I’m quite pleased this week to be able to reinstitute our comic feature, as Wanda Waterman has returned with a new series that she foresees being able to bring a lot of ideas into.
This is actually the second comic she’s sent but I thought it was a better introduction to the characters we’re going to be travelling with, and so it’s with great pleasure that I bring you the first official installment of “Love Goddesses.” Personally, it’s giving me an “I Love Lucy” meets “Laverne and Shirley” vibe. And for those of you who don’t understand that word salad, let’s just say I’m showing my age.
Beyond that, this week we also feature a new article from Blythe Appleby, providing us with quite a different take on the notion of stranger danger, and a take that seems especially appropriate given the oncoming season and current events. After all, there is an irony in that as social media allows us to connect as never before, it’s fostered ever greater disconnects between people because we are no longer required to forge connections with those who may disagree with us or have a different point of view, which not only robs us of being able to consider what motivates them, but prevents them from having to consider our point of view as well.
Our third feature this week is a new music review from Jessica Wilson. When Jessica asked what I felt made for a good music review, I pointed out that many of the artists and publishers we receive contacts from are smaller, as we’re a small magazine. We don’t have Island Records wanting us to preview the latest Chappel Roan album, for instance (and if you don’t know what *that* word salad means, then I’m happy to have someone else showing their age somewhat closer to mine, I had to look it up myself) so it’s useful if the music reviews give us something to compare to that we’re more likely to have heard. Jessica took those words to heart, and this week’s review gives me, at least, a real sense of what the music is, and to my mind, that’s what makes for the most helpful sort of reviews, so my thanks to her for that.
Of course, turning to the real world, the latest hub-bub is from President-Elect trump’s threat to impose 25% tariffs on all Canadian and Mexican goods until we somehow stop fentanyl from crossing into America. Because apparently he does not believe Americans are capable of policing their own borders. Of course, most people will recognize this as simply an excuse to apply ever larger tariffs so as to be able to balance the US government’s budget when he reduces taxes on himself and his wealthy friends such as Elon Musk. Such a tariff would also make it extremely difficult for Americans to purchase any electric vehicle not made primarily in America. That this includes basically every electric vehicle producer aside from Elon Musk is surely just a happy coincidence for the man.
In somewhat related news, the prize economics given in memory of Alfred Nobel was awarded to three economists who have managed to prove that institutions created to exploit the masses are bad for long term growth. Societies that adhere to a defined rule of law with broad applicability and inclusive economic systems do better. I’ll let you figure out the relation. Enjoy the read!
