Ewert, Weed Debate

Fifth Congressional District Democratic candidates Bern Ewert and Al Weed faced off in their first debate on Saturday, taking an hour and a half to answer questions on Southside job growth, the minimum wage, and the war in Iraq, among other things. The Charlottesville Podcasting Network recorded the event, and provides a podcast of the debate.

JMRL Has a New Bookmobile

BookmobileThe Jefferson Madison Regional Library recently unveiled their new bookmobile, and it’s pretty cool. The rundown old one was replaced with the $180,000 28′ vehicle in order to be totally accessible to the physically disabled, carry more books and — this is the totally awesome part — provide satellite-based internet access. It visits 49 stops around Albemarle, serving as the home library to 1,000 people.

Air America in C’ville

Saga Communications subsidiary Charlotteville Radio Group, who recently bought WINA from Eure Communications, has launched a liberal radio station, David Hendrick reports in today’s Progress. WINA’s talk programming is politically conservative to the point of consternation to C’ville’s famously liberal citizens, so the establishment of an Air America affiliate in town will no doubt be welcomed by many. It’s on air now, at WVAX 1450.

Me, I have no patience for any of these shows. Whether Bill O’Reilly or Randi Rhodes, it’s just not much fun to listen to people so rabid.

Pizza-Delivery Debate Continues

Nearly a year after the kerfuffle over pizza delivery no-fly zones first emerged, it carries on, writes Brian McKenzie in a recent Daily Progress. Papa John’s and Domino’s still restrict delivery to any neighborhood in which their drivers have been robbed, presumably because drivers won’t go there. That means Westhaven, Friendship Court, Wilton Farms, Blue Ridge Commons, and the odd fraternity can’t get a hot pie shipped to their door, and that’s got some people mad. Or, rather, couldn’t — after some safety improvements at Friendship Court, Domino’s will deliver there again. That’s not good enough for some, with Councilor Blake Caravati “on the edge of saying it’s racist,” and Eugene Williams advocating “that the city government should get involved.”

I like both Mr. Caravati and Mr. Williams, but somehow I can’t envision either of them choosing to don the uniform and deliver pizzas to these neighborhoods every night. It’s not a great job in the first place; why make danger mandatory?

Local Channels on DirecTV?

Tired of not getting TV reception on the north slope of the Southwest Mountains, my wife and I recently got DirecTV. We were surprised to discover that the channels that we really wanted — NBC, PBS, and Fox — weren’t provided. Neither were ABC or CBS. Due to crappy federal legislation, we need to pay $1.50/channel to get these stations, though only after being granted permission to get them. Apparently, DirecTV has to ask NBC 29 and Fox 27 if they’ll let me get NBC and Fox out of New York or L.A. The stations have the right to say “no,” and I’m told that there’s nothing that I can do about it. The process takes about 45 days.

Surely others in the area have dealt with this. There’s no way for me to get local stations? Is there any way that I can accelerate the process of getting these stations from NYC or L.A., or at least be assured that I’ll get my permission slip?

Sideblog