Hey Robert, well met. I did enjoy your previous article, in fact I found myself wanting to visit Barcelona. I divorced myself from television and most popular media some time ago; I have found that you cannot seriously "miss" the news regardless of whether you watch it or not.

Of late there has obviously been the Russian invasion of Ukraine--which we can scarcely do anything about aside from praying (if that's your thing)--and then Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at the Oscars. I seem to prefer second or third takes on information like this; I watched a good portion of a YouTube PBS video on "Putin's invasion" and a short comment by Jim Carrey who was outspoken in his criticism of Smith.

My area of expertise is electric vehicles and their proliferation. I'd love to show you my plans for three systems I've designed to help the transition to sustainability, and I can gather you'd likely have insights which I don't on them. I really have a hard time doing the regular culture thing, and I think that's why I began reading your post. Helpful that it was well titled and got right to the point. What seriously is the value of money when cultural work is destroyed as easily as the library that burned in...hmmm...was that Venezuela last year? Caring not much about anything but the "bottom line" and finding ways to nick 1% off of everything leaves 1%ers like me and 1% of 1%ers like you in the lurch it seems to me. Meritocracy we have not defined and thus we have it not.

Anyhow, a few morose thoughts to add to your collection. Which, because it's hard to pick up, is a little dribble of sarcasm to end this piece on.

I haven't written the follow up to that one yet. I pressured myself too much, I think. Wanted it perfect, I guess. Also wanted to weed out some of my trash writings--there are quite a few from a recent bipolar decompensation--but if you'd like to see another I'm somewhat proud of you can try Beaches. That one I wrote an astonishing (to me) 23 years ago.

Peace.

Brian