Could the weird lumpsucker fish help us cope with our anger?

Paste BN

Ready to get started? First here's a note from Paste BN Columnist Rex Huppke on his newest premium column about a fish that could literally change the world. His newest piece is part of our huge subscription sale, which you can take advantage of now.

...

When I first saw a photo of the lumpsucker fish — the newest resident at Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium — I thought: “That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever seen. I need to make fun of it.”

Then I met the lumpsuckers face to…fish? They’re adorable and, in some strange way, admirable. Despite their nearly infinite flaws, they’ve found a way to survive. And right now, as we endure horrific news from the war in Ukraine and the milestone of 1 million COVID deaths at home, maybe we could all use a story about a weird but resilient fish. For some perspective. Or maybe just a laugh.

I do write about more than just lump-like sea creatures. My overarching goal as a columnist — which I’m definitely not making up as I go along in an attempt to sound smart — is to look at the news of the day and help readers make sense of it, usually through humor, sometimes through a bit of righteous fury if something gets my dander up.

Enjoy the lumpsucker.

- Rex Huppke

The world feels angry and chaotic. So let's all stare at this weird fish.

This is a story about a fish. A very weird fish. A fish that, if I’m being honest, seems like an evolutionary prank, a creature whose very existence draws into question the concept of logic.

I tell you this fish story at this particular moment in time because our brains are filled with horrors and our souls are burdened by news of war, wildly contagious virus subvariants and political rancor. As if by cosmic necessity, the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago recently added a small tank housing 26 of these fish, and that provides an opportunity, if you’ll join me, to focus our bad-news-addled brains for a moment and stare blankly at this oddest of aquatic critters, ultimately uttering the question: “What in the actual heck is going on here?” READ MORE

You for sure want to read more from Rex, right? We got you covered

You see, our readers have flocked to Rex's brand of opinion, which includes a mix of sharp wit and sharper writing. He'll interview a pigeon just as adeptly as he'll lay out his case for how America really needs to do better with racism and hate.

It's a mix that will keep readers guessing and has definitely kept his editors on the edge of their seats. So subscribe to Paste BN during this mega sale to see what he writes next. Already have? Well, thank you for that.

Here are more of his columns. In fact, these are the ones our subscribers have read the most.

Facebook Twitter Email