Snap o' the day: a blazing ginkgo
Some folks had been saying that Central Virginia wouldn’t have a phat phall pholiage season. But, yesterday morning at around 8:30am, this ginkgo biloba near UVA’s Clemons Library was lighting up University Avenue. Each fall, young Wahoos passing under female ginkgos think they’ve come upon vomit. That’s understandable, since this sidewalk is just footsteps from the bars of Corner district, but the smell is actually just rotting ginkgo (or “stinko“) fruit. (1)

Strep throat sidelines Long
While offensive lines in the ACC have had a hell of a time stopping UVA defensive end Chris Long, it appears he’s met his match: strep throat. SI.com is reporting that Long left practice Monday because he felt so bad, and quotes coach Al Groh saying he’s taking a “wait and see” approach as to whether Long will be available for Saturday’s game against Virginia Tech. Yikes! Anybody know any good strep throat cures? (2)

Snap o' the day: Drill Field
ROTC students were drilling this morning around 8:20am in front of the Lady Astor tennis Pavilion with Lewis Mountain hovering in the background. (0)

UVA launches South Lawn project webcam
Positioned across the street in New Cabell Hall, the South Lawn Project Webcam went up recently to monitor the $160 million project. Depending on how you feel about the South Lawn project–over 30 UVA architecture profs say its just more faux Jefferson, while UVA’s powers that be have invested considerable time and money convincing people otherwise–watching it’s construction via webcam could either be a sad or joyful experience. Of course, for many others it could be about as exciting as watching the grass grow, considering the South Lawn won’t be completed until 2010! (1)

Gibson: bypass a 'joke'
Longtime Daily Progress journalist Bob Gibson branded the Route 29 Western Bypass a ‘joke’ in his Sunday column: “The short western bypass around Charlottesville was overtaken by sprawl so long ago as to be worthless. Its funeral may never be held, as it would take years to plan, so the joke of a bypass remains on the state’s books with barely a penny to its name.” The Bypass reared its head again in October when the state attorney general declared that Central Virginians may have to pay for it even if it doesn’t get built. (1)