Late night open thread

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

OK, let's get this weather alert thing out of the way

Wunderground teaches us:

Winter Storm Watch in effect from Tuesday morning through Wednesday evening...

Tonight
Mostly cloudy. Snow likely after midnight. Little or no snow accumulation. Lows in the lower 20s. Northeast winds around 5 mph. Chance of snow 60 percent.

Tuesday
Snow. Freezing rain and sleet in the afternoon. Snow and sleet accumulation of 1 to 3 inches. Ice accumulation of up to a tenth of an inch. Highs in the lower 30s. Northeast winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation 90 percent.

Tuesday Night
Periods of light freezing rain...light snow and light sleet. Additional light snow accumulation. Near steady temperature around 30. Northeast winds around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation 80 percent.

Wednesday
Snow...sleet...rain and freezing rain in the morning... then rain and sleet in the afternoon. Additional light snow accumulation. Highs in the upper 30s. East winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation near 100 percent.

Wednesday Night
Mostly cloudy. Light snow and light rain likely in the evening...then a chance of light snow after midnight. Little or no additional snow accumulation. Lows in the mid 20s. Chance of precipitation 60 percent.

Late night open thread

Deep Thoughts by Jack Handey:

"When I was a kid, my favorite relative was Uncle Caveman. After school we'd all go play in his cave, and every once in awhile he would eat one of us. It wasn't until later that I found out that Uncle Caveman was a bear."

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Long ago the dreamers and schemers had plans for New York City

The New York Times has a short but darned interesting look at plans the movers and shakers of their day had for NYC. One idea? Drain and dam the East River replacing it with "a five-mile-long network of vehicular and train tunnels topped by boulevards and promenades." Another visionary saw 250 story skyscrapers.

It's worth a look on a sunny Sunday morning.

Late night open thread

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

A state police report says there is plenty of gang activity to go around here in the Garden State

An in-depth report by the New Jersey State Police says that there are active gangs in no less than half the municipalities and ALL 21 counties in New Jersey. The report breaks down 9 active gangs in Jersey City, 6 in Hoboken, 5 in both Weehawken and Bayonne while our friends in Union City come out on top with 18 gangs.

Luckily, New Jersey residents can fight back. Beginning in 2011 the legal bag limit on gang members is now 3, up from 2 last year. So feel free to pop an extra Latin Kings or MS-13 or Bloods or Crips or Hot Girls member but just make sure they are properly tagged and field dressed and brought to your local city hall. Just don't go over your limit of 3 gang members or they might cry.

Big game for St. Peter's today at the Yanitelli Center vs. Rider

That's right kids, at 2 pm today the 'Pride of Jersey City®', the St. Peter's Peacocks will be in action at home over at the Yanitelli Center for a huge MAAC matchup with Rider. Both St. Peter's and Rider come into the game tied for second place in the MAAC with identical 7-3 records. With a win today and a game next Friday at conference bottom feeder Niagara, the Peacocks would be looking strong for a #2 seed in the conference tourney.

Late night open thread

Johnny's neighbor pulled him aside tonight and asked if he'd heard about yet another possible snowstorm on Tuesday night into Wednesday. Johnny decided against choking him to death.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with THE BLACK KEYS!

Any of you HBO fans out there of course recognize this song as the theme song to the hit show 'Hung' inspired by the life of Milton Berle. Kicking off the music series tonight a chord ripper, 'I'll be Your Man'.

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with THE 5,6,7,8'S!

Come on you know they words. They're life changing. This tune is also a pretty good earworm. Here are the 5,6,7,8's with 'Woo Hoo'.

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with ? AND THE MYSTERIANS!

The biggest band to ever come out of Bay City Michigan.......in 1962. Always hard to catalog this band back when albums were the rage and now with digital ones. Does the '?' start the alphabet or end it?

? and the Mysterians with '96 Tears'.

Everyone should be paying close attention to the situation in Egypt

Egypt, the nation that gets the third highest amount of US foreign aid each year and sits close to Israel. Interested yet? It matters a whole lot who winds up in charge and what this may mean for similar citizen uprisings across the Middle East. Living this close to a major terror target historical uprisings like this matter. Nobody thought twice when the Taliban took over in Afghanistan other than that they were dicks.

Sorry American media, if you want the BEST coverage of this you're gonna have to put your prejudices aside and click the Al Jazeera feed in English. Their reporters can get places in the Middle East western journalists can't. It's amazing coverage. You can see the army in places starting to bond with the citizens.

What is your take on things?

So, does Jersey Gardens Mall have a 'Disco Pants and Haircuts' store?

In an image right out of 'The Blues Brothers', a group of criminals drove their vehicle through the doors of the Jersey Gardens Mall under cover of Wednesday night's snowstorm and proceeded to drive up and down the mall aisles looking for stores to rob. According to police the thieves were ultimately looking for a jewelry store to steal from. A maintenance worker who made it to work through the snowstorm noticed the car driving through the mall around 3:30 am and alerted Jersey City police.

When the four crooks decided it was time to leave they drove their vehicle out the same way they came, through Burlington Coat Factory. They left quite a trail of destruction.

This same group is suspected of using their pickup truck as a bettering ram to rob a Toys R Us later that morning. Police are still looking for the suspects.

Late night open thread

You gotta diversify in these difficult economic times.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Have the snow gods no mercy?

This is now the snowiest winter on record here in Jersey City and New York City. We still have a month and a half to go. No word on which day next week the next storm of the century of the week will hit.

Late night open thread

The Red Wings dropped the Devils tonight by a score of 3-1 in Hockeytown. Jimmy Howard outdueled Martin Brodeur for two periods with the score 1-1 until Valtteri Filppula scored on a pretty passing play to tip the game to the Red Wings with Johan Franzen scoring the clincher. Brian Rolston (a Lake Superior State Laker) scored for New Jersey.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Um, the weather report just upped us to 8-12" of snow

So it looks like that 6 inches is out the window. This one has slowly been increasing over the last 24 hours. Let's hope the snow clean up crews know this as well.

NY Waterways water taxi has to be evacuated mid-river

That river being the Hudson River where a NY Waterways water taxi blew an engine that began blowing black smoke and 27 passengers had to be evacuated. About a mile south of the GW Bridge the taxi's engine overheated and the two crew members anchored the boat and called for help. Another boat came to pick up the passengers and get them to their destination while a tugboat hauled the crippled boat to safe harbor.

Neither Charon or Captain "Sully" Sullenberger could be reached for comment but then again, we didn't try all that hard.

Union City booze

Yes, we'll admit we're running out of acronyms for the old Blondie song 'Union City Blue'.

A bar in Union City was apparently serving alcohol to minors on Teen Night. Mexico Lindo has now lost their liquor license until mid-February because of the violations. Police said that 130 minors were drinking at the establishment on a "teen night" event on Nov. 13. Mayor Brian Stack said the punishment fit the crime and there was no need for a permanent revocation of Mexico Lindo's liquor license as they have not had issue with the establishment before.

Late night open thread

Snow showers tomorrow morning and then some heavier snow before it sleets but that'll turn to rain before changing to ice pellets then back over to snow -- 5-8" of it. Wear your rubbers tomorrow Jersey City.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

It's a pretty snow day and Johnny gave the crew the day off

So get out there in the snow and take some pictures and send them to us. We'd love to share your handiwork. Besides Johnny has a dentist appointment and snowy pictures are always better on pain pills.

Late night open thread

You often hear people refer to someone scary and violent as an Attila the Hun. Funny thing about tough guy Attila, he died on his wedding night in 453 AD of a nosebleed. That ain't tough, that's wussy. That's right Attila, you just got dissed by Johnny.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Now here's a story of a right fine community issues blogger

Johnny likes to think of himself as such, yet beyond a couple stink-eyes while asking questions he's never received the hate the good Mr. Cavanagh in this story has gotten.

Oh, and parents of Jersey City be forewarned, if Johnny catches your kids causing mischief like Mr. Cavanagh did, and then bragging about it on Facebook, you'll be able to follow it all right here. Don't forget, Johnny has combed Facebook pages back at the Ypsi City Desk for quotes (MUCH to the U-M students chagrin) when the University of Michigan gradzillas decided they were too good to graduate at EMU after Eastern Michigan's generous offer to allow commencement at EMU's Rynearson Stadium because Michigan Stadium was unavailable.

More power to you Mr. Cavanagh...

Late night open thread

It was downright civilized that the very moment the Jets decided it was time to check out in the first half was right when the Simpsons came on.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Has Johnny mentioned how much he hates the Steelers?

New Jersey Jets GAMEDAY -- AFC Championship edition

Look, you've read all the hype, argued over Revis vs. Hines Ward, the Jets defensive line vs. the Steelers offensive line, heard the taunts, it's time to get it on!

Use this thread for all your predictions, trash talk, and in game commentary. You know it's a big game when Johnny and Mrs. Johnny break out the white trash nachos for a ballgame. Come 6 pm tonight the cheese will be melted and the chips will be crunchy.

So, New Jersey and New York, what say you?

Late night open thread

Guess what? We're staring down the barrel of another substantial snowstorm next Tuesday night into Wednesday. It's becoming comical at this point.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Fuho McDonalds + food fight = violence

A violent confrontation broke out at a Hoboken McDonalds on Washington street early Friday over a food fight. 3 men were inside enjoying their McMeals when four men came in and sat down and started throwing food at them. After a few minutes of that the diners decided to confront the food tossers. Bad idea. After they did one of the original party had a bloody nose and another was holding his head when Fuho PD arrived. The attackers were found to have taken a cab to Bayonne. Police are still looking for the attackers.

Late night open thread

St. Peter's took it to Siena tonight over at the Yanitelli Center. The Peacocks were up 10 at half and won by 8. A pretty solid win. The victory improves St. Peter's record to 10-9 overall and 5-3 in the MAAC.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with ATLANTA RHYTHM SECTION!

It's obscure song night here at the Jersey City Desk music series. Songs you most likely haven't heard in eons and have long since forgotten the artist. C'mon, you can admit it, there are guilty pleasure to be had tonight.

Atlanta Rhythm Section or ARS as some jagoff DJ's tried calling them to make them sound cooler with one of their two hits, 'So into You'.

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with CLIMAX BLUES BAND!

Like Johnny needs a reason to pull obscure old songs out of the iTunes Wayback Machine. Shuh, as if.

Climax Blues Band from 1976 with 'Couldn't Get it Right'.

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with SNIFF 'N THE TEARS!

Now here's an old gem of a song. How many of you hipsters remember this one?

'Drivers Seat' as we put the wrap on another music series.

It's got nothing to do with Jersey City per se, but it's simply too cool for school

What will YOU do when planet Earth gets a second sun? Now you may be thinking Johnny's had one too many drinks or watched Star Wars one too many times. In fact you might want to not act surprised if sometime in the next couple years the sky DOES appear to have two suns and that it never gets dark at night. What could cause this celestial chaos you ask? Just nature and space being nature and space. The second largest star in the Orion constellation, Betelgeuse is getting ready to explode.

The common stargazer can easily locate Betelgeuse without much trouble. Simply look to the top of the constellation Orion and look to the top corner. See the really bright reddish star? That's Betelgeuse. And it's getting ready to super-nova possibly as early as next year (Technically of course it could happen at ANY time, as soon as Betelgeuse runs out of it's own fuel and starts to collapse upon itself -- and yes more than likely starting a black hole when it does).

So what would the results be here on Earth? Well you might just see two suns for a few weeks, even in the daytime you'd be able to see Betelgeuse explode. Night wouldn't really get to be night with this giant exploding (and or collapsing in on itself which again means giant space show) into space. Don't worry though, scientists from the Jersey City Desk Observatory tell the Jersey City Desk mankind will not be wiped out by this occurrence and that earthlings should enjoy the show.

Wanna learn more on this crazy once in a lifetime light show? You can click here.

Late night open thread

Zoltron loves this one. Long live shiftless intern Zoltron


Time for Jersey City, After Dark

If you're reading this you probably weren't one of the mobsters rounded up this morning

The FBI launched an early morning roundup of several crime families from around New Jersey and New York City this morning. The DeCavalcante family right here in sunny New Jersey had members arrested.

Seriously though, the New York City mafia? They don't make teevee shows about them now do they? The Sopranos wasn't set in Park Slope. One of the most famous mob hit men of all time, The 'Ice Man', Richard Kuklinski is from right here in Jersey City. So while a lot of people from NYC were rounded up in this sting the media is missing the boat by concentrating their story on the eastern shores of the Hudson. See here in NJ we're got government corruption on a grand scale AND mob crimes on a scale just as grand.

They weren't finding bodies when they built the new Yankee Stadium. Just sayin'.

Winter weather advisory tonight into Friday morning

The snow's gonna fall again good people of Jersey City, another 2-4" tonight and another 1-3" in the morning. Add it all up and it means a crappy commute on Friday.

Late night open thread

Legendary rockabilly, country AND western, and gospel singer Wanda Jackson performs on February 24th at the Bowery Ballroom. As always Johnny gets his tickets and then reminds you. It's just how he rolls. Don't be offended, it's just Johnny has the fear of being the 55th person invited to a 54 person party.

Wanda Jackson is an American classic


Time for Jersey City, After Dark

An open letter to all the killers, crooks, rapists, thieves and nere-do-wells in Jersey City

First off, welcome to the Jersey City Desk, we realize we're probably not on your required reading list. Now, why are we writing you a letter? We'd like to advance your careers in a southern locale, near a big city. Think of it, a warmer climate and symphony orchestras and ballet to boot. So get your gym bags and burglar tools together while we tell you about an incredible opportunity to leave Jersey City in your rear view mirror for bigger opportunities.

Camden. Yes, crooks and killers of all shapes and sizes, Camden just recently lost most of it's police department which in our estimation would make your jobs and lives easier and more fruitful. Camden just let go 168 police officers, practically ALL of the cops they have hired since 1998. Think of it, your criminal mind allowed to hatch nefarious plans free of police intervention. Hey, if arson is your game Camden just let go 67 firefighters. Your homeboys would be right next to you in Philadelphia so big city entertainment is IN!

That's a lot of value for a criminal in Camden, 50% less cops, fewer firefighters and less people to even process arrest records and court documents. Hell, anymore Camden is gonna make Newark look like casino security. Can you say rapid job advancement? We knew you could.

So think on it, and to entice your move south, how about this, a postcard from Camden New Jersey, your new home.

Late night open thread

Good God today wins the biggest crap-assed day award. Ice, sleet, rain, fog, rain, slush, no visibility, more fog, wet, and annoyingly sloppy. More of the same tomorrow. Sounds like it's time to sacrifice another weatherman into Mt. Secaucus.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

The Jersey City Desk applauds Superintendent of Schools Charles T. Epps Jr for cleaning up Lincoln High

Word on the street says that a whole bunch of higher ups at Lincoln High School here in Jersey City were fixing grades so certain athletes could remain eligible to play for the Lions. Superintendent of Schools Charles T. Epps Jr. had apparently seen and heard enough himself and has suspended Lincoln Principal Jeanette McRae Braswell, school athletic director Artie Williams, and Snyder Vice Principal John Gonzalez. Three other staff members at LHS could also be on a fast track out of a job.

We applaud Mr. Epps for his actions. What does it tell high school students if cheating is permitted and encouraged? And you want kids NOT to cheat on tests to get ahead? Good luck sending that message with the athletics fiasco. The principal, the AD and everyone else should have known it was crooked and wrong to even start such a practice. Cheating so high school students can remain eligible -- heinous. Let them fall below a 2.0 GPA and see what happens in real life when you're found unqualified to participate.

We would.

Late night open thread

"Photons have mass? I didn't even know they were Catholic."
--Unknown

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

If you're home today (Like Johnny) the Devils and Islanders just started

It's an MLK Day special game out in Uniondale. Devils and Islanders, a 1 pm weekday matinee? Great idea.

The Devils just scored in fact, you know where to find the game.

For all of our readers today, Martin Luther King Jr.'s 'I Have a Dream' speech

One of the great moments in American oratory...

Late night open thread

"I think we can all agree that sleeping around is a great way to meet people."
-- Chelsea Handler

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

The bird is the word

Who knew? There REALLY IS a Twitter bird. According to NYC the Blog he nests in a tree near 'Once Upon a Tart' in Soho taunting eaters there.

#birdtaunts

Late night open thread

This optical illusion is done by Edgar Mueller with nothing but sidewalk chalk. Really really.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Every pizza place in NYC is named after a guy named Ray

OK, well not EVERY place but as this insightful and comical article on MSNBC points out, it just SEEMS like they all have Ray in the name.

Johnny likes his with pepperoni, black olives and onions. Light sauce please.

Big big NFL weekend on tap

AND we get a New York team added to the mix in arguably the most attractive game of the weekend (which is why it's the late game on Sunday). So without further ado, Johnny's fearless football forecast:

Green Bay at Atlanta -- Atlanta, a dome team is at home throughout. They have a great young quarterback in Matt Ryan who has a spectacular record at home. Almost unbeaten. That great record however was built in the regular season. The playoffs are a different animal. Aaron Rodgers has been playing whip smart and he too needs to establish some playoff credentials. Consider this the monkey off your back win between Rodgers and Ryan. Atlanta runs the ball well. The Packers can shut down that run AND when they do and force Atlanta to pass, well they've got that covered too. Upset call Packers 27, Falcons 17

Baltimore at Pittsburgh -- As a Browns fan whose team is regularly decimated by both these division rivals Johnny would rather chew foil while getting a Brazilian wax than see either team win. There are some days these teams play and Johnny hopes for a Hindenburg moment where the blimp crashes on the field while they play. At least Johnny deep down respects all the Stoolers have achieved by being a smart franchise whereas the raves are basically still the Browns. A STOLEN team shall gather no win today. Pittsburgh 21, Baltimore 17

Seattle at Chicago -- Bear down Chicago Bears. Seattle will now have to give their souls to Satan on their way out of Soldier Field Sunday afternoon for their upset win over the Saints last weekend. Johnny thinks Jay Cutler can be brutal but it's January outside in Chicago and that's worth something. Chicago 16, Seattle 10

New York Jets at New England -- Jeebus Rex Ryan, just shut up. Your entire team is so worked up over trash talk and imagined trash talk (So much trash talk in fact the Ravens Terrell Suggs decided to weigh in with his own in a game he's not playing in). It'll be cold, it'll be snowy, it'll be in Tom Brady's house. Now, the Pats can be had at home, see the loss to Baltimore last season. Hard running and stout pass defense stopped New England cold. This is a much better Patriots side however. It boils down to this; Right now Johnny has more faith in Tom Brady to win a big game than Mark Sanchez. Belichick 30, Sexy Rexy 20.

Late night open thread

Famous last words edition:

"I've had a hell of a lot of fun and I've enjoyed every minute of it."
--Errol Flynn October 14, 1959

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with RAY CHARLES!

Now here's a toe tapper and swinger, 'Mess Around' by Ray Charles. How many of you good readers remember this song from Planes Trains and Automobiles? Hint -- John Candy is having an issue with his coat, the driver's seat, his cigarette and paying attention to the road.

If this doesn't get your Friday night hopping, well, you're dead.

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with THE CARS!

It takes a fast car lady to lead a double life. This song, 'Double Life' is one of the many hidden gems on the Candy-O album. Obviously it'll never be in the same league as The Cars massive debut album (Maybe one of the ten best debut albums evah) but still Candy-O should be in your collection.

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with DAVID GRAY!

We'll wrap up the music series on this cold January night with a really great song by David Gray. Wanna know one of Johnny's pet peeves? People who get lyrics wrong. It's almost as heinous as misspelling the artist's name when you post them on YouTiube.

David GrAy with 'Babylon'.

Jersey City Desk is having construction done today

We've got all kinds of contractors running around the newsroom today so our updates will come later.

Late night open thread

We haven't done Neko Case in a while so before bed tonight the song 'Tiger Tiger'. Johnny entered a contest today to win Neko's 1967 Mercury Cougar, the same one she was pictured with on the cover to her Middle Cyclone album. You can try to snake it out from under Johnny if you think you're feeling lucky punk, AND it'll benefit the 826 National which helps kids with creative writing, tutoring and workshops. Click HERE to get some skin in the game.


Time for Jersey City, After Dark

What? Rats ride the subway for FREE?

Unlike Johnny they get to run around, climb on things and yes, climb on people. We have video courtesy of the NYC blog. Now, don't watch this if the idea of a rat climbing on you and waking you up be getting all in your grill may upset you. If not, HAVE AT!

Late night open thread

“I have met a lot of hardboiled eggs in my time, but you're twenty minutes.”
--Oscar Wilde

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Credit where credit is due; Snow removal was aces this time

So hats off to all those who cleaned our streets and kept the PATH running with only a ten minute delay. All you guys and gals get a Jersey City Desk tip of the chapeau. We also noticed some PRIVATE snow contractors working around 5 am this morning. We like this idea. They live for this stuff!

Late night open thread

PWNED

Police in Oakland spent two hours attempting to subdue a gunman who had barricaded himself inside his home. After firing ten tear gas canisters, officers discovered that the man was standing beside them, shouting pleas to come out and give himself up.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

North Bergen Housing Authority security chief needs a lesson in social media

So, 23 year old Justin Italo (and who the hell puts a 23 year old in charge of the North Bergen Housing Authority?) was feeling his professional oats. He was large and in charge and wasn't afraid of letting people his status in life. Trouble with a status is it often finds it's way online. Italo's MySpace page was a trove of bad behavior and unprofessional actions.

The Chief Security officer was seen in one picture (below) holding a handgun with the status 'ILL KILL YA KIDS'. Professional AND classy eh? Wait, it gets better. In another picture Italo showed himself with a red plastic cup (and we know how those are used) behind the wheel of a car asking the timeless question "Who said drinkin n drivin was illegal?" NJ.com gives us this bit of classy professionalism:

In another picture on the MySpace page, Italo has a loaf of bread hanging out of the front of his pants. A caption reads "F-- Subway," followed by a derogatory remark about people of the Hindu faith.

Not surprisingly, Italo has been suspended without pay since the NBHA found out about his social networking mad skillz.

Justin, I KILL YA KIDS is just bad grammar.

Late night open thread

Here's a partial score from tonight's National Championship college football game -- 3

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Jeezy Creezy -- 6-12" of snow tomorrow night into Wednesday

A winter storm watch is in effect from Tuesday evening through Wednesday afternoon. 6-12 inches of snow are likely, it just depends on where this storm sets up, a little south we get walloped, a little north we can cope. Either way the New England area is gonna get belted.

Late night open thread

Yeah it's early tonight but that alarm clock is gonna shake Johnny's world earlier than normal tomorrow. Don't expect much out of our fine staff tomorrow, it's inventory day, or something...

"Imagination is more important than knowledge."
--Albert Einstein

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

You just can't have any fun in Union City anymore

Union City has gone and banned the selling of machetes at a recent city government meeting. It's now a $1000 fine to sell one. Whatever happened to the pride Union City used to have when most of it's citizens carried machetes? You'd drive by and see someone you knew, you'd honk and they'd wave their machete back at you. Like sands through the hourglass, so are the days of our lives.

Late night open thread

Highlands, New Jersey has the highest elevation along the eastern seaboard, from Maine to Florida. Now you know.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Saturday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with ELVIS PRESLEY!

The King had a birthday on Saturday. Well, HE didn't but we're gonna celebrate anyway. Make a peanut butter and banana sammich and grab a handgun and dig on Elvis with 'Viva Las Vegas'.

Saturday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with AIR!

Something a little different for your listening pleasure, Air with 'Sexy Boy'.

Saturday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with TALKING HEADS!

Fa fa fa fa fa fa fa fa fa

Talking Heads with 'Psycho Killer' here on Jersey City's best internet music source

It's Saturday morning, time for cartoons and cereal

Say, when you were growing up did you have a favorite Saturday morning cartoon and or breakfast cereal? Feel free to share.

Late night open thread

Music tomorrow night kids...

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Isn't today's snow lovely?

Just wait, there's ALWAYS a catch...

That catch is 'significant snowfall' next Tuesday and Wednesday according to the National Weather Service.

Just ducky

Some GOOD news to report this morning

Rutgers lineman Eric LaGrand who was so awfully paralyzed during a game earlier this year has begun to have sensation throughout his entire body and movement in his shoulders. This is fantastic news. With any amount of movement or sensation there must be hope. Not that Eric will play football again, that's not important. What does matter is that with this hope he can regain some kind of strength in his strong body and somehow achieve what he needs to to lead a more complete life. Will it ever be as it was? No. Can it keep improving so that we all learn from Eric the Rutgers motto of 'Keep Chopping'? You better believe it.

Late night open thread

Nice. Make sure to watch the replay. Johnny just hates it when the Penguins lose.


Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Update:We missed one last night...

Remember the old Julie Brown song 'Girl Fight Tonight'?

Well the good people over at The NYC Blog have a classic scrap from up in the Bronx at the Munch Time Diner on E. 170th. Since you'll be going to their site we'll skip with the bad language warnings.

Lunchtime!

Here's hoping Jersey City and the police union can hammer out a deal

Because we'd sure love to have those extra 82 police officers on the streets, especially after we see roving cars full of Newark tuffs committing crimes in Jersey City and really putting an onus on the JCPD. We do not want Newark's nere-do-wells looking at Jersey City as an easy mark.

Pay lag (it's a complicated formula says the JCPD union, you can read on it here) and uniform allowances seem to be the final two sticking points. The Jersey City Desk is actually behind Mayor Healy's decision to NOT dip into a $2.8 million dollar tax abatement to help the officers pay for uniforms. Healy rightly points out that money is spoken for and is being returned to the Jersey City taxpayers.

So the Jersey City Desk is hopeful if these are indeed the last couple of issues to keep these 82 officers on patrol a deal can be hammered out. Jersey City needs a lot of police protection but our support of the police union isn't a blank check either.

Get it done people, get it done.

Somebody get Governor Christie to the airport STAT! More snow on the way

Somebody with some time on their hands today might wanna run Governor Christie and Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno out to Newark Liberty as later tonight and tomorrow Hudson County and NYC are under a winter storm watch with 3-6" of snow possible and more likely probable through Friday evening.

Accuweather.com tells us more:

New York City and Hartford, Conn., can expect 3 to 6 inches of snow, but heavier amounts may be in the nearby suburbs.
The danger is this band of heavy snow will form in place and cannot be tracked in advance. As a result, it could set up 100 miles farther north into more of New England or farther south into more of the mid-Atlantic region.

Late night open thread

Only one other animal besides man can get a sunburn. Can you name it? Answer here.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

A very interesting read this morning in the NYT on a hijacking from 1968

Ah yes, November 1968, the Detroit Tigers had just won the World Series behind three wins from lefty Mickey Lolich, Richard Nixon pasted Hubert Humphrey to win the presidency and one Luis Armando Peña Soltren had just hijacked a plane to Puerto Rico and diverted it to Cuba with two associates.

1968 is a LONG time ago isn't it? Many involved in this story are no longer alive. But justice must be done, and Federal Disctrict Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein saw to that as he sentenced Soltren to 15 years in a federal lockup, much more time than two of his associates got in the mid-70's.

The arguments here for compassion and justice will weigh those scales back and forth in one's mind;

*Soltren had been trying to turn himself into authorities since 1979 but he did hijack a plane.

*Soltren, unlike his cohorts, had never been in trouble with the law and hadn't since but did hold a knife to the neck of a stewardess during the hijacking as well as holding a gun on crew members.

How do we weigh crimes from long ago against today's societal mores? No doubt the specter of 9/11 entered people's minds and yet 9/11 was still 32 years away. How we measure crimes from so long ago is an interesting endeavor, Johnny is glad he's not a judge.

A good read on Tuesday morning to get your mind working.

Late night open thread

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

If your car gets hit by snowballs in Hoboken, keep driving

A woman with a car full of friends driving in FuHo on New Year's Eve/morning was hit with snowballs while driving down First St. When the unidentified woman and MOST of her friends got out to confront the snowball throwers by walking up the block, when they came back to their car it was gone daddy gone. Yep, they were hit with snowballs as a ruse and when they wandered too far from the vehicle it was pinched. Now, normally that's where this tale would end. Except when there was a drunk passenger asleep in the back seat. The car thieves added kidnapping to their charges when they are found after a 30 year old woman awoke in the back seat during the heist. The drunk passenger was let off in Union City unharmed.

Late night open thread

Notable quotes night:

"I don't deserve this award, but I have arthritis and I don't deserve that either."
--Jack Benny

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

A man from Washington state drives into Kearny police car and flees

Kearny police officer Mike Ryan was simply writing someone a ticket. Simply writing a ticket for a scofflaw motorist when Francisco Silva, a resident of the great state of Washington, smashed into his radio car and kept right-on-a-drivin. Ryan followed Silva a short distance and stopped him. Ryan smelled alcohol on Silva's breath and after a scuffle featuring pepper spray Silva was taken into custody. He's been charged with the superfecta of two counts of aggravated assault on a police officer, resisting arrest, assault by auto, leaving the scene of an accident and driving while intoxicated. Silva is in the clubhouse on January 3rd with a list of charges in one traffic stop that'll be hard to top.

So Mr. Francisco Silva of Washington state, how do you like THEM apples?

Well, are you?

Ginny is not popular because she parks in cars with boys. Mmmmm hmmmmm, a statement unproven at any US high school since, well, cars.

Hudson County Roads Division Chief Ann Iannico, you wanna try that excuse again?

Perhaps another source of corruption in Hudson County has been discovered; getting your personal ride worked on on the taxpayers dime IF you're the Hudson County Roads Division Chief.

Ann Iannico was photographed having her Cadillac Escalade (Skip it MS lol) up on hoists at the county repair facility on Duncan Avenue. The picture taken by now former (amazing how THAT happens) mechanic Jorge Guerrero can be found HERE. Iannico, when confronted with the picture said she was only getting air in her tires. Guerrero says she was getting the works.

Here's our question to Chief Iannico -- how many repair shops or mechanics take the time to put a car/SUV up on the hoist to check air pressure and then add air? Johnny's a greasemonkey and he cannot recall the last time he lifted or hoisted a vehicle to check air pressure.

So, unless the mechanics at the County Roads Department are so dim they put cars up on the hoist to check air pressure every time they do it, Ms. Iannico, we're going to need a better excuse.

Late night open thread

After the Beatles broke up do you know which then former Beatle was the first one with a #1 hit? It was on this day in 1971 and the former Beatle was George Harrison with his song 'All Things Must Pass'. Now you know.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Get what? Get Glued

Our old friend Trixie Action Space Punk has relaunched the old Naperville City Desk into a site on the sad state of media and communications and all things culture and we are digging that idea. Acerbic wit, cutting commentary, snarky snarkiness will all be on display as cousin Trixie chops 'em down and piles 'em high.

Get GLUED

Jersey City rings in the new year with 5, count 'em 5 shootings

1 shooting AH AH AH

2 shootings AH AH AH

3 shootings, well, you get the point.

Yes Jersey City erupted with gunfire New Year's Eve and at least 5 people paid the price. It wasn't peace on earth they got but the business end of a piece on this earth (now that's good drama).

You can learn more about the shooting gallery that was The Sixth here. It should be stressed that nobody was excused from ringing in 2012 from these shootings.

Late night open thread

And we're off into 2011. No turning back now. Engines full.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

It's 9 o' clock and football hasn't started yet

What's up with that?

Go Sparty, beat Nick Satan and the Crimson Tide!

Late night open thread

Damn is there a party raging still at this hour in Johnny's neighborhood. It's professional loud.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark