New Jersey Reopens I'm sure many of you have all had a big laugh at the expense of my home state lately. Newspaper headlines declared things like "New Jersey Closed" and "'New Jersey & You': Shut Down Together" and other similar wisecracks after Governor Jon Corzine ordered the shutdown of all nonessential government offices on June 30th.

Among those nonessential offices was the New Jersey Casino Control Commission, who monitor the casinos in Atlantic City. The casinos were forced to shut down because they are not allowed to operate without being monitored by the state. The press punsters had a field day with this, saying things like "New Jersey Craps Out," "No Dice For New Jersey," and "New Jersey Folds."

Hardy har har.

The Governor did what he felt was necessary in order to force state legislators into reaching an agreement on a state budget after missing the deadline on June 30th. The fact that legislators signed off on a budget in less than a week justifies the Governor's action. Now that the budget crisis has been resolved, I plan on making a trip to Atlantic City tomorrow to show my support for the state I love, the state so many of you consider a laughing stock.

Leon Laponte's chatroom will just have to carry on one day without me. I may be a pretty good chatroom operator, but I'm a lousy gambler. I'm sure that Leon's chatroom is in much less danger than my wallet.

Wish me luck.
- Bernie  ¶ 5:16 PM