Endangered Species? Sort Of It sounds like it’s related to the manatee, or perhaps it’s one of those microscopic organisms you never knew existed . . . but now have to worry about their becoming extinct. So, what exactly is an interstice? Here’s the dictionary definition: inˈtÉ™rstis/: An intervening space, esp. a small or narrow one. Practically,...Read More
Not Asking Where the Money Came From I still think Thomas Wolfe’s newest book, “Back to Blood,” is a bit of a bust. But, at least according to an article I just skimmed, Wolfe was right about the city having a growing Russian presence. Russian One-Percenters Specifically, area Realtors are taking note of “Russian One-Percenters”...Read More
Darkness at Noon 4:45 p.m. * No, it doesn’t get dark at noon in the Twin Cities in mid-November, after the switch back from Daylight Savings. It just seems that way . . . *Apologies to the 1940 novel of that same title by Arthur Koestler.Read More
Finding “The One” “If you’re looking for a high-rise condo, we won’t show you a house in the suburbs.” –Radio ad, “It’s Just Lunch” dating service For years, my clients have heard me compare house-hunting to dating. Example: if you are still ambivalent about a home after viewing it three (or more) times . ....Read More
Are Natural Disasters Partisan? Every time the wire services publish a photo of President Obama comforting a victim of Hurricane Sandy, it’s hard to imagine jaded citizens (and potential voters) not being touched, at least a little bit (and no, I’m not attaching political motives to Obama’s humanitarian actions). In fact, a broader principle seems to be...Read More
“Exotic” Minnesota “I was debating whether to go to the Turkish-Syrian border this week or to visit my old high school in Minnesota. I decided to make the exotic foreign trip and go to Minnesota.” –Tom Friedman, “Minnesota Mirror“; The New York Times (10/31/2012) You may not agree with everything New York Times columnist (and...Read More
