In the blink of an eye our world changed
Winds of change took away our homes, our memories, our keepsakes
White picket fences and the American dream destroyed in an apocalyptic rage
From the pits of hell, a path of desolation and havoc cleared brought us to tears
With the strength of a thousand horses, we were brought to our knees
Praying to voices above in hopes the clouds would part to open up its arms to a new day
Wandering the streets looking for answers
Devastation a word without definition
Searching for answers under the rubble
A vision of a war zone in the land of the free
We raised our arms to the sky with strength and unity
Jersey Strong in our hearts
Jersey Strong our will to survive
Jersey Strong the power to rebuild
In the darkest hour, a light began to shine through
Walking out of the muck and mud we began to cleanse our soul and fill our hearts with the love of the brotherhood of man
Kindred neighbors close and far have united to form a wall of fortitude with one message, “We will rise again”
One nail at a time
Lending one hand; a reassuring smile; a hug
A promise of a better tomorrow
Jersey Strong
One family, one mission, a commitment, a goal
Many of you remember Hurricane Irene. It was a beast of a storm that kept on giving. Fortunately for me, the day it was scheduled to hit New Jersey and New York and Governor’s Christie and Bloomburg took the national spotlight in preparation, I was scheduled to fly out of Newark International back to Charleston, South Carolina. In my mind, heck no. I do no want my plane heading toward the northern path of a major hurricane. The airlines thought the morning flights should be fine. Yay for them. I didn’t want to risk it.
Me and hundreds of thousands more northeast travelers were thinking the same thing. I was scheduled for an 8:10 AM flight. I wanted to reschedule. I could not online due to the timing so I called customer service. Fifteen minutes on hold. Thirty minutes on hold. Forty-five minutes on hold. One hour on hold. One hour and thirty-minutes on hold.
WTF
What to do?
Since I am sitting there, I thought why not.
I looked up Delta Customer Service on Twitter and send a tweet.
Help me. I’ve been on hold almost two hours and I need to know if I can reschedule my flight.
Like this is going to work.
Hello!!!
Less than two minutes later, I got a message back asking my request on when I want to reschedule and to direct message my name and flight number. Four minutes later, I was confirmed on a flight the following day after the storm had passed up to New England.
All I can say was “wow”. I was amazed that by utilizing Twitter, I was able to connect and resolve my scheduling issue. We never spoke a word formally, but this social media network brought back some lost faith in the power of customer service and communication.
I laid back in the chair, took a deep sigh and gave my computer a virtual high five.
Delta and Twitter were a great partnership to me and I am thankful.
This is my story about how Twitter served a great service to me.
Potentially getting stuck in the middle of a hurricane, scary
Sitting on hold on the phone for two hours, frustrating
Wondering if I will be stranded at the airport or in the air during a storm, uncertain
Getting an issue resolved by Twitter averting a potential crisis, PRICELESS
Regardless of what state I am in or the classiness of the bar I attend, I am greeted with the same series of questions by every single bouncer:
1. You know the guys from Jersey Shore?
2. Are you all like that?
3. Should I watch out for you since you are from Jersey?
4. Jersey sucks
Thank you to the mental impaired cast of Jersey Shore for six magnificently destructive years of bad television. Like a facial wart that would just not go away, Jersey Shore has managed to destroy the reputation of New Jersey far worse than even the Sopranos, that spring break episode of American Dad with the bus load from Rutgers, Aqua Teen Hunger Force, The Real Housewives of Jersey, My Big Friggin Wedding, Charles in Charge, The Richard Bay Show, Jerseylicious or Bikini Barbershop.
Thank goodness Empire Boardwalk and House were there to redeem us the last few years.
Now as we rebuild New Jersey from Hurricane Sandy, we are certain, we will be better than ever!!
For those of you outsiders that have never seen New Jersey past the Newark or Liberty International Airport, you may be in for a rude awakening. There is a reason we are called the Garden State.
Here are a few facts about New Jersey that may surprise you and hopefully the brilliant minds in television development will think twice again before airing shows like Jersey Shore.
1. There are 9800 operational farms in New Jersey and the world leader in blueberry and cranberry production as well as top five in tomato production.
2. Highlands, New Jersey has the highest elevation along the entire eastern seaboard, from Maine to Florida.
3. New Jersey has more race horses than Kentucky and the National Equestrian team trains here.
4. On November 11, 2010, 671 students and staff members of The Lawrenceville School in central New Jersey set the new Guinness World Record for the biggest custard pie fight.
5. New Jersey has the most diners in the world and is sometimes referred to as the “Diner Capital of the World.”
6. New Jersey is home to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, one of the first symbols of American for many.
7. In 1884, a young Milton S. Hershey learned the art of candy making as an apprentice at Day’s Restaurant in Morristown, after which he returned to Pennsylvania to start the world-famous Hershey chocolate candy empire. Yes Jersey helped make chocolate available to the masses.
8. The Passaic River in Paterson was the site of the first submarine ride by inventor John P. Holland.
9. New Jersey has the most stringent testing along our coastline for water quality control than any other seaboard state in the entire country.
10. The first national historic park in America was established in 1933 in Morristown.
11. The world’s largest elephant statue, Lucy the Elephant, is in Margate.
12. The famous Les Paul invented the first solid body electric guitar in Mahwah, in 1940.
13. The first copper mine in America was opened by enterprising Dutch settlers in the Kittatinny Mountains, circa 1640.
14. Famous NJ natives include William “Bud” Abbot, Alan Alda, Jason Alexander, Robert Blake, David Copperfield, Lou Costello, Tom Cruise, Sandra Dee, Brian DePalma, Danny DeVito, Michael Douglas, Kirsten Dunst, John Forsythe, James Gandolfini, Janeane Garafolo, Savion Glover, Ethan Hawke, Frank Langella, Jerry Lewis, Ray Liotta, Bette Midler, Frankie Muniz, Ozzie Nelson, Bebe Neuwirth, Jack Nicholson, Joe Pesci, Christopher Reeve, Paul Robeson, Susan Sarandon, Roy Schneider, Kevin Spacey, Meryl Streep, Loretta Swit, John Travolta, Lee Van Cleef, “Uncle” Floyd Vivino, Bruce Willis, Clerow “Flip” Wilson, Scott Wolfe, William “Count” Basie, Jon Bon Jovi, Connie Francis, Deborah Harry, Lauryn Hill, Whitney Houston, Ice-T, Queen Latifah, Les Paul, Nelson Riddle, Frank Sinatra, Paul Simon, Patti Smith, Bruce Springsteen, Frankie Vallie, Sarah Vaughn, Dionne Warwick, Yogi Berra, Franco Harris, Derek Jeter, Vince Lombardi, Shaquille O’Neal, Joe Theismann, Buzz Aldrin, Aaron Burr, Clara Barton, Thomas Paine, Molly Pitcher, Betsy Ross, Harriet Tubman, President Woodrow Wilson, President Grover Cleveland, Judy Blume, James Fenimore Cooper, Stephen Crane, Allen Gingsburg, Anne Morrow Lindbergh, Toni Morrison, Norman Mailer, Dorothy Parker, Philip Roth, Albert Payson Terhune, William Carlos Williams, Walt Whitman, Malcolm Forbes, Robert Wood Johnson II, “Stormin” Norman Schwarzkopf, Samuel Colt, Thomas Edison, John P. Holland, Joe Piscopo, Marilynn McCoo, Eddie Money, Joyce Kilmer, Caesar Romero, Nathan Lane, Eva Marie Saint, Elisabeth Shue, Dave Thomas (Wendy’s), Robert Wuhl, Ernie Kovacs and Kelly Ripa.
15. Leo the MGM Lion, Cheetah the chimp and Elsie the Borden Cow are buried in New Jersey.
16. First Football Game – On November 6, 1869, Rutgers met Princeton in what is considered the first intercollegiate game of American football, although it bore no resemblance to today’s sport. The game was played with 25 players on a side and under Rutgers’ rules, meaning that the ball could only be advanced by kicking or batting it with the feet, hands, heads or body. Catching, carrying, and throwing the ball were all illegal. Rutgers won the game six goals to four. A week later, a rematch was held using Princeton rules, one of which was the rewarding of a “free kick” to a player who caught the ball. Princeton won this game eight to zero.
17. The first drive-in movie theater was opened in Camden in 1933.
18. NJ’s Pulaski Skyway, from Jersey City to Newark, was the first skyway ever built.
19. The first Indian reservation was in the NJ Watchung Mountains.
20. The worlds largest brown bear (12 ft tall and over 2000 lbs) resided at Space Farms Zoo and Museum in Bemmerville until his death. “Goliath” is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest brown bear ever on record. His stuffed body is now on display at Space Farms.
21. The first steam locomotive to actually pull a train on a track was built by John Stevens of Hoboken in 1824.
22. The first robot to replace a human worker was used by General Motors in Ewing Township in 1961.
23. NJ built the first tunnel under a river, the Holland Tunnel under the Hudson River.
24. In 1893, the world’s first film production studio, the Black Maria, was completed by Thomas Edison in West Orange.
25. The first balloon flight in America was made by Jean-Pierre Blanchard. On January 9,1793, he landed a balloon at Deptford carrying a letter from George Washington.
26. The first phonograph records were made in Camden, New Jersey.
27. The first recorded, official baseball game was played on June 19, 1846 in Hoboken.
28. The game Monopoly, played all over the world, named the streets on its playing board after actual streets in Atlantic City.
29. New Jersey has over 4,100 freshwater lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams — almost 61,000 acres of water
30. Picturesque Cape May holds the distinction of being the oldest seashore resort in the United States and one of the most unique.
31. Atlantic City has the longest boardwalk in the world.
32. New Jersey has the tallest water tower in the world.
33. New Jersey has Sinatra and Springsteen
New Jersey is a state full of rich history and firsts. A state built on pride, family, nutrition, determination, hard work and celebration. We are a state that has a proud tradition and it continues to shine today. Others will continue to try and throw shots at Jersey and we welcome that. At the end of the day, we are all proud of where we came from. With all the innovation, creativity and hard work, New Jersey will continue to lead the nation and the world as we look past the horizon into the future.
The East Brunswick Wrestling Club has a tradition of sending its athletes to the top.
This year alone several wrestlers finished high or won tournaments throughout the season, including nine kids who qualified for the NJ Kid’s State Championship and one young lady who qualified for the NJ Girl’s State Championship.
When the tournaments were over, it was 7-year-old Stephanie Yarnall who became the club’s first state champion, winning the New Jersey Girl’s State Championship.
“Stephanie really enjoys the sport, her coaches, her teammates and especially when people that don’t know her come up to her to congratulate her. Every time she gets on the mat, she gives it her all. She practices very hard and will even do pull ups at home,” said her father, Keith Yarnall.
The 40-pounder posted a record of 22-10 this season, her second year on the mat, a fact that doesn’t surprise her father, who says Stephanie simply does not want to lose. Keith Yarnall, a coach with the club for eight years, said she got her start after seeing her brother wrestle.
“Her older brother has been wrestling for about four years, so she has been around the sport for some time,” he said in an email. “We asked her if she wanted to try it. She said ‘yes’ with no hesitation and we brought her to a couple practices and she really enjoyed it. You could see she picked things up very quickly.”
For Stephanie, a first-grader at Parkview School in Milltown, hitting the mat has become more than just a sport. It has become a place where she can see all her hard work pay off. And when she’s at home, Stephanie is just like any other girl. She loves to spend time with her friends (she even brings them to some of her matches), plays with Barbie dolls, tries on make up and spends time as a St. Bart’s cheerleader. But you would never know it when you see her wrestle, said her father.
“Stephanie has two sets of friends—school and wrestling,” he said. “The wrestling friends treat her like any other teammate because they know how hard she works. She has brought a couple of her school friends to matches to watch her, and they are very impressed.”
Despite the hard work and success, Stephanie is still very much a little girl, and gets as nervous as anyone else when asked to perform.
“Last year we figured the toughest part was to get her out on the mat, once we do that, she will be OK,” he said. “She cries easily, before during and after the match. Sometimes it has nothing to do with her match. I have seen her crying, winning 12-0, so its up to her coach and/or myself to at least keep her as calm as possible. The best matches (from a coach or a fathers point of view) is when she pins the opponent in the first period. She says she gets nervous because she doesn’t like to lose (of course, who does), and I try to explain its not all about winning but she is just out there to win every match.”
To quote the excited mother: “It is a very special article for all of us. We’re soooo proud of her”
Mark A. Leon, Voice of Modern American Poetry takes a vision in poetry that will provide a new and old audience of readers a contemporary concept of poetic expression. Introducing Sonni’s Abyss – A Collection of Poetry and Photography. Let Mark’s words of inspiration find a home in your heart.
Here is your chance to purchase ahead of the new release, “A Beautiful World”
Through a decade of personal success and tragedy, Mark A. Leon has taken his global journey and provided the reader with a collection that will penetrate the emotions and bring you to another place that will ultimately allow you to face your own personal path with strength and courage. Sonni’s Abyss is the newest collection of works from Mark A. Leon. Follow his journey and in time make it your own.
Mark started his life excursion in New Jersey and has experienced his personal vision in Alaska, Italy, Switzerland, Netherlands, France, Spain, Mexico and the United States coast to coast. During his own personal adventure, he has absorbed a deeper understanding of global culture while maintaining his strength from his family and circle of friends that have supported him. During the last decade, a series of events have brought Mark to extreme periods of deep despair to moments of euphoria. This book outlines his journey in a way that is fresh and deeply showered in emotion. Utilizing metaphorical angles, derivatives of nature, spirituality, love, death and rebirth, this exploration has been embraced by readers of all ages.
Mark believes that everything in our lives is poetry from the songwriter to the composer to the teacher. Each and every one of us expresses a feeling of truth and understanding in our art. Expression of oneself is a true artistic form but the ability to transfer and affect the life of another individual is a true gift. This book is a testament to how the written word can change a life. That is the true victory; the ability to help one life and find inner happiness and peace.
The journey begins with one page. Let’s yourself go and start your own personal exploration of reflection. Let Sonni’s Abyss help you find your path.
Thoughts on the book, Sonni’s Abyss:
“His beautiful and honest prose draws you in as they reveal a modern look at everyday emotion. His sense of time and place bring you the world through his eyes, while his sense of home brings you to new places. His passion for life, almost tangible as you read his accounts of love, loss, and faith.” – Jill – (Georgia)
“This book reads like a journey with each poem representing a different time or event.” – Jane (New Jersey)
Please take the time to read samples of Mark A. Leon’s words of inspiration and I hope you can share this book with people you love.
Mark is also a contributing author on two collections raising charity for impoverished children in African entitled Poetry for Charity – Volume I and Poetry for Charity – Volume II
Frelinghuysen Opposes “Flawed” Obama-Pelosi Health Care Bill
Washington, D.C. – Declaring “I support health care reform. I just do not support Nancy Pelosi’s version of health care reform,” Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen voted “no” today on both the Senate-passed health care bill (H.R. 3590) and the “reconciliation” package (H.R. 4872) designed to “fix” flaws in H.R. 3590.
In remarks prepared for the House floor debate, Frelinghuysen declared “When it comes to controlling health costs for New Jersey’s families, changing objectionable insurance company practices and making coverage available to more Americans, the status quo is simply unacceptable. We can, and we must, do better, but not at the expense of millions of American families worried about a government takeover of their health care!”
Frelinghuysen cited many provisions in both bills that he strongly opposed:
Fiscal “Responsibility”
“Speaker Pelosi claims that this package may reduce the federal deficit by $138 billion over ten years. With our budget deficit expected to be $1.4 trillion this year alone, it is clear that this bill has no connection to fiscal responsibility! Only in Washington, can you spend one trillion dollars and claim you are saving taxpayer money!”
Medicare Cuts:
“The question is not whether you can choose your doctor under the Pelosi health care plan, but whether your doctor will choose you!”
“Older Americans need to know that this package contains over a half-trillion dollars in total cuts to Medicare. In addition to cutting reimbursements to doctors and hospitals, ths bill also hits skilled nursing facilities, hospice centers, ambulance services, dialysis facilities, labs and durable medical equipment (DME) suppliers, these reductions include $202 billion from seniors’ Medicare health plans, including massive cuts to Medicare Advantage. 148,000 seniors in New Jersey, including over 35,000 in my Congressional District, enjoy the benefits of this innovative program. Thousands currently receiving health benefits through Medicare Advantage will be dropped.”
Tax Increases:
“This package contains over $523 billion in job-killing higher taxes. I cannot think of a worse time to tax families and small businesses than in the middle of a serious recession.”
Individual Mandate
“This bill contains $17 billion in new taxes on Americans who do not obey the bill’s mandate that individuals must buy health insurance whether they want to or not, and $52 billion in new taxes on employers that do not provide health coverage deemed “acceptable” or “affordable” by Washington-based government bureaucrats. This provision alone may require hiring over 16,000 new IRS agents and auditors to enforce the new law.”
FICA Tax Extension
“In addition, the bill hikes the Medicare FICA tax to 3.8 percent for certain taxpayers AND FOR THE FIRST TIME, THIS TAX WILL BE EXTENDED BEYOND WAGES TO INCLUDE INTEREST, DIVIDENDS, CAPITAL GAINS, ANNUITIES, ROYALTIES, HOME SALES AND RENTS. This new tax will be particularly damaging to New Jersey’s seniors, many of whom depend on such interest, dividends and annuities to cover their monthly expenses and potential nursing home costs.”
Active Military, Retirees and Veterans
“It is unconscionable that our men and women in uniform, military retirees and veterans could be affected by the Senate-passed health care bill because it omitted protections for military health plans. Specifically, the Senate language does not give the VA health care system specific protection from interference by other government agencies. Further, the final bill would leave it up to bureaucrats at the Department of the Treasury to determine whether TRICARE meets the minimum standards under the bill’s individual health insurance mandate. Our men and women in uniform, and our veterans, deserve better!”
Omissions
“There is no medical lawsuit reform. The Pelosi package also fails to promote portability of coverage. It does not allow insurance companies to sell their policies across state lines. It fails to recognize the value of Association Health Plans, which permit small businesses to pool their risk in order to secure lower insurance rates. The bill does not expand Health Savings Accounts which millions of families use to provide protection against catastrophic illness. The package does very little to enhance medical training for doctors, nurses and technicians. If we are going to expand coverage for tens of millions of Americans, we need to increase graduation rates in these critical medical professions.”
“This package completely ignores the ongoing crisis in Medicare reimbursement rates for doctors. Many doctors in New Jersey are already questioning their participation in the Medicare program, putting in greater jeopardy our seniors access to care. Does the Majority actually believe that the pending 22-percent reimbursement reduction will not cause more doctors to ‘opt out’ of Medicare?
David Plouffe, Author of “The Audacity to Win” and campaign manager for the Barack Obama’s Presidential Campaign donned the camera’s of Meet the Press this morning as Rush Limbaugh provided insight on Fox Sunday morning. Two perspectives, two parties, and very different messages to the American public. With three major races in the balance for Tuesday, Virginia and New Jersey Gubernaturial and New York’s 23rd District seat, the question of how these elections could effect the Obama Administration loom.
The possibility of two Republicans and one conservative taken down the incumbant Democrats in these three races could have a continuted sliding effect on the public’s confidence in Obama and his pledge for government reform, energy and health care reform and the greening of our nation.
A recent poll showed confidence in Obama at 49% while only 39% believe he is doing an effective job to change government.
With some liberal focused Republicans leaving the party and no sign of a strong leadership presence, there is still a major change that needs to occur to re-energize that party.
With public concern for Obama leading to possible dissention in the up coming polls on Tuesday, there are signs that perhaps promises will not turn into implementation in the near term.
The Republicans in Washington are fighting hard to hold back policy agenda but is it valid?
One year later, discussions are running rampant, the economy has hinted at a recovery, the global turmoil lingers and unification of the two parties is still a dream.
As I look to the audience, what grade do you give this new administration one year later?
Writer / Blogger / Social Media and Talent Acquisition Consultant / Life Geek / Photographer
Human Resources, Talent Acquisition, Global Social Media and Marketing Solutions including: organizational development, team building, change management, compensation structural development and implementation, social media and talent community development, growth and advancement, training, rewards and recognition, recruitment, attrition control, affirmative action administration, labor relations and M&A.
Trainer
So You Think You Can Interview - ProNet August, 2010 Personal Branding and Social Media Resources - ProNet June, 2010 Personal Branding and Social Media Resources - Lee Hecht Harrison July, 2010 Personal Branding and Social Media Tooling - Lenova Women in Leadership September, 2010 Your Life Bag - ProNet October, 2010, The Effects of Social Media in the Workplace - Carolinas Payroll Conference November 2012
Published Author
Sonni's Abyss (June 2008)
A Beautiful World (February 2011)
This Time Around (Scheduled for February 2013 Publication)
