Unless your life is centered upon an iPhone, an iPad, and an iEverything else, there is a possibility you may have actually bought a postage stamp, written a letter, and mailed it. Continue reading
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Author Archives: Walter Brasch
Pennsylvania Senate committee says pigeon shoots are animal cruelty
HARRISBURG, Pa.—There is a remote possibility that Pennsylvania will finally ban the cruel practice of live pigeon shoots when the state Senate reconvenes in September. Pennsylvania is the last state where pigeon shoots are legally held. Continue reading
Scientists predict increased rain, floods for Northeast
Residents of New England and the Mid-Atlantic states will experience increased rainfall and floods if data analysis by a Penn State meteorologist and long-term projections by a fisheries biologist, with a specialty in surface water pollution, are accurate. Continue reading
An assault upon our civility
For awhile, it appeared the NRA leadership committed an act of sanity. But, a few hours later, the pills wore off. Continue reading
Insanity extends beyond the shooters
During this past week, in Scranton, Pa., a 16-year old put two bullets into the head of a taxi driver and then stole about $500 earned by the cabbie that evening. Continue reading
The fracking prostitutes of American colleges
Part 3 of 3 parts
Among the mission statements of the University of North Dakota Department of Geology and Geological Engineering is that it “strives to develop in its engineering graduates keen insight and abilities to design an environmentally sound and sustainable future for humanity.” Continue reading
The fracking prostitutes of American colleges
Part 2 of a 3-part series
Two of the reasons Pennsylvania has no severance tax and one of the lowest taxes upon shale gas drilling are because of an overtly corporate-friendly legislature and a research report from Penn State, a private state-related university that receives about $300 million a year in public funds. Continue reading
The fracking prostitutes of American colleges
Part 1 of a 3-part series
Lackawanna College, a two-year college in Scranton, Pa., has become a prostitute. Continue reading
Sitcoms not always a laughing matter
My favorite new TV comedy is “Growing Up Fisher.” Continue reading
Tragedy in the 24/7 news media
CNN is the 24/7 media trumpet for news about Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 that is presumed to have crashed in the Southern Indian Ocean, southwest of Australia. On that flight were 227 passengers and 12 crew members. Continue reading
Anti-fracking activist can now go to the hospital
Vera Scroggins of Susquehanna County, Pa., will now be allowed to go to her hospital, supermarket, drug store, several restaurants, and the place where she goes for rehabilitation therapy. She can also go to the county’s recycling center, which is on 12.5 acres of land the county had leased to Cabot Gas & Oil Corp., one of the largest drillers in the country. Continue reading
An injunction against the First Amendment
Vera Scroggins of Susquehanna County, Pa., will be in court Monday morning. Continue reading
Lettuce look at some prices
I was resting at home when Marshbaum called to ask if I wanted to go with him to look at the lettuce. Continue reading
Disposable assets in the fracking industry
The oil and gas industry, the nation’s Chambers of Commerce, and politicians, who are dependent upon campaign contributions from the industry and the chambers, claim fracking is safe. Continue reading
No merit badge for this former Eagle Scout
Rex W. Tillerson, a resident of Bartonville, Texas, like many of his neighbors was upset with his city council. That’s not unusual. Many residents get upset at their local governing boards. And so they went to a city council meeting to express their concerns that the council was about to award a construction permit. Continue reading
Communicating the Atomic Fart
My son’s best friend bought an iPhone shortly after they were first released in 2007. Continue reading
No honor in killing ‘God’s Dog’
A week before the opening of the Olympics, 759 Pennsylvanians paid $25 each to participate in a sport that would never be a part of any international competition. Continue reading
The propaganda Olympics
For Vladimir Putin, the winter Olympics is not about sports or international camaraderie. It’s a carefully orchestrated propaganda opportunity to try to showcase the nation’s athletes and show the world a Russia that, even with its great culture and arts, may exist only in the imaginations of those who believe in restoring the country’s previous grandeur. Continue reading
Pets are no more than discarded kitchen chairs in Pennsylvania
In Johnstown, two abandoned puppies died from starvation and freezing weather in an unoccupied house. Continue reading
Train derailments another of fracking’s problems
The derailment of a 101-car CSX freight train on a bridge in a densely-populated part of Philadelphia this past week should be yet another warning to politicians who have become cheerleaders for oil and gas fracking. Continue reading
The boozy, but not newsy, mass media
The Big Story this past week was the Golden Globes awards. Continue reading
America’s political twerks
When Muhammad Ali proclaimed, “I am the greatest,” we knew—and he knew—it would psyche out his opponents, get media attention, and receive a bigger box office. But, in the sport of boxing, Ali probably was the greatest. Continue reading
Depth takes a holiday in mass media
The mass media have a fixation upon throwing up lists. Continue reading
The 10 percent solution to expensive weddings
There are a number of great mysteries in life. Continue reading
No area safe from fracking
At the time New Jersey established a ban on fracking, it seemed symbolic, much like the moratorium in Vermont, which has no economically recoverable natural gas; the Marcellus Shale, primarily in New York and Pennsylvania, doesn’t extend into New Jersey. Continue reading
Let’s phrase this another way
Okay, all you loyal readers, I’d appreciate it if you would “Put your hands together” for today’s commentary. I want you to “give it up” for me. But, most of all, I want you to “show me some love.” Continue reading
Pennsylvanians support pigeon shoot ban
Three-fourths of all Pennsylvanians want to see an end to live pigeon shoots. Continue reading
An injunction against the truth
Monday morning, Oct. 21, 2013. Vera Scroggins, a retired real estate agent and nurse’s aide, was in Common Pleas Court for Susquehanna County, Pa., to explain why a temporary injunction should not be issued against her. Continue reading
Shuffling federal paperwork
The right-wing part of the Republican-controlled House of Representatives, with John Boehner in the role of spineless lackey rather than courageous speaker, has shut down much of the federal government. Continue reading
Jumping aboard fracking’s fossil fuel carousel
Two Pennsylvania legislators who have taken money from—and enthusiastically supported—the natural gas industry have teamed up to now praise coal. Continue reading
Passing gas to the consumer
Posted on July 15, 2014 by Walter Brasch
Gas prices at the pump during the July 4th extended weekend were the highest they have been in six years. This, of course, has little to do with supply-and-demand economics. It has everything to do with supply-and-gouge profits. Continue reading →