About 10 years ago, maybe a little longer, my grandmother told me if she ever ended up in a nursing home, I should just push her wheelchair into the Hudson River and walk away.

                   … Read full post »

There were a few times in my life when I gave up the burger, the modest, but quintessential, all-American food. Though some claim the hot dog is so American, it’s part of the U.S. Constitution, that’s simply not so. We may love hot dogs and claim them as part… Read full post »

No, it’s not minorities we’re after – though there are a few towns where DWB (driving while black) will get you pulled over.  Nope. We’re after minors. And it’s perfectly legal.

To make it easier for police to spot youngsters behind the wheel, the law now mandat… Read full post »

My family used to joke there were only 3 things I actually liked: mozzarella cheese, fried shrimp and pop-tarts.

I’m sure I could conjure an awesome fried shrimp and cheese over pop tarts dish, but since my taste buds have expanded so much, I now know as many ways… Read full post »

Talk about caving to pressure. Apple just reversed its decision on Pulitzer winner Mark Fiore’s iPhone app and not only is offering it for sale, is labeling it “See the app Steve Jobs is talking about.”

 Originally, before Fiore won a Pulitzer, and before the whining began,… Read full post »

It’s troubling, but understandable, that Apple refused first-time-ever online Pulizter winner Mark Fiore’s iPhone app because it makes fun of public figures, a violation of its Developer Program License Agreement.

As Neiman Labs points out, Fiore made journalism and Internet history in… Read full post »

Want to see the best in snowfall creations? Come to New Jersey, where we don’t merely make snowmen and igloos when faced with a foot of good packing snow. Uh uh. We get down and dirty. Or artistic. Depending on your point of view.

 The latest (no, not… Read full post »

  Objectivity and news reporting is something the media strives for and is often criticized for lacking. But the Atlanta Progressive News is taking the bold step by stating in its editorial policy that not only does it believe objectivity doesn’t exist, it’s not even… Read full post »

There’s no better meal than breakfast. I wake-up hungry, and though a simple slice of Arnold’s Oat Bran toast with melted Irish sweet butter sprinkled with organic sugar mixed with Saigon cinnamon will usually suffice, there’s nothing like a real breakfast. Yes, the kind you sit dow… Read full post »

When Jets’ owner Woody Johnson went to bed on Sunday night, he was probably feeling good about himself. The team he paid $635 million for in 2000 – the most money ever paid for a New York team -- a team with way more losses than wins over the years, upsets… Read full post »

New Jersey is in the national news again, this time for making a third grader cry during free reading time.

A teacher at Madison Park Elementary School in Old Bridge told Mariah to put away her Bible, that it wasn’t appropriate free-time reading material. The kid… Read full post »

We email our nieces advice and tell them “when I was your age …” and then Tweet links to Bay City Roller fan pages that (shockingly) still exist. Then find youtube videos and sing along to “Saturday Night” so many times, even the cat looks up embarrassed, horrified, and… Read full post »

 So yes, you should find the nearest journalist and give her a great big bear hug and say “thanks for fighting the good fight.” And then go out and buy a newspaper – one of those harbingers of aged news still sold in every convenience store.

 C’mon now. Thank… Read full post »

At first, news of the big FBI round-up of corrupt politico types didn't interest me a lot, except to see if I knew anyone on the list, and what local news angle could be uncovered.

Though he’ll always be remembered as the Pulitzer Prize winning author, whose memoir Angela’s Ashes spent over 100 weeks on the bestseller list, Frank McCourt, was primarily, a teacher. For over 30 years, he taught in the New York City school district, and though I first came to know him… Read full post »

This is the 3rd, maybe the 4th -- I’m losing track -- layoff in the past year at my newspaper. The layoff gods have been good to me, and were again once more. I’m happy to say I still have a job, I remain among the employed, still a working journalist.… Read full post »

It’s kind of sad when the start of a quarter signals a memo from corporate. No need for a rumor mill – though it’s there nonetheless – history’s been the indicator, and the numbers don’t lie. And just as Tuesday always follows Wednesday and July follows June, the 3… Read full post »

They’re all older than me. Walter by many years (like, almost 50 years-- who's not dead but dying), Michael a handful, and Farrah in between.

Farrah’s death today at 62, is the hardest hitting, since it’s she whose hair and body had the biggest impact on my way-younger self. It&rsq… Read full post »

The hardest part was seeing the big yellow truck parked out front. I knew he was going; it was time. We discussed it; this wasn’t a surprise.

But the sight of the truck, knowing it was for my house, would be filled with his things…it was only then I understood he was… Read full post »

There were some tears around the office yesterday and it’s hard not to feel guilty today that I have a cool new title. While I was restructured in, a lot of people were shown the door, smart editors with long histories and much to offer.

It doesn’t seem fair that it… Read full post »

Unbelievable but totally true – there’s some good news in the newspaper industry today. Not only is Gannett – the biggest publisher of newspapers in the country – trading 2 cents higher today than yesterday (a whopping $2.46 a share) but the New York Times is up 20 cents, or $… Read full post »

When I took my first journalism class in the 10th grade, it was mandatory that we read the New York Times daily. Prior to that, I had never read a newspaper on a regular basis, other than the local weekly, and I was amazed at the amount of information I found.… Read full post »

It only would've been better if it played out in the lunch room. Of course, we would've had to toss notes across a long folding table or whisper behind smelly bathroom stalls. But the message would've been the same: he's cheating on you.

Gasp!

How sad to discover the midlife dating… Read full post »

It was mid-dunk into my four-cheddar fondue that he popped the question. I took my time answering, enjoying my crusty chunk of bread, savoring more than a mouthful of Sam Adams. How to answer? I've been asked this question before. In fact, I think all my boyfriends asked except maybe one.

It… Read full post »