OPINIONS & COMMENTARY

Pop Culture: They Don’t Make ‘Em Like This Any More

On New Year’s Eve my friends and I didn’t watch the show before the ball dropped. We knew what those shows are like - a bunch of celebrities we don’t know or care about, some musical acts for us to turn our noses up at, and complaining about what pop culture is today.

Instead, we opted to watch blocks of 1980s music videos. They were comfortable, if cringey. A nice walk down memory lane. We knew who everyone was, and we could skip them if we didn’t like them.

We all talked about how good music used to be

In Praise Of Local QuickChek

I’ve heard many people claim that stores such as QuickChek don’t care about their employees. I’m setting that claim straight.

I work at the store on the corner of S. New Prospect and Bethel Church Roads. They hired me as a cashier knowing I have a significant disability. They have allowed me to bring my chair in and sit between waiting on customers. They have been consistently helpful, and how it isn’t as good anymore.

Pop culture is the only culture we all share. These songs become a part of our identity. And when music changes, we feel like we’ve lost something.

And what’s worse - is that politicians and people on TV turn this into an “Us vs Them” situation. They weaponize pop culture to turn generations against each other.

Next time you’re on Facebook, pay attention to how many sites there are designed to make you feel good about your pop culture while saying others’ are bad.

“They don’t make good music any more. Kids today don’t know the classics. They ruined this TV show. The remake sucks.”

Comments like this are said so often that no one even stops to really think about it. But you should always question general statements like this.

When you say “There’s no good music today” or something similar, you might think it makes you sound decisive. But really it shows you don’t know what’s going on. Pick your favorite type of music. Can you even name five artists in that genre who had their debut after 2010? After 2000? Take a minute and really think. Unless you listen exclusively to chamber music, every genre has had new and exciting artists coming out every year. Sure, some of it is garbage. But there are some real gems, too, that you’re missing out on.

Part of it is that you’re not the target audience anymore. Record companies have always aimed at the late teen to early 20s demographic, and that probably doesn’t describe the person who’s reading this editorial in a newspaper. It sure doesn’t describe the person who wrote it.

You might not even know how to listen to the music being released today.

Letters To The Editor

My 15-year-old daughter put some albums on her Christmas list that were only available via download. No physical copy of the album exists.

My point in all this is to ask you to avoid speaking in generalizations like “today’s music/movies/shows/ whatever are bad.” By doing that, you’re giving in to the politicians’ desire to categorize, separate, and pit us against each other. They want you to think of everything in terms of “Us and Them (Pink Floyd, 1972).”

Watching those blocks of music videos reminded me that that for every excellent band from my childhood like Queen, there was also a Kajagoogoo. So, my point is there was crap back when we were young, too.

By the way, the song that goes “They Don’t Write ‘Em Like That Anymore” is actually called “The Breakup Song,” and it was released by the Greg Kihn band in 1981. So someone was talking about music changing and it was put out four decades ago. I guess no matter how much music changes, “It’s Still Rock ‘n Roll To Me (Billy Joel, 1980).”

Chris Lundy News Editor

supportive, and understanding since day one.

When I was diagnosed with breast cancer several months ago, they all signed a card and gave me flowers. When I received surgery, they gave me another card, and totally understood the time I would need off. They have understood the increased tiredness I feel due to the current radiation I’m getting, and have allowed me to leave my shift early. I even received a Team Member of the Month award! I can’t imagine working for a better place, and on April 29th, I’ll

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Slow Down Boats To Help Sea Life

Financial Aid For Pet Parents

It has occurred to me that there are so many animals, cats and dogs, that are in shelters and begging for a permanent home and many seniors that are alone and needing companionship that something should be done to remedy this situation.

The cost of adoption and the veterinary costs are so high that both seniors and animals are being kept from each other.

I adopted a Bichon Frise from Bichon rescue and paid $300 for him. No problem since they had him dewormed and vaccinated and kept him until he found a home. He was born in a puppy mill in Pennsylvania and then was taken by a hoarder. He was rescued from her and the rescue put him up for adoption. He subsequently got bladder stones and had surgery (over and other sea life. Scott

$3,000). Had to have a urinary diet without calcium and his teeth became decayed from the lack of calcium and had dental surgery to remove half of his teeth ($1,400). His specialty food costs approximately $110 per month. He has skin allergies and needs allergy shots periodically and gets skin infections, ear and anal gland infections that don’t heal due to a diminished immune system. My last three vet bills were $400, over $350 and $280. I pay it because he needs care and I love him. He is now 17 years old and has had a great life with me.

Miller The PETA Foundation

Stephanie Brown Jackson Redraw Districts Fairly

I had a thought, what if a program could be developed to have seniors adopt a pet and register for a discounted care plan for that pet?

Vet bills are very high and people on a fixed income cannot have a pet and pets get euthanized that could have loving homes. Maybe someone in government can come up with a solution and make the senior years better for pets and people.

A sincere pet lover and senior citizen.

Constance DePrima Berkeley

Regulating vessel speeds along the U.S. east coast to protect right whales is a critical step in saving this endangered species and balancing our fragile aquatic ecosystem. And in the long run, it is an important step in economic growth and development.

Abducting fish and other animals - sensitive, complex living beings who feel pain just as we do - from their ocean homes is an unsustainable industry, harmful to the environment and harmful to our health. Fish flesh stores dangerous contaminants that can cause liver damage, nervous system disorders, and fetal damage; dioxins, which have also been linked to cancer; and radioactive substances. The corporate world of lobster and crab fishing often leads to serious food-safety violations.

Automobiles rendered the horse and buggy obsolete. Personal computers did the same to the typewriter business. It’s time to invest in innovative, cruelty-free industries before it’s too late for right whales

Gerrymandering is a way for politicians to stay in power by manipulating boundaries so as to favor one party or class. This practice empowers politicians and plays games with the voters, diminishing their voting power.

Recently voters in Michigan finally overcame long time gerrymandering by passing a citizen-led ballot initiative that created an Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission to draw congressional maps. This initiative earned 61% of the vote and won in 66 out of 83 counties statewide, showing that voters from across the political spectrum wanted to unite against the rigging of elections through gerrymandering and live under fair maps. New Jersey citizens should now do the same and stop politicians from playing boundary games to stay in power!

Patricia Murphy Toms River