‘Giving up’ is not always sweet surrender

Bishop’s Mantle column by Jim Bishop

No one promised me a rose garden, but man, plowing this early spring ground is hard work.

Some weeks ago, I made the “mistake” of declaring, via this column, my intention to give up chocolate – one of my “favorite things” – and desserts in general for Lent. This commitment, which officially began Ash Wednesday, Feb. 21, grew out of a desire to practice more self-discipline and experience some personal renewal as part of my journey towards Easter, but also tied into a New Year’s resolution to lose 10 pounds by Easter time. Read more

Earl Hamner blows me away

Stop the Presses column by Chris Graham

“Hi, Chris. I am out most of the day, but will find you somehow. Reception, maybe? Earl H.”

This was what greeted me to the Festival of the Book over in Charlottesville the other day.

A handwritten note on a cocktail napkin – from Earl Hamner, whom I had interviewed back in November for a story in the inaugural print edition of The New Dominion. Read more

Easter movies vs. Passover films: Six of one, half-dozen of the other

Carly at the Movies column by Carl Larsen

A couple of important religious holidays are popping up next week, so naturally the Hollywood floodgates will open and your TV will be inundated with spiritual films galore.

Dozens of films have been made about the Jews’ exodus from Egypt, and just as many about the crucifixion of Jesus. Which to watch? Here’s my choice for the top six of one and half-dozen of the other: Read more

Smucker family faces wait and a weight, part two

Bishop’s Mantle column by Jim Bishop

Dave and Shari Smucker were stymied.

Nearly three years had passed, and it didn’t appear hopeful that Aaron, now 3 years old, would ever join their family in Harrisonburg. The couple had made several visits to the youngster’s home in Guatemala, and each time, some technicality prevented them from returning with Aaron in tow. Read more

The Gathering of Eagles

Column by Max Friedman

On March 17, I witnessed a phenomenon that I had been praying for, for over 30 years, that of the political arising of the Vietnam veteran. Despite earlier “salutes” to our servicemen and women in the past, there was never a real gathering of like-minded people who were going to say to American, “No More!” Read more

HBO rides to the rescue with ‘Longford’

Carly at the Movies column by Carl Larsen

A huge nor’easter blew in from the west on Friday, covering our little house on the prairie with booty-high drifts of snow and effectively canceling our weekly pilgrimage to the local cinema palace.

Sadly, I turned to the TV set, hoping against hope that there’d be something fun to watch amongst the 10,000 different channels available. Read more

Sayre gets VCAP endorsement

Column by Chris Graham

Scott Sayre will need to get the backing of grassroots conservatives for his bid to unseat 24th District state senator Emmett Hanger to be successful.

He picked up the endorsement of the cash- and member-rich Virginia Conservative Action PAC today – leading to the obvious question.

Should Sen. Hanger be worried? Read more

Family encounters – wait and weight

Bishop’s Mantle column by Jim Bishop

The past four years, Dave and Sheri Smucker of Harrisonburg have had numerous hands-on lessons in learning to wait … and waiting some more.

Their amazing odyssey includes two adoptions, a near-death experience and several minor miracles – if one believes that certain experiences defy rational explanation. Read more

Parade and other stupid items

Column by Max Friedman

Every once in a while, I like to update some of my columns so that the reader can see if I was right in my commentary, accurate in my facts, properly observant of events, and, on occasion, prophetic (I’ve been running for the position of “prophet” for years, but despite my accurate calls about some future events, I haven’t quite yet gathered enough supporters to form even a cult, or as they call it every four years, a presidential political campaign). Read more

Don’t judge a Brooks by his cover

Bishop’s Mantle column by Jim Bishop

“My love is higher than a mission bell,

Deeper than a wishing well,

Stronger than a magic spell

My love, for you . . .”

- Donnie Brooks

Don McLean’s 1971 anthem, “American Pie,” refers to Feb. 3, 1959 as “The Day the Music Died,” when young pop artists Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and J.P. Richardson, aka “The Big Bopper,” joined that great chorus in the sky. Their chartered single-engine aircraft took off in bad weather from Clear Lake, Iowa, and crashed in a cornfield, claiming the lives of everyone aboard, including pilot Roger Peterson. Read more

Warner for Senate? Not so fast

Column by Chris Graham

I’ve been taking in the speculation about Mark Warner’s next political step – and the notion that Democrats are courting him to run for the United States Senate in 2008.

My take on this is that we’re being a little premature in analyzing that one – given what I think is in the party’s best interests for ‘08, anyway.

Democrats need Mark Warner to run on their national ticket in 2008 – if they have any hope of being able to win electoral votes in the South, that is. Read more

D.C. government at fault in bus deaths

Column by Max Friedman

In the wake of the three deaths of pedestrians, two killed on Feb. 14 and the other on Feb. 17, by D.C. Metro buses while legally crossing the street in the crosswalks (Seventh & Pa. NW) and of an as-yet unknown cause at Congress Street SE, the D.C. government seemed to spring into action like Superman going after bank robbers. Read more

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