CEO of Massey Energy, Don Blankenship, and the Upper Big Branch Mine disaster

I think Don Blankenship should be tried for 29 counts of negligence in the workplace causing death.

Blankenship is the CEO of Massey Energy, one of the largest coal producers in the United States. Coal, of course, is one of the most significant sources of energy in North America.

On April 5th, 2010, one of Blankenship’s coal mines experienced an explosion (believed to have been cause by the presence of a methane), killing 29 people.

In 2009, Blankenship received a fine of $382,000 for serious violations for lacking ventilation in the mines, among several other safety concerns.

—Three Hundred and Eighty-Two THOUSAND Dollars!—

-Blakenship received two citations THE DAY BEFORE the explosion for safety violations.
-In the month leading up to the explosion, Blankenship received 57 citations for safety violations.
-In the previous five years, Blankenship has received citations for 1,342 safety violations.

In his defense, he said “Anything in life has risks”.

WHAT. THE. FUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Blankenship is apparently known to verbally confront his employees discouraging them from forming unions. In my opinion, if a work place can operate diplomatically with minimal risks of harm to the workers, then that seems fairly acceptable. However, in a case like this.. this is unacceptable.

I feel so bad for the people who have worked, currently work, and who might ever work under his direction.

The sad thing is, in our society, I wouldn’t be surprised to this man end up walking, free of any criminal wrongdoing. After all, his company is the fourth largest coal producer in the United States.

Does this bother anyone else? I haven’t been so bothered by something like this in so long.

St. Patricks Day/eRez Marathon

I knew it was too quiet during rounds to be true!
It was so quiet.. and then.. it all started!

I'll spare you the details, but basically..
SOO MUCH EREZ!!

It's 4:45am.
I am going to bed.

Goodnight world!

Self Portrait

Matt's Canadian Musician of the Week

Jason Martin - Ambient/Acoustic Rock from Vancouver, BC

Amazing. Listen to his song "Angel". Overwhelmingly powerful.

Canadian Music

I'm in the process of making a big Canadian Music board for my floor in residence.
I've done a lot of research for this, and made a lot of connections, and I'm hoping people like it! Even if no one reads it, or looks at it, I'll know that I did a pretty good job. There's a bunch of pictures and stuff.. working on the text and how I'm gonna lay things out.

I have my interview for Sr. RA on Wednesday. Pretty stoked, won't lie. I really want to get this job.

In completely unrelated news, I got mail today. Stuff I ordered online about three weeks ago came in! WOO! It's all the copies of this zine that I'm into. Pretty stoked. The best part is, a week after I ordered the zines, I ordered a CD that came from England. The CD got here BEFORE the zines.. and the zines were coming from Toronto :P

I thought it was funny anyways haha

ANYWAYS!
I have lots and lots and lots of work to do tonight!
Better get crackin!

If you're bored, check out this website.
http://mashable.com/

Common Sense Fail

Student arrested for doodling on school desk

NEW YORK (AP) — A New York City junior high student has been arrested for doodling on her desk with a marker.

Twelve-year-old Alexa Gonzalez scribbled “Lex was here 2/1/10“ on her desk Monday at Junior High School 190 in Queens. She also wrote “I love my friends Abby and Faith.” The girl says the doodles could have been erased.

Moraima Camacho says her daughter was released several hours after she was taken in handcuffs to a police station.

Education department spokesman David Cantor said the incident shouldn’t have happened, and that common sense should prevail.

Last month, the New York Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit alleging more than 20 instances of wrongful arrests and assaults by school safety officers.

Gonzalez has been assigned eight hours of community service, a book report and an essay on what she’s learned from the experience.

———
Story:
http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/WeirdNews/2010/02/05/12755611-ap.html

Inspiration

"See inspiration is the thing that keeps my brain ticking
If I don't feel inspired, something in my veins missing"

-'Inspiration' by Classified

I'm honestly so inspired right now.

I want to go out and shoot right now.
I can't wait to be home to go to some of these places.. It's gonna be sick!
I honestly can't wait.