Flag Feedback, Hot Tub Party Barges, and Reggie Dinkins

I was apprehensive about publishing Monday's newsletter regarding the new state flag and the citizens of Rock Ridge who oppose it. I was concerned that it was too preachy, that it needed more jokes, and that it would cause a substantial amount of cancelled subscriptions. I ran it past Midwest Excellence Comptroller Mandy. She had a couple smart suggestions, I marinated on it over the weekend, added the Nancy Reagan bit because I know it makes my friends Ross and Patric laugh, and hit send.

It is already the most-read Midwest Excellence post, even topping the Funeral Food index. I lost four subscribers. I gained 57. Ten of them were paid subscriptions. The Timberwolves beat the Spurs. All in all, a terrific Monday.

The written feedback was shockingly positive. As expected, at least one outstate relative took exception to it on Facebook, which, you know, whatever. See you at the next funeral or grad party.

The only real static was on Threads, a very weird social media platform that seems to be what happens when YouTube commenters, feral baby boomers, and failed influencers collide. I rarely use it except to share the newsletter, because I have 1000 followers there for reasons I don't quite understand.

This word salad is representative of the people who didn't appreciate my tone:

The best part is that he got two (two!) chances to spell "Somalis" correctly and ate shit twice.

Elsewhere, I thought there were profanity/content restrictions on Threads. I guess I was wrong:

I don't know if he appreciated my feedback, but I'm a giver. One more for the road:

In conclusion, Threads is a strange, strange place. And thank you to all the normal, well-adjusted folks who had kind words to say about the piece.

Hot Tub Party Barges

You may have seen that an enterprising young man is starting a new business on the Minneapolis riverfront: Floating hot tubs. Much like the Pedal Pubs that various bros and bachelorettes use to get polluted on summer weekends in the Minneapolis party bar district, these are literally boats with a hot tub in it. One can rent it with some pals and meander at 5mph from Nicollet Island to Broadway. From MPR's story on the new business:

Founder Matt Witt says his goal is to be up and running by Memorial Day weekend. His business will operate out of Boom Island Park and allow customers to rent floating hot tub boats for 90-minute sessions.

“I’m ecstatic,” he said. “It's been a long time coming. I'm pretty stoked that it's actually here and we're doing it.”

Leaving aside that this sounds like a new and exciting way to create a powerful strain of waterborne herpes, I think I'm OK with this? Minneapolitans may disagree, but I don't think the city uses the Mississippi River to its advantage. There should be so much more happening along the city's most notable feature, and even if it's Chad and his fellow Chads Chad-ing it up on a July Saturday with some tasty Mich Ultras, it's at least something.

I don't think I will be partaking, but from an accidental entrepreneur to an on-purpose one, good luck. And I appreciate Matt giving me a reason to share "Party Barge" by the Silver Jews:

Midwest Excellence Recommends: The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins

If, like most right-thinking Americans, you miss and celebrate the rapid-fire genius of 30 Rock, I recommend you head over to Peacock and watch the first season of The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins.

It stars 30 Rock's Tracy Morgan as the titular character, a disgraced football player looking to rebuild his reputation with the help of documentarian Arthur Tobin, played by Daniel Radcliffe. As with 30 Rock, if you didn't like the joke they just told, don't worry, here comes another. And another. And another. And the hit rate is close enough to 30 Rock's glory days that I eagerly anticipate Season 2.

There are ten half-hour episodes. You can probably burn through it in one of those 7-day trial things and cancel before paying anything. (Please do not do this with Midwest Excellence, new subscribers.)

See you tomorrow!