At this immediate moment we see a kinda-sorta conflict lapse, except for nuclear warfare threats and missile launches.

Finding any controversy over the renewed fascination with the 64-year-old Mattel doll will be quite a stretch. The inspiration is Greta Gerwig’s upcoming movie “Barbie,” about what happens when the doll enters the human world. Due perhaps to the lack of anything else that’s fun, bubblegum Barbie pink is now everywhere, even on the cover of Businessweek.

Imagine the U.S. canceling the Fourth of July holiday due to high crime in our cities and you get a sense of what has occurred in France.

As a longtime interior designer, I spend most of my working life indoors, helping people find the best possible living situation for themselves. Over the years, I have come to realize that there is a strong — and often understated — connection between the interior of a home and the mindsets of those living in it.

Just like a bank would want to see a business plan before approving a loan, or a contractor would want to see a plan before building a home, we should demand to see a plan before we make the choice to support or oppose Pine Tree Power.

The screenwriters really do have a case to make. May they get as good at managing their image as they are at constructing narrative arcs.