From the Daily Press
4-day workweek
June 28, 2008
Virginia's government is meeting to try to fix the state's transportation problems. Unfortunately all the solutions they are looking at will take many years, if not decades, to impact traffic problems. There is a solution that would relieve the congestion problems this year, with many additional benefits and provide immediate cost savings to all Virginians.
The legislature should declare a transportation and energy state of emergency, and require all employers with 10 or more employees to immediately implement a 10-hour workday, four-day workweek with 20 percent of the employees off each day of the week. This would provide immediate relief for the traffic congestion problems of Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads, as well as providing statewide energy, pollution and cost savings.
There will be an immediate decrease in rush-hour traffic of at least 20 percent, which would greatly reduce traffic jams in the worst bottlenecks. The Hampton Roads Planning District Commission study done five years ago shows the rush-hour traffic volume at the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel was 3,600 vehicles per tube each hour (which is maximum capacity) with a seven- to eight-minute delay each way, and we all know it has gotten worse since.
Every worker would see an immediate 20 percent decrease in fuel costs. Workers would have an extra day off each week to spend with family or for recreation.
Ralph DeSimone, Toano VA
Saturday, June 28, 2008
BeatTheGridlock.com, now here's a great suggestion!
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
BeatTheGridlock.com
As a "citizen warrior" myself, the here-we-go-again, round-and-round nature of the transportation issue (upcoming General Assembly Special Session is on Mon Jun 23) isn't going to capture the attention of reporters or legislators at this point. Only a people-driven campaign will get some action.
BeatTheGridlock.com isn't advocating a position or partisanship. Simply trying to get SOMEthing done and enabling Virginians, all across the Commonwealth, to have one rallying cry…. BeatTheGridlock and Fix it Now!
Pass it on and let's all help make a difference!
If you have less than one minute, here is the Trailer of the Video:
If you have four minutes to spare, here is the full-length video:
Be sure to check out the BeatTheGridlock.com YouTube Channel and add yourself as a Friend on the MySpace page.
Let's get as many BeatTheGridlock.com Banners in our car windows to get our message across.
Monday, June 16, 2008
Another Slow News Day? More "Hampton Roads" Discussion
The comedian Lewis Black has, at least twice on visits here, poked fun at our region's official name: Hampton Roads.
A 2006 conversation with a fellow staff writer went like this:
"I think it's funny that you call yourselves Hampton - whatever it is. The first time someone said, 'Oh, you're going to Hampton Roads,' I said, 'Oh, where is that?' They said, 'It's Virginia,' and I said, 'No, it's Virginia Beach or Hampton. Come on! Where is it?' "
Black had similar thoughts, laced with profanities, during an earlier stand-up routine at a Virginia Beach nightclub. Funnyman Rodney Dangerfield used to say, "I don't get no respect." So, too, Hampton Roads.
Outside the region, "Hampton Roads" has been trying to catch on since the 1980s, when business and government officials convinced the U.S. Postal Service to change the region's postmark from Tidewater to Hampton Roads. Then Chamber of Commerce President Frederick J. Napolitano said the name "Tidewater" made him cringe.
The name is still struggling to catch on. Even The Weather Channel doesn't routinely call us that.
"They usually say Norfolk or the Tidewater of Virginia," Weather Channel spokeswoman Melissa Medori said of the channel's weather forecasters.
Which to some is odd, given that the history of the name dates to the 17th century. Even New York City's moniker, "The Big Apple," is only about 90 years old.
Most sources say the name Hampton Roads originated with the Third Earl of Southampton, Henry Wriothesley, a wealthy English nobleman from the southern port city of Southampton, England. (And a close friend of William Shakespeare.)
The earl took an interest in the new English settlement on what is now the Peninsula. The city of Hampton was officially named in 1610. Roads comes from the centuries-old nautical terms "road" and "roadstead," meaning a stretch of deep water safe for passage. But when those two words were put together the first time is a bit of a mystery.
"Hampton Roads," the channel linking the James, Elizabeth, and Nansemond rivers with the Chesapeake Bay, is identified in an act of the General Assembly in 1755. The oldest Virginia map listing the Hampton Roads channel is dated 1807, according to both the Norfolk Public Library and the Virginia Historical Society.
A neighborhood in Hampton is called Hampton Roads. It was built after World War I and borders Hampton Roads, the waterway.
As for the name spreading to the region, that's been a more contentious issue.
A movement launched in the 1950s to turn the lower Peninsula into the city of Hampton Roads died a quick death in the General Assembly, according to Virginian-Pilot archives.
More recently, a push to name the region Hampton Roads emerged from the business community in the 1980s. It began with the change in the region's postmark in 1983.
From there it spread. Or tried to.
On a recent flight from New York, the captain cruised over Hampton Roads, the waterway, touched down at Norfolk International Airport (not Hampton Roads International Airport), and announced, "Welcome to Norfolk, Virginia Beach and the greater Tidewater area."
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Colorado Rockies, May 2008
Bert and I traveled recently to Denver to visit his brother, Mark, and his wife, Marie. We enjoyed a Rockies game, some friendly brotherly competition(s) ... actually EVERYthing is a competition to these two - throwing baseballs, who looks older, etc. LOL ..., wine and cheese in the mountains, birthday parties and good company.
Monday, June 09, 2008
Why People Participate in Social Media?
What drives people to participate in social activity online? THAT is the question...
The reasons are varied, as varied as the participants themselves. Here's my short list. Care to add yours?
1. Need to make business connections: enough said, this is basic networking, albeit online
2. Need to connect with old friends: keeping up friendships, connecting with people you know, to find out what's up with them
3. Need to make new friends: according to surveys, one in five online singles has viewed or participated in online dating in the past year; marriage statistics last year put newlyweds meeting online at a rate of 12-12.5% (that's 1 in 8!); that's a lot of new friends
4. Need to please others: yes, succumbing to pressure to participate in anything from your peers is still around, it's just found a new face (facebook, that is)
5. Need to help others: paying it forward, contributing in any way possible, it's an altruistic impulse; it's what made Wikipedia possible
6. Need for lust: some social networking is basically an endless parade of exhibitionism and hedonism
7. Need for a creative outlet: are you a photographer, writer, or videographer? the Web is the perfect place to show off your skills
8. Need for validation: people who post information like to be seen as knowledgeable experts
9. Need to connect within similar interests: whether it's a bowling league, a school, or your fellow baseball team fans, what better way than to share interests by connecting online
Not everyone wants the same things within social networking. What's your reason?
Why Hampton Roads?
Nothing's wrong with a regional name that has a sense of place
Kerry Dougherty
The Virginian-Pilot©
June 8, 2008
REMEMBER WHEN you learned hell was a place, an ass was an animal, and there were two kinds of dam? It was such fun to toss around those naughty words in front of our parents.
I'm experiencing that giddiness today.
Because I get to use the T-word.
Here goes: Tidewater.
On occasion, I've tried to sneak the T-word into print. Most times, I was thwarted by stern editors, reminding me that Tidewater doesn't exist.
Neither does Atlantis, I once argued, but I'm allowed to mention that.
No dice, I was told.
Here's what our stylebook - the newsroom bible - has to say about the T-word:
Tidewater: Use Hampton Roads...
Regional honchos set out to eradicate "Tidewater" from the lexicon a few years ago. They wanted to replace it with the geographically vague "Hampton Roads."
I never describe our little corner of Virginia as Hampton Roads. Neither does anyone else. When asked, I tell people I'm from Virginia Beach. Or Tidewater. Or the Norfolk area (sorry, Meyera).
A story about our murky moniker in Friday's Pilot noted that even The Weather Channel prefers "Norfolk or the Tidewater of Virginia" to "Hampton Roads."
We've been bullied into using Hampton Roads over the past two decades. Still, no one does. The biggest victory for this futile effort came when the post office agreed to stick "Hampton Roads" on our postmarks.
As if postmarks matter.
Genuflecting at the altar of regionalism, the newspaper and TV stations foolishly joined the movement to purge our area of its poetic name.
Pity. Because Tidewater rolls off the tongue and makes you think of, well, tidewater. Hampton Roads makes you think of roads. Ugh.
One entity that's wisely resisted the regionally correct crowd is the airport.It's Norfolk International Airport. If you don't like it, land somewhere else.
"It will never be the Hampton Roads Airport as long as I'm chairman," declared Peter G. Decker, Norfolk lawyer and chairman of the airport authority. "If we had to change the name, it would be something like the Tidewater Airport.
Now that's got a special ring to it."
Bless you, Uncle Pete.
Decker said Friday he has a soft spot for "Tidewater" and that he and his wife never tell anyone they're from a place called Hampton Roads.
You go to Europe and say you're from Tidewater or Norfolk and people know what you're talking about," Decker said. "You say Hampton Roads, and they have no idea."
Yes, Hampton Roads has historical roots. Something to do with nautical terms from the 17th or 18th century. I hesitate to point this out, but it is the 21st century.
We've lost our powdered wigs and monocles. If only we could lose Hampton Roads, too.
News researcher Maureen Watts contributed to this column. Kerry Dougherty
I must share this from the Hampton Roads Partnership (HRP): "...regions – not cities or counties – are the units of economic competition. Only regions have the necessary scale and diversity to compete in the global marketplace. Only regions have an asset profile capable of projecting overall strength to compensate for profiles of individual localities which lack either essential infrastructure or a sufficiently skilled pool of labor. "
It is more important to act and cooperate regionally rather than to hold onto archaic notions reminiscent of high school sports. Certain tenets come to mind: "United we stand, Divided we fall" and "The whole is greater than the sum of its parts."
We are Hamptons Roads. Yes, the MSA we occupy is slightly different from our typical notion of who we are. But, nothing has been forced on us here by "regional honchos". Being recognized as a region with a single all-encompassing designation such as "Hampton Roads" is simply called branding. And, it's smart marketing. We just need everyone on the same bandwagon versus in-fighting and silliness such as my-city-is-better-than-your-city. Na-Na-Na-Na.
We are not Tidewater. Tidewater refers to the coastal plain of the Southern United States: eastern parts of Virginia and North Carolina and South Carolina and Georgia.
Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me! in VB
My rebuttal to 'Wait, Wait' taping was Va. nerd heaven
I share with you now from the Daily Press:
'Wait, Wait' taping was Va. nerd heaven
The popular NPR program did a show at the Sandler Center that revealed the number of a senator's tattoos.
BY MARK NEWTON
June 7, 2008
The lights came down June 5 in the Sandler Center for the Performing Arts in Virginia Beach and so did a disco ball.
In NBA fashion, the stars of National Public Radio's "Wait Wait ... Don't Tell Me" emerged from the sidelines to take the stage.
However, it was the news radio veteran and show judge Carl Kasell that ran on stage with his arms above his head.
To say that the program's collision of humor, politics, stupid criminals and other weird items was about the nerdiest event ever would be an understatement.
But, the Peabody Award-winning show attracts 2.6 million listeners on nearly 450 NPR stations nationwide, and its podcast edition recently surpassed 1 million downloads.
The Sandler Center, which housed the Virginia Arts Festival event, was packed, and only the most expensive seats remained available a few days prior.
Peter Sagal hosts the game show with a panel of celebrity judges and a celebrity guest. During the show, listeners call in and answer a series of questions based on current events.
June 5, the panel included Kasell, P.J. O'Rourke, a correspondent for "Atlantic Monthly;" Roxanne Roberts, author of the Washington Post's "Reliable Source" column, and author Tom Bodett.
The celebrity guest and contestant on the "Not My Job" segment was U.S. Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., who told an entire auditorium of people — and soon the entire nation — that when he's wearing a swimsuit, you can see two of his three tattoos.
In the "Not My Job" segment, he had to answer questions about an area with which he was unfamiliar. His topic: the life of A&P heir Huntington Hartford.
The senator, who was playing for a caller, correctly answered only one of three questions, so he did not win the prize: Kasell's voice on the caller's home answering machine.
Sagal says the prize was originally offered as a joke and is "priceless and worthless at the same time." But the fans love it.
During the two hours of taping for the 45-minute show, Sagal repeatedly praised the audience saying, "you help us perpetuate our scam."
Sagal says the show has wonderful fans, which is "gratifying" because they're "not the kind of people to tear our clothes off."
News to Use "Wait, Wait ... Don't Tell Me" airs locally on WHRV 89.5 FM on Saturdays at 11 a.m. The podcast is available from iTunes or the "Wait Wait" site, http://www.npr.org/waitwait, on Sunday nights.
Copyright © 2008, Newport News, Va., Daily Press
MY COMMENT:
"Nerd heaven"? That's a bit harsh. Does this tell us something about the quality of reporters at the newspaper? You think Intelligent humor = nerd? Shame, shame! Wait Wait ... Don't Tell Me! is a wonderful respite from the banality of typical potty-mouth comedy. Now, don't get me wrong; I enjoy an R-rated or smutty joke as much as the next person. And, for your information, Show Host Peter Sagal has written a mischevious missive called "The Book of Vice: Very Naughty Things (and How to Do Them)". So, "nerds" can be randy, too! But, how great to combine wit and wisdom! Just remember: the "nerds" from high school now rule the world! Thank you Virginia Arts Festival, WHRO, NPR and the Wait Wait crew for one of the best events ever in Hampton Roads! Come back anytime, and (just for you, Tom Bodett) we'll leave the light on for you.
Saturday, June 07, 2008
WHROlympians Win Three Awards, including 1st Place Overall
Congratulations to the WHROlympians!!!
In spite of public broadcasting's reputation as being smart, but not athletic, the WHROlympians dominated at the inaugural Downtown Norfolk Corporate Olympics, a kickoff of Norfolk Festevents' HarborFest 2008.
There were seven events and eleven teams, including Nauticus, Goodman & Company (accounting firm), Bank of America, Virginian-Pilot.
First, Annie powered her way through a tricycle riding time trial.
Second, Chuck was blind folded and was instructed by Kim through a maze while sitting in an office chair. They blew the field away and came in first by a long shot.
Third, Homer and Michelle tossed a egg back in forth until it cracked in Michelle's hand on the fifth toss. (We still maintain the egg was defective.)
Fourth, Robin and her strapping husband Mark, performed a great synchronized chair routine to the music of Thriller. They were one of the top three teams that were allowed an encore performance for the entire crowd at the end of the Games. The kiss was a great addition!
Fifth, the five person team of Robin, Kim, Michelle, Joe and Annie took turns dressing and undressing in a timed race (you can ask them about the details). I think they came in second overall.
Sixth, the girls came through again when I joined Debbie, Kim and Robin to give Bobbie great moral support as she single-handedly dominated the competition with a perfect 10 score in the "pass the message" game. What a memory!
And finally, the whole team came together for the big event of the day, the Tug of War. In a bracket format competition, the WHROlympians ran through the brackets winning four straight matches (in probably less than 15 seconds cumulatively) to win the Tug of War. Bert was interviewed by one of the local TV news stations with the team in the background shouting and cheering (and he even got a pitch in for membership).
At the awards ceremony, the special awards were:
Best Costumes - Scallywags (Targeted Publications)
Best Spirit - (hmmm, don't remember, must have been the heat getting to us)
Best Cheering - WHROLYMPIANS
And then, based on the 7 events, the overall winners were:
3rd - Nauticus
2nd - Bank of America
1st Overall - WHROLYMPIANS
The plaques and the traveling trophy will be sitting within WHRO's awards hallway.
Thanks to Ginny for being team captain and coordinator, Megan for the designer shirts, Bobbie for the team moniker and the entire team for doing so well.
For more photos from the Olympics and HarborFest, courtesy of the Virginian-Pilot, click HERE.
And, of course, it was really, really fun. I was glad to be a part of such a wonderfully cohesive group. Every workplace should be this lucky to have such heartfelt camaraderie. Hmmm, do I hear another award-in-the-making ? ? ? ?
Friday, June 06, 2008
Wait! Wait! Don't Tell Me! Naw, just kidding...PLEASE TELL ME!
WHRO and the VA Arts Festival did it again. They brought a NPR radio show to Hampton Roads. This time it was the magnificently wicked and intelligent Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! This is NPR's weekly hour-long quiz show, and it came to life for me on the stage of the Sandler Center in VA Beach this week. I can't wait to hear the podcast and the version edited for radio (no, it's not aired live and now I know why! lol)
Each week on the radio I test my knowledge with real news and some that's just made up. I must say, I like the mixture!
WHRO and VAF had a joint event afterward to meet/greet the stars of the show. So, who did we meet?
Peter Sagal -- the show's host who, according to his bio, has had a varied career including stints as a playwright, screenwriter, stage director, actor, extra in a Michael Jackson video, travel writer, essayist, ghostwriter and staff writer for a motorcycle magazine. I was lucky enough to have him sign his new book The Big Book of Vices: Very Naughty Things (and How to Do Them). Thanks, Peter!
Carl Kasell -- is the "Official Judge and Scorekeeper". He's been on NPR's Morning Edition since 1979. If you're not familiar with the show, Carl's voice on your home answering machine or other voicemail device is the PRIZE for winning callers. What started as a lark (come on, they had little to no budget) has become a prized possession! One audience member and avid fan who had earned Carl's voice years ago sported a t-shirt espousing her success!
This week's panelists included Roxanne Roberts, a writer for The Washington Post's Style section; P.J. O'Rourke, a correspondent for the Atlantic Monthly and sometimes commentator on HBO's Real Time with Bill Mahr; and, last but certainly not least, Tom Bodett, an author and commentator, yet he will be forever immortailized by Motel 6 commercials for saying "We'll leave the light on for you".
What fun! Hope to SEE them again soon!
Monday, June 02, 2008
Add teacher to my credentials
 | For Tidewater Community College's Academy of Nonprofit Excellence, I presented a one-day course on Monday, May 20th to approximately 30 people working toward their Certificate in Nonprofit Management. My topic: "Discovering and Navigating Niche Markets" |
Note: most class surveys asked that this class expand to two days based on the large amount of material covered, so we could delve deeper and do more hands-on marketing materials review (only had time for 3 organziations).
Sunday, June 01, 2008
Black Watch
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
I hung out with Garrison Keillor
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