Brown on the Air: Mom's Cooking

My weekly commentary for Saturday's "Between You and Me" on 91.7 KAXE is entitled "High Heat" and talks about a couple kitchen stories and life lessons in honor of my grandma on this upcoming Mother's Day. The call-in show will discuss the nostalgic topic of "Mom's Cooking" while sharing great music and probably a recipe or two. It sounds like John Bauer will be filling in as host this week. Tune in between 10 a.m. and noon on Saturday, May 10. It should be fun. You can pick up KAXE on 91.7 FM in northern Minnesota or stream it online at www.kaxe.org.

Brown on the Air: "The Almighty Dollar"

My weekly essay for KAXE's "Between You and Me with Heidi Holtan" will cover the value of a dollar as the show topic asks "What can you get for a buck?" My thoughts range from international currency to Zimbabwe to crappy stuff you can buy at the dollar store. Ideally, this will make more sense when you hear it. An expanded version of my radio essay will run as my Sunday column in the Hibbing Daily Tribune.

Tune to 91.7 FM or set your browser to http://www.kaxe.org/ between 10 a.m. and noon on Saturday to hear "Between You and Me" and check out Sunday's Hibbing Daily Tribune for the column.

Brown on the Air: Parties!

My weekly radio essay for KAXE's "Between You and Me" this Saturday, April 26 will cover the topic of parties. What makes a good one? What makes a bad one? I also talk about the importance of fire in any Iron Range gathering.

Tune in between 10 a.m. and noon on 91.7 FM in northern Minnesota or online at http://www.kaxe.org/.

Brown on the Air: Eyesores

I have converted my column from last Sunday ("Blight Me: the Unique Aesthetics of the Iron Range") into a radio essay for tomorrow's "Between You and Me" on 91.7 KAXE. The weekly talk and music program is exploring the topic of northern Minnesota eyesores. You can call in to share your perspective or just take in the glorious stories of true northern Minnesotans.

Tune in between 10 a.m. and noon on 91.7 FM or online at http://www.kaxe.org/.

Brown (not) on the Air: Join KAXE!

"Between You and Me," the KAXE program for which I contribute weekly essays, is taking a one-week hiatus at the conclusion of the independent public station's spring fundraising drive this Saturday. Instead of listening to my inane ramblings, I encourage you to join or renew your membership in KAXE right now. You can do it online at http://www.kaxe.org/ or by calling (218) 326-1234.

Remember, KAXE is the last great hope for the free media. It's a 100,000 watt station with local news, music for all tastes, community involvement and all things good about the medium of radio (and Internet, for that matter). It's something that we in Northern Minnesota (and anywhere else, by way of the WWW) are lucky to have and should support regardless of our political ideology, musical taste or ethnic origins. Believe me, they take all kinds.

Join!

Brown on the Air: Greatest Dog Moments

Tune in Saturday 10 a.m.-noon on 91.7 KAXE for "Between You and Me" with Heidi Holtan. My weekly commentary will probably run during the first hour. The topic this week is part of the independent public station's spring fundraiser, Greatest Moments, focusing on the greatest moments we've had with our dogs or cats. As some of you know, I vote straight-ticket dog in the dog/cat debate. I'll be talking about MoDog and also a transient dog from my past.

You can listen on 91.7 FM in northern Minnesota or streaming online at www.kaxe.org. If you can, please consider becoming a member of KAXE during the show to show your support of this unique program and the great community resource that is KAXE.

Brown on the Air: Statehood now!

Tune in Saturday, March 29 to KAXE's "Between You and Me" with guest host Scott Hall to hear a show about rebellion. What kind? All kinds! My weekly essay will discuss the history of the "State of Superior," the forgotten 51st state in the union. I'll suggest, ever so gently and perhaps with a small amount of irony, that we Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan northerners should stick together to throw off the shackles of our metro/suburban oppressors.

Statehood now! Brothers and sisters, we can create a wild paradise, funded by casinos and natural resource revenue sharing! Our highways will be fixed and there will be no Met Council because we will have no Met.

The show runs from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday on 91.7 FM in northern Minnesota and streaming online at http://www.kaxe.org/.

Brown on the Air: Personality Quirks

My weekly radio essay for Saturday's episode of "Between You and Me" on 91.7 KAXE will focus on personality quirks. The call-in and music show will explore some of the interesting quirks of our northern Minnesota friends, family members and neighbors.

Tune in between 10 a.m. and noon on 91.7 FM and streaming online at http://www.kaxe.org/.

Brown on the Air: Gas Prices

We get topical on "Between You and Me" this week as the music and call-in show will focus on gas. My commentary discusses gas prices and continues my growing advocacy for legalized moonshine. Huh? You'll have to tune in to "Between You and Me" Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon on 91.7 FM in northern Minnesota or streaming online at http://www.kaxe.org/.

Brown on the Air: Germs

I'll be on KAXE with my weekly essay for "Between You and Me" Saturday between 10 a.m. and noon. The show's topic this week is germs and I'll be talking about a particularly nasty set of germs that leveled my family a couple weeks ago.

Fun fact: my flu story involves the Minnesota State Highway Patrol.


Tune in between 10 a.m. and noon on 91.7 KAXE in northern Minnesota or streaming online at http://www.kaxe.org/.

An extended version of the essay will also run as my Sunday column in the Hibbing Daily Tribune. I'll post that over the weekend as usual.

Brown on the Air: Souvenirs and 'C is for Comfort Food'

I am a triple media threat this weekend. Jump back!

Old Media (TV): I will be baking fudge bars using a recipe from Bob Dylan's mom's personal file on "C is for Comfort Food" on WDSE Channel 8 in Northern Minnesota from 1-4:30 p.m. this Saturday, March 1. I promise to tell you the story of how that happened next week.

Older Media (Radio): As usual, an essay of mine will be featured on Saturday's "Between You and Me" on 91.7 KAXE, streaming online at http://www.kaxe.org/. The topic for the call-in/music show this week is "Souvenirs: Things that remind us of trips and special times as we battle cabin fever." The show airs from 10 a.m. to noon on KAXE.

Oldest Media (newspaper): My column runs as usual in the Hibbing Daily Tribune this Sunday. I'll post it here over the weekend. It's about the "Tobacco Monologues" we have seen cropping up around Minnesota bars, hastily produced "plays" that are used to defy the new state smoking ban by exploiting a loophole for theatrical productions that use cigarettes.

New Media? This is it. It's happening RIGHT NOW. Convergence, baby. I'm still broke, but damn if I'm not converged.

Brown on the Air times Two: Northern Cheapskate Saturday!

It's been a rough week. Normally, when I tell you what I'll be doing for the Saturday "Between You and Me" program on KAXE I've already written, recorded and edited the piece. This week, I have done none of those three things. But I do know the topic and it is close to home, believe me.

This week, "Between You and Me" will feature the Northern Cheapskate talking about bargains and budgeting in Minnesota's north woods. The Northern Cheapskate is, of course, my wife Christina Brown. She blogs at http://www.northerncheapskate.com/ and also records radio segments for KAXE. My traditional Saturday essay will explore the topic of what it's like to be married to the Northern Cheapskate. I have comprehensive notes on the subject, but haven't put it all to paper yet. You'll have to tune in Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon to hear Christina join host Heidi Holtan and callers from around the region to talk about saving money.

The show will be streaming online at www.kaxe.org.

Brown on the Air: Love, Misc.

I'm on the air Saturday morning for my weekly essay on KAXE's "Between You and Me." This week's show topic is about love and dating, sort of a whiplash off of this week's Valentine's Day holiday. I offer "tips for dating Iron Rangers." Usually, the essay is complete by the time I write this post. This week I'm cutting it close thanks to the early-week disease. I'm sure whatever I write will be good. I hope.

You can tune in Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon on 91.7 KAXE or streaming online at http://www.kaxe.org/.

Brown on the Air: Gym Class

Tune in Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon on 91.7 KAXE to hear "Between You and Me." I contribute essays to the call-in and music show, which profiles a different cultural topic each week from a distinctly northern Minnesota point of view.

This week we're talking about gym class. That's a sore subject for a lot of people, especially public radio listeners. I talk a lot about dodge ball, something that usually conjures up memories for people who went to public high schools.

So tune in. It's Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon on 91.7 FM or streaming online at http://www.kaxe.org/.

Brown on the Air: Mystery Theatre

Tune in for this week's "Between You and Me" on 91.7 KAXE to hear my 4-minute radio mystery "The DeRanger Code." This week's show explores the topic of mystery novels, so I wrote a parody of Dan Brown's "The DaVinci Code" set on the Mesabi Iron Range. Heavy-duty production work was involved and the I owe thanks to some hard working local vocal actors and the show's producer, Heidi Holtan. Don't blame them, folks, they were working with my script.

The segment will air during "Between You and Me" Saturday morning from 10 a.m. to noon on 91.7 FM or streaming online at www.kaxe.org.

Brown on the Air: Kids Say the Darnedest Things

My weekly radio essay on Saturday's "Between You and Me" on KAXE deals with the cute little things that kids say. If that sounds too sugary for you, don't worry. My essay also involves Scotch. (You'll have to listen to figure out the connection).

"Between You and Me" is a call-in and music show that explores human interest topics each week from a distinctly Northern Minnesota perspective. This week, it's "kids say the darnedest things." The show airs from 10 a.m. to noon on 91.7 KAXE and can be heard online at http://www.kaxe.org/.

Brown on the Air: Riding the Bus

Saturday's edition of "Between You and Me" with Heidi Holtan on 91.7 KAXE will explore the world of buses in advance of the KAXE bus trip to declare rural Effie as the "Capital of KAXE." (Find out more below). In my weekly essay contribution I talk about the dynamics of my time on a school bus as a kid. Country folks know long, long rides to school and it creates an interesting culture between the green plastic seats.

You can tune into the show to hear my essay sometime between 10 a.m. and noon on 91.7 FM in northern Minnesota and streaming online at http://www.kaxe.org/. The show is all about audience participation, so call in and share your thoughts.

More on the bus trip this Saturday (From KAXE):

CAPITAL OF KAXE
On Saturday, January 19th ... KAXE is celebrating EFFIE - the per capita Capital of KAXE! The festivities start with unveiling a new highway sign that names Effie the Capital of 91.7 KAXE. Following the unveiling, there will be a party at the neighborhood Tavern that includes music by Jim Miller and friends, food and other festivities. The first 100 people who can name the per capita Capital of KAXE will receive a FREE commemorative pint glass that you can use at the Neighborhood Tavern or anywhere else for that matter. KAXE has lined up a free bus to take you safely up Highway 38 and back to Grand Rapids. The bus leaves KAXE's studios at 3 PM and leaves the Neighborhood Tavern at around 8 PM. Call and reserve your seat on the bus. at (218) 326-1234.

Brown on the Air: Movies

My essay for KAXE's "Between You and Me" with Heidi Holtan tomorrow will be about movies. As usual this remains consistent with the call-in show's topic for the week. Expect a lot of talk about people's favorite movies and what movies mean in our society.

You can hear the show from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday on 91.7 FM in northern Minnesota or streaming online at http://www.kaxe.org/. If you didn't know, I contribute broadcast essays to KAXE regularly. I'll also be teaching a class about blogging for them on Wednesday, Jan. 23 at 7 p.m. at Itasca Community College. Contact KAXE at 218-326-1234 for registration information. This is part of their Community Web Project, another interesting endeavor from the populist gem of northern Minnesota media.

Brown on the Air: Coffee

My weekly radio essay for Saturday's "Between You and Me" on 91.7 KAXE is about coffee, which is also the show's theme this week. Breaking a recent trend I don't wax philosophic about the deep meaning of coffee. Rather, I talk about the base value of coffee: a fast, reliable source of caffeine. I do some actor's theatre, which always embarrasses my immediate family members, so at least check it out for that reason.

My essay airs sometime during the show, which runs 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Jan. 5. You can tune in at 91.7 FM in northern Minnesota or streaming online at http://www.kaxe.org/.

Brown on the Air: Time

I had the high honor of appearing as the guest on this morning's "What's for Breakfast" segment on the 91.7 KAXE Morning Show. Tomorrow, my weekly essay will appear on "Between You and Me" between 10 a.m. and noon. The topic this week is appropriate for today: time. See, today is my birthday, the big 2-8. Nothing like a date that symbolizes aging, the passage of time and mortality to get you thinking about time.

Tune in Saturday morning between 10 a.m. and noon for "Between You and Me" on 91.7 FM in northern Minnesota or streaming online at http://www.kaxe.org/.

My annual quasi-satirical predictions for the new year are coming this Sunday in my weekly Hibbing Daily Tribune column.