Lynchburg Area VA

Presidential politics

2008-08-29T20:48:00.001-05:00

It is great to see something other than the traditional 2 white men on Democrat and Republican tickets. No matter who wins - the next 4 years should be interesting in deed.

As for experience:

- Who was Harry Truman when he was elected Vice President in 1994? An unknown Senator from Missouri who had run a clothing store.

- Who was Theodore Roosevelt when he was elected Vice President in 1900? A short term Governor of New York, a former Police Commissioner in New York City and a US Army Colonel .

- Who was Abraham Lincoln when he was elected President in 1860? Looser of a US Senate race in 1858. Lincoln had served a single term in the US House of Representatives in the 1840s and 4 terms in the Illinois State Legislature.

Obama / Biden versus Mc Cain / Palin?

Percy Walton

2008-06-04T06:40:00.000-05:00

Danville -- "Percy Walton execution set for Tuesday"

More effective outside the tent

2008-05-29T19:56:00.004-05:00

"Better to have him inside the tent pissing out, than outside pissing in." - US President Lyndon Johnson

Politically incorrect

2008-05-24T18:16:00.001-05:00

Well its now clear. I must have voted in the wrong primary in Virginia.

Mark Warner keeps his word

2008-05-04T12:00:00.017-05:00

It's most interesting when an Associated Press report includes a reference from Mark Warner's Republican challenger in this year's race for US Senate that Warner doesn't keep his word.

When Mark Warner ran for Governor in 2001, the Disabled Action Committee of VA obtained 3 commitments from candidate Warner. They were:
1) Support for making the then Department of Rights for Virginians with Disabilities (DRVD) a semi-autonomous state agency;
2) Issuance of a formal apology for the State of Virginia's legacy of involvement in Eugenics;
3) To meet with disability advocates.

Once elected Governor Mark Warner in fact kept all 3 campaign promises.

First he indicated during his initial 2002 State of the Commonwealth address the need for legislation making DRVD semi-autonomous and therefore beyond the politicization that plagued DRVD for a quarter century since 1977. After it was introduced in the subsequent session of the Virginia General assembly; Warner signed in to law HB 9 Protection and Advocacy, Office for; created "
As a footnote, Jim Gilmore as Governor had vetoed similar legislation ( HB 491) in 2000 despite initial passage by the Virginia General Assembly.

Second, Governor Mark Warner on May 2, 2002 issued a formal apology for the state's involvement in Eugenics. This was a first in the nation apology for Eugenics and followed the General Assembly's 2001 passage of HJ 607 resolution expressing "profound regret"

As a footnote, in 2007, disability advocates gave something back to the larger civil rights movement --- HJ 607 from 2001 became the precident for Virginia's apology for slavery.

Third, Governor Warner subsequently meet in the Governor's Office with disability advocates from across the state (this blogger was there at the time and was also very much a part of items 1 and 2 above ).

Persistence pays!

This posting is not an endorsement of either candidate.

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"A picture is worth a 1000 words" so who else but Keith Kessler (DAC4VA) in 1998 meeting with then Governor Gilmore.

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Mark Warner notes the Eugenics apology on his US Senate campaign web site under "recognizing past mistakes"

Obama

2008-04-30T06:28:00.000-05:00

How many of us have experienced a parting of ways in relationships with a family member or a friend or with a religious organization? Dare say it has happened to almost every one of US that has reached at least the age of 30.

Its nice that Hillary stood by her man despite what should have been a great personal embarrassment and humiliation.

Why then should Barack be held to a different albeit double standard?

Donations please for Wheel Chair Aquatic / Pool Lift

2008-04-22T10:16:00.000-05:00

Project iLift

Liberty University's student chapter of Council for Exceptional Children has teamed up with Thomas Road Baptist Church's ministry for children with disabilities, ikids, in an effort to raise $8,000 towards the installation of a wheelchair lift at the LaHaye Pool. Not only would this addition to the Aquatics Facility be a blessing for members of the student body at Liberty, the congregation members of TRBC and their families; but with public access to all facilities, the accommodation to the pool is a community resource / outreach as well!

Join in our efforts to meet our first goal of $2,000 by May 10th by making a [tax-deductible] donation! Or by purchasing a $5 Project iLift wristband. Checks can be made out to Liberty University: CEC and mailed to The School of Education c/o Liberty University 1971 University Blvd. Lynchburg, VA 24502. An anonymous donor has agreed to give a matching gift for up to $1,000 which makes anything you can give double!

Eat at Chic-Fil-A on Wards Road Thursday, May 1!!!

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All you have to do is say, “CEC” and we get 10% of your purchase towards Project iLift’s wheelchair lift!

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Please come out and support this wonderful cause by doing what you’d normally do on a Thursday night - eating at your favorite neighborhood restaurant!

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Remember to say ‘CEC’ when you make your purchase and we get a donation!

Please consider this worthy cause as you budget your finances within the next few months. 'Project iLift' a great humanitarian effort. Feel free to Email me with any questions or concerns.

Bless you as you consider your ability to give towards this opportunity to bless others,

Kristin Spears
CEC recruiting and advertising chair
knspears@liberty.edu

Lynchburg

2008-04-02T23:17:00.000-05:00

A solution to toast - merger. Why not here in Virginia?

A dream

2008-02-17T09:37:00.005-05:00

Obama / Kaine verses Mc Cain / Rice

While all 3 members of this bloggers immediate family voted in a Virginia primary on February 12th, no endorsement of either political party is intended.

As for Virginia, what would be the impact in the event the Democrat ticket proposed above were to win in November? Well look at history over the past 30 years (since 1978).

Every time a Democrat is elected US President, a Republican has been elected Governor of Virginia in the next gubernatorial election. So Virginia runs opposite of national politics.

If Obama were to select Virginia Governor Tim Kaine for the Vice President slot on the (D) ticket (or if elected for a Cabinet post), this would also statistically suggest that Virginia would likely have a 5 year Republican Governor - Bill Bolling.

Tuesday

2008-02-09T22:23:00.000-05:00

Obama. Its mighty tempting to vote in the Democrat Primary in Virginia.

Mc Cain / Rice

2008-02-01T07:33:00.000-05:00

There is the driveling media hype that Democrats will create a Hillary / Barack ticket for this years US Presidential election.

One wonders what the Republican ticket will likely be. It seems highly unlikely that it will be the traditional ticket of 2 white males. If so, it would be widely viewed as the same old same old business as usual.

So why not a John / Condoleezza ticket on the Republican side? Rice as the 66th US Secretary of State has impecable conservative credentials - doesnt she?

How would Oprah react to that ?

Third-Graders Sing "Brett Favre the Green Bay Packer"

2008-01-20T06:31:00.000-05:00

Third-Graders Sing "Brett Favre the Green Bay Packer"

Frozen tundera

2008-01-17T08:38:00.000-05:00

Finally after 4 decades of waiting there may be another "ice bowl" played in Green Bay. Hopefully it'll set a record for the coldest play off game ever. Back then (Green Bay verses Dallas) I was knee high to a grasshopper and watched the game on a black and white TV. Looking forward from that point in time - today's electronic gadgetry was pure science fiction.

The stadium will be sold out and football will be played as it should be - outside in the natural elements.

Nothing like frozen cheese.

Lambeau Luck --- take the leap

2008-01-14T19:15:00.000-05:00

Blogger and son visited Lambeau Field for the first time in our lives in August 2007. Though I was born (in Madison, WI) and raised a Packer fan --- at age 55 I’d never before been to Green Bay.

We went at a time when it looked like it would be just another dismal season for the Pack.

But then having been blessed to be able to retire at age 50 in 2002, I was retired for 5 years until early 2007 when by unplanned quirk of fate I was once again employed. I was inspired by Brett Favre - if he still had it in him to continue to play (and not retire) after all these years; perhaps even I had a bit left to contribute.

Lambeau Field is open to visitors / tours 364 days a year (closed on Christmas). As such, it is the first NFL stadium to do so (ie open to the public on days other then game days). Other teams / stadiums are now like the Lambeau Leap following the Lambeau example and opening their stadiums to the public. In recent years, Lambeau has held business meetings, weddings and even a divorce celebration in ample abundant space aside from the playing field.

During the tour when you come out of the team tunnel at Lambeau it sounds like game day with the crowd roaring. And with the most recent renovation to the stadium, you see how the roar of the crowd is magnified by the acoustics and so it also echos out of the stadium. There are residential homes on the streets adjacent to Lambeau's parking lots. On game day home owners draw top dollar for renting their yards for extra parking.

Every game since 1960 has been sold out. When babies are born their names are placed on the waiting list for tickets so that in 25-30 years they may be able to obtain them. Permanent tickets are regularly handed down in last wills.

Will Lambeau luck continue in the play-offs? Green Bay vs the NY Giants is the second oldest rivilary in the NFL.

In any, event its worth a trip to Green Bay.

Encore comparison

2008-01-09T07:16:00.001-05:00

The Jerk --- I perfer.

Hillary's tear after loosing in Iowa this year beat Dean's scream 4 years ago.

Barack

2008-01-04T06:34:00.000-05:00

Why? Though he only won with 38% (a plurality and not the majority) Obama for many is the figurative incarnation of hope. A generation heretofore largely lost in frustration with the status quo.

Perhaps the best illustration is that Barak may represent on a national scale what former Virginia Governor L. Douglas Wilder achieved at the state level when he was elected on November 8, 1989.

“Each time a person stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others... he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.” - RFK

REMEMBER THIS AT CHRISTMAS TIME

2007-12-15T09:38:00.000-05:00

According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, while both male and female reindeers grow antlers in the summer each year, male reindeer drop their antlers at the beginning of winter, usually late November to mid-December. Female reindeers retain their antlers till after they give birth in the spring.

Therefore, according to EVERY historical rendition depicting Santa's reindeer, EVERY single one of them, from Rudolph to Blitzen, had to be a girl. We should've known... ONLY women would be able to drag a fat man in a red velvet suit all around the world in one night and not get lost.

Obama Statement on the International Day of Disabled Persons

2007-12-13T18:26:00.000-05:00

Senator Barack Obama on December 5, 2007 released the following statement on the United Nations' International Day of Disabled Persons.

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"On this International Day of Disabled Persons, I stand with the roughly six hundred million people around the world, including fifty-four million Americans, who experience some form of disability. I share their vision of an inclusive and just world that is free of unnecessary barriers, stereotypes, and discrimination. Policies must be developed, attitudes must be shaped, and buildings and organizations must be designed to ensure that everyone has a chance to get the education they need, fulfill their potential, and live independently as full citizens in their communities. And every nation has a special responsibility to look after those who can't live on their own - because every human being deserves to live with dignity and respect." "The United States should lead the world to achieve this vision. But seventeen years after Congress enacted the Americans with Disabilities Act, leading other nations to pass similar laws, our leadership has faded. As president, I will restore America's leadership. I will make the United States a signatory to the U.N. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities - the first human rights treaty approved by the UN in the 21st century and a critical step toward respecting the rights of people with disabilities worldwide. And I will urge the U.S. Senate to swiftly ratify the Convention."

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"Next week, I will lay out a detailed agenda for reforming American society to break down the barriers that exclude Americans with disabilities. We need to build an America where those with disabilities have the same opportunities as everybody else. That is my goal, and I will accept nothing less."

Santa: 40 percent more for the same cost

2007-12-12T07:32:00.000-05:00

You may have heard the recent hype in the media about the need to downsize Santa. Another instance of making a cultural icon politically correct - loose that weight.

This blogger fits the figurative physical profile of Santa Claus. A life insurance company within the past month issued a new individual policy which increased my insurance coverage by 40 percent. I was not “rated up” and the total premiums remained virtually unchanged from my previous policy. Yes, before issuing the (altogether) new policy the insurance company sent a nurse to check my weight and also drew a blood sample.

So much for weight. My cholesterol is low, no indication of diabetes and I don’t take any weight related medication.

Its all about genetics and predisposition.

My maternal grand mother died at 103 – sound of mind but stout all of her adult life.

Ho ho ho – Merry Christmas

The Right Stuff

2007-12-01T17:18:00.000-05:00

"Its a great day to be alive in Lynchburg" --- quote from the late Mayor "just call me coach" Bryan

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Closed circuit to Ted in Virginia Beach --- I received your message regarding the previous posting on this blog from March 2005. So I called the number you provided and left my name, number and address for the group seeking the information. Thank you.

Staunton City Council takes the lead on payday lending limitation

2007-09-29T12:34:00.000-05:00

The Staunton City Council adopted a resolution on September 13, 2007, asking the Virginia General Assembly to cap interest rates at 36 percent APR on consumer loans such as payday lenders and auto title loans. (The full resolution follows this message.) Please ask your local governmental bodies to also adopt such a resolution.

For more information, go to virginiafairloans.org/

Stop the injustices of payday lending! Act today.

RESOLUTION OF
THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF STAUNTON, VIRGINIA
TO REQUEST THAT THE
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
AND
GOVERNOR OF VIRGINIA
TAKE ACTION TO PREVENT EXPLOITATIVE PAYDAY LENDING PRACTICES
IN THE COMMONWEALTH

WHEREAS, the Council of the City of Staunton, Virginia, represents the citizens of the City of Staunton, Virginia;

WHEREAS, the Council of the City of Staunton, Virginia, senses from the citizens of the City of Staunton significant concern over what are perceived to be some exploitative payday lending practices in the City of Staunton and elsewhere in the Commonwealth, including practices which may exploit dedicated, brave women and men who are called for deployment as part of the armed forces of our Nation both in the United States and various parts of the world in the cause of freedom and security of our Nation;

WHEREAS, the Council of the City of Staunton, Virginia, shares these same significant concerns and wishes to express the collective sentiments of the People of the City of Staunton, Virginia, that the General Assembly and Governor of Virginia, ought to take action to prevent further exploitative payday lending practices; and

WHEREAS, it is vital that the General Assembly and the Governor of Virginia give their earnest attention to these matters at the next regular session of the General Assembly and enact laws that will prevent further exploitative payday lending practices.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Staunton, Virginia, that the General Assembly and the Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia are requested to take action in connection with the next regular session of the General Assembly of Virginia to enact laws that will prevent further exploitative payday lending practices, including but not limited to:

Enactment of an annual interest rate cap of 36% for any consumer loans made in the Commonwealth of Virginia;
Prohibition of the use of a personal check or other method by a creditor to gain access to a consumer’s bank account or method to gain title to a consumer’s motor vehicle as collateral for a payday loan; and
Enactment of supplementary and complementary provisions which mirror the provisions of what is commonly referred to as the Talent-Nelson Amendment (Senate Amendment 4331), entitled “Terms of Consumer Credit Extended To Service Member’s Dependent” and referenced on page S6352 of the June 22, 2006 Congressional Record–Senate, a copy of which is annexed to and incorporated by reference in this Resolution.

Adopted this 13th day of September 2007

Lacy B. King, Jr., Mayor

Attest: Deborah A. Lane, Clerk of Council

Iraqi --- pulling together

2007-07-30T06:09:00.000-05:00

Perhaps the Iraqi Soccer Team should be put in charge of running the country. They have shown that they know how to pull together as an ethnically diverse group of people.

Ahmed Radi, 39, a former Olympian who retired in 1997 and is now the coach of the Iraqi national team might make an excellent national leader for Iraq. Just call em "coach"

This blogger once played on a high school soccer team and understands how both exhausting and uplifting it can be. Everyone has to pull together to get the job done.

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See NY Times blog Strife, Unity and the Iraqi Team

Lynchburg: assume personal responsibility

2007-06-20T05:19:00.000-05:00

Per WSET news report Lynchburg “City Providing Monitoring For Employees Following Data Leak”

As a retiree, I attended the closed door standing room only meeting held in council chambers on June 19 at 3 PM with City Manager Payne, and Directors of Human Resources and Information Technology.

There is understandable concern from employees and retirees that this incident occurred in the first place. That said, it does appear that city administration has todate acted reasonably in the aftermath of this incident.

There is no absolute fail safe way to insure the information has been totally deleted from the Internet. Unauthorized “mirror copy” of various information posted on the Internet sometimes occurs.

With personal identity theft increasingly rampant across the country, this blogger’s suggestion is to add such identity theft protection coverage to your personal homeowners or renters insurance. Some policies already include such coverage, others for a nominal annual cost.

As I commented openly to those in attendance during the June 19 meeting at city hall - After receiving the letter from the city, I immediately contacted my insurance agent and added indentity theft protection to my homeowners insurance policy at a cost of $25 annually.

There is a significant personal responsibility that those of us individually affected by this incident must now assume. To do otherwise is folly.

thumbs up

2007-06-17T08:04:00.000-05:00

" Sometimes, a free pass at the polls is good " Thumbs up to those who worked behind the scenes to quell troubled waters.

Rev. Falwell for Pete's sake

2007-05-31T05:09:00.000-05:00

Memorabilia associated with the late Rev. Jerry Falwell has reportedly been selling well on eBay.

This blogger has a personally autographed copy of Falwell’s 1992 book “The New American Family – The Rebirth of the American Dream” The book was given in 1993 after a meeting in Dr. Falwell’s office in the mansion on the mountain.

It represents the point in time after which Falwells publicly stated position on mental illness dramatically changed (from ie "personal weakness") to one of strong support of treatment as a medical condition. For you see in the summer of 93, a close associate of Falwell committed suicide. Also Falwell after that time became increasingly known for his support of people with disabilities.

The hand written inscription in the book reads: “To Phil: ’93 G.A.V.E. winner Congratulations, Jerry Falwell Phil 1:6”

Note regarding G.A.V.E. – it denotes the Virginia Governors Award for Volunteering Excellence.