Welcome back to your daily dose of curiosity and contemplation—today’s Thought of the Day and Question of the Day are a cinematic double-feature. We’re diving into iconic movie moments, killer quotes (literally), and what makes a film feel like summer. Whether you’re Team Beach or Team Blockbuster, this post might make you want to queue up something explosive tonight.
Thought of the Day:
“I think that I am familiar with the fact that you are going to ignore this particular problem until it swims up and bites you on the ass.” – Matt Hooper, Jaws
This line is perfection. It’s sarcastic, frustrated, prophetic, and let’s be honest, it could be said in every meeting that should’ve been an email.
But it’s more than just a witty movie quote. It’s a mirror. We all have at least one metaphorical shark we’re pretending not to see. Something lurking just below the surface—maybe a bill, a conversation, a health thing, a decision we keep pushing to “next week.” And like the mayor in Jaws, we keep saying, “Let’s just keep the beaches open,” even when there’s a fin sticking out of the water.
I’ve had my fair share of “Hooper moments” calling out a problem and watching it get dismissed until, sure enough, it circles back with teeth. Whether it’s ignoring a blinking check engine light or convincing myself I can “wing it” without prepping for a speech (spoiler: I can’t), I’ve learned the hard way that problems are like sharks. Ignoring them doesn’t make them go away. It just makes them hungrier.
If this line resonates with you, you might also like this reflection on facing hard truths or this post about giving the river what belongs to the river.
Question of the Day:
What is your favorite summer movie?
There’s a right answer here, and it’s Independence Day. I’m only half kidding.
Summer movies are a genre all their own, big, loud, over-the-top spectacles meant to be watched with popcorn in one hand and maybe a mosquito swatter in the other. And while Jaws was the original summer blockbuster (literally—it created the whole idea), Independence Day is the one that feels like my childhood. Fireworks. Aliens. Bill Pullman delivering the kind of speech that makes you want to salute your cat.
It’s not the best movie ever made, but it might be the most summer movie ever made. It came out on July 3rd, it has scenes with kids running through sprinklers, it ends with fireworks over the desert, and, let’s be honest, Will Smith punching an alien in the face is never not satisfying.
Other honorable mentions?
- The Sandlot – Because it’s all fun and games until you lose a ball to a beast.
- Top Gun: Maverick – Because apparently I like my summer movies with jets, speeches, and slow-motion walking.
If you’re in a nostalgic mood, check out this post about the colors of spring or what terrible movie needs to be remade.
Let’s Hear It From You
So, what’s your favorite summer movie? Is it a shark, an alien, or a coming-of-age classic? Drop your pick in the comments or hit reply if you’re reading this in your inbox. And if you’re not getting the daily Thought of the Day and Question of the Day, you can fix that right now:
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