A fire has destroyed the historic Neale Mansion

This perhaps is more a story for my local readers in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania..

According to the Pottsville REPUBLICAN HERALD today, firefighters were called to he Neale Mansion in Foster Twp.. The paper does not yet have specifics as to the totality of the fire, but the word ‘destroy’ in the headline is enough to cause me to think it’s a loss..

This photo is from the newspaper: 

This would make the destruction of a house with historic appeal—and controversial appeal over the past few years.

James B. Neale was a coal baron who, according to books about him, was generous and took care of children from the area.. There are some very positive stories about Neale and idyllic goals.. James Neale was one of those coal barons who did little evil. . as a matter of fact, as the book "The Great Chance" explained, he wanted coal miners to be well housed, healthy, and sanitary, and educated. 

People have long ventured into the area to snap photos of the expansive and amazing mansion..

The mansion itself was subject to years worth of controversy. In 2008, the owners wanted to bar demolition of the mansion.... In 2010, Foster Twp asked a judge to allow work on the mansion. In 2012, it was officially sold.

In 2014: It’s burned to the ground..

Sad day for those who love history, and those who long cherished the ideals set forth by one of the few honest coal barons of that day, James Neale..

West Virginians risk non-stop vomiting if they drink or touch water after chemical spill

And here is some more information on this developing story..

Massive chemical spill in West Virginia forces state of emergency and a water ban in 9 counties! More than that.. schools and restaurants are closed in the main capitol of Charleston.. The water ban and state of emergency comes after a chemical leak into Elk River.. MORE: Affected residents have been told not to drink, cook, bathe or wash with the contaminated water supplied by West Virginia American Water .. Along with all of this, some people are being treated for water related issues .. from the CBS report:

"Once word got out about the governor’s declaration Thursday, customers stripped store shelves in many areas of items such as bottled water, paper cups and bowls. As many as 50 customers had lined up to buy water at a convenience store near the state Capitol in Charleston. "It was chaos, that’s what it was," cashier Danny Cardwell said. "

West Virginians risk non-stop vomiting if they drink or touch water after chemical spill

Whoa

A closed bridge over troubled water..

Does this nightmare ‘weighing down’ the Governor of New Jersey have enough to stop his road to the White House?

….so what other issues actually made Mitt Romney drop Christie’s name from contenders for VP? 

What else …is there?

Target: Stolen information involved up to 70 million people

Target disclosed that a mass information breach involved data belonging to up to 70 million customers, a number more extensive than originally believed.

Thanks for the belated Christmas gift, Target, the inclusion of 30 million more people in the original numbers..

This is a big, BIG, data breach. 

Must have been a Target on this store..

Target: Stolen information involved up to 70 million people

Forced abortion abuses in China being revealed

Forced abortion abuses in China being revealed

It’s Lego time for Ayden Kreuger

Dead cows washing up on beaches

Seriously space aliens, this is the best thing that you can do to get rid of the body?

Dead cows washing up on beaches

Security alert in southern Russia as bodies found in bomb-rigged cars

Security alert in southern Russia as bodies found in bomb-rigged cars

For some fun, I may seek out every newsstand and out this issue of Janet Yellen in front of all Playboy and Playgirl .. Just for fun. Some good clean Yellen fun.

The gloves are off! Fat jokes begin. Get the cattle prod.

I’d much rather hear less about politics and more about how I can warn 50gs in cash!

A quick walk in the woods yielded this, I think I found my Christmas tree for next year already!

A nightmare at naptime!

Ayden it’s going to daycare today looking slightly like a toddler version of Freddy Krueger. But.. The fluffy Ninja Turtle hat and Scooby Doo mittens may take away some of the fear factor.

Investigator reacts to leaked bridge scandal emails: Chris Christie is clueless or a liar

Wait a minute.. did Chris Christie eat the bridge!?

Investigator reacts to leaked bridge scandal emails: Chris Christie is clueless or a liar

1400% Radiation Hot Spot Found on San Francisco Beach

Nothing to see here………………………..

1400% Radiation Hot Spot Found on San Francisco Beach

Who needs parents when your kids have PJs

Another example of technology extracting even bit of human interaction in life.. Pajamas will soon tell bedtime stories to your kids. Seriously..

SMART PJs will be able to talk your child to sleep, I suppose..

While the pajamas will not be able to comfort a crying child who is scared of dark shadows at bedtime, I am sure a robot soon will. And you, as a parent, can achieve your splendid plan of doing nothing while raising your child. Congrats .. now the shining and most beautiful moment of the day—bedtime—will be taken from your by technologically advanced pajamas.

The Smallest and Faintest Galaxies of the Ancient Universe Spotted

Thanks Hubble for some more thought provoking images.. 60 faint and small galaxies far far away…

The Smallest and Faintest Galaxies of the Ancient Universe Spotted

New construction-themed amusement park being built in South Jersey

Diggerland Adventure Park, which is being touted by developers as the first construction-themed amusement park in the United States will be built in West Berlin, Camden County

Love it!

If only I was a kid again, I would have thoroughly enjoyed this. The hell with Hershey Park! Jersey’s going to have diggers!  You just won a Superbowl? You’re going to DIGGERLAND!!!

New construction-themed amusement park being built in South Jersey

George Knapp, get well..

I spoke with Coast to Coast part time host George Knapp today.. he is recovering after a life threatening illness. Sepsis almost struck down the great reporter..

Get well soon, Mr. Knapp. . 

We need you back.

 I don’t quite know what to make of this.. I have written before about my speculation that Dennis Rodman may be on a secret mission in North Korea to save the planet from World War III.. But today news that he sang happy birthday to Kim Jong Un is just creepy..

You can read the full report here from CBS..

The first thing that popped into my mind when I saw the headline was that Rodman sang the song in Marilyn Monroe style to the Lil Dick-tator. 

Other players did NOT join Rodman..

This is how CBS ended its dispatch on this strange display of ….Rodmanism: 

Rodman has faced both ridicule and harsh criticism for his trips to North Korea, which some U.S. politicians and activists view as serving only as fodder for North Korean propaganda.

But he defended his visit, saying it would help “open the door” and was a “great idea for the world.”

"It’s amazing how we thrive on negativity. Does anyone know this guy’s only 31 years old?" he said of Kim, whom he calls his friend.

"Dennis, he could be 31, he could be 51," said CNN interviewer Chris Cuomo. "He’s just killed his uncle. He’s holding an American hostage."