Category: Overburden

  • How iron becomes steel, starring the Range (for beginners)

    Video: mxylkaxl by way of History Channel, found via MinnPost. This is the geeky sort of thing that inspired my book “Overburden: Modern Life on the Iron Range,” though I throw in more jokes and talk about my feelings. Related posts: No related posts.

  • "Overburden" talk in Bemidji on Sunday

    Here’s to remind everyone in the Bemidji area to stop by the Headwaters Unitarian Universalist Fellowship at 522 America Ave. NW in Bemidji Sunday morning at 10 a.m. I’ll be the featured speaker for the regular service. After the service I’ll be hosting a book reading at 11:30 where I’ll read some hot new material,…

  • What teachers do in Bemidji on Sunday

    What teachers do in Bemidji on Sunday

    My book “Overburden: Modern Life on the Iron Range” has been out for 18 months (gack, the time!) but I’ve yet to do an author event west of Grand Rapids. That sad reality ends this weekend as I make my first speaking/book appearance in the great city of Bemidji on Sunday. I’ll be the featured…

  • I spill, and pass the savings on to you

    I spill, and pass the savings on to you

    Thanks to everyone who came out to the Village Bookstore in Grand Rapids Saturday for the final book signing event for “Overburden: Modern Life on the Iron Range.” I’ll still be doing talks about the book and will be happy to sign your copy if you want, but I’m not going to do another formal…

  • Last chance for signed ‘Overburden’ in 2009

    Last chance for signed ‘Overburden’ in 2009

    Have you finished your Christmas shopping? I’ll be signing copies of my book “Overburden: Modern Life on the Iron Range” at the Village Bookstore in the Central Square Mall in Grand Rapids on Saturday, Dec. 19 from noon to 2 p.m. The book makes a great gift for anyone interested in or befuddled by the…

  • ‘Overburden’ holiday book signing in Hibbing Thursday evening

    ‘Overburden’ holiday book signing in Hibbing Thursday evening

    The holiday tour for my book “Overburden: Modern Life on the Iron Range” continues Thursday where it all began. I’ll be signing books today from 5-7 p.m. at Howard Street Booksellers in downtown Hibbing, the site of my first signing last year. “Overburden” is a part-funny, part-serious creative nonfiction title written in a memoir style.…

  • ‘Overburden’ at Northern Lights Books in Duluth this Saturday

    ‘Overburden’ at Northern Lights Books in Duluth this Saturday

    Hey, Duluth. You are so awesome. I know so many people from you. You are a large freshwater port with cool bridges and a Norwegian brick tower and a crazy big hill. Guess what, Duluth baby, I’m comin’ down for a visit. The holiday tour for my award-winning, well-reviewed, otherwise-hyphenated book “Overburden: Modern Life on…

  • ‘Overburden’ book signing today in Virginia, Minn.

    ‘Overburden’ book signing today in Virginia, Minn.

    I’ll be signing copies of “Overburden: Modern Life on the Iron Range” today at Woodward’s in the Thunderbird Mall in Virginia, Minn., from 1-3 p.m. This book won the Northeastern Minnesota Book Award this year and is a good gift for people who like humor, history, culture and especially the Iron Range. Related posts: No…

  • Black Friday Overburden

    Black Friday Overburden

    The experts say that people plan to spend less on gifts this holiday season, what with the crippling economic recession that somehow has failed to kill the Snuggie. What was 2007 diamond jewelery is now 2009 sticks and rocks and stuff found down by the loading dock. Forget the iPod, who wants a unique gift…

  • Chisholm tonight!

    Chisholm tonight!

    Just a reminder: I’ll be speaking at 6 tonight at the Minnesota Discovery Center in Chisholm with a humorous look at how snowmobiles, hunting and other northern mainstays play a part in Iron Range culture. The lecture is part of “Snow Dogs: Snowmobiling in Minnesota.” Thursday night is free admission night at the center, formerly…

  • 6, not 7

    I was circulating some bad info on my Thursday night talk at the Minnesota Discovery Center in Chisholm. The event will begin at 6 p.m. If you show up at 7 all you’ll see is the spent torches from the angry mob. Related posts: No related posts.

  • Who let the Snow Dogs out?

    Who let the Snow Dogs out?

    I’ll be giving a public lecture at the Minnesota Discovery Center (Ironworld) at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 8 in the auditorium. Thursday nights are “free nights” at the center, so you can see the permanent exhibit along with the current special exhibit “Snow Dogs: Snowmobiling in Minnesota.” You might ask why I’m hooked up…

  • Scenes from the commute

    Scenes from the commute

    For the last few weeks of fantastic weather here in northern Minnesota I’ve been meaning to take my camera to catch a particular shot of an old tractor that I see on my 30 minute commute into the big city of Hibbing. The sun rises right behind the ancient machine as it rusts away in…

  • A quick post before the leaves turn colors

    A quick post before the leaves turn colors

    It’s been about a month of reduced blogging here at MinnesotaBrown and I thought I’d give you a little update. First of all, yes, I will be bringing comments back when I resume daily blogging but I’ve temporarily closed comments until I have the time to deal with them. If you have a comment please…

  • A partial hiatus and an exciting new chapter

    A partial hiatus and an exciting new chapter

    Hello readers. Some changes, most likely temporary, will be coming to this blog over the coming months. You’ll still be able to read my weekly columns for the Hibbing Daily Tribune, news about my book and radio work, and items of interest about the Iron Range, but the posting frequency will be reduced. My political…