Donora, Pennsylvania is located about 25 miles south of Pittsburgh in the Monongahela Valley. It means something to me, because it’s about six miles down river from my home town of Charleroi. Donora might be remembered as the birthplace of Stan Musial, Ken Griffy, Sr. and his son Ken Griffy, Jr., were it not for a few days around Halloween, 1948. That was when a temperature inversion descended on the valley trapping poisonous gasses in its deadly embrace. The resulting yellowish, acrid smog blanketed the valley and crept quietly into homes as people slept. (more…)
March 3, 2010
February 3, 2010
Pollution – Great Pacific Garbage Patch?
Some eight thousand people from one hundred seventy countries gathered in Copenhagen, Denmark for the 2009 Climate Change Summit, including heads of state from the United States, China, Great Britain and France.
You and I both know that none of the dignataries or heads of state traveled to Copenhagen on horseback or by sail, which would have shown how serious they are about climate change. No, you can bet they all arrived in big jets like Obama’s Air Force One. Not only that, advance teams, support teams and security teams travel with them. Multiply the number of jets by about five, and you’ll be close to right.
So, what does this say about the climate change movement? (more…)
January 25, 2010
Pollution – Global Warming?
When I was a little kid I used to love those awful science fiction movies that were so popular in those days. They were all about earth-destroying catastrophes caused by Martians, asteroids or gigantic creatures, and featured one or more scientists who find earth-saving solutions at the last possible minute. I thought it would be so cool to be one of those scientists and be the hero who saves mankind. I didn’t realize science requires brains and discipline, both of which elude me to this day.
Apparently I wasn’t the only kid who aspired to mankind-saving hero status. (more…)
