Roanoke-Blacksburg tech corridor and the Millennial factor

By Lynn R. Mitchell

There was a summit over the weekend in Roanoke showcasing the city as Millennnial-friendly and a great place to work and live (see Our View: The young and the restless — and Roanoke):

It’s hardly a news flash that the economy is changing. The Roanoke and New River valleys have a small but interesting base of technology companies to build on, usually ones you’ve never heard of because the products they sell aren’t ones for the general market.

One problem they face, though, is finding enough workers. That’s hardly a Roanoke phenomenon; a recent survey by the Technology Councils of America found that 74 percent of executives at tech companies say they face a labor shortage, with about one-third calling it “significant.” Both those numbers are up from the last survey two years ago.

Spring forward … it’s Daylight Savings Time

By Lynn R. Mitchell

Sunday morning at 2:00 a.m. we spring forward an hour as Daylight Savings Time comes back into play for the spring and summer months. If you forget to set your clocks forward, you will be late to church in the morning.

Lucky for me, the clock in my car is still on Daylight Savings Time so I’m ahead of the game until we have to fall back to Eastern Standard Time on November 1.

 

 

Remembering Karen Carpenter 32 years later

By Lynn R. Mitchell

On this day in 1983, American singer Karen  Carpenter’s voice was silenced when she died of heart failure after battling anorexia. She was 32 (see How Karen Carpenter’s Death Changed the Way We Talk About Anorexia) .

Her voice was  a pure contralto in my singing range. Her music was pure magic and gone far too soon … 32 years ago today.

See also Remembering Karen Carpenter by Joel Samberg (NPR).

‘Don’t give up … don’t ever give up!’

By Lynn R. Mitchell

The Jimmy V Men’s Basketball Classic is being played tonight in Madison Square Garden, a tradition that benefits the “V Foundation” the supports cancer research. It honors the late Coach Jimmy Valvano (1946-1993). Diagnosed with cancer at the age of 46, two months before his death he gave the ESPY speech with the inspirational words, “Don’t give up … don’t ever give up!”

 

Special election set to fill Barbara Comstock’s delegate seat

By Lynn R. Mitchell

When Delegate Barbara Comstock was elected to fill the seat of retiring Congressman Frank Wolf in the 10th District, it left a vacancy in the Virginia House of Delegates. Today the House Speaker William Howell announced a special election to fill the seat:

Home Depot hit with largest ever email, credit, debit card hack

By Lynn R. Mitchell

Home Depot notified customers Saturday that their records had been hacked. In an email to consumers, Home Depot wrote:

Daylight Savings Time ends tonight … clocks fall back an hour

By Lynn R. Mitchell

It’s that time of year again … Daylight Savings Time is over.

Set the clocks back one hour tonight and enjoy an extra sixty minutes of sleep.

‘The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 1’ trailer

By Lynn R. Mitchell

With The Hunger Games’ third book, “Mockingjay,” divided into two movies, here is the trailer for Part 1 that will open in theaters on November 21, 2014. The trilogy continues….

British Prime Minister vows ‘we will destroy ISIS’ after latest beheading

By Lynn R. Mitchell

British Prime Minister David Cameron condemned the beheading death of British aid worker David Haines as an act of ‘pure evil’ in remarks to his nation today (see David Cameron vows to hunt down ‘Jihad John’ after British aid worker is beheaded):

‘David has been murdered in the most callous and brutal way imaginable by an organisation which is the embodiment of evil. We will hunt down those responsible and bring them to justice no matter how long it takes.

Chick-fil-A mourns the loss of founder Truett Cathy

By Lynn R. Mitchell

“I’d like to be remembered as one who kept my priorities in the right order. We live in a changing world, but we need to be reminded that the important things have not changed. I have always encouraged my restaurant operators and team members to give back to the local community. We should be about more than just selling chicken; we should be a part of our customers’ lives and the communities in which we serve.”

–Truett Cathy, founder and chairman emeritis, Chick-fil-A

The news Sunday that Chick-fil-A founder Truett Cathy, 93, was gravely ill was followed in the pre-dawn hours Monday morning that he had passed away.  The company website’s home page is now a memorial to their founder, the man who believed in hard work, Christian principles, and following a dream. Memorial service information is posted at the website.

Show hospitality to strangers

“Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers,
for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.”
— Hebrews 13:2

Remembering Robin Williams: Staunton’s Visualite presents ‘Good Will Hunting’

By Lynn R. Mitchell

One of Staunton’s downtown treasures is the Visualite Theater, and next week they will be screening one of their favorite Robin Williams films, “Good Will Hunting.” They will donate 20 percent of all concession proceeds to the local chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness which provides free local support for families and individuals living with mental illness.

The Visualite is conveniently located on North Augusta Street. The showings will be on Thursday, August 28, at 7:00 and 9:45 p.m., and on Saturday, August 30, at 11:00 a.m. Tickets can be purchased online or at the box office.

No more home delivery update: End of Week 2 with no newspapers

By Lynn R. Mitchell

The letter showed up with the newspaper two weeks ago: no more home delivery would be available for hard copies of the Waynesboro News-Virginian and the Richmond Times-Dispatch (see No more home newspaper delivery). Friends who live just west of us received the same notice of no more home delivery of their Richmond Times-Dispatch and Wall Street Journal.

We live five minutes west of Staunton, not even in the far western reaches of Augusta County. We were offered the choice of mail delivery or online.

Robin Williams: ‘I hope there’s laughter in heaven’

By Lynn R. Mitchell

It’s 26 seconds of video that will make you smile. Can’t you just see Robin Williams in heaven cracking jokes to the angels? He said in this clip that he hoped in heaven there would be laughter (see YouTube video above).

On the other hand, here’s the closing scene from a 1978 episode of “Mork and Mindy” when Mork is giving his report to Orson. Sadly, the subject is loneliness.

Live blogging Warner-Gillespie debate for U.S. Senate

Virginia Bar Association U.S. Senate Debate 2014

10:00 We’re at the Greenbrier Resort in White Sulphur Springs and setting up in preparation for the U.S. Senate debate.  The candidates finished with their walk-throughs in the debate hall and I had the opportunity to say hello to Ed Gillespie in the hallway and wish him luck. Also ran into Tucker Martin, Paul Logan, and Chris Leavitt as well as Tucker Davis who is the 9th District Gillespie campaign staffer.

Paul Logan, ChrisLeavitt, Tucker Davis

Bob Stuart (News Virginian), Tucker Martin, Ed Gillespie

10:45 Room is filling, media here. Rob Longley from Staunton and Bob Brown from Richmond Times-Dispatch.

11:00 We’ve begun. VBA President John Walker III of Richmond is making opening announcements. VBA is a non-partisan organization that offers a format for information purposes and does not endorse any candidates.

Moderator is Judy Woodruff, co-anchor and managing editor of “PBS NewsHour with Gwen Ifill and Judy Woodruff.”

Mr. Walker is introducing Republican candidate Ed Gillespie.

Now introducing Senator Mark Warner.

11:08 Ms. Woodruff is announcing the layout of the debate.

To those who wonder why the Virginia U.S. Senate debate is taking place in West Virginia, the Virginia Bar Association rotates every few years from the Homestead to the Greenbrier.

Ed Gillespie is offering his opening remarks. Parents moved to Ameica; didn’t go to college but insisted that he do so. Worked as a parking lot attendant and worked his way up to work for the President of the United States. He is talking about the economy and how its downfall is the result of the government becoming too big. Mark Warner’s vote in the senate 97% of the time with President Obama has hurt American people. He’s been a blank check for President Obama. He wants to ease the squeeze on hard-working Virginians.

Senator Warner is now offering his opening remarks. Greatest honor of his life to serve the people of Virginia, first as Governor and then Senator. Like Ed, he was the first in his family to attend college. First two businesses failed before he found success. No guarantee but in Ameican everyone has a fair share. Turn deficits into surpluses; in senate he’s tried to bring same approach. Crushing student debt, has worked bipartisan effort. Is critical of Gillespie. Last thing Washington needs is another partisan warrior. We need leaders who are willing to cross party lines.

First question to Warner about his voting record with the president and health care effort.

This debate is live streaming through PBS.