Happy Hump Day Everyone! It’s Wednesday so I decided to read the paper.

SEALs Likely to be Honored Privately

First things first, these guys are living here, locally…so why is the Pilot running a story outsourced from San Diego? One in which we’re referred to as “Dam Neck, Virginia?”

No Beach Party for the Seals | pic: tripadvisor

Nonetheless, I’m a fan of espionage thrillers and superhero movies, so to have that sort of scenario go down in real life and know the participants are my neighbors is so totally cool. They’ll most likely not be recognized publicly due to classification, safety, etc. but will also likely have a private ceremony at the White House with those in the know present.

In a story stretched like a too-small bedcover to all sides of the world and political and religious spectrums, I’m glad there’s something as simple and honest as “local heroes” for me to focus on. Now if we can just see about getting their praise written from a local perspective…

What SEALs?

The Navy has reportedly asked Virginia Beach to tone down its celebration of the crew for their own protection Disregard the first four paragraphs of today’s IYRTP. Sorry.

To Outsource or Not to Outsource? That is the Question.

Virginia Beach schools are debating whether to cancel their relationship with their longtime printer, estimating a $300k savings. While a few essential printings will still occur locally, the bulk of supplies like enrollment forms and business cards would now be created elsewhere. Kevin Fairley, Virginia Beach’s information services administrator, says it best: “The city and schools have to be efficient with less funds, and thats what we’re going to try to do.”

That’s true not just in VB, of course. It seems like a logical move to make, but it stinks that it’s cheaper to send money out of the area for a job capable of being done here. Why is the local guy $300k more expensive?

Want a new Midtown Tunnel?

There’s a meeting from 5-8pm at Norcum High in Portsmouth to discuss VDOT plans to build a new tunnel near the existing Midtown, improve the Midtown and Downtown, and add to Martin Luther King Freeway (aka Route 58.) I want a bike lane and a train but see benefits to having a tunnel that doesn’t flood every time it rains (which feels like once a week in the summer.)

Park Place Update: Green Homes Take Park Place into 21st Century

Radiant in-floor heat!

Over a week after the event, the Pilot has covered Not Your Usual House Tour 2.0, which was an Earth Day event featuring the two GreenBuildIt houses on 30th Street. Better late than never, I think, because these homes deserve as much attention as the media can shower them with. The article says, “The..homes are straight from a design magazine, like Dwell, catapulting you deep into the 21st century.” It’s not everyday one thinks “catapult deep into 21st century” and “Park Place, Norfolk” at the same time. Great job GreenBuildIt!

I went to this event and spoke with developer Donald Porter, who told me they are focusing their next efforts on three green homes in Ocean View. This is awesome news, of course…I just hope they don’t stop considering Park Place a valuable place to continue construction projects. They’re solely responsible for bringing two vibrant, caring households to the neighborhood already. Why stop there?

Indian Census Reveals Gross Mistreatment of Female Babies and Young Girls

India just released census results showing a lopsided ratio in boy/girl population in children under six. Nationally, the estimate it to be 914 girls for every 1,000 boys, though in some areas of the country this gap is even wider. Where do the girls go? Many die of malnourishment due to the custom of providing everything to the boys first and girls second. Starvation is common.

Some are aborted. Abortion is legal, but sex-selective abortion is not. Sonograms and other technologies allowing expectant parents to know the sex of their fetus were outlawed in the nineties due to the high number of aborted females. The government has also implemented several monetary incentives for families to keep their female children. However, the gap in boy/girl population is higher than it was a decade ago, proving that the mentality of the population is still caught in the idea of gender inequality, regardless of law. The strangest fact, to me, was that the more wealthy the family, the more likely the abortion, as these people can either bribe technicians to perform sonograms or travel outside India to receive them. I would assume the more wealthy one is, the more likely opportunities for education and travel exist, and therefore more likelihood one’s eyes would be opened to gender practices outside of India. I wouldn’t have expected the reverse.

Not Just India?

Right in our own backyard, two people are being charged with murder of one daughter and insane-like-whoa neglect of another. Brian and Shannon Gore, of Gloucester, are in jail after remains of a young girl were found on their property. Also found there? Another girl, alive, and living in a cage her father made. Brian Gore says the child is two, but experts estimate her age to be more likely five or six. She’s now at CHKD in Norfolk, though no specific news on her condition is mentioned.

One More Reason I Like Living in the South

The local paper prints how to make a southern iced tea/mint julep hybrid. Porch swing weather here we come!