MPR News Reflections and observations on the news

By Bob Collins

bcollins@mpr.org • @newscut

Bob Collins retired from Minnesota Public Radio in 2019 after 12 years of writing NewsCut and pointing out to complainants that posts weren’t news stories. A son of Massachusetts, he was a news editor 1992-1998, created the MPR News regional website in 1999, invented the popular Select A Candidate, started several blogs, and every day lamented that his Minnesota Fantasy Legislature project never caught on.

Surveys and trivia

Birth, marriage and death by the numbers

Bob Collins August 7, 2009, 12:55 PM Aug 7, 2009

The National Vital Statistics Report has released birth, marriage, divorce, and death statistics for 2008 today.

The Airbus problem

Bob Collins August 7, 2009, 12:36 PM Aug 7, 2009

7

Up to a dozen Northwest Airlines flights reported faulty airspeed indicators.

Protesters and protests

Bob Collins August 7, 2009, 12:09 PM Aug 7, 2009

7

Depending on your party persuasion, there are two narratives going on today regarding political discourse and the apparent backlash against Democratic policies.

Five at 8 – 8/7/09

Bob Collins August 7, 2009, 7:28 AM Aug 7, 2009

1

Your brain thinks money is a drug, the upside of being laid off, a tale of two bicycling cities, how one person avoided an Iranian jail, and the last man standing.

Dealers running out of cars to sell

Bob Collins August 6, 2009, 3:44 PM Aug 6, 2009

13

Even if the Senate approves more money for Cash for Clunkers, buyers won’t be able to buy the most popular models.

Denying service

Bob Collins August 6, 2009, 1:31 PM Aug 6, 2009

5

MPR’s Jon Gordon explains denial-of-service attacks.

Notes from Planet Journalism

Bob Collins August 6, 2009, 12:28 PM Aug 6, 2009

3

How would you handle some ethical questions?

Dogs yearn to be free; residents object

Bob Collins August 6, 2009, 12:04 PM Aug 6, 2009

In Massachusetts, a federal case is building against leash-free parks for dogs.

We’re at Defcon 1

Bob Collins August 6, 2009, 11:12 AM Aug 6, 2009

2

Twitter and Facebook are under attack. A nation weeps and wonders what you’re having for lunch.

Live-blogging: Alcohol and college sports

Bob Collins August 6, 2009, 9:02 AM Aug 6, 2009

9

What’s the relationship between booze and college sports?

Five at 8 – 8/6/09

Bob Collins August 6, 2009, 6:54 AM Aug 6, 2009

4

It’s cool. So what? A tale of two Minnesotas, dumping your zuchinni, putting lipstick on the mortgage pig, and a proper send-off for Harry Patch.

Return of the Red Tail

Bob Collins August 5, 2009, 8:25 PM Aug 5, 2009

4

A traveling testimonial to the Tuskegee Airmen returns home to Minnesota.

Little evidence that sexual orientation change efforts work

Bob Collins August 5, 2009, 4:57 PM Aug 5, 2009

1

There’s no evidence that therapy can transform a homosexual into a straight person, the American Psychological Association says.

The unanswered question

Bob Collins August 5, 2009, 1:29 PM Aug 5, 2009

8

Even after we learn why a man opened fire in a fitness club, we still have the question.

Working late

Bob Collins August 5, 2009, 1:21 PM Aug 5, 2009

1

A 101 year old lawyer is honored as the nation’s outstanding oldest worker of the year.