Running Hit
The article on Pierre Ostor (“The Toughest Man Alive…Lives in White Bear Lake,” February) was one of the finest pieces I have read in quite some time! Tortorello nailed it! I really enjoyed the humorous perspective that the author took on a world that most of us (who struggle to hit our daily minimum requirement of exercise) did not even know existed.
Chris Enstad
Crystal
Party’s Over
I hope you receive reams and kilobytes of criticism for the graphic representing participants in the upcoming Republican National Convention (“Party Animals,” Talk, February). I refer to the representation of protesters as weasels and lawyers as sharks. Yes, I get that the graphic intended some cheeky humor, but these aspects of the illustration are not funny, instead they are simply ignorant. Those of us who have learned about animals from science rather than Aesop’s Fables know that there is nothing inherently sneaky about weasels and nothing inherently opportunistic about sharks. The current trend toward treating Americans who dissent as unpatriotic is itself unpatriotic. I hope in the future you will refrain from publishing such ridiculous biases.
Janna Knittel
Detroit Lakes
Foodie Favorite
I take issue with James Norton’s review of the 128 Café (Quick Bite, February). I have dined there numerous times with many guests and each time all parties were extremely impressed with Ian Pierce’s savory presentations. Other notable dining critics have highly praised the 128 Café. Perhaps Mr. Norton, who cannot distinguish an elk from a caribou (when he dined at Alaska Eatery), should return for another meal.
Bill Porter
Bloomington
River Wild
The article in your January issue, “River Lost,” really hit home for me. As the shorelines along Wisconsin’s lakes fill up, to think that development is the future of our rivers and streams is disgusting. I’m not blaming any one agency, but instead feel that we the people need to wake up and support zoning that controls bluff-top and shoreline building. Bluff-top critters and landscapes are going down the tubes for what? Ten-thousand-square-foot homes for retired couples? What in the world has happened to people’s sensibilities? I propose a cap on the size of homes in this country, if nothing else, as one way to save energy!
Jean Unmuth
Sauk City, Wisconsin
Seeing Stars
I found the article “The Next Starchitect?” in the December issue quite intriguing. As a resident of Greater Minnesota, I am not familiar with the architectural scene in the Twin Cities. The article was like reading the first chapter in a novel. What’s going to happen next to Jim Dayton and his architectural firm? I hope you do a follow-up in a few years to let us readers know how it all turned out.
Colleen Gengler
Iona
Income Oversight
Your 2008 Salary Survey (January) was very interesting, but you did not include any primary-care physicians. This oversight only continues to perpetuate the stereotype of “rich doctors.” Family docs, pediatricians, internists—we are not all making $200,000 or more. And doctors educating and training new doctors, as well as doctors in community clinics, don’t generally make what docs in private practices do. No wonder people think about suing doctors—we all make a ton of money, right?
Susan Haddow, MD
Minneapolis
2008 Tamarack Award
Entries for Minnesota Monthly’s fiction competition are accepted March 1 through May 15. The winning story will appear in our November issue. Visit Minnesotamonthly.com for contest guidelines.
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