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Post-Election Potpourri
The Insane Rage Of The Same-Sex Marriage Mob
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The Truth about Government
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Revenge Of The Boxes
Cold War Hawks Nesting With Obama
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On A Fair Footing
Garrison Keillor 8/19/2008
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I got to go to the Iowa State Fair on Sunday and eat a very excellent pork chop on a stick as I stood by the U.S. Marines booth, where various civilians lined up to do chin-ups on a high bar, counted off by a Marine whose T-shirt said "Pain Is Weakness Leaving The Body." I've seen many things at state fairs but never chin-ups. The look of chagrin on men's faces who had believed they could do chin-ups and then the truth dawned on them. One man looked as if he might blow out his aorta. A small, sharp memory of high school phy-ed. I had to turn away.

I passed up the novelty foods, the deep-fried pineapple on a stick, etc. A fair isn't about food, it is a carnival of ideas where the Lutheran booth sits between the "reverse osmosis" water purifier booth and the hot-tub booth. Here is an 8-foot-by-8-foot tub that seats four and reclines one, with water jets and a pedestal table for your champagne, which would feel awfully good after a day of combining. Redemption By Faith Alone versus Creaturely Comfort. Nearby you can learn about ethanol
and hear the horn of a Model T, which sounds like a terrified goose, or you can talk to a lawyer at the bar association booth. (He told me that most questions are about leases or divorces.)

Most fairgoers walk past like stunned sheep, but men are waiting in booths who'd be glad to explain about corn yield and herbicide or Republican principles or the advantages of vinyl siding. A kindly salesman told me all about an infrared "health cabin," which is sort of a sauna but without steam, just heat, up to 140 degrees, which "aids in the relief of chronic fatigue" and will detoxify you and "balance" your blood pressure. I didn't buy one, but I enjoyed the pitch. Salesmanship is basically a civil and amiable profession. Fifty feet away are the Methodists (Find Your Path, Share The Journey) and a display of bottled water (zero calories). And the anti-abortion people, and the natural latex mattress booth (80 percent less tossing and turning), and a booth selling a GPS gizmo that provides weather info and also local movie times.

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Toxic toys everywhere
By Patrick Corrigan - The Toronto Star * Posted 8/17/2007 12:00:00 AM
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Toxic toys everywhere
© Copyright 2007  Patrick Corrigan - All Rights Reserved.

Posted By: K  on Tuesday, August 19, 2008

The worst part about reading Garrison here is that when I open my local paper tomorrow morning or the next day, I will have already read that one. I love this work; metaphysical clods flying through the air, barkers in my own head. I need a tractor. And a llama.

Thanks for all that observed goodness, Mr. Keillor. Be seein' you on Saturday in Lake Woebegone.

Say hello to Mrs. Sundberg.

Mrs. Nye

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