Dead man walking?

From Iran to U.S. and back to Iran. Dead man walking?

The mystery of Blog Net News' disappearance

Tuesday afternoon a flurry of emails circulated the Virginia blogosphere with the question: "What's happened to Blog Net News?"

I had been busy that day and was not aware it was down until reading the emails. A quick check confirmed that it was gone ... but was it temporary or permanent? Apparently someone had been in contact with Dave Mastio, owner of BNN, and indicated it would not be back anytime soon.

BNN's blogger headlines have been a part of the Virginia blogosphere for almost four years. Suddenly, the window into a community of fellow bloggers was darkened.

Until (if?) BNN gets up and going again, the Old Dominion Blogs aggregator hosted by Virginia Right! blogger Tom White is taking up the slack. ODB has been in place for about a month so now it's just a matter of getting the word out.

Old Dominion Blogs aggregator ... the headlines are back. Thanks, Tom.

Update: Dave Mastio, BNN owner, posted on Facebook that BNN was gone apparently because of the dismal financial atmosphere. My thanks to Dave for a service many appreciated throughout the years.

"Saw you in the parade...."

Staunton's 4th of July parade was fun for two dozen Republicans who accompanied the Staunton GOP float around Gypsy Hill Park, waving to crowds of people ... thousands who lined the two-mile route to watch and celebrate America's birthday.

Along the way, I saw our pastor enjoying the parade with friends and called out his name, waving as we passed. He's there every year.

Today we received a note in the mail from him, something he does frequently with church folks, noting Bible verses or a thought or passing along a prayer. At the bottom of today's letter was a handwritten message: "Saw you in the parade." I laughed.

His mailed message today was simple: "Said this prayer for you and me ...

Father, when You are with me, I am stronger. When You guide me, my way is sure. Once again, I need Your presence and direction. Surround me with Your love. Speak to my heart. I come to You. Amen."

My prayer for our pastor ... thank you for being a guiding light and always being there for many who seek your help, and for reminding us that "the Lord of Life is the comfort and hope for you and me." Amen.

George W. Bush's book "Decision Points"

From George W. Bush today on Facebook:

There’s a lot of buzz surrounding President Bush’s book after Drudge posted about it today. Decision Points is set for release on November 9th – a week after Election Day. For more information and to pre-order a copy, please visit http://www.georgewbushdecisionpoints.com/.

You may want to check out George W. Bush's Facebook page.

Governor's Reform and Restructuring Commission meeting live-streamed

Live-blogging Governor Bob McDonnell's Town Hall meeting with the Government Reform and Restructuring Commission. Opening by Sen. Mark Obenshain with a welcome from Augusta County Board of Supervisors Chairman Gerald Garber who said it was nice to have meetings where people could meet freely to discuss issues.

The room is almost filled to capacity. Elected officials include Del. Steve Landes, Del. Ben Cline, Del. Dickie Bell, Commissioner of the Revenue Jean Shrewsbury, Staunton councilman Bruce Elder, and various activists from throughout the area.

Opening remarks are now being made by Del. Glenn Odor (94th House), followed by fellow Commission member Howard Estes, Richmond attorney. Mr. Estes is charged to look into Constitutional offices.

Andrew Lamar, policy office for Gov. McDonnell, is providing staff assistance and explained what the Commission is about. This is a 31-member commission made up of 32 bipartisan members along with elected officials listening to ideas from Commonwealth residents.

The full commission will meet on July 20 at 9:00 a.m. in Richmond, and the meeting will be livestreamed at the website www.reform.virginia.gov.

Comment cards have been handed out as people entered the room. The meeting is now beginning with Del. Steve Landes who is speaking first so he can get his son, Roth, to baseball practice.

The meeting continues ...

Gov. Bob McDonnell on Sean Hannity's Fox show tonight

Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell will be a guest on Sean Hannity's Fox News Channel show for an excusive interview tonight at 9:00 pm EST.

Northrop Grumman chooses Falls Church location

Fortune 100 company Northrop Grumman announced earlier this year they were moving their Los Angeles headquarters to northern Virginia. The leading global security company that will create 300 new jobs in the Commonwealth, has now announced they will settle in Falls Church. In response to that information, Governor Bob McDonnell issued the following statement:

“In April, we were pleased to announce that Northrop Grumman, a Fortune 100 company, was moving its corporate headquarters to Virginia.

Today the company has announced that the headquarters will be located in Falls Church. This is great news for Falls Church, Fairfax County, all of Northern Virginia and our entire Commonwealth. Northrop Grumman’s move to Virginia will mean 300 new, high-paying jobs for our citizens and it will have a positive impact across our economy.

Our Administration is committed to taking every step necessary to bring much needed new jobs and economic development to the Commonwealth, and we are seeing positive results from this focus.

Since February, Virginia has added 71,500 jobs, the third-highest amount in the country. Today we again welcome Northrop Grumman to the Commonwealth, and we look forward to many more job-creation announcements in the months and years ahead.”

Watching for Chick-fil-A opening in Waynesboro

Mike and Bob (see Bob's comments on previous post) have noticed the opening of Waynesboro's new Chick-fil-A taking place Thursday in the ever-growing west end of our neighbor to the east.

Shopping has shifted the past several years to Waynesboro with new "box stores" and restaurants while Staunton has concentrated on tourism such as the Shakespeare theater, Woodrow Wilson birth place, and Frontier Culture Museum. Which is the better way to go? Depends on what you're looking for.

Meanwhile, Chick-fil-A will now be 15 minutes away instead of 45 minutes north of here in Harrisonburg. Since it's located at the Target shopping area with Kohl's and other stores, it will be a popular stop for many. Hearing so many talking about it, I wonder if we'll all cross paths at the Chick-fil-A this week.

Chick-fil-A opening Thursday in Waynesboro

For all those Chick-fil-A lovers who had to drive to Harrisonburg or Richmond in the past to get their fix, help is on the way. The new Chick-fil-A opens in Waynesboro on Thursday and there's going to be a 24-hour-long pre-opening party for some die-hards.

The hook? The first 100 customers in line when Chick-fil-A opens at 6:00 a.m. Thursday morning will receive gift certificates for a sandwich a week for a year.

The catch? All interested in receiving the gift certificates must camp out at the store for 24 hours prior to the Thursday morning opening.

The Waynesboro News-Virginian's Megan Davis plans to join the party and keep others updated through tweets and web updates. Want to participate? Check out the official contest rules and then join the big party in the parking lot.

If you can't be there, follow Megan on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/NewsVirginian or at the News Virginian website.

Is Twitter a fad ... or is it here to stay?

Richmond's WWBT NBC-12 news anchor is a frequent Twitter user and it is all the rage for many, but is it here to stay? The Richmond Times-Dispatch took a look at this New Media social messaging medium in Sunday's paper.

Will GOP governors dominate in 2010?

Moe Lane has an interesting read at RedState about the 2010 gubernatorial races around the country. With 38 seats in play, there is a real possibility as many as 27 may go Republican.

Ronald McDonald stands up to the "Food Police" bullies

I have to say good for McDonald's for not kowtowing to the Food Police, otherwise known as the Center for Science of Public Interest (CSPI). These are the folks who caused movie theaters to stop using coconut oil in the popcorn, forced the removal of MSG in Chinese food, and now they have threatened McDonald's to stop including toys in their Happy Meals.

Enough, already!

The Food Police finally ran up against someone who is not going to back down, and that is a good thing for all of us. Earlier this week CSPI, a DC-based overreaching non-profit advocacy nanny group that reportedly has $80 million in the bank, threatened to sue McDonald's after accusing them of using toys in their Happy Meals to market the meals to children.

Just about everyone I know has eaten at McDonald's over the years. My kids loved their burgers and fries when they were young. While traveling cross-country, we would often take a mid-day break at a McDonald's with a playground where our little ones would burn off some energy while we ate our lunch. When it was time to hit the road again, we would order Happy Meals to go and the kids would then eat in the vehicle as we continued on our journey. Now may be a good time for belated "thanks" for those wonderful playgrounds.

Rush Limbaugh was very supportive of McDonald's on his conservative radio show Friday, agreeing with their response to stand up to the Food Police as he read a letter written by McDonald's CEO Jim Skinner responding to CSPI's threat of a lawsuit, posted on McDonald's website:

July 6, 2010

Michael F. Jacobson, Ph.D., Executive Director
Center for Science in the Public Interest
1875 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Suite 300
Washington, D.C. 20009

Dear Mr. Jacobson:

On behalf of McDonald's franchisees and our 1.6 million employees around the world, I am writing to set the record straight regarding the misinformation that CSPI communicated about McDonald's in your June 22nd press release. I am referring to CSPI's threat to sue McDonald's within 30 days if we continue to include a toy as part of the positive and popular Happy Meal customer experience we provide.

We have a long history of working with responsible NGOs who are interested in serious dialogue and meaningful engagement; and we are open to constructive feedback. You say you want a dialogue with McDonald's, but your tactics and inflammatory rhetoric suggest otherwise. CSPI's twisted characterization of McDonald's as "the stranger in the playground handing out candy to children" is an insult to every one of our franchisees and employees around the world. When CSPI refers to America's children as "an unpaid drone army," you similarly denigrate parents and families, because they are fully capable of making their own decisions. You should apologize.

Here are several other things you should know.

First, the public does not support your lawsuit. Internet sites, blogs and network surveys suggest that public opinion is running overwhelmingly against your premise. Our customer websites and phone lines at McDonald's are also busy, with more than nine out of ten customers disagreeing with your agenda. Parents, in particular, strongly believe they have the right and responsibility to decide what's best for their children, not CSPI. It really is that simple.

At McDonald's, we listen to what our customers tell us. For the past 30 years they have told us -- again, overwhelmingly -- that they approve of our Happy Meal program. Three decades provide a lot of listening time. That's why we are confident that parents understand and appreciate that Happy Meals are a fun treat, with right-sized, quality food choices for their children.

On this point, it seems that you purposefully skewed your evaluation of our Happy Meals by putting them in the context of a highly conservative 1,300 calorie per day requirement. I'm sure you know this category generally applies to the youngest and most sedentary children.

Furthermore, your over-the-top rhetoric flies in the face of our 55-year track record of caring for kids, a core McDonald's value. Ronald McDonald House Charities has donated more than $465 million to children's causes since its founding. Additionally, every night more than 6,400 families with critically ill children stay in the 300 Ronald McDonald Houses close to hospitals in 52 countries around the world. Also, customers recognize that their local McDonald's restaurants and the franchisees who proudly run them continue to be some of the strongest supporters of youth athletics and activities in the world. Ronald McDonald also serves as an ambassador for children's well-being, promoting messages around physical activity and living a balanced, active lifestyle.

As Chief Executive Officer of McDonald's, I want you to know we will vigorously defend our brand, our reputation, our food and our people. CSPI is wrong in its assertions, and frivolous in its legal threats. McDonald's has proudly evolved both our menu and marketing practices and will continue to respond to our customers' needs. We have more choice and variety than ever before in our Happy Meals and across our menu. Furthermore, McDonald's makes available in-depth, comprehensive nutrition information about our food to give parents the support they need to make appropriate choices for their children.

Children's well-being requires an ongoing effort and commitment to be a part of the solution. Going forward, we will continue to make more changes that are relevant to our customers and in their best interests, as we always have.

Sincerely,

Jim Skinner
Chief Executive Officer

Maybe other American corporations will take notice that Ronald McDonald is standing up to the bully on the playground. Meanwhile, I'm going to celebrate McDonald's corporate backbone with a McCafé Mocha Frappé. Cheers!

Bottled water off the "banned" list for VA government

In his eagerness to make Virginia government "green," former Democratic Governor Tim Kaine banned he purchase of individual-sized bottles of water by state agencies.

However, Republican Governor Bob McDonnell washed away that ruling and, while retaining many of Kaine's previous suggestions, brought back bottled water to Virginia's government.

The hypocrisy of the Democrat protest is that liberals and environmental types were the ones who originally pushed water, water, water. "Stop drinking soft drinks ... drink water." The bottled water industry boomed as Americans made the "right" choice, purchasing bottled water for its convenience.

Scenario: State agency orders boxed lunches for a meeting. Said boxed lunch comes with a beverage which, before Kaine, could be bottled water. During Kaine it became bottled soda. Under McDonnell, it now goes back to a choice of bottled water. The plastic bottle is there one way or the other, and the water has been deemed by the Food Police to be better for consumers. Why are libs twisting themselves up like pretzels in their indignation of the McDonnell choice of beverage?

Former state delegate and Shenandoah Valley Water Company executive Chris Saxman of Staunton rode the wave of increased interest in water. According to the Richmond Times-Dispatch:

Chris Saxman, a former member of the House of Delegates, works for his family business, Shenandoah Valley Water Co., which distributes beverages, including water. He says they encourage recycling and balks at Kaine's singling out of water bottles over soda bottles. He questions whether the curtailment made any difference to the environment.

Virginia, he said, is a "very good bottled water market, there's no question." The International Bottled Water Association claimed that the industry had a direct economic impact in 2009 of 3,719 jobs in bottling, wholesale and retail sales, and more than $1 million in wages and spending in Virginia.

Sometimes there are pitchers of water available, sometimes bottled water works better. This allows each agency to make the best decision for their situation, and that's a good thing. Seems the ones involved should be able to make the choice, not some environmental do-gooders who want a "one size fits all" policy.

"Happy trails to you" ... auction of Roy Rogers, Dale Evans memorabilia

You're a Baby Boomer if your Saturday mornings in the 1960s included Roy Rogers and Dale Evans riding horseback into the sunset singing their signature tune:

"Happy trails to you until we meet again ... happy trails to you, keep smiling until then ..."

The King of the Cowboys and the Queen of the West graced movie and TV screens in the 1940s, 50s, and 60s, chasing down the bad guys and teaching boys and girls how to be gentlemen and ladies. In these unsettled times, I often long for those heroes of the past to show up on the horizon and once again chase off the bad guys.

Remember the Roy Rogers Riders Club Rules?

1. Be neat and clean.
2. Be courteous and polite.
3. Always obey your parents.
4. Protect the weak and help them.
5. Be brave but never take chances.
6. Study hard and learn all you can.
7. Be kind to animals and take care of them.
8. Eat all your food and never waste any.
9. Love God and go to Sunday school regularly.
10. Always respect our flag and our country.

Those who want a remembrance of their childhood heroes may be interested in an auction to be held July 14-15 by Christie's Auction House in which Roy Rogers and Dale Evans items will be sold.

Roy Rogers, Jr., best known as Dusty, was on Fox & Friends this morning showing off some of the items including Mr. Rogers' patriotic red, white, and blue cowboy outfit, one of Ms. Evans' cowgirl outfits from the TV show, musical instruments, a red, white, and blue saddle, and even Mr. Rogers' faithful horse Trigger (who was stuffed years ago).

It's a great opportunitiy to obtain some memorabilia. For the rest of us, we'll continue to strive to abide by the rules of the trail.

Terrorists kill dozens of World Cup revelers in Uganda

Terrorism has struck again, this time in Uganda where crowds of World Cup spectators were watching the final match on outdoor big screen TVs when simultaneous bombs exploded killing dozens including an American.

At last count, 64 had been killed and dozens more injured, including Americans, who had gathered to watch Spain play The Netherlands at a restaurant and rugby club.

Donald Douglas has posted about the tragedy with links to various news outlets.

This is that war on terrorism that the Obama Democrat White House refuses to recognize since the "t" words has been banned. Tell that to the victims of yet another senseless terrorist attack that took more innocent lives.

The looming catastrophe of Obama's hope and change

Michael Walsh pulls no punches in his post at Big Government about the liberals' gradual realization that November may not be good for them.

H/T to Fishersville Mike

Happy Birthday, John Boy

Happy belated birthday to Earl Hamner, Jr., the real "John Boy" from the TV series, "The Waltons," who turned 87 years young on Saturday, July 10, 2010.

Earl Hamner brought to life not just the memories of his youth but also painted a picture of the rural Virginia countryside during the depression and World War II years. His story-telling incorporated much of the history of the time, just as Laura Ingalls Wilder had incorporated history into the books of her childhood memories years earlier.

Happy birthday, John Boy....

Cheers to Ronald McDonald for standing up to the Food Police

So the Food Police have threatened to sue McDonald's if they don't stop including toys in their children's Happy Meals. But a funny thing happened on the way to the courtroom. McDonald's said, "Enough," and refused to play along.

This issue has caught the attention of a number of folks. Rush Limbaugh talked about it on his Friday radio show.

Jerry Fuhrman cheered McDonald's CEO Jim Skinner ... I love the last line of his post. Go read it!

And I had an opinion piece in Saturday's Washington Examiner.

"I Dreamed a Dream"

"People would make fun of me. My only escape from that was music."

-- Susan Boyle who dared to dream a dream. With over 44 million YouTube views of her first performance, she is the epitome of those who never ever give up and proves what we were all taught as children: Don't judge a book by its cover.

Seventy times seven

Then Peter came to Him and asked, "Sir, how often should I forgive a brother who sins against me? Seven times?"

"No!" Jesus replied, "seventy times seven!"

-- Matthew 18:21-22 (The Living Bible)