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Range power boondoggle, despite 80 percent backing from feds, remains likely to fail
I’ve written and blogged plenty about the Mesaba Energy Project (notably here, and most recently here). This boondoggle proposal is built on a foundation of lofty economic and environmental promises that can’t be fulfilled without a realignment of the universe. So I’ll just point out this interesting MPR story from last week that shows the…
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Clooney: "Brrr!"
UPDATE: The closing two graphs of the DNT wrap on the Clooney/Zellweger story seem kind of sad. After about 40 minutes, when the stars’ handlers declared the time for questions were over, Clooney overruled them and took a question from a Duluth woman in the center of the crowd behind the press. Joan Koski presented…
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Range town wants balls back
From today’s Mesabi Daily News, the new administration in Virginia, Minn., has revived the tradition of the annual “Mayor’s Ball,” a big formal dance that was abandoned by his predecessor. I’m sure this adult prom is a fun tradition and that it could raise money for charity (in this case, perhaps a bit too ironically,…
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Famous people almost here!
Certified famous people George Clooney and Renee Zellweger will be appearing in Duluth at the Lake Superior Railroad Museum soon. Their event (rally?) is scheduled for 11 a.m., with public “greeting” at 1 p.m. I’ll liveblog it using 19th century blog rules. In other words, I’ll find out later and tell you when I damn…
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Closing gender gap in Range leadership a worthy goal
This is my weekly column for the Sunday, March 23, 2008 edition of the Hibbing Daily Tribune. My columns are archived at my writing page. Closing gender gap in Range leadership a worthy goalBy Aaron J. Brown Anyone familiar with the news these days knows that the issues of race and gender play a big…
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Ron Paul vandalism just catching on up north
I know the stereotype is that the Iron Range is behind the times when it comes to trends. These punks aren’t helping. Vandals deface Iron Range welcome signsBy Janna GoerdtDuluth News Tribune Four highly visible signs on the outskirts of Eveleth, Virginia, Gilbert and Mountain Iron were spray-painted with obscene political messages earlier this month.…
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Join the Northern Minnesota blog revolution!
Hello friends. On Wednesday, March 26 I’ll be hosting yet another blogging seminar for the KAXE Community Journalism Project at Mesabi Range Community and Technical College in Virginia, Minn. I briefly explain blogging, how it works and how to start a blog and then share information on a community project that supports new and existing…
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Brown on the Air: Personality Quirks
My weekly radio essay for Saturday’s episode of “Between You and Me” on 91.7 KAXE will focus on personality quirks. The call-in and music show will explore some of the interesting quirks of our northern Minnesota friends, family members and neighbors. Tune in between 10 a.m. and noon on 91.7 FM and streaming online at…
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Fire damages landmark Iron Range pizza joint
Perhaps not big news to everyone, but the original Sammy’s Pizza in Hibbing was damaged by fire yesterday. (Well, actually the original was in Keewatin before moving to a different location in Hibbing and then to this spot, but that’s just the sort of local local history tedium that you don’t need). The Hibbing Daily…
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Update: Clooney, Zellweger to interact with Northlanders
The Star Tribune reports on Monday’s George Clooney/Renee Zellweger visit to Duluth. We now learn that common folk without media passes can meet the famous people at 1 p.m. at the entrance to the Depot. We also learn that the pair’s movie, “Leatherheads,” based on the real 1920s pro football team in Duluth called the…
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Dude says Moses was on drugs
I have to admit, I’ve never been part of organized religion. But seeing that one researcher believes Moses might have been on drugs when he saw the burning bush and received the Ten Commandments does leave me feeling a bit empty. If the basis of most of the world’s major religions is going to be…
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Quick, before the malaise breaks through the dam
The good news (if you’re an Obama supporter and/or sick of primary election news coverage): The media, at least the pieces I saw on “Good Morning America” and in the New York Times today, are finally starting to openly question how Hillary Clinton could win the Democratic nomination at this point. The likelihood that Barack…
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Iron Range rally to mark five years of misguided war
It’s been five years at war. As they say, I’m sure not against the soldiers, but this war has been the emblem of bad foreign policy from the start. For those interested: Iron Range Rally to End the War Who: Iron Range residents, members of MoveOn.orgWhere: Hwy. 53 & 12th Ave. S. (by Kmart &…
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Aftermath of ‘the speech’
Daily Kos has a good roundup of the reviews of yesterday’s Barack Obama speech. First Read also has some good reactions. There are all overtly positive in their appraisal of the speech, but I’ll take on the task of looking at this from another point of view. The real question here is whether the American…
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OMG! George Clooney, Renee Zellweger coming to Duluth!
At the top of the Duluth News-Tribune on this important news day is the BIGGEST STORY OF ALL TIME. George Clooney is coming to Duluth. WITH RENEE ZELLWEGER. AT THE SAME TIME! Oh Jesus, my heart. My heart is beating SO FAST right now. Rumors have been swirling for awhile that George Clooney might be…