Twin Cities

Twin City Adult Solid Tube Socks - COLOR: Red
$7.49
These were perfect for my Velma costume - but not sturdy enough for repetitive athletic use.

Star Tribune
$0.01
I vastly prefer the Kindle version to the printed version. I receive all the local news, not just the metro section specific to my area of town. Great job.

Subterranean Twin Cities
$18.95
I became aware of this book by reading a short, positive review in a local magazine. The online reviews seemed to have a decidedly different take, which piqued my curiosity even more. It's clear that the author has rubbed some people the wrong way, and I decided to simply discount the perplexing and harshly negative reviews here (which oddly all seem to contain the same exact criticisms) and find out for myself what this book is all about.

I'm happy to say that it's a delightful read on a fascinating subject. Basically, I couldn't put it down.

Brick's prose is a little tortured at times, but that somehow matches the mental image the reader gets of a guy covered to his waist in waste (raw sewage) most of the time. (What must the inside of his car be like...?)

He wisely splits his time between his own adventures and detailed histories of the features he explores. As a Twin Cities history buff, I have to admit that I've never encountered more comprehensive histories of many of these caves -- not even close. If I had to guess, I'd say that about 60% of the text is historical background, and 40% is personal exploration stories. It's a good balance, but I would have been even more pleased to have those numbers reversed. His tales are frequently gripping.

There are times, however, when his storytelling approach lets down the reader after prolonged teases. He often writes more about the process for finding something than what was actually found. I suspect this reflects his clear joy in the searches, but it occasionally leaves the reader all built up for a payoff which never comes (or is anticlimactic).

The book also represents an unintentional but fascinating peak into a weird subculture to which I've never before been exposed: cavers. Clearly they are highly competitive, secretive, combative, daring, and not above sabotaging a rival's efforts. Conversely, in at least one story the rivals completed work that the author and his friends had begun. Like an extension to the book, the reviews and comments seem to also show this community at work. (For clarity, I am not -- nor will I ever be -- a caver. I'm way too chicken.)

Two things would make this book even better: photos and maps. I'm not talking about maps on how to find the various caves and tunnels (which Brick is keen on protecting), but historical maps which are referenced as starting points for many adventures, or just old maps of the areas discussed -- especially in the section on underground rivers. And while he mentions taking photos or video in various stories, it's perplexing and disappointing that more of his own images are not included.

Since he readily admits that many of his adventures involve trespassing, it's possible that he is just trying to protect himself. But at the same time, a number of the stories are about officially sanctioned activities (such as bat-counting) that led him into caves, and it seems reasonable that images from those excursions would not represent any risk. The same could be said for caves which either no longer exist or have been permanently and successfully sealed or filled. Even photos of former cave entrances, or those which have since changed beyond recognition, would be welcome.

And though his budget may not have allowed it, there are plenty of historical photos available (beyond those few which are included) which would add greatly to his lengthy histories. The book is somewhere around 95% text, but with the addition of images it would make a wonderful, large-format coffee-table-style book (along the lines of Twin Cities by Trolley: The Streetcar Era in Minneapolis and St. Paul).

In all, this book makes a terrific addition to my Twin Cities shelf, and I found myself sad when it ended. I'll put it away to happily read again in a couple of years, and I'll certainly keep my eyes open for a revised and expanded edition.

Schoolhouse Magazine: Twin Cities - Minnesota
$7.95
Describes and compares Twin Cities' public school districts and private schools. Includes the communities served and describes the programs in primary, middle, and secondary levels. An 80 item data chart compares all the schools presented. A pullout map shows the locations.