Recount update

The recount in Virginia's Attorney General election started yesterday in three locations - Fairfax County, Chesapeake and Alexandria - with the rest of the state to start today. No numbers from Chesapeake or Alexandria but from Fairfax: https://twitter.com/BrianSchoeneman/status/412768101663780864 https://twitter.com/BrianSchoeneman/status/412774625777819648 The recount is expected to last through Wednesday, with the court hearing ballot challenges Wednesday and … Continue reading Recount update →

ICYMI: Virginia schools should look southward

My latest op-ed, title above, appeared in The Virginian-Pilot last Thursday.  The earlier article to which I refer is here.  That the Virginia SOLs are just now starting to include critical thinking in the curriculum is simply mind-boggling. Not that I haven't witnessed a lack of those skills, because I have. This obsession with memorization/regurgitation … Continue reading ICYMI: Virginia schools should look southward →

Coleman on desegregation

6th Senate district Republican candidate Wayne Coleman raised some eyebrows with his comments on John Frederick's radio show this week. I'm old enough to have lived during the desegregation of the schools here locally. And busing children, in my opinion, around the different districts, getting them out of their local neighborhoods, really was the beginning … Continue reading Coleman on desegregation →

6th special: First ads

I haven't seen or heard them myself yet but both candidates in the 6th are on the air, according to The Virginian-Pilot's Julian Walker. Here's Lewis' ad: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocAl9Kt5TzY Here's Coleman's ad: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4xAZbmMC6c A longer version of the Coleman ad is running on the radio. The 6th Senate special election will be held January 7, 2014.

E-Day in the 6th: Jan. 7

With the resignation of LG-elect Ralph Northam set for noon on January 11, Governor Bob McDonnell announced that the special election for the 6th Senate district will be held January 7. Democrat Lynwood Lewis will face Republican Wayne Coleman in the contest. While the turnout for special elections is always different from those of general … Continue reading E-Day in the 6th: Jan. 7 →

ICYMI: University system has lost its way

My latest op-ed, title above, appeared in The Virginian-Pilot Thursday. It is the first of several columns that I have planned on Virginia's lack of a university system for its four-year public universities. The topic has interested me for a couple of years, after having been brought to my attention by one of the regular … Continue reading ICYMI: University system has lost its way →

Norfolk’s upcoming council elections

Norfolk council elections are coming up in May. The five small wards will be on the ballot, along with the mayor. Due to a charter change, the mayor is running for just a two-year term; subsequent mayoral elections will coincide with those of the two superwards.But before we get to May, there's the soon-to-be open … Continue reading Norfolk’s upcoming council elections →

Friday fun on a Monday: left-brained or right-brained?

Back to work this morning after a few days off. I happened to see this quiz on Facebook, so I thought it would be an easy time-waster 😉 Besides, the quiz is certainly more fun than thinking about another Washington loss, right? (Playoffs?) Anyway - here's the quiz. Have a great Monday!  

Happy Thanksgiving!

I'm about to start my annual tradition of cleaning and cooking for tomorrow. Usually, I do my shopping on Wednesday as well, but I got that done last night. (Surprised to see so many in the grocery store at 9pm!) EDIT: Oops! Forgot the old menu doesn't include corn pudding, which definitely will be on … Continue reading Happy Thanksgiving! →

ICYMI: A leader by example

My latest op-ed, title above, appeared in The Virginian-Pilot last Thursday. The day before, it seems the photo you see here showed up all over the place in the news. The photo was taken by Pilot photographer Hyunsoo Leo Kim, and was distributed by the AP. It is from 2009, when I interviewed then gubernatorial … Continue reading ICYMI: A leader by example →