For the 2005 Archive, please Click Here.
 
 

December 20:
Holiday Lawn Displays Disturb Me
 

‘Tis  the season for folks here and everywhere to light up their houses and lawns for the holidays.  Perhaps disturb is too strong a word. Rooftop Santas, lit reindeer, huge snowmen-these displays do not so much annoy me, they confuse me.  It's Christmas time, and I enjoyed looking for lighted houses.  We used to drive around when I was a kid and look for decorations.  On my regular commute to Bridgeton I've been looking for early displays, but I've been thus far disappointed.  Where all the Nativities?

Sure, it's a bit early as I write this, and I'm not going to see everything  while I'm driving, but so far, I've seen three manger displays.  None at any churches, one hidden on the side of a house, another I'm not sure what it really was because it was so small.  The lone Nativity display down my street is hidden behind some Santa sleigh, and it took some slow driving to see it. People can’t be getting much bang for their buck with these inflatable displays. In my travels I've seen at least a dozen brought down by these severe winds. It's like that icicle lighting craze that everyone went through.  Year round you still see them hanging there, useless.

All right, enough talk, I decided to do.  I was going to buy a Nativity to display in front of my home.  I was utterly peeved when I tried my last resort: Wal-Mart.  They had Three Wise Men, but no Jesus, Mary, or Joseph.  I found that a tad too ignorant.  Have we become so secular  and PC that we can only allude to where the Kings are going?  Target?  Nope.  Lowes offered some hideous newfangled hologram set that was out of my price range.  Even online, I found little merchants offering outdoor nativities.  Amazon offered patterns where one could cut out your own olive wood display, but who has the time?  Fingerhut has a handsome Holy Family I’d love to have, but $150 plus shipping.  Who has the money?  Finally I ducked into the Bridgeton Wal-Mart.  Hidden behind an inflatable merry-go-round was the ugliest plastic poorest attempt at the Holy Family I've ever seen.  Hardly worth the 50 bucks.

Even radio stations are battling it out by airing Christmas music marathons.  News channels bring stories of display and music protests, but I turn my radio up on Sundays while I collect firewood.  How could anyone be bothered by secular tunes like Santa Baby and the ever popular Jingle Bells?  As sad as I've been at the lack of Christ and Christmas, I weep more for the Jewish faith.  Pray tell where a young Jewish couple can buy a menorah?  In my shopping quest, I’ve see no small Hanukkah display.  No end cap of blue-and-white, no lighted Star of David.  No, wait.  I saw a Star of David mug at the Dollar Store.  Unfortunately, I also plead my ignorance of Kwanzaa.  There are no black, green, and red African pride displays to be had.  It is disturbing.  It's a crying shame.

Is no one else upset at our country’s increasing lack of religious respect?  Several months back, I asked if any of my coworkers were Jewish or Muslim, because Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Ramadan were fast approaching.  No one thought anyone was Jewish, and no one knew what Ramadan was.  Each may think their faith is getting the shaft, but Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa have all fallen prey to Santa, reindeer, snowmen, and Martha Stewart's god-awful hot pink and ridiculous decorations.  Shopping, money, and commercial creations are more important to us than our religion. Our history. Our people.  How did this happen?

Ignorance.  Quite simply, I think we stopped knowing each other and who we are.  Happy Holidays and Seasons Greetings have become the safe or polite things to say.  But by golly, the majority of our nation is Christian.  No one should be offended at our expression of Merry Christmas.  Especially on December 24th or 25th.  Likewise, this year Hanukkah begins December 16th.  That day, we should meet and greet everyone was a Shalom, whether you are Jewish or speaking to a Jew or not.  You could be at the store and say Happy Hanukkah to the cashier when you check out.  Isn't showing respect for yourself, any religion, and other people more important than a credit card swipe?  Have we no understanding barter or trade beyond the almighty dollar? Freedom of Religion means respecting what other people believe in, not destroying the traditions of others so no one can celebrate anything but chaching.

When I worked retail I would count how many customers dared to tell me Merry Christmas.  I refuse to say Happy Holidays.  Sometimes we can't be all-encompassing or all-inclusive without forgetting ourselves.  Sure it's supposed to be about giving, peace on earth, and good will toward men, but a person's religious observance is also very personal.  It doesn't take much time and no money to give someone religious suspect.  So you say Merry Christmas to a stranger, and he or she politely says they are Jewish.  So?  You say Happy Hanukkah instead.  Ask if it they’ve been to Israel?  Does she speak Hebrew or Yiddish?  Before you know it you’ve made a new friend.  It's a heck of a lot cheaper than a life-sized inflated reindeer-it's priceless.
 

November 29:
Christmas Comes Too Early For Retailers
 

Before Halloween even arrived stores and newspapers were full of Christmas displays, advertisements, and articles about the health of retail pre Black Friday.  Way pre.  In recent years, stores have tried to capitalize by moving the holiday push earlier.  The theory that shoppers will buy early and at full price for fear of losing a prize closer to

December 25th is now popular and commonplace.  Its capitalism at its best, right?
Christmas is the most obvious example, but commercial infiltration has touched all gift giving holidays.  Calendars are littered with useless best friend's brother's girlfriend days, and holidays like Valentine's Day only exist to serve marketing purposes. It is ironic that in an increasingly politically correct world-folks are urged to avoid Merry Christmas and use Happy Holidays- retailers push the idea of Christmas gift giving and rooftops Santa displays as early as October 25.

Formerly the official start of the holiday shopping season, people have been trampled and fights have broken out in the quest for a super Black Friday special.  How low have we gone when shootings at Wal-Mart aren't enough to deter holiday spending?  Heck deter, this violence is caused by the impossible shopping pressure we place upon ourselves.

Our current government wants us to spend spend spend our hard earned dollars to help the US economy.  I'm sure that's a good thing for those that can afford to help scratch the national debt’s surface, but what about the poor, average American Joe can’t afford to buy his kids that expense toy?  A toy lining shelves for over two solid months.  This is why people often find the holidays the most depressing time of year.  More suicides occur around the holidays than any other time.  Just think about it.  Even noble citizens who pay their taxes and abide by our laws would rather give to their children-our future-than our government.  It's Wall Street all over again.  The holiday ideal Americans show the world-not Christ, Jewish perseverance, or African celebration-let's back up and take a moment to remember Thanksgiving!  No wonder US ideas are meeting increasing resistance worldwide.  Forget US hypocrisy-our holiday philosophy: Greed is good.  How did we come to these two months of agony, stress and despair of staring at the physical manifestation of the fallen American dream?

Has anybody ever really tried the homemade gifts approach?  Every idealistic kid thinks that idea sucks, and forget the reality of only one gift per person under the tree.  I speak mainly of Christmas, but the religious observances aren’t even the main issue.  We live in a society that thrives by making money off the less fortunate in our country.  A big retailer skimping on sales and pushing minimum wagers to buy buy buy-who does that benefit? Boycotting Target and other big chains because they refuse Salvation Army bell ringers doesn't solve anything.  Angel Trees and charitable offerings are fine during the holidays-but what happens to the homeless, the hungry, and the children of ignorance and want the rest of the year?

The rich really are getting richer and the poor (formerly known as the middle class) are getting poor.  Halloween, Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, New Years-commercial holiday or religious observance-what happened to morality and compassion?  These ideals know no religious, color, or creed divide.  Why do we?
Whatever you do this holiday season, try not to give in to Caesar.  Shop if you must, but be sure to remind your friends and family what it's all about.  Meaning isn't necessarily money.  Do yourselves a favor, sleep in on Black Friday.
 

October 25:
Exposing Mercury And Other Scandals
 

 I’ve written a lot of things for The Reminder.  Local, national, international-even TV.  Never however, have we discussed so thoroughly a local scandal from my Franklin Township abode.

 You know something must be news when little old Franklinville makes national papers and media headlines.  I actually met three locals on an international writing board by discussing this drama online.  I’m sure you’ve heard the story, but to put it simply, someone turned an abandoned thermometer factory into a school.  Thermometers as in mercury; Mercury as in harmful to humans.  This deduction was somehow never deduced by anyone until last month!

 Not only was the now infamous Kiddie Kollage site removed from the Department of Environmental Protection’s list of harmful places, but the realtor who sold the property claimed no knowledge of the building’s history-even though his offices are next to the school in question.

 A condemned building or bad plumbing, unfortunately I’m sure shady realty is done all the time.  Not that I agree with that, but faulty wiring can be replaced for the right price.  Potential damage from mercury poisoning cannot be fixed and will cause the families and employees tainted thousands of dollars in treatment. And oh yes, several children are infected with unhealthy amounts of mercury.  For the rest of their lives, most of the children who attended the daycare will need yearly checkups looking for the side effects of Mercury.

This is beyond writing on your hand with pen or swallowing erasers.  I don’t mean to be so heavy handed, but well I do.  Action must be taken, and it should be swift.  Special Meetings at the Franklin Community Center have been packed with concerned parents and rightfully so.  There should be fines and penalties against the realtor who knowingly sold a tainted property to a daycare without warning them of the building’s history.  Anything remotely like a slap on the wrist is inexcusable.  Someone-either those at fault or a charitable organization-should provide any and all medical care needed, and a new realtor or the Township itself should offer the Kiddie Kollage a new location at a very affordable price.  If the proprietors of the school are found at fault, then their licensing or certifications should be revoked.

But of course, more schools and buildings in Franklin Township were found on tainted property.  Parents and residents want answers, and the Franklin Township website has even added a page with the latest details regarding all these infamous locations.

What amuses me most about these contaminations is that no one discovered it sooner.  The Kiddie Kollage had been operating for several years at its now fenced off location- how did no one discover the wool when the property was sold?  Permits, grants, paperwork and red tape allowed mercury to slip through the cracks? Ignore the iffy realty implications for a moment and ask yourself- is this how we educate our children?  Franklin Township has fine schools, but taxes have increased every year.  Where is the extra money going?  To additional red tape?  Our little corner of Gloucester is currently just fine.  I’m not saying there are other suspicious deals, but if more scandals were to come to light, Franklin Township would take a turn for the worse.  Who would move here, buy, and build with the prospect of tainted property, defamation, and scandal?  Those ‘ideals’ only appeal to bad suits and other Enron type carpet baggers.  Do we want that set in our communities?

 If the old thermometer factory was converted to another business this snafu might never have come to light, or if it did it wouldn’t be perceived so badly.  If one must make naughty ideals, why does it have to be with a school?  Why are our children the continuous victims of our violence, scandals, and ruin?  How can they overcome our stupidity with brain damage do to mercury poisoning?

 I’ve noticed in my essays I ask a lot of questions, and more and more I don’t have the answers.  There’s the adage of not bringing up a problem unless you have a solution, but at this point I wonder if the proper questions are even being asked.  The questions I’ve asked need to be raised, but how did it fall to me to ask them?  This I can answer.  We average Joes and Susie Qs can do something about anything if we put our minds to it.

I would hope it is not too late for the Kiddie Kollage to redeem itself.  For yourselves, there is still hope and lessons to be learned.  I should hope the real estate industry will step up to the plate as well.  In an industry that is so up and down (I’m not up to date on the current health of realty), but you would think if they want to be on the up and up, realtors should run legitimate dealings.  Anyone dealing with the infamous Kiddie Kollage realtor might enter with a grain of salt, and that is quite sad when you think about.

These ills are fixable.  Do your research, and by all means keep an eye on your kids.  If they turn grey, something’s wrong.  If you don’t do anything about it, well then that would be a scandal.
 
 

 I was on the news.  For one fleeting millisecond behind a sign, but I was there-right next to the camera.  I was fortunate enough to attend the Rally For A Better New Jersey on June 15 in Trenton.  Ask me the names of the speakers-I couldn’t tell you (well, two I can!)  The statistics and issues they talked about-I don't know the specific details.  I base my perceptions on what I see.
The last time I was in Trenton was a very long time ago.  I was fascinated by the gold capped government building.  Not because it was gold, but because slums lined the street before it.  Nowhere else have I seen the disparity of our state so well defined.  Even in Camden only a fence separates the revitalized part of the city from the nation's most dangerous town.  In Trenton there is no veil separating our golden hall from the poor.  There they sit in plain view of each other, but both are either unable or unwilling to break their silent inaction.

At the rally, two images reiterated my initial visit to Trenton.  After the rally, we found a homeless man on the grass beside the free water stand.  His bottle of Poland Spring was empty beside him, and several people checked to see if he was dead.  Fortunately, the man was only sleeping.  Even though it was 80°, the hope of the rally, the soft green bed of grass, and that free bottle of water made that man’s day.  He was asleep with a smile on his face.
 Naturally, the flipside was represented.  Outside my bus window I spotted an Exxon charging three dollars per gallon for regular gas.  Of course, that's nothing new now, but I don't think I have to say anything else about that.  We’ve all felt the pain at the pump at some point in recent years.

The rally of course was excellent.  There were 2,000 people there, and the speakers spoke of preventable ills in New Jersey such as hunger and homelessness. The need for health care for children and assistance for seniors was also brought to light.  I went because I've seen these evils with my own eyes.  I've worked retail and seen people put clothes back because they didn't have enough money for their kids’ needs.  I've worked in senior facilities where I found folks sharp as a whip who couldn't finish their years in their own homes because they couldn't afford it.  I knew a woman at church who died of cancer-because her insurance said she reached her maximum funding and she couldn't afford her own treatment.  Shall I continue?  For every good anecdote I can share I have two bad instances it seems the people in charge would rather not hear.

All right, my new obsession is The Lord of the Rings, but Frodo has taught me a lot of things.  Not only can someone small-like us-make a big impact, but the smallest person can make the biggest impact.  Not because self-sacrifice makes one look good, but because it's the right thing to do.  This year and a half I've been writing for The Reminder, I haven't asked anyone to go on a quest that would claim anyone’s life-hardly! Do you think I’m famous because you see my picture in the paper every month?  Hardly. I can’t pay my bills like most residents of Cumberland County.  However, I know the pit in my stomach when I wished I had money to give to those who couldn't buy; if everyone contributed their smallest, change can still calm.  Oh for my Sam Cooke 45s!

Write, blog, photograph-the possibilities for this generation are endless.  Petition, donate, educate, be heard, make a difference!

August 30:
Lack of Reading Unacceptable
 

 So I’ve been writing about books a lot, and part of me wonders if it is a bad thing? Our area isn’t a literature hotbed, but honestly, the idea of reading a book is on the decline everywhere.  Why?

 Publisher’s Weekly posted the results of a study they conducted with Scholastic regarding children and reading.  Between the ages of 8 and 15, the frequency of books read drops 30%, and almost half of teens ages 15 to17 read less than 3 books a month. Experts theorized that a lack of quality fiction for young adults contributes to the problem, but lack of adult support plays a considerable part.  How can any adult not want a child to educated him or herself?  I paint a frightening picture with these statistics.  Are grandparents not reading bedtime stories to their grandbabies?  Teachers aren’t acting out plays in class?  Moms and Dads don’t give their books to their children and say “This was my favorite when I was your age?”

 Even Pulitzer winning Harper Lee-of To Kill A Mockingbird Fame of course-wrote a letter to O Magazine expressing her discontent over modern reading treads.  Lee is unhappy with the advent of the e-book, but surely advances in technology, media, and entertainment aren’t the only things stopping kids from reading.  Sports, arts, travel, experiencing life-these are acceptable diversions.  Video games, television, and fast food, however, are dominating our youth’s landscape.

 To each his own of course, but this lack of education, reading, and writing skills shows.  American test scores are falling compared to other countries.  The spread between rising college and university costs and the people that can afford them is growing.  Without proper reading; writing; or speaking skills; job opportunities dwindle, money goes away, and the downward spiral continues.  Reading is the fastest way to knowledge.  So why then are the people that are supposed to care about children-their parents-not sharing this power?

 Adults need not feel uncomfortable if they aren’t readers.  Some people just don’t like books. Scholastic’s study claims only 21% of adults are frequent readers themselves.  It is important, however-no essential- for parents to open the door for the next generation.  It’s summer, now’s the time for kid’s to learn to read a book because they want to, not because it’s a school assignment.  Some of the worst books I ever read where required school reading.  Parents and educators walk the fine line between inspiring a love of books and forcing information on a child.

 Here’s a few suggestions to jump start your family’s journey on the literature super highway:

-Make it interactive.  My nieces like to stand up and read silly poetry or act out stories as I read aloud.  Use props, make reading more active and fun for the entire family.

-Payment Plan.  I wouldn’t go so far as bribing, but setting up an reward program for every book read is another way to enticing your budding reader.  $1 for every book read.  If they read a book a week, little Billy can have his favorite meal on Sundays.  Make the connection between knowledge and rewards.  Not only is the book a rewarding experience, but the benefits outlast the read.

-Use Alternatives.  If your kids are really turned off by books, try materials where they don’t know they are reading.  Comic books are becoming tougher to find, but classics like Superman and X-Men still exist-and they tie into a movie or two.  Give your sportster the whole newspaper instead of the scores, or give him a sports book.  Even if your child is a little behind in his reading, don’t be afraid to start with smaller books or fewer words or even large print books to help growing eyes.

-Artwork it.  Don’t be afraid to develop other talents if they present themselves.  If your child wants to write a summary of what they’ve read, let them do so, then encourage them to make up their own story.  If Billy wants to draw pictures about the story, let your Picasso grow.
 Reading is just the diving board from which we only have to jump.  Literature can inspire you, your children, your entire family to new worlds, both real and creative.  Take the plunge, the bottom is endless!

For more literature news, visit Publishersweekly.com
 
 

June 21:
On Atticus, Jesus, and Frodo
 

      Last month a BBC poll from Britain’s top librarians presented an intriguing debate.  According to the statistics, audiences favorite books are the following:

To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee.
The Bible
The Lord of the Rings Trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien.

      To Kill a Mockingbird.  The Bible, The Lord of The Rings.  Although my Father disagrees with The Bible being second, I find these results fascinating.  Besides, I’ve read all three and he hasn’t.

      Racial injustice in the south; the most published religious book ever, and an evil wizard destroying Middle-Earth with powerful jewelry.  At first glance, the three titles presented have nothing in common, but I implore you to look deeper.  Many universal themes and elements unite these three masterpieces.

      Despite its fantastical elements (Maybe people ignore it because it’s deemed fantasy), The Lord of the Rings has many human threads that have continued to make the hefty book popular.  I just read it for the first time this year.  It’s not only good versus evil, The Lord of the Rings offers hope, friendship, and strength in all shapes and sizes for audiences both young and old.  The ring represents the penne ultimate evil power yet it is bound by its so small gold confines.  Frodo is also small-a hobbit caught in a big man’s world-yet his strength cannot be measured by his small stature.  Tolkien’s massive work tells readers that big or small and good or evil , anyone who rises to the challenge will determine his own fate.

      Lord of the Rings almost has a David and Goliath feel, which of course leads to Number Two on the list-The Bible.  I don’t think I need to go into much detail here.  Everyone has at least some vague idea of both the Old and New Testaments and what they teach.  God helps the faithful, valiant, loyal, and true.  Jesus gives hope to the meek where there is none.  Like The Lord of the Rings, many sections of The Bible are very dark and dense-full of wrath and doom.  In the end of course, evil falls and justice and peace prevail.

      Although similar to its pollmates in its moral tones, To Kill a Mockingbird was also voted the Number One Unhappy Ending in a separate BBC poll.  Even if it is sacrilegious to place another book above The Bible, I can see how To Kill  a Mockingbird reached Number One.  For decades social change has been on the rise, and for the Boomer generation To Kill a Mockingbird must have been a whirlwind.  An unapologetic exposure of racial injustice thrust right into the segregated mid century American society.  Books that give birth to radical social change only come along once in a blue moon.

      Even the American Film Institute named Gregory’s Peck’s Oscar winning 1962 film portrayal of Atticus Finch as their Number One Great American Hero.   Harper Lee’s tale of white lawyer Atticus Finch defending an innocent black Tom Robinson in 1930s Alabama continues to open our eyes to a world we’d like to think we aren’t part of, but of course, not enough change has come.

     I don’t understand how today’s youth can use the N word-affixed with an ‘a’ on the end instead of an ‘er’.  My instant thought is always, “Have they not read To Kill a Mockingbird?” My honey-by some error in his high school required reading-has never read the Harper Lee classic.  I tried to explain it, but what makes it over the top is the ending.  Now, you can’t give away the ending, can you?
 
     For three books that seem so different on the surface, The Lord of the Rings, The Bible, and To Kill a Mockingbird all present both the characteristics of how we should be and also how not to be.  Gollum succumbs to the ring, but Boromir redeems himself.  All can be redeemed by obeying God in their own way, and Atticus gives us hope that he made the word one step closer to a better place for his children.

      To Kill A Mockingbird is the only book I had to read for school that I actually liked-now that’s saying something.  If I had to pick three books to take if I was stranded island…but more likely if I had to recommend three books every person should read once in his lifetime, To Kill a Mockingbird, The Bible, and The Lord of the Rings are tough to beat.  Impossible, Frodo!

May 18:
Publishing Industry Slap on Wrist Unacceptable

 So I fancy myself a writer, and like many other writers and authors, I am all but outraged over the recent snafus in the big publishing houses.  First, the industry was sent reeling by the James Frey scandal.  The memoir A Million Little Pieces was in fact a million little tales of fiction expertly twisted by Frey, but also woefully unchecked by Random House and book club praiser Oprah.  (You can read two explanation and apology statements from Frey at www.randomhouse.com.)

When composing anything in writing, there are rules of which to adhere.  Number one is never underestimate your audience and number two is to not disappoint your audience, for they are very fickle.  Not only did Frey flat out cheat his audience, but the bookselling implications are immense.  Memoirs were the biggest book trend, but now, how can anyone read a memoir without wondering how much is actually fiction?

Is there no sanctity in books anymore?  It’s deplorable enough when an author betrays his readers.  Bad publicity is good publicity they say.  Now mega merger big powerhouse publishers are almost expected to be corrupt and poorly orchestrated.  It is more unusual, yet perhaps more horrible, when plagiarism makes it to the publishing world.  Little, Brown, and Co. signed unknown Harvard student Kaavya Viswanathan  to an unheard of 2 book deal with a $500,000 advance.  The book  How Opal Mehta Got Kissed, Got Wild, and Got a Life even earned a movie deal worth a hefty sum.  After an exposure in the Harvard Paper, Opal has been pulled do to the plagiarism of not one, or even two, but now three books.

High school, college, expulsion, unfortunately plagiarism is nothing new.  This young generation even has website scams that buy and sell term papers.  Rarely, however, does a book go this far this fast for this kind of money before the fake is discovered. Although I’ve seen little television media coverage of this scandal, big newspapers are running their displeasure daily. I belong to many online writing groups, boards, and clubs.  Some are for newbies, and others carry big name professionals, but all agree it is a sad day when there’s nothing sacred between two supposedly professional authors.

Naturally blame needs to fall and the proper place is on the publishing industry itself.  Unless its Stephen King or Danielle Steele, Big New York publishing houses can’t seem to make money unless its with a controversy.  They inflate a book to rival Harry Potter or The Da Vinci Code, but when the book crumbles before audiences, houses like Warner or Random House take the money and run with weak explanations and light slaps on the wrist.

Everyone wants to a write a book at some point in their lives-admit it. With the advent of e-publishing and online publishers, the possibilities for scams and rip offs is 2 to 1.  In a time where knowledge, information, and entertainment are unlimited, can it really be that the simple task of reading a book can’t be trusted?  How do we explain to our children why a book is being pulled from the shelves or why extra notes explaining the difference between fiction and nonfiction are added to subsequent editions?  When a plagiarized book makes it to stores for sale-written by a Harvard student no less- what message does that send to young artistic talents?  That it’s okay to cheat?  Talent is better bought than nurtured?  Don’t we get enough of this from pro athletes?

Shame on the book industry.  Despite the decline in sales do to other media, the power of the written word is still a might to be reckoned with.  To manipulate the trust, education, and experience of any reader at any age is simply unacceptable.
 

April 12 :
Spring Cleaning State of Mind

With the unusual forecast of snow flurries on the first day of spring, it's easy to lose track of time. Winter Blues, work ho-hum is over, and now it's time for your perennial spring cleaning-of mind and body that is.

After all the shenanigans of Mardi Gras and Fat Tuesday, Wednesday March 1 hailed the beginning of Lent for many Christians. To some it is a time of repentance, and many give up something seemingly naughty.  No chocolate, putting change in a jar if you swear, etc.. To others the 40 days before Easter is a time of opportunity and renewal. Families take on new books, projects, volunteer, or exercise.

I've had a few people asked me, ”What the heck is Lent?” Or ”What are you giving up soda/sugar/carbs for?” My heart sinks a little every time I hear such questions. Lent may be a Christian observance, but striving to make oneself better should be a universal concept.

There is no excuse for laziness and greed or any other of the quote Seven Deadly Sins. It is sad that we've come to a point in our society where the accumulation of wealth and expensive things are valued more highly than the pursuit of knowledge, education, arts, humanities, or in internal fulfillment.

The adage says that you are closest to perfection not when you have anything to add, but when you have nothing left to take away. It might be tough to take up baseball, if it snows, but families should use natures spring rebirth as a renewal for themselves. Here's a list of ideas to jumpstart your freedom from the mundane.

-Religious observances. If you're interested in churchgoing events there is an abundance.  Bible studies, Eastern egg hunts, bazaars, services, the list goes on. Passover is an excellent time to get in touch with Jewish history and customs.

-Spring cleaning. Sure, it's not new, but a good housecleaning can be very therapeutic. Gently worn items can be donated, rooms can be painted. Young and healthy folks help out elderly neighbors, too.

-Read a book. It may sound like a simple lost art, but reading a good book can be exactly the kind of escapism you need. Read a new how-to or nonfiction book to educate and inspire yourself.

-Exercise. Sign up at the gym, Buy a yoga video, join the YMCA. It will be nice outside, get out from behind the computer and do something. Today work can come with you if you need be-cell phones, laptops, PDAs. You can take time for you. It’s not about size and shape, now's the perfect time stretcher limbs, get the juices flowing, and make sure everything still works!

-Find a hobby.  I've got too many to count, but taking on a new project or art might be the best thing you can do.  Kids and friends can partake in building model ships, learning new computer programs, or posing for your attempt at painting portraits.

 The point of spring is for nature to bloom, so why can't you?  Refresh and reinvigorate yourself today!
 

March 22nd:
Our Wacky White House

     A lot of tidbits from Washington have come out in recent weeks, and all are irresistible to everyone, from late night comedians to the water cooler at the office.  All the plain folk in America are asking why our Vice President is shooting people and our President is selling our ports to the bad guys.

     VP Dick Cheney’s snafu of shooting his lawyer during a hunting escapade in Texas is almost unbelievable.  He has heart conditions up to wazoo and never seems to be healthy enough to participate in the running of the country, yet he is out there chasing quail. Truth is indeed stranger than fiction. The unusual media coverage and delayed explanation from Cheney has not helped his image.

     One thing I definitely dislike about politicians and government paperwork is the technical mumbo jumbo they get you into. I am a kid from New Jersey, I don’t do technical mumbo jumbo, and most folks would agree the double talk on this ports sale seems fishy. I’m sure if we watched the news or read the details in the papers, we’d known more about the ins and outs of the deal, but the plain English is scary enough. Our President is selling 6 of our ports to the United Arab Emirates?  What is wrong with this picture?

     Sure I’m young and an idealist, but in the United States you don’t expect to see secret sales going on behind closed White House doors. Are we that far gone from the definition of democracy? The delays and changes and further wheels and deals and cancellations on this port sale further signify the shannigans were bad to begin with.

     Most of us are not as eloquent as Mr. Bush, so when we hear ports and Arabs in the same sentence, unfortunately we’re going to get worried. The UAE is not the most reputable Arab nation. Even if we selling our ports to semi-friendly countries like Jordan or Saudi Arabia or even stalwart Israel, it would still raise more than a few eyebrows. The irony is the ports being sold were already operated by a British company. Not that the British operations were a well known fact, but I do feel a little uncomfortable with even the British running our ports.  Nothing against them, our finest allies, but are there no American companies-no American workers- that can handle our shipping business?

     It’s not terrorism, its not racism or a religious issue. Fifty years ago if someone was selling ships or equipment in secret to the Soviets they would have been declared ex-patriots and deported or worse. Today of course we know that McCarthy and his extreme skepticism was wrong, but do we really want to have a similar hysteria sweep through the nation? It could happen if  the sale were to go through and Americans lost their jobs. We are already fighting global terrorism, we don’t need any more disgruntled homegrown terrorists.

    Luckily my predictions of doom seem to be adverted with the halt of the sale.  Maybe there is something left in democracy. Enough people made enough noise.  Corzine took the voice of Jersey folk to the White House, and changes were made. I continue to encourage Americans to use their voices, through letter to Congress, petitions, and the like.  We can make a difference in how this country is run even if Cheney is too busy hunting lawyers.
 

February 22nd:
Are The Olympics Passé?

Ah, world peace, friendly support, the torch!  It's time for the XX Winter Olympics, in case you didn't know.  I had to explain to my family about the alternating format between summer and winter, yet the best debate of this year's Games seems to be “Is it Turin or Torino?”

Sure, everyone will tune i to the Games once they're on TV, if only to watch figure skaters crash and burn or crazy skiing slips and slides.  Freestyle Skiing belongs in the X Games, and why is curling considered a sport?  It's rocks on ice, people!

My passion of course is ice hockey.  Although I reveled in the women's game finally joining the Olympics in 1998, only insiders can appreciate the differences from the men's game.  As excited as I am to have pro hockey back, I don't think NHLers belong in the Olympic Games.  Besides the NHL's trouble of shutting down for two weeks, holding mini training camps for non-Olympians, then restarting the extended season-professionals in the Olympics represents everything that's wrong with the Games.

The Greatest Athlete of the First Half of The 20th Century was Jim Thorpe, and his Olympic medals were stripped and taken away from him because he briefly played semipro baseball. Yet recent basketball Dream Teams have failed miserably. I abhor hypocrisy. Can you even name the city where the 2004 Summer Games was held? It was Sydney, wasn’t it?

 In today's fickle sports world, the pros have been added to the Olympics for what?  Money?  Ratings?  Certainly not sportsmanship or amateur competition. Remember Mike Eruzione? We can't have any Miracles On Ice-unknown college kids overcoming insurmountable odds to achieve their dreams-because NHL greats like Chris Chelios, Joe Sakic, and Jaromir Jagr are taking their place.

How is this right?  Are we so in the moment that we are willing to cut our sports growth off at the knees?  Women's ice hockey, other obscure winter sports-luge, bobsledding-this is the height of their athletes’ careers.  Yet these ‘lesser’ athletes go unnoticed when the pros come along.  And you know what the really sad part is?  Powerhouses like the US still lose to unknowns with unpronouncable names from far off places.

Can the Olympics return to the glory of amateur sport?  It would be nearly impossible.  Again the morality of sports falls on the fans, parents, and young athletes.  If you tune in to Torino this year, remind your children and young sportsters that goodwill in sports isn’t about money, status, or world power, whatever game you play-even curling!

You can follow the USA’s men’s and women’s ice hockey teams by going to www.usahockey.com.  Visit www.olympic.org for a complete schedule and history of the Winter Games.
 

February 1st:
Pump and Postal Price Gauging Won’t Stop.

    Just on the chance things might have changed at the gas station, I’ll be safe and say gas is still over two dollars. I’m sure that if you're like me and still mail in your car insurance bill, you'll notice stamps have gone up to 39 cents.  Joy. Gas and stamps have gone up in price for different reasons, yet both represent the sorry state of commerce and our wallets.

    Even though the holiday travel rush is over gas prices are still climbing. Ah, supply and demand. The necessary demand for gasoline means the price will continue to rise indefinitely. The powers that be will never lower the price of something was such an unprecedented moneymaking demand.

    Stamps, however, are another story. Sure it's only two cents, but the price of stamps has gone up several times in recent years. Even in my short time, I remember 29 cent stamps! The public understands the need for stamps’ rising cost-the U.S. Postal Service needs to make money since more people have turned to e-mail correspondence and payments. Unless I have supply and demand wrong, shouldn’t the U.S. Postal Service lower the price of stamps to attract people back to using conventional mail?

     Even stamp collecting has become a thing of the past. I've gotten Prince William stamps from a friend in England, but are the fancy, commemorative à la Elvis stamps even profitable? ‘Snail mail’ and e-mail both have technical difficulties, but with online ease and no hassles, regular mail could soon become a thing of the past. Am I the only one who cannot forget the Anthrax scare? Who else got a postcard from the regional office in Bellmawr telling patrons to wear gloves when getting the mail? It was the likes of science fiction!  If we need postal employees in biohazard suits, why can't we make clean and cheap automobiles?

    Smelling gasoline destroys brain cells, yet we still fill ‘er up. The strikes against the pumps and the post office do add up-in our wallets. Those folks with SUVs or older emission cars can do little but grin and bear the costs. Single day boycotts, carpooling, or other alternative transportations only make a small dent-if any. Consumers are forced to cut back elsewhere-especially when it comes to home heating costs. My family has returned to using our fireplace. How can further destruction of Mother Nature be our only option? I’d like to suggest a solution, but the idealist in me succumbs. The everyman cannot win.

  Most people in Empowerment Zoneland don't have deep pockets. It may be an obvious choice, but people shouldn't have to choose between buying a book of stamps to pay bills or filling their car with gas. Are we on the brink of The Road Warrior and Mad Max ? Is Mel Gibson’s apocalyptic dust bowl quest for oil our future?  Only time-and money-will tell.

January 18:
Thrift is In!

      When I first started  shopping for records at ‘junk shops’ there were few and far between. There have always been high priced quality antique dealers in our historic areas, but very few stores offered quality second hand merchandise for the masses. Wow that has sure changed.

      In the Vineland and Millville area alone new stores have sprung up in recent years. Besides the stalwarts of Goodwill and The Salvation Army, retro shoppers can now hunt at The Vine, sponsored by the Nazarene church of Vineland, or Twice Loved Treasures, a thrift shop run by Hospice.  Harvard Street also boasts A Company Of Angels, a non-profit shop for house wares, furniture, and more.

      Why the growing popularity of thrift shops? Since The Thrift Village in Glassboro expanded, not once but twice I’ve been refused entry.  They’ve run out of parking spaces.  Parking is also trouble for the Goodwill center in Millville, and is it me, or has Goodwill developed into a chain store? They are everywhere.  Glassboro, Hammonton, and Pleasantville Goodwill stores await your next antiquing road trip.

      Although retro, old is new, finding and making your own treasures, these ideas ebb and flow-and happen to be in right now-there is a more serious, longer lasting appeal of second hand stores. Low income families need them. For every rich family in the luxury sections of Vineland, we have a dozen struggling families in the city. In an empowerment zone where the majority of the people work for minimum wage and earn $13,000 a year or less, discount second hand merchandise is a necessity.

      So I encourage shoppers to think thrift .  Not only can you buy, but most organizations accept donations or have credit programs and discounts for students or seniors.  Volunteering one day a week at a thrift shop is also a great way to help others.  If you are going on a junk shop hunt, do remember the following:

• Come early and prepared.  Merchandise is usually one of a kind, so grab it quick.   If you want to buy larger items like furniture, come with enough cash and an accommodating vehicle.  You may also be able to barter the price or make arrangements to return.
• Dress appropriately.  Some thrift stores have outdoor areas and flea markets, or can be quite dusty and dirty.  Don’t wear your best if you intend to get down and dirty with musty books and records.  Layer if it’s cold, and remember water, hats or sunscreen if you are making a hot day of it.
• Monitor your children.  Several higher end antique dealers don’t want children in their stores at all, but most request you keep your children with you at all times.  A few stores have kid safe zones, but keep in mind if a store has a ‘you break it you bought it’ policy.
• Buy clothing carefully.  Look for un-repairable stains or holes, and know your sizes.  Not all thrift shops have fitting rooms.  Look for a piece in good condition, with solid lines and stitching.  The same applies for house wares and furniture, look for good bones.

     Why put more green in Wal-Mart’s pockets when there is a perfectly good thrift option?  There are many hidden treasures in a thrift store.  Quality merchandise, giving back to your community, and helping the less fortunate around you.  This is why Thrift is In!