Wilkes-Barre, PA
in the heart of the coal region of the Appalachian Mountains, where W.A. Boyle [1904-1985], president of the United Mine Workers of America from 1963 to 1972, died in hospital while serving three consecutive life-sentences in nearby Dallas Township, Pennsylvania, for the murder of Jock Yoblonski, his wife and daughter.
Death is no stranger to this part of the country. You may have in mind some bucolic Poconos resort of your youth, or perhaps some picturesque tale of the Molly Maguires starring Sean Connery, but though I have frolicked in my day in those Pennsylvania woods and dated more than a couple individuals who (like Sean and even resembling him) come from good coal-mining stock, I can assure you that there is more to this part of the country than just fun and games.
You may find this hard to believe, but I found myself complaining recently. My litany of complaints and of the petty slights and injustices I had endured began to increase in terms of their dramatic possibilities (in my own mind at least), until I began sounding like Grace Kelly in "The Country Girl" ["All I wanted was a modest job to pay for sugar for my coffee!"] I even threatened to throw in the towel, as they say; I as much as suggested with an ominious tone in my voice that I would give up blogging and look for a more constructive way to spend my precious free time.
It was at this critical moment that my wise friend Justin reminded me of my duty to you, Gentle Reader, in covering the current events unfolding in Wilkes-Barre, and I must admit I realized somewhat shame-facedly not only that I had obligations but that there were people having a much harder time of it than I was. That in fact my worst day could not really compare to the best day of the two men awaiting trial in Wilkes-Barre for the murder of a Dallas Township gay pornography producer, about whom I have from time to time referred in these pages.
"Harlow won't roll on me!" Kerekes cried out in court.
For those of you just joining us, I refer you to the pages above and to the Free Harlow Cuadra site, Harlow being one of the defendants along with Joseph Kerekes acccused of murdering Bryan Kocis. Recent developments in the pre-trial hearings underscore the importance of vigilance on all our parts in how this case goes down. Lives hang in the balance, needless to say.
As Justin has observed, this trial promises to bring many issues about our culture and our country into sharp focus, especially for those of you who might otherwise have remained blissfully ignorant. One might go so far as to say that abuse of controlled substances and unsafe sex practices are but the tip of the iceberg in terms of hot button topics on the agenda for discussion.
Although certain elements within the community are no strangers to the dark side of life, and more than one 'Coal Miner's Daughter' has no doubt strayed from the path of righteousness, nevertheless jury selection should prove an interesting process. Stay tuned.
Death is no stranger to this part of the country. You may have in mind some bucolic Poconos resort of your youth, or perhaps some picturesque tale of the Molly Maguires starring Sean Connery, but though I have frolicked in my day in those Pennsylvania woods and dated more than a couple individuals who (like Sean and even resembling him) come from good coal-mining stock, I can assure you that there is more to this part of the country than just fun and games.
You may find this hard to believe, but I found myself complaining recently. My litany of complaints and of the petty slights and injustices I had endured began to increase in terms of their dramatic possibilities (in my own mind at least), until I began sounding like Grace Kelly in "The Country Girl" ["All I wanted was a modest job to pay for sugar for my coffee!"] I even threatened to throw in the towel, as they say; I as much as suggested with an ominious tone in my voice that I would give up blogging and look for a more constructive way to spend my precious free time.
It was at this critical moment that my wise friend Justin reminded me of my duty to you, Gentle Reader, in covering the current events unfolding in Wilkes-Barre, and I must admit I realized somewhat shame-facedly not only that I had obligations but that there were people having a much harder time of it than I was. That in fact my worst day could not really compare to the best day of the two men awaiting trial in Wilkes-Barre for the murder of a Dallas Township gay pornography producer, about whom I have from time to time referred in these pages.
"Harlow won't roll on me!" Kerekes cried out in court.
For those of you just joining us, I refer you to the pages above and to the Free Harlow Cuadra site, Harlow being one of the defendants along with Joseph Kerekes acccused of murdering Bryan Kocis. Recent developments in the pre-trial hearings underscore the importance of vigilance on all our parts in how this case goes down. Lives hang in the balance, needless to say.
As Justin has observed, this trial promises to bring many issues about our culture and our country into sharp focus, especially for those of you who might otherwise have remained blissfully ignorant. One might go so far as to say that abuse of controlled substances and unsafe sex practices are but the tip of the iceberg in terms of hot button topics on the agenda for discussion.
Although certain elements within the community are no strangers to the dark side of life, and more than one 'Coal Miner's Daughter' has no doubt strayed from the path of righteousness, nevertheless jury selection should prove an interesting process. Stay tuned.
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