Saturday, March 31, 2012

Only in Norfolk

Only the Norfolk city council would hold a closed door meeting to discuss FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) requests with a city lawyer present as the excuse to hold a closed door meeting.

The best part is what they did was in exact contradiction of the FOIA statute.  In fact, "Ginger Stanley, executive director of the Virginia Press Association, said she was part of a group that helped rewrite the FOIA laws in 1999. She said they were rewritten in part to bar exactly the kind of discussion the Norfolk council held Tuesday."

Of course, the only one who would talk about the it was Paul Riddick and not missing a beat he played the race card.  I wonder how Mr. Riddick is doing on the payment of his overdue taxes?  I also wonder if Mr. Riddick has a valid business license to operate this year?  Interesting.  

You stay classy, Norfolk City Council.  
I guess as long as we keep re-electing these bozos we deserve this kind of behavior.

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Requests - Random Observation

So I have gotten a complete of requests for my blog and I don't want to disappoint my hundreds of loyal followers.

1.  My take on the local election in Norfolk.  This one is quick and easy.  It is just like the Presidential election.  Once someone has demonstrated monumental incompetence and a history of wasting taxpayer's money (I am looking at you Barry) that person probably should not be re-elected.  Given that stance my opinion about the re-election bid of Barclay Winn is really easy.  After spearheading light rail with questionable figures and throwing away $150M+ and as an added bonus put a financial burden on Norfolk for decades to come, he probably should not be re-elected.  I would at this point vote for Bill the Goat.   For the simple fact, Bill would do no worse than Barclay.  Nothing I write is going to change the mind of anyone who is ready to vote for someone has demonstrated he should should not have anything to do with the city's finances.  

2.  The second request is one of my loyal readers is a little upset about Norfolk public works.  Apparently, Norfolk public works is only open from 0730 and close at 3pm.  That is a 7.5 hour work day with lunch.  Sounds like our tax money is hard at work.  This is Norfolk.  We are about to take control of an agency that paid a woman for 12 years to not come to work.  A 7.5 hour work day does not surprise me in the least. 

3.  As I get older, things that were not a big deal when I was younger are really starting to annoy me.  I guess that is part of the process of aging.  Now if only those kids would get the hell off my lawn.  

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Crazy NFL week

Well, the first big news was that Peyton Manning has decided to QB for the Denver Broncos with a five year, $96M deal.   It is a good fit and Denver fans should be excited.  With that defense, you are going to the play-offs.

Then John Elway wasted no time in getting rid of the QB he never wanted.  Today, the big news was that Tim Tebow had been traded to the J-E-T-S, Jets! Jets! Jets!
Seriously?
The Jets?
I am sure there is a worse fit for Tebow but I am having a hard time thinking of one.  You already have a divided locker room and a QB on the hot seat that was just given a three year extension.  Are the Jets really going to bench Sanchez and let Tebow light it up?  I doubt it.  

But now the news is reporting that Denver and the Jets can't agree on the bonus money pay back in his contract and Denver wants to recapture some of the money.  Um, really?  Have these teams never been involved in a trade before?  Either both sides have incompetent lawyers and personnel managers or this is a publicity stunt.  I can't believe any professional football team would announce a trade and then go "my bad, I forgot about that $5M."

And now the Jaguars are back in the mix.  For Tim's sake, I hope he lands there.  It is a much better fit and he will be immensely popular there. 

More big news.  Roger Goodell decided to drop the hammer on the Saints and has suspended Sean Payton for a year, essentially ended Gregg Williams career, suspended the GM for half the season and the assistant coach for 6 games.  AND fined them $500K and took away the next two years second round draft picks.
Overreact much commissioner?

Don't get me wrong, I absolutely do not condone the behavior and it needed to be punished.  However, this is going way overboard.  Roger is going to gut a team for stuff that is probably going on in every locker room.  Just like Redskin and Cowboy fans found out last week, Saints fans now know what it's like when Goodell decides to make an example out of your team.  



As Jackie Chiles said, it's outrageous, egregious, preposterous.

Thursday, March 15, 2012

You stay classy Norfolk

Well, just when you thought you had heard it all, Norfolk decides to take it to the next level.  Apparently, a city recreation center supervisor named Ricky Freeman has embezzled at least $62,000. 

It is not clear how much jail time, if any, Mr. Freeman is going to serve.

Apparently,  Norfolk is trying to convince me on at least a weekly basis that I need to consider moving to a less corrupt city like Chicago or New Orleans. 

Monday, March 12, 2012

NFL news

If I was a betting man, I would say that Peyton Manning is Denver bound.  It's the logical fit and solves a lot of John Elway's problems.  He gets a legitimate passer and no one can argue about him not starting Tebow with a hall of fame QB on the roster.  John Fox has demonstrated that he is willing to change his offense to work with his quarterback.  I am sure Fox and Elway would like to give Peyton the keys and let him drive to the play-offs.  It's the AFC West for goodness sake.  It is a very winnable division.

Now let's talk about my Redskins trading three firsts and a second for the Rams' second pick to get RG3 in the draft.  Wow.  That is a high price to pay indeed.  Steve Czaban has some great analysis on why this is a desperate move by a desperate coach and desperate owner.   I agree with his points.  But my reaction is simply this:  they had to do something.  It has been twenty years since Washington has had a QB of note.  In this league, without a franchise QB it is very hard to win.  Was it poor planning/drafting that got us into this mess? Yes. Do I wish we didn't have to give up so many draft picks? Yes. But we have sucked for so long something had to give.  I would rather them place all the chips on RG3 and see what happens vice spending another year waiting for next year to rebuild.

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Rules for the gym

Guys, let's review a couple of quick etiquette rules for the gym.

1.  The shower is not your personal dressing room.  When you are done get out and let someone else in.  Don't preen and prep.  There are a limited number of showers.  You can get dressed somewhere else.

2.  I know some guys feel the need to drink those protein concoctions before they work out.  Prepping the drink by the locker is one step above prepping food in the bathroom. It's gross.  Take that stuff outside or at least away from the lockers.

3.  Don't take up the whole aisle when getting dressed.  Open the door enough to get your stuff in, place your stuff in and move out. 

Thank you.

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Biggest Free Agent EVER!

Well, it looks like the Colts are going to release Peyton Manning which should come as a surprise to exactly no one.  The real question now is which team does he end up on? This analysis by ESPN is pretty good.  The biggest options are Miami, Washington and Arizona.  I am not sold that the Cardinals have to keep Kolb so I think it is more than a medium chance.  Also, if the 49ers have a chance to get Peyton and pass in favor of Alex Smith, they are crazy. 

I really think it comes down to Washington and Miami.  I don't think Peyton would put up with Kyle Shanahan as his OC, so DC doesn't look promising (although on a personal note I would love it.)

Peyton is a competitor and if he can go to a team in a division where he gets to play Tom Brady twice a season I think he would jump at that chance. From where I'm sitting it looks pretty clear to me that Peyton is South Beach bound. 

Sunday, March 4, 2012

Duh!

I want to make sure that I understand this.  A Norfolk councilman is conducting a poll and asking whether the people of Norfolk would rather have an elected school board or not.  Does this question really need to be asked?  Do we have to query the masses and get a consensus?  Would we rather have a school board that is accountable to the people or one that is beholden to the city council?  That's a really tough call. 

Paging Captain Obvious.  Please pick up on the courtesy phone. 

I am at a loss for why the poll is even being posted.  Why ask the question when you already know what the answer is? 

Here's a hint: any time power can be taken away from elected officials and given to the people is a good thing. 

Saturday, March 3, 2012

A start?

Well, at least Councilwoman Williams wants the CSB audited for all their financial missteps.  That's a good first step.  The bad news is that in July the CSB officially becomes a department of Norfolk.  So we are going to take a dysfunctional agency and make it part of what is clearly a dysfunctional city government?  Sounds like a marriage made in heaven.  Sometimes things are so bad that you have to wipe the slate clean and start over.  This is one of those times.  Norfolk should defund the CSB and try again because this is not going to end well.