New Jersey has a statewide gubernatorial and legislative election coming up a few days after Halloween. All three major candidates are making desperate efforts to keep their masks from slipping. Current polls show a tight race between the major party candidates, with the third party nominee cast in the (usually typical) role of a spoiler who pulls votes from the mainstream nominees. In this case, many of these votes will likely be coming from Republican Chris Christie's tally.
Democratic incumbent Gov. Jon Corzine, famous in recent years for almost dying after a severe 90+ m.p.h. car crash because he doesn't like seat belts, and refusing to release e-mails or related missives regarding his sexual relationship and possible financial favors for powerful (now former) Communications Workers of America union boss Carla Katz (at least Corzine's not pulling a McGreevey).
Corzine is also spending umpteen millions of his own hard-earned Wall Street (or just as likely easily un-earned, from what we now know these days about the illegal, unethical, and immoral financial plundering by these formers masters of the universe) cash on his down and dirty campaign ads.
The fundamental tv advertising charges (unspoken but unmistakable) againt his challenger, , a former U.S. Attorney Chris Christie and mainstream GOP politico, who has been a dogged and too often lone pursuer of corruption here in the Soprano state, is that he is way too fond of food (i.e., too fat to serve). How's that for rarefied, reasoned, and rational political dialogue in the first decade of the 21st century?
Complicating the outcome is a third party alternate choice, Chris Daggett, who is guaranteed to toss a monkey wrench into what is now an unpredictable three way race. For example, note the massive electoral mess caused in 2008 by the trio running for the Minnesota U.S. Senate seat that was formerly held by deceased DFL Sen. Paul Wellstone. Sit tight, all should be revealed the day after the election.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Dylan Daze
For some reason there's been a lot of Bob Dylan around in the past week. One reason is that I completed reading Suze Rotolo's book, Freewheelin' Time: A Memoir of Greenwich Village in the Sixties. Another is the release of Dylan's first Christmas album, Christmas in the Heart, which of course has generated a wildly varying mix of reviews.
Rotolo's memoir did paint an effective portrait of the folk scene from 1961 to 1964 and offered insights into Dylan's work habits, drive to succeed, and how in three years he transformed himself from a Woody Guthrie copycat into a uniquely American songwriter and singer who combined the socially conscious lyrics of folk and blues with rock-n-roll beats.
However, she offers little original information outside of a few quotes from his letters to her and notes from her own diary. If you're looking for hot dish or deep dirt, you're going to have to look elsewhere.
Meanwhile, I'm still listening frequently to Together Through Life, which was released in April 2009. Here's a review by Rolling Stone magazine writer David Fricke.
If you're interested in keeping up with Bob and his doings, you should visit and bookmark Expecting Rain, a global resource for articles by the mainstream press and commentary by various Dylanologists. It is updated daily and has deep archives dating back to 1988.
Rotolo's memoir did paint an effective portrait of the folk scene from 1961 to 1964 and offered insights into Dylan's work habits, drive to succeed, and how in three years he transformed himself from a Woody Guthrie copycat into a uniquely American songwriter and singer who combined the socially conscious lyrics of folk and blues with rock-n-roll beats.
However, she offers little original information outside of a few quotes from his letters to her and notes from her own diary. If you're looking for hot dish or deep dirt, you're going to have to look elsewhere.
Meanwhile, I'm still listening frequently to Together Through Life, which was released in April 2009. Here's a review by Rolling Stone magazine writer David Fricke.
If you're interested in keeping up with Bob and his doings, you should visit and bookmark Expecting Rain, a global resource for articles by the mainstream press and commentary by various Dylanologists. It is updated daily and has deep archives dating back to 1988.
Friday, October 9, 2009
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Back in the Saddle Again
Been gone to Gulf Shores, Alabama, for a few weeks to visit with my sister and cheer her on during her first Triathlon. Nice to be back.
The picture for meaningful healthcare reform looks dimmer each passing day. This is especially painful because of the hours that I expended this afternoon playing pin-the-tail on the responsible party to cover the cost several screening procedures a month or so ago. May have finally gotten this straightened out, but won't have definite answer for about 10 business days.
The picture for meaningful healthcare reform looks dimmer each passing day. This is especially painful because of the hours that I expended this afternoon playing pin-the-tail on the responsible party to cover the cost several screening procedures a month or so ago. May have finally gotten this straightened out, but won't have definite answer for about 10 business days.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Back to Reality
Now that we're over Labor Day and heading into the season of fall foliage, thoughts return to work and school. Professionally, it may be a busy month for me.
Am waiting for delivery of a book manuscript (about 325 pages) that needs editing, plus am waiting word regarding a second manuscript project that I've bid (that would make it three manuscript edits for the year).
Today have to radically rewrite a truly awful marketing brochure as a spec project. A couple of writer/editor contract possibilities are also blowin' in the wind, so this could be a very good month.
One social outing this weekend was to Ponzio's Diner. This landmark establishment has a long history, a nicely varied menu, and its own bakery that each week churns out thousands of amazingly tasty pies, cakes, cookies, brownies, and other dessert treats.
Lucy was totally impressed by the three perfect tilapia fillets drizzled in lemon butter sauce. The coconut cream cake was also a hit. It was her first trip to Ponzio's in a dozen or more years, so she pointed out the renovations and improvements that were new to her.
A different dining experience was a neighborhood BBQ in my mom's neck of the woods. Classic burgers and hot dogs with the traditional complements were a great treat. The verbal bashings of President Obama's healthcare efforts and Rep. Barney Frank's gayness were not a treat.
It's hard for me to understand why so many long knives are being sharpened by right wingers for use against the president. It would be nice for me to think that racist bigotry is not a factor, but I'm being reluctantly forced to reach that conclusion.
Am waiting for delivery of a book manuscript (about 325 pages) that needs editing, plus am waiting word regarding a second manuscript project that I've bid (that would make it three manuscript edits for the year).
Today have to radically rewrite a truly awful marketing brochure as a spec project. A couple of writer/editor contract possibilities are also blowin' in the wind, so this could be a very good month.
One social outing this weekend was to Ponzio's Diner. This landmark establishment has a long history, a nicely varied menu, and its own bakery that each week churns out thousands of amazingly tasty pies, cakes, cookies, brownies, and other dessert treats.
Lucy was totally impressed by the three perfect tilapia fillets drizzled in lemon butter sauce. The coconut cream cake was also a hit. It was her first trip to Ponzio's in a dozen or more years, so she pointed out the renovations and improvements that were new to her.
A different dining experience was a neighborhood BBQ in my mom's neck of the woods. Classic burgers and hot dogs with the traditional complements were a great treat. The verbal bashings of President Obama's healthcare efforts and Rep. Barney Frank's gayness were not a treat.
It's hard for me to understand why so many long knives are being sharpened by right wingers for use against the president. It would be nice for me to think that racist bigotry is not a factor, but I'm being reluctantly forced to reach that conclusion.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Say No to Kebobs, Yes to Wings
Had dinner last weekend at Norma's, a small Mediterranean restaurant in Cherry Hill, N.J. Not overly impressed. About a dozen tables squeezed into a small space, little in the way of decoration or ambience, small portions, slow service, and food that was decent but not especially memorable.
My sliced beef Shawarma had some nice seasonings, as did my friend's ground beef Kafta combination kabobs. As for dessert, the Namoura was killer sweet and the Walnut Maamoul was unexceptional. The belly dancer was good.
Later that same evening, punctuated by thunderstorms and pouring rain, we stumbled into the Jughandle Inn, a vintage road house with an extensive bar and pub menu that has been doing business since 1912. It is locally famous for its chicken wings, which have snagged a number of awards at various wingfests over the years.
This funky establishment features live music or a DJ on weekends, helpful servers, lots of large television screens for sporting and other events, and an outdoor Gazebo bar that offers a range of hot dogs, sausages and other outdoor dining options during the warmer months. Will try to post more on this attraction after the Labor Day weekend.
My sliced beef Shawarma had some nice seasonings, as did my friend's ground beef Kafta combination kabobs. As for dessert, the Namoura was killer sweet and the Walnut Maamoul was unexceptional. The belly dancer was good.
Later that same evening, punctuated by thunderstorms and pouring rain, we stumbled into the Jughandle Inn, a vintage road house with an extensive bar and pub menu that has been doing business since 1912. It is locally famous for its chicken wings, which have snagged a number of awards at various wingfests over the years.
This funky establishment features live music or a DJ on weekends, helpful servers, lots of large television screens for sporting and other events, and an outdoor Gazebo bar that offers a range of hot dogs, sausages and other outdoor dining options during the warmer months. Will try to post more on this attraction after the Labor Day weekend.
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