Hi you,

A shorter prologue this week as I finish the promotional marathon for the season finale of my PBS series, America Outdoors. In this last episode, we feature Maine and ask how and why people embrace cold weather relationships with nature. Check out the show and the digital companion series, and let me know what you think.

I’d also like to plug my Puck partner Julia Ioffe’s excellent podcast miniseries all about the origins of Vladimir Putin, About a Boy. The first two chapters are available now, and there’s another dropping later this week. I promise the first episode will change your understanding of World War II.

Oh, and a shout-out to reader Alison Mason, in New York City. A few weeks ago, I wrote about Apple’s new environmental bragging rights ad featuring Octavia Spencer as a pleased Mother Nature. Alison pointed out that Chiffon margarine pulled off a similar stunt decades ago.

Alright, on to the main event, a topic that’s been on my mind a lot lately. Thoughts/feelings/feedback? Message me at baratunde@puck.news, or simply hit reply to this email.

Moments earlier, after all, I had the same look on my face as I struggled to navigate a slow and poorly-designed digital menu and payment process that could have been easily bypassed with...