Ed, today after one of those Civil Defense tests on television where the screen goes black and a loud alarm sounds, waaaa, waaaa, my television did not switch back, it switched to a radio station. And it said something crazy like if I don’t want to listen to the Spanish version of Martha Stewart I should switch audio back to main audio. I called Comcast, and NBC 10. But it is still like that. I wonder if anyone else has experienced that — where after the Civil Defense test was on then their audio did not go back to TV it stayed on a radio station?

Notta Test

Um, did you ever see “Poltergeist”? Yeah. You might wanna call somebody. —Ed. Note

Ed, we don’t send morons to Congress but when they get to Washington they sure do get stupid. New Jersey has two prime examples in Sens. Lautenberg and Menendez, who don’t have a clue about how the average state residents live but must believe that they are far smarter than the rest of us.

Smarty

They are smarter than the rest of us. They’re United States senators. They make more money than us, they have a better pension than us, and they control the world. Not a bad gig. — Ed. Note

I see where Goldman Sachs had record profits in 2009. The average salary per employee is $498,000; that includes janitors. And we are supposed to help these big businesses that are too large to fail? I say tax ’em, 99 percent tax.

Taxed

Great idea! And your mortgage rates will be roughly 98 percent. — Ed. Note

Ed, I am out here in Ohio on business. We have had six inches of snow overnight. It is now 2:47 p.m. and the side streets are as clear as can be, just like the main drag. The kids went to school on time in the morning. Out here they did not prep the streets with beet juice or beetle juice on the highway like Hamilton Township does. This Ohio city puts sand down. Maybe Mayor Bencivengo should come out here and learn something about the way it should be done. All we need in Hamilton is sand and good ol’ manpower.

Sandy

You can have your Ohio. Don’t come back. So they have “clear roads” and “kids who make it to school” ... booooo-ring. —Ed. Note

Ed, I see where our illustrious homeland security secretary, what’s her name, Janet Napolitano, is touring the site of the Super Bowl. She is quoted as saying, “We are doing everything we can in preparation for such a great event.” You know what? I ain’t going down there with her settin’ up the system.

Getting Bombed

I hear you. With her at the helm it might even be dangerous to watch the game in HD. —Ed. Note

Ed, first of all, I apologize for my dog barking in the background. This is for the man who commented that the police were texting all the time in their squad cars. They are not texting. That is ludicrous. The computers they have in their cars are there for NCIC checks. If the police did text I am sure they would get reprimanded, if not suspended. The computers make it possible to enter information instead of broadcasting it over the airwaves. It makes it impossible for those who have scanners to eavesdrop.

K-9

Ed, in reference to the BackTalk article from the man who complained about cops texting. What they don’t realize is if the police are on duty they need to have the scanners so they can see what is going on, to see if there is a crime being committed. Also if one police officer is driving, it is the other police officer who is using the computer. I think the man who made the comment should think before he talks.

Thinker

It’s hard to believe, but the cops are actually doing work with their mobile devices. Unlike everyone else who’s using them to reduce American productivity. —Ed. Note

Ed, Gov. Christie has only been in office a short time, and one of his first official acts is to try to cancel a scheduled rap concert in Trenton! Should we expect that no rap concerts will be held in the state of New Jersey in the next four years? If they are allowed, will the promoter be forced to hire state police officers as security for each event? That would make it costly for the promoter. I am a 38-year-old woman who rarely attends these shows, however I am appalled at the blatant discrimination to the rap and hip-hop community, which is comprised of people from all racial and cultural backgrounds.

Dissed

Don’t blame the guv. I hear he’s a big Wu-Tang fan. Good dancer, too. It’s that lieutenant of his that’s all stiff. —Ed. Note

I just wanted to congratulate you on the wonderful article you printed in your paper, the tribute to our local high school students’ academic achievements, athletic performance, and community service. The photography was great, a really classy piece of news. Keep up the good work.

— Hugs and kisses

We aim to please. — Ed. Note

I was reading about New York not wanting to hold the terror trials there. Obama is about to attach $200 million to the area that does hold the trials. This is a great opportunity to help out the state of New Jersey. We could hold the trials at Fort Dix. They already have the security in place and they have prisons in that location also. We have the ability to make that happen. Best law enforcement in the country.

A vote for Dix

Actually, the new name of the base is called McDixhurst. And it could probably use a few hundred million bucks, even if we have to bring a terrorist here to get it. — Ed. Note

The New Jersey 1040 tax book is not available in libraries this year. When you call the tax line at (609) 292-6400 to request the book, their first suggestion is to print the entire book and its forms on your computer. Yeah, right. Their second suggestion is go to the library and they will print the entire book and its forms for you. The Hamilton Township Library is charging 10 cents a page. Their third suggestion, only if you push, is to tell you they will mail you only one copy. I say to the State of New Jersey — no book, no taxes. Signed, A computerless senior.

Computerless senior

Well, you might be a 1040-formless senior, too. — Ed. Note

Ed, for the reader who has the 3,000 books to donate, there is a place down in Kentucky, the Christian Appalachian Project, they accept donations of everything except food. You can get a hold of them at www.christianapp.org. They have a truck that comes around and picks stuff up. Take care, Ed, and have a good day.

Mr. Binder

Another classy BackTalk reader coming to the rescue. — Ed. Note

Ed, I want to respond to the article about providing low income housing. In my opinion that is nothing but just spreading a cancer. These people move into those houses and then find they can barely make the mortgage payments. Then they rely on taxpayers to pay all their utilities, free energy, free welfare, free everything else courtesy of the taxpayer.

I. Rate

It’s the class system. Life counts on the bottom-feeders to make every one of us feel better about themselves. — Ed. Note

Ed, this is concerning the Trenton City Council meeting this past evening regarding the city clerk. I am actually just a little appalled at Councilwoman Annette Lartigue; her actions and conduct were totally absurd. It was like watching a bad circus act. The idea that she is actually running for mayor is just ridiculous. She probably needs to run in another city because I would never, ever, vote for someone who acts in such a manner.

No Vote

Well, as you can read on page 4 of this issue, she’s totally sick of her fellow council members, so you were just seeing the manifestation of her frustration. —Ed. Note

Ed, I am calling about all these alleged DWIs in Plainsboro. It must be really tough up there; it must be like the OK Corral. All these guys they go over their lane, they don’t hold their lanes, or they swerve to avoid a squirrel and they get charged with DWI. These laws have really gotten out of hand. Either ban alcohol altogether or you have to cut some people a break. And on another page in your paper you have Jayson Williams who gets a booze bracelet. I doubt that these guys in Plainsboro will get a booze bracelet. They will probably lose their licenses, receive heavy fines, and their insurance will go through the roof, maybe even get some jail time. These laws are, uh ... backward.

Loosen Up

Can’t say I agree with you on cutting a break to drunk drivers. We’ve seen too many fatal accidents in these pages. And how stupid do you have to be to not only get loaded and drive — but then swerve to miss a squirrel? Just squish the squirrel you sloshed numbskull. —Ed. Note

Ed, about the article “Small housing projects can revitalize Trenton” by L.A. Parker. I love Mr. Parker. He tells it just like it is. I most certainly hope a new mayor and City Council will address the new housing market. None of those running will I vote for because in my opinion they don’t have our best interests at heart. They are self-serving; they want their 20 minutes of fame. It would be nice to see some of those abandoned houses purchased. At 66 I probably wouldn’t get a chance at one, but there are some young people who could benefit from the housing.

I Love L.A.

If you don’t vote for anyone I don’t want to hear you complaining when they don’t get it done. —Ed. Note

Ed, this is for Gov. Christie. Yesterday I tried to lodge a complaint against the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office. I contacted the AG’s office and I was told to write a letter. I asked if there were any forms available or if I could come in and speak to somebody. And that’s what my instructions were. I asked if I could speak to somebody. If you want to stop corruption, this is not the way to do it. Governor, you should look into this.

Christie’s Helper

So you chose the fastest vehicle through which to obtain the governor’s attention: BackTalk! Why navigate all that red tape when you can go straight to the most powerful and widely read forum in New Jersey? —Ed. Note

Ed, you know it is not the small elementary school teachers that you have a problem with, it’s the principals and vice principals. Some schools have as many as four. The schools have too many principals and vice principals. That’s who you have to get rid of, not the elementary school teachers that you have now.

To the Office

Yeah, but if you get rid of the vice principal, then the real principal has to do dirty work — like yell at the bad kids. And the vice principal is just so good at that. —Ed. Note

Ed, This is in response to “Teach Reality.” I don’t work for the school district, but I have seen the children and God bless those who are dealing with them. School district employees pay taxes, too. Everyone who works deserves a salary, why begrudge them? For everyone who feels negative toward school teachers and officials, here’s a challenge: Walk a day in their shoes before you hurl harsh criticism. I would bet you would not be so quick to criticize; in fact, you will say give this person a raise.

Shoe Horn

I guess I would give them a raise if I could stay in their shoes to collect it. What do I do with my old shoes? —Ed. Note

Ed, I would like to comment on your response to “Teach this lady” in BackTalk. I teach in Ewing Township. There are few, if any, deadbeats and many good and outstanding teachers in Ewing. How many schools have you visited to see how hard teachers work in order for students to learn? Not just the subject matter but about what path to take in life. We plan our lessons, develop our goals and maintain order. And in the second article in BackTalk, “Teach reality,” the person does not know what he is talking about. Teachers are held accountable. They are observed and evaluated three to seven times a year depending upon the number of years of their experience. And they don’t get three months of vacation each year.

Proud Teacher

No three months? So we’re not counting the summer, right? —Ed. Note

Ed, about the playoffs. Brett Farve, you can actually tell threw that game on purpose. He just threw it away. I think this guy should just go and retire and leave the NFL alone. This guy thinks he invented this position of quarterback. For six years he has done nothing since the Super Bowl in Green Bay. Minnesota should go out and grab an NFL quarterback kind of like what Mark Sanchez did with the Jets.

The Draft

On purpose? No, he just likes to balance out every 25 amazing passes with one incredibly stupid one. It’s a pattern. —Ed. Note

Ed, as a Giants fan I would like to congratulate the fans and the people of the city of New Orleans. Four years ago it was a living hell on Earth; now the fans and the city can celebrate football heaven.

Deserving

Amen to that. —Ed. Note

Ed, former Gov. Jon Corzine claimed he left a $500 million plus surplus. New Gov. Chris Christie can’t find it. Somebody is telling a lie. What kind of man is that man Corzine? Somebody needs to make this man come forward, stand in front of the public and tell us where that budget surplus money is. We will now have to make that money up in taxes and cuts.

Who’s Lyin’?

There are no lies in politics. Just versions of the truth and small collections of strategically selected facts. —Ed. Note

Ed, I am calling about an article in your paper entitled “Mr. Benci Goes to Washington.” The reporter referred to the U.S. government more than one time as the “national government” as opposed to what it truly is, the federal government. The reporter needs to be reminded that we live in a Republic not a monarchy. The national government is a centralized goverment that holds exclusive and supreme power, whereas the federal government holds limited power given to it by the sovereign people of the several individual states.

Get It Right

You are correct, sir. —Ed. Note

Ed, I want to let all the people who were driving down South Broad Street recently know that the little white dog that was running down the center of the street is OK. I saw her from my office window and chased her for three blocks, finally caught up with her near South Clinton and was picked up by a woman who was one of many who stopped their cars to help. I took her to PetSmart, she had an ID chip, her name is Aurora, the owner is in Hawaii, and the dog sitter is extremely lucky. So, as a reminder, everyone should take their dog in to get an ID chip implanted.

Sparky

And I’ll take one of those chips for myself, while you’re at it. Might as well beat the government to it. —Ed. Note

Ed, I have to pass a drug test to work and to pay taxes. Why don’t the people who get unemployment and this welfare have to pass a drug test in order to receive it? That is what I would like to see.

Inna Cup

I like it, other than the logistics. That’s a lot of peeing going on. —Ed. Note

Ed, I see in your paper that an 18-year-old kid got busted with a .38-caliber handgun with the serial number scratched off. The cops should have gone to the people that you are supposed to file with when you buy a gun. They can track them down real easy that way. I am positive about that.

Detective

I’m pretty sure the cops know the protocol on that one. —Ed. Note

Ed, teach the public that Colleen Rand should be put on one of the highest pedestals that the public has created. She is teaching at an inner city school in Trenton. Many of her students have a good chance for getting college degrees because of her dedication. My wife taught fifth grade for 37 years at a primarily white school in Hamilton. She retired making possibly $50,000 a year with a college degree. Teachers don’t get paid overtime for homework. She always gave her best effort all through the work day and during the night doing school work. Most of her fellow teachers were like she was — committed, loyal, striving and loving every student despite race or religion. Teachers don’t steal money and raise taxes; they do quite the opposite. Let’s see Gov. Christie try to teach one of Mrs. Rand’s classes. Good luck, guv, you are going to need it.

Hubby

Your wife sounds like a great teacher. But they aren’t all gems. (Wives or teachers.) —Ed. Note

Ed, please tell the Jehovah’s Witness don’t knock on people’s doors if you are not invited. People have things to do. They knock on your door and want to come in and you don’t even know these people. You know people have their own religion. Please, please, please don’t come unless you are invited.

Not Welcome

They’re always polite. Just tell them you’re not interested. You don’t need to be bitter. —Ed. Note

Ed, in one year President Obama and Miss Pelosi took over something that was on the brink of disaster and have lifted it back up to life. That being the Republican party. Good job.

Analyst

Oh, snap! —Ed. Note

Ed, I never knew there was such a thing as sexual healing. While Tiger Woods is going through those classes can I pinch hit for the Tiger? In the 1950s and 1960s we never had classes for this. That’s why they have Viagra. He’s my man — he and Bill Clinton. Oh my God.

Old Stud

If rich and famous hotshots want to have sex with a parade of women, more power to them. But for heaven’s sake don’t get married first. Cheating on your wife is sleazy and shouldn’t be celebrated. —Ed. Note

Ed, for the person who is calling about stink bugs. If they would call the help line for the Master Gardeners of Mercer County at (609) 989-6853 you could get some information on the brown marmorated stink bug. You will get a sheet mailed to you to tell you all about stink bugs.

Bugging Out

Man, the full name of that thing makes it sound twice as disgusting as it already did. —Ed. Note

Ed, to the person who calling about the stink bug situation in Hamilton Township. I live in Cream Ridge and we have the same exact same problem, a lot of stink bugs. They love wood and all. Here is how I kill them: I spray them with hairspray, and they freeze up and die.

Aqua Net

Yuck. —Ed. Note

Ed, I feel very sorry for Gov. Christie. Jon Corzine gave Chris Christie the shaft by passing all those bills before he left office. I would like to see Gov. Christie personally enforce the fact that no state vehicles should leave the area at the end of the work day. These people should be accessed for taking these vehicles home instead of talking the cars and trucks home at taxpayers’ expense.

Driven

Don’t feel sorry for him. Corzine’s antics gave the big guy some easy talking points. As for this “personal enforcement” ... what, do you want to see Christie in a mall cop uniform on a Segway patrolling the state parking lot? —Ed. Note

Ed, I have been saying for two years now that Fisher Middle School needs to clean house in that office in that new wonderful administration that is so concerned about the Web site as opposed to the children. When is Fisher Middle School going to clean house, straighten up their act and stop hiding what is going on in that school? This better get printed because I am furious.

Grrrr

Glad you got to vent. Take a deep breath. —Ed. Note

Ed, Wonderful: Obama is sending $100 million in aid to Haiti, and all I need is $30,000 to prevent my house from being foreclosed on. There you go, Barack — help them out, not us.

For Me

The good news is that you’re not buried under a pile of rubble. Try to run with that and dig yourself out of your hole — grateful that it’s a figurative and not a literal one. —Ed. Note

Ed, I have lived in Lawrenceville for two years. I think it is wonderful that they opened a new farmers market on Route 1. I want to let people know it is there. Give them a chance — they are wonderful people.

Farm Fresh

Who’s not giving them a chance? Anti-produce gangs? —Ed. Note

I read in your paper about the Hamilton Township Enterprise Fire Co. closing. I think it is time for the mayor to step in and put a paid fire department in the township. If they have a million dollars to buy a fire house then the taxpayers are paying too much. Each fire district is a different tax. They already have a paid EMS; they might as well have a fire department.

Hosed

Ed, I have a way to solve the Hamilton Township Enterprise Fire Department’s problem. Instead of having all these volunteer outfits and their 15 commissioners who think they are bigshots, make it the Hamilton Township Fire Co. One fire company, and one flat fire tax throughout the township. Do away with volunteer status. This will never happen because “Mr. Bigshot” fire commissioner will lose his precious little job. Let’s see Hamilton Township fire districts get together and make one fire department run by one person, not 15.

Unifier

There’s a lot of pride, identity, camaraderie and tradition in those individual districts. If you can unify without sacrificing all that spirit and dedication, great. But you’re going to need excellent leadership at the top to get it done without taking a step backward in experience and preparedness. Ultimately, it’s not about politics; it’s about keeping your house from burning down. —Ed. Note

Ed, it’s Mary from the Tender Hearts. I just witnessed something so horrific I had to vent a little. We were working in our shop and heard an explosion. We looked out our backdoor and we saw a house totally engulfed in flames. I want to say something about the emergency response to this. The police and firemen were there so quickly; they did a wonderful job. We hope everything is OK and everyone got out of the house. Our prayers and blessings are with them. It really makes you feel grateful for what you have. My other two sisters were with me. It makes you hold closer to your heart those that you have.

Mary

Everyone was OK thanks to the work of the aforementioned heroes. And thanks for reminding us that life is precious. —Ed. Note

Ed, you need to tell Jeff Edelstein that he needs to have a nice shape-up on his beard. He has hair growing everywhere. It don’t look sexy. He might want to go to High Class on East State Street.

Snippet

Speak for yourself. Jeff gets bags of mail every day — some with risque photos and/or undergarments — from women young and old who are driven wild by that scraggly, lanky hunk. They love them some Edelstein. —Ed. Note

Ed, why does the media characterize the members of the Tea Party movement as Tea Baggers? This is in very poor taste.

Tea Time

It’s only in poor taste if you know the dirty reference, you Dirty Minder. —Ed. Note

Ed, can you please tell me how a standardized written test can discriminate against black and Latino police officers? They said in the article that the police sergeant’s exam does. It is a written test based on case law and situations, and personnel management. How can a written test possibly discriminate against someone’s race? We keep lowering the standards over and over again. I thought you wanted the best people to make the decisions in the Trenton Police Department. We should not change the standards to make the test easy.

Sgt. Standard

It seems they’re working backward from the test results to determine that the test is discriminatory. —Ed. Note

Hey, Ed, I guess you and Mr. Parker are very happy now that Charlie got fired, huh? But don’t play the race card; Chris and Tiger deserve every bit of the criticism them got.

Charlie’s Angel

I don’t feel sorry for any of these guys. —Ed. Note

Ed, I wonder if Al Gore is watching the Weather Channel and finding out that maybe there is no global warming. If he steps outside his nice cozy mansion, where he probably has the heat turned up to 85, maybe he will realize that there is no global warming. We are all going to freeze to death.

B.R.

You’ve been led astray by what appears to be a chilling trend. Gore is not so easily deceived! His personal team of world-renowned Ph.D. meteorologists in concert with the world’s most powerful spinning supercomputer deliver him a daily personal weathercast that shows how hot each day “feels like” when you add in the Future Heat Fear Factor. For instance, a sunny 8-degree day with a -15 wind chill factor — when adjusted for the FHFF — “feels like” 85 with a 50 percent chance of hail and/or tornadoes. —Ed. Note

Ed, I don’t think it was proper that you put that girl’s picture on the front page last week “Race claims in Jr. high beatdown.” It’s going to encourage other young teenagers to get involved in fights and whatever if they can get their picture on the front page.

Role Model

Because all kids ever want is notoriety in the press? I don’t buy it. —Ed. Note

Ed, sorry about the girl who got beat up over a white using the N-word. Come on, the black people use it 50 times an hour. It’s the white people who push not to use it. I hear the N-word more from African-Americans than anyone else. Have you listened to rap music? It’s a shame, it’s a bad word, but everybody uses it and it’s never going to stop. It only comes out when somebody black is offended by it. Everybody has been to school, everybody has been on the street. It’s you people in the media who play it up. It’s a joke. Same with using Nazi — now it’s a law you can’t draw a swastika in school.

Language Barrier

I would guess it is still a big deal to any person of color who has lived in a time and a place where the word was directly tied to oppressive hatred backed by acts of lethal violence. I guess if we’re looking for a ruling on all this I’d rather hear from elders — and not base widespread sensibilities on the modern rapper lexicon. —Ed. Note

Yeah, I own a jewelry store in Bordentown City. The other day my alarm went off, and a fat guy in a cop’s uniform comes into my store to check to see if it was a real alarm or not. He wasn’t even wearing a gun. So if there was a real burglary, what would he have done? What would I have done? I pay taxes, and this is the kind of service I get? This is a joke. I am going to move my jewelry store to another town.

Slightly Included

So I’m confused. Was this a cop or just a fat guy dressed up as one? And can I get a deal on a watch? —Ed. Note

Ed, I was reading that governor-elect Chris Christie has vowed to take a look at New Jersey’s pension system because he heard the story of that lawyer in private practice who earned a public pension of $100,000 by working on 12 part-time public jobs. How did this happen in the first place? How many more people are getting away with this?

Hmm

I guess we’ll find out. Better late than never. Go get ’em, guv. —Ed. Note

Ed, I live on South Broad Street in Hamilton. I was wondering why they are fixing every other road except South Broad Street. My car has a flat tire because of the giant pot hole outside a convenience store. I am tired of dodging around potholes while driving. When are they going to fix the road?

Pot Holed

Woe is you. No one likes you or your road. Boo hoo. —Ed. Note

Ed, about the father who received his son back from Brazil. It is a wonderful thing. I read that his son is not calling Mr. Goldman “Dad.” I think the father should realize this boy was brought up by the stepfather in his formative years. I know Mr. Goldman lived with him until he was 4 years old but how much of that time the boy remembers is a question. The boy has been with this other father whom he loved and who loved him. Even though he is not a blood relative, he was still with this boy most of the time. And also, the stepfather was with the mother when she passed away and they probably had a special bond. It is way too premature for Mr. Goldman to expect this child to call him “Dad.” I know people who have gone through this, and it is very difficult. He needs counseling for him and the boy. And maybe someday make sure that Mr. Goldman and the boy’s stepfather try to have a relationship with each other for the boy’s sake.

International Therapist

Mr. Goldman has made it clear that he will allow the boy’s Brazil family to maintain a relationship with him — but they’ll have to visit America to do it. That’s more than fair. But they’re still fighting to re-abduct him to Brazil, so that’s not a good start. —Ed. Note

Ed, about the comment on state vehicles operating after “business hours.” Whether your readers know it or not the state is a 24-hour business. We work in developmental centers, we work at psychiatric hospitals, we take care of DYFS children, and the developmentally disabled. There is no “end of the day” for some of us. As for why people see us in neighborhoods in state vehicles at 1 a.m., many times they are DYFS case workers called out to investigate abuse, or inspecting conditions at foster homes. I am tired of state workers being criticized for driving state vehicles after “business hours.” If you see a state vehicle at Kmart or Sam’s Club that may be a case worker in there buying clothing for a child who just got removed from their home.

State’s Rights

Thanks for clearing that up. We’ll never again question the righteousness of state spending. —Ed. Note

Ed, I live on a dead-end street in Hamilton Township. My street has not been plowed in years. This year it was! I would like to commend Mayor John Bencivengo and the public works people for doing a great job.

Benci Backer

Ah, but now you have to go to work when it snows. No more calling in snowy. —Ed. Note

Ed, I would like to comment on Ewing Mayor Jack Ball, who handed out bonuses with municipal taxpayers’ money. This has got to be a first. It is not fair to the taxpayers to shell out money supposedly for the use for the operation of the township. Every dollar counts. Just because there is money left over in the kitty it doesn’t mean you have to spend it. Think about next year.

Ball Buster

A “first”? Yes, this was the first time in the history of the universe that taxpayer money has ever been used to pay a bonus. —Ed. Note

Ed, despite the wave of justifiable criticism over the United States Senate’s use of bribes to get the 60 votes necessary to pass Obama’s health care bill, politicians have been getting away with this technique on all sorts of pet projects and programs for many years. Consider beach replenishment, which takes sand from the bottom of the ocean and places it on our beaches, only to have mother nature wash it back into the ocean. Bureaucrats buy votes by pandering to property owners at the shore, ignoring that their approach is not a rational approach to this enduring reality.

Beachy

Does the bill for the beach thing get into the trillions? —Ed. Note

Ed, I don’t know why that watershed up in Hopewell allows guys on their property hootin’ and hollerin’ to scare the deer so they can go out and shoot them. Recently I was almost run over by a bunch of deer they had chased out of the woods. All I know is if the deer run in front of my car and I hit them, I know where I am going to go for a lawsuit against the watershed. They should think twice before letting those guys run all over that place.

Deer God

Those scared deer deserve at least some of the blame. They never learn. —Ed. Note

Ed, I was at the scene of the house fire in the South Ward last Thursday. It wasn’t the police who pulled the old lady from the house. It was two city workers, I think one of them was a sanitation worker, who went into the house, picked up the old lady, carried her out of the flames and put her in the back of the patrol car. I didn’t see anything in the paper about them and I think they should get credit for that.

What I. Saw

Um, there are always several sides to every story. Let’s leave it at this: Congratulations to all the heroes who prevented a tragedy from occurring that day. —Ed. Note

Ed, what is wrong with the Brazilians and those lawyers and judges who won’t let this poor guy have his son? And what is wrong with Obama (even though I voted for him) that he can’t get this kid back? If we as a country supply Brazil with any imports then stop them. This is an American kid that should be back at home. Stop this insane going back and forth. Thanks to Chris Smith, who is doing a wonderful job otherwise nothing would have moved at all. What is wrong with us we let the world walk all over us? Stop going to parties and get this boy back.

Proud American

In the day since this comment was called in, the story has come to a happy conclusion, and we don’t have to go to war with Brazil. Phew! And Congrats to our hometown boy, Chris Smith, for winning the battle as the world watched! —Ed. Note

Ed, maybe you could check with the readers to find out why the city stopped decorating on Hamilton Avenue, especially the intersection at Hamilton and Chambers. That whole area used to be nicely decorated. Now there are no decorations to be seen. Don’t tell me the Grinch stole that too.

Intersected

It’s seems in Hamilton there’s always someone complaining that (A) the town is spending too much money on something or (B) the town stopped spending money on something. —Ed. Note

Ed, just want you to know neighborliness is still high on someone’s list. We the residents of Briner Lane in Hamilton Square would like to thank our neighbor, Fred, who cleared all our sidewalks and driveways from one end of the street to the other in this recent snowstorm.

In the Clear

Here’s to you, Fred! We could all learn from your example. Go out and shovel out a neighbor. You’ll feel better about yourself. Merry Christmas, everyone! —Ed. Note

Ed, I live in the small town of Fieldsboro, and we have maybe seven streets. We have had a major snowstorm. For three years now I have been working to get the quarter of a mile in front of my house plowed. There are two roads in Fieldsboro that actually belong to Bordentown Township, but they will only plow the empty parking lots. Then we wave as we watch the borough snow plow go by with the plow up. So much for shared services; we can’t get two towns to cooperate, Fieldsboro and Bordentown Township. Good luck, governor, because you will never get these people to cooperate.

No Co-op

Nice of you to wave, though. There’s that small-town spirit! —Ed. Note

Ed, I read that the number of foreign children adopted by Americans has plunged 27 percent. If you are really looking to adopt a child, why not start here at home? There are so very many children that are desperate for love and a good home. Give our children a chance to have parents who love them, a loving home and a good education. Merry Christmas.

Parent Power

There are tons of kids who need homes, but everybody wants a cute little baby. It’s a hard-knock life for older orphans. —Ed. Note

Ed, about “Don’t let the Dogs Out.” It is rather amusing to think that a Yorkie could be picked up by a hawk, maybe a puppy Yorkie, but not an adult Yorkie. Also, I sure would like to know what a duck hawk is? It is not in my bird books. On a serious note, please make sure that your cats and dogs have access to a dog house if they are left out during the winter. Yes, even the cats have to have houses and you can be fined for it if your neighbors report you for not providing shelter. Also your pets’ water bowls will freeze outside unless they have a heater especially designed for them.

Bob Barker

I dunno about the dog house suggestion. I heard there’s a moose hawk out there big enough to pick up the whole house. —Ed. Note

Ed, I want to commend Mayor Fried about what he is going to do in his township — keep the taxes stable, even possibly maybe even lower them. Maybe his buddy in Hamilton Township could follow his example. We did not need the call center, the golf center which is closed, all that new furniture ordered. I hope he follows what my mother’s mayor in Washington Township, Mayor Fried, is doing.

B. Like Dave

I’m sure they’re comparing notes. —Ed. Note

About “Follicle Fight.” What ever happened to freedom of choice in this country? Here they are trying to make the kid cut his hair because long hair does not conform to what they want at the school he attends. When are we going to stop bowing to whatever anyone else wants and go back to what our founding fathers meant by whatever they drew up? I guess freedom of choice only applies when they want it to apply.

Hairnet

The founding fathers would put the kid in a nice powdered wig. —Ed. Note

Ed, about the handicapped ramps in Trenton. Don’t blame the contractors. The contractor has to put it in as per plan. Blame the engineer. They did not do their job.

Bob the Builder

Good point. It was probably built exactly to spec. —Ed. Note

Ed, real quiet, the state of New Jersey has given 50 million dollars to doctors to help pay for their insurance premiums. Of course the lawyers want this. The state doesn’t have any money for a property tax rebate. Boy, do we need a revolution in this country.

Tea Party

Dang lawyers. And doctors. And state. Grrr. —Ed. Note

Ed, I am a lifelong resident of Trenton. I am just noticing we have a lot more crows in the city. Is there a reason we have so many crows living in Trenton in recent years? Are they going to do something about the overgrowth of birds?

Bird Land

Ah, the crow. A powerful symbol in both Old World suspicion and Native American spiritualism. It’s been everything from an omen of death to the creator of the world. Let’s try to stay positive in this case. —Ed. Note

Ed, I heard they caught the people involved in that robbery at the pharmacy over the weekend. Why didn’t you put that new information in the headline in large print? Then people would not be so scared to go to the pharmacy. I have talked to quite a few people who are afraid to go to the drug store because of that first large-print headline, “pharmacy heist.”

Pharmascared

Hmmm. Here are the facts, ma’am: On Monday we broke the news that the robbery happened Sunday night — with a photo and the information we could gather — under the headline “Rx FOR ROBBERY.” On Tuesday, we ran another story with the surveillance camera image under the headline “Police show pic of pill-freak gunman.” On Thursday, we ran another story under the headline “Hamilton cops: Landscaper admits to CVS heist.” —Ed. Note

Ed, I read in The Trentonian about the Trane Co. moving another plant down to Mexico. They started to move down there in 1989. What I can’t understand is why all these people from Mexico are crossing the border illegally looking for work in the United States because they can’t find jobs in Mexico. We are sending all the jobs to them down there. Something stinks. Our government should try to keep these jobs here in in America. Everybody out there wake up, because your job might be next.

Warning

Remember Ross Perot used to talk about the “giant sucking sound” of jobs going to Mexico? Is he still around? I always get him mixed up with the chicken guy, Frank Perdue. —Ed. Note

Ed, this is Jamie. I have a five-gallon container with lids from aluminum cans and I would like to donate it to help make a difference for kids with cancer. I am filling another five gallon container now, my friends are helping me. If anyone has a direct number that I can call to donate these containers for free to help kids with cancer, put it in the paper because I read your paper every day.

Lid on It

Keep saving those lids. BackTalkers will have that number shortly. —Ed. Note

Ed, there is a larger-than-normal hawk living in Ewing right at the Dunkin’ Donuts at Parkway and Pennington, or at least he is spending a lot of time there. It looks like a duck hawk. It is big enough to pick up a small dog. And I know there are several tiny Yorkies living in that area, the Glendale area. This would be the best way to let people know, through your paper, please do not let your little dogs out, keep them on a leash. If you do let them out tie them out on the leash so they if they get grabbed by this thing they won’t be taken away and eaten.

Big Bird

I love dogs. But there’s still a curious part of me that would like to witness a hawk flying away with Yorkie. —Ed. Note

Ed, I am an employee of the U.S. Postal Service. We have managers and supervisors in this area who are just rude and ignorant, and I am sick and tired of it. And to the people who are paying for express mail, the policy is that the customer is supposed to receive the packages overnight by 12 o’clock. We have managers who are lazy and just sitting around and not scanning that mail because the policy says that if the packages aren’t there by 12 the sending customer gets their money back. To my understanding, they are covering it up and falsifying documents. I would just like to make you aware of it.

Inside Source

Can you get me some free stamps? —Ed. Note

Ed, this message is for L.A. Parker. I just want to wish you luck and we will miss you while you are gone. I wish you could write more often in the paper. You are a wonderful person.

Fan Club

Cue the Randy Newman record ... “I love L.A. (We love it!)” —Ed. Note

Ed, to the man who deferred $130,000 in his mortgage for 40 years. Mister, are you crazy? In 40 years you are going to owe the bank $130,000. Where are you going to get that? How old are you, 60 or 70? You are going to be kicked out of your house when you need it the most.

Bank on It

If’s he’s 70 now and can eat soup in 40 years that’s a victory. —ED. Note

Ed, loved Jeff Edelstein’s column and jokes about the Tiger Woods situation. I agree with Jeff. Apparently Tiger has lost sight of his goals and is no longer interested in breaking Jack Nicklaus’ record of winning 18 major golf championships and instead is chasing Wilt Chamberlain’s self-stated record of bedding 20,000 women in his lifetime. God bless Mary of Tender Hearts for all of the wonderful work she does year to year. Merry Christmas, Ed, to you and your entire staff, number one in the region, and to all your loyal readers too.

Holiday Cheer

Man, what a segue. From Wilt’s sexploits right to the Tender Hearts. Somewhere Mary is blushing. —Ed. Note

Ed, this is to the superintendent of the Ewing School District. As a parent it was very disheartening to hear from your children after they got home from school that there was a drug arrest of a classmate at Fisher Middle School. It would be nice for the parents to have a heads-up from the school superintendent first at least to be prepared to handle a very uncomfortable situation with your children. Please correct this policy going forward. It was clearly a rookie mistake.

Parent

You’re right. But I’m glad a drug arrest at a middle school is still considered a big deal. —Ed. Note

Ed, everyone tells me that the unions killed the manufacturing jobs in the United States and that is why the companies left. Can the same thing be said about state, county and government unions? Do you think they will drive these state workers out of their jobs? In 10 years we will see Pakistanis, Indians and Chinese doing these jobs for half price and no benefits.

Outsource

The state will never be that efficient on its own. But it might outsource more and more to companies that will do exactly as you describe. —Ed. Note

Ed, in response to “Banks Keep Secrets.” If I were a bank I’d keep secrets too. Why should I be suffering to modify your mortgage that you agreed to and signed off on? You are over 18, you are working, you know what you can or cannot afford. You were stupid enough to go in and buy a mortgage for a $400,000 home and you are making $60,000 a year and then you buy that pretty car. Now you can’t afford it. Why should the bank suffer trying to straighten out your mortgage? That’s your problem. What they need to do is to bring back the debtors’ prison and put them in jail. Instead they take our tax money to try to bail these people out. They punish the good people all the time in this country.

Good Person

A refreshing perspective. While I reserve the right to condemn the banks, what’s the deal with no one holding foolish homeowners accountable for their roles in the mortgage crisis? I can’t fault you for feeling that it’s the average responsible, bill-paying, taxpaying person who gets screwed. —Ed. Note

Ed, I just got finished reading Matthew Osborne’s article about Tim Tebow and the Heisman Trophy. Excellent article. It’s about time that somebody stands up and speaks out about people with faith and stuff. Well done. Merry Christmas, guys.

WWTTD

And Merry Christmas to you. —Ed. Note

Ed, about the Rev. Toussaint, who lied about his name. I have worked in the prison system for over 14 years. People should know that there is one thing you learn in prison and that is how to manipulate people. I have seen prisoners talking to ladies on the phone they have never met and getting them to fall in love with them and send them money. The reverend is someone who spent a long time behind bars, and now you want to give him the reins to the power over people’s minds. I am all for giving someone a second chance, but don’t give him a second chance to take someone’s life. Also, the reverend is a great speaker, but so was Hitler, and look where it got him.

Beware

Whoa. —Ed. Note

Ed, the caller in a recent BackTalk said that we need to forgive the Rev. Toussaint. This is true, this idea about forgiveness in religion, but that is also assuming we knew what was going on there with the reverend. He wasn’t forthright with the information in the first place; he was dishonest. It was not like he stole a piece of candy or kicked someone in the shins, he was a partner in a murder. That is nothing to play with. It is not something that is easily forgiveable.

Remember

We want to believe that people can change. And they can, I hope. But it’s hard to give the guy the benefit of the doubt when he can’t even start with the truth. Also, for the record: His murder conviction was eventually tossed (but he was guilty of partaking in an armed robbery in which two people were shot dead by his accomplice). —Ed. Note

Ed, this Gordon Reibman — why don’t they put him in a cell with Ambrose Harris and have Ambrose kick the life out of him? Then he will realize what he did to his dog, if he gets out of there alive.

Dog Daze

Ambrose must be flattered by how often the “stick him in a cell with Harris” suggestion comes up for hated criminals (or in this case, a suspect) in BackTalk. —Ed. Note

Ed, I just want to reply to that caller who said that “banks keep secrets.” I just had my $200,000 mortgage remodified for 40 years. They deferred $130,000 to the end of that 40 year term so that I am only paying on a $70,000 mortgage. The first five years I am paying 2 percent, which includes my escrow account. People really need to look into this and have the bank offer this package to them.

In the Bank

Dang. How many bankers did you have to sleep with to get that deal? —Ed. Note

Ed, I would like to issue a complaint against Hamilton Township Mayor Bencivengo. We have no Christmas tree on Gropp’s Lake as we usually do. I understand somebody complained because it represents Christmas, which it does not. What is next, will he take down the American flag on the lakeshore now? I hope you didn’t cave in on this. We would like our tree back in Yardville.

Treeless

We’ve had Benci in the paper making a big deal about other Christmas trees, so you can’t claim he hates the holiday. Or trees. —Ed. Note

Ed, I am an amateur radio tinkerer. I was playing with my scanner and I happened to listen to a conversation between the Trenton Board of Education office and their school bus drivers. I found out today that the bus drivers and aides are babysitters. If they make a stop and the parents aren’t there to pick up their kids, the buses don’t leave the children. People don’t have to be home because they know the city is going to watch their kids until they get home. How much are we paying the drivers and aides to do that?

Route of the Problem

Just drive ’em around until they fall asleep, right? Works for babies. Then just drop them back at school in the morning. —Ed. Note

Ed, to the person with the Rottweiler with finicky feet, Melanie (the groomer) is now with Golden Grange Kennels in Chesterfield, N.J. Their number is (609) 324-3647. And you are right, she is awesome.

Furry

Ed, looking for a good dog groomer? I can recommend Nancy from the Curry Corner in Lawrenceville at (609) 896-0778. Nancy has been grooming dogs for 35 years and I know she can handle that Rottweiler.

Scratchy

Ed, for the person looking for a dog groomer, try the people at Crosswicks Clippers at (609) 298-8854. They handle dogs who have those kinds of problems and they are excellent.

Barky

So there you have it. BackTalk is your headquarters for pet grooming and general dog wellness —Ed. Note

Ed, this is for Sen. Frank Lautenberg and his moronic liberal friends. Are you kidding me in saying George Bush abandoned the Afghanistan war? That was his top priority, much to the dismay of you idiotic liberals. The only reason it was “abandoned” was because his term was up and frankly I would rather have had four more years of Bush than the current president we now have. And as for the other idiotic comment some local Democrat made (think his name was Gross, which is cool cause he grosses me out), he said he does not know why we are fighting in Afghanistan. What, are you serious? But I guess liberals like him believe 9/11 was made up by Republicans like Rush Limbaugh and Bill O’Reilly. Where is Ronald Reagan when we need him? Liberals are the biggest group of self-righteous morons since, well, you fill in the blank.

Ranter

Um, since BackTalkers? Just kidding. —Ed. Note

Ed, it is unfortunate that so many BackTalkers are focused on the “people from Trenton” comment in the flap over the Popeye’s expansion. The real issue is one of traffic and safety: The restaurant is seeking zoning exemptions to add a drive-thru window, from which exiting cars will be forced onto Winslow Avenue, a residential street. Those of us who live in the Creston section of Mercerville have legitimate concerns about how all those vehicles, whether they come from Trenton or Princeton, will find their way back to the major arteries of Nottingham Way and Whitehorse-Mercerville Road. Call us parochial for not wanting our neighborhood to turn into a traffic watershed for Route 33, but please can it with the racial implications.

Neighbor

OK, you’re parochial! There, I said it. —Ed. Note

Ed, I think that Tiger should not have been lion (get it). He is now in a rough situation. It is not a fairway to treat his wife Elin, which spelled as an anagram is lie’n. He now has had his balls in at least two other holes. I wonder if he is going to play all 18 holes. He must be a good driver with his putter, but not his car. Maybe with time he can iron things out with his wife, but for now I think he has put a wedge between himself and his wife. I guess he thought life would be green-er on the other side. These other girls must have been mulligans. In the end the tiger was trapped. The new name for Tiger’s mansion can be the clubhouse.

Poet I. Knowit

I hope you came up with at least two or three of those yourself. —Ed. Note

Ed, I just read the article in the paper on Nov. 25 about how New Jersey wants to cut more state workers to balance the budget. This upsets me. What people do not know is that New Jersey has an estimated 2,000 temporary employees and a host of bogus contracts. I think before Chris Christie comes into office, he should look into getting rid of all temporary workers, all political appointees, and all of the bogus state contracts. State workers have already given enough! We are required to take unpaid days off, we weren’t given the raise we were promised in the contract (and will probably never get it), and in this economy, we can’t afford to raise the unemployment rates! Despite what people think of us, we are hard workers! You can’t balance the budget on the back of the state workers alone. Please, Mr. Christie, look into this and do the right thing.

I.M. Right

The cuts you suggest sound like a good warmup for him. Then he can get out the big ax. —Ed. Note

Why do inmates have weight rooms? I can see maybe a library. Why are they allowed to grow larger than the guards? It doesn’t make sense to me. You seem to be the type of person that would let them have any benefits they can. Me? Anyone doing 30 to life should be executed three at a time.

Bang Bang Bang

I think we should give inmates color TVs and all the McDonald’s they can eat. That should settle them down to a life of sloth once they get out. — Ed Note

Ed, I read the BackTalk column about God condoning homosexuality and I disagree with it. I have a Holy Bible that was printed in 1943, and it doesn’t say God condoned homosexuality, but only destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah because of their homosexuality and wickedness. That guy better get the facts straight. P.S. The Bible back in 1965 has been changed to suit the will of man, not the will of God.

Ol’ 43

Yeah, ’65 is when it all went downhill. —Ed. Note

I’m calling about this idiot who called in about the whole gay thing. He said God condones homosexuality. I guess he’s not a man of faith who reads the Bible. If you read the Bible, you’ll see marriage is between a man and a woman. Got it? A man and a woman.

Finger Pointer

God needs to start speaking to people again. There’s too much confusion over His previous comments. — Ed Note

This is in response to the whole gay thing. What people don’t realize is the Bible spells it all out. It’s the devil that makes children gay.

S. Atan

Glad we’ve cleared that up. Next! — Ed Note

Maybe someone knows the answer to this. I was invited to a 50th wedding anniversary, not at an elaborate place, just a restaurant. A gift of money was given, quite a lot of money. I don’t recall getting a thank you note. Do people not do this anymore? I’m just curious to know.

No Thanks

I agree. I think a thank you note would be required here. But — and I don’t mean to be crass — but maybe the happy couple has since left the mortal coil? — Ed. Note

I was worried about the economy, now I’m worried about the pensions. OK fine, you put money in and you retire, fine. But the disparity about it between the common person and the government employee is that after 55, if you work for the government, you get lifetime benefits. What a perk that is. Same with the cops. It goes right on down the line. Maybe I’m a little sour because I’m part of a system that doesn’t pay for health insurance after you retire. It’s got to be socialized.

Penned

Work until you’re 65, and presto, you’ve got your Medicare. Socialized. Done and done. — Ed. Note

I cried when I read the editorial about the first Thanksgiving. I cannot relate to what those people went through. Governor Bradford was very eloquent in his account of the situation. I wish I could personally thank all those pilgrims and would definitely thank the Native Americans for helping out that band of pilgrims. We should have a national holiday dedicated to them alone.

Day Off

Yeah, honoring the Native Americans would be nice, but I think they’d rather we just keep going to their casinos. — Ed. Note

I love Chris Christie already, especially because he said he’ll veto the gay marriage law if Corzine signs it. Finally, someone with common sense.

Dude

Hey man, you said you “love” Chris Christie. Ha-ha. You love him! You said it yourself! Love! — Ed. Note

Hey Ed, not a bad idea putting death row inmates in a pit and let them fight it out to boost the economy of New Jersey. But then, the crooked politicians will probably take the money for something else and put it in their pockets. You know they used to do this in Rome, right? Put the inmates in the pit and let the lions and tigers at them.

Grrrr

Well, now that you mention it, maybe I’m going to change my mind on the whole battle to the death thing. After all, Rome didn’t end too well. — Ed. Note

Dare I say that the Imam Sohaib Sultan made a mistake? Those Princeton University students are tomorrow’s “responsible” citizens and their repression of free speech shows a dark side to their preparation for the “real world.” Their education is as sheltered as their young lives.

Disappointed

It was a tough call, either way. I’m leaving it at that. —Ed Note.

If our governor-elect does read BackTalk maybe he can help, along with Mayor Palmer. It has come to my attention that the bodegas in the city of Trenton are scamming the hardworking taxpayers in the State of New Jersey. Their trick is every first of the month when the “needy” receive money on their Family First debit cards (welfare), the “needy” know the right stores to hit immediately. The “needy” person hands the card over to the bodega worker, the card is swiped on the credit card machine for $100 and the “needy” person is given $50 cash and the bodega pockets $50 of my hard-earned tax dollars. It’s going on all over the city, and most of the bodegas are in on this scam. The card is supposed to be for food and other items needed for poor families, not an ATM card and not a profit maker for the bodegas.

Scammy

Even if what you’re saying is true — which it very well may be — all I see is capitalism at work. I mean, if the rich are expected to scam the American taxpayer, shouldn’t the poor have the same opportunity? — Ed. Note