Originally from .blindness. reBlogged by caleb waldorf on Mar 3, 2008, 11:53AM

Via Jim Henley, the National Security Archive acquires a collection of documents outlining the Dick Cheney vision for post-Cold War America in which the central priority would be to take advantage of the collapse of the USSR to assert unilateral U.S. military hegemony around the world. This was a minority point of view within the George H.W. Bush administration, then Bill Clinton became president, but then it really had its day in the sun under George W. Bush.

We're all currently enjoying the fruits of that policy -- a $3 trillion war, more intense nuclear proliferation, al-Qaeda leaders still at large, China stronger relative to the U.S. than ever, etc.

My uncle Kevin Scanlon has snapping photos of Appalachian life for as long as I could form sentences -- actually, no, longer. When I was young, his photos taught me to appreciate the modest, mostly overlooked beauty surrounding the old railroads that snake through West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and neighboring states. His photographs document what is now a dying culture.

His first-ever solo exhibit opens tomorrow in Grafton, West Virginia. It's probably safe to guess that most of the people who read this blog post aren't in easy driving distance of Grafton, West Virginia, but you can see some of the images online, and buy prints if you're so inclined. If you do go to the opening on Saturday, please give him a hug for me.

Shown above: Morning Coal Train, Coopers, WV, 2005. Here's another one of my favorites from his railroad series. (high five, uncle Kev!)

Previously on BB: Kevin Scanlon's heavy industry photography

Update: Here's a snip from an interview with Kevin:

West Virginia reveals itself much like a book, one page at a time. The mountainous terrain and twisting valleys force you in close. Every page of the state has an interesting story to tell and another surprising view. The railroad is the thread that ties it all together. There are two themes that define my approach to photography: context and light. I am drawn to industrial subjects because of their influence on the culture of an area. Railroads are iconic in West Virginia. They were the key in developing the state, they were one of the defining factors when the state's borders were laid out and they literally carry the state away every day, one carload at a time. This series of photographs attempts to depict the railroad as an element of the landscape.

(Mayor Tommy makes it very clear that regardless of budget constraints, he’ll doing everything in his power to locate a copy of the first Reptile House 7″)

“Even as I couldn’t possibly be expected to wait 7 more days to watch Jimmy McNulty eat his gun or speak in that unique accent of his,” writes Tim Cook, “my sense of OnDemand entitlement takes a humiliating turn toward starvation.”??  From last Thursday’s Baltimore Sun :

There will be no sneak peek via On Demand of the 90-minute series finale of HBO’s The Wire, according to a spokesman for the cable channel.

HBO says they are breaking with that pattern so that On Demand viewers don’t “spoil” the finale for those who want to watch March 9. During this season and last, On Demand viewers have often posted details of episodes online in a way that made the spoilers almost impossible to ignore.

While Tim boldly predicts an Obama-Carcetti ticket this November, we’re an hour away from an episode Bethlehem Shoals (spoiler alert!) has called “the saddest shit this show has ever foisted upon us”.??  Yep, sadder than Paul Weller covering Dr. John.