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Brown on the Air: HOW RUDE!
When you’re driving to Duluth to attend my book signing at Northern Lights Books and Gifts*, tune in to “Between You and Me” on 91.7 KAXE from 10 a.m. to noon. Heck, even if you aren’t, why not give this radio program a shot? It’s a call-in and music show that highlights the passions, stories…
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KeeTac to resume production soon
The word is that Keewatin Taconite workers are being called back at the start of 2010. We had a false start on a KeeTac production restart a couple months ago, but this one looks like it could hold. I’ve heard from a connected source who says the company is eying January 1. When KeeTac comes…
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COLUMN: "Jump back, recession; here comes Santa"
This is my weekly column for the Sunday, Nov. 29, 2009 edition of the Hibbing Daily Tribune. Jump back, recession; here comes SantaBy Aaron J. Brown There’s a moment after Thanksgiving dinner when the pants feel tighter, the couch calls like an upholstered siren, and you realize that this is your reality for the next…
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‘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…
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Brown on the Air: FAMILY LANGUAGE
This Saturday’s edition of “Between You and Me” on 91.7 KAXE should be a lot of fun. From 10 a.m. to noon callers can share their stories of “family language,” or all the unique sayings that become part of the way members of a family talk to each other. With today’s holiday and the likelihood…
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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…
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Bobby Dylan’s Christmas Fun Time
The newest video from Hibbing’s son Bob Dylan, “Must Be Santa Claus,” debuted last week. I finally found it on YouTube. Oh, you must watch the whole thing. It gets crazy toward the end. I was skeptical about the Dylan Christmas album, but I might be coming around after seeing this. Related posts: No related…
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COLUMN: "To sleep, perchance to write"
This is my weekly column for the Sunday, Nov. 22, 2009 edition of the Hibbing Daily Tribune. To sleep, perchance to writeBy Aaron J. Brown Dreams supposedly reflect your fears, inadequacies, hopes and desires. Lately I’ve been having writing dreams. Recently, I told everyone I know that I was stepping away from blogging to focus…
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The return of my giant head on a tiny screen
At this approximate moment I am about to “address” a session on “hyperlocal” blogging at the Netroots Nation conference in the Twin Cities. I am not there; rather I recorded this opening statement and will be participating in the panel discussion via an audio connection. If you’re interested in the challenges facing local political and…
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Brown on the Air: GIVING THANKS
The Saturday morning call in/music program “Between You and Me” on 91.7 KAXE returns this weekend with guest host Linda Johnson. My regular contribution is an encore presentation that fits with this week’s topic of “Thanksgiving.” The piece is about the importance of two little words, “thank you,” in parenting. It’s all funny and cute…
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47 layoffs at MN Discovery Center
The press release from the Ironworld Development Corporation, regarding the situation at the Minnesota Discovery Center: Minnesota Discovery Center announces layoffs CHISHOLM – The Ironworld Development Corporation Board of Directors today announced that Minnesota Discovery Center (formerly Ironworld), a 660-acre museum, entertainment venue, research library and park in Chisholm, MN, will temporarily be closed to…
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Financial problems at the former Ironworld
Major news will be breaking today and Friday about serious financial problems at the Minnesota Discovery Center in Chisholm (formerly Ironworld). Several inside sources have relayed information to me independently, enough that this cannot be a secret. In addition to the name change, the Discovery Center has been going through an extended transition from state…
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The Whistling Bird is no more
The Whistling Bird, the Iron Range’s best (and only) Jamaican restaurant, has closed. For a decade, the “Bird” represented a pearl of uniqueness in the blue collar grit of the Iron Range. There is nothing funny about this. Nothing at all. The MDN has its story behind the pay wall. The DNT will post its…
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Iron Range education at a crossroads
As a loyal WDIO viewer I missed a couple of interesting education stories from Northland’s News Center (Channels 3, 6, 11, et al). On consolidation … and on the future of Iron Range education. Both of the stories focus on the plight of the St. Louis County school district, which is important, but a Range-wide…
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Mesabi Nugget slated to go in mid-December
In other news, Mesabi Nugget plans to begin shipping its unique iron nugget product by mid-December. This reflects another slight delay but is small enough where we might be able to consider this a likelihood. Related posts: No related posts.