Data Driven Truth

Far Middle episode 173, premiering on Patriot Day (September 11), begins with a solemn "never forget" message from Nick. He also notes Grandparents Day, observed this past Sunday, and the wisdom and mentorship grandparents provide. The episode’s sports dedication is a celebration and reflection on the career of the multi-talented Pat Williams. An iconic and innovative figure in pro sports, Williams passed away this past July. Alongside his positions with the Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Bulls, Atlanta Hawks, and Philadelphia 76ers, Williams played a key role in establishing the NBA’s Orlando Magic franchise. Williams was also a prolific writer, marathon runner, and dedicated father. He was “a doer and achiever in the truest sense of the words,” says Nick. The discussion next shifts to an update on CNX Resources’ Radical Transparency initiative. The first-of-its-kind environmental monitoring program, launched in November 2023 and previously featured in Far Middle episode 132, has now collected over 100,000 data points, which “grows by the hour daily.” That data is available and disclosed in real-time for all to review at www.cnxradicaltransparency.com. Nick explains how Radical Transparency marks the start of a new era of responsible domestic energy development, and its initial results demonstrate that natural gas is manufactured safely without public health risks. He urges the natural gas industry to adopt this transparency model across all operations. “Radical Transparency’s objective measured data contradicts, exposes, and it demolishes, frankly, the fictions and fear mongering that the radical environmental groups have proffered about natural gas development in places like Pennsylvania,” explains Nick. Nick stresses that Radical Transparency’s data collection is continuous and ongoing, and the program’s directly measured data provides the superior path forward to setting energy policy. “Radical Transparency has and will continue to benefit all stakeholders,” adds Nick. “The most important stakeholder being the residents and the environment in which we all live.” In closing, Nick connects back to the episode’s September 11 release date with a nostalgic reference to the release of the Atari 2600 on September 11, 1977, highlighting the classic system’s impact on video gaming and helping spark Nick’s interest in computer programming.