Nowhere Zen New Jersey

From the Wall Street Journal:

The Hidden State of Culture

New Jersey is America’s secret treasure-house of culture.

If that strikes you as a proposition out of an absurdist play, consider a sampling of the gifted figures who have either come from Jersey or made a home there: Bruce Springsteen (N.J.’s state songbird); Frank Sinatra, Frankie Valli; Walt Whitman, William Carlos Williams, Allen Ginsberg; the painters George Inness and John Marin; the photographer Alfred Stieglitz; Stephen Crane, Philip Roth, Junot Díaz; and David Chase, creator of “The Sopranos.”

California? Too much fantasy, too much hazardous sunlight and too much obsession with software and hard bodies. New York City? Too much reality, too little sunlight and too much obsession, period. Everywhere in between? Riches, to be sure, but no place has New Jersey’s tightly packed diversity, its quick changes from urban to country, from mountains to coast, from gritty to gorgeous.

Of course, think “New Jersey” and cultural epicenter doesn’t immediately spring to mind. Instead, the name summons up unsparing caricature: grime, gangsters, pollution, ugly highways, Byzantine shopping malls, Saharan parking lots and a level of culture somewhere between troglodyte and troll.

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209 Responses to Nowhere Zen New Jersey

  1. grim says:

    Hat tip to Chifi for the link

  2. lostinny says:

    Yes entirely too much reality in NY. Especially since you can have a toilet with legs.

  3. Cindy says:

    Good Morning All…
    Kettle – You get the day off – no?

    Just listened to “I Want Some Tarp.”

    You gotta laugh or you would cry…we have a real knack in this country for intertaining ourselves with the absurdity of our lives….Seinfeld..Saturday Night Live.

    Beats riots…

  4. grim says:

    For those out shopping this weekend.

    From Consumerist:

    Behold, Another Investigation Concludes That Circuit City’s Liquidation Sale Is Awful

    Hey, we’re sorry if you’re getting sick of hearing about how Circuit City’s liquidation sale isn’t a good deal, but it’s our duty to inform you that yet another local news investigation has determined that CC’s sales are crappy. In this case, they found every single item they shopped for, from DVDs to big screen TVs, cheaper on-line — and took a look at a laptop that is now being sold at a sale price that is more than before the store was taken over by liquidators.

  5. Clotpoll says:

    What, no more Firedog?

  6. crossroads says:

    would Freddie asking for up to 35 billion qualify as something big happening by Monday?

  7. Ed McMansion says:

    Can anyone recommend a good moving company in Hudson County?

  8. Ed McMansion says:

    Circuit City’s liquidators must take notes from Essex County RE Agents – Let’s just say prices are reduced and someone will be dumb enough to buy something.

  9. grim says:

    From Bloomberg:

    First Centennial Bank of California Seized by State Regulator

    First Centennial Bank of Redlands, California, was seized by a state regulator, the third U.S. bank to fail this year, as the recession deepens and the slump in the housing industry sends home foreclosures to records.

    First Centennial, with $803.3 million in assets and $676.9 million in deposits, was shut by the California Department of Financial Institutions and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. was named receiver. First California Bank, based in Westlake Village, will assume deposits. The failed bank’s 6 offices will open Jan. 26 as branches of First California, the FDIC said.

    Regulators closed 25 banks last year, the most since 1993, draining money from the FDIC deposit insurance fund, which had $34.6 billion as of Sept. 30. National Bank of Commerce in Berkeley, Illinois, and Bank of Clark County in Vancouver, Washington, were shuttered by regulators on Jan. 16.

    First California will buy about $293 million in assets and will pay a premium of 5.3 percent to assume the failed bank’s insured deposits, the FDIC said. The cost to the deposit insurance fund, supported by fees on insured banks, will be an estimated $227 million, the agency said. First Centennial had about $12.8 million in deposits that exceeded insured limits, the FDIC said.

  10. grim says:

    Calculated Risk has been pretty vocal about the losses being taken by the FDIC during these closures.

    I believe the loss percentages are significantly higher than during the S&L crisis. Redlands had $803 million in assets, but cost the FDIC $227 million? More than 25%, absurd.

    Maybe I’ve got my tinfoil hat on, but I think the FDIC is simply waiting too long to push these insolvent banks into receivership. And by doing so, are taking significantly larger losses. A risky game to play. Hope can’t resolve insolvency.

  11. DISSIDENT HEHEHE says:

    I saw the same thing at Linens ‘n things liquidation. Sorry but 20-30% off is a SALE not a LIQUIDATION.

  12. Cindy says:

    (11) HEHEHE

    When I was in Arizona after Christmas and we went shopping one day, there were throngs of people…looking for bargains. None to be had. Opportunity lost I thought.

    I bet they wish they could turn back the clock and make those deep discounts. Now those people are disenchanted and have slapped those funds into their savings accounts. I know I did.

  13. crossroads says:

    does anybody know where to find ratings for banks that are accurate for todays crisis?

  14. Clotpoll says:

    xroads (6)-

    No. Chump change.

  15. grim says:

    Some numbers for those who think I’m wearing too much tin foil.

    FDIC closures from 6-8 years ago:

    Institution Name – Closure Date – Assets – BIF Cost – Cost/Assets
    Bank of Sierra Blanca, Sierra Blanca, TX 18-Jan-02 10.8 1.4 12.96%
    Sinclair National Bank, Gravette, AR 7-Sep-01 30.7 4.4 14.33%
    The Malta National Bank, Malta, OH 3-May-01 9.5 0.08 0.84%
    First Alliance Bank & Trust Company, Manchester, NH 2-Feb-01 17.5 0.119 0.68%
    Bank of Honolulu, Honolulu, HI 13-Oct-00 66.9 2.5 3.74%

    FDIC closures during the recent crisis:

    Institution Name – Closure Date – Assets – BIF Cost – Cost/Assets
    1st Centennial Bank, Redlands, CA 23-Jan-09 803.3 227 28.26%
    Bank of Clark County, Vancouver, WA 16-Jan-09 446.5 132.5 29.68%
    National Bank of Commerce, Berkeley, IL 16-Jan-09 430.9 97.1 22.53%
    Sanderson State Bank, Sanderson, TX 12-Dec-08 37 12.5 33.78%
    Haven Trust Bank, Duluth, GA 12-Dec-08 572 200 34.97%
    First Georgia Community Bank, Jackson, GA 5-Dec-08 237.5 72.2 30.40%
    PFF Bank and Trust, Pomona, CA 21-Nov-08 3700 700 18.92%
    Downey Savings and Loan, Newport Beach, CA 21-Nov-08 12800 1400 10.94%
    The Community Bank, Loganville, GA 21-Nov-08 681 220 32.31%
    Security Pacific Bank, Los Angeles, CA 7-Nov-08 561.1 210 37.43%
    Franklin Bank, SSB, Houston, TX 7-Nov-08 5100 1500 29.41%

  16. Cindy says:

    http://www.forbes.com/2008/09/25/mortgage-debt-relief-oped-cx_nr_0925roubini.html

    (15) Grim – I saved this from 9-25-08 – Roubini solutions. The triage decisions should have been made long ago…

    “So you need a systematic triage between banks that are distressed, under capitalized, and illiquid – but – solvent. This should be developed once recapitalization occurs from those that are insolvent and need to be shut down. You need to destroy the bad apples to let the good ones – or sick but curable ones – thrive.

  17. Cindy says:

    There are ten solutions there – still being tossed around today.

  18. Clotpoll says:

    Is the Harrison pub crawl GTG a dead idea?:

    Red Bull Arena opening delayed until 2010
    By Ives Galarcep, January 22, 2009

    In a setback for the New York Red Bulls, Red Bull Arena will not be completed in time to open during the 2009 MLS season, meaning the Harrison stadium will now open in 2010.

    Red Bulls managing director Erik Stover confirmed to ESPNsoccernet that the club will have to wait until the start of the 2010 season to open Red Bull Arena.

    “We have dealt with a number of obstacles throughout 2008 that led to delays in construction, thus Red Bull Arena will not be completed until after the 2009 season,” Stover said. “When we started erecting steel last August, we said that we had been hit with delays out of our control but were hoping that we would [be completed during the 2009 season].

    “With all this in mind, the best decision for us is to prepare for the 2010 season,” Stover said. “Our goal has always been to create a first-class experience for our fans. Opening before we are 100 percent ready would do a disservice to our fans that have waited for our new stadium.”

    According to multiple sources, multiple issues led to delays in construction and development, from government red tape to delays in the development of the area.

    If this scenario sounds familiar, it should. This development shouldn’t come as much of a surprise to anybody who has followed the long and torturous journey the club has endured in its quest for a soccer-specific stadium.

    The delays in the Red Bull Arena project have led to another casualty in the club’s plans. The proposed practice facility in Hanover will not be built in the immediate future as the club focuses its attention on completing Red Bull Arena.

    “We will not be breaking ground in Hanover in the immediate future,” Stover said. “The more prudent thing for us to do is to focus on Red Bull Arena and reassess the Training Grounds later in the year.

    “Hanover is still in our future, but our focus at this time is on Red Bull Arena.”

    The Red Bulls are expected to extend their deal with Montclair State University, which is home to the club’s current temporary practice facility.

    Not all the news is bad regarding the stadium project. The bonds that needed to be sold to build the parking deck next to Red Bull Arena have been sold, clearing the way for that project to commence. There had been concerns about whether the bonds would be able to be sold in this current economic climate. With that issue resolved, the stadium and parking facility should be ready to go for the opening day of the 2010 season.

    So who is to blame for the latest delay? You could argue that the real blame lies with New Jersey politics, which has been known to cripple and even kill many a deal. The town of Harrison lobbied hard for the stadium project, but not everybody in Harrison has been completely supportive of the project. Red Bull does deserve some blame for being naive enough to think that it could get through the red tape without a hitch, when 2010 was always the most likely outcome.

  19. Clotpoll says:

    Cindy (17)-

    They will be getting tossed around twelve months from now.

    A bunch of us hoi polloi on a blog have figured out what needs to be done, and the PTB geniuses still wring their hands. Why? Because doing what needs to be done will end the daylight bank robbery. Thus, solutions will never be implemented.

  20. grim says:

    From the Daily Record:

    Mt. Olive mayor proposes 8.9% tax hike

    Mount Olive residents have a month before they can help decide how $27.6 million in tax dollars will be spent next year during a series of budget hearings planned by the township council.

    Mayor David Scapicchio introduced a $27,585,194 spending plan this week that would boost municipal taxes by $155 for the average homeowner whose house is assessed at $380,300, the township average. The first public hearing will be held at 9 a.m. Feb. 14 at the municipal building.

    The municipal tax rate would rise by 8.89 percent to 50.2 cents per $100 of assessed property value from 46.1 cents per $100 of assessed property last year. Those figures don’t include a potential boost in school county or other taxes.

    He also plans to institute an annual membership fee for Budd Lake beachgoers for the first time in decades. The fees, about $76 per family, would free up about $30,000 from the recreation department to fund lifeguard salaries.

  21. spam spam bacon spam says:

    Ed McMansion:

    They are not in Hudson County, but Central Moving Systems in Bridgewater will move you.

    They have coast to coast operating authority (they are legal to go over state lines…many companies are not and either haul illegally or hire another company to repack all your stuff and then this second guy hauls your stuff and you have no idea who it is until he shows up or demands more money before he gives your stuff back…)

    Anyway, Centra Moving is a LARGE Mayflower & United company. (Mayflower & United are same company)

    They do a lot of residential but also a lot of commercial…

    http://www.centralmoving.com/

    disclaimer: I do some work for them. (and other moving companies; if I were to hire a moving company, I would choose Central over all my moving company clients)

  22. Cindy says:

    21 – Forget about Wall Street getting drunk…

  23. Clotpoll says:

    Cindy (21)-

    Wake and bake, baby!

  24. grim says:

    Jimmy Cayne as a role model? Patron saint maybe?

  25. yikes says:

    Barbara says:
    January 23, 2009 at 6:38 pm

    62. imo manhattan has been culturally dead for at least 10 years. Its like an outdoor Shorthills Mall now.

    certainly depends where you’re going, Cindy. Plus, if you’re in your 20s and a male looking for women and fun … NYC’s a no-brainer.

  26. Cindy says:

    (26) Yikes

    “Certainly depends on where you’re going, Cindy.”

    – Huh? Where am I going? Is it gunna be fun? Remember, I’m no longer in my 20’s.

  27. yikes says:

    think of that cash as the blood in your circulatory system. If you suddenly remove a substantial amount of blood from your body, your blood pressure will rapidly drop, you enter shock and risk death.

    kettle, that’s not really the same as the scenario happening now.

    what happened now is we’re currently losing a lot of blood, death is imminent, and they are pumping blood into you to save the patient.

    and this is where the analogy gets shot to hell – the body now has too much blood which causes entirely new problems. so the doctors must get your blood levels back to normal.

  28. Ed Sanders says:

    On the culture thing,

    Sinatra and Springsteen alone would put NJ on the map, but it really is pretty striking. Throw in Count Basie, Whitney Houston (her Mom too) Bon Jovi and Eddie Rabbit, and you’ve got a big chunk of 20th century popular music. NJ is a mecca for Jazz drummers, and there’s plenty of actors who come from here as well. Nicholson and Devito of course, but even the annoying girl in those High School Musical movies of Disney’s is from NJ.

  29. willwork4beer says:

    #29 Ed

    Actors from NJ…

    Meryl Streep – Bernardsville

  30. grim says:

    No love for Lou Costello?

  31. willwork4beer says:

    Lou was from Paterson

    And Bud Abbott – Asbury Park

  32. willwork4beer says:

    Grim,

    The weekly report from the hinterlands:

    Hunterdon County Comp Killers

    GSMLS recorded seven sales and 44 new listings this week. One sale and nine new listings made this list.

    One Hunterdon County Comp Killer:

    MLS#: 2568811

    40 MUSIC MOUNTAIN BOULEVARD
    West Amwell Twp

    SLD: 03/05/04 $516,764
    OLP: 04/07/05 $725,000

    Withdrawn DOM: 17

    OLP: 09/27/05 $750,000

    Withdrawn DOM: 5

    OLP: 11/17/05 $749,900
    LLP: 03/30/06 $734,900

    Withdrawn DOM: 133

    OLP: 05/23/06 $723,000
    LLP: 07/28/06 $699,900

    Withdrawn DOM: 66

    OLP: 11/29/06 $668,000
    LLP: 02/21/07 $649,999

    Withdrawn DOM: 84

    OLP: 02/22/07 $649,900

    Expired DOM: 97

    OLP: 10/25/07 $625,000

    Withdrawn DOM: 94

    OLP: 08/21/08 $529,900
    LLP: 12/18/08 $474,900
    SLD: 01/19/09 $415,000

    DOM: 119

    19.70% off 03/04 sale price
    44.67% off 09/05 OLP

    Nine Hunterdon County FUTURE Comp Killers:

    MLS#: 2634796

    2 TURKEY RUN
    Bethlehem Twp

    SLD: 03/10/06 $430,000
    OLP: 03/31/08 $459,900

    Expired DOM: 183

    OLP: 01/23/09 $421,000

    DOM: 1

    02.10% off 03/06 sale price
    08.46% off 03/08 OLP

    MLS#: 2632344

    9 CREVELING RD
    Bethlehem Twp

    SLD: 09/21/06 $460,000
    OLP: 09/07/07 $519,900

    Withdrawn DOM: 118

    OLP: 02/25/08 $494,500

    Expired DOM: 233

    OLP: 01/19/09 $439,900

    DOM: 5

    04.37% off 09/06 sale price
    15.39% off 09/07 OLP

    MLS#: 2633063

    79 LA COSTA DR
    Clinton Twp

    SLD: 05/17/07 $445,000
    OLP: 01/20/09 $425,000

    DOM: 4

    04.50% off 05/07 sale price

    MLS#: 2632869

    2 Raritan Pointe
    Lambertville City

    SLD: 07/27/05 $339,400
    OLP: 07/13/08 $389,000

    Withdrawn DOM: 147

    OLP: 12/08/08 $335,000

    Expired DOM: 42

    OLP: 01/20/09 $329,000

    DOM: 4

    03.07% off 07/05 sale price
    15.43% off 07/08 OLP

    MLS#: 2633166

    1706 NEWBURY CT
    Raritan Twp

    SLD: 12/21/05 $273,000
    OLP: 01/19/09 $269,900

    DOM: 5

    01.14% off 12/05 sale price

    MLS#: 2634949

    46 DAVID DR
    Raritan Twp

    SLD: 09/29/05 $355,960
    OLP: 02/15/08 $379,000

    Expired DOM: 213

    OLP: 01/23/09 $329,900

    DOM: 1

    07.33% off 09/05 sale price
    12.96% off 02/08 OLP

    MLS#: 2632574

    5 STOCKTON DR
    Raritan Twp

    SLD: 07/29/05 $701,000
    OLP: 01/19/09 $650,000

    DOM: 5

    07.28% off 07/05 sale price

    MLS#: 2634831

    4 Westway
    Union Twp

    SLD: 04/24/06 $206,000
    OLP: 01/23/09 $160,000

    DOM: 1

    22.34% off 04/06 sale price

    MLS#: 2632253

    7 MELODY DR
    West Amwell Twp

    SLD: 09/20/05 $789,000
    OLP: 01/19/09 $679,000

    DOM: 5

    13.95% off 09/05 sale price

  33. JBJB says:

    Anecdata: Just clicked opened a list of properties from my realtor, very few new listings, a whole lot “price changed”. All reductions, some an absurd 2% (why re-list w/ a 2% price chnage?), to as much as 12%.

  34. chicagofinance says:

    Ed McMansion says:
    January 24, 2009 at 7:42 am
    Can anyone recommend a good moving company in Hudson County?

    Pensa

  35. chicagofinance says:

    grim:

    When I read the article, I thought of Cindy to give her a fla-va of what she’s missin’.

  36. lisoosh says:

    beer – what depresses me about your list is how many are still flirting with ’05/’06 prices – which was the peak.

    Years and years of utterly wasted time. The bubble in NJ just had a horribly long peak. Time to see a drop off.

  37. willwork4beer says:

    #37 lisoosh

    I agree completely.

    Two bright notes from this week:

    1. The one sale on my list was 20% below 2004 price.

    2. All completed sales in HuntCo this week went for below asking price. Couple years ago it seemed most sales were over the asking price.

    Its frustrating to continue to wait but things do seem to be moving in the right direction.

  38. Cindy says:

    (36) Thanks Chicago – I certainly get that New Jersey is unique – totally a state unto itself…
    No comparisons…

  39. BC Bob says:

    “Springsteen: “You ain’t a beauty, but hey you’re alright/Oh and that’s alright with me.”

    Chi,

    I just lost it. Love it, thanks for the post. That was my line down the shore, DJais, at 2:00 AM. LMAO.

    My fav;

    “There’s an opera on The Turnpike”

    -Jungleland

  40. BC Bob says:

    “Is the Harrison pub crawl GTG a dead idea?:”

    Clot,

    I don’t know if the pub crawl is a dead idea. However, I did hop over a dead body by the Path last night.

  41. Cindy says:

    http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=99173117

    BC – Did you get this exclusive first listen?

  42. BC Bob says:

    “We have dealt with a number of obstacles throughout 2008 that led to delays in construction, thus Red Bull Arena will not be completed until after the 2009 season,” Stover said.

    Clot,

    Obstacles? How about they were shocked to discover the amount of contamination under the site. Hard to believe, right?

  43. BC Bob says:

    Cindy [42],

    Got it. Actually listening to The Boss right now, Spirits in The Night.

    Now waiting for the tour schedule, plan my vacation accordingly. Who knows, my travels may take me to your area?

  44. lisoosh says:

    When I found out how many “people” came from New Jersey I always assumed it was because it was a nowhere land – sandwiched between NY and Philly, it makes people strive for recognition.

    Because I’m bored – my list of famous/productive New Jerseyans (no comment on quality):

    Jack Nicholson
    Zack Braff
    Max Weinberg
    Ray Liotta
    Bruce Willis
    Susan Sarandon
    Shaquille O’Neal
    John Travolta
    Kelly Ripa
    Tom Cruise
    Joe Pesci
    Allen Ginsberg,
    Mary Higgins Clark
    Martha Stewart
    Meryl Streep
    Bill Maher
    Jon Stewart
    Dana Owen (Queen Latifah)
    Lauryn Hill
    Michael Landon
    Brian Williams
    Kirsten Dunst
    Anne Hathaway
    Philip Roth
    Judy Blume
    Paul Robeson
    Calista Flockhart
    Brooke Shields
    Stephen Spielberg
    Ed Harris
    Jerry Lewis
    Budd Abbot
    Dionne Warwick
    Danny Devito
    Daisy Fuentes
    Nathan Lane
    Connie Francis
    David Copperfield
    Anne Hathaway
    Elizabeth Shue
    Debbie Harry
    “Count” Basie
    Christina Ricci
    Kevin Spacey
    Les Paul
    Paul Simon
    Camryn Manheim
    Kevin Smith
    Mira Sorvino
    Ethan Hawke
    Bebe Nuewirth
    Frankie Valli
    Norman Mailer
    Dorothy Parker

    Grover Cleveland
    Woodrow Wilson
    Aaron Burr
    Thomas Edison
    Antonin Scalia
    Samuel Alito
    Norman Schwarzkopf
    Alfred Kinsey
    David Dinkins
    Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin

  45. lisoosh says:

    OK – I know Thomas Edison wasn’t FROM here – but his work was here, as was Marconi’s.

  46. Clotpoll says:

    BC (43)-

    The real contamination is going to be on the field.

  47. Sean says:

    lisoosh – Whitney Houston

  48. BC Bob says:

    “The real contamination is going to be on the field.”

    Clot,

    No problem, we can leave at halftime and go bar hopping. Better yet, forget about the game and go bar hopping. Bring your rocket launcher with you.

  49. lisoosh says:

    Whitney was mentioned before.

  50. lisoosh says:

    Of course If you REALLY want a small place with a disproportionately large influence on the arts, science, industry and world history – Scotland.

    :-)

  51. Sean says:

    re: Bong Hits –

    No joke folks Congressman Bendover Bailout Barney Frank is pushing to make it legal again.

    http://www.mpp.org/news/press-releases/barney-frank-introduces-bold-r.html

  52. lisoosh says:

    53-
    They should make it legal. Would empty out half the prisons and save billions in “law enforcement”. Could even raise a ton of money by taxing the sales.

    Of course far too many people making a mint on the “war on drugs” to ever make that happen.

  53. Sean says:

    Speaking of Congress, got a knock on my door last night from a PAC looking to raise money for Human Rights. What struck me was the fact that the PAC is really a gay rights group.

    I asked the solictior what they expected from the new administration and apparently they will be lobbying for a large agenda this session, lots of hope for change etc.

    Going to be a crazy year folks, we may even see a proposed new admendment to the Constitution if the Dems get out of hand.

  54. BC Bob says:

    Back to the article. Funny, when I was in Beantown they mocked the s*it out of my NJ accent. Meanwhile, they were packing the caw and cleaning the gutters on their rowf!

  55. willwork4beer says:

    #45 lisoosh

    I noticed we can claim both Tom Cruise and John Travolta.

    Hmmm… The Church of Scientology was incorporated in New Jersey in 1953.

    (In Elizabeth. Also known as LizBet in the vernacular…)

  56. Sybarite says:

    ww4b:

    Picked up a case of palo santo last night. Delicious.

  57. Sean says:

    Someone mentioned Edison well Marconi who the Italians claim as their wizard actually did most of his work in the Radio here in NJ.

  58. Sybarite says:

    “JBJB says:
    January 24, 2009 at 10:04 am
    Anecdata: Just clicked opened a list of properties from my realtor, very few new listings, a whole lot “price changed”. All reductions, some an absurd 2% (why re-list w/ a 2% price chnage?), to as much as 12%.”

    The answer is to re-appear on the hotsheets that get circulated via email to thousands of clients. One particularly annoying example is a $800k property in Madison dropping $100 at a time, every few days. So annoying.

  59. RemainCalmAllisWell says:

    Anyone see this yet?

    http://recovery.gov/

    Recovery.gov: Check back after the passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to see how and where your tax dollars are spent. An oversight board will routinely update this site as part of an unprecedented effort to root out waste, inefficiency, and unnecessary spending in our government.
    http://WhiteHouse.gov

    http://USA.gov

  60. willwork4beer says:

    #58 Syb

    Glad you’re enjoying it. I saw DFH Red and White in a store the other day, been meaning to pick some up. In the mean time, I’ve been loading up on Trappist ales.

    Rochefort Trappistes 10 is my latest fling. Expensive but worth it, IMHO.

  61. willwork4beer says:

    #62 bairen

    I was feeling really sorry for those folks until I read this part:

    The LeBlanc family lives lean in their five-bedroom, three-bathroom house with its $440 a month mortgage.

    $440 a month! Will someone please tell me why I continue to live in New Jersey…???

  62. rpatrick says:

    63: I have friends who live down there on a year long assignment. It’s a scary place to live. No culture, ect.

  63. Sean says:

    re#62 from that article.

    “Rob LeBlanc was unwilling to work offshore and away from his family.”

    Right infront of his nose are tens of thousands of good paying energy industy jobs, and yet the guy takes a job delivering pizza?

  64. Sybarite says:

    willwork4beer says:
    January 24, 2009 at 11:37 am”
    #58 Syb

    Glad you’re enjoying it. I saw DFH Red and White in a store the other day, been meaning to pick some up. In the mean time, I’ve been loading up on Trappist ales.

    Rochefort Trappistes 10 is my latest fling. Expensive but worth it, IMHO.”

    Yeah, I’ve that a couple of times but it’s way too expensive for me to enjoy regularly. Even the Palo is pricier than most of my usual selections.

  65. willwork4beer says:

    #66 Syb

    I usually drink just one or two and then move on to the cheap stuff. At 12% you can’t drink them all day. Well… you could try, I suppose.

    (hiccup!)

  66. lostinny says:

    I just got something in the mail from Verizon stating that they will no longer offer the Voicewing service (VOIP). So now I have to find new phone service. Lovely.
    BTW, for those of you who complain about Comcast. It’s got nothing on Time Warner as far as prices. I am in awe of those of you who called or chatted with them and got reduced prices. TWC will not lower our bill no matter what we say or ask for. DH has tried on numerous occasions. Oh and the Verizon Fios service would actually cost us more then what we pay now for cable, phone and internet. Oh, and I love NY.

  67. yikes says:

    DISSIDENT HEHEHE says:
    January 23, 2009 at 10:01 pm

    “then that wpuld suggest that blogs such as this one probably have their own little watch list at the NSA/FBI/CIA/DHS…..”

    Oh I don’t doubt that in the least. They’re probably just waiting for the right moment to snatch all of us and send us to some secret CIA prison for reprogramming. Forced to watch reality tv 24 hours a day. Fed by IV’s of high fructose corn syrup. I think Clot is going to be put in a padded cell and have to listen to God Bless The USA until his mind snaps.

    there have been a few times i came to this blog and it was knocked offline, and a little part of me wondered if something nefarious was afoot.

    grim, you should make a backup blog with a URL so everyone can convene on the sly. maybe collect email addys of the frequent posters and send out a mass email or something.

  68. lisoosh says:

    Sean says:
    January 24, 2009 at 12:22 pm

    “re#62 from that article.

    “Rob LeBlanc was unwilling to work offshore and away from his family.”

    Right infront of his nose are tens of thousands of good paying energy industy jobs, and yet the guy takes a job delivering pizza?”

    I’m not going to trash the guy. He did what he needed to do to be with his family and to support them, including taking whatever he could.

    Plenty of people would either dump their family in a heartbeat for cash, or would be too proud to take a delivery job.
    Plus they have cut back on non-necessities and don’t appear eager to live outside their means.

    Money isn’t everything and they appear to be doing, more or less, the right thing.

  69. Barbara says:

    Ed McMansion = Best. Screen Name. Ever.

  70. Harry says:

    ‘Ponzi economy’
    As he outlined in 2007 in his first book, Crash Proof: How to Profit From the Coming Economic Collapse, Schiff believes that the U.S. economy has become dangerously and unsustainably dependent on consumption – fueled by trillions of dollars borrowed mainly from Asian countries like Japan and China.

    “We have an economy that’s based on the same principles as Bernie Madoff’s investments,” he says. “It’s a Ponzi economy. It’s not real. We don’t save and we don’t produce anything anymore. We simply borrow from the rest of the world, and then we spend it. We’ve had a giant party. We bought all these plasma TVs and iPods. We remodeled our houses and took vacations. But you know what? The bills are coming in.”

    Schiff is predicting a wicked post-party hangover. He sees a multiyear recession ahead marked by rampant inflation, a steadily weakening dollar, soaring commodities prices, slumping U.S. stock indexes, and falling wages.

  71. Barbara says:

    NJ shout out lets not forget the famous radio cast of War Of The Worlds.
    John Stewart, Jersey boy too.

  72. Barbara says:

    Lakehurst, Hindenberg. A little more esoteric, but the NJ Bunt Camps (German heritage camps that were shut down during WW2)

  73. Wag says:

    Apologies if this was posted earlier, Ford contemplating sale of Volvo:
    http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aYRK9kcg8VYw

  74. Al says:

    Schiff is predicting a wicked post-party hangover. He sees a multiyear recession ahead marked by rampant inflation, a steadily weakening dollar, soaring commodities prices, slumping U.S. stock indexes, and falling wages.

    Basically what people on this blog were saying for years…

    Grim please confess: whats Schiff’s alias on the blog??

  75. Barbara says:

    bundt even

  76. Sean says:

    re: #74 Barbara Ever been to Ellis island?

    http://www.foitimes.com/internment/Ellis.htm

  77. Barbara says:

    78.
    yeah my grandma had a really German name, had to change during the war to avoid hostilities.

  78. Barbara says:

    However, Bundt camps really were being infiltrated by Nazi propoganda. Hitler wanted them to be a first step (Hitler Youth) in indoctrination in America.

  79. jamil says:

    Hmm.

    “U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) told Microsoft Corp. this week that U.S. citizens should get priority over H-1B visa holders as the software vendor moves forward on its plan to cut 5,000 jobs.”

    On totally unrelated note:

    “Microsoft Corp. has delayed plans to build a $500 million data center in West Des Moines, Iowa.
    West Des Moines City Manager Jeff Pomerantz said he received a call from Microsoft on Friday morning, telling him that plans for the data center have been postponed.”

    What a stunning coincidence..

  80. Seneca says:

    To tally famous New Jerseyans and exclude Joseph Charles John Piscopo is criminal.

    When I worked in Los Angeles, I discovered what it meant to be from New Jersey. A colleague and I were having a business lunch. This colleague grew up in a (very nice) Detroit suburb, lived in New York City for a year-and-a-half while attending Columbia B-School and then moved to LA. I grew up in a New Jersey suburb, lived in New York City for seven years after college and then moved to Los Angeles.

    When our host asked us where we were from, my associates response was New York City (as if).

    My response was New Jersey.

    Most people who move to LA do so to reinvent themselves. Maybe it was just my experience but most of the Jersey ex-pats I knew out there only moved to work in the ‘biz.

    … housing remains overpriced in both locations.

  81. chicagofinance says:

    BC Bob says:
    January 24, 2009 at 11:15 am
    Back to the article. Funny, when I was in Beantown they mocked the s*it out of my NJ accent. Meanwhile, they were packing the caw and cleaning the gutters on their rowf!

    Bost: The Eastern Mass accent is by far the worst sounding of the American accents. Only the non-southern pure-hick-white-trash accent is worse….at least the Brooklyn (by extension the South Shore LI/SI/NNJ) accent has cachet……I guess the urban hardcore Latino Spanglish stuff is also pretty horrific…..

  82. Sean says:

    Jamil – the H-1B guest worker program has since been changed to allow only fashion models into the country for work.

  83. jamil says:

    I love this new era of Hope. Meet the old boss, same as the old..

    – warrantless eavesdropping: YES WE CAN!

    – imperial Presidency: YES WE CAN!

    – bombing villages and killing children in Predator strikes: YES WE CAN!

    – escalating war: YES WE CAN!

    I’ve been hearing for the last 8 years that these are war-crimes and unconstitutional. I’m waiting for the impeachment crowd to emerge..

    “The O administration fell in line with the Bush administration Thursday when it urged a federal judge to set aside a ruling in a closely watched spy case weighing whether a U.S. president may bypass Congress and establish a program of eavesdropping on Americans without warrants.”

    “..In the second attack, missiles struck a house near the village of Wana in South Waziristan, killing seven people, according to local accounts and Pakistani news reports. The reports said three of the dead were children.”

    [see youtube campaign video from O “Let’s stop “air-raiding villages and killing civilians”]

  84. Seneca says:

    More New Era of Hope (NEH) news.

    President Obama announced a new rule this week that lobbyists won’t be allowed in his administration.

    What he meant to say was, lobbyists won’t be allowed in his administration, except when they are.

    His nominee for deputy Sec. of Defense is William Lynn who worked for Raytheon until last Thursday.

    Its unprecedented alright.

  85. sas says:

    “Icelandic government becomes first to be brought down by the credit crunch”
    http://tinyurl.com/dhba5w

  86. jamil says:

    I’m eager to hear what Human Rights Watch, ANSWER, Code Pink, DU, Huff and NY Slimes has to say about these.

    “O lied, civilians died” (missile strike in Pakistan). Besides, this is illegal, clearly against international law. International War Crimes Tribunal for O?
    Arrest warrant by Berkeley city council?
    Anyway, I can’t wait for the congressional hearings about Bush “abuses”, such as warrantless eavesdropping and missile strikes killing civilians. Maybe M Moore “documentary” is in order?

    Bypassing Congress: Wasn’t this number 1 evidence of Imperial Presidency? Where are the NYT front-page articles about this?

    this is going to be fun 4 years when NYT crowd defends these actions..It can just reuse old articles and change “disgusting” to “magnificent” and “illegal” to “clearly legal”.

  87. lisoosh says:

    Freepers go home.

  88. lisoosh says:

    I wonder how much Richard has lost on all those investment properties he picked up late 2005/early 2006?

  89. yikes says:

    Crazy – just talked to a friend in va and here’s his plan:

    Overpaid on new construction townhouse and is prob 200k underwater. He estimates he’s ‘stuck’ for 8-10 yrs. Foreclosures all around him. He’s so under that his company moved states last yr and he had to find another gig (fannie) because his company wouldn’t pay relocation costs (loss on potential sale was too much).

    His move – buy a new construction sfh and rent (at a loss) his townhouse. (he also owns another townhouse that he rents).

    – his wife is pregnant and he’s not sure if they’ll qualify for a sfh loan later on one salary
    – if he gets stuck anywhere he’d rather be stuck in a sfh
    – if he has to walk away from the expensive townhouse, oh well
    – if he loses his job, he loses both and they rent

    Thoughts?

  90. jamil says:

    lisoosh: I’ve seen even in this forum so many times that BS about Bush’s “war-crimes” and “trampling civil liberties/constitution” and now O is doing exactly the same thing.

    Don’t you have any substantive arguments? I suppose not. “O lied, children died” is a fact now. During the campaign, O specifically promised to stop air-raiding villages and killing civilians. Well, he waited 24 hours before he gave the order to kill..

  91. Pat says:

    Gracie says Jonas Brothers.

    Jamil, the reason your strafing annoys me is that it took years for a lot of folks, including me, to feel the need to criticize Bush the way you’re attacking O after a few days.

    Can’t you at least give the dude six shits on his commode before you start in?

  92. Pat says:

    Speaking of the shits word, does anyone know the likelihood of contracting an intestinal parasite at an US indoor waterpark?

  93. syncmaster says:

    Does this mean the Gateway project in NB will move ahead despite the recession?

    New Brunswick taxi stand to be moved to accommodate Gateway construction project

    The nascent Gateway project will displace the city’s lone taxi stand from one end of Wall Street to the other within a few weeks.

    Details of the stand’s move were ironed out at a mid-January meeting of the city’s Taxicab Commission, Karon said, ahead of the planned spring groundbreaking for the $130 million multiuse project near the train station.

  94. jamil says:

    pat: This is exactly the issue. Your side spent the last 8 years complaining about Bush’s policy (starting from day 1) and O specifically promised to stop air-raiding villages and killing civilians, and yet mere 24 hours after taking the oath he orders the strike killing the children and civilians (and 3 days later defended the warrantless eavesdropping).

    Your side can be honest and admit that O lied during the campaign and said whatever needed to get the votes and once in office, he is doing responsible things to protect the nation (ie follows Bush’s policy that he and the Left criticized during the campaign). All I hear is total silence from the Left.

    The blatant dishonesty is is the issue.

    Either you have to admit that Bush was right, or you have to denounce O. So which one it is?

    I just call the hypocrisy..

  95. NJGator says:

    60 Syb – You mean hat awful place on Prospect? To be fair, it is in the $700s now…but it is still terrible.

  96. NJGator says:

    lost 68 – We got the same notice today too. Now we have to decide if we are going to go completely mobile.

    BTW – tried an awesome new vegetarian chinese place last night in West Caldwell. Food was really great. Too bad they don’t have a snowball’s chance in h*ll of surviving. We will try to enjoy it while it lasts now.

  97. Pat says:

    jamil, whachu talkin bout my side?

    I’ve been a R for going on 30 years. I will admit that I did not vote for the Bushmeister in either election, because I didn’t like his beady eyes or his speaking abilities during his first run.

    My husband and I nearly broke up over it. I really, really wanted him to prove me wrong. I pulled for that man. I have never wanted to be so wrong so much in my life.

  98. watergapnomad says:

    Are unemployment rates for individual NJ towns and cities available? How about at the county level?

    I’d be interested to view unemployment data that is a bit more granular.

    Thanks

  99. lostinny says:

    98 Gator
    I think we’ll call TWC and see what package they offer with this. If it’s not reasonable, maybe we’ll go back to just using our cells also.
    Have you ever been to Red Bamboo? We got a gc for Christmas and I’d really like to go but DH is dragging his feet. Probably because he’s not a veggie. :)

  100. watergapnomad says:

    Where can I find foreclosure statistics for an individual town/city, including historical data (past 10 years would be helpful)?

    Thanks

  101. schabadoo says:

    Freepers go home.

    I know, aren’t they a treat? Farking one note True Believers.

    I assume they have no idea how idiotic they sound…

  102. Pat says:

    jamil is another one-dimensional plant to entice posters to reveal information about themselves?

    You mean like re?

    I’VE BEEN HAD.

  103. Pat says:

    Unless I wanted to be had, then am I the hador or the hadee?

  104. NJGator says:

    101 Lost – Have been to Red Bamboo and like it a lot. I’ll go with you if DH won’t…as long as you’re going to the GV location!

  105. jamil says:

    Pat: As I suspected, total silence from the left. As if O didn’t do any of these things..

    I suppose it is easier that way. Having to reconcile to the fact that O is air-raiding villages and killing children and trampling constitutional rights (warrantless eavesdropping) would blow the head off.

    If you were intellectually honest, you would have to actually comment about O following Bush policy. So, silence is the answer and pretending that these things did not happen. Well, they did happen.

  106. Pat says:

    jamil, wiser would be a period of reflection before spew.

  107. lostinny says:

    Gator
    If DH decides he doesn’t want to go you are more then welcome. I would only go to the GV location/

  108. jamil says:

    90% of bailout money is actually spent in 2010 or later (so it is offers no help wrt recession).

    It is nothing more than massive transfer of wealth from responsible people and companies to politically well-connected, failed companies and organizations (such as ACORN).

  109. Frank says:

    Maybe we should pay people to go home?

    An advertisement in a Madrid subway station touts Spain’s ‘Voluntary Return Plan’ that pays a lump sum of unemployment benefits to legal immigrants who return to their home countries for at least three years. The poster reads, ‘If you are thinking of returning … You choose your future.’

    http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123275552359911807.html

  110. bairen says:

    #113 Frank

    Maybe we should pay people to go home?

    How much do you want Frank?

  111. Sybarite says:

    Gator: That’s the one.

    Hideous, ain’t it?

  112. spam spam bacon spam says:

    I’ll chip in for Jamil.

    Heck, I’ll even pay for a first class upgrade.

  113. jamil says:

    spam: I accept cash.

  114. Stu says:

    Jamil,

    Shut your god-damned pie hole already! First you bitch that they’ll be riots if the messiah is elected. Then the messiah isn’t even a citizen and now the messiah is doing exactly what McCane would have.

    I’m sure if the troops were withdrawn from Iraq and Afghanistan and all of his appointees were far left liberals, you would be much happier.

    WE ARE ALL SICK OF YOUR TWO-YEAR OLD LIKE TIRADES. Do you think you are converting anyone here? You are completely wasting your time and efforts here. Why don’t you go spout your playground BS on a Drudge message board where someone might actually be interested in hearing it.

    Only two words can describe you…sore loser!

    Now sit back and enjoy the next four years and stop wasting your time here. There is an unread New York Post or Fox News story calling out for your patronage.

  115. Frank says:

    #114,
    How much do you have? How do you know that I don’t blog from Mexico already?

  116. jamil says:

    Stu: Once you admit that O lied during the campaign and is now following Bush policy, I’ll call it a day..

    I’ve been hearing 8 years that BS how Bush “trampled civil liberties/constitution” and was “air-raiding villages and killing civilians”. Guess what, Messiah is doing exactly the same things right now.

  117. sas says:

    “Rep. Brad Sherman Martial Law”
    http://tinyurl.com/bxxpqq

  118. Cindy says:

    Who was it a few days back that suggested rugging shoes with banana peels in a pinch..??

    Oh My Gosh! My shoes look great…whoknew..

    Thanks

  119. Stu says:

    Jamil:

    I absolutely admit he lied. They all do!!! We’re not all ignorant. With everything else even, at least I’m not embarrassed by his inability to complete a whole sentence every time he speaks.

    Call it a day now, and preferably call it a lifetime. We really don’t need you to think for us. We can think fine on our own.

  120. Stu says:

    “rubbing shoes with banana peels”

    Just don’t go near any monkeys!

    In other news, I might finally actually have to spring for a new TV! My cheapo casino freebie (CRT) is dying a slow death. After a few minutes, the picture shrinks to a millimeter thick horizontal line across the center of the screen. 1080P here we come ;)

  121. Cindy says:

    (123) Stu

    “We can all think fine on our own.”

    Stu, sometimes…I need help.

  122. Cindy says:

    Stu – Party night. There will be monkey everywhere.

  123. Cindy says:

    monkeys…hey – I haven’t even had a drink yet…

  124. Cindy says:

    Stu – In case you didn’t get the joke – 125 alludes to the time I attempted to compare a 260 day work week to a teacher’s schedule. Really screwed up – needed help “thinking.”

  125. lostinny says:

    Cindy be careful. Don’t open yourself up for another board rant about how teachers suck.

  126. Stu says:

    And one last thing Jamil,

    I willingly admit that Obama won’t follow through with all of his promises. Now when are you going to suck it up and admit that Sarah Palin was a horrible, horrible running mate choice for the old man.

    Never!

    Some of us can be honest with ourselves, but others can not. Bush is a prime example of being unable to admit to his mistakes (mission accomplished/WMD) and I’m not surprised that you, like-mindedly choose to follow him to his grave.

  127. sas says:

    “Starbucks may cut 1,000 more jobs: report”
    http://tinyurl.com/cqkzue

  128. Cindy says:

    (129) Lost –

    No – I’m off to a partae…

    I’m 60 baby….

    I suck – There I said it. Now we can move on from there….

  129. sas says:

    so, when these knuckleheads finish bailouts of all the fraud in the financial systems..
    who will bail out the US?

    “Omama pushes stimulus plan, meets economic team”
    http://tinyurl.com/d7ueg8

    *new money from the fund was expected to be used to stabilize the housing market, strengthen core U.S. banks and support credit markets to spur lending for autos, homes, small businesses, commercial real estate, college students and municipalities.

  130. Stu says:

    Cindy, I remember the math mistake clearly, but chose not to point it out. I knew it wouldn’t take too long before one of the other clowns here to point it out.

    Teachers are grossly underpaid and underappreciated IMO. The problem with BOE budgets is the size and breadth of school administrations and the fact that every tiny town in NJ feels they require one of their own.

    A group of teachers somewhere needs to grow some huge cajones, and point out the increase in size of their local administrations vs. the increase in class size over the last 20 years. I think a lot of people would sympathize with their plea.

    But it will never happen unfortunately.

  131. spam spam bacon spam says:

    97 jamil says:

    “O specifically promised to stop air-raiding villages and killing civilians, and yet mere 24 hours after taking the oath he orders the strike killing the children and civilians”

    Jamil.

    Oh… Jamil.

    Your drool string is starting to get all over the keyboard. Your nurse needs to push you away from the computer and wipe up your face.

    First, let’s clarify PRESIDENT OBAMA does not “order” these strikes. Just like Bush did not. The CIA does this and this particular drone strike (the one that made you soil the diaper which you are now festering in) is the latest in more than 30 in that region since the middle of last year.

    Be that as it may, PRESIDENT OBAMA held back no punches because like many, many people, he believes the border area between Pakistan and Afghanistan is an Al Quaida stronghold.

    He stated this as far back as 2007, when he began his run for president.

    Sorry to burst your bubble. I know you spent a long time developing that nostril bubble, but you’ve got the time and drool to start another liqui-booger.

    http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6926663.stm

    “Wednesday, 1 August 2007
    Obama warns Pakistan on al-Qaeda”

    “US presidential candidate Barack Obama has said he would use military force if necessary against al-Qaeda in Pakistan even without Pakistan’s consent.
    Mr Obama made the comments in a speech outlining his foreign policy positions.
    (snip)
    In his speech at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, in Washington, Mr Obama criticised the Bush administration’s focus on al-Qaeda in Iraq, saying US President George W Bush was “confusing” the mission.

    He said Americans were more vulnerable to terrorist attacks than before the 9/11 attacks because of a war in Iraq “that should never have been authorised and should never have been waged”.

    “The first step must be getting off the wrong battlefield in Iraq, and taking the fight to the terrorists in Afghanistan and Pakistan,” he said.

    Jamil then scribbles:

    “Your side can be honest and admit that O lied during the campaign and said whatever needed to get the votes and once in office,”

    Where did PRESIDENT OBAMA lie? I missed it. Can you point that out for me, Jamil? Please? Link to sane sources, please.

    Jamil then tongue-types:
    “he is doing responsible things to protect the nation”

    Wow. Excellent.

    More Jamil keyboardlicking:
    “Either you have to admit that Bush was right, or you have to denounce O. So which one it is?
    I just call the hypocrisy..”

    Yikes. Drove right off the cliff of sanity.

    Jamil…what brand of diaper do you wear? I better buy their stock. President Obama is REAL. And I know you’re losing your bowels over that.

  132. Pat says:

    Happy Birthday. There will be monkey everywhere. Gotta watch those samurai monkey spewers.

  133. chicagofinance says:

    jamil says:
    January 24, 2009 at 7:50 pm
    Stu: Once you admit that O lied during the campaign and is now following Bush policy, I’ll call it a day..

    I’ve been hearing 8 years that BS how Bush “trampled civil liberties/constitution” and was “air-raiding villages and killing civilians”. Guess what, Messiah is doing exactly the same things right now.

    jam master jamil: Honestly, I generally do not give a rat’s posterior about this stuff. However, please allow me to state plainly that the Bush Administration’s poor strategic and diplomatic behavior in the aftermath of 9/11 cost this country a lot of money. The needless expediency required in order to fulfill some arbitrary deadline to move into Iraq gave the rest of the world (sans the UK) the moral justification to stick us with the big bill for everything and flip us the bird while we did it.

    I don’t point at Bush singularly, but the entire group of people set up the country for a series and embarassing and expensive bungling. Politics…who cares? Poor strategy, execution and bureaucratic management is unforgiveable….

  134. jamil says:

    Stu: “Call it a day now, and preferably call it a lifetime. We really don’t need you to think for us. We can think fine on our own.”

    Fine. I’ll let it be (until some low-IQ moron starts here the Bush “trampled civil liberties” BS again).

    “admit that Sarah Palin was a horrible, horrible running mate choice for the old man.”

    I have to disagree. Palin was a great choice and she energized the party. Without her, Mc would have been toast much earlier (in fact, MC was leading in polls with Palin until the bailout mess). Why can’t you admit: Palin was clearly successful governor – with real leadership experience – and enjoying wide bipartisan support. I doubt anybody can claim with straight face that O was more qualified than Palin. O claimed US had 57 states and Biden claimed US drove Hezbollah out of Lebanon. Had Palin made those statements, MSM would have rightly ridiculed her. O never faced hostile media with 5 hour interview.

  135. chicagofinance says:

    C: #1 go rip it up; #2 get home safe

  136. lostinny says:

    Cindy and Stu
    Cindy you so do not suck. But there are lots of opinions here and you know what opinions are like. Stu don’t open this back up. I shouldn’t have said anything either.
    But as far as a group of teachers getting together to fight the size of administration, I don’t think it will happen either. As much disdain as there is for teachers, they are the least likely to walk off the job when a contract agreement isn’t reached. How many people do you know that would continue to work, sometimes as long as 3 years, without a renewed contract?

  137. sas says:

    enough bickering blokes.

    we are all screwed.
    you are just throwing sand into the ocean and hoping to dry it up.

    “decentralize”
    or die

    SAS

  138. chicagofinance says:

    jam master jamil: McCain lost by a big margin because the economy tanked. If the economy was not the major issue, Palin would have been the deciding factor against McCain. I think in the final analysis the public perception is that Obama is more Presidential in temperment, and McCain is way to emotional and whimsical on a relative basis, although I would take McCain over Bush, Gore or Kerry.

  139. jamil says:

    spam: “Where did PRESIDENT OBAMA lie? I missed it. Can you point that out for me, Jamil? Please? Link to sane sources, please. ”

    As I clearly said, during the campaign O stated “we’re not just air-raiding villages and killing civilians”. In the office, President O specifically allowed the strike to go forward (result: several civilians, including 3 children died when the village was air-raided). Search youtube or Washington Compost. No CIA missile strike in foreign country is carried out without the approval from the president.

    O and the left also specifically attacked Bush for being “Imperial President” ie bypassing Congress and “trampling civil liberties” ie warrantless eavesdropping. Now President O specifically supports that.

    I rest my case.

  140. chicagofinance says:

    Regarding education….I think people get very confused. If people really reviewed the facts, no one would be anti-teacher, they would be against education bureaucracy. The money wasted is not in the classroom, but everything spent around it.

  141. Stu says:

    ChiFi:

    I completely agree! It’s all about the economy stupid. It always was and always will be.

  142. sas says:

    “they would be against education bureaucracy”

    hear..hear…

    decentralize or die.

    SAS

  143. Stu says:

    Jamil,

    I officially rescind my admission of O’s lies. You are about as trustworthy as your average lying Republican.

    You do a fine job of representing your party.

  144. Cindy says:

    You were all great about it. When I mess up that badly, just set me straight…. Enough said.

    Thanks all. I’ll have fun and I’ll be careful…I’m off.

  145. jamil says:

    142 chi: “If the economy was not the major issue, Palin would have been the deciding factor against McCain. ”

    Mc was leading in polls after Palin pick. It was only after the economy collapsed when they fell behind.

    I have to admit that it is better that Mc is not a president. I really despise him. It does not mean that I like O, of course. It is a relief that O was a pathological liar ie he lied in order to get the votes from low IQ masses and MSM and now he actually have to be responsible POTUS (and follow Bush policies). Probably O and MC policies in that sense would have been identical.

    O was the product of MSM. Any extreme left-wing candidate would have received similar 100% protection and support from MSM (ie refusing to investigate his corruption or links with terrorists). With semi-honest media he would have been utterly destroyed by the media.

  146. lostinny says:

    144 ChiFi
    Agreed.

  147. spam spam bacon spam says:

    Jamil:

    PRESIDENT OBAMA just issued a presidential order mandating all branches of the military put on a

    “Pink and furry, fuzzy bunny, fun and gay day”…once every month.

    Uniforms (optional) can be mixed and matched in shades of candy-pink and lemon-drop; boots will now be thigh high and guns will be replaced with fairy wands.

  148. Stu says:

    Jammin Jamil,

    All lies from a left wing press…right?

    http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090125/ap_on_go_pr_wh/obama_first_week

  149. Pat says:

    jamil, when you go out on a date, do you talk about Palin and such?

  150. spam spam bacon spam says:

    143 Jamil:

    LINKS / SOURCES, PLEASE…

    “It’s in my head” doesn’t count…

  151. jamil says:

    spam: What link? About “air-raiding villages and killing civilians”?

    Can’t do a google search?
    http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,293187,00.html

  152. Stu says:

    Might I suggest we all simply put the blockhead on ignore?

    SP did not energize the base you doofus. Each party always gets a boost from their convention. There is absolutely zero proof that SP was responsible for the boost in the polls. But as usual, one does not need any real proof to make a point in your grand ole party. WMD?

  153. jamil says:

    I have to say I don’t understand that hatred towards Palin. Clearly, she is a successful governor with massive bipartisan support. She has real track record in reforms (ie fighting corruption) and energy police (ie pushing the gas pipeline through Canada). Biden is a fraud (plagiarist) and embarrassment when he opens his mouth (is lecturing about the Constitution and gets it wrong, claiming that US drove Hezbollah out of Lebanon etc). It is only because of the protection of MSM than O + Biden got away with these.

  154. lifelongrenter says:

    As famous Jerseyites (or is it Jerseyians?) go, Whitney Houston deserves special mention here since her Mendham mansion went into foreclosure and was put up for Sheriff’s sale.

    Maybe Eddie Murphy also deserves special mention for the huge loss suffered in the sale of his house in Bergen Co.

  155. jamil says:

    Stu: uhh..Zero proof? O did not get meaningful boost from convention. Palin immediately boosted Mc (who is widely despised among the party) and it was only after the economy collapsed that Messiah got the boost.

  156. RayC says:

    …after the economy collapsed and clueless John declared that the economy was OK.

  157. victorian says:

    “Can’t do a google search?”

    – It is blog etiquette to link to the source of your information. But apparently, when you are j$cking off to Drudge Report stories, one forgets.

  158. Tortoise says:

    Haven’t post here in years,
    Kudos to Grim (also SAS, Chicago Finance, sorry if I missed any other’s) for his follow through on the housing bubble.

    My 2 cents we arent even 1/2 way through it yet.

    As I was saying since 04/05 we WILL see 1998 prices in real terms in NNJ, NYC.

    Debt is a 4 letter word.

    The US Economy will not be deleted, this is how normal markets work; ALWAYS punishing the morons.

    When everyone “wins” it’s time to leave.

    Does that realtor guy still post?

  159. Stu says:

    Jamil,

    “only after the economy collapsed that Messiah got the boost.”

    Once again…more causation.

    #2, SP significantly increased the Alaskan dole. Of course she was popular in her state. So was Christine Todd Whitman in NJ and all she did was fund the 30% state income tax cut by not funding the state pension.

    Stop reading nothing but the right wing rags and you will be enlightened.

    All they give you is what you want to hear.

    Your ignorance is showing loudly.

    SP did not obtain a passport until 2007. This is utterly pathetic! But she was qualified to lead the United States? Enough of you already!

  160. Stu says:

    And you want lies you douchebag?

    Palin has also visited one fewer country than originally acknowledged by her Alaska office. Earlier in the week, the governor’s Alaska spokeswoman was quoted as saying Palin had traveled to Iraq, Kuwait, Germany, and Ireland, McCain campaign spokeswoman Maria Comella acknowledged today that Ireland was only a refueling stop on a trip in July 2007 to visit Alaskan National Guard troops in Kuwait and Iraq.

  161. jamil says:

    Stu: Both O and Palin saw corruption in their own party. O joined the corruption (Rezko etc). Palin fought it and got rid of the corrupt people. O spent his time with racist hate-mongers and terrorists. He has zero track record. If this man is ready to lead the country, then is everybody. Besides, Palin was VP candidate . Admit it, without MSM O would have been toast.

    “Stop reading nothing but the right wing rags and you will be enlightened.”

    I’m pretty sure that I read more left-wing propaganda (ie NYT, CBS “News”) than you access non-left wing propaganda.

  162. spam spam bacon spam says:

    155: jamil

    heh. fauxnooz.

    cute.

    Sad thing is, in that article, if you read it (we’ll wait while you do that, Jamil), President Obama SAYS we need troops OUT of Iraq and more in Afghanistan so that we’re not just “air-raiding villages and killing civilians” (I used your favorite quote)

    And then I offer clarification here, for the developmentally disabled like you, Jamil:
    He is saying our being in Iraq is a mistake and instead, Afghanistan/Pakistan is where we need MORE troops, in order to battle the stronghold of Al Quaida.

    With so few troops in Afghanistan to battle Al Quaida, we’re just “air-raiding villages and killing civilians” without really having a great impact…(I used your favorite quote-again)

    I know you have a hard time with
    words with more than 3 letters, so here’s something just for you, jamil, special…

    SAM I AM.

  163. Tortoise says:

    The residential RE run up began in 98′ steroids added in 99′ via Gramm, Leach, Bliley aka “Financial services modernization act of 1999, MBS/CDO markets were functioning properly (on a sustainable basis) prior to late 1997.

    There is NO mbs/cdo market to speak of, and NOT returning for YEARS, soooo in the real jumbo market (houses “supposedly” north of $800k, you better really and truly have the cash or forget it, this will crush the high end of the market.
    ie: “crushed” is defined as price (actually payed 02 – now, not ether “asking”, declines greater than 50%.
    You payed $1.2mm absent a drunken lottery winner showing up, you are looking at $600k.

  164. jamil says:

    spam: “in order to battle the stronghold of Al Quaida.”

    Sorry, I thought Al-Qaida was in Iraq. Apparently, I was wrong.

    BTW: US invasion of Iraw was supported by Biden, Hillary and every dem who had the option to vote for it.

  165. victorian says:

    Spam (166) –

    This explains why Jamil does not post links to his “news”.

  166. victorian says:

    “Sorry, I thought Al-Qaida was in Iraq”

    – Wow, just Wow.

  167. lostinny says:

    Why are you guys bothering? You are all getting so frustrated. Let it go and have a glass of wine. It’s better for you then this argument is.

  168. Stu says:

    “Sorry, I thought Al-Qaida was in Iraq”

    Not before Bush invaded of course…conveniently left that out as well.

    Like I said before, better to put him on ignore.

    I’m done with you Jamil.

    Everyone here can see through your lies. At least the old ones required an occasional Google search. The new ones are as shallow the reflecting pools in the DC mall.

  169. jamil says:

    vic: You are saying Al-Qaida has not been in Iraq?

    Wow. Just wow.

  170. Stu says:

    lost…No one is getting frustrated, but your point is correct all the same. Have a good night. I’m off to find the absolute best valued LCD to fit a 27″x32″ hole in my living room ;)

  171. lostinny says:

    Stu
    Get my email from Gator and email me re: the tv’s.

  172. jamil says:

    Stu: So you are saying that we should have surrendered to Al-Qaida in Iraq and let Al-Qaida to control a major country?

    What would have been the point in fighting Al-Qaida in Afghanistan then? Even O said that he would invade a country where Al-Qaida is (ie we would have invaded Iraq soon after we surrendered there). An the decision to invade Iraq was shared by every major dem.

    Wow.

  173. pricedOut says:

    Hey Tortoise is actually posting about RE

  174. spam spam bacon spam says:

    Lostinny,

    I “bother” for one word:

    Propaganda.

    If Jamil’s propaganda is not buried like a cat schitt, it stinks up the joint.

  175. Stu says:

    I hear something, but I can’t quite make it out.

    Thanks Lost. So far I’m leaning towards the Samsung LN32A450.

    I can only fit a 32″ to 1080P might not make sense. If TVs were still made at the old aspect ratio, I might have been able to squeeze in a 37″.

    I look forward to your email and thanks again.

  176. lostinny says:

    Spam
    I understand what you’re saying. But I truly think that people with even half a clue wouldn’t take a lot of this seriously. If they don’t have even half a clue then I’m not sure anything anyone can say can help them. I’m not sure that anything you say is even getting through.

  177. JBJB says:

    This is classic.
    A developer tried to auction off a bunch of condo shacks in Red Bank and when they couldn’t get near what they hoped for, they packed up their toys and went home.

    http://www.redbankgreen.com/redbankgreen/2009/01/auction-halted-after-two-sales.html#more

    “We didn’t really see the price support coming in where the developer wanted to see it,” Roger Soderstrom, owner of Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty, which managed the event, told redbankgreen.”

    “You’d be paying more in rent,” auctioneer Lori Chipps exhorted the audience. “They go back up to retail come Monday morning.”

    Some poor guy actually paid 460K for one of them.

  178. james says:

    The problem with teachers is that they are government tit suckers. How about we privatize the educational system. That way my offspring can goto school with other promising contributors to society and all the gang bangers can kill eachother. Tell me how society as a whole wouldnt be better. Teachers that I have met are just too plain dumb to be teaching anything other than ABC’s and 123’s.

  179. spam spam bacon spam says:

    Jamil,

    You’re not the first one to think Al Quaida was in Iraq.

    It wasn’t.

    Not there.

    At all.

    Sorry to burst another of your snot bubbles.

    updated 10:34 p.m. EDT, Thu March 13, 2008

    http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/03/13/alqaeda.saddam/

    WASHINGTON (CNN) — The U.S. military’s first and only study looking into ties between Saddam Hussein’s Iraq and al Qaeda showed no connection between the two, according to a military report released by the Pentagon.

    The report released by the Joint Forces Command five years after the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq said it found no “smoking gun” after reviewing about 600,000 Iraqi documents captured in the invasion and looking at interviews of key Iraqi leadership held by the United States, Pentagon officials said.

    The assessment of the al Qaeda connection and the insistence that Hussein had weapons of mass destruction were two primary elements in the Bush administration’s arguments in favor of going to war with Iraq.

    The Pentagon’s report also contradicts then-Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, who said in September 2002 that the CIA provided “bulletproof” evidence demonstrating “that there are, in fact, al Qaeda in Iraq.”

    Although other groups, like the September 11 commission, have concluded that there was no link between Hussein and al Qaeda, the Pentagon was able to analyze much more information.

    The documents cited in the report do reveal that Hussein supported a number of terrorists and terrorist activities inside and outside Iraq.

    “The Iraqi regime was involved in regional and international terrorist operations prior to Operation Iraqi Freedom. The predominant targets of Iraqi state terror operations were Iraqi citizens, both inside and outside of Iraq,” according to the report. Read excerpts from report (pdf)

    Most of the terrorism was aimed at keeping Hussein and his Baath party in power, according to Pentagon officials.”

    Oy.

  180. Billy says:

    Does anyone have any experience or have an opinion concerning the Harj Gill book and system:”Own Your Home Years Sooner..without making extra interest payments” ?

  181. spam spam bacon spam says:

    Jamil:

    http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/BushLegacy/Story?id=6460837&page=2
    President Talks With Martha Raddatz About Iraq and His Legacy

    Bush then turned to Iraq, and justified the war there by suggesting it had been al Qaeda’s home base. When Raddatz corrected him, Bush dismissively replied, “So what?“:

    BUSH: One of the major theaters against al Qaeda turns out to have been Iraq. This is where al Qaeda said they were going to take their stand. This is where al Qaeda was hoping to take–

    RADDATZ: But not until after the U.S. invaded.

    BUSH: Yeah, that’s right. So what?

  182. spam spam bacon spam says:

    Billy:

    What’s the premise?

  183. putz says:

    182….Every hear of “private schools”?

  184. spam spam bacon spam says:

    Buy my book?

    Buy my tapes?

    Buy my CDs?

    Buy my seminars?

    Buy my …. ?

  185. spam spam bacon spam says:

    (third try -being moderated -maybe SH’s name?)

    Jamil,

    You’re not the first one to think al Qaeda was in Iraq.

    It wasn’t.

    Not there.

    At all.

    Sorry to burst another of your snot bubbles.

    Thu March 13, 2008
    http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/03/13/alqaeda.sabbam/

    The U.S. military’s first and only study looking into ties between Sabbam Hussein’s Iraq and al Qaeda showed no connection between the two, according to a military report released by the Pentagon.

    (snip)

    The Pentagon’s report also contradicts then-Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, who said in September 2002 that the CIA provided “bulletproof” evidence demonstrating “that there are, in fact, al Qaeda in Iraq.”

    (snip)

    Most of the terrorism was aimed at keeping Hussein and his Baath party in power, according to Pentagon officials.”

    Oy.

  186. morpheus says:

    I will have what ever Jamil is drinking! Jamil do you have a homebrew recipe for what you area drinking? Seem stronger than the belgian tripel I previously brewed. Perhaps you are a brewmaster extraordinare and you should share your tips with the rest of us.

    PS: I thought this was a Real estate blog. Saw some real POSs this weekend. Pink bathrooms?. . . what the f*** am I John Mellecamp?

  187. morpheus says:

    sorry for the typo:
    One should not blog and drink. . . .very dangerous

  188. Clotpoll says:

    Can somebody track down Jamil and hack off his fingers?

    Thanking you, in advance,

    Clotpoll

  189. schabadoo says:

    Clot,

    Sad to say I am the only one hearing you modest proposal.

    There are many stupid people in the world. But why do they need to spam this board? This is like a safe haven from the rah-rah morans, where info and scenarios can be disucussed.

  190. bairen says:

    #181 JBJB

    The auctioneer should have pointed out there’s a bead store across the street, your a block or so away from a candy store, and you can walk to the Soup Man’s in 5 minutes.

    That would have triggered the mother of all bidding wars. Who needs a parking garage when you’ve got beads.

    Actually the Soup Man would be a selling point for me. Too bad RB schools blow chunks.

  191. bairen says:

    Check out these rentals in Warren.

    http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-search/Warren_NJ/beds-3?bor=2

    The quality has gone way up, especially for the 2 with pictures below 3k a month.

    Are these FBs trying to ride out the downturn or who are unable to sell without being a short sale? They would have to be negative cashflow for anything bought from 2004 to 2007, even with 20% down. Taxes on a pos ranch or cape would be at least 6k, depending on the size of the lot.

  192. bairen says:

    Brigadoon has 37 listings for rent. This could be interesting come Spring time.

    http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-search/Westfield_NJ/beds-3?bor=2

    There are some nice ones in the $2,500 to 3k a month range.

  193. bairen says:

    In New Providence there are a few nice ones in the $1,900 to $2,100 range.

    http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-search/New-Providence_NJ/beds-3/type-rentals?bor=2

  194. bairen says:

    #193 to #196

    The quality of rental properties is increasing and prices are dropping.

    I know since I checked out all these towns in Feb/March of 2007. You should have seen the pos people wanted $2,500+ for.

    It’s only january, wonder what the market will be like this summer. Looks like this summer I can rent a nice ranch/split/colonial for less then I was renting a 2 bedroom townhouse in Basking Ridge for.

    Boo ya

  195. bairen says:

    Here’s a spec gone bad.

    http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/Berkeley-Heights-Twp_NJ_07922_1104986406

    You can rent it for $2,700 or buy it for 699k and pay at lest 2k a month more with 20% down and pay at least 2k a month more then renting.

  196. bairen says:

    ere’s a sweet 3br 1.5 bth in Chatham for $2,700 a month

    http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/Chatham-Boro_NJ_07928_1104503295

    You would not believe the junk I saw for $2,500 a month 2 years ago.

  197. bairen says:

    And in Mighty Madison we have a renovated ranch for 439k.

    http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/Madison-Boro_NJ_07940_1105599961

    What’s funny is if you read the agents description she includes the OLP 464k.

    POS capes and ranches that hadn’t been renovated in 30 years were listing for 520 to 550k in March 2007, usually backing on the train or under a transformer.

  198. bairen says:

    #200 is dedicated to the re agent who told me starter homes in need of renovation would never go below 500k in Madison and I should look in North Plainfield. She also told me I was throwing my money away renting.

  199. Cindy says:

    Bairen – Amazing. Now knowing what I do about New Jersey taxes, these folks seem to be just trying to make something, anything. They had to move and can’t sell.

    So do you need to move from a rental so you are out shopping or just having fun?

  200. NJGator says:

    Bairen 201 – I’ve seen that Chatham house in my daily for sale listings. It hasn’t moved in quite a long time.

  201. bairen says:

    #205 NJgator

    Thanks for the tip. Just found it listed at 599k

  202. morpheus says:

    re #200:
    kind of reminds of our former real state agent (the ones who have a sickening yellow logo) who told us we should look in Sussex county because prices in Morris County would never go down to the level we wanted to pay. Also, she/he told us the classic: “you are pre-approved for so much, why are you offering so little on the house”.

    If and when I buy a house, I will send her/him a picture of the house and inform her/him of the amount of commission she/he lost because she lied to me.

    really should not be so bitter. . . .think I need therapy.

  203. syncmaster says:

    morpheus 207,

    The sh1ts try to guilt you into spending more, as if not spending as much as you can makes you some kinda section8 loser bum. You showed em.

  204. fussball says:

    Gute Arbeit hier! Gute Inhalte.

Comments are closed.