REFLECTIONS

Com'on in . The waters fine!

These are great times. Thanks to the computer and the internet, I can sit at my keyboard and combining my hunt and peck and hunt typing plus a built in spelling checker have an opportunity to expound, express and vent my various opinions to the world. Whereas formerly, unless they were a politician, or a CEO, or a scholar who has become an authority, the masses were beholden and utterly dependent upon the whims of media editors to be able to communicate their thoughts

Nowadays the media encourage the posting of comments about articles or news stories published in their paper. At times the papers become the “Jerry Springers” of mass media. They have also become forums for various bigots, intolerants, or downright vicious negativists who hide behind the curtain of anonymity to exercise their First Amendment right of free speech

Thank goodness for Blogs. Anyone can become a Tom Brokaw in their own right. We in Plainfield area are fortunate to have many thoughtful and constructive “publications”. They are as follows but not in order of importance or age:

Bernice’s “Plainfield Plaintalker”, a professional informative and investigative column by a top notch retired reporter. She tells it as it is. Interspaced are articles for our benefit which reflect her own personal interests and experiences. She is a must read.

Then there is Maria’s "The Crescent Times". This relative newcomer to our community has restored the role of this generation’s civic watchdog, community activist to a level of effectiveness which has never been previously attained. Again an absolute must. Too bad that there are so few who take such an active interest in their own community.

Of course there is Major Domo Dan Damon’s "Plainfield Today". Not only does this PR expert keep us informed about everything locally, but via his column and his “Clips” the entire world of pertinent news is opened to us. Some may be turned off by his political involvement, but this is the “Soprano State” and we need to know all aspects. From his website I can reach all others I wish to read.

Don't overlook the individual blogs that Councilmen Burney and Storch occasionally post and keep us informed about local governmental actions. How else would we learn that Kensington Ave. was scheduled according to the "6 YEAR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN" to be reconstructed in 2006. What happened to the $440,000.00 budgeted for that job? Why have not early potholes around manhole covers filled before to pavement was completely compromised? The Council had been informed.

Finally there are we amateurs who like to burden the public with their own convictions, experiences and occasion ally pleasures such as photographs. You are not forced to read them .so please be considerate, and enjoy.