Whitney Houston dead

[WitchyOoman]

Re: whitney houston dead at 48

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: evanovitch</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
East Orange is for the most part a rundown town with blight everywhere..it is also MAJORITY minority so is dat y u had to tek an off-duty cop friend to watch out fi u? juss curious n cudden stop miself from ask..di ongle odda times i use fi see cops giving security was on Yom Kippur or wateva dat day of atonement is , wen the former Jewish population of Orange would congregate on dem cemetery at the bottom of East Orange down towards Newark </div></div>
What the heck are you talking about?! Have you ever been to East Orange? I'm in EO every day! I start off my day with breakfast daily - 24/7 - at the Harris Diner. I'm in plenty of other places in EO as well, by the way... There are still some very nice sections of EO, and plenty of nice sections, and decent sections, as well. It's a blatant press lie that all of EO - or even most of it - is blight!

I didn't take my cop buddy for security. Like I said, I'm almost always in EO alone - and safe. I took a cop coz that's who was off, not working day hours, and available to be my second driver. Like I said (and I meant it), I needed a second driver to take over my truck, in case an EO cop came along where I was double-parked and made him/her move it and go around the block. *kissteeth* It didn't hurt to have my second driver be a cop, hopefully any EO cop would feel a bit fraternal towards an Orange cop... but I would have taken any friend legally able to drive and big enough to handle my big truck (and see over the steering wheel).

Consider yourself invited to a Grand Tour of Beautiful East Orange NJ any time you want to drive up here. I'll treat you to a meal as well. And I'll show you some very beautiful parts of EO - parts you apparently don't know exist, but are well worth seeing and enjoying. I'll even sweeten the deal further, if you like, and we can take a limousine... a friend of mine owns a limo company here in Orange. And he owes me a favor. After sightseeing in EO, we can take the limo into NYC for a while... where would you like to go? I'm blessed to live in a wonderful area!

[Cultcha]

Re: whitney houston dead at 48

I only agree with the whole lowering of the flag thing for those who have have served their country in some capacity. The lowering of the flag at Buckingham Palace for Princess Di was questionable IMHO. Ms. Houston's death does not warrant a lowering of any flag! It would be an insult to those who have earned that right.

[WitchyOoman]

Re: Should New Jersey honor Whitney Houston with flags

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Kia</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Xavier</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Should New Jersey honor Whitney Houston with flags at half-staff? </div></div>

No. She was an entertainer. She was not in the military nor in public office. Yes we are saddened by her death but the flag ting? No. </div></div>
Ditto

That kinda burned me up when I heard it.
<span style="font-style: italic">My</span> flag will <span style="font-style: italic">NOT</span> be at half-staff; it will remain full-staff high and proud.
I mourn Whitney (and I'd met her several times, thus knew her slightly), I feel deeply for my friends who are also her family... but she was just a civilian, if a greatly talented and good-hearted entertainer.

[WitchyOoman]

Re: whitney houston dead at 48

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: KF_Milo</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I only agree with the whole lowering of the flag thing for those who have have served their country in some capacity. The lowering of the flag at Buckingham Palace for Princess Di was questionable IMHO. Ms. Houston's death does not warrant a lowering of any flag! <span style="color: #CC0000"><span style="font-weight: bold">It would be an insult to those who have earned that right.</span> </span></div></div>
Precisely!

[evanovitch]

Re: whitney houston dead at 48

use to live in West Orange near to the University n lived in those condos at the top of East Orange..trying to memba di intersection...along that row of old WW high rises ....took the train to Penn every day for work...use to shop at that supermarket dat bring in all the foods that we like...wish i could memba the names....that condo burned down in July 99...two people died n i broke my leg getting out of the building...

East Orange was a blighted neighbourhood then...most of the places were being rented out by people who had long left the area...an yes, the police were out in full force when the tour busses would bring the former residents back to visit their cemeteries...the biggest news was the failure of local government...trying to memba the name of the young guy who was trying to become mayor to 'turn things around'

know where Queen Latifah lived, Lauren Hill, even di Haitian rapper, Jean whose fada church still deh deh..mansions which bordered West n East were cheaper fixer uppers since they were so close to East...

granted this was over 10yrs ago but then even Newark was still suffering from the riots of the 60s....Orange is divided into diffrant areas,...East, West etc n there r nice looking areas and yes, if people could afford to live anywhere but East Orange they did...my observations...

[WitchyOoman]

Re: whitney houston dead at 48

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: evanovitch</div><div class="ubbcode-body">use to live in West Orange near to the University n lived in those condos at the top of East Orange..trying to memba di intersection...along that row of old WW high rises ....took the train to Penn every day for work...use to shop at that supermarket dat bring in all the foods that we like...wish i could memba the names....that condo burned down in July 99...two people died n i broke my leg getting out of the building...

East Orange was a blighted neighbourhood then...most of the places were being rented out by people who had long left the area...an yes, the police were out in full force when the tour busses would bring the former residents back to visit their cemeteries...the biggest news was the failure of local government...trying to memba the name of the young guy who was trying to become mayor to 'turn things around'

granted this was over 10yrs ago but then even Newark was still suffering from the riots of the 60s....and yes, if people could afford to live anywhere but East Orange they did...my observations... </div></div>
I think I know the neighborhood you're talking about (where you used to live).

A young guy for mayor? You don't mean Mayor Bowser, then... lol
I wonder who you mean? If you recall his name, please let me know. i'm curious, now.

Yeah, Newark has suffered for that long, that's so true. And so sad. You've been gone just long enough to miss the gentrification of a lot of Newark's bad hoods, then, vannie, and the same is true of East Orange, too. A lot has changed in the past decade to 15 years. You might not recognize it now... but you surely would be pleasantly surprised. Of course, there are still heavily blighted hoods as well. It's a very mixed bag in both EO and Newark.

I personally don't remember ever seeing full-police protective bus tours here... but I've been here for only 20 years - besides, I'm in Orange... perhaps Mr Witchy, who has spent most of his life hereabouts, remembers this. *shrug*

I am serious, however, about my invitation. If you ever venture back up this way, I'll be glad to show you the <span style="font-weight: bold">NICE</span> parts of EO and Newark, and to buy you a meal.

[evanovitch]

Gov. Christie Defends Lowering Flags for Houston



NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Gov. Chris Christie on Wednesday strongly defended his decision to have flags lowered to half-staff on Saturday for Whitney Houston, saying he rejects criticism that she &quot;forfeited the good things that she did&quot; because of her struggles with substance abuse.

&quot;What I would say to everybody is, 'There but for the grace of God go I,'&quot; he said.

The Republican governor said his office has been receiving emails and other messages disparaging Houston and attacking his decision to have flags flown at half-staff at state government buildings Saturday, the day of her funeral in the Newark church where she sang in the choir as a child.

Twitter was abuzz Wednesday with reaction to the decision by Christie, whose home is in Mendham, a wealthy town where Houston also had lived.

In online postings, there were two main arguments against the honor for the &quot;I Will Always Love You&quot; singer, who died over the weekend in California at age 48: One was that it should be reserved for members of the military, first responders and elected officials. The other was that it's wrong to honor a drug addict.

Heather Clause, a Richmond, Va.-based blogger who writes about teen moms and was tweeting critical comments, said in a telephone interview that she was appalled by the planned flag-lowering.

&quot;It's just such a bad example for people,&quot; she said.

Clause, 23, said the decision was like saying if someone sings well, drug use doesn't matter and &quot;you can still be an idol.&quot;

Rebecca Eppelmann, a newspaper copy editor in upstate New York, also tweeted her disgust at the Houston honor, then discussed her views.

&quot;It should be for major events,&quot; she said. &quot;It's horrible that she passed away. It's not something that should warrant this.&quot;

The governor said he was not saying that Houston, who was born in Newark and was raised in nearby East Orange, is a role model. Instead, he said, Houston deserves the honor because of her huge cultural impact and as &quot;a daughter of New Jersey.&quot;

&quot;I am disturbed by people who believe that because her ultimate demise — and we don't know what is the cause of her death yet — but because of her history of substance abuse that somehow she's forfeited the good things that she did in her life,&quot; said the governor during a briefing in northern New Jersey. &quot;I just reject that on a human level.&quot;

The cause of Houston's death at a Beverly Hills hotel has not been determined, and the results of toxicology tests are pending. Investigators found several bottles of prescription medication in the hotel room where she died Saturday, but authorities said they weren't an unusually large number.

Christie said some people were being critical &quot;without the facts,&quot; accusing him of treating Houston better than fallen soldiers.

The governor noted he has ordered flags flown at half-staff for all 31 fallen New Jersey soldiers and every fallen police officer during his time in office.

He also ordered flags lowered last year for Clarence Clemons, the saxophonist for Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band.

In Newark, residents were irritated to hear of criticism of the governor's decision to honor Houston, who acknowledged her drug abuse in interviews.

Resident Anna Simpson was out Wednesday at New Hope Baptist Church, where Houston's funeral will be held, to pay her respects on her way home from her airport job.

&quot;She never forgot where she came from,&quot; Simpson said. &quot;She was real. We would see her and be like, 'She's one of ours,' and she always made us proud, no matter what happened.&quot;

After Houston became famous she continued to make regular trips to the public school she attended in East Orange and to which her family has directed donations be sent in lieu of flowers.

Simpson said she admires Christie for honoring Houston because &quot;if it were Bruce Springsteen or Jon Bon Jovi, nobody would bat an eye.&quot;

&quot;I don't agree with a lot of things that he does, but I admire him for that,&quot; she said. &quot;Whoever don't agree, they will get over it.&quot;

---

Associated Press writer Geoff Mulvihill in Haddonfield, N.J., contributed to this report.

[Tropicana]

Re: whitney houston dead at 48

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">What the heck are you talking about?! Have you ever been to East Orange? I'm in EO every day! I start off my day with breakfast daily - 24/7 - at the Harris Diner. I'm in plenty of other places in EO as well, by the way... There are still some very nice sections of EO, and plenty of nice sections, and decent sections, as well. It's a blatant press lie that all of EO - or even most of it - is blight!

I didn't take my cop buddy for security. Like I said, I'm almost always in EO alone - and safe. I took a cop coz that's who was off, not working day hours, and available to be my second driver. Like I said (and I meant it), I needed a second driver to take over my truck, in case an EO cop came along where I was double-parked and made him/her move it and go around the block. *kissteeth* It didn't hurt to have my second driver be a cop, hopefully any EO cop would feel a bit fraternal towards an Orange cop... but I would have taken any friend legally able to drive and big enough to handle my big truck (and see over the steering wheel).

</div></div>

Man that is one LONG explanation. Reminds me of the genteman doth protest too much. I think that Evanovitch is right on the money on this one.

[Yuriatin]

Re: whitney houston dead at 48

Trop -

I live in NJ as well and I'd have to concur with Vannie.


<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Tropicana</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">What the heck are you talking about?! Have you ever been to East Orange? I'm in EO every day! I start off my day with breakfast daily - 24/7 - at the Harris Diner. I'm in plenty of other places in EO as well, by the way... There are still some very nice sections of EO, and plenty of nice sections, and decent sections, as well. It's a blatant press lie that all of EO - or even most of it - is blight!

I didn't take my cop buddy for security. Like I said, I'm almost always in EO alone - and safe. I took a cop coz that's who was off, not working day hours, and available to be my second driver. Like I said (and I meant it), I needed a second driver to take over my truck, in case an EO cop came along where I was double-parked and made him/her move it and go around the block. *kissteeth* It didn't hurt to have my second driver be a cop, hopefully any EO cop would feel a bit fraternal towards an Orange cop... but I would have taken any friend legally able to drive and big enough to handle my big truck (and see over the steering wheel).

</div></div>

Man that is one LONG explanation. Reminds me of the genteman doth protest too much. I think that Evanovitch is right on the money on this one. </div></div>

[Tropicana]

Re: whitney houston dead at 48

@Yuri_

[kia027]

Re: whitney houston dead at 48

i hope unno memba seh Witchy does have health issues and if she wanted to take a second driver and happened to know a cop who works in the town where she frequents who better than dat? If unno was in the same health circumstances and knew a cop in town too unno would do the same

Speaking from the perspective of someone who does take care of someone with significant health issues, in places where parking is a difficulty, a second driver is very necessary. It is far easier for me to drop my mom in front of the building and den go find de parking than have her walk up &amp; down wid ar cane after she find parking howmuch blocks away.

[Yuriatin]

Re: whitney houston dead at 48

Thanks Kia.

For me, I'm not commenting on health issues or police or someone accompanying to an appointment or anything like that.

Am just speaking to <span style="font-style: italic">East Orange</span>.

[kia027]

Re: whitney houston dead at 48

i see Yuri.. I cant speak for East Orange as I dont go that way in my NJ travels. The roughest it used to get is the drive through Irvington to get to Maplewood

[WitchyOoman]

Re: whitney houston dead at 48

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Kia</div><div class="ubbcode-body">i hope unno memba seh Witchy does have health issues and if she wanted to take a second driver and happened to know a cop who works in the town where she frequents who better than dat? If unno was in the same health circumstances and knew a cop in town too unno would do the same

Speaking from the perspective of someone who does take care of someone with significant health issues, in places where parking is a difficulty, a second driver is very necessary. It is far easier for me to drop my mom in front of the building and den go find de parking than have her walk up &amp; down wid ar cane after she find parking howmuch blocks away.
</div></div>
Thank you, Kia.

I'm glad that vannie and yuri can walk blocks and blocks and are healthy. I, however, am not and cannot. I'm sure that they understand what &quot;physically handicapped&quot; means, now that you so kindly reminded them that I am barely able to walk. It wasn't so long ago that I was fully wheelchair-bound.

[Yuriatin]

Re: whitney houston dead at 48

Talki troot - yuh did mek sure seh yuh door wey lock, <span style="font-style: italic">nuh true</span>?


<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Kia</div><div class="ubbcode-body">i see Yuri.. I cant speak for East Orange as I dont go that way in my NJ travels. The roughest it used to get is the drive through Irvington to get to Maplewood </div></div>