• Asides

  Cheer up, emo kids
  A new study from UVA and England’s University of Plymouth may give sad kids a reason to smile— even if it’s only for a little while. These studies show that when attention to detail is needed, children in a happy mood may be less likely to perform well. In contrast, the study authors (who include UVA assistant professor of psychology Vikram Jaswal) found, “Sadness indicates that something is amiss, triggering detail-oriented, analytical processing.” Let’s hope the slew of A-pluses the sad kids receive don’t make them too happy to analyze everything in excruciating detail. (0)

  Sabato called Obama's win in Oct. '06
  If anyone doubts the political prognostication acumen of Larry Sabato, consider this: All the way back in October 2006, in the Hook’s profile of the UVA professor and pundit, Sabato said of Sen. Barack Obama’s (D-IL) chances of winning the Democratic nomination for president in 2008, “If he runs, he could shoot straight past [Sen.] Hillary Clinton [D-NY] to the nomination.” Clinton formally ended her candidacy and endorsed Obama over the weekend.# (0)

  Localvore movement questioned in new study
  As the Hook reported in April’s “Green Issue,” the environmental benefit of the localvore movement– as exemplified by our own City Market and community-supported agricultural companies– has its skeptics. Now, those critics are armed with brand new hard data. A study conducted by researchers at Carnegie Mellon University finds that transport accounts for only 11 percent of food’s carbon footprint, only four percent of which comes from farmer-to-vendor transport.# (2)

  Frontier justice
  Local John Laws and tillermen who feel unappreciated have friends over the mountain. As a token of thanks to the police, fire and rescue squad personnel who stand ready to answer every call–whether to wield the jaws of life or fetch Mr. Puss from the maple tree– the Frontier Culture Museum of Virginia offers free admission June 1–September 1. The offer is open to crews from Staunton, Waynesboro, Lexington, Charlottesville and Harrisonburg and Augusta, Rockbridge, Rockingham, Nelson, Albemarle and Botetourt County– and the Virginia State Police. The “living history” museum in Staunton features six reconstructed working farms from Germany (1710), Northern Ireland (1730) and England (1690), and Botetourt (1850) and Rockingham County (1773). The farms represent the daily lives and agricultural heritage of people who immigrated to the new world and formed a unique American culture– and established fire, police and rescue squads. 9am-5pm every day. I-81 at Exit 222 to Route 250 West, Richmond Ave. Museum’s entrance is 1/2 mile on left. 540-332-7850. # (1)

  I-64 teen appeals
  The 16-year-old who pleaded guilty to seven charges stemming from the shooting rampage he and Gremlin-driving Slade Woodson undertook March 27 is appealing the sentence handed down by Judge Susan Whitlock that puts him in the state Department of Juvenile Justice for an indeterminate length that could stretch to his 21st birthday, the Daily Progress reports. A probation supervisor, his defense attorney and the prosecution recommended a 180-day treatment program locally at the Blue Ridge Detention Center. (6)

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