Favorite Lead of the Month

'The Lands' End fall catalog is porn for the heartsick man. Who thought sixty pages of stylish-yet-practical clothing would employ models who are disturbing approximations of the lovely thirty-something woman who doesn't want to put up with your shit anymore? But there she is: kicking leaves on a crisp day, sipping coffee in an immaculate breakfast nook, nestling a golden baby and smiling like the most perfect family photo on a young executive's desk. These are images more invasive than any Victoria's Secret spread, because they don't inspire lust. This is a pornography of regret, and the longer you stare, the more seductive it becomes. These sixty pages are a self-pity trap; any sane lonely man would do well to avoid them.'
--From a luminous essay on Nerve.com. Purists may note two technical problems with this: I'm actually using as the "lead" paragraph to this essay the first three grafs. Also, this is actually our second favorite lead of this month. But as the disclaimer on Michael Feldman's NPR show puts it, "sticklers for the truth should get their own show."