We have all been expelled from the Garden, but the ones who suffer most in exile are those who are still permitted to dream of perfection. –Stanley Kunitz, “Reflections” [assez] [assez dit] [pas assez bon] [pas suffisant] [de trop] [arrete!] [shhhhhhh…]
It’s pretty apparent by this time that there isn’t a single trade in the world that’s going to make any kind of significant difference in the Twins’ fortunes. And, sure, I remember the Shannon Stewart trade, but that was then and this is now. At the moment there isn’t one guy who could reinvigorate this … Read more
…what is it we are all doing, what is it we are about, pray tell? And why are we gathered here? —Raymond Carver, “All My Relations” I’m on my way with dust in my shoes, free of mythology: Send books back to their shelves, I’m going down into the streets. I learned about life from … Read more
Indubitably that wasn’t precisely the performance any of us were pining to see from the local nine coming out of the All Star getaway. And, agreed, Bret Boone wasn’t quite the shot in the bum we all so desperately hoped he might be. And yes, yes, I did see that the Chicago lumbermen were victorious … Read more
Despite appearances, we’re not particularly bothered about all this chatter regarding the Rove-Plame affair, partly because we’re supposed to be finishing the new issue, you know, putting all the frosting and chopped nuts and confetti on the long-johns here at the doughnut shop. But we noticed an interesting thread over at Romenesko, relative to Mike … Read more
Last night, we enjoyed Dan Cohen’s little chat at Raking Through Books about anonymous sources, and we found some closure. Cohen suggested that the real beacon of hope in press-source-public affairs has been and will continue to be the U.S. Supreme Court. A little background: Cohen sued the Star Tribune and the Pioneer Press for … Read more
—Abel Pann He would have been seventy-two years old this week. By the time he was my age he had four children and a literally broken heart. He did what he could. He taught wonder. I still sense him coiled like a discus hurler behind every one of my best intentions. His blood is the … Read more
I was born a clown, and in retrospect my parents were incredibly good sports about what must surely have been on a number of levels a shock and a disappointment. They’d been trying for years to have a child, and they accepted me immediately as a blessing and loved me unconditionally for what I was. … Read more
It’s no secret that people of great achievement are often abject curiosities and spectacular failures as human beings, and this was certainly true of Tchaikovsky, who lived in my hometown when I was growing up. I can’t truly claim that it was my privilege to know the man, or even that to know him would … Read more
Can we just start the All Star break now? Seriously, let’s go ahead and forfeit tomorrow’s game and give the boys an extra day’s rest. Go on and send Joe Nathan to Detroit, but keep Johan home. He needs some quiet time, maybe one of those spirit retreats the New Age hippies used to talk … Read more