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Dylan’s Minnesota story shows poetry in motion
This is my Sunday column for the April 15, 2012 edition of the Hibbing Daily Tribune. I read a shorter version of this piece on Northern Community Radio’s “Between You and Me” Saturday, April 14. Dylan’s Minnesota story shows poetry in motion By Aaron J. Brown This 1978 quote from Bob Dylan opens the March…
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Welcoming new strategies for northern Minnesota’s future
A couple northern Minnesota stories caught my eye this week and I’m here to argue that they’re related. First, there’s this Ron Brochu story from Business North about Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board Commissioner Tony Sertich speaking in Duluth. Brochu picked up on a subtle quote that shows the substantive change in policy Sertich…
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Brown on the Air: POETRY!
I’ll be returning to my commentary role on Northern Community Radio’s “Between You and Me” call-in and music program this Saturday morning, speaking on the topic of poems and poetry for National Poetry Month. I’ll be discussing 50 years of Minnesota’s most successful poet, Duluth and Hibbing’s Bob Dylan. You may recall that I am…
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MPR’s nonferrous mining cheat sheet
MPR’s Paul Tosto condenses the debate over nonferrous mineral mining into a simple story. It’s a great primer if you want to know what this whole deal is about. Related posts: No related posts.
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The deep meaning of random acts of wackiness
Star Tribune columnist Gail Rosenblum pens a story about a Mankato man originally from the Iron Range who developed a master prank that lasted years. A world traveler, Jim Moore, selected a North Dakota couple at random and sent them handwritten postcards from all over the world. The joke was that he pretended that he…
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We’re going to … Twins. We’re going to … sigh
I usually comment on the opening of the baseball season. It’s a time for hope and good feelings. But I was busy with the radio show this weekend and the Twins are awful, just awful. They are going to lose 100 games. Their pitching is bad and they have no offense. Their most expensive players…
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Tall Ships will return to Duluth harbor in 2013
UPDATE: Fresh info on how to see Tall Ships 2013. In 2010, the talk of Duluth and the surrounding region was tall ships. Masted wooden sailing vessels sailed into Duluth for a week of maritime festivities. Was it a big deal? Yes, according to a press release on WDIO.com: Tall Ships Duluth 2010 was the…
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Duluth named the jewel of the Rust Belt
Here’s a fun list of the most scenic cities in the Rust Belt. I know, I know. But Duluth is Number One and it’s a nice list. If I had to move to a city (and I don’t, and so I won’t) I’d probably follow a list like this right down the line. The list…
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Anderson internal poll shows tight, volatile DFL race in MN-8
An internal polling battle is afoot in MN-8. Last week Tarryl Clark released an internal poll showing a tight-three way race for the DFL nomination in Minnesota’s Eighth Congressional District. Her poll also involved some follow-up questioning that she said showed voters would be inclined to support her once they knew more about her. The…
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COLUMN: Confessions of the kitchen clueless
This is my Sunday column for the April 8, 2012 edition of the Hibbing Daily Tribune. A version of this piece aired on a recent episode of Northern Community Radio’s “Between You and Me.” Confessions of the kitchen cluelessBy Aaron J. Brown The trailer house where I grew up was like a proletarian U-Boat. I…
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Great Northern Radio Show airs tonight from Bemidji
Today’s the big day! Tune in as I host the Great Northern Radio Show, 5-7 p.m., on the Northern Community Radio network: 91.7 KAXE in northeastern Minnesota, 90.5 KBXE in north central Minnesota, 89.9 in Brainerd, and streaming live worldwide at www.kaxe.org. The show will broadcast live from the historic Chief Theatre in downtown Bemidji,…
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Boots on the ground for Great Northern Radio Show in Bemidji
Hey everybody, listen to this smooth talking gentleman exclaim the virtues of Bemidji: I’m in Bemidji today and tomorrow getting ready for Saturday night’s Great Northern Radio Show, live from the historic Chief Theatre from 5-7 p.m. You can listen live on 91.7 KAXE-Grand Rapids and the Iron Range, 89.9 in Brainerd and the new…
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Clark releases internal poll showing strength (upon prompting)
As reported last week, we now know that the three DFL candidates for Congress in Minnesota’s 8th Congressional district will likely compete in an August primary to face Rep. Chip Cravaack (R-MN8) next fall. Tarryl Clark’s campaign has sent me a memo touting Clark’s fundraising success (with numbers to be released next week) and highlights…
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The humor, history & stories of Bemidji Great Northern Radio Show
Music plays a central part in this Saturday night’s Great Northern Radio Show (live from the historic Chief Theatre in downtown Bemidji, 5-7 p.m.). But the show’s attitude comes from our live sketches and textured conversations between and about the people of northern Minnesota. I write most of the sketches for the show, with contributions…
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Why is the state legislature so awful?
This Minnpost commentary by Steven Dornfield answers the question, “Why has the quality of the state legislature declined?” Where are the statesmen and stateswomen? Why is compromise more difficult than ever? Why are bright, talented people avoiding runs for office, or leaving after a term or two? To summarize, the answer is because it is…