SECOND POT OF COFFEE THOUGHTS

·      As the brutal weather competes with President Donald Trump for top billing in the headlines, one can only conclude that the latter is as much a force of nature as the former.  Both are incapable of precise analysis. The predictive ability of meteorologists, often criticized for getting the weather wrong, have a far better batting average than the political pundits who seek to provide guidance based on the daily tweets, actions and pronouncements of the President.

·      For those looking for weekend entertainment beyond watching football, Washington County offers fantastic alternative activities every weekend this autumn.

·      Replacing Brandon Neuman with one of their own in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for the 48^th District will be a strong test for the Washington County Democratic Party.  It is significant that Mr. Neuman, as an elected Judge, will not be available to provide campaign assistance to the Democratic candidate who wins the primary in 2018.

·      The East Washington traffic signs that warn of “speed hump” rather than “speed bump” have generated more discussion than the humps (or bumps) themselves.

·      The excellent bestseller, SAPIENS, provides many interesting factoids about the history of the human race.  But the author cannot convince me that early hunter gatherers were a healthier happier lot than what would later become organized human civilization.

·      With not much excitement in this year’s November elections, the magisterial district contest that covers Nottingham, Peters, Union Township and Finleyville has enough intrigue to make up for all the yawns. Long time District Judge James Ellis, led potential candidates to believe he was running for re-election, to discourage all possible opposition. After circulating nominating petitions in February, Mr. Ellis retired the day of the filing deadline, assuring that his alleged handpicked replacement, Jacob Machel, the only other candidate to circulate petitions, would win the primary. Both democrats and republicans were so incensed at the apparent trickery that they each organized write in campaigns for the May 2017 primary.  Despite these efforts, Mr. Machel was the only candidate to appear on the democratic and republican primary ballot and he won both.  Now, a democrat, with a well-known political pedigree, Jesse Pettit Esq. (son of the former District Attorney), has changed his registration to “independent” and will challenge Mr. Machel in the November election.

·      With all the recent natural disasters caused in part by climate change I feel guilty at how much I am enjoying my lawn being as lush and green in September as it was in April.

·      It was a feel good moment to read about the naturalization of new citizens at the Washington County Courthouse.  Whether this will result in citizens showing more empathy for Roma refugees making a new home in the California area, or spur our elected officials to finally appoint a diversity commission for Washington County remains to be seen.

·      If millennials are responsible for the new economy of “stay at home” and “avoid human contact” when purchasing everything from clothes to meals, my bet is that their children will embrace the old school model of brick and mortar, face to face contact, when shopping for goods and services.