The instructors in Career Switchers warned us time and again...there would be no free time during the first year of teaching. In the one month since being hired at Virginia Beach Middle School, I have found no reason to argue that point. I spend 7 to 8 hours a day at school and usually another two hours or more of home time on school work. That's not including the school work I do between 4am and 6am. My body clock is still set to morning radio time...I doubt I'll be able to sleep past 4:30am anytime soon.
The biggest challenge so far, I think, is the need for making split-second decisions a hundred times a day. Can I let this kid go to the bathroom? Where is the makeup work for that kid? Do I have time to finish this lesson? Are they ready for a quiz tomorrow? What will be on the quiz?
And I've faced a flurry of challenges that most first-year teachers get more time to prepare for. In my first two weeks, I handled federal cards, a field trip, a tornado drill, a bomb
drill, a fire drill, an assembly and a standardized test.
But I am enjoying the transition from radio to teaching. I really am. I'm getting a better sense of what's working and what is not. Once, during a lesson that involved subatomic particles, I could just tell my students weren't getting it. Luckily, I had bookmarked the Youtube video of Venus Flytrap's atom lesson from an old episode of WKRP in Cincinnati. The kids had never heard of the show but really enjoyed the segment.
My co-workers often ask me if I miss radio. Maybe I would miss it, if I had time to miss it. Every waking moment, it seems, involves school.
Monday, November 19, 2012
Saturday, October 27, 2012
Becoming a Career Switcher
Earlier I wrote about my experiences transitioning from a flagging radio career to a new career as a teacher. Here are some of the challenges I faced in getting to this point.
The Cost: Entering Old Dominion's Career Switcher Program costs about $4,000.
The Tests: To enter the program, an applicant must pass at least two tests (elementary teachers have to pass three). One test involves the content of the subject the person wants to teach; in my case, middle school social studies.
The other was a literacy test that was actually fun to take. Why? Because of the two writing assignments. In one, I had to re-write and condense an essay to about half-size, which is I had been doing for 20 years as a radio reporter. The second was an essay arguing for or against public funding of the very medium I worked in, radio.
Since being accepted into Career Switchers, I have passed two additional content area tests to earn endorsements to teach middle school science and earth science.
The Drive: The trip from my neighborhood to ODU's Tri-Cities Center in Portsmouth is, at its shortest, 21 miles, but only if you are willing to drive through the heart of Norfolk, the Midtown Tunnel, and Portsmouth. The quickest route, over the High Rise Bridge on I-64, is, at over 30 miles, the longest.
The Traffic: Night classes, which met Tuesdays and Thursdays, began at 6pm, putting my drive to class in the middle of rush hour.
The Road Work: When driving home from my first night class, I was stunned at the amount of road work underway at night. And the location of the road work would vary. Some nights it was near the Highrise Bridge, other nights, the Downtown Tunnel. More than once, I got stuck in backups due to road work.
The Sleep Deprivation: Going to night class while continuing to work as a morning show radio announcer was probably the hardest part of the whole process. I often didn't get home until after 10pm. The alarm to get me up for work would go off about five hours later.
The Job Market: It's no secret that the economy is forcing many school divisions to cut back on hiring. I was fortunate that Virginia Beach Middle School created a position in my two areas, science and social studies, to fill out a team overcrowded with students.
Finally, The Car: The 16 year old car I alluded to in the earlier post was a 1996 Ford Contour with 120,000 miles on it. It had been becoming less and less reliable in recent months; it even overheated on occasion. Driving home from class one night, the temperature needle spiked into the red about four miles from home. It sputtered and coughed its way over those last couple of miles but it somehow got me back to the house. We replaced the Contour the next week.
The Cost: Entering Old Dominion's Career Switcher Program costs about $4,000.
The Tests: To enter the program, an applicant must pass at least two tests (elementary teachers have to pass three). One test involves the content of the subject the person wants to teach; in my case, middle school social studies.
The other was a literacy test that was actually fun to take. Why? Because of the two writing assignments. In one, I had to re-write and condense an essay to about half-size, which is I had been doing for 20 years as a radio reporter. The second was an essay arguing for or against public funding of the very medium I worked in, radio.
Since being accepted into Career Switchers, I have passed two additional content area tests to earn endorsements to teach middle school science and earth science.
The Drive: The trip from my neighborhood to ODU's Tri-Cities Center in Portsmouth is, at its shortest, 21 miles, but only if you are willing to drive through the heart of Norfolk, the Midtown Tunnel, and Portsmouth. The quickest route, over the High Rise Bridge on I-64, is, at over 30 miles, the longest.
The Traffic: Night classes, which met Tuesdays and Thursdays, began at 6pm, putting my drive to class in the middle of rush hour.
The Road Work: When driving home from my first night class, I was stunned at the amount of road work underway at night. And the location of the road work would vary. Some nights it was near the Highrise Bridge, other nights, the Downtown Tunnel. More than once, I got stuck in backups due to road work.
The Sleep Deprivation: Going to night class while continuing to work as a morning show radio announcer was probably the hardest part of the whole process. I often didn't get home until after 10pm. The alarm to get me up for work would go off about five hours later.
The Job Market: It's no secret that the economy is forcing many school divisions to cut back on hiring. I was fortunate that Virginia Beach Middle School created a position in my two areas, science and social studies, to fill out a team overcrowded with students.
Finally, The Car: The 16 year old car I alluded to in the earlier post was a 1996 Ford Contour with 120,000 miles on it. It had been becoming less and less reliable in recent months; it even overheated on occasion. Driving home from class one night, the temperature needle spiked into the red about four miles from home. It sputtered and coughed its way over those last couple of miles but it somehow got me back to the house. We replaced the Contour the next week.
Friday, October 26, 2012
I Am a Career Switcher
"I can't afford to pay you." Those words were delivered to me by my boss more a than a year ago, when he announced he would be cutting me to part-time. They were the same words another superior said to me two years earlier, the first time my job was cut back.
Following the Great Recession and the slow economic recovery, I had been vacillating (that's how the boss put it) between full-time and part-time, with varying levels of responsibility. And it hit me one day: I was a 45 year old man driving a 16 year old car to a part-time job at 4:00 in the morning. Something had to change. And that made me stop vacillating and reconsider my entire radio career.
But what could I do? What career could I pursue with the skills I have? Those skills: good story teller; excellent at compressing news stories into three-line nuggets; expert keyboardist; experienced at Internet editing; self-motivated. Copy writing? Public relations? Maybe. However, I had nothing but a college degree in physical education to show I was certified in any of the fields I was applying for. So after much consideration, my wife and I decided it was time for me to get certified in something: education.
I entered the spring session of Old Dominion University's Career Switcher Program. Ten weeks to earn a teaching license. Classes were all day Saturday for ten weeks, plus the really tough part: night classes. Tuesdays and Thursdays, I attended class from 6pm to 9:30pm. With the 35 mile drive from Suffolk's Tri-Cities Center, I usually wasn't home until after 10pm, with a wake up time of 3:40am the next morning for my part-time job. If any of my radio colleagues noticed I was listless last spring, they now know the reason why.
It was a crash course in education. Classes focused on designing an effective learning plan, reading for any curriculum, at-risk students, dealing with parents, SOL's, and classroom management. I was also required to observe working teachers in the classroom for a certain number of hours, and I had to make my own lesson plan and present it to my classmates.
Five months after completing Career Switchers, I have just been hired as a 7th grade teacher in science and social studies at Virginia Beach Middle School. I learned a lot in Career Switchers, but one thing I wasn't prepared for was the need for making split-second decisions a hundred times an hour. "Can I go to the bathroom, Mr. Long?" "What are we doing?" "He took my pencil!" It's busier than even my wife, a 23 year veteran teacher, has ever described it.
It's busy, alright, but I'm not looking back at 20 years in radio broadcasting. I'm looking ahead at a new career as an educator. I am a career switcher.
Following the Great Recession and the slow economic recovery, I had been vacillating (that's how the boss put it) between full-time and part-time, with varying levels of responsibility. And it hit me one day: I was a 45 year old man driving a 16 year old car to a part-time job at 4:00 in the morning. Something had to change. And that made me stop vacillating and reconsider my entire radio career.
But what could I do? What career could I pursue with the skills I have? Those skills: good story teller; excellent at compressing news stories into three-line nuggets; expert keyboardist; experienced at Internet editing; self-motivated. Copy writing? Public relations? Maybe. However, I had nothing but a college degree in physical education to show I was certified in any of the fields I was applying for. So after much consideration, my wife and I decided it was time for me to get certified in something: education.
I entered the spring session of Old Dominion University's Career Switcher Program. Ten weeks to earn a teaching license. Classes were all day Saturday for ten weeks, plus the really tough part: night classes. Tuesdays and Thursdays, I attended class from 6pm to 9:30pm. With the 35 mile drive from Suffolk's Tri-Cities Center, I usually wasn't home until after 10pm, with a wake up time of 3:40am the next morning for my part-time job. If any of my radio colleagues noticed I was listless last spring, they now know the reason why.
It was a crash course in education. Classes focused on designing an effective learning plan, reading for any curriculum, at-risk students, dealing with parents, SOL's, and classroom management. I was also required to observe working teachers in the classroom for a certain number of hours, and I had to make my own lesson plan and present it to my classmates.
Five months after completing Career Switchers, I have just been hired as a 7th grade teacher in science and social studies at Virginia Beach Middle School. I learned a lot in Career Switchers, but one thing I wasn't prepared for was the need for making split-second decisions a hundred times an hour. "Can I go to the bathroom, Mr. Long?" "What are we doing?" "He took my pencil!" It's busier than even my wife, a 23 year veteran teacher, has ever described it.
It's busy, alright, but I'm not looking back at 20 years in radio broadcasting. I'm looking ahead at a new career as an educator. I am a career switcher.
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Tracking the Space Station
Spotted something interesting this morning in Google News Reader, which I use to track various media outlets from the Outer Banks to Richmond. Richmond TV station WTVR reported that the International Space Station would be visible over Richmond tonight. I checked and found the station will be seen over Hampton Roads, as well.
According to NASA's spaceflight page, the station will be over Virginia Beach for about four minutes, beginning at 7:36pm. It will pass roughly WSW to NE.
If you've never seen a sky transit by the station, it's worth checking out. The ISS is visible with the naked eye as a rather bright star passing quickly overhead.
To check upcoming ISS transit dates and times, click here.
According to NASA's spaceflight page, the station will be over Virginia Beach for about four minutes, beginning at 7:36pm. It will pass roughly WSW to NE.
If you've never seen a sky transit by the station, it's worth checking out. The ISS is visible with the naked eye as a rather bright star passing quickly overhead.
To check upcoming ISS transit dates and times, click here.
Friday, October 5, 2012
How Much is Your Degree Worth?
How much of a return will you get on the $40,000-plus you invested in your (or your child's) education in a Virginia college? A new tool can help you figure that out.
The State Council of Higher Education has launched a new online database comparing the incomes of degree recipients from various universities. For example, people earning associate's degrees from Tidewater Community College between 2008 and 2010 had an average income of about $34,000.
Officials behind the database caution it is still a work in progress, making direct comparisons between similar degrees from different universities unreliable.
The database is a collaboration between the Council of Higher Education, the Department of Education, the Virginia Employment Commission, the Virginia Community College System and the Virginia Information Technologies Agency. It is made possible by a $17-million federal grant.
On the web:
http://research.schev.edu/default.asp?select1=Reports
The State Council of Higher Education has launched a new online database comparing the incomes of degree recipients from various universities. For example, people earning associate's degrees from Tidewater Community College between 2008 and 2010 had an average income of about $34,000.
Officials behind the database caution it is still a work in progress, making direct comparisons between similar degrees from different universities unreliable.
The database is a collaboration between the Council of Higher Education, the Department of Education, the Virginia Employment Commission, the Virginia Community College System and the Virginia Information Technologies Agency. It is made possible by a $17-million federal grant.
On the web:
http://research.schev.edu/default.asp?select1=Reports
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Give Blood, Visit Nauticus for Free
Norfolk's Nauticus museum is holding an American Red Cross blood drive this Monday, October 8th, from 10am to 4pm. Donors will receive a free 4-pack of tickets to visit Nauticus at a later date. Donors will also be entered for a drawing to win a $1,000 American Express gift card.
To schedule a blood donation appointment, visit www.RedCrossBlood.org and use the sponsor code NAUTICUS. You can also call 1-800-RED-CROSS
To be eligible to donate, a person must be at least 17 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds, and be in generally good health. A person can donate every 56 days. I last gave August 12th, so I had to check to make sure I was eligible to donate and get free Nauticus tickets. October 8th will be 57 days since my last blood donation, so I'll be at Nauticus on Monday!
On the web:
www.Nauticus.org
www.RedCrossBlood.org
www.timeanddate.com/date/duration.html -- Useful for counting days between donations.
To schedule a blood donation appointment, visit www.RedCrossBlood.org and use the sponsor code NAUTICUS. You can also call 1-800-RED-CROSS
To be eligible to donate, a person must be at least 17 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds, and be in generally good health. A person can donate every 56 days. I last gave August 12th, so I had to check to make sure I was eligible to donate and get free Nauticus tickets. October 8th will be 57 days since my last blood donation, so I'll be at Nauticus on Monday!
On the web:
www.Nauticus.org
www.RedCrossBlood.org
www.timeanddate.com/date/duration.html -- Useful for counting days between donations.
Name That Snowstorm
The Weather Channel has just announced it will starting giving names to major snowstorms this winter, just as hurricanes are named. The cable channel has already picked out an inaugural list, which includes names from Greek and Roman lore: Brutus, Caesar, and Zeus.
Officials with the Weather Channel say giving a blizzard a name will help people identify with the threat it poses. I can't say I can argue that logic. Who can forget the names of Hurricanes Andrew, Camille, or especially Katrina, which we all watched on TV as it bore down on the Gulf Coast in 2005? Giving a storm a name makes it easier to talk about and prepare for.
The Weather Channel does seem to get that the move would generate some snickering. In a voice over for the online video announcing the new naming system, the Weather Channel's Al Roker says, "it may seem gimmicky and fun, but the reasoning behind it is anything but that."
Gimmicky, yes. I can already imagine the catchy graphics on the Weather Channel this winter..."Et tu, Brute?" or "Zounds, it's Zeus!" Because if there's one thing we Americans do really well, it's assign catchy names to things. Snowmageddon, for example. Snowtober. Carmageddon. Brad-gelinna. RG III.
I am sure that if we get to Rocky the Blizzard this year, the introductory music will be the rousing theme song from the film, Rocky. Or, at the very least, the theme from Rocky and Bullwinkle.
The next blizzard covered by the Weather Channel will be named Athena.
On the web:
www.weather.com/news/weather-winter/why-we-name-winter-storms-20121001
Officials with the Weather Channel say giving a blizzard a name will help people identify with the threat it poses. I can't say I can argue that logic. Who can forget the names of Hurricanes Andrew, Camille, or especially Katrina, which we all watched on TV as it bore down on the Gulf Coast in 2005? Giving a storm a name makes it easier to talk about and prepare for.
The Weather Channel does seem to get that the move would generate some snickering. In a voice over for the online video announcing the new naming system, the Weather Channel's Al Roker says, "it may seem gimmicky and fun, but the reasoning behind it is anything but that."
Gimmicky, yes. I can already imagine the catchy graphics on the Weather Channel this winter..."Et tu, Brute?" or "Zounds, it's Zeus!" Because if there's one thing we Americans do really well, it's assign catchy names to things. Snowmageddon, for example. Snowtober. Carmageddon. Brad-gelinna. RG III.
I am sure that if we get to Rocky the Blizzard this year, the introductory music will be the rousing theme song from the film, Rocky. Or, at the very least, the theme from Rocky and Bullwinkle.
The next blizzard covered by the Weather Channel will be named Athena.
On the web:
www.weather.com/news/weather-winter/why-we-name-winter-storms-20121001
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
The Great Southeast Shakeout
Drop, Cover and Hold On. That's the advice of the Virginia Department of Emergency Management for responding to an earthquake. Virginia will join Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Maryland and the
District of Columbia in holding the first-ever "Great Southeast Shakeout," a multi-state earthquake drill, on Thursday, October 18th. Government officials are encouraging schools,
businesses, organizations, government agencies, communities and families
to participate.
In a public service campaign, shakeout organizers point out that running to an open area or under a doorway is not necessarily the best idea. Earthquakes can shake so violently that running is impossible. Their advice is to drop immediately to the floor, crawl under something sturdy like a table, and hold on until the shaking stops. Drop, Cover and Hold On.
Such preparation would have seemed unnecessary if not for the East Coast earthquake of August 23rd, 2011. The quake was a moderate 5.8 on Richter Scale but was felt over most of the eastern U.S. In fact, it is believed that more people felt last year's earthquake than any other in history.
For information on the Great Southeast Shakeout, visit www.VAEmegency.gov
In a public service campaign, shakeout organizers point out that running to an open area or under a doorway is not necessarily the best idea. Earthquakes can shake so violently that running is impossible. Their advice is to drop immediately to the floor, crawl under something sturdy like a table, and hold on until the shaking stops. Drop, Cover and Hold On.
Such preparation would have seemed unnecessary if not for the East Coast earthquake of August 23rd, 2011. The quake was a moderate 5.8 on Richter Scale but was felt over most of the eastern U.S. In fact, it is believed that more people felt last year's earthquake than any other in history.
For information on the Great Southeast Shakeout, visit www.VAEmegency.gov
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Rabies Awareness Week
The Virginia Department of Health and the Virginia Veterinary Medical Association are reminding pet owners to keep their pets' rabies vaccinations up to date. They say vaccinating pets against rabies helps keep their owners safe from rabies.
This week (September 24th-30th) has been deemed Rabies Awareness Week in Virginia. Health officials say there are more than 500 cases of rabies in Virginia per year, almost always involving wild animals. Because of the possibility of interaction between wild animals and family pets, all dogs and cats over four months of age are required to be vaccinated against rabies in Virginia. The requirement includes indoor cats, as well.
Contact your veterinarian, local animal shelter or local health department for information on where to get your pet protected from rabies.
Read the release from the Virginia Department of Health
This week (September 24th-30th) has been deemed Rabies Awareness Week in Virginia. Health officials say there are more than 500 cases of rabies in Virginia per year, almost always involving wild animals. Because of the possibility of interaction between wild animals and family pets, all dogs and cats over four months of age are required to be vaccinated against rabies in Virginia. The requirement includes indoor cats, as well.
Contact your veterinarian, local animal shelter or local health department for information on where to get your pet protected from rabies.
Read the release from the Virginia Department of Health
Friday, September 21, 2012
Teachers Get Free Admission to the VA Sports Hall of Fame October 6th
The Virginia Sports Hall of Fame is inviting teachers to check out their educational programs with a free Teacher Open House on Saturday, October 6th, from 10am to 5pm.
Teachers and one guest will receive free admission to tour the museum, which will be highlighting its new Math Academy. Teachers will also get to meet the museum's education staff.
If you've never been to the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame, it's worth checking out. Mary, Megan and I went a few years ago while Delaney was attending a birthday party at the Children's Museum. We had a blast.
The museum is really hands on. I shot three-pointers in a half-court gym alongside life-sized portraits of Virginia greats Moses Malone and Ralph Sampson. They also have a pitching cage with radar gun. The best I could do was 55mph; even when I'm playing baseball I can't bring myself to break the speed limit. And prepare to be surprised by just how many names you recognize from sports that you never knew were Virginia natives.
Learn more about the Teacher Open House here.
Teachers and one guest will receive free admission to tour the museum, which will be highlighting its new Math Academy. Teachers will also get to meet the museum's education staff.
If you've never been to the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame, it's worth checking out. Mary, Megan and I went a few years ago while Delaney was attending a birthday party at the Children's Museum. We had a blast.
The museum is really hands on. I shot three-pointers in a half-court gym alongside life-sized portraits of Virginia greats Moses Malone and Ralph Sampson. They also have a pitching cage with radar gun. The best I could do was 55mph; even when I'm playing baseball I can't bring myself to break the speed limit. And prepare to be surprised by just how many names you recognize from sports that you never knew were Virginia natives.
Learn more about the Teacher Open House here.
Thursday, September 20, 2012
You Can Use Coupons Retroactively
Have you ever gotten home from the store and later found a coupon that you could have used? That was me on Monday, when I found a coupon worth $3.50 off if I spent more than $50 at Food Lion. After mentally kicking myself, I realized it might be worth it to ask if I could cash in the coupon retroactively. Turns out, it was.
I returned to the store the next day with the coupon and my receipt and asked the manager on duty if I could get credit for the coupon. Three minutes later, I walked out of the store with a $3.50 credit on my credit card.
This is the second time I've cashed in a coupon after the fact; the first was a $10 coupon at OfficeMax. This again shows that it doesn't hurt to ask.
I returned to the store the next day with the coupon and my receipt and asked the manager on duty if I could get credit for the coupon. Three minutes later, I walked out of the store with a $3.50 credit on my credit card.
This is the second time I've cashed in a coupon after the fact; the first was a $10 coupon at OfficeMax. This again shows that it doesn't hurt to ask.
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Hampton Roads Sustainable Living Expo
Agencies from all over Hampton Roads will gather at the Virginia Beach Convention Center on Saturday, September 29th, for the 1st Annual Hampton Roads Sustainable Living Expo. The event is presented by the City of Virginia Beach, Virginia Beach Public Schools, and the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center.
Sustainability refers to the steps that people, families, communities and governments can take to meet the needs of the present and future. This means the three R's: reduce, reuse and recycle. It also means community design that minimizes environmental impact, storm water runoff, and resource usage.
For example, the school where my wife works, Virginia Beach Middle School, includes several sustainability designs. School toilets are powered with storm water. Storm water runoff is collected in rain gardens. Computers are configured to automatically power-off after the school closes. Room lights go on and off automatically. Much of the interior lighting in the main hallway is provided by skylights.
The Expo is also an e-cycling event. Electronics and appliances will be collected by TFC and Goodwill.
The Expo will be the focus of the September 23rd edition of my community affairs program, Hampton Roads Topics.
On the web:
www.hrsustainablelivingexpo.com
Sustainability refers to the steps that people, families, communities and governments can take to meet the needs of the present and future. This means the three R's: reduce, reuse and recycle. It also means community design that minimizes environmental impact, storm water runoff, and resource usage.
For example, the school where my wife works, Virginia Beach Middle School, includes several sustainability designs. School toilets are powered with storm water. Storm water runoff is collected in rain gardens. Computers are configured to automatically power-off after the school closes. Room lights go on and off automatically. Much of the interior lighting in the main hallway is provided by skylights.
The Expo is also an e-cycling event. Electronics and appliances will be collected by TFC and Goodwill.
The Expo will be the focus of the September 23rd edition of my community affairs program, Hampton Roads Topics.
On the web:
www.hrsustainablelivingexpo.com
Thursday, September 13, 2012
In the Shadow of Greatness
This week on Hampton Roads Topics, my public affairs program, I talk with Navy Lt. Commander Josh Welle, the creator of a new book. In the Shadow of Greatness: Voices of Leadership, Sacrifice, and Service from America's Longest War, is a compilation of stories from the U.S. Naval Academy Class of 2002, and how the events of 9/11 affected their lives.
Welle, the 2002 Class President, compiled and co-edited the book. Following 9/11, he and his classmates faced the prospect of graduating from the Naval Academy and being deployed to Afghanistan as a result of the attacks. He speaks of September 11th as the glue for the narrative of what he calls the "9/11 Generation."
The book was released Tuesday on the 11th anniversary of the terrorist attacks. Demand for In the Shadow of Greatness has been very high on Amazon.com.
Welle, the 2002 Class President, compiled and co-edited the book. Following 9/11, he and his classmates faced the prospect of graduating from the Naval Academy and being deployed to Afghanistan as a result of the attacks. He speaks of September 11th as the glue for the narrative of what he calls the "9/11 Generation."
The book was released Tuesday on the 11th anniversary of the terrorist attacks. Demand for In the Shadow of Greatness has been very high on Amazon.com.
The interview will Sunday, September 16th, on these MAX Media stations: 92.9 The Wave, ESPN Radio 94.1, Star 1310 and 97.3 The Eagle. A podcast of the interview will be posted next week on the show's blog,
hamptonroadstopics.blogspot.com
On the web:
shadowofgreatness.com
On the web:
shadowofgreatness.com
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Open House at NASA Langley
Get a rare, behind the scenes look at NASA Langley Research Center later this month. In observance of its 95th anniversary, the historic space research center in Hampton will host an open house on Saturday, September 22nd from 10am to 4pm.
According to a NASA media release, attendees will see some of NASA Langley's latest research, meet and talk with researchers, and take part in several hands-on demonstrations that sound suspiciously educational.
I would recommend a visit to NASA Langley, especially if you have school age kids. My family and I attended the center's 90th anniversary open house in 2007. A lot of it was directed at children. Presenters showed us how to make slime from corn starch and food coloring. We made paper airplanes. And we saw dozens of computers testing new autopilot programs.
Also, the girls got photos made that showed what they would look like in space suits. My wife took hers to school and, I'm not making this up, a few of her students actually asked if she had been to the moon.
Keep in mind that as you tour the various activities, you'll be visiting an area where some of NASA's most important space research has taken place. Much of the training from the early days of the space program, from rendezvous in space (Project Gemini) to simulated landings on the moon (Project Apollo) took place at NASA Langley. The landing procedure that got the Mars Curiosity rover safely to Mars in August was largely designed at NASA Langley. The center is currently testing the prototype of the Orion crew capsule.
To learn more about NASA Langley's September 22nd open house, visit www.nasa.gov/centers/langley/events/95th-tour.html
According to a NASA media release, attendees will see some of NASA Langley's latest research, meet and talk with researchers, and take part in several hands-on demonstrations that sound suspiciously educational.
I would recommend a visit to NASA Langley, especially if you have school age kids. My family and I attended the center's 90th anniversary open house in 2007. A lot of it was directed at children. Presenters showed us how to make slime from corn starch and food coloring. We made paper airplanes. And we saw dozens of computers testing new autopilot programs.
Also, the girls got photos made that showed what they would look like in space suits. My wife took hers to school and, I'm not making this up, a few of her students actually asked if she had been to the moon.
Keep in mind that as you tour the various activities, you'll be visiting an area where some of NASA's most important space research has taken place. Much of the training from the early days of the space program, from rendezvous in space (Project Gemini) to simulated landings on the moon (Project Apollo) took place at NASA Langley. The landing procedure that got the Mars Curiosity rover safely to Mars in August was largely designed at NASA Langley. The center is currently testing the prototype of the Orion crew capsule.
To learn more about NASA Langley's September 22nd open house, visit www.nasa.gov/centers/langley/events/95th-tour.html
Monday, September 10, 2012
The Walk for PKD
PKD, or Polycystic Kidney Disease, is the nation's most common life-threatening genetic disease, but it's also one of the least known. David Damiani of the Tidewater Chapter of the PKD Foundation is working to change that.
PKD does not exhibit itself overtly; the damage it causes is entirely internal. The condition causes cysts to grow in and on kidneys, leading them to grow in size but diminish in function. Most people don't know they have it until the damage has been done. For many, the ultimate "cure" for PKD is a kidney transplant.
Damiani became involved with the PKD Foundation when he discovered the wife of a friend had been diagnosed with PKD. Her children could carry the gene as well. PKD is carried by a dominate gene, meaning offspring of a PKD patient have a 50% chance of contracting the disease.
The Walk for PKD is a chance for the PKD Foundation to raise money for the cause of treating and (hopefully) curing the disease. It's also a chance for Damiani to educate the public about this largely unknown disease.
The 2012 Walk for PKD will happen Saturday, November 3rd at 17th Street Park in Virginia Beach. For information, visit www.WalkForPKD.org/Tidewater.
To hear my interview with David Damiani about PKD, visit the podcast page of my public affairs show, Hampton Roads Topics.
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Tracking the Traffic
One of the many roles I've had at MAX Media over the years has been as a traffic reporter. That role has evolved quickly, thanks in no small part to social media.
Being a traffic reporter is a multi-step process that includes collecting the information, highlighting the important stuff, preparing the report and delivering it on-air. It's the collection phase that has changed the most.
Up until just recently, collecting traffic information involved making phone calls. Phone calls to the dispatcher in every local city; phone calls to the various bridge tenders; phone calls to the tunnels and bridge-tunnels. It was a lengthy process, taking almost an hour to complete a single call sheet. That's because I could only make calls when I wasn't live on the air.
Today, much of that information is delivered automatically over the Internet. When you hear me calling traffic on ESPN Radio 94.1, you can assume I swept through these websites before going on the air.
Being a traffic reporter is a multi-step process that includes collecting the information, highlighting the important stuff, preparing the report and delivering it on-air. It's the collection phase that has changed the most.
Up until just recently, collecting traffic information involved making phone calls. Phone calls to the dispatcher in every local city; phone calls to the various bridge tenders; phone calls to the tunnels and bridge-tunnels. It was a lengthy process, taking almost an hour to complete a single call sheet. That's because I could only make calls when I wasn't live on the air.
Today, much of that information is delivered automatically over the Internet. When you hear me calling traffic on ESPN Radio 94.1, you can assume I swept through these websites before going on the air.
- totaltraffic.com/LocalTraffic/Norfolk -- Total Traffic, formerly Metro Traffic, is owned by Clear Channel Radio. An office in the Washington D.C. area provides traffic info for several markets, including Hampton Roads. This is usually where I find secondary street accidents and bridge opening information on the locally owned drawbridges.
- www.511virginia.org -- VDOT's traffic information page. Its live traffic map includes access to the local network of traffic cameras, which are invaluable for helping drivers steer around slowdowns.
- twitter.com/511hamptonroads -- VDOT's Twitter feed. This is about as up to the minute as you can get.
- trafficland.com/city/ORF/index.html -- A great collection of traffic cameras. The most viewed cameras are listed at the top of the page.
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Free Ride Friday on The Tide
This Friday at 11am, the City of Norfolk will hold a cerebration in honor of the first birthday of The Tide, the city's light rail system. As part of the celebration, The Tide will be offering free rides all day.
The Tide launched August 19th, 2011, and is seen as a success so far. The area's first light rail trains have carried more than 1.6 million passengers in their first 12 months. The average of more than 5,000 passengers per day is nearly double HRT's estimate of 2,900 per day.
The Tide's success comes despite controversy over its start up. Construction delays, including one in which flooding washed away part of the track bed, pushed back the train system's launch date by almost a year. Cost overruns pushed the price tag to $318 million, $100 million over estimate. Former Hampton Roads Transit chief Michael Townsend was pressured into early retirement because of the delays and cost hikes.
There was also controversy on launch day. As the first train left the Newtown Road station, a number of protestors, some holding signs reading, "Light Fail," signaled their apparent hope that The Tide would be a flop.
But Hampton Roads residents and visitors seem to like The Tide. The seven-mile course winds past some of Norfolk's prime attractions, including Harbor Park, MacArthur Center, City Hall and the Norfolk court buildings. Other attractions, like the Chrysler Museum, Town Pointe Park and Nauticus, are just a few blocks from Tide stops.
In a press release, HRT officials boast about The Tide's safety record, which they say is the best of any start-up light rail system. There have been a few collisions between trains and cars, but the car drivers were found to be at fault. HRT aired several public service announcements last year, cautioning pedestrians to be careful near the trains.
The Tide's successful first year is already generating talk of expanding it. HRT's long term transit study is looking at light rail lines to Naval Station Norfolk, Old Dominion University and the Greenbrier Section of Chesapeake. Voters in Virginia Beach will consider a non-binding referendum this November on whether the city should pursue light rail. The ballot measure will read,
The anniversary celebration for The Tide will happen at 11am at the MacArthur Square stop.
On the web:
www.GoHRT.com
The Tide launched August 19th, 2011, and is seen as a success so far. The area's first light rail trains have carried more than 1.6 million passengers in their first 12 months. The average of more than 5,000 passengers per day is nearly double HRT's estimate of 2,900 per day.
The Tide's success comes despite controversy over its start up. Construction delays, including one in which flooding washed away part of the track bed, pushed back the train system's launch date by almost a year. Cost overruns pushed the price tag to $318 million, $100 million over estimate. Former Hampton Roads Transit chief Michael Townsend was pressured into early retirement because of the delays and cost hikes.
There was also controversy on launch day. As the first train left the Newtown Road station, a number of protestors, some holding signs reading, "Light Fail," signaled their apparent hope that The Tide would be a flop.
But Hampton Roads residents and visitors seem to like The Tide. The seven-mile course winds past some of Norfolk's prime attractions, including Harbor Park, MacArthur Center, City Hall and the Norfolk court buildings. Other attractions, like the Chrysler Museum, Town Pointe Park and Nauticus, are just a few blocks from Tide stops.
In a press release, HRT officials boast about The Tide's safety record, which they say is the best of any start-up light rail system. There have been a few collisions between trains and cars, but the car drivers were found to be at fault. HRT aired several public service announcements last year, cautioning pedestrians to be careful near the trains.
The Tide's successful first year is already generating talk of expanding it. HRT's long term transit study is looking at light rail lines to Naval Station Norfolk, Old Dominion University and the Greenbrier Section of Chesapeake. Voters in Virginia Beach will consider a non-binding referendum this November on whether the city should pursue light rail. The ballot measure will read,
" Should the City Council adopt an ordinance approving the use of all reasonable efforts to support the financing and development of The Tide light rail into Virginia Beach?"Light rail could even cross the water in the future. HRT's plans would have light rail trains traveling into Hampton and Newport News. And a spokesperson for Elizabeth River Crossings, the company that will build and manage the new Midtown Tunnel, has told me that one lane of the new tunnel could accommodate a train line connecting Norfolk to Portsmouth. The Tide's western terminus is about a mile from the entrance of the Midtown Tunnel
The anniversary celebration for The Tide will happen at 11am at the MacArthur Square stop.
On the web:
www.GoHRT.com
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
The Red Cross Needs Blood Donors
Kristen Hatfield doesn't like to use the word, "desparate," but she says it applies to the situation facing the American Red Cross. Hatfield is a spokesperson for the Red Cross Mid-Atlantic Regional Blood Services. She is a regular guest on my public affairs program, Hampton Roads Topics. Today, she made an emergency appeal for blood donors.
Nationwide, blood donations are down about ten percent from last summer, meaning there are 50,000 less units on the shelves for use in hospitals. Hatfield says the blood supply in Hampton Roads is at its lowest level in 15 years. Reasons for the downturn in donations are unclear, but Hatfield suspects the scorching hot summer we've endured could be keeping potential donors at home.
Another possibility is that many eligible donors talk themselves out of giving for various reasons. Tattoos, cancer treatments, and anemia are most often cited for self-deferrals. Hatfield says Red Cross rules for donors change regularly. Cancer survivors, for example, used to be banned for life, but now they are eligible to donate after they've been cancer free for a year, she says. Anyone with questions about eligibility should call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE.
The local Red Cross has partnered with various sponsors for giveaways to blood donors. During August, blood donors in the Mid-Atlantic region will receive a coupon for a free hair cut at Sports Clips locations in Hampton Roads (I suggested that the Red Cross find a way to combine the blood donation with the hair cut...both require a person to be seated. Hatfield said she would work on it.)
To encourage donors to give again, the American Red Cross has created Red Cross Rewards, in which donors earn points each time they give. Those points can then be redeemed for merchandise. People who give blood during the month of August will receive double points, Hatfield says.
For information about donating blood, visit www.RedCrossBlood.org or call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE
Nationwide, blood donations are down about ten percent from last summer, meaning there are 50,000 less units on the shelves for use in hospitals. Hatfield says the blood supply in Hampton Roads is at its lowest level in 15 years. Reasons for the downturn in donations are unclear, but Hatfield suspects the scorching hot summer we've endured could be keeping potential donors at home.
Another possibility is that many eligible donors talk themselves out of giving for various reasons. Tattoos, cancer treatments, and anemia are most often cited for self-deferrals. Hatfield says Red Cross rules for donors change regularly. Cancer survivors, for example, used to be banned for life, but now they are eligible to donate after they've been cancer free for a year, she says. Anyone with questions about eligibility should call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE.
The local Red Cross has partnered with various sponsors for giveaways to blood donors. During August, blood donors in the Mid-Atlantic region will receive a coupon for a free hair cut at Sports Clips locations in Hampton Roads (I suggested that the Red Cross find a way to combine the blood donation with the hair cut...both require a person to be seated. Hatfield said she would work on it.)
To encourage donors to give again, the American Red Cross has created Red Cross Rewards, in which donors earn points each time they give. Those points can then be redeemed for merchandise. People who give blood during the month of August will receive double points, Hatfield says.
For information about donating blood, visit www.RedCrossBlood.org or call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE
Thursday, August 2, 2012
Firefox, You're Letting Me Down
If I were writing this post as a Facebook update, it would look kind of like this...
Which is exactly how I'm feeling. I'm getting aggravated that Firefox, my web browser of choice for over a decade now, is currently incapable of running Adobe's Flash Player, the engine that powers Youtube videos. It has been going on for months with no resolution.
Any Flash object, be it a Youtube video, an animated web ad, or an online music player like Pandora, either shows up blank in Firefox or displays an error message. The problem began a few months back when Firefox 13 and Flash Player 11 were released within days of each other.
I keep finding suggestions online that Mozilla, the makers of Firefox, and Adobe have released updates that fix the issue. But I've had no luck yet, despite the fact that both Firefox and Flash Player are up to date.
I did find a fix that involved uninstalling Flash Player 11 and installing an older version, but that presents its own problems. My wife, who usually uses Internet Explorer, was unable to view a page yesterday because it required the latest version of Flash. So she updated Flash, leaving Firefox again unable to use the program.
I have been a Firefox user (and of its predecessor, Netscape) for many years. I've always considered Firefox sleeker, quicker to load, and easier to use than Microsoft's bloated Internet Explorer software. Until now, that is. Firefox, which has been losing market share to Google's Chrome browser in recent months, may lose my loyalty, as well.
Which is exactly how I'm feeling. I'm getting aggravated that Firefox, my web browser of choice for over a decade now, is currently incapable of running Adobe's Flash Player, the engine that powers Youtube videos. It has been going on for months with no resolution.
Any Flash object, be it a Youtube video, an animated web ad, or an online music player like Pandora, either shows up blank in Firefox or displays an error message. The problem began a few months back when Firefox 13 and Flash Player 11 were released within days of each other.
I keep finding suggestions online that Mozilla, the makers of Firefox, and Adobe have released updates that fix the issue. But I've had no luck yet, despite the fact that both Firefox and Flash Player are up to date.
I did find a fix that involved uninstalling Flash Player 11 and installing an older version, but that presents its own problems. My wife, who usually uses Internet Explorer, was unable to view a page yesterday because it required the latest version of Flash. So she updated Flash, leaving Firefox again unable to use the program.
I have been a Firefox user (and of its predecessor, Netscape) for many years. I've always considered Firefox sleeker, quicker to load, and easier to use than Microsoft's bloated Internet Explorer software. Until now, that is. Firefox, which has been losing market share to Google's Chrome browser in recent months, may lose my loyalty, as well.
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Voting Rights for Life
As a college freshman back in 1984, I became a first time voter, when I cast an absentee ballot from my dorm room in the Reagan/Mondale presidential election. Now, 28 years later, my daughter will be voting in her first election, also as a college freshman, also in a presidential year. To get Megan registered as a voter, I consulted the Virginia Board of Elections website, where I found this advisory about an erroneous viral e-mail.
The Virginia Board of Elections is telling people to ignore a mass e-mail that suggests registered voters have to re-register if they haven't voted in a while. Officials say voter registrations are not canceled just because a voter has been inactive.
According to the release from the State Board of Elections, a voter may be shifted to inactive status if election mailings to their address are returned undeliverable. In such cases, the voter may still cast a ballot if they sign a statement at the polling place. For that reason, the SBE recommends that people who haven't voted since 2008 check their registration status. It can be done online here.
I find voter registration issues to be tricky to write about sometimes. For example, the deadline to register to vote in the November elections is Monday, October 15th. To the casual listener, that could sound as if anyone who wants to vote in November has to sign up by 10/15. The truth is, the deadline is only for people who have never registered to vote before, or who have moved in the last year.
Essentially, a voter's registration is good for life, but it's up to the voter to make sure their records are up to date. That means notifying the local registrar's office if you move.
For information on how and where to register to vote or on how to get an absentee ballot, visit the State Board of Elections website.
The Virginia Board of Elections is telling people to ignore a mass e-mail that suggests registered voters have to re-register if they haven't voted in a while. Officials say voter registrations are not canceled just because a voter has been inactive.
According to the release from the State Board of Elections, a voter may be shifted to inactive status if election mailings to their address are returned undeliverable. In such cases, the voter may still cast a ballot if they sign a statement at the polling place. For that reason, the SBE recommends that people who haven't voted since 2008 check their registration status. It can be done online here.
I find voter registration issues to be tricky to write about sometimes. For example, the deadline to register to vote in the November elections is Monday, October 15th. To the casual listener, that could sound as if anyone who wants to vote in November has to sign up by 10/15. The truth is, the deadline is only for people who have never registered to vote before, or who have moved in the last year.
Essentially, a voter's registration is good for life, but it's up to the voter to make sure their records are up to date. That means notifying the local registrar's office if you move.
For information on how and where to register to vote or on how to get an absentee ballot, visit the State Board of Elections website.
Thursday, July 19, 2012
A Listener's Response
I had an interesting listener response to a story I did today. The story involved a dog who had died when left in a hot car. A woman emailed my co-host, Jennifer Roberts, to complain about the report, demanding to know why the station would air such an upsetting story. The email was typed in all capital letters and was at least three times longer the story itself, which read...
"Newport News police have charged 24 year old Julie Elisma with felony cruelty to animals after she allegedly left her boyfriend's dog locked in her car for several hours. The dog died from heat stroke."
What I find interesting is that in a month in which I've talked on-air about a baby's death in a hot car, torrential downpours, and a triple murder in Norfolk, it was a sad story about a dog that elicited such an anguished response from a listener. Jennifer forwarded the email to me, and I wrote back with an apology and an explanation.
Stories such as these, while disturbing, are informative. On the surface, they inform the public about a tragic event. But they work on a deeper level, as well. The fact that a dog died in a hot car illustrates that there are still people out there who don't know the dangers of leaving an animal in a car in the summertime. The story I wrote also included the fact that the suspect is facing a felony charge, illustrating that there is a consequence for such an act.
Certainly, I would rather there weren't stories like this. But I remain hopeful that my editorial decision to research, write and air the two lines of news copy listed above (it aired exactly once on 92.9 The Wave and Star 1310) will cause a pet owner or a pet owner's friend to think twice before a pet is left in a hot car for any length of time again.
"Newport News police have charged 24 year old Julie Elisma with felony cruelty to animals after she allegedly left her boyfriend's dog locked in her car for several hours. The dog died from heat stroke."
What I find interesting is that in a month in which I've talked on-air about a baby's death in a hot car, torrential downpours, and a triple murder in Norfolk, it was a sad story about a dog that elicited such an anguished response from a listener. Jennifer forwarded the email to me, and I wrote back with an apology and an explanation.
Stories such as these, while disturbing, are informative. On the surface, they inform the public about a tragic event. But they work on a deeper level, as well. The fact that a dog died in a hot car illustrates that there are still people out there who don't know the dangers of leaving an animal in a car in the summertime. The story I wrote also included the fact that the suspect is facing a felony charge, illustrating that there is a consequence for such an act.
Certainly, I would rather there weren't stories like this. But I remain hopeful that my editorial decision to research, write and air the two lines of news copy listed above (it aired exactly once on 92.9 The Wave and Star 1310) will cause a pet owner or a pet owner's friend to think twice before a pet is left in a hot car for any length of time again.
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
A Trip to the Virginia Living Museum
Here are some photos from the family trip to the Virginia Living Museum in Newport News. I post these photos not as an analysis or commentary on a news story, but simply as a way of testing out the synthesis between Picasa, my photo organizer of choice, and Blogger. Enjoy.
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Explaining the New E-Z Pass Fees
The Virginia Department of Transportation has announced its long awaited fee structure for the E-Z Pass automated toll system. It's a little confusing; it took me three readings this morning to figure it all out. Here are the details.
E-Z Pass transponders (the little devices in your car that are read by automated toll gantries), if acquired after July 9th, 2012, will include a 50-cents per month access fee.
E-Z Pass Flex transponders, for use in Northern Virginia on I-495 Express Lanes and future I-95 Express Lanes, will cost $1.00 per month if acquired after July 9th, 2012. There is no monthly fee if used exclusively in HOV-3 mode.
If, on July 9th, 2012, you already had an E-Z Pass transponder , there will be no monthly access fee UNLESS you replace the transponder you have or need a second one for another vehicle.
The $25.00 deposit will no longer be required for new transponders.
The new fee structure takes effect September 1st, 2012.
Why is V-DOT now charging a fee every month for E-Z Pass? The fees will pay for the cost of expanding the system, which is expected to double in the next few years. New toll roads, like the Jordan Bridge in Portsmouth and the I-495 Express Lanes in Northern Virginia, will open this year, while tolls will begin on the Midtown and Downtown Tunnels in 2014. There will no toll booths at these facilities. Tolls will be collected exclusively with E-Z Pass.
On the web:
http://www.virginiadot.org/newsroom/statewide/2012/vdot_announces_e-zpass_fee58773.asp
E-Z Pass transponders (the little devices in your car that are read by automated toll gantries), if acquired after July 9th, 2012, will include a 50-cents per month access fee.
E-Z Pass Flex transponders, for use in Northern Virginia on I-495 Express Lanes and future I-95 Express Lanes, will cost $1.00 per month if acquired after July 9th, 2012. There is no monthly fee if used exclusively in HOV-3 mode.
If, on July 9th, 2012, you already had an E-Z Pass transponder , there will be no monthly access fee UNLESS you replace the transponder you have or need a second one for another vehicle.
The $25.00 deposit will no longer be required for new transponders.
The new fee structure takes effect September 1st, 2012.
Why is V-DOT now charging a fee every month for E-Z Pass? The fees will pay for the cost of expanding the system, which is expected to double in the next few years. New toll roads, like the Jordan Bridge in Portsmouth and the I-495 Express Lanes in Northern Virginia, will open this year, while tolls will begin on the Midtown and Downtown Tunnels in 2014. There will no toll booths at these facilities. Tolls will be collected exclusively with E-Z Pass.
On the web:
http://www.virginiadot.org/newsroom/statewide/2012/vdot_announces_e-zpass_fee58773.asp
Friday, July 6, 2012
The Day the Towers Fell
Despite the fact that my newscasts are only one minute in length, I spend a fair amount of time each morning scanning every source imaginable for story ideas. This morning I spotted a story that brought back memories of my early days in radio.
WITN-TV in Washington, North Carolina reported this morning that a severe storm had snapped two support wires of a 180 foot radio tower in the town of Smithfield. The tower, which had not been used for some time, was leaning and in danger of collapse, so nearby Highway 70 had to be closed. Hours later, work crews intentionally brought down the tower.
The story from Washington, North Carolina is very reminiscent of something that happened to a radio station that I used to work for, 100.5 WCMS-FM in Virginia Beach, two decades ago. On March 19th, 1992 (I had to dig out an old WCMS calendar to find the exact date,) an intense storm knocked down the station's 500-foot FM tower and two smaller AM towers at the transmitter site on the Elizabeth River. The station was off the air for only six hours; another station allowed WCMS to use space on its FM tower. The first song that we played when the station returned to the air? "It's only the Wind" by Billy Dean. Amazing...I can't remember to pick up my prescription at the Rite Aid but I can remember that 20 year old fact.
It took five months for the station to rebuild the towers and the transmitter building. I was there for the ceremony to christen the new towers, as you'll see in the incredibly dorky photo below. Good lord, I still have that tie in my closet ;) Can't believe it's been 20 years.
WITN-TV in Washington, North Carolina reported this morning that a severe storm had snapped two support wires of a 180 foot radio tower in the town of Smithfield. The tower, which had not been used for some time, was leaning and in danger of collapse, so nearby Highway 70 had to be closed. Hours later, work crews intentionally brought down the tower.
The story from Washington, North Carolina is very reminiscent of something that happened to a radio station that I used to work for, 100.5 WCMS-FM in Virginia Beach, two decades ago. On March 19th, 1992 (I had to dig out an old WCMS calendar to find the exact date,) an intense storm knocked down the station's 500-foot FM tower and two smaller AM towers at the transmitter site on the Elizabeth River. The station was off the air for only six hours; another station allowed WCMS to use space on its FM tower. The first song that we played when the station returned to the air? "It's only the Wind" by Billy Dean. Amazing...I can't remember to pick up my prescription at the Rite Aid but I can remember that 20 year old fact.
It took five months for the station to rebuild the towers and the transmitter building. I was there for the ceremony to christen the new towers, as you'll see in the incredibly dorky photo below. Good lord, I still have that tie in my closet ;) Can't believe it's been 20 years.
 |
| Eric Stevens and Jim Long, the WCMS Afternoon Team, in 1992. |
Thursday, July 5, 2012
And Now, the Jellyfish Forecast
This summer I have been finding and sharing webpages that provide forecasts on conditions at the beach: water temperature, rip current risk, water cleanliness, etc. The final piece of the beach forecasting puzzle may have just been developed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration...it predicts the chance of jellyfish.
No, the government isn't actually counting jellyfish. But with it's Chesapeake Bay Interactive Buoy System, NOAA forecasters can monitor water factors like temperature and salinity to find conditions that jellyfish like and predict where jellyfish will be most numerous. As of Thursday, July 5th, the northern Chesapeake Bay is looking at a bumper crop of Atlantic Sea Nettles, the most populous of the bay's jellyfish.
On the web:
http://www.chesapeakebay.noaa.gov/forecasting-sea-nettles
http://buoybay.noaa.gov/news-listings/109.html
No, the government isn't actually counting jellyfish. But with it's Chesapeake Bay Interactive Buoy System, NOAA forecasters can monitor water factors like temperature and salinity to find conditions that jellyfish like and predict where jellyfish will be most numerous. As of Thursday, July 5th, the northern Chesapeake Bay is looking at a bumper crop of Atlantic Sea Nettles, the most populous of the bay's jellyfish.
On the web:
http://www.chesapeakebay.noaa.gov/forecasting-sea-nettles
http://buoybay.noaa.gov/news-listings/109.html
Sunday, July 1, 2012
Where to Find Beach Conditions
Planning to beat the heat by heading to the beach? Here is a list of links that will provide you everything you need to know about local beach conditions.
Best Local Beaches -- The Daily Press ranks the Top 10 beaches in Hampton Roads. Includes open times, lifeguard hours and contact information.
Rip Currents -- This page, which I have featured on this site before, includes the current risk of rip currents and beach water temperatures.
Beach Water Quality -- Lists swimming advisories issued by the the Virginia Department of Health
Beach Water Quality -- Natural Resources Defense Council site with data on general water quality at area beaches.
Best Local Beaches -- The Daily Press ranks the Top 10 beaches in Hampton Roads. Includes open times, lifeguard hours and contact information.
Rip Currents -- This page, which I have featured on this site before, includes the current risk of rip currents and beach water temperatures.
Beach Water Quality -- Lists swimming advisories issued by the the Virginia Department of Health
Beach Water Quality -- Natural Resources Defense Council site with data on general water quality at area beaches.
Friday, June 29, 2012
Too Many Kids in Hot Car Stories
In amongst the usual chaos that makes up the morning TV news shows...the overlapping banter, the casual asides to the weatherman...I recently heard something on Good Morning America that was actually useful.
The news anchor had just completed a story about a toddler who had been accidentally left in a hot car by its father. The child survived.
The useful part was this: weatherman Sam Champion suggested that to help them remember the kids were in the back seat, parents should make a habit of putting their work materials (briefcases, purses, lunchbags, etc.) in the back seat with the child. It's a great idea, I think, for helping to prevent such needless tragedies.
In trying to find the story that Good Morning America referenced, I went to news.google.com and searched for "child" and "hot car." The search turned up these headlines:
So perhaps Mr. Champion's suggestion, to put the briefcase next to the child safety seat, is a good one.
The news anchor had just completed a story about a toddler who had been accidentally left in a hot car by its father. The child survived.
The useful part was this: weatherman Sam Champion suggested that to help them remember the kids were in the back seat, parents should make a habit of putting their work materials (briefcases, purses, lunchbags, etc.) in the back seat with the child. It's a great idea, I think, for helping to prevent such needless tragedies.
In trying to find the story that Good Morning America referenced, I went to news.google.com and searched for "child" and "hot car." The search turned up these headlines:
Burke child dies after left in hot car
Kentucky father arrested; accidentally left son in hot car
State takes custody of baby found in hot car in Leominster
So perhaps Mr. Champion's suggestion, to put the briefcase next to the child safety seat, is a good one.
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
At the Beach, Keep Track of Your Valubles (the kids, that is)
The Virginia Beach Department of Emergency Medical Services is asking parents to take some extra precautions to better keep track of the kids when they visit Virginia Beach. Lost kids on the beach are of particular concern. According to the United State Lifesaving Association, Virginia Beach lifeguards handle almost 900 lost children reports on the beach every year.
In a media release, the department offers these tips:
www.vbgov.com/news/Pages/selected.aspx?release=849
www.usla.org/?page=STATISTICS
www.vbhma.com/find_a_kid.php
In a media release, the department offers these tips:
- Have a plan. Discuss ahead of time where to meet in the event family members become separated.
- Take a photograph. Have a recent photo of all family members handy. The photo could be helpful to searchers if the child becomes lost.
- Find-A-Kid Program. Resort area hotels offer security wristbands for children 10 and under. The wristbands can help reunite separated families. The program is run by the Virginia Beach Hotel/Motel Association.
www.vbgov.com/news/Pages/selected.aspx?release=849
www.usla.org/?page=STATISTICS
www.vbhma.com/find_a_kid.php
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
New Fees and Fee Increases from the DMV
Come July 1st, doing business with the Virginia DMV will cost more. Governor Bob McDonnell proposed $10 million dollars in new fees and fee increases that were adopted by this year's General Assembly.
In a media release, the DMV highlighted the new $10 late for renewing a vehicle registration after it's expired. If you're renewing by mail, the DMV advises that you send the renewal at least a week to ten days before the expiration date. But if you head to the DMV service center to submit your renewal in person, plan on spending an extra five bucks. There's a $5 service charge for renewing in person. The DMV is pushing customers to use more online services.
A few more new fees.
On the web:
www.DMVNow.com
In a media release, the DMV highlighted the new $10 late for renewing a vehicle registration after it's expired. If you're renewing by mail, the DMV advises that you send the renewal at least a week to ten days before the expiration date. But if you head to the DMV service center to submit your renewal in person, plan on spending an extra five bucks. There's a $5 service charge for renewing in person. The DMV is pushing customers to use more online services.
A few more new fees.
- $20 minimum charge for renewing a driver's license (up from $10). The DMV estimates it costs $26.85 to renew a license.
- $10 standard fee for all vehicle titles, including replacement titles, which were $5.
On the web:
www.DMVNow.com
Monday, June 18, 2012
The Rip Current Forecast
Last weekend, Atlantic beaches from the Eastern Shore to the Outer Banks were under "red flag warnings" because of a high risk of rip currents. With that in mind, I thought it would be helpful to pass along a link to a website I use when determining whether to mention the rip current forecast on the air.
http://weather.noaa.gov/pub/data/raw/fz/fzus51.kakq.srf.akq.txt -- This is the rip current forecast page from the National Weather Service. Forecasts are posted daily from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
Links to rip current forecasts for other beach areas are available here.
Also of interest is the Rip Current Safety Page, which includes tips on spotting rip current conditions and how best to escape from one.
http://weather.noaa.gov/pub/data/raw/fz/fzus51.kakq.srf.akq.txt -- This is the rip current forecast page from the National Weather Service. Forecasts are posted daily from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
Links to rip current forecasts for other beach areas are available here.
Also of interest is the Rip Current Safety Page, which includes tips on spotting rip current conditions and how best to escape from one.
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Spending is Up this Father's Day
Spending for Father's Day gifts is expected to grow by about 10% this year, to an average of $117. That's the finding of the National Retail Federation, which surveyed nearly 9,000 consumers between May 2nd and 8th this year. The survey found the most spending will be on special events like golfing or eating out, electronics gear, clothing and sporting goods.
On its website, the National Retail Federation states that the survey is designed to gauge consumer behavior and shopping trends. I, however, suspect an ulterior motive. I theorize that more than a few Father's Day shoppers, upon hearing that the average Father's Day shopper spent $117 (a number which conveniently comes out before Father's Day,) will feel below average and be compelled to spend more.
The Father's Day sales upswing helps the holiday close the gap with its closest rival, Mother's Day. Americans spent an average of $152 on Mother's Day gifts this year, $35.00 more than for Father's Day.
On the web:
www.nrf.com/modules.php?name=News&op=viewlive&sp_id=1381
On its website, the National Retail Federation states that the survey is designed to gauge consumer behavior and shopping trends. I, however, suspect an ulterior motive. I theorize that more than a few Father's Day shoppers, upon hearing that the average Father's Day shopper spent $117 (a number which conveniently comes out before Father's Day,) will feel below average and be compelled to spend more.
The Father's Day sales upswing helps the holiday close the gap with its closest rival, Mother's Day. Americans spent an average of $152 on Mother's Day gifts this year, $35.00 more than for Father's Day.
On the web:
www.nrf.com/modules.php?name=News&op=viewlive&sp_id=1381
Monday, June 11, 2012
Flooded with Extended Warranty Offers
Mary and I recently bought a used car. It's a 2008 Nissan Versa hatchback. It replaces our 1996 Ford Contour, which gave up the ghost one night while I was driving home from class; I was lucky to make it home that night.
Since buying the car in mid-April, we have been flooded with offers for extended warranties from third-party companies. Three (!) came in the mail today. Each attempts to play upon our fears of a catastrophic vehicle failure that could bankrupt us. "You can't afford to be without coverage!" one reads in bold print. Now that the factory warranty has expired, are Mary and I going to fork over money for an additional warranty? Most assuredly not...
Extended warranties are a sucker's bet, according to Consumer Reports magazine. The plans, they write, can cost hundreds of dollars to several thousand. And, their investigation found, third-party extended warranty plans "typically contain fine print that providers can use to deny claims."
As I write this I am flashing back to the day we picked up the Nissan at the dealership. Before we could leave we had to get a visit from the "delivery coordinator." Her job, as best I could tell, was not to deliver the car, but to push every extra protection package the dealer sold: coverage for the upholstery, special treatments for the dashboard and the paint, the extended warranty on the engine. Total cost for the works: $2,000. It was a 15 minute pitch. I felt bad shooting down the sales rep so abruptly, but I had to. I have always said no to extended warranties, because...
...most are not worth the money. So says Consumer Reports.
By the way, the Consumer Reports investigation applies to more than just third-party vehicle extended warranties. They also recommend against extended coverage on appliances and electronics, as well.
Further reading:
www.consumerreports.org/cro/extended-warranties/buying-guide.htm
Since buying the car in mid-April, we have been flooded with offers for extended warranties from third-party companies. Three (!) came in the mail today. Each attempts to play upon our fears of a catastrophic vehicle failure that could bankrupt us. "You can't afford to be without coverage!" one reads in bold print. Now that the factory warranty has expired, are Mary and I going to fork over money for an additional warranty? Most assuredly not...
Extended warranties are a sucker's bet, according to Consumer Reports magazine. The plans, they write, can cost hundreds of dollars to several thousand. And, their investigation found, third-party extended warranty plans "typically contain fine print that providers can use to deny claims."
As I write this I am flashing back to the day we picked up the Nissan at the dealership. Before we could leave we had to get a visit from the "delivery coordinator." Her job, as best I could tell, was not to deliver the car, but to push every extra protection package the dealer sold: coverage for the upholstery, special treatments for the dashboard and the paint, the extended warranty on the engine. Total cost for the works: $2,000. It was a 15 minute pitch. I felt bad shooting down the sales rep so abruptly, but I had to. I have always said no to extended warranties, because...
...most are not worth the money. So says Consumer Reports.
By the way, the Consumer Reports investigation applies to more than just third-party vehicle extended warranties. They also recommend against extended coverage on appliances and electronics, as well.
Further reading:
www.consumerreports.org/cro/extended-warranties/buying-guide.htm
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
More Libraries Offer E-Books
Public libraries in Suffolk and Newport News are the latest in Hampton Roads to offer e-books. Newport News made the announcement Tuesday it would be adopting the Overdrive system for electronic checkouts, the same one used in Virginia Beach.
Suffolk will use Blio's e-reader app, which can be installed on computers, iPads, iPhones and Android devices. Older versions of the Kindle and Nook e-readers will not be supported.
Links:
Suffolk's E-Book Page
The Newport News E-Book Page
Suffolk will use Blio's e-reader app, which can be installed on computers, iPads, iPhones and Android devices. Older versions of the Kindle and Nook e-readers will not be supported.
Links:
Suffolk's E-Book Page
The Newport News E-Book Page
Monday, June 4, 2012
Fur Ball Gala Rescheduled for August 4th.
Just received an email from the Portsmouth Humane Society. Their 2nd Annual Fur Ball Gala, which had to be postponed in January, has been officially rescheduled for Saturday, August 4th, at a new venue, the Norfolk Waterside Sheraton Hotel.
I interviewed the Executive Director of the Portsmouth Humane Society, Christie Chipps Peters, about the gala earlier this year. It's a formal affair in which both pet owners and their dogs are welcome. Dogs that attend the gala should be "well mannered," Peters says.
For information about the gala or to buy tickets, visit www.portsmouthhumanesociety.org
I interviewed the Executive Director of the Portsmouth Humane Society, Christie Chipps Peters, about the gala earlier this year. It's a formal affair in which both pet owners and their dogs are welcome. Dogs that attend the gala should be "well mannered," Peters says.
For information about the gala or to buy tickets, visit www.portsmouthhumanesociety.org
Friday, June 1, 2012
E-Cycling Event June 2nd
Goodwill Industries is teaming up with TFC Recycling for an electronics recycling event this Saturday, June 2nd in Hampton. Between 10am and 2pm, old computers, peripherals, power cords, cells phones, and video game systems will be accepted for recycling at Peninsula Town Center, adjacent to the Target store. MAP
As detailed on this page previously, Goodwill is a good place to recycle old computers anytime. Their stores will accept any old computer, monitor, or printer, regardless of working condition. If it works, they'll refurbish it and resell it. If the item can't be refurbished, it will be recycled by Dell.
As detailed on this page previously, Goodwill is a good place to recycle old computers anytime. Their stores will accept any old computer, monitor, or printer, regardless of working condition. If it works, they'll refurbish it and resell it. If the item can't be refurbished, it will be recycled by Dell.
Trapped in the Drive-Thru
Some stunning numbers this week on the amount of time and money we Americans spend at fast food drive-thru windows. According to research firm NPD Group, Americans made an estimated 12.4 billion trips through fast food drive-thru lanes last year, an increase of 2% from 2010. And the National Restaurant Association reports that drive-thru customers account for 70% of all fast food sales.
One possible factor for the increasing amount of food being sold through an open window is speed. NPD's research found that today's drive-thru restaurants are quicker and more accurate than a decade ago. The days of frustrated drivers screaming their food order at an impossible to hear box are disappearing.
The drive-thru window isn't all that old. On it's website, McDonald's claims the first drive-thru window appeared at a McDonald's near a military base in Arizona in 1975. It was done to serve soldiers who weren't allowed to exit their vehicles while wearing fatigues. In less than 40 years, the drive-thru has grown from a single restaurant to a nationwide network that serves more than 12 billion meals a year.
The title of the post comes from a 2006 "Weird Al" Yankovic song. Enjoy the video below.
On the web:
http://www2.tbo.com/business/business/2012/jun/01/mebizo1-drive-thru-patronage-up-2-in-2011-ar-410365/
http://www.mcdonalds.com/us/en/our_story/our_history.html
One possible factor for the increasing amount of food being sold through an open window is speed. NPD's research found that today's drive-thru restaurants are quicker and more accurate than a decade ago. The days of frustrated drivers screaming their food order at an impossible to hear box are disappearing.
The drive-thru window isn't all that old. On it's website, McDonald's claims the first drive-thru window appeared at a McDonald's near a military base in Arizona in 1975. It was done to serve soldiers who weren't allowed to exit their vehicles while wearing fatigues. In less than 40 years, the drive-thru has grown from a single restaurant to a nationwide network that serves more than 12 billion meals a year.
The title of the post comes from a 2006 "Weird Al" Yankovic song. Enjoy the video below.
On the web:
http://www2.tbo.com/business/business/2012/jun/01/mebizo1-drive-thru-patronage-up-2-in-2011-ar-410365/
http://www.mcdonalds.com/us/en/our_story/our_history.html
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Lunar Eclipse June 4th
For those of who have to be up at that hour, the drive to work early next Monday, June 4th, will have a special treat. The full Moon will be eclipsed by the Earth's shadow that day.
According to Space.com, the partial eclipse of the Moon will begin at approximately 6am, as the Moon is setting in the West. Only about a third of the Moon will be blocked out by the Earth's shadow.
On the web:
www.space.com/15901-partial-lunar-eclipse-june-4-preview.html
wtvr.com/2012/05/29/space-strawberry-moon-partial-eclipse-at-dawn-june-4/
According to Space.com, the partial eclipse of the Moon will begin at approximately 6am, as the Moon is setting in the West. Only about a third of the Moon will be blocked out by the Earth's shadow.
On the web:
www.space.com/15901-partial-lunar-eclipse-june-4-preview.html
wtvr.com/2012/05/29/space-strawberry-moon-partial-eclipse-at-dawn-june-4/
Saturday, May 26, 2012
The New Landlords
 |
| The new boss of the yard perches on top of my Nissan. |
A pair of mockingbirds have built a nest in the mock orange bush just outside my front porch. I discovered this fact by accident a few days ago, when I found a baby bird on the ground beside the bush. I spotted the nest, scooped up the bird and was putting it back when I was hit in the back by its mom.
The feisty nature of mockingbirds is legendary. They are fearless in protecting their nesting territories; the little birds will attack anything, even hawks. I remember a story in the Virginian-Pilot some years ago that detailed how a mockingbird repeatedly attacked passersby outside a Norfolk highrise building.
The mockingbirds in my yard studied self-defense but apparently slept through their engineering classes; their nest had collapsed on one side, allowing the babies to fall out. Today after finding one baby bird dead and its brother on the ground again, my wife and I decided they needed a little help. Mary crammed a small wooden basket into the bush, put the nest down in it, and then put the bird in. So far, the one surviving hatchling has stayed in the nest.
For the rest of the afternoon, we have watched the two parents tend to their child and fuss non-stop at our cats, who we allow out on our screened-in front porch.
As I write this, I can hear the calls of the equally feisty house wren in the backyard. They're not known to attack people, but if they spot a cat in their zip code, they will alert the entire neighborhood.
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Free Ice Cream (for some people) this Thursday at Doumar's
The Virginia Tourism Office is launching a new marketing campaign highlighting some of Virginia's "old school" attractions and they're using Norfolk's very own Doumar's Cones and Barbecue as the launch point.
Tourism officials will be at Doumar's this Thursday (5/24) to kick off the campaign, called Old School Road Trips. The first 100 people in line at 2pm will receive a free Doumar's ice cream cone. There will also be Virginia is for Lovers prize giveaways Thursday.
Doumar's is even featured in the promotional video...
Read the official media release for more details.
Tourism officials will be at Doumar's this Thursday (5/24) to kick off the campaign, called Old School Road Trips. The first 100 people in line at 2pm will receive a free Doumar's ice cream cone. There will also be Virginia is for Lovers prize giveaways Thursday.
Doumar's is even featured in the promotional video...
Read the official media release for more details.
Monday, May 21, 2012
Volunteers Needed at OpSail
OpSail 2012 Virginia is holding an informational meeting tonight (May 21st) for prospective volunteers and tour guides. Volunteers are needed as public information assistants and as tour guides between Wednesday, June 6th and Monday, June 11th. The informational meeting will be held at the ODU Constant Center from 6:30pm to 8pm.
For information, call 757-441-2345 ext. 3020
On the web:
www.opsail2012virginia.com/
For information, call 757-441-2345 ext. 3020
On the web:
www.opsail2012virginia.com/
Friday, May 18, 2012
Free Shuttle Service to the Patriotic Festival Airshow
The city of Virginia Beach has announced it will be offering free shuttle bus service to and from the Patriotic Festival Airshow the weekend of June 2nd and 3rd. The shuttle buses will be available at these locations:
Read the media release here for additional details.
- Camp Pendleton
- Fleet Park, Oceana Naval Air Station
Read the media release here for additional details.
Give a Pint, Get a Gift Card from the Red Cross
The Red Cross is also reporting that it is short of Type O blood, one of the most commonly used blood types, especially in emergency situations. If you are Type O negative, your blood can be used by any patient, regardless of blood type.
Don't know you're blood type? The Red Cross will tell you what it is after you make a blood donation.
To find a blood donation center, call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE or visit www.RedCrossBlood.org
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Get Ready for Hurricane Season
Believe it or not, hurricane season begins in just a few weeks. Those of us who stayed in town through both Hurricanes Isabel (2003) and Irene (2011) know that it takes only one big storm to make a bad hurricane season. So Virginia officials are saying now is a good time to review and prepare for hurricane season.
The Virginia Department of Emergency Management has released its 2012 Hurricane Evacuation Guide. It includes information on evacuation routes, emergency supplies, and emergency contacts. The guide is available online here.
Meanwhile, Virginia's annual Hurricane Supply Sales Tax Holiday is coming up May 25th-31st. Hurricane supplies like batteries, bottled water, and flashlights costing less than $60 each will be exempt of Virginia sales tax during the week. Generators costing less than $1,000 will also be exempt of state sales tax. Complete details of the tax holiday are available here.
The Virginia Department of Emergency Management has released its 2012 Hurricane Evacuation Guide. It includes information on evacuation routes, emergency supplies, and emergency contacts. The guide is available online here.
Meanwhile, Virginia's annual Hurricane Supply Sales Tax Holiday is coming up May 25th-31st. Hurricane supplies like batteries, bottled water, and flashlights costing less than $60 each will be exempt of Virginia sales tax during the week. Generators costing less than $1,000 will also be exempt of state sales tax. Complete details of the tax holiday are available here.
Toll Work is Underway
Work to add the first tolls to a Hampton Roads interstate since 1996 is now underway. The Virginia Department of Transportation has begun installation of the gantries that will hold the automated toll collecting scanners on the west side of the Downtown Tunnel. The construction is not expected to impede traffic.
The tolls, which will pay for a major expansion of the Midtown Tunnel and improvements of the Downtown, were to take effect later this year. But, because of a massive outcry after the state's deal with Elizabeth River Crossings was announced, lawmakers agreed to push the start of tolls back two years to 2014.
By the way, if local politicians were caught off guard by the tunnel toll deal, they shouldn't have been. In an interview on my public affairs show 15 months ago, VDOT official Stephany Hanshaw told me the Midtown Tunnel agreement, complete with tolls, was pretty much a done deal.
The tolls, which will pay for a major expansion of the Midtown Tunnel and improvements of the Downtown, were to take effect later this year. But, because of a massive outcry after the state's deal with Elizabeth River Crossings was announced, lawmakers agreed to push the start of tolls back two years to 2014.
By the way, if local politicians were caught off guard by the tunnel toll deal, they shouldn't have been. In an interview on my public affairs show 15 months ago, VDOT official Stephany Hanshaw told me the Midtown Tunnel agreement, complete with tolls, was pretty much a done deal.
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Energy Saving Tips from Dominion Power
Dominion Virginia Power has released a top ten list of ways you can lower your energy bills during the summer. Many of these are common sense. I, however, usually have to be reminded to change the air system's dust filter (see item 4).
- In the summer, set the thermostat to the highest comfortable temperature. Dominion and the U.S. Department of Energy recommend 78 degrees for maximum efficiency.
- On hot days, cook outdoors, use a microwave oven or prepare cold meals to avoid excess heat in the kitchen. If you cook outdoors, plan carefully to minimize the trips in and out of the house when hot air can enter and cool air can escape.
- Use ceiling fans to make it feel colder so you can set the thermostat higher and still be comfortable.
- Replace or clean forced-air heating/cooling system filters monthly.
- Wash clothes in cold water and clean the lint filter in the dryer after every use.
- Use the moisture-sensing automatic drying setting on your dryer if you have one.
- Air must be able to circulate freely around the outside unit of your air conditioner or heat pump. Keep the area around it clear of weeds and debris.
- Plant trees or shrubs to shade air conditioning units. A unit operating in the shade uses as much as 10% less electricity than the same one operating in the sun.
- Keep the water heater set at 120 degrees and insulate the heater and adjacent pipes to prevent heat loss.
- Close the flue to any fireplace that is not in use.
The heat of an early summer is not expected to hit anytime soon. The Climate Prediction Center is forecasting normal temperatures and precipitation for Hampton Roads for the next month.
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Another Computer Virus...Sigh
Just got finished removing another pesky computer virus. This time it was my laptop. Not one, not two, but three different "search toolbars" had installed themselves on my browsers.
It had been a while since I've had to handle a situation like this. So long, in fact, that I had to refer to one of my own blog posts to remember how to remove it. In most cases, using Windows System Restore will handle it. Learn more here.
Also, don't forget to check the "uninstall a program" directory in the Control Panel. In most versions of Windows, the directory can be sorted by the program's installation date. If the name of the most recently installed software looks unfamiliar, it may have installed itself without your permission. I would recommend a Google search of the program just to make sure it's worth removing.
It had been a while since I've had to handle a situation like this. So long, in fact, that I had to refer to one of my own blog posts to remember how to remove it. In most cases, using Windows System Restore will handle it. Learn more here.
Also, don't forget to check the "uninstall a program" directory in the Control Panel. In most versions of Windows, the directory can be sorted by the program's installation date. If the name of the most recently installed software looks unfamiliar, it may have installed itself without your permission. I would recommend a Google search of the program just to make sure it's worth removing.
Sunday, May 6, 2012
Another File Converter
Here's another website that's useful for converting computer files from one format to another.
www.Zamar.com
It, like the site I profiled in March, will allow you to convert a .pdf into a Word .doc file that can then be edited. It also purports to be able to download Youtube videos, but so far in my tests, the resulting file has been unusable in Windows Media Playe.
A better option for downloading Youtube videos, from my experience, is the Real Player. It's available for free here
www.Zamar.com
It, like the site I profiled in March, will allow you to convert a .pdf into a Word .doc file that can then be edited. It also purports to be able to download Youtube videos, but so far in my tests, the resulting file has been unusable in Windows Media Playe.
A better option for downloading Youtube videos, from my experience, is the Real Player. It's available for free here
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Virginia Offers Prizes for Visiting its Website
The Virginia Tourism Corporation, the state's tourism promotional office, is trying a novel approach to attracting more visitors to its website. Prizes, prizes and more prizes.
The web address is www.Virginia.org/OneInAMillion. For every 100,000 visitors to the site, a new set of prizes is unlocked and put up for grabs. According to a press release from the tourism office, the higher the number of entries, the bigger and better the prizes.
People can be entered once by registering on the main page. They can gain more entries by sharing a link to the page through email or social media.
Officials are hoping the contest will attract more website visitors and possibly more in-person visits to Virginia. Gas prices, which have dropped about 15 cents a gallon since last year but remain fairly high, could affect the summer travel season, travel experts are predicting.
The promotion runs through May 31st.
On the web: www.Virginia.org/OneInAMillion
The web address is www.Virginia.org/OneInAMillion. For every 100,000 visitors to the site, a new set of prizes is unlocked and put up for grabs. According to a press release from the tourism office, the higher the number of entries, the bigger and better the prizes.
People can be entered once by registering on the main page. They can gain more entries by sharing a link to the page through email or social media.
Officials are hoping the contest will attract more website visitors and possibly more in-person visits to Virginia. Gas prices, which have dropped about 15 cents a gallon since last year but remain fairly high, could affect the summer travel season, travel experts are predicting.
The promotion runs through May 31st.
On the web: www.Virginia.org/OneInAMillion
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Free Document Shredding this Weekend
Shred your documents for free this Saturday, April 28th, at the Newport News Farmers Market from 10am to 1pm. The event is presented by Stealth Shredding, Inc. and the Newport News Sheriff's Department.
Experts say shredding old documents containing personal information helps prevent identity theft. Newport News Sheriff's spokeswoman Kathleen Carey says nine million Americans a year have their identifies stolen.
Newport News Farmers Market is located at the corner of Jefferson Avenue and 25th Street. MAP
My thanks to high school classmate Chris Howell for providing this information.
Experts say shredding old documents containing personal information helps prevent identity theft. Newport News Sheriff's spokeswoman Kathleen Carey says nine million Americans a year have their identifies stolen.
Newport News Farmers Market is located at the corner of Jefferson Avenue and 25th Street. MAP
My thanks to high school classmate Chris Howell for providing this information.
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
OfficeMax Revamps Ink Cartridge Recycling
Visit www.officemaxperks.com/RecyclingHome.aspx for details.
Friday, April 6, 2012
Vote for the Portsmouth Humane Society
The Portsmouth Humane Society is in the running for a $100,000 prize in the 2012 ASPCA Rachel Ray $100,000 Challenge. The Portsmouth shelter is one of only four in Virginia in the competition.
"The 2012 ASPCA Rachael Ray $100K Challenge is a nationwide competition for animal shelters (and their communities) aimed at getting more animals adopted or returned to their owners than ever before," Executive Director Christie Chipps Peters said in a media release. "This second phase is the Qualifying Heat where registered shelters compete to accumulate the most on-line votes from their supporters. The 50 shelters with the most votes become the official contestants for the 2012 ASPCA Rachael Ray $100K Challenge."
I could encourage you to vote for the Portsmouth Humane Society because Peters, who has been a guest on my talk show several times, is such a nice person, or I could mention the shelter's "cat colony" room, where visitors can sit in a room full of cats. But I won't. Because the best reason to vote for the Portsmouth Humane Society is this guy...
Felix here has the best dog smile I've ever seen.
Saturday, March 31, 2012
One More Bird Cam
My sister, Susan, has pointed me towards another interesting bird cam. This one is spying on a great blue heron nest in Ithaca, New York.
For more bird cameras, click here...
For more bird cameras, click here...
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Name the Ospreys
Last week I posted about the newly installed webcam that's focused on the osprey nest at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science in Gloucester. VIMS is asking for reader input on what to name the nesting ospreys. The form has a number of suggested names to choose from or you could write in your own suggestion. I kind of favor the names William and Mary. VIMS is a part of the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg.
You can vote here through Friday, March 30th. The winning names will be announced on Monday, April 2nd.
You can vote here through Friday, March 30th. The winning names will be announced on Monday, April 2nd.
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Pollen Season off to an Early Start
I probably don't have to tell you, but we in the Southeast are under attack from pollen. Scientists say the mild winter and an early spring has led to a bumper crop of pollen. And they're predicting a prolonged pollen season.
According to Pollen.com (pollen is so widespread now it has it's own website), the pollen forecast will be in the the high range from the Ohio Valley to Florida. The pollen count has been through the roof. Nashville, Tennessee recorded a reading this week of 11,000, seven times the mark considered very high.
What's interesting is that the pollen we can see is not usually the problem. Pollen experts say pine pollen, which is the main source of the yellow dust we see on our cars in the spring, is too big and heavy to cause allergy problems.
The pollen count is expected to remain high for at least the next few days. If you need me, I'll be tracking down a BJ's sized bottle of Claritin.
Link:
www.Pollen.com
According to Pollen.com (pollen is so widespread now it has it's own website), the pollen forecast will be in the the high range from the Ohio Valley to Florida. The pollen count has been through the roof. Nashville, Tennessee recorded a reading this week of 11,000, seven times the mark considered very high.
What's interesting is that the pollen we can see is not usually the problem. Pollen experts say pine pollen, which is the main source of the yellow dust we see on our cars in the spring, is too big and heavy to cause allergy problems.
The pollen count is expected to remain high for at least the next few days. If you need me, I'll be tracking down a BJ's sized bottle of Claritin.
Link:
www.Pollen.com
Highway Advisory Radio Moving to 1680AM
The Virginia Department of Transportation is in the process of moving its Highway Advisory Radio signal in Hampton Roads from 610 AM to 1680, at the high end of the AM band. Highway Advisory Radio is a network of low power (10 watt) stations with a synthesized voice that broadcasts highway traffic information. I've come to rely on these stations when driving in some of the more congested parts of Hampton Roads. The information comes directly from VDOT and is usually up to date.
I'm familiar with low power radio, having started my broadcast career at Longwood College's 10 watt (we preferred 10,000 milliwatt) WLCX. Low power stations have limited range. VDOT's signal is sometimes difficult to hear, especially at night, when the stations are often drowned out by other, stronger stations. Jennifer Gwaltney, a public information officer for VDOT, tells me the move to 1680 AM should create a clearer signal.
The move to 1680 AM should be completed by the end of April.
Link:
http://www.vdot.virginia.gov/travel/highway_advisory_radio.asp
I'm familiar with low power radio, having started my broadcast career at Longwood College's 10 watt (we preferred 10,000 milliwatt) WLCX. Low power stations have limited range. VDOT's signal is sometimes difficult to hear, especially at night, when the stations are often drowned out by other, stronger stations. Jennifer Gwaltney, a public information officer for VDOT, tells me the move to 1680 AM should create a clearer signal.
The move to 1680 AM should be completed by the end of April.
Link:
http://www.vdot.virginia.gov/travel/highway_advisory_radio.asp
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Free PDF Converter
Here's a good website for my teacher friends who are always scouring the Internet for lesson plan ideas. Sometimes a good idea comes in the form of an Adobe PDF document. If only there was a way to edit the PDF to make it fit your lesson plan needs exactly. There are several ways, but there's one way that I have found that's easy and, better yet, free.
Use the online PDF converter at this website.
http://pdftools.orgfree.com/webapp/
Upload the PDF you want to edit and it will automatically convert it into an MS Word document, which you can then download.
Use the online PDF converter at this website.
http://pdftools.orgfree.com/webapp/
Upload the PDF you want to edit and it will automatically convert it into an MS Word document, which you can then download.
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Bird Cams
The Virginia Institute of Marine Science at Gloucester Point has just announced the launch of its "OspreyCam." It's a live web camera overlooking an osprey nest on top of the 65 foot water tower adjacent to the VIMS property on the York River.
The OspreyCam becomes the second bird of prey cam in Hampton Roads. The first was the Eagle Cam at Norfolk Botanical Gardens.
Incidentally, The Eagle Cam is the only camera known to have captured anything of the meteor that flashed across the Eastern Seaboard in 2009. You'll see a brief flash of light in this silent video footage. About 30 seconds later, an Eagle does its impression of the "dramatic squirrel" when the sonic boom hits.
My favorite bird cam, however, features one of our tiniest birds. The Hummingbird Nest Cam is pointed at an Allen's Hummingbird nest that sits in a rose bush in Orange County, California.
Link:
News release announcing the OspreyCam
The OspreyCam becomes the second bird of prey cam in Hampton Roads. The first was the Eagle Cam at Norfolk Botanical Gardens.
Incidentally, The Eagle Cam is the only camera known to have captured anything of the meteor that flashed across the Eastern Seaboard in 2009. You'll see a brief flash of light in this silent video footage. About 30 seconds later, an Eagle does its impression of the "dramatic squirrel" when the sonic boom hits.
My favorite bird cam, however, features one of our tiniest birds. The Hummingbird Nest Cam is pointed at an Allen's Hummingbird nest that sits in a rose bush in Orange County, California.
Link:
News release announcing the OspreyCam
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Good Economic News...in Two Lines
"New economic numbers are showing a 6.7 percent jump in retail sales between last month and the year before. And automakers Chrysler, Ford and Volkswagen all posted strong sales gains in February."
In short, February was a good month for the economy.
The above is my summary of two articles I spotted Friday morning. One was a report from the Associated Press showing a sizable jump in retail sales in February. The other was a story in the Los Angeles Times on a strong showing by some automakers. The resulting two lines come from the need to balance detail with brevity, since my newscasts are only one minute long.
In short, February was a good month for the economy.
The above is my summary of two articles I spotted Friday morning. One was a report from the Associated Press showing a sizable jump in retail sales in February. The other was a story in the Los Angeles Times on a strong showing by some automakers. The resulting two lines come from the need to balance detail with brevity, since my newscasts are only one minute long.
Thursday, March 1, 2012
DMV Announces a New Street Level Crash Map
The Virginia DMV has unveiled a new webpage that combines their database of traffic crashes with an interactive map. The result is a map that shows the exact location and severity of a car accident.
In the statewide view, the map shows the number of crashes in each county. Virginia Beach, for example, recorded more than 6,000 accidents in 2010. Zooming in on the map will provide precise locations and times of individual accidents.
The new page is seen as a safety benefit. In a news release, DMV Commissioner Richard Holcomb points out that prospective home buyers can learn which streets or intersections are more accident prone.
For now, the map includes data from 2009 and 2010. DMV spokeswoman Melanie Stokes tells me 2011 data will be added in a few months. Crash data from earlier years will be added later.
In the meantime, the DMV does have a website with text listings of accident data going back to 1999. That page can be found here.
On the web:
http://www.dmv.virginia.gov/webdoc/safety/crash_data/mapping/tredsmapping.asp
In the statewide view, the map shows the number of crashes in each county. Virginia Beach, for example, recorded more than 6,000 accidents in 2010. Zooming in on the map will provide precise locations and times of individual accidents.
The new page is seen as a safety benefit. In a news release, DMV Commissioner Richard Holcomb points out that prospective home buyers can learn which streets or intersections are more accident prone.
For now, the map includes data from 2009 and 2010. DMV spokeswoman Melanie Stokes tells me 2011 data will be added in a few months. Crash data from earlier years will be added later.
In the meantime, the DMV does have a website with text listings of accident data going back to 1999. That page can be found here.
On the web:
http://www.dmv.virginia.gov/webdoc/safety/crash_data/mapping/tredsmapping.asp
Cox and WAVY Reach a Deal
Cox Communications and LIN Media, the parent company of Hampton Roads TV stations WAVY and WVBT, have reached an agreement on a new retransmission pact that will keep WAVY and Fox 43 on Cox's cable service. The deal was reached just hours before the old agreement was to expire.
It's only the latest in a series of down-to-the-wire deals between local broadcast television and the cable TV industry. In the past 12 months we've also had last minute agreements between LIN Media and DISH Network and between DIRECTV and Belo, WVEC's parent company.
I've written earlier about how such disagreements came out of the 1994 Cable Television and Protection Act, which gave local TV the right to negotiate with the cable companies over retransmission rights. However, a search of the Google News archive found an even earlier instance that also involved WAVY-TV 10. In 1993, WAVY was blacked out to Cox Cable subscribers for three days until a new agreement could be reached.
On the web:
http://www.dailypress.com/news/breaking/dp-cox-wavy-agreement-0301,0,5847883.story
It's only the latest in a series of down-to-the-wire deals between local broadcast television and the cable TV industry. In the past 12 months we've also had last minute agreements between LIN Media and DISH Network and between DIRECTV and Belo, WVEC's parent company.
I've written earlier about how such disagreements came out of the 1994 Cable Television and Protection Act, which gave local TV the right to negotiate with the cable companies over retransmission rights. However, a search of the Google News archive found an even earlier instance that also involved WAVY-TV 10. In 1993, WAVY was blacked out to Cox Cable subscribers for three days until a new agreement could be reached.
On the web:
http://www.dailypress.com/news/breaking/dp-cox-wavy-agreement-0301,0,5847883.story
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Flu Now Widespread in Virginia
In the last three weeks, influenza reports in Virginia have gone from scattered to regional and now to widespread. Though late, the 2012 flu season has arrived.
The Virginia Department of Health monitors hospital and emergency care facilities, lab reports and local departments for reports of flu-like illness. If three or more of Virginia's five health districts report high levels of flu-like illness, the flu is said to be widespread. Flu-like illness is high in Hampton Roads and the rest of Eastern region.
VDH spokesman Larry Hill tells me that people who got the flu shot as far back as October should still be protected. Anyone who has not had a flu shot can still benefit from getting one now. However, it takes about two weeks after the shot for the flu vaccine to become effective. The flu vaccine is 80% to 85% effective at preventing a flu infection.
For information about getting a flu shot, contact your doctor, local pharmacy, or local health department.
The Virginia Department of Health monitors hospital and emergency care facilities, lab reports and local departments for reports of flu-like illness. If three or more of Virginia's five health districts report high levels of flu-like illness, the flu is said to be widespread. Flu-like illness is high in Hampton Roads and the rest of Eastern region.
VDH spokesman Larry Hill tells me that people who got the flu shot as far back as October should still be protected. Anyone who has not had a flu shot can still benefit from getting one now. However, it takes about two weeks after the shot for the flu vaccine to become effective. The flu vaccine is 80% to 85% effective at preventing a flu infection.
For information about getting a flu shot, contact your doctor, local pharmacy, or local health department.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)