Bacon's Rebellion

Month: April 2007

  • Arlington’s Auto Busters

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    James A. Bacon
    in

    Here are some numbers that I find quite compelling. Arlington County may not rank among Virginia’s fastest growing jurisdictions, but its population is growing smartly — some seven percent since 2000. Population now exceeds 200,000, giving the county a population density of nearly 8,000 per square mile — more than three times that of Fairfax…

  • We Are All Hokies Now

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    James A. Bacon
    in

    There are no words to describe the enormity of this morning’s tragedy at Virginia Tech, so I won’t even try. But if there any Hokie readers out there, please know that the thoughts and prayers of every Virginian are with the staff, students, parents and everyone else in the Virginia Tech community right now.

  • LEARNING FROM CHILDREN

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    James A. Bacon
    in

    Darragh Johnson’s did does a nice job in today’s front page WaPo story on the insight of children. (“Fear of Climate Change Scares – and Inspires – Kids, Fears About Environment Pushing Kids to Act – Some to Therapy.”) I recall well that it was Columbia’s Bryant Woods Elementary School students who inspired the adults…

  • Shaking up the Rail-to-Tysons Debate

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    James A. Bacon
    in

    I normally let Bacon’s Rebellion e-zine contributors plug their own columns in this blog, but I’m making an exception today. I want to bring to readers’ attention Ed Risse’s column, “All Aboard!“, which takes a fresh look at the Tysons Corner heavy rail project. The backdrop of Ed’s column is the controversy over Gov. Timothy…

  • Saving the Countryside

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    James A. Bacon
    in , ,

    One of the special attributes of Virginia is the beauty of the countryside, especially in the northern piedmont. The rolling hills and curving country roads… the vineyards and manicured horse farms… the charming hamlets with quaint, historical downtowns. It’s an extraordinary asset for all of us city and suburban dwellers who enjoy the occasional weekend…

  • The Lounge Chair Rebellion Strikes Again

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    James A. Bacon
    in

    The April 16, 2007, edition of the Bacon’s Rebellion e-zine has been published. Visit the e-zine here. Never miss a single issue, subscribe here and get the latest edition e-mailed to you free. Here are this week’s columns and features: Honoring Hallowed GroundCate Wyatt is reinventing the economy of Virginia’s northern piedmont. The Journey Through…

  • Nichol Bound for Duke?

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    James A. Bacon
    in

    My old friend Veritatus has submitted another satire in the form of a news story from Durham, N.C. Nichol to be Recruited by Duke’s Group of 88Durham, NC—In the wake of the dismissal of rape charges against three former Duke University lacrosse players, Duke’s Group of 88 professors are regrouping to continue their struggle against…

  • Regional Hucksterism

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    James A. Bacon
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    The Daily Press today editorializes on ‘A Regional Authority. Best advice: It’s an ugly duckling, but it’s our duckling’ (Friday, April 13, 2007). The editors call the transportation plan a “monstrosity” for unknown reasons… but say, “in this imperfect world, the best interests of the majority of the people in Hampton Roads will be served…

  • What Would T.J.Say?

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    James A. Bacon
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    The Board of Visitors of the University of Virginia has jacked up in-state tuition and fees at Mr. Jefferson’s University by 8.3 percent, or $655 per year. (See the Times-Dispatch article.) The usual justification for the relentless increases in tuitions year after year is the declining share of funding provided by the state. If you…

  • School’s Out Forever

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    James A. Bacon
    in

    A thought provoking piece from Robert Epstein on education wonders whether we’re doing more harm to kids with our current system than good. Snip: Our educational institutions today are cursed by at least four fatal legacies of the Industrial Revolution—ideas that may have been helpful a century ago but have no place in today’s world.…

  • Developments to Watch: Harbour View Station Towne Center

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    James A. Bacon
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    Suffolk City Council is nearing approval of a $553 million mixed use project, Harbour View Station Towne Center, that could create a second “downtown” for the sprawling, mostly undedeveloped city. According to the Suffolk News Herald, plans call for 1,200 residential units, 600,000 square feet of retail space, 500,000 square feet of office space, 150,000…

  • An End to “Business As Usual” Republicanism?

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    James A. Bacon
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    Another “Business As Usual” Republican, Sen. Marty Williams, R-Newport News, has picked up a primary challenger. Patricia Stall, a long-time Republican Party activist, is emphasizing her tax-cutting credentials. In announcing her candidacy, Stall noted that she had served as the Newport News “KNOW” Campaign” and “Ax the Tax” coordinator that defeated the Sales Tax Referendum…

  • At Last, a Water Taxi on the Potomac

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    James A. Bacon
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    I went through a brief phase a year or two ago touting the virtues of water taxis as a niche transportation option that could take travelers off the road. Water transport is a viable option in Seattle, the San Francisco Bay area and numerous cities around the world. Why not Virginia? At last, an entrepreneur…

  • Partial Verdict for Interstate 81

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    James A. Bacon
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    For Interstate 81, rails are out and tolls are in, reports Garren Shipley with the Northern Virginia Daily. Those are the two main points to emerge from the Final Environmental Impact Study for I-81, which will guide how the Virginia Department of Transportation approaches the highway in the years ahead. On trains: A “Steel Interstate”…

  • Dulles Toll Road Commuters to Get Hosed Again?

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    James A. Bacon
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    Examiner.com makes an interesting point: Officials at the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority late last month unveiled an agreement to build the first 11.6-mile phase of the rail at a total cost of $2.4 billion to $2.7 billion — considerably more than the early estimates of $1.8 billion. Fairfax County and the federal government have pledged…