Regular readers of this blog know that Priscille and I like to get our winter exercise by frequently walking at the Bridgewater Commons Mall. This week, the JCC pool, which is part of my cross-training routine, is closed for about 7 days for refurbishing, so the Mall is it.
We try to avoid the crowds by arriving early to mid-morning. We then head back to control central and get on with the rest of our daily tasks, appointments, meetings, etc. Rarely do we have lunch at the mall – it doesn’t help the calorie intake. But yesterday was different. The pull of the newly renovated food court was too much to resist.
Besides, you’d be surprised at all of the other activities that take place there during lunch. We settled upon Charley’s Grilled Subs. Pris found a natural, light-bathed booth near the outside windows across from Sbarro’s. I stood my turn in line and ordered a foot-long chicken teriyaki sub which we split and washed down with large bottles of Poland Spring (remember when water was free?). This selection set us back a mere $11.92 and was a good, tasty choice.
While sitting in our booth – it comprises one of several rows that form two sides of a triangle pushing against the outside windows – I spied a couple of older guys (who am I to say!) playing a serious, but engaging game of chess. Seated on the outside of the booth was a third man, intently observing their game. Later, a fourth observer joined the trio.
The new food court at the Bridgewater Commons Mall is becoming more than just a place to eat. It seems to be emerging as a public gathering place where people can get together not only to share a meal, but to participate in some of life’s other convivial, yet simple endeavors. Even harried business people can get a welcome change of pace there.
In this fragile, bungled, and overly complex economy, an oasis like this provides a welcome break.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Monday, January 12, 2009
Madoff Convinces Judge
In a recent AP article, Rachel Beck, an admired columnist of mine, wrote a justification that Bernie Madoff, the investment advisor who is alleged to have bilked thousands of people from billions of dollars, should not be put in jail while awaiting trail. She claims that putting Madoff in the slammer would inhibit him from cooperating with officials who need to obtain information from him.
Today, it seems that Roland J. Ellis, magistrate judge for the Southern U.S. District of New York agrees with Beck, though perhaps not for the same reasons. In a 22-page report, the judge rebuffed federal prosecutors who claim that Madoff poses a flight risk and that the current conditions of his release do not protect the safety of the community. The prosecution wants Madoff in jail now, not in his apartment.
Both Beck and Ellis are wrong and curiously naïve. Their logic does not take into account the vast scope of the crime which Madoff is alleged to have committed. He doesn’t deserve the privilege of hiding in the luxury of his multi-million dollar Manhattan digs, while people accused of much lesser offenses sweat it out in jail.
Today, it seems that Roland J. Ellis, magistrate judge for the Southern U.S. District of New York agrees with Beck, though perhaps not for the same reasons. In a 22-page report, the judge rebuffed federal prosecutors who claim that Madoff poses a flight risk and that the current conditions of his release do not protect the safety of the community. The prosecution wants Madoff in jail now, not in his apartment.
Both Beck and Ellis are wrong and curiously naïve. Their logic does not take into account the vast scope of the crime which Madoff is alleged to have committed. He doesn’t deserve the privilege of hiding in the luxury of his multi-million dollar Manhattan digs, while people accused of much lesser offenses sweat it out in jail.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Somerville Icon Shuts Down
On Thursday, December 31, MacArthur’s Appliances shuttered its doors and went out of business. It was a very quiet ending for an area institution begun in 1955 by “Mac,” father of Hayes and Craig MacArthur, brothers who grew up in the enterprise and who eventually succeeded their dad. Hayes explained how, starting at 11 years old, he showed up at the store to help out after school. Together with Craig, they gradually worked their way up the ladder.
Situated on Main Street in the heart of downtown Somerville, MacArthur’s served area residents uncompromisingly; selling, delivering and servicing major home appliances and TV’s. In its heyday, MacArthur’s maintained its own large warehouse, buying in bulk ahead of customer purchases, stocking name brands like Maytag and Zenith in the days of USA-manufactured products.
But, about 15 years ago, the appliance and television markets began to change in a way that would signal the beginning of the end for stalwart businesses like MacArthur’s. National chains like Lowe’s and Home Depot would begin their encroachment into appliance retailing, while others like Best Buy and Circuit City would begin their takeover of the television market.
The advantage of national chain purchasing power, combined with large-scale advertising of American products manufactured offshore, would erode the ability of a small community business like MacArthur’s to compete.
In the 30-plus years that we have lived in Bridgewater, none of our major appliances – all of which have been replaced over time – have come from any store other than “Mac’s” place. Priscille could never see the advantage of saving a couple of bucks (peanuts when written off over the years of an appliance’s life) by jumping around from one store to another, dealing with people who would not be there the next time she entered the establishment.
When the need arose, we always showed up on Main Street in Somerville, greeted Hayes and Craig, asked one another how things were going, and got down to the business of talking appliances.
We still have an aged 36-inch Zenith console TV, the oldest of our MacArthur purchases. It needed to be repaired once, but the darn thing just won’t quit. Eventually, when we need to get that new LCD HD TV, we’ll be thinking of those two guys on Main Street, Somerville, who provided some of the best service in Somerset County.
Situated on Main Street in the heart of downtown Somerville, MacArthur’s served area residents uncompromisingly; selling, delivering and servicing major home appliances and TV’s. In its heyday, MacArthur’s maintained its own large warehouse, buying in bulk ahead of customer purchases, stocking name brands like Maytag and Zenith in the days of USA-manufactured products.
But, about 15 years ago, the appliance and television markets began to change in a way that would signal the beginning of the end for stalwart businesses like MacArthur’s. National chains like Lowe’s and Home Depot would begin their encroachment into appliance retailing, while others like Best Buy and Circuit City would begin their takeover of the television market.
The advantage of national chain purchasing power, combined with large-scale advertising of American products manufactured offshore, would erode the ability of a small community business like MacArthur’s to compete.
In the 30-plus years that we have lived in Bridgewater, none of our major appliances – all of which have been replaced over time – have come from any store other than “Mac’s” place. Priscille could never see the advantage of saving a couple of bucks (peanuts when written off over the years of an appliance’s life) by jumping around from one store to another, dealing with people who would not be there the next time she entered the establishment.
When the need arose, we always showed up on Main Street in Somerville, greeted Hayes and Craig, asked one another how things were going, and got down to the business of talking appliances.
We still have an aged 36-inch Zenith console TV, the oldest of our MacArthur purchases. It needed to be repaired once, but the darn thing just won’t quit. Eventually, when we need to get that new LCD HD TV, we’ll be thinking of those two guys on Main Street, Somerville, who provided some of the best service in Somerset County.
Monday, January 5, 2009
New Jersey, Tax Champ
Because of the recent national financial meltdown, all levels of government in New Jersey are strapped for cash, but not more so than the individual Garden State taxpayers who are picking up the tab for the last two decades of reckless spending increases.
Over the years, we have always had one of the highest real estate taxes in the nation. But did you know that, according to The Tax Foundation, New Jersey – at 7.1% – now has the highest real estate tax burden in the country when measured as a share of income. Nebraska, only tenth down the list, is half that number, at 3.6%. That gives you an idea of how confiscatory property taxes on owner-occupied homes have become in New Jersey.
No matter how the numbers are sliced and diced, we are a taxing and spending champion: NJ property taxes are the highest per capita in the nation. The sales tax is the country’s second highest, and the cigarette tax is the highest. Furthermore, New Jersey’s total state and local tax burden is also the highest in the nation at 11.8% of income, way over the national average of 9.7%.
Even businesses are getting whacked: For 2008, The Tax Foundation ranks NJ at the bottom of the pack, number 49, in its measurement of attractiveness as a state in which to do business.
Over the years, we have always had one of the highest real estate taxes in the nation. But did you know that, according to The Tax Foundation, New Jersey – at 7.1% – now has the highest real estate tax burden in the country when measured as a share of income. Nebraska, only tenth down the list, is half that number, at 3.6%. That gives you an idea of how confiscatory property taxes on owner-occupied homes have become in New Jersey.
No matter how the numbers are sliced and diced, we are a taxing and spending champion: NJ property taxes are the highest per capita in the nation. The sales tax is the country’s second highest, and the cigarette tax is the highest. Furthermore, New Jersey’s total state and local tax burden is also the highest in the nation at 11.8% of income, way over the national average of 9.7%.
Even businesses are getting whacked: For 2008, The Tax Foundation ranks NJ at the bottom of the pack, number 49, in its measurement of attractiveness as a state in which to do business.
Friday, January 2, 2009
Always Faithful
Imagine what life would be like if every American were “Always Faithful.” The term can be applied to every single facet of American life, both public and private. Few Americans understood the meaning of that phrase better than Marine Cpl. Jonathan Yale, 21, and Lance Cpl. Jordan Haerter, 19, both killed in action in Iraq.
The two Marines were guarding the main entrance to a joint American-Iraqi security compound in Ramadi, one of the hell holes in Iraq’s Anbar province, when they spotted a truck approaching from a distance. As it weaved in and out of the barriers, heading directly towards the gate loaded with a ton of explosives, two other guards – Iraqis – ran for cover as did other nearby Iraqi police.
Only the two U.S. Marines, Yale and Haerter, stood firm, firing their weapons at the Jihadist suicide driver bearing down with his hand on a dead-man switch. The truck exploded away from the gate, saving the lives of dozens of soldiers inside the compound.
Semper Fidelis – Always Faithful – even unto death. That’s the lived motto of the U.S. Marine Corps, and it was loyally carried out that day as two young American warriors protected not only their own, but other Iraqis inside the gate.
The two Iraqi police officers whose duty it also was to defend that gate obviously had not internalized the meaning of “Always Faithful.” It reminds me – and perhaps a few of you reading this: Why is it that the Iraqis themselves are so unwilling or incapable of straightening out their own affairs? And if they won’t, then why does America continue to shed its blood for this intolerant theocracy pretending to govern as a democracy?
The two Marines were guarding the main entrance to a joint American-Iraqi security compound in Ramadi, one of the hell holes in Iraq’s Anbar province, when they spotted a truck approaching from a distance. As it weaved in and out of the barriers, heading directly towards the gate loaded with a ton of explosives, two other guards – Iraqis – ran for cover as did other nearby Iraqi police.
Only the two U.S. Marines, Yale and Haerter, stood firm, firing their weapons at the Jihadist suicide driver bearing down with his hand on a dead-man switch. The truck exploded away from the gate, saving the lives of dozens of soldiers inside the compound.
Semper Fidelis – Always Faithful – even unto death. That’s the lived motto of the U.S. Marine Corps, and it was loyally carried out that day as two young American warriors protected not only their own, but other Iraqis inside the gate.
The two Iraqi police officers whose duty it also was to defend that gate obviously had not internalized the meaning of “Always Faithful.” It reminds me – and perhaps a few of you reading this: Why is it that the Iraqis themselves are so unwilling or incapable of straightening out their own affairs? And if they won’t, then why does America continue to shed its blood for this intolerant theocracy pretending to govern as a democracy?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)