Economy Slows To Crawl; Signs Not Good

Well, the latest updated economic reports are in and they don't look good.
In fact, the economy grew much slower than previously thought in the second quarter as business inventories and exports were less robust, according to a government report released today.
The gross domestic product rose at an annual rate of 1.0 percent the Commerce Department said, a downward revision of its earlier estimate of 1.3 percent.
Economists had expected output growth to be revised down to 1.1 percent. In the first quarter, the economy advanced just 0.4 percent. The government's second GDP estimate for the quarter confirmed growth had all but stalled in the first six months of this year.

Video: Christie Announces Preparations For Irene

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, Col. Fuentes, NJ Homeland Security Director McKenna and Gen. Reith brief members of the press on Hurricane Irene preparedness.

Christie Announces Numerous Appointments

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has filed the following nominations and direct appointments with the State Senate and Secretary of State’s Office. The Governor’s nominations are subject to the advice and consent of the State Senate.

NOMINATIONS

Ellis Island Advisory Commission

Public Member - Development Industry

Nominate for appointment Norman A. Feinstein, Esq. (Caldwell, Essex)

new jersey schools development Authority

Nominate for appointment Richard L. Elbert, AIA, Esq. (Westfield, Union)

north jersey district water supply commission

Nominate for appointment the Honorable Donald C. Kuser (Wayne, Passaic)

Police and Firemen’s retirement system of new jersey board of trustees

Nominate for appointment Steven K. Brisgel (Short Hills, Essex)

State board of physical therapy examiners

Licensed Physical Therapist

Nominate for appointment Beth Sarfaty, PT, MBA (West Long Branch, Monmouth)

State mosquito Control Commission

Nominate for reappointment Kenneth W. Bruder, Ph.D. (Toms River, Ocean)

DIRECT APPOINTMENTS

Hunger prevention advisory committee

Executive Director of the County Welfare Directors Association of NJ

Appoint Frank A. Cirillo (Trenton, Mercer)

Executive Director of the Municipal Welfare Association of NJ

Appoint Barbara J. Miceli (North Middletown, Monmouth)

Public Members – Programs Serving the Homeless

Appoint Vesta Godwin Clark (Newark, Essex)

Reappoint Gina Williams Deas (Pennsauken, Camden)

Public Member - Nutritionist

Appoint Susan A. Jones, RD (Trenton, Mercer)

Public Members – Emergency Food Program

Reappoint Kathleen DiChiara (Summit, Union)

Appoint Karen Hanson (Far Hills, Somerset)

Public Members – Knowledgeable About Emergency Food

Reappoint Rosemary Gilmartin (Morristown, Morris)

Appoint Chip Paillex (Pittstown, Hunterdon)

new jersey epilepsy task force

Neurologist

Appoint Dr. Marcelo E. Lancman (New Rochelle, New York)

Pediatric Neurologist

Appoint Dr. Roopal M. Karia (Plainsboro, Middlesex)

Agency Representatives

Appoint Ann Marie Bezuyen (Campbell Hall, New York)

Appoint Dr. Eric B. Gellar (Millburn, Essex)

Consultant Pharmacist

Appoint Dr. Harry A. Thibodeau, R.Ph., CCP, FASCP (Clark, Union)

Epilepsy Foundation of NJ

Appoint Eric M. Joice (Toms River, Ocean)

Public Members - Epilepsy

Appoint Ann Carletta (Edgewater, Bergen)

Appoint Nicole J. Hartmann (Plainsboro, Middlesex)

Public Member - Parent

Appoint Shelby A. Myers (Turnersville, Gloucester)

New Jersey Veterans’ Hospital Task Force

Public Member - NJHA

Appoint Barbara Chamberlain, Ph.D., APRN, MBA, CCRN, WCC (Williamstown, Gloucester)

Occupational SAfety Review Commission

Reappoint Grace Applegate-Tissiere (Spring Lake, Monmouth)

Reappoint Howard M. Kipen, MD, MPH (Basking Ridge, Somerset)

New Jersey Board of Nursing

Appoint the Therese A. Steinhardt, RN (R-Belvidere, Warren)

Departmental Appointments Subject to Governor’s Approval

Governor Chris Christie also approved Department of Human Services Commissioner Jennifer Velez’s appointments for three boards of trustees. These direct appointments do not require Senate confirmation.

North jersey developmental Center board of trustees

Reappoint Walter W. Porter (Paterson, Passaic)

Reappoint Chester C. Celmerowski (Clifton, Passaic)

Reappoint Lawrence F. Kramer (Paterson, Passaic)

Appoint Raafat Barsoom, M.D. (Belleville, Essex)

Trenton Psychiatric Hospital Board of Trustees

Reappoint Neil E. Weisfeld (Princeton, Mercer)

Reappoint Patricia Anne Carr (Pennington, Mercer)

Reappoint Pamela Anne Cooper Bowen (Princeton, Mercer)

Reappoint Carolyn T. Torre, RN, MA, APN (Princeton, Mercer)

Reappoint Linda Maiden (Princeton, Mercer)

ancora Psychiatric Hospital Board of Trustees

Reappoint Thomas R. Jones (West Deptford, Gloucester)

Reappoint Colonel (Ret.) Anthony R. La Mastra (Forked River, Ocean)

Appoint John J. Franchini (Linwood, Atlantic)

Governor Christie also filed the following direct appointments with the Secretary of State’s Office. These direct appointments do not require Senate confirmation.

Direct Appointments

Occupational SAfety and health Review Commission

Reappoint Grace Applegate-Tissiere (Spring Lake, Monmouth)

Reappoint Howard M. Kipen, MD, MPH (Basking Ridge, Somerset)

Christie: Don't Wait, Evacuate Barrier Islands

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has once again reinforced his strong call urging all residents and visitors to the New Jersey barrier islands and shore areas to leave for safer locations. Following a briefing at the Regional Operations Intelligence Center, Governor Christie signed a Declaration of a State of Emergency for New Jersey and called on people already at the shore to begin to leave immediately and advised anyone who has shore rentals or was planning to go to the shore this weekend not to go. It is important residents and visitors heed the advice and direction being given by the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management (OEM). In order to conduct an orderly evacuation of the coastline and barrier islands, residents and visitors should begin evacuating tomorrow if they have not already done so.

The Governor is calling on people to leave voluntarily and in order to support these coast evacuations is authorizing several measures that will make evacuation easier. The Governor is temporarily suspending tolls on all parts of the Garden State Parkway south of the Raritan River and the Atlantic City Expressway beginning at 8:00 a.m. Friday morning. Furthermore, Routes 47 and 347 in Cape May County will be closed to eastbound traffic and will use all lanes to move traffic westward beginning Friday evening at 6:00 pm. As part of this process, all ramps will be tightly controlled and additional personnel will be used to ensure safety.

Additionally, the state OEM is coordinating with every county as they mobilize preparations at the county and local level. Any request for assistance must come through from the local to the county up through the state OEM in order to ensure there is a real-time, coordinate response.

Man's Best Friend Mourns At Casket of Fallen Navy SEAL

Another touching story of how "furry family" pay tribute to their owners.

From Today:

Navy SEAL Jon Tumilson lay in a coffin, draped in an American flag, in front of a tearful audience mourning his death in Afghanistan. Soon an old friend appeared, and like a fellow soldier on a battlefield, his loyal dog refused to leave him behind.

Tumilson’s Labrador retriever, Hawkeye, was photographed lying by Tumilson’s casket in a heart-wrenching image taken at the funeral service in Tumilson’s hometown of Rockford, Iowa, earlier this week. Hawkeye walked up to the casket at the beginning of the service and then dropped down with a heaving sigh as about 1,500 mourners witnessed a dog accompanying his master until the end, reported CBS.

The photo was snapped by Tumilson’s cousin, Lisa Pembleton, and posted on her Facebook page in memory of the San Diego resident. Tumilson, 35, was one of 30 American troops, including 22 Navy SEALs, who were killed when a Taliban insurgent shot down a Chinook helicopter with a rocket-propelled grenade on Aug. 6.

“I felt compelled to take one photo to share with family members that couldn't make it or couldn't see what I could from the aisle,” Pembleton wrote on her Facebook page. “To say that he was an amazing man doesn't do him justice. The loss of Jon to his family, military family and friends is immeasurable.’’

You can read the article in its' entirety by clicking here.

'Blockbuster' Hits Streets Tuesday, August 30

Some people say it will have heads exploding in Washington.
Others say it will send the mighty and powerful running for cover.
The whispers about it inside the beltway are beginning to get louder and soon they will turn to shrieks.
It's bold. It's brash. It's unapologetic.

No, I'm not talking about the recent earthquake or the upcoming hurricane Irene.
I'm talking about Dick Cheney's big new book, In My Time. Finally, The Sphinx speaks. And in this book, he's expected to tell all -- all the tales he's been keeping and holding through a long career that made him the penultimate Washington insider and culminated with his two terms as one of the most influential vice presidents in American history.
One thing that's already been revealed: As vice president, Cheney kept a secret letter of resignation hidden away in a safe because there really was no clear constitutional procedure in case he became incapacitated or unable to serve. And Cheney was concerned about his sometimes precarious health and how it might impact his ability to perform. So, the letter was ready in case it was needed and presumably those close to him knew how to access it if necessary. Even in a state of incapacitation, Cheney was determined to be the master of his own fate -- at least as vice president, anyway.
In My Time hits bookstores and downloads on Tuesday, August 30. Watch for it.

'Mad As Hell -- Not Gonna Take It Anymore!'

Here's a clip from the 1976 movie 'Network.'
If you've never seen this film (or if you haven't seen it lately) you owe it to yourself to download it or rent it and watch it promptly.
In 2000, this film was selected for preservationin the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant". In 2002, it was inducted into the Producers Guild of America Hall of Fame as a film that has "set an enduring standard for U.S. American entertainment."  In 2006, Chayefsky's script was voted one of the top-ten screenplays by the Writers Guild of America, east  In 2007, the film was 64th among the Top 100 Greatest American Films as chosen by the American Film Institute, a ranking slightly higher than the one AFI had given it ten years earlier.

Biden Verbose, Obtuse In Praise Of Public Speaking

As someone who teaches public speaking I constantly marvel at the ineptitude of many well-known speakers. The current Vice President of the United States is a good example. Joe Biden continues to embarrass  himself and our nation with his inability to be brief, coherent or sensible. And this does not even count his numerous gaffes, inappropriate comments, inaccuracies and outright buffoonery.
In China at Sichuan University Biden answered a simple question from a student about the importance of  public speaking with a long-winded 863 word answer that included a rambling, incoherent 68 word sentence on the value of brevity.
And all this came on the heels of a 4.600 word speech.
Whew! This man is a pathetic windbag.

BTW: Here is the final part of Biden's answer. Read it and see if you can figure out what he's saying:

"And so language, the ability not only to master the ability to put your ideas into words succinctly on a platform to communicate ideas to your own people, it is even more impressive when you have the capacity to do that and communicate your ideas, especially as future business and political and moral leaders of the world in the language of the people to whom you are speaking."

World's Cutest Dog Takes A Road Trip

Here's the world's cutest dog on a recent road trip. Ya gotta admit, he's a winner!

Philly Tea Party Remembers Joey Vento

While remembering his remarkable contribution to the Tea Party movement, members of the Independence Hall Tea Party Association are mourning the loss of Joey Vento, who died yesterday of a massive heart attack.  

"Joey Vento,  recipient of our 2011 Patriot of the Year Award, will never be forgotten--he is simple irreplaceable,"  said Association President, Teri Adams.

"The April 18 Press Release (below) sums up our Association's view of a genuine Tea Party hero and legend."  

  

Teri Adams Announces Joey Vento as

Tea Party Choice for 2011 Patriot of the Year

Live on WPHT's Dom Giordano Show 

  

Association Names Joey Vento 2011 Patriot of the Year;

 Says Vento Exemplifies the Entrepreneurial and Civic Spirit

the Movement Espouses

Philadelphia, PA (April 18, 2011) -- The President of the Independence Hall Tea Party Association has announced that businessman Joey Vento has been unanimously chosen by its Board of Directors to receive the "2011 Patriot of the Year Award" for his Entrepreneurial and Civic contributions at the local, regional, and national levels.

Speaking at a Tea Party held April 15 at Geno's Steaks (a restaurant Mr. Vento established in 1966 at the corner of 9th and Passyunk) and carried live on WPHT's Dom Giordano Show, Association President Teri Adams explained why Mr. Vento was chosen.

"Joey Vento has been a friend to Philadelphia, the region, and the nation," said Ms. Adams. "As a South Philadelphia businessman and employer, 

Mr. Vento has benefited the local economy.  As a philanthropist, he has supported justice for fallen police officer Daniel Faulkner, an array of regional law enforcement causes, and various other charities. 

"As a concerned American, Mr. Vento has been an outspoken proponent of legal immigration--backing Arizona in its struggle to enforce the laws on its books against the intervention of the Federal government, " Ms. Adams said.  "He has defended the First Amendment, advocated for superior health care, and promoted the Tea Party Movement."

Several Years ago, the Philadelphia Human Relations Commission tried to penalize Mr. Vento for posting a sign on the wall of his establishment, which read, "When Ordering, Please Speak English."   Mr. Vento fought the 

Commission and eventually prevailed.

More recently,  Mr. Vento, who was diagnosed with cancer and successfully treated, has taken to the airwaves--buying radio spots comparing the advantages of the private American healthcare system to the deficiencies of socialized medicine.

"Joey Vento spoke at our very first Tea Party two years ago," said Ms. Adams.  "The nearly two thousand participants loved his heartfelt sincerity, his honesty, and his common sense.  He is the Tea Party Movement."

The "2011 Patriot of the Year Award" will be officially presented to Mr. Vento at the Association's Energy Independence Day Tea Party to be

held July 4 from 1-4 PM on Independence Mall, 5th and Market Streets.