Author: Vivian J. Paige

A former candidate, I've learned a lot about politics, both good and bad. I'd prefer more of the former and a lot less of the latter and I'm trying to do my part!

Webb v Bush: BJS has the goods

I have not commented on the now infamous exchange between President George Bush and Virginia Senator-elect Webb, mainly because it seems that all of what I have read about the incident has come via partisan sources. To my knowledge, no one who observed the incident has commented so I've been content to let the rest … Continue reading Webb v Bush: BJS has the goods →

Committee defeats payday lending ban

According to the Daily Press, the predatory lending of payday loans will be allowed to continue. In a 10-8 vote, the Commerce and Labor Committee defeated a bill from Del. John O'Bannon, R-Henrico, aimed at repealing the 2002 law that began a new chapter in consumer lending. It led to an explosion of storefront payday … Continue reading Committee defeats payday lending ban →

Charity idea: Help Virginia Read

One of the joys of blogging is having people read what I write. If all I do is write and no one reads it, would there be any joy? I don't know - and I really don't want to find out 😉 But the reality is that there are some people who cannot read. Stepping … Continue reading Charity idea: Help Virginia Read →

What’s old is new

A long time ago, primary schools housed students up to the eighth grade and high school started at 9th grade. There were no junior high schools (as they were called when I attended, and included grades 7-9) or middle schools, as they are now called, housing grades 6-8. Hampton is now looking to revert to … Continue reading What’s old is new →

Panel recommends against verified voting

The federal panel charged with writing the guidelines for the U.S. Election Assistance Commission rejected a proposal that would have required voting machines to have a paper trail or another independent means of verifying election results. Some of the members who voted against the proposal said that they support paper trails but don't think the … Continue reading Panel recommends against verified voting →

Governor Kaine delays execution

Governor Tim Kaine has decided to delay the execution of Percy Lavar Walton for another 18 months: “After reviewing this information, I am compelled to conclude that Walton is severely mentally impaired and meets the Supreme Court’s definition of mental incompetence. Because one cannot reasonably conclude that Walton is fully aware of the punishment he … Continue reading Governor Kaine delays execution →

Hampton Roads blog sighting: Pen and Sword

Over the last few days, I discovered another fine Hampton Roads blog, Pen and Sword, which is written by Virginia Beach resident Jeff Huber. Huber is a retired Navy Commander who writes about military and foreign affairs. His last couple of posts are what caught my eye in the Virginia Political Blogs feed. Take a … Continue reading Hampton Roads blog sighting: Pen and Sword →

Getting dropouts back on track

Part two of the series in the Daily Press regarding the shortage of employees in the area appeared today with the above title. (See my post on part one here.) Today's article looks at dropouts. Hampton Roads has the lowest graduation rates in the state. The problem has serious implications: The Alliance for Excellent Education … Continue reading Getting dropouts back on track →

Monday morning quarterback

I had high hopes for the Redskins yesterday. On Sunday morning, I read this article from the Virginian-Pilot, in which Jim Ducibella laid out the plans to return to smash-mouth football. Good - a return to Redskins-style football. And early in the game, I was not disappointed. The 'Skins jumped out to a 14-0 lead, … Continue reading Monday morning quarterback →

So many jobs, so few qualified

The above is the title of an article in today's Daily Press, which is part one of a two-part series. The article lays out that many students - even graduates - are leaving high school unprepared for the workplace, forcing the companies to hire foreigners or forgo expansion plans. Many recent high school graduates who … Continue reading So many jobs, so few qualified →