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And now the news...

Posted at 6:02 PM on June 20, 2008 by Bob Collins (4 Comments)

Regular News Cut readers know -- hopefully -- by now that there are times to dissect the very weighty issues of our day, burdening ourselves with the sheer importance of these matters in the future of our planet. And there are times to step back and simply marvel at the serendipity of the news.

This is one of those times. For example:

  • Man sheds 80 pounds on McDonald's diet
    OK, the guy wasn't eating french fries and Big Macs every day, but who knew you could lose weight eating every meal there? Get marketing on line 1!

  • Alligator found in Chicago River.
    Say, have I ever told you the story about the man with the claw who attacked young couples making out on a dark overlook?

  • Ice discovered on Mars
    To have life, you have to have water. Ice is water. So does this mean there is -- or was -- life on Mars? Good question. Better question: On the day they discover life on Mars, is there any hope at all it'll lead a newscast?

  • This strange thing called prom
    Could there be a sweeter story? Never mind that there was no translation for "prom" in 28 of the languages spoken at a high school in Brooklyn. They organized one anyone. Leave it to the New York Times, though, to end the story with a tear.

  • Kids go out on the town
    I know it's only two pictures and you can make a joke about Crookston if you want, but this week, driving around the region, I saw about a half dozen of those groups of daycare kids -- the ones where they all hold onto a rope -- heading for the local fire station or the ilibrary or wherever. It's the one stage of life where kids are as cute as the baby geese trailing mom and dad we're seeing at this time of the year.

    It's also a good reminder that sometimes, the big news in someone's day is they went to the candy store.


    Comments (4)

    loved all the stories, but the prom in NY was incredible in so many ways. The link has a great video and an even greater narrative.
    this piece made my weekend!

    Posted by minn whaler | June 20, 2008 7:05 PM

    The prom story ends with a couple of tears, true. I've never heard of a prom that didn't have a broken heart or two. It's more quintessential to an American Prom than the cast of "King, Queen, Priss, Mean Girl" and losing your virginity after the dance.

    Posted by HS3 | June 21, 2008 6:42 PM

    I would have gone to prom with the nomadic yak herder who played the guitar.

    Posted by c | June 22, 2008 3:53 PM

    Hmm, I've lost around 35 lbs by, among other things, *not* eating at McDonalds.

    Posted by Jeff | June 23, 2008 4:36 PM

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