Appalachian Theory

 YouGov has released its month-long poll, that ran from October 1 to October 25.  The methodology is straight forward (you can read it all here ) but this is supposed to be the final of the final polls:  For the math wizzes at home, this puts Kamala Harris at 276 electors (assuming she loses ME-02 which has had zero polling for whatever reason), assuming, of course, YouGov has their hands on the pulse of the electorate and not a twitch of the wrist....

 I've added some quality of life improvements on the starter's guide. New 2024 contexts are in orange. The original post from April 2010 is in whatever-color-that-is.  Coal Mining 101. So over the last few years, I've had a lot of emails regarding the technicalities of coal mining, from how to become a miner, to some tricky test questions. So I'd like to take this time to explain some of it here in the wide open, in the blog. I hope this helps you guys out: RED HAT/APPRENTICE MINER: All coal miners must complete the 80-hr Apprentice Certification Class, and pass the test to become an Apprentice Miner. You can find a local Class in West Virginia, Here . (or here ). You must be an Apprentice Miner (hereafter called a 'Red Hat') for 6months AND 108 shifts Underground. A shift is 4hrs-? working 13hrs in one day doesn't count as 2 shifts. only 1. Once you complete your 6months and 108 shifts, you take a test and become an Experienced Miner. (hereafter, 'Black...

 I have begun importing old blog posts from the old blog. This was October 2013.... WV Logo on Pop Cans It's always been there. What is it exactly? Who knows. I don't. I'm speaking of the "WV1" logo on pop cans. Ya know, this: I always thought it was just some WV thing, since I grew up here and all. That is, until I moved to Texas and Oklahoma in 2008. Out there, I also saw the "WV1" logo. Surely these cans weren't bottled and processed in West Virginia. So the wonder began. Then tonight, while cruising Yahoo Answers; it happened. This work of art: Have you ever looked at the top of a soda can. The state of West Virginia is on it. I've looked and looked but never figured out why, as it doesn't seem to be related to where it's bottled. Anyone know why? 6 years ago Report Abuse I don't live anywhere close to WV, so this isn't a local thing! Then the wonder came back. The answer was just and seemed reasonable: "Currently only We...

 I have stayed quiet this election, by and large part due to the upcoming release of America: The Obliged, which is based on largely in the timeline that Donald Trump indeed wins the election, and that, indeed Project 2025 comes to fruition, and henceforth the nation languishes in a conservative world until 2044, when things go dire . Bear in mind this next book was written in 2017 and revised in 2020, before hitting revisions in Q1 2024. I digress.  Aside from that, I have also remained mum compared to the last five or so elections due to the hostility of Trump supporters and the general malaise I have with the political climate in general (the media is discovering this phenomenon, calling us "silent Harris voters"). That said, I am not exactly thrilled to be in this boat. I mean, It's not often that I get to vote for two candidates that I don't really like... three times in a row . Be it so, welcome to American politics in the modern era.  I do have some thoughts, ...

 America: The Obliged Interview Nathan O'Discin Discusses America: The Obliged Kieran "Radii" Avenski 10/4/20249 min read This Post Originally Appeared On O'Discin Books. Q: What inspired you to write America: The Obliged? Blame the world we live in. ATO's first draft was written in 2017, and directly inspired by President Trump 'joking' about [the US] having a forever-president like Russia and China. Obviously, a lot changed over time, but I quickly got of the purview that we could have another civil war with all the political vitriol going on around the nation; I thought, "this is impossible, I need to get this crazy thought out of my head" but the more I reflected on how things were going in this country, the more I couldn't resist the temptation to put my fingers to the keyboard and narrate a civil war event in the modern era. A lot of our thoughts about a civil war rely on silly 1850s-era tropes, and many dystopic novels on the subject a...