Good beach reading

What with three young kids and a time-consuming job, I don't have much time to read books these days. But on my recent two-week vacation, much of it spent on the beaches of New Jersey and Delaware, I managed to consume four of them. Two were written by colleagues at the Press, Paul D'Ambrosio and Mike Riley. The others were authored by former Gov. Jim McGreevey and his estranged wife, Dina.
Riley's book "Only Human," a collection of columns published a few years back, was highly amusing; D'Ambrosio's, a newly published first novel titled "Cold Rolled Dead" was riveting. It's a mystery novel set on Long Beach Island. It's a great summertime read.
I swore I would never buy either of the books by the McGreeveys. I didn't. I checked them out of the library after my mother-in-law told me how much she enjoyed Dina Matos McGreevey's book "Silent Partner." I'm glad I did. I particularly enjoyed Jim McGreevey's book, "The Confession." It provided insights I wasn't expecting into New Jersey politics and its key players and power brokers. Neither book did anything to change my mind about the McGreeveys' lack of character.

How safe are New Jersey's bridges?

State transportation officials say our state-owned bridges are in good shape. Only 12 percent are deemed structurally deficient and only two are deemed deficient enough to have "load posted" weight restrictions - the Pulaski Skyway and the Route 52 causeway in Ocean City.

Damien Newton, New Jersey coordinator of the Tri-State Transportation Campaign, said in today's Press ("Gov seeks complete report on N.J. spans,") that New Jersey spends more on bridge and road repairs than any other state. "No other state is close," he said.

But the state's figures on structurally deficient bridges are different than those provided in the Reason Foundation's annual Highway Performance Report which was released in June. According to that report, which used 2005 figures, 27.9 percent of New Jersey's bridges were deficient, ranking the state 35th worst nationally. Nevada had the best record, with only 3.8 percent deficient.

If you have a choice, don't cross any bridges in Rhode Island or Pennsylvania. More than half are deficient in Rhode Island and 39 percent are deficient in Pennsylvania. New York isn't far behind at 37 percent.

Putting Neptune City on the map

Will singer-songwriter Nicole Atkins do for Neptune City what Bruce Springsteen did for Asbury Park? It's doubtful. But Atkins, whose debut CD "Neptune City" is due out soon, will certainly help put it on the map. Actually, she already has.

Atkins, who Rolling Stone magazine named one of its 10 Artists to Watch last year, is featured in the music section of Time Out New York magazine this week in a piece titled "Shore Thing." Atkins, a 1996 St. Rose grad, will be opening for Chris Isaak at Manhattan's Beacon Theatre on Tuesday.

The article makes references to Neptune City - the "city and the forthcoming CD - as well as to Asbury Park, where she recently moved from her parent's house in Neptune City, and to the Shore music scene.

According to her Web site, the CD, originally due out last week, is being tweaked by Richard Rubin. Rubin won the 2007 Grammy Award for Producer of the Year for his work with U2, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Justin Timberlake and The Dixie Chicks. For Atkins, having Rubin in her camp is a step up from the day not so long ago that she was fired by Clancy's in Neptune for not doing enough Springsteen covers.

The title track from Atkins' "Neptune City" is wonderful; so is the video, in which Tillie makes a cameo appearance.

Tough week ahead for troopers on concert detail

Judging from some of our news stories and recent posts in our Forums section, alcohol abuse at PNC Banks Arts Center concerts hasn't eased up much, if at all, despite stepped-up enforcement by State Police. The next week should provide a good measure of whether the steps taken to curb underage and excessive drinking are working, or whether additional steps need to be taken.

On Saturday, Bryan Adams will appear with George Thorogood and the Destroyers, whose following is overrepresented by those who enjoy getting wasted. The band's repertoire includes "I Drink Alone," "One Scotch, One Bourbon and One Beer," "If You Don't Start Drinking (I'm Gonna Leave,)" and "The Hard Stuff."

The next night will feature "shock rock" group Marilyn Manson and thrash metal band Slayer. Marilyn Manson was a target of congressional hearings to determine the effects of violent lyrics on young listeners. Sen. Joseph Lieberman once referred to the group as "perhaps the sickest group ever promoted by a mainstream record company."

On Wednesday night, the Family Values Tour 2007 will descend on Holmdel, headlined by Korn and featuring a dozen metal, rap and hard-rock bands. Two days later, hopefully enough time to clean up the parking lots and repair the bathrooms, alt-rock band Incubus will arrive. Here's the dictionary definition of incubus: "an evil spirit or demon thought in medieval times to descend upon and have sexual intercourse with women." The good news is the band espouses nonviolence.

Wish the State Police well.