And Now the Fun Begins
Tell us your war stories of how you survived the blizzard of 2010. What harrowing escapades did you have? What news do you have? What people need help? What places should be avoided? Closings? Spill it all here.
Mystery question: What blogger is without electricity?
No words are needed. I think I need a mental health day myself.
I knew there had to be something positive about this cold snap.
As reported in News & Messenger:
Gov. Timothy M. Kaine was not completely satisfied with the way Virginia’s transportation agency handled snow removal efforts after last month’s historic snowstorm.
At issue was some of the work that the Virginia Department of Transportation outsources to private contractors, he told Charlottesville TV station WVIR. He described the overall snow removal job done by VDOT as “an OK job.”
“We were not completely satisfied with the work that was being done by the private contractor. Without going into it too much, on Saturday [during the snowstorm] basically I asked VDOT to take over a good bit of that work and when that happened things started to go a lot better,” the governor told WVIR.
Kaine said he wasn’t happy with the lack of preparation for the storm or with the lack of urgency plow crews had when it came to clearing the snow from neighborhood streets.
The governor also used this opportunity to blast Republican counterparts in the state, saying that their unwillingness to raise taxes to pay for improvements in transportation led to the plow crew’s slower response time.
While many roads around the Woodbridge and Stafford areas were treated with salt and sand following the storm, others went up to three days following the storm without seeing a plow.
I feel vindicated. For years I have watched the snowplows clean the main streets over and over while ignoring the harder to clean side streets. The drivers of the plows are the contract workers, not state employees. Governor Kaine should have called me. I would have told him.
Snow removal is expensive and difficult work. It requires readiness. Hopefully the new administration will heed the words of Governor Kaine and stay ready and alert for the next snow fall. There are still places on Route 50 that have piles of snow on them. Hitting one would be like hitting a deer.
Who has some snow horror stories, now the big blow snow is finally over? And while discussing the weather, how is the temperature out there? When is this wind going to die down? I cannot seem to get warm. This cold snap should drive the energy bills up. What is the fuel of choice? I have both gas and a heat pump. Since the price of natural gas has gotten so reasonable, I am wondering if it is ever cheaper to go all case and forget the heat pump. How much is a cord of wood these days?
A beautiful song written by Matt Hodge, graduate student at Campbellsville University, Campbellsville, KY. Campbellsville University is in the shadows of Fort Campbell, which is a major deployment base for those headed to Afghanistan. Fort Campell is the home of the 101st Airborne Division, as well as combat hospital and dental units.
This song is new, and honors those who are overseas, defending our freedom and protecting us from harm.
Read about how this song came into being on page 2, from Matt Hodge’s website
It’s Friday and time for another round of Jon Stewart. It was a toss up between this one and the last Tea Party of the Year. The ornament program won.
| The Daily Show With Jon Stewart | Mon – Thurs 11p / 10c | |||
| Obama’s Socialist Christmas Ornament Program | ||||
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The Christmas displays at the Loudoun County Courthouse in Leesburg has become quite the center of controversy and political statement. That’s too bad. What ever happened to peace on earth, good will towards men? With all due respect for the 1st Amendment Establishment clause, some people are getting out of hand.
First off, to the Rotary Club’s credit, they have pulled out of the mix, withdrawn their application for a display which would have been a Christmas tree.
According to : Leesburg Today
One request that is no longer on the table is the Rotary Club of Leesburg’s Christmas tree that has graced the courthouse lawn for almost 50 years. Club President Ron Rogos confirmed Monday that the club has pulled its application to place a Christmas tree on the courthouse lawn.
Rogos said the Rotary Club Board of Directors made the decision Thursday, Dec. 3, electing to place the tree somewhere else, at a location still to be determined.
“We are a service organization with a long tradition of doing good things. We don’t get involved in policy-making or political decisions; all we are is a service club,” Rogos said. “The best way for us to keep doing what we’re doing is put our tree up and put it up somewhere else.”
Seven requests have been received by Loudoun County since their vote to overturn the ban on all courthouse displays earlier this month that had been implemented by the Courts Grounds and Facilities Committee. Amongst the usual Christmas Tree, interfaith and creche requests are 2 requests that many citizens are very unhappy with. One such request is from Richard Wingrove representing Freedom From Religion Foundation, a Wisconsin based group for separation of church and state. The request is to display:
…a six-foot mesh banner reading, “At This Season of the Winter Solstice, May Reason Prevail. There are no gods, no devils, no angels, no heaven or hell. There is only our natural World. Religion is but myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds.”
The above display pales by comparison to the next request from Sugarland Run resident Edward R. Myers. Myers has put together a display that includes a parody of the 12 Days of Christmas:
12 Day of Christmas” song to include “12 master debaters, 11 cunning linguists, 10 percent jobless, 9 niggardly noobs, 8-speech as gay tweets, 7 teabagger tools, 6-ting safety screws, 5 birther-control rings, 4 sucky health care, 3-dom disappearing, 2 many bills and a red FCUK to you too.” The FCUK is the trademark of French Connection United Kingdom.
The point, Myers said Tuesday is to force the Board of Supervisors to stop and think, noting that his signs, which he requested be hung on the fence around the courthouse in time for Saturday’s Leesburg holiday parade, are “like an onion with a number of layers.” In his application, Myers said he wanted his sign hung in celebration of the anniversary of the signing of the Bill of Rights, Dec. 15, which includes the protection of speech.
“I think mixing religion and government together to make a commercial Christmas is idolatry. I wanted to make something that would offend the Board of Supervisors for being so dismissive of the [committee] that thought through this issue so carefully,” he said, “while at the same time having a public display that would not offend children.”
Because, Myers said, it is only what people put into the words themselves that would make anyone construe his signs as obscene.
“It’s a play on words, with an innocent veneer, that people with dirty minds might read into it,” he said, noting, “free speech is kind of a hobby of mine.”
I respect the establishment clause folks until they get outrageous. These requests seem over the top. Too bad it has to be all or none. I see nothing wrong with Christmas trees, wreaths, mennorahs, frosties, sleighs, mistletoe, and holly on public property during this time of year. These are symbols of many holidays. Manger scenes are probably best displayed at churches. That seems more appropriate.
The 2 displays that are causing such contention in Loudoun County certainly explain why the Court Grounds Committee chose to ban all displays. Too bad people can’t exercise good taste. They ruin it for everyone. It might be their legal right to display offensive material but doing so defies wisdom and good taste. Those 2 qualities, unfortunately, cannot be legislated or codified.
Is this the time of year to make a point? Was the Rotary Club taking the high ground to pull out of the fray? Should all displays be banned or should the county be able to use its wisdom to decide what is appropriate and what is not? Will the voters make these supervisors pay at the ballot box next supervisor election cycle?
