MORE PEOPLE ARE BURNING COAL AT HOME, according to this report. We had a coal furnace when we lived in Heidelberg, and as a kid I enjoyed laying fires and stoking it. I suspect, though, that the thrill would have worn off in another year or two . . . .

UPDATE: Some related thoughts: “Environmentalists must surely dislike coal on all fronts; widespread acceptance of coal for home heating makes it more difficult to argue against the fuel generally as an evil, environmental monster. After all, you can’t concede that it’s OK for people to heat their homes with coal but then object to the use of an electric baseboard heater because the electricity is generated from burning coal.”