Buckle up, fat boy*

by chuckofish

Is it Wednesday already? Since my Saturday post, I haven’t done much unless seeing Hobbs and Shaw at the movies counts as an adventure — which it should. It’s a fun movie and a great antidote to the end-of-summer-the-world-is-crazy blahs. The film checks all the right boxes, but amusing banter and a good message are the only ones I care about. Physics defying action isn’t my thing,

though I do love a Samoan haka!

Interestingly, one of the main plot elements hinges on the fact that the villains have control of the media and consequently “control the narrative” to make our good guys appear to be bad guys.  Though a typical action movie plot device, it seemed pointedly to remind viewers not to take the news at face value. Everyone has an angle.

My solution? When you read/watch the news, always ask two vital questions: What do they want me to think? What are they leaving out? The second one is harder, but definitely worth the effort. Think about it.

Switching gears, I give you a happy reading newsflash: Amor Towles has published a new short story, The Line, at Granta.  The story offers a timely reminder of the irrepressible human spirit.  Towles always sees the best in his characters and pushes his readers to think. His innate optimism is contagious, and I don’t know about you, but I need that right now. Read the story, watch a fun movie, and question the news. (Better yet, ignore it!)

*Shaw (Jason Statham) to Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson).