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Pedaling on the bones of old industry
Do you like post-industrial imagery? Do you like bike tricks? You will like this. There’s a whole symbolic commentary thing I could do here, but that would cut into the time you have to watch the aforementioned bike tricks. Though this appears to be filmed in Scotland, that red color that pops off the ground…
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Another thought on early GOP politics in Range history
Folks seemed to like my Aug. 2 post “Silent Cal at the Hull Rust Mine” detailing the visit of President Calvin Coolidge to the Iron Range on that same date in 1928. I gave a brief overview of the Republican politics in the early 20th century on the Range. David Bednarczuk wrote me with this…
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A generous endorsement from Alaska’s Big Fat Babies
Sitka, Alaska-based punk rock band The Big Fat Babies has generously listed my book “Overburden: Modern Life on the Iron Range” as their notable reading selection this week on their rather entertaining website. It probably helped my case that one of their members and legal counsel Andrew C. Miller is a friend and the former…
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In these lost places we find the holes in our economy
The recent news that the United States Postal Service would be closing scads of post offices around the country, mostly in rural, small towns, has opened a lot of eyes about the true existential danger facing rural America. I’ve just read a couple of great Minnesota entries in the discussion, an Aug. 12, 2011 article…
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COLUMN: Enjoy a delicious ‘Somewhat Pleased Meal’
This is my weekly column for the Sunday, Aug. 14, 2011 edition of the Hibbing Daily Tribune. Enjoy a delicious ‘Somewhat Pleased Meal’By Aaron J. Brown After last week’s diatribe about body mass problems it shouldn’t surprise you that my family goes to McDonald’s sometimes. The fast food giant has been in the news recently…
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Brown on the Air: ROAD TRIPS!
91.7 KAXE‘s “Between You and Me” this Saturday morning explores the topic of road trips. I’ll be joining the discussion with a personal story about how road trips have both augmented and derailed my love life. Good times. “Between You and Me, a call-in and music program, highlights the voices of northern Minnesota and runs…
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I suppose I am ready for some football
Speaking of new ventures, I’m thinking of starting my own fantasy football league this year. It’s hard to say why I enjoy fantasy football. I think it’s because it’s one of the few traditional male activities that I enjoy and can use to relate with men who are married to women I work with. What…
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Pride before the fall (I mean autumn … I hope)
I’m taking some needed family time the next few days but have a couple big announcements before I do. First, I’ve learned that I’ll be speaking at the TEDx 1,000 Lakes Conference in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, at the Reif Center on Monday, Sept. 19. I’ll be taking many of the ideas you read here at…
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Doc ‘Moonlight’ Graham Days begin today in Chisholm
The first ever Doc “Moonlight” Graham Days event starts today in Chisholm. This is a new take on the classic Iron Range summer festival concept, with arts displays, performances, a street dance, car show and Saturday parade. Find the full schedule at the Chisholm Chamber’s events page. Longtime Chisholm doctor Archibald Graham, known locally as…
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Stable mining sector highlights core woes in post-industrial North
You may have noticed the crumbly, jumbly economic news lately. Between the huge Wall Street stock selloff over the past few days or the general stagnation of growth and employment as our population grows and costs rises, we’ve got problems in America, sure. And we’ve got specific problems here in northern Minnesota, but not the…
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Bikes, deer and rock ‘n’ roll; let’s do this week right
We begin the week with some Iron Range stories that you might have missed if, like me, you’ve spent the last couple weeks trying to find a historical precedent for what’s going on in America (hint: noooooooo!) The annual Great River Energy Mesabi Trail Tour is next weekend. The ride spans from Chisholm to Grand…
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COLUMN: Body of work best displayed with shirt
This is my weekly column for the Sunday, Aug. 7, 2011 edition of the Hibbing Daily Tribune. Body of work best displayed with shirtBy Aaron J. Brown After a long, hot summer I might be tan but I’m not taut. I read somewhere not to fret about your appearance in a mirror because of the…
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Dennis Anderson named co-host of Almanac North
Tonight WDSE Channel 8, the PBS station in northern Minnesota and Wisconsin, announced that beloved retired WDIO Channel 10 (ABC) anchor Dennis Anderson will assume duties as the new co-host of Almanac North. This is a weekly news magazine that does a fine job of exploring the region’s headlines. It serves in the shadows of…
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Brown on the Air: YOUTH SPORTS!
This week on “Between You and Me” on 91.7 KAXE, guest host Julie Crabb engages the people of northern Minnesota in a conversation on youth sports. I join the program with a short commentary on my time as a sacrifice-only, middle relief right fielder in youth baseball. I think you’ll enjoy it. “Between You and…
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Don’t hate me because I’m elite with the tubes
Someone sent me this Salon.com article by David Sirota, “Is the Internet for elites?” The subhead caught my eye, too: “A new study finds some truth in a favorite GOP talking point: Much of the Web is a ‘playground for the affluent.’” I’d argue that to some degree America is a playground for the affluent,…