15 Comments
Feb 20, 2022Liked by Michael Estrin

Such a funny, insightful piece. Situation Normal is my daily breakfast read now. Why anyone would start the day by watching broadcast "news" is beyond me. Your work sets the tone for my day, Michael. Also, you reminded me of Mark Twain's cautionary remark, "The man who does not read has no advantage over the man who cannot read".

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Thank you for your kind words and for sharing that Twain quote!

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Feb 23, 2022Liked by Michael Estrin

Thanks for the book recommendations, Iran and Michael :)

Now I will add them to my ever growing list of Michael recs.

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This exactly why I don’t wear sport team shirts. Someone always wants to talk sports with you. And I only watch playoff sports occasionally. So I am clueless. I should get a shirt made with my novel’s name on it. Then no one will bother me.

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You should get a shirt made for your novel! But instead of ignoring you, I predict people will ask you about your book. BTW, this is how Tom Clancy sold millions of copies of his books!

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So many people who I get and really get me are book people. You are a wonderful writer and the observations are great. Sriracha is the perfect "Target version of edginess". Best t-shirt ever from TheOnion "My hometown team can beat your hometown team". Going to enjoy catching up on your backlog.

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Thank you, Mark! Enjoy the back catalogue and tell a friend! Also, now I need to find that t-shirt from The Onion - too funny!

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They have a new and improved version. I may have to buy another as my old one is worn out.

https://store.theonion.com/products/your-favorite-sports-team-onion-headline-t-shirt-1

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Ordering!

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Books are the international glue, that's for sure. Always a pleasure to talk books with anyone, anytime. Thanks for a great read and making me chuckle that someone's name is really Smedley.

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You’re welcome! And you’re not alone on the Smedley front. My wife can’t stop saying that name!

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Feb 20, 2022Liked by Michael Estrin

All my close friends are book people. We really are a separate group of people!

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First thing I always check in someone’s home is their book collection. And if they don’t have any books, that’s a big red flag.

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Just wanna go to American asap who want to join me to re-entry trip home coming.I will confirm the ticket for 04/11/2022 .come together I really want to got back home .

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This absolutely brilliant post, written with a stylistic exactitude and sophistication that's matched only by its primary point, reads exactly -- and I do mean EXACTLY -- as you would suspect: smuggled-in "anti-rightwing" propaganda (and I'm no rightwinger -- it's the obviousness I object to) -- which even the most unsophisticated of readers see through like a fucking fishnet.

Pardon my -- you know -- anti-propaganda loathing.

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