What the U.S. Can Learn From Britain’s Decline

 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Britain began its slow descent into oblivion in the late 19th century. Britain believed in the innate goodness of man which was its undoing. We examine the stages and mistakes culminating in the ultimate disappearance of the empire in 20 years from 1947 to 1967. Remarkable similarities accompany America’s own decline although, of course, it has never had an empire. Stock market comment du jour. Wal-Mart is feeling the pinch of reduced spending as are cut-price stores like Family Dollar and 99-cent Stores. How can they still talk up a ‘recovery’ with a straight face? More on the ‘real’ unemployment figures. The fate of incomes in this depression. The meaning of retirement in America. More and more people will be depending on social security to fund it.

http://prn.fm/wake-call-u-s-can-learn-britains-decline-020314/

Link back to the original story.  Podcast of the Richard Martin Show.

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Obama's diminished expectations?

 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

President Barack Obama gives his first interview since the State of the Union to CNN's Jake Tapper.  Our Notes:  Watch the interview.  Anyone buying any of what he is saying?  We see some serious flaws in there.

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Governor McDonnell Announces Donation of Battlefield Lands to Commonwealth by Wal-Mart

 (Photo credit: Battleofthehook)

Donated land in Orange County is affiliated with Battles of Chancellorsville and Wilderness

RICHMOND - Governor Bob McDonnell announced today that Wal-Mart has donated to the Commonwealth of Virginia more than 50 acres of land in Orange County associated with the Civil War battle of Chancellorsville and most notably with the battle of the Wilderness.

“We are delighted by this generous and voluntary gift from Wal-Mart,” said Governor McDonnell. “It’s another demonstration of Wal-Mart’s role as a good and positive corporate citizen in Virginia, whose presence here serves long range goals for our vitality.”

Henry Jordan, Senior Vice President, Eastern Seaboard Wal-Mart said, “Wal-Mart is extremely pleased that we have both found a home for our new store in Orange County while donating the property at the originally proposed site to the Commonwealth.  In this way, we have been able to give back to the community and serve the needs of our customers.”

Virginia’s Department of Historic Resources, the agency that will receive and steward the donated land, has worked quietly with Wal-Mart to complete a the donation documents and its acceptance. Those documents are now final and will be record by Wal-Mart. The department holds or co-holds numerous easements on thousands of acres of privately-owned battlefield lands throughout the commonwealth, easements that protect the lands from future development.

“This is a wonderful legacy gift from Wal-Mart that comes during the mid-point of the Sesquicentennial of the Civil War,” said Kathleen S. Kilpatrick, director of the Department of Historic Resources. “We look forward to working with community leaders to steward the property and realize its potential for public benefit.  We are grateful to the Company and to Speaker Bill Howell, Chairman of the Sesquicentennial Commission, for his work to encourage the donation.”

“On behalf of the entire Sesquicentennial Commission, I want to thank Wal-Mart for this generous donation,” added Speaker Bill Howell. “The Civil War is an important part of Virginia’s history. This donation will allow for the preservation of these historic lands for future generations.”

Wal-Mart had originally purchased the land, which was zoned for development, for construction of a Wal-Mart Supercenter store, a decision the company was willing to revisit when the site’s close affiliation with Chancellorsville and Wilderness were brought to light.

Wal-Mart has since then selected, purchased, and constructed a store at an alternative site four miles west of the original site located at the intersection of Routes 3 and 20. The company’s alternative site was supported by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the Civil War Trust, and other groups who today applauded the donation.

“With this donation, Wal-Mart successfully fulfils the commitment made in 2011 to choose an alternate site and work to set aside the original location,” said Jim Lighthizer, president of the Civil War Trust. “The Commonwealth and Virginia’s Department of Historic Resources are ideally suited to be stewards of this resource, safeguarding its integrity for future generations of Americans to visit and study. We deeply appreciate Wal-Mart’s gift and the Commonwealth’s willingness to facilitate this important milestone in the protection of battlefield lands.”

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Gloucester Virginia Crime Reports; Sheriff's Reports

In the 15100 block of George Washington Memorial Highway

A single-vehicle accident on Aug. 4 resulted in the issuance of two summons to Nicholas Fleming Clay, 19, of Clarksville, Md., for underage possession of alcohol and reckless driving.

In the 14700 block of George Washington Memorial Highway

A resident reported a breaking and entering on Aug. 4 between 7 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. There were no signs of forced entry and no items were reported as stolen or damaged. Entry was made through an unlocked door.

In the 3300 block of Woodside Street

A Hayes resident reported on Aug. 4 damaged property that occurred sometime over the past day. The victim reported that sugar was put into the gas tank of his vehicle.

In the 3000 block of Ross Drive

Deputies arrested on Aug. 4 Ronald Wayne Lynch, 51, of Ross Drive in Gloucester, on a charge of public intoxication in the area of Abingdon Mobile Home Park.

In the 6800 block of Waltons Lane

Deputies were called on Aug. 6 to a shoplifting at Walmart. A man and woman were observed by a loss-prevention employee removing clothing items valued at less than $200 and concealing the items in the woman's purse before passing all points of sale. The man and woman were located near the scene and additional items stolen from Ollie's with a value less than $200 were discovered. The property was returned and summons for petit larceny were issued to Darrell Wayne Taylor, 27, of Freewelcome Lane in Gloucester and Kathryn Casey Lerma, 21, of New Point Comfort Road in Port Haywood.

In the 6100 block of Shady Lane

A resident reported on Aug. 6 the larceny from a truck parked at a residence that occurred at approximately 5:30 p.m. A man was observed removing tool items with a value less than $200 from the bed of a pickup and leaving. A summons was issued to William Colby Jackson, 19, of Shady Lane in Gloucester.

In the 7600 block of Foster Road

A resident reported the larceny from a garage that occurred sometime since July 28 when the home owner was out of the area. A Cub Cadet lawn mower, trimmer and Yamaha four-wheeler were taken with a value exceeding $200. There were no signs of forced entry.

In the 6800 block of Waltons Lane

A shoplifting was reported Aug. 7 at Walmart when an employee saw a woman placing craft and cosmetic items inside here purse and passing all points of sale. The items, valued at less than $200, were recovered and returned. A summons for petit larceny was issued to Tianna Jean Marble, 26, of Lord Carrington Drive in Gloucester.




In the 7300 block of John Clayton Memorial Highway

A two-vehicle accident on Aug. 3 at 5:54 p.m. resulted in the arrest of Joshua Lee Davidson, 32, of Grove Court in Gloucester, on charges of driving while intoxicated, first offense, possession of schedule I & II controlled substances, possession of marijuana, first offense, and possession of a schedule IV controlled substance.

In the 4200 block of Hickory Fork Road

A resident reported on Aug. 3 the larceny from a residence that occurred at approximately the beginning of July. There were no signs of forced entry. A range finder and knife set were reported as stolen with a value exceeding $200. It's unknown why there was a delay in reporting the larceny.

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Gloucester, VA - Shop Local Included Big Box Franchise Retailers

The recent Shop Local campaign that touted reasons to shop at small local retailers included big box franchise retailers into the mix for shop local.

  Businesses like Ace Hardware, a Chevrolet automotive dealership, and Napa Auto Parts to name a few.  Now granted they are local businesses, but then again so is Wal Mart and Rite Aid.

  The campaign was not at all a success for all of the local businesses either.  One business we spoke with had zero net results by being a part of the Shop Local campaign and ended up closing the doors a few hours early due to a tremendous lack of business and finding something better to spend time on.

Franchise businesses are about as local as Big Lot's and other major retail chains.  If McDonald's can not be considered a local small business, then how do you include Ace Hardware and the other franchises that were mixed into the campaign?  Shop Gloucester would have been a much better campaign looking at all the facts here.  This destroys the idea that out of every $100.00 spent at a local merchant $45.00 stays in the community as opposed to $13.00 per hundred spent at the big box retailers.  What is the dollar figure for local franchised businesses that were included into the Shop Local campaign?  We have no idea and have not been able to trace where Chesapeake Bank came up with their facts here either.

  With more campaigns run as well as this one was, then the below sign is sure to be a vision of the future.

Free MP3 download.  Kelly Allyn - "Don't Count On It" is the title track for this post.  It's a bit country and it's a bit rcok n roll.  CC Lic 3.0 Attrib/Share Alike.
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B5NJpRCvjyV8WHhxYVRqcE9Vak0/edit?usp=sharing  Our way of saying thanks for spending time with us.

For all the latest news, please click on the Home button towards the top of this site.

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Some of Gloucester's most incredible history is found on this site in detail.

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We cover what no one else will.

 

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Gloucester, VA - Shop Local - Wal Mart Needs More Money

English: A Bank of America Banking Center at Porter Ranch Town Center, a shopping center in Porter Ranch. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Big Lots (Photo credit: kenteegardin)

English: simulated Wal-Mart logo (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Rite Aid (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Old Ruby Tuesday logo and slogan (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

Photo from the Gloucester Main Street Association.

The Gloucester Main Street Association decided to send us their Shop Local campaign ad to show us what they think are the benefits they are selling.  Shop local, Wal-Mart, Food Lion, Rite Aid, Ollie's, Lowe's, Home Depot, Big Lots, Tractor Supply, Applebee's, Ruby Tuesday's, Bank of America, Sun Trust, these are all local businesses right?  These businesses have local employees right?  They get paychecks don't they?

  If the employees get paychecks, the buck stays here if they pay local bills, isn't that correct?  We can go on and on with local/national businesses that all contribute to the community.  That's the issue here that these people just do not get.  That is if they really want to get it.

Again we will show the poster that shows benefits for shopping local.  You want to show why shopping local makes a difference.  Slogans are all fine and dandy when used properly.  The slogans are not being used properly.  We just showed that above.  

  If we are shopping for the best price on a new LED LCD TV with 3D, We are going to go local in Williamsburg or Newport News.  Not Gloucester.  The selection isn't here.  Wal Mart may have 2 TV's in stock that meet our criteria. In Newport News, we can find a multitude of selections at a number of stores.  It's still local for us.  It has not left Virginia.  Define local.  The GMSA is supposed to be promoting the businesses on Main Street right?  You wouldn't know it with their campaigns.

  Live Local?  As opposed to where?  Are we trying to kick out the tourists?  What message are we sending to the tourists with Shop Local?  Go back home and buy your stuff there instead?  Bank local.  What?  No Internet banking?  You can't get more local than your own home computer.  Anyone have any other great ideas to waste money on?  We just keep falling on the floor laughing very hard at the sheer lunacy of this entire farce.  

  How about fly local.  Instead of flying out of some major airport on a major airline, hire a local pilot to fly you to Japan.  Golf local.  Vacation local.  Take in a major Broadway show local?  What about local wine?  Gloucester has some great vineyards.  Drink local.  Bike local.  Gloucester has some of the best bike paths in the nation.  In fact, we are world leaders here.  Go to our local amusement parks?

 Here's a photo of Gloucester's very own world class amusement park.  Future plans may include broken glass, sharp metal objects and rusty nails.  

Yeah boy, keep it local.  Die local too we would suppose.  

What is supposed to be the idea behind shop local is to get customers into local businesses and not the big box national chains isn't it?  Is that being conveyed anywhere?  No!  Another question.  Is anyone going to be checking ID's at the local stores to make sure that only local people get the local discounts?  Where is the list of local retailers that are participating in the Shop Local campaign?  

  The GMSA does not have a list.  Instead they say see local Main Street businesses for special discounts.  Is the Gloucester County government offering any discounts?  10% off your tax bill today only?  Free park access passes to area parks that are already free?  Free glass of water when you pay your water bill?  Get out of jail free if you get busted today?  (April 27th, 2013).  

  WHERE ARE THE BENEFITS!  Why should we waste our valuable time?  Is the GMSA getting the message yet?  How hard would it have been to put together a list of participating businesses and maybe even include what the discounts might be?  But then they would have to actually care about local businesses.  Quick, everyone run to the GMSA to sign up for all of these great benefits and pay out the nose for that membership.  You too can be included in all of these fantastic concepts that waste your money?  

Be sure to visit this shop while you are in the Main Street area.  They are offering free window tours.  

  In all seriousness, Gloucester Main Street has some very fine places to shop.  Olivia's is a wonderful place to eat as is the Wild Rabbit Cafe.  Kelsick market has a great wine and beer selection as well as wonderful foods.  We have heard that the bakery in the area is also wonderful.  It's more than worth your time to hit these shops and don't wait for the Shop Local campaign to kick in to do so.  Anna's has Gloucester's best Pizza hands down.  The library is worth a visit and so is the Gloucester Museum of History.  We can not forget Rosemary and Wine either.  Well worth a visit when you are hungry.  

  It's worth your time to once again explore Main Street for a few hours.  The sidewalks are a serious joke especially with the light poles in the middle of them, but do not let that discourage you.  Parking is also a mess, but again, well worth your time to find a good spot.  We would love to see a good solid campaign done for the area businesses.  Just don't look for it to come out of the GMSA.  The area needs one solid business leader to take a leadership role in the area and actually do what has to be done.  It's not that hard or that expensive.  Time consuming yes.  But not at all hard.

 

  It has to be making area businesses sick with all the poor planning yet all the money poured into this joke of Shop Local that was not in the least well executed.  Can the businesses get their money back?

  It is our best wishes that local area businesses do get benefits from this.  We are sure that the GMSA will have an article in the paper claiming it was a huge success.  It's not in their best interest not to.  If you are one of the local businesses participating in this campaign and do not see a benefit, let the paper know about it.  They might even report it.  Maybe.

Free MP3 Download.  Don Ward - Clear Blue Now is the track.  CC Lic 3.0

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B5NJpRCvjyV8Ulo0UFVEaldZYUE/edit?usp=sharing

For all the latest news, please click on the Home button towards the top of this site.

Have a news story? Submit it above.

Some of Gloucester's most incredible history is found on this site in detail.

Gloucester, VA Links and News – A GVLN Website.

We cover what no one else will.

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