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VIRGINIA GAZETTE

 

 

 

 

WILLIAMSBURG, VIRGINIA

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Date

Title

Subject

2010.08.25

Privatizing is worth a shot

Virginia should get out of the state-run booze business and privatize the operation.

2010.08.14

Immigration paranoia

Why is Virginia ready to implement an immigration plan declared unconstitutional in Arizona?

2010.07.28

Water rules? Never mind

Why are county supervisors willing to compromise the Comprehensive Plan for the sake of new development?

2010.07.10

Loaded in the Militia Room

Some proposed regulations for those now able to carry concealed weapons into bars and restaurants

2010.06.23

Some prostitutes are bad

While Williamsburg police haul in a woman for a minor prostitution operation, political and corporate prostitutes still roam about freely. 

2010.06.12

The Perils of Graduation

A commencement address I never delivered.    Wonder why.

2010.05.26

Blinded to sexual truths

Why are parents upset when terms like “blow job” and “anal penetration” are used in sex education classes?

2010.05.08

Statue-tory rape defined

Life-size statues of Obama  and his family in Williamsburg seem to conflict with his attitude toward the press

2010.04.28

The height of ludicrousy

How ironic that the death of Dorothy Height occurred in Virginia’s Confederate History Month

2010.04.10

Inaccessible county info

The Jefferson Institute for Public Policy gives James City’s budget website a zero in all categories

2010.03.24

Ineffectual social promotion

New educational plans won’t mean much as long as schools try to circumvent standards

2010.03.13

Why anti-gay matters

Attorney General Cuccinelli advises state colleges not to include sexual orientation in nondiscrimination codes

2010.02.24

Suffer the poor & schools

Gov. Bob McDonnell’s budget proposals would do irreparable damage to Virginia’s public school system

2010.02.08

Busybody over obscenity

Del. Brenda Pogge proposes legislation to outlaw “obscenity” on public college campuses.

2010.01.27

Leave education to teachers

Let’s forget massive federal education programs that hinder good teaching and leave curriculums to teachers

2010.01.09

I promise…

New Year’s resolutions some of us should consider.

2009.12.23

We are socialists

I respond to readers’ comments on my columns. They claim I’m  a socialist and that I hate Republicans.

2009.12.12

Irony economy

Ironic that, while administrators plan for county growth, the current budget can’t support the residents we have

2009.11.25

Incomprehensible plan

A garbled process for approving the new county Comprehensive Plan leaves citizens wondering

2009.11.14

An alternative candidate

Given the plethora of unopposed candidates in recent elections and the tendency for voters to write in Disney characters, why not put Donald Duck on the ballot officially?

2009.10.28

Beware Cooch

The social agenda of attorney general candidate Ken Cuccinelli borders on the Neanderthalic

2009.10.10

$63,000 windfall

Why is the basketball coach at William &Mary getting a huge raise when faculty raises are frozen?

2009.09.23

Growth controls too late

It is perhaps too late to turn back the tide of untrammeled growth in James City County

2009.09.12

McDonnell’s manifesto

Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob McDonnell’s master’s thesis is actually a Republican Party manifesto

2009.08.26

Wittman doesn’t get it

Our congressman, Rob Wittman, follows the bizarre Republican lead in healthcare misinformation

2009.08.08

Criteria for profiles rank

In some areas, college ranking profiles may be overly subjective. 

2009.07.22

Highway robbery

The Virginia Department of Transportation and its unfortunate foibles

2009.07.11

Not quite created equal

What should we really be celebrating on the Fourth of July? Or not celebrating?

2009.06.24

Inconsequential centrists

Politicians, and especially Democrats, seem to be moving to the center. But is that where the people are?

2009.06.13

Rural lands at great risk

Are country planners really serious about preserving farmland and green spaces?

2009.05.27

An Unusual Republican

Perhaps a recent local election is indicative of the emergence of a more moderate Republican Party.

2009.05.09

My trouble with school

High schooler Jimmy Newby writes a column about school and his church picnic.

2009.04.22

Anarchists surround us

The Va. Fusion Center has issued its latest terrorist threat assessment. Guess what’s in Williamsburg?

2009.04.11

Tea Party has weak logic

Recent right-wing “tea parties” seem to be pushing the same old tiresome GOP tax agenda

2009.03.25

Lose a luxury? Rubbish!

Why are Williamsburgers in such a tizzy about trash collection?

2009.03.14

Guns & poses

While banning smoking in restaurants and bars, the VA. legislature will now allow concealed weapons in those venues.

2009.02.28

Exception for an ugly word

Even in the classroom we must confront racial and ethnic slurs

2009.02.14

Double standard on sex show

Why is the approval of the Sex Workers Art Show in the best interests of W&M this year, but not last?

2009.01.28

Get back in the classroom

Given the precarious position of the humanities in college curricula, should profs be teachng fewer courses?

2009.01.10

The arts suffer silently

Why in recessionary times are the arts the first to feel the budget ax?

2008.12.24

Real meaning

Is there such a thing as the “real meaning” of Christmas?

2008.12.13

Still left behind

It may be time to dump the No Child Left Behind Act and standardized testing

2008.11.28

Voting for faceless blobs

The Electoral College should be dumped into the trash bin of history

2008.11.08

A lot safer to be undecided

Why it’s better to be undecided in presidential elections.

2008.10.22

What is York’s high standard?

What happens when a county government tries to establish a “standard” for a “wholesome community”? 

2008.10.11

To be black, and president

Why a black high school student thinks a President Obama may be assassinated

2008.09.24

Un-Jeffersonian

Jeffersonian views on education and rebellion and the suspect appointment of a new president at William & Mary. 

2008.09.13

Elite world of hypocrisy

Sarah Palin and the “Eastern media elite.”

2008.08.27

The enemy within

Is an all out war against deer who have invaded a subdivision that was formerly their home justified?

2008.08.09

The high cost of sports

Does every middle and high school really need a full complement of sports, coaches and athletic directors?

2008.07.23

Alternative transpo

Is Virginia ready for serious discussion about high speed rail corridors?

2008.07.12

2 strikes; who’s up next?

The failure of the Democrats to thoroughly vet their candidate for the 1st House District leaves us with a Bush clone as the only candidate.

2008.06.25

A long line to Purgatory

Trials and tribulations of renewing a driver’s license at the local DMV

2008.06.14

She made a difference

On the death of Mildred Loving and the ramifications of the Loving vs. Virginia case

2008.05.28

Good satire hard to find

On the political buffoonery of some radio hosts – national and local

2008.05.10

A wheel of misfortune

Problems with middle school curricula

2008.04.22

An illegic election primer

High schooler Jimmie Newby gives his views on the Williamsburg city council elections

2008.04.12

Sick transit inglorious

You can’t get there from here on  a Williamsburg Area Transport bus.

2008.03.26

Cringe at truth

Are semantics getting in the way of our discussion of racism? 

2008.03.08

More empty promises

Why you can’t trust the promises made in political campaigns.

2008.02.27

Nichol as Socrates

Striking similarities between the plight of former William & Mary president Gene Nichol and Socrates

2008.02.09

Show wasn’t in her district

Delegate Pogge and others on the right dabble in censorship of William & Mary’s sex workers show

2008.01.23

Intellectual disability

Local boards and state legislators once again prove that intellectual disability has little to do with mental health

2008.01.12

An impeachable offense

George Bush and other English manglers have left the language in a state of total disrepair

2007.12.26

Equal treatment should rule

All media, including local radio stations, should give equal time to political candidates

2007.12.08

Give me progress, not guilt

The College of William & Mary should not apologize for the presence of slaves on campus

2007.11.28

E Pluribus bummed

An allegedly purple-turning state stays red in James City County

2007.11.10

Two reforms for high school

Some suggestions for changing course in the public high schools

2007.10.24

Who shot Dan Quayle?

As a result of putting standardized tests on an educational pedestal, our public high schools are in deep trouble.  

2007.10.13

Cub reporter tells all

High school junior Jimmy Newby sits in for Lew and covers a debate – sort of.  

2007.09.26

What would you do?

Democratic candidate for the House of Delegates finds himself in hot water as a result of blogger info

2007.09.08

What price representation?

Should constituents whose representatives or senators are absent for long periods due to illness be without representation? 

2007.08.22

No guts on gun control

While Democrats cave in to the NRA there is talk of arming college students to fend off future Chos

2007.08.11

Where to take Internet date

Where to go in Williamsburg on a hot date. Probably not the Matoaka Amphitheater

2007.07.25

We need smaller schools

Is building more large high schools and middle schools really what we should be doing?

2007.07.14

Abuser fees abuse reason

New abuser fees leave Virginia drivers in the lurch

2007.06.27

Quid pro quo transpo

Virginia’s latest transportation legislation is balkanizing the state

2007.06.09

A Republican dynasty

Republican attempts at a gynecological dynasty in Virginia’s 96th House district.

2007.05.23

Why water the lawn?

The lunacy and waste involved in maintaining the perfect lawn.

2007.05.12

Undeserved fanfare

Going overboard for the queen’s visit to Jamestown

2007.04.25

After a horrific slaughter

What is there to learn from the massacre at Virginia Tech?

2007.04.14

Melanie Rapp gets it right

Del. Rapp gets it right with respect to the crazed transportation bill and an attempted smoking ban.

2007.03.28

6 rules that were bent

James City County’s use of the process of eminent domain

2007.03.10

The big scheme of things

Maybe the eclipse of the moon is more important than we think

2007.02.28

Sex is here, get over it

Does W&M president Gene Nichol deserve the punches he taking over a cross and a sex show?

2007.02.10

Metaphor bowl

Why baseball is a better metaphor for social behavior than football

2007.01.24

Beware academic bill

Yet another conservative attempt to ensure “diversity” in the state’s colleges and universities.

2007.01.12

Hard to digest

Cannibalism in Jamestown and the Virginia General Assembly

2006.12.27

Playback is hell

A look back at 2006 on the national, state and local levels.  

2006.12.08

Tempests of boredom

Tempests in a teapot over a cross removal, a gay-straight alliance club and Webb’s reaction to Bush

2006.11.22

Roosting with the royals

On the impending visit of the British royals to Jamestown.

2006.11.11

Kerry had a good point

Kerry’s “botched joke” might tell us more about education than we want to know.

2006.10.25

Also-rans are off the rails

Why aren’t independent candidates given a seat at the debate table?

2006.10.14

Paranoid threat

Why the proposed anti-gay marriage amendment to the Virginia Constitution should be defeated.

2006.09.24

Time for contrition on war

Republicans, including Rep. Jo Ann Davis, try a unique election strategy

2006.09.09

An award to hucksters

Astronomers, George Bush, the architect of New Town and Parks & Rec get a HOOEY

2006.08.23

Here is the “real world”

On George Allen’s “macaca” remark to S.R. Sidarth

2006.08.12

Universal health

Emergency room problems and the need for a single-payer, universal health plan.

2006.07.26

Crippling of the individual

Given our present nasty state of affairs, perhaps another look at the Socialism of Albert Einstein and Frank Zeidler is in order.

2006.07.08

Jamestown not worth it

Should we really be celebrating the questionable colonization process known as Jamestown?

2006.06.28

Harking back to Jefferson

Our politics and economics could use a good dose of Jeffersonian logic.

2006.06.10

German lesson

Cheers and jeers to the National Spelling bee, Williamsburg City Council and Virginia Democrats

2006.05.24

Why teens turn violent

What lies behind the recent outbreak of teen violence?

2006.05.13

Stronger zoning

On the James City Planning Commission and why it should be elected, not appointed.

2006.04.26

A vote for the kid

Get some new blood on Williamsburg’s City Council. Vote for Sievers.

2006.04.08

Pimps, ho’s and politics

Aristophanic dysfunction at work in several Williamsburg milieus.

2006.03.22

Transfixed by fear

We’ve become a nation driven by fear in too many categories of life.

2006.03.11

Faculty politics easy target

A response to John Tierney of the NY Times relative to the resignation of Harvard’s Lawrence Summers.

2006.02.22

The Persian gulp

Shenanigans in the 2006 state legislature and Republican vindictiveness

2006.02.11

When consent is implied

Date rape may not solely be the fault of the male involved.

2006.01.25

Tyranny lives in Virginia

Tyrannical decisions on the state and local level in Virginia.

2006.01.14

Let freedom ring

Do we really want to spread our concept of freedom and liberty around the world?

2005.12.28

Take them out after 1 year

Why not try the Athenian election system here?

2005.12.10

The chaos of Christmas

Why December is replete with ersatz holidays.

2005.11.23

On the centrist fringe

It’s time for Virginia Democrats to get off their meaningless centrist path.

2005.11.12

Government absurdity

Absurdities in recently revealed James City planning documents

2005.10.26

Growth virus is green

VPA Award Winner

Rampant growth virus sweeps James City County

2005.10.08

Learning from adversity

Rep. Jo Ann Davis’ fight with breast cancer and a hope for new advocacies.

2005.09.28

They’re running on empty

VPA Award Winner

James City’s questionable candidates for the House of Delegates

2005.09.10

We could have done more

The federal  government’s woefully inadequate  response  to Katrina

2005.08.24

Focus on studies, not sports

The need to return to a basic, core curriculum in high schools

2005.08.13

Problem? Call Agriculture

Frustrating laws and how to deal with them

2005.07.27

Beware invasion of privacy

Invasions of privacy in the Patriot and No Child Left Behind Acts

2005.07.09

Water as a metaphor

Overdevelopment means water shortages and crowded schools

2005.06.22

Dumber for governor

The foibles of Virginia’s race for governor in 2005

2005.06.11

Casual boom boom

Sleazy Internet offers are a metaphor for other sinister lures

2005.05.25

Life on Easement Street

The challenge to homeowners by easements for tree trimming and cable laying. Where is our local government?

2005.05.14

Freedoms threatened

Attempts by the right to invade college classrooms

2005.04.27

Still too easy to buy guns

On the Second Amendment and the suicides of two young students

2005.04.09

Christianity in excess

How local contests fit into the schisms in the Republican Party

2005.03.30

Habla jibber-jabber

Response to those opposed to the new Gazette Spanish column

2005.03.23

Drug Tests Unconstitutional

Random drug testing of students and the legalization of drugs

2005.03.12

The joy of newspapering

On the 2004 awards ceremony of the Virginia Press Assoc.

2005.02.23

Pants can droop, morals can’t

VPA Award Winner

The VA. Senate vs. the House of Delegates and its loopy legislation

2005.02.12

Conflicting quest for values

Conflicting moral and political values are affecting education

2005.01.26

“Get over it” arrogance

The hubris of Bush’s Pax Americana and “We won. You lost. Get over it”

2005.01.08

Your government at work

Trivial and discriminatory bills in the 2005 VA legislature

2004.12.22

Defraying the costs of sprawl

Growth and sprawl are strangling Williamsburg and James City Co.

2004.12.11

Christmas traditions?

Christmas traditions: More heathen than Christian?

2004.11.24

The Land of the Boobies

Is our School Board asleep at the switch?

2004.11.13

What, me negative? Hah!

The values issue in the last election as it pertains to the red states

2004.10.27

Fear of the government

Our fear of terrorism has led some to fear the government as well

2004.10.09

Too far right for constituents

Rep. Jo Ann Davis, running unopposed, should moderate her views

2004.09.22

“9/11” foes lack specifics

Why those opposed to showing Moore’s “F-9/11” at the Kimball in Williamsburg are wrong. 

2004.09.11

Hypocritic Oaths

Hypocrisy flourishes at the political conventions

2004.08.25

Vital Romance languages

The importance of Latin to the study of English and Romance languages

2004.08.14

Discrimination hurts tourism

Virginia’s history of bigotry now includes gays

2004.07.28

Shaky Commitments

VPA Award Winner

On marriage, political and educational commitments

2004.07.10

“Fahrenheit” is heated

The positive polemicism of Michael Moore

2004.06.23

Repulsively undemocratic

On the Electoral College, the Dillon Rule and other political outrages

2004.06.12

History will be the judge

Reagan, like Kennedy, must await history’s judgment

2004.05.26

Wiseman treated unjustly

VPA Award Winner

Prof. Lawrence Wiseman deserved better from William & Mary administration

2004.05.10

Leadbeater’s predictions

Predictions about the national election and local doings

2004.04.28

Bigotry in the Last Word

Should heterosexuality join homosexuality in the Last Word?

2004.04.10

Blunders worthy of Naso

Ironic blunders of those in high places

2004.03.24

Social promotion fails students

Problems with social promotion and middle schools

2004.03.13

Better amendments

Some divine laws in Leviticus that should definitely become Constitutional amendments

2004.03.06

Linkletter says the darndest things

Art Linkletter, the United Seniors Assoc. and the Jost/Norment flap

2004.02.25

Much ado about not much

VPA Award Winner

Why are our elected officials so interested in sex and Janet Jackson?

2004.02.14

Wallowing in debt

Federal deficits and debt and how they affect states and localities

2004.01.28

Sneaky retreats

Do our school board and supervisors really need to go on retreats?

2004.01.10

New ‘Best of’ categories

The success of Republican women and other “bests”

2003.12.24

Glitter may hide dross

Suspicious Christmas gifts from Bush and some locals

2003.12.13

Flaws of home-schooling

Problems with home-schooling and state regulations of it

2003.11.26

Stripping politics naked

Democratic appeal to the Southern white voter

2003.11.08

Uncontested elections a sham

The results of uncontested elections and incumbency

2003.10.22

Passive democracy, yawn

The lost art of political campaigning

2003.10.11

Oxymoron: Cox Communications

VPA Award Winner

On Cox’s lame performance after Isabel

2003.09.24

Hurricane wake-up calls

On surviving Hurricane Isabel

2003.09.17

Superior academics must have priority

VPA Award Winner

Accreditation considerations for the College of William & Mary

2003.08.27

Hooters is harmless

VPA Award Winner

Why Hooters should come to Williamsburg

2003.08.09

Skip the platitudes, please

Local pols must forget the slogans and get down to specifics

2003.07.23

Erosion of civil rights

Local librarians fight vs. Patriot Act for the right to read

2003.07.12

Dire legacy of Jamestown

The Supreme Court rectifies the problems inherited from Jamestown

2003.06.25

Zen at the rec center

Strange patrons at the center and notes on the pool closing

2003.06.14

Remember the Democrats?

Why are Democrats supporting Republicans?

2003.05.28

Here’s a real candidate

Elect Bill Tolbert over Jost or Norment

2003.05.10

Be wary of politicalspeak

Political code words and what they mean

2003.04.23

Jost shot himself in the foot

Problems for Jost and Norment in the Republican primary

2003.04.12

Rally for whose America?

Whose idea of America are we rallying for?

2003.03.26

Our rural beauty lost

Unwarranted growth and development in James City

2003.03.08

Why they’re left behind

Problems with standardized tests and proficiency benchmarks

2003.02.26

Send in the Clowns

Legislative shenanigans in Richmond - 2003

2003.02.08

Budget Ax Slashes Arts

On budgetary and political suppression of the arts

2003.01.22

Focus on Major Issues

The importance of major issues over social engineering in this legislative session.

2003.01.11

Oust Kissinger as Chancellor

Henry Kissinger should be removed as chancellor of William & Mary

2002.12.24

Educate to Prevent AIDS

The problems of dealing with AIDS on state an local levels

2002.14.12

The Politics of Party Switching

Party Switching and Mike McGinty

2002.11.27

Big Brother Alive and Well

Loss of privacy as a result of government snooping

2002.11.09

Cutbacks in Mental Health

No further cutbacks for mental health facilities

2002.10.23

Election Blues

Uncontested elections and a bad transportation referendum

2002.10.12

Bad Call on Concealed Weapons

Keep guns out of parks, playgrounds and rec centers

2002.09.25

Make Amphitheater Plans Public

Renovations of the Lake Matoaka Amphitheatre: cost and uses

2002.09.14

Speeding Along on Road to Ruin

Raising speed limits on secondary and primary roads

2002.08.28

Tax Exemption Amendment

Real estate tax exemptions for religious purposes

2002.08.10

Good Politicians Deserve Support

Political moderates find themselves in difficulty

2002.07.24

Vouchers Harm Public Schools

Who gains and suffers from a voucher system in Virginia?

2002.07.13

Global Warming Matters at Home

Is Williamsburg suffering from the effects of global warming?

2002.06.26

Revamp the SOL Exams

Standards for the SOLs should apply to questions too

2002.06.08

Environmentalists Beware of Plan

Beware of changes to the 1997 Comprehensive Plan

2002.05.22

Shape up, Neighbor

Problems with neighborhood architectural control boards

2002.05.11

Williamsburg should annex James City

Put all shared city and county responsibilities under one political umbrella

2002.04.22

Put up, before I’ll put out

Are uncontested elections in the public interest? 

2002.04.13

Is Road Referendum a Pig in the Poke?

An argument against the transportation bond referendum in November 2002 

2002.03.27

Do We Need a Third High School?

A Technology Center Might Be A Possible Alternative To A New High School

2002.03.09

Let’s Put Athletics on the Table

Proposed William & Mary Budget Cuts Not Applied Fairly

2002.02.27

Tolerance vs. Zero Tolerance

Discipline  Issues For WJCC School System

2002.02.09

Bills Focus on Wrong Things

General Assembly Bills Do Not Address Real Education Issues

2002.01.26

Keep Hands Off Library Funding

Budget Cuts Would Hit WMBG-JCC Library Hard

2002.01.12

Bond for the Community Good

Support for WJCC Rec Center Expansion Bond Issue

2001.12.22

Pother over Potter

Harry Potter Brouhaha and America’s Faith in Reason

2001.12.01

Halpin’s Resignation

JCC Democratic Chairman Mike Halpin Resigns

2001.11.14

Democratic Victory?

Are the New Democrats Really Old Republicans?

2001.10.24

Spoiler Upstages Debate

Rapp, Pettit, Ashe and Stermer Debate for General Assembly Race

2001.10.06

Tone Down the Rhetoric of War

Jihad and the Culture Wars

2001.09.19

A New York Moment

Recollections of Pre 9/11 New York

2001.08.22

A Matter of Privacy

Stoplight Cameras, Waiting Periods and Crimes Against Nature Law

2001.07.25

Platform for Democrats

SOL Testing, Political Buzzwords & the Status of Virginia Education

2001.07.11

Strength Causes Downfall

Del. George Grayson Gerrymandered Out of Office

2001.06.23

Tax Cut Just Doesn’t Cut It

Rep. Jo Ann Davis’ Optimistic View of Federal Tax Relief Bill

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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