Little Pasture on the Prairie

Last week, I turned in the manuscript for my next book. It will be a compilation of columns spanning the decade I’ve spent writing these weekly missives to you all. In some ways it will be the easiest book I’ll ever write seeing as it was already written before I even began.

The price of your newspaper is going up ... and here’s why

Prices are going up everywhere. As much as we hate to add to your financial burdens, prices are going up at your newspaper, too.

LETTER

To the Editor: I was rereading the “Critical Condition” article that was in the February 8th paper. I must admit, I got upset reading the article. I did not sit down to write this letter until I cooled off a bit myself.

Little Pasture on the Prairie

Twenty years ago, I left New York City to move “home” to Minnesota. I put home in quotes because Minnesota was where I went to high school, but at that point I’d lived on the East Coast almost twice that long. Where was home? I wasn’t sure.

The countdown to 100

On your first day of life you have the highest statistical likelihood of dying, regardless of location around the globe. Low birth weight, poor maternal health, and birth defects along with accidents and injuries and accidental suffocations contribute to these death rates until your first birthday.

Letter to the Editor

Dear Editor, After reading the articles about losing our ambulance service, I heard the following story. I did not catch it all but thought Mark Peacock could make sense of it.

Little Pasture on the Prairie

My kids are used to seeing me tapping away at my computer keyboard. When they were tiny it didn’t mean much to them, but now they understand that writing is my job, and when I am on the computer, I am often working on a column.

Little Pasture on the Prairie

The famous phrase “the best laid plans of mice and men” could easily be amended to “the best laid plans of those who labor in agriculture.” This work truly is a humbling experience in every season.

Stray Thoughts: Getting to Yes

The “Stray Thoughts” piece by Mark Peacock which appeared here last week was his 500th written since he started gathering his thoughts and sharing them with readers in the Isabel Dakotan. That’s quite a record! Thanks, Mark. Here, readers, is Stray Thoughts #501.

Fundamental functions

I confess that occasionally even doctors get squeamish. Or perhaps more honestly, this doctor does. My personal list has gotten pretty short, but one of the things that still makes me squirm is something I nevertheless frequently recommend to my patients.