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The cold touch of metal, the language of machines
I grew up a mechanic’s son of a mechanic’s son on the Iron Range of northern Minnesota. My family has long lived around the Range’s tamarack swamps, seldom within its cities and often many miles out. Always more focused on the machines, the woods and the work than the machinations of the region’s booming, busting…
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COLUMN: Good things come in fives
This is my Sunday column for the Jan. 22, 2012 edition of the Hibbing Daily Tribune. A shorter version of this aired Jan. 21 during “Between You and Me” on 91.7 KAXE. Good things come in fivesBy Aaron J. Brown We creatures use modern minds to operate machines, systems and philosophies that would once have…
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Ready the horses; MN-8 charge to begin
Minnesota Public Radio has a nice summary of the MN-8 Congressional race. It’s a good primer before I release the audio and video from my interviews with DFL candidates Jeff Anderson, Tarryl Clark and Rick Nolan, recorded Wednesday at the Minnesota Discovery Center in Chisholm. The candidates weighed in on hot-button issues like the federal…
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Keep the internet free
You might notice some changes over at Google or Wikipedia today. Many popular websites are joining in a protest over the SOPA law being debated in Washington, D.C. I am not “going dark” with my website today, mostly because I’m not convinced I know how to bring it back up. But I would like to…
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The MinnesotaBrown MN-8 interviews begin Wednesday
On Wednesday, Jan. 18, I’ll interview each of the DFL candidates for Minnesota’s 8th Congressional District at the Minnesota Discovery Center in Chisholm. At 1 p.m. I meet with Rick Nolan. At 2, Jeff Anderson. At 3, Tarryl Clark. You might recall the series of interviews I did with DFL gubernatorial candidates in 2010. This…
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Dog Have Mercy: Beargrease cancelled
The lack of snow in northern Minnesota this winter has led to the cancellation of the John Beargrease sled dog race (WDIO) for only the second time in its history. Low snow totals make racing more dangerous for people and dogs. The Duluth News Tribune also has a story. Related posts: No related posts.
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COLUMN: A toilet story
Here is my Sunday column for the Jan. 15, 2012 edition of the Hibbing Daily Tribune. A toilet storyBy Aaron J. Brown Let us begin with this reflection: people are disgusting. All people. Everywhere. You need look no further for evidence than the toilet found in your very home. I’m sure you’re a very neat…
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Brown on the Air: ENOUGH!
This week on “Between You and Me,” the unique Saturday morning conversation program on 91.7 KAXE, the topic is “enough.” The idea comes from an exhibit and program going on now in Itasca County called “Enough for All.” It’s a look at poverty. Poverty, eh? Well, I get a little tired of the same-old, same-old…
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Beating the bumps in an Iron Range mining boom
I’ve recently advocated a sort of temperance in talk that boom times in mining are enough to propel the economy of Minnesota’s Iron Range forward. That’s not very fun, or very popular, or very important, I suppose, as the economy will react independently of what some blogger writes or what you see on your computer…
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KSTP "On the Road" features Sunrise Deli
KSTP’s On the Road segment with Jason Davis featured the owners of the legendary Sunrise Deli in Hibbing as they made the decision not to close down, but to continue as a wholesaler of the popular ethnic foods that characterize the Iron Range. It’s been a turbulent year for Hibbing food landmarks. The similarly named,…
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Minnesota Moments features state "place" blogs, including this one
The magazine Minnesota Moments features in its winter edition ten Minnesota bloggers who write about life in this Midwestern state. I was honored to be included. It’s a nice collection of writers. My section gets into some nitty-gritty about choices you have to make when you write about controversy and politics, and some of you…
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Dust in the wind … public meeting on dust in the wind
Tonight at 6 a public meeting will be held in the small western Iron Range city of Keewatin regarding the red dust blowing off the Magnetation scram mining site south of town. Representatives of Magnetation have been invited, as have local officials. Magnetation is a newer company producing iron concentrate from mine dumps once considered…
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Zenith City’s Hipster King Speaks Fire from Podium of Ice!
Duluth, Minn., mayor Don Ness delivers remarks Monday from a unique lectern after being sworn in for his second term in office. Ness ran unopposed in the November 2011 election. Ness enjoys historic popularity as some credit him with leading a more youthful, economically diverse Duluth, once known mostly for decline and political discord. Several…
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This January heat is a killer
I just went for a walk outside. I had to unzip my coat. I sweat through my shirt. This is Hibbing, Minnesota. The temperatures in northern Minnesota are running 50 degrees warmer than you often see this time of year, a couple dozen degrees above average. There’s almost no snow in open areas, just an…
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COLUMN: Occupy Language – Top words from 2011
This is my Sunday column for the Jan. 7, 2012 edition of the Hibbing Daily Tribune. The “top words” column is another annual tradition of mine. A version of this piece aired recently on 91.7 KAXE. Occupy Language: Top words from 2011By Aaron J. Brown Ralph Waldo Emerson once said “Use what language you will,…