Bob Collins
At one point does a company (or sports team as the case may be) exploit a soldier to sell a product — beer, for example? Read more →
MPR News Reflections and observations on the news
Archives for January 2014
I’ve been searching in the last few weeks for the perfect photo to describe Minnesota in winter. The frozen-beards, ice-fishing, pond-hockey-playing, ice-cave visiting, bike-riding snapshots have been fascinating — certainly more fascinating than pictures of your car dashboard. But this one is a perfect description.
I wrote this post in February 2008 as Pete Seeger approached 90. With his death, there’ll be plenty of words written today about Seeger’s contribution to America, but — like the comments section in the original post — the ones that matter most are the ones that reveal whether we have yet to grasp what defines a good American.
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A teacher finds out if he made a difference, more scenes from a Minnesota winter, Fargo decides not to prosecute a reporter doing her job, how letting kids risk hurting themselves improved their behavior, and a video for kids who don’t feel like getting an education today. Read more →
It was -24 in International Falls, Minn., this morning when 135 or so people started the Arrowhead 135, the race in which people bicycle, ski, or run there way to Fortune Bay. Read more →
The mayor of the city that is about to be honored by hosting the Winter Olympics says there are no gay people in his city. Read more →
Cold? Sure. But not too cold for the John Beargrease dog teams and their mushers. Read more →
Rocky Abalsamo has died and while you may not know the name, he’s the type of guy against whom all husbands are measured.
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The fragile flatland, Chris Kluwe goes nuclear, should schools host church services, NPR looks at the oil boom, and the difference between hope and no hope is one person who cares. Read more →
We’re pretty well done with Richard Sherman and the Super Bowl is still a week away, a challenge to us to stay interested in football for another week. Read more →
Yes, it’s cold in Minnesota but climate-wise we’re doing OK. Read more →
We interrupt the incessant hand-wringing over the fact it gets cold in January for this reality check: Winter can accomplish some pretty cool things. Read more →
There are a lot more than six things I should have know before entering journalism. Read more →
John Boehner says he’s not interested in being president if he has to give up cigarettes. Read more →
Economic mobility and hope for the future, the medallion hunt, the end of Israeli-Palestinian scorekeeping at NPR, 30 stadiums in 30 days, and lessons from the first grade. Read more →