As a chronicler of the American West, Larry McMurtry has few rivals. He combines a gift for characterization with a sense of history’s sweep that makes his best work, like the Pulitzer winner Lonesome Dove, succeed as both regional saga and small-scale story of imperfect people in search of emotional connection. Wandering Hill picks up … Read more
The first 30 feet of Fairway Drive run between six-foot hedges before halting at an iron gate. Visitors who activate the callbox are asked to identify themselves and the residence to which they are traveling. If the visitor has been invited by someone behind the gate, the iron bars swing open with a soft, slow … Read more
It’s the start of another four-week run of stand-up comedy classes at Stevie Ray’s School of Improv, the eponymous training center Steve Rentfrow named for his comedic alter ego. He does a pretty good Cosby impression, a bit that is intended to make a point about imitation, the fifth of what’s just been defined as … Read more
Regarding “SARS Wars” [May]: One possible factor which I have never heard mentioned concerning SARS is the complaint that I’ve read of people in China spitting on the street. Riding the Edge, by Dave Barr, talks about the sidewalks of Beijing being covered with people’s spit. The author spent the winter there. He said that … Read more
Craig Cox was absolutely right when he wrote that “[Charlie] Lau is probably not driving an eight-year-old mini-van and trying not to worry about retirement.” Lau, the legendary hitting coach, died in March 1984.Michael O’Donnell, St. Paul
Dennis Denning is undoubtedly a fine coach, but he might not even be the best one in St. Paul. After guiding St. Paul Academy to its then-record fourth state boys’ soccer championship in 1994, Manuel “Buzz” Lagos said “yes” to the pros by creating, from the proverbial ether, his own professional team. The Minnesota Thunder, … Read more
Fabulous piece on Dennis Denning of St. Paul [“Building the Boys of Summer,” May]. I write with a long and positive historical perspective on Coach Denning. I am one of literally thousands of young men who was fortunate to have had Dennis as a coach, way back in 1966, as a 7th grade athlete at … Read more
You seem to think Iraq was “carpet-bombed” in the recent war [Good Intentions, May]. It was not. Those were precision munitions. Granted, “precision” does not mean “100 percent.” Still, “carpet-bombing” has a specific military meaning, which does not apply to this action. You find it suspicious that we have not uncovered any WMDs yet. Prior … Read more
Your recent article about Minnesota’s loss of influence in national politics [“The Minnesota Model—Unglued,” May] didn’t really get at the heart of the matter. My grandpa, Fred Dennstedt of Fillmore County, was a lifelong Democrat and DFLer (born in 1883). He loved Hubert Humphrey and all who stood in his shadow, which means the rest … Read more
Thank you for Albert Eisele’s awesome perspective on the change in Minnesota politics [“The Minnesota Model—Unglued,” May]. His clear and informed article firmed up the sinking hunch I’ve had about our recent regime change: We’ve been mugged. The national political wizards chose our governor and senator for us, infused them with money and presidential backing, … Read more