Tonight, we gather to pay tribute to two more heroes who gave their last full measure this week, Cpt. Gregory T. Dalessio, 30, of Cherry Hill, NJ and Spc. Ryan J. Connolly, 24, of Vacaville, CA.  This diary was especially tough to write.   These two men, one a dedicated leader and a loving son, the other a war weary father and husband - the sense of loss in their loved ones must be unbearable.  Join me in grieving with their families and in sharing their loss.  Pray that they may take some solace in knowing that their loved ones were very special men who did their duty.

NOTE:  I will be out, with my sweet daughter, until about 10:00.  I promise that I will respond to all comments when I come back.

Yesterday, the New Jersey Legislature took some baby steps toward promoting energy independence in this State.  Our legislators have started posting bills in furtherance of our New Jersey State Energy Master Plan (the Master Plan was previously diaried, here: http://www.dailykos.com/... )

More below the fold:

Note:  Special thanks to Timroff for IGTNT's new logo.  Please visit his diary, here, to thank him:

http://www.dailykos.com/...

Tonight, we gather to honor Sgt. 1st Class Jason F. Dene, 37, of Castleton, Vt., Spc. Christopher Gathercole, 21, of Santa Rosa, Calif. and Spc. Justin L. Buxbaum, 23, of South Portland, Maine, who gave their last full measures in Iraq and Afganistan this week.  May they find a shining peace, under the night.

Today, the Bloomberg Report published the following article.  Global warming deniers might seize upon this article to support their position:

Ocean Cooling to Briefly Halt Global Warming, Researchers Say
By Jim Efstathiou Jr.

April 30 (Bloomberg) -- Parts of North America and Europe may cool naturally over the next decade, as shifting ocean currents temporarily blunt the global-warming effect caused by mankind, Germany's Leibniz Institute of Marine Sciences said.

After a hundred years
Nobody knows the place, --
Agony, that enacted there,
Motionless as peace.

Weeds triumphant ranged,
Strangers strolled and spelled
At the lone orthography
Of the elder dead.

Winds of summer fields
Recollect the way, --
Instinct picking up the key
Dropped by memory.

- Emily Dickinson

Tonight, we gather to honor Spc. Steven J. Christofferson, 20, of Cudahy, Wis., Sgt. Adam J. Kohlhaas, 26, of Perryville, Mo. and Pvt. Ronald R. Harrison, 25, of Morris Plains, N.J, who gave their last full measure in Iraq this week.

[NOTE:  Many thanks to blue jersey mom for handling comments while I was being Dad for my son.]

Today, Governor Jon Corzine offered up New Jersey's draft Energy Master Plan, a framework for a long-term energy strategy for the state and its energy needs through 2020, for consideration by the public.  The plan, described as "a collaborative effort of more than 500 stakeholders" offered the expected proposals, i.e increased use of wind farms and bio-mass fuels and amending building codes to provide for methods of construction that promote increased energy efficiency.  One has to wade through over seventy pages of the plan to find the Governor's most radical proposal.  More nuke plants in New Jersey.

Tonight, we gather to pay tribute to four heroes who gave their last full measure last week.  On April 9th, Maj. Mark E. Rosenberg, 32, of Miami Lakes, FL, Spc. Jason C. Kazarick, 30, of Oakmont, PA, Sgt. Michael T. Lilly, 23, of Boise, ID and Sgt. Timothy M. Smith, 25, of South Lake Tahoe, CA made the ultimate sacrifice.  The Department of Defense announcements of their sacrifice brought this poem to mind.  Please join us tonight in honoring these heroes and in praying for the silence.

There was no IGTNT diary today.  Did we need one?  

Soldiers died for you today.  It would be very easy to ignore today.   No diary?  No need for remorse.  I don't think so.

Take a walk today.  Somewhere, near you, is a sun drenched garden of stone.  It might even be dark now. You may pass by it every day.  Tomorrow, stop, and pray for a minute.  

Tonight, we gather to pay tribute to three heroes who gave their last full measure this week, Staff Sergeant Michael Elledge, 41, of Placerville, CA, Spc. Christopher Simpson, 23, of Hampton, VA and Sgt. Lerando Brown, 23, of Gulfport, MS.  The news of their sacrifice brought this poem to mind.  Emily Dickinson has always been a particular favorite of mine.

488

It feels a shame to be Alive—
When Men so brave—are dead—
One envies the Distinguished Dust—
Permitted—such a Head—

The Stone—that tells defending Whom
This Spartan put away
What little of Him we—possessed
In Pawn for Liberty—

The price is great—Sublimely paid—
Do we deserve—a Thing—
That lives—like Dollars—must be piled
Before we may obtain?

Are we that wait—sufficient worth—
That such Enormous Pearl
As life—dissolved be—for Us—
In Battle's—horrid Bowl?

It may be—a Renown to live—
I think the Man who die—
Those unsustained—Saviors—
Present Divinity—

- Emily Dickinson

Tonight, we gather to pay tribute to Spc. Orlando A. Perez, 23, from Houston, Texas, who gave his last full measure on Feb. 24 in Baghdad, Iraq.  This gentle eyed hero was assigned to Company F, 2nd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, Vilseck, Germany.  Spc. Perez was a 2003 graduate of Bellaire HS, Bellaire, TX.  He is survived by his wife, April.  

Today, it is snowing hard here in New Jersey, reminding me of my favorite snow storm poem, below.  Post your favorite, if you have one, then  snuggle up by the fire, if you can.  If you can't, and you have to go out, drive safely:

Tonight, we gather to pay tribute to 2nd Lt. John F. Lubben, of Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.; Sgt. Albert A. Forgue, of North Providence, R.I.; and Sgt. Charles L. Spiegel, three World War II airmen who, after sixty three years on post, have been finally been relieved and called home to their families.

[ Update - See the JPAC website on the DNA ID efforts that brought these airmen home:  http://www.jpac.pacom.mil/

From PolitickerNJ:

Exit polls: Obama winning N.J.
By Editor

Barack Obama leads Hillary Clinton in New Jersey by a 53%-47% margin, according to early exit polls conducted by Voter News Service.  These numbers do not reflect any actual election results

.

The South-wind brings
Life, sunshine and desire,
And on every mount and meadow
Breathes aromatic fire;
But over the dead he has no power,
The lost, the lost, he cannot restore;
And, looking over the hills, I mourn
The darling who shall not return...

What is excellent,
As God lives, is permanent;
Hearts are dust, hearts' loves remain;
Heart's love will meet thee again.

- Emerson (excerpt from Threnody)

Tonight, we gather once again to pay tribute to two more fallen heroes, PFC Keith Lloyd and Lance Corporal Curtis Christensen, who gave their last full measures of devotion for their Country. Emerson wrote Threnody after the death of his young son. I have always taken great comfort in the passage about "heart's love," and I hope and pray that it gives some comfort to the family and friends of these fallen soldiers.

Yesterday, the New Jersey Division on Civil Rights denied a motion by the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association to halt the State's investigation of that organization's refusal to permit civil union ceremonies in the Associations boardwalk pavilion.

A Federal District Court judge had previously refused to stop the State's investigation on Nov. 8th.  This clears the way for a full investigation by the The New Jersey Division on Civil Rights to determine whether or not the pavilion is a public accommodation under the state's Law Against Discrimination.

More, below the fold.

Love.  Love.  Love.  Love.  Love. Love.  Love.  Love.  Love.
Love.  Love.  Love.  Love.  Love. Love.  Love.  Love.  Love.
Love.  Love.  Love.  Love.  Love. Love.  Love.  Love.  Love.
Love.  Love.  Love.  Love.  Love. Love.  Love.  Love.  Love.

George Romero's Night of the Living Dead is on right now.  Pay attention to the smoking hot Patricia Tallman. God, I love her.  The lifting of the plaid skirt when she runs.  Classic.  When does her life start to change for the better?  It's not when she runs away and cries.  It's not when she huddles in the car, or the barn.  

Politicker NJ is reporting that the New Jersey Democratic State Committee is backing down from a prior request to the County Clerks in New Jersey to give preferential ballot position to the candidate backed by the local Democratic County Committee Chairs.  That favored Hillary Clinton, big time.  

The Democratic State Committee has backed down from its earlier balloting position request and has instead recommended that county clerks conduct an open draw between all presidential primary candidates.

"The New Jersey state committee has been contacted by the major presidential campaigns to request that, instead of the process for ballot draws outlined in my letter of December 17, 2007, that the state committee recommend an open draw of all primary candidates. Accordingly," wrote party counsel William Northgrave in a letter to all county clerks this evening.