Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Late night open thread

"I once wanted to become an atheist, but I gave up - they have no holidays."
--Henny Youngman

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Boy the Port Authority really stepped in this one

And thus far all we have is silence from Our Governor "I never met a quote I didn't like" Christie and New York Governor Andrew Cuomo.

If our dear readers will recall, when the Port Authority was trying to justify the huge toll hikes they proposed they included the work on the new One World Trade, which was built into the cost. The said they new WTC was included in cost projections in both public comments and press releases.

As late as August 19th, after the money had been approved the Port Authority said in a press release the increase would cover the "completion of the World Trade Center."

Then they were sued by AAA who said that the WTC wasn't a transportation project, rather a building. But, in their legal filings in this case the Port Authority said NO money would be used from toll increases for the WTC.

So, um, Port Authority, which one is it? You simply CANNOT use pull the strings of patriotism while trying to gin up reasons for your toll increase. By basically using the attacks on 9/11 as part of your justification, THEN filing (they no doubt wish had never come out) on another case say "Wait, no money is going there, who on earth told you that?"

"It's got to be one or the other," said Genovese, vice president of AAA of New York, which filed the suit with AAA of Northern New Jersey in September. "They can't have it both ways."

Maybe someone should have brought this up from the Port Authority when they held their sham "open meetings" on this toll increase. Ready for what the Port Authority considers open meetings?

The mandatory public hearings on the hike were held on a single day, three days before the approval vote, all eight of them during rush hour and at Port Authority facilities not typically used for public forums.

It's our opinion that the Port Authority intentionally misled the public. They've clammed up and nobody is saying anything from their offices. The governors, again, are saying nothing.

It's pretty obvious what happened here and it's also apparent it is time to hide the cookie jar from the Port Authority bozos running the circus.

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Late night open thread

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

The Hudson Tea Building in Hoboken, celebrities, fine living and stalkers

Dateline Fuho: A woman who lives in the Hudson Tea Building says after turning down another resident for a date she's now been getting annoying and mysterious knocks on her door at all hours. She said she's lost weight from the harassment and is just too petrified to call police when the door knocking happens. Maybe it's Eli Manning wanting to go have a catch. Maybe it's former Kardashian Snipe hunting bagman Kris Humphries wanting to talk about where he might play in the NBA this season, or maybe it's the asshat who asked her out that simply can't take no for an answer.

You can read the article here and give us your thoughts in comments.

Monday, November 28, 2011

Late night open thread

Here now, a first half highlight from tonight's Monday Night Football game.


Time for Jersey City, After Dark

How well do you know your accountant?

With the end of the year fast approaching, many citizens will be hunkering down with their accountants for some end of the year tax planning sessions. Then of course the game changes January 1st as people huddle with accountants over paying the 2011 taxes.

Did you know however that a record number of New Jersey accountants are lying about their education credentials? Not the kind of thing you'd like to find out after-the-fact no doubt. An article in NJ.com this morning says accountants are lying about the classes they have been taking for professional enrichment as well as ethics classes.

Read the article, take a look at what it is saying and then you might just wanna follow up with your own accountant and make sure they are all caught up on classes and can PROVE it to you.

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Late night open thread

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Mayor Healy will be holding a fundraiser at Puccini's December 6th

And we encourage the hundreds and thousands of Jersey City voters and residents whom the mayor long ago stopped caring about to show up at Puccini's and let the mayor know that actually carrying out your duties as mayor include actually meeting with citizens (and citizens groups who might just ask hard questions) and not just singing karaoke in bars and showing up at ribbon cuttings and parades.

Again, Mayor Healy will be holding a fundraiser December 6th at Puccini's. He's asking $150-$300 a pop. If you'd like to be heard without becoming a Healy acolyte simply show up and start asking questions. Our goal would be between 50-100 people there that evening. By showing up and holding a camera to see just whom is on their way in to support the mayor would be a good thing as well. If you're going to support Healy let's make it very difficult to do it secretly.

Puccini's is located at 1064 West Side Ave.

#OccupyPuccini's

Late night open thread

It's the Saturday night scoreboard show

Connecticut 40
Rutgers 22
What a time for a stinker of a game. Rutgers will get to a decent enough bowl game but this season will be haunted by the Big East title that wasn't

Stanford 28
Notre Dame 14
Who knows, maybe 8-4 Rutgers can play 8-4 Notre Dame in the 8-4 Bowl

Northern Illinois 18
Eastern Michigan 12
Eastern Michigan's first non-losing season since 1995. Ron English whom we've hassled here before has helped pick this program off the mat

Utah State 21
Nevada 17
Here's a case of another lost program, Utah State, picking themselves up and fighting back to bowl eligibility

Michigan State 31
Northwestern 17
Sparty rolls into the Big Ten title game at 10-2 against...

Wisconsin 45
Penn St. 7
Hide the meats and cheeses Indianapolis, the Badger fans are coming to town. Keep your hands and feet away from their mouths

Stony Brook 31
Albany 28
Stony Brook came from waaaaay back to win their first round Division 1-AA playoff game

Air Force 45
Colorado State 21
The Air Force Academy becomes bowl eligible. Johnny likes Air Force, they have awesome helmets

USC 50
UCLA 0
And it's UCLA who will win the PAC-12 South after this crushing defeat and move on to play Oregon next Saturday in the Pac 12 title game. All because Pete Carroll had no control over the USC program and graft ran wild while he was in charge.....allegedly

Michigan 40
Ohio State 34
Yet another rivalry game that used to mean something. Michigan beats THE Ohio State University for the first time since the Unabomber was in grad school in Ann Arbor

The Jersey City Desk Game of the Week®
Florida Atlantic 38
UAB 35
Florida Atlantic coach and all around class act Howard Schnellenberger is retiring after this game. This was FAU's only win of the season and they send Schnellenberger out a winner. With FAU's win it means all DIvision 1-A schools won at least one game this year

Tim for Jersey City, After Dark

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Rutgers football gameday!

OK Rutgers fans, last regular season game of the year and YES, the Scarlet Knights CAN still make it to a BCS game but those chances are slim. Tom Luicci with the Star-Ledger explains how slim:

Three things now need to happen for the Scarlet Knights to have a chance at earning the Big East's automatic BCS bowl:
1. Rutgers needs to beat Connecticut on Saturday;
2. West Virginia has to lose in its season finale at South Florida on Thursday;
3. Cincinnati has to win its final two games, with the Bearcats at Syracuse on Saturday before closing out at home against Connecticut.


Ah yes, beating Connecticut.

Last week as you'll recall we gave up on the Rutgers running game and Jawan Jamison promptly ripped off a 200 yard afternoon on the ground. Could Rutgers maybe get another 100 yards out of Jamison? It certainly would be key. Now the Huskies are a strong defensive team especially against the run so not becoming too one-dimensional would go a long way. The Rutgers defense this season has been stout. They are the reason the Piscataway 11 are still alive for a BCS bowl game. They really have their work cut out for them today in UConn's two-headed QB system. Johnny McAntee can't can pass but can't run while Scott McCummings can run very well but probably couldn't hit water if he threw the ball out of a boat. Rutgers defense needs to communicate and know who is out there on every down.

Rutgers has pretty well owned Connecticut in football (And UConn returns the favor in hoops) over the years and it is our opinion that will continue for one more game.

Fearless Forecast
Rutgers gets power up and claims a share of the Big East title!
Rutgers 28
Connecticut 23

Late night open thread

Jim Morrison once sang "Cars hiss by my window..."

They certainly do.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with THE POLICE!

Wherever you're tuning into this song you'll soon have that certain kind of reggae sway going and the up tempo 2 and 4 will have your toes tapping. Goodness, someone watching you listen to this might just think you're having a good time or something...

The Police with 'One World (Not Three)'

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with SHERYL CROW!

OK, we don't do it often but tonight is such a night. The tissues, go get them. It's a very heartbreaking song batting second tonight from Sheryl Crow. Johnny's always had a deep like for this one and it's called 'Home'

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with GUSTER!

Johnny and his best gal caught Guster at the Wellmont Theater tonight out in Montclair and what a terrific show. Lots of energy, fantastic music and an overall bouncy vibe. If you're a Guster fan or just wanna see a great show they're playing the Wellmont again Saturday night. Showtime 8pm.

Here's Guster with 'Satellite'

Friday, November 25, 2011

We'd like to tip our cap to The Iron Monkey here in Jersey City

Every Thanksgiving for the last 15 years The Iron Monkey (99 Greene St.) has offered Thanksgiving dinners to the needy, homeless or whomever else may be in need of a great free no questions asked meal. Former Iron Money general manger Tara Werner said the kitchen and staff are all volunteers and they were able to serve more than 150 dinners yesterday. We'd also like to tip our caps to the following local businesses who also gave of themselves to make The Iron Monkey dinner a success; Made With Love Bakery, Starbucks, the New Jersey Beer Co., and the Restaurant Depot.

Thanks to all involved for making our city a better place to live.

Late night open thread

Ahhhh, another successful Thanksgiving Day.....unless you're the Detroit Lions.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us here at the Jersey City Desk

Johnny and all the interns and news bullpen hangers-on wish you a wonderful Thanksgiving. Enjoy your day and safe travels.

Could you hurry up eating and clearing the table? Christmas is at the front door and eager to start...

First off this Thanksgiving morning, a public service announcement

The dump in Stockbridge Massachusetts is closed today...

Late night open thread

Is it too soon to put the turkey in? Johnny's hungry now.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Late night open thread

Something new tonight on the late night thread. Linking to a Pandora music channel and on such a rainy night here in Jersey City. Music on this internet outpost til dawn...

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Eco-friendly Christmas lights illuminate the Central Ave. strip

AND we get a Mayor Healy sighting. We swear, if this guy doesn't start showing up for town hall meetings or city council meetings or some public event where everything isn't a tree lighting ceremony or a parade and HARD questions of his stewardship can be asked we're gonna pass out faux milk cartons around Grove St. and Journal Square with pictures of his eminence on them. Talk about an absentee mayor...

The lights, yes the lights, they look great and they are environmentally friendly relying on light-emitting diode (LED) lights which use far less energy. So get out there and waste some precious fossil fuels and check them out. They really do look good.

Mayor Bloomberg's favorite Thanksgiving Day parade balloon?

From 1937. No military-type outfit, no canister of pepper spray, no us vs. them mentality, just Officer "Friendly" with a night stick

Monday, November 21, 2011

Late night open thread

State trivia night.

The capital of this state has a working oil well on the capital grounds. Answer here.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Oh look, a kitty......

Johnny wanted to bleat on about this yesterday when the story broke but held his tongue. Odd he thought, that just when Mike Bloomberg and the NYPD needed a big dose of PR-juice after the disgusting and disgraceful way they cleared the park and attacked innocent civilians they magically got one.

Mr. Terror Lone Wolf guy they arrested who was a dangerous al-Qaeda sympathizer isn't turning out to be much of a threat at all. So much so the FBI even declined to get involved in this nationally important terror case:

Two law enforcement officials said Monday that the NYPD's Intelligence Division had sought to get the FBI involved at least twice as the investigation unfolded. Both times, the FBI concluded that Pimentel lacked the mental capacity to act on his own, they said.

The FBI thought Pimentel "didn't have the predisposition or the ability to do anything on his own," one of the officials said.


Mayor Bloomberg, just quit. You're really burying the memory two pretty positive terms under this manure pile third one. Just pull a Sarah Palin and slink off to go make money. Ok, then just slink off. Maybe then they'll call off the drums.

Thanksgiving dinner, your MUST haves

As much as you'd like to say you're not already thinking ahead to Thursday we know better. So while you're daydreaming about that big meal what is the ONE thing (besides turkey, potatoes and stuffing/dressing) you HAVE to have on your table or Thanksgiving just isn't Thanksgiving?

State your case foodies!

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Late night open thread

Sunday night football is on too late for Johnny's bedtime. He is looking forward to the Giants plucking the Iggles tonight. So, who ya got?

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

If you're wondering how Rutgers fares in the Big East football tie-breakers we've got you covered

If you're wondering how the tie-breakers int he Big East make shake out if and when Rutgers ties for the conference crown and hopefully snare a BCS bowl game. We hope you have some kind of advanced math degree:

Put it all together and West Virginia is probably in the best position to end up in the BCS in that scenario because of BCS rankings. In the “Mini-Conference” scenario, “Teams A & B are 2-1 (UL, WVU), and Teams C & D are 1-2 (Cincy, RU). The higher ranked of the 2-1 teams earns the bid. If the 2-1 teams tie for the highest ranking, the bid goes to the team that won the head-to-head match up.”

There's MUCH more to it and you can see the entire scenario here.

If it's Sunday it must be all about the arts here at the Jersey City Desk

Johnny, art lover. It's true.

Reading the New York Times tells us about a great exhibit at the Montclair Art Museum by animation and print artist Marina Zurkow. Well give you the link to the article here and then how to get in touch with the Montclair Art Museum here.

“Marina Zurkow: Friends, Enemies and Others” is on view through March 18, 2012, at the Montclair Art Museum, 3 South Mountain Avenue, Montclair; montclairartmuseum.org or (973) 746-5555.

Johnny will see you there in December...

Late night open thread

Saturday Night Scoreboard Show

Rutgers 20
Cincinnati 3
Perfect timing for Jawan Jamison to run wild over the Bearcats for 200 yards after we wrote off the Rutgers running attack this morning.

Baylor 45
Oklahoma 38
Sooner Bummer

Harvard 45
Yale 7
The Yalies take a beating at home

Michigan St. 55
Indiana 3
Sparty wins the Big Ten Legends division and will play in the first Big Ten title game

Lehigh 37
Lafayette 13
Lehigh goes undefeated in the Patriot League for the second straight year in mashing the Leopards

Wofford 28
Chattanooga 27
Mitch Allen had his Wheaties this morning and Wofford fans are glad

New Hampshire 30
Maine 27
The old border war goes to the Granite Staters this year

Notre Dame 16
Boston College 14
When Irish eyes are winning

Kutztown 20
Concord 17
Win one for dear old Kutztown

North Dakota 38
South Dakota 37
Armed incursions from settlers in North Dakota into South Dakota may continue

The Jersey City Desk Game of the Week®
Miami (FL) 6
South Florida 3
(insert baying hound sound here) bark bark bark woof woof, what a dog of a game. Certainly worthy of shame in the harsh light of the game of the week spotlight

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Saturday, November 19, 2011

Rutgers football gameday!

Statement day down in Piscataway at High Point Solutions Synergy Analysis Zazzle Stadium at high noon today. If Rutgers wins, and with the fluffy dogs from the Nutmeg State up next for the Scarlet Knights, they'd have a great chance for at least a tie of the Big East title. Then the tie-breakers will do their thing.

But first the Bearcats from the far away and often strange land of Cincinnati.

OK, Rutgers can't run. We implore them every week to run and to keep trying to at least set some kind of offensive rhythm playing downhill football. In the esteemed words of Zorak "Yeah, we're not doing that." Somehow or someway Rutgers is going to need 20-24 points today. Rutgers has a strong defense, 11th in the nation in points per game allowed. Cincinnati will score. It's what they do. But the Rutgers offense on their way to those 20-24 point has to give the defense a breather by controlling the ball somehow. Quite a few of the Scarlet Knights games this season have been decided in the 4th quarter or later. The defense leads the way so keep them at their ready best when you need them most. Reverses count as running yards ya know.

Fearless Forecast:
On senior day San San Te kicks a field goal as time runs out
Rutgers 23
Cincinnati 20

Late night open thread

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with THE VELVELETTES!

2648 W. Grand Boulevard in Detroit, better known at Hitsville USA and the Motown recording studios has created some of the greatest and most iconic songs and recording acts in pop music history. Tonight let's kick off the music series with an act you may not have heard of and so you're in for a treat. The Velvelettes with 'He was Really Sayin' Something'.

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with FLORENCE AND THE MACHINE!

Incredible stuff hepcats and kittens from Florence Welch. They'll be playing Saturday Night Live tomorrow night in Midtown. Florence and the Machine with 'Im Not Calling You a Liar'.

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with THE NOISETTES!

Ladies and gentlemen, The Noisettes with wonderful melding of a couple different styles on 'Don't Upset the Rhythm'.

Friday, November 18, 2011

And if you're getting David Sedaris on Super Happy Fun Day let's double down with Amy Sedaris

Very few people can rattle David Letterman. You know, where Dave just kind of loses control? Yes, Amy Sedaris who can be found prowling the West Village on her knitted cell phone.

David Sedaris on the 'Stadium Pal'

Good stuff from David Sedaris...

Hey, it's Friday, let's have a Super Happy Fun Day!!

We haven't had one of those in months.

We see where Congress is slated to call pizza a vegetable for school nutrition purposes (Like when Ronnie Reagan tried making ketchup a veggie back in the 80's for this same reason).

So Jersey City, what do you like on your 16" vegetables?

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Late night open thread

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Juliet Supper Club, go for the celebrities, just leave when the shooting starts

Chelsea hotspot and celebrity hangout (on Monday nights anyway) has had it's second murder Tuesday morning in two months. Several NBA players (hey they had nothing better to do) and New Jersey Giants players were said to be at Juliet when the shooting started. A 43 year-old man was killed in the shooting while another was shot in the back, arm and rear-end. Another patron, a woman (who wasn't shy about tweeting her leg wound before trying to erase her Twitter feed -- that doesn't happen though) and five others were hit by gunfire.

The Juliet Supper Club has released a statement saying they may now close on Monday nights and just how seriously they take security in the club:

"Juliet Supper Club has always taken additional precautionary measures to ensure the safety of its patrons. Measures included male and female security guards responsible for searching patrons belongings, a mandatory coat check, and a strict dress code was implemented..."

Well your security guards sure missed one big gun it would seem Juliet.

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Late night open thread

Hey hey hey, it's stupid people doing really stupid things. If you're gonna steal beer and munchies from the Stop and Go try and make sure there aren't four county sheriff's deputies already inside.


Time for Jersey City, After Dark

When the #OWS gets out of hand or turns violent ask Mayor Mike why -- UPDATED

Look, we all know Mayor Bloomberg can't get enough of giving his Wall St. buddies handjobs, but now Bloomie thinks he knows the United States Constitution better than most legal scholars. Mayor Mike seems to be confused about the GUARANTEE of PEACEABLE redress of grievances. Of course this only matters to Bloomberg when his poor poor put upon Wall St. acolytes are crashing the economy and blaming teachers. Only then should we worry about rights -- rights for Wall St.

Well Mayor, it has come to this. You have badmouthed the people exercising their RIGHTS. You have turned to police on them to stifle free speech. When people have no outlets left to protest Mike guess what they do? And you'll be to blame for it when it does happen.

Shame on you. Shame.

Here's one of your boys now, he's the new face of YOUR police Department.

UPDATE -- Mayor Bloomberg's incredible comment this morning on this "No right is absolute." Um YES it is jackass it's WHY they call them RIGHTS. Oh and Bloomie, you just got slapped down by a New York City judge: "The order by Justice Lucy Billings set a hearing date for Tuesday at 11:30 a.m. and said that until the matter was considered at that hearing, the city and Brookfield Properties, the owners of Zuccotti Park, would be prohibited from evicting protesters or "enforcing 'rules' published after the occupation began or otherwise preventing protesters from re-entering the park with tents and other property previously utilized."


Monday, November 14, 2011

Late night open thread

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Some gorgeous late season leaves

Still on the trees

Monday morning coffee klatch

So tell us about your weekends over coffee this morning. How is fall treating you? Any big Turkey Day plans?

Late night open thread

"Computers are useless. They can only give you answers."
--Pablo Picasso

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Sunday, November 13, 2011

PATH is running this morning

After a fire at the Journal Square station last night which caused signal failures and the entire PATH system was shut down. It's good to go as of now.

Late night open thread

Saturday night scoreboard show

Rutgers 27
Army 12
Mohamed Sanu sets the Big East record for catches as the Scarlet Knights start slow but get power up and big things are now possible

TCU 36
Boise St. 35
Johnny doesn't know who he feels worse for, the Boise St. kicker or his seeing-eye dog

Oregon 53
Stanford 30
The Ducks simply dominated the Trees

Michigan State 37
Iowa 21
Sparty now has the inside track to the Big Ten title game

E. Washington 53
Cal Poly 51
Despite going 6-6 on 4th down today Cal Poly falls in OT to E. Washington

Lehigh 34
Georgetown 12
Lehigh clinches their 10th Patriot League title and clinch an automatic playoff berth

Dartmouth 21
Brown 16
Brown blows a great chance to tie for the Ivy League title

Eastern Michigan 30
Buffalo 17
With one more win THE most moribund college football program of the last ten years will actually become bowl eligible

LSU 42
Western Kentucky 9
Because learning how to lose is just as important as learning to win

Jersey City Desk Game of the Week®
Central Arkansas 23
Texas St. 22
Eddie Camara kicked a 19 yard field goal with 1:02 to play to deliver a huge victory to the Bears. Eddie Camara may now loot and pillage for 24 hours

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Saturday, November 12, 2011

Rutgers football gameday!

What's that Bunky, you loves you some Rutgers football but you hate the trip down to scenic Piscataway? Well we have good news for you, they're are playing in our backyard today and that backyard is better known as Yankee Stadium. Load up the kids and get on the trains, Rutgers and Army kick off at 3:30 in da Bronx.

Something worrisome about a game against the Black Knights of the Hudson on Veterans Day weekend but NOW how does that win last weekend look in the rearview mirror? Win this game and the Scarlet Knights start to rise above a lot of teams in the east (especially with the vacuum left in State College) and bowl scouts take note of this tiny New York City teevee market. This game doesn't need analysis, if Rutgers can keep focus, keep playing outstanding pressure the QB defense and don't fall victim to a special teams meltdown they should win.

Don't you have you Rutgers hats and jackets on yet? Grab those Metro Cards and get going. Go tailgate in the Bronx somewhere cozy and find a place to toss the pigskin around, fire up the Weber pot grill, and play some beer pong all within sight of venerable Yankee Stadium.

Fearless Forecast
Scarlet Knights 31
Black Knights 17

Late night open thread

Did you know there are more plastic pink flamingoes in the USA than real ones? It's a FACT!

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with THE FARM!

Dollars to donuts if you turn this one up you'll define the word bopping before too long. The Farm kicking off the music series as we pull out behind the 'Groovy Train'.

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with PET SHOP BOYS!

When you had a great song in the 1980's what did you do to promote it? Make an absolutely dated ten minutes after it was shot plodding video for MTV. The pixels as big as hams meme circles past us once more wrapped in a really good song from Pet Shop Boys, 'Opportunities (Let's Make Lots of Money)'

Friday, November 11, 2011

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with THE THREE DEGREES!

If you can dismiss the god awful intro from some people on Top of the Pops you'll be treated to a gem, The Three Degrees singing 'When Will I See You Again' from Christmas 1974. Sheila Ferguson sings the shit out of this song.

Happy Veterans Day!

A special shout out to all our active and retired military personnel and especially those who have given the ultimate sacrifice for this Republic and other friendly nations around the globe. We thank you.

Johnny as you'll recall was a child hero in Vietnam who though only 6 at the time almost single-handedly beat back thousands of NVA and Vietcong fighters in the battle of Kung Pao Shrimp...

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Late night open thread

Yes car mavens it's retro auto ad night and this evening a rare treat, the 1973 Mercury Comet, the 200 hp wonder of the driving world. A solid unibody suit of armor indeed. Johnny cut his teeth driving a 73 Comet all through high school. You could flip the air filter cover and made that 200 engine sound like a 302 V-8. The 200 cid inline V-6 that roared.

That 1963 Comet at the beginning looks like a dashing daily driver. The kind of car you could take the wife to dinner at Dog and Suds in and then later outrun the police in going home.


Time for Jersey City, After Dark

If it's November it must be time for St. Peter's basketball

Fear the Peacock.

At least the MAAC did last year as St. Peter's won the MAAC Tourney and headed off to the Big Dance for the first time since 1995. While their dance card was a short one in losing to Purdon't, St. Peter's is eager to get back to work and the business of winning. Now, winning might just be a subjective term down Kennedy Boulevard as the Peacocks lost 78% of their scoring due to graduations and one team dismissal. Still, head coach John Dunne remains upbeat about the upcoming grind:

“Once you win a championship — especially one that you’ve wanted so bad — now that you’ve tasted it, you want the next one more.”

A hearty best of luck for the Pride of Jersey City this year. The Peacocks begin the 2011-12 season tomorrow evening at Buffalo.

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Late night open thread

Notable quotables night:

"When choosing between two evils, I always like to try the one I've never tried before."
--Mae West

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Johnny sees something in need of Medicare...

Johnny saw these signs posted at the Grove Street Square this morning where the AARP were filming a commercial for a Medicare supplement plan. Wanna see something that needs Medicare? That bike. Doesn't the city have anyone who cleans these nasty bikes up? Do it now, chop chop, because we all know how dead nasty bikes multiply under snowdrifts during the annual cooling period.

And the winners are...

Leading the pack last night were Viola Richardson (who never met a tax payer funded job she didn't like) and Rolando R. Lavarro Jr., both are to be congratulated for their victories.

Now for the losers. Well, loser, singular. Mayor Healy (again).

Healy backed both of his two rubber stamp incumbents, Ray Velazquez (Whom Healy appointed) and Kalimah Ahmad. In a race that should be very telling to the mayor his candidates finished fourth and fifth. Times are changing mayor, People are mad and they know exactly who they are mad at. It's no longer crooks like Leona Beldini and Mariano Vega, it's YOU. You never answer to citizens. You never show up in public unless it's a parade or some grand opening event where you are surrounded by acolytes and police. You act as though you are above the people you represent. You have walled yourself off in your office and you now hide from the people whom you'll be asking for votes from.

We hope they respond to you in 2013 the way you have given them the back of your hand since election day 2009.

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Late night open thread

We've got a real barn burner going on in the Jersey City Council race this evening. They're still counting votes. 2 of these candidates will celebrate while the rest will be left to lick their wounds. Results in the morning.

Viola S. Richardson 2,759
Suzanne Mack 2,266
Rolando R. Lavarro Jr. 2,237
Kalimah Ahmad* 2,194
Radames Ray Velazquez Jr.* 2,042
Richard Boggiano 1,867
Daniel Levin 1,763

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Is there a better lunch spot in all of Jersey City than J. Owen Grundy Park?

Just a wonderful place to sit down and enjoy lunch when it's 70º on November 8th...

The polls are now open Jersey City, get out there and VOAT!

Sorry for the trollish spelling for the more commonly used word vote. Jersey City is electing two city council candidates today from a field of close to 906 candidates (OK, 17).

The Jersey Journal says this eclectic bunch of candiates cuts quite a wide swath through the community demographics:

The group includes three current council members, a former council member, a former mayoral candidate, a former council candidate and a handful of activists who can be seen regularly at council meetings railing against the administration.

We don't make endorsements so make sure you read up on who is who, who supports the mayor, who opposes the mayor and a good idea might be to see where the candidates stand on the dangerous Spectra Pipeline.

Monday, November 7, 2011

Late night open thread

Pretty well armed for the average private dick don't ya think?


Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Whew, Johnny is just now finishing the NYC Marathon

Johnny's using the mobile to send this post as he recovers here on the west side of Central Park for a few hours. Johnny just ran his best time, 22 hours and 11 minutes. Suck on that Kenya.

Here's another story about a slow-go on the race course you're sure to enjoy...

Sunday, November 6, 2011

Late night open thread

Quite a nice weekend for football. Rutgers with a huge win yesterday and the Jets and Giants with huge road wins today. The watercoolers will be all about the pigskin tomorrow.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

So get out there and get skating!

The Charlie Heger Ice Skating Rink in Pershing Field in Jersey City opened yesterday offering Jersey City residents a chance to zip around the ice on skates and even take free lessons this weekend. The rink is located at Summit Avenue between Manhattan and Central Avenues and is open today for free. The hours for the rink going forward will be as follows:

The rink is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. There is one session on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. There are two sessions from 3:30 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. on Fridays.

There are three sessions on Saturdays, from 2:30 p.m. to 4:15 p.m., 4:30 p.m. to 6:15 p.m., and 6:45 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. There are two sessions on Sundays, from 12:15 p.m. to 2 p.m. and from 2:15 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.

The skate fee for adults is $3 for residents, $5 for non-residents. For children under the age of 18, the price is $2 per session for residents, and $3 for a non-residents. Senior citizens will be $1 for residents, and $2 for non-residents.


Lace 'em up, go have some fun Jersey CIty.

Late night open thread

Saturday night scoreboard show

Rutgers 20
USF 17 OT
An amazing comeback and a hard fought win (and a little bit of luck) sets the rest of the season up nicely for the Piscataway 11

LSU 9
Alabama 6 OT
Nick Saban has an embarrassment of riches at every position and yet relies on blind contest winners to kick field goals for Alabama

Michigan State 31
Minnesota 24
Closer that it should have been Sparty

Lehigh 14
Holy Cross 7
The Patriot league title and trip to the Division 1-AA playoffs is on the line when Lehigh plays Georgetown next week

Northwestern 28
Nebraska 25
The battle for who wears the 'N' on the helmet correctly goes to Evanston this year...

Furman 20
Appalachian State 10
South Carolina > North Carolina

Idaho 32
San Jose St. 29
The Vandals turn on the faucet in the 4th quarter and San Jose St. can't turn it off

Louisville 38
West Virginia 35
The annual Mountaineer "Going out of contention sale" is underway

UCLA 29
Arizona St. 28
Fear the little bears from the City of Angels

S. Dakota State 45
S. Illinois 34
Jackrabbit nation goes wild

The Jersey City Desk Game of the Week®
Eastern Kentucky 52
Jacksonville St. 48
EKU hadn't stopped Jacksonville St. all day on defense until the final couple plays of the game in a goal line stand that sent the Colonels into first place all alone the town of Richmond into a tizzy

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Saturday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with GARY NUMAN!

Yeah baby, some of that techno 80's that still sounds good today. Somewhere Johnny and Mrs. Johnny saw where Gary Numan had released a greatest hits collection. Mrs. Johnny asked "What did he do, release 'Cars' 12 times?"

A fair question. Gary Numan with the classic 'Cars'

Saturday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with THE MIGHTY LEMON DROPS!

Here's one you haven't probably heard in a while. A gem out of nowhere on a chilly Saturday evening. The Mighty Lemon Drops with 'Inside Out'

Saturday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with 999!

A little 1970's Brit punk with 999 and the classic 'Homicide' wrapping things up for another music series.

Saturday, November 5, 2011

Rutgers football gameday!

While no game played on any field of sport is a given or a sure thing, Rutgers should handle Army next week, right? Rutgers big playmakers should be able to handle the Black Knights of the Hudson common sense would say. But the Scarlet Knights don't play Army today they play South Florida so why the Army talk Johnny?

Here's why...

Rutgers season sits on a knifes-edge today in Piscataway against the Bulls. Rutgers is 5-3. Forget the conference record, the Big East crown isn't coming their way this year. 5-3 is the true number to concentrate on. Now, think Army next week and for dreamery imagination we think "Hmmmmm, 6-3 which could be 7-3 with a win against USF. A loss today at home would leave us with only a chance to get to 6-4 next week and some higher tier bowl scouts will stop following us."

There it is, if ever a game under coach Greg Schiano cried out for MAX effort, a wild crazed bunch of Rutgers players playing their absolute hardest this season for 60 minutes it's today. It doesn't jump out on the schedule early in the year where you say THERE, November 5th, THAT'S the big game this year but funny how sports works out.

The Scarlet Knights are on a two game skid. A painful both of those losses were winnable skid. A painful Rutgers did it to themselves skid. Here's how they win today.

South Florida can run the ball and hoo-wee man they can score points. Here's the thing, they couldn't seem to stop the run themselves in October. The Bulls have lost three straight and in two of those gave up huge chunks of yards on the ground. If Rutgers can compile 110-140 yards on the ground in any combination they can keep the USF offense off the field. On defense Schiano's defensive charges must keep USF's fine QB B.J. Daniels uncomfortable. We're not encouraging say Michigan State vs. Michigan knock you down and take your lunch money and collect 9 personal fouls style of play but yes, get in his face, knock him down, make him think about going back to pass in a BAD way. Like Reg Dunlop once told the Charlestown Chiefs, "Stick him in the ribs, let him know you're there."

This is a hard game on paper for Rutgers, it is. Extra effort and intensity are going to be paramount for 60 minutes.

Fearless forecast
Rutgers 32
USF 31

Late night open thread

We'll get to the music series tomorrow evening dear readers, Johnny spent the evening filling in a new iPod by hand picking songs from his copious library and yes, he's actually kind of music'd out.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Tell me, do you know what day it is Evey?

We dedicate this one to all the people standing up and fighting the good fight for the underdogs, aka the American working class. The salt of the earth types. The people standing up in all weather for the hard working Americans who according to news reports are the only ones who can be found come every April 15th.

Friday, November 4, 2011

Hey dude, the Sausage McMuffin in your pocket is ringing...

Oh where do these remedial crooks come from and can they keep coming here so Johnny has something fun to write about early on a Friday?

Dateline Fuho: Antonio Santiago of Hoboken was sitting in McDonalds enjoying whatever it was he ordered when police came in and asked him if he just might have picked up a cell phone that you know, may not have been his in Hoboken Terminal. He denied any knowledge. Police told Santiago well you know we've got a report from someone saying you were sitting right next to them when it disappeared. Still Santiago said he hadn't taken it.

Police and the victim in the case then dialed the cell phone and suddenly, amazingly, something in Santiago's pocket started ringing. Was it an Sausage McMuffin? Hash browns? A stolen cell phone perhaps?

The jig was up and Santiago pulled out the phone which the victim identified. Santiago was also found to be carrying three small bags of "suspected" weed but we don't really care about that, just the idea Antonio thought he could fib his way out of this.

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Late night open thread

In watching the teevee tonight one might surmise we skipped from Halloween to Christmas...

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Hey, look at this, Chevrolet is 100 today

And short of cutting and pasting Tom Krisher's Associated Press piece on the history of Chevrolet like.every.other.news.outlet.today. we're just gonna let it pass with a hearty salute to this American icon and mention Johnny's had one great Chevy, a 1992 Beretta that was smoking fast and saved his life in a rollover accident and one horribly awful Chevy, a 2002 Cadavalier which Johnny had to send to live on the farm before moving here to Jersey City...

Now THIS, this is a 1949 Chevrolet Fleetline and it's looking goooooood. Why don't they make awesome 5000 lb cars like this with lots of chrome and tailfins anymore? THIS is a car. You could hide a dead body in this thing and not run into it for weeks (or at least until the smell set in).

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Late night open thread

It's a palindrome day 11-02-2011, which if you look at backwards and rearrange the hyphens is the same thing, hence palindrome...

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

An interesting question was posed on Halloween -- Does a potential homebuyer have to be told the property is haunted?

First, yes, we know PROVE it is haunted. A lot of different courts would have different levels of the burden of proof is our guess but there is a history of this kind of thing being ruled on. Tell us your thoughts on the matter and make sure to read the articles and again, tell us your thoughts on this topic...

Johnny lived in a haunted house for over 20 years in Ypsilanti. Anyone who lived there would tell you the same thing. 425 N. Adams is haunted. Is it the former Eastern Michigan University history professor, Mary Gates, who passed away in the house in the 50's? Could be. Was she the reason for ALL the haunted activities going on? Johnny doesn't know but he does know he didn't have to tell anyone before moving as he didn't own the place. If he'd been mandated to tell someone he doubts he would have, again, try telling this to someone and A) Not have them think you're just off the looney truck or B) Believe you and beat a hasty retreat.

Neither works for Johnny.

Of course there's always the Chelsea Hotel if you dear reader want some up close and personal top flight celebrity ghosts. Follow this link to hear Soprano's star Michael Imperioli tell his haunted story living in the Chelsea Hotel...

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Late night open thread

"I put instant coffee in a microwave oven and almost went back in time."
--Steven Wright

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Is it immoral to execute 12 year olds?

We kid we kid but if ever two twelve year olds were in need for some adult punishment this qualifies. Two intelligence-challenged twelve year old boys in Harlem at E. 116th St. dropped a Target shopping cart four floors from an elevated walkway right on the head of a woman with her child below.

"It hit her in the head. She just collapsed," Orlando Campos, 30, told the News, before describing a pool of blood collecting around her head. "She wasn’t moving at all."

Police set off in search of the cart pushers/droppers and found out they were twelve year old boys whom friends tried to stop from tossing the cart over the edge. The boys have been charged with assault, weapons possession and juvenile delinquency.

Aye carumba some kids are stupid...