Alice Munro is one of the greatest short story writers in the English language, ever. Daniels loved her work. Recommended it. Taught it. He wasn't alone. For her entire career, Munro was literary royalty. Now that she's dead, we learn that she, like basically all of her characters, was a really messed up human being. Specifically, when she learned that her husband was sexually assaulting Munro's young daughter, Munro took the dude's side, despite irrefutable evidence. Who would have thought that a writer famous for twisted, selfish, and unsettling characters would turn out to be a twisted, selfish, and unsettling person? Tune in for the fellas' various takes, on the article that exposed the ugly truth, and "Wild Swans," a fictional story that in hindsight seems all too realistic.

https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/literature-and-writing/wild-swans-alice-munro

https://www.npr.org/2024/07/08/nx-s1-5032827/alice-munro-daughter-abuse-stepfather

The podcast isn't about hating. Not really. The gents are lovers. They want to like the stuff they talk about. And that's why the Mickey 17 was such a tragedy. To rinse the taste of that unfortunate film from their maws, they rewatched an under appreciated little gem called Moon.

Spoiler: same premise, minus the slapstick sketch comedy. Really, it would suck to be a clone. Also, the robot is the best character. Listen in for those and many more invaluable bytes of info.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moon_(2009_film)

Daniels always liked good old Val Kilmer, may he rest in peace. He was thinking of discussing the actor's first film, the slapstick Top Secret, but all kinds of people on Facebook recommended Real Genius. Succumbing to peer pressure, he listened, and the fellas watched. It's an okay '80s comedy. But hey, when you're meeting at the pub, any topic can lead to better than average bar talk.

The fellas watch Jones' fave. They don't agree on much about this film, though they both were rooting for the velociraptors to feast on the two bratty kids. And: Newman!

The guys have fond memories of the great Gen X high school comedy, Fast Times at Ridgemont High. Did it hold up all these years later? You won't believe the answer! In other news, Daniels goes for laughs by awkwardly singing Sammy Hagar's theme song. It doesn't land, so he doubles and triples down on the bit. Still not funny, but he goes down swinging.

Max's The Last of Us can be summed up like this: mushroom zombies. Jones objects to narratives that start as video games, and Daniels just finds the overall series kind of so-so as far as these things go. But: episode three, "Long, Long Time," starring a terrific Nick Offerman, which stands alone fine without the rest of the story, is original, touching, exciting, and surprising. Who'd have thought the apocalypse could be this...well, nice?

Steve came to the recording in a sour mood, but cold PBR and LeGuin's hot philosophy straightened him right out. Questions were probed. Ideas patted down. Schools of philosophy jailed. Beers were drunk.

https://shsdavisapes.pbworks.com/f/Omelas.pdf

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ones_Who_Walk_Away_from_Omelas

A new pleasure model gone feral movie came out, and the homeys flew to the cinema like moths to the flame. Takeaway one: Daniels does not know how to take notes in the dark. Takeaway two: think twice before purchasing that fancy electronic corkscrew.