should we have a quorum of Saw alumni to say goodbye then?

Maybe tip some 40s in front of the NorShor for our dead homies?

Condolences. It's a sad, sad day. A little piece of Duluth has died today.

And it's really too bad because it was the rebel piece. The piece that refused to give up, give in and give out - not until the last dying breath was exhausted. It was the piece of Duluth for which everyone had a special affection. No matter whether you read it religiously as a member of the Duluth “alt” scene; occasionally while chewing on your next slice of Mashed Potato at Luce, or angrily, while sitting behind your big oak desk in a Works Progress building, you had to admire this little rag. This rag that rose from the historical obscurity of a long dead local watch-dog, to become an important and significant piece of Duluth that spawned more than its share of water-cooler discussions.

I know what I’m drinking to tonight.

The times I visited Duluth, I read Ripsaw. It was everything The City Pages didn't want to be, but that I wanted it to be. I will miss it.

From its ashes, what will rise? I think Duluth needs something like Ripsaw. Any reason the group of passionate volunteers couldn't begin brainstorming of ways to create something new, but with a structure that won't constantly be on the verge of imploding?

Good luck...D'luth needs it, if only so the people of this town have somewhere to go without having to turn to Potter!

Bleh, stuck with The Reader as my free mag! I think I'll pick up the Budgeteer instead...

It's nice to see Bob Boone gloating (http://www.duluthsuperior.com/mld/duluthsuperior/business/13347544.htm) over the Ripsaw's demise. I'd expect nothing less from that liar.

Maybe the best we all deserve is The Reader?

Gee, no more public blowjobs for you. So whats your little sanctimonious Hot-Dish Mafia going to do now?

Happy Pearl Harbor Day, you rubs!

I’ll offer the following in response to Michael’s “Any reason the group of passionate volunteers couldn’t begin brainstorming ways to create something new …?”

Assuming there’s no one about to step up with three year’s worth of operating capital for an alt-weekly to get a profitable foothold in town, perhaps we should team-blog our way to comprehensive news-arts-culture coverage. I’m thinking something akin to MnSpeak, but with the goal of trying to get on-screen what’s important in this town, since no one else is doing it that well.

Basically … links, with commentary, to stories from the DNT, Reader, Budgeteer, Local TV… links to local bloggers/advocates/nutcases … a bit of newsgathering ourselves when the established media are missing something … a “Don’t Miss” entertainment pick each weekend … regular 7QQ-like interviews … a Duluth Citizen’s Blog “quote-of-the-week” … reader responses, of course … our comments on the news or the media reporting it … etc. etc. etc.

Keep the items short, make our comments sharp, and keep the overhead cheap.

I’ll volunteer to watch the outdoors/environment beat and do five Q&As before the first day of spring.

Anybody?

Charlie,

I would like to be a part of that, too. I see something similar to PDD, but with a clear direction and purpose as opposed to free-form blogging that invites anyone and everyone to post. Or as you said, something like MNSpeak.

Making this work would require a substantial number of dedicated people. A blog is a daily thing after all, which requires a lot more content than a weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly.

I agree, Barrett, about the dedicated folks something like this would need. I don't know if a critical mass like that exists anymore.

I agree to about the daily-ness of the project. One hope, though, is that short, reactive items might be easier for people to commit to than 2000 word stories requiring interviews and actual reporting.

I guess we'd need to see if anyone but the two of us thinks this could float.

Anybody else?

Reader Weekly ... Yeah, I like poorly edited local writing mixed with stuff stolen off the wire too ...

OK: At least there's still a sense of "let's just DO this ..." floating around Dullyouth. I worked for the Ripsaw from day one, for little to no money. The one thing I really take away from the experience is that if you think you can do something, dive right in. Talk is cheap. (Actually, make that three things: 1) Just do whatever it is you think is cool and good, 2) AP style, 3) It's possible to write and edit while completely hammered. Maybe even easier.)

More elaboration on the "Train Truction" thing: My brother moved to Duluth from Fairbanks with a degree in journalism, and about five minutes after he got here he was roped into doing stuff for the 'Saw. (The ad for the Pavement show -- all Jeff Cork; Cord asked him if he'd do it, and Jeff was so hammered he was afraid he wouldn't be able to draw a straight line -- but on the other hand, afraid that if he said no, he wouldn't get to draw the ad. Sucker.)

Anyways, Jeff writes this review for the Jesse Ventura book, and Cord and Brad, in a late-night design flurry, cut half the article at the jump. Jeff later asks why they didn't notice the mistake, especially since the review contained the word "traintruction," and the unforgettable response: "We just thought it was a word we didn't know."

Awesome.

Still sometimes lurking here from my "other" life...
Ah, the Ripsaw. My first published work appeared in that paper, and I was SO excited. I became a "writer". (Note to editor-HA! I'll never learn!) Even contributed from Kansas while in self-imposed exile, was kept alive with that vital link.
Played memory lane with old online 'Saw archives just yesterday. Long may they live!

I think a weekly podcast could go well with Charlies idea.

Sad news, indeed. When I started picking up the Ripsaw during my years at UMD, it gave me a whole new perspective on Duluth, and made me a lot more excited to be there. And after I moved away, getting the copies my brother would mail to me out in Montana made me miss Duluth a whole lot more. Duluth'll be a little less vivid without it.

Here's hoping a phoenix finds its way out of the ashes...

I think Brad and several others deserve a pat on the back or a free beer or something for getting the Ripsaw going and keeping it going for as long as they did. I'll miss it. I was proud to be an occasional contributor, and I think the paper definitely had an impact on Duluth.

I'd be willing to contribute to some kind of online thing. I ain't so good with the writin' and reportin' wordy things, but I could offer some drawin' and photographin'.

Print is dead.
Well, not really, but it's just too damn expensive and time-consuming.

I'll miss the ripsaw, it was perfect for my reads between class and so i knew what show to go to that weekend. I would love to help with some sort of online rag, i'm not much of a writer but i'll help with whatever i can.

I got into the Ripsaw about a year ago, right after a lot of people had already left. It seemed to pretty much be heading down with each issue we put out. Sad that it couldn't keep going, but we all knew it would be ending at some point.

As far as keeping some alt community alive on the web, I'd be interested in helping out. Unfortunaltely I'm not in Duluth anymore, but I'd be more than happy to contribute my website design and programing skill for the cause.

Barrett or Charlie, or whom ever, feel free to contact me if you'd like.

btw, Zac is so right. Bob Boone is a filthy liar. I met him once (didn't like him) he told be that he didn't start making a 'profit' until the Ripsaw started to struggle. He seemed pretty happy about it.

Why the hell was half of that story Bob Boone quote anyways. Can't they talk to someone besides the fucking competition, like maybe . . . someone from the Ripsaw?! What a terrible story.

Bob Boone is the last man standing. That does make for a terrible story, but it's not the News Tribune's fault.

I could contribute a few thoughts on food, gluttony, debauchery, the like.

I could do some minor writing as well, in order of competence, music, books, food, politics, art.

It would be something not more then 1x a week.

(I also have some moderate web skills if needed)

I'd like to help too.
I like to make stuff and take pictures.

Will I regret this?

If you think you're interested in getting involved in this next thing we're discussing, send me an e-mail at:

[email protected].

I don't know what, if anything, will come of it, but we might as well talk.

I wouldn't mind writing something on an occasional basis...

whatever is in the works, i'd like to help out.
i don't write real well, but i'm helpful... with... stuff...

Spaeking as undead, I can tell you that we have alot more fun. I've got a nice rent controlled crypt and the lich of regan just moved in next door.
Really I'd finally re emerge for more apochalyptic scenarios if there was a hint of dirty work afoot.

Jesus Christ on a cracker--if Dr. Tomorrow's back, DotyGate v2.0.1 vs. Rob Linkasaurus can't be far behind him!

To the HuberBunker!

Only the good dye young.

PSYCHE!!! Good riddance to that shit.

It's D-I-E hater.