Tuesday, November 04, 2003
Notes from a rainy autumn evening:
At first I thought something had gone terribly wrong with my vision, had
to stop to wipe off my glasses, but yes, some of the police cars in Rahway
are sporting pink & pale blue roof flashers, the effect less one of an
emergency than of a super size 4th of July sparkler. Very chic.
Demented old man digging through large garbage dumpster at Dunkin' Donuts, he's been around before. An angry madness. "Fuck off!" he shouts at no one in particular. He's especially pissed off tonight because the bin is nearly empty. The donuts in the large, green plastic bags are perfectly all right - they get thrown out twice a day - although I wouldn't chance the ones with cream fillings. Sparrows & starlings in the vicinity are especially plump - perch on a wire above the dumpster, take turns fluttering down to a broken bag, very little in the way of argument or power display, plenty for all. Anyway, the demented old man isn't having much luck. An SUV pulls into the lot, halogen headlights square on his back, he turns, squints & yells, "You let my brother die," then stalks off, up St. George's Ave. across from the dark graveyard.
Barely made it to vote tonight. No local races of interest, mainly I wanted to vote on the ballot questions. I'm against "same day voter registration." The potential for abuse is large. Besides, it's absurdly easy to register, at any time of the year, at the library, post office, social service agencies, senior centers, just about every outdoor special event. Don't even need a postage stamp. If ignorance of the process is your excuse for not registering before Election Day, then I'd rather you didn't vote just because some Party street hustler harangues you with doom & gloom misinformation, hands you a flyer, a form & a ballpoint, then offers you a ride to the polls & the refreshing non-alcoholic beverage of your choice.
Democrats took firm control of the Jersey State Senate & retained
the assembly. Ellen Karcher, daughter of the late Alan Karcher - a
politician of liberal & independent mind I admired - defeated
John Bennett, the Senate President. It's a great opportunity for Gov. Jim
McGreevey to move his agenda - if he indeed does have an agenda. He
has to prove he is a consensus builder, can resist special interests, &
is a good judge of character, none of which have been much evident during
the past two years.
On NYPD Blue, the lovely Detective Connie is pregnant; "I'm happier than I've ever been in my life," deadpanned Detective Andy.
"If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be." Thomas Jefferson
to stop to wipe off my glasses, but yes, some of the police cars in Rahway
are sporting pink & pale blue roof flashers, the effect less one of an
emergency than of a super size 4th of July sparkler. Very chic.
Demented old man digging through large garbage dumpster at Dunkin' Donuts, he's been around before. An angry madness. "Fuck off!" he shouts at no one in particular. He's especially pissed off tonight because the bin is nearly empty. The donuts in the large, green plastic bags are perfectly all right - they get thrown out twice a day - although I wouldn't chance the ones with cream fillings. Sparrows & starlings in the vicinity are especially plump - perch on a wire above the dumpster, take turns fluttering down to a broken bag, very little in the way of argument or power display, plenty for all. Anyway, the demented old man isn't having much luck. An SUV pulls into the lot, halogen headlights square on his back, he turns, squints & yells, "You let my brother die," then stalks off, up St. George's Ave. across from the dark graveyard.
Barely made it to vote tonight. No local races of interest, mainly I wanted to vote on the ballot questions. I'm against "same day voter registration." The potential for abuse is large. Besides, it's absurdly easy to register, at any time of the year, at the library, post office, social service agencies, senior centers, just about every outdoor special event. Don't even need a postage stamp. If ignorance of the process is your excuse for not registering before Election Day, then I'd rather you didn't vote just because some Party street hustler harangues you with doom & gloom misinformation, hands you a flyer, a form & a ballpoint, then offers you a ride to the polls & the refreshing non-alcoholic beverage of your choice.
Democrats took firm control of the Jersey State Senate & retained
the assembly. Ellen Karcher, daughter of the late Alan Karcher - a
politician of liberal & independent mind I admired - defeated
John Bennett, the Senate President. It's a great opportunity for Gov. Jim
McGreevey to move his agenda - if he indeed does have an agenda. He
has to prove he is a consensus builder, can resist special interests, &
is a good judge of character, none of which have been much evident during
the past two years.
On NYPD Blue, the lovely Detective Connie is pregnant; "I'm happier than I've ever been in my life," deadpanned Detective Andy.
