iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Antonio @antoniobackman.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

I was curious what was going to happen with the Star Tribune after they announced they were closing their printing facility. And the answer is a Washington Post-esque collapse of the number of print newspapers sold.

A top ten list from Press Gazette showing the biggest print newspaper circulation numbers from the United States and their relative declines from six months and 12 months ago. Almost all newspapers are decreasing and in the case of the Star Tribune, doing so very quickly. One newspaper is showing growth, the Villages Daily Sun.

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Antonio @antoniobackman.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

Heading to the Minnesota State Fair for the last weekend? I've created a basic Positive/Neutral/Negative roundup of the 2026 reviews for the #MNStateFair New Foods.

Spreadsheet with dark green, light green and dark blue colors that help separate the positive, neutral and negative food reviews from different media about the New Minnesota State Fair foods in 2026.

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Antonio @antoniobackman.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

Early reviews for the pickle pie, one review is not like the other.

A black and white spreadsheet. Food ratings for the Minnesota State Fair's New Food, the Pickle Pie. Reviews as follows: Axios is 1, MSP Mag is 1, Pioneer Press is 1, RacketMN is 1 and Star Tribune is 4.

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Antonio @antoniobackman.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

Getting the spreadsheets ready for the #mnstatefair and preparing myself to try some new foods!

Screenshot of a spreadsheet showing a list of some of the new MN State Fair New Foods and some of the news media outfits that will likely review those food items.

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Antonio @antoniobackman.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

I mean this screenshot shows why, people didn't trust Craig on ICE to put it mildy.

Screenshot of BSKY posts. Top post from Jason Derusha asks "Why do you think people so severely underestimated Peggy Flanagan and the strength of her support?" Bottom post is a quote post that repeatedly says "Fuck Ice", time stamps put both posts together.

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Antonio @antoniobackman.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

Some screenshots of the Hennepin County Library hours proposal. www.hclib.org/about/news/2...

Mostly black text on white background: Library Hours Changing in 2027
August 06, 2026
Hennepin County Library is preparing changes to public operating hours beginning in January 2027. The changes are part of the Library’s requested budget and are not yet final.

A tentative schedule is available below. Hennepin County Administration and the Board of Commissioners will review the proposal through the county’s annual budget process.

Under the proposal, no library locations will close. Open hours would decrease by approximately 7% across the library system, about 140 hours per week. Most libraries would move to more consistent eight-hour service days, and some locations would gain Sunday hours.

Mostly black text on white background: Why hours are changing
The cost of providing Hennepin County’s public services continues to grow. Countywide cost pressures include increasing personnel costs, rising employee health insurance costs, technology and facilities expenses, inflation in supplies and services, and uncertainty surrounding federal funding.

County departments were directed to submit 2027 budgets within a target of 102% of their current budgets. For the Library, that means finding approximately $5 million in efficiencies to absorb the increasing expenses for our current services.

Budget pressures have been building over the past several years. We have managed those constraints with minimal impact on patrons through a combination of generous support from Friends of the Hennepin County Library and targeted reductions in other areas.

Since 2025, our collections budget has shrunk by approximately $1.5 million. Hiring has slowed across job classes, and spending on public computers, employee training, and other operating expenses has also been reduced.

Meeting the budget target will require the Library to hold open a significant number of vacant positions. At the same time, Southdale and Westonka libraries are expected to reopen in 2027 and will need to be staffed. With fewer staff available across the system, the Library cannot maintain all current hours while safely and reliably operating every location.

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Antonio @antoniobackman.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

If you wanted to see what the library hours are at Hennepin County Library for your local branch you can go to the website. Current library hours as of 8/6/2026. www.hclib.org/about/locati...

Sparse screenshot of some of the library branch hours in Hennepin County. Arvonne Fraser through Franklin Libraries, most libraries have 12-8 or 9-5 ranges.

Sparse screenshot of some of the library branch hours in Hennepin County. Hosmer through Northeast Libraries, most libraries have 12-8 or 9-5 ranges.

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Antonio @antoniobackman.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

The Minnesota State Fair is a month away! To celebrate more than 500 new food debuts at the Fair since 2010, I've created a tournament bracket, with artwork from Jordan Wagaman. I've added the best reviewed new foods from each year, plus 2026's Hmong Corndog because who are we kidding? #MNStateFair

A green and blue background with the shapes forming something similar to the MN State Fair entrance, with little green flags on top. The 16 berths are filled with the best reviewed new foods from each year from 2010-2026. The 2026 berth is unofficially there because the reviews have not been released, so the Hmong Corndog was selected. 2010-Grilled Marshmallow Chocolate and Banana Sandwich, 2011 - Sweet Corn Ice Cream, 2012 - Classic Walleye Roll, 2013 - Craft Beer Battered Onion Rings, 2014 - Korean BBQ Collar with Kimchi Pickles, 2015 - Butter Queen Coffee Ice Cream, 2016 - Paneer on a Spear, 2017 - Slow Roasted Pork Mole Tamale, 2018 - Mangonada Shave Ice, 2019 - Lavender Lemonade, 2021 - Dual Berry Shortcake, 2022 - Mov +Nqaij, 2023 - Irish Butter Ice Cream Over Brown Sugar Cinnamon Toast, 2024 - Fried Bee Nana Pie, 2025 - Somali Street Fries, and 2026 - Hmong Corndog. Artwork made by Jordan Wagaman.

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Antonio @antoniobackman.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

Incoming #MNStateFair post later today, the best Minnesota State Fair New Foods of all time bracket challenge!

White text that says Minnesota State Fair New Foods. In the background are green and dark blue colors, with the image looking a little like the entrance to the MN State Fair. Artwork courtesy of Jordan Wagaman.

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Antonio @antoniobackman.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

Meanwhile, a new competitor to the Pronto Pup and Corndog duolopy has appeared!

Picture of Union Hmong Kitchen's Hmong Corn dog. A deep-fried, batter-y corndog that is golden brown, next to a small bowl of chunky green sauce.

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Antonio @antoniobackman.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

Is this not the most unappetizing thing?

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Antonio @antoniobackman.bsky.social · 24/04/2026

Next week, in honor of May Day, I'll be going to the Government Center Plaza for this.

A green and white social media flyer describing an upcoming May Day Rally. It's on Friday May 1st at the Hennepin County Government Plaza from 12pm-1pm, by the Hennepin County workers and sponsored by AFSCME.

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Antonio @antoniobackman.bsky.social · 20/04/2026

Chuffed to make a fun little display at the library, "Your Fav Celebrities Share Their Fav Reads", and I get to put Dua Lipa next to @brennanleemulligan.bsky.social.

Picture of a public library book display, "Your Fav Celebrities Share Their Fav Reads".

Close up picture of a public library book display showing the picture of Dua Lipa and Brennan Lee Mulligan and their fav books.

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Antonio @antoniobackman.bsky.social · 16/04/2026

MinnPost had this interesting tidbit about Senator Ann Rest.

Screenshot of a MinnPost article by Matthew Blake, saying "Read Maddie’s pieces for the details, but here is my contribution to this story: Ann Rest — the roundly praised and feared chair of the Senate Taxes Committee — really, really loves the Minnesota Twins. Like, a lot. Like her Capitol office doubles as a shrine to the Twins’ World Series victories in 1987 and 1991."

Screenshot of a MInnPost article by Matthew Blake, saying "Like, she risked a safe seat in the Legislature 30 years ago in order to compel Gov. Arne Carlson to call a special session that lasted 23 days in order to find some way to raise the money needed for a new Twins ballpark."

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Antonio @antoniobackman.bsky.social · 01/01/2026

And, lastly, some of my favorite adult fiction that I read in 2025. #LibFaves25

Some of my favorite adult fiction books that I read in 2025: Greenteeth, The Ten Thousand Doors of January, Long Live Evil, Lone Women, Shady Hollow, True Biz and The Buffalo Hunter Hunter.

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Antonio @antoniobackman.bsky.social · 01/01/2026

Some of my favorite adult graphic novels that I read in 2025. #LibFaves25

Some of my favorite adult graphics that I read in 2025: Once Upon a Time at the End of the World, Vicarious, The Dissident Club, Ginseng Roots, I Want to Be a Wall, Takahashi from the Bike Shop, The Nice House by the Sea and The Jellyfish.

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Antonio @antoniobackman.bsky.social · 01/01/2026

Some of my favorite children and teen books that I read in 2025. #LibFaves25

Some of my favorite kid and teen books that I read in 2025: A World Worth Saving, This Place Kills Me, Murder at the Museum, Everything We Never Had, Cat Man, Lu and Ren's Guide to Geozoology, Sea Legs and Hunger's Bite.

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Antonio @antoniobackman.bsky.social · 01/01/2026

And a few more favorite adult nonfiction that I read in 2025 #LibFaves25

Some of the favorite adult nonfiction that I read in 2025: Cue the Sun, Children of Radium, Papyrus and Bluff.

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Antonio @antoniobackman.bsky.social · 01/01/2026

Here are my Favorite Adult Nonfiction Books of 2025 #LibFaves25

Some of my favorite nonfiction books that I read in 2025: Life After Cars, One Day Everyone Will have always been against this, The Third Reich of Dreams, Actress of a Certain Age, There is no place for us, Strangers in the Land, Gentlemen of the Woods and Once Upon a Tome.

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Antonio @antoniobackman.bsky.social · 01/01/2026

Some of my fav movies of 2025. Two Shakespeare adaptions!?

Some of my fav movies of 2025: Hamnet, Sinners, KPOP Demon Hunters, Black Bag, Dangerous Animals, The Ballad of Wallis Island, Wake Up Dead Man and Grand Theft Hamlet.

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Antonio @antoniobackman.bsky.social · 01/01/2026

First day of the new year so one last time to share some of my favs of 2025! First my fav TV shows and standup.

Posters of my fav TV shows and stand-ups of 2025: The Residence, Adolescence, Night of the Living Cat, Dept Q, Physical Asia, Last One Laughing UK, The Last of Us season 2 and Four Pills.

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Antonio @antoniobackman.bsky.social · 13/12/2025

Bad Bunny at the top, where he should be.

2025 Youtube Recap - Listing the top five songs I listened to this year. 1. Nuevayol, 2 Chunkadelic, 3. Fear and Friday's, 4 IDGAF by Nur-d, 5 I Ain't Gonna Stand For It

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Antonio @antoniobackman.bsky.social · 05/12/2025

Hennepin County Library printing news, in 2026 people will have a 5 dollar every month (instead every week), and B&W printing costs increases from 10 cents per page to 20 cents per page. Print your zines now!

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Antonio @antoniobackman.bsky.social · 25/10/2025

Have a new cat image that will stick with me for the rest of my life. Credit to Medieval Cats by Catherine Nappington

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Antonio @antoniobackman.bsky.social · 19/09/2025

From Dave Pell's Next Draft - An absolute stinger at the end.

From Dave Pell's Next Draft about recent events in Hollywood, and specifically after Jimmy Kimmel's suspension. "We've spent countless hours analyzing the character of Donald Trump. But that's a settled issue. The real character being tested is ours. We've seen that character wilt in our halls of Congress, our institutions, our universities, and our corporate boardrooms, as a parade of rapid-fire knee-bending has heralded in a new era of American exceptionalism - one in which we prove that no country capitulates to authoritarian tendencies faster than us."

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Antonio @antoniobackman.bsky.social · 12/09/2025

From Adam Platt's Twin Cities Business Mag's article about the Strib closing their print facility. First, the weekday print circ is about 71,000 (low but still better than I thought) and the weekday digital is 102,000, that's really not ideal, really speaks to their digital sub struggles.

A screenshot clip of From Adam Platt's Twin Cities Business Mag's article about the Strib closing their print facility. First, the weekday print circ is about 71,000 (low but still better than I thought) and the weekday digital is 102,000, that's really not ideal, really speaks to their digital sub struggles. Sunday print circ is about 123,000. The Strib VP gives a helpful and unlikely positive spin on the numbers.

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Antonio @antoniobackman.bsky.social · 05/09/2025

Remember when someone posted this picture likening DFL leaders to characters from The Godfather. Because, honestly, I still think about it and I laugh and laugh.

Unsure the source of this adapted movie poster. It says "The Godfather of Crime" and features DFL leaders as characters from the Godfather. People include Tim Walz, Melvin Carter, Steve Simon, Peggy Flanagan, Julia Blaha, Jacob Frey and Keith Ellison. Plus Tom Weber.

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Antonio @antoniobackman.bsky.social · 29/08/2025

Final Roundup of the 2025 reviews for the #MNStateFair New Foods, in case you want some guidance on which foods you want as we start the last weekend of the Fair. Will also personally recommend the Soft Serve Royal Raspberry Beer, which was marvelous.

Minnesota State Fair New Foods 2025 Final Roundup. A spreadsheet that ranks all the new food released last year by using the media reviews that were published then. More green boxes means the food was more liked, more dark blue boxes means the food were more disliked. Somali Street Fries is at the top followed by Sweet Squeakers, Hula Kalua Pork, Tandoori Chicken Quesaratha, Deep-Fried Tofuego Bites, Cherry Bigfoot Limeade Float, Fawaffle, Shrimp and Pork Toast on-a-stick, etc

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Antonio @antoniobackman.bsky.social · 28/08/2025

I'll say this, I think the Baba's production team seemed a little under prepared for the Fair, so there is prolly some inconsistencies for the food, but as a whole, I think that it's clear to be a top tier dish.

Image shows positive/negative reviews for the #MNStateFair New Food Fawaffle. Racket was negative, everyone else was positive.

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Antonio @antoniobackman.bsky.social · 25/08/2025

Updated Roundup of the 2025 reviews for the #MNStateFair New Foods. The final draft will come out on Wednesday when Heavy Table releases their reviews. Clear to see that the worst new foods this year were the Timber Twists, Smashadilla, Birthday Cake Cookie Dough on-a-stick and....

Minnesota State Fair New Foods 2025 Roundup from the weekend. A spreadsheet that ranks all the new food released last year by using the media reviews that were published then. More green boxes means the food was more liked, more dark blue boxes means the food were more disliked.

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Antonio @antoniobackman.bsky.social · 22/08/2025

Roundup of media reviews about the New Minnesota State Fair Foods for 2025 from the first day! A final draft will come out later this weekend. Somali Street Fries and Sweet Squeakers are early favorites. Blue Barn redeemed itself? #mnstatefair

Minnesota State Fair New Foods 2025 Roundup from the first day. A spreadsheet that ranks all the new food released last year by using the media reviews that were published then. More green boxes means the food was more liked, more dark blue boxes means the food were more disliked.

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Antonio @antoniobackman.bsky.social · 26/07/2025

I'll be collecting media reviews about the New Minnesota State Fair Foods this year and organizing them like this (sample version from last years 2024 reviews).

Minnesota State Fair New Foods 2024 Roundup. A spreadsheet that ranks all the new food released last year by using the media reviews that were published then. More green boxes means the food was more liked, more dark blue boxes means the food were more disliked.

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Antonio @antoniobackman.bsky.social · 01/07/2025

Last one. Book pairings for just the title of this Racket article racketmn.com/will-stancil...

Book covers for three books: It Takes Chutzpah, Liberalism as a Way of Life and Hurts so Good.

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Antonio @antoniobackman.bsky.social · 01/07/2025

Book pairings for racketmn.com/what-extreme...

Book covers for three books: The Heat Will Kill You First, Before the Streetlights Come On, and The Ministry for the Future.

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Antonio @antoniobackman.bsky.social · 01/07/2025

Book pairings for racketmn.com/slam-poetry-...

Book covers for three books: Not a Lot of Reasons to Sing But Enough, Bluff and The Carrying.

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Antonio @antoniobackman.bsky.social · 01/07/2025

Book pairings for racketmn.com/whats-the-de...

Book covers for four books: St. Paul An Urban Biography, Swede Hollow, Until They Bring the Streetcars Back, and Diesel Heart.

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Antonio @antoniobackman.bsky.social · 01/07/2025

Book pairings for racketmn.com/summer-guide...

Covers for three books and one magazine: Best Easy Bike Rides Minneapolis and Saint Paul, Explore Twin Cities Outdoors, Zinn and the Art of Road Bike Maintenance and Minnesota Trails.

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Antonio @antoniobackman.bsky.social · 01/07/2025

Book pairings for racketmn.com/liz-collin-a...

Book covers for four books: The Minneapolis Reckoning, His Name is George Floyd, Enough is Enough and Flic.

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Antonio @antoniobackman.bsky.social · 01/07/2025

Book pairings for racketmn.com/service-indu...

Book covers for three books: Nickel and Dimed, The Last Supper Club and Hand to Mouth.

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Antonio @antoniobackman.bsky.social · 01/07/2025

Book pairings for racketmn.com/what-the-hel...

Book covers for three books: On Air, Between the Songs, and It Happened on the Air.

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Antonio @antoniobackman.bsky.social · 01/07/2025

Book pairings for racketmn.com/new-minnesot...

Book covers for three books: State Fair The Great Minnesota Get Together, Carnival Lights, and The Best American Food Wriitng 2019.

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Antonio @antoniobackman.bsky.social · 01/07/2025

Book pairings for racketmn.com/whats-the-de...

Book cover for one book: Gentlemen of the Woods.

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Antonio @antoniobackman.bsky.social · 01/07/2025

Book pairings for racketmn.com/rotisserie-c...

Book covers for 3 books: Under the Henfluence, The Rotisserie Chicken Cookbook and Why did the chicken cross the world.

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Antonio @antoniobackman.bsky.social · 01/07/2025

Book pairings for racketmn.com/i-rode-amtra...

Book covers for four books: Everyone on this train is a suspect, Europe by Train, The Man from the Train, St Paul Union Depot.

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Antonio @antoniobackman.bsky.social · 25/06/2025

Ah, an excuse to post about movies. Perfect.

NY TImes 100 Best Movies of the 21st Century, my ballot. RRR, Everything Everywhere All at Once, Spiderman Into the Spider verse, Get Out, Mad Max Fury Road, Inside Out, What We Do in the Shadows, The Raid: Redemption, Fantastic Mr. Fox and Hot Fuzz.

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Antonio @antoniobackman.bsky.social · 08/06/2025

Article can be summed up here.

Picture of words: “West Seventh has been holding its breath for two decades. The future is on pause, and that sucks,” said Tom Basgen, who lives along the corridor.

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Antonio @antoniobackman.bsky.social · 26/05/2025

Remember when the Minneapolis police union put up their tactical fencing around their union hall in 2020? It was improved by local signage.

Poster sign that says "Bob Kroll roots for Cobra Kai". References former head of the Minneapolis Police Union, Bob Kroll.

Poster sign that says "Bob Kroll has LDE (little dick energy) Resign Now". References former head of the Minneapolis Police Union, Bob Kroll.

Cardboard sign that says "Kroll is a doo-doo head!". References former head of the Minneapolis Police Union, Bob Kroll.

Cardboard sign that says "Kroll is a troll" and has a picture of troll face. References former head of the Minneapolis Police Union, Bob Kroll.

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Antonio @antoniobackman.bsky.social · 14/03/2025

A very complimentary google review for Plymouth Library got posted yesterday.

Google review posted about the Plymouth Library. A run-on sentence. "Calamari is divine (too many add-ins like peppers and huge lemon slices) chopped salad was tasty french onion soup was total comfort Our wait staff was great!"

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Antonio @antoniobackman.bsky.social · 04/03/2025

I'll end with my recs for New Zealand. Visit Wellington, during the Fringe, visit Cuba St. Try Hokey Pokey Ice Cream with dark chocolate. Birdwatch. Cruise around Mildford Sound. Finally, visit the Coromandel Peninsula for amazing hikes in Kauri groves and to body surf at some wonderful beaches. 5/5

A beach on the Coromandel Peninsula which is on the northern end of the North Island of New Zealand. Framed by a green tree above and green grass below, you can see blue ocean water near a white sand beach with an old volcanoe off in the distance. It is daytime and the picture taker is about to run and jump into the water (not pictured).

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