VA Bloggers Blog Carnival

In case you missed any of the writeups about last weekend's Blog Summit, Semi Truths has done an excellent job pulling together all of the posts about it. Take a look - well worth the read 😉

Billy Robinson: brillance derailed

Today's Pilot article is written almost as a postscript to the career of a brillant man who has been brought to his knees by his own deeds. Just five years ago, he was a highly sought after defense attorney and a respected member of the Virginia legislature. Today, William P. Robinson, Jr., the Harvard educated … Continue reading Billy Robinson: brillance derailed →

Chesapeake: $14 million we didn’t know we had

Nearly 12 months after the end of the fiscal year, the City of Chesapeake has discovered $14 million in revenues it didn't know it had. I'm not really sure how that could have happened. Like all cities, Chesapeake was audited last year and the audit report for the year ended June 30, 2005 was issued … Continue reading Chesapeake: $14 million we didn’t know we had →

The fleecing of Norfolk: Council ignored paid consultant

It seems that Norfolk's citizens ponied up $10,000 two years ago for a consultant to advise council on cab operations in the city. At the time, the consultant recommended that none of the medallions, or certificates to operate cabs, be given to City Wide Cabs. City Wide Cabs is owned by Lee Perry Rempas, the … Continue reading The fleecing of Norfolk: Council ignored paid consultant →

Fallout from the blog conference

One of the items discussed in detail at the conference was the issue of whether bloggers are journalists. It seems that the journalist panelists mostly thought we are not, mainly because our work is not subject to an editorial process. I concede the point that we do not have editors. But if that is all … Continue reading Fallout from the blog conference →

Norfolk population shrinking?

The Census Bureau thinks so. They are calling Norfolk the fastest shrinking city in the America. If Norfolk is shrinking, we should see properties sitting vacant. But we don't. We should see building permit application decline. But we don't. It seems the problem is with the way that the Census Bureau calculates the numbers: The … Continue reading Norfolk population shrinking? →

Blacks and Maryland politics

There's another Senate race going on right now, one in Maryland which pits former NAACP president Kweisi Mfume against Rep. Ben Cardin. The winner of the September 12 primary will face Republican Lt. Governor Michael Steele to replace retiring Senator Paul Sarbanes. From what I have read, Mfume jumped into this race three days after … Continue reading Blacks and Maryland politics →

Norfolk school board nominees

Norfolk is the only city in Hampton Roads that does not elect its school board. The city council appoints the members. Last Tuesday, council accepted eleven nominations for the two available seats. One seat became open with the election of chairperson Theresa W. Whibley to the council. The other seat is currently occupied by school … Continue reading Norfolk school board nominees →

Father’s Day 2006

Today, June 18, 2006, is the 32nd one I have experienced without my father. Charles Thomas Paige (b. 9/25/11, d. 9/6/73) was an usual man for his time. In this photo (click to enlarge), which I believe it was taken on 6/15/50, the date of his graduation from Temple University with a masters' degree in … Continue reading Father’s Day 2006 →