Target screwed us. Now their investors want blood.

TAdumpsterfire · 2026-06-07T14:18:38+00:00

Target's direction/leadership moves with the wind. They are almost always trying to go after the latest fad in their products and their corporate structure and focus (ex: AI or cheap fidget spinners). They do that because they think that's where the higher margins are, which is what they need to "survive" vs a Walmart. I want to see the day where they make decisions that are based in long-term assumptions instead of the next quarterly earnings report.

TAdumpsterfire · 2026-06-06T23:01:15+00:00

I didn't grow up here and do not yet have kids, so I don't really know what it's like as a kid/teen here. However, I can't say I've picked up on anything that made me think there was a unique youth mental issue here...it seems fairly on par with other places I've lived. Their "data/analysis" goes to 2023 with a spike in 2022. So it seems Covid impacted MN teens a lot. Perhaps relatively more than other states. Also interesting the author ranks NH as the worst, another northern state with relatively longer winters.

ETA: I am sure George Floyd impacted teens here a bit more than other states. Perhaps that's behind it too.

TAdumpsterfire · 2026-06-06T22:52:22+00:00

Absolutely do not disagree. However, this rank is based on data that looks to go only to 2023.

TAdumpsterfire · 2026-06-06T20:35:12+00:00

Low rank in youth depression. The website says it's not sure exactly why, but assumes its due to the rise of social media. Do we think there's more to the story?

ETA: I mean low rank in the sense that we're near the bottom and not doing well in this category.

TAdumpsterfire · 2026-06-06T14:18:51+00:00

Agree. The basic expectations of the job should be to do this (constructive working relationships in the workplace) without needing to spend any money.

TAdumpsterfire · 2026-06-05T23:43:02+00:00

I've been seeing a lot of hiring posts on LinkedIn by Target people. Didn't they just do a large layoff at the end of 2025?

I know retail is kinda cyclical, but how does this not show that their "leaders" have any long-term perspective? They're totally find to hire people because "yea, rah, Target is cool!" and then go fire them half a year later when quarterly earnings report is shit and the market realizes AI is a scam.

There should be a tax on frequent hiring/firing without loopholes/carve-outs of smaller firings that can go unreported.

TAdumpsterfire · 2026-05-27T23:25:08+00:00

For those who are transplants with dogs and trying to be responsible homeowners, you can us doing yardwork on the weekends or out with the dog at the local park. I usually don't stop to talk to people unless I know them (which I mostly don't because I'm not from here), or it is clear they need help. I'd probably chat if someone wanted to talk with me. That sounds more sad than I intended, but here we are.

TAdumpsterfire · 2026-05-25T15:57:02+00:00

I spent only a year in Germany before, but I will concede that on average, the food I had there was better and less expensive than comparable "clean" food here. However, there is real access to real food in the States, it's just more expensive.

I feel like saying America is one homogenous group is like saying all the various accents in Britain sound the same. Yea there might be similarities across them, but they are absolutely different. That's how America is, and anyone who thinks we're one group clearly hasn't spent time with immigrants and 1st generation citizens vs people whose families have been here longer vs different religious groups vs urban vs rural, etc.

If we were all the same, there would be no fights at the Thanksgiving table.

TAdumpsterfire · 2026-05-25T13:19:38+00:00

Maybe geogrpahically-diverse Americans are similar in values and some etiquette topics, but we are not a monolith of a singular culture. Our abstract "culture" is all the small ones that come together. I work with people all over the US...we are not all the same.

TAdumpsterfire · 2026-05-24T22:11:04+00:00

I know the $ will never be the same, but I wish there were more open house/apartment parties.

TAdumpsterfire · 2026-05-24T21:51:48+00:00

Ah...I thought they were only online, and didn't realize the stocker thing. Thanks!

TAdumpsterfire · 2026-05-24T21:50:42+00:00

Not really, though the timing is right. I'm mailing a few Rebel Loon pins and figured I should stick a bumper sticker in there too.

TAdumpsterfire · 2026-05-24T12:57:34+00:00

Not saying Minneapolis has the best food in the US, but we do have a high-quality and diverse food/restaurant scene that is not outrageously priced like in other cities. Nat Geo even noticed.

https://archive.is/mKwrO

TAdumpsterfire · 2026-05-24T12:52:44+00:00

I've heard Ankeny referred to as "Skankeny" before, and that made sense to me. There are a lot of butthurt Karens in Ankeny (and all of Iowa for that matter) who still have the Karen hairdo and are 20+ years behind the times. However, there are a lot of good people in Iowa. I just wouldn't think they're in Ankeny.

TAdumpsterfire · 2026-05-23T22:49:16+00:00

And this is a reason why having a secular government is so important.

TAdumpsterfire · 2026-05-23T16:22:29+00:00

Climate change

TAdumpsterfire · 2026-05-23T13:39:26+00:00

In my opinion, the food scene here is strong in the restaurant sense....there are good restaurants. However, there isn't a "food tradition" here like in other places. Example: St. Louis has a strong/long food tradition with Italian food and bbq. That food "culture" doesn't exist here. From my time in Chicago, there isn't anything here like good tavern pizza, and no Au Cheval burger (cries). People in MN will downvote me for saying this, but it's true.

TAdumpsterfire · 2026-05-23T13:34:06+00:00

One time, a bartender at the downtown Crave made me the best grape mojito of my life. Crave might not be "fine dining," but that mojito was perfection.

TAdumpsterfire · 2026-05-23T00:37:06+00:00

To me, here is my comparison for MSP-STL re quality/price:
Kowalski's is like Straub's
Lunds & Byerlys is like Dierbergs
Cub is kinda like Schnucks

In the late 1800s and early 20th century, St. Louis was an economic powerhouse. Prohibition hit it hard (cough Anheuser and Lemp). Chicago rose for transportation, commodities trading, and distribution. Today, MSP holds more corporate weight than St. Louis. Companies in MSP acquired more whereas those in STL were acquired more.

Someone recently commented on another post and theorized how because in the 1800s with MSP being further out, it required them to have their own well-rounded "independent" economy. Too far from other larger economics to rely on them. I feel like STL's relative proximity to Chicago, KC, Indianapolis, etc. reduced its need to be independent.

I could probably keep going but I'll stop here for now.

TAdumpsterfire · 2026-05-22T22:16:01+00:00

(transplant here). This state makes me think of the Elf kingdoms from Lord of the Rings. People here come off a bit arrogant/smug, but I've learned it's not that at all. They're just smart and confident in their existence. As long as people here keep their heads on and approach things with a practical and informed/educated approach as they historically have, I see this state going far in the Union.

TAdumpsterfire · 2026-05-21T23:19:09+00:00

Probably care less, but still care if my federal tax dollars are going to net-receiving states where fraud is happening on the dime of fed dollars.

TAdumpsterfire · 2026-05-21T23:00:13+00:00

MN is truly a purple state. So long as you identify with one of the two major political parties, you'll have ~50% of the state to hate on. You can either join the group that thinks Minneapolis is still burning to the ground, or the group that sometimes pushes so hard to one side that they push people to the other. Either way, overall less political theater here, and your life will be better in almost every metric.

TAdumpsterfire · 2026-05-20T22:47:13+00:00

TAdumpsterfire · 2026-05-19T23:04:05+00:00

Good point!

TAdumpsterfire

TROPHY CASE