The worst phone that I have ever purchased in my entire life is broken once again. This phone is the Treo 700p from Verizon Wireless. It’s a disaster - a complete and total disaster of a phone. Not only have I had problems from this “smart” phone in the past, but the contract that I’m locked into keeps me with this piece of shit until August 2008.

I’m being held hostage by Verizon Wireless.

The problem this time around is that my touchscreen seems to work on all parts of the screen, except the middle. So this means that any time I put the stylus on the center of the page, the phone doesn’t recognize it. And what’s so bad about that? Well, the obvious - I can’t get this thing to work the right way and I spent over $600 on the package when I purchased it.

But through some no-good online help, I’ve managed to reset my phone and gotten it stalled out where it asks me to “Use stylus to tape center of target one last time.” And where does this target appear? That’s right - the exact middle of the touchscreen!

So I have a stalled out, piece of garbage phone. Not only is this the worst phone that I’ve ever purchased, but I am going out of my way to dissuade other people from buying this piece of shit. I’ve already gotten two people to stay away from this phone (and the now-tarnished Palm brand) - here’s hoping that this post gets more people to stay away from this brand.

Once upon a time I lived in Mount Arlington in Northwest New Jersey. This is where my family lives (kinda, we’re stuck in between two towns) and I was surprised to read a report in yesterday’s Daily Record that claimed Mount Arlington is the leader in Morris County growth, with a population of just over 5700. From the article:

One of Morris County’s smallest municipalities is among the fastest growing in New Jersey, according to the latest population estimates.

Mount Arlington was the state’s third fastest growing community between 2005 and 2006, data released today by the U.S. Census Bureau show. The population in this municipality of less than 3 square miles rose by more than 7 percent in a year and 22 percent since the 2000 Census. Over the six-year period, 1,045 have moved into the borough, bringing its population to just over 5,700, the bureau estimates.

What is also interesting about these numbers is that the amount of kids attending school in Mount Arlington at either the Edith M. Decker Elementary School or the Mount Arlington Public School is down, overall. This is a result of what the Mayor said is the increased number of age-restricted housing in the municipality. As for the public school numbers, they look something like this:

In fact, school enrollment in Mount Arlington has been declining steadily. In 2000-01, the K-8 district had 468 students. In 2005-06, enrollment had dropped to 415. It had dropped further, to 405, in the school year that just ended.

I’m a little torn over whether or not this is a good thing for Mount Arlington. Home prices in the town have gone through the roof and many young professionals and young couples simply cannot afford to live in the township. That’s a bad thing in terms of public schools because you don’t see too many 55+ year olds having kids these days. The end result of a continued decline in the township’s school-age population may lead to results such as the school district condensing with Roxbury Township (which wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world) or lay-offs for the excellent teaching staff in Mount Arlington.

In the past, the condensing with Roxbury option has been looked down upon. However, with the state’s recent push for municipalities to condense services now may be a good time to reconsider this option. It wouldn’t mean that the existing schools would need to be shut down or no longer used. In fact, I would assume that these schools would see their numbers stabilize as Roxbury Township students who live near them began to attend. Doesn’t seem like a bad end-result in terms of practicality.

However, I am not a professional in condensed services so this is just one man’s opinion. Anyway, congratulations to Mount Arlington for your population growth.

The local news media are reporting that the West Long Branch Zoning Board vote of 5 to 1 in favor of expanding the Monmouth University campus has been upheld by a State Appellate Panel. Some of the folks living around the university took it upon themselves to fight against this approval, citing petty collusion between the university and township officials. Someone even blasted a local Committeeman because his daughter received an academic scholarship from the university. What a disgraceful charge to levy at the Committeeman…

That’s the problem with local politics in America today - anyone with a voice feels that they are entitled to their day in court and this holds up the progress of the greater good. An article in today’s Asbury Park Press cites that 36 families have been fighting against the expansion of the university…but you do NOT see it listed anywhere that well over 200 families in the town have supported the university and many more families just don’t care either way. I live down the street from the university and while I do not publicly support Monmouth’s desire to expand, I can certainly agree with the vast silent majority in West Long Branch that we don’t mind the expansion.

Now, some people will claim, “Well I live across the street from the university and quality of life is low and blah blah blah.” Sorry, but if you live next a community swimming pool, do you complain that people are swimming there? If you live next to a gym, do you complain that people are coming and going all day to work out? If you live next to a university do you complain that college students are being college students?

No.

And this is obvious - none of these thoughts are new in the debate. The small minority who feel that their opinion outweighs the majority in West Long Branch oftentimes comes back with the statement that they were in town before the “university” was. In this argument, the word “university” is key. In 1994, Monmouth College became Monmouth University. So many of the locals take 1994 as the starting point of the “university” not mentioning that the college was started in 1933.

Yes - this “We were here first” argument HAS been used to defend the minority’s right to blast the university. I’ve even had it used against me in informal discussions about the university with other people in town. It’s mind-boggling, really.

Anyway, congratulations to Monmouth University for winning the right to expand their campus. Best of luck.

Ha ha ha ha ha! Some of the funniest jokes are some of the simplest and most direct. Here is a joke that my Mom sent me that I got a nice, quick laugh out of. I hope you do, too!

The Diamond Bracelet:

A lady walks into a high class jewelry shop. She browses around, spots a beautiful diamond bracelet and walks over to inspect it. As she bends over to look more closely she inadvertently breaks wind. Very embarrassed, she looks around nervously to see if anyone has noticed her little accident and prays that a sales person doesn’t popup right now.

As she turns around, her worst nightmare materializes in the form of a salesman standing right behind her. Cool as a cucumber and displaying complete professionalism, the salesman greets the lady with, “Good day, Madam. How may we help you today?”

Very uncomfortably, but hoping that the salesman may just not have been there at the time of her little ‘accident’, she asks, “Sir, what is the price of this lovely bracelet?”

He answers, “Madam, if you farted just looking at it, you’re going to shit yourself when I tell you the price!

Ha ha ha ha ha ha!!! That’s good stuff right there!

Some readers may know that I’m a fan of country music. I got a report sent to me the other day about country music legend (and Sigma Pi brother) Tracey Lawrence making a huge comeback in the music industry.

For those of you that are interested, Tennessean.com recently put up an article about Tracey Lawrence’s new #1 smash hit, “Find Out Who Your Friends Are.” It’s a good quick read that has some nice insight into Lawrence’s comeback - take a read if you’re into it. If not…then don’t read it!

STAMFORD, Conn., June 26, 2007 – World Wrestling Entertainment is stunned and saddened by the details released by local authorities concerning the double homicide-suicide involving Chris Benoit, his wife, Nancy, and his son, Daniel.

However, WWE is concerned with the sensationalistic reporting and speculation being undertaken by some members of the media following the press conference held by the Fayette County Sheriff’s Department and the District Attorney. During the press conference, the investigating authorities made the following points, all of which run contrary to the media speculation that “roid rage” was a factor in the senseless murders and suicide:

1. The authorities stated that all drugs found in the house were believed to be legal prescriptions.

2. Steroids were not, and could not, be related to the cause of death (asphyxiation). Authorities had no factual basis to speculate as to Benoit’s state of mind, and rightly did not do so.

3. Toxicology tests have not even been completed, so there is no current evidence that Benoit even had steroids or any other substance in his body. In that regard, on the last test done on Benoit by WWE’s independently administered drug testing program, done on April 10, 2007, Benoit tested negative.

4. The physical findings announced by authorities indicate deliberation, not rage. The wife’s feet and hands were bound and she was asphyxiated, not beaten to death. By the account of the authorities, there were substantial periods of time between the death of the wife and the death of the son, again suggesting deliberate thought, not rage. The presence of a Bible by each is also not an act of rage.

5. WWE strongly suggests that it is entirely wrong for speculators to suggest that steroids had anything to do with these senseless acts, especially when the authorities plainly stated there is no evidence that Benoit had steroids in his body, pending the toxicological reports, and that they had no evidence at this time as to the motive for these acts.

WWE is continuing to monitor the ongoing investigation being conducted by local authorities.

For an overload of coverage on this double murder-suicide, stay with TBLWrestling.com.

The following report was first broken at the national level by FOX News Channel and was immediately picked up by the AP. The origin of the report is TMZ.com:

TMZ has learned more about the deaths of WWE wrestling superstar Chris Benoit, his wife and son — and the information is extremely disturbing.

Several Atlanta-based law enforcement sources have told TMZ Benoit may have strangled his wife on Saturday, then smothered his son in his bed a day later. Investigators refuse to officially comment, pending final confirmation by the coroner on the cause and time of the deaths.

One source told TMZ that Benoit was texting friends during Sunday’s WWE “Vengeance” Pay-Per-View program — possibly watching the show with his son, who may have been alive at the time.

According to sources, Benoit then hanged himself Monday in a weight room inside the family home.

A police investigation is ongoing.

Our wrestling sister-site has been keeping up to date on the many different aspects of the tragedy that is befalling professional wrestling. Below is a list of links from TBLWrestling.com, which has been all over this story from Coast to Coast since it broke late yesterday afternoon.

• BB: Life and Death…and Chris Benoit
• Josh Fox’s Inner View - Untitled: Chris Benoit
• WWE RAW Report (6/25): Chris Benoit Tribute
• Fans Turned Away from RAW Understand, Offer Condolences
• Screen shots from Local TV Coverage of this Tragedy
• Shooting Ruled Out of Chris Benoit’s Death
• WWE Canada President Issues Statement
• Canadian Coverage of Benoit’s Death
• TNA Wrestling Mourns the Loss of Chris Benoit
• TMZ.com Posts Report on Chris Benoit’s Death
• Chris Benoit & Family Found Dead

TBLWrestling.com will bring you all of this information and more as the day goes on…

The following comes from FOXNews.com’s front page story on the double murder-suicide of Chris Benoit. As a side note, FOXNews.com has been all over this story and is also offering photos and videos of Chris Benoit if anyone is interested.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ga. — Details of the deaths of pro wrestler Chris Benoit, his wife and their 7-year-old son may seem “a little bizarre” when released to the public, a prosecutor said.

Authorities were investigating the deaths at a secluded Fayette County home as a murder-suicide and were not seeking any suspects outside the home.

Fayette County District Attorney Scott Ballard told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, “The details, when they come out, are going to prove a little bizarre.”

Those details may emerge after the completion of autopsies scheduled for Tuesday.

Investigators believe Benoit, killed his wife and son over the weekend and then himself sometime Monday. The bodies were found Monday afternoon in three different rooms of the house on Green Meadow Lane, in a subdivision off a gravel road about two miles from Whitewater Country Club.

The autopsies were scheduled to be done at the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Crime Lab in DeKalb County.

Ballard told The Associated Press a gun was not used in any of the deaths. But he declined to say how the three died.

“We’re pretty sure we know, but we want to confirm it with the crime lab,” Ballard said early Tuesday.

Fayette County Coroner C.J. Mowell did not immediately return phone calls. The answering service for his funeral home said he was out of town.

TBLWrestling.com will continue covering this story on their newsboard. Incidentally, as I write this, FOX News Channel is running a quick overview of the tragedy (including scenes from outside the home) and is teasing a fuller report towards the end of this hour.

The following information comes from WWE.com and furthers the knowledge that this whole situation with Chris Benoit is a huge tragedy both for the family and for the world of professional wrestling.

Source: WWE.com

According to lead investigator Lt. Tommy Pope, of the Fayette County Sheriff’s Department, in Fayetteville, Ga., the deaths of WWE Superstar Chris Benoit, wife Nancy and son Daniel were the result of a double murder-suicide, WWE.com has learned.

Benoit failed to appear both at Saturday’s live event in Beaumont, Tx., and WWE’s Vengeance: Night of Champions in Houston Sunday night, after informing WWE of a family emergency. Several curious text messages sent by Benoit early Sunday morning prompted concerned friends to alert Richard Hering, VP of Government Relations for WWE, Inc. Hering, in turn, spoke with Fayette County sheriffs Monday, and requested that they respond to the Benoit residence to check on him and his family.

Authorities representing the Sheriff’s Department initially had a difficult time entering Benoit’s new Fayetteville home Monday afternoon, which had been guarded by two large German Shepherds roaming freely around the property. Once authorities entered the residence, they quickly located the bodies of Benoit, Nancy and Daniel. WWE was notified of the discovery at approximately 4 p.m.

At 10 p.m. Monday night, Lt. Pope held a press conference in conjunction with Scott Ballard, the district attorney for Fayette County. The press conference officially ruled authorities’ findings as a double murder-suicide from within the home.

WAGA, a FOX-owned and operated television station in Atlanta, reported that investigators believe Benoit killed his wife and 7-year-old son over the weekend, then himself on Monday.

The three bodies have been received by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s crime lab, in Decatur, Ga., where autopsies will be performed Tuesday morning. Toxicology reports will not become available for at least two weeks.

WWE.com has further information relating to both the investigation and the cause of death, but the Fayette County Sheriff’s Department has requested that WWE.com not release any additional details at this time.