New Jersey's Fault

This morning Gaithersburg, MD experienced an earthquake. The tremor measured slightly over 3 on the Richter scale. Seismologists attribute it to the Ramapo Fault, which runs through New Jersey.

Sure, blame New Jersey. From colonial times (Ben Franklin called it a barrel opened at both ends) to modern times (Andy Warhol claimed the state bird was a mosquito), New Jersey has gotten a bad rap.

The Ramapo, a band of the Lenape Tribe, inhabited northeastern New Jersey. Their namesakes include the Ramapo River, Ramapo Mountains and Ramapo State Park. Not every New Jersey Park ends with "& Ride."

The Pine Barrens have the nation's largest and purest watershed (17 trillion gallons). New Jersey has 127 miles of beautiful, sandy beaches. It grows delicious tomatoes, corn, blueberries, cranberries and grapes. Bramwell Welch founded his juice company in Vineland, NJ in 1869.

But nooooo..., as John Belushi would say. The Pine Barrens are known for the Jersey Devil, the beaches are thought to be littered with syringes and used condoms, many think the state produces nothing but gangsters and guidos.

Stereotypes are inaccurate perceptions created by small minds. So as I enjoy Taylor's pork roll and drink my cawfee, I got your fault - rightcheer! As ever - BB

"Comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable." - Finley Peter Dunne

Wait for the Pop

During my casino gypsy days, I spent four years in Davenport, Iowa. Besides being the hometown of jazz great, Bix Beiderbecke, Davenport is the birthplace of chiropractic medicine.

In the late 19th century, D.D. Palmer founded chiropractics and coined the term. At his 2nd Street office, he practiced on the deaf janitor, Harvey Lillard. Palmer's manipulation of the janitor's spine produced a loud pop. Harvey mentioned hearing a buzzing sound. They both realized the noise was coming from the street below. Harvey could now hear.

I was told this story many times while in Davenport. To me, it's a metaphor of life. We plan, dream, work and scheme to reach our destination. But, life is an uncharted sea and unknown breezes alter our course. Few are where they thought they'd be ten, even five years ago.

Always listen for that pop. Performing a mundane chore, or during some idle past time, POP, an unexpected manipulation can open your ears to life-changing sounds. - as ever - BB

"Penetrating so many secrets, we cease to believe in the unknowable. But there it sits nevertheless, calmly licking its chops." - H.L. Mencken