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Powering the USA, keeping our lights on

This week, we have an Israeli delegation visiting West Virginia. They are looking for a site for their U.S. HQ & Research Center. Ido, one of the delegates, asked if there was a place he could buy a fishing rod for his son. I took them to Cabela’s. Ido was overwhelmed as soon as he saw several aisles of fishing rods: “I’m going to need some help.” He bought two collapsible rods, one for his son and one for himself, along with tackle. They loved the stuffed game animals and large fish tank. Another delegate was amazed at the variety of firearms. He commented, “You can buy ...

MOV Climate Corner: Earth’s greatest enemy

For two months now, the Trump Administration has been rounding out its formidable resume of crimes against humanity by carrying out a series of extrajudicial killings against what it claims to be Venezuelan drug traffickers in the Caribbean Sea. For all the scant evidence it’s provided as to the veracity of these claims, it appears every bit as likely that at least some of those vessels targeted have in fact been civilian fishing boats – though to be clear, this would still be a series of brazen war crimes in either case. Whatever the thinly veiled pretense for our saber-rattling ...

Veterans Day rooted in WWI

The 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. Tuesday we celebrate veterans and the contributions they have made to keep our country and the rest of the world safe. Veterans Day occurs on Tuesday this year because that date, Nov. 11, is the 107th anniversary of the end of World War ...

The 20th Amendment

The 20th Amendment improved the process of electing presidents. The amendment shortened the period between elections and when the president, vice president, and members of Congress take office. Before the 20th Amendment went into effect in 1933, the president was not inaugurated until March 4, the same day the new session of Congress began. Politicians on the way out are called “lame ducks” and may be of the other party than those who replace them. Lame ducks can pass or carry out laws without being responsible to the voters. The 20th Amendment shorted the lame-duck presidency by ...

Be a leader not a blamer

Our high school soccer team had a rough season. We lacked the ability to score and had a losing record going into the playoffs despite the boys’ hard work and improvement. In the playoffs, their goal was still to win the state championship. In the first playoff game, we scored an early goal. With less than four minutes to go in the game, our opponent scored. With less than a minute left, they were awarded a penalty kick and scored to lead 2-1. Our boys fought right to the end but couldn’t score. No state tournament or championship this year. The boys were devastated. They ...

Life is sweeter with chocolate

As long as there is chocolate, there will be happiness. - Wayne Gerard Trotman Over the past several years I have written here about the impact of climate change on many of our favorite commodities and critters: coffee, apples, tequila, polar bears, birds, insects, wildflowers. My concern isn’t just about saving coffee, apples, etc. – it’s about preserving the planet’s capacity to sustain life as we know it. People around the world love chocolate. But like so many of the foods people love and consume on a regular basis, chocolate is threatened by climate change. Climate ...