Like millions of Jerseyeans, I was caught flatfooted, initially by the late afternoon rumors that the Governor’s resignation was imminent, and later by the actual resignation and his stated reasons for doing so (being gay and having had a consensual homosexual affair).

The initial reactions were predictable. There were the expressions of sympathy and support for the governor and his family for his having to make such a public announcement. That was followed by the statements of gay rights advocates, who were happy that the governor came out, but who were saddened that his sexual preference resulted in his leaving office.

I, for one, am glad to see him go, not because he is gay (I really don’t care about his sexual preference), but rather because he was and is a very bad governor.

Everyone should take a breath before we conclude that the governor’s resignation was solely an “intensely personal matter,” the announcement of which necessitated the first openly gay governor’s resignation, lest he (and we) be tortured by swarms of homophobes. No way. In the days and weeks ahead, we will see more of what is really going on here, none of which is terribly surprising, given the administration’s performance over the last couple years.

More specifically, we shall see that the governor had appointed Golan Cipel, his significant other, who is an Israeli poet and PR guy, and who could not get a US security clearance, to serve as his special counsel for Homeland Security at $110,000 per year. Homeland security, for Chrissake! And, when Cipel could not get a security clearance, and the FBI refused to share sensitive information with him, he stepped down, but retained his special counsel title, salary and a staff of there people.

Now we learn from DynamoBuzz that Cipel currently works for Charles Kushner. You remember him. He’s the McGreevey friend who arranged for a prostitute to have surreptitiously videotaped sex with a potential witnesses against him and then forwarded the tape to the patsy’s wife (Kushner’s sister)!.

In addition, the effective date of McGreevey’s resignation shows that it was not the selfless and apolitical act that he would have us believe. His resignation is not effective until November 15th, which will deprive the citizens of New Jersey of the opportunity to elect a new governor on November 2nd. McGreevey’s timing of the effective date of his resignation ensures that Richard Codey, the democrat president of the state senate, will occupy the governor’s office until 2006, a time when Codey can run as an incumbent, or he can step aside for now-Senator John Corzine to run for governor. Remember, these are the same folks who engineered the Torricelli – Frank Lautenberg switcheroo.

Keep an eye on this one. It will be a wild ride.

Update 8/13/04: The Editorial in the Star Ledger, New Jersey’s largest newspaper, questions the timing of McGreevey’s announcement, as well as the timing of the effective date of his regisnation.

Today was “Bulk Pickup Day” in our town. That is the one day per month that residents are permitted to drag their “bulk” items to the curb to be picked by the town’s waste contractors (cue the Soprano’s theme) or the Scavengers (see below), depending on who gets there first.

While the definition of the term “bulk” for purposes of “Bulk Pickup Day” lacks a certain degree of precision, I think it can roughly be defined as stuff (often large stuff, hence the choice of the term “bulk”) that doesn’t qualify as what we would customarily think of as common, everyday household trash (e.g. your chicken bones, ashtray dumpings or banana peels), or “recyclables” (e.g. your paper, cardboard, glass, plastics and aluminum). Although some things seem to elude easy categorization (venetian blinds come to mind), as is the case with pornography, most folks know Bulk Waste when they see it.

In some states, and, oddly enough, even in parts of this state, “Bulk Waste” sometimes finishes out its life serving as lawn ornaments (cue the banjo player), albeit rusty and not particularly attractive (e.g. your old washing machine and refrigerators). However, in my town, I am happy to say that such things are hauled away and taken to God knows where.

I like Bulk Days not only because they prevent Maytags from becoming bird feeders, but also because, on my morning walks on Bulk Day, I can take a look at what kinds of things people are prepared to permanently part with for no money. (Some people hold garage sales to try to make a few bucks on things just prior to their reaching “Bulkdom” status, but that’s a story for another day).

Looking at the various curbside assemblages of castoff stuff may sound like something born of simple nosiness, but really it isn’t. I think about the bulk things more than I do about the prior owners. In fact, I don’t bother to connect any curbside array to its creator. I look at these piles ‘o stuff as an interesting peek into the Zeitgeist.

Here are some of the things I recall from this morning’s walk:

Furniture. Lots of people throw out furniture, but from what I see, they only throw out really, really, raggedy, worn out furniture. My guess is that each piece of furniture that has found its way to the curb has seen years of service by its original owner and then got several more years’ duty either in the basement of the original purchaser or in the house or apartment a friend or relative, who, but for such handoffs, would have no furniture. Thus, in general, by the time furniture becomes “Bulk Waste,” it really looks like crap.

Computers and Computer Stuff. Seeing so much computer stuff being tossed is a fairly recent phenomenon. I suppose it takes several years and a few computers for the typical original purchasers of these things to realize that the Compaq 286 that you bought a dozen years ago (even though it would still work if you plugged it in) is about as useless as a buggy whip today. It is too big to be a paperweight and its shape prevents its use as a hat rack. I have two generations of computers n my basement. I think it’s time for the curb.

Exercise Equipment. Today someone was tossing an inexpensive looking exercise bike. I figured that the wear and tear on the thing probably was from serving as a place to hang laundry. Nobody really interested in exercising buys cheapo exercise bikes like that.

A Fairly Serviceable Golf Bag. I saw this and immediately wondered about the golf bag back-story. I figure that the owner must have gotten lucky and won a new golf bag at a golf outing, and his wife bitched when he wanted to keep his old golf bag and his new golf bag. I can hear her now. “Why the hell do you need two damned golf bags?” The poor bastard. I hope he had more sense than to counter with “Yeah, so why do you need two-dozen purses?” Yeah, that’s gotta be it.

Appliances. Televisions made their appearance at curbside before computers, and it happened around the time when one could buy a new TV for what it would cost to get the old one fixed. These usually appear on the first Bulk Day following the “Cardboard Recycling Day,” when the box for the new TV appears. (Yeah, I look at people’s cardboard too. More Blogfodder.)

Bulk Day Scavengers.

As I mentioned, the town is responsible for picking up Bulk Stuff, but scavenging has become a cottage industry. There are scores of people who begin prowling the streets the night before Bulk Day to see if anyone is throwing away something that they can use, or someone else could use, either by giving it to them or selling it to them.

Some things that the scavengers take are quite predictable and, in fact, probably really are useful or valuable to someone other than the person who tossed the stuff. For example, furniture that is not a complete wreck disappears fast. Once I put out a perfectly good desk (no scratches) and chair (nobody I knew needed it, nor was I about to go through the aggravation of trying to sell it), and it was gone five minutes after I put it out.

By contrast, some things that the scavengers take surprise me. Once, the day before a Bulk Day, my friend (Ken, the Anal Retentive Cruise Director) helped me take apart an aluminum backyard shed. Ken, being anal and all, insisted that we tie up the big pieces of twisted and bent aluminum in bundles. The bundles took up about 25 feet of curb space. They were gone in less than an hour – the day before Bulk Day. I wondered whether the stuff was valuable enough for someone to go to the trouble of picking it up, hauling it around and then selling it. I assume so.

Then there was the time I tossed a box of miscellaneous old band equipment hardware. In the box of junk was one brush – not a hairbrush, but a metal brush with the rubber handle that drummers use to play some slow tunes. Someone stopped the car, looked through the box and took the brush. Go figure.

Perhaps you are thinking, “Yo, Jimbo. You’re looking at people’s garbage. Get your shit together!”

To that, I reply, “Yeah? Yo mama!”

Yesterday, Fausta of The Bad Hair Blog linked to an article about a recent poll showing that Senator Kerry is considerably ahead of President Bush in the Garden State. Today, the Star Ledger reports that, since 2002 (the year Governor McGreevey took office), New Jersey has the dubious distinction of having a per capita tax increase larger than that of any state except for New York.

Will the large tax increase matter in November? Will the amply documented corruption at the highest levels of state government matter in November? I hope so, but I doubt it. After all, this is the state that has made corruption a fine art, and this is the state thathas elected people like Robert Torricelli, Frank Lautenberg, and John Corzine. This is also the state that went for Bill Clinton, big time.

It’s depressing as hell.

The wedding was great. The bride was seriously beautiful. The groom was very handsome. The priest was very Irish. The reception was terrific, the food was good and the drinks were plentiful…very plentiful.

Of course, when someone at the wedding said, “Hey, when we get back to the hotel, let’s all meet at the bar,” you just know who stepped right to the front of the line. All of that has left me extremely tired and more than just a little toxic. I’m going to spend the balance of the evening re-hydrating and renewing my friendship with Mr. Recliner. I think it missed me.

Well, not really, as I will be attending the nuptials of a family member. Probably see ya some time on Sunday.

Although I had gotten a few hints that it might be coming, today I see that my friend Craig at mtpolics is bagging it taking a blogging hiatus. I truly hope that he only needs a battery recharge and that he will back sooner rather than later.

As I have said before here, here, here, here, and here, Craig is, quite simply, the nicest guy in the blogosphere.

I owe him a truckload of beer for all the acts of kindness he has shown me, and I only hope I get the chance to deliver the suds.

Take it easy, buddy. You have my e-mail address. Please use it often.

Oh, and one more thing. If you decide to shut the server down, please gimme enough time to write one more post about my great farookin’ hair before you flip the switch. 🙂

I am a huge fan of Jeff Goldstein’s Protein Wisdom. I read it every day, and I continue to marvel at Jeff’s seemingly boundless creativity. In truth, I sometimes suspect that he has some really gnarly snakes crawling around in his head, but I wish I knew where I could buy some just like them for my cruller.

One thing that never ceases to catch my interest is his uncanny ability to carry on a conversation with inanimate objects (or, at least, I had always thought they were inanimate objects). For example, he has had conversations with a McIntosh Apple and with his Levis.

Well, because, as they say, “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery,” and also because I have often wanted to talk to my pants, I decided to give it a try.

Me: “Yo! Dockers! Hayadooin’?”

Dockers:

Me: “Perhaps you didn’t hear me. I said ‘hello’.”

Dockers:

Me: “So, what are your thoughts on the upcoming election? Kerry? Bush? What?”

Dockers:

Me: “What’s up? Have you signed some kind of exclusive deal with that Jeff guy?”

Dockers:

Me: “Bastard! I hope you’re around for my next beer fart.”

I guess I just don’t pack the gear.

A conservative living in Berkeley (talk about tough duty), MMM left the blogosphere about a year ago.

Now, he’s back.

Excellent.

Thanks to Russ at TacJammer for the heads up.

I have been e-mailing with a good friend who is considering buying a new electric guitar. As a result, I have been thinking a bit more about electric guitars than I usually do. That caused me to pay particular attention to a post I saw over at J-Walk Blog about Afri-Can guitars. These are electric guitars, the bodies of which are not made of wood, but rather they are made from oilcans.

At first, I considered that such an “instrument” was either a gag or a gimmick not to be taken seriously. However, after checking out the Afri-Can Guitars site, I am convinced that these things are the real deal. What sealed it for me was a cyber-trip to the Listening Room to hear these instruments in action. In one sound clip, the player ends the riff with a couple harmonics that are really sweet. The blues also sound great.

From an oilcan??? Who knew?

Imagine a wonderful dinner party with friends or family – perhaps even a holiday dinner, complete with all the trimmings. Imagine how you will delight your guests when, for dessert, you serve a Thorax Cake. The baker’s goal was to create an authentic looking thoracic cavity, containing all the parts as shown in Gray’s Anatomy. In addition, “The plan was for each organ to be made out of a different kind of cake and to secrete a different color of fluid when it was cut into.”

Check out the Thorax Cake here, and don’t miss the following two pages that detail its creation.

And, if that doesn’t float your boat, the site owner and baker, also has created a Zombie Cake. I know of a fellow in Colorado who might be interested in commissioning one of these babies.

Emeril, eat your heart, lungs, liver, spleen, kidneys and digestive tract out.

Via The Presurfer.