I Believe...

And here we Go
I'm live blogging...Please excuse lapses of grammar
....State of the Nation...Live blog (10:05pm last update)

Yes this of beat from what I regular talk about...but...I'm interested in it...

Pres. Obama is clearly outlining that we are all basically affected by this recession...we all know somebody that is being affected by this what I would like to call a "CRISIS." Pres. Obama is stating that "We will rebuild, and come out stronger..."
-I myself truly Believe this, just today the commerce secretary said it (the economy could change as early as 2010 is the stimulus does it thing....)

We all have responsibly, I agree we are not looking for "Blame" anymore...not the stocks, nor the housing market...no more blaming is Right! Its time for change...

Things have blocked us (regulations) from investing in our own future...buying homes we cant afford...
-Pres. Obama is saying that we must "build a new foundation, restart lending..." "Health and education..." stating this is what his agenda is all about.
I agree w/ Pres. Obama that the stimulus was the only way to help this economy, we can't just sit back.

Job creation is key to revitalizing the economy, laying broadband, and expanding mass transit is part of this agenda/stimulus, and 95% of Americans will see a tax cut...

-this is great news, I can speak from that perspective myself...

-Hahaha...
"Nobody messes with Joe" awesome message by Pres. Obama about the enforcing of his new stimulus package, and making sure that the new spending will go towards the right projects (recovery.gov) is where you can see where the money is going

Pres. Obama noted that there will be no "REAL" recovery if we can't clean up the credit
crisis...

New financing plan will help Americans with new lower interest rates...
-This speech so far is fantastic...it (as of now 9:32pm) is in plain...English so everybody is able to understand it, not just a person like myself infatuated with the knowledge of political lingo...etc...

-Its key to "govern with the sense of responsibility, helping small businesses...that's what its about...its about HELPING PEOPLE!

NOT ABOUT HELPING BANKS...
-I cannot agree more with that statement, investors first off need people that are confident in starting a new business, taking out loans, its about HELPING THE PEOPLE!

Congress needs to reform our outdated regulatory system...
-Once again couldn't agree more (and this is coming from myself a republican blogger)

The new budget will not resolve the "trillion dollar deficit...dems. and repubs...will have to sacrifice...
- bipartisanship is key in my own person view...so far though i have yet to see a lot of it in this new OBAMA Administration....hopefully I will, Because I (a republican..yes a republican and McCain supporter back in 08) like so far...except for the lack of bipartisanship how this administration is taking a stance on the problems in this economy....

It is time for American to lead again...
-haha I'm getting the "time for change...slogan" feeling with this quote...but that's a good feeling that stirs the emotions of Americans...

New clean renewable energy....
-Yes WE CAN! Yes WE CAN! Yes We CAN! Yes WE CAN!

"THIS IS AMERICA, WE DON'T DO WHATS EASY, WE DO WHAT IS NECESSARY..." - Pres. Obama

-I couldn't agree more with that statement, as you can see from the quote under my blog title...I believe in hard work, determination, and self motivation (because others can't always be there to motivate you)

Pres. Obama outlines ideas of bringing down/lowering the deficit in the years to come..
-I'm glad to see this early in the administration the Pres...is already thinking of the future, regardless of his term limit, it seems to me that he isn't only concerned about "today's society," but also the "Future."

"EVERY CHILD HAS ACCESS TO A COMPLETE AND COMPETITIVE EDUCATION..."-Pres Obama
-enough said...

Schools need more reform
-new teacher incentives, rewards for success

Dropping out of HS, is not just quitting on yourself, but quitting on your country!
-Pres. Obama outline for every American to get more than just a HS education, and get at least 1 yr of further education...

That's all of the address I wish to blog about live...(its now 10:08pm, and I wish to watch the rest with my full attention without typing..so excuse me...I will leave with a quote from this address to congress on the twenty-forth day in February:

"We(Americans) are not quitters!"

I have an idea....

After reading an article from Virginia Tech's student newspaper the Collegiate Times, I have been inspired to do something similar to what the reporter in the article above did. I'm emailing my contact today from the Office of Parking and Transportation here at Old Dominion, to see If I can talk or ride along for a shift with one of the officers that drive the golf carts/patrol and actually issue the tickets, to see what there daily routine is (there is more too it than just driving around and issuing tickets). I will keep you up to date, as hopefully I will be able to do this...stay in tune for more later in the following weeks (this may happen after Spring Break March 9th-14th).

For the Love of Money...

So, a classic song by the O' jays is the inspiration for the title of this blog post...The subject matter revolving around the fees that go hand and hand with parking on a college campus in general, not just here at Old Dominion. As we are all probably aware of, ODU is notorious for long parking pass lines at the beginning of the Fall semester in particular. This will soon change, because ODU is looking into implementing the purchasing of decals online, with the mailing of the (hangers) after completing your purchases. As my friend at Virginia Tech informed me, this is how they purchase their parking passes. He stated "it's really easy, and convenient." Unfortunately, as we all also know, prices for these decals are quite expensive, and don't guarantee us a space exactly, but as I was surfin' the net, I found that ODU isn't the only school where parking decals are pricey. At the University of Virginia decals run about $195.00 a year, and at Virginia Tech, decals cost $114.00 a year, so ODU is kinda around the same general area price wise, but I'm sure we wish we were paying Techs $114.00 compared to our price of around $180, but hey we really don't have too much of a choice in the situation, inless you want to risk parking on the side of the street. I've seen cars get swiped by passing cars before on 49th, so I think paying for a permit is well worth it.
Hopefully, ODU will implement this process for the up coming Fall 2009 semester, I will be in contact with the Director of Parking & Transportation Mr. James Long, later this semester, to see when this process will be implemented exactly. I will be sure to let "you" the readers know when this information is in my hands.

New Facebook Carpool App...

Recently while I was reading a blog for UCLA students, I discovered that there is a fairly new application available on Facebook for commuters to communicate with one another, for carpooling.
here is the link chec kit out:
http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=2549790782

Recent Interviews with fellow ODU drivers

So recently, I proposed a question to some fellow students around campus concerning parking @ ODU. The question I asked these students was "did they feel that parking is limited on campus?" I got varied responses from the students. My first interview was with Junior Mike Goodman, a commuter from Chesapeake, VA. Mr. Goodman informed me that he doesn't have many problems with parking, since he arrives on campus in the early morning hours. He always is able to find a spot on the 43rd st. garage near the campus library as long as he is there before 9:30am. Mike informed me that anytime after 9:30am, it is almost impossible to find a space in that garage. The second student I interviewed was a Mr. David Lamb, a on campus resident, informed me that parking is hard to come by as a student living off of Powhatan Ave. He, and his friends have had to park all the way in the back of the Whitehurst parking lot near the ODU sailing center, which they have nicknamed "Cuba," because of the distance away from his housing building. My third, and finial interview was with a fellow on-campus resident Mr. Michael Harper, who also lives off of Powhatan ave. Mr. Harper informed me that he rarely has trouble finding a space on campus, but sometimes he does have to park a distance away from his campus residence, but it doesn't bother him too much. I found that overall, student have mixed feelings about the parking situation on campus.

Mud on the Tires

In a recent conversation with ODU's Director of Parking & Transportation Mr. James Long the issue regarding lots 52/47 was discussed. Just a little background on the issue, lot 52 (and former lot 47) towards Elkhorn Ave, is a broken up concrete and muddy area that used to be lot 47, but since the widening of the 43rd street, the lot has turned into a "mud pit" of sorts, and students have decided to park there. I was informed by Mr. Long that the muddy that was formerly known as lot 47, is now owned by the City of Norfolk, in partnership with letting ODU students park there. Now regarding the muddy lot, Mr. Long has asked the city to either do as they intended (which was to lay down sod) or if possible make the "mud pit" a gravel lot, so that students can continue to park there without getting stuck, which has happened in some cases. Mr. Long also informed me that their was/and possibly still are plans in the works for the removal of lots 52, 47, 48, 54, and that the lots will be turned into affordable housing for city employees that basically make under a six figure salary. The developer that City of Norfolk was working with in this potential housing development fell through on the deal, due to a lack of financing for the project, but it is still a possibility Mr. Long informed me, if the developer gets financing through other outlets, this deal could still go through as planned. Hopefully the city, until a deal is set for a potential housing development, will lay down some gravel so that students can continue to park there in the future. Over the course of this semester I will continue to stay in contact with Mr. Long about this issue, and other issues that may arise in the future regarding commuters/parking on campus. For now, students can turn up their country music, and get a little "Mud on the Tires!"


View Larger Map

Just a heads up....

I will be sitting down with ODU's Director of Parking and Transportation James Long on Wednesday to discuss Lots 52/47 near Elkhorn Ave. My main focus will be on what I like to call the "mud pit" where since late last semester, students have been parking (see photo). Will ODU pave this 15-20 spaces, instead of keeping it a "mud pit?" Tune in Wedensday to see what ODU's take on the issue, and other parking issues will potentially be discussed as well, although with emphasis on lots 52/47.

H O K I E S ! Good Times at VPISU

So, I feel the need to talk more about rent-a-cops, and their lifestyle (oh that's right it's their JOB) to hassle people. I'm probably one of millions of college students who owns a longboard (skateboard)...actually I own 3 to be exact. Anyways, I was skating around Virginia Tech one day last spring, when out of the blue this rent-a-cop jumps in my path as I was riding around Drillfield Dr., a street that wraps around the campus drillfield. He informs me that I can't skate in the street, and that's what sidewalks are for. It was a Saturday, and all was quite on this street, I was just crusin' for a fun ride on this beautiful spring day and he ruined it (kind of). Of all days, a Saturday, I never expected to be hassled by a rent-a-cop for riding around. Needless to say, I pretended to just pick my board up and walk away...but little did this rent-a-cop know, as soon as he was out of sight, I put my board back on the pavement, and kept on crusin'. Haha, many of my family members went/go to VT, so if they are paying thousands to go there, I think I've earned the right to cruise around on a spring day, obeying the laws and staying out of traffics way.

Just Not Today

Ok, in relation to my last post below...I found that I'm not the only one obviously hassled by rent-a-cops. Here is an excerpt from a blog I found relating to these power-tripping security guards/rent-a-cops, here is the link below....
http://journalsquarejc.com/archives/817

hi, is there any prohibited area around journal square that you can not take pictures, the reason i ask is that one night at 10:30 pm while sitting inside my car at dunkin donut parking lot(summit) and playing with my camera(DSLR), a path security happen walking by and saw my camera, he ask me(with attitute) if im trying to take picture of the journal sqaure building.

is the dunkin donut parking lot part of path train. what i believe it a public place…thanks

So, as you can see, rent-a-cops/security guards have it to get us. There is no reason this guy need to get hassled about possibly taking pictures of a public building, in a parking lot....He might not of even been wanting to take pictures that night, he was just fooling around with this camera...what right does that give to the rent-a-cops to hassel us (ordianry citizens) for doing NOTHING AT ALL!