I know I have had some controversial posts in the past. Controversial that is if you do not see things the way I do. Controversial if you do not feel I should have an opinion, or a voice in the matter. Many of you have said "told you so" when certain comments were made, and quite possibly the threats made true. Oh well, that is life, and life goes on. I will continue to bring you the news of the Roanoke Firefighters, pictures, stories, and history. I will even mix in some other news of national importance. You can rest assured knowing that this is my site and that these are my views and my opinions.
Disgraced S. Korean scientist Hwang defends his work: reportI'm prepared to give him a break but Hwang needs to work on his explanation:
MSN News
SEOUL, South Korea -- Disgraced South Korean scientist Hwang Woo-suk insisted he has the technology to produce embryonic stem cells individually tailored to patients even though a panel of his peers said he didn't produce any such cells, a newspaper reported Saturday.
A university panel said Thursday Hwang did not produce any patient-specific stem cells as claimed in a paper published in May in the journal Science, dealing a shattering blow to the already disgraced scientist's reputation as a medical pioneer.
But Hwang stood by his work. ( link )
"I definitely have the source technology to produce tailored embryonic stem cells," Hwang was quoted as saying in Beopbo, a South Korean Buddhist newspaper. "I can replicate the process any time.""I can do it. I have the know-how. I just choose not to at this time."
If for some reason you cannot make it to the Third District in-person to help elect Dan Bowling, you can email Elisabeth Pearson and offer any services you can provide (i.e., phone banking).
Update to this Story
It seems Alice linked to the story from Slantblog. Alice added the Republican insult to her post. Well Slantblog is not to happy and has some advice for Alice here. Here is a taste:
"So, to put the record straight SLANTblog in NO WAY approves of your labeling Mr. Barber as a 'Republican,' much less a, 'Republican who hurts children,' as you did originally. Furthermore, while your “GOTV blog regrets the error†apology may cover the silly mistake you made in your headlong rush to accuse a political opponent you know nothing about of a heinous crime, why are you failing to apologize for the outrageous tactic to use the story to tar all Republicans, in the first place?Alice Marshall was fast to jump on Ed Barbers arrest. Alice assumes Barber was a Republican and posted "Republicans who hurt children, Ed Barber"
I would link the post but she removed it. You see Barber is a Democrat! Alice retracts story but does she post Democrats who hurt children? No way.
Ed Barber
Chesterfield County police have arrested Edward B. Barber, 49, chairman of the county Board of Supervisors, in connection with the aggravated sexual battery of a minor.
Edit-
Ed Barber is a Democrat. Post has been altered to reflect this. I looked at the Chesterfield Republican site and saw his name and incorrectly assumed he was Republican, even though they have indentified Barber as a Democrat.GOTV blog regrets the error.
NLS is on the story and a few bloggers are spanking Alice in the comments. Alice Marshall is a women full of hate for the Republican Party and her credibility is shot. Her lust for headlines has bitten her in the arse. If she can post that about the GOP, then she should be moonbat enough to post it about her party. Do everyone on both sides a favor Alice..Break your keyboard. The Spark It Up Arse of the last day in 2005 is Alice Marshall and her blog GOTV.
Chap Petersen, former Lt. Gov. hopeful and Delegate, is organizing a trip to come down here to the 3rd and the 23rd Districts to help campaign for the Special Elections.
Here are the details from his message:
3rd Legislative District: This rural district is in the heart of the southwest Virginia coalfields. Formerly held by my friend Jackie Stump (D-Buchanan), one of the true giants of the Assembly, this legislative seat is now up for grabs. The Democratic candidate is Dan Bowling who is a full-time professor, part-time pastor and Tazewell County Supervisor. The election will be held Tuesday, January 3rd. I am organizing a road trip down to Tazewell on Monday, January 2nd - which is a holiday — for those who want to make phone calls, knock on doors, and otherwise join in the madness. If you are interested in going (or meeting down there), email me back at chap@vadelegate.com. I have reserved rooms at the Fincastle Motor Inn (276-988-2531). I will plan to return late on January 3rd.
23rd Legislative District: This district covers Lynchburg City and the suburbs of Amherst County. It is a classic “swing” district that went narrowly for Kaine in ‘05. Preston Bryant (R-Lynchburg) is stepping down. He was a true leader in the House and will become a Cabinet Secretary in the administration. The Democratic candidate is Shannon Valentine of Lynchburg. I know Shannon personally and she is dynamite. I’ll leave it at that. We have not yet finalized details on this road trip but it will likely occur the weekend of January 7th-8th. (The schedule will be closely connected to the Redskins’ fate in the playoffs - yes, we have our priorities straight). The Election Day is Tuesday, January 10th. Again, if you are interested, please email me at chap@vadelegate.com and we’ll go from there.
I will have to admit, due in large part to my inherent doubt for anyone wearing a bow tie, I have been hesitant to put much support behind Chap. With moves like this, however, he is starting to win me over.
If I can get to feeling better (been very sick, hence the light blogging) I am going over and help too.
“You always think it’s going to be very busy that night. It’s kind of hit or miss. You usually have a lot more intoxicated people, obviously. The good side is, some people are happy-intoxicated. You’re going to have your everyday thing with heart problems or breathing problems. I haven’t dealt with any wrecks.â€
Like It Is: Tookie Goes to Austria. Read entire.
Previous entry: I Won’t Be Back.
On that last point, it should be mentioned that there are two ways to reduce the unemployment rate. One is to increase the number of employed people, the other is to reduce the number of employable people. Drive through downtown Pocahontas - or what used to be downtown - and you'll quickly understand how the unemployment rate in Tazewell County is hovering around 3.8%. What you'll find when you do the research is that, according to the last census, Tazewell County lost 4.6% of its population in the last decade. At the rate Southwest Virginia's population is declining, we'll have 0% unemployment by the turn of the next decade.Seeking new heights
Alleghany Highlands hopes to revamp and re-energize to halt its downward slide.
By JoAnne Poindexter
COVINGTON -- Erika and Shannon Daly see Alleghany County as the New Land. The Dalys moved out of prosperous but crowded Northern Virginia and found an unfinished log cabin on the perfect piece of land.
Instead of seeking the challenge of opening a wilderness, they are coping with the downward slide of a once-established economy.
... The place is an economic and political basket case.The Dalys arrived at a time when some residents of Alleghany County and Covington are pondering moving because of conditions here. In fact, things got so bad that Virginia's Gov. Mark Warner called on leaders of the Alleghany Highlands' six local governments to work together to draw more industry and commercial business in an effort to enlarge the Alleghany Highlands' tax base and attract residents.
Heeding the governor's advice, governmental leaders adopted the Highlands Regional Enterprise Business Plan on Nov. 19.Bill Withrow, a certified public accountant in Covington[*], said the county is experiencing a steady decline in population. The U.S. Census Bureau showed a 3.6 percent population decline between 1990 and 2000. That population drop may be one of the reasons the county's unemployment rate is not higher than its November level of 3.9 percent. (link)
A major focus of Congressman Boucher's economic development agenda is the expansion of the tourism economy of Southwest Virginia. We are lucky to live in one of the most beautiful regions in the country and Rick will continue to work to find ways to attract the traveling public.The public is traveling all right, Rick. As JoAnne Poindexter illustrates in her Roanoke Times article, they're traveling ... no, they're getting the hell out of Allegheny County rapidly, looking for work. A future. A better way of life.
It was at a point in time a number of years ago when Sam Donaldson, a former correspondent with ABC News and a darling of the liberal media, in response to a question about the obligations of the press to be accurate, replied that the news industry had no such obligation, that I turned off the network news forever.CBS "Memogate" producer Mary Mapes: "I'm perfectly willing to believe those documents are forgeries if there's proof I haven't seen."
ABC's Brian Ross: "But isn't it the other way around? Don't you have to prove they're authentic?"
Mapes: "Well, I think that's what critics of the story would say. . . . I think they have not been proved to be false yet."
Ross: "Have they proved to be authentic, though? Isn't that really what journalists do?"Mapes: "No, I don't think that's the standard."
- Exchange on Good Morning America (link)