Photographer Richard Davis was successful in his bid for unemployment rights against the Danville Register & Bee. Outright lies by those testifying on behalf of the R&B failed to convince the judge - who, as I was told, also had access to this blog as part of the court proceedings.
Congratulations to Richard - too bad about the paper trail of lies and letters that BURIED the Register & Bee. It's so much easier to TELL THE TRUTH. It will come back to bite you guys....and the bite will be bigger in the EEOC suit....What will really be interesting is seeing if the attorney will choose to pursue FORMER R&B employees separately now that they don't work for the R&B. Will Richard go after them? It means they'll have to pony up legal expenses themselves. So, since this is largely about the PRINCIPLE of the way he was fired, lied about and cheated....Should he go after those who caused him so much head and heart ache?
This is a man who's fed the birds and cats around the Register & Bee for years - long before Media General owned the paper. Yet - Ann Austin threatened him for being in the parking lot feeding a stray cat and the birds as he had done for decades.
Heartless isn't it? When you threaten to call the police on a former employee who's just feeding the stray animals he's always fed? Kind of reminds you of Jerry Gwaltney tearing down the Bluebird houses (illegally I might add). But then again, this is a company who printed the front page story about an alcoholic drink being a "REAL PANTY DROPPER." That's cutting edge news - courtesy of Steve Kaylor. Thanks Steve. What would Danville do without your brilliant news assessment? Perhaps if more reporters were actually sitting THROUGH city council meetings instead of hopping up to go take a picture of a wrecked car in a ditch because wrecks sell more papers - although city council meetings have more impact on the city....we MIGHT support the Danville Rag and Bitch.
Showing posts with label danville register and bee. Show all posts
Showing posts with label danville register and bee. Show all posts
Monday, May 11, 2009
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Consider this -
Of the 149-150 deaths in Mexico that the MEDIA is saying are related to Swine Flu ONLY 20 have been CONFIRMED (through lab tests) to be from Swine Flu. Of the 129 to 130 OTHER cases NOT caused by Swine Flu - the deaths are believed to be from pneumonia!!! OR "OTHER VIRAL ILLNESSES." Huh? So WHY isn't the world all freaked out over the 129-130 PNEUMONIA OR OTHER VIRAL illnesses....but is spazing over 20 Swine Flu deaths? Seems to me that there's something MORE dangerous if it's killing 129-130 people and all they know is "it's viral but it's NOT swine flu."
GET A GRIP PEOPLE. 36,000 people a year EVERY YEAR die from the flu. The flu is a serious illness. It kills. Swine flu IS JUST another version of the flu. PERIOD. Get a grip!! Take the precautions you would normally take and get on with your lives. Most of the people lining up at hospitals and several of those who have died have died from things other than swine flu. One died from tuberculosis!! MUCH more dangerous than the flu and more contagious. This is the media's attempt to stir up newspaper sales.
HIV/AIDS is a pandemic. It kills and infects MILLIONS every year. How come we don't hear more about that? Cancer is about to surpass heart attacks as the number one killer. How come we don't hear more about that? Malaria is a world wide epidemic - killing thousands of people a week and a simple $10 mosquito net would save those lives yet we don't hear about that!! Why not? Because nothing gets people more stirred up and panicked than "a pandemic"!!!!
Seriously. Get over it and LOOK at the numbers. Actually LOOK at the facts. We're all NOT going to die from swine flu.
GET A GRIP PEOPLE. 36,000 people a year EVERY YEAR die from the flu. The flu is a serious illness. It kills. Swine flu IS JUST another version of the flu. PERIOD. Get a grip!! Take the precautions you would normally take and get on with your lives. Most of the people lining up at hospitals and several of those who have died have died from things other than swine flu. One died from tuberculosis!! MUCH more dangerous than the flu and more contagious. This is the media's attempt to stir up newspaper sales.
HIV/AIDS is a pandemic. It kills and infects MILLIONS every year. How come we don't hear more about that? Cancer is about to surpass heart attacks as the number one killer. How come we don't hear more about that? Malaria is a world wide epidemic - killing thousands of people a week and a simple $10 mosquito net would save those lives yet we don't hear about that!! Why not? Because nothing gets people more stirred up and panicked than "a pandemic"!!!!
Seriously. Get over it and LOOK at the numbers. Actually LOOK at the facts. We're all NOT going to die from swine flu.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Swine flu panic is STUPID and BOGUS....
Congressman Ron Paul talked about getting a handle on Swine flu. He's right. The media is doing its usual panic and freak out coverage on the government's attempt to divert our attention away from other stuff. Odd that this swine flu thing happened as the military had a 747 and two fighter jets fly over Manhattan today isn't it? Anyway, it's DR. Ron Paul - he's not only a congressman, but a medical doctor - actually a fight surgeon for the military at one time. Watch this and quit yer freaking over the media's hype about swine flu. As Ron Paul said - the last time this happened ONE PERSON died from the flu - MORE THAN TWENTY-FIVE PEOPLE DIED FROM THE VACCINE!! Expect the Register and Bee to get their panties in a wad and talk to doctors around town about the SERIOUSNESS of it, but don't expect a commonsense approach like Ron Paul has. THAT won't sell newspapers.
Monday, April 20, 2009
No Rugby coverage?
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Tradition means players "bare all" and run the field naked as they did in Danville this weekend. Photos courtesy of Richard Davis, FORMER Register & Bee photographer
DANVILLE - Over 600 MBA students from around the world gathered in Durham, NC and in Angler's Park, Danville,Va. for the 29th annual MBA Rugby World Championship this past weekend. Teams from as far away as Sydney,Australia (AGSM) and Fontainebleau,France(INSEAD) were in town for this years tournament. As part of the tradition, those who score the first goal have to run the field naked ... too bad for Media General reporters, the tradition doesn't apply to the women's teams.
The annual wine festival and several other events took place around the city - but the newspaper was filled with Associated Press accounts of anything but Danville news. Apparently Steve Kaylor, who claims to have been a reporter at one time, isn't able to spend time pitching in to help cover the news front until the paper can bring in another reporter or two...although I understand with half of the reporters on forced, unpaid furlough - only Robert Benson, the editor, and Charles, the assistant editor - not ever a reporter - had to cover all of Danville.
Another Lay-off scheduled
Apparently the blood-letting isn't entirely over. Look for the Register and Bee to cut services even more this week or next when they reduce the front desk hours.
Major newspapers around the country are folding. It's just a matter of time until Media General follows suit. The question most folks have is why cut 30 little people - the ones who actually DO THE WORK, instead of cutting the $200,000 and $300,000 salaries of the big dogs in Richmond who weren't tech and media savvy enough to figure out how to make papers make money without advertising? By 2012 there will not be a major newspaper printed on paper.
The newspaper industry as we know it will have ceased to exist. The internet is changing the world we live in and the way we do business. When is Media General going to get on board and quit longing for the good old glory days? Answer? Never. They didn't even know enough to apologize to the women of Danville OR THE WOMAN their reporter filmed.....it's too late in the game for them to do anything but sit back and wait for the final axe.
Major newspapers around the country are folding. It's just a matter of time until Media General follows suit. The question most folks have is why cut 30 little people - the ones who actually DO THE WORK, instead of cutting the $200,000 and $300,000 salaries of the big dogs in Richmond who weren't tech and media savvy enough to figure out how to make papers make money without advertising? By 2012 there will not be a major newspaper printed on paper.
The newspaper industry as we know it will have ceased to exist. The internet is changing the world we live in and the way we do business. When is Media General going to get on board and quit longing for the good old glory days? Answer? Never. They didn't even know enough to apologize to the women of Danville OR THE WOMAN their reporter filmed.....it's too late in the game for them to do anything but sit back and wait for the final axe.
Losing Money
Media General Inc is still losing money. The company reported a huge net loss on Friday - an 18 percent drop in revenue. Reason? Falling newspaper advertising sales. The fall sent shares down 12 percent.
The publisher of newspapers such as the Richmond Times-Dispatch and Tampa Tribune said its first-quarter net loss was $21.3 million, or 96 cents a share, compared with a loss of $20.3 million, or 92 cents a share, a year earlier. Revenue fell 18 percent to $159.5 million.
Publishing revenue fell on a 25 percent drop in ad revenue.
Excluding employee severance costs, Media General's loss would have been 77 cents a share. Few analysts offered estimates on the company, making an average expectation difficult to project.
Media General cut 300 jobs and suspended its dividends and has said it would freeze its pension plan, effective May 31.
Shares fell 35 cents to $2.62.
The publisher of newspapers such as the Richmond Times-Dispatch and Tampa Tribune said its first-quarter net loss was $21.3 million, or 96 cents a share, compared with a loss of $20.3 million, or 92 cents a share, a year earlier. Revenue fell 18 percent to $159.5 million.
Publishing revenue fell on a 25 percent drop in ad revenue.
Excluding employee severance costs, Media General's loss would have been 77 cents a share. Few analysts offered estimates on the company, making an average expectation difficult to project.
Media General cut 300 jobs and suspended its dividends and has said it would freeze its pension plan, effective May 31.
Shares fell 35 cents to $2.62.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Steve Kaylor
Someone asked what Steve Kaylor is doing these days - what he's up to. Our readers responded and sent me a photo. This looks like a smart thing to be doing....praying!! Pray for Steve folks. And pray for the Register & Bee - especially the new editors.
One of them wants and welcomes your prayers. The other tore up a photo of Jerry Falwell someone in the newsroom posted after Falwell's death, and he hates Christians. They both need your prayers - like the prodigal son - one more than the other. Seriously. They hold the news of the paper and the future of it in their hands. Robert has a difficult and hard task ahead of him....Charles....well, he plays with stuffed penguins, annoys staff with his musical button that plays the Jeopardy theme over and over and over and over and over all day, and thinks that car wrecks and fires are better news than city council meetings or other decisions. But he's young....He'll figure it out....so PRAY hard!!!
One of them wants and welcomes your prayers. The other tore up a photo of Jerry Falwell someone in the newsroom posted after Falwell's death, and he hates Christians. They both need your prayers - like the prodigal son - one more than the other. Seriously. They hold the news of the paper and the future of it in their hands. Robert has a difficult and hard task ahead of him....Charles....well, he plays with stuffed penguins, annoys staff with his musical button that plays the Jeopardy theme over and over and over and over and over all day, and thinks that car wrecks and fires are better news than city council meetings or other decisions. But he's young....He'll figure it out....so PRAY hard!!!
Why Macintosh and Apple are NOT a good buy
I got a MacBook almost three years ago. I got the full Apple protection plan - the one that promised to fix, repair etc. any problems for three years! Well, My Macintosh Apple turned out to be a huge LEMON. Not a problem - all equipment has its failure rate. But for the last two plus years, Apple has refused to replace my laptop. They've replaced the hard drive and sent me an external hard drive - but those two haven't worked any better than the first one that crashed.
The "Genius" guy (that's what Apple sales tech guys are called) told me it was a lemon, that everything in it was "screwed" and that Apple "Should just replace it," but HE didn't have the power to make that decision and that Apple only gave him 20 minutes to work on repairs covered under ANY plan....and that I'd have to leave it with them for a month if I wanted it fixed.
So.....they're willing to replace every component in the laptop....pay for his time, make other customers wait....and....me wait - so they don't have to replace a lemon laptop? What sense does that make? This is why you should NOT buy an Apple computer. Not only does their customer service fail to serve - unless of course you have "drunk the Steve Jobs is God" kool-aid and fawn appropriately over the phone....but the machines are buggy. Mine constantly crashes, there's no way to learn to work on them yourselves, technicians are hard to find and expensive when you do find them.....and if you get a BAD Mac....your life will definitely be more difficult. Mine works sporadically, kind of like the Register & Bee, but overall - if I had to buy a new computer - it wouldn't be a Mac. If you still want a mac - then DEFINITELY buy the protection plan because you're going to NEED it. It's only an extra $300 dollars.....Better yet? Don't buy an Apple.
The "Genius" guy (that's what Apple sales tech guys are called) told me it was a lemon, that everything in it was "screwed" and that Apple "Should just replace it," but HE didn't have the power to make that decision and that Apple only gave him 20 minutes to work on repairs covered under ANY plan....and that I'd have to leave it with them for a month if I wanted it fixed.
So.....they're willing to replace every component in the laptop....pay for his time, make other customers wait....and....me wait - so they don't have to replace a lemon laptop? What sense does that make? This is why you should NOT buy an Apple computer. Not only does their customer service fail to serve - unless of course you have "drunk the Steve Jobs is God" kool-aid and fawn appropriately over the phone....but the machines are buggy. Mine constantly crashes, there's no way to learn to work on them yourselves, technicians are hard to find and expensive when you do find them.....and if you get a BAD Mac....your life will definitely be more difficult. Mine works sporadically, kind of like the Register & Bee, but overall - if I had to buy a new computer - it wouldn't be a Mac. If you still want a mac - then DEFINITELY buy the protection plan because you're going to NEED it. It's only an extra $300 dollars.....Better yet? Don't buy an Apple.
Monday, April 13, 2009
There's no business like show business...
What will happen now? The Danville Register & Bee is a vehicle to sell advertising. They have little or no interest in actually reporting on the news or information that affects us all. Few corporate owned newspapers do. To get your news you need to be online, reading as much as you can, getting information from ALL SIDES, and then drawing your own conclusions. Here's a good place to start.
"Former pro wrestler and Governor of Minnesota Jessie Ventura said it best.
There's no difference between US politics and professional wrestling.
Democrats vs. Republicans. Conservatives vs. Liberals. It's all a big joke.
Anyone who has their hopes pinned on Obama is going to be in for a rude awakening."
http://www.brasschecktv.com/page/593.html
If you think Obama is going to save America, watch this.
"Former pro wrestler and Governor of Minnesota Jessie Ventura said it best.
There's no difference between US politics and professional wrestling.
Democrats vs. Republicans. Conservatives vs. Liberals. It's all a big joke.
Anyone who has their hopes pinned on Obama is going to be in for a rude awakening."
http://www.brasschecktv.com/page/593.html
If you think Obama is going to save America, watch this.
What has become of Steve Kaylor?
A reader asks - "What has become of Steve Kaylor?" Don't know....other than he is now running the advertising department since Rob's departure for greener grass. He obviously isn't controlling his people - since all the staff reported not to publisher Steve Kaylor, but to Managing Editor Joe Stinnett in Lynchburg. Steve must be a lame duck - on his way out - if someone else is determining who works for the Register & Bee and who doesn't. That - IN THE PAST - was his job. Now he's an ad flunkie.
The woman over him...is over Joe....Terry Jamerson. Hmmmm...... whipped for sure now.
So, the DANVILLE paper is now operating out of Lynchburg. Layout, editing, design, ads, obituaries.....ALL out of Lynchburg. Do you really think a Danville, let alone a Reidsville paper, can really do justice to a LOCAL newspaper from Lynchburg?
The new assistant editor - Charles Wilborn has - what? NO reporting experience...and spends most of his time squealing and sending reporters to go to gang and drug shootings and car wrecks. Sorry Charles - that's not news. It sells newspapers - but it's not NEWS. People want to know what city council is doing, what's happening in the schools, what business is coming to Danville - what business is leaving.
I understand there is a lot of Mormon/LDS recruiting going on that staffers aren't happy with - but that no one will complain about.
How long can an office with so many problems and the only real power management in Lynchburg survive? We're about to find out.
The woman over him...is over Joe....Terry Jamerson. Hmmmm...... whipped for sure now.
So, the DANVILLE paper is now operating out of Lynchburg. Layout, editing, design, ads, obituaries.....ALL out of Lynchburg. Do you really think a Danville, let alone a Reidsville paper, can really do justice to a LOCAL newspaper from Lynchburg?
The new assistant editor - Charles Wilborn has - what? NO reporting experience...and spends most of his time squealing and sending reporters to go to gang and drug shootings and car wrecks. Sorry Charles - that's not news. It sells newspapers - but it's not NEWS. People want to know what city council is doing, what's happening in the schools, what business is coming to Danville - what business is leaving.
I understand there is a lot of Mormon/LDS recruiting going on that staffers aren't happy with - but that no one will complain about.
How long can an office with so many problems and the only real power management in Lynchburg survive? We're about to find out.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Richmond-Times cuts 90 jobs!
The blood-bath has begun. Monday will tell if the Danville Register & Bee has lied to its employees or not. Another Media General newspaper - The Richmond Times Dispatch sent 90 employees packing last Thursday. The Register & Bee will tell its workforce who has a job and who does not on Monday.
Thursday's layoffs mean Media General will have 602 full-time and part-time employees. Last year about this time they had 772. Twenty-eight of Thursday's layoffs were newsroom jobs. While the Register and Bee says they're actually HIRING extra reporters other areas of the paper may be not be so fortunate.
Employees at the paper have ALL had to interview for their jobs and say that the position of managing editor - Arnold Hendrix's job, will be cut - leaving only the position of editor to be filled - putting all power and decision making into the hands of a Lynchburg based Managing Editor who will decide on what is best for Danville in terms of news and other decisions. And people wonder why the paper is failing? Yeah - send your ads, editorial, copyediting and management to India or Lynchburg and see how relevant your news is then!! But remember, this is a company that thinks it's okay that their male reporters videotape the breasts of female advertisers and show them around the newsroom and laugh at them.
Thursday's layoffs mean Media General will have 602 full-time and part-time employees. Last year about this time they had 772. Twenty-eight of Thursday's layoffs were newsroom jobs. While the Register and Bee says they're actually HIRING extra reporters other areas of the paper may be not be so fortunate.
Employees at the paper have ALL had to interview for their jobs and say that the position of managing editor - Arnold Hendrix's job, will be cut - leaving only the position of editor to be filled - putting all power and decision making into the hands of a Lynchburg based Managing Editor who will decide on what is best for Danville in terms of news and other decisions. And people wonder why the paper is failing? Yeah - send your ads, editorial, copyediting and management to India or Lynchburg and see how relevant your news is then!! But remember, this is a company that thinks it's okay that their male reporters videotape the breasts of female advertisers and show them around the newsroom and laugh at them.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
A whole new Register & Bee????
For a week now people (who are in a much better position to know) have been telling me the Register & Bee will not be the same newspaper - if it exists at all after April 6, 2009.
Reporters, well actually EVERYONE at the paper has been interviewing this week for their own job or others. Some of the people laying out the newspaper will not be returning to work as their jobs have moved to Lynchburg.
As a matter of fact, the "job interviewing" has been done by Joe Stinnett - of Media General in Lynchburg. Everyone has been "reassured" their jobs are safe (where have we heard THAT before??" so my question is:
Why is a Lynchburg supervisor INTERVIEWING Danville reporters about their job?
Why are DANVILLE employees - particularly REPORTERS and EVERYONE in the newsroom - including editors and managers, now going to be reporting to a Lynchburg supervisor?
Where is Steve Kaylor? He's taken over advertising since Rob saw the light and abandoned ship and headed to greener grass in Arkansas.
Could it be that Media General wised up to what's happening in the newsroom and is cleaning house?
Do any of you REALLY believe that you'd interview with a Lynchburg supervisor if the paper was going to remain in Danville? C'mon. Grow up.
Five reporters are being hired - layout, advertising, obituaries, everything else about the paper - even circulation is heading north. The building is being SOLD - or is at least UP for sale. Seriously. What does all this mean to Danville?
That all the advertising and subscription sales are going to Lynchburg - not here. The jobs? Lynchburg. Control of a local paper? Lynchburg.
That's what happens when your managers don't know how to listen to what people want - LOCAL LOCAL LOCAL NEWS.
Reporters, well actually EVERYONE at the paper has been interviewing this week for their own job or others. Some of the people laying out the newspaper will not be returning to work as their jobs have moved to Lynchburg.
As a matter of fact, the "job interviewing" has been done by Joe Stinnett - of Media General in Lynchburg. Everyone has been "reassured" their jobs are safe (where have we heard THAT before??" so my question is:
Why is a Lynchburg supervisor INTERVIEWING Danville reporters about their job?
Why are DANVILLE employees - particularly REPORTERS and EVERYONE in the newsroom - including editors and managers, now going to be reporting to a Lynchburg supervisor?
Where is Steve Kaylor? He's taken over advertising since Rob saw the light and abandoned ship and headed to greener grass in Arkansas.
Could it be that Media General wised up to what's happening in the newsroom and is cleaning house?
Do any of you REALLY believe that you'd interview with a Lynchburg supervisor if the paper was going to remain in Danville? C'mon. Grow up.
Five reporters are being hired - layout, advertising, obituaries, everything else about the paper - even circulation is heading north. The building is being SOLD - or is at least UP for sale. Seriously. What does all this mean to Danville?
That all the advertising and subscription sales are going to Lynchburg - not here. The jobs? Lynchburg. Control of a local paper? Lynchburg.
That's what happens when your managers don't know how to listen to what people want - LOCAL LOCAL LOCAL NEWS.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Relief at last....
Finally, MORE reporters at The Danville Register & Bee. Maybe someone somewhere figured out that two people wasn't enough to cover the NEWS? There are more people in sports than news - so as long as all you care about is baseball, football and basketball - you're probably okay...but don't expect any extensive coverage of the minor sports - like girls, junior varsity, swimming, wrestling, little league etc. There just aren't enough reporters!
But, now the paper is hiring enough to bring it up to FIVE reporters. Yay! MAYBE we'll get more real LOCAL news. We can hope.
But, now the paper is hiring enough to bring it up to FIVE reporters. Yay! MAYBE we'll get more real LOCAL news. We can hope.
Fold or remodel?
Well, which will it be? Fold or remodel? Apparently the decision HAS BEEN MADE to move the editorial layout to Lynchburg. Advertising layout and the obits and other layout functions have already been moved. That means more Danville dollars are trickling to the north and out of the local economy. Circulation keeps losing people - one-by-one. Local people who once laid out the paper will either have to commute or find other jobs. NOT surprising.
The newsroom hasn't been shuffled around yet, but since some editing is going to India, obits and ads are in Lynchburg and now the newspaper layout itself is in Lynchburg as of April 1, 2009 (not a joke), pretty soon we'll all have to go to Lynchburg to read the Danville News!
Maybe the NORTHERN end of the county will finally get some coverage now that the Danville paper is mostly stationed in Lynchburg eh?
The newsroom hasn't been shuffled around yet, but since some editing is going to India, obits and ads are in Lynchburg and now the newspaper layout itself is in Lynchburg as of April 1, 2009 (not a joke), pretty soon we'll all have to go to Lynchburg to read the Danville News!
Maybe the NORTHERN end of the county will finally get some coverage now that the Danville paper is mostly stationed in Lynchburg eh?
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Newsroom at Register & Bee all terminated.....
Seems like the entire Newsroom has been terminated effective as of April 1, 2009...so former employees at the paper say.
I've heard this from several credible sources who say it's NOT just the layout department being shuffled to Lynchburg, but in fact - the paper folding. We won't know until April 1, or until I get the memo via my Media General sources in Richmond...but, doesn't look good.
Looks like Arnold can enjoy his stay in Florida a little longer.
I've heard this from several credible sources who say it's NOT just the layout department being shuffled to Lynchburg, but in fact - the paper folding. We won't know until April 1, or until I get the memo via my Media General sources in Richmond...but, doesn't look good.
Looks like Arnold can enjoy his stay in Florida a little longer.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Don't expect to read about this in the Register & Bee
News from a reader asking why The Danville Register and Bee hasn't covered this story. Hmmmm...could be because they supported Barack Obama and may be pro-union???? The Register and Bee doesn't do a lot of reporting on business issues like this. They're down to just two reporters for news - although there are what? Three or four for sports? We know where the priorities are - and it's not politics, uranium or business reporting. Anyway....
This reader writes:
Late Friday Feb. 6, President Barack Obama issued an executive order encouraging the federal government to require wasteful and discriminatory union-only project labor agreements (PLAs) on federal and federally funded construction projects over $25 million. This executive order also repealed Executive Order 13202, which has prohibited the government from mandating PLAs on all construction projects receiving federal dollars or financial assistance since February 17, 2001.
The Obama pro-PLA executive order encourages merit shop contractors be locked out from federal construction opportunities unless contractors agree to the onerous “union-friendly” terms and conditions found in union-only PLAs. Contractors signatory to labor unions will have an incredible advantage in winning federal construction projects.
ABC member contractors and your workforce should be outraged by the Obama executive order because it will eliminate you from federal construction contracts paid for by your very own tax dollars. As a result of this executive order, local and state contracts that receive federal funding or assistance may be subject to PLA requirements as well.
In addition, the Obama Order is sure to waste taxpayer dollars. Credible academic studies have found that inefficient union work rules and decreased competition as a result of PLA requirements increases construction costs by as much as 20 percent when compared to projects bid without PLAs. In these tough economic times, it makes no financials sense for the federal government to build four schools, bridges and hospitals for the price of five.
Send a letter by clicking below OR call President Obama at (202) 456-1111 and tell him that union-only PLAs are wasteful, discriminatory and keep skilled people like you from working in their own communities.
Readers are urged to call Tom Perriello - who is not expected to do a damn thing about it because he's a democrat. But that's okay. Virgil is running again next year and he won't have a turn-coat homosexual in his office selling him down the river, faxing documents and selling out Virgil for political favors this time. We know who you are and what you did - and so do the Congressmen who like Virgil. Lot of people aren't happy about it. Of course the Register and Bee won't report on that either - since Sarah, "Oh I love Obama I hate Virgil Goode," is gone. Convenient eh? Come in, slam Virgil, then resign after the election....that way you don't have to report on what went on behind the scenes do you....Don't expect Steve Kaylor to pay attention. He has to run the circulation department and advertising now that Fia was laid off and Rob abandoned ship to take a better job elsewhere.
But there's a chance you might find a politician who's not taking pay-offs, hob-nobbing with the pharmaceutical industry, back scratching, cheating on their wives and boyfriends, or partying hardy. Good luck. If you find one and they actually have time to listen to you before their next junket, party or meeting with a lobbyist, you should also say:
Union-only PLAs have no place on taxpayer funded, federal construction and infrastructure projects;PLAs inflate costs by as much as 20 percent and discriminate against 84.4 percent of the U.S. private construction workforce;
PLAs have a public record of poor performance. PLA proponents’ claims of cost savings, avoidance of delays and or improved performance under proposed PLAs have been repeatedly contradicted by the actual project performance under such union-only requirements; Explain why merit shop contractors won’t bid on projects subject to PLAs
We encourage you to forward this action alert to your fellow employees, friends, state and local public officials and the media. We need your help in spreading the word about this special interest-driven policy.
To learn more about union-only PLAs and the Obama executive order, please visit www.abc.org/pla
This reader writes:
Late Friday Feb. 6, President Barack Obama issued an executive order encouraging the federal government to require wasteful and discriminatory union-only project labor agreements (PLAs) on federal and federally funded construction projects over $25 million. This executive order also repealed Executive Order 13202, which has prohibited the government from mandating PLAs on all construction projects receiving federal dollars or financial assistance since February 17, 2001.
The Obama pro-PLA executive order encourages merit shop contractors be locked out from federal construction opportunities unless contractors agree to the onerous “union-friendly” terms and conditions found in union-only PLAs. Contractors signatory to labor unions will have an incredible advantage in winning federal construction projects.
ABC member contractors and your workforce should be outraged by the Obama executive order because it will eliminate you from federal construction contracts paid for by your very own tax dollars. As a result of this executive order, local and state contracts that receive federal funding or assistance may be subject to PLA requirements as well.
In addition, the Obama Order is sure to waste taxpayer dollars. Credible academic studies have found that inefficient union work rules and decreased competition as a result of PLA requirements increases construction costs by as much as 20 percent when compared to projects bid without PLAs. In these tough economic times, it makes no financials sense for the federal government to build four schools, bridges and hospitals for the price of five.
Send a letter by clicking below OR call President Obama at (202) 456-1111 and tell him that union-only PLAs are wasteful, discriminatory and keep skilled people like you from working in their own communities.
Readers are urged to call Tom Perriello - who is not expected to do a damn thing about it because he's a democrat. But that's okay. Virgil is running again next year and he won't have a turn-coat homosexual in his office selling him down the river, faxing documents and selling out Virgil for political favors this time. We know who you are and what you did - and so do the Congressmen who like Virgil. Lot of people aren't happy about it. Of course the Register and Bee won't report on that either - since Sarah, "Oh I love Obama I hate Virgil Goode," is gone. Convenient eh? Come in, slam Virgil, then resign after the election....that way you don't have to report on what went on behind the scenes do you....Don't expect Steve Kaylor to pay attention. He has to run the circulation department and advertising now that Fia was laid off and Rob abandoned ship to take a better job elsewhere.
But there's a chance you might find a politician who's not taking pay-offs, hob-nobbing with the pharmaceutical industry, back scratching, cheating on their wives and boyfriends, or partying hardy. Good luck. If you find one and they actually have time to listen to you before their next junket, party or meeting with a lobbyist, you should also say:
Union-only PLAs have no place on taxpayer funded, federal construction and infrastructure projects;PLAs inflate costs by as much as 20 percent and discriminate against 84.4 percent of the U.S. private construction workforce;
PLAs have a public record of poor performance. PLA proponents’ claims of cost savings, avoidance of delays and or improved performance under proposed PLAs have been repeatedly contradicted by the actual project performance under such union-only requirements; Explain why merit shop contractors won’t bid on projects subject to PLAs
We encourage you to forward this action alert to your fellow employees, friends, state and local public officials and the media. We need your help in spreading the word about this special interest-driven policy.
To learn more about union-only PLAs and the Obama executive order, please visit www.abc.org/pla
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
More Layoffs coming at The Danville Register & Bee
More layoffs are in the works for The Danville Register & Bee. Bernard Baker went on personal leave three months ago and will not be returning. No word on why but if it is for ongoing health reasons, we wish him well. Add him to your prayer list, send him a card or give him a call. He spent many a year there and was a gifted writer. He will be missed I'm sure.
If your press releases aren't being returned, it's because they're being forwarded to Arnold Hendrix. The Register & Bee is manager heavy and always has been. Our money's on at least one manager being let go.
The newsroom is down to John Crane, Denice Thibodeau and Brenda Neugent (formerly Erickson) and the "sports guys," although rumors have persisted that one of the sports department would be cut - at least for the slack summer season, no football or basketball, we'll have to wait and see.
But stay tuned. Richmond tells me the layoffs are in the works.
If your press releases aren't being returned, it's because they're being forwarded to Arnold Hendrix. The Register & Bee is manager heavy and always has been. Our money's on at least one manager being let go.
The newsroom is down to John Crane, Denice Thibodeau and Brenda Neugent (formerly Erickson) and the "sports guys," although rumors have persisted that one of the sports department would be cut - at least for the slack summer season, no football or basketball, we'll have to wait and see.
But stay tuned. Richmond tells me the layoffs are in the works.
Saturday, March 7, 2009
GONE!!! With no warning....
Tommy Hundley (formerly of trophy center/sign shop on Wooding) was picking up the papers from Lynchburg and bringing them down to Danville. He showed up at work the other day and now he's GONE! No warning. Just gone. Sorry to hear it Tommy. But that's how things work at The Register & Bee. One minute you're there - the next you're gone.
The axe is always swinging. Who will be next? Will it be someone else in circulation? Maybe it will be an editor or copy editor or reporter or publisher?
All we know is that the end is coming.....I hope everyone down there is polishing their resumes and looking for the door. Rob was and got out before he got screwed.
Experienced employees from ANY industry will tell you - when the managers start taking jobs elsewhere - they KNOW something bad is coming...no matter what they say about "Wanting to be close to family" or "I got a better opportunity." Un-huh...writing is on the wall folks. Get out while you can. It's easier to GET a job when you HAVE a job.
The axe is always swinging. Who will be next? Will it be someone else in circulation? Maybe it will be an editor or copy editor or reporter or publisher?
All we know is that the end is coming.....I hope everyone down there is polishing their resumes and looking for the door. Rob was and got out before he got screwed.
Experienced employees from ANY industry will tell you - when the managers start taking jobs elsewhere - they KNOW something bad is coming...no matter what they say about "Wanting to be close to family" or "I got a better opportunity." Un-huh...writing is on the wall folks. Get out while you can. It's easier to GET a job when you HAVE a job.
Register and Bee loses yet another
Danville Realtors have had their way. Lower prices and inserts for their home magazine. Look for their home magazine to be inserted in the Register & Bee....and for Sales director Rob to be leaving...he found another job at a paper in Arkansas...so, no more problems there. We wish him well closer to his family out west. But it signals another question... if top salespeople are leaving and the paper is being cannibalized with the printing, the obits and the ad layout sent to Lynchburg and some of the salespeople spending a couple of days a week in Lynchburg - then maybe the rumors of the paper being sold are true???? The paper is sneaking out of town a piece at a time?
This move to placate the realty firms in town MIGHT stave off the Realtor's move from the Register & Bee - for awhile, long enough to sell the paper - unless a buyer realizes that maybe the realty sales lock isn't such a lock.
We would all say "Thanks," to Steve Kaylor backing down and listening to complaints, if his regrets were sincere...of course they aren't. If he HADN'T listened to them their leaving WOULD shut down The Register & Bee. So, the move was purely financial. If he REALLY cared, we'd have seen a FRONT PAGE, FULL PAGE apology about the advertiser who's chest his reporter (who is still employed by the way) filmed and flashed around the newsroom.
Geez Steve. Haven't you figured it all out yet? Strap on a pair and apologize. Be a man. Be a decent human being. Or be unemployed....the message readers and advertisers are sending you is loud and clear. It's too bad, sad really that people would have supported the paper had the paper treated them right.
This move to placate the realty firms in town MIGHT stave off the Realtor's move from the Register & Bee - for awhile, long enough to sell the paper - unless a buyer realizes that maybe the realty sales lock isn't such a lock.
We would all say "Thanks," to Steve Kaylor backing down and listening to complaints, if his regrets were sincere...of course they aren't. If he HADN'T listened to them their leaving WOULD shut down The Register & Bee. So, the move was purely financial. If he REALLY cared, we'd have seen a FRONT PAGE, FULL PAGE apology about the advertiser who's chest his reporter (who is still employed by the way) filmed and flashed around the newsroom.
Geez Steve. Haven't you figured it all out yet? Strap on a pair and apologize. Be a man. Be a decent human being. Or be unemployed....the message readers and advertisers are sending you is loud and clear. It's too bad, sad really that people would have supported the paper had the paper treated them right.
Friday, March 6, 2009
Where stings are dumped
You asked - we respond:
A comment came in about where the Stings are dumped, well - all before and most recent are in the recycle bins at Fairgrounds Plaza Shopping Center on Riverside Drive, across from Tractor Supply.... the most recent are still there but buried ...the one I posted on Feb 22, the one of the 20 bundles, those were in the recycle bin across from the Danville City Farm. Hope that helps!!!!
A comment came in about where the Stings are dumped, well - all before and most recent are in the recycle bins at Fairgrounds Plaza Shopping Center on Riverside Drive, across from Tractor Supply.... the most recent are still there but buried ...the one I posted on Feb 22, the one of the 20 bundles, those were in the recycle bin across from the Danville City Farm. Hope that helps!!!!
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