It's one of those lazy Sundays. sun out and a chill in the air. But I have too much to do -- grade papers. write up my interview with Chris Hedges, revise some poems. chop the leaves and cut the lawn, clean the rugs for Thanksgiving, [...] 
As a reminder that he hasn't left yet, Gov. Corzine signed two dozen bills into law Friday. You can read about them elsewhere. One of them made it illegal to sell and distribute novelty lighters. What are novelty lighters? And why are they a danger to' [...]
A couple of new poems on The Subterranean site -- "Still Life: Graveyard on Woodbridge Avenue" and "Notes on 'En La Casa De La Casa'."Send me an e-mail. [...] Today is Saturday, Nov. 21st, 2009.
The Delegate Assembly of the New Jersey School Boards Association conducts a program looking at what's in store for the lame-duck session of the Legislature and beyond, at the Wyndham Conference Center and Hotel in Plainsboro. Doctors opposed to the national health-care reform legislation hold a [...]
Nothing better illustrates what's wrong with the New Jersey education system than the case of the former Keansburg schools superintendent Barbara Trzeskowski. She left with a $119,000 annual pension, a Cadillac health plan for life and $184,586 for unused sick and vacation time. In addition, the school board gave her [...]
Sometimes they are angels, but usually only when they're sleeping.This message was sent using the Picture and Video Messaging service from Verizon Wireless!
To learn how you can snap pictures and capture videos with your wireless phone visit www.verizonwireless.com/picture.
Note: To play video messages sent to email, [...]
Chris Christie today named chairs of 19 issue sub-committees for his transition team.
One of them is from Morris County.
That would be John Bonanni. the county administrator, who will head the subcommittee on Human Services & Children and Families. Bonanni said he and Christie got to know each other when [...]
A state Superior Court judge now serving as a Family Court judge in Mercer County was censured this week by the Supreme Court for intimate emails he repeatedly sent a former law clerk, even after being ordered to stop, from his judiciary account.
Judge Lawrence [...]
The second of Gov.-elect Chris Christie's recurring lines from his Thursday speech to the New Jersey State League of Municipalities were his repeated references to "the center of the room" -- part of his call for officials to work cooperatively, rather than from their political poles, to address issues.
"The problems" [...]
Weysan Dun, who has led the FBI in Newark since 2007, is heading to Omaha, according to a report on NorthJersey.com. He was at the helm during the gang of 44 arrests last summer, a roundup so massive it shocked the world. He was presented the 2008 Presidential Meritorious Executive [...]
Dispatches is on the bizarre logic in Washington that forces domsestic reforms to be measured against the deficit, but not military adventures.Send me an e-mail. [...] 
The second co-chairman of Gov.-elect Chris Christie's budget and taxes task force is Richard H. Bagger, 49, who was in the state Legislature from 1992 through 2003, including a stint as chairman of the Assembly Appropriations Committee, and is now an executive at the pharmaceutical [...]
Here's what's up in state government and politics for Friday, Nov. 20th, 2009.
The Burlington and Mercer vicinages of the state judiciary hold their annual Adoption Day programs. It will include 17 adoption proceedings in Mount Holly and six in Trenton. National Adoption Day is celebrated annually throughout the United States [...]
Why is it that Jon Corzine makes sense on his way out? In addressing local officials in Atlantic City yesterday he spoke of the need for local government consolidation and shared service. He said New York City is about the same population as New Jersey but [...]
Here's Gov.-elect Chris Christie's extended riff from his Thursday speech to the New Jersey State League of Municipalities convention about changing the mindset in Trenton, one of the many things he'll need to alter as he hopes to balance a severely deficit-ridden budget through spending cuts.
"The entire country is facing'" [...]
New Jersey's unemployment rate is down to 9.7 percent. Good news, a slight improvement. Private sector employment is down by 4,400 jobs. But government employment is up by 2,600 jobs. In addition, the job loss figure for September was reduced from losing 12,700 jobs to losing 10,600. That last one [...]
Steve Sweeney
Sen. Steve Sweeney says marriage equality legislation is important but should not be a priority at this time. The economy, he said, should be the main priority. It was thought for months that the lame duck Legislature would tackle gay marriage and other controversial [...]
Among Gov.-elect Chris Christie's first moves in his transition was creating a Transition Task Force on Budget and Taxes, which will recommend ways to deal with the current year deficit, the projected gap for FY2011 and the state's long-term debt and looming costs for benefits for public retirees.
After pummeling him for months and years on end, state Republicans -- now hoping to maximize cooperation from his outgoing administration, no doubt -- have broken out the catch-more-flies-with-sugar approach in their commentary about Gov. Jon Corzine.
For sure, they're not calling a recount. But there have been multiple instances from' [...]
The Delaware River Port Authority, operator of four bridges across the river and a commuter rail line, raised tolls not long ago. Now it may have to pay $111 million to cancel an interest-rate swap that backfired. Dusty McNichol, reporting for Bloomberg, said DRPA's board, with representatives from NJ and [...]
It's Thursday, Nov. 19th, 2009.
The New Jersey State League of Municipalities continues its annual conference in Atlantic City. Gov. Jon Corzine gives the keynote speech, and Gov.-elect Chris Christie will also address the crowd. Also at the League of Municipalities convention this afternoon, conference attendees can meet with officials from Lt. [...]
Chris Christie
Gov.-elect Chris Christie is in Lost Pines, Texas, for the annual Republican Governor's Conference (and this year added, a victory barbecue). Does that mean that Lieutenant Gov.-elect Kim Guadagno is now Gov.-elect since Christie is out of state? Christie won't have much time to' [...]
Gov.-elect Chris Christie's transition office has established its website.
It has the standard stuff, such as a section with press releases and bios of both Christie and Lt. Gov.-elect Kim Guadagno -- as well as places to submit resumes in search of a job in the administration or[...]
Jeanne Fox
Congratulate BPU prez Jeanne Fox. She just got the EPA's "Energy Star Award". Surprised me, I thought they only gave that to refrigerators and water heaters. Fox was recognized for spearheading the Clean Energy Program. That's been nominated by the Swiss for the Cayman [...]
I did three miles this morning, the second time this week I did three. It wasn't easy, but I did it. So, we go from there and see what happens, the goal being a half marathon in the spring.Send me an 
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