Yeah, it’s …. like … really cool having a blog.

I think that’s true.

But, have you ever found yourself envying those who go home after work without a thought in the world such as, ”What the hell can I write about tonight?”

Blogging can be like a constant scab needing to be picked.

That is all.

A recent study by the Department of Transportation estimates that New Jersey’s bridges need $13.6 BILLION in repairs. Yes that’s a “B” for billion.

Of course the state’s transportation fund is broke, thanks to its having been raided by state politicians for other things.

Let’s add to that the $56 BILLION in unfunded pension liabilities the state faces.

Oh, wait. We still have to add in the $58 BILLION in liability for unfunded medical benefits for current and future state employees.

Let’s do the arithmetic. 13.6 + 56 + 58 = $127.6 BILLION DOLLARS that the state, which is already in dire financial straits, will have to pony up.

Just imagine running a business in this fashion.

Ladies and Gentlemen of both parties: What will it take to convince you that it is time to vote every single elected state senator and representative out of office? Every goddamned one of them.

I can hear it now.

“Yo, Jimbo, yet another vodka review? You pick weird, clear booze off the shelf and tell us how great it is. We’re beginning to think you would give gutter water a good review.”

It is true that I have written before about several kinds of vodka such as:

Three Olives Chocolate Vodka;
Three Olives Vanilla Vodka;
Finlandia Mango Infusion Vodka;
Thor’s Hammer Vodka;
Iceberg Vodka; and
Pearl Vodka (I may have missed one or two).

But, a week or so ago, I bought a bottle of Stolichnaya Zinamon (Cinnamon) vodka. I figured, what the hell. Who doesn’t like cinnamon? I brought it home and put it in the freezer for an hour or so. I then poured the ice cold liquor over ice (clear, of course) anticipating a genuine taste treat for an evening cocktail on the deck.

With eager anticipation, I took a long pull on the freezing, crystal clear evening elixir.

ACK! In my mind, there I was, seven years old and sitting in the dentist chair.

The stuff tastes like this.

I cannot recommend this one, unless you wish to combine the exquisite pleasure of an after-work cocktail with a bracing pie hole full of mouthwash.

Of course, over the course of several days, I managed to choke down the contents of the bottle (one doesn’t waste vodka), but I won’t be buying it again. Interestingly, Wikipedia states that Stoli Zinamon is no longer sold in the U.S. Apparently, my liquor store didn’t get the memo.

Bonus information: If you go to the Stolichnaya web site and watch the very very, very Russian ad, you will learn that the booze is not pronounced “Stol-itch-NAY-a,” but rather “Stol-ITCH-naya.” Interestingski.

The Mets’ end-of-season collapse really doesn’t even nudge my Give-a-Shit Meter, except that I would like to have seen the Yankees kick their asses in the Series.

Too nice outside to blog.

That is all.

The following is a collection of expressions that one hears with great regularity in Jersey. Indeed, some are unique to Jersey. I have previously written about Jerseyspeak here, here, and here. Obviously, it is one of my favorite subjects.

Without further ado, here ya go:

1. “How’s da Parkway?” (a traffic inquiry)

2. “How’s da Turnpike?” (another traffic inquiry)

3. “Gimme a Taylor Ham and cheese on a hard roll.” (ordering a staple)

4. “Gimme a slice and a coke.” (ordering pizza, another staple accompanied by a cola beverage)

5. “Gimme a meatball parm.” (ordering a meatball sandwich with melted mozzarella cheese on an Italian torpedo-shaped roll)

6. “Yo!” (Can mean: hello, hey, excuse me, I’m over here, Yeah, I’m talkin’ ta you!)

7. “Yo, Asshole!” (Used often and in countless circumstances)

8. “Aaaaaaaay! Oooooooh!”

9. “Yo, Asshole! Dis ain’t New York/Pennsylvania/Florida/Ohio! Move da f**k ovah ta da right!”

10. “Friggin’ Giants!”

11. “Friggin’ Jets!”

12. “Friggin’ Yankees!”

13. “Friggin’ Mets!”

14. “Gimme a buttered roll and a regular coffee.” (ordering the Breakfast of Champions, a hard roll – known in some non-Jersey places as a Kaiser roll, with butter and a cup of coffee with milk and sugar. I prefer coffee free of adulterants).

15. “I gotta pay tax on what??”

16. “Don’t worry. I kin getchya a job. My cousin is the _____________.” (fill in the political title).

17. “I hear he’s locked up. I voted for him. Good guy.”

18. “Sinatra” (Said with bowed head in reverence)

19. “Enchilada? What da f**k is dat?”

20. “California? You gotta be shittin’ me!”

21. “Gimme a ripper.” (Ordering a well done hot dog at the famous Rutt’s Hutt – a ripper is pictured at the site)

22. “Real cheap! It fell off da truck.” (Sale on stolen merchandise!)

23. “I’m goin’ ta A.C. for a couple a days. I got comps.” (Translation: “I will be spending two days in Atlantic City. The hotel has provided a free room and free food.”)

24. “When’s da bus ta A.C.?” (Translation: “When is the bus to Atlantic City due to arrive?”)

25. “Da guy’s a stroonz!” (Translation: “The gentleman is not very bright.”) [Stronzo — is Italian for “turd.”]

The Mayor of Guttenberg, New Jersey, David Delle Donna, and his wife were charged in a federal indictment with diverting cash campaign contributions made by a developer, a town fire official and a bar owner for his personal use. The indictment also charges extortion of cash from the bar owner for assistance with police trouble, and assistance with a zoning matter (the Mayor’s wife is on the Planning Board). (See also here and here)

The indictment followed an FBI investigation that included a January raid on the Delle Donna’s home, which resulted in the seizure of a computer and documents.

When Mayor Delle Donna is not performing his Mayoral duties (a part time job that pays $6,700 per year) in the Hudson County town, he is the coordinator for maintenance at the Hudson County Schools of Technology in North Bergen (another Hudson County Town).

Located directly across the Hudson River from Manhattan, Guttenberg is only four blocks wide and eleven blocks long, with a population between 10,000 and 11,000.

Even though it is a teeny town (most people live in a few high rise buildings), corruption is nothing new to Guttenberg:

In 2003, the former mayor, Peter LaVilla, pleaded guilty to misappropriating campaign funds and using the money for a private brokerage account after an investigation by the United States attorney’s office. In 2002, a councilman accused of receiving illegal advances on his salary resigned, although he was never formally charged. The same year, the town’s chief financial officer pleaded guilty to misappropriation of funds.

Only blind, stupid arrogance and a sense of invincibility can account for this type of crap.

Then again, it is, after all, Hudson County, a place where corruption is an art form.

The Delle Donnas are democrats. Hey, it’s Hudson County.

Nice going, Guttenberg voters.

Res Ipsa Loquitur was one of the first sites on my blogroll, and I have been a regular reader for more than four years. Rita, the blog proprietress and self-described hillbilly lawyer from Arkansas, lost her grandmother and her mother last week.

That is a one helluva broadside.

You might want to pay a visit and leave a kind word or two.

I have written for years now about the cesspool of corruption in New Jersey state government, which has made this state a national joke. The rampant corruption has not gone unnoticed by New Jersey’s voters. In fact, a recent Quinnipiac University poll showed that 88 percent of the state’s voters believe government corruption in New Jersey is a “serious problem.” What’s more, a large majority of voters (a 38-24 percent margin) associated corruption with the Democratic Party.

Given the foregoing data, one might logically assume that the New Jersey’s voters who believe that corruption is a serious problem and that it is associated with democrats would be want to vote them out of office this coming November.

The problem is that New Jersey voters are anything but logical.

The poll showed that “54 percent [of those polled] said they are not more likely to vote for a Republican; 48 percent said they’d rather see the Democrats maintain control of the Legislature.”

For some time, New Jersey has been vying with Louisiana for the title of the Most Corrupt State in the Union, and we are getting close. I do believe, however, that we are now tied with Louisiana for having the dumbest goddamned voters in the U.S.

That’s the message sent to the Marine Corps from Stefanie Coyote, the San Francisco Film Commission’s Executive Director in denying the Marine Corps’ request for permission to film the Marine Corps’ Silent Drill Team as part of a recruiting ad on the anniversary of 9/11. Ms. Coyote reportedly stated that the film could be made as long as are “no Marines in the picture.”

Memo to Ms. Coyote and those San Franciscans of like mind: In the event something horrible were to happen in or near San Francisco that would require the assistance of the U.S. Marine Corps or any other branch of the military, you needn’t worry that the military will hold this against you. No, they would do their duty, because they are men and women with a sense of duty, honor and country, a concept, which appears to be foreign to you.

This is OK on San Francisco’s Streets

This is not.

via Moonbattery