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.

How the middle class avoids income taxes (5×8 – 10/11/11)

Bob Collins October 11, 2011, 7:46 AM Oct 11, 2011

5

Who’s not paying taxes, the devil in the front lawn, the key to the flu, the disappearing glaciers, and in sickness and in health.

Tyler’s touchddown

Bob Collins October 10, 2011, 3:49 PM Oct 10, 2011

1

Today’s reason why there’s still a role for organized sports to play in school.

Serves ’em right 2

Bob Collins October 10, 2011, 2:31 PM Oct 10, 2011

2

Last week, we applauded — correctly — the vision of a man who allowed us all to get on computers and communicate with each other. The rest is up to us. We’re often not very good at it.

The prostate gamble

Bob Collins October 10, 2011, 12:58 PM Oct 10, 2011

1

Maybe the chances of harm from the PSA test are higher than the chances of discovering something that can kill you. Both present a gamble that men have to make.

Arts funding: It helps if you appeal to wealthy whites

Bob Collins October 10, 2011, 10:46 AM Oct 10, 2011

2

A report from the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy says foundation giving to the art doesn’t properly reflect the changing demographics in the nation

The ribbon (5×8 – 10/10/11)

Bob Collins October 10, 2011, 7:09 AM Oct 10, 2011

2

Goodness and tragedy at the finish line, drive-in memories, an anniversary on the farm, Sgt. Prince’s final trip, and the hyperbole of mental illness.

The harvest haze

Bob Collins October 7, 2011, 4:53 PM Oct 7, 2011

2

The harvest in Minnesota.

The sweet sound of human decency (5×8 – 10/7/11)

Bob Collins October 7, 2011, 7:24 AM Oct 7, 2011

2

Getting life out of the way, the turtleneck and toothpick comebacks, bring on winter, just keep riding, and the mystery of the universe.

An actor lives here

Bob Collins October 6, 2011, 4:52 PM Oct 6, 2011

The drama club stakes its turf.

Waiting for the price of a warm October

Bob Collins October 6, 2011, 3:22 PM Oct 6, 2011

4

Warm temperatures in October is pretty fun, as long as you don’t think too much about the wrongness of it all.

The case for spying on your kids

Bob Collins October 6, 2011, 2:12 PM Oct 6, 2011

1

Technology has made it easy for parents o invade the privacy of young people.

A news blogger lives here

Bob Collins October 6, 2011, 11:14 AM Oct 6, 2011

4

Who’ll be the first person to put a sign on their lawn declaring ‘A National Honor Society student lives here’?

Who else? (5×8 – 10/6/11)

Bob Collins October 6, 2011, 7:40 AM Oct 6, 2011

10

To be an icon, hockey’s dirty little secret, a firing at the end of the Rainbow, hell and back again, and love at first click.

The person we all should meet

Bob Collins October 5, 2011, 4:02 PM Oct 5, 2011

3

This fall and winter, NewsCut plans to meet the people you think we should meet.

Whose fault is poverty?

Bob Collins October 5, 2011, 2:34 PM Oct 5, 2011

20

A presidential candidate suggests the unemployed have no one to blame but themselves.