TriplePlaid

One point is that the Parker and Cross type of refills completely replaces the writing head and so by one view it is not really “BIFL” since so much of the unit has to be refreshed (and so not as environmentally friendly) compared to a fountain pen. That being said, for some people the risk of ink all over your hands is not worth or even entirely precludes using a fountain pen, or there may be other circumstances.

For example, at my workplace there is only one approved type of pen that can be used 😢

Pretty soon you’ll be hearing folks say things like “why are you worried if you don’t have anything to hide” as if personal privacy has no value whatsoever. It’s a slippery slope!!!

It is also the most serious contributor to acid rain.

https://www.gem.wiki/Sulfur_dioxide_and_coal

The EPA estimates that more than 65%, or over 13 million tons per year, of SO2 production in the U.S. comes from electric utilities, 93 percent of which is produced by coal power plants.

“Miners with black lung disease, meanwhile, have had to the Trump administration’s move to roll back safety protections for the coal industry…”

From OSMRE website:

Each year, OSMRE transfers more than $1 billion to the United Mine Workers of America Health and Retirement Funds to support health care and pension benefits for eligible coal miners and their beneficiaries.

The US spends billions every year subsidizing coal and paying for the toll it takes on coal workers’ health. And yet, the MAGA folks I know seem to be more supportive of coal than they were 5 years ago. Like a lot more.

I don’t get how this plays in MAGA favor when the coal miners themselves are getting shafted and when coal energy represents a complete and total grift - exactly the same type of stuff that had these same folks so excited about Trump and Musk cutting government programs. Any argument for coal falls apart immediately because natural gas is better in almost every way.

Why are these “coalfare kings” getting away with it?