Around the Columns

I'm too lazy to write my own stuff today so here's a sampling of what others managed to get down on paper:

• BillMaher goes after the 'Birthers' and the media who puts up with their stupidity in the LA Times.
• Paul Krugman at the NY Times sits us all down and explains why further government involvement in health care isn't all that radical of a change and why it's good for us.
• While your at the Times, check out Thomas Friedman's explanation of why the Islamic extremists are failing but mainly by default.
• Wil Wheaton reminisces on a chance encounter with Chuck Norris.
• Tyler rails against the aesthetics of a proposed CVS drug store on Youngstown's north side. (I manage to get into the debate somewhere around post 20).
• Warren Ellis on the Kindle, iPhone and snagging an audience.

That's all for today. Hopefully something interesting happens over the weekend.

San Diego Comic-Con Pics

I wish I could make it to the San Diego Comic-Con but something always comes up or I decide it's crazy to fly across the entire continent to hang with the other nerds. Anyway, I usually just end up reading the iReports from the folks who actually go, the press releases saying how much fun everyone is having and looking at the pictures of everyone's costumes. I don't dress up for the local shows I attend but it looks like those who do are having a good time. Here's a fun gallery if you're interested. (Must have had a sale on Princess Leia slave girl outfits).


Also, if anyone is interested, the Pittsburgh ComiCon is coming up on September 11, 12 & 13. This is always a fun show and the kids will love it.

You Sell What?!?

The recession seems to be hitting the Boardman area shoe market particularly hard, resulting in an innovation that merges selling footwear with odd sexual fetishes.

We did so go to the Moon

I'm not sure everyone is aware of this but there are a few people who think we didn't land on the Moon back in 1969. To hear them tell it the whole thing was fabricated. Made up. A vicious lie supporting whatever pet conspiracy theory they've concocted.

NASA has proven them wrong.






The NASA Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter has been orbiting the Moon and recently sent back these photos of the Apollo landing sites (it's orbit hasn't taken it over Apollo 12 yet). These photos show the Lunar Descent Modules, scientific experiments left behind and even tracks in the lunar dust left by astronauts.

I've always marveled at the folks who think the whole thing was a put on. Do they need attention that badly? Is it simply beyond their imagination to think we could have accomplished such a feat? I mean if the freakin' Mythbusters debunk your evidence, your conspiracy theory doesn't hold water.

The video of Buzz Aldrin punching a spectacularly ignorant conspiracy theorist is here because I like to watch astronauts punch spectacularly ignorant people.

New Sigg Water Bottles up at Cafe Press

Have you seen these new aluminum water bottles? You can stay hydrated and keep plastic out of landfills at the same time. If you buy my new "Pretentious Metal Water Bottle" design you can do all that and take a poke at yourself in the process. Nothing says cool like self-deprecating humour!

Choose from the pictured model or one of our other clever designs over at Rust Belt Pop.

Thomas Friedman on Why Cap & Trade will Benefit Us

New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman has an excellent article up explaining why putting a price on carbon emissions will enable the United States to lead the world in the production of clean energy.

Here’s the key point on energy from the draft report of the president’s Economic
Recovery Advisory Board: “If the U.S. fails to adopt an economywide carbon
abatement program, we will continue to cede leadership in new energy technology.
The U.S. is now home to only two of the ten largest solar photovoltaic producers
in the world, two of the top ten wind turbine producers and one of the top ten
advanced battery manufacturers. That is, only one-sixth of the world’s top
renewable energy manufacturers are based in the United States. ... Sustainable
technologies in solar, wind, electric vehicles, nuclear and other innovations
will drive the future global economy. We can either invest in policies to build
U.S. leadership in these new industries and jobs today, or we can continue with
business as usual and buy windmills from Europe, batteries from Japan and solar
panels from Asia.”

Green energy isn't a boondoggle or an issue only important to the left. Energy sustainability is good for the U.S. because it means we can reduce how much oil we import, keeping those dollars home. Even if we have coal and gas reserves to sustain us, the rest of the world doesn't. They will need nuclear, wind and solar and we should be ready to sell them the essential technology they will need. Friedman is correct in asserting that fourth place is not a good position for the U.S. to be in when it comes to clean energy technology. Growing pains now may be worth a gold rush later.

UFCW Local 880 is Picking on Henry Nemenz

I would like to thank Don Shilling and the Vindicator for publishing an article Sunday regarding the United Food and Commercial Worker union's picketing of Henry Nemenz's grocery stores. UFCW Local 880 has made a habit of placing informational pickets outside grocery stores owned by Mr. Nemenz and ignoring other non-union stores. These pickets inform shoppers the stores are not union shops. They have done so at his Hubbard IGA location (now closed), Sharon Sav-a-Lot, Poland Sav-a-Lot and his Struthers location.

As a resident of Hubbard I was embarassed to see paid picketers ruin a business in the community. Mr. Nemenz took over a closed store, the former Patton's IGA, and became the anchor for McConnells' plaza. He invested money in upgrading the store, hired Hubbard residents and gave people on the west side of town a place to shop. UFCW Local 880 members helped put those people out of work by driving away customers. Now those Hubbard residents have to work elsewhere, the city lost tax revenue and McConnell's plaza has a large, unoccupied store where a thriving business once stood. They did this even as the recession was beginning to grip the area.

We know UFCW Local 880 is picking on Mr. Nemenz because they ignore other non-union stores like Hubbard's Shop & Save and Brookfield's Mr. D's. I believe the union is infuriated that Mr. Nemenz has carved out a profitable niche in the local grocery economy and has done so without their assistance. These informational pickets have gone on for years. We all understand that the stores are not union shops. And you know what? We don't care.

One of the greatest things I have seen was the friends and families of Hubbard IGA workers stage counter pickets against the UFCW Local 880 in Hubbard. They kicked them off their sidewalk by showing up early in support of the workers and showed the union that they wouldn't be bullied. Perhaps it's time to do so again. The comments section of the Vindicator story has a thread where people are considering counter picktes at the Poland and Struthers locations. A way of telling UFCW Local 880 that their paid picketers are not the only ones who can voice an opinion. We did it in Hubbard so it can be done elsewhere. After all, this Local does not own the sidewalk and they certainly do not have any more right to it than those who want to oppose their bullying tactics.