Military conflicts have consequences

June 9, 2026

As Americans struggle with rising prices, it is becoming increasingly clear that the war with Iran is carrying significant economic consequences here at home. Higher energy costs have pushed up gasoline prices, increased transportation expenses, and contributed to inflation throughout the economy. Families are paying more not only at the pumps but also at grocery stores and for everyday goods and services. Businesses are feeling the effects as well. Uncertainty in global markets, disruptions to energy supplies, and rising costs have caused some employers to delay hiring and investment ...

UPMC portal switch frustrating

June 7, 2026

There is a frustrating and possibly harmful tech glitch between UPMC-Altoona and UPMC-Pittsburgh that has been going on for too many months. Last year, Altoona switched their patient portal from MyUPMC to MyChart, a nationwide portal used by over 250 medical groups. UPMC-Pittsburgh has not yet made the switch. Twenty-two days ago, I had tests, ordered by a UPMC-Pittsburgh physician, done at a Florida medical provider. Additional tests were done last week at UPMC Station Medical in Altoona. All results are available on MyChart. They can be viewed by UPMC-Altoona physicians, but not ...

Too much PDA over president hard to take

June 4, 2026

Perhaps nowhere was the blind spot of the Right toward President Donald Trump on such full display as it was at the religious gathering in D.C. on May 17 where a MAGA radio host said the man was “raised by God” to construct a new White House ballroom. If you believe in God, how can you believe He would “raise” such a vile human being to do anything? This is the epitome of blind love, a real and dangerous condition that cripples the brain’s critical thinking and social judgment centers. Sufferers can’t see or they choose to ignore flaws and negative traits, no matter how ...

Concerns over river disappointing

June 2, 2026

I read with great disappointment the Mirror article describing the “dangers” associated with children playing in the widened Juniata River running adjacent Dell Delight Park. Widening the river at that location made it visible from the park and ironically shallower. Just because you can see the river and it’s wider doesn’t mean it’s more dangerous than before. The thought of an organization — the American Legion — founded to support men who risked their lives to save the free world, would want to curtail children from engaging in exploratory play, outside, in a river, ...

Taken to task on rubber dams

June 3, 2026

As the Altoona Water Authority’s since-retired engineer who was mostly responsible for the decision to contract HTE Engineering of Sandy, Utah, for the fabrication of the rubber dams, I found your pontificating remarks to be quite patronizing, considering you don’t know what you’re talking about. Along with ISO quality assurance certification, HTE met the specifications I had put forth that mirrored our former Bridgestone rubber dams that were manufactured in Japan. Bridgestone was the largest global producer of rubber dams, which were known for their durability. After they ...

County could sell old prison to cut costs

May 31, 2026

Is the Blair County Commission really interested in building the new prison as economically as possible? Then they will get the best price they can for the stone work that makes up the front of the Hollidaysburg prison. According to the generic AI, Americans spend $15B a year on “hardscape.” Put the building up for bid. The cache and provenance of these stones should be themselves a good head start on reducing the price of the new prison. Do they plan to save the antiquated part of the building for “historical” reasons? Put that idea up for a referendum and watch it get ...