How The Republicans Like To Win

I'm sure there's many good reasons why New Jersey's Governor Christie hates teacher's unions. But its hard to think of any.

It's not that they're overpaid. The pay they receive for the important job they do is terrible.

There's tenure, sure, and that makes them difficult to fire, but tenure exists for a noble reason. The fact is, there are parents out there who really hate facts like science and history, and if a teacher teaches something that is undeniably true but deemed incompatible with certain political or religious beliefs, those parents will seek to get that teacher fired. Schools are supposed to be about teaching facts and critical thinking, so tenure is a way to make sure that politics doesn't put the education of children at risk.

Wait... I think I just answered my own question.

Governor Christie hates tenure so much because it prevents him from replacing unbiased teachers with ones who will brainwash kids into believing that the Republican party is the one favored by God.

I suppose that's a reasonable goal... except it's not. But no matter. I'm sure Governor Christie believes in having a fair debate on the subject, hearing from both sides of the issue, and using facts to bolster his side of the argument.

Except he doesn't.

Because he's a Republican. And Republicans don't use things like facts to sway Americans. They use the politics of personal destruction.

Like this:
Hero teacher's life destroyed.

Because its not good enough to make reasonable appeals for education reform. Republicans don't like to win by making a solid argument. They like to win by bullying people, destroying lives, ripping people to shreds.

Even heroes.

If Superman was a Democrat, the Republicans would push for Kryptonite to be added to the water supply.

I'm Pretty Sure This Whole Thing Was Staged



Does this look like a guy that's about to heckle Meg Whitman?


You Be The Judge

As any good conspiracy theorist would do, I did some cursory Internet sleuthing. And at first blush, it appears that Ed Buck is a Democrat. He's donated to Democratic campaigns. He likes animals and hates eminent domain development. And he's heckled before. According to LA Weekly, May 25, 2006:

Concern over campaign contributions erupted at a City Council meeting in February. Ed Buck, a West Hollywood resident, confronted [Abbe] Land and said she had accepted more than $40,000 from entities involved in one council agenda item.

There's just one thing... Abbe Land is a Democrat.

That's just the kind of thing that would send a conspiracy nut off the wall. Then I found this:

Time Magazine, November 9, 1987:

Says Ed Buck, a gay Phoenix businessman and conservative Republican who launched the recall movement last July: "Perhaps their support finally drove the point home to Evan Mecham that this is not a band of homosexuals and dissident Republicans."

"CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN!!!" Ed Buck!

And yes, it is the same Ed Buck.

So the question then becomes: Why did Ed Buck heckle Meg Whitman? Is it that he's a tea party style disgruntled Republican? Was he, as Meg Whitman suggested, a plant by her Democratic opponents? Or, far more sinister, was it a plot by Whitman and Christie to boost both their profiles?

Alas, without any smoking gun, say, a signed check from Whitman to Buck, I'd say we probably have to conclude the first probability. Ed Buck is a politically active, fiscally conservative but socially liberal person, who didn't like the fact that Whitman had an event in which she refused to take questions. He's been a vocal proponent of transparency in the past. A Democratic plant seems like a stretch-- this guy beats to his own drum, and clearly is an equal-opportunity heckler.

But that shot of them holding hands.... well. I'll let others do the digging for me.

One last thing. Lets just note Christie's hypocrisy. He talks about bringing America together, and not shouting, when he's done the exact opposite in Jersey. Instead of listening to teachers concerns, he's belittled them. He's raged against the working class. His governing strategy is to take money away from everywhere its needed, while maintaining promises to the wealthy people who donated to his campaign. The school system is weaker now because of him, and all but the wealthiest are struggling. People called him "standing up to" a "heckler" chivalrous (because Whitman is a woman, who obviously can't defend herself), but all Christie was doing was stifling discussion and debate, something he's tried to do at every juncture in his time as New Jersey governor.

This is the guy Republicans think is the future???

Congrats Newark!!!

...on recording its first homicide-free month in over 40 years!!!!



Wait a minute... is this an April Fools?

Let's hear what Newarkians on NJ.com have to say:

"There have been shootings as we have read here in the last month. And people have died from them. They just don't count them as homicides."

"The simple reason for this is because it freaking rained the whole damned month & it kept everyone inside, including the killers."

"Enjoy it now because summer is right around the corner..."

"THERE WERE 5 SHOOTINGS IN NWK IN THE MONTH OF MARCH.... NOBODY DIED YET! SO LETS NOT GET HAPPY"

What a bunch of Debbie Downers! And, then, um, there's this...

I don't understand till the day why is that people talk so bad about Newark -- it either have to be hate or Ignorance or maybe a combination of both

Those who knows me i hang all over and Newark Since the age of 15 is one of those Places .

Any recall the Good Old Days shopping at Woolworth? (lol) Boy a girl alone from the "Good Places" always went there to check in Newark X-D for Stores and walk -- Back then People still use to talk bad about Newark .

Now days I may be Ugly and fat ;C X-D but certainly at 15 till 30's i was Just Another Good Looking Chick :) (lol) I cant say in my entire Life that in Newark I got Miss respect in any way shape or form -- remember i was 15 years Old and walking just alone . * wink

Time pass by years pass by and for several reasons i end up back in Newark working and Enjoying the place --- Honestly I don't understand what is wrong with people back then and with People today .

One of the Places i use to Enjoy the most and since i had experience those days Myself I question and Question Why is that People talk about so bad about it All i see here Is a tremendous and Envious time If any ask me -- Boy i was Envious :) I was there watching but i wanted to be there Lol

Any of you from Real Newark recall those Great Days at the Park by the Post Office the weehaken park Cant Spell the name of the park by it have part with 22 Huge Park run by the Sheriff

Those Days i use to hang out there and for those Curious Yes still alone No b/f or g/f there not selling of my A ---- was pure working reasons -- Selling ice cream on a ice cream truck .

Those days all i saw was families after families with Kids having and Enjoying a great time from small families Bar B ques to the HUge Big Barb Q from the younger Generation Back then and all the Dancing .. Not one got hurt Dint heard one F word Not one cop arresting anyone ,, not a guy in a corner trying to lay Smart A -- looking at any Girls ---- Wall all Pure Clean Enjoyment .

I wasn't there passing by for just a few mnts and run away like many of you would only had done i was there from 7 - 8 am till 7 - 8 pm . Several days a week .

Kids dint had to run or walk with the parents by a leach like we see many times all over .. -- I still don't understand why many say
it was bad then and still bad now .

Is true that all have change but not Only Newark .. I see many Girls
Each day walking in Newark alone from all sort of races -- Cant be that "bad"

Visiting the Banks in Newark is even a total Pleasure when comparing to some i seen from "Good High Class Neighbors i seen ar0und ( lol) Boy I know many will think I'm nuts but -- I dont care

Base on all the Negative news not in a million years never was any to tell me that Newark had a lot of More Friendly Environment and Professionalism in a Bank then any of the so call " Good and Friendly Towns "

From a Friendly Helpful Security and Door Bell Man to tellers that were like sweet and Professionals

If Newark was all "that bad" it will be today a Ghost town .

You said it! I think... Did anyone get all that?

Maybe now that they've got crime under control, they can, you know, focus on education.

Gay Marriage? No. Drugs? Yes.

So let me get this straight, New Jersey. Two guys marrying each other would be the end of civilization as we know it, but legalizing a long-banned psychoactive drug is a-okay?

Apparently, it's better politically to approve drug use than marriage between two consenting adults.

Yeah yeah, I know. Marijuana is relatively harmless, it's only approved for sick people, blah blah blah. If that's the argument, then why not make gay marriage available to sick people as well? After all, it's harmless and improves the quality of life of the individuals who enter into it (well, for happy couples anyway). I guarantee I can produce some scientific study that shows that gay men or women with illnesses have happier lives and less pain when they're married. I'll just call up the same guys who swear that smoking a burning plant is somehow a safe and beneficial delivery method for a painkiller. If they can demonstrate that in a scientific study, they can demonstrate anything.

The truth is, approving gay marriage, for sick or healthy people, would instantly make the lives of thousands of New Jerseyites better, happier. It would make a few old people and bigots flip a shit, the rest of us would kind of just shrug and go about our business.

Meanwhile, approving medical marijuana just means that it'll be easier for drug dealers to skirt the law-- "Oh no, officer... this is my personal stash, here's my prescription card." Medical marijuana is hardly better than other painkillers, and the delivery method is unlike any other prescribed drug, providing excellent potential for abuse. Admit it guys... it's just a cute way legalization activists have thought up to gather momentum towards their ultimate goal. And you know how I feel about that.

It makes no sense why Jersey would approve one, but not the other. I suspect the only reason is poll numbers-- or good old fashioned bigotry. Because it's certainly not logic.

I'm On NHL Fanhouse!!

My Dad and I went to the Devils game last night and saw Marty Brodeur win his record-breaking 552nd game.

I wished I had brought my camera.

Turns out, I didn't have to:


That Guy Holding The Brodeur Jersey Is Me

Awesome.

A Hairy Situation In Jersey

Yeah yeah, I know, I've been away for too long. Work has just become a lot more... well... work lately. But I haven't forgotten about my duty to entertain my faithful reader(s).

The story that brings me back into action is about an issue of vital importance to our nation. No, not the Bernie Madoff thing.

I'm talking about pubic hair:

The Brazilian wax could be ripped from salons if a proposed ban on genital waxing is passed by N.J.’s Board of Cosmetology and Hairstyling...

N.J. law is a bit fuzzy when it comes to the hair down there, but according to the state, genital waxing is illegal. Only the face, neck, abdomen, legs and arms of patrons can be stripped...

My initial reaction was, "There's a N.J. Board of Cosmetology and Hairstyling?!" Once I swallowed that fact, I became deeply disturbed that the government would dare tell women what to do with their own bodies. This is about freedom of choice, people. Brazilian, a landing strip, or 70's style, no woman should be deprived of the right to sport the foliage of their choosing.



On the New Jersey State Board of Cosmetology and Hairstyling website, I found this gem:

The Board is proposing a new rule at N.J.A.C. 13:28-2.7A and is proposing amendments to existing rules N.J.A.C. 13:28-2.10 and 2.11, in order to further define what business activities lawfully may be conducted in licensed cosmetology and hairstyling, manicuring and skin care specialty shops. Specifically, the Board is proposing amendments to its rules concerning the provision of ancillary beautification services in licensed cosmetology and hairstyling shops and licensed skin care specialty shops. Currently, N.J.A.C. 13:28-2.10 permits cosmetology and hairstyling shops to offer to their customers ancillary services that are related to the beautification of the body or the enhancement of personal appearance, but which are not included within the statutory definition of cosmetology and hairstyling services set forth at N.J.S.A. 45:5B-3(j). Such services must be performed in a safe and sanitary manner and by appropriately trained personnel. The Cosmetology and Hairstyling Act, at N.J.S.A. 45:5B-37, permits the provision of such services in shops licensed by the Board, but authorizes the Board to adopt regulations prohibiting such services or placing limitations on the manner in which such services may be offered. The Board may also establish training requirements for persons offering such services. N.J.A.C. 13:28-2.10 currently prohibits the provision of certain ancillary services, such as permanent cosmetic applications, tattooing and body piercing, and imposes training and safety requirements for the provision of others, such as the use of electrolysis for the removal of superfluous hair and skin tanning services. Pursuant to the authority of N.J.S.A. 45:5B-37, the Board is proposing to amend N.J.A.C. 13:28-2.10 to provide specific authorization for cosmetology and hairstyling shops to perform massage services as an ancillary beautification service, and to impose certain training requirements upon persons who will perform such services.

In other, shorter words... "We're making bikini waxing illegal but you'll now be able to get a happy ending and a haircut at the same place."

So this summer, don't be surprised if you see a bunch of well coiffed, happy, well-massaged guys walking around while girls are forced to reveal a little bit too much of their national forest.

Maybe that's why they call Jersey the Garden State.

A Dazey Weekend In Jersey



On a typical weekend, a cold producing more gunky mucus than Slimer from Ghostbusters would have had me confined to bedrest. But I had committed myself to volunteering at the 6th Anuual Garden State Film Festival, and infection be damned, I honor my committments.

Now, the Garden State Film Festival is not to be confused with the Tribeca Film Festival, which was created by Robert DeNiro and is funded by American Express, among others. The Garden State Film Festival was created by "well known Hollywood actor Robert Pastorelli" (the gruff, but mushy-hearted house painter on the television show Murphy Brown) and is sponsored by the Sixth Avenue House Bed & Breakfast, among others. But I was fully entertained by several of the screened films I got to see. And this little festival that could was a big success for Asbury Park and Jersey actors, writers and filmmakers.

Sure, Asbury Park may not draw the red carpet crowd of lower Manhattan. But I didn't see one film at Tribeca funnier than "Expendable," about a young evil henchman's first day on the job.



And I was impressed by a young actress, Elizabeth King, in "Born To Win," a humorous short by Trey Hock about the true nature of popularity.


The one on the left. One to watch.

I'm pegging her as the poor man's Amanda Bynes. With a bit of Schuyler Fisk thrown in.

And while we're on the subject of quirky short films featuring hot actresses, the Lebanese film Lesson #5 featured a Lebanese actress, May Hariri who's lustful beauty I can only imagine would be censored in most Arabic-speaking countries.



"Lesson Number Five" itself was a strange, but satisfying movie about a Lebanese man who's hired to get U.S. green cards for a group of men, but then discovers it will be more difficult than expected. He makes up elaborate lies in order to dissuade the men from leaving. With comical results (lets just say peroxide, and the planet Mars, both play a signifigant role).

That's the best of what I got to see, but of course, I only saw films at two of the venues. Anyone else go to the festival? I'd love to hear your favorites.

Of course, I go to Tribeca at the end of the month, and will hopefully uncover some gems to tout wayyyy before Entertainment Weekly or Premiere does.

No Fun In Belmar



College kids, you may want to party elsewhere. The fun police are on patrol in Belmar, New Jersey, and to make sure you're not throwing a party, they're checkin your blog.

A blogger calling himself Belmar Benny sat at his computer recently and predicted what the summer of 2007 would be like at the rental home he shares with his buddies.

"Partying 'till daylight, banging pots and pans together, tossing the kitchen table on the roof, hanging the furniture upside down from the ceiling, waking up the neighborhood with a contraption called The Horn On A Board, smashing glassware over each other's heads," he wrote.

But Belmar officials were reading his blog, promising to counter "Horn On A Board" with "Cop On Your Porch."

Monitoring blogs is the newest tactic in Belmar's effort to keep its rowdy group rentals under control in one of the Jersey shore's last party towns.

The borough's efforts are led by a mayor who patrols the street looking for trouble and backed by fines that can reach into the thousands of dollars. Police officers hand-deliver lists of do's and don't to renters, and a Web site plots troublesome rentals on a map.

Belmar Benny's blog is here. He seems like he's having a good time nonetheless.