Virginia DU'ers - check in if you've never worn black face

NY Times fact checks SOTU speech.

State of the Union Fact Check: What Trump Got Right and Wrong
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/05/us/politics/fact-check-state-of-the-union.html

This is false. Economic growth
This is true. Tariffs on China
This is false. Regulations
This is false. New jobs
This is true. Blue collar wages
This is misleading. All time employment
This is false. El Paso crime
This is misleading. San Diego crossings
This is exaggerated. Caravans
This is exaggerated. USMCA
This is true. ISIS territory
This is misleading. Maduro
There is no evidence. War with North Korea
This is misleading. Abortion NY state
This is false. Abortion Va Governor

What happens to the pre-printed Super Bowl champion gear for the team that loses?

What Happens To The Losing Team's Pre-Printed Super Bowl Championship Shirts? No, They Aren't Destroyed

https://www.bustle.com/p/what-happens-to-the-losing-teams-pre-printed-super-bowl-championship-shirts-no-they-arent-destroyed-8120349

According to a report from Mental Floss, the losing team's merch is donated to those in need overseas. That makes total sense. After all, what these shirts and hats have printed on them is of little to no consequence to people who are desperate for clean articles of clothing.

Good360, a charity organization located in Alexandria, Virginia, has taken the lead on the repurposing the unusable merch. The company's mission is to make giving easy — and they are clearly succeeding it at.

Good360 has been handling the distribution of excess NFL merch since 2015. After the big game, the group is told how much excess product is at its disposal. Then, Good360 decides where, how, and to whom to disperse it.

Previously, an international humanitarian group called World Vision was responsible for the handling of the loser's merch. The company would send the items to those living in poor regions or areas that experienced horrific natural disasters. Mental Floss reports that the Pittsburgh Steelers' losing gear from the 2011 Super Bowl was parsed out to people in Zambia, Armenia, Nicaragua, and Romania.

End of the day NORTHAM. From a Virginian*

A. He should resign
B. He's telling the truth. I do not think there's a dishonest bone in his body. He is as advertised (by all accounts that I've heard) a product of Virginia and a representation of it. An old country doctor.
C. He should resign
D. That was the most elicite example of being a Virginian I've ever seen. Having observed these people (all 6 parts of the Commonwealth) there is this thing in their manner of speaking - it's a slight draw back of air into the back of the top of the throat ...and then they speak. An uneasy calm. Demure in a way. Never forceful no no no, there are rules. The media isn't used to this - the cynicism and snark (which I usually enjoy) thinks he's supposed to play on a grand stage....for them.
E. He should resign.
F. All of the above.

I'm going to work on Monday and if his picture is on the wall, he's my boss. If it's someone else, then they are my boss.

All 42 minutes are here

Why you should root for New England in the Super Bowl

"I'm actually pulling for New England, because if they win a couple of weeks from now finally there will be some Patriots in the White House"

- Bill Maher last night.

1992 - Williamsburg native paints the picture

Not meant as an excuse but Bruce didn't grow up far from where I did or from where Northam had been not too long before.

Eastern Virginia Medical School has issued a statement on its website - internal review.

Statement from President Richard V. Homan, MD, on Feb. 2, 2019

We share the outrage, alarm and sadness voiced by our alumni, the press and many on social media regarding the picture published in the 1984 student yearbook. The picture is shockingly abhorrent and absolutely antithetical to the principles, morals and values we hold and espouse of our educational and research institution and our professions. Racism and discrimination in any form is not acceptable.

We cannot change the events of the past, but we can use these events as reminders of the importance of our ongoing work toward diversity and inclusion. This is a time for self-reflection and humility. On behalf of our beloved EVMS, I sincerely apologize for the past transgressions of your trust. We recognize the need to address and rectify any issues of racism and discrimination that arise, at any point — and will continue a long tradition of action to build a strong culture of diversity and inclusion.

Therefore, I shall convene an urgent meeting of members of our senior leadership and members of our Boards to address this issue holistically for EVMS. We will, of course, include students, residents, faculty, staff, and alumni in this work.

It has been said that those who fail to learn from history are condemned to repeat it. We must learn from this and will come together to support and live the values and principles we hold so dear. We remain steadfast in reassuring our community that EVMS is absolutely committed to supporting and creating a culture of diversity, inclusion and social equality. We continue to affirm the tenets of our professions and our mission to recruit, educate and train a culturally competent healthcare workforce that reflects the demography of our nation and the patients we serve.

Thank you for your tireless work to make EVMS and the communities we serve a better and healthier place. In my seven years at EVMS, I have witnessed the efforts of our outstanding faculty, students and staff to advance our missions. We have much more work to do and must now vow to do more to forge a better future together. I am confident that together, we shall.

https://www.evms.edu/

Virginia Governors can't serve successive terms. Something to keep in mind.

Not to jump ahead BUT... Va Govs can't serve successive terms. Northam May weather this stormed (clearly weakened) but if he doesn't Lt. Gov Fairfax would become Governor.

They can't be elected twice in a row. IF Northam resigns and Fairfax becomes Governor, he has NOT been elected Governor yet. He could serve 6 years especially given how blue Virginia has turned (and the candidates the Va GOP keeps putting up).

Lt. Gov and Attorney General are traditionally stepping stones to a run for Governor. Ex-Govs are "rainmakers" as Larry Sabato calls them. They get immediately hired as lobbyist by large law firms in the state and are set for life.

Just something to keep in mind.

Gov. Northam has released a statement .... but there's more. Not good.

"Earlier today, a website published a photograph of me from my 1984 medical school yearbook in a costume that is clearly racist and offensive. I am deeply sorry for the decision I made to appear as I did in this photo and for the hurt that decision caused then and now. This behavior is not in keeping with who I am today and the values I have fought for throughout my career in the military, in medicine, and in public service. But I want to be clear, I understand how this decision shakes Virginians’ faith in that commitment. I recognize that it will take time and serious effort to heal the damage this conduct has caused. I am ready to do that important work. The first step is to offer my sincerest apology and to state my absolute commitment to living up to the expectations Virginians set for me when they elected me to be their Governor.”

A second photo from Northam’s 1981 Virginia Military Institute has begun being shared online with one of Northam’s nicknames listed as “Coonman.”



http://www.nbc12.com/2019/02/01/picture-northam-yearbook-page-shows-people-blackface-kkk-robe/

Seen on (yes) Facebook- about schools closing because it's cold. ❤️

A different perspective...interesting.

For all those who think that today’s students and teachers aren’t tough enough. This one is for you.

Why School is Cancelled:

School is cancelled because not all kids have parents like you. Today, they say school is cancelled over cold temperatures. You're right, buses can drive in the cold. You're right, teachers can teach in the cold. You're right, lunch attendants can cook in the cold.

However, the real reason school is cancelled is because not all kids have parents like you.
Not all kids get a ride to school, some walk the entire way. Not all kids get to sit in the warm car while they wait on the bus to come to the stop. Not all kids get to stand at the front door and run down the driveway when the bus pulls up. Most importantly, not all kids have coats.

Not all kids have coats because not all kids have parents like you. A parent to harass their kid about wearing thick socks and boots instead of summer sneakers. A parent who will check the weather the night before school to ensure their child wears a raincoat or hood or gloves. A parent who will simply buy their child long sleeves and pants when the weather gets cold. A parent who will tell their kid to put on a coat. A parent who had the resources to provide for their child.

So when you complain about having to find alternative daycare for your child because you think the school administration is just "too lazy" to get out in the cold...remember all the children who are thankful that they don't have to go out...because their parents haven't bought them a coat.

When your child outgrows a coat, hat or gloves, reach out to your local schools and ask if there are kids who don't have these items. I guarantee they will be able to find a home for those clothes.

A little kindness and understanding goes a long way! ❤️

Note: Please stop saying these kids are “soft” or starting stories with “back in my day,” because honestly, back in your day, 2 working parents could afford a house, 2 cars, and appropriate clothes for their kids. The same cannot be said for today, it’s record breaking cold, and being “soft” is that toxic masculinity that we keep talking about, cut it out!