Looking for love in the coalfields

In one of my favorite books, to wit The Prince, Machiavelli ponders such questions as whether it is better for a ruler to be feared or loved. If memory serves, he came down on the side of fear.

The coal industry is pretty good at using fear to protect its interests, but it seems to want to be loved as well. Here's an interesting look at how the industry is reacting to a recent poll that suggested broad opposition to mountaintop removal mining from Ken Ward's uber-blog Coal Tattoo.

Meanwhile, Goat Rope officially extends wishes for a good weekend to one and all.