The Rake: The Read Menace

The Wisdom of the Car Buying Masses

Tom Bartel — Thu, 01 May 2008 12:23:34 -0500

Just when I thought it was safe to cancel my Strib subscription, they surprise me and put something on the front page that actually 1) contains information that I care about; 2) contains information that elucidates a larger story; and 3) nudges at least one piece of television-like spot news dreck out of the paper. (Actually, I’m only guessing about point number 3.)

No Surprise Here, UnitedHealth Rides Again

Tom Bartel — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 08:42:42 -0600

It's not any surprise to those who've followed the sordid history of UnitedHealth Group to see that the company is being sued by the Attorney General of New York for manipulating the reimbursement rates for their insured who go outside of the network for their care.

...leaving community hurt, too

Tom Bartel — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 09:43:54 -0600

Here's the headline from yesterday's Strib: "Girl, 6, is grazed by bullet, leaving community hurt, too."

It's tempting just to let that stand as one more blob in the insipid lump of goo that is the Star Tribune. OK, I will, but with just one comment: Doesn't every bullet that hits a six-year-old hurt our community?

If I were king of the fore-e-e-est

Tom Bartel — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 11:44:54 -0600

I hope you all noticed the bold initiative of the Star Tribune, as expressed on their editorial page on Sunday. Yup, they put their heads together, snorted and wheezed with the Herculean effort, pressed hard on their temples to concentrate the intellect, and made their endorsement regarding tomorrow's "Super Tuesday" nationwide primaries and caucuses.

And you thought they were too timid to actually make an endorsement without doing a focus group first of what they could get away with without offending their ever shrinking base of readers and advertisers.

States' Rights When It Comes to Flagpoles

Tom Bartel — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 11:51:56 -0600

I've been thinking a bit about Mike Huckabee. Of course, I've mostly been thinking about what a disaster for the country it would be to follow the idiot currently in the White House with another. But you've got to admit Huckabee would be funny.

Making Hay in the Winter

Tom Bartel — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 08:42:10 -0600

There's going to be another inquiry into why the bridge fell. On top of the NTSB, the Legislative Auditor, and the Governor Pawlenty-hired consultants, we're going to have the Minneapolis law firm of Gray Plant Mooty looking into things on behalf of a bi-partisan State House-Senate committee.

Another Death Sentence for Journalism

Tom Bartel — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 13:59:05 -0600

NY Times media columnist David Carr told a sad tale today. It started out with him telling how the city of Chicago had just paid out $20 million to settle lawsuits by four former condemned men who had been tortured by police.

Oh, That's Why Harvard and Carleton Are Such Crappy Schools

Tom Bartel — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 12:08:12 -0600

You know, this is just too easy.

In case you missed Kersten today, the topic is "Why St. Thomas University is going to hell in a handbasket". The short answer is, (and I'm only telling you this because reading the column will just cause you to think ill of thoughtful Catholics) because they don't have the archbishop of St. Paul as an automatic member of the university board of directors any more.

But, in good conscience, I can't spare you the punch lines.

Number one:

Spare the Rod, Spoil the Newspaper

Tom Bartel — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 09:57:16 -0600

I made a mistake the other day and accidentally tuned in to KTLK and whatever right-wing boob they have on during the late morning. With a little checking after I got back to the office, I found his name is Dan Conry, and he has, like so many of his ilk, the IQ and eloquence of a doorknob…or of Katherine Kersten, whichever is higher.

For he was haranguing about Kersten’s column of Monday, in which she asserted (surprise) that the government was out to take your kids and brainwash them.

Carpe Latinitatem

Tom Bartel — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 17:03:05 -0600

I was walking around the office the other day and overheard one of the Rake's ad reps telling two more reps that he'd just sold an ad contract. I opined, in passing, that his customer must be a very perspicacious sort. That, of course, brought the conversation to an abrupt halt.

If you're going to insult me, cancel my subscription first

Tom Bartel — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 16:45:00 -0600

Here is the first sentence of today's Star Tribune editorial on "Aiding Baby Boomers' Search for Meaning": "The nation's supernumerary baby-boomers have reached what's being gently called "the second half of life," but the big generation is still doing what it has done since its diaper days: It's demanding notice and altering the contours of every phase of life it touches."

Yuk.

You Can't Sue City Hall

Tom Bartel — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 13:33:07 -0600

John Ashcroft, the predecessor of Alberto Gonzales and former title holder of “Craziest Attorney General since John Mitchell” has an op-ed piece in today’s NY Times. In it he argues that the telecommunication companies who provided access for the Bush administration’s illegal wiretaps

Of Burrows and Bergs

Tom Bartel — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 11:50:54 -0500

I like the rodent.

We Do This Every Three Years

Tom Bartel — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 17:02:04 -0500

Ok, Maybe not Sabathia for Santana

Tom Bartel — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 17:47:19 -0500

Why I Like the Clevelands

Tom Bartel — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 15:51:16 -0500

Apologies

Tom Bartel — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 13:26:37 -0500

Please Can I Cancel my Subscription Now?

Tom Bartel — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 11:36:46 -0500

Lost in Translation

Tom Bartel — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 16:38:27 -0500

The Saddest Story of the Day

Tom Bartel — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 19:19:42 -0500

A Tip of the Hat

Tom Bartel — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 16:12:24 -0500

What's Wrong with Mr. Maliki?

Tom Bartel — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 11:28:52 -0500

Some Questions for our Fearless Leaders Precipitated by the Precipitation of the 35W Bridge

Tom Bartel — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 16:33:34 -0500

A Small Defense of Keith Ellison

Tom Bartel — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 11:17:30 -0500

More Bad News From Your Doctor

Tom Bartel — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 11:33:42 -0500

Scooter Skates, Zheng Hangs

Tom Bartel — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 10:53:47 -0500

Par and Paris: only a syllable separates them

Tom Bartel — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 14:12:00 -0500

We'll Always Have Paris

Tom Bartel — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 10:34:40 -0500

Some Sick Stuff

Tom Bartel — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 17:15:17 -0500

A Blatant Play for Google Position

Tom Bartel — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 11:52:07 -0500