In the past Bwog has managed to stick up for the little guy, whether it be the McBain Shaft, the PE requirement or Fire Alarms. For the latest defense project, we turn to our in-house Jersey native Alexandra Svokos and ponder the terrible wonder that lies on the other side of the Hudson.

Listen, we get it. It’s super fun to shit on New Jersey. The armpit of America, full of guidos and bankrupt housewives, Jersey seems to boast nothing but grimy beaches and Newark International Airport. But if that were really all there was to it, wouldn’t residents get so sick of the demeaning and sometimes pitying response to “I’m from New Jersey” that they’d have all left by now? As it is, Jersey is the most densely populated state in America, so there’s gotta be something else.

First off, New Jersey schools consistently rank among the best in the nation, and the two highest average SAT scores from any high school in the United States come from the state. That’s right, those are some smart mall rats smoking up a cool appearance in the parking lot. Also, I don’t know if you know this or not, but New Jersey is, like, right next to New York City. It’s the easiest way to be in New York without actually being in New York, and it’s so much less overdone than Williamsburg. “I live in Fort Lee. You’ve probably never heard of it.”

That said, New Jersey has a lot of suburbs. But growing up in the suburbs doesn’t have to be as bleak and stifling as Arcade Fire portrays it! They’re safe, convenient, and full of malls and movie theaters. You’ll also learn how to drive really well, because you’ll be doing it every day, sometimes against and other times allied with the craziest drivers in the nation. You’ll have every clichéd high school movie moment from windows down with music blasting to visiting haunted asylums to seeing everyone you know after midnight at your favorite diner. Every suburban child has that special bond of complaining that there is nothing to do while secretly loving where they’re from.

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More (and even more) on George Castro- who is not in fact an employee of the University– the man indicted on charges of stealing nearly $5 million from Columbia, including the quote, “The money just appeared in my account.” (NYT/WSJ)”>

This is what the Rockefeller Center treelighting will look like, only raining.

More (and even more) on George Castro- who is not in fact an employee of the University– the man indicted on charges of stealing nearly $5 million from Columbia, including the quote, “The money just appeared in my account.” (NYT/WSJ)

Two researchers at the Mailman School of Public Health find that ineffective treatments and high costs hinder the U.S. healthcare system. (NYT)

The Rockefeller Center tree-lighting ceremony is tonight. Unfortunately, it looks as though it will rain. (Rockefeller Center/WSJ)

The Federal Transit authority has requested that NJ Transit repay $271 million it was awarded for a Hudson River tunnel project that has since been cancelled. The letter sent to the Executive Director of NJ Transit politely declines to use the classic Jersey-ism, “Where’s the fuckin’ money, shithead?” (AP/WSJ)

Cathleen Black, Mayor Mike’s pick to run New York public schools, was confirmed in that position yesterday when she received a waiver from the state education commissioner. (NYT)

image via Wikimedia Commons

BwogWeather took a road trip this week. Thanks to Kenny Durrell for hanging out, Caesar’s Palace letting us film, and to Pink Martini for the free concert.

The Office of Student and Administrative Services notified Bwog in the wee hours last night that a new partnership with NJ Transit will allow full-time undergraduate and grad students the opportunity to buy monthly passes for all of NJ Transit’s services at a 25% discount. This service will be available through NJ Transit’s QuickTik auto-payment program, which will bill students’ credit cards monthly for their discounted passes. Students will have the option of suspending the service during winter and summer breaks.

All of this raises the question, why would anyone want to go to New Jersey? (Besides that baller little area they have in Penn Station, of course.)

For additional information regarding the NJ TRANSIT Monthly Pass Discount Program or to enroll, you can go here.

Image via Wikimedia Commons

Do you hear that, Columbia? That’s the sound of 2013 rolling their blue bins (don’t forget to donate) towards the family car, stopping along the way to embrace their floormates like it’s the last day of sleepaway camp and the buses just rolled up. Most of you should be finishing up exams right about now, making important choices, and preparing to move back to Montclair or, jeez, to graduate. Class of 2010: Columbia has put out the chairs and assembled the mini-jumbotrons. You know, that way they’ll just be there for five days for no reason.

If only we could complain about the language requirement too!

For some, New York is just too cultured to be entertaining. Solution: head to Jersey for some mindless American fun.

Half a day of classes in bad weather is like forced ROTC. Or being in the navy.

Face-to-face encounters are obsolete. Everyone’s moved on to cyber voyeurism now.

As Janice May Udry once said, “A poem is nice.” Actually she said “A tree is nice,” which is actually a poem.  But the point is poems are nice.  So in honor of nice things and nice September afternoons, Bwog honors the 125th Birthday of William Carlos Williams.  Although the actual date of his birth, September 17th, has passed, the celebration continues.  All weekend long, aspiring poets, ancient troubadours and bibliophiles alike will convene just ten miles west of Hamilton Hall in Rutherford, NJ (Williams’ hometown), to sing praises of the man and his work.

Bwog offers some of its favorite Williams’ poems.  Feel free to share your own suggestions. 

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Last weekend, in honor of NJ Transit’s “Free Student Week,” Bwog featured a list of fun things to do in New Jersey. We liked the list so much we decided to send staffers to actually go and visit the places on it. In what is hopefully the first in a bi-weekly series, Paul Barndt recounts his trip to the fantastical and slightly surreal Medieval Times.

 

Medieval Times, the theme restaurant chain that owns a large castle in Lyndhurst, bills itself as a “Dinner & Tournament” experience. You eat a meat heavy, utensil-free meal while watching men dressed as knights ride horses and beat each other senseless. All MT employees insist on calling you “my lord” or “my lady,” and you are encouraged to refer to them as “serf” or “wench.”

 

If this sounds lame to you, I’m sorry. There’s no way to sugarcoat it. Maybe the next Jerz Adventure will be more to your liking. But if this sounds awesome to you, either ironically or unironically, do not hesitate to find a convenient weekend, pay the hefty $55 ticket price (or about $40 per person if you’re in a group of fifteen or more), and take the half-hour bus ride from the Port Authority out to Lyndhurst.

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While Coach Jones of the Columbia men’s basketball team may or may not be running a side puppy taxi business, the women’s team is certainly seeing great success! Last night, the girls stunned UPenn 70-61. Currently at 3-2, another win will set Columbia to tie for first place in the Ivy League division.

Tonight the team faces off against Princeton at its home court. Take advantage of free NJ transit tickets and go show your school spirit! Face painting recommended but not required.

CORRECTED: Coach Jones is not the women’s basketball coach. Apologies.

The free New Jersey transit fares (with a student ID and this coupon) continue until Sunday. Take advantage and see the Jerz — here are some suggestions, and directions, from the Bwog Staff.

Medieval Times

Lyndhurst, NJ

Catch the 192 Bus at the Port Authority Bus Terminal and take it to Polito Ave. Then look for the giant castle.

This olde tymeie fortress is perhaps the best-known member of the knights-and-ale theme restaurant chain that started on the Spanish island of Majorca thirty-five years ago. Watch this badical intro movie. A regular ticket is a steep $55, but groups larger than fifteen get a sizable discount, and admission includes a two-hour show, a hearty, utensil free meal, and flagons of mead straight from the serving wench’s pitcher.

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