Gotham City
Watching “The Batman” and it’s bleak, corrupt, and hopeless depiction of an American city, it hit me: this is how Fox News portrays American cities. No wonder people feel so hopeless. As a city dweller, let me tell you, it’s not as bad as the media seems to portray.
Don’t tell me what to do?
When your actions and legislation don’t match up to your stated ideals…
Fuel Economy
I get it, no one likes high prices at the pump. But the average US fuel economy for new cars in 2020 was around 25 mpg. That’s ridiculously low given the technology available at scale today. Oh, it also might help that whole climate change thing, too.
Sputum
·tum
/ˈspyo͞odəm/
noun
a mixture of saliva and mucus coughed up from the respiratory tract, typically as a result of infection or other disease and often examined microscopically to aid medical diagnosis.
Dating Standards
I mean, one *must* have standards, right??
Capitalism First!
Former Attorney General Bill Barr is just the latest to do this, waiting years to share information the US population should know, releasing it when it will benefit him and his book sales. Capitalism first!
Increase the Pressure
More and harsher economic sanctions. More international pressure. Here’s hoping this all blows up in your face, Vladimir.
Return to the Office?
More companies are trying to coax workers back into the office, but many are not looking forward to it. Who here has gone back to the office?
Our Democracy is in Jeopardy
Our democracy is in jeopardy. It’s fine to criticize the President. It’s your right. Heck, it’s your duty. But this past week we’ve seen many “leaders” and prominent political figures - Trump, MTG, Tucker Carlson, Steve Bannon - who seem to have better things to say about Putin than their own President.
Let’s be clear: Putin does not wish the US well. He wants to tear down US influence and power globally. He wants to amass power and wealth for himself. And he is the one who invaded Ukraine with no imminent existential threat to Russia or its citizens. He’s a bad guy and people praising him are not helping the US.
It used to be that crisis would bring the majority of Americans together. This is not a good look.
History Rhymes
As Putin justifies his invasion with talk of unifying his people, protecting the “oppressed” in the Donbas region, it starts to sound similar to echoes of the past. Just noting that appeasement didn’t work out so well back then.
Good morning
And the news cycle shifts from COVID and the pandemic to war in Ukraine…
Ukraine
No one wants war, but one starts to get the impression that Putin is undeterred by our threats over Ukraine. 🤔
Get Back to Normal?
Not everyone is ready to “get back to normal,” but many are. And the calls for normal are creating some strange bedfellows.
Nuance
There appears to be no room for nuance in politics. Or, where people attempt it, they get backlash. Everything must be good or bad, for or against, all or nothing.
Girl Scout Cookie Time
It’s that time of year again, when young girls across the country get to meet their neighbors’ addictions to Girl Scout Cookies head on.
Valentine’s Supply
When in doubt, blame the supply chain
Done with COVID?
As the Omicron wave winds down, most places are rightfully easing COVID restrictions. That’s a good thing and supported by data. Yet I’m still conflicted as we have a rolling 7-day average of more than 2,500 Americans dying from COVID each day. Yesterday we lost more Americans to COVID (3,261) than people killed in the 9/11 attacks (2,977).
We’ll start to move on, get back to normal or some new normal. But since a sizable post of the US won’t take preventative measures against the virus, it’s not entirely up to us when this is all over. We’ll still be living with COVID for some time.
Maybe not time to throw away all the masks, but time to start getting more things back to life out in the world. Just protect yourself as you do.
Star Wars Debate
This is the cartoon equivalent of tossing a live grenade into a den of geeks and just stepping back to see what happens.
So, what do y’all think?
