Policy on the #NNK

On April 17, journalist and author David Brooks published What’s Happening Is Not Normal. America Needs an Uprising That Is Not Normal. in the New York Times . It’s getting a good deal of play on websites and platforms of all stripes. It’s worth a read.

If you need to convert an image of text, try Image to Text Converter . I used it to extract the text of a letter for the Reddit post Material to Virginia: Southern Maryland Recreational Fishing Organization appeals to Trump org to end overharvesting in US waters . And it’s free! Read The Creativity Hack No One Told You About: Read the Obits and then start doing it. Also read the comments on the piece on Hacker News . The title says it all: Did you know that there are over 200 Virginia-related subreddits? Find your local subreddit (if one exists) in this post. If native plants are your thing, check out r/VirginiaNativePlants . The sub is new, so there is not a lot of activity, but given the topic, there is sure to be.

Registration is open for the Tuesday, June 10 Chesapeake Bay Protection and Restoration webinar , part of the DEQ Educational Series . The DEQ webinar site writes about this session: The Chesapeake Bay is where the fresh waters of the Potomac, Rappahannock, York, and James Rivers (along with other tributaries, creeks, and streams) meet the ocean to create the largest estuary in the U.S. These brackish waters are home to unique plant and animal communities, and the Bay was once the most productive estuary in the country. However, chronic water quality issues in the Bay have negatively impacted these aquatic resources, fueling the creation of a multi-state effort to preserve the Chesapeake Bay. With a watershed that extends into six different states and the District of Columbia, the historic, cultural, and economic importance of the Bay cannot be understated – and Virginia has a large role to play in its recovery. Join us for a free webinar on Tuesday, June 10, from 6:30-8 p.m.,...

Do right by the environment and dispose of household hazardous waste properly: Dispose of it Saturday, April 26 in Heathsville from 9:00 am - 2:00 pm (Middle School bus parking lot, Route 360). Chemicals to bring: spent fluorescent bulbs, unwanted pesticides, antifreeze, rechargeable batteries, cleaners, oil-based paint, stains, solvents, old/contaminated fuels or petroleum products, and household chemicals. Electronics to bring: CPUs and laptops, mainframes, peripherals; monitors – CRT and flat screens; telephones; cell phones; fax machines; printers and copiers; TVs; banking and financial equipment; electronic circuit boards/components; stereo equipment; gaming systems; PDAs; vape pens/batteries. Do not bring tires, radioactive items, smoke detectors, medical waste, or ammunition and explosives. The event is open to Northumberland County residents and property owners only. For events in other counties, see HHW & E-Waste Collection . Learn more about acceptable and una...

In Scott Galloway on getting rejected — and then accepted into UCLA and Scott Galloway compares elite colleges to luxury brands , college professor, entrepreneur, and thought leader Scott Galloway makes the strong case for broadening access to post-secondary education and training. In the short above, Galloway asserts that colleges and universities are public goods and that, as such, their goal should be to educate the maximum number of young people. He also takes on Dartmouth College which has not increased enrollment in (editorial comment: a gazillion) years and yet has a massive endowment. In the longer vid, Galloway suggests a greater investment in the public education system, investing in programs which do not confer college degrees (like vocational programs), and lifting up the idea that college is not the end-all-be-all to life generally and certainly for good, well-paying jobs. These two videos remind me of the many from author and podcaster Malcolm Gladwell. The argume...

The Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) is encouraging the public to report specific types of bird deaths to the agency : Five or more dead vultures, waterfowl, shorebirds, or seabirds in the same area within five days Sick or dead eagles, hawks, owls, or turkeys, excluding carcasses found on the road Ten or more dead wild birds of any other species in the same area within five days DWR writes about avian influenza, aka “bird flu,” “In Virginia, mortality from this HPAI virus has been seen in vultures and other raptors, avian scavengers (gulls, crows), some shorebirds and waterbirds (sanderlings, grebes), and some waterfowl (primarily geese).” Bird flu has been reported on the Northern Neck as recently, per reports, as March in Lancaster and Westmoreland counties. The last report in Northumberland County was in February. DWR explains the difference between bird flu and HPAI: Avian influenza (“bird flu”) is a viral illness commonl...

With the stroke of a pen on March 14, President Trump cut more than $4 million for 94 library systems in Virginia. When he signed the EO Continuing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy , Trump annihalated funding for libraries and museums across the country. This is not an overstatement. The EO says, Sec. 2. Reducing the Scope of the Federal Bureaucracy. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, the non-statutory components and functions of the following governmental entities shall be eliminated to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law, and such entities shall reduce the performance of their statutory functions and associated personnel to the minimum presence and function required by law. . . The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) is one of seven federal agencies covered by this EO. IMLS implemented the statutorily required Grants to States Program pursuant to the Museum and Library Services Act of 1996 (PDF) (Title II of P.L....

The Virginia Department of Transportation recently posted this on Reddit. Commonwealth Transportation Board Invites Public Feedback On Transportation Projects And Initiatives Public encouraged to provide input on projects that are recommended for funding The Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) will host nine meetings across Virginia and is inviting the public to share feedback on transportation projects that have been recommended for funding, as well as other transportation initiatives. Members of the community may participate by attending public meetings or submitting comments online, by email or by mail. The public will have an opportunity to learn and share feedback about: The Draft Fiscal Year (FY) 2026-2031 Six-Year Improvement Program (SYIP), which allocates public funds to highway, road, bridge, rail, bicycle, pedestrian, public transportation, and transportation demand management projects. The Draft FY 2026-2031 SYIP identifies projects proposed for inclusion i...