5/3/2009:

Festival, Rain and Hoboken411 Upgrade!

Today is the “much anticipated” Spring Arts & Music Festival. If you don’t like getting wet - get there early!

Rain is expected to begin approximately at noon (according to the fruity hourly forecast I look at occasionally…) - I do promise, however, that I will not issue a press release about imminent flooding each time the skies become cloudy…

FINALLY! - I’ve rolled out some of the Hoboken411 feature upgrades I’ve been working on since January! While many of you think I just sit around and simply type a few things every now and then - I should reveal that I’ve also been working on programming many scripts and various code functions for quite a while (this is geek talk now)… The one aspect of Hoboken411 I’ve always been concerned with, is usability. Coming up with an idea or concept is one thing, but making it a reality is entirely different. I had a few “pet projects” I was determined to make happen - and you can see it right away.

Comments Improved

Believe it or not, with almost 18,000 registered Hoboken users and well over 150,000 reader comments - maintaining civil discourse on a popular community website is not an easy task. I get a plethora of “complaints” from readers who are not happy with some of the “patrons” that make rude and insensitive comments (I run a “wild” bar, don’t I?) The fact that I tend to the “complaint window” is somewhat time-consuming. I should not need to do this - because my goal is to create engaging content that the community is interested in - and I mean the whole community - not just the zealous political nutjobs that consumed too much caffeine and are generally unhappy.

So in order to relieve myself of these constant emails - I decided to put the onus on keeping the community sane - IN YOUR HANDS. My job is to be the conduit for neighborhood conversation - not to be the “parent” and dictate what is - and isn’t - acceptable.

New features added

My idea to reduce the number of complaints was to incorporate community-managed features onto the site - along with others that can possibly make my job easier.

• Comment voting. I’ve incorporated a comment rating system. A simple “vote up” and “vote down” icon on each comment that allows users to rate the quality of the comment.

  This will give a general feel for how Hoboken411 readers feel about each comment. In other words - if you say something out of line, stupid, offensive, or otherwise off-topic - most readers will give you a thumbs down. What happens after that - just watch.

• Flagging comments. This is a bit more important. Every registered (and logged in) user has the ability to “flag” a certain number of comments per day. This feature is NOT to be abused and should used carefully. You save this privilege for comments that go over the line, and that offend even the most thick-skinned readers. After a certain number of flags - I get notified and make the determination of what to do with that comment. NOTE: If registered users abuse this function - and flag comments that aren’t worthy of being flagged - they themselves will be flagged for “crying wolf,” and may possibly get punished for false alarms. “Check - meet Balance.”
• Reply to comment - no more “quote.” - I am at home with programming and other computer code. However, most standard computer users don’t always “get it.” With that being said - I decided to take the thought out of replying to another person in the comment sections here on Hoboken411. Previously - when you hit “quote,” the user comment box was filled with all sorts of cryptic computer code and symbols. Most folks have zero understanding of what this means. Often times, this caused some time-consuming technical issues on my end. Well - this problem is now solved.

  I’ve eliminated the “thought process” from replying to a user you’d like to chat with. Now, you just hit the “reply” button - type your comment - and Hoboken411 handles the heavy lifting for you!!

  Also gone is the horribly nested comments - that can be quite hard to read if it goes too deep.

OK - here’s what happened last week…

So with that wacky computer talke out of the way, what made the most discussed entries for the two weeks ending Sunday, May 3rd, 2009?

Hottest general topics of the week

1. CENTURY!
   Hoboken residents have a LOT to say about Barack Obama’s first 100 days in office!
2. DEBATE!
   Hoboken411 has video of the recent Mayoral Discussion Forum at Our Lady of Grace Chuch!
3. AH-CHOO!
   The Scam Swine-Flu got the entire globe nervous. Life carries on here in Hoboken, right?
4. FLASHBACKS!
   Wasn’t it kind of rude for Barack to fly a plane so low to NYC without friggin telling anyone? What a selfish, pompous ass! Yet, his supporters are remaining mum. That Lemming cartoon is looking much more realistic these days…
5. OVERKILL!
   Six Hoboken cops respond to a call for a frail 90 pound homeless dude.
6. SHORTY!
   A press release from a height-challenged politico - and accompanying harmless photoshop job - gets the P.C. juice flowing in many liberals.
7. CROTCH!
   A reader asked the Healthy Hoboken columnist about skimpy clothing!
8. DOWNTOWN!
   The NJ Transit Rail Yards - make news still!
9. LIES!
   Take a look at the campaign material produced by our current mayor thief during his last campaign…
10. TODAY!
    The big (but not as big as the St. Patty’s Day) spring event is happening NOW!

Event Calendar

Don’t forget to check the Hoboken411 event calendar!

Technorati Tags: current events, Hoboken411, Hot Topics, Week in Review

5/1/2009:

Submit your letter!

With all the nasty comments and personal attacks taking place during the 2009 Hoboken Municipal Election campaigns - it’s time to take a look at WHY Hoboken residents are supporting their chosen candidate - without the smear - and nothing but facts.

Introducing the Smear-Free Zone!

Whether you support major MAYORAL candidates Cammarano, Mason or Zimmer - or independents Melberg, Orsini or Vincent - we want to know WHY. This endorsement will be for MAYOR only - and not council members or choice of slates.

In other words - why this person is best qualified to be Mayor of Hoboken.

SUBMIT YOUR MAYORAL ENDORSEMENT RULES

1. Email Hoboken411 with your letter by the end of Sunday, May 3, 2009.
2. The topic is “Why I’m supporting this person for MAYOR.”
3. You must be a registered user before today with a comment published on 411 already. No new users!
4. It helps if you provide your full name (will not be published) - but it is not necessary. However, preference will go towards those that are up front about who they are.
5. No negative comparisons towards other candidates allowed.
6. Reference the following in your letter:
   • Your candidate’s qualifications
   • Your candidate’s experience
   • Your candidate’s accomplishments as an elected official (if applicable)
   • Your candidate’s accomplishments as a civilian (before or during tenure, and when - if applicable)
7. Additionally, how you feel your candidate will improve the city of Hoboken - and not just empty campaign promises like past Mayors.
8. Finally, a closing paragraph as a message to other Hoboken voters - summarizing why your candidate is the best choice.
9. Keeping the letters to 1,000 words or less

Unless there is overwhelming response, each candidate will be the subject of two positive letters published. If there are no responses showing support for that candidate - I’ll indicate as such.

LASTLY - COMMENTS FOR THIS THREAD ARE CLOSED UNTIL I PUBLISH THE SUBMISSIONS.

Technorati Tags: Mayoral Endorsements, Municipal Election

5/1/2009:

[Continuing the ORIGINAL Hoboken411 "Photo of the Day" series...]

Hoboken Photo of the Day - 5/1/2009

Conspiracy theorists out there think I (Hoboken411) have some kind of grand master plan as to what gets published here on a daily basis… oh boy - furthest from the truth. If you want a teeny insight into what has shaped me to this point - check out A. C. Ping’s line of books “Be,” “Do,” and “Faith.” Not the best books ever written - but somewhat inspirational to me at some point.

Oh - anyway - here’s a shot of a dumpy Hoboken “Human Services” car parked uptown near the Hudson Tea Building. It’s all banged up - and sits there for days at a time. I have no idea why. Nor no I care. Just wondered if anyone else did.

PS - if you have images collecting dust on your camera or hard drive - send them in for eventual inclusion on Hoboken411! Please state how you’d like to be credited in your email, and a description - if desired!!

Technorati Tags: city vehicle, Hoboken411, Hobokenpix, Human Services, PHOTO OF THE DAY, photography

5/1/2009:

It’s that time again!

Buy just one - so you can say you had a chance!

I really want a winning jackpot Mega Millions ticket to be purchased in Hoboken (or by a Hoboken resident)!

So when the top prize begins reaching the stratosphere (or what I like to call “F**k You” money) - It’s my personal duty to remind everyone that isn’t a regular lottery player to: GO OUT AND BUY ONE TODAY!

Technorati Tags: gambling, Lottery, Mega Millions, New Jersey

5/1/2009:

Photo quiz: Where is this window to the sky?

I wonder what the deal is with this façade! Was it a Zoning Board decision? What is behind that wall?

So where is this located exactly?

Technorati Tags: photo quiz, photography, Where is this

5/1/2009 Update:

As promised - here is the winning entry for the Hoboken411 Free Handbag Photo Contest!

Tough decision indeed

I received quite a few nice entries for the Free Viola Vita Handbag contest this week, despite not marketing it as well as I should have.

The decision was tough, because some entries had spectacular photos on their own - others had inspirational commentary - but I chose this entry from Hoboken411 reader “You” (yeah, you) - because it encompassed “a little bit of everything,” and was the only entry with vibrant human “life” in it. I think that is one thing we all take for granted - and to see a group of fine residents enjoying themselves just picked my spirit up!

What do I like about Hoboken?

(by Hoboken411 reader “you”)

“I love Hoboken because it is the best place to live! The people are awesome and it’s cleaner and safer than New York. We have good running around the waterfront and really good restaurants. Elysian and La Isla are some of my favorites! I also love Hoboken because I got lucky and scored an apartment with outdoor space. Pictured above, we are outside drinking Dirty Hoe’s (Raspberry Lambic and Hoe Gaarden) which you can get at Helmer’s! I love Hoboken and I would not want to live anywhere else!

Thanks!”

See original entry info after the break - and stay tuned for the next contest coming in two weeks!

[Click to continue reading the rest....]

Technorati Tags: Italian Handbag, Photo Contest, Viola Vita

5/01/2009:

You can never have enough tacos

Several weeks ago, we all chatted about the (now) imminent “Taco Truck” restaurant coming to Hoboken sometime soon.

That reminded me about one of the funniest Saturday Night Live commercial spoofs ever:

Technorati Tags: Saturday Night Live, SNL, Taco Town, video

5/1/2009 Reminder:

Sunday starting at 11am!

Will the Swine Flu keep you away?

I overheard this on the street SEVERAL times yesterday.. that some folks are STAYING AWAY from the 2009 Spring Arts & Music festival… Not sure what the deal is with that!

Will the Swine Flu media scare prevent you from going?

4/13/2009:

15th Annual Spring Arts & Music Festival

On Sunday May 3rd, 2009 (11am-6pm) - Hoboken will once again be jammed with our annual Spring “A&M” festival!

Washington Street will be packed with three stages of music & entertainment and 300 vendors selling art, sculptures, photographs, food and other knick-knacks!

Special features include:

• Fine artists are located between 2nd & 3rd St., so if you are an art collector, this is the place to be. Oil paintings, watercolors, acrylics, sculpture, mixed media, photography, etc.
• Children’s area on 3rd street with rides, games, creative activities, ponies, petting zoo, face painting, balloons, live performances and much much more!
• Crafters will be displaying / selling handmade: pottery, metalwork, woodwork, blown & fused glass, quilts, household items made from recycled materials, cementware, batik clothing, hand painted furniture, hand knits, candles, jewelry, dried florals, soaps & lotions and much more
• Food: Lots of great food throughout the fair, offering an eclectic variety of international foods such as: Thai, Indian, Greek, French, Mexican, Cajun, Italian and festival favorites.

Here’s a video from the Fall 2008 festival - see more after the jump!

Read more, including performance schedules, after the jump!

[Click to continue reading the rest....]

Technorati Tags: Arts & Music Festival, Spring