I return, bearing the head of the dragon called First Draft

I still have to mop up the blood on the last essay, but I've had a good week of writing for my book of Iron Range essays and finally feel like I can dabble in the time vortex that is blogging.

Thanks to the person or persons who contributed so many fine lines of dialogue for the Obama/McCain cop movie. I think I have enough to write a good trailer now that I might share over the weekend. If anyone has more, jump in.

Also thanks to the many who continue to vote in the"Most plausible Range statewide candidate" Quick Poll on the right column. Tony Sertich appears to be leading as we enter the last day of voting, but he's only got a few votes over the guy who posts the xenophobic signs along Highway 53 south of Cotton. (Watch out, T-Money, this guy lives in 5B). Bakk and Rukavina continue to chase the rainbow, but kudos to the Bakk camp for your late surge. It's not over yet. I'll decipher the results when the last votes are cast Friday afternoon.

Also over the weekend I'll review the Range, state and national news that I've missed. Friday I'll post my preview of the Itasca County and SD 05 DFL conventions and Saturday night I'll tell you if I was right or not. It would appear that, in regard to the Democratic presidential nomination race, certain candidates (I won't name names) have decided to poop in the pool during the water polo championship and that we have to keep playing anyway. Hooray! I didn't want my faith in American politics to be restored anyway. As an educated white male under 30 I need to wait and see how my demo performs in suburban Pittsburgh before I know what I'm supposed to think about this whole ordeal. (Confidential to Mark Penn: I drink BEER you overpaid hack!)

Oh, and there's a legislature here in Minnesota that is apparently in something called a session. I sure hope Viceroy Pawlenty suppresses this nonsense and lowers my sales tax by a tenth of a penny on the dollar. Think of all the extra things I could buy over a vast, incalculable amount of time!

Glad to be back!

It's book time

Hello, blog audience. I love all 38 of you beautiful people. Especially you, person reading this right now. But I need to take a few days off to finish the first draft of my book, which was unofficially due about a month ago. I'll post tidbits if I have time, but I might not be back until Thursday or Friday.

Meantime, I need you to do something for me, OK?



First, be strong. We'll get through this.



Second, be sure to vote on the poll on the right hand column. Which Iron Ranger would have the best chance of winning a statewide election? Your choices are State Sen. Tom Bakk (DFL-Cook), State Rep. Tom Rukavina (DFL-Virginia), State Rep. and House Majority Leader Tony Sertich (DFL-Chisholm) and that guy who posts those crazy signs along Highway 53 south of Cotton (I?-South of Cotton). Bakk and Rukavina both say they're exploring gubernatorial runs in 2010. They're also running third and fourth, respectively, in the poll. Don't worry guys, I'm sure that's not an omen or anything. Sertich has declared no 2010 ambitions, but is often mentioned for higher office and is the #2 DFLer in the DFL House, the same job Gov. Pawlenty had before he was elected. Sertich is tied with the highway sign guy right now at 13 apiece, a fact that would probably appall both of them. Make your unscientific, nonbinding voice heard, blog friends!


Third, you still have time to contribute title ideas and lines of dialogue for the action movie featuring John McCain and Barack Obama as mismatched police detective partners and Hillary Clinton as the by-the-books precinct captain.


Fourth, e-mail me any potential metaphors or points of analysis regarding the Iron Range during times of war. You just might get your name in a book.

Fifth, if you dare, do a shot every time you see Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell on tonight's cable coverage of the Mississippi Democratic Presidential Primary. (WARNING: This will probably kill you).

Local publishing boom?

The Duluth News-Tribune had a story out Monday about a surge of new small publishing houses in the Duluth area. One of these new companies -- Red Step Press -- is set to publish my book "Red Dirt and Overburden: Modern Life on the Iron Range" next fall. You can read Jane Brissett's story in Monday's business section. My book isn't mentioned but we're not due out until October '08. It's exciting to see so many local authors and publishers find a niche. Just be sure to save some of your book budget for next fall. It seems like there's a lot of fiction and poetry in the mix. I like fiction and poetry, but it's got to be hard to make regional fiction work financially. I like Red Step's chances a little better because Lindsy is focusing on specific market nonfiction, something demonstrably supported by local book buyers. But then again, I'm biased.

On the subject of the book, work continues and I expect to have the first draft done by the end of my college's winter break. I have one more interview to do this month and then a solid stand of writing through December. Let's hope Santa brings 25,000 words for Christmas this year.

Brown on the Air: "The Books of Youth"

Saturday brings my weekly essay on KAXE's "Between You and Me" with Heidi Holtan. The show runs as usual between 10 a.m. and noon at 91.7 FM and streaming online at www.kaxe.org.

This week's topic is our favorite books from childhood. I talk about how some of the books from my kid and teen years shape my life even today. Also I make fun of beatniks. A two-fer, really.

Tune in and participate. This show strives to be an open forum exploring the culture of northern Minnesota and the people who live here or wish they did.