Open Thread

Howdy yall.
Got back down to freezing the other night at our house, but the days have been perfect. Unfortunately, Ive been trapped inside most of the time doing papers and studying for exams. My best friend just left for the Appalachian Trail today and I am really jealous. Im gonna miss him to.

I can’t wait to come back and do some more writing, but here are some things that have been popping up. Enjoy!

A new Gallup poll shows that 62% of Americans don’t think the government is doing enough to protect the environment.

Im really looking forward to diving into Jeff Biggers’ The United States of Appalachia here in the next week or so. His recent review of Ron Rash’s The World Made Straight on our blog was excellent.

Lack of industry regulation, whether with coal or chicken farms, is raising a stink in rural communities. This editorial nails local poultry farms.

Fish don’t have to be just another coal-industry waste product

Is there anything yall would like to see more of on this blog? Folks have mentioned wanting to see more politics, more mountaintop removal, more agricultural issues. How bout it?

About JW Randolph

Raised on the banks of the Tennessee River, JW's work to create progress in his home state and throughout Appalachia has been featured on the Rachel Maddow Show, The Daily Kos and Grist. He served first as Appalachian Voices’ Legislative Associate and then Tennessee director until leaving to pursue a career in medicine in 2012.