From its pivotal moments in American history to its unique cultural and environmental attributes, Virginia stands out as a state of both historical significance and modern-day interest. Here are eight fun facts that shed light on the diverse aspects of this fascinating state. 1. The Controversial Birth of West Virginia: During the tumultuous times of … Continue reading 8 Fun Facts About Virginia: History, Culture, and More
Isolated Tangier Island: A Dialect Preserved from the 1700s
Tangier Island, located 12 miles off the coast of Virginia, has maintained its isolation to such an extent that its inhabitants still speak a dialect similar to the one used by the island’s original colonists in the 1700s. This distinct dialect features a significant example of the Big Vowel Shift, with the word “house” pronounced […]
Did You Get Mystery Seeds From China in the Mail? Here’s What You Should Do.
Getting an unexpected delivery in the mail can be exciting, but for Virginia residents, a recent string of strange packages has caused more controversy than smiles.
Several people have received packages of seeds in the mail without even ordering them.
Photo Credit: Twitter
Suspected to originate from China, the seeds shouldn’t be planted, at least according to the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS).
“The types of seeds in the packages are unknown at this time and may be invasive plant species.
The packages were sent by mail and may have Chinese writing on them.”
According to the VDACS, invasive species wreak havoc on the environment by displacing or destroying native plants and insects and severely damaging crops.
Photo Credit: Twitter
The best way to avoid future problems is by simply not planting the unsolicited seeds. Failure to comply could result in invasive species infestations that can be quite costly to control and eliminate.
Anyone who receives a package containing these strange seeds should contact the Office of Plant Industry Services (OPIS) by calling 804-786-3515. You can also file a report via email at ReportAPest@vdacs.virginia.gov.
While nobody knows exactly where the seeds originate, the Better Business Bureau does have an idea. The BBB believes that the packages could be part of a customer review scam.
Photo Credit: Twitter
Many companies ship cheap items to people in order to write a fake review on behalf of the resident.
The problem has also made its way to Utah. Jane Rupp, president of the state’s BBB chapter, offered some helpful advice to anyone who receives some unsolicited seeds in the mail:
“The first thing to do is Google your address and see what’s out there.
Numerous things will come up when you Google your address. It’s kind of scary sometimes.”
So if you happen to receive a strange package that you didn’t order, it’s best to file a report and follow the advice of the experts.
Photo Credit: Twitter
The last thing we need right now is a plant pandemic.
Have you ever received something you didn’t order in the mail? Has a company tried to pull a quick one on you?
Tell us your experience in the comments below!
The post Did You Get Mystery Seeds From China in the Mail? Here’s What You Should Do. appeared first on UberFacts.
A city in Virginia passed…
A city in Virginia passed an ordinance earlier this year barring people older than 14 from trick-or-treating. If the law is enforced, anyone older could be guilty of a misdemeanor and fined $250.
A Woman Wanted Her Pet Buried with Her, so the Healthy Dog Was Euthanized
This is pretty messed up.
We all love our pets like family, but this story makes my blood boil. It reminds of when some billionaire leaves a ton of money to their cat or something.
I mean I know we all love our pets like family, but this is absurd.
And cruel.
A woman in Richmond, Virginia, had it clearly stated in her will that her beloved dog Emma, a Shih Tzu mix, was to be put to sleep and buried with her at the time of her death. Workers at the Chesterfield County Animal Services were heartbroken that they had to honor the recently deceased woman’s wishes, but they still euthanized the healthy dog. They actually tried to appeal to the woman’s estate, but to no avail. The dog’s owner was 67-year-old Anita Cullop-Thompson.
A healthy Shih Tzu mix named Emma was recently euthanized after her deceased owner left explicit instructions in her will for the pet to be cremated and buried with her, a report says. https://t.co/7ETaSY2jeP
— NBC10 Philadelphia (@NBCPhiladelphia) May 22, 2019
The manager of the animal care facility said, “We did suggest they could sign the dog over on numerous occasions — because it’s a dog we could easily find a home for and re-home. But ultimately, they came back in on March 22nd and redeemed the dog.”
Emma was taken directly to a vet’s office, euthanized, and then cremated. Her ashes were returned to the deceased woman’s estate. As you can imagine, this story went viral and greatly upset many people, including big-time celebrities.
Disgusting fucking nonsense https://t.co/E8C075xpPM
— Ricky Gervais (@rickygervais) May 23, 2019
Everyone involved needs to go to jail.
A woman who died in Virginia had stipulated that her dog be laid to rest with her . . . even though it was perfectly healthy. https://t.co/cYy3WP3oyj pic.twitter.com/9rElGXOb4g
— Rod Ryan Show (@rodryanshow) May 23, 2019
This is horrible. I took my dad's dog to visit him in hospice a few times, but it never occurred to either of us to euthanize his dog so it could be buried with him. I found a nice lady to take him instead. https://t.co/HUsZFca0FC
— Dixie (@phanson1253) May 23, 2019
Gross. No! I have provisions in my will for my dogs and have names listed for people who will care for them if something happens to me. Shame on the vet who did this.
— Mark Buchanan (@therealmarkb) May 22, 2019
The Humane Society of the United States is clear on where they stand on the issue. Vice President Amy Nichols said, “It is a heartbreaking situation. While we don’t know the specifics of this case, as a general matter, we don’t support the euthanasia of healthy and adoptable animals when other alternatives exist, such as re-homing of the pet.”
Share your thoughts about this story in the comments. We’d like to hear from you!
The post A Woman Wanted Her Pet Buried with Her, so the Healthy Dog Was Euthanized appeared first on UberFacts.
43 Giant Busts of U.S. Presidents Are Just Sitting in a Field in Virginia
Were you lucky enough to see the wonderful statues (erected in 2004) at Presidents Park in Williamsburg, Virginia? Well, consider yourself lucky – because the park closed due to lack of visitors in 2010.
Today, 43 giant busts of American Presidents sit on a farm in Virginia just waiting for someone, anyone, to figure out what to do with them. It’s too bad, because they are very impressive.
Posted by Renew the Presidents on Friday, February 2, 2018
The busts were made by David Adickes, an artist from Houston who was inspired to create the pieces after he visited Mount Rushmore. After six years on public display, the heads had to be moved after the land where the park was located was sold.
Posted by Renew the Presidents on Monday, January 18, 2016
Howard Hankins, who helped construct Presidents Park, removed the giant heads to his family farm until a decision is made about what’s next for the unique collection. Each head weighs 22,000 pounds, and they stand 18 to 20 feet tall. It took Hankins a week to lug all 43 of the statues to his property.
The Presidents in winter.
Posted by Renew the Presidents on Friday, December 8, 2017
What comes next for the statues is up in the air. A crowdfunding campaign has been launched to open a museum that will feature the artifacts, but some of the statues are falling into disrepair and need a touch-up.
As of right now, the presidential busts are held on private property, which means they are not open to the public.
Hopefully, that will change in the future…
The post 43 Giant Busts of U.S. Presidents Are Just Sitting in a Field in Virginia appeared first on UberFacts.