Fireside Chats With Rand Vol.2: "Playing With Context"

As I’m sure we’re all aware, the Santa Ana winds have created quite a ruckus for us Southern California folk. Besides being the culprit for the Wizard Of Oz style tornado winds the day of the PSAT, they’ve also contributed to the tragically almost commonplace fires sweeping through California. With many being forced to evacuate their homes, and in the wake of widespread school closings, millions are still terrified by the fires...which is why I was so shocked to see this advertisement on my Lassen street bus stop.

May I present to you, the new John Cena/Keegan Michael-Key box office blockbuster, “Playing With Fire.” Make sure to get your tickets early folks. Now imagine my face as I’m getting off the bus, covering my mouth from the winds, after hearing the daily news report what sounded like the apocalypse, and seeing John Cena’s playfully antagonistic smile next to the tagline “0% contained.” Yeah, that’s quite the set of circumstances. While it personally didn’t offend me to any significant degree, replace me for someone who isn’t sure whether their house is still standing or not. Now that would really burn. Hopefully nobody gets their feelings hurt by this movie, but I think this presents us with a rare opportunity to remember that circumstances and context really really really matter. Life is all based on perspective, so we should all remember to be sensitive to those we interact with. You never really know what somebody else has or hasn’t experienced.

On a less, moral-y note, this advertisement totally worked because I absolutely watched the trailer after walking past that bus stop bench. It was kinda like a mix between “Kindergarten Cop” and the souls of Nickelodeon executives. Anyways, thus ends this volume of Fireside Chats with Rand, I’ll see you all in theaters this November.