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MT's avatar

Suboptimal, well here I am, a 77 year old Jewish mother, grandmother, who signed up to your Little Red Notebook because I developed a crush on you after seeing you on a Christmas University Challenge!!!! You are utterly beautiful.

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Jenny Kleeman's avatar

Ahhhh thank you! I'm so glad you're here.

I didn't take any of what he said personally.... but it was very strange to hear!

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MT's avatar

I also wanted to say that I found your LRN No.6: genetically Jewish very helpful, and agree with your points 1 to 4.

MT

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Jenny Kleeman's avatar

Glad to hear it. There’s plenty of nuance to being Jewish.

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Cheryl Kuczynski's avatar

I too love David Sedaris and I listened to that episode twice. Beautiful writing that made me cry each time.

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Miranda Despina's avatar

There’s a through line of claptrap running through this stuff about mush into various Rogan-endorsed brofluencer’s pronouncements about the efficacy of eating more tough meat as a way of sculpting a more manly jaw. It’s the bro equivalent of vaginal eggs. Well done keeping a straight face talking to that man.

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Wendy Varley's avatar

Your Guardian interview with Mew is fascinating, Jenny. Having your face described as "Suboptimal" and "dull" is a bit of a shock to the sytem, I imagine.

I've heard the argument for more chewing made in books about ultra-processed food and books on solving breathing problems, and I can believe that eating only mush is bad for us on many levels.

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Jenny Kleeman's avatar

There is certainly something in the idea that eating mush must be bad for us. But the idea that beauty = health is worrying.

I didn't take Mike's comment's personally - although they were very personal! It was a bewildering encounter on many levels...

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Wendy Varley's avatar

Yes, completely agree that beauty does not = health!

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lynne heal's avatar

Books I sold masses of as a manageress of a bookshop David Attenborough I spoke to lots and helped him order books.This week I have had lots of workmen doing up my disabled bungalow one said to me you look good.I then said never judge a book by its face.I am very ill and can die any day.

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Jenny Kleeman's avatar

I am really sorry to hear this, Lynne. I send you all my best wishes.

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lynne heal's avatar

Thank you for your empathy.

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