Reposted by Paul CollinsNeglected Books @neglectedbooks.com · 11/10/2026My wife and I just watched the closing episode of 70 Up and we both felt a sudden and overwhelming sense of loss. We saw 28 Up in Santa Monica when we'd been married a year and have followed ever since. What a privilege to follow these lives. Our thanks to everyone responsible. 1533
Reposted by Paul CollinsTim Carvell @timcarvell.bsky.social · 09/10/2026It remains very funny to me that there are exactly two places where Francis Ford Coppola will allow people to watch this: In movie theaters or -- the way I saw it -- as an in-flight movie on American Airlines. 5609
Paul Collins @paulcollins.bsky.social · 09/10/2026Charles Dickens on public execution. From his letter to The Times of London, November 14 1849: 010
Paul Collins @paulcollins.bsky.social · 08/10/2026WSJ, bringing the receipts: “[Ambassador Guilfoyle] reached out to a Trump donor with an urgent request: She needed $100,000 that she said she owed AmEx - in a way that wouldn’t leave a paper trail…. She warned Deters repeatedly not to commit talk of money or payments to text.”wsj.comExclusive | ‘Honey Please’: Kimberly Guilfoyle Pushed Donor to Wire $100,000 to Her Amex AccountText messages with a MAGA ally show Guilfoyle seeking funds and offering access to top administration officials before becoming ambassador to Greece. 06710
Reposted by Paul CollinsErin L. Thompson @artcrimeprof.bsky.social · 07/10/2026Top-tier weird little guy on an incantation bowl from Nippur, Iraq, c 500 BCE, in the Penn Museum. 231196292
Paul Collins @paulcollins.bsky.social · 07/10/2026Idk maybe also printed on cheap paper and thrown at my door by a kid on a bike 050
Paul Collins @paulcollins.bsky.social · 07/10/2026I’d actually be fine now with a news app that let you turn off all video, animations, & audio 120
Paul Collins @paulcollins.bsky.social · 06/10/2026This is awesome, & not least because of the mental picture conjured by their union local’s name: “United Wizards of the Coast” 2102
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 572937475
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
Paul Collins @paulcollins.bsky.social · 29/09/2026Hitchhiker’s Guide. Loved reading it when I was about that age, and so did my kid. 240
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? 7535
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. 329249
Paul Collins @paulcollins.bsky.social · 17/09/2026Meanwhile, their local coverage — which still can be good — is getting buried in peekaboo headlines and slop-like syndicated content. 020
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... 1393
Paul Collins @paulcollins.bsky.social · 13/09/2026One jaw-dropping "Oh, but of course" detail deep in the Times story is that the operation moved from what were ostensibly Montessori schools to -- wait for it -- AI instruction. 000
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 🛠️ 70149193713
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 · 23/08/2026US healthcare, and healthcare reform, is made so much more difficult by the shell game of endless handoffs, deflection, & buck-passing to state and local levels, private firms, etc. Single-payer can be imperfect, but when it goes awry, at least people know *what* it is and who's responsible. 011
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 1187
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
Paul Collins @paulcollins.bsky.social · 17/08/2026One thing I've wondered: Online courses, unlike F2F, typically can save student work indefinitely. If detection gets good, will some schools or profs retroactively scan student work? What happens to a student's course credit or degree completion if, years later, a school finds their work was AI? 011
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 · 09/08/2026Ah - that's a good question, looking again I'm seeing he was prosecuted for 1st degree assault (intentional), but actually convicted on 3rd degree (recklessness/indifference). Deleting that post. 010
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