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Mike Beckstrand

@beckstrand.bsky.social
310 followers 188 following 1.2K posts

Research Methodologist @ UMN, CLA. Saint Paulite, YIMBY urbanist, ebiker, dad. MNUFC fan & MLS sicko. COYL. he/him.

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Mike Beckstrand @beckstrand.bsky.social · 13h
Puntastic
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Mike Beckstrand @beckstrand.bsky.social · 23h
Olivia Coleman as the next Coleman mayor of St. Paul was a perfectly executed bit
static.klipy.com
Lovely Queen Elizabeth II (Olivia Colman) in The Crown
Alt: "Lovely" - Queen Elizabeth II (Olivia Colman) in The Crown
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Reposted by Mike Beckstrand
John Moe @johnmoe.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
As completely deranged and fucked up and wrong as he is, I gotta say it is stressful to have the damn president of the United States constantly attacking my state of Minnesota, sending violence, calling for violence, putting all lives at risk, killing our neighbors. Like it really takes a toll.
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Mike Beckstrand @beckstrand.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
As a Loons fan, I may have outsized feelings there, but why do we insist on pretending that this exact same thing won't happen in January, instead of Aug/Sept? PSV sold Gakpo and subsequently lost the league a few years ago. Antwerp sold Vermeeren to Atleti and collapsed, etc.
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Reposted by Mike Beckstrand
Sustain Saint Paul @sustainstpaul.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
Less than 24 hours before Sibling Rivalry, and ticket sales are neck-and-neck between Saint Paul and Minneapolis! Help us get a big lead toward winning the coveted Golden Ten-Plex by joining us TOMORROW, 6pm, at @blackhartstp.com Can't wait to see you there. actionnetwork.org/ticketed_eve...
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Reposted by Mike Beckstrand
Jess Calarco @jessicacalarco.com · 08/10/2026
It's telling that men would rather try to invent tech to replace humans' role in caregiving than step up as equal partners in parenting. Telling, that is, in that it shows how financial capitalism and patriarchy work together to dissuade men from doing "unprofitable" labor, like the work of care.
X post from AI industry insider Alvin Sng :

My wife: Can you read our baby a book?
Me: I can just play an audiobook from my phone.
My wife: But then it won't be in your voice.
Me: I can train a voice model.
Parenting hits different when you work in Al.
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Mike Beckstrand @beckstrand.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
Well, that's a pretty stark comparison, if there were any lingering doubts among Loons fans about how the locker room dealt (and is dealing) with the obvious lack of ambition from the #MNUFC ownership and front office. Yikes.
"At the end of the day, I made the best decision for myself, and I can live with my decision," said St. Clair. "It wasn't like it was a financial decision, but I have a chance to go and really feel like I have a real chance at winning trophies. The expectation there is to win every single game. Where in Minnesota, that wasn't our reality. Of course you go out there and you compete. But if we [Inter Miami] don't win a trophy this year, everyone will say it's a disappointment. In Minnesota, we tried, we had some close moments. We would still say some of those seasons were successful - versus, if this team doesn't win a trophy, it's an unsuccessful season."

This is no more than your average Loons fan would say, too, in criticizing Minnesota for a lack of ambition - or, for that matter, a lack of trophies. Honestly, St. Clair sounded exactly like any other Loons fan, pounding out a post on social media.
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Mike Beckstrand @beckstrand.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
This is the good stuff.
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Mike Beckstrand @beckstrand.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
After watching #USMNT vs #CANMNT on my couch when its happening barely a mile away...I'm okay I didn't pay the asking price for that contest.
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Mike Beckstrand @beckstrand.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
I had an in-law who was a longhaul trucker who, without missing a beat, switched between praising how well maintained the tollway was through Illinois and complaining that there was a toll for its use. Literally didn't make the connection.
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Reposted by Mike Beckstrand
Tom Basgen, Mr. Saint Paul @tombasgen.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
It's that special time of year where we talk about the City Budget. Based on the questions I still receive I should be doing this twice a year. leaflet.pub/dae3de62-299...
leaflet.pub
Tom's 2027 Budget and Tax Thoughts
Let’s talk municipal budgets for 2027. This year I’m writing earlier than usual so folks have more time to digest the process in real time but it means I won’t have my personal tax numbers to share wh...
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Reposted by Mike Beckstrand
Matthew Doyle @mattdoyle.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
sorry man but you'll never get me to not love Jesse Marsch
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Mark Copelovitch @mcopelov.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Again, if the 🇺🇸 media covered the GOP as it actually is, & the way foreign far right authoritarian parties are covered, behavior like this would spark a wholesale change in 🇺🇸 political journalism. This? It won’t even make headlines tomorrow, & the Sunday shows will platform a dozen GOP politicians.
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Mike Beckstrand @beckstrand.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Dos a cero! #USMNT Cavan. Wow.
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Mike Beckstrand @beckstrand.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
That was an exciting USMNT goal. Excellent team build up. Kids are all right.
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Reposted by Mike Beckstrand
Wes Burdine @wesburdine.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Mayor Her needs to resign today. Full stop.
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Mike Beckstrand @beckstrand.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
static.klipy.com
Doubloons
Alt: An eye-patched pirate, with balloons, saying Doubloons
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Mike Beckstrand @beckstrand.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Us Northern sickos would love some out-of-market dissection of the #MNUFC nose dive, particularly when the underlyings suggest they shouldn't be *this* bad.
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Mike Beckstrand @beckstrand.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
This is the first I've noticed the clown makeup...
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Colorful Clown Makeup Transformation
Alt: Colorful Clown Makeup Transformation
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Mike Beckstrand @beckstrand.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
What if the Titanic didn't rearrange deck chairs?
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Mike Beckstrand @beckstrand.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
This was a fun trip through the memory banks. #My9Games These got me fully hooked and were foundational all for their own reasons and moments in time.
Cover art for the following 9 video games, with the title "My 9 Games: the Games that Shaped Who I Am": Microsoft Space Simulator, Sid Meier's Civilization III, Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness, SimCity 2000, Pokemon Blue, Myst, The Sims, Neverwinter Nights, and The Witcher.
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Mike Beckstrand @beckstrand.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
On the one hand, he generated a huge amount of xG on one "shot" in a small number of minutes. Math does math things, number gets big. On the other hand, well, you have reality.
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Mike Beckstrand @beckstrand.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Just. What? How? Why?
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Mike Beckstrand @beckstrand.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Not being able to buy a goal at the goal mouth just feels right there at the end. Pouring one out for the season #MNUFC
static.klipy.com
Key & Peele: Fake Pour One Out Sketch
Alt: Key & Peele: Fake Pour One Out Sketch
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Mike Beckstrand @beckstrand.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Cam waits too long on subs. It is written in stone. Too inflexible, too slow, too predictable, and it's been a brutal, no-good season. #MNUFC
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Mike Beckstrand @beckstrand.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
The number of times the Loons have multiple players, with the ball, in the box, and there not being a shot is pretty rough. #MNUFC
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Mike Beckstrand @beckstrand.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Wingback-to-wingback! (The center of the pitch is dire) But wingback-to-wingback!! #MNUFC
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Mike Beckstrand @beckstrand.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Notable lack of Loons-posting tonight during this #MNUFC away match... ...matching the lack of tactics, energy, and execution by the team down by 2 in 35 minutes. Just actively bad and being out-played.
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Mike Beckstrand @beckstrand.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
That would make some sense here
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Mike Beckstrand @beckstrand.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
...did they put the home radio broadcast on Apple? Laying it on thick!! (Apologies for the double comment but freaking yikes)
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Mike Beckstrand @beckstrand.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Kyndra isn't this Loons-happy even
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Mike Beckstrand @beckstrand.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
There is one shape with one variation, and who cares if it hasn't led to wins, here we go again. Something something, the definition of insanity
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Mike Beckstrand @beckstrand.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
If its the same shape that we see, another Loony loss it will be; For the holes cannot be plugged, when the boat already was glugged. Yet, with the season nae but spent, the coach and players must show *some* intent. So will the Loons keep afloat? Fah! I just want to know who's left on the boat.
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Mike Beckstrand @beckstrand.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
As if 1 win in 15 and a 4 game losing streak wasn't bad enough, sure, why not a training injury to our best player.
static.klipy.com
William Riker's Sarcastic 'Swell'
Alt: Cmdr William Riker's Sarcastic 'Swell' from Star Trek The Next Generation
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Mike Beckstrand @beckstrand.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
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Mike Beckstrand @beckstrand.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
UMN President email subject: "A new approach to budget planning during unprecedented times" Email content: 15% additional across the board budget cuts. "A new approach" indeed. You'd have thought UMN would avoid euphemistic corpo-speak after the backlash to the massive healthcare cuts, but no.
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Mike Beckstrand @beckstrand.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
It would be the most Yeboah thing ever for him not to add another goal from open play all season in another slump. I don't want that, but man would that fit the Loons luck.
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Mike Beckstrand @beckstrand.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Excellent annotations. Thanks!
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Reposted by Mike Beckstrand
MPR News @mprnews.org · 22/09/2026
Schools across the state started offering free breakfasts and lunches to all students in the fall of 2023. The number of students eating school lunch went up 15 percent the first year. The number of kids eating breakfast at school went up 40 percent.
mprnews.org
Fewer skipped meals, less stigma: New data on the impact of Minnesota’s universal school meals
A trio of new studies shows Minnesota’s universal school meals program is providing a sense of relief to Minnesota families and students who are no longer skipping lunch and worrying less about family...
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Mike Beckstrand @beckstrand.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Sign me up for funeral food and Boxall singing.
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Mike Beckstrand @beckstrand.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
#MNUFC is underperforming at historic rates. This 10th Anniversary season is the Loons most underperforming season ever, with the closest being 2023 when Adrian Heath was fired.
Faceted scatter plots of xPoints on x-axis and Points-xPoints of the y-axis 2023-2026. MNUFC in the bottom 4 in 2023 and one of the two unluckiest teams. In 2026, MNUFC in bottom two and the unluckiest team.
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Mike Beckstrand @beckstrand.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Why more point when few point do?
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Mike Beckstrand @beckstrand.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
It isn't happening. If it by a miracle does, it can't be treated as a victory.
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Mike Beckstrand @beckstrand.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
static.klipy.com
Shia LaBeouf's Magic Moment
Alt: Shia LaBeouf's Magic Moment
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Mike Beckstrand @beckstrand.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
With measured constraint, can we be direct with questions that this isn't acceptable?
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Mike Beckstrand @beckstrand.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
What do you call it when hope dies?
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Reposted by Mike Beckstrand
Mike Beckstrand @beckstrand.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
#MNUFC
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Woman Shouts 'Booooo!'
Alt: Woman from princess Bride Shouts 'Booooo!'
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Mike Beckstrand @beckstrand.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Whose PRO pocket did the Loons fail to fill? They suck, but the calls, all season have been as unfavorable as fucking possible. #MNUFC
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Mike Beckstrand @beckstrand.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
#MNUFC
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Adam Sandler Shouts 'Bullshit' in Snow
Alt: Adam Sandler Shouts 'Bullshit' in Snow
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Mike Beckstrand @beckstrand.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
#MNUFC #COYL
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Peter Pan: Happy Thoughts, We Can Fly!
Alt: Peter Pan: Happy Thoughts, We Can Fly!
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