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.

Runner’s diary, Tuesday

We are almost through the holidays, so I a more consistent running schedule is in sight. that said, I did get on the treadmill today, running three miles in 25:54 (8:50/8:30/8:34; average pace of 8:38). I tried to push a little at the top end — to get some time in at 8 mph — but I just didn’t have it in me.

I will try to get on the treadmill tomorrow, but tomorrow is still a day away. In any case, I failed miserably to meet my goal of 900 miles for the year (no idea how many I did run and I really don’t care). The question now is whether I should set a goal for 2009 or leave it unstated and hope for the best. I am leaning toward the following: 800 miles for the year and getting my weight back down into the low 180s.

iPod: Gaslight Anthem, The ’59 Sound

Rt. 1 bottleneck blues (Reprise)

I received a reminder today, driving from Quaker Bridge Mall to the Stop & Shop in Franklin Park, just how badly the South Brunswick section of the highway needs to widened. It was smooth sailing heading north through West Windsor and Plainsboro — until we hit the South Brunswick border, where volume became heavy. It's no accident, of course, that it is the spot at which three lanes narrows to two. Common sense should tell the state widening is required.

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Sent from my Verizon Wireless LGVX9900 device.

State of economic decline

The projections are not exactly good for the next year — with the economy is likely to continue its downward spiral. As Rutgers professors James W. Hughes and Joseph J. Seneca point out, “2009 will be a difficult and dangerous year for New Jersey, reflecting the old adage that economic wild parties are often followed by prolonged economic hangovers.”

“The driving forces now affecting New Jersey,” Hughes and Seneca say, “are very powerful negative global and national economic tides.”

It will be very difficult for state government policies to substantially deflect them. Only massive federal intervention can stabilize the situation.

The chances of turning things around, however, appear out of the state’s hands, which could mean that this year’s gubernatorial election may turn on issues that neither Gov. Jon Corzine or state legislators of both parties have much control over.

This countdown is taking too long

There 23 days left in the disastrous Bush administration — and end that cannot come soon enough.

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