Winter Holiday

Winter is upon us in northern New Jersey. 23 degress F without the wind chill.
It is winter holidays, before the winter solstice.
Baked recipes fills the air in the kitchen and rest of the house and the living room smells the fresh cut christmas tree from Hill Farm.
It is Friday and I canhear the howling wind outside, sipping my cheap wine and thankful for a warm house for my family.
Fireplace will smell of burning hickory, ash and cherry woods.
Occasional drinks of eggnog spiked with rhum.
It is a country feel, despite close to Manhattan, by 80 minutes.
Bon Jesey.

First Snow in New Jersey

Our first snow of this year...

Bon Jovi on the Plaza

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Bon Jovi rocks!

Tammy, the turkey

She made a media sensation since she discovered exit 14-B of the Jersey turnpike way back in August. Motorists thought she cute alright, but created hazardous situations at the tool booth. Motorists braked quickly to avoid road kill or dodge her making the tool booth prone to accidents. Then, there were motorists, who pulled over, and walked with their kids, crossed the road to take a glimpse of her.

She was finally captured yesterday. Her new home is Popcorn Zoo Park in Forked River.

Check out the video.

Ledger Live: The New Jersey Turnpike Turkey

New Jersey's Eight Grade Students

The Star Ledger wrote a front page article about New Jersey's eight grade students have the mastery and command of writing and prose in the English language.

It was a bit surprise for me. New Jersey has a very diverse residents that English would be diluted and somehow be put in the background by most first and second generation immigrant residents. It was a fallacy. Despite their ethnic background, the second generation would be assimilated to the American culture.

I give credit to their parents, who are less educated and barely speak the English language, but pursue the American dream and the teachers, who sees the potential of each students.

Diversity works!

Think Nuclear!

We are so much dependent on oil that we are at the mercy of oil producing nations. Every one are talking and doing something about a "clean" alternative source of energy, like wind, solar, geo-thermal, bio-fuels, ad infinitum.

The real solution NOW is going nuclear! Nuclear energy is a very cost effective source of energy. The leaders of these oil producing nations will sweat and shrink their balls.

What about nuclear waste? No problem. We have the technology. Build a rocket, pack the nuclear waste in it and aim toward the sun. It will turn to vapors even before reaching the sun.

My two cent wisdom from New Jersey...:)

Three Students at Rutgers

Three students at Rutgers recieved the Gates Cambridge Scholarship Foundation, second to Harvard University who recieved four of their students. Two from these institutions are recipients of this very competitive award, Princeton, Yale and MIT.

It is a state university, but it reflects the quality of its students and faculties.

Hail to Queen's College, The Rutgers University!

Jersey, we are not stupid

Despite all the media's doomsday scenarios about Jersey, NJ Division of Investment bought some preferred stocks at Citigroup and Merill.

Being a Jersey, the State can be a survivor and leader of the pack.

Let me know, if otherwise.

Some Pressing Issues About Public Finances In New Jersey

New Jersey's public debt is dangerously in the brink of bankruptcy.

I could not fathom the wisdom of the ordinary citizen of this great state against the wisdom of his leadership about the debt of this state. He knows more about money than anyone in New Jersey.

It is the arrogance of its citizens, their political affiliation, and their respective politicians that matters.

I do not want our state called a "WHINNY" state, please.

I prefer Garden State :).

The Crossing

I watch the "The Crossing" that depicts the crossing of Gorge Washington over the Delaware River on that fateful day at Christmas Day, crossing from Pennsylvania to the Shore in Trenton.

The Colonial Army defeated the Hessian mercenary from Germany.

We would be a colony were it not for the the above historic turning event in the American Revolution.

New Jersey, a Progressive State

We voted against the death penalty. Who are we to judge someone's life?

But, I do empathise for the victims of these heinous crimes.

It is the power of forgiveness that elevate us from ordinary being to the sublime.

A State Worth Living, Mentally

Dec. 24 issue of Time, page 20 has a short article about the mental state of the States of the Union.

I was a bit surprise. But deep inside me, I don't have any of these negative karmas. It may reflect major mood and sentiment of the residents of this State.

Despite all the negative stereotyping about New Jersey, it ranks the third least depressed state. The rest of the northeast has moderate to worse ranking and may explain all these bad mouthing about Jersey, :).

The least is South Dakota and followed by Hawaii.

So, next time you visit New Jersey or pass by on your way to Manhattan, think of us the third sanest people in the Union.

Bruce in Madison Square Garden 2001

It was awesome. The album was a gift for my 52th birthday.

The Holidays Is Upon Us

Thanksgiving holiday is less than a week. New Jersey's fall foliage has past its peak and temperature has been the 30's and 40's at night. Winter is knocking at our doors. But Mother Nature will never dampened the holiday spirits.

It is celebration of family and reflections.

Photo is courtesy of the New York Times.

Some Comment About Newark by an Ice Hockey Dude

I read some not pleasant comment about Newark in the Star Ledger a few days back.

He works or affiliated with ESPN and comments about ice hockey.

I do not know how the game is played. It seems like a sport that it is not popular to the minority like me.

It will take some time, just like football. It took me some time to learn the game and now I look forward to their schedule. I am a Jets fan. Unfortunately, my team has not been performing well.

Back to my agenda, I had a look of his photo on Star Ledger. He looked (?) metrosexual. He has a trimmed moustache and well done hairdo.

Well... real men in Jersey wear bed-head!

And this infamous guy has not been in Newark neither.

Bon Jersey! (as they say)

It seems like the "Rock" went well for the two Bon Jovi's concerts and the the first Devils' home game.

I am proud of it and I hope the residents of Newark feels the same. It is their showcase and show the rest of the country that they can do better.

Is it a fluke or hype? It is up to the people of Newark.

I will rally for the good of Newark.

Bon Jovi at Prudential Arena, Newark, NJ

I heard that Bon Jovi will start his concert tomorrow, Oct. 25.

I heard concerns about traffic. It is true.

The solution is mass transit, that is, the train. Believe me.

If some "macho" driver navigate the streets, I recomend to stay away from route 21 (McCarter Hwy) and route I-280.

A better options are I-78 east to Broad St exit and Raymond Blvd Turnpike exit 15E.

I am not a macho driver nor sissy driver, but a defensive driver. It keeps my car insurance premium affordable in NJ.

A Saturday's Event in Far Hills, NJ

It was a our fall's family event to attend the Far Hills Steeplechase race. We almost do this every year. Today was a bit different weather wise. It was cool and breezy, not cold or wet. It was just right with lots of sun and cool breeze. As usual, we celebrate this event with family friends.

This is one of the events and festivities we like to do in New Jersey.

Rutgers

Manhattan is lit scarlet. Hail to Rutgers!

Newark, New Jersey, A City Worth Visiting

You can not miss to notice the Prudential Arena if you drive on Broad Street in downtown Newark.

It dwarfs the City Hall of Newark in structure.

As well as the price tag...500 M on the citizen of Newark.

Is it a price worth buying? I think it is. Newark has to move forward regardless of the skeptics, arrogant, and "holier than thou" some New Jersey residents. They seem to embrace their community but they distanced themselves from Newark like a person with tuberculosis or leprosy.

Although not perfect, Newark has come along way from the troubled mid 60's. The Rock is Newark's showcase. My showcase, too.

It is not a ritzy town like Short Hills, Livingston, Essex Fells, Maplewood, Princeton, West Windsor, Montgomery, etc.

I would like to see some support, at least some sympathy, to the oldest and greatest city of New Jersey.