KC in 60

KC in 60 Live Player

2011-12-20T09:17:00.002-05:00

Chuck Nice's new Web series

2011-12-11T17:46:00.001-05:00

Go Away, Jose Jose Jose

2011-12-05T08:18:00.000-05:00

Many fans of the New York Mets woke up this morning feeling as if their baseball world has been forever changed with the departure of Jose Reyes to Miami. While I can understand how some fans might feel that way, I have a different take – and that take is that this is Mets business as usual, nothing new whatsoever from a franchise that is an absolute and abhorrent disgrace not just to baseball, but to all of sports.

Here’s why. And I ask you to just think about what I’m saying here.

This has been an intriguing off-season in the National League East. The Phillies went out and got one of the best closers in baseball. The Marlins signed Heath Bell and now, apparently, Reyes. The Washington Nationals are reportedly aggressively trying to sign Prince Fielder to play first base.

And your New York Mets (and mind you, I am glad this happened) changed their uniforms back to the traditional orange-and-blue style sans black.

Think about this for a moment.

While other teams in the division are going out and making vast improvements to their rosters, the Mets have changed their uniforms.

This shouldn’t come as much of a shock to anyone who is a fan of this team.

In a rendezvous with season-ticket holders last week, General Manager Sandy Alderson, and his hack assistants, told the fans they should expect to see a very competitive team in 2012 at Citi Field, one that is, as Alderson stated it, “is extremely fun to watch.”

I’m not sure what’s more outright absurd: That Alderson made such a statement, or that he and his idiot counterparts made the statement in front of the few dopes who are still willing to shell out thousands of dollars for season tickets to a team built like a true AAA franchise.

Alderson has been very blunt. He’s made it clear he has very little wiggle room when it comes to salary with this team. And clearly, that comes from a directive from the buffoons who own this team – the Wilpons.

But it’s just another clear-cut example of how poorly run this organization is.

The owners of a team in New York City will have a payroll, in 2012, that is less than $100 million.

They keep on saying they’re in decent shape financially, despite all we’ve heard about the family’s so-called misfortune with Bernard Madoff and his marvelous Ponzi scheme. But if this day, the day Jose Reyes departs New York for Miami, indicates anything, it’s that again, this team is run by a family that is financially insolvent. It is run by a family that is completely out of touch with reality. This team is run by a family that just won’t ever yield a winner.

Now on to Reyes.

What the hell are you all upset about?

Think about the career of this guy for a moment.

What the hell has he accomplished whilst a member of this team?

In reality, he did two decent things. In 2006, he was part of a team that defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers in a National League division series. And in 2011, he won a batting title by pulling himself out of the final game of the season.

He epitomizes the word “loser.” He never, ever showed an iota of leadership in 8 seasons with this team. He showed so much promise, but never came through. He was to be the face a franchise – and he was – and it was the ugliest face in the team’s history. It was all about dancing in the dugout – about laughing in-between innings. It was about losing considerably more games than he won, in a period of nearly a decade.

While I’d certainly prefer to see this guy go to a team in another division – or another league – I’m happy he’s going the hell away. He was never a true leader. He never had any affection for this franchise and its fans. He is representative of a time most Mets fans would much rather forget.

So we say goodbye to the little lightning rod who was often hurt. We say goodbye to the man who spent 40 percent of his time with the Mets on the disabled list. We say goodbye to a man who just never knew how to win.

Hey Miami Marlins, good luck with that!

Maybe David Wright won’t be too far behind.

KC in 60 Returns to Shovio Monday, Dec. 5 at 8 p.m. ET

2011-12-05T04:27:00.001-05:00

KC in 60 will return to Shovio.com Monday, Dec. 5 at 8 p.m. ET. Join Canessa for a look at the news of the day, plus other topics that are sure to get you going – including Jose Reyes the ultimate 'loser,' the Jerry Sandusky story, Jim Boeheim at Syracuse and plenty more. Click here to watch the show live, or, watch it live right here, below this post.

Remarkable Video of 9/11 Artifacts

2011-09-06T22:11:00.001-04:00

From NBC. A must-see video.

Satin Joins the Mets

2011-09-01T21:21:00.000-04:00

It's Josh Satin, a September call-up. Also, check out the awesome-looking BLUE Los Mets Jerseys which the Mets are again wearing tonight. Reports say these jerseys will be used in 2012 and will become a regular in the rotation in 2013 (but will just say 'Mets').

Josh Satin

Jose Reyes

David Wright

Some of My Irene Photos

2011-08-28T22:19:00.001-04:00

Videos to come. Here are some photos. Most are bland.

Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.4

The Calm Before the Storm

2011-08-27T10:08:00.002-04:00

It's wild how still the air is in anticipation of Hurricane Irene. In a few hours, that ought to change significantly.

Blogging This Weekend From Sussex County, N.J.

2011-08-26T23:01:00.001-04:00

NEWTON, N.J. — Greetings, one and all, from beautiful Lake Owassa in Sussex County, N.J. I made the 1 1/2 hour trip up to mom's early this evening and am looking forward to spending the weekend here. One thing I have learned already is that there are likely more insects up here than there are people!

At any rate, throughout the weekend, as it merits, I plan on blogging here — and perhaps through Ustream through the post below this one.

Be safe, one and all ... and get the hell out if you live to close to the Atlantic.

— Kevin

Live Broadcasts This Weekend

2011-08-26T01:16:00.000-04:00

Well, with Irene on her way to the New Jersey area, I've decided to, well, occasionally venture out with my cell phone for live reports on the storm. I'll announce when via Facebook and Twitter — and you can watch live right from here.

Live Video app for Facebook by Ustream

Irene Heading For NYC

2011-08-24T19:13:00.000-04:00

It's been 26 years since the last major hurricane hit New York City (Gloria, 1985), but it appears that long stretch in-between storms is about to come to an end, reports indicate. Click here to read all about the story that could wreak havoc on the Tri-State area this weekend.

Pat Summitt in For Fight of Her Life

2011-08-24T18:48:00.001-04:00

By Kevin Canessa Jr.

Founder & Publisher

If there's anything I dislike in sports more than the game of basketball, it's women's basketball. The game is intensely slower — and those screeches from the crowd go through my like long fingernails on a chalkboard. And though I have a dislike for the sport, I've always had great admiration for the athletes and the coaches who persist in women's basketball, despite its second-class citizenry.

One of those coaches I've always admired is Pat Summitt. This woman is, without a doubt, one of the most incredible sports stories in a generation. What she's done with the Lady Vols of the University of Tennessee is nothing short of amazing. She has consistently won — and in doing so, has demonstrated a love not just for the game, but for the women she's coached over the years.

She truly is a rare breed in a time where coaches seem more absorbed with the spotlight than they do caring for the kids they coach.

Canessa

And so it was with great shock and sadness that we all learned yesterday that Summitt has early-onset dementia — a form of Alzheimer's. Pat Summitt is 59, and at such an incredibly young age, is faced with a disease that often hits the elderly.

But not always.

Think about what Alzheimer's can do to a human being. Though physically all there, the mind begins to deteriorate. The patient could be in a room with a spouse, children, grandchildren and a slew of other relatives and have absolutely no idea who one of them would be.

The mind forgets every good memory. Every bad memory. Every iota of information that once helped life be more meaningful.

Though it's in its early stages, Summitt will, admittedly, need the help of her core of assistant coaches. As the disease progresses, she, too, will begin to forget all those fundamentals she's drilled into countless young basketball players. She won't be able to remember their names. She may not even be able to recall she was the coach of one of the most prestigious women's basketball programs ever.

No one deserves this fate. But for some reason, it seems all the more unfair when it happens to someone who had yet to hit 60. She could live many more years, could Summitt, and yet in just a few short years, it's possible she won't remember anything that happened to her before she was 60.

It is very cruel. Extremely unsettling. Yet if there's anyone who could battle this and come out a victor, it's Pat Summitt.

She'll coach this year — and beyond that, nothing in her life will be very clear.

But one thing IS clear, and that one of the nation's greatest coaches is in for the fight of her life.

The best thing we can all do, now, is pray for her. And hope that somehow, she gets through this.

God willing, for Summitt and all who suffer from Alzheimer's, one day soon, there will be some sort of cure, and we could all look back at this with a smile.

Until then, God bless you, Pat Summitt. God bless you!

Quake a Reminder: There's No Place Like NY

2011-08-23T21:59:00.000-04:00

FORDS, N.J. — So at about 1:30 this afternoon, I decided to take a nap since I hadn't slept well the night before. At around 2 p.m., I was in as deep a sleep as I can remember, when suddenly, I thought I felt the bed swaying. Dare I say it was like one of those motel beds that takes quarters?

I remember it happening for about a minute, and then I was right back to my sleep. Yet I remember thinking to myself, "Was this a dream?"

It wasn't until I awoke an hour later that I realised it wasn't that dream I was thinking about.

Canessa

"Did you feel it Kev?" my aunt Annie asked me on the phone. "So it was an earthquake. I thought it was a dream. I was in the deepest sleep."

But a dream it wasn't — it was a 5.8 or 5.9 earthquake that centered around Richmond, Va.

For me, there wasn't much need to panic. I could tell, based on my so-called "dream" that it was a minor quake. Yet the strangest of things happened whilst it was happening. Many people in my neighborhood didn't feel a thing, including George, my landlord. He was 10 feet away from where I was at the time, too.

Over at PathMark, the local supermarche, some of the girls at the courtesy desk told me they felt it, while others didn't feel a thing — and they were standing in just about the same spot. Strange.

In Middletown, N.J., my aunt Annie tells me there's a long crack along the ceiling of her home — so she must have gotten it harder than others.

Over in Manhattan, meanwhile, throngs of people, not even thinking it could be a quake, immediately took to the streets in instant evacuations. What was perhaps most refreshing about these evacuations was that not one was planned. No one had to be told to go. People simple packed up their things and got the hell out of wherever they were

It was all done orderly. There was no chaos. There were no complaints whatsoever.

And as we approach the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, this was an incredibly relieving sign.

All in all, it was quite a strange day. It's certainly one I'll remember for a long time.

And it's also a day that reminded the world: There's no place like New York during a time of crisis.

What happened to you during the quake? Share your stories in the comments section.

No Hope, No Change, Despite Obama's Promises

2011-08-21T00:07:00.000-04:00

By Kevin Canessa Jr.

Founder & Publisher

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Remember many years ago, when George Herbert Walker Bush was running for president, and at a town-hall like meeting, someone asked him how much a loaf of bread costs? Or how much a gallon of milk costs?

Bush wasn't able to answer the question properly. And at that very moment, he seemed extremely detached from a reality — a reality that the average American not only knows what a loaf of bread or a gallon of milk costs, but that the average American needs to know what these items cost because they often have to live paycheck to paycheck.

The prices of simple groceries matter. And for some, getting that loaf of break or that gallon of milk makes a difference whether they also get to buy extra juice, steaks or something else considered somewhat of a "luxury."

Canessa

Fast-forward nearly two decades. President Barack Obama is vacationing at Martha's Vineyard, Mass — one of the nation's most exclusive vacation spots. For 10 days, in between the security and economic briefings, it'll be sun-bathing, multiple rounds of golf, ice cream, luxurious dinners and the like — all the while as nearly 10 percent of America struggles to find a menial job for crying out loud.

Oh how I'd bet any one of those 10 percent of Americans would die for a filet mignon that the Obamas will be chowing down on at one of the Vineyard's great steakhouses.

Like Bush — and I detest having to admit this — Obama is totally out of touch with the reality of today's America. Some of his most ardent supporters, in the Black community, are suffering more than just about any other group of Americans. While the overall unemployment rate hovers around 10 percent, the rate among Blacks is just under 17 percent. Translated: Nearly 1 in 5 Blacks are out of work currently.

Obama was supposed to understand the needs of the people of this country. He swore up and down things would change. But here we are, nearly three years into his presidency, and we're about to enter yet another recession.

Someone suggested recently — I can't remember who it was, but I am in total agreement — that Obama nearly seems resolved that he's toast. He sees the writing on the wall, he knows he can try as hard as he can to no avail ... the economy won't be getting any better on his watch. The same person suggested he's at the Vineyard because he can be — and he's just counting down the days before his presidency ends.

I bought into the whole hopey-changy thing. But there has been no change. And, to quote Obama himself, the tone of Washington he sought to soften "has probably gotten worse" since he took office. He's absolutely right. There has never been a time, that I can recall, where Washington's tone has been this negative.

There also has never been a time where I've felt so badly about my country. I'm a part of that nearly 10 percent of Americans out of work. I've applied and applied and applied to job after job after job.

I haven't had a single interview. Not one. Since August 2009. Two years. Two long years. Not one interview, despite countless hundreds of resumes e-mailed, faxed and snail-mailed.

Hope and change was supposed to come after the Election of 2008.

It didn't.

It won't be anytime soon.

And that, sadly, is beyond sickening.

Do you think Hillary Clinton is regretting taking a position in this administration yet?

1 World Trade Center Reaches 79th Floor

2011-08-18T23:16:00.000-04:00

Remarkable progress is being made at 1 WTC. According to a recent report, the building has reached the 79th floor.

A Hodgepodge of Recent Items

2011-08-18T22:46:00.002-04:00

It's time for a hodgepodge Canessa Commentary. Hope you enjoy this one.

■ Mike Jacobs, playing in the Colorado Rockies' organization, was suspended for 50 games having tested positive for human-growth hormones. My how the mighty have fallen. It's hard to envision this, but just a season ago, he was the Mets' Opening Day starting first-baseman.

Canessa

■ Happy Birthday, Michele Bachmann! Or is it her birthday? You'd think I'd be able to find this information out — just like she should have with Elvis!

■ Google sucks. Some idiot over-clicked the ads on my website, and they instantly canceled my ad program. The idiots in Cali need to do a better job properly monitoring the clicks. I did no wrong here. I'll be doing my Web searches with Yahoo! from now on.

■ Christine O'Donnell — grow the hell up. When a journalist asks you questions, answer them, don't refer to your silly little book that no decent American would read, let along buy. Not sure what I'm referencing here? Check out her little pissy-fit as she walks off the set of the Piers Morgan show the other night. In fact, here's the clip, embedded below.

■ Found an egregious error on the NY Daily News's website. I wrote to them to let them know. What did they do in response? Absolutely nothing. I thought better of the News.

■ I am officially an "ER" expert. Try me. Ask me any sort of trivia question. If I get it wrong, it probably didn't happen on the show.

■ There's talk the tolls for the Holland and Lincoln tunnels and the George Washington Bridge could rise to as much as $15. If that happens, it'll be a cold day in hell before I drive into Manhattan ever again. And speaking of which, Govs. Chris Christie and Andrew Cuomo better do their part to ensure the Port Authority of New Jersey and New York don't allow this increase to be implemented.

■ Last night's episode of "Royal Pains" was, in my mind, the best of the series. Period. Hands down. If you're a fan of the show and haven't seen it yet, you really should. It reminds me of just how brilliant an actor Campbell Scott [Boris] truly is. This man deserves more starring roles — and more than just voiceovers. And this isn't to take away from his voiceover work either. He's brilliant at that, as well.

■ Welcome home, Gelbie. Hope you had a great summer. Looking forward to a great new season of your show.

■ Speaking of shows, my dear friend Joel McGuirk, of Port St. Lucie, Fla., started a new, two-hour show on www.shovio.com. He talks sports with the most intensity one could dream of from a sportscaster. What's best about his show is that he takes callers — and actually lets them speak. Quite the antithesis of what happens with Mike Francesa on WFAN. It's actually become comical how these absurd fans of his wait 45 minutes for 30 seconds of airtime. Truly, the callers deserve better from Francesa, and he continues to demonstrate contempt for his fans.

Talk about over-staying your welcome and failing to retire when the time is right.

■ It's hard to believe it but it's been 13 years since I ran for the Kearny [N.J.] Town Council. Perhaps even more difficult to believe is that when I ran, I did so as a Republican. Ha!

■ Travis Zajac of the New Jersey Devils tore the Achilles' Heel on one of his feet. Way to wait until a couple of weeks before training camp to do this, Trav!

■ Speaking of which, would you believe it's been two months since the Boston Bruins won the Stanley Cup? And you know what that means! Training camp opens in like three weeks! Let's go Devils!

Enjoy the weekend, one and all! Thanks, as always, for reading.

Your thoughts? Please feel free to comment by using the comment feature. Be sure to include your name, though. Only posts properly signed with a full name will be published.

Gary Carter Can't Move to Next Round of Chemo: Mets.com

2011-08-16T16:25:00.000-04:00

Gary Carter's white blood-cell count is too low for him to move on to the next round of chemo, Mets.com reports today. Click here to read the story.

Finally! New Uniforms Coming to Citi Field Next Year and in '13

2011-08-16T16:19:00.002-04:00

Though it's a tad complicated. (Many, many thanks to Shannon of www.MetsPolice.com).

Click here to read all about it.

Perhaps a Democratic Primary Would Kick Obama Into Gear

2011-08-15T23:07:00.000-04:00

It pains me to write this as an ardent supporter of Barack Obama in 2008, but given the state of our nation, the economy and the fear we may hit another recession, it may be best for the Democratic Party and the nation as a whole if someone challenged the president in the primaries.

And of course, the most logical person to do that would be Hillary Clinton.

I return to the last time such an experience occurred. It was 1980. Our country was a complete and utter mess. Iran kept many American citizens hostage. And President Jimmy Carter was, quite frankly from the get-go, doomed. The-late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, of Massachusetts, mounted a run against Carter, and nearly won the Democratic presidential nomination.

Kennedy's mere presence was a sign that America was fed up with Carter's ineptitude. And the more we see of Obama, the comparisons to Carter are stark — and unfortunately, real.

Hillary has to be thinking about this. I've been thinking about it for the last 18 months. And as much as I don't want to admit it, I think it might be the Dems' best hope for keeping the White House if a real leader emerges from this crop of loonies on the GOP side. That, of course, remains to be seen. Could America stomach an extension of the George W. Bush era in clone Rick Perry? Could it deal with the absurdity of Michele Bachmann or Sarah Palin? Could it digest Newt Gingrich's hypocrisy?

Not sure about any of that just yet. But I am certain that even if Hillary weren't to win the Democratic nomination, she'd certainly put Obama on notice that his performance, as evinced by recent polls, is intolerable and he could be on the brink of becoming a one-termer.

Think about it for a moment.

Sadly, it makes too much sense to this Democrat.

Plaxico and Bryant

2011-08-15T16:00:00.001-04:00

Plaxico

'Beyond Scared Straight' Necessary For Parents of Teens to Watch

2011-08-14T20:06:00.003-04:00

I don't watch too much television. But on Saturday night, after a long day at my aunt and uncle's house, I came home and turned on the tele. The first channel I tuned to was A&E TV — and "Beyond Scared Straight" was on. I just happened to tune in as the opening credits ran, and I had wanted to see the show for the longest time.

Let's just say I've already seen five of the six episodes from last season. And the new season debuts this week.

The series follows a group of at-risk kids who are on the cusp of lives of crime. Most are between 10 and 17 — but there are occasional 18-year-old kids featured. In each episode, a group of kids are taken to a certain prison — one episode was at notorious San Quentin in California — and are met by volunteer prisoners who are part of each prison's program designed to "scare" kids away from the lives they're living.

The prisoners are incarcerated on a variety of charges, up to and including first-degree murder. They come from all walks of life. Some are from broken homes; others aren't. But remarkably, each has a common goal — to ensure these kids don't follow in their footsteps.

Each kid reacts differently to their visits to the prisons. Some finish changed; others go right back to their lives of crime.

But one thing is for certain, irrespective of the prison: They put on programs that truly show the deepest and darkest aspects of prison life, from shankings to drugs, to murder, to rape.

And ironically, it's not the kids who usually demonstrate greatness — it's the prisoners.

Yes, many of them committed some of the most heinous crimes. And we never get to see how they act and react when they're not conducting thess programs. But the truth is, many truly ARE remorseful for their actions — and they're seriously working to ensure these kids get back on the straight and narrow.

For the sake of not spoiling the episodes, I won't get into specifically HOW the prisoners do what they do. But it's my hope — especially if you're parent to a teen who might be on the wrong track — that you'll watch the show.

Click here to watch the first season of the show.

This is one of the most remarkable shows I've ever seen. And it helped me to grow a modicum of respect for the prisoners. They don't need to be doing what they're doing, yet they do. And not one of them gets ANYTHING whatsoever in return for their work with the teens.

There may have been a time they weren't productive members of society. But they're doing a service now that is incomparable.

And for that they should be commended.

Should You Want to Watch New Episodes

■ New episodes debut Thursday, 18 Aug. 2011 at 10 p.m. ET on A&E. Click here for the show's official webpage.

Watch an episode preview

http://bcove.me/w3kvt7zg

Photos From the Show

Inmates show the kids an outdoor bathroom.

One program leader at a prison for women screams at some of the kids to get their attention.

Two inmates scream at a laughing girl.

The kids walking from an outside yard to an indoor housing facility.

This woman, an inmate, was shocked to see her own 12-year0old daughter in the Scared-Straight episode.

These two make note of the physical appearance of most of the inmates.

The woman shown here speaks to the teens from a small hole in her cell. She is in ad-seg (solitary confinement), has been there for three years and will be for four more years.

I Love NJ, But it Barely Loves me Back

2011-08-13T00:57:00.002-04:00

By Kevin Canessa Jr.

I was born in Jersey City, N.J. and have lived in the state of New Jersey as a full-time resident ever since ... except for four, nine-month periods where I went away for college in Newport, R.I. When I lived in Rhody, I used to love to drive around Newport with my Jersey license plates. During the school year, there always seemed to be more Jersey plates than Rhode Island plates.

When the Devils won the Stanley Cup in 1995, I loved nothing more than boasting I was a fan of the team by wearing Devils paraphernalia around town or wherever I was.

I loved New Jersey. Even when people called it the "Armpit of America."

There are so many great aspects to the state.

But of late, New Jersey — which always seemed to love me back, just hasn't anymore. Whether it's the price of rental properties, the inordinate amount of taxes homeowner must pay, a 7-percent sales tax, double-digit unemployment, a job market for the ages, a governor who can't keep his fat mouth shut and a host of other awful things, New Jersey has seen better days — and I think I'm ready to divorce myself of it.

Think of it like this — the same one-bedroom apartment that goes for $1,100 a month here could be had for $500 or $600 in so many other states.

It's out of control.

A dear friend of mine offered me the opportunity to move to Florida and stay with him as I search for full-time work in the warm-weather state. When I was told of this opportunity, it hit me hard that I almost HAVE to do this.

I've tried for two years to recover here economically, but it just hasn't happened. I've tried to create innovative ways to re-invent myself. Nothing — absolutely nothing — has worked. And I believe part of the reason it hasn't is because this state is headed toward absolute ruin.

Gov. Christopher Christie has inserted himself into almost every aspect in New Jersey life and has yet to accomplish anything that has improved the quality of life. He has single-handedly made everything that was bad, worse.

The time has come, sadly, for this New Jerseyphile to pack it up and head elsewhere.

The state itself has forced me to do it.

Nothing else.

Odds and Ends

■ I've watched President Barack Obama self-implode over the last three or so years. Almost every day this week, I've always watched as Prime Minister David Cameron has led the British people during a serious time of crisis during their riots in the greater London area. There are times I just wish Cameron was an American and was our president.

Bratton

■ Speaking of England, there are rumors that members of parliament want Bill Bratton, former NYPD commissioner and former Los Angeles police chief, to come over to re-structure the Metro Police Department (Scotland Yard). If that happens, you can bet the riots will come to a quick and resourceful end. There's probably no one in the world better equipped than Bratton to do so.

■ Dino Costa of Sirius Radio is an absolute moron. Enough said.

■ I was shocked to learn that in a recent poll, 60 percent of those polled said they don't blame President Obama for the current economic mess. While I tend to agree, it still surprises me. Ask Michele Bachmann — Obama's the anti-Christ.

Have a great weekend, one and all! Hard to believe it's nearly Labour Day!

This GOP Field is a Bunch of Flawed, Hate-filled Nutcases

2011-08-12T00:41:00.002-04:00

By Kevin Canessa Jr.

I hate to say it, but after a viewing of the GOP debate tonight on Fox News, I could only come up with a few conclusions. And they're not all that promising.

■ If there were one candidate in the field I could vote for, it's Ron Paul. And it's mostly because he holds his so-called colleagues to task.

■ Tim Pawlenty seemed to be the most sane on the stage.

Bachmann

■ Michele Bachmann somehow got to Congress with an IQ of a 10-year-old. The woman is seriously nuts — and for someone who wants to see limited government in D.C., she sure has a lot of ideas of how she wants to have government involved in lives of people where she shouldn't be involved.

■ Newt Gingrich is still quite unafraid to espouse his Hitleresque views on the American people.

■ No one, including the moderators, take Rick Santorum seriously.

■ The debate moderators threw so many fat pitches to this group — especially Chris Wallace — that it was nauseating. I wonder how long they prepared, ahead of time, with the candidates on the line of questioning.

■ Mitt Romney seems to think four years would make it easier for him to get to the White House. He was a failure in 2004, changed his moderate views to appease the GOP hardliners and, in essence, is what conservatives love to call a RINO — Republican in Name Only. That said, four years later, he has about the same chance of getting to the D.C. as he did in 2008. It just ain't happening.

■ We heard a lot of the name Rick Perry, who wasn't at the debate, but who announced he's running. God help our nation — this is YOUR crop of GOP candidates. If America were to have forgotten what happened the last time we elected a Texas Governor as President of the United States, and let's just say elected Perry, it would lead me to believe most of America was lost. One former Texas governor president is/was more than enough.

As much as I've been disappointed by the presidency of Barack Obama — I voted for the man in 2008 — this crop of Republicans scares the living daylights out of me. Not because I think any one of them could beat Obama — none of these people could — but because they're seriously flawed and absurdly and certifiably nuts. It is sickening how a group of people — most of whom think the same way — could in one sentence say they're for limited government, only to espouse in the next sentence what they'd do to insert government into our lives.

Whether it's abortion, healthcare, same-sex marriage, or anything else, they sure do want to tell you how you should feel, what you should believe and what's best for people they simply cannot relate to at all. They're so in tune with the needs of the wealthy they've all seemed to forget we're in one of the worst economic downturns since the Great Depression.

And they're so into their own agendas that they'd all be best served not in the White House — but in Antarctica.

Maybe the could legislate the protection of penguins.

Aug. 11, 2001 — 10 Years Ago Today

2011-08-11T01:22:00.000-04:00

So you're probably wondering why I'm choosing to recall Aug. 11, 2001. Significantly, it's one month to the day before the darkest day in American history. And today, it's been 10 years since that date.

Imagine, just for a moment, just how different life was at that time.

■ President George W. Bush was in office for just seven months, and he was still suffering from a major backlash, having lost the popular vote for the presidency — and having been appointed to the presidency by the U.S. Supreme Court.

I'm sure some of you out there still believe Florida went to Vice President Al Gore. And on Aug. 11, 2001, there were substantially more who felt that way — and whom were very angry about it.

■ There were no iPods, iPads, iPhones or thin laptops. Many of us still got our Internet service through America Online, a company that had been the leader in Internet service for many years before broadband become widely available. Most of us still had a landline phone and our cell phones only had numbers and basic screens on them — no cameras, no Internet access, limited texting, if at all.

■ Gasoline was about $1.25 a gallon.

■ We got on to airplanes without having to take our shoes off and without walking through detectors that can see our private parts among other things.

■ Joe Torre and the Yankees were World Champions for the fourth time in five seasons. And they were on their way to another championship.

■ I, personally, was 26 years old, was still living at home with grandma and had a marvelous view, from my livingroom window, of the New York City skyline — including a breath-taking view of the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center.

■ The name Osama bin Laden, though known by some, was hardly known by all.

■ We were a nation that believed it was invincible. Hell, no one had dared attack us, on our soil, since 1941 — and that was Hawaii for crying out loud.

■ We had no clue, none whatsoever, what we'd face in just one month. In a simple 30 days, everything we knew, loved and cherished would be turned upside down in a two-hour period of attacks that the most brilliant writer couldn't have dreamed up.

So one month before we mark the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 Terrorist Attacks, I thought it would be good to remember those days. Yes, there were more freedoms, but we were caught with our pants way, way down. We can only hope and pray that as we mark a decade since the worst day in our lifetimes, that somehow, we never have to experience anything like it ever again.

My hopes are not all that high.

Prime Minister David Cameron's Inspiring Speech Earlier Today

2011-08-10T20:07:00.003-04:00

LONDON — I cannot say any clearer how impressed I've been with the leadership shown by U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron and the way he's handled the aftermath of the London-area riots. Here, he speaks before Number 10 early Wednesday morning -- and uses some of the most forceful language to date.

9/11 Reflection From a Long-Time Family Friend

2011-08-09T23:14:00.002-04:00

A long-time family friend, with whom I went to high school, wrote to me today to share his story about what could have been for him on Sept. 11, 2001. It's one of those "Thank You, Lord" stories from that day. And I certainly can say I am grateful things worked out as they did. For privacy's sake, I am not including his name. Yet the story tells it all. (If you'd like to share a similar story, click here to send it to me by e-mail. Please indicate whether you'd like your name included).

Great blog about your experiences on 9/11. Moved me to think about that day as well.

Quick note -- in late July 2001, the hedge fund I worked for sold my part of the business to a fund based in Europe. Took August off, and started to look for a job in September. A headhunter placed me in an interview at Cantor Fitzgerald on Sept 11 @ 9 a.m.

Luckily, on 9/10, my sister asked me to help her with some last-minute wedding plans (she got married that Sat 9/15) and I called and rescheduled. If she had not asked me to help her that day, I would not be here. I remember my brothers calling my mom frantically asking where I was as they all knew I was supposed to be interviewing that day.

Per your blog, yes our lives were forever changed that day, but the WAY I live my life was changed that day, too. I started to care more about helping others, rather than getting a large paycheck, etc.

Thanks for the blog retrospective -- it made me think about my life and made me cherish much more.

Audio of Sept. 11, 2001 from WCBS-880 Available Here

2011-08-09T21:38:00.000-04:00

Audio of Sept. 11, 2001 As It Happened from Newsradio WCBS-880 is available here in three parts. The first is the initial report of "an explosion" at the North Tower of the World Trade Center from traffic/helicopter reporter Tom Kaminski. The second part picks up after both towers had been hit. And the final part deals with the aftermath -- both towers having collapsed. You can find the audio in the top of the right column of this website. Please beware: This audio may not be suitable for all audiences.

Aug. 9, 2011 Canessa Commentary (Video): Curtailing the London Riots

2011-08-09T18:16:00.000-04:00

First video to nearly make me pass oot

2011-08-08T11:53:00.001-04:00

Credits to Bob Mantz and Bob's Blitz. Holy balls of steel.

Daniel Murphy done, Ron and Gary discuss it

2011-08-08T01:40:00.002-04:00

Thank you for reading my 9/11 series

2011-08-08T01:22:00.003-04:00

Thank you, one and all, for reading my 9/11 series of essays. I'd like to invite each of you to respond to the essays with your own 9/11 stories. I will publish them all. Thanks, in advance, for your thoughtful responses.

Both Towers Were Hit by Planes? What the Fu*>?

2011-08-07T22:37:00.008-04:00

By Kevin Canessa Jr.

(Continued from Part I and Part II from the other day)
Part III of III

Once the TV went out, and we prayed, I wasn't sure what to do next. We tried to put on the TV again -- and WCBS was somehow back on the air using an auxiliary antenna from the top of the Empire State Building. Their regular antenna was atop the North Tower of the World Trade Center -- and it wasn't functioning.

Along came the vice principal, the late-Brother James Redunski, FMS, who had told me the City of Jersey City recommended all TVs be shut off. So I obliged. He also said we were to try to make the day one like any other. So for a moment, I got the kids to take out their syllabus again -- and began to review it with them.

Now this is where that story from Sept. 7 comes into play. It was about 9:15 a.m. when the sirens began to blare. Non stop. Whether it was firetrucks from Jersey City, the Port Authority Police Department or from tons of municipalities throughout New Jersey, one thing was clear: Emergency-services units from all over the state were on their way into Lower Manhattan to help.

This is a photo of the St. Anthony Class of 2002. It was
taken in June of 2001, while they were juniors. Each
senior class always took their class photo at
the foot of the Hudson River on the Jersey side. Little
did anyone know it would be the last class with the
Towers in the background.

And that was both uplifting and scary in each's own way. I mean, could it be so bad over there that the cops and firefighters from all over the place had to go into Manhattan to assist?

One thing was for sure. It was hard as hell to go on as if nothing happened.

But I did.

In fact, in second period, I even gave my French I students a vocabulary quiz. And they all got 100s. I'll never forget that.

Fast-forward to third period. It was 10:15 a.m. Michael B. McNutt, the dean of seniors, came into my room to tell me that both towers had been hit by airplanes and that the south tower collapsed. Then he told me the Pentagon had been struck. I was overcome with such fear that my hands turned to a clamy sweat. And somehow, I kept it together. Somehow.

It was in third period that the first mom came to pick up her daughter. It was Diane Colon, mom of senior Francesa Bernarbe.

"I'm taking her the hell away from here," Mrs. Colon told me. "Be as safe as you can, Canessa."

Then, minute by minute, more and more parents and guardians came in to get their kids. Toni Bollhardt, the school's exec assistant, would call the names one-by-one. Only those whose families came would be allowed out of the building. For the rest, it was 100 percent lockdown. No one in, no one out. Except for teachers.

The rubble at Ground Zero -- 11 Sept. 2001

When 11 a.m. arrived, it was my lunch period. Early lunch, yes. I went outside, and as I stood at the curb of Eighth Street, sucking down once cigarette after the other (my nerves were shot by the point), people were starting to come back from New York City via the ferry. PATH trains were totally shut down.

They were covered with an ashen-like substance, which we now know is the dust from the collapse of the Towers. Some were bloodied all over. Others had no shoes. It was mass chaos.

I walked away from the curb, and this is when the shit hit the fan beyond reason.

John Grutkowski, the dean of students, approached me and told me 1010 WINS had reported a nuclear missile was heading toward New York City. My stomach dropped.

I sat in my car, and turned on WFAN, because I needed to hear familiar voices in Don Imus, Chuck McCord and Sid. Don and Chuck were still on the air. After a few moments, I had to turn off the radio, because all I could think of was how it was going to feel when the missile hit.

Would we burn? Would we vaporize? Would we suffer?

Then I took a walk closer to the waterfront, only to smell the smoke which had now reached Jersey City. It was a smell I can't forget, because it wasn't just burning paper and melting steel -- clearly, it was the scents of burning flesh, carnage that no one could begin to imagine.

The rising smoke from the Towerless pit was the most unsettling sight I've ever seen -- this holds true to today.

Grutkowski made me swear I wouldn't tell the kids about the alleged nuke and I agreed at that moment.

But fifth period would soon arrive, another senior religion seminar course, and there wasn't a chance in hell of me keeping that news secret from those kids. They were all adults -- and if they were going to die, they at least had the right to prepare for it.

I immediately told them -- and despite the admin's call to keep the day a regular day, I'd all but given up. So did the kids who remained. They tried -- to no avail -- to call home. Cell service was scant. Some got through. Others couldn't.

One kid's mom was in the area -- and he was a member of the overall State Champion Basketball Friars. One of the best ball players I've ever known. He went on to Syracuse where he had a four-year run like few others have. But that day, not being able to get in touch with his mom, he cried a lot. We all cried with him.

The unknown was unbearable. What was next? Were there 20,000 dead people in New York? How would kids get home if parents didn't come to get them? It was surreal.

We got through that day, somehow. But Downtown Jersey City seemed more like Jerusalem. There were National Guardsmen on every corner of every street within view of the school. When I left at 2 p.m. to go get a cup of coffee, I had to show my ID to the guardsman to walk one block. When I got to the next corner -- where Lucy's Cafe was -- I had to give another guardsman my ID, also.

Had to repeat the process on the way back.

The last kid left St. Anthony's that day at 4 p.m. Those kids who came from Manhattan or Brooklyn stayed with teachers who lived in Jersey City that night. While those in Manhattan could get back to Jersey City by ferry, entry into Manhattan from Jersey was prohibited.

I got in my car and had to take a maze to get home. All the while, all I could see in my rear-view mirror was smoke. All I could smell was the smoke. Charles McCord's voice was the only means of comfort I had.

The normal 20-minute ride home to Kearny took two hours. The traffic heading into Jersey City as I left it was surreal. It was backed up from the Wittpenn Bridge all the way through Harrison on Route 280. Those people likely had been there since 9 or 10 a.m., with no way of turning around. It was one of the most remarkable sights I'd seen that day.

When I got home and walked up my stairs at about 6 p.m., I grabbed my grandma and uncle Matty and hugged them as though there were no tomorrow. We had a bird's eye view of the Manhattan skyline from our living room window -- and the smoke was still a sickening scene.

I'll never forget later that night, when I went to the deli for a cup of coffee, that a man was furious the Atlantic City bus had been cancelled for the next day. I recall looking at him and asking him what the fuck was wrong with him?

He walked away, and I did, too. I had to.

I got back into my car, cried like a baby, and finally went home for the night.

The next day, I was an eyewitness to the disaster on C-SPAN with Brian Lamb. It was the most trying 24 hours of my life.

Like you, I was forever changed that day. I was 5 miles away from the greatest tragedy to ever hit our shores. And somehow, I didn't die -- even though I thought for sure I would.

What I will never forget are the sounds, the people covered in soot -- and those who died that day. All 2,823 or so who did. Ten years later, I feel the same today as I did those days.

We can never, ever forget what happened that day.

When we do, we are seriously doomed to repeat it.

The Morning of Sept. 11, 2001, Pre-8:45 a.m.

2011-08-07T12:00:00.007-04:00

By Kevin Canessa Jr.

(Continued from the other day)

Part II

I didn't expect to remember much about the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, but because of the enormity of the day, almost every step I took that day I can recall. I woke up at about 6 a.m., and my grandma, with whom I was still living, asked me what -- if anything -- I needed pressed off. I gave her my favourite pair of khaki corduroy pants, a short-sleeved orange, summery shirt, and she pressed them off as though they were done by professional cleaners.

When I left the house -- 37 Ivy St., Kearny, N.J. -- I remember looking to the sky to watch a FedEx plane that was taking off, and then marveling at the cloudless sky. Remember that? It was a perfect day. Absolutely perfect day.

As I did most days, I made my stop at Sunset Deli on Kearny Avenue, and got my usual cup of coffee -- cream and one sugar -- and a buttered roll. Rarely did I break the routine.

"Have a good day, Kev," the owner, Joe Petito said as I left.

I got into the car, began driving toward Jersey City -- and for one reason or another, I took a different route than I normally did. I went via Montgomery Street, a four-lane road that ran east-west in both directions. What was wonderful about this way of going was that once you reached Baldwin Avenue, the street was anchored by an optical illusion -- the World Trade Center's two towers.

It was such a beautiful sight -- one I often took for granted. But I remember seeing the sun shining on the two towers. And as I got closer, you could see the reflection of the two towers, including in the waters of the Hudson River.

I got to school -- excited -- because for me, it was the first full day of classes. After homeroom, I was in Room 101 for the first period. Senior religion seminar.

One of the seniors, Pedro Rodriguez, helped me pass out the syllabus for the year -- the expectations, grading policies, curriculum, etc. When he was done, Pedro gave me the extra copies, I put them into my folder -- and suddenly, there was a massive boom sound.

Our supposition was that it was a tractor-trailer overturning near the Holland Tunnel, which was two blocks away. So we thought nothing of it.

I grabbed a student desk, sat down on its top to begin reviewing the syllabus with the kids -- when out of nowhere, in comes C.J. Flaherty, my colleague who was having a class outside in one of the school's trailers (there just wasn't enough room in the school proper to house all classes).

"Dude, the World Trade Center just exploded. It's on fire," C.J. tells me.

"Bro, don't fuck around like that. That's not even funny to say," I responded.

"No! I'm not kidding. Go outside and look for yourself."

C.J. sat with my class while I went outside. I exited the Eighth-Street doors, walked about 15 steps, and looked out at the North Tower, which had gaping holes on all sides I could see. C.J. wasn't kidding at all. It was on fire, and we had absolutely no idea how it happened.

As I started to walk back to the school, I realized that I must have run so quickly that I was barefoot. I lost both of my shoes. I gathered my shoes, put them back on, went back to the building, and C.J. went back to his class.

In my classroom, I ordered the kids to put the syllabus away -- and we immediately said a prayer. At that very moment -- not even knowing what was to come -- we all knew there would be a lot of carnage. Prayer was about the only thing we could do at that moment.

It was, perhaps, the most helpless feeling I could ever recall.

After the prayer, we put on the TV. Each classroom had one since we used Channel 1 News for the kids. The only over-the-air channel NOT knocked off the air immediately was WCBS Channel 2. The silence, especially on the first day of classes, where there's usually a lot of excitement, was deafening. The kids and I were glued to the television, and all we could ask each other is "What on earth happened?"

As a few moments passed, we saw what appeared to be a chopper flying toward the South Tower. And with that, a huge explosion and fireball ensued.

Then, the TV went blank.

We knew, then, we were under attack.

It was only a few minutes past 9 a.m. And we were just beginning the first period of the day, of the quarter, of the semester and of the academic year.

Yet we still had no idea what was to follow.

To be continued...

Sept. 7, 2001: A Precursor of What Was to Come

2011-08-06T20:20:00.003-04:00

By Kevin Canessa Jr.

September 2001 was probably going to be one of the best months of my life. I was in my fourth year as a teacher at St. Anthony's, and we had just said goodbye to one of the greatest classes to ever go through the halls of the school (Class of 2001) and I was finally going to be able to work with another of the greatest classes in the school's history (Class of 2002).

I started with the Class of 2002 back in 1998 -- knew them all very well and got along with them all notoriously well -- yet had never taught them. Finally, in September 2001, I'd get to teach the entire class. All for religion and some in my pre-law class. (My favourite class to teach was always pre-law).

Before the first day of classes -- in the first week of September -- we had a series of faculty meetings as we did every other year. But there was a difference this time. A veteran teacher, who had been at the school many years and who left, was coming back to the school. He was and is a legend, a model teacher who taught me so much about being a better teacher over the years. Before 2001, he was Brother Ray. Now, he was just Ray, having left the Marist Brothers order just some time before coming back to St. Anthony's.

He was, as they say, a "Master Teacher," and as such, was leading workshops. On Friday, Sept. 7, 2001, he asked the entire faculty what our biggest peeve was about working at St. Anthony's. I immediately knew my answer.

The Jersey City Fire Department's
Haz-Mat HQ. St. Anthony's is directly
behind this building on 8th Street.

"The damn firetrucks," I blurted out, out of turn.

You see, the adjacent property to the St. Anthony's building is the Jersey City Fire Department's largest station -- and home to the Haz-Mat unit. They were always going on calls -- and the screams of the sirens were constant. And as someone who had un-diagnosed ADD, those sirens always threw me off, especially when I was in the middle of a good lecture or a heated discussion.

I didn't realize it at the time, but it would be those very sirens, that very sound that irked me to no end, that would in just a few days become the signature sound of the year 2001. Little did I know that Friday morning, as I drove to Jersey City, and stared at the beautiful Twin Towers, that in just four days, they'd be gone forever.

Little did we know our world would soon be forever changed, our lives thrown upside down.

Sept. 11, 2001 was just four days away, and it was the first day in my life -- the only day in my life -- when I thought I wasn't going home.

I thought I was going to die.

To be continued...

Mets Finally Ditch Black (If Even For a Day, it Was Grand)

2011-08-05T22:09:00.002-04:00

They finally wore a blue jersey -- and it had NO BLACK ON IT WHATSOEVER. It was Latino Heritage Night -- and hopefully, it's the precursor of a new all-blue jersey. And hopefully, again, it will spell the end of the hideous black nonsensical jersey they've been using since 1998. Here are some shots of the jerseys. I love them. What say you?

R.A. Dickey sporting the new jersey. Too bad he fell to
5-10 on the season. Not a good 'sophomore' Mets campaign.

Daniel Murphy demonstrates the back of the new jersey.

Justin Turner in the new jersey.

David Wright makes an error in the new jersey. The Mets
must keep this colour and format as their third jersey,
and yes, it would look great with just 'Mets' and no 'Los.'
How anyone could not like these -- and like the black ones --
is beyond me. May this be the start of a new Mets era.

Were it Not For Bush's Fraudulent War, We Might Not Be so Bad Off Today Economically

2011-08-05T00:53:00.001-04:00

By Kevin Canessa Jr.

Republicans crack me up. Especially the ones who make $50K a year and who think the GOP actually gives a shit about them and their salary. Truth is, if we've learned anything about the GOP of late, it's the party of the elite and the wealthy. So forgive me for laughing at middle-class Americans who believe the Republican Party is here to save them.

They're not. Not even close, actually.

And when the Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped more than 500 points yesterday, it begged a question I hadn't thought of in a while: What if former President George W. Bush hadn't led is into a fraudulent war in Iraq? Would we be better off today, economically?

The answer, simply, is yes.

Over the last year or so, all we've heard is how much money President Barack Obama has added to the national debt. And while it may be true he's added more to it than of the other presidents before him, the reality is that we'd be financially more stable had we not wasted trillions of dollars on a war based on lies from some of the most incompetent intelligence-getters in the history of modern times.

If we're truly to assess the war based on the so-called "Weapons of Mass Destruction" that still haven't been found, saying that getting Saddam Hussein out of office was a victory is a joke of a statement. Al Qaeda hadn't had a foothold in Iraq until we arrived. And Saddam never had a viable connection to the terrorist nut-jobs that they are.

And for what it's worth, no one dictator is worth trillions. None.

If we're going to continue to play the blame game -- and I'd rather not, but have to at this point -- let's think about that fraudulent war for a second. Let's think about what it cost this nation economically. Imagine if that cash were still on hand.

Would we be talking about debt ceilings?

Would you be talking about pulling your cash out of your retirement 401(K)?

Would more Americans be unemployed now than since the Great Depression?

The answer is outright "NO."

Thank you, President Bush, for this. Thank you very much.

Think about it before the next time you're quick to rush to judge Obama's performance. Is there anyone in this world -- anyone? -- would could have properly cleaned up the mess Bush created?

If you find him or her, let someone know. That person needs to run for the presidency immediately.

Kevin Canessa Jr. is the Webmaster of SidRosenberg.com and has spent nearly 20 years of his life as a writer, journalist and editor. His show, KC in 60, airs weeknights at 8 p.m. ET on the Shovio.com Broadcasting Network. Comments are welcome below, but only those with a full, verifiable name will be posted.

Wednesday on KC in 60

2011-08-03T18:55:00.000-04:00

Half-term Alaska
Gov. Sarah Palin

Tonight on KC in 60 at 8 PM ET on Shovio, did Sarah Palin really call Barack Obama a "terrorist?" Also, we'll look at the Islanders situation (and set you up for tomorrow's NHL Spectuche with Joel McGurik and me). Plus, why are Casey Anthony's lawyers going back to court? Find out tonight on KC in 60 at 8. Click the Watch KC in 60 button above to watch us live!

Drive-Thru With a Whole New Meaning

2011-08-02T17:22:00.002-04:00

I had though I'd seen it all when it comes to drive-thru windows. That was until today. I was in Elizabeth, N.J. and saw this: A drive-thru to pay a ticket with! Wow. Drive-thru ERs coming soon.

Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.4

NY Islanders: 1972-2011 (or when the lease ends)

2011-08-02T00:13:00.000-04:00

Well, Nassau County residents spoke loudly and clearly tonight, resoundingly defeating a referendum that would have paid for a new Nassau Coliseum. With 77% of the precincts in, ESPN has projected the measure has no chance of passing. At present, the "NO" vote has 16,000-plus more votes than the "YES" crowd. More as results are certified.

Three DUIs Not Enough to Fire a NJ State Trooper?

2011-08-01T22:46:00.003-04:00

By Kevin Canessa Jr.
KC in 60--Shovio.com

NEW JERSEY -- It's one of those stories you can't help but notice.

A new Jersey State Trooper who had three drunken-driving charges in a small span of time has been suspended, but not fired from her job. It's one of those "Do as I say, not as I do" deals, where a trooper who, when pulling over drunken drivers would take no excuse and permit such a driver to get back on the road, got not one, not two, but three courtesies from the Hamilton, N.J. Police Department when she got behind the wheel of a car while bombed.

Let's face it -- in the world of law enforcement, one cop letting another cop go for speeding, or blowing a red light, is a way of life. There are certain perks that come with being a cop, just like if, say, you worked at the Apple Store. Not everyone gets that 30-percent discount on a brand-new iMac -- just like not everyone gets a pass when they're speeding on a highway.

Yet this is very, very different. This is a high-ranking state police trooper who was excused thrice for making the abhorrently stupid mistake of getting behind the wheel of a car after throwing back shots and drinks while having a good time.

There's no excuse for this happening once, let alone two additional times. But it has. And this trooper still has a job. I heard a report that said she was a "model trooper," and that since she wasn't on duty while driving drunk, it shouldn't affect her job.

A "model trooper?"

That sort of thing carries a ton of weight. And a model trooper isn't just someone who lives her life as a solid professional. What that person does in her spare time is just as much responsible for her being a "model trooper" as what she does while on duty.

With that said, anyone who would call this woman a "model trooper" clearly doesn't get it -- that a person's actions outside work carry just as much, if not more weight, as while on the job.

When the Rev. Warren Hall, former president of Hudson Catholic High School in Jersey City, N.J. was arrested and charged with drunken driving, the was forced, in essence, to resign his position as president of the school -- not just because it was the right thing to do, but because it set a good example that what one does while not working can and should have an effect on work life.

If this trooper had been you or me, we'd already have three drunken-driving convictions, and we'd have a 10-year license suspension to deal with. But we're not that trooper. And she got just a small slap on the wrist -- a one-year, unpaid vacation -- and she will be back out patrolling the highways of New Jersey for drunken drivers.

Wouldn't it be intriguing to go to court, charged with a DUI, when the state's major witness against you is a state trooper who got away with three drunken-driving incidents?

Oh how a judge would just love such a scenario!

Odds n Ends

-- Today's the vote to decide whether Long Island gets a new Coliseum and whether the Islanders ultimately stay here or go to Kansas City, Quebec City or elsewhere. If you're a local hockey fan, you really have to hope this passes.

-- As a big fan of "CSI," I'm still not totally sold on Ted Danson as the new lead CSI agent. How about you?

-- While "Rookie Blue" continues to entertain me, I must say "Combat Hospital" has really, really fizzled out. The last three episodes, I've turned off, from boredom.

-- U.S. Rep. Gabby Giffords, D-Ariz., was on the floor of the House Chamber today when members assembled to vote on the debt-ceiling measure. She got a standing ovation. Perhaps the most surreal part of this most touching moment was that Gabby, herself, was standing, on her own, during the ovation. Talk about a moment to remember and treasure.

-- Out of curiosity, were I to ask you the name of the psychopath who killed little Leiby Kletzky a few weeks ago, would you remember his name?

-- So did you see the alternate Royal Wedding the other day?

-- Are there two more self-serving, hate-filled journalists on this planet than Phil Mushnick and Bob Raissman? All the worse -- they work for two different newspaper -- so twice the bitterness and twice the jealousy.

-- Call me crazy, but I'd still rather watch re-run episodes of "ER" that I've seen five or six times each than more than three-quarters of what's on TV these days.

-- Later this week, I'm meeting with a old Jesuit priest friend of mine from my high school days and thereafter. It reminds me of a few things. Had I entered the Jesuits when I originally planned to do so, I'd already be an ordained priest. Also hard to believe in 2012, it'll be 20 years since graduating high school. And 15 for college.

My time flies -- way too quickly!

July 31, 2011 Edition of KC in 60

2011-08-01T22:30:00.000-04:00

Hey Mr. President & Congress: Shut up and get the hell to work!

2011-07-31T02:00:00.003-04:00

I am so sick of the term "Debt Ceiling."

I am so sick of seeing President Barack Obama bitching about the Republicans inability to get something done.

I am so sick of seeing Speaker-of-the-House John Boehner bitching about the inability of the Democrats to get something done.

I am so sick of Washington, D.C. and all it represents.

For crying out loud, what the hell did we send these representatives to Washington for anyway? Was it to argue and bicker about every piece of minutia to come before them? Was it to have them have press conferences that tell us nothing we didn't know before the press conference began?

NO!

We sent whom we sent because a message was loud and clear: The country is sick and tired of politicians whose mouths emit hot air and whose resumes of accomplishment are as blank as most chalkboards inside classrooms are this time of year.

Yet for weeks, we've seen politicians and our President acting childishly.

Beyond anyone's possible imagination.

And let us not forget Harry Reid, who said there'd likely be a vote at 1 a.m. today. Now, the feeble idiot rescheduled it for 1 p.m. today, because he and his comrades -- on both sides of the aisle -- were likely "too tired" to get anything done.

My biggest concern of all in this absurd mess, for the interim, is the possibility that Social Security checks -- like the one my grandma gets each month -- might not be available if these Washington buffoons don't get something done. Thank goodness my grandmother is in a position where she'd be OK if there is a delay -- but could you imagine the millions of senior citizens who rely on said checks for food, medication and the simple necessities of life?

For the love of God, we could literally see people DYING -- elderly people who would otherwise be healthy -- because they won't be able to get their meds, or food, or drink. And you can bet your last penny that members of the Senate, the House and the White House staff won't miss a single, solitary paycheck. As per usual, the "Washington Elite" will continue to be well-taken-care-of.

Yet Mrs. Jones, age 85, from around the corner, might not have food to put on her table. She might not be able to get her cholesterol and blood-pressure pills, because Boehner, Obama and Co. are sitting on their asses acting like the spoiled little brats that they are instead of like the adults they like us to believe they are.

I can't even turn on the cable-news stations anymore because of this nonsense. And we're slowly approaching the deadline that could, in effect, throw this country -- and every country we trade with -- into a frenzy.

If that happens, it will be one of the darkest days in our nation's history.

So, the time is ripe for President Obama to lead -- and to get this done -- before more Americans have reason to compare this mess to just like what they saw between 1977 and 1980.

And we know that comparison really, really hurts.

Really.

Have a Great Weekend!

2011-07-30T13:01:00.000-04:00

Hope you have a great weekend, one and all!

A word about our advertising on the site

2011-07-29T23:47:00.000-04:00

Hello, one and all! Just wanted to explain a little about the ads you see here on this website. They are there by choice, not by chance. They're all part of a partnership program with Google AdSense. When you support those who advertise here, it enables us to earn extra income that will ultimately be used to improve this site -- with new cameras, digital editing software, etc. So, we're doing our best to make the ads unobtrusive. And remember, if you see something you're interested in ad-wise, and you visit the advertisers through us, you'll be doing all of us a favour. Thank you, in advance, for your understanding.

Tonight on KC in 60

2011-07-29T18:15:00.000-04:00

KC in 60 is live tonight at 8 PM ET on Shovio. Click to watch live--> http://bit.ly/kc60live. Topics: The new Fort Hood terror plot, multitasking, Beck's defense of Hitler comments, more on the UK hacking scandal and much more. Come on by.

Canessa Commentary: Zadroga Bill Must Pay for Cancer Victims' Med Bills

2011-07-29T17:20:00.002-04:00

September 11, 2001 As It Happened (Audio): From WCBS Newsradio 880 in New York

2011-07-28T18:05:00.000-04:00

Publisher's Note: This post was originally published on this site on 19 August 2009.

For those who have forgotten what Sept. 11, 2001 was like, here are "As It Happened" recording from WCBS, Newradio 880 New York. The recordings span initial word of the North Tower being hit from helicopter traffic reporter Tom Kaminski and end after the South Tower collapsed, several hours later. Allow a few seconds for audio to load on high-speed connections; several minutes for dial-up. Warning: Some of these recordings may be difficult for some to listen to.

The First Report:

The Second Tower is Hit

The aftermath

Has it Really Been 10 Years Since 9/11?

2011-07-28T18:01:00.000-04:00

Sometimes, time is just too hard to put into perspective.

Take Sept. 11, 2001.

In just a few weeks, we will, as a nation, pause to mark the 10th anniversary of the most senseless attacks ever committed upon our great country. And yet, somehow, it seems like that day was just a few weeks ago -- not a full decade since.

In the coming weeks, leading up to the anniversary, I will be writing about and sharing some thoughts about the anniversary and stories about that day -- and the days that followed. Please feel free, as well, to share your own stories. I will publish them here on the site. Simply send your reflections to me by clicking here to send an e-mail message. I will do my best to publish them all in a timely manner.

Among the separate stories I will share, my day Sept. 11, 2001, the Day After, turning to God, Father Mike's story of losing his two best friends, rebuilding, patriotism that didn't last long enough, going to a hockey game at Madison Square Garden on Sept. 17, 2001, going to a baseball game on my 27th birthday -- Sept. 21, 2001 -- and so much more.

Please check back in the days and months leading up to the anniversary for complete coverage -- and be sure to send in your own reflections.

Remarkable Piece on Howie Mandel Coping With ADHD and OCD

2011-07-24T02:47:00.000-04:00

Click here to read the piece.

Help Me Find Coverage of Phone-Hacking Scandal in the NY Post

2011-07-23T00:17:00.000-04:00

Hi Folks:

This post is an easy and quick one. If anyone can find any indication of the NY Post covering the Rupert/James Murdoch/News of the World/phone-hacking scandal, I'd really appreciate it. Leave a link to the story in the comments section below this post. If you're able to find something, you may actually be the first person in the world.

Quite frankly, it's disgraceful that the Post has taken this route -- and, like the scandal itself, it reeks of massive violations of ethics.

July 22, 2011 Edition of KC in 60

2011-07-22T22:36:00.004-04:00

Click to Play

The massive heat in the United States, the NY Post's refusal to cover the phone hacking scandal, a crazy girl fight on a NYC Subway, a Ground Zero Memorial ticket scandal and more.

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July 19, 2011 Edition of KC in 60

2011-07-22T19:08:00.002-04:00

Click to Play

A Port St. Lucie, Fla., teen kills his parents after they won't let him throw a party -- then stuffs their bodies into a bedroom closet -- and throws the party with them dead upastairs.

Cameron Addresses House of Commons

2011-07-20T17:11:00.004-04:00

Wow. Wow. Wow. There are few words.

One Blog Wasn't Enough

2011-07-19T02:01:00.002-04:00

Well, one blog wasn't enough -- so I've started a new one ... NewJerseyDevilsBlog.

It's a work-in-progress, and it's hardly in kick-off condition, but check it out nonetheless.

Click here or log on to http://newjerseydevilsblog.blogspot.com.

What Is Wrong With Mets Doctors?

2011-07-17T17:30:00.004-04:00

When Johan Santana's season ended late last year, we were told that after his surgery, it would probably be May or June before we saw him pitch a Major League game in 2011.

If memory serves me correctly, May and June have both passed us by, July is more than half done, and latest reports say we'll be lucky if we see Santana pitch at all this year.

Which begs the question: What the hell is wrong with these idiots AKA Mets doctors?

One could understand if this were the first time something of this nature never happened before with the Mets and the docs. But let's face it, this is yet another in a series of faux pas brought on by the medical staff over the years.

Johan Santana's photo--in case you
may have forgotten how he looks.

This dates back to 2009, the season everyone wants to forget -- the first and most disastrous at Citi Field. If they said three weeks, it would wind up three months. If they said it was a day-to-day injury, you could count on at least six weeks.

You get the picture.

Bottom line here is that it's beyond nauseating what has happened in the last three years with this medical staff. I cannot remember the last time they got something accurately. Whether it was Ike Davis's circulation-cutting foot boot, or David Wright's back or Carlos Beltran's leg, they just can't get it right.

If Mets players were civilians, and their doctors were simply residents or attending physicians at local hospitals, I can't help but wonder how many malpractice lawsuits would have been filed by now. In most fields, when you do your work improperly, you get a pink slip. Yet with the Mets, the more the doctors mis-diagnose, the more they seem to get pats on the back and encouragement to continue to do a "great job" on behalf of the organization.

It's beyond unrealistic what's happened out in Queens. Then again, just about everything that happens at Citi Field is out of the realm of the norm. So this shouldn't be all that much of a surprise.

Then again, having been told we'd actually see Johan in 2011 was very comforting last year. Maybe if he were to have come back in June, the Mets would be fewer than 7.5 games out of the Wild Card lead in the National League.

Then again, that's beyond realistic -- but it's the status-quo for a team that just can't catch a break.

Man 1986 seems like 100 years ago.

Odds & Ends

Love the NY Post

Gotta love the opening paragraph to the story that Casey Anthony was released early this AM. "Hide your children -- Casey Anthony was sprung from a Florida prison this morning."

Women's World Cup

I have to admit -- I haven't seen a second of the tournament, but there's a side of me that wants to watch the Finals...though I doubt I will.

Until next time!

July 16, 2011 Edition of KC in 60

2011-07-16T23:30:00.002-04:00

Click to Play

The "Green Mile" actor, 51, who married a 16-year-old girl speaks out for the first time. Also, LA's Carmageddon, the Pennsylvania restaurant where kids under 6 are banned, and finally -- just how much is the economy improving? Kevin says he hasn't seen a positive sign of growth in at least two year.

New Blog Feature: Find the Mistake or Typo

2011-07-16T18:54:00.001-04:00

On occasion, journalists and web people make typos that get past editors. Lord knows it's happened to me! Here's the first example from today's NY Daily News website. First to identify the error wins! Post a comment below. Click on comments to post. You don't even need to be registered to post here! If the photo is too small for you to read, click on it to see if in full-size view.

Still Wondering: Why'd it Take 10 Years to Build the NYC WTC Memorial?

2011-07-15T23:17:00.004-04:00

Just the other day, those who run the World Trade Center's Sept. 11, 2001 Memorial announced that tickets for the place of remembrance -- which is slated to open Sept. 11, 2011 -- were now available to the public for procurement, via a website. Each day, 5,000 free tickets are to be allotted for the general public.

Within minutes, the tickets for the first day were gone. And common sense would dictate that tickets for the first year may be very hard to come by for anyone but family and friends of those who died on that fateful day nearly 10 years ago.

Blueprints reveal a beautiful memorial -- including the two fountains shaped as the two towers were -- which are located exactly where the towers used to once proudly stand.

Yet the irony of it all is that on July 15, 2011 -- just under two months from the 10th anniversary of the attacks -- the memorial, tho expected to be open by then, still isn't finished.

How it's possible this memorial wasn't completed 8 years ago blows the mind.

And it's governmental bureaucrats who made this happen. Because for years -- for nearly a damned decade -- developer Larry Silverstein, former Gov. George Pataki, R-N.Y., New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg and hoards of others bickered over what should and shouldn't be part of the overall Ground Zero site.

And because they couldn't agree on the overall site, the memorial, which should have been ready Sept. 11, 2002, still isn't done. And it will have been 10 years from the time of the attack to its opening should it actually open in September.

And I have to tell you, based on past performance, it wouldn't shock me in the least were the memorial's opening to be delayed because it's not finished by Sept. 11 of this year.

Everyone -- no exceptions -- should be outraged by this egregious act of omission. That it took this long is as disgraceful as anything that has happened since that awful Tuesday morning of nearly 10 years ago.

My only hope is that it's ultimately ready for the 10th anniversary.

If it's not, it would only serve as yet another reminder of how pitifully the entire rebuilding of Ground Zero has been from the get-go.

None of this should have ever happened. Ever. And yet it did.

We can only hope to never have to see something this disgraceful again.

Odds and Ends

You call that fair & balanced?

-- Heard a great, yet hardly shocking stat, about the Rupert Murdoch/News of the World scandal in Great Britain -- and now, apparently here in the United States: For every one instance of the story being mentioned on Fox News, there are at least 10 mentions on all other news stations individually. Fair and balanced, eh?

And Pope Benedict XVI is considering conversion to Judaism.

Who needs K-Rod?

The second half of the Mets season began today -- just like it always seems to start: With a loss, this year to the Phillies. Here comes the annual spiral, fellow Mets fans!

Timmy Dolan is a very sad, worried man

New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan has yet again demonstrated why he's stuck in the 1960s. In a recent interview, he tells the interviewer he's scared that now that same-sex nups are permitted in New York, that legalized polygamy can't be far away. Could one man be THAT ignorant?

Clearly.

And it's another reason why if I, like Keith Olbermann, did a daily "Worst Person in the World," Dolan would be the standing daily recipient of the award. And once again, Your So-Called Grace, it's rather clear that no gay man, or two men, or two women, would want to marry you. So give it up, please!

J-Lo Anthony split

Just read that Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony have decided to divorce. The irony here is that Anthony's character in "HawthoRNe" is responsible for breaking up Christina Hawthorne's marriage to Dr. Tom. Guess he has some sense of how to do this already thanks to the show.

Death penalty for Levi Aron

There really isn't a death penalty in New York, per-se, though it does remain on the books. But is there any question that Levi Aron, who mutilated little Leiby Kletzky, should be executed? It's monsters like him who make me want to support the death penalty, though for the most part, I don't.

Have a great weekend, one and all! See you sometime next week!

What are your thoughts? I'd love to hear them -- even if they differ from mine. Simply click the comments link directly below this paragraph and leave your comments. They can be anonymous, but only comments with names are guaranteed to be published. Those without names will be published on a case-by-case basis. However, please note that no comment with anything libelous or factually incorrect contained in it will be published under any circumstance.

The Senseless Death of Leiby Kletzky

2011-07-14T16:14:00.001-04:00

An old Central Avenue bus,
perhaps even the one I rode on that day.

It was one of the most amazing days I can remember as a kid.

Sometime in the Summer of 1984 -- I was just 9 -- I kiddingly asked my mom if I could take the Central Avenue bus to Burger King so I could bring back everyone breakfast biscuits. Amazingly, she said yes.

The journey would require me to walk half-a-block from our home on North Street in the Jersey City Heights to Central Avenue to the bus stop. Then, when I got off the bus, all I had to do was cross the street to go into BK. And that's exactly what I did.

For the first time -- at 9, mind you -- mom allowed me to go for breakfast for everyone, BY MY LONESOME! I felt like I could conquer the world that day. What an enormous amount of independence for a 9-year-old kid.

Amazingly, this wasn't the last time I did this. She'd even let me go to CH Martin's -- in the same area as the BK -- because I loved to get office supplies. These, of course, were the days before Staples and Office Depot, so most office supplies were had at five-and-dime stores.

As I got older, that same independence grew. The summer before 9th grade, mom would allow me to go, by bus and by PATH, from our place in Kearny to the Newport Centre Mall in Jersey City. I was 13.

Kletzky-NYPD photo

This independence reminded me of the same sort of independence the parents of little Leiby Kletzky, 8, of Brooklyn, gave him just Monday. The boy convinced his mom -- despite his autism -- to allow him to walk home, half-way, by himself.

Only unlike my moments of independence, little Leiby lost his way, only to end up asking a man for directions home, a man who would ultimately wind up kidnapping him, suffocating him to death, and then chopping up his entire body into pieces. The sicko who killed him, Levi Aron, who turns 35 today, says he had always planned to bring the boy home -- but he freaked when he saw the "missing" posters plastered all over their Brooklyn neighborhood.

Thanks to a surveillance camera, police were able to track Aron down to a dentist's office. And when they first approached him at his apartment, he head-nodded toward his freezer, where cops found the boy's feet individually wrapped in ziplock bags. The rest of his body, dismembered, was found in that now-infamous suitcase in front of that now-infamous auto shop -- in the same neighborhood.

It may have been 25 years ago when my mom granted me so much independence. Yet I could have very well been another Leiby. But my how times have changed since 1985. Were I a parent, I'm not sure I'd ever let my 8-year-old kid walk home from anywhere without an adult.

Sadly, it often takes tragedies like Leiby's to realize this. But it's a reality.

The face of a monster.

All little Leiby wanted to do was demonstrate he was a big boy and could handle walking home. In the cruelest of ways, he met his fate the very day he was granted that permission. The only person he stopped to talk with that day was the same person who took his life in the most heinous of ways.

And because of that, he's now gone.

Leiby's dad said, at the boy's funeral, that their family had been blessed with nearly 9 years of having Leiby in their lives. And boy he couldn't have it it more aptly.

In the process, we were rudely and forcefully reminded that as smart and as independent as any child is, all it takes is one demented psychopath to bring an unnecessary end to a young boy's life.

Leiby taught his family many lessons, no doubt, in his 8-plus years on this earth.

And he's also taught the greater world many lessons now by pure chance.

May he forever serve as a reminder of how fragile human life is. And may he forever serve as a reminder of just how crucial it is to protect our children -- even if they feel they're ready to go at it alone.

The risks are just too high these days.

Rest in Peace forever, Leiby.

Rest in Peace.

Later Today: A Look at the Heinous Death of Leiby Kletzky

2011-07-14T05:18:00.002-04:00

NYPD Photo
Leiby Kletzky

It's one of the most horrific stories of a generation: The dismemberment death of 8-year-old Brooklyn boy Leiby Kletzky. Later today, look for a column from me on this terrible tragedy.

July 11, 2011 Edition of KC in 60

2011-07-11T22:09:00.002-04:00

Click to Play

Jeter's 3,000th -- and Joel from Pt. St. Lucie takes KC to task. Plus, a stun-gun on a plane and an update to the Phoebe Prince saga.

Breaking News: Jeter Actually Got Hit No. 5,000 Saturday, Says Sterling

2011-07-10T21:27:00.000-04:00

Thanks to Mike Silva of NY Baseball Digest for the great tip on this one.

Jeter's a Rival, so Why Should I Be Happy For His 3,000th?

2011-07-10T15:03:00.002-04:00

The scene was absolutely perfect.

There was barely a cloud in the sky. Yankee stadium had more than 48,000 people in seats (and not in some exclusive indoor, air-conditioned club). And heck, even Joe Torre came back to the Bronx for the festive occasion.

It didn't take long at all before Derek Jeter got hit 2,999 -- and it didn't take long, thereafter, for him to smack a ball into the left-field seats for hit 3,000. And let's face it, he hit to the perhaps the dumbest 23-year-old on the planet (more on that kid later).

There he was -- on top of the world again -- this time for a personal accomplishment, something he often ignores in favour of team accomplishments. But this was to be special, said the media and fans of the New York Yankees. Because of all the greatness the franchise has experienced, no former Yankee, dead or alive, had ever had 3,000 hits in a Yankees uniform. Not Joe DiMaggio. Not Lou Gehrig. Not Yogi Berra. Not Mickey Mantle. No one.

Except now, for Jeter.

I can't tell you how many times I was told, over the weeks this chase was on-going, how it was wrong for me, a fan of the "other team" in New York, not to care about Derek's chase. I was told it was wrong not to be happy for him. I was told it was bitter NOT to love everything Derek Jeter has done not just for baseball, but for New York and society as a whole.

Let me tell you this -- these assertions bugged me, because for the life of me, I've detested Derek Jeter since 1996 and grew to despise him in 2000 when he celebrated his fourth World-Series Championship on our Shea Stadium field. I can still see him jumping high into the Queens air. I can still see him, just one night earlier, smacking the first pitch of a World Series game into the far skyline of body shops and chop shops of Flushing, Queens.

I mean, the guy broke Mets fans' hearts one stinking pitch into that game. One pitch -- a homer. How could I not grow to detest the guy?

And not only that, in Interleague play, the guy totally destroyed the Mets in the 2000s. Like totally.

And yet I'm supposed to treasure this man's accomplishment yesterday afternoon?

A couple of NHL seasons ago, Martin Brodeur, of the New Jersey Devils, won his 552nd regular-season hockey game to surpass Patrick Roy as the all-time wins leader in the league. Brodeur, mind you, is enemy Number 1 at Madison Square Garden, where these days, his name is chanted there more than Denis Potvin's is.

When that great feat happened a few years ago, far be it for me to tell any Rangers fan that they were wrong NOT to celebrate in Brodeur's new record. I enjoyed it because he's been my team's goalie since October 1993 -- even longer than Jeter's term -- and as a fan of the team, like Yanks fans and Derek, I celebrated what happened.

But do you think for a second there was a Ranger fan alive who was in awe of Brodeur's mark?

Hardly.

They hate the guy.

Not because he's a prick (Jeter isn't either).

Not because he doesn't give back to the community (Jeter does, too).

But because he's on a team you've loved to hate forever.

Make no mistake about it though -- he has done something very special, has Jeter.

But excuse me if I'm not thrilled to death that for weeks, all we heard on the radio and TV was about his pursuit of 3,000 hits. He's burned me too many times to forget that in celebration of all the good he's done.

The 23-Year-Old Dope Who Caught Hit 3,000

Christian Lopez, the man
who caught Derek Jeter's
3,000th hit -- a homerun.

His name is Christian Lopez, and he's a 23-year-old salesman, and perhaps his first name caused him to lose out on a great opportunity.

Some had estimated whomever caught or got Jeter's 3,000th hit, were it to be a homerun, would net about $150,000.

But Lopez, a big-time Yankees fan, gave the ball back to Jeter, no questions asked.

He was rewarded with a suite for today's game, excellent season tickets for the rest of this season and the playoffs and a ton of Derek Jeter memorabilia.

Perhaps it's just me, but with all the cash Jeter has, this writer feels the kid got royally robbed.

Sure, the touch the Yankees made was nice. And wouldn't you, as a die-hard fan, love to sit in those cushioned seats for the next two months for free? And wouldn't a Jeter-signed bat look great on your wall?

Jeter needs to whip out his checkbook and write this kid one for something substantial. Today, on Ed Randall's "Talkin' Baseball" on WFAN, Lopez reminded Randall that he had substantial student loans to pay off.

Jeter should be paying them off for the kid's kindness.

Tell ya' what -- if he does, it might just sway me to enjoy his 3,000th hit a lot more than I already have.

Think about it.

Final Front Page of 'News of the World'

2011-07-09T23:03:00.002-04:00

Michele Bachmann Should Be Banned

2011-07-09T20:08:00.001-04:00

Bachmann

Last night, I was checking out some news sites -- including the New York Daily News -- and saw a legitimate story about presidential candidate Michele Bachmann. In the story, she says she'll ban porn and same-sex marriage if she becomes President of the United States.

Perhaps the most scary element of this story is that it's real. This right-wing nutjob would seriously consider banning porn and same-sex marriage if she were to elected to the White House.

I wonder how she plans to do this?

In essence, she'd have to shut down the entire Internet to enforce the porn ban, considering it's easier to access than just about anything else in the world.

As for same-sex marriage -- I wish she and her cohorts would get it through their bigoted heads that they don't have to worry about it ... no one is forcing them to marry someone of the same gender. In fact, she can stay married to her Medicaid-grubbing husband, and they can continue to take care of foster children at a ridiculously and alarmingly high rate.

I often wonder how it is I live in the same country as some of these morons -- especially the likes of Bachmann. But then I stop to reflect and it hits home: She ain't going to the White House at all. In fact, the closest she'll ever get to the Oval Office is if she approves a White-House tour out of her Congressional office.

Yet perhaps even scarier is that she really believes what she says -- and there are others who believer her all the same.

It is for all these reasons and nonsense that I say let's ban Michele Bachmann from everything. It'll make life so much more enjoyable.

Oh yea, and thank goodness for psychiatry.

Odds and Ends

-- Heard someone flew in for Friday night's Yanks-Rays game all the way from Sydney, Australia. Sadly, the guy only had tickets for Friday's rainout, which was rescheduled for Sept. 22. Wonder if he got in to see Jeter's 3,000th hit Saturday? Also wonder if he'll fly back for the game in September?

-- Casey Anthony. There. I said her name. Hopefully this will be the last time her name is addressed on this website. Like, ever.

Bello

-- Just heard Maria Bello, perhaps best known for playing Dr. Anna Del' Amico on "ER," will be starring in a cop drama this fall on NBC. Bello was great on "ER," and really never got to develop the way she could. She didn't even last two years on the show. Yet she was great on "ER" and I'm very happy to hear she's finally going to be back on the small screen.

-- I must sadly admit that last night, when I heard that former First Lady Betty Ford had died, that I thought she was already dead.

-- Is it hockey season yet?

Enjoy the rest of the weekend, one and all.

Congratulations, Derek Jeter -- and Thank God It's Over

2011-07-09T19:38:00.000-04:00

Jeter

Not only did Derek Jeter get his 3,000th hit, he happened to go 5 for 5 in the Yanks win over Tampa. Now, on to the rest of the season -- and thank God this is finally over!

'Combat Hospital' Not Afraid to 'Go There'

2011-07-09T00:51:00.001-04:00

Just finished watching the third episode of ABC's Canadian-import "Combat Hospital," and I must say it has been one of the most enjoyable medical dramas I've seen in some time. It's a show that isn't afraid to hit difficult issues of war -- as it's set in Kandahar, Afghanistan in 2006. A full review of the show -- as well as another Canadian import, "Rookie Blue," is forthcoming. In the meantime, I can't suggest both shows any more than these. You will enjoy both if you like medical and cop dramas. More soon.

July 8, 2011 Edition of KC in 60

2011-07-08T23:01:00.002-04:00

Click to Play

A fan falls to his death at a Texas Rangers baseball game, a man kills 7 in a bloody rampage in Grand Rapids, Mich., a new law requires security guards in food places after midnight in Newark, N.J. and more

Hope You Like the New Look of the Blog

2011-07-08T22:57:00.001-04:00

Greetings, one and all.

Hope you like the new look of the blog. It's a work-in-progress, so expect it to be a little shaky for the next few days. I hope it's fully functional by Sunday.

July 7, 2011 Edition of SS

2011-07-07T23:32:00.002-04:00

Click to Play

Caey Anthony's release, Jose Reyes's slight injury lands him on the Disabled List and more.

July 5, 2011 Edition of KC in 60

2011-07-05T22:55:00.002-04:00

Click to Play

The Casey Anthony Trial at length. Was she really not guilty? We'll address the verdict and whether it was the right one in this edition of KC in 60

July 4, 2011 Edition of KC in 60

2011-07-04T23:24:00.002-04:00

Click to Play

The Casey Anthony Trial, the Subway Series and Brad Richards to the Rangers.

Happy 4th of July, One and All

2011-07-03T00:28:00.000-04:00

The Summer of Canada on ABC

2011-07-02T13:38:00.000-04:00

Coming soon -- a look at the Summer of Canada, two great shows, one old, one new, that are incredible and doing well on ABC summer. The shows, "Rookie Blue," in season 2, and "Combat Hospital," in its first season, are two of my favourites -- and I'll tell you all about them in a coming post.

Going on the Parkway Today?

2011-07-01T16:32:00.002-04:00

Good luck. Have a great weekend.

Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.2

Happy 4th of July, One and All

2011-06-30T21:21:00.002-04:00

Here's hoping you all have a great July 4 holiday this year. Be safe. Have fun. And we'll see you, God willing, over the weekend -- or after Monday's holiday

The Mind-Numbing Death of a High-School Football Player

2011-06-30T10:06:00.004-04:00

Isayah Muller,
on the right.

There he was, probably the proudest moment of his life.

Isayah Muller, at 19, was graduating from high school and was on his way to what would likely have been a couple years at Nassau (County) Community College — and then a couple of years at a Division I football powerhouse.

He promised his mother he'd take care of her and her yet unborn twin babies — he was certain, and many football people agreed — one day, he'd be in the National Football League.

But that all came to a remarkably fast halt on graduation day.

On their way to dinner to celebrate Isayah's accomplishments, his father, Andre, realized that a bottle of cologne he bought for his son's graduation — valued at $200 — went missing. And his belief was that it had been stolen by parking-lot attendants who were "guarding" the family car during the commencement ceremony.

The Mullers returned to the lot — a fight ensued — and according to the NYPD, Andre Muller's actions ultimately led to Isayah's being stabbed to death, his father right there by his side and drenched in his sacrificial blood.

All over a $200 bottle of cologne?

As hard as it is to fathom, this isn't fiction.

This is a father with a rap sheet as long as your arm taking the law into his own hands. Instead of handling the situation like an adult and involving cops — he took the thuggish approach. And now his son, Isayah, whose future was endless, and who just hours earlier accepted a diploma that said he completed the requisite courses for high school — unlike many other teens in the Bronx — was dead.

Few stories illicit as much emotion as this one has for me. The absolute senseless nature of it all blows my mind. How anyone could become so enraged over a bottle of scented liquid begs all logic as to why.

Still, a young man is dead, his father charged with numerous weapons offenses, and a family is forever torn. One can only pray that the unborn Muller twins never have to face a fate like their brother and father have.

That would be the biggest shame of it all.

Of Note

• The Casey Anthony trial is still on-going. It's a riveting watch on the Internet, but purely annoying on TV with what seems to be more commercials than live coverage.

• The Mets have scored 30 runs in their first-two games in Detroit. It may just be time to believe in this baseball club.

• Congress has forfeited its July 4 recess because it has failed to reach an agreement on the debt-ceiling limit. Tell me again why they deserve so much damn vacation time to begin with?

• Huma Weiner is taking "time off" from both her job and husband. Boy they don't make wives like Hillary Rodham Clinton anymore do they?

• Michelle Bachmann is running for president. If you'd even consider, for a second, voting for her, may I suggest a psychiatrist or two for you to visit — like, soon?

• It must kill Yankees fans that the story of Baseball '11 in New York isn't their team — or even Derek Jeter's chase for 3,000. Instead, it's Jose Reyes and the Mets. Mostly Reyes though. If they trade him, let's just say it may end my fandom for the team. But they wouldn't trade a potential MVP candidate would they — just like they'd never trade George Thomas Seaver?

• Just learned the Jesuits are dissolving the community at my high-school alma mater, St. Peter's Prep. This shouldn't be happening under any circumstance, but it is — and it's very upsetting. My how times have changed.

• It's hard to believe we're approaching the 4th of July weekend. With that said, do enjoy it, and be safe. Until next time!

It's Getting Hard Not to Believe in the 2011 Mets

2011-06-28T22:49:00.002-04:00

REYES

After an incredible night in the Motor City — two grand slams, one from Jason Bay and another from Carlos Beltran — it's becoming almost impossible not to love this 2011 Mets team and just as impossible not to believe they'll somehow find a way to win the National League Wild Card.

So many regular Mets aren't even playing. Yet so many AAA Buffalo Bisons have played with more enthusiasm and joy for the game of baseball than many professionals do. Whether it's Justin Turner, Dillon Gee, Daniel Murphy, you name the player, this team has been scrappy. It has been remarkably enjoyable to watch. And for the most part, the home runs have been few and far between.

And then there's Jose Reyes.

Could anyone have been able to envision a season like Reyes is having right now?

Remember when it was "in" to call for Jose to be traded? Think again.

This man cannot be traded. What he's done this year is beyond almost anything any Mets fan has seen in 40 years. And again, he's doing it, like the entire team, without the benefit of home runs.

Back in 1998, when Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa were chasing Roger Maris's 61, it was so much fun to watch game after game, mammoth shot after shot. Yet the 2011 Mets have proven several things: You don't need to crush home runs to play exciting baseball and sometimes, better players come from a crop of kids who love the game more than the paycheck they get.

This surely might not be the best Mets team in history, but after a few long, horrible seasons of futility and utter chaos, this team is sure fun to watch — and with any luck, we'll be watching well into September.

• Some people say Michelle Bachmann is smart. Based on her answers to history questions, she's certainly shown she's far from it.

• Speaking of Mrs. Bachmann, I must admit to being amused in hearing Tom Petty doesn't want her to use "An American Girl" as her theme song.

• If you are, like me, a fan of "HawthoRNe" on TNT, could you answer a question for me? Why is Christina being exiled by James River Hospital as she is? She was the victim of a savage beating! I can't understand why she was fired in the first place — and why she's being treated, now, by her former colleagues, like the Bubonic Plague.

• When I was a kid, I used to love the summer. As I get older, I hate, more and more, how life slows down during the summer. TV show repeats, people on extended vacation, a slower pace to just about everything. I never thought the day would come where I'd say this, but once it hits late June each year, I find I long, more and more, for September — when the pace picks back up.

• Chris Christie, governor of New Jersey, says he supports civil unions but not same-sex marriage in New Jersey. Don't worry, Chris. Chances are there isn't a gay man on this planet who'd ever want to marry your sorry fat self.

DOLAN

• Speaking of New York's new law, Archbishop Timmy Dolan says he's "sad" over it. It's so damn unfortunate he's never said he was "sad" over the perverted way his brother priests in the church have acted whilst placing their hands on the genitalia of unsuspecting little boys across the globe...for decades. Get your priorities straight, Timmy. No pun intended.

• Is it hockey season yet?

Until next time! Enjoy the rest of the week.

Temporary Scale-Back of KC in 60

2011-06-26T22:21:00.000-04:00

Greetings, one and all,

Just a quick note that I'll be scaling back KC in 60 to just one day a week for the foreseeable future. The show will run at 8 p.m. Mondays for an indeterminate length. Some days it may be an hour — others, it could run longer, up to two hours.

Why's this happening?

I have some personal issues that need my immediate attention. Once things are resolved, I do hope to rejoin a more regular show schedule. And I'm hoping and praying this won't be a long-term ordeal.

On a side note, I will continue to host "Shocaster Shocase" Thursday nights, normally at 7 p.m. ET with an occasional 8 p.m. ET start time.

Thank you all for your understanding — and of course, I look forward to spending parts of Monday and Thursday nights with you.

— KC

It's Time to Ban Opposite-Sex Marriages

2011-06-26T17:37:00.001-04:00

The State of New York on Friday became the sixth state in the Union to legally permit same-sex couples to marry and enjoy the same rights afforded straight married couples. And then, moments later, the Christian right went on the offensive — this gay marriage nonsense was really going to lead to the end of the institution of marriage as we know it, they screamed from their praying knees.

From Catholic bishops and cardinals to evangelical so-called preachers, the right's message was unified and clear about the sanctity of marriage being over.

So this led me to think about a counter-attack to the right.

Why not begin a movement to ban opposite-sex marriage? After all, it has been an institution since the beginning of time. And let's face it — it hasn't, especially of late, been all that successful, has it?

Log on to the websites of either the NY Daily News or the NY Post and chances are, you'll find some breed of celebrity divorcing. Think about all those other marriages that reeked of infidelity — like The Clintons, The Weiners, The Gingriches (times two), The Larry Craigs, The McCourts (LA Dodgers), The Terminators (Arnold and Maria).

You get the idea.

Bishop Nicholas Demarzio, of the Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn, took to the NY Daily News today to remind us — again — about the death of that institution. How the hell many times do we have to be reminded of this?

And really, can't you just see what will happen in a month, when the law takes effect, and the first LGBT couple ties the knot?

If you're straight and married, you better watch out! Because as soon as the officiator says "I now pronounce you partners for life," to that first couple, your marriage will, in effect, be over. You'll never be able to go to the grocery store again with all those gay couples shopping. You'll never be able to go to the City again with all those happily married gay and lesbian people wearing rings signifying their love for each other — and heaven forbid, catch of glimpse of them with their adopted or surrogate child.

You'll never be able to pass City Hall without being struck by illness, because the mayor, inside, might just be performing a same-sex wedding.

You'll never be able to get a DJ again for your anniversary party, because that same DJ may have played at a same-sex wedding.

You see how this is going to destroy your opposite-sex marriage?

If you have kids, they'll be scarred for life and will likely turn gay, because as we all know, when kids see gay people, they all want to be gay, too — like, instantly.

Incredulous!

So here's my solution.

Let's end opposite-sex marriage once and for all. The hell these marriages are going to go through now that gays and lesbians can wed will just be intolerable. No straight couple should ever have to suffer that way because two women or two men can marry. And all those on the right would never have to worry about the sanctity of marriage being destroyed ever again, because marriage, as we know it now, won't exist.

How brilliant an idea is this?

Think about it. Doesn't it make all the sense in the world?

June 22, 2011 Edition of KC in 60

2011-06-22T23:02:00.002-04:00

Click to Play

The ease of obtaining prescription drugs in Florida, the pharmacy murders on Long Island and Mike Francesa with Tiki Barber.

Via Bobsblitz.com: Booker Wants NBA Franchise, Not Nets, in Newark

2011-06-22T21:56:00.000-04:00

Thank you, Bobsblitz.com, for the heads-up on this one. Click here to read.

Report: Dedes Leaving Lakers For Knicks Gig

2011-06-22T18:23:00.001-04:00

Reports have former FAN voice and Lakers' play-by-play radioside guy Spero Dedes leaving the bright lights of Hollywood to take over the radio PBP job for the New York Knicks.

Click here to read the report. Good move for Dedes and the Knicks; bad news for the Lakers.

Big Crowd for a Tuesday at Citi

2011-06-22T00:46:00.000-04:00

Gee lost his first game of the year to
lower his record to 7-1. Oh, and
Jason Bay hit his third home run
of the season. Celebrate!

More than 37,000 showed up for Tuesday's Mets-A's tilt at Citi Field. Wonder why? Perhaps people were expecting to see Dillon Gee go to 8-0? (He didn't).

Maybe it was the old uniforms the A's wore -- and the Mets wore -- making it look like 1973 all over again? Whatever it was, they all left disappointed as the Metsies dropped their third in four games.

Jason Bay did have two extra-base hits though, including his third home run of the season.

June 21, 2011 Edition of KC in 60

2011-06-21T22:46:00.003-04:00

Click to Play

A 13-year-old boy is shot to death in Newark, a North Carolina man robs a bank of $1 in order to get prison healthcare (he's unemployed and doesn't qualify for any other kind of medical care), the Shot Heard Round Vancouver, 19-year-old conjoined twins and Brendon Baker on the Mets, Yanks and Rory McIlroy.

June 20, 2011 Edition of KC in 60

2011-06-21T22:15:00.002-04:00

Click to Play

A Texas state senator scolds a Spanish-speaking witness, the War on Drugs turns 40, a discussion on whether marijuana should be decriminalized, a college footballer arrested for refusing to pull his baggy pants up, the drop in attendance for many MLB teams and Rory McIlroy's rise to golf fame.

Clarence Clemons Performs National Anthem: Marlins/Mets Opening Day '11

2011-06-19T21:03:00.000-04:00

Who the Hell Needs Accuracy? How'd I Miss This One?

2011-06-19T02:24:00.002-04:00

Vancouver Punk Gets Punked Himself

2011-06-18T22:03:00.000-04:00

Oh man this is great.

What you're about to see is a moron from Vancouver who was attempting to set an overturned car on fire. In steps one guy (shorter than the perp) who has a little trouble getting him to stop. But out of nowhere comes another hero who, let's just say, prevents the asshole from setting anything on fire. Have a look.

Still Can't Understand the Fuss Over Palin

2011-06-18T21:51:00.002-04:00

'Classic' Comments From Gary Cohen & Ron Darling

2011-06-18T21:47:00.000-04:00

Vancouver PD Using Facebook, Twitter, Youtube to ID Rioters

2011-06-18T21:42:00.000-04:00

The riots in Vancouver the other day — among the most ridiculous of all-time riots — may go down as the first where social media helped nab perps who otherwise might have walked. Unlike previous riots, including the one on June 14, 1994, the last time their hometown Canucks lost a seventh game in the Stanley Cup Finals, there are plenty of street-level photos and videos, many of which were stupidly posted on Facebook, Twitter and Youtube ... by the perps themselves.

Police are actively asking residents to identify people shown prominently looting.

Considering the absurdity of the riots — there can't be enough arrests as far as I'm concerned.

Here's a few of my favourite photos of Vancouveraller stupidity — or are they Vancouverans? Vancouverites?.

Yanks Rebound to Take Game 2 at Wrigley

2011-06-18T21:24:00.000-04:00

A Hodgepodge of Items

2011-06-18T18:12:00.001-04:00

Earlier today, the Boston Bruins celebrated their first Stanley Cup since 1972. Estimates had more than 1 million fans lining the parade route. Whenever there's a celebration for a Stanley Cup championship, it always bothers me to a degree because my favourite sport is done for the season.

But then it usually hits me. Hard to believe it, but there are only two months throughout the entire calendar year when NHL games aren't played — July and August. Only 11 weeks after the Finals end, training camp for the following season opens.

And with that in mind, I hope things don't get ugly with Zach Parise and the New Jersey Devils. This man is the face of the franchise — even if Ilya Kovalchuk is more of a start than he. Going to arbitration is rarely pleasant.

But Lou Lamoriello and company can ill-afford to lose Parise.

Should be an interesting summer.

DeBoer

It should also be intriguing to see who Lou ultimately winds up choosing as next head coach. This is a process that has happened all too often with this team. And aside from Jacques Lemaire, Lou hasn't exactly gotten it right of late.

The one name that keeps resurfacing is Ken Hitchcock. Only issue is that Hitchcock, to this point, has been on record saying that no one from New Jersey has contacted him yet.

On a personal note, I'd much prefer seeing Peter Doboer take the helm. The former Florida Panthers coach never had star talent in Miami, but he worked and developed some excellent young talent, especially in the likes of David Booth.

Deboer would work well with the Devils' young kids — and with Parise, Kovalchuk and several other older, more experienced players, would be a perfect fit here.

Which means he probably won't be the next head coach, of course.

Odds -n-ends

• My favourite TV show of all time is still "ER." Aside from George Clooney and Juliana Margulies, what ever happened to, let's say, any major star on the show? I can't remember the last time I saw Anthony Edwards, Mekhi Pfifer or anyone for that matter in any new role.

• The first episode of "HawthoRNe's" third season was the best episode of the series yet. It's going to be an excellent season. All I'll say, so I don't spoil it for anyone who hasn't seen the episode yet, is poor Christina.

• Someone the other day asked me if I've ever meet a door-to-door Jehovas Witness evangelist. The last time I did, I was working at a Catholic Church and was in the rectory when the doorbell rang. Talk about persistent.

• If Anthony Weiner had been honest from the get-go, I still believe he would have been spared having to resign. He is (was) the one and only member of Congress I've ever admired. He's let me down, to say the least.

Burress

• Plaxico Burress spent entirely too much time in prison. I hope the day comes when someone can use Mayor Michael Bloomberg as an example — for anything other than how to run a government.

• I'm really liking "The Mike Lupica Show" on 1050 ESPN in New York. But let's give credit where it's due — Don LaGreca makes it what it is.

• Can't wait until Derek Jeter gets his 3,000th hit — at Citi Field.

• Is there a bigger ass on the planet than Bob Raissman?

• Finally, there's talk about re-alignment in Major League Baseball, which would move one National League team to the American League, leaving each with 15 teams, and prompting an interleague series every day of the season. The top 5 teams in each league make the playoffs.

Finally, a rational solution to keeping weak division winners out of the playoffs while teams with better records watch from home.

This is long overdue, and while traditionalists don't like the idea, I can't help but hope this comes to fruition. Stagnancy and traditions often hurt sports — and many other aspects of life. Going back to division-less leagues will strengthen the playoffs and World Series — and teams that have no business in the post-season finally won't be in the post-season.

If that's a bad tradition to break, break it — next season, preferably.

Enjoy the rest of the weekend. Until next time.

Watch KC in 60 on Shovio.com Mon-Wed at 8 p.m. ET and Friday at 7 p.m. ET. Send feedback to Kevin by sending an e-mail to kevincanessa@mac.com.

Friday's Show: Kids Fined $500 For Selling Lemonade

2011-06-18T18:10:00.001-04:00

Thank You, Mike Silva

2011-06-18T17:20:00.001-04:00

I wanted to take a moment to thank Mike Silva, of New York Baseball Digest, for covering my story about the WFAN tryout. Some of the responses from people have been beyond classic. "Whiner," "cry-baby," "fatso," etc. Great job guys. Keep em coming.

On that note, please frequent Mike's website. There is no better sports site out there.

Click here to visit NY Baseball Digest.

June 16, 2011 Edition of SS

2011-06-17T23:59:00.002-04:00

Click to Play

How Kevin can't get medical treatment and a look at the horrendous Vancouver riots that followed Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals.

June 17, 2011 Edition of KC in 60

2011-06-17T23:56:00.002-04:00

Click to Play

Weiner's heckling resignation, June 17, 1994 and more.

Find the Irony in This Headline

2011-06-15T01:54:00.000-04:00

June 14, 2011 Edition of KC in 60

2011-06-14T23:16:00.004-04:00