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COLUMN: Thanks, no thanks, for Black Friday midnight madness
This is my Sunday column for the Nov. 20, 2011 edition of the Hibbing Daily Tribune. Thanks, no thanks, for Black Friday midnight madnessBy Aaron J. Brown Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday because big shots haven’t figured out how to “monetize” the whole thing yet. Sure, it’s a big day for turkey farmers or cranberry…
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Brown on the Air: JOKES!
This week’s edition of “Between You and Me” on 91.7 KAXE brings the semi-annual “jokes” show, with guest hosts Michael Goldberg, Gail Otteson and Frieda Hall. My weekly contribution explores a favorite of mine: puns. What I’ve produced is a 2 minute, nine second barrage of puns invoking topical news stories, sports and culture. It’s…
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Flight and rural places
Rural air service to places like the Iron Range is somewhat controversial. It’s expensive to serve areas like this, certainly less profitable for airlines than running regular flights out of populated hubs. Nevertheless, regional economies rely heavily on the ability to get people in and out of these places, where companies and entrepreneurs still have…
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The dawn of Winter’s Empire
Each year around this time elements of Winter take hold in the social fabric — cooling the temperatures, stripping the leaves. Winter-inspired political thinkers and writers organize within our institutions. They prepare the people for the idea of winter, tout winter virtues, indoctrinate our youth. Winter won the elections. Winter runs the trains. Winter forms the plans.…
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IRRRB retools, hires Range mayor for development
Virginia, Minn., Mayor Steve Peterson, fresh off his re-election last week, has been hired by the IRRRB to fill a new position: Executive Director of Development. This position is part of Commissioner Tony Sertich’s reorganization of the unique Iron Range agency’s management structure. Gone is the position of Deputy Commissioner. Now we find this more…
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COLUMN: Don’t rest on divides; climb past them
This is my Sunday column for the Nov. 13, 2011 edition of the Hibbing Daily Tribune. I’ll be discussing this and other Iron Range news, including mining project updates (hot hot!), on 91.7 KAXE’s Morning Show at 7:20 a.m. Monday. Listen live or pick up the archive later at www.kaxe.org. Don’t rest on divides; climb…
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Eleven Eleven Eleven Eleven Eleven
It’s 11:11 on 11/11/11. Let’s talk about 11. Eleven is the number that says, “Things are about to get different.” Eleven is the number that says, “Stop right there, our numeric system is Base 10.” Eleven teaches kids that one and one does not always make two. Eleven is beyond fingers. It needs more. Eleven…
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Brown on the Air: GOOD IDEA!
This Saturday morning’s “Between You and Me” on KAXE features a guest and a prompt: “Tell Me Your Good Idea.”Author Steven Johnson will be discussing his book “The Innovator’s Cookbook” with host Heidi Holtan, along with your calls and contributions from a cadre of commentators. My essay shares how good ideas so often follow a…
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Clark wins Steelworkers nod, Anderson talks hunting in MN-8
Two items of news from the growing din of the 2012 MN-8 race. First, Former St. Cloud-area State. Sen. Tarryl Clark received the backing of the Steelworkers yesterday. The Steelworkers represent Iron Range miners and some medical workers in the region. This is big news, as the Steelworkers are among the top organizers in DFL…
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The Gales of November Come Early
In memory of the 29 sailors who lost their lives Nov. 10, 1975 in the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald. There are many other tragedies to report in our history, but none associated with such a good song that also highlights the dangerous work people in the upper midwest have done to build America’s industry.…
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Range roots rocker-turned-writer to play Kaleva Hall
Up on the north side of Virginia, Minnesota, along a stretch of road some still call the Finntown Flyway you’ll find an old temperance hall built by Finnish immigrants to impart future generations with music, literature and the power of the mind necessary to overcome demon liquor. Unfortunately, the fire water is still around, but…
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NE Minn. elections preview exciting races ahead
A mild set of Tuesday elections nestled in amid a sea of voter apathy and general outrage, yielding only one lesson: the message matters Some school referenda passed, others failed. Statewide, 70 percent of all referenda passed — indicating some level of support for education amid state budget cuts. In Duluth, however, voters overwhelmingly defeated…
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MPR online forum tests MN-8 DFLers
The MPR online forum for Minnesota’s 8th Congressional District DFL candidates concluded earlier today. They’ve posted the feed of the questions and responses, which is worth a read. The question I submitted made the list. Reading the archived feed is a little like stumbling into a very polite Facebook battle a couple hours after the…
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Essar’s steel arrives in Nashwauk
The first steel beams for the Essar Steel Minnesota plant in Nashwauk arrived yesterday. The steel arrived on tractor-trailers from Baltimore, where the 120 metric tons arrived from its point of origin in India. The decision to use Indian steel, part of a financing requirement for the India-based Essar, was controversial here on the Iron…
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MPR to host MN-8 online forum Tuesday
Minnesota Public Radio will host an online forum featuring the four DFL candidates for Minnesota’s Eighth Congressional District 11:30 a.m. Tuesday. Though Jeff Anderson, Tarryl Clark, Daniel Fanning and Rick Nolan have all appeared at many of the same events, I believe this will be the first event in which all four of them appeared…