The New Jersey Nets and Milwaukee Bucks are just about to make a trade that’ll send Richard Jefferson to Milwaukee for Yi Jianlian and Bobby Simmons.  Totally unfair trade in favor of Milwaukee — they’re getting a veteran guy coming off of his best season. 

But look past that and you’ll see that this is a move to clear some salary for the Nets.  Why?  Lebron James.  King James will be an unrestricted free agent after the 2010 season.  By then, the Nets will (or should) be playing in Brooklyn. 

Lebron already stated that he loves playing in Madison Square Garden.  But throw in buddy, and Nets co-owner, Jay-Z and you could have Lebron playing a few miles from the Garden.  Lebron will be playing in New York or New Jersey after the 2010 season; there’s no doubt about it. 

I certainly understand why a team would want Lebron; he’s pratically the next coming of Michael Jordan.  I’d like for him to stay in Cleveland, though.  I love the idea of a franchise player — the Patrick Ewings, the Derek Jeters, the Cal Ripkens.  There’s something special about franchise players.  Lebron is certainly entitled to want more money and fame.  Hell, he deserves it.  But think about your legacy, too. 

AOL’s City’s Best is running a poll to find the best barbecue in North Jersey. I’m really surprised to see Famous Dave’s leading the pack since it’s a franchise whore these days. Big Ed’s Barbecue, where I spent over 7 years of my life working for, is just trailing in second. Voting ends in just about a month.

Update: Ed’s is inching closer.  22% to 25% with a month to go. 

Deadmalls.com is essentially an online database of the many facets of the retail industry. 

The one mall that I actually remember going into, while it was almost completely vacated, was the Manalapan Mall in Manalapan, New Jersey.  All that remains today, however, is a department store, Value City, and a huge parking lot behind it leading to new establishments such as Wegman’s, Target, et.c 

For the last few months, I’ve been contemplating starting another ‘blog’ aside from this one. While I do enjoy 24Hansen, it’s my personal realm where I share everything and anything that I stumble across — links, movies, music, etc. I also enjoy ranting here about my daily fights with Comcast, Lowe’s, and various other companies.

But my hesitation with a new ‘blog’ is that I’m afraid that I will not keep up with it. Perhaps to get things rolling, I’ll just discuss my idea a little bit further.

My entire life, I’ve lived in New Jersey — so why not present various aspects of it? Mainly, I’d love to discuss the many restaurants throughout the state (hell, there was a tv show done on great NJ diners). I’m not looking to be a food critic or anything like that. My fiance and I just love to enjoy quality food, so why not share our love with others? I’d also like to share various spots (sight-seeing, hangouts, bars, etc) throughout the state that we enjoy. I’m sure I would also be posting various news items that pertain to New Jersey.

I don’t have much time between work and SongMeanings, but my fiance and I make it to various restaurants at least once a week. So then, at the least, I’d be able to make an entry pertaining to one restaurant per week. We’re also going to be looking for places to hold our wedding reception — why not use that as entries as well?

We’ll see how this goes. Ten bucks that it never gets off the ground.

Now, what would be a good name for this site?

A Tinton Falls (NJ) man was charged with eight counts of animal cruelty today.  Victor Amato, SPCA investigator, went to the man’s home and reported the following,

They found three puppies shivering uncontrollably and five adult dogs all left out in a pen that had enclosures so open that the puppies would have been dead within a few hours.  There was no food, no water, no adequate shelter.

An orange juice tanker and two dredging ships collided in Newark Bay.  The coast guard is reporing that no one was hurt, but one of the dredging ships was taking on water.  There’s also reports of  “hyrdaulic oil” in the bay, but there’s been no evidence of a major spill from the collision. 

A 19-year-old from Long Island has been sentenced to three years and one month in prison for the hit-and-run death of a University of Connecticut freshman last winter.

I’m truly sorry for causing the death of Carlee Wines.  It’s been something I’ve wanted to say for the past year. I was advised not to I know I should have stopped. I wish there was something I could say that would lessen the pain and suffering I have caused.

A Ewing Township individual had a 150-pound male cow living in her garage.  She claims she won the calf in a card game.

Her asshole friend offered to bring it to a slaughterhouse with his pickup truck.  However, animal control officer, Matthew Barber, told her friend it is illegal to transport a cow in a pickup.  The asshole friend then suggested a police officer shoot it, and then he’d bring it to a slaughterhouse.  Pardon the interruption, BUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH PEOPLE THESE DAYS?

However, Barber purchased the cow from the lady for $250.  The cow now lives safely in a horse farm in Burlington County where it will be able to live out it’s natural life. 

In Monmouth County (New Jersey), a court has ordered all homeless to be removed from within the Henry Hudson Trail. 

“These individuals are trespassers, They have no legal right to
remain on the property,” states Judge Jamie S. Perri.

So, let me get this straight.  These homeless have absolutely no where to go.  You’re kicking them off one piece of land for them just to find another piece of land — probably out of your jurisdiction (and therefore, no longer your problem).  There’s a reason they’re called homeless.  Why not offer them services and help instead of just kicking them out?  And if there are services in place, is it easily available for them to use? 

Uncle Greg does it again.  This time, Rutgers football coach Greg Schiano recruited a defensive-back/wide-receiver South Jersey stand-out, Brandon Jones.  Greg wants to try him as a corner when he arrives in camp over the summer.

My love is wide receiver, but whatever they need me to do I’ll do — especially if it gets me on the field quicker.