Morganna said:

mjc said:

A shot across the bow maybe? she says hopefully.

Finally heard tape of one of Defendant's comments this morning, imo couldn't be clearer tampering with witness(es).  Seems likely any random street thug would be locked up if it could be proved he said anything like that.

eta: otoh, does this mean the judge totally dismissed the other dozen or so instances??

eta again: NYT says $9,000, so apparently judge recognized most instances?  Still peanuts, but at least a warning

Apparently $1,000 per violation is the maximum allowed in New York State. Of course, jail could be the next option. We can only dream.

$9,000 ain't a lot, but on top of that, he'll have to attend his son's graduation which he had no intention of doing, so there's some justice.

Paul Auster, grew up in SOMA and graduated from Columbia High School. Famous as a Brooklyn author, but his sweeping novel "4 3 2 1" has a protagonist who grows up (in multiple ways) in Maplewood and vicinity.

Paul Auster, the Patron Saint of Literary Brooklyn, Dies at 77 - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

[Edited to add] Found the video of the talk he gave on Zoom, hosted by the South Orange Library, on 4/3/21 about that novel and talking about his memories of growing up. 

Morganna says (in her valuable description of civil disobedience):  "I'm mistrustful of people covering their faces."

mtierney gives a reason why masking may be prudent: "...students may well be spotted by identity technology available to employers to screen prospective job applicants."

Not to mention current employers, school administrators, police, and any opponent or random internet surfer who'd like to dox them.  Seems sensible to me, though maybe not at the level of integrity and civic-mindedness Morganna described.

@mtierney, You have posted a cartoon about protestors saying "first pay off my student debt." but whatever your feelings about loan forgiveness, and as I think this is becoming a talking point for Biden detractors, I am sharing an explanation of those who are eligible. This was copied for CBS news in January. 

Biden forgives $5 billion more in student loan debt. Here's who qualifies and how to apply.

By Kate Gibson

Edited By Alain Sherter

January 19, 2024 / 12:18 PM EST / CBS News

• The Biden administration a week ago said that, starting in February, people with less than $12,000 in student loans and who have been making payments for at least 10 years would get their remaining loan balance erased. Borrowers also have to be enrolled in the White House's new Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) repayment plan.
  

Nearly 44,000 of the borrowers approved for debt relief are teachers, nurses, firefighters, social workers and public servants with at least 10 years of service. The remaining close to 30,000 borrowers have been making payments on their loans at least 20 years, but who did not get relief through income-driven repayment plans.

Got the QB yesterday with a little hint from the Buddy. Had no idea "churchy" is a word. 

thanks for giving me a trip down memory lane!

Kid Zone applications now being accepted. See https://maplewoodstock.com/kids

mtierney said:

My baby carriage was tied to the newsstand outside my parents’ candy store in Brooklyn so I could get some fresh air. Growing up, I had numerous additions of the numerous  daily newspapers to peruse. Very handy, back in the day, before kitty litter was even a thing, and folks would have thought buying it ludicrous with all the newspapers in the house! Shredding newspapers daily to keep our cats comfy was a daily mindless habit. (in retrospect, the ink ran, making a mess!)

That said, along with the facts that, as an adult I worked for a magazine in Manhattan, and, as a news gatherer for a midwest paper, and, as well,  as an  editor at a weekly. For the 48 years years as Maplewood residents, we always had Newark newspapers delivered —  commercial kitty litter hadn’t become available.

 Even now, I have digital subscriptions to the WSJ and NYT ( have the papers delivered on the weekend) and  I will not vote for Biden (if he is actually still on the ballot by November). So much for polls!

I'm smiling at the fact that you have linked newspapers with their use pre-kitty litter. That said, I'm sincerely sad that Trump will be your party's choice and hoping that even though you won't vote for Biden you will skip voting for Trump. As I've expressed on this thread, I follow debates and interviews with both parties, as I have family and a couple of friends who voted for Trump. Not sure what they will do now. I had hoped that your party would have chosen Nikki Haley. As our country has been divided down the middle, I keep an eye on the person that I feel would be the best alternative to the Democratic nominee in case they win.

I hope you will at least consider sitting this one out. I honestly have a hard time understanding those who so dislike Biden that they are willing to vote for Trump. I also am baffled by the disdain Republicans have for VP Kamala Harris but that's another story.

I don't often post here but I do scan the discussions on occasion. 

jimmurphy said:

Quick QB. Good day, I think.

nice...good day for me too...just got an early QB  :bz

The Fox and Falcon has a weekly trivia night on Wednesdays from 7-10, and I'm running a fundraiser Trivia night for the Clinton School PTA on May 10th. More info on that here: https://clintonpta.membershiptoolkit.com/trivia2024