Jack of Harts

Over two centuries ago, our forefathers created a better and more perfect union. Their new constitution detailed the end of the slave trade in America. Our first great war with our former masters a few years later resulted in American and British warships spending the next fifty years working together to interdict the slave trade on the open seas. Our civil war forced us to pull those patrols home, where they helped end slavery in America altogether. Decades later, we sent our boys out to defeat genocidal regimes in Europe and Asia. And we have spent the decades since defending the world we helped build. The country our forefathers created has helped make the world a better place than it once was. Remember that when we celebrate Independence Day.

Ding, dong, another witch is dead. The Supreme Court ruled that free speech is free speech, and that forced speech violates it. As an author, a crafter of words that I sell to people, I have known that some of the laws rolling around these United States could be used against me. That I could be forced to write what the government tells me to, like custom cake makers, or custom website creators. Well the Supreme Court has now ruled that forcing people to create something they don’t agree with is a violation of free speech and the First Amendment. This is an important ruling for people in the creative industries, and it will trickle down to everyone else. We are the canary in the coalmine, and the Supreme Court recognized it. Today is a good day. Ding, dong…

I am not impressed with Marvel’s Secret Invasion. The best way to describe it so far is to say that it is Marvel’s version of Andor. A whole bunch of people doing bad things to each other with no heroes involved. And the heroes taking part in the story are either deconstructed or killed outright. It wallows in the grimdark and betrayal while avoiding the heroism and hope. I feel depressed after watching it. I look at the two hours I spent watching the two episodes, and I want my time back so I could have done more enjoyable and productive things. It may get better in the future, but right now I cannot recommend it.