Yup, you are a damn genius Burke. Ever been to Minnesota? Spent any time up there in Anoka County? I grew up in one of those "small town" Minneapolis suburbs too--Bloomington, same era as Keillor. Not one iota of difference between the two, so I actually know whereof I speak.

As to your "setting the record straight" can you explain which thing I said that was an out and out lie there, Burke? Sure, you interpret the same facts differently than I do. I'm pretty sure that is the point I've been trying to make all along in this thread.

What are you trying to do here? Resurrect the reputation of a fallen comrade, or what? All I said was he couldn't sing, his writing was maudlin crap, and I didn't think much of him as a human being either. That is called A-N O-P-I-N-I-O-N. And I would tell you what to do with yours, but I'm a Minnesota Nice person.