Latest news with #DeathWish
USA Today
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Death Wish coffee is a threat to your taste buds (complimentary)
Death Wish coffee is a threat to your taste buds (complimentary) Welcome back to FTW's Beverage of the Week series. Here, we mostly chronicle and review beers, but happily expand that scope to any beverage that pairs well with sports. Yes, even cookie dough whiskey. I have a friend who swears by Death Wish coffee. But he's also a vaguely intense dude who wakes up before his kids rise to sneak in hour-long workouts. As such, something about the "world's strongest coffee" felt a bit excessive to me, a guy who wakes up minutes before he has to get his daughter on the bus and then spends the next few hours quietly figuring out which NFL quarterbacks are actually bad. Despite that lack of early morning... anything, really, caffeine plays a major role in my life. My day starts with 40 to 50 ounces of water, then about 20 ounces of coffee. Usually that's mixed with milk and some protein powder to carry me through to a late lunch. But I'm open to new experiences and, inconveniently, out of milk. What I do have is a new brand of coffee to try (Death Wish) and a new creamer I've never had before. Enter Oatly's Sweet and Creamy and Barista edition oat milks. I don't mess with oat milk often. I think the only time I've ever had it was in premixed canned cold brews. While it doesn't scratch the itch cow milk does, it's a reasonable swap with a longer shelf life, so I can get behind it. Let's try the pairing, along with some of my traditional coffee blends, and see how they turn out. Blue and Buried Death Wish with Oatly Sweet & Creamy Oatmilk Creamer: A This coffee is pungent in a great way. It's clean, sweet blueberry with a little vanilla ice cream underneath, sitting on a mild current of coffee beans. It reminds me of bringing a fresh pint of SweetWater Blue up to my lips on trivia night back in grad school, which is a weird place to go with coffee but is a nice olfactory callback. The creamer looks the part, turning black coffee into a swirling brown nebula. A few white flecks serve as stars in that spiral, concentrated oak milk dislodged from the outer reaches of the bottle by shoddy shaking. I'm sipping this out of my Created Paris not-quite-Olympics mug, which not only looks great but also holds juuuuuust enough coffee to get me through a cup before it gets cold. The oat milk creamer adds to the whole "melted ice cream" vibe wafting off the top of this warm mug. Oh, wow. Between the sweetness of the berries, the cream of the Oatly and the underlying plant base you really do feel the cereal vibes from the first sip. It's not overpowering in terms of sugar, but it's enough that I'll try the next cup without a packet of Splenda in it. Still, it's a charming blend of flavors I like with just enough coffee taste to remind you you're about to get blasted with caffeine. It continues to hold up without the added sugar substitute, though it's a little more coffee this time around and less "milk left over after crushing a bowl of Boo Berry." If you're looking for pure coffee flavor, this isn't for you. But if you're like me and happy to add fruit and dairy(ish) and whatever else in an effort to make your coffee more interesting (and less like coffee), it's an easy win. Light Roast Death Wish with Oatly Sweet & Creamy Oatmilk Creamer: B Unlike the blueberry, this smells like pure coffee bean goodness. The caffeine content is... well, let's say confusing. Death Wish maintains its claim of "strongest coffee in the world" applies to the taste. But estimates on the caffeine content vary wildly. Some come out as high as 400 milligrams per eight ounces which is... whoa. The instant version of this light roast clocks in at a more manageable 300. That is a full day's worth on a long, NFL Sunday. The higher bound would be more than four times the typical amount in a cup of coffee (95 mg). Per Death Wish's sales pitch, the Blue and Buried only clocks in at around double the caffeine of a typical mug. In my personal experience, while I do feel a bit more jittery than my usual cup I don't feel like I'm ingesting a threatening amount of caffeine. I still get to sleep at night and my afternoon crash, while still a problem, isn't any worse than it usually is. Well, OK. Back to the taste. It still smells great. The first sip is a pretty basic light coffee flavor, quickly washed out by the sweet cereal jazz of the Oatly. The creaminess is a bit overpowering, which is great for me as a guy who generally only drinks regular coffee at conventions or hungover at breakfast places that don't offer Bloody Marys. As a result, the brew itself is more of a conduit for cream and caffeine than anything you'd get on your own. Hold on, lemme give it a swig with a fresh, black cup. Light Roast Death Wish, black: B It's a flavorful coffee, not overly harsh or acidic. It's light enough to be a fairly easy sip without sugar or cream. There's overt roasted dark chocolate vibes in each sip before a dry finish. There's a liiiiiitttttle bit of fruit sweetness as well, but it's very minor. Ultimately, black coffee isn't my jam. But Death Wish's light roast is something I could sip without regret in a pinch. Espresso Roast with Thread Performance vanilla protein mix: B Let's get back to my normal coffee routine, which is probably slightly offensive to coffee snobs. I drink mine with a protein shake as creamer, a combination that gets me in a decent spot for an afternoon workout while serving as breakfast and getting me to my usual 2 p.m. late lunch without hunger pains. As such, I'm not getting the full flavor of Death Wish's espresso roast. Still, you get the darker, roasted flavors that shine through that binding layer of whey. It's rich with a little bit of burnt chocolate to it -- not in a bad way, but more like a sweeter version of burnt ends. It blends well with the sweeter vanilla, creating a pleasant push-and-pull. As a coffee wimp, I need that tempered experience. I get the impression this espresso would stand up well on its own, but dosed with creamy vanilla protein it works out even better. Dark Roast Death Wish with Thread Performance vanilla protein powder: B+ The dark roast tones down the caffeine but offers a bolder, smoother coffee flavor. You do taste that extra heat, not quite a char but a little reminder these beans have spent some time in the fire. That rises above the taste of my daily protein -- I'll be talking about my five-week Thread Performance plan later, but it was solid enough for a basic-tasting powder -- and brings a little less acidity than the lighter coffees I'm used to. There's a little chocolate in there and very little bitterness. The big flavors coat your tongue with that roasted coffee taste. It's strong, and it's a lot to handle for a nerd like me who's happy to take a good cup of coffee and mash it into something less with milk and Splenda. But hey, I ruined it and I still liked it, so that's something... right? Peppermint Mocha: A First off, this smells incredible. Rich and minty with a little bit of chocolate that has wafted across my kitchen to make my morning a little more tolerable. This is the diffuser I needed. I'm sipping this with a Splenda and some oat milk creamer (Oatly Sweet & Creamy) since I figure vanilla protein and mocha mint probably aren't a good combo -- or, at the very least, not representative of the coffee itself. The first sip is creamy mint goodness. The sugary vanilla of the oak milk works well with a strong mint undercurrent that slides under the strong roasted notes of Death Wish. As you'd expect, it's got a bit of a Christmas vibe that makes me regret not brewing this at 6 a.m. December 25 after my daughter wakes up and loses her mind. It's sweet with just enough of a minty kick at the end to snap off each sip satisfyingly. It's not overbearingly rich, with the chocolate and mint balanced just enough against your traditional coffee flavors for everything to work without driving you into taste bud fatigue. It may be the best flavored coffee I've ever had. Would I drink it instead of a Hamm's? This a pass/fail mechanism where I compare whatever I'm drinking to my baseline cheap beer. That's the standby from the land of sky-blue waters, Hamm's. So the question to answer is: on a typical day, would I drink Death Wish coffee over a cold can of Hamm's? These two probably will never meet, barring a 6 a.m. wakeup before the Indy 500. But the heights of Death Wish and its mastery of bold flavored coffees are a godsend for someone like me, who likes coffee but doesn't appreciate it on its own. The blueberry and peppermint? Oh, friends, they are wonderful.
Buzz Feed
20-05-2025
- General
- Buzz Feed
27 Practical Amazon Things Worth Buying May 2025
A Ninja air fryer for anyone who's looking for a versatile piece of cookware that's easy to use and super convenient. I'm guessing that's 99% of you? Promising reviews: "This is my first air fryer and I have been using it almost every day for seven months now. By far the most used small kitchen appliance in my household! It's the best reheating tool and makes fried food nice and crispy in less than 20 minutes. Store-bought apple pies turn into great pies, and frozen chicken nuggets or french fries get much tastier than if heated in the conventional oven. I use this not only for reheating but also to bake or roast many kinds of small-sized uncooked food. It makes the best drumsticks. It is easy to use and easy to clean. Flipping over is not necessary; just shake the basket once or twice while it's cooking. I always use the crisper that came with this fryer. With it, excessive oil drops down to the bottom so the food never turns too greasy." —Rain Traveler"Love this. I bought it as a gift for someone because I have had one for three years and it's still great. Before this l ran through cheaper brands that started peeling after six months. The people l gifted it to loves it. Worth every penny." —Regular CustomerPrice: $89.99+ (available in three sizes and styles) A bottle of Bar Keepers Friend Soft Cleanser so you can easily scrub away rust, scratches, burnt-on grease, and even Sharpie marks from all of your surfaces. Consider any "impossible" task complete. Promising review: "Sink was nearly uncleanable. Ajax, bleach, etc., would not take out the stains you see in the photo. We considered replacing the sink, but wanted to google how to repair sinks, and stumbled on a YouTube review for this product. The change is unbelievable. The left is AFTER an hour of scrubbing with Ajax. The right is 30 minutes with Bar Keepers." —EzePrice: $12.98 for a two-packFor more about this, check out "You Can Use This All-Purpose Cleanser To Basically Clean Your Entire House". A bag of Death Wish coffee that will shockingly wean you from a whole pot of coffee to one or two cups with its high caffeine content (and fun-but-sinister branding). Folks who normally rely on constant refills of normal roasts find themselves only having a cup or two of this, with the same results. You've been warned. Death Wish coffee is fair-trade and to the Mayo Clinic, 'up to 400 milligrams of caffeine appears to be safe for most healthy adults,' but you should talk to your doctor about what's right for review: "Unbelievable! This is the first time in a very long time that coffee has ACTUALLY given me a 'pick-me-up.' Recommend to all seeking something to wake you up." —Tara $16.48Learn more about Death Wish coffee in "This Super Caffeinated Coffee Is About To Make Your Sluggish Mornings So Much Better." A four-piece sock and underwear organizer to help you organize your drawers, if you know what I mean. These are perfect for separating bras, underwear, the things that are usually in one terrifying ball. A Vanicream clinical strength anti-perspirant if your armpits magically turn into waterfalls every summer. Sweat is natural and normal, but if it bugs ya, give this a try. An Escali Primo kitchen scale, so at long last you can bake with the *exact* measurements those cookbooks are so keen for you to use, making for a better end result. Promising reviews: "I use this scale 2–3 times/week for baking bread. It makes it so easy to weigh one ingredient in a bowl, hit the Tare button, add the next ingredient, hit Tare, etc., without ever moving the bowl. Saves so much time over measuring in a separate container. Very accurate. I can shake in 10 grams of salt and watch it tick upward as the grains go in. We also use this as a mail scale in lb/oz mode. Very easy to use." —Texas Birder"I love this scale. I thought my trusted little Escali scale died this morning. Turns out I had a bad battery replacement, and this little soldier is just fine. But when briefly looking for a replacement, I looked at my original order and realized that I purchased this scale back in May 2008. I use it a lot, and it does exactly what it's supposed to do. It's easy to use and easy to store. Highly recommended." —C. DohertyPrice: $26.95+ (available in nine colors or in sets) A pack of 42 flexible curling rods delivering picture-perfect heatless curls overnight. Waking up with your hair already done? Amazing. Promising review: "These are the best curling rods I have found. The quality is unbelievable, and they are super easy to use. They stay put and don't slip out, even in thin, fine hair like mine. I can achieve so many different looks with this set — tight curls or loose beach waves (my favorite). All of the different sizes of curlers make my hairstyles look more natural. They come exactly as shown, and the storage case is a nice quality." —KateGrayPrice: $16.99 A shea sugar scrub to get your skin squeaky clean and exfoliated, thanks to sugar and AHA, which brightens and tones. And with a whopping 32 scents available, you're sure to find one (or a few) that match your summer vibe. An ink remover that'll rescue hard surfaces and fabrics alike from the enemy to end all enemies: permanent marker. Promising review: "My son wrote all over his brand-new Lego table with blue Sharpie marker. I tried everything to remove the stain. This product is EASY. Its consistency is like glue. I added one coat, let it soak in for an hour or two, scrubbed with a scrub pad, rinsed, added a second coat, scrubbed, and rinsed. It's all gone. It's magic. I am showing everyone the photos because it's unbelievable how this product worked." —VickiPrice: $12 An Innisfree daily SPF 36 sunscreen to keep your skin safe from the sun's evil rays. Reviewers with all skin tones report that it leaves no white cast, so it's a great buy for any and everyone. It's become my daily sunscreen, and I know I'll be rebuying it from now until forever. I looooove the way this sunscreen feels. So light and not... sunscreen-y. I don't feel like it makes me shiny or clogs my pores or causes any of my usual sunscreen annoyances. That, and the price is right, especially compared to other trendy SPF brands. Promising reviews: "I gave up on trying sunscreen because I'd always hear than sunscreen was for everyone but I'd put it on and I'd look so damn ghostly! Not this time, sweetheart. I saw people talking about it on TikTok, and I decided to just go ahead and give it a try. Absolutely! No white cast. It smells pretty nice, so that's a bonus to me. I've had it for three weeks now and have been using it consistently. My face hasn't broken out, so I love that too." —TaePrice: $18 A pack of washing machine tablets, because how is your machine supposed to get your clothes clean if it's grimy? Your washer should internalize the lesson that it needs to take care of itself before it can take care of others. THAT came out of a washing machine?! Like, how? Please explain. Promising review: "Affresh Washing Machine Cleaner tabs — I had never cleaned my washer before after six years of ownership. OMG!! The funk that came out was unbelievable! I didn't realize that I'd have to wipe away the gunk from the basin, so at first I thought I had ruined my washer. I wiped it out and ran on the cleaning cycle again, and more gunk came out! Had to do it three times and then do another rinse cycle. Unbelievable!" —StaceyPrice: $11.99 for a pack of six A bottle of Paula's Choice 2% BHA Salicylic Acid Exfoliant, which gently exfoliates while tackling breakouts, fine lines, and pores. I can't get enough of this multitasking product — it's such a huge help with all my skincare chores and is one of the only things that's actually helped with my hormonal breakouts. A can opener, because even if you're a person who thinks they won't use one that much... when you need one, you REALLY need one. Best make sure you have this baby in your drawer. The can opener also has a bottle opener, because why not!Promising review: "The Oxo can opener is a workhorse. It is strong, well-made, and plows through whatever you give it with ease. I've had this one before, and after years, it finally gave out and was hard to turn. But when buying an alternative from another company, I quickly realized the mistake and went right back to OXO to buy another. This one is so sturdy that it will last for a very long time, and I'm really glad I bought it again." —A.M. MillerPrice: $13.94 A set of two reusable mop pads that'll fit on your Swiffer so you get all the benefits of the easily maneuverable wet and dry mop with a more eco-friendly twist. Promising review: "We've been using the disposable pads and had just mopped the floor the day before these arrived. So we mopped again. Unbelievable how much dirt these new pads picked up that was left behind. And you can launder them!" —Wayne WardPrice: $13.95 A nice, large set of sheet pans you will basically use every day. If you refuse to spend all day baking only to find your cookie bottoms burned to a crisp, it's time for a new pan. Promising review: "Best baking sheet I've ever purchased. I spent hours researching online and this was the one! I was tired of wasting time (I own a business and work all the time) and money baking, just to find the bottoms burned. This sheet hasn't failed me and I've owned it for two years now. Purchased for friends and family members because everyone should own it. On Amazon today to purchase another for myself!" —Common SensePrice: $27.99 for a set of two half-sheets (available in three other packs) A bottle of Leather Honey cleaner that, when paired with a simple scrubbing brush, helps you maintain your — *Donna Meagle voice* — fine leather goods. From purses to couches to car interiors, this spray will help you avoid having to replace a historically difficult-to-clean surface. Promising review: "This product is fantastic. I used the cleaner on my approximately 20-year-old purse, which has sustained tremendous abuse while being used on and off over the years. One cleaning with Leather Honey brought back the beautiful original color and supple leather feel. The outcome was unbelievable. It is amazing what a beautiful job this conditioner has done. The purse looks almost new. That is truly amazing, considering its age. The leather is beautiful again." —CindyPrice: $18.95 A deep conditioning hair mask made with biotin for anyone who's struggling with heat damage, color damage, and breakage, or as I call them, the three horsemen of the hair-pocalypse. To use, just comb a generous amount into your hair after shampooing and let it sit for up to 15 minutes in the shower, one hour at room temperature, or even overnight. Sounds like a great excuse to watch an episode of your favorite show to me! A set of Pyrex glass mixing bowls that will make baking all the more delicious a task. Having *just* the right bowls to separately combine your dry and wet ingredients is a small pleasure worth seeking. The bowls are microwave-, freezer-, and dishwasher-safe. Promising review: "Love some good Pyrex. The bowls are a good size. I've been using them for over five years, and have transported them long distances many times, moving back and forth between college and home, and they've never broken or been damaged. I mean, I wouldn't recommend throwing them on the floor, but they're definitely sturdy." —Amazon CustomerPrice: $17.99 for a set of three A set of moisturizing heel socks infused with jojoba seed oil, olive oil, and vitamin E oil if the word that could best describe the sound that you hear when you rub your heels on your sheets is "haunting." You can even slather some lotion or balm on your heels before putting them on to enhance the effect. A luxurious satin pillowcase that will feel oh-so-cool to the touch against your face when you lie down to rest this summer (and will help prevent hair breakage to boot). A pair of lounge chairs and ottomans with adjustable backs for maximum lounging *and* storage inside the ottomans and matching table. Looking to save room when not relaxing? The ottomans can be tucked under the chairs! Promising review: "Love, love this set! Fits perfectly on my condo balcony!! Easy to assemble, strong, looks perfect! Highly recommend them." —maggiePrice: $239.99+ (available in six colors) A drain-clog remover that has reviewers smiling AND gagging with newly unclogged drains and new goopy hair pets. This snake's hooks grab any blockages and take them out easily, saving you the hassle of calling the plumber. An acupressure mat and pillow set to relieve some of the pressure you hold in your back, neck, and shoulders just by lying down. A stress-free solution to a likely stress-caused problem just makes sense, imo. An exfoliating scrub mitt that is the pièce de résistance of ~everything~ showers, as it removes dead cells and gives your skin a clean, smooth finish. Ahhhh, that's gonna feel good. A pancake batter dispenser and mixer whose blender ball allows you to simply add the wet and dry ingredients to the bottle, shake it up, and get to pouring. And with the bottle's narrow tip, you can let your creative genius shine at the griddle — Mickey Mouse pancakes coming right up! A set of drawer organizers to transform your junk drawer into the most beautiful drawer in the land. Your bathroom, kitchen, and credenza drawers were wondering if you were ever gonna clean them up. Promising review: "Love this product. Tall enough to fit things and short enough not to block drawers when closing. Sturdy enough to put in all kinds of things. This round, I used for makeup, toiletries, etc. I am ordering more for the junk drawer and crafts. Extremely versatile and practical, and looks good, too. My husband loves the organization of our bathroom drawer, and I love the fact that if I need something, I can take that piece out to where I need it and then bring it back nice and neat." —JenPrice: $16.99+ for a set of nine organizers (available in two sizes) A painless, mint-flavored teeth-whitening pen whose soft-bristle brushes even work for folks with sensitive teeth. It's recommended that you treat twice a day for the first seven days of use, but it'll be good to have some on hand for any touch-ups. An electric pressure washer to clean up your outdoor furniture, fences, sidewalks, and more. The results you get with pressure washing will make you swell with pride and inspire you to pressure wash basically everything you own. You can use this pressure washer on outdoor cushions, wood decks, house siding, and so many other places. You can even fill it with detergent to wash your car!Promising review: "I love this washer. It competes with my 2200 PSI gas-powered pressure washer, which in fact I sold to keep this. But doesn't have the noisy gas engine or the heavy weight. Easy to move around, lightweight, and has great power. Very quiet. I love all the attachments and the different stream types. The soap dispenser works well. I'm cleaning everything, my deck, my house, the garage doors, the concrete slab. It takes off all the dirt and mold from the old concrete stairs and sidewalk." —TimPrice: $149.99
New York Post
17-05-2025
- New York Post
Why the time has come for New Yorkers to trust the subway again
On back-to-back nights last week, I bumped into two New Yorkers made famous by the subway: Lenore Skenazy and Daniel Penny. Skenazy rose to prominence in 2008 as 'America's Worst Mom' for letting her 9-year-old son ride the 6 train alone; Penny in 2023 for restraining Jordan Neely, a repeat offender menacing other passengers, in a headlock that would lead to Neely's death. Skenazy's and Penny's incidents took place 15 years apart, but are united by a perennial question: Is the subway safe enough for New York's most vulnerable? 5 Author and parenting activist Lenore Skenazy became famous a decade ago when she let her young kids ride the subway alone. Zandy Mangold Back in the oughts, Skenazy argued that the real threat to kids wasn't dangerous riders, but overprotective parents who never let them develop the skill of independence. The subway, in theory, is the ultimate liberator for kids and parents alike. I'm raising my kids in the suburbs, and the biggest pullback to city life isn't the arts or the restaurants — it's the chance for my kids to grow in confidence and be exposed to the world without my hand-holding. City life for kids, though, requires trust in public order. When Skenazy made a name for herself by sending little Izzy into the subway alone, the city's trust was peaking. Just months before, MTA had announced that ridership was at a 50-year high, and subway crime was at a record low. 5 Daniel Penny put Jordan Neely in a headlock that would lead to Neely's death. Steven Hirsch Thanks to the leadership of Mayor Rudy Giuliani and his successor, Michael Bloomberg, New Yorkers were safer than they had been in generations. The secret sauce those mayors used was 'broken windows' policing, targeting disorder and low-level crime to maintain public peace and confidence in public spaces. The way scholars George L. Kelling and James Q. Wilson saw it, if you tolerate broken windows, graffiti, fare evasion, and low-level lawlessness, you signal that no one is in charge and you invite bigger crimes to follow. But when you enforce the basics, you stop that spiral before it metastasizes. With a focus on the small stuff, NYPD was able to keep a lid on the big stuff, build trust in the system, and prevent recurrences of the mayhem of the 1970s and 1980s that spawned Charles Bronson's 'Death Wish' on the silver screen and, in real life, Bernie Goetz, the so-called Subway Vigilante. 5 The mayhem that greeted subway riders during the 1970s and 1980s was so extreme that it inspired the iconic film 'Death Wish.' FilmPublicityArchive/United Archives via Getty Images Disastrously, however, the city's voters turned away from that center-right consensus on crime and handed the keys to Gracie Mansion to Bill de Blasio. Following de Blasio's election in 2014, the city slashed proactive policing, ended stop-question-and-frisk, and sent the clear message that low-level crimes would go unenforced. The result: more fare evasion, more disorder, and more violence. According to research from Aaron Chalfin, associate professor of criminology at the University of Pennsylvania, felony assaults in the subway system tripled from 2009 to 2023, even while ridership fell by 20%. 5 A group of kids can be seen leaving the 34th Street Penn Station subway station in Manhattan in October 2022. Stephen Yang With Big Bill's 'compassionate' policing approach put into practice, it was only a matter of time before crime surged and a modern subway defender was forced to rise to the occasion. That man was Daniel Penny. On May 1, 2023, Jordan Neely — already arrested more than 40 times, including for punching a 67-year-old woman in the face and breaking her nose — boarded an F train in Manhattan. According to witnesses, Neely raged at passengers, yelling that someone was going to die and that he wasn't afraid of prison. Penny stepped in and ended the threat. Daniel Penny's act is one that no New Yorker should ever have to take. But these days, we need brave men like Daniel Penny on board because city leadership has failed to create the conditions that let parents feel as confident as Skenazy did in the Bloomberg era. 5 Mayor Adams can claim some improvement on subway violent crime numbers, which began to creep back up during the tenure of former Mayor Bill de Blasio, according to reports. Paul Martinka Thankfully, though, the tide is turning in favor of order. Following the horrific burning of a woman on the F train in December, the NYPD launched a new Quality-of-Life Division last month to crack down on low-level offenses, just like the broken windows playbook calls for. Summonses and arrests are up, and crime numbers are looking better. As the Manhattan Institute's Rafael Mangual told me, 'progress is being made — in part because more resources are being devoted to the subways.' Mangual added, however, 'disorder that doesn't make it into official stats is still what riders experience every day.' And parents like me can still feel that. If New York is going to be a place for kids to range free again, like Lenore Skenazy did 17 years ago, we need a full return to the public safety principles that made it possible. Jordan McGillis (@jordanmcgillis) is the economics editor at City Journal.
Buzz Feed
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
28 Products Reviewers Have Called "Unbelievable"
A bag of Death Wish coffee that will shockingly ween you from a whole pot of coffee to one or two cups with its high caffeine content (and fun-but-sinister branding). Folks who normally rely on constant refills of normal roasts find themselves only having a cup or two of this, with the same results. You've been warned. Death Wish coffee is fair-trade and review: "Unbelievable! This is the first time in a very long time that coffee has ACTUALLY given me a 'pick-me-up.' Recommend to all seeking something to wake you up." —Tara $16.48Learn more about Death Wish coffee in "This Super Caffeinated Coffee Is About To Make Your Sluggish Mornings So Much Better." A pack of collagen eye masks to help de-puff your gorgeous peepers whenever you need a little pick-me-up. And with 30 sets included in this package for under $5, that can be whenever you darn well please. Promising review: "Unbelievable results. When I received the product, I was bummed that it looked like a wet, very thin makeup remover pad. I thought, what the heck, I'll give it a try — WOW, I couldn't believe the results. I have bags under my eyes that just started about a year ago. I'm 54 years old and saw nice results with this product. Well, I'm so very glad I took a chance and bought them. In a few days, my bags are all but gone. I use it three times a week. However, after just the first try, I was amazed how it made my eyes look young again. I am now a life member of this product. 😘" —C.A. BarottiPrice: $4.99 A bottle of Bar Keepers Friend Soft Cleanser so you can easily scrub away rust, scratches, burnt-on grease, and even Sharpie marks from all of your surfaces. Consider any "impossible" task complete. Promising review: "Sink was near uncleanable. Ajax, bleach, etc., would not take out the stains you see in the photo. We considered replacing the sink but wanted to google how to repair sinks, and stumbled on a YouTube review for this product. The change is unbelievable. The left is AFTER an hour of scrubbing with Ajax. The right is 30 minutes with Bar Keepers." —EzePrice: $12.93 for a two-packFor more about this, check out "You Can Use This All-Purpose Cleanser To Basically Clean Your Entire House". A pack of 42 flexible curling rods delivering picture-perfect heatless curls overnight. Waking up with your hair already done? Amazing. Promising review: "These are the best curling rods I have found. The quality is unbelievable, and they are super easy to use. They stay put and don't slip out, even in thin, fine hair like mine. I can achieve so many different looks with this set — tight curls or loose beach waves (my favorite). All of the different sizes of curlers make my hairstyles look more natural. They come exactly as shown, and the storage case is a nice quality." —KateGrayPrice: $16.99 A mold and mildew stain remover that will come in handy when it comes to getting your bathroom back in tip-top shape. Pro tip: It also works great on outdoor surfaces if you want to get your patio furniture nice and clean for summer. Promising review: "Literally the fastest-working cleaner I have ever used. Hold your breath and shut the door after you spray. It works in about 60 seconds and completely erases any mold, mildew, stains, anything. It is honestly unbelievable how good this works! But don't breathe it in. The smell is so strong for that minute. Then, if you go back in afterward, there is virtually NO smell. Like magic. Seriously!" —Erika Parrish Price: $15.99 A shea sugar scrub to get your skin squeaky clean and exfoliated, thanks to sugar and AHA, which brightens and tones. And with a whopping 30 scents available, you're sure to find one (or a few) that match your summer vibe. A supportive U-shaped full-body pillow with a cooling cover that can help pregnant people (or folks who just want to feel swaddled and comfy) sleep more comfortably and with fewer aches and pains. Nothing sets you up for a good day like a good night's sleep! A brown sugar bear to soften sugar that's become hard as a friggin' rock. Don't panic, sugar! A strong, helpful bear is on its way to help loosen you up. Promising review: "It's unbelievable. I had super-low expectations, but man, was I wrong. I followed the instructions and left the bear in ROCK HARD brown sugar. As in rock hard, sitting in my pantry for months and months. I checked it four days after, and it's soft again. I mean, if that isn't 5/5 stars, I don't know what is." —AllaPrice: $6.79 for a two-pack A can of Easy-Off oven cleaner because your roommates are going to cry if baked-on food sets off the fire alarm one more time. This product works in just *40 minutes*, but it's safe to leave on overnight for maximum effectiveness (or if you're just feeling lazy).Promising review: "Simply UNBELIEVABLE. Fume-free and no gloves needed, but dissolves ANYTHING cooked on! I had not cleaned my oven EVER. I simply sprayed it on, shut the door overnight, and wiped it off with paper towels. I don't have to dread cleaning the oven ever again! You can use it for everyday spot cleaning and only have to let it sit for a couple of hours for minor things. I used it on my broiler pan that would not scrub clean even with steel wool — no need to scrub ever again now! My slow cooker leaked over the bowl and burned on the inside of the heating chamber. I just sprayed, covered, and wiped in the morning. I plan on using it to clean the grill in the spring and am sure it will make it a breeze." —Andrew $8.98 A six-pack of Keurig cleaning pods for anyone who loves their machine but hasn't exactly been taking the best care of it. Giving your Keurig some TLC is good for both of you and is made super easy with these lil' pods. Promising review: "I always have a difficult time cleaning the head section of my Keurig. First couple of times I used the pod, the amount of crud that came out was unbelievable — all leftover. Now it's just minimal, and it's not in my coffee. Use it once a week. Great product. Highly recommend." —PRODGPrice: $9.95 An ink remover that'll rescue hard surfaces and fabrics alike from the enemy to end all enemies: permanent marker. Promising review: "My son wrote all over his brand-new Lego table with blue Sharpie marker. I tried everything to remove the stain. This product is EASY. Its consistency is like glue. I added one coat, let it soak in for an hour or two, scrubbed with a scrub pad, rinsed, added a second coat, scrubbed, and rinsed. It's all gone. It's magic. I am showing everyone the photos because it's unbelievable how this product worked." —VickiPrice: $12.50 A vitamin C serum that's the perfect catchall product for anyone trying to lessen dark circles, sun spots, redness, and breakouts. Promising review: "I was originally spending a lot more for a Kiehl's pore-tightening and face-brightening serum. When I heard from a friend about this serum, I was doubtful it would be effective, but I WAS BLOWN AWAY by the results even within two weeks! I have been using this vitamin C serum, and I have seen unbelievable results! I really can't believe it! My pores are a lot tighter, and my major dark sunspot has faded. I will be reordering it, and I have recommended it to many friends." —Annalyssa LeePrice: $18.68Check out "This Vitamin C Face Serum May Give You The Best Dang Skin Of Your Life" for more info! A pack of washing machine tablets because how is your machine supposed to get your clothes clean if it's grimy? Your washer needs to internalize the lesson that it needs to take care of itself before it can take care of others. THAT came out of a washing machine?! Like, how? Please explain. Promising review: "Affresh Washing Machine Cleaner tabs — I had never cleaned my washer before after six years of ownership. OMG!! The funk that came out was unbelievable! I didn't realize that I'd have to wipe away the gunk from the basin, so at first I thought I had ruined my washer. I wiped it out and ran on the cleaning cycle again, and more gunk came out! Had to do it three times and then do another rinse cycle. Unbelievable!" —StaceyPrice: $11.99 for a pack of six A bottle of dandruff shampoo so you don't have to go about your day stressing about any flakes that may be visible in your hair. Even though everyone gets dandruff and it's no big deal, it can get stressful when it feels out of your control! Promising review: "Unbelievable! I've suffered from dandruff for years, and I had pretty much given up. I can't remember how I came across this product, but literally, it has solved the problem. Like, I have no idea what is going on, but (knock on wood) I haven't had any flakes since starting to use it every few days. Zero." —RandyPrice: $15.88 A foot file that's helped tons of people cheese-grate their way to beautiful feet. Yeah, I know how that sounds, but for baby-soft heels without getting a pedi? Arguably worth it. Promising review: "Wow! I have owned a few files that I got from the drugstore and felt they did nothing, which made me skeptical of this. I saw some of the customer reviews with photos and decided to try it. It works so well that it's kinda unbelievable. Even at the salon, when I pay for that callus liquid, it doesn't do as good a job. Razors I have used worked, but sometimes got too close and didn't blend. I didn't have hardcore calluses, just some thick skin on my heels. It comes off like snow. But, gross, now Parmesan cheese will never look the same to me." —Jannie GunsPrice: $9.99 A 10-foot-long set of under-cabinet lights to create some chic mood lighting in your kitchen. Your commitment to getting cool secondary lighting for every other room is something to be admired — the kitchen is your final boss. Promising review: "Unbelievable. This was for about 8 feet of under-counter space in my office. This product is amazing. Other lights go for so much more, yet this took less than 10 minutes to install, and the light it gives off is more uniform than if I had put strip lights. The touch on/off works really well, too. I opted for the warm white lights." —Amazon CustomerPrice: $18.80 A set of two reusable mop pads that'll fit on your Swiffer so you get all the benefits of the easily maneuverable wet and dry mop with a more eco-friendly twist. Promising review: "We've been using the disposable pads and had just mopped the floor the day before these arrived. So we mopped again. Unbelievable how much dirt these new pads picked up that was left behind. And you can launder them!" —Wayne WardPrice: $13.99 A pack of bottle-cleaning tablets so you can rescue all the tumblers you've let sit for waaayyy too long. Don't toss them! Just give 'em the old Bottle Bright treatment, and they'll be back in service in no time. These tablets put in all the elbow grease so you don't have to. No scrubbing, stirring, or washing; simply drop them in your bottle with some water, and *poof* — all the bacteria and grime are gone. They're also biodegradable, chlorine-free, and environmentally review: "This stuff is unbelievable! I've used my coffee thermos just about every weekday for around a year now, drinking black coffee, so my thermos was basically black. I figured this stuff would make it, like, a thinner black, maybe cut it to brown, but after soaking for just a couple of hours, my thermos was shiny and silver again, like brand new. I am still in awe at how well it worked. Cheap, too, especially assuming that I'll only have to use it maybe once a month to keep it clean. I will be recommending it to everyone at the office." —Brandon BogertPrice: $7.99 for a pack of 12 A bottle of red wine stain remover that proves there's no use crying over spilled merlot (that's a phrase, right?). Just spritz, wipe, and pour yourself a new glass. Promising review: "Unbelievable. Spilled half a glass of red wine at my bedside. Two deep stains and splatters. Used this product twice per instructions and pat, pat, pat. Went to pink. Poured hydrogen peroxide at the end. Today, you CANNOT see any stains on the beige carpet. I'm blown away. Not sure peroxide was needed. I'd suggest waiting for hours and let it do its work!" —gjasminePrice: $11.89 A hand-powered chopper so you can *vroom-vroom* your way to diced onions instead of suffering through what always feels like endless tears. A portable Bissell Little Green carpet and upholstery cleaner whose handheld nozzle makes intricate jobs and getting into all those hard-to-reach spots way more doable. Say hello to your new chairs, stairs, and floors! Promising review: "This little guy is incredible! I don't usually write reviews, but I was so impressed with this product that I just had to. I was skeptical when it arrived because it was so small. But don't be fooled. This thing has tremendous suction power. I bought my car brand new four years ago, when my two kids were pretty little. So, needless to say, they destroyed the backseat. So much so that I was afraid to let anyone but the kids sit back there. Well, my kids are now old enough not to make a mess, so I thought it was time to clean up back there. The Bissell did an incredible job, and my seats now look brand new! I only wish I had taken before-and-after pictures because it's pretty unbelievable how well it worked. I would recommend this product to anyone a thousand times over! I can't wait to try it on my furniture and rugs!" —Hollie SPrice: $99.99 A handy clothes folding board that, if you work in retail, may be your archnemesis, but if you're in the comfort of your own home and treating yourself to a neat, organized drawer, this is the key to laundry day bliss. Promising reviews: "OMG, I cannot express in words how incredible this product is. I did my closet and my husband's in just a few hours. My husband has an endless collection of motorcycle rally T-shirts. I cannot believe I didn't find this item 30 years ago!!!!" —Claudia"Unbelievable space saver! T-shirts and boxers look neat and more fit in a drawer than before." —RUSTYPrice: $14.99+ (available in five colors) A bottle of Feed-N-Wax Wood Polish & Conditioner with beeswax and orange oil to hide dings and scratches and add some natural luster back to any pieces that look dull. It'll be a real treat for your beloved antiques. Promising review: "My backdoor gets a lot of sun and has faded quite a bit. I talked to a painter about refinishing the door, and then COVID hit. I decided to try to 'repair' it myself but am not patient enough to sand it down and re-varnish. So I decided to try this. I washed all the dirt off the door first and let it dry. Then I rubbed this product on the door. UNBELIEVABLE! I waited a day and gave it a second coat. The door looks 75% better! I may eventually still have to have the door refinished by a professional, but the protection this product provided will get me through another year until I can have it done properly. I highly recommend this, AND it was SO EASY to apply!!! Now I can't wait to use it on all the furniture and bedroom doors in my house so that I can bring out the luster!!!" —Santa Cruz MountainsPrice: $9.98 A roll of glossy marble contact paper to chic-ify your bathroom or kitchen counters in a way that's simple to remove once that lease is up. Promising review: "This looks fantastic! I decided to cover my white subway tile with this marble paper. I took my time with this project so that it came out as nice as possible. I measured and cut the paper for each tile. It took two weeks of doing it a little at a time, but it looks unbelievable. No one can tell it isn't actually marble tile. I highly recommend!" —SPPrice: $5.39+ (available in 10 sizes) A bottle of cult-favorite CeraVe Moisturizing Cream that's lauded by reviewers with even the most sensitive skin, thanks to its fragrance-free and mega-gentle formula. If your skin is generally picky, this may be your holy grail. ^^This reviewer's eczema drastically improved after they used the cream; they noted that the cream made their skin "less patchy and dry." Promising review: "I have had the worst dry skin of my life this year. Eczema on my arms, legs, stomach, and hips. I got this lotion, and within two days, there is an unbelievable difference in my skin, and the ITCHING has stopped." —Amy MitchellPrice: $18.39 A pack of sheet suspender straps for anyone who is somehow ALWAYS entwined in their fitted sheets when they wake up. And there's the bonus laugh after you dress up your mattress to cosplay as an old man. Promising review: "This product is wonderful. I have an extremely tough time with my son's hyperactivity. He jumps on his bed, and I was constantly having to remake it. This product is amazing. It keeps my son's sheets on his bed!!! I could not be happier, and this company backs their product with excellent customer service, not to mention the unbelievable price." —Lisa HeresPrice: $9.99 A jar of SolarOil Nail & Cuticle Care to get those claws conditioned, strong, and ready to get painted if you so choose. Promising review: "I got this as a gift from my nail tech, and this is the ONLY OIL that has helped my brittle nails. I had a hard time kicking my biting/picking anxious habit because of this oil. It has made my nails so strong, it's unbelievable. Totally transformed my nail bed. I cannot stress how much I love this product. Oh, and it smells pretty good too. :)" —Bethany H. Price: $9.90+ (available in three sizes) A bottle of Leather Honey cleaner that, when paired with a simple scrubbing brush, helps you maintain your — *Donna Meagle voice* — fine leather goods. From purses to couches to car interiors, this spray will help you avoid having to replace a historically difficult-to-clean surface. Promising review: "This product is fantastic. I used the cleaner on my approximately 20-year-old purse, which has sustained tremendous abuse while being used on and off over the years. One cleaning with Leather Honey brought back the beautiful original color and supple leather feel. The outcome was unbelievable. It is amazing what a beautiful job this conditioner has done. The purse looks almost new. That is truly amazing, considering its age. The leather is beautiful again." —CindyPrice: $16.10
Telegraph
12-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Jeff Goldblum: ‘The teachers said my range was limited'
'Well, uh, I'm a – I'm a very sensitive fella!' says Jeff Goldblum. The 72-year-old actor and musician is considering how he feels about suffering criticism, box-office flops and TV-show cancellations. But he's unperturbed. 'Part of it is that you make use of your sensitivity, and explore your ability for, you know, towering rage, the gift of fury and ecstasy, and everything else. It's not like you're a banker who's immune to the slings and arrows.' Goldblum is in full flow. He's engaged with the conversation, smiling, uh-uh-uh-ing, unfolding elongated sentences in the musical and rhythmic cadences so familiar from his many screen-grabbing performances. 'You put yourself up for it. You get standing ovations, but you get tomatoes thrown at you, too, and people saying horrible things. That's part of what you sign up for. I think of it less in terms of validation or destruction than the magical ability to connect.' We're talking via video call. I'm in London and Goldblum is in Florence, where he has been based for the past year or so with his third wife (he married Emilie Livingston, a 42-year-old Canadian former Olympic gymnast, in 2014) and two sons, Charlie, nine, and River, eight. He looks very Goldblum: lustrous grey hair, and impeccably turned out in a brown zip-up Miu Miu jacket he bought that very morning ('this is its maiden voyage'), a skinny tie and a colourful shirt with an absurdly long pointy collar that he designed himself ('I have six or seven, in delicious materials'). Even the famous blocky black-rimmed glasses appear to illustrate a point: 'I've made a lot of horrible choices, but bold choices! I have a taste for the theatrical.' At times, Goldblum leans in so eagerly that he appears about to push his way through my screen. He wants to know about the books behind me on the shelf, and where I got my jacket. He's full-on and funny, tangential and verbose, immensely good company even at such a distance. When I question him about what I call his 'goofy Zen persona', he laughs. 'I know what you're talking about. I have those qualities, but I've got other qualities, too.' He confesses to having been a 'little abrupt' with his kids during piano lessons that morning. 'I try to bring the sunshine, and face all our challenges with a sense of humour and repose of one kind or another, but I can be anxious and upset, all kinds of things.' Goldblum has been bringing the sunshine, and many other things, to the screen since making his debut in the tiny role of 'Freak #1' in Michael Winner's violent 1974 thriller Death Wish. He established a compelling presence in high-quality 1980s dramas such as The Big Chill and The Right Stuff, before achieving stardom by metamorphosing into an insect in David Cronenberg's 1986 body-horror classic The Fly. Then came blockbusters such as Jurassic Park and Independence Day, alongside dozens of films, video games and TV shows, including, more recently, the eccentric National Geographic documentary series The World According to Jeff Goldblum and a season as Zeus, king of the gods, in the Netflix drama Kaos. He can currently be seen singing and dancing his way through his first musical, playing the Wizard of Oz in the box-office smash Wicked. When I tell him I have seen 37 of his movies, he jokingly apologises. 'I don't look at them so much, 'cause I see things and go, 'Boy oh boy, I could really do that better now.' But that's good. It means you're going in the right direction... I'm a late bloomer, possibly.' But Goldblum also has a musical sideline: he plays improvisational jazz piano with the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra – his own vintage jazz band, comically named after a family friend – and they are about to release their third album, Still Blooming. Raised in a town near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, as part of a tight-knit Jewish family, Goldblum has been playing piano since he was 10, the same age he first became fixated on being an actor. He refers to jazz as a 'side passion' and 'a whimsical adventure', bubbling alongside his thespian career. 'I spend the first part of my day, every day, playing piano and exploring and practising,' he enthuses. 'I enjoy the heck out of it. It changes my entire day. And I must say, today, I played better than I ever have.' He formed a loose jazz ensemble back in the 1990s – originally with the RoboCop star Peter Weller on trumpet – and he played regularly with changing lineups whenever he wasn't working on acting projects. In 2017, he was offered a record deal by Decca. ('I'm thrilled about it, but it's still a kind of surprising delight.') The band's first two albums topped the Billboard jazz charts in the US, and Goldblum is launching the next with a show at the London Palladium on April 24. He shrugs off notions of celebrity dilettantism. 'I'm always respectful and humbled by people who have devoted their lives to it. I've put in a lot of time myself, but, you know, it's not my main thing. But I kind of adore it and I hope that people can, you know, forgive me for pestering them.' He sees connections between the way actors and jazz musicians improvise. Both can 'spark something in you, and hopefully lively and spontaneous things will occur'. Music plays a large part in his acting preparation. 'I used to come to the set with a big bag full of music and books. Sometimes, I might ask Steven Spielberg, 'What's the score going to be like?', and he would whistle a thing or two. It helps me a lot. I oftentimes make my own little interior playlist, scene by scene.' It's unsurprising to learn that the set of Wicked was particularly musical, with Goldblum and co-stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo performing live on set ('That's the stuff that has all the breath and life in it'), and filling downtime with improvised renditions of jazz standards ('I could have been intimidated by their mastery, but I couldn't help myself. We seemed to hit it off. I'd start to sing and they'd sing with me'). Both appear on Goldblum's new album, along with Scarlett Johansson, with whom Goldblum has worked on several Wes Anderson films. 'She said, 'Why don't you ask me to be on your record? I'd like to do some bossa nova.' I said, 'That's one of my favourite things!'' (He tells me this in tones of wonder. I get the impression he has a lot of favourite things.) Goldblum closes the album with his own fragile but touching (and tuneful) vocal, singing Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye. 'Singing is not something that came so naturally. I have a vague memory of being in a choir at school, and they sent me home with a note saying 'his range is unusually limited'.' So, throughout his career, he has taken singing lessons and practised vocal exercises, which he enthusiastically demonstrates to me with scales and sliding vowels. 'I learnt some Italian opera, you know!' he declares, bursting into an aria. Goldblum's mannerisms are well-known: the stuttering, pausing, repetition, shifts in rhythm. But, he protests, 'you hear me talking to you, you might recognise some of these things, they're authentic to me, I'm not putting them on for effect'. He was struck by the notion in his early drama lessons that 'you've got to find out what you're made of, and make use of that, and include everything, even the shadow side'. He frequently cites the late acting guru Sanford 'Sandy' Meisner, with whom he studied. 'My lifelong aspiration in creative work has been to follow my own impulses, along Sandy Meisner's lines. What I admire most, when I see acting for the screen, is when it's an impressionistic X-ray. There's something personal in it.' He compares it with the way 'certain chords and rhythms really move me – and, and, I love playing them, and, and, maybe I do it in a way that's, you know, a little bit my own'. (Those tics again.) Goldblum's larger-than-life aspects have led him to portray a lot of supernatural beings, including a Greek god in Kaos, the devil in Mr Frost (1990) and a trickster supervillain in Thor: Ragnarok (2017). 'You try to find the human person in it. I'm lucky – I've got a chance to do regular types, too. I have a hankering at this point to do something with Sofia Coppola, or P T Anderson, or the Coen Brothers, or Jane Campion, whom I love, or Scorsese. I like stories about human-sized people, with modern, contemporary complications.' Interestingly, he excludes Wicked's Wizard of Oz from this 'family of characters'. The wizard, he thinks, is actually 'a low-level show-business magician, and a charlatan of sorts, who gets to have this opportunity to convince people, unethically, that he has more power than he really does. And that's all-too human, a kind of a foible that he falls prey to – and then in a darker way, he uses the othering, you know, scapegoating, in order to enhance his power.' With the second part of Wicked due in cinemas later this year, Goldblum makes a gentle allusion to contemporary America. 'He might get his comeuppance. We'll see. It's a human story, and not entirely irrelevant, or unfamiliar, with some of our goings-on today.' This is as political as Goldblum is going to get. He prefers to bring the sunshine. He even declares himself sanguine about Netflix's decision last October to cancel Kaos, despite glowing reviews and fan outrage. 'I don't know what Netflix is doing. I'm not a moneymaker or, you know, marketeer myself. But it occupied me for a goodly amount of time, and I worked hard on it and enjoyed the heck out of it... But nothing lasts forever.' Indeed, he points out, some series last too long. 'Everything is fleeting, our lives, and every show and every job. I like the long form, I consumed all of Severance with delight… But sometimes I see some things that I wish they would shorten up, and see if we could tell that 20-hour story in a couple of hours.' Goldblum's enthusiasm is reserved for other aspects of his professions. 'Storytelling of all kinds: acting, yes, but music – boy oh boy! – can open up areas, not only in the way it's received, but in the deliverer, the way it can hit all of us, you know, it is mysterious and fantastical and magical. And it's so much more than, hey, you got a good review or an award, or somebody said something nice about you, or, you know, your mom is clapping. It's the chance to connect. That's the real gift.'
