. Is it OK to cook with olive oil? Should you avoid seed oils? Meanwhile, prices keep rising – earlier this month, Walter Zanre, the CEO of Filippo Berio UK, said supermarkets were “taking the mickey” out of customers over olive oil pricing. I asked the experts which oils are really worth splashing out on. What are the main differences between cooking oils? “All oils contain a combination of saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats,” explains Lisa Howard, the Detroit-based author of The Big Book of Healthy Cooking Oils. Where they differ is in their ratio, which may be shown on the label (although in most countries only total fat and saturated fat is mandatory). Howard holds up three bottles of oil. “They’re all 14g of fat in total [per tablespoon]. The olive oil has 11g …

Five Essential Books About Marcel Duchamp

Five Essential Books About Marcel Duchamp

Published by Jenni Sidey

Few artists have sparked more critical response than Marcel Duchamp—the subject of a big MoMA retrospective on view April 12 through August 22. Even Picasso’s legacy finds in the Frenchman’s conceptual practice a divergent and influential foil. While Cubism and collage revolutionized pictorial space and its aesthetic offshoots, Duchamp upended the very premise of aesthetics. In his wake, objects and images appear no longer as ends unto themselves, but rather vectors of unresolved questions.  Marcel Duchamp Recently revised and expanded, this insightful 2021 survey examines Duchamp’s achievements chronologically, from his early interpretations of Cubism to latter-day replicas of signature works. Even as they distill Duchamp’s trajectory to its key gambits, coauthors Dawn Ades, Neil Cox, and David Hopkins don’t shy away from strong arguments; the legendary Fountain, they contend, performs a critique of nationalist chauvinism in its (literal) inversion of American plumbing. The authors take seriously Duchamp’s formative contributions to Conceptual art, gender performance, and art history while resisting the hagiographic tendency to cast him as a sui generis genius. The light they shed on …

Is Kissing Essential for Exciting Sex?

Is Kissing Essential for Exciting Sex?

Published by Jenni Sidey

Kissing is a central element in intimate romantic relationships. Yet some people avoid kissing their partners—especially passionate kissing. How can we explain this puzzle? Passionate and Non-Passionate Kissing “If there is no profound intimacy, I cannot kiss men during casual sex; they are human vibrators for my sexual release.” –Lilian “My best, most passionate kissing was during a casual sexual encounter.” –Mia Kissing encompasses a wide range of gestures that fall along an affective continuum—from light pecks to deeply passionate kisses. These gestures differ in duration, purpose, intensity, level of intimacy, and emotional meaning. Compared with pecks, passionate kisses are typically longer, more intense, more intimate, and more closely associated with sexual desire (whereas pecks typically occur in affectionate friendships). Passionate kissing often involves techniques such as French kissing, in which partners use their tongues to deepen physical and emotional connection. A passionate kiss may begin slowly, as partners attune to each other’s responses, or erupt quickly, expressing strong desire. Kissing also functions as a form of nonverbal emotional communication, conveying feelings that may be …

7 Essential Spirits for Your 2026 Home Bar

7 Essential Spirits for Your 2026 Home Bar

Published by Akaay Pradhan

By the time March rolls around, most of the talk of New Year resets has faded. But it is still a smart moment to take stock at home. The drinks cabinet, especially after the festive excess and a winter of dark nights, can start to look a little depleted — so now is the ideal time for a considered refresh. You do not need multiples of everything (unless you are a drinks geek like me), just one good, expressive bottle from each major spirits category. That alone gives you real versatility at home, especially when guests drop by for a cheeky dram or cocktail. Here are seven excellent examples to get you started. The Scotch Whisky Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban 14 Years Old No respectable drinks cabinet should be without a good Scotch single malt. And they do not get much better than Glenmorangie. The north Highland distillery, located in the coastal town of Tain, produces one of the most consistent and flavour-packed core ranges around — and at sensible prices. Quinta Ruban enjoys a lengthy …

Your essential gardening guide for each month of 2026

Your essential gardening guide for each month of 2026

Published by Daniella Wilson

Keen gardeners are encouraged to prepare for the seasons ahead by setting up their 2026 calendar. This essential month-by-month guide highlights key tasks to ensure your garden thrives throughout the year. January Check the insulation around outside taps and carry out repair jobs on broken fence panels, greenhouses and sheds. If it’s been windy but not wet, water plants in containers, as anything which is coming to life will need water to survive. Prune wisteria, when the side shoots are easily visible. Order seeds from catalogues and online suppliers, and if you have a frost-free greenhouse sow early crops such as lettuce, radishes and early carrots under glass. open image in gallery Check the insulation around your outside taps February Prune large flowered (Group 3) clematis, which flower on the current season’s growth in mid to late summer, including the varieties ‘Perle d’Azur’, ‘Étoile Violette’ and ‘Ville de Lyon’. Cut back deciduous hedging before birds start nesting in it. Plant summer-flowering bulbs such as lilies either direct into borders, if the ground isn’t frozen or …

Why helium is essential to semiconductor manufacturing

Why helium is essential to semiconductor manufacturing

Published by Miika Tikkanen

Helium plays a critical role in semiconductor manufacturing, influencing both the quality and efficiency of chip production. Its unique properties, including chemical inertness and low thermal conductivity, contribute to maintaining optimal fabrication conditions. However, the industry faces significant challenges related to helium supply. This situation raises important questions about the future of semiconductor technology and the potential consequences for innovation and competitiveness. What strategies will the industry adopt to address these pressing concerns? A critical element in chip fabrication: Why helium matters Although often overlooked, helium plays a crucial role in semiconductor manufacturing, particularly in the intricate process of chip fabrication. This noble gas is essential for maintaining optimal conditions during various stages of production. In the lithography process, helium is used to create a stable vacuum environment, ensuring precise alignment and exposure of photomasks. Additionally, helium helps in cooling semiconductor materials, reducing thermal stress that could impact the integrity of the chips. Its low density and inert nature make it an ideal carrier gas, facilitating the transport of materials without contamination. Furthermore, helium’s ability …