Simpson muses on various local news issues.

A battle is raging in Prince William County over the new elementary math curriculum, “Investigations in Number, Data, and Space” — also known as “Math Investigations.” 

Shopping during the holiday (it’s too early to call it Christmas) season has always been fun for me. Regardless of the crowds, I enjoy taking some time to look at the decorations and listen to the ringing of Christmas bells and cash registers.

The ongoing national dialogue these days about whether to bail out the auto industry with billions of federal tax dollars — similar to the $700 billion that has already been earmarked for failing banks and others — should be of special interest to any of us who drive a vehicle in Prince William and its vicinity.

I am deeply disappointed in our Metro system. I read in the paper the other day that Metro is going to allow its bus services to advertise a message from the atheist community starting this week and running through December.

Shortly after last week’s column, it occurred to me (well, it actually occurred to a reader who wrote to me and I’ve since been pondering) that there is a group of people who are truly going to fall through the cracks during this economic downturn. 

I usually hear from my distant cousin in Italy at Christmastime. The day after the election, though, an e-mail popped up.

I have seen a number of articles recently and listened to several reports about the epidemic of childhood obesity plaguing our nation.

As an objective journalist, I could not ethically lobby publicly for a high-level Cabinet position in the Obama administration.

The village green has grown to include the village screen.

Today is “Round-Up” day. Due to limited space, it is impossible for me to address all the issues that I come across on a daily basis; therefore, I like to use an occasional column to highlight a few items that have been sitting in my “to-write-about” folder.

The Virginia Republicans reached their zenith in January 2000 when Gov. Jim Gilmore walked down the center aisle of the House chamber with the confidence of Julius Caesar as he prepared to deliver his State of the Commonwealth Address to the new and enthusiastic GOP majority.

You only had to drive through the nearly empty parking lot in the otherwise bustling Potomac Mills area this past weekend to see that things were not going well for Circuit City.

Last week ... what a week! I wanted Barack Obama to win but did I think it would really happen?  Not until 11:15 on Tuesday evening. You just never know in politics — ask Sen. John McCain, the king of the comeback kids. It was such an exciting evening. Historic? You betcha.

By the measures that count, Barack Obama won a clear victory Tuesday — taking 52 percent of the popular vote to John McCain’s 46 percent.

Well the elections are over, finally.  I do believe this was the longest presidential cycle in history.

Let me make clear from the beginning that the term “old guys” is one of affection and one I feel I can use since I am about 10 years away from being an old guy myself. By that time I will be half an inch shorter (I have been shrinking at the rate of half an inch a year ever since I turned 40 — if I live to be 420, I will disappear entirely).

I found out which is my most important finger, and it wasn’t the one I thought.

It is a sad time for Virginia and a tragic time for America. The only thing more dangerous than our two-party political system is having one party in complete control.

By the time you read this, we’ll know who the next president is (I hope). We’ll also know how many more Democrats have been elected to pad their majorities in the House and Senate.

It’s here. Finally!
Today is a day that many people thought would never come — the end of this never-ending campaign.

In the waning days of the campaign, one presidential candidate promised to “bring America together” to tackle tough problems.

The other day, I heard something that was rather disturbing to me. 
I was at a meeting where a political expert predicted election turnouts to be in the high 60 percentage range. That troubled me for three reasons. 

Every four years, we get an incredible opportunity. We, the people, get to choose the person who will govern our nation for the next four years. 

With the historic presidential campaign nearly complete, let us take a moment to salute the Average Joes who stood up to be counted and were reduced to catchy first names and occupations in a cynical effort to win votes with a folksy tone.

Figured I would take some time today and give readers a peek into the functioning of the political machine from my personal experience.

Fans of the original cast of “Saturday Night Live,” will recall Emily Litella, a character played by the late Gilda Radner on the “Weekend Update” segment, hosted by Chevy Chase. Radner, as Litella, delivered the weekly “editorial,” during which she opined about some outrage or injustice. In the middle of her rant, Chevy Chase would lean over and whisper the truth in her ear, after which Radner would turn to the camera and sheepishly say, “never mind.”

Recent news and some comments by Biddlecomb.

Just when you thought it was safe to go outside and not have to consciously choose which “Virginia” you want to live in, some numbskull politico who must think sounding “profound” is reading from her party’s list of talking points without stuttering, goes ahead and opens her mouth on cable news channels and there we are again dividing the commonwealth into two states of mind: Northern Virginia and Real Virginia.

Times are tough these days and getting tougher, but it doesn’t mean crime should get tougher in the county.