Tuesday, July 17
Business victory = consumer defeat?
All hail the free market! Word today from the office of State Attorney General Bob McDonnell, a Republican, that Directorship magazine, "a prominent publication in the business community," has ranked Virginia No. 2 among these 50 United States for its "pro-business climate." The American Justice Partnership did the nationwide survey. Its conclusion? "Virginia’s liability policies make the state one of the best in the country when it comes to ensuring a positive environment for free enterprise." You hear that, future CEOs? Virginia will do its very best to secure you from pesky consumer lawsuits, product-protection legislation and insurance payouts.
Wednesday, July 18
Food bank head adds to national brain trust
In a news release today, the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank, which serves the Charlottesville region, announced that CEO Martin L. White will join a planning committee to help the national food bank network to meet goals by 2012. Those include increasing funding of federal nutrition programs, which have been cut under the Bush Administration, and establishing a nationwide food purchase program. "I am excited and honored to be able to add my voice to the dialogue of ending hunger in America at the national level," White said in the news release. He has headed the Blue Ridge hunger organization since 2001.
Thursday, July 19
Daughtry’s appeal explained
 How many degrees of separation are there between Chris Daughtry and Lindsay Lohan? Just one: producer and songwriter Ben Moody. |
And here we thought it was the tight pants. But the August issue of Spin sets us straight on the appeal of former Fluco, the "American Idol" sensation Chris Daughtry and his eponymous band, one of the biggest-selling acts this year ( 2.7 million copies of the self-titled debut CD). They were "assisted by a slew of heavy-hitting songwriting pros," including Evanescence co-founder Ben Moody, who also worked with Avril Lavigne, Lindsay Lohan and another "Idol" alum Kelly Clarkson. What’s this rock doc known for? "Grandiose power ballads with enough of an edge to keep the mall punks dialed in." A clear Rx for success.
Friday, July 20
Progress stays close to UVA football’s important news
 Groh got a good look at antelope while on vacation. Now can he get up close and personal with that rare creature known as winning? |
So SI.com ranked Al Groh the nation’s worst college football coach last week, citing his 25-23 ACC record? Does that a mean a guy’s not entitled to a little R&R? Taking what is probably the inevitable course for a sports section so devoted to finding the good news in the Cavaliers’ football program come what may, The Daily Progress today devoted above-the-fold B1 space to the crucial news that Groh and his wife spent six days in Wyoming. True, the Cavs’ season begins there on September 1, so there was a work aspect to the trip. Groh saw wildlife while on vacation (antelope, bald eagles) and more importantly, reports the DP, he "walked away with a better feel for the altitude and its potential impact for his football team." Awesome, now all he needs is a better feel for offense and its potential impact on his team.
Saturday, July 21
Pott-head goes on a 759-page bender
Some kid, we don’t know who, got his edition of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows at, like, one minute past midnight and finished the thing in one sitting, as he has all previous six books and now he’s hung over and remorseful because it’ll never be as good as the first time and either Harry was offed in this, the final installment of J.K. Rowling’s bazillion-selling series, or he wasn’t and in either case, even if we know we wouldn’t say, so if you need to know without reading it yourself find the kid in the Hogwarts t-shirt.
Sunday, July 22
UVA legal expert: Feds might have more on Vick
 You ain’t seen nuthin’ yet: The indictment is 18-pages long, but maybe prosecutors have even more in their dog-fighting case against former Hokie hero, Michael Vick. |
It’s 18-pages long, but maybe the Federal indictment against Michael Vick, Atlanta Falcons QB and onetime Hokie, doesn’t say everything. That’s the view of UVA Law professor Anne Coughlin, quoted in today’s Hampton Roads Dailypress.com. Vick, who left Virginia Tech at 20 as the youngest No. 1 draft recruit in almost 60 years, is charged along with three friends with "conspiracy to travel in interstate commerce in aid of unlawful activities and to sponsor a dog in an animal-fighting venture." He faces six years in jail and $350,000 in fines. The indictment is vague on how prosecutors have built their case except to mention four unnamed "cooperating witnesses." "They don’t have to come out in the indictment with the best things they have or disclose all the information that they have," Coughlin says. "With a high-profile defendant like this…prosecutors will want to proceed cautiously."
Monday, July 23
Hemings thing just like that scrap with Hamilton
The July issue of Washingtonian magazine profiles a half-dozen descendants of famous Americans, including Nathaniel Abeles, the eighth great-grandson of Thomas Jefferson. Though he professes a past reluctance to bust out his lineage socially, ("You’re a dummy," his friends reportedly said. "That’s the world’s greatest pickup line"), the former president of the Monticello Association does make some dramatic comparisons on the Sally Hemings matter. "I believe there’s not enough information to prove the connection," he says. "The supporters of the Hemings cause have made me feel like he must have felt going up against the Federalists. There’s a lot of frustration and name calling."
