海角大神

In today鈥檚 issue, our five hand-picked stories cover聽the rising stakes for stability in Hong Kong, new views on diplomatic progress, lessons from Hawaii on renewable energy, a new balance between privacy and accuracy in the U.S. census, and our 10 best books of September.

First, I鈥檝e never giggled more while researching a topic.

After 24 years, cartoonist Gary Larson may be coming out of retirement. On Friday, 鈥淭he Far Side鈥� website was suddenly updated with . The caption: 鈥淯ncommon, unreal, and (soon-to-be) unfrozen. A new online era of 鈥楾he Far Side鈥� is coming!鈥澛�

鈥淔ar Side鈥� fans are giddy. From 1980 to 1995, Mr. Larson鈥檚 daily cartoon appeared in newspapers around the United States. His comic genius revolved around sardonic, silly, and sometimes macabrely twisted views on life. His cast often included anthropomorphized cows, dinosaurs, and multieyed aliens. Oh yes, and beehive hairdo ladies.聽

One of my favorites: outside the bedroom window of two sleeping humans: 鈥淧uuuut the caaaaaat ouuuuuuut ... Puuuut the caaaaaat ouuuuuuuuut ...鈥�

Arguably, more apolitical humor would be welcome. In the past year, The New York Times stopped doing political cartoons. Recently, anti-Trump cartoonists working for publications in Pittsburgh and Canada have been fired. In this era of political divisiveness, here鈥檚 something that could delightfully unite us in a good guffaw.聽

Unless this is an epic Larson practical joke, I鈥檓 eagerly anticipating a fresh supply of hilarity with hoofs.