Late night open thread

We'll have a lot more pics, like the ones you've seen on Twitter here tomorrow. For tonight enjoy this animated gif of Jersey City lit up with fireworks from 102 floors up at the WTC where Johnny and Mrs. Johnny attended a July 4th affair, the first such viewing party on Independence Day at the newly opened observation deck.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Happy 4th of July!

Johnny wants to wish everyone in the Jersey City Desk viewing area a very happy and proud 4th of July. It rings out extra loud this year with the gay marriage ruling so that even more people now feel included in this great American experiment.

Make sure to follow Johnny on the Twitter or drop back here later tonight around midnight, Johnny is going to have a special treat for all of you!

Late night open thread

Johnny's got to get to bed so he can get up on the 4th of July and do what Americans do, drink beer, eat hot dogs and have roman candle fights.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN!

When writing songs about America and all that makes up this amazing experiment, who better to turn to than Bruce Springsteen and one of Johnny's favorite songs by him, 'Atlantic City' as we take a look at the gritty side of America this July 3rd.

Meet me tonight in Atlantic City...

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with JOHN COUGAR MELLENCAMP!

Well he was a Cougar back then and we're all about the accuracy here.

Johnny has always loved this song as the perfect slice of small town America seeing as how he grew up in a small town that couldn't have been much bigger than Mr. Mellencamp's one state down. So instead of a long-winded treatise of small towns and midwest living here's 'Pink Houses'.

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with THE STEVE MILLER BAND!

Putting the wraps on our  look at America in rock music on this week's Music Series here's an oldie and a goodie, The Steve Miller Band with 'Living in the USA'

Late night open thread

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

The bad kind of Throwback Thursday in Jersey City

Twitter as many of you know is a fun day of sharing throwback pictures. Jersey City is not enjoying another kind of throwback, arrests for apparent corruption at the Jersey City Incinerator Authority (JCIA), three to be exact at press time while Terrence T. McDonald tells us the Jersey City Police Department is currently seeking a fourth suspect.

McDonald's questioning would seem to have caught the chair of the JCIA Board of Commissioners off-guard this morning:

A phone call seeking comment from the JCIA's executive director, Oren Dabney, went straight to voicemail this morning. Maureen Hulings, the chair of the agency's board of commissioners, told The Jersey Journal she did not know about the arrests.

"Oh, God," Hulings said when she heard the news. "I have not heard anything. Oh, God.

Unlike the situation with Ward B Councilman Chico Ramchal who was recently fired from an alleged no-show county job, the Mayor's office through spokeswoman Jennifer Morrill wasted no time in calling for investigations and the rooting out of corruption wherever is appears:

"We will not tolerate individuals that have taken advantage of the city residents for years and today is just another step in that direction," Mayor Steve Fulop said in a statement that noted the investigation was initiated by the city.

Convenient to have a comment on this other than letting the law take it's course. This is however another step forward for citizens and a strike against those who would use their city positions to steal and or profit at taxpayers expense. A neverending job in Jersey City it appears.

Late night open thread

Unless you cheer for Japan, as a soccer fan the ending and own-goal a minute from extra time and penalty kicks seems very unsatisfying. That poor woman from England who tried to poke it away but landed it in her own net; In the words of Marlon Brando near the end of Apocalypse Now, "The horror....the horror"

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Happy 70th Birthday Debbie Harry!!

Anyone who reads the Jersey City Desk knows how much Johnny reveres Debbie Harry and her time with and without Blondie. To a kid living in Ortonville Michigan in the late 70's and early 80's who wanted nothing more than to be in New York City, her voice has always been a beacon. Johnny was blown away one night, a real epiphany listening to the debut of Autoamerican on 105.5 FM out of Flint on his stereo being broadcast in something called Carver Sonic Holography it was, well, Johnny still remembers it as a high-water mark musically after all these years. That's how they'd do it back then kids. If a band had a really big album they'd let a station in each market play it, usually at midnight so everyone could hear it at the same time or together. A great way to reward loyal fans and a great program by the FM stations back then. Then you'd get on Twitter, Facebook and text your friends about what they thought...NOT!

And then radio died but it sure wasn't Debbie Harry's fault. Here now Johnny's favorite Blondie song, 'Union City Blue' with a hale and hearty happy birthday to her royal highness Debbie Harry.