Atlantic Monthly Contributors's Blog, page 957

Watch a Terrifying and Beautiful Timelapse of the Yosemite Rim Fire

The massive Rim Fire spreading into Yosemite National Park has slowed down recently as the weather begins to cooperate with efforts to stop it. And now that the danger to the park has subsided a bit, officials there posted a timelapse compilation of the blaze's approach. It's simultaneously terrifying and beautiful: 

This, by the way, is what the fire looked like from space on Monday (via NASA): 

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As Yosemite National Park explains, the last part of their timelapse video shows Yosemite Valley, visible just to the south east of the blaze on the image above. As you can see from the clear skies, the smoke from the fire, right next door, barely touched the valley.  

The air in Reno, Nevada, however, hasn't fared as well: 

The air is bad in Reno! Monday was bad, but Tuesday was even worse. pic.twitter.com/xawa18Bjyv

— Darla Givens (@DarlaGivens) August 28, 2013

As of Wednesday morning, the Rim Fire had burned 187,466 acres, and is expected to become the 6th largest wildfire in California history. It's now at 23 percent containment, up from 20 percent on Tuesday. 

       

Donald Rumsfeld Doesn't Think a Syria Strike is Justified

Donald Rumsfeld doesn't support a military intervention in Syria, yet, according to an interview with the former Defense Secretary scheduled to air later tonight on the Fox Business Network. Rumsfeld, who helped to sell the Iraq and Afghanistan invasions with predictions that didn't really pan out, told Neil Cavuto on Wednesday that "there really hasn’t been any indication from the administration as to what our national interest is with respect to this particular situation." He went on to indicate that if anything, we should be concerned more with Iran right now. 

Rumsfeld, as you'll remember, is responsible for the most acrobatic of all justifications to a question on the lack of evidence for the Bush administration's invasion of Iraq — the existence of Weapons of Mass Destruction: 

As we know, there are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns -- the ones we don't know we don't know.

The Obama administration, meanwhile, justified the national interest of any military response towards Syria with Press Secretary Jay Carney's argument that a failure to retaliate could threaten our national security. The administration has promised to declassify intelligence demonstrating that President Bashar al-Assad's government is responsible for a devastating chemical attack last week near Damascus.

Earlier this summer, Rumsfeld criticized the administration's designation of a "red line" in Syria in the first place, claiming that the U.S.'s credibility was on the line if the administration did nothing in response to a series of earlier chemical attacks. 

       

The Loudness Wars Behind Nine Inch Nails' New Album

Nine Inch Nails' first album in five years, one of our more anticipated fall releases, is now streaming over on iTunes, and today brings an additional update from the Trent Reznor camp. Turns out Hesitation Marks has been mastered in a separate "Audiophile Version," which will be freely available to those who purchase the record on the band's website. Here are some details on what that entails, via Pitchfork:

As explained Tumblr, the differences are subtle and for "the majority of people" the differences will be be slim. For audiophiles "with high-end equipment and an understanding of the mastering process," the alternate version could be preferable.

On Tumblr, engineer Tom Baker said it was Trent Reznor's idea to master the album in two versions, "and to my knowledge it has never been done before." He articulated the differences between the standard mastering and "audophile" mastering.

That's an intriguing and, as Baker points out, apparently unprecedented approach to what has been popularly termed "The Loudness War"—in other words, the tendency of music engineers in recent years to master albums with as much volume and sonic compression as possible, at the expense of sound quality and dynamic range. Confused? Here's a popular two-minute rundown of how that works:

Sure, it sounds technical. But you don't need to be an audio engineer to bristle when pop songs sound so hideously compressed they might as well be blaring from earbuds across the room. For a music lover's perspective on the phenomenon, scan "Imperfect Sound Forever," Nick Southall's outstanding 2006 essay for the sadly defunct Stylus Magazine. (It also appeared in 2007's Best Music Writing, which—sadly—is also now defunct.)

Trent Reznor gets this. Famously attentive to every millisecond of sound, each snare hit and synth bubble, he's throwing a bone to the thick-spectacled audiophile corner of his fanbase: He's offering them a higher-quality product. But he's also drawing a line in the sand between audiophile and average listener and suggesting that sound quality is only of interest to the former. Reznor is challenging the Loudness Wars, yet simultaneously capitulating to the new normal by offering up the "Audiophile Version" for a niche audience only. 

This is a shame. As his producer, Alan Moulder, writes, "It is a fact that when listening back-to-back, loud records will come across more impressively, although in the long run what you sacrifice for that level can be quality and fidelity." So why not just release the audiophile version on CD and vinyl and let it speak for itself? Reznor's known to be an uncompromising artist (remember Broken? The Fragile? "I'd rather die / Than give you control"?), so maybe the fact that he's now signed to a major label has something to do with it.

At any rate, you can stream Hesitation Marks here. That'd be the compressed version, because, of course it is.

       

Has Kris Jenner's Show Been Canceled?

Today in show business news: It looks as though Kris Jenner's talk show didn't work out, Paul Giamatti heads to TV, and we may see Richard Linklater's fascinating new film next year.

Kris Jenner, mother of Kim Kardashian and others, had a talk show. I say "had" because, if Radar is to be believed, her show has been canceled by Fox after its brief test run, due to low ratings and lack of interest from advertisers. Granted that is a fairly big "if" up there. Because this is Radar Online we're talking about. But, if they are correct? Well, I'm sorry, but yes. Good. Thankfully. Finally someone, somewhere did not reward someone from the Kardashian-Jenner family with something they did not earn simply because they are a Kardashian-Jenner. I wish no ill-will toward the woman, but did you see her show? She was dull, she couldn't get good guests unless they were family members or friends of family members clearly just doing her a favor, and then she had embarrassing things like this, sad, blatant advertisements embedded within the fabric of the show. It was a mess, and I would not want to watch more of it nor would I want to advertise on it. One semi-interesting appearance by Kanye West at the very end cannot redeem an entire series. So, let's hope that Radar is right and the family learns that not everything they want to do will just happen by dint of their wanting it. [Radar]

Someone just slightly more deserving has landed a TV show. Paul Giamatti has been set to star in an FX pilot called Hoker, which is described as "a story of mid-life crisis and murder that features the hardboiled and possibly insane homicide detective, Hoke Moseley (Giamatti), in pre-chic Miami circa 1985." Sounds about right for Paulie G. Promisingly, Scott Frank will write and direct the pilot, and run the show should it go to series. Frank wrote the screenplays for Out of Sight and Get Shorty, so he should definitely be running a television show. This is good. Do this right, guys. [Deadline]

Also good: Ethan Hawke says that his next collaboration with director Richard Linklater will be coming next year, most likely. And it's quite an intriguing project. Boyhood has filmed one scene every year since 2002, telling the tell of a boy as he grows from childhood into late adolescence. Ethan Hawke and Patricia Arquette play his parents. Doesn't that sound intriguing? A little strange and maybe sad, what with time passing and mortality and all that, but only in the way that the Seven Up documentary series is sad. And really couldn't you think of the Before series in this way, only one that filmed every nine years? And those were great! I don't know. This sounds fascinating to me. [Slashfilm]

Warner Bros. is planning to spend $25 million to market the 3D re-release of The Wizard of Oz. Yes. In 2013, Warner Bros. is spending $25 million to get people to see the freaking Wizard of Oz. Sigh. [Deadline]

Recent Scientology fleer Leah Remini has joined the cast of the next Dancing with the Stars. So, out of the frying pan and into... the glitter pit? The feather dome? The cha-cha cauldron? Anything works, really. [The Hollywood Reporter]

Harry Connick Jr. may be the third judge on the next season of American Idol, though Fox had originally wanted an industry insider. Their top choice for the job, producer Dr. Luke, had to pull out of negotiations when his record label wouldn't let him do the show. So Connick Jr., who has guest-mentored charmingly in seasons past, might take the chair. The worrying thing for Fox at the moment is that the delay in finding the third judge could delay the show's entire production schedule. The first taping was supposed to be next Tuesday, but that might not be possible now. Eh, but it's fine, really. This thing doesn't come back until January. They could film the whole auditions thing the weekend beforehand and it would be OK. It's the 13th season! No one would mind. Be loose, Idol, be loose. [The Hollywood Reporter]

       

The U.K. Could Delay Obama's Plans for a Syria Strike

The Obama administration's plans to carry out a limited air strike against Syria may be delayed until Tuesday thanks to political opposition in the U.K. Parliament. How would British opposition to an American military action throw off the whole schedule? The U.S. and the U.K., according to a Guardian report, seem to be jointly pursuing support for a military strike. And while it looks like the president believes he has all the support he needs to move those plans forward, things have become more complicated in the U.K. Because of that, the U.S. is apparently giving Cameron a "lifeline" so he can quell an anticipated "revolt" in Parliament, as opposition to military action in Syria grows there. 

The U.S. has repeatedly refused to give a timeline for what everyone's assuming will be a limited, retaliatory military air strike against Syria as punishment for a deadly chemical attack .And while a number of details on the administration's plans for retaliation have leaked to the media, the President, on Wednesday, repeated his assertion that he has not yet made a decision on Syria, noting that he's still considering the options on the table: 

But the administration is clearly trying to present a justification for any sort of limited strike or military attack ahead of time, stepping up their language on who bears responsibility for the attack over the past few days. Today, State Department deputy spokesperson Marie Harf told reporters that the U.S. had "smoking gun" evidence of a Syria chemical attack, evidence that implicates Syrian president Bashar al-Assad's government. Said evidence is reportedly an intercepted phone call between Syrian officials.

According to the Guardian's sources, the U.S. and the U.K. will release a joint intelligence report justifying a military strike against Syria on Thursday. The evidence summarized in that report, including the intercepted conversation, seems to be all the White House believes is necessary to move forward against Syria. The U.S. was planning to go ahead with military retaliation soon after that, probably over the weekend. But in the U.K., legislators would like to wait for a promised U.N. report on evidence of the chemical attack near Damascus. A spokesperson for Cameron said to the Guardian: 

"The prime minister is acutely aware of the deep concerns in the country caused by what happened over Iraq. That's why we are committed to taking action to deal with this war crime – but taking action in the right way, proceeding on a consensual basis."

"So this motion endorses the government's consistent approach that we should take action in response to Assad's chemical weapons attack; reflects the need to proceed on a consensual basis, taking account of the work done by weapons inspectors; and reflects the prime minister's respect for the UN process – something he made clear to President Obama several days ago."

U.N. investigators, currently in Syria, could take until next week (or longer) to release their findings on the chemical attack. Meanwhile, the U.K. asked the U.N. Security Council to consider another resolution authorizing a military response in Syria, while the U.S. is in the midst of building a legal case to act without that authorization. Russia, so far, has vetoed any attempt by the council to approve retaliation against their ally, so it's unlikely that the latest attempt would produce Cameron's desired result. The U.S. has vowed to act without U.N. support if needed, and their reported delay, for Cameron's benefit, could well be limited to Tuesday: that's when President Obama leaves for the G20 summit in Russia. 

Back in the U.S., Obama's retaliation plans aren't without opposition among legislators, either. Members of the U.S. congressional intelligence committees in the House and Senate are reportedly
    

Obama Focuses More on Class Than Race in MLK Ceremony

President Obama called on Americans to keep working toward making Martin Luther King's dream a reality on Wednesday, saying, "The arc of the moral universe may bend towards justice, but it doesn't bend on its own." But for the most part, in his speech marking the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington, Obama seemed to be avoiding controversy: calling on people to have empathy for each other, praising volunteerism, pointing out the importance of good parents.

Though he pointed out that the 1963 March on Washington was about jobs, Obama spoke about struggling working Americans in pretty much the same terms he used in a series of speeches he gave this summer to convince congressional Republicans to agree to some deal on funding the government and raising the debt ceiling. The wage and wealth gaps between black and white Americans has grown, Obama noted, but stagnant wages affect everyone:

For over a decade, working Americans of all races have seen their wages and incomes stagnate. Even as corporate profits soar, even as the pay of a fortunate few explodes, inequality has steadily risen over the decades. Upward mobility has become harder. In too many communities across this country in cities and suburbs and rural hamlets, the shadow of poverty casts a pall over our youth, their lives a fortress of substandard schools and diminished prospects, inadequate health care and perennial violence.

Obama said those who were carrying King's dream forward — "marching" — were hard-working teachers, the businessman who "pays his works a fair wage," the mom who teaches her daughter she can break a glass ceiling, veterans who help other veterans, the "father who realizes the most important job he'll ever have is raising his boy right, even if he didn't have a father, especially if he didn't have a father at home."

Obama already gave a big speech about race this summer. A week after George Zimmerman was acquitted of second-degree murder in the killing Trayvon Martin, Obama asked whether the outcome of the case would have been different if Zimmerman were black and Martin were white. This was controversial. By contrast, on Wednesday, Obama said something that echoed some of his critics' arguments. Obama said:

Legitimate grievances against police brutality tipped into excuse-making for criminal behavior. Racial politics could cut both ways as the transformative message of unity and brotherhood was drowned out by the language of recrimination. And what had once been a call for equality of opportunity, the chance for all Americans to work hard and get ahead was too often framed as a mere desire for government support, as if we had no agency in our own liberation, as if poverty was an excuse for not raising your child and the bigotry of others was reason to give up on yourself.

After the speech, CNN's commentators called this "tough love."

In his first term, Obama avoided talking about race for the most part. According to The Grio's Perry Bacon, Jr., before he won reelection last fall, Obama met with aides to sketch out his second-term agenda. "One conclusion, according to aides who attended the sessions, was that a second-term president could speak more openly about some of the issues that had animated Obama’s career before he reached the White House, particularly questions of class and inequality," Bacon writes. But he did not want his whole presidency focused on race, or speak about policies specifically targeting minority groups. This year, the Justice Department announced it would try to work around mandatory minimum sentences for drug offenses. And it filed suit against Texas's new voter ID law last week.

Obama briefly referred to those policies:

To secure the gains this country has made requires constant vigilance, not complacency. Whether it's by challenging those who erect new barriers to the vote or ensuring that the scales of justice work equally for all in the criminal justice system and not simply a pipeline from underfunded schools to overcrowded jails, it requires vigilance.

       

Matt Follows in Ben's Footsteps for Directorial Debut

Since his best bud Ben Affleck had such great success directing a film from with a screenplay by Argo Oscar-winner Chris Terrio, Matt Damon is probably looking to do the same, according to The Hollywood Reporter's Tatiana Siegel. 

Siegel reports that Damon is in talks to direct A Foreigner, a screenplay by Terrio based on a New Yorker article by David Grann. Grann's story A Murder Foretold appeared in the magazine in 2011 and told the story of Rodrigo Rosenberg, a lawyer in Guatemala who recorded a video before his murder implicating the president and first lady of the country. The piece is incredibly cinematic—there's even a love story. Damon, Siegel reports, is also looking to star in the project.  

Terrio clearly knows how to write a taut thriller—that was part of the success of Argo—and it will be interesting to see what kind of directorial sensibility Damon will bring to the story. As a writer, Damon's projects have tended toward the more intimate—think: Good Will Hunting—but he certainly knows how to star in a thriller. Previous to this, Damon had intended to direct 2012's Promised Land, which he co-wrote and starred in, but time did not allow.

The paths of Damon and Affleck's careers went in completely different directions pretty much immediately after their big Good Will Hunting breakthrough back in 1997, but lately seem to be converging. With Affleck having made a successful directorial career for himself, the two once again have the same level of clout in the industry. Now Damon's commenting on how great Affleck will be as Batman, and the two are hosting Cory Booker fundraisers. Meanwhile, Damon has also apparently joined Christopher Nolan's Interstellar. They've come along way together. 

 

       

Indie Booksellers Disappointed by Obama's Bland Response to Amazon Letter

The White House responded to independent booksellers upset about his Amazon visit, and the response was a particularly uninspired reiteration of his small business talking points. The New England Independent Booksellers Association executive director, Steve Fischer, wasn't expecting an impassioned, hand-written mea-culpa, but he also wasn't expecting what he called "the most vanilla and generic form letter" possible. "It doesn't even bother to pretend to have read the letter," Fischer said during an interview with The Atlantic Wire. 

When the President announced that he was visiting an Amazon fulfillment center late last month, independent booksellers — one of the casualties of the company's dominance — were not pleased. In fact, both the American Booksellers Association and the New England Independent Booksellers Association wrote to him through the White House website, challenging the idea that Amazon is a job creator. "This, from a president who has expressed pleasure in shopping at Kramer Books in D.C., and Bunch of Grapes on Martha's Vineyard?" wrote the board of the NEIBA.

The President's response to NEIBA executive director Steve Fischer was a generic form letter that made no mention of Amazon, but talked a whole lot about his small business policies. And, since this is the only response indie booksellers have received from the White House, this is all there is to go off of so far. Here's what the President has done, in his own canned, written words, to help small businesses like independent booksellers who feel threatened by Amazon:

"signed the Small Business Jobs Act"  "cut paperwork, streamlined processes, and increased loan amounts for Small Business Administration (SBA) lending programs" "launched the Startup America initiative to connect entrepreneurs to mentorship opportunities" "repeatedly called on Congress to pass more tax cuts" Obamacare

But at no point does the long letter (longer than the initial NEIBA letter) address independent booksellers concerns with Amazon. Those concerns, as laid out in the NEIBA's letter are pretty simple — Amazon slashes prices to stay competitive over small bookstores, and according to the ABA, has dodged sales tax laws.

"My total fantasy would have been that he would cancel his speech at Amazon," Fischer told The Wire. Second to that, he would have liked to see the President visit a healthy, booming Main Street with independently run shops, or even just a farmer's market. He called the visit to Amazon "ill-advised" and added that he couldn't "imagine [the President] would have gone to a WalMart."

Overall, it's just been a bad summer for independent booksellers and Obama. As Fisher wrote in a statement to The Atlantic Wire before calling us:

After the DOJ ruling on e-book pricing which so clearly favors Amazon, Obama's visit to their Chattanooga warehouse, and then not shopping at either of the independent bookstores on Martha's Vineyard while on vacation, I guess we're not having a summer of Obama love.

Fischer said Obama's bookstore snubbing was "weird," though he understood the President might be busy. "He could have at least shopped at Martha's Vineyard," he complained. "I understand how busy you can get... but I think it would have been a lovely and politically savvy gesture to shop at one of island bookstores."

While independent booksellers wait for an actual response from the President, they can direct any of their small business questions to the Small Business Administration "at 1-800-827-5722, or by visiting www.SBA.gov," as the President's response points out. Because nothing's more personal than a 1-800 number or a government website.

       

Here's Whom We'd Cast in the Justice League Movie

It may not happen this year, or next year, or even the year after that, but eventually, Warner Brothers wants to churn out a Justice League movie because, duh, Marvel's The Avengers made over a billion dollars. Warner wants some of that billion-dollar super-hero-team-up juice. 

We already know the major players: Henry Cavill will sport Superman's blue and red tights once more and Ben Affleck will don the cape and cowl as Batman. And on Tuesday, Matt Damon said he wouldn't be playing Robin. Bryan Cranston might be Lex Luthor — or he might not. 

No one knows for sure yet. But the Justice League roster is deep, so deep, full of characters both well-known and obscure, with a variety of personalities and powers, that they all need love and attention. So here they are, the other guys, as casted by The Atlantic Wire: 

Charlize Theron as Wonder Woman[image error]

We did not go with a natural brunette. We went with Charlize Theron. Keep in mind that Wonder Woman has to hold her own against Batman and Superman. Wonder Woman also has to be stunning and Amazonian; but despite her beauty, this hero has mud in her veins. Theron can pull this off (see: Monster).

Alexander Skarsgård as Aquaman

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The beautiful, blonde Swede could probably lead Aquaman to heights not seen since the second season of Entourage. Whether it's in features like The East, or HBO's True Blood, Skarsgård has proven he has the right amount of charm and charisma balanced with the quiet vengeance and brooding that would make Aquaman an interesting character, for once.

Peter Mensah as Martian Manhunter

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J'onn J'onzz is a strange character. First off, he's Martian and green, and will likely be CGI'd. He also possesses one of the deepest, most unflinching, stentorian voices in the land. If you have seen any of Starz's Spartacus series, you know no one messes with Peter Mensah. Mensah is a perfect fit for Martian Manhunter (better, anyway, than the rumored Matt Damon casting). 

Ryan Gosling as Flash

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When Ryan Gosling does open his mouth, he's quite the eloquent speaker. Unfortunately for us, he's been ordered to brood and mumble in his last seven or eight roles. (That's a guesstimate.) Gosling could easily balance the Flash's whiny, annoying-little-brother side with his good-hearted, fast talking, beautiful and charming side, both frustrating viewers and causing them to swoon. He's mentioned his interest in the role before, and we know the Internet wants him there, too.

Jesse Williams as Green Lantern

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Everyone remembers the terrible, no good performance Ryan Reynolds turned in as Hal Jordan in the standalone Green Lantern movie. By all accounts, he won't be returning, thank heavens, so we need someone new. To shed the stink of that movie completely, we'd like to propose exchanging Hal Jordan for John Stewart and casting Jesse Williams. He's mostly stuck with sensitive nice guy types so far during his short career, but he's also… have you seen the guy? Underneath those glasses, yeah, kid could double for a superhero in a pinch. 

Josh Holloway as Green Arrow

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Picture a scruffy, bearded Josh Holloway shooting arrows at stuff. Maybe the green leotard works for you, maybe it doesn't. But Holloway can gab and punch and kick with the best of them while remaining affable. Lots of people wanted Jeremy Renner for this role before Marvel cast him to play Hawkeye. Consider Holloway as the sneaky, affordable, possibly even better consolation prize. 

Rachel McAdams as Hawkgirl

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It's time to break Rachel McAdams out of her romantic comedy rut. She'd be a perfect Hawkgirl, a reincarnated Egyptian princess who is reborn in every generation. That role of tortured princess would be just right for McAdams; this action movie would require her, for starters, wield a pretty badass mace around. We saw Red Eye and we know that McAdams is more than capable of holding her own action-wise. 

Blake Lively as Black Canary

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Black Canary has to be tough, clear-minded, badass, and despite her outfit (fishnets and a leather jacket) a goody two-shoes at heart. Black Canary, a.k.a. Dinah Laurel Lance, is also the main love interest of Green Arrow, and those two have as complicated a relationship as there is in comics. Blake Lively can do all of these things, and she showed in The Town that she's not afraid to portray someone tough and dirty. 

Sam Worthington as Hawkman

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Brash, brawny, handsome and he can act his way out of a paper bag: Sam Worthington works perfectly as Hawkman. He's just good enough at his job to earn the Hawkman role — so long as Gerard Butler and Jason Statham stay busy with other projects. Worthington has shown his expertise with old-school blunt object weapons in both Clash of the Titans movies, so he should have no trouble with Hawkman's signature mace. 

Mila Kunis as Zatanna

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Zatanna is my — Alex speaking here — favorite superhero in the entire D.C. universe. That's probably because I have a strange fascination with stage magic. Also, Zatanna is, at times, a campy cheeseball (she fights crime in a top hat) who is also one of the most powerful heroes ever created by D.C. What's also great about this character is that writers aren't afraid to give her a dark side, making her do things that are a bit questionable (see: mind-wiping Batman) or sort of scary (see: writing her spells in blood). That said, we were looking for someone vulnerable, someone a bit dark (remember Black Swan?), and someone who looks badass in a hat. Thus, Kunis.

Photos via AP and DC Comics.

 

       

Tech Commercials Really Are All Exactly the Same: A Review

College Humor's "Every Tech Commercial" clip out today is funny because commercials for gadgets really are all incredibly similar, per a review from The Atlantic Wire. In the style of said predictable ads, the College Humor video notes similarities that often pop-up in commercials for gadgets, like: minimal diversity, fast editing, children, and glockenspiel. Here's the clip in its full glory for those who want a complete rundown:

Looking through some popular tech commercials indeed confirms they have some undeniable style parities. 

Adorable Children Delighted by Gadgets

Waking up in a onesie is more fun with the iPhone 5:

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Playing in the park with Google Glass:

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Camping with dad and the Nexus 7:

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Babies really love Chromecast:

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FaceTime: So easy, smiling children can use it:

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A Single Instrument Playing Soft Notes 

In addition to indie music featuring glockenspiel and accordion, as featured in the College Humor video and this Google Glass promo, tech commercials love to have a single unassuming instrument pluck a few notes throughout the video. Both Samsung and Windows favor the strings, as heard in this Galaxy SIV commercial, this Galaxy Zoom commercial, again in this Samsung Galaxy SIV fanboy commercial, and in this Windows Lumia phone commercial. Apple likes the piano and its relatives, having it clink through all three of its iPhone 5 ads.

Men with Beards and Glasses

The Everyday (app) for iPhone Man:

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The Samsung Galaxy S III Man:

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The iPhone 5 Man:

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The Windows Phone Men:

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You get the idea: "hip" guys.