Shenandoah Brewing Company is for sale.
(This suddenly makes me feel guilty, as they’ve been very good about sponsoring one of my cycling clubs, and I’ve never been. Will go tomorrow. You should come.)
Category: Virginia Page 12 of 34
Vivian’s got a good point.
This even beats RedStorm PAC (what, StormFront was taken?) for hilarity.
Context here.
Washcycle has a nice little summary of the projects DC area cyclists can expect to see completed or get underway in 2009. It will be nice to (finally) have the Wilson Bridge open to cyclists, and the Shirlington Underpass will be of great practical use.
The Washington Post has an article on the reaction to Sen. Webb (D-Va) and his plans to introduce legislation aimed at reforming the US prison system. Webb – unlike just about every other politician – isn’t interested in grandstanding by adding penalties on top of penalties. Rather, he’s interested in reducing prison population, improving conditions in prisons, and seeing better outcomes for those that are released from prison.  Of course, this doesn’t go over very well in Virginia:
It is a gamble for Webb, a fiery and cerebral Democrat from a staunchly law-and-order state. Virginia abolished parole in 1995, and it trails only Texas in the number of people it has executed. Moreover, as the country struggles with two wars overseas and an ailing economy, overflowing prisons are the last thing on many lawmakers’ minds.
But Webb has never been one to rely on polls or political indicators to guide his way. He seems instead to charge ahead on projects that he has decided are worthy of his time, regardless of how they play — or even whether they represent the priorities of the state he represents.
State Sen. Ken Cuccinelli II (R-Fairfax), who is running for attorney general, said the initiative sounds “out of line” with the desires of people in Virginia but not necessarily surprising for Webb. The senator, he said, “is more emotion than brain in terms of what leads his agenda.”
Some say Webb’s go-it-alone approach could come back to haunt him.
“He clearly has limited interest in the political art, you might say, of reelection,” said Robert D. Holsworth, a political science professor at Virginia Commonwealth University.
I think most long-time readers will recall that I’ve got problems with Webb. But on this, I’m 100% behind him.
Even though I’ve been here for more than half of the 23 years they’ve apparently been doing this, I only heard about the Water Skiing Santa this past weekend. If you’re around the waterfront in Old Town tomorrow at 1pm, give the Potomac a look. (The site advertises National Harbor as the *new* best viewing spot. National Harbor better quit stealing things from us.)
Vivian Paige has an interesting take on her meeting with Terry McAuliffe. Any time Vivian shares an opinion about a Virginia Democrat, I listen. So should you, if you’re interested in Virginia politics. She’s thoughtful, measured, and very in tune with the Commonwealth.
From an email I just received:
Dear SmartBike User:
Due to the presidential inaugural events on January 20, SmartBike service at some stations will not be available for the period of January 16 through January 22. The following stations will be closed:
Foggy Bottom
Farragut Square
McPherson Square
Metro Center
Gallery Place
Judiciary Square
Please visit www.smartbikedc.com for further updates.
We thank you for your understanding and appreciate your cooperation.
Your SmartBike DC Team
No, you really don’t have my understanding. What in the world requires you to shut down operations for an entire week? Inauguration Day would be lame enough, but the whole week? I’d have called and/or emailed to ask Smartbike about this before I posted, but given that they’ve ignored my previous calls and emails, I thought I’d just not waste the time.  It’s a shame that such a valuable operation is so poorly run.
Update: As usual, Washcycle has some useful information. Looks like WABA is working to secure permission to run a bike valet service come inauguration day.
You’ve almost certainly heard the news already if you’re interested in Virginia online politics, but I’ll repeat it here – the New Dominion Project is open for business. It’s a collaborative effort by three . . . hmm, I can’t exactly call them “fresh” voices, considering that each of them has been at this for a while. Let’s go with “refreshingly youthful” voices. I expect good things from them.
~
Ah, the holiday season, where we all get to reflect upon and celebrate our priorities and values.
~
I had forgotten that Italy will be taking the EU G8 Presidency [ed. note – d’oh] in short order, making the corrupt disaster that is Silvio Berlusconi [slightly] more relevant to our lives
Italian president and media baron Silvio Berlusconi said today that he would use his country’s imminent presidency of the G8 group to push for an international agreement to “regulate the internet”.
Speaking to Italian postal workers, Reuters reports Berlusconi said: “The G8 has as its task the regulation of financial markets… I think the next G8 can bring to the table a proposal for a regulation of the internet.”
Thanks, Italy.
~
Vivian Paige laments the loss of her weekly milk & eggs delivery from Yoder Dairies. I’m with her, if only in spirit. The last place I had milk delivery was in Nottingham in the mid-80s.
~
I am shamed to say that I didn’t lift a glass in celebration of the 75th anniversary of the repeal of Prohibition last Friday (to be clear, I was lifting several glasses in celebration of other things – the anniversary just got lost in the shuffle). Amit Singh had a brief note about it up at Bearing Drift. That post kicked off a discussion that turned into an amusing reminder that the (remaining) Republican rank and file are more concerned with the fact that someone somewhere may be enjoying themselves than actually living up to that small government and personal freedom gloss they love to claim.
~
Oh, and a begrudging congratulations to the dolts in Louisiana’s 2nd Congressional District, who finally ousted that crook, Rep. William Jefferson (D). It’s begrudging because that district’s voters apparently weren’t smart enough to do it the last time they had the opportunity. Anyway, it’s good to see him gone, and terribly amusing to see Minority Leader Rep. John Boehner hold up the Republican winner of that race as “the future” of the Republican Party.  If relying on the Democratic incumbent to get found with a freezer full of cash and indicted is the Republican plan to win, well, I can live with that. Note also that the winner – Ahn Cao – will be gone in two years. He may be an entirely competent and decent fellow, but there’s no way a Republican wins reelection in a D+28 district.
It’s something of a horror show, but Shaun Kenney’s doing a good job (from my perspective, anyway) of capturing the goings on at the Republican Party of Virginia’s annual “Advance” meeting at the Homestead. Waldo points out that Shaun’s blog has been blocked at the Homestead. That, in itself, is a great illustration of the RPV. Backward, ignorant, and working hard to keep it that way.