Flirting with fads
In our consumeristic society this weekend becomes a sort of proving ground for material desires. We mark “Black Friday” and “Cyber Monday,” not as official holidays, but as shared celebration of enormous corporations achieving their Q4 revenue expectations. The stuff we buy and sell, however, changes a little each year. I remember Tickle-Me-Elmo being… Read More →
Power in the Wilderness podcast available on major platforms
Readers here have probably gotten used to the fact that I’m only posting my newspaper columns these days. I’ve been working on my book, “Power in the Wilderness.” This process grew complicated when I returned to campus for my full time teaching assignment. Months ago Karl Jacob and I promoted our podcast, also called “Power… Read More →
Wanna hear the most annoying sound in Duluth?
Hey, wanna hear the most annoying sound in the world? That would be the sound of the fully loaded freighter Presque Isle scraping the side of the canal on its way out of the Port of Duluth this morning. Nobody was hurt. Somebody, however, has a bad case of the Mondays. Related posts: No related… Read More →
The poison in our standing water
Today, you can read my latest column for the Minnesota Reformer. The essay is entitled, “The poison in our standing water.” My work continues to transform as I ingest untold quantities of historical research for my book “Power in the Wilderness,” which I hope to finish quite soon. This piece analyzes Range history, Facebook’s power… Read More →
The 21st Century is a salvage operation
Junk is all over the news. Steel companies are buying scrap at big prices. And yet, recycling loses money for local governments across the country. The climate crisis is running headlong into our desire for more and more stuff. Worse, our economy currently depends upon us making and buying that stuff. My latest column for… Read More →
This just in
The poison in our standing water
Today, you can read my latest column for the Minnesota Reformer. The essay is entitled, “The poison in our standing water.” My work continues to transform as I ingest untold quantities of historical research for my book “Power in the Wilderness,” which I hope to finish quite soon. This piece analyzes Range history, Facebook’s power… Read More →
Power in the Wilderness
Aaron J. Brown is currently writing “Power in the Wilderness,” a book about the late Hibbing mayor Victor Power and his tumultuous early 20th Century world. Until the book is done Brown is collaborating with independent filmmaker Karl Jacob on an exciting new podcast of the same name. The program is a special production of KAXE/KBXE Northern Community Radio where it will also air on the radio. To listen or read show notes, check out “Power in the Wilderness.” Meantime, Contact Aaron with any Hibbing-area recollections from 1900 to 1926, especially if they involve Victor Power. Family histories and old letters are great, but even second-hand stories are useful. We are trying to solve a historical mystery and need your help to get it right.
