Too busy for a proper post right now (one on an upcoming NJ event is coming tonight), but I thought you might like to see Dem strategist Cliff Schecter lay down the smack on MSNBC. He lists the current Republican scandals with such speed and glee that it's like listening to Adam McNaughton's "Three-Minute Hamlet."
So yeah, it's a political talk show, the equivalent of professional wrestling for political junkies. But Schecter's litany is like a spinning headlock elbow drop.*
Rob
*I think; I had to go to Wikipedia for a list of wrestling moves, but that one sounded sufficiently terrifying.
Monday, October 02, 2006
Sunday, October 01, 2006
Down So Low
For all my low opinion of Republican politicians, I'm genuinely shocked that some of them, including the House Speaker Dennis Hastert (IL) and Majority Leader John Boehner (Ohio), as well as the Chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee Tom Reynolds (NY), have been covering up for a sexual predator. Not in a million years would I have expected them to do this. Oh, and let's throw in Reps. Rodney Alexander (LA) and John Shimkus (IL), making it an even five congressman involved in this coverup.
That's beyond unreal. And beyond vile.
Rob
That's beyond unreal. And beyond vile.
Rob
Saturday, September 30, 2006
Divided Country, Unified Government
So, given the power of the Bully Pulpit, I’m answering Bob’s comment down below with a full-blown post.
Of course Clinton knew it was coming. You don’t walk into the lion’s den without expecting to get bitten. And as Clinton said in the interview, it’s a legitimate question. But the timing of the question was in violation of their agreement (first half on the CGI, second half on other issues), and the phrasing of the question (“people have been emailing us, so we’ve gotta ask”) was the standard cowardly Fox M.O. for broadcasting something that they don’t want to explicity say themselves. (It’s astonishing how often they use this tactic – watch Outfoxed.)
Yes, Clinton should be held accountable for his actions as president. But George Bush should be held accountable for his inaction – his lazy, head-in-the-sand, brush-clearing, gross negligence – in completely ignoring Osama bin Laden and Al Qaida until he murdered three thousand of our citizens while Bush struggled through a children’s book. And Bush needs to be held accountable for making every step this country has taken since, with the exception of the invasion of Afghanistan, a step in the wrong direction. And there’s not one branch of the government with the power or the will to hold him accountable for any of that.
We do live in a divided country, Bob. I only wish our government reflected it and fought over these issues with the contentious tenacity that people display on message boards rather than accepting them with the singlemindedness with which it embraces every new nightmare conjured up by this treacherous crew.
We need a change in government. George W. Bush is at the wheel of this car. We need someone else at the brakes.
Rob
Of course Clinton knew it was coming. You don’t walk into the lion’s den without expecting to get bitten. And as Clinton said in the interview, it’s a legitimate question. But the timing of the question was in violation of their agreement (first half on the CGI, second half on other issues), and the phrasing of the question (“people have been emailing us, so we’ve gotta ask”) was the standard cowardly Fox M.O. for broadcasting something that they don’t want to explicity say themselves. (It’s astonishing how often they use this tactic – watch Outfoxed.)
Yes, Clinton should be held accountable for his actions as president. But George Bush should be held accountable for his inaction – his lazy, head-in-the-sand, brush-clearing, gross negligence – in completely ignoring Osama bin Laden and Al Qaida until he murdered three thousand of our citizens while Bush struggled through a children’s book. And Bush needs to be held accountable for making every step this country has taken since, with the exception of the invasion of Afghanistan, a step in the wrong direction. And there’s not one branch of the government with the power or the will to hold him accountable for any of that.
We do live in a divided country, Bob. I only wish our government reflected it and fought over these issues with the contentious tenacity that people display on message boards rather than accepting them with the singlemindedness with which it embraces every new nightmare conjured up by this treacherous crew.
We need a change in government. George W. Bush is at the wheel of this car. We need someone else at the brakes.
Rob
Friday, September 29, 2006
Olbermann
If you haven't seen Kieth Olbermann's special commentary about Clinton's Fox News interview, you'll want to.
Dead-on, as usual.
Rob
Dead-on, as usual.
Rob
Halloo!
As Sharon said, I’ll be taking the helm here for the next week. Which is a pretty good gig, I have to say, since the GR’s brew their own beer and there’s half a pizza in the fridge.
So what do I bring to the party? For the most part, snark. Snark and Doritos. And I apparently hold the secret key to embedding videos, so that’s a plus. (And, as anyone who knows me can attest, a pretty astonishing technological achievement for someone who can barely set an egg timer.) My three weapons are snark, Doritos, and embedded videos. And a fanatical devotion to the church. No, wait, I'm sorry...that's the Spanish Inquistion. I bet you weren't expecting that.
We’ll see what the week brings. I hope you stop by now and then to find out.
Rob
So what do I bring to the party? For the most part, snark. Snark and Doritos. And I apparently hold the secret key to embedding videos, so that’s a plus. (And, as anyone who knows me can attest, a pretty astonishing technological achievement for someone who can barely set an egg timer.) My three weapons are snark, Doritos, and embedded videos. And a fanatical devotion to the church. No, wait, I'm sorry...that's the Spanish Inquistion. I bet you weren't expecting that.
We’ll see what the week brings. I hope you stop by now and then to find out.
Rob
Thursday, September 28, 2006
Busy, busy
I'll be away for the next ten days or so, paying homage to the rat who owns Florida and visiting family who live too far away.
You might have noticed that Rob S. is back in da house, and will be posting and/or crossposting here for a while. Thanks Rob!
You might have noticed that Rob S. is back in da house, and will be posting and/or crossposting here for a while. Thanks Rob!
The Fleecing of Hamilton and NJ-"Like a bad marriage"
From today's Times of Trenton:
Nice try. Think it'll stick?
Hamilton Twp. is, of course, paying interest on the money it is not paying to Fieldstone Associates while it balks at honoring the horrendously overpriced deal it made. So far the interest has amounted to $330,000- almost as much as Fieldstone paid for the property when it bought it from Hamilton 2001. If this hold on another couple months, Fieldstone breaks even, regardless of whether Hamilton can pull an annulment.
No matter what, this property should be preserved wetland, but we shouldn't all have to pay through the nose like this for it.
HAMILTON -- Like a bad marriage, the GOP-controlled council is seeking to have the township's purchase of the plot known as Klockner Woods annulled because the three Republican councilmen say it violates state contract laws.
In a memo to township Business Administrator John Mason, Councilman David Kenny, who is a former municipal attorney, said the $4.1 million contract to purchase the 51-acre property is not valid because the money was never appropriated by the township council.
...
Kenny cites state law as well as case law that requires the governing body to appropriate money for any purchase and asks that the administration attempt to void the purchase completed in 2005.
"Accordingly, it is my view that (township attorney Paul) Adezio should file a motion with the court to set aside or vacate the judgment as it is void and in violation of the law," the memo said.
Nice try. Think it'll stick?
Hamilton Twp. is, of course, paying interest on the money it is not paying to Fieldstone Associates while it balks at honoring the horrendously overpriced deal it made. So far the interest has amounted to $330,000- almost as much as Fieldstone paid for the property when it bought it from Hamilton 2001. If this hold on another couple months, Fieldstone breaks even, regardless of whether Hamilton can pull an annulment.
No matter what, this property should be preserved wetland, but we shouldn't all have to pay through the nose like this for it.
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Carol Gay - Comcast Candidate On Demand
Life imitates art
So, I and my younger child had to take the oldest cat to the vet yesterday. (pleasedon'tdiepleasedon'tdiepleasedon'tdie) While waiting in the lobby there, we found a book in a stack called Stella Louella's Runaway Book. It's a cute story about a girl who misplaces a library book and runs all over town tracking it down, adding people to help her as she goes; she finally gets to the library to say she lost the book only to find out that someone turned it in for her.
The book was a Mercer County Library book that someone had left there. I returned it for the person who lost it.
The book was a Mercer County Library book that someone had left there. I returned it for the person who lost it.
Friday, September 22, 2006
Remember what it's all about
We've all had a lot of fun watching the outing of the Kean JUNIOR campaign troll on Blue Jersey. Y'know, If they had just blamed it on a low-level staffer and said that they would ferret out any deceptiveness in their campaign, it would've gone away in a heartbeat. Instead, they tried to deny it without ever checking if it might be true. Lie first, ask questions later; that's the Republican way.
Now, it's time to remember this election is really all about:
The war in Iraq IS the most important issue. That's what it's all about.
Now, it's time to remember this election is really all about:
A group called Military Families Speak Out has complained publicly that Kean has refused to answer its questions on Iraq. The organization, which supports Menendez's call to withdraw troops within a year, said that while Kean met with them, his answers were incomplete and he has refused repeated requests to clarify his position.
"The war in Iraq is the most important issue," Menendez said. "If you can't explain to New Jerseyans why you are sending their sons and daughters to war, you have no right to ask for their vote."
The war in Iraq IS the most important issue. That's what it's all about.
Thursday, September 21, 2006
September Quinnipiac Poll
The headlines read about how Kean is locked in a dead heat with Menendez in yesterday's Quinnipiac poll on Our Fair State's Senate race. The actual numbers are: among likely voters, Kean Jr. 48%, Menendez 45%; among all voters, Menendez 41%, Kean Jr. 38%. With a +/- of 3.7 points, that's a statistical dead heat if I ever saw one.
Well, we've got two months for folks to see Tom Kean JUNIOR for what he truly is. In the meantime, let's look at the non-headline numbers, always the most fun part of the Quinnipiac Polls:
Well, we've got two months for folks to see Tom Kean JUNIOR for what he truly is. In the meantime, let's look at the non-headline numbers, always the most fun part of the Quinnipiac Polls:
- 45% approve/36% disapprove of the way Corzine is handling the job as governor. That's up from 44/43 in July, and 39/41 in June. Maybe it's the great way he's winning over people to his sensible financial ways? Maybe it's that he got the ball rolling on legislative changes to property taxes? Or, maybe it's that gas prices have decreased steadily since July. (Why do I just know it's that last one, even thought the Gov. has not thing one to do with it?)
- We hate the state legislature, 27% approve/55% disapprove. Get goin' on that property tax reform, guys, or you'll all be looking for new jobs next time around.
- We hate George W. Bush, too: 33% approve/64% disapprove. We know what we don't like here in Jersey, and we don't like Bush. Nice to know.
- 41% of us think the federal investigation of Bob Menendez is politically motivated, 42% think it's a serious issue. The 41% are right.
- 48% of us think Tom Kean Jr. is a George Bush Republican who supports administration policies. That number has heald pretty steady over the last couple months. I'm not sure about this one, personally; Junior has gone out of his way to distance himself from Bush policies lately, see the point above about how we feel about Bush. I won't vote against him because he's a Bush lackey; I'll vote against him because he's basically useless as a legislator, he's running on daddy's name alone, and that once he's in office he'll be a Bush lackey.
- 50% of us think the United States is losing the war in Iraq, 20% don't know, 29% say winning. 59% of us think that it was the wrong thing to do to go to war with Iraq. Nice to know we pretty much agree on this one.
Completely aside, on every Quinnipiac poll result site, they include a pronunciation guide on their name: it's KWIN-uh-pe-ack. I think it's harder the other way- hearing the name on the radio, then trying to spell it.
Full articles on the Kean JUNIOR Troll story
The New York Times
The Star-Ledger
Am glad that the Star-Ledger mentioned what the XT's original post was about: the fact that the Kean JUNIOR campaign is basically making up a scandal to smear Menendez:
I wish they'd mentioned it earlier in the article, and explained what XT found in the article- evidence reported in 1996 that Menendez had sought- and recieved- confirmation from a House Ethics lawyer that his renting of real estate to a non-profit did not violate confilct-of-interest laws.
The Kean JUNIOR folks are hoping that manufacturing a scandal smearing Menenedez will help them translate a slim lead into a win in November. Um, yeah- blowing up a ridiculously minor issue, being outed on it, then getting your press person's name in the paper as being deceptive- Good move!
The Star-Ledger
Am glad that the Star-Ledger mentioned what the XT's original post was about: the fact that the Kean JUNIOR campaign is basically making up a scandal to smear Menendez:
The posts challenged a story by one of the site's 10 contributors in which a former House ethics lawyer, Ellen Weintraub, appeared to corroborate Menendez's claim that he got verbal clearance in 1994 to rent a property to a nonprofit agency he helped to win millions in federal funding.
I wish they'd mentioned it earlier in the article, and explained what XT found in the article- evidence reported in 1996 that Menendez had sought- and recieved- confirmation from a House Ethics lawyer that his renting of real estate to a non-profit did not violate confilct-of-interest laws.
The Kean JUNIOR folks are hoping that manufacturing a scandal smearing Menenedez will help them translate a slim lead into a win in November. Um, yeah- blowing up a ridiculously minor issue, being outed on it, then getting your press person's name in the paper as being deceptive- Good move!
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
Wait! It gets better!
The Star-Ledger picked up the Kean JUNIOR Troll Story. So has a New York Times blog.
From The Star-Ledger Newslog:
Oh, sweetie, you are SO nailed.
From The Star-Ledger Newslog:
(Jill) Hazelbaker argued that the address Melli said was on the postings is not the campaign’s IP address.
But it is the same IP address that appears on numerous official campaign e-mails sent by Hazelbaker to The Star-Ledger through the course of the campaign.
Oh, sweetie, you are SO nailed.
Kean staffers trollin'
I have almost no time to blog today, so please forgive the lazy linkin'. I just spent all my on-line time for the day reading how Tom Kean JUNIOR staffers, after spending the last few days making up scandals to try to smear Menendez, are now posting troll comments on Blue Jersey.
Read the comments. The thread is hysterical, and very, very sad.
Read the comments. The thread is hysterical, and very, very sad.
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Avast! The Truth.
In February 1996, the Jersey Journal ran an article stating that then-Congressman Bob Menendez had approval from a House Ethics lawyer to rent his former business office to the North Hudson Community Action Corporation. Why does this matter? Well, as Xpatriated Texan so clearly explains to us on Blue Jersey, it's important because the Kean JUNIOR folks are going out of their way to make it sound like it was some kind of corrupt deal, when actually it's nothing of the sort.
Remember, of course, the Kean JUNIOR folks don't have a shred of evidence of a scandal- they're just trying to make it sound like there is one. Pathetic.
This swift boat is filled with bilge rats.
Remember, of course, the Kean JUNIOR folks don't have a shred of evidence of a scandal- they're just trying to make it sound like there is one. Pathetic.
This swift boat is filled with bilge rats.
Sing it, matey!
Ahoy, mateys! Janet's Tell it to me Tuesday question this week is a pretty good one- What are the best albums you believe most people have never heard? Aye, Aye!
The album that jumped to mind first is easy: Live from 6A, The Conan O'Brien Show: Bear with me here. It's not a comedy album nor clips of his best interview segments- it's some of the best of his musical guests. Just look at the list: Ani DiFranco, David Bowie, Squirrel Nut Zippers, Elvis Costello- and, of course, Matthew Sweet perfoming "Do Ya", which is the reason I bought the album. I heard that song once, on the radio, and bought the album without hearing another thing on it. If it had been the only good performance on it, it still would've been worth the money, but I was pleasantly surprized to find that the whole damn collection is that good. Really, check it out.
Another unheard great: John Hiatt, Stolen Moments. John Hiatt has already been mentioned by someone else responding to Janet's question, but not this album. It's hard to pick a favorite John Hiatt album, but this one has special memories for me. Understand, though, that it's not its sentimentality that makes it special; the fact that it's so good is why I had it playing at one of the best moments in my life. (It's still a little joy, a little peace, and a whole lotta light.)
Bear with me on this one: Keith Richards, Talk is Cheap. Yep, I just plugged a Keith Richards album. Never was a Stones fan, even. Y'know, I won't even try to defend the choice; just go find it in a discount bin somewhere, buy it, and you'll know I'm right. It's really that good. Oooo- cool tie-in- Richards is playing a pirate! Arr!
I know I'll probably think of more as the day goes on, so I'll put them in the comments. What be ye favorite hornpipe, mateys?
The album that jumped to mind first is easy: Live from 6A, The Conan O'Brien Show: Bear with me here. It's not a comedy album nor clips of his best interview segments- it's some of the best of his musical guests. Just look at the list: Ani DiFranco, David Bowie, Squirrel Nut Zippers, Elvis Costello- and, of course, Matthew Sweet perfoming "Do Ya", which is the reason I bought the album. I heard that song once, on the radio, and bought the album without hearing another thing on it. If it had been the only good performance on it, it still would've been worth the money, but I was pleasantly surprized to find that the whole damn collection is that good. Really, check it out.
Another unheard great: John Hiatt, Stolen Moments. John Hiatt has already been mentioned by someone else responding to Janet's question, but not this album. It's hard to pick a favorite John Hiatt album, but this one has special memories for me. Understand, though, that it's not its sentimentality that makes it special; the fact that it's so good is why I had it playing at one of the best moments in my life. (It's still a little joy, a little peace, and a whole lotta light.)
Bear with me on this one: Keith Richards, Talk is Cheap. Yep, I just plugged a Keith Richards album. Never was a Stones fan, even. Y'know, I won't even try to defend the choice; just go find it in a discount bin somewhere, buy it, and you'll know I'm right. It's really that good. Oooo- cool tie-in- Richards is playing a pirate! Arr!
I know I'll probably think of more as the day goes on, so I'll put them in the comments. What be ye favorite hornpipe, mateys?
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
Re-lighting the fire
I've kinda taken some time off politics here because, well, I've been busy, and I had a class-A case of burnout. I know this year's fight to take back the Congress is important, even if I'm not so fired up right now; so tonight, I volunteered for some phonebanking for Carol Gay.
I'm back on the bandwagon.
It's easy, when you get to push for someone like Carol Gay. If you live in the 4th, go check out her web site and see what I'm talking about. This is who we need right now.
I couldn't bring myself to listen to Bush's speech the other night, with him spewing his tired "stay the course" rhetoric while people die. People need to vote for candidates like Gay, and Rich Sexton, and Linda Stender; candidates who know that this war is unjustified, unwinnable and just plain wrong. Candidates who understand that supporting our troops means not using them as pawns to muck up Iraq only to be brought home to shrinking veteran's benefits (or worse yet, in body bags.)
The election's in less than two months. It's time now to get these folks heard.
I'm back on the bandwagon.
It's easy, when you get to push for someone like Carol Gay. If you live in the 4th, go check out her web site and see what I'm talking about. This is who we need right now.
I couldn't bring myself to listen to Bush's speech the other night, with him spewing his tired "stay the course" rhetoric while people die. People need to vote for candidates like Gay, and Rich Sexton, and Linda Stender; candidates who know that this war is unjustified, unwinnable and just plain wrong. Candidates who understand that supporting our troops means not using them as pawns to muck up Iraq only to be brought home to shrinking veteran's benefits (or worse yet, in body bags.)
The election's in less than two months. It's time now to get these folks heard.
To the woman in the copper-color minivan talking on her cell phone who had a stop sign but yet almost hit me in a clearly marked pedestrian crossing:
Hang up the damned phone and pay attention!
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
TITMT: What'shisface
Janet's Tell it to Me Tuesday question is:
John Cazale is the the actor who played Fredo in the best movies ever, The Godfather and Godfather II. He was only in five feature films- all of which were nominated for a Best Picture Oscar. Al Pacino called him his "acting partner," with whom he could have acted his entire life. When he was acting in the Deer Hunter, he became weak from bone cancer, but his fiance Meryl Streep threatened to quit if he was fired; he made it through filming and died shortly after. He died far too young.
In the spirit of Lazy Linkin' Tuesday, here's Andrew post (and the reason I know most of this,) the Story of John Cazale, from April.
Today I want to hear about the actors who are your favorite little known gems. You know, the type that you love to see in a movie, but from time to time even you have to look up their names?
John Cazale is the the actor who played Fredo in the best movies ever, The Godfather and Godfather II. He was only in five feature films- all of which were nominated for a Best Picture Oscar. Al Pacino called him his "acting partner," with whom he could have acted his entire life. When he was acting in the Deer Hunter, he became weak from bone cancer, but his fiance Meryl Streep threatened to quit if he was fired; he made it through filming and died shortly after. He died far too young.
In the spirit of Lazy Linkin' Tuesday, here's Andrew post (and the reason I know most of this,) the Story of John Cazale, from April.
Monday, September 11, 2006
Thursday, September 07, 2006
Sex, Death and the Spirit
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Dove, Torch. Nicole Maynard, 2005, oil on panel.
The artist Nicole Maynard is having a solo show at the Bowery Gallery. (Warning- link is not family-friendly!) Nicole is formerly of Central NJ and used to teach at Brookdale College and the Printmaking Council of NJ, as well as Lafayette College in Easton, PA.
The show is a combination of politics, religion, sex and death- not your typical landscape painting exhibition. It makes you think, wonder, and occasionally gasp. She's an impressive artist and this is a show not to be missed.
Some of the work in the show is in her online gallery, but seeing them in thumbnails simply doesn't compare to seeing them in full scale. If you will be in the city or are willing to make the trip, go see this show.
The Bowery Gallery is located at 530 West 25th Street (4th Floor) New York, NY. The show is hanging now and runs through Sept. 30th, with the opening reception this weekend on Saturday afternoon.
*The artist gave me permission to use Dove, Torch because I asked nicely. Please ask before you reprint it, too. Thanks!
Update 9/12: Nicole Maynard has started a blog: Art Weekly.
Bill's right. Again.
Now that I'm a parent, I can go back and watch Bill Cosby-Himself all over again and laugh like it was the first time. (I can probably recite it, too- it was on Cable Overkill when I was younger and must've seen it a dozen times.) Bill's got his problems, to be sure he certainly has, but when he's right about something, he's right.
He's right yet again.
-Bill Cosby, speaking at a rally for veteran's rights in Newark Yesterday.
He's right yet again.
Cosby told about 100 veterans at a rally in Newark yesterday he doesn't think the federal government is doing enough to support the men and women who have fought in America's past and current wars.
"I can't believe they bring home our warriors and then turn out the light on them," said Cosby, a Navy veteran. "People coming home sick and not allowed to be. This is a cause no one can deny."
...
"When we were attacked, all the politicians sang 'God Bless America,'" Cosby said. "Then they went in a back room and said 'Let's make some cutbacks (to veterans programs.)"
-Bill Cosby, speaking at a rally for veteran's rights in Newark Yesterday.
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
Carol Gay for Congress NJ 4th
Times of Trenton did a nice write-up on Carol Gay and the major issues in the election for the 4th district seat. Go Carol!
Sunday, September 03, 2006
Snakes on a Plane
Last night, Chris A., Rob S., his intrepid spouse and I went to see Snakes on a Plane.
I can say, without exaggeration, that was the most fun I've had in a movie theater in a very long time. This is moviemaking at its squirmy, ludicrously silly extreme.
It is not a great movie- Oh, far from it- but it is so campily scrumtacular, so predictably craptastic, so deliciously fun that you simply must take as many of your sarcastic and jovial friends as you can round up and go see it. You will love it.
It had everything in it I could have possibly wanted from a movie with Samuel L. Jackson about Snakes on a Plane. It really, really did.
I can say, without exaggeration, that was the most fun I've had in a movie theater in a very long time. This is moviemaking at its squirmy, ludicrously silly extreme.
It is not a great movie- Oh, far from it- but it is so campily scrumtacular, so predictably craptastic, so deliciously fun that you simply must take as many of your sarcastic and jovial friends as you can round up and go see it. You will love it.
It had everything in it I could have possibly wanted from a movie with Samuel L. Jackson about Snakes on a Plane. It really, really did.
Friday, September 01, 2006
Central NJ gas price watch Wrap-Up
Ok! All summer, I've been periodically posting the gas prices around Central NJ as I've seen them. Based on my completely unscientific survey, here's what we've learned:
- Predictions of $3.00+ gas by Labor Day were way off the mark. June and May averages were $2.89, July average was $3.00, August average was $2.83. Today, I saw $2.65 a couple places as we head into the holiday weekend. It was an arc, and prices now lower here in Central NJ than they were at Memorial day.
- Keep your eyes open. Several times there were widely different prices very close to each other.
- Bob told us about this survey of NJ gas prices, and Jack informed us of this little gadget, both of which would have saved me a lot of time scribbling on scraps of paper at stop lights.
- Don't buy gas at Quaker Bridge Rd. and Sloan Ave. Yikes! Completely out of whack with local prices.
As gas prices fall again, folks will gripe a little less. We'll continue our Great American Love affair with the automobile and not change in the slightest our driving habits, our vehicle-purchasing trends, or our fascination with exurban enclaves which create vicious commutes.
At least, not until the next spike in gas prices comes along.
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Bushtemberfest
Lazy, rainy end-of-summer days? Don't let it get you down. Celebrate Bushtemberfest! Via the award-winning Steven Hart at The Opinion Mill:
How will you celebrate Bushtemberfest? Head on over to the Opinion Mill and let Steve know. Personally, I think that faithful observers of Bushtemberfest will celebrate by going on vacation to Texas and clear brush. Preferably, underfund your smoke detecters, then light candles in your kitchen before you leave home. Remember to tell everyone that no one could have predicted a house fire.
Bushtemberfest, or the Festival of Fatal Fuckups, will give GOP-weary Americans a chance to celebrate the non-accomplishments of George W. Bush, the first president to let one major American city be devastated by terrorists and allow another one to drown, all within the space of a few years. The observance will start with the anniversary of the flooding of New Orleans and climax with the anniversary of the destruction of the World Trade Center, during which time we will pray — loudly and publicly — that no other disasters befall us while we await the blessed day that King George and his menagerie of religious hucksters, corporate bandits and ideological grifters get their eviction notice.
How will you celebrate Bushtemberfest? Head on over to the Opinion Mill and let Steve know. Personally, I think that faithful observers of Bushtemberfest will celebrate by going on vacation to Texas and clear brush. Preferably, underfund your smoke detecters, then light candles in your kitchen before you leave home. Remember to tell everyone that no one could have predicted a house fire.
Better late than never
I'm about halfway through Crashing the Gate by Jerome Armstrong and Markos Moulitsas Zúniga. It's not a long book but I've had almost no free time lately (as you might have noticed by how little I've been blogging.) If you have a free day, you could easily finish it that quickly.
This book is simply a revelation. It should be the wake-up call the left needs to, well, wake up and stop snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. After I read a section, I spend the next twenty minutes explaining it to my husband (who hopefully will read it, but really, does he need to now?) and wondering aloud why the Dems are still doing what they're still doing, and why they don't get it.
I highly recommend it. And, now available in paperback!
This book is simply a revelation. It should be the wake-up call the left needs to, well, wake up and stop snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. After I read a section, I spend the next twenty minutes explaining it to my husband (who hopefully will read it, but really, does he need to now?) and wondering aloud why the Dems are still doing what they're still doing, and why they don't get it.
I highly recommend it. And, now available in paperback!
Princeton Hospital
The University Medical Center at Princeton has proposed moving out of Princeton proper and to Plainsboro, to the FMC property on Rt. 1. The plan is to break ground in 2007.
I sure hope they do it.
Yesterday I got to spend some time at the hospital's ER (everyone's fine now, thanks.) Every process was painfully slow- more so than I've ever seen at other ERs. The building is old, outdated and unnecessarily complicated. The parking sucks, what there is of it. There's no room to make any improvements or expand, both of which are sorely needed.
The population of Central New Jersey is expanding rapidly and the hospital has not been able to keep up with it. It should be moved.
I sure hope they do it.
Yesterday I got to spend some time at the hospital's ER (everyone's fine now, thanks.) Every process was painfully slow- more so than I've ever seen at other ERs. The building is old, outdated and unnecessarily complicated. The parking sucks, what there is of it. There's no room to make any improvements or expand, both of which are sorely needed.
The population of Central New Jersey is expanding rapidly and the hospital has not been able to keep up with it. It should be moved.
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Friday, August 25, 2006
Thursday, August 24, 2006
...but they don't want them right now.
The housing market continues to slow down.
This is an AP article and those figures are nationwide; existing-home sales fell even further, 5.4 percent, here in the Northeast.
Prospective home buyers have turned cautious about making such a big-ticket purchase as mortgage rates have gone up and uncertainty has risen about whether the economy and job creation will keep slowing, analysts said.
Existing-home sales dropped 4.1 percent in July from the previous month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 6.33 million units, the National Association of Realtors reported. That was the lowest level since January 2004.
The latest snapshot of housing activity was weaker than analysts anticipated. Economists were forecasting the pace of sales to fall to 6.55 million.
This is an AP article and those figures are nationwide; existing-home sales fell even further, 5.4 percent, here in the Northeast.
Ya mean, families might want those houses?
Washington Twp. (Mercer County) was shocked to find that their school enrollment increased so much this year:
Washington (also known as Robbinsville) was already well on the way to learning that unrestrained residential growth also means unrestrained spending on schools and infrastructure. This is just one more step on that learning curve.
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP -- In light of an unanticipated boost in kindergarten enrollment, school officials are dipping deeper into the district's budget and leasing two modular trailers.
While preliminary projections last year indicated that 22 more kindergartners would attend Sharon School in 2006-07, recent figures suggest that number will triple, said Superintendent John Szabo.
Washington (also known as Robbinsville) was already well on the way to learning that unrestrained residential growth also means unrestrained spending on schools and infrastructure. This is just one more step on that learning curve.
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Home grown tomatoes
I love home grown tomatoes. They are a treasure, and none are better than those we grow here in the Center of NJ.
That first tomato is such a thing of beauty. Now, late August, I can barely use up all that I get every day. By mid-September, Ill be leaving them to rot on the vine.
As always, I planted too many. At least I skipped growing zucchini this year.
That first tomato is such a thing of beauty. Now, late August, I can barely use up all that I get every day. By mid-September, Ill be leaving them to rot on the vine.
As always, I planted too many. At least I skipped growing zucchini this year.
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Sun Beer
Anderson Valley Brewing in Booneville, Ca, just announced they completed installing their Solar system. At 122kW, "the largest private photovoltaic solar installation north of the San Francisco Bay Area."
Woo-hoo! Sun beer. Gotta get me a Hop Ottin'.
(hat tip to Paul at the Crooked Beat. Visit the Crooked Beat Music & Beer Map!)
Woo-hoo! Sun beer. Gotta get me a Hop Ottin'.
(hat tip to Paul at the Crooked Beat. Visit the Crooked Beat Music & Beer Map!)
Monday, August 21, 2006
Central NJ gas price watch
$2.79, All three gas stations at the intersection of Rt. 1 and Rt. 571, Princeton NJ 8/20 9:30AM.
We're number one! Oh... wait...
New Jersey leads the nation in political double-dipping
In Our Fair State, it's tradition to hold several gvt. jobs. Look at Charlie Epps:
How do these people sleep at night? Better still, why are we still electing them or letting them hold two jobs? Better still, anyone know where I can get a job that pays $210K a year and lets me show up only three days a week?
This kind of BS would put them in jail in Indiana.
Assemblyman Michael Panter has sponsored A524, which would prohibit legislators from holding another public office. He sponsored it in 2004 too, where it did exactly what it'll do this time- dead stall in the Assembly State Government Committee. I can only hope he'll propose it again and again until it gets passed.
In Our Fair State, it's tradition to hold several gvt. jobs. Look at Charlie Epps:
Double-dippers are unlikely to be able to give sufficient time and attention to one or both of their public jobs. Assemblyman Charles Epps Jr. (D-Hudson), spends at least two days of most weeks at the State House, which is time when he's not back home superintending Jersey City's troubled school district, for which he receives $210,520 a year. In 2003, Assemblyman Ronald S. Dancer (R-Ocean) triple-dipped as a legislator, mayor and Ocean County employee.
How do these people sleep at night? Better still, why are we still electing them or letting them hold two jobs? Better still, anyone know where I can get a job that pays $210K a year and lets me show up only three days a week?
This kind of BS would put them in jail in Indiana.
Assemblyman Michael Panter has sponsored A524, which would prohibit legislators from holding another public office. He sponsored it in 2004 too, where it did exactly what it'll do this time- dead stall in the Assembly State Government Committee. I can only hope he'll propose it again and again until it gets passed.
Thursday, August 17, 2006
One Year Later
Katrina Home Bush Visited Still Stands Empty
There are a lot of "One Year After Katrina" articles out there right now, but this one really struck me yesterday when NPR ran it. It's an embarrasment, in the richest country in the world, that this is the way it's been.
I'm sorry, Ethel.
There are a lot of "One Year After Katrina" articles out there right now, but this one really struck me yesterday when NPR ran it. It's an embarrasment, in the richest country in the world, that this is the way it's been.
I'm sorry, Ethel.
South Jersey Gas Price Watch
$2.81, Citgo, Rt. 70 across from the old racetrack property, Cherry Hill 6:03PM 8/17
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
I get searches- you get answers
'S always fun to look at recent search terms that have led folks to this blog. Here are some of the more interesting:
"something really really fun to do in south jersey today"- Boy, I could write a book on that one. There are lots of choices, but it depends on your idea of fun. The entire shore, Wharton State forest, Atsion Lake, Atlantic City, Flying Fish brewery tours, among others- here's a whole list of family fun options, too.
""Afghan Kebab House #7" nj"= Rob mentioned this in a guest post over a year ago, and I still often get folks looking for it. The restaruant has no web site of its own, but I found a review site. I've yet to go there but it's clearly pretty popular.
"scams to play on people"- um, I'm not going to be much help on this one. Thanks for visiting!
"gas stations in central nj"- I guess all my Central NJ gas price watches have led folks here for that. I'll be wrapping that up at the end of summer. I also got an isolated search for "gas price watch NH" - I've only done one of those and it was a month and a half ago.
"how to write a letter to my congressman in new jersey"- ahhh, this is my favorite. Write to your Congressman! Start here, and follow the drop-down menu to NJ, and enter your zip code. It's easy! Your congresscritter should hear from you often.
Speaking of talking to your lawmakers, the Special Session on Property Tax reform is underway in Our Fair State, and they want to hear from you. Go and let the committees know what is important to you.
I haven't gotten any searches lately looking for Carol Gay. Carol is running in the 4th against Representative Chris Smith (who doesn't 'represent' me to speak of.) I talked to Carol for a Blue Jersey podcast and I was thoroughly impressed. Go Carol!
"something really really fun to do in south jersey today"- Boy, I could write a book on that one. There are lots of choices, but it depends on your idea of fun. The entire shore, Wharton State forest, Atsion Lake, Atlantic City, Flying Fish brewery tours, among others- here's a whole list of family fun options, too.
""Afghan Kebab House #7" nj"= Rob mentioned this in a guest post over a year ago, and I still often get folks looking for it. The restaruant has no web site of its own, but I found a review site. I've yet to go there but it's clearly pretty popular.
"scams to play on people"- um, I'm not going to be much help on this one. Thanks for visiting!
"gas stations in central nj"- I guess all my Central NJ gas price watches have led folks here for that. I'll be wrapping that up at the end of summer. I also got an isolated search for "gas price watch NH" - I've only done one of those and it was a month and a half ago.
"how to write a letter to my congressman in new jersey"- ahhh, this is my favorite. Write to your Congressman! Start here, and follow the drop-down menu to NJ, and enter your zip code. It's easy! Your congresscritter should hear from you often.
Speaking of talking to your lawmakers, the Special Session on Property Tax reform is underway in Our Fair State, and they want to hear from you. Go and let the committees know what is important to you.
I haven't gotten any searches lately looking for Carol Gay. Carol is running in the 4th against Representative Chris Smith (who doesn't 'represent' me to speak of.) I talked to Carol for a Blue Jersey podcast and I was thoroughly impressed. Go Carol!
Tell it to her Tuesday
Janet at The Art of Getting By has a feature called "Tell it to me Tuesday" which is quite popular. This week's question- "What are some songs you can listen to over and over?"
I can get sick of anything if it gets overplayed enough. But, songs currently in heavy rotation on my iPod qualify, I guess, so here goes:
Feel Good Inc., Clint Eastwood, 19-2000- Gorillaz
Strange Ways- Moby (the one from the Bourne movies, only Moby song I own)
Santa Monica- Everclear
Dog Train- Blues Traveler
And, every time it comes on the radio, Shaft- Issac Hayes.
What are yours?
I can get sick of anything if it gets overplayed enough. But, songs currently in heavy rotation on my iPod qualify, I guess, so here goes:
Feel Good Inc., Clint Eastwood, 19-2000- Gorillaz
Strange Ways- Moby (the one from the Bourne movies, only Moby song I own)
Santa Monica- Everclear
Dog Train- Blues Traveler
And, every time it comes on the radio, Shaft- Issac Hayes.
What are yours?
Fly away home
Trenton-Mercer airport announced last week more passenger service, now to Balt-Wash airport and Elmira-Corning airport on the carrier Boston-Maine. (Wow, that's a lot of hyphens, even for me.) Now, Delta's subsidiary Comair is proposing to add direct service to Atlanta and Logan in Boston. That would be absolutely great for area residents!
Monday, August 14, 2006
Follow-up to the Beach Condos
I posted about Last Rides at Funtown Pier a couple weeks ago. Seems Seaside Park is considering turing a charming, classic NJ pier and boardwalk into a condo development.
Following up on that, this weekend, I visited Pier Village in Long Branch, a site where they tore out the somewhat dated, run-down and old real estate around the former pier area to make a new, really upscale boardwalk area loaded with condos.
My impression? Eh.
Long Branch did what it had to do, I understand that. The area was getting run down and since they are competing with all the other shore towns for your vacation and day-trip buck, they had to do something drastic to create attraction. It's clearly a winner, too; it was crazy crowded, even well into the evening on a Sunday.
I mean, it's nice- in a generic, plastic sort of chain-store way. Where there once was character, there now is style, and they're not the same thing.
Progress marches on, but I'll be a little sad for the passing of the old boardwalks. The ones made out of boards, not plastic.
Following up on that, this weekend, I visited Pier Village in Long Branch, a site where they tore out the somewhat dated, run-down and old real estate around the former pier area to make a new, really upscale boardwalk area loaded with condos.
My impression? Eh.
Long Branch did what it had to do, I understand that. The area was getting run down and since they are competing with all the other shore towns for your vacation and day-trip buck, they had to do something drastic to create attraction. It's clearly a winner, too; it was crazy crowded, even well into the evening on a Sunday.
I mean, it's nice- in a generic, plastic sort of chain-store way. Where there once was character, there now is style, and they're not the same thing.
Progress marches on, but I'll be a little sad for the passing of the old boardwalks. The ones made out of boards, not plastic.
Saturday, August 12, 2006
Central NJ gas price watch- preliminary wrap-up
The Newhouse News Service has already begun the wrap-up of summer gas prices.
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
Monday, August 07, 2006
On an anything but serious note...
What has my $2.00 and loves bad movies? This guy.
OK, he doesn't have my $2.00 yet. But I have faith that even without his robot pals, based on his track record, he'll earn my investment. (He used to mock guys like me in prison.)
OK, he doesn't have my $2.00 yet. But I have faith that even without his robot pals, based on his track record, he'll earn my investment. (He used to mock guys like me in prison.)
Paying for the privilege
This school year, Washington Twp. becomes the first school district in Mercer County to charge a fee for participation in extracurricular activities and athletics:
An interesting point later in the article:
How about the difference not just within an activity, but between activities? Football costs the school dramatically, but chess club barely registers on the cost scale. Parents will be less willing to participate in any fund-raises, because they've already ponied up a lot of bucks. Also, even with a waiver for lower-income families, I bet there will be kids who won't participate because of the fee, being too nervous to ask about it when there are financial troubles at home, or simply embarrassed that they need it waived.
Even with such concerns, apparently many other schools nationwide have activity fees. I hope other school districts in Central New Jersey don't jump on this bandwagon.
Very few other districts in Our Fair State have such a fee, and of those that do, Washington's is one of the highest. The fee will be waived if families cannot afford it.After receiving less state aid than anticipated for this year's budget, the school district has become the only one in Mercer County to implement a fee for students who want to try out for athletic teams and extracurricular activities.
Though the decision has sparked complaints from parents, charging a $100 fee was the only way the district could avoid a drastic increase in property taxes, said Superintendent John Szabo.
"Unfortunately we were faced with a choice," Szabo said. "We're not getting the state funding we need, and we felt it would be better to charge the people most affected than raise taxes."
An interesting point later in the article:
In Hopewell Valley, however, the school attempted a $50 athletic fee but stopped after two years because it became more trouble than it was worth, said Steve Timko, former athletic di rector.
"Having a fee was difficult be cause when every person was paying the same dollar amount, they looked for the same amount of playing time that went with it," Timko said.
How about the difference not just within an activity, but between activities? Football costs the school dramatically, but chess club barely registers on the cost scale. Parents will be less willing to participate in any fund-raises, because they've already ponied up a lot of bucks. Also, even with a waiver for lower-income families, I bet there will be kids who won't participate because of the fee, being too nervous to ask about it when there are financial troubles at home, or simply embarrassed that they need it waived.
Even with such concerns, apparently many other schools nationwide have activity fees. I hope other school districts in Central New Jersey don't jump on this bandwagon.
Sunday, August 06, 2006
Interview with Carol Gay
The latest Blue Jersey podcast (and my very first one!) is an interview with Carol Gay, who is running to represent the 4th Congressional District.
Carol is an amazing woman with a long history of activism, leadership and support of human rights. She came into this race quite suddenly but has hit the ground running. She is very passionate about ending the war in Iraq:
She is also dedicated to rescuing American workers from the failed policies of the Bush administration, which her opponent Chris Smith has been supporting.
Carol is an amazing woman with a long history of activism, leadership and support of human rights. She came into this race quite suddenly but has hit the ground running. She is very passionate about ending the war in Iraq:
"I was just talking to people at the Ocean County Fair, the Monmouth County Fair, the Burlington County Fair, and people inevitably said, "Yes, we need to bring our troops home. Bring them home now." And they want them brought home safely."
She is also dedicated to rescuing American workers from the failed policies of the Bush administration, which her opponent Chris Smith has been supporting.
"Medicare part D needs to be scrapped. Scrapped, start over! ... The Medicare part D is not working. It's a disaster. It is costing seniors far too much money."
Listen now by clicking here.- or, subscribe to the Blue Jersey podcast.
(Cross-posted at BlueJersey)
Saturday, August 05, 2006
Real poetry
While I'm here mangling the poetry of others, Jersey Goddess Nordette Adams posted this gem.
Friday, August 04, 2006
Why I hate going to the grocery store when the bus from the retirement village is there
(with big apologies to Jenny Joseph)
Warning to Myself
When I am an old woman I shall remember
that if I am a grumpy old biddy, it's not everyone else's fault.
I shall not grump about every little thing in the store
because it was better fifty years ago.
I shall not take up two parking spaces
and give other drivers dirty looks if I stole one from them
and scream at my home health aide
and expect others to solve my mood problems.
I will remember that these younger people are adults too
and someday they will pick my nursing home
and be nice to them.
I can wear terrible clothes and grow very fat
and eat unhealthy foods that make me sicker
and refuse to exercise, and hasten my demise
but I shall not demand that medical science rescue me from myself if I do.
I will remember that the younger people in my life
have heard my stories a dozen times before
and I will stop if they look very bored or like they are faking interest.
If I recognize it, anyway.
Maybe I ought to practice a little now?
So people who know me are not too shocked and surprised
When suddenly I am old, and remember to be nice.
And, when I am old,
I shall have my grandchildren re-read this to me
so I remember what I said.
Warning to Myself
When I am an old woman I shall remember
that if I am a grumpy old biddy, it's not everyone else's fault.
I shall not grump about every little thing in the store
because it was better fifty years ago.
I shall not take up two parking spaces
and give other drivers dirty looks if I stole one from them
and scream at my home health aide
and expect others to solve my mood problems.
I will remember that these younger people are adults too
and someday they will pick my nursing home
and be nice to them.
I can wear terrible clothes and grow very fat
and eat unhealthy foods that make me sicker
and refuse to exercise, and hasten my demise
but I shall not demand that medical science rescue me from myself if I do.
I will remember that the younger people in my life
have heard my stories a dozen times before
and I will stop if they look very bored or like they are faking interest.
If I recognize it, anyway.
Maybe I ought to practice a little now?
So people who know me are not too shocked and surprised
When suddenly I am old, and remember to be nice.
And, when I am old,
I shall have my grandchildren re-read this to me
so I remember what I said.
Thursday, August 03, 2006
Pay-as-you-drive car insurance?
The Times of Trenton has an article this morning about an idea to reduce our driving; paying for our insurance on a per-mile basis.
No, I didn't say lower our insurance costs. I said reduce our driving:
Well, it would be more fair, anyway. I used to work in insurance, back in the day before GoogleMaps and Mapquest made mileage determiniations easy, and folks would often insist that they drove 3 miles to work so they could get the lowest rating level- even if they lived in Burlington and worked in New Brunswick. The company I worked for didn't check, although some did. Also, I know when I wasn't working outside the home, we put almost as many miles on my car as my working husband's, because we drove my car on every vacation and every single weekend trip, plus around-town and school driving- but I was rated the lowest usage tier because I wasn't employed. A monitored per-mile driving would be more accurate.
It would also show people the more accurate costs of driving. We all know people who spend their weekends driving from store to store to get the "best price" on purchases. Well, if they take into account how much it costs in gas (and time!) to do that, plus the environmental impact of driving thirty miles to save a buck, they'd realize often it makes financial sense to stay put and pay a bit extra.
But it will take a very long time, if ever, before such a system is enacted. How many people do you know who refuse to get EZ Pass because they don't want Big Brother watching how fast they drive on the Turnpike? They'll never accept this. Could the information on how you drove be subpoenaed? Who has access to it? I can already hear the protests starting. Also, the insurance industry isn't known for their quickness in adopting new technologies or systems, so don't plan to hear it coming too soon.
If it was sold as something to reduce our insurance premiums substantially, it might have a shot here in Our Fair State; but I refer back to that EZ Pass analogy, which was originally supposed to make life easier and tolls cheaper- but now costs more for the convenience.
Oh well- another good idea that has little chance.
(On a side note, this was front-page on the Times this morning, even though it's not currently even proposed in Our Fair State. Must be a slow news day.)
No, I didn't say lower our insurance costs. I said reduce our driving:
With pay-as-you-drive, insurance factors such as driving history, vehicle type and geographic location are incorporated into the per-mile price, which generally ranges between 2 cents and 10 cents. Mileage readings are captured through sensors in cars or authorized odometer readings.
Advocates say that if people could save money by reducing miles driven, instead of paying a lump-sum annual or semiannual premium, they would take fewer trips or be more likely to use other forms of transportation. Studies have estimated the concept could reduce overall driving by around 10 percent.
"It's almost a no-brainer when you look at reducing gasoline use and conserving oil," said Dean Baker, director of the Center for Economic and Policy Research, a Washington, D.C., think tank.
Maryland state Sen. Lisa Gladden (D-Baltimore), who has sponsored pay-as-you-drive legislation, said she tried to show the appeal of the concept by bringing a pound of grapes to a legislative hearing.
"I said, 'If this pound costs a dollar, but I only eat half of them and you still charge me a dollar, is that fair?'" Gladden said. "That's the way we as consumers do business with auto insurance."
Well, it would be more fair, anyway. I used to work in insurance, back in the day before GoogleMaps and Mapquest made mileage determiniations easy, and folks would often insist that they drove 3 miles to work so they could get the lowest rating level- even if they lived in Burlington and worked in New Brunswick. The company I worked for didn't check, although some did. Also, I know when I wasn't working outside the home, we put almost as many miles on my car as my working husband's, because we drove my car on every vacation and every single weekend trip, plus around-town and school driving- but I was rated the lowest usage tier because I wasn't employed. A monitored per-mile driving would be more accurate.
It would also show people the more accurate costs of driving. We all know people who spend their weekends driving from store to store to get the "best price" on purchases. Well, if they take into account how much it costs in gas (and time!) to do that, plus the environmental impact of driving thirty miles to save a buck, they'd realize often it makes financial sense to stay put and pay a bit extra.
But it will take a very long time, if ever, before such a system is enacted. How many people do you know who refuse to get EZ Pass because they don't want Big Brother watching how fast they drive on the Turnpike? They'll never accept this. Could the information on how you drove be subpoenaed? Who has access to it? I can already hear the protests starting. Also, the insurance industry isn't known for their quickness in adopting new technologies or systems, so don't plan to hear it coming too soon.
If it was sold as something to reduce our insurance premiums substantially, it might have a shot here in Our Fair State; but I refer back to that EZ Pass analogy, which was originally supposed to make life easier and tolls cheaper- but now costs more for the convenience.
Oh well- another good idea that has little chance.
(On a side note, this was front-page on the Times this morning, even though it's not currently even proposed in Our Fair State. Must be a slow news day.)
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
Last rides at Funtown Pier
Via Bob at the RixMix: Condos may replace rides at Funtown Pier
We were just at Funtown pier last week. We went with the friend family- the family you pick, not the ones you're born with- and had a blast. Got the armbands and rode all day for $15. I was too nauseus for the Tower of Fear but (because?) I rode the loop roller coaster twice, and we had to practically drag my youngest off the Family Coaster. The bumper cars were a hit with young and old. We grabbed giant slices of pizza twenty steps down the boardwalk and headed right back afterward. At no time did we feel we didn't get our money's worth.
Kim Pascarella, manager of the Seaside Heights portion of the pier:
It'll all come down to finances. Seaside park has seriously high property taxes, just like every other town in Our Fair State. Replacing the amusement pier with condos is just a tentative plan right now, and there isn't even an official proposal on the table; but if there's a true chance of a substantial financial incentive for the town, and the APP article sure makes it sound like there is, Funtown is history.
It's old, it's small, and it's part of the incredible charm of Seaside Park. I will be sorry to see it go.
Expect to see me there on its last day of operations. I'll be watching my youngest go 'round and 'round on the Family coaster.
We were just at Funtown pier last week. We went with the friend family- the family you pick, not the ones you're born with- and had a blast. Got the armbands and rode all day for $15. I was too nauseus for the Tower of Fear but (because?) I rode the loop roller coaster twice, and we had to practically drag my youngest off the Family Coaster. The bumper cars were a hit with young and old. We grabbed giant slices of pizza twenty steps down the boardwalk and headed right back afterward. At no time did we feel we didn't get our money's worth.
Kim Pascarella, manager of the Seaside Heights portion of the pier:
"It doesn't surprise me, really. In my opinion, within 10 years there will not be any small businesses left on the barrier island. Businessmen are being taxed out of business. This just seems to be the way things are going."
It'll all come down to finances. Seaside park has seriously high property taxes, just like every other town in Our Fair State. Replacing the amusement pier with condos is just a tentative plan right now, and there isn't even an official proposal on the table; but if there's a true chance of a substantial financial incentive for the town, and the APP article sure makes it sound like there is, Funtown is history.
It's old, it's small, and it's part of the incredible charm of Seaside Park. I will be sorry to see it go.
Expect to see me there on its last day of operations. I'll be watching my youngest go 'round and 'round on the Family coaster.
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
Evil Hot
The mercury's hit 95 here in Central NJ, possibly to climb a little higher this afternoon. This is what is known as "Evil Hot." So, what did I do?
I raised the temp on my air conditioner 2 degrees; I turned off every light in my house; I shut all the shades on the south-facing side; and, as soon as I finish writing to you nice folks, I'll shut down this computer as quickly as possible.
In other words, I took up author Jeri Smith-Ready's challenge to lower electricity consumption. (Sorry, Jeri, I can't take the air set at 85- but every little bit helps.) What fun stuff are you doing in this heat?
I raised the temp on my air conditioner 2 degrees; I turned off every light in my house; I shut all the shades on the south-facing side; and, as soon as I finish writing to you nice folks, I'll shut down this computer as quickly as possible.
In other words, I took up author Jeri Smith-Ready's challenge to lower electricity consumption. (Sorry, Jeri, I can't take the air set at 85- but every little bit helps.) What fun stuff are you doing in this heat?
Monday, July 31, 2006
Central NJ gas price watch
$2.89, Raceway, Rts. 130 & 206 Southbound, across and two blocks from $2.97, Mobil, Rts. 130 & 206 Northbound, Bordentown 7/30 5:14PM
Sunday, July 30, 2006
Central NJ gas price watch
$3.09 (!!), Exxon, Quakerbridge Road and Sloan Ave., Hamilton 7/29 9:30 PM
Nostalgia
Hot summer night.
Driving home from a friends' house with the iPod on random song, "Stairway to Heaven" comes on. My youngest asks what it is, and I answer that it's considered one of the greatest rock songs of all time.
The kids are quiet for the rest of the song. My husband and I joke about how it's somewhat odd to be the parents in the car, instead of driving one of our parents' car. Then we're quiet too. For a few minutes we're teenagers again, driving around through hot summer nights on county backroads just for something to do, listening to Led Zep. We even take a longer way home just to hear the end.
The song ends and there's a heartbeat of silence. Then, the random song feature kicks in a blaring children's song about peanut butter toast.
Back to real life.
Driving home from a friends' house with the iPod on random song, "Stairway to Heaven" comes on. My youngest asks what it is, and I answer that it's considered one of the greatest rock songs of all time.
The kids are quiet for the rest of the song. My husband and I joke about how it's somewhat odd to be the parents in the car, instead of driving one of our parents' car. Then we're quiet too. For a few minutes we're teenagers again, driving around through hot summer nights on county backroads just for something to do, listening to Led Zep. We even take a longer way home just to hear the end.
The song ends and there's a heartbeat of silence. Then, the random song feature kicks in a blaring children's song about peanut butter toast.
Back to real life.
What Would Jesus NOT Do?
1) Get drunk
2) Drive drunk
3) Treat the arresting officer belligerently
4) Boast
5) Make anti-Semitic comments
6) Address a woman as "sugar tits" (even if that was her legal name)
7) Use a Barbara Walters interview to both beg public forgiveness and promote his next project (it's not in the article, but let's be realistic)
www.eonline.com/News/Items/0,1,19630,00.html?fdnews
I hope Mr. Gibson gets help battling his personal demons soon, since it would seem he's got more than a PR problem to deal with.
(I know there's a Manischewitz joke in here somewhere, but I'll leave it to the interested to write their own.)
2) Drive drunk
3) Treat the arresting officer belligerently
4) Boast
5) Make anti-Semitic comments
6) Address a woman as "sugar tits" (even if that was her legal name)
7) Use a Barbara Walters interview to both beg public forgiveness and promote his next project (it's not in the article, but let's be realistic)
www.eonline.com/News/Items/0,1,19630,00.html?fdnews
I hope Mr. Gibson gets help battling his personal demons soon, since it would seem he's got more than a PR problem to deal with.
(I know there's a Manischewitz joke in here somewhere, but I'll leave it to the interested to write their own.)
Armageddon II: Armageddon
Mm. That's a bad title.
George Bluth, "Arrested Development"
You said it, George. So let's hope Jerry Bruckheimer and Michael Bay don't hear about this:
www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/story/438593p-369528c.html
"... the odds of a strike at 1 in 38,000." By contrast, the odds of winning the PowerBall lottery are roughly 1 in 29 million. Feel lucky, punk?
George Bluth, "Arrested Development"
You said it, George. So let's hope Jerry Bruckheimer and Michael Bay don't hear about this:
www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/story/438593p-369528c.html
"... the odds of a strike at 1 in 38,000." By contrast, the odds of winning the PowerBall lottery are roughly 1 in 29 million. Feel lucky, punk?
Waiting on the rain
I'd like to make a joke here, but when you hear about portions of North Dakota returning to Dust Bowl conditions...
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060729/ap_on_re_us/northern_plains_drought
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060729/ap_on_re_us/northern_plains_drought
Relationships to Avoid...
... as posted by someone who, on the basis of the content, you might already be avoiding. Perfect for the Tim Burton fan in your life, or anyone who likes to collect dating advice they won't use.
http://americaninventorspot.com/dolls_to_avoid
http://americaninventorspot.com/men_to_avoid
http://americaninventorspot.com/dolls_to_avoid
http://americaninventorspot.com/men_to_avoid
Saturday, July 29, 2006
The Wimp Factor
A little late... but another sobering reminder of the state of our union, politically and culturally.
Of course, if Chief Elgin was right in Three Kings, and some easy-listening classics are necessary to calm us down in these stressful times, then Blender magazine is here to help. (Or something.) Yes, these folks are easy targets, but the White House could use some lately.
www.blender.com/guide/articles.aspx?ID=1990
Of course, if Chief Elgin was right in Three Kings, and some easy-listening classics are necessary to calm us down in these stressful times, then Blender magazine is here to help. (Or something.) Yes, these folks are easy targets, but the White House could use some lately.
www.blender.com/guide/articles.aspx?ID=1990
Scams People Play, or I WOULD Want to Be Like You
Most aspiring identity thieves, if trying to ply the trade in a face-to-face setting, realize that they shouldn't set their sights too high; if you go around pretending to be, say, Angelina Jolie or the Pope, no one's likely to be fooled. You have to strike a balance between recognizability (the victim's heard of and respects your premise) and plausibility (the victim doesn't have enough expertise to disprove the premise, or cause to). Semi-successful examples: Stanley Kubrick, or Sidney Poitier's son.
However, pretending to be the less-famous half of a never-that-famous duo... maybe a little too obscure. Gotta give props for creative thinking, though.
www.oregonlive.com/newsflash/regional/index.ssf?/base/news-15/1154071154154890.xml&storylist=orlocal
However, pretending to be the less-famous half of a never-that-famous duo... maybe a little too obscure. Gotta give props for creative thinking, though.
www.oregonlive.com/newsflash/regional/index.ssf?/base/news-15/1154071154154890.xml&storylist=orlocal
Buyer Beware...
If your salesperson is studying Advanced Unorthodox Negotiation Techniques, the sale's never really over.
www.newschannel5.com/content/investigates/20762.asp?q=BILL+HEARD
www.newschannel5.com/content/investigates/20762.asp?q=BILL+HEARD
Thursday, July 27, 2006
Thursday, July 20, 2006
Carnival of NJ Bloggers 60
Sorry I'm so late with the link, but the Carnival of NJ Bloggers was over at Bob the Corgi this past weekend.
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
New Jersey Treasure #6
There are so many good things about living here in the center of NJ, I could go on and on about them. And I've decided to do just that. Periodically I'm going to pick something that has recently made itself a pleasure in my life and tell you why it's a NJ Treasure, in hopes that you'll enjoy it too and have more pleasures in your life.
Today's installment features the Jersey Diner. Now, if you're reading this and not from Our Fair State, let me explain- you ain't never seen a diner like we have 'em here. They're huge. The capacity is huge, and it's packed full- even at quarter to eleven on a midsummer weekday, or quarter to one on a weekend morning. The menu is huge- often eight or more pages, usually covered in plastic- and the choice is unbelievable. The portions are huge, enough to feed a family of four on each plate. The coffee is usually bad, but the cup is bottomless (huge!) so it kind of makes up for it.
Because of all this hugeness, the sheer volume of food that passes through a Jersey Diner in a day is probably an embarrassment. A tasty embarrassment, though.
It isn't the hugeness that makes it a Jersey Diner; it's the atmosphere, the hours (open very late or all night), the combined cheapness and lavishness, the counter and the chrome, the neon sign, the rotating pie case, and the industrial-grade but never-ending coffee. It's the truck drivers, the kids, the after-the-bars-close crowd, the wait staff that's been there for years and years and at least ten hours so far today. It's the local carnival flyers taped to the window, the peeling Formica on the tables, the bowl of mints by the cash register that your friend won't eat from because everyone in town has put their hands in there.
Don't even suggest a Denny's, a Friendly's or some other chain-restaurant approximation; nothing but a Jersey Diner is a Jersey Diner.
Today I took the kids for brunch; something to do on a lazy hot summer day. We got there and were seated rather quickly. We got our orange juice (squeezed fresh at this particular diner) and my bottomless cup of mediocre coffee, then ordered a vast amount of food. Pancakes, French toast, sausage, eggs benedict, hash browns. There must have been a pint of blueberries in the pancakes. The potatoes probably had been on the grill since about 6AM and were all crisp and starch. The Canadian bacon was very juicy and moist, because it was really ham. They forgot the English muffin- yes, on an eggs benedict someone forgot the English muffin part- but they brought it right away.
Man, it was good. We ate until our stomachs hurt, then wrapped up the extras to take home. Like I said, huge portions. For the next three days we'll have to eat very small portions of low-fat, low-salt vegan food just to make up for it, but it was worth it.
Next time you need a cool diversion and an oversized grease-based meal, head on out to a Jersey Diner and experience one of New Jersey's Treasures.
NJ Treasure #5
NJ Treasure #4
NJ Treasure #3
NJ Treasure #2
NJ Treasure #1
Today's installment features the Jersey Diner. Now, if you're reading this and not from Our Fair State, let me explain- you ain't never seen a diner like we have 'em here. They're huge. The capacity is huge, and it's packed full- even at quarter to eleven on a midsummer weekday, or quarter to one on a weekend morning. The menu is huge- often eight or more pages, usually covered in plastic- and the choice is unbelievable. The portions are huge, enough to feed a family of four on each plate. The coffee is usually bad, but the cup is bottomless (huge!) so it kind of makes up for it.
Because of all this hugeness, the sheer volume of food that passes through a Jersey Diner in a day is probably an embarrassment. A tasty embarrassment, though.
It isn't the hugeness that makes it a Jersey Diner; it's the atmosphere, the hours (open very late or all night), the combined cheapness and lavishness, the counter and the chrome, the neon sign, the rotating pie case, and the industrial-grade but never-ending coffee. It's the truck drivers, the kids, the after-the-bars-close crowd, the wait staff that's been there for years and years and at least ten hours so far today. It's the local carnival flyers taped to the window, the peeling Formica on the tables, the bowl of mints by the cash register that your friend won't eat from because everyone in town has put their hands in there.
Don't even suggest a Denny's, a Friendly's or some other chain-restaurant approximation; nothing but a Jersey Diner is a Jersey Diner.
Today I took the kids for brunch; something to do on a lazy hot summer day. We got there and were seated rather quickly. We got our orange juice (squeezed fresh at this particular diner) and my bottomless cup of mediocre coffee, then ordered a vast amount of food. Pancakes, French toast, sausage, eggs benedict, hash browns. There must have been a pint of blueberries in the pancakes. The potatoes probably had been on the grill since about 6AM and were all crisp and starch. The Canadian bacon was very juicy and moist, because it was really ham. They forgot the English muffin- yes, on an eggs benedict someone forgot the English muffin part- but they brought it right away.
Man, it was good. We ate until our stomachs hurt, then wrapped up the extras to take home. Like I said, huge portions. For the next three days we'll have to eat very small portions of low-fat, low-salt vegan food just to make up for it, but it was worth it.
Next time you need a cool diversion and an oversized grease-based meal, head on out to a Jersey Diner and experience one of New Jersey's Treasures.
NJ Treasure #5
NJ Treasure #4
NJ Treasure #3
NJ Treasure #2
NJ Treasure #1
Conserve energy!
PSE&G Asks Consumers to Conserve Energy During Heat Wave.
You already know all this, and should be doing it anyway. But since it's supposed to reach 100 today in parts of Our Fair State, it's good to have a reminder.
PSE&G is providing the following conservation tips:
* Turn off everything you're not using; lights, TVs, computers, etc. Use dimmers, timers and motion detectors on indoor and outdoor lighting.
* Close blinds, shades and draperies facing the sun to keep the sun's heat out and help fans and air conditioners cool more efficiently.
* Close doors leading to uncooled parts of your home. With central air, close off vents to unused rooms.
* Delay heat-producing tasks such as washing and drying laundry or dishes until later in the day, and wait until load is full.
* Refrain from using nonessential appliances. Unplug or use only when necessary an
extra refrigerator in your garage.
You already know all this, and should be doing it anyway. But since it's supposed to reach 100 today in parts of Our Fair State, it's good to have a reminder.
Friday, July 14, 2006
New Quinnipiac Poll- State Shutdown edition
Quinnipiac released their newest NJ poll today, showing that the state shutdown didn't hurt Corzine. His approval rating is at 44%, which beats last month, and is in fact the highest he's been in the Q. polls. His disapprove rating is at 43%, which is also his highest but not statistically significantly so. At least, we're choosing sides- this is the lowest the Don't Knows have registered- 13%. We also approve of how he's handling the budget- 47% approve, also highest so far.
All this, and we're mad at the Legislature. 71% Disaprove- highest (lowest?) there this year. We didn't really like the shutdown, 45-51%, but we approve of the sales tax hike compromise deal, 58%. But we wouldn't vote against our local legislator because s/he voted for the sales tax hike, 69-23%.
These numbers show the cynicism that we've come to know and love in Our Fair State:
Well, at least we haven't lost our realism.
Corzine took a gamble by shutting down the state, but it looks like it paid off politically. The plan is for it all to pay off financially by making a difference in our ridiculous out-of-control way of budgeting here in NJ.
One more cool thing- Businesses are happy with the new budget. Important news for a state that just pissed the casino industry off a little bit.
All this, and we're mad at the Legislature. 71% Disaprove- highest (lowest?) there this year. We didn't really like the shutdown, 45-51%, but we approve of the sales tax hike compromise deal, 58%. But we wouldn't vote against our local legislator because s/he voted for the sales tax hike, 69-23%.
These numbers show the cynicism that we've come to know and love in Our Fair State:
- Will Corzine reduce property taxes? 64% say no, a little fewer than a month ago.
- Was this a first step in property tax reform or a token political effort? 59% say tolken effort.
Well, at least we haven't lost our realism.
Corzine took a gamble by shutting down the state, but it looks like it paid off politically. The plan is for it all to pay off financially by making a difference in our ridiculous out-of-control way of budgeting here in NJ.
One more cool thing- Businesses are happy with the new budget. Important news for a state that just pissed the casino industry off a little bit.
Thursday, July 13, 2006
Putting the "South" in South Jersey
A Confederacy of Dunces, by Rich at fourfour.
In high school, my marching band used to perform in a parade in Wildwood every year, so I was there more than most other shore towns. For years I didn't go down the shore, because it was dirty, cheap and horrid- at least, that was my impression, based on the Wildwood experience. It was not until I spent some time in Seaside Heights and LBI that I had to recant my earlier position, realizing that the shore has some really nice areas and can be fun.
I'm going down the shore in a few weeks- to a slightly more upscale town than Wildwood- and I sure hope to find less of this garbage than Rich did. You expect some nasty crap in the cheap t-shirt joints (last year's winner for most tasteless tee: "Future MILF" on a little girl's shirt) but maybe we'll see less of it on the people.
Ah, who am I kidding. Probably we'll see just as much of it. People all over like to cherry-pick. They'll insist it's a rebel symbol and ignore the racism aspect because they avoid cognative dissonance that way.
Yeah, good luck with that. Ask your black friends how they think it looks.
In high school, my marching band used to perform in a parade in Wildwood every year, so I was there more than most other shore towns. For years I didn't go down the shore, because it was dirty, cheap and horrid- at least, that was my impression, based on the Wildwood experience. It was not until I spent some time in Seaside Heights and LBI that I had to recant my earlier position, realizing that the shore has some really nice areas and can be fun.
I'm going down the shore in a few weeks- to a slightly more upscale town than Wildwood- and I sure hope to find less of this garbage than Rich did. You expect some nasty crap in the cheap t-shirt joints (last year's winner for most tasteless tee: "Future MILF" on a little girl's shirt) but maybe we'll see less of it on the people.
Ah, who am I kidding. Probably we'll see just as much of it. People all over like to cherry-pick. They'll insist it's a rebel symbol and ignore the racism aspect because they avoid cognative dissonance that way.
Yeah, good luck with that. Ask your black friends how they think it looks.
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
Yay for the Meadowlands!
We all know that the Bush Administration refuses to protect the environment by signing on to the Kyoto Protocol. So, here in Northern New Jersey, an unlikely group has taken it upon themselves to join up: The Meadowlands Commission.
The Meadowlands Commission already earned environmental respect in April when they announced that they were planning a massive solar array. This is one more step in the right direction.
The New Jersey Meadowlands Commission announced Monday that it will adhere to the Kyoto Protocol, reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the Meadowlands District to 7 percent below 1990 levels by 2012.Woo-hoo!!
"By supporting the Kyoto Protocol, we are holding ourselves to an international standard of environmental protection," said Susan Bass Levin, chairwoman of the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission and New Jersey Department of Community Affairs commissioner, in a press release.
...
The Bush administration has staunchly resisted adopting the Kyoto Protocol. Even so, more than 250 cities and towns nationwide -- including Kearny in the Meadowlands District -- have given their own endorsement, and New Jersey has joined a regional consortium of seven Northeastern-Mid-Atlantic states and several Canadian provinces to abide by Kyoto treaty reduction levels by reducing power plant emissions.
The Meadowlands Commission said that it would enforce the treaty by adopting land-use policies that will reduce sprawl and encourage green building; promoting alternate means of transportation including car pooling and public transportation; preserving open space and wetlands; establishing a renewable energy district, and converting landfill gas into energy.
The Meadowlands Commission already earned environmental respect in April when they announced that they were planning a massive solar array. This is one more step in the right direction.
Saturday, July 08, 2006
We have a budget
and are re-opening for business. Corzine signed the exec order at 6AM this morning to end the shutdown. Casinos were open by 7AM; lottery ticket sales re-start this morning; state parks should open tomorrow; Motor Vehicle agencies open on Monday.
njdem has a fine wrap-up of the end of the process over at BlueJersey (where this weekend's Op-Ed is from the ACLU-NJ.) I have to give njdem credit- I tried to watch the Assembly procedings last night, but after a full work/parenting day sitting down to listen to so much talk about the Urban Enterprize Zone purchasing, tobacco product taxing, budget bull procedures and the like, I had a hard time keeping my focus. Give your legislators credit, folks- hammering out a budget is a very difficult process, with each little detail important to some group of constituents, and they have to keep it all straight.
Somewhat aside, I thought this was cool: from PoliticsNJ:
Good for you.
njdem has a fine wrap-up of the end of the process over at BlueJersey (where this weekend's Op-Ed is from the ACLU-NJ.) I have to give njdem credit- I tried to watch the Assembly procedings last night, but after a full work/parenting day sitting down to listen to so much talk about the Urban Enterprize Zone purchasing, tobacco product taxing, budget bull procedures and the like, I had a hard time keeping my focus. Give your legislators credit, folks- hammering out a budget is a very difficult process, with each little detail important to some group of constituents, and they have to keep it all straight.
Somewhat aside, I thought this was cool: from PoliticsNJ:
Respectfully, PoliticsNJ.com declines to post spin on the budget deal, and refers you to our PRESS RELEASE page. Watch for our Special Budget '06 Winners & Losers once this website figures it all out. (07/06/06)
Good for you.
Thursday, July 06, 2006
So they compromised...
.. and the state might re-open on Friday or Saturday.
I have an out-of-the-gate opinion on this compromise, but I'll reserve it until we've seen the actual package of laws. Wording is essential, and the devil is always hiding in the details, so it makes sense to read what we're truly getting before we begin bitching about it.
Having no facts doesn't usually stop most people from complaining, but it should, and tonight it will stop me.
I have an out-of-the-gate opinion on this compromise, but I'll reserve it until we've seen the actual package of laws. Wording is essential, and the devil is always hiding in the details, so it makes sense to read what we're truly getting before we begin bitching about it.
Having no facts doesn't usually stop most people from complaining, but it should, and tonight it will stop me.
Calls for Blood!
An unexpected side effect of the state government shutdown- donations of blood plummeted.
Give Life; Give Blood. Here is a list of blood drives by county, or visit the Red Cross and enter your zip code to find a local collection center.
The state government shutdown of all inessential state services has put a squeeze on local blood supplies, causing the Community Blood Council of New Jersey to make urgent requests for blood donations, according to blood council officials.
Local agencies rely heavily on state workers for donations, especially during the summer months, said Sue Robbins, Community Blood Council spokeswoman.
A blood drive at the Department of Corrections for today has been canceled, which the council was depending on for 20 percent to 25 percent of its supplies this week, Robbins said. The council is also counting on drives at the Department of Transportation next week and at the Department of Motor Vehicles the week of July 16. Robbins estimates those drives would also have accounted for 20 to 25 percent of weekly supplies.
"The situation is quite grave, as this could put the blood supply for our area hospitals in jeopardy. We are begging our area civic organizations, churches and synagogues to pick up the slack," according to Robbins, who said blood type O positive is most in demand right now.
She said state workers typically understand the needs in the state and that the workers are needed even more in the summer months, with schools being closed and employees at many businesses on vacation.
"We have about a day and half worth of supplies right now. If gas stations said they only had one and a half days of gas left, there would be an uproar," Robbins said.
Give Life; Give Blood. Here is a list of blood drives by county, or visit the Red Cross and enter your zip code to find a local collection center.
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
Too Little, Too Late
In Monday's mail I recieved a letter (dated June 20) from Sen. Robert Menendez:
"Thank you for contacting me to express your support for a censure of President George W. Bush. I appreciate hearing your views and the opportunity to respond to you on this important matter. ..."
I appreciate your response, Senator; but I wish it had been more prompt, since I wrote to you about this in March, when Feingold's resolution was on the table.
For the record- Menendez doesn't think we have enough info for censure.
"Thank you for contacting me to express your support for a censure of President George W. Bush. I appreciate hearing your views and the opportunity to respond to you on this important matter. ..."
I appreciate your response, Senator; but I wish it had been more prompt, since I wrote to you about this in March, when Feingold's resolution was on the table.
For the record- Menendez doesn't think we have enough info for censure.
Tuesday, July 04, 2006
Happy Independence Day
It's wicked hot outside.
I just spent two hours outside, weeding my garden (I live in New Jersey, I have a yard, I grow tomatoes. It's a tradition; It might even be a law.) I also did some other random garden work, including cutting back the mums for the last time of the season- this action took me into the front yard.
In the front yard I was approached by a man who rode by on his bicycle. He asked me if I had any work for him; he said he could weed the garden, trim the bushes, anything I needed. He was extremely polite. Unfortunately, I had to decline; I had just finished what I planned to get done today.
Here's the thing; I know this man. He comes into where I work occasionally. I don't think he recognized me- I was sweaty and filthy from working in the yard, and I certainly didn't have on nice work clothes. He's always extremely polite. He practices his English with us and we try to speak back in Spanish. I've seen him in a t-shirt from a local lawn company, so I know he has some yard work experience. I wonder if he has kids, or someone else he supports.
He's not looking for a handout.
He's riding around a small Central Jersey town on a bicycle, on this wicked hot and humid holiday, looking to earn a living.
Happy Independence Day.
I just spent two hours outside, weeding my garden (I live in New Jersey, I have a yard, I grow tomatoes. It's a tradition; It might even be a law.) I also did some other random garden work, including cutting back the mums for the last time of the season- this action took me into the front yard.
In the front yard I was approached by a man who rode by on his bicycle. He asked me if I had any work for him; he said he could weed the garden, trim the bushes, anything I needed. He was extremely polite. Unfortunately, I had to decline; I had just finished what I planned to get done today.
Here's the thing; I know this man. He comes into where I work occasionally. I don't think he recognized me- I was sweaty and filthy from working in the yard, and I certainly didn't have on nice work clothes. He's always extremely polite. He practices his English with us and we try to speak back in Spanish. I've seen him in a t-shirt from a local lawn company, so I know he has some yard work experience. I wonder if he has kids, or someone else he supports.
He's not looking for a handout.
He's riding around a small Central Jersey town on a bicycle, on this wicked hot and humid holiday, looking to earn a living.
Happy Independence Day.
Special Session
NJN is running coverage of the Legislative session today; you can watch live streaming video on their web site. Also, BlueJersey is running a open thread for discussion.
Sunday, July 02, 2006
Good to be home
Got home rather late last night. Drove over the George Washington Bridge, got on the Turnpike, and was greeted by a sign proudly declaring that all public monuments and state parks will be closed as of July 5th.
I leave for one week, and the state completely shuts down? Guess Gov. Corzine decided to show some spine with his budget. I've gotta catch up on the news...
I leave for one week, and the state completely shuts down? Guess Gov. Corzine decided to show some spine with his budget. I've gotta catch up on the news...
Saturday, July 01, 2006
ANY friend of the devil?
I love music. But I've never really gotten into the Grateful Dead.
Some Deadheads may not be able to reconcile those two statements, and maybe they're right. It's very possibly true that I've just never heard the tracks that would would illuminate the magic for me. But since I keep finding new (or new-to-me) artists I do like, I haven't felt the need to explore further. (If any Deadheads want to suggest a track or two to convert a non-believer, feel free. "Casey Jones" advocates need not apply... if anything, I'm more an "Uncle John's Band" kinda guy.)
Part of my antipathy is very likely due to the fact that the Dead's late-80's resurgence came along just as I was starting college, and a lot of the "fans" who picked up on them then very vocally regarded the shows as an excuse to get wasted with lots of temporary best friends and a professional light show, rather than anything remotely musical. This is not something I held against the band -- I don't think they were consciously projecting this image at the time -- but it did reinforce a stereotype in my mind. (And yes, I realize that a lot of fans -- not to mention the band themselves -- were and are genuinely socially progressive.)
So anyway, when Jerry died in August '95, a lot of people were really upset and moved. Other sentiments were slightly less, ah, sentimental:
"It was very sad after Jerry died, not because I felt like I had a psychic connection to him or anything, but only because something really fun I liked to do, I couldn't do anymore. It would be as if all ski resorts just shut down one day."
So says Ann Coulter, who is of course famously averse to public grieving, so maybe it doesn't give a full sense of how the man's death affected her. (If only the 9/11 widows could show such restraint!) For more on her love of the band, help yourself to www.jambands.com/Features/content_2006_06_23.06.phtml
Another touching passage:
"The one time I missed not being able to go to Dead shows more than any other since Jerry died was during the Clinton impeachment. There was so much viciousness - killed cats, punctured tires, threats, investigations and slander against those of us favoring impeachment. (Anthony Pellicano, you'll recall – the Hollywood private investigator now accused of criminal conspiracy, attempted murder, and making criminal threats – was working for the Clintons during the Monica Lewinsky investigation.) I don't really care what people say about me – I'm a Christian so there's nothing anyone can ever do to me – but I kept thinking: “Boy, would I like to go to a Dead show and dance with happy, friendly deadheads for just one night!”
I wish you could too, Ann. If only. I'm sure Jerry wishes he had the opportunity to play for you again; he might even serenade you in front of the whole crowd.
Some Deadheads may not be able to reconcile those two statements, and maybe they're right. It's very possibly true that I've just never heard the tracks that would would illuminate the magic for me. But since I keep finding new (or new-to-me) artists I do like, I haven't felt the need to explore further. (If any Deadheads want to suggest a track or two to convert a non-believer, feel free. "Casey Jones" advocates need not apply... if anything, I'm more an "Uncle John's Band" kinda guy.)
Part of my antipathy is very likely due to the fact that the Dead's late-80's resurgence came along just as I was starting college, and a lot of the "fans" who picked up on them then very vocally regarded the shows as an excuse to get wasted with lots of temporary best friends and a professional light show, rather than anything remotely musical. This is not something I held against the band -- I don't think they were consciously projecting this image at the time -- but it did reinforce a stereotype in my mind. (And yes, I realize that a lot of fans -- not to mention the band themselves -- were and are genuinely socially progressive.)
So anyway, when Jerry died in August '95, a lot of people were really upset and moved. Other sentiments were slightly less, ah, sentimental:
"It was very sad after Jerry died, not because I felt like I had a psychic connection to him or anything, but only because something really fun I liked to do, I couldn't do anymore. It would be as if all ski resorts just shut down one day."
So says Ann Coulter, who is of course famously averse to public grieving, so maybe it doesn't give a full sense of how the man's death affected her. (If only the 9/11 widows could show such restraint!) For more on her love of the band, help yourself to www.jambands.com/Features/content_2006_06_23.06.phtml
Another touching passage:
"The one time I missed not being able to go to Dead shows more than any other since Jerry died was during the Clinton impeachment. There was so much viciousness - killed cats, punctured tires, threats, investigations and slander against those of us favoring impeachment. (Anthony Pellicano, you'll recall – the Hollywood private investigator now accused of criminal conspiracy, attempted murder, and making criminal threats – was working for the Clintons during the Monica Lewinsky investigation.) I don't really care what people say about me – I'm a Christian so there's nothing anyone can ever do to me – but I kept thinking: “Boy, would I like to go to a Dead show and dance with happy, friendly deadheads for just one night!”
I wish you could too, Ann. If only. I'm sure Jerry wishes he had the opportunity to play for you again; he might even serenade you in front of the whole crowd.
Friday, June 30, 2006
There they are now... entertain them!
Djangos.com, the CD/DVD store, is running a promotion called Music for the Military to collect entertainment for the troops. You can find out more info at: www.djangomusic.com/musicmilitary.asp
So I'm thinking about this worthy idea... what would be a good selection for those who serve? I wouldn't want to make people too homesick or depressed (or send them stuff that's "topical", since they've learned more about the topics than any musician), but I'm also reluctant to send stuff that's too mindlessly party-hearty to folks who can't really cut loose. So I guess I'm looking for the middle ground between American Idiot and Saturday Night Fever.
I'm leaning toward Bob Marley and Marvin Gaye. What would you send to provide a little moral support?
So I'm thinking about this worthy idea... what would be a good selection for those who serve? I wouldn't want to make people too homesick or depressed (or send them stuff that's "topical", since they've learned more about the topics than any musician), but I'm also reluctant to send stuff that's too mindlessly party-hearty to folks who can't really cut loose. So I guess I'm looking for the middle ground between American Idiot and Saturday Night Fever.
I'm leaning toward Bob Marley and Marvin Gaye. What would you send to provide a little moral support?
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
Meringue Sky
No, it's not a sequel to that Tom Cruise movie... but it may make you think of War of the Worlds. See what had a lot of Cedar Rapids residents taking pictures on Tuesday; it's worth a minute to click on "Viewers Pictures of Clouds" to get some better views.
www.kcrg.com/news/local/3200226.html
www.kcrg.com/news/local/3200226.html
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
Beetlemania returns to England! (OK, Wales.)
Not bigger than Jesus, but pretty darn big.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=392772&in_page_id=1770
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=392772&in_page_id=1770
Sunday, June 25, 2006
Science Sunday: Robots on the March
Ever since Battlebots went off the air, it seems that our mechanical counterparts have reached some kind of peace accord amongst themselves. (If the word "Skynet" just occurred to you, award yourself 10 geek points.) So the search for new adversaries is on...
Assessing threat # 1 -- Cockroaches:
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/world/story/0,,1805332,00.html
Predicted outcome: a lot of crushed decoys.
Assessing threat # 2 -- Hooligans:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,200780,00.html
Predicted outcome: a revolution in the way we riot at soccer games. And Short Circuit 3 finally gets made; think Air Bud, but with a soccer-playing robot.
Assessing threat # 3 -- Human needs
The Sunday Times article you reach upon clicking "Read whole story" is thought-provoking, but The Huffington Post knows a dynamite pull-quote when they see one...)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2006/06/19/people-are-going-to-be-h_n_23356.html
Predicted outcome (regarding the Huffington Post's angle on the story):
Professions in decline -- sex workers.
Professions on the rise -- maintaining sex machines.
Winners -- attractive celebrities who sell their likeness rights, whoever's holding James Brown's copyrights.
Losers -- product testers.
To be determined -- screenwriters who are no longer able to use robots as villains... although the writers will finally have girlfriends.
Assessing threat # 1 -- Cockroaches:
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/world/story/0,,1805332,00.html
Predicted outcome: a lot of crushed decoys.
Assessing threat # 2 -- Hooligans:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,200780,00.html
Predicted outcome: a revolution in the way we riot at soccer games. And Short Circuit 3 finally gets made; think Air Bud, but with a soccer-playing robot.
Assessing threat # 3 -- Human needs
The Sunday Times article you reach upon clicking "Read whole story" is thought-provoking, but The Huffington Post knows a dynamite pull-quote when they see one...)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2006/06/19/people-are-going-to-be-h_n_23356.html
Predicted outcome (regarding the Huffington Post's angle on the story):
Professions in decline -- sex workers.
Professions on the rise -- maintaining sex machines.
Winners -- attractive celebrities who sell their likeness rights, whoever's holding James Brown's copyrights.
Losers -- product testers.
To be determined -- screenwriters who are no longer able to use robots as villains... although the writers will finally have girlfriends.
Science Sunday: Evolution is Obsolete
So say the New York Dolls, the original glam/punk/NY-hipster band. Back in the 70's, they were credited with launching the downtown scene that gave rise to the Ramones, Blondie, Television, the Talking Heads, and countless others, but never got the same exposure to later generations. Have any musicians ever had a more imbalanced written-about/actually-heard ratio?
Anyway, the remains of the band have reunited after 27 years (!), including lead singer David Johansen (although he'll always be Buster Poindexter to many of us). They've got a new album coming out in July called One Day It Will Please Us to Remember Even This.
The first single is a contribution to the ongoing intelligent design debate, the aptly named "Dance Like a Monkey." Regardless of your views, it is statistically likely that hearing it will in fact cause you to dance like a monkey... and play it again in the name of further research.
www.roadrunnerrecords.com/shared/downloads/NewYorkDolls/NewYorkDolls-DanceLikeAMonkey.mp3
Anyway, the remains of the band have reunited after 27 years (!), including lead singer David Johansen (although he'll always be Buster Poindexter to many of us). They've got a new album coming out in July called One Day It Will Please Us to Remember Even This.
The first single is a contribution to the ongoing intelligent design debate, the aptly named "Dance Like a Monkey." Regardless of your views, it is statistically likely that hearing it will in fact cause you to dance like a monkey... and play it again in the name of further research.
www.roadrunnerrecords.com/shared/downloads/NewYorkDolls/NewYorkDolls-DanceLikeAMonkey.mp3
Science Sunday: Amusements of Tomorrow
At last, you can create Laser Floyd in the privacy of your own bachelor pad/dorm room/crack house... light-refracting gas not included. (Or you could re-create the "Rock With You" video. Ah, for the innocence of simpler times.)
http://www.techeblog.com/index.php/tech-gadget/video-ipod-controlled-laser-system
http://www.techeblog.com/index.php/tech-gadget/video-ipod-controlled-laser-system
Science Sunday: Debunking Legends of Yesteryear
First the guy who wore the Bigfoot costume in that famous bit of film footage, then Deep Throat, now the Clearwater Monster. Could the Jersey Devil be next?
http://www.sptimes.com/2006/06/24/Floridian/Man__not_beast.shtml
http://www.sptimes.com/2006/06/24/Floridian/Man__not_beast.shtml
Science Sunday: It's Gettin' Hot in Here
I finally got to see An Inconvenient Truth yesterday; rather than run down the points made by pretty much every review I've seen (including the Roger Ebert review which Sharon mentioned several days back), I'll echo the general thrust. You need to see this movie. It's not a political tract; it's more like the first 20 minutes of a disaster movie, setting the stage for bad things to happen and sounding an alarm. Then you walk out of the theater, and you can act on the information or not.
Of course, if you're still debating the urgency of this issue, you may want to check out today's L.A. Times article, which suggests one of the main worries outlined in the movie may be getting worse even more quickly than expected. http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/la-sci-greenland25jun25,1,1483560.story
Or if you're thinking strictly in material terms -- Let the free market handle it! It takes care of everything else! -- you may be interested in the analysis produced by the tree-hugging radicals at Lloyd's of London. http://www.lloyds.com/News_Centre/360_risk_project/360_risk_project.htm
I believe in hearing out the devil's advocate, so I tried to find arguments against the ideas outlined in the film and these stories; about the closest thing I could find is this piece outlining the case made by Michael Crichton in his latest who's-watching-the-scientists novel, State of Fear. (While I haven't read the novel, I've read several other Crichtons; based on this, I may have to go back to his earlier works with even bigger grains of salt.) http://www.realclimate.org/index.php?p=74
If you're aware of a real case to be made against global warming, I invite you to share the info with all of us here. (And no, animated Al Gore shouting "Manbearpig!" doesn't count.)
Of course, if you're still debating the urgency of this issue, you may want to check out today's L.A. Times article, which suggests one of the main worries outlined in the movie may be getting worse even more quickly than expected. http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/la-sci-greenland25jun25,1,1483560.story
Or if you're thinking strictly in material terms -- Let the free market handle it! It takes care of everything else! -- you may be interested in the analysis produced by the tree-hugging radicals at Lloyd's of London. http://www.lloyds.com/News_Centre/360_risk_project/360_risk_project.htm
I believe in hearing out the devil's advocate, so I tried to find arguments against the ideas outlined in the film and these stories; about the closest thing I could find is this piece outlining the case made by Michael Crichton in his latest who's-watching-the-scientists novel, State of Fear. (While I haven't read the novel, I've read several other Crichtons; based on this, I may have to go back to his earlier works with even bigger grains of salt.) http://www.realclimate.org/index.php?p=74
If you're aware of a real case to be made against global warming, I invite you to share the info with all of us here. (And no, animated Al Gore shouting "Manbearpig!" doesn't count.)
Thursday, June 22, 2006
Why I love where I live, part 2
Part 1 was because of all the immigrant groups in our area, raising our families and living in harmony. Part 2 is because we don't live here.
The local Mercer County Library branch not only has a large Spanish section for fiction and non-fiction, youth and adult, it has an English as a Second Language and a Spanish language class. The county library system has a large international language collection, including Chinese and Indian periodicals. Not only is this wonderful for persons who come here speaking another lauguage, it's great for those trying to learn a foreign language! There are a bundle of DVDs in other languages, too, and I've seen a large quantity of materials to check out for persons who want to learn English.
If a few folks complained about there being monies spent on foreign-language materials, I haven't heard of it. I sure doubt the County would let it happen.
We embrace our diversity here in the Center of NJ. I love where I live.
In a suburban county where one out of six residents is Hispanic, the library board has axed money budgeted to buy more "adult Spanish fiction" _ books like the latest John Grisham thriller in Spanish or Marcela Serrano novel in its original language.
Spending the $3,000 that had been earmarked for those Spanish reading materials next year would have only led to readers of other foreign languages to request the same treatment, the board's chairman argued. However, one board member says the move came after some residents objected to using taxpayers' dollars for patrons who might be illegal immigrants.
...
The library board in the metro Atlanta county is also considering making English the default language in the self check-out screens, eliminating a prompt that now asks to choose between English and Spanish. Like the budget cut, the initiative for such a move seems to have come from some patrons.
Earlier this year, a couple of months after the library started buying novels in Spanish, the board received an e-mail from a woman identifying herself as a Gwinnett County resident who said she didn't want any more purchases "of pleasure reading materials in any language other than English."
The local Mercer County Library branch not only has a large Spanish section for fiction and non-fiction, youth and adult, it has an English as a Second Language and a Spanish language class. The county library system has a large international language collection, including Chinese and Indian periodicals. Not only is this wonderful for persons who come here speaking another lauguage, it's great for those trying to learn a foreign language! There are a bundle of DVDs in other languages, too, and I've seen a large quantity of materials to check out for persons who want to learn English.
If a few folks complained about there being monies spent on foreign-language materials, I haven't heard of it. I sure doubt the County would let it happen.
We embrace our diversity here in the Center of NJ. I love where I live.
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
Why I love where I live
Saturday, I went to a performance. The family in the row in front of us was Chinese, the family in the row behind us was Indian. That night, we got Mexican takeout from a place where they answer the phone in Spanish, and we're usually the only Anglos in the place when we pick up our dinner.
And here we all are, living in the Center of NJ.
The Great American Melting Pot. I love where I live.
And here we all are, living in the Center of NJ.
The Great American Melting Pot. I love where I live.
Ten Days Left
I must point out this excellent editorial at the Trenton Times supporting Gov. Corzine's long-term fixes but questioning his words to the unions earlier this week, as well as discussing the motivations of the legislators:
In a discussion about whether or not to pare down state workers' benefits, it's often brought up that private sector workers don't get anything near the benefits of private sector employees. State workers sometimes comment that the ideal would be to raise private sector benefits, not lower state workers'.
They're right. However, in an ideal situation, I would've had a pony when I was growing up. Of course I didn't, because I lived in a family on a budget. New Jersey is a family on a budget- or has to begin living like one. We can no longer afford extrordinary benefit packages like the state workers have been recieving for years.
Corzine did say something very accurate at the Trenton union rally; he said that the budget negotiations were not the place to re-negotiate union contracts. We may not even be able to rework them, for established workers anyway. No matter what, we do need to revisit this issue in the future. We simply can't afford all these ponies.
So, I've written my legislators to tell them my opinon on the budget. I've yet to hear back from any of them as to what they plan to do or vote for in these budget negotiations (which bothers me, since they usually respond rather quickly, but I digress.) Everyone in Trenton is doing what they feel like they have to do- some arguing to look good for reelection, some arguing based on polls, some fighting for the most responsible budget proposed in years.
Maybe Corzine will hold tough and the government will shut down. Maybe the Dems in the legislature will stand up for what needs to be done and we'll get a new budget short on one-time gimmicks and long on responsible cuts and revenue increasers. Maybe free ponies will come from the sky.
More likely, the budget proposal will get hacked to bits by politicians who focus more on polls and re-election than the long term financial health of Our Fair State.
I've said it before and I'll say it again- write your legislators and tell them how you feel, what's important to you in this process and ask them to tell you what they will do about it. They've only got ten more days of budget fighting.
(Cross-posted at bluejersey.net)
Also driving their angst is the re-appearance of the "T" word. It's been dusted off, by people who should know better, to be used against anyone who dares vote for a tax increase, even if it means correcting years of bad fiscal policy and rescuing state government from draconian cuts in services. The truth of the matter is that New Jersey got to this crisis in a bipartisan way. Governors from both parties have tapped pension funds as a way to balance budgets or have increased the state's bond debt rather than pay as they go for programs deemed too important to cut. And legislators, for their part, have been more than accommodating to the powerful public workers' unions, pumping up retirement benefits without contributing enough to the pension fund to pay for the largess later on.
In a discussion about whether or not to pare down state workers' benefits, it's often brought up that private sector workers don't get anything near the benefits of private sector employees. State workers sometimes comment that the ideal would be to raise private sector benefits, not lower state workers'.
They're right. However, in an ideal situation, I would've had a pony when I was growing up. Of course I didn't, because I lived in a family on a budget. New Jersey is a family on a budget- or has to begin living like one. We can no longer afford extrordinary benefit packages like the state workers have been recieving for years.
Corzine did say something very accurate at the Trenton union rally; he said that the budget negotiations were not the place to re-negotiate union contracts. We may not even be able to rework them, for established workers anyway. No matter what, we do need to revisit this issue in the future. We simply can't afford all these ponies.
So, I've written my legislators to tell them my opinon on the budget. I've yet to hear back from any of them as to what they plan to do or vote for in these budget negotiations (which bothers me, since they usually respond rather quickly, but I digress.) Everyone in Trenton is doing what they feel like they have to do- some arguing to look good for reelection, some arguing based on polls, some fighting for the most responsible budget proposed in years.
Maybe Corzine will hold tough and the government will shut down. Maybe the Dems in the legislature will stand up for what needs to be done and we'll get a new budget short on one-time gimmicks and long on responsible cuts and revenue increasers. Maybe free ponies will come from the sky.
More likely, the budget proposal will get hacked to bits by politicians who focus more on polls and re-election than the long term financial health of Our Fair State.
I've said it before and I'll say it again- write your legislators and tell them how you feel, what's important to you in this process and ask them to tell you what they will do about it. They've only got ten more days of budget fighting.
(Cross-posted at bluejersey.net)
"Like that elevator..."
If you haven't seen this, it's worth the visit. Tom Kean JUNIOR tries to avoid reporters after a meeting of the New Jersey Association of Counties by grabbing an elevator- then again, by hopping off, on the same floor.
Anything to avoid answering questions.
Anything to avoid answering questions.
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