Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with THE SMITHEREENS!

Johnny's ode to all his New Jersey friends. Bruce or Jon seemed so cliche and we've played them both plenty. 'Blood and Roses' all up in your ears and sounding like Friday night should.

Turn it up loud enough you can drown out all the car horns ;)

Late night open thread

If you didn't know or you've already had dinner Johnny didn't want you to miss this story on the best cheeseburgers in New Jersey on what today is called 'National Cheeseburger Day'.

NJ.com writer Pete Genovese traveled all over the Garden State in search of the best cheeseburgers money can buy. Its a pretty eclectic list and yes Jersey City is represented. No hints now, you gotta click that link.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

As if you didn't need another reason to hate the Trump/Kushner buildings

Did you know a lot of government and business people rigged the numbers to show that the area around the Trump/Kushner buildings was depressed and NEEDED to have those buildings there rather than Bergen-Lafayette or other poorer neighborhoods in JC where of course, Trump and Kushner would never want to build. Throw back a snort of whiskey before this one, it'll make you mad.

Did you know then New Jersey, on this day in 1999...

...a new show debuted on HBO that had a certain local flavor. Has it really been since 1999 that The Sopranos debuted?

A parody born from hilarity and love:

Johnny's not one for the Instagram

Too many rules about what they own of your work turns him right off BUT he does know a lot of you out there enjoy it. Would you like to hazard a guess as to the most Instagrammed restaurant in New Jersey? We won't give it away here but if you're a reader of the Jersey City Desk you have a slight advantage in your guess.

Normally Johnny wouldn't spend a Sunday talking about astroturf

Or "fieldturf" as you're about to read.

Seriously, who thought today you'd wake up and want to read an amazing in-depth story on the fleecing of American communities and taxpayers over the new "fieldturf" at the local high school football fields. NJ.com has another well done and truly enlightening piece on taxpayers getting ripped off by a company who knew their fields they sold to local high schools would fall apart much faster than they'd promised.

Take some time, maybe over coffee in the morning. It's what good journalism looks like.

Johnny appreciates the business as usual attitude during this terror cell tantrum

Johnny wants to commend his fellow citizens who, while showing great concern, never panicked nor freaked the fuck out over these past couple three days with pipe bombs and trashcan bombs with pressure cookers being used.

Ever vigilant, never bend the knee.

If you're in New Jersey and near the water a Tropical Storm warning was just posted for you

The National Weather Service has issued a Tropical Storm Warning for late Saturday night and into Sunday maybe through Monday for heavy rain and gusty winds. Some spots in the southern parts of the state could get 3-5 inches of soaking rain from now Hurricane Hermine:

TIMING: Winds are expected to increase around mid-day Saturday, then continue through the Labor Day weekend. Rain is expected to begin on Saturday, then continue through Sunday, heavy at times, with as much as 3 to 5 inches possible in southern New Jersey. The weather service said gusty winds could knock down trees and power lines.

HEAVY RAIN: Based on the latest storm track projections, the highest risk of heavy rain is along the coast and coastal plains of New Jersey. "The primary flooding hazard will be street and flash flooding," the weather service said. "The recent dry weather will lessen but not eliminate the risk of river and stream flooding. There is expected to be a sharp cutoff in the heavy rain dependent on the track of Hermine. A track further off the coast lessens the threat for heavy rain."

More on the storm here.

Did anyone see the 'fire rainbow' over NJ yesterday?

Johnny was busier than a one-legged man in an ass kicking contest all day bit saw this story and wanted to pass it along. A fire rainbow was seen over New Jersey Tuesday afternoon. What's a fire rainbow? Well you'll just have to click here and find out.

Look up tonight and you might just get a treat

The Northern Lights may make an appearance in the New Jersey skies tonight as a minor geomagnetic storm is currently affecting the Earth. The Aurora Borealis could be seen as far south tonight as Maryland. Now, this is the greater NYC ambient light area so #1 good luck. If you can find a somewhat darkish secluded spot look north and if the Northern lights are visible, well then you're in for a treat.

More info on the best places to look and on the Aurora Borealis itself follow this link.

Tropical Storm Joaquin; Not so much if but when...

Newly minted Tropical Storm Joaquin, swirling up tightly off Florida's coast is expected to head northward along the Atlantic seaboard and MOST, not all projections but MOST have Joaquin hitting New Jersey. The fact that the storm will continue and quite possibly grow into a hurricane isn't in question. Seemingly neither is the path. The question is when does it get real sloppy around these here parts. Early Saturday things could get weird but Sunday is the day currently forecaster are taking a hard look at.

Johnny's not trying to panic you, the news media will do that. He's just giving you a few days heads up to plan for a wet weekend. How much wet and wind remains to be seen.

New Jersey wonders why the cost of doing business is so high

The state of New Jersey is going to approve JP Morgan Chase $188 million dollars in tax credits to move 2,000 workers to Jersey City. WE as taxpayers are paying a company that made over 5 BILLION dollars last QUARTER $188 million dollars to move 2,000 workers across the river. Could this money not have been invested more wisely? Maybe some smaller businesses could use a tax cut. Why give a mega-bank that engages in this kind of business practice our money?

JPMorgan Chase & Co has agreed to pay at least $125 million to settle probes by U.S. state and federal authorities that the bank sought to improperly collect and sell consumer credit card debt, according to people familiar with the matter.

What a great company. Exactly the kind of company who is really undeserving of the money first off and it's truly unnecessary secondly make this a bad bad deal for New Jersey taxpayers but the usual suspects, Chris Christie, Steve Fulop et al were jumping up and down for it. These guys just don't seem to get economics or if they do it doesn't show up in people looking to gain higher office. Jersey City wouldn't live or die with these jobs coming here or not. There's no requirement those getting New Jersey tax money hand over fist actually live in New Jersey. Very few if any of these people will set up shop here so in essence we just subsidized a lot of New Yorkers. Again, reasons the cost of doing business is so high and there is no benefit in making it so.

Sunday at the Jersey City Desk, more boring yet vital reading

If you live in New Jersey chances are, and Johnny's guessing here, you've been on some kind of train. Since this article deals with rail safety over the last twenty years, we'll use that as our baseline. Sometime in these last twenty years you've gotten on some kind of NJ-based train, PATH, Amtrak, NJ Transit, HB Light Rail, you're probably been on one.

In somewhat alarming news, especially after the horrible train accident in Philadelphia this week, did you know then 600 trains have derailed in New.Jersey over past twenty years AND the rate of "human error" in those derailments is TWICE the national average? Sobering news and you're probably wanting to know more at this point, good for you Johnny has a link.

Since it's freezing outside maybe you can assist police with a cold case

Johnny is one who loves a cold case file. Let's walk that back, he enjoys working on cold cases but does realize someone sadly had to die for this to become a case at all. Johnny just has a knack for such things and yes has contributed research and information on other cases to police. Just something he's good at.

Now here's a case on a freezing cold day you might just want to pull up a chair and read on. A case ten years on in the disappearance of Danielle Imbo from Mt. Laurel and Richard Petrone, Jr. from Philadelphia. Read the article and then try reading up on other write-ups and if you have questions as you go make a god strong mental note or write your questions down. Research your questions and see if they can be answered. If not, move them into the intriguing pile. For heaven's sake if you do know something or figure something out about it, please DO contact police or how will you ever know if your work was right?

Jersey City is a lousy place to spend Valentine's Day...

...or so says something calling itself WalletHub.com. The site ranked Jersey City #89 of the top 100 most populous cities (Newark was even worse at #92) or worst places to spend Valentine's Day.

So, why does Jersey CIty rank so poorly? According to the website "such metrics as restaurant meal costs and the number of attractions and florists per capita." Um, Jersey City food is hotter than a firecracker right now so strike one WalletHub. Florists? Really? Who goes into a neighborhood florist in most places? You get online or pick up a phone and order flowers. Johnny had two dozen long stem red roses delivered for Michigan State's triumphant Rose Bowl win over Stanford a little over a year ago. Hudson Florists. Just call. Strike two WalletHub. Which brings us to number of attractions. You're telling us WalletHub that out of 100 populated cities Jersey City is only ahead of EIGHT on attractions? Here's a great Jersey City attraction and it's FREE:

There you go, J. Owen Grundy Park. It's free for your Valentine's stroll and Johnny defies you to seek a better backdrop.

Strike three WalletHub, bite us.

The red light cameras in the state of New Jersey are NO MORE!

That means Jersey City cannot issue these tickets in any fashion, Trenton, Hoboken, Moonachie, Newark (Yes you too Newark), Camden, Piscataway, nowhere can these cameras issue tickets. If you get one now, toss it away.

These cameras never were about safety. A cautionary tale next time any elected official says we NEED to institute something on a state or local level that will require you to pay more "but it's all for improved safety." Bullshit. It's a scheme to remove money from your bank account while the city or state sits back and collects money under false pretenses.

They'll try and find other ways but red light cameras, and the companies who often bribed their way into states to begin with, won't be it.

All NJ Transit train service has been suspended

Making your Tuesday commute the best it can be....in this price range.

It's true, all NJ Transit train service has been suspended because of a power issue facing Amtrak:

NJ Transit trains on both the Northeast Corridor and North Jersey Coast lines are not running due to an Amtrak power supply problem.

Trains on the Midtown Direct line are suspended but are being diverted to Hoboken, NJ Transit said on its website.

If you are making plans to fly out on the 4th of July or going to the beach you need to hear this

Tropical Strom Andrew, the first named tropical storm of 2014 is expected to impact New Jersey and the Jersey Shore on Friday, July 4th with heavy rain, heavy winds and heavy surf. The storm is located off the shore of Florida currently and is slowly making it's way north.

Saturday's weather forecast is 84º and sunny.

Sure, we like to have our fun here at the Jersey City Desk

However, sometimes there are very important goings on that Johnny hears about or reads on and feels compelled to pass along. Today is a story about how badly and how corrupt the bail-bond system in New Jersey is run. That recent murder at the Short Hills Mall? The guy was out on bail and most likely he'd not have been if he'd have been in another state. It certainly is enough to make you mad and hopefully mad enough to contact your state legislator to help reign in this mess of a system.

This system needs to change or seriously, more people are going to die senselessly. Read on citizens.

Here now a public service announcement for those with say, a heavy foot...

We know that from time to time everyone speeds on our nation's highways and byways. No matter how careful one tries to be, sometimes you just don't look for a few seconds and boom, over the limit. Police know of these areas people tend to speed. In fact they help create them, and they are known as speed traps. How would you like it if someone had posted active speed traps in one handy-dandy place to warn you?

Welcome to NJ Speed Trap on Twitter, the place for all things NJ speed trap related. Just check the site before you head out, if you hit a rest area or put your passengers to good use. The site updates active speed traps to help you avoid them. Much like flashing the bright lights off a few times to warn other drivers of a speed trap ahead, this site will help you avoid paying for someone else's civic improvements with an electronic twist.

We happily add this site to our Links that don't Stink list,