Category: Virginia Page 28 of 34

What’s your problem, Jim Webb?

By MB

On August 4, 2007

So, with Sen. Jim Webb’s vote, the Senate passed a measure that “broaden[s] the ability to eavesdrop without warrants on communications that are primarily â€œforeignâ€ in nature, even if they may touch on Americansâ€™ phone calls and e-mail.” In doing so, they capitulated to a President who has shown, over and over again, that he cannot be trusted to respect American’s most basic rights.

I know that Sen. Webb knows that Bush can’t be trusted. I also know that he’s not stupid enough to be bamboozled by the sky-is-falling act the Administration goes through every time it wants something. What I don’t know is what in the world would move Webb to give more power to a President and Attorney General who have absolutely no respect for the law.

So what your problem, Jim Webb? Do you think that your constituents are so stupid that they’ll demand that you give Bush everything he wants? Do you just not give a damn about the Constitution? Or was it just easier for you?

I think you owe us an answer.

Background for those who are interested:

Marty Lederman’s analysis of the bill

The Director of National Intelligence and Dems agreed on a bill, Bush threw a fit, Dems capitulated.

House version of the bill

Update:Â Here’s Webb’s statement on the matter.Â It’s as appalling as I expected.Â And the apologists should really be ashamed, falling all over themselves to make excuses (and what’s really sad is that they sound just like the Republicans they spent so much time and effort berating.

“Abuser Fees”: Let’s Review the Tape . . .

By MB

On July 19, 2007

In Virginia

Check out Kenton Ngo’s fantastic bit of work.

New Virginia Century Ride: The Battle of North Valley’s Hills ’07

By MB

On July 6, 2007

In Cycling, Virginia

A friend recently brought inaugural The Battle of North Valley’s Hills charity ride to my attention, and it looks interesting:

[The ride] will take you from Town Park in Strasburg, VA down one of Virginia’s most enchanting Scenic Byways, through all of Shenandoah County’s charming and historical small towns, past the famous battlefields of Fisher’s Hill, Toms Brook, and New Market [full century option only] and on to Shenandoah Caverns for lunch.

After leaving Shenandoah Caverns, the real workout begins as you traverse the foothills of the Massanutten and Blue Ridge Mountains.Â Steep climbs and rolling hills take you past beautiful vintage farmlands while enjoying breathtaking mountain views. This is some of the most beautiful countryside Virginia has to offer.

Much like Bike New York offers you a unique perspective on the city, long rides through the countryside will give you a chance to experience Virginia in a way that a drive just can’t replicate.Â Â So I, along with my regular ride partner D., have decided to sign up.

There’s much to recommend the ride.Â After the excellent (if challenging) route, you’ve got very enticing rest stop options, including Radner beer and Route 11 chips from the source. Â Further, $25 of your registration will go to One Step Closer, a local foundation that modifies the homes of special needs families free of charge (in checking these folks out, I discovered that Virginia isn’t all that impressive, when it comes to servicing those needs). Â And on top of all that, everyone who signs up this year gets half off of next year’s registration fees.Â I don’t know the organizers, so I can’t vouch for them, but between the obvious enthusiasm and low cost, it seems a pretty safe bet.Â Check it out.

Another Fine Legislative Achievement in Virginia

By MB

On June 22, 2007

In Law, Virginia

The wake-me-up-quicker-than-coffee moment this morning came courtesy of Del. Dave Albo, who gave rise to this gem of a law, which will become effective July 1st:

Driving as little as 15 MPH over the limit on an interstate highway now brings six license demerit points, a fine of up to $2500, up to one year in jail, and a new mandatory $1050 tax. The law also imposes an additional annual fee of up to $100 if a prior conviction leaves the motorist with a balance of eight demerit points, plus $75 for each additional point (up to $700 a year). The conviction in this example remains on the record for five years.

Ever driven 80mph on I-66 or 95? If so, you’re looking at not just a reckless driving conviction, but also $3550 in fines and taxes. It’s the sort of thing that makes you worried enough to get a lawyer to see if you can get that ticket knocked down a bit. And guess who’ll be there to help?

Albo, a senior partner in the Albo & Oblon, LLP traffic law firm, can expect to see a significant increase in business as motorists seek to protect their wallet from traffic tickets that come with assessments of up to $3000 in addition to an annual point tax that tops out at $700 a year for as long as the points remain.

WTF? Yes, Albo the legislator ginned up business for Albo the traffic lawyer. I guess we should be thankful he’s not a firefighter.

(Found this story via NLS, but it looks like Albo Must Go has been on the story a while. I’m sorry I didn’t notice it earlier.)

Update: The Washington Post has the story.

Tejada v. Zimmerman v. Favola: An Arlington County Smackdown

By MB

On June 20, 2007

In Cycling, Virginia

There may have been two pro races in the Arlington/DC area this past weekend, with an impressive undercard of am races, but this race featured the real action – the 2007 Crystal Rides Celebrity Trike Race.

Umm

Joe Witte, the Channel 7 meteorologist, appears to be a little confused by the concept . . .

Look, Barb . . .

“Look, Barb, I’ve got this locked up.” – Walter Tejada talks trash to fellow Arlington County Board member Barbara Favola

Putting some fear into the competition, DC Divas linebacker Donna “Animal” Wilkinson is maybe a little too pumped. Mitchell Schear, to her right, wonders if perhaps this wasn’t such a good idea after all.

It would all be decided on this stretch of asphalt in gleaming downtown Crystal City.

Birds of Prey – Barbara Favola seems unaware that the mascots of the Washington Wizards and Capitals are eyeing her.

Joe Witte, “avid cyclist” that he is, shows us how it’s not done. (Howard Bernstein, his cross town weatherman rival, does seem suspiciously happy, though.)

And they’re off. (You really need to view it here to get a sense of the competitive glory.)

Arlington County Board member Chris Zimmerman finds his form early (and is desperately trying not to get girled by Donna Wilkinson . . .).

Arlington County Board member Barbara Favola testing out the “slow and steady wins the race” saying. Didn’t really work out so well . . .

Gets ugly, as Mix 106.7 personality Jimmy Alexander eats pavement.

Race winner Walter Tejada enjoying his moment in the sun. This man’s ambition knows no bounds. I understand that he was later heard yelling “In your FACE, Zimmerman! I’m the NEW Arlington, you’re the OLD Arlington!”

I think.

For the sake of the children, I’m not going to talk about what happened next.

A good time had by all. From Left to Right:

Maurisa Turner Potts (Crystal City BID), Mitchell Schear (President, Vornado/Charles E. Smith), Barbara Favola (Arlington County Board Member), Chris Zimmerman (Arlington County Board Member), Walter Tejada (Vice-Chairman, Arlington County Board), Donna “Animal” Wilkinson (Linebacker, DC Divas), Howard Bernstein (Reporter & Meteorologist, Channel 9 News), Joe Witte (Meteorologist, Channel 7 News), G-Wiz (Washington Wizards Mascot), Slapshot Mascot, (Washington Capitals), Major General Robert L. Smolen (Commander, Air Force District of Washington), and half of Jimmy Alexander (MIX 107.3).

Richmond Racing: More Fun Than a Primary

By MB

On June 14, 2007

In Cycling, Virginia

For once, the most interesting race in Richmond doesn’t have anything to do with politics. This weekend, Richmond will play host to the XTERRA East Championships, where athletes will swim, run, and ride a mostly off-road course (1000m swim / 29k mountain bike / 11k trail run). This race will determine eligibility for the national championships in Lake Tahoe this September, as well as world championships in Maui this October. If you’re interested in going to watch, check this map out.

Would you rather ride than watch, this weekend? The XTERRA main event is closed, but you can still hit interesting parts of the course on Saturday. How? Check out Richmond Sports Backers’ MTB Urban Assault:

Competitors will choose between an 8 mile or 15 mile loop of the XTERRA Mountain Bike Course, which is considered the most technically challenging on the XTERRA Tour. The mountain bike course includes steep up hill and down hill single track trails, stairs over railroad tracks, tunnels, bridges, creek crossings and lots of natural obstacles.

There are plenty of classes (beginners through pro), so there’s something for everyone.Â You can register online until 9pm today, or you can register in person at Brown’s Island.Â Registration is $35 today, and $45 on race day.Â (Wish I could do this one myself, but I’ve already got another race scheduled this weekend.)

Not quite up to an “urban assault”, but still want to be part of the vibe this weekend?Â Try the “Cruise for a Cause” the same day, at 2pm.Â Â You still get to be part of the action, but no worries about how to make it down a rock staircase on your bike.Â As an added plus, all of your registration fee will go to support the Richmond chapter of the best MTB advocacy organization in the area – the Mid Atlantic Off Road Enthusiasts.

Hailing from the DC area, I’ve got a well-supported bias against Richmond, but events like this keep impressing me.Â Keep it up.

2007 CSC Invitational In Pictures

By MB

On June 4, 2007

In Cycling, DC, Virginia

I spent a fair amount of time shooting the CSC Invitational this weekend (as evidenced by the sunburn on my face). Some of the better shots are below. I didn’t cover the Men’s 1/2/3 as well as I would have liked to, but if you’re a local rider who’d like to see if he or she was looking good this Saturday, drop me a line and I’ll sort through what I’ve got. Clicking on the smaller photos will take you flickr, where I’ve got them at a higher resolution.

The Men’s 1/2/3 field.

David Bozak (Clean Currents) in first, Peter Cannell (Immediate Mortage/Artemis) in second, and Todd Hipp (Battley Harley) in third.

Team Clean Currents enjoying having one of their own on the podium’s top spot.

This NCVC rider shows what team support is all about . . . (assuming that what it’s all about is a cooler full of food from 7-11).

Laura Van Gilder at the start line.

Liz Hatch, who has quite an online fan club, shows the substance behind the form.

The women’s pro/1/2/3 field.

This is what 90% of the race looked like. Just Van Gilder and (a very smart, but ultimately outmatched) Larson.

Laura Van Gilder is a machine. This is her third win at the CSC Invitational (previous wins in 2005 and 2003).

Kelly Benjamin (Cheerwine) reacts to the young man declining to give her a podium kiss. Arlington County Board Member Walter Tejada (second from right) stepped in as an able replacement. He later told me that it was all in the spirit of public service . . .

In the end, it was Laura Van Gilder (Cheerwine) in first, Rebecca Larson (Aaron’s Corp. Furnishings) in second, and Sarah Uhl (Cheerwine) in third.

This guy, Oscar Sanchez, is aiming for Beijing in 2008. Whether the gets there or not, someone should snap him up for an endorsement deal – he doesn’t stop smiling.

The start of the U.S. Handcycling Criterium Championship – a race that Seth Arseneau would win.

Toyota-United has apparently decided to forgo the women’s demographic and has had these girls (or ones that look just like them – just add peroxide and tan) at most races. I think they collect contact information for marketing. In this photo, one fellow seems to want his wife to see where his hands are, in case I’m taking pictures for the paper.

Who brings an Escalade to a bike race? I share the same view as my comrades over at Racing Union on the matter of Rock Racing (the idea, not the riders).

This poor kid got lost, and went up on stage to find his parents. And then the announcer suggested making him a third lap premium. He was not amused. That’ll the teach the kid to trust adults . . .

Train CSC didn’t quite get it done . . .

Just sitting on someone else’s wheel all day . . .

There’s a rise between the last turn and the line that requires some real power to turn it into a sprint.

The 2007 CSC Invitational Podium

Ivan Stevic talking to Velonews about the end of the race.

Perhaps the only second between his crossing the line and falling asleep when he didn’t have a huge smile on his face.

More about the CSC Invitational on the web:

In Rahsaan Bahati’s own words.
Purple Motes gives us a view of the Men’s 1/2/3 race.
And Tour ’03 of Triple Crankset wonders why the Washington Post wasn’t there. Maybe all the Washington Times banners?
Velonews’ story here, and I assume that you’ll soon be able to find something at Pez and Cyclingnews, as they were both there.

My recap (and favorite shot of the race) are here.

Rock!

By MB

On June 2, 2007

In Cycling, DC, Virginia

Rashaan Bahati

This is the picture of a very happy man. Rock Racing’s Rahsaan Bahati surprised the crowd, the peloton, and himself with a win at the 10th CSC Invitational, beating out a field full of strong challengers. Ivan Stevic of Toyota-United takes second, with Hilton Clarke of Navigators in third.

The race, which bills itself as the “hardest crit in America”, was 100 laps of a tight 1km course in hot and sunny weather. While this race has historically started hard, many were surprised to see Victor Rapkinski make an early breakaway which came within 15 or so seconds of lapping the field before the teams were ordered to drop the hammer and shut down his chances of rejoining the peloton from behind.

The remainder of the race was a series of small battles for some of the higher value premiums (JJ Haedo found a pair of Dura Ace wheels worth his effort), with Navigators generally setting the pace of the peloton.

Approaching the last few laps, CSC train started looking like it was working to launch Haedo, while a Toyota-United team (without Ivan Dominguez) made it clear that they weren’t giving the race away to anyone.

It was Rahsaan Bahati, though, that had the winning legs in the sprint finish. Bahati, who spent more than a few laps barely hanging on to the back of the peloton, had moved up with a couple of team mates in the last stretch, and battled it out with Ivan Stevic and Hilton Clarke in the final 20 meters.

Bahati called this his “biggest win” since winning the Junior National Road Racing and National Criterium Championships in 2000.

More pictures, including of Laura VanGuilder’s third win of the CSC Invitational, later.

Photos by Mark Blacknell

Reminder: CSC Invitational in Clarendon on Saturday

By MB

On June 1, 2007

In Cycling, DC, Virginia

Don’t forget, your best chance to see pro cycling in the DC area will come tomorrow at the CSC Invitational. CSC Invitational - 2005 Racing starts at 8am, but if you just want to see the men’s pro races, show up around noon. If you’re taking Metro, you can emerge in the center of the circuit at the Clarendon Metro stop. It’s pretty easy to move around the circuit as the race progresses, but my two favorite spots are on the western-most edge of the course (standing in the middle of the Wilson/Clarendon/Washington Blvds. intersection (it will all be closed to traffic)), and the corner of Washington Boulevard and North Highland St. (stay back from the edge, though – it’s a common place for crashes, and there are no crowd barriers to protect you). The most recent pro start list is here. Come check it out.

Reality Check

By MB

On May 31, 2007

In Cycling, Personal, Ride Report, Virginia

This last weekend found me in Stokesville, Virginia for the Virginia IMBA Mountain Biking Festival. I’d never had a chance to ride any of the trails out there, and I figured that it would be an excellent way to assess the advisability of me actually competing in the Shenandoah Mountain 100 this year. A number of the group rides would follow the SM100 course, and the plan was to take advantage of those rides to see as much of the course as possible. All the while having a grand time.

Well, something like that.