MPR News Reflections and observations on the news

Archives for August 2011

Theology and the weather above

Bob Collins August 29, 2011, 12:09 PM Aug 29, 2011

8

Rep. Michele Bachmann knows why a hurricane hit the East Coast over the weekend. But what about the other acts of God?

GOP banned from Labor Day parade

Bob Collins August 29, 2011, 11:10 AM Aug 29, 2011

21

A Wausau union council has banned Republicans from marching in this year’s Labor Day parade.

Irene’s freak show (5×8 – 8/29/11)

Bob Collins August 29, 2011, 7:07 AM Aug 29, 2011

12

Why the storm wasn’t overhyped, dogs and the mentally ill, the secret life of metal-detector hunters, the way we learn, and what the end of summer looks like.

Relax, East Coast, the Midwest is coming

Bob Collins August 26, 2011, 8:42 PM Aug 26, 2011

7

Driving across Indiana has always been the most boring part of our drives to and from the East Coast. But not today. Every few minutes, from the Ohio line to South Bend, convoys of utility trucks and tree crews — two people to a truck — were heading toward hurricane country. The various news agencies Read more →

Hurricane Irene as seen from the space station

dgaraets August 26, 2011, 2:45 PM Aug 26, 2011

3

I’m not sure what’s the coolest thing about this: The image and the audio? Or that we live in a day when we can watch our weather from space? Enjoy.

Are contributions to same-sex marriage campaigns a waste of money?

Hart Van Denburg August 26, 2011, 12:27 PM Aug 26, 2011

8

$10 million spent on the amendment to ban same-sex marriage isn’t likely to change anyone’s opinion.

Heaven.

dgaraets August 26, 2011, 7:30 AM Aug 26, 2011

If we can’t have trains, bike trails are nice.

1 in 4 Minnesotans are obese

Hart Van Denburg August 25, 2011, 3:39 PM Aug 25, 2011

4

Minnesota’s rate of obesity continues to climb

The tunnels of Tripoli

Hart Van Denburg August 25, 2011, 12:51 PM Aug 25, 2011

Raw video footage from inside Gaddafi’s network of tunnels in Tripoli

It’s one thing to wait in line for ice cream, another if it’s for butter

dgaraets August 25, 2011, 5:00 AM Aug 25, 2011

A Romanian journalist visits an ice cream shop.

Is Dominique Strauss-Kahn owed an apology?

Hart Van Denburg August 24, 2011, 12:48 PM Aug 24, 2011

8

Charges dropped after Strauss-Kahn’s reputation tarnished.

If an earthquake has your name on it …

dgaraets August 24, 2011, 10:47 AM Aug 24, 2011

9

A fear of natural disasters can lead to some bad choices.

The spoils of war

Hart Van Denburg August 23, 2011, 3:00 PM Aug 23, 2011

2

Foreign corporations rush to get access to Libya’s rich oil fields.

Another girl, another dragon tattoo

dgaraets August 23, 2011, 12:10 PM Aug 23, 2011

3

Why do movie companies feel the need to remake perfectly good foreign films?

What elected leaders know

Hart Van Denburg August 23, 2011, 9:14 AM Aug 23, 2011

12

How important is a politician’s college degree?