Two coal stories

As I've often stated here, I'm not one to fall for the whole right wing "war on coal" narrative." Having said that, I'm totally down with this Gazette editorial that highlights the unfair competition WV coal faces from operations on public lands in the western states.

SPEAKING OF COAL, here's another recent story about concerns about retiree health benefits promised by Consol. Could this be the next Patriot fight?

Rock on, Lou

I was saddened to learn of the death of rock legend (those words seem kind of trite here) Lou Reed. I must admit that I missed the whole Velvet Underground scene and only became aware of it much later.

But the Lou Reed that I remember most was the angry, prophetic voice behind his 1989 theme album New York, which denounced the greed, corruption, violence and indifference to the poor that characterized the country at the end of the Reagan era. The songs from that album permanently engraved themselves into my consciousness.

Today's song, Dirty Boulevard, is one of those. His words about "your hungry, your tired, your poor" have often gone through my mind when I witnessed the many degradations that poor people are still subjected to.

BAD MOON ON THE RISE. This news doesn't bode well for union miners.

BAD TASTE ON THE DECLINE. What was this Virginia amusement park thinking, anyway?

GET DOWN, DOG. Here's a look at why yoga is good for you.

GOAT ROPE ADVISORY LEVEL: ELEVATED