Friday, May 17, 2013
Marchex Institute says Ohio residents swear the most on consumer calls but Virginians are among the most courteous.
Virginia isn't just for lovers — it's also for nice people. That's the finding from the Marchex Institute, a data analysis firm. Just in time for National Etiquette Week, Marchex released findings on the most courteous and the least courteous states in the nation. The Institute examined more than 600,000 phone calls from the past 12 months. You know, the calls that "may be recorded for training purposes." The calls were placed by consumers to businesses across 30 industries, including cable and satellite companies, auto dealerships, pest control centers and more, says Marchex. The Institute scanned for curse words from A to F to S (use your imagination). Analysts then linked the frequency of those words with all 50 states. The data placed …
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
As the Supreme Court debates and after 13 years in a committed relationship, Lawrence Webb and Clifton Taylor are glad to see progress in the fight for gay marriage.
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Reston-Herndon Committee Against Gun Violence formed in response to Newtown shootings.
A group of Reston-area residents is joining together to oppose gun violence. The newly formed Reston-Herndon Committee Against Gun Violence will protest at 9:30 a.m. Friday at the Fairfax headquarters of the National Rifle Association, 11250 Waples Mills Rd. "The committee was formed in response to the dreadful violence in Newtown, Ct., and in support of President Obama's commitment to reduce the mass murders associated with gun violence," says co-founder Joanna Simon. "I have grandchildren the age of the children in Newtown," Simon said. "I have always been against gun violence, but this really hit home." The group plans to dress in black and carry signs that deliver facts about the terrible toll gun violence has taken in this country, …
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Del. May says negotiations underway for road with high tolls, long called 'highway robbery' by some.
WTOP is reporting Virginia is in negotiations to buy the Dulles Greenway from current owner Toll Road Investors Partnership, a subsidiary of Australia-based Macquarie Group. The news outlet reported Del. Joe T. May (R-33), who represents western Loudoun, confirmed such negotiations were underway. Del. Tom Rust (D-86) discussed the possibility with residents at his town hall meeting in Herndon on Saturday, as well. Let us know what you think in the comments below. Should the state buy the Greenway? TRIP was originally designed as a privately operated toll road by a local family, but the family sold it after it failed to turn a profit. State law was created to permit a 50-year concession of the road, after which it would revert back to the …
Monday, December 17, 2012
The magazine ranks Virginia highly thanks to a "pro-business regulatory climate."
Incentives and government policies make the Commonwealth of Virginia the second-best state in the nation to do business, according to Forbes magazine's new rankings. Virginia has ranked highly in Forbes' annual "Best States to Do Business" rankings for years. In 2012, for the second year in a row, the Commonwealth was topped only by Utah. "Virginia ranks No. 2 thanks to a pro-business regulatory climate that includes a top ranking in Pollina Corporate Real Estate’s study of the states with the best financial incentive programs and state economic development efforts. Utah nipped Virgina thanks to [Utah's] lower labor costs and stronger economic outlook," Forbes writer Kurt Badenhausen wrote. Just below Virginia were North Dakota and …
Saturday, December 15, 2012
Soon-to-be Senator will serve on three committees important to Northern Virginia.
Senator-elect Tim Kaine, who will be sworn into office Jan. 3, will serve on three Senate committees important to Northern Virginia. His office announced he will serve on the following committees: Kaine had asked to join Armed Services, Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, Foreign Relations and Small Business and Entrepreneurship — in that order, according to a recent blog post on The Washington Post Web site. "I am excited to tackle these meaningful committee assignments," Kaine said in a news release. "Because of Virginia's deep connections to the military, through active duty personnel, veterans, military families and the private sector, Virginia needs a strong voice on the Armed Services committee as Congress makes decisions …
Monday, December 3, 2012
Commonwealth Institute says median household income in 2011 down 4.2 percent from 2007.
A new study reports that Virginia wages dropped last year to levels not seen since 2007, before the nation’s economic downturn. The Commonwealth Institute reports Virginia’s median hourly wage fell from just under $18.50 in 2010 to $17.64 in 2011, a 4 percent decrease – the largest single year decline in the past decade. Median household income was also down considerably. In 2011, the median income was $61,882, a 4.2 percent decrease from the pre-recession peak of $64,628 in 2007. Wage cuts were felt across all income levels in 2011, according to the report. But the Commonwealth’s top 10 percent of earners were hit the hardest, seeing a decline in wages of about 4.4 percent. Wages only fell 2.5 percent nationally. Stephen Fuller, an …
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Warner says he wants to continue his work in the U.S. Senate.
U.S. Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., announced Tuesday that he will not run for governor in 2013, saying that he wants to continue the work he was sent to do in Washington. Warner, in a statement issued shortly after 3 p.m., said Virginians of all political stripes have approached him over the past year to make the bid — which he said he would consider and then make a decision after the November election. "I’ve talked to a lot of Virginians I respect, and I’ve talked about it with my family," Warner said in a statement. "But when I asked Virginians to hire me as their Senator, I made a promise to come to Washington to try to be a problem solver. I have to admit, it’s been tougher than I expected. But I’ve tried to keep at it." Warner's decision…
Monday, November 12, 2012
State finals were held Saturday night at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond.
The Herndon High School Co-Ed Cheer Team took the top spot at the VHSL State Cheer Championships at Virginia Commonwealth University on Saturday night. The team took first place with 280.5 points, followed by Fairfax High School with 276 points and Grassfield High with 269 points. Herndon scored the second highest score in VHSL history. This is the first time Herndon's varsity Co-Ed Cheer Team has won the state chamionship. Well respected head coach Jenny Goff will be retiring as coach after leading the team for nine years. * Photos and information provided by F. Podczerviensky and A. Kelly.
Friday, November 9, 2012
New Virginia senator says first order of business is to work on good solutions to nation's debt.
Tim Kaine (D), Virginia's newly-elected U.S. Senator, says his first order of business will be to lobby for longterm solutions for the country's fiscal situation. Kaine held a press conference in Richmond on Wednesday, one day after he defeated former Virginia governor and senator George Allen (R) in the general election. Kaine, governor of the state from 2006-10, earned 52 percent of the vote to Allen's 48 on Tuesday. Kaine takes over the seat vacated by Sen. Jim Webb (D), who is retiring after one term. Webb defeated Allen in a similarly close Senate race in 2006. “The key for us in public office is to read the message from the electorate,” Kaine told reporters. “They want cooperative government. They are telling us over and over and …
Terrence Dankel
11:13 am on Saturday, May 18, 2013
I think there's also a difference when the swearing is used as a adjective for type of service given and a verb as in #@%& you! For some folks it may be more excusable in terms of vocabulary of description. In reality, it's definitely a case where better word choice exists. Hot heads or verbally challenged will drop in to the cursing pothole which makes a rough ride of the day. more ›