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I'd read Giridharadas' "Winners Take All" three or four years ago, and it was like that moment where, after some back-and-forthing, the optometrist dials in just the right focal grind- and, "Oh, I see! That's an -mwdAEst- at the bottom line on the chart!", and then you get your new glasses. In much the same light and focus, here, I'm glad Bernie walked away from the photo opp. And I'm going to miss him. But I'm also reading Hunter Thompson's "Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail, '72" and William Cobbett's mid-1830's "Rural Rides", which are curiously resonant to each other in their bringing focus to official denial and avoidance, and wondering,

- is there any function of just simply doing the math and grammar on big issues and getting to a better thing, to be found, anywhere, or are we stuck with Charm and Goosebumps? Meanwhile, the glaciers still melt.

Thanks for the lens and the focus.

Tim

PS: I've had Chrissie Hynde and the Pretenders "Back on the Chain Gang" on the turntable this morning, and we'd been warned.

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I've got Winners Take All on my stack, and might pull it out soon, in connection with something I'm writing right now. One thing I'm coming to realize is that so much of our culture is bent on sticking to charm and goosebumps that it makes me feel old even just considering an alternative!

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Thanks for the recommendation; I'll have to check this one out.

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