I used to live on a corner with a blinking red light. Cars would blow through it constantly (especially the jitney buses). Those who actually stopped for the light would be met with blaring horns from the geniuses behind them.

It was neither a safe nor peaceful corner to live on. Careful what you wish for, blinking red light lovers.

I dunno, that headline didn't get my PC hackles up. It lets you know that Mr. Torres was a prominent member of society, plus he was collecting money for the parade when the assault occurred. Feels kinda relevant.

The actual crime made my jaw drop.

It takes a special piece of sh*t to double-team an amputee.

+1 on the welcome.

I have equal parts admiration and envy for your ability to purchase a home at such a tender age. good on you! damn, wish I'd done it.

I'm glad more people are taking Jersey City seriously.

oh and hey, we have falcons!
http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/peregrinecam/jcp-live.htm

enjoy your new "vacation home." I hope that feeling lingers. and like previous posters have suggested, do wander north and west of the waterfront. lots to discover.

don't eat the squirrels, though. rumor has it they're full of lead.

which C-word is that?

there are so many good ones...

oh I know I know!!

is it because they've got their sh*t together enough at age 27 to buy a half-million-dollar condo?

okay, maybe that's just my reason.

I am jealous, I admit it.

good point.

Jen, thank you so much for all of your hard work bringing the park renovation into fruition.

One question: does construction / park closing have to happen over the summer? peak park season?

If the work is slated to be completed by end of December, why not push everything back a couple months and have it complete at the end of February / beginning of March, so that the neighborhood can have use of the old park for the summer?

Just a query. Thanks again for all of your time.

anybody know what's keeping Torico's from putting tables or benches outside?

I love having them in my neighborhood, but get pretty tired of picking up discarded styrofoam cups from my stoop.

Theatre Mania is a good source

http://discounts.theatermania.com/discounts/index.cfm/city/1

not as cheap as TDF, but a bigger selection.

once he dropped it in the bag, that heroin was totally yours to keep.

next time, fight for it.

it's definitely no big deal, and I try to look at it as a charming quirk of downtown.

but really, those clocks are just 8-foot-tall monuments to the fact that JC can't get its sh*t together.

was she 6'4" and carrying a bike?

Now that the clocks have finally fallen back an hour, anybody wanna place bets on when they'll spring forward?

in the case of "Make Me a Supermodel," I think comcast just did you a favor.

does anybody else think that whole stretch of Grove could be a little more welcoming?

maybe better lighting would encourage PATH commuters to walk that way.

I take a slightly longer route home, up Newark to Erie, just because it feels less deserted.

I'm glad to see that someone's at least thinking about prevention, but I sure hope these kids got more at their press-friendly "graduation" ceremony than a certificate.

like maybe, I dunno, after-school activities, sports programs, tutoring....

what's more effective, telling kids there are other options, or actually making those options available?

put your money where your mouth is, JC.

oh wait....abatements....

did anyone else have to google Godwin's Law?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godwin's_law

Thanks MZ!

It's a tough sell, increasing the cultural literacy of this gang of knee-jerkers.

But your efforts have not gone unnoticed.

My years on Mahatma Ghandi Boulevard were the most tranquil of my life.

she's got a vinyl sign up there now, along with some festive grand opening flaggage.

Jonathan Strange does start off a little slow, but once it gets hold of you, it doesn't let go.

will def. give the Irving Stone a gander.

+1 for Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, a 900-page epic that flew by way too quickly. I've been calling it the Harry Potter for grownups, but it's way more sly and clever and gripping than that shorthand description would suggest. plus, there's a whole other story going on in the footnotes.

Middlesex is another good epic read, as is The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay.

now I'm getting my nonfiction fill with Omnivore's Dilemma.

I wish I lived next door to SamS.

has construction on the Long Slip bridge begun yet?

"later this fall" has come and gone.

oh man am I grateful for those grievance addresses. thank you!

I've had so many problems with package delivery, despite the huge note on my door asking that packages be left at a nearby store.

I recently went to the Montgomery P.O. with a "sorry we missed you, final notice" I had received that morning. my mail carrier missed me because she never rang the doorbell. the notice was dated on the 20th, with the item to be returned on 31st. of course, I got the note on the 31st.

this happens repeatedly, with really important pieces of mail.

at the post office, the clerk was extremely apologetic, and called over her supervisor, Mr. Jackson, who proceeded to berate her in front of me for giving the mail carrier a notice ten days too late.

then Mr. Jackson turns on me and starts ranting about how hard his carriers work and why did I come in here accusing them? I calmly stated that I hadn't accused anyone, just asked why I was repeatedly getting such poor mail service.

Mr. Jackson launches into a flag-waving monologue about how the USA has the best mail service in the world.

sure. agreed. now may I please have my mail?

Mr. Jackson continues to rant and rave about his carriers, and accuses me of coming in "with a big song and dance."

seriously, I'd said maybe ten words during this entire performance.

I pointed out once again that I'd made no accusations, but was simply frustrated at not being able to count on regular mail delivery.

it was then that Mr. Jackson said, "well I can't help you with your mental problems," and walked away.

I left with a clear indication of why our mail service is so substandard. the reason is Mr. Jackson, and the federal system that keeps all the Mr. Jacksons of the land employed, at our expense.

go FedEx.

Matthias you make some great points, but I realize I didn't make myself clear.

Existing Hudson River crossings are for automobile traffic. They've got long approaches and wide footprints. Oh, and emergency vehicle access, in case of a mid-span crisis.

That we can walk/bike across them is an added bonus (for you, maybe. freaks me the hell out, but whatever.)

The longest pedestrian river bridge of that height is about to open in Omaha. It's gorgeous:

http://www.livelyomaha.org/Civic_Omah ... ge/Pedestrian_Bridge.html

and at just over a thousand fee total length, it's one-fifth the size that our bridge would need to be.

I would really love some brainiac engineer to prove me wrong and give us a footbridge. But in the meantime, I'm going to stop whining about it and just take the damn boat.

Okay, hate to pee on the parade, because I would love to be able to walk to NYC. But let's be realistic: a Hudson pedestrian bridge would be an engineering miracle / nightmare.

It would have to be significantly higher than the Brooklyn Bridge, to allow for big ship traffic.

So how would pedestrians get up to it? Elevator? Staircase? Can you even guess how many stairs that would be? Wanna climb that with a bike on your shoulders?

Or maybe a ramp, sloping gently upwards from, oh I dunno, Newark?

The bridge would have to have a wide footprint, to account for wind/tides/accidental boat encounters. The owners of million-dollar river-view apartments might have something to say about this (And would the swells in SoHo really welcome having Jersey City within walking distance?)

Which brings us to walking distance. It's just over a mile across, not including any approach ramps. How many leisure walkers would tackle that on a daily basis? Americans are not known as a particularly perambulatory bunch. Sure, they should be, if sales of husky pants are any indication. But alas, we are not.

And what if there is an emergency mid-span? You're a half-mile walk/bike ride/swim to safety.

Finally, have you ever walked across the GW Bridge? NOT a peaceful stroll. 220 feet above the water, it's freaking terrifying. (The Brooklyn Bridge, by comparison, is a hundred feet lower.)

So there's the challenge, armchair bridge builders. Go to it!

the midtown ferry takes you right to the WS bike path (though sure, only during rush hours)

question: has anyone tried to take a bike on the tiny, enclosed ferry that plies the Paulus Hook - Midtown route?

I know they're allowed on the bigger ferries to WTC, but you have to stand outside with it.

here's a tiny sliver of good news:
unlike the TVs in taxicabs, the PATH monitors won't have audio.

so they would what....let the animals loose? cook them?

jrsygrl I think you are mistaken. the animals would be outsourced to other shelters. just like they did last week.

I'd show up for a demonstration against these scumbags.

all they have to do all day is keep animals clean and warm and fed. it's their job, and they haven't been doing it. so what the hell ARE they doing on the county's dime?!

I gave a pretty generous donation to the ASPCA this year. how do I find out if any of it trickles down to these assh*les?