Heavenly Powers

 I've read that out on the South Downs- not so very far from here- the night skies are among the darkest in Britain. We, however, live in a town- and light pollution wipes out all but the brightest stars. The convenience of urban living or the beauty of dark skies- one can't have both. Still, the planets cut through the fuzz and yesterday evening we were seeing the crescent Moon, Jupiter and Venus in slanted alignment, low down over the hills- and it was impressive. I'm not an astrologer (too much math involved) but those three linked arm in arm has got to be auspicious, hasn't it?

New Things

 The Question to be asked of any new thing: "Whom does it serve?"

"It serves you," reply the creators of the new thing.

And then you have to decide whether to believe them or not. A scan of their antecedents may help. Do they have a record of enlightened selflessness or are they merely "philanthropists"?