| Vollmann Hops Trains, Lives to Tell All
I haven't been on nearly as many trains as William Vollmann. In Riding Toward Everywhere, he writes about a world of violence and addiction by the rails — I've never passed through those junctions. But I have seen the world from a boxcar door, and I do know why — once you've hopped a freight train — it's killing hard to stay away. If you've ever climbed into a cold metal car and felt the wheels ka-chunk into motion, that feeling, all those feelings — the motion and sound and sight of the countryside appearing and disappearing frame by frame — they'll haunt you. And let's face it — trains haunt us anyway, even from a distance. They certainly haunted musicians like Hank Williams, with his "Lonesome Whistle Blow," the Grateful Dead with "Casey Jones," Woodie Guthrie with "New Baby Train," Gladys Knight with the "Midnight Train to Georgia." I hopped my first train with a friend in New England a couple years after college, and my brain has never been the same.
Valentine's Day 'petaways'
Valentine's Day is coming up, but it's not too late plan that romantic getaway you've been dreaming about—and there's no reason why Fido and Fluffy can't come along too. John Clifford of International Travel Management in San Diego, Calif., suggests checking out pet packages offered by some of the country's leading pet-friendly hotel chains if you don't have time to research a romantic hideaway in close proximity to where you live. “Chains such as Kimpton Hotels or W Hotels", specialize in a boutique hotel concept designed to pamper and cater to your every whim, and are renowned for their pet-friendly attitude. Often their pet packages are surprisingly affordable," says Clifford. .
Nonprofits win grants totalin g $46,700
Rochester Area Community Foundation and the Wayne County Community Endowment announce the award of 12 grants to organizations. The grants, which total $46,700, are from a variety of funds established specifically to benefit Wayne County citizens. The checks will be presented to representatives of the organizations at a reception on December 6, 3:45 - 5 p.m. at the Reliant Community Credit Union located at 10 Benton Place in Sodus. Literacy Volunteers of Wayne County will receive $3300. They uses volunteers to help improve the literacy skills of adults. This grant will go towards increasing outreach efforts to increase awareness of this service among Wayne County residents. Scarlet Thread Ministries will get $2500. This grant was sought to support the continued operation of the Mill Street Youth Center in Sodus and the expansion of similar youth services to the Walworth Macedon Youth Project.
McCrory addresses roads forum
Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory, who is running for the Republican gubernatorial nomination, said Monday the state should integrate land-use planning when mapping out its long-term transportation needs. McCrory helped lead Charlotte's push this decade for integrating land-use and public transportation, and said some of those lessons can apply statewide. When the N.C. Department of Transportation widens a rural road, McCrory said it could restrict the number of ways traffic can enter and exit the road. That would cluster business like gas stations and retail at specific interchanges, and would keep traffic moving, he said. McCrory also said the state, when buying land for new roads or to widen existing ones, should acquire enough land for park-and-ride lots and sidewalks.
Nick Robinson's Newslog
A recent YouGov poll for the Telegraph showed for the first time more voters against ID cards than in favour (48% against versus 43% in favour). When the ID scheme was first proposed by the Government in 2003, YouGov found 78% supported it and just 15% were opposed. There can be little doubt that this has followed the loss of discs, laptops and other supposedly secure data. Do not assume, however, that this means that ID cards are being abandoned completely. Ministers say that Tony Blair sold ID cards as good in themselves whereas Gordon Brown wants to stress the problems for which they may be a solution eg illegal immigration, terrorism and checking the identity of public servants in sensitive posts. He may be content to introduce the scheme slowly and at a lower cost believing that the public will slowly come to accept the need and the value of documents which confirm their identity.
Political Insider
Former President Bill Clinton will take center stage on behalf of his wife, Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Hillary Clinton, at Kennesaw State University at 6:30 p.m. Friday, we're told. The appearance was added late today. Bill Clinton is scheduled to attend a gathering of Baptists later Friday evening in Atlanta. He's promised to be non-political before his religious audience. Don't expect that in Kennesaw. Permalink | Comments (9) | Post your comment | Westmoreland backs Romney Thursday, January 31, 2008, 05:23 PM The Atlanta Journal-Constitution In the downpour of endorsements flooding Georgia just days before Tuesday's presidential primary comes news from Rep. Lynn Westmoreland of Grantville that he's backing former Massachusetts Gov.
Determined to be svelte by summer?
If you want to lose weight and shape up before summer, there's still time, nutrition experts say. By Easter, which is March 23, you could drop 5 pounds or more and lose some of your belly fat, which means your pants and jeans would fit better. .
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