Greetings Webtaculators! Summer weather is officially here, at least in California. I know this because I got sunburned for the first time in a while by sitting outside for 2 hours. Serves me right, I guess. On to the news.

STORY OF THE WEEK (3 min. read [or longer, to learn French first])
What: Vive La France
Why: Because Macron’s resounding victory was a much needed assurance that the entire Western World has not fallen to people like this. What is also interesting is that much like the U.S. election, Macron faced his own version of Clinton’s email leak. Unlike Clinton, the fallout did not cost him the Presidency. C’est la vie.

ECONOMIC THING OF THE WEEK (4 min. read)
What: Big Data
Why: Because data is now the official driver of economic growth.

LAW THING OF THE WEEK (4 min. read)
What: Non Health Care
Why: Because things like cancer and being pregnant will be considered pre-existing conditions. Pro life, indeed.

SPORTS THING OF THE WEEK (5 min. read)
What: What’s The Matter With Boston
Why: Because for a “liberal” city, there sure is way too much racism going on.

MOVIE THING OF THE WEEK (5 min. read)
What: Childe Roland To The Dark Tower Came
Why: Because one of my favorite book series is now a movie. Hopefully they pull it off.

MUSIC THING OF THE WEEK (6 min. play)
What: Testing, Testing
Why: Because this quiz covers things you may want to listen to, if don’t already know them.

LITERATURE THING OF THE WEEK (3 min. read)
What: Brian Reads Better Books Update
Why: Because I am currently in the middle of the Patternist Series, a group of novels by Octavia E. Butler, depicting a society of humans selectively bred to control supernatural traits. The novels directly tackle racism, slavery, and sex in a stark manner, and examines the propensity of humanity to try to exert control over itself. In a genre that distinctly lacks many female or POC voices, Butler’s perspective is truly a unique and mesmerizing sci fi experience. Keep the reading suggestions coming.

VIDEO GAME THING OF THE WEEK (4 min. read)
What: Prey: Or Why I’m Now Afraid Of Coffee Cups
Why: Because the newest space horror game in the tradition of System Shock understands how to make the player feel vulnerable.

INTERNET THINGS OF THE WEEK (∞)
What: The Oatmeal Gets Real; Spocko; What Not To Get Mom
Why: Because Internet.

THING YOU SHOULD GET BRIAN OF THE WEEK
What: A House
Why: Because Brian deserves it.

Webtacularly yours,
Brian
Managing Editor, Webtacular World
The Internet You Didn’t Know You Needed™