Photos of Afghanistan by Brian Carterelli

Brian Carterelli, 25, was murdered in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Friday along with nine fellow humanitarian aid workers returning from providing medical treatment to isolated villages high in the mountains of Aghanitan. A 2009 graduate of James Madison University (Harrisonburg, Va.), he was a photographer and videographer. These are his photos that helped provide a glimpse into a people in a remote corner of the world most of us will hear about on the news but will never see.

A wall built by Alexander the Great.

Takhaterestan. An ancient Buddist warrior/king built this along with his caves.

Photos by Brian Carterelli
2010

Other posts:
- SWAC Girl: Brian Carterelli, 25, killed in ambush in Kabul
- Washington Examiner: Shenandoah Valley man killed by Taliban in Kabul ambush

Karl Rove guest-hosting Rush Limbaugh radio show

Tune into to the Rush Limbaugh show to hear Karl Rove who is guest-hosting today from noon-3:00.

Ted Nugent: American voters allowed anti-Americans into leadership

One thing you can always say about Ted Nugent: he tells it like he sees it. His feelings are on his sleeve ... he doesn't mince words. No fence-sitter like many he describes in today's op-ed in the Washington Times:

Barack Hussein Obama did not sneak into power. An army of clueless, disconnected, ignorant Americans invited him to bring his Marxist, glaringly anti-American jihad into our lives. This president's overtly destructive, clear-and-present-danger agenda is surpassed in transparency only by his ultra-leftist public voting record and overall lifetime conduct of consorting with the enemy as a child and student of Marxism, socialist and racist community organizer, congregant of the blatant America-hating black-theology- and social-justice-spewing Rev. Jeremiah Wright and close personal friend of convicted communist terrorists like Bill Ayers, and by his unflinching appointment of an array of communist czars, including Van Jones, Cass Sunstein, Anita Dunne, et al.

He speaks the truth....

Brian Carterelli, 25, of Rockingham killed in Kabul ambush

Rugged, snow-capped mountains of Afghanistan.
Photo by Brian Carterelli.

"It takes my breath away, how a human life in this world can be vibrant one day and so easily extinguished the next. It can be a painful fear to those of us that remain...may it instead be a reminder to us to lay up our treasures of hope and joy in heaven, and not in this world."
-- from PEACH graduate Leigh Robacker

A James Madison University graduate who was from Rockingham County was killed in Friday's ambush in Kabul, Afghanistan, that left 10 humanitarian aid workers dead including six Americans, two Afghans, one British, and one German citizen.

Brian Carterelli, 25, who earned a Media Arts and Design Digital Video degree from JMU, was the public relations project manager for the International School of Kabul. Word began circulating in the local home school community Saturday that he was one of those who had been killed. He was publicly identified this morning when news came from the State Department of the last American's identity.

His love of Afghanistan came through in photos of that country that were posted on Facebook, pictures of smiling Afghan children, hard-working Afghan people, beautiful mountain ranges, blooming flowers and flowering trees, the architecture, the pack animals of the region that included camels, horses, donkeys, oxen ... images that are not shown by the U.S. media. Under them was Brian's description: "It is not all war."

His Facebook page still invites visitors to become friends ... the smiling faces of his 649 friends include familiar names.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Brian's family at this very difficult time.

Photos of Afghanistan by Brian Carterelli

Harrisonburg's Lt. Kurt Boshart appointed to Board of Corrections

He's a familiar face at Harrisonburg functions, both on and off duty, and on Friday it was announced that he had been appointed by Governor Bob McDonnell to be on the state Board of Corrections.

Lt. Kurt Boshart, a 25-year member of the Harrisonburg Police Department, will be a member of the nine-member board, making decisions about issues concerning state prisons. He is an excellent addition, and we thank him for his service on the board.

Change is constant at OBX

SWAC Daughter searches for shells in front of beach house at OBX.

May 2010.

With a good many friends vacationing this week at the Outer Banks of North Carolina, today's article by Andy Thompson in the Richmond Times-Dispatch caught my eye ... and the eye of my parents who emailed to be sure I had seen it. Andy talks about going to OBX for 25 years ... well, I can top him because my family started vacationing there in the 1960s.

Both of us have seen many changes over the years and, thus, today's article:

Time is the one currency in which we all trade. We spend it for memories, and if we spend wisely, those memories become more valuable with the years, compounding upon the recounting.

My parents brought me and my sister to the Outer Banks for the first time more than 25 years ago. My first vacation memories, first memories of the beach, the ocean, sand castles and fly ing a kite all come from those early trips.

We went to Corolla, the Outer Banks' northern terminus (in terms of pavement), when there were just two roads: U.S. Route 12 into the area and the dirt road behind the first row of dunes. Only a handful of houses were scattered along it.

I've written previously about my childhood on the beaches of NC and, like Andy, we took my now-grown children there to make memories of their own.

I still haven't posted leftover photos of the trip in May when we stayed at Waves. Maybe one slow day I'll get to it...

OBX. A jewel along the eastern coast.

Priceless ... this says it all

Photo by Bob at The Journey. Bumper sticker was spotted in Charlottesville.

With a one-two punch, voters rejecting health care bill

The first reviews are in concerning the government-mandated health care bill passed in March, and it's not looking good for President Barack Obama and his Democratic colleagues.

On Monday, U.S. District Court Judge Henry Hudson denied the federal government's motion to dismiss a lawsuit brought by the Commonwealth of Virginia challenging the constitutionality of the massive federal health care bill passed. Judge Hudson ruled that Virginia does indeed have a standing to bring its lawsuit seeking to invalidate the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and ruled that injury had been suffered by the Commonwealth since the federal law would invalidate the Health Care Freedom Act. Strike one for Obama and the Democrats.

On Tuesday ObamaCare was put before the citizens of Missouri. "Proposition C" sought to exempt Missouri from the insurance mandate currently demanded by the federal bill. In an overwhelming defeat, voters approved of Proposition C, with 71% turning their backs on ObamaCare and the Democratic health care bill. One voter even referred to it as the "vote heard round the world." Strike two for Obama and the Democrats.

The voter opposition should come as no surprise to the Obama administration and the Democratic Party. Their original goal was to push nationalized health care and have it passed by the summer of 2009. They did not expect the tremendous outpouring of negativity from the American people who protested at summer recess town hall meetings and participated in the 9/12 March on Washington in which upwards of 1.2 million citizens protested federal health care outside the Capitol in the fall of 2009.

After much arm-twisting and deal-making, the bill was finally passed in March 2010 against the will of the majority of the American people. Many vowed to have the bill repealed and went to work contacting their representatives even as naysayers suggested that, once in place, such a massive mandate could not be reversed.

Could this week's results in Virginia and Missouri begin a tsunami across the nation leading into the November elections? Political pundits have taken notice and wonder if Missouri could be a bellwether of the mid-terms.

Poll after poll have suggested Republicans may sweep into office by the dozens this fall. Opposition to nationalized health care and Democratic attempts to override state governments on issues such as illegal immigration is growing. Voters, tired of being ignored, are letting their voices be heard at the ballot box.

Could 2010, as suggested by Washington Examiner senior political analyst Michael Barone, be another 1966? Are Democrats heading for a political disaster?

Cross-posted at The Washington Examiner

Salt Lick BBQ ... Driftwood, Texas

Saturday night at the Salt Lick BBQ restaurant in Driftwood, Texas, in the hill country south of Austin. Photo taken by GOPer Jarrett Ray who took the photo and noted there were hundreds of diners. It's a popular spot and he was not disappointed in the food, the cobbler, or the atmosphere.

Photo by Jarrett Ray
7 August 2010

Laughter for the soul....

Don't give up. Moses was once a basket case....

From the "walk lockstep with me or I'll boycott" category

Both sides of the political aisle have their narrow-minded, "walk lockstep with me or I'll boycott" groups. This time it's the libs screaming about Target stores:

Target made a $150,000 donation on July 6 to a nonprofit, MN Forward. Six other Minnesota businesses, including Best Buy (BBY), followed suit with $100,000 gifts. MN Forward then ran an ad for Tom Emmer, an outspoken opponent of gay marriage who faces an Aug. 10 primary. The ad didn't mention Emmer's position on the issue, focusing instead on his opposition to taxes and spending.

Still, gay-rights advocates saw the donation as a betrayal by Target, which has long cultivated support among gays by, for example, providing health benefits to domestic partners and sponsoring Twin Cities Pride, an annual celebration. Since the contribution became public, as required under Minnesota law, calls for a boycott and other protests have mounted on YouTube (GOOG) and Facebook. "We feel betrayed," says Jeffrey Henson of Portland, Ore., who started an anti-Target Facebook group that has almost 40,000 followers. Protesters have also stood outside Target stores with placards denouncing the company.

There's a Facebook page in support of Target, too.

Glacier photos from Alaska

From her travels in Alaska, my friend, who has heard through our email exchanges of the excessively high temperatures, wrote: "For our friends and family suffering in the heat, imagine you are sitting on this iceberg, feet dangling in the ice cold water with air temp of about 50 degrees. Hope this helps."

Previous dispatches from Alaska:
- Alaska Marine Highway
- Note from Juneau
- Hello from Juneau
- Hello from Ketchikan

Alaska Marine Highway ... dispatches from Alaska

Ferry on the Alaska Marine Highway System.


They're wearing jackets while we're sweating in 100-degree heat.

As they travel the southern part of our beautiful 50th state, my friends have kept in touch with notes and photos. Here is what she wrote about the Alaska Marine Highway System:

Operating year round since 1963, the Marine Highway provides scheduled service of passengers, vehicles, and good to 30 communities in Alaska, starting in Bellingham, WA, and also serving Canada. It averages 400,000 passengers and 100,000 vehicles a year.

There are eleven vessels in the fleet ... Columbia is the largest and is the flagship. It is 418 feet in length and carries 600 passengers with a vehicle capacity of 2680 ft. There are seven decks, two for vehicles and five for passenger use. It has 100 staterooms, bar, dining room, snack bar, 2 lounges, solarium, and you have access to the side and aft deck.

The ferries are spotless and the crews are Alaskans, friendly and very helpful. To really see Alaska, this is a great way to travel. The ferries can travel to small towns and the narrow channels where the cruise ships can't go, giving you a very close up perspective of Alaska.

Note ... the Columbia is the only one out of Bellingham which we were on. We're traveling a smaller one from Ketchikan, Juneau, and Wrangell and then picking up the Columbia in Wrangell back to Bellingham.

Of all of our travels the past 50 years, this has got to be the best, next to Hawaii. Awesome.

Shhh ... don't want the secret to get out to too many people....

Previous dispatches from Alaska:
- Glacier photos from Alaska
- Note from Juneau
- Hello from Juneau
- Hello from Ketchikan

Notes from Juneau ... dispatches from Alaska

As friends continue their journey through Alaska, the latest dispatch arrived in my in-box about their travels in and about Juneau, the state's capital....

We got here last Friday and spotted a McDonald's right away. We hadn't had any sweet tea for 2 weeks -- HOT DANG, sweet tea in Juneau. I drank about half before taking a breath. Also hit the super WalMart for food supplies and incidentals -- thank you Juneau!

Juneau is a beautiful area, town of 30,000. With the state government, it's a working town with fishing and there is still a gold mine. We walked by the Capitol which was open for tours so we walked in -- no one at the security station -- so we found a lady in an office to inquire and she handed us a guided map to explore the building on our own. I asked about security. They are only on duty when legislature is in session. Every one up here is open door. Can't see that happening in our world. The Coast Guard have brought in a few boats this week for a big buoy competition and blood drive.

We rented a car for two days as there is a road that goes 40 miles out of town. It was so quiet and peaceful. We found a boat ramp -- we always have to check those out -- and saw four guys getting out of their boat, each carrying a big King crab, their dinner for the night. We drove up to the Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau and saw many salmon making their beds after the long swim up stream. Also drove to the first Alaska road and took a 3 mile walk on a hiking path through old gold mines. We walked a lot of trails, all rain forest with many water falls from the snow melt. I wore my old worn-out sneakers as the trails are muddy and didn't want to ruin my good ones but now have shin splints so those old shoes will be left in Juneau.

We took a boat tour out to Sawyer Glacier and the captain let us sit for almost two hours watching the calving. You would hear a sound like a mortar going off and chunks bigger than a semi would crash into the water. It was awesome, crystal blue chunks. Lots of icebergs on the trip out.

We've had great weather here and love the area. We've been here so long we feel like natives -- we love Juneau. Now have to do laundry, repack and board the ferry tomorrow and head to Wrangell, so we'll see you there. Stay cool. WE ARE!!!

Va named most pro-business state in America

Virginia Leads “... states that serve as a model for the rest of the country in job retention and creation.”

Virginia is the “most pro-business state” in America according to the Pollina Corporate Top 10 Pro-Business States for 2010 rankings released today. This marks the fourth time the Commonwealth has held the top spot, with previous top rankings garnered in 2003, 2007 and 2009.

In the official release from Pollina, the company notes that the study involves, “…ranking states based on 31 factors controlled by state government, including taxes, human resources, education, right-to-work legislation, energy costs, infrastructure spending, workers compensation laws, economic incentive programs and state economic development efforts.” Utah was ranked the second most pro-business state in the study, followed by Wyoming, South Carolina and North Carolina.

Speaking about the ranking, Governor McDonnell said, “Pollina has pointed out what we’ve known here in Virginia for a long time—that we are the best state in America for business. That’s no small feat in such a tough economy. Pollina clearly recognized the pro-business atmosphere and first-class educational system we have built here in Virginia. And that work is ongoing. This past General Assembly Session, we were able to secure a robust package of economic development incentives which we’re using around the state, country and world to create jobs for Virginians. In addition, we will continue to take an ‘all of the above’ approach to our energy future to work towards Virginia becoming the energy capitol of the east coast. This too will create the high-skill, high paying jobs that Virginians need.”

Governor McDonnell continued, “Over the past six months, our team has announced 131 projects in Virginia, creating nearly 8,000 jobs with a capital investment of $1.3 billion. This is a great start, but it’s just a start. The more announcements we make, the more jobs we create for Virginians. By keeping taxes and regulation and litigation at a minimum, we are ensuring that major employers, like Northrop Grumman, will continue to invest in the Commonwealth, bringing with them jobs and opportunities for all our citizens. Just this week we announced that another major Virginian employer, DuPont, would reinvest in a new $20 million facility Chesterfield. It’s a great honor for Virginia to be named the most pro-business state in America. We are going to do all we can to ensure that we stay there in the years ahead.”

The full Pollina rankings and report can be found here: http://www.pollina.com/publications/probiz~1.htm

Va home schoolers: Notice of Intent forms due August 15

Notice of Intent ... is your Notice of Intent form consistent with the homeschool law?

A reminder from Home Educators Association of Virginia (HEAV)....

It's notification time! If you are homeschooling under the home instruction statute, the August 15th deadline to notify your division superintendent that you will be homeschooling during the 2010-2011 school year is fast approaching! We want to make sure you have the information you need and have staff on call to personally answer your questions and help you file your Notice of Intent.

We recently sent out some important information about the NOI to HEAV members and wanted to share it with you as well.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION YOU NEED TO KNOW
Often, a school board will ask for more information than required by law. So, if you have a question about what your superintendent is requiring, we're available to help discern between what is being asked for and what the law requires. Submitting ONLY what is required helps guard our homeschooling freedoms from subtle encroachments.

Here's one question we received just this week from a parent whose county was asking for more information than required--we've also included our answer.

Q: Attached is a Notice of Intent to Homeschool form mailed to me from our local school board. I compared their form with the form from HEAV that I always use and found a big difference in option (iv). My county specifically requests Standards of Learning Objectives (SOLs). Could you please clarify this for me? Am I required to provide these? From my understanding, the state law is the same for every county in Virginia.

A: I agree with your concern about the Notice of Intent form you received from your county. The state law is the same in every Virginia county. The law does not require you to use this particular form. Instead, you can use the HEAV form found here, or you can write a letter that includes the same information. The HEAV form includes only the information required by law.

The form you received from your county is inconsistent with the law. Under option (iv), your program of study does NOT have to include the Standards of Learning. In fact, HEAV worked successfully to get this section of the homeschool law changed in 2008; evidently, your county did not update their information.

I also noticed the form asks for your child's birth date. The law does NOT require you to include this information. Since a birth date shows whether or not your child is within compulsory school age, you could include your child's age instead. For instance, you could say "eight by September 30" or "eight years old."

*After responding to the parent's question above, Yvonne Bunn, HEAV's director of homeschool support and legislative affairs, contacted the county's secretary of instruction by phone. The secretary was unaware of the 2008 law change and apologized for the error. She asked HEAV to fax a copy of the current law. We faxed a copy of the law, along with a copy of HEAV's Notice of Intent form.

DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT FILING YOUR NOTICE OF INTENT?

HEAV is here to help! Review the questions below, as well as HEAV's Notice of Intent FAQs, for answers to your questions. If you don't find the answer you need, be sure to give us a call or send an e-mail to support@heav.org! And please feel free to forward this to friends!

• How do I complete the Notice of Intent?
• What are the ages for school attendance?
• What if my child is not ready for school?
• Whom should I notify that I plan to homeschool in Virginia?
• When do I notify?
• How do I comply with the Virginia homeschool law?
• Do I wait for permission to homeschool?
• Where should I send my Notice of Intent?
• Are the Virginia homeschool laws different for certified teachers?
• Do I file a Notice of Intent if I want a religious exemption?
• What if my superintendent asks for more information than the law requires?
• What happens if something goes wrong?

Sales tax-free holiday appears to be successful in central Shenandoah Valley

If the Staunton-Waynesboro-Augusta area is any indication, Virginia's annual Sales Tax-Free Holiday is a huge success. Stores were blown out with customers on Friday as parents and children shopped for back-to-school clothing and supplies.

Lasting through Sunday, the idea of a sales tax break for back-to-school was the brain child of Del. Ben Cline (R-24th House) who proposed the legislation in 2006 and, while saving sales tax alone is not exactly a door buster, the bit windfall comes when combined with store sales and extra percentages off on top of that. Voila! Parents see their hard-earned dollars stretching into savings they are willing to pursue.

From the Sales Tax website:

When: First full weekend of August (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) each year. The 2010 holiday will take place on August 6-8, 2010.

What's Exempt: During this three-day period, purchases of qualifying school supplies selling for $20 or less per item, and purchases of qualifying clothing and footwear selling for $100 or less per item will be exempt from sales tax. Retailers may also choose to absorb the tax on other items during the holiday period, but they are responsible for paying the tax on those items to the Department of Taxation.

Reminders have been sent out by all the local delegates and by Sen. Mark Obenshain as well as other elected officials.

To the naysayers who are worried about the loss of revenue for the Commonwealth, WHSV TV-3 covered that angle on tonight's broadcast.

You've got two days left so get out there and start shopping!

Rush Limbaugh: "Life is not fair"

By way of Real Clear Politics ... a lesson in life.

Former President Bush will interview with NBC's Matt Lauer

From his Facebook page, former President George W. Bush announced an interview with NBC's Matt Lauer on November 10, 2010. I'm a little disappointed he did not go with one of the very capable Fox News anchors in interviewing after the release of his book, "Decision Points."

The message from his Facebook page:

President Bush is looking forward to sitting down with Matt Lauer in his first one-on-one interview since leaving office. He will talk about his upcoming book, Decision Points, and discuss the defining decisions of his life. The interview will air in primetime on Monday, November 8th as a special “Matt Lauer Reports....” President Bush will also appear live on the “Today” show on Wednesday, November 10th.

Not friendly territory....

Laughter for the soul

What part of "Thou Shalt Not" don't you understand?

Reducing government spending is essential to job creation

By Rep. Bob Goodlatte
VA - Republican - 6th Congressional District

Folks all across our nation are worried. They worry if their job is still going to be around in six months. They worry about what will happen to their families, their children, and their homes if their employer shuts down and they find themselves out of work. Unfortunately, too many people are facing this situation today with nationwide unemployment hovering around ten percent.

The Democratic leaders in Washington promised the American people that if we passed a stimulus bill we would be able to strengthen our economy and create jobs. But in the 18 months since that monstrosity was passed by Congress, we have lost 2.6 million private sector jobs, unemployment has increased by almost two percent, and we have added trillions of dollars to our national debt. Bailouts, massive government spending, out of control deficits, federal takeovers, and more bureaucratic interference is not the solution to the difficulties we face today. As President Ronald Reagan said in his first inaugural address “government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem.”

To spur economic growth, create new jobs and bring personal opportunity to every American we must strengthen our free market system, not hamper it. We must reduce government intrusion, not allow more bailouts and takeovers. We must give our nation’s entrepreneurial spirit the opportunity to thrive, not enact policies that will forever alter our ability to seek prosperity.

Out of control spending, skyrocketing deficits, and massive growth in government programs have increased economic uncertainty and prolonged our unemployment crisis. Yet, the Majority in Congress is already preparing to pass, without my support, a $26 billion bailout bill which will increase taxes on American businesses and once again expand the size and scope of the federal government. Americans need jobs, not another failed bailout. With businesses already struggling to make ends meet, further tax increases will only add to that burden. The federal government should focus on cutting spending and reducing the deficit, not finding more ways to spend taxpayer’s dollars. That’s why I have introduced legislation that would force the federal government to balance its budget.

The President and the Democratic Leadership in Congress believe their big government programs can better grow our economy and create jobs than the free market system that has made America the most prosperous nation on earth. They are also preparing massive tax increases. We simply cannot afford any more of these tax and spend job killing policies in the private sector. We must find ways to create new jobs and expand opportunities and that remains my top priority. As a member of the House Republican Economic Recovery Solutions Group, I am committed to finding real solutions to our nation’s unemployment crisis. We must remove barriers to employment including the threat of higher taxes, additional government regulations, and costly mandates.

To contact me about this or any other matter, please visit my website at www.goodlatte.house.gov.

Augusta County shuts down Rocket Boys ... part 14: Dreams of space

Part 14: Dreams of space ... Augusta County shuts down Rocket Boys

(Updated 8/6/10: Augusta Board of Zoning Appeals approves paraglider ... now could they re-do the Rocket Boys case?)

(Updated 9/26/10:  Highland County opens its doors to VAST)

Part 1 ... October Sky
Part 2 ... Who is VAST?
Part 3 ... What is agri-tourism?
Part 4 ... Francis Chester
Part 5 ... Launch location -- Croft Field
Part 6 ... How it began ... anonymous complaint
Part 7 ... "It's only a formality"
Part 8 ... VAST prepares for BZA meeting
Part 9 ... VAST presents case to BZA meeting
Part 10 ... VAST denied Special Use Permit
Part 11 ... Augusta County denies BZA hearing tapes
Part 12 ... The legal case begins
Part 13 ... Community reaction
Part 14 ... Dreams of space

Remember the movie October Sky that told the true story of Homer Hickam of West Virginia, a coal miner's son who was intrigued by the Soviet Sputnik satellite in the 1950s that streaked across the October sky?

That incident inspired Homer to study rocketry, win a science contest, go away to college, and eventually earn his Ph.D. and become a NASA scientist. And it all began when he and his friends put together and launched model rockets even though some of the town people tried to shut them down.

Just imagine ... in Augusta County there is a new generation of Rocket Boys who could be future NASA scientists, much like Homer.

And in western Augusta County with its large tracts of land, there appears to be the perfect place for a local rocket club to teach science in the wide open spaces, smack in the middle of 500 acres of land, isolated from surrounding properties. But you would be wrong.

This series looks into the background of a group of boys and adult volunteers who were blindsided by an anonymous complaint that brought the government into what should have been a recreational, educational activity in the middle of a 500-acre farm field void of government involvement.

It looks into Augusta County's desire to cultivate agri-tourism, and Del. Steve Landes' agri-tourism bill that passed this year's General Assembly, and questions the fairness of the decision of who can participate in agri-tourism ... and who can't.

And it looks at community reaction ... questions that have been brought up by county citizens who wonder if they will be next by what is perceived as an overbearing Big Government mentality.

I had not seen the movie October Sky for a number of years so checked it out of the Churchville Library to once again get the feel of students who dream ... and the adults who nurture those dreams. In the movie, one adult who encouraged Homer was his teacher Miss Riley who died at age 31 of Hodgkin's Disease but not before she planted the seed for him to look beyond the coal mines and pursue his dreams of space.

In Augusta County, we hope to one day see local dreams played out once again, and we hope the Rocket Boys are allowed to again fly the skies of western Virginia.

Feedback about this series is welcomed.

Related stories:
- SWAC Girl: Del. Landes' agri-tourism bill passes House
- WHSV TV-3: Agritourism Brings Boost for Augusta County
- NBC 29: Rocketry club goes to court to get permit
- Staunton News Leader: Sparring launches in rocket case
- Staunton NL: Rocket club grounded
- Staunton NL: Aerospace Team may scratch launches
- Staunton NL: Why can't we give rocket club a chance?
- Staunton NL: Zoning board denies permit for rocketry club
- Waynesboro News Virginian: Throttle up: Rocketry appeal heats up
- Waynesboro NV: Zoning board denies liftoff of Swoope rockets
Update: WVTF Public Radio news story - 4/7/10
- Waynesboro NV: Go for launch - 9/25/10
- SWAC Girl: Are the skies friendlier in Highland than Augusta for the Rocket Boys? - 9/26/10


Other bloggers write about Rocket Boys:
- Yankee Phil: Local boys trying to be good ... denied in Augusta County
- Yankee Phil: More info on ... Local boys trying to be good ... denied in Augusta County
- The Journey: No rockets on company property
- Virginia Virtucon
- StrictlyVA
- The Journey: His neighbors didn't like rockets either

Out and about the SWAC area on a summer day

One of the things I enjoy most about living in a small town is seeing folks I know when I'm out and about. Today was no exception as we ran errands and checked the sales tax-free shopping.

Kohl's in Waynesboro was packed with moms, kids, and grandmoms shopping for back-to-school clothing. Target was packed with more back-to-school shopping, and other stores benefited as well.

When we stopped at Martin's Food Mart in Staunton, we ran into a friend in the parking lot and briefly exchanged upcoming information. Heading in the door, we saw another acquaintance and said hello, and then buzzed through the produce department, grabbing some fruit and veggies.

Heading to the back of the store, we ran into former Delegate Chris Saxman who had run by to buy ribs to grill for Nora's 11th birthday bash. Eleven! Can you believe that child is eleven already? After a big hug, we stood in the aisle and yakked about kids, politics, and stuff. He's looking good ... those blue eyes were laughing as we talked. He's enjoying some well-deserved family time but he knows we're still itching to recruit him for something at some time. It may be after John, his youngest, graduates from high school. We bid him good-bye and finished shopping, then headed outside where a neighbor was parked beside us.

I love living in a small town....

Karl Rove to host Rush Limbaugh radio show Monday

Rush Limbaugh has a late night on the west coast Sunday so Karl Rove, numbers cruncher and strategist extraordinaire from the George W. Bush presidency, will fill in as guest host Monday, August 9, from 12-3:00 pm eastern time. With his knowledge and background, Mr. Rove should be an interesting listen.

"Aspinwall & Friends" ... Houston folk music at its best

Originally posted April 2009....

If you like the laid-back easy feel of acoustic folk-style music, then pour a glass of wine, kick back, and mellow out to entertainer Bill Aspinwall, an all-around talented musician and singer who represents some of the best that Austin and Houston have to offer in the folk music genre.

Named 2005 Songwriter of the Year by the Houston Association of Acoustic Musicians (HAAM) and the Houston Songwriters Association (HSA), Bill also was co-creator of the 2005 Song of the Year, "Fractured Lives," included on his new solo CD, Free Range Trout: Aspinwall & Friends, featuring some of Houston's finest musicians.

With calming tunes reminiscent of James Taylor but skillfully interwoven with the story-telling style of Jimmy Buffet, Bill Aspinwall's music, much of it self-written, makes for relaxed listening or singing along.

As one of the Big Lizard Boys, Bill has been performing for years with his merry band of musicians that includes fellow Lizard Boys Mike Crippen and Mike Darnell. Their CD, Pick Yourself Up, has my all-time favorite Aspinwall tune, "Arapahoe Rodeo," a song the Boulder native penned about his home state of Colorado with wistful memories of growing up in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains along with fun, whimsical lyrics such as, "... I often wondered how snakes wave goodbye" ...

Arapahoe Rodeo
Lyrics and Music by Bill Aspinwall
© W. F. Aspinwall, 2005

Blue jeans and brook trout, five friends that checked out,
Born in a small town, wife says that I frown
Fish with my grandad, memories I had
Like Christmas eve snow
Dozens of cousins, my uncles and aunts ...
Arapahoe Rodeo.

Wheat fields and foothills, parents on white pills
Farmers and miners, small change in the diners
Summers in bare feet, parades came down Pearl Street
On the 4th of July
And up at the treeline, a buck and a doe ...
Arapahoe Rodeo

Up Coal Creek Canyon, we had a small cabin
No electric, no water, no phone
After all of these changes in my life
I still wish it was home.

Fording the stream beds with cowboys and pot heads
A pinto with white sox, Hendrix at Red Rocks
Hardly said one word, but I often wondered
How snakes wave goodbye
A snowman is melting, the creek starts to flow ...
Arapahoe Rodeo.

Love that song ... to hear it played under the summer Colorado night sky is almost magical.

Bill Aspinwall, affectionately known as "A," is my brother-in-law, married to my Texas sister. When we get together, we kick back and are taken away by his talented musical skills as he plays acoustic and electric guitar, banjo, jaw harp, and anything else he can put his hands on ... truly a talented gentleman. When they come to vist in Virginia, we can spy them as they emerge from the plane because of Bill's faithful and trusty guitar always in hand.

In the mail last week, my sister sent the latest CD ... Free Range Trout: Aspinwall & Friends ... a collection of songs we have heard Bill sing in the past, and some new ones including one my sister co-wrote with him. Keeping it all in the family, niece Molly helped with backup harmony with cameos on one cut by the resident dog and cat.

The CD includes a dedication to my dad who passed away in 1975, and to Bill's dad who passed away about five years ago: "This project is dedicated to all the family and to parents everywhere, especially 'Bebe' Aspinwall, Raymond Randall, and Cowboy Nate, to remind us that dreams have a life of their own."

Free Range Trout: Aspinwall & Friends is Bill's first solo effort. With the help of family, friends, the "Guitar Circle friends," and fellow Lizard Boys, it includes the haunting Spanish lyrics of "El azur del invierno," the beautiful "If Winter Knows," the award-winning "Fractured Lives," and my favorite, "Open Arms":

Open Arms
Lyrics and Music by Bill Aspinwall
© W. F. Aspinwall

(First Verse)
Taking the coffee cup down from the shelf
Making breakfast all by myself
There's too much space ... a half-empty bed
I'm holding onto dreams instead
Holding out for love with open arms.

Congratulations to "A" and Randall for a job well done!

Music is available from MyTexasMusic.com. Read the Texas Music Journal review.

Paraglider approved ... now could they redo the Rocket Boys case?

When neighbors protested the idea of a paraglider being launched from a nearby farm, they protested by saying it would scare the livestock. A demonstration for the Board of Zoning Appeals on the property Thursday proved the horses not only were not scared but never stopped eating as the paraglider took off. A Special Use Permit was granted to retired FBI agent Drew Richardson.

One reason given last summer for shutting down the Rocket Boys was that the rockets scared cattle on nearby farms even though the rockets were launched in a 500-acre field. Did the Board of Zoning Appeals drive out to see for themselves if the cows were spooked? Maybe that case could be reheard and the boys given the opportunity to once again practice rocketry in the wide-open spaces of western Augusta County....

McConnell to Franken: "This is not SNL"

From Politico:

When Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell laid out his opposition to Elena Kagan’s Supreme Court nomination, someone in the chamber appeared to be moving around in his chair, gasping and rolling his eyes.

It was Sen. Al Franken

Moments before Kagan’s confirmation vote Thursday, the Minnesota Democrat was presiding over the Senate — and the Kentucky Republican thought the freshman senator was mocking his speech. Upon the conclusion of his remarks, a very irritated McConnell removed his microphone, approached the dais and confronted the former comedian.

"This isn't ‘Saturday Night Live,’ Al," McConnell told Franken sternly, according to people who overheard the exchange.

Franken later apologized to McConnell.

This isn't the first time Franken has misbehaved while presiding over the Senate. In December he cut off Joe Lieberman while addressing the assembly.

Also in December tempers flared when Franken revealed a private conversation between himself and John Thune.

Apparently Sen. Franken is have a little difficulty learning to be a statesman in the U.S. Senate.

Crunching the numbers in Tuesday's primaries

The Washington Examiner's senior political analyst Michael Barone crunched the numbers from Tuesday's primaries in Missouri and Michigan and came up with dreadful results for Obama Democrats.

The big news coming out of Missouri was that its "Proposition C" passed by an overwhelming 71% percent. What may not be known is that it was carried by every locality except the city of St. Louis.

In results that saw twice as many Republicans turn out at the polls as Democrats, Mr. Barone noted:

Another way to look at it: Republicans won 66% of the two-party vote in Michigan and 65% of the two-party vote in Missouri. Quite a contrast from the 2008 presidential election, in which Barack Obama carried Michigan 57%-41% and lost Missouri by the extremely narrow margin of 0.2%.

Looking at the returns, it's enough to make a Democrat weep as Republicans continue building momentum as November looms.

With a one-two punch, voters are rejecting health care bill

My latest in the Opinion Zone at the Washington Examiner about the Virginia and Missouri decisions concerning federalized health care, and its impact on Barack Obama and the Democrats.

Reporters' resourcefulness....

Don't tell me reporters aren't resourceful! Richmond Times-Dispatch political reporter Jeff Schapiro tracked me down at my parents' house in Richmond tonight hoping to get a comment about today's news that a California judge overturned that state's ban on gay marriage. I declined because I had not had the opportunity to learn anything about it other than hearing a short blip on the news. Thanks, Ben Marchi! :)

Bill O'Riley reads Stauntonian's comment on air

Republican Carolyn Hoaster of Staunton had her comment read by Bill O'Riley in tonight's No Spin Zone on The Factor. I know Carolyn, and I know she's a no-nonsense conservative.

Only thing was Mr. O'Riley pronounced our fair city with the broad "a" sound as in "Staun-ton" ... he added the "u" sound when, in reality, the "u" is silent and the "a" is the "long a" sound as in "Stan-ton." That's how we know the residents from the visitors....

Carolyn's comment was a slight slam on O'Riley, something about him not listening because he's too busy talking. Didn't get the exact quote (it happened so fast).

Meat loaf dinner with veggies from the garden

I'm cooking dinner for my parents tonight and we've got fresh veggies on the menu along with meat loaf and green beans. I'm using potatoes out of the garden for mashed potatoes along with tomatoes and corn on the cob. SWAC Daughter wants biscuits to top it off. The meat loaf recipe is a winner with everyone, something I picked up from Taste of Home years ago.

Little Cheddar Meat Loaves
Serves 8

Ingredients
1 egg
3/4 cup milk
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
1/2 cup quick-cooking oats
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 teaspoon salt
1 pound lean ground beef
2/3 cup ketchup
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons prepared mustard

Directions
1. In a bowl, beat the egg and milk. Stir in cheese, oats, onion and salt. Add beef and mix well. Shape into eight loaves; place in a greased 13-in. x 9-in. x 2-in. baking dish.

2. Combine ketchup, brown sugar and mustard; spoon over loaves.

3. Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or until the meat is no longer pink and a meat thermometer reads 160 degrees.

Everyone has their own individual meat loaf serving so it's great for a small gathering. Enjoy!

Rep. Goodlatte to present oral arguments in Porteous impeachment hearing

Press release from Rep. Bob Goodlatte's office....

Wednesday, August 4th
1:00 p.m.: Congressman Goodlatte, Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee Task Force on Judicial Impeachment, along with other Members of the Task Force, will present oral arguments in a Hearing of the Impeachment Trial Committee on the Articles against Judge G. Thomas Porteous, a federal district judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana.

To watch today’s hearing please use the following website: www.sitc.senate.gov.

In March 2010, the House of Representatives unanimously approved four impeachment articles relating to Judge G. Thomas Porteous, Jr. The House Judiciary Committee Task Force on Judicial Impeachment presented the four articles of impeachment to the full House of Representatives, citing evidence that Judge Porteous intentionally made material false statements and representations under penalty of perjury, engaged in a corrupt kickback scheme, solicited and accepted unlawful gifts, and intentionally misled the Senate during his confirmation proceedings. The Task Force concluded that Judge Porteous violated his Constitutional oath by engaging in high crimes and misdemeanors.

In addition to Goodlatte, the bipartisan House Task Force is made up of the following members:

Adam Schiff (D-CA), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), Bill Delahunt (D-MA), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Hank Johnson (D-GA), Pedro Pierluisi (D-Puerto Rico), Charles Gonzalez (D-TX), Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI), Dan Lungren (R-CA), Randy Forbes (R-VA), Louie Gohmert (R-TX).

November is Coming: Democrats starting to go into panic mode

Democratic horror author Stephen King mocks Rush Limbaugh and calls Glenn Beck a crazy nut case.

ABC News' and former Democratic operative George Stephanopoulos tries to play spin doctor with the number.

Bloomberg's Carlson Once Again Spins Against Arizona on Illegal Immigration

ABC Highlights Stimulus Waste: Funding Cocaine for Monkeys; Will Other Networks Cover?

As Obama Affirms End to Combat in Iraq, Only ABC Credits Troop Surge that Obama Opposed

Other news slants found by Media Research Center:

• AP's Proclamation: 'Democrats Declare Swamp of Corruption Drained'
• Michael Moore Equates WikiLeaks Source With Nuremberg Trials
• Washington Post Columnists Duel Over Blame Bush/Obama Whining Strategy on Today
• Rick Sanchez Again Hints That Fox News is Not a Legitimate News Outlet
• CNN's Zakaria Trashes Bush Tax Cuts, Editorializes for Full Repeal
• MSNBC's Mitchell: 'Are Black Lawmakers Being Singled-Out' for Ethics Violations?
• Matthews Warns, Just Like in '94, Big GOP Win in Fall Could Sweep In 'Oddballs'
• CNN's Lemon Forwards Idea That Rangel Investigation is Racially Motivated
• Stephen King Mocks 'Patronizing' Rush Limbaugh, 'Crazy' 'Nutcase' Glenn Beck

Greta Van Sustern and Maureen McDonnell

Maureen McDonnell is a gracious First Lady of Virginia, and now Greta Van Sustern knows it, too, as she wrote on her GretaWire blog:

We went in to the first floor of the Governor's Mansion where there are often historic tours and the Governor's wife came down to meet us. You would love her! She is extremely gracious and friendly. She is getting the Mansion ready for it's 200th anniversary.

Greata and Fox News had slipped into Richmond Monday to interview Ken Cuccinelli because of the judge's slap-down of the federal government's request to dismiss the Commonwealth's challenge to the federal health care bill.

Cracking down on illegal immigration in Virginia

As states crack down on illegal immigrants, Virginia joins in with the latest opinion handed down from the Attorney General's office.

Fatal auto wreck caused by illegal immigrant

The former principal of St. Gertrude's High School in Richmond, Sister Charlotte Lange, is in critical condition after a fatal car wreck Sunday in which one of her fellow nuns, Sister Denise Mosier, was killed and another, Sister Connie Ruth Lupton, was also in critical condition.

The wreck was caused by an illegal immigrant who had been convicted twice before of DUI and had his license revoked.

According to the Richmond Times-Dispatch:

On a narrow, two-lane bridge in Prince William County, the sisters, traveling in a church-owned, 7-year-old Toyota Corolla, were struck head-on by a man now charged with his third offense of driving under the influence. He is also charged with involuntary manslaughter and driving on a revoked license.
...
As recently as June 6, Carlos A. Martinelly Montano, who turned 23 last week, had appeared in a Prince William court and was convicted of driving on a revoked license and ordered to pay $582 in costs and fines. His license was suspended for 90 days.

He had been convicted of a second DUI a year earlier and, according to the News & Messenger newspaper of Manassas, served 20 days of a 363-day sentence.

Martinelly lives less than 2 miles from the monastery.

Police said Martinelly is a native of Bolivia and is an illegal immigrant who was out on bond awaiting a deportation hearing. Authorities first notified U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement about his record last year.

Court records show Martinelly has a history of driving convictions, including two convictions for driving under the influence, most recently in April 2009.

The nuns are part of the Richmond-based Benedictine Sisters.

Sister Denise, 66, died at the scene of the accident. She was a spiritual worker with the Richmond Benedictine order, spending over 40 years teaching in elementary and high school and serving as a missionary to Ethiopia and Tanzania.

Sister Connie, 75, worked as as a part-time administrative assistant at Saint Gertrude High School in Richmond.

Sister Charlotte, 70, was principal of Saint Gertrude High School until her retirement in 2005. Since that time, she had worked with the ministerial department at St. Mary's Hospital in Richmond.

Our prayers go out for Sisters Charlotte and Connie and their recovery, and to the family of Sister Denise at their time of grief. These are sad days for the church, the Benedictine/Saint Gertrude schools, and the community.

"Two are better than one ..."

"Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up." -- Ecclesiastes 4:9

Camp Willow Run

SWAC Niece spent a week in July at summer camp and we drove down to pick her up on a hot, muggy Saturday. Located on Lake Gaston on the North Carolina side, Camp Willow Run is an interdenominational Christian camp built around a unique railroad theme using actual boxcars that have been converted into heated and air-conditioned dormitories. An authentic 1911 steam engine and caboose complete the train.

SWAC Niece was in Boxcar 3 (pictured) overlooking the lake.

Recreational picnic shelter with the lake in the background. Camp Willow Run has many water sports including sailboats, canoes, water skiing, speed boats, and much more.

Docks, swim area, and volleyball court.

The Gazebo was on the way to the waterside ampitheater where campfires, singalongs, skits, and other Christian fellowship took place.

Photos by SWAC Girl
Lynn Mitchell
July 2010

Paraglider runs into neighbors' scorn in Augusta County

Drew Richardson spent his career in the FBI fighting the bad guys before retiring to the rural byways of Augusta County.

Now he wants to fly his paraglider from his 50-acre spread in southern Augusta County but, like others before him, he has run into the ire of farmers who surround his property. They are complaining that the aircraft disturbs their livestock, something the Rocket Boys ran into in the southwestern corner of the county when they were denied future use of the 500-acre property used to launch model rockets.

The Board of Zoning Appeals will meet Thursday at 1:30 where the Richardson case is on the agenda to decide if a special use permit will be issued. It was tabled at the June meeting. Seems those wanting to take to the skies over Augusta County have more people to answer to than the BZA.

RIP orchestra leader Mitch Miller, 99

He smiled a lot. I remember that about Mitch Miller from my childhood. He passed away Saturday at the age of 99.

"Sing Along With Mitch" came on Saturday nights when I was a little kid, and my parents had a number of his records featuring the harmony of a men's chorus singing Broadway favorites, pop tunes, and Christmas songs. My sister and I would sing along and knew all the words and, to this day, I can remember all the words to many of those songs. It provided hours of entertainment and an appreciation for two, three, and four-part harmony. Thanks, Mitch! RIP.

Virginia wins first round in federal health care battle in Va.

Tune in to Fox News Channel's Greta Van Sustern tonight at 10:00 to hear Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli as he discusses today's ruling on the Commonwealth's lawsuit against the federal government. More from the Washington Examiner.

The Journey through life....

I am always amazed at all that Bob accomplishes ... photographs, art, architectural scale renderings, hiking, church, family ... his window on the world is always filled with beauty and reminds me to slow down and look around.

Hop on over to The Journey and scroll down to see a mural he is working on for church, another mural under a Crozet railroad overpass, and the latest edition of THYME Magazine.

"Blame Bush stragedy won't win mid-terms ... 10 reasons Democrats are toast"

Mark McKinnon at The Daily Beast has bad news for Democrats:

Voters know whose hands are at the helm now. And with the elections less than 100 days away, here are the 10 telling signs that blaming bad times on Bush is not a winning strategy.

Check out his list. If you're a Republican, you'll smile. If you're a Democrat, better have the botox handy because those worry wrinkles are going to get deeper....

Dan Rather, Chris Matthews: "Republicans retake House in November"

Democrats are worried about November....

Fox News moves to front row in White House press room

Press secretary Robert Gibbs is going to love having Fox News on the front row in the White House press room. After Helen Thomas left, it was unanimously decided by the White House Correspondents Association to have Fox move on up. Got to love it!

Chelsea's wedding

This pretty much covers thoughts about the Chelsea Clinton wedding....

Harris Corporation to bring 100 high-tech jobs to Harrisonburg, Va.

With Harrisonburg's James Madison University School of Information Technology (CISAT) cranking out computer-savvy students with each graduating class, the announcement that Harris Corporation will be opening a cyber location offering 100 new high-tech jobs in this central Shenandoah Valley city is good news.

Trading as NYSE:HRS, the Harris Corporation, headquartered in Melbourne, Florida, is an international communications and information technology company serving government and commercial markets in more than 150 countries. Employing almost 15,000, nearly 7,000 of those are engineers and scientists who help develop communications products, services, and cyber technology, generating approximately $5 billion in annual revenue. Harris currently employs 1,900 in Lynchburg and Northern Virginia.

The Harrisonburg location will be part of the latest expansion of Harris' Cyber Integrated Solutions, providing customers with an integrated offering of assured infrastructure, managed security, and applications and services delivered as a secure, trusted cyber solution.

This was the latest in jobs announcements made by Governor Bob McDonnell who commented about Harris Corporation's decision to locate in Harrisonburg:

“Harris Corporation already has operations in several other Virginia localities and will further grow its presence with the expansion of its Cyber Integrated Solutions business. The state’s business-friendly climate coupled with the region’s proximity to Harris’ federal customers and the availability of a highly trained cyber workforce were additional deciding factors. We’re pleased Harris Corporation has decided to expand in the Commonwealth.”

Anticipating the move to Harrisonburg, Harris Cyber Integrated Solutions president and general manager Dale Meyerrose observed:

"Cyber is in our DNA, and we have the deep knowledge and experience in a number of vertical markets to both manage and add value to mission-critical systems. Virginia's economic incentives and business climate allow Harris to make this kind of substantial long term investment with confidence. This project will add jobs in the state of Virginia and add value for our customers while improving their cyber capabilities."

As for Harrisonburg and the computer grads, any high-tech jobs are a welcome addition in a job market that often sees them leaving the area to find employment in Northern Virginia and Richmond.

Cross-posted at The Washington Examiner

All politics is local

If, as Tip O’Neill once observed “all politics is local” then do you know what’s going on in your own backyard? Do you know who your local congress representative is? How about your city council rep? School board? This isn’t a rallying cry to take to the streets and become politically active (although there’s nothing wrong with that!) but we should all become politically aware. Being informed about what our government is up to and how their policies are going to impact our lives is important. Remember, those folks back in Washington D.C. are working for us. The only way to make sure they do a good job is to hold them accountable. And you can only do that with the facts. --From www.mikeroweworks.com