John Bauer's first appearance in a commercial

Facing North: Portraits of Ely

Tomorrow morning (Friday June 13th at 8:10am) we're going to talk with Andrew and Ann Goldman about the book they've created "Facing North: Portraits of Ely, Minnesota" published by University of Minnesota Press.

Ann wrote the essays and Andrew is the photographer for this project. The book features more than 100 portraits and essays about the unique people who call Ely home.

Andrew Goldman writes in the photographer's preface:

The idea of documenting Ely, Minnesota, appealed to me for a number of reasons. The visual variety and strength of character in the people offered seemingly limitless potential for interesting images. The town has a timelessness, an enduring spirit directly connected to the early pioneers who settled this area barely one hundred years ago. The context of the Northwoods is present in every person and every endeavor, but primarily I wanted to find the larger story through the faces of the people here.

Do you have a connection to Ely? Post it here!

Did you hear last week's StoryCorps segment?

Most of the StoryCorps segments we hear on NPR's Morning Edition are touching and move me close to tears. Last week's was a whole different can of worms - it cracked me up! Ramon's story was recorded at the StoryCorps Mobile Booth in San Diego. He talks about how all the Mexican-American students at his school had their names "americanized" by their teachers. Ramon became Raymond.

The teachers DIDN'T change one kid's name though. Listen to it here.

And don't forget that the StoryCorps mobile booth is coming to Grand Rapids to include US in the largest oral history project in the United States. They will be here August 25th - September 20th. Stay tuned for how you can sign up to talk with someone you care about!

Tune in Friday mornings for segments of StoryCorps - or check the website for archives and blogs about the project.

Off the Deep End

No, I'm not talking about the mindset of most of us here at KAXE, it's the title of a book that will be featured on the Morning Show this Friday, June 13th at 8:40am. The full title is:

"Off the Deep End - The Probably Insane Idea That I Could Swim My Way Through a Midlife Crisis - And Qualify For The Olympics"

Hodding Carter writes:

In February 2004, I decided I was going to qualify for the Olympics. I was forty-one. At that age, most men who are suddenly afraid of yet one more day flying by (read midlife crisis) buy motorcycles or get twenty-year-old girlfriends or they doctor up their bodies with pectoral implants - some even do all three. The majority, however, don't abruptly decide to pit themselves against the greatest swimmers in the world.

Tune in!

Ramblin' Jack

So we're getting ready to talk with Ramblin' Jack tomorrow on the Friday Morning Show and we were inundated by Ramblin' Jack songs and anecdotes in the conference room. Okay, maybe it was the lemon bars talking but Maggie and Mark couldn't STOP telling us about Ramblin' Jack ...

Maggie really likes Jack's rendition of the Dylan song "Don't Think Twice It's Alright" and of course "912 Greens" (though it's a VERY long song)... and also South Coast - he won a Grammy in 1998 for it...

Mark told us more about how Ramblin' Jack was the real deal - and that Bob Dylan emulated himself after Jack. Jack lived with Woody Guthrie for awhile - as a student and an observer. Woody's son Arlo has said that because of his dad's early death, it was Ramblin' Jack who really taught him about this dad's music. Oh yeah, Ramblin' Jack was not a train hobo, he was a hitchhiker. And the name didn't come from traveling - Ramblin' came from Jack's love of storytelling.

Ramblin' Jack is headlining the Dylan Days concert on Saturday night at 7pm on the Hibbing High School auditorium stage - joined by Spider John Koerner and Tony Glover. See the Dylan Days website for more information.

What's YOUR favorite Ramblin' Jack song?

StoryCorps - Mom and Son - Why Are You Still Not Married?

Did you get a chance to hear last week's StoryCorps on NPR's Morning Edition on KAXE?

10-year-old Rahsheed McKenstry interviewed his mother Rhonetta in Memphis, Tennessee. Rahsheed and his brother are being raised by their mother and he had some questions to pose to her.

"OK, so why are you not still married?"
"Because my ex-husband was horrible," she said.
"Was he violent toward you?"
"Yes."
"Was he violent toward anybody else?"
"You and your brother, which is why I won't let him see you."

Listen to their conversation here.

The StoryCorps Airstream is coming to Northern Minnesota at the end of August through September. This means you will have the chance to sit down with someone you care about and ask them questions. Contact us if you are interested in setting up an interview or want to volunteer with this project.

Other things you can do:

Listen Friday mornings to NPR's Morning Edition on 91.7 KAXE

Read the StoryCorps book "Listening Is An Act of Love - A Celebration of American Life from the StoryCorps Project"

Have your bookclub read "Listening Is An Act of Love - A Celebration of American Life from the StoryCorps Project"

Subscribe to the StoryCorps podcast

Check out the StoryCorps website - http://www.storycorps.net/

Read the StoryCorps blog

Come to a Listening Party at KAXE studios - stay tuned for details

Career Advice from a Comic Book

Tomorrow we're talking to author Daniel Pink about his new manga career book for young adults "The Adventures of Johnny Bunko - the Last Guide You'll Ever Need". In graphic novel/cartoon form Pink gives six core lessons of finding, keeping and flourishing in statisfying work.

Tune in to the Morning Show Friday April 18th at 8:10 for a conversation with Daniel Pink!

Movie talk tomorrow

Do you care about the Oscars?

Are you a movie buff?

Have you seen any of the movies nominated?

Tomorrow (6:40) on the KAXE Morning Show we'll talk with the Mom of Pop Culture before she heads out to California for the Oscar show and parties - we'll also talk with University of MN film history professor Dr. Rob Silberman at 8:10. He'll tell us what to look for at the Oscars and also what to go see at your local theater or to rent on dvd.

So who will win best picture?

Atonement
Michael Clayton
Juno
No Country for Old Men
There will be Blood

There are at least 2 Minnesota ties to these films - Juno is written by former Minnesotan Diablo Cody (once a guest on the Friday Morning Show) and No Country for Old Men is directed by superbrother directors Joel and Ethan Coen (never guests on the Friday Morning Show) who grew up in Minnesota.

And don't forget - a perfect pre-Oscar event is happening at the Grand Rapids Area Library - the final Film Noir of The Big Read with Steve Martin's spoof "Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid". It's at 3pm - free (both the movie AND the popcorn!).

Chef Billy's recommendations for Sarah

Today we talked with our buddy Chef Billy from Cooking Light magazine. Sarah from Grand Rapids called in to ask how she could spice up the sloppy joes she'd be serving on Christmas. He had some great ideas!

1. Instead of using ground beef, use some stew meat, or cubed meat for a chunkier, more rustic concoction. Throw it into the crockpot with onions and tomato sauce/ketchup and herbs of your liking. Use a little extra sauce than you normally would to cook the cubed meat more...

2. Add some corn and/or black beans before you are ready to serve. Not too much - it's a sloppy joe, not a chili.

3. Instead of potato chips try roasted parmesan potatoes. Billy said to NOT wash the potatoes and cut them into wedges. Throw them into a bowl with a little oil (olive or your choosing) garlic powder, pepper and parmesan cheese (salt isn't needed because of the parmesan cheese). Toss these all together and then line them up, point side up, on a cookie sheet with parchment paper - all separated and not touching each other. Bake at 375 degrees until golden brown. If you want them crispy he said about 4 minutes longer after they are golden brown.

4. Do the same thing with cauliflower. Cut up your caulifower and toss with oil, garlic powder and pepper. Bake at 350 degrees and add the parmesan cheese AFTER they are golden brown and out of the oven. (Be careful when opening the oven door Billy said, there will be lots of steam!

Billy also had some recommendations for appetizers during the holidays. He said that pigs in a blanket are the most popular appetizer. Or cows in a blanket, your choice... He suggested getting some really good hot dogs, some puff pastry from the freezer section... wrap a hot dog once with the puff pastry and seal it with a little egg wash. Bake and serve with mustard.

Billy's best advice for ANY cooking around the holidays - DON'T COOK STUFF THAT YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TO DO! KEEP IT SIMPLE!

Chef Billy also gave us a little sneak peak into cooking trends for 2008 - he said it's the year of the meatball. EVERYONE LOVES MEATBALLS. Or non-meat vegetarian alternative balls. mmm.....meatballs.....

what are you making for the holidays?

Mary Casanova

Tomorrow morning Minnesota children's author Mary Casanova will be talking with me and John at 7:40. We'll talk about her book "Some Dog" - a beautiful children's book about a basset hound named George. John, parent to Lloyd the basset hound, practically cried when he saw it! Check out Mary's website to see all of her books.

In "Some Dog" George saves the day. Has your dog or cat ever saved the day? Let us know!

Later in the Morning Show we'll talk to Dr. Michael Fox. He'll take your pet questions! Call and join us between 8:15-8:45 for our monthly call-in pet program.

Speaking of Minnesota Christmas gifts, Mary and Dr. Fox are Minnesotans with new books available on their websites!
-Heidi

How was your Thanksgiving?

Was there lots of turkey? Stuffing? Cranberries? What will you do with the leftovers?

Was your turkey dry? Was the gravy lumpy?

Tune in for Chef Billy from Cooking Light magazine on the Friday Morning Show at 8:10. If you have a question for the Chef, email us!

Wenger Potpourri tomorrow

Yes, it's true, we're letting the madman/staff physicist Aaron Wenger on the Friday morning show tomorrow. And we're letting him pick the topic. Granted, he doesn't have control of the board...call in your question for Aaron at 8:40. Or email!

Also, at 8:10, we're talking with Sonny Brewer. Sonny's dog Cormac went missing in San Fransisco while he was on a book tour. One month later, Cormac showed up in Connecticut, neutered, renamed Cognac and waiting to be adopted. We'll find out the real story behind the wayward Cormac tomorrow.

Friday we're talking Fish Houses!

Kathryn Nordstrom will be joining us tomorrow to talk about her new book that celebrates that crazy thing we do in winter in Minnesota - put houses on frozen water! Kathryn's new book is published by Dovetailed Press and is a photographic journey that shows the ordinary and the extraordinary fish houses. From the Aitkin Fish House Parade to the Brainerd Ice Fishing Extravaganza to the shanty you can see from your window, it's a great exploration of Minnesota's culture of life on the ice. There's fancy fish houses that look better than some of our own houses to the basic no fuss variety. Tune in at 8:10 for a conversation about ice houses.

Grateful in Remer

Today on the Morning Show John and I talked with Larry Mackey from Remer, from his hospital bed at St. Mary's Hospital in Duluth. Larry had a close call last week.

Larry fell 20 feet from his bear stand in the woods by his home on the evening of Monday Sept. 10th, injuring himself so much that he thinks he was unconscious for a couple of hours.

That couple of hours in the woods, on the floor of the forest, lasted until FIVE DAYS LATER when his grandson found him.

Larry was in the same spot for most of the time, as he broke his femur, pelvis and had many other injuries including a laceration on his head. He had no water,no food, and no warmer clothes....so he stuffed his coat with grass, leaves and moss, and tried to stay warm, and stay positive. Larry told us he knew he couldn't fall asleep, with the threat of hypothermia on those chilly nights.

What did he do to stay awake? He sang songs to himself. He also watched a mother bear and two cubs and some timberwolves.

His grandson Lucas arrived from the Twin Cities on Friday night but didn't realize his grandfather wasn't in his bed until the next morning. As soon as he realized it, he jumped on the four wheeler and found him right away.

"He's a great young man" Larry told us, "I love him very much."

Larry also told us he's going to be safer the next time he's out in the woods alone, and will carry a cell phone with him. Larry's got a long road to recovery ahead of him, but with friends and family looking out for him, and his positive attitude, he's hoping he'll be able to bear hunt NEXT season.

What do you carry when you are out in the woods alone? How do you think you would have reacted?

Thanks to Northland Press for their coverage of Larry's story. We're all pulling for you Larry!

-Heidi

This Friday we talk with Princess Kay...

of the Milky Way for 2007-2008, Ann Miron.

Ann Miron, a 19-year-old college student from Hugo, was crowned the 54th Princess Kay of the Milky Way in an evening ceremony at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds August 22. Tune in to the Friday Morning Show at 8:40 this week John and Heidi will find out what she will do with her butterhead.