City Belt

• City Belt is Dead! Long Live City Belt!

  The people behind City Belt have moved on and now run the Jersey City Independent, a nonprofit online newspaper for New Jersey's second-largest city. JCI is currently still in soft-launch mode, but will be fully operational by March '09. We... [...]
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  Posted: December 13, 2008, 6:54pm EST
  by Jon Whiten

• PATIENCE, FRIENDS, PATIENCE

  You're seeing a brand-spankin'-new, but not-yet-complete design of City Belt right here. And you know what that means: yep, preppin' for a relaunch. More details to come soon, and we're hoping to fix some of the bugs with the new... [...]
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  Posted: November 19, 2007, 7:44pm EST
  by Jon Whiten

• HI! (ATUS)

  Despite the funky punctuation, you read it right. City Belt is taking an indefinite hiatus. The site will continue to live while we reorganize and plan our next attack, so browse those archives, people! We appreciate your support over the... [...]
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  Posted: June 07, 2007, 11:27am EDT
  by Jon Whiten

• HI! (ATUS)

  Despite the funky punctuation, you read it right. City Belt is taking an indefinite hiatus. The site will continue to live while we reorganize and plan our next attack, so browse those archives, people! We appreciate your support over the... [...]
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  Posted: June 07, 2007, 11:27am EDT
  by Jon Whiten

• PHOTO OF THE WEEK: CITY HALL

  Class classic -- that's JC City Hall for ya. This photo, taken by Eve Rametta, makes City Hall look like such a lovely place to be ... almost makes us forget about what *actually* goes on inside. Almost. Remember, folks... [...]
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  Posted: May 18, 2007, 3:24pm EDT
  by Jon Whiten

• POEM: OBJECT

  My pink Jesus Leaks blue blood On Corinthian capital When I got him last year He was full And I was full And when I asked him Anything His answers made me laugh I could make sense Of them... [...]
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  Posted: May 18, 2007, 3:14pm EDT
  by Jon Whiten

• WE NEED MANDATORY SENSITIVITY TRAINING IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS

  ShapTalk: Guest CommentaryBy Michael M. ShapiroThis past February, the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled that school systems are responsible for stopping bias-based harassment and found in favor of a former student who had been incessantly harassed because of his sexual... [...]
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  Posted: May 17, 2007, 11:06am EDT
  by Jon Whiten

• JERSEY: GOOD ENOUGH TO WRITE ABOUT

  ...But apparently not good enough to speak in. So, I direct your attention to a book about Jersey (an anthology of essays by some of New Jersey's best young writers), having what could only be called a book release party/reading/thing... [...]
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  Posted: May 15, 2007, 3:03pm EDT
  by Jon Whiten

• BUT I DIGEST ... NORTH JERSEY VIETNAMESE SHOWDOWN

  Round Four: Two Great Restaurants, Only One CrownBy Kimberly KayeFor those of you who are just tuning in, “But I Digest…” has spent the last two months pitting North Jersey’s best Vietnamese restaurants against each other in order to crown... [...]
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  Posted: May 14, 2007, 4:17pm EDT
  by Jon Whiten

• WHERE HAVE WE BEEN?

  That's the question that's come up more than once in the past month. Where, oh where, has my little City Belt gone? Well, long story short: despite the variety of bylines you see on the site, we're a two-person operation.... [...]
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  Posted: May 14, 2007, 4:25am EDT
  by Jon Whiten

• PHOTO OF THE WEEK: APPLES, BAMBOO

  Not sure where this was taken ... a store of some sort, you're probably saying, and of course you're right, smartass. Lots of lines. We like lines! This one's by Flickr user gypsee. Remember, folks -- you gotta be in... [...]
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  Posted: April 13, 2007, 5:48pm EDT
  by Jon Whiten

• MOTUS IMAGO: THE FILM USER'S GUIDE

  The weekly rundown: by Shane Smith don't miss: Volver I'm not a big fan of Almodovar or Penelope, but this is a good one Cinema Village (Manhattan) don't bother: Music and Lyrics Hugh and Drew compete for Most Cloying Performance... [...]
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  Posted: April 13, 2007, 5:34pm EDT
  by Jon Whiten

• POEM: BLESSED IN NEWARK

  Orthodox in all but name,We find ourselves between the apse and naveOf two worlds where our reflectionsMimic blank expressionsAnd pepper mosaic windows. The bus wends its way through Vailsburg,My spiritual home, our Fatima,Where we gained strengthOn Friday evenings in April... [...]
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  Posted: April 13, 2007, 7:53am EDT
  by Jon Whiten

• NEW JERSEY'S POLS: BACKING THE WRONG PRESIDENTIAL HORSES?

  ShapTalk: Guest CommentaryBy Michael M. ShapiroOfficials of both political parties should have learned a lesson from 2004 when key Democratic politicians, including Gov. Jim McGreevey, jumped on board with Gov.Howard Dean, only to see Dean implode soon thereafter, leaving them... [...]
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  Posted: April 13, 2007, 6:50am EDT
  by Jon Whiten

• THE THIRD DEGREE: PAUL MERCURIO

  By Elizabeth Weill-Greenberg Paul Mecurio is an investment banker-turned-stand up comic who was on the original writing team for The Daily Show -- he's won an Emmy, a Peabody, and he's performing at Rascal's in Montclair through Sunday. He recently... [...]
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  Posted: April 12, 2007, 6:18am EDT
  by Jon Whiten

• THE PEACH PIT: US WEEKLY, KING OF GOSSIP

  By Elizabeth Weill-Greenberg When I saw Us Weekly’s headline “Saint or Sinner” above a picture of Angelina Jolie, I felt like a heroin addict who couldn’t wait for her next fix. My subscription was coming in a few days; there... [...]
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  Posted: April 11, 2007, 8:58pm EDT
  by Jon Whiten

• BUT I DIGEST ... AND THE WINNER IS ...

  By Kimberly Kaye A big thank you to all the dedicated eaters who participated in our So You Think You Know Food challenge; you have impressed me with both your imagination and culinary knowledge. While I would love to announce... [...]
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  Posted: April 10, 2007, 3:46pm EDT
  by Jon Whiten

• MOTUS IMAGO: GRINDHOUSE

  By Nightdreamer Oh my G! Where G stands for Grindhouse. I was lucky enough to belong to one of the few people who had the chance to watch an advance screening of Grindhouse. The movie theater was packed and I... [...]
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  Posted: April 09, 2007, 1:55pm EDT
  by Jon Whiten

• PHOTO OF THE WEEK: 1 JERSEY AVE.

  This photo was taken at, um 1 Jersey Ave. (you know, that part before you walk the plank to LSP?) in Jersey City by Flickr's Lugo Lounge. Remember, folks -- you gotta be in it to win it! To be... [...]
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  Posted: March 30, 2007, 3:41pm EDT
  by Jon Whiten

• MOTUS IMAGO: THE FILM USER'S GUIDE

  The weekly rundown: by Shane Smith don't miss: Volver I'm not a big fan of Almodovar or Penelope, but this is a good one. Landmark Sunshine (NYC) don't bother: Music and Lyrics Hugh and Drew compete for Most Cloying Performance... [...]
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  Posted: March 30, 2007, 1:37pm EDT
  by Jon Whiten

• POEM: ITINERARY

  I consult a weathervane But the wind disappears Just a fallen arrow now I open unsuspecting jars And unleash my tongue Lids stay sticky anyhow I hail all rocks on water That skip longer for less Descent climbs offshore Morning... [...]
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  Posted: March 30, 2007, 8:40am EDT
  by Jon Whiten

• THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY & WOMEN IN POLITICS

  ShapTalk: Guest CommentaryBy Michael M. ShapiroFifty years ago, women would typically vote for the candidates their husbands voted for or would not vote at all. Times have thankfully changed and women now have a significant role in campaigns and elections.... [...]
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  Posted: March 30, 2007, 6:36am EDT
  by Jon Whiten

• YOUR FRIENDS & NEIGHBORS: THE ROADSIDE GRAVES' NO ONE WILL KNOW WHERE YOU'VE BEEN

  By Tris McCall From: The Graves still live in Metuchen, and I believe Mister John Gleason teaches primary school somewhere around there. But their new label – Kill Buffalo – is based in Brooklyn. Perhaps because of this, the Roadside... [...]
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  Posted: March 29, 2007, 6:56am EDT
  by Jon Whiten

• DAY JOB: MELISSA SURACH

  Photo by Eric Harvey Brown Melissa Surach is the producer and host of the monthly Melissa Surach's BlackHole comedy show and one half of the comedy duo (ain't that redundant!) Gynocult. The latest BlackHole show is tonight at 8 pm... [...]
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  Posted: March 28, 2007, 6:25am EDT
  by Jon Whiten

• DISPATCH FROM 'THE PEOPLE'S RALLY'

  The People's Rally For Peace Justice brings activists togetherBy Erik-Anders Nilsson On the relative eve of the Congress voting on (and almost assuredly passing) an additional $120 billion dollars to continue the occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan, the People’s Rally... [...]
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  Posted: March 27, 2007, 6:41am EDT
  by Jon Whiten

• TOXIC NJ: MORE INCONVENIENT TRUTHS

  By Leigh Davis In his Academy Award-winning film, An Inconvenient Truth, Al Gore -- discussing why so many in the corporate world have resisted the obvious about climate change -- quotes Upton Sinclair: “You can't make somebody understand something if... [...]
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  Posted: March 26, 2007, 7:14am EDT
  by Jon Whiten

• PHOTO OF THE WEEK: CRANES

  But where is the crane wife? Ah, yes, bad jokes abound when the Decemberists come through town. But this photo has nothing to do with this week's mega-indie show at the Loew's. But as a crane enthusiast myself, I really... [...]
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  Posted: March 23, 2007, 2:00pm EDT
  by Jon Whiten

• POEM: POOR RECEPTION

  Picture an apartment with a rusty fire escape in a city called Somewhere, New Jersey. A man in a black T-shirt sitssmoking and chewing, watchingGeorge W. in a blizzard of static. What now? the man asks a sleeping dog at... [...]
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  Posted: March 23, 2007, 12:19pm EDT
  by Jon Whiten

• MOTUS IMAGO: THE FILM USER'S GUIDE

  Editors' note: A new feature today at City Belt is Shane Smith's weekly rundown of what's playing in the theaters around our area. Short sweet, it's our weekly film user's guide. don't missThe Queen: the film is awesome, Helen Mirren... [...]
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  Posted: March 23, 2007, 11:58am EDT
  by Jon Whiten

• THE AGENDA: EXECUTIVE ORDER

  For full calendar listings, check The Agenda. To have your event listed, please e-mail the editors. THIS WEEK'S BEST BETS:FRIDAY | 3.23.07 Art. The closing party for True Character, a show of photography by JC's own Laos Fois, is at... [...]
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  Posted: March 23, 2007, 11:37am EDT
  by Jon Whiten

• A NEW DAY FOR NJ POLITICS?

  ShapTalk: Guest CommentaryBy Michael M. ShapiroThe New Jersey State Senate is composed of forty individuals who serve part-time. The Senate currently houses 22 Democrats and 18 Republicans. In the past few weeks, 11 senators have announced that they will not... [...]
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  Posted: March 22, 2007, 10:36am EDT
  by Jon Whiten

• MOTUS IMAGO: 300

  By Nightdreamer In bowling, 300 is the perfect score, achieved when one rolls strikes in all ten frames. In the kingdom of cinema, Frank Miller has just scored 300 for the second time with the release of 300, which is... [...]
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  Posted: March 21, 2007, 6:52am EDT
  by Jon Whiten

• STEWPOT: THE AKON PROBLEM

  By Emma PollinEditors' note: Talk about timing. The very day Ms. Pollin turned in this column, heavily based on Akon, the Christopher Columbus Drive locale of his now-deceased manager's label Block Royal Entertainment was raided. The Jersey City Police said... [...]
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  Posted: March 21, 2007, 4:11am EDT
  by Jon Whiten

• UPDATE: CHARGES AGAINST ACTIVIST DISMISSED

  Back in September, we reported on Bob Flisser's arrest in Flemington for participating in a vigil against the Iraq War, due to a vaguely worded ordinance. Then, we updated you when Judge John Petronko ruled against Flisser in November. Today,... [...]
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  Posted: March 20, 2007, 3:47pm EDT
  by Jon Whiten

• FOUR FUCKING YEARS

  As long as we're on the topic of numbers: At least 3,210 Americans deadApproximately 650,000 Iraqis dead 750 detainees at Guantanamo, aged 10 to 80What can we do? Work to make sure this is the last year of the war... [...]
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  Posted: March 20, 2007, 11:53am EDT
  by Jon Whiten

• THE PEACH PIT: AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL

  By Elizabeth Weill-Greenberg Sorry the Peach Pit’s been closed for renovations the last few weeks. It’s been wild. Brandon just came in and wanted his job back after only giving Nat, uh, no notice to take a job at the... [...]
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  Posted: March 19, 2007, 11:35am EDT
  by Jon Whiten

• PHOTO OF THE WEEK: BLUE MOON

  A picture postcard if we've ever seen one. Taken by Pat Marella.You gotta be in it to win it! To be featured as Photo of the Week, and in our constantly updating Flickr badge in the right sidebar, tag your... [...]
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  Posted: March 16, 2007, 7:17pm EDT
  by Jon Whiten

• POEM: BUT FOR THE GRACE OF ...

  Tucked in the lower corner, the headline told the ostensible story, “Former professor, to call girl, then suicide, police say.” Untold, unsung, are the thousands like Brandy, those less picturesque, less resonant to media, as untold as the untellable millions... [...]
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  Posted: March 16, 2007, 12:00pm EDT
  by Jon Whiten

• TO LEASE OR SELL STATE ASSETS REQUIRES THOROUGH INVESTIGATION

  ShapTalk: Guest CommentaryBy Michael M. Shapiro printer friendly Recently, Gov. Jon Corzine proposed selling or leasing key assets of the State including the New Jersey Turnpike. The governor believes the sale or lease of such assets will provide billions in... [...]
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  Posted: March 16, 2007, 11:15am EDT
  by Jon Whiten

• BUT I DIGEST ... NORTH JERSEY VIETNAMESE SHOWDOWN

  Round Three: Can Jersey City’s Pho Thang Long Match Little Saigon? By Kimberly Kaye printer friendly After a brief and informative hiatus spent pitting you dedicated foodies against one another, we return to the North Jersey Vietnamese Showdown (a big... [...]
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  Posted: March 15, 2007, 8:43am EDT
  by Jon Whiten

• BOOK REVIEW: FROM SUBMARINES TO SUBURBS

  Henthorn's look back can help us look aheadBy Greg Strid printer friendly From Submarines to Suburbs: Selling a Better America, 1939–1959 | By Cynthia Lee Henthorn In From Submarines to Suburbs, Cynthia Henthorn delivers a thorough examination of the visual... [...]
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  Posted: March 14, 2007, 7:14pm EDT
  by Jon Whiten

• A QUICK UPDATE/FROM THE ARCHIVE

  It's been a massively busy few weeks for us, hence the lack of content this week. We'll be back in full force (or close to it, we hope) next week, but for now, with this in the news, we thought... [...]
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  Posted: March 09, 2007, 4:38pm EST
  by Jon Whiten

• PHOTO OF THE WEEK: BROMELIAD

  20 second exposure, nice warm tones that suit our mood today, with the windows open and breeze-filled thoughts of spring. Taken by Pat Marella.To be featured as Photo of the Week, tag your Flickr photos with CityBelt -- or you... [...]
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  Posted: March 02, 2007, 2:04pm EST
  by Jon Whiten

• POEM: 111 FIRST ST. HAIKU

  Formerly art houseOh-so-modern Rem KoolhausAnd now we've arrived? - Jon Whiten e-mail the editors MORE POETRY... [...]
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  Posted: March 02, 2007, 10:51am EST
  by Jon Whiten

• DAY JOB: MICHAEL J. PFEIFER

  I happened upon Michael J. Pfeifer, who fronts the Michael Pfeifer Trio on overcast afternoon as I walked down Palisade Ave. This guy just handed me a flyer -- I figured it was a real estate agency, or perhaps discount... [...]
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  Posted: March 01, 2007, 4:16pm EST
  by Jon Whiten

• UPDATE: SEX OFFENDER LAW IN CHERRY HILL STRUCK DOWN

  Residency restriction law was similar to the one recently enacted in Jersey City The Philly Inquirer has the full story, here are the highlights: This marks the second local sex offender residency restriction law to be ruled invalid in court... [...]
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  Posted: March 01, 2007, 3:52pm EST
  by Jon Whiten

• MEANINGFUL REFORM MAY NOT ARRIVE IN NEW JERSEY ANY TIME SOON

  Here are three examples that illustrate whyShapTalk: Guest CommentaryBy Michael M. Shapiroprinter friendly The governor works hard to create a fiscally responsible budget. He calls for legislative support for its passage. Many of the legislators whom the governor needs to... [...]
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  Posted: March 01, 2007, 11:32am EST
  by Jon Whiten

• INSIDE GOV. CORZINE'S BUDGET PROPOSAL

  Guest ViewpointBy Jon Shure printer friendly Imagine your doctor saying you’re very sick. You need big changes in the way you live and serious medical procedures or you might not make it. After hearing some potential courses of treatment outlined,... [...]
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  Posted: February 28, 2007, 9:46pm EST
  by Jon Whiten

• RIDING WHILE IRANIAN

  My profiling experience on the PATHBy Roozbeh Shirazi As always, City Belt welcomes commentaries from our readers. Got a story to tell? E-mail info@citybelt.org I went out with my girlfriend a few nights ago to have a long a leisurely... [...]
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  Posted: February 27, 2007, 2:24pm EST
  by Jon Whiten

• BUT I DIGEST ... SO YOU THINK YOU KNOW FOOD?

  Here’s a chance to prove it (and win a prize too!) By Kimberly Kaye printer friendly Though I’m sure all of you are waiting with bated breath for another installment of the North Jersey Vietnamese Showdown, even I can only... [...]
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  Posted: February 26, 2007, 5:42pm EST
  by Jon Whiten

• PHOTO OF THE WEEK: SNOW

  This photo was taken at Van Vorst Park in Jersey City by Flickr's Lugo Lounge. To be featured as Photo of the Week, tag your Flickr photos with CityBelt -- or you can just e-mail them to us.MORE PHOTO OF... [...]
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  Posted: February 23, 2007, 1:11pm EST
  by Jon Whiten

• MEDIA MASSAGE: THE WEEK IN MORONIC PRESS ABOUT NJ

  Special Jersey City EditionBy Jon WhitenLast week, I was in Washington, D.C., out to dinner with a friend and his co-worker. We were chit-chatting, talking weather, etc. You may recall there was a snowstorm. Indeed. Well, as they are wont... [...]
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  Posted: February 23, 2007, 12:35pm EST
  by Jon Whiten

• POEM: LITTLE-SKY COUNTRY

  I live in the little-sky country,where buildings shadow the setting moon,and Orion spends his nightly frolicsskipping behind trees, bushes,and the house next door. We see him only dimlythrough second-hand mall-lightsreflecting off organic cloudsexcreted by the makers of wonder drugsto cure... [...]
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  Posted: February 23, 2007, 11:09am EST
  by Jon Whiten

• THE AGENDA: EXECUTIVE ORDER

  For full calendar listings, check The Agenda. To have your event listed, please e-mail the editors. FRIDAY | 2.23.07 Concert. New Brunswick: Sometimes it seems like the Screaming Females play every other week, but they're always worth checking out. Tonight... [...]
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  Posted: February 23, 2007, 9:28am EST
  by Jon Whiten

• CIVIL UNIONS: ANOTHER STEP TOWARDS MARRIAGE EQUALITY

  Jersey City’s civil unions rally is a tempered celebration, but a celebration nonetheless.By Lani Buess printer friendly | add to del.icio.us | e-mail the editors CHECK OUT THE PHOTO GALLERY A little before 7 pm on Feb. 19, the sign... [...]
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  Posted: February 22, 2007, 11:25am EST
  by Jon Whiten

• REFORMING SCHOOL AID FORMULA WILL WAIT YET ANOTHER YEAR

  ShapTalk: Guest CommentaryBy Michael M. Shapiro printer friendly | add to del.icio.us | e-mail the editorsMore than half of New Jersey’s property taxes are used to finance public schools. For the past seven months, Governor Corzine and the State Legislature... [...]
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  Posted: February 22, 2007, 9:51am EST
  by Jon Whiten

• DAY JOB: ERMIS ATZEMOGLOU

  add to del.icio.us | e-mail the author Jersey City's Ermis Atzemoglou is a jack-of-all-trades when it comes to visual arts -- the School of Visual Arts grad and native of Greece creates everything from surreal paintings to gritty comics. His... [...]
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  Posted: February 22, 2007, 7:57am EST
  by Jon Whiten

• YOUR FRIENDS & NEIGHBORS: FLAMING FIRE'S WHEN THE HIGH BELL RINGS

  Enclosure: [download]

  By Tris McCall Listen: High Bell printer friendly | add to del.icio.us | e-mail the editors From: JC. I think so, anyway. Their MySpace page identifies them as a Brooklyn band, but they call themselves a Jersey City collective. A... [...]
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  Posted: February 21, 2007, 6:57am EST
  by Jon Whiten

• TOXIC NEW JERSEY: DIMILIN AND ITS DANGERS

  We narrowly escaped another endocrine disruptor being added to our midst, but a look around us proves our surroundings are filled with such chemicals, and they are hurting us in myriad ways. By Leigh Davis DEP Rules Against Dimilin Use... [...]
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  Posted: February 20, 2007, 11:13am EST
  by Jon Whiten

• SEVENTY YEARS OF ENDOCRINE DISRUPTION

  By Leigh Davis SEE ALSO: Toxic New Jersey: Dimilin and its Dangers add to del.icio.us | e-mail the editors Endocrine disruption was first discovered in the 1930s when researchers saw that some industrial chemicals, among them, bisphenol A, had estrogenic... [...]
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  Posted: February 20, 2007, 11:09am EST
  by Jon Whiten

• CIVIL UNIONS: SEPARATE BUT EQUAL, AGAIN

  While it may be a step forward in some ways, New Jersey's civil unions law also creates a 'gay ghetto'By Jon Whiten add to del.icio.us | e-mail the editors In respect of civil rights, common to all citizens, the Constitution... [...]
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  Posted: February 19, 2007, 1:48pm EST
  by Jon Whiten

• MOTUS IMAGO: GRBAVICA

  Bosnian film looks at the ravages of war through the life of one familyBy Nightdreamer add to del.icio.us | e-mail the editors Grbavica is a neighborhood composed of little houses, decorated with holes on their walls from bullets or bombs,... [...]
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  Posted: February 19, 2007, 1:01pm EST
  by Jon Whiten

• ERIC HUNT: ANOTHER STAIN ON NEW JERSEY

  add to del.icio.us | e-mail the editors UPDATE (2.18, 4:18 pm): Is this the same Eric Hunt? If so, the lone wolf theory that the SFPD seems to be working on would be out of the picture. But this site... [...]
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  Posted: February 18, 2007, 1:56pm EST
  by Jon Whiten

• POEM: FINE DETAILS

  add to del.icio.us | e-mail the editorsRemember when we learned we cared not for the modernfeminists;the truth, thicker than whispers of a serpent thoughit slithers, hissedat as it is by forked tongues. Remember a smotheredskyof fat leaves as we discovered... [...]
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  Posted: February 16, 2007, 7:00am EST
  by Jon Whiten

• THE AGENDA: EXECUTIVE ORDER

  For full calendar listings, check The Agenda. To have your event listed, please e-mail the editors. FRIDAY | 2.16.07Art. Newark: Mi Puerto Rico: Master Painters of the Island opens today, following the very popular Masters of American Comics exhibit. Film.... [...]
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  Posted: February 16, 2007, 4:52am EST
  by Jon Whiten

• DAY JOB: DOUBLE-BREASTED

  add to del.icio.us | e-mail the author 2006 was a big year for the harp in indie music circles -- Ms. Newsom and the fanfare surrounding her have brought new attention to the classic stringed instrument. However, unlike Ms. Newsom,... [...]
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  Posted: February 15, 2007, 11:41am EST
  by Jon Whiten

• HAS CORZINE GONE TOO FAR?

  ShapTalk: Guest CommentaryBy Michael M. Shapiro printer friendly | add to del.icio.us | e-mail the editors For the past decade, New Jersey's governors have slowly but steadily politicized the state's system of higher education, from appointing cronies to serve on... [...]
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  Posted: February 15, 2007, 10:21am EST
  by Jon Whiten

• PHOTO OF THE WEEK: DAY-GLO DREAMIN'

  add to del.icio.us | e-mail the editors The camera turns around this week, as frequent Photo of the Week-ling Kayt Hester gets snapped by the newly New York magazined/Gawkered/Gothamisted (but still eccentrically facial-haired) Eric Harvey Brown, at Jordan's Lounge in... [...]
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  Posted: February 15, 2007, 9:49am EST
  by Jon Whiten

• HOLDING ONTO HOPE IN NEWARK

  At the New School, Cory Booker Hinges America's Future on Newark'sBy Barbara Solowprinter friendly | add to del.icio.us | e-mail the editors There hasn’t been much good news coming out of Newark lately. Although the number of shootings is down... [...]
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  Posted: February 14, 2007, 8:00am EST
  by Jon Whiten

• END NEW JERSEY'S FRAGMENTATION

  We need to throw off 'home rule,' share resources, and govern smartly if we want a future.Guest Viewpoint by Jon Shure printer friendly | add to del.icio.us | e-mail the editorsAt first, these two news items might not seem to... [...]
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  Posted: February 13, 2007, 8:55am EST
  by Jon Whiten

• BUT I DIGEST ... NORTH JERSEY VIETNAMESE SHOWDOWN

  Round Two: Little Saigon’s Binh Duong Beatdown By Kimberly Kaye printer friendly | add to del.icio.us | e-mail the editors Refresh yourself: Check out Round One Oh sweet lord, the cold; that miserable, merciless, piercing cold, whipping around corners and... [...]
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  Posted: February 12, 2007, 9:27am EST
  by Jon Whiten

• PHOTO OF THE WEEK: NO

  add to del.icio.us | e-mail the editors Fidelity be damned! Sometimes, you see something on the street, and you don't have your camera. Hence, the wonderful world of camera phones. I'm also a big fan of loose English and open... [...]
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  Posted: February 09, 2007, 10:54am EST
  by Jon Whiten

• POEM: THE BRAVERY OF LAUGHTER

  add to del.icio.us | e-mail the editors For MikeFourteen and fifteen Give or take one In either direction Catching mass Transit From Jersey suburbs Through factory high Rise smog and Ear pop of Subterranean tunnel Into Penn then out again.... [...]
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  Posted: February 09, 2007, 10:37am EST
  by Jon Whiten

• MOTUS IMAGO: MARIE ANTOINETTE

  By Nightdreamer printer friendly | add to del.icio.us | e-mail the editors Marie Antoinette, as a Sofia Coppola creation, dresses in flashy corsets, carries a mixture of naiveté and cunning, and just wanders around in a dollhouse called Versailles --... [...]
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  Posted: February 09, 2007, 8:23am EST
  by Jon Whiten

• DEMOCRACY FLOURISHES IN THE SUNSHINE

  ShapTalk: Guest CommentaryBy Michael M. Shapiro printer friendly | add to del.icio.us | e-mail the editors Governing bodies throughout New Jersey, particularly on the municipal level, are abusing The Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA) and the Open Public Records Act... [...]
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  Posted: February 09, 2007, 7:46am EST
  by Jon Whiten

• ALL EARS: MEAT: THE CLEAVERS

  Meat: The CleaversWhen Wheels Were SquareBy Jon Whiten printer friendly | add to del.icio.us | e-mail the author Over the past half-year, as I've thrown myself into being the de facto music editor here, I've been more than pleasantly surprised... [...]
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  Posted: February 09, 2007, 2:15am EST
  by Jon Whiten

• DAY JOB: BOY/GIRL

  Photo by Tracey Luszcz add to del.icio.us | e-mail the author Is it just me, or have the past five years or so miraculously spawned a plethora of new rock duos on the land of indie? I can understand the... [...]
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  Posted: February 08, 2007, 4:03pm EST
  by Jon Whiten

• SPLENDID MARBLES: THE PRICE OF SECURITY

  Editors' note: For those who are unaware, Greg Strid does more than draw purty pictures -- he sometimes writes commentaries to accompany them. We're glad when he does. Art+Commentary by Greg Strid printer friendly | add to del.icio.us | e-mail... [...]
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  Posted: February 07, 2007, 4:17pm EST
  by Jon Whiten

• THE PEACH PIT: SARAH SILVERMAN IS MAGIC

  By Elizabeth Weill-Greenberg printer friendly | add to del.icio.us | e-mail the author I can’t remember why I didn’t like Sarah Silverman -- maybe it was because she embodies my boyfriend’s Chabad girl fetish a bit too well? But after... [...]
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  Posted: February 07, 2007, 11:54am EST
  by Jon Whiten

• REFLECTIONS ON A PROTEST

  Image by Kayakbiker What more can the peace movement do to end this war?By Leigh Davis printer friendly | add to del.icio.us | e-mail the editors The morning of the protest began early, with excitement and anticipation of “the big... [...]
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  Posted: February 05, 2007, 11:09am EST
  by Jon Whiten

• PHOTO OF THE WEEK: 7TH STREET, FROM A FIRE ESCAPE

  add to del.icio.us | e-mail the editors At first glance, Kayt Hester's photo is a nice, soft, quiet shot of a nighttime snowfall, of which we've had a few over the past couple of weeks. But the details make the... [...]
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  Posted: February 02, 2007, 12:39pm EST
  by Jon Whiten

• POEM: THEY HAVE STOLEN OUR WORDS

  add to del.icio.us | e-mail the editors Once the orgasm at the climax of philosophy, “democracy” now connotes lawyers, tobacco ads, CIA-choice cocaine, and atomic bombs in your own back yard. “Workers” are read as stereotypical rednecks driving pick-up trucks,... [...]
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  Posted: February 02, 2007, 12:27pm EST
  by Jon Whiten

• MEDIA MASSAGE: CAN'T STOP, WON'T STOP?

  Nj.com Misleads on Climate Change StudyBy Jon Whiten add to del.icio.us | e-mail the author The headlines screamed out, like manna from heaven for gas-guzzlers, McMansioners, and Bush administration scientists alike: Scientists: Global Warming Can't Be Stopped. Scientists Say There's... [...]
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  Posted: February 02, 2007, 11:22am EST
  by Jon Whiten

• MOTUS IMAGO: THE PRESTIGE

  By Nightdreamer printer friendly | add to del.icio.us | e-mail the editors How on earth could Nikola Tesla be combined with David Bowie? Are they both physicists? Do they both suffer from obsessive-compulsive disorder? I know I can’t talk about... [...]
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  Posted: February 02, 2007, 8:36am EST
  by Jon Whiten

• DAY JOB: CHRISTOPHER SILK

  printer friendly | add to del.icio.us | e-mail the author Christopher Silk is a 29-year-old visual artist from Jersey city who works in a variety of mediums, including painting, mixed media, video art and sculpture. He currently has a two... [...]
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  Posted: February 01, 2007, 12:46pm EST
  by Jon Whiten

• CHENEY: AN ABJECT FAILURE

  These stickers, as well as 'Dick Cheney Will Fucking Shoot You' stickers, are available for under 2 bucks here. ShapTalk: Guest CommentaryBy Michael M. Shapiro printer friendly | add to del.icio.us | e-mail the editors As the Republican Party implodes... [...]
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  Posted: February 01, 2007, 7:51am EST
  by Jon Whiten

• LEGALIZED CORRUPTION

  Jersey City Council rejects Redevelopment Pay-to-Play ordinanceBy Veronica M. Perez printer friendly | add to del.icio.us | e-mail the editors Last Wednesday, the sounds of anger and disapproval rang throughout the Jersey City Council chambers. The Redevelopment Pay to Play... [...]
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  Posted: January 31, 2007, 12:18pm EST
  by Jon Whiten

• STEWPOT: TACO BE COLI

  By Emma Pollin printer friendly | add to del.icio.us | e-mail the editors Taco Bell probably should have seen God’s wrath coming when it foisted Fourth Meal (“The Meal Between Dinner and Breakfast!”) on an obese nation. Vengeance came in... [...]
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  Posted: January 30, 2007, 5:37am EST
  by Jon Whiten

• COMMON GOALS, UNCOMMON TONES

  Damian Catera and Bryan Beninghove are among the diverse musical talents coming together for The MusicFest for the Homeless.By Vincent Berrini printer friendly | add to del.icio.us | e-mail the editors In the past, Damian Catera has joked that as... [...]
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  Posted: January 29, 2007, 8:26am EST
  by Jon Whiten

• HELPING HUDSON'S HOMELESS

  By Will Connor printer friendly | add to del.icio.us | e-mail the editors Last week the cold crept in overnight, dropping a full twenty degrees. For those without heat, it must have been a cold week. For those without homes... [...]
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  Posted: January 29, 2007, 8:09am EST
  by Jon Whiten

• PHOTO OF THE WEEK: STOLEN FLASH

  Photo of the Week: Stolen Flash add to del.icio.us | e-mail the editors I've always sucked at concert photography -- of course, I've always kind of sucked at photography in general, so it's really no big surprise that my concert... [...]
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  Posted: January 26, 2007, 12:28pm EST
  by Jon Whiten

• POEM: AS THE PRESIDENT SPOKE

  add to del.icio.us | e-mail the editors Someone hung dolls from the chandelier and a nun fingered an abacus in her mind. Prisoners giggled in their cells, watching a pederast pass cigarettes between the bars. Grandpa wiped his glasses with... [...]
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  Posted: January 26, 2007, 11:58am EST
  by Jon Whiten

• ALL EARS: AMERICAN WATERCOLOR MOVEMENT

  Photo by Tone American Watercolor MovementIt Takes Fifteen To Tango In My Book, What Book Do You Read?By Vincent Berrini printer friendly | add to del.icio.us | e-mail the editors Editors' note: Yeah, we're a little late with this one,... [...]
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  Posted: January 26, 2007, 11:50am EST
  by Jon Whiten

• THE AGENDA: EXECUTIVE ORDER

  For full calendar listings, check The Agenda. To have your event listed, please e-mail the editors. FRIDAY | 1.26.07Concert(s). After a little while of relative quiet, with shows seemingly scattered here and there, the Roadside Graves are gearing up for... [...]
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  Posted: January 26, 2007, 11:06am EST
  by Jon Whiten

• DAY JOB: JOHN RANGO OF ECHOFISSION

  printer friendly | add to del.icio.us | e-mail the author For almost six years now, Echofission has been an exemplary Jersey workhorse band -- playing out a ton, recording, and gradually growing what has become a substantial fan base. 30-year-old... [...]
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  Posted: January 25, 2007, 12:07pm EST
  by Jon Whiten

• MOTUS IMAGO: TEARS OF THE BLACK TIGER

  Thai Technicolor DreamingBy Nightdreamer printer friendly | add to del.icio.us | e-mail the editors Is it just a splatter movie? No, it’s more than that. Is it just a Thai spaghetti-western style movie? No, it’s more than that. Is it... [...]
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  Posted: January 25, 2007, 8:54am EST
  by Jon Whiten

• THE PEACH PIT: A TALE OF TWO DOCUMENTARIES

  An Inconvenient Truth and Who Killed the Electric Car? take different approaches to documenting environmental woes -- and placing blame.By Elizabeth Weill-Greenberg printer friendly | add to del.icio.us | e-mail the author So, I finally saw An Inconvenient Truth. I... [...]
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  Posted: January 24, 2007, 9:54am EST
  by Jon Whiten

• AUTHENTICITY AND ART MAKING

  Guest ViewpointBy Trish SzymanskiPhoto: Andre Watts printer friendly | add to del.icio.us | e-mail the author I am an artist, and my life is my greatest piece. I am also, for lack of a better description, a spiritual atheist. Art... [...]
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  Posted: January 24, 2007, 7:19am EST
  by Jon Whiten

• SEX OFFENDERS? NOT IN MY BACKYARD!

  Residency restrictions for sex offenders like the one recently enacted in Jersey City may mean well, but are they really ‘protecting the most vulnerable'? By Elizabeth Weill-Greenberg printer friendly | add to del.icio.us | e-mail the author Using only one... [...]
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  Posted: January 23, 2007, 9:02am EST
  by Jon Whiten

• BUT I DIGEST ... NORTH JERSEY VIETNAMESE SHOWDOWN

  In this corner: Bing Duong (Bloomfield)By Kimberly Kaye printer friendly | add to del.icio.us | e-mail the editors By February I’m usually exhausted with typically heavy winter fare. Roasts, cream-based soups and sauces, potatoes, turnips, parsnips, stews – you can’t... [...]
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  Posted: January 22, 2007, 8:08am EST
  by Jon Whiten