From the Journal of Gospel Music to The New York Times: Congrats to Bob Marovich!

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Congratulations to Bob M. Marovich, founder and editor-in-chief of the Journal of Gospel Music for writing such a magnificent article for the global edition of the New York Times, "CeCe Winans Revisits the Simple Power of Worship Music."

Best known for contemporary stylings of praise music that topped charts across genres, CeCe Winans put her new album of pared-down sacred music, 'The Hymns,' back atop the gospel charts.

Magnificent article and well worth a read.

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Decide On Your Waterfront Getaway This Memorial Day Weekend

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If you’re still deciding which waterfront getaway is right for you this Memorial Day weekend, we’re here to help.  From the Pacific to the Atlantic, the Great Lakes to the Gulf, millions of Americans will head to the beach this weekend, the unofficial start of summer.

Here are six of the NY Times' favorite U.S. beaches to explore this weekend, from a pristine white-sand stretch of the Hawaiian coast to gently rolling dunes along Lake Michigan and a wild barrier island in Georgia.

Superintelligent A.I. Is Arriving Faster Than Anticipated

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You heard it here second, after Thomas L. Friedman, Opinion Column, The New York Times (4/7/26):

"Holy cow! Superintelligent A.I. is arriving faster than anticipated, at least in this area. We knew it was getting amazingly good at enabling anyone, no matter how computer literate, to write software code. But even Anthropic reportedly did not anticipate that it would get this good, this fast, at finding ways to find and exploit flaws in existing code."

Read the entire Opinion Piece here.

The Iran War: Serious Harm to the Global Economy

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Opinion Columnist for The New York Times Thomas L. Friedman writes:  This [Iran war] is imposing serious harm on the global economy, including the U.S. stock market, and Trump has no clue how to get out of the mess that he has created by starting a war without thinking through the implications.

What to do?  Read Mr. Friedman's entire opinion here.

Feeling Assaulted by the Federal Government

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"Feeling assaulted by the federal government." That's how Thomas L. Friedman describes what is happening in his hometown, Minneapolis.

Read the interview here.  America is at a boiling point.

China's Trade Surplus

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According to Eswar Prasad, professor of trade policy in the Dyson School at Cornell University and a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution:

"China’s trade surplus – the amount by which its exports exceed its imports – hit a staggering $1.19 trillion in 2025, according to official numbers released on Wednesday (1/14/26). The figure shows just how much China is an exporting powerhouse but is also a sign of its economic weakness and of how its practices pose a greater danger to free trade than even President Trump’s tariffs."

Read the entire article at The New York Times (gifted):  Forget Trump’s Tariffs. The Real Danger Lies in China’s Trade Surplus.

Your American Home Without China

©2025 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

Think you can manage your American home without Chinese products?  Many essentials are imported from China – and with tariffs (whether old or new), they're likely to become more expensive.

The New York Times analyzed import data to show where Americans may see product shortages, fewer choices and price increases.

It's surprising where you will be hit hardest.

Do Americans Still Know How to Make Stuff?

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Paul Fichter, who founded Taphandles in 1999, anticipates $11 million in revenue this year, employing 33 people at its Seattle headquarters and roughly 450 at the Chinese factory that produces the beer-marketing products it sells to breweries.

Mr. Fichter discusses the factors that led him to bring some of his manufacturing back to the United States with The New York Times.

Here's the last question posed by the interviewer:

Q. Do you think Americans still know how to make stuff?

A. Absolutely. My baby’s crib was made here, and that was important to me. I didn’t have to worry about the safety of, for example, the paint used. The key to success for the United States will be using machines instead of brawn. When we surveyed other countries, including Vietnam, the Philippines and Indonesia, we didn’t find the skilled labor base we needed. While I’m really proud of creating jobs here in America, it’s not just an emotional decision. It makes sense. 

Read the entire interview here.

Do you see this as a trend to bring manufacturing back to the United States?  We welcome your comments and insights.

Goings On in the World

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We've written about this resource before but thought you might want to revisit it in light of the downturn doldrums. Cool stuff. Twelve destinations. Six of the world's great cities.

Globespotters.