Make: television presents – Make: Day! from make magazine on Vimeo.

Cleverly disguised as an ad for a fantastic book by an amazingly talented artist and writer, Chris Monroe.  I work hard to promote the many excellent books I come across – a great number of them from within this region:  blogging (at least semi-regularly), writing a weekly newsletter and talking to people through facebook and twitter and, most rewardingly, at the store – talking about books and authors that I love and that people have shared with me.  It’s hard to then see a book that I’ve worked to introduce people to being used as a way to drive money to amazon.

I’m not saying you need to buy it at the store where I work.  Or buy it at Fitgers.  Or buy it up at the Mall.  Or even that it’s the end of the world to buy it from amazon.  But I do want to confront this notion that amazon is either neutral or the only game in town (which it most decidedly is not since it has nothing to do with our town whatsoever) when it comes to links about media, especially books. IndieBound lets you search all books in print and then, after you’ve learned a bit more about them, lets you find a locally owned, independent store of your choice.  You can search for varieties of local businesses across the US. You can add you favorite local businesses.  Authors can affiliate themselves with IndieBound and receive a portion of the sale (not being an author, I have to rely on rumor that the terms are more generous than amazon).

I’m not advocating amazon abstinence, but really try to measure your options more carefully. Get excited about local businesses. Get excited for local events. Celebrate our musicians, writers, actors, publishers, artists, etc. who really make this area so wonderful.

The Rocky Mountain News ceased publication today. 55 days shy of its 150th birthday. The paper’s staff were informed yesterday. With the Duluth News Tribune contributing significantly to Forum Communication’s annual losses, and more layoffs looming, the RMN decision makes for an even more stunning reality.

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Don’t mess with my Seinfeld man.

courtesy of www.margocavis.com

I saw him read a couple of times since I first learned about his writing 15 years ago. Always captivating, always fascinating. Sometimes hilarious. Other times poignant.

He’ll truly be missed.

Details here. [via]

…and does so, alone in it’s room, telling mom to “leave me alone!”

If you’re like most Americans, I imagine few of you are familiar with Paul Kelly but I have a dozen of his cds and think he’s great. I’m seen him referred to as Australia’s version 0f Springsteen. From an email to his mailing list about an Australian May tour:

Joining him on the road is Charlie Parr from Duluth, Minnesota, whose style bears the influence of hours spent listening to country blues records and Smithsonian/Folkways field recordings. Charlie’s finger picking, freewheeling tune, ‘1922 Blues’ is the soundtrack to the recent, hugely successful Vodafone TV campaign. Charlie plays original and traditional folk tunes, plus blues covers by the likes of Mississippi John Hurt and Charley Patton, favouring National resonator guitars, 12-string guitar and banjo in his performance.

His self-taught mix of slide, finger-picking and quasi-frailing technique come together with a voice that’s low on drama and high on impact. Dignity, and the struggle to keep it, are central themes in Parr’s songs. The gamblers, the union workers, the criminals and the sinners that wander around his songs come straight from real life observation. The stories he tells get into some dark spots; that place where regret and remorse part company.

As an Alien Anthropologist I think it’s worth pointing out that the original “cliffdwellers” were actually really advanced, built really amazing houses, and had some fairly sophisticated technologies and social structures. The term “cliffdwellers” doesn’t really work as an insult–it’s like saying “you advanced people who know how to build really cool houses, make great pots and baskets, feed yourselves using your own knowledge, and know how to keep mice outta the corn bin.”

Here’s some info:
http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/cultural/northamerica/anasazi.html

…and other folks creatively using e-technologies.

The Blandin Foundation and E-Democracy.Org are bringing an “unconference” to Duluth, April 3-4, 2009.

The unconference is supported through an online discussion for people using new media technologies to build community across Greater Minnesota.

Learn more and join from http://e-democracy.org/mnvoices

Any bets on who Saturday Night Live skewers this week?

This trail struck me a little strange.  I’m referring to the roughly 20-inch-wide path that’s been cleared in the middle. As if tracking some strange beast, I’m trying to figure out what cleared that path.

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Economist Edward Glaeser recently wrote in the NYT Economix blog about the declining population of the Rust Belt. I found the accompanying graphic entertaining.

Crispy Kale Productions (aka Michael Latsch) is premiering his new documentary “from Duluth to Balad.” The video is sponsored by Veterans for Peace, Chapter 80 and the Northland Anti-War Coalition. It goes up Thursday, March 5th at the Friends Meeting House, 1802 E. 1st St at 7:30 PM. Admission is free, and the showing will be followed by Q+A with the producer.

The documentary uses historic photos and modern combat footage to tell the story of how the wing started making deployments to Iraq in 2005. It examines the costs of that deployment, asks if Duluth can find a different way to sustain its economy.

see the trailer at crispykale.blogspot.com. Questions, contact mlatsch@gmail.com, 218-260-7047

print by nick brakel

Nick Brakel will be displaying Spirit Boxes and Prints of recent work for the month of March at Bohemia Arts.

There will be an artists’ reception held Saturday, March 7th from 6-9pm. Join us for refreshments and speak with Nick about his work. Music by Dan Dresser, Stephanie Dykema, and Dave Mehling.

Hope to see you there!

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Bohemia Arts
Fine Art Supplies*Gifts*Gallery
22 N 1st Ave W Downtown Duluth
722.2919

*Though we are clearancing the store, there are more art shows to come, through May 2009. We hope you’ll help us go out with a bang by coming out and supporting your local artists!

Online registration for the 25th anniversary Mother’s Day Walk/Run is now open at http://www.active.com/event_detail.cfm?event_id=1694010

This year’s Homegrown Music Festival will feature a night of locally produced music videos using songs by local bands.

If you are interesting in creating a video for the festival, there are some things you should know.

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In case all you other Scrabblers missed the Word of the Day for February 22nd, 2009, here is a recap:

A UK Border Agency spokesman said: “The home secretary has excluded both Fred Phelps and his daughter from the UK. Both these individuals have engaged in unacceptable behaviour by inciting hatred against a number of communities.”

“At Lake Superior’s Head: The Rival Cities of Duluth and West Superior, NYT, 5 October 1891.

Among other things, we learn that “cliff-dwellers” was a term of abuse for Duluthians.

Rubber Chicken Theater and The Shack Dinner Theatre partner up for the show “QED” by Peter Parnell.
Starring Brian Matuszak and Cheryl Skafte
Directed by Minden Anderson
March 6-8, 13-15 and 20-22 at the Shack.
Tix: 715-392-DINE
Info: 218-213-2780, www.RubberChickenTheater.com

As Starfire says: “It’s only a bridge. Get over it!”

Yo,

Mark your calendars, you won’t want to miss this show. The Alpha Centauri from Minneapolis is coming to Beaner’s on March 27th to release the long awaited second album. It’s going to be awesome. Some of you may have seen TAC at the Norshore and Luce a few years back. Check out the link to the lead singer’s otherworldly studio in Minneapolis that includes an extraordinary list of artists that he’s produced.

www.MySpace.com/TheAlphaCentauri

www.HumansWin.com

See you there

There was no debris resulting from the accident.

The Zinema will open in June, according to this Business North article.

Just a reminder that there are only two weekends left to catch this outstanding comedy by Pulitzer Prize-winner David Lindsay-Abaire.

Thurs-Sat, Feb 19-28th, all shows at 8pm
Tickets $15 for adults, $12 for students and seniors.

Visit www.renegadecomedytheatre.com for more info or call 218-336-1414 for tickets.

Deadline to reserve a shirt is Feb. 27th!

Reserve Your Shirt Online!