PicoBlog

Economic analyses of wholesale power markets are important even if you aren't deeply interested in power markets themselves. Power markets are both an application of economic theory and an informative feedback loop to help us identify when the effects of particular regulatory or market institutions are, or are not, what was expected from the application of theory. If you are interested in applied economics you should be interested in power markets.

“Substack is truly a mission-based company that cares deeply about the success of writers and creators. The entire company is dedicated to making it possible for writers to earn a living doing what they love, and the ability to build their own space online that they control without algorithms or ads. I feel so lucky and fulfilled that I get to do this work every day.” – Christina, Partnerships ncG1vNJzZmirpZfAta3CpGWcp51kt7Cu0g%3D%3D

A blog – but with email. Substack’s simple system lets you publish to the web and email, so you can find new readers and always reach your existing audience. Subscription publishing made simple. Choose which posts you publish as free or only for paid subscribers. Zero tech knowledge required. We take care of everything except the hard part (the writing itself). Switching to Substack takes less than 5 minutes. ncG1vNJzZmirpZfAta3CpGWcp51ks7C%2BjJujqJ%2BXmr%2B0

There is a difference between Substack saying "we are free speech folks, therefore we won't ban newsletters that celebrate and normalize porn" versus using the "Substack Reads" communication to promote these newsletters. One is standing up for a legal principle, the other is a choice about what is worthwhile to promote. There may be Substack newsletters somewhere that celebrates drug addiction or revel in fictionalized portrayals of sadistic violence. I may say those need to be tolerated to uphold free speech principles, while still saying Substack should not look for ways to boost their readership.

Absolutely pitch perfect analysis Amy. The fashion lens gives such a great insight into the characters' state of mind and (real and perceived) power rankings. On the basis that it bypasses the verbal level, which in Succession is often grandstanding, euphemistic or self-deluding, it might be the most honest lens we've got! The fact that the show has married costume and character so thoughtfully is further proof of its standout quality.

Well, that was fucking haunting. Succession has delivered one of the best finales I’ve seen in a long time. It’s kind of insane how anticlimactic the ending felt, but that’s also what made it so real. What I particularly enjoyed about the series finale is that the main characters’ final moments onscreen echoed the patterns they’ve established throughout the show: Shiv impulsively switching sides, Roman alternating between sobbing like a child and hurling the most vicious insults known to mankind, and Ken having a mental breakdown by the nearest body of water.

Last year I picked up the Summer Movie Contest again here on the It’s the Pictures newsletter. I had Barbie pretty low on my list. Well, we all know how that turned out! There was simply no comp for it and frankly no comp after it—I’m not sure what the next sensation will be and if I did I probably wouldn’t be writing this newsletter! But with another summer comes more movies trying to earn our cold hard cash.

Hello! My husband and I have been devouring the fantastic restaurant-inspired TV series The Bear (streaming on Hulu). If you’ve been watching too, then you’re familiar with a chaos menu. The chaos menu on The Bear is executed at a fine-dining level (smoked beef marrow with frozen grapes, hamachi crudo, a savory cannoli with a parmesan crust and mortadella cream). Chef Carmy’s “chaos menu” is meant to reflect the wide-range of ingredients and experiences that have influenced his cooking, from haute cuisine to his mom’s dysfunctional family dinners.

A few weeks ago, I introduced my Summer of Cher, which just involves me watching as many Cher movies as I can (feel free to join in…Cher is for everyone). I decided to go back to the beginning of Cher’s film career and watch Silkwood, which I’d been interested in for a long time solely because of the Nora Ephron writing credit. But tracking Silkwood down proved difficult. Not only is it not available on any of our one million streaming services, but it’s not even available to rent.