[Credits ToastyKen]
Playboy’s ‘Girls Of ACC’ issue, which includes one UVa student, is on newsstands now. The Hefner crew stopped by last March for our screening, and apparently our little Jenna Arianna (her first and middle names) made the final cut. She is listed as a rather cunning linguist, and we thank her for exactly the exposure Charlottesville needs. (No I’m not joking, I’m completely serious.)
Back in early 2008, we discovered that well over half of you text while driving (even though only about 20% of you do it regularly). Today, thanks to a birdie, we found out that reading or sending texts will be illegal while driving. We have no idea how they will enforce the reading part of that or why you are allowed to read a map, but oh well.
[via NBC29] [pic from inhisgrace/flickr]
Besides doubting the implied security of a widely circulated press release stating that “Virginia Has No Swine Flu” we now claim that we can predict the future by adding “Yet” to any press release claiming something isn’t true. I digress.
Yesterday, Virginia published this press release:
State Health Commissioner Karen Remley, M.D., MBA, said today that the state has received confirmation of its first two H1N1 flu cases, also called swine flu.
The patients are an adult male from eastern Virginia and an adult female from central Virginia. Each had traveled to Mexico, both had mild illnesses and are recovering well, and neither required hospitalization. Neither are students.
Given the size of the state’s population, seasonal travel patterns and the ease with which the flu virus is spread, Dr. Remley said that it is likely there will be additional cases in the Commonwealth.
“Our local health districts are working in close collaboration with their community partners in monitoring developments and providing guidance,” Dr. Remley said. “We remain in contact with clinicians, hospitals, and pharmacists to furnish them with up-to-the-minute care and treatment guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.”
The current H1N1 influenza outbreak is caused by an influenza A virus not previously detected in humans or animals. Symptoms are similar to those of seasonal flu and typically include fever, cough and sore throat. Additional symptoms may include headache, chills and fatigue. Persons with H1N1 flu are contagious for up to seven days after the onset of illness and possibly longer if they are still symptomatic.
So, someone in Central Virginia (Charlottesville?) traveled to Mexico and got swine flu? Maybe jon was right when he said “um … aren’t there like 12 cases at UVA hospital?” but we’ll never know.
[pic from Ben Chau]
Ever wonder what happens when a giant turkey flies through your dorm room window and dies on your bed? Second year University of Virginia student, Piyush Srivastava came home to find a turkey lying dead in his bed. Piyush told the Cavalier Daily that he came home from a weekend at home to find blood and shattered glass were all over his room… and turkey dead in his bed. He was moved to another dorm room while UVA cleaned up the mess.
/You know how badly those hokies wished they went to UVA.
More pictures, courtesy of Piyush, after the break… »Read More
Don’t forget Spring Fest this week. It’s a free concert thrown by UVA on Saturday.
Saturday March 28
1:00pm–7:00pm | Memorial Gym (Nameless Field?)
Live music featuring Sara Bareilles with special guest Grace Potter & the Nocturnals.
Playboy will be visiting the University of Virginia on March 30th and 31st to screen candidates for their annual Girls of the ACC. For more information about registering for the event, visit the Playboy website. If anyone finds out where this is, can you let us know?
The DP reports:
A spokeswoman for Playboy said each woman who auditions will be asked a few questions about her major and activities at school. She will then go into a back room with a photographer, where she will pose in a two-piece swimsuit or lingerie.
“We don’t encourage them to go topless or nude,” said Tina E. Manzo of Playboy. “But if they’re comfortable, of course they can.”
[via DailyProgress]
After just four years of coaching, UVA’s head basketball coach, Dave Leitao has resigned. While his second season performance surprised everyone (11-5 in the ACC), Leitao’s performance over the last few years dissapointed many. In Charlottesville, the reputation of UVA basketball turned into “oh, UVA’s playing. I have great seats, want them? Last week they lost to [name of really small school of midgets].”
Season/Overall/ACC
2005-2006/15-15/7-9
2006-2007/21-11/11-5
2007-2008/17-16/5-11
2008-2009/10-18/4-12
[via NBC 29]
Susan Carkeek, head of U.Va. Human Resources just released word that new postings for non-essential staff positions have been frozen to external candidates. Basically, if need be, candidates for positions will be moved from one department to another internally. Teaching and research faculty postings are exempt to this (but really, they only make up a small portion of the university’s total full time employees). I think this comes as no surprise to most people at the university considering the current academic climate. I think that one can reasonably assume that layoffs and forced retirements may be coming next. The university has repeatedly issued emails stated they plan not to lay off staff, but the emails have become less and less committal to the issue. The official HR line is that forcing retirements of staff that have been here 30+ years would not save the university money, which is hardly true at all. This is a pretty big deal since layoffs have not occurred in any of the financial crises of the last 40 years and U.Va. is the biggest employer in Charlottesville.
The text of the email is as follows:
Dear Colleagues:
I write to you with two pieces of news related to hiring at the University –
one item on new procedures for posting positions, and the other regarding new
employee orientation.First, in order to more closely manage our staffing levels and ensure that only
the most critical positions are filled, only essential positions will be posted.
On the administrative side, Vice Presidents are approving postings; on the
academic side, the EVP/Provost has delegated that responsibility to the deans.
»Read More
Governor Timothy M. Kaine and key leaders in the General Assembly today announced a landmark agreement to pass a statewide smoking ban in Virginia’s bars and restaurants. The legislation will ban smoking in nearly all restaurants across the Commonwealth, allowing narrow exceptions for private clubs and restaurants with a designated smoking room that is physically separated and independently ventilated from non-smoking dining areas.
“The dangers of second-hand smoke are undeniable – that’s why I made a restaurant smoking ban one of my legislative priorities. This legislation will make Virginia’s restaurants safer for both patrons and employees,” Governor Kaine said. “I’m proud to have been able to work with leaders in both parties of the General Assembly to find common ground on this reasonable and necessary public health measure.”
Today’s announcement comes after Governor Kaine worked closely with legislative leaders to craft an agreement acceptable to both parties and both houses.
Virginia House Speaker William Howell also noted the agreement as a step forward for Virginians: “I am pleased to join in announcing a reasonable compromise on an issue important to Virginians,” said Speaker Howell. “The compromise strikes a fair balance between the rights of smokers who choose to enjoy a legal product and the rights of other individuals who want to enjoy a smoke-free environment when eating at a restaurant. This legislation is all about finding opportunities for cooperation and compromise where possible. And, where state leaders can find and share such common ground, we should.”
Second-hand smoke is responsible for an estimated 1,700 deaths per year, according to the Virginia Department of Health. In addition, the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids estimates the Commonwealth spends $113 million a year on health care expenditures related to exposure to second-hand smoke.
To improve the health of Virginia’s employees and minimize health risks in the work place, Governor Kaine signed Executive Order 41 banning smoking in all state buildings and vehicles in October 2006.
The agreement makes Virginia part of a growing list of states around the country that are passing legislation curbing smoking in restaurants. Twenty-three other states and Puerto Rico have already passed bans on smoking indoors at bars and restaurants. Maryland and the District of Columbia passed similar restrictions on smoking in restaurants in 2007 and 2006, respectively.
Video announcement after the break…
