The monkey cartoon, Facebook and Newark's image

April 12, 11:06 PMNewark City Buzz ExaminerWalter H. Allen

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I have a brother who is an ex-patriot. He's lived in France for more than 25 years. He visits ever couple years and he swears he's coming home for good, this summer. He sends me an e-mail the other day trumpeting his new MySpace account. He is so proud, and rightly so. Slick design. Did it himself. Nice. Really nice.

I wrote him back and told him that over here, we try not to have anything to do with Rupert Murdoch or his companies (but I must confess, I watch the Giants on FOX Sports on Sundays). What does that have to do with MySpace? I'll wait...

Correct.

MySpace is in the News Corporation family headed by the Australian businessman. So is FOX television. The New York Post is in the same family. I know you've seen the cartoon shown above. It sparked a million people to pledge to never again buy a New York Post. (The link to that effort is listed below.)  I suggested my brother try Facebook. He agreed. And then a funny thing happened on my Facebook page.

Someone suggested I take the How Well Do You Know Newark Challenge.I did. My stomach turned when one of the questions asked, What is Newark famous for? The options presented were, A) carjacking, B) murder), C) drugs, D) all of the above. I didn't like the options, but I stayed with the program. I picked A) carjacking. Whaddaya' think the correct answer was? D) all of the above. I was immediately insulted. Smoke started coming outta' my ears. I was furious... for a minute.

Newark has it's problems. Every city in America has it's problems. But I don't know how many more Newark jokes and cracks I can take. I haven't bailed out of Facebook, though. I love what it does. But I intend to let the managers know I don't appreciate that contribution.

To sooth my anger, I took a ride Easter Sunday around Newark looking for some of the things I love about the city. Here's just one of them below. Have you seen the Cherry Blossoms in Branch Brook Park yet.