So the University of North Texas has this program called the One Book, One Community. Every year, every incoming freshman receive a copy of a book in which an event or series thereof are held to educate on the topics discussed in the book of choice. (A special commitee chooses the book every year, and they must really love my office). This year the weapon of choice is Big Coal by Jeff Goodell. Very good read, and he's even coming by to talk to students and we'll all be one big happy family. Oh yeah we've also invited the coal company reps to say their piece too. It's only fair. For all we know coal could be clean as a whistle. Although I highly doubt that.

It's an interesting topic, since no one really knew how bad coal really was until recently. The US has built practically our entire energy infrastructure on coal, and to look at all the energy and coal companies that did so and slapping them on the wrist, calling it "bad" is pretty stupid too. It's not like when we built the railroads back in the day we knew anything about climate change and icecaps melting. But on the other end, after almost a hundred years of coal being the source of my electricy, I think I have the right as a consumer to ask them to be a little more innovative.  I mean thats just under half the laifespan of our country, and we're still using coal? Why didn't we keeping inventing news ways of doing things sooner? Just because there's tons of coal out there doesn't mean we have to use it. Thoughts anyone?

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