Horrified

The recent scandal at Rutgers has me horrified.
This poor kid, unsure of himself like all college kids, exposed, humiliated, who must have felt trapped into something drastic.
These other two kids, a new generation of bullies, no regard for other people's feelings, privacy or life.
Parents of all three, one set standing now forever alone, the other two sets wondering how they sent these young adults out into the world to carelessly and heartlessly ruin a life.

Steven Goldstien, of Garden State Equality:

"We are heartbroken over the tragic loss of a young man who, by all accounts, was brilliant, talented and kind," Goldstein said. "And we are sickened that anyone in our society, such as the students allegedly responsible for making the surreptitious video, might consider destroying others' lives as a sport."

Sickened. Heartbroken.
Horrified.

Go solar!

This month, my electric bill was $2.20, the minimum that JCP&L will charge in a month. I banked 175 kW hours against next month. Go solar!

Storycorps in Trenton

Storycorps, the nonprofit group whose mission is to provide all Americans with the opportunity to share and preserve the stories of our lives, has come to Trenton until October 3rd. They've partnered with NJN and have parked their Airstream right outside the State Library. Follow that link above to make a reservation.

This is a very cool project, and it's time they were in the Center of Our Fair State!

Team Evil? or Team Stupid?

The Daily Show gets it right, again.

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
The Parent Company Trap
http://www.thedailyshow.com/
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Tea Party

"The less secure a man is, the more likely he is to have extreme prejudice."

-Clint Eastwood

How do the kids in Arizona feel now? On racism: Roger Ebert, How did they get to be that way?

Dear Gov. Christie...

This is in response to two things from the Governor's 4/21 interview on Ask the Governor, NJ 101.5. Here's a segment of that interview, transcripted:

Eric SCOTT (NJ101.5): Peg in Rutherford writes: 'What are your issues with New Jersey's public libraries? A 74% cut indicates a clear lack of support.' And we got many similar questions to Peg as well about the reduction in support for libraries.
Governor CHRISTIE: Listen, I love public libraries, but public libraries are one of the few places where, by statute, municipalities are required to dedicate a certain amount to their public libraries. And so there is a dedicated funding stream to libraries and each and every municipality that has one. And again, I'm not looking to cut funding from libraries, but everyone is sharing in the sacrifice. Every department of state government has been reduced. For the first time in recent memory, every department has been reduced. Every program has been looked at. And libraries can't be immune to that. And so, I don't feel good about having to do it, but the fact of the matter is as one of the earlier callers said I was handed a bag of problems when I took this job. And I'm not complaining about it. I understood at least some of the problems I was inheriting when I asked for the job. And so we're just dealing with as honestly as I can. I understand. I've gotten a lot of letters from people who utilize public libraries-
SCOTT: Yeah.
CHRISTIE: And I think there's some misinformation about it too. It's not like because of this, public libraries are going to be closing. Municipalities are required to dedicate a stream of funding to libraries in their towns. And we do not believe you'll be seeing any libraries close or any significant diminution of services for people to be able to utilize. But there were a number of streams of funding that went there. We felt like in an era of tough choices, given that there was another funding stream available to public libraries across the state of New Jersey, that that was one of the areas we could aggressively cut for the time being while we are in a difficult period.

There are two parts of this to which I want to respond.

First: Yes, most of the public library funding is through a dedicated local tax. However, bill A2555 seeks to gut that by eliminating the minimum funding requirement! There are also multiple streames of funding for libraries because of shared services, regional cooperatives, and statewide programs which help ALL libraries. Your cut will result in loss of services, possibly cut hours but definitely reduced services. Your also puts funding below thresholds to get federal funding- so the cut runs even deeper than you portray.

Second: We all know how bad were the fiscal problems you inhereted were; we all did. If you didn't, I suggest in the future you read the newspaper. Be aware how utterly disingenuous you sound every time you complain about it- and then insist you're not complaining about it.

The Lupus of News

Jon Stewart, doing what he does best.

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Bernie Goldberg Fires Back
http://www.thedailyshow.com/
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Tea Party

It's a little long but worth it to hang out to the end.

The best comedy IS social commentary.

Editorial

In a fitting end for National Library Week, an editorial appeared in Friday's Times of Trenton explaining why library funding in Our Fair State is so imperiled and why we need to save it.

Gov. Christie's proposed budget eliminates most of the statewide services that state residents have come to expect from their local libraries. A 74 percent reduction in state funding will eliminate the core services and infrastructure that support a majority of our libraries, including access to the internet, databases and electronic resources; loans and delivery of materials between libraries; and support for summer reading programs for children. And a 50 percent reduction in state aid will affect our libraries' ability to purchase books, computers and audiovisual collections.
...
Often, the public library is the only center in the community where anyone can go for services such as finding tax forms, resume preparation, homework assistance, literacy programs, recreational reading, research and much more. Libraries serve the youngest children, starting with programs for babies and parents, where children are read to and begin learning and socializing. Programs for children and teens continue as they grow. Our youth find welcoming spaces that offer help with homework, research, their college search, books, and a place to relax in a safe environment. Most libraries offer hours until 9 p.m. on weekdays, as well as weekend service. After school hours, the library serves as a virtual gateway for education and recreation.

Read the whole story here. Then, write to your Assemblyfolk; tell them you support your local library and ask them to oppose the governor's proposed cuts and Assembly Bill A2555, which eliminates minimum libray funding. Please, write to them today!

What will we lose?

I hope you are still enjoying National Library Week! Visit your local library and tell them how much you appreciate what they do.

Local libraries do so much for people. Right now, funding is stressed and politicians see libraries as an easy thing to cut, even though library programs have been flat funded for 20 years- so it is hard to believe these small programs have caused the state's current fiscal crisis!Gov. Christie's proposed cuts would cause:

• Libraries will lose 50% of state aid at a time when demand for services is increasing dramatically
• More than half of public libraries will lose access to the Internet
• Many libraries will lose email service
• Many libraries will lose their websites or access to them
• The Talking Book and Braille Center (known as the Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped) will close
• Group contracts which bring down the cost of other electronic resources purchased by libraries will cease; regional library cooperatives will close
• Access to electronic databases such as RefUSA and EBSCO will cease
• Statewide interlibrary loan and delivery of library materials will cease

This is horrible. Please, make your voice heard. Write your Assemblyfolk and state Senator. Tell your legislators to STOP cuts in funding to Our Fair State's libraries. Visit ILoveNJLibraries.org for more information.

National Library Week

Happy National Library Week!

Honorary chairman Neil Gaiman discusses the importance of libraries to him personally.

Champion New Jersey's libraries!

Important links to defend Our Fair State's libraries:

ILoveNJLibraries.org: for more information on what services you and your town will lose, as well as why our libraries must be saved.

Become a Library Champion: Sign up to recieve information from the NJLA on legislative developments and contact points to defend your local library.

Save NJ Libraries!: Join the Facebook group for more information and updates.

Libraries prepare for budget impact: Geoff Wertime's article in the Register-News.

Libraries facing loss of extensive public services

From today's NJToday.net (The NewsRecord):

The impact of Gov. Chris Christie’s proposed cuts to school and municipal aid awards has gotten the headlines this week, but libraries will also be feeling the pinch under his budget plan.
The governor’s budget proposal cuts state library funding by 74 percent – $10.4 million. Funding for the Talking Book and Braille Center would be eliminated, forcing the service to shut down.
Approximately 250 of the state’s public libraries currently receive their internet access through New Jersey’s State Library; once the money runs out, they’ll have to make other arrangements lose the service.
...
According to State Librarian Norma Blake, New Jersey’s inter-library loan program would be shut down at the end of June once the current funding runs out.
...
“The most devastating effects are the loss of statewide databases that the State Library pays for and we access,” Anderson said.“We use them to help local business people create job lists for sales prospecting and mailings. They are also used to help patrons research companies for career prospects and job interviews. We use the Ebsco databases to help people research everything from consumer health questions to educational assistance. Students access these databases as well, from home in many cases,” she said.

Support Our Fair State's libraries. Please, tell your legislators to STOP the proposed library funding cuts.

Libraries are more important than ever

From the AP:

"A third of Americans — about 77 million people — use public library computers to look for jobs, connect with friends, do their homework and improve their lives, according to a new study released today.
It confirms what public libraries have been saying as they compete for public dollars to expand their services and high-speed Internet access: library use by the general public is widespread..."

An ever higher percentage of people living below the povertly line depend on their public libraries for their computers.

Your public library isn't just books! or reference services! or free children's programs! or free computer classes! or free/low-cost DVD borrowing! or free CD borrowing! or a community center! or free adult programs! There are computers, too.

Library funding should not be cut. People depend on libraries for so many things; in this economic environment, even more people depend on their local library.

Support Our Fair State's libraries. Please, tell your legislators to STOP the proposed library funding cuts.

Where's Homestar?

What happened to Homestar Runner? The site hasn't been updated since December, and there wasn't even a Decemberween cartoon this year. I couldn't find any news, either. Anyone know?

What (Bill) Clinton should've done years ago

This year, I will work with Congress and our military to finally repeal the law
that denies gay Americans the right to serve the country they love because of
who they are.

-The President of the United States. 1/27/10

Now, how about all those massive warehouses on Cranbury Road?

Hamilton, West Windsor Malls go solar

Developers Diversified will purchase some of the solar electricity for common area use, and tenants of Developers Diversified will have the opportunity to purchase the electricity generated by the solar power systems.
“There were no upfront costs for the developer and they are collecting roof rent,” said Jamie Smith, vice president of sales for SunEdison. “The roofs were not doing anything. Now they are turning them into cash.”

PSE&G is also considering a solar farm in Trenton, and held a town hall meeting about it recently to address resiential concerns.

Our Fair State may have lost its progressive way on some things, but on renewable energy, we are moving forward. Go Solar!

Wyatt Cenac in Trenton

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Dreaded Bliss
http://www.thedailyshow.com/
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Health Care Crisis

Yes, we are in the crowd shot, at 3:18. We saw Wyatt Cenac at a distance. This isn't his funniest work, but his point at the end is priceless.

Second Class citizens of Our Fair State

From Geoff Wertime's opinion column at CentralJersey.com, titled Witnessing NJ's Shameful Vote:

My senator, Jennifer Beck, R-12th, cast that last vote with a photo of me and my boyfriend, which I handed her mere hours beforehand, either staring her in the face or — and this is more likely — buried under a stack of papers somewhere on her desk. It’s a photograph of us at a wedding this summer, one of three friends’ ceremonies we attended in the space of a month. She cast that vote after telling me earlier in the day that women had to wait for the right to vote, and that same-sex couples will have to wait as well.

It’s hard not to feel like an outcast when all of your friends are enjoying a privilege that is denied you, especially when a legislative body reaffirms that denial.

I spent part of the day chasing Senator Beck down too, with my husband (I'm part of the class that was awarded a right to marry by the genetic lottery), an old friend and a new one. The senator was quite adept at dodging us but did spend several minutes (of what was clearly a very busy day) listening to our concerns. As she had clearly heard the concerns of many in the recent past.

Yet she voted against equal rights anyway. A shameful vote, indeed. For 20 of our senators, and several who wimped out and abstained.

There shouldn't be two classes of citizenship. We've already proved separate-but-equal is never equal, why are we still allowing it?

Voters in Our Fair State don't forget votes against equal rights for all. I hope the voters in our district remember the day when Senator Beck voted how her party told her to, not how her conscience should have.

Another typical day in Trenton

With today’s vote in the state Senate, the New Jersey legislature defaulted on its constitutional obligation to provide same-sex couples in New Jersey equal protection, as unanimously mandated by the New Jersey Supreme Court in 2006.

Garden State Equality has more here.

Why I am going to Trenton tomorrow

First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out— because I was not a communist.
Then they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out— because I was not a socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out— because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out— because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me— and there was no one left to speak out for me.

-commonly attributed to Martin Niemoller

I will not keep quiet because I am straight and was allowed to marry.
I will not keep quiet while my friends and family are denied equality.
This isn't a "gay rights" issue; it's a civil rights issue.

I am going to Trenton tomorrow. I am going to add my voice to the multitudes who demand equality for everyone.

It's about damn time.

Senate vote TOMORROW on Marriage Equality

1. Call your State Senators and tell them to do what's right. (When following that link, click the "state" tab.) If you already know who your Senator is, go here for contact information.

2. Email your Senator. It can't hurt to do both.

3. If you possibly can go, go to Trenton. Garden State Equality has info here.

Now is the time for Our Fair State to step up and give everyone equal rights. Now is the time for us to show our support.

Start calling.

Happy New Year from CoNJL

I'm still here, just haven't had much to say lately. Happy New Year, everybody.