Netlets for Saturday, June 21

UMore Park: Proceed with caution

The June 12 Star Tribune contained two contrasting articles about the University of Minnesota's use of its resources.

The lead editorial celebrated the foresight of the founders and the stewardship of Peter Olin in the development of the Landscape Arboretum, a crown jewel of the university and the state.

Another article raised serious questions requiring close public scrutiny of the university's plans for its other gem, UMore Park. When "the university says it's committed to building a community of the future on the Twin Cities rural fringe," it implies the planners view their radical alterations of UMore Park as a done deal. The fact they've already traded off land to help finance a stadium suggests they view the unique property President Robert Bruininks calls "insufficiently used as a research station" as a piggy bank to loot for pet projects and résumé padding.

The university should instead strive to enhance the value of UMore as a visionary research station in the increasingly critical realm of generating productive and responsible advances in agriculture. Development of a resource like UMore should follow the model of the Arboretum, where something great increases in value. The university president and regents must not be allowed to sponsor gravel groveling, speculative development and suburban sprawl at the expense of altering, undercutting, dismembering or selling off the priceless asset and public trust that is UMore Park.

ROLF ERDAHL, APPLE VALLEY

Wondering how they'd be as pets?

Regarding the June 12 article "Wanted: Good homes for furry, whiskered creatures (OK, rats)": When our kids were young we had pet rats Sally and Lucy.

They loved to sit in our laps and be petted, came when their names were called and were naturally housebroken -- they only used one corner of their cages as a litterbox. Compared to other pets, they were inexpensive and easy to maintain.

They did startle one meter reader, who advised me to call an exterminator.

JANET MACHOVSKY, ST. LOUIS PARK

'Meet the Press' loses its assertive moderator

What a loss Tim Russert's presence will be in the unfolding presidential and congressional elections! While he celebrated political life, he was one of the few TV journalists who challenged politicians on significant issues and dragged answers out of them that they often came to regret. An obvious example is Vice President Dick Cheney's assumption that we would be greeted like liberators in Iraq!

While by no means perfect, Russert was by far the most assertive and, by virtue of the sheer enthusiasm and joy that he invested and took from his work, the most successful in getting politicians to say more than they wanted to say. His skills will be sorely missed, especially his positive approach to interviewing that hid incisive questions that needed to be answered. Sunday morning will never be the same. How very sad for all of us.

JOHN F. HETTERICK, PLYMOUTH

Compassionate, educated carnivores

I thoroughly enjoyed the article "Carnivore Knowledge" (Taste, June 12). I love the idea of being a compassionate carnivore. But the article kept referring to the lambs as kids.

It may be a minor point, but I think if we are going to respect our food, it is important to know the difference between a sheep and a goat. A young sheep is a lamb. A young goat is a kid.

INGRID BEY, DVM, BELLE PLAINE, MINN.

Obama's foreign policy would be an improvement

A recent letter writer tells us that "Lincoln was willing to fight, while Obama seems to want to surrender." If Abraham Lincoln had invaded Canada after the Confederates took Fort Sumter, it would have made just as much sense as Bush's invasion of Iraq after 9/11.

Thanks to the colossally stupid Bush-McCain policy, we don't have enough troops in Afghanistan-- which is where Osama bin Laden actually operates -- to prevent 200 Taliban prisoners escaping from jail. Obama wants to change our war focus, McCain doesn't. And if it's naive to talk to your enemies, I guess Ronald Reagan and John Kennedy were naive.

KEITH PICKERING, WATERTOWN