The 3 D’s of security

Chris Graham

Story by Bonnie P. Lofton When Lisa L. Schirch, professor of peacebuilding at Eastern Mennonite University, launched the 3D Security Initiative in November 2006, she had no way of knowing how long it might take for 3D to gain the attention of top decisionmakers in this country. Regardless of the months, years or even decades…

Robertson taking no prisoners in obscenity prosecution

Chris Graham

Story by Chris Graham [email protected] “Inga.” It was the big to-do back in 1968 when it was released in America. “Filmed entirely in Sweden,” a snapshot on movietime.com relates, “‘Inga’ brims with a European sensuality and eroticism that shocked American audiences upon its release in 1968.” That about sums it up right there, doesn’t it?…

Caged fury: Inside the rough and ready world of MMA

Chris Graham

Story by Chris Graham [email protected] Amid a backdrop of men of various sizes and numbers of tattoos alternatively kicking and punching the air and occasionally a trainer wielding oversized protective gloves, the almost preternatural calm of Tyler Moyer stood out to me. At least what I was reading was calm. I soon found out that…

Reaching out to victims of crisis

Jim Bishop

Story by Jim Bishop Brenda C. Fairweather wanted to respond in some way to a hostage crisis in Russia in which more than 300 civilians eventually lost their lives. On Sept. 1, 2004, terrorists linked to the Chechen independence struggle took more than 1,200 people hostage in a school in the town of Beslan. Shootings…

Toliver’s return overshadowed by near-upset

Chris Graham

Story by Chris Graham [email protected] A funny thing happened on the way to Kristi Toliver’s homecoming victory – and I’m not talking about the two ridiculously petty fouls that she picked up in the first two minutes that planted her on the bench beside Maryland coach Brenda Frese for almost the entirety of the first…

Social conservatives aiming high with legislative goals

Chris Graham

Story by Chris Graham [email protected] Divorce reform, restrictions on abortion and continued funding for abstinence-only sex education. The Family Foundation of Virginia and the Valley Family Forum have a healthy appetite – but whether they can fill their plate in the 2008 Virginia General Assembly remains to be seen given the changes in the composition…