always me - a diary

( 9/03/2009 09:49:00 AM ) DN

About the Friends of America Rally on Labor Day.

Q. If these are the friends of America, who are its enemies?
A. Labor unions, earth scientists, and environmentalists. In other words, anyone who doesn't love coal!

If I don't love coal, am I an enemy of America?

Working class anti-unionists in this state need to review the history of the West Virginia mine wars.

The climate change deniers don't realize the boat has left the docks and they'll soon be stranded on an island by rising ocean water.

And Mr Blankenship can bitch and moan about outside agitators and tree huggers, but most of the protests of his mining operations are organized by local groups, filled with local citizens, groups like the Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition, the WV Highlands Conservancy, and Coal River Mountain Watch. That's because many of them know what kind of company Massey Energy is. For a taste, read this.

By contrast, the so-called Friends of Coal group is nothing but a marketing arm of the coal industry. There are no "members" -- just miners wearing their free t-shirts.

So, friends, enjoy your picnic. Some Americans will celebrate other things on Labor Day besides the love of coal profits.

I'm a West Virginian, and I approved this message.

Labels: coal, Massey

( 6/25/2009 03:36:00 PM ) DN

So true.
a comic from xkcd.com

( 12/31/2008 10:03:00 AM ) DN

Pretty coal, clean coal, good coal.
Images from the TVA fly ash retention pond failure in Tennessee

Have you ever wondered why coal miners in photographs and cartoons always have black faces? Ever heard of black lung disease?

Labels: coal, dirty

( 12/01/2008 02:09:00 PM ) DN

NaNoWriMo Winner!
No icon right now so you'll have to take my word for it.
Here's my profile, though. Yes, dear reader, I know you're dying to see it.

( 11/19/2008 09:17:00 AM ) DN

I love West Virginia
because of this: Mountain Stage

on Sunday night I heard:
Jim Bianco
the Lee Boys
Malcolm Holcomb
James McMurty
and (the reason I bought tickets)
Shelby Lynne!!!

I couldn't begin to list the bands and artists I've seen & heard perform there over the years.

Their website is kind of cool - links to artists, broadcasts of old shows, and other stuff.

Labels: i love west virginia, music

( 11/12/2008 09:18:00 AM ) DN

Why I still love (and hate) my redneck, intolerant, xenophobic part of the country:

It produces people like this: Joe Bageant

Although I sometimes feel like Red Green does about his manhood: "I'm a hillbilly, but I can change. I guess. If I have to."

I'm not really a hillbilly, but it's in me. I have lived here in WV as long as I've lived anywhere. I’m one of those mutts, Joe, so I hear ya. We’ve got lots of bad habits and not many good ones. But dammit, that’s who we are. (Unwarranted self-confidence, is that one of our character traits?)

How did I get here? I ask myself that quite a lot, actually. My hometown in the East was lacking something for me. I couldn't see myself long in it. In high school, I never had a date that included conversation. Only drinking, dope, and/or sex. (Just kidding, kids). My girlfriends were good sensible girls, but most fit into the category whose senior ambition was “To marry Buddy and make him happy,” rather than my category, which was “To get the hell out of this town.” Ten years in Southern California nearly killed me with beauty, wealth and good weather, because the orange sellers made me want to cry or write protest songs. Now I am back in the home of my fathers and mothers, watching the last gasp of Appalachia as part of America. Do I fit better here than in the other places? Not really.

Labels: Appalachia, politics

( 9/26/2008 03:41:00 PM ) DN

Dirty Coal (Bowl) Weekend
Let's hear it for what shall be known (by me) as the Dirty Coal Bowl. It sounds so much more like a street brawl! And it's way more accurate.

I've never seen such a sheepish, 'unhappy to be here' shill in my life as "Friend of Coal" Coach Pruett last year at the DCB. I think Don Nehlen or somebody like that stood with him and awkwardly praised the industry. I dunno, maybe all ex-coaches in WV are friends of coal.

Maybe this will be Marshall's year. I'll be watching it.

Labels: coal, Marshall