fridayfive 07 : Notes from the Desert Floor
Sent from the middle of nowhere with most likely decent taste.
Hi there!
By the time you read this, I’ll be camped in the Utah desert near a tiny town called Hanksville, trying to fly my drone through 25mph winds. I’m hoping for a few abstract aerial shots, but with the wind gusts and a two-pound piece of flying plastic, I might come back empty-handed. That’s fine. I’m working to revisit a few favorite places before we move abroad, and just being out there one last time feels like enough.
This week’s five brings together film, books, and a few reminders that people can still surprise you. Easy to take in, worth your time.
This Week’s Playlist:
1. The Top 100 Best Free Movies on YouTube
→ https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/guide/best-free-youtube-movies
Rotten Tomatoes pulled together over 100 genuinely good movies streaming for free on YouTube. No login. No subscription. Just real films that somehow slipped past the paywall and landed in the wilds of the open internet. A few outdoor adventure docs are tucked in there too, the kind made with real storytelling and actual effort. These aren't viral stunts or influencer side projects. It's a rare bit of clarity in the chaos, where finding something to watch often feels like doing your taxes.
2. Book to Screen Adaptations in 2025
→ https://deadline.com/feature/book-to-movie-adaptations-1236035322
Hollywood, ever allergic to risk, continues its streak of adapting whatever’s already been a hit on paper. If it made someone cry on a Kindle in 2021, odds are it’s now being fast-tracked into a prestige limited series or a moody A24 film with too much ambient noise. Original ideas are out. Proven page-turners are in. I was expecting to see Project Hail Mary on this list, but it seems it’s scheduled for 2026.
3. Best New Books for Summer
→ https://www.npr.org/2025/05/21/nx-s1-5356141/best-new-books-summer-reading
Most summer reading lists treat you like you’ve just come out of a coma and need big fonts, short chapters, and cover art with vibrant colors.
But NPR’s critics put together 17 books to actually looking forward to; smart ones, but not in a smug, grad-seminar kind of way. It’s a rare list that assumes readers have brains and beach towels. Which, frankly, feels like a compliment. If you’ve been craving something fresh that likely doesn’t read like homework, this list is a good place to start.
4. Every Picture Tells a Story
→ https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2025/feb/14/every-picture-tells-a-story-the-joy-of-analogue-photography
A reflective, beautifully written piece interviewing photographers about why film feels different now: slower, more thoughtful, more meaningful. It captures exactly what I’ve tried to say on my Substack. It’s not nostalgia, but rediscovering the depth in each frame, celebrating imperfections, and reclaiming memory.
5. Surviving on the Kindness of Strangers – Day 1
Two Canadians travel across the entire U.S. with no money, relying solely on the generosity of strangers. This isn’t fanciful or staged, but a grounded experiment and asks the question of whether small acts of connection can actually sustain you? Their early interactions show just how quietly profound human decency can be. A fascinating unique documentary series. You can watch the rest of the episodes on their playlist here.
A Quote I Resonate With:
“I understood at a very early age that in nature, I felt everything I should feel in church but never did. Walking in the woods, I felt in touch with the universe and with the spirit of the universe.” ~ Alice Walker
Thoughts on this issue?
Feedback?
Complaints?
Have a great weekend and see you next Friday.