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Monday, October 31, 2005

Wilma: Deep in The Eye Something Mysterious Happened

When Wilma approached Florida NBC 2 have something odd show up on their doppler radar. You just have to see it to believe it. There is a still on their site, and a video that shows this strange transformation. They claim that the radar image was not altered. Decide for yourselves here. If you are curious about the image watch the video.

How well do Americans Know the World? And Where is Lynchburg Virginia?

In 2003, a disturbing report came out, Americans just didn't know geography. This was not a surprise to me, countless times before reports have come out about how Americans couldn't locate places on the map. They may know that Italy looked like a boot, and yes South America was south of the United States.

From the 2003 report from the Heartland Institute, comes one distressing conclusion:

"The Americans, who were surveyed for National Geographic by RoperASW, weren’t much better at world geography. Only 24 percent were able to locate Saudi Arabia, only 17 percent were able to locate Afghanistan, and just 13 percent could locate Iraq or Iran."

The problem was because, geography has not stressed in our schools. And what was offered was a bland digest of capitals, populations, and sporadic information of gross national product, and just a glimmer of the history of the country studied. This did not stick in the brains, and soon almost many thought of this as a compendium of useless knowledge, that was needed to get through school.

The world is getting smaller not in size, but in relationships. It is not unusual for me to have a personal conversation with someone from India, China, or even Kenya. And through all these contacts that people are making across the internet, geography becomes more intimate. We learn with a personal understanding about the lives of others. The various messengers from AOL,MSN, and Yahoo have helped people to even go right into the rooms of people around the world. You can use voice, and you can use cams.

Then, software makers helped fill the gap, one notable one was "Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego." A game that many of us played, and in the playing learned much about the world.

There is an new game now called Brewster and Jennings Protects America, that uses the Google map interface, and your assigment is to protect America against terrorists.

Two notable programs that I use now, are NASA World Wind, and Google Earth. Each day you can see the News using Google Earth, to help you pin down, where in the world an event is happening. If you haven't seen NASA's World Wind take a look, the program is utterly fantastic and it is free.

Today, I would venture to say, Americans are becoming very savvy about geography. Our past weaknesses is now becoming a strength. We are being infused with geography, and places and people are beginning to stick in our brains.



And some of you that find yourself at Lynchburg, Virginia blog who might be curious where we are here is our location, thanks for visiting friend. And if you leave a comment to this post with your location we will come and visit you.

Judy McDarris: Giving a Helping Hand to Katrinia Victims

From the Lynchburg Prosecutor's office:

Judy McDarris, a Victim/Witness Assistant at the Lynchburg Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney, returned home from the Gulf Area after spending eight days aiding in Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. Ms. McDarris, along with six other Victim/Witness Assistants, was a part of the Virginia Nova team. The Nova team was deployed to Ocean Springs, Mississippi, with Ms. McDarris specifically assigned to a Disaster Recovery Center in Moss Point, Mississippi.

In Moss Point, Ms. McDarris put her many years of victim/witness experience to good use, helping many elderly victims navigate the complicated FEMA application process. She also offered a listening ear for many victims who were still dealing with the emotional trauma of their loss. When describing her daily activities, Ms. McDarris said, “Many times, I sat with an individual for hours as they waited, listening to them tell their story, giving them encouragement, and wiping some tears away.” Ms. McDarris and her co-workers would then give the victims local FEMA referrals, along with hugs and a pat on the back. The hours in Mississippi were long--sometimes lasting from 5 a.m. until 9 p.m.--but the local residents were appreciative of the efforts from the visiting Virginians. Looking back on her experience, Ms. McDarris said, “Everyone kept their spirits up. Even though we were exhausted by the end of the day, we still had a good feeling that we'd helped someone.”

Vampire Spider

During this day when we especially enjoy being scared by monsters and monster movies, I found this recent discovery to be especially appropriate to share. There is a jumping spider in East Africa who prefers recently engorged mosquitos for its meals.

Samhain - A Time for Pagans to remember..

Back in September, I did an article about the Pagans and Wiccans in this area. I discussed Mabon, one of the Holy Days, or Sabbats that they celebrate. As a companion piece to that article and the Halloween article below, I wanted to do something from Pagan perspective about this time of year, since it is such an important day for Pagans.

Samhain (sow-en) marks one of the four Greater Sabbats celebrated by Witches and many other Pagans, and is the dark counterpart to the more passionate Sabbat of Beltane (a Fertility festival held around the 1st of May). The Celts, like many other cultures, saw the dark of the day or year as the beginning. Thus their days began at sunset and the winter half of the year, starting on November 1st, was the beginning of their new year, just as it is for many Wiccans or Pagans.

The Celts were a pastoral people as opposed to an agricultural people. The end of summer was significant to them because it meant the time of year when the structure of their lives changed radically. The cattle were brought down from the summer pastures in the hills and the people were gathered into the houses for the long winter nights of story-telling and handicrafts. In the Druidic calendar this was the time when barriers between man and the supernatural were lowered. Fires were lit to honor the descending sun god. On the eve of Samhain, the gates of the Abyss were unlocked and spirits from below flew free. Human souls that had been trapped in the bodies of animals were released by the Lord of the Dead* and sent to their new incarnations.

With the coming of Christianity, the early Church in England tried to Christianize the old Celtic festival by making the 1st of November "All Saints Day," and making October 31 "All Hallow's Eve" or more commonly "Hallowe'en." The reason many Christians associate Hallowe'en with Christianity is that in the eighth century Pope Gregory III established November 1st as the Roman Catholic feast day honoring the dead. Later, in the ninth century, Pope Gregory IV decreed that the day was to be universally observed by the Roman Catholic Church which, at that time, held the greatest influence among the Christian populace because of its political strength. But the attempt to discourage the Pagan celebrations were so unsuccessful that the holiday was eventually banned from the Church of England's calendar until its reemergence in 1928.

To Witches and Pagans, Samhain is the Festival of the Dead, and for many, it is the most important Sabbat of the year. Although the Feast of the Dead forms a major part of most Pagan celebrations on this eve, it is important to remember that nearly all Pagans consider the disturbance of the dead immoral, and at Samhain only voluntary communications are expected and hoped for. The departed are never harassed and their presence is never commanded. The spirits of the dead are, however, ritually invited to attend the Sabbat and to be present within the Circle.

Samhain represents the threshold between the world of the living and the realm of the spirits and is a time when the veil between the worlds is very thin. The acknowledgement of the nature spirits that walk the earth on this eve can still be seen in the observance of children and some young-at-heart adults, wearing masks and costumes and "trick or treating," a time honored ritual many of us have done and probably more than once. The spirits are represented by the children as they walk the earth in their many guises celebrating, albeit unknowingly, an ancient tradition of this Sabbat.

In honor of Samhain, many Wiccans and Pagans offer a plate of the harvest fruits to the spirits in attendance, along with a goblet of wine. Candles are burned in remembrance of loved ones who have passed on. Apples and pomegranates are eaten to represent the opposites of life and death. (Try cutting an apple cross-wise to see the pentagram of seeds within!) Many feel that this is the best date of the year to perform scrying, either with crystals, fire or a bowl of water, especially in the moonlight. For some, Samhain is the time when the Wicker Man, created and charged at Beltane, is ritually burned in the Sabbat fire, sending him to Tir na Nòg for rest and renewal; as the gates open for him, the other spirits then cross over to visit.


A great focus for many modern Pagan/Wiccans is on remembering those who have crossed "through the veil" during the past year. It is a time of reflection and thought on what was, and what is to be. It is a time of family and friends.


Peace and Light

Jeff




*- The Lord of the Dead is NOT Lucifer/Satan/The Devil. These are Juedo/Christian beliefs and have nothing to do with Wiccan/Pagan beliefs

-With many thanks to Lance at PagaNet News

-More Info Goto The Witches Voice website. the largest Pagan site on the web


Halloween and what it really is..

Few days in the year have as many different personalities, or as many problems associated with it as Halloween. Halloween, or All Hallow’s Evening is a Christianized version of the original Celtic holy day known as Samhain (pronounced Sow-en). Samhain is Gaelic for “summer’s end”.

The Celts, lived 2,000 years ago in the area that is now Ireland, the United Kingdom, and northern France, celebrated their new year on November 1. This day marked the end of summer and the harvest and the beginning of the dark, cold winter, a time of year that was often associated with human death. Celts believed that on the night before the new year, the veil between the worlds of the living and the dead became thinner and easier to pass through. On the night of October 31, they celebrated Samhain, when it was believed that the ghosts of the dead returned to walk amongst the living. They were not afraid of these dead, for they were the loved ones that may have passed on in the last year. This was the time to say the final goodbyes and honor the dead.

To commemorate the event, Druids built huge sacred bonfires, where the people gathered to burn crops and animals as sacrifices to the Celtic deities. During the celebration, the Celts wore costumes, typically consisting of animal heads and skins, and attempted to tell each other's fortunes. When the celebration was over, they re-lit their hearth fires, which they had extinguished earlier that evening, from the sacred bonfire to help protect them during the coming winter.

By A.D. 43, Romans had conquered the majority of Celtic territory. In the course of the four hundred years that they ruled the Celtic lands, two festivals of Roman origin were combined with the traditional Celtic celebration of Samhain.

The first was Feralia, a day in late October when the Romans traditionally commemorated the passing of the dead. The second was a day to honor Pomona, the Roman goddess of fruit and trees. The symbol of Pomona is the apple and the incorporation of this celebration into Samhain probably explains the tradition of "bobbing" for apples that is practiced today on Halloween.

By the 800s, the influence of Christianity had spread into Celtic lands. In the seventh century, Pope Boniface IV designated November 1 All Saints' Day, a time to honor saints and martyrs. It is widely believed today that the pope was attempting to replace the Celtic festival of the dead with a related, but church-sanctioned holiday. The celebration was also called All-hallows or All-Hallowmas (from Middle English Alholowmesse meaning All Saints' Day) and the night before it, the night of Samhain, began to be called All-hallows Eve and, eventually, Halloween. Even later, in A.D. 1000, the church would make November 2 All Souls' Day, a day to honor the dead. It was celebrated similarly to Samhain, with big bonfires, parades, and dressing up in costumes as saints, angels, and devils. Together, the three celebrations, the eve of All Saints', All Saints', and All Souls', were called Hallowmas.

At the turn of the century, Halloween parties for both children and adults became the most common way to celebrate the day. Parties focused on games, foods of the season, and festive costumes. Parents were encouraged by newspapers and community leaders to take anything "frightening" or "grotesque" out of Halloween celebrations. Because of their efforts, Halloween lost most of its superstitious and religious overtones by the beginning of the twentieth century.

By the 1920s and 1930s, Halloween had become a secular, but community-centered holiday, with parades and town-wide parties as the featured entertainment. Despite the best efforts of many schools and communities, vandalism began to plague Halloween celebrations in many communities during this time. By the 1950s, town leaders had successfully limited vandalism and Halloween had evolved into a holiday directed mainly at the young. Due to the high numbers of young children during the fifties baby boom, parties moved from town civic centers into the classroom or home, where they could be more easily accommodated. Between 1920 and 1950, the centuries-old practice of trick-or-treating was also revived. Trick-or-treating was a relatively inexpensive way for an entire community to share the Halloween celebration. In theory, families could also prevent tricks being played on them by providing the neighborhood children with small treats. A new American tradition was born, and it has continued to grow. Today, Americans spend an estimated $6.9 billion annually on Halloween, making it the country's second largest commercial holiday. Halloween is a time for dressing up, giving (and receiving) candy treats and having a ghoulishly good time. Many businesses will sponsor places and times for children to come, get candy and show off their costumes in a safe place. Some neighborhoods even have block type parties for the little ones to trick or treat.


There are of course those who would say that Halloween is “the Devil’s day” and that it should be banned from the calendar. These people will not let their children participate because of supposed “Satanic” influences. Ironic, since as I noted above, Halloween is a Christian convention. This is also very sad I think. I recall many wonderful Halloween experiences from my own childhood. The thrill of getting out and seeing my neighborhood friends dressed in costumes ranging from Warner Bros characters like Bugs Bunny and Tom and Jerry, to Capt Kirk or the musicians from KISS.

Halloween is indeed a time for remembrance, but not only for the dead that have crossed over , it is also a time for remember the fun of being a child, playing dress up and most importantly, scoring lots of candy!

Have a safe and Happy Halloween

Jeff

Sunday, October 30, 2005

British Bobbies Vexed by Vanished Car


Yahoo News is reporting:

For the original story go to yahoo news. Names and story authenticity have been changed here, to protect our sorcerers.

A spokesperson for the New Scotland Yard, only known as Harry, has reported an all points bulletin for a blue Anglia car.

The blue Anglia which does not run, has vanished mysteriously and the owner is desperate to get it back. The owner stated, "If I don't get the car back soon I may have to cancel my flying lessons."

The car was suspected of being spotted near the infamous potter field on the outskirts of London, but that story may be totally conjured up. It has been also reported that this car has vanished in the past.

Photo credit: Yahoo News.

Saturday, October 29, 2005

The Dangers of Being a Woman in Juárez: Steve Finshes Part II

The tragic circumstance in Juárez is being unveiled in a first person account, by a fellow blogger, Steve.

This horrific story of the dangers women face there, is beyond imagining by any sane person. Juárez is a border town, between Mexico and the United States.

Some think it may be one or several of our citizens that have brutally murdered over 350 women. Why the mainstream media is not focused on this is beyond my understanding. I have seen how the media obsessed on Taylor Behl, Julie Popovich and others. Where are they when 350 murders happen right across our border?

With scrutiny, could their be a solution? Lend your eyes to this post.

Zombies, Just How Do They Work?











With Halloween soon approaching, we can't help to notice we will also be electing the governor of Virginia soon after. The commercials for governor have been down right scary, but so is this.

Zombies are they real, is there something behind the lore of the the walking dead?

Well, now there is a place where you might be able to find the answers. And if not answers perhaps more questions. There is one famous website that most of us have been to in our travels across the mysterious ether of the internet.

Its the nuts and bolts no nonsense place, where you can find just how things work. And ,illustratively the title of their web site is How Stuff Works.

They have tackled the project of telling you just how Zombies work. Just something we all want to know before Halloween, and Virginia Governor's election.

Photo credit: The movie, The Night of the Living Dead. And, don't forget to get out to vote for the Zombie of your choice.

Dilbert and Our Not So Daily Cartoon

I have been keeping this a secret from all, even our fellow contributors. Sometimes when you are working on a negotiation, you just want to be quiet about it.

If you haven't noticed we have offered a daily cartoon. The green alien can be found down the page on the right. The trouble is after promises from the cartoon's creator of changing it everyday, it just hasn't happened.

We are reviewing our free contract with him, and I have been working on a very hush hush plan to get Scott Adams, the creator of Dilbert, to join our blog. So we may be saying good bye to our Alien friend, he seems to be studying too hard about crop circles to do anything else.

I want to tell you the negotiations with Scott has been tough. He has stonewalled me on my offer of a Smithfield Ham, I think he is holding out for a Smith and Wesson. I have even thrown a dozen eggs on the bargaining table, some ended up cracked.

Scott Adams has confided with me, and I hate to tell you others, of his plight with the Newspaper censors. Did I say censors, yep I sure did. Seems like before they roll the presses on his cartoons they have to meet approval for content.

Now that brings us right back to the matter of the Smith Wesson, this may be a deal breaker for him. He has talked about his rounds with getting one of his cartoons published. It seems that the first one showed a cop firing bullets at a bad guy. I assured him it is fine with us if he wants to show that here. The less bad guys around Lynchburg the better.

The censors wouldn't have it, they didn't want a gun, or the bullets, or even a frame that just went Bam, bam, bam. He had to resort to drawing a cop with a donut in his hand. A shooting donut drawn from a holster. Take that you bad guys.

So what happened to the newspapers idea of unrestricted free press? Makes you think doesn't it.

If the cartoons are OK to censor what does that say for the rest of what you read in the papers?

How high mighty ideas have fallen, because of the syndicated press. Come to our blog Scott we won't censor you. The negotiations are continuing but we think Scott will come around.

Mars Dust Storm and Mars close for Viewing!

Mars will be near to earth tonight (if you can call 41 million miles near), but in addition to this amazing site, a dust storm has begun on Mars to add to your viewing pleasure.

Tsunami Lessons...good for US to learn from

With great interest I read an article about how villages that were protected by mangrove trees suffered very little damage in last year's tsunami. I have also read several articles how the deteriorating marshes between the Gulf Coast and the Gulf contributed to the damage from Katrina. I hope the powers that be are paying attention and figuring out ways we can harness Mother Nature to protect our coastal areas!

Andy's Light and Lynchburg VA working together


When you visit our website, you may notice a new addition. We are now offering you the opportunity to visit our store at Cafe Press. We thought you might like to have the opportunity to purchase an item that shows the Lynchburg skyline and the url of your favorite blog as well as the url of a very worthwhile charity in the Lynchburg Area. All profits from these sales will be sent from Cafe Press directly to Andy's Light each month.

Carolyn, Andy's mother, is thrilled that we are working together on this effort. "We really appreciate your choosing us as we are a new charity. We are just so grateful," she said.

A couple of weeks ago, I posted an article on Andy's Light. We are pleased to be able to be a part of their effort and we hope you will join us in this endeavor!

Friday, October 28, 2005

Brookville Band to compete


The Brookville High School Marching Band travels to Baltimore, Maryland tomorrow to meet other bands on the field of competition. Let's wish them a safe trip to and from and an enjoyable time while they are there.

Let's go Mighty Marching Bees !!!!



The Dangers of Being a Woman in Juárez

Somewhere south of here, and down a little farther to Texas, is a blogger that has dedicated much of his writing to missing children and women. I first met Steve when I was covering The Behl disappearance and subsequent murder. It has not been called that officially, but the Richmond police are building a leak proof case, and we are certain, there will be an indictment for murder.

Steve is very intent on making people aware of predators. He has been covering a disturbing events in Juárez. The extent of what has happened there, has been glossed over by the media, but it is serious, sad, and a sick situation, that needs attention. And, what is happening should not be swept under the rug.

Listen to what Steve writes:

"María is one of the lucky ones, with over 400 women murdered in Juárez they had to
create a word for this called femicide. "

Steve wants the world to look toward Juárez, perhaps with attention, more efforts will be made to solve this tragic catastrophe. So please, take a look at his post. What is happening in Juárez should not exist in our world.

Police Wanted Feature

On the right sidebar, we have added a picture of an individual wanted by the Lynchburg Police Department. We will be updating these pictures frequently. The way we select which picture to show you, is alphabetically according to the LPD data base.

We encourage you to report to police, if you have seen this person, by calling 911. You can also view more information about who is wanted by clicking on the Lynchburg Police website located directly under the picture.

Halloween Safety Protect Your Child

News The Daily Press in the Hampton Roads is reporting:


"Knowing whom your child is with and which route they'll take."

"Giving children flashlights, glow sticks or reflective tape."

"Forbidding children from accepting unwrapped foods and from eating wrapped candy before an adult inspects it."

"Placing a paper with your child's name, address and telephone number in his or her pocket."

The Daily Press also adds:

"Parents also should walk with children during trick-or-treating, said Officer Harold Eley, a spokesman for the Newport News Police Department."

Sewer Workers Do a Good Deed

News Channel 3 in the Hampton Roads is reporting:

They found something valuable caught in the sewer system. They went out of their way to find the owner. It was lost in a toilet two years ago. They didn't have to do it, but sometimes the goodness of people, overshadows the bad we so often read about. To read more go to News Channel 3

Emmitt L. Harsley Declared Guilty 1st Degree Murder

The Lynchburg Prosecutor's Office is reporting:

On October 25, 2005, after a two day trial, a Lynchburg jury convicted 30-year old Emmitt L. Harsley, III of First Degree Murder and Use of a Firearm in the Commission of Murder for the August 31, 2004 killing of Clyde Arbrey Hilliard. The jury recommended that the defendant serve life in prison on the murder conviction and the mandatory five years on the Use of a Firearm conviction. The defendant will be formally sentenced on February 17, 2006 by Circuit Court Judge J. Leyburn Mosby.

The Commonwealth presented testimony from five eyewitnesses who all saw the defendant shoot Clyde Hilliard multiple times in front of building #1512 at the James Crossing Apartment Complex (formerly known as Greenfield). Witnesses then said that the defendant fled through the woods to 109 Bright Star Court where the defendant caught a cab and fled the area. The defendant then turned up at the apartment of an old friend and offered her $50 to rent a motel room for the night in her name; she refused his request.

Despite a massive police manhunt, the defendant was not seen again until the defendant turned himself in to police in late September 2004. Following the murder, police executed a search warrant at the defendant's residence and found various items of clothing that witnesses said he was wearing on the night of the murder.

Another witness for the Commonwealth located a firearm in a storm drain in front of the residence at 109 Bright Star Court where the defendant caught the cab on the night of the murder. That gun, a .38 caliber revolver, along with a bullet recovered from the victim's body, were sent to the Division of Forensic Science in Roanoke. A forensic scientist at the state lab testified that the bullet recovered from Hilliard's body had been fired from the weapon recovered in the storm drain.

During the trial, the defendant took the stand in his own defense, claiming that he shot Hilliard in self-defense. The defendant testified that Hilliard turned toward him suddenly and he feared that Hilliard may have a gun. None of the witnesses for the prosecution or the defense actually saw Hilliard with a weapon. While on the stand, the defendant admitted to frequently carrying firearms despite being a convicted felon, saying that to him, carrying a gun was akin to an attorney carrying a laptop computer.

The defendant will remain incarcerated being held with no bond until his formal sentencing on February 17, 2006. The case was prosecuted by Deputy Commonwealth's Attorney Chuck Felmlee and Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Jeff Bennett.

Thursday, October 27, 2005

You Drink the Soda, the Car Eats the Cans

We have told you about the smallest car ever, and we have told you about the largest production car ever made. Now, we are going to step on the far side, about an inventor who has figured out according to him, how to run a car on beer and soda cans.

No I'm not kidding, that is his claim, and he thinks production is three years away. Is this a valid claim? Decide for yourself. Looks like I should start saving my soda cans, if this is true. Well at least he says it could run on aluminum.

Trick or Treat in Vinton

Children are invited to the annual Trick or Treat in Downtown Vinton on Monday, October 31, from 2:30 p.m. - 4:45 p.m. Approximately 50 businesses will be providing treats to children up to 12 years of age. The children are encouraged to dress in costume and should bring a container for the treats. Portions of Lee Ave., Pollard St., Jackson Ave., and Walnut St. will be closed for the safety of the children. For additional information please call the Town of Vinton Special Programs at 540-983-0613 or the Vinton Area Chamber of Commerce at 540-343-1364 or visit the Town of Vinton Web site at www.town.vinton.va.us.

Avoca's Halloween Spooktacular

Avoca Museum's (Altavista) Halloween Spooktacular will be held on October 31 from 5-6 p.m. Children between the ages of 2 and 10 will be able to enjoy creepy crafts, like making spooky spiders, ghoulish games, freaky refreshments and more. There is no charge to attend. Come in costume.

Weekend Happenings: October 28-October 30

Friday, October 28, 2005



Coffeehose


A coffeehouse featuring Trey Eppes will be held at the Sedalia Center at 8:30 p.m. Food and beverages will be available. Admission is $5.




Saturday, October 29, 2005



Bargain Mart


Bargain Mart . 7:00 AM. Community Market Armory1219 Main Street Lynchburg, Virginia 24504

Description: Bargain Mart is a fundraising event for Junior League. Money raised helps support the Junior League community projects. This event provides the Lynchburg community with quality goods at affordable prices. The event is located at the City Armory from 7:00 AM – 3:00 PM and admission is free. The Preview Party is from 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM on October 27th. The cost for the Preview Party is $10. Contact Norma Foy for more information at 434-384-6647.



Black Nationalism



Venue: Booker T. Washington National Monument
City: Hardy
Date(s): 10/29/2005
Time: 2:00 PM
Cost: Free Admission
Website: Click Here
Directions:
Booker T. Washington NM is located on VA-122, 22 miles southeast of Roanoke, Virginia. From I-81, take I-581, then U.S. 220 South from Roanoke to VA-122. From the Blue Ridge Parkway, take VA-43 South to VA-122. From Lynchburg, take U.S. 460 West to VA-122.
Details:
Come discuss the evolution of the philosophy of Black Nationalism from the minds of Booker T. Washington to Malcolm X. Call (540) 721-2094 for more information.






Music at the Maier with Ada Rovatti



Venue: Maier Museum of Art
City: Lynchburg, Virginia
Date(s): 10/29/2005
Time: 8:00 PM
Cost: $10.00
Website: Click Here
Directions:
The Maier Museum of Art is located on the campus of Randolph-Macon Womans College, just off Rivermont Avenue in Lynchburg, Virginia.
Details:
Jazz saxophonist Ada Rovatti will perform in conjunction with the special exhibition Heart of the Matter: Recent Work by Elizabeth Murray. Rovattis recent CDs include Sax in the City, Airbop, and For Rent: Ada Rovatti and the Elephunk Band. Advance purchase of tickets is advised. Contact the Maier Museum of Art at (434) 947-8136 or museum@rmwc.edu.



Howl-a-ween Party



Venue: Lynchburg Humane Society
City: Lynchburg
Date(s): 10/29/2005
Time: 12:30 PM
Cost: Free
Website: Click Here
Directions:
At the Lynchburg Humane Society, Behind City Stadium
Details:
A party for people and their pets! Bobbing for hot dogs, police dog demonstration, tricks for treats and pet costume competition, as well as a book sale, food and epic yard sale. Free admission!



Halloween Fun



The Peaks of Otter Rangers will present spooky stories and a haunted Halloween hike on October 29. Meet in the Visitor's Center's Amphitheater. Dress up and join in the fun. Bring good hiking shoes and warm clothing for this evening event. Throughout the weekend, rangers will be presenting demonstrations. All events are free and open to the public. Any quesitons please contact the Peaks of Otter Visitor Center at 540-586-4496.



Community yard sale



The city and county of Bedford Parks and Recreation will hold a community yard sale Saturday, Oct. 29. The proceeds from the yard sale will go towards the annual Elderfest Celebration in May 2006. Yard sale runs from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Weapons should not be brought to the sale. For more information 540-587-6061.



Welcome Center


The Bedford Area Welcome Center will celebrate its first anniversary on Saturday, Oct. 29 with an open house for the community. Refreshments will be available all day and hotdogs, chips and drinks will be served from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m., courtesy of Bedford Federal Savings Bank. There will be numerous displays and activities throughout the event from area businesses and organizations.



Sunday, October 30, 2005


Old Fashioned Day



Old Fashioned Day will be held at Diamond Hill Baptist Church, Moneta, on October 30. Dress in old-fashioned clothes. Dinner on the grounds after the morning service. Children's church will feature Deb Diehl from Dyno-might ministries with puppets and more. Lots of activities on the grounds for children and adults including an old fashioned apple pie contest, singing, and a live horse carousel for the children.

Cats May be Allergic to People!

I love cats. I like dogs, but cats are warm creatures that don't 'need' me, but do enjoy warming my lap and purring while I scratch behind their ears. Unfortunately, I am allergic to cats and dogs. So while I have cats, they spend the majority of their time outside. I know a lot of people who are allergic to pets of one type or another, but what I didn't know was that pets may be allergic to us. Read here for more information.

Jurassic Park's Velociraptors: Truth About Their Technique

I love the movie Jurrasic Park. One of my favorite movie scenes is when the scientists get their first glimpse of the dinosaurs at the watering hole. The majesty of it, the thrill of the possibilities and the awesome score get me every time.

Some of my least favorite scenes involved the velociraptors. Sneaky, clever predatory creatures...I definitely didn't want to find them lurking in my backyard. So I read this article with interest from Animal Planet. Turns out that while they were ferocious killers, those long claws were not used quite the way they had been previously imagined. Kudos to the person who invented a mechanical velociraptor so we could learn more about this extinct creature.

Julian Beever: Not an Urban Legend

You know all of those emails we get from well meaning friends? The ones where if you forward it on you will get money from Bill Gates? Or the ones warning you of various types of impending doom? And then there are the ones where you read this really cool story and it attributes it to someone like Albert Einstein or Paul Harvey?

Well, I used to fall for about 90 percent of these stories. But over the years with help from my cynical husband and getting a feel for those email that seem too good to be true, I have become pretty good at spotting the hoaxes.

This morning I got an email from a friend that told me about an artist, Julian Beever, and had the most incredible pictures attached. According to the email I was sent, Julian is able to draw pictures on sidewalks that when viewed at a certain angle pop into 3D form! As I looked at these cool pictures, my little hoax alarm is going off, certain that this isn't possible. So I googled his name and low and behold, Julian is real and so is his artwork.

Check out his site for very nifty pictures. And if you are one of those who still believes all the bizarre emails that come through your mailbox, never fear...snopes is here!

Wednesday, October 26, 2005

Pictures that Time Forgot


What happens when a collector of old camera's starts to develop film? Well, you will find pictures that no one has seen before, from our past.

Here is a picture of Abe Lincoln, and part of what the finder of the camera had to say about this picture:

" ...I assume that the toothless woman on the left is Lincoln's mother. The woman behind the boy is too young to be Mrs. L. I'll bet she's the 1860's version of Monica Lewinsky. The woman at the rear of the photo is trying to catch up to the President to give him some flowers I think.I have no doubts that this is the genuine article. You can tell me..."

I have found these pictures quite amazing to look at, you can look too, here.

Full credit for finding this picture goes to Henri Cartier Bresson.

How Does Lynchburg Virginia Blog Work?

If you have noticed, we are going through many changes here. And some we have down the line I think you will find interesting. We have added pages, we have added sidebar mini-blogs, and we are constantly working on improving this blog for you.

One thing, I should tell you, this is a cooperative effort from all our contributors. When you work with a group that can either lead to success or failure. Since groups are made of individuals, everyone has their own ideas. We have made room for everyone's ideas, and we support each other. There is no true owner of this blog, we are all equal members. And we all treat each other with respect. There are very few rules that we follow, but we do have some, but they are as fluid as water.

What you don't see when you come to our blog is the work, and coordination behind these pages. We have a private meeting place, were we develop our ideas, and we also run an experimental blog that we try out our new ideas. It isn't pretty, but it is our sandbox to try out ideas. Its not really public but if you want to take a peek it is here.

We are excited about how this blog has expanded, and the new ideas we are looking to add. And we are also pleased to report that readership is soaring, and our Technorati ranking is skyrocketing. Our Technorati rank is now 124,205 out of a universe of 20.1 million blogs. We have our sights set to go higher.

First I want to extend our thanks to the readers that have made this possible. And I also want to thank all our contributors for all their hard work to make this blog deserving of your readership.

Do You Have the Key, to Wipe Out a Disease?

If I told you, that you could possibly hold the key to wipe a disease off the face of the earth. And then I told you, that you won't have to donate any money, and it won't cost you any of your time. Would you be interested? Or would you ask me what is the catch?

OK there is a catch, the catch is you have to let your computer work on a problem when you are not using it. We have all heard that we use only ten percent of our brain, but are we wasting computer resources, also. And would you like to put your computer to work on a research project, that could impact many lives? And, this research project is run by a major American University, have I peaked your interest?

The solution is easy for me, I am going to donate my computer's idle time. And I hope it is just that easy for you to make this decision.

Google Compute has come up with the idea to help you donate your computers idle time. This is what Google says about it:

"...When you enable Google Compute, your computer will download a small piece of a large research project and perform calculations on it that will then be included with the calculations performed by thousands of other computers doing the same thing. This process is known as distributed computing. "
The first beneficiary of this effort is folding.stanford.edu, a non-profit academic research project at Stanford University that is trying to understand the structure of proteins so they can develop better treatments for a number of illnesses. In the future Google Compute may allow you to also donate your computing time to other carefully selected worthwhile endeavors, including projects to improve Google and its services. "

If you are opposed to going through Google as an intermediary, you can go right to folding.stanford.edu, at Stanford University. They also provide a way to donate your computer's idle time.

Folding at home is developing an understanding of how proteins act in the human body, they do this through the development of nanotechnology, and they are asking for your computer's help.

This is a request I cannot personally refuse.

See a previous post on nanotechnology here.

Tuesday, October 25, 2005

Do You Know Your P's And Q's? Q's And W's May Get You a Fine

CNN is reporting:

"A Turkish court has fined 20 people for using the letters Q and W on placards at a Kurdish new year celebration, under a law that bans use of characters not in the Turkish alphabet, rights campaigners said."

There has been a long history of clashes with the Kurds in Turkey. Now, an old law is being used as a new tool, to stem a conflict that has claimed the lives of 30,000 kurds. Censorship can take many forms, today in the United States book censorship has been the most flagrant. See this report by DL Ennis. But you have to think that things have really gone south, when using letters of the alphabet can get you a fine of about 70 dollars.

The Turkish government just do not want you to know your Q"s and W's. Its not in their alphabet and they just won't tolerate it. I guess, if you go to Turkey, you should refrain from letting them know that you know your P's and Q's also.

Piggy Banks Verses Churches

It has been widely reported about the problem with piggy banks in the UK. Muslims have found them offensive. Pigs are considered unclean by the Muslims, and this is one area that Jews have a similar belief.

Now the "politically correct" crisis is coming to a head over piggy banks. We suggest that if you have a piggy bank in your home, that you should now keep quiet about it. While this may seem like a minor step to avoid offending a religious group, we have also seen something that could be considered more draconian. There are reports coming out of Indonesia, that there is now a clash between Muslims and Christians. There have been pleas for help to Australia because of religious intolerance and Churches being forced to closed down.

We think the UK may be going to far in trying to remove piggy banks because they offend Muslims, and we also think that the Muslims are going to far to remove Christianity from Indonesia.

My question is why cannot we just be more tolerant of each other? The forceful removal of Churches is indeed bad, but should we give up our piggy banks also?

Rush To Fight Bird Flu Comes to Lynchburg Area

The Roanoke Times is reporting:

"Barr Pharmaceuticals, whose largest drug facility is in the Bedford County community of Forest, is a strong candidate to help boost supplies of Tamiflu, the most effective treatment known for Asian bird flu, according to financial services company WR Hambrecht & Co."

Negotiations are in process with Roche pharmaceuticals to increase the availability of the only known drug that may have an impact if human transmission of the disease becomes an issue.

Taiwan, is now proceeding to produce the drug Tamiflu, regardless if a licence is obtained or not. They consider it a moral imperative act to protect their people first, and worry about licensing later.

Our opinion is that Roche should place the welfare of the people in the world ahead of their desire to make corporate profits.

To learn more about Tamiflu go to the Tamiflu Website.

They Think It Was A Bomb

The Richmond Times Dispatch is reporting this happened in Richmond:

"Police said the U.S. Marshals Service, which is responsible for courthouse security, called 911 at 9:36 a.m. Employees were evacuated about 9:30 a.m. from the courthouse annex building at 1100 E. Main St. The annex is next door to the main courthouse at 10th and Main streets. The main courthouse was not evacuated."

The package was disarmed with a disruptor. Contents in the package, were batteries, nails, wires a switch, and some kind of black powder. It has not been released if the black powder was explosive.

The Richmond bomb squad responded to the call.

To read more go to the Richmond Times Dispatch.

Monday, October 24, 2005

Ben Fawley:Filling in the Blanks

.....Burn baby burn.....we is gonna burn the sucker to the ground ya dirty booger eater !
By Ben Fawley

On the night of September 5th at approximately 10:20 pm., Taylor Behl left her dorm room, and all indications were that she would be back in several hours.

This unfortunately did not happen. At some point after she left her dorm she did meet up with the Skulz man, Ben Fawley. She had met him previously in April, and if it was because of curiosity or a chance meeting, or perhaps to get something from Ben Fawley, she did meet up with him. And sometime between 10:20 pm and around 4pm the next day Taylor Behl met her fate at the hands of Fawley, in an encounter that in its very least did result in her death by misadventure, and at the most as premeditated brutal murder.

After the fact, Ben Fawley had the corpse of Taylor Behl on his hands. He had to decide how he was going to dispose of the body, and cover his actions and his whereabouts.

At about 4pm on September 6th, he went to the police and filed a police report, he said he was abducted, roughed up, his camera and wallet stolen (except for a lone bankcard). And the story went on, he couldn't identify his assailants, because they put a plastic trash bag over his head. And he was left on a dirt road that he did not know where he was. An unknown Hispanic individual gave him a ride, and he later revised his story, saying he bought gas for the man.

When concerns for Taylor Behl's whereabouts developed. Ben Fawley, who knew that Taylor Behl was dead, helped in the effort to post missing posters. There was one comment that I have read in the past, that he maligned Behl Taylor in the press, saying basically she is not the person everyone thought she was.

These are the facts, and to have a clear understanding of the time-line of events in the case, The Daily Press has written a very in depth article.

Fawley had been in trouble with the law, many times before. He has stolen cars and assaulted women. And as the the Riehl World View points out, he had broken into his estranged friend Erin Crabill's apartment with a hammer and a can of mace in his hand. This situation was def fused when he was discovered by Erin's roommate, but we can only imagine what might of happened if she was alone. The point is Fawley, may have much more sinister intentions.

My intention now is to show you, something that I have recognized in Fawley's posts. Most of the posts are not available because they are being closed down due to the police investigation. But, I want to take you back to a fire that happened in Richmond that was particularly horrendous.

I will not imply that Ben Fawley started this fire. Nor, do I want you to assume that he had anything to do with it all. But oddly. and this may be circumstantial, Ben Fawley had taken before and after pictures, and had comments on how how this fire had started. In his list of interests in one of websites he listed arson, that could be an odd coincidence too. Here is some of what he wrote about the fire:

:: Above was taken on Broad Street in Richmond, Virginia. This was photo # 71 I shot. I was first on scene with a camera. The fire Truck above was also first on scene and this explosion pictured here ended up with the below Photo. ::

The fire was started by a worker tossing a cigarette into the dumpster. The dumpster was in violation of the city code in that it was too close to the building. The trash shoot was also not up to code, the fire shot up the trash shoot into the building where the welding tanks were. The welding tanks were also not in a storage that was up to code.

:: Photo # 215 is nice. The ground was smoking after the ball of flames rolled across the street setting the fire truck, cars, trees, the building across the street and more on fire. This fire started with the building on the left and ended up setting over 21 other building on fire over 5 city blocks to reach I95 & crossed I95 to set fire to a shed. My apartment was in the fire zone, but didn't burn. One women did die, the news media didn't note the death, she was just some poor lady with medical problems. The fire didn't kill her, the city shut our electric off at 1pm that day and left it off till 5pm the next day. That was what killed the lady, she was on some sort of life support that needed power. All the news noted about this fire was the loss to the college. ::

:: How to kill over 21 buildings in a day? Build a wood framed building in a city that doesn't know what it is doing. ::

:: The above building will be student housing & store fronts at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia. on Broad Street. It is a wood frame building, just like other large student housing in the area. College students with a kitchen, it won't be long till the next fire. ::


From these entries from Ben Fawley, you can see and almost feel his thoughts about the fire. Implied between the lines is almost a sense, of his enjoyment. You do have to look hard to fetter that out. But what I find interesting his avid attempt to explain how the fire started, and his prediction of more fires to come. Now, lets consider a slight change in his description, and if you for one moment, you consider that a worker was not the one who threw that cigarette butt in the bin. Could you fill in the blank who that person might be?

Now I would like to fast forward you to his entry in his live journal that he wrote after Taylor Behl disappeared. Here is his entry:

:: A year ago friends of an ex-girlfriend came into my apartment and attacked me. One left stabbed with his own knife. Now I got jumped, I am almost sure it was friends of the girl I was having problems with 4 months back. (1) She has people saying I am doing stuff to her when I haven't done a thing. Yet she is placing ads online in my name. She posted messages to my guest book that were far from nice, and more. Now while I( was out taking photos I think she had me jumped. I was out very early, not sure of the time but the sun hadn't been up long. I was heading up to Monument to take photos when 3 to 4 guys jumped me. They got a trash bag over my head before I could see them. Tossed me into a car and dumped me out on some dirt road. I wasn't hurt much, just from where that sat on me. As they never said a word I am sure this was not just a robbery.(2) My one camera and tripod is missing along with the $20.00 I had tucked in the camera. I didn't have my wallet, but I did have my bank card and that wasn't taken. I am sure it was someone who was looking to get a message across. The only person who is giving me trouble is Erin & friends, so I am sure this is another gift from her.(3) So add this to the tally of (profanity removed) she pulled, the worse was getting my web site pulled down. She used VegPorn to kill my site. If I had the money I can sue, but I don't have the cash to pay the lawyer's retainer. So she killed the web page, destroyed a bed I made, posted some ads and stuff that sure didn’t help, and now had me jumped. (4)Gee what a nice girl. I would just leave town, but the day before I was to head to Philly she made sure I couldn’t go. Friday thanks to her I now face more problems keeping me here in this suck-ass town. I have a way out of town.(5) Why must this psycho keep harassing me, why can’t she just let me alone so I can go back to my kids? ::

Now as you can see I have emboldened some of the text with numbers. I am going to make some observations and fill in some thoughts. Much like you would fill in the blanks. Keep in mind this is speculation, but Ben Fawley has a way of telegraphing what he means in the lies that he makes. Each comment will refer to the number above in an attempt to deconstruct this alibi that has been proved false.

(1) He actually broke into Erin's apartment with a hammer and mace in his hands, when he found her not alone, his intentions may have changed.

(2) Could this be the real events that happened to Taylor Behl? Could he have abducted her? Her body was found off a dirt road but although he wasn't hurt much in this tale, Taylor Behl was found dead.

(3) Taylor Behl's body was found in Diggs Virginia not far from Erin's parent's home. In Ben Fawley's sick mind could this be a gift to Erin, the body of Taylor Behl?

(4) Ben Fawley finds he has little recourse against Erin for things she has supposedly done to him. Could delivering Taylor Behl's body near her parent's doorstep be a sick twisted way of his for getting mental satisfaction. And, I also noticed he said "she killed his web site," how easily he chose this phrase after he had already killed Taylor Behl.

(5) Ben Fawley had changed his appearance, right before the time of his arrest. Did he really think he could get out of town and avoid the police?

Now, in my deconstruction of Fawley's alibi, you should realize that this is pure speculation on my part. But if you were good at filling in the blanks, would you not start to draw the same inferences.

To read all our post on Taylor Behl go here.


Police Traffic Stops: What Should You Do?

WSET is reporting:

" A Farmville man will face charges of attempted capital murder after a shoot-out with a local officer. Russell Smith was pulled over on South Main Street in Farmville Friday afternoon about 4:00 for suspicion of drunk driving."

This brings to mind, safety issues when you see the red and blue lights behind you. We all should realize that when an officer pulls you over for any reason, his thoughts are this is an unpredictable situation. Any traffic stop has the possibility for presenting a life threatening danger for the police officer.

Here are ways to insure his safety and yours:

1. When you see that an officer is telling you to pull over do so as soon as possible. If it is dark try to pick a place that is well lighted.

2. Do not get out of your car. Police prefer that you stay in your car. If you get out of your car, police may confuse some of your movements, either as aggressive or they may think you have a weapon.

3. Do not start looking for your licence and registration. If you are moving a lot in the car the officer may think you are trying to get a weapon. What you should do is sit still with both of your hands on top of the steering wheel in plain sight of the officer.

4. When the officer approaches, let him know immediately if you have a weapon in the car, and where it is. If you have a concealed weapon permit inform him immediately, and tell him if you are armed or unarmed.

5. When the officer asks you for your licence and registration, tell him where they are before you get them. At no time would you want the officer to think you are reaching for a weapon.

6. Put your hands back on top of the steering wheel after handing the officer your licence and registration.

7. Treat the officer with respect. He is doing his job. Personally, I always call the officer sir.

If you follow these simple steps, not only will you place the officer at ease, you may avoid a citation. Treating people well has its own rewards.

Sunday, October 23, 2005

Lynchburg Virginia's Sunday Word for Today: Handicapped

Handicapped what does it mean to you? It is a common word that is set with implications. Today , it is used in at least two different settings, one refers to equalizing betting in sports; and sometimes scoring. And at other times, it refers to someone who is not on par with someone else in physical or mental playing field.

I once heard this statement:

“Don’t call me handicapped, I don’t have my cap in my hand, asking for your help. And don’t call me disabled, cars are what are disabled on the side of the road. And don’t call that person retarded he is not braking , he is going at his own pace.”

Then the question arises, what should you call someone, who had the misfortune not to have an equal footing in life as you? There was a move one time, to change the words that affect this part of our population to physically challenged, or mentally challenged.

This did not take hold. Mainly because two word designations for something that could be conveyed in one, has not been our style. So what would be the proper designation, well to tell you truthfully it is still up in the air.

You can go to the store and you will see handicapped parking. You can go to the Social Security office and you will see the term disabled. And in our school systems, you might see the terms physically or mentally challenged used, or more refined yet, developmentally delayed.

Words have caused an uppity nature in people, use one word and people think you are denigrating another person , use another and you are hip in the field of “politically correct” word usage, that is so much in vogue these days.

My observation, those that are so intent on showing others that they are using words wrong are priding themselves with their "politically correct" usage, have faulted themselves.

They have just managed to say they are better than the other person, by saying they are more sensitive. Makes you wonder who is dumb or dumber.

By the way, handicapped does not have the original meaning of begging that many of thought. It was in fact an early game that developed in England, involving using your hat in your hand.

And no matter what you call it, I have had some of these disability problems myself. I had the misfortune of being born with an RH blood factor problem, that leaves a pigment of the offending blood in your brain and does cause damage.

How did this affect me? I was considered retarded the early part of my life. I didn't speak and had a hard time forming words. My pronunciations are still skewed. I rated just above the level of "idiot" on the Standford Binet tests, in early testing. Believe it or not at the time "idiot," was the proper scientific designation on the test. But was I really "retarded," also the proper term at the time?

Not really, the brain synapses have a remarkable ability to reconnect in a different fashion, and that did happen to me. But basically, I was trapped in my mind without the ability to get my thoughts out. And when I remember taking that Standford Binet test, I remember thinking this is great fun, as I marked in the dots in unusual patterns, I really never read the test at all.

All through the "retarded" stage of my life I was a prolific reader, but they thought I was just flipping pages, I could read very fast. Little did they know I was reading with such a passion, but just couldn't share my thoughts.

Then later in life, I was a passenger in car accident that demolished my right arm. I did some recovery, but even after years, I still have a broken right arm and some residual nerve damage. The icing on the cake was when I developed some palsy of my left hand, my body has been a target of some ill wind.

So how would I describe myself. Well contrary to what you may think, just considering me another human being, is good enough for me.

AEP Proposes Electric Increase

WSET is reporting:

"The company is looking to raise fuel costs 35 cents, from $1.42 per kilowatt hour to $1.78. " Earlier this year an AEP increase was delayed. Now possibly in 2006, we all may have a substantial increase to our electric bill.

While many in our area will take this increase as a small bump in their overall costs, many who are on fixed incomes will be affected more severely.

Wilma Whithers But Expected To Regain Strength


Wilma is on its way to the west coast of Florida, but on its way it has its mind set on the west coast of Cuba. As I look at the current track that takes it up the East Coast. I hope it stays far enough offshore not to rack havoc on the Eastern United States. Winds are at 100 miles per hour, but again it is expected to gain strength.

From the NOAA website:


AT 8 AM EDT...1200Z...THE GOVERNMENT OF THE BAHAMAS HAS ISSUED A HURRICANE WARNING FOR THE NORTH WESTERN BAHAMAS...INCLUDING THE ABACOS...ANDROS ISLAND...BERRY ISLANDS...BIMINI...ELEUTHERA...GRAND BAHAMA ISLAND...AND NEW PROVIDENCE.

WILMA IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHEAST NEAR 8 MPH...13 KM/HR...AND AN INCREASE IN FORWARD SPEED IS EXPECTED DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 100 MPH...160 KM/HR...WITH HIGHERGUSTS. WILMA IS A CATEGORY TWO HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON SCALE. SOME INCREASE IN STRENGTH IS POSSIBLE TODAY.HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 70 MILES...110 KM...FROM THE CENTER...AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 200 MILES...325 KM. NOAA BUOY 42056...LOCATED IN THE NORTH WESTERN CARIBBEAN SEA ABOUT 185 MILES... 295 KM...SOUTH-SOUTHEAST OF THE CENTER OF WILMA RECENTLY REPORTED SUSTAINED TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS OF 47 MPH...

FLOODING OF 8 TO 13 FT ABOVE NORMAL TIDE LEVELS IS POSSIBLE ALONG THE SOUTH WEST FLORIDA COAST NEAR AND TO THE SOUTH OF WHERE THE CENTER OF WILMA MAKES LANDFALL. STORM SURGE FLOODING OF 5 TO 8 FT ABOVE NORMAL IS POSSIBLE IN THE FLORIDA KEYS AND FLORIDA BAY...AS WELL AS IN LAKE OKEECHOBEE.

WILMA IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE ADDITIONAL RAINFALL ACCUMULATIONS OF 10TO 15 INCHES THROUGH SUNDAY ACROSS PORTIONS OF WESTERN CUBA AND THE NORTH EASTERN YUCATAN PENINSULA... WITH ISOLATED MAXIMUM STORM TOTAL AMOUNTS APPROACHING 50 INCHES.

RAINFALL ACROSS SOUTHERN FLORIDA INCLUDING THE KEYS THROUGH TUESDAY IS EXPECTED TO BE 4 TO 8INCHES... WITH ISOLATED MAXIMUM AMOUNTS OF 12 INCHES POSSIBLE.LARGE SWELLS GENERATED BY WILMA WILL CONTINUE TO PROPAGATE INTO THE EASTERN GULF OF MEXICO. THESE SWELLS COULD AFFECT PORTIONS OF THE NORTHERN GULF COAST TODAY.ISOLATED TORNADOES ARE POSSIBLE OVER THE SOUTHERN FLORIDA PENINSULA AND THE FLORIDA KEYS TODAY.

Saturday, October 22, 2005

The World's Smallest Car Rallies Against the Largest


On October 20th, 2005, there was a report of the worlds smallest car. Amazing this car can actually roll. Nanotechnology produced this car, and it is smaller than a single strand of DNA.

Now, why in the world would would someone build a car of this scale? If you have been to the pumps lately you would think that it was because of the price of gas. Wrong!

This car is a prototype to be used in nanofactories. They plan to make something like a dump truck to haul those huge atoms around, one or two at a a time. They are also building nanofactories to use those payloads.

We all know the world is getting smaller, the internet has proved that. We are as likely to get a reader from the Outer Antilles as quick as we would get one from our own backyard in Lynchburg Virginia.

At one time big was thought good. The biggest production car ever made was the Bugatti Royale It was 22 feet long back in 1927, and holds the Guinness World Record. Since then, we have moved to thinking smaller is better for our pocketbook. Now things have gotten really small.

photo credits: Live Science for the nanocar
photo credits: France European Auto History

Wilma the Witch: Pounds the Yucatan


When Wilma leaves the Yucatan Peninsula, it will emerge as a category one or two, considering the present models. This still remains as a powerful storm, and renewed strengthening could occur.

On the heels of Wilma a new tropical depression is forming, and we may be learning the alpha designations for the first time in the history named hurricanes.

From the NOAA website:


AT 4 AM CDT...0900Z...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE WILMA WAS LOCATED INLAND OVER NORTHEASTERN YUCATAN NEAR LATITUDE 20.9 NORTH...LONGITUDE 87.2 WEST ABOUT 25 MILES...45 KM SOUTHWEST OF CANCUN AND ABOUT 430 MILES...690 KM...SOUTHWEST OF KEY WEST FLORIDA.WILMA IS STATIONARY BUT A GRADUAL NORTHWARD DRIFT SHOULD BEGIN LATER TODAY. ON THIS TRACK...THE CORE WILMA WILL CONTINUE TO SEVERELY POUNDING PORTIONS OF THE EXTREME NORTHEASTERN YUCATAN PENINSULA ALL DAY TODAY.MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS HAVE DECREASED NEAR 125 MPH...205 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER GUSTS. WILMA IS NOW A CATEGORY THREE HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON SCALE. SOME ADDITIONAL WEAKENING IS EXPECTED TODAY WHILE WILMA IS OVER LAND. HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 85 MILES...140 KM...FROM THE CENTER...AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UPTO 200 MILES...325 KM.

Reverse Engineering 9-11

The Richmond Times is reporting:

"The new system lets the city target calls to residents during disasters, whether to a neighborhood where a gas main has broken or an entire city when a tropical storm floods streets and washes away bridges."

So what exactly is this system, they use databases to target calls from a subject index. The system was tried out yesterday when 13,500 residents of Richmond were called, to inform them about heating assistance that the city is offering. The data base that was used was from their social service records, and they targeted residents that would most likely benefit.

What happened when the phone rang was the resident received a taped message from Mayor Wildler, telling them to get down and apply.

We can't help to think that something good my have evolved from the idea of telemarketing. It seems to be based on the same principle. Has good evolved from those obnoxious calls, and now in a new form could even save lives? At least many Richmond residents will stay warm while, we consider the implications.

Friday, October 21, 2005

DC Bomb Disposal in Pictures From CNN




Breaking News: Bomb Suspected Near the Capital



CNN is reporting in their TV broadcast that there is a suspected bomb near the capital building, in Washington D.C. The police are questioning an individual who claims he has a bomb in a vehicle. Evacuations are in progress at the current time.

Police are at the both examining the car, and questioning the suspects.

Now, it is reported that there are two suspects. Police sirens and more police vehicles are arriving. The picture with arrow shows the location where the possible bomb is. Presently they are considering to "shoot the bomb" what this entails is using an explosive disruptor to render the bomb harmless. If a bomb is found, they will treat the area as a crime scene.

The State of the Blogosphere and Lynchburg Virginia

If you haven't noticed, we are going through some gyrations on our page Lynchburg Virginia. New features can be found in the right sidebar, and we have a new page, Lynchburg Virginia Creative Page. So if you have seen some weird things happening to our format, bear with us. We are determined to get it right.

Things are going well for us here. Our popularity has increased from a local level to a world level. Many who had previously not known of our city, are becoming intimate with Lynchburg through our posts. In the last month we have made a substantial improvement on our Google page rank, and technorati ratings. We have taken a counter intuitive approach to this. Basically, it has been, if we write it they will find us. And we are being found.

Out of of 19. 8 million blogs that technorati rates, Lynchburg Virginia ranks 162,699. This is a level that none of us here expected, but it has set our focus on moving higher in the ranks. Preliminary indications are that when the next ranking summary occurs we will be moving up.

Each day blogs are added at a phenomenal rate. Here are some statistics from technorati:


As of October 2005, Technorati is now tracking 19.6 million weblogs.

The total number of weblogs tracked continues to double about every 5 months.

The blogosphere is now over 30 times as big as it was 3 years ago, with no signs of letup in growth.

About 70,000 new weblogs are created every day.

About a new weblog is created each second.

2% - 8% of new weblogs per day are fake or spam weblogs.

Between 700,000 and 1.3 million posts are made each day .

About 33,000 posts are created per hour, or 9.2 posts per second.

An additional 5.8% of posts (or about 50,000 posts/day) seen each day are from spam or fake blogs, on average.

There were .2 million more blogs since technorati reported this.

Blogs are a fabulous thing. They can be used for almost any purpose under the sun. And we are glad Lynchburg Virginia is being put on the map. We have some exciting ideas here. All the contributors work well together, and adds to the whole. In the future I am going to post how our blog works, what you see here on the finished page. It is from countless hours of work from all of us. Thank you all.

And just an added note, if you have been experiencing pop ups when you have come to our page, we think we have isolated the offending script, and removed it. We want your visit to be user friendly here, because you are our friends.

Wima Weakens: Winds Still 145 MPH


Hurricane force winds are already engulfing the Yucatan Peninsula. The storm is moving slowly at six miles an hour. And will continue to batter the peninsula for some time. People are evacuating on the west coast of Florida, and their are reports of gas stations running out of fuel. Early reports are that mandatory evacuations will be ordered tomorrow, in many areas of west Florida.

From the NOAA website:


WILMA IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTH-NORTHWEST NEAR 6 MPH... 9 KM/HR. ONTHIS TRACK... THE CORE OF WILMA WILL BE VERY NEAR OR OVER COZUMELTHIS MORNING AND NEAR THE NORTH EASTERN COAST OF THE YUCATAN PENINSULA LATER TODAY. HOWEVER... WILMA HAS A LARGE CIRCULATION AND HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE PROBABLY ALREADY BEING EXPERIENCED IN COZUMEL AND ALONG PORTIONS OF THE NORTH EASTERN COAST OF YUCATAN.CANCUN RADAR CONTINUES TO SHOW STRONG RAINBANDS OVER COZUMEL AND CANCUN.MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS HAVE DECREASED SLIGHTLY AND ARE NEAR 145 MPH... 230 KM/HR... WITH HIGHER GUSTS. WILMA IS A CATEGORY FOUR HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON SCALE. SOME FLUCTUATIONS IN INTENSITY ARE POSSIBLE TODAY. HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 85 MILES... 140 KM...FROM THE CENTER... AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UPTO 200 MILES... 325 KM. NOAA BUOY 42056 LOCATED ABOUT 75 MILES EAST OF THE CENTER RECENTLY REPORTED SUSTAINED WINDS OF 69 MPH WITH 35FOOT SEAS.

Thursday, October 20, 2005

Weekend Happenings: October 21-23, 2005

October 21, 2005


Classical pianist to perform


The Bedford Academy for the Arts will present Australian concert pianist Gil Sullivan in concert Friday, Oct 21 at 8 p.m. at the Bower Center for the Arts. A single ticket is $20 and a pair of tickets is $30. Admission at the door will be dependent on availability. For more information, call the Academy at 586-4235.



Hurricane Relief Benefit Dance


A benefit dance for hurrican relief for areas in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and TExas will be held at the New London Ruritan Club House, located at 12411 E. Lynchburg-Salem Tpke, about six miles west of Lynchburg on US 460, on Friday night, Oct. 21 beginning at 8:30 p.m. until midnight. Dustin Williams and Falling River Band will be providing th emusic. All proceeds will be donated to the hurricane relief effort. Admission is $2, ages 6-12 years and $6, ages 13 and up.



Marriage Seminar


The Central Church of Christ will be holding a marriage enrichment seminar on October 21-22 (both days at 7 p.m.) and October 23 (10 a.m., 11 a.m. and 5 p.m.). Wayne Speer will be conducting this marriage enrichment program and discussing ways to strenghten the marriage relationship. Admission is free and there will be baby/child sitting available. The Central Church of Christ is located off 460E (Commercial Road) behind Updike Funeral Home and across from the YMCA (540-586-9144).


Ballroom dancers


The Smith Mountain Lake Ballroom Dancers will hold a dance at the Moneta Community Room on Friday, October 21 from 7:#0 to 10:30 p.m. There will be a samba lesson followed by social dancing; beverages provided, bring finger foods to share. Halloween costumes are optional. Cost: members $5, non-members, $8, students under 18 admitted free. Call 297-4677 or 297-7194 for more info.



Coffeehouse


On Friday, Oct 21, a coffeehouse featuring Junior Moment will be held at the Sedalia Center at 8:30 p.m. Food and beverages will be available. Admission is $5.



October 22, 2005


Pumpkin Carving Festival at Camp Kum-Ba-Yah


Camp Kum-Ba-Yah, 4415 Boonsboro Rd. 11 A.M. Cost: $3 suggested donation. We will begin the day with outdoor games for the whole family then share a hot dog lunch at one of our campsites. After lunch each participant will be given a pumpkin to carve and take home. Call 384-1755 for more information.



Lifesaving Crew Open House


The Bedford, VA Lifesaving Crew will hold an open house on Saturday, Oct. 22 at the Wal-Mart parking lot (in Bedford). The VA State Police will be conducting child car seat inspections, Sheriff's Department Drug Sniffing Dog display, Bedford Fire Department trucks, blood pressure checks, and the announcement of the winners of the 2005 Little Mr. And Miss Life Saver contest. The events will be held 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Contest winners will be announced at 12:30 p.m.



Fall Festival


The Ageless Wonders will hold a benefit fall festival on October 22, at Forest Road United Methodist Church, 2805 Old Forest Road from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be music, yard sale items, food and drinks and baked goods for sale. Tickets for a $100 Wal-Mart gift certificate drawing will be sold.



Bedford Blast


The Bedford Blast will be held from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. at the Bedford ARea Family YMCA located on 460 at 1160 Lynchburg-Salem Turnpike. This year Bedford Blast will feature favorites like a morning rabies clinic (co-sponsored by veterinarian Dr. Rich Asbury and the Bedford Humane Society), pellet shooting, rock climbing with the flying squirrel and new crowd-pleasers like pony rides, clown-Teddy Spaghetti, a petting zoo, a moonwalk and an inflatable slide. Bedford City Parks and REcreation will provide games for student participation. Onstage activites will include a pet costume contest that will begin at 10 a.m. A spelling bee, open to students of all ages and sponsored by New Convenant Schools of Bedford will begin at noon. Call the Bedford Area Chamber of Commerce at 586-9401 for additional information on how to participate or to request an entry form.



Make A Difference Day


Youth groups, girl scout groups, boy scout troops, children's clubs, school organizations, families and similar groups are invited to join more than four million Americans nationwide who will be participating in volunteer activities on Saturday, Oct. 22. Make a Difference Day is a national day of volunteering that is sponsored by USA WEEKEND Magazine in partnership with the Points of Light Foundation. Volunteer activities in the Bedford community can include nursing home visitation, litter pick-up, planting flowers, cleaning up a playground, assembling Comfort Kits for foster children, collecting canned food, books, or blankets for needy families, or a project of your choosing. Lunch and door prizes will be provided to participating volunteers. For more information about Bedford's Make A Difference Day, contact Karen Hughes at the Bedford Community Resource Center at 540-587-8990, extension 101.



October 23, 2005


Lynchburg Symphone concert


Emily Yap Chua thrilled concertgoers when she played Gershwin with the LSO in 2003. The Lynchburg Symphony Orchestra welcomes her back Oct. 23 to explore every nuance of Beethoven's sometiems tender, sometimes chandelier-shaking Piano Concerto No. 3. Also on the program: Mendelssohn's powerful "Reformation" Symphony, written in tribute of an era that shaped religious history. The concert at Lynchburg's E.C. Glass Auditorium will be at 3 p.m. Sunday. Ticket information is available at 434-845-6604.



Homecoming & Pastor Appreciation Day


Venue: Gospel Singing and Worship Services
City: Altavista
Date(s): 10/23/2005
Time: 11:00 AM
Directions:
29S towards Danville-Take first Altavista exit-turn left-go through 2 lights- make left in front of Long John Silvers-Elim Assembly of God Church is 2 Blocks behind Altavista Minute Market.
Details:
John Sines Jr. will be ministering in song and worship @ 11:00 a.m.. John Sines Jr. is a well known country music singer. One of his most popular songs is the Black #3 a tribute to Dale Earnhart. There will be a fellowship meal afterwards and everyone is invited.


6th Annual Haunted House


Forest Knights of Columbus Hall. Forest.10/23/2005 - 10/24/2005 Cost: $4
Directions:
Take Enterprise Dr. off Route 221 (near Graves Mill Center, across from Greenstone Builders Center). Take Homestead Dr. (1st light). Follow Homestead for 1/4 mile. Sweeney Circle is 1st left after the curve. The Knights of Columbus is at the first building on the right at 200 Sweeney Circle.
Details:
The Forest Knights of Columbus will be sponsoring their Sixth Annual Haunted House, October 23rd (Sunday) and 24th (Monday) at the Knights of Columbus (200 Sweeney Circle, Forest Virginia) from 6:30 - 9:30 PM both nights. Admission is only $4 and all proceeds will go to help the mentally retarded of Southwest Virginia (KOVAR). Last year over $1,600 was raised for this worthy cause. All survivors will be guaranteed a scary but fun time. Easy to find, just watch for signs and listen for the screams!!!! Contact Mark Balchik at (434) 525-8463.

Wilma: Landfall Expected Tomorrow

The dangers of Wilma may be enormous. Those in the path of this storm are being advised to evacuate now. Wilma is currently a category four storm, but is expected to strengthen back to a category five.

From the NOAA website:


WILMA IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHWEST NEAR 5 MPH... 8 KM/HR... ANDTHIS GENERAL MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE FOR THE NEXT 24 HOURS.ON THE FORECAST TRACK...THE CENTER OF WILMA WILL BE VERY NEAR THE
COASTLINE OF THE YUCATAN BY MIDDAY TOMORROW. HOWEVER...WILMA HAS A LARGE CIRCULATION AND HURRICANE CONDITIONS WILL BE FELT WELL BEFORE THE ARRIVAL OF THE CENTER. REPORTS FROM A NOAA HURRICANE HUNTER AIRCRAFT INDICATE THAT MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS REMAIN NEAR 150 MPH...240 KM/HR...WITH HIGHERGUSTS. WILMA IS A CATEGORY FOUR HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON SCALE. SOME STRENGTHENING IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS...AND WILMA COULD REGAIN CATEGORY FIVE STRENGTH AS IT APPROACHES THE YUCATAN TONIGHT.

Is that Double Whopper Getting You Fat?

The House has passed legislation to prevent you from suing the fast food mongels for getting you fat.

From CNN:

The "Cheeseburger Bill," as it has been nicknamed in Congress, would block civil
lawsuits against food manufacturers in federal or state courts by individuals
claiming that their health condition was caused by the manufacturers' food.

"As one judge put it, if a person knows or should know that eating
copious orders of super-sized McDonald's products is unhealthy and could result
in weight gain, it is not the place of the law to protect them from their own
excesses," said James Sensenbrenner, chairman of Judiciary Committee.

Windy Wilma on its Way


Wilma is expected to hit the Yucatan Peninsula and just churn for several hours. Then the expected course is toward the West coast of Florida. Although now a category four, it still has punch. Predictions are that it will lose strength after it hits the Yucatan Peninsula, and will hit Florida in a weakened state.

From the NOAA website:


WILMA IS STILL MOVING TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST NEAR 8 MPH...13KM/HR WITH SOME WOBBLES OF THE EYE DURING THE PAST FEW HOURS. A TURN TOWARD THE NORTHWEST IS EXPECTED LATER TODAY. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS HAVE DECREASED TO NEAR 150 MPH...240KM/HR...WITH HIGHER GUSTS. WILMA IS A CATEGORY FOUR HURRICANE ONTHE SAFFIR-SIMPSON SCALE. SOME RE-STRENGTHENING IS FORECAST DURINGTHE NEXT 24 HOURS.

Child Support and Enforcement Hits the Presses Again

Just in case you are a child support evader, and you think Social Services will not catch up to you. Here is some news. The Richmond Times Dispatch is running an ad with pictures of those who forgot they needed to support their children. Fifty were scheduled to appear in the paper today, but three mended their ways and paid up, before the presses rolled.

Will this happen in Lynchburg? It happened in the East, Hampton Roads, it happened in the West, Roanoke, and now its happening in the North, Richmond.

Our advice: If you are behind on child support. Get to the child support office, nearest you. We don't really want to see your face on The News and Advance.

Wednesday, October 19, 2005

Hurricane Wilma the Largest Storm Ever Recorded?


Wilma has turned into a storm that could knock Mexico and Florida back in the stone age. Where is Fred to put Wilma under control?


From the NOAA website:

"MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 160 MPH...260 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER GUSTS. WILMA IS A CATEGORY FIVE HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON SCALE. FLUCTUATIONS IN INTENSITY ARE COMMON IN HURRICANES OF THIS INTENSITY...AND ARE LIKELY DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS."

This storm perhaps the worst in history is on course to hit Cancun Mexico, and then the west coast of Florida. The storm is huge filling near the entire gulf. Its time to pray.

Taylor Behl and Julie Popovich is there a Connection?



Here you see two pictures of two young college students that were later found dead, abandoned in similar circumstances. There bodies were found near a month apart, in different parts of the country. Ben Fawley had a connection to both cities, Columbus Ohio and Richmond Virginia.

Ben Fawley who has not been formally charged in the death of Taylor Behl, has made a statement that she has died as the result of "rough sex." It is yet to be determined how Julie Popovich died. She was last seen leaving a bar with a strange man.

Now, could have Ben Fawley been in Columbus Ohio at the time of Julie Popovich's disappearance and death? It could be entirely possible. What we do know is that weeks durring the month of August, Ben Fawley made no entries that we know about in his live journal or other sites. They also could have been deleted by him. But where Ben Fawley was in the month of August is sketchy at best. And he did have a connection to Columbus, he used to live there. And as in Richmond, he would know where the college students went, because as a predator of young women, that's just what he did. He staked out colleges, to find young and innocent women.

In the beginning of August he went on a rant against his exfriend Erin Crabill. This rant was so intense that he used at least three web sites to attack her. And two of those web sites were just about Erin. How this translates to his actions against Taylor and possibly Popovich is unclear. There is a psychological concept called transference, which basically means that he could have transferred his hate to another. And Ben Fawley, had a compulsion about death, and murder, and shallow graves that litters his writing, his photography, and what he considered art.

Here is what he wrote under his high school year book picture:

"S.C.U.M., Member of the Commando Bunnies of Death. It’s enough to make you wonder sometimes if you’re on the right planet. New day rising."

Thoughts of death pervaded his life from a young age and continued to he was 34. We noticed in Ben Fawley's live Journal, another reference on wondering if he was on the right planet. Ben, here's a personal message, we wish you were on another planet.

We can't help to notice that Julie Popovich and Taylor Behl look so similar. Could they have met their death from the same hands?

To read all our post on Taylor Behl go here.