The human race has been unsuccessfully trying to crack a number of nuts for several millennia. In our time, billions of people all over the world are greatly concerned with the 21st century’s social problems. Most wealthy democracies confront predicaments such as terrorism, wars abroad, global warming, crime, drugs, illegal immigration, ever-increasing prices and taxes, …
Author Archives: José Latour
The influence of promotion on the entertainment and cultural markets
Sellers go to marketplaces to make money by offering goods and services, and the same rules apply to marketplaces the world over. Make, harvest or extract something, price it accordingly and offer it for sale. It seems, though, as in the last one hundred years the ever-increasing role of promotion has profoundly changed the buyer-seller …
Reality in crime fiction
I appreciate this opportunity to share with you my views about reality in crime fiction. I look forward to learning your opinions on this topic and answering your questions after a brief introduction. Although I strive to create, and prefer to read, realistic and believable novels, I am not against good unrealistic fiction, the key …
Politics in Latin American crime fiction
Having read a considerable number of crime books by Anglo and Latin American writers, I believe that the plots of noir genre novels penned south of the Rio Bravo are much more political than the majority of American or British crime books. History shows that all along the 19th and 20th centuries, most British and U.S. …
Now that it’s over
Having wasted forty-four years of my life under Communism, where only the party-controlled Union is allowed, collective bargaining is nonexistent, and attempting to found an independent Union gets people sent to prison, since my arrival in Canada I read and watch the news about strikes with great interest and certain respect. I don’t know enough about the …
More talent shows—a sales pitch
Contemporary societies require professionals in thousands of disciplines, including those that entertain people. In the last few years we’ve been introduced to born singers, amazing dancers, creative choreographers and other artistically endowed people some of whom shared with us absolutely heart–rending stories. These individuals might’ve remained unbeknownst to millions were it not for several shrewd …
Making a case against price controls
In 2008 the strong popular discontent at the price of gasoline has given rise to numerous demands for price controls.
Many among the malcontents are not well-versed in economics and finance. They seem to have forgotten the essential rule of market economies: prices fluctuate according to supply and demand. These hard-working people are struggling to make ends meet and deserve an explanation in plain words (…)