Of All The Gin Joints...

Rick’s Cafe, which opened in March, offers a blend of sophistication and friendliness with the clientele a mix of Moroccan business people and members of the expatriate Western community.

Patrons clearly enjoy telling pianist Issam Chaaba, from Rabat, to “play it again, Issam”.

The Life & Death Of A New Jersey Irishman

The Star-Ledger ran a fine profile of Frank Carvill who was recently killed in Iraq. And Ledger conservative columnist Paul Mulshine wrote an interesting piece praising his old friend Carvill while bashing Bush.

Happy Blooms Day

Yes, celebrate the Day James met Nora in the Dublin of 100 years ago. The Times actually has a decent editoral about today and if you don't quite get "Ulysses" click here and look at the pretty pictures.

It Is A National Day Of Mourning

New Jersey National Guard in Iraq

Two soldiers from the New Jersey National Guard were killed in Iraq yesterday. And three other Jersey troops were wounded in the ambush in Baghdad. They are the first NJNG soldiers in die in Iraq.

Recently I had the honor to be apart of a large crowd of elected officials, high school students and other citizens cheering as the members of the NJ National Guard 250th Signal Battalion moved out for Southwest Asia. It was moving and heartbreaking watching families saying good-bye to love ones at the armory. Those special moments brought the reality of it all home. Here are a couple of images from that morning.