A July 30 letter writer critical of gymnast Simone Biles' decision to back out of Olympic competition ("Biles puts 'mind and body' ahead of gold," July 28) asks us to imagine our surgeon is having a bad day. He argues that the surgeon should proceed with the surgery in the name of "mental toughness." If this were my surgeon, I would want them to say something and either postpone my surgery or have a colleague take over.

Proceeding with a risky task knowing that you are in no condition to complete it is cowardly — and dangerous. Admitting that you are not able to proceed safely is brave and mentally tough, especially when you know the decision will earn you public scorn and name-calling.

Lincoln Deslauriers, Rogers

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True strength lies in knowing when to set ego aside, step back and let someone else proceed.

Cyndy Crist, St. Paul

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How can the Star Tribune allow such a hateful letter that didn't make much sense? If Simone Biles decides to drop out because she doesn't feel it, that is her decision and doesn't affect any of us. We do not live vicariously through those who represent our country in the Olympics.

It takes a brave person to admit when it is time to quit and they shouldn't have to read in the paper that they let us down. Even if it is just one person's opinion.

Perry Reinhardt, Burnsville

As a physician, I feel more exhausted now than I did in the middle of our COVID-19 peak in November. I am demoralized by both the public and my own patients who will not get vaccinated. The selfishness is astounding. I feel powerless. I have patients I have known for 25 years who are getting their information from social media rather than from me, their trusted physician. I certainly have had an impact with many, and I appreciate my patients who listen respectfully to my expertise.

Another way I am making a difference is by asking business owners if they are vaccinated. For example, we just started a preliminary search for a cabin and the agent called me very excited to show us homes. I unapologetically asked him if he was vaccinated, and he was not. I politely told him I would not work with unvaccinated agents. I did the same in a clothing store Thursday (the three workers were all vaccinated) and in a small wine store the day before. Perhaps those people who are not persuaded from an ethical perspective will be persuaded if it hits their pocketbook.

Dr. Mary Cady, St. Paul

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Ridiculous. ("Get a shot, get $100, Walz says," July 30.) Where's my $100 for rolling up my sleeve much earlier? Was I not cautious, skeptical and timid signing up for my two shots? Was I not overwhelmed by the burden of sifting through all the conflicting data and information surrounding the vaccines? Was I not doing my due diligence by taking the time to find factual patterns within this media entanglement about the virus to come to the personal conclusion that I do feel personally responsible for protecting myself, my family and community and the world at large? Was I not performing this introspective responsibility because the gravity of the global health crisis necessitated such a mental performance? Congrats, pass go and collect your cash.

Sam Schoephoerster, Circle Pines

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As a fully vaccinated 70-year-old, I plan to wear a mask in public. To me there are only two reasons to wear a mask: First, it is the Christian thing to do, and second, it is the patriotic thing to do. So please mask up.

Tony Achartz, Savage

I am baffled by the July 26 editorial "Nickeled and dimed" lamenting recent coin shortages. While I can sympathize with merchants trying to make change, I have absolutely zero sympathy for banks that are complaining about coin shortages.

You see, all banks have coin-counting machines, yet many banks either refuse to count a customer's change, or they impose a fee, or they want the coins already rolled. Seems counterproductive to me!

And this is getting worse with bank consolidations. Case at hand: TCF Bank had self-serve coin counters available free for customers and charged a nominal fee for noncustomers. With the takeover by Huntington Bank, many coin counters have been removed. So much for better service!

Bankers, if you need coins for your business customers, start counting coins, for free, brought in by your individual customers.

Peter V. Hall, Edina

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My bank branch used to have a free coin-counting machine, but it cited cost savings when the machine was removed a few years ago. Since then, coins have been piling up for lack of convenient, no-fee coin counting. The parent bank makes a profit of $80 billion per year. If it wanted to solve the coin shortage problem, there's an easy solution, but it seems profits come first, again. Or, was the coin problem created to build a case for a cashless society, which would yield even more bank fees and involve fewer bank employees?

Bob Worrall, Roseville

Seeing the July 30 front-page headline "Mpls. to resurrect rooming houses" reminded me of the promise made back in the mid-1970s, as single-room occupancy (SRO) buildings in the Loring Park neighborhood were being demolished for what's now there. I've thought for years that the promise to provide one-for-one replacement of these SROs was meaningless — until now? Thanks to the Minneapolis City Council for again making it legal to fill the gap that was created around 40 years ago. It's about time.

Eileen Collard, Minneapolis

I read the July 30 Outdoors Weekend article "Paths to Progress" because my husband and I have been scuba diving in the Cuyuna area pit lakes for a couple of decades. As usual, scuba diving was given just a couple of sentences in the article, with no photos of any divers.

When we heard this area has become the Cuyuna Recreation Area, with major improvements at the two boat landings along with all of the bike trails, we hoped there would also be facilities for scuba divers, including improved accesses to the water. Two changing areas were built in the enlarged parking lot, quite a distance from the water. Additionally, now when we bring our tritoon to launch into Pennington Lake, the few trailer parking spots are often used by those without trailers, making parking our truck and trailer often impossible.

Other changes include replacing the billboard welcoming scuba divers with one of a biker, as well as closing access to drive to several shore diving sites from the enlarged parking area near Huntington Lake. For divers without a boat, lugging 40-plus pounds of diving gear from the parking area to these dive sites would be extremely difficult.

For decades scuba divers have been supporting the Cuyuna area financially as well as continually cleaning up the area of trash, but we are now mostly ignored, pushed aside and mentioned only in passing.

Alyson Gullette, Andover

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