Aug 27th

Well, August is winding down. It is 5:30 and I hear the nice sound of crickets. Work is going a bit better, I got a biospy done 2 days ago and payday is tomorrow. I got a ride home from my Step-Daughter who happened to be in town. Man, what a relief, I had just missed the 6:30 bus getting home as well.

Congress is still on its month-long vacation, health-care reform is in limbo while we hear that Ted Kennedy just died. He was a champion of health-care reform.

I was on the internet and saw this sign. Its pretty funny and it reflects how I feel at work somedays.

This Past Week

Well, I just had to mellow out after last week with its death panels for Grandma and paper shortages/system problems at work. I was one frustrated amigo for sure. 3rd Friday went pretty well. Bob White and others (including a former RRCA Board member) paid a visit. We had to take our sign that was on the corner of High and Pine Streets. (So did the Psychic as well). I will have to ask about the ordnance and when the sign can come up etc this week. Going to the dermatologist tomorrow at Penn in Philly. They are going to check on a small growth on my temple. Its barely noticeable but the doctor thought it should be checked out.I paid a visit to see 3 old friends in Baltimore for dinner. Steve cooked up some tasty chicken and homemade sherbet (not sure that is the correct word). This past Sunday we went to a park in Vineland (near the intersection of Lincoln and Chestnut Sts) and celebrated our neighbor's child's birthday. The beans and chicken were very tasty as well. Went to Carolyne's Yoga class with our dog June. Its very good for my tight muscles.
I am getting pretty good business in my dog walking and being my friend's agent. Its good to have extra spending money these days. Man, It was so HUMID, it was gross.
In the outside world, the Phillies are doing well They are up 7 games at this time. The Eagles signed Michael Vick and the uproar began. I mean he has a drink and THAT makes the (Phila Daily)News??
The state budget impasse continues on but at least I am gettting paid. Its still hot outside and I am very tired.

Let's Go to a Town Hall Meeting!!

I woke up to a comment from my brother on Facebook. Its GREAT

Hey let's all go to a townhall meeting, all filled with nonsense we've heard on AM radio, and scream at a member of Congress. " DO NOTHING AND DO IT NOW!!! WE LOVE BEING RIPPED OFF BY HMO'S AND PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES!!" Makes me want to smack someone with a solid oak death panel.

I mean lets get real people. NPR had a man who said that the reaction at these townhall meeting is anxiety from poor whites (legit) mixed with folks like Glen Beck, Sean Hannity Rush Linbaugh and element of the Republican party EXPLOITING this. Of course NPR has to be rational like good liberals. Hell, this not about being rational, its smashmouth politics you wimps. Its about time for Obama to cut though the crap and not act like a wimp and just taking it like a abuse victum.

Chris Christie. Above Reproch??

Chris Christie is running for Governor on a reputation for busting corrupt public officials. I for one applaud these efforts. Behind this squeaky-clean image that he has marketed well so far, is something else.
In today's Philadelphia Inquirer, the editors discuss the partisan firing of US attorneys pushed by Carl Rove and Mr. Christie is part of the article. Read for yourself:

U.S. attorneys were loyal to Bush. Chris Christie, the Republican nominee for governor of New Jersey, was listed as “loyal” in 2005 but ended up in 2006 on a list of prosecutors who could be terminated.

Later that year, Christie was involved in an incident that seemed uncharacteristic of his apolitical reputation. His office leaked word of a probe of Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Bob Menéndez concerning the rental of a building, two months before the election. Menéndez won; no charges were ever brought.

Rove acknowledged that he counseled Christie about running for governor about two years before Christie resigned his post. U.S. attorneys are prohibited from engaging in politics.

“I talked to him … regarding his interest in running for governor, and he asked me questions about who — who were good people that knew about running for governor that he could talk to,” Rove testified.

It’s not shocking that Christie would discuss career options while he was still a prosecutor. But in the context of Rove’s meddling, it creates the perception that Christie may have been subjected to partisan influences. The Justice Department’s probe and the congressional investigation should pursue these questions wherever they lead. Trying to bend law enforcement toward partisan goals should never be tolerated

Dog Days of August!

Ok I will dispense of the 2 big stories today. First off Les Paul died today. My friend Pat encouraged me to check him out twice in NYC Its cool to see check him out twice in a legend who can really play. Next the Eagles signed Michael Vick. As a pet owner I just watched the 11pm news agape and I know others were too. It was the TOP STORY channel 3 in Philly. I am guessing I will get used of having him on the team if it makes the team better. What we need 4 quarterbacks?? Our future Kevin Kob is going to be 3rd string I suppose. Reading this story will make the ride to work quicker for sure. As for me, work was very busy, I got to see my mother and did plenty of walking.
As for Millville theArts District Façade Program is going to expand and they are looking for UEZ money for a 2nd Street Sweeper. This is good news for sure and Its Friday AM and got to sleep now. Health Care will have to wait as I ride in the bus.

Its the Dog Days of August in many ways this year...

Planning Board and Union Lake Development

The planning board voted to approve rezoning 85 acres of a 400-acre plot owned by Wawa Inc. near Union Lake This 85 acres could potentially become the new home of an access road required to continue the construction of a pair of hotels next to the land under the owners of the nearby Union Lake Crossing shopping center.
The Board allowed comments on this matter even though as the board attorney reminded everyone at least twice that this was not an official public hearing.
The city led by Dr. Kim Ayers plans a "phased development strategy for the 400 acre WAWA property. The first phase approved last night is the 85 acres and the next phase is the remaining 300 plus acres.
There were many speakers. The one speaker had a new idea I have never heard before. It was to place a “moratorium” on development of the remaining 300 acres. The board attorney Mr. Mitch Daniels seemed intrigued by this idea. I think this might be a good first step to calm the fears of the nearby neighbors if it indeed is a workable idea.
Steve Durst spoke strongly in favor of this project and stated that the Planning Board does not need to use leverage since that is not the way business is done today.
Most speakers expressed concern for the future of the 300 acres. They came to the meeting worried that the WAWA plan was going to be the future of the 300 acres. One person referred this plan as WawaLand. They told me that it would discourage people from visiting the Arts District. That on its own gives me pause for sure.
Matt Blake of the American Littoral Society's Delaware bay Program spoke and urged the board to hold off approval of the 85 Acres.
Fred Jacob who had represented the immediate neighbors urged the city to change the Lakeshore Conservation zoning area to be changed or the city will have no leverage to change any proposal to develop land in this area.
This plan will change as time goes on but folks will have to pay attention and have their say.

A Fine Sunday in August

It was a good day of rest. Got up at 10:45 which is a great feeling and then had breakfast and did blogging, email and facebook. I got into some good discussions about health care reform. Next did some stuff aound the house. Took a break and went to the Artists Consortium and saw Jenny and Isabelle. We both cooked up a great meal of Kale and veggies and a pot of rice beans and Indian spices, Later, a Thunderstorm rolled though Millville and cooled things off a bit. This week we are visiting my Mother and I am planning to go to the planning board meeting tomorrow. At some point will have a rug cleaned of pet smell as well.