New Jersey Abolishes Death Penalty

AFP: A decommissioned electric chair
Newark Star-Ledger: Assembly OKs measure to end N.J. executions

After more than two hours of emotional debate about justice and retribution, the Assembly yesterday gave final approval to a bill to abolish New Jersey's death penalty, sending the measure to the desk of a governor who is eager to sign it into law.

The lawmakers voted 44-36 to replace the state's never-used death penalty with life in prison without parole. The Senate passed the bill Monday. Gov. Jon Corzine said yesterday he expects to sign it in a matter of days, making New Jersey the first state to repeal its capital punishment law in more than 30 years.

Interestingly, all the non-US papers that cover this story illustrate it with a picture of some method of execution.

ITN (uk)

BBC News

EuroNews, France

AFP

The US papers just have pictures of the Assembly, or Governor Corzine.

Save the Vince Lombardi Rest Stop!

greensboroistalking.com
I have a ritual. When I drive through New Jersey I always stop at the Vince Lombardi rest stop (by Exit 18). It's the last stop before you drive through the city as you are heading to New England. A brief respite before the Cross-Bronx Expressway. As I go through the doors I say "Winning isn't everything, it's the only thing!" (Doesn't everyone?)

(A side note: Vince Lombardi actually said, "Winning isn't everything, but wanting to win is", but what fun is that? It just doesn't have the same blood & guts, fight to the death connotations.)

George Vecsey has lent his clout to the fight to save the historic names of the New Jersey Turnpike rest stops (the Molly Pitcher, the Clara Barton, the Walt Whitman, to name a few). And really, who wants to be reminded of some corporate-welfare-receiving corporation while trying to get a break from the turnpike rat race?

George Vecsey, NYTimes: Call to Arms to Retain Name at a Garden State Rest Stop