More discussion of the 1991 Brian Bosworth vehicle Stone Cold in this than you'd think.

Hector Swimming Pool Bangers: 'What a Fool Believes,' The Doobie Brothers

Midwest Excellence, a newsletter by RandBall's Stu (from the internet)

midwest-excellence.ghost.io

I damn sure hope you'll read this, and I'll fight like hell to sell more subscriptions.

Local Children Learning to Swear from Angie Craig Ads Instead of Father

Midwest Excellence, a newsletter by RandBall's Stu (from the internet)

midwest-excellence.ghost.io

I saw a couple of mutuals wondering what good a one-month extension on the looming hemp THC ban would do. So I asked someone who knew. midwest-excellence.ghost.io/hemp-chat-wi...

Hemp Chat with Bob Galligan

Midwest Excellence, a newsletter by RandBall's Stu (from the internet)

midwest-excellence.ghost.io

"Banger" is probably too hard a word for this one. You are not putting this on your running playlist. This is never going to be a Jock Jam. James Taylor would say it's a little on the gentle side. This song is allergic to guitars.

Hector Swimming Pool Bangers: 'While You See a Chance,' Steve Winwood

Midwest Excellence, a newsletter by RandBall's Stu (from the internet)

midwest-excellence.ghost.io

We have a very small backyard so I’m pretty grateful the National Treasure thing didn’t happen.

RandBall’s Stu@randballsstu.bsky.social · last wk.

It's August now so it's time to admit you and I are never going to get our summer projects done.

I just said, “I’ll go turn off the light in the front room.” So…I guess just call me Grandma now.

@randballsstu.bsky.social This you?

Uncle Duke@uncleduke1969.bsky.social · 2w ago

“I told Stu that he’d had too much to drink,” said one of the four, asking not to be identified, “he had no business being behind the wheel.”

I tried to make sense of the Kaohly Her thing today. tl;dr she's gotta go. midwest-excellence.ghost.io/free-friday-...

Free Friday: A Resident's Guide to the St. Paul Mayoral Scandal

Midwest Excellence, a newsletter by RandBall's Stu (from the internet)

midwest-excellence.ghost.io

West Central Minnesota. A mysterious place. Farms upon farms, with an occasional break for different kinds of farms. The four seasons are planting, tornado, harvest, and blizzard. You're in Stevens County now. Make peace with your lord.

Minnesota Counties, Ranked: Number 63, Stevens County

Midwest Excellence, a newsletter by RandBall's Stu (from the internet)

midwest-excellence.ghost.io

If there's a guy in a sleeveless hi-viz t-shirt ripping cigs out front, it's probably a good bar. No relation, btw.

Let's All Go to the Bar: Neumann's Bar & Grill

Midwest Excellence, a newsletter by RandBall's Stu (from the internet)

midwest-excellence.ghost.io

An educational edition of MWE!

RandBall’s Stu@randballsstu.bsky.social · 2w ago

In 1975, a band from Scotland crafted the definitive rock song chorus for fighting with your stepdad: "Now you're messing with a/A son of a bitch." It's the vital, ditchweed anthem of dirtbagcore, a genre I just made up.

The answers: Five-Star Weekend (no), Ghostland (yes), jangle pop (hard yes), indoor projects (i performed adequately).

What Do You Do When It's Too Hot to Do Anything?

Midwest Excellence, a newsletter by RandBall's Stu (from the internet)

midwest-excellence.ghost.io

'You know, if you take out that losing streak where they were outscored 34-9, things don't look that bad,' he said to an empty room. #twins #minnesota #mntwins

Optimistic Bozo Exhales, Shakes Head, Walks Around Block

'You know, if you take out that losing streak where they were outscored 34-9, things don't look that bad,' he said to an empty room.

dlvr.it

Halloween decorations and Oktoberfest beers are available now, and that's OK. So are the Plimsouls. Free to read.

Free Friday: Season of the Witch

Midwest Excellence, a newsletter by RandBall's Stu (from the internet)

midwest-excellence.ghost.io

Has anybody seen any updates on this?

Yours in negritude, Ryan K. Smith@mewefree.bsky.social · 3w ago

WTH? LOL

You can talk about butter sculptures and Machinery Hill all you want, but the dark, beating heart of the Minnesota State Fair is this: It's Bourbon Street, by and for Lutherans. There's even hotdish. Free to all subscribers.

A Guide to the New State Fair Beers

Midwest Excellence, a newsletter by RandBall's Stu (from the internet)

midwest-excellence.ghost.io

Angie Craig’s ads actually make me dislike her more than I already did. She just really sucks.

I spend the first part of this correctly arguing that Harvey Danger isn't a one-hit wonder.

Hector Swimming Pool Bangers: '867-5309/Jenny,' Tommy Tutone

Midwest Excellence, a newsletter by RandBall's Stu (from the internet)

midwest-excellence.ghost.io

An endorsement of @walsh.bsky.social's post-vacation Buffer Day Mentality.

The Buffer Day

Midwest Excellence, a newsletter by RandBall's Stu (from the internet)

midwest-excellence.ghost.io

13 non-consecutive hours later, we're in Loveland, Colorado. Abandoned rest stops, waffle makers with thoughts of self-harm, and Ozzy's Boneyard were some of the highlights.

By the Time I Get to Loveland

Midwest Excellence, a newsletter by RandBall's Stu (from the internet)

midwest-excellence.ghost.io

During my re-watch of Charlie’s Angels tonight, I realized I can actually relate to Cameron Diaz because I am also several inches taller than most of my friends.

I’m at a bar where the Charlie’s Angels movie is on, which is wild. Last night, we were watching Vacation and I thought about Bill Murray calling Chevy Chase a “medium talent,” which led me to thinking about how Bill Murray and Lucy Liu did not work well together in this movie.

Part of every good road trip.

Minnesota reminded us yesterday that the actual Great American State Fair takes place here. We're putting cheese curds in the lumpia, folks.

Free Friday: The Real Great American State Fair

Midwest Excellence, a newsletter by RandBall's Stu (from the internet)

midwest-excellence.ghost.io

Find someone who knows what bring when the pick you up from the airport.

Support independent journalism like this with a paid subscription to Midwest Excellence.

EXCLUSIVE: Controversy Erupts as Corn Chaff Days Parade Route Changes

Midwest Excellence, a newsletter by RandBall's Stu (from the internet)

midwest-excellence.ghost.io

Power ballads are for the ladies and the prom committee and dozens upon dozens of unplanned pregnancies. REO Speedwagon understood the assignment. Raise your Bic lighters.

Hector Swimming Pool Bangers: 'Take It On the Run,' REO Speedwagon

Side One, Track Six You can blame my generation for a lot of things. The hose water and lead paint chips did a number on our prefrontal cortexes, and we're all working through the fallout to this day...

midwest-excellence.ghost.io

An entire park is closed and a trail is cut off for most of the month because of the Yacht Fest. I don’t love that.

Midwest Excellence went to Applebee's for Dollaritas. Our report is below. Free to all subscribers.

Free Friday: Dollarita, Hold Me Tighter

Midwest Excellence, a newsletter by RandBall's Stu (from the internet)

midwest-excellence.ghost.io

Some cities have whimsical statues of birds, fish, and other wildlife. Cambridge has this rock. I'm actually OK with it. Isanti County, you are Minnesota's 67th best.

Minnesota Counties, Ranked: Number 67, Isanti County

Midwest Excellence, a newsletter by RandBall's Stu (from the internet)

midwest-excellence.ghost.io