But the truth is that weather extremes are no longer surprising.

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Yet again a reasonable principle is taken to irrational extremes, and again no allowance is made for charitable impulses.

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At the extremes, some states impose no income tax, but a high sales tax.

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But no one has taken it to the extremes Gardner has.

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Still, no American athletes endure the kind of climate extremes that pro football players do.

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Optimists will point out that the Republicans, no less than the Democrats, tend to flirt with extremes in the primaries, then select an electable moderate (with Mr Romney being the likely winner this time).

ECONOMIST: American politics

Investors seeking upside from the recent extremes in weather and climate over the past several years need look no further than here.

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