43 thoughts on “August 18, 2017: Graduation Day”

    1. I think the term "Minnesota nice" frees people to act like a-holes. It should be forgotten.

      1. Hmm, I thought "Minnesota Nice" = "Minnesota 'Nice'" = Superficial friendliness, inward a-holes.
        Outward a-holery doesn't gybe.

        1. I think there are many that by it as Minnesotans are just nicer than everyone else. Just like some don't get the joke in "everyone is above average."

          1. While I entirely understand the tongue-in-cheek aspects, I would also say that my time in D.C. provided a stark contrast which made me see Minnesotans as genuinely more outgoing (at least in superficial ways) and patient, which can seem awfully nice compared to the alternative.

            I remember coming back from law school one year and going Christmas shopping with my dad. He had a million and a half questions for the clerk and I found myself amazed that the clerk was still helping him, and hadn't just walked away. At that point I realized that D.C.'s lack of niceness had re-calibrated my expectations.

          2. I've always understood MN Nice to be the same, said to be part of our tight-lipped Scandinavian heritage.

            Though, having lived in four states, I'll say that this one is the most legitimately polite. In Arizona I would get looks when I held doors open for people at Starbucks or whatnot. I'd say "I know...I'm from Minnesota" and they'd laugh and say "of course."

              1. I'm from Texas. We hold doors open all the time. The difference between Texans and Minnesotans, though, is that Texans will say their feelings outloud, regardless of whether they're positive or negative. Minnesotans will not air their grievances but keep them deep down inside until that hatred seeps out into tiny, passive-aggressive responses towards the person they sincerely dislike but can only smile at. So I'd counter that "Minnesota Nice" does sure SEEM nice because Minnesotans won't say mean things outloud and will always hold the door. In the meantime, things like

                'Spoiler' SelectShow

                continue to occur at sometimes similar rates of the openly a-hole Texans.

                1. Was that too divisive? I've entirely lost track of what's appropriate or not anymore.

                2. Sweeping generalities. True? Sometimes. I think "hatred" is a horrible word to use here, given the context of our times. I do keep my feelings inside, but I don't allow them to fester (even driving! mostly) and I like to think it's from my northern upbringing. I do think it's dangerous to pigeonhole entire states one way or another, though, or we get into trouble. And this is something I do too often.

                  1. Yeah, it's pretty easy. Believe me, as a Texan living in Minnesota, I still get crap about being a "crazy Southerner" even though, as of this year, I've lived in the Midwest for just as many years as I lived in Texas. When I go back to Texas, they make fun of me for my Minnesotan accent, and my dad calls me a Yankee and discounts everything I say by virtue of living up North. It's a weird tribalism we all love in this country. Anyway, there was an article on MPR on Minnesota Nice that has always stuck with me. You can read/hear it here:

                    https://www.mprnews.org/story/2012/03/12/outsiders1-is-minnesota-nice-to-newcomers

  2. I stumbled across this little note in wikipedia relating to my first post-college job:

    In 2008 the Federal Communications Commission accidentally sold the APQ-181 frequency to a commercial user resulting in the need for installing new radar arrays at a cost of over $1 billion. All B-2 aircraft are expected to have the upgraded radar by 2010.

    Oops.

  4. Minnesota nice, huh. It would be nice if Minnesota could get it's professional baseball team some better pitching.

      1. Poor kid. He was really struggling to hold a poker face for the cameras when Hildenberger served up that single that turned into a game-tying RBI triple when Kepler tripped over his own feet and fell down in right field. Hell of a way to watch your first W disappear.

  6. From Tim Brown's power rankings:

    13. Minnesota Twins (59-58; Previous: 17): They’ve been counted out so often boxing commission is looking into concussion symptoms.

    1. From the MLBTR piece on this move:

      In the wake of Robbie Grossman’s fractured thumb, the Twins are turning to one of their top organizational prospects. Catcher Mitch Garver, who ranked ninth on Fangraphs’ summer edition of the team’s top prospects, is being called up to the Majors, the club announced. In addition to his work behind the plate, the 26-year-old Garver has played 14 games in left field this season, so he can serve as a third catcher as well as a spare outfielder or first baseman.

      That's nice and all, but can Garver pitch?

      1. My knowledge of fútbol IS exactly on par with my knowledge of béisbol...

        2. Rank the teams in the order you think they'll finish at the end of the year

          3 points for getting their finishing position right
          1 point for being +/1 one spot

          Bonus point for selecting the champs and one each for the three relegated teams (4 possible)

  9. Bro's family from Grinnell, IA is coming for the weekend; we always joke that we need guests periodically so that we properly clean the house. Only have jokingly. Well, no, it's true.

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