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Gov. Christie Needs a Clue

The New Jersey Education Law Center has sued New Jersey. I am no fan of the Ed Law Center and David Sciarra in particular, but it does what it does. That, however, does not excuse Governor Christie from keeping public information from the public.

Gov. Chris Christie has advised the education department not to release a report Tuesday which details how much New Jersey spends per pupil, over concerns it could hurt the state in a current legal challenge.

The above is plain ridiculous. If releasing how much taxpayers fund per student will hurt the state in the lawsuit, perhaps the Ed Law Center has a point. You do not conceal public information.

These are not national secrets. It is not a covert operation. It is not a trade secret. This is an accounting to the taxpayers for how much they are actually spending on public education.

This is civics 101 here, governor. Release the damn figures and just shut up about it. You are becoming ever so the politician with comments like this one.

Tags: Christie, Education, leadership, New Jersey, Politics, transparency

Be Careful What You Ask For

The political world is predicting huge gains for Republicans in Congress at the midterm elections. Some are even predicting clean sweeps in both houses. It certainly seems possible given the lackluster performance by the Democratic leadership.

But Republicans should be very cautious.

If Republicans take control of Congress at the midterm, then President Obama has two years to run against what he will clearly define as an obstructionist Congress. Given America’s penchant of late to keep politics “balanced”, that would seem to favor re-electing Obama rather than give Republicans control, once again, of Congress and the White House.

Then again I don’t know what is worse: President Obama’s pathetic agenda or a spending Congress.

This I do know: if Republicans take control of Congress, they better change their ways. The reason they lost control in 2006 is because they were corrupt and they spent taxpayer money silly.

While there have been glimmers of change, frankly I have not seen a reformation of the GOP. Michael Steele is still leading. Newt Gingrich even though I really like him, is still a player. There’s a battle between the establishment and the new right-wing. The problem is that the newcomers are easily pigeon-holed, a la Millville First and TrackRacket, as extreme. If not handled properly and promptly, this new emergence will just be a Ross Perot moment.

Leadership extends beyond the day’s news cycle. Vision is needed. Honestly, what national politician (heck, name any on any level) has a clear vision? I guess, President Obama fits that criteria. Obviously more is needed than a vision because his vision is wreaking havoc.

Who is going to step up?

Tags: Democrat, leadership, midterm, Obama, Politics, Republican

Chinook Helicopter

Recently, Boeing opened operations at the airport here in Millville. They are modifying Chinook helicopters for the United States government. One night I drove by and saw two Chinooks hovering in the dark. It was an awesome sight!

Yesterday I dropped by and saw this one doing the same.

Tags: Cumberland, Millville, New Jersey, video

The Genius of Rod Sterling

I am not a huge science fiction guy, but the Twilight zone was masterful. Sterling was a genius. This interview I find magnificent. Sterling knows his stuff. It seems to me we don’t get candor like this from today’s stars . . . at least not that I can recall.

Hat tip to Clayton Morris for highlighting this for me.

Tags: science fiction, television, video

Troubled Bridge Over Waters

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Inspiration!
move me brightly
light the song with sense and color,
hold away despair
More than this I will not ask
faced with mysteries dark and vast
statements just seem vain at last
some rise, some fall, some climb
to get to Terrapin

Moments that lift a body to transcend this earthly rigor. Art nailed it!

Life needs episodes. As long as we are filling in the blocks of time, let it be enjoyable. Perhaps not at all costs, but to cut the nose to spite the face is oh so . . . cliché. Hey!

Spring has the Dead; autumn the pines. There’s that aura . . . a smell. Troubles float away as softly as the cedar-brown coolness will take it. It may linger for it is in no hurry, but alas, it will sail on, Silvergirl.

Cros has been with me all day. I’m telling you, somewhere out there is a trail blazed with peyote. Time stands still and yet it doesn’t. Seeming opposites are the truth. What other explanation is there? I half expect Craig to chime in and send me sailing onward. In another time’s forgotten space . . .

Late. Late again. Just like before and the next time. It is what we do. It’s in the creed, I suppose. I’ve never actually read the book (even if it was voted the best).

Let this ease your mind . . .

Na som.

photographs

Tags: Cumberland, Geocaching, GPS Games, Millville, New Jersey, Union-Lake