DOC'S POTPOURRI

BOE ELECTIONS CHANGE

2012-01-27T09:19:00.003-05:00

Thanks to Maria Pellum I have learned that the LAW states that either the Council or the BOE can pass a Resolution moving the School Board elections to coincide with the November general election. The link is Here . click on it to read the entire law.

The election is to occupy a special section of the ballot and is still to be non-political(?).

Since there is an early February deadline for the application the Council must take appropriate action at Feb. 6, meeting.

FRIDAY; JAN. 27, 2012

2012-01-27T07:05:00.001-05:00

I took a "sort of " sabbatical Thursday to reflect that a year ago that date we had one of the biggest snow storms in my memory, and that is a long time. Well, one excuse is as good as any other when there is little positive material for a blog.

I am pleased to read that Jerry Green the Chairman of the Plainfield Democrat Committee as come out in favor (Dec. 26) of moving the School Board elections to the November General Elections.

One of Plainfield's glaring tragedies is its dysfunctional BOE/PSS. Perhaps the blame can be leveled at the public's lack of interest at the annual School Board/Budget spring election. Yes combining that election with the significant general election should ensure a more representative turnout. That will be most true this year; a Presidential election year.

Maria has been doing the community a great service by aggressively pointing out backed with facts the failures of this and past boards to compile with mandated State DOE requirements. She has reported on hidden expenditures that have digested large sums of funds that would be better used for our children's education.

SLAM has proven to be o better than its predecessors. The promise of transparency and a positive direction have proven to be no more than words.

Assemblyman Green calls for the Council to take action in moving the BOE election date , but doesn't the BOE have to recommend changing the election date?

STATE OF MY UNION

2012-01-25T07:00:00.000-05:00

Two great speeches; the President' s State of the Union address and the Republican response. Agreed that they are dissonant but both make critical points that should be accepted by both parties.

The President's talk covered too many facets to analyses quickly, and I am not a paid pundit who must make a pronouncement within 24 hours. They also have the advantage of receiving a copy to study beforehand.

I do hope to write something in the days to come but don 't sit on the end of your seats. However, at this moment several things struck me as noteworthy; At times the President sounded like a "liberal Republican". He even in the discussion of reforms in Education sounding like Christie when he said we should reward the good teachers and get rid of the bad ones. That may be a crux to the failure to keep children inter ested in leaarning and school.

His remark that it should be mandatory for children to stay in school until age 18 doesn't solve the problem of educating those unwilling to learn. Our BOE's must provide the wherewithal that will create an atmosphere in which even the poorest studebt wil wish to learn. That also includes the teachers that provide a reason for schooling.

On another subject; Tax Reform he is right thatthe present system has mutated through loopholes into one that puts an abnormal hard burden on the middle class as well as the senior citizen living on retirement plans.

A simple graduated scale or even equal scale over all income levels including the billionaires is a must. One must note the income from government bonds should remain tax free in the political unit sponsoring them. Those bonds are essential for a government to work, and the incentive to invest in them with their low rater of return is the tax benefit. Likewise the existence of many of our nonprofit and cultural organizations is dependent on the ability to deduct contributions from gross income. That must be preserved. Federal aid to various business should be on an individual basis and free from political manipulations. Of course when that day comes and the two parties agree on anything related to taxes especially in an election year it will probably be the day the Mayan Calendar ends.

Finally for today; Governor Daniel's observation that no country or person can avoid financial disaster if they spend more than they earn. Bankruptcy does not work for nations and it impoverishes its citizens.

CELL PHONE INTERNET PROBLEM?

2012-01-23T20:21:00.002-05:00

If you have trouble with your Internet be advised that it is not the residue of the Republican Debate but may be due to a solar flare. (Click this link.)

Christian Science Monitor

After solar flare, massive storm speeds Earthward

POLITICAL MONDAY

2012-01-23T10:01:00.003-05:00

Alan, thank you for recalling that blog about Gingrich click here to read. When I reread it I became amazed by how perceptive the author ( I) was about Gingrich and his chances. My comments about the rest of the Republican Candidates still seems valid.

Columnist Maureen Dowd in Sunday's Times discusses the weaknesses and failures of the Obama Presidency to date. For an avowed Democrat she is frank about why he will be extremely vulnerable this election.

The reactionary movement that embraced Gingrich in South Carolina perhaps best reflects her analysis.

In the same issue notable Columnist Thomas Friedman writes about the issues that will determine who will be our President in 2013. He also reports why 2/3 Americans polled would vote for a Third Party (not Paul I hope) Candidate who would promise to act on all their concerns.

Monday was a very foggy day; locally weather wise and nationally politically. The best advice is to enjoy the melt and prepare for winter later this week. Some clearing although I doubt it ; may result from the Florida primary a week from Tuesday which may determine the future of the Republican Party and perhaps a Draft Christie movement.

That noted tonight (Monday) the four debated in Tampa Florida. My impressions:

Romney was on the offensive against Gingrich blasting his record in DC. He accused him of being a Lobbyist for Freddie Mac &Fanny May receiving over a million dollars in salary as a "Historian". Gingrich of course denied influence peddling claiming he received on $30,000.00 total for his consulting services; the rest of funds went to his company for expenses. Romney will provide Tuesday 2 years tax return stating he paid everything due to the government. The fact that it was only about 15% of his income is the smoking gun.
Gingrich continues to be the ultimate debater. he can shift subject smoothly without truly answering the question. His aggressive stance on Foreign Policy. and National Economics will attract many voters. His stand on Social Security and health care will appeal to Florida's massive number of retired senior citizens . He pitched to the many "Cubans" in Florida by stating that he would aggressively try to terminate the Castro regime. He would forcefully react against Iran. He makes it sound good but is there substance present?
Ron Paul presents a most appealing national program especial relating to economics. Once again and he admit ed it, he has no concept of foreign policy except to lift the embargo against Cuba and Iran as being war provocative.
Santorum was largely ignored by the moderator but he repeated his domestic financial "program and his opposition to Federal Health Care. Since I am prejudiced against him in part because he did use his position in the Senate t o grant "favors" which have been reported (without my being able to confirm) to have benefited him when he lost a reelection bid.

All in all of the two leaders ; Gingrich scares me because I consider him to be dishonest and Romney likewise does not appeal because his positions sway with the wind and are dependent on the direction it is blowing at that moment.

JUST STUFF

2012-01-23T06:37:00.001-05:00

A weird weekend to say the least. My snow plower is happy since he was beginning to worry that he would not make any money this year. Forgotten is the fact that most years it is February and often March for the big snows. Also there are most years a storm about Easter time.

One year in the 60s I believe Helen and I had been in New York on Palm Sunday to play in a major Duplicate Bridge tournament. When we left to drive home it had been snowing for several hours in what turned out to be a major storm. As we drove back on 22 there were cars that were stuck all over the place. However through the grace of *** we manage to reach our house on Kenyon Ave safely. Our luck ran out in the driveway where there was a bend to the left at the back of the house; there the car was unable to go any further.

There was also one winter;I think in the 70s when it started to snow in late October and the ground remained snow covered until late March. That was the year we went to a meeting in Miami at the Fontainblau and the conference hall was so cold that they brought in portable heaters and the speakers gave their presentation wearing their overcoats. True story. Oh yes it did snow in Miami while we were there.

We had two dogs at that time. One was a Wired Hair Fox Terrier, a fun dog. The other, Bambi, was a Minature Pincher who though she had to consume all the food she could steal.

For our trip our daughter Paula and Ron who lived in a house in South Plainfield agreed to care for the dogs while we were away. Their house had a back stoop with steps down to the ground. The snow was up to the level of the stoop.

One day Bambi in her hurry to go outside fell off the stoop into the snow and disappeared, She had to be dug out.

How can there be any comment about the South Carolina Republican primary results? There can be no logical explanation how a State that proclaims itself to be a bastion for “true American family values” etc. could so overwhelming support Gingrich.

How about them Giants???

Potpourri for a Snowy Day

2012-01-21T07:27:00.000-05:00

At 11PM Friday no excuse for not having written a blog for Saturday. I can blame being lazy on the expected snow storm or on the South Carolina primary elections.

It will be interesting to see how Newt does in that Bible State. If we believe that Gingrich was not an advocate of open marriage-that is having your cake and eating it too- the perhaps the Captain of the Costa Concordia really did trip and fall into a lifeboat.

Just as an apology here is another JAMA cover

Monet Painting in His Garden at Argenteuil

NOT CONTROVERSIAL

2012-01-20T08:01:00.003-05:00

I watched a good college basketball game last night on ESPN3 the Internet "station" instead of the last Republican debate prior to tomorrow's South Carolina primary election.

The hour ended late and I have not prepared and wisdom to share. There are three viable Republican s still running and each represents a different segment of the party. If the philosophical split remains at and after their convention; President Obama's reelection will b e assured.

Instead. from JAMA two interesting and different portraits. The text beneath is in JPG (photograph) format and clicking on it will enlarge it to readable size.

DAYS IN OZ

2012-01-18T22:22:00.005-05:00

I have often referred to our Queen City as Oz. Recent happenings in the Municipal Government field, the PMUA, and the BOE/PSS have confirmed that this is the land of wonderment.

The Mayor has been found to have illegally used $20,000.00 of municipal funds. However one Councilor has belittled that finding by saying that it was only $5,000.00 of City money and much more was spent to investigate that sum. It does not matter what the amount was it is the legality of the action that is important. All elected officials are sworn to uphold the law not ignore indiscretions by colleagues.

In fact that Councilor is dismissing the $15,000.00 that was restricted for Fourth of July expenses as being inconsequential and not an improper usage of funds.

That citizens have spoken as well as anonymous comments to the blogs against the Council's action in pursuing an investigation as a waste of money implies the existence of a segment of our society who believes that anything you do as long as you can get away with it is OK. Some of these individuals would aspire to be an official part of our government.

No one on the Council has even explained why we taxpayers had to provide the Mayor with an attorney. The investigation was only to find out if there was an illegal action. If so, then if a legal process followed and the Mayor became a defendant it would be then that she would need an lawyer. It would not be the city's responsibility to defend her if it were it fact the injured party.

But, weirdness is not only limited to the Municipal government; according to the findings of another blogger the BOE has been hiding from the public not only expenditures of large sums of monies on claims of unknown nature against the PSS but also failing to conform to many State procedural regulations in various fields.

To compound they have threatened Mrs. Pellum with arrest for attempting to videotape the meetings for not conforming with conditions they have made policy that could make it impossible for any member of the public to to exercise his legal rights implicit in OPRA. WE elected SLAM to correct the fiduciary abuses of the then sitting board. Instead, we have had what seems to be more of the same.

And finally there is the PMUA's Commissioners who having turned a blind eye to the improper use of funds by their administrators are rewarding them with a Million Dollars for "resigning" not for termination without cause. How can they justify this outrage?

What is more bewildering is that various agencies and even the top administration of the State have ignored all these incidents of misgovernment in the land of Oz.

8:00 AM Addendum; It is very disturbing to read in the Courier that Assemblyman and City Party Chairman is quoted to have remarked that the whole investigation was "POLITICAL GRANDSTANDING", and also he called it "A JOKE". In other words he finds nothing wrong in an elected official misusing (illegally) public funds. Green should explain the meaning of his remarks , I am sure that as a respected and long standing leader in State politics he is not condoning the Mayor's actions.

First Reportt.

2012-01-17T22:37:00.003-05:00

This is a preliminary report about the Council meeting. The Council went into a 50 minute Executive Session immediately after convening the meeting to further discuss Resolution 36-12 which reprimanded the Mayor-see earlier post.

When that Resolution came up for vote it was passed unanimously to my surprise. However Councilor Read after the vote, once again was critical of the Council Majority for spend time and legal fees for what he called only $5000.00 of City Money. Apparently disregard of the law is of no consequence if the sum is small.

After the Council's vote on the Resolution; the Mayor's attorney asked for a few minutes to make remarks about the WBLS report and Council's action. . For the first time we learned, as I have questioned in earlier Public Comment segments,, that we the tax payers were also paying for his services when he was refereed to as Special Consul for the Mayor.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

FYI- THE RESOLUTION

2012-01-17T14:06:00.003-05:00

This is the Resolution reprimanding the Mayor for the WBLS funding. It is self explanatory and represents the limit the Council can go. If it is not tabled or amended which is unlikely it will pass by a 4:3 vote., or 4:0 if there are three abstentions.

The copy is JPG form and clicking on it will enlarge it to readable status.

If the last Resolve is included it will be interesting to note the reactions of "higher authority".

2012-01-17T13:57:00.001-05:00

BERLIN-PARIS 1945

2012-01-17T09:20:00.003-05:00

No real local or national news today. There is the Council meeting at 8pm at the Court House" . If the resolution resulting from the WBLS is v oted on there will be much news for tomorrow. Meanwhile let us retrn to 1945.

While in Berlin, the 82^nd Division medical officers were given a chance for a week’s leave on the Riviera. The supposedly less fortunate ones, including myself, received temporary duty at a hospital in Paris. Many of the Paris hospital’s medical officers had been rotated back to the States for discharge. I was fortunate to be assigned for six weeks to the 23rd General Hospital, the only American hospital inside the city of Paris, The 23^rd occupied the Hopital de la Pitié where Charcot had been chief. It was located right opposite a metro stop on the Blvd St. Michael. Thus all of Paris was within easy reach.

I flew from Berlin to Paris in a C47. I am sure that the pilot was using visual navigation, following railroad tracks and flying just over the tree tops all the way to Paris. The day I arrived in Paris the European Command had decided that the occupation marks would no longer be exchanged into dollars. However, we were lucky that the airport bank had not received that notification. I was able to exchange all my occupation German marks for a money order to be sent home.

My duty with the 23rd General Hospital, which was the University of Buffalo unit, was a great one. Their Chief of the Venereal Disease Service had just left. Therefore, I became the head of that service I did five to ten lumbar punctures every morning, and administered medications, penicillin and intra-gluteal bismuth.**

The Army required that any referral from other services had to be formal, I was fortunate that the chief of the Medical Services was Dr. Brown head of medicine at the University. He would send me a referral complete with all the answers, which I used in my “consultation response”.

All afternoon I was free for sightseeing the city. In the evening, we doctors met at the Hospital’s small officer’s club’s bar for a few drinks before going to bed. It was here that I was introduced to aged Armagnac which the bar tender rightly professed to be better than a similar aged cognac. One of the other doctors came from Omaha and wanted me to join his medical group when I was discharged. However, although tempted I felt that because my brother was career Navy; I should return to Plainfield since my parents were getting on years and my sister was an invalid.

Any visitor to Paris should go to the opera. Unfortunately, at that time the Opera was closed for the season. However, the Opera Comique was in session. We obtained tickets for Lakme. While the tenor almost looked the role, the soprano was ungodly fat. A French man sitting behind us kept tapping our shoulders, saying that we should have heard Lilly Pons in that role. I had heard her on radio and knew it was her signature role. That was the only time to this day that I have been to the opera.

**One of the most severe forms of Tertiary Syphilis involved the Brain and Spinal Cord. The lumber punctures were to test spinal fluid for presence of infection and in those infected to inject penicillin. In 1945 the Penicillin was only in aqueous form, Bismuth also was effective in treating syphilis. It is a heavy metal in base form but this was in a chemical combination much like the form in Pepto-Bismol. Since it did not dissolve it was injected in the “butt”. It never was absorbed and left a deposit for life that showed up on x-ray. It was amazing how often a “leading citizen” had evidence of Bismuth on lower abdomen x-rays.

JAMA iNTERLUDE

2012-01-16T06:50:00.000-05:00

En joy MLK day. For a change two JAMA covers with accompanying explanations. If you click on the text it will enlarge and be readable

Catching White Bait at Nakaumni
Oda Bkazauma 1882-1956

Point Lobos-Guy Brose 1867-1925

TUESDAY'S AGENDA

2012-01-15T06:43:00.000-05:00

In as much as in the absence of backup material for the Resolutions on Tuesday night's Agenda there is little for comment. There is one exception; that is a Resolution not discussed at the Agenda Setting Session.

Resolution 036-12 per agenda; "COUNCILMANIC RESOLUTION REPRIMANDING MAYOR SHARON M. BRIGGS-ROBINSON AND REFERRING RESULTS OF WBLS EXPENDITURE INVESTIGATION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, AND THE UNION COUNTY PROSECUTOR (RESOLUTION FORTHCOMING).

There can be no commentary on an unknown Resolution; however by its nature I would anticipate that if it is adopted as written it will be by a 4:3 vote. The report itself recommends a "reprimand" which would be difficult for all Councilors to reject. However, I can conceive that there will be a concerted effort by the minority members to amend the resolution to delete the referral to higher authorities.

It would be logical for any such referral to request an investigation to rule out any other fiscal irregularities due to the lack of a proper CFO.

RARITAN VALLEY HOSPITAL AND MORE

2012-01-13T15:55:00.005-05:00

This came today(Friday) in my email. the posting was one of two in April 2008. The subject matter was suggested by the imminent plan to close Muhlenberg'.

"Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "The Saga of a Hospital Closing Part 2":

It is great to hear this story form an insider. My mother worked in the ER from 1973 until its closing in 1981. She made some never ending friendships and it was one of her favorite jobs. "

For those who may be interested in the story of Raritan Valley Hospital here are the links.
The Saga of a Hospital Closing Part 2
THE SAGA OF A HOSPITAL CLOSINGl

It was a very patient friendly and except for the Chairman of the Board of Governors a pleasant place for the staff.

A further history of RVH can be found in this link.
Robert Wood Johnson Medical School - Wikipedia, the free ...

It is ironic the influence politicians have had in health care in New Jersey. The Medical School in New Brunswick was formed as part of Rutgers University. For unexplained reasons it was later combined with the Medical School in Newark and the Osteopathic school in Camden as the New Jersey Medical University completely separate from Rutgers.

There has been financial scandals related to officials in the State medical university and now the State plans to separate some of its units including New Brunswick and again make them part of Rutgers. Politicians act in mysterious ways.

POLITICAL MAVEN II

2012-01-12T23:26:00.000-05:00

Factors that will impact on the primary in the Bible Belt States will be the “religious question” as well as the economy and gun control.

All three are very important in South Carolina especially the status of the economy. South Carolina has been one of if not the state suffering the most from the economic downturn. Romney’s opponents will be hitting at the major job losses in some of the corporation his venture capital group acquired. They will make no mention of the new jobs resulting from the successful ones his group created. All the candidates follow a script stating that they will create jobs, but none have specific programs.

It goes without amplifying that in the more rural states the right to have a weapon is a very sensitive issue. All the candidates must address this issue in some manner.

It is possible that more important that the religious question may be of significant importance. Although in 1960 Kennedy was able to defuse the “Papist fear “and Catholics now can seek office without this being an issue, there is the position taken by some evangelistic Christian movements that Mormons are not Christians. They will use this sentiment to attack Romney and Huntsman.

Although the fact that Gingrich is in his third marriage and his third religion as a new dedicated Catholic probably will not concern most of this group. From past history the “Religious Issue” will become a prominent if only a sub rosa part of all primary election campaigns in these states. This may be especially true in South Carolina which is notorious for its ‘dirty election campaigns”