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I really enjoyed the story about Circle Pines [“A People’s History of Circle Pines,” November]. I have spent a large chunk of my life living in the N.E. metro and have memories of Circle Pines from back in the 70s. (Yes, I still can remember!) What really caught my eye was the map on page 56. Right away I realized that something was not right with the geography that the map displayed—like Hodgson Road, located west of Lexington. I then “Google Mapped” the location. Not only was the map flipped left to right, it was also flipped top to bottom. Also, maps almost always have north at the top, but not this one. Since the caption stated that it was from a brochure, it’s obvious that the developers put their own spin on Circle Pines’ existing geography (location, location, location) to market the place.

I really don’t think there is a logical connection between Terminalia and, as you state, political boundary lines between Mr. Ellison and Mr. Fine [“The Rituals of Boundaries,” October]. You suggest that Mr. Ellison and Mr. Fine should come together and find some common ground on Louis Farrakhan and his teachings. Some lines need to be drawn, and this is one: There is no room for discussion and compromise with someone who wants to behead every Christian and Jew. (Oh, if we could just sit down with them, try to understand why they hate us, and show them that we mean no harm, they will love us and we can share a feast together.) Terminus, where are you when we need you?
Are you suggesting that Western civilization and the Nation of Islam “celebrate” their common interests? Mr. Bartel, there are no common interests: If so, you would believe that if the Nazis and Jews got together in 1938 to share their common interests, war would have been avoided in Europe.
You have obviously studied ancient history at some point in your education; you might want to study recent historical conflicts and events that are more relevant to today’s conflicts than Terminalia.

I was a little surprised by the political operatives you chose to highlight in the November issue [“Sculpting a Candidate”]. Not because of their skills and abilities—indeed, they are clearly some of the best left-leaning political minds in Minnesota—but rather because of the lack of diversity in the profiles. I find it hard to believe that the Hmong, Latino, or Black communities, for example, have not produced a single politico to match the skills of the individuals featured in the article.

Tom Bartel’s characterization of Keith Ellison [“Capulets and Montagues,” November], like his understanding of perfect political storms, could benefit from a deep breath. The election of Jesse Ventura in 1998 did reflect voter aversion to the candidates of the established parties, but Ventura’s populist image, albeit more cultural than economic, had an even greater impact on his election. Populist moments come around infrequently, so to peg Ellison as “ … the two-dimensional cardboard caricature of a liberal … ” seems pretty absurd. Ellison’s frequent challenges to economic power (populism) and his record of standing up for the little guy as a lawyer, legislator, and activist have all but escaped coverage by reporters and pundits. There is a great deal to be sour about in this election cycle, but Ellison has kept his populist focus despite shallow media coverage and commentary.

Interesting profiles on the six politicos in your “Sculpting a Candidate” article [November]. One is a good pal of mine. However, I can’t be the first to note that all six of the people profiled were employed by those on the liberal side of the ledger. Are we to believe there is not one hard-working, interesting person who’s toiled for a Minnesota Republican who might have been included in the article? The conventional wisdom is that The Rake is a reflexively left publication, whether intentional or not. But I have to ask about your editorial meetings where this article was discussed. The names of the politicians sprinkled in the article read like an ACLU mailing list: Skip Humphrey, Amy Klobuchar, R. T. Rybak, John Marty, Paul Wellstone, Tom Harkin … it goes on. And for the over-fifty crowd, we even got Bobby Kennedy and Michael Dukakis.
If by chance this tilt didn’t occur to somebody, it says something about your—dare I say it—bias, or rather naive editorial process. Even the insertion, at the beginning of the piece, of a lighthearted sentence acknowledging the DFL celebration about to follow would have helped.

John writes: Dear Rake–here’s a picture of my wife Shelley and I atop Victoria’s
Peak in Hong Kong. We brought The Rake to read on the (long) plane ride over and used it as a photo prop when the opportunity arose. Please make us famous!

–John Steingraeber, St. Paul

The Rake writes: Hope this helps …

Dale writes: On a July trip to Scandinavia, I took my latest copy of The Rake along to catch up on my reading. Ad you can see in my photo, I even took it along to the top of Areskutan, a 4,200 meter ski mountain in Are, Sweden.

I enjoy your magazine and pick it up each month at The Urban Bean, a coffee shop one black from my son’s house. I especially enjoy the restaurant reviews. Even the ads are entertaining.

Thank you for some reading pleasure each month.

ps- Retired from ownership of a Chicago Title Insurance agency. Hobbies include travel, skiing, carpentry and fishing.

Dale E. Hanka

Carolyn writes: I took my latest copy of The Rake along when I traveled to Norway and Sweden.

I enjoy your magazine and pick it up each month at The Urban Bean, a coffee shop one black from my son’s house. I especially enjoy the books reviews and short fiction. Thank you for your coverage of unique entertainment opportunities in central Minnesota.

ps- Retired from ownership of a Chicago Title Insurance agency. Hobbies include reading, travel, skiing, hiking and quilting.

Carolyn J. Hanka

Deborah of Minneapolis writes: Hello Rake – I was recently in Tahiti and Bora Bora for work (need I mention that I have a great job??) and I had these pictures taken of me at the Bora Bora Lagoon Resort where I was staying. Thank you, Deborah

During his three-month stint in Thailand earlier this year, Lee Temte of Minneapolis dined at the memorably named Cabbages & Condoms Restaurant, whose edible fare is “guaranteed not to cause pregnancy.” Established to help fund the work of the Population and Community
Development Association, the eatery serves food that “is traditional Thai,” Temte writes, “but the decor is pure condom.” Red, white, and blue prophylactics adorn the surface of the glass-top tables, and decorative figures on display are dressed in clothes made entirely of condoms. And in place of an after-dinner mint? You guessed it; each diner leaves with a condom.

Send along your Rakish travel snaps by snail mail or to prodmail@rakemag.com, and if we publish yours, we’ll send you a nonthermal, nonextreme Rake T-shirt and a $25 gift certificate from West Photo (21 University Ave. N.E., Minneapolis). Want to see more? Visit us each month at www.rakemag.com for more Red-Handed photos and the stories behind them.