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T-minus one hour, better start shoving those sweets into your mouth with both hands, Chester. You CAN drink three hurricanes in one hour. Betcha.

Rounding out our Mardi Gras day of music with Cajun masters Beausoleil, tonight playing us out with a little ditty called 'Cajun Groove' while Johnny goes and Googles Ellen Barkin + Big Easy.

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While you're making the gumbo and king cakes tonight

The late great Buckwheat Zydeco. We lost Buckwheat this past year. Johnny had the privilege to see him back in Ypsilanti at the Frog Island Jazz and Blues Festival eons ago (Then Johnny realized he could hear the whole thing from his front porch). Always a showman!

Buckwheat Zydeco with 'Tee Nah Nah'

Let's step it up with some Zydeco music

Who better than Clifton Chenier with the aptly named 'Mardi Gras' Zydeco

One more time with the Balfa Brothers

'Madeleine' getting us through the lunch hour today.

Now that you're up to your ears with Paczki's and beads...

Packzi's (poonch-key), you know, the famous Detroit Polish Fat Tuesday treat, a loaded jelly donut. When Johnny says loaded he means it.

The Cajun Playboys with the timeless Cajun classic, 'Jolie Blonde'

If it's Fat Tuesday, it's Johnny's Cajun Music Mardi Gras Day!

Getting 2017's version of Mardi Gras Day started with who else, The Balfa Brothers and 'La Danse de Mardi Gras'

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I rent a lot of cars, cause I go on the road. And when I drive a rental car, I don’t know what’s going on with it, right? So a lot of times I’ll drive for, like, ten miles with the emergency brake on. That doesn’t say a lot for me, but it really doesn’t say a lot for the EMERGENCY BRAKE.
 -- Mitch Hedberg

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Another Mayoral campaign re-election event tonight

We're not calling these rolling campaign events 'State of the City' speeches because they're not. They're carefully crafted campaign promise-a-thons that vary from one part of the city to the next, hence not state of THE city. If the mayor wants to call them ward by ward meet ups fine (he's not taking questions) but telling Ward F (where you promised to buy a home before the last election -- whatever happened with that) gets told they get a few more cops and a coupe after-school programs whereas Ward C gets told about new building and new abatements and new plans for more business. It pits Ward F vs Ward C and Ward vs Ward honestly. Some get told great new big things while others are told we'll get to you but here are a few small breads and circuses.

These are campaign events and we'll write on them as such. Calling them State of the City speeches won't make them one.

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An Academy Award-worthy animated gif.

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Johnny wasn't nominated for best actor so he's not going to the Oscars

He's been doing this act going on ten years now, and no nomination. So, he's not going. He's going to sit at home and nit pik along with everyone else.

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Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with TOM PETTY AND THE HEARTBREAKERS!

OK, it's way nice out, go open a window. Johnny's gonna put up a song you can sing loud and proud to and Johnny's gonna keep a keen ear out to anyone singing this as he walks around in Jersey City tonight. 'Woman In Love (It's Not Me)' getting us started tonight.

Great song!

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with THE KNACK!

Suddenly it's 1979 again. The Knack serving up 'Your Number Or Your Name'

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with THE CREAM!

Everyone calls them Cream but technically it's The Cream so now you know. Also, when you are as good at your job and as cool as Ginger Baker on drums you can wear a cape. Til' then, no. The Cream and 'Strange Brew' sending you on your way tonight.

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"Nothing isn't better or worse than anything. Nothing is just...nothing."
 -- Arya Stark, Game of Thrones

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Every time something like this happens, remember...

Each time there is yet another water main break in an area where there has recently been a lot of construction or a lot of people have come on the grid, or electricity fails in summer without a storm, or the corners of Warren and Morgan finally collapse after another water event, remember them all. Remember it was the mayor who said the old city train and sewer and water and street grid could hold all the buildings all his buddies made money on. It could more than hold up to the human assault.

Remember moments like these...

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66º tomorrow? Incredible. T-short weather in February. 4 more degrees it's Speedo weather.

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Johnny's taking the day off tomorrow

And he's going to one of his favorite places to see one of his favorite things on this earth. Any guesses?

Here is his last trip, a few years back.

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Steak dinner, on Johnny

Contact him (with proof), we'll have a fine steak dinner in the finest NYC steakhouse. All the trimmings. You are heroes.

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Irony rears it's ugly head as The One is evacuated

Workers who are under a timeframe to get the park that the One (Lloyd Goldman, BLDG) destroyed of their own volition two years ago is finally being rehabbed. A JCFD source on scene told Johnny that those who are rehabbing the park hit a gas line and thus The One filled up with a gas smell and everyone was told to get out. The park bites back, lol. Residents from The One made the best of a bad situation by using the verandas of Public Storage, 150 Bay St. and and 140 Bay's The Warehouse Cafe while waiting the all-clear.

At least their elevators were working today, something not a given from what Johnny hears. Here now exclusive pictures:

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A top notch gallery is making the switch from NYC to Jersey City

It's fantastic this is happening and Johnny is sure everyone who cares about the art scene in Jersey City thinks this is great news. Jonathan Levine is moving his Chelsea gallery, but would you like to guess where? Which part of downtown did Levine pick? He, he chose exhibition space in Jersey City's Mana Contemporary, in Journal Square. This is huge news for The JSQ and certainly will have tendrils in other galleries and artists moving to Journal Square to be part of that scene. The Artist Crawl just gets better and better. More on this story at this handy link.

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Johnny certainly hopes you got out and enjoyed this fabulous day with another one coming right behind it. Johnny was out early and often and even found time for a mid-morning trek out to the White Castle in Journal Square, a rare treat.

Since the weather is nice and Johnny will be sleeping with the windows open tonight he'd like to remind the Jersey City Police Department and Jersey City Fire Department of his "No sirens within three blocks of his house from 1AM til 8AM" rule.

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Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with THE SEX PISTOLS!

The Kings of Chaos, the crown wearers, the holders, The Sex Pistols. No better way to step off a Music Series dedicated to the chaos going on all around us. Different levels and all out immersion. Who better then to give us an anxiety-ridden classic, 'Holiday In the Sun'

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with THE RAMONES!

If the KKK does take your baby away, that's chaos on a personal level is Johnny's guess. That has to be dealt with, plans have to be made, revenge must be plotted. Chaotic to say the least. The Ramones with 'The KKK Took My Baby Away' sounding really good as always.

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with SIOUXSIE AND THE BANSHEES!

'Cities in Dust' by Siouxsie and the Banshees is one of Johnny's favorite chaotic songs. Gigantic natural disasters on a global scale (Pompeii here) sure can bring the chaos. Perfectly fits for what we were trying to do here tonight. Now, out with you. Go cause your own chaos.

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It's a close call but Big Jim's does have wings...

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“Eve: All this riot and uproar, V... is this Anarchy? Is this the Land of Do-As-You-Please?

V: No. This is only the land of take-what-you-want. Anarchy means "without leaders", not "without order". With anarchy comes an age or ordnung, of true order, which is to say voluntary order... this age of ordung will begin when the mad and incoherent cycle of verwirrung that these bulletins reveal has run its course... This is not anarchy, Eve. This is chaos.”
 -- Alan Moore, V for Vendetta

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The Hotel Chelsea in NYC has always been legendary

So much history there, some good, some bad, and some downright spooky. Well, sadly, the 'Guiding Spirit' Of The Hotel Chelsea, has died. Gothamist has the report of Stanley Bard, formerly of the board of directors, and friend to about everyone who lived there, famous and not and the long shadow he cast there.

Sid and Nancy? Happened at the Hotel Chelsea, October 12, 1978. Johnny's favorite story of the Chelsea was Soprano's star Michael Imperioli's telling of the time he met Mary. Sleep tight.

Tip one to the Chelsea tonight.

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Happy Valentine's Day!

Sorry Johnny's a little late to the lovey dovies today but he was busy here and there. We hope everyone who has a honey had a great day!

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The National Security Advisor is the President's biggest hire FYI. Judge accordingly.

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Johnny just bought the Dunkin Donuts at Grove & Columbus for $45 cash (and two crullers)

Jesus Christ people, they're fucking doughnuts. Seriously, everytime Johnny walks by the Krispy Kreme mega outlet it's packed. 6am? Packed. 11am? Packed. 7pm? packed. Johnny was able to use pocket cash to buy the Dunkin Donuts at Christopher Columbus and Grove. He's gonna turn it into a fight club.

Again, they're fucking doughnuts.

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Johnny's actually got a Monday off tomorrow for the first time since the world was in black and white. What does one do on a Monday when not worrying about the go go go matters of the world?

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While we're all hiding inside from the weather shitshow today

Snow, then rain, then sleet, then snow, then ice, then rain, back to sleet et al.

Two very well written letters to the editor, to the point on issues facing Jersey City in today's Jersey Journal. Serious and well reasoned (nee one attack on teachers), worth your time today. 

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Still having a tough day today. Gave everyone the day off. Should be back tomorrow with the usual infotainment.

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“It’s no use going back to yesterday, because I was a different person then.”
 -- Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland

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Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with THE YPSITUCKY COLONELS!

This is a hard day and especially hard music series tonight friends; Johnny found out through the grapevine early today his good friend Col. Will Stewart passed away this morning. Johnny and Will worked together, sat next to each other and became the office peanut gallery. They enjoyed getting in early and turning the music up. Like Frodo and Gandalf they had an adventure together. Will played in The Ypsitucky Colonels and Corndaddy until he just couldn't anymore. When Johnny moved he gave Col. Will his prized record collection because he just couldn't bring it east. He also couldn't sell it to a friend who just loved music. Will was the John the Revelator who tried to keep the old Ypsi City Desk going but just didn't have the time. He was the only one Johnny offered it to as he got Ypsi and loved music. If Johnny is a music knowledge Jedi Will was Yoda.

The good and kind and wonderful Will Stewart out front here for the Ypsitucky Colonels and 'Heart of the Matter.' Til' next time around Colonel!

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with BILLY PRESTON!

Col. Will and Johnny both also shared an affinity for Mr. Billy Preston. 'Outa Space' as Johnny tries to keep it together tonight.

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with NEKO CASE!

So, Johnny and Col. Will go to a Neko Case concert at the Beachland Ballroom in Cleveland. Will had never seen the incredible Ms. Case live and really wanted to go along so off Johnny and Will set for Cleveland from Ypsilanti. Got down early, had some dinner and some beers before the show and really had a great time at a fantastic show. There are actually videos of Johnny and Will at that show on the YouTube from that night pretty clearly visible in the crowd. Good luck lil researchers.

On a sidenote, as good as the evening was and the show was better, at the time Johnny drove a Chevy Cadavalier and the entire left axle pieces and parts gave up the ghost driving on the I-80 home that night. Hadn't even made it out of Cleveland. Johnny had the car towed to a fix it shop and paid for Will's hotel room that night. $700 later we were on our way home but with a grand story.

Neko Case bringing the memories flooding back with a song Will liked, a cover of Loretta Lynn's 'Rated X'

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with NICK LOWE!

One more in memory of Col. Will tonight, a song and an artist both Johnny and Will loved to tears. One morning with the very capable Will on pencil drums he and Johnny did their best karaoke version of this song. Nick Lowe and 'Cracking Up'

Late night open thread

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A storm worthy of the name storm

Well, that certainly was quite a snowstorm wasn't it? Some really heavy snow for a few hours and a biting wind to blow the snow around. It's well off but a local weather prognosticator said there is the possibility for another one next week, if a southwest wind will oblige.

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Forget this snowstorm nonsense or a minute, let's think summer! THE concert tour of the summer was announced and Johnny pounced on tickets asafp. You know when you really really really are trying to order tickets as fast as you can online because you feel 17 and you'd just die if you didn't get seats? When you finally DO get them you jump around the room, right? You don't do that? Johnny sure did tonight. Used his fan membership to get the early release code and will be in Row C August 1st at the Beacon Theater for Blondie, Garbage and Deap Vally. Johnny would go to see either Blondie or Garbage and Deap Vally would be a nice opener for either but all together? HELLZ yes.

Did you know then, Shirley Manson of Garbage has always been a huge Debbie Harry fan and inducted them into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? Taking us out tonight, Garbage and 'Special' and that's how Johnny's feeling about August 1st right now.

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Here is the final word on incoming #WinterStormBowlingGreenMassacre

The rain will start now after midnight, some three hours earlier than the experts thought two days ago, and the snow shortly after that. It will be an impressive storm if you consider between say 5AM and 11AM the snow will be coming down from 1-3" an hour. It won't last long but boy howdy it'll be white outside.

Is everyone in? The circus is about to begin...

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Johnny was informed today by his friend Olive it's International Clash Day and you know Johnny, he doesn't need much to post a Clash video. All together now on 'Clampdown'

The judge said five to ten-but I say double that again
I'm not working for the clampdown
No man born with a living soul
Can be working for the clampdown
Kick over the wall 'cause government's to fall
How can you refuse it?
Let fury have the hour, anger can be power
D'you know that you can use it?

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The Jersey City Desk Action Weather Team (and Accuweather) have a better fix on the storm

#WinterStormBowlingGreenMassacre will get to the Jersey City Desk viewing area early early Thursday morning. After a 60+ degree Wednesday, around midnight that starts to change and how. The storm will start as rain but the cold air will arrive now in time to give us a 3-6" of snow by the time it stops late afternoon Thursday. Hold onto your mittens kittens because after the snow leaves so do the clouds and it's going to drop into the upper TEENS. 60º to the teens in just under a day.

Stay tuned for any major changes.

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For this Thursday storm to do anything this coming frigid air really needs to get it's ass in gear.

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The Jersey City Desk Action Weather Team says Thursday might get nutty

A front that will pass through our area on it's way to New England will start as rain before possibly dropping some plowable snow (some models show it having enough gas for 8" of snow, starting as the wet kind) on our area. Stay tuned to this channel for more information on what we're calling:

#WinterStormBowlingGreenMassacre

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Astronomy compels the soul to look upward, and leads us from this world to another.
 -- Plato, The Republic, 342 BCE

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Another Super Bowl, whoopiteedoo!

Every year America loses it's mind over the Super Bowl. Everyone but Johnny. He's a Browns fan. Do you know how horrid it is NEVER cheering for a team in the Super Bowl EVER? Sure, you might not like one team, Dallas, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Denver and New England all roll of the tongue but they've all won shitpiles of Super Bowl trophies. The Browns (and Lions and Jaguars) have never been. Yes, so "Go other guy" gets real old real fast.

But Johnny. those ads, they're the best. Well, maybe some are but some won't be. Two words, farting horse. Besides, the Super Bowl ads didn't all used to "leak" (no doubt by the companies themselves believe it or not) a week before. Watch them now if you want at your leisure. The Wizard of Oz kind of lost some of it's mojo once it wasn't on teevee ONCE a year around Easter time. That was it. You saw it or you lost. With basic cable it was on TBS and elsewhere all the time. Those 1984 Apple and Mean Joe Greene Coke ads are a bygone era. Ads built for impact not entertainment value to be viewed on YouTube on a loop.

The players Johnny, you've gotta love those players. Johnny's a Michigan State fan and Tom Brady went to Michigan. Johnny is a Browns fan and Falcons starting center Alex Mack bolted the Browns first chance he got. Hall-of-Famer in-waiting Joe Thomas is the answer to the immediate question/statement about leaving the Browns that jumped to the front of your mind.

Some of those halftime shows though, they've been great you cynical Johnny you. What if we, as a nation, see another boob? What if we as a nation have to watch another rock star or band mail in a performance with local kids ambling around on the field while they play the worstest ever thing in music, "the medley." Lady Gaga seems like a great person who truly has her head and heart in the right place but Johnny's not a fan of her sound. Gladiator fights. Now THAT would bring Johnny back for halftimes. Big old Punic War reenactments with flashing lights and great battle music. It's football, and gladiator fights fit that image perfectly. While Johnny's all about improving the Super Bowl while not watching it, here's a suggestion for those in power at the NFL to tune in more viewers (and he simply cannot believe you didn't come up with this yourselves, perhaps too busy molding fake patriotic initiatives eh?) and make the Super Bowl and ever BIGGER spectacle. The camera spends how much awkward time looking for celebrities in the crowd during the game? Screw that. Take the time you spend showing celebrities and use that for a replay or Troy Aikman drawing all over the screen. Why not have a Super Bowl RED CARPET arrival for celebrities? Celebrities LOVE this shit and for some reason people like seeing famous people on red carpets. So, NFL, have a red carpet show for all the celebs showing up before the game and then everyone will already know who's there. You're welcome.

Today however, for the first time in forever, Johnny's not going to a party, Mrs. Johnny is out of town, nobody is coming over. Johnny doesn't have to watch one goddamned minute and doesn't plan to. He may check the score online, he might goad fans on Twitter, but yeah, this Browns fan is done for the season.

Late night open thread

For the first time in really forever Johnny tried that retail therapy you've heard of. It works on some levels but for a kid who grew up dirt poor there's always gonna be a guilt to it.

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Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with BUDDY HOLLY!

February 3rd yes? Johnny did a write up of the 50th anniversary of 'The Day the Music Died' some seven years ago here so tonight with it being a certain anniversary and all we're going to play one of Johnny's mostest favorite songs from one of rock and roll's most important performers, songwriters, producers and rock stars all rolled into one. Buddy Holly with 'Rave On'

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with THE WHO!

This song all day was going to be 'Eminence Front.' Johnny had been thinking of working that one in actually for a while now. He went to give it a final listen and double clicked 'Slip Kid'.

Guess what, 'Slip Kid' has a far better backstory, a warning to kids to be so careful in holding up someone as your idol from the world of music as you can easily get hurt. Learn from your elders, don't mimic them.

Plus there's that rally nasty/cool guitar through the middle before that timeless grinding of the guitar strings by Pete Townshend brings us back to a Roger Daltrey almost desperate to relay the story.

No easy easy to be free...

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with DAVID BOWIE!

Johnny and the Jean Genie both love chimney stacks. So we have that going for us, which is nice...

The Thin White Duke and 'Jean Genie' sending you on your way tonight (no doubt singing the chorus from this song).

Johnny will be on both ABC and NBC News tonight

He will be discussing his heroism in the Bowling Green Massacre where he killed 7 orcs, 3 Russians and a wyvern. Make sure to tune in! Goooood watchin'

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Jebediah, the Jersey City weather telling Wombat sez...

Johnny took the pup over the Jebediah's home, still at the corner of Bay St. and Warren with those piles of bricks that have been there for the last 12 years and asked him all about winter and seeing his shadow and what not. Johnny asked Jeb whether we still had six more weeks of winter.

"Winter, when is it going to start? I have no good idea, you're the people, you figure it out."

So, there you go, right from the wombat's mouth.

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Johnny is pretty sure he and Elvis had this same dream.

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JOKER....JOKER....DEVIL, awwwwwww, go see human resources

Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. Sometimes it rains. But sometimes you lose and later lose bigger and have to go see the boss.

One of Mayor Fulop's first initiatives was no mare taking city vehicles and using them for personal use. Some still probably have been doing it but nobody had any proof...until now. City Recreation Director Kevin Williamson, hired in November 2015, apparently didn't get the memo. Mr. Williamson took his city-owned Ford Explorer home with him.

Then it got stolen.

That'll ruin your day. Knowing you'd taken a city vehicle that was now elsewhere and you have no idea where cannot feel good. So Williamson didn't report the vehicle stolen...right away:

"(Williamson) told police he parked his city Ford Explorer on Sussex Street on Monday, Jan. 23 at about 9 p.m. and when he returned at 8 a.m. the next day it was gone, according to a police report.

Williamson did not immediately report the missing car to police. The police report says he walked into the city's east district police station to report the crime at about 12:40 p.m. the Tuesday it went missing. The report says he told police that when he couldn't find the blue Ford nearly five hours earlier, he "walked around the area" to see if he could spot it."

So once it got reported city spokeswoman Jennifer Morrill said the matter was referred to human resources. There's more on the story at the link, including the recovery of the vehicle and where.

Johnny knows what happens next