Pink Panther - At The Supermarket - Classic Cartoons

Pink Panther at the Supermarket.  Classic cartoons every Saturday right here in GVLN.

The Pink Panther Show was one of many Saturday morning cartoon shows that utilized a laugh track. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Mr Magoo - William Tell Magoo

The Famous Adventures of Mr Magoo.  William Tell Magoo.  Classic Cartoons here on GVLN.

Mr. Magoo and McBarker from What's New Mr. Magoo?. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Butcher's Ballroom, Poetic Pitbull Revolutions - Free MP3 song of the day

Royalty-free music for professional licensing

The Butcher's Ballroom with their song, Poetic Pitbull Revolutions.  Fast, furious and melodic.  Euro style gothic metal with horns.  This is a tune for those with an ear towards gothic metal.  For everyone else, it's something well worth exploring as long as you like it fast paced.  Euro gothic metal has a lot of classical music influence which is what makes it so darn interesting.  Downloads are always free.

Ville Valo. Taken on the Love Metal tour. Norfolk VA, 2003. Ville really has a gothic fog around him all the time -- this wasn't done with photoshop! ;) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Gloucester Pumpkin Porridge - Old Fashioned Recipe

A shot of a pumpkin, focused on its stem. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Peel and slice up as much pumpkin as will produce about eight ounces for each person, and put this into a boiling pot, with two ounces of butter, and a quart of water; set the whole to boil very gently on the fire, until the pumpkin is reduced to a pulp, and then add half-a-pint of buttermilk, or skim milk, to every person who is to partake of the porridge. You then stir the porridge over the fire for about fifteen minutes longer, taking care that it does not boil over; season with salt and a little nutmeg, and eat it with toasted bread for breakfast, or any other meal.

Make something extraordinary tonight.
 

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James Armistead, American Revolutionary Double Agent Spy

Liberty's Kids episode number 35, James Armistead.  The first double agent spy of the American Revolution under the command of General Lafayette.

After getting consent of his master, he volunteered in 1781 to join the army under General Lafayette. He was stationed as a spy. First he spied on Brigadier General Benedict Arnold (by this time, Arnold had defected from the American Continental Army to lead British forces). After Arnold departed north in the spring of 1781, James went to the camp of Lord Cornwallis. He relayed much information about the British plans for troop deployment and about their arms. The intelligence reports from his espionage were instrumental in helping to defeat the British during the Battle of Yorktown.

While pretending to be a British spy, Armistead gained the confidence of General Benedict Arnold and General Cornwallis. Arnold was so convinced of Armistead's pose as a runaway slave that he used him to guide British troops through local roads. Armistead often traveled between camps, spying on British officers, who spoke openly about their strategies in front of him. Armistead documented this information in written reports, delivered them to other American spies, and then returned to General Cornwallis's camp.

Although Virginia passed a manumission act in 1782 allowing for the freedom of any slave by his or her owner, James remained the property of William Armistead. (A 1783 law targeted specifically at freeing slaves whose owners had used them as substitutes for army service in exchange for their liberty did not apply to James). However, in 1786, with the support of William Armistead (then a member of the House of Delegates) and carrying a 1784 testimonial of his service from the Marquis de Lafayette, James petitioned the Virginia Assembly for his freedom. (The facsimile of the letter of commendation can be viewed on the Lafayette College website.[2]). On January 9, 1787, the Virginia Assembly granted James' petition. At that time he chose to add "Armistead" and "Lafayette" to his name, to honor the general.[3]

He continued to live in New Kent County with his new wife, one son and several other children. He became a farmer and at one point owned three slaves.[4]By 1818 he applied to the state legislature for financial aid. He was granted $60 for present relief and $40 annual pension for his services in the Revolutionary War.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Armistead  Source information link.

Gloucester, VA - Question To Officials, Where Is The Money? Over 14 Million Vanished?

Based on the recent Gloucester Board of Supervisor's meeting this past Tuesday evening, August 6th, 2013, the Board gave to the public the following information that raises a great deal of very serious questions that every single taxpayer in this county should demand be answered right away.  Why?  Because based on what the Gloucester County, Virginia Board of Supervisor's told us, there is a great deal of money not accounted for.  To the tune of multi millions.  Let's go over their own information that they told all of us and made very public.

Based on county population and real estate taxes;

$400,000.00
income per penny of tax rate  (How much one penny of tax dollars are worth)

65 cents
tax rate for real estate,  (Present amount we are taxed)
$26,000,000.00  (What is expected to be collected in one year).

2
number of times taxes collected per year (Taxes are owed every 6 months).
$13,000,000.00
0.8
assume 80 percent collection, (Allowing for a 20% not collected in owed payments).
$10,400,000.00  (What has probably been collected in the month of June).

$12,000,000.00
Page insurance money, (Should be held in account)

$22,400,000.00   (What the local treasury should be showing on hand)

money that should be in account
? Personal property tax June
? other income water etc

$7,500,000.00
money in Gloucester CD Account,  (General Fund of Gloucester, County).

? misc money in bank account

$14,900,000.00  (What should be showing on top of the 7.5 million dollars).

Where is this money?

All of the above is the very simple math that Gloucester County officials gave everyone during the recent public hearing of the Board of Supervisor's meeting.  Nearly 15 million dollars can not be accounted for?  Voodoo accounting?  Who's pockets is the money lining?  Fair question based on their statements.  Watch the video we have posted on here, that is where all of this information comes from.  We don't make this up.

Is the 17 million dollars in new bond money to cover the missing money?  Again, that is a very fair question.  And if the 17 million in new bonds is to cover the missing $14,900,000.00, why 17 million in new bond money instead of 15 million?  Is another 2 million slated to disappear?

Other very serious questions we have to ask based on that meeting, the school maintenance supervisor stated that schools are in disrepair to the tune of 30 plus years?  The county board of supervisors has been denying money to the school board for how long for basic repairs?

Where is the money going?  Where is all the money?  Millions seem to be disappearing into thin air while taxes continue to go up.  Anyone see any issues here?   Nearly 15 million dollars missing, everyone is allowing these people to borrow another 17 million?

Gloucester County Fiscal Management Needed?

Open Letter to the Citizens of Gloucester County Virginia;

“For the Common Good. “

Once again, I planned to return to the State Constitution today; however, reading several of Mr Thompson’s stories over the weekend and watching the Supervisors meeting Tuesday night I must deviate from my plan.

For all future meetings I recommend you get two minister to pray for you. Financial Stewardship appears to be totally unheard of by the Board of Supervisors. Let me count the ways.

1. County employees use government vehicles for personal use in violation of state and local ordnance. What is being done besides buying more gas for them?
2. You voted to give the School Board $5 million dollars for maintenance and repair after forming a committee to determine what repairs are needed and you determined a $4.5 million need. Who is responsible for the $.5 million? More trips to Hardees?
3. County records show you have $7.5 million in CDs. This a general fund as you referred to it for all county money; a Gazette Journal story said there is $12 million from insurance for the school plus all the taxes just collected. There appears to be at least $4.5 million missing? I could be wrong the calculator on my computer may make mistakes.

I know shopping with other peoples money is fun for you otherwise you would not have found it so easy to vote to give the schools money that there is no stated requirement. In the Federal government gold plating requirements gets people sent to jail. Maybe this can be looked into while the State is investigating your activities?

I can see why you are willing to run all over people when the local paper refuses to investigate and report what is going on. As quoted from Mr. Thompson’s web site “We heard back from one person at the Gloucester Mathews Gazette Journal who informed us of the following, 'stopping by hardees is a de minimus errand'.  “ Based on this logic (this for example only I do not recommend nor condone stealing) I can get a copy of the Gazette Journal free it is of limited value and not worth getting bothered about right? How about everyone in the county doing the same every week? How long would you stay in business if we did this every week?

I have question for the Gazette Journal, I know I should go to Sunday School and Church every Sunday, I missed the week where they taught de minimus errand can you tell me what book, chapter and verse of the Bible this is from?

We need to hold the supervisors accountable for their actions and make sure the ones voted in this fall do not follow this irresponsible financial stewardship. Maybe you can get the supervisors to tell you why we are building a school in the swamp and in the same meeting talk about closing other schools.

With the Supervisors vote Tuesday we will get a new Monument to Stupidity built in the swamp.

I am not a lawyer, but have questions that are not being answered.

“For the Common Good. “

Sincerely, Alexander James Jay

Gloucester Housing To Dramatically Change In Near Future?

Obama administration using housing department to compel diversity in

neighborhoods;

In a move some claim is tantamount to social engineering, the
Department of Housing and Urban Development is imposing a new rule
that would allow the feds to track diversity in America’s
neighborhoods and then push policies to change those it deems
discriminatory.

The policy is called, "Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing." It will
require HUD to gather data on segregation and discrimination in every
single neighborhood and try to remedy it.

HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan unveiled the federal rule at the NAACP
convention in July.

"Unfortunately, in too many of our hardest hit communities, no matter
how hard a child or her parents work, the life chances of that child,
even her lifespan, is determined by the zip code she grows up in. This
is simply wrong,” he said.

Data from this discrimination database would be used with zoning laws,
housing finance policy, infrastructure planning and transportation to
alleviate alleged discrimination and segregation.

Specifics of the proposed rule are lacking. Now published in the
Federal Register and undergoing a 60-day comment period, the rule,
"does not prescribe or enforce specific” policies.

But one critic says it smacks of utopian idealism.

"This is just the latest of a series of attempts by HUD to social
engineer the American people," said Ed Pinto, of the American
Enterprise Institute. "It started with public housing and urban
renewal, which failed spectacularly back in the 50's and 60's. They
tried it again in the 90's when they wanted to transform house
finance, do away with down payments, and the result was millions of
foreclosures and financial collapse.”

Some fear the rule will open the floodgates to lawsuits by HUD -- a
weapon the department has already used in places like Westchester
County, N.Y., where mayors and attorneys representing several towns,
like Cortlandt, are writing HUD to protest burdensome fair housing
mandates that go far beyond those agreed to in a 2009 settlement with
HUD.

One letter written by Cortlandt town attorney Thomas Wood expresses a
common dilemma.

"Cordlandt is mostly residential and has only a few vacant parcels
that could be developed for commercial use," he writes. "In order to
stabilize the tax base amongst the most affordable in Westchester
County, the Town Board needs to encourage the development of
commercial property for commercial use."

Rob Astorino, the Westchester County Executive recently said, "What
they are trying to do is to say discrimination and zoning is the same
thing. They are not. Discrimination won't be tolerated. I won't
tolerate it. Zoning though, protects what can and can't be built in a
neighborhood."

Also troublesome to critics is that the HUD secretary, in announcing
this proposed rule, blamed poverty on zip codes – rather than other
socio-economic factors that studies have shown contribute to poverty.

 http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/08/08/obama-administration-using-housing-department-to-compel-diversity-in/#ixzz2bNquBcXK  Link back to original story.

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Governor Bob McDonnell Announces New $31 Million Investment in Clean Water

English: The state seal of Virginia. Српски / Srpski: Застава америчке савезне државе Вирџиније. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Deposit to Water Quality Improvement Fund Result of Fourth Straight Surplus During McDonnell Administration

Total investment in Water Quality During Administration Exceeds $430 million

RICHMOND – Just prior to embarking on the first day of his “This Commonwealth of Opportunity” statewide tour, Governor Bob McDonnell announced this morning that a new deposit of over $31 million will be made to the Commonwealth’s Water Quality Improvement Fund (WQIF) as a portion of the most recent budget surplus, the fourth in the four years of the McDonnell administration.  The total amount that will be deposited to the WQIF during the Governor’s term is more than $218 million, with a cumulative investment in all water quality programs now reaching $430 million over the last three and a half years. The governor will announce Virginia’s total surplus amount and discuss the uses of the funds at his annual fiscal presentation to the Virginia General Assembly money committees on August 19^th.

            Speaking about the new funding for clean water, Governor Bob McDonnell stated, “Over the course of our administration, we have made a strong commitment to improving the health of Virginia’s waterways and the Chesapeake Bay.  Together with the General Assembly, we have invested hundreds of millions of dollars to this end and the citizens of Virginia are enjoying cleaner water as a result. Clean water and environmental conservation are crucial to a strong economy and robust private-sector job creation.”

            In addition to the deposit to the WQIF, the 2013 General Assembly supported the Governor’s $221 million water quality bond fund to improve wastewater treatment plants across the state, combined sewer overflows, a drinking water facility, and to fund a new urban stormwater investment program.  These monies are currently available for critically needed infrastructure improvements.

            “We commend and thank Governor McDonnell and the members of the General Assembly for their leadership and continued stewardship of our critical water resources.  The bond funding represents a huge victory for the James River and will help improve long-term water quality as well as the health of local streams and creeks,” said Bill Street, Chief Executive Officer of the James River Association. “The additional funds announced today will help even more.”

            The water quality bond fund includes $101 million to support projects in roughly 30 localities across the state for upgrades to wastewater treatment, and $35 million for a new stormwater grant program for localities.

            “Due to strategic investments and smart state policies, Virginia is shining brightly in the Chesapeake Bay cleanup,” according to Chris Pomeroy, who represents the Virginia Association of Municipal Wastewater Agencies and the Virginia Municipal Stormwater Association.  “Our local agency members will build on the significant achievements they have already made to clean wastewater to higher levels and remove more stormwater pollutants as a result of the Commonwealth investing $101 million in treatment plant upgrades this year and launching the Stormwater Local Assistance Fund with $35 million.”

            As part of the bond fund, the City of Richmond will receive $45 million and Lynchburg will receive $30 million for improvements to their Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) facilities.  The Hopewell Wastewater Treatment Authority will receive $5 million for upgrades to its waste water treatment plant and the Appomattox River Water Authority will receive $5 million for upgrades.

            “We are grateful to the Governor and the General Assembly for this investment in improvements for our combined sewer overflow,” Richmond Mayor Dwight Jones stated.  “This funding will help us complete the next phase of work and to continue to do our part to improve the health of the James River.”

            The Mayor of Lynchburg, Michael Gillette said, “The City of Lynchburg is extremely pleased to accept the $30 million grant from the Commonwealth and appreciates the support of the Governor and General Assembly.  It will fund up to half of the City’s revised Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) program.  This along with the City's contribution will greatly accelerate the completion of this important program ultimately leading to the achievement of water quality goals.”

            Deposits to the WQIF, the clean water bond, general fund appropriations, and deposits from the recordation tax will all add up to over $430 million in state support for clean water programs during the McDonnell administration.

            In addition to these significant monetary investments, there have been some major accomplishments in improving the overall health of the Bay during Governor McDonnell’s tenure. 

·         Approval of Virginia’s Phase I and II Watershed Implementation Plan (WIP) by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

·         Legislation passed removing phosphorus from usable fertilizer beginning December 31, 2013.

·         Exceeding the 2011 EPA Pollution reduction milestone goals for wastewater treatment plants by 2,000 percent which exceeds 2013 nitrogen reduction goals by more than 680,000 pounds.

·         Receiving the EPA’s “Biggest Loser Award” for reducing non-point source nitrogen pollution more than any other state in Region 3.

·         The highest blue crab population that Virginia has experienced in twenty years in 2012, along with a historic comeback of the oyster population, with the highest harvest numbers seen since 1989.

·         Legislation expanding the nutrient credit exchange program, a key tool in meeting and maintaining water quality in the Bay.

            “Virginia has been a leader in pollution reduction activities,” said Anthony Moore, Deputy Secretary of Natural Resources.  “We have won awards from EPA and are consistently exceeding pollution reduction goals set out in the Watershed Implementation Plan.”