HARD-SCRABBLE LIFE
In “War of Words” [the Rakish Angle, January], Tim Bewer is kind enough to cover the National Scrabble Association’s activities here in the Twin Cities, as well as mention the All-Stars tourney in Rhode Island, which was also on ESPN, and finally he acknowledges that two Scrabble-oriented movies are soon coming out of Hollywood. Though I am pleased that big fish like these enjoy our populist game, it would have been nice if one mention, one teensy, eensy mention, had been reserved for a true “Secret of the City,” an actual bit of “Scrabble Underground” lore. I am, of course, referring to the late night Scrabble sensation on Minneapolis cable access: Totally Scrabble Tuesday. The show airs on the Minneapolis Television Network’s channel 17 at 11 A.M., but I forget on which day of the week. Viewers call in as “Team Minneapolis” and play their tiles (one play per call) against the host. The callers are good and bad at the game (also: mediocre, first timers, prank callers, and wrong numbers). As play proceeds, there is casual banter. Families, college dorm dwellers, businesspeople, stoners, Ph.D. candidates, and racists call in, without being screened. Frequently, their efforts would upset any NSA purist. Finding the Team Minneapolis mantle too vague, viewer-players sometimes subclassify themselves. For example, Team Fresh frequently calls in, as does Team Fooligan, Team Tony Danza, Team Tour de Bong, Team Grove Street, and Team Lick My Nipples. The show is sometimes fun, often boring, and it is beset by technical difficulties. Despite its crappiness, there are always participants—secret, underground, off-the-grid, and local participants. I guess now would be a good time for me to reveal that I am the host of Totally Scrabble Tuesday, which makes this entire letter a shameless self-promotion. I do appreciate it when anyone writes about this game, and it certainly has taken hold in Minneapolis. I saw people playing Scrabble at 1:30 A.M. at the Red Dragon a few weeks ago.
Hamil Griffin-Cassidy
Minneapolis
BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU
ASK FOR, STUART
I faithfully read Stuart Greene’s column [Sex & the Married Man] every month, and I just have to ask: Stuart, do you have any cute single friends who aren’t married, engaged, or have a girlfriend? I swear, I want to meet someone in this town who can communicate. Yeah, I just might need to find myself a writer. I’ve lived in the Twin Cities for three years now and I’m still getting used to that passive-aggressive “Minnesota Nice” stuff—and most of the time my confusion of that very thing is what gets me in trouble. I am that gal who tells my man that I want to show him a trick on my “beautiful instrument.” Oddly enough, it usually freaks him out, at least a little bit. The average Minnesota man, in my experience, is too proud to admit he doesn’t necessarily know what turns me on. However, as any woman will tell you, that thing that made your last girlfriend scream at the top of her lungs just isn’t quite right for your current girlfriend. I totally agree that women really should take a more active role in their own physical happiness, but please, could you introduce me to someone who can appreciate that in a woman?
RedLin S. Murphy
Minneapolis
WE REPORTED, YOU DECIDED
Ms. Guimond’s beef (“Stay Tuned,” the Rakish Angle, January) doesn’t seem to be with the ubiquity of televisions in public places, but that some of these televisions—gasp—are tuned in to Fox News. Even more horrible in her eyes is that nobody is complaining. Jesusland Bible-beaters are not the only fans of Fox News. It is possible that the majority of workers in a politically diverse office building in a liberal downtown don’t automatically retch and convulse at the sight of Shepard Smith like she would want them to—and it’s not the end of the world.
Gentry Boeckel
St. Paul
FLATTERY GETS YOU
EVERYWHERE—WELL, AT LEAST
IT GETS YOU ON THIS PAGE
I am highly impressed with your magazine and website. You are a hard-working, honest, and ethical publication that ferrets out breaking news. MPR had a diddy on Eric Utne this morning. You beat them to the punch there. I recommend you to anyone when the occasion arises.
Killairne Jewell
St. Paul
THIS STALL ALREADY IN USE
I am writing in response to Colin Covert’s piece, “Rated ‘R’ for Dirty Situations” [the Rakish Angle, January]. First off, I was impressed to learn from the article that Jon Thompson, founder of Restroom Ratings, is the son of a plumber. I have often wondered where his inspiration came from. Secondly, as minor as it may seem, I cannot resist the temptation to correct a few factual errors in the article. The outhouse with the baby birds is in Lyon’s Park in Taylors Falls, not Interstate State Park. I know this because I wrote the review. One of my reviews (Mankato Wal-Mart) was also quoted without being credited. To be fair, it was not credited on the Restroom Reviews website, either, so Covert may not have thought to inquire about the review’s origin. Some of the reviews on the site are credited and some aren’t. Regarding the gender disparity concern, Covert should not assume that men’s-room reviews far outnumber women’s. On my review visits, I bring my girlfriend and she always checks the ladies’ room, assuming there is one. Often, a unisex restroom is available for either sex. My review is a summary that applies to both men’s and women’s unless otherwise noted. Also, Covert forgot to mention Jon Thompson’s original, top-notch artwork that adorns many of the feature reviews. Anyway, thanks so much for highlighting the public service work of the Restroom Ratings website. There are not many people who are willing to walk into a public bathroom with a camera. I’m proud of the work Jon has done, his ability to follow through on his vision, and having the chance to personally contribute to it.
Justin Teerlinck
St. Paul
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