Monday, May 18, 2009

Blackbeard's Crew, Blackbeard Plans Raid on Hampton Virginia, Our Spy Uncovers The Story


You may have missed Blackbeard's Crew while they raided Yorktown a few weeks back, but they have their biggest event of the year coming up in June. The weekend of June 5th through the 7th in Hampton. Expect over 100 pirates from all over the East Coast to be at this event. We plan on being there and plan on raiding the pirates lair. We built a web site with pictures and a video from their event in Yorktown. CLICK HERE to view our review site. The site will expand with their events. These folks really do a great job and put on a wonderful show.

If you have never seen them, you really are missing a superb time. So clear your calendar and call your friends and get ready for a great time in Hampton with this scurvy bunch. By the way, this is their 10th anniversary, so expect a show like never seen before. Arrgh!

United States Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corp Video



We had the pleasure of capturing the United States Old Guard Fife and Drum Corp while they were in Colonial Williamsburg this past Saturday, May 16th, 2009. If you missed them and would like to see more, we put up a special web site where we have 7 videos and some really good pictures on the site. CLICK HERE to visit the site.

This is going to be a very busy summer with no shortage of things to do and or discover. We will try to keep you up to date as much as possible. If you missed it and we captured it, we will let you know and bring you as much as we can. So stay tuned.

Historic Christ Church


We just finished photographing the Historic Christ Church. A beautiful landmark worth a visit. Located over in nearby Lancaster county, just outside of Irvington in Weems. They have a museum that is very interactive and the church and grounds are unmatched anywhere. The drive is only about 35 minutes and not far off of route 3. Visit our review site and you can get directions. CLICK HERE to visit our review site.

On our new site we have over 100 pictures and we created a video of the church and grounds. The folks there are incredibly nice and ready to help and answer any questions you may have. If you want to make a really nice day of it, stop at the wine and cheese shop in White Stone and pick up lunch for a picnic and then stop at the Winery on the way back from the church. Don't worry, you can't miss the winery. It's the White Fences Winery and you can't miss the giant cork screws out in front. When I say giant, I mean giant. Bonn Appetite.

Scottish Bag Pipes in Colonial Williamsburg at Bruton Parish


This past weekend, May 16th to be exact, Colonial Williamsburg hosted Fife and Drums from various parts of the nation. We were there to cover the event for a few of our sister sites. While we were there we had the unexpected pleasure of capturing a gentleman playing the bag pipes outside of Bruton Parish Church before a candle light concert at the church. Normally we cover mostly what is happening around Gloucester, however, Gloucester is on the outskirts of some of the greatest places in the nation so we are expanding the site to include areas of interest to us here in Gloucester. We have a lot to post as we have been up to a lot. So even though this site has been quite for a few weeks, we have been very busy with a lot of other projects. So get ready for a lot of new excitement. Enjoy.

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

FY 10 Gloucester County Budget

Gloucester County has published it's planned budget for physical year 2010. According to the submitted and published budget posted on the Gloucester County Government site, the budget is being cut by over $18 million dollars. The new budget is listed at over $104 million dollars for the county. With a county population of somewhere around 30,000 people, that is over $3,600.00 for each person in the county. Click here to get a copy of the 168 page PDF file. Under 1mb in size. Click Here to go to the site.


Okay, great we have a budget. My question isn't the budget, but instead, how much money does the county have that is well above and beyond the budget. Companies have budgets. People have budgets. It does not answer how much money is actually in the coffers and available. If school funds are being cut in the budget, why? It's a budget. How much money does the county actually have? This is the Billion dollar question. The state has been cutting the school budgets and now the schools are all crying and cutting back. It's a budget. Someone took money from somewhere and said this is what we are allowing you. Please do not explain simple economics to me. I'm aware of them and it would only be a diversion of the real question.

If I make $100 thousand a year and decide to live on a $30 thousand dollar budget, that's all it is. A budget. I still have that $100 thousand dollars a year coming in. There is still $70 thousand left unaccounted for. Anyone ever ask this question? I'm not saying or even suggesting that the county would ever even consider doing anything wrong, there is nothing wrong with the above situation.

Here is a point. During an economic downturn, if a state or a county has plenty of excess capital on hand instead of cutting the budget and funds to meet the economic situation, it would seem more logical for the state and local governments to increase spending to help fuel the economic situation. The government cutting back when capital is available just works against the people who elect the officials. If companies are laying off, if the state or county has the cash, bring some of those people in. Refuel the economy, not add to it's demise. When the economic situation reverses? Help those people back into the private sector.

Just a thought.