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Elizabeth Beggins's avatar

Congrats to Brenda (and holy wow, people who opt to take on such challenges blow my mind)! As for the toxic Bunker Hill legacy, I'm curious: Did you know about that before the triathlon event was held there? Guessing yes, since you're so in tune and your wife is from that area. I wish Frasier's book could help start a "Silent Spring" kind of movement. Everywhere we look we find similar stories. Effing profit. Thanks for an interesting, if somewhat disheartening, read. At least there's joy in those who accomplished such incredible physical feats!

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John Lovie's avatar

I knew the lead was at the bottom of the lake and was planning to research and write about it anyway. Frasier's book helped me find the other end of the thread.

I try not to be too disheartening, but it's hard when I live in the West and write mostly about water!

Thanks for reading anyway, and I'll pass on your congratulations to Brenda.

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Elizabeth Beggins's avatar

p.s. You might appreciate a recent series of posts from my friend Stew Hickman at Meanwhile, Elsewhere.

Saltville, Part 1 -- https://hickman2.substack.com/p/saltville-part-1

Saltville, Part 2 -- https://hickman2.substack.com/p/saltville-part-2

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John Lovie's avatar

Thank you for these. I went to school for chemistry at Manchester University, not far from Widnes, so I'm familiar with the production of caustic soda through the electrolysis of brine. The other major product of this process is chlorine, and one of the major uses of chlorine is the production of vinyl chloride. For a haunting yet beautiful read on vinyl chloride, may I offer "On Vinyl" by Rebecca Altman: https://orionmagazine.org/article/east-palestine-train-derailment-plastics-history/

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Elizabeth Beggins's avatar

Thanks, John. I look forward to reading that piece.

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Raquel's avatar

Yay Brenda! What a fierce woman. I liked how you shared knowledge through the lens of the triathlon.

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John Lovie's avatar

Thank you, Raquel! I’ll pass it on.

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