Amber and I saw South African musician Vusi Mahlasela perform at Starr Hill this evening, as a two-day-late birthday present to Amber. As is true for many people, I first became aware of him when he sang back-up vocals on Dave Matthews Band’s “Everyday,” and heard more when I got the Amandla! soundtrack a couple …
Category Archives: Charlottesville
Springier than ever.
On the first day of spring, it was definitely spring. But then it rained for days, and Charlottesville was a gray and dreary place. Today, though, it’s a changed world. The sky is blue, fluffy white clouds are scudding across the sky, there’s a nice breeze, and it is, as I write this, 62° and …
I’m not a candidate.
I’ve thought about it for a couple of weeks now, and I’ve made up my mind not to run for House of Delegates. If I run, I work for the good of a single seat. If I don’t run, then I can continue and markedly expand my efforts to help influence the outcome of House …
Creigh Deeds’ shot at winning.
I’ve been thinking about it for the past few days, and I’m feeling better and better about Creigh Deeds‘ shot at Attorney General. He’s fundraising like there’s no tomorrow, and staying above the Baril/McDonnell fray. I’m frustrated that neither he nor the state party are using a bait-and-bleed strategy on the Republicans, forcing them to …
cvillenews.com relaunch.
Last night, I relaunched cvillenews.com on the occasion of its fourth birthday. I converted the site from PostNuke to WordPress (the software that runs this blog right now), and it seems to be working. The DNS updates will prevent many people from seeing the site until around 9pm tonight, but I’m looking forward to see …
Spring is here.
Spring officially starts today or tomorrow (I assume; it’s equinox time, after all), but I knew it had started when I left the house this morning. It was in the high 40s, no warmer than it’s been recently, but it had that “it’s only getting warmer from here tinge,” and the smell of things blooming. …
On the Lt. Gov. candidates.
This evening, at the annual meeting of the Albemarle County Democratic Party, all four Democratic candidates for Lt. Gov. spoke — Leslie Byrne, Viola Baskerville, Chap Peterson, and Phil Puckett. Leslie Byrne is the candidate with whom I most agree on the issues. Viola Baskerville is the candidate with whom I’d most like to be …
Sorensen review.
Last weekend, I attended the first of 11 monthly sessions of UVa’s Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership, to which I was accepted earlier this year. There are 34 students, half Democrats and half Republicans, with some independents and even a Libertarian sprinkled throughout. I’d say the average age is probably 40 or 45. Two students …
Buddha Phil has died.
I wrote about it on cvillenews.com, but it merits repeating here: Phil Gair — known as “Buddha Phil” to his many admirers here in Charlottesville — has died. His obituary: Philip Julian Gair, 54, died suddenly Friday, March 4, 2005, of a heart attack. He was the son of Peggy Lou Gair of Silver Spring, …
Bob Gibson on local House races.
In today’s Daily Progress, Bob Gibson mentions something interesting: Locally, Albemarle School Board member Stephen H. Koleszar, a Scottsville District Democrat, apparently plans to announce a formal challenge to Del. Rob Bell, R-Albemarle County, on Wednesday. I’m just glad somebody is challenging Bell. I’d say the same thing if Bell were a Democrat — candidates, …