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<channel><title>Iron Range Community Internet</title><link>http://www.ironrangecommunityinternet.org/rss/getfeedroll_rss.php</link><atom:link href="http://www.ironrangecommunityinternet.org/rss/getfeedroll_rss.php" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" /><description></description><language>en-us</language><lastBuildDate>Fri, 30 Jul 2010 07:26:00 -0700</lastBuildDate>
<item><title><![CDATA[Hometown Focus: 9-Ball Standings 7/220]]></title>
<link>http://www.ironrangecommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://www.hometownfocus.us/news/2010-07-30/Sports/9Ball_Standings_722.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Magic One............... 1466 Office 15..................1399 Penalty Box X-Light.1377 R Bar / Vi's..............1360 Krossroads Knuts... 1336 Magic Too................ 1285 Riders On Mane......1262 Oasis........................1262 Krossroads Crew.... 1215 Poppers...................1214 Alpine Trio................read more]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 29 Jul 2010 21:24:14 -0700</pubDate>
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<item><title><![CDATA[Hometown Focus: Of Bunnies and Men0]]></title>
<link>http://www.ironrangecommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://www.hometownfocus.us/news/2010-07-30/Range_History/Of_Bunnies_and_Men.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[
MOTHERS FEAR NIGHT PROWLER 

WinDow Peeper BelieVeD Mentall Y Unbalan CeD; PoliCe InVestigate Reports 


Mothers feared for the safety of their children and kept them confined close to home today as reports circulated that a mentally-unbalanced man has been prowling around residences and peering in windows late at night. read more]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 29 Jul 2010 21:24:14 -0700</pubDate>
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<item><title><![CDATA[Hometown Focus: SCHEDULE0]]></title>
<link>http://www.ironrangecommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://www.hometownfocus.us/news/2010-07-30/Sports/SCHEDULE.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Saturday - 7/31/10 
 - 3:10 PM, Seattle Mariners @ Twins Sunday - 8/1/10 - 
 1:10 PM, Seattle Mariners @ Twins Monday - 8/2/10 
 - 7:10 PM, Twins @ Tampa Bay Rays Tuesday - 8/3/10 
 - 7:10 PM, Twins @ Tampa Bay Rays Wednesday - 8/4/10 
 - 1:10 PM, Twins @ Tampa Bay Rays Thursday - 8read more]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.hometownfocus.us/news/2010-07-30/Sports/SCHEDULE.html</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 29 Jul 2010 21:24:14 -0700</pubDate>
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<item><title><![CDATA[Hometown Focus: Contented Critters0]]></title>
<link>http://www.ironrangecommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://www.hometownfocus.us/news/2010-07-30/Pets/Contented_Critters.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[read more]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 29 Jul 2010 21:24:12 -0700</pubDate>
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<item><title><![CDATA[Hometown Focus: SpOorts ut of the blue0]]></title>
<link>http://www.ironrangecommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://www.hometownfocus.us/news/2010-07-30/Out_of_the_Blue/SpOorts_ut_of_the_blue.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[
    
            
                    By Brian Miller HTF Columnist        
        


What do Tom Selleck, Rollie Fingers, Ron Burgundy, Billy Dee Williams and Carl Pavano have in common? read more]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 29 Jul 2010 21:24:11 -0700</pubDate>
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<item><title><![CDATA[LYRIC CENTER FOR THE ARTS                                Virginia, Minnesota: Lyric Center for the Arts Status July, 20100]]></title>
<link>http://www.ironrangecommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://lyriccenterforthearts.blogspot.com/2010/07/lyric-center-for-arts-status-july-2010.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Watch this video to see where we're at today with the Lyric Center Renovation project!]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://lyriccenterforthearts.blogspot.com/2010/07/lyric-center-for-arts-status-july-2010.html</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 28 Jul 2010 09:39:00 -0700</pubDate>
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<item><title><![CDATA[Minnesota Brown - Iron Range: This is a post about carp0]]></title>
<link>http://www.ironrangecommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://www.minnesotabrown.com/2010/07/this-is-post-about-carp.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[So let's say, hypothetically, that there's this species of carp, see. It's from Asia, see. Asian carp. And unlike regular carp, Asian carp is very aggressive, generally wiping out all other species of fish it encounters by consuming up to 40 pounds of domestic fish a day. This carp can walk great distances, swim backwards, shift shapes, fly (see picture), avoid electronic detection, render itself temporarily invisible and break a cinder block with its fins. Its pectoral fins. It has mastered not only the difficult symbolic languages of most Asian tongues but also the Slavic family of languages including Russian and even some Finnish it uses during night raids into its Nordic duchy. It learned English from a book it keeps by its toilet, which is made of crappie skulls. Its faint accent, just perceptible enough to suggest memories from a haunted past, coos over the word &amp;quot;subjugate.&amp;quot;Well, big shooter, that's not hypothetical at all. In fact, it's pretty much true by memoir standards. The asian carp infestation that's been toppling ecosystems in American lakes, one by one, like dominoes in the opposite of East Asia, has now almost reached the Great Lakes. While that's bad enough, it almost certainly portends an eventual attack by Asian carp here in Minnesota's vast array of freshwater lakes.Normally, we'd just start drilling for oil or something until all the carp were dead but apparently it's not that simple. Matters of commerce and habitat are weighing on a multi-front legal battle over locks, dams and, of course, carp. Why do I know this? Because my Google search placement makes me a blogger of interest in the carp debate! I don't know why. I just know that I'm getting personal e-mail from a lock and dam lobby. I thus assume that if I type carp three times in a row I'm a somebody.Carp, carp, carp. It's on! MinnesotaBrown is your new carp debate headquarters. Carpe carp!In all seriousness, one unforeseen consequence of the anti-carp crusade is how commerce will be affected by the temporary closure or alteration to the Chicago locks, where many goods are shipped all over the world -- including products of importance to Minnesota. On the other hand, carp!They must be stopped!(First photo by way of Riverlorian, click on link above for story/photo on second)]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 28 Jul 2010 04:47:00 -0700</pubDate>
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<item><title><![CDATA[Minnesota Brown - Iron Range: &quot;Five best days of summer&quot; kick start Wednesday on the Iron Range0]]></title>
<link>http://www.ironrangecommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://www.minnesotabrown.com/2010/07/five-best-days-of-summer-kick-start.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[The St. Louis County Fair (NORTH!) runs Wednesday through Sunday at the fairgrounds in Chisholm, across Highway 169 from the city, next to the Minnesota Discovery Center (nee Ironworld). Just follow the giant chicken.Dubbed &amp;quot;The five greatest days of summer&amp;quot; by fair organizers, this is another of those classic Iron Range summer events where you see everyone you know and a bunch of people you don't know but that you now realize live in or near your town. It's like a census, with a beer garden and rides. As mentioned, this is the &amp;quot;northern&amp;quot; St. Louis County Fair. There is a southern St. Louis County Fair for that rabble down near Proctor. Indeed fair season is upon us with my home county of Itasca holding their fair later in August.I have a lot of memories of the St. Louis County Fair from when I was a kid. It used to be in Hibbing next to the community college where I now work. Crazy, that. And of course any time spent learning the political ropes of the Range involves a few shifts at the fair arguing with the disgruntled retirees.I just had a flash memory of one time working a booth at the fair -- not sure if it was work or politics then, it all blends together. There was a somewhat heavy-set but otherwise normal looking young woman spending her first summer working for traveling carnival outfit that provides the rides and games. She was buying some kind of food at one of the kiosks and someone asked her where she was from. She said some town in Wisconsin, I think, and they asked &amp;quot;Why are you here?&amp;quot; She replied in three short sentences. &amp;quot;Work. I'm a carnie. (laughs, pauses). Carnie trash.&amp;quot; And everyone around her just sort of left it at that. In the progression of her words you could literally watch her face go from dispassionate distance from her workaday job into begrudging acceptance of something far darker.You are not carnie trash, young lady.Oh, and fair management is asking &amp;quot;for immediate information regarding the sale of intoxicating liquors or any questionable or demoralizing activity.&amp;quot; Further, &amp;quot;Do not wait until the Fair is over to make complaints-report immediately.&amp;quot; Also, the Budweiser Clydesdales will be on hand, er, hoof throughout the fair. Believe me, this thing can be as literary as you want it to be.]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 27 Jul 2010 10:29:00 -0700</pubDate>
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<item><title><![CDATA[Crane Lake Nature Blog: Junction Bay Journey0]]></title>
<link>http://www.ironrangecommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://visitcranelake.com/blog/?p=1844</link>
<description><![CDATA[Junction Bay Waterfalls
Theres a beautiful set of Waterfalls way down at the end of Junction Bay on Namakan Lake. Theyre flowing very nicely right now with all the rain that we received back on July 3rd.
Johnson River Falls
The Johnson River flows into Namakan Lake at Junction Bay. Johnson River flows out of Little Johnson Lake and Johnson Lake. These two lakes are in the backcountry and can be reached by portage from Forest Road 203 (theres actually 3 lakes when you include Spring Lake). You can use ATVs to portage a small boat into Johnson Lake - theres no road. There are 7 Back country campsites on the 3 interconnected lakes. Its wilderness-style camping without the wilderness permits and regulations.
Namakan Lake thunderstorm
On the way back from Junction Bay, we were being tailed by this enormous thunderstorm. The views out on the big lake can be spectacular!]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://visitcranelake.com/blog/?p=1844</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 27 Jul 2010 08:37:05 -0700</pubDate>
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<item><title><![CDATA[Iron Range ATV Trails: 70-Mile Itasca Trail Update!0]]></title>
<link>http://www.ironrangecommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://larry.ironrange.org/blog/2010/07/27/70-mile-itasca-trail-update/</link>
<description><![CDATA[I heard back from 2 people from Itasca County officials and here is the latest and greatest report: work is continuing but theyre behind a little; &Acirc;&nbsp; the full phase one part of the trail they expected to be complete right now isnt and wont be till this fall (if it continues as planned).
As I look at the maps and read the information available, phase 1 is the most important part for us up north!&Acirc;&nbsp; When phase 1 is complete, we can leave from Pengilly and ride all the way to McGregor.&Acirc;&nbsp; I got some pretty good email back from the county people so if you want more info shoot me an email and Ill get back to you!
When this trail is done I WILL be on it!&Acirc;&nbsp; Im gonna make a weekend out of it and leave from Pengilly,&Acirc;&nbsp; stay in Aitkin for the night and come back the next day!&Acirc;&nbsp; See you on the trails!
Larry
ShareThis]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 27 Jul 2010 08:30:22 -0700</pubDate>
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<item><title><![CDATA[Life and Times in the Great Outdoors: Lake Kabetogama Walleyes0]]></title>
<link>http://www.ironrangecommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://lifeandtimesinthegreatoutdoors.blogspot.com/2010/07/lake-kabetogama-walleyes.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[ I spent last Saturday on Lake Kabetogama with good buddy Tim Ranta and his faithful sidekick &amp;quot;Annie&amp;quot;. She's been all over the midwest hunting and fishing with Tim. We did pretty good on the walleyes, catching two dozen fish and when the warden checked us later in the day, he looked at our livewell and said &amp;quot;that's the most fish I've seen in two weeks.&amp;quot; ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 27 Jul 2010 04:28:00 -0700</pubDate>
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<item><title><![CDATA[Life and Times in the Great Outdoors: 0]]></title>
<link>http://www.ironrangecommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://lifeandtimesinthegreatoutdoors.blogspot.com/2010/07/threatening-skies-passed-us-by-and-it.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Threatening skies passed us by and it got very hot out. During mid-day, Tim put the top up on his boat to give us a little shade. Sweeeeet!]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 27 Jul 2010 04:24:00 -0700</pubDate>
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<item><title><![CDATA[Life and Times in the Great Outdoors: 0]]></title>
<link>http://www.ironrangecommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://lifeandtimesinthegreatoutdoors.blogspot.com/2010/07/suckage-suckers-can-hit-fast-moving.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[  Suckage! Suckers can hit a fast-moving bait too.]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://lifeandtimesinthegreatoutdoors.blogspot.com/2010/07/suckage-suckers-can-hit-fast-moving.html</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 27 Jul 2010 04:22:00 -0700</pubDate>
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<item><title><![CDATA[Life and Times in the Great Outdoors: 0]]></title>
<link>http://www.ironrangecommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://lifeandtimesinthegreatoutdoors.blogspot.com/2010/07/what-beauty-ive-caught-quite-few.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[What a beauty! I've caught quite a few suckers this year by trolling with spinners and nightcrawlers. It's always amusing to me.]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 27 Jul 2010 04:21:00 -0700</pubDate>
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<item><title><![CDATA[Life and Times in the Great Outdoors: 0]]></title>
<link>http://www.ironrangecommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://lifeandtimesinthegreatoutdoors.blogspot.com/2010/07/we-tried-little-crank-baiting-too-which.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[We tried a little crank-baiting too, which didn't produce anything but one small northern pike. Notice all the &amp;quot;green stuff&amp;quot; piled up in front of my lure. At first I thought it was some type of vegetation but it turned out to be an invasive species, the &amp;quot;Spiny Water Flea&amp;quot;. This is one of the reasons we have to drain our live-wells when leaving the lakes. (click for a close-up)]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://lifeandtimesinthegreatoutdoors.blogspot.com/2010/07/we-tried-little-crank-baiting-too-which.html</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 27 Jul 2010 04:18:00 -0700</pubDate>
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<item><title><![CDATA[Crane Lake Nature Blog: Last Week0]]></title>
<link>http://www.ironrangecommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://visitcranelake.com/blog/?p=1840</link>
<description><![CDATA[Pine Warbler
Heres a picture of the Pine Warbler I saw last week. There were still singing Pine Warblers at this late date in July. This was right before I saw the Bear Cub shoot out of the bushes on the trail in front of me as I was trying to sneak up on a tree full of adult Nashville Warblers feeding babies. I didnt stick around to see if Mama Bear was in the area!]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 26 Jul 2010 05:10:18 -0700</pubDate>
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<item><title><![CDATA[Minnesota Brown - Iron Range: COLUMN: Iron Range 19690]]></title>
<link>http://www.ironrangecommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://www.minnesotabrown.com/2010/07/column-iron-range-1969.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[This is my weekly column for the Sunday, July 25, 2010 edition of the Hibbing Daily Tribune. Thanks to Bill Lah for connecting me with the report mentioned in this column.Iron Range 1969By Aaron J. Brown(Chorus) Back in Summer of '69Man we were killin' time.We were young and restless.We needed to unwind.I guess nothin' can last forever, no.And now the times are changing,'Look at everything that's come and gone.Sometimes when I play that old six-stringI think about ya, wonder what went wrong.These words come from Bryan Adams 1984 song, co-written by Jim Vallance. Summer of &#8213;69came out just after northern Minnesotas Iron Range fell into its most notable of recent economic recessions and began losing what would become half its young families. Meantime, the actual summer of 69, an economic boom time on the Iron Range, was 41 years ago. It was a long time ago, and yet, not so long.In 1969, the Aguar Jying Whiteman Moser, Inc., agency of Duluth and Hibbing, the forerunner of todays Architectural Resources, released the Regional Development Plan: Mesabi and Vermilion Ranges, a study commissioned by several agencies. This study, available to read at places like the Iron Range Research Library, charted a path for a region beleaguered by the booms and busts of a mineral-based economy. Todays studies and consultants do largely the same thing, but probably for a lot more money and with a lot less gusto.Some pretty dramatic nuggets emerge among the chief predictions/suggestions forwarded by this 1969 study, which was led by Charles Aguar, Robert T. Scott, Richard Loraas and others. For one, the Iron Range of 1969s future (you would know it as today) could be traversed by a four lane highway from Grand Rapids to Ely. Scenic recreational opportunities would abound. The Range, from Grand Rapids to Ely, would be served by three school districts and a handful of regional centers that delivered services to an increasingly connected, growing population. The 21st century would bring a new era of mining and commerce to the whole region.These findings are notable only because one could conceivably type these ideas into a new report (or newspaper column!) and theyd be just as relevant, appropriate and important as they were in 1969. The only truly pie-in-the-sky items in the study was the creation of a new town south of Pengilly that would replace Nashwauk and Keewatin (to be consumed by mining operations) and a canal that connected the Range to the St. Lawrence Seaway. This canal, according to artwork inside the report, would feature hovercraft. As a child of the 1980s Iron Range bust I cannot help asking, where is the hovercraft I was promised? And now that new development in Nashwauk and Keewatin has utterly spilled over the iron formation, moving the towns is even more unlikely. Oh, and its probable that the offshore oil drilling in Lake Superior, forecast in the report, is also off the table. But those are just bullet points in what is otherwise a fascinating document.I connected with Larry Sommer, a research analyst on the 1969 report, now residing in the Twin Cities after a long career in planning and development. This project was his first major endeavor after graduating from college in the 1960s. Many of the major players in the project have passed on, but others are still working or retired. Sommer said the predictions of the report were marred by only one major problem.We missed on the population forecasting, said Sommer. Indeed, the crash of the 1980s disrupted what would have been a reasonable assumption of growth back then. The reduced numbers of people made some of the findings less feasible (though not impossible).What struck me in re-reading this is how so many of the things actually happened, said Sommer. Some of the recommendations have happened and others are happening, and whats interesting is that theyre almost happening by default.For instance, while the Highway 169 expressway is not yet complete (and is under construction in Itasca County this summer), it is very nearly complete, certainly by 1969 standards. The report calls for a major recreational facility not unlike Giants Ridge and some would argue that idea has not only been done but almost overdone. And you can look at todays Mesabi Trail and easily see how its compatible with the reports demand for more recreational trails and alternative transportation connections.Perhaps most importantly to current policy discussion is the reports call for three primary Iron Range school districts, centered around Grand Rapids, Hibbing and Virginia. These districts would administer elementary schools all over the region while supporting one world class high school in each area. Though controversial and politically difficult, it is an absolute tragedy to a generation of Iron Range students &#8220; indeed, todays students &#8220; that this never happened. Hundreds in this area graduate unprepared for college or the 21st century economy while their home districts struggle merely to stay afloat, and this must be corrected.If 1969 is part of the past, and the hopes of this report are the future, to succeed we must assume a present quite unlike the one we today passively, sluggishly assume is inevitable and unchangeable. Indeed, half of creating a future is writing it down before it arrives. The other half is making it happen. Its time to become young and restless again. Aaron J. Brown is an Iron Range writer, blogger and instructor at Hibbing Community College. Read more at MinnesotaBrown.com or in his book Overburden: Modern Life on the Iron Range.]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 25 Jul 2010 10:22:00 -0700</pubDate>
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<item><title><![CDATA[Crane Lake Nature Blog: Northern Flickers0]]></title>
<link>http://www.ironrangecommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://visitcranelake.com/blog/?p=1836</link>
<description><![CDATA[Northern Flicker family by Kris Hoyt
Thanks Kris and Dave for the awesome shots of the Flickers feeding their babies!
Northern Flickers by Dave Hoyt
They found this nest at Nelsons Resort right behind 2nd Beach cabin. When the babies are at this stage, the nest hole can be easy to find - just listen for the begging calls of the baby woodpeckers - it can be quite noisy!
Flickers by Dave Hoyt]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sat, 24 Jul 2010 05:30:23 -0700</pubDate>
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<item><title><![CDATA[Minnesota Brown - Iron Range: We're going underground again (in theory)0]]></title>
<link>http://www.ironrangecommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://www.minnesotabrown.com/2010/07/were-going-underground-again-in-theory.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[The Star Tribune reports on a big financing break for copper mining on the eastern Iron Range. This is not Polymet, but rather a newly formed company, (Twin Metals Minnesota LLC, if you need the name) that believes it can mine underground and produce 40,000 tons of copper a day. All this tells me is that the bar for &amp;quot;setting initial expectations&amp;quot; for Range developers has been raised to astronomical levels. Perhaps it will. Perhaps my novel will go platinum and spur a new, major, world religion. But $130 million in the hopper ain't nothin.'There are environmental concerns. The location is just a few miles from the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, a national treasure. Thus, this is an early chapter in a long story. Keep the BWCA clean. Mine if you can. The line between those truths does exist, but it won't be easy to find.]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 23 Jul 2010 19:49:00 -0700</pubDate>
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<item><title><![CDATA[Minnesota Brown - Iron Range: Squirrels, again!0]]></title>
<link>http://www.ironrangecommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://www.minnesotabrown.com/2010/07/squirrels-again.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Now that the Hibbing Public Utilities Commission settled its labor problems, union and management forces turn their steely eyes to the real enemy: Squirrels.Two electrocuted-squirrel-oriented power outages have hit Hibbing in just two days. I try to clip and and save all the newspaper reports of squirrel-induced power outages. There are quite a few. My wife was in the clinic during when the first outage hit this week. The lights went out and in the dim glow of an emergency light one of the lab technicians looked up at her and said &amp;quot;Squirrel.&amp;quot; I swear, the lights go out in Hibbing and you can hear the bitter call of old men yelling &amp;quot;G*ddamn furry bastards! According to reports, PUC officials are working to end this problem once and for all. Until I hear a similar statement from the squirrels, I'm not convinced.Years ago, I wrote a short piece about three squirrels contemplating the threat and allure of the power transformer. You can click if you want, but the important thing is that this exists somewhere.]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 23 Jul 2010 12:01:00 -0700</pubDate>
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<item><title><![CDATA[LYRIC CENTER FOR THE ARTS                                Virginia, Minnesota: Darlene Hodge is the guest at the August Words and Lyrics0]]></title>
<link>http://www.ironrangecommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://lyriccenterforthearts.blogspot.com/2010/07/darlene-hodge-is-guest-at-august-words.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Writer and journalist Darlene Hodge of Angora will read from her book&amp;quot;Who Moved the Bridge?&amp;quot; onMonday, August 2, at 6:30 p.m.at the First Stage of theLyric Center for the Arts514 Chestnut Street, Virginia.The book is a compilation of material from magazine articles and ahumor column Hodge wrote for the Hibbing Daily Tribune for over eightyears.  She is a free lance reporter for local area newspapers,covering a variety of events, including two interviews she did withGovernor Jesse Ventura for the Chisholm paper.She has also published a very serious novelette concerninginter-racial adoption titled &amp;quot;The Sacrifice: A Chronicle.&amp;quot;Hodge is a woman of many interests and accomplishments. She teacheskarate and self-defense and is currently working toward a Master'sDegree in Nutritional History at Bemidji State University.Her appearance is part of &amp;quot;Words and Lyrics,&amp;quot; held on the first Mondayof every month at the First Stage for appreciation of the written andspoken word.  The program is free and open to the public.]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 22 Jul 2010 17:43:00 -0700</pubDate>
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<item><title><![CDATA[Crane Lake Nature Blog: Whyd the Grouse cross the road?0]]></title>
<link>http://www.ironrangecommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://visitcranelake.com/blog/?p=1832</link>
<description><![CDATA[
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23pdLgAkBVA
]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://visitcranelake.com/blog/?p=1832</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 22 Jul 2010 04:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
<item><title><![CDATA[RangeBuzz.com Blog: Mai Tai0]]></title>
<link>http://www.ironrangecommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://www.rangebuzz.com/content/2010/07/22/mai-tai/</link>
<description><![CDATA[Once so important that the Brittish Navy gave every salior a half-pint a day ration, Rum is made of formented sugar cane or mollasses. It comes in white (clear), gold and dark. The later is essential for making the perfect Mai Tai. 
&Acirc;&nbsp;
Courtesy of: Drinkoftheweek.com
&Acirc;&nbsp;
Mai Tai
1 oz. Dark Rum
1 oz. Light Rum
1 oz. Triple Sec
1/2 [...]]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.rangebuzz.com/content/2010/07/22/mai-tai/</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 21 Jul 2010 22:12:48 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
<item><title><![CDATA[Lake Vermillion Real Estate: Price And Selection.0]]></title>
<link>http://www.ironrangecommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/LakeVermilionRealEstate/~3/aF7dC3cAmks/</link>
<description><![CDATA[The Lake Vermilion area real estate market now offers 862 lakeshore listings scattered among countless Northeastern Minnesota lakes. &Acirc;&nbsp;Heres some study material for you Buyers who like to shop and compare. &Acirc;&nbsp;This list is sorted by asking price, lowest to highest, $13,999 to $2,900,000 and includes lakes from the Grand Rapids area, to the International Falls area, to the Ely area and beyond.
View the entire selection here in groups of 250 each:
$13,999 to $145,900
$148,000 to $264,900
$265,000 to $499,000
$499,000 to $2,900,000
Let me know if anything catches your eye. &Acirc;&nbsp;(Im not sure how long the links will remain valid.)


]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/LakeVermilionRealEstate/~3/aF7dC3cAmks/</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 21 Jul 2010 12:25:23 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
<item><title><![CDATA[Crane Lake Nature Blog: Hidden Nest0]]></title>
<link>http://www.ironrangecommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://visitcranelake.com/blog/?p=1827</link>
<description><![CDATA[Thanks to&Acirc;&nbsp;Kristin B., from Indiana, for sending the photo of the nest that she found hidden among the Blueberry Bushes&Acirc;&nbsp;up on Lac La Croix. These tiny birds are perhaps only a day old, or maybe just hatched a few hours ago.
Nest hidden in Blueberry patch
We got out the book, Peterson Field Guide for Birds Nests,&Acirc;&nbsp;to see if we could figure out what kind of bird made the nest. Kristin didnt get a very good look at the adult bird when it flew off the nest, but there is an unhatched egg in the nest that could provide a clue.

Song Sparrow Nest ?

The egg is brown and speckled which makes it look like it might be from a Sparrow - both Song Sparrows and White-throated Sparrows nest on the ground up here. This nest was very close to the waters edge, only about 10 feet away, so that makes me think Song Sparrow. Song Sparrows also have a second nesting and thats probably what this is.
Song Sparrows seem to love the lakeshore and this nest reminds me of one that I found a few years ago: http://visitcranelake.com/blog/?p=11]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://visitcranelake.com/blog/?p=1827</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 21 Jul 2010 08:15:17 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
<item><title><![CDATA[mnStringer News Network: Finnish-American Excavators KAIVAMA to perform on the Iron Range0]]></title>
<link>http://www.ironrangecommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://www.northerncommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://www.myspace.com/kaivama</link>
<description><![CDATA[HIBBING NATIVE SARA PAJUNEN RECEIVES INTERNATIONAL MUSIC GRANT AND WILL
PERFORM AT KALEVA HALL IN VIRGINIA AND WASHINGTON AUDITORIUM IN ELY

              
Minneapolis, MN:  Violinist Sara Pajunen, born and raised
in
 Hibbing, MN, has received a grant from the Finlandia Foundation to
travel
to
 Finland this September where she will study Nordic
folk music.  She will
study at AK Opisto in Kaustinen, with
fiddler Arto J&Atilde;ƒ&Acirc;&curren;rvel&Atilde;ƒ&Acirc;&curren; in Ulvila, and observe Mauno
J&Atilde;ƒ&Acirc;&curren;rvel&Atilde;ƒ&Acirc;&curren;'s N&Atilde;ƒ&Acirc;&curren;pp&Atilde;ƒ&Acirc;&curren;rit group in Helsinki.  Upon her
return Pajunen will perform and teach around the United States
upholding
Finnish-American culture in the USA and bringing Finnish
pelimanni fiddle music to new audiences.
 
 In support of her
forthcoming trip to Finland, Pajunen will perform at
Washington
Auditorium in Ely on Friday, August 13th at 7 pm and Kaleva Hall in
Virginia on Saturday, August 14th at 2 pm.  Pajunen's grant from the
Finlandia Foundation provides for travel to and within Finland, as well as
lessons and education.  Donations received at her concert in Virginia
will help to defray the costs of housing, food, and study materials
(books, music, CDs).
 
 Pajunen will perform as part of the new
Finnish-American folk duo
KAIVAMA, and will feature her original
compositions as well as
traditional Nordic fiddle tunes.  

All ages welcome.
 
 
FRIDAY, AUGUST 13, 7 PM, $9 Adults
$6 Students
 
 SARA PAJUNEN with KAIVAMA in concert

Washington Auditorium
 600 E. Harvey St.
 Ely, MN 55731
Sponsored by Northern Lakes Arts Association (www.elyarts.org)
Tickets available at the door and through Ely Music Outfitters (218
365-2889)

 
 
 SATURDAY, AUGUST 14th, 2 PM, freewill
donation
 
 SARA PAJUNEN with KAIVAMA in concert
 Kaleva
Hall
 403 N. 1st St.
 Virginia, MN 55792
 218-741-2717
 http://www.ironrange.org/attractions/historic/kaleva-hall/
 

  Insert BIO here.  (available at www.sarapajunen.com/kaivama.html)
Hi-res posters and pictures available here: www.sarapajunen.com/kaivama.html]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.northerncommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://www.myspace.com/kaivama</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 20 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
<item><title><![CDATA[Lake Vermillion Real Estate: In Depth Discussion.0]]></title>
<link>http://www.ironrangecommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/LakeVermilionRealEstate/~3/Mdhvat5ZJy4/</link>
<description><![CDATA[The questions always come up at some point during the summer months.
Hows the Lake Vermilion water level?  How much does the water level vary throughout the year?  Is it low or high for this time of year?
The short answer to all of the above is that Lake Vermilion is a very stable lake. &Acirc;&nbsp;Historically, the lake has only varied 3.25 feet since water depths have been recorded.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources can verify the variation.


]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/LakeVermilionRealEstate/~3/Mdhvat5ZJy4/</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 19 Jul 2010 13:58:51 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
<item><title><![CDATA[LYRIC CENTER FOR THE ARTS                                Virginia, Minnesota: Formation: Layers, Iron, Structure exhibit of work by Mary Gross Erickson0]]></title>
<link>http://www.ironrangecommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://lyriccenterforthearts.blogspot.com/2010/07/formation-layers-iron-structure-exhibit.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Currently on display at the First Stage Gallery:The exhibit, Formation:  Layers, Iron, StructureThe exhibit features the work of Mary Gross Erickson and will continue until Aug. 14, 2010.An artist opening reception will be held from 3:00 - 5:30 on Thursday, July 22nd, which is open to the public.The First Stage Gallery is located at 514 Chestnut Street in Virginia and is open 11:00 am - 3:00 pm, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.  For more information call 741-5577.Check out the video for a sneak peek!]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://lyriccenterforthearts.blogspot.com/2010/07/formation-layers-iron-structure-exhibit.html</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 16 Jul 2010 16:54:00 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
<item><title><![CDATA[RangeBuzz.com Blog: Raspberry Sparkler0]]></title>
<link>http://www.ironrangecommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://www.rangebuzz.com/content/2010/07/15/raspberry-sparkler/</link>
<description><![CDATA[The 4th of July may be over, but refreshing red cocktails are here to stay! This drink gets its bright red hue from raspberries, Campari and blood orange soda.&Acirc;&nbsp;I suggest using&Acirc;&nbsp;Cabo Wabo tequila and blood orange Italian&Acirc;&nbsp;soda. If you cant find blood orange soda, sub in another natural fruit soda. Happy July! Enjoy!
&Acirc;&nbsp;
Courtesy of: Drinkoftheweek.com

Raspberry [...]]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.rangebuzz.com/content/2010/07/15/raspberry-sparkler/</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 15 Jul 2010 19:58:26 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
<item><title><![CDATA[Lake Vermillion Real Estate: Reading For Buyers.0]]></title>
<link>http://www.ironrangecommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/LakeVermilionRealEstate/~3/KHQ_U6mCqxI/</link>
<description><![CDATA[Bankrate.com has a few interesting articles about home purchase and ownership in their most popular section.  They are&brvbar;
1) &Acirc;&nbsp;6 Steps to Making the Best Home Price Bid
2) &Acirc;&nbsp;Poll: &Acirc;&nbsp;Few Homeowners Regret Purchase
3) &Acirc;&nbsp;Mortgage Rates Keep Falling


]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/LakeVermilionRealEstate/~3/KHQ_U6mCqxI/</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 12 Jul 2010 14:49:11 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
<item><title><![CDATA[Iron Range ATV Trails: 70-mile Aitkin-Itasca trail grand opening this week?0]]></title>
<link>http://www.ironrangecommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://larry.ironrange.org/blog/2010/07/12/70-mile-trail-grand-opening-this-week/</link>
<description><![CDATA[Ive been watching the 70-mile Aitkin-Itasca trail updates and last night I noticed the grand opening is this week, July 14, I guess?
It sounds like the 14th is for administrators and members but a public announcement is to follow. If anyone has more information than that Id love to hear it!
At this point, I need to get away as its been over two months since Ive been wheeling so this 70 mile trail would be a great place to break the ice!!!
The best info I have now is this is Phase 1 with 47 miles complete but Ill be getting back to you.
Larry Folstad
ShareThis]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://larry.ironrange.org/blog/2010/07/12/70-mile-trail-grand-opening-this-week/</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 12 Jul 2010 13:29:25 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
<item><title><![CDATA[RangeBuzz.com Blog: Strawberry Basil Mojito0]]></title>
<link>http://www.ironrangecommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://www.rangebuzz.com/content/2010/07/08/strawberry-basil-mojito/</link>
<description><![CDATA[This week were giving the classic mojito a Summertime twist! The idea is to add a twist to a classic cocktail that sends it over the top of cocktail goodness. Strawberries and basil make a great combination each has its own brand of sweetness. The two complimentary flavors are an ideal match for the light [...]]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.rangebuzz.com/content/2010/07/08/strawberry-basil-mojito/</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 08 Jul 2010 17:37:52 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
<item><title><![CDATA[Lake Vermillion Real Estate: Independence Day!0]]></title>
<link>http://www.ironrangecommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/LakeVermilionRealEstate/~3/5StJHdx8lZ8/</link>
<description><![CDATA[The Fourth of July is the holiday to spend at the lake.  I hope to see you there!
There will be more local real estate opportunities coming after the long weekend so take some time off and well see you back here soon.


]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/LakeVermilionRealEstate/~3/5StJHdx8lZ8/</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 02 Jul 2010 11:32:34 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
<item><title><![CDATA[RangeBuzz.com Blog: Patriotic Punch0]]></title>
<link>http://www.ironrangecommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://www.rangebuzz.com/content/2010/06/30/patriotic-punch/</link>
<description><![CDATA[Hip, Hip, Horray!!! the&Acirc;&nbsp;fourth&Acirc;&nbsp;of July is&Acirc;&nbsp;finally here!!! I look forward to this holiday all year long.&Acirc;&nbsp;There is no better time of year to reconnect with old friends, classmates and family. EVERYONE comes home for the Fourth of July on the Range. Seriously, I would give up a party any other day of the year but [...]]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.rangebuzz.com/content/2010/06/30/patriotic-punch/</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 30 Jun 2010 21:35:02 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
<item><title><![CDATA[Lake Vermillion Real Estate: The Market Lives.0]]></title>
<link>http://www.ironrangecommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/LakeVermilionRealEstate/~3/4zXlsdzVeWs/</link>
<description><![CDATA[When real estate buyers are unmotivated the sellers typically become motivated.
Anxious sellers always have the option to adjust the asking price of their offered property.  In the current market some sellers are utilizing that action to attract selective buyers.
Take, for example, the current list of 89 road access Lake Vermilion homes and cabins.  Of that group almost half have reduced their asking price from the original offered price.  Within those price adjusted listings, almost a third have done up to a 10% price reduction, slightly more than a third have reduce their asking price by 10% to 20%, and the remainder have adjusted from 20% to 30%.  It would be logical to assume that time on the market is what drives increasingly greater price adjustments.
Buyers and sellers are adjusting to the current market forces.  A willingness to negotiate, on both sides of the transaction, seems to be a common element of the most recent sales.
So buyers&brvbar; do your homework, find a property that meets your needs, and bring a proposal to the table.  Your seller is waiting.


]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/LakeVermilionRealEstate/~3/4zXlsdzVeWs/</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 24 Jun 2010 10:13:38 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
<item><title><![CDATA[RangeBuzz.com Blog: All American Blue0]]></title>
<link>http://www.ironrangecommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://www.rangebuzz.com/content/2010/06/24/all-american-blue/</link>
<description><![CDATA[&Acirc;&nbsp;Oh my goodness!!! I cannot believe that it is almost the Fourth of July. I must admit, it is my&Acirc;&nbsp; favorite holiday. I thought in preparation, which every good iron-ranger needs before the fourth. I think this will be the perfect cocktail to prepare us all! Now, rest up, and look out iron range fourth [...]]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.rangebuzz.com/content/2010/06/24/all-american-blue/</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 23 Jun 2010 22:17:00 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
<item><title><![CDATA[Mesabi Misadventures: What Values are Most Valuable?0]]></title>
<link>http://www.ironrangecommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://mesabimisadventures.wordpress.com/2010/06/23/what-values-are-most-valuable/</link>
<description><![CDATA[Give me paper, but spare the forest.&Acirc;&nbsp; Give me steel, but spare the landscape.&Acirc;&nbsp; Give me culture, give me skyscrapers, give me convenience, but spare the riparian zones, the wetlands and the prairie.
A few months ago I attended a professional conference where Jim Miller presented information about the Duluth Complex, the geological formation providing Northeastern Minnesota with a mother lode of metals and a bit more than a dash of controversy. &Acirc;&nbsp;In the audience sat a gentleman and his wife who are not professionals in the field the conference was intended for, but instead are environmental activists on the Iron Range. &Acirc;&nbsp;As I listened to the presentation, I gazed over at him to watch his reactions because I had more than a suspicion that theyd be slightly different than my own.
As Jim discussed the inevitable mining of this resource (which you can also read&Acirc;&nbsp;here in an awesome MPR article), the gentleman across the room furrowed his brow and shook his head. &Acirc;&nbsp;Whether it was in anger, sadness, frustration or a combination of all three, I really cant say, but Id safely venture a guess that it was one of them. &Acirc;&nbsp;And I felt for him at that moment because the thought of mining this area for metals that have never before been mined in Minnesota bashes against his priority values. &Acirc;&nbsp;And values dont rearrange just because of a well-done PowerPoint presentation.
What values are most valuable?
Mining proponents do not all tie beautiful women to train tracks while wearing top hats and twirling handlebar mustaches, cursing foiled again! when another obstacle is placed in the way while trying to obtain permits. &Acirc;&nbsp;Not every mining opponent wears hemp necklaces, smells like patchouli oil and cares more about the peatlands than your neighbors opportunity to support his family. &Acirc;&nbsp;We are more similar than we care to admit and our values overlap more than they may seem.
We dont want to recognize our common ground, because then wed have to admit that we arent that different than the other side.&Acirc;&nbsp; The vast majority of us have the same values with our battles arising because of individual ranking systems. &Acirc;&nbsp;As humans, it is inherent in us to care about the Earth, our health, our fellow creatures, our families, our ability to provide for those families, our neighbors ability to provide (partly so that they arent asking for handouts, but I digress).
What values hold the greatest priority for us though and for what are we willing to sacrifice?&Acirc;&nbsp; It is easy for a retired person with a comfortable pension or a person with a desk job that is far removed from raw material extraction to rearrange personal priorities so that job creation on the Iron Range is low on their list.&Acirc;&nbsp; Easy for you to say goes the saying.&Acirc;&nbsp; It is also easy for those of us blessed to live on the Range to rearrange our priorities so that not impacting wetlands (in an area of the country absolutely LOADED with them) is pretty darn low on our list.&Acirc;&nbsp; These rearrangements dont mean that the pensioner doesnt care about jobs or that I dont care about wetlands.&Acirc;&nbsp; Its just that those arent our top priorities based on our personal situations or points-of-view.
I am (obviously) a mining proponent. &Acirc;&nbsp;I believe in environmentally responsible mining and no, I do not believe that is an oxymoron. &Acirc;&nbsp;I believe that we can extract societys necessary raw materials in an environmentally-conscious manner that provides for this generation, while also looking out for the future generations. &Acirc;&nbsp;I believe in being global citizens, which means that we should pay the environmental cost for our consumption habits. &Acirc;&nbsp;I believe in environmental justice; poorer countries should not suffer because Americans choose to be greedy&Acirc;&nbsp;and selfish. &Acirc;&nbsp;I believe that people have a right to earn a living and that people should not have the right to dictate what may be done with land that they choose to use only as a playground.
Give me all that I want, but ask for nothing in return. &Acirc;&nbsp;Give me all the material goods to support my quality of life, but ask me to make no sacrifices. &Acirc;&nbsp;Give me a clear conscience, but make it a delusion.
     ]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://mesabimisadventures.wordpress.com/2010/06/23/what-values-are-most-valuable/</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 22 Jun 2010 19:57:19 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
<item><title><![CDATA[Mesabi Misadventures: Terra Progredimur &#8220; From the Earth We Prosper0]]></title>
<link>http://www.ironrangecommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://mesabimisadventures.wordpress.com/2010/06/16/terra-progredimur/</link>
<description><![CDATA[The billboard welcoming visitors to Wabush, Newfoundland and Labrador proudly proclaims &Acirc;&nbsp;From the Earth We Prosper. &Acirc;&nbsp;From any house on the hillside of Wabush, Wabush Mines and the Iron Ore Company of Canada (IOC) are within view. &Acirc;&nbsp;As you cross the bridge over The Narrows, Labrador City greets you with the iconic image of a shovel emptying a load into a production truck. &Acirc;&nbsp;Their motto? &Acirc;&nbsp;The Naskapi word Kamistiatussett or Land of the Hard Working People.
Wabush and its neighbor across the bridge were developed in the late 1950s as settlements for the miners arriving to scoop up the vast, rich deposits of iron ore. &Acirc;&nbsp;From a spruce-filled wilderness to a home for thousands of people, all courtesy of mining. &Acirc;&nbsp;The residents recognize their origin and celebrate their contribution to the rest of the world.
On the Iron Range of Minnesota however, there seem to be some folks who struggle to be proud that the Ranges roots, trunk and several branches are the result of natural resource extraction. &Acirc;&nbsp;Hibbing has adopted the motto Were Ore and More but there are still some who choose the less-than-celebratory version Were More than Ore. &Acirc;&nbsp;If you do a&Acirc;&nbsp;Google&Acirc;&nbsp;search, youll discover that there are still some folks who didnt get the memo.
Were more than ore sounds like a desperate plea for attention and a little like were the embarrassed high-schooler whose mom is showing our new boyfriend pictures of us in the tub as a baby. &Acirc;&nbsp;Why deny, Peter?
Unless you directly work for a Mine or are a direct supplier/vendor/contractor, you may not think that the Mines are significant. &Acirc;&nbsp;After all, you dont need them for your job. &Acirc;&nbsp;Or do you?
A recent article in the Duluth News Tribune (that unfortunately is now archived) discussed the plan for a local Mine to mine underneath Highway 53. &Acirc;&nbsp;A 1960 agreement between the Mine and the State of Minnesota places responsibility of the move on MNDOT. &Acirc;&nbsp;The comments were fiery (as expected) and a local columnist detailed his not-so-in-favor-of thoughts about the subject in the Hibbing Daily Tribune (luckily his blog is still free, considering the paper isnt!). &Acirc;&nbsp;However, the commenters and the commentator have too easy of a target (seriously, have you seen Avatar? Cue The Imperial March the next time you see a mining employee) and there appears to be a lack of appreciation for the undeniably positive impact of these Mines on our economy up here. &Acirc;&nbsp;Six degrees of separation between your job and the Mines, wanna play?
I will agree that the Range needs to have a plan in place for the eventual end of mining and having survived the last year on the Range, I will agree that the downswings can be scary, but where in the U.S. last year wasnt it scary? &Acirc;&nbsp;Its a finite resource, nothing too complicated to figure out there. &Acirc;&nbsp;However, in the meantime, why not embrace and accept and celebrate that we are blessed to live somewhere with resources that people all across the globe want to get their hands on? &Acirc;&nbsp;Heck, they even give us money for it. &Acirc;&nbsp; How many jobs are being supported by money that originated somewhere far, far away? &Acirc;&nbsp;Thanks to a certain generation I will not name, other than to say their initials are B.B., our nation lost a lot of its ability to make people in other countries pay us for a product, but guess what? &Acirc;&nbsp;Theyre still paying us for the raw materials (maniacal laugh).
Mining is at the bottom or the top of the economic food chain, however you choose to look at it. &Acirc;&nbsp;Without those raw materials, we have nothing. &Acirc;&nbsp;Every single person reading this needs mining, unless youre omniscient, in which case, please step out of my head. &Acirc;&nbsp;The Range needs mining for the awesome-paying jobs that span a lot of disciplines, for the taconite taxes that we fight to keep up here, and to form our backbone whether we like to admit that or not. &Acirc;&nbsp;Even a powerhouse (pun intended) like Minnesota Power relies on the Mines with the six mines drawing a lions share of their electricity. &Acirc;&nbsp;The State of Minnesota needs mining for the school and university trusts. &Acirc;&nbsp;The Nation needs mining so that perhaps we wont import every single thing we own.
Repeat after me, all ye Rangers (of which I wish I could be, but I was born in Duluth, not my fault) &#8220; I live on the Iron Range of Minnesota and not only am I okay with that, but I am proud of that. &Acirc;&nbsp;I am proud of the folks who came before me who built these communities with their hands and colored them with their souls. &Acirc;&nbsp;I am proud of the miners who built the US through their hard work, who supplied the ore that grew our Nations largest cities, formed our farmers tools, and sailed our grandfathers to Iwo Jima. &Acirc;&nbsp;I am proud of our present and I am hopeful for our future. &Acirc;&nbsp;I am a Ranger and thats okay.
     ]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://mesabimisadventures.wordpress.com/2010/06/16/terra-progredimur/</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 15 Jun 2010 18:41:32 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
<item><title><![CDATA[mnStringer News Network: Man killed by trooper had fired at family's home0]]></title>
<link>http://www.ironrangecommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://www.northerncommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2010/06/15/trooper-shooting/?refid=0&amp;utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_campaign=Feed: MPR_NewsFeatures (News &amp; Features from Minnesot</link>
<description><![CDATA[Investigators say the Iron Range man fatally shot by a state trooper in an exchange of gunfire had been shooting into a home where his estranged wife and two young children were living.]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.northerncommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2010/06/15/trooper-shooting/?refid=0&amp;utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_campaign=Feed: MPR_NewsFeatures (News &amp; Features from Minnesot</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 15 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
<item><title><![CDATA[Iron Range ATV Trails: The NEW CAN_AM Commander Side-x-side is out!0]]></title>
<link>http://www.ironrangecommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://larry.ironrange.org/blog/2010/06/14/the-new-can_am-commander-side-x-side-is-out/</link>
<description><![CDATA[The NEW CAN_AM COMMANDER SIDE X SIDE IS OUT!
Anyone else so the new Commander by Can-am yet?&Acirc;&nbsp; Even comes with a 1000cc engine!&Acirc;&nbsp; I have a link for you and its awesome!&Acirc;&nbsp; Lots of videos, showes yellow and Camo but havent seen the red yet in a real picture.&Acirc;&nbsp; We want one and by wifes machine is up for sale for the deposit.&Acirc;&nbsp; They wont be in till September but that when I do alot of riding.
Its been a busy early summer with Grad Parties and Work so I havent been riding much but looking at facebook and the other networks everyone else has been enjoying the Summer.&Acirc;&nbsp; Check out the new Side X Side and Ill update you on our next ride!&Acirc;&nbsp; If you plan on attending the ATVAM Fall Convention in Nashwauk and you need any help with the area, let me know!!!
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<pubDate>Mon, 14 Jun 2010 10:50:10 -0700</pubDate>
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<item><title><![CDATA[Mesabi Misadventures: Breaking the Circle0]]></title>
<link>http://www.ironrangecommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://mesabimisadventures.wordpress.com/2010/06/02/breaking-the-circle/</link>
<description><![CDATA[Six months and counting,
whered my family go?
You left us without leaving,
please say it isnt so.
We sit in limbo,
while you run around.
Waiting for you,
nerves tightly wound.
We cant move on yet,
Lord knows we try.
Pain compounds daily,
her eyes never dry.
Where will she live,
where will be home?
She stayed faithful,
you chose to roam.
Bitterness pounding
into my soul.
Sorrow, hatred
taking its toll.
Years of knocking
my walls down.
Put my feet in concrete,
let my heart drown.
I had a family,
that family was intact.
She came around,
all gone, hijacked.
Circle of trust
and all of that,
all gone in a moment
you cheating rat.
We were your family
and now we are not.
All those years,
all for naught.
No more Fathers Day,
no more Papa.
Hope you like it,
heres your karma.
Blood after all
is thicker than water.
You were once my step-dad
but Im no longer your daughter.
     ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 02 Jun 2010 15:20:15 -0700</pubDate>
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<item><title><![CDATA[Mesabi Misadventures: Never Coming Home0]]></title>
<link>http://www.ironrangecommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://mesabimisadventures.wordpress.com/2010/05/31/never-coming-home/</link>
<description><![CDATA[When we landed on Okinawa, the Japs didnt shoot at us.&Acirc;&nbsp; Not on the first day.&Acirc;&nbsp; They didnt shoot at us on the second day either.&Acirc;&nbsp; On the third day, they started shooting at us.
His 90-year-old eyes looked towards me, but through me, to a land thousands of miles and 70 years away from that kitchen table.&Acirc;&nbsp; An island where his youth and&Acirc;&nbsp;innocence is&Acirc;&nbsp;buried in the soil with the blood of his&Acirc;&nbsp;fellow soldiers&Acirc;&nbsp;who were not able to return home to their kitchen tables.&Acirc;&nbsp;
These young men, hardly men, boys in soldiers clothing, storing away their hopes and dreams of the men they may become.&Acirc;&nbsp; Postponing individual&Acirc;&nbsp;plans to&Acirc;&nbsp;protect the futures of many, in countries they&Acirc;&nbsp;know only from their high-school geography classes taken&Acirc;&nbsp;a brief few&Acirc;&nbsp;years prior.&Acirc;&nbsp;
Young men, future men, boys in letter sweaters, saying good-bye to those they love for a year hopefully, for forever potentially,&Acirc;&nbsp;unscarred never again.&Acirc;&nbsp; Discovering a new normal where&Acirc;&nbsp;it may not be death that scares them as much as the knowledge that it will come, but when and to which one of them is unknown.&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;Pushing through every single day, hoping just to see the next day, while&Acirc;&nbsp;their peers back home blindly carry on with their lives of fraternities and final exams.&Acirc;&nbsp; &Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;
Young men, barely men, boys buried under white headstones, buried in a country whose language they cannot speak.&Acirc;&nbsp; Never coming home to start a career, a family, a life beyond their teenage years.&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;Never coming home to sign mortgage papers, new car loans, birth certificates of their children.
Never coming home so that others could.
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<pubDate>Mon, 31 May 2010 07:30:43 -0700</pubDate>
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<item><title><![CDATA[Harbor Star Reflections: Spring Retreat Visuals: Dealing With Loss and Moving0]]></title>
<link>http://www.ironrangecommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://harborstarreflections.blogspot.com/2010/05/spring-retreat-visuals-dealing-with.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[by HarborStarThe End, by Mark StrandNot every man knows what he shall sing at the end, Watching the pier as the ship sails away, or what it will seem like When hes held by the seas roar, motionless, there at the end, Or what he shall hope for once it is clear that hell never go back. When the time has passed to prune the rose or caress the cat, When the sunset torching the lawn and the full moon icing it down No longer appear, not every man knows what hell discover instead. When the weight of the past leans against nothing, and the sky Is no more than remembered light, and the stories of cirrus And cumulus come to a close, and all the birds are suspended in flight, Not every man knows what is waiting for him, or what he shall sing When the ship he is on slips into darkness, there at the end. Resources: St. John's AbbeyPoetry by Mark Strand]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 28 May 2010 10:10:56 -0700</pubDate>
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<item><title><![CDATA[Iron Range ATV Trails: Where to Ride Memorial Weekend?0]]></title>
<link>http://www.ironrangecommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://larry.ironrange.org/blog/2010/05/26/where-to-ride-memorial-weekend/</link>
<description><![CDATA[So were talking about the new 70 Mile trail maybe that is supposed to run from Pengilly down toward Aitkin and Brainerd?&Acirc;&nbsp; I cant find anything on the Minnesota DNR website about it yet so maybe its not ready?&Acirc;&nbsp; Anyone know?&Acirc;&nbsp; Ive seen a few emails from ATVAM about it, I think they were gonna call it the Great Itascan Trail or something like that?&Acirc;&nbsp; Ill do some more research Monday or Tuesday about it&brvbar;.
Maybe Thistle Dew trails and camping for the weekend&brvbar;
Where is everyone else gonna be RIDING?
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<pubDate>Wed, 26 May 2010 07:43:13 -0700</pubDate>
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<item><title><![CDATA[Iron Range ATV Trails: Spring is here!0]]></title>
<link>http://www.ironrangecommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://larry.ironrange.org/blog/2010/05/10/spring-is-here/</link>
<description><![CDATA[From our friends on the North Shore:
Hello fellow ATV / OHV enthusiasts! Spring is here, the trails are quickly drying out, and we cant wait to get the ATV season off and rolling.&Acirc;&nbsp; Here on the scenic North Shore, we are looking forward to another terrific season and, in recognition of our 2009 Guiness Book of World Records Longest ATV Parade record, the Silver Trail Riders Club &amp;amp;amp; Silver Bay Area Tourism Association will be hosting a Poker Run , June 12, 2010, in Silver Bay, Minn&brvbar;This is a no fee / no registration event.&Acirc;&nbsp; Just come for the fun!
MudPaw ATV Adventures will also be on-site offering $25 guided tours to riders who would like to get the most out of their time on the North Shore trails, or simply prefer to ride at an easy pace, in a family-friendly setting. If you are interested in participating in a guided tour, please call 218-220-0415 to reserve your spot today.
We hope to see you there!
Mud &amp;amp;amp; Memories,
Amber Dow
MudPaw ATV Adventures
www.MudPawAtv.com
info@mudpawatv.com
218-220-0415
Look for another post from me, your Iron Range, Minnesota, ATV Getaway Guide soon!
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<pubDate>Mon, 10 May 2010 13:33:45 -0700</pubDate>
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<item><title><![CDATA[Harbor Star Reflections: Beyond the Surf  Pt.2: Getting Closer to Florida's Heartbeat0]]></title>
<link>http://www.ironrangecommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://harborstarreflections.blogspot.com/2010/05/beyond-surf-pt2-getting-closer-to.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Declared a National Natural Monument in 1964, the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary is a splendid example of Floridas native ecosystem diversity.&Acirc;&nbsp;Major vegetation communities include&Acirc;&nbsp;the pine flatwood forests,&Acirc;&nbsp;wet prairies, central marsh wetlands, lettuce lakes, sawgrass &amp;amp;amp; pond cypress wet forests and... perhaps most importantly, North America's largest intact&Acirc;&nbsp;stand of bald cypress wet forest. What&Acirc;&nbsp;follows&Acirc;&nbsp;is a wee bit of resource links to pictures, websites, and music you might find interesting:by HarborStarIn southwestern Florida in the beginning of the century, the strands of bald cypress extended miles and miles. In those virgin bald cypress stands were giants towering 130 feet, with girths of 25 feet -- an awesome sight before the onslaught of the lumbermen in the 1920's. A remnant of that virgin forest, now the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, a veritable living museum piece, escaped the destruction in the nick of time just as the cutting crews were coming upon it. It is now the largest remaining stand of virgin bald cypress in the country... The Acquisition and Development of the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, 1952-1967 by Carl W. BuchheisterDescriptions&Acirc;&nbsp;taken from the Audubon Center self guided tour. The roots of the strangler fig&Acirc;&nbsp;(Ficus aurea) left&Acirc;&nbsp;are often thought to be vines growing on a host tree. Strangler figs can grow like a normal tree from the ground up; they also may start high up in another tree and send roots down to the ground. As the roots grow, they wrap around the host tree, sometimes killing it. At Corkscrew, frost limits strangler fig growth and they do not kill their host trees. The fig fruit is a favorite of pileated woodpeckers. At least twelve species of air plants (Tillandsia spp)&Acirc;&nbsp;right are found within the swamp sanctuary, each one related to the pineapple. All of them epiphytes, or plants that grow on other plants without the aid of soil, but they are not parasites, doing no harm to the host tree. Nutrients are taken from falling organic debris and rainfall trapped by the plant. Several Corkscrew Sanctuary epiphytes are on the State Protected Plant List as endangered&Acirc;&nbsp;or threatened. Resources: Collier CountyTigertail BeachWhat BirdPrimate discrimination is alive and well...]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 09 May 2010 06:35:48 -0700</pubDate>
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<item><title><![CDATA[mnStringer News Network: NK ALL CLASS REUNION &amp;amp; GET TOGETHER0]]></title>
<link>http://www.ironrangecommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://www.northerncommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://www.nashwauk.govoffice.com/index.asp?Type=B_EV&amp;SEC={77AFFBC3-4875-40E5-9B59-3B1C5A3F6DFC}&amp;DE={C99C8AAB-2701-47AD-B9A2-9162B2B42490}</link>
<description><![CDATA[Youre invited&Acirc;&brvbar;&Acirc;&brvbar;.
What: All Class Reunion &amp;amp;amp;amp; Get Together

Who: Nashwauk, Keewatin &amp;amp;amp;amp; surrounding areas

When: Friday, July 2, 2010 -- 6:00-11:00pm

Where: Nashwauk Rec Center
(Music: Alumni Concert Band followed by R&amp;amp;amp;amp;R)

**Cash bar &amp;amp;amp;amp; beef and pork sandwiches**
*Donations accepted at door*

Please forward to your family, friends and classmates
Check out event: www.nashwauk.govoffice.com]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 30 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
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<item><title><![CDATA[Harbor Star Reflections: Beyond the Surf or A Whole Lotta Hot Tub- Pt. 10]]></title>
<link>http://www.ironrangecommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://harborstarreflections.blogspot.com/2010/04/beyond-surf-or-whole-lotta-hot-tub-pt-1.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Normally a vacation to southern Florida in February means warm temperatures, sunny skies, and peaceful breezes on the beach right? This year turned out be vastly different. Daytime temperatures struggled to reach the 70's while chilly evenings resembled many a autumn night in Northern Minnesota. It's kind of hilarious, but spending a week in Naples resulted in listening to several local and unexpected rants about the southern weather anomalie. Imagine that in Gator country? Of course, let's not forget that a cool weather pattern means zero chance of encountering Florida mosquitos not to mention the abundant, creepy-crawly tropical insects and amphibians.Despite our base camp location of brazenly developed retirement havens - complete with dreamy, manicured golf courses - I am amazed at the amount of outdoor opportunties still available in Southern Florida. Ya'll know it, places like beaches, parks, nature preserves, museums, hiking, canoeing, fishing, rookeries, swamps... it's all here in most spectacular wonder!Now I'm no photographer of taste, but I was easily lured into taking pictures at will, hoping in every way that I at least captured a sense of wonder for my own personal Florida. An &amp;quot;A&amp;quot; for effort is my motto... Not all of these photos are mine though. I support family photo-sharing so thanks to my parents for a contributing a few. Look for a few additional photo logs to come...When quizzed I will tell you that one of my main objectives for a vacation is to strive for relaxation and peaceful communion with Christ. I am very grateful for finding that at San Marco Church on the Island. Thanks and prayers for&Acirc;&nbsp;a special guest-&Acirc;&nbsp;Fr. Freund! Still, I couldn't help but spent a fair amount of time traveling around the region with my Dad. I'm glad he shares my passion for exploration. Early on in the trip we spent some time exploring things like Dania Beach and Pier, Retro-Car Shows, and the International Game Fish Association (IGFA). My mother gets full credit&Acirc;&nbsp;for taking us to a very special restaurant called &amp;quot;Cracklin Jack's&amp;quot; a taste of the&Acirc;&nbsp;Everglades! I chose&Acirc;&nbsp;their andouille sausage served over dirty rice w/sauteed onions, peppers, mushroom, and garlic! Although a sauna would have been more appropriate, most nights in FLA concluded with a warming hot-spa experience! Another reason to be grateful for family. Resources: by HarborStarSan Marco Catholic ChurchA Christain community of faith, striving to be closer to God.Florida Catholic of VeniceDiocese of Venice 1984-2009Dania BeachSandy beaches, fishing, and ethnic diversity w/out the crowds.... especially when the temps hover around the mid-60's.The International Game Fish AssociationEverything you ever wanted to know about the passion of fishing and why guys spend thousands of dollars on gear, tackle, boats, etc. Includes art, film, and photography exhibits.Cracklin Jack'sSeafood combos, frog legs, grouper, red meat, mahi,mahi, pulled pork, catfish, clam, gator tail!Song of the Night:]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 19 Apr 2010 19:09:41 -0700</pubDate>
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<item><title><![CDATA[Mesabi Misadventures: Sustainability?! I just thought we were poor&brvbar;0]]></title>
<link>http://www.ironrangecommunityinternet.org/open_feed_rss.php?permalink=http://mesabimisadventures.wordpress.com/2010/04/18/sustainability/</link>
<description><![CDATA[Yesterday I attended the Iron Range Earth Fest in Mountain Iron.&Acirc;&nbsp; Speakers and exhibitors covered topics ranging from energy conservation to sustainable agriculture to making blankets from plastic bags.&Acirc;&nbsp; If you werent able to make it yesterday, I definitely recommend attending next year.&Acirc;&nbsp; Absolutely excellent job done by the organizers and volunteers.
One of the seminars I attended was Eating Locally in Northern Minnesota presented by Maggie Montgomery from KAXE.&Acirc;&nbsp; She discussed her quest to only eat food from a 100-mile radius for one year.&Acirc;&nbsp; It was clear that she has inspired many people to take an honest look at the source of their food and their impact on the environment based on everyday food choices.&Acirc;&nbsp;
I couldnt help but wonder what my Grandma Rose would think of the seminar if she was still alive.&Acirc;&nbsp; Sustainability ran through my Grandmas blood, but as historian Pam Brunfelt would say, it was called survival, not sustainability.&Acirc;&nbsp; As a&Acirc;&nbsp;child living with her who had a strong desire to be cool and fit in, I just called it being poor.&Acirc;&nbsp;
In 2010, we look at the these eco-friendly concepts as revolutionary and cutting-edge.&Acirc;&nbsp; Rain barrels, compost bins, being a locavore (eating locally grown food), energy conservation, reduce/reuse/recycle.&Acirc;&nbsp; How is it possible that in so few generations, weve devolved so quickly that we find raw milk to be a novel concept?&Acirc;&nbsp;
When our jeans tore, Grandma patched them up because, after all, 99.9% of the jeans were still in good shape.&Acirc;&nbsp; When socks got holes, she darned them.&Acirc;&nbsp; We spread manure on the garden, we harvested seeds for the next years planting, we canned tomatoes.&Acirc;&nbsp; We shook our milk before we drank it, we picked eggs and we knew our meat as living animals before we knew it as pork chops and roasts and hamburgers.&Acirc;&nbsp;&Acirc;&nbsp;
Grandma Rose wasnt revolutionary, she was surviving.&Acirc;&nbsp; The Great Depression may have&Acirc;&nbsp;ended in the 1930s, but&Acirc;&nbsp;Grandma saw no reason to forget the lessons taught to her from previous generations.&Acirc;&nbsp; Cabbage became sauerkraut, cucumbers became pickles, and the dining room table became a place to process venison come November.&Acirc;&nbsp;
I desperately&Acirc;&nbsp;wanted to be like other kids whose food came mostly from the grocery store.&Acirc;&nbsp; I wanted my cheese slices individually wrapped and my lunch meat to be pre-sliced.&Acirc;&nbsp; I wanted noodles that came in fancy shapes and green Creamette boxes.&Acirc;&nbsp; I wanted to not know how blood sausage and head cheese were created.&Acirc;&nbsp; I wanted to not feel like a poor farm kid.
I never would have guessed twenty years ago that someday I would be wishing I had taken the time to learn all that I could from my Grandma, the old-school environmentalist who would have cussed you out if you called her that.&Acirc;&nbsp; She was organic, before organic was the cool thing to be.&Acirc;&nbsp; She was sustainable before it was a buzzword.
We dont need fancy books and professors to tell us how to be sustainable, we just need to listen and learn from the areas old-timers.&Acirc;&nbsp; Miss you Grandma&brvbar;
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<pubDate>Sun, 18 Apr 2010 08:48:41 -0700</pubDate>
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<item><title><![CDATA[Quad Cities Journal: Sand lake Shuffle Needs Everyone's Help On Behalf Of Our Local Cancer Patients!0]]></title>
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<description><![CDATA[Sand Lake Shuffle 19th Season Begins!It's time to begin planning for another successful local cancer fund raising event! This year's Sand Lake Shuffle (Sand Lake, Voyageur's Resort) Old Highay 53, Britt By Pass is scheduled for August 13/14. Last year, despite the economic problems, the Shuffle raised $48,400 that was disbursed to the CarePartners committee(provides money locally to those stricken with cancer and their families, The Liz Prebich Breast Cancer Center, Virginia, Mn., St. Mary's Breast Center, Duluth and St. Luke's Whiteside Research, Duluth for cancer research and treatment. The SLS committee tries to be fair and to provide for our local people's needs. Planning has begun and we ask that readers consider a team to walk around the beautiful Sand Lake track or to purchase our delicious $6 spaghetti dinner. Donations are always welcome and family and business fund raisers are becoming more popular. It is not too early to start planning and some of our members began last night. Questions? Ideas? Suggestions? lundgren65@yahoo.com ask for Holly and come for a fun evening of music, pizza, spaghetti, and laughter on Aug. 13/14.We are trying to put the &amp;quot;fun&amp;quot; into our local fund raising with an emphasis on the teams.]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sat, 17 Apr 2010 08:43:00 -0700</pubDate>
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