Comment by Garrison Keillor. A copy of "Physicians' Travel & Meeting Guide" came to writer last week. It's a 40 page guide to medical seminars and conferences in January, February, and March. The guide describes twelve hundred and fifty-nine events between New Year's Day and March 31st, in comfortable warm places such as...

Profiles RATCATCHER by R. C. Smith. PROFILE of Brian Plummer, 51, a British ratcatcher, among other things, who lived in northern Scotland. Tells about his career. He is an expert on field sports, such as rat hunting & rabbit hunting; a teacher, and writer of more than 20 books and 2 novels...

Fiction In Tir Na Nog by James McCourt. This is a story of Hollywood & Kaye Wayfaring, now in her forties. She is a legendary movie actress who has also made a few music videos, but has not worked recently. She livesin California: in Silver Lake, at the end of Sunset Blvd. and also in Laguna Beach. She...

Musical Events by Andrew Porter.

The Sporting Scene BUDGE AND THE GRAND SLAM by Herbert Warren Wind. THE SPORTING SCENE about tennis player Don Budge. Many old tennis hands believe that, except for Bill Tilden, Budge at his best may have been the top tennis player of all time. The year 1988 marks the 50th anniversary of Budge's crowning achievement: in 1938 he became the first player...

Books by Helen Vendler.

The Talk of the Town Not for Rent by Susan Orlean. Talk story about a tour of eccentric living spaces around our city, conducted by Bob Russell, who is a painting broker, a party-giver, and tour guide, fond of themes. This tour's theme he says is obsession. "I believe you are where you live", he says. Writer describes a number...

Report from Israel II-THE YELLOW WIND by David Grossman. REPORT FROM ISRAEL in which an Israeli Jew tells about observing the conflict in the occupied territory. He tells about talking with an Arab he calls Tahir. The Arab says in their hearts Arabs know that they are not ready to get along on their own yet, but no one...

The Talk of the Town Flash Act by Adam Gopnik. Talk story about Harold Nicholas who appeared with his brother Fayard, as the younger half of a famous tap-dance team. From the late 20s until just after World War II, the Nicholas Brothers starred regularly in vaudeville & at the Cotton Club, occasionally in the movies, and even on...

The Talk of the Town Howling by Deirdre McNamer. Talk story about Bob Ream of Montana, who imitates wolf howls. He is also a state legislator, a forestry professor, and a wildlife researcher--which is where his howling comes in. He's in his early 50's, and taught himself a wolf howl and began to use it when he...

Poetry The Superstition by W. S. Merwin. The cars are disappearing...