Ed, I’m trying to get in touch with the people who lost a little dog. I found a little tan dog with a purple collar but it was before Aug. 21. Please give them my number.

Dog Catcher

Another BackTalk reunion in the making!—Ed. Note

Ed Note, why do cable companies continue to show the same movies over and over and over and over again? We pay top dollar for this service and all we get is this same crap. They even show the movies you can see on regular TV. They need to step up the game. With all the movies made over the years, they can’t show us new movies sometimes? Kiss that dog for me.

Rerun

They stink, that’s why. Save your money and get NetFlix. Or better yet, read a book.—Ed. No

Hey, Ed, I’m calling about the retired police officer who complained about the coward who took photos of Trenton police eating at Dunkin’ Donuts. I’m not apologizing for Captain Sleepy; what he did was wrong. But what about those cowardly cops who took pictures of him sleeping while on duty? What goes around comes around. What’s good for the goose is good for the gander.

Photo Editor

So, because someone exposed Sleepy asleep on the job, it’s good that someone tried to make a big deal about a bunch of cops on a legitimate meal break? OK.—Ed. Note

BackTalk? Why are there no Page 6 male models? I am so sick to death of looking and seeing a lady. I am a straight woman and guys have been pleasuring themselves off Page 6 for I don’t know how long. My ex-boyfriend used to go straight Page 6. Please put a male model in the newspaper.

Our Turn

This is turning into a movement.—Ed. Note

Hey Ed, about “bring back the guys on Page 6.” We women are going to boycott The Trentonian if you don’t. So you better think about it. We want some hot, sexy guys for a change.

D. Praved

We ran a picture of Brad Pitt yesterday. Of course, he was holding hands with his two kids. Not exactly erotic stuff. - Ed Note

Ed, this is about L.A. Parker’s Aug. 21 column making a case for unarmed bank robbery, not murder. The fact that he says “bless her sticky-fingered soul,” the possibility she stole $300,000 and he’s justifying that is absolutely outrageous. He’s basically giving a recipe for how citizens can go and rob a bank, which we the taxpayers have to pay back eventually.

Reader

He was trying to point out the tragic absurdity of murdering someone over a few bucks, not trying to condone felony theft.—Ed. Note

Ed, I live in Bordentown City where we have drug dealers and thefts going on, yet the Bordentown City police think it’s more important to drive up and down the highway and get drunk drivers. I pay their salaries and I want them to protect my home, not drunk drivers.

B’towner

They’re not protecting the drunk drivers. They’re protecting the other drivers. —Ed. Note

Hey, Ed, Gov. Corzine is trying to pass a law that gives people an additional property tax deduction if they don’t itemize income tax deductions. Single taxpayers would deduct $500, while those married or filing jointly would deduct $1,000. Why do they always punish single people? If I pay the same damn property tax on my house as my married neighbors next door, why do they get $1,000 off while I only get $500? Sorry, but I don’t understand his strategy. It should be the other way around: Married people can afford to pay more than a single person because they bring home two paychecks and I bring home only one.

Single

Good point. And single people contribute more to the economy, spending all kinds of money to eat out three meals a day. Not fair.—Ed. Not

Hi, Ed, I read about the Trenton public works department fixing the city’s streets. Has anyone from public works driven down Perry Street? I mean, really, they haven’t fixed that road in 30 years.

Commuter

Maybe all the money went to the giant fire department sign.—Ed. Note

Ed, I’m cleaning out an office and I have a lot of paper that I need shredded. Is there any place in Trenton where I can take this paper and have it shredded? I’d appreciate an answer.

Paper Work

Any good shredders out there?—Ed. Not

Hi, Ed, this is Mary from Tender Hearts. I just got a call from a gentleman whose mom had heart surgery, and he needs a wheelchair to take her out. She also needs to ride a regular two-wheel bike, but not a racer with handlebar brakes. She wants the kind where she can break with the pedal. So, if anyone has one in good shape and wants to donate it, please call us at (609) 890-3517. or come to 320 Scully Ave., Hamilton. Let’s see if we can help them out. All moms know it’s a great feeling to have your kids care.

Mary

Another good-deed-doing opportunity from Mary.—Ed. Note

Ed, I agree with the residency law for police. But if you were a cop, how aggressive would you be about locking up the guy next door knowing that when he gets out of jail and you’re working the midnight shift, your wife and children are home alone. I just feel a cop living outside of the town where he works doesn’t have that fear for his family’s safety. And I’m sure that’s why cops are exempt from residency. Who cares where you live, as long as you do your job? That’s what counts. The Trenton Police Department has had a lot of difficulty recruiting quality applicants because they can’t hire from outside the city. This was proven at a recent recruiting drive, where numbers dwindled down to almost nothing. What’s more important, quality, quantity or locality? No one should be forced to live anywhere.

Commuter

“Who cares where you live, as long as you do your job?” But the point is, critics would say cops who live elsewhere have less incentive to do their jobs well because they’re not invested in the city.—Ed. Note

Hi, Ed, I’m calling about “make cops live here.” My brother was a Trenton cop for 17 years. He lived in the city of Trenton all 17 years. So, don’t assume every cop leaves the city as soon as they become one.

Officer’s Brother

We salute him.—Ed. Note

Hi, Ed, this is for the person who complained about tipping the service workers at Trenton Thunder games. I worked in a service shop for many years and as a waiter, too. Those people make minimum wage and less than minimum wage. They depend on those tips. And they do give friendly service. She should be ashamed of herself. If she can’t afford to leave a tip, then she shouldn’t go out.

Jack the Tipper

Right, she’ll just stay home eating microwaved hot dogs, listening to baseball on the radio. —Ed. Note

Ed, I’m calling about the person at Trenton Thunder who thinks they should get a tip every time they provide a service. There are many people in this country who are providing services to the public, and we don’t expect a tip each time. All they do is hand you a hot dog. That does not deserve a tip.

Extra Mustard

Hey, they could throw it on the floor at your feet and make you pick it up.—Ed. Not

Hi, Ed, I think that statutory rape must be the new trend for Trenton police. I know of another police officer who impregnated a 17-year-old girl he met on duty. This girl is younger than his daughter, and if that’s not enough, he is prejudiced against African-Americans. I see this as a major problem for Doug Palmer and the new police director. How can you protect and serve people that you are prejudiced against? How can you be a guardian for children when you’re committing the same crimes that you have a duty to prevent? It is my sincere hope that Doug Palmer and the new police director clean up their own department before committing to cleaning the city.

Citizen on Patrol

Let’s hope this officer’s prejudice comes to light internally before it leads to an ugly incident on the street.—Ed. Note

Ed, why does Joe Santiago have to move into Trenton when the police themselves don’t have to live here? Sure, they have to be a resident to become a policeman but as soon as they become a policeman they high-tail it out of here. They and their families have no stake in this city at all. They live in Hamilton, Ewing and who knows where else. If we’re going to have the head of the police live in Trenton, they should as well. They are taking our money and all they’re doing is coming to the city to make a living. This change in policy is long overdue.

Homeland Security

There are many who agree with you, but in the meantime Santiago still has to follow the law. —Ed. Note

Ed, why am I not surprised that Santiago is going to move to Trenton? I could have called that from the beginning. He’s not going to give up, he’s getting a big pension from the police and fire from Newark and he’s getting a fat salary from Trenton. He’s double dipping; he’s not going to give up that kind of dough. If I were the City Council, I would have shown him the door and said “See you later, pal, you should have moved into the city a long time ago.”

Get Lost

Well, the City Council sort of did the “see you later” part already. They demanded that he move here or else, and then they went through a legal process that led to a judge’s final decision to oust the director. Now we’ll see if they’re willing to approve his return after it took a judge to make him finally comply with the council’s demand that he follow the law.—Ed. Note

Ed, I had no idea I was supposed to tip the concessions workers at Waterfront Park! I mean, all this time I’ve been tipping fast food workers, supermarket cashiers and the guy who gives me my lottery tickets — I’m sorry I’ve been ignoring them! I definitely enjoy paying extra for slow and unfriendly service, so I’ll be sure to give y’all a little extra “love” next time I’m at a Thunder game.

Food Fight

You gotta at least tip the guy walking around screaming “Cold beers!” Tip based on volume. —Ed. Note

Hey, Ed, just want to point out that Soni, the Olympic gold medalist, is not from Mercer County. Plainsboro is in Middlesex County. Sorry, I guess the record still stands: 44 years and no gold medalist for Mercer.

County Fairness

Correct you are. The gold goes to Middlesex.—Ed. Not

Hi, Ed, I’m calling about Mr. Harris, who was turned down for a Seeing Eye guide dog. Perhaps if he had not associated with the wrong people, he wouldn’t be blind right now. If he had worked hard when he was young, he wouldn’t have to live where he lives. And as far as Mayor Palmer getting him a dog, if the mayor did his job, the area where Harris lives might be fit for a dog to live. Councilwoman Lartigue says Seeing Eye Inc. should be concerned with Harris, not the dog. Well, she’s wrong again. Their job is working dogs not politics.

Going to the Dogs

Bitterness, that’s just what we need. More bitterness.—Ed. Note

Ed, if Mayor Palmer is so concerned about Mr. Harris getting his guide dog, why doesn’t he send animal control to corral the loose aggressive dogs and fine the idiots that let them run loose? They should be fined. Dogs like that shouldn’t be running loose. People need to take personal responsibility for their pets.

Dog catcher

Maybe they can launch a Tactical Anti-Dog Unit for Trenton PD.—Ed. Note

Ed, about that blind man that needs a dog, what’s Mayor Palmer getting so pissed off about? Palmer is even scared to live in Trenton himself. His commissioner doesn’t want to live in Trenton. Why doesn’t he clean Trenton up? I don’t blame the people for worrying about the dog; it will probably get shot or killed or stolen. Palmer should look in the mirror at himself and decide what’s best for Trenton and clean it up. He admits it’s a bad area. Mayor Palmer is an idiot.

Mayor Basher No. 257

The mayor may have work to do on fixing the city, but that doesn’t mean he’s wrong about a blind man’s right to a dog.—Ed. Note

Hi, Ed, I’m ashamed of Seeing Eye Inc. for refusing to give a guide dog to this man Harris because of the supposed dogs running rampant in his neighborhood in Trenton. You tell me they’ve never given a dog in New York City or Philadelphia, where dogs run rampant? I hope the people who make donations and those who train the puppies for Seeing Eye dogs will withhold some of their money and help to show this organization it should be fair to all people in need of seeing eye dogs. This organization stays in business due to these volunteers and donations. Any city has loose aggressive dogs. I hope they reconsider their decision.

Howler

Can’t they just set the dog up with a pit-bull-proof kevlar vest?—Ed. Not

Hi, Ed, I’m a little concerned that the police make a big issue of driving while on the cell phone, yet people are driving around with their iPod in their ears. Now how are they supposed to hear approaching emergency vehicles from any direction? If there’s a law for cell phone use in a vehicle, there should also be one for the iPod.

Listen Up

Just what we need. More laws.—Ed. Note

Hi, Ed, if anyone wants to see horses up close or at least smell them, come by Ellis Avenue. There’s a house with a tarp around the fence, holding two horses in the city. I don’t know; somebody needs to come see.

Rancher

You sure they’re not just big dogs?—Ed. Note

Ed, I’m calling about that World Series Robbinsville game. I think the coaches and girls played a heluva season, but in the last game, I think the coach blew it. Instead of having those girls in the infield come up closer, so that any ball hit would be very easy to catch and throw to first base without making an error. But they were playing all the way back and had long throws and that’s what caused the error. But they did a helluva job.

Big Fan

What can be gained from second-guessing the coach at this point. Remember, it’s the same coach who made this team the second-best in the world.—Ed. Note

Ed, I’m just wondering about the ARC thing, going to the theater to protest “Tropic Thunder.” This movie is a comedy. Nobody goes and gets mad if someone makes fun of a fat guy, or a Chinese guy, or a black guy or a white guy, so why should they be any different. People at ARC need to realize and tell these people, hey people are going to call you that in your lifetime. Get over it!

Pep Talk

Well, who are you to tell anyone else whether they should be offended by something? But we can say that the frequency of the use of the “R” word in the movie was exaggerated. It’s closer to 15 times than 50.—Ed. Note

Ed, I’m ticked off about this movie, “Tropic Thunder.” I have a child with learning disabilities. I’ve seen a trailer for this movie and I find it very offensive, the use of the word “retard” in this movie. I’m calling on The Trentonian to ask for AMC to boycott this movie and not show it at all. I urge the movie-going public to boycott this film.

O. Ffended

We already published a story highlighting the local effort to encourage the theater not to show the film. —Ed. Note

Good morning, I’m calling about yard sale signs. On Saturday mornings my wife and I like to ride around looking for yard sales. A lot of the signs we come across are outdated. I lose valuable time riding around. So, I’d like to say to the people, once you’ve made your money and you’ve cleaned up, please clean up your signs.

Sign Language

We need yard sale legislation.—Ed. Note

Ed, I’m pretty sure I speak for most of the women that read The Trentonian on a daily basis when I say, can we get a Page 6 guy? I’m tired of seeing half-naked women. I think you should pass along the idea of half-naked men for Page 6 to your editor and publisher.

Women Against Page Six (WAPS)

It might seem like a double-standard, but it’s one driven by readers’ sensibilities. Women, in general, are comfortable looking at other women. But guys — and blame it on insecurity or homophobia if you must — will be so grossed out by a half-naked dude that they won’t make it to page 7.—Ed. Note

Hey, Ed, is there anyone hiring for full-time work in the Trenton area? I am a mother of three with extensive employment skills, especially in the retail market, and I haven’t been able to find a full-time job in over a year. My part-time job is not paying the bills and I am four months behind on my mortgage, so I am going to be foreclosed after 11 years of making on-time payments! I cannot get assistance from the county because I supposedly make $16 too much a month. Please, if anyone can help me, I’ll leave my name and number with Ed Note.

Help Wanted

You work too much for assistance but don’t make enough to live. It stinks. You might need two part-time jobs until something full-time pans out.—Ed. Note

Hi, Ed, I enjoyed Matt Osborne’s column about Mark Spitz, though I respectfully disagree with his inclusion of the 1992 b-ball squad in any list of Olympic “heroes.” The manner in which that incomprehensible assemblage of talent rolled through vastly inferior competition was neither surprising nor heroic. Osborne’s columns are always entertaining and on point. Any chance we could get-more than a weekly dose of that stuff?

Wizard of Osborne

We’re already squeezing a superhuman amount of work out of the guy, but we’ll see what we can do.—Ed. Note

Hey Ed, I have one of those steel helmets that your BackTalk reader is looking for and I could give it to him. I’m leaving my phone number.

K. Pot

Woo-hoo! BackTalkers always come through.—Ed. Note

Ed, I’m calling about the gent who’s looking for a helmet. My elderly neighbor has a helmet, but it’s from World War II, and I think he’s looking for the World War I doughboy helmet with the rim.

Helmet Head

In fact the reader was quite specific that he needed a WWI helmet. I think the words “World War I” gave it away.—Ed. Note

Ed, I’ve got relatives coming to visit and I’m looking for a restaurant with the best carbonara in Chambersburg or in the area. These relatives love this dish, and I don’t know where to go. Can anybody help?

Dining Out

Let’s open this one up to the BackTalkers. And “restaurants formerly of Chambersburg” are in play.—Ed. Note

Ed, this is a message to Brett Favre and his problems with the Green Bay Packers. First, I’d like to say welcome to New Jersey and the Jets. You might want to live in New York because New Jersey is a very corrupt state and they are going to sock it to you with property taxes and everything else they can steal from you. Second, the idiots who bust their humps for management and think management respects them and will take care of them when they retire, your experience with the Packers is a clear indication of how the rank and file is always getting screwed by management, no matter how faithful, dedicated and hardworking they are in their careers. And third, to scab coach Mike McCarthy, they’re going to fire you in a couple of years anyway, so it doesn’t matter what you think. Thanks, Ed.

Go Jets

I hope I’m wrong, but I’m thinking Favre will be awful this year. Awful. —Ed. Note

Hi, Ed, I’m calling about the gang wars in Trenton. So, murderous punks want to kill murderous punks from other gangs. What’s the problem?

Double Elimination

The “problem” is that this is a city — where people work and live and pursue happiness. This is not a battlefield. Even if you believe that gun-toting punks deserve to die — which is not exactly an enlightened opinion, but whatever — have a little heart for the residents of this city who don’t want to dress their children in size-extra-small riot gear so they won’t take a stray bullet to the face riding their BMX bike to the corner store for some bubble gum.—Ed. Note

Hi, Ed, I would just like to comment on your coverage of a recent story about two 18-year-olds from Hamilton, one was killed, the other seriously injured. The Trentonian plastered this story on the front page with the headline “Teen Tragedy.” But there was no mention of “tragedy” for another story, “Trenton teen gunned down.” It was just another homicide involving a young man from Trenton. It’s not right! They are both tragedies! They were both children taken before their time, and no matter their residence or their color, it is a sad day for the parents of both kids who have to bury them way before their time. Our children are supposed to bury us, not the other way around.

Dismayed

Agreed. The death of any child is a great tragedy. We had a reporter working both stories that day; he was able to gather more information on the Hamilton teen because there was a vigil that night, so we had a complete story worthy of the front page. There was no intention to downplay the Trenton tragedy.—Ed. Note

Hey, Ed, tell Mayor Benci that we don’t need a transit village in any way, shape or form. The real estate market in Mercer County is in shambles. The glut of homes and apartments for sale or rent is overwhelming. Maybe he should call Mayor Palmer and ask him how the Broad Street Bank rentals are going. The last time I heard, it was up to an astounding eight apartments rented.

Anti-Village Person

Well, it’s more than eight, and it’s not exactly an apples-to-apples comparison, but your point is taken.—Ed. Note

Ed, I’m calling about the cook who was attacked early on the morning of July 20 in Villa Park. That same night there were five or six vehicles on Fairmont Avenue damaged by God-only-knows-who; it could be the same people. There’s a lot going on around Villa Park — kids running around on bikes and scooters going the wrong way on a one-way street and causing havoc with cars. These politicians, especially Palmer and Santiago, need to step up and do something in Villa Park before someone is killed.

Walk in the Park

Do non-motorized scooters have to obey the traffic laws? Maybe there’s some legislation in the works. —Ed. Note

Hey Ed, the court system finally did one right by clearing Carl Jordan. I hope he gets his job back.

Coach’s Corner

Job back, large cash settlement, something like that.—Ed. Note

Hey, Ed, now that Hamilton football coach Carl Jordan has been completely exonerated by a grand jury, how about the drama queen getting her name and picture dragged through the mud, just as was done to him?

Her Turn

Her name’s been in the paper — I’m not sure what else you want. Should we put her in a dunk tank at the fair?—Ed. Note

Ed, I’m a New Jersey resident disgusted about our judicial system. It’s disgusting how these state troopers can rape a girl and nothing happens to them, yet a high school football coach trying to prevent a fight gets put before a grand jury. Why weren’t the troopers put before a grand jury? Why aren’t these legislators doing anything? They know how to pass laws. Are New Jersey’s “finest” exempt from the law?

It Ain’t Right

You mean if a trooper kept a teen girl from attacking a little boy he wouldn’t be prosecuted and lose his job?—Ed. Note

Ed, these troopers who raped this girl are getting away with murder. This is a Gestapo Nazi police state we’re living in. They need to do something about these cops; they think they’re better than everybody else.

O. Pressed

Apparently prosecutors determined that the troopers did not rape the girl, but if they are getting away with something, it would be rape not murder. —Ed. Note

Hi, Ed, in case you didn’t notice, the city of Trenton does not need any police ambassadors, they need police officers to do real work, not parade up and down downtown on a horse and do nothing. If the city council wants to do something, how about paying the police officers the hundreds of thousands dollars it owes us already?

Pay Day

How about they just give you your own horse?—Ed. Note

Ed, let me see if I have this right, a 17-year-old from Seattle starts a petition and is able to get the Trenton Police horse patrol back, yet four judges ruled Joe Santiago must leave office and nothing happens. No plans for a transition are made. What’s wrong with this picture? Only in Trenton!

That’s Incredible

Um, you pretty much got it right.—Ed. Note