DULUTH — Pop culture references for Duluth are myriad.

Entire libraries could be filled with books that tip a hat to Duluth and the Northland. I still remember Chris Farley and David Spade passing a Duluth sign during their ill-fated sales trip in “Tommy Boy.” And seemingly every episode of “Mystery Science Theater 3000” included a Duluth Easter egg among the wisecracks.

Still, it’s fun to bump into a Duluth reference that is new to you or long forgotten.

The other night I was reading “The Stand” by Stephen King and read a very short but sweet paragraph or two about a man in Duluth walking on Piedmont Avenue with a sandwich board proclaiming the end of the world.

It’s probably been 30 years since I last read King’s stellar apocalyptic novel about the struggles of survivors of a deadly flu pandemic, but since I wasn’t living in Duluth at that time, I probably read over that part without a second thought.

I decided to pick “The Stand” up again as part of a crazily ambitious plan to read every one of King’s novels and short stories in the order they were published. I’ll get back to you about that in four or five years when I’ve finished reading those 80 or so books.

If you’ve ever read the unabridged version of “The Stand,” you know that at 1,153 pages it’s both a mental and physical workout. It’s definitely not light reading. (And reading it now in the age of COVID-19 provides another interesting layer for this Constant Reader.)

But seeing Duluth’s small but memorable inclusion in one of my favorite books provided a light moment to pack away somewhere in my brain where I store useless trivia.

I hope you all have a great weekend and catch a Duluth reference or two while consuming movies, books or music.

Here are some DNT highlights from the past week:

Stories about unique houses are always well-read, and the house DNT lifestyle reporter Melinda Lavine recently wrote about certainly qualifies as unique.

As the headline says, “Duluth ‘floating’ house is yours for $750,000.”

Lavine and DNT photographer Steve Kuchera checked out the Congdon Park neighborhood home and shared their findings with readers this past week.

Lavine writes that “The three-bedroom, three-bathroom features vaulted ceilings, an indoor pool, natural woodwork, a fireplace and oodles of built-ins, shag carpeting with carpets and vanities to match. The foyer’s vertical brick extends out to the exterior wall.”

Sounds like a fun and fancy adult treehouse!

Could someone float “Weekly Wave” a loan?

While I dig between the cushions in my couch for some spare change, you can read more about the interesting house from Lavine and check out Kuchera’s photos here.

Last week in this same spot, “Weekly Wave” featured an article about how Cirrus supports a rescue program called Pilots N Paws that saves dogs destined for euthanasia and pairs them with families.

This week, the Superior Telegram’s Maria Lockwood gives us a heart-warming story about teenagers and adults rallying around an injured raptor.

Other than telling you the story has a happy ending, “Weekly Wave” won’t spoil any other details. Click this link and you can find out how Marlys, a 4-year-old bald eagle, was rescued and how it is doing today.

You might want to read this story after breakfast, not during. But the wait will be worth it.

I mean, the headline “Beaver bling found in wolf dung” requires further investigation, right?

Outdoors reporter John Myers finds some of the most fascinating stories we’ll ever publish. In this case, scientists are learning interesting things about wolves from their droppings.

Fortunately for Myers, writing his in-depth story didn’t require that he actually perform the doo-doo investigation; his sources were happy to provide that information. The beavers, not so much.

Once your breakfast is finished, please read more about what scientists are learning about wolves from the “clues” they are leaving behind.

Here are a few more stories from the past week I thought you may enjoy:

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