QoTD: Frog's Legs & Particle Physics Edition

by: Rosi Efthim

Tue Dec 13, 2011 at 01:41:01 PM EST

Just as when Volta in the 18th century used electricity to make a frog's legs twitch and had no idea where it would lead, even esoteric and tentative research like this helps make our world richer and more understandable.                                          - Rep. Rush Holt, PhD, the only physicist in Congress

The internets have been alive the last few hours with news that physicists might have detected the elusive Higgs boson, in theory (because nobody's ever seen it), the means by which everything in the Universe obtains its mass. Basic building block of the universe. Holy grail. God particle.

This is the missing piece - or may be, when it's finally confirmed - of the Standard Model of particle physics, "instruction booklet" of how forces and particles interact. Explainer of, if not everything, then a lot of the home universe.

Chills. Really, even though the mechanics of this elude my liberal arts mind, I have chills. Not just me. A few hours ago, my favorite tweet - from a science reporter in London: Never before in the field of science journalism have so few journalists understood what so many physicists were telling them! #Higgsupdate

Rush Holt, rocket scientist, vanquisher of IBM's Watson supercomputer, and tireless advocate of science, and R & D funding is pumped up, even though he's a plasma, not particle, physics guy. And though this news comes from the Large Hadron Collider, biggest particle smasher in the world, buried in a tunnel 500 feet below the Swiss-French border, there are 2 teams of 3,000 physicists each from all over the world that have been working on this for years.

I just looked back at the draft of this diary, loaded with links. This isn't the usual kind of thing we report on, but the only physicist left in Congress lives in NJ (and used to be my boss). Sometimes science is politics.

More on the LHC, the 'Hubble telescope of inner space'.
More on physics Team Atlas.
More on physics Team Compact Muon Solenoid.

Follow @RushHolt. (and @bluejersey!)
Follow @CERN - that's European Organization for Nuclear Research, the biggest particle physics laboratory in the world.
Hashtags: #Higgsupdate #Higgs

QoTD: Choppers 'n Food Stamps Edition

by: Rosi Efthim

Mon Nov 28, 2011 at 03:00:27 PM EST

ICYMI @GovChristie took state chopper to his Camden appearance 2day... nothing wrong with that, but is he scared of city streets?

Thwock. Thwock. Thwock. Gov. Chris Christie availed himself of the mammoth state helicopter down to Camden this morning for the 35-mile ride from Trenton. In Camden, a city with far fewer police to keep a watchful eye on the Guv, he announced the future expansion of what sounds like a good idea (unless it masks another privatization initiative) to shift drug offenders into rehab programs instead of prison.

Christie did his press conference at Cathedral Kitchen, the largest emergency food provider in Camden; feeding since 1976 "the homeless, the jobless, those with disabilities or addiction problems, the working poor," from "infants to the elderly".

It's great to see Christie draw attention to Cathedral Kitchen's work. But seriously, did Christie's cocksure press operation give any thought at all to how arrogant it looks for the governor to chopper in - at great public expense - to a place where hungry people come to be fed, on the day after we learned there are twice as many New Jerseyans are relying on food stamps than 4 years ago?

Thwock. Thwock. Thwock. Guess nobody thought of that.  

QoTD: Scott Garrett and "ethnicities"

by: Rosi Efthim

Mon Oct 31, 2011 at 05:19:41 PM EDT

I only take note of the 5th CD's whiteness, because I confess I'm baffled what the hell Scott Garrett was talking about on a "backwoods" tour of (even lily-whiter) Warren County for some business visits last week, ending up at Rudolph Research Analytical in Washington Township (in Morris County, but near Hackettstown, in his purview). Rudolph Research Analytical is a 30,000 square foot lab that designs devices for the pharmaceutical, chemical, petroleum & food industries. Some labs have an outsize demographic of Asian people working in them (and plenty don't)  and some people think all Asian people are alike. Is that what Garrett was talking about? Or was he commenting on people darker than himself? What, what, Scott Garrett? What does this mean?

The lab's director, Richard C. Spanier, said something nice about dealing with people in the American Midwest. Their attitude is "straight-forward". To which Garrett replied:

"Other ethnicities are not that way," Garrett said. "They'll say yes to you constantly and then you'll realize they really didn't mean it."

Other ethnicities? Dude. What are you talking about? You scare me.  

Quote of the Day: Order of the Phoenix Edition

by: Rosi Efthim

Fri Jul 15, 2011 at 10:28:55 PM EDT

There are all kinds of courage,' said Dumbledore, smiling. 'It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends.

In honor of all of you who stand with the Order of the Phoenix.

QoTD: Jane Roh on Marie Corfield Edition

by: Rosi Efthim

Wed Jun 22, 2011 at 10:47:47 AM EDT

Our Quote of the Day is from olitical reporter Jane Roh in her Courier Post Strictly Politics blog post (which was mostly about George Norcross):

I Tweeted this before so I may as well say it here: If Marie Corfield, the Democratic Assembly candidate in LD16, were the face of the NJEA, public educators would be in a much better place right now.

Jane's comment, while genuine about Marie, is in the context of criticism of NJEA's current leadership; her last line muses how "different leadership" might have produced different results. I'm not going to speculate on that, just point out Jane's comment came not long after this and this.

Disclosure: It's not hard to be either supporter or friend of Corfield. I am both, and would take note of Jane Roh's impression of her even if I was neither.

QoTD: "Curry Favor" Edition

by: Rosi Efthim

Fri Jan 21, 2011 at 01:01:32 PM EST

Weinberg's got big questions for Bayonne Medical Center, who forked over $25,000 to Reform. That sent up red flags for Weinberg, who's a sponsor of a bill (S1468) requiring for-profit hospitals to disclose more info about both their finances and investments. Weinberg told The Jersey Journal (via nj.com) she's not buying the hospital CEO's fish story (given to politickernj) that the $25K was to bolster "public policy that will enhance the ability of hospitals".

Why? Because where does it say that Reform Jersey Now supports health care? Because Reform used its cash to put out robo-calls & mailers against Asw Connie Wagner, who sponsors that hospital tranparency bill in the Assembly? And in a one-hospital town maybe that hospital spending serious coin on a political group, as Wagner points out is worth discussing, particularly for the locals, who don't get much choice of hospital in their time of need, and have to pay what the Medical Center charges as the watch their money go into Christie's privately-controlled fund.

Maybe this is Bayonne Medical Center's real story. Weinberg:

I believe the donation was designed to curry favor with current administration. There was not one mention of health care in Reform Jersey Now's mailings, and not one in its mission statement. The idea that the group had something to do with health care is implausible.

For the record, Bayonne Medical Center's CEO Daniel Kane said he had "no specific comments" on how Reform Jersey Now had supported health care but said Weinberg's allegations are unfounded. Maybe this story would go down better if Reform Jersey Now didn't cloak its activities, or could point to one shred of health care public policy it worked on with Bayonne Medical Center's cash. Maybe people struggling to pay family medical bills there would like to know what the hospital's really buying from Christie's slush fund, as their bills go up.  

Quote of the Day: Funniest Man in New Jersey Edition

by: Rosi Efthim

Sun Jan 02, 2011 at 01:52:30 PM EST

Q: Gov. Christie and Lt. Gov. Guadagno were both out of state when the blizzard hit this week. Should an effort be made to have at least one of our executives in-state at all times?

BYRNE: I never thought we needed a lieutenant governor, but we've got one, so we have to live with it. And maybe living with it means we need to anticipate what's coming up. Still, (then-Acting Gov. Stephen) Sweeney has done a masterful job.

KEAN: Luckily, we had no big problems as a result of the storm. But, like any corporation, either our No. 1 or No. 2 person should always be on duty.

BYRNE: I think 30 inches of snow is a big problem.

KEAN: I meant we didn't have any major problems beyond the snow. ... nothing that would have required the presence of the governor.

BYRNE: Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how did you enjoy the play?

QoTD: What a Mickey Mouse Answer Edition

by: Rosi Efthim

Tue Dec 28, 2010 at 08:57:28 PM EST

But this, from Drewniak, is an unfortunate statement:

It's a big snow, definitely, but the world is not coming to an end.

Can no one in the Christie administration go a day without that belittling tone? He goes on to say:

We are a northeastern state and we get snow - sometimes lots of it like this - and we will get through it just as we always do.

Yes, as I returned to New Jersey after being snowed in elsewhere, I saw a lot of public workers out salting and clearing the roads, emergency services workers tending to accidents, shopkeepers clearing a path to their doors to stay open, low-wage workers in double-layer work gloves pumping gas for weary drivers, waitresses in double shifts at McDonald's keeping the coffee fresh.

Yes, we'll "get through it as we always do". That'll be us, your constituents. That's who I see out working and getting "through it". Your boss and his LG still have another few days of play in the sunshine, so maybe stow the snide at least till the governor's back on New Jersey soil. Till then, it sure as hell is lost on me.

QoTD: Christie Bum's Rush Edition

by: Rosi Efthim

Tue Dec 21, 2010 at 12:02:58 PM EST

Despite the sharp words, Weinberg said she would be willing to discuss the matter with Christie privately, "as long as I have a chance to answer before I'm escorted out."

QoTD: Get a Muzzle or Jump the Shark Edition

by: Rosi Efthim

Wed Dec 08, 2010 at 07:56:00 PM EST

The article discusses one of Christie's "YouTube moments" (as his staff calls them), and how he treated a member of his audience at a "Town Hall" in Parsippany. From Christie's confrontational style needs more limits:

And an incident like this, as minor as it is, should matter to New Jerseyans, because it suggests that Christie may be losing perspective on how to properly apply his power as governor. And that's dangerous.

This seems to be the week that Chris Christie jumped the shark. We're thankful it isn't just us calling him out for this crap. For a while there, it was awfully lonely trying to keep a jaundiced eye on this guy while the GOP faithful outside New Jersey hoisted him up as King, and the GOP inside New Jersey were giddy with the power he's throwing around.

The tipping point was the latest "Town Hall" in his home county of Morris, where he had his security bring a teacher half his size, who says he's a registered Republican, up to the stage where Christie waved his finger in the guy's face and gave him what for until he was done, then had security escort him off the stage and away before the guy could respond. Quite a show. Star Ledger wrote Christie's bully act getting old. Salon wrote Is New Jersey growing bored with shouty Chris Christie? (they'd already written Chris Christie loves yelling at people and called him "New Jersey cartoon"). Fred Snowflack, who covers Morris politics more than any other reporter, wrote Christie may need a boxing ring next time. And there's more. And there's going to be more.

Look, I was tired of Chris Christie before he was inaugurated. We've spent quite a lot of time here watching him carefully, so none of this is a surprise to us - or to you. But partisan politics aside, this behavior has got to stop. Time for the bad boy to grow up.  

ToTD: (Christie) FAIL Edition

by: Rosi Efthim

Sun Sep 05, 2010 at 03:06:15 PM EDT

I crack up hearing about @govchristie's 'rising star.' sounds like he's positively RACING TO THE TOP! Oh wait ... FAIL. Sorry, schoolkids!

Are you following somebody you think just posted a potential Tweet of the Day? Yeah? Then, please DM us @bluejersey and give a shout. We might even agree with you.  

Quote of the Day: We've been caught out, kept in the dark a bit

by: Jason Springer

Mon Jul 19, 2010 at 05:15:00 PM EDT

"We've been caught out, kept in the dark a bit. We're not sure exactly what he plans to say," said Assemblyman John Amodeo, R-Atlantic.

Quote of the Day: "Another name for that would be hypocrisy"

by: Jason Springer

Fri Jul 16, 2010 at 10:00:00 AM EDT

Gov. Chris Christie apparently believes it's OK to sidestep a law if it's his ox that is being gored by it. Another name for that would be hypocrisy.

Quote of the Day: No idea what it's like to be at the lowest end of the food chain

by: Jason Springer

Thu Jul 01, 2010 at 10:09:51 PM EDT

"This is a further illustration of the governor having no idea what it's like to be at the lowest end of the food chain in society," said Watson Coleman. "I will not sponsor legislation nor will I work on it, nor will I support it or vote for it, that repeals this reform measure into our parole system and our corrections system."

Bonus Quote of the Day: "We need her vote"

by: Jason Springer

Tue Jun 22, 2010 at 08:44:16 PM EDT

"We need her vote"

Sources close to Democrats say Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver (D-East Orange) has eight of her members primed to vote for Christie's budget as part of the restoration deal leadership struck this week with the GOP governor.

Quote of the Day: A vote for this budget is a vote for massive tax increases

by: Jason Springer

Tue Jun 22, 2010 at 12:00:14 PM EDT

Americans for Prosperity will be ramping up its effort to fight this bad budget. This budget needs to be defeated and those lawmakers who vote for it need to be held to account. A vote for this budget is a vote for massive tax increases. This is not the kind of change the governor or the Republicans in the legislature promised. Now they need to hear from their constituents

Quote of the Day: Hasta La-Vista Chief Zisa

by: Jason Springer

Mon May 03, 2010 at 04:30:00 PM EDT

As news of Zisa's arrest and separation from the department spread throughout the city, some of his critics rejoiced.

One of the strongest critics, Bobby Egan, owner of Cubby's Restaurant on River Street, flashed an electronic message below his sign that said "ZISA ARREST" four times.

Then a message scrolled across the screen: "POLICE CHIEF KEN ZISA ARRESTED FOR FRAUD HASTA LA¬VISTA CHIEF ZISA GOOD BYE GOOD RIDDANCE."

Quote of the Day: "The math part is ok"

by: Jason Springer

Fri Apr 09, 2010 at 10:30:00 AM EDT

"We take that $1.5 billion, $447 million, $848 million in rebates, that equals $2.8 billion in property tax relief cuts, is that correct?"

"The math part is okay," says the treasurer.

"I characterize it as property tax relief cuts based on the nonpartisan Office of Legislative Services," Sarlo says.

Quote of the Day: "Gov. Christie is an iceberg coming right at us"

by: Jason Springer

Thu Apr 01, 2010 at 12:30:00 PM EDT

"Right now it looks pretty bad. We've been put in a position where we are just rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic and Gov. Christie is an iceberg coming right at us,"

Quote of the Day: "There are insidious monsters who want my seat"

by: Jason Springer

Mon Mar 29, 2010 at 10:49:34 PM EDT

"There are insidious monsters who want my seat," he says jokingly of speculation about who might replace him if he died in office. A Republican is governor, so the issue has national implications. "That speculation was a little too early."