Al-O-Meter
Well-Known Member
Decades and decades ago, my Mom used to plant crocus flowers in our front yard and every year they were the first flowers to bloom on our street. Sometimes they’d even bloom before the snow fully melted but their appearance marked the end of winter. I feel like the crocus flowers are blooming.
For years now, the few comic book shops remaining have survived on content from Japan. American comic books never cracked the top-20, but that streak has been broken by Ultimate Spider-Man #1 who is a family man married to his long time love. It is a $6 dollar current issue that is being sold for $50 and $60 depending on the cover.
The male characters in the Super Bowl advertisements too were markedly different. They weren’t uniformly inept buffoons being played for comic relief. There were exceptions, but mostly they were men. I’m not the only one who noticed.
https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/trads-and-dads-best-super-bowl-commercials/
On the front page of CNN.com in between all the usual incendiary political stuff and Super Bowl coverage was an article presenting a poll showing married people were happier.
https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/09/health/marriage-happiness-wellness/index.html
I tried using VPNs, cookie blockers, and other anonymizers. It isn’t content that is being tailored for me, but published for general consumption. I like it, but it is weird. It feels like a sweeping change in the culture, like a change of season.

For years now, the few comic book shops remaining have survived on content from Japan. American comic books never cracked the top-20, but that streak has been broken by Ultimate Spider-Man #1 who is a family man married to his long time love. It is a $6 dollar current issue that is being sold for $50 and $60 depending on the cover.
The male characters in the Super Bowl advertisements too were markedly different. They weren’t uniformly inept buffoons being played for comic relief. There were exceptions, but mostly they were men. I’m not the only one who noticed.
https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/trads-and-dads-best-super-bowl-commercials/
On the front page of CNN.com in between all the usual incendiary political stuff and Super Bowl coverage was an article presenting a poll showing married people were happier.
https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/09/health/marriage-happiness-wellness/index.html
I tried using VPNs, cookie blockers, and other anonymizers. It isn’t content that is being tailored for me, but published for general consumption. I like it, but it is weird. It feels like a sweeping change in the culture, like a change of season.
Last edited: