Reposted by Paul Collinslauren @lauren.rotatingsandwiches.com · 03/10/2026"I should get to sit down when I work but you shouldn't" is a great high level summary of labor disputes 562888470
Paul Collins @paulcollins.bsky.social · 29/09/2026A+ to Dartmouth's student newspaper: "Dr. Schnell told The Dartmouth in a statement that he used AI 'for language refinement, copyediting, improving clarity and organization...' The newspaper then ran [this] through an AI detector, which flagged the statement itself as apparently written by AI."nytimes.comDartmouth Provost Is the Latest College Professor Examined for A.I. Use (Gift Article)Dartmouth said it would investigate its provost over A.I. accusations. Similar controversies on other campuses have prompted frustration among students. 120
Reposted by Paul CollinsNeglected Books @neglectedbooks.com · 26/09/2026You know a great thing about Montana? With nothing more than a MT driver's license, you can check out books from any state university library. Just walk in, select the ones you want, stop by Circulation, and walk out with them. Amazing. Do other states do this? 7515
Reposted by Paul CollinsChronicle of Higher Education @chronicle.com · 25/09/2026In a testimony against a bid by Oregon State's women's basketball players to unionize, the Oregon State's provost said he left the same position at Louisiana State after the state's governor ordered administrators to bring out a live tiger at football games. Details here: chroni.cl/4ybanovchronicle.comOregon State U. Provost Says He Left LSU Over Governor’s Demand for a Live TigerRoy Haggerty said Louisiana’s governor had “ordered” the university’s president to arrange for a caged tiger to appear at a football game. 011
Paul Collins @paulcollins.bsky.social · 24/09/2026Just a reminder: flu's a bigger deal than a few lost days, & it's not just the young & elderly at risk. Flu precipitates other mortalities; heart attack rates zoom up during & after a bout. I lost my old college roommate to it. He was 51. Please: get a flu shot. (Covid, too!) It's really worth it.nytimes.comCovid and Flu Can Triple Your Risk of Heart Attack 0137
Paul Collins @paulcollins.bsky.social · 23/09/2026Every time I went to the Oregonian site this week, Avast flagged it for "fake scan" ads, each time emanating from a different outside site. And it's *only* happening there. I've never run into this with another major news site, or indeed with the O before. 000
Paul Collins @paulcollins.bsky.social · 22/09/2026Fascinating piece on lagging inspections of old power poles, which can topple and spark fires. A utility tried to make pole inspection records confidential, but you can see when a pole was installed & inspected from the little circular tags nailed into them. Some in Texas dated to 1936. 🎁 article:wsj.comThe Texas Trader at War With His Electric Company Over Power PolesWildfires are putting America’s aging electric grid under mounting strain at a time when power demand is soaring. 011
Reposted by Paul CollinsTim Carvell @timcarvell.bsky.social · 18/09/2026My “Doctor Who” idea is that the Doctor is a frog and his companion is a bear and every week they put on a variety show with the help of a very special guest star. 329349
Paul Collins @paulcollins.bsky.social · 17/09/2026My Oregonian digital subscription, which went from $100 to 125 last year, is now set to jump to 165. If I was cynical, and perhaps I am, I’d compare this to steep yearly cable hikes that depend on aging legacy customers not noticing. 130
Reposted by Paul CollinsErin L. Thompson @artcrimeprof.bsky.social · 15/09/2026A lot of yikes in this article about someone who bought $6.7 million worth of fake Warhols, but the attempt to continue the deception by sending fake appraisers is... chef's kiss www.wsj.com/arts-culture... 1383
Paul Collins @paulcollins.bsky.social · 13/09/2026Nothing says "for-profit ed" quite like grifting on toddlers. Good investigative work by the Times:nytimes.comInside the $440 Million Collapse of Guidepost Montessori (Gift Article)A man with a vision set out to revolutionize preschool. It became a $440 million fiasco. 100
Paul Collins @paulcollins.bsky.social · 12/09/2026My son and I started watching, on a lark, "The Man Who Killed Hitler and Then The Bigfoot" thinking it'd be a "Santa Claus vs The Martians" sort of mess, & instead it's a weirdly melancholy movie with Sam Elliott and Ron Livingston 030
Reposted by Paul CollinsSteve Herman @newsguy.bsky.social · 11/09/2026President Trump’s promise of a $5,000 cash payment for your vote reminds me of the inducement offered by a huckster during the 1974 election for governor of Nevada. newsguy.substack.com/p/when-candi...newsguy.substack.comWhen Candidates Promise Dividends for BallotsDecades before Trump’s proposed national windfall, a charismatic conman in Nevada proved that some voters will swallow an impossible promise even after the lie is exposed. 13016
Reposted by Paul Collinscaroline cash @cashbrowns.bsky.social · 07/09/2026Nancy 9/7/26 … Happy Labor Day 🛠️ 70149193717
Reposted by Paul CollinsNeglected Books @neglectedbooks.com · 07/09/2026I regret to inform you that the name Lalage Pulvertaft has already been taken. 46311
Paul Collins @paulcollins.bsky.social · 03/09/2026Years ago @nymag.com ran a terrific oral history of Ms. magazine. It’s one of the best examples of the form I’ve ever seen, and well worth reading today.nymag.comAn Oral History of ‘Ms.’ Magazine -- New York Magazine - NymagForty years ago, a group of feminists, led by Gloria Steinem, did the unthinkable: They started a magazine for women, published by women—and the first issue sold out in eight days. An oral history ... 000
Paul Collins @paulcollins.bsky.social · 01/09/2026So TIL that the first formulation of bubble gum was called Blibber-Blubber and that you removed it from your face with *turpentine* 023
Reposted by Paul CollinsWJZ | CBS News Baltimore @cbsnewsbaltimore.bsky.social · 01/09/2026Historic Poe House faces new threat as West Baltimore redevelopment continuescbsnews.comHistoric Poe House faces new threat as West Baltimore redevelopment continuesThe Edgar Allan Poe House and Museum, located in the 200 block of N. Amity Street, is where the famed writer began writing short stories and launched his literary career. 01313
Reposted by Paul CollinsLeft Coast Reads 📚🌹 @leftcoastreads.bsky.social · 30/08/2026Parallel parking competition. Portland rocks. 293
Reposted by Paul CollinsCarl Zimmer @carlzimmer.com · 27/08/2026Scientists are drawing the map of autism-linked proteins in search of treatments. Here’s a story on an ambitious new study. Gift link: nyti.ms/4wWPZpM 78223
Paul Collins @paulcollins.bsky.social · 27/08/2026Take a moment today for the best video game line reading ever:youtu.beTim Curry is escaping to the one place that hasn't been corrupted by capitalism.YouTube video by geoff EXE 010
Paul Collins @paulcollins.bsky.social · 24/08/2026I was idly curious whether heat islands can be reduced a bit with lighter-colored asphalt, and found that (a) indeed they can, and (b) there is a publication called Asphalt Magazineasphaltmagazine.comFour ways asphalt can be colorized for aesthetics and functionality - Asphalt magazineAsphalt has many different uses, from road paving and coatings to sealants and decorative applications. One of the growing trends is the use of colorized asphalt, which combines visual appeal with pra... 020
Paul Collins @paulcollins.bsky.social · 23/08/2026Good reporting here, with a very useful map showing the blizzard of names for Medicaid in every state. Many people don't know they're even on Medicaid, think they're not insured when they are, or vice versa. Though the article's focused on Oregon, it's the story of other states too. Gift link:oregonlive.comNew Medicaid rules could hit 600,000 Oregonians. Many may not know itOregon is racing to notify OHP members about new federal eligibility rules that could leave up to 200,000 people without coverage. 143
Reposted by Paul CollinsKathy Valentine @kathyvalentine.bsky.social · 23/08/2026if you've ever enjoyed Richard Lloyd's music, it's a good time to show some support and appreciation. Unable to work and the bills are piling up. #Television #FuckCancergofund.meDonate to Help Richard Lloyd Fight Cancer, organized by Sean SeymourI've organized this fundraiser for Richard Lloyd, my friend and bandmate in the Richard … Sean Seymour needs your support for Help Richard Lloyd Fight Cancer 1167
Paul Collins @paulcollins.bsky.social · 21/08/2026This regulation -- that door handles must be clearly identifiable so people can quickly enter / exit in emergencies -- is a really good idea. (Also: it's weird & arrogant that Tesla et al created this problem to begin with.)nytimes.comIn China’s Biggest Car Recall, Tesla and 8 Others Will Address Door Safety (Gift Article)China’s regulator ordered changes after vehicle occupants sometimes had difficulty exiting electric cars, an issue that has led to lawsuits against Tesla in the United States. 020
Reposted by Paul Collinsiain @maccoinnich.bsky.social · 20/08/2026This is a good read, and while the Lloyd Center isn't mentioned it tells its story perfectly. KKR announced that it would foreclose on the mall in 2021; it took until 2026 to close it. A lot of the work that happened in those five years was unwinding decades old covenants. 1143
Paul Collins @paulcollins.bsky.social · 20/08/2026🎵 I've seen lots of funny men; Some will rob you with a six-gun, And some rob you of your fountain pen. 🎵nytimes.comKen Paxton’s $1,000 Pen Incident Resurfaces in Texas Senate Race (Gift Article)The pen Mr. Paxton pocketed more than a decade ago has resurfaced as a campaign issue. 030
Paul Collins @paulcollins.bsky.social · 20/08/2026This article on Korean papermaking is lovely, and a fine antidote to any dreary news of the day. Gift link:nytimes.comAncient Korean Papermaking Finds a Home in Ohio (Gift Article)Aimee Lee learned to make hanji with Korean masters. Now she practices their traditional technique in the United States. 052
Reposted by Paul CollinsAdam Bonica @adambonica.bsky.social · 16/08/2026There are four overlapping scandals here: 1. Fundraising spam tactics are hallmarks of elder financial exploitation 2. The Dem establishment is in on it 3. Most of what is raised goes to fundraising consultants 4. Capitulation to legal threats by NYT and The Bulwark on a fully vetted story 🧵👇data4democracy.substack.comHook and SqueezeHow Democratic consultants, committees, and party leaders built a fundraising spam pipeline that funnels money from a captive pool of elderly donors into their own operations. 22871347
Paul Collins @paulcollins.bsky.social · 09/08/2026I appreciate how much the Times has been covering this. The US has a real problem with regulating cars and with holding drivers accountable for stuff that would be taken far more seriously in any other context. Gift link:nytimes.comWhy Older Pedestrians Are More Likely to Die After Being Hit by a Car (Gift Article)They are more likely than other age groups to die after being hit by a vehicle. 092
Paul Collins @paulcollins.bsky.social · 06/08/2026“He was given two options: step down by July 1 and sign a nondisclosure agreement in exchange for 11 months’ severance, or be terminated, with his last day in December. He chose the latter.” Trying to buy off profs for NDAs is…not a sign of an administration acting in good faith. Gift link:nytimes.comHe Had Tenure. The New School Laid Him Off Anyway. (Gift Article)The professor, a longtime critic of the university, was among 19 educators who lost their positions as the institution navigated financial woes. 000
Reposted by Paul CollinsAnnaliese Paulson @annaliesep.bsky.social · 05/08/2026New Working Paper with Micah Baum and Joaquin Endara: Students tend to become more liberal during college. We study whether individual faculty make their students more liberal. We find no evidence that faculty affect student partisanship. Working Paper: edworkingpapers.com/ai26-1538 1/edworkingpapers.comDo Faculty Affect Student Partisanship?We study whether Democratic college professors make their students more liberal. We link voter data to salary records from 33 state flagships and show that faculty skew Democratic, especially in the h... 77935
Paul Collins @paulcollins.bsky.social · 02/08/2026Longing for the days when a drummer could buy cymbals with great brand names like Borg, Krut, and Spizz 010
Paul Collins @paulcollins.bsky.social · 01/08/2026A stroll through the Right to Roam: "The Kinder mass trespass of 24 April 1932... included some 400 young men and women from Manchester, Sheffield & the surrounding mill towns who defied the law and walked across the privately owned plateau of Kinder Scout, which was then used for grouse shooting."bbc.comRetracing the defiant walk that changed BritainSeventy-five years after the Peak District became Britain's first national park, visitors can retrace the mass trespass that helped open the countryside to everyone. 000
Paul Collins @paulcollins.bsky.social · 31/07/2026Portland HAD a Disability Accomodation Registry for first responders & disaster planning. It was also important context for police when, say, someone with IDD had a meltdown in public. But when I tried to sign up my son in 2013, I got a letter back that the list had just been discontinued. 130
Reposted by Paul CollinsSteve Herman @newsguy.bsky.social · 28/07/2026I think this battle was lost shortly after Samuel Morse and Ezra Cornell erected their first telegraph poles in 1844. 2343
Paul Collins @paulcollins.bsky.social · 27/07/2026Yikes: "Firefighters faced an especially dangerous situation in Vall d'Uixo... where the ground contains old ordnance from the Spanish Civil War that explodes when the flames reach the area, Chevi Bolumar, fire chief of the Valencian regional government, told public broadcaster TVE."reuters.comFrance and Spain race to curb wildfires before new heatwave arrivesAbout 220,000 people have been evacuated in France, while further south in Spain around 100,000 have been told to leave their homes or seek shelter. 05420
Paul Collins @paulcollins.bsky.social · 26/07/2026You can sleep in Dylan Thomas's childhood home in Swansea, including what he described in a letter as his "tiny, renovated bedroom… Smelly. Painful. Hot water pipes very near. Gurgle all the time. Nearly go mad."bbc.comSleeping in Dylan Thomas' house in WalesPart time portal, part museum, the legendary poet's childhood home offers travellers an all-access stay in Swansea – and a surreal experience. 110
Reposted by Paul Collinstony romm @tonyromm.bsky.social · 24/07/2026NEW: In a stunning admission, the Trump administration admitted in court documents that it canceled billions in energy grants to states "based solely" on politics -- and whether that state was represented by Democrats and backed Harris in 2024. www.nytimes.com/2026/07/24/b...nytimes.comTrump Administration Admits Canceling Grants to States That Did Not Vote for HimFederal officials said in court documents that they halted billions of dollars in funding for energy projects to states “based solely” on whether they backed President Trump in the 2024 election. 28961192933
Paul Collins @paulcollins.bsky.social · 24/07/2026Hadn't spotted this before today's Wired story, but this is a fascinating student press case in Marin. High school journalists looked up their county in the Epstein files, found stuff, reported it. Adults freaked out & the principal caved. Which is illegal. California law protects HS journalists.edsource.orgStudent journalists’ free press rights tested at Marin County high schoolAdministrators at Redwood High School in Marin County have been accused of violating a state law that protects the First Amendment and free press rights of student journalists at the Redwood Bark, the... 064
Reposted by Paul CollinsDiscontinued FoOoOods! 👻🎃 @discontinuedfoods.bsky.social · 23/07/2026"Great" is truly a load-bearing adjective 1451013166
Reposted by Paul CollinsAnna Bower @annabower.bsky.social · 20/07/2026shout out to The Strand bookstore staffer who did this 100133761950
Paul Collins @paulcollins.bsky.social · 19/07/2026Today in “Headlines That Sound Like 1830”:lemonde.frFrench court sentences Freemason criminal masterminds to up to 30 years in prisonAfter more than three months of hearings in a case involving a murder, two attempted murders and several violent assaults, 22 defendants involved in the criminal activities linked to a Masonic lodge i... 020
Reposted by Paul CollinsThe Public Domain Review @publicdomainrev.bsky.social · 15/07/2026Pages from Romeyn Beck Hough’s unique 14 volume work The American Woods (1888–1913), a collection in book-form of more than 1000 paper-thin wood samples representing more than 350 varieties of N.American tree. More samples from the work here: publicdomainreview.org/collection/t... 25016
Paul Collins @paulcollins.bsky.social · 15/07/2026I'd totally forgotten about Trump doxxing Graham in the '16 primaries 214925
Paul Collins @paulcollins.bsky.social · 14/07/2026Just got a letter from the Washington Post that they got hacked last summer & "data that was affected by this incident included your name and SSN." The last piece I wrote there was in 2013. Wtf are they doing retaining this 12 years? There's NO reason to retain W-9 info for that long. 120
Paul Collins @paulcollins.bsky.social · 11/07/2026Weirdly fascinated by this 1988 FBI report on coin-push carnival games 120
Paul Collins @paulcollins.bsky.social · 09/07/2026Fascinating Smithsonian piece on the Philly inventor who - as her colony had no patent office - had to sail to London in 1712 to become the first American granted an English patent. Her hominy milling machine was patented in her husband’s name, because women still weren’t allowed to hold patents.smithsonianmag.comWhen Patent Protections Couldn’t Keep Pace With Ingenuity in the Colonies, One Inventive Woman Took Her Case to BritainSybilla Righton Masters devised a novel way to work with grains available to her in Philadelphia. A long journey led to the first patent issued to an American (though it went to her husband) 071