Elizabeth Geris | Smoked out

AFP

“Thank you for not breathing while I smoke,” read a ceramic plaque that hung conspicuously on a childhood friend’s kitchen wall. Even to this day, I can’t help but chuckle when I close my eyes and see this quip, not so much because of what it says, but because of who posted her message for…

Tom Perriello | Report from Capitol Hill

AFP

With the economy in crisis and 16,500 Americans losing their jobs each day, Congress acted rapidly, transparently and responsibly to pass an economic recovery package for American families. The bill is not perfect and may yet be improved, but it is a reasonable and decisive step out of economic chaos. I voted for H.R. 1,…

David Cox | Thinking strategically

David Cox

Our legislators are back at it in Richmond. A couple of weeks into a session that, everyone knows, has got to tackle some excruciating budgetary problems, they seem — as so often — to have produced more heat than light. I often wonder what they’re thinking. Especially when someone comes up with a good, if…

The AFP Blog – Weekend of Jan. 30-Feb. 1, 2009

Chris Graham

– Singletary’s #44 to be retired, Saturday, 7:10 p.m. – President Obama’s weekly address, Saturday, 8:04 a.m. – Gannett, Media General slump deepens, Friday, 12:55 p.m. – Free-speech organizations offer support to Gloucester 40, Friday, 12:55 p.m. – Statement from Council of Economic Advisors chair Christina Romer on the fourth quarter 2008 advance GDP estimate,…

The AFP Blog – Thursday, Jan. 29, 2009

Chris Graham

– Unemployment in Waynesboro at 7.9 percent, 8:05 p.m. – Moran releases Green Virginia plan, 12:50 p.m. – ACLU says bills would violate religious freedoms, 12:50 p.m. – President Obama on the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Restoration Act bill signing, 10:37 a.m. – More feel good about direction of country, 9:08 a.m. – State issues…

Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can be quite deadly

Chris Graham

It’s just words, isn’t it? “That’s so gay.” “He’s gay.” “She’s a lesbian.” Kids say them, they don’t mean anything. Pay attention, and you can still hear the crowd singing “The Good Ol’ Song,” to the tune of “Auld Lang Syne,” after a touchdown at a University of Virginia football game. “We Come from Old…

The AFP Blog – Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2009

Chris Graham

Tom Perriello statement on House passage of stimulus package, 6:54 p.m. Remarks by President Obama after meeting with Secretary of Defense, Joint Chiefs, 6:17 p.m. Norfolk, Roanoke papers force employees to furlough, 6:13 p.m. South Korean students to visit Presidential Library, 6:07 p.m. Motorists should expect lane closure tonight on I-81, 3:23 p.m. Airfares highest…

Carly at the Movies | Desperation down the road, plus Harvey’s last chance

Carl Larsen

In 1854, Henry David Thoreau observed that the mass of men live lives of quiet desperation. Whether he was right or wrong, we’ve certainly made tons of movies with that same quiet desperation as an underlying theme. “Revolutionary Road,” nominated for a trio of Oscars and still playing at the Regal Harrisonburg 14, is set…

Retired General

Chris Graham

He didn’t have to say much more. “My priority is my wife,” Jim Critzer told me when I asked him about his decision to sell the Waynesboro Generals, which he had almost singlehandedly saved from oblivion a decade ago, back when it looked like the Valley League original might be moved out of town.