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You Stay Classy Pennsylvania

By Steven Lloyd Wilson | Posted Under Trade News | Comments (16)

ruffalo_pirate.jpg

Pennsylvania’s department of Homeland Security has added actor Mark Ruffalo to its terror advisory list. Although the initial presumption might be that his chest hair would represent a clear and present danger to anyone exposed to it without prior precautions, the actual reason seems to be that he helped organize screenings of the documentary Gasland which is critical of natural gas drilling practices in the United States.

Oh fascism, you never change.

Gasland has gotten excellent reviews thus far, though it has been heavily criticized by the oil and gas industry, which has put up this web page detailing factual inaccuracies with the documentary. Are they right? Is Ruffalo right? Does it even matter?

The point is that there is no crime in organizing the watching of a film, any film, right, wrong or flat out insane. There are two possible explanations: incompetence or malice. As for incompetence, it is possible that the agency that put Ruffalo on the watch list is staffed by individuals so stupid that they believe that organizing groups of people to watch a documentary is weighty evidence of intent to commit mass murder. The only other explanation is that the agency is staffed by those who think nothing of using government power to punish those holding political opinions with which they disagree.

In any case, you stay classy Pennsylvania.

(source: SF Gate)









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Comments

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Posted by: Magiel at November 29, 2010 10:08 AM

Pennsylvania is sitting on top of a Marcellus Shale bonanza but has so far declined to tax the gas that will be extracted (even West Virginia has a [small] tax on natural gas drilling, which may have something to do with why in the past fiscal year West Virginia had a $90 million surplus while Pennsylvania was a billion or two in the red, but I digress).

In any case, that little factoid tells you most of what you need to know about the official Pennsylvania stance toward opponents of drilling.

Posted by: , at November 29, 2010 10:12 AM

Oh hey! Joseph McCarthy lives on! Apparently in Pennsylvania.

Posted by: Pinky McLadybits at November 29, 2010 10:34 AM

I'd put Mark Ruffalo on a watch list! Know what I'm saying? Eh? He could definitely watch my list! Am I right?? I'd love to Ruffal his o! Know what I mean?!?!?!

I find him attractive.

Posted by: Caspar at November 29, 2010 10:43 AM

Dammit, I was certain for a moment there that I'd found another person who knew the ancient and dark secrets of that shadowy and hidden game O-Ruffle. I knew what you meant.

But you just find him attractive.

Posted by: Ender at November 29, 2010 10:55 AM

Marcellus Shale is my porn name, coincidentally.

Posted by: logar at November 29, 2010 10:55 AM

Marcellus Shale is my porn name, coincidentally

You should do your shoots in PA. You can get drilled tax-free! Trust me, I just passed my Certified Pornographer Accountant exam.

Posted by: branded at November 29, 2010 11:17 AM

Dear PA Government officials,

Before placing Mr. Ruffalo on the Terror Watch list, I had never heard of this movie and likely would not have given it much thought. You've now pretty assured that I will see it and I will disagree with you. This will probably get you the Brownie points with your Pennsyltucky (maybe Philly and Pittsburgh too, but how much do we really care about natural gas drilling) constituents you need for re-election, but as a means of effectively squashing the publicity of this film, you have failed. Next we can eliminate the film credit and be assured that no entertainment entity will ever set foot in the state again. Thanks to you, Rocky VIII will now be set in Baltimore.

-One Lanky Bastard

Posted by: L4NkYb at November 29, 2010 12:12 PM

Any list Mark is on, I'm watching it. He's a total pie. Love him. If he's a terrorist, well, then Honk if you love terrorists!

HonkhonkHONK!!!

Posted by: klingonfree at November 29, 2010 12:18 PM

You guys are going to feel really stupid when Mark Ruffallo blows something up.

Posted by: superasente at November 29, 2010 2:13 PM

Living in rural Pennsylvania, I can tell you that this natural gas drilling has been an absolute boon to the region's economy. I'm not even talking about the jobs created by the drilling companies. I mean the increase in hotel reservations and property rentals, and restaurants and stores have seen an increase in business as well. And of course, those living on the areas being drilled have received a welcome windfall. Personally, I remain reserved about this sudden influx of interested drilling companies - and I've heard the rumors about people who can light their tap water on fire and those poor folks who signed away their rights without contacting legal reps first.

So... yeah, I am NOT surprised that they would blacklist him. I've yet to see the movie, but it's been recommended to me by fellow Pennsylvanians who remain skeptical about the Shale bonanza, as commadaddy put it.

P.S. I hate hate HATE the term "Pennsyltucky." We're not ALL hicks... just an embarrassingly large percentage of us are.

Posted by: MelBivDevoe at November 29, 2010 4:07 PM

You guys are going to feel really stupid when Mark Ruffallo blows something up.


in my pants.

Posted by: stopthemadness aka Angry Black Lady at November 29, 2010 7:18 PM

I saw "In the Cut". And I ask that Mr. Ruffalo be deported and his passport revoked.

Posted by: greer at November 29, 2010 7:24 PM

MelBiv--I absolutly hate the "Pennsyltucky" term too. Then I took a look around and realized how many NASCAR-loving, Confederate-flag-waving, homophobic idiots live in my general area.

I want to tell people to shove Pennsyltucky up their asses but if the shoes fits . . .

Posted by: ang at November 29, 2010 9:07 PM

Damn, I can't spell. I swear, I'M NOT ONE OF THEM!!

Why, for the love of God, is there no way to edit our posts?!

Posted by: ang at November 29, 2010 9:09 PM

Not all Pennsyvanians are like this, in fact some of us would warmly welcome Mark...
To our beds.

Posted by: ninetwenteetoo at December 3, 2010 11:38 AM