Bruce MacDonald<p>As a Minnesotan I appreciate the wood-chipper reference because, as you know, I am all about the <a href="https://hachyderm.io/tags/LocalAngle" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>LocalAngle</span></a> here in the land of 10,000 lakes.</p><p>"So that was Mrs. Lundegaard on the floor in there. And I guess that was your accomplice in the wood-chipper."<br />—Brainerd police chief Marge Gunderson, in the movie "Fargo"</p><p>Charlemagne: The thing about Europe, the sneerers say, is that it is over-regulated. Mounds of red tape and punitive taxes mean there are no trillion-dollar entrepreneurial ventures in France or Germany to match Amazon, Google or Tesla. But that is not all Europe is lacking. Also absent from the continent are the broligarchs who sit atop such behemoths, some of whom have a tighter grip on power than on reality. There are thus no European Rasputins pumping untold millions into political campaigns, getting pride of place at leaders’ inaugurations or their own new-minted government departments to run. There are few unicorns in Europe, alas, and too little innovation. That said, there are absolutely no tech executives boasting on social media of spending their weekends feeding bits of the state “into the wood chipper”.<br /><a href="https://www.economist.com/europe/2025/04/10/the-thing-about-europe-its-the-actual-land-of-the-free-now" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="ellipsis">economist.com/europe/2025/04/1</span><span class="invisible">0/the-thing-about-europe-its-the-actual-land-of-the-free-now</span></a></p><p><a href="https://hachyderm.io/tags/Europe" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>Europe</span></a> <a href="https://hachyderm.io/tags/WoodChippers" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>WoodChippers</span></a> <a href="https://hachyderm.io/tags/uspol" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>uspol</span></a></p>
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#localangle
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Bruce MacDonald<p>Say, it just occurred to me where that "Careless People" title of Sarah Wynn-Williams's Meta book comes from! </p><p>At least I assume that this is to where it refers:</p><p>The Great Gatsby by Minnesotan F. Scott Fitzgerald. A famous denizen of St. Paul.</p><p>"I couldn’t forgive him or like him, but I saw that what he had done was, to him, entirely justified. It was all very careless and confused. They were careless people, Tom and Daisy—they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness, or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made."</p><p>So good, were these Minnesota authors from the days of yore.<br /><a href="https://ia801801.us.archive.org/15/items/the-great-gatsby_202101/TheGreatGatsby.pdf" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">ia801801.us.archive.org/15/ite</span><span class="invisible">ms/the-great-gatsby_202101/TheGreatGatsby.pdf</span></a></p><p><a href="https://hachyderm.io/tags/books" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>books</span></a> <a href="https://hachyderm.io/tags/LocalAngle" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>LocalAngle</span></a> <a href="https://hachyderm.io/tags/Minnesota" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>Minnesota</span></a></p>
Bruce MacDonald<p>I'm late to this story, but a friend draws our attention to Foxtrot, a Minnesota border collie who took Most Valuable Puppy in the Dog Bowl on Sunday.<br /><a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/02/09/nx-s1-5291547/puppy-bowl-photos-dogs" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="ellipsis">npr.org/2025/02/09/nx-s1-52915</span><span class="invisible">47/puppy-bowl-photos-dogs</span></a></p><p><a href="https://hachyderm.io/tags/dogs" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>dogs</span></a> <a href="https://hachyderm.io/tags/Minnesota" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>Minnesota</span></a> <a href="https://hachyderm.io/tags/LocalAngle" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>LocalAngle</span></a></p>
Bruce MacDonald<p>Tip of the hat to Eder Campuzano over at the Strib for ferreting out the Local Angle!</p><p>Bishop who called on Trump to ‘have mercy’ on LGBTQ people, migrants is a former Minnesotan</p><p>“Almost no one had a deeper impact on my moral compass than Marianne Budde, who was our minister at St. John’s in Minneapolis during the time I was Mayor,” [R.T.] Rybak wrote on Facebook. “She stepped into the pulpit yesterday and showed the bravery we all need in this moment — to stand strongly for what we know is right, and speak strongly for those who most need us. This is the moment that marks what each of us is made of, and Marianne, once again, showed us the way.”<br /><a href="https://www.startribune.com/mariann-edgar-budde-trump-sermon/601209242" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="ellipsis">startribune.com/mariann-edgar-</span><span class="invisible">budde-trump-sermon/601209242</span></a></p><p><a href="https://hachyderm.io/tags/Minneapolis" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>Minneapolis</span></a> <a href="https://hachyderm.io/tags/Minnesota" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>Minnesota</span></a> <a href="https://hachyderm.io/tags/LocalAngle" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>LocalAngle</span></a> <a href="https://hachyderm.io/tags/uspol" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>uspol</span></a></p>
Bruce MacDonald<p>Big trouble for local retailer: “Boots and slippers were flying off the shelves a year ago, but now customers would rather cast off all their possessions and wander barefoot into the wilderness.”<br /><a href="https://theonion.com/target-losing-market-share-as-more-americans-opt-to-forgo-all-earthly-possessions/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">theonion.com/target-losing-mar</span><span class="invisible">ket-share-as-more-americans-opt-to-forgo-all-earthly-possessions/</span></a></p><p><a href="https://hachyderm.io/tags/LocalAngle" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>LocalAngle</span></a> <a href="https://hachyderm.io/tags/wilderness" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>wilderness</span></a> <a href="https://hachyderm.io/tags/consumption" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>consumption</span></a> <a href="https://hachyderm.io/tags/satire" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>satire</span></a></p>
Bruce MacDonald<p>A Minnesotan's included in the ABC's year-end news quiz.</p><p>I did poorly on this quiz but I got this question right.<br /><a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01-01/2024-news-quiz-of-the-year/104763398" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="ellipsis">abc.net.au/news/2025-01-01/202</span><span class="invisible">4-news-quiz-of-the-year/104763398</span></a></p><p><a href="https://hachyderm.io/tags/LocalAngle" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>LocalAngle</span></a> <a href="https://hachyderm.io/tags/uspol" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>uspol</span></a> <a href="https://hachyderm.io/tags/Minnesota" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>Minnesota</span></a></p>
Bruce MacDonald<p>(Looking at that photo and wondering how much it costs to boost a packet of Minnesota-based Hormel pepperoni into space. Totally worth it though. Much tastier than Pillsbury-originated Space Food Sticks.)</p><p><a href="https://hachyderm.io/tags/LocalAngle" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>LocalAngle</span></a></p>
the most validated enby<p>three Minnesota legislators are listed <a href="https://mspsocial.net/tags/localAngle" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>localAngle</span></a> (edit: where are my manners. added cw) <a href="https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2024/11/20-trans-nonbinary-election-night-winners-you-need-to-know/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="ellipsis">lgbtqnation.com/2024/11/20-tra</span><span class="invisible">ns-nonbinary-election-night-winners-you-need-to-know/</span></a></p>
Bruce MacDonald<p>Best overall Amazon alternative? Tar-zhay.</p><p>Local red-themed general store in the news.</p><p>"Is it as niche or as small of a business to support like some of the other sites on our list? No. But does it deliver a ton of deals and exclusives that make it a worthy Amazon competitor? One hundred percent."<br /><a href="https://www.rollingstone.com/product-recommendations/lifestyle/best-amazon-alternatives-1136987/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="ellipsis">rollingstone.com/product-recom</span><span class="invisible">mendations/lifestyle/best-amazon-alternatives-1136987/</span></a></p><p><a href="https://hachyderm.io/tags/Minnesota" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>Minnesota</span></a> <a href="https://hachyderm.io/tags/LocalAngle" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>LocalAngle</span></a> <a href="https://hachyderm.io/tags/retailing" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>retailing</span></a></p>
Mike Hicks<p>Taylor Swift has posted about starting the last leg of The Eras Tour and says an Eras Tour book will be available on Nov. 29th (hey, that's my birthday!) at Target. Physical copies of "The Anthology" version of The Tortured Poets Department will also be available, since it's only been on streaming until now <a href="https://mastodon.sdf.org/tags/localangle" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>localangle</span></a><br><a href="https://www.tumblr.com/taylorswift/764406486740975616/well-be-kicking-off-the-final-leg-of-the-eras?source=share" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="ellipsis">tumblr.com/taylorswift/7644064</span><span class="invisible">86740975616/well-be-kicking-off-the-final-leg-of-the-eras?source=share</span></a></p>
Bruce MacDonald<p>It's decorative gourd season.</p><p>"Travis Gienger, of Anoka, Minnesota, beat his closest competitor by 6 pounds (2.7 kilograms) to clinch the victory at the 51st World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off in Half Moon Bay, south of San Francisco.</p><p>"Gienger and his family drove his gargantuan gourd for 35 hours to California."<br /><a href="https://apnews.com/article/california-giant-pumpkin-winner-71cc6201bb732f057261d452bdf97ba5" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">apnews.com/article/california-</span><span class="invisible">giant-pumpkin-winner-71cc6201bb732f057261d452bdf97ba5</span></a></p><p><a href="https://hachyderm.io/tags/Minnesota" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>Minnesota</span></a> <a href="https://hachyderm.io/tags/horticulture" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>horticulture</span></a> <a href="https://hachyderm.io/tags/LocalAngle" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>LocalAngle</span></a></p>
Bruce MacDonald<p>Teasing out that <a href="https://hachyderm.io/tags/LocalAngle" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>LocalAngle</span></a> … and a nice photo of Taylor, albeit one from a concert in Texas.</p><p>(And we're not talking about Glen Taylor, if you know what I mean.)</p><p>"And when Taylor speaks, Swifties listen. Between Sept. 9 and Sept. 12, the Minnesota Secretary of State’s office recorded more than 20,000 new registrations to vote. On Sept. 12 alone, two days after the presidential debate, 13,000 people completed registration applications."</p><p>Free article.</p><p><a href="https://www.startribune.com/taylor-swift-endorsement-voter-registration-minnnesota/601150068" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="ellipsis">startribune.com/taylor-swift-e</span><span class="invisible">ndorsement-voter-registration-minnnesota/601150068</span></a></p><p><a href="https://hachyderm.io/tags/mnpol" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>mnpol</span></a> <a href="https://hachyderm.io/tags/uspol" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>uspol</span></a></p>
Bruce MacDonald<p>Trademark row!</p><p>'In fair Wisconsin, where we set our tale, Minocqua Brewing Co. launched its latest progressive-themed beverage a few weeks ago — a can branded with the smiling face of Democratic vice presidential nominee Walz, under the words “OPE.” The beer is described as having “big dad energy,” and fits with Minocqua’s left-leaning offerings.</p><p>'But Wisconsin already has an Ope brewing company — the Ope Brewing Co. of West Allis.'<br /><a href="https://www.startribune.com/tim-walz-ope-beer-wisconsin/601144074" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="ellipsis">startribune.com/tim-walz-ope-b</span><span class="invisible">eer-wisconsin/601144074</span></a></p><p><a href="https://hachyderm.io/tags/uspol" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>uspol</span></a> <a href="https://hachyderm.io/tags/beer" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>beer</span></a> <a href="https://hachyderm.io/tags/LocalAngle" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>LocalAngle</span></a></p>
Bruce MacDonald<p>'Like John and Linda Henry at The Boston Globe, Glen Taylor at The Minnesota Star Tribune and Jeff Bezos at The Washington Post (who, as we know, has run into difficulties in recent years), Soon-Shiong was seen as someone who would invest a small share of his billions into rebuilding the Times so that it could re-emerge as a profitable and growing enterprise.</p><p>'Instead, Soon-Shiong showed little of the patience and judgment needed to pull it off.'<br /><a href="https://dankennedy.net/2024/09/12/if-the-la-times-owner-had-stepped-up-the-la-local-news-initiative-might-not-be-needed/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">dankennedy.net/2024/09/12/if-t</span><span class="invisible">he-la-times-owner-had-stepped-up-the-la-local-news-initiative-might-not-be-needed/</span></a></p><p><a href="https://hachyderm.io/tags/newspapers" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>newspapers</span></a> <a href="https://hachyderm.io/tags/LocalAngle" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>LocalAngle</span></a></p>
Bruce MacDonald<p>As one does,</p><p>"The Minnesota governor grinned from ear to ear as Swift’s statement was read out in full on air." </p><p>'“Wow!” Walz said. “All those things—I am incredibly grateful, first of all, to Taylor Swift. I say that also as a cat owner, a fellow cat owner.”</p><p>'“Look, Swifties, you heard it,” he continued. “We know that it’s there. That was eloquent and it was clear. And that’s the type of courage we need in America, to stand up.'<br /><a href="https://www.thedailybeast.com/rachel-maddow-interrupts-live-interview-with-tim-walz-to-tell-him-about-taylor-swift-endorsement" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="ellipsis">thedailybeast.com/rachel-maddo</span><span class="invisible">w-interrupts-live-interview-with-tim-walz-to-tell-him-about-taylor-swift-endorsement</span></a></p><p><a href="https://hachyderm.io/tags/uspol" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>uspol</span></a> <a href="https://hachyderm.io/tags/Minnesota" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>Minnesota</span></a> <a href="https://hachyderm.io/tags/cats" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>cats</span></a> <a href="https://hachyderm.io/tags/LocalAngle" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>LocalAngle</span></a></p>
Bruce MacDonald<p>Now that's a headline.</p><p>Taylor Swift, ‘childless cat lady,’ says she’s voting for Kamala Harris<br /><a href="https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2024-09-10/taylor-swift-kamala-harris-tim-walz-endorsement" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="ellipsis">latimes.com/politics/story/202</span><span class="invisible">4-09-10/taylor-swift-kamala-harris-tim-walz-endorsement</span></a></p><p><a href="https://hachyderm.io/tags/uspol" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>uspol</span></a> <a href="https://hachyderm.io/tags/cats" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>cats</span></a> <a href="https://hachyderm.io/tags/LocalAngle" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>LocalAngle</span></a></p>
Continued thread
"There's something about this place. Something that feels so … me."
Winona In Winona
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5FX-0fNyAg
BBC Sounds has published an exhaustive series of "Famously…" episodes about famous Minnesotan Winona Ryder.
I like her for her appearance in a film version of "Little Women;" for her Jump-in-the-Line levitation number in "Beetlejuice;" and for playing the terrified but relentlessly pragmatic mom in "Stranger Things."
And, yes, she was named after the southeastern #Minnesota city of Winona. So there's that.
A lot to know about Winona Ryder!
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0jl8yz1
BBCFamously... - Famously... Winona - Winona: 1. The Strangest Things - BBC SoundsMaisie Williams on the origins of one of Hollywood’s most iconic talents.
No dysentery.
'Unlike the era’s other big elementary-school computer-lab hit, “The Oregon Trail,” messing up “didn’t stop your ability to play. You get to restart,” Halliday said. “Nobody dies. Nothing bad happens. You can just start over.”'
The mythical Mavis Beacon who taught typing to a generation
https://www.washingtonpost.com/style/of-interest/2024/08/31/mavis-beacon-teaches-typing-movie/
The Washington Post · The mythical Mavis Beacon who taught typing to a generationBy Ashley Fetters Maloy
[sotto voce] …and to the delight of others…
"Towering over Becker, a community of a little more than 5,000 people northwest of Minneapolis, is one of the nation’s largest coal power plants. It is being replaced — to the dismay of some residents — with thousands of acres of solar panels and a test of long-duration batteries."
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/19/business/energy-environment/coal-solar-power-minnesota.html
The New York Times · Acres of Solar Panels Are Replacing One of the Nation’s Largest Coal PlantsBy Ivan Penn
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