Alas, my shirt is also on vacation

Alas, my shirt is also on vacation  By Aaron J. Brown  Every human on earth traces his or her origins to people who once conducted their affairs entirely shirtless. These people may have walked the plains of Africa, the rocky crags of Europe, the wilds of North America or the Asian Steppe. Wherever they roamed,… Read More →

Ex-editors dish on conditions in corporate community journalism

Business North has an exclusive story that might interest readers of Northland newspapers. The former editors of the Ashland Press in northern Wisconsin recently dished on the reasons they left the American Consolidated Media-owned paper. A taste: “It was clear to me that if I wanted a day off, I was going to have to… Read More →

The lazy heat of summer’s last act

The lazy heat of summer’s last act By Aaron J. Brown In the pioneer days of Minnesota, sod huts overflowing with Scandinavian stoicism, summer was a time of endless work. From sunup to sundown men and women toiled to complete tasks necessary for the family to survive the long, coming winter. I imagine some of… Read More →

The developing social contract of a new generation

This is my Sunday column for the Aug. 4, 2013 edition of the Hibbing Daily Tribune. The developing social contract of a new generationBy Aaron J. Brown When I graduated from high school in 1998, my classmates and I walked out of the Cherry High School gym and formed a receiving line to shake hands… Read More →

Nerds among us

This is my Sunday column for the July 28, 2013 edition of the Hibbing Daily Tribune. A version of this piece aired yesterday on Northern Community Radio’s “Between You and Me.” PROGRAM NOTE: you can hear the latest Grand Rapids episode of my Great Northern Radio Show today (Sunday) from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m…. Read More →

Hail to Lake Agassiz, the mighty inland sea

This is my Sunday column for the July 21, 2013 edition of the Hibbing Daily Tribune. Hail to Lake Agassiz, the mighty inland seaBy Aaron J. Brown Living in the woods you get used to driving. You get used to complaining about gas prices, as though the 25 cent fluctuations common to any given summer… Read More →

Origins of sport

This is my Sunday column for the July 14, 2013 edition of the Hibbing Daily Tribune. Origins of sportBy Aaron J. Brown Tuesday brings one of my favorite events in all of summer, Major League Baseball’s All-Star game. This might seem a bit strange to some, as the all-star game is often not very good…. Read More →

Fly, bird, fly

This is my Sunday column for the July 7, 2013 Hibbing Daily Tribune. Fly, bird, flyBy Aaron J. Brown No one who lives in the woods lives alone. Sometimes amid the din of family life we forgot that we share our address with thousands of creatures who regard us with the same indifference we usually… Read More →

A Midsummer’s Range Dream

This is my Sunday column for the June 30, 2013 Hibbing Daily Tribune. Thanks to everyone who attended or listened to last night’s Great Northern Radio Show at the Reif Center in Grand Rapids. Stay tuned for the rebroadcast at 10 a.m. on July 6. A Midsummer’s Range Dream By Aaron J. Brown * With apologies… Read More →

Great Northern Radio Show nabs local headlines

The Great Northern Radio Show, seen from above during our winter show in Bigfork. The Great Northern Radio Show is coming soon, with our biggest show ever this Saturday, June 29 at the Reif Center in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. We’ll be live on Northern Community Radio from 5-7, with free tickets available to our live… Read More →