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.

Debut author "Sami" joins the fellas for a Modelo and discussion of the most influential novels in Mexican literary history, as well as its new Netflix film adaptation. Jones goes full infomercial, Daniels gets increasingly worse at pronouncing Spanish names, but Sami holds it all together with wit and verve. If you can read Spanish, buy her new linked story collection! If not, no worries. She's translating it herself into English. Stay tuned!

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/232469962-memorias-de-tierra-adentro

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pedro_P%C3%A1ramo

Jones is a HUUUUGE Crichton fan. Daniels is too effete for that kind of thing...you know, popular novels that get turned into blockbuster Hollywood films. He even doubts you know what "effete" means. But this podcast is about learning. No pain, no gain. Daniels read the book, and kind of liked it, but don't tell his fancy university friends. Also, who'd of thought they had computer chips for brains way back in 1972?

Steve reacted to these classic essays with "meh," throwing Kelly into a Jesus-like rage that resulted in an upset table and a smashed iPhone 16 Pro. Just kidding about the last part but Kelly is audibly annoyed and spends the episode trying to shame everyman Steve, who fails to be ashamed. Is this the best podcast episode ever? No. Will you learn something you didn't already know about Orwell, the absurdity of colonialism, and the strange shame and appeal of capital punishment? Unlikely. Will the voices keep you company as you walk the dog, fold your laundry, drive across town, or use the elliptical at the gym? Hell yeah.

Thanks to the Orwell Foundation for making these essays free and accessible. Check out their website for a wealth of content.

https://www.orwellfoundation.com/the-orwell-foundation/orwell/essays-and-other-works/a-hanging/

https://www.orwellfoundation.com/the-orwell-foundation/orwell/essays-and-other-works/shooting-an-elephant/

Superstar friend of the pod, Sarah, meets the fellers in Ciudad Mexico (a bar in downtown LA), for some more hijinks. Agenda: Bukowski's Barfly and a couple of beers.

https://www.sarahkaingutowski.com/