Month: November 2011

Redistricting do-over? Senate Dems to sue

Virginia Senate Republicans are considering revisiting redistricting come January. In a story by Steve Vaughan* in The Virginia Gazette, Senator Tommy Norment expresses the desire to change the lines drawn by the legislature and approved by the U.S. Department of Justice. In particular, Norment wants Williamsburg back in his district. As if there's not enough … Continue reading Redistricting do-over? Senate Dems to sue →

Monday morning quarterback: Redskins lose another

I didn't event waste my time putting this into the "fun stuff" category because there was nothing fun about watching the Washington Redskins lose another game yesterday. Unlike Tom Robinson, I gave up on this year's team long ago. Nothing will change until the team is sold. The players and coaches can only do so … Continue reading Monday morning quarterback: Redskins lose another →

ODU vs NSU in football playoffs

Two Norfolk universities - Old Dominion and Norfolk State - will face off Saturday in a first-round game of the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs. The game will kickoff at 1:30pm at Foreman Field, on the campus of ODU. I wish I could say that the two teams were cross-city rivals but they aren't. This will … Continue reading ODU vs NSU in football playoffs →

House Dem Caucus selects leadership

House Democrats named Del. David Toscano as Minority Leader and Del. Mark Sickles as Caucus chair, although from what I'm hearing, it wasn't a smooth process. The full press release, including the other members of leadership selected, is below the fold. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 19, 2011 House Democratic Caucus Selects New Leadership Today, the … Continue reading House Dem Caucus selects leadership →

Friday fun: the crayon test

(Oops! I thought I had scheduled this post to go up earlier 😳 Oh well, better late than never) Since I'm teaching now, and, well, sometimes the students act like little kids, this crayon test is on point 😉 You Are Ready for Good Times and Bad Times You have a knack for predicting the … Continue reading Friday fun: the crayon test →

This week’s must read

From The New Republic: The IT revolution has upended established power structures in politics and industry, injecting new vitality into staid businesses and democratizing access to knowledge and influence. College students, especially the least well-off among them, will be better off when the same forces are realized in higher education. And it should be progressives … Continue reading This week’s must read →

When technology is used to disenfranchise some citizens

Localities in our area are trying to make interaction with city government easier for citizens. Williamsburg this week released an app  where citizens can request city services through their smart phone. Trash can is missing? Just request a new one using the app. No more long waits on the phone. With the capabilities of technology … Continue reading When technology is used to disenfranchise some citizens →

Things we learned in last week’s election

It's so much easier to wax profound over an election once it's over. For honesty's sake, I think I'm on record at various places online predicting that the Republicans would take control of the Senate, 21-19, that Del. Robin Abbott would win a squeaker in the 93rd House District and that Sen. John Miller would … Continue reading Things we learned in last week’s election →

Norfolk Public Schools superintendent out

Richard Bentley couldn't perform miracles in less than 16 months on the job so the board "accepted" his resignation. Really? Yeah, I'm not buying that, either. Word on the street is that certain people were upset that Bentley, obviously a white guy, was hired in the first place to run the majority black school system. … Continue reading Norfolk Public Schools superintendent out →