wow, thanks Paul! I moved to town just after the Ripsaw shifted to being a weekly--loved it in that format, and miss it deeply. Never had the chance to see it's monthly incarnation. Any copies available for perusal? Does the library have an archive of copies? Or what about the Northeast Minnesota Historical Center Archives located at UMD?

I miss the monthly Ripsaw, it was fabulous, the investigative reporting was top-notch. I'd love to re-read some of those issues, there were some good reporters writing pieces.

I don't know about microfilm, but I was in the Minnesota Room of the main public library a few days ago, and all the Ripsaws were there. (You need to ask to gain access to this room.) I do believe there's also a more public collection of hard copies. And yes, the historical society likewise has copies of all editions.

hbh, as I recall, you wrote some of the most hard-hitting investigative reports for the late lamented Ripsaw. And I do like Barb Olsen's column in the Reader. Bob Boone, when he writes investigative reports for the Reader, always does a kick ass job too, the story he wrote about the Secret Service keeping 3 Duluthians out of the Bush rally was picked up by the national media and Salon or was it Slate did their own story on it.

Some people wish they could go back to High School knowing what they know now; I wish I could go back and redo my time with the Ripsaw. I wish I'd had more self-confidence at the time.

I too enjoyed the Saw!

I advertised in both the weekly and monthly versions of the ripsaw. I liked the weekly version much better from that standpoint.

I also liked it better for arts, news and personalities.

I forgot about the in-depth pieces that Claire remembered, those were good in the monthly "magazine" version.  I can't remember if you said that was your decision or not, Paul, but I think it was a strategic blunder.  IN RETROSPECT anyway it was.  Must've been hard to see at the time that in spite of an apparent gap in service or an opportunity to build a new niche, there isn't a glossy local magazine in this town for a reason - not enough people care to advertise in one.  And for the ones that do they (now) have Area Woman or whatever it's called.  And possible "Oevre" or is that just an online publication?

I agree that the Business North Change is interesting, I wonder what direction that they will try to take that?

The "glossy monthly" Ripsaw was the brainchild of owner's Brad and Tim Nelson. The Weekly Ripsaw was drowning in debt, in a large part because the majority of their advertisers flaked out on bills and they had trouble opening new accounts. They wanted something that looked and felt like The Rake (which was fresh and new at the time) and something that would attract an advertising base that actually paid its bills. It had two major problems: trying to keep one foot in the old camp of Ripper fans from the Rick Boo Nor Shor days yet attract an older audience that would appeal to advertising buyers from the hospitals, MN Power, etc., and perhaps make a profit or at least break even. The new look was highly criticize by its old fans and quite well received by new, older readers. Unfortunately, there was also some business baggage with the ownership, which made it almost impossible for Rick Boo, who had come on to sell ads, to sell ads. 

After some personality conflicts that occurred during the first issue, I was asked to take on the editor role. The instructions I followed from above, including editorial policies designed to appeal to a wider audience--yeah, we dispensed of unnecessary f-bombs and the like and actually expected writers to use complete sentences and not mention so much how cool they and their friends are--made me quite the unpopular fellow that summer!

But it had one great thing going for it: the design advice (and often work) of Mr. Brian Barber, designer/illustrator extraordinaire! After I left another editor was hired but the Ripsaw never went back to press. And I've never seen Brad Nelson so happy and relaxed as he was after finally letting go--a very difficult thing to do considering the time and money he invested for a darn good cause for a pretty long time. I think we all owe Brad and Tim--and everyone who ever gave his or her time and work for the Ripsaw--a great big thanks Duluth had that publication at that time.

Yeah, and what Paul said--that too. And Adam saw that and turned his observation into the Transistor with the weekly calendar at its core. And since the Transistor's content is nothing but the calendar and columnists, no editorial expenses what-so-ever.

Adam, don't blame yourself for bringing a Rake to town; blame me for suggesting those many years ago that you go talk to Brad and Cord and see if they could use a hand in design, which got you into this mess in the first place. If only you could have focused in the classroom, you wouldn't be stuck in the publishing biz right now. My bad.

Thanks for calling during the final and reminding me to show up, Tony.

Oooo, Norse Whore?!?

Actually, I stole it from the crazy woman whose name I forget who was 86'ed from the NorShor... the one who strung desiccated hotdogs on the front door of the 'Shor... the one who hated Rick Boo with a passion... what the hell was her name?

At any rate, yes, the Notes from the Block was an hbh creation. An acquired taste, to be sure.

She was also an amazing artist. I wonder what became of her.

How could ANYONE hate Rick Boo, I ask you? I miss the Norshor under his bartending and under Wildgoose's bartending too.

Thanks Claire, that means a great deal to me, and I'm sure Rick would feel similarly.  You may have just made my day.  

Although ... I was a terrible bartender (being a non-drinker I had no idea what I was serving, among other things.) So I can only assume that you are referring to the dedicated, talented, and passionate yet underpaid/occasionally volunteer staff that I shepherded.  And they were fantastic, almost entirely self-selected, committed to beauty in all its forms, and willing to give nearly all of themselves for the dream of some crazy goose. That's one of the undertold stories of the NorShor, the many people who WORKED there and what they brought to the job.  And not just for my run, for the whole last century ... sound like an idea for another post sometime, maybe closer to the theater's actually Centennial which is sometime this year, but I forget the actual season, Fall, I think.