Business Perspectives
The Last Gasp of the Ribbon Cutters: Western Pennsylvania Edition
A sharp look at how chambers of commerce struggle to stay relevant in the digital age as innovation, entrepreneurship, and online networks outpace traditional business institutions.
A Tribute to Joe Negri: The Man Who Fixed Things, Mostly Melodies
A tribute to Joe Negri, the beloved jazz guitarist and Mister Rogers’ Handyman Negri, whose talent, humility, and kindness left a lasting legacy.
Sonny Rollins: The Gentleman Behind the Horn
A tribute to jazz legend Sonny Rollins, celebrating his extraordinary talent, humility, Pittsburgh connections, and enduring influence on American music.
The Great Poor Farm Mystery: What Happened to the Forgotten Souls of Potter Township?
Explore the mystery of Beaver County’s historic poor farm and the forgotten souls who lived, died, and may still rest in unmarked graves in Potter Township.
Not All Yinzers Are Alike: Why Beaver Countians Don’t Talk Like Pittsburghers (Thank God)
A humorous look at why Beaver County’s dialect differs from Pittsburgh’s, exploring local speech, history, and the enduring charm of “yinz” culture.
Grandpa Jim Knows What Your Barista Doesn’t: How to Make a Great Pot of Coffee
Grandpa Jim shares his old-fashioned method for brewing great coffee, with practical tips, humor, and a reminder that good coffee shouldn’t require a glossary.
Oil Prices: What Goes Up Must Come Down
Why oil producers fear high prices: a look at Saudi strategy, OPEC history, energy transitions, and how rising costs can accelerate alternatives to oil.
Is America Walking Into a “ThucydidesTrap”? History Says No.
A critique of the “Thucydides Trap” theory, arguing that U.S.-China conflict is not inevitable and that history, industry, and leadership still shape outcomes.
Is The AI Bubble About To Pop?
A look at why AI may not be another dot-com bubble, with energy, infrastructure, and computing demand shaping the next era of growth.
A Newspaper History of Beaver County
A look at Beaver County’s newspaper history, from the 1807 Minerva to modern digital journalism and the enduring appetite for local news.
Something Happened on the Way to That Place – From Allentown to Aliquippa, Billy Joel Found the Voice of the Rust Belt.
Billy Joel’s “Allentown” gave voice to Rust Belt communities facing mill closures, lost jobs, and the human cost of America’s industrial decline.
Matthew Quay and the Roots of the American System
Matthew Quay’s defense of tariffs and American industry connects Hamilton and Clay’s economic vision to Beaver County’s manufacturing future.
You Mad, Bro? A Brief Life of General Anthony Wayne
Anthony Wayne’s legacy was built not on madness, but discipline, forged at Legionville in Beaver County before the Battle of Fallen Timbers.
The Valley That Made Washington
George Washington’s 1753 journey through Beaver County reveals how the Ohio Valley shaped his leadership and America’s future.
The State That Almost Missed Its Own Birthday Party
Pennsylvania nearly skipped a national celebration before private sponsors, businesses and volunteers stepped in to showcase the state.
Relax, People. AI Isn’t Going To Take Your Job
AI is more likely to transform jobs than eliminate them, rewarding workers who learn new tools, increase productivity, and adapt to change.
What an 87-Year-Old Billionaire Thinks We’re Getting Wrong
Jeremy Grantham warns about AI speculation, chemical exposure, inequality and the limits of using markets and GDP to measure a healthy society.
A Sunday Morning Walk
A reflective Sunday walk through Bridgewater with Seamus the Newfoundland reveals home, memory, ordinary beauty, and the wisdom of returning with fresh eyes.
Four Days, Twenty Minutes, and No Couch Required
Explore expressive writing, a four-day journaling practice that may help organize difficult experiences, reduce stress, and bring emotional clarity.
How Butler County Got Mixed Up in 250 Years of American History
Explore Butler County’s remarkable role in 250 years of American history, from George Washington and Lafayette to Frederick Douglass, oil, Jeeps, and Amelia Earhart.