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Très Bizarre: Man Charged For Being Naked in His Kitchen

TresSugar — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 06:00:00 -0700

Spending more time around the house naked might be good for the planet, but it could also land you in jail. The state of Virginia has charged Eric Williamson, 29, with indecent exposure for hanging out nude in his own home.

Early Monday morning, around 5:30 a.m., a naked Eric was making a cup of Joe in his kitchen. At the same time, a woman and her 7-year-old boy happened to walk through Eric's front yard. She called the police, who quickly arrived on the scene and arrested Eric. The reporting officers must have given Eric a chance to get dressed, because he's wearing clothes in his mug shot.

The police say that Eric wanted the strangers to see him naked. If prosecutors can prove that, Eric might be sentenced to a year in jail and a $2,000 fine. Considering it was so early in the morning and still dark out, it seems unlikely that he was standing in his kitchen naked waiting for random passersby to catch a glimpse. I doubt Eric will be convicted, but he still must be pretty upset about the whole situation. Perhaps the lady cutting through his lawn should be the one facing the law!

License to Live: Virginia Riles Pro-Choicers With License Plate

CitizenSugar — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 14:00:42 -0700

Forget that lighthouse plate you were about to order, you can take your personal view on abortion to the street now in Virginia. Governor Tim Kaine, who also happens to be chair of the DNC, signed legislation to legalize license plates with the phrase "Choose Life." And it's decidedly not a Trainspotting reference.

Though not the first state to offer pro-life plates, Virginia's law has incurred the wrath of pro-choice groups like Planned Parenthood and NARAL/Pro-Choice, who sent more than 17,000 emails and 200 calls to the DNC urging the governor to veto the bill. But Kaine, who personally opposes abortion but politically supports it, said it's not about reproductive rights; it's about freedom of speech.

Besides, he's told Planned Parenthood it can make its own license plate. Choose Choice?

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Mark Warner Wins Virginia Senate Seat

LibertySugar — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 15:30:06 -0800

Virginians have elected ex-Governor Mark Warner as their newest senator. The once red state has become pretty blue. Virginia now has two Democratic senators and a Democrat in the governor's mansion. Soon we will see what the Old Dominion has to say about the next president of the United States.

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Virginia Bans Campaign Apparel at Polls, Bad Ban on Buttons?

LibertySugar — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 09:00:00 -0700

If you want to make a voting fashion statement on election day, you better check your state's election law. The Virginia board of elections just banned voters from wearing campaign apparel, including T-shirts, hats, and buttons, when they go vote on Nov. 4, a decision which is sure to cause some confusion.

The officials want to prevent polling places from being dominated by any candidate's supporters. They hope the ban will help voters cast their private ballots free of pressure or influence. The ACLU argued to the election board that the ban violates free speech.

Virginia is not alone in prohibiting campaign clothing inside polling places. Do you disagree with Virgina's stance that the rule is a necessary protection of the right to vote free of undue influence?

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VA Registrar to Students: Dire Results if You Register to Vote

LibertySugar — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 11:00:00 -0700

Two false warnings issued by a local registrar of elections in Virginia may have prevented students from registering to vote. The written warning, issued during an Obama-supporter voter registration drive at Virginia Tech, incorrectly cited dire consequences if students register on campus - namely, that parents could not claim the students as dependents and that the students would risk losing scholarships or health insurance coverage. The IRS released a statement explaining that there is no risk of losing dependent status, while the state board of elections said it will modify and clarify murky guidelines.

Any chill on student voting seems troubling. Why should students have to chose between participating in democracy where they live and keeping a scholarship or health insurance? Students should not be forced to vote in their home elections while they live near school and are impacted by local decisions, such as police policy, neighborhood ordinances, or rent control. Still others may argue that there must be a higher bar for voter registration. If a student wants to vote where she attends college, should she expect to pay state taxes, for example?

Perhaps the solution would be for voter-registration drives to present accurate pros and cons of where you register (not an erroneous and alarming official statement discouraging student voters), while providing resources for students to register back home, too.

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Free Healthcare Comes to Appalachia on Wheels

LibertySugar — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 03:00:00 -0700

Each year the Remote Area Medical clinic provides free healthcare services to residents of Appalachia's coal mining counties, but people from as far as Indiana travel there for care. This region of the Eastern US is one of the nation's most impoverished, and this clinic-on-wheels wants to help the under- and uninsured.

Some of the 2,500 patients spend the night in their cars, hoping to see one of the 1,400 volunteer medical personnel. The free two-and-a-half day clinic is the largest of its kind in the US, and mostly provides vision and dental services.

The Remote Area Medical clinic sets up in Wise, VA. About 20 percent of Wise County's population are families living below the poverty level, making less than $21,200 per year. What more can be be done to provide regular care for the nation's disadvantaged so they don't have to wait overnight and sleep in their cars?

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Before and After: A Charmer in Charlottesville

CasaSugar — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 16:00:31 -0700

I recently read about architect Madison Spencer's renovation of his own 1950s Charlottesville, Virginia home (known as Rabbit Run), which was featured in the April issue of Southern Accents, on Style Court. I was bowled over by the drastic change, which took advantage of existing features like tall windows and Chippendale accents, but made changes inspired by Thomas Jefferson's designs for the University of Virginia (Spencer's alma mater). The renovated building is impressive and elegant, rather than gauche and unremarkable, as it was before. To see the after, read more.

A successful makeover, wasn't it? I'd call that a Coveted Crib!
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Front Page: Tornadoes in VA, Militants Killed in Sadr City, UN Food Task Force

CitizenSugar — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 06:47:41 -0700

Tornadoes in VA: Three tornadoes raced through southern Virginia yesterday afternoon, leaving more than 200 people hurt. One of the twisters left a 25-mile path of destruction. A man who works for a tree removal service and had been out for hours trying to clear the roads said, "it's just a bunch of broken power poles, telephone lines and sad faces.'" About 3,000 residents remain without power. Gov. Tim Kaine has declared a state of emergency in some areas. He will be touring the hardest hit regions today.

Militants Killed in Sadr City: The US military reports that at least 28 militants have been killed during battles in the Sadr City area of Baghdad. Intensified fighting between militants loyal to Shia cleric Muqtada al Sadr and US and Iraqi forces in the Iraqi capital sparked after militia members attacked coalition positions Sunday during a sandstorm. Last week Muqtada al Sadr instructed his supporters that they should continue "resisting" the US "occupation" of Iraq, but they should not fight Iraqis.
UN Food Task Force: United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is setting up a task force to tackle the global food crisis. Blaming soaring food prices, Ban said the world faces "widespread hunger, malnutrition and social unrest on an unprecedented scale." The first priority to get food to the hungry is to close this year's $755 million funding gap for the UN's World Food Programme (WFP). He urged countries pledging money to make the funds available now. The WFP believes 100 million people currently don't have enough food.

Out and About: Virginia Is for Pet Lovers

PetSugar — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 16:20:40 -0800

To wrap up our week in Virginia, this resource should make your time (or visit) in this state even more pet-astic! The Virginia Tourism Corporation provides super event, park, and lodging tips for you and your pooch. There's even an online "pet wheel" where you can choose your dog's energy type, and it recommends some activities you both will love. Stay tuned for the continuation of Out and About in a new state after Thanksgiving week!

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Out & About: Virginia's Riverboat Canine Cruises

PetSugar — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 15:30:23 -0800

During the months of May to September, Potomac Riverboat Company lets you cruise with your pooch. These fun boat trips are offered during those warm months and include a 40-minute tour of Alexandria's seaport. Ships set sail every Thursday at 7, 8, and 9 p.m. Humans can come to play with the dogs or bring or borrow a pet to make the trip – people pay $12 and pups ride free.

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