Author: hankkalet

Hank Kalet is a poet and freelance journalist. He is the economic needs reporter for NJ Spotlight, teaches journalism at Rutgers University and writing at Middlesex County College and Brookdale Community College. He writes a semi-monthly column for the Progressive Populist. He is a lifelong fan of the New York Mets and New York Knicks, drinks too much coffee and attends as many Bruce Springsteen concerts as his meager finances will allow. He lives in South Brunswick with his wife Annie.

Heading to the beach

Rosie's asleep on the floor — I hate to wake her so we can go to the beach. It's not swimming weather, but the sun is up, I have a good book (Nixonland by Rick Perlstein) and two 20-foot leashes so the dogs can head into the ocean without us joining them in the chilly water.

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A conspiracy of neglect and self-deception

Today’s tax-revenue report is just another example of how New Jersey is being hammered by the perfect budgetary storm — years of neglect and/or deception, selfishness on the part of Trenton politicians, contractors and taxpayers, a lack of leadership in the Statehouse from governors of both parties and a national economic meltdown — leaving in an ever-expanding hole.

It would be easy to blame the current governor, but this goes well beyond anything Jon Corzine has done or not done in his nearly four years in office. And it is something that will require some difficult choices as we go forward, regardless of who may win the gubernatorial race in November.

State of mind

I play a little game with myself when I go on lomg car rides to keep my mind occupied and on the road, a sort-of bingo with car license plates. I don't know when I started doing this, but it's been a long while.

On the way down, I played again, finding the following: Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Virginia, Delaware, Maryland, North and South Carolina, West Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia, Florida, DC and Washington.

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Puppies on vacation

Finally, the sun is out and we're out and about with the puppies. I think they were getting a bit stir crazy.

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End of days?

This is scary — seven omens predicting the end of the world! What are we to do? I'm glad we decided to take this vacation.

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