Shake, rattle and roll

I mentioned in an earlier post the difficulties we had getting to work this morning because Middlesex County, in its infinite wisdom, has decided to resurface a relatively clean section of Route 522. As Annie said, “I’m sure there are plenty of other roads they could be fixing.”

Drive around the county and you’ll see how true this is. Drive around South Brunswick and you’ll find sections of county-owned roads that could use some work. But instead, we get a massive operation on Route 522.

And lest you think I am the only one complaining about this, I received this note today on my Facebook page:

It’s always easy to complain and type out a screed of criticism. Today I missed the opportunity to have a real rage.

Route 522, from New Road to Route 1, was having a face lift. Instead of directing traffic up New Road to Route 1, the police circled the scraper. Results: traffic was backed up almost back to New Road about 10 am. Thank goodness we were going toward Municipal complex!

I assume the County pays for Route 522 resurfacing. But actually we pay for it as taxpayers. Why a road in very good condition should have it’s surface removed and repaved is beyond me?

Last fall I saw preparations for Raymond Road repair being set up. I thought, “At last the bad section going past the tennis courts will be smoothed.” Alas, a length of road NOT needing resurfacing was redone from Douglas to Carter Brook bridge. You still need a seat belt to hold you down when you drive past the tennis courts.

The writer is correct. You could mix a fine martini or a milk shake just by driving along Raymond’s pitted and cracked macadam.

South Brunswick Post, The Cranbury Press
The Blog of South Brunswick

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Runner’s diary, Wednesday

Its been a bad day.
Please dont take a picture
Its been a bad day.
Please
— R.E.M.

It has been one of those mornings. The dog got me up at 5:45 to let her out — well before I was ready to get up. So I went back to sleep, figuring on waking at about 7. Of course, that didn’t happen. At 8:20 Annie jumped out of bed, waking me up and beginning the mad rush of the morning.

On the way to Dow Jones, we ran into a detour, which delayed us further, meaning I didn’t get to the gym until about 9:45 and didn’t start my run until 10. I did three miles in 26:51 on a pair of sore ankles/achilles (Music: Jesse Malin, Glitter in the Gutter) then rushed to the office.

Then, once here, I learn that the space alottment for our pages is — to put it kindly — a royal mess and I’ll need to have the entire thing reconstructed.

So, to sum up: The best thing about the day so far was my run, even though I’ve got bad wheels (I think it may have to do with the work boots I’ve been wearing to cut the lawn).

South Brunswick Post, The Cranbury Press
The Blog of South Brunswick

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Status quo holds — so far

The Times is calling tonight’s results, which likely will result in a massive win for Barack Obama in North Carolina and a narrow win — if it holds — in Indiana for Hillary Clinton.

This seems an overstatement of Clinton’s night, given that before Pennsylvania, before the Rev. Wright and ‘bittergate” and all that, the pundits were predicting a big win for Obama in N.C. and a narrow win in Indiana for Clinton. Call it a draw, but Obama picks up the numbers — both in terms of delegates and popular vote — as well as winning the big state.

The thing I find striking is that the results in Pennsylvania, Indiana and North Carolina are exactly the results every predicted after Super Tuesday — no changes, no alteration, only a constant editing of the campaign narrative by the press and the candidates.

It is not over, but it does appear that Barack Obama will be the Democratic nominee and will face John McCain in the fall.

South Brunswick Post, The Cranbury Press
The Blog of South Brunswick

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Tuesday Top 10: Hip-hop hurray!

I’ve decided to bring back the Tuesday Top 10 — a not-necessarily definitive list reflective of my interests, tastes and biases. To start, I’ll offer my favorite hip-hop artists, with the caveat that I am by no means a rap afficionado or expert. These are not the greatest rappers or most influential artists — though some would fall on that list. They are just the ones I dig.

  1. Public Enemy
  2. Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five
  3. The Beastie Boys
  4. Run DMC
  5. The Roots
  6. Third Bass
  7. A Tribe Called Quest
  8. Cypress Hill
  9. De La Soul
  10. Arrested Development

Runners up: , Missy Elliot, PM Dawn, Heavy D, Dr. Dre, The Fugees, Ice-T, Outkast, Wu-Tang, KRS-One, Neneh Cherry

Anyone else have any favorites I missed?

South Brunswick Post, The Cranbury Press
The Blog of South Brunswick

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