Quickie roundup

Haven’t done one of these in a while.

Nearly everyone is up in arms about the new TSA procedures for either full-body scans or pat-downs. I don’t fly very often so it’s unlikely I’ll be subjected to either in the near future. And by the time I fly again, the rules will have probably changed.

Another source of angst is last week’s booting of Brandy from “Dancing with the Stars” while Sarah Palin’s daughter, Bristol, stayed on the show. I don’t watch the show but I find it interesting that so many are concerned about it. Brian Kirwin weighed in on it in this Politico story.

Let me add my voice to those who are saying NO to another run for office by Glenn Nye. One of his votes just this past week proves he just doesn’t get it: Nye was one of 11 Democrats to vote against an extension of unemployment benefits.

Apple released iOS 4.2 for the iPad yesterday. I’m still on the fence about getting one. In the meantime, I’m anxiously awaiting the release of the BlackBerry Playbook, especially after viewing this video.

Norfolk’s retiring city manager is receiving a package worth about $369,000. I have to say that I don’t think the package is too large, but I do disagree with how the package was negotiated. It’s that old “T” word again: transparency.

Have I mentioned Norfolk’s pursuit of riverboat gambling? No? Well, that’s about the same consideration it’s going to get in the General Assembly. Seriously, folks – this is one of the many reasons why the Dillon Rule doesn’t work. Whether or not I support riverboat gambling is irrelevant, because the decision on what Norfolk can do is in the hands of folks who don’t live here.

Two items of interest coming out of Portsmouth. First, Sunday’s Currents contained a tidbit about former mayoral candidate Lee Cherry getting a job in the Sheriff’s office. Hmmm. And then we have the council poised to vote tonight on changing its elections to November. If the school board members, who will also be affected by this change, were unaware of it, you can bet the citizens don’t know about it. A little transparency goes a long way, folks.

Finally, there’s the story of former VB sheriff Paul Lanteigne using his contacts at the department to get information for a contract for his new employer. The most interesting line in there to me: “While city employees are prohibited for one year from accepting a job with a company that does business with the city, the sheriff is a state constitutional officer and has no such restriction.” The question is why not? Come on, General Assembly! If you guys can mess in Norfolk’s riverboat gambling decision, why don’t you pass a conflict of interest law that applies to constitutional officers? Harry Byrd must be somewhere smiling.