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Brown on the Air: BATH vs. SHOWER!
Almost forgot to mention this week’s edition of “Between You and Me” Saturday morning on 91.7 KAXE. The show’s topic is “bath vs. shower.” Which is your preference? I’ll be chiming in with an attempt at being clever and guest host DJ the DJ will be taking stories from you and others in, around, and…
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Tech infrastructure only the first half of the battle
In recent years I’ve advocated high speed internet infrastructure as one possible way to diversify the Iron Range economy and move us past the local dependence on natural resource industries to provide jobs. My reasoning, in truth, sounds more like faith than fact. I have faith that with high speed, world class communication capabilities, and…
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Apocalypse diamonds ‘not helpful’
In the Blogging Bible it is clear that a blogger must never belabor a topic for risk of alienating his or her readers. Nonetheless, there’s even more to this LTD Jewelry “Second Coming” sale TV ad that I’ve now written about three times. Steve Kuchera of the Duluth News Tribune has now interviewed Larry Falter,…
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The end is near and the prices are unbelievable, ctd.
The Consumerist, a consumer rights blog of some national note, has picked up on the Twin Ports based LTD Jewelry’s “Second Coming” 50 percent off jewelry sale ad. We’ve been talking about this all week. Countdown to Good Morning America? I say Saturday morning. Related posts: No related posts.
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Oberstar’s exit leaves behind huge political questions
The Star Tribune had a nice interview and video of Jim Oberstar’s last day at his Congressional Office in Washington, D.C., from Tuesday. Check it out. It occurs to me that Oberstar’s defeat remains so surprising that I haven’t known what to write about it or what comes next for Democrats in MN-08. In truth…
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The 2010 "Overburden" holiday promotion!
Three years. That’s what they say represents the life of a traditional trade paperback book, such as my book “Overburden: Modern Life on the Iron Range.” This means that as 2011 approaches we are entering the last of the prime years of “Overburden,” the book I wrote for the lost generation of Iron Rangers tooling…
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The end is near and the prices are unbelievable
In addition to being the most prolific voice on Minnesota news Twitter, @NewsCut (MPR’s Bob Collins) has broken open the story I only dreamed of exposing. He found shaky YouTube footage of the LTD Jewelry ad from Superior, Wis., featuring the “Second Coming Sale” that I wrote about a couple days ago. He also talked…
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Mining vs. the Environment: a debate not centered in reality
The debate continues over new forms of mining in northern Minnesota, the way it always does: dueling op/eds. Deciding Iron Range issues via op/eds is like having zoning disputes being settled by a figure skating competition between Oksana Kryksstrkgghg and Svetlana Rokavrrrkgrrgh. What? What is going on? Who won? She did? Really? What I’m saying…
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When the (precious) metal ones come for you
Normally I’ll let the eccentric northern Minnesota TV advertisements go without notice here on the blog. There are just too many and one could really allow this sort of thing to consume a blog of its very own. There’s the aggressive wardrobe, hair and makeup choices of the one furniture store spokeswoman. Then there’s the…
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COLUMN: We’re not going to take it, or will we?
This is my column for the Sunday, Nov. 28, 2010 edition of the Hibbing Daily Tribune. A version of this piece was broadcast on an earlier episode of “Between You and Me” on 91.7 KAXE. Support this blog by considering: Overburden: Modern Life on the Iron Range as a holiday gift. We’re not going to…
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But what does the lunch lady think of this?
A headline from today’s Hibbing Daily Tribune thanksgiving wrap story reads “Turkey for me, Turkey for you.” Do you think the author, retired local English teacher Dan Bergan, wrote that headline, or was it someone who spent the ’90s listening to Adam Sandler comedy albums like They’re All Gonna Laugh at You? I have my…
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Brown on the Air: GRANDMOTHERS!
This week on 91.7 KAXE‘s “Between You and Me” the show explores the topic of grandmothers. With this season of holiday gatherings and matronly traditions, what better time to share stories about your grandmother or your experience of being a grandmother. I’ll have my usual quasi-comedic occasionally though-provoking contribution during the first segment of the…
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The "real" story of Thanksgiving from me, a noted fraudulent historian
Happy Thanksgiving from all of us (me) at MinnesotaBrown. What a great holiday! FOOD! LOW EXPECTATIONS! Can it BE more American? I think not. A couple weeks ago I wrote a fun little comic piece for KAXE about the first Thanksgiving. It stars Mark Twain as the overly self-aware protagonist. Just some clean holiday fun…
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Cold. Here. Snow to come
There’s a snow storm coming. Every few weeks in the winter a snow storm comes to Minnesota. I love Minnesota. I love this strange state because living here with the snow storms, which so frighten people from other places, is hard and good.The cold, too, reminds us of our location and status. Here. Cold. You…
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MPR: "The giant, Mesabi, places a bet"
Minnesota Public Radio features a guest commentary of mine over at their website today. Titled “The giant Mesabi places a bet,” the piece is cut from the same flank of much of my writing but refined for the big city audience. This is the result of my lecture at MPR earlier this month. If this…