Note to readers, this will likely be my last blog post of 2010. For anyone who's read this blog, Merry Christmas and enshrine 2011!
-Roadgeek Adam
(Dale Earnhardt Remembered: Part 1/5, ESPN 2001)
On November 20, 2000, Bob Jenkins, Benny Parsons (d. 2007) and Ned Jarrett co-hosted the NAPA 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The race, won by Jerry Nadeau and the final of the season, was the last televised broadcast of the NASCAR Winston Cup Series on ESPN, after a 20 season run. At the end of the race, Benny and Ned both hugged Bob (you can hear it in the video), who had tears noticeably coming on his eyes as they said their goodbyes. Benny, who started working with Bob in 1988, said his wishes and left, along with Ned who said this would be his last Winston Cup broadcast. (This would not be a reality for him, as he has hosted races since. Benny worked for NASCAR on TNT from 2001 - 2006, and probably until his death on January 2007). Bob Jenkins then went on to say the final goodbye as the seniority of the crew. Bob had worked there since 1981, covering over 200 Sunday afternoons of racing with the two legends (and others) beside him. For many years throughout the 1980s and 1990s, during a regular cup season, you would hear half the season with the legendary Ken Squier, and the second half with Bob Jenkins, both NASCAR broadcasting pioneers. (Before I get creamed for this line, Chris Economaki is one the greatest out there).
This depressing moment in November 2000 enshrined a new era in NASCAR on television, as FOX got the Squier half of the season and TNT got the Jenkins half of the season. Twenty years of NASCAR coverage gone in the midst of Speedweeks for the 2001. Mike Joy (who worked for NASCAR on CBS with Squier) for many years took over Lap by Lap coverage for NASCAR on FOX along with veteran crew chief, Larry McReynolds and 84-time NASCAR winner, Darrell Waltrip. Of all NASCAR telecasts, this one has lasted 10 long years without a change of the 3-men booth. (TNT and the future ESPN both have changed within their years). Dick Berggren, a long time NASCAR journalist, was moved to pit road of FOX, but was and still is the lead reporter. Albeit the Daytona 500 in 2001, the first race, was marked with tragedy in the loss of Dale Earnhardt, it came at great spirits as Michael Waltrip, Darrell's younger brother won his first race in 463 attempts. When Waltrip comes across the finish line, Darrell is shown on camera with a great look on his face. This was similar to the 1993 Daytona 500, just eight years before when Dale Jarrett won the Great American race. Ned was in the booth with Buddy Baker and Ken Squier, and when Dale crossed the finish line, the camera shot over to Ned, who was cheering and calling out the win. Since then, this has never happened again, but it was a great tribute to the old coverage. That night, on ESPN's RPM2Night, Dr. Jerry Punch, one of the ESPN Speedworld pit reports, a good friend of the Earnhardt's, was on the entire half hour, saddened with the death of the legend. Two nights later, he joined the noticeably older Bob Jenkins in the ESPN studios for the honor of Earnhardt, and Bob himself put it as this:
When ESPN closed out our twenty-year ride with NASCAR, I thought I had done my final Winston Cup broadcast with Benny Parsons. Now with these most tragic of occurrences, its time for families to come back together.
- Bob Jenkins (2001)
At the 2001 Firecracker 400, after the conclusion of NASCAR on FOX, the second half of the television broadcasts began on TNT/NBC, with Allen Bestwick, a kind-of NASCAR broadcasting newbie, (he had some work with NASCAR on CBS), at the helm. NASCAR great Benny Parsons was alongside him and Wally Dallenbach Jr. both joined the telecast. This new crew, led by two with experience was the second half of the season. Bill Weber, who worked for a long time on NASCAR on ESPN with Jenkins, Parsons and Jarrett was on pit road as the pre-race show host and pit reporter. Both telecasts were very well done, and all three were great matches. However, in 2004, Bestwick was injured and couldn't call a few races. At that time, Weber was promoted to the booth with Benny and Wally. This is the first issue in many qualms with 21st Century NASCAR broadcasting. Even when Allen returned from his injury, he was permanently demoted to pit road and became the main pit reporter. Permanently it was Weber, Dallenbach and Parsons in the booth. However, Benny, who had been undergoing chemotherapy for lung cancer, hosted his last race at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 19, 2006, 5 years and 364 days after the last ESPN broadcast. Benny Parsons died of the cancer on January 16, 2007. Due to this, he was replaced with Kyle Petty, son of the king of NASCAR himself, Richard Petty. Bestwick and co-reporter Dave Burns both left the station service and went to ESPN after the 2006 race. Also that year, TNT was reduced to six whole races as a new contract re-added ESPN to the service, which had 17 of the 36 races in each season, including the entire chase. It is at this point we begin the story of the new NASCAR on ESPN.
In 2007, following the end of the race of Chicagoland, TNT bowed out for the season. At this point, ESPN took over. The new staff for the season included NASCAR on ESPN pit reporter, Dr. Jerry Punch, who took over as lead play by play, NASCAR legend Rusty Wallace, who retired from racing in 2006 and veteran crew chief, the honored Andy Petree. Dave Burns was on pit road along with Mike Massaro, Vince Welch and Jamie Little (basically new names to ESPN). Allen Bestwick was in the infield studio with Rusty Wallace and Brad Daughtery, a former basketball player who co-owns the #47 team. This season began with qualms of problems with ESPN. The crew was a good match, but problems ensued on questionable bias for drivers, excessive abuse of commercials, people with no NASCAR backgrounds, and finally, sponsorship issues. The main problem during 2007-2009 that became very noticeable is that Jerry Punch was not a good lap-by-lap announcer and between 2009 and 2010, he was moved to pit road, and former IndyCar announcer (and still Indy 500 announcer) Marty Reid took over his spot. Marty Reid did 1 year of NASCAR work from 1999-2000 in the Truck events, and did some Busch series races that were at separate tracks. This change was due to continuous requests by upset fans, and blogs such as The Daly Planet, one I give great respect to for doing such a good job. During this ever important 2010 season, The Daly Planet followed the work of Marty Reid in the booth. However, now at the end of the season, and it seems very obvious that Reid is not faring much better in the booth from fans and blogs as Dr. Punch did.
Now after boring you with great details for probably 10-20 minutes, let's get to my opinion. For one, ESPN's broadcasts has a better veteran when it comes to lap by lap announcing, its Allen Bestwick. My main problems with Reid is his lack of NASCAR knowledge. When listening to Weber, Bestwick and Joy, all three were good with their NASCAR broadcasting and could flow with the others in the booth with them (McReynolds, Waltrip, Parsons, Petty and Dallenbach). Reid seems to rely way too much on Dale Jarrett and Andy Petree for details of situations and only seems interested in the play by play part. This to me is very unacceptable. If you're going to announce this stuff, you should consider having good experience in the sport and know the in and outs to do the job. I feel like NASCAR on ESPN should reverse the positions that Reid and Bestwick currently hold. Bestwick has the knowledge and 12 years experience behind him. Reid doesn't. Next, Vince Welch, Rusty Wallace and Ricky Craven, who commonly host Nationwide series races at tracks not of the Cup series should be promoted to permanent positions, as they are probably one of the best combinations in the series. Rusty and Vince can keep their positions in the Cup series, but I think this is a great benefit. Next, John Kernan should be rehired as part of the group. Kernan did a great job as pit reporter and deserves his job next to Dr. Punch.
I haven't talked too much about it, but NASCAR's Truck Series, hosted on SPEED Channel is run with Rick Allen, Phil Parsons and Michael Waltrip (the latter 2 former drivers). Parsons is the son of Benny Parsons and like Dale Jarrett, the second generation in driving and broadcasting. I never have any qualms with the SPEED Channel telecasts but I bring it up for a reason. I've felt for the Daytona 500 and Speedweeks broadcasts that Mike Joy, Ken Squier, Allen Bestwick, Dick Berggren, Bob Jenkins, Rick Allen, Phil Parsons, Darrell Waltrip, Jeff Hammond, Michael Waltrip, Dale Jarrett, Larry McReynolds, Dr. Jerry Punch and Ned Jarrett should have a televised roundtable get together to look at the upcoming season. This would be the ultimate combination of minds in the NASCAR world and I personally think it would be a hit. Next, NASCAR on TNT has had some major issues with keeping a good cast. I do think Bob Jenkins, who now works on Versus for the IndyCar series should be promoted to the TNT 6-weeks stretch. Finally, when the end of the big TV contract comes in 2014, the season should be divided up among the 36 races with 12 weeks for each service (FOX 1-12, TNT 13-25 and ESPN 26-36). Then with the ceremonies at the end of the season, have the same roundtable host it.
To me, this would be the perfect fixes to solve the qualm that is the dying viewer-ship of NASCAR on television. I'm open to what you think!
Have a Merry Christmas!
- Roadgeek Adam
(Thanks to Google Street View)
Friday, December 24, 2010
Sunday, December 12, 2010
The 10 Boneheaded Decisions by Highland Park Since 1980 - #10
Over the next few blog posts, I'd like to dig a bit deeper into the boneheaded decisions that the borough of Highland Park has gone through. I've ranked them from 10 - 1, and each time I will summarize the situation and leave my detailed opinion / solution to said problem. Highland Park hasn't seen a rational mayor since 1991, and I'm going to show what 19 years (now nearing 20) can cause. So on that note
The 10 Boneheaded Decisions by Highland Park Since 1980
=========================================================
No. 10 - Highland Park School Dilemma
As many people know, we have 3-4 active public schools in Highland Park: Irving Primary School (Pre, Pre-K, Kindergarten and 1st grade), Bartle Elementary School (2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th grades), Highland Park Middle School (6th, 7th and 8th grade) and the Highland Park High School (9th, 10th, 11th and 12th grades). However, I don't think many of the residents of Highland Park realize we once had two more schools. (Remember, Bartle was built for the purpose of dealing with overcrowding among the three active schools at the time).
(Lafayette, 2010, photo by your author)
However, after the construction of Bartle, Hamilton School and Lafayette School began to lose usage. In 1980, we closed Hamilton and sold it to a private group to become a private school. If anyone doesn't know what I am referring to, its now the Center School on Madison and 3rd. Lafayette was kept for another 4 years, but was sold to Kaplan Industries, a DEVELOPER, in 1984. Kaplan turned the school into condominiums, which I think was the lamest decision we could've made. We lack school space as is in Highland Park. Although that was 26 years and no one could have predicted that we'd have a population of 14,332 people in Highland Park. However, we wasted money on an addition to the High School for 7th and 8th graders, and yet I don't think its helped us one bit. If we were that worried about school usage, we should have sold Lafayette to the private school and turned that into the Center School. Hamilton is more than large enough to handle the Middle School's purpose. Plus, it would've saved us money as we never would have needed to upgrade the 1925 building for the Middle School!
Not many people realize how old the original parts of Irving is. The 11th Avenue / Central Avenue wing was built in 1916, just a year after Hamilton was opened. Alexander Merchant designed both schools as Lafayette couldn't handle the growing population on its own. Currently the situation in Highland Park is depressing. The Middle and High School are loaded with drug busts and criminals. My sister who used to go there, thank god she got accepted into the Vo-Tech program in Piscataway, would tell me on days that the police would be there. I mean both places are in really bad shape. If you think High Schoolers are the worst, some of the worst students in Highland Park aren't even in 9th grade yet. Mr. Lassiter and Mr. Williams do a good job running the High School, but its just not enough.
Despite the growing taxes, people are still coming into Highland Park, and as a result, the amount of students are growing. Now that people are demanding a charter school similar to the one East Brunswick got, we need the room! One proposal would be to build on the old Meyer-Rice estate with Kaplan and move out the people in Lafayette or talk the Center School into moving out or subsidizing the school for public usage. Center School is run well from what I know, but we need the room! We screwed our public school system 30 years ago, and we have no room to build another school. We need Hamilton and Lafayette back. Under my proposal:
Highland Park School System:
================================
Irving School (Preschool - 1st grade)
Bartle School (2nd - 5th grade)
Hamilton School (6th - 8th grade, subsidized Center School)
Highland Park High School (9th - 12th Grades, taking over Middle School portion as well.)
In my opinion, this works. We don't need the new buildings. We need to keep the old.
The 10 Boneheaded Decisions by Highland Park Since 1980
=========================================================
No. 10 - Highland Park School Dilemma
As many people know, we have 3-4 active public schools in Highland Park: Irving Primary School (Pre, Pre-K, Kindergarten and 1st grade), Bartle Elementary School (2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th grades), Highland Park Middle School (6th, 7th and 8th grade) and the Highland Park High School (9th, 10th, 11th and 12th grades). However, I don't think many of the residents of Highland Park realize we once had two more schools. (Remember, Bartle was built for the purpose of dealing with overcrowding among the three active schools at the time).
(Lafayette, 2010, photo by your author)
However, after the construction of Bartle, Hamilton School and Lafayette School began to lose usage. In 1980, we closed Hamilton and sold it to a private group to become a private school. If anyone doesn't know what I am referring to, its now the Center School on Madison and 3rd. Lafayette was kept for another 4 years, but was sold to Kaplan Industries, a DEVELOPER, in 1984. Kaplan turned the school into condominiums, which I think was the lamest decision we could've made. We lack school space as is in Highland Park. Although that was 26 years and no one could have predicted that we'd have a population of 14,332 people in Highland Park. However, we wasted money on an addition to the High School for 7th and 8th graders, and yet I don't think its helped us one bit. If we were that worried about school usage, we should have sold Lafayette to the private school and turned that into the Center School. Hamilton is more than large enough to handle the Middle School's purpose. Plus, it would've saved us money as we never would have needed to upgrade the 1925 building for the Middle School!
Not many people realize how old the original parts of Irving is. The 11th Avenue / Central Avenue wing was built in 1916, just a year after Hamilton was opened. Alexander Merchant designed both schools as Lafayette couldn't handle the growing population on its own. Currently the situation in Highland Park is depressing. The Middle and High School are loaded with drug busts and criminals. My sister who used to go there, thank god she got accepted into the Vo-Tech program in Piscataway, would tell me on days that the police would be there. I mean both places are in really bad shape. If you think High Schoolers are the worst, some of the worst students in Highland Park aren't even in 9th grade yet. Mr. Lassiter and Mr. Williams do a good job running the High School, but its just not enough.
Despite the growing taxes, people are still coming into Highland Park, and as a result, the amount of students are growing. Now that people are demanding a charter school similar to the one East Brunswick got, we need the room! One proposal would be to build on the old Meyer-Rice estate with Kaplan and move out the people in Lafayette or talk the Center School into moving out or subsidizing the school for public usage. Center School is run well from what I know, but we need the room! We screwed our public school system 30 years ago, and we have no room to build another school. We need Hamilton and Lafayette back. Under my proposal:
Highland Park School System:
================================
Irving School (Preschool - 1st grade)
Bartle School (2nd - 5th grade)
Hamilton School (6th - 8th grade, subsidized Center School)
Highland Park High School (9th - 12th Grades, taking over Middle School portion as well.)
In my opinion, this works. We don't need the new buildings. We need to keep the old.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Honoring the Great Salem Witch of Wikipedia
"I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work, the more I live. I rejoice in life for its own sake. Life is no “brief candle” to me. It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got hold of for the moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations.”
- George Bernard Shaw (1907)
When someone thinks of Wikipedia, we think about the unreliability. However, I'd like to put this behind to honor the greatest editor to pass through these halls. I first met User:Durova back in 2007, over some featured picture related matters. I first talked to her on Google Mail, but then soon moved to Skype. Durova, a resident of Southern California, is a person who you like to get to know. She is probably someone who would make you more knowledgeable in knitting, learning how to restore pictures that have stood the test of time, and just her time learning German and being in the Navy.
Durova is known on Wikipedia for her great featured contributions, which he got over 400 of them. If we ever needed a Guinness Book of Wikipedia Records, Durova would be on a number of them, including one of the most popular editors and most featured contributions. Wikipedia has seen major improvement in the featured media processes due to her support and work as an editor like the rest of us. A lot of us Wikipedians do laugh at us considering ourselves nerds. However, I and others hold her to a higher level. Durova has spent over four decades on this earth making her statement. Her level of knowledge and honor goes beyond the normal human. We on Earth all stride to make our statement in the history books. Five years on Wikipedia, Durova definitely made hers.
I don't usually like comparing people to celebrities, but I know of one person, who reminds me of Durova. I admit this is kind of biased since Fleetwood Mac has been my favorite music group for many years, but Durova reminds me a lot of Stevie Nicks. We've got this compassionate woman who puts her heart out for people on Skype and on Wikipedia that she's never met. It takes a kind of woman, one of a few, who don't see the normal basis of life. Stevie Nicks believe that way, look at "Dreams", "Gold Dust Woman" or "Rhiannon", they had this dreamy yet mysterious quality to them. Durova, to me, despite being this outgoing, greatly humorous person, has that dreamy and mystic quality that Stevie Nicks displays in every song. She can make you think in a different way of this different world, and Durova has almost always done that with me.
I spent a-many Sunday afternoons with Durova on Skype, along with many other Wikipedians who have spent their time recording NotTheWikipediaWeekly episodes. We loved her as a host and I have every single episode on my iPod to listen to. She just comes out as this person everyone would like, yet she could come out as a Dalai Lama, a diplomatic queen. She always had a good opinion on a situation and could take each situation from a different angle. People had great respect for her. Friends with many of us on Skype, she could be the best topic creator and knew always a good reply to someone's comment.
I admit when other things came about, especially college, I started to lose track of time, coming back to the old stomping grounds of Skype and not finding her around. To me it felt like a loss, she suddenly vanished, and it broke my heart. You don't find people with the kind of knowledge she maintained and I strike a large heart and saying how much tears come to my eye writing this that I miss her dearly as a Wikipedian and as a friend. No one quite made me feel better than Durova when Wikipedia could be at worst. And in fact, my mother and my sister loved talking to Durova not on Wikipedia matters, but just as a friend. That's how she came to me, as a friend not just this person who liked working on the same website with the same mission that I did.
Many a-Sunday afternoons recording NTWW sessions with her, talking serious topics but having that humorous spin. Her classic rendition of "I'll get you my prettttty!" is something I always remember and in that honor, I bow my sword and armor in honor, as the Great Salem Witch of Wikipedia. In honor of Durova, I cry a tear, and I hope many a Wikipedians read this and feel the same way I do, she was just that kind of person.
Bowing my hat for the night,
Roadgeek Adam/Mitchazenia
- George Bernard Shaw (1907)
When someone thinks of Wikipedia, we think about the unreliability. However, I'd like to put this behind to honor the greatest editor to pass through these halls. I first met User:Durova back in 2007, over some featured picture related matters. I first talked to her on Google Mail, but then soon moved to Skype. Durova, a resident of Southern California, is a person who you like to get to know. She is probably someone who would make you more knowledgeable in knitting, learning how to restore pictures that have stood the test of time, and just her time learning German and being in the Navy.
Durova is known on Wikipedia for her great featured contributions, which he got over 400 of them. If we ever needed a Guinness Book of Wikipedia Records, Durova would be on a number of them, including one of the most popular editors and most featured contributions. Wikipedia has seen major improvement in the featured media processes due to her support and work as an editor like the rest of us. A lot of us Wikipedians do laugh at us considering ourselves nerds. However, I and others hold her to a higher level. Durova has spent over four decades on this earth making her statement. Her level of knowledge and honor goes beyond the normal human. We on Earth all stride to make our statement in the history books. Five years on Wikipedia, Durova definitely made hers.
I don't usually like comparing people to celebrities, but I know of one person, who reminds me of Durova. I admit this is kind of biased since Fleetwood Mac has been my favorite music group for many years, but Durova reminds me a lot of Stevie Nicks. We've got this compassionate woman who puts her heart out for people on Skype and on Wikipedia that she's never met. It takes a kind of woman, one of a few, who don't see the normal basis of life. Stevie Nicks believe that way, look at "Dreams", "Gold Dust Woman" or "Rhiannon", they had this dreamy yet mysterious quality to them. Durova, to me, despite being this outgoing, greatly humorous person, has that dreamy and mystic quality that Stevie Nicks displays in every song. She can make you think in a different way of this different world, and Durova has almost always done that with me.
I spent a-many Sunday afternoons with Durova on Skype, along with many other Wikipedians who have spent their time recording NotTheWikipediaWeekly episodes. We loved her as a host and I have every single episode on my iPod to listen to. She just comes out as this person everyone would like, yet she could come out as a Dalai Lama, a diplomatic queen. She always had a good opinion on a situation and could take each situation from a different angle. People had great respect for her. Friends with many of us on Skype, she could be the best topic creator and knew always a good reply to someone's comment.
I admit when other things came about, especially college, I started to lose track of time, coming back to the old stomping grounds of Skype and not finding her around. To me it felt like a loss, she suddenly vanished, and it broke my heart. You don't find people with the kind of knowledge she maintained and I strike a large heart and saying how much tears come to my eye writing this that I miss her dearly as a Wikipedian and as a friend. No one quite made me feel better than Durova when Wikipedia could be at worst. And in fact, my mother and my sister loved talking to Durova not on Wikipedia matters, but just as a friend. That's how she came to me, as a friend not just this person who liked working on the same website with the same mission that I did.
Many a-Sunday afternoons recording NTWW sessions with her, talking serious topics but having that humorous spin. Her classic rendition of "I'll get you my prettttty!" is something I always remember and in that honor, I bow my sword and armor in honor, as the Great Salem Witch of Wikipedia. In honor of Durova, I cry a tear, and I hope many a Wikipedians read this and feel the same way I do, she was just that kind of person.
Bowing my hat for the night,
Roadgeek Adam/Mitchazenia
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
105 Years and 30 Mayors later...We failed the last 10
Thou shall not whine.
- Tim Russert
Face it, we don't live in Kokomo do we? We live in Highland Park, a small borough of 14,000 people. It has been projected that we've passed Princeton in population, which in itself is a feat. However, even with the influx of people, do you see your taxes going down? Not at my end. I live on the utmost edge of the borough, in the Triangle area, and even then our taxes are off the roof. Highland Park's existed for 105 years, and for the first 94, we seemed like a normal bustling community of the 20th century. The last 11 have been pure hell. Over the next little while I am going to advocate my reasons for why we need change in this tax central.
In November 1999, a female Democratic ticket, led by Meryl Frank, won the election for our mayor. Defeating James Polos, by far one of the best mayors I think we've had in a long time with questionable measures, such as bashing Polos and Dominic Ceminaro, his runningmate on things that don't exist. In January of 2000, she took the job as our 29th mayor in 95 years. I promise you that this may have been the most regretful decision we as a borough have made. Off the start, she seemed to be a normal mayor, but we gave her a few months to see that there is a serious problem developing. Its common in government that the borough council is different-minded and might overrule ideas the mayor comes. It is on one of these situations, in Frank's first month of office where this gets blurted:
"They (the Borough Council) wouldn’t treat me this way if I had a penis."
Something sound wrong? What mayor should use that kind of talk to describe her borough council. So what if she's been outdone by the council, which had some Polos-related persons on it still. You're the first female mayor, but telling your constituents that they wouldn't have problems with you if you were a man is out of line. In real life, that would be the line of a "sexist pig". Frank while being very rude and arrogant to others liked to make herself look even more popular by citing things like making her husband contracts million dollar jobs with Public Service Energy & Gas (PSE&G). In 2002, Frank talked to owner of Dresses For Less, a low-price dress store located in the former First National Bank (now PJs). The words that came out of her mouth show she shows no respect for anyone who doesn't agree with her.
“Jewish women who go to the synagogue every Saturday don’t want to shop at a store called “For Less."
So wait a minute, just because you don't like the store does not mean you need to be a racist as well? People in bad economies, if they need a dress for cheap, they can probably get one. You've basically just there made the entire female Jewish population in Highland Park especially upset because you've included all of them in an insult to a business. Politicians are supposed to support local businesses. Not insult them because you hate the lower-price class of the store. People want to shop there? So be it. If its any hint to the problem, Dresses For Less is gone and is now a popular coffee shop with wifi.
“You didn’t vote for me.”
“In some cases, there are some (businesses) that clearly don’t belong.”
“It was a no brainer.”
These three comments I have chosen to post, all come from December 2004, when new designs for the downtown were brought in for the town. The first one was to a local business that objected to having his store cut from the design plans on the block. So we like to be a sissy for someone not voting for you? Hint to Meryl: No one is going to 100% support you. The second comment was made not in direct to a business but definitely shows that Frank has no care for businesses she doesn't like, and as a result, brought forth the third comment, which is when she declared which properties on Raritan Avenue should be blighted from Highland Park. Excuse me? You are worse than Obama in that standpoint. If you think driving away business because you don't like them shows how low minded you are. People try to make livings out of these businesses and you can't just drive them away because you don't like them.
Probably one of the few good things to come out of the Frank administration was the dumping of the Chamber of Commerce and replacing it with Main Street Highland Park. Main Street's a great thing and all, and I definitely volunteer when I can. However, there comes a point in day where I can't say that they are out of the fire either. I remember Graham Copeland, who ran Main Street for a time during Frank's administration. During the time I was only 16, I went to some of their meetings on community development. Just before the 8th time I went, the board at Main Street when and banned anyone under the age of 18 to handle being at meetings. It annoyed me pretty badly.
I also know as well that Main Street gets a lot of funding from Highland Park, and the 2004 creation of the "Business Improvement District" "assessment" would be a good sign of the failures this government provides. The Business Improvement District assessment is basically a long drawn term for a $1000-$2000 tax instituted on local businesses on Raritan and Woodbridge Avenues. These are outrageous amounts and it must be paid, no opt out option. This is a big reason, besides higher rents, that businesses are leaving Highland Park. We have more than 15 vacant businesses in town and it looks absolutely embarrassing. Mayor Frank wholeheartedly deserves the blame for the business slowdown. Also a problem with the BID tax means businesses that want to be part of the Main Street "crowd" are often highly publicized and made popular. Good examples of this are Through The Moongate, White Lotus and Over the Moon Toys. When do you not see those 3 commonly working together on public stuff? Ballard Hutkin, the manager of Century 21 is in it about as deep as they are, if not sunk. This BID tax needs to end or I can promise you residents less businesses will be there for your convenience and more of the rich stores of designer crap will be there instead. As a bonus, its very likely with less income in town coming in, that people may get higher taxes (if they weren't high enough already).
This rant leads me to my next problem, the fact that we put our valuable tax money to worthless items. My parents tax bill is high enough already, and we have a cheapo house. If you studied the tax bill, you'd notice most of it is school district tax, almost 4x the amount of basic land taxes. Look where your hard-earned money is heading? Environmental Centers on polluted lands off the Raritan, new awnings and facades for building codes on Raritan, new towers and residential homes, destroying precious parts of the borough, including the YMHA (in the 155-year old Meyer Rice Estate), and the Sisters of the Cenacle Retreat, formerly the home of Robert Wood Johnson. We're losing the real Highland Park of 50 years ago for a modern dictated Harrison Bergeron-style borough.
I realize I've probably taken much of your time, but I am going to put it like this: Sexism, Biased, Opinionated, Determination, Taxing and Hatred. These six words describe the last 10 years of mayorship in Highland Park. We've tried stopping the out of hand taxes, seeing Nancy Wolf ran to stop it. We voted the female motor mouth back in. Therefore, for the 2010 mayoral special election, I am placing my support in Dominic Cerminaro's bid for mayor. In 2011, when we have our next election due to Frank becoming a UN member, I will work to making myself the candidate to fight for mayorship. I may only be 19, but its obvious you can't do well at mature levels either. I hope you will join me.
- Tim Russert
Face it, we don't live in Kokomo do we? We live in Highland Park, a small borough of 14,000 people. It has been projected that we've passed Princeton in population, which in itself is a feat. However, even with the influx of people, do you see your taxes going down? Not at my end. I live on the utmost edge of the borough, in the Triangle area, and even then our taxes are off the roof. Highland Park's existed for 105 years, and for the first 94, we seemed like a normal bustling community of the 20th century. The last 11 have been pure hell. Over the next little while I am going to advocate my reasons for why we need change in this tax central.
In November 1999, a female Democratic ticket, led by Meryl Frank, won the election for our mayor. Defeating James Polos, by far one of the best mayors I think we've had in a long time with questionable measures, such as bashing Polos and Dominic Ceminaro, his runningmate on things that don't exist. In January of 2000, she took the job as our 29th mayor in 95 years. I promise you that this may have been the most regretful decision we as a borough have made. Off the start, she seemed to be a normal mayor, but we gave her a few months to see that there is a serious problem developing. Its common in government that the borough council is different-minded and might overrule ideas the mayor comes. It is on one of these situations, in Frank's first month of office where this gets blurted:
"They (the Borough Council) wouldn’t treat me this way if I had a penis."
Something sound wrong? What mayor should use that kind of talk to describe her borough council. So what if she's been outdone by the council, which had some Polos-related persons on it still. You're the first female mayor, but telling your constituents that they wouldn't have problems with you if you were a man is out of line. In real life, that would be the line of a "sexist pig". Frank while being very rude and arrogant to others liked to make herself look even more popular by citing things like making her husband contracts million dollar jobs with Public Service Energy & Gas (PSE&G). In 2002, Frank talked to owner of Dresses For Less, a low-price dress store located in the former First National Bank (now PJs). The words that came out of her mouth show she shows no respect for anyone who doesn't agree with her.
“Jewish women who go to the synagogue every Saturday don’t want to shop at a store called “For Less."
So wait a minute, just because you don't like the store does not mean you need to be a racist as well? People in bad economies, if they need a dress for cheap, they can probably get one. You've basically just there made the entire female Jewish population in Highland Park especially upset because you've included all of them in an insult to a business. Politicians are supposed to support local businesses. Not insult them because you hate the lower-price class of the store. People want to shop there? So be it. If its any hint to the problem, Dresses For Less is gone and is now a popular coffee shop with wifi.
“You didn’t vote for me.”
“In some cases, there are some (businesses) that clearly don’t belong.”
“It was a no brainer.”
These three comments I have chosen to post, all come from December 2004, when new designs for the downtown were brought in for the town. The first one was to a local business that objected to having his store cut from the design plans on the block. So we like to be a sissy for someone not voting for you? Hint to Meryl: No one is going to 100% support you. The second comment was made not in direct to a business but definitely shows that Frank has no care for businesses she doesn't like, and as a result, brought forth the third comment, which is when she declared which properties on Raritan Avenue should be blighted from Highland Park. Excuse me? You are worse than Obama in that standpoint. If you think driving away business because you don't like them shows how low minded you are. People try to make livings out of these businesses and you can't just drive them away because you don't like them.
Probably one of the few good things to come out of the Frank administration was the dumping of the Chamber of Commerce and replacing it with Main Street Highland Park. Main Street's a great thing and all, and I definitely volunteer when I can. However, there comes a point in day where I can't say that they are out of the fire either. I remember Graham Copeland, who ran Main Street for a time during Frank's administration. During the time I was only 16, I went to some of their meetings on community development. Just before the 8th time I went, the board at Main Street when and banned anyone under the age of 18 to handle being at meetings. It annoyed me pretty badly.
I also know as well that Main Street gets a lot of funding from Highland Park, and the 2004 creation of the "Business Improvement District" "assessment" would be a good sign of the failures this government provides. The Business Improvement District assessment is basically a long drawn term for a $1000-$2000 tax instituted on local businesses on Raritan and Woodbridge Avenues. These are outrageous amounts and it must be paid, no opt out option. This is a big reason, besides higher rents, that businesses are leaving Highland Park. We have more than 15 vacant businesses in town and it looks absolutely embarrassing. Mayor Frank wholeheartedly deserves the blame for the business slowdown. Also a problem with the BID tax means businesses that want to be part of the Main Street "crowd" are often highly publicized and made popular. Good examples of this are Through The Moongate, White Lotus and Over the Moon Toys. When do you not see those 3 commonly working together on public stuff? Ballard Hutkin, the manager of Century 21 is in it about as deep as they are, if not sunk. This BID tax needs to end or I can promise you residents less businesses will be there for your convenience and more of the rich stores of designer crap will be there instead. As a bonus, its very likely with less income in town coming in, that people may get higher taxes (if they weren't high enough already).
This rant leads me to my next problem, the fact that we put our valuable tax money to worthless items. My parents tax bill is high enough already, and we have a cheapo house. If you studied the tax bill, you'd notice most of it is school district tax, almost 4x the amount of basic land taxes. Look where your hard-earned money is heading? Environmental Centers on polluted lands off the Raritan, new awnings and facades for building codes on Raritan, new towers and residential homes, destroying precious parts of the borough, including the YMHA (in the 155-year old Meyer Rice Estate), and the Sisters of the Cenacle Retreat, formerly the home of Robert Wood Johnson. We're losing the real Highland Park of 50 years ago for a modern dictated Harrison Bergeron-style borough.
I realize I've probably taken much of your time, but I am going to put it like this: Sexism, Biased, Opinionated, Determination, Taxing and Hatred. These six words describe the last 10 years of mayorship in Highland Park. We've tried stopping the out of hand taxes, seeing Nancy Wolf ran to stop it. We voted the female motor mouth back in. Therefore, for the 2010 mayoral special election, I am placing my support in Dominic Cerminaro's bid for mayor. In 2011, when we have our next election due to Frank becoming a UN member, I will work to making myself the candidate to fight for mayorship. I may only be 19, but its obvious you can't do well at mature levels either. I hope you will join me.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Racing was born in a small town... (Part 1: Two-Race Tracks)
...and exactly where it stood, until 1996. The schedule in NASCAR is one that that is almost always the same each year, and as the conglomerates, Speedway Motorsports Incorporated and Internation Speedway Corporation jockey to get their tracks on the NASCAR Winston Cup Schedule (I don't care about the Sprint name, we know RJ Reynolds well), we lose sight of what NASCAR is about. NASCAR currently has 22 tracks on the Winston Cup schedule. Several of these tracks have had events over 100 times, and as the next track reaches the grand milestone (Bristol), it is announced by a leaked report that Kentucky Speedway, a 1.5 mile track on the Busch Series circuit in Sparta, Kentucky. As a result, and if I predict NASCAR correctly, one track will either a) be evicted or b) lose one of its two races, if it has two.
Currently on the NASCAR roster the following tracks have two races per season:
Talladega
Daytona
Bristol
Martinsville
Pocono (just 6 weeks apart)
New Hampshire
Dover
Atlanta
Texas
Phoenix
Charlotte (only track with 3, but the Winston is not a points event)
Richmond
Michigan
This list is very diverse and the three names that I keep seeing pop up, including by Mark Spoor and Bill Kimm on NASCAR.com are Atlanta, Fontana and Pocono. All three tracks are very diverse. If I had to say which was the best to keep two races for, the vote for me, despite living in Jersey, would be Atlanta. Atlanta sees more action and photo finishes than Fontana or Pocono. Fontana has never been a racetrack that interested me greatly, and as Bill Kimm put it on NASCAR.com, Pocono is the tricky triangle of no passing and boring minutes. On the list, we also have Michigan, which comes up in 2 weeks and is also the main sister track to Fontana. Now in fairness, I am not the biggest fan of Michigan either, but the speedway has more action than Fontana does.
Phoenix, Dover, Richmond, Bristol, and Martinsville, five of the remaining short tracks on the schedule, are some of the best tracks up there. Until 2005's World 600, Bristol held the record for most cautions in a Sprint Cup race, with 20, and is also the highest-banked track in NASCAR, with 36 degrees of banking. Bristol is my favorite racetrack by far, and I always go to significant effort to watch all Bristol races. The races at Bristol are very popular, seeing until this year, they have had sell out crowds for over 25 years. The next track is Martinsville. Martinsville Speedway has seen NASCAR racing since actual significant races in 1949. The track is by far the shortest, at 0.528 of a mile long. (Bristol isn't far off at 0.536) Martinsville is a great racetrack, and one of the few that shows NASCAR's roots. For a long time, people have wondered, after Darlington lost the Southern 500, would Martinsville be next to lose a race? This so far has not been the case, and if it does, I will definitely oppose it. Dover is a longer Bristol of sorts, with high banking and massive wrecks when they do occur. Racing at Dover is as fun as looking at the Concrete Monsters around the track and on the trophy. Phoenix and Richmond are definitely different. Both are short tracks, but Richmond runs like a mile-half track at times, with low banking and high speeds. Phoenix is more like a superspeedway short track, with low to no banking, high-speeds and good action. If I had to choose from one of the five up there to can, my vote would be a tough one, but I would lean towards Phoenix.
The next two tracks up there require no introduction, Daytona and Talladega. Daytona is like the centerpiece of NASCAR, with the Daytona 500 and the Firecracker 400 yearly. We start the season in Daytona (although for a long time that was not the case) and the Firecracker 400 used to be the only race that started at 10 AM on a regular basis, because they didn't want to have to deal with the heat and bugs. If you win the Daytona 500, you are one of the best in NASCAR, and since 1959, people have had their name engraved into the Harvey Earl Trophy. Talladega Superspeedway is the Winston Cup's longest track (but not entirely in NASCAR), at 2.66 miles long. Talladega is the only track that does not have its start/finish line in a front straightaway or tri-oval. Talladega's start-finish line is near Turn 1, after the tri-oval. The track has generated more excitement than most races (maybe except for Bristol) on the schedule. Talladega and Daytona both produced the term "The Big One", when cars come piling into one another while bump-drafting. Sometimes these wrecks take out 15, 20, 25 and rarely, 30 cars. The last caution-free race in NASCAR was held at Talladega in 2002, eight years ago in the fall. These two tracks are the centerpiece of NASCAR and deserve the two races they already have. My opinion on whether or not Talladega's fall race should be moved will be covered in another post.
I know I've taken a serious amount of time to read this, but for what its worth, this is an introduction to my next series. From now until September 7, each of the 22 active tracks will be blogged, criticized, reminisced and explained. As a bonus I will bring up about some from the dead-side. I will be leaving my opinions in all this, but I'd like you the reader to formulate your own and understand that NASCAR has its roots, and we'll have to find them once again. If you noticed, I bolded until 1996 in the lead. On September 29, 2010, you'll get an answer to why this is so. On September 29, 2010, I will write the final chapter in this series about the one track who deserves a 2nd chance. For the first track of the series, I am going to cover one of the greatest tracks on the circuit, Talladega Superspeedway.
Until then,
Roadgeek Adam
Transportation Historian
Currently on the NASCAR roster the following tracks have two races per season:
Talladega
Daytona
Bristol
Martinsville
Pocono (just 6 weeks apart)
New Hampshire
Dover
Atlanta
Texas
Phoenix
Charlotte (only track with 3, but the Winston is not a points event)
Richmond
Michigan
This list is very diverse and the three names that I keep seeing pop up, including by Mark Spoor and Bill Kimm on NASCAR.com are Atlanta, Fontana and Pocono. All three tracks are very diverse. If I had to say which was the best to keep two races for, the vote for me, despite living in Jersey, would be Atlanta. Atlanta sees more action and photo finishes than Fontana or Pocono. Fontana has never been a racetrack that interested me greatly, and as Bill Kimm put it on NASCAR.com, Pocono is the tricky triangle of no passing and boring minutes. On the list, we also have Michigan, which comes up in 2 weeks and is also the main sister track to Fontana. Now in fairness, I am not the biggest fan of Michigan either, but the speedway has more action than Fontana does.
Phoenix, Dover, Richmond, Bristol, and Martinsville, five of the remaining short tracks on the schedule, are some of the best tracks up there. Until 2005's World 600, Bristol held the record for most cautions in a Sprint Cup race, with 20, and is also the highest-banked track in NASCAR, with 36 degrees of banking. Bristol is my favorite racetrack by far, and I always go to significant effort to watch all Bristol races. The races at Bristol are very popular, seeing until this year, they have had sell out crowds for over 25 years. The next track is Martinsville. Martinsville Speedway has seen NASCAR racing since actual significant races in 1949. The track is by far the shortest, at 0.528 of a mile long. (Bristol isn't far off at 0.536) Martinsville is a great racetrack, and one of the few that shows NASCAR's roots. For a long time, people have wondered, after Darlington lost the Southern 500, would Martinsville be next to lose a race? This so far has not been the case, and if it does, I will definitely oppose it. Dover is a longer Bristol of sorts, with high banking and massive wrecks when they do occur. Racing at Dover is as fun as looking at the Concrete Monsters around the track and on the trophy. Phoenix and Richmond are definitely different. Both are short tracks, but Richmond runs like a mile-half track at times, with low banking and high speeds. Phoenix is more like a superspeedway short track, with low to no banking, high-speeds and good action. If I had to choose from one of the five up there to can, my vote would be a tough one, but I would lean towards Phoenix.
The next two tracks up there require no introduction, Daytona and Talladega. Daytona is like the centerpiece of NASCAR, with the Daytona 500 and the Firecracker 400 yearly. We start the season in Daytona (although for a long time that was not the case) and the Firecracker 400 used to be the only race that started at 10 AM on a regular basis, because they didn't want to have to deal with the heat and bugs. If you win the Daytona 500, you are one of the best in NASCAR, and since 1959, people have had their name engraved into the Harvey Earl Trophy. Talladega Superspeedway is the Winston Cup's longest track (but not entirely in NASCAR), at 2.66 miles long. Talladega is the only track that does not have its start/finish line in a front straightaway or tri-oval. Talladega's start-finish line is near Turn 1, after the tri-oval. The track has generated more excitement than most races (maybe except for Bristol) on the schedule. Talladega and Daytona both produced the term "The Big One", when cars come piling into one another while bump-drafting. Sometimes these wrecks take out 15, 20, 25 and rarely, 30 cars. The last caution-free race in NASCAR was held at Talladega in 2002, eight years ago in the fall. These two tracks are the centerpiece of NASCAR and deserve the two races they already have. My opinion on whether or not Talladega's fall race should be moved will be covered in another post.
I know I've taken a serious amount of time to read this, but for what its worth, this is an introduction to my next series. From now until September 7, each of the 22 active tracks will be blogged, criticized, reminisced and explained. As a bonus I will bring up about some from the dead-side. I will be leaving my opinions in all this, but I'd like you the reader to formulate your own and understand that NASCAR has its roots, and we'll have to find them once again. If you noticed, I bolded until 1996 in the lead. On September 29, 2010, you'll get an answer to why this is so. On September 29, 2010, I will write the final chapter in this series about the one track who deserves a 2nd chance. For the first track of the series, I am going to cover one of the greatest tracks on the circuit, Talladega Superspeedway.
Until then,
Roadgeek Adam
Transportation Historian
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Boys Will Be Boys - Or Are They Acting Like Girls?
Last night I was watching the Nationwide Series Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers 250 at Gateway International Raceway in Madison, Illinois. On the last lap, Carl Edwards spun Brad Keselowski in the wall, right near the finish line. After being unable to finish the race, Keselowski was slammed in the front end by the #70 of Shelby Howard, who couldn't get around him. Keselowski's car was plowed into by Howard and sustained much more damage, but Howard and Keselowski came home 12th and 14th, along with causing damage to Colin Braun, Tayler Malsam, Jason Leffler, Carl Edwards (who won) and some other drivers.
In victory lane, Edwards says that it was his decision, citing "You did this to me, I will do this to win". Now I am paraphrasing, but the fact is Edwards and Keselowski do have history. It basically started back at the 2009 Aaron's 499 in Talladega, Alabama. On the final stretch of the lap, Keselowski had already pushed Edwards into the lead, and when Keselowski went to the bottom to try for the win, Edwards tried to block and ended up flipping over and destroying the catch fence, sending debris that hurt 8 people. After much-a-media-criticism, Keselowski was proud with his first Cup win and it seemed the problem was over.
At the Kobalt Tools 500 at Atlanta, Georgia, Keselowski couldn't stop his car on Lap 41 when Edwards came down on him, making Edwards loose by accident and wrecking him into Joey Logano. Both cars weren't competitive. Now with 3 laps to go in that race, Keselowski was 4th, and Edwards was 156 laps down. Edwards comes and PURPOSELY spins Keselowski. When Keselowski spins, the car flips over and slams the wall in the left a-pillar, which holds the windshield in front of the driver together. The wreck seemed similar to the Aarons 499 wreck, but with less destructive results. Keselowski's Top 5 day went away and Edwards was parked. During the ensuing days, fans, media, critics were all screaming for NASCAR to park Edwards car for the next race as well. On the Tuesday after the Atlanta race, NASCAR president Mike Helton explains to loyal fans on the website that Edwards would only receive a 3-race suspension. This was done to the "let the boys be boys and have the gloves come off" theory NASCAR is trying for 2010. This decision led to much a criticism, including from me. The three races came and went, with no future problem.
Now last night occurs. This is the THIRD scrape-up between these two in a little more than a year with disastrous results. Edwards, to me at least, is acting like the Kevin Harvick on physical fight and scream in your face. I understand we have reasons and ways to deal with anger of problems with another driver, but as of late this is getting more childish than ever before. Kyle Busch, every time something does not seem to go his away, he has a temper tantrum of sorts and refuses interviews and acts like its all THEIR fault, such as the Winston (or to them All-Star Race) with his own teamate, Denny Hamlin. Kevin Harvick, he commonly, when mad at someone, will get in their face and get physical with the other driver, as displayed at Watkins Glen in 2007 with Juan Pablo Montoya, pushing him and screaming at him. Now with Edwards, the way of dealing with the problem is making the other driver feel as miserable as you.
This is not how we behave in real life, much less in NASCAR. What happened to the days we stared and made a face or arm gesture to the other driver to show our displeasure? All of a few years ago, it seemed throwing a helmet at the person you're angry with was over the top. Now that looks like a misdemeanor compared to the felonies of sorts going on. There has to be a place where NASCAR has to draw the line. These cars cost money. Repairing cars costs more than building them. In the three year span, Edwards has lost one car severely, while Keselowski has had his car crashed twice, both very severely. We all talk about the safety of the cars, but how about look not in the car, but the drivers' head? There can be serious consequences and I don't think NASCAR was harsh on Edwards in Atlanta. That should be changed right here right now. We have to draw the line, and it seems lately the public critics, media and true fans are noticing the problem here for NASCAR does.
Now that you've heard my point, we look at happened with Joey Logano and Kevin Harvick a few weeks back, and the fighting over relatives of both drivers, Tom Logano (father) and Delana Harvick (wife). Bob Keselowski is Brad (and older brother Brian)'s father and in the post-race show, NASCAR on ESPN gave Bob Keselowski his turn to voice his opinion as Brad was brought to the infield care center. Bob knows that this has gone on more than far enough. Its racing and even Brad has never done anything intentionally in all three incidents. For the Aaron's 499 and last night, the last lap means the bell lap. This is where we vie for the win. Often it means wrecking another. However, there comes to a point where revenge does not solve the problem. Remember Atlanta was not one of these cases, since it was three laps to go AND the fact that Keselowski had a top 5 finish (4th at the time) and Edwards was 156 laps down, doesn't show any respect on Edwards fault.
Now that my ranting is over, I ask you, the loyal reader this. Is NASCAR's "take the gloves off" policy having men act like men, or are we creating girls in the process? I say the latter.
In victory lane, Edwards says that it was his decision, citing "You did this to me, I will do this to win". Now I am paraphrasing, but the fact is Edwards and Keselowski do have history. It basically started back at the 2009 Aaron's 499 in Talladega, Alabama. On the final stretch of the lap, Keselowski had already pushed Edwards into the lead, and when Keselowski went to the bottom to try for the win, Edwards tried to block and ended up flipping over and destroying the catch fence, sending debris that hurt 8 people. After much-a-media-criticism, Keselowski was proud with his first Cup win and it seemed the problem was over.
At the Kobalt Tools 500 at Atlanta, Georgia, Keselowski couldn't stop his car on Lap 41 when Edwards came down on him, making Edwards loose by accident and wrecking him into Joey Logano. Both cars weren't competitive. Now with 3 laps to go in that race, Keselowski was 4th, and Edwards was 156 laps down. Edwards comes and PURPOSELY spins Keselowski. When Keselowski spins, the car flips over and slams the wall in the left a-pillar, which holds the windshield in front of the driver together. The wreck seemed similar to the Aarons 499 wreck, but with less destructive results. Keselowski's Top 5 day went away and Edwards was parked. During the ensuing days, fans, media, critics were all screaming for NASCAR to park Edwards car for the next race as well. On the Tuesday after the Atlanta race, NASCAR president Mike Helton explains to loyal fans on the website that Edwards would only receive a 3-race suspension. This was done to the "let the boys be boys and have the gloves come off" theory NASCAR is trying for 2010. This decision led to much a criticism, including from me. The three races came and went, with no future problem.
Now last night occurs. This is the THIRD scrape-up between these two in a little more than a year with disastrous results. Edwards, to me at least, is acting like the Kevin Harvick on physical fight and scream in your face. I understand we have reasons and ways to deal with anger of problems with another driver, but as of late this is getting more childish than ever before. Kyle Busch, every time something does not seem to go his away, he has a temper tantrum of sorts and refuses interviews and acts like its all THEIR fault, such as the Winston (or to them All-Star Race) with his own teamate, Denny Hamlin. Kevin Harvick, he commonly, when mad at someone, will get in their face and get physical with the other driver, as displayed at Watkins Glen in 2007 with Juan Pablo Montoya, pushing him and screaming at him. Now with Edwards, the way of dealing with the problem is making the other driver feel as miserable as you.
This is not how we behave in real life, much less in NASCAR. What happened to the days we stared and made a face or arm gesture to the other driver to show our displeasure? All of a few years ago, it seemed throwing a helmet at the person you're angry with was over the top. Now that looks like a misdemeanor compared to the felonies of sorts going on. There has to be a place where NASCAR has to draw the line. These cars cost money. Repairing cars costs more than building them. In the three year span, Edwards has lost one car severely, while Keselowski has had his car crashed twice, both very severely. We all talk about the safety of the cars, but how about look not in the car, but the drivers' head? There can be serious consequences and I don't think NASCAR was harsh on Edwards in Atlanta. That should be changed right here right now. We have to draw the line, and it seems lately the public critics, media and true fans are noticing the problem here for NASCAR does.
Now that you've heard my point, we look at happened with Joey Logano and Kevin Harvick a few weeks back, and the fighting over relatives of both drivers, Tom Logano (father) and Delana Harvick (wife). Bob Keselowski is Brad (and older brother Brian)'s father and in the post-race show, NASCAR on ESPN gave Bob Keselowski his turn to voice his opinion as Brad was brought to the infield care center. Bob knows that this has gone on more than far enough. Its racing and even Brad has never done anything intentionally in all three incidents. For the Aaron's 499 and last night, the last lap means the bell lap. This is where we vie for the win. Often it means wrecking another. However, there comes to a point where revenge does not solve the problem. Remember Atlanta was not one of these cases, since it was three laps to go AND the fact that Keselowski had a top 5 finish (4th at the time) and Edwards was 156 laps down, doesn't show any respect on Edwards fault.
Now that my ranting is over, I ask you, the loyal reader this. Is NASCAR's "take the gloves off" policy having men act like men, or are we creating girls in the process? I say the latter.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Season 39: The Time To Complain Is Over
No one is perfect.
- Common phrase
I am growing tired of hearing this (or a paraphrase of it): The Price is Right is not the same without Bob Barker. Drew Carey ruined the show and is not good for the show. This opinion could have applied during the show's 36th season, but it didn't. Drew is not a Bob Barker, we know that, but you know what, he's gotten much better as we approach 8 weeks to the 39th season. If Drew was doing that crappy, would the show have reached its 39th season? No. Drew knows what he's doing, and in the time since he's taken over, he's gotten much better. At some point, the fact these skeptics will have to stop complaining, since its becoming redundant.
Drew Carey is a comedian, we all know that. But in reality, since starting The Price is Right, it seems he's mellowed out a bit. Sure this random joke here and then, but he has definitely calmed down from his gig as a stand-up comedian. Yesterday on TPiR he made a really hilarious joke about Patrick Duffy. Yes, we may not like a soap star being on the show, but we need to get some sense. Roger Dobkowitz isn't producing. We can't just expect the same to go on day by day. Nor can we keep bashing Drew for doing what he has learned to do.
My feeling is that the staff has much more respect for Drew than most critics think. They let him make the new game Rat Race, which is definitely a hit by what I have seen. Drew made the idea well and I think it works nicely. People may not agree, but that's your 1st Amendment rights at work. Drew has lost a lot of weight during Season 38 and is no longer this overweight energy machine. Yes, there are times where Drew is energetic and great with the crowd. There are also times when Drew is on "happy pills" energetic. Sometimes, these can cause problems, see the Hi-Lo yogurt "incident". During a playing of Hi-Lo, he dropped one of the grocery items on the set, a thing of yogurt and it splattered over the bottom portion. My feeling is he got a major sitdown after that, because he hasn't treated the groceries the same way since.
In the 50 Years special for Bob Barker on June 15, 2007, Bob said something in the interview portion.They [college kids] bring such energy to the show. I love it. Drew is a comedian, but yet on good days, he brings such energy to the show, making it a lively audience and time for game shows :). Now again, is Drew going to be any Bob Barker? No. Is Drew going to be a permanent fixture? I would hope so :).
People complain that stand-up comedians don't make good game show hosts. There are two people I'd like to point out that have made great game show careers out of stand up comedy. The first is here in America. In 1988, Ray Combs, a stand-up comedian was hired to do the new Family Feud reincarnation, and I may point out was one of the best hosts, maybe 2nd or better than Richard Dawson, depending who you ask. The main difference is something Drew does nowadays. Drew or Ray don't bring their stand-up to game shows. Yes a joke here or there, but not a 60-minute Jeff Dunham or Larry The Cable Guy Special. Ray, as most know, was fired by Jonathan Goodson in 1993 and after major problems mentally, killed himself in a mental ward in 1996. In the short five years Combs hosted the show, he made quite an impact on the Family Feud show, creating great humor and laughs for people. Stand-up or not, he wasn't a poor game show host.
The second example I'd like to bring up is from across the pond. In 1986, after problems with Max Bygraves and the status of Family Fortunes (the Family Feud of Britain), Leslie Dennis was brought into the show in 1987 to host the new incarnation. Les Dennis (as better known) was a British stand-up comedian and was offered the job to host the show. Bygraves, his predecessor was a former singer and his replacement, Vernon Kay is/was an actor. Dennis got used to hosting the job fast and as we know, hosted Family Fortunes for 15 wonderful years, longer than any American host or British host of the show. Les Dennis was a great comedian during the show, just like Drew or Ray would do. He knew when to be a comedian and he kept it to the right level, something Drew's adjusted to nowadays.
In the end, we can't expect Drew Carey to replicate Bob Barker's job just like we can't expect Wayne Brady to be another Monty Hall. In the long run, the critics have to stop criticizing Drew for just taking the show over in the first place and judge on how he performs now in Season 39. Stop criticizing him for the past.
- Common phrase
I am growing tired of hearing this (or a paraphrase of it): The Price is Right is not the same without Bob Barker. Drew Carey ruined the show and is not good for the show. This opinion could have applied during the show's 36th season, but it didn't. Drew is not a Bob Barker, we know that, but you know what, he's gotten much better as we approach 8 weeks to the 39th season. If Drew was doing that crappy, would the show have reached its 39th season? No. Drew knows what he's doing, and in the time since he's taken over, he's gotten much better. At some point, the fact these skeptics will have to stop complaining, since its becoming redundant.
Drew Carey is a comedian, we all know that. But in reality, since starting The Price is Right, it seems he's mellowed out a bit. Sure this random joke here and then, but he has definitely calmed down from his gig as a stand-up comedian. Yesterday on TPiR he made a really hilarious joke about Patrick Duffy. Yes, we may not like a soap star being on the show, but we need to get some sense. Roger Dobkowitz isn't producing. We can't just expect the same to go on day by day. Nor can we keep bashing Drew for doing what he has learned to do.
My feeling is that the staff has much more respect for Drew than most critics think. They let him make the new game Rat Race, which is definitely a hit by what I have seen. Drew made the idea well and I think it works nicely. People may not agree, but that's your 1st Amendment rights at work. Drew has lost a lot of weight during Season 38 and is no longer this overweight energy machine. Yes, there are times where Drew is energetic and great with the crowd. There are also times when Drew is on "happy pills" energetic. Sometimes, these can cause problems, see the Hi-Lo yogurt "incident". During a playing of Hi-Lo, he dropped one of the grocery items on the set, a thing of yogurt and it splattered over the bottom portion. My feeling is he got a major sitdown after that, because he hasn't treated the groceries the same way since.
In the 50 Years special for Bob Barker on June 15, 2007, Bob said something in the interview portion.They [college kids] bring such energy to the show. I love it. Drew is a comedian, but yet on good days, he brings such energy to the show, making it a lively audience and time for game shows :). Now again, is Drew going to be any Bob Barker? No. Is Drew going to be a permanent fixture? I would hope so :).
People complain that stand-up comedians don't make good game show hosts. There are two people I'd like to point out that have made great game show careers out of stand up comedy. The first is here in America. In 1988, Ray Combs, a stand-up comedian was hired to do the new Family Feud reincarnation, and I may point out was one of the best hosts, maybe 2nd or better than Richard Dawson, depending who you ask. The main difference is something Drew does nowadays. Drew or Ray don't bring their stand-up to game shows. Yes a joke here or there, but not a 60-minute Jeff Dunham or Larry The Cable Guy Special. Ray, as most know, was fired by Jonathan Goodson in 1993 and after major problems mentally, killed himself in a mental ward in 1996. In the short five years Combs hosted the show, he made quite an impact on the Family Feud show, creating great humor and laughs for people. Stand-up or not, he wasn't a poor game show host.
The second example I'd like to bring up is from across the pond. In 1986, after problems with Max Bygraves and the status of Family Fortunes (the Family Feud of Britain), Leslie Dennis was brought into the show in 1987 to host the new incarnation. Les Dennis (as better known) was a British stand-up comedian and was offered the job to host the show. Bygraves, his predecessor was a former singer and his replacement, Vernon Kay is/was an actor. Dennis got used to hosting the job fast and as we know, hosted Family Fortunes for 15 wonderful years, longer than any American host or British host of the show. Les Dennis was a great comedian during the show, just like Drew or Ray would do. He knew when to be a comedian and he kept it to the right level, something Drew's adjusted to nowadays.
In the end, we can't expect Drew Carey to replicate Bob Barker's job just like we can't expect Wayne Brady to be another Monty Hall. In the long run, the critics have to stop criticizing Drew for just taking the show over in the first place and judge on how he performs now in Season 39. Stop criticizing him for the past.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Princeton's support of the Dinky to the Bussy
The Princeton Regional Planning Board will soon be voting to endorse NJ Transit’s plan to replace the train connecting Princeton and Princeton Junction with a Bus Rapid Transit system.
Recently, a member of railroad.net forums pointed our attention to a news article saying the Princeton Regional Planning Board will support a proposal to remove the Princeton Branch of the Northeast Corridor, maintained by New Jersey Transit. I want to start my opinion of this off with the following sentence: Princeton is and for a long time have been run and inhabited by idiots. The borough AND township, home to an Ivy League university, has a snobbish attitude, especially among the people I've met. They are not capable of rational decisions and should be horsewhipped.
Now that I have this bash off my head, I'd like to start getting to the topic. The Princeton Branch, also referred to as the Dinky (and has been for many years) is a 2.7 mile spur from Princeton Junction station for commuters and students to get off the Northeast Corridor and transfer to a short train to the lovely Princeton station. The Dinky has been used back into the 19th Century, started by the Pennsylvania Railroad on May 29, 1865. In that time, people have idolized the small train and even famous people, such as Albert Einstein, have ridden the train. The Dinky appeared in the TV sitcom Family Ties and even in a 1934 movie She Loves Me Not, starred by Bing Crosby. New Jersey Transit took over passenger service from Consolidated Rail Company (CONRAIL) in 1983 and continues to operate the service 27 years later. May 29, 2010 was the 145th anniversary of the Dinky and everyone I know hopes it will last for a long time, but as you're about to see, Princeton is trying to get rid of it.
The Princeton Regional Planning Board wants to endorse a proposal to have the 2.7 mile track removed and its train, along with the train station for a Bus Rapid Transit, in other words, a "fast" bus. Importantly, trains only run into red lights when they are block signals, yet the Dinky is trying to be replaced by something that is semi-unreliable, runs along city streets WITH red lights and is generally less useful. The idea to rectify the red lights is give the bus a power to change the light to green automatically, which I think causes MORE traffic dilemmas. The trains can go almost fluently from Princeton Station to Princeton Junction at West Windsor Station smoothly, while a bus which holds LESS people would have to follow this long turn-filled route from Princeton to Princeton Junction to transfer. First of all, the train at least leaves you on the platform and time to disembark for a waiting train. Secondly, if the bus is late, you've missed your train, what are you supposed to do? Especially if the train service is a half-hour and you know you'll be late for work? The dinky is reliable and it gets you there.
I want to say this now. Princeton is run by modern idiots who are trying to fix a service that is not broken, then I decree this curse on them: If you want to get tracks through a city/borough removed, fine. However, be prepared to feel the Passaic Curse, in which all the crime and low-class people will come to the city the train has helped prosper and ruin your Ivy League Yuppie status. I promise you it will happen. Not today, not tomorrow, but it will happen. I decree it. I don't care if these crimes burn the city down, you brought it upon yourself.
- Roadgeek Adam
(Completely rant free for one day)
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Where Have The 10 Years Gone?
On February 18, 2001, fans of NASCAR around the United States. People of all ages, race and religion, watched either at a tailgate party, in their RVs in in the infield or on NASCAR on FOX's first telecast (with Mike Joy, Larry McReynolds and Darrell Waltrip) the Daytona 500. To most people, everyone expected the Daytona 500 to be like every other year, wrecks, great passes and great finishes. Yet on that day, the finish everyone had hoped for, came at a price. Dale Earnhardt, the Intimidator himself, driving the GM Goodwrench #3 for Richard Childress Racing, comes out of Turn 3 on Lap 199 in third, and a whole pack of cars led by Rusty Wallace and Sterling Marlin on his tale. Sterling's Coors Light Silver Bullet #40 taps the back end of Earnhardt, who drops down and turns up, avoiding Rusty and crashing head-on into the Turn 4 wall, along with the #36 M&Ms car of Ken Schrader. Earnhardt and Schrader's cars came down the tracks and came to rest in the infield. The race had ended, with Michael Waltrip and Dale Earnhardt Junior first and second. This was Michael Waltrip's first win in 463 attempts. However, all of this, you could see Darrell Waltrip really on the verge of crying on air, for his brother winning his first race in his career and the fact that Dale Earnhardt had never left his car after the wreck. That's part of the story.
People asked me why I remember February 18, 2001 so well. I remember that day, age 9, I was home sick from having fun with friends and tuned on FOX 5, our local affiliate to see the running of the Daytona 500, NASCAR's most prized race. I watched all 200 laps and 500 miles. Yet, the feeling that it left me to see Dale Earnhardt had not left the car and was on his way to Halifax Medical Center in Daytona Beach. The thoughts going through my head, although only age 9, were very depressing. Around 5:15 or so, the news telecast broke-in. I was upstairs in my parents room, lying on my parents bed and watching the small TV in their room. I know the telecast had been interrupted and they talked about Dale's death. I couldn't make it through half of the telecast without busting into tears. The loss of Earnhardt was just heartbreaking. My parents had to calm me down, but I had basically melted down on the blankets in tears, it was just that depressing.
Next year, February 18, 2011 will be 10 years since that fateful day. I know its depressing to talk about the events of that day. I haven't seen much into the date of when its to be held, but if I was NASCAR, I would honor him and host the race on February 18, 2011. NASCAR on Fox would have the first Lap 3 moment of silence since the end of the 2001 season. The honor Dale Earnhardt deserves. The TV doesn't do justice. This man was for real. He had sense and I feel he should be honored, despite the fact that he has passed on. He was NASCAR. He was a legend, an idol, a great owner and driver. You could hate him or love him, but he was still Dale Earnhardt.
The question I ask you, the faithful reader, where were you on February 18, 2001, and where will you been on February 18, 2010?
People asked me why I remember February 18, 2001 so well. I remember that day, age 9, I was home sick from having fun with friends and tuned on FOX 5, our local affiliate to see the running of the Daytona 500, NASCAR's most prized race. I watched all 200 laps and 500 miles. Yet, the feeling that it left me to see Dale Earnhardt had not left the car and was on his way to Halifax Medical Center in Daytona Beach. The thoughts going through my head, although only age 9, were very depressing. Around 5:15 or so, the news telecast broke-in. I was upstairs in my parents room, lying on my parents bed and watching the small TV in their room. I know the telecast had been interrupted and they talked about Dale's death. I couldn't make it through half of the telecast without busting into tears. The loss of Earnhardt was just heartbreaking. My parents had to calm me down, but I had basically melted down on the blankets in tears, it was just that depressing.
Next year, February 18, 2011 will be 10 years since that fateful day. I know its depressing to talk about the events of that day. I haven't seen much into the date of when its to be held, but if I was NASCAR, I would honor him and host the race on February 18, 2011. NASCAR on Fox would have the first Lap 3 moment of silence since the end of the 2001 season. The honor Dale Earnhardt deserves. The TV doesn't do justice. This man was for real. He had sense and I feel he should be honored, despite the fact that he has passed on. He was NASCAR. He was a legend, an idol, a great owner and driver. You could hate him or love him, but he was still Dale Earnhardt.
The question I ask you, the faithful reader, where were you on February 18, 2001, and where will you been on February 18, 2010?
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Me to the NJEA: Students are NOT Pawns
-when a group controls the central government, it is considered an oligarchy.
- Jim Gerhart, NJ 101.5 FM radio, Trenton, New Jersey
This is ridiculous. You hear with Governor Chris Christie slashing the overpowered New Jersey Educator's Association, the biggest union in the state, paying ultimate healthcare and thousands of dollars to high-payed administrators in 612 school districts. What's wrong here: 612 school districts vs. 566 registered municipalities. Basically we have more school districts in Jersey than the amount of municipalities the state legislature approved. That is basically a 108% more amount of districts.
Governor Christie has come in to slash the power that the NJEA has in New Jersey, and despite the fact that people oppose and support the plan. The NJEA has sent out ads saying these cuts will cause layoffs, and raise residents property taxes. Hold on a minute...Governor Christie never once said that a result of these cuts residents property taxes will go up. Not once. The NJEA has spread these false rumors in television advertisements and as a resulted, should be cited for false advertising. Not once has the governor said that massive layoffs are necessary. He just wants public workers, especially teachers, to put some more money towards their healthcare, which isn't that hard. My family can hardly afford normal healthcare, yet they complain its a bad thing when they pay more.
I have seen steps in the right direction. A mayor of one municipality in New Jersey slashed his yearly salary to $54,000 (2010 dollars) to support the cuts and the average salary most of his teachers make. A recent report from the Star-Ledger, a local newspaper who is on questionable neutral grounds, said that Bergen and Passaic Counties have over 100 officials paid with six-digit salaries. This I find utterly ridiculous. Bergen County may be the most populous, and Passaic County may think running Paterson and Passaic can be a headache, but it isn't in their right to bribe for more money and six-digit salaries. These are steps in the wrong direction, but I want to cover one important step in the wrong direction.
The day it was announced a Pennington, New Jersey student had formed over 10,000 students in cities such as the largest, Newark, with a population of 273-280,000, to step out of classes in protest to Governor Christie's cuts, using the NJEA talking points, the reception was decisive. News coverage of thousands of Newark students standing outside screaming bloody hell about teacher layoffs in the only municipality that I think deserves 2 or 3 school districts was somewhat left-winged. And yet, I don't believe this was started by a student. I have a feeling the Pennington district asked this to be created and word quickly spread. Unless you're a student so caught up in politics that you're following their beliefs and ACTING like them, there has to be pressure from someone else.
Yesterday afternoon, my sister approached me citing that on several occasions in Highland Park High School, she has been asked to 1) support the NJEA, 2) oppose Chris Christie's cuts, and 3) Boycott NJ 101.5 FM radio station, the one my family listens to most. Politics have no right to be coming into the high school, much less my 15-year old sister being TOLD to do something she does not have to do. The separation of politics and schools has always been law and when obvious one-sided bias is being told upon our students to act in THEIR favor, its obvious that this law and my sister's 1st Amendment rights are being ignored. Have the high school or NJEA no sense of the Constitution? My sister has not once said she supports the NJEA, and 90% of the time, I have heard her oppose their ideas and beliefs. Asking high school students below the age of 18 to sign a petition being sent to NJEA for Christie's stopping. This is a clear-cut violation of her rights as an American under our Constitution to support a one-sided bias.
In reality, you can and probably will take this as a right-wing rant from a person who supports Governor Christie. In reality, I am a Republican, but there are Democratic measures I've supported. The borough I live in is a corrupt disaster filled with high-paid executives and questionable taxes that I never support. Word to the NJEA: STOP CORRUPTING MY SISTER AND ALL STUDENTS AROUND NEW JERSEY. IT IS NOT THEIR PROBLEM.
- Jim Gerhart, NJ 101.5 FM radio, Trenton, New Jersey
This is ridiculous. You hear with Governor Chris Christie slashing the overpowered New Jersey Educator's Association, the biggest union in the state, paying ultimate healthcare and thousands of dollars to high-payed administrators in 612 school districts. What's wrong here: 612 school districts vs. 566 registered municipalities. Basically we have more school districts in Jersey than the amount of municipalities the state legislature approved. That is basically a 108% more amount of districts.
Governor Christie has come in to slash the power that the NJEA has in New Jersey, and despite the fact that people oppose and support the plan. The NJEA has sent out ads saying these cuts will cause layoffs, and raise residents property taxes. Hold on a minute...Governor Christie never once said that a result of these cuts residents property taxes will go up. Not once. The NJEA has spread these false rumors in television advertisements and as a resulted, should be cited for false advertising. Not once has the governor said that massive layoffs are necessary. He just wants public workers, especially teachers, to put some more money towards their healthcare, which isn't that hard. My family can hardly afford normal healthcare, yet they complain its a bad thing when they pay more.
I have seen steps in the right direction. A mayor of one municipality in New Jersey slashed his yearly salary to $54,000 (2010 dollars) to support the cuts and the average salary most of his teachers make. A recent report from the Star-Ledger, a local newspaper who is on questionable neutral grounds, said that Bergen and Passaic Counties have over 100 officials paid with six-digit salaries. This I find utterly ridiculous. Bergen County may be the most populous, and Passaic County may think running Paterson and Passaic can be a headache, but it isn't in their right to bribe for more money and six-digit salaries. These are steps in the wrong direction, but I want to cover one important step in the wrong direction.
The day it was announced a Pennington, New Jersey student had formed over 10,000 students in cities such as the largest, Newark, with a population of 273-280,000, to step out of classes in protest to Governor Christie's cuts, using the NJEA talking points, the reception was decisive. News coverage of thousands of Newark students standing outside screaming bloody hell about teacher layoffs in the only municipality that I think deserves 2 or 3 school districts was somewhat left-winged. And yet, I don't believe this was started by a student. I have a feeling the Pennington district asked this to be created and word quickly spread. Unless you're a student so caught up in politics that you're following their beliefs and ACTING like them, there has to be pressure from someone else.
Yesterday afternoon, my sister approached me citing that on several occasions in Highland Park High School, she has been asked to 1) support the NJEA, 2) oppose Chris Christie's cuts, and 3) Boycott NJ 101.5 FM radio station, the one my family listens to most. Politics have no right to be coming into the high school, much less my 15-year old sister being TOLD to do something she does not have to do. The separation of politics and schools has always been law and when obvious one-sided bias is being told upon our students to act in THEIR favor, its obvious that this law and my sister's 1st Amendment rights are being ignored. Have the high school or NJEA no sense of the Constitution? My sister has not once said she supports the NJEA, and 90% of the time, I have heard her oppose their ideas and beliefs. Asking high school students below the age of 18 to sign a petition being sent to NJEA for Christie's stopping. This is a clear-cut violation of her rights as an American under our Constitution to support a one-sided bias.
In reality, you can and probably will take this as a right-wing rant from a person who supports Governor Christie. In reality, I am a Republican, but there are Democratic measures I've supported. The borough I live in is a corrupt disaster filled with high-paid executives and questionable taxes that I never support. Word to the NJEA: STOP CORRUPTING MY SISTER AND ALL STUDENTS AROUND NEW JERSEY. IT IS NOT THEIR PROBLEM.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Flag stops on New Jersey Transit
Upon New Jersey Transit's budget cuts and subsidy cuts, should NJ Transit look into using Flag Stops as part of service. The picture at the right, the now-closed Great Notch station. (I took the photo so credit is well given.) The station was closed to limited service, despite commuter complaints. Yes, the fact that people don't want to drive the spare mile for the paid parking at Montclair State, but if NJ Transit looked into flag stops on outbound trains, we could actually keep these stations open. Mount Tabor and Delawanna might be good examples of that. If people can think of others, tell me?
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
New Name, New Design, New Beginning
So here we are! Roadgeek's Traveler has gotten a brand new overhaul and I like it. I've renamed the blog after my original apartment in Queens. Over the next posts, I will be reminiscing memories so sit down, grab some popcorn and open your ears. Its a long ride.
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