Late night open thread

Movie trivia night...

Paul Newman was originally cast to play the role of Captain Quint in Jaws.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

The Red Bulls have won the Emirates Cup!

Who had this happening? Not Johnny. Saturday in their first game at the Emirates Cup in London the Red Bulls defeated Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 on a Joel Lindpere goal. Today at Emirates Stadium the Red Bulls played to a 1-1 draw with English Premier League powerhouse Arsenal. The Red Bulls tied Arsenal in front of their fans who booed the Gunners off the pitch. So how do the Red Bulls win by playing to a tie? Arsenal gacked up a 2 goal lead to Boca Juniors Saturday meaning they only had two ties on the weekend.

If Arsenal fans didn't feel bad enough, they scored an own goal for the Red Bulls to tie it late as shown here. Johnny thinks the announcer is saying "The Red Bulls cross one through and oh my the stupid man has kicked it into his own net. Fans are taking pitchforks and torches to his north London flat as we speak. It sure looks like the Red Bulls will take home the Emirates Cup as they have become the second best fighting force on the planet behind only Barcelona". Sounds about right.

Weekend news to drink coffee by

The New Jersey Jets have signed former troubled wide-receiver Plaxico Burress away from the New Jersey Giants. Let the trash talking begin!

The Jersey City Museum is not likely to open it's doors again. Sad.

A Yonkers woman was arrested after being spotted in the same Victoria's Secret she was banned from for pouring a vat of chili on a pile of underpants in April. One wonders where you get a vat of chili at the Galleria Mall.

A giant refrigerator was left on the subway platform at W 4th for several days.

Mets fans vs. Nationals fans and one big elbow to the chops:

Late night open thread

Truth be told isn't Disneyland just a people trap operated by a mouse?

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Dateline Clifton: It's for the birds

Two Clifton residents and their neighbors are having to deal with a very messy and loud situation featuring hundreds of blackbirds spending all night squawking and pooping in their front yard. Tony and Terry Pekarsky say the birds arrive in their big maple tree out front around 7:30 pm and after screeching all night and painting the yard, driveway and sidewalk with 'bird art' they leave at 5 am the next morning. They have tried the usual remedies, motion detecting fake owls, hanging CD's from branches but to no avail. Part of their daily routine now is hosing down the sidewalk, yard and driveway.

Thus far there seems to be so solution (that doesn't involve guns or pyrotechnics). Maybe Johnny can help. Growing up he had a similar situation with a giant pine tree in his front yard. Hundreds and hundreds of penguins would sit in the 50 foot pine tree and go crazy. You couldn't sleep most nights. Penguin poop everywhere the next morning. Johnny's dad, Russ Fix-it Action Space Dude came up with a solution that may well work for the Pekarsky's. He greased all the perching branches with bacon grease. Once the penguins couldn't get up in the higher branches and they all had to stand at the bottom of the tree they were easy to round up and sell to pet stores. Now maybe blackbirds don't fetch what penguins do at pet stores but it's a nice beginning that also could put some coin in the Pekarsky's pockets for their trouble.

Late night open thread

Trivia with a globe night:

This country has more lakes than all the rest combined. Answer here.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with BLACK UHURU!

If ever there was a steamy summer night where it feels like Kingston Jamaica outside and it would be appropriate to turn up the speakers and let some reggae music play, baby it's tonight. Just let this song drift on the thick night air.

Black Uhuru favoring us with 'Natural Reggae Beat'

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with SMOKEY ROBINSON AND THE MIRACLES!

You can't beat a great Motown song on a Friday night. Here's Smokey Robinson and the Miracles with 'I Second that Emotion'

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with BLUR!

You don't talk a lot before songs like this, you simply play them.

Blur with 'Song 2'

Just in time for another hot weekend, the Hudson River is open for recreational use once again

So head on down to the river with a view and jump on in. The NYC waste plant sewage has dissipated. No, really, jump on in. What are you waiting for, a gold ticket? Go head, jump in and paddle around and cool off.

Oh nevermind...

Late night open thread

"I don't want to tell you how much insurance I carry with Prudential, but all I can say is: when I go, they go too."
--Jack Benny

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

It would seem guerilla marketing has come to Jersey City in the form of Dippy the Pigeon

As seen on a telephone pole in the Powerhouse Arts District last evening. One is Dippy, the other is a pigeon. Click image for a larger size.

Late night open thread

And in other news there's evidence a comet we Earthlings can't see is out there with our name on it.

Sleep tight.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Breaking News Alert: Possible hostage/gun/SWAT/Cops situation in or near the Flatiron Building

Yeah, we know, if it was some brownstone on Cornelia in the West Village nobody would care but it's the FLATIRON BUILDING! Police have blocked off a 4 block area at the south end of the Flatiron at 22nd St. Gothamist (and what would we do without that great website?) has more.

It's the MLS All-Star game out in Harrison tonight

The Major League Soccer All-Stars will be playing English Premier League champions Manchester United tonight at Red Bull Arena. First off we like the format. Well done. After having to watch dunking practice at NBA all-star games, slapshot and fancy pass practice at the NHL all-star games, no contact drills in the NFL Pro Bowl and now baseball all-star games ending in ties, this format actually works.

Point of order, the game is a sellout. So Johnny informing you that Los Angeles and USA star Landon Donovan won't even be there can't hurt attendance. The Red Bulls will have quite a few players representing the NEW JERSEY side. Joel Lindpere, Juan Agudelo, Thierry Henry, Rafa Marquez and Tim Ream are in and the team is coached by the Red Bulls' Hans Backe.

And what would an all-star game preview if Johnny couldn't be a jackass? Hey Ryan Giggs, no super injunctions on THIS side of the pond, just freedom of the press. So, will Imogen Thomas be on the trip with you? I mean since the British press is unable to say you two had an affair because you got a "super-injunction" and all.

Also on the soccer front the Star-Ledger has a nice piece on MLS trying to become a top flight club league. MLS' goal is to, within 10 years, be on par with the English Premier League, La Liga (Spain), Bundesliga (Germany) and Serie A (Italy). Gooooood luck with that. While MLS has a salary cap to keep player transfers financially doable, the European leagues sure don't. So good luck in trying to keep top flight USA talent here. Much as we don't fault our pro sports players from switching teams that offer more money how on earth can we expect any up and coming American soccer stars from playing with better competition for a lot more money. Answer, we can't. Billy, you can play for 400K for Denver or go play against Christian Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, David Villa, Diego Forlan in La Liga for 3 times what Denver will pay.

Ain't a hard choice now is it? Until MLS ends the salary cap and brings over a star or five in their prime (no offense to the Red Bulls Thierry Henry and LA's David Beckham but their best years were over before they got here) MLS will be a nice league where the top Euro competition comes to play in July to warm up for their seasons.

MLS just be happy with who you are and what you do. Team development academies are a MUST.

And end the salary cap.

Tonight's opponent scoring a brilliant goal

Late night open thread

Of course you know there are 4 Kings in a deck of cards. But did you know which King each suit represents?

Spades -- King David
Clubs -- Alexander the Great
Hearts -- Charlemagne
Diamonds -- Julius Caesar

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Now that the NFL has managed to split the pie...

Greedy owners and often contemptible players though they be, a new season is in hurry-up mode. So, New Jersey Jets and Giants fans, what are your thoughts on the free agents available and what each team needs to do to improve?

Remember when it was 101º on Saturday?

Well no doubt the DOZENS of people who were forced to line up OUTSIDE the MVC on Summit Avenue do, even though ample seating was available inside, in the air conditioning.

First off the office opened late, according to eyewitness (and videographer) Marc Trzepla, and he said the staff was merely rearranging chairs, chairs that wouldn't be used. So far nobody from that particular MVC has commented on why people were forced to wait outside (MVC Chief Administrator Ray Martinez located in Trenton said it obviously was NOT fire code related) nor have we heard what, if any discipline will be taken against the dotars and kettle-heads who run the Summit Avenue MVC.

Follow this link for more on this disgraceful display of "customer service" from Chief Administrator Martinez and see the images and video described herein.

Late night open thread

Let's reach into Johnny's animated gif grab bag tonight and see what we pull out.

The cab will be driving by all night long but keep watching just in case


Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Take out those pants and hook on the feed bag, it's Hudson Restaurant Week!

One of Johnny's fav-o-rite weeks of the year is upon us people, it's Hudson Restaurant Week. Many fine establishments offering anything from haute cuisine to burgers and rib tips are all in, are you? Now here's a perfect opportunity, before you head off to the MLS All-Star game Wednesday at Red Bull Arena (MLS All -Stars vs. Manchester United no less) why not stop into one of the restaurants on this list and really make a night of it.

You can find out the Hudson Kings of Food that will be participating here.

Late night open thread

We now have the answer to a question that has vexed mankind for over a hundred years. Which 'Guay' is better, Paraguay or Uruguay? After today the answer is Uru. In the Copa America Fubol Championship match today in Argentina it was Uruguay 3 and Paraguay 0. Paraguay will now have to petition South America for a new name.

Feel free to leave suggestions in comments.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Mmmmm, New Jersey tequila bars.....

Now, Johnny is no longer much of a drinker but back in the day he loved tequila. Loved the flavor, even loved some of the higher end brands with that blue agave taste. If you are a tequila fan the New York Times yesterday did a story on New Jersey based tequila bars where a shot of the good stuff can run $90 and up. The story mentions flavored tequilas, how long tequilas should age -- basically all things tequila.

A wonderful article on all that makes good tequila good and a few plugs for what sound to be excellent Garden State bars and restaurants.

Late night open thread

Pixels as big as hams.


Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Saturday open thread

Johnny isn't going anywhere near the office, public transportation or anywhere else today unless it rains and cools things off. He's sitting high above Jersey City today keeping an eye on things (and making sure the two feral cats in his neighborhood have water) and trying to stay cool.

Feel free to talk about whatever moves you...

Late night open thread

"Red meat is not bad for you. Now blue-green meat, that’s bad for you!"
--Tommy Smothers

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with SHADOWY MEN ON A SHADOWY PLANET!

You probably know Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet best for their song 'Having an Average Weekend' which was the theme to the Kids in the Hall teevee show. Here to start things off tonight, a very topical song, an instrumental cover of Frank Sinatra's 'Summer Wind' with that signature Shadowy Men surf geetar and big bass sound.

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with THE BEATLES!

Those nutty kids from Liverpool with the mod haircuts tonight on the music series. If you look close enough at the Sgt. Pepper's album cover you see a picture of a very young Johnny. Word of warning though, it's like finding Waldo.

The Beatles with 'Fixing a Hole'

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with THE CRANBERRIES!

Well U2 blew through here mid-week and Johnny's feeling the Irish love still. Here are The Cranberries with the director's cut (it just sounds better) of 'Dreams'

Pigeons are now bursting into flames in Journal Square

It's pigeon immolation hot. Horrified onlookers are fleeing Journal Square as pigeons both in the air and on the ground get their flame on.

It's a FACT!


At 4 pm Johnny saw a reading on Wunderground at 103º in Jersey City with a heat index of 117º. If it gets to 120º Shih Tzu's start blowing up real good.

Do NOT cool off by jumping in the Hudson River -- UPDATED

Yes it's going to hit triple digits today and tomorrow. As the thermometer rises citizens start looking at the Hudson River as a free way to get some relief from the heat. Right now, because of a sewage plant malfunction you're better off with heat stroke.

The North River Wastewater Treatment Plant located across the Hudson River from Edgewater has dumped over 120 MILLION gallons of raw sewage right into the Hudson because of a fire at the plant (Just us but wouldn't engineers try and not let the plant dump sewage in case of fire or other malady?).

The New York City health department declared the Hudson, the East River from the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge to Verrazano Bridge, the Harlem River and the Kill Van Kull to the Goethals Bridge unfit for swimming or other recreational activities until at least Sunday.

NYC officials said no beaches would be closed because of the spill. Christ, no need for SBF anything, just jump in the water and the oily sewage sheen will keep the sun off of you. Nobody else will come near you either.

So thanks a lot North River Wastewater Treatment Plant, you sure jeffed this one up...

UPDATED 2:54 pm -- New York has now closed 4 beaches because of the sewage spill:

After warning New Yorkers Thursday to stay out of the East and Hudson rivers, the Department of Environmental Protection advised beach goers Friday to avoid the surf in South Beach, Midland Beach and Cedar Grove Beach on Staten Island and Brooklyn's Sea Gate Beach.

Late night open thread

It's gonna be 102º tomorrow here in Fun City and we know tempers are running short so we thought we'd do our part to give everyone a summer cooler tonight before bed. Bust out the Swiss Miss!


Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Now THIS is hot

Johnny went for an early morning walk today and what a mistake that was. If you don't have to go out until tonight, don't. If you're driving somewhere bring water and make sure your gas tank is filled up so you can run the air conditioning. Check on elderly neighbors and friends and please check up on those pets and make sure they have plenty of water.

Wunderground:
Excessive heat warning in effect from noon today to 8 PM EDT this evening...
Excessive heat watch in effect from Friday afternoon through Friday evening...

Ick, no.

Late night open thread

Putting this one to bed tonight from the train back from U2. Most impressive was the Clarence Clemons tribute. A nice touch.The song One is always a favorite.

Clothes utterly soaked through. The night actually felt like it got warmer the later it got. The humidity meter must be off the scale.You drink so much water to keep cool you pray the acoustics are good in the restrooms.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

It's all about the U2 show at the Meadowlands tonight

The rescheduled U2 concert from last year, when Bono needed back surgery, is tonight at the Meadowlands with Interpol as the opener. Fans tonight are in for a REAL treat as the original U2 lineup will be performing; Bono, The Edge, Kenny Loggins and Sammy Hagar. What's not to love?

Now, GETTING to the concert and back again could prove to be an issue for those taking NJ Transit (Like Johnny). NJ Transit has put out some helpful information tonight and IS planning on running more trains and that quality info can be had here. Your best bet is to stay off the trains (and help Johnny along) and all pile into one or two cars. Certainly you've all seen how clowns do it at the circus, just follow their lead.

A primer for tonight:

Late night open thread

Pontiac builds excitement alright. Just look at how fast the Fiero goes in this retro ad. Its bustin down UR wallz eatin UR pavement. Many a night while out causing trouble Johnny and his best friend Paco used to drive by a Pentecostal church in Clarkston Michigan along lonely M-15. The sign said 'Jesus will meet you here Sunday'. We often thought we should go and see what Jesus drove. Johnny thought Jesus was more on an El Camino man but Paco insisted he'd be driving a Fiero.


Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Anti-ticket scalping group Fans First Coalition has ZERO credibility

You've long heard the parable about the fox guarding the henhouse. But here's a parable with a new twist, the fox guards the henhouse then has the nads to actually publicly complain about other foxes guarding henhouses.

A group calling itself Fans First Coalition has been started to try and eliminate ticket scalping by online groups after the very public debacle with the Bruce Springsteen tickets at the Izod Center. The new group points out that a now defunct company called Wiseguy Tickets Inc. bought up thousands upon thousands of tickets to sporting events, concerts and other live shows and then resold them online at up to five times the ticket price.

We agree. Companies like Wiseguy Tickets DO ruin the market for fans of live shows. What they do his heinous. Fans First is right to point this out.

BUT

Fans First also allowed you know who, Ticketmaster -- the Lord Voldemort of online ticketing agencies, to actually join their coalition. It really makes your head explode doesn't it? Ticketmaster, who has their own ticket reselling exchange called TicketsNow where you buy tickets for much higher prices than the show sells for. How's THAT for irony?

Ticketmaster was investigated in 2009 by the New Jersey attorney general after fans who wanted to buy tickets to a Bruce Springsteen concert at the Izod Center in East Rutherford were redirected to TicketsNow, a subsidiary of Ticketmaster. TicketsNow sold the same tickets at much higher prices.

Fans First Treasurer Randy Levy excused away Ticketmaster's inclusion into their quest by saying "It's not a perfect world, but we have to start somewhere."

Wow, head meet ass.

While your aim may seem noble, allowing Ticketmaster anywhere near your group destroys any credibility your group was hoping to lay claim to. As long as John Dillinger is working for the FBI don't tell us the FBI is serious about cracking down on gangsters.

Late night open thread

Donald Duck's middle name is Fauntleroy. Now you know.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Monday open thread

Johnny's been without air conditioning since last Thursday if you can believe it and right now that is being addressed (and not a minute too soon). Since the interns are at summer camp Johnny is attending to the repairman's every need so he won't be in the office much today.

Talk about whatever you want to, as long as it has a working a/c unit in the story.

Late night open thread

Real names night.

Which film star's real name is Rebecca George? Answer in comments.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Lions and tigers and Newark Bears...

Amy Brittain of The Star Ledger has a very well written piece on the past, present and future of the beleaguered franchise today on NJ.com. She looks at how the franchise, not truly successful since FDR was President she points out, is trying hard to revive interest.

Could a reality show about the Newark Bears be far behind? No, really, they're planning a reality show about the Bears. Now go read.

Late night open thread

That sure is one bright moon tonight. Haunting almost.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

McGinley Square residents get eminent domain letters from the Healy Administration

Property owners and residents in McGinley Square got letters this week that the city is planning on possibly using eminent domain as a plan is in place for newer housing and a very necessary bowling alley. While redevelopments plans can be a good thing, eminent domain is simply a cheap way of screwing landowners out of a fair deal.

Remember, this is the Healy Administration and Jersey City Council we're talking about, where deputy mayors get convicted of felonies, council members wind up going to jail and where there doesn't seem to be much accountability (When was the last time the actual Mayor of Jersey City answered for ANYTHING). How much of a fair price do you think homeowners are gonna get?

Oh we have questions. The city says they have a redevelopment plan. Like the one that gathers dust on Journal Square? In this Journal Square redevelopment plan is the use of eminent domain being discussed or is that just McGinley Square's cross to bear? After the city takes over these properties are they going to turn around and give them to private business to develop? Wouldn't that be great, take someone's property on the cheap and then give it a private business to make money on?

You better believe that's what's gonna happen here, property owners will be lowballed as under eminent domain there is NO reason not to. "Take our best offer or we'll just kick you to the curb". Then the city will practically hand the property over to some slimy development company like Toll Brothers to get rich off of while the people who used to own it try and find housing with the pittance they were offered.

A LOT of questions need to be answered before Jersey City and their band of cronies try this route.

Late night open thread

Movie mistakes night:

In Back to the Future, when Marty is writing the letter to Doc before he goes into the future, the word "disaster" is the only word in the last line. Yet when Doc shows Marty the letter when it has been all taped up, "terrible disaster" is the last line.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with THE OHIO PLAYERS!

May the funk be upon you tonight. Here are the Ohio Players with 'Fire.'

Uh HUH

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with THE KINKS!

Here's a magnificent song by The Kinks, 'Living on a Thin Line', with some pictures of like England and stuff.

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with THE SMITHEREENS!

New Jersey's own with 'Behind the Wall of Sleep.'

A potpourri of newsiness this morning

Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy and former Police Chief Robert Troy are breathing a sigh of relief today as all federal counts against them were dropped from a lawsuit by JC police Lt. Valerie Montone, who claimed she was not promoted for supporting Lou Manzo for mayor

The United States Attorney General is looking into News Corp., Rupert Murdoch's sleazy outfit, for disgraceful if not outright illegal possible phone hacking of 9/11 victims and family members' mobile phones.

Sony is not above the law in New York City, being told to take down(?) sidewalk advertisements around their HQ at Madison between 55th and 56th St. You can advertise ANYWHERE in NYC but the sidewalk apparently.

And finally, as the Today Show Australia host says near the end of this piece "Well that didn't end well did it?"

Late night open thread

Get comfy, enjoy an adult mood enhancer and watch one of the funniest television episodes ever. Johnny's roofdeck now is called Tidepool East after leaving the original Tidepool porch and BBQ back in Ypsilanti. The name was stolen from this very episode. Louie and Elaine go on a date, the clip will set up the story. Who wants a monsoon?


Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Keep up the good fight John Paff

John Paff is chairman of the New Jersey Libertarian Party. Mr. Paff is trying to get dozens of Jersey City officials to turn in legally mandated financial disclosure forms and is running into a brick wall. Paff says 47 city officials had not turned in their financial disclosure forms.

“If the citizens are not able to know where this person’s family derives their income, they’re not able to detect that conflict of interest." We agree wholeheartedly Mr. Paff. It's a disgrace these scofflaws won't fill out mandated forms because they are too busy, too lazy OR they are trying to cover something up perhaps.

Of course we couldn't have a story about city government or city compliance without the idiotic statement of the day from Jersey City spokesmodel Jennifer Morrill, who is not so much worrying about people filling out legally required forms but rather who is still on payroll. Morrill points out SOME of the people on Mr. Paff's list no longer work for the city. That's some FINE reasoning Ms. Morrill. Just layabout and never turn them in if you're going to leave city employ or think you might, who cares, right? What's a few legally necessary financial disclosure forms among friends in a city filled with corruption?

2013 cannot get here fast enough.

Late night open thread

Dear Abby, she's done it again.


Time for Jersey City, After Dark

The mate was a mighty sailing man, the skipper brave and sure...

No it wasn't the SS Minnow but a party boat did pretty much take a puke Monday night in the middle of the East River. Passengers had to wait out a three hour delay before the 'Fiesta En Barco 3' departed and seemingly things were going well until it went under the Williamsburg Bridge when the power and lights went out.

Everyone maintained calm, nobody tried to jump ship and swim to shore and the Green Goblin didn't try sinking the ship.

Unrelated video (but darned funny and so well scored)

If you're texting and driving on the east side of the Hudson River bad things await

Governor Cuomo has signed into law a ban on texting while driving, and yes police may pull you over of they see you doing it. Previously they could only stop you if say you were committing another offense such as speeding. The cost of a ticket is a cool $150.

No problem here with the law, texting while driving is a BAD thing and in some cases proven worse for attention span than driving while tipsy. Good job by NY for swinging the BAN HAMMER hard.

Late night open thread

In honor of tonight's All-Star game:

"You know it's summertime at Candlestick when the fog rolls in, the wind kicks up, and you see the center fielder slicing open a caribou to survive the ninth inning."
--Bob Sarlette

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Newark turned into a shooting gallery yesterday

No, more than usual. Mayor Cory Booker (whom we believe is the best choice for the job there, he just lacks police and inherited a culture of crime) has a real mess on his hands this morning. THIRTEEN people were shot in Newark yesterday, one fatally. Sadly we have to report a 15 year old boy was killed. The 15 year old was hanging out with friends in the 100 block of Scheerer Avenue when a car pulled up and opened fire. Seven other people were shot in the driveway ranging in age from 12 to 32 years of age.

Elsewhere in Newark, earlier yesterday 3 men and a woman were shot downtown in broad daylight a couple blocks from the Prudential Center. Yet another woman was shot in the rear end near the corners of Gareis and Blum.

Now we all know the stereotype and jokes about crime in Newark. We'd like to point out while crime is bad there nothing will change until the residents in these neighborhoods MAKE THE CHANGE by cooperating with the Newark police force. They can still arrest people and Essex County can charge them if the citizens there are willing to see it through.

Late night open thread

Because editing court documents at the last second even when the original exists is always winning strategy:


Time for Jersey City, After Dark

As they say in Merry Olde England, this one's a real poser...UPDATED

OK sleuths, get busy on this one -- A stun gun was found by a cleaning crew on a JetBlue plane that landed last night at Newark Liberty International Airport. The flight arrived from Boston at 10:20 pm and as the crew cleaned the plane they found the stun gun tucked into the back of a seat. Now the speculation begins

*Who was sitting in that seat?

*Did someone sneak it on board past indifferent TSA employees in Boston?

*Was it an air marshall's 'weapon' that was carelessly left behind?

*Had it been left behind on the flight the plane took TO Boston and overlooked?

*Was it property of the cleaning crew who were going to make a great 'Don't taze me bro' kind of YouTube video?

Please, your ideas are more than welcome here on the great taser caper of 2011.

UPDATE: We have video of this very issue being discussed:

Late night open thread

If two pieces of metal touch in space, they become permanently stuck together. Now you know.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Enjoy this now, FIFA will have these clips all down by Tuesday

Utterly fabulous. This goal brought Johnny off his couch pumping his fists. Tremendous heart showed by this team today. On the wrong side of several brutal calls by the Aussie referee (Who peed on your vegemite sammich 'dere sweetie?) the US Women's National Soccer team kept after it even down to 10 players for the last hour. Abby Wambach connected on a PERFECT pass from Megan Rapinoe deep deep into the match and tied it with what is now the latest goal in women's World Cup history.

Now, a lesson here kids. This goal was scored in added time in extra time. The extra time was added on whenst this goal was scored came after a Brazilian player, Erika, just simply laid down on the field pretending she had some malady like a broken bone, a cracked skull, diphtheria, or her leg had fallen off. She was prone and writhing on the field for about four minutes. Of course once the stretcher had picked her up and taken her off the field she sprinted to the sideline, cured by Jeebus himself no doubt, and sprinted back into the game. But those four minutes she lazed around the park were added on. And while those four minutes were playing out Abby Wambach did this, take it away Ian Darke:


US goaltender Hope Solo did her job stopping the third Brazilian player in penalty kicks (The same gal who had scored the first US goal FOR us), the US side made all theirs and the USA will play France Wednesday at noon in the World Cup semi-final.

Abby Wambach and Hope Solo should be allowed to loot and pillage for 24 hours after their return to the USA.

Now this is a good read on a Sunday morning, the background on the Bruce Springsteen song 'Glory Days'

The New York Times has a great backstory on the 'speedball' pitcher that helped inspire the song 'Glory Days' and his relationship with Bruce. It's a wonderful read over coffee this morning.

Late night open thread

Has there ever been a time when Derek Jeter wasn't a classy winner you wanted to see succeed? Congrats to the Yankees captain on hit 3000 in super style.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

If you're looking for something fun to do tonight head out to Harrison and catch the NY Red Bulls

It'll be a raucous crowd at Red Bull Arena tonight when the home side plays DC United at 7:30. The two teams will be playing for the Atlantic Cup tonight as if you needed another reason to sit in the late day sunshine into a mild evening. The Red Bulls crushed Toronto FC earlier this week in Harrison 5-0 and are back up at the top of the table (soccer talk for standings). Red Bulls forward Juan Agudelo, one of the fresh faces in MLS as well as the US National Team had two goals against Toronto and along with Thierry Henry look to pace New York's attack.

Getting to the match couldn't be any easier, just get on the PATH towards Newark, get off in Harrison and bingo, you're feet from Red Bulls Stadium.

Be there and support the NEW JERSEY side (sorry, somebody had to say it). To get you fired up here's Luke Rogers' firecracker of a goal against Toronto this week:

Late night open thread

“I think that's how Chicago got started. A bunch of people in New York said, Gee, I'm enjoying the crime and the poverty, but it just isn't cold enough, let's go west."
--Richard Jeni

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with LINDA RONSTADT AND CHUCK BERRY!

What summertime fun this one is. Chuck Berry with his famously mistuned guitar, Linda Ronstadt's crystal clear and yet snarling vocal and a backup band of some note; Keith Richards, Eric Clapton, Robert Cray, and piano master Johnny Johnson.

As cool as lemonade in a glass full of ice on a hot day here's Linda Ronstadt and the boys playing on the Berry standard 'Back in the U.S.A.'.

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with ELVIS COSTELLO AND THE ATTRACTIONS!

The song written by Elvis Costello 'Girls Talk' has always been a favorite of Johnny's. A cool reggae kind of back beat and some big bouncing bass along with that signature voice make for an instant classic. Elvis wrote the song but wasn't the first to record it, his buddy Dave Edmunds was. Edmunds, and then later Rockpile gave this song a more rockabilly straight ahead kind of sound. We'll stick with the Elvis version tonight...

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with ROBERT CRAY!

Robert Cray was in the movie Animal House. He was. He's an uncredited performer but is the bass player for Otis Day and the Knights nonetheless. Robert Cray with a blazing' version of his hit 'Smoking Gun'.

A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued for Hudson County and the surround until 9PM

Wunderground tells us that these storms could bring high winds and large hail:

Rest of Today
Showers and thunderstorms. Some thunderstorms may be severe with damaging winds...large hail and heavy rainfall. Highs in the mid 80s. Southeast winds around 5 mph. Chance of rain 80 percent.

Some of these look to be of a good size. Wunderground radar as of 3:20PM

How do two people manage to eat $47 worth of food at an IHOP?

But sounding like Arlo Guthrie on 'Alice's Restaurant' here, that's not what we came to talk about. We came to talk about Tashanna Davis and Virginia Monger and how after running up a $46.85 tab at a Brooklyn IHOP, they were arrested and charged with theft of services, and Monger racked up additional charges for resisting arrest and attempted assault. Now the two didn't try to dine and dash, that would be wrong. What they did do was "scarf down a smorgasbord of breakfast" and then OFFER to pay the princely sum of $30. That's right, they must have thought the Brooklyn IHOP was now an open spice market in Istanbul (not Constantinople). They claimed (are you ready for this excuse?) that the service wasn't up to par so they felt their offer of $30 was a fair one. Police were called and that's when Monger got her additional charges.

Do they serve Rooty Tooty Fresh 'N Fruity breakfasts in the hoosegow?

Late night open thread

It's Consumer Probe with Joan Face and everyone's favorite child product huckster Irwin Mainway (who in a roundabout way gave Johnny his stage name) and his quality line of Halloween costumes.


Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Look up 'bad dog owner' in the dictionary and you'll see Susan Kolb's picture

Susan Kolb was offered a stay of execution for her dangerous dogs that have been a part of numerous attacks on citizens. When she went to court as far back as 2009 she was given a chance to send the dogs out of state and thus avoid New Jersey's Vicious Dog Law which would have meant the pooches would be euthanized. Instead of saving the dogs lives, Kolb kept the dogs with her in her Jersey City home in violation of the court order.

Well now she's being charged criminally with contempt of court for violating the court order and the dogs may well be euthanized now under an order from municipal court. The two actions, both criminal and municipal will proceed simultaneously and sadly the municipal hearing may well be over (read dogs euthanized) before her criminal matter is settled.

How selfish. How incredibly selfish a pet owner is this woman? You can save their lives yet you put an animal that cannot hire a high falutin' attorney in harms way. BAD Susan Kolb, BAD. If there were pet mess here we'd rub your nose in it. It's too bad these dogs will most likely be put to sleep because of your obstinate stupidity.

Late night open thread

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Somebody go ask Mayor Mike which way the wind is blowing today

Because it seems the Mayor of New York City sure changes his mind along with the breeze. When the supposed hotel rape of hotel cleaning employee was still in the early hours and Dominique Strauss-Kahn was required to do a 'perp walk' in handcuffs and in front of cameras as is the American way (no so much in Europe), Bloomberg had this to say:

"I think it is humiliating, but you know if you don’t want to do the perp walk, don’t do the crime... I don’t have a lot of sympathy for that. Our judicial system works where the public can see the alleged perpetrators."

Now that the case has pretty much fallen apart on what may well be lies told by the woman who worked in the hotel suddenly, the breeze and Mayor Mike's mind seem to have changed:

"We've done perp walks for the benefit of newspapers and television for a long time... I've always thought the perp walks were outrageous. That's only my view. Nobody's asked me and I have no say in it..."

The weather forecast for City Hall in New York is for swirling changing winds that may not be the same in 15 minutes as they are now depending upon how the real world plays out.

Late night open thread

“If God dwells inside us like some people say, I sure hope he likes enchiladas, because that's what he's getting”
-- Jack Handey

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

A exceptional view of the Macy's Fireworks finale last night

A YouTube user named NJPhotographer62 has been kind enough to favor us with his video of last night's fireworks finale. It's really amazing video.

Late night open thread

It's getting to be that time, here we go.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Live action shot of the blimp race

High above 101 Hudson...

Hoboken encourages people to drive to FuHo for tonight's fireworks

The Hoboken city government put out a statement on travel for tonight to encourage fireworks fans planning on watching the Macy's Fireworks in FuHo tonight to shun the PATH and light rail system and drive to the Mile Square City. The statement mentioned there is plenty of parking and it'll be easy to find. The press release said municipal lots and street parking will provide E-Z-In and E-Z-Out parking before and after the show. One person who spoke to the Jersey City Desk on the condition of anonymity said if you have a big vehicle such a Hummer on it's last legs make sure to drive that and use narrow city streets.

FuHo powers that be also are looking forward to people who want to make their own fireworks shows before and after the Macy's show. That same source said Hoboken encourages personal fireworks displays tonight.

Because of rain yesterday the blimp race is today

5 to 7 as before, starting at Liberty State Park...

Late night open thread

They're called internet classics for a reason. Can anyone tell the class why it's a bad idea to pack the back of your pickup with a butt-load of fireworks to put on a neighborhood show?


Time for Jersey City, After Dark

You can't get ant better than this, Blimp Races today!!

Call it the Dirigible-on-Hudson 500 because citizens have we got fun today. 3 blimps (Unless Johnny turns the Jersey City Desk traffic copter into a drag racer) will race from the Statue of Liberty, up the Hudson to Weehawkem then into midtown Manhattan.

The Hangar 1 Vodka blimp, the Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey blimp, and the DirectTV blimp will race at 5 pm today until 7 pm. Of course we are cheering for the Blue Cross of New Jersey blimp just because we're homers.

Current toteboard odds:
Hangar 1 Vodka blimp 7-1
Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey blimp 5-2
DirectTV blimp 4-1

Bet as much as you want to. The Raccoon Lodge in lower Manhattan near the new One World Trade is taking off track money as is the WareHouse Cafe here in Jersey City.

Late night open thread

Heather O'Reilly, damn girl, this is a firecracker of a shot. Well done.

This is Heather giving the USA women's team a 1-0 lead against Columbia, a game they would go on to win 3-0. German is such a pretty language...


Time for Jersey City, After Dark

They're doing the happy dance over at Madison Square Garden

Yes hockey fans the Broadway Blueshirts have signed this off-season's hottest commodity Brad Richards. He signed a 9 year deal worth $60 million cash dollars. A great signing across the Hudson which will no doubt sell season tickets.

Yesterday the Devils signed defenseman Andy Greene to a multi-year contract and signed goaltender Johan Hedberg.

False alarm on that loose baboon in Jackson and Franklin Township

It was only Snooki.

Carry on

Feeling patriotic this morning?

It is after all Independence Day weekend and if you'd like to throw out a few "USA!" chants this morning the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team will play a match against Columbia this morning on ESPN at 11:30. It's the USA's second game of the Women's World Cup having already defeated North Korea 2-0.

Did we mention the ladies of the United States hold the current #1 ranking in the world?

Late night open thread

Tonight friends the Amazing Johnny Action Space Punk, numerical magician, will perform a feat of amazing daring do. This one really wowed the crowned heads of Europe.

Step1: Think of a number below 10.
Step2: Double the number you have thought.
Step3: Add 6 with the getting result.
Step4: Half the answer, that is divide it by 2.
Step5: Take away the number you have thought from the answer, that is, subtract the answer from the number you have thought.

Johnny knows your answer mortal, check the comments section for the answer.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with X!

Los Angeles punk but not JUST L.A. punk at work here. It's L.A. punk covering the classic Los Angeles sound of the Doors. Here's X covering the Doors classic 'Soul Kitchen.'

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with THE UNDISPUTED TRUTH!

Johnny's gonna dig deep into the Motown catalog with The Undisputed Truth with their only real song of note 'Smiling Faces Sometimes.' The Undisputed Truth were a 70's Motown act out long after the fame found in the 60's by the Supremes, Four Tops, Temptations et al. In fact this song was originally recorded by the Temptations but it was this version that hit #3 on the Billboard charts.

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with WILSON PICKETT!

Wrapping up the music series this week the fantabulous soul sound of Wilson Pickett who with this song for a long time had the most famous phone number in music history until Tommy Tutone started calling Jenny. Before making it in Memphis Wilson Pickett crafted his sound in Detroit.

Wilson Pickett with 634-5789,a song written by the Colonel Steve Cropper and Eddie Floyd.

The Jersey City pools are open, EVERYBODY RUN!!

Yes, running near the pools iS allowed. If anyone complains you just tell them Johnny said it was OK.

The Jersey City municipal pools are now open for summer fun. If you'd like a list of the locations and hours click this handy-dandy link and soon you'll be smelling of chlorine...