Man, what happened in West Virginia and how the company handled it is just the biggest downer going. Can you imagine the emotional roller coaster ride those poor families had to endure? Arlo, there's got to be a song here somewhere!

My heart goes out to the families of these miners.

I was watching the "good" news as it was originally announced early this morning and woke Lance up to tell him. It was just amazing, a real miracle. And then this morning I woke up and turned on the TV to hear it was all false information. I'm sick now. I can't imagine anything more horrible for these families.

<img src="http://www.arlo.net/ubb/smilies/frown.gif" width=15 height=15>

We saw it here on the news and all cheered when they said the miners were alive........those poor people,that company has alot of explaining to do,how could someone 'miscommunicate' something like that!!

So sorry to hear about them. Been following this some. May God be with the families & the surviving miner at this time. Mike was the son of a miner and in Oct we went to hibilly areas of WV & KY where they coal mine alot so we feel for those folks. God Bless & peace... <img src="http://www.arlo.net/ubb/smilies/peace.gif" width=16 height=16>

I have heard this on the news, but didn't really get a chance to hear what happened properly.

It did make me think what my Granddad would have thought, as to how the company lied to the familys. He was a miners rescuer all his life even gaining reagnition in one insidant, going back under when the company and the fire services told him not to go back in as it was too risky; but he knew there were man still alive down there and couldn't leav them so he when back in and came out with them all alive.

both my granddads and going back generations worked for the coal board, so I've heard may a sad tale like this, so my thoughts do go out the the familys.

As my other granddad used to say when people moned about the price of coal, " Not may know the real price of coal."

"Dying Miner" by Woody Guthrie. Never heard of it before I read this article. The miners wrote notes before they died, as the Sago miners did, that he later used for the song. Read it for yourself.

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2006/01/07/illinois_man_recalls_1947_ mine_disaster/
http://www.woodyguthrie.org/Lyrics/Dying_Miner.htm

<center><FONT COLOR="#000080">--- Edited 1 times, lastly by Gerry on Jan 08, 2006 ---</FONT></center>

Dedicated for the coal miners and their families:
--------------
Grab a pick and a shovel
And an old flashlight
Don't forget your fuses
And your dynamite
Put on your knee-pads
The same story told
We're goin' in the coal mine
Where the coal is low

Ridin' on that lizard
In the thirty inch coal
See the cables sparklin'
Watch the little wheels roll
Now Lord have mercy on a miner's soul
Down on his poor knees in the thirty inch coal

Timber up that heading
Set the wedges tight
Or your wife and children
Won't see you tonight
Spread out a little rock dust
Now spread a little more
To keep down the coal dust
On the minin' floor

Don't matter your color
When you go down
You're black as a shadow
When you come out
All day on your hands and knees
On the minin' floor
Yeah, the company gets the apple
Workin' man keeps the core
-----------------
Johnny Irion 2001

<center><FONT COLOR="#000080">--- Edited 1 times, lastly by Lenore on Jan 28, 2006 ---</FONT></center>

I heard on public radio yesterday that Bush administration changes in the Mining Safety and Health act may have contributed to all these deaths.

I heard on AirAmerica that Abramoff was on Bush's transition team in 200, assigned to Dept. of the Interior, and that he may have had something to do with those changes.

Ceashel, it just seems like he's been pres. since the year 200. I think you meant 2000.